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Copyright © 2010 by Oxford University Press

First edition 2001
Second edition 2005
Third edition 2010

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The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Data available

ISBN 978-0-19-539288-3

1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2

1536233313150735

Contents

Editorial staff

Advisory board

Specialist subject consultants

Preface

Preface to the first edition

Introduction

How to use this dictionary

Key to pronunciations

Key to abbreviations

New Oxford American Dictionary

Editorial staff

Project manager
Angus Stevenson

Principal editor
Christine A. Lindberg

Lexicographers
Carol Braham
Orin Hargraves

Illustrations
Debra Argosy
Lizann Michaud

Pronunciations
Catherine Sangster
Katherine Sietsema

Research and editorial assistance
Debra Argosy
Wade Guyitt
Grace Labatt

Design
Michael Johnson

Production coordinator
Karen Bunn

Publishing manager
Judy Pearsall

For the first edition

Principal Editors
Elizabeth J. Jewell
Frank R. Abate

Senior Project Editor
Christine A. Lindberg

Senior Staff Editors
Suzanne Stone Burke
Erin McKean
Joseph Patwell

Staff Editors
Martin Coleman
Andrea Nagy
Laurie Ongley

Consulting Editors
Donna Farina
Mark LaFlaur
Maurice Lee
Julie Marsh
Lois Principe
Susan Sigalis
Dawn Thornton
Wendy Vidou

Contributors, New Entries
Jeri Famighetti
Archie Hobson
Christine Grove
Orin Hargraves
Nancy LaRoche
Sidney Landau
Paul Lagassé
Eric Sinkins
Sue Ellen Thompson

Pronunciations Editor
Linda Costa

Consulting Pronunciations Editors
John Bollard
Sharon Goldstein
Anne Marie Hamilton
Katherine Isaacs
Ellen Johnson
William Kretzschmar
Rima McKinzey
Lisa Cohen Minnick
Katherine Sietsema
Susan Tamasi
Matthew Zimmerman

Editorial Assistants
Karen Fisher
Kimberly Roberts

Etymologies Editor
Martha Mayou

Illustrations Editor
Debra Argosy

Assistant Illustrations Editors
Katherine Adzima
Lisa Barnett
Benjamin Keene
James Marra
David Roberts

Illustrators
Debra Argosy
Marta Cone
Elizabeth Gaus
Matthew Hansen
Mike Malkovas
Susan Van Winkle

Advisory board for the first edition

Ronald Butters, Professor of English and Cultural Anthropology; Chair, Linguistics Program, Duke University

William J. Frawley, Professor of Linguistics, University of Delaware

Joan Houston Hall, Chief Editor, Dictionary of American Regional English

Willam A. Kretzschmar, Jr., Professor of English and Linguistics, University of Georgia

Mark Liberman, Director, Linguistic Data Consortium, University of Pennsylvania

Specialist subject consultants

AGRICULTURE

Farming

Robert C. Hughes, farmer

ARTS

Architecture

Benjamin E. Northrup, Lecturer, Yale University

Art

Michael Harvey

Ballet/Dance

Dominique Bourassa

Bell-Ringing

Richard Parsons, Tower Captain, St. James Church, Hendersonville, NC

Film

Peter DeCherney, Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Research on Culture and Literature, Johns Hopkins University

Handwriting

David R. Evans, Professor of English and Chair, Department of English, Speech, and Journalism, Georgia College and State University

Musical Direction

Marguerite L. Brooks, Associate Professor, Choral Director, Yale University

Musical Instruments

Nicholas Renouf, Associate Curator, Yale University Collection of Musical Instruments

Music, Classical and General

James Haar, Professor, Department of Music, College of Arts & Sciences, The University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill

Music, General

Frederick T. Gerhardt, musician and educator

Music, Popular

Elysia M. Stobbe, Director, Market Development, Marketing One, Baltimore, MD

Photography

Peter Craig, photographer and instructor

Theater

Joseph V. Melillo, Executive Producer, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, NY

ASTRONOMY

Astronomy/Space

Jennifer Wiseman, Hubble Fellow, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University

BIOLOGY

Biology

Pamela Mulligan, Ph.D. in Biology

Birds

Jacqueline Weicker, Scientific Assistant, Department of Ornithology, American Museum of Natural History

Breeds

Carole A. Zerbe, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

Ecology

Daniel B. Botkin, Research Professor, University of California–Santa Barbara

Falconry

Frederick W. Holderman, Master Falconer

Insects

Phillip J. Pellitteri, Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Invertebrates

Alan J. Kohn, Professor Emeritus, Zoology, University of Wisconsin

Lower Plants

Carol Brittnacher, undergraduate researcher, University of Washington–St. Louis

Mammals

Link Olsen, Professor, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Northwestern University Medical School

Paleontology

Carl Mendelson, Professor, Department of Geology, Benoit College

Reptiles

Robert B. Stuebing, Associate Professor of Biology, National University of Malaysia and Research Associate, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago

CHEMISTRY

Biochemistry

Pamela Mulligan, Ph.D. in Biology

Chemistry, Inorganic

Thomas Schweiger, Research Associate, E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc.

Chemistry, Organic

Robert C. Everich, Senior Scientist, Makhteshim-Agan of North America, Inc.

COMMERCE

Commerce

Ellen M. Whitener, Professor of Commerce, McIntire School of Commerce, University of Virginia

Currency/Finance

Mark A. White, Associate Professor of Commerce, McIntire School of Commerce, University of Virginia

Economics

Donna M. Bombino, credit analyst

Stock Market

Richard F. DeMong, Chaired Professor, Investments and Corporate Finance, McIntire School of Commerce, University of Virginia

COMPUTING

Computing

Gareth Branwyn, Editor of “Jargon Watch,” Wired

Jeff Prucher, author of Brave New Words

CRAFTS

Carpentry

Kevin Ireton, Chief Editor, Fine Home-building

Printing/Bookbinding

David R. Evans, Professor of English and Chair, Department of English, Speech, and Journalism, Georgia College and State University

EARTH SCIENCES

Epochs

Dale A. Springer, Professor, Geosciences, Department of Geography and Geosciences, Bloomsburg University

Geology/Rocks

Michael J. Soreghan, Lecturer/Researcher, School of Geology and Geophysics, University of Oklahoma

Minerals

Lois K. Ongley, Professor, Geology Department, Bates College

Mining

Helen Mango, Professor, Department of Natural Science, Castleton State College

EDUCATION

Education

Ronald D. Anderson, Professor of Education, University of Colorado

FASHION

Clothing/Dyeing/Needlework/Textiles/Hairdressing

Ursula McCarty

Jewelry

Gary A. Melillo, jewelry designer and sculptor

Knitting

Suzanne Stone Burke, Editor, Oxford University Press

FISHING

Fishing/Commercial Fishing

Edward J. Everich, independent marine consultant

FOOD

Food and Beverages

Mary Deirdre Donovan, Senior Editor, The Culinary Institute of America

FORESTRY

Forestry

Daniel B. Botkin, Research Professor, University of California–Santa Barbara

Timber

R. Bruce Hoadley, Professor, Wood Science and Technology, University of Massachusetts–Amherst

HERALDRY

Heraldry

David Robert Wooten, Fellow, Board of Governors; Secretary-Treasurer, Editor, The Armiger’s News, American College of Heraldry

HISTORY

Archaeology/Greek Antiquities

Joseph Patwell, Editor, Oxford University Press

HORTICULTURE

Flowers, Trees, and Shrubs

Christine A. Lindberg, Senior Project Editor, Oxford University Press

HUMAN BODY

Anatomy

William E. Burkel, Director of Medical Anatomy, University of Michigan Medical School

Physiology

Tomuo Hoshiko, Professor Emeritus of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

HUNTING

Hunting

Ronald D. Anderson, Professor of Education, University of Colorado

Stephen E. Lindberg, hunter

LANGUAGE

Black Slang/Black English

Elysia M. Stobbe, Director, Market Development, Marketing One, Baltimore, MD

Grammar/Greek Letters

Joseph Patwell, Editor, Oxford University Press

Linguistics

William J. Frawley, Professor of Linguistics, University of Delaware

Phonetics

John Bollard, lexicographer and phonetician

Vulgar Slang/Homosexual Terms

Ronald R. Butters, Professor of English and Cultural Anthropology; Chair, Linguistics Program, Duke University

LAW

Law

Bryan A. Garner, attorney and lexicographer; President, LawProse, Inc

Archie Hobson, lexicographer

LITERATURE

Literature

David R. Evans, Professor of English; Chair, Department of English, Speech, and Journalism, Georgia College and State University

Prosody

Sue Ellen Thompson, lexicographer and poet

Rhetoric

Joseph Patwell, Editor, Oxford University Press

MATHEMATICS

Mathematics/Geometry

Michelle LeMasurier, Assistant Professor, Mathematics, Franklin and Marshall College

Statistics

Ingram Olkin, Professor, Statistics and Education, Stanford University

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Aeronautics/Engineering

Ralph Costa, mechanical engineer

Building

Faith Gavin Kuhn, Connecticut Builders & Industry Association (CBIA)

Mechanical Engineering

Benson H. Tongue, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of California–Berkeley

Railroads

National Railway Historical Society

MEDICINE

Medicine

John M. Last, Professor Emeritus, Epidemiology, University of Ottawa

Microbiology

Robert C. Everich, Senior Scientist, Makhteshim-Agan of North America, Inc.

Surgery

William Silen, Johnson & Johnson Distinguished Professor of Surgery; Dean, Faculty Development and Diversity, Harvard Medical School

MILITARY

Weapons/Medals/Rank

William L. Faistenhammer, Colonel, US Army

Military History

Mary R. Habeck, Assistant Professor, Department of History, Yale University

MYTHOLOGY

Mythology

Joseph Patwell, Editor, Oxford University Press

NAUTICAL TERMS

Nautical/Knots

Alan H. Hartley, lexicographer

NUMISMATICS

Numismatics

Robert W. Hoge, Curator, Museum of the American Numismatic Association

PHARMACOLOGY

Drugs

Gail Winger, Senior Research Scientist, Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

PHILATELY

Philately

American Philatelic Society, State College, PA

PHILOSOPHY

Philosophy/Logic

Barry Stroud, Mills Professor of Metaphysics and Epistemology, University of California–Berkeley

PHYSICS

Elements

Robert C. Everich, Senior Scientist, Makhteshim-Agan of North America, Inc.

Optics

Steve E. Watkins, Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Missouri–Rolla

Physics

Harry Lustig, Professor of Physics Emeritus, City College, City University of New York; Treasurer Emeritus, American Physical Society

PSYCHIATRY

Psychiatry

Samuel B. Guze, Spencer T. Olin Professor of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine

PSYCHOLOGY

Psychology

Alan E. Kazdin, Professor and Chair, Department of Psychology, Yale University

RELIGION

Bible

Timothy E. Haut, minister, Congregational Church, Deep River, CT

Buddhism/Hinduism

Leonard Zwilling, University of Wisconsin; Dictionary of American Regional English, Madison, WI

Christianity/Ecclesiology

Peter Rodgers, Rector, St. John’s Episcopal Church, New Haven, CT

Islam

Abdulaziz A. Sachedina, Professor, Islamic Studies, Department of Religious Studies, University of Virginia

Roman Catholic Church

Joseph Patwell, Editor, Oxford University Press

Theology

Maurice Lee, Researcher, Systematic Theology, Yale University

SOCIOLOGY

American Indians

Richard B. Buckley

Ethnic Groups

Alan Hartley, lexicographer

Sociology

Ned Polsky, Professor of Sociology, State University of New York

SPORTS and GAMES

Billiards

Ned Polsky, Professor of Sociology, SUNY; international billiard tournament referee

Bridge/Cards

Carrie Estill, former editor, Dictionary of American Regional English

Chess

Peter J. Kurzdorfer, US Chess Federation titles

Golf

Anthony F. Salvati

Horse Racing

The Jockey Club

Lawn Bowling

Jack Phillips, President, American Lawn Bowls Association

Riding

Jennifer Bryant, Editor-at-Large, USDF Connection (US Dressage Federation magazine)

Sports

Frank R. Abate, lexicographer

Archie Hobson, lexicographer

TELEVISION

Video

Michael Harvey

Preface

The first edition of the groundbreaking New Oxford American Dictionary was published in 2001. For this third edition, more than 2,000 new words, senses, and phrases have been added, and key areas of vocabulary have been reanalyzed, reviewed, and revised. Fast-moving areas such as computing, mobile technology, the media, finance, and the environment have provided many of the new terms, and there is also a great deal of new informal and slang material.

New entries tend to be the focus of attention when a dictionary is published, but in the case of this edition, the revisions to existing entries are at least as significant. In countries such as the US, the UK, and Australia more than 70 percent of households now have Internet access. People not only work and access information and entertainment online, but also conduct their social lives via the Internet. These changes in society are reflected in the language, and in the dictionary: items of core vocabulary such as bookmark, browse, favorite, feed, and friend have new meanings, and other computing-related definitions have been revised to take account of the fact that computers are now part of everyday life.

Oxford Dictionaries is responsible for the largest language research program in the world, constantly monitoring language use of all types in all parts of the English-speaking world. Our primary source for new and revised material is the Oxford English Corpus, a dynamic database of more than two billion words which provides a detailed picture of 21st-century English as an international language. In compiling this new edition, we have also drawn on other sources within Oxford’s language research program, including the database of the Oxford Reading Programme, which now consists of around 100 million words.

Entries for proper names have been revised, with death dates and other changes noted as necessary. For example, the Indian cities formerly known as Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras are now referred to as Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai. All population figures have been researched, and where possible, recent census figures are given.

The Oxford Dictionaries team work alongside the staff of the full historical Oxford English Dictionary, and are very fortunate in being able to call on their resources and expertise. Apart from the contributors listed on the separate credits page, we would like to thank Graeme Diamond and his group for help with drafting new words, Philip Durkin and Katrin Thier for work on etymologies, and Bill Trumble, Alan Hughes, and Jeremy Marshall for advice on scientific entries.

The third edition of the New Oxford American Dictionary is available online as well as in print, via Oxford Dictionaries Online. The site, which is updated regularly, allows much fuller exploration of the dictionary text, and beyond: the user can follow links from dictionary to thesaurus and dictionary to dictionary, consult extra information on usage, grammar, and writing, and view more than 1.9 million illustrative examples of real English. However, although the online dictionary brings undoubted advantages in access and searching, consulting a book can still be the quickest and most convenient way of finding a definition, as well as being an enjoyable method of browsing in its own right.

Note on trademarks and proprietary status

This book includes some words that are, or are asserted to be, proprietary names or trademarks. Their inclusion does not imply that they have acquired for legal purposes a nonproprietary or general significance, nor is any other judgment implied concerning their legal status. In cases where the editor has some evidence that a word is used as a proprietary name or trademark, this is indicated by the designation trademark, but no judgment concerning the legal status of such words is made or implied thereby.

Preface to the first edition

The New Oxford American Dictionary is a completely new American dictionary, written on new principles. It builds on the excellence of the lexicographical traditions of scholarship and analysis of evidence as set down by the Oxford English Dictionary over a century ago, but it is also a new departure. The New Oxford American Dictionary is a dictionary of current American English, based on currently available evidence and current thinking about language and cognition. It is an inventory of the words and meanings of present-day English, both those in actual use and those found in the literature of the past. The compilers have gone to the heart of the traditional practices of dictionary making and reappraised the principles on which lexicography is based. In particular, the focus has been on a different approach to an understanding of “meaning” and how this relates to the structure, organization, and selection of material for the dictionary.

Linguists, cognitive scientists, and others have been developing new techniques for analyzing usage and meaning, and the New Oxford American Dictionary has taken full advantage of these developments. Foremost among them is an emphasis on identifying what is “central and typical,” as distinct from the time-honored search for “necessary conditions” of meaning (that is, a statement of the conditions that would enable someone to pick out all and only the cases of the term being defined). Past attempts to cover the meaning of all possible uses of a word have tended to lead to a blurred, unfocused result, in which the core of the meaning is obscured by many minor uses. In the New Oxford American Dictionary, meanings are linked to central norms of usage as observed in the language. The result is fewer meanings, with sharper, crisper definitions.

The style of definition adopted for the New Oxford American Dictionary aims in part to account for the dynamism, imaginativeness, and flexibility of ordinary American usage. The New Oxford American Dictionary records and explains all normal meanings and uses of well-attested words, but also illustrates transferred, figurative, and derivative meanings, insofar as these are conventional within the language.

The layout and organization of each entry in the dictionary reflect this new approach to meaning. Each entry has at least one core meaning, to which a number of subsenses, logically connected to it, may be attached. The text design is open and accessible, making it easy to find the core meanings and so to navigate the entry as a whole.

At the heart of this dictionary lies the evidence. This evidence forms the basis for everything that we, as lexicographers, are able to say about the language and the words within it. In particular, the large databank of searchable electronic texts collected by Oxford gives, with its 100 million words, a selection of real, modern, and everyday language, equivalent to an ordinary person’s reading over ten years or more. Using computational tools to analyze this databank and other corpora, the editors have been able to look at the behavior of each word in detail in its natural contexts, and so to build up a picture for every word in the dictionary.

Databank analysis has been complemented by analysis of other types of evidence: the New Oxford American Dictionary makes extensive use of the citation database of the Oxford North American Reading Program, a collection of citations (currently standing at over 64 million words and growing at a rate of about 4.5 million words a year) taken from a variety of sources from all the English-speaking countries of the world. In addition, a specially commissioned reading program has targeted previously neglected specialist fields as diverse as computing, alternative medicine, antique collecting, and sports.

The general approach to defining in the New Oxford American Dictionary has particular application for specialist vocabulary. Here, in the context of dealing with highly technical information that may be unfamiliar to the nonspecialist reader, the focus on clarity of expression is of great importance. Avoidance of overtechnical terminology and an emphasis on explaining and describing as well as defining are balanced by the need to maintain a high level of technical information and accuracy. In many cases, additional technical information is presented separately in an easily recognizable alternative format.

The New Oxford American Dictionary views the language from the perspective that English, although a world language, is now centered in the United States, and that American vocabulary and usage deserve special attention. Although the focus is on American English, a network of consultants throughout the English-speaking world has enabled us to ensure excellent coverage of world English, from the United Kingdom and Canada to the Caribbean, India, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. We have been indebted to the opportunities provided for communication by the Internet; lively discussions by e-mail across the oceans have formed an everyday part of the dictionary-making process.

Many people have been involved in the preparation of this dictionary, and thanks are due to them all. The US Dictionaries Program would like to give special thanks to Judy Pearsall, Patrick Hanks, and the lexicographers of the Current English Dictionaries department in the United Kingdom for creating the foundation on which we have built. We would also like to express our gratitude to Stephen Perkins of dataformat.com, without whose patience and intelligence this dictionary would not have been possible.

Introduction

The New Oxford American Dictionary has been compiled according to principles that are quite different from those of traditional American dictionaries. New types of evidence are now available in sufficient quantity to allow lexicographers to construct a picture of the language that is more accurate than has been possible before. The approach to structure and organization within individual entries has been rethought, as has the approach to the selection and presentation of information in every aspect of the dictionary: definitions, choice of examples, grammar, word histories, and every other category. New approaches have been adopted in response to a reappraisal of the workings of language in general and its relationship to the presentation of information in a dictionary in particular. The aim of this introduction is to give the reader background information for using this dictionary and to explain some of the thinking behind these new approaches.

The making of the New Oxford American Dictionary

The information presented in the New Oxford American Dictionary is based on close analysis of how words behave in real, natural language. Behind every dictionary entry are examples of the word in use—often hundreds and thousands of them—which have been analyzed to give information about typical usage, about distribution (whether typically British or typically Canadian, for example), about register (whether informal or derogatory, for example), about currency (whether archaic or dated, for example), and about subject (whether used chiefly in Medicine, Finance, Chemistry, or Sport, for example).

The Oxford English Corpus

A corpus is a collection of texts of written (or spoken) language presented in electronic form. It provides the evidence of how language is used in real situations, from which lexicographers can write accurate and meaningful dictionary entries. Whereas compilers of previous dictionaries were able to base their work on only a limited selection of citations, lexicographers on the New Oxford American Dictionary could analyze hundreds or thousands of examples of each word to see how real language behaves today.

The corpus used on the first edition was the British National Corpus, a database of 100 million words. Revisions made to to this third edition, and new material added to it, have been derived largely from analysis of the new Oxford English Corpus, which contains more than two billion words. All content dates from 2000 at the earliest, and the corpus is regularly updated with the latest material, allowing a true picture of language change to build up.

The Oxford English Corpus represents all types of English, from fiction and specialist journals to everyday newspapers and magazines, and from official reports to the language of Internet message boards, chat rooms, and Twitter. And, as English is a global language, used by an estimated one third of the world’s population, the Oxford English Corpus contains language from all parts of the world—not only from the US and the UK but also from Canada, Australia, the Caribbean, India, Singapore, and South Africa. It is the largest English corpus of its type: the most representative slice of the English language available.

Meanings of words and phrases change and so do spellings, despite the existence of “standard” or “correct” spelling. A strength of the corpus is that it contains not only published works in which the text has been edited but also unpublished and unedited writing like emails and blogs. Some of the most inventive uses and deliberate exploitations of language (as well as simple mistakes) start out in this kind of informal and unselfconscious language, so tracking them is an essential part of tracking the language as a whole.

Analyzing the corpus lets us identify items that occur there but are not covered in the dictionary, and so helps us to draw up a shortlist of potential new entries. It tells us which words are more common than they were ten years ago, and which are rarer; and which words are increasingly being used in a different way, or in a different sense. It also lets us define familiar, established words more accurately, by telling us more about them.

Concordances show at a glance that some combinations of words (called “collocations”) occur together much more often than others. For example, in the concordance on page xv, “end in,” “end the,” and “end up” all occur quite often. But are any of these combinations important enough to be given special treatment in the dictionary?

Recent research has focused on identifying combinations that are not merely frequent but also statistically significant. In the Oxford English Corpus, the two words “end the” occur very frequently together, but they do not form a statistically significant unit, since the word “the” is the most common in the language. The combinations end up and end in, on the other hand, are shown to be more significant and tell us something about the way the verb end behaves in normal use. Of course, a dictionary for general use cannot go into detailed statistical analysis of word combinations, but it can present examples that are typical of normal usage. In the New Oxford American Dictionary, particularly significant or important patterns are highlighted, in bold or in bold italics, e.g.,

end

[no obj.] (end in) have as its final part or result: one in three marriages is now likely to end in divorce.

[no obj.] (end up) eventually reach or come to a specified place, state, or course of action: I ended up in Connecticut | you could end up with a higher income.

For further details, see the section on Grammar.

The corpus also shows that the verb cause is typically used to describe negative events, with typical objects being death, damage, chaos, disturbance, and problems. Most dictionaries define the word neutrally, for example as “make (something) happen,” but armed with the corpus information we have redefined it as “make (something, especially something bad) happen.” Similarly, decline is often defined simply as “become smaller, fewer, or less,” but a look at the corpus shows us that the typical subject is something regarded as good, such as standards, output, or income—when something such as crime decreases it doesn’t decline, it falls. This level of precision and accuracy across a huge range of meaning and usage is part of what makes the Oxford English Corpus unique.

Figure 1 Extract from a short concordance from the Oxford English Corpus, showing the word “end.”

The Oxford Reading Programme

The citation database created by the Oxford Reading Programme is an ongoing research project in which readers around the world select short extracts from a huge variety of specialist and non-specialist sources in all varieties of English. It is a direct development of the program first created when the original Oxford English Dictionary was being compiled in the 19th century. This database currently stands at around 100 million words, and tens of thousands of new citations are added every year.

Illustrative examples

The New Oxford American Dictionary contains many more examples of words in use than any other comparable dictionary. Generally, the examples are there to show typical uses of the word or sense. All examples are authentic, in that they represent actual usage. In the past dictionaries used invented examples, partly because not enough authentic text was available and partly through an assumption that invented examples were better because they could be tailored to the precise needs of the dictionary entry. Such a view finds little favor today, and it is now generally recognized that the “naturalness” provided by authentic examples is of the utmost importance in providing an accurate picture of language in use.

Word trends

Through our analysis of the Oxford English Corpus for the third edition, we have been able to identify some high-profile words whose use has changed significantly since the beginning of the century. Thus, for example, terror is now commonly used as shorthand for terrorism, and web primarily relates to the Internet rather than to spiders. Some of these findings have been presented in a new feature called Word Trends, which give an informal account of the word’s development.

Structure: Core Sense and Subsense

Within an entry the first part of speech is the primary one for that word: thus, for bag and balloon the senses of the noun are given before those for the verb, while for babble and bake the senses of the verb are given before those of the noun.

Within each part of speech, the first definition given is the core sense. The general principle on which the senses in the New Oxford American Dictionary are organized is that each word has at least one core meaning, to which a number of subsenses may be attached. If there is more than one core sense, this is introduced by a bold sense number. Core meanings represent typical, central uses of the word in question in modern standard English, as established by research on and analysis of American and World English through corpora (language databanks) and citation databases.

The core meaning is the one that represents the most literal sense that the word has in ordinary modern American usage. This is not necessarily the same as the oldest meaning, because word meanings change over time. Nor is it necessarily the most frequent meaning, because figurative senses are sometimes the most frequent. It is the meaning accepted by native speakers as the one that is most established as literal and central.

The core sense also acts as a gateway to other, related subsenses. These subsenses are grouped under the core sense, each one being introduced by a solid square symbol.

co·coon /kə'koōn/ ▸ n. a silky case spun by the larvae of many insects for protection in the pupal stage. ■ a covering that prevents the corrosion of metal equipment. ■ something that envelops or surrounds, esp. in a protective or comforting way: the cocoon of her kimono | figurative a warm cocoon of love.

There is a logical relationship between each subsense and the core sense under which it appears. The organization of senses according to this logical relationship is designed to help the user, not only in being able to navigate the entry more easily and find relevant senses more readily, but also in building up an understanding of how senses in the language relate to one another and how the language is constructed on this model. The main types of relationship of core sense to subsense are as follows:

(a) figurative extension of the core sense, e.g.,

barbed

CORE SENSE

having a barb or barbs: barbed arrows.

SUBSENSE

■ (of a remark or joke) deliberately hurtful: a fair degree of barbed wit.

boiling point

CORE SENSE

the temperature at which a liquid boils and turns to vapor.

SUBSENSE

■ the point at which anger or excitement breaks out into violent expression: emotions had reached boiling point and could spill over into violence.

(b) specialized case of the core sense, e.g.,

zone

CORE SENSE

[usu. with modifier] an area or stretch of land having a particular characteristic, purpose, or use, or subject to particular restrictions: a pedestrian zone.

SUBSENSE

■ Geography a well-defined region extending around the earth between definite limits, esp. between two parallels of latitude: a zone of easterly winds.

SUBSENSE

■ Sports in basketball, football, and hockey, a specific area of the court, field, or rink, esp. one to be defended by a particular player.

demand

CORE SENSE

an insistent and peremptory request, made as if by right: a series of demands for far-reaching reforms.

SUBSENSE

■ Economics the desire of purchasers, consumers, clients, employers, etc., for a particular commodity, service, or other item: a recent slump in demand | a demand for specialists.

(c) other extension or shift in meaning, retaining one or more elements of the core sense, e.g.,

bamboo

CORE SENSE

■ a giant woody grass that grows chiefly in the tropics, where it is widely cultivated.

SUBSENSE

■ the hollow jointed stem of this plant, used as a cane or to make furniture and implements: [as modifier] a bamboo serving tray.

management

CORE SENSE

the process of dealing with or controlling things or people: the management of elk herds.

SUBSENSE

■ Medicine & Psychiatry the treatment or control of diseases, injuries, or disorders, or the care of patients who suffer from them: the use of combination chemotherapy in the management of breast cancer.

mandarin

CORE SENSE

an official in any of the nine top grades of the former imperial Chinese civil service.

SUBSENSE

■ a powerful official or senior bureaucrat, esp. one perceived as reactionary and secretive: a civil service mandarin.

Many entries have just one core sense. However, some entries are more complex and have different strands of meaning, each constituting a core sense. In this case, each core sense is introduced by a bold sense number, and each potentially has its own block of subsenses relating to it.

belt /belt/ ▸ n. 1 a strip of leather or other material worn around the waist or across the chest, esp. in order to support clothes or carry weapons: a sword belt | [as modifier] a belt buckle, ■ short for SEAT BELT. ■ a belt worn as a sign of rank or achievement: he was awarded the victor's belt, ■ a belt of a specified color, marking the attainment of a particular level in judo, karate, or similar sports: [as modifier] brown-belt level. ■ a person who has reached such a level: I am a karate black belt. ■ (the belt) the punishment of being struck with a belt.
2 a strip of material used in various technical applications, in particular: ■ a continuous band of material used in machinery for transferring motion from one wheel to another. ■ a conveyor belt. ■ a flexible strip carrying machine-gun cartridges.

Specialist Vocabulary

One of the most important uses of a dictionary is to provide explanations of terms in specialized fields that are unfamiliar to a general reader. Yet in many traditional dictionaries, the definitions have been written by specialists as if for other specialists, and as a result the definitions are often opaque and difficult to understand.

One of the primary aims of the New Oxford American Dictionary has been to break down the barriers to understanding specialist vocabulary. The challenge has been, on the one hand, to give information that is comprehensible, relevant, and readable, while on the other hand maintaining the high level of technical information and accuracy suitable for the more specialist reader.

This has been achieved in some cases, notably entries for plants and animals and chemical substances, by separating technical information from the rest of the definition:

A·mier·i·can croc·o·dile ▸ n. a crocodile with a long tapering head, occurring from southernmost Florida to Ecuador. • Crocodylus acutus, family Crocodylidae.

ben·zo·py·rene /ˌbenzō'pīrēn/ ▸ n. Chemistry a compound that is the major carcinogen present in cigarette smoke. It also occurs in coal tar. • A polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; chem. formula: C_20H_12.

In other cases, it is achieved by giving additional explanatory information within the definition itself:

curl·ing /'kərlíNG/ ▸ n. a game played on ice, esp. in Scotland and Canada, in which large, round, flat stones are slid across the surface toward a mark. Members of a team use brooms to sweep the surface of the ice in the path of the stone to control its speed and direction.

al·che·my /'alkəmē/ ▸ n. the medieval forerunner of chemistry, based on the supposed transformation of matter. It was concerned particularly with attempts to convert base metals into gold or to find a universal elixir. ■ a seemingly magical process of transformation, creation, or combination: finding the person who's right for you requires a very subtle alchemy.

As elsewhere, the purpose is to give information that is relevant and interesting, aiming not just to define the word but also to describe and explain its context in the real world. Additional information of this type, where it is substantial, is given in the form of separate boxed features:

earth /ərTH/ ▸ n. 1 (also Earth) the planet on which we live; the world: the diversity of life on earth. ■ the surface of the world as distinct from the sky or the sea: it plummeted back to earth at 60 mph. ■ the present abode of humankind, as distinct from heaven or hell.

The earth is the third planet from the sun in the solar system, orbiting between Venus and Mars at an average distance of 90 million miles (149.6 million km) from the sun, and has one natural satellite, the moon. It has an equatorial diameter of 7,654 miles (12,756 km), an average density 5.5 times that of water, and is believed to have formed about 4,600 million years ago. The earth, which is three-quarters covered by oceans and has a dense atmosphere of nitrogen and oxygen, is the only planet known to support life.

E·o·cene /'ēəˌsēn/ ▸ adj. Geology of, relating to, or denoting the second epoch of the Tertiary period, between the Paleocene and Oligocene epochs. ■ (as noun the Eocene) the Eocene epoch or the system of rocks deposited during it.

The Eocene epoch lasted from 56.5 million to 35.4 million years ago. It was a time of rising temperatures, and there was an abundance of mammals, including the first horses, bats, and whales.

An especially important feature of the New Oxford American Dictionary is the coverage of American animals and plants. In-depth research and a thorough review have been carried out for animals and plants in the Americas and throughout the world and, as a result, a large number of entries have been included that have never before been included in general American dictionaries. The style and presentation of these entries follow the general principles for specialist vocabulary in the New Oxford American Dictionary: the entries not only give the technical information, but also describe, in everyday English, the appearance and other characteristics (of behavior, medicinal or culinary use, mythological significance, reason for the name, etc.), and the typical habitat and distribution:

mes·o·saur /'mezaˌ sôrˌ 'mē-/ (also mesosaurus /ˌmezə'sôrəs/) ▸ n. an extinct small aquatic reptile of the early Permian period, with an elongated body, flattened tail, and a long narrow snout with numerous needlelike teeth. • Genus Mesosaurus, order Mesosauria, subclass Anapsida.

black·tail deer /'blakˌtāl/ (also black-tailed deer) ▸ n. a type of mule deer with black markings on the upper side of its tail, found west of the crest of the Cascade Mountains. • Odocoileus hemionus subsp. columhianus, family Cervidae.

chi·a/ 'CHēə/ ▸ n. a plant of the mint family with clusters of small two-lipped purple flowers. Chia is common throughout California and the Great Basin. • Salvia columhariae, family Labiatae.

Encyclopedic Material

Some dictionaries do not include entries for the names of people and places and other proper names, or include them only in separate sections. The argument for this is based on a distinction between “words” and “facts,” by which dictionaries are about “words” while encyclopedias and other reference works are about “facts.” The distinction is an interesting theoretical one, but in practice there is a considerable overlap: names such as Shakespeare and Mississippi are as much part of the language as words such as drama or river, and they belong in a large dictionary.

The New Oxford American Dictionary includes all those terms forming part of the enduring common knowledge of English speakers, regardless of whether they are classified as “words” or “names.” The information given is the kind of information that people are likely to need from a dictionary, however that information may traditionally be classified. Both the style of definitions in the New Oxford American Dictionary and the inclusion of additional material in separate blocks reflect this approach.

The New Oxford American Dictionary includes more than 5,000 place-name entries, 4,000 biographical entries, and just under 3,000 other proper names. The biographical entries are designed to provide not just the basic facts (such as birth and death dates, full name, and nationality), but also a brief context giving information about, for example, a person’s life and why he or she is important. For a few particularly important encyclopedic entries—for example, countries—a fuller treatment is given and additional information appears in a separate boxed note.

Grammar

In recent years, grammar has begun to enjoy greater prominence than in the past few decades. It is once again being taught explicitly in schools throughout the United States. In addition, there is a recognition that different meanings of a word are closely associated with different lexical and syntactic patterns. The New Oxford American Dictionary records and exemplifies the most important of these patterns at the relevant senses of each word, thus giving guidance on language use as well as word meaning.

For example, with the word bomb, it is possible to distinguish the main senses of the verb simply on the basis of the grammar: whether the verb is transitive (takes a direct object) or intransitive (no direct object):

CORE SENSE

attack *(a place or vehicle)* with a bomb or bombs: *London* was bombed, night after night.

grammar

[with obj.]

(the asterisks shown here match the direct object in the example with the parenthetical item in the definition)

CORE SENSE

informal (of a movie, play, or other event) fail miserably: a big-budget movie that bombed at the box office.

grammar

[no obj.]

This has particular relevance for a dictionary such as the New Oxford American Dictionary, where the aim is to present information in such a way that it helps to explain the structure of the language itself, not just the meanings of individual senses. For this reason, special attention has been paid to the grammar of each word, and grammatical structures are given explicitly.

Where possible, the syntactic behavior of a word is presented directly: for example, if a verb is normally found in a particular sense followed by a certain preposition, this is indicated before the definition, in bold:

build

(build on) use as a basis for further progress or development: the nation should build on the talents of its workforce.

In other cases, collocations that are typical of the term in use, although not obligatory, are shown highlighted within the example sentence:

ball game

a particular situation, esp. one that is completely different from the previous situation: making the film was a whole new ball game for her.

bet

a candidate or course of action to choose; an option: your best bet is to call a professional exterminator.

Great efforts have been made to use a minimum of specialist terminology. Nevertheless, a small number of terms are essential in explaining the grammar of a word. The less familiar terms are explained below. All terms are, of course, defined and explained under their own entries in the dictionary.

Terms relating to nouns

[as modifier]: used to mark a noun that can be placed before another noun in order to modify its meaning, e.g.,

boom

[often as modifier] a movable arm over a television or movie set, carrying a microphone or camera: a boom mike.

bedside

the space beside a bed, typically that of someone who is ill: he was summoned to the bedside of a dying man | [as modifier] a bedside lamp.

[treated as sing.]: used to mark a noun that is plural in form but is used with a singular verb, e.g., mumps in mumps is one of the major childhood diseases or genetics in genetics has played a major role in this work.

[treated as sing. or pl.]: used to mark a noun that can be used with either a singular or a plural verb without any change in meaning or in the form of the headword (often called collective nouns, because they typically denote groups of people considered collectively), e.g., the staff are committed to this policy or the staff is trying to gag its critics.

[in sing.]: used to mark a noun that is used as a count noun but is never or rarely found in the plural, e.g., ear in an ear for rhythm.

Terms relating to verbs

[with obj.]: used to mark a verb that is transitive, i.e., takes a direct object (the type of direct object often being shown in parentheses in the definition), e.g.,

escort

[with obj.] accompany (someone or something) somewhere, esp. for protection or security, or as a mark of rank: Shiona escorted Janice to the door | the shipment was escorted by armed patrol boats.

[no obj.]: used to mark a verb that is intransitive, i.e., takes no direct object, e.g.,

quibble

[no obj.] argue or raise objections about a trivial matter: they are always quibbling about the amount they are prepared to pay.

[with adverbial]: used to mark a verb that takes an obligatory adverbial, typically a prepositional phrase, without which the sentence in which the verb occurs would sound unnatural or weird, e.g.,

glare

[with adverbial] (of the sun or an electric light) shine with a strong or dazzling light: the sun glared out of a clear blue sky.

Terms relating to adjectives

[attrib.]: used to mark an adjective that is normally used attributively, i.e., comes before the noun that it modifies, e.g., certain in a certain man (not the man is certain, which has a very different meaning). Note that attributive use is standard for many adjectives, especially in specialist fields: the [attrib.] label is used only to mark those cases in which predicative use would be less usual.

[predic.]: used to mark an adjective that is normally used predicatively, i.e., comes after the verb, e.g., alike in the brothers were alike (not the alike brothers).

[postpositive]: used to mark an adjective that is used postpositively, i.e., typically comes immediately after the noun that it modifies (such uses are unusual in English and generally arise because the adjective has been adopted from a language where postpositive use is standard), e.g., galore in there were prizes galore.

Terms relating to adverbs

[sentence adverb]: used to mark an adverb that stands outside a sentence or clause, providing commentary on it as a whole or showing the speaker’s or writer’s attitude to what is being said, rather than the manner in which something was done. Sentence adverbs most frequently express the speaker’s or writer’s point of view, although they may also be used to set a context by stating a field of reference, e.g.,

certainly

[sentence adverb] undoubtedly; definitely; surely: the prestigious address certainly adds to the firm’s appeal | it certainly isn’t worth risking your life.

[as submodifier]: used to mark an adverb that is used to modify an adjective or another adverb, e.g.,

comparatively

[as submodifier] to a moderate degree as compared to something else; relatively: inflation was comparatively low.

Word Histories

The etymologies in standard dictionaries explain the language from which a word was brought into English, the period at which it is first recorded in English, and the development of modern word forms. While the New Oxford American Dictionary does this, it also goes further. It explains sense development as well as morphological (or form) development. Information is presented clearly and with a minimum of technical terminology, and the perspective taken is that of the general reader who would like to know about word origins but who is not a philological specialist. In this context, the history of how and why a particular meaning developed from an apparently quite different older meaning is likely to be at least as interesting as, for example, what the original form was in Latin or Greek.

For example, the word history for the word oaf shows how the present meaning developed from the meaning ‘elf,’ while the entry for compass shows how the sense ‘magnetic compass’ may have been influenced by Italian:

oaf /ōf/ ▸ n. a stupid, uncultured, or clumsy person.

– ORIGIN early 17th cent.: variant of obsolete auf, from Old Norse álfr ‘elf.’ The original meaning was ‘elf’s child, changeling,’ later ‘idiot child’ and ‘halfwit,’ generalized in the current sense.

com·pass /'kəmpes/ ▸ n. 1 (also magnetic compass) an instrument containing a magnetized pointer that shows the direction of magnetic north and bearings from it.

– ORIGIN Middle English: from Old French compás (noun), compasser (verb), based on Latin com- ‘together’ + passus ‘a step or pace.’ Several senses (‘measure,’ ‘artifice,’ ‘circumscribed area,’ and ‘pair of compasses’) that appeared in Middle English are also found in Old French, but their development and origin are uncertain. The transference of sense to the magnetic compass is held to have occurred in the related Italian word compasso, from the circular shape of the compass box.

Additional special features of the New Oxford American Dictionary include “internal etymologies” and “folk etymologies.” Internal etymologies are given within entries to explain the origin of particular senses, phrases, or idioms. For example, how did the figurative use of red herring come about? Why do we call something a flash in the pan?

red her·ring ▸ n. 1 a dried smoked herring, which is turned red by the smoke.
2 something, esp. a clue, that is or is intended to be misleading or distracting: the book is fast-paced, exciting, and full of red herrings, [so named from the practice of using the scent of red herring in training hounds.]

– PHRASES flash in the pan a thing or person whose sudden but brief success is not repeated or repeatable: our start to the season was just a flash in the pan. [with allusion to the priming of a firearm, the flash arising from an explosion of gunpowder from the pan within the lock.]

The New Oxford American Dictionary presents the information in a straightforward, user-friendly fashion immediately following the relevant definition. In a similar vein, folk etymologies—those explanations that are unfounded but nevertheless well known to many people—have traditionally simply been ignored in dictionaries. The New Oxford American Dictionary gives an account of widely held but often erroneous folk etymologies for the benefit of the general reader, explaining competing theories and assessing their relative merits where applicable.

posh /päSH/ informal ▸ adj. elegant or stylishly luxurious: a posh Munich hotel. ■ chiefly Brit, typical of or belonging to the upper class of society: she had a posh accent.

– ORIGIN early 20th cent.: perhaps from slang posh, denoting a dandy. There is no evidence to support the folk etymology that posh is formed from the initials of port out starboard home (referring to the practice of using the more comfortable accommodations, out of the heat of the sun, on ships between England and India).

snob /snäb/ ▸ n. a person with an exaggerated respect for high social position or wealth who seeks to associate with social superiors and dislikes people or activities regarded as lower-class. ■ [with adj. or noun modifier] a person who believes that their tastes in a particular area are superior to those of other people: a musical snob.

– DERIVATIVES snob·bism /-ˌbizəm/n., snob-by adj. (snobbier, snobbiest).

– ORIGIN late 18th cent, (originally dialect in the sense ‘cobbler’): of unknown origin; early senses conveyed a notion of ‘lower status or rank,’ later denoting a person seeking to imitate those of superior social standing or wealth. Folk etymology connects the word with Latin sine nohilitate ‘without nobility’ but the earliest recorded sense has no connection with this.

Researching word histories is similar in some respects to archaeology: the evidence is often partial or not there at all, and etymologists must make informed decisions using the evidence available, however inadequate it may be. From time to time, new evidence becomes available, and the known history of a word may need to be reconsidered. In this, the New Oxford American Dictionary has been able to draw on the extensive expertise and ongoing research of the Oxford English Dictionary.

Usage Notes

Interest in questions of good usage is widespread among English speakers everywhere, and many issues are hotly debated. In the New Oxford American Dictionary, traditional issues have been reappraised, and guidance is given on various points, old and new. The aim is to help people to use the language more accurately, more clearly, and more elegantly, and to give information and offer reassurance in the face of some of the more baffling assertions about “correctness” that are sometimes made.

This reappraisal has involved looking carefully at evidence of actual usage (in the Oxford English Corpus, the citations collected by the Oxford Reading Programme, and other sources) in order to find out where mistakes are actually being made, and where confusion and ambiguity actually arise. The issues on which journalists and others tend to comment have been reassessed and a judgment made about whether their comments are justified.

From the 15th century onward, traditionalists have been objecting to particular senses of certain English words and phrases, for example, “due to” and “hopefully.” Certain grammatical structures, too, have been singled out for adverse comment, notably the split infinitive and the use of a preposition at the end of a clause. Some of these objections are founded on very dubious arguments, for example, the notion that English grammatical structures should precisely parallel those of Latin or that meaning change of any kind is inherently suspect.

USAGE There is a traditional view, as set forth by the 17th-century poet and dramatist John Dryden, that it is incorrect to put a preposition at the end of a sentence, as in where do you come from? or she’s not a writer I’ve ever come across. The rule was formulated on the basis that, since in Latin a preposition cannot come after the word it governs or is linked with, the same should be true of English. What this rule fails to take into account is that English is not like Latin in this respect, and in many cases (particularly in questions and with phrasal verbs) the attempt to move the preposition produces awkward, unnatural-sounding results. Winston Churchill famously objected to the rule, saying “This is the sort of English up with which I will not put.” In standard English the placing of a preposition at the end of a sentence is widely accepted, provided the use sounds natural and the meaning is clear.

USAGE The use of due to as a prepositional phrase meaning ‘because of,’ as in he had to retire due to an injury first appeared in print in 1897, and traditional grammarians have opposed this prepositional usage for more than a century on the grounds that it is a misuse of the adjectival phrase due to in the sense of ‘attributable to, likely or expected to’ (the train is due to arrive at 11:15), or ‘payable or owed to’ (render unto Caesar what is due to Caesar). Nevertheless, this prepositional usage is now widespread and common in all types of literature and must be regarded as standard English. The phrase due to the fact that is very common in speech, but it is wordy, and, especially in writing, one should use the simple word ‘because.’

USAGE The traditional sense of hopefully, ‘in a hopeful manner’ (he stared hopefully at the trophy), has been used since 1593. The first recorded use of hopefully as a sentence adverb, meaning ‘it is to be hoped that’ (hopefully, we’ll see you tomorrow), appears in 1702 in the Magnalia Christi Americana, written by Massachusetts theologian and writer Cotton Mather. This use of hopefully is now the most common one. Sentence adverbs in general (frankly, honestly, regrettably, seriously) are found in English since at least the 1600s, and their use has become common in recent decades. However, most traditionalists take the view that all sentence adverbs are inherently suspect. Although they concede that the battle over hopefully is lost on the popular front, they continue to withhold approval of its use as a sentence adverb. Attentive ears are particularly bothered when the sentence that follows does not match the promise of the introductory adverb, as when frankly is followed not by an expression of honesty but by a self-serving proclamation (frankly, I don’t care if you go or not). See also usage at SENTENCE ADVERB and THANKFULLY.

The usage notes in the New Oxford American Dictionary take the view that English is English, not Latin, and that English is, like all living languages, subject to change. Good usage is usage that gets the speaker’s or writer’s message across, not usage that conforms to some arbitrary rules that fly in the face of historical fact or current evidence. The editors of the New Oxford American Dictionary are well aware that the prescriptions of pundits in the past have had remarkably little practical effect on the way the language is actually used. A good dictionary reports the language as it is, not as the editors (or anyone else) would wish it to be, and the usage notes must give guidance that accords with observed facts about present-day usage.

This is not to imply that the issues are straightforward or that there are simple solutions, however. Much of the debate about use of language is highly political, and controversy is, occasionally, inevitable. Changing social attitudes have stigmatized long-established uses, such as the word “man” to denote the human race in general, and have highlighted the absence of a gender-neutral singular pronoun meaning both “he” and “she” (for which purpose “they” is now often used). Similarly, words such as “race” and “native” are now associated with particular problems of sensitivity in use. The usage notes in the New Oxford American Dictionary offer information and practical advice on such issues.

USAGE Traditionally, the word man has been used to refer not only to adult males but also to human beings in general, regardless of sex. There is a historical explanation for this: in Old English, the principal sense of man was ‘a human being,’ and the words wer and wif were used to refer specifically to ‘a male person’ and ‘a female person,’ respectively. Subsequently, man replaced wer as the normal term for ‘a male person,’ but at the same time the older sense ‘a human being’ remained in use. In the second half of the 20th century, the generic use of man to refer to ‘human beings in general’ (as in reptiles were here long before man appeared on the earth) became problematic; the use is now often regarded as sexist or old-fashioned. In some contexts, terms such as the human race or humankind may be used instead of man or mankind. Certain fixed phrases and sayings, such as time and tide wait for no man can be easily rephrased (e.g., time and tide wait for no one). Alternatives for other related terms exist as well: the noun manpower, for example, can usually be replaced with staff or crew, and in most cases, the verbal form to man can be expressed as to staff or to operate.

USAGE In contexts such as a native of Boston or New York in the summer was too hot even for the natives, the noun native is quite acceptable. But when it is used to mean ‘a nonwhite original inhabitant of a country,’ as in this dance is a favorite with the natives, it is more problematic. This meaning has an old-fashioned feel and, because of its associations with a colonial European outlook, it may cause offense.

Standard English

Unless otherwise stated, the words and senses recorded in this dictionary are all part of standard English; that is, they are in normal use in both speech and writing everywhere in the world, at many different levels of formality, ranging from official documents to casual conversation. Some words, however, are appropriate only in particular contexts, and these are labeled accordingly. The technical term for a particular level of use in language is register.

The New Oxford American Dictionary uses the following register labels:

formal: normally used only in writing, in contexts such as official documents.

informal: normally used only in contexts such as conversations or letters between friends.

dated: no longer used by the majority of English speakers, but still encountered occasionally, especially among the older generation.

archaic: very old-fashioned language, not in ordinary use at all today, but sometimes used to give a deliberately old-fashioned effect, or found in works of the past that are still widely read.

historical: still used today, but only to refer to some practice or artifact that is no longer part of the modern world.

literary: found only or mainly in literature written in an “elevated” style.

technical: normally used only in technical and specialist language, though not necessarily restricted to any specific subject field.

rare: not in normal use.

humorous: used with the intention of sounding funny or playful.

dialect: not used in standard American English, but still widely used in certain local regions of the United States.

offensive: language that is likely to cause offense, particularly ethnic or racial offense, whether the speaker intends it or not.

derogatory: language intended to convey a low opinion or cause personal offense.

vulgar slang: informal language that may cause offense, often because it refers to the bodily functions of sexual activity or excretion, which are still widely regarded as taboo.

World English

English is spoken as a first language by more than 300 million people throughout the world, and used as a second language by many millions more. It is the language of international communication in business, diplomacy, sports, science, technology, and countless other fields.

The main regional standards are American, British, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand, South African, Indian, and West Indian. Within each of these regional varieties, a number of highly differentiated local dialects may be found. For example, within American English, Southern and Appalachian English have a long history and a number of distinctive features, which have in turn influenced other varieties.

The scope of a dictionary such as the New Oxford American Dictionary, given the breadth of material it aims to cover, must be limited for the most part to the vocabulary of the standard language of the United States rather than world English variation. Nevertheless, the New Oxford American Dictionary includes thousands of regionalisms encountered in standard contexts in the different English-speaking areas of the world, e.g.,

bun·yip /'bənyip/ ▸ n. Austral. 1 a mythical amphibious monster inhabiting inland waterways.
2 [often as modifier] an impostor or pretender:
Australia's bunyip aristocracy.

– ORIGIN from Wemba-Wemba banib.

ka·ross /kə'räs/ ▸ n. S. African a rug or blanket of sewn animal skins, formerly worn as a garment by African people, now used as a bed or floor covering.

– ORIGIN South African Dutch, from Khoikhoi karos.

par·kade /pär'kād/ ▸ n. Canadian a multistory parking garage.

– ORIGIN 1950s: from PARK, on the pattern of arcade.

ser·vi·ette /ˌsarvē'et/ ▸ n. Brit & Canadian a table napkin.

– ORIGIN late 15th cent.: from Old French, from servir ‘to serve.’

snog /snäg/ Brit. informal ▸ v. (snogs, snogging, snogged) [with obi.] kiss and caress amorously.

▸ n. an act or spell of amorous kissing and caressing.

– DERIVATIVES snog·ger n.

– ORIGIN 1940s: of unknown origin.

tuque /t(y)oōk/ ▸ n. Canadian a close-fitting knitted stocking cap.

– ORIGIN Canadian French form of TOQUE.

tyke /tīk/ (also tike) ▸ n. 1 [usu. with adj.] informal a small child: is the little tyke up to his tricks again? ■ [usu. as modifier] Canadian an initiation level of sports competition for young children: tyke hockey.
2 dated, chiefly Brit, an unpleasant or coarse man.
3 a dog, esp. a mongrel.

– ORIGIN late Middle English (sense 2 and sense 3): from Old Norse tík ‘bitch.’

The underlying approach has been to get away from the traditional, parochial notion that “correct” English belongs to a chosen few in any one geographical area or social class. A network of consultants in all parts of the English-speaking world has assisted in this by giving information and answering queries—by e-mail, on a regular, often daily basis—on all aspects of the language in a particular region. Often, the aim has been to find out whether a particular word, sense, or expression, well known and standard in American English, is used anywhere else. The picture that emerges is one of complex interactions among an overlapping set of regional standards.

The vast majority of words and senses in the New Oxford American Dictionary are common to all the major regional standard varieties of English, but where important local differences exist, the New Oxford American Dictionary records them. There are over 6,000 geographical labels on words and senses in this dictionary, but this contrasts with more than ten times that number that are not labeled at all.

The complexity of the overall picture has necessarily been simplified, principally for reasons of space and clarity of presentation. For example, a label such as “chiefly Brit.” implies, but does not state, that a term is not standard in American English, though it may nevertheless be found in some local varieties in the United States. The label “Brit.,” on the other hand, implies that the use is found typically in standard British English but is not found in standard American English, though it may be found elsewhere.

Spelling

It is often said that English spelling is both irregular and illogical, and it is certainly true that it is only indirectly related to contemporary pronunciation. English spelling reflects not modern pronunciation but the pronunciation of the 16th and 17th centuries, in particular through the influence of the works of Shakespeare and the Authorized Version of the Bible. However, in the two centuries between Chaucer and Shakespeare, English pronunciation had undergone huge changes, but spelling had failed to follow.

In the 18th century, standard spelling became almost completely fixed. The dictionaries written in this period, particularly Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary of the English Language (1755), helped establish this standard, which, with only minor change and variation, is the standard accepted in British English today. Just over fifty years after the American colonies became independent, in 1828, Noah Webster published a dictionary with many of the spellings that we recognize today as being distinctly American rather than British. The complex history of the English language, together with the absence of any ruling body imposing “spelling reform,” has ensured that many idiosyncrasies and anomalies in standard spelling have not only arisen but have also been preserved.

The New Oxford American Dictionary gives advice and information on spelling, particularly those cases that are irregular or that otherwise cause difficulty for native speakers. The main categories are summarized below.

Variant spellings

The main form of each word given in the New Oxford American Dictionary is always the standard American spelling. If there is a standard variant, e.g., a standard British spelling variant, this is indicated at the top of the entry and is cross-referred if its alphabetical position is more than five entries distant from the main entry.

esophagus (Brit, oesophagus)

oesophagus British spelling of ESOPHAGUS.

phyllo (also filo)

filo variant spelling of PHYLLO.

Other variants, such as archaic, old-fashioned, or informal spellings, are cross-referred to the main entry, but are not themselves listed at the parent entry.

cyder archaic spelling of CIDER.

Hyphenation

Although standard spelling in English is fixed, the use of hyphenation is not. In standard American English, a few general rules are followed, and these are outlined below.

Hyphenation of noun compounds: There is no hard-and-fast rule to determine whether, for example, airstream, air stream, or air-stream is correct. All forms are found in use: all are recorded in the Oxford English Corpus and other standard texts. However, there is a broad tendency to avoid hyphenation for noun compounds in modern English (except when used to show grammatical function: see below). Thus there is, for example, a preference for airstream rather than air-stream, and for air raid rather than air-raid. Although this is a tendency in both American and British English, there is an additional preference in American English for the form to be one word and in British English for the form to be two words—e.g., airfare tends to be the most common form in American English, while air fare tends to be the most common form in British English. To save space and avoid confusion, only one of the three potential forms of each noun compound (the standard American one) is generally used as the headword form in the New Oxford American Dictionary. This does not, however, imply that other forms are incorrect or not used.

Grammatical function: Hyphens are also used to perform certain grammatical functions. When a noun compound made up of two separate words (e.g., credit card) is placed before another noun and used to modify it, the general rule is that the noun compound becomes hyphenated, e.g., I have overused my credit card and am now in credit-card debt. This sort of regular alternation is seen in example sentences in the New Oxford American Dictionary but is not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the dictionary entries.

A similar alternation is found in compound adjectives such as well intentioned. When used predicatively (i.e., after the verb), such adjectives are unhyphenated, but when used attributively (i.e., before the noun), they are hyphenated: his remarks were well intentioned; a well-intentioned remark.

A general rule governing verb compounds means that, where a noun compound is two words (e.g., beta test), any verb derived from it is normally hyphenated (to beta-test: the system was beta-tested). Similarly, verbal nouns and adjectives are more often hyphenated than ordinary noun or adjective compounds (e.g., epoch-making, nation-building).

Inflection

Compared with other languages, English has comparatively few inflections, and those that exist are remarkably regular. We add an -s to most nouns to make a plural; we add -ed to most verbs to make a past tense or a past participle, and -ing to make a present participle.

Occasionally, a difficulty arises: for example, a single consonant after a short stressed vowel is doubled before adding -ed or -ing (hum, hums, humming, hummed). In addition, words borrowed from other languages generally bring their foreign inflections with them, causing problems for English speakers who are not proficient in those languages.

In all such cases, guidance is given in the New Oxford American Dictionary. The main areas covered are outlined below.

Verbs

The following forms are regarded as regular and are therefore not shown in the dictionary:

- third person singular present forms adding -s to the stem (or -es to stems ending in -s, -x, -z, -sh, or soft -ch), e.g., find ➤ finds; crush ➤ crushes

- past tenses and past participles dropping a final silent e and adding -ed to the stem, e.g., change ➤ changed; dance ➤ danced

- present participles dropping a final silent e and adding -ing to the stem, e.g., change ➤ changing; dance ➤ dancing

Other forms are given in the dictionary, notably for:

- verbs that inflect by doubling a consonant, e.g., bat ➤ bats, batting, batted

- verbs ending in -y that inflect by changing -y to -i, e.g., try ➤ tries, trying, tried

- verbs in which past tense and past participle do not follow the regular -ed pattern, e.g., feel ➤ past felt; awake ➤ past awoke; ➤ past part. awoken

- present participles that add -ing but retain a final e (in order to make clear that the pronunciation of g remains soft), e.g., singe ➤ singeing

Nouns

Plurals formed by adding -s (or -es when they end in -s, -x, -z, -sh, or soft -ch) are regarded as regular and are not shown, e.g., dog ➤ dogs; lunch ➤ lunches

Other plural forms are given in the dictionary, notably for:

- nouns ending in -i or -o, e.g., agouti ➤ agoutis; albino ➤ albinos

- nouns ending in -a, -um, or -us that are or appear to be Latinate forms, e.g., alumna ➤ alumnae; spectrum ➤ spectra; alveolus ➤ alveoli

- nouns ending in -y, e.g., fly ➤ flies; party ➤ parties

- nouns with more than one plural form, e.g., crux ➤ cruxes or cruces; money ➤ moneys or monies

- nouns with plurals showing a change in the stem, e.g., foot ➤ feet; louse ➤ lice

- nouns with plurals unchanged from the singular form, e.g., sheep ➤ (pl. same); bonsai ➤ (pl. same)

Adjectives

The following forms for comparative and superlative are regarded as regular and are not shown in the dictionary:

- words of one syllable adding -er and -est, e.g., great ➤ greater, greatest

- words of one syllable ending in silent e, which drop the -e and add -er and -est, e.g., brave ➤ braver, bravest

- words that form the comparative and superlative by adding “more” and “most”; e.g., beautiful ➤ more beautiful, most beautiful

Other forms are given in the dictionary, notably for:

- adjectives that form the comparative and superlative by doubling a final consonant, e.g., hot ➤ hotter, hottest

- two-syllable adjectives that form the comparative and superlative with -er and -est (typically adjectives ending in -y and their negative forms), e.g., happy ➤ happier, happiest; unhappy ➤ unhappier, unhappiest.

How to use this dictionary

Key to pronunciations

This dictionary uses a simple respelling system to show how entries are pronounced, using the symbols listed below. Generally, only the first of two or more identical headwords will have a pronunciation respelling. Where a derivative simply adds a common suffix such as -less, -ness, or -ly to the headword, the derivative may not have a pronunciation respelling unless some other element of the pronunciation also changes.

a

as in hat /hat/, fashion /'faSHən/, carry /'karē/

ā

as in day /dā/, rate /rāt/, maid /mād/, prey /prā/

ä

as in lot /lät/, father /'fäTHər/, barnyard /'bärn'yärd/

b

as in big /big/

CH

as in church /CHərch/, picture /'pikCHər/

d

as in dog /dôg/, bed /bed/

e

as in men /men/, bet /bet/, ferry /'ferē/

ē

as in feet /fēt/, receive /ri'sēv/

e(ə)r

as in air /e(ə)r/, care /ke(ə)r/

ə

as in about /ə'bout/, soda /'sōdə/, mother /'məthər/, person /'pərsən/

f

as in free /frē/, graph /graf/, tough /təf/

g

as in get /get/, exist /ig'zist/, egg /eg/

h

as in her /hər/, behave /bi'hāv/

i

as in fit /fit/, guild /gild/, women /'wimin/

ī

as in time /tīm/, guide /gīd/, hire /hī(ə)r/, sky /skī/

i(ə)r

as in ear /i(ə)r/, beer /bi(ə)r/, pierce /pi(ə)rs/

j

as in judge /jəj/, carriage /'karij/

k

as in kettle /'ketl/, cut /kət/, quick /kwik/

l

as in lap /lap/, cellar /'selər/, cradle /'krādl/

m

as in main /mān/, dam /dam/

n

as in need /nēd/, honor /'änər/, maiden /'mādn/

NG

as in sing /siNG/, anger /'aNGgər/

ō

as in go /gō/, promote /prə'mōt/

ô

as in law /lô/, thought /thôt/, lore /lôr/

oi

as in boy /boi/, noisy /'noizē/

oŏ

as in wood /woŏd/, football /'foŏt'bôl/, sure /SHoŏr/

oō

as in food /foōd/, music /'myoōzik/

ou

as in mouse /mous/, coward /'kou(ə)rd/

p

as in put /poŏt/, cap /kap/

r

as in run /rən/, fur /fər/, spirit /'spirit/

s

as in sit /sit/, lesson /'lesən/, face /fās/

SH

as in shut /shət/, social /'sōSHəl/, action /'akSHən/

t

as in top /täp/, seat /sēt/, forty /'fôrte/

TH

as in thin /THin/, truth /troōTH/

TH

as in then /THen/, father /'fäTHər/

v

as in never /'nevər/, very /'verē/

w

as in wait /wāt/, quit /kwit/

(h)w

as in when /(h)wen/, which /(h)wiCH/

y

as in yet /yet/, accuse /ə'kyoōz/

z

as in zipper /'zipər/, musician /myoō'ziSHən/

ZH

as in measure /'meZHər/, vision /'viZHən/

Foreign Sounds

KH as in Bach /bäKH/

A fricative consonant pronounced with the tongue in the same position as for /k/, as in German Buch and ich, or Scottish loch.

N as in en route /äN 'roōt/, Rodin /rōdaN/

The /N/ does not represent a separate sound; it indicates that the preceding vowel is nasalized, as in French bon (bon voyage) and en (en route).

œ as in hors d’oeuvre /ôr 'dœvrə/, Goethe /'gœtə/

A vowel made by rounding the lips as with /ô/ while saying /e/ or /ā/, as in French boeuf and feu, or German Hölle and Höhle.

y as in Lully /ly'lē/, Utrecht /'y'treKHt/

A vowel made by rounding the lips as with /oŏ/ or /oō/ while saying /i/ or /ē/, as in French rue or German fühlen.

Stress Marks

Stress (or accent) is represented by marks placed before the affected syllable. The primary stress mark is a short, raised vertical line /'/ which signifies that the heaviest emphasis should be placed on the syllable that follows. The secondary stress mark is a short, lowered vertical line /'/ which signifies a somewhat weaker emphasis than on the syllable with primary stress.

Variant Pronunciations

There are several ways in which variant pronunciations are indicated in the respellings.

Some respellings show a pronunciation symbol within parentheses to indicate a possible variation in pronunciation; for example, in sandwich /'san(d)wiCH/ sometimes the /d/ is pronounced, while at other times it is not.

Variant pronunciations may be respelled in full, separated by semicolons. The more common pronunciation is listed first, if this can be determined, but many variants are so common and widespread as to be of equal status.

Variant pronunciations may be indicated by respelling only the part of the word that changes. A hyphen will replace the part of the pronunciation that has remained the same. These ‘cutback’ respellings will occur primarily in three areas:

a) where the headword has a variant pronunciation: quasiparticle /'kwāzī'pärtikəl; 'kwäzē-/

b) in derivative forms: dangle /'daNGgəl/      dangler /-glər/      dangly /-glē/

Note: Cutbacks in derivatives always refer back to the headword respelling, not the preceding derivative.

c) at irregular plurals: parenthesis /pə'renTHəsis/      parentheses /-'sēz/

Note: A hyphen sometimes serves to separate syllables where the respelling might otherwise look confusing, as at reinforce /'rē-in'fôrs/.

Key to abbreviations

abbr.

abbreviation

adj.

adjective

adv.

adverb

attrib.

attributive

Austral.

Australian

Brit.

British

C

Celsius

c.

circa (‘about, around’)

cent.

century

chem.

chemical

cm

centimeter, centimeters

comb.

combining

conj.

conjunction

cu.

cubic

e.g.

exempli gratia (‘for example’)

esp.

especially

etc.

et cetera (‘and other things’)

exclam.

exclamation

F

Fahrenheit

fem.

feminine

fl.

flourished

fl. oz.

fluid ounce, fluid ounces

ft.

foot, feet

i.e.

id est (‘that is’)

in.

inch, inches

intrans.

intransitive

kg

kilogram, kilograms

km

kilometer, kilometers

l

liter, liters

lb.

pound, pounds

m

meter, meters

masc.

masculine

mi.

mile, miles

ml

milliliter, milliliters

mm

millimeter, millimeters

mph

miles per hour

n.

noun

N. Amer.

North American

N. English

Northern English

N. Irish

Northern Irish

NZ

New Zealand

obj.

object

oz.

ounce, ounces

part.

participle

pl.

plural

pop.

population

predic.

predicative

prep.

preposition

pron.

pronoun

rpm

revolutions per minute

S. African

South African

sc.

scilicet (‘that is to say’)

sing.

singular

sq.

square

trans.

transitive

UK

United Kingdom

US

United States

usu.

usually

v.

verb

var.

variety

vs.

versus

W. Indian

West Indian

yd.

yard, yards

3D printer

noun

a machine allowing the creation of a physical object from a three-dimensional digital model, typically by laying down many thin layers of a material in succession

• he is using his 3D printer to make a replica of a 1961 Aston Martin.

a /ā ə / an

I. determiner

1. used when referring to someone or something for the first time in a text or conversation

• a man came out of the room

• it has been an honor to have you

• we need people with a knowledge of languages.

Compare with the.

2. used with units of measurement to mean one such unit

• a hundred

• a quarter of an hour.

3. [with negative] — one single; any

• I simply haven't a thing to wear.

4. used when mentioning the name of someone not known to the speaker

• a Mr. Smith telephoned.

5. someone like (the name specified)

• you're no better than a Hitler.

6. used to indicate membership of a class of people or things

• he is a lawyer

• this car is a BMW.

7. used when expressing rates or ratios; in, to, or for each; per

• typing 60 words a minute

• cost as much as eight dollars a dozen.

– origin Middle English: weak form of ān ‘one.’ / usage: 1 The article a can be pronounced either /ā/, when stressed (“He gave you a flower?”—that is, only one flower), or /ə/, when unstressed (“He gave you a flower?”—that is, the emphasis is on flower, not on the number of flowers). The form an is used before words beginning with a vowel sound. 2 On the question of using a or an before words beginning with h, see also usage at an.

A^1 /ā / a

I. noun

1. the first letter of the alphabet.

2. denoting the first in a set of items, categories, sizes, etc.

3. denoting the first of two or more hypothetical people or things

• suppose A had killed B.

4. the highest class of academic mark.

5. (a) — [Chess] denoting the first file from the left, as viewed from white's side of the board.

6. (usu. a) — the first fixed quantity in an algebraic expression.

7. (A) — the human blood type (in the ABO system) containing the A agglutinogen and lacking the B.

8. a shape like that of a capital A
[in combination]

• an A-shape.

See also A-frame, A-line.

9. [Music] the sixth note of the diatonic scale of C major.

10. a key based on a scale with A as its keynote.

II. phrases

1. from A to B

from one's starting point to one's destination

• most road atlases will get you from A to B.

2. from A to Z

over the entire range; completely

• make sure you understand the subject from A to Z.

3. plan A

one's original plan or strategy

• plan A having gone horribly wrong, Ferguson used the interval to change his formation.

Compare with plan B.

A^2 /ā/

abbreviation

1. ace (used in describing play in bridge and other card games)

• you cash AK of hearts.

2. ampere(s).

3. (Å) — ångstrom(s).

4. answer

• Q: What's the senator's zodiac sign? A: He's a Leo.

5. (in personal ads) Asian.

6. (Brit.) ‹informal› A level.

a-1

I. prefix

not; without

• atheistic

• atypical.

– origin from Greek.

a-2

I. prefix

1. to; toward

• aside

• ashore.

2. in a specified state or manner

• asleep

• aloud.

3. in the process of (an activity)

• a-hunting.

4. on

• afoot.

5. in

• nowadays.

– origin Old English, unstressed form of on.

a-3

prefix

variant spelling of ad- assimilated before sc, sp, and st (as in ascend, aspire, and astringent).

a-4

prefix

1. of

• anew.

[unstressed form of of.]

2. utterly

• abash.

[from Anglo-Norman French (corresponding to Old French e-, es-), from Latin ex.]

-a^1

I. suffix

1. forming:

2. ancient or Latinized modern names of animals and plants

• primula.

3. names of oxides

• baryta.

4. geographical names

• Africa.

5. ancient or Latinized modern feminine forenames

• Lydia.

6. nouns from Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish

• duenna

• stanza.

– origin representing a Greek, Latin, or Romance feminine singular.

-a^2

suffix

1. forming plural nouns:

2. from Greek or Latin neuter plurals corresponding to a singular in -um or -on (such as addenda, phenomena).

3. in names (often from modern Latin) of zoological groups

• Protista

• Insectivora.

-a^3

I. suffix

1. ‹informal› of

• coupla.

2. ‹informal› have

• mighta.

3. ‹informal› to

• oughta.

– origin representing a casual pronunciation.

A1 /ˈˌāˈwən/

adjective

1. ‹informal› very good or well; excellent

• guitar in A1 condition.

2. ‹informal› [Nautical] (of a vessel) equipped to the highest standard, especially as certified by a classification society; first-class.

A3

noun

1. a standard European size of paper, 420 × 297 mm
[as modifier]

• A3 posters.

2. A3 paper

• a prospectus printed on A3.

A4

noun

1. a standard European size of paper, 210 × 297 mm
[as modifier]

• an A4 page.

2. A4 paper

• several sheets of A4.

A5

noun

1. a standard European size of paper, 210 × 148 mm
[as modifier]

• a little A5 booklet.

2. A5 paper

• printed on A5.

aa /ˈäˌä/

I. noun

[Geology] basaltic lava forming very rough jagged masses with a light frothy texture.
Often contrasted with pahoehoe.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Hawaiian ’a-'a.

AA /ˈˌā ˈā/

abbreviation

1. Alcoholics Anonymous.

2. antiaircraft.

3. administrative assistant.

4. Associate of Arts.

AAA /ˌtripəlˈā/

abbreviation

1. American Automobile Association.

2. [Baseball] see triple A.

AAAS

abbreviation

American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Aachen /ˈäKHən ˈäkən/

an industrial city and spa in western Germany, in North Rhine–Westphalia; pop. 258,800 (est. 2006).
French name Aix-la-Chapelle.

AAD

abbreviation

analog analog digital, indicating that a musical recording was made and mastered in analog form before being stored digitally.

Aalborg /ˈôlˌbôrɡ ˈälˌbôrɡ / Ålborg

an industrial city and port in northern Jutland, Denmark; pop. 101,497 (2009).

Aalto, Alvar /ˈältō/

(1898–1976), Finnish architect and designer; full name Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto. He is known as the inventor of bent plywood furniture.

AAM

abbreviation

air-to-air missile.

A & M

abbreviation

(US) Agricultural and Mechanical (college).

A & R

abbreviation

artist(s) and repertory, used to denote employees of a record company who select and sign new artists.

aardvark /ˈärdˌvärk/

I. noun

a nocturnal burrowing mammal with long ears, a tubular snout, and a long extensible tongue, feeding on ants and termites. Aardvarks are native to Africa and have no close relatives.
Also called ant bear. [Orycteropus afer, the only living member of the family Orycteropidae and order Tubulidentata.]

– origin late 18th cent.: from South African Dutch, from aarde ‘earth’ + vark ‘pig.’

aardwolf /ˈärdwo͝olf/

I. noun

a nocturnal black-striped African mammal of the hyena family, feeding mainly on termites.
[Proteles cristatus, family Hyaenidae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from South African Dutch, from aarde ‘earth’ + wolf ‘wolf.’

aargh /är, ärɡ / argh

I. exclamation

used as an expression of anguish, horror, rage, or other strong emotion, often with humorous intent.

– origin late 18th cent.: imitative, lengthened form of ah, expressing a prolonged cry.

Aarhus /ˈôrˌho͞os ˈärˌho͞os / Århus

a city on the coast of eastern Jutland, Denmark; pop. 239,865 (2009).

Aaron /ˈerən/

(in the Bible) brother of Moses and traditional founder of the Jewish priesthood.

Aaron, Hank /ˈe(ə)rən, ˈar-/

(1934–), US baseball player; full name Henry Louis Aaron. His career record for home runs (755) was unbroken until 2007. Baseball Hall of Fame (1982).

Aaron's beard /ˈerənz ˈbi(ə)rd/

I. noun

a name given to various plants, esp. the rose of Sharon (sense 2).

– origin early 19th cent.: alluding to Aaron, whose beard “went down to the skirts of his garments” (Psalms 133:2), because of the prominent hairy stamens or the long runners that some of these plants put out.

Aaron's rod /ˈerənz ˈräd/

I. noun

another term for the great or common mullein.

– origin mid 18th cent.: alluding to Aaron, whose staff was said to have flowered (Numbers 17:8).

AARP /ärp, ˈā ˈā ˈär ˈpē/

abbreviation

American Association of Retired Persons.

AAU

abbreviation

Amateur Athletic Union.

AAUP

abbreviation

1. American Association of University Presses.

2. American Association of University Professors.

AAVE

abbreviation

[Linguistics] African-American Vernacular English.

Ab^1 /äb, äv / Av

I. noun

(in the Jewish calendar) the eleventh month of the civil year and the fifth month of the religious year, usually coinciding with parts of July and August.

– origin from Hebrew ’āḇ.

Ab^2 /äb/

abbreviation

[Biology] antibody.

AB^1

noun

a human blood type (in the ABO system) containing both the A and B agglutinogens. In blood transfusion, a person with blood of this group is a potential universal recipient.

AB^2

abbreviation

1. able seaman; able-bodied seaman.
[from able-bodied.]

2. (US) Bachelor of Arts.
[from Latin Artium Baccalaureus.]

3. airman basic.

4. [Baseball] at bat.

5. Alberta (in official postal use).

ab- abs-

I. prefix

away; from

• abaxial

• abominate.

– origin from Latin.

ABA

abbreviation

1. American Bar Association.

2. American Basketball Association.

3. American Bankers Association.

4. American Booksellers Association.

abaca /ˈabəkä/

I. noun

1. a large herbaceous Philippine plant of the banana family that yields Manila hemp.
[Musa textilis, family Musaceae.]

2. Manila hemp.

– origin mid 18th cent.: via Spanish from Tagalog abaká.

aback /əˈbak/

I. adverb

1. ‹archaic› toward or situated to the rear

• the little strip of pasture aback of the house.

2. [Sailing] with the sail pressed backward against the mast by a headwind.

II. phrases

take someone aback

shock or surprise someone

• he was taken aback by the sharpness in her voice.

– origin Old English on bæc. Long written as two words, the term came to be treated as a single word in nautical use.

abacus /ˈabəkəs/

I. noun

1. an oblong frame with rows of wires or grooves along which beads are slid, used for calculating.

2. [Architecture] the flat slab on top of a capital, supporting the architrave.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a board strewn with sand on which to draw figures): from Latin, from Greek abax, abak- ‘slab, drawing board,’ of Semitic origin; probably related to Hebrew 'āḇāq ‘dust.’

Abadan /ˌäbəˈdän, ˌabəˈdan/

a major port and oil-refining center on an island of the same name on the Shatt al-Arab waterway in western Iran; pop. 219,772 (2006).

Abaddon /əˈbadn/

I. (in the Bible) a name for the Devil or for hell.

– origin late Middle English: via Greek from Hebrew ῾ăḇaddōn ‘destruction.’ Its use for ‘hell’ arose in the late 17th cent.

abaft /əˈbaft / ‹Nautical›

I. adverb

in or behind the stern of a ship.

II. preposition

nearer the stern than; behind

• the yacht has a shower just abaft the galley.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘backward’): from a-2 (expressing motion) + archaic baft ‘in the rear.’

Abakan /ˌäbəˈkän, ˌəbə-/

an industrial city in south central Russia, capital of the republic of Khakassia; pop. 163,200 (est. 2008).
Former name (until 1931) Ust-Abakanskoe.

abalone /ˌabəˈlōnē ˈabəˌlōnē/

I. noun

an edible mollusk of warm seas that has a shallow ear-shaped shell lined with mother-of-pearl and pierced with respiratory holes.
Also called ear shell. [Genus Haliotis, family Haliotidae, class Gastropoda.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: via Latin American Spanish from aulun, from an American Indian language of Monterey Bay, California.

abandon /əˈbandən/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. give up completely (a course of action, a practice, or a way of thinking)

• he had clearly abandoned all pretense of trying to succeed.

2. discontinue (a scheduled event) before completion

• against the background of perceived threats, the tour was abandoned.

3. cease to support or look after (someone); desert

• her natural mother had abandoned her at an early age.

4. leave (a place or vehicle) empty or uninhabited, without intending to return

• derelict houses were abandoned.

5. (abandon someone/something to) — condemn someone or something to (a specified fate) by ceasing to take an interest in or look after them

• it was an attempt to persuade businesses not to abandon the area to inner-city deprivation.

6. (abandon oneself to) — allow oneself to indulge in (a desire or impulse)

• abandoning herself to moony fantasies.

II. noun

complete lack of inhibition or restraint

• she sings and sways with total abandon.

III. phrases

abandon ship

a. leave a ship because it is sinking.

b. hurriedly leave an organization or enterprise

• he would rather abandon ship now than resign in shame in two years.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French abandoner, from a- (from Latin ad ‘to, at’) + bandon ‘control,’ based on late Latin bannus, bannum (see ban^1). The original sense was ‘bring under control,’ later ‘give in to the control of, surrender to’ (sense 3).

abandoned /əˈband(ə)nd/

adjective

1. having been deserted or cast off

• an abandoned car

• abandoned pets.

2. unrestrained; uninhibited

• a wild, abandoned dance.

abandonment /əˈbandənmənt/

noun

the action or fact of abandoning or being abandoned

• she had a feeling of utter abandonment and loneliness.

abandonware /əˈbandənˌwer/

noun

computer software that is no longer distributed or supported by the developer or copyright holder

• those who illegally distribute abandonware on the Web see themselves as archivists who are helping save old computer programs for posterity.

abase /əˈbās/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. behave in a way so as to belittle or degrade (someone)

• I watched my colleagues abasing themselves before the board of trustees.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French abaissier, from a- (from Latin ad ‘to, at’) + baissier ‘to lower,’ based on late Latin bassus ‘short of stature.’ The spelling has been influenced by base^2.

abasement /əˈbāsmənt/

noun

the action or fact of abasing or being abased; humiliation or degradation.

abash /əˈbaSH/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. abashed)

1. cause to feel embarrassed, disconcerted, or ashamed

• she was not abashed at being caught.

II. derivatives

abashment /əˈbaSHmənt /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French abaïss-; compare with Old French esbaïss-, lengthened stem of esbaïr, from es- ‘utterly’ + baïr ‘astound.’

abate /əˈbāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of something perceived as hostile, threatening, or negative) become less intense or widespread

• the storm suddenly abated.

2. [with obj.] — cause to become smaller or less intense

• nothing abated his crusading zeal.

3. [with obj.] — [Law] lessen, reduce, or remove (especially a nuisance)

• this action would not have been sufficient to abate the odor nuisance.

– origin Middle English (in the legal sense ‘put a stop to (a nuisance)’): from Old French abatre ‘to fell,’ from a- (from Latin ad ‘to, at’) + batre ‘to beat’ (from Latin battere, battuere ‘to beat’).

abatement /əˈbātmənt/

I. noun

(often in legal use) the ending, reduction, or lessening of something

• noise abatement

• an abatement in the purchase price.

– origin Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French, from Old French abatre ‘fell, put an end to’ (see abate).

abattoir /ˈabəˌtwär/

I. noun

a slaughterhouse.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French, from abattre ‘to fell.’

a battuta /ˌä bäˈto͞otä/

I. adverb

[Music] (typically as a direction) returning to strict tempo.

– origin Italian, literally ‘to the beating.’

abaxial /aˈbaksēəl/

adjective

[Botany] facing away from the stem of a plant (especially denoting the lower surface of a leaf).
The opposite of adaxial.

abaya /əˈbīə/

I. noun

a full-length, sleeveless outer garment worn by some Muslim women.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Arabic 'abāya.

Abba /ˈäbə/

I. noun

1. (in the New Testament) an intimate term for God as father.

2. (in the Syrian Orthodox and Coptic churches) a title given to bishops and patriarchs.

– origin via Greek from Aramaic ῾abbā ‘daddy.’

abbacy /ˈabəsē/

I. noun

the office or period of office of an abbot or abbess.

– origin late Middle English: from ecclesiastical Latin abbacia, from abbas, abbat- (see abbot).

Abbas, Ferhat /äˈbäs/

(1899–1989), Algerian nationalist leader. He was president of the Algerian provisional government from 1958 and then president of the constituent assembly of independent Algeria 1962–63.

Abbas, Mahmoud /äˈbäs/

(1935–), Palestinian statesman, president of the Palestinian National Authority since 2005, and chairman of the PLO since 2004; also known as Abu Mazen.

Abbasid /ˈabəsid, əˈbasid/

I. adjective

of or relating to a dynasty of caliphs who ruled in Baghdad from 750 to 1258.

II. noun

a member of the Abbasid dynasty.

– origin named after al-Abbas (566–652), the prophet Muhammad's uncle: the dynasty was founded by his descendants.

abbatial /əˈbāSHəl/

I. adjective

of or relating to an abbey, abbot, or abbess.

– origin late 17th cent.: from medieval Latin abbatialis, from abbas, abbat- (see abbot).

abbé /aˈbā/

I. noun

(in France) an abbot or other cleric

• the abbé was his confessor

• [as title] Abbé Pierre.

– origin mid 16th cent.: French, from ecclesiastical Latin abbas, abbat- (see abbot).

abbess /ˈabəs/

I. noun

a woman who is the head of an abbey of nuns.

– origin Middle English: from Old French abbesse ‘female abbot,’ from ecclesiastical Latin abbatissa, from abbas, abbat- (see abbot).

Abbevillian /abˈvilēən, ˌabə- / Abbevillean

I. adjective

1. [Archaeology] ‹dated› of, relating to, or denoting the first Paleolithic culture in Europe. It is now usually referred to as the Lower Acheulean.

2. (as noun the Abbevillian) — [Archaeology] ‹dated› the Abbevillian culture or period.

– origin 1930s: from French Abbevillien ‘from Abbeville,’ a town in northern France where tools from this culture were discovered.

abbey /ˈabē/

I. noun

1. the building or buildings occupied by a community of monks or nuns.

2. a church or house that was formerly an abbey.

– origin Middle English: from Old French abbeïe, from medieval Latin abbatia ‘abbacy,’ from abbas, abbat- (see abbot).

Abbey Road /ˌabē ˈrōd/

a road in northwestern London in England, west of Regents Park, the site of recording studios that are associated with the Beatles and other pop music figures.

abbot /ˈabət/

I. noun

a man who is the head of an abbey of monks.

– origin Old English abbod, from ecclesiastical Latin abbas, abbat-, from Greek abbas ‘father,’ from Aramaic ῾abbā (see Abba).

Abbott, Berenice /ˈabət/

(1898–1991), US photographer and teacher of photography. She is noted for her documentation of New York City in the 1930s, published in Changing New York (1939). She edited The World of Atget (1964).

Abbott, Sir John

(1821–93), Canadian Conservative statesman; full name John Joseph Caldwell Abbott. He was prime minister 1891–92.

Abbott, Tony /ˈabət/

(1957–), Australian Liberal statesman, Prime Minister since 2013; full name Anthony John Abbott.

abbr.

abbreviation

abbreviation.

abbreviate /əˈbrēvēˌāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. shorten (a word, phrase, or text)

• the business of artists and repertory, commonly abbreviated to A&R.

2. shorten the duration of; cut short

• I decided to abbreviate my stay in Cambridge.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin abbreviat- ‘shortened,’ from the verb abbreviare, from Latin brevis ‘short.’

abbreviated /əˈbrēvēˌādəd/

adjective

shortened; cut short

• an abbreviated version of the earlier work

• we intended to run an abbreviated event.

abbreviation /əˌbrēvēˈāSH(ə)n / abbr.

noun

1. a shortened form of a word or phrase.

2. the process or result of abbreviating.

ABC^1 /ˈˌā ˈˌbē ˈsē/

I. noun

1. the alphabet.

2. (also ABCs) — the rudiments of a subject

• the ABCs of emergency heart-lung resuscitation.

3. an alphabetical guide

• an ABC of Civil War battlefields.

II. phrases

easy (or simple) as ABC

extremely easy or straightforward.

ABC^2 /ˈˌā ˈˌbē ˈsē/

abbreviation

American Broadcasting Company.

ABC^3 /ˈˌā ˈˌbē ˈsē / ‹informal›

I. noun

an American-born person of Chinese descent

• like many ABCs, his identity is a tapestry.

II. adjective

relating to or denoting American-born people of Chinese descent

• some ABC parents send their children to Chinese language schools.

– origin 1970s: from the initial letters of American-born Chinese.

ABC Islands

the Caribbean islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao.

ABD

abbreviation

(N. Amer.) all but dissertation, used to denote a student who has completed all other parts of a doctorate

• ABDs will be considered, but receipt of the doctorate will be a condition of tenure.

abdicate /ˈabdəˌkāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a monarch) renounce one's throne

• in 1918 Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated as German emperor

• [with obj.] Ferdinand abdicated the throne in favor of the emperor's brother.

2. [with obj.] — fail to fulfill or undertake (a responsibility or duty)

• the government was accused of abdicating its responsibility

• [no obj.] the secretary of state should not abdicate from leadership on educational issues.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin abdicat- ‘renounced,’ from the verb abdicare, from ab- ‘away, from’ + dicare ‘declare.’

abdication /ˌabdəˈkāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. an act of abdicating or renouncing the throne

• Edward VIII did not marry until after his abdication.

2. failure to fulfill a responsibility or duty

• we are witnessing an abdication of responsibility on the part of state governments.

abdomen /ˈabdəmən abˈdōmən/

I. noun

1. the part of the body of a vertebrate containing the digestive organs; the belly. In humans and other mammals, it is bounded by the diaphragm and the pelvis.

2. [Zoology] the posterior part of the body of an arthropod, especially the segments of an insect's body behind the thorax.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin.

abdominal /ˌabˈdämən(ə)l/

I. adjective

relating to the abdomen

• abdominal pain.

II. noun — (usu. abdominals)

1. an abdominal muscle.

III. derivatives

abdominally

adverb

abdominoplasty /abˈdämənəˌplastē/

noun

[Medicine] a surgical operation involving the removal of excess flesh from the abdomen.

abdominous /abˈdämənəs/

adjective

‹archaic› (of a person) having a large belly; fat.

abducens /abˈd(y)o͞osənz/

noun

[Anatomy] short for abducens nerve.

abducens nerve /abˈd(y)o͞osənz ˌnərv/

I. noun

[Anatomy] each of the sixth pair of cranial nerves, supplying the muscles concerned with the lateral movement of the eyeballs.

– origin early 19th cent.: abducens (modern Latin, ‘leading away’), from the Latin verb abducere.

abduct /abˈdəkt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. take (someone) away illegally by force or deception; kidnap

• the millionaire who disappeared may have been abducted.

2. [Physiology] (of a muscle) move (a limb or part) away from the midline of the body or from another part.
The opposite of adduct^1.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin abduct- ‘led away,’ from abducere, from ab- ‘away, from’ + ducere ‘to lead.’

abductee /ˌabdəkˈtē/

noun

a person who has been abducted.

abduction /abˈdəkSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action or an instance of forcibly taking someone away against their will

• they organized the abduction of Mr. Cordes on his way to the airport

• abductions by armed men in plain clothes.

2. (in legal use) the illegal removal of a child from parents or guardians.

3. [Physiology] the movement of a limb or other part away from the midline of the body, or from another part.
The opposite of adduction (see adduct^1).

abductor /abˈdəktər/

I. noun

1. a person who abducts another person.

2. (also abductor muscle) — [Anatomy] a muscle whose contraction moves a limb or part away from the midline of the body, or from another part.
Compare with adductor.

3. any of a number of specific muscles in the hand, forearm, or foot
[followed by Latin genitive]

• abductor pollicis.

– origin early 17th cent. (as a term in anatomy): modern Latin (see abduct).

Abdul Hamid II /ˌäbdo͝ol häˌmēd T͟Həˈsekənd/

(1842–1918), the last sultan of Turkey 1876–1909. An autocratic ruler, he was deposed after the revolt of the Young Turks.

Abdul-Jabbar /ˌäbdo͝oljəˈbär/

Kareem, (1947–), US basketball player; former name Lewis Ferdinand Alcindor. He played professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks 1969–75 and the Los Angeles Lakers 1975–89 and holds several records.

Abdullah ibn Hussein /abˌdo͝olə ˌib(ə)n ho͝oˈsān/

(1882–1951), king of Jordan 1946–51. After serving as emir of Transjordan from 1921, he became king of Jordan at the time of independence. He was assassinated in 1951.

Abdullah II /abˌdo͝olə T͟Həˈsekənd/

(1962–), king of Jordan since 1999; full name Abdullah II ibn al-Hussein. The son of King Hussein, he maintained a moderate political stance and initiated economic reforms.

Abdul Rahman, Tunku /äbˈdo͝ol ˈrämən, ˈräKHmän, räKHˈmän/

(1903–90), Malayan statesman; prime minister of Malaya 1957–63 and of Malaysia 1963–70.

abeam /əˈbēm/

I. adverb

1. on a line at right angles to a ship's or an aircraft's length.

2. (abeam of) — opposite the middle of (a ship or aircraft)

• she was lying almost abeam of us

• [as prep.] before I knew it, I was abeam the ship.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from a-2 (expressing general direction) + beam.

abecedarian /ˌābēsēˈderēən/

I. adjective

1. arranged alphabetically

• in abecedarian sequence.

2. rudimentary; elementary

• abecedarian technology.

II. noun

a person who is just learning; a novice.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from late Latin abecedarius ‘alphabetical’ (from the names of the letters a, b, c, d) + -an.

abed /əˈbed/

I. adverb

‹archaic› in bed.

– origin Middle English: from a-2 ‘in, on’ + bed.

Abel /ˈābəl/

(in the Bible) the second son of Adam and Eve, murdered by his brother Cain.

Abel, Niels Henrik /ˈäbəl/

(1802–29), Norwegian mathematician. He developed the concept of elliptic functions, independently of Jacobi, and did work on integral equations and power series.

Abelard, Peter /ˈabəˌlärd/

(1079–1142), French scholar, theologian, and philosopher. He is famous for his tragic love affair with his student Héloïse.
See also Héloïse.

abele /əˈbēl/

I. noun

the white poplar.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin albellus, diminutive of albus ‘white.’ The term was reintroduced in the late 16th cent. from Dutch abeel (from Old French abel), when specimens were imported into England from the Netherlands.

abelian /əˈbēlyən/

I. adjective

[Mathematics] (of a group) having members related by a commutative operation (e.g., a ×b = b ×a).

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after N. H. Abel (see Abel, Niels Henrik).

Abeokuta /ˌäbāˈōko͝oˌtä/

a city in southwestern Nigeria, capital of the state of Ogun; pop. 487,600 (est. 2005).

Aberdeen /ˌabərˈdēn ˈabərˌdēn/

I. a city and seaport in northeastern Scotland, a center of the offshore North Sea oil industry; pop. 166,900 (est. 2009).

II. a town in northeastern Maryland, on Chesapeake Bay; pop. 13,993 (est. 2008). A major military test range is nearby.

III. a city in northeastern South Dakota, a dairy center; pop. 24,460 (est. 2008).

Aberdeen Angus

I. noun

an animal of a Scottish breed of hornless black beef cattle.
Also called Black Angus.

– origin mid 19th cent.

Abernathy, Ralph David /ˈabərˌnaTHē/

(1926–90), US minister and civil rights activist. He served as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) from 1968 until 1977. His autobiography, And the Walls Came Tumbling Down, was published in 1989.

aberrant /ˈabərənt əˈberənt/

I. adjective

1. departing from an accepted standard.

2. [chiefly Biology] diverging from the normal type

• aberrant chromosomes.

II. derivatives

1. aberrance /ˈab(ə)rəns əˈberəns /

noun

2. aberrancy

noun

3. aberrantly

adverb

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin aberrant- ‘wandering away,’ from the verb aberrare, from ab- ‘away, from’ + errare ‘to stray.’

aberration /ˌabəˈrāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome

• they described the outbreak of violence in the area as an aberration.

2. [Biology] a characteristic that deviates from the normal type

• color aberrations.

3. [Optics] the failure of rays to converge at one focus because of limitations or defects in a lens or mirror.

4. [Astronomy] the apparent displacement of a celestial object from its true position, caused by the relative motion of the observer and the object.

II. derivatives

aberrational /-SHənl /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin aberratio(n-), from aberrare ‘to stray’ (see aberrant).

Abertawe /ˌabərˈtouē/

see Swansea.

abet /əˈbet/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. encourage or assist (someone) to do something wrong, in particular, to commit a crime or other offense

• he was not guilty of murder but was guilty of aiding and abetting others.

2. encourage or assist someone to commit (a crime)

• we are aiding and abetting this illegal traffic.

II. derivatives

1. abetment /əˈbetmənt /

noun

2. abettor /əˈbedər / abetter

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘urge to do something good or bad’): from Old French abeter, from a- (from Latin ad ‘to, at’) + beter ‘hound, urge on.’

abeyance /əˈbāəns/

I. noun

1. a state of temporary disuse or suspension

• matters were held in abeyance pending further inquiries.

2. [Law] the position of being without, or waiting for, an owner or claimant.

II. derivatives

abeyant /əˈbāənt /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent. (in the legal sense): from Old French abeance ‘aspiration to a title,’ from abeer ‘aspire after,’ from a- ‘toward’ + beer ‘to gape.’

abhor /abˈhôr əbˈhôr/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› regard with disgust and hatred

• professional tax preparers abhor a flat tax because it would dry up their business.

II. derivatives

abhorrer

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin abhorrere, from ab- ‘away from’ + horrere ‘to shudder.’

abhorrence /abˈhôrəns abˈhärəns/

noun

a feeling of repulsion; disgusted loathing

• the thought of marrying him filled her with abhorrence

• society's abhorrence of crime.

abhorrent /abˈhôrənt abˈhärənt/

I. adjective

inspiring disgust and loathing; repugnant

• racial discrimination was abhorrent to us all.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin abhorrent- ‘shuddering away from in horror,’ from the verb abhorrere (see abhor).

abide /əˈbīd/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] (abide by) — accept or act in accordance with (a rule, decision, or recommendation)

• I said I would abide by their decision.

2. [with obj.] (can/could not abide) — ‹informal› be unable to tolerate (someone or something)

• if there is one thing I cannot abide it is a lack of discipline.

3. [no obj.] — (of a feeling or a memory) continue without fading or being lost.

4. ‹archaic› live; dwell.

– origin Old English ābīdan ‘wait,’ from ā- ‘onward’ + bīdan (see bide).

abiding /əˈbīdiNG/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of a feeling or a memory) lasting a long time; enduring

• he had an abiding respect for her.

II. derivatives

abidingly

adverb

[as submodifier]

• an abidingly mysterious quality

Abidjan /ˌabəˈjän/

the chief port of Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), the capital 1935–83; pop. 4,000,000 (est. 2009).

Abilene /ˈabəˌlēn/

I. a city in east central Kansas; pop. 6,400 (est. 2008). It was the first terminus of the Chisholm Trail.

II. a city in north central Texas, an agricultural and oil industry center; pop. 116,484 (est. 2008).

ability /əˈbilədē/

I. noun

1. [in sing., with infinitive] — possession of the means or skill to do something

• the manager had lost his ability to motivate the players

• they'll examine your ability to pay.

2. talent, skill, or proficiency in a particular area

• a man of exceptional ability

• students of all abilities.

II. phrases

to the best of one's ability

as well as one can

• Conrad must do his job to the best of his abilities.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French ablete, from Latin habilitas, from habilis ‘able.’

-ability

I. suffix

forming nouns of quality corresponding to adjectives ending in -able (such as suitability corresponding to suitable).

– origin from French -abilité or Latin -abilitas, noun endings.

Abington /ˈabiNGtən/

a township in southeastern Pennsylvania, north of Philadelphia; pop. 53,980 (est. 2008).

ab initio /ˌab əˈniSHēˌō/

I. adverb

from the beginning (used chiefly in formal or legal contexts)

• the agreement should be declared void ab initio.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. starting from the beginning

• he was instructing ab initio pilots.

– origin early 17th cent.: Latin.

abiogenesis /ˌābīōˈjenəsəs/

I. noun

1. the original evolution of life or living organisms from inorganic or inanimate substances

• to construct any convincing theory of abiogenesis, we must take into account the condition of the Earth about 4 billion years ago.

2. ‹historical› another term for spontaneous generation.

II. derivatives

abiogenic

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from a-1 ‘not’ + Greek bios ‘life’ + genesis.

abiotic /ˌābīˈädik/

adjective

1. physical rather than biological; not derived from living organisms.

2. devoid of life; sterile.

Abiquiu /ˈabəˌkyo͞o/

a ranching community in northern New Mexico, the longtime home of artist Georgia O'Keeffe.

abject /ˈabˌjekt abˈjekt/

I. adjective

1. [attrib.] — (of a situation or condition) extremely bad, unpleasant, and degrading

• abject poverty.

2. (of an unhappy state of mind) experienced to the maximum degree

• his letter plunged her into abject misery.

3. (of a person or their behavior) completely without pride or dignity; self-abasing

• an abject apology.

II. derivatives

1. abjection /abˈjekSH(ə)n /

noun

2. abjectly /ˈabˌjek(t)lē ˌabˈjek(t)lē /

adverb

3. abjectness /ˈabˌjek(t)nəs ˌabˈjek(t)nəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘rejected’): from Latin abjectus, past participle of abjicere ‘reject,’ from ab- ‘away’ + jacere ‘to throw.’

abjure /abˈjo͝or əbˈjo͝or/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› solemnly renounce (a belief, cause, or claim)

• his refusal to abjure the Catholic faith.

II. phrases

abjure the realm

‹historical› swear an oath to leave a country or realm forever.

III. derivatives

abjuration /ˌabjəˈrāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin abjurare, from ab- ‘away’ + jurare ‘swear.’

Abkhaz /abˈkäz / Abkhazian

I. adjective

relating to Abkhazia, its people, or their language.

II. noun

1. a member of a Caucasian people living in Abkhazia.

2. a Northwest Caucasian language.

Abkhazia /äbˈkäzēə, abˈkāZH(ē)ə/

an autonomous territory in northwestern Georgia, south of the Caucasus mountains on the Black Sea; pop. 215,972 (2003); capital, Sokhumi. In 1992, Abkhazia unilaterally declared itself independent, sparking ongoing armed conflict with Georgia.

ablation /əˈblāSHən/

I. noun

1. the surgical removal of body tissue.

2. the removal of snow and ice by melting or evaporation, typically from a glacier or iceberg.

3. the erosion of rock, typically by wind action.

4. the loss of surface material from a spacecraft or meteorite through evaporation or melting caused by friction with the atmosphere.

II. derivatives

ablate /əˈblāt /

verb

– origin late Middle English (in the general sense ‘taking away, removal’): from late Latin ablatio(n-), from Latin ablat- ‘taken away,’ from ab- ‘away’ + lat- ‘carried’ (from the verb ferre).

ablative /ˈablədiv/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. [Grammar] relating to or denoting a case (especially in Latin) of nouns and pronouns (and words in grammatical agreement with them) indicating separation or an agent, instrument, or location.

2. (of surgical treatment) involving ablation.

3. of, relating to, or subject to ablation through melting or evaporation

• the spacecraft's ablative heat shield.

II. noun

1. [Grammar] a word in the ablative case.

2. (the ablative) — [Grammar] the ablative case.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French ablative (feminine of ablatif), Latin ablativus, from ablat- ‘taken away’ (see ablation).

ablative absolute

noun

a construction in Latin that consists of a noun and participle or adjective in the ablative case and that is syntactically independent of the rest of the sentence.

ablaut /ˈablout/

I. noun

a change of vowel in related words or forms, e.g., in Germanic strong verbs (e.g., in sing, sang, sung).

– origin mid 19th cent.: from German, from ab ‘off’ + Laut ‘sound.’

ablaze /əˈblāz/

adjective — [predic.]

1. burning fiercely

• his clothes were ablaze

• [as complement] farm buildings were set ablaze.

2. very brightly colored or lighted

• New England is ablaze with color in autumn

• ‹figurative› his eyes were ablaze with anger.

3. filled with anger or another strong emotion

• in 1848 the whole of Europe was ablaze with revolution.

able /ˈābəl/

I. adjective

1. [with infinitive] — having the power, skill, means, or opportunity to do something

• he was able to read Greek at the age of eight

• he would never be able to afford such a big house.

2. having considerable skill, proficiency, or intelligence

• the dancers were technically very able.

– origin late Middle English (also in the sense ‘easy to use, suitable’): from Old French hable, from Latin habilis ‘handy,’ from habere ‘to hold.’

-able /əb(ə)l/

I. suffix

1. forming adjectives meaning:

2. able to be

• calculable.

3. due to be

• payable.

4. subject to

• taxable.

5. relevant to or in accordance with

• fashionable.

6. having the quality to

• suitable

• comfortable.

– origin from French -able or Latin -abilis, adjectival endings; originally found in words only from these forms but later used to form adjectives directly from English verbs ending in -ate, e.g., educable from educate. The unrelated able has probably influenced terms such as bearable, salable.

able-bodied /ˌābəlˈbädēd/

adjective

fit, strong, and healthy; not physically disabled

• he was the only able-bodied man on the farm.

able-bodied seaman

noun

a merchant seaman qualified to perform all routine duties.

abled /ˈābəld/

I. adjective

having a full range of physical or mental abilities; not disabled.
See also differently abled.

– origin 1980s: back-formation from disabled.

ableism /ˈābəˌlizəm / ablism

I. noun

discrimination in favor of able-bodied people.

II. derivatives

ableist

noun, adjective

able seaman /ˈābəlˈsēmən/

noun

an able-bodied seaman.

abloom /əˈblo͞om/

adjective — [predic.]

1. covered in flowers.

ablution /əˈblo͞oSHən/

I. noun — (usu. ablutions)

1. the act of washing oneself (often used for humorously formal effect)

• the women performed their ablutions.

2. a ceremonial act of washing parts of the body or sacred containers.

II. derivatives

ablutionary

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin ablutio(n-), from abluere, from ab- ‘away’ + luere ‘wash.’ The original use was as a term in chemistry and alchemy meaning ‘purification by using liquids,’ hence ‘purification of the body by washing’ (mid 16th cent).

ably /ˈāblē/

adverb

skillfully; competently

• Steven has summed up our concerns very ably.

-ably

suffix

forming adverbs corresponding to adjectives ending in -able (such as suitably corresponding to suitable).

ABM

abbreviation

antiballistic missile.

Abnaki /abˈnakē, äbˈnä- / Abenaki

I. noun

1. a member of a North American Indian people of Maine on the Atlantic coast to southern Quebec.

2. either or both of two Algonquian languages, Eastern Abnaki and Western Abnaki, now nearly extinct.

II. adjective

relating to the Abnaki or their language.

– origin from French Abénaqui, from Eastern Abnaki.

abnegate /ˈabnəˌɡāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. renounce or reject (something desired or valuable)

• he attempts to abnegate personal responsibility.

II. derivatives

abnegator /-ˌɡātər /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin abnegat- ‘renounced,’ from the verb abnegare, from ab- ‘away, off’ + negare ‘deny.’

abnegation /ˌabnəˈɡāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the act of renouncing or rejecting something

• abnegation of political lawmaking power.

2. self-denial.

– origin Middle English: from Latin abnegatio(n-), from the verb abnegare (see abnegate).

abnormal /abˈnôrməl/

I. adjective

deviating from what is normal or usual, typically in a way that is undesirable or worrying

• the illness is recognizable from the patient's abnormal behavior.

– origin mid 19th cent.: alteration (by association with Latin abnormis ‘monstrosity’) of 16th-cent. anormal, from French, variant of anomal, via Latin from Greek anōmalos (see anomalous).

abnormality /ˌabnôrˈmalədē/

noun

1. an abnormal feature, characteristic, or occurrence, typically in a medical context

• a chromosome abnormality.

2. the quality or state of being abnormal.

abnormally /abˈnôrməlē/

adverb

in a manner that deviates from what is normal or usual; irregularly or extraordinarily

• her heart started beating abnormally

• [as submodifier] an abnormally wet summer.

Abo /ˈabō / ‹Austral. informal, offensive› abo

I. noun

an Aborigine.

II. adjective

Aboriginal.

– origin early 20th cent.: abbreviation.

Åbo /ˈôbo͞o/

Swedish name for Turku.

aboard /əˈbôrd/

I. adverb, preposition

1. on or into (a ship, aircraft, train, or other vehicle)
[as adv.]

• the plane crashed, killing all 158 people aboard

• ‹figurative› he came aboard as IBM's new chairman

• [as prep.] climbing aboard the yacht.

2. on or onto (a horse)
[as adv.]

• with Migliore aboard, he won the cup at a gallop.

3. [Baseball] on base as a runner

• putting their first batter aboard.

II. phrases

all aboard!

a call warning passengers to get on a ship, train, or bus that is about to depart.

– origin late Middle English: from a-2 (expressing motion) + board, reinforced by Old French à bord.

abode^1 /əˈbōd/

I. noun

1. ‹formal› ‹literary› a place of residence; a house or home

• her current abode

• ‹humorous› my humble abode.

2. ‹formal› ‹literary› residence

• a place of abode.

3. ‹formal› ‹literary› ‹archaic› a stay; a sojourn.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘act of waiting’): verbal noun from abide.

abode^2 /əˈbōd/

archaic past of abide.

abolish /əˈbäliSH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. formally put an end to (a system, practice, or institution)

• the tax was abolished in 1977.

II. derivatives

1. abolisher

noun

2. abolishment /əˈbäliSHmənt /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French aboliss-, lengthened stem of abolir, from Latin abolere ‘destroy.’

abolition /ˌabəˈliSH(ə)n/

I. noun

the action or an act of abolishing a system, practice, or institution

• the abolition of child labor.

– origin early 16th cent.: from Latin abolitio(n-), from abolere ‘destroy.’

abolitionist /ˌabəˈliSHənəst/

I. noun

a person who favors the abolition of a practice or institution, especially capital punishment or (formerly) slavery.

II. derivatives

abolitionism /ˌabəˈliSHəˌnizəm /

noun

abomasum /ˌabəˈmāsəm/

I. noun

[Zoology] the fourth stomach of a ruminant, which receives food from the omasum and passes it to the small intestine.

– origin late 17th cent.: modern Latin, from ab- ‘away, from’ + omasum (see omasum).

A-bomb /ˈā ˌbäm/

noun

short for atom bomb.

Abomey /ˌabəˈmā, əˈbōmē/

a town in southern Benin, capital of the former kingdom of Dahomey; pop. 87,941 (2006).

abominable /əˈbäm(ə)nəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. causing moral revulsion

• the uprising was suppressed with abominable cruelty.

2. very bad or unpleasant

• a cup of abominable tea.

II. derivatives

abominably /əˈbäm(ə)nəblē /

adverb

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin abominabilis, from abominari (see abominate). The term was once widely believed to be from ab- ‘away from’ + Latin homine (from homo ‘human being’), thus ‘inhuman, beastly,’ and frequently spelled abhominable until the 17th cent.

Abominable Snowman

noun

a large hairy creature resembling a human or bear, said to live in the highest part of the Himalayas.
Also called yeti.

abominate /əˈbäməˌnāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› detest; loathe

• they abominated the very idea of monarchy.

II. derivatives

abominator /-ˌnātər /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin abominat- ‘deprecated,’ from the verb abominari, from ab- ‘away, from’ + omen, omin- ‘omen.’

abomination /əˌbäməˈnāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a thing that causes disgust or hatred

• this bill is an abomination to all mankind

• ‹informal› concrete abominations masquerading as hotels.

2. a feeling of hatred

• their abomination of indulgence.

– origin Middle English: from Latin abominatio(n-), from the verb abominari (see abominate).

aboral /abˈôrəl/

I. adjective

1. [Zoology] relating to or denoting the side or end that is furthest from the mouth, especially in animals that lack clear upper and lower sides, such as echinoderms.

2. [Zoology] moving or leading away from the mouth

• propagated in an aboral direction.

II. derivatives

aborally

adverb

aboriginal /ˌabəˈrijənl/

I. adjective

1. (of human races, animals, and plants) inhabiting or existing in a land from the earliest times or from before the arrival of colonists; indigenous.

2. (Aboriginal) — of or relating to the Australian Aborigines or their languages.

II. noun

1. an aboriginal inhabitant of a place.

2. (Aboriginal) — a person belonging to one of the indigenous peoples of Australia.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin aborigines ‘original inhabitants’ (see aborigine) + -al. / usage: See usage at aborigine.

Aboriginality /ˌabəˌrijəˈnalədē/

noun

the distinctive culture of aboriginal peoples, especially those in Australia

• their music reflects their Aboriginality.

aborigine /ˌabəˈrijənē/

I. noun

1. a person, animal, or plant that has been in a country or region from earliest times.

2. (Aborigine) — an aboriginal inhabitant of Australia.

– origin mid 19th cent.: back-formation from the 16th-cent. plural aborigines ‘original inhabitants’ (in classical times referring to those of Italy and Greece), from the Latin phrase ab origine ‘from the beginning.’ / usage: Both Aboriginal and Aborigine may be used as nouns referring to a member of an Australian Aboriginal people, but the term Aborigine is more common and is often preferred, especially in the plural.

aborning /əˈbôrniNG/

I. adverb

(chiefly N. Amer.) while being born or produced

• the idea died aborning.

II. adjective — [predic.]

1. being born or produced

• in the early 1960s, hippiedom was aborning.

– origin 1930s: from a- ‘in the process of’ + borning, verbal noun from born (North American dialect usage) ‘to be born.’

abort /əˈbôrt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. carry out or undergo the abortion of (a fetus).

2. [no obj.] — (of a pregnant woman or female animal) have a miscarriage, with loss of the fetus.

3. [no obj.] — [Biology] (of an embryonic organ or organism) remain undeveloped; fail to mature.

4. bring to a premature end because of a problem or fault

• the pilot aborted his landing.

II. noun

‹informal› ‹technical› an act of aborting a flight, space mission, or other enterprise

• there was an abort because of bad weather.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin aboriri ‘miscarry,’ from ab- ‘away, from’ + oriri ‘be born.’

abortifacient /əˌbôrdəˈfāSHənt / ‹Medicine›

I. adjective

(chiefly of a drug) causing abortion.

II. noun

an abortifacient drug.

abortion /əˈbôrSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy.

2. the expulsion of a fetus from the uterus by natural causes before it is able to survive independently.

3. [Biology] the arrest of the development of an organ, typically a seed or fruit.

4. an object or undertaking regarded by the speaker as unpleasant or badly made or carried out.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin abortio(n-), from aboriri ‘miscarry’ (see abort).

abortionist /əˈbôrSHənəst/

noun

a person who carries out abortions (typically applied to someone not working in a hospital, or used to convey disapproval of abortion).

abortion pill

noun

‹informal› a drug that can induce abortion, especially mifepristone.

abortive /əˈbôrdiv/

I. adjective

1. failing to produce the intended result

• an abortive attempt to overthrow the government.

2. [Medicine] (of a virus infection) failing to produce symptoms.

3. ‹dated› (of an organ or organism) rudimentary; arrested in development

• abortive medusae.

4. ‹rare› causing or resulting in abortion

• abortive techniques.

II. derivatives

abortively

adverb

– origin Middle English (as a noun denoting a stillborn child or animal): via Old French from Latin abortivus, from aboriri ‘miscarry’ (see abort).

abortus fever /əˌbôrtəs ˈfēvər/

I. noun

the most common form of undulant fever in humans.
[This disease is caused by the bacterium Brucella abortus, which is also the chief cause of brucellosis in cattle.]

– origin 1920s: from Latin abortus ‘miscarriage.’

ABO system

noun

a system of four basic types (A, AB, B, and O) into which human blood may be classified, based on the presence or absence of certain inherited antigens.

abound /əˈbound/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. exist in large numbers or amounts

• rumors of a further scandal abound.

2. (abound in/with) — have in large numbers or amounts

• this land abounds with wildlife.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘overflow, be abundant’): from Old French abunder, from Latin abundare ‘overflow,’ from ab- ‘from’ + undare ‘surge’ (from unda ‘a wave’).

abounding /əˈboundiNG/

adjective

very plentiful; abundant

• his abounding creative talent.

about /əˈbout/

I. preposition

1. on the subject of; concerning

• I was thinking about you

• an article about yellow fever

• it's all about having fun.

2. so as to affect

• there's nothing we can do about it.

3. used to indicate movement within a particular area

• she looked about the room.

4. used to express location in a particular place

• rugs strewn about the hall

• he produced a knife from somewhere about his person.

5. used to describe a quality apparent in a person

• there was a look about her that said everything.

II. adverb

1. used to indicate movement in an area

• men were floundering about

• finding my way about.

2. used to express location in a particular place

• there was a lot of flu about

• a thief about in the hotel.

3. (used with a number or quantity) approximately

• reduced by about 5 percent

• he's about 35.

III. phrases

1. about to do something

intending to do something or close to doing something very soon

• the ceremony was about to begin.

2. be not about to do something

be unwilling to do something

• he is not about to step down after so long.

3. how about

see how^1.

4. just about

see just.

5. know what one is about

‹informal› be aware of the implications of one's actions or of a situation, and of how best to deal with them.

6. up and about

see up.

7. what about

see what.

– origin Old English onbūtan, from on + būtan ‘outside of.’

about-face /əˌboutˈfās/

I. noun

1. (chiefly in military contexts) a turn made so as to face the opposite direction

• he did an about-face and marched out of the tent.

2. a complete change of opinion or policy

• he threatened to stop helping us, but did a complete about-face.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. turn so as to face the opposite direction.

III. exclamation — (about face!)

1. (in military contexts) a command to make an about-face.

– origin mid 19th cent.: shortening of right-about face.

above /əˈbəv/

I. preposition

1. in extended space over and not touching

• a display of fireworks above the town

• [with verb] a cable runs above the duct.

2. extending upward over

• her arms above her head.

3. higher than and to one side of; overlooking

• in the hills above the capital

• on the wall above the altar.

4. at a higher level or layer than

• bruises above both eyes

• small windows above the aisles.

5. higher in grade or rank than

• at a level above the common people.

6. considered of higher status or worth than; too good for

• she married above her

• above reproach.

7. in preference to

• they cynically chose profit above car safety.

8. at a higher volume or pitch than

• above a whisper

• it went unheard above the din.

9. higher than (a specified amount, rate, or norm)

• above average

• above freezing

• above sea level

• the unemployment rate will soar above its present level.

II. adverb

1. at a higher level or layer

• place a quantity of mud in a jar with water above.

2. higher in grade or rank

• an officer of the rank of superintendent or above.

3. higher than a specified amount, rate, or norm

• boats of 31 ft. or above.

4. (in printed text) mentioned earlier or further up on the same page

• the two cases described above

• see above left

• [as adj.] at the above address

• [as noun] since writing the above, I have reconsidered.

III. phrases

1. above all (else)

more so than anything else

• he was concerned above all to speak the truth.

2. above oneself

conceited; arrogant.

3. from above

a. from overhead

• branches rained from above.

b. from a position of higher rank or authority

• mass culture is imposed from above.

4. not be above

be capable of stooping to (an unworthy act)

• he was not above practical jokes.

5. over and above

see over.

– origin Old English abufan (as an adverb), from a- ‘on’ + bufan (from bi ‘by’ + ufan ‘above’).

aboveboard /əˈbəvˌbôrd / above board

adjective, adverb

legitimate, honest, and open
[as adj.]

• certain transactions were not totally aboveboard

• [as adv.] the accountants acted completely above board.

above-mentioned /əˌbəvˈmenSHənd/

adjective

(in printed text) denoting a person or thing previously mentioned

• the above-mentioned changes did not take place overnight.

above-stated

adjective

(in printed text) denoting a point or idea previously stated

• we should not abandon the above-stated democratic ideal.

ab ovo /ab ˈōˌvō, äb/

I. adverb

from the very beginning.

– origin early 18th cent.: Latin, literally ‘from the egg.’

Abp.

abbreviation

Archbishop.

abracadabra /ˌabrəkəˈdabrə/

I. exclamation

a word said by magicians when performing a magic trick.

II. noun

1. ‹informal› language, typically in the form of gibberish, used to give the impression of arcane knowledge or power

• I get so fed up with all the mumbo jumbo and abracadabra.

2. ‹informal› the implausibly easy achievement of difficult feats

• a computer and a little abracadabra turn a freeze-dried steak into a romantic dinner.

– origin late 17th cent. (as a mystical word engraved and used as a charm to ward off illness): from Latin, first recorded in a 2nd-cent. poem by Q. Serenus Sammonicus, from a Greek base.

abrade /əˈbrād/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. scrape or wear away by friction or erosion

• a landscape slowly abraded by a fine, stinging dust.

II. derivatives

abrader

noun

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin abradere, from ab- ‘away, from’ + radere ‘to scrape.’

Abraham /ˈābrəˌham/

(in the Bible) the Hebrew patriarch from whom all Jews trace their descent.

Abraham, Plains of

see Plains of Abraham.

Abrahamic /ˌābrəˈhamik/

adjective

1. denoting any or all of the religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) that revere Abraham, the Biblical patriarch

• the monotheistic faiths that grew out of the Abrahamic heritage.

2. relating specifically to the Biblical patriarch Abraham.

Abrahams, Harold /ˈābrəˌhamz/

(1899–1978), English athlete; full name Harold Maurice Abrahams. In 1924 he became the first Englishman to win the 100 meters in the Olympic Games. His story was retold in the movie Chariots of Fire (1981).

abrasion /əˈbrāZHən/

I. noun

1. the process of scraping or wearing away

• the metal is resistant to abrasion.

2. an area damaged by scraping or wearing away

• there were cuts and abrasions to the lips and jaw.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin abrasio(n-), from the verb abradere (see abrade).

abrasive /əˈbrāsiv əˈbrāziv/

I. adjective

1. (of a substance or material) capable of polishing or cleaning a hard surface by rubbing or grinding.

2. tending to rub or graze the skin

• the trees were abrasive to the touch.

3. (of a person or manner) showing little concern for the feelings of others; harsh

• her abrasive and arrogant personal style won her few friends.

II. noun

a substance used for grinding, polishing, or cleaning a hard surface.

III. derivatives

1. abrasively /əˈbrāsivlē əˈbrāzivlē /

adverb

2. abrasiveness /əˈbrāsivnəs əˈbrāzivnəs /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent. (as a noun): from Latin abras- ‘abraded,’ from the verb abradere (see abrade), + -ive.

abrazo /əˈbräsō/

I. noun

(US) an embrace.

– origin Spanish.

abreact /ˌabrēˈakt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Psychology] release (an emotion) by abreaction.

– origin early 20th cent.: back-formation from abreaction.

abreaction /ˌabrēˈakSHən/

I. noun

[Psychology] the expression and consequent release of a previously repressed emotion, achieved through reliving the experience that caused it (typically through hypnosis or suggestion).

II. derivatives

abreactive /-tiv /

adjective

– origin early 20th cent.: from ab- ‘away from’ + reaction, translating German Abreagierung.

abreast /əˈbrest/

I. adverb

1. side by side and facing the same way

• the path was wide enough for two people to walk abreast

• they were riding three abreast.

2. alongside or even with something

• the cart came abreast of the Americans in their rickshaw.

3. up to date with the latest news, ideas, or information

• keeping abreast of developments.

– origin late Middle English: from a-2 ‘in’ + breast.

abridge /əˈbrij/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. shorten (a book, movie, speech, or other text) without losing the sense

• the cassettes have been abridged from the original stories

• (as adj. abridged) an abridged text of his speech.

2. [Law] curtail (rights or privileges)

• even the right to free speech can be abridged.

II. derivatives

abridger

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘deprive of’): from Old French abregier, from late Latin abbreviare ‘cut short’ (see abbreviate).

abridgment /əˈbrijmənt / abridgement

I. noun

1. a shortened version of a larger work

• an abridgment of Shakespeare's Henry VI.

2. [Law] a curtailment of rights

• the abridgment of the rights of ownership.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French abregement, from the verb abreg(i)er (see abridge).

abroad /əˈbrôd/

I. adverb

1. in or to a foreign country or countries

• we usually go abroad for a week in May

• competition from companies at home and abroad.

2. ‹dated› ‹humorous› out of doors

• few people ventured abroad from their warm houses.

3. in different directions; over a wide area

• millions of seeds are annually scattered abroad.

4. (of a feeling or rumor) widely current

• there is a new buccaneering spirit abroad.

5. freely moving about

• con artists abroad on the streets of the town.

6. ‹archaic› wide of the mark; in error.

II. noun

foreign countries considered collectively

• servicemen returning from abroad.

– origin Middle English: from a-2 ‘on’ + broad.

abrogate /ˈabrəˌɡāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› repeal or do away with (a law, right, or formal agreement)

• a proposal to abrogate temporarily the right to strike.

2. ‹formal› evade (a responsibility or duty)

• we believe the board is abrogating its responsibilities to its shareholders.

II. derivatives

abrogation /ˌabrəˈɡāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin early 16th cent.: from Latin abrogat- ‘repealed,’ from the verb abrogare, from ab- ‘away, from’ + rogare ‘propose a law.’ / usage: The verbs abrogate and arrogate are quite different in meaning. While abrogate means ‘repeal (a law),’ arrogate means ‘take or claim (something) for oneself without justification,’ often in the structure arrogate something to oneself, as in the emergency committee arrogated to itself whatever powers it chose.

abrupt /əˈbrəpt/

I. adjective

1. sudden and unexpected

• I was surprised by the abrupt change of subject

• our round of golf came to an abrupt end on the 13th hole.

2. brief to the point of rudeness; curt

• you were rather abrupt with that young man.

3. (of a style of speech or writing) not flowing smoothly; disjointed.

4. steep; precipitous

• the abrupt double peak of the mountain.

II. derivatives

abruptness /əˈbrəp(t)nəs /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin abruptus ‘broken off, steep,’ past participle of abrumpere, from ab- ‘away, from’ + rumpere ‘break.’

abruption /əˈbrəpSHən/

I. noun

1. ‹technical› the sudden breaking away of a portion from a mass.

2. (also placental abruption) — ‹technical› [Medicine] separation of the placenta from the wall of the uterus, especially when it occurs prematurely during pregnancy.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin abruptio(n)-, from abrumpere ‘break off’ (see abrupt).

abruptly /əˈbrəptlē/

adverb

1. suddenly and unexpectedly

• the film ends rather abruptly

• a drama about two young brothers who are abruptly abandoned by their father.

2. in a rude or curt manner

• she barely conceals her irritation and speaks briefly and abruptly to the woman.

3. steeply; precipitously

• the forested terrain ascends abruptly.

Abruzzian /əˈbro͞otsēən/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of the Italian region of Abruzzi or its inhabitants

• the Abruzzian mountaineers sung their praises.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of the Italian region of Abruzzi

• Abruzzians sometimes use mutton in this dish.

abs /abz / ‹informal›

noun

the abdominal muscles.

ABS /ˌā ˌbē ˈes/

abbreviation

1. acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, a composite plastic used to make car bodies and cases for computers and other appliances.

2. antilock braking system (for motor vehicles).

abs-

prefix

variant spelling of ab- before c, q, and t (as in abscond, abstain).

Absaroka Range /abˌsärəkə ˈrān(d)ZH/

a range of the Rocky Mountains in Montana and Wyoming.

abscess /ˈabˌses/

I. noun

a swollen area within body tissue, containing an accumulation of pus.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin abscessus ‘a going away,’ from the verb abscedere, from ab- ‘away from’ + cedere ‘go,’ referring to the elimination of infected matter via the pus.

abscise /abˈsīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. cut off or away.

2. [no obj.] — [Botany] separate by abscission; fall off.

abscisic acid /abˌsisik ˈasid/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a plant hormone that promotes leaf detachment, induces seed and bud dormancy, and inhibits germination.

– origin 1960s: abscisic from the earlier name for the hormone abscisin, from abscission.

abscissa /abˈsisə/

I. noun

[Mathematics] (in a system of coordinates) the x -coordinate, the distance from a point to the vertical or y -axis measured parallel to the horizontal or x -axis.
Compare with ordinate.

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting the part of a line between a point on it and the point of intersection with an ordinate): from modern Latin abscissa (linea) ‘cutoff (line),’ feminine past participle of abscindere (see abscission).

abscission /abˈsiZHən/

I. noun

[Botany] the natural detachment of parts of a plant, typically dead leaves and ripe fruit.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin abscissio(n-), from abscindere, from ab- ‘off, away’ + scindere ‘to cut.’

abscond /əbˈskänd/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to avoid detection of or arrest for an unlawful action such as theft

• she absconded with the remaining thousand dollars.

2. (of someone on bail) fail to surrender oneself for custody at the appointed time.

3. (of a person kept in detention or under supervision) escape

• 176 detainees absconded.

4. (of a colony of honeybees, especially Africanized ones) entirely abandon a hive or nest.

II. derivatives

absconder /əbˈskändər /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘hide, conceal (oneself)’): from Latin abscondere ‘hide,’ from ab- ‘away, from’ + condere ‘stow.’

abseil /ˈabˌsāl/

I. noun, verb

another term for rappel.

II. derivatives

abseiler

noun

– origin 1930s: from German abseilen, from ab ‘down’ + Seil ‘rope.’

absence /ˈabsəns/

I. noun

1. the state of being away from a place or person

• the letter had arrived during his absence

• I supervised the rehearsal in the absence of the director.

2. an occasion or period of being away from a place or person

• repeated absences from school.

3. (absence of) — the nonexistence or lack of

• she found his total absence of facial expression disconcerting.

II. phrases

1. absence makes the heart grow fonder

‹proverb› you feel more affection for those you love when parted from them.

2. absence of mind

failure to concentrate on or remember what one is doing.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, from Latin absentia, from absens, absent- (see absent).

absent

I. adjective — /ˈabsənt /

1. not present in a place, at an occasion, or as part of something

• most students were absent from school at least once

• absent colleagues

• wings are absent in several species of crane flies.

2. (of an expression or manner) showing that someone is not paying attention to what is being said or done

• she looked up with an absent smile.

II. verb — /abˈsent / [with obj.] (absent oneself)

1. stay or go away

• various people absented themselves because of his presence

• halfway through the meal, he absented himself from the table.

III. preposition — /abˈsent /

1. ‹formal› (N. Amer.) without

• employees could not be fired absent other evidence.

IV. derivatives

absently /ˈabsəntlē /

adverb

absent (sense 2 of the adjective)

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin absens, absent- ‘being absent,’ present participle of abesse, from ab- ‘from, away’ + esse ‘to be.’

absentee /ˌabsənˈtē/

noun

a person who is expected or required to be present at a place or event but is not.

absentee ballot /ˈˌabsənˈtē ˈbalət/

noun

(N. Amer.) a ballot completed and typically mailed in advance of an election by a voter who is unable to be present at the polls.

absenteeism /ˌabsənˈtēˌizəm/

noun

the practice of regularly staying away from work or school without good reason.

absentee landlord /ˈˌabsənˈtē ˈlan(d)ˌlôrd/

noun

a landlord who does not live at and rarely visits the property rented out.

absentminded /ˌabsəntˈmīndəd/

I. adjective

(of a person or a person's behavior or manner) having or showing a habitually forgetful or inattentive disposition

• an absentminded smile.

II. derivatives

1. absentmindedly /ˌabs(ə)ntˈmīndədlē /

adverb

2. absentmindedness /ˌabs(ə)ntˈmīndədnəs /

noun

absinthe /ˈabˌsinTH / absinth

I. noun

1. a potent green aniseed-flavoured liqueur, originally made with the shrub wormwood.

2. another term for wormwood (sense 1).

– origin late Middle English: from French absinthe, from Latin absinthium, from Greek apsinthion ‘wormwood.’

absit omen /ˌabsəd ˈōmən/

I. exclamation

used to express the hope that a reference to something undesirable should not foreshadow its arrival or occurrence.

– origin late 16th cent.: Latin, literally ‘may this (evil) omen be absent.’

absolute /ˈabsəˌlo͞ot ˌabsəˈlo͞ot/

I. adjective

1. not qualified or diminished in any way; total

• absolute secrecy

• absolute silence

• the attention he gave you was absolute.

2. used for general emphasis when expressing an opinion

• the policy is absolute folly.

3. (of powers or rights) not subject to any limitation; unconditional

• no one dared challenge her absolute authority

• human right to life is absolute.

4. (of a ruler) having unrestricted power

• he proclaimed himself absolute monarch.

5. [Law] (of a decree) final

• the decree of nullity was made absolute.

6. [Law] see absolute title.

7. viewed or existing independently and not in relation to other things; not relative or comparative

• absolute moral standards.

8. [Grammar] (of a construction) syntactically independent of the rest of the sentence, as in

• dinner being over, we left the table.

9. [Grammar] (of a transitive verb) used without an expressed object (e.g., guns kill).

10. [Grammar] (of an adjective) used without an expressed noun (e.g., the brave).

II. noun

1. [Philosophy] a value or principle that is regarded as universally valid or that may be viewed without relation to other things

• good and evil are presented as absolutes.

2. (the absolute) — [Philosophy] that which exists without being dependent on anything else.

3. (the absolute) — [Theology] ultimate reality; God.

III. derivatives

absoluteness /ˈabsəˌlo͞otnəs ˌabsəˈlo͞otnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin absolutus ‘freed, unrestricted,’ past participle of absolvere (see absolve).

absolute advantage

noun

[Economics] the ability of an individual or group to carry out a particular economic activity more efficiently than another individual or group.

absolute alcohol

noun

ethanol containing less than one percent of water by weight.

absolutely /ˈabsəˌl(y)o͞otlē ˌabsəˈl(y)o͞otlē/

adverb

1. with no qualification, restriction, or limitation; totally

• she trusted him absolutely

• [as submodifier] you're absolutely right.

2. used to emphasize a strong or exaggerated statement

• he absolutely adores that car

• it's absolutely pouring out there

• [as submodifier] Dad was absolutely furious.

3. [with negative] — none whatsoever

• she had absolutely no idea what he was talking about.

4. [as exclamation] — ‹informal› used to express and emphasize one's assent or agreement

• “Did they give you a free hand when you joined the band?” “Absolutely!”

5. independently; not viewed in relation to other things or factors

• white-collar crime increased both absolutely and in comparison with other categories.

6. [Grammar] (of a verb) without a stated object.

absolute magnitude

noun

[Astronomy] the magnitude (brightness) of a celestial object as it would be seen at a standard distance of 10 parsecs.
Compare with apparent magnitude.

absolute majority

noun

a majority over all rivals combined; more than half.

absolute music

noun

instrumental music composed purely as music, and not intended to represent or illustrate something else.
Compare with program music.

absolute pitch /ˌæbsəˌl(j)ut ˈpɪtʃ/

noun

1. [Music] the ability to recognize the pitch of a note or produce any given note; perfect pitch.

2. [Music] pitch according to a fixed standard defined by the frequency of the sound vibration.

absolute temperature

noun

(Symbol: T) — a temperature measured from absolute zero in kelvins.

absolute title

noun

[Law] guaranteed title to the ownership of a property or lease.

absolute unit

noun

a unit of measurement that is defined in terms of the fundamental units of a system (mass, length, and time) and is not based on arbitrary definitions.

absolute value

noun

1. [Mathematics] the magnitude of a real number without regard to its sign.
Also called modulus. [The absolute value of a complex number a + ib is the positive square root of a 2+ b 2.]

2. ‹technical› the actual magnitude of a numerical value or measurement, irrespective of its relation to other values.

absolute zero

noun

the lowest temperature that is theoretically possible, at which the motion of particles that constitutes heat would be minimal. It is zero on the Kelvin scale, equivalent to –273.15°C or –459.67°F.

absolution /ˌabsəˈl(y)o͞oSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. formal release from guilt, obligation, or punishment.

2. an ecclesiastical declaration of forgiveness of sins

• the priest administered absolution.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin absolutio(n-), from the verb absolvere (see absolve).

absolutism /ˈabsəl(y)o͞oˌtizəm/

noun

the acceptance of or belief in absolute principles in political, philosophical, ethical, or theological matters.

absolutist /ˌabsəˈl(y)o͞odəst/

I. noun

a person who holds absolute principles in political, philosophical, or theological matters

• he was a moral absolutist with little patience for shades of gray.

II. adjective

relating to or supporting absolute principles

• an absolutist political tradition

• these claims might strike many people as absolutist and extreme.

absolutize /ˈabsəlo͞oˌtīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [chiefly Philosophy] [Theology] make (or treat as) absolute.

II. derivatives

absolutization /ˌabsəˌlo͞otiˈzāSHən /

noun

absolve /əbˈzälv əbˈsälv/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. set or declare (someone) free from blame, guilt, or responsibility

• the pardon absolved them of any crimes.

2. [Christian Theology] give absolution for (a sin).

– origin late Middle English: from Latin absolvere ‘set free, acquit,’ from ab- ‘from’ + solvere ‘loosen.’

absonant /ˈabsənənt/

I. adjective

‹archaic› discordant or unreasonable.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin ab- ‘away, from’ + sonant- ‘sounding,’ from sonare, on the pattern of words such as dissonant.

absorb /əbˈzôrb əbˈsôrb/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. take in or soak up (energy, or a liquid or other substance) by chemical or physical action, typically gradually

• buildings can be designed to absorb and retain heat

• steroids are absorbed into the bloodstream.

2. take in and assimilate (information, ideas, or experience)

• she absorbed the information in silence.

3. take control of (a smaller or less powerful entity), making it a part of oneself by assimilation

• the family firm was absorbed into a larger group.

4. use or take up (time or resources)

• arms spending absorbs roughly 2 percent of the national income.

5. take up and reduce the effect or intensity of (sound or an impact)

• deep-pile carpets absorbed all sound of the outside world.

6. engross the attention of (someone)

• the work absorbed him and continued to make him happy.

II. derivatives

absorber /əbˈzôrbər abˈzôrbər əbˈsôrbər abˈsôrbər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin absorbere, from ab- ‘from’ + sorbere ‘suck in.’

absorbable /əbˈzôrbəb(ə)l əbˈsôrbəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

able to be absorbed, especially into the body.

II. derivatives

absorbability /əbˌzôrbəˈbilədē əbˌsôrbəˈbilədē /

noun

absorbance /əbˈzôrbəns, -ˈsôr-/

noun

[Physics] a measure of the capacity of a substance to absorb light of a specified wavelength. It is equal to the logarithm of the reciprocal of the transmittance.

absorbed /əbˈzôrbd əbˈsôrbd/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. intensely engaged; engrossed

• she sat in an armchair, absorbed in a book.

II. derivatives

absorbedly /əbˈzôrbədlē abˈzôrbədlē əbˈsôrbədlē abˈsôrbədlē /

adverb

absorbed dose

noun

[Physics] the energy of ionizing radiation absorbed per unit mass by a body, often measured in rads.

absorbent /əbˈzôrbənt əbˈsôrbənt/

I. adjective

(of a material) able to soak up liquid easily

• drain on absorbent paper towels.

II. noun

a substance or item that soaks up liquid easily.

III. derivatives

absorbency /əbˈzôrbən(t)sē abˈzôrbən(t)sē əbˈsôrbən(t)sē abˈsôrbən(t)sē /

noun

– origin early 18th cent.: from Latin absorbent- ‘swallowing up,’ from the verb absorbere (see absorb).

absorbent cotton

noun

(N. Amer.) fluffy wadding of a kind originally made from raw cotton, used for cleansing wounds, removing cosmetics, and padding delicate objects.

absorbing /əbˈzôrbiNG əbˈsôrbiNG/

I. adjective

intensely interesting; engrossing

• an absorbing account of their marriage.

II. derivatives

absorbingly

adverb

absorption /əbˈzôrpSH(ə)n əbˈsôrpSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the process or action by which one thing absorbs or is absorbed by another

• East Germany's absorption into West Germany

• shock absorption.

2. the fact or state of being engrossed in something

• her absorption in the problems of the Third World.

II. derivatives

absorptive /əbˈzôrptiv abˈzôrptiv əbˈsôrptiv abˈsôrptiv /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘the swallowing up of something’): from Latin absorptio(n-), from absorbere ‘swallow up’ (see absorb).

absorption nebula

noun

[Astronomy] another term for dark nebula.

absorption spectrum

noun

[Physics] a spectrum of electromagnetic radiation transmitted through a substance, showing dark lines or bands due to absorption of specific wavelengths.
Compare with emission spectrum.

absquatulate /abˈskwäCHəˌlāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹humorous› (chiefly N. Amer.) leave abruptly

• some overthrown dictator who had absquatulated to the U.S.A.

II. derivatives

absquatulation /abˌskwäCHəˈlāSHən /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: blend, simulating a Latin form, of abscond, squattle ‘depart,’ and perambulate.

abstain /əbˈstān/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. restrain oneself from doing or enjoying something

• abstaining from chocolate.

2. refrain from drinking alcohol

• most pregnant women abstain or drink very little.

3. formally decline to vote either for or against a proposal or motion

• forty-one voted with the opposition, and some sixty more abstained.

II. derivatives

abstainer /əbˈstānər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French abstenir, from Latin abstinere, from ab- ‘from’ + tenere ‘hold.’

abstemious /əbˈstēmēəs/

I. adjective

not self-indulgent, especially when eating and drinking

• “We only had a bottle.” “Very abstemious of you.”

II. derivatives

1. abstemiously /əbˈstēmēəslē /

adverb

2. abstemiousness /əbˈstēmēəsnəs /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin abstemius (from ab- ‘from’ + a word related to temetum ‘strong drink’) + -ous.

abstention /əbˈsten(t)SH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. an instance of declining to vote for or against a proposal or motion

• a resolution passed by 126 votes to none, with six abstentions.

2. the fact or practice of restraining oneself from indulging in something; abstinence

• alcohol consumption versus abstention.

II. derivatives

abstentionism /-ˌnizəm /

noun

– origin early 16th cent. (denoting the act of keeping back or restraining): from late Latin abstentio(n-), from the verb abstinere (see abstain).

abstinence /ˈabstənəns/

I. noun

the fact or practice of restraining oneself from indulging in something, typically alcohol

• I started drinking again after six years of abstinence.

II. derivatives

1. abstinent /ˈabstənənt /

adjective

2. abstinently

adverb

– origin Middle English: from Old French, from Latin abstinentia, from the verb abstinere (see abstain).

abstract

I. adjective — /abˈstrakt ˈabˌstrakt /

1. existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence

• abstract concepts such as love or beauty.

2. dealing with ideas rather than events

• the novel was too abstract and esoteric to sustain much attention.

3. not based on a particular instance; theoretical

• we have been discussing the problem in a very abstract manner.

4. (of a word, especially a noun) denoting an idea, quality, or state rather than a concrete object

• abstract words like truth or equality.

5. of or relating to abstract art

• abstract pictures that look like commercial color charts.

II. verb — /abˈstrakt / [with obj.]

1. consider (something) theoretically or separately from something else

• to abstract science and religion from their historical context can lead to anachronism

• [no obj.] he cannot form a general notion by abstracting from particulars.

2. extract or remove (something)

• applications to abstract more water from streams.

3. used euphemistically to say that someone has stolen something

• his pockets contained all he had been able to abstract from the apartment.

4. (abstract oneself) — withdraw

• as our relationship deepened you seemed to abstract yourself.

5. make a written summary of (an article or book)

• staff who index and abstract material for an online database.

III. noun — /ˈabˌstrakt /

1. a summary of the contents of a book, article, or formal speech

• an abstract of his inaugural address.

2. an abstract work of art

• a big unframed abstract.

3. (the abstract) — that which is abstract; the theoretical consideration of something

• the abstract must be made concrete by examples.

IV. phrases

in the abstract

in a general way; without reference to specific instances

• there's a fine line between promoting US business interests in the abstract and promoting specific companies.

V. derivatives

1. abstractly /əbˈstrak(t)lē abˈstrak(t)lē /

adverb

2. abstractor /əbˈstraktər abˈstraktər /

noun

abstract (sense 3 of the verb)

– origin Middle English: from Latin abstractus, literally ‘drawn away,’ past participle of abstrahere, from ab- ‘from’ + trahere ‘draw off.’

abstract art

noun

art that does not attempt to represent external reality, but seeks to achieve its effect using shapes, forms, colors, and textures.

abstracted /abˈstraktəd/

I. adjective

showing a lack of concentration on what is happening around one

• she seemed abstracted and unaware of her surroundings

• an abstracted smile.

II. derivatives

abstractedly /əbˈstraktədlē /

adverb

abstract expressionism

I. noun

a development of abstract art that originated in New York in the 1940s and 1950s and aimed at subjective emotional expression with particular emphasis on the creative spontaneous act (e.g., action painting). Leading figures were Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning.

II. derivatives

abstract expressionist

noun

abstraction /abˈstrakSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the quality of dealing with ideas rather than events

• topics will vary in degrees of abstraction.

2. something that exists only as an idea

• the question can no longer be treated as an academic abstraction.

3. freedom from representational qualities in art

• geometric abstraction has been a mainstay in her work.

4. an abstract work of art.

5. a state of preoccupation

• she sensed his momentary abstraction.

6. the process of considering something independently of its associations, attributes, or concrete accompaniments

• duty is no longer determined in abstraction from the consequences.

7. the process of removing something, especially water from a river or other source

• the abstraction of water from springs and wells.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin abstractio(n-), from the verb abstrahere ‘draw away’ (see abstract).

abstractionism /əbˈstrakSHəˌnizəm/

I. noun

1. the principles and practice of abstract art.

2. the presentation of ideas in abstract terms.

II. derivatives

abstractionist /əbˈstrakSH(ə)nəst /

noun, adjective

abstract noun

noun

a noun denoting an idea, quality, or state rather than a concrete object

• the website contains considerably more abstract nouns than hard facts.

abstract of title /ˌabstrakt əv ˈtīdl/

noun

[Law] a summary giving details of the title deeds and documents that prove an owner's right to dispose of land, together with any encumbrances that relate to the property.

abstruse /abˈstro͞os əbˈstro͞os/

I. adjective

difficult to understand; obscure

• an abstruse philosophical inquiry.

II. derivatives

1. abstrusely /abˈstro͞oslē əbˈstro͞oslē /

adverb

2. abstruseness /abˈstro͞osnəs əbˈstro͞osnəs /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin abstrusus ‘put away, hidden,’ from abstrudere ‘conceal,’ from ab- ‘from’ + trudere ‘to push.’

absurd /əbˈsərd əbˈzərd/

I. adjective

1. (of an idea or suggestion) wildly unreasonable, illogical, or inappropriate

• the allegations are patently absurd

• so you think I'm a spy? How absurd!

• (as noun the absurd) he had a keen eye for the incongruous and the absurd.

2. (of a person or a person's behavior or actions) foolish; unreasonable

• she was being absurd—and imagining things.

3. (of an object or situation) arousing amusement or derision; ridiculous

• gym shorts and knee socks looked absurd on such a tall girl.

II. derivatives

absurdly /əbˈsərdlē abˈsərdlē əbˈzərdlē abˈzərdlē /

adverb

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin absurdus ‘out of tune,’ hence ‘irrational’; related to surdus ‘deaf, dull.’

absurdism /əbˈsərdˌizəm, -ˈzərd-/

noun

1. intentionally ridiculous or bizarre behavior or character

• the absurdism of the Dada movement.

2. the belief that human beings exist in a purposeless, chaotic universe.

absurdist /əbˈsərdəst əbˈzərdəst/

I. adjective

1. intentionally ridiculous or bizarre; surreal

• a delightful piece of absurdist nonsense.

2. relating to or supporting the belief that human beings exist in a purposeless, chaotic universe.

II. noun

a writer or artist who deals with absurdist themes

• the French absurdists of the fifties.

absurdity /əbˈsərdədē əbˈzərdədē/

I. noun

the quality or state of being ridiculous or wildly unreasonable

• Duncan laughed at the absurdity of the situation

• the absurdities of haute cuisine.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘dissonance’): from Latin absurditas, from absurdus (see absurd).

abubble /əˈbəbəl/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. full of excitement and enthusiasm

• he was abubble with the news.

– origin 1930s: from a-2 ‘in the process of’ + bubble.

Abu Dhabi /ˌäbo͞o ˈdäbē/

I. the largest of the seven member states of the United Arab Emirates, lying between Oman and the Gulf coast; pop. 2,061,100 (est. 2009). The former sheikhdom joined the federation of the United Arab Emirates in 1971.

II. the capital of the state of Abu Dhabi; pop. 896,800 (est. 2009). It is also the federal capital of the United Arab Emirates.

abuela /ˌäˈbwālə/

I. noun

(US) (in Spanish-speaking areas) one's grandmother

• Diego lives with his abuela and helps run the family restaurant.

– origin Spanish.

abuelo /ˌäˈbwālō/

I. noun

(US) (in Spanish-speaking areas) one's grandfather

• breakfast tortillas topped with chili sauce, onion, and cheese—just the way my abuelo liked it.

– origin Spanish.

Abuja /əˈbo͞ojə/

a newly built city in central Nigeria, designated in 1982 to replace Lagos as the national capital; pop. 776,300 (est. 2006).

abulia /əˈbo͞olēə / aboulia

I. noun

an absence of willpower or an inability to act decisively, as a symptom of mental illness.

– origin mid 19th cent.: coined from a-1 ‘without’ + Greek boulē ‘the will.’

Abu Musa /ˌäbo͞o ˈmo͞osə/

a small island in the Persian Gulf. Formerly held by the emirate of Sharjah, it was occupied by Iran by agreement from 1971 until it was taken over by them in 1992.

Abuna /əˈbo͞onə/

I. noun

a title given to the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

– origin Amharic, from Arabic ῾abūnā ‘our father.’

abundance /əˈbəndəns/

I. noun

1. a very large quantity of something

• the tropical island boasts an abundance of wildlife.

2. the quantity or amount of something, e.g., a chemical element or an animal or plant species, present in a particular area, volume, sample, etc.

• estimates of abundance of harp seals

• the relative abundances of carbon and nitrogen.

3. (in solo whist) a bid by which a player undertakes to make nine or more tricks.

4. the state or condition of having a copious quantity of something; plentifulness

• vines and figs grew in abundance.

5. plentifulness of the good things of life; prosperity

• the growth of industry promised wealth and abundance.

– origin Middle English: from Latin abundantia, from abundant- ‘overflowing,’ from the verb abundare (see abound).

abundant /əˈbəndənt/

I. adjective

1. existing or available in large quantities; plentiful

• there was abundant evidence to support the theory.

2. [predic.] (abundant in) — having plenty of something

• the riverbanks were abundant in wild plants.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin abundant- ‘abounding,’ from the verb abundare (see abound).

abundantly /əˈbəndəntlē/

adverb

1. in large quantities; plentifully

• the plant grows abundantly in the wild.

2. [as submodifier] — extremely

• my boss made it abundantly clear that if I didn't like it, I should look for another job.

abuse

I. verb — /əˈbyo͞oz / [with obj.]

1. use (something) to bad effect or for a bad purpose; misuse

• the judge abused his power by imposing the fines.

2. make excessive and habitual use of (alcohol or drugs, especially illegal ones).

3. treat (a person or an animal) with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly

• riders who abuse their horses should be prosecuted.

4. assault (someone, especially a woman or child) sexually

• he was a depraved man who had abused his two young daughters

• (as adj. abused) abused children.

5. (abuse oneself) — ‹euphemistic› masturbate.

6. use or treat in such a way as to cause damage or harm

• he had been abusing his body for years.

7. speak in an insulting and offensive way to or about (someone)

• the referee was abused by players from both teams.

II. noun — /əˈbyo͞os /

1. the improper use of something

• alcohol abuse

• an abuse of public funds.

2. unjust or corrupt practice

• protection against fraud and abuse

• human rights abuses.

3. cruel and violent treatment of a person or animal

• a black eye and other signs of physical abuse.

4. violent treatment involving sexual assault, especially on a repeated basis

• young people who have suffered sexual abuse.

5. insulting and offensive language

• waving his fists and hurling abuse at the driver.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin abus- ‘misused,’ from the verb abuti, from ab- ‘away’ (i.e., ‘wrongly’) + uti ‘to use.’

abuser /əˈbyo͞ozər/

noun

1. a person who uses something to bad effect or for a bad purpose

• notorious abusers of the English language.

2. a person who makes excessive and habitual use of alcohol or drugs, especially illegal ones

• a chronic cocaine abuser.

3. a person who treats another person or animal with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly

• a vicious abuser who beats both his wife and his son.

4. a person who sexually assaults someone, especially a woman or child

• how much do we know about what makes someone a sexual abuser?

Abu Simbel /ˌäbo͞o ˈsimbəl/

the site of two huge rock-cut temples in southern Egypt, built during the reign of Ramses II in the 13th century BC, and commemorating him and his first wife Nefertari. Following the building of the High Dam at Aswan, the monument was rebuilt higher on the hillside.

abusive /əˈbyo͞osiv əˈbyo͞oziv/

I. adjective

1. extremely offensive and insulting

• abusive language

• he became quite abusive and swore at her.

2. engaging in or characterized by habitual violence and cruelty

• abusive parents

• an abusive relationship.

3. involving injustice or illegality

• the abusive and predatory practices of businesses.

II. derivatives

1. abusively /əˈbyo͞osivlē əˈbyo͞ozivlē /

adverb

2. abusiveness /əˈbyo͞osivnəs əˈbyo͞ozivnəs /

noun

abustle /əˈbəsəl/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. bustling; busy

• the main drag is always abustle with inventive sidewalk artists.

– origin 1930s: from a-2 ‘in the process of’ + bustle^1.

abut /əˈbət/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of an area of land or a building) be next to or have a common boundary with

• gardens abutting Prescott Street

• [no obj.] a park abutting on an area of wasteland.

2. touch or lean upon

• masonry may crumble where a roof abuts it.

– origin late Middle English: the sense ‘have a common boundary’ from Anglo-Latin abuttare, from a- (from Latin ad ‘to, at’) + Old French but ‘end’; the sense ‘lean upon’ (late 16th cent.) from Old French abouter, from a- (from Latin ad ‘to, at’) + bouter ‘strike, butt,’ of Germanic origin.

abutilon /əˈbyo͞odlˌän/

I. noun

a herbaceous plant or shrub of the mallow family, native to warm climates and typically bearing showy yellow, red, or mauve flowers.
[Genus Abutilon, family Malvaceae.]

– origin modern Latin, from Arabic ūbūṭīlūn ‘Indian mallow.’

abutment /əˈbətmənt/

noun

1. a structure built to support the lateral pressure of an arch or span, e.g., at the ends of a bridge.

2. the process of supporting something with an abutment.

3. a point at which something abuts against something else.

abutter /əˈbədər/

noun

(chiefly US) the owner of property that abuts (touches on) another.

abuzz /əˈbəz/

adjective — [predic.]

1. filled with a continuous humming sound

• the room was abuzz with mosquitoes

• ‹figurative› the city was abuzz with rumors.

ABV

abbreviation

alcohol by volume.

abysm /əˈbizəm/

I. noun

a literary or poetic term for abyss:

• the abysm from which nightmares crawl.

– origin Middle English: from Old French abisme, medieval Latin abysmus, alteration of late Latin abyssus ‘bottomless pit,’ the ending being assimilated to the Greek ending -ismos.

abysmal /əˈbizməl/

I. adjective

1. extremely bad; appalling

• the quality of her work is abysmal.

2. ‹literary› very deep.

– origin mid 17th cent. (sense 2): from abysm. Sense 1 dates from the early 19th cent.

abysmally /əˈbizməlē/

adverb

in an extremely bad way; appallingly

• she treats me abysmally at times

• [as submodifier] the conviction rate is abysmally low.

abyss /əˈbis/

I. noun

1. a deep or seemingly bottomless chasm

• a rope led down into the dark abyss.

2. a wide or profound difference between people; a gulf

• the abyss between the two nations.

3. the regions of hell conceived of as a bottomless pit

• Satan's dark abyss.

4. (the abyss) — a catastrophic situation seen as likely to occur

• teetering on the edge of the abyss of a total political wipeout.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘infernal pit’): via late Latin from Greek abussos ‘bottomless,’ from a- ‘without’ + bussos ‘depth.’

abyssal /əˈbisəl/

I. adjective

1. ‹chiefly technical› relating to or denoting the depths or bed of the ocean, especially between about 10,000 and 20,000 feet (3,000 and 6,000 m) down

• the genera found in the abyssal North Atlantic.

2. ‹chiefly technical› [Geology] another term for plutonic (sense 1).

– origin mid 17th cent.: from late Latin abyssalis ‘belonging to an abyss’ (see abyss).

Abyssinia /ˌabəˈsinēə/

former name for Ethiopia.

Abyssinian /ˌabəˈsinēən/

I. adjective

‹historical› of or relating to Abyssinia or its people.

II. noun

1. ‹historical› a native of Abyssinia.

2. (also Abyssinian cat) — a domestic cat of a breed having long ears and short brown hair flecked with gray.

Abzug, Bella /ˈabˌzo͝oɡ/

(1920–98), US politician, lawyer, and women's rights activist; full name Bella Savitsky Abzug. She helped to found Women Strike for Peace in 1961. Serving in Congress as a Democrat from New York, she fought for the rights of women and of the poor.

Ac

symbol

the chemical element actinium.

AC /ˈˌā ˈsē/

abbreviation

1. (also ac) — alternating current.

2. (also ac) — air conditioning

• a sedan with power steering and AC.

3. before Christ.
[from Latin ante Christum.]

4. appellation contrôlée

• AC Sauvignon and Chardonnay.

5. athletic club.

6. (ac.) — (N. Amer.) acre

• a 22-ac. site.

a/c /əˈkount/

abbreviation

1. account.
[from the obsolete phrase account current denoting a continuous account detailing sums paid and received.]

2. (also A/C) — air conditioning.

ac-

prefix

variant spelling of ad- assimilated before c and q (as in accept, acquit, and acquiesce).

-ac

I. suffix

forming adjectives that are also often (or only) used as nouns, such as maniac.
Compare with -acal.

– origin from Greek -akos via Latin -acus or French -aque.

ACA PPACA

abbreviation

(in the US) Affordable Care Act or (in full) Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
See also Obamacare.

acacia /əˈkāSHə / acacia tree

I. noun

1. a tree or shrub of warm climates that bears spikes or clusters of yellow or white flowers and is frequently thorny.
[Genus Acacia, family Leguminosae: numerous species, including A. senegal, which yields gum arabic.]

2. see false acacia.

– origin late Middle English: via Latin from Greek akakia.

academe /ˌakəˈdēm ˈakəˌdēm/

I. noun

the academic environment or community; academia

• bridging the gap between industry and academe

• the groves of academe.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘academy’): from Latin academia, reinforced by Greek Akadēmos (see academy).

academia /ˌakəˈdēmēə/

I. noun

the environment or community concerned with the pursuit of research, education, and scholarship

• he spent his working life in academia.

– origin 1950s: from Latin (see academy).

academic /ˌakəˈdemik/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to education and scholarship

• academic achievement

• he had no academic qualifications.

2. of or relating to an educational or scholarly institution or environment

• students resplendent in academic dress.

3. (of an institution or a course of study) placing a greater emphasis on reading and study than on technical or practical work

• an academic high school that prepares students for the best colleges and universities.

4. (of a person) interested in or excelling at scholarly pursuits and activities

• Ben is not an academic child but he tries hard.

5. (of an art form) conventional, especially in an idealized or excessively formal way

• academic painting.

6. not of practical relevance; of only theoretical interest

• the debate has been largely academic.

II. noun

a teacher or scholar in a college or institute of higher education.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French académique or medieval Latin academicus, from academia (see academy).

academically /akəˈdemiklē/

adverb

in a way that relates to education and scholarship

• applicants must excel academically.

academic freedom

noun

a scholar's freedom to express ideas without risk of official interference or professional disadvantage

• we cannot protect academic freedom by denying others the right to an opposing view.

academician /ˌakədəˈmiSHən əˌkadəˈmiSHən/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) an academic; an intellectual.

2. a member of an academy, especially of the Royal Academy of Arts, the Académie Française, or the Russian Academy of Sciences.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French académicien, from medieval Latin academicus (see academic).

academicism /ˌakəˈdeməˌsizəm / academism

noun

adherence to formal or conventional rules and traditions in art or literature

• the opposition between academicism and creative authenticity.

academic year

noun

the period of the year during which students attend an educational institution, usually from September to June.
Also called school year.

academy /əˈkadəmē/

I. noun

1. a place of study or training in a special field

• a police academy.

2. ‹dated› a place of study.

3. (US) (Scottish) a secondary school, typically a private one

• he had passed all his finals at Ephebus Academy.

4. (the Academy) — the teaching school founded by Plato.

5. a society or institution of distinguished scholars, artists, or scientists, that aims to promote and maintain standards in its particular field

• the National Academy of Sciences.

6. the community of scholars; academe

• a writing and publishing world outside the academy.

– origin late Middle English (denoting the garden where Plato taught): from French académie or Latin academia, from Greek akadēmeia, from Akadēmos, the hero after whom Plato's garden was named.

Academy Award /əˈkadəmē əˈwôrd/

noun

‹trademark› any of a series of awards of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Hollywood given annually since 1928 for achievement in the movie industry in various categories; an Oscar.

Acadia /əˈkādēə/

I. a former French colony established in 1604 in the territory that now includes Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island in Canada. Contested by France and Britain, it was ceded to Britain in 1763, and many French Acadians were deported to other parts of North America, especially Louisiana.

– origin from Acadie, the French name for what became (chiefly) Nova Scotia.

Acadian /əˈkādēən / ‹chiefly historical›

I. adjective

of or relating to Acadia or its people.

II. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Acadia.

2. (chiefly Canadian) a French-speaking descendant of the early French settlers in Acadia.

3. (US) a descendant of the Acadians deported to Louisiana in the 18th century; a Cajun.

açai /əˈsīˌē ˌäsäˈē/

I. noun

a South American palm tree producing small edible blackish-purple berries.
[Genus Euterpe, esp. E. oleracea.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Portuguese açaí, from Tupi-Guarani asaí.

acajou /ˈäkəZHo͞o/

I. noun

1. the wood of certain tropical timber-yielding trees, especially mahogany.

2. another term for cashew.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French, via Portuguese from Tupi acajú.

-acal

suffix

forming adjectives from nouns and adjectives usually ending in -ac, such as maniacal, often making a distinction from nouns ending in -ac (as in maniacal compared with maniac).

acalculia /ˌākalˈkyo͞olēə/

I. noun

[Medicine] loss of the ability to perform simple arithmetic calculations, typically resulting from disease or injury of the parietal lobe of the brain.

– origin early 20th cent.: from a-1 ‘not’ + Latin calculare ‘calculate’ + -ia^1.

acantho- acanth-

I. combining form

having thornlike characteristics.

– origin from Greek akantha ‘thorn.’

Acanthocephala /əˌkanTHōˈsefələ / ‹Zoology›

I. a small phylum of parasitic invertebrates that comprises the thorny-headed worms.

II. derivatives

1. acanthocephalan

adjective, noun

2. acanthocephalid /-lid /

adjective, noun

– origin modern Latin, from acantho- ‘thorn’ + Greek kephalē ‘head.’

acanthodian /ˌakənˈTHōdēən/

I. noun

a small spiny-finned, jawed fossil fish of a group found chiefly in the Devonian period.
[Class (or subclass) Acanthodii.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Acanthodii (from acantho-) + -an.

acanthus /əˈkanTHəs/

noun

1. a herbaceous plant or shrub with bold flower spikes and spiny decorative leaves, native to Mediterranean regions.
[via Latin from Greek akanthos, from akantha ‘thorn,’ from akē ‘sharp point.’] [Genus Acanthus, family Acanthaceae: many species.]

2. [Architecture] a conventionalized representation of an acanthus leaf, used especially as a decoration for Corinthian column capitals.

a cappella /ä kəˈpelə a kəˈpelə/

I. adjective, adverb

(with reference to choral music) without instrumental accompaniment
[as adj.]

• an a cappella Mass

• [as adv.] the trio usually performs a cappella.

– origin Italian, literally ‘in chapel style.’

Acapulco /ˌäkəˈpo͝olkō, äkəˈpo͞olkō/

a port and resort in southern Mexico, on the Pacific coast; pop. 616,384 (2005). Full name Acapulco de Juárez.

Acari /ˈakəˌrī / ‹Zoology› Acarina

I. a large order (or subclass) of small arachnids that comprises the mites and ticks. They are distinguished by an apparent lack of body divisions.

II. derivatives

acarid /-rid /

noun, adjective

– origin modern Latin (plural), from acarus, from Greek akari ‘mite.’

acaricide /əˈkarəˌsīd, ˈakərə-/

I. noun

a substance poisonous to mites or ticks.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek akari ‘mite, tick’ + -cide.

acarine /ˈakəˌrīn, -ˌrēn / ‹Zoology›

I. noun

a small arachnid of the order Acari; a mite or tick.

II. adjective

relating to or denoting acarines.

acarology /ˌakəˈräləjē/

I. noun

the study of mites and ticks.

II. derivatives

acarologist /-jist /

noun

– origin early 20th cent.: from Greek akari ‘mite, tick’ + -logy.

acatalectic /āˌkadlˈektik / ‹Prosody›

I. adjective

(of a line of verse) having the full number of syllables.

II. noun

a line of acatalectic verse.

accede /əkˈsēd/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹formal› assent or agree to a demand, request, or treaty

• the authorities did not accede to the strikers' demands.

2. ‹formal› assume an office or position

• he acceded to the post of director in September.

3. ‹formal› become a member of a community or organization

• Albania acceded to the IMF in 1990.

– origin late Middle English (in the general sense ‘come forward, approach’): from Latin accedere, from ad- ‘to’ + cedere ‘give way, yield.’

accelerando /äkˌseləˈrändō, äˌCHeləˈrändō / ‹Music›

I. adjective, adverb

with a gradual increase of speed (used chiefly as a direction).

II. noun

an accelerando passage.

– origin Italian.

accelerant /əkˈselərənt/

I. noun

a substance used to aid the spread of fire

• stolen accelerants could be used as firebombs.

II. adjective

accelerating or causing acceleration

• accelerant factors for carcinoma.

accelerate /əkˈseləˌrāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a vehicle or other physical object) begin to move more quickly

• the car accelerated toward her.

2. increase in amount or extent

• inflation started to accelerate

• [with obj.] the key question is whether stress accelerates aging

• (as adj. accelerating) accelerating industrial activity.

3. [Physics] undergo a change in velocity.

II. derivatives

accelerative /əkˈselərədiv akˈselərədiv akˈseləˌrādiv əkˈseləˌrādiv /

adjective

– origin early 16th cent. (in the sense ‘hasten the occurrence of’): from Latin accelerat- ‘hastened,’ from the verb accelerare, from ad- ‘toward’ + celer ‘swift.’

accelerated learning

noun

1. an intensive method of study employing techniques that enable material to be learned in a relatively short time.

2. a program of learning that allows certain students, especially those more academically able, to progress through school more rapidly than others.

acceleration /akˌseləˈrāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. increase in the rate or speed of something

• the acceleration of the industrialization process

• an acceleration in the divorce rate.

2. [Physics] the rate of change of velocity per unit of time.

3. a vehicle's capacity to gain speed within a short time

• a Formula One car is superior to an Indy car in its acceleration.

accelerator /əkˈseləˌrādər/

noun

1. something that brings about acceleration, in particular

2. the device, typically a pedal, that controls the speed of a vehicle's engine.

3. [Physics] an apparatus for accelerating charged particles to high velocities.

4. a substance that speeds up a chemical process, typically the vulcanization of rubber or the curing of a plastic.

accelerator board accelerator card

noun

an accessory circuit board that can be plugged into a computer to increase the speed of its processor or input/output operations.

accelerometer /əkˌseləˈrämədər/

I. noun

an instrument for measuring acceleration, typically that of an automobile, ship, aircraft, or spacecraft, or that involved in the vibration of a machine, building, or other structure.

– origin early 20th cent.: from accelerate + -meter.

accent

I. noun — /ˈakˌsent /

1. a distinctive mode of pronunciation of a language, especially one associated with a particular nation, locality, or social class

• a strong German accent.

• she never mastered the French accent.

2. a distinct emphasis given to a syllable or word in speech by stress or pitch.

3. a mark on a letter, typically a vowel, to indicate pitch, stress, or vowel quality.

4. [Music] an emphasis on a particular note or chord.

5. [in sing.] — a special or particular emphasis

• the accent is on participation.

6. a feature that gives a distinctive visual emphasis to something

• blue woodwork and accents of red.

II. verb — /ˈakˌsent akˈsent / [with obj.]

1. emphasize (a particular feature)

• fabrics that accent the background colors in the room.

2. [Music] play (a note, a beat of the bar, etc.) with an accent.

III. derivatives

accentual /akˈsen(t)SH(o͞o)əl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘intonation’): from Latin accentus ‘tone, signal, or intensity’ (from ad- ‘to’ + cantus ‘song’), translating Greek prosōidia ‘a song sung to music, intonation.’

accented /ˈakˌsen(t)əd/

adjective

1. spoken with or characterized by a particular accent

• he spoke in slightly accented English.

2. (of a word or syllable) marked with a stress or other accent.

accentor /ˈaksentər/

I. noun

a small Eurasian songbird with generally drab-colored plumage.
[Family Prunellidae and genus Prunella: several species.]

– origin early 19th cent.: from late Latin, from ad- ‘to’ + cantor ‘singer.’

accentuate /əkˈsen(t)SHəˌwāt akˈsen(t)SHəˌwāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make more noticeable or prominent

• his jacket unfortunately accentuated his paunch.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from medieval Latin accentuat- ‘accented,’ from the verb accentuare, from accentus ‘tone’ (see accent).

accentuation /əkˌsen(t)SHəˈwāSH(ə)n akˌsen(t)SHəˈwāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action of emphasizing something

• the accentuation of the Treasury's currency policy.

2. the prominence of a thing relative to the normal

• a condition where there is an accentuation of female characteristics.

3. the manner in which accents are apparent in pronunciation, or indicated in writing.

accept /əkˈsept/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. consent to receive (a thing offered)

• he accepted a pen as a present.

2. give an affirmative answer to (an offer or proposal); say yes to

• he would accept their offer and see what happened

• [no obj.] Tim offered Brian a lift home and he accepted.

3. ‹dated› say yes to a proposal of marriage from (a man)

• Ronald is a good match and she ought to accept him.

4. receive as adequate, valid, or suitable

• the college accepted her as a student

• credit cards are widely accepted.

5. regard favorably or with approval; welcome

• the Harvard literati never accepted him as one of them.

6. (of a thing) be designed to allow (something) to be inserted or applied

• vending machines that accepted 100-yen coins for cans of beer.

7. believe or come to recognize (an opinion, explanation, etc.) as valid or correct

• this tentative explanation came to be accepted by the group

• [with clause] it is accepted that aging is a continuous process.

8. take upon oneself (a responsibility or liability); acknowledge

• Jenkins is willing to accept his responsibility

• [with clause] he accepts that he made a mistake.

9. tolerate or submit to (something unpleasant or undesired)

• they accepted the need to cut expenses.

II. derivatives

accepter

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin acceptare, frequentative of accipere ‘take something to oneself,’ from ad- ‘to’ + capere ‘take.’ / usage: Accept, which means ‘take (that which is offered),’ may be confused with the verb except, which means ‘exclude.’ Thus: I accept the terms of your offer, but I wish to except the clause calling for repayment of the deposit.

acceptability /əkˌseptəˈbilədē/

noun

1. the quality of being tolerated or allowed

• what has changed is the social acceptability of such actions

• it was simply beyond the limits of acceptability to attack someone who could not defend himself.

2. the quality of being accepted

• money derives its purchasing power entirely from its acceptability as a medium of exchange.

acceptable /əkˈseptəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. able to be agreed on; suitable

• has tried to find a solution acceptable to everyone.

2. adequate; satisfactory

• an acceptable substitute for champagne.

3. pleasing; welcome

• some coffee would be most acceptable.

4. able to be tolerated or allowed

• pollution in the city had reached four times the acceptable level.

II. phrases

the acceptable face of

the tolerable or attractive manifestation or aspect of

• he presents himself as the acceptable face of gambling.

III. derivatives

acceptably /əkˈseptəblē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, from late Latin acceptabilis, from acceptare (see accept).

acceptance /əkˈseptəns/

I. noun

1. the action of consenting to receive or undertake something offered

• charges involving the acceptance of bribes

• [as modifier] an acceptance speech

• he had an acceptance from the magazine.

2. a draft or bill that is accepted by being signed.

3. the action or process of being received as adequate or suitable, typically to be admitted into a group

• you must wait for acceptance into the club.

4. agreement with or belief in an idea, opinion, or explanation

• acceptance of the teaching of the church.

5. willingness to tolerate a difficult or unpleasant situation

• a mood of resigned acceptance.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Old French, from accepter (see accept).

acceptant /əkˈsept(ə)nt/

I. adjective — (acceptant of)

1. ‹rare› willingly accepting.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French, ‘accepting,’ present participle of accepter ‘to accept.’

acceptation /ˌaksepˈtāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

a particular sense or the generally recognized meaning (common acceptation) of a word or phrase.

– origin late Middle English (originally in the sense ‘favorable reception, approval’): from late Latin acceptatio(n-), from the verb acceptare (see accept). The current sense dates from the early 17th cent.

accepted /əkˈseptəd/

adjective

generally believed or recognized to be valid or correct

• he wasn't handsome in the accepted sense.

• the accepted consensus within the church.

acceptor /əkˈseptər/

noun

1. a person or thing that accepts something, in particular

2. [Chemistry] an atom or molecule that is able to bind to or accept an electron or other species.

3. [Physics] an acceptor atom forming a positive hole in a semiconductor.

access /ˈakˌses/

I. noun

1. a means of approaching or entering a place

• the staircase gives access to the top floor

• wheelchair access

• the bypass will greatly improve road access

• the building has a side access.

2. the right or opportunity to use or benefit from something

• do you have access to a computer?

• awards to help people gain access to training.

3. the right or opportunity to approach or see someone

• we were denied access to our grandson.

4. the action or process of obtaining or retrieving information stored in a computer's memory

• this prevents unauthorized access or inadvertent deletion of the file.

5. [as modifier] — denoting noncommercial broadcasting produced by local independent groups, rather than by professionals

• public-access television.

6. [in sing.] — an attack or outburst of an emotion

• I was suddenly overcome with an access of rage.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. approach or enter (a place)

• single rooms have private baths accessed via the balcony.

2. [Computing] obtain, examine, or retrieve (data or a file).

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘sudden attack of illness’): from Latin accessus, from the verb accedere ‘to approach’ (see accede). Sense 1 is first recorded in the early 17th cent. / usage: The verb access is standard and common in computing and related terminology (employees can access the office network). But its use outside computing contexts, although well established in the language, is sometimes criticized as being ‘jargon’ (we lacked adequate supply to access the markets we needed to reach). Other words or phrases such as ‘enter’ or ‘gain access to’ are suggested as ready substitutes. For another example of a controversial formation of a verb from a noun, see usage at impact.

access charge access fee

noun

a charge made for the use of computer or local telephone-network facilities.

access course //

noun

an educational course enabling those without traditional qualifications to become eligible for higher education.

accessibility /əkˌsesəˈbilədē/

noun

1. the quality of being able to be reached or entered

• the restoration project involved repairing the roof and improving accessibility.

2. the quality of being easy to obtain or use

• students were concerned about the accessibility of quality academic counseling.

3. the quality of being easily understood or appreciated

• the accessibility of his work helped to popularize modern art.

4. the quality of being easily reached, entered, or used by people who have a disability

• many architects believe that accommodating wheelchairs is all there is to providing accessibility.

accessible /əkˈsesəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. (of a place) able to be reached or entered

• the town is accessible by bus

• this room is not accessible to elderly people.

2. (of an object, service, or facility) able to be easily obtained or used

• making learning opportunities more accessible to adults.

3. easily understood

• his Latin grammar is lucid and accessible.

4. able to be reached or entered by people who have a disability

• features such as nonslip floors and accessible entrances.

5. (of a person, typically one in a position of authority or importance) friendly and easy to talk to; approachable

• he is more accessible than most tycoons.

II. derivatives

accessibly /-blē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin accessibilis, from Latin access- ‘approached,’ from the verb accedere (see accede).

accession /akˈseSHən/

I. noun

1. the attainment or acquisition of a position of rank or power, typically that of monarch or president

• the queen's accession to the throne

• lost the vote on the Fortas accession to the chief justiceship.

2. the action or process of formally joining or being accepted by an association, institution, or group

• the accession of Spain and Portugal into the European Community.

3. a new item added to an existing collection of books, paintings, or artifacts.

4. an amount added to an existing quantity of something

• did not anticipate any further accession of wealth from the man's estate.

5. the formal acceptance of a treaty or agreement

• accession to the Treaty of Paris.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be accessioned)

1. record the addition of (a new item) to a library, museum, or other collection.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the general sense ‘something added’): from Latin accession-, from the verb accedere ‘approach, come to’ (see accede).

accessorize /əkˈsesəˌrīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. provide or complement (a garment) with a fashion accessory

• the leisure suits were accessorized with white vinyl loafers and matching belts.

accessory /əkˈses(ə)rē / accessary

I. noun

1. a thing that can be added to something else in order to make it more useful, versatile, or attractive

• a range of bathroom accessories.

2. a small article or item of clothing carried or worn to complement a garment or outfit

• among the hottest items are hair accessories such as rhinestone-studded barrettes.

3. [Law] someone who gives assistance to the perpetrator of a crime, without directly committing it, sometimes without being present

• she was charged as an accessory to murder.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. ‹chiefly technical› contributing to or aiding an activity or process in a minor way; subsidiary or supplementary

• functionally the maxillae are a pair of accessory jaws.

III. phrases

accessory before (or after) the fact

[Law] ‹dated› a person who incites or assists someone to commit a crime (or knowingly aids someone who has committed a crime).

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin accessorius ‘additional thing,’ from Latin access- ‘increased,’ from the verb accedere (see accede).

accessory cell

noun

[Physiology] any of various cells of the immune system that interact with T cells in the initiation of the immune response.

accessory mineral

noun

[Geology] a constituent mineral present in small quantity and not taken into account in identifying a rock.

accessory nerve

noun

[Anatomy] each of the eleventh pair of cranial nerves, supplying certain muscles in the neck and shoulder.

access provider

noun

another term for service provider.

access road /ˈakˌses rōd/

noun

a road giving access to a place or to another road.

access time /ˈakˌses tīm/

noun

[Computing] the time taken to retrieve data from storage.

acciaccatura /äˌCHäkəˈto͝orə/

I. noun

[Music] a grace note performed as quickly as possible before an essential note of a melody, and falling before the beat.

– origin Italian, from acciaccare ‘to crush.’

accidence /ˈaksədəns/

I. noun

the part of grammar that deals with the inflections of words.

– origin early 16th cent.: from late Latin accidentia (translation of Greek parepomena ‘things happening alongside’), neuter plural of the present participle of accidere ‘happen’ (see accident).

accident /ˈaksədənt/

I. noun

1. an unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally, typically resulting in damage or injury

• he had an accident at the factory

• if you are unable to work owing to accident or sickness

• [as modifier] an accident investigator.

2. a crash involving road or other vehicles, typically one that causes serious damage or injury

• four people were killed in a car accident.

3. ‹informal› used euphemistically to refer to an incidence of incontinence, typically by a child or an animal.

4. an event that happens by chance or that is without apparent or deliberate cause

• the pregnancy was an accident

• it is no accident that my tale features a tragic romance.

5. the working of fortune; chance

• my faith is an accident of birth, not a matter of principled commitment

• he came to Harvard largely through accident.

6. [Philosophy] (in Aristotelian thought) a property of a thing that is not essential to its nature.

II. phrases

1. an accident waiting to happen

a. a potentially disastrous situation, typically caused by negligent or faulty procedures.

b. a person certain to cause trouble.

2. accidents will happen

however careful you try to be, it is inevitable that some unfortunate or unforeseen events will occur

• problems like these should not occur, but accidents will happen.

3. by accident

unintentionally; by chance

• she didn't get where is today by accident.

– origin late Middle English (in the general sense ‘an event’): via Old French from Latin accident- ‘happening,’ from the verb accidere, from ad- ‘toward, to’ + cadere ‘to fall.’

accidental /ˌaksəˈden(t)l/

I. adjective

1. happening by chance, unintentionally, or unexpectedly

• a verdict of accidental death

• the damage might have been accidental.

2. incidental; subsidiary

• the location is accidental and contributes nothing to the tension between the characters in the poem.

3. [Philosophy] (in Aristotelian thought) relating to or denoting properties that are not essential to a thing's nature.

II. noun

1. [Music] a sign indicating a momentary departure from the key signature by raising or lowering a note.

2. [Ornithology] another term for vagrant.

III. derivatives

accidentally /ˌaksəˈden(t)lē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English (in sense 2 of the adjective and sense 3 of the adjective): from late Latin accidentalis, from Latin accident- ‘happening’ (see accident).

accident-prone /ˈaksədənt ˌprōn/

adjective

tending to be involved in a greater than average number of accidents.

accidie /ˈaksədē/

I. noun

acedia.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin accidia, alteration of acedia. Obsolete after the 16th cent., the term was revived in the late 19th cent.

accipiter /akˈsipədər/

I. noun

[Ornithology] a hawk of a group distinguished by short, broad wings and relatively long legs, adapted for fast flight in wooded country.
[Accipiter and related genera, family Accipitridae: numerous species, including the goshawk.]

– origin late 19th cent.: Latin, literally ‘hawk, bird of prey.’

accipitrine /akˈsipitrin, -ˌtrīn/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. [Ornithology] of or relating to birds of a family that includes most diurnal birds of prey other than falcons, New World vultures, and the osprey.
[Family Accipitridae; treated as a subfamily (Accipitrinae) in this sense when the osprey is included in this family.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, from Latin accipiter ‘bird of prey.’

acclaim /əˈklām/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. praise enthusiastically and publicly

• the conference was acclaimed as a considerable success

• [with obj. and complement] he was acclaimed a great painter.

II. noun

enthusiastic and public praise

• she has won acclaim for her commitment to democracy.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘express approval’): from Latin acclamare, from ad- ‘to’ + clamare ‘to shout.’ The spelling has been influenced by association with claim. Current senses date from the 17th cent.

acclamation /ˌakləˈmāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

loud and enthusiastic approval, typically to welcome or honor someone or something

• the tackle brought the fans to their feet in acclamation

• the president was again greeted by the acclamations of all present.

II. phrases

by acclamation

a. (of election, agreement, etc.) by overwhelming vocal approval and without ballot.

b. (Canadian) (of election) by virtue of being the sole candidate.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin acclamatio(n-), from acclamare ‘shout at,’ later ‘shout in approval’ (see acclaim).

acclimate /ˈakləˌmāt/

I. verb — [no obj.] (usu. be acclimated)

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) become accustomed to a new climate or to new conditions

• it will take a few days to get acclimated to the altitude.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) [Biology] respond physiologically or behaviorally to a change in a single environmental factor

• trees may acclimate to high CO_2 levels by reducing the number of stomata.

Compare with acclimatize.

3. [with obj.] — (chiefly N. Amer.) [Botany] [Horticulture] harden off (a plant).

II. derivatives

acclimation /ˌakləˈmāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin late 18th cent.: from French acclimater, from a- (from Latin ad ‘to, at’) + climat ‘climate.’

acclimatize /əˈklīməˌtīz/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. acclimate

• they acclimatized themselves before ascending Everest.

2. [Biology] respond physiologically or behaviorally to changes in a complex of environmental factors.
Compare with acclimate.

3. [with obj.] — [Botany] [Horticulture] harden off (a plant).

II. derivatives

acclimatization /əˌklīmədəˈzāSHən əˌklīməˌtīˈzāSHən /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French acclimater ‘acclimatize’ + -ize.

acclivity /əˈklivədē/

I. noun

an upward slope.

II. derivatives

acclivitous /-itəs /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin acclivitas, from acclivis, from ad- ‘toward’ + clivus ‘a slope.’

accolade /ˈakəˌlād/

I. noun

1. an award or privilege granted as a special honor or as an acknowledgment of merit

• the ultimate official accolade of a visit by the president.

2. an expression of praise or admiration.

3. a touch on a person's shoulders with a sword at the bestowing of a knighthood.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French, from Provençal acolada, literally ‘embrace around the neck (when bestowing knighthood),’ from Latin ad- ‘at, to’ + collum ‘neck.’

accommodate /əˈkäməˌdāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of physical space, especially a building) provide lodging or sufficient space for

• the cabins accommodate up to 6 people.

2. fit in with the wishes or needs of

• any language must accommodate new concepts.

3. [no obj.] (accommodate to) — adapt to

• making consumers accommodate to the realities of today's marketplace.

II. derivatives

accommodative /əˈkäməˌdādiv /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin accommodat- ‘made fitting,’ from the verb accommodare, from ad- ‘to’ + commodus ‘fitting.’

accommodating /əˈkäməˌdādiNG/

I. adjective

fitting in with someone's wishes or demands in a helpful way.

II. derivatives

accommodatingly /əˈkäməˌdādiNGlē /

adverb

accommodation /əˌkäməˈdāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. (usu. accommodations) — a room, group of rooms, or building in which someone may live or stay

• the cost includes airfare and hotel accommodations.

2. (accommodations) — (chiefly N. Amer.) lodging; room and board

• the company offers a number of guesthouse accommodations in Cape Cod.

3. the available space for occupants in a building, vehicle, or vessel

• there was lifeboat accommodation for 1,178 people.

4. the provision of a room or lodging

• the building is used exclusively for the accommodation of guests.

5. a convenient arrangement; a settlement or compromise

• management was seeking an accommodation with labor.

6. the process of adapting or adjusting to someone or something

• accommodation to a separate political entity was not possible.

7. the automatic adjustment of the focus of the eye by flattening or thickening of the lens.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin accommodatio(n-), from accommodare ‘fit one thing to another’ (see accommodate).

accommodationist /əˌkäməˈdāSHənəst/

noun

(US) a person who seeks compromise with an opposing point of view, typically a political one.

accommodation ladder /əˌkäməˈdāSHən ˈladər/

noun

a ladder or stairway up the side of a ship allowing access, especially to and from a small boat, or from a dock.

accompaniment /əˈkəmp(ə)nimənt/

I. noun

1. a musical part that supports or partners a solo instrument, voice, or group

• she sang to a guitar accompaniment

• sonatas for piano with violin accompaniment.

2. a piece of music played to complement or as background to an activity

• lush string accompaniments to romantic scenes in movies.

3. something that is supplementary to or complements something else, typically food

• sugar snap peas make a delicious accompaniment for salmon.

II. phrases

to the accompaniment of

a. with accompanying or background music or sound from

• we filed out to the accompaniment of the organ.

b. with another event happening at the same time as

• the dam was completed to the accompaniment of numerous scandals.

– origin early 18th cent.: from French accompagnement, from accompagner ‘accompany.’

accompanist /əˈkəmpənəst/

noun

a person who provides a musical accompaniment to another musician or to a singer.

accompany /əˈkəmp(ə)nē/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. go somewhere with (someone) as a companion or escort

• the two sisters were to accompany us to New York

• he was at the banquet accompanied by his daughter.

2. be present or occur at the same time as (something else)

• the illness is often accompanied by nausea

• (as adj. accompanying) the accompanying documentation.

3. provide (something) as a complement or addition to something else

• home-cooked ham accompanied by brown bread.

4. play a musical accompaniment for.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French accompagner, from a- (from Latin ad ‘to, at’) + compagne, from Old French compaignon ‘companion.’ The spelling change was due to association with company.

accomplice /əˈkämpləs/

I. noun

a person who helps another commit a crime.

– origin mid 16th cent.: alteration (probably by association with accompany) of Middle English complice ‘an associate,’ via Old French from late Latin complex, complic- ‘allied,’ from com- ‘together’ + the root of plicare ‘to fold.’

accomplish /əˈkämpliSH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. achieve or complete successfully

• the planes accomplished their mission.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French acompliss-, lengthened stem of acomplir, based on Latin ad- ‘to’ + complere ‘to complete.’

accomplished /əˈkämpliSHt/

adjective

1. highly trained or skilled

• an accomplished pianist.

2. ‹dated› having a higher level of education than average and good social skills.

accomplishment /əˈkämpliSHmənt/

noun

1. something that has been achieved successfully

• the reduction of inflation was a remarkable accomplishment.

2. the successful achievement of a task

• the accomplishment of planned objectives.

3. an activity that a person can do well, typically as a result of study or practice

• long-distance running was another of her accomplishments.

4. skill or ability in an activity

• a poet of considerable accomplishment.

accord /əˈkôrd/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — give or grant someone (power, status, or recognition)

• the powers accorded to the head of state

• [with two objs.] the young man had accorded her little notice.

2. [no obj.] (accord with) — (of a concept or fact) be harmonious or consistent with.

II. noun

1. an official agreement or treaty.

2. agreement or harmony

• the government and the rebels are in accord on one point

• function and form in harmonious accord.

III. phrases

1. in accord with

according to.

2. of one's own accord

voluntarily or without outside intervention

• he would not seek treatment of his own accord

• the rash may go away of its own accord.

3. with one accord

in a united way.

– origin Old English, from Old French acorder ‘reconcile, be of one mind,’ from Latin ad- ‘to’ + cor, cord- ‘heart’; influenced by concord.

accordance /əˈkôrdns/

I. noun — (in phrase in accordance with)

1. in a manner conforming with

• the product is disposed of in accordance with federal regulations.

– origin Middle English: from Old French acordance, from acorder ‘bring to an agreement’ (see accord).

accordant /əˈkôrdnt/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. ‹archaic› agreeing or compatible

• I found the music accordant with the words of the service.

– origin Middle English: from Old French acordant, from acorder ‘bring to an agreement’ (see accord).

according /əˈkôrdiNG/

adverb

1. (usu. according to) — as stated by or in

• the outlook for investors is not bright, according to financial experts

• he may have only weeks to live, according to a source close to the family.

• we have the world's most expensive public transport, according a recent survey.

2. in a manner corresponding or conforming to

• cook the rice according to the instructions.

3. in proportion or relation to

• salary will be fixed according to experience.

4. (according as) — depending on whether.

accordingly /əˈkôrdiNGlē/

adverb

1. in a way that is appropriate to the particular circumstances

• we have to discover what his plans are and act accordingly.

2. [sentence adverb] — consequently; therefore

• There was no breach of the rules. Accordingly, there will be no disciplinary inquiry.

accordion /əˈkôrdēən/

I. noun

1. a portable musical instrument with metal reeds blown by bellows, played by means of keys and buttons
[as modifier]

• an accordion player.

2. [as modifier] — folding like the bellows of an accordion

• an accordion pleat.

II. derivatives

accordionist /əˈkôrdēənəst /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from German Akkordion, from Italian accordare ‘to tune.’

accost /əˈkôst əˈkäst/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. approach and address (someone) boldly or aggressively

• reporters accosted him in the street

• he was accosted by a thief, demanding his money or his life

• a man tried to accost the girl on her way to school.

– origin late 16th cent. (originally in the sense ‘lie or go alongside’): from French accoster, from Italian accostare, from Latin ad- ‘to’ + costa ‘rib, side.’

accouchement /ˌäko͞oSHˈmänt əˈko͞oSHmənt/

I. noun

‹archaic› the process of giving birth to a baby.

– origin late 18th cent.: French, from accoucher ‘act as midwife,’ from a- (from Latin ad ‘to, at’) + coucher ‘put to bed’ (see couch).

accoucheur /ˌäko͞oˈSHər/

I. noun

a male midwife.

– origin mid 18th cent.: French, from accoucher (see accouchement).

account /əˈkount/

I. noun

1. a report or description of an event or experience

• a detailed account of what has been achieved.

2. an interpretation or rendering of a piece of music

• a lively account of Offenbach's score.

3. (abbr.: acct.) — a record or statement of financial expenditure or receipts relating to a particular period or purpose

• the ledger contains all the income and expense accounts

• he submitted a quarterly account.

4. (accounts) — the department of a company that deals with such records.

5. (abbr.: acct.) — an arrangement by which a body holds funds on behalf of a client or supplies goods or services to the client on credit

• a bank account

• charge it to my account

• I wanted to get some money from the ATM and check my account

• I began buying things on account.

6. a client having an account with a supplier

• selling bibles to established accounts in the North.

7. a contract to do work periodically for a client

• another agency was awarded the account.

8. an arrangement by which a user is given personalized access to a computer, website, or application, typically by entering a username and password

• we've reset your password to prevent others from accessing your account.

9. importance

• money was of no account to her.

II. verb — [with obj. and complement]

1. consider or regard in a specified way

• her visit could not be accounted a success

• he accounted himself the unluckiest man alive.

III. phrases

1. by (or from) all accounts

according to what one has heard or read

• by all accounts he is a pretty nice guy.

2. call (or bring) someone to account

require someone to explain a mistake or poor performance.

3. give a good (or bad) account of oneself

make a favorable (or unfavorable) impression through one's performance.

4. keep an account of

keep a record of.

5. leave something out of account

fail or decline to consider a factor.

6. on someone's account

for a specified person's benefit

• don't bother on my account.

7. on account of

because of.

8. on no account

under no circumstances

• on no account let anyone know we're interested.

9. on one's own account

with one's own money or assets, rather than for an employer or client

• he began trading on his own account.

10. settle (or square) accounts with

a. pay money owed to (someone).

b. have revenge on

• the potential danger of using the bill for settling accounts with political opponents.

11. take something into account (or take account of)

consider a specified thing along with other factors before reaching a decision or taking action.

12. there's no accounting for tastes (or taste)

‹proverb› it is impossible to explain why different people like different things, especially those things that the speaker considers unappealing.

13. turn something to (good) account

turn something to one's advantage.

IV. phrasal verbs

account for

a. give a satisfactory record of (something, typically money, that one is responsible for).

b. provide or serve as a satisfactory explanation or reason for

• he was brought before the Board to account for his behavior.

c. know the fate or whereabouts of (someone or something), especially after an accident

• everyone was accounted for after the floods.

d. succeed in killing, destroying, or defeating

• the fifth inning accounted for Lyons, who gave up three back-to-back home runs.

e. supply or make up a specified amount or proportion of

• social security accounts for about a third of total public spending.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘counting,’ ‘to count’): from Old French acont (noun), aconter (verb), based on conter ‘to count.’

accountability /əˌkoun(t)əˈbilədē/

noun

the fact or condition of being accountable; responsibility

• their lack of accountability has corroded public respect.

accountable /əˈkoun(t)əb(ə)l/

adjective

1. (of a person, organization, or institution) required or expected to justify actions or decisions; responsible

• government must be accountable to its citizens

• parents could be held accountable for their children's actions.

2. explicable; understandable

• the delayed introduction of characters' names is accountable, if we consider that names have a low priority.

accountancy /əˈkountənsē/

noun

the profession or duties of an accountant.

accountant /əˈkount(ə)nt / acct.

I. noun

a person whose job is to keep or inspect financial accounts.

– origin Middle English: from legal French, present participle of Old French aconter (see account). The original use was as an adjective meaning ‘liable to give an account,’ hence denoting a person who must do so.

account executive

noun

a business executive who manages the interests of a particular client, typically in advertising.

accounting /əˈkoun(t)iNG/

noun

the action or process of keeping financial accounts.

accounts payable

plural noun

money owed by a company to its creditors.

accounts receivable

plural noun

money owed to a company by its debtors.

accoutre /əˈko͞odər / accouter

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be accoutred)

1. clothe or equip, typically in something noticeable or impressive.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French accoutrer, from Old French acoustrer, from a- (from Latin ad ‘to, at’) + cousture ‘sewing’ (see couture).

accoutrement /əˈko͞odərmənt əˈko͞otrəmənt / accouterment

I. noun — (usu. accoutrements)

1. additional items of dress or equipment, or other items carried or worn by a person or used for a particular activity

• the accoutrements of religious ritual.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French, from accoutrer ‘clothe, equip’ (see accoutre).

Accra /əˈkrä/

the capital of Ghana, a port on the Gulf of Guinea; pop. 1,970,400 (est. 2005).

accredit /əˈkredət/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be accredited)

1. give credit (to someone) for

• he was accredited with being one of the world's fastest sprinters.

2. attribute (an action, saying, or quality) to

• the discovery of distillation is usually accredited to the Arabs.

3. (of an official body) give authority or sanction to (someone or something) when recognized standards have been met

• institutions that do not meet the standards will not be accredited for teacher training.

4. give official authorization for (someone, typically a diplomat or journalist) to be in a particular place or to hold a particular post

• an ambassador accredited to a northern European country.

II. derivatives

accreditor

noun

– origin early 17th cent. (sense 2): from French accréditer, from a- (from Latin ad ‘to, at’) + crédit ‘credit.’

accreditation /əˌkrediˈtāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action or process of officially recognizing someone as havinɡ a particular status or beinɡ qualified to perform a particular activity

• the accreditation of professionals

• [as modifier] a simple accreditation process.

2. official certification that a school or course has met standards set by external regulators

• the first fully online university to receive national accreditation

• the accreditation of professional training programs in Canada.

3. an acknowledgment of a person's responsibility for or achievement of something

• both parties create authorship, and to make this clear I have always used joint accreditations.

accredited /əˈkredədəd/

adjective

(of a person, organization, or course of study) officially recognized or authorized

• an accredited chiropractic school.

accrete /əˈkrēt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. grow by accumulation or coalescence

• ice that had accreted grotesquely into stalactites.

2. [with obj.] — form (a composite whole or a collection of things) by gradual accumulation

• the collection of art he had accreted was to be sold.

3. [Astronomy] (with reference to matter or a body) come or bring together under the influence of gravitation

• the gas will cool and then accrete to the galaxy's core.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Latin accret- ‘grown,’ from the verb accrescere, from ad- ‘to’ + crescere ‘grow.’

accretion /əˈkrēSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the process of growth or increase, typically by the gradual accumulation of additional layers or matter

• the accretion of sediments in coastal mangroves

• ‹figurative› the growing accretion of central government authority.

2. a thing formed or added by gradual growth or increase

• about one-third of California was built up by accretions

• the city has a historic core surrounded by recent accretions.

3. [Astronomy] the coming together and cohesion of matter under the influence of gravitation to form larger bodies.

II. derivatives

accretive /əˈkrētiv /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin accretion-, from accrescere ‘become larger’ (see accrete).

accretionary prism /əˌkrēSHənerē ˈprizəm / accretionary wedge

noun

[Geology] a mass of sedimentary material scraped off a region of oceanic crust during subduction and piled up at the edge of the overriding plate.

accretion disk ‹Brit.› accretion disc

noun

[Astronomy] a rotating disk of matter formed by accretion around a massive body (such as a black hole) under the influence of gravitation.

accrue /əˈkro͞o/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of sums of money or benefits) be received by someone in regular or increasing amounts over time

• financial benefits will accrue from restructuring

• (as adj. accrued) the accrued interest.

2. [with obj.] — accumulate or receive (such payments or benefits).

3. [with obj.] — make provision for (a charge) at the end of a financial period for work that has been done but not yet invoiced.

II. derivatives

accrual /əˈkro͞oəl /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French acreue, past participle of acreistre ‘increase,’ from Latin accrescere ‘become larger’ (see accrete).

acct.

abbreviation

1. account.

2. accountant.

acculturate /əˈkəlCHəˌrāt/

I. verb

assimilate or cause to assimilate a different culture, typically the dominant one
[no obj.]

• those who have acculturated to the US

• [with obj.] the next weeks were spent acculturating the field staff

• (as adj. acculturated) an acculturated Cherokee.

II. derivatives

1. acculturation /əˌkəlCHəˈrāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. acculturative /-ərətiv, -əˌrātiv /

adjective

– origin early 20th cent.: from ac- + culture + -ate^1. The noun acculturation dates from the late 19th cent.

accumbent /əˈkəmbənt/

I. adjective

[Botany] (of a cotyledon) lying edgewise against the folded radicle in the seed.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin accumbent- ‘reclining,’ from accumbere, from ad- ‘to’ + a verb related to cubare ‘to lie.’

accumulate /əˈkyo͞om(y)əˌlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. gather together or acquire an increasing number or quantity of

• investigators have yet to accumulate enough evidence.

2. gradually gather or acquire (a resulting whole)

• her goal was to accumulate a huge fortune.

3. [no obj.] — gather or build up

• the toxin accumulated in their bodies.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Latin accumulat- ‘heaped up,’ from the verb accumulare, from ad- ‘to’ + cumulus ‘a heap.’

accumulation /əˌkyo͞om(y)əˈlāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the acquisition or gradual gathering of something

• the accumulation of wealth.

2. a mass or quantity of something that has gradually gathered or been acquired

• the accumulation of paperwork on her desk.

accumulative /əˈkyo͞om(y)ələdiv əˈkyo͞om(y)əˌlādiv/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. gathering or growing by gradual increases

• the accumulative effects of pollution.

accumulator /əˈkyo͞om(y)əˌlādər/

noun

1. a person or thing that accumulates things

• accumulator of capital.

2. [Computing] a register used to contain the results of an arithmetical or logical operation.

accuracy /ˈakyərəsē/

noun

1. the quality or state of being correct or precise

• we have confidence in the accuracy of the statistics

• she hit the ball with great accuracy.

2. ‹technical› the degree to which the result of a measurement, calculation, or specification conforms to the correct value or a standard

• the accuracy of radiocarbon dating

• accuracies of 50–70%.

Compare with precision.

accurate /ˈakyərət/

I. adjective

1. (of information, measurements, statistics, etc.) correct in all details; exact

• accurate information about the illness is essential

• an accurate assessment.

2. (of an instrument or method) capable of giving accurate information

• an accurate thermometer.

3. faithfully or fairly representing the truth about someone or something

• the portrait is an accurate likeness of Mozart.

4. (with reference to a weapon, missile, or shot) capable of or successful in reaching the intended target

• reliable, accurate rifles

• a player who can deliver long accurate passes.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin accuratus ‘done with care,’ past participle of accurare, from ad- ‘toward’ + cura ‘care.’

accurately /ˈakyərətlē/

adverb

in a way that is correct in all details; exactly

• we are simply unable to predict long-term trends accurately

• every single vote was accurately counted.

accursed /əˈkərst əˈkərsəd/

I. adjective

1. ‹literary› under a curse

• the Angel of Death walks this accursed house.

2. [attrib.] — ‹informal› ‹dated› used to express strong dislike of or anger toward someone or something

• those accursed books!

– origin Middle English: past participle of obsolete accurse, from a- (expressing intensity) + curse.

accusal /əˈkyo͞ozəl/

noun

another term for accusation.

accusation /ˌakyəˈzāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a charge or claim that someone has done something illegal or wrong

• accusations of bribery.

2. the action or process of accusing someone

• there was accusation in Brian's voice.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, from Latin accusatio(n-), from accusare ‘call to account’ (see accuse).

accusative /əˈkyo͞ozədiv / ‹Grammar›

I. adjective

relating to or denoting a case of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives that expresses the object of an action or the goal of motion.

II. noun

1. a word in the accusative case.

2. (the accusative) — the accusative case.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin casus) accusativus, literally ‘relating to an accusation or (legal) case,’ translating Greek ((ptōsis) aitiatikē ‘(the case) showing cause.’

accusatorial /əˌkyo͞ozəˈtôrēəl/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. [Law] (especially of a trial or legal procedure) involving accusation by a prosecutor and a verdict reached by an impartial judge or jury.
Often contrasted with inquisitorial.

accusatory /əˈkyo͞ozəˌtôrē/

adjective

indicating or suggesting that one believes a person has done something wrong

• he pointed an accusatory finger in her direction.

accuse /əˈkyo͞oz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. charge (someone) with an offense or crime

• he was accused of murdering his wife's lover.

2. claim that (someone) has done something wrong

• he was accused of favoritism.

– origin Middle English: from Old French acuser, from Latin accusare ‘call to account,’ from ad- ‘toward’ + causa ‘reason, motive, lawsuit.’

accused /əˈkyo͞ozd/

noun — [treated as sing.] (or pl. the accused)

1. a person or group of people who are charged with or on trial for a crime

• the accused was ordered to stand trial on a number of charges.

accuser /əˈkyo͞ozər/

noun

a person who claims that someone has committed an offense or done something wrong

• I dislike any law that puts the burden of proof on the accused rather than the accuser

• hero faints before her three accusers leave.

accusing /əˈkyo͞oziNG/

I. adjective

(of an expression, gesture, or tone of voice) indicating a belief in someone's guilt or culpability

• she stared at him with accusing eyes.

II. derivatives

accusingly /əˈkyo͞oziNGlē /

adverb

accustom /əˈkəstəm/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (someone or something) accept something as normal or usual

• I accustomed my eyes to the lenses

• they tried to accustom him to their lighthearted ways.

2. (be accustomed to) — be used to

• my eyes gradually became accustomed to the darkness.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French acostumer, from a- (from Latin ad ‘to, at’) + costume ‘custom.’

accustomed /əˈkəstəmd/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. customary or usual

• his accustomed route.

AC/DC /ˌāsēˈdēsē/

adjective

1. alternating current/direct current.

2. ‹informal› bisexual.

ace /ās/

I. noun

1. a playing card with a single spot on it, ranked as the highest card in its suit in most card games

• the ace of diamonds

• ‹figurative› life had started dealing him aces again.

2. [Golf] ‹informal› a hole in one.

3. [often with modifier] — ‹informal› a person who excels at a particular sport or other activity

• a motorcycle ace.

4. a pilot who has shot down many enemy aircraft, especially in World War I or World War II.

5. (in tennis and similar games) a service that an opponent is unable to touch and thus wins a point.

II. adjective

‹informal› very good

• an ace swimmer.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› (in tennis and similar games) serve an ace against (an opponent).

2. ‹informal› [Golf] score an ace on (a hole) or with (a shot).

3. ‹informal› (N. Amer.) get an A or its equivalent in (a test or exam)

• I aced my grammar test.

4. (ace someone out) — ‹informal› outdo someone in a competitive situation

• the magazine won an award, acing out its rivals

• it wasn't our intention to ace Phil out of a job.

IV. phrases

1. an ace up one's sleeve (or in the hole)

a plan or piece of information kept secret until it becomes necessary to use it.

2. hold all the aces

have all the advantages.

3. play one's ace

use one's best resource

• deciding to play her ace, Emily showed the letter to Vic.

4. within an ace of

very close to

• they came within an ace of death.

– origin Middle English (denoting the “one” on dice): via Old French from Latin as ‘unity, a unit.’

ACE

abbreviation

(US) Army Corps of Engineers.

-acea

I. suffix

[Zoology] forming the names of zoological groups

• Crustacea.

Compare with -acean.

– origin from Latin, ‘of the nature of,’ neuter plural adjectival ending.

-aceae

I. suffix

[Botany] forming the names of families of plants

• Liliaceae.

– origin from Latin, ‘of the nature of,’ feminine plural adjectival ending.

-acean

I. suffix

[Zoology] forming adjectives and nouns from taxonomic names ending in -acea (such as crustacean from Crustacea).

– origin from Latin -aceus, adjectival ending meaning ‘of the nature of.’

acedia /əˈsēdēə/

I. noun

spiritual or mental sloth; apathy.

– origin early 17th cent.: late Latin, from Greek akēdia ‘listlessness,’ from a- ‘without’ + kēdos ‘care.’

acellular /āˈselyələr/

adjective

1. [Biology] not consisting of, divided into, or containing cells.

2. [Biology] (especially of protozoa) consisting of one cell only.

-aceous

I. suffix

1. [Botany] forming adjectives from nouns ending in -aceae (such as ericaceous from

• Ericaceae).

2. [chiefly Biology] [Geology] forming adjectives describing similarity, especially in shape, texture, or color

• arenaceous

• foliaceous

• olivaceous.

– origin from Latin -aceus, adjectival ending meaning ‘of the nature of.’

acephalous /āˈsefələs/

I. adjective

1. no longer having a head

• an acephalous skeleton.

2. [Zoology] not having a head.

3. having no leader or chief

• an acephalous society.

4. [Prosody] lacking a syllable or syllables in the first foot.

– origin mid 18th cent.: via medieval Latin from Greek akephalos ‘headless’ (from a- ‘without’ + kephalē ‘head’) + -ous.

acerb /əˈsərb/

I. adjective

‹literary› (chiefly US) another term for acerbic.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin acerbus ‘sour-tasting.’

acerbic /əˈsərbik/

I. adjective

1. (especially of a comment or style of speaking) sharp and forthright

• his acerbic wit.

2. ‹archaic› ‹technical› tasting sour or bitter.

II. derivatives

1. acerbically

adverb

2. acerbity /əˈsərbədē /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin acerbus ‘sour-tasting’ + -ic.

acet-

prefix

variant spelling of aceto- shortened before a vowel (as in acetaldehyde).

acetabulum /ˌasəˈtabyələm/

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] the socket of the hipbone, into which the head of the femur fits.

2. [Anatomy] [Zoology] any cup-shaped structure, especially a sucker.

II. derivatives

acetabular

adjective

– origin late Middle English (denoting a vinegar cup, hence a cup-shaped cavity): from Latin, from acetum ‘vinegar’ + -abulum, denoting a container.

acetal /ˈasəˌtal ˈasəd(ə)l/

I. noun

[Chemistry] an organic compound formed by the condensation of two alcohol molecules with an aldehyde molecule.
[Acetals have the general formula R^1CH(OR^2)2, where R^1 and R^2 are alkyl groups.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from acetic + -al from alcohol, aldehyde.

acetaldehyde /ˌasəˈtaldəhīd/

noun

[Chemistry] a colorless volatile liquid aldehyde obtained by oxidizing ethanol.
[Alternative name: ethanal; chem. formula: CH_3CHO.]

acetamide /əˈsedəˌmīd/

I. noun

[Chemistry] the crystalline amide of acetic acid.
[Chem. formula: CH_3CONH_2.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from acetyl + amide.

acetaminophen /əˌsēdəˈminəfən/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) an analgesic drug used to treat headaches, arthritis, etc., and also to reduce fever, often as an alternative to aspirin. Proprietary names include Tylenol.
[Chem. formula: C_8H_9NO_2.]

2. (N. Amer.) a tablet containing the drug acetaminophen.

acetanilide /ˌasəˈtanəlīd/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a crystalline solid prepared by acetylation of aniline, used in dye manufacture.
[Chem. formula: C_6H_5NHCOCH_3.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from acet(yl) + anil(ine) + -ide.

acetate /ˈasəˌtāt/

I. noun

1. [Chemistry] a salt or ester of acetic acid, containing the anion CH_3COO− or the group —OCCH_3.

2. cellulose acetate, especially as used to make textile fibers or plastic
[as modifier]

• acetate silk.

3. a transparency made of cellulose acetate film.

4. a recording disk coated with cellulose acetate.

– origin late 18th cent.: from acetic + -ate^1.

acetic /əˈsēdik/

I. adjective

of or like vinegar or acetic acid.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French acétique, from Latin acetum ‘vinegar.’

acetic acid /əˌsēdik ˈasəd/

I. noun

[Chemistry] the acid that gives vinegar its characteristic taste. The pure acid is a colorless viscous liquid or glassy solid.
[Chem. formula: CH_3COOH.]

– origin late 18th cent.: acetic from French acétique, from Latin acetum ‘vinegar.’

acetic anhydride

noun

[Chemistry] the anhydride of acetic acid. It is a colorless pungent liquid, used in making synthetic fibers.
[Chem. formula: (CH_3CO)2O.]

aceto- acet-

combining form

[Chemistry] representing acetic or acetyl.

acetobacter /əˌsētəˈbaktər, ˌasitə-/

I. noun

bacteria that oxidize organic compounds to acetic acid, as in vinegar formation.
[Genus Acetobacter; Gram-negative oval or rod-shaped bacteria.]

– origin modern Latin (genus name), from aceto- + bacterium.

acetogenic /əˌsētəˈjenik, ˌasitə-/

adjective

(of bacteria) forming acetate or acetic acid as a product of metabolism.

acetone /ˈasəˌtōn/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a colorless volatile liquid ketone made by oxidizing isopropanol, used as an organic solvent and synthetic reagent.
[Chem. formula: CH_3COCH_3.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from acetic + -one.

acetonemia /əˌsētəˈnēmēə, ˌasitə-/

noun

another term for ketonemia.

acetonitrile /ˌasidōˈnītril, ˌasidōˈnītrēl, əˌsēdōˈnītril, əˌsēdōˈnītrēl/

noun

[Chemistry] a toxic odoriferous liquid, used as a solvent in high-performance liquid chromatography.
[Alternative name: methyl cyanide; chem. formula: CH_3CN.]

acetous /əˈsēdəs ˈasədəs/

I. adjective

producing or resembling vinegar

• acetous fermentation.

– origin late Middle English (rare before the late 18th cent.): from late Latin acetosus ‘sour,’ from Latin acetum ‘vinegar.’

acetyl /əˈsēdl ˈasədl/

I. noun — [as modifier]

1. [Chemistry] of or denoting the acyl radical —C(O)CH_3, derived from acetic acid

• acetyl chloride

• an acetyl group.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from acetic + -yl.

acetylate /əˈsedlˌāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Chemistry] introduce an acetyl group into (a molecule or compound)
(as adj. acetylated)

• the acetylated forms of chloramphenicol.

II. derivatives

acetylation /əˌsetlˈāSHən /

noun

acetylcholine /əˌsētlˈkōˌlēn, ˌasitl-/

noun

[Biochemistry] a compound that occurs throughout the nervous system, in which it functions as a neurotransmitter.

acetylcholinesterase /əˌsētlˌkōləˈnestəˌrās, əˌsētlˌkōləˈnestəˌrāz, ˌasitlˌkōləˈnestəˌrās, ˌasitlˌkōləˈnestəˌrāz/

noun

[Biochemistry] an enzyme that causes rapid hydrolysis of acetylcholine. Its action serves to stop excitation of a nerve after transmission of an impulse.

acetyl-coenzyme A

noun

[Biochemistry] the acetyl ester of coenzyme A, involved as an acetylating agent in many biochemical processes.

acetylene /əˈsed(ə)lˌēn əˈsed(ə)lən/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a colorless pungent-smelling hydrocarbon gas, which burns with a bright flame, used in welding and formerly in lighting.
[Alternative name: ethyne; chem. formula: C_2H_2.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from acetic + -yl + -ene.

acetylide /əˈsedlˌīd/

noun

[Chemistry] a saltlike compound formed from acetylene and a metal, containing the anion (C≡C)– or HC≡C–. Acetylides are typically unstable or explosive.

acetylsalicylic acid /əˌsētlˌsaliˌsilik ˈasid/

noun

systematic chemical name for aspirin.

ACH

abbreviation

short for Automated Clearinghouse.

Achaea /əˈkēə əˈkāə/

a region of ancient Greece on the north coast of the Peloponnesus.

Achaean /əˈkēən əˈkāən/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to Achaea in ancient Greece.

2. ‹literary› (especially in Homeric contexts) Greek.

II. noun

1. an inhabitant of Achaea.

2. ‹literary› (especially in Homeric contexts) a Greek.

The Achaeans were among the earliest Greek-speaking inhabitants of Greece, being established there well before the 12th century BC. Some scholars identify them with the Mycenaeans of the 14th–13th centuries BC. The Greek protagonists in the Trojan War are regularly called Achaeans in the Iliad, though this may have referred only to the leaders.

Achaemenid /əˈkēmənəd / Achaemenian

I. adjective

of or relating to the dynasty ruling in Persia from Cyrus I to Darius III (553–330 BC).

II. noun

a member of the Achaemenid dynasty.

– origin from Greek Akhaimenēs ‘Achaemenes’ (the reputed ancestor of the dynasty) + -id^1.

achalasia /ˌakəˈlāZH(ē)ə/

I. noun

[Medicine] a condition in which the muscles of the lower part of the esophagus fail to relax, preventing food from passing into the stomach.

– origin early 20th cent.: from a-1 ‘without, not’ + Greek khalasis ‘loosening’ (from khalan ‘relax’) + -ia^1.

acharya /əˈCHärēə/

I. noun

1. (in India) a Hindu or Buddhist spiritual teacher or leader.

2. an influential mentor.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Sanskrit ācārya ‘master, teacher.’

Achates /əˈkādēz / ‹Greek & Roman Mythology›

a companion of Aeneas. His loyalty to his friend was so exemplary as to become proverbial, hence the term fidus Achates (‘faithful Achates’).

ache /āk/

I. noun

1. a continuous or prolonged dull pain in a part of one's body

• the ache in her head worsened.

2. [in sing.] — an emotion experienced with painful or bittersweet intensity

• an ache in her heart.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a person) suffer from a continuous dull pain

• I'm aching all over.

2. (of a part of one's body) be the source of a continuous dull pain

• my legs ached from the previous day's exercise.

3. feel intense sadness or compassion

• she sat still and silent, her heart aching

• she looked so tired that my heart ached for her.

4. feel an intense desire for

• she ached for his touch

• [with infinitive] he was aching to get his hands on the ball.

III. phrases

aches and pains

minor pains and discomforts, typically in the muscles.

– origin Old English æce (noun), acan (verb). In and the noun was spelled atche and pronounced so as to rhyme with ‘batch,’ the verb was spelled and pronounced as it is today. The noun began to be pronounced like the verb around 1700. The modern spelling is largely due to Dr. Johnson, who mistakenly assumed its derivation to be from Greek akhos ‘pain.’

Achebe, Chinua /äˈCHābā/

(1930–2013), Nigerian novelist, poet, short-story writer, and essayist; born Albert Chinualumgu. Notable works: Things Fall Apart (1958), A Man of the People (1966), and Anthills of the Savannah (1988). Nobel Prize for Literature (1989).

achene /āˈkēn/

I. noun

[Botany] a small, dry, one-seeded fruit that does not open to release the seed.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin achaenium, derived irregularly from a- ‘not’ + Greek khainein ‘to gape.’

Achernar /ˈakərˌnär / ‹Astronomy›

I. the ninth brightest star in the sky, and the brightest in the constellation Eridanus. It marks the southern limit of Eridanus, and is only visible to observers in the southern hemisphere.

– origin from Arabic, ‘end of the river (i.e., Eridanus).’

Acheron /ˈakərän / ‹Greek Mythology›

I. one of the rivers of Hades.

II. ‹literary› hell.

– origin early 16th cent.: Latin from Greek Akherōn.

Acheson, Dean Gooderham /ˈaCHəsən/

(1893–1971), US statesman; secretary of state 1949–53. He urged international control of nuclear power, was instrumental in the formation of NATO, and implemented the Marshall Plan and the Truman Doctrine.

Acheulean /əˈSHo͞olēən / Acheulian

I. adjective

1. [Archaeology] of, relating to, or denoting the main Lower Paleolithic culture in Europe, represented by hand-ax industries, and dated to about 1,500,000–150,000 years ago.
See also Abbevillian.

2. (as noun the Acheulean) — [Archaeology] the Acheulean culture or period.

– origin early 20th cent.: from French Acheuléen, from St-Acheul near Amiens in northern France, where objects from this culture were found.

achievable /əˈCHēvəb(ə)l/

adjective

able to be brought about or reached successfully

• it was an ambitious goal, but it seemed achievable

• he broke the climb into small, achievable stages.

achieve /əˈCHēv/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. reach or attain (a desired objective, level, or result) by effort, skill, or courage

• he achieved his ambition to become a journalist

• [no obj.] people striving to achieve.

2. accomplish or bring about

• the entire sequence is achieved in a single shot.

II. derivatives

achiever /əˈCHēvər /

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘complete successfully’): from Old French achever ‘come or bring to a head,’ from a chief ‘to a head.’

achievement /əˈCHēvmənt/

noun

1. a thing done successfully, typically by effort, courage, or skill

• to reach this stage is a great achievement.

2. the process or fact of achieving something

• the achievement of professional recognition

• assessing ability in terms of academic achievement

• a sense of achievement.

3. [Heraldry] a representation of a coat of arms with all the adjuncts to which a bearer of arms is entitled.

achillea /əˈkilēə/

I. noun

a plant of the daisy family, which typically has heads of small white or yellow flowers and fernlike leaves.
[Genus Achillea, family Compositae: numerous species, including the common yarrow.]

– origin via Latin from Greek Akhilleios, denoting a plant supposed to have been used medicinally by Achilles.

Achilles /əˈkilēz / ‹Greek Mythology›

a hero of the Trojan War, son of Peleus and Thetis. During his infancy his mother plunged him in the Styx, thus making his body invulnerable except for the heel by which she held him. During the Trojan War, Achilles killed Hector but was later wounded in the heel by an arrow shot by Paris and died.

Achilles heel

I. noun

a weakness or vulnerable point.

– origin early 19th cent.: alluding to the vulnerability of Achilles.

Achilles tendon /əˈˌkilēz ˈtendən/

noun

the tendon connecting calf muscles to the heel.

achimenes /əˈkiməˌnēz/

I. noun

a tropical American plant with tubular or trumpet-shaped flowers.
[Genus Achimenes, family Gesneriaceae.]

– origin modern Latin, either from Greek akhaimenis, denoting a different plant (euphorbia), or from a- ‘not’ + kheimanein ‘expose to the cold.’

aching /ˈākiNG/

adjective

1. sore; throbbing with pain

• the cool air was a relief to my aching head.

2. feeling intense or wistful sadness; sorrowful

• an aching feeling of nostalgia.

achingly /ˈākiNGlē/

adverb — [usu. as submodifier]

1. in a way that arouses or expresses intense sorrow or longing

• the letters are achingly tender

• an achingly beautiful piece of music.

achiote /ˌäCHēˈōtē, ˌäkē-/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) annatto.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Spanish, from Nahuatl achiotl.

achlorhydria /ˌāklôrˈhīdrēə/

noun

[Medicine] absence of hydrochloric acid in the gastric secretions.

Acholi /əˈkōlē, əˈCHō-/

I. noun

1. (pl. same) — a member of a farming and pastoral people of northern Uganda and South Sudan.

2. the Nilotic language of the Acholi.

II. adjective

relating to the Acholi or their language.

– origin the name in Acholi.

achondroplasia /āˌkändrəˈplāZH(ē)ə/

I. noun

a hereditary condition in which the growth of long bones by ossification of cartilage is retarded, resulting in very short limbs and sometimes a face that is small in relation to the (normal-sized) skull.

II. derivatives

achondroplastic /-ˈplastik /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from a-1 ‘without’ + Greek khondros ‘cartilage’ + plasis ‘molding’ + -ia^1.

achromat /ˈakrəˌmat/

noun

another term for achromatic lens.

achromatic /ˌakrəˈmadik/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. relating to, employing, or denoting lenses that transmit light without separating it into constituent colors.

2. ‹literary› without color

• achromatic gloom.

– origin late 18th cent.: via French from Greek a- ‘without’ + khrōmatikos (from khrōma ‘color’).

achromatic lens

noun

a lens that transmits light without separating it into constituent colors.

achy /ˈākē/

adjective — [predic.]

1. suffering from continuous dull pain

• she felt tired and achy.

acicular /əˈsikyələr/

I. adjective

‹technical› (chiefly of crystals) needle-shaped.

– origin early 18th cent.: from late Latin acicula ‘small needle,’ diminutive of acus.

acid /ˈasəd/

I. noun

1. a chemical substance that neutralizes alkalis, dissolves some metals, and turns litmus red; typically, a corrosive or sour-tasting liquid of this kind

• rainwater is a very weak acid

• traces of acid.

Often contrasted with alkali or base^1.

2. bitter or cutting remarks or tone of voice

• she was unable to quell the acid in her voice.

3. [Chemistry] a molecule or other entity that can donate a proton or accept an electron pair in reactions.

4. ‹informal› the drug LSD.

Acids are compounds that release hydrogen ions (H+) when dissolved in water. Any solution with a pH of less than 7 is acidic, strong acids such as sulfuric or hydrochloric acid having a pH as low as 1 or 2. Most organic acids (carboxylic or fatty acids) contain the carboxyl group COOH.

II. adjective

1. containing acid or having the properties of an acid; in particular, having a pH of less than 7

• poor, acid soils.

Often contrasted with alkaline or basic.

2. [Geology] (of rock, especially lava) containing a relatively high proportion of silica.

3. [Metallurgy] relating to or denoting steelmaking processes involving silica-rich refractories and slags.

4. sharp-tasting or sour

• acid fruit.

5. (of a person's remarks or tone) bitter or cutting.

6. (of a color) intense or bright

• an acid green.

III. derivatives

acidy

adjective

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘sour-tasting’): from Latin acidus, from acere ‘be sour.’

acidhead /ˈasədˌhed/

noun

‹informal› a habitual user of the drug LSD.

acid house

noun

a kind of popular synthesized dance music with a fast repetitive beat, popular in the 1980s and associated with the taking of drugs such as Ecstasy.

acidic /əˈsidik/

adjective

1. having the properties of an acid, or containing acid; having a pH below 7.
Often contrasted with alkaline or basic.

2. [Geology] (of rock, especially lava) relatively rich in silica.

3. [Metallurgy] relating to or denoting steelmaking processes involving silica-rich refractories and slags.

4. sharp-tasting or sour

• acidic wine.

5. (of a person's remarks or tone) bitter or cutting

• the occasional acidic comment.

6. (of a color) intense or bright

• an acidic yellow.

7. of or relating to acid rock or acid house music.

acidify /əˈsidəˌfī/

I. verb

make or become acid
[with obj.]

• pollutants can acidify surface water

• [no obj.] the paper was acidifying.

II. derivatives

acidification /əˌsidəfəˈkāSH(ə)n /

noun

acidimetry /ˌasəˈdimətrē/

noun

measurement of the strengths of acids.

acidity /əˈsidədē/

noun

1. the level of acid in substances such as water, soil, or wine.

2. the level of acid in the gastric juices, typically when excessive and causing discomfort.

3. the bitterness or sharpness of a person's remarks or tone

• the cutting acidity in his voice.

acid jazz

I. noun

a kind of popular dance music incorporating elements of jazz, funk, soul, and hip-hop.

– origin apparently coined from acid house and popularized by the Acid Jazz record label founded in 1988.

acidly /ˈasədlē/

adverb

with bitterness or sarcasm

• “Is it up to you to make that decision?” she asked acidly.

acidophil /əˈsidəˌfil, ˈasidə-/

noun

[Biology] an acidophilic white blood cell.

acidophilic /əˌsidəˈfilik, ˌasidə-/

I. adjective

1. [Biology] (of a cell or its contents) readily stained with acid dyes.

2. [Biology] (of a microorganism or plant) growing best in acidic conditions.

– origin early 20th cent.: from acid + -philic (see -philia).

acidophilus /ˌasəˈdäfələs/

I. noun

a bacterium that is used to make yogurt and to supplement the intestinal flora.
[Lactobacillus acidophilus, a Gram-positive rod-shaped bacterium.]

– origin 1920s: modern Latin, literally ‘acid-loving.’

acidosis /ˌasəˈdōsəs/

I. noun

[Medicine] an excessively acid condition of the body fluids or tissues.

II. derivatives

acidotic /-ˈdätik /

adjective

acid radical /ˈasəd ˈradəkəl/

noun

[Chemistry] a radical formed by the removal of hydrogen ions from an acid.

acid rain /ˈasəd ˌrān/

noun

rainfall made sufficiently acidic by atmospheric pollution that it causes environmental harm, typically to forests and lakes. The main cause is the industrial burning of coal and other fossil fuels, the waste gases from which contain sulfur and nitrogen oxides, which combine with atmospheric water to form acids.

acid reflux

noun

a condition in which acidic gastric fluid is regurgitated into the esophagus, causing heartburn.

acid rock

noun

a type of rock music, mainly of the late 1960s, associated with or inspired by the use of hallucinogenic drugs.

acid salt

noun

[Chemistry] a salt formed by incomplete replacement of the hydrogen of an acid, e.g., potassium hydrogen sulfate (KHSO_4).

acid test /ˈasəd test/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. a conclusive test of the success or value of something

• the pact with the rebels is an acid test of the government's sincerity.

– origin figuratively, from the original use denoting a test for gold using nitric acid.

acidulate /əˈsijəˌlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. acidulated)

1. make slightly acidic

• acidulated water.

II. derivatives

acidulation /əˌsijəˈlāSHən /

noun

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin acidulus (from acidus ‘sour’) + -ate^3.

acidulous /əˈsijələs/

I. adjective

1. sharp-tasting or sour.

2. (of a person's remarks or tone) bitter or cutting.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin acidulus (from acidus ‘sour’) + -ous.

acinus /ˈasənəs/

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] a small saclike cavity in a gland, surrounded by secretory cells.

2. [Anatomy] a region of the lung supplied with air from one of the terminal bronchioles.

II. derivatives

acinar

adjective

– origin mid 18th cent.: Latin, literally ‘a kernel.’

-acious

I. suffix

(forming adjectives) inclined to; having as a capacity

• audacious

• capacious.

– origin from the Latin ending -ax, -acis (especially forming adjectives from verbal stems) + -ous.

-acity

I. suffix

forming nouns of quality or state corresponding to adjectives ending in -acious (such as audacity corresponding to audacious).

– origin from French -acité or Latin -acitas, noun endings.

ack-ack /akˈak / ‹Military informal›

I. noun

antiaircraft gunfire
[as modifier]

• a quick burst of ack-ack fire.

– origin World War II: signalers' name for the letters AA.

acknowledge /əkˈnäləj/

I. verb

1. [reporting verb] — accept or admit the existence or truth of
[with obj.]

• the plight of the refugees was acknowledged by the authorities

• [with clause] the government acknowledged that the tax was unfair

• [with direct speech] “That's true,” she acknowledged.

2. [with obj.] — (of a body of opinion) recognize the fact or importance or quality of

• the art world has begun to acknowledge his genius

• he's generally acknowledged to be the game's finest coach.

3. express or display gratitude for or appreciation of

• he received a letter acknowledging his services.

4. accept the validity or legitimacy of

• Henry acknowledged Richard as his heir.

5. [with obj.] — show that one has noticed or recognized (someone) by making a gesture or greeting

• she refused to acknowledge my presence.

6. confirm (receipt of something).

– origin late 15th cent.: from the obsolete Middle English verb knowledge, influenced by obsolete acknow ‘acknowledge, confess.’

acknowledged /əkˈnäləjd/

adjective

1. recognized as being good or important

• he's an acknowledged expert in the field.

• an acknowledged comedy genius.

2. accepted as valid or legitimate

• an acknowledged brand leader.

acknowledgment /əkˈnäləjmənt / acknowledgement

noun

1. acceptance of the truth or existence of something

• there was no acknowledgment of the family's trauma.

2. the action of expressing or displaying gratitude or appreciation for something

• he received an award in acknowledgment of his work.

3. the action of showing that one has noticed someone or something

• he touched his hat in acknowledgment of the salute.

4. a letter confirming receipt of something

• I received an acknowledgment of my application.

5. (usu. acknowledgments) — an author's or publisher's statement of indebtedness to others, typically one printed at the beginning of a book.

ACL

abbreviation

anterior cruciate ligament.

aclinic line /āˌklinik ˈlīn/

I. noun

another term for magnetic equator.

– origin mid 19th cent.: aclinic from Greek aklinēs, from a- ‘not’ + klinein ‘to bend.’

ACLU

abbreviation

American Civil Liberties Union.

acme /ˈakmē/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. the point at which someone or something is best, perfect, or most successful

• physics is the acme of scientific knowledge.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Greek akmē ‘highest point.’ Until the 18th cent. it was often consciously used as a Greek word and often written in Greek letters.

Acmeist /ˈakmēist/

I. adjective

denoting or relating to an early 20th century movement in Russian poetry that rejected the values of symbolism in favor of formal technique and clarity of exposition. Notable members were Anna Akhmatova and Osip Mandelstam.

II. noun

a member of the Acmeist movement.

III. derivatives

Acmeism /ˈakmēizəm /

noun

acne /ˈaknē/

I. noun

the occurrence of inflamed or infected sebaceous glands in the skin; in particular, a condition characterized by red pimples on the face, prevalent chiefly among teenagers.

II. derivatives

acned

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: via modern Latin from Greek aknas, a misreading of akmas, accusative plural of akmē ‘highest point, peak, or facial eruption’; compare with acme.

acolyte /ˈakəˌlīt/

I. noun

1. a person assisting the celebrant in a religious service or procession.

2. an assistant or follower.

– origin Middle English: from Old French acolyt or ecclesiastical Latin acolytus, from Greek akolouthos ‘follower.’

Aconcagua /ˌakənˈkäɡwə, ˌäk-/

a mountain in the Andes, in western Argentina near the Chilean border, rising to 22,834 feet (6,960 m). It is the highest mountain in the western hemisphere.

aconite /ˈakəˌnīt/

I. noun

1. a poisonous plant of the buttercup family, which bears hooded pink or purple flowers. It is native to temperate regions of the northern hemisphere.
[Genus Aconitum, family Ranunculaceae: many species, including monkshood and wolfsbane.]

2. an extract of aconite, used as a poison or in medicinal preparations.

– origin mid 16th cent.: via French and Latin from Greek akoniton.

aconitine /əˈkäniˌtēn/

noun

[Chemistry] a poisonous alkaloid obtained from monkshood and related plants.

acorn /ˈāˌkôrn/

I. noun

the fruit of the oak, a smooth oval nut in a rough cuplike base.

– origin Old English æcern, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch aker, also to acre, later associated with oak and corn^1.

acorn barnacle

noun

a stalkless barnacle that attaches itself to a variety of surfaces including rocks, ships, and marine animals. Large numbers of individuals may form a heavy encrustation that can affect the progress of a ship.
[Genus Balanus, family Balanidae.]

acorn squash

noun

a winter squash, typically of a dark green variety, with a longitudinally ridged rind.

acorn worm

noun

a burrowing wormlike marine animal of shallow waters. Its body consists of a proboscis, a collar, and a long trunk with gill slits, and contains a notochordlike structure.
[Class Enteropneusta, phylum Hemichordata.]

acotyledon /ˌākädlˈēdn/

I. noun

a plant with no distinct seed leaves, especially a fern or moss.

II. derivatives

acotyledonous /ˌāˌkädəˈlēd(ə)nəs /

adjective

– origin mid 18th cent.: from modern Latin plural acotyledones (see a-1, cotyledon).

acoustic /əˈko͞ostik/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. relating to sound or the sense of hearing

• dogs have a much greater acoustic range than humans.

2. (of building materials) used for soundproofing or modifying sound

• acoustic tiles.

3. (of an explosive mine or other weapon) able to be set off by sound waves.

4. (of popular music or musical instruments) not having electrical amplification

• a sad, gentle acoustic ballad

• old-fashioned acoustic instruments.

5. (of a person or group) playing musical instruments without electrical amplification.

II. noun

1. (usu. acoustics) — the properties or qualities of a room or building that determine how sound is transmitted in it

• Symphony Hall has perfect acoustics.

2. [treated as sing.] (acoustics) — the branch of physics concerned with the properties of sound.

3. a musical instrument without electrical amplification, typically a guitar.

III. derivatives

1. acoustical

adjective

2. acoustically /əˈko͞ostik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Greek akoustikos, from akouein ‘hear.’

acoustic guitar

noun

a guitar that does not require electrical amplification, having a hollow body that amplifies the vibrations of the strings

• he toured alone, playing an acoustic guitar.

acoustician /ˌako͞oˈstiSHən/

noun

an expert in the branch of physics concerned with the properties of sound.

acoustic impedance

noun

[Physics] the ratio of the pressure over an imaginary surface in a sound wave to the rate of particle flow across the surface.

acoustic shock

noun

damaged hearing suffered by the user of a listening device as a result of sudden excessive noise.

acquaint /əˈkwānt/

I. verb — [with obj.] (acquaint someone with)

1. make someone aware of or familiar with

• new staff should be acquainted with fire exit routes

• you need to acquaint yourself with the house style.

2. (be acquainted) — be an acquaintance

• I am not acquainted with any young lady of that name

• I'll leave you two to get acquainted.

– origin Middle English: from Old French acointier ‘make known,’ from late Latin accognitare, from Latin accognoscere, from ad- ‘to’ + cognoscere ‘come to know.’

acquaintance /əˈkwāntəns/

I. noun

1. a person's knowledge or experience of something

• the students had little acquaintance with the language.

2. one's slight knowledge of or friendship with someone

• I renewed my acquaintance with Herbert

• most men of her acquaintance were in uniform now.

3. a person one knows slightly, but who is not a close friend

• a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.

4. acquaintances considered collectively

• his extensive acquaintance included Oscar Wilde and Yeats.

II. phrases

make the acquaintance of (or make someone's acquaintance)

meet someone for the first time and become only slightly familiar

• they are anxious to make your acquaintance.

III. derivatives

acquaintanceship /əˈkwānt(ə)n(s)ˌSHip /

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘mutual knowledge, being acquainted’): from Old French acointance, from acointier ‘make known’ (see acquaint).

acquaintance rape /əˈkwān(t)əns rāp/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) rape by a person who is known to the victim.

acquiesce /ˌakwēˈes/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. accept something reluctantly but without protest

• Sara acquiesced in his decision.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin acquiescere, from ad- ‘to, at’ + quiescere ‘to rest.’

acquiescence /ˌakwēˈesəns/

noun

the reluctant acceptance of something without protest

• in silent acquiescence, she rose to her feet.

acquiescent /ˌakwēˈes(ə)nt/

I. adjective

ready to accept something without protest, or to do what someone else wants

• the unions were acquiescent and there was no overt conflict.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin acquiescent- ‘remaining at rest,’ from the verb acquiescere (see acquiesce).

acquihire /ˌakwiˈhīr / acqhire /akˈhīr/

I. noun

an act or instance of buying out a company primarily for the skills and expertise of its staff, rather than for the products or services it supplies

• this would appear to be a straight acquihire to pick up an engineering and product design team.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. buy out (a company) primarily for the skills and expertise of its staff, rather than for its products or services

• the start-ups are being acquihired in a bid to harvest their talent.

– origin early 21st cent.: blend of acquisition and hire.

acquire /əˈkwī(ə)r/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. buy or obtain (an object or asset) for oneself.

2. learn or develop (a skill, habit, or quality)

• you must acquire the rudiments of Greek

• I've never acquired a taste for whiskey.

3. achieve (a particular reputation) as a result of one's behavior or activities.

II. phrases

acquired taste

a thing that one has come to like only through experience

• pumpkin pie is an acquired taste.

III. derivatives

1. acquirable /əˈkwī(ə)rəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. acquirer /əˈkwī(ə)rər /

noun

– origin late Middle English acquere, from Old French aquerre, based on Latin acquirere ‘get in addition,’ from ad- ‘to’ + quaerere ‘seek.’ The English spelling was modified (c. 1600) by association with the Latin word.

acquired characteristic acquired character

noun

[Biology] a modification or change in an organ or tissue during the lifetime of an organism due to use, disuse, or environmental effects, and not inherited.

acquirement /əˈkwī(ə)rmənt/

noun

1. the action of acquiring

• the acquirement of self control.

2. something acquired, typically a skill.

acquisition /ˌakwəˈziSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. an asset or object bought or obtained, typically by a library or museum.

2. an act of purchase of one company by another

• there were many acquisitions among travel agents

• expanding by growth or acquisition.

3. buying or obtaining an asset or object

• Western culture places a high value on material acquisition.

4. the learning or developing of a skill, habit, or quality

• the acquisition of management skills.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘act of acquiring something’): from Latin acquisitio(n-), from the verb acquirere (see acquire).

acquisitive /əˈkwizədiv/

I. adjective

excessively interested in acquiring money or material things.

II. derivatives

acquisitively

adverb

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French acquisitif, -tive, from late Latin acquisitivus. from Latin acquisit- ‘acquired,’ from the verb acquirere (see acquire).

acquisitiveness /əˈkwizidivnəs/

noun

excessive interest in acquiring money or material things

• a culture of acquisitiveness permeated his administration.

acquit /əˈkwit/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] (usu. be acquitted) — free (someone) from a criminal charge by a verdict of not guilty

• she was acquitted on all counts

• the jury acquitted him of murder.

2. (acquit oneself) — conduct oneself or perform in a specified way

• all the young women in the contest acquitted themselves well.

3. (acquit oneself of) — ‹archaic› discharge (a duty or responsibility)

• they acquitted themselves of their charge with vigilance.

– origin Middle English (originally in the sense ‘pay a debt, discharge a liability’): from Old French acquiter, from medieval Latin acquitare ‘pay a debt,’ from ad- ‘to’ + quitare ‘set free.’

acquittal /əˈkwid(ə)l/

noun

a judgment that a person is not guilty of the crime with which the person has been charged

• the trial resulted in an acquittal

• the women felt their chances of acquittal were poor.

acquittance /əˈkwitns/

I. noun

[Law] ‹dated› a written receipt attesting the settlement of a fine or debt.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, from aquiter ‘discharge (a debt)’ (see acquit).

acre /ˈākər/

I. noun

1. a unit of land area equal to 4,840 square yards (0.405 hectare)
[as modifier]

• a 15-acre estate.

2. (acres of) — ‹informal› a large extent or amount of something

• acres of space.

II. derivatives

acred /ˈākərd /

adjective

[in combination:]

• a many-acred park

– origin Old English æcer (denoting the amount of land a yoke of oxen could plow in a day), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch akker and German Acker ‘field,’ from an Indo-European root shared by Sanskrit ajra ‘field,’ Latin ager, and Greek agros.

Acre

I. /ˈäkər, ˈākər / — an industrial seaport of Israel; pop. 46,300 (est. 2008).
Also called Akko.

II. /ˈäkrə, ˈäkrā / — a state in western Brazil, on the border with Peru; capital, Rio Branco.

acreage /ˈāk(ə)rij/

noun

an area of land, typically when used for agricultural purposes, but not necessarily measured in acres

• a 35% increase in net acreage.

acre-foot

noun

a unit of volume equal to the volume of a sheet of water one acre (0.405 hectare) in area and one foot (30.48 cm) in depth; 43,560 cubic feet (1233.5 cu m).

acrid /ˈakrəd/

I. adjective

1. having an irritatingly strong and unpleasant taste or smell

• acrid fumes.

2. angry and bitter

• an acrid farewell.

II. derivatives

1. acridity /əˈkridədē /

noun

2. acridly

adverb

– origin early 18th cent.: formed irregularly from Latin acer, acri- ‘sharp, pungent’ + -id^1, probably influenced by acid.

acridine /ˈakrəˌdēn/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a colorless solid compound obtained from coal tar, used in the manufacture of dyes and drugs.
[Chem. formula: C_13H_9N.]

– origin late 19th cent.: coined in German from acrid + -ine^4.

acriflavine /ˌakrəˈflāvēn/

I. noun

a bright orange-red dye derived from acridine, used as an antiseptic.

– origin early 20th cent.: formed irregularly from acridine and flavine.

Acrilan /ˈakrəˌlan/

I. noun

‹trademark› a synthetic acrylic textile fiber.

– origin 1950s: from acrylic + Latin lana ‘wool.’

acrimonious /ˌakrəˈmōnēəs/

I. adjective

(typically of speech or a debate) angry and bitter

• an acrimonious dispute about wages.

II. derivatives

acrimoniously /ˌakrəˈmōnēəslē /

adverb

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘bitter, pungent’): from acrimony + -ous.

acrimony /ˈakrəˌmōnē/

I. noun

bitterness or ill feeling

• a quagmire of lawsuits, acrimony, and finger-pointing.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘bitter taste or smell’): from French acrimonie or Latin acrimonia, from acer, acri- ‘pungent, acrid.’

acrobat /ˈakrəˌbat/

I. noun

1. an entertainer who performs gymnastic feats.

2. a person noted for constant change of mind, allegiance, etc.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French acrobate, from Greek akrobatēs, from akrobatos ‘walking on tiptoe,’ from akron ‘tip’ + bainein ‘to walk.’

acrobatic /ˌakrəˈbadik/

I. adjective

performing, involving, or adept at spectacular gymnastic feats

• an acrobatic dive.

II. derivatives

acrobatically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

acrobatics /ˌakrəˈbadiks/

plural noun — [usu. treated as sing.]

1. gymnastic feats

• ‹figurative› goes through all sorts of financial acrobatics to make the monthly payments.

acrocyanosis /ˌakrōˌsīəˈnōsis/

I. noun

[Medicine] bluish or purple coloring of the hands and feet caused by slow circulation.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek akron ‘tip’ + cyanosis.

acrolect /ˈakrəˌlekt/

I. noun

[Linguistics] the most prestigious dialect or variety of a particular language (used especially in the study of Creoles).
Compare with basilect, mesolect.

II. derivatives

acrolectal /akrəˈlektl /

adjective

– origin 1960s: from Greek akron ‘summit’ + -lect as in dialect.

acromegaly /ˌakrōˈmeɡəlē/

I. noun

[Medicine] abnormal growth of the hands, feet, and face, caused by overproduction of growth hormone by the pituitary gland.

II. derivatives

acromegalic /-məˈɡalik /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: coined in French from Greek akron ‘tip, extremity’ + megas, megal- ‘great.’

acronym /ˈakrəˌnim/

I. noun

an abbreviation formed from the initial letters of other words and pronounced as a word (e.g., ASCII, NASA).

– origin 1940s: from Greek akron ‘end, tip’ + onuma ‘name,’ on the pattern of homonym.

acropetal /əˈkräpid(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. [Botany] (of growth or development) upward from the base or point of attachment.
The opposite of basipetal.

2. [Botany] (of the movement of dissolved substances) outward toward the shoot and root apexes.

II. derivatives

acropetally

adverb

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek akron ‘tip’ + Latin petere ‘seek.’

acrophobia /ˌakrəˈfōbēə/

I. noun

extreme or irrational fear of heights.

II. derivatives

acrophobic /-ˈfōbik /

adjective, noun

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek akron ‘summit’ + -phobia.

acropolis /əˈkräpələs/

I. noun

1. a citadel or fortified part of an ancient Greek city, typically built on a hill.

2. (the Acropolis) — the ancient citadel at Athens, containing the Parthenon and other notable buildings, mostly dating from the 5th century BC.

– origin Greek, from akron ‘summit’ + polis ‘city.’

across /əˈkrôs əˈkräs/

I. preposition, adverb

1. from one side to the other of (something).

2. expressing movement over a place or region

• I ran across the street

• traveling across Europe

• [as adv.] he had swum across.

3. expressing position or orientation

• they lived across the street from one another

• the bridge across the river

• [as adv.] he looked across at me

• halfway across, Jenny jumped.

4. [as adv.] — used with an expression of measurement

• can grow to 4 feet across.

5. [as adv.] — with reference to a crossword puzzle answer that reads horizontally

• 19 across.

II. phrases

1. across from

opposite

• she sat across from me.

2. across the board

a. applying to all

• the cutbacks might be across the board.

b. (US) (in horse racing) denoting a bet in which equal amounts are staked on the same horse to win, place, or show in a race.

– origin Middle English (as an adverb meaning ‘in the form of a cross’): from Old French a croix, en croix ‘in or on a cross,’ later regarded as being from a-2 + cross.

acrostic /əˈkrôstik/

I. noun

a poem, word puzzle, or other composition in which certain letters in each line form a word or words.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French acrostiche, from Greek akrostikhis, from akron ‘end’ + stikhos ‘row, line of verse.’ The spelling change was due to association with -ic.

Acrux /ˈāˌkrəks/

I. the star Alpha Crucis, the brightest star in the Southern Cross (Crux). It is the twelfth brightest star in the sky.

– origin from A for 'alpha' + crux.

acrylamide /əˈkriləˌmīd/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a colorless crystalline solid that readily forms water-soluble polymers.
[The amide of acrylic acid; chem. formula: CH_2=CHCONH_2.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from acrylic + amide.

acrylic /əˈkrilik/

I. adjective

1. (of synthetic resins and textile fibers) made from polymers of acrylic acid or acrylates

• a red acrylic sweater.

2. of, relating to, or denoting paints based on acrylic resin as a medium

• acrylic colors

• an acrylic painting.

II. noun

1. an acrylic textile fiber

• a sweater in four-ply acrylic.

2. (often acrylics) — an acrylic paint

• washes of white acrylic.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from the liquid aldehyde acrolein (from Latin acer, acri- ‘pungent’ + ol(eum) ‘oil’ + -in^1) + -yl + -ic.

acrylic acid

I. noun

[Chemistry] a pungent liquid organic acid that can be polymerized to make synthetic resins.
[Chem. formula: CH_2CH=COOH.]

II. derivatives

acrylate /ˈakrəˌlāt /

noun

acrylonitrile /ˌakrəlōˈnītrīl, ˌakrəlōˈnītril/

noun

[Chemistry] a pungent, toxic liquid, used in making artificial fibers and other polymers.
[The nitrile of acrylic acid: chem. formula: CH_2=CHCN.]

act /akt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. take action; do something

• they urged Washington to act

• [with infinitive] governments must act to reduce pollution.

2. (act on) — take action according to or in the light of

• I shall certainly act on his suggestion.

3. (act for) — take action in order to bring about

• one's ability to act for community change.

4. (act for/on behalf of) — represent (someone) on a contractual, legal, or paid basis

• he chose an attorney to act for him.

5. (act from/out of) — be motivated by

• you acted from greed.

6. [with adverbial] — behave in the way specified

• they followed the man who was seen acting suspiciously

• he acts as if he owned the place.

7. (act as/like) — behave in the manner of

• try to act like civilized adults.

8. (act as) — fulfill the function or serve the purpose of

• they need volunteers to act as foster parents.

9. have the effect of

• a five-year sentence will act as a deterrent.

10. take effect; have a particular effect

• bacteria act on proteins and sugar.

11. perform a fictional role in a play, movie, or television production

• she acted in her first professional role at the age of six.

12. [with obj.] — perform (a part or role)

• he acted the role of the dragon

• he got the chance to act out other people's jobs.

13. [with complement] — behave so as to appear to be; pretend to be

• I acted dumb at first.

14. [with obj.] (act something out) — perform a narrative as if it were a play

• encouraging students to act out the stories.

15. [with obj.] (act something out) — [Psychoanalysis] express repressed or unconscious feelings in overt behavior

• the impulses of hatred and killing which some human beings act out.

II. noun

1. a thing done; a deed

• a criminal act

• the act of writing down one's thoughts

• an act of heroism.

2. [in sing.] — a pretense

• she was putting on an act and laughing a lot.

3. [with adj. or noun modifier] — a particular type of behavior or routine

• he did his Sir Galahad act.

4. [Law] a written ordinance of Congress, or another legislative body; a statute

• the act to abolish slavery.

5. a document attesting a legal transaction.

6. (often acts) — ‹dated› the recorded decisions or proceedings of a committee or an academic body.

7. a main division of a play, ballet, or opera.

8. a set performance

• her one-woman poetry act.

9. a performing group

• an act called the Apple Blossom Sisters.

III. phrases

1. act of God

an instance of uncontrollable natural forces in operation (often used in insurance claims).

2. act of grace

a privilege or concession that cannot be claimed as a right.

3. catch someone in the act

(usu. be caught in the act) — surprise someone in the process of doing something wrong

• the thieves were caught in the act.

4. clean up one's act

behave in a more acceptable manner.

5. get one's act together

‹informal› organize oneself in the manner required in order to achieve something.

6. get (or be) in on the act

‹informal› become or be involved in a particular activity, in order to gain profit or advantage.

7. in the act of

in the process of

• they photographed him in the act of reading other people's mail.

8. read someone the Riot Act

see Riot Act.

9. a tough (or hard) act to follow

an achievement or performance that sets a standard regarded as being difficult for others to measure up to.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. act out

misbehave, especially when unhappy or stressed

• many children who act out while awaiting placement in a health care facility end up in juvenile detention.

2. act up

a. (of a thing) fail to function properly

• the plane's engine was acting up.

b. (of a person) misbehave.

V. derivatives

1. actability /ˌaktəˈbilitē /

noun

act (sense 5 of the verb)

2. actable

adjective

act (sense 5 of the verb)

– origin late Middle English: from Latin actus ‘event, thing done,’ act- ‘done,’ from the verb agere, reinforced by the French noun acte.

ACT

abbreviation

1. ‹trademark› American College Test.

2. Australian Capital Territory.

Actaeon /akˈtēən / ‹Greek Mythology›

a hunter who, because he accidentally saw Artemis bathing, was changed into a stag and killed by his own hounds.

actant /ˈaktənt/

noun

(in literary theory) a person, creature, or object playing any of a set of active roles in a narrative

• the room has become an actant, a surrogate for the heroine herself.

ACTH

abbreviation

[Biochemistry] adrenocorticotropic (or adrenocorticotrophic) hormone.

actin /ˈaktən/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a protein that forms (together with myosin) the contractile filaments of muscle cells, and is also involved in motion in other types of cells.

– origin 1940: from Greek aktis, aktin- ‘ray’ + -in^1.

acting /ˈaktiNG/

I. noun

the art or occupation of performing in plays, movies, or television productions

• she studied acting in New York.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. temporarily doing the duties of another person

• acting director.

actinian /akˈtinēən/

I. noun

[Zoology] a sea anemone.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from the modern Latin genus name Actinia (from Greek aktis, aktin- ‘ray’) + -an.

actinic /akˈtinik/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of light or lighting) able to cause photochemical reactions, as in photography, through having a significant short wavelength or ultraviolet component.

2. relating to or caused by actinic light

• actinic degradation.

II. derivatives

actinism /ˈaktəˌnizəm /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek aktis, aktin- ‘ray’ + -ic.

actinide /ˈaktəˌnīd/

I. noun

[Chemistry] any of the series of fifteen metallic elements from actinium (atomic number 89) to lawrencium (atomic number 103) in the periodic table. They are all radioactive, the heavier members being extremely unstable and not of natural occurrence.

– origin 1940s: from actinium + -ide, on the pattern of lanthanide.

actinium /akˈtinēəm/

I. noun

(Symbol: Ac) — the chemical element of atomic number 89, a radioactive metallic element of the actinide series. It is rare in nature, occurring as an impurity in uranium ores.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Greek aktis, aktin- ‘ray’ + -ium.

actinometer /ˌaktəˈnämədər/

I. noun

[Physics] an instrument for measuring the intensity of radiation, typically ultraviolet radiation.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek aktis, aktin- ‘ray’ + -meter.

actinomorphic /ˌaktənōˈmôrfik/

I. adjective

[Biology] characterized by radial symmetry, such as a starfish or the flower of a daisy.
Compare with zygomorphic.

II. derivatives

actinomorphy /akˈtinəˌmôrfē /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek aktis, aktin- ‘ray’ + morphē ‘form’ + -ic.

actinomycete /ˌaktənōˈmīˌsēt, -mīˈsēt/

I. noun

a bacterium of an order of typically nonmotile filamentous form. They include the economically important streptomycetes, and were formerly regarded as fungi.
[Order Actinomycetales; Gram-positive.]

– origin 1920s (originally only in the plural): modern Latin, from Greek aktis, aktin- ‘ray’ + mukētes, plural of mukēs ‘fungus.’

action /ˈakSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the fact or process of doing something, typically to achieve an aim

• he vowed to take tougher action against persistent offenders

• if there is a breach of regulations, we will take action.

2. the way in which something such as a chemical has an effect or influence

• the seeds require the catalytic action of water to release hotness.

3. armed conflict

• servicemen listed as missing in action during the war.

4. a military engagement

• a rearguard action.

5. the events represented in a story or play

• the action is set in the country.

6. ‹informal› exciting or notable activity

• the nonstop action of mountain biking

• people in the media want to be where the action is.

7. ‹informal› betting.

8. [as exclamation] — used by a movie director as a command to begin

• lights, camera, action!

9. a thing done; an act

• she frequently questioned his actions

• I would not be responsible for my actions if I saw him.

10. a legal process; a lawsuit

• an action for damages.

11. a gesture or movement

• his actions emphasized his words.

12. a manner or style of doing something, typically the way in which a mechanism works or a person moves

• a high paddle action in canoeing

• the weapon has speed and smooth action.

13. the mechanism that makes a machine or instrument work

• a piano with an escapement action.

II. phrases

1. go into action

start work or activity.

2. in action

engaged in a certain activity; in operation.

3. out of action

temporarily unable to engage in a certain activity; not working

• a heart attack put him out of action

• the ship was out of action for 16 days.

4. put into action

put into effect; carry out.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin actio(n-), from agere ‘do, act.’

actionable /ˈakSH(ə)nəb(ə)l/

adjective

1. [Law] giving sufficient reason to take legal action

• slanderous remarks are actionable.

2. [Law] able to be done or acted on; having practical value

• insightful and actionable information on the effect advertising is having on your brand.

action committee /ˈakSHən kəˈmidē / action group

noun

a body formed to campaign politically, typically on a particular issue.

action figure

noun

a doll representing a person or fictional character known for vigorous action, such as a soldier or superhero. The figure typically is posable, with jointed limbs.

action painting /ˈakSHən ˌpān(t)iNG/

noun

a technique and style of abstract painting in which paint is randomly splashed, thrown, or poured on the canvas. It was made famous by Jackson Pollock, and formed part of the more general movement of abstract expressionism.

action point

noun

a specific proposal for action to be taken, typically one arising from a discussion or meeting.

action potential

noun

[Physiology] the change in electrical potential associated with the passage of an impulse along the membrane of a muscle cell or nerve cell.

Actium, Battle of /ˈaktēəm, ˈakSHēəm/

a naval battle that took place in 31 BC off the promontory of Actium in western Greece, in the course of which Octavian defeated Mark Antony.

activate /ˈaktəˌvāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (something) active or operative

• fumes from cooking are enough to activate the alarm.

2. convert (a substance, molecule, etc.) into a reactive form
(as adj. activated)

• activated chlorine.

II. derivatives

activator /ˈaktəˌvādər /

noun

activated carbon /ˈaktəˌvādid ˈkärbən / activated charcoal

noun

charcoal that has been heated or otherwise treated to increase its adsorptive power.

activated sludge

noun

aerated sewage containing aerobic microorganisms that help to break it down.

activation /ˌaktiˈvāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action or process of making something active or operative

• phones with voice activation

• the constant activation of the vibrating alert is running the batteries down.

2. [Chemistry] the process of making a substance chemically or catalytically active.

activation analysis /ˌaktəˈvāSH(ə)n əˌnaləsəs/

noun

[Chemistry] a technique of analysis in which atoms of a particular element in a sample are made radioactive, typically by irradiation with neutrons, and their concentration is then determined radiologically.

activation energy

noun

[Chemistry] the minimum quantity of energy that the reacting species must possess in order to undergo a specified reaction.

active /ˈaktiv/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) engaging or ready to engage in physically energetic pursuits

• I needed to change my lifestyle and become more active.

2. moving or tending to move about vigorously or frequently

• active fish need a larger tank.

3. characterized by energetic activity

• they enjoyed an active social life.

4. (of a person's mind or imagination) alert and lively.

5. doing things for an organization, cause, or campaign, rather than simply giving it one's support

• she was an active member of the church

• he had never been very active in the affairs of the institute

• he enjoyed the active support of the government.

6. (of a person) participating or engaged in a particular sphere or activity

• a politically active student body.

7. [predic.] — (of a person or animal) pursuing their usual occupation or activity, typically at a particular place or time

• tigers are active mainly at night.

8. working; operative

• the old mill was active until 1960.

9. (of a bank account) in continuous use.

10. (of an electrical circuit) capable of modifying its state or characteristics automatically in response to input or feedback.

11. (of a volcano) currently erupting, or that has erupted within historical times.
Often contrasted with dormant or extinct.

12. (of a disease) in which the symptoms are manifest; not in remission or latent

• active colitis.

13. having a chemical or biological effect on something

• 350 active ingredients have been banned from pesticides.

14. [Grammar] relating to or denoting the voice that attributes the action of a verb to the person or thing from which it logically proceeds (e.g., of the verbs in guns kill and we saw him).
The opposite of passive.

II. noun

1. [Grammar] an active form of a verb.

2. (the active) — [Grammar] the active voice.

III. derivatives

activeness /ˈaktivnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘preferring action to contemplation’): from Latin activus, from act- ‘done,’ from the verb agere.

active barrier

noun

1. a barrier that allows passage of defined agents while preventing or impeding others, in particular

2. a security barrier that responds to attempted entries with sensors or personnel.

3. a physical or chemical barrier that intercepts contaminants, debris, or other unwanted substances.

active duty /ˈaktiv ˈd(y)o͞odē/

noun

1. full-time service in the police or armed forces.

2. the playing of a direct role in the operational work of the police or armed forces as opposed to doing administrative work.

active immunity

noun

[Physiology] the immunity that results from the production of antibodies by the immune system in response to the presence of an antigen.
Compare with passive immunity.

active layer

noun

[Geography] the seasonally thawed surface layer above permafrost.

active list /ˈaktiv list/

noun

a list of the officers in an armed service who are liable to be called on for duty.

actively /ˈaktivlē/

adverb

1. in a deliberate and positive way

• the company is actively looking for a buyer.

2. in an energetic or vigorous way

• they were actively engaged in supporting the war effort

• actively growing weeds.

active matrix

noun

[Electronics] a display system in which each pixel is individually controlled.

active service /ˈaktiv ˈsərvəs/

noun

direct participation in warfare as a member of the armed forces.

active site

noun

[Biochemistry] a region on an enzyme that binds to a protein or other substance during a reaction.

active transport

noun

[Biology] the movement of ions or molecules across a cell membrane into a region of higher concentration, assisted by enzymes and requiring energy.

activewear /ˈaktivˌwer/

noun

clothing designed to be worn for sports, exercise, and outdoor activities.

activism /ˈaktəˌvizəm/

noun

the policy or action of using vigorous campaigning to bring about political or social change.

activist /ˈaktivəst/

I. noun

a person who campaigns to bring about political or social change

• police arrested three activists

• a committed animal rights activist.

II. adjective

campaigning to bring about political or social change

• activist groups around the world are organizing solidarity events

• a green-leaning activist magazine.

activity /akˈtivədē/

I. noun

1. the condition in which things are happening or being done

• there has been a sustained level of activity in the economy

• 16, they say, is too young for sexual activity.

2. busy or vigorous action or movement

• the room was a hive of activity.

3. (usu. activities) — a thing that a person or group does or has done

• the firm's marketing activities.

4. a recreational pursuit or pastime

• a range of sports activities.

5. (activities) — actions taken by a group in order to achieve their aims

• the police were investigating anarchist activities.

6. the degree to which something displays its characteristic property or behavior

• abnormal liver enzyme activities.

7. [Chemistry] a thermodynamic quantity representing the effective concentration of a particular component in a solution or other system, equal to its concentration multiplied by an activity coefficient.

– origin late Middle English: from French activité or late Latin activitas, from Latin act- ‘done,’ from the verb agere.

act of contrition /ˌakt əv kənˈtriSH(ə)n/

noun

1. (in the Roman Catholic Church) a penitential prayer.

2. something done to make amends for an offense.

actomyosin /ˌaktəˈmīəsən/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a complex of actin and myosin of which the contractile protein filaments of muscle tissue are composed.

– origin 1940s: from actin + myosin.

actor /ˈaktər/

I. noun

1. a person whose profession is acting on the stage, in movies, or on television.

2. a person who behaves in a way that is not genuine

• in war one must be a good actor.

3. a participant in an action or process

• employers are key actors within industrial relations.

– origin late Middle English (originally denoting an agent or administrator): from Latin, ‘doer, actor,’ from agere ‘do, act.’ The theater sense dates from the 16th cent.

actorly /ˈaktərlē/

adjective

1. characteristic of an actor or actress

• he seems to lack the actorly range that the role requires.

2. affected or excessively dramatic

• she eschews the actorly flourishes of her co-star.

Actors' Studio

an acting workshop in New York City, founded in 1947 by Elia Kazan and others, and a leading center of method acting.

actress /ˈaktrəs/

noun

a female actor.

actressy /ˈaktrəsē/

adjective

characteristic of an actress; stereotypically being self-consciously theatrical or emotionally volatile

• her actressy manner was an irritant to the others.

Acts /akts / Acts of the Apostles

a New Testament book immediately following the Gospels and relating the history of the early Church.

actual /ˈak(t)SH(o͞o)əl/

I. adjective

1. existing in fact; typically as contrasted with what was intended, expected, or believed

• the estimate was much less than the actual cost

• those were his actual words.

2. used to emphasize the important aspect of something

• the book could be condensed into half the space, but what of the actual content?

3. existing now; current

• using actual income to measure expected income.

II. phrases

in actual fact

used to emphasize a comment, typically one that modifies or contradicts a previous statement

• people talk as if he were a monster—in actual fact he was a very kind guy.

– origin Middle English: from Old French actuel ‘active, practical,’ from late Latin actualis, from actus (see act).

actuality /ˌak(t)SHəˈwalədē/

I. noun

1. actual existence, typically as contrasted with what was intended, expected, or believed

• the building looked as impressive in actuality as it did in magazines

• a mission was sent to investigate the actuality of the situation.

2. (actualities) — existing conditions or facts

• the grim actualities of prison life.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘activeness’): from Old French actualite or medieval Latin actualitas, from actualis ‘active, practical,’ from actus (see act).

actualize /ˈak(t)SH(o͞o)əˌlīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make a reality of

• he had actualized his dream and achieved the world record.

II. derivatives

actualization /ˌak(t)SH(o͞o)əˌlīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

actually /ˈak(t)SH(o͞o)əlē/

adverb

1. as the truth or facts of a situation; really

• we must pay attention to what young people are actually doing

• the time actually worked on a job.

2. [as sentence adverb] — used to emphasize that something someone has said or done is surprising

• he actually expected me to be pleased about it!

3. used when expressing an opinion, typically one that is not expected

• “Actually,” she said icily, “I don't care who you go out with.”

4. used when expressing a contradictory opinion or correcting someone

• “Tom seems to be happy.” “He isn't, actually, not any more.”

5. used to introduce a new topic or to add information to a previous statement

• he had a thick Brooklyn accent—he sounded like my grandfather actually.

actuarial /ˌak(t)SHəˈwerēəl/

I. adjective

relating to actuaries or their work of compiling and analyzing statistics to calculate insurance risks and premiums

• an actuarial consulting firm

• faulty actuarial assumptions.

II. derivatives

actuarially /ˌak(t)SHəˈwerēəl /

adverb

actuary /ˈak(t)SHəˌwerē/

I. noun

a person who compiles and analyzes statistics and uses them to calculate insurance risks and premiums.

– origin mid 16th cent. (originally denoting a clerk or registrar of a court): from Latin actuarius ‘bookkeeper,’ from actus (see act). The current sense dates from the mid 19th cent.

actuate /ˈak(t)SHəˌwāt/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — cause (a machine or device) to operate

• the pendulum actuates an electrical switch.

2. (usu. be actuated) — cause (someone) to act in a particular way; motivate

• the defendants were actuated by malice.

II. derivatives

1. actuation /ˌak(t)SHəˈwāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. actuator /-ˈātər /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from medieval Latin actuat- ‘carried out, caused to operate,’ from the verb actuare, from Latin actus (see act). The original sense was ‘carry out in practice,’ later ‘stir into activity, enliven’; sense 1 dates from the mid 17th cent.

actus reus /ˌaktəs ˈrēəs, ˈrāəs/

I. noun

[Law] action or conduct that is a constituent element of a crime, as opposed to the mental state of the accused.
Compare with mens rea.

– origin early 20th cent.: Latin, literally ‘guilty act.’

acuity /əˈkyo͞oədē/

I. noun

sharpness or keenness of thought, vision, or hearing

• intellectual acuity

• visual acuity.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French acuite or medieval Latin acuitas, from Latin acuere ‘sharpen’ (see acute).

aculeate /əˈkyo͞olēət əˈkyo͞olēˌāt/

I. adjective

1. [Entomology] (of an insect) having a sting.

2. [Entomology] sharply pointed; prickly.

II. noun

[Entomology] a stinging insect of a group that includes the bees, wasps, and ants.
[Section Aculeata, suborder Apocrita, order Hymenoptera.]

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin aculeatus, from aculeus ‘a sting,’ diminutive of acus ‘needle.’

acumen /əˈkyo͞omən ˈakyəmən/

I. noun

the ability to make good judgments and quick decisions, typically in a particular domain

• business acumen.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin, ‘sharpness, point,’ from acuere ‘sharpen’ (see acute).

acuminate /əˈkyo͞omənət əˈkyo͞oməˌnāt/

I. adjective

[Biology] (of a plant or animal structure, e.g., a leaf) tapering to a point.

– origin late 16th cent.: from late Latin acuminatus ‘pointed,’ from acuminare ‘sharpen to a point,’ from acuere ‘sharpen’ (see acute).

acupressure /ˈakyo͞oˌprəSHər/

I. noun

another term for shiatsu.

– origin 1950s: blend of acupuncture and pressure.

acupuncture /ˈakyo͞oˌpəNG(k)(t)SHər/

I. noun

a system of complementary medicine that involves pricking the skin or tissues with needles, used to alleviate pain and to treat various physical, mental, and emotional conditions. Originating in ancient China, acupuncture is now widely practiced in the West.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin acu ‘with a needle’ + puncture.

acupuncturist /ˈakyo͝opəNGkSHərəst/

noun

a person who practices acupuncture

• find an acupuncturist in your area who works with addictions.

acutance /əˈkyo͞otns/

I. noun

1. the sharpness of a photographic or printed image.

2. a measure of this.

– origin 1950s: from acute + -ance.

acute /əˈkyo͞ot/

I. adjective

1. (of a bad, difficult, or unwelcome situation or phenomenon) present or experienced to a severe or intense degree

• an acute housing shortage

• the problem is acute and getting worse.

2. (of a disease or its symptoms) of short duration but typically severe

• acute appendicitis.

Often contrasted with chronic.

3. denoting or designed for patients with acute conditions

• acute hospital services

• acute patients.

4. having or showing a perceptive understanding or insight: shrewd

• an acute awareness of changing fashions.

5. (of a physical sense or faculty) highly developed; keen

• an acute sense of smell.

6. (of an angle) less than 90°.

7. having a sharp end; pointed.

8. (of a sound) high; shrill.

II. noun

short for acute accent.

III. derivatives

acuteness /əˈkyo͞otnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English (sense 2 of the adjective): from Latin acutus, past participle of acuere ‘sharpen,’ from acus ‘needle.’

acute accent

noun

a mark (´) placed over certain letters in some languages to indicate an alteration of a sound, as of quality, quantity, or pitch, e.g., in risqué.

acutely /əˈkyo͞otlē/

adverb — [usu. as submodifier]

1. (with reference to something unpleasant or unwelcome) intensely

• the whole situation was acutely embarrassing

• Elizabeth felt Jane's distress acutely.

2. (in relation to illness) in a way that progresses rapidly but lasts for a short period

• an acutely inflamed gall bladder.

3. in a way that shows a perceptive understanding or insight

• we are all acutely aware of the fragility of our world.

-acy

I. suffix

forming nouns of state or quality

• celibacy

• lunacy.

– origin a branch of the suffix -cy, from Latin -atia (medieval Latin -acia), or from Greek -ateia, noun suffixes.

acyclic /āˈsīklik/

adjective

1. not displaying or forming part of a cycle.

2. (of a woman) not having a menstrual cycle.

3. [Chemistry] (of a compound or molecule) containing no rings of atoms.

acyclovir /āˈsīkləˌvir/

noun

[Medicine] an antiviral drug used especially in the treatment of herpes and AIDS.
Also called Zovirax .

acyl /ˈasəl/

I. noun — [as modifier]

1. [Chemistry] a radical of general formula —C(O)R, where R is an alkyl group, derived from a carboxylic acid

• acyl groups.

– origin late 19th cent.: formed in German, from Latin acidus (see acid) + -yl.

acylate /ˈasəˌlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Chemistry] introduce an acyl group into (a molecule or compound)
(as adj. acylated)

• an acylated glycine derivative.

II. derivatives

acylation /ˌasəˈlāSHən /

noun

ad^1 /ad/

I. noun

‹informal› an advertisement.

– origin mid 19th cent.: abbreviation.

ad^2 /ad/

noun

[Tennis] ‹informal› short for advantage.

AD /ˌā ˈdē/

I. abbreviation

1. [Military] active duty.

2. (usu. AD) — Anno Domini (used to indicate that a date comes the specified number of years after the accepted date of Christ's birth).

3. armored division.

4. athletic director.

usage: In dates, AD is normally written in small capitals and is traditionally placed before the numerals, as in AD 375 (not 375 AD). The reason for this is that AD is an abbreviation of anno domini, which means ‘in the year of our Lord.’ However, when the date is spelled out, it is normal to write the third century AD (notAD the third century). Compare with BC. In recent years, some writers have begun using the abbreviations CE (of the Common Era) in place of AD, and BCE (before the Common Era) in place of BC, in consideration of a more secular and international readership.

ad-

I. prefix

1. denoting motion or direction to

• advance

• adduce.

2. reduction or change into

• adapt

• adulterate.

3. addition, increase, or intensification

• adjunct

• adhere

• admixture.

– origin from Latin ad ‘to’; in the 16th cent. the use of ad- and its variants was extended to replace a- from a different origin such as Latin ab- (e.g., advance, from French avancer, based on late Latin abante ‘in front’). / usage: The prefix ad- is also found assimilated in the following forms: a- before sc, sp (ascend, aspire); ac- before c, q (accede, acquire); af- before f (affiliate); ag- before g (aggregate); al- before l (allude); an- before n (annex); ap- before p (appall); ar- before r (arrest); as- before s (assume); at- before t (attend).

A/D

abbreviation

[Electronics] analog to digital.

-ad^1

I. suffix

1. forming nouns:

2. in collective numerals

• pentad

• triad.

3. in groups, periods, or aggregates

• Olympiad.

4. in names of females in classical mythology, such as Dryad and Naiad.

5. in names of districts such as Troad.

6. in names of poems and similar compositions

• Iliad

• jeremiad.

7. forming names of members of some taxonomic groupings

• bromeliad.

– origin from Greek -ad- (from nouns ending in -as).

-ad^2

I. suffix

forming nouns such as ballad, salad.
Compare with -ade^1.

– origin representing the French noun ending -ade.

Ada /ˈādə/

I. noun

a high-level computer programming language used especially in real-time computerized control systems, e.g., for aircraft navigation.

– origin 1980s: from the name of Ada Lovelace (see Lovelace, Ada).

adage /ˈadij/

I. noun

a proverb or short statement expressing a general truth

• the old adage “out of sight out of mind.”

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French, from Latin adagium ‘saying,’ based on an early form of aio ‘I say.’

adagio /əˈdäjō əˈdäjēō / ‹Music›

I. adjective, adverb

(especially as a direction) in slow tempo.

II. noun

a movement or composition marked to be played adagio.

– origin Italian, from ad agio ‘at ease.’

Adam /ˈadəm/

I. (in the biblical and Koranic traditions) the first man. According to the Book of Genesis, Adam was created by God as the progenitor of the human race and lived with Eve in the Garden of Eden.

II. phrases

not know someone from Adam

not know or be completely unable to recognize the person in question.

– origin from Hebrew ῾ādām ‘man,’ later taken to be a name.

Adam, Robert

(1728–92), Scottish architect and furniture designer. With his brother James (1730–94), he was influential in the change from the prevailing Palladian fashion to a neoclassical style.

adamant /ˈadəmənt/

I. adjective

refusing to be persuaded or to change one's mind

• he is adamant that he is not going to resign.

II. noun

‹archaic› a legendary rock or mineral to which many, often contradictory, properties were attributed, formerly associated with diamond or lodestone.

III. derivatives

1. adamance

noun

2. adamancy /-mənsē /

noun

– origin Old English (as a noun), from Old French adamaunt-, via Latin from Greek adamas, adamant, ‘untamable, invincible’ (later used to denote the hardest metal or stone, hence diamond), from a- ‘not’ + daman ‘to tame.’ The phrase to be adamant dates from the 1930s, although adjectival use had been implied in such collocations as “an adamant heart” since the 16th cent.

adamantine /ˌadəˈmanˌtēn ˌadəˈmanˌtīn/

adjective

‹literary› unbreakable

• adamantine chains

• ‹figurative› her adamantine will.

adamantly /ˈadəməntlē/

adverb

in a way that suggests one will not be persuaded to change one's mind; firmly and resolutely

• the White House adamantly denied any involvement

• she shook her head adamantly.

Adams, Abigail /ˈadəmz/

(1744–1818), US first lady 1797–1801, the wife of President John Adams and mother of President John Quincy Adams; full name Abigail Smith Adams. She is noted for her letters that gave an insider's view of the times.

Adams, Alice

(1926–99), US writer and editor. She wrote about women's lives in her novels Families and Survivors (1975), Superior Women (1984), and A Southern Exposure (1995), among others, and in short stories that are collected in such works as To See You Again (1982).

Adams, Ansel

(1902–84), US photographer, noted for his black-and-white photographs of American landscapes; full name Ansel Easton Adams. Many of his collections, such as My Camera in the National Parks (1950) and This Is the American Earth (1960), reflect his interest in conservation.

Adams, John

(1735–1826), 2nd president of the US 1797–1801. A Massachusetts Federalist, he was a delegate to the Continental Congress 1774–78 and helped draft the Declaration of Independence in 1776. With John Jay and Benjamin Franklin, he negotiated the Treaty of Paris, which ended the American Revolution in 1783. Adams was minister to Great Britain 1785–88 before becoming the first vice president of the US 1789–97.

Adams, John Couch

(1819–92), English astronomer. He postulated the existence of an eighth planet in 1843, three years before Le Verrier discovered Neptune.

Adams, John Quincy

(1767–1848), 6th president of the US 1825–29; a Massachusetts Democratic-Republican; eldest son of President John Adams. His ministerial positions from 1794 to 1801 included appointments to the Netherlands, Portugal, and Prussia. After serving in the US Senate 1803–08, he was minister to Russia, then to England. He helped negotiate the Treaty of Ghent 1814, which ended the War of 1812. As President Monroe's secretary of state 1817–25, he was the chief architect of the Monroe Doctrine. His impassioned advocacy of the abolition of slavery and the safeguarding of freedom of speech defined his postpresidential career as a member of the US House of Representatives 1831–48.

Adams, Samuel

(1722–1803), US patriot. One of the leaders of the Boston Tea Party in 1773, he was active in pre-Revolutionary anti-British activities that took place in that city. He served in the First and Second Continental Congresses 1774–75 and was a signer of the Declaration of Independence 1776.

Adam's ale

noun

‹dated› ‹humorous› water.

Adam's apple /ˈadəmz ˌapəl/

noun

the projection at the front of the neck formed by the thyroid cartilage of the larynx, often prominent in men.

Adam's Bridge

a line of shoals lying between northwestern Sri Lanka and the southeastern coast of Tamil Nadu in India. It separates the Palk Strait from the Gulf of Mannar.

Adam's needle Adam's needle-and-thread

noun

a frost-hardy yucca native to the eastern US, with long leaves that are edged with white threads.
[Yucca filamentosa, family Agavaceae.]

Adam's Peak

a mountain in south central Sri Lanka, rising to 7,360 feet (2,243 m). It is regarded as sacred by Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims.

Adana /ˈädənə/

a town in southern Turkey, capital of a province of the same name; pop. 1,366,000 (est. 2007).

adapt /əˈdapt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (something) suitable for a new use or purpose; modify

• hospitals have had to be adapted for modern medical practice

• the policies can be adapted to suit individual needs and requirements

• (as adj. adapted) mink are well adapted to hunting prey.

2. [no obj.] — become adjusted to new conditions

• a large organization can be slow to adapt to change.

3. alter (a text) to make it suitable for filming, broadcasting, or the stage

• the miniseries was adapted from Wouk's novel.

– origin late Middle English: from French adapter, from Latin adaptare, from ad- ‘to’ + aptare (from aptus ‘fit’). / usage: Avoid confusing adapt with adopt. Trouble sometimes arises because in adapting to new conditions, an animal or plant can be said to adopt something, such as a new color or behavior pattern.

adaptability /əˌdaptəˈbilədē/

noun

1. the quality of being able to adjust to new conditions

• adaptability is an advantage in the harshly competitive global economy

• the adaptability of cod to climate change.

2. the capacity to be modified for a new use or purpose

• the formal beauty and adaptability of plastic.

adaptable /əˈdaptəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. able to adjust to new conditions

• rats are highly adaptable to change.

2. able to be modified for a new use or purpose

• a workforce with adaptable skills.

II. derivatives

adaptably /-blē /

adverb

adaptation /ˌadapˈtāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action or process of adapting or being adapted

• the adaptation of teaching strategy to meet students' needs

• adaptations to the school curriculum.

2. a movie, television drama, or stage play that has been adapted from a written work, typically a novel

• filming her adaptation of a beloved children's book.

3. [Biology] a change or the process of change by which an organism or species becomes better suited to its environment

• living in groups is an adaptation that increases the efficiency of hunting

• biochemical adaptation in parasites.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French, from late Latin adaptatio(n-), from Latin adaptare (see adapt).

adaptationism /ˌadapˈtāSHəˌnizəm, ˌadəp-/

I. noun

[Biology] the belief or assumption, now generally held, that each feature of an organism is the result of evolutionary adaptation for a particular function.

II. derivatives

adaptationist

noun, adjective

adapter /əˈdaptər / adaptor

noun

1. a device for connecting pieces of equipment that cannot be connected directly.

2. a person who adapts a text to make it suitable for filming, broadcasting, or the stage.

adaption /əˈdapSH(ə)n/

noun

another term for adaptation.

adaptive /əˈdaptiv/

I. adjective

‹chiefly technical› characterized by or given to adaptation

• mutation is ultimately essential for adaptive evolution in all populations.

II. derivatives

1. adaptively

adverb

2. adaptivity

noun

adaptive expectations hypothesis

noun

[Economics] a hypothesis that supposes that expectations of future values of a variable can be based primarily on its values in the recent past.
Compare with rational expectations hypothesis.

adaptive radiation

noun

[Biology] the diversification of a group of organisms into forms filling different ecological niches.

adaptogen /əˈdaptəjən/

I. noun

(in herbal medicine) a natural substance considered to help the body adapt to stress and to exert a normalizing effect upon bodily processes. A well-known example is ginseng.

II. derivatives

adaptogenic /əˌdaptəˈjenik /

adjective

– origin 1960s: a term used by N. V. Lazarev, Russian scientist, from adapt + -gen.

Adar /äˈdär, ˈäˌdär/

I. noun

1. (in the Jewish calendar) the sixth month of the civil and twelfth of the religious year, usually coinciding with parts of February and March.
It is known in leap years as Second Adar.

2. an intercalary month preceding Adar in leap years.
Also called First Adar.

– origin from Hebrew ’ădār.

adaxial /aˈdaksēəl/

adjective

[Botany] facing toward the stem of a plant (especially denoting the upper surface of a leaf).
The opposite of abaxial.

adbot /ˈadbät/

I. noun

a computer program that caches advertising on personal computers from an Internet-connected server and then displays the advertising when certain linked programs are being used.

– origin blend of ad(vertising) and (ro)bot.

ADC

abbreviation

1. aide-de-camp.

2. Aid to Dependent Children.

3. Air Defense Command.

4. analog-to-digital converter.

add /ad/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. join (something) to something else so as to increase the size, number, or amount

• a new wing was added to the building

• some box offices now add on a handling charge

• (as adj. added) one vitamin tablet daily will give added protection

• [no obj.] this development added to the problems facing the staff.

2. [no obj.] (add up) — increase in amount, number, or degree

• watch those air miles add up!

3. put or mix (an ingredient) together with another as one of the stages in the preparation of a dish

• add the flour to the eggs, stirring continuously.

4. put (something) in or on something else so as to improve or alter its quality or nature

• chlorine is added to the water to kill bacteria

• (as adj. added) the fruit juice contains no added sugar.

5. contribute (an enhancing quality) to something

• the canopy will add a touch of class to your bedroom.

6. put together (two or more numbers or amounts) to calculate their total value

• they added all the figures up

• add the two numbers together

• [no obj.] children learned to add and subtract quickly and accurately.

7. [no obj.] (add up to) — amount to

• this adds up to a total of 400 calories

• ‹figurative› these isolated incidents don't add up to a true picture of the situation.

8. [no obj., usu. with negative] (add up) — ‹informal› seem reasonable or consistent; make sense

• many things in her story didn't add up.

9. [reporting verb] — say as a further remark
[with direct speech]

• “I hope we haven't been too much trouble,” she added politely

• [with obj.] we would like to add our congratulations

• [with clause] he added that few of America's allies would support military action.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin addere, from ad- ‘to’ + the base of dare ‘put.’

ADD

abbreviation

1. analog digital digital, indicating that a music recording was made in analog format before being mastered and stored digitally.

2. attention deficit disorder.

Addams, Charles /ˈadəmz/

(1912–88), US cartoonist, noted for his macabre characters, which were brought to life in the television series The Addams Family (1964–66), which was the basis for two movies in the 1990s; full name Charles Samuel Addams. His cartoons appeared in The New Yorker magazine from 1935.

Addams, Jane

(1860–1935), US social reformer, feminist, and pacifist. In 1889 she founded Hull House, a center for the care and education of Chicago's poor and a national model for combating urban poverty and treating youthful offenders. She was a leader of the suffrage movement and an active pacifist. Nobel Peace Prize (1931).

addax /ˈadaks/

I. noun

a large antelope with a mainly grayish and white coat, native to the deserts of North Africa.
[Addax nasomaculatus, family Bovidae.]

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin, from an African word recorded by Pliny.

addend /ˈaˌdend/

I. noun

[Mathematics] [Computing] a number that is added to another.

• as its name suggests, the Accumulator ‘accumulates’ by keeping its addend in memory and incrementing by the addend it receives from another transmitting unit.

Compare with augend.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin addendus ‘to be added,’ gerundive of addere (see add).

addendum /əˈdendəm/

I. noun

1. an item of additional material, typically omissions, added at the end of a book or other publication.

2. [Engineering] the radial distance from the pitch circle of a cogwheel, worm wheel, etc., to the crests of the teeth or ridges.
Compare with dedendum.

– origin late 17th cent.: Latin, ‘that which is to be added,’ gerundive of addere (see add).

adder /ˈadər/

I. noun

1. a small venomous Eurasian snake that has a dark zigzag pattern on its back and bears live young.
Also called viper. [Vipera berus, family Viperidae.]

2. used in names of snakes that are similar or related to the adder, e.g., death adder, puff adder.

– origin Old English nædre ‘serpent, adder,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch adder and German Natter. The initial n was lost in Middle English by wrong division of a naddre; compare with apron, auger, and umpire.

adder's tongue

noun

1. a widely distributed atypical fern that has a single pointed oval leaf and a straight unbranched spore-bearing stem.
[Genus Ophioglossum, family Ophioglossaceae, in particular O. vulgatum.]

2. (N. Amer.) another term for dogtooth violet, esp. a trout lily.

addict /ˈadikt/

I. noun

1. a person who is addicted to a particular substance, typically an illegal drug

• a former heroin addict.

2. [with modifier] — ‹informal› an enthusiastic devotee of a specified thing or activity

• a must-buy book for the crossword-puzzle addict

• a self-confessed chocolate addict.

– origin early 20th cent.: from the obsolete verb addict, which was a back-formation from addicted.

addicted /əˈdiktəd/

I. adjective

1. physically and mentally dependent on a particular substance, and unable to stop taking it without incurring adverse effects

• she became addicted to alcohol and diet pills.

2. enthusiastically devoted to a particular thing or activity

• he's addicted to computers.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from the obsolete adjective addict ‘bound or devoted (to someone),’ from Latin addict- ‘assigned,’ from the verb addicere, from ad- ‘to’ + dicere ‘say.’

addiction /əˈdikSH(ə)n/

I. noun

the fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance, thing, or activity

• he committed the theft to finance his drug addiction

• an addiction to gambling.

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting a person's inclination or proclivity): from Latin addictio(n-), from addicere ‘assign’ (see addict).

addictive /əˈdiktiv / ‹informal› addicting

I. adjective

1. (of a substance, thing, or activity) causing or likely to cause someone to become addicted to it

• a highly addictive drug

• gambling can become addictive.

2. of, relating to, or susceptible to being or becoming addicted to something

• addictive behavior

• I have a very addictive personality.

II. derivatives

1. addictively

adverb

2. addictiveness

noun

add-in /ˈad ˌin/

noun

a device or piece of software that can be added to a computer to give extra features or functions.

Addis Ababa /ˌadəs ˈabəbə / Adis Abeba

the capital of Ethiopia, in the central part of the country, at an altitude of about 8,000 feet (2,440 m); pop. 3,101,000 (est. 2007).

Addison /ˈadəsən/

a village in northeastern Illinois, northwest of Chicago; pop. 36,917 (est. 2008).

Addison, Joseph

(1672–1719), English essayist, poet, dramatist, and Whig politician. He is noted for his simple unornamented prose style. In 1711 he founded the Spectator with Sir Richard Steele.

Addisonian /ˌadəˈsōnēən/

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the works or style of Joseph Addison.

2. [Medicine] of, relating to, or characterized by Addison's disease.

Addison's disease

I. noun

a disease characterized by progressive anemia, low blood pressure, great weakness, and bronze discoloration of the skin. It is caused by inadequate secretion of hormones by the adrenal cortex.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after Thomas Addison (1793–1860), the English physician who described the disease.

addition /əˈdiSH(ə)n / addn.

I. noun

1. the action or process of adding something to something else

• the hotel has been extended with the addition of more rooms.

2. a person or thing added or joined, typically in order to improve something

• you will find the coat a useful addition to your wardrobe.

3. (abbr.: addn.) — the process or skill of calculating the total of two or more numbers or amounts

• she began with simple arithmetic, addition and then subtraction.

4. [Mathematics] the process of combining matrices, vectors, or other quantities under specific rules to obtain their sum.

II. phrases

in addition

as an extra person, thing, or circumstance

• members of the board were paid a small allowance in addition to their normal salary.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin additio(n-), from the verb addere (see add).

additional /əˈdiSH(ə)n(ə)l/

adjective

added, extra, or supplementary to what is already present or available

• we require additional information.

additionally /əˈdiSHənlē/

adverb

1. as an extra factor or circumstance

• brokers finance themselves additionally by short-term borrowing.

2. [as sentence adverb] — used to introduce a new fact or argument

• Additionally, the regulations require escape hatches.

addition reaction

noun

[Chemistry] a reaction in which one molecule combines with another to form a larger molecule with no other products.

additive /ˈadədiv/

I. noun

a substance added to something in small quantities, typically to improve or preserve it

• many foods contain chemical additives.

II. adjective

1. characterized by, relating to, or produced by addition

• an additive process

• the combination of these factors has an additive effect.

2. ‹technical› of or relating to the reproduction of colors by the superimposition of primary colors

• the video monitor uses the additive colors red, green, and blue.

– origin late 17th cent. (as an adjective): from late Latin additivus, from Latin addit- ‘added,’ from the verb addere (see add). The noun dates from the 1940s.

additive-free

adjective

(especially of food) containing no additives

• eggs are good for us, being natural, wholesome, and additive-free

• the importance of additive-free nutrition

• additive-free body care products.

addle /ˈadl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹chiefly humorous› make unable to think clearly; confuse

• being in love must have addled your brain.

II. adjective

‹archaic› (of an egg) rotten.

– origin Middle English: from Old English adela ‘liquid filth,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch aal and German Adel ‘mire, puddle.’

addlebrained /ˈadlˌbrānd / addleheaded , addlepated

adjective

mentally muddled or lacking in common sense; confused, irrational

• he made the addlebrained decision to install an uncertain rookie at point guard.

addled /ˈadld/

adjective

1. unable to think clearly; confused

• this might just be my addled brain playing tricks

• [in combination] his persona as a drug-addled hell-raiser.

2. (of an egg) rotten.

addn.

abbreviation

addition.

add-on /ˈad ˌän/

noun

1. something that has been or can be added to an existing object or arrangement

• we offer skiing lessons as add-ons to our chalet vacations

• [as modifier] cars with add-on extras.

2. an accessory device or piece of software designed to increase the capability of a computer or hi-fi system.

3. a unit of construction added to an existing construction

• the new kitchen replaces an add-on that was torn down in 1980.

address /əˈdres ˈaˌdres/

I. noun

1. the particulars of the place where someone lives or an organization is situated

• they exchanged addresses and agreed to keep in touch.

2. the place itself

• our officers went to the address.

3. [Computing] a string of characters that identifies a destination for email messages or the location of a website.

4. [Computing] a binary number that identifies a particular location in a data storage system or computer memory.

5. a formal speech delivered to an audience

• delivered an address to the National Council of Teachers.

6. ‹archaic› a person's manner of speaking to someone else

• his address was abrupt and unceremonious.

7. (addresses) — ‹archaic› courteous or amorous approaches to someone

• he persecuted her with his addresses.

8. ‹dated› skill, dexterity, or readiness

• he rescued me with the most consummate address.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. write the name and address of the intended recipient on (an envelope, letter, or package)

• I addressed my letter to him personally

• (as adj. addressed) an addressed envelope.

2. speak to (a person or an assembly), typically in a formal way

• she addressed an audience of the most important Shawnee chiefs

• they addressed themselves to my father.

3. (address someone as) — name someone in a specified way when talking or writing

• she addressed my father as “Mr. Stevens.”

4. (address something to) — say or write remarks or a protest to (someone)

• address your complaints to the Board of Review.

5. think about and begin to deal with (an issue or problem)

• a fundamental problem has still to be addressed.

6. [Golf] take up one's stance and prepare to hit (the ball).

III. phrases

form of address

a name or title used in speaking or writing to a person of a specified rank or function

• “Venerable” was the usual form of address for a priest at that time.

IV. derivatives

addresser /əˈdresər aˈdresər /

noun

– origin Middle English (as a verb in the senses ‘set upright’ and ‘guide, direct,’ hence ‘write directions for delivery on’ and ‘direct spoken words to’): from Old French, based on Latin ad- ‘toward’ + directus (see direct). The noun is of mid 16th-cent. origin in the sense ‘act of approaching or speaking to someone.’

addressable /əˈdresəbəl/

adjective

[Computing] relating to or denoting a memory unit in which all locations can be separately accessed by a particular program.

address bar /ˈadres ˌbär/

noun

[Computing] a text box in a web browser displaying the address of the web page that is currently being viewed.

address book

noun

1. a book for recording the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of friends, businesses, etc.

2. a facility on a computer or mobile phone that allows a user to store details of their personal contacts.

addressee /ˌadreˈsē əˌdreˈsē/

noun

the person to whom something, typically a letter, is addressed.

Addressograph /əˈdresəˌɡraf/

noun

‹trademark› a machine for printing addresses on envelopes.

adduce /əˈd(y)o͞os/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cite as evidence

• a number of factors are adduced to explain the situation.

II. derivatives

adducible /əˈd(y)o͞osəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin adducere, from ad- ‘toward’ + ducere ‘to lead.’

adduct^1 /əˈdəkt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a muscle) move (a limb or other part of the body) toward the midline of the body or toward another part.
The opposite of abduct.

II. derivatives

adduction /əˈdəkSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: back-formation from late Middle English adduction, from late Latin adductio(n-) ‘bringing forward,’ from the verb adducere ‘bring in’ (see adduce).

adduct^2 /əˈdəkt/

I. noun

[Chemistry] the product of an addition reaction between two compounds.

– origin 1940s: from German Addukt (blend of Addition and Produkt).

adductor /əˈdəktər / adductor muscle

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] a muscle whose contraction moves a limb or other part of the body toward the midline of the body or toward another part.
Compare with abductor.

2. [Anatomy] any of a number of specific muscles in the hand, foot, or thigh
[followed by Latin genitive]

• adductor hallucis.

– origin early 17th cent.: modern Latin, from Latin adduct- ‘brought in,’ from the verb adducere (see adduce).

addy /ˈadē/

noun

‹informal› an address, especially an email address

• I just sent you a note from my other addy.

-ade^1

I. suffix

1. forming nouns:

2. denoting an action that is completed

• barricade

• blockade.

3. denoting the body concerned in an action or process

• brigade

• cavalcade.

4. denoting the product or result of an action or process

• arcade

• lemonade

• marmalade.

– origin from French via Portuguese, Provençal, and Spanish -ada or via Italian -ata, from Latin -atus (past participial suffix of verbs ending in -are).

-ade^2

I. suffix

forming nouns such as decade.
Compare with -ad^1.

– origin representing the French noun ending -ade, from Greek.

-ade^3

I. suffix

1. forming nouns:

2. equivalent to -ade^1:

• brocade.

3. denoting a person

• renegade.

– origin from Spanish or Portuguese -ado, masculine form of -ada (see -ade^1).

Adelaide /ˈadlˌād/

a city in southern Australia, the capital and chief port of the state of South Australia; pop. 1,172,105 (2008).

adelgid /əˈdeljid/

I. noun

an insect of the family Adelgidae, which comprises sap-feeding hemipteran insects resembling aphids.

– origin 1920s: from family name Adelgidae, perhaps from Greek adelos ‘unseen’ + gē ‘earth.’

Adélie Land /əˈdālē, ˈadl-ē / Adélie Coast

I. a coastal section of the Antarctic continent, situated east of Wilkes Land.

– origin named after Adélie, wife of the French explorer Jules Dumont d'Urville, who discovered the area in 1840.

Adélie penguin /əˈdālē ˌpeNGɡwin/

noun

a gregarious and territorial penguin of Antarctica, perhaps the most familiar of all the penguins. The adults have a distinctive white ring around the eye.
[Pygoscelis adeliae, family Spheniscidae.]

Aden /ˈādən/

a port in Yemen at the mouth of the Red Sea; pop. 588,900 (est. 2004). Formerly under British rule, first as part of British India from 1839 and then from 1935 as a Crown Colony, it was capital of former South Yemen 1967–90.

Aden, Gulf of

a part of the eastern Arabian Sea that lies between the southern coast of Yemen and the Horn of Africa.

Adenauer, Konrad /ˈadnˌou(ə)r/

(1876–1967), German statesman, first chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany 1949–63.

adenine /ˈadnˌēn, -ˌīn/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a compound that is one of the four constituent bases of nucleic acids. A purine derivative, it is paired with thymine in double-stranded DNA.
[Alternative name: 6-aminopurine; chem. formula: C_5H_5N_5.]

– origin late 19th cent.: coined in German from Greek adēn ‘gland’ + -ine^4.

adeno-

I. combining form

relating to a gland or glands

• adenocarcinoma.

– origin from Greek adēn ‘gland.’

adenocarcinoma /ˌad(ə)nōˌkärsəˈnōmə/

noun

[Medicine] a malignant tumor formed from glandular structures in epithelial tissue.

adenoids /ˈadnˌoidz/

I. plural noun

a mass of enlarged lymphatic tissue between the back of the nose and the throat, often hindering speaking and breathing in young children.

II. derivatives

adenoidal /ˌadnˈoidl /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek adēn ‘gland’ + -oid.

adenoma /ˌadnˈōmə/

I. noun

[Medicine] a benign tumor formed from glandular structures in epithelial tissue.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin, from Greek adēn ‘gland’ + -oma.

adenosine /əˈdenəˌsēn, -sin/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a compound consisting of adenine combined with ribose, one of four nucleoside units in RNA.

– origin early 20th cent.: blend of adenine and ribose.

adenosine deaminase /dēˈaməˌnās, -ˌnāz/

noun

[Biochemistry] an enzyme that catalyzes the deamination of adenosine to inosine.

adenosine monophosphate /əˌdenəˌsēn ˌmänōˈfäsˌfāt / AMP

noun

[Biochemistry] a compound consisting of an adenosine molecule bonded to one acidic phosphate group, present in most DNA and RNA. It often exists in a cyclic form with the phosphate bonded to the nucleoside at two points.

adenosine triphosphate /əˌdenəsēn trīˈfäsfāt / ATP

noun

[Biochemistry] a compound consisting of an adenosine molecule bonded to three phosphate groups, present in all living tissue. The breakage of one phosphate linkage (to form adenosine diphosphate, ADP) provides energy for physiological processes such as muscular contraction.

adenovirus /ˌad(ə)nōˈvīrəs/

noun

[Medicine] any of a group of DNA viruses first discovered in adenoid tissue, most of which cause respiratory diseases.

adenylate cyclase /əˈdenlˌāt ˈsīˌklās, -ˌklāz, əˈdenl-it / adenyl cyclase

noun

[Biochemistry] an enzyme that catalyzes the formation of cyclic adenylic acid from adenosine triphosphate.

adenylic acid /ˌad(ə)ˌnilik ˈasəd/

I. noun

another term for adenosine monophosphate.

– origin late 19th cent.: adenylic from adenine + -yl + -ic.

adept

I. adjective — /əˈdept /

1. very skilled or proficient at something

• he is adept at cutting through red tape

• an adept negotiator.

II. noun — /ˈadept əˈdept /

1. a person who is skilled or proficient at something

• they are adepts at kung fu and karate.

III. derivatives

1. adeptly /əˈdep(t)lē /

adverb

2. adeptness /əˈdep(t)nəs /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin adeptus ‘achieved,’ past participle of adipisci ‘obtain, attain.’

adequacy /ˈadikwəsē/

noun

the state or quality of being adequate

• the adequacy of testing procedures.

adequate /ˈadəkwət/

I. adjective

satisfactory or acceptable in quality or quantity

• this office is perfectly adequate for my needs

• the law is adequate to deal with the problem

• adequate resources and funding.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin adaequatus ‘made equal to,’ past participle of the verb adaequare, from ad- ‘to’ + aequus ‘equal.’

adequately /ˈadikwətlē/

adverb

to a satisfactory or acceptable extent

• the resources required to prepare adequately will be extensive

• the job requirements were not adequately explained.

à deux /ˌä ˈdə/

I. adverb

for or involving two people

• dinner à deux.

– origin late 19th cent.: French.

ADF

abbreviation

automatic direction finder, a device used by pilots to aid navigation.

ad fin.

I. adverb

at or near the end of a piece of writing.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin ad finem ‘at the end.’

ADH

abbreviation

[Biochemistry] antidiuretic hormone.

adhan /ədˈhän/

noun

variant spelling of azan.

ADHD /ādēːāCHˈdēː/

abbreviation

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

adhere /ədˈhir/

I. verb — [no obj.] (adhere to)

1. stick fast to (a surface or substance)

• paint won't adhere well to a greasy surface.

2. believe in and follow the practices of

• the people adhere to the Muslim religion.

3. represent truthfully and in detail

• the account adhered firmly to fact.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Latin adhaerere, from ad- ‘to’ + haerere ‘to stick.’

adherence /ədˈhirəns/

noun

1. attachment or commitment to a person, cause, or belief

• a strict adherence to etiquette

• he moved to Avignon and won the adherence of the French king.

2. the quality or process of sticking fast to an object or surface

• observing the adherence of the seeds to clothing prompted the development of Velcro.

adherent /adˈhirənt adˈherənt/

I. noun

someone who supports a particular party, person, or set of ideas

• he was a strong adherent of monetarism.

II. adjective

sticking fast to an object or surface

• the eggs have thick sticky shells to which debris is often adherent.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French adherent, from Latin adhaerent- ‘sticking to,’ from the verb adhaerere (see adhere).

adhesion /ədˈhēZH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action or process of adhering to a surface or object

• the adhesion of the Scotch tape to the paper.

2. the frictional grip of wheels, shoes, etc., on a road, track, or other surface

• the front tires were struggling for adhesion.

3. [Physics] the sticking together of particles of different substances.

4. allegiance or faithfulness to a particular person, party, or set of ideas

• he was harshly criticized for his adhesion to the old bureaucracy.

5. [Medicine] an abnormal union of membranous surfaces due to inflammation or injury

• endoscopic surgery for pelvic adhesions.

– origin late 15th cent.: from French adhésion, from Latin adhaesio(n-), from the verb adhaerere (see adhere).

adhesive /adˈhēsiv adˈhēziv/

I. adjective

able to stick fast to a surface or object; sticky

• an adhesive label.

II. noun

a substance used for sticking objects or materials together; glue.

III. derivatives

1. adhesively

adverb

2. adhesiveness /adˈhēsivnəs adˈhēzivnəs /

noun

– origin late 17th cent. (in the sense ‘tending to adhere or cling to’): from French adhésif, -ive, from the verb adhérer, from Latin adhaerere ‘stick to’ (see adhere).

adhesive capsulitis /adˌhēsiv ˌkapsəˈlīdəs/

noun

extreme stiffness or immobility in the shoulder joint, usu. following injury and caused by the adhesions in the joint and inflammation of the capsule of the humerus.
Also called frozen shoulder.

adhibit /adˈhibət/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› apply or affix (something) to something else

• signed by a partner who would either adhibit the firm's signature or his own.

II. derivatives

adhibition /ˌad(h)əˈbiSHən /

noun

– origin early 16th cent. (in the sense ‘take in, include’): from Latin adhibit- ‘brought in,’ from the verb adhibere, from ad- ‘to’ + habere ‘hold, have.’

ad hoc /ˌad ˈhäk/

I. adjective, adverb

formed, arranged, or done for a particular purpose only
[as adj.]

• an ad hoc committee

• the discussions were on an ad hoc basis

• [as adv.] the group was constituted ad hoc.

– origin mid 16th cent.: Latin, literally ‘for this.’

adhocracy /adˈhäkrəsē/

I. noun

a flexible, adaptable, and informal organizational structure without bureaucratic policies or procedures.

– origin 1970s: blend of ad hoc and -cracy.

ad hominem /ˌad ˈhämənəm/

I. adverb, adjective

1. (of an argument or reaction) directed against a person rather than the position they are maintaining
[as adj.]

• vicious ad hominem attacks.

2. relating to or associated with a particular person
[as adv.]

• the office was created ad hominem for Fenton.

– origin Latin, literally ‘to the person.’

adiabatic /ˌadēəˈbadik ˌāˌdīəˈbadik / ‹Physics›

I. adjective

1. relating to or denoting a process or condition in which heat does not enter or leave the system concerned.

2. impassable to heat.

II. noun

a curve or formula representing adiabatic phenomena.

III. derivatives

adiabatically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek adiabatos ‘impassable,’ from a- ‘not’ + dia ‘through’ + batos ‘passable’ (from bainein ‘go’), + -ic.

adiabatic lapse rate

noun

[Meteorology] the rate at which atmospheric temperature decreases with increasing altitude in conditions of thermal equilibrium.

adiantum /ˌadēˈan(t)əm/

noun

technical term for maidenhair.

adieu /əˈdo͞o əˈdyo͞o / ‹chiefly literary›

I. exclamation

goodbye.

II. noun

a goodbye

• he whispered a fond adieu

• they bade us all adieu.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, from à ‘to’ + Dieu ‘God’; compare with adios.

Adi Granth /ˌädē ˈɡrənt/

I. another term for Guru Granth Sahib.

– origin from Sanskrit ādigrantha, literally ‘first book,’ based on grantha ‘literary composition,’ from granth ‘to tie.’

ad infinitum /ˌad infəˈnīdəm/

I. adverb

again and again in the same way; forever

• registration is for seven years and may be renewed ad infinitum.

– origin early 17th cent.: Latin, literally ‘to infinity.’

adios /ˌädēˈōs, ˌadē-/

I. exclamation, noun

(in Spanish or Spanish-speaking contexts) goodbye.

– origin Spanish adiós, from a ‘to’ + Dios ‘God’; compare with adieu.

adipic acid /əˌdipik ˈasid/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a crystalline fatty acid obtained from natural fats and used especially in the manufacture of nylon.
[Alternative name: hexanedioic acid; chem. formula: HOOC(CH_2)4COOH.]

II. derivatives

adipate /ˈadəˌpāt /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin adeps, adip- ‘fat’ (because the acid was first prepared by oxidizing fats) + -ic.

adipocere /ˈadəpōsir/

I. noun

a grayish waxy substance formed by the decomposition of soft tissue in dead bodies subjected to moisture.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French adipocire, from Latin adeps, adip- ‘fat’ + French cire ‘wax’ (from Latin cera).

adipocyte /ˈadəpəˌsīt/

I. noun

[Biology] a cell specialized for the storage of fat, found in connective tissue.

– origin 1930s: from adipose + -cyte.

adipose /ˈadəˌpōs ˈadəˌpōz/

I. adjective

‹technical› (especially of body tissue) used for the storage of fat.

II. derivatives

adiposity /ˌadəˈpäsədē /

noun

– origin mid 18th cent.: from modern Latin adiposus, from adeps, adip- ‘fat.’

adipose fin

noun

[Zoology] a small, rayless, fleshy dorsal fin present in certain fishes, notably in the salmon family.

Adirondack chair /ˌadəˈrändak ˌCHer/

noun

(N. Amer.) an outdoor wooden armchair constructed of wide slats. The seat typically slants downward toward the sloping back.

Adirondack Mountains the Adirondacks

a range of mountains in New York, source of the Hudson and Mohawk rivers.

Adirondack Park

a state preserve in north central New York, the largest park in the contiguous US.

adit /ˈadət/

I. noun

a horizontal passage leading into a mine for the purposes of access or drainage.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin aditus ‘approach, entrance,’ from adit- ‘approached,’ from the verb adire, from ad- ‘toward’ + ire ‘go.’

adj.

abbreviation

1. adjective.

2. adjustment.

3. adjunct.

4. (Adj.) — adjutant.

adjacent /əˈjās(ə)nt/

I. adjective

1. next to or adjoining something else

• adjacent rooms

• the area adjacent to the fire station.

2. [Geometry] (of angles) having a common vertex and a common side.

II. derivatives

adjacency

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin adjacent- ‘lying near to,’ from adjacere, from ad- ‘to’ + jacere ‘lie down.’

adjective /ˈajəktiv/

I. noun

[Grammar] a word or phrase naming an attribute, added to or grammatically related to a noun to modify or describe it.

II. derivatives

1. adjectival /ˌajəkˈtīv(ə)l /

adjective

2. adjectivally /ˌajəkˈtīvəlē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Old French adjectif, -ive, from Latin adject- ‘added,’ from the verb adjicere, from ad- ‘toward’ + jacere ‘throw.’ The term was originally used in the phrase noun adjective, translating Latin nomen adjectivum, the latter being a translation of Greek onoma epitheton ‘attributive name.’

adjoin /əˈjoin/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. be next to and joined with (a building, room, or piece of land)

• the dining room adjoins a small library.

– origin Middle English: from Old French ajoindre, from Latin adjungere, from ad- ‘to’ + jungere ‘to join.’

adjoining /əˈjoiniNG/

adjective

(of a building, room, or piece of land) next to or joined with

• I was in an adjoining room and could hear voices

• they ended up buying the adjoining land.

adjoint /ˈajoint / ‹Mathematics›

I. adjective

1. relating to or denoting a function or quantity related to a given function or quantity by a particular process of transposition.

2. denoting a matrix that is the transpose of the cofactors of a given square matrix.

II. noun

an adjoint matrix, function, or quantity.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French, literally ‘joined to,’ from adjoindre (see adjoin).

adjourn /əˈjərn/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. break off (a meeting, legal case, or game) with the intention of resuming it later

• the meeting was adjourned until December 4

• [no obj.] let's adjourn and reconvene at 2 o'clock.

2. [no obj.] — (of people who are together) go somewhere else, typically for refreshment

• they adjourned to a local bar.

3. put off or postpone (a resolution or sentence)

• the sentence was adjourned.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘summon someone to appear on a particular day’): from Old French ajorner, from the phrase a jorn (nome) ‘to an (appointed) day.’

adjournment /əˈjərnmənt/

noun

an act or period of adjourning or being adjourned

• she sought an adjournment of the trial

• I suggest we have a short adjournment.

adjudge /əˈjəj/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. consider or declare to be true or the case

• she was adjudged guilty

• he was adjudged to be offensive.

2. (adjudge something to) — (in legal use) award something judicially to (someone)

• the court adjudged legal damages to her.

3. (in legal use) condemn (someone) to pay a penalty

• the defaulter was adjudged to pay the whole amount.

II. derivatives

adjudgment adjudgement

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French ajuger, from Latin adjudicare, from ad- ‘to’ + judicare, from judex, judic- ‘a judge.’

adjudicate /əˈjo͞odəˌkāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. make a formal judgment or decision about a problem or disputed matter

• the committee adjudicates on all betting disputes

• [with obj.] the case was adjudicated in the Supreme Court.

2. act as a judge in a competition

• we asked him to adjudicate at the local flower show.

3. [with obj. and complement] — pronounce or declare judicially

• he was adjudicated bankrupt.

II. derivatives

adjudicative /əˈjo͞odəˌkādiv /

adjective

– origin early 18th cent. (in the sense ‘award judicially’): from Latin adjudicat- ‘awarded judicially,’ from the verb adjudicare (see adjudge). The noun adjudication dates from the early 17th cent.

adjudication /əˌjo͞odəˈkāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action or process of adjudicating

• the matter may have to go to court for adjudication.

2. a formal judgment on a disputed matter

• an adjudication had found a degree of unwarranted infringement of privacy.

adjudicator /əˈjo͞odəˌkādər/

noun

a person who adjudicates

• the proposal to close the school will have to go before an adjudicator.

adjunct /ˈaˌjəNGkt/

I. noun

1. a thing added to something else as a supplementary rather than an essential part

• computer technology is an adjunct to learning.

2. a person who is another's assistant or subordinate.

3. [Grammar] a word or phrase used to amplify or modify the meaning of another word or words in a sentence.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. connected or added to something, typically in an auxiliary way

• other alternative or adjunct therapies include immunotherapy.

2. (N. Amer.) (of an academic post) attached to the staff of a college in a temporary or assistant capacity

• an adjunct professor of entomology

• [as noun] both adjuncts and tenured professors tend to inflate grades.

III. derivatives

adjunctive /əˈjəNG(k)tiv /

adjective

– origin early 16th cent. (as an adjective meaning ‘joined on, subordinate’): from Latin adjunctus, past participle of adjungere (see adjoin).

adjunction /əˈjəNG(k)SHən/

I. noun

1. [Mathematics] the joining of two sets that without overlapping jointly constitute a larger set, or the relation between two such sets.

2. [Logic] the asserting in a single formula of two previously asserted formulae.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin adjunctio(n-), from the verb adjungere (see adjoin).

adjure /əˈjo͝or/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› urge or request (someone) solemnly or earnestly to do something

• I adjure you to tell me the truth.

II. derivatives

1. adjuration /ˌajəˈrāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. adjuratory /-əˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘put a person on oath’): from Latin adjurare, from ad- ‘to’ + jurare ‘swear’ (from jus, jur- ‘oath’).

adjust /əˈjəst/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — alter or move (something) slightly in order to achieve the desired fit, appearance, or result

• he smoothed his hair and adjusted his tie

• the interest rate should be adjusted for inflation.

2. [no obj.] — permit small alterations or movements so as to allow a desired fit, appearance, or result to be achieved

• a harness that adjusts to the correct fit.

3. [no obj.] — adapt or become used to a new situation

• she must be allowed to grieve and to adjust in her own way

• his eyes had adjusted to semidarkness.

4. [with obj.] — assess (loss or damages) when settling an insurance claim.

II. derivatives

adjuster /əˈjəstər /

noun

– origin early 17th cent. (in the senses ‘harmonize discrepancies’ and ‘assess (loss or damages)’): from obsolete French adjuster, from Old French ajoster ‘to approximate,’ based on Latin ad- ‘to’ + juxta ‘near.’

adjustable /əˈjəstəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

able to be adjusted

• the car has fully adjustable seats and steering wheel.

• an adjustable wrench.

II. derivatives

adjustability /əˌjəstəˈbilədē /

noun

adjustable-rate

adjective

(US) denoting or relating to a mortgage or other loan with an interest rate that may be changed in response to economic conditions

• more borrowers had been opting for adjustable-rate mortgages.

adjustment /əˈjəstmənt/

noun

1. a small alteration or movement made to achieve a desired fit, appearance, or result

• I've made a few adjustments to my diet

• only slight adjustments to the boat are necessary.

2. the process of adapting or becoming used to a new situation

• for many couples there may need to be a period of adjustment.

adjutant /ˈajəd(ə)nt/

I. noun

1. a military officer who acts as an administrative assistant to a senior officer.

2. a person's assistant or deputy.

3. (also adjutant stork or adjutant bird) — a large black-and-white stork with a massive bill and a bare head and neck, found in India and Southeast Asia.
[Genus Leptoptilos, family Ciconiidae: two species.]

II. derivatives

adjutancy /ˈajəd(ə)nsē /

noun

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘assistant, helper’): from Latin adjutant- ‘being of service to,’ from adjutare, frequentative of adjuvare ‘assist’ (see adjuvant).

adjutant general

noun

1. the adjutant of a unit having a general staff.

2. (the Adjutant General) — (in the US Army) the chief administrative officer.

3. the senior officer in the National Guard of a US state.

adjuvant /ˈajəvənt/

I. adjective

[Medicine] (of therapy) applied after initial treatment for cancer, especially to suppress secondary tumor formation.

II. noun

[Medicine] a substance that enhances the body's immune response to an antigen.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin adjuvant- ‘helping toward,’ from the verb adjuvare, from ad- ‘toward’ + juvare ‘to help.’

Adler, Alfred /ˈadlər, ˈäd-/

I. (1870–1937), Austrian psychologist and psychiatrist. Adler disagreed with Freud's idea that mental illness was caused by sexual conflicts in infancy, arguing that society and culture were significant factors. He introduced the concept of the inferiority complex.

II. derivatives

Adlerian /adˈli(ə)rēən, äd-, -ˈler- /

adjective, noun

ad lib /ˌad ˈlib/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. speak or perform in public without previously preparing one's words

• Charles had to ad lib because he'd forgotten his script

• [with obj.] she ad libbed half the speech.

II. noun

an ad lib remark or speech

• he came up with an apt ad lib.

III. adverb, adjective

1. spoken or performed without previous preparation

• an ad lib commentary

• [as adv.] speaking ad lib.

2. as much and as often as desired
[as adv.]

• the price includes meals and drinks ad lib

• [as adj.] the pigs are fed on an ad lib system.

3. [Music] (in directions) in an improvised manner with freedom to vary tempo and instrumentation.

– origin early 19th cent. (as an adverb): abbreviation of ad libitum.

ad libitum /ˌad ˈlibədəm/

I. adverb, adjective

more formal term for ad lib (sense 2 of the adverb).

– origin early 17th cent.: Latin, literally ‘according to pleasure.’

ad litem /ˌad ˈlīdəm/

I. adjective

[Law] (especially of a guardian) appointed to act in a lawsuit on behalf of a child or other person who is not considered capable of representing themselves.

– origin mid 18th cent.: Latin, literally ‘for the lawsuit.’

ad loc.

abbreviation

to or at that place.

Adm.

abbreviation

Admiral.

adman /ˈadˌman/

noun

‹informal› a person who works in advertising.

admin /ˈadˌmin/

I. noun

‹informal› the administration of a business, organization, etc.
[as modifier]

• admin staff.

– origin 1940s: abbreviation.

administer /ədˈminəstər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. manage and be responsible for the running of (a business, organization, etc.)

• each school was administered separately.

2. be responsible for the implementation or use of (law or resources)

• a federal agency would administer new regulations.

3. dispense or apply (a remedy or drug)

• paramedic crews are capable of administering drugs.

4. deal out or inflict (punishment)

• retribution was administered to those found guilty.

5. (of a priest) perform the rites of (a sacrament, typically the Eucharist).

6. ‹archaic› [Law] direct the taking of (an oath)

• the chief justice will administer the oath of office.

7. [no obj.] — give help or service

• we must selflessly administer to his needs.

II. derivatives

administrable /ədˈministrəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin administrare, from ad- ‘to’ + ministrare (see minister).

administrate /ədˈminəˌstrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. less common term for administer (sense 1).

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin administrat- ‘managed,’ from the verb administrare (see administer).

administration /ədˌminəˈstrāSH(ə)n / admin.

I. noun

1. the process or activity of running a business, organization, etc.

• the day-to-day administration of the company

• a career in arts administration

• [as modifier] administration costs.

2. (the administration) — the people responsible for this, regarded collectively

• the university administration took their demands seriously.

3. the management of public affairs; government

• the inhabitants of the island voted to remain under French administration.

4. [Law] the management and disposal of the property of an intestate, deceased person, debtor, or other individual, or of an insolvent company, by a legally appointed administrator

• the company went into administration

• [as modifier] an administration order.

5. the officials in the executive branch of government under a particular chief executive

• the Kennedy administration sought to use the conference to repair US prestige.

6. (chiefly N. Amer.) the term of office of a political leader or government

• the early years of the Reagan Administration.

7. a government agency

• the US Food and Drug Administration.

8. the action of dispensing, giving, or applying something

• the oral administration of the antibiotic

• the administration of justice.

– origin Middle English: from Latin administratio(n-), from the verb administrare (see administer).

administrative /ədˈminəˌstrādiv ədˈminiˌstrədiv/

I. adjective

of or relating to the running of a business, organization, etc.

• administrative problems

• administrative staff.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin administrativus, from administrat- ‘managed,’ from the verb administrare (see administrate).

administrative law

noun

[Law] the body of law that regulates the operation and procedures of government agencies.

administratively /ədˈminəˌstrādivlē ədˈminiˌstrədivlē/

adverb

in a way that relates to the running of a business, organization, etc.

• the country is divided administratively into fourteen zones.

administrator /ədˈminəˌstrādər/

noun

1. a person responsible for running a business, organization, etc.

2. [Law] a person legally appointed to manage and dispose of the estate of an intestate, deceased person, debtor, or other individual, or of an insolvent company.

3. a person who performs official duties in some sphere, especially dealing out punishment or giving a religious sacrament

• administrators of justice.

administratrix /ədˈminəˌstrātriks/

noun

[Law] a female administrator of an estate.

admirable /ˈadm(ə)rəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

arousing or deserving respect and approval

• he has one admirable quality—he is totally honest

• what is admirable in one sex is disdained in the other.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin admirabilis ‘to be wondered at,’ from admirari (see admire).

admirably /ˈadmərəblē/

adverb

in a way that arouses or deserves respect and approval

• he behaved himself admirably

• [as submodifier] an admirably concise and clear summary.

admiral /ˈadm(ə)rəl/

I. noun

1. a commander of a fleet or naval squadron, or a naval officer of very high rank.

2. a commissioned officer of very high rank in the US Navy or Coast Guard, ranking above a vice admiral.

3. short for vice admiral or rear admiral.

4. [with modifier] — a butterfly that has dark wings with bold colorful markings.
[Several species in the subfamilies Limenitidinae and Nymphalinae, family Nymphalidae. See red admiral, white admiral.]

– origin Middle English (denoting an emir or Saracen commander): from Old French amiral, admirail, via medieval Latin from Arabic ῾amīr ‘commander’ (from ῾amara ‘to command’). The ending -al was from Arabic -al- in the sense ‘of the’ used in forming titles (e.g., ῾amīr-al-'umarā ‘ruler of rulers’), later assimilated to the familiar Latinate suffix -al.

Admiral of the Fleet

noun

the highest rank of admiral in the Royal Navy.
Compare with Fleet Admiral.

admiralty /ˈadmərəltē/

I. noun

1. the rank or office of an admiral.

2. [Law] the jurisdiction of courts of law over cases concerning ships or the sea and other navigable waters; maritime law.

3. (Admiralty) — the department of the British government that once administered the Royal Navy.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French admiralte, from admirail ‘emir, leader’ (see admiral).

Admiralty Islands /ˌadmərəltē ˈīləndz/

a group of about 40 islands in the western Pacific, part of Papua New Guinea. In 1884 the islands became a German protectorate, but after 1920 they were administered as an Australian mandate.

admiration /ˌadməˈrāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. respect and warm approval

• their admiration for each other was genuine.

2. (the admiration of) — something regarded as impressive or worthy of respect

• her house was the admiration of everyone.

3. pleasurable contemplation

• they were lost in admiration of the scenery.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘marveling, wonder’): from Latin admiratio(n-), from the verb admirari (see admire).

admire /ədˈmī(ə)r/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. regard (an object, quality, or person) with respect or warm approval

• I admire your courage

• (as adj. admiring) she couldn't help but notice his admiring glance.

2. look at with pleasure

• we were just admiring your garden.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin admirari, from ad- ‘at’ + mirari ‘wonder.’

admirer /ədˈmī(ə)rər/

noun

1. someone who has a particular regard for someone or something

• he was a great admirer of Mark Twain.

2. a man who is attracted to a particular woman or a woman who is attracted to a particular man

• she's got a secret admirer.

admiringly /ədˈmī(ə)riNGlē/

adverb

in a way that shows respect or warm approval

• she referred to Eliot admiringly in many of her writings.

admissible /ədˈmisəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. acceptable or valid, especially as evidence in a court of law

• the Court unanimously held that the hearsay was admissible

• legally admissible evidence.

2. having the right to be admitted to a place

• foreigners were admissible only as temporary workers.

II. derivatives

admissibility /ədˌmisəˈbilədē /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from medieval Latin admissibilis, from Latin admittere (see admit).

admission /ədˈmiSHən/

I. noun

1. a statement acknowledging the truth of something

• an admission of guilt

• a tacit admission that things had gone wrong

• a man who, by his own admission, fell in love easily.

2. the process or fact of entering or being allowed to enter a place, organization, or institution

• I had some difficulty securing admission to the embassy

• the country's admission to the UN

• her condition required frequent hospital admissions

• (as modifier admissions) the university admissions office.

3. the money charged for allowing someone to enter a public place

• admission is $1 for adults and 50 cents for children.

4. (admissions) — the number of people entering a place

• hospital admissions decreased nearly 65 percent.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin admission-, from the verb admittere (see admit). / usage: Admission traditionally referred to the price paid for entry or the right to enter: admission was $5. Admittance more often referred to physical entry: we were denied admittance by a large man with a forbidding scowl. In the sense of ‘permission or right to enter,’ these words have become almost interchangeable, although admittance is more formal and technical.

admit /ədˈmit/

I. verb

1. [reporting verb] — confess to be true or to be the case, typically with reluctance
[with clause]

• the office finally admitted that several prisoners had been injured

• I have to admit I was relieved when he left

• [with direct speech] “I am feeling pretty tired,” Jan admitted

• [with obj.] she admitted her terror of physical contact.

2. [with obj.] — confess to (a crime or fault, or one's responsibility for it)

• he was sentenced to prison after admitting 47 charges of burglary

• [no obj.] he had admitted to a long history of sexual misconduct.

3. acknowledge (a failure or fault)

• after searching for an hour, she finally had to admit defeat

• [no obj.] he admits to having lied.

4. [with obj.] — allow (someone) to enter a place

• senior citizens are admitted free to the museum.

5. (of a ticket) give (someone) the right to enter a place

• the voucher admits up to four people to the theme park.

6. carry out the procedures necessary for (someone) to be received into a hospital for treatment

• she was admitted to the hospital suffering from a chest infection.

7. allow (a person, country, or organization) to join an organization or group

• Canada was admitted to the League of Nations.

8. allow (someone) to share in a privilege

• the doctrine held that only a chosen few were admitted to the covenant.

9. [with obj.] — accept as valid

• the courts can refuse to admit police evidence that has been illegally obtained.

10. [no obj.] (admit of) — allow the possibility of

• the need to inform him was too urgent to admit of further delay.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin admittere, from ad- ‘to’ + mittere ‘send.’

admittance /ədˈmitns/

I. noun

1. the process or fact of entering or being allowed to enter a place or institution

• people were unable to gain admittance to the hall.

2. [Physics] a measure of electrical conduction, numerically equal to the reciprocal of the impedance.

usage: See usage at admission.

admittedly /ədˈmididlē/

adverb — [sentence adverb]

1. used to introduce a concession or recognition that something is true or is the case

• admittedly, the salary was not wonderful, but the duties were light

• this is admittedly an extreme case.

admix /adˈmiks/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹chiefly technical› mix (something) with something else.

– origin late Middle English: back-formation from the obsolete adjective admixt, from Latin admixtus ‘mixed together,’ past participle of admiscere, from ad- ‘to’ + miscere ‘to mix.’

admixture /adˈmiksCHər/

I. noun

1. a mixture

• he felt that his work was an admixture of aggression and creativity.

2. something mixed with something else, typically as a minor ingredient

• green with an admixture of black.

3. the action of adding an ingredient to something else.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘act of admixing’): from ad- (expressing addition) + mixture.

admonish /ədˈmäniSH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. warn or reprimand someone firmly

• she admonished me for appearing at breakfast unshaven

• “You mustn't say that, Shiona,” Ruth admonished her.

2. [with obj. and infinitive] — advise or urge (someone) earnestly

• she admonished him to drink no more than one glass of wine.

3. ‹archaic› warn (someone) of something to be avoided

• he admonished the people against the evil of such practices.

II. derivatives

admonishment /ədˈmäniSHmənt /

noun

– origin Middle English amonest ‘urge, exhort,’ from Old French amonester, based on Latin admonere ‘urge by warning.’ In , the final t of amonest was taken to indicate the past tense, and its present tense admonesse changed on the pattern of verbs such as abolish; the prefix a- became ad- in the 16th cent. by association with the Latin form.

admonition /ˌadməˈniSH(ə)n/

I. noun

an act or action of admonishing; authoritative counsel or warning

• the old judge's admonition to the jury on this point was particularly weighty.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French amonition, from Latin admonitio(n-) ‘(cautionary) reminder’ (see admonish).

admonitory /ədˈmänəˌtôrē/

I. adjective

giving or conveying a warning or reprimand

• the sergeant lifted an admonitory finger.

– origin late 16th cent.: from medieval Latin admonitorius, from admonit- ‘urged,’ from Latin admonere (see admonish).

adnate /ˈadnāt/

I. adjective

[Botany] joined by having grown together.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin adnatus, variant of agnatus (see agnate), by association with ad-.

ad nauseam /ad ˈnôzēəm/

I. adverb

referring to something that has been done or repeated so often that it has become annoying or tiresome

• the inherent risks of nuclear power have been debated ad nauseam.

– origin mid 18th cent.: Latin, literally ‘to sickness.’

adnexa /adˈneksə/

I. plural noun

[Anatomy] the parts adjoining an organ.

II. derivatives

adnexal

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: Latin, neuter plural of adnexus ‘joined,’ from adnectere ‘fasten to.’

adnominal /adˈnämənl/

I. adjective

[Grammar] attached to or modifying a noun.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin adnomen ‘added name’ + -al.

ado /əˈdo͞o/

I. noun

1. trouble or difficulty

• she had much ado to keep up with him.

2. fuss, especially about something that is unimportant

• on the face of it, this is much ado about almost nothing.

II. phrases

without further (or more) ado

without any fuss or delay; immediately.

– origin late Middle English (originally in the sense ‘action, business’): from northern Middle English at do ‘to do,’ from Old Norse at (used to mark an infinitive) and do^1.

-ado

I. suffix

forming nouns such as bravado, desperado.
Compare with -ade^3.

– origin representing Spanish and Portuguese noun ending -ado or refashioning of Italian -ata, Spanish -ada, based on Latin -atus (past participial suffix of verbs ending in -are).

adobe /əˈdōbē/

I. noun

1. a kind of clay used as a building material, typically in the form of sun-dried bricks
[as modifier]

• adobe houses.

2. a brick formed from adobe.

3. (US) a building constructed from adobe clay or bricks.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Spanish, from adobar ‘to plaster,’ from Arabic aṭ-ṭūb, from al ‘the’ + ṭūb ‘bricks.’

adobo /əˈdōbō/

I. noun

1. a spicy dish or sauce, in particular

2. a Filipino dish of chicken or pork stewed in vinegar, garlic, soy sauce, bay leaves, and peppercorns.

3. a paste or marinade made from chili peppers, vinegar, herbs, and spices, used in Mexican cooking.

– origin Spanish, literally ‘marinade.’

adolescence /ˌadəˈlesəns/

I. noun

the period following the onset of puberty during which a young person develops from a child into an adult.

– origin late Middle English: from French, from Latin adolescentia, from adolescere ‘grow to maturity’ (see adolescent).

adolescent /ˌadəˈles(ə)nt/

I. adjective

1. (of a young person) in the process of developing from a child into an adult.

2. relating to or characteristic of adolescence

• his adolescent years

• adolescent problems.

II. noun

an adolescent boy or girl.

– origin late Middle English (as a noun): via French from Latin adolescent- ‘coming to maturity,’ from adolescere, from ad- ‘to’ + alescere ‘grow, grow up,’ from alere ‘nourish.’ The adjective dates from the late 18th cent.

Adonai /ˌädōˈnī, -ˈnoi/

I. noun

a Hebrew name for God.

– origin from Hebrew ῾ăḍōnāy; see also Jehovah.

Adonis /əˈdänəs / ‹Greek Mythology›

I. a beautiful youth loved by both Aphrodite and Persephone. He was killed by a boar, but Zeus decreed that he should spend the winter of each year in the underworld with Persephone and the summer months with Aphrodite.

II. (as noun an Adonis) — an extremely handsome young man.

Adonis blue

noun

a small Eurasian butterfly, the male of which has vivid sky-blue wings.
[Lysandra bellargus, family Lycaenidae.]

adopt /əˈdäpt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. legally take another's child and bring it up as one's own

• there are many people eager to adopt a baby.

2. take up or start to use or follow (an idea, method, or course of action)

• this approach has been adopted by many big banks.

3. take on or assume (an attitude or position)

• he adopted a patronizing tone

• adopt a slightly knees-bent position.

4. (adopt someone as) — choose someone to receive special recognition

• at least 23 people adopted as “prisoners of conscience” remain in jail.

5. formally approve or accept (a report or suggestion)

• the committee voted 5–1 to adopt the proposal.

6. choose (a textbook) as standard or required for a course of study.

7. choose (an animal) to become a house pet

• the best way to know a dog's traits is to adopt a mature dog.

8. (of a local authority) accept responsibility for the maintenance of (a road).

II. derivatives

1. adoptable /əˈdäptəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. adoptee /əˌdäpˈtē /

noun

3. adopter /əˈdäptər /

noun

– origin late 15th cent.: via French from Latin adoptare, from ad- ‘to’ + optare ‘choose.’ / usage: See usage at adapt.

adoption /əˈdäpSH(ə)n/

I. noun

the action or fact of adopting or being adopted

• she gave up her children for adoption

• the widespread adoption of agricultural technology

• [as modifier] an adoption agency.

– origin Middle English: from Latin adoptio(n-), from ad- ‘to’ + optio(n-) ‘choosing’ (see option).

Adoptionist /əˈdäpSH(ə)nəst/

I. noun

[Christian Theology] ‹chiefly historical› a person holding the view that Jesus is the Son of God by adoption only.

II. derivatives

Adoptionism /-ˌnizəm /

noun

adoptive /əˈdäptiv/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. as a result of the adoption of another's child

• he is the adoptive father of his wife's three children.

2. denoting a country or city to which a person has moved and in which they have chosen to make their permanent place of residence.

II. derivatives

adoptively

adverb

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin adoptivus, from adoptare ‘select for oneself’ (see adopt).

adorable /əˈdôrəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

inspiring great affection; delightful; charming

• she looked just adorable

• I have four adorable Siamese cats.

II. derivatives

1. adorability /əˌdôrəˈbilədē /

noun

2. adorableness

noun

3. adorably /əˈdôrəblē /

adverb

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘worthy of divine worship’): from French, from Latin adorabilis, from the verb adorare (see adore).

adoral /aˈdôrəl/

I. adjective

[Zoology] relating to or denoting the side or end where the mouth is situated, especially in animals, such as echinoderms, that lack clear upper and lower sides.

II. derivatives

adorally

adverb

– origin late 19th cent.: from ad- ‘at’ + oral.

adoration /ˌadəˈrāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. deep love and respect

• he gave her a look of adoration.

• it was enough to earn him the adoration of the fans.

2. worship; veneration

• the Adoration of the Magi.

adorbs /əˈdôrbz / adorb

I. adjective

‹informal› inspiring great delight; cute or adorable

• all the pets are totally adorbs

• check out the adorbs photo

• newborn babies are so adorb.

– origin early 21st cent.: alteration of adorable.

adore /əˈdô(ə)r/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. love and respect (someone) deeply

• he adored his mother.

2. worship; venerate

• he adored the Sacred Host.

3. ‹informal› like (something or someone) very much

• she adores Mexican cuisine

• (as adj. adoring) blowing a farewell kiss to an adoring crowd.

II. derivatives

1. adorer /əˈdôrər /

noun

2. adoringly /əˈdôriNGlē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin adorare ‘to worship,’ from ad- ‘to’ + orare ‘speak, pray.’

adorkable /əˈdôrkəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

‹informal› unfashionable or socially awkward in a way regarded as appealing or cute

• he is so adorkable I could just hug him to death

• the most adorkable actress on the big screen

• your adorkable qualities are part of your charm.

– origin early 21st cent.: blend of adorable and dork.

adorn /əˈdôrn/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make more beautiful or attractive

• pictures and prints adorned his walls.

II. derivatives

adorner

noun

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin adornare, from ad- ‘to’ + ornare ‘deck, add luster.’

adornment /əˈdôrnmənt/

noun

1. a thing that adorns or decorates; an ornament

• the necktie is no longer a necessary male adornment.

2. the action of adorning something

• precious stones have been used for the purposes of adornment for over 7,000 years.

Adorno, Theodor W. /äˈdôrnō/

(1903–69), German philosopher, sociologist, and musicologist; full name Theodor Ludwig Adorno Wiesengrund.

ADP

abbreviation

1. [Biochemistry] adenosine diphosphate.

2. automatic data processing.

adpressed /adˈprest/

I. adjective

[Botany] lying closely against the adjacent part, or against the ground.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin adpress- ‘pressed near,’ from adprimere, from ad ‘to, at’ + premere ‘to press,’ + -ed^2.

ADR

abbreviation

1. alternative dispute resolution.

2. American depositary receipt.

Adrar des Iforas /əˌdrär dāz ˈēfôrä/

a massif region in the central Sahara, on the border between Mali and Algeria.

ad rem /ˌad ˈrem/

I. adverb, adjective

‹formal› relevant to what is being done or discussed at the time.

– origin late 16th cent.: Latin, literally ‘to the matter.’

adrenal /əˈdrēnl/

I. adjective

of, relating to, or denoting a pair of ductless glands situated above the kidneys. Each consists of a core region (adrenal medulla) secreting epinephrine and norepinephrine, and an outer region (adrenal cortex) secreting corticosteroids.

II. noun — (usu. adrenals)

1. an adrenal gland.

– origin late 19th cent.: from ad- + renal.

adrenaline /əˈdren(ə)lən / adrenalin

I. noun

1. a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands, especially in conditions of stress, increasing rates of blood circulation, breathing, and carbohydrate metabolism and preparing muscles for exertion

• performing live really gets your adrenaline going.

Also called epinephrine.

2. (Adrenalin) — ‹trademark› the hormone epinephrine extracted from animals or prepared synthetically for medicinal purposes.

– origin early 20th cent.: from adrenal + -in^1.

adrenaline junkie adrenalin junkie

noun

‹informal› a person with a compulsive desire for excitement and adventure

• a bit of an adrenaline junkie, he appears to have no regard for his own safety

• there's enough nailbiting action to satisfy the most hardened of adrenaline junkies.

adrenalized /əˈdrēnlˌīzd/

adjective

1. affected with adrenaline.

2. ‹informal› excited, charged, or tense

• they possess an adrenalized vigor that distinguishes them from other bands.

adrenergic /ˌadrəˈnərjik/

I. adjective

[Physiology] relating to or denoting nerve cells in which epinephrine (adrenaline), norepinephrine (noradrenaline), or a similar substance acts as a neurotransmitter.
Contrasted with cholinergic.

– origin 1930s: from adrenaline + Greek ergon ‘work’ + -ic.

adrenocorticotropic hormone /əˌdrēnōˌkôrtikōˈträpik, -ˈtrōpik / adrenocorticotrophic hormone , ACTH

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland and stimulating the adrenal cortex.

– origin 1930s: from adreno- and cortico- (combining forms of adrenal and cortex) + -trophic or -tropic.

adrenocorticotropin /əˌdrēnōˌkôrdəkōˈtrōfən / adrenocorticotrophin

noun

another term for adrenocorticotropic hormone.

Adrian /ˈādrēən/

a city in southeastern Michigan; pop. 21,391 (est. 2008).

Adrian IV /ˌādrēən T͟HəˈfôrTH/

(c. 1100–59), pope 1154–59; born Nicholas Breakspear. He is the only person from England to have held the office of pope.

Adriatic /ˌādrēˈadik/

I. adjective

of or relating to the region comprising the Adriatic Sea and its coasts and islands.

II. noun — (the Adriatic)

1. the Adriatic Sea or its coasts and islands.

Adriatic Sea

an arm of the Mediterranean Sea between the Balkans and the Italian peninsula.

adrift /əˈdrift/

I. adjective, adverb

1. (of a boat or its passengers) floating without being either moored or steered
[as adv.]

• a cargo ship went adrift

• [as adj.] the seamen are adrift in lifeboats.

2. (of a person) without purpose or guidance; lost and confused
[as predic. adj.]

• he was adrift in a strange country

• [as adv.] they were cast adrift in a sea of events.

– origin late 16th cent.: from a-2 ‘on, in’ + drift.

adroit /əˈdroit/

I. adjective

clever or skillful in using the hands or mind

• he was adroit at tax avoidance.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, from à droit ‘according to right, properly.’

adroitly /əˈdroitlē/

adverb

in a clever or skillful way

• he managed the evacuation adroitly.

adroitness /əˈdroitnəs/

noun

cleverness or skill

• he lacks political adroitness.

adscititious /ˌadsəˈtiSHəs/

I. adjective

‹rare› forming an addition or supplement; not integral or intrinsic.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin adscit- ‘admitted, adopted,’ from adsciscere, + -itious^1, on the pattern of adventitious.

ADSL /ādēːesˈel/

abbreviation

asymmetric (or asynchronous) digital subscriber line, a method of routing digital data on copper telephone wires, allowing high-speed Internet access and simultaneous use of the line for voice transmission.

adsorb /adˈzôrb adˈsôrb/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a solid) hold (molecules of a gas or liquid or solute) as a thin film on the outside surface or on internal surfaces within the material

• charcoal will not adsorb nitrates

• the dye is adsorbed onto the fiber.

II. derivatives

1. adsorbable

adjective

2. adsorption /adˈzôrbSH(ə)n adˈsôrbSH(ə)n /

noun

3. adsorptive

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: blend of ad- (expressing adherence) + absorb.

adsorbate /adˈsôrbāt, adˈzôrbāt/

noun

a substance adsorbed.

adsorbent /adˈzôrbənt adˈsôrbənt/

I. noun

a substance that adsorbs another.

II. adjective

able to adsorb substances.

adstratum /adˈstrātəm, -ˈstratəm/

I. noun

[Linguistics] a language or group of elements within it that is responsible for changes in a neighboring language.

II. derivatives

adstrate /ˈadˌstrāt /

adjective

– origin 1930s: modern Latin, from Latin ad ‘to’ + stratum ‘something laid down.’

adsuki /adˈso͞okē, -ˈzo͞o-/

noun

variant spelling of adzuki.

ADT

abbreviation

Atlantic Daylight Time (see Atlantic time).

adulate /ˈajəˌlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. praise (someone) excessively or obsequiously.

II. derivatives

adulator /ˈajəˌlādər /

noun

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin adulat- ‘fawned on,’ from the verb adulari.

adulation /ˌajəˈlāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

obsequious flattery; excessive admiration or praise

• he found it difficult to cope with the adulation of the fans.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin adulatio(n-), from adulari ‘fawn on.’

adulatory /ˈaj(ə)ləˌtôrē/

adjective

excessively praising or admiring

• an adulatory review

• the tone here is adulatory and uncritical.

adult /əˈdəlt ˈadˌəlt/

I. noun

1. a person who is fully grown or developed

• children should be accompanied by an adult.

2. a fully developed animal.

3. [Law] a person who has reached the age of majority.
See majority (sense 2).

II. adjective

1. (of a person or animal) fully grown or developed

• the adult inhabitants of the U.S.

2. of or for adult people

• adult education

• the responsibilities of adult life.

3. emotionally and mentally mature

• an effort to be adult and civilized.

4. sexually explicit or pornographic (used euphemistically to refer to a movie, book, or magazine).

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin adultus, past participle of adolescere ‘grow to maturity’ (see adolescent).

adult education

noun

educational programs or courses for adults who are out of school or college.

adulterant /əˈdəltərənt/

I. noun

a substance used to adulterate another.

II. adjective

used in adulterating something.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin adulterant- ‘corrupting,’ from the verb adulterare (see adulterate).

adulterate /əˈdəltəˌrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. render (something) poorer in quality by adding another substance, typically an inferior one

• the meat was ground fine and adulterated with potato flour.

II. derivatives

1. adulteration /əˌdəltəˈrāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. adulterator /əˈdəltəˌrādər /

noun

– origin early 16th cent. (as an adjective meaning ‘spurious’): from Latin adulterat- ‘corrupted,’ from the verb adulterare.

adulterer /əˈdəltərər/

I. noun

a person who commits adultery.

– origin early 16th cent.: from the obsolete verb adulter ‘commit adultery,’ from Latin adulterare ‘debauch, corrupt,’ replacing an earlier Middle English noun avouterer, from Old French avoutrer ‘commit adultery,’ likewise from Latin adulterare.

adulteress /əˈdəlt(ə)rəs/

noun

a female adulterer.

adulterine /əˈdəlt(ə)rən əˈdəltəˌrēn əˈdəltəˌrīn/

I. adjective

1. (of a child) born as the result of an adulterous relationship.

2. ‹archaic› ‹historical› illegal, unlicensed, or spurious

• an adulterine castle.

– origin mid 18th cent. (in the sense ‘due to adulteration’): from Latin adulterinus, from adulterare ‘debauch, corrupt.’

adulterous /əˈdəlt(ə)rəs/

I. adjective

of or involving adultery

• an adulterous affair.

II. derivatives

adulterously

adverb

– origin mid 16th cent.: from the obsolete noun adulter ‘adulterer’ (see adultery) + -ous.

adultery /əˈdəlt(ə)rē/

I. noun

voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not his or her spouse

• she was committing adultery with a much younger man.

– origin late 15th cent.: from the obsolete noun adulter, from Latin adulter ‘adulterer,’ replacing an earlier form avoutrie, from Old French avouterie, likewise based on Latin adulter.

adultescent /ˌad(ə)lˈtesənt/

I. noun

‹informal› a middle-aged person whose clothes, interests, and activities are typically associated with youth culture.

– origin 1990s: blend of adult and adolescent.

adulthood /əˈdəltho͝od ˈadəltho͝od/

noun

the state or condition of being fully grown or mature

• the crucial years between adolescence and adulthood

• most of the larvae die, although some survive to adulthood.

adumbrate /ˈadəmˌbrāt əˈdəmˌbrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› report or represent in outline

• James Madison adumbrated the necessity that the Senate be somewhat insulated from public passions.

2. ‹formal› indicate faintly

• the walls were not more than adumbrated by the meager light.

3. ‹formal› foreshadow or symbolize

• what qualities in Christ are adumbrated by the vine?

4. ‹formal› overshadow

• her happy reminiscences were adumbrated by consciousness of something else.

II. derivatives

1. adumbration /ˌadəmˈbrāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. adumbrative /əˈdəmbrətiv, ˈadəmˌbrā- /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin adumbrat- ‘shaded,’ from the verb adumbrare, from ad- ‘to’ (as an intensifier) + umbrare ‘cast a shadow’ (from umbra ‘shade’).

Advaita /ədˈvīdə/

I. noun

[Hinduism] a Vedantic doctrine that identifies the individual self (atman) with the ground of reality (brahman). It is associated especially with the Indian philosopher Shankara (c 788–820).

– origin Sanskrit, literally ‘nonduality.’

ad valorem /ˌad vəˈlôrəm/

I. adverb, adjective

(of the levying of tax or customs duties) in proportion to the estimated value of the goods or transaction concerned.

– origin late 17th cent.: Latin, literally ‘according to the value.’

advance /ədˈvans/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — move forward, typically in a purposeful way

• the troops advanced on the capital

• she stood up and advanced toward him.

2. make progress

• our knowledge is advancing all the time.

3. [with obj.] — cause (an event) to occur at an earlier date than planned

• I advanced the date of the meeting by several weeks.

4. [with obj.] — promote or help the progress of (a person, cause, or plan)

• it was a chance to advance his own interests.

5. [with obj.] — put forward (a theory or suggestion)

• the hypothesis I wish to advance in this article.

6. (especially of shares of stock) increase in price

• two stocks advanced for every one that fell.

7. [with two objs.] — lend (money) to (someone)

• the bank advanced them a loan.

8. pay (money) to (someone) before it is due

• he advanced me a month's salary.

II. noun

1. a forward movement

• the rebels' advance on Madrid was well under way

• ‹figurative› the advance of civilization.

2. a development or improvement

• genuine advances in engineering techniques

• decades of great scientific advance.

3. an increase or rise in amount, value, or price

• bond prices posted vigorous advances.

4. an amount of money paid before it is due or for work only partly completed

• the author was paid a $250,000 advance

• I asked for an advance on next month's salary.

5. a loan

• an advance from the bank.

6. (usu. advances) — an approach made to someone, typically with the aim of initiating a sexual encounter

• women accused him of making improper advances.

III. adjective

done, sent, or supplied beforehand

• advance notice

• advance payment.

IV. phrases

1. in advance

ahead in time

• you need to book weeks in advance.

2. in advance of

ahead of in time or space; before

• we went on ahead in advance of the main group.

V. derivatives

advancer

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French avance (noun), avancer (verb), from late Latin abante ‘in front,’ from ab ‘from’ + ante ‘before.’ The initial a- was erroneously assimilated to ad- in the 16th cent.

advanced /ədˈvanst/

adjective

1. far on or ahead in development or progress

• negotiations are at an advanced stage

• the cancer is hopelessly advanced

• people of advanced years.

2. new and not yet generally accepted

• his advanced views made him unpopular.

advanced degree

noun

a postgraduate degree, especially a master's degree or a doctorate.

advanced gas-cooled reactor /ədˈvanst ɡas ko͞old rēˈaktər / AGR

noun

a nuclear reactor in which the coolant is carbon dioxide, with uranium oxide fuel clad in steel and using graphite as a moderator.

advance directive

noun

a written statement of a person's wishes regarding medical treatment, often including a living will, made to ensure those wishes are carried out should the person be unable to communicate them to a doctor.

advanced placement ‹trademark› Advanced Placement, AP

noun

the placement of a student in a high school course that offers college credit if successfully completed
[as modifier]

• advanced placement English and chemistry courses.

advance guard /ədˈvans ɡärd/

noun

a body of soldiers preceding and making preparations for the main body of an army.

advance man

noun

(N. Amer.) a person who visits a location before the arrival of an important visitor to make the appropriate arrangements.

advancement /ədˈvansmənt/

I. noun

1. the process of promoting a cause or plan

• their lives were devoted to the advancement of science.

2. the promotion of a person in rank or status

• opportunities for career advancement.

3. development or improvement

• technological advancements.

– origin Middle English: from Old French avancement, from avancer ‘to advance.’

advantage /ədˈvan(t)ij/

I. noun

1. a condition or circumstance that puts one in a favorable or superior position

• companies with a computerized database are at an advantage

• she had an advantage over her mother's generation.

2. the opportunity to gain something; benefit or profit

• you could learn something to your advantage

• he saw some advantage in the proposal.

3. a favorable or desirable circumstance or feature; a benefit

• the village's proximity to the town is an advantage.

4. [Tennis] a player's score in a game when they have won the first point after deuce (and will win the game if they win the next point).

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. put in a favorable or more favorable position.

III. phrases

1. have the advantage of

‹dated› be in a stronger position than.

2. take advantage of

a. make unfair demands on (someone) who cannot or will not resist; exploit or make unfair use of for one's own benefit

• people tend to take advantage of a placid nature.

b. ‹dated› (used euphemistically) seduce.

c. make good use of the opportunities offered by (something)

• take full advantage of the facilities available.

3. to advantage

in a way that displays or makes good use of the best aspects of something

• her shoes showed off her legs to advantage

• plan your space to its best advantage.

4. turn something to advantage (or to one's advantage)

handle or respond to something in such a way as to benefit from it.

– origin Middle English: from Old French avantage, from avant ‘in front,’ from late Latin abante (see advance).

advantaged /ədˈvan(t)ijd/

adjective

having a comparatively favorable position, typically in terms of economic or social circumstances

• children from less advantaged homes.

advantageous /advənˈtājəs advanˈtājəs/

I. adjective

involving or creating favorable circumstances that increase the chances of success or effectiveness; beneficial

• the scheme is advantageous to your company

• we are in an advantageous position.

II. derivatives

advantageously /adv(ə)nˈtājəslē advanˈtājəslē /

adverb

advection /adˈvekSHən/

I. noun

the transfer of heat or matter by the flow of a fluid, especially horizontally in the atmosphere or the sea.

II. derivatives

1. advect /-ˈvekt /

verb

2. advective /-tiv /

adjective

– origin early 20th cent.: from Latin advectio(n-), from advehere ‘bring,’ from ad- ‘to’ + vehere ‘carry.’

advent /ˈadˌvent/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event

• the advent of television.

2. (Advent) — the first season of the Christian church year, leading up to Christmas and including the four preceding Sundays.

3. (Advent) — [Christian Theology] the coming or second coming of Christ.

– origin Old English, from Latin adventus ‘arrival,’ from advenire, from ad- ‘to’ + venire ‘come.’

Advent calendar

noun

a calendar containing small numbered flaps, one of which is opened on each day of Advent, typically to reveal a picture appropriate to the season.

Adventist /ˈadˌven(t)əst/

I. noun

a member of any of various Christian sects emphasizing belief in the imminent second coming of Christ.
See also Seventh-day Adventist.

II. derivatives

Adventism /ˈadˌvenˌtizəm /

noun

adventitia /ˌadvenˈtiSH(ē)ə/

I. noun

the outermost layer of the wall of a blood vessel.

II. derivatives

adventitial

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin (tunica) adventitia ‘additional (sheath).’

adventitious /ˌadvenˈtiSHəs/

I. adjective

1. happening or carried on according to chance rather than design or inherent nature

• my adventures were always adventitious, always thrust on me.

2. coming from outside; not native

• the adventitious population.

3. [Biology] formed accidentally or in an unusual anatomical position

• propagation of sour cherries by adventitious shoots.

4. [Botany] (of a root) growing directly from the stem or other upper part of a plant.

II. derivatives

adventitiously

adverb

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin adventicius ‘coming to us from abroad’ (from advenire ‘arrive’) + -ous (see also -itious^2).

Advent Sunday

noun

the first Sunday in Advent, falling on or near November 30.

adventure /adˈven(t)SHər ədˈven(t)SHər/

I. noun

1. an unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity

• her recent adventures in Italy.

2. daring and exciting activity calling for enterprise and enthusiasm

• she traveled the world in search of adventure

• a sense of adventure.

3. ‹archaic› a commercial speculation.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹dated› engage in hazardous and exciting activity, especially the exploration of unknown territory

• they had adventured into the forest.

2. [with obj.] — ‹dated› put (something, especially money or one's life) at risk

• he adventured $3,000 in the purchase of land.

– origin Middle English: from Old French aventure (noun), aventurer (verb), based on Latin adventurus ‘about to happen,’ from advenire ‘arrive.’

adventure game

noun

a type of computer game in which the participant plays a fantasy role in an episodic adventure story.

adventurer /adˈven(t)SHərər ədˈven(t)SHərər/

I. noun

1. a person who enjoys or seeks adventure.

2. a person willing to take risks or use dishonest methods for personal gain

• a political adventurer.

3. ‹archaic› a financial speculator.

4. ‹archaic› a mercenary soldier.

– origin late 15th cent. (denoting a gambler): from French aventurier, from aventurer ‘venture upon’ (see adventure).

adventuresome /adˈvenCHərsəm, əd-/

I. adjective

given to adventures or to running risks; adventurous

• three adventuresome, energetic boys.

II. derivatives

adventuresomeness

noun

adventuress /ədˈvenCH(ə)rəs/

noun

1. a woman who enjoys or seeks adventure.

2. a woman who seeks social or financial advancement by dishonest or unscrupulous methods

• a sexual adventuress scheming to make a profitable marriage.

adventure travel adventure tourism

I. noun

a type of tourism involving travel to remote or exotic locations in order to take part in physically challenging outdoor activities

• the search for a brush with danger is not confined to Africa and Asia where adventure tourism is booming.

II. derivatives

adventure traveler adventure tourist

noun

adventurism /ədˈvenCHəˌrizəm adˈvenCHəˌrizəm/

I. noun

the willingness to take risks in business or politics (especially in the context of foreign policy); actions, tactics, or attitudes regarded as daring or reckless.

II. derivatives

adventurist /ədˈven(t)SHəˌrəst adˈven(t)SHəˌrəst /

noun, adjective

adventurous /adˈven(t)SHərəs ədˈven(t)SHərəs/

I. adjective

1. willing to take risks or to try out new methods, ideas, or experiences

• let's be adventurous

• an adventurous traveler.

2. involving new ideas or methods

• they wanted more adventurous meals.

3. full of excitement

• my life couldn't be more adventurous.

II. derivatives

1. adventurously /adˈven(t)SH(ə)rəslē ədˈven(t)SH(ə)rəslē /

adverb

2. adventurousness /adˈven(t)SH(ə)rəsnəs ədˈven(t)SH(ə)rəsnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French aventureus, from aventure (see adventure).

Advent wreath

noun

a wreath of evergreen foliage in which four candles are set, one to be lit on each Sunday of Advent.

adverb /ˈadˌvərb/

I. noun

[Grammar] a word or phrase that modifies or qualifies an adjective, verb, or other adverb or a word group, expressing a relation of place, time, circumstance, manner, cause, degree, etc. (e.g., gently, quite, then, there).

– origin late Middle English: from Latin adverbium, from ad- ‘to’ (expressing addition) + verbum ‘word, verb.’

adverbial /adˈvərbēəl / ‹Grammar›

I. adjective

like or relating to an adverb.

II. noun

a word or phrase functioning like an adverb.

III. derivatives

adverbially /adˈvərbēəlē /

adverb

advergame /ˈadvərˌɡām/

I. noun

a downloadable or Internet-based computer game that advertises a brand-name product by featuring it as part of the game.

II. derivatives

advergaming

noun

– origin blend of advertisement and game.

adversarial /ˌadvərˈserēəl/

I. adjective

1. involving or characterized by conflict or opposition

• industry and government had an adversarial relationship.

2. opposed; hostile

• the reviewer’s presumed adversarial relationship to his subject.

3. [Law] (of a trial or legal procedure) in which the parties in a dispute have the responsibility for finding and presenting evidence

• equality between prosecution and defense is essential in an adversarial system of justice.

Compare with inquisitorial.

II. derivatives

adversarially

adverb

adversary /ˈadvərˌserē/

I. noun

1. one's opponent in a contest, conflict, or dispute

• Davis beat his old adversary in the quarterfinals.

2. (the Adversary) — the Devil.

II. adjective

another term for adversarial:

• the confrontations of adversary politics.

– origin Middle English: from Old French adversarie, from Latin adversarius ‘opposed, opponent,’ from adversus (see adverse).

adversative /ədˈvərsədiv/

I. adjective

[Grammar] (of a word or phrase) expressing opposition or antithesis.

– origin late Middle English: from French adversatif, -ive or late Latin adversativus, from Latin adversari ‘oppose,’ from adversus (see adverse).

adverse /adˈvərs ˈadˌvərs/

I. adjective

preventing success or development; harmful; unfavorable

• taxes are having an adverse effect on production

• adverse weather conditions.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French advers, from Latin adversus ‘against, opposite,’ past participle of advertere, from ad- ‘to’ + vertere ‘to turn.’ Compare with averse. / usage: Adverse means ‘hostile, unfavorable, opposed,’ and is usually applied to situations, conditions, or events—not to people: the dry weather has had an adverse effect on the garden. Averse is related in origin and also has the sense of ‘opposed,’ but is usually employed to describe a person's attitude: I would not be averse to making the repairs myself. See also usage at averse.

adversely /ˈadvərslē/

adverb

in a way that prevents success or development; harmfully or unfavorably

• his self-confidence was adversely affected for years to come.

adverse possession

noun

[Law] the occupation of land to which another person has title with the intention of possessing it as one's own.

adversity /ədˈvərsədē/

I. noun

difficulties; misfortune

• resilience in the face of adversity

• she overcame many adversities.

– origin Middle English: from Old French adversite, from Latin adversitas, from advertere ‘turn toward.’

advert^1 /ˈadˌvərt/

I. noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› an advertisement.

– origin mid 19th cent.: abbreviation.

advert^2 /adˈvərt ədˈvərt/

I. verb — [no obj.] (advert to)

1. ‹formal› refer to in speaking or writing

• he had failed to advert to the consequences that his conduct was having.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French avertire, from Latin advertere ‘turn toward’ (see adverse). The original sense was ‘turn one's attention to,’ later ‘bring to someone's attention.’

advertise /ˈadvərˌtīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. describe or draw attention to (a product, service, or event) in a public medium in order to promote sales or attendance

• a billboard advertising beer

• many rugs are advertised as machine washable

• [no obj.] we had a chance to advertise on television.

2. seek to fill (a vacancy) by putting a notice in a newspaper or other medium

• for every job we advertise we get a hundred applicants

• [no obj.] he advertised for dancers in the trade papers.

3. make (a quality or fact) known

• Meryl coughed briefly to advertise her presence.

4. ‹archaic› notify (someone) of something

• some prisoners advertised the French of this terrible danger.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French advertiss-, lengthened stem of advertir, from Latin advertere ‘turn toward’ (see advert^2).

advertisement /ˈadvərˌtīzmənt ədˈvərdizmənt/

I. noun

1. a notice or announcement in a public medium promoting a product, service, or event or publicizing a job vacancy

• advertisements for alcoholic drinks

• we received only two replies to our advertisement.

2. (advertisement for) — ‹informal› a person or thing regarded as a means of recommending something

• unhappy clients are not a good advertisement for the company.

3. ‹archaic› a notice to readers in a book.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a statement calling attention to something): from Old French advertissement, from the verb advertir (see advertise).

advertiser /ˈadvərtīzər/

noun

a person or company that advertises a product, service, or event

• kids hate it when advertisers try too hard to target them on their level.

advertising /ˈadvərˌtīziNG/

noun

the activity or profession of producing advertisements for commercial products or services

• movie audiences are receptive to advertising

• [as modifier] an advertising agency.

advertising campaign

noun

an organized course of action to promote a product or service

• the launch was accompanied by a high-profile advertising campaign.

advertorial /ˌadvərˈtôrēəl/

I. noun

a newspaper or magazine advertisement giving information about a product in the style of an editorial or objective journalistic article.

– origin 1960s: blend of advertisement and editorial.

advice /ədˈvīs/

I. noun

1. guidance or recommendations concerning prudent future action, typically given by someone regarded as knowledgeable or authoritative

• she visited the island on her doctor's advice

• even successful businessmen asked his advice.

2. a formal notice of a financial transaction

• remittance advices.

3. ‹archaic› information; news

• fresh advices from Europe.

II. phrases

take advice

a. obtain information and guidance, typically from an expert

• he should take advice from his accountant.

b. (usu. take someone's advice) — act according to recommendations given

• he took my advice and put his house up for sale.

– origin Middle English: from Old French avis, based on Latin ad ‘to’ + visum, past participle of videre ‘to see.’ The original sense was ‘way of looking at something, judgment,’ hence later ‘an opinion given.’

advisability /ədˌvīzəˈbilədē/

noun

the quality of being advisable or sensible; wisdom

• many questioned the advisability of this policy.

advisable /ədˈvīzəb(ə)l/

I. adjective — [often with infinitive]

1. (of a course of action) to be recommended; sensible

• it is advisable to carry one of the major credit cards

• early booking is advisable.

II. derivatives

advisably /ədˈvīzəblē /

adverb

advise /ədˈvīz/

I. verb — [reporting verb]

1. offer suggestions about the best course of action to someone
[with obj. and infinitive]

• I advised him to go home

• [with obj.] he advised caution

• [no obj.] we advise against sending cash by mail

• [with direct speech] “Go to Paris,” he advised.

2. [with obj.] — recommend (something)

• sleeping pills are not advised.

3. [with obj.] — inform (someone) about a fact or situation, typically in a formal or official way

• you will be advised of the requirements

• [with obj. and clause] the lawyer advised the court that his client wished to give evidence.

– origin Middle English: from Old French aviser, based on Latin ad- ‘to’ + visere, frequentative of videre ‘to see.’ The original senses included ‘look at’ and ‘consider,’ hence ‘consider jointly, consult with others.’

advised /ədˈvīzd/

adjective

behaving as someone, especially the speaker, would recommend; sensible; wise

• the department would be advised to do some research.

advisedly /ədˈvīzidlē/

adverb

deliberately and after consideration (used especially of what might appear a mistake or oversight)

• I've used the term “old” advisedly.

advisee /ədˌvīˈzē, ˌadˌvīˈzē/

noun

a person who is being advised by someone.

advisement /ədˈvīzmənt/

I. noun

1. ‹archaic› (N. Amer.) careful consideration.

2. ‹archaic› (N. Amer.) advice or counsel.

II. phrases

take something under advisement

(N. Amer.) reserve judgment while considering something.

– origin Middle English: from Old French avisement, from aviser ‘look at’ (see advise).

adviser /ədˈvīzər / advisor

I. noun

1. a person who gives advice, typically someone who is expert in a particular field

• the military adviser to the president.

2. in a school, college, or university, a teacher or staff counselor who helps a student plan a course of study

• my adviser might switch me back into Wasserman's class.

usage: The spellings adviser and advisor are both correct. Adviser is more common, but advisor is also widely used, especially in North America. Adviser may be seen as less formal, while advisor often suggests an official position.

advisory /ədˈvīzərē/

I. adjective

1. having or consisting in the power to make recommendations but not to take action enforcing them

• an independent advisory committee

• the Commission acts in an advisory capacity to the government.

2. recommended but not compulsory

• universities may treat the recommendations as advisory.

II. noun

an official announcement, typically a warning about bad weather conditions

• a frost advisory.

advocacy /ˈadvəkəsē/

I. noun

1. public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy

• their advocacy of traditional family values.

2. the profession or work of a legal advocate.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin advocatia, from advocare ‘summon, call to one's aid’ (see advocate).

advocate

I. noun — /ˈadvəkət /

1. a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy

• he was an untiring advocate of economic reform.

2. a person who pleads on someone else's behalf

• care managers can become advocates for their clients.

3. a pleader in a court of law; a lawyer

• Marshall was a skilled advocate but a mediocre judge.

II. verb — /ˈadvəˌkāt / [with obj.]

1. publicly recommend or support

• they advocated an ethical foreign policy.

III. derivatives

1. advocation /ˌadvəˈkāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. advocator /-ˌkātər /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French avocat, from Latin advocatus, past participle (used as a noun) of advocare ‘call (to one's aid),’ from ad- ‘to’ + vocare ‘to call.’

advowson /ədˈvouz(ə)n/

I. noun

(in English ecclesiastical law) the right to recommend a member of the Anglican clergy for a vacant benefice, or to make such an appointment.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘guardianship or patronage of a religious house or benefice,’ with the obligation to defend it and speak for it): from Old French avoeson, from Latin advocatio(n-), from advocare ‘summon’ (see advocate).

advt.

noun

‹informal› (as written abbreviation) an advertisement

• in case the advt. is not accepted, the payment made by the advertiser will be refunded.

adware /ˈadwer/

noun

[Computing] ‹trademark› software that automatically displays or downloads advertising material (often unwanted) when a user is online.

Adygea /ˌadəˈɡāə/

an autonomous republic in the northwestern Caucasus in southwestern Russia; pop. 440,500 (est. 2009); capital, Maikop. Its population is largely Muslim. Full name Adygei Autonomous Republic .

adytum /ˈadədəm/

I. noun

the innermost sanctuary of an ancient Greek temple.

– origin Latin, from Greek aduton, neuter singular of adutos ‘impenetrable,’ from a- ‘not’ + duein ‘enter.’

adze /adz / ‹US› adz

I. noun

a tool similar to an ax with an arched blade at right angles to the handle, used for cutting or shaping large pieces of wood.

– origin Old English adesa, of unknown origin.

adzuki /adˈzo͞okē / adzuki bean

I. noun

1. a small, round, dark-red edible bean.

2. the bushy leguminous Asian plant that produces the adzuki bean.
[Vigna angularis, family Leguminosae.]

– origin early 18th cent.: from Japanese azuki.

AE

abbreviation

autoexposure.

Æ æ

noun

a ligatured letter used in Old English to represent either a long sound like that in modern American English hair or the short vowel of hat; currently used in some phonetic alphabets to represent the vowel of hat, which is symbolized in this dictionary by (see ash^2).

-ae

I. suffix

1. forming plural nouns:

2. used in names of animal and plant families and other groups

• Felidae

• Gymnospermae.

3. used instead of -as in the plural of many nonnaturalized or unfamiliar nouns ending in -a derived from Latin or Greek

• alumnae

• larvae.

– origin representing Latin plural, or the Greek plural ending -ai of some nouns.

AEC

abbreviation

‹historical› Atomic Energy Commission.

aedile /ˈēdīl/

I. noun

[Roman History] either of two (later four) Roman magistrates responsible for public buildings and originally also for the public games and the supply of grain to the city.

II. derivatives

aedileship /-ˌSHip /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin aedilis ‘concerned with buildings,’ from aedes ‘building.’

AEF

abbreviation

American Expeditionary Forces.

Aegean /əˈjēən/

I. adjective

of or relating to the region comprising the Aegean Sea and its coasts and islands.

II. noun — (the Aegean)

1. the Aegean Sea or its region.

– origin early 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek Aigaios + -ean.

Aegean Islands

a group of islands in the Aegean Sea that form a region of Greece. The principal islands in the group are Chios, Samos, Lesbos, the Cyclades, and the Dodecanese.

Aegean Sea /əˈjēən ˌsē āˈjēən ˌsē/

a part of the Mediterranean Sea that lies between Greece and Turkey, bounded on the south by Crete and Rhodes and linked to the Black Sea by the Dardanelles, the Sea of Marmara, and the Bosporus.

aegis /ˈējis/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. the protection, backing, or support of a particular person or organization

• negotiations were conducted under the aegis of the UN.

2. (in classical art and mythology) an attribute of Zeus and Athena (or their Roman counterparts Jupiter and Minerva) usually represented as a goatskin shield.

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting armor or a shield, especially that of a god): via Latin from Greek aigis ‘shield of Zeus.’

Aegisthus /əˈjisTHəs ēˈjisTHəs / ‹Greek Mythology›

the son of Thyestes and lover of Agamemnon's wife Clytemnestra.

Aelfric /ˈalfrik ˈalfriCH/

(c. 955–c. 1020) Anglo-Saxon monk, writer, and grammarian; called Grammaticus. He wrote Lives of the Saints (993–996).

-aemia

combining form

British spelling of -emia.

Aeneas /əˈnēəs / ‹Greek & Roman Mythology›

a Trojan leader, son of Anchises and Aphrodite, and legendary ancestor of the Romans. When Troy fell to the Greeks he escaped and after wandering for many years eventually reached Italy. The story of his voyage is recounted in Virgil's Aeneid.

Aeneid /əˈnēəd/

a Latin epic poem in twelve books by Virgil, which relates the travels and experiences of Aeneas after the fall of Troy.

aeolian /ēˈōlēən / ‹US› eolian

I. adjective

[chiefly Geology] relating to or arising from the action of the wind

• fluvial and eolian sediments.

– origin early 17th cent.: from the name Aeolus + -ian.

aeolian harp

noun

a stringed instrument that produces musical sounds when a current of air passes through it.

Aeolian Islands /ēˈōlēən, āˈōlēən/

another name for Lipari Islands.

Aeolian mode

I. noun

[Music] the mode represented by the natural diatonic scale A–A (containing a minor 3rd, 6th, and 7th).

– origin late 18th cent.: from Latin Aeolius ‘from Aeolis’ (an ancient coastal district of Asia Minor) + -an.

Aeolus /ˈēələs ēˈōləs / ‹Greek Mythology›

I. the god of the winds.

– origin from Greek Aiolos, from aiolos ‘swift, changeable.’

aepyornis /ˌēpēˈôrnəs/

I. noun

another term for elephant bird.

– origin mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek aipus ‘high’ + ornis ‘bird.’

aerate /ˈerāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. introduce air into (a material)

• she would aerate the lawn with high heels.

II. derivatives

1. aeration /eˈrāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. aerator /ˈeˌrādər /

noun

– origin late 18th cent.: from Latin aer ‘air’ + -ate^3, influenced by French aérer.

aerenchyma /ˌeˈreNGkəmə/

I. noun

[Botany] a soft plant tissue containing air spaces, found especially in many aquatic plants.

II. derivatives

aerenchymatous /-mətəs /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek aēr ‘air’ + enkhuma ‘infusion.’

aerial /ˈerēəl/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. existing, happening, or operating in the air

• an aerial battle

• an intrepid aerial adventurer.

2. coming or carried out from the air, especially using aircraft

• aerial bombardment of civilian targets

• aerial photography.

3. (of part of a plant) growing above ground

• knobby sections of aerial roots.

4. (of a bird) spending much of its time in flight.

5. of or in the atmosphere; atmospheric.

II. noun

1. another term for antenna (sense 2):

• jiggle the aerial on the radio.

2. (aerials) — a type of maneuver in gymnastics, skiing, or surfing involving freestyle jumps or somersaults.

III. derivatives

aerially

adverb

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘thin as air, imaginary’): via Latin aerius from Greek aerios (from aēr ‘air’) + -al.

aerialist /ˈerēələst/

noun

a person who performs acrobatics high above the ground on a tightrope or trapezes.

aerial ladder

noun

a long extension ladder, especially on a fire engine, used to reach high places.

aerial perspective

noun

[Art] the technique of representing more distant objects as fainter and more blue.

aerie /ˈerē ˈirē / eyrie

I. noun

a large nest of a bird of prey, especially an eagle, typically built high in a tree or on a cliff.

– origin late 15th cent.: from medieval Latin aeria, aerea, eyria, probably from Old French aire, from Latin area ‘level piece of ground,’ in late Latin ‘nest of a bird of prey.’

aero /ˈerō/

adjective

1. short for aerodynamic:

• the cars have a lower, more aero front end.

2. ‹archaic› short for aeronautical (see aeronautics):

• an aero club

• an aero engine.

aero- /ˈerō/

I. combining form

1. of or relating to air

• aerobe

• aerobics.

2. of or relating to aviation

• aerodynamics

• aeronautics.

– origin from Greek aēr ‘air.’

aerobatics /ˌerəˈbadiks/

I. plural noun — [usu. treated as sing.]

1. feats of spectacular flying performed in one or more aircraft to entertain an audience on the ground.

II. derivatives

aerobatic /ˈˌerōˈbadik ˌerəˈbadik /

adjective

– origin World War I: from aero- + a shortened form of acrobatics.

aerobe /ˈerōb/

I. noun

a microorganism that grows in the presence of air or requires oxygen for growth.

– origin late 19th cent.: coined in French from Greek aēr ‘air’ + bios ‘life.’

aerobic /əˈrōbik eˈrōbik/

I. adjective

1. [Biology] relating to, involving, or requiring free oxygen

• simple aerobic bacteria.

2. [Biology] relating to or denoting exercise that improves or is intended to improve the efficiency of the body's cardiovascular system in absorbing and transporting oxygen.

II. derivatives

aerobically

adverb

– origin late 19th cent.: from aero- + Greek bios ‘life’ + -ic.

aerobics /əˈrōbiks eˈrōbiks/

plural noun — [often treated as sing.]

1. vigorous exercises, such as swimming or walking, designed to strengthen the heart and lungs.

aerobiology /ˌerōˌbīˈäləjē/

noun

the study of airborne microorganisms, pollen, spores, and seeds, especially as agents of infection.

aerobrake /ˈerōˌbrāk/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹technical› cause a spacecraft to slow down by flying through a planet's rarefied atmosphere to produce aerodynamic drag.

II. noun

a mechanism for aerobraking.

aerodrome /ˈerəˌdrōm/

noun

British term for airdrome.

aerodynamic /ˌerōˌdīˈnamik/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to aerodynamics

• aerodynamic forces.

2. of or having a shape that reduces the drag from air moving past

• the plane has a more aerodynamic shape.

II. derivatives

aerodynamically /ˌerōˌdīˈnamək(ə)lē /

adverb

aerodynamics /ˌerōˌdīˈnamiks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the study of the properties of moving air, and especially of the interaction between the air and solid bodies moving through it.

2. the properties of a solid object regarding the manner in which air flows around it.

3. [treated as pl.] — the properties of aerodynamics insofar as they result in maximum efficiency of motion.

II. derivatives

aerodynamicist /-ˈnaməsist /

noun

aerodyne /ˈerəˌdīn/

noun

any heavier-than-air aircraft that derives its lift principally from aerodynamic forces.

aeroelasticity /ˌe(ə)rō-iˌlaˈstisitē, -ˌēla-/

I. noun

the science of the interaction between aerodynamic forces and nonrigid structures.

II. derivatives

aeroelastic /-iˈlastik /

adjective

aerofoil /ˈerəˌfoil/

noun

British term for airfoil.

aerogel /ˈerəˌjel/

noun

a solid material of extremely low density, produced by removing the liquid component from a conventional gel.
Also called frozen smoke.

aerogramme /ˈerəˌɡram / aerogram

noun

a sheet of light paper folded and sealed to form a letter for sending by airmail.

aerolite /ˈerəˌlīt/

noun

a stony meteorite, composed mainly of silicates.

aerology /ˌeˈräləjē/

I. noun

‹dated› the study of the atmosphere, especially away from ground level.

II. derivatives

aerological /ˌe(ə)rəˈläjikəl /

adjective

aeromagnetic /ˌerōmaɡˈnedik/

adjective

relating to or denoting the measurement of the earth's magnetic field using airborne instruments.

aeromedical /ˌerōˈmedək(ə)l/

adjective

1. of or relating to the use of aircraft for medical purposes such as transporting patients to a hospital.

2. relating to medical issues associated with air travel.

aeromedicine /ˌerōˈmedəsən/

noun

a branch of medicine concerned with the health consequences of air or space travel.

aeronaut /ˈerəˌnôt/

I. noun

‹chiefly historical› a traveler in a hot-air balloon, airship, or other flying craft.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French aéronaute, from Greek aēr ‘air’ + nautēs ‘sailor.’

aeronautical /ˌerəˈnôdikl / aeronautic

adjective

relating to the science or practice of building or flying aircraft

• he went on to study aeronautical engineering at the Air Force Academy.

aeronautics /ˌerəˈnôdiks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the science or practice of travel through the air.

II. derivatives

aeronautic /ˌerəˈnôdik /

adjective

( — ‹rare›

– origin early 19th cent.: from modern Latin aeronautica ‘matters relating to aeronautics’ (see aeronaut).

aeronomy /eˈränəmē/

noun

the science of the upper atmosphere, especially those regions where there is significant ionization of gases.

aerophagia /ˌe(ə)rəˈfājə, -jēə/

noun

[Medicine] the swallowing of air, whether deliberately to stimulate belching, accidentally, or as an involuntary habit.

aerophone /ˈerəˌfōn/

noun

[Music] a wind instrument.

aeroplane /ˈerəˌplān/

I. noun

British term for airplane.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French aéroplane, from aéro- ‘air’ + Greek -planos ‘wandering.’

aeroponics /ˌerōˈpäniks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. a plant-cultivation technique in which the roots hang suspended in the air while nutrient solution is delivered to them in the form of a fine mist.

II. derivatives

aeroponic

adjective

– origin 1950s: blend of aero- and hydroponics.

aeroshell /ˈerōˌSHel/

noun

a casing that protects a spacecraft during re-entry.

aerosol /ˈerəˌsôl/

I. noun

1. a substance enclosed under pressure and able to be released as a fine spray, typically by means of a propellant gas.

2. a container holding an aerosol.

3. [Chemistry] a colloidal suspension of particles dispersed in air or gas.

– origin 1920s: from aero- + sol^2.

aerosolize /ˈe(ə)rəsôˌlīz, -sä-/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹technical› convert into a fine spray or colloidal suspension in air
(as adj. aerosolized)

• the drug is being tested in an aerosolized form.

aerospace /ˈerōˌspās/

noun

the branch of technology and industry concerned with both aviation and space flight.

aerostat /ˈerəˌstat/

I. noun

an airship or hot-air balloon, especially one that is tethered.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French aérostat, from Greek aēr ‘air’ + statos ‘standing.’

Aeschines /ˈeskəˌnēz/

(c. 390–c. 314 BC), Athenian orator and statesman. He opposed Demosthenes' efforts to unite the Greek city states against Macedon.

Aeschylus /ˈeskələs/

(c. 525–c. 456 BC), Greek dramatist. He is best known for his trilogy, the Oresteia (458 BC), consisting of the tragedies Agamemnon, Choephoroe, and Eumenides.

Aesculapian /ˌeskəˈlāpēən/

I. adjective

‹archaic› of or relating to medicine or physicians.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Aesculapius, the name of the Roman god of medicine, + -ian.

Aesculapian snake

noun

a long, slender olive-brown to grayish snake found in Europe and southwestern Asia. In ancient times it was protected because of its mythical link with the god of healing, Aesculapius.
[Elaphe longissima, family Colubridae.]

Aesir /ˈāzir, ˈāsir / ‹Scandinavian Mythology›

the Norse gods and goddesses collectively, including Odin, Thor, and Balder.

Aesop /ˈēsäp/

(6th century BC), Greek storyteller. The moral animal fables associated with Aesop were probably collected from many sources and initially communicated orally.

aesthete /ˈesˌTHēt / esthete

I. noun

a person who has or affects to have a special appreciation of art and beauty.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek aisthētēs ‘a person who perceives,’ or from aesthetic, on the pattern of the pair athlete, athletic.

aesthetic /esˈTHedik / esthetic

I. adjective

1. concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty

• the pictures give great aesthetic pleasure.

2. giving or designed to give pleasure through beauty; of pleasing appearance.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. a set of principles underlying and guiding the work of a particular artist or artistic movement

• the Cubist aesthetic.

– origin late 18th cent. (in the sense ‘relating to perception by the senses’): from Greek aisthētikos, from aisthēta ‘perceptible things,’ from aisthesthai ‘perceive.’ The sense ‘concerned with beauty’ was coined in German in the mid 18th cent. and adopted into English in the early 19th cent., but its use was controversial until late in the century.

aesthetically /esˈTHediklē/

adverb

1. in a way that gives pleasure through beauty

• the buildings and gardens of the factory have been aesthetically designed and laid out.

2. with regard to beauty

• an aesthetically pleasing landscape

• his naive use of rhyme makes his poetry sound aesthetically amateurish.

aesthetician /ˌesTHəˈtiSHən / esthetician

noun

1. a person who is knowledgeable about the nature and appreciation of beauty, especially in art.

2. (N. Amer.) a beautician.

aestheticism /esˈTHedəˌsizəm/

noun

the approach to art exemplified by (but not restricted to) the Aesthetic Movement.

aestheticize /esˈTHedəˌsīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. represent (something) as being beautiful or artistically pleasing.

Aesthetic Movement

a literary and artistic movement that flourished in England in the 1880s, devoted to “art for art's sake” and rejecting the notion that art should have a social or moral purpose. Its chief exponents included Oscar Wilde, Max Beerbohm, and Aubrey Beardsley.

aesthetics /esˈTHediks / esthetics

plural noun — [usu. treated as sing.]

1. a set of principles concerned with the nature and appreciation of beauty, especially in art.

2. the branch of philosophy that deals with the principles of beauty and artistic taste.

aet. aetat.

abbreviation

aetatis.

aetatis /īˈtätis, ēˈtātis/

I. adjective

of or at the age of

• his son, aetatis 13, learned in nothing.

– origin early 19th cent.: Latin.

AF

abbreviation

1. air force.

2. audio frequency.

3. autofocus.

af-

prefix

1. variant spelling of ad-.

2. assimilated before f (as in affiliate, affirm).

AFAIC

abbreviation

as far as I'm concerned

• AFAIC, you're entitled to your opinion like everyone else

• he can do no wrong, AFAIC.

AFAIK

abbreviation

‹informal› as far as I know

• none of his stories have been filmed, AFAIK.

afar /əˈfär/

I. adverb

‹chiefly literary› at or to a distance

• our hero traveled afar

• for months he had loved her from afar.

– origin Middle English of feor ‘from far.’

Afar /ˈäˌfär/

I. noun

1. (pl. same or Afars) — a member of a people living in Djibouti, Eritrea, and Ethiopia.

2. the Cushitic language of the Afar.

II. adjective

relating to the Afar or their language.

– origin from Afar qafar.

Afars and Issas, French Territory of the /ˈäˌfärz ənd ēˈsäz/

former name (1946–77) of Djibouti.

AFB

abbreviation

Air Force Base.

AFC

abbreviation

1. American Football Conference.

2. automatic frequency control, a system in radios and television that keeps them tuned to an incoming signal.

AFDC

abbreviation

Aid to Families with Dependent Children, a federal assistance program replaced by TANF in 1997.

afeard /əˈfird / afeared

I. adjective

‹archaic› ‹dialect› afraid.

– origin Old English, from āfǣran ‘frighten,’ from ā- (expressing intensity) + fǣran (see fear); used commonly by Shakespeare, but rarely after 1700 in written form.

afebrile /āˈfebrəl, -ˈfē-/

I. adjective

[Medicine] not feverish.

– origin late 19th cent.: from a-1 ‘not’ + febrile.

affability /ˌafəˈbilədē/

noun

the quality of being affable; geniality

• an air of benign affability.

affable /ˈafəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to

• an affable and agreeable companion.

II. derivatives

affably /ˈafəblē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin affabilis, from the verb affari, from ad- ‘to’ + fari ‘speak.’

affair /əˈfer/

I. noun

1. an event or sequence of events of a specified kind or that has previously been referred to

• the board admitted responsibility for the affair

• I wanted the funeral to be a family affair.

2. a matter that is a particular person's concern or responsibility

• what you do in your spare time is your affair.

3. (affairs) — matters of public interest and importance

• commissions were created to advise on foreign affairs.

4. (affairs) — business and financial dealings

• his time was spent in winding up his affairs.

5. [with adj.] — ‹informal› an object of a particular type

• her dress was a black low-cut affair.

6. a love affair

• his wife is having an affair.

– origin Middle English: from Old French afaire, from à faire ‘to do’; compare with ado.

affaire /əˈfer / affaire de, du cœur

I. noun

a love affair.

– origin early 19th cent.: French, literally ‘affair (of the heart).’

affect^1 /əˈfekt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. have an effect on; make a difference to

• the dampness began to affect my health

• [with clause] your attitude will affect how successful you are.

2. touch the feelings of (someone); move emotionally

• the atrocities he witnessed have affected him most deeply.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘attack as a disease’): from French affecter or Latin affect- ‘influenced, affected,’ from the verb afficere (see affect^2). / usage: Affect and effect are both verbs and nouns, but only effect is common as a noun, usually meaning ‘a result, consequence, impression, etc.’: my father's warnings had no effect on my adventurousness. The noun affect is restricted almost entirely to psychology (see affect^3). As verbs, they are used differently. Affect most commonly means ‘produce an effect on, influence’: smoking during pregnancy can affect the baby's development. Affect also means ‘pretend to have or feel (something)’ (see affect^2): she affected a concern for those who had lost their jobs. Effect means ‘bring about’: the negotiators effected an agreement despite many difficulties.

affect^2 /əˈfekt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. pretend to have or feel (something)

• as usual I affected a supreme unconcern

• [with infinitive] a book that affects to loathe the modern world.

2. use, wear, or assume (something) pretentiously or so as to make an impression on others

• an American who had affected a British accent.

– origin late Middle English: from French affecter or Latin affectare ‘aim at,’ frequentative of afficere ‘work on, influence,’ from ad- ‘at, to’ + facere ‘do.’ The original sense was ‘like, love,’ hence ‘(like to) use, assume, etc.’ / usage: See usage at affect^1.

affect^3 /ˈafekt əˈfekt/

I. noun

[Psychology] emotion or desire, especially as influencing behavior or action.

II. derivatives

1. affectless

adjective

2. affectlessness

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: coined in German from Latin affectus ‘disposition,’ from afficere ‘to influence’ (see affect^2). / usage: See usage at affect^1.

affectation /ˌafekˈtāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. behavior, speech, or writing that is artificial and designed to impress

• the affectation of a man who measures every word for effect

• she called the room her boudoir, which he thought an affectation.

2. a studied display of real or pretended feeling

• an affectation of calm.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin affectatio(n-), from the verb affectare (see affect^2).

affected /əˈfektəd/

I. adjective

1. influenced or touched by an external factor

• apply moist heat to the affected area.

2. artificial, pretentious, and designed to impress

• the gesture appeared both affected and stagy.

3. [predic.] — ‹archaic› disposed or inclined in a specified way

• you might become differently affected toward him.

II. derivatives

affectedly /əˈfektədlē /

adverb

affected (sense 2)

affected class

noun

a group adversely affected from a common cause, as defined by legislation, litigation, or prevailing practice

• any employee in an affected class may volunteer to be laid off.

affectedness /əˈfektədnəs/

noun

the character or quality of being affected or pretentious

• her lack of affectedness.

affecting /əˈfektiNG/

I. adjective

touching the emotions; moving

• a highly affecting account of her experiences in prison.

II. derivatives

affectingly /əˈfektiNGlē /

adverb

affection /əˈfekSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a gentle feeling of fondness or liking

• she felt affection for the wise old lady

• he won a place in her affections.

2. physical expressions of affection

• the prisoners crave affection and hence participate in sexual relationships.

3. ‹archaic› the act or process of affecting or being affected.

4. a condition of disease

• an affection of the skin.

5. a mental state; an emotion.

II. derivatives

affectional /əˈfekSH(ə)n(ə)l /

adjective

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin affectio(n-), from afficere ‘to influence’ (see affect^2).

affectionate /əˈfekSH(ə)nət/

I. adjective

1. readily feeling or showing fondness or tenderness

• a happy and affectionate family.

2. expressing fondness

• an affectionate kiss.

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘disposed, inclined toward’): from French affectionné ‘beloved’ or medieval Latin affectionatus ‘devoted,’ from affectio(n-), from afficere ‘to influence’ (see affect^2).

affectionately /əˈfekSHənətlē/

adverb

in a way that displays fondness or tenderness

• Tammy embraced the girl and kissed the top of her head affectionately.

affective /aˈfektiv/

I. adjective

[chiefly Psychology] relating to moods, feelings, and attitudes

• affective disorders.

II. derivatives

1. affectively

adverb

2. affectivity /əˌfekˈtivədē /

noun

– origin late Middle English: via French from late Latin affectivus, from afficere (see affect^2).

affective disorder

noun

another term for mood disorder.

Affenpinscher /ˈäfənˌpin(t)SHər/

I. noun

a dog of a small breed resembling a griffin.

– origin early 20th cent.: from German, from Affe ‘monkey’ + Pinscher ‘terrier.’

afferent /ˈaf(ə)rənt/

I. adjective

[Physiology] conducting or conducted inward or toward something (for nerves, the central nervous system; for blood vessels, the organ supplied).
The opposite of efferent.

II. noun

an afferent nerve fiber or vessel.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin afferent- ‘bringing toward,’ from the verb afferre, from ad- ‘to’ + ferre ‘bring.’

affiance /əˈfīəns/

I. verb — (be affianced)

1. ‹literary› be engaged to marry

• Ann Elliott was affianced to Col. Lewis Morris.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Old French afiancer, from afier ‘promise, entrust,’ from medieval Latin affidare ‘declare on oath,’ from ad- ‘toward’ + fides ‘trust.’

affiant /əˈfīənt/

I. noun

[Law] a person who swears to an affidavit.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French, present participle of afier, from medieval Latin affidare ‘declare on oath’ (see affiance).

affidavit /ˌafəˈdāvit/

I. noun

[Law] a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation, for use as evidence in court.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from medieval Latin, literally ‘he has stated on oath,’ from affidare.

affiliate

I. verb — /əˈfilēˌāt / [with obj.] (usu. be affiliated with)

1. officially attach or connect (a subsidiary group or a person) to an organization

• the college is affiliated with the University of Wisconsin.

2. [no obj.] — officially join or become attached to an organization

• the membership of the National Writers Union voted to affiliate with the United Auto Workers.

II. noun — /əˈfilēət /

1. a person or organization officially attached to a larger body

• the company established links with British affiliates.

III. derivatives

affiliative /-ətiv, -ˌātiv /

adjective

– origin mid 18th cent.: from medieval Latin affiliat- ‘adopted as a son,’ from the verb affiliare, from ad- ‘toward’ + filius ‘son.’

affiliated /əˈfilēˌādəd/

adjective

(of a subsidiary group or a person) officially attached or connected to an organization

• affiliated union members

• Microsoft and its affiliated companies.

affiliate marketing

noun

a marketing arrangement by which an online retailer pays a commission to an external website for traffic or sales generated from its referrals

• most of my earnings are from affiliate marketing, direct ad sales, and sponsored posts.

affiliation /əˌfilēˈāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

the state or process of affiliating or being affiliated

• he had no particular affiliation, no close associates

• his political affiliations.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French, from medieval Latin affiliatio(n-), from the verb affiliare (see affiliate).

affine /əˈfīn, ˈafīn/

I. adjective

[Mathematics] allowing for or preserving parallel relationships.

II. noun

[Anthropology] a relative by marriage.

– origin early 16th cent. (as a noun): from Old French afin or Latin affinis ‘related’ (see affinity). The mathematical sense dates from the early 20th cent.

affined /əˈfīnd/

I. adjective

‹archaic› related or connected.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin affinis ‘related’ (see affinity) + -ed^1.

affinity /əˈfinədē/

I. noun — (often affinity between/for/with)

1. a spontaneous or natural liking or sympathy for someone or something

• he has an affinity for the music of Berlioz.

2. a similarity of characteristics suggesting a relationship, especially a resemblance in structure between animals, plants, or languages

• a building with no affinity to contemporary architectural styles.

3. relationship, especially by marriage as opposed to blood ties.

4. [chiefly Biochemistry] the degree to which a substance tends to combine with another

• the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘relationship by marriage’): via Old French from Latin affinitas, from affinis ‘related’ (literally ‘bordering on’), from ad- ‘to’ + finis ‘border.’

affinity card

noun

a credit card carrying the name of an organization to which a portion of the money spent using the card is paid.

affinity group /əˈfinədē ˌɡro͞op/

noun

(chiefly US) a group of people linked by a common interest or purpose.

affirm /əˈfərm/

I. verb

1. [reporting verb] — state as a fact; assert strongly and publicly
[with obj.]

• he affirmed the country's commitment to peace

• [with clause] he affirmed that she was, indeed, a good editor

• [with direct speech] “Pessimism,” she affirmed, “is the most rational view.”

2. [with obj.] — declare one's support for; uphold or defend

• the referendum affirmed the republic's right to secede.

3. [with obj.] — [Law] accept or confirm the validity of (a judgment or agreement); ratify.

4. [no obj.] — [Law] make a formal declaration rather than taking an oath (e.g., to testify truthfully).

5. [with obj.] — [Law] (of a court) uphold (a decision) on appeal.

6. [with obj.] — offer (someone) emotional support or encouragement

• there are five common ways parents fail to affirm their children

• good teachers know that students need to be both affirmed and challenged.

7. give (life) a heightened sense of value, typically through the experience of something emotionally or spiritually uplifting

• it is a rich and challenging motion picture that both affirms life and emphasizes its fragility.

II. derivatives

affirmer

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘make firm’): via Old French from Latin affirmare, from ad- ‘to’ + firmus ‘strong.’

affirmation /ˌafərˈmāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action or process of affirming something or being affirmed

• he nodded in affirmation

• an affirmation of basic human values.

2. [Law] a formal declaration by a person who declines to take an oath for reasons of conscience.

3. emotional support or encouragement

• the lack of one or both parents' affirmation leaves some children emotionally crippled.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin affirmation-, from the verb affirmare (see affirm).

affirmative /əˈfərmədiv/

I. adjective

1. agreeing with a statement or to a request

• an affirmative answer.

2. (of a vote) expressing approval or agreement.

3. supportive, hopeful, or encouraging

• the music's natural buoyancy and affirmative character.

4. active or obligatory

• they have an affirmative duty to stop crime in their buildings

• using affirmative measures to influence human rights policies.

5. [Grammar] [Logic] stating that a fact is so; making an assertion.
Contrasted with interrogative and negative.

II. noun

1. a statement of agreement with an assertion or request

• he accepted her reply as an affirmative.

2. (the affirmative) — a position of agreement or confirmation

• his answer veered toward the affirmative.

3. [Grammar] a word or particle used in making assertions.

4. [Logic] a statement asserting that something is true of the subject of a proposition.

III. exclamation

(chiefly N. Amer.) expressing agreement with a statement or request; yes.

IV. phrases

in the affirmative

so as to accept or agree to a statement or request

• he answered the question in the affirmative.

V. derivatives

affirmatively /əˈfərmədivlē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘assertive, positive’): via Old French from late Latin affirmativus, from affirmare ‘assert’ (see affirm).

affirmative action /əˈfərmədiv ˈakSHən/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) an action or policy favoring those who tend to suffer from discrimination, especially in relation to employment or education; positive discrimination.

affix

I. verb — /əˈfiks / [with obj.]

1. stick, attach, or fasten (something) to something else

• he licked the stamp and affixed it to the envelope.

II. noun — /ˈaˌfiks /

1. [Grammar] an additional element placed at the beginning or end of a root, stem, or word, or in the body of a word, to modify its meaning.
See also infix, prefix, suffix.

III. derivatives

affixation /ˌafikˈsāSHən /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French affixer or medieval Latin affixare, frequentative of Latin affigere, from ad- ‘to’ + figere ‘to fix.’

afflatus /əˈflādəs/

I. noun

‹formal› a divine creative impulse or inspiration.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin, from the verb afflare, from ad- ‘to’ + flare ‘to blow.’

afflict /əˈflikt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a problem or illness) cause pain or suffering to; affect or trouble

• serious ills afflict the industry

• his younger child was afflicted with a skin disease

• (as plural noun the afflicted) he comforted the afflicted.

2. [Astrology] (of a celestial body) be in a stressful aspect with (another celestial body or a point on the ecliptic)

• Jupiter is afflicted by Mars in opposition.

II. derivatives

afflictive /əˈfliktiv /

adjective

( — ‹archaic›

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘deject, humiliate’): from Latin afflictare ‘injure, harass,’ or from afflict- ‘knocked down, weakened’: both from the verb affligere, from ad- ‘to’ + fligere ‘to strike, dash.’

affliction /əˈflikSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. something that causes pain or suffering

• a crippling affliction of the nervous system.

2. pain or suffering

• poor people in great affliction.

3. [Astrology] an instance of one celestial body afflicting another.

– origin Middle English (originally in the sense ‘infliction of pain or humiliation,’ specifically ‘religious self-mortification’): via Old French from Latin afflictio(n-), from the verb affligere (see afflict).

affluence /ˈaflo͞oəns/

noun

the state of having a great deal of money; wealth

• a sign of our growing affluence.

affluent /ˈaflo͞oənt əˈflo͞oənt/

I. adjective

1. (especially of a group or area) having a great deal of money; wealthy

• the affluent societies of the western world

• (as plural noun the affluent) only the affluent could afford to travel abroad.

2. ‹archaic› (of water) flowing freely or in great quantity.

II. noun

‹archaic› a tributary stream.

III. derivatives

affluently

adverb

– origin late Middle English (sense 2 of the adjective): via Old French from Latin affluent- ‘flowing toward, flowing freely,’ from the verb affluere, from ad- ‘to’ + fluere ‘to flow.’

affluential /ˌaflo͞oˈen(t)SH(ə)l / ‹informal›

I. adjective

rich and socially influential

• the daughter of an affluential businessman.

II. noun

a rich and socially influential person

• the local affluentials have driven up property values.

– origin mid 19th cent.: blend of affluent and influential.

affluenza /ˌaflo͞oˈenzə/

I. noun

a psychological malaise supposedly affecting wealthy young people, symptoms of which include a lack of motivation, feelings of guilt, and a sense of isolation.

– origin 1970s: blend of affluent and influenza.

afflux /ˈaˌfləks/

I. noun

‹archaic› a flow of something, especially water or air.

– origin early 17th cent.: from medieval Latin affluxus, from affluere ‘flow freely’ (see affluent).

afford /əˈfôrd/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (can/could afford) — have enough money to pay for

• the best that I could afford was a first-floor room

• [with infinitive] we could never have afforded to heat the place.

2. have (a certain amount of something, especially money or time) available or to spare

• it was taking up more time than he could afford.

3. [with infinitive] — be able to do something without risk of adverse consequences

• kings could afford to be wrathful.

4. provide or supply (an opportunity or facility)

• the rooftop terrace affords beautiful views

• [with two objs.] they were afforded the luxury of bed and breakfast.

– origin late Old English geforthian, from ge- + forthian ‘to further,’ from forth. The original sense was ‘promote, perform, accomplish,’ later ‘manage, be in a position to do.’

affordability /əfôrdəˈbilədē/

noun

1. ability to be afforded; inexpensiveness

• the rapid spread and increasing affordability of wireless communication.

2. the cost or price of somethinɡ

• they arrived at their conclusion by comparing the affordability of houses with average historical levels

• the reforms under discussion would have a negligible impact on housing affordability.

affordable /əˈfôrdəb(ə)l/

adjective

inexpensive; reasonably priced

• affordable housing.

afforest /əˈfôrəst əˈfärəst/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. convert (land) into forest, especially for commercial use.

II. derivatives

afforestation /əfôːrəˈstāSHn /

noun

– origin early 16th cent.: from medieval Latin afforestare, from ad- ‘to’ (expressing change) + foresta ‘forest.’

affranchise /əˈfranˌCHīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› release from servitude.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Old French afranchiss-, lengthened stem of afranchir, from a- (from Latin ad ‘to, at’) + franc ‘free.’

affray /əˈfrā/

I. noun

[Law] ‹dated› an instance of fighting in a public place that disturbs the peace

• Lowe was charged with causing an affray

• a person guilty of affray.

– origin Middle English (in the general sense ‘disturbance, fray’): from Anglo-Norman French afrayer ‘disturb, startle,’ based on an element of Germanic origin related to Old English frithu ‘peace, safety’ (compare with German Friede ‘peace’).

affricate /ˈafrəkət/

I. noun

[Phonetics] a phoneme that combines a plosive with an immediately following fricative or spirant sharing the same place of articulation, e.g., ch as in chair and j as in jar.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin affricatus, past participle of affricare, from ad- ‘to’ + fricare ‘to rub.’

affright /əˈfrīt / ‹archaic›

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. frighten (someone)

• ghosts could never affright her.

II. noun

fright

• the deer gazed at us in affright.

– origin late Middle English: in early use from āfyrhted ‘frightened’ in Old English; later by vague form association with fright.

Affrilachian /ˌafrəˈlāCH(ē)ən/

I. noun

an African American who is native to or resides in Appalachia
[as modifier]

• Affrilachian poets.

– origin blend of African (American) and Appalachian.

affront /əˈfrənt/

I. noun

an action or remark that causes outrage or offense

• he took his son's desertion as a personal affront

• privilege publicly worn is an affront to democracy.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be affronted)

1. offend the modesty or values of

• she was affronted by his familiarity.

– origin Middle English (as a verb): from Old French afronter ‘to slap in the face, insult,’ based on Latin ad frontem ‘to the face.’

affronté /ˌafrənˈtā, əˈfrəntē / affronty

I. adjective — [predic. or postpositive]

1. [Heraldry] (especially of an animal's head) facing the observer.

– origin mid 16th cent. (as affronty): French, past participle of affronter ‘to face.’

Afghan /ˈafɡan/

I. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Afghanistan, or a person of Afghan descent.

2. another term for Pashto.

3. (afghan) — a woolen blanket or shawl, typically one knitted or crocheted in strips or squares.

4. short for Afghan hound.

II. adjective

relating to Afghanistan, its people, or their language.

– origin from Pashto afghānī.

Afghan hound /afɡanˈhound/

noun

a tall hunting dog of a breed with long silky hair.

afghani /afˈɡänē ˈafˌɡanē/

I. noun

the basic monetary unit of Afghanistan, equal to 100 puls.

– origin from Pashto afghānī.

Afghanistan /afˈɡanəˌstan/

I. a mountainous landlocked republic in central Asia; pop. 28,395,700 (est. 2009); capital, Kabul; official languages, Pashto and Dari (the local form of Persian).

Part of the Indian Mogul empire, Afghanistan became independent in the mid 18th century. It was occupied by Soviet forces 1979–89; after they withdrew, the country was thrown into turmoil with various Islamic groups struggling for power. The Taliban seized power in 1996; following the attacks of September 11, 2001, US-led forces invaded Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban. A new government was formed, and a constitution was signed January 16, 2004, but instability continued in many areas of the country.

aficionado /əˌfiSHəˈnädō əˌfisyəˈnädō/

I. noun

a person who is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about an activity, subject, or pastime

• aficionados of the finest wines.

– origin mid 19th cent. (denoting a devotee of bullfighting): from Spanish, ‘amateur,’ past participle of aficioner ‘become fond of’ used as a noun, based on Latin affectio(n-) ‘(favorable) disposition toward’ (see affection).

afield /əˈfēld/

I. adverb

1. to or at a distance

• competitors from as far afield as Hong Kong.

2. in the field (usually in reference to hunting)

• the satisfaction of a day afield.

– origin Middle English (sense 2): from a-2 ‘on, in’ + field.

afikoman /ˌäfēˈkōmən / afikomen

I. noun

[Judaism] a piece broken off from a matzo during a Seder and put aside to be eaten at the end of the meal. It is traditionally hidden during the Seder to be searched for by the children present

• her little grandchildren will search the house looking for the afikoman.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Hebrew ăp̄īqōmān, probably from Byzantine Greek epikōmion ‘a revel.’

afire /əˈfī(ə)r/

adverb, adjective

‹chiefly literary› on fire; burning
[as predic. adj.]

• the whole mill was afire.

AFK

abbreviation

‹informal› away from keyboard

• I'll generally be AFK, though I plan on hitting an Internet cafe on Thursday.

aflame /əˈflām/

adverb, adjective

in flames; burning
[as adv.]

• pour brandy over the steaks and then set aflame.

aflatoxin /ˌafləˈtäksən/

I. noun

[Chemistry] any of a class of toxic compounds that are produced by certain molds found in food, and can cause liver damage and cancer.
[These are produced by fungi of the Aspergillus flavus group, subdivision Deuteromycotina.]

– origin 1960s: from elements of the modern Latin taxonomic name Aspergillus flavus + toxin.

AFL-CIO

abbreviation

American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations.

afloat /əˈflōt/

I. adjective, adverb

1. floating in water; not sinking
[as adv.]

• they trod water to keep afloat

• [as predic. adj.] the canoes were still afloat.

2. on board a ship or boat
[as adv.]

• flotilla sailing is a sociable way to explore while living afloat.

3. in general circulation; current
[as adv.]

• there are various rumours afloat connected with his disappearance.

4. out of debt or difficulty
[as adv.]

• I contrived to stay afloat in honest self-employment.

– origin Old English on flote (see a-2, float), influenced in Middle English by Old Norse á flot(i) and Old French en flot.

afoot /əˈfo͝ot/

adverb, adjective

1. in preparation or progress; happening or beginning to happen
[as predic. adj.]

• plans are afoot for a festival.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) on foot
[as adv.]

• they were forced to go afoot.

afore /əˈfôr/

I. preposition

‹archaic› ‹dialect› before.

– origin Old English onforan (see a-2, fore).

afore-

prefix

before; previously.

aforementioned /əˈfôrˌmen(t)SHənd/

adjective

denoting a thing or person previously mentioned

• songs from the aforementioned album.

aforenamed /əˈfôrˌnāmd/

adjective

denoting a thing or person previously mentioned

• the aforenamed offenses carry maximum penalties of 10 years' imprisonment.

aforesaid /əˈfôrˌsed/

adjective

another term for aforementioned.

a fortiori /ˌä ˌfôrdēˈôrē ˌā ˌfôrdēˈôrī/

I. adverb, adjective

used to express a conclusion for which there is stronger evidence than for a previously accepted one
[as adv.]

• they reject all absolute ideas of justice, and a fortiori the natural-law position.

– origin early 17th cent.: Latin, from a fortiori argumento ‘from stronger argument.’

afoul /əˈfoul/

I. adverb

(N. Amer.) into conflict or difficulty with.

II. phrases

1. fall afoul of

see fall.

2. run afoul of

see run.

afraid /əˈfrād/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. feeling fear or anxiety; frightened

• I'm afraid of dogs

• she tried to think about the future without feeling afraid.

2. worried that something undesirable will occur or be done

• he was afraid that the farmer would send the dog after them

• she was afraid of antagonizing him.

3. [with infinitive] — unwilling or reluctant to do something for fear of the consequences

• I'm often afraid to go out on the streets.

4. (afraid for) — anxious about the well-being or safety of someone or something

• William was suddenly afraid for her.

II. phrases

I'm afraid

[with clause] — used to express polite or formal apology or regret

• I'm afraid I don't understand.

– origin Middle English: past participle of the obsolete verb affray, from Anglo-Norman French afrayer (see affray).

A-frame /ˈā ˌfrām/

noun

1. a frame shaped like a capital letter A.

2. (N. Amer.) a house built around a timber A-frame.

afreet /əˈfrēt / afrit

I. noun

(in Arabian and Muslim mythology) a powerful jinn or demon.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Arabic ῾ifrīt.

afresh /əˈfreSH/

adverb

in a new or different way

• she left the job to start afresh.

Africa /ˈafrəkə/

the second largest continent (11.62 million square miles; 30.1 million sq km), a southward projection of the Old World landmass divided roughly in half by the equator and surrounded by sea except where the Isthmus of Suez joins it to Asia.

African /ˈafrəkən/

I. noun

1. a person from Africa, especially a black person.

2. a person of black African descent.

II. adjective

of or relating to Africa or people of African descent.

– origin from Latin Africanus, from Africa (terra) ‘(land) of the Afri,’ an ancient people of North Africa.

Africana /ˌafriˈkanə, -ˈkänə/

plural noun

books, artifacts, and other collectors' items connected with Africa, in particular southern Africa.

African American /ˈafrəkən əˈmerəkən / ‹chiefly US›

I. noun

a black American.

II. adjective

of or relating to black Americans.

usage: See usage at black.

African buffalo

noun

a buffalo with large horns, native to Africa south of the Sahara.
[Syncerus caffer, family Bovidae; sometimes considered to be two species, the Cape buffalo and the forest buffalo.]

African daisy

noun

a plant of the daisy family, sometimes cultivated for its bright flowers.
[Family Compositae: several genera, in particular Dimorphotheca, Arctotis, and Gerbera.]

African elephant /ˈafrəkən ˈeləfənt/

noun

the elephant native to Africa, which is larger than the Indian elephant and has larger ears and a two-lipped trunk.
[Loxodonta africana, family Elephantidae.]

African horse sickness

noun

a notifiable viral disease of horses, which is usually fatal. It is transmitted by biting insects and occurs chiefly in Africa, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean.

Africanism /ˈafrəkəˌnizəm/

I. noun

1. a feature of language or culture regarded as characteristically African.

2. the belief that black Africans and their culture should predominate in Africa.

II. derivatives

Africanist /ˈafrək(ə)nəst /

noun, adjective

Africanize /ˈafrəkəˌnīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make African in character
(as adj. Africanized)

• an Africanized form of Cajun music.

2. (in Africa) restructure (an organization) by replacing white employees with black Africans.

3. (usu. as adj. Africanized) — hybridize (honeybees of European stock) with bees of African stock, producing an aggressive strain. In recent years hybrids have spread from Brazil to the US, where they have become known colloquially as “killer bees.”

II. derivatives

Africanization /ˌafrəkəˌnīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

African lynx

noun

another term for caracal.

African National Congress /ˈafrəkən ˈnaSHənl ˈnaSHnəl ˈkäNGɡrəs / ANC

a South African political party and black nationalist organization. Having been banned by the South African government 1960–90, the ANC was victorious in the country's first democratic elections in 1994 and its leader, Nelson Mandela, became the country's president.

African violet /ˈafrəkən ˈvī(ə)lət/

noun

a small East African plant with heart-shaped velvety leaves and violet, pink, or white flowers.
[Genus Saintpaulia, family Gesneriaceae: several species, in particular S. ionantha, a popular houseplant.]

Afrikaans /ˌafrəˈkänz/

I. noun

a language of southern Africa, derived from the form of Dutch brought to the Cape by Protestant settlers in the 17th century, and an official language of South Africa.

II. adjective

relating to the Afrikaner people, their way of life, or their language.

– origin the name in Afrikaans, from Dutch, literally ‘African.’

Afrika Korps /ˈafrikə ˌkôr, ˈäfrēkä/

a German army force sent to North Africa in 1941 under General Rommel.

Afrikander /ˌafrəˈkandər/

I. noun

an animal of a South African breed of sheep or longhorn cattle.

– origin early 19th cent. (an early form of Afrikaner, having the same senses): via Afrikaans from South African Dutch.

Afrikaner /ˌafrəˈkänər/

I. noun

an Afrikaans-speaking person in South Africa, especially one descended from the Dutch and Huguenot settlers of the 17th century.

II. derivatives

Afrikanerdom /-dəm /

noun

– origin Afrikaans, from South African Dutch Africander, from Dutch Afrikaan ‘an African’ + the personal suffix -der, on the pattern of Hollander ‘Dutchman.’

Afro /ˈafrō/

I. noun

a thick hairstyle with very tight curls that sticks out all around the head, like the natural hair of some black people.

– origin 1930s: independent usage of Afro-, or an abbreviation of African.

Afro- /ˈafrō/

I. combining form

1. African; African and …

• Afro-Asiatic

• Afro-Belizean.

2. relating to Africa

• Afrocentric.

– origin from Latin Afer, Afr- ‘African.’

Afro-American /ˌafrōəˈmerək(ə)n / ‹chiefly N. Amer.›

I. adjective, noun

another term for African American.

usage: See usage at black.

Afro-Asiatic /ˌafrōˌāZHēˈadik/

adjective

relating to or denoting a family of languages spoken in the Middle East and North Africa. The family is commonly divided into five groups: Semitic, Omotic, Berber, Cushitic, and Chadic. Ancient Egyptian was also a member of this family.
Also called Hamito-Semitic.

Afrobeat /ˈafrōˌbēt/

noun

a style of popular music incorporating elements of African music and jazz, soul, and funk.

Afro-Caribbean

I. noun

a person of African descent living in or coming from the Caribbean.

II. adjective

of or relating to Afro-Caribbeans.

Afrocentric /ˌafrōˈsentrik/

I. adjective

regarding African or black culture as preeminent.

II. derivatives

1. Afrocentrism /-trizəm /

noun

2. Afrocentrist /-trist /

noun

Afrotropical

adjective

another term for Ethiopian (sense 2 of the adjective).

aft /aft/

I. adverb, adjective

at, near, or toward the stern of a ship or tail of an aircraft
[as adv.]

• Travis made his way aft

• [as adj.] the aft cargo compartment.

– origin early 17th cent.: probably from obsolete baft (see abaft), influenced by Low German and Dutch achter ‘abaft, after.’

after /ˈaftər/

I. preposition

1. during the period of time following (an event)

• shortly after Christmas

• there's only one thing to do after an experience like that

• [as conjunction] bathtime ended in a flood after the faucets were left running

• [as adv.] Duke Frederick died soon after.

2. with a period of time rather than an event

• after a while he returned.

3. in phrases indicating something happening continuously or repeatedly

• day after day we kept studying.

4. (N. Amer.) (used in specifying a time) past

• I strolled in about ten minutes after two.

5. during the time following the departure of (someone)

• she cooks for him and cleans up after him.

6. behind

• she went out, shutting the door after her.

7. (with reference to looking or speaking) in the direction of someone who is moving further away

• she stared after him.

8. in pursuit or quest of

• chasing after something you can't have

• most of them are after money

• Jenny still yearned after him.

9. next to and following in order or importance

• in their order of priorities health comes after housing

• x comes after y in the series.

10. in allusion to (someone or something with the same or a related name)

• they named her Pauline, after Barbara's mother.

11. in imitation of

• a drawing after Millet's The Reapers.

12. concerning or about

• she has asked after Iris's mother.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. ‹archaic› later

• he was sorry in after years.

2. [Nautical] nearer the stern

• the after cabin.

III. phrases

1. after all

in spite of any indications or expectations to the contrary

• I called and told her I couldn't come after all

• you are my counselor, after all.

2. after hours

after normal working or opening hours, typically those of bars and nightclubs
[as adv.]

• she was going in to work after hours

• [as adj.] an after-hours jazz club.

3. after you

a polite formula used to suggest that someone goes in front of or takes a turn before oneself

• after you, Mr. Pritchard.

– origin Old English æfter, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch achter.

afterbirth /ˈaftərˌbərTH/

noun

the placenta and fetal membranes discharged from the uterus after the birth of offspring.

afterburner /ˈaftərˌbərnər/

noun

an auxiliary burner fitted to the exhaust system of a turbojet engine to increase thrust.

aftercare /ˈaftərˌker/

noun

1. subsequent care or maintenance, in particular

2. care of a patient after a stay in the hospital or of a person on release from prison.

3. childcare for the period between the end of the school day and the end of a parent's working day
[as modifier]

• an aftercare facility at the local YMCA.

afterdamp /ˈaftərˌdamp/

noun

choking gas, rich in carbon monoxide, left after an explosion of firedamp in a mine.

afterdeck /ˈaftərˌdek/

noun

an open deck toward the stern of a ship.

aftereffect /ˈaftərəˌfekt/

noun

an effect that follows after the primary action of something

• he was suffering the aftereffects of the drug.

afterglow /ˈaftərˌɡlō/

noun — [in sing.]

1. light or radiance remaining in the sky after the sun has set.

2. good feelings remaining after a pleasurable or successful experience

• basking in the afterglow of victory.

afterimage /ˈaftərˌimij/

noun

an impression of a vivid sensation (especially a visual image) retained after the stimulus has ceased.

afterlife /ˈaftərˌlīf/

noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. (in some religions) life after death

• most Christians believe in an afterlife.

2. later life

• they spent much of their afterlife trying to forget the fire.

aftermarket /ˈaftərˌmärkət/

noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) the market for spare parts, accessories, and components, especially for motor vehicles.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) [Stock Market] the market for shares and bonds after their original issue.

aftermath /ˈaftərˌmaTH/

I. noun

1. the consequences or aftereffects of a significant unpleasant event

• food prices soared in the aftermath of the drought.

2. [Farming] new grass growing after mowing or harvest.

– origin late 15th cent. (sense 2): from after (as an adjective) + dialect math ‘mowing,’ of Germanic origin; related to German Mahd.

aftermost /ˈaftərˌmōst/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. nearest the stern of a ship or tail of an aircraft.

– origin late 18th cent.: from after (as an adjective) + -most.

afternoon /ˌaftərˈno͞on/

I. noun

1. the time from noon or lunchtime to evening

• I telephoned this afternoon

• I'll be back at three in the afternoon

• she worked on Tuesday afternoons

• [as modifier] the afternoon sunshine.

2. the time from noon to evening on a particular day, characterized by a specified type of activity or particular weather conditions

• it was an afternoon of drama and tension.

II. adverb — (afternoons)

1. ‹informal› in the afternoon; every afternoon.

III. exclamation

‹informal› short for good afternoon.

afterpains /ˈaftərˌpānz/

plural noun

pains after childbirth caused by contraction of the uterus.

after-party

noun

a party held after an event, especially a concert or another party.

afters /ˈaftərz/

plural noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› dessert

• there was apple pie for afters.

aftershave /ˈaftərˌSHāv/

noun

an astringent, typically scented lotion for applying to the skin after shaving.

aftershock /ˈaftərˌSHäk/

noun

a smaller earthquake following the main shock of a large earthquake.

aftersun /ˈaftərˌsən/

adjective

denoting a product intended for application to the skin after exposure to the sun

• aftersun lotion.

aftertaste /ˈaftərˌtāst/

noun

a taste, typically an unpleasant one, remaining in the mouth after eating or drinking something.

after-tax

adjective

relating to income that remains after the deduction of taxes due.

afterthought /ˈaftərˌTHôt/

noun

an item or thing that is thought of or added later

• as an afterthought she said “Thank you.”

aftertouch /ˈaftərˌtəCH/

noun

a facility on an electronic music keyboard by which an effect is produced by the player depressing a key after striking it.

afterwards /ˈaftərwərdz / ‹US› afterward

I. adverb

at a later or future time; subsequently

• the offender was arrested shortly afterwards.

– origin Old English æftewearde, from æftan (see aft) + -ward, influenced by after.

afterword /ˈaftərˌwərd/

noun

a concluding section in a book, typically by a person other than the author.

afterworld /ˈaftərˌwərld/

noun

a world entered after death.

ag ‹N. Amer. informal›

I. adjective

short for agricultural.

II. noun

short for agriculture.

Ag^1

I. symbol

the chemical element silver.

– origin from Latin argentum.

Ag^2

abbreviation

[Biochemistry] antigen.

AG

abbreviation

1. adjutant general.

2. Aktiengesellschaft, used in the names of German joint-stock companies.

3. attorney general.

ag-

prefix

variant spelling of ad- assimilated before g (as in aggravate, aggress).

aga /ˈäɡə/

I. noun

‹chiefly historical› (in Muslim countries, especially under the Ottoman Empire) a military commander or official.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Turkish ağa ‘master, lord,’ from Mongolian aqa.

Agadir /ˌäɡəˈdir/

a seaport and resort on the Atlantic coast of Morocco; pop. 487,954 (2004).

again /əˈɡen/

I. adverb

1. another time; once more

• it was great to meet old friends again

• they were disappointed yet again.

2. returning to a previous position or condition

• he rose, tidied the bed, and sat down again.

3. in addition to what has already been mentioned

• the wages were low, but they made half as much again in tips.

4. [sentence adverb] — used to introduce a further point for consideration, supporting or contrasting with what has just been said

• I never saw any signs, but then again, maybe I wasn't looking.

5. used to ask someone to repeat something

• what was your name again?

II. phrases

again and again

repeatedly

• I read this author again and again.

– origin Old English ongēan, ongægn, etc., of Germanic origin; related to German entgegen ‘opposite.’

against /əˈɡenst/

I. preposition

1. in opposition to

• the fight against crime

• he decided against immediate publication

• swimming against the tide.

2. in opposition to, with reference to legal action

• allegations against police officers

• the first victim gave evidence against him.

3. in opposition to, with reference to an athletic contest

• the championship game against Virginia.

4. (in betting) in anticipation of the failure of

• the odds were 5–1 against Pittsburgh.

5. in anticipation of and preparation for (a problem or difficulty)

• insurance against sickness and unemployment.

6. in resistance to; as protection from

• he turned up his collar against the wind.

7. in relation to (an amount of money owed or due) so as to reduce or cancel it

• money was advanced against the value of the property.

8. in conceptual contrast to

• the benefits must be weighed against the costs

• the instilling of habits as against the development of understanding.

9. in visual contrast to

• he was silhouetted against the light of the window.

10. in or into physical contact with (something), typically so as to be supported by or collide with it

• she stood with her back against the door

• his lips brushed against her hair.

II. phrases

have something against someone

dislike or bear a grudge against someone

• I have nothing against you personally.

– origin Middle English: from again + -s (adverbial genitive) + -t probably by association with superlatives (as in amongst).

Aga Khan /ˌäɡə ˈkän/

noun

the title of the spiritual leader of the Nizari sect of Ismaili Muslims. The first Aga Khan was given his title in 1818 by the shah of Persia. The present (fourth) Aga Khan (Karim al-Hussain Shah, b.1936) inherited the title in 1957.

agal /əˈɡal/

I. noun

a headband worn by Bedouin Arab men to keep the keffiyeh in place.

– origin mid 19th cent.: representing a Bedouin pronunciation of Arabic ῾iḳāl ‘bond, hobble.’

agama /əˈɡāmə, ˈaɡəmə/

I. noun

an Old World lizard with a large head and a long tail, typically showing a marked difference in color and form between the sexes.
[Genus Agama, family Agamidae: many species.]

– origin late 18th cent.: perhaps from Carib.

A game

noun

‹informal› (chiefly US) used in reference to performing to the very best of one's ability

• she'll bring her A game tonight—she understands how important it is.

Agamemnon /ˌaɡəˈmemnän / ‹Greek Mythology›

king of Mycenae and brother of Menelaus, commander in chief of the Greek expedition against Troy. On his return home from Troy, he was murdered by his wife Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus; his murder was avenged by his son Orestes and daughter Electra.

agamic /āˈɡamik əˈɡamik/

I. adjective

[Biology] asexual; reproducing asexually

• winged agamic females.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek agamos ‘unmarried’ + -ic.

agamid /ˈaɡəˌməd/

I. noun

[Zoology] a lizard of the agama family (Agamidae).

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Agamidae, from agama.

agammaglobulinemia /ˌāɡaməˌɡläbyələˈnēmēə/

noun

[Medicine] lack of gamma globulin in the blood plasma, causing immune deficiency.

agamospermy /āˈɡaməˌspərmē, ˈaɡəmō-/

I. noun

[Botany] asexual reproduction in which seeds are produced from unfertilized ovules.

II. derivatives

agamospermous /āˌɡaməˈspərməs, ˌaɡəmō- /

adjective

– origin 1930s: from Greek agamos ‘unmarried’ + sperma ‘seed.’

agapanthus /ˌaɡəˈpanTHəs/

I. noun

a South African plant of the lily family, with funnel-shaped bluish flowers that grow in rounded clusters.
Also called lily-of-the-Nile. [Genus Agapanthus, family Liliaceae (or Alliaceae).]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek agapē ‘love’ + anthos ‘flower.’

agape^1 /əˈɡāp/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. (of the mouth) wide open, especially with surprise or wonder

• Downes listened, mouth agape with incredulity.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from a-2 ‘on’ + gape.

agape^2 /äˈɡäˌpā ˈaɡəpā/

I. noun

1. [Christian Theology] Christian love, especially as distinct from erotic love or emotional affection.

2. [Christian Theology] a communal meal in token of Christian fellowship, as held by early Christians in commemoration of the Last Supper.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Greek agapē ‘selfless love.’

agar /ˈäˌɡär ˈāˌɡär / agar-agar

I. noun

a gelatinous substance obtained from various kinds of red seaweed and used in biological culture media and as a thickener in foods.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Malay.

agaric /ˈaɡərik əˈɡerik/

I. noun

a fungus with a fruiting body that resembles the ordinary mushroom, having a convex or flattened cap with gills on the underside.
[Order Agaricales, class Basidiomycetes, in particular the mushroom family Agaricaceae.]

– origin late Middle English (originally denoting various bracket fungi with medicinal or other uses): from Latin agaricum, from Greek agarikon ‘tree fungus.’

agarose /ˈaɡəˌrōs, -ˌrōz/

noun

[Biochemistry] a substance that is the main constituent of agar and is used especially in gels for electrophoresis. It is a polysaccharide mainly containing galactose residues.

Agartala /ˈəɡərtəˌlä/

a city in northeastern India, capital of the state of Tripura, situated near the border with Bangladesh; pop. 218,000 (est. 2009).

Agassi, André /ˈaɡəsē/

(1970–), US tennis player. During 1992–2003, he won the men's singles title at one Wimbledon, two US Open, one French Open, and four Australian Open tournaments.

Agassiz, Lake /ˈaɡəˌsē/

a prehistoric glacial lake of the Pleistocene epoch that covered parts of present-day Minnesota and North Dakota in the US and Manitoba and Ontario in Canada.

Agassiz, Louis /ˈaɡəsē/

(1807–73), US zoologist, geologist, and paleontologist; born in Switzerland; full name Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz. In 1837, he was the first to propose that much of Europe had once been in the grip of an ice age.

agate /ˈaɡət/

I. noun

1. an ornamental stone consisting of a hard variety of chalcedony, typically banded in appearance.

2. a colored toy marble resembling a banded gemstone.

– origin late 15th cent.: from French, via Latin from Greek akhatēs.

agave /əˈɡävē/

I. noun

a succulent plant with rosettes of narrow spiny leaves and tall flower spikes, native to the southern US and tropical America.
[Genus Agave, family Agavaceae: numerous species, including the century plant.]

– origin Latin, from Greek Agauē, the name of one of the daughters of Cadmus in Greek mythology, from agauos ‘illustrious.’

AGC

abbreviation

[Electronics] automatic gain control.

age /āj/

I. noun

1. the length of time that a person has lived or a thing has existed

• he died from a heart attack at the age of 51

• his wife is the same age as Carla

• he must be nearly 40 years of age

• young people between the ages of 11 and 18.

2. a particular stage in someone's life

• children of primary school age.

3. the latter part of life or existence; old age

• with age this gland can become sluggish.

4. a distinct period of history

• an age of technological growth

• a child of the television age.

5. [Geology] a division of time that is a subdivision of an epoch, corresponding to a stage in chronostratigraphy.

6. ‹archaic› a lifetime taken as a measure of time; a generation

• Nestor is said to have lived three ages when he was ninety years old.

7. (ages/an age) — ‹informal› a very long time

• I haven't seen her for ages

• it would take an age to tell her everything.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. grow old or older, especially visibly and obviously so

• you haven't aged a lot

• the tiredness we feel as we age.

2. [with obj.] — cause to grow, feel, or appear older

• he even tried aging the painting with a spoonful of coffee.

3. (especially with reference to an alcoholic drink) mature or allow to mature
[no obj.]

• the wine ages in open vats or casks.

4. [with obj.] — determine how old (something) is

• we didn't have a clue how to age these animals.

III. phrases

1. act (or be) one's age

[usu. in imperative] — behave in a manner appropriate to someone of one's age and not to someone much younger

• “Act your age” is not advice to behave like an adolescent.

2. come of age

a. (of a person) reach adult status.

b. (of a movement or activity) become fully established

• space travel will then finally come of age.

3. of an age

a. old enough to be able or expected to do something

• the sons are of an age to marry.

b. (of two or more people or things) of a similar age

• the children all seemed of an age.

4. through the ages

throughout history.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, based on Latin aetas, aetat-, from aevum ‘age, era.’

-age

I. suffix

1. forming nouns:

2. denoting an action

• leverage

• voyage.

3. the product of an action

• spillage

• wreckage.

4. a function; a sphere of action

• homage

• peerage.

5. denoting an aggregate or number of

• mileage

• percentage

• signage.

6. fees payable for; the cost of using

• postage

• tonnage.

7. ‹informal› denoting a large number of something (typically forming nouns whose plurals are correctly formed with -s)

• decibelage

• kissage.

8. denoting a place or abode

• vicarage

• village.

– origin from Old French, based on Latin -aticum, neuter form of the adjectival ending -aticus.

age-appropriate

adjective

suitable for a particular age or age group

• some of her outfits should be more age-appropriate

• the organization provides age-appropriate materials for teachers to use in their classrooms.

aged

adjective

1. /ājd / [predic. or postpositive] — having lived for a specified length of time; of a specified age

• young people aged 14 to 18

• he died aged 60.

2. (of a horse or farm animal) over a certain defined age of maturity, typically 6 to 12 years for horses, 3 or 4 years for cattle.

3. /ˈājəd / — having lived or existed for a long time; old

• aged men with white hair

• (as plural noun the aged) Methodist homes for the aged.

4. /ājd / — that has been subjected to aging

• jeans in hardrock wash give a unique aged appearance.

Agee, James /ˈājē/

(1909–55), US writer; full name James Rufus Agee. He wrote Let Us Now Praise Famous Men (1941) after touring the South with photographer Walker Evans and A Death in the Family (1957), for which he was posthumously awarded a Pulitzer Prize. He also wrote the screenplays for The African Queen (1951) and The Night of the Hunter (1955).

age gap

noun

a difference in age between people, especially as a potential source of misunderstanding.

age group /ˈāj ˌɡro͞op/

noun

a number of people or things classed together as being of similar age.

age hardening

I. noun

spontaneous hardening of a metal that occurs if it is quenched and then stored at ambient temperature or treated with mild heat.

II. derivatives

age-hardened

adjective

ageism /ˈājˌizəm / agism

I. noun

prejudice or discrimination on the basis of a person's age.

II. derivatives

ageist /ˈājist /

adjective, noun

ageless /ˈājləs/

I. adjective

never growing or appearing to grow old

• the town retains an ageless charm.

II. derivatives

agelessness

noun

age-long /ˈāj ˌlôNG/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. having existed for a very long time

• the will to change age-long habits.

age-mate

noun

a person or animal that is the same age as another.

agency /ˈājənsē/

I. noun

1. [often with adj. or noun modifier] — a business or organization established to provide a particular service, typically one that involves organizing transactions between two other parties

• an advertising agency

• aid agencies.

2. a department or body providing a specific service for a government or similar organization

• the Environmental Protection Agency.

3. [Law] the office or function of an agent

• a contract of agency.

4. action or intervention, especially such as to produce a particular effect

• canals carved by the agency of running water

• a belief in various forms of supernatural agency.

5. a thing or person that acts to produce a particular result

• the movies could be an agency molding the values of the public.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin agentia, from agent- ‘doing’ (see agent).

agenda /əˈjendə/

I. noun

1. a list of items to be discussed at a formal meeting

• the question of nuclear weapons had been removed from the agenda.

2. a plan of things to be done or problems to be addressed

• he vowed to put jobs at the top of his agenda

• the government had its own agenda.

3. the underlying intentions or motives of a particular person or group

• Miller has his own agenda and it has nothing to do with football.

4. (N. Amer.) an appointment diary.

II. phrases

1. on the agenda

a. scheduled for discussion at a meeting

• the rights of minorities would be high on the agenda at the conference.

b. likely or needing to be dealt with or done

• his release was not on the agenda

• national problems loomed large on the domestic agenda.

2. set the agenda

a. draw up a list of items to be discussed at a meeting.

b. influence or determine a program of action

• the activists set the agenda, and timorous administrators usually go along.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘things to be done’): from Latin, neuter plural of agendum, gerund of agere ‘do.’ / usage: Although agenda (‘things to be done’) is the plural of agendum in Latin, in standard modern English it is a normal singular noun with a normal plural form (agendas). See also usage at data and media^1.

agender /āˈjendər/

adjective

denoting or relating to a person who does not identify themselves as having a particular gender

• one of the mistakes is the presumption that an agender person must also be asexual

• their son is biologically male but identifies as agender and favors “they” as a pronoun.

agent /ˈājənt/

I. noun

1. a person who acts on behalf of another, in particular

2. a person who manages business, financial, or contractual matters for an actor, performer, or writer.

3. a person or company that provides a particular service, typically one that involves organizing transactions between two other parties

• a travel agent

• shipping agents

• a real-estate agent.

4. a person who obtains information for a government or other official body, typically in secret

• a trained intelligence agent

• KGB agents

• an FBI agent.

5. a person or thing that takes an active role or produces a specified effect

• agents of change

• bleaching agents.

6. [Grammar] the doer of an action, typically expressed as the subject of an active verb or in a by phrase with a passive verb.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘someone or something that produces an effect’): from Latin agent- ‘doing,’ from agere.

agent general

noun

the representative of an Australian state or Canadian province in a major foreign city.

agent noun /ˈājənt noun/

noun

a noun denoting someone or something that performs the action of a verb, typically ending in -er or -or, e.g., worker, accelerator.

Agent Orange /ˈājənt ˈôrənj/

noun

a defoliant chemical used by the US in the Vietnam War.

agent provocateur /ˌäZHän(t) prəˌvôkəˈtər/

I. noun

a person who induces others to break the law so that they can be convicted.

– origin late 19th cent.: French, literally ‘provocative agent.’

age of consent

noun

the age at which a person's, typically a girl's, consent to sexual intercourse is valid in law.

age of discretion

noun

the age at which someone is considered able to manage their own affairs or take responsibility for their actions.

age-old /ˈāj ōld/

adjective

having existed for a very long time

• the haunting, age-old love call of the prairie chicken.

age-restricted

adjective

limited to people above or below a certain age

• age-restricted retirement communities

• age-restricted goods or services.

agflation /aɡˈflāSHən/

I. noun

[Economics] rising food prices caused by increased demand for agricultural commodities.

• in 2007 agflation hit everything from cereal and baked products to meat, poultry, fish, and eggs.

– origin early 21st cent.: blend of agriculture and inflation.

ag-gag

I. adjective

(US) ‹informal› denoting legislation that prohibits covert documentation or investigation of conditions in the farming industry (used chiefly by opponents of such legislation)

• a handful of states have introduced ag-gag bills that make it illegal to take photographs or videos of farms without farmer consent.

– origin 1960s (originally in reference to a proposed rule restricting the release of information by the US Department of Agriculture): from ag + gag^1.

agglomerate

I. verb — /əˈɡläməˌrāt /

1. collect or form into a mass or group
[with obj.]

• companies agglomerate multiple sites such as chains of stores

• [no obj.] these small particles soon agglomerate together.

II. noun — /əˈɡlämərət /

1. a mass or collection of things

• a multimedia agglomerate.

2. [Geology] a volcanic rock consisting of large fragments bonded together.

III. adjective — /əˈɡlämərət /

1. collected or formed into a mass.

IV. derivatives

agglomerative /əˈɡläməˌrādiv /

adjective

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin agglomerat- ‘added to,’ from the verb agglomerare, from ad- ‘to’ + glomerare (from glomus ‘ball’).

agglomeration /əˌɡläməˈrāSH(ə)n/

noun

a mass or collection of things; an assemblage

• the arts center is an agglomeration of theaters, galleries, shops, restaurants, and bars.

agglutinate /əˈɡlo͞otnˌāt/

I. verb

1. firmly stick or be stuck together to form a mass
(as adj. agglutinated)

• rhinoceros horns are agglutinated masses of hair.

2. [Biology] (with reference to bacteria or red blood cells) clump together
[with obj.]

• these strains agglutinate human red cells

• [no obj.] cell fragments agglutinate and form intricate meshes.

3. [with obj.] — [Linguistics] combine (simple words or parts of words) without change of form to express compound ideas.

II. derivatives

agglutination /əˌɡlo͞otnˈāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin agglutinat- ‘caused to adhere,’ from the verb agglutinare, from ad- ‘to’ + glutinare (from gluten ‘glue’).

agglutinative /əˈɡlo͞otnādiv/

adjective

[Linguistics] (of a language) forming words predominantly by agglutination, rather than by inflection or by using isolated elements. Examples include Hungarian, Turkish, Korean, and Swahili.

agglutinin /əˈɡlo͞ot(ə)nən/

I. noun

[Biology] an antibody, lectin, or other substance that causes agglutination.

– origin late 19th cent.: from agglutinate + -in^1.

agglutinogen /əˈɡlo͞otənəjən/

noun

[Biology] an antigen that stimulates the production of an agglutinin.

aggradation /ˌaɡrəˈdāSHən/

I. noun

the deposition of material by a river, stream, or current.

– origin late 19th cent.: from ag- (expressing increase) + (de)gradation.

aggrandize /əˈɡranˌdīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. increase the power, status, or wealth of

• an action intended to aggrandize the Frankish dynasty.

2. enhance the reputation of (someone) beyond what is justified by the facts

• he hoped to aggrandize himself by dying a hero's death.

II. derivatives

1. aggrandizement /əˈɡrandəzmənt əˈɡranˌdīzmənt /

noun

2. aggrandizer

noun

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the general sense ‘increase, magnify’): from French agrandiss-, lengthened stem of agrandir, probably from Italian aggrandire, from Latin grandis ‘large.’ The ending was changed by association with verbs ending in -ize.

aggravate /ˈaɡrəˌvāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (a problem, injury, or offense) worse or more serious

• military action would only aggravate the situation.

2. ‹informal› annoy or exasperate (someone), especially persistently

• the gesture aggravated me even more

• (as adj. aggravating) she found him thoroughly aggravating and unprofessional.

II. derivatives

aggravatingly

adverb

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin aggravat- ‘made heavy,’ from the verb aggravare, from ad- (expressing increase) + gravis ‘heavy.’ / usage: Aggravate in the sense ‘annoy or exasperate’ dates back to the 17th century and has been so used by respected writers ever since. This use is still regarded as incorrect by some traditionalists on the grounds that it is too radical a departure from the etymological meaning of ‘make heavy.’ It is, however, comparable to meaning changes in hundreds of other words that have long been accepted without comment.

aggravated /ˈaɡrəˌvādəd/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of an offense) made more serious by attendant circumstances (such as frame of mind)

• aggravated burglary.

2. (of a penalty) made more severe in recognition of the seriousness of an offense

• aggravated damages.

aggravation /ˌaɡrəˈvāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. an intensification of a negative quality or aspect

• Negotiators were optimistic despite the aggravation of the standoff caused by the press release.

2. (in homeopathy) the temporary appearance or worsening of symptoms that a remedy is intended to eliminate, taken to be caused by too strong a dose.

3. the state of being aggravated

• Internet users' aggravation with the deluge of pop-up ads.

4. a cause of annoyance or irritation

• the aggravations of living with a self-confessed sports junkie.

aggregate

I. noun — /ˈaɡriɡət /

1. a whole formed by combining several (typically disparate) elements

• the council was an aggregate of three regional assemblies.

2. the total number of points scored by a player or team in a series of sporting contests

• the result put the sides even on aggregate.

3. a material or structure formed from a loosely compacted mass of fragments or particles.

4. pieces of broken or crushed stone or gravel used to make concrete, or more generally in building and construction work.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. formed or calculated by the combination of many separate units or items; total

• the aggregate amount of grants made.

2. [Botany] (of a group of species) comprising several very similar species formerly regarded as a single species.

3. [Economics] denoting the total supply or demand for goods and services in an economy at a particular time

• aggregate demand

• aggregate supply.

III. verb — /aɡrəˌɡāt /

1. form or group into a class or cluster
[no obj.]

• the butterflies aggregate in dense groups.

2. [Computing] collect (related items of content) so as to display or link to them

• tools that aggregate data from all of the security devices are a good first step.

IV. phrases

in (the) aggregate

in total; as a whole.

V. derivatives

aggregative /ˈaɡrəˌɡādiv /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin aggregat- ‘herded together,’ from the verb aggregare, from ad- ‘toward’ + grex, greg- ‘a flock.’

aggregate demand

noun

[Economics] the total demand for goods and services within a particular market

• it is generally assumed that increases in credit stimulate aggregate demand.

aggregate fruit

noun

[Botany] a fruit formed from several carpels derived from the same flower, e.g., a raspberry.

aggregate supply

noun

[Economics] the total supply of goods and services available to a particular market from producers

• the aim of the tax changes is to stimulate the supply side of the economy and therefore boost aggregate supply.

aggregation /ˌaɡrəˈɡāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the formation of a number of things into a cluster

• a single dose of aspirin irreversibly inhibits the normal aggregation of platelets.

2. a cluster of things that have come or been brought together

• the pelican is the other bird likely to be found in large aggregations in East Africa's wetlands.

3. (on the Internet) the collection of related items of content so that they can be displayed or linked to

• a desktop aggregation app that brings together Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

aggregator /ˈaɡrəˌɡādər/

noun

1. [Computing] a website or program that collects related items of content and displays them or links to them.

2. a wholesale buyer or broker of a utility service, such as electricity or long-distance telephone service, who packages it and sells it to consumers.

aggress /əˈɡres/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. attack or behave aggressively towards; initiate a conflict with

• he aggressed a flight attendant on an Air France flight

• [no obj.] victims in this situation may retaliate by aggressing against their husbands.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘approach, march forward’): from French aggresser ‘to attack,’ from Latin aggress-, from aggredi ‘to attack’ (see aggression).

aggression /əˈɡreSHən/

I. noun

1. hostile or violent behavior or attitudes toward another; readiness to attack or confront

• his chin was jutting with aggression

• territorial aggression between individuals of the same species.

2. the action or an act of attacking without provocation

• he called for an end to foreign aggression against his country

• the president has been emboldened by the success of his latest aggressions.

3. forceful and sometimes overly assertive pursuit of one's aims and interests.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘an attack’): from Latin aggressio(n-), from aggredi ‘to attack,’ from ad- ‘toward’ + gradi ‘proceed, walk.’

aggressive /əˈɡresiv/

I. adjective

1. ready or likely to attack or confront; characterized by or resulting from aggression

• he's very uncooperative and aggressive

• aggressive behavior.

2. pursuing one's aims and interests forcefully, sometimes unduly so

• an aggressive businessman.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin aggress- ‘attacked’ (from the verb aggredi) + -ive; compare with French agressif, -ive.

aggressively /əˈɡresivlē/

adverb

1. in a manner resulting from or betraying aggression

• he resisted violently and continued to behave aggressively in the police car.

2. in a determined and forceful way

• foreign-owned banks are aggressively marketing credit cards.

aggressiveness /əˈɡresivnəs/

noun

1. hostile or violent behavior

• recent research has linked violent video games to increased aggressiveness in youths.

2. determination and forcefulness

• smaller, quicker players use their speed and aggressiveness to make up for lack of bulk.

aggressor /əˈɡresər/

I. noun

a person or country that attacks another first.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from late Latin, from aggredi ‘to attack’ (see aggression).

aggrieved /əˈɡrēvd/

I. adjective

feeling resentment at having been unfairly treated

• they were aggrieved at the outcome

• she did not see herself as the aggrieved party.

II. derivatives

aggrievedly /-vidlē /

adverb

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘distressed’): past participle of aggrieve, from Old French agrever ‘make heavier,’ based on Latin aggravare (see aggravate).

aggro /ˈaɡrō/

I. noun

1. (Brit.) ‹informal› aggressive, violent behavior.

2. (Brit.) ‹informal› problems and difficulties.

– origin 1960s: abbreviation of aggravation (see aggravate), or of aggression.

aghast /əˈɡast/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. filled with horror or shock

• when the news came out they were aghast.

– origin late Middle English: past participle of the obsolete verb agast, gast ‘frighten,’ from Old English gǣsten. The spelling with gh (originally Scots) became general by about 1700, probably influenced by ghost; compare with ghastly.

agile /ˈajəl/

I. adjective

1. able to move quickly and easily

• Ruth was as agile as a monkey.

2. able to think and understand quickly

• his vague manner concealed an agile mind.

3. relating to or denoting a method of project management, used especially for software development, that is characterized by the division of tasks into short phases of work and frequent reassessment and adaptation of plans

• agile methods replace high-level design with frequent redesign.

Contrasted with waterfall (adjective).

II. derivatives

agilely /ˈajə(l)lē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: via French from Latin agilis, from agere ‘do.’

agile gibbon

noun

a gibbon with color varying from light buff to black, found in Southeast Asia.
[Hylobates agilis, family Hylobatidae.]

agility /əˈjilədē/

noun

1. ability to move quickly and easily

• though he was without formal training as dancer or athlete, his physical agility was inexhaustible.

2. ability to think and understand quickly

• games teach hand–eye coordination, mental agility, and alertness.

agin /əˈɡin/

I. preposition

dialect form of against.

– origin early 19th cent.: variant of the obsolete preposition again, with the same meaning.

Agincourt, Battle of /ˈajinˌkôrt, äZHaNˈko͝or/

a battle in northern France in 1415 during the Hundred Years War, in which the English under Henry V defeated a large French army. The victory, achieved largely by use of the longbow, allowed Henry to occupy Normandy.

aging /ˈājiNG / ‹Brit.› ageing

I. noun

1. the process of growing old

• the external signs of aging

• [as modifier] the aging process.

2. the process of change in the properties of a material occurring over a period, either spontaneously or through deliberate action.

II. adjective

1. (of a person) growing old; elderly

• looking after aging relatives

• an aging population.

2. (of a thing) reaching the end of useful life; obsolescent

• the world's aging fleet of oil tankers.

agita /ˈajətə/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› indigestion

• I ain't a healthy guy! My stomach can't take this agita.

2. ‹informal› anxiety, stress, or aggravation

• there will be times when he causes the Democratic leadership some agita.

– origin 1980s: from Italian agitare ‘agitate, shake.’

agitate /ˈajəˌtāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (someone) troubled or nervous

• the thought of questioning Toby agitated him extremely.

2. [no obj.] — campaign to arouse public concern about an issue in the hope of prompting action

• they agitated for a reversal of the decision.

3. stir or disturb (something, especially a liquid) briskly

• agitate the water to disperse the oil.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘drive away’): from Latin agitat- ‘agitated, driven,’ from agitare, frequentative of agere ‘do, drive.’

agitated /ˈajiˌtādəd/

I. adjective

feeling or appearing troubled or nervous

• there's no point getting agitated.

• she was red and agitated with the effort of arguing.

II. derivatives

agitatedly /ˈajəˌtādidlē /

adverb

agitation /ˌajəˈtāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a state of anxiety or nervous excitement

• she was wringing her hands in agitation.

2. the action of arousing public concern about an issue and pressing for action on it

• widespread agitation for social reform.

3. the action of briskly stirring or disturbing something, especially a liquid.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘action, being active’): from Latin agitatio(n-), from the verb agitare (see agitate).

agitato /ˌajəˈtädō/

I. adverb, adjective

[Music] (especially as a direction after a tempo marking) in an agitated manner

• allegro agitato.

– origin Italian, literally ‘agitated.’

agitator /ˈajəˌtādər/

I. noun

1. a person who urges others to protest or rebel

• an activist and agitator who fought for striking miners.

2. an apparatus for stirring liquid, as in a washing machine or a photographic developing tank.

– origin mid 17th cent. (denoting a delegate of private soldiers in the Parliamentary Army during the English Civil War (1642–49)) from Latin, from agitare (see agitate). Sense 1 dates from the mid 18th cent.

agitprop /ˈajətˌpräp/

I. noun

political (originally communist) propaganda, especially in art or literature
[as modifier]

• agitprop painters.

– origin 1930s: Russian, blend of agitatsiya ‘agitation’ and propaganda ‘propaganda.’

agleam /əˈɡlēm/

adjective — [predic.]

1. gleaming

• yellow fur agleam in the sun.

aglet /ˈaɡlət/

I. noun

a metal or plastic tube fixed tightly around each end of a shoelace.

– origin late Middle English: from French aiguillette ‘small needle,’ diminutive of aiguille (see aiguille).

agley /əˈɡlā, əˈɡlē/

I. adverb

(Scottish) askew; awry.

– origin late 18th cent.: from a-2 ‘on’ + Scots gley ‘squint,’ of unknown origin.

aglow /əˈɡlō/

adjective — [predic.]

1. glowing

• his bald head aglow under the lights.

agma /ˈaɡmə/

I. noun

the speech sound represented by ng as in thing, a velar nasal consonant represented by ŋ in the International Phonetic Alphabet.

– origin 1950s: from late Greek, from Greek, literally ‘fragment.’

agnail /ˈaɡnāl/

noun

another term for hangnail.

agnate /ˈaɡnāt / ‹chiefly Law›

I. noun

a person descended from the same male ancestor as another specified or implied person, especially through the male line.

II. adjective

descended from the same male ancestor as a specified or implied subject, especially through the male line.
Compare with cognate (sense 2 of the adjective).

III. derivatives

1. agnatic /aɡˈnadik /

adjective

2. agnation /aɡˈnāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin late 15th cent. (as a noun): from Latin agnatus, from ad- ‘to’ + gnatus, natus ‘born.’

Agnatha /ˈaɡnəTHə / ‹Zoology›

I. a group of primitive jawless vertebrates that includes the lampreys, hagfishes, and many fossil fishlike forms.
Compare with cyclostome. [Superclass Agnatha: the living forms are in the classes Myxini (hagfishes) and Cephalaspidomorphi (lampreys).]

II. derivatives

agnathan

noun, adjective

– origin from modern Latin Agnatha (superclass name), from a-1 ‘without’ + Greek gnathos ‘jaw.’

Agnes, St.1 /ˈaɡnəs/

(died c. 304), Roman martyr. The patron saint of virgins, her emblem is a lamb (Latin agnus). Feast day, January 21.

Agnes, St.2

(c. 1211–82), patron saint of Bohemia. She was canonized in 1989. Feast day, March 2.

Agnesi, Maria Gaetana /änˈyāzē/

(1718–99), Italian mathematician and philosopher. She wrote a mathematics textbook and was the first woman appointed to a university chair in mathematics.

Agnew, Spiro T. /ˈaɡn(y)o͞o/

(1918–96), US politician; full name Spiro Theodore Agnew. He served as Richard Nixon's vice president 1969–73 but was forced to resign because of corruption charges against him that stemmed from his time as governor of Maryland 1967–69.

Agni /ˈaɡnē, ˈəɡ-/

the Vedic god of fire, the priest of the gods and the god of the priests.

agnolotti /ˌanyəˈlädē/

I. noun

pasta squares stuffed with a variety of fillings, like small ravioli.

– origin Italian.

agnomen /aɡˈnōmən/

I. noun

a fourth name occasionally given as an honor to an ancient Roman citizen

• he earned the agnomen “Coriolanus” by conspicuous bravery in battle.

Compare with nomen, cognomen, praenomen.

– origin mid 17th cent.: Latin, from ad ‘to’ + gnomen, nomen ‘name.’

agnosia /aɡˈnōZH(ē)ə/

I. noun

[Medicine] inability to interpret sensations and hence to recognize things, typically as a result of brain damage.

– origin early 20th cent.: coined in German from Greek agnōsia ‘ignorance.’

agnostic /aɡˈnästik/

I. noun

a person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God or of anything beyond material phenomena; a person who claims neither faith nor disbelief in God.

II. adjective

1. of or relating to agnostics or agnosticism.

2. (in a nonreligious context) having a doubtful or noncommittal attitude toward something

• until now I've been fairly agnostic about electoral reform.

3. [usu. in combination] — [Computing] denoting or relating to hardware or software that is compatible with many types of platforms or operating systems

• many common file formats (JPEG, MP3, etc.) are platform-agnostic.

III. derivatives

agnosticism /aɡˈnästəˌsizəm /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from a-1 ‘not’ + gnostic.

Agnus Dei /ˈaɡnəs ˈdāˌē, ˈdēˌī, ˈänyo͞os/

I. noun

1. a figure of a lamb bearing a cross or flag, as an emblem of Christ.

2. [Christian Church] an invocation beginning with the words “Lamb of God” forming a set part of the liturgy.

3. a musical setting of this.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin, literally ‘Lamb of God.’

ago /əˈɡō/

I. adverb

(used after a measurement of time) before the present; earlier

• he went five minutes ago

• as long ago as 1942

• not long ago he came across a rattlesnake outside his house.

– origin Middle English ago, agone, past participle of the obsolete verb ago ‘pass,’ used to express passage of time. / usage: When ago is followed by a clause, the clause is normally introduced by that rather than since: it was sixty years ago that I left this place (not it was sixty years ago since I left this place). The use of since is redundant and is not correct in standard English.

agog /əˈɡäɡ/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. very eager or curious to hear or see something

• I'm all agog to see London

• New York is agog at the gossip.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Old French en gogues, from en ‘in’ + the plural of gogue ‘fun.’

agogic /əˈɡäjik, əˈɡō- / ‹Music›

I. adjective

relating to or denoting an accent produced by lengthening the time value of a note.

II. plural noun — (agogics) [usu. treated as sing.]

1. the use of agogic accents.

– origin late 19th cent.: coined in German from Greek agōgos ‘leading,’ from agein ‘to lead,’ + -ic.

agogo /əˈɡōɡō/

I. noun

a small bell made of two metal cones, used as a percussion instrument in African and Latin music.

– origin from Yoruba.

a gogo /ə ˈɡōˌɡō/

I. adjective — [postpositive]

1. ‹informal› in abundance; galore

• Gershwin a gogo—all the hits.

– origin 1960s: from French à gogo, from Old French gogue ‘fun.’

agonic line /əˈɡänik ˌlīn/

I. noun

an imaginary line around the earth passing through both the north pole and the north magnetic pole, at any point on which a compass needle points to true north.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek agōnios, agōnos (from a- ‘without’ + gonia ‘angle’) + -ic.

agonist /ˈaɡənəst/

I. noun

1. [Biochemistry] a substance that initiates a physiological response when combined with a receptor.
Compare with antagonist.

2. [Anatomy] a muscle whose contraction moves a part of the body directly.
Often contrasted with antagonist.

3. another term for protagonist.

II. derivatives

agonism /-ˌnizəm /

noun

– origin early 20th cent.: from Greek agōnistēs ‘contestant’ (a sense reflected in English in the early 17th cent.), from agōn ‘contest.’

agonistic /ˌaɡəˈnistik/

I. adjective

1. combative; polemical.

2. [Zoology] (of animal behavior) associated with conflict.

3. [Biochemistry] of, relating to, or acting as an agonist.

II. derivatives

agonistically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: via late Latin from Greek agōnistikos, from agōnistēs ‘contestant,’ from agōn ‘contest.’

agonize /ˈaɡəˌnīz/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. undergo great mental anguish through worrying about something

• I didn't agonize over the problem.

2. [with obj.] — cause mental anguish to (someone).

– origin late 16th cent.: from French agoniser or late Latin agonizare, from Greek agōnizesthai ‘contend,’ from agōn ‘contest.’

agonized /ˈaɡəˌnīzd/

adjective

manifesting, suffering, or characterized by great physical or mental pain

• she gave an agonized cry

• months of agonized discussion.

agonizing /ˈaɡəˌnīziNG / agonising

I. adjective

causing great physical or mental pain

• there is an agonizing choice to make

• an agonizing death.

II. derivatives

agonizingly /ˈaɡəˌnīziNGlē /

adverb

[as submodifier]

• agonizingly slow steps

agony /ˈaɡənē/

I. noun

1. extreme physical or mental suffering

• he crashed to the ground in agony.

2. the final stages of a difficult or painful death

• his last agony

• the death agony.

– origin late Middle English (originally denoting mental anguish alone): via Old French and late Latin from Greek agōnia, from agōn ‘contest.’ The sense of physical suffering dates from the early 17th cent.

agony column /ˈaɡənē ˈkäləm/

noun

1. (Brit.) ‹informal› a column in a newspaper or magazine offering advice on personal problems to readers who write in.

2. (Brit.) ‹informal› ‹dated› a personal column.

agora^1 /ˈaɡərə/

I. noun

(in ancient Greece) a public open space used for assemblies and markets.

– origin from Greek.

agora^2 /aɡəˈrä/

I. noun

a monetary unit of Israel, equal to one hundredth of a shekel.

– origin from Hebrew ῾ăgōrāh ‘small coin.’

agoraphobia /ˌaɡərəˈfōbēə/

I. noun

extreme or irrational fear of crowded spaces or enclosed public places.

II. derivatives

1. agoraphobic /ˈˌaɡ(ə)rəˈfōbik /

adjective, noun

2. agoraphobe /ˈaɡərəˌfōb /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek agora ‘place of assembly, marketplace’ + -phobia.

Agoura Hills /əˌɡo͝orə ˈhilz/

a city in southwestern California, northwest of Los Angeles; pop. 22,283 (est. 2008).

agouti /əˈɡo͞odē/

I. noun

1. a large, long-legged burrowing rodent related to the guinea pig, native to Central and South America.
[Genera Cuniculus and Dasyprocta, family Dasyproctidae: several species.]

2. fur in which each hair has alternate dark and light bands, producing a grizzled appearance.

3. a rodent, especially a mouse, having agouti fur.

– origin mid 16th cent.: via French or from Spanish aguti, from Tupi akutí.

Agra /ˈäɡrə/

a city on the Jumna River in Uttar Pradesh state, northern India; pop. 1,638,200 (est. 2009). The capital of the Mogul empire 1566–1658, it is the site of the Taj Mahal.

agranulocytosis /āˌɡranyəlōsīˈtōsəs/

noun

[Medicine] a deficiency of granulocytes in the blood, causing increased vulnerability to infection.

agrarian /əˈɡrerēən/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to cultivated land or the cultivation of land.

2. relating to landed property.

3. relating to a social system upon which agriculture is the sustaining foundation.

II. noun

a person who advocates a redistribution of landed property, especially as part of a social movement.

III. derivatives

agrarianism /əˈɡrerēənizm /

noun

– origin early 17th cent. (originally designating a Roman law for the division of conquered lands): from Latin agrarius, from ager, agr- ‘field.’

Agrarian Revolution

the transformation of British agriculture during the 18th century, characterized by the enclosure of common land and the introduction of technological innovations such as the seed drill and the rotation of crops.

agree /əˈɡrē/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. have the same opinion about something; concur

• I completely agree with your recent editorial

• we both agreed on issues such as tougher penalties for criminals

• [with clause] I agree that consumers are always right

• [with direct speech] “Yes, it's dreadful, isn't it,” she agreed.

2. (agree with) — approve of (something) with regard to its moral correctness

• I'm not sure I agree with abortion.

3. (agree to or to do something) — consent to do something that has been suggested by another person

• she had agreed to go and see a movie with him.

4. [no obj.] — reach agreement about (something), typically after a period of negotiation

• the commission agreed on a proposal to limit imports

• (chiefly Brit.) if they had agreed a price, the deal would have gone through.

5. (agree with) — be consistent with

• your body language does not agree with what you are saying.

6. [Grammar] have the same number, gender, case, or person as

• the writer made the verb agree with the subject.

7. [usu. with negative] — be healthy or appropriate for someone

• she's eaten something that did not agree with her.

II. phrases

agree to differ

see differ.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French agreer, based on Latin ad- ‘to’ + gratus ‘pleasing.’ / usage: Note the distinction between agreeing to something like a plan, scheme, or project and agreeing with somebody: I agree to the repayment schedule suggested; Danielle agrees with Eric that we should all go hiking on Saturday; humid weather does not agree with me. The construction agree with is also used regarding two things that go together: that story does not agree with the facts; the verb must agree with the noun in person and number.

agreeable /əˈɡrēəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. enjoyable and pleasurable; pleasant

• a cheerful and agreeable companion.

2. [predic.] — willing to agree to something

• they were agreeable to its publication.

3. (of a course of action) acceptable

• a compromise that might be agreeable to both management and unions.

II. derivatives

1. agreeableness /əˈɡrēəbəlnəs /

noun

2. agreeably /əˈɡrēəblē /

adverb

[as submodifier]

• an agreeably warm day

– origin late Middle English: from Old French agreable, from agreer ‘make agreeable to’ (see agree).

agreed /əˈɡrēd/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. discussed or negotiated and then accepted by all parties

• the agreed time

• the agreed upon percentage.

2. [predic.] — (of two or more parties) holding the same view or opinion on something

• all the republics are agreed on the necessity of a common defense policy

• [with clause] we are agreed that what is needed is a catchy title.

agreement /əˈɡrēmənt/

I. noun

1. harmony or accordance in opinion or feeling; a position or result of agreeing

• the governments failed to reach agreement

• the two officers nodded in agreement

• there is wide agreement that investment is necessary.

2. a negotiated and typically legally binding arrangement between parties as to a course of action

• a trade agreement

• a verbal agreement to sell.

3. the absence of incompatibility between two things; consistency

• agreement between experimental observations and theory.

4. [Grammar] the condition of having the same number, gender, case, or person.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, from agreer ‘make agreeable to’ (see agree).

agrestal /əˈɡrestl/

I. adjective

[Botany] growing wild in cultivated fields.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin agrestis ‘relating to the country’ (see agrestic) + -al.

agrestic /əˈɡrestik/

I. adjective

‹chiefly literary› of or relating to the country; rural; rustic.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin agrestis, from ager, agr- ‘field’ + -ic.

agri-

combining form

variant spelling of agro-:

• agriculture

• agribusiness.

agribusiness /ˈaɡrəˌbiznəs/

I. noun

1. agriculture conducted on commercial principles, especially using advanced technology.

2. an organization engaged in this.

3. the group of industries dealing with agricultural produce and services required in farming.

– origin 1950s (originally US): blend of agriculture and business.

Agricola, Gnaeus Julius /əˈɡrikələ/

(AD 40–93), Roman general and governor of Britain 78–84. As governor he completed the subjugation of Wales and defeated the Scottish Highland tribes.

agricultural /ˌaɡrəˈkəlCH(ə)rəl/

I. adjective

of or relating to agriculture

• agricultural land

• an agricultural worker.

II. derivatives

1. agriculturalist /ˌaɡrəˈkəlCH(ə)rələst /

noun

2. agriculturally

adverb

• agriculturally fertile plains

agriculture /ˈaɡrəˌkəlCHər/

I. noun

the science or practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for the growing of crops and the rearing of animals to provide food, wool, and other products.

II. derivatives

agriculturist /ˌaɡrəˈkəlCH(ə)rəst /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin agricultura, from ager, agr- ‘field’ + cultura ‘growing, cultivation.’

agrimony /ˈaɡrəˌmōnē/

I. noun

a plant of the rose family bearing slender flower spikes and spiny fruits. Native to north temperate regions, it has been used traditionally in herbal medicine and dyeing.
[Genus Agrimonia, family Rosaceae: several species, in particular A. eupatoria, which has small yellow flowers.]

– origin late Middle English: directly or (in early use) via Old French from Latin agrimonia, alteration of argemonia, from Greek argemōnē ‘poppy.’

Agrippa, Marcus Vipsanius /əˈɡripə/

(63–12 BC), Roman general. Augustus's adviser and son-in-law, he played an important part in the naval victories over Mark Antony.

agriscience /ˈaɡrəˌsīəns/

I. noun

the application of science to agriculture.

II. derivatives

agriscientist /-tist /

noun

agritainment /ˌaɡrəˈtānmənt/

noun

farm-based entertainment including activities such as hayrides, pony rides, wine tasting, cornfield-maze contests, and harvest festivals.

agro- agri-

I. combining form

1. agricultural

• agro-industry

• agrobiology

• agribusiness.

2. agriculture and …

• agroforestry.

– origin from Greek agros ‘field.’

agrobiology /ˌaɡrōbīˈäləjē/

I. noun

the branch of biology that deals with soil science and plant nutrition and its application to crop production.

II. derivatives

1. agrobiological /-bīəˈläjikəl /

adjective

2. agrobiologist /-jist /

noun

agrochemical /ˌaɡrōˈkemək(ə)l / agrichemical

noun

a chemical used in agriculture, such as a pesticide or a fertilizer.

agroforestry /ˌaɡrōˈfôrəstrē/

noun

agriculture incorporating the cultivation and conservation of trees.

agro-industry /ˈˌaɡrō ˈindəstrē/

I. noun

1. industry connected with agriculture.

2. agriculture developed along industrial lines.

II. derivatives

agro-industrial

adjective

agrology /əˈɡräləjē/

I. noun

(Canadian) the application of science to agriculture.

II. derivatives

agrologist /-jist /

noun

agronomy /əˈɡränəmē/

I. noun

the science of soil management and crop production.

II. derivatives

1. agronomic /ˌaɡrəˈnämik /

adjective

2. agronomical /ˌaɡrəˈnämikəl /

adjective

3. agronomically /ˌaɡrəˈnämik(ə)lē /

adverb

4. agronomist /əˈɡränəməst /

noun

– origin early 19th cent.: from French agronomie, from agronome ‘agriculturist,’ from Greek agros ‘field’ + -nomos ‘arranging’ (from nemein ‘arrange’).

Agro Pontino

Italian name for Pontine Marshes.

agrostology /ˌaɡrəˈstäləjē/

I. noun

the branch of botany concerned with grasses.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek agrōstis (denoting a kind of grass) + -logy.

agroterrorism /ˌaɡrōˈterəˌrizəm/

I. noun

terrorist acts intended to disrupt or damage a country's agriculture, especially the use of a biological agent against crops or livestock.

II. derivatives

agroterrorist

noun

aground /əˈɡround/

I. adjective, adverb

(with reference to a ship) on or onto the bottom in shallow water
[as adv.]

• the ships must slow to avoid running aground

• [as predic. adj.] a cargo ship aground in the Mediterranean.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘on the ground’): from a-2 ‘on’ + ground^1.

Agua Prieta /ˌäɡwə prēˈādə/

a city in Sonora, in northwestern Mexico, near the Arizona border; pop. 66,856 (2005).

aguardiente /ˌäɡwärˈdyentā/

I. noun

(in Spanish-speaking regions) a distilled liquor resembling brandy, especially as made in South America from sugar cane.

– origin from Spanish, from agua ‘water’ + ardiente ‘fiery.’

Aguascalientes /ˌäɡwäˌskälˈyenˌtās, ˌäwä-/

I. a state in central Mexico.

II. the capital of Aguascalientes, a health resort noted for its hot springs; pop. 663,671 (2005).

– origin Spanish, literally ‘hot waters.’

ague /ˈāˌɡyo͞o/

I. noun

1. ‹archaic› malaria or some other illness involving fever and shivering.

2. ‹archaic› a fever or shivering fit.

II. derivatives

1. agued /ˈāˌɡyo͞od /

adjective

2. aguish

adjective

– origin Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin acuta (febris) ‘acute (fever).’

Agulhas, Cape /əˈɡələs/

the most southern point of the continent of Africa, in Western Cape province, South Africa.

Agulhas Current

an ocean current in the Indian Ocean that flows southward along the east coast of Africa.

AGW

abbreviation

anthropogenic global warming.

ah /ä/

I. exclamation

used to express a range of emotions including surprise, pleasure, sympathy, and realization

• ah, there you are!

• ah, this is the life.

– origin Middle English: from Old French.

AH /āˈāCH/

I. abbreviation

in the year of the Hegira (used in the Muslim calendar for reckoning years from Muhammad's departure from Mecca in AD 622); of the Muslim era

• a Koran dated 556 AH.

– origin from Latin anno Hegirae.

aha /äˈhä/

I. exclamation

used to express satisfaction, triumph, or surprise

• Aha! So that's your secret plan!

– origin Middle English: from ah + ha^1.

AHA

abbreviation

1. alpha-hydroxy acid.

2. American Heart Association.

Ahaggar Mountains /əˈhäɡər, ˌähəˈɡär/

another name for Hoggar Mountains.

aha moment

noun

‹informal› a moment of sudden insight or discovery

• it was one of those aha moments, when you know you have to risk it all.

ahead /əˈhed /əˈhed//

I. adverb

1. further forward in space; in the line of one's forward motion

• he had to give his attention to the road ahead

• he was striding ahead toward the stream.

2. further forward in time; in advance; in the near future

• he contemplated the day ahead

• we have to plan ahead.

3. onward so as to make progress.

4. in the lead

• the Bucks were ahead by four

• he was slightly ahead on points.

5. higher in number, amount, or value than previously

• profits were slightly ahead.

II. phrases

1. ahead of

a. in front of or before

• she walked ahead of him along the corridor.

b. in store for; awaiting

• we have a long drive ahead of us.

c. earlier than planned or expected

• elimination of trade barriers came five years ahead of schedule.

2. ahead of time

in advance.

3. ahead of one's (or its) time

innovative and radical by the standards of the time; more characteristic of a later age.

– origin mid 16th cent. (originally in nautical use): from a-2 ‘in, at’ + head.

ahem /əˈhəm əˈhm/

I. exclamation

used to represent the noise made when clearing the throat, typically to attract attention or express disapproval or embarrassment.

– origin mid 18th cent.: lengthened form of hem^2.

ahi /ˈähē/

I. noun

a large tuna, especially as an item of food.

– origin Hawaiian ‘ahi.

ahimsa /əˈhimˌsä/

I. noun

(in the Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain tradition) the principle of nonviolence toward all living things.

– origin Sanskrit, from a ‘non-, without’ + hiṃsā ‘violence.’

ahistorical /ˌāhiˈstôrikəl, -ˈstär-/

adjective

lacking historical perspective or context

• ahistorical nostalgia that misunderstands cultural history.

Ahmadabad /ˈämədəˌbäd / Ahmedabad

an industrial city in the state of Gujarat in western India; pop. 3,913,800 (est. 2009).

Ahmadi /äˈmädē/

I. noun

a follower of the Ahmadiyya movement.

– origin early 20th cent.: Urdu aḥmadī, from Ahmad (see Ahmadiyya).

Ahmadiyya /ˌäməˈdē(y)ə/

I. noun — [often as modifier]

1. a Muslim movement whose followers believe that its founder Mīrzā Gulām Ahmad (c. 1839–1908) was the Mahdi or promised messiah

• the Ahmadiyya community.

– origin early 20th cent.: Urdu aḥmadiyya, from the name of Mīrzā Gulām Ahmad.

aholehole /əˌhōlēˈhōlē/

I. noun

a small silvery fish occurring only in the shallow waters around the Hawaiian islands, where it is a food fish.
[Kuhlia sandvicensis, family Kuhliidae.]

– origin from Hawaiian.

-aholic -oholic

I. suffix

denoting a person addicted to something

• shopaholic

• workaholic.

– origin on the pattern of (alc)oholic.

ahoy /əˈhoi/

I. exclamation

[Nautical] a call used to greet someone or draw attention to something from a distance

• ahoy there!

• ship ahoy!

II. phrases

land ahoy!

[Nautical] an exclamation announcing the sighting of land from a ship.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from ah + hoy^1.

Ahriman /ˈärəmən/

the evil spirit in the doctrine of Zoroastrianism, the opponent of Ahura Mazda.

Ahura Mazda /əˌho͞orə ˈmäzdə/

I. the creator god of Zoroastrianism, the force for good and the opponent of Ahriman.
Also called Ormazd.

– origin Avestan, literally ‘wise deity.’

Ahvaz /äˈväz / Ahwaz

a town in western Iran; pop. 985,614 (2006).

Ahvenanmaa /ˈävəˌnänˌmä/

Finnish name for Åland Islands.

AI

abbreviation

1. Amnesty International.

2. artificial insemination.

3. artificial intelligence.

aid /ād/

I. noun

1. help, typically of a practical nature

• he saw the pilot slumped in his cockpit and went to his aid

• within six weeks he was walking with the aid of a walker.

2. financial or material help given to a country or area in need

• 700,000 tons of food aid

• [as modifier] aid convoys.

3. a person or thing that is a source of help or assistance

• exercise is an important aid to recovery after heart attacks

• a teaching aid.

4. ‹historical› a grant of subsidy or tax to a king.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. help, assist, or support (someone or something) in the achievement of something

• women were aided in childbirth by midwives

• [no obj.] the heel was slanted to aid in climbing hilly terrain.

2. promote or encourage (something)

• diet and exercise aid healthy skin.

III. phrases

1. aid and abet

see abet.

2. in aid of

(chiefly Brit.) in support of; for the purpose of raising money for

• a concert in aid of Armenia.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French aïde (noun), aïdier (verb), based on Latin adjuvare, from ad- ‘toward’ + juvare ‘to help.’

AID

abbreviation

1. Agency for International Development.

2. artificial insemination by donor.

Aidan, St. /ˈādn/

(d. AD 651), Irish missionary. While a monk in the monastery at Iona he set out to Christianize Northumbria, founding a church and monastery on the island of Lindisfarne in 635 and becoming its first bishop.

aid climbing

noun

rock climbing using the assistance of objects such as pitons placed in the rock.
Compare with free climbing.

aide /ād/

noun

1. an assistant to an important person, especially to a political leader

• a presidential aide.

2. short for aide-de-camp.

aide-de-camp /ˌāddəˈkamp/

I. noun

a military officer acting as a confidential assistant to a senior officer.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French, ‘camp adjutant.’

aide-memoire /ˌādmemˈwär/

I. noun

1. an aid to the memory, especially a book or document.

2. an informal diplomatic message.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French aide-mémoire, from aider ‘to help’ and mémoire ‘memory.’

AIDS /ādz / Aids

I. noun

a disease in which there is a severe loss of the body's cellular immunity, greatly lowering the resistance to infection and malignancy.
AIDS was first identified in the early 1980s and now affects millions of people. The cause is a virus (called the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV) transmitted in blood and in sexual fluids, and although the incubation period may be long and treatment can slow the course of the disease there is currently no cure or vaccine. In the developed world the disease first spread among homosexuals, intravenous drug users, and recipients of infected blood transfusions, before reaching the wider population. This has tended to overshadow a greater epidemic in parts of Africa, where transmission is mainly through heterosexual contact.

– origin 1980s: acronym for acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

AIDS-related complex /ādz rəˈlādid rēˈlādid ˌkämˈpleks ˈkämpleks/

noun

the symptoms of a person who is infected with HIV but does not necessarily develop the disease.

aight /äˈīt, īt / ‹US›

exclamation, adjective

nonstandard spelling of all right, representing informal pronunciation:
[as exclamation]

• aight, I'm out

• [as adjective] just take it slow, you'll be aight.

aigrette /āˈɡret/

I. noun

a headdress consisting of a white egret's feather or other decoration such as a spray of gems.

– origin mid 18th cent.: French, literally ‘egret.’

aiguille /āˈɡwēl/

I. noun

a sharp pinnacle of rock in a mountain range.

– origin mid 18th cent.: French, literally ‘needle.’

aiguillette /ˌāɡwəˈlet/

I. noun

an ornament on some military and naval uniforms, consisting of braided loops hanging from the shoulder and on dress uniforms ending in points.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French, literally ‘small needle,’ diminutive of aiguille.

Aiken /ˈākən/

a resort city in west central South Carolina; pop. 29,434 (est. 2008).

aikido /īˈkēdō/

I. noun

a Japanese form of self-defense and martial art that uses locks, holds, throws, and the opponent's own movements.

– origin 1950s: from Japanese aikidō, literally ‘way of adapting the spirit,’ from ai ‘together, unify’ + ki ‘spirit’ + dō ‘way.’

ail /āl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. trouble or afflict (someone) in mind or body

• exercise is good for whatever ails you.

– origin Old English eglian, eglan, from egle ‘troublesome,’ of Germanic origin; related to Gothic agls ‘disgraceful.’

ailanthus /āˈlanTHəs/

I. noun

a tall large-leaved deciduous tree that is widely grown as an ornamental or shade tree. Native to Asia and Australasia, it has been naturalized in North America and central and southern Europe.
[Genus Ailanthus, family Simaroubaceae: several species, in particular the tree of heaven.]

– origin modern Latin, from French ailante, from Amboinese ailanto, literally ‘tree of heaven’ (the ending being influenced by names ending with -anthus, from Greek anthos ‘flower’).

aileron /ˈāləˌrän/

I. noun

a hinged surface in the trailing edge of an airplane wing, used to control lateral balance.

– origin early 20th cent.: French, literally ‘small wing.’

Ailey, Alvin /ˈālē/

(1931–89), US dancer and choreographer. He founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1958 and helped to establish modern dance as an American art form; he incorporated ballet, jazz, and Afro-Caribbean idioms in his choreography.

ailing /ˈāliNG/

adjective

in poor health

• I went to see my ailing mother

• ‹figurative› the ailing economy.

ailment /ˈālmənt/

noun

an illness, typically a minor one.

ailurophile /īˈlo͝orəˌfīl, āˈlo͝or-/

I. noun

a cat lover.

– origin 1930s: from Greek ailuros ‘cat’ + -phile.

ailurophobia /īˌlo͝orəˈfōbēə, āˌlo͝or-/

I. noun

extreme or irrational fear of cats.

II. derivatives

ailurophobe /īˈlo͝orəˌfōb, āˈlo͝or- /

noun

aim /ām/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — point or direct (a weapon or camera) at a target

• aim the camcorder at some suitable object

• [no obj.] aim for the middle of the target.

2. direct (an object or blow) at someone or something

• she had aimed the bottle at his head.

3. (aim something at) — direct information or an action toward (a particular group)

• the TV campaign is aimed at the 16-24 age group.

4. [no obj.] — have the intention of achieving

• new French cooking aims at producing clear, fresh flavors and light textures

• [with infinitive] we aim to give you the best possible service.

II. noun

1. a purpose or intention; a desired outcome

• our primary aim is to achieve financial discipline.

2. [in sing.] — the directing of a weapon or object at a target

• his aim was perfect, and the guard's body collapsed backward.

III. phrases

1. aim high

be ambitious.

2. take aim

point a weapon or camera at a target.

– origin Middle English: from Old French amer, variant of esmer (from Latin aestimare ‘assess, estimate’), reinforced by aemer, aesmer (from late Latin adaestimare, intensified form of aestimare).

AIM /ām/

abbreviation

1. American Indian Movement.

2. (also Aim) — Alternative Investment Market (a subsidiary market of the London Stock Exchange that allows small companies to be traded without the expense of a full market listing).

aimless /ˈāmləs/

I. adjective

without purpose or direction

• an aimless, ungratifying life.

II. derivatives

aimlessness /ˈāmləsnəs /

noun

aimlessly /ˈāmləslē/

adverb

without purpose or direction

• we wandered aimlessly around Venice.

ainhum /ˈīnəm/

I. noun

[Medicine] a condition in which a band of fibrous tissue grows around the base of a toe, especially the fifth, eventually resulting in loss of the digit. It occurs mainly in the tropics and is associated with going barefoot, though its cause is unknown.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Portuguese, based on Yoruba eyun ‘saw.’

ain't /ānt / ‹informal›

I. contraction

1. am not; are not; is not

• if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[originally representing London dialect.]

2. has not; have not

• they ain't got nothing to say.

[from dialect hain't.]

usage: The use of ain't was widespread in the 18th century and is still perfectly normal in many dialects and informal contexts in both North America and Britain. Today, however, it does not form part of standard English and should not be used in formal contexts.

Aintab /īnˈtäb/

former name (until 1921) of Gaziantep.

Ainu /ˈīno͞o/

I. noun

1. (pl. same or Ainus) — a member of an aboriginal people of Japan, physically distinct (with light skin color and round eyes) from the majority population.

2. the language of the Ainu people, of unknown affinity.

II. adjective

relating to the Ainu or their language.

– origin early 19th cent.: the name in Ainu, literally ‘man, person.’

aioli /īˈōlē, āˈō- / aïoli

I. noun

mayonnaise seasoned with garlic.

– origin French, from Provençal ai ‘garlic’ + oli ‘oil.’

air /er/

I. noun

1. the invisible gaseous substance surrounding the earth, a mixture mainly of oxygen and nitrogen.

2. air regarded as necessary for breathing

• the air was stale

• the doctor told me to get some fresh air.

3. the free or unconfined space above the surface of the earth

• he celebrated by tossing his hat high in the air.

4. [usu. as modifier] — referring to the use of aircraft

• air traffic

• all goods must come in by air.

5. the earth's atmosphere as a medium for transmitting radio waves

• radio stations have successfully sold products over the air.

6. air considered as one of the four elements in ancient philosophy and in astrology (associated with the signs of Gemini, Aquarius, and Libra).

7. a breeze or light wind.
See also light air.

8. air conditioning.

9. a jump off the ground on a snowboard.

10. an impression of a quality or manner given by someone or something

• she answered with a faint air of boredom

• he leaned over with a confidential air.

11. (airs) — an annoyingly affected and condescending manner

• he began to put on airs and think he could boss us around.

12. [Music] a tune or short melodious composition, typically a song.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — express (an opinion or grievance) publicly

• a meeting in which long-standing grievances were aired.

2. broadcast (a program) on radio or television

• the programs were aired on India's state TV network.

3. ‹archaic› parade or show (something) ostentatiously

• airing a snowy hand and signet ring.

4. [with obj.] — expose (a room) to the open air in order to ventilate it

• the window sashes were lifted regularly to air the room.

5. (air oneself) — ‹archaic› go out in the fresh air.

III. phrases

1. airs and graces

‹derogatory› an affectation of superiority.

2. by air

in an aircraft

• all goods must come in by air.

3. in the air

noticeable all around; becoming prevalent

• I smell violence in the air.

4. on (or off) the air

being (or not being) broadcast on radio or television.

5. take the air

go out of doors.

6. up in the air

(of a plan or issue) still to be settled; unresolved

• the fate of the power station is up in the air.

7. walk on air

feel elated.

– origin Middle English (in sense 1 of the noun): from Old French air, from Latin aer, from Greek aēr, denoting the gas. Sense 2 of the noun is from French air, probably from Old French aire ‘site, disposition,’ from Latin ager, agr- ‘field’ (influenced by sense 1). Sense 3 of the noun comes from Italian aria (see aria).

air ambulance

noun

a specially equipped aircraft, typically a helicopter, used to transport sick or injured people to the hospital in an emergency

• Payash helped medical staff at the clinic while waiting for the air ambulance to arrive.

airbag /ˈerˌbaɡ/

noun

a safety device fitted inside a road vehicle, consisting of a cushion designed to inflate rapidly in the event of a collision and positioned so as to protect passengers from being flung against the vehicle's structure.

air ball

noun

[Basketball] ‹informal› a shot that misses the backboard, rim, and net entirely.

airbase /ˈerˌbās/

noun

a base for the operation of military aircraft.

air bearing

noun

a bearing in which moving surfaces are kept apart by a layer of air provided by jets.

air bed

noun

an inflatable mattress.

air bladder /e(ə)r ˈbladər/

noun

1. an air-filled bladder or sac found in certain animals and plants.

2. another term for swim bladder.

airboat /ˈerbōt/

noun

a shallow-draft boat powered by an aircraft engine, for use in swamps.

airborne /ˈerˌbôrn/

adjective

1. transported by air

• airborne pollutants.

2. (of an aircraft) in the air after taking off.

air brake /ˈe(ə)r ˌbrāk/

noun

1. a brake worked by air pressure.

2. a movable flap or other device on an aircraft to reduce its speed.

air bridge /ˈe(ə)r ˌbrij/

noun

British term for jetway.

airbrush /ˈerˌbrəSH/

I. noun

an artist's device for spraying paint by means of compressed air.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. paint with an airbrush

• a cab airbrushed with a mural of a sunset.

2. alter or conceal (a photograph or a detail in one) using an airbrush

• a picture of a man with wings airbrushed onto his shoulders.

3. (usu. as adj. airbrushed) — represent or describe (someone or something) as better or more beautiful than they in fact are

• an airbrushed vision of the decade.

airburst /ˈerbərst/

noun

an explosion in the air, typically of a nuclear bomb or large meteor.

airbus /ˈerbəs/

noun

‹trademark› an aircraft designed to carry a large number of passengers economically, especially over relatively short routes.

air cleaner

noun

another term for air filter.

air command

noun

a high-level organizational unit in the US Air Force.

air-condition /ˈerkənˌdiSH(ə)n/

verb — [with obj.]

1. provide (a building or vehicle) with air conditioning

• we air-condition buildings so much that you need a coat in summer.

air-conditioned /erk(ə)nˈdiSH(ə)nd/

adjective

(of a building or vehicle) provided with air conditioning

• the hotel has comfortable, air-conditioned rooms.

air conditioning /er kənˈdiSH(ə)niNG/

I. noun

a system for controlling the humidity, ventilation, and temperature in a building or vehicle, typically to maintain a cool atmosphere in warm conditions.

II. derivatives

air conditioner

noun

air-cooled /ˈe(ə)r ˈˌko͞old/

adjective

cooled by means of a flow of air.

air corridor

noun

a route to which aircraft are restricted, especially over a foreign country.

air cover /e(ə)r ˈkəvər/

noun

protection from aircraft for land-based or naval operations in war situations.

aircraft /ˈerˌkraft/

noun

an airplane, helicopter, or other machine capable of flight.

aircraft carrier /ˈe(ə)rˌkraf(t) ˌkerēər/

noun

a large warship equipped to serve as a base for aircraft that can take off from and land on its deck.

aircrew /ˈerˌkro͞o/

noun — [treated as sing. or pl.]

1. the crew staffing an aircraft.

2. (pl. same) — a member of an aircrew

• each aircraft carried three aircrew.

air cushion /ˈe(ə)r ˌko͝oSHən/

noun

1. an inflatable cushion.

2. the layer of air supporting a hovercraft or similar vehicle.

air dam

noun

a streamlining device below the front bumper of a vehicle; a front spoiler.

air date

noun

the date on which a recorded program is to be broadcast.

airdrome /ˈerˌdrōm/

noun

1. (US) an airport.

2. (US) a military air base.

airdrop /ˈerˌdräp/

I. noun

an act of dropping supplies, troops, or equipment by parachute from an aircraft.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. drop (such things) by parachute.

air-dry /ˈe(ə)r ˌdrī/

I. verb

make or become dry through contact with unheated air.

II. adjective

not giving off any moisture on exposure to air.

Airedale /ˈerˌdāl/

I. noun

a large terrier of a rough-coated black and tan breed.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Airedale, a district in Yorkshire, England, where the dog was bred.

airfare /ˈerfer/

noun

the price of a passenger ticket for travel by aircraft

• save a bundle in airfare by flying standby.

airfield /ˈerˌfēld/

noun

an area of land set aside for the takeoff, landing, and maintenance of aircraft.

air filter

noun

a device for filtering particles of dust, soot, etc., from the air passing through it, especially one protecting the air inlet of an internal combustion engine.

airflow /ˈerˌflō/

noun

the flow of air, especially that encountered by a moving aircraft or vehicle.

airfoil /ˈerˌfoil/

noun

(N. Amer.) a structure with curved surfaces designed to give the most favorable ratio of lift to drag in flight, used as the basic form of the wings, fins, and horizontal stabilizer of most aircraft.

air force /ˈe(ə)r ˌfôrs/

noun — (often the air force or the Air Force)

1. the branch of a nation's armed services that conducts military operations in the air.

Air Force One

the designation (when the president of the US is aboard) of any of several specially equipped jetliners maintained by the US Air Force.

airframe /ˈerfrām/

noun

the body of an aircraft as distinct from its engine.

airfreight /ˈerfrāt/

I. noun

1. the transportation of goods by aircraft.

2. goods in transit, or to be carried, by aircraft.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. carry or send (goods) by aircraft.

III. adverb

by airfreight

• the exhibit was flown airfreight.

air freshener //

noun

a substance or device for making the air in a room smell fresh or clean.

airglow /ˈerɡlō/

noun

a glow in the night sky caused by radiation from the upper atmosphere.

air guitar

noun

‹informal› used to describe the actions of someone playing an imaginary guitar

• we like our audiences to sing along and play air guitar.

airgun /ˈerˌɡən/

noun

a gun that fires pellets using compressed air.

airhead^1 /ˈerˌhed/

I. noun

[Military] a base secured in enemy territory where supplies and troops can be received and evacuated by air.

– origin World War II: on the pattern of bridgehead.

airhead^2 /ˈerˌhed/

noun

‹informal› a silly or foolish person.

airheaded /ˈerhedəd/

adjective

‹informal› (of a person) silly or foolish

• a dreadfully clumsy and airheaded girl.

air horn

noun

a powerful horn that produces sound by means of compressed air.

airily /ˈerəlē/

adverb

in a way that shows that one is not treating something as serious; casually

• he was airily dismissive of the question.

airing /ˈeriNG/

noun — [in sing.]

1. an exposure to warm or fresh air, for the purpose of ventilating or removing dampness from something

• somebody had given the place a thorough airing.

2. a walk or outing to take air or exercise

• taking the baby out for an airing.

3. a public expression of an opinion or subject

• these are ideas I feel might be worth an airing.

4. a transmission of a television or radio program.

air-kiss

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. purse the lips as if kissing (someone), without making contact

• the media crowd who lunch, gossip, and air-kiss one another.

II. noun

a simulated kiss, without physical contact.

air lane /e(ə)r lān/

noun

a path or course regularly used by aircraft.

air layering

noun

[Horticulture] a form of layering in which the branch is potted or wrapped in a moist growing medium to promote root growth.

airless /ˈerləs/

I. adjective

1. stuffy; not ventilated

• a dusty, airless basement.

2. without wind or breeze; still

• a hot, airless night.

II. derivatives

airlessness /ˈerləsnəs /

noun

air letter /ˈe(ə)r ˌledər/

noun

another term for aerogramme.

airlift /ˈerˌlift/

I. noun

an act of transporting supplies by aircraft, typically in a blockade or other emergency

• a massive airlift of food, blankets, and medical supplies.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. transport (troops or supplies) by aircraft, typically when transportation by land is difficult

• helicopters were employed to airlift the troops out of danger.

airline /ˈerˌlīn/

noun

1. an organization providing a regular public service of air transportation on one or more routes.

2. (usu. air line) — a route that forms part of a system regularly used by aircraft.

3. (usu. air line) — a pipe supplying air

• use an air line to inflate those tires.

airliner /ˈerˌlīnər/

noun

a large passenger aircraft.

airlock /ˈerˌläk / air lock

noun

1. a blockage of the flow in a pump or pipe, caused by an air bubble.

2. a compartment with controlled pressure and parallel sets of doors, to permit movement between areas at different pressures.

airmail /ˈerˌmāl/

I. noun

a system of transporting mail by aircraft, typically overseas.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. send (mail) by aircraft

• a recent letter that I airmailed to Miss Sifton.

airman /ˈermən/

noun

1. a pilot or member of the crew of an aircraft, especially in an air force.

2. a member of the US Air Force of the lowest rank, below sergeant.

3. a member of the US Navy whose general duties are concerned with aircraft.

airmanship /ˈermənˌSHip/

noun

skill in flying an aircraft.

air mass /ˈer mas/

noun

[Meteorology] a body of air with horizontally uniform temperature, humidity, and pressure.

air mattress

noun

(N. Amer.) an inflatable mattress.

air mile

noun

1. a nautical mile used as a measure of distance flown by aircraft.

2. (Air Miles) — ‹trademark› points (equivalent to miles of free air travel) accumulated by buyers of airline tickets and other products and redeemable against the cost of air travel with a particular airline.

airmobile /ˈerˌmōb(ə)l/

adjective

(of troops) moved about by helicopters.

air pistol

noun

a pistol that fires pellets using compressed air.

airplane /ˈerˌplān/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a powered flying vehicle with fixed wings and a weight greater than that of the air it displaces.

air plant /ˈer plant/

noun

a typically epiphytic, sometimes rootless, tropical American plant with grasslike or fingerlike leaves through which water and airborne or waterborne nutrients are absorbed.
[Genus Tillandsia, family Bromeliaceae: several species, including Spanish moss.]

airplay /ˈerˌplā/

noun

broadcasting time devoted to a particular record, performer, or musical genre.

air pocket /e(ə)r ˈpäkət/

noun

1. a cavity containing air.

2. a region of low pressure causing an aircraft to lose altitude suddenly.

air pollution

noun

the presence in or introduction into the air of a substance which has harmful or poisonous effects

• diesel exhaust and other forms of air pollution.

airport /ˈerˌpôrt/

noun

1. a complex of runways and buildings for the takeoff, landing, and maintenance of civil aircraft, with facilities for passengers.

2. [as modifier] — relating to or denoting light popular fiction such as is offered for sale to travelers in airports

• another airport thriller.

airpot /ˈerpät/

noun

a container for storing and dispensing coffee or other beverages that maintains a constant temperature by use of glass insulation.

air power /e(ə)r ˈpou(ə)r/

noun

airborne military forces.

air pump /ˈer pəmp/

noun

a device for pumping air into or out of an enclosed space.

air punch

noun

an act of thrusting one's clenched fist up into the air, typically as a gesture of triumph or elation

• the verdict was greeted with cheers and air punches by her family and friends.

air quality /e(ə)r ˈkwälədē/

noun

the degree to which the ambient air is pollution-free, assessed by measuring a number of indicators of pollution.

air quotes

plural noun

‹informal› a pair of quotation marks gestured by a speaker's fingers in the air, to indicate that what is being said is ironic or mocking, or is not a turn of phrase the speaker would typically employ.

air rage /erāj/

noun

violent anger directed mainly at inflight airline personnel and arising from the frustrations and stresses of air travel.

air raid /ˈe(ə)r ˌrād/

noun

an attack in which bombs are dropped from aircraft onto a ground target.

air-raid shelter

noun

a building or structure designed to protect people from bombs dropped during air raids.

air rifle /e(ə)r ˈrīfəl/

noun

a rifle that fires pellets using compressed air.

air sac

noun

1. a lung compartment containing air; an alveolus.

2. an extension of a bird's lung cavity into a bone or other part of the body.

airscrew /ˈerskro͞o/

noun

(Brit.) an aircraft propeller.

air-sea rescue /ˈˌe(ə)r ˌsē ˈreskyo͞o/

noun

a rescue from the sea using aircraft.

air shaft /ˈer SHaft/

noun

a straight, typically vertical passage admitting air into a mine, tunnel, or building.

airship /ˈerˌSHip/

noun

a power-driven aircraft that is kept buoyant by a body of gas (typically helium, formerly hydrogen) that is lighter than air.

air show /ˈe(ə)r ˌSHō/

noun

a show at which aircraft perform aerial displays.

airsick /ˈerˌsik/

I. adjective

affected with nausea due to travel in an aircraft.

II. derivatives

airsickness /ˈerˌsiknəs /

noun

airsickness bag

noun

a paper bag provided in an aircraft or ship as a receptacle for vomit.

airside /ˈersīd/

I. noun

the side of an airport terminal from which aircraft can be observed; the area beyond security checks and passport and customs control.

II. adverb

on or to the airside of an airport terminal

• a new executive lounge has opened airside.

airspace /ˈerˌspās/

noun

1. space available in the atmosphere immediately above the earth

• temples and mosques fight for airspace with skyscrapers.

2. the air available to aircraft to fly in, especially the part subject to the jurisdiction of a particular country

• the airliner was refused permission to enter Maltese airspace.

3. [Law] the right of a private landowner to the space above his land and any structures on it, which he can use for ordinary purposes such as the erection of signposts or fences.

4. space left to be occupied by air for purposes of insulation.

airspeed /ˈerˌspēd/

noun

the speed of an aircraft relative to the air through which it is moving.
Compare with groundspeed.

air station /e(ə)r ˈstāSHən/

noun

an airfield operated by a navy or marine corps.

airstream /ˈerˌstrēm/

noun

a current of air.

air strike /ˈe(ə)r ˌstrīk/

noun

an attack made by aircraft.

airstrip /ˈerˌstrip/

noun

a strip of ground set aside for the takeoff and landing of aircraft.

air support

noun

assistance given to ground or naval forces in an operation by their own or allied aircraft.

air terminal

noun

a building that passengers pass through before boarding or after disembarking from an airplane

• people will be in and out of this air terminal at lightning speed.

airtight /ˈertīt/

adjective

1. not allowing air to escape or pass through.

2. having no weaknesses; unassailable

• Scamp had an airtight alibi.

airtime /ˈerˌtīm/

noun

1. time during which a broadcast is being transmitted.

2. time during which a mobile phone is in use, including calls made and received.

3. the time a pilot or or aircraft spends in flight

• a relatively new pilot with just 100 hours of airtime.

4. (in snowboarding, skiing, etc.) the time a person spends in the air during a jump

• a 30-foot jump gave competitors plenty of airtime.

air-to-air /ˈe(ə)r də ˈˌe(ə)r/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. directed or operating from one aircraft to another in flight.

air-to-ground

adjective

directed or operating from an aircraft in flight to the land surface.

air-to-surface

adjective

directed or operating from an aircraft in flight to the surface of the sea or other body of water.

air traffic control /e(ə)r ˈtrafik kənˈtrōl/

I. noun

the ground-based personnel and equipment concerned with monitoring and controlling air traffic within a particular area.

II. derivatives

air traffic controller

noun

air travel

noun

the action or process of making a journey by aircraft

• transatlantic air travel

• air travel can be stressful and exhausting.

air vent

noun

an opening that allows air to pass out of or into a confined space

• smoke was spotted billowing from an air vent.

airwaves /ˈerˌwāvz/

plural noun

the radio frequencies used for broadcasting

• football pervades the airwaves.

airway /ˈerwā/

noun

1. the passage by which air reaches a person's lungs.

2. a tube for supplying air to a person's lungs in an emergency.

3. a ventilating passage in a mine.

4. a recognized route followed by aircraft.

5. (Airways) — in names of airlines

• British Airways.

airwoman /ˈerˌwo͝omən/

noun

1. a female pilot or member of the crew of an aircraft, especially in an air force.

2. a female member of the US Air Force of the lowest rank, below sergeant.

airworthy /ˈerˌwərT͟Hē/

I. adjective

(of an aircraft) safe to fly.

II. derivatives

airworthiness /ˈerˌwərT͟Hēnəs /

noun

airy /ˈerē/

I. adjective

1. (of a room or building) spacious, well lit, and well ventilated.

2. delicate, as though filled with or made of air

• airy clouds.

3. giving an impression of light gracefulness and elegance

• her airy presence filled the house.

4. giving an impression of being unconcerned or not serious, typically about something taken seriously by others

• her airy unconcern for economy.

II. derivatives

airiness /ˈerēnəs /

noun

airy-fairy /ˌerēˈferē/

adjective

‹informal› ‹derogatory› (chiefly Brit.) impractical and foolishly idealistic

• love might seem an airy-fairy, romantic concept.

aisle /īl/

I. noun

1. a passage between rows of seats in a building such as a church or theater, an airplane, or a train

• the musical had the audience dancing in the aisles.

2. a passage between shelves of goods in a supermarket or other building.

3. [Architecture] (in a church) a lower part parallel to and at the side of a nave, choir, or transept, from which it is divided by pillars.

II. phrases

lead someone up the aisle

get married to someone.

III. derivatives

aisled /īld /

adjective

– origin late Middle English ele, ile, from Old French ele, from Latin ala ‘wing.’ The spelling change in the 17th cent. was due to confusion with isle and influenced by French aile ‘wing.’

aitch /āCH/

I. noun

the name of the letter H.

II. phrases

drop one's aitches

fail to pronounce the letter h at the beginning of words, a common feature of dialect speech.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Old French ache.

aitchbone /ˈāCHˌbōn/

I. noun

1. the buttock or rump bone of cattle.

2. a cut of beef lying over this.

– origin late 15th cent.: from dialect nache ‘rump,’ from Old French, based on Latin natis ‘buttock(s),’ + bone. The initial n in a nache-bone was lost by wrong division; compare with adder.

Aix-en-Provence /ˌeks äN prōˈväNs, ˌāks/

a city in Provence in southern France; pop. 145,721 (2006).

Aix-la-Chapelle /ˌeks lä SHäˈpel/

French name for Aachen.

Aizawl /īˈzoul/

a city in northeastern India, capital of the state of Mizoram; pop. 295,900 (est. 2009).

Ajaccio /äˈyäsēō/

a port on the west coast of Corsica; pop. 59,320.

Ajanta Caves /əˌjəntə ˈkāvz/

a series of caves in the state of Maharashtra, south central India, that contain Buddhist frescos and sculptures dating from the 1st century BC to the 7th century AD.

ajar^1 /əˈjär/

I. adverb, adjective

(of a door or other opening) slightly open
[as adv.]

• she had left the window ajar that morning

• [as predic. adj.] the door to the sitting room was ajar.

– origin late 17th cent.: from a-2 ‘on’ + obsolete char (Old English cerr) ‘a turn, return.’

ajar^2 /əˈjär/

I. adverb

‹archaic› out of harmony.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from a-2 ‘in, at’ + jar^2.

Ajax /ˈājaks / ‹Greek Mythology›

I. a Greek hero of the Trojan War, son of Telamon, king of Salamis. He was proverbial for his size and strength.

II. a Greek hero, son of Oileus, king of Locris.

Ajman /ajˈmän, -ˈman/

one of the seven member states of the United Arab Emirates; pop. 387,300 (est. 2009).

Ajmer /əjˈmir/

a city in northwestern India, in the state of Rajasthan; pop. 549,600 (est. 2009).

ajowan /ˈajəˌwän/

I. noun

1. an annual plant (Trachyspermum ammi) of the parsley family, with feathery leaves and white flowers, native to India.

2. the aromatic seeds of the ajowan plant, used as a culinary spice.

3. the essential oil of the ajowan plant.

– origin from Hindi ajvāyn.

ajuga /ˈajəɡə/

I. noun

a plant of a genus that includes bugle.
[Genus Ajuga, family Labiatae: numerous species.]

– origin modern Latin, from medieval Latin ajuga.

AK

abbreviation

Alaska (in official postal use).

AK-47

I. noun

a type of assault rifle, originally manufactured in the former Soviet Union.

– origin acronym for Russian Avtomat Kalashnikova 1947, the designation of the original model, designed in 1947 by Mikhail T. Kalashnikov (1919–2013).

aka /ˌāˌkāˈā/

abbreviation

also known as

• John Merrick, aka the Elephant Man.

Akan /ˈäˌkän/

I. noun

1. (pl. same) — a member of a people inhabiting southern Ghana and adjacent parts of Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast).

2. the Kwa language spoken by the Akan. There are two main dialects, Ashanti and Fante.
Also called Twi.

II. adjective

relating to the Akan or their language.

– origin the name in Akan.

akasha /əˈkäSHə/

I. noun

[chiefly Hinduism] a supposed universal etheric field in which a record of past events is imprinted.

II. derivatives

akashic /-SHik /

adjective

– origin from Sanskrit ākāśa.

Akashi /əˈkäSHē/

an industrial port city in west central Japan, on southwestern Honshu Island; pop. 292,966 (2008). Standard time for Japan is set here.

akathisia /ˌakəˈTHiZHə, -ˈTHizēə/

noun

a state of agitation, distress, and restlessness that is an occasional side-effect of antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs.

Akbar, Jalaludin Muhammad /ˈäkˌbär, ˈakbər/

(1542–1605), Mogul emperor of India 1556–1605; known as Akbar the Great. Akbar expanded the Mogul empire to incorporate northern India.

AKC

abbreviation

American Kennel Club.

akebia /əˈkēbēə/

I. noun

a climbing shrub with purplish flowers, deeply divided leaves, and purple berries. Native to eastern Asia, it is grown as an ornamental in North America.
[Akebia quinata, family Lardizabalaceae.]

– origin 1837: modern Latin, coined by J. Decaisne, French botanist, from Japanese akebi.

akee /aˈkē, ˈakē / ackee

I. noun

1. a tropical tree that is cultivated for its fruit. Native to West Africa, it has been introduced into the West Indies and elsewhere.
[Blighia sapida, family Sapindaceae.]

2. the fruit of the akee, widely eaten as a vegetable, but which can be poisonous unless cooked.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Kru ākee.

Akhenaten /äkˈnätn / Akhenaton, Ikhnaton

(14th century BC), Egyptian pharaoh of the 18th dynasty; reigned 1379–1362 BC; came to the throne as Amenhotep IV. He renounced polytheism, introducing a monotheistic cult based on worship of the sun disk, Aten, in whose honor he changed his name. The husband of Nefertiti, he moved the capital from Thebes to the newly built city of Akhetaten. The empire began to disintegrate during his reign.

Akhmatova, Anna /äKHˈmätəvə/

(1889–1966), Russian poet; pseudonym of Anna Andreevna Gorenko. Akhmatova was a member of the Acmeist group of poets.

Akihito /ˌäkēˈhētō/

(1933–), emperor of Japan 1989–; full name Tsugu Akihito. He is the son of Emperor Hirohito.

akimbo /əˈkimbō/

I. adverb

1. with hands on the hips and elbows turned outward

• she stood with arms akimbo, frowning at the small boy.

2. (of other limbs) flung out widely or haphazardly.

– origin late Middle English: from in kenebowe in Middle English, probably from Old Norse.

akin /əˈkin/

I. adjective

1. of similar character

• something akin to gratitude overwhelmed her

• genius and madness are akin.

2. related by blood.

– origin mid 16th cent.: contracted form of of kin.

akinesia /ākīˈnēZH(ē)ə/

I. noun

[Medicine] loss or impairment of the power of voluntary movement.

II. derivatives

akinetic /-ˈnetik /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek akinēsia ‘quiescence,’ from a- ‘without’ + kinēsis ‘motion.’

Akita^1 /əˈkēdə/

an industrial port city in northeastern Japan, on northern Honshu Island; pop. 326,309 (2008).

Akita^2

I. noun

a spitz (dog) of a Japanese breed.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Akita, the name of a district in northern Japan.

Akkad /ˈakˌad, ˈäkˌäd/

the capital city that gave its name to an ancient kingdom, traditionally founded by Sargon in north central Mesopotamia. Its location is unknown.

Akkadian /əˈkādēən, əˈkäd-/

I. noun

1. an inhabitant of Akkad.

2. the Semitic language of Akkad.
Akkadian, known from cuneiform inscriptions, is the oldest Semitic language for which records exist. It was used in Mesopotamia from about 3500 BC; two dialects, Assyrian and Babylonian, were widely spoken in the Middle East for the next 2,000 years, and the Babylonian form functioned as a lingua franca until replaced by Aramaic around the 6th century BC.

II. adjective

relating to Akkad in ancient Babylonia or its people or their language.

Akko /ˈäkō/

another name for Acre (sense 1).

Ak-Mechet /ˌäkməˈ(t)SHet/

former name for Simferopol.

akrasia /əˈkrāZH(ē)ə / acrasia

I. noun

[chiefly Philosophy] the state of mind in which someone acts against their better judgment through weakness of will.

II. derivatives

akratic /əˈkratik / acratic

adjective

– origin early 19th cent.: from Greek, from a- ‘without’ + kratos ‘power, strength.’ The term is used especially with reference to Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics.

Akron /ˈakrən/

a city in northeastern Ohio; pop. 207,510 (est. 2008). Noted as a center for the rubber industry; the first rubber factory was established in 1870 by B. F. Goodrich.

Aksai Chin /ˌaksī ˈCHin/

a region of the Himalayas occupied by China since 1950, but claimed by India as part of Kashmir.

Aksum /ˈäkso͞om / Axum

I. a town in the province of Tigray in northern Ethiopia. A religious center, it was the capital of the powerful Axumite kingdom between the 1st and 6th centuries AD.

II. derivatives

Aksumite /ˈäkso͞oˌmīt /

adjective, noun

Al /al/

symbol

the chemical element aluminum.

AL

abbreviation

1. Alabama (in official postal use).

2. [Baseball] American League.

3. American Legion.

al-

prefix

variant spelling of ad- assimilated before -l (as in alleviate, allocate).

-al

I. suffix

1. (forming adjectives) relating to; of the kind of.

2. from Latin words

• annual

• infernal.

3. from Greek words

• historical

• comical.

4. from English nouns

• tidal.

5. forming nouns chiefly denoting verbal action

• arrival

• transmittal.

– origin sense 1 from French -el or Latin -alis; sense 2 from French -aille or from Latin -alis functioning as a noun ending.

Ala.

abbreviation

Alabama.

à la /ˈä ˌlä, ˈä lə/

I. preposition

1. (of a dish) cooked or prepared in a specified style or manner

• fish cooked à la meunière.

2. ‹informal› in the style or manner of

• afternoon talk shows à la Oprah.

– origin French, from à la mode.

Alabama /ˌaləˈbamə/

a state in the southeastern US, on the Gulf of Mexico; pop. 4,661,900 (est. 2008); capital, Montgomery; statehood, Dec. 14, 1819 (22). Visited by Spanish explorers in the mid 16th century and later settled by the French, it passed to Britain in 1763 and to the US in 1783.

Alabama River

a river in southern Alabama that flows for 315 miles (507 km) to meet the Mobile River.

Alabamian /ˌaləˈbāmēən / Alabaman

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of the US state of Alabama or its inhabitants

• Alabamian cuisine

• his deep voice was laced with a hint of an Alabaman accent.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of the US state of Alabama

• a lifelong Alabamian

• an Alabaman by birth and a Texan by upbringing.

alabaster /ˈaləˌbastər/

I. noun

a fine-grained, translucent form of gypsum, typically white, often carved into ornaments.

II. adjective

1. made of alabaster.

2. ‹literary› like alabaster in whiteness and smoothness

• her alabaster cheeks flushed with warmth.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin alabaster, alabastrum, from Greek alabastos, alabastros.

à la carte /ˌä lä ˈkärt ˌä lə ˈkärt/

I. adjective

(of a menu or restaurant) listing or serving food that can be ordered as separate items, rather than part of a set meal.

II. adverb

as separately priced items from a menu, not as part of a set meal

• wine and good food served à la carte.

– origin early 19th cent.: French, literally ‘according to the (menu) card.’

alack /əˈlak / alack-a-day

I. exclamation

‹archaic› an expression of regret or dismay.

– origin late Middle English: probably from ah + lack.

alacrity /əˈlakrədē/

I. noun

brisk and cheerful readiness

• she accepted the invitation with alacrity.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin alacritas, from alacer ‘brisk.’

Aladdin /əˈlad(ə)n/

I. the hero of a story in the Arabian Nights, who finds an old lamp that, when rubbed, summons a genie who obeys the will of the owner.

– origin from Arabic `Alā' al-dīn.

Aladdin's lamp

I. noun

a talisman enabling its holder to gratify any wish.

– origin from Aladdin.

Alain-Fournier /əˌlenˈfo͝ornyā/

(1886–1914), French novelist; pseudonym of Henri-Alban Fournier.

à la king /ˌä l(ə) ˈkiNG, ˌal (ə)/

adjective

(of a dish) with diced meat in a cream sauce, usually with green peppers and pimientos.

alameda /ˌaləˈmādə/

I. noun

(in Spain and Spanish-speaking regions) a public walkway or promenade shaded with trees.

– origin late 18th cent.: Spanish, from álamo ‘cottonwood’ + -eda ‘grove’ from Latin -etum (see -etum).

Alameda /ˌaləˈmēdə, -ˈmādə/

a port city in north central California, on San Francisco Bay, just southwest of Oakland; pop. 70,580 (est. 2008).

Alamo /ˈaləˌmō/

(the Alamo)

1. a mission in San Antonio, Texas, site of a siege in 1836 by Mexican forces, in which all 180 defenders were killed.

à la mode /ˌä lä ˈmōd/

I. adverb, adjective

1. in fashion; up to date.

2. (N. Amer.) served with ice cream.

3. (of beef) braised in wine, typically with vegetables.

– origin late 16th cent.: French, literally ‘in the fashion.’

Alamogordo /ˌaləməˈɡôrdō/

a city in southern New Mexico; pop. 35,757 (est. 2008). White Sands and other military and aerospace facilities are nearby.

Åland Islands /ˌôlənd ˈīləndz/

a group of islands in the Gulf of Bothnia that forms an autonomous region in Finland; capital, Mariehamn (known in Finnish as Maarianhamina).
Finnish name Ahvenanmaa.

alanine /ˈaləˌnēn/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] an amino acid that is a constituent of most proteins.
[Alternative name: 2-aminopropanoic acid; chem. formula: CH_3CH(NH_2)COOH. β-alanine, an isomer of this, is 3-aminopropanoic acid, (NH_2)CH_2CH_2COOH.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: coined in German as Alanin, from aldehyde + -an (for ease of pronunciation) + -ine^4.

Al-Anon /ˌaləˈnän/

a mutual support organization for the families and friends of alcoholics, especially those of members of Alcoholics Anonymous.

alap /älˈäp/

I. noun

(in Indian music) the improvised section of a raga, forming a prologue to the formal expression.

– origin from Hindi alāp.

a la plancha /ˌä lə ˈplän(t)SHə/

I. adjective, adverb

(of meat or fish) pan-fried or cooked on a griddle.

– origin Spanish.

alar /ˈālər/

I. adjective

1. [chiefly Zoology] of or relating to a wing or wings.

2. [chiefly Zoology] [Anatomy] winglike or wing-shaped.

3. [chiefly Zoology] [Botany] another term for axillary.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin alaris, from ala ‘wing.’

Alar /ˈālär/

noun

trademark for daminozide.

Alarcón, Pedro Antonio de /ˌälärˈkôn/

(1833–91), Spanish novelist and short-story writer. His notable works include The Three-Cornered Hat (1874).

Alaric /ˈalərik/

(c. 370–410), king of the Visigoths 395–410. He captured Rome in 410.

alarm /əˈlärm/

I. noun

1. an anxious awareness of danger

• the boat tilted and the boatmen cried out in alarm

• he views the right-wing upsurge in Europe with alarm.

2. [in sing.] — a warning of danger

• I hammered on several doors to raise the alarm

• Oliver smelled smoke and gave the alarm.

3. a warning sound or device

• they disabled the alarm and used a glass cutter to get in.

4. an alarm clock.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — cause (someone) to feel frightened, disturbed, or in danger

• the government was alarmed by an outbreak of unrest.

2. (be alarmed) — be fitted or protected with an alarm

• this door is locked and alarmed between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.

– origin late Middle English (as an exclamation meaning ‘to arms!’): from Old French alarme, from Italian allarme, from all' arme! ‘to arms!’

alarm bell /əˈlärm bel/

noun

a bell rung as a warning of danger

• the alarm bell rang out

• ‹figurative› the proposal has set alarm bells ringing.

alarm call /əˈlärm kôl/

noun

a warning cry made by a bird or other animal when startled.

alarm clock /əˈlärm ˌkläk/

noun

a clock with a device that can be made to sound at the time set in advance, used to wake someone up.

alarming /əˈlärmiNG/

adjective

worrying or disturbing

• our countryside is disappearing at an alarming rate.

alarmingly /əˈlärmiNGlē/

adverb

1. in a worrying or disturbing way

• all of a sudden, the bell sounds, rather alarmingly.

2. to a worrying degree

• during the early 19th century levels of crime rose alarmingly

• [as submodifier] piling up debt during your college years is alarmingly easy.

3. [sentence adverb] — used to express concern over an event or state of affairs

• another recent attack on biography comes, alarmingly, from a biographer.

alarmist /əˈlärməst/

I. noun

someone who is considered to be exaggerating a danger and so causing needless worry or panic.

II. adjective

creating needless worry or panic

• alarmist rumors.

III. derivatives

alarmism /əˈlärmˌizəm /

noun

alarum /əˈlärəm/

I. noun

archaic term for alarm.

II. phrases

alarums and excursions

‹humorous› confused activity and uproar.

alas /əˈlas/

I. exclamation

‹chiefly literary› ‹humorous› an expression of grief, pity, or concern

• alas, my funds have some limitations.

– origin Middle English: from Old French a las, a lasse, from a ‘ah’ + las(se) (from Latin lassus ‘weary’).

Alas.

abbreviation

Alaska.

Alaska /əˈlaskə/

the largest state in the US, in northwestern North America, with coasts on the Arctic and North Pacific oceans and on the Bering Sea, separated from the contiguous 48 US states by Canada; pop. 686,293 (est. 2008); capital, Juneau; statehood: Jan. 3, 1959 (49). The territory was purchased from Russia in 1867. After oil was discovered in 1968, a pipeline was completed in 1977 to carry the oil from the North Slope to Valdez.

Alaska, Gulf of

a part of the northeastern Pacific Ocean between the Alaska Peninsula and the Alexander Archipelago.

Alaska cedar

noun

another term for Nootka cypress.

Alaskan /əˈlask(ə)n/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of the US state of Alaska

• he loved the unique Alaskan scenery.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of the US state of Alaska

• Alaskans are incredibly proud of their state.

Alaskan malamute /əˌlaskən ˈmaləmyo͞ot / Alaskan malemute

I. noun

a powerful dog of a breed with a thick, gray coat, bred by the Inuit and typically used to pull sleds.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Inuit malimiut, the name of a people of Kotzebue Sound, Alaska, who developed the breed.

Alaska Peninsula

a peninsula on the south coast of Alaska. It extends southwestward into the northeastern Pacific Ocean and is continued in the Aleutian Islands.

Alaska Range

a mountain chain that lies across southern Alaska. Mt. McKinley, rising to 20,320 feet (6,194 m), is its high point.

alate /ˈālāt/

I. adjective

[Botany] [Entomology] (chiefly of insects or seeds) having wings or winglike appendages.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin alatus, from ala ‘wing.’

Alawi /ˈaləwē / Alawite /ˈaləwīt/

I. noun

a member of a Shiite Muslim group living mainly in Syria.

II. adjective

relating to or denoting the Alawis.

– origin late 19th cent.: Arabic ‘Alawī ‘(follower or descendant) of Ali’ (see Ali).

alb /alb/

I. noun

a white vestment worn by clergy and servers in some Christian Churches.

– origin Old English albe, from ecclesiastical Latin tunica (or vestis) alba ‘white garment,’ from Latin albus ‘white.’

alba /ˈalbə/

I. noun

a shrub rose of a variety with gray-green leaves and pinkish-white, sweet-scented flowers.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin alba, feminine of albus ‘white,’ from the name rosa alba, an old white garden rose.

Albacete /ˌalbəˈTHātē ˌalbəˈsātē/

a city in Albacete Province in southeastern Spain; pop. 166,909 (2008).

albacore /ˈalbəˌkôr / albacore tuna

I. noun

a tuna that travels in large schools and is of commercial importance as a food fish.
[Two species in the family Scombridae: Thunnus alalunga and the false albacore (Euthynus alletteratus).]

– origin late 16th cent.: from Portuguese albacora, from Arabic al-bakūra, perhaps from al ‘the’ + bakūr ‘premature, precocious.’

Alba Iulia /ˌälbə ˈyo͞olyə/

a city in west central Romania, north of the Transylvanian Alps; pop. 66,747 (2006). Founded by the Romans in the 2nd century AD, it was the capital of Transylvania.

Alban, St. /ˈôlbən, ˈal-/

(3rd century), the first English Christian martyr, a native of Verulamium (now St. Albans). He was put to death for sheltering a fugitive priest. Feast day, June 22.

Albania /alˈbānēə ôlˈbānēə/

I. a republic in southeastern Europe that borders on the Adriatic Sea; pop. 3,639,500 (est. 2009); capital, Tirana; official language, Albanian.

Previously part of the Byzantine and later the Ottoman empires, Albania gained independence in 1912. It became a Stalinist regime under Enver Hoxha after World War II and remained extremely isolationist in policy and outlook until the Communists lost power in 1992.

Albanian /alˈbānēən ôlˈbānēən/

I. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Albania, or a person of Albanian descent.

2. the language of Albania.
Albanian constitutes a separate branch of the Indo-European language group, spoken in Albania, Serbia (Kosovo), and elsewhere.

II. adjective

relating to Albania, its people, or their language.

Albany /ˈôlbənē/

I. a city in southwestern Georgia; pop. 75,831 (est. 2008).

II. the capital of New York, in the eastern part of the state, on the western bank of the Hudson River; pop. 93,539 (est. 2008).

III. a city in northwestern Oregon; pop. 48,081 (est. 2008).

albatross /ˈalbəˌtrôs/

I. noun

1. a very large oceanic bird related to the shearwaters, with long narrow wings. Albatrosses, some species of which have wingspans greater than 10 feet (3.3 m), are found mainly in the southern oceans, with three kinds in the North Pacific.
[Genera Diomedea and Phoebetria, family Diomedeidae: several species, including the sooty albatross (P. fusca), Laysan albatross (D. immutablis), and wandering albatross (D. exulans).]

2. a source of frustration or guilt; an encumbrance (in allusion to Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner)

• an albatross of a marriage.

3. [Golf] another term for double eagle.

– origin late 17th cent.: alteration (influenced by Latin albus ‘white’) of 16th-cent. alcatras, applied to various seabirds including the frigate bird and pelican, from Spanish and Portuguese alcatraz, from Arabic al-ġaṭṭās ‘the diver.’

albedo /alˈbēdō/

I. noun

[chiefly Astronomy] the proportion of the incident light or radiation that is reflected by a surface, typically that of a planet or moon.

– origin mid 19th cent.: ecclesiastical Latin, ‘whiteness,’ from Latin albus ‘white.’

Albee, Edward /ˈôlbē, ˈalbē/

(1928–), US playwright; full name Edward Franklin Albee III. Notable works: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1962), A Delicate Balance (1966), Seascape (1975), and The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? (2001).

albeit /ôlˈbēit alˈbēit/

I. conjunction

although

• he was making progress, albeit rather slowly.

– origin late Middle English: from the phrase all be it ‘although it be (that).’

Albemarle Sound /ˌalbəmärl ˈsound/

an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in northeastern North Carolina, inside the Outer Banks.

Albers, Josef /ˈalbərz, ˈôl-/

(1888–1976), US artist, designer, and teacher; born in Germany. He is associated with the Bauhaus and constructivism and is best known for his series of abstract canvases Homage to the Square, which he began in 1950.

albert /ˈalbərt / albert chain

I. noun

(Brit.) a watch chain with a bar at one end for attaching to a buttonhole.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after Prince Albert (see Albert, Prince).

Albert, Carl /ˈalbərt/

(1908–2000), US politician. A Democrat from Oklahoma, he served in the US House of Representatives 1947–77 and became Speaker of the House in 1971.

Albert, Lake /ˈalbərt/

a lake in the Rift Valley of eastern central Africa, on the border between the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) and Uganda. It is linked to Lake Edward by the Semliki River and to the White Nile by the Albert Nile.
Also called Mobutu Sese Seko, Lake.

Albert, Prince /ˈalbərt/

(1819–61), consort to Queen Victoria and prince of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha; full name Albert Francis Charles Augustus Emmanuel.

Alberta /alˈbərdə/

a prairie province in western Canada, bounded on the south by the US and on the west by the Rocky Mountains; capital, Edmonton; pop. 3,290,350 (2006).

Alberta clipper

noun

[Meteorology] a fast-moving winter weather system originating in the lee of the Canadian Rockies that typically brings snow, high winds, and cold temperatures across the northern US.

Alberti, Leon Battista /älˈbertē/

(1404–72), Italian architect, humanist, painter, and art critic. He wrote On Painting (1435), which was the first account of the theory of perspective in the Renaissance.

Albert Nile

the upper part of the Nile River that flows through northwestern Uganda between Lake Albert and the Uganda–South Sudan border.

Albertus Magnus, St. /alˈbərtəs ˈmaɡnəs/

(c. 1200–80), Dominican theologian, philosopher, and scientist; known as Doctor Universalis. A teacher of St. Thomas Aquinas, he was a pioneer in the study of Aristotle. Feast day, November 15.

albescent /ˌalˈbes(ə)nt/

I. adjective

‹chiefly literary› growing or shading into white

• the albescent waves on the horizon.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Latin albescere ‘become white,’ from albus ‘white.’

Albigenses /ˌalbəˈjensēz/

I. plural noun

the members of a heretical sect in southern France in the 12th–13th centuries, identified with the Cathars. Their teaching was a form of Manichaean dualism, with an extremely strict moral and social code.

II. derivatives

Albigensian /ˌalbəˈjen(t)SH(ə)n /

adjective, noun

– origin medieval Latin, from Albiga, the Latin name of Albi in southern France.

albino /alˈbīˌnō/

I. noun

1. a person or animal having a congenital absence of pigment in the skin and hair (which are white) and the eyes (which are typically pink).

2. ‹informal› an abnormally white animal or plant
[as modifier]

• an albino tiger.

II. derivatives

albinism /ˈalbəˌnizəm /

noun

– origin early 18th cent.: from Portuguese (originally denoting albinos among African blacks) and Spanish, from albo (from Latin albus ‘white’) + the suffix -ino (see -ine^1).

Albinus /alˈbēnəs/

see Alcuin.

Albion /ˈalbēən/

I. noun

a poetic or literary term for Britain or England (often used in referring to ancient or historical times).

– origin Old English, from Latin, probably of Celtic origin and related to Latin albus ‘white’ (in allusion to the white cliffs of Dover). The phrase perfidious Albion (mid 19th cent.) translates the French la perfide Albion, alluding to alleged treachery to other nations.

albite /ˈalbīt/

I. noun

a sodium-rich mineral of the plagioclase feldspar group, typically white, occurring widely in igneous rocks.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin albus ‘white’ + -ite^1.

albizzia /alˈbizēə, -ˈbitsēə / albizia

I. noun

a leguminous tree or shrub with feathery leaves and densely clustered plumelike flowers. Native to warm climates, it is sometimes grown as a shade tree or ornamental.
[Genus Albizia, family Leguminosae: several species.]

– origin modern Latin, named after Filippo degli Albizzi, a Tuscan nobleman who introduced the silk tree A. julibrizzen into Italy in the mid 18th cent.

albondigas /alˈbändiɡəs/

I. plural noun

small meatballs, prepared in the Mexican, Spanish, or South American way.

– origin Spanish, from Arabic al-bunduq ‘hazel nut.’

Albright, Madeleine Korbel /ˈôlˌbrīt/

(1937–), US secretary of state 1997–2001; born in Czechoslovakia. After serving as US ambassador to the United Nations 1993–1997, she became the first woman to head the US Department of State. She immigrated to the US with her family in 1948 during the Communist takeover in Czechoslovakia.

album /ˈalbəm/

I. noun

1. a blank book for the insertion of photographs, stamps, or pictures

• the wedding pictures had pride of place in the family album.

2. a collection of recordings issued as a single item on CD, record, or another medium.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin, neuter of albus ‘white’ used as a noun meaning ‘a blank tablet.’ Taken into English from the German use of the Latin phrase album amicorum ‘album of friends,’ it was originally used consciously as a Latin word with Latin inflections.

albumen /alˈbyo͞omən/

I. noun

egg white, or the protein contained in it.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin, ‘egg white,’ from albus ‘white.’ / usage: The words albumen and albumin have the same origin but are not identical in meaning. Albumen refers specifically to egg white or the protein found in egg white. Albumin, on the other hand, refers to the more general category of protein that is soluble in water and that is coagulated on heating, of which albumen is just one type.

albumin /alˈbyo͞omən/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a simple form of protein that is soluble in water and coagulable by heat, such as that found in egg white, milk, and (in particular) blood serum.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French albumine, based on Latin albumen, albumin- (see albumen). / usage: See usage at albumen.

albuminoid /alˈbyo͞oməˌnoid/

noun

another term for scleroprotein.

albuminous /alˈbyo͞omənəs/

adjective

consisting of, resembling, or containing albumen.

albuminuria /alˌbyo͞oməˈn(y)o͝orēə/

noun

[Medicine] the presence of albumin in the urine, typically as a symptom of kidney disease.

Albuquerque /ˈalbəˌkərkē/

city in central New Mexico, on the Rio Grande; pop. 521,999 (est. 2008). It is the largest city in the state.

Albuquerque, Alfonso de

(1453–1515), Portuguese colonial statesman. He conquered Goa (1510) and made it the capital of the Portuguese empire in the east.

Alcaeus /alˈsēəs/

(c. 620–c. 580 BC), Greek lyric poet. He invented a new form of lyric meter called the alcaic. His works were a model for the Roman poet Horace and the verse of the Renaissance.

alcaic /alˈkāik / ‹Prosody›

I. adjective

a four-line verse stanza in the meter invented by the Greek poet Alcaeus, and later used in a slightly altered form by the Roman poet Horace.

II. noun — (usu. alcaics)

1. alcaic verse.

– origin mid 17th cent.: via late Latin from Greek alkaikos, from Alkaios (see Alcaeus).

Alcalá de Henares /ˌälkəˌlä dā həˈnärās/

a city in central Spain, on the Henares River, 15 miles (25 km) northeast of Madrid; pop. 203,645 (2008).

alcalde /älˈkäldē, al-/

I. noun

a magistrate or mayor in a Spanish, Portuguese, or Latin American town.

– origin mid 16th cent.: Spanish, from Arabic al-ḳāḍī ‘the judge’ (see cadi).

Alcan Highway /ˌalkan ˈhīwā / Alaska Highway

a military road, built during World War II to link Dawson Creek in the Yukon Territory with Fairbanks in Alaska, as part of a supply route to the former Soviet Union and the Pacific Ocean.

Alcatraz /ˈalkəˌtraz/

a rocky island in San Francisco Bay, California. It was the site of a top-security federal prison between 1934 and 1963 and since 1972 has been administered by the National Park Service.

alcazar /ˌalkəˈzär, alˈkazər / Alcazar

I. noun

a Spanish palace or fortress of Moorish origin.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Spanish alcázar, from Arabic al-ḳaṣr ‘the castle.’

Alcestis /ôlˈsestəs / ‹Greek Mythology›

wife of Admetus, king of Pherae in Thessaly, whose life she saved by consenting to die on his behalf.

alchemist /ˈalkəməst/

noun

1. a person who practices alchemy

• phosphorus was discovered by German alchemist Hennig Brand in 1669.

2. a person who transforms or creates something through a seemingly magical process

• some highly imaginative tax shelters dreamed up by the accounting alchemists.

alchemy /ˈalkəmē/

I. noun

1. the medieval forerunner of chemistry, based on the supposed transformation of matter. It was concerned particularly with attempts to convert base metals into gold or to find a universal elixir.

2. a seemingly magical process of transformation, creation, or combination

• finding the person who's right for you requires a very subtle alchemy.

II. derivatives

1. alchemic /alˈkemik /

adjective

2. alchemical /alˈkemikəl /

adjective

3. alchemize /ˈalkəˌmīz /

verb

– origin late Middle English: via Old French and medieval Latin from Arabic alkīmiyā', from al ‘the’ + kīmiyā' (from Greek khēmia, khēmeia ‘art of transmuting metals’).

Alcian blue /ˌalsēən ˈblo͞o/

I. noun

‹trademark› a water-soluble copper-containing blue dye used as a histological stain for glycosaminoglycans.

– origin 1940s: Alcian perhaps from (phth)al(o)cyan(ine) with a phonetic respelling.

Alcibiades /ˌalsəˈbīədēz/

(c. 450–404 BC), Athenian general and statesman who held commands during the Peloponnesian Wars against Sparta (431–404).

alcid /ˈalsəd/

I. noun

[Ornithology] a bird of the auk family (Alcidae); an auk or puffin.

– origin late 19th cent.: modern Latin Alcidae, from Alca (genus name), based on Old Norse álka ‘razorbill’; compare with auk.

Alclad /ˈalklad/

I. noun — ( in the UK)

1. ‹trademark› a composite material consisting of sheets of aluminum alloy coated with pure aluminum or a different alloy to increase corrosion resistance.

– origin 1920s: from al(uminum) + clad^1.

Alcock, Sir John William /ˈôlˌkäk/

(1892–1919), English aviator. With Sir Arthur Whitten Brown, he made the first nonstop transatlantic flight in June 1919.

alcohol /ˈalkəˌhôl ˈalkəˌhäl/

I. noun

1. a colorless volatile flammable liquid that is produced by the natural fermentation of sugars and is the intoxicating constituent of wine, beer, spirits, and other drinks, and is also used as an industrial solvent and as fuel.
[Alternative names: ethanol, ethyl alcohol; chem. formula: C_2H_5OH.]

2. drink containing this

• she hasn't drunk alcohol in five years.

3. [Chemistry] any organic compound whose molecule contains one or more hydroxyl groups attached to a carbon atom.

– origin mid 16th cent.: French (earlier form of alcool), or from medieval Latin, from Arabic al-kuḥl ‘the kohl.’ In early use the term denoted powders, specifically kohl, and especially those obtained by sublimation; later ‘a distilled or rectified spirit’ (mid 17th cent).

alcohol abuse

I. noun

the habitual misuse of alcohol

• Dawn's father was put into rehab for alcohol abuse.

II. derivatives

alcohol abuser

noun

alcohol-free /ˈalkəˌhôlˌfrē/

adjective

1. (of a drink) not containing alcohol (denoting varieties of normally alcoholic drinks from which the alcohol has been removed)

• alcohol-free wines.

2. where, or during which, alcoholic drinks are not consumed

• the hotel has an alcohol-free bar.

alcoholic /ˌalkəˈhôlik/

I. adjective

1. containing or relating to alcoholic liquor

• beer is the favorite alcoholic drink.

2. caused by the excessive consumption of alcohol

• alcoholic liver disease.

3. suffering from alcoholism

• his alcoholic daughter was the cause of his anxiety.

II. noun

a person suffering from alcoholism.

Alcoholics Anonymous /ˈˌalkəˈhôliks əˈnänəməs / AA

‹trademark› a self-help organization for people fighting alcoholism, founded in the US in 1935 and now having branches worldwide.

alcoholism /ˈalkəhôˌlizəm/

noun

an addiction to the consumption of alcoholic liquor or the mental illness and compulsive behavior resulting from alcohol dependency

• he had a long history of depression, drug abuse and alcoholism.

Alcott, Bronson /ˈôlkət, ˈal-, -ˌkät/

(1799–1888), US educator; father of Louisa May Alcott; full name Amos Bronson Alcott. He advocated radical reforms in education, including racial integration in the classroom. Appointed superintendent of schools in Concord, Massachusetts, in 1859, he created the first parent–teacher association.

Alcott, Louisa May

(1832–88), US novelist. Her novel Little Women (1868–69) was based on her New England childhood and was written for adolescent girls. She wrote a number of sequels to this, as well as novels for adults. Alcott was involved in the women's suffrage movement and served as a nurse during the Civil War.

alcove /ˈalˌkōv/

I. noun

a recess, typically in the wall of a room or of a garden.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French alcôve, from Spanish alcoba, from Arabic al-ḳubba ‘the vault.’

Alcuin /ˈalkwən/

(c. 735–804) English scholar, theologian, and adviser to Charlemagne; also known as Albinus. He is credited with the transformation of Charlemagne's court into a cultural center during the Carolingian Renaissance.

Alda, Alan /ˈôldə/

(1936–), US actor, director, and writer; born Alphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo. He won five Emmys for his role as Hawkeye Pierce on the television series M*A*S*H 1972–83. His movies include Same Time, Next Year (1978), California Suite (1978), The Seduction of Joe Tynan (1979), and Everyone Says I Love You (1996).

Aldabra /alˈdabrə/

a coral island group in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Madagascar. Formerly part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, it became an outlying dependency of the Seychelles in 1976.

Aldan River /əlˌdän ˈrivər/

a river in the eastern Siberian area of Russia that rises in the Stanovoy Khrebet Mountains and flows for 1,400 miles (2,240 km) into the Lena River east of Yakutsk.

Aldebaran /alˈdebərən/

I. the brightest star in the constellation Taurus. It is a binary system of which the main star is a red giant.

– origin Arabic, ‘the follower (of the Pleiades).’

aldehyde /ˈaldəˌhīd/

I. noun

[Chemistry] an organic compound containing the group —CHO, formed by the oxidation of alcohols. Typical aldehydes include methanal (formaldehyde) and ethanal (acetaldehyde).

II. derivatives

aldehydic /ˌaldəˈhīdik /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: shortened from Latin alcohol dehydrogenatum ‘alcohol deprived of hydrogen.’

al dente /äl ˈdentā, al/

I. adjective, adverb

(of food, typically pasta) cooked so as to be still firm when bitten.

– origin Italian, literally ‘to the tooth.’

alder /ˈôldər / alder tree

I. noun

a widely distributed tree of the birch family that has toothed leaves and bears male catkins and woody female cones.
[Genus Alnus, family Betulaceae: many species, including the European alder (A. glutinosa), common in damp ground and on riverbanks.]

– origin Old English alor, aler, of Germanic origin; related to German Erle; forms spelled with d are recorded from the 14th cent.

alderfly /ˈôldərˌflī / alder fly

noun

a brownish flylike insect that lives near water and has predatory aquatic larvae.
[Family Sialidae, order Neuroptera: several genera.]

alderman /ˈôldərmən/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) (Austral.) an elected member of a municipal council.

2. (in England before 1974) a member of a county or borough council, next in status to the Mayor.

3. (in Anglo-Saxon England) a noble serving the king as a chief officer in a district or shire.

II. derivatives

1. aldermanic /ˌôldərˈmanik /

adjective

2. aldermanship /ˈôldərmənˌSHip /

noun

– origin Old English aldormann (originally in the general sense ‘a man of high rank’), from aldor, ealdor ‘chief, patriarch,’ from ald ‘old’ + man. Later the sense ‘warden of a guild’ arose; then, as the guilds became identified with the ruling municipal body, ‘local magistrate, municipal officer,’ the status and method of appointment varying in different times and places.

Alderney /ˈôldərnē/

an island in the English Channel, to the northeast of Guernsey; pop. 2,000 (est. 2009). It is the third largest of the Channel Islands.

alderperson /ˈôldərˌpərs(ə)n/

noun

(N. Amer.) (Austral.) an elected member of a city council.

alderwoman /ˈôldərˌwo͝omən/

I. noun

an elected female member of a municipal council.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in sense ‘alderman's wife’): from alder- in alderman + woman.

al desko /al ˈdeskō/

I. adverb, adjective

‹humorous› while working at one's desk in an office (with reference to the consumption of food or meals)
[as adv.]

• limp sandwiches eaten al desko

• [as adj.] an al-desko lunch.

– origin 1980s: on the pattern of al fresco.

aldicarb /ˈaldəˌkärb/

I. noun

a systemic agricultural pesticide used particularly against some mites, insects, and nematode worms.

– origin 1970s: blend of aldehyde and carbamide (from carbo- + amide).

Aldine /ˈôldīn ˈôldēn/

I. adjective

of or relating to the Venetian printer Aldus Manutius, or to the books printed by him, or to certain styles of display types.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin Aldinus, from Aldus, the printer's given name.

Aldis lamp /ˈôldis ˌlamp/

I. noun

a handheld lamp for signaling in Morse code.

– origin World War I: named after A. C. W. Aldis (1878–1953), its British inventor.

Aldiss, Brian /ˈôldəs/

(1925–), English novelist and critic, best known for his science fiction; full name Brian Wilson Aldiss. He wrote Frankenstein Unbound (1973).

aldol /ˈalˌdôl, -ˌdäl/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a viscous liquid obtained when acetaldehyde dimerizes in dilute alkali or acid.
[Alternative name: 3-hydroxybutanal; chem. formula: CH_3CH(OH)CH_2CHO.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from ald(ehyde) + -ol.

aldosterone /ˌalˈdästərōn/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a corticosteroid hormone that stimulates absorption of sodium by the kidneys and so regulates water and salt balance.

– origin 1950s: blend of aldehyde and steroid, + -one.

aldosteronism /ˌaldōˈstərəˌnizəm, alˈdästərə-/

noun

[Medicine] a condition in which there is excessive secretion of aldosterone. This disturbs the balance of sodium, potassium, and water in the blood and so leads to high blood pressure.

aldrin /ˈôldrin/

I. noun

a toxic synthetic insecticide, now generally banned.
[A chlorinated polycyclic hydrocarbon; chem. formula: C_12H_8Cl_6.]

– origin 1940s: from the name of K. Alder (see Diels–Alder reaction) + -in^1.

Aldrin, Buzz /ˈôldrin/

(1930–), US astronaut; born Edwin Eugene Aldrin. He became an astronaut in 1963, and walked in space for 5 hours and 37 minutes during the 1966 Gemini 12 mission. In 1969 he took part in the first moon landing, the Apollo 11 mission, becoming the second person, after Neil Armstrong, to set foot on the moon.

Aldus Manutius /ˌôldəs məˈn(y)o͞oSH(ē)əs/

(1450–1515), Italian scholar, printer, and publisher; Latinized name of Teobaldo Manucci; also known as Aldo Manuzio.

ale /āl/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a type of beer with a bitter flavor and higher alcoholic content

• amber-colored beers, ales, and stouts.

2. (chiefly Brit.) beer.

– origin Old English alu, ealu, of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse ǫl. Formerly the word referred especially to unhopped or paler-colored varieties of beer.

aleatoric /ˌālēəˈtôrik, ˌal-/

I. adjective

another term for aleatory.

– origin 1960s: from Latin aleatorius, from aleator ‘dice player,’ from alea ‘die,’ + -ic.

aleatory /ˈālēəˌtôrē/

I. adjective

1. depending on the throw of a dice or on chance; random.

2. relating to or denoting music or other forms of art involving elements of random choice (sometimes using statistical or computer techniques) during their composition, production, or performance.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin aleatorius (see aleatoric).

alec /ˈalək / aleck, alick

I. noun

(Austral.) ‹informal› a stupid person

• what sort of alec do you take me for?

– origin late 20th cent.: shortening of smart aleck.

alecost /ˈālˌkôst, -ˌkäst/

noun

1. a wild plant with small daisylike flowers that has culinary and folk-medicinal uses.
[Chrysanthemum balsamita, family Compositae.]

2. another name for costmary.

Alecto /əˈlektō / ‹Greek Mythology› Allecto

one of the Furies.

alee /əˈlē/

I. adverb, adjective — [predic.]

1. on the side of a ship that is sheltered from the wind.

2. (of the helm) moved around to leeward in order to tack a vessel or to bring its bows up into the wind.

– origin late Middle English: from a-2 ‘on’ + lee.

alehouse /ˈālˌhous/

noun

‹dated› a tavern.

Aleichem /əˈlāKHəm, -kəm/

see Sholom Aleichem.

Alekhine, Alexander /ˌəlˈyôKH(y)in/

(1892–1946), French chess player; born in Russia; world champion 1927–35 and 1937–46.

Aleksandropol /ˌalikˈsändrəˌpōl, ˌəlyiksənˈdrôpəl / Alexandropol

former name (1840–1924) for Gyumri.

Aleksandrovsk /ˌaləɡˈzandrôvsk/

former name (until 1921) of Zaporizhzhya.

alembic /əˈlembik/

I. noun

a distilling apparatus, now obsolete, consisting of a rounded, necked flask and a cap with a long beak for condensing and conveying the products to a receiver.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin alembicus, from Arabic al-'anbīḳ, from al- ‘the’ + 'anbīḳ ‘still’ (from Greek ambix, ambik- ‘cup, cap of a still’).

aleph /ˈälif, ˈälef/

I. noun

the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

– origin Middle English: from Hebrew ῾ālep̱, literally ‘ox’ (the character in Phoenician and ancient Hebrew possibly being derived from a hieroglyph of an ox's head).

Aleppo /əˈlepō/

a city in northern Syria; pop. 1,693,800 (est. 2009).

Aleppo gall

noun

a hard nutlike gall that forms on the some varieties of oak in response to the developing larva of a gall wasp. It is used as a source of gallic acid and tannin.
[The wasp is Cynips quercusfolii, family Cynipidae.]

alerce /əˈlərsə/

I. noun

a cypress tree that is valued for its timber.
[Several species in the family Cupressaceae, in particular the sandarac tree (Tetraclinis articulata) of southern Spain and northwestern Africa, from which the resin sandarac is obtained.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Spanish, ‘larch.’

alert /əˈlərt/

I. adjective

1. quick to notice any unusual and potentially dangerous or difficult circumstances; vigilant

• an alert police officer discovered a truck full of explosives

• schools need to be constantly alert to this problem.

2. able to think clearly; intellectually active

• she remained active and alert until well into her eighties.

II. noun

1. the state of being watchful for possible danger

• security forces were placed on alert.

2. an announcement or signal warning of danger

• a bomb alert

• an alert sounded and all the fighters took off.

3. a period of vigilance in response to a warning of danger

• traffic was halted during the alert.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. warn (someone) of a danger, threat, or problem, typically with the intention of having it avoided or dealt with

• he alerted people to the dangers of smoking

• police were alerted after three men drove away without paying.

IV. phrases

on the alert

vigilant and prepared

• the security forces must be on the alert for an upsurge in violence.

V. derivatives

alertly /əˈlərtlē /

adverb

– origin late 16th cent. (originally in military use): from French alerte, from Italian all' erta ‘to the watchtower.’

alertness /əˈlərtnəs/

noun

the quality of being alert

• nothing could escape the steel trap of my alertness

• a lack of mental alertness.

-ales

I. suffix

[Botany] forming the names of orders of plants

• Rosales.

– origin from the plural of the Latin adjectival suffix -alis (see -al).

alethic /əˈleTHik, əˈlē-/

I. adjective

[Philosophy] denoting modalities of truth, such as necessity, contingency, or impossibility.

– origin 1950s: from Greek alētheia ‘truth’ + -ic.

Aletschhorn /ˈäliCHˌhôrn/

a mountain in Switzerland, in the Bernese Alps, that rises to 13,763 feet (4,195 m). Its glaciers are among the largest in Europe.

aleurone /ˈalyərōn əˈlo͝orōn/

I. noun

[Botany] protein stored as granules in the cells of plant seeds.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek aleuron ‘flour.’

Aleut /əˈlo͞ot, ˈalēˌo͞ot/

I. noun

1. a member of a people inhabiting the Aleutian Islands, other islands in the Bering Sea, and parts of western Alaska.

2. the language of the Aleuts, related to Eskimo.

II. adjective

relating to the Aleuts or their language.

– origin from Russian, from an unknown source.

Aleutian Islands /əˈl(y)o͞oSH(ə)n ˌīləndz / the Aleutians

a chain of US volcanic islands that extend southwest from the Alaska Peninsula.

Aleutian Range /əˌlo͞oSHən ˈrān(d)ZH/

an extension of the Coast Ranges in southwestern Alaska. It contains many volcanoes.

A level

I. noun

(in the UK except Scotland) the higher of the two main levels of standardized examinations in secondary schools.
Compare with O level.

– origin short for advanced level.

alevin /ˈaləvən/

I. noun

a newly spawned salmon or trout still carrying the yolk.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Old French, based on Latin allevare ‘raise up.’

alewife /ˈālwīf/

I. noun

1. a northwestern Atlantic fish of the herring family that swims up rivers to spawn and is found also in the Great Lakes.
[Alosa pseudoharengus, family Clupeidae.]

2. another term for menhaden.

– origin mid 17th cent.: possibly from earlier alewife ‘woman who keeps an alehouse,’ with reference to the fish's large belly.

Alexander^1 /ˌaləɡˈzandər/

(356–323 BC), king of Macedon 336–323; son of Philip II; known as Alexander the Great. He conquered Persia, Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia, Bactria, and the Punjab; he founded the city of Alexandria in Egypt.

Alexander^2 /ˌaləɡˈzandər/

I. three kings of Scotland.

II. Alexander I (c. 1077–1124), son of Malcolm III; reigned 1107–24.

III. Alexander II (1198–1249), son of William I of Scotland; reigned 1214–49.

IV. Alexander III (1241–86), son of Alexander II; reigned 1249–86. He annexed the Hebrides and the Isle of Man in 1266.

Alexander^3 /ˌaləɡˈzandər/

I. three tsars of Russia.

II. Alexander I (1777–1825), reigned 1801–25. During his reign, Napoleon unsuccessfully invaded Russia 1812.

III. Alexander II (1818–81), son of Nicholas I; reigned 1855–81; known as Alexander the Liberator. His reforms included limited emancipation of the serfs.

IV. Alexander III (1845–94), son of Alexander II; reigned 1881–94.

Alexander, Grover Cleveland

(1887–1950), US baseball player; known as Pete. A pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies 1911–17, the Chicago Cubs 1917–26, and the St. Louis Cardinals 1926–30, he retired with 373 career wins and 90 shutouts. Baseball Hall of Fame (1938).

Alexander, Harold

1st Earl Alexander of Tunis (1891–1969), British field marshal and statesman; full name Harold Rupert Leofric George Alexander.

Alexander Archipelago

a group of more than 1,000 US islands off the coast of southeastern Alaska.

Alexander Nevsky, St. /ˈnefskē / Nevski

(c. 1220–63), prince of Novgorod 1236-63; born Aleksandr Yaroslavich. He defeated the Swedes on the banks of the Neva River in 1240. Feast day, August 30 or November 23.

Alexander technique

I. a system of body awareness designed to promote well-being by ensuring minimum effort in maintaining postures and carrying out movements.

– origin 1930s: named after Frederick Matthias Alexander (1869–1955), Australian-born actor and physical therapist who developed it.

Alexandretta /ˌaləɡzanˈdredə/

former name for Iskenderun.

Alexandria /ˌaləɡˈzandrēə/

I. the chief port of Egypt; pop. 4,084,700 (est. 2006). Founded in 332 BC by Alexander the Great, it was a major center of Hellenistic culture, renowned for its library and for the Pharos lighthouse.

II. an industrial city in central Louisiana, on the Red River; pop. 48,639 (est. 2008).

III. a city in northern Virginia, on the Potomac River, across from Washington, DC; pop. 143,885 (est. 2008).

Alexandrian /ˌaləɡˈzandrēən/

adjective

1. of or relating to Alexandria in Egypt.

2. belonging to or akin to the schools of literature and philosophy of ancient Alexandria.

3. (of a writer) derivative or imitative rather than creative; fond of recondite learning.

alexandrine /ˌaliɡˈzandrin, -ˌdrēn / ‹Prosody›

I. adjective

(of a line of verse) having six iambic feet.

II. noun — (usu. alexandrines)

1. an alexandrine line.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French alexandrin, from Alexandre (see Alexander^1), the subject of an Old French poem in this meter.

alexandrite /ˌaləɡˈzandrīt/

I. noun

a gem variety of chrysoberyl that appears green in daylight and red in artificial light.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from the name of Tsar Alexander II of Russia (see Alexander^3) + -ite^1.

alexia /əˈleksēə/

I. noun

the inability to see words or to read, caused by a defect of the brain.

– origin late 19th cent.: from a-1 ‘without’ + Greek lexis ‘speech,’ from legein ‘speak,’ which was confused with Latin legere ‘read.’

alfalfa /alˈfalfə/

I. noun

a leguminous plant with cloverlike leaves and bluish flowers. Native to southwestern Asia, it is widely grown for fodder.
Also called lucerne. [Medicago sativa, family Leguminosae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Spanish, from Arabic al-faṣfaṣa, a green fodder.

al-Fatah

see Fatah.

alfisol /ˈalfiˌsôl, -ˌsäl/

I. noun

[Soil Science] a soil of an order comprising leached basic or slightly acid soils with a clay-enriched B horizon (subsoil).

– origin 1960s: from the arbitrary element Alfi- + -sol.

Alfonso XIII /alˈfänsō, älˈfônsō/

(1886–1941), king of Spain 1886–1931. He was forced into exile after elections indicating a preference for a republic.

Alfred /ˈalfrəd/

(849–99), king of Wessex 871–899; known as Alfred the Great. His military resistance saved southwestern England from Viking occupation.

Alfredo /alˈfrādō/

I. noun

a sauce for pasta incorporating butter, cream, garlic, and Parmesan cheese.

– origin named after Alfredo di Lelio, the Italian chef and restaurateur who invented the sauce.

al fresco /al ˈfreskō / alfresco

I. adverb, adjective

in the open air
[as adj.]

• an al fresco luncheon.

– origin mid 18th cent.: Italian, ‘in the fresh (air).’

Alfvén, Hannes /älˈvān/

(1908–95), Swedish theoretical physicist; full name Hannes Olof Gösta Alfvén. His work was important for controlled thermonuclear fusion. He shared the 1970 Nobel Prize for Physics with Louis Néel (1904–2000).

Alfvén wave

noun

[Physics] a hydromagnetic shear wave in a plasma that moves along magnetic field lines. The velocity of such waves (the Alfvén velocity or speed) is characteristic for a plasma of given properties.

alga /ˈalɡə/

I. noun

a simple nonflowering plant of a large group that includes the seaweeds and many single-celled forms. Algae contain chlorophyll but lack true stems, roots, leaves, and vascular tissue.
[Divisions Chlorophyta (green algae), Heterokontophyta (brown algae), and Rhodophyta (red algae); some (or all) are frequently placed in the kingdom Protista. See also blue-green algae.]

II. derivatives

algal /ˈalɡ(ə)l /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin, ‘seaweed.’

algebra /ˈaljəbrə/

I. noun

1. the part of mathematics in which letters and other general symbols are used to represent numbers and quantities in formulae and equations.

2. a system of algebra based on given axioms.

II. derivatives

algebraist /ˌaljəˈbrāist /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Italian, Spanish, and medieval Latin, from Arabic al-jabr ‘the reunion of broken parts,’ ‘bone setting,’ from jabara ‘reunite, restore.’ The original sense, ‘the surgical treatment of fractures,’ probably came via Spanish, in which it survives; the mathematical sense comes from the title of a book, ʿilm al-jabr wa'l-muḳābala ‘the science of restoring what is missing and equating like with like,’ by the mathematician al-Ḵwārizmī (see algorithm).

algebraic /ˌaljəˈbrāik/

I. adjective

1. relating to or involving algebra.

2. (of a mathematical expression or equation) in which a finite number of symbols is combined using only the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and exponentiation with constant rational exponents.
Compare with transcendental.

II. derivatives

1. algebraical

adjective

2. algebraically

adverb

Algeciras /ˌälKHāˈTHēˌräs, -ˈsēˌräs/

a ferry port and resort in southern Spain, on the Strait of Gibraltar; pop. 115,333 (2008).

Alger, Horatio /ˈaljər/

Jr. (1832–99), US author. His novels, most notably Ragged Dick (1867), were infused with the message that honest hard work can overcome poverty.

Algeria /ˌalˈjirēə/

1. a republic in northwestern Africa, on the Mediterranean coast; pop. 34,178,200 (est. 2009); capital, Algiers; official language, Arabic.

Algeria was colonized by France in the mid 19th century and was for a time closely integrated with metropolitan France. Following civil war in the 1950s, it achieved independence in 1962. A brief period of multiparty democracy was ended by a military takeover in 1992 after the fundamentalist Islamic Salvation Front had won the first round of the national elections. This prompted a low-level civil war until 2000 when the Islamic Salvation Army, the armed segment of the Islamic Salvation Front, was dissolved.

Algerian /alˈjirēən/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of Algeria

• a port city on the Algerian coast.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of Algeria, or a person of Algerian descent

• Algerians are known for their hospitality.

-algia

I. combining form

denoting pain in a specified part of the body

• neuralgia

• myalgia.

– origin from Greek algos ‘pain.’

-algic

combining form

in adjectives corresponding to nouns ending in -algia (such as neuralgic corresponding to neuralgia).

algicide /ˈaljəˌsīd/

noun

a substance that is poisonous to algae.

Algiers /ˌalˈjirz/

the capital of Algeria and one of the leading Mediterranean ports of North Africa; pop. 2,203,700 (est. 2009).

alginic acid /alˌjinik ˈasid/

I. noun

[Chemistry] an insoluble gelatinous carbohydrate found (chiefly as salts) in many brown seaweeds. The sodium salt is used as a thickener in foods and many other materials.

II. derivatives

alginate /ˈaljəˌnāt /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: alginic from alga + -in^1 + -ic.

algo /ˈalɡō/

noun

‹informal› short for algorithm:

• the algo determines which indexed pages are most relevant to that search term.

algo-

combining form

pain

• algolagnia.

Algol /ˈalˌɡôl, -ˌɡäl / ‹Astronomy›

I. a variable star or star system in the constellation Perseus, regarded as the prototype of eclipsing binary stars.

– origin from Arabic al ġūl ‘the ghoul.’

ALGOL /ˈalˌɡôl ˈalˌɡäl/

I. noun

one of the early high-level computer programming languages that was devised to carry out scientific calculations.

– origin 1950s: from algo(rithmic) + the initial letter of language.

algolagnia /ˌalɡōˈlaɡnēə/

I. noun

[Psychiatry] desire for sexual gratification through inflicting pain on oneself or others; sadomasochism.

– origin early 20th cent.: coined in German from Greek algos ‘pain’ + lagneia ‘lust.’

algology /alˈɡäləjē/

I. noun

the study of algae.

II. derivatives

1. algological /ˌalɡəˈläjikəl /

adjective

2. algologist /-jist /

noun

Algonquian /alˈɡäNGk(w)ēən / Algonkian

I. adjective

denoting, belonging to, or relating to a family of North American Indian languages formerly spoken across a vast area from the Atlantic seaboard to the Great Lakes and the Great Plains.

II. noun

1. the Algonquian family of languages.

2. a speaker of any of the Algonquian languages.
Algonquian is one of the largest groups of American Indian languages, including Abnaki, Mohegan, Pequot, Ojibwa, Cree, Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Fox, Menomini, and Delaware. Although the Algonquian languages are today spoken from the east coast of North America to the Rockies, the speakers are few and several of the languages are endangered. Many English words have been adopted from these languages, e.g., moccasin, moose, and toboggan.

– origin from Algonquin + -ian.

Algonquin /alˈɡäNGkwən / Algonkin

I. noun

1. (pl. same or Algonquins) — a member of a North American Indian people living in Canada along the Ottawa River and its tributaries and westward to the north of Lake Superior.

2. the dialect of Ojibwa spoken by the Algonquin, with about 3,000 speakers.

II. adjective

relating to the Algonquin or their language.

– origin French, perhaps a contraction of obsolete Algoumequin, from a Micmac word meaning ‘at the place of spearing fish and eels.’ / usage: The use of Algonquin to refer generically to the Algonquian peoples or their languages is incorrect.

algorithm /ˈalɡəˌriT͟Həm/

I. noun

a process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations, especially by a computer

• a basic algorithm for division.

II. derivatives

1. algorithmic /ˌalɡəˈriT͟Hmik /

adjective

2. algorithmically /ˌalɡəˈriT͟Hmik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin late 17th cent.: variant (influenced by Greek arithmos ‘number’) of Middle English algorism, via Old French from medieval Latin algorismus. The Arabic source, al-Ḵwārizmī ‘the man of Ḵwārizm’ (now Khiva), was a name given to the 9th-cent. mathematician Abū Ja῾far Muhammad ibn Mūsa.

algorithmic trading

I. noun

[Stock Market] automated trading by computers which are programmed to take certain actions in response to varying market data

• algorithmic trading relies on computer systems to buy shares automatically when predefined market conditions are met.

II. derivatives

algorithmic trader

noun

algo trading

I. noun

[Stock Exchange] short for algorithmic trading:

• the foreign exchange market has embraced algo trading.

II. derivatives

algo trader

noun

Algren, Nelson /ˈôlɡrən/

(1909–81), US novelist; born Nelson Ahlgren Abraham. He drew on his childhood experiences in the slums of Chicago for his vivid, realistic novels of social protest, such as Somebody in Boots (1935). Other notable works: The Man with the Golden Arm (1949) and Walk on the Wild Side (1956).

alhaji /älˈhäjē, alˈhajē/

I. noun

(in West Africa) a Muslim who has been to Mecca as a pilgrim (often used as a title).

– origin Hausa, from Turkish, from al ‘the’ + hājī ‘pilgrim.’

Alhambra^1 /ˌalˈhambrə/

a city in southwestern California, northeast of Los Angeles; pop. 85,953 (est. 2008).

Alhambra^2

(the Alhambra) — a fortified Moorish palace, the last stronghold of the Muslim kings of Granada, built between 1248 and 1354 near Granada in Spain.

al-Hudayda /ˌalho͝oˈdīdə/

Arabic name for Hodeida.

Ali /äˈlē/

(c. 600–61 AD), the fourth caliph, cousin of Muhammad and husband of the prophet's daughter Fatima. Ali is regarded by Shiites as Muhammad's first true successor.

alias /ˈālēəs/

I. adverb

1. used to indicate that a named person is also known or more familiar under another specified name

• Eric Blair, alias George Orwell.

2. ‹informal› indicating another term or synonym

• the catfish—alias bullhead—is a mighty tasty fry-up.

II. noun

1. a false or assumed identity

• a spy operating under the alias Barsad.

2. [Computing] an alternative name or label that refers to a file, command, address, or other item, and can be used to locate or access it.

3. [Telecommunications] each of a set of signal frequencies that, when sampled at a given uniform rate, would give the same set of sampled values, and thus might be incorrectly substituted for one another when reconstructing the original signal.

III. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be aliased)

1. [Physics] [Telecommunications] misidentify (a signal frequency), introducing distortion or error.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin, ‘at another time, otherwise.’

aliasing /ˈālēəsiNG/

noun

1. [Physics] [Telecommunications] the misidentification of a signal frequency, introducing distortion or error.

2. [Computing] in computer graphics, the jagged, or saw-toothed appearance of curved or diagonal lines on a low-resolution monitor.

Ali Baba /ˌälē ˈbäbə/

the hero of a story supposed to be from the Arabian Nights, who discovered the magic formula (“Open Sesame!”) that opened a cave where forty robbers kept their treasure.

alibi /ˈaləˌbī/

I. noun

1. a claim or piece of evidence that one was elsewhere when an act, typically a criminal one, is alleged to have taken place

• she has an alibi for the whole of yesterday evening

• a defense of alibi.

2. ‹informal› an excuse or pretext

• a catch-all alibi for failure and inadequacy.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› offer an excuse or defense for (someone), especially by providing an account of their whereabouts at the time of an alleged act

• her friend agreed to alibi her.

2. [no obj.] — ‹informal› make excuses

• not once do I recall him whining or alibiing.

– origin late 17th cent. (as an adverb in the sense ‘elsewhere’): from Latin, ‘in another place; elsewhere.’ The noun use dates from the late 18th cent. / usage: The weakened nonlegal use of alibi to mean simply ‘an excuse’ is a fairly common and natural extension of the core meaning. It is acceptable in standard English, although regarded as incorrect by some traditionalists.

Alicante /ˌaliˈkantē, ˌäləˈkäntā/

a seaport on the Mediterranean coast of southeastern Spain, the capital of Alicante Province; pop. 331,750 (2008).

Alice-in-Wonderland /ˌaləsənˈwəndərland/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. not logically explicable or predictable

• this Alice-in-Wonderland economic system.

– origin See Carroll, Lewis.

Alice Springs /ˌalis ˈspriNGz/

a railroad terminus and supply center serving the outback of Northern Territory, Australia; pop. 27,481 (2008).

alicyclic /ˌaləˈsīklik, -ˈsik- / ‹Chemistry›

I. adjective

relating to or denoting organic compounds that combine cyclic structure with aliphatic properties, e.g., cyclohexane and other saturated cyclic hydrocarbons.
Compare with aromatic.

II. noun — (usu. alicyclics)

1. an alicyclic compound.

– origin late 19th cent.: blend of aliphatic and cyclic.

alidade /ˈaləˌdād/

I. noun

a sighting device or pointer for determining directions or measuring angles, used in surveying and (formerly) astronomy.

– origin late Middle English: directly or (in modern use) via French and Spanish from Arabic al- ‘iḍāda ‘the revolving radius,’ probably based on ‘aḍud ‘upper arm.’

alien /ˈālēən/

I. adjective

1. belonging to a foreign country or nation.

2. unfamiliar and disturbing or distasteful

• bossing anyone around was alien to him

• they found the world of adult education a little alien.

3. [attrib.] — relating to or denoting beings supposedly from other worlds; extraterrestrial

• an alien spacecraft.

4. (of a plant or animal species) introduced from another country and later naturalized.

II. noun

1. a foreigner, especially one who is not a naturalized citizen of the country where they are living

• an illegal alien.

2. a hypothetical or fictional being from another world.

3. a plant or animal species originally introduced from another country and later naturalized.

III. derivatives

alienness

noun

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin alienus ‘belonging to another,’ from alius ‘other.’

alien abduction

noun

the alleged abduction of a person by an extraterrestrial being

• victims of alien abduction

• reports of mysterious UFO sightings and alarming alien abductions.

alienable /ˈālēənəbəl/

I. adjective

[Law] able to be transferred to new ownership.

II. derivatives

alienability /ˌālēənəˈbilədē /

noun

alienage /ˈālyənij/

noun

the state or condition of being an alien.

alienate /ˈālyəˌnāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (someone) to feel isolated or estranged

• an urban environment that would alienate its inhabitants

• (as adj. alienated) an alienated angst-ridden 22-year-old.

2. cause (someone) to become unsympathetic or hostile

• the association does not wish to alienate its members.

3. [Law] transfer ownership of (property rights) to another person or group.

II. phrases

alienate someone's affections

[Law] induce someone to transfer their affection from a person (such as a spouse) with legal rights or claims on them.

– origin early 16th cent.: from Latin alienat- ‘estranged,’ from the verb alienare, from alienus ‘of another’ (see alien).

alienation /ˌālyəˈnāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the state or experience of being isolated from a group or an activity to which one should belong or in which one should be involved

• unemployment may generate a sense of political alienation.

2. loss or lack of sympathy; estrangement

• public alienation from bureaucracy.

3. (in Marxist theory) a condition of workers in a capitalist economy, resulting from a lack of identity with the products of their labor and a sense of being controlled or exploited.

4. [Psychiatry] a state of depersonalization or loss of identity in which the self seems unreal, thought to be caused by difficulties in relating to society and the resulting prolonged inhibition of emotion.

5. (also alienation effect) — [Theater] an effect, sought by some dramatists, whereby the audience remains objective and does not identify with the actors.

6. [Law] the transfer of the ownership of property rights.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin alienatio(n-), from the verb alienare ‘estrange,’ from alienus (see alien). The term alienation effect (1940s) is a translation of German Verfremdungseffekt.

alienee /ˌālēəˈnē/

noun

[Law] dated term for grantee.

alienist /ˈālēənist/

I. noun

1. former term for psychiatrist.

2. (chiefly US) a psychiatrist who assesses the competence of a defendant in a court of law.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French aliéniste, based on Latin alienus ‘of another’ (see alien).

alienor /ˈālyənôr/

noun

[Law] dated term for grantor.

a-life /ˈālīf/

noun

short for artificial life.

aliform /ˈaləfôrm ˈāləˌfôrm/

I. adjective

wing-shaped.

– origin early 18th cent.: from modern Latin aliformis, from Latin ala ‘wing’ + -formis (see -form).

Alighieri, Dante /ˌaləɡˈyerē/

see Dante.

alight^1 /əˈlīt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a bird) descend from the air and settle

• a lovely blue swallow alighted on a branch.

2. descend from a train, bus, or other form of transportation

• the conductor alights to push the cable car completely around.

II. phrasal verbs

alight on

find by chance; notice

• her eyes alighted on the item in question.

– origin Old English ālīhtan, from ā- (as an intensifier) + līhtan ‘descend’ (see light^3).

alight^2 /əˈlīt/

I. adverb, adjective

1. on fire; burning
[as adj.]

• the house was well alight when the firemen arrived

• [as adv.] flammable liquid was set alight.

2. shining brightly
[as adj.]

• a single lamp was alight

• ‹figurative› the boy's face was alight with excitement.

– origin late Middle English: probably from the phrase on a light (= lighted) fire.

align /əˈlīn/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — place or arrange (things) in a straight line

• gently brush the surface to align the fibers.

2. put (things) into correct or appropriate relative positions

• the fan blades are carefully aligned

• ‹figurative› aligning domestic prices with prices in world markets.

3. [no obj.] — lie in a straight line, or in correct relative positions

• the pattern of the border at the seam should align perfectly.

4. (align oneself with) — give support to (a person, organization, or cause)

• newspapers usually align themselves with certain political parties.

5. [no obj.] — come together in agreement or alliance

• all of them must now align against the foe

• (as adj. aligned) forces aligned with Russia.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French aligner, from à ligne ‘into line.’

alignment /əˈlīnmənt/

I. noun

1. arrangement in a straight line, or in correct or appropriate relative positions

• the tiles had slipped out of alignment.

2. the act of aligning parts of a machine

• oil changes, lube jobs, and wheel alignments.

3. the route or course of a road or railroad

• four railroads, all on different alignments.

4. a position of agreement or alliance

• a firm famous for its liberal alignment.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French alignement, from aligner (see align).

alike /əˈlīk/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. (of two or more subjects) similar to each other

• the brothers were very much alike

• the houses all looked alike.

II. adverb

1. in the same or a similar way

• the girls dressed alike in black pants and jackets.

2. used to show that something applies equally to a number of specified subjects

• he talked in a friendly manner to staff and patients alike.

– origin Old English gelīc, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch gelijk and German gleich, reinforced in Middle English by Old Norse álíkr (adjective) and álíka (adverb).

aliment /ˈaləmənt/

I. noun

1. ‹archaic› food; nourishment.

2. ‹archaic› support; sustenance.

II. verb

provide with nourishment or sustenance.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Latin alimentum, from alere ‘nourish.’

alimentary /ˌaləˈment(ə)rē/

I. adjective

of or relating to nourishment or sustenance.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin alimentarius, from alimentum ‘nourishment’ (see aliment).

alimentary canal

noun

the whole passage along which food passes through the body from mouth to anus. It includes the esophagus, stomach, and intestines.

alimentation /ˌaləmənˈtāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

‹formal› the provision of nourishment or other necessities of life.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘maintenance, support’): from medieval Latin alimentatio(n-), from late Latin alimentare ‘to feed,’ from alimentum ‘nourishment’ (see aliment).

alimony /ˈaləˌmōnē/

I. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a husband's or wife's court-ordered provision for a spouse after separation or divorce.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘nourishment, means of subsistence’): from Latin alimonia ‘nutriment,’ from alere ‘nourish.’

A-line /ˈālīn/

adjective

(of a garment) slightly flared from a narrow waist or shoulders

• A-line skirts.

aliphatic /ˌaləˈfadik / ‹Chemistry›

I. adjective

relating to or denoting organic compounds in which carbon atoms form open chains (as in the alkanes), not aromatic rings.
Compare with alicyclic.

II. noun — (usu. aliphatics)

1. an aliphatic compound.

– origin late 19th cent. (originally used of the fatty acids): from Greek aleiphar, aleiphat- ‘fat’ + -ic.

aliquot /ˈaləˌkwät/

I. noun

1. a portion of a larger whole, especially a sample taken for chemical analysis or other treatment.

2. (also aliquot part or portion) — [Mathematics] a quantity that can be divided into another a whole number of times.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be aliquoted)

1. divide (a whole) into aliquots; take aliquots from (a whole).

– origin late 16th cent.: from French aliquote, from Latin aliquot ‘some, so many,’ from alius ‘one of two’ + quot ‘how many.’

alisphenoid /ˌaləˈsfēˌnoid/

I. noun

[Anatomy] [Zoology] a winglike cartilaginous bone within the mammalian skull, forming part of the socket of the eye.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin ala ‘wing’ + sphenoid.

A-list /ˈālist / B-list

I. noun

a real or imaginary list of the most (or second-most) celebrated or sought-after individuals, especially in show business
[as modifier]

• an A-list celebrity.

II. derivatives

A-lister B-lister

noun

aliterate /āˈlidərət/

I. adjective

unwilling to read, although able to do so.

II. noun

an aliterate person.

III. derivatives

aliteracy /-əsē /

noun

Alito, Samuel /əˈlētō/

(1950–) US Supreme Court associate justice since 2006; full name Samuel Anthony Alito, Jr. He was appointed by President George W. Bush.

alive /əˈlīv/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. (of a person, animal, or plant) living, not dead

• hopes of finding anyone still alive were fading

• he was kept alive by a feeding-tube.

2. (of a feeling or quality) continuing in existence

• keeping hope alive.

3. continuing to be supported or in use

• militarism was kept alive by pure superstition.

4. (of a person or animal) alert and active; animated

• Ken comes alive when he hears his music played.

5. having interest and meaning

• we hope we will make history come alive for the children.

6. (alive to) — aware of and interested in; responsive to

• always alive to new ideas.

7. (alive with) — swarming or teeming with

• in spring those cliffs are alive with auks and gulls.

II. phrases

1. alive and kicking

‹informal› prevalent and very active

• bigotry is still alive and kicking.

2. alive and well

still existing or active (often used to deny rumors or beliefs that something has disappeared or declined)

• Jefferson's ideas are alive and well today in Washington.

3. look alive

another term for look lively (see lively).

III. derivatives

aliveness

noun

– origin Old English on līfe, literally ‘in life.’

aliyah /əˈlēə/

I. noun

1. [Judaism] immigration to Israel

• students making aliyah.

2. [Judaism] the honor of being called upon to read from the Torah

• I was called up for an aliyah.

– origin from Hebrew ‘ăliyāh ‘ascent.’

alizarin /əˈlizərən/

I. noun

1. [Chemistry] a red pigment present in madder root, used in dyeing.
[Alternative name: 1,2-dihydroxyanthraquinone; chem. formula: C_14H_8O_4.]

2. [as modifier] — [Chemistry] denoting dyes derived from or similar to alizarin

• alizarin crimson.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French alizarine, from alizari ‘madder,’ from Arabic al-῾iṣāra ‘pressed juice,’ from ῾aṣara ‘to press fruit.’

al-Jizah /ˌalˈjēzə/

Arabic name for Giza.

alkahest /ˈalkəˌhest / alcahest

I. noun

‹historical› the hypothetical universal solvent sought by alchemists.

– origin mid 17th cent.: sham Arabic, probably invented by Paracelsus.

alkali /ˈalkəˌlī/

I. noun

a chemical compound that neutralizes or effervesces with acids and turns litmus blue; typically, a caustic or corrosive substance of this kind such as lime or soda.
Often contrasted with acid; compare with base^1. Alkalis release hydroxide ions (OH–) when dissolved in water. An alkaline solution has a pH greater than 7.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a saline substance derived from the ashes of various plants, including glasswort): from medieval Latin, from Arabic al-ḳalī ‘calcined ashes (of the glasswort, etc.),’ from ḳalā ‘fry, roast.’

alkalic /alˈkalik/

adjective

[Geology] (of a rock or mineral) richer in sodium and/or potassium than is usual for its type.

alkali feldspar

noun

[Geology] any of the group of feldspars rich in sodium and/or potassium.

alkali metal

noun

[Chemistry] any of the elements lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, and francium, occupying Group IA (1) of the periodic table. They are very reactive, electropositive, monovalent metals forming strongly alkaline hydroxides.

alkaline /ˈalkəlin ˈalkəˌlīn/

I. adjective

having the properties of an alkali, or containing alkali; having a pH greater than 7.
Often contrasted with acid or acidic; compare with basic.

II. derivatives

alkalinity /ˌalkəˈlinədē /

noun

alkaline battery

noun

a long-lived dry cell with an alkaline electrolyte of potassium hydroxide, which deters corrosion.

alkaline earth alkaline earth metal

noun

any of the elements beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, and radium, occupying Group IIA (2) of the periodic table. They are reactive, electropositive, divalent metals, and form basic oxides that react with water to form comparatively insoluble hydroxides.

alkalize /ˈalkəˌlīz / alkalinize

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. alkalized or alkalizing)

1. treat with alkali.

II. derivatives

alkalization /ˌalkəliˈzāSHən /

noun

alkaloid /ˈalkəˌloid/

I. noun

[Chemistry] any of a class of nitrogenous organic compounds of plant origin that have pronounced physiological actions on humans. They include many drugs (morphine, quinine) and poisons (atropine, strychnine).

– origin early 19th cent.: coined in German from alkali.

alkalosis /ˌalkəˈlōsəs/

noun

[Medicine] an excessively alkaline condition of the body fluids or tissues that may cause weakness or cramps.

alkane /ˈalˌkān/

I. noun

[Chemistry] any of the series of saturated hydrocarbons including methane, ethane, propane, and higher members.
[Alkanes have the general formula: CnH2n+2.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from alkyl + -ane^2.

alkene /ˈalˌkēn/

I. noun

[Chemistry] any of the series of unsaturated hydrocarbons containing a double bond, including ethylene and propylene.
[Alkenes have the general formula: CnH_2n.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from alkyl + -ene.

alky /ˈalkē / alkie

noun

‹informal› an alcoholic.

alkyd /ˈalkid/

I. noun

[Chemistry] any of a group of synthetic polyester resins derived from various alcohols and acids, used in varnishes, paints, and adhesives.

– origin 1920s: blend of alkyl and acid.

alkyl /ˈalk(ə)l/

I. noun — [as modifier]

1. [Chemistry] of or denoting a hydrocarbon radical derived from an alkane by removal of a hydrogen atom.

– origin late 19th cent.: German, from Alkohol ‘alcohol’ + -yl.

alkylate /ˈalkəˌlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. alkylating or alkylated)

1. [Chemistry] introduce an alkyl radical into (a compound)

• alkylating agents.

II. derivatives

alkylation /ˌalkəˈlāSHən /

noun

alkyne /ˈalkīn/

I. noun

[Chemistry] any of the series of unsaturated hydrocarbons containing a triple bond, including acetylene.
[Alkynes have the general formula: CnH2n-2.]

– origin early 20th cent.: from alkyl + -yne.

all /ôl/

I. predeterminer, determiner, pronoun

1. used to refer to the whole quantity or extent of a particular group or thing
[as predeterminer]

• all the people I met

• she left all her money to him

• [as determiner] 10% of all cars sold

• he slept all day

• [as pronoun] four bedrooms, all with balconies

• carry all of the blame

• the men are all bearded.

2. [determiner] — any whatever

• assured beyond all doubt

• he denied all knowledge.

3. [determiner] — used to emphasize the greatest possible amount of a quality

• they were in all probability completely unaware

• with all due respect.

4. ‹informal› dominated by a particular feature or characteristic

• an eleven-year-old string bean, all elbows and knees.

5. [pronoun with clause] — the only thing (used for emphasis)

• all I want is to be left alone.

6. [pronoun] — (used to refer to surroundings or a situation in general) everything

• all was well

• it was all very strange.

7. ‹informal› used to indicate more than one person or thing

• a team of specialists who all know the patient.

8. ‹dialect› consumed; finished; gone

• the cake is all.

II. adverb

1. used for emphasis.

2. completely

• dressed all in black

• she's been all around the world

• all by himself.

3. consisting entirely of

• all leather varsity jacket.

4. (in games) used after a number to indicate an equal score

• after extra time it was still two all.

III. noun

the whole of one's possessions, energy, or interest

• giving their all for what they believed.

IV. phrases

1. all along

all the time; from the beginning

• she'd known all along.

2. all and sundry

everyone

• insolent drivers crying to all and sundry to get out of the way.

3. all round) ">all around (also all round)

a. in all respects

• it was a bad day all around.

b. for or by each person

• drinks all around

• good acting all around.

4. all but

a. very nearly

• the subject was all but forgotten.

b. all except

• we have support from all but one of the networks.

5. all comers

‹chiefly informal› anyone who chooses to take part in an activity, typically a competition

• the champion took on all comers.

6. all for

‹informal› strongly in favor of

• I was all for tolerance.

7. all in

/ˌôl ˈin / — ‹informal› exhausted

• he was all in by halftime.

8. all in all

everything considered; on the whole

• all in all it's been a good year.

9. all kinds (or sorts) of

many different kinds of

• how to install paneling on all kinds of walls.

10. all manner of

see manner.

11. all of

as much as (typically used ironically of a quantity considered small by the speaker)

• the show lasted all of six weeks.

12. all of a sudden

see sudden.

13. all out /ˌôlˈout /

using all one's strength or resources

• going all out to win

• [as adj.] an all-out effort.

14. all over /ˌôl ˈōvər /

a. completely finished

• it's all over between us.

b. ‹informal› everywhere

• there were bodies all over.

c. with reference to all parts of the body

• I was shaking all over.

d. ‹informal› typical of the person mentioned

• that's our management all over!

e. ‹informal› effusively attentive to (someone)

• James was all over her.

15. all over the place (or map) /ˌôl ˈōvər /

a. ‹informal› everywhere

• we've been all over the place looking for you.

b. in a state of disorder

• my hair was all over the place.

16. all sorts of

see all kinds of.

17. all's well that ends well

‹proverb› if the outcome of a situation is happy, this compensates for any previous difficulty or unpleasantness.

18. all that ——

see that.

19. all the same

see same.

20. all the ——

see the (sense 6).

21. all there

[usu. with negative] — ‹informal› in full possession of one's mental faculties

• he's not quite all there.

22. all the time

see time.

23. all together

all in one place or in a group; all at once

• 5,000 people all together

• they arrived all together.

Compare with altogether.

24. all told /ˌôl ˈtōld /

in total

• they tried a dozen times all told.

25. all the way

‹informal› without limit or reservation

• I'm with you all the way.

See also go all the way at way.

26. —— and all

a. used to emphasize something additional that is being referred to

• she threw her coffee over him, mug and all.

b. ‹informal› as well

• it must hit him hard, being so young and all.

27. at all

[with negative or in questions] — (used for emphasis) in any way; to any extent

• I don't like him at all

• did he suffer at all?

28. be all about ——

‹informal› be focused on or interested in (a particular thing)

• school has become my refuge and I'm all about being the perfect student.

29. be all one to someone

make no difference to someone

• simple cases or hard cases, it's all one to me.

30. be all that

(US) ‹informal› be very attractive or good

• he thinks he's all that—yeah, God's gift.

31. be all up with

see up.

32. be all very well

‹informal› used to express criticism or rejection of a favorable or consoling remark

• your proposal is all very well in theory, but in practice it will not pay.

33. for all ——

in spite of ——

• for all its clarity and style, the book is not easy reading.

34. in all

in total number; altogether

• there were about 5,000 people in all.

35. of all

see of.

36. on all fours

on hands and knees or (of an animal) on all four legs rather than just the hind ones

• Frankie scuttled away on all fours.

37. one and all

see one.

– origin Old English all, eall, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch al and German all.

alla breve /ˌälə ˈbrāvē/

I. noun

[Music] a time signature indicating 2 or 4 half-note beats in a bar.

– origin Italian, literally ‘according to the breve.’

Allagash River /ˌaləɡäSH ˈrivər/

a river in northern Maine, noted as a canoeing route.

Allah /äˈlä ˈalə/

I. the name of God among Muslims (and Arab Christians).

– origin from Arabic ’allāh, contraction of al-’ilāh ‘the god.’

Allahabad /ˈäləhəˌbäd, ˈaləhəˌbad/

a city in Uttar Pradesh state, in north central India; pop. 1,125,000 (est. 2009). Situated at the confluence of the sacred Jumna and Ganges rivers, it is a place of Hindu pilgrimage.

allamanda /ˌaləˈmandə/

I. noun

any of a number of tropical shrubs or climbers that bear showy flowers, typically of yellow or purple.
[Species in several families, in particular members of the genus Allamanda, family Apocynaceae, including the South American yellow allamanda (A. cathartica), which is cultivated as an ornamental.]

– origin modern Latin, from the name of Jean-Nicholas-Sébastien Allamand (1713–87), Swiss naturalist.

all-American /ˈˌôl əˈmerəkən/

I. adjective

1. possessing qualities characteristic of American ideals, such as honesty, industriousness, and health

• his all-American wholesomeness.

2. having members or contents drawn only from America or the US

• an all-American anthology.

3. involving or representing the whole of America or the US

• an all-American final.

4. (also all-America) — (US) (of a sports player) honored as one of the best amateur competitors in the US

• an all-American wrestler.

II. noun

(US) a sports player honored as one of the best amateurs in the US.

allantoin /əˈlantōən/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a crystalline compound formed in the nitrogen metabolism of many mammals (excluding primates).
[A cyclic compound related to hydantoin; chem. formula: C_4H_6N_4O_3.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from allantois (because it was discovered in the allantoic fluid of cows) + -in^1.

allantois /əˈlan(t)ōəs/

I. noun

the fetal membrane lying below the chorion in many vertebrates, formed as an outgrowth of the embryo's gut. In birds and reptiles it grows to surround the embryo; in eutherian mammals it forms part of the placenta.

II. derivatives

1. allantoic /ˌalənˈtō-ik /

adjective

2. allantoid /-toid /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: modern Latin, based on Greek allantoeidēs ‘sausage-shaped.’

allargando /ˌälərˈɡändō/

I. adverb, adjective

[Music] (especially as a direction) getting slower and slower, and often also fuller in tone.

– origin Italian, ‘broadening.’

all-around /ˈˌôl əˈround / ‹Brit.› all-round

I. adjective

1. having many uses or abilities; versatile

• an all-around artist.

2. in many or all respects

• his all-around excellence.

3. comprehensive; extensive

• the need of college students for an all-around education.

II. noun

[Gymnastics] an event in which the scores of each individual exercise are totaled to determine the winner.

allay /əˈlā/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. diminish or put at rest (fear, suspicion, or worry)

• the report attempted to educate the public and allay fears.

2. relieve or alleviate (pain or hunger)

• some stale figs partly allayed our hunger.

– origin Old English ālecgan ‘lay down or aside.’

all-clear /ˌôlˈklir/

noun

a signal that danger or difficulty is over

• she was given the all-clear to travel home.

all-consuming /ˌôlkənˈso͞omiNG/

adjective

completely filling one's mind and attention; obsessive

• the period was one of fiery, all-consuming work for Van Gogh

• an intimate, all-consuming relationship.

all-day /ˌôl ˈdā/

adjective

lasting or available throughout the day

• an all-day barn-raising event.

allée /əˈlā/

I. noun

an alley in a formal garden or park, bordered by trees or bushes.

– origin mid 18th cent.: French.

allegation /ˌaləˈɡāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

a claim or assertion that someone has done something illegal or wrong, typically one made without proof

• he made allegations of corruption against the administration

• allegations that the army was operating a shoot-to-kill policy.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin allegatio(n-), from allegare ‘allege.’

allege /əˈlej/

I. verb — [reporting verb]

1. claim or assert that someone has done something illegal or wrong, typically without proof that this is the case
[with clause]

• he alleged that he had been assaulted

• [with obj. and infinitive] the offenses are alleged to have been committed outside the woman's home

• he is alleged to have assaulted five men.

2. (usu. be alleged) — suppose or affirm to be the case

• the first artifact ever alleged to be from Earhart's aircraft.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘declare on oath’): from Old French esligier, based on Latin lis, lit- ‘lawsuit’; confused in sense with Latin allegare ‘allege.’

alleged /əˈlejd/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of an incident or a person) said, without proof, to have taken place or to have a specified illegal or undesirable quality

• the alleged conspirators.

allegedly /əˈlejədlē/

adverb — [sentence adverb]

1. used to convey that something is claimed to be the case or have taken place, although there is no proof

• he was allegedly a leading participant in the coup attempt

• [as submodifier] allegedly obscene material.

Allegheny Mountains /ˌaləˈɡānē, -ˈɡenē / the Alleghenies

a mountain range, part of the Appalachian system in the eastern US, which extends from West Virginia through Pennsylvania.

Allegheny River

a river that flows for 325 miles (523 km) through New York and Pennsylvania to Pittsburgh where it joins the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River.

allegiance /əˈlējəns/

I. noun

loyalty or commitment of a subordinate to a superior or of an individual to a group or cause

• those wishing to receive citizenship must swear allegiance to the republic

• a complex pattern of cross-party allegiances.

– origin late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French, variant of Old French ligeance, from lige, liege (see liege), perhaps by association with Anglo-Latin alligantia ‘alliance.’

allegorical /ˌaləˈɡôrək(ə)l/

I. adjective

constituting or containing allegory

• an allegorical painting.

II. derivatives

1. allegoric /ˌaləˈɡôrik /

adjective

2. allegorically /ˌaləˈɡôrək(ə)lē /

adverb

allegorize /ˈaləɡəˌrīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. interpret or represent symbolically

• the picture is interpreted as allegorizing an alienated society.

II. derivatives

allegorization /ˌaliˌɡôriˈzāSHən /

noun

allegory /ˈaləˌɡôrē/

I. noun

1. a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one

• Pilgrim's Progress is an allegory of the spiritual journey.

2. a symbol.

II. derivatives

allegorist /ˈaləˌɡôrəst /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French allegorie, via Latin from Greek allēgoria, from allos ‘other’ + -agoria ‘speaking.’

allegretto /ˌaləˈɡredō / ‹Music›

I. adjective, adverb

(especially as a direction) at a fairly brisk tempo.

II. noun

a movement or piece to be played fairly briskly.

– origin Italian, diminutive of allegro.

allegro /əˈleɡrō / ‹Music›

I. adjective, adverb

(especially as a direction) at a brisk tempo.

II. noun

a passage or movement in an allegro tempo.

– origin Italian, literally ‘lively, gay.’

allele /əˈlēl/

I. noun

[Genetics] one of two or more alternative forms of a gene that arise by mutation and are found at the same place on a chromosome.
Also called allelomorph.

II. derivatives

allelic /əˈlēlik, əˈlel- /

adjective

– origin 1930s: from German Allel, abbreviation of allelomorph.

allelochemical /əˌlēlōˈkemikəl, əˈlel-/

I. noun

a chemical produced by a living organism, exerting a detrimental physiological effect on the individuals of another species when released into the environment.

– origin 1970s: from Greek allēl- ‘one another’ + chemical.

allelomorph /əˌlēləˈmôrf, əˌlel-/

I. noun

another term for allele.

II. derivatives

allelomorphic /-ˈmôrfik /

adjective

– origin early 20th cent.: from Greek allēl- ‘one another’ + morphē ‘form.’

allelopathy /əlēˈläpəTHē, ˌalə-/

I. noun

the chemical inhibition of one plant (or other organism) by another, due to the release into the environment of substances acting as germination or growth inhibitors.

– origin 1950s: from Greek allēl- ‘one another’ + -pathy.

allemande /ˈaləˌmand, -ˌmänd/

I. noun

1. any of a number of German dances.

2. the music for any of these, especially as a movement of a suite.

3. a figure in country dancing in which adjacent dancers link arms or join or touch hands and make a full or partial turn.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French, ‘German (dance).’

all-embracing /ˈôl əmˌbrāsiNG/

adjective

including or covering everything or everyone; comprehensive

• the goal is not one all-embracing religion.

Allen, Ethan /ˈalən/

(1738–89), American soldier. He fought the British in the American Revolution and led the Green Mountain Boys in their campaign to gain independence for the state of Vermont. He died two years before Vermont achieved statehood.

Allen, Gracie

(c. 1902–64), US comedian and television actress. She was the wife and comedy partner of George Burns.

Allen, Steve

(1921–2000), US television pioneer, humorist, and songwriter; full name Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen. He was host and creator of “The Tonight Show” (1954–57) and host of “The Steve Allen Show” (1956–64). He also played the title role in the movie The Benny Goodman Story (1956).

Allen, Woody

(1935–), US movie director, writer, and actor; born Allen Stewart Konigsberg. He has starred in most of his over 40 movies, many of which humorously explore themes of neuroses and sexual inadequacy. Notable movies: Bananas (1971), Sleeper (1973), Annie Hall (1977), Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989), and Midnight in Paris (2011).

Allenby, Edmund /ˈalənbē/

1st Viscount (1861–1936), British soldier; full name Edmund Henry Hynman Allenby. Commander of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force against the Turks, he captured Jerusalem in 1917 and defeated the Turkish forces at Megiddo in 1918.

all-encompassing

adjective

including or covering everything or everyone; comprehensive

• an all-encompassing package to combat global warming.

Allende, Salvador /äˈyenˌdā/

(1908–73), Chilean statesman; president 1970–73. The first avowed Marxist to win a presidency in a free election, he was overthrown and killed in a military coup.

Allenstein /ˈälənˌSHtīn/

German name for Olsztyn.

Allentown /ˈalənˌtoun/

a commercial and industrial city in eastern Pennsylvania, on the Lehigh River; pop. 107,250 (est. 2008).

Allen wrench /ˈalən ˌrenCH / allen wrench

I. noun

‹trademark› an L-shaped metal bar with a hexagonal head at each end, used to turn bolts and screws having hexagonal sockets.

– origin 1960s: from the name of the manufacturer, the Allen Manufacturing Company, of Hartford, Connecticut.

allergen /ˈalərj(ə)n/

I. noun

a substance that causes an allergic reaction.

II. derivatives

1. allergenic /ˌalərˈjenik /

adjective

2. allergenicity /ˌalərjəˈnisitē /

noun

– origin early 20th cent.: blend of allergy and -gen.

allergic /əˈlərjik/

adjective

1. caused by or relating to an allergy

• an allergic reaction to penicillin.

2. having an allergy to (a substance)

• Heather was allergic to the sting of bees.

3. (allergic to) — ‹informal› having a strong dislike for

• it's just that I'm allergic to the hype.

allergist /ˈalərjəst/

noun

a medical practitioner specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of allergies.

allergy /ˈalərjē/

I. noun

1. a damaging immune response by the body to a substance, especially pollen, fur, a particular food, or dust, to which it has become hypersensitive.

2. ‹informal› an antipathy

• their allergy to free enterprise.

– origin early 20th cent.: from German Allergie, from Greek allos ‘other,’ on the pattern of Energie ‘energy.’

Allerød /ˈaləˌro͝od, -ˌrœd/

I. noun — (the Allerød)

1. [Geology] the second climatic stage of the late-glacial period in northern Europe, between the two Dryas stages (about 12,000 to 10,800 years ago). It was an interlude of warmer weather marked by the spread of birch, pine, and willow.

– origin 1920s: place name near Copenhagen in Denmark.

alleviate /əˈlēvēˌāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (suffering, deficiency, or a problem) less severe

• he couldn't prevent her pain, only alleviate it

• measures to alleviate unemployment.

II. derivatives

alleviator /əˈlēvēˌādər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin alleviat- ‘lightened,’ from the verb alleviare, from Latin allevare, from ad- ‘to’ + levare ‘raise,’ influenced by levis ‘light.’

alleviation /əˌlēvēˈāSH(ə)n/

noun

the action or process of making suffering, deficiency, or a problem less severe

• peace, security, and the alleviation of poverty were high on the agenda.

alley^1 /ˈalē/

I. noun

1. a narrow passageway between or behind buildings.

2. a path lined with trees, bushes, or stones.
Compare with allée.

3. [with modifier] — a long, narrow area in which games such as bowling are played.

4. [Tennis] (N. Amer.) either of the two areas of the court between the doubles sideline and the singles or service sideline.

5. [Baseball] the area between the outfielders in left center or right center field.

II. phrases

(right) up one's alley

‹informal› well suited to one's tastes, interests, or abilities

• this job would be right up your alley.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French alee ‘walking or passage,’ from aler ‘go,’ from Latin ambulare ‘to walk.’

alley^2 /ˈalē / ally

I. noun

a toy marble made of marble, alabaster, or glass.

– origin early 18th cent.: perhaps a diminutive of alabaster.

alley cat /ˈalē ˌkat/

noun

a cat that lives wild in a town.

alley-oop /ˌalē ˈo͞op/

I. exclamation

used to encourage or draw attention to the performance of some physical, especially acrobatic, feat.

II. noun

[Basketball] a high pass caught by a leaping teammate who tries to dunk the ball before landing.

– origin early 20th cent.: perhaps from French allez! ‘go on!’ (expressing encouragement) + a supposedly French pronunciation of up.

alleyway /ˈalēˌwā/

noun

another term for alley^1.

all-fired ‹US informal›

I. adverb

extremely

• if I was so all-fired bright why did I have to keep learning this same thing over and over?

II. adjective

extreme

• we were in such an all-fired hurry to get there.

All Fools' Day /ˈˌôl ˈfo͞olz ˌdā/

noun

another term for April Fool's Day.

all hail

exclamation

‹archaic› ‹humorous› a cry of greeting

• all hail the new kids on the block.

All Hallows

noun

another term for All Saints' Day.

allheal /ˈôlhēl/

noun

any of a number of plants, in particular valerian, used in herbal medicine and traditionally considered to be effective in treating a variety of conditions.

alliaceous /ˌalēˈāSHəs/

I. adjective

[Botany] of, relating to, or denoting plants of a group that comprises the onions and other alliums.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Latin allium ‘garlic’ + -aceous; compare with the modern Latin taxonomic family name Alliaceae.

alliance /əˈlīəns/

I. noun

1. a union or association formed for mutual benefit, especially between countries or organizations

• a defensive alliance between Australia and New Zealand

• divisions within the alliance.

2. a relationship based on an affinity in interests, nature, or qualities

• an alliance between medicine and morality.

3. a state of being joined or associated

• his party is in alliance with the Greens.

– origin Middle English: from Old French aliance, from aliere ‘to ally’ (see ally^1).

allicin /ˈaləsən/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a pungent oily liquid with antibacterial properties, present in garlic.
[Chem. formula: (C_3H_5S)2O.]

– origin from Latin allium ‘garlic’ + -in^1.

allied /əˈlīd ˈalˌīd/

adjective

1. joined by or relating to members of an alliance

• allied territories

• the allied fleet.

2. (usu. Allied) — of or relating to the US and its allies in World War I and World War II and after

• the liberation of Paris by Allied troops.

3. (allied to/with) — in combination or working together with

• skilled craftsmanship allied to advanced technology.

4. connected or related

• members of the medical and allied professions.

Allier /alˈyā/

a river in central France that rises in the Cévennes Mountains and flows northwest for 258 miles (410 km) to meet the Loire River.

alligator /ˈaləˌɡādər/

I. noun

1. a large semiaquatic reptile similar to a crocodile but with a broader and shorter head, native to the Americas and China.
[Genus Alligator, family Alligatoridae, order Crocodylia: the American alligator (A. mississippiensis) and the Chinese alligator (A. sinensis).]

2. the skin of the alligator or material resembling it.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Spanish el lagarto ‘the lizard,’ probably based on Latin lacerta.

alligator clip

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a sprung metal clip with long, serrated jaws, used attached to an electric cable for making a temporary connection to a battery or other component.

alligator fish

noun

a slender bottom-dwelling fish of the northwestern Atlantic, with an armor of bony plates and two curved spines on the snout.
[Aspidophoroides monopterygius, family Agonidae.]

alligator lizard

noun

a short-limbed, long-tailed, slim lizard native to the North American west coast.
[Genus Gerrhonotus, family Anguidae: several species, including the northern alligator lizard (G. coerulus) and the panamint alligator lizard (G. panamintinus).]

alligator pear /ˈaləˌɡādər pe(ə)r/

noun

(N. Amer.) another term for avocado.

alligator snapping turtle alligator snapper

noun

a large-headed, long-tailed snapping turtle of the southeastern US, found especially in the Gulf States. Weighing up to 150 pounds (67.5 kg), it is the largest freshwater turtle in North America.
[Macroclemys temminckii, family Chelydridae.]

all-important /ˈˌôl əmˈpôrtnt/

adjective

vitally important; crucial

• the town's all-important tourist industry.

all-inclusive /ˈˌôl ənˈklo͞osiv/

adjective

including everything or everyone

• the tab for the all-inclusive dinner is $38.

all-in-one /ˈˌôl ən ˈwən/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. combining two or more items or functions in a single unit

• an all-in-one shampoo/conditioner.

alliterate /əˈlidəˌrāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a phrase or line of verse) contain words that begin with the same sound or letter

• his first and last names alliterated.

2. use words that begin with the same sound or letter.

– origin late 18th cent.: back-formation from alliteration.

alliteration /əˌlidəˈrāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.

– origin early 17th cent.: from medieval Latin alliteratio(n-), from Latin ad- (expressing addition) + littera ‘letter.’

alliterative /əˈlid(ə)rədiv əˈlidəˌrādiv/

I. adjective

relating to or marked by alliteration.

II. derivatives

alliteratively

adverb

allium /ˈalēəm/

I. noun

a bulbous plant of a genus that includes the onion and its relatives (e.g., garlic, leek, and chives).
[Genus Allium, family Liliaceae (or Alliaceae).]

– origin early 19th cent.: Latin, literally‘garlic.’

all-knowing

adjective

knowing everything

• a conniving, all-knowing mastermind.

all-night /ˈˌôl ˈnīt/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. lasting, open, or operating throughout the night

• an all-night party.

all-nighter /ˌôlˈnīdər/

noun

‹informal› an event or task that continues throughout the night, especially a study session before an examination

• he would do an all-nighter, the way he used to in school.

allo-

I. combining form

other; different

• allopatric

• allotrope.

– origin from Greek allos ‘other.’

allocate /ˈaləˌkāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. distribute (resources or duties) for a particular purpose

• the authorities allocated 50,000 places to refugees

• [with two objs.] he has been allocated a generous slice of the annual budget.

II. derivatives

1. allocable /ˈaləkəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. allocator /-ˌkātər /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin allocat- ‘allotted,’ from the verb allocare, from ad- ‘to’ + locare (see locate).

allocation /ˌaləˈkāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action or process of allocating or distributing something

• more efficient allocation of resources

• ticket allocation.

2. an amount or portion of a resource assigned to a particular recipient.

II. derivatives

allocative /ˈaləˌkādiv /

adjective

[chiefly Economics]

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin allocatio(n-), from the verb allocare (see allocate).

allochthonous /əˈläkTHənəs/

I. adjective

[Geology] denoting sediment or rock that originated at a distance from its present position.
Often contrasted with autochthonous.

– origin early 20th cent.: from allo- ‘other’ + Greek khthōn ‘earth’ + -ous.

allocution /ˌaləˈkyo͞oSHən/

I. noun

a formal speech giving advice or a warning.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin allocutio(n-), from alloqui ‘speak to,’ from ad- ‘to’ + loqui ‘speak.’

allogamy /əˈläɡəmē/

I. noun

[Botany] the fertilization of a flower by pollen from another flower, especially one on a different plant.
Compare with autogamy.

II. derivatives

allogamous /-məs /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from allo- ‘other, different’ + Greek -gamia (from gamos ‘marriage’).

allogeneic /ˌaləjəˈnēik/

I. adjective

[Immunology] denoting, relating to, or involving tissues or cells that are genetically dissimilar and hence immunologically incompatible, although from individuals of the same species.
Compare with xenogeneic.

– origin 1960s: from allo- ‘different’ + Greek genea ‘race, stock’ + -ic.

allogenic /ˌaləˈjenik/

adjective

1. [Geology] (of a mineral or sediment) transported to its present position from elsewhere.
Often contrasted with authigenic.

2. [Ecology] (of a successional change) caused by nonliving factors in the environment.

allograft /ˈaləˌɡraft/

noun

a tissue graft from a donor of the same species as the recipient but not genetically identical.
Compare with homograft.

allograph /ˈaləˌɡraf/

I. noun

1. [Linguistics] each of two or more alternative forms of a letter of an alphabet or other grapheme. The capital, lowercase, italic, and various handwritten forms of the letter A are allographs.

2. [Linguistics] [Phonetics] each of two or more letters or letter combinations representing a single phoneme in different words. Allographs of the phoneme include the (f) of “fake” and the (ph) of “phase.”

– origin 1950s: from allo- ‘other, different’ + grapheme.

allometry /əˈlämətrē/

I. noun

1. [Biology] the growth of body parts at different rates, resulting in a change of body proportions.

2. [Biology] the study of allometry.

II. derivatives

allometric /ˌaləˈmetrik /

adjective

allomorph /ˈaləˌmôrf/

I. noun

[Linguistics] any of the versions of a morpheme, such as the plural endings (as in bats) (as in bugs), and (as in buses) for the plural morpheme.

II. derivatives

allomorphic /ˌaləˈmôrfik /

adjective

– origin 1940s: from allo- ‘other, different’ + morpheme.

allopath /ˈaləˌpaTH/

noun

a person who practices allopathy.

allopathy /əˈläpəTHē/

I. noun

the treatment of disease by conventional means, i.e., with drugs having opposite effects to the symptoms.
Often contrasted with homeopathy.

II. derivatives

1. allopathic /ˌaləˈpaTHik /

adjective

2. allopathist /-THist /

noun

allopatric /ˌaləˈpatrik/

I. adjective

1. [Biology] (of animals or plants, especially of related species or populations) occurring in separate non-overlapping geographical areas.
Compare with sympatric.

2. [Biology] (of speciation) taking place as a result of allopatric separation.

II. derivatives

allopatry /ˈaləˌpatrē /

noun

– origin 1940s: from allo- ‘other’ + Greek patra ‘fatherland’ + -ic.

allophone^1 /ˈaləˌfōn/

I. noun

[Linguistics] any of the speech sounds that represent a single phoneme, such as the aspirated k in kit and the unaspirated k in skit, which are allophones of the phoneme k.

II. derivatives

allophonic /ˌaləˈfänik /

adjective

– origin 1930s: from allo- ‘other, different’ + phoneme.

allophone^2 /ˈaləˌfōn/

I. noun

(Canadian) (especially in Quebec) an immigrant whose first language is neither French nor English.

– origin 1970s: from allo-, on the pattern of francophone.

allopurinol /aləˈpyo͝oriˌnôl, -ˌnäl/

I. noun

[Medicine] a synthetic drug that inhibits uric acid formation in the body and is used to treat gout and related conditions.

– origin 1960s: from allo- ‘other’ + purine + -ol.

all-or-none

adjective

1. another way of saying all-or-nothing.

2. [Physiology] (of a response) having a strength independent of the strength of the stimulus that caused it.

all-or-nothing /ˈˌôl ər ˈnəTHiNG/

adjective

having no middle position or compromise available

• an all-or-nothing decision.

allosaur /ˈaləˌsôr / allosaurus

I. noun

a large bipedal carnivorous dinosaur of the late Jurassic period.
[Genus Allosaurus, suborder Theropoda, order Saurischia.]

II. derivatives

allosaurian

adjective

– origin modern Latin, from Greek allos ‘other’ + sauros ‘lizard.’

allostasis /ˌaləˈstāsis/

I. noun

the process by which the body responds to stressors in order to regain homeostasis.

II. derivatives

allostatic /-ˈstatik /

adjective

allosteric /ˌaləˈsterik, -ˈsti(ə)r-/

adjective

[Biochemistry] relating to or denoting the alteration of the activity of a protein through the binding of an effector molecule at a specific site.

allot /əˈlät/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. give or apportion (something) to someone as a share or task

• equal time was allotted to each

• [with two objs.] I was allotted a little room in the servants' block.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Old French aloter, from a- (from Latin ad ‘to’) + loter ‘divide into lots.’

allotment /əˈlätmənt/

noun

1. the amount of something allocated to a particular person

• the gadget shuts off the television set when a kid has used up his allotment.

2. (US) ‹chiefly historical› a piece of land deeded by the government to a Native American, as part of the division of tribally held land.

3. the action of allotting

• the allotment of equity securities.

allotrope /ˈaləˌtrōp/

I. noun

[Chemistry] each of two or more different physical forms in which an element can exist. Graphite, charcoal, and diamond are all allotropes of carbon.

– origin late 19th cent.: back-formation from allotropy.

allotropy /əˈlätrəpē/

I. noun

[Chemistry] the existence of two or more different physical forms of a chemical element.

II. derivatives

allotropic /ˌaləˈträpik /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek allotropos ‘of another form,’ from allo- ‘other’ + tropos ‘manner’ (from trepein ‘to turn’).

allottee /ˌaləˈtē əˌläˈtē/

noun

a person to whom something is allotted, especially land or shares.

all-over /ˈôlˌôo͝ovər/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. covering the whole of something

• a carpet with an all-over pattern.

allow /əˈlou/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. admit (an event or activity) as legal or acceptable

• a plan to allow Sunday shopping

• a reservoir with no hunting or overnight camping allowed.

2. [with obj. and infinitive] — give (someone) permission to do something

• the dissident was allowed to leave the country.

3. [with two objs.] — permit (someone) to have (something)

• he was allowed his first sip of Scotch and soda.

4. permit (someone) to enter a place or go in a particular direction

• the river was patrolled and few people were allowed across.

5. give the necessary time or opportunity for

• they agreed to a ceasefire to allow talks with the government

• [with obj. and infinitive] he stopped for a moment to allow his eyes to adjust

• ‹dated› my household duties were too many to allow of a visit to the hospital.

6. [no obj.] (allow for) — make provision or provide scope for (something)

• the house was demolished to allow for road widening.

7. [no obj.] (allow for) — take (something) into consideration when making plans or calculations

• income rose by 11 percent allowing for inflation.

8. provide or set aside (a specified amount of something) for a specific purpose

• allow an hour or so for driving.

9. [reporting verb] — admit the truth of; concede
[with clause]

• he allowed that the penalty appeared too harsh for the crime

• [with direct speech] “Could happen,” she allowed indifferently.

10. [with clause] — (N. Amer.) ‹informal› ‹dialect› assert; be of the opinion

• Lincoln allowed that he himself could never support the man.

– origin Middle English (originally in the senses ‘commend, sanction’ and ‘assign as a right’): from Old French alouer, from Latin allaudare ‘to praise,’ reinforced by medieval Latin allocare ‘to place’ (see allocate).

allowable /əˈlouəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. allowed, especially within a set of regulations; permissible

• the loan deal has been extended to the maximum allowable three months.

2. (of an amount of money) not considered as income for tax purposes

• tax is payable after deduction of allowable expenses.

II. derivatives

allowably /-əblē /

adverb

allowance /əˈlouəns/

I. noun

1. the amount of something that is permitted, especially within a set of regulations or for a specified purpose

• a seventy-five-pound baggage allowance.

2. a sum of money paid regularly to a person, typically to meet specified needs or expenses.

3. (chiefly N. Amer.) a small amount of money that a parent regularly gives a child.

4. an amount of money that can be earned or received free of tax

• a personal allowance.

5. a reduction in price, typically for the exchange of used goods

• he made the down payment with the trade-in allowance.

6. [Horse Racing] a deduction in the weight that a horse is required to carry in a race.

7. ‹archaic› tolerance; sufferance

• the allowance of slavery in the South.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› give (someone) a sum of money regularly as an allowance.

III. phrases

make allowance(s) for

a. take into consideration when planning or making calculations

• a special circuit makes allowances for changes in the ambient temperature.

b. regard or treat leniently on account of mitigating circumstances

• she liked them and made allowances for their faults.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French alouance, from alouer (see allow).

allowedly /əˈlouədlē/

adverb — [sentence adverb]

1. as is generally admitted to be true.

alloxan /əˈläksən/

I. noun

[Chemistry] an acidic compound obtained by the oxidation of uric acid and isolated as an efflorescent crystalline hydrate.
[Chem. formula: C_4H_2N_2O_4.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from all(antoin) + ox(alic) + -an.

alloy

I. noun — /ˈaˌloi /

1. a metal made by combining two or more metallic elements, especially to give greater strength or resistance to corrosion

• an alloy of nickel, bronze, and zinc

• flat pieces of alloy

• [as modifier] alloy wheels.

2. an inferior metal mixed with a precious one.

II. verb — /ˈaˌloi əˈloi / [with obj.]

1. mix (metals) to make an alloy

• alloying tin with copper to make bronze.

2. debase (something) by adding something inferior.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Old French aloi (noun) and French aloyer (verb), both from Old French aloier, aleier ‘combine,’ from Latin alligare ‘bind.’

all-party /ˈôl ˈˌpärdē/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. involving all political parties

• the measure received all-party support.

all-pervading /ˈôl pərˈˌvādiNG / all-pervasive

adjective

having an effect on everything or throughout something

• the all-pervading excitement.

all-points bulletin APB

noun

a radio message sent to every officer in a police force giving details of a suspected criminal or stolen vehicle.

all-powerful /ˈˌôl ˈpou(ə)rfəl/

adjective

having complete power; almighty

• an all-powerful dictator.

all-purpose /ˈôl ˈˌpərpəs/

adjective

having many uses, especially all that might be expected from something of its type

• an all-purpose kitchen knife.

all right /ˈˌôl ˈrīt / alright

I. adjective

1. satisfactory but not especially good; acceptable

• the tea was all right.

2. (of a person) in a satisfactory mental or physical state

• “Are you all right? You were screaming.”

3. permissible; allowable

• it's all right for you to go now.

II. adverb

1. in a satisfactory manner or to a satisfactory extent; fairly well

• everything will turn out all right.

2. used to emphasize how certain one is about something

• “Are you sure it's him?” “It's him all right.”

III. exclamation

expressing or asking for assent, agreement, or acceptance

• all right, I'll tell you.

usage: The merging of all and right to form the one-word spelling alright is first recorded toward the end of the 19th century (unlike other similar merged spellings such as altogether and already, which date from much earlier). There is no logical reason for insisting that all right be two words when other single-word forms such as altogether have long been accepted. Nevertheless, although found widely, alright remains nonstandard.

all righty /ˌôl ˈrītē/

exclamation

‹informal› form of all right, used esp. to express agreement or acceptance.

all-round /ˈôl ˈˌround/

adjective

British term for all-around.

All Saints' Day /ˈˌôl ˈsānts ˌdā/

noun

a Christian festival in honor of all the saints, held (in the Western Church) on November 1.

allseed /ˈôlsēd/

noun

any of a number of plants producing a great deal of seed for their size, such as knotgrass and goosefoot.

all-seeing

adjective

seeing everything

• an all-seeing eye casting its gaze out over the globe.

All Souls' Day /ˈˌôl ˈsōlz ˌdā/

noun

a festival in some Christian churches with prayers for the souls of the dead, held on November 2.

allspice /ˈôlˌspīs/

noun

1. the dried aromatic fruit of a West Indian tree, used whole or ground as a culinary spice.

2. a tree of the myrtle family from which allspice is obtained.
Also called pimento. [Pimenta dioica, family Myrtaceae.]

3. an aromatic North American tree or shrub.
[Genus Calycanthus, family Calycanthaceae: several species, in particular Carolina allspice (C. floridus) and smooth allspice (C. fertilis).]

all-star /ˈôl ˈˌstär/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. composed wholly of outstanding performers or players

• an all-star cast.

II. noun

(N. Amer.) a member of an all-star group or team.

Allston, Washington /ˈôlstən/

(1779–1843), US landscape painter, the first major artist of the American romantic movement. His paintings exhibit a taste for the monumental, apocalyptic, and melodramatic. Notable works: The Deluge (1804), Belshazzar's Feast (1817–43), and Moonlit Landscape (1819).

all-terrain vehicle ATV

noun

a small open motor vehicle with one or two seats and three or more wheels fitted with large tires, designed for use on rough ground.

all-time /ˈôlˌtīm/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. unsurpassed

• all-time favorite

• interest rates hit an all-time high.

allude /əˈlo͞od/

I. verb — [no obj.] (allude to)

1. suggest or call attention to indirectly; hint at

• she had a way of alluding to Jean but never saying her name.

2. mention without discussing at length

• we will allude briefly to the main points.

3. (of an artist or a work of art) recall (an earlier work or style) in such a way as to suggest a relationship with it

• the photographs allude to Italian Baroque painting.

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘hint at, suggest’): from Latin alludere, from ad- ‘toward’ + ludere ‘to play.’

allure /əˈlo͝or/

I. noun

the quality of being powerfully and mysteriously attractive or fascinating

• people for whom gold holds no allure.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. powerfully attract or charm; tempt.

III. derivatives

allurement /əˈlo͝ormənt /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘tempt, entice’): from Old French aleurier ‘attract,’ from a- (from Latin ad ‘to’) + luere ‘a lure’ (originally a falconry term).

alluring /əˈlo͝oriNG/

I. adjective

powerfully and mysteriously attractive or fascinating; seductive

• the town offers alluring shops and restaurants.

II. derivatives

alluringly /əˈlo͝oriNGlē /əˈlo͝oriNGlē/ /

adverb

allusion /əˈlo͞oZHən/

I. noun

1. an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference

• an allusion to Shakespeare

• a classical allusion.

2. the practice of making allusions, especially as an artistic device.

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting a pun, metaphor, or parable): from French, or from late Latin allusio(n-), from the verb alludere (see allude).

allusive /əˈlo͞osiv əˈlo͞oziv/

I. adjective

(of a remark or reference) working by suggestion rather than explicit mention

• allusive references to the body.

II. derivatives

1. allusively /əˈlo͞osivlē aˈlo͞osivlē əˈlo͞ozivlē aˈlo͞ozivlē /

adverb

2. allusiveness /əˈlo͞osivnis aˈlo͞osivnis əˈlo͞ozivnis aˈlo͞ozivnis /

noun

alluvial /əˈlo͞ovēəl/

adjective

of, relating to or derived from alluvium

• rich alluvial soils.

alluvial fan

noun

a fan-shaped mass of alluvium deposited as the flow of a river decreases in velocity.

alluvion /əˈlo͞ovēən/

I. noun

[Law] the action of the sea or a river in forming new land by deposition.
Compare with avulsion.

– origin mid 16th cent. (originally denoting a flood, especially one in which the water carries suspended material that is then deposited): from French, from Latin alluvion-, from ad- ‘toward’ + luere ‘to wash.’

alluvium /əˈlo͞ovēəm/

I. noun

a deposit of clay, silt, sand, and gravel left by flowing streams in a river valley or delta, typically producing fertile soil.

– origin mid 17th cent.: Latin, neuter of alluvius ‘washed against,’ from ad- ‘toward’ + luere ‘to wash.’

all-weather /ˈôl ˈˌweT͟Hər/

adjective

including or suitable for all types of weather

• all-weather tennis courts.

all-wheel drive /ôl (h)wēl drīv/

noun

(N. Amer.) a transmission system that always operates in four-wheel drive and does not alternate with two-wheel drive.

all-wise

adjective

knowing everything

• an all-wise, omnipotent creator.

ally^1

I. noun — /ˈalī /

1. a state formally cooperating with another for a military or other purpose, typically by treaty.

2. a person or organization that cooperates with or helps another in a particular activity

• he was forced to dismiss his closest political ally.

3. (the Allies) — a group of nations taking military action together, in particular the countries that fought with the US in World War I and World War II.

II. verb — /əˈlī / [with obj.] (ally something to/with)

1. combine or unite a resource or commodity with (another) for mutual benefit

• he allied his racing experience with his father's business acumen.

2. (ally oneself with) — side with or support (someone or something)

• he allied himself with the forces of change.

– origin Middle English (as a verb): from Old French alier, from Latin alligare ‘bind together,’ from ad- ‘to’ + ligare ‘to bind’; the noun is partly via Old French alie ‘allied.’ Compare with alloy.

ally^2

noun

variant spelling of alley^2.

-ally

suffix

forming adverbs from adjectives ending in -al (such as radically from radical).
Compare with -al, -ly^2, -ically.

allyl /ˈaləl/

I. noun — [as modifier]

1. [Chemistry] the unsaturated hydrocarbon radical —CH=CHCH_2

• allyl alcohol.

II. derivatives

allylic /əˈlilik /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin allium ‘garlic’ + -yl.

al-Madinah /ˌalməˈdēnə/

Arabic name for Medina.

Almagest /ˈalməˌjest/

I. noun

1. an influential treatise on astronomy written by the Greek astronomer and geographer Ptolemy in the second century AD.

2. (also almagest) — (in the Middle Ages) any celebrated textbook on astrology and alchemy.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French almageste, based on Arabic, from al ‘the’ + Greek megistē ‘greatest (composition).’

alma mater /ˌälmə ˈmädər/

I. noun — (one's Alma Mater)

1. the school, college, or university that one once attended.

2. the anthem of a school, college, or university.

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the general sense ‘someone or something providing nourishment’): Latin, literally ‘bounteous mother.’

almanac /ˈôlməˌnak ˈalməˌnak / almanack

I. noun

1. an annual calendar containing important dates and statistical information such as astronomical data and tide tables.

2. a handbook, typically published annually, containing information of general interest or on a sport or pastime.

– origin late Middle English: via medieval Latin from Greek almenikhiaka, of unknown origin.

almandine /ˈalmənˌdēn/

I. noun

a kind of garnet with a violet tint.

– origin late Middle English: from obsolete French, alteration of alabandine, from medieval Latin alabandina (gemma) ‘jewel from Alabanda,’ an ancient city in Asia Minor where these stones were cut.

Almaty /ˌalˈmätē / Alma-Ata

the largest city and former capital of Kazakhstan, in the southeastern part of the republic; pop. 1,247,900 (est. 2006).
Former name (until 1921) Verny.

Almería /ˌälməˈrēə/

a town in Almeria Province in southern Spain; pop. 187,521 (2008).

almighty /ôlˈmīdē/

I. adjective

1. having complete power; omnipotent

• God almighty.

2. (the Almighty) — a name or title for God

• I wanted to beg the Almighty for mercy.

3. ‹informal› very great; enormous

• the silence was broken by an almighty roar.

– origin Old English ælmihtig (see all, mighty).

Almohad /ˈälməˌhäd / Almohade

noun

a member of a Berber Muslim movement and dynasty that conquered the Spanish and North African empire of the Almoravids in the 12th century.

almond /ˈä(l)mənd ˈa(l)mənd/

I. noun

1. the oval nutlike seed (kernel) of the almond tree, growing in a woody shell, widely used as food
[as modifier]

• almond cookies.

2. (also almond tree) — the tree that produces almonds, belonging to the rose family and related to the peach and plum. Native to western Asia, it is widely cultivated in warm climates.
[Prunus dulcis or P. amygdalus, family Rosaceae.]

– origin Middle English: from Old French alemande, from medieval Latin amandula, from Greek amugdalē.

almond eyes

plural noun

eyes that are narrow and oval with pointed ends.

almond oil

noun

oil expressed from bitter almonds, used for cosmetic preparations, flavoring, and medicinal purposes.

almond paste

noun

another term for marzipan.

almoner /ˈalmənər ˈämənər/

I. noun

‹historical› an official distributor of alms.

– origin Middle English: from Old French aumonier, based on medieval Latin eleemosynarius, from eleemosyna ‘alms’ (see alms).

almonry /ˈalmənrē, ˈäm-/

I. noun

a building or place where alms were formerly distributed.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French au(l)mosnerie, from medieval Latin eleemosynarius (see almoner).

Almoravid /ˌalməˈravid älˈmôrəvid / Almoravide

noun

a member of a federation of Muslim Berber peoples that established an empire in Morocco, Algeria, and Spain in the 11th century. They were in turn driven out by the Almohads.

almost /ˈôlˌmōst/

I. adverb

not quite; very nearly

• he almost knocked Georgina over

• Rachel laughed, almost apologetically

• the place was almost empty

• it will eat almost anything

• the storm was almost upon them.

– origin Old English æl mǣst ‘for the most part’ (see all, most).

alms /ä(l)mz/

I. plural noun

(in historical contexts) money or food given to poor people.

– origin Old English ælmysse, ælmesse, from Christian Latin eleemosyna, from Greek eleēmosunē ‘compassion,’ from eleēmōn ‘compassionate,’ from eleos ‘mercy.’

almsgiving /ä(l)mzˈɡiviNG/

I. noun

(in historical or religious contexts) the practice of giving money or food to poor people

• benevolence in the form of almsgiving was encouraged.

II. derivatives

almsgiver

noun

almshouse /ˈä(l)mzˌhous/

noun

a house built originally by a charitable person or organization for poor people to live in.

al-Nakba /alˈnäkˌbä/

I. noun

the Arabic term for the events of 1948, when many Palestinians were displaced from their homeland by the creation of the new state of Israel.

– origin from Arabic, literally ‘the disaster.’

aloe /ˈalō/

I. noun

1. a succulent plant, typically having a rosette of toothed fleshy leaves and bell-shaped or tubular flowers on long stems. Native to the Old World tropics, several species are cultivated commercially or as ornamentals.
[Genus Aloe, family Liliaceae (or Aloaceae).]

2. (aloes or bitter aloes) — a strong laxative obtained from the bitter juice of various kinds of aloe.

3. (also American aloe) — another term for century plant.

4. (also aloeswood) (aloes) — the fragrant heartwood of a tropical Asian tree.
[The wood is obtained from two trees of the genus Aquilaria, family Thymelaeaceae, esp. A. agallocha.]

5. the resin obtained from aloeswood, used in perfume, incense, and medicine.

– origin Old English alewe, alwe (denoting the fragrant resin or heartwood of certain Oriental trees), via Latin from Greek aloē; reinforced in late Middle English by Old French aloes ‘aloe,’ hence frequently used in the plural.

aloe vera /alōˈvirə/

I. noun

1. a gelatinous substance obtained from a kind of aloe, used especially in cosmetics as an emollient and for the treatment of burns.

2. the plant that yields aloe vera, grown chiefly in the Caribbean area and the southern US.
[Aloe vera, family Liliaceae (or Aloaceae).]

– origin early 20th cent.: modern Latin, literally ‘true aloe,’ probably in contrast to the American agave, which closely resembles aloe vera: both plants were formerly classified together in the lily family.

aloft /əˈlôft/

I. adjective, adverb

1. up in or into the air; overhead

• the congregation sways, hands aloft

• [as adv.] she held her glass aloft.

2. up the mast or into the rigging of a sailing vessel.

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse á lopt, á lopti, from á ‘in, on, to’ + lopt ‘air.’

alogical /āˈläjək(ə)l/

adjective

opposed to or lacking in logic.

aloha /əˈlōˌhä/

exclamation, noun

Hawaiian word used when greeting or parting from someone.

Aloha /əˈlōˌhä/

a community in northwestern Oregon, west of Portland; pop. 41,741 (2000).

aloha shirt

noun

a loose, brightly patterned Hawaiian shirt.

Aloha State

a nickname for the state of Hawaii.

alone /əˈlōn/

I. adjective, adverb

1. having no one else present; on one's own
[as predic. adj.]

• she was alone that evening

• [as adv.] he lives alone.

2. without others' help or participation; single-handed

• team members are more effective than individuals working alone.

3. [as adj.] — isolated and lonely

• she was terribly alone and exposed.

4. having no companions in a particular position or course of action

• they were not alone in dissenting from the advice.

5. [as adv.] — indicating that something is confined to the specified subject or recipient

• we agreed to set up such a test for him alone

• it is Congress alone that can declare war.

6. used to emphasize that only one factor out of several is being considered and that the whole is greater or more extreme

• there were fifteen churches in the town center alone.

II. phrases

1. go it alone

‹informal› act by oneself without assistance.

2. leave someone/something alone

a. abandon or desert someone or something.

b. (also let someone/something alone or leave/let well enough alone) — stop disturbing or interfering with someone or something.

III. derivatives

aloneness /əˈlōn(n)əs /

noun

– origin Middle English: from all + one.

along /əˈlôNG əˈläNG/

I. preposition

1. moving in a constant direction on (a path or any more or less horizontal surface)

• soon we were driving along a narrow road

• he saw Gary run along the top of the wall

• [as adv.] she sailed along

• we continued to plod along.

2. used metaphorically to refer to the passage of time or the making of progress

• they can be helped along the road to modernity

• we passed along snatches of information

• you'll pick up some valuable tips along the way

• [as adv.] they asked how the construction was coming along.

3. extending in a more or less horizontal line on

• cars were parked along the grass border

• the path along the cliff

• hotels are springing up all along the coast.

II. adverb

1. in or into company with others

• he had brought along a friend of his

• I went along to see Ray.

2. at hand; with one

• take along a camcorder when you visit.

III. phrases

1. along about

‹informal› ‹dialect› around about (a specified time or date)

• he generally leaves there along about daylight.

2. along of ‹archaic dialect›

a. on account of

• the trouble I've had along of that lady's crankiness.

b. with

• you'll have to make a break for it along of me.

3. along the lines (of)

in conformity with

• a highway patrol organized along the lines of the New Jersey State Police.

4. along with

in company with or at the same time as

• I was chosen, along with twelve other artists.

5. be (or come) along

arrive

• she'll be along soon

• a chance like this doesn't come along every day.

– origin Old English andlang; related to long^1.

alongshore /əˌlôNGˈSHô(ə)r/

adverb

along or by the shore

• currents flowing alongshore.

alongside /əˌlôNGˈsīd/

preposition

1. close to the side of; next to

• she was sitting alongside him

• the road passes alongside the viaduct

• [as adv.] the boat came alongside.

2. together and in cooperation with

• I worked alongside him for many weeks.

3. at the same time as or in coexistence with

• alongside the development of full-time courses there had to be provision for the part-time student.

aloof /əˈlo͞of/

I. adjective

1. not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant

• they were courteous but faintly aloof

• an aloof and somewhat austere figure.

2. conspicuously uninvolved and uninterested, typically through distaste

• he stayed aloof from the bickering.

II. derivatives

1. aloofly

adverb

2. aloofness /əˈlo͞ofnəs /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from a-2 (expressing direction) + luff. The term was originally an adverb in nautical use, meaning ‘away and to windward!,’ i.e., with the ship's head kept close to the wind away from a lee shore, etc., toward which it might otherwise drift. From this arose the sense ‘at a distance’ literally or figuratively.

alopecia /ˌaləˈpēSH(ē)ə/

I. noun

[Medicine] the partial or complete absence of hair from areas of the body where it normally grows; baldness.

– origin late Middle English: via Latin from Greek alōpekia, literally ‘fox mange,’ from alōpēx ‘fox.’

Alor Setar /ˌalˌôr sēˈtär, ˌälˌôr/

a city near the west coast of the central Malay Peninsula in Malaysia; pop. 223,200 (est. 2009).

aloud /əˈloud/

I. adverb

1. audibly; not silently or in a whisper

• he read the letter aloud.

2. ‹archaic› loudly

• he wept aloud.

– origin Middle English: from a-2 (expressing manner) + loud.

alow /əˈlō/

I. adverb

1. ‹archaic› ‹dialect› below; downward.

2. ‹archaic› ‹dialect› [Nautical] in or into the lower part of a ship, e.g., down from the rigging, or below deck.

– origin late Middle English (in nautical use since the early 16th cent.): from a-2 ‘on’ + low^1.

alp /alp/

I. noun

1. a high mountain, especially a snowcapped one.

2. (in Switzerland) an area of green pasture on a mountainside.

– origin late Middle English: singular of Alps.

alpaca /alˈpakə/

I. noun

1. a long-haired domesticated South American mammal related to the llama, valued for its wool.
[Lama pacos, family Camelidae, probably descended from the wild guanaco.]

2. the wool of the alpaca.

3. fabric made from the wool of the alpaca, with or without other fibers
[as modifier]

• an alpaca jersey.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Spanish, from Aymara allpaca.

alpargata /ˌalpərˈɡädə/

I. noun

a light canvas shoe with a plaited fiber sole; an espadrille.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Spanish.

alpenglow /ˈalpənˌɡlō/

I. noun

the rosy light of the setting or rising sun seen on high mountains.

– origin late 19th cent.: a partial translation of German Alpenglühen, literally ‘Alp glow.’

alpenhorn /ˈalpənˌhôrn / alphorn

I. noun

a valveless wooden horn up to 12 feet (4 m) long, used for signaling in the Alps.

– origin late 19th cent.: from German, literally ‘Alp horn.’

alpenstock /ˈalpənˌstäk/

I. noun

a long iron-tipped staff used by hikers and mountain climbers.

– origin early 19th cent.: from German, literally ‘Alp stick.’

Alpert, Herb /ˈalpərt/

(1935–), US musician and producer. A jazz trumpeter, he co-founded A & M Records with Jerry Moss in 1962 and went on to record many successful albums with the Tijuana Brass.

alpha /ˈalfə/

I. noun

1. the first letter of the Greek alphabet (Α, α), transliterated as ‘a.’

2. [as modifier] — denoting the first of a series of items or categories, e.g., forms of a chemical compound

• alpha interferon

• the α and β chains of hemoglobin.

3. [as modifier] — [Zoology] [Sociology] denoting the dominant animal or human in a particular group

• the pack is a tightly knit, highly organized group, led by an alpha wolf.

See also alpha male.

4. [as modifier] — ‹informal› denoting a person who has a dominant role or position within a particular sphere

• take turns cooking for each other if one of you is too much of an alpha chef.

5. short for alpha test.

6. [followed by Latin genitive] (Alpha) — the first (typically the brightest) star in a constellation

• Alpha Centauri.

7. [as modifier] — relating to alpha decay or alpha particles

• an alpha emitter.

8. a code word representing the letter A, used in radio communication.

II. symbol

1. (α) — a plane angle.

2. (α) — angular acceleration.

3. (α) — [Astronomy] right ascension.

III. phrases

alpha and omega

a. the beginning and the end (especially used by Christians as a title for Jesus).

b. the essence or most important features

• collective bargaining is seen as the alpha and omega of trade unionism.

– origin from Semitic; cf. Phoenician ’alp, lit. ‘ox,’ and Hebrew ’aleph ‘aleph.’

alphabet /ˈalfəˌbet/

I. noun

1. a set of letters or symbols in a fixed order, used to represent the basic sounds of a language; in particular, the set of letters from A to Z.

2. the basic elements in a system that combine to form complex entities

• DNA's 4-letter alphabet.

The alphabet has its roots in Phoenician writing of the 2nd millennium BC, from which the modern Hebrew and Arabic systems are ultimately derived. The Greek alphabet, which emerged in 1000–900 BC, developed two branches, Cyrillic (which became the script of Russian) and Etruscan (from which derives the Roman alphabet used in the West).

– origin early 16th cent.: from late Latin alphabetum, from Greek alpha, bēta, the first two letters of the Greek alphabet.

alphabetical /ˌalfəˈbedək(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to an alphabet

• alphabetical characters.

2. in the order of the letters of the alphabet

• an alphabetical index

• in alphabetical order.

II. derivatives

alphabetic /ˌalfəˈbedik /

adjective

alphabetically /ˌalfəˈbediklē/

adverb

in the order of the letters of the alphabet

• books are now arranged alphabetically by author.

alphabetize /ˈalfəbəˌtīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. arrange (words or phrases) in alphabetical order

• the listings are arranged by state and alphabetized by city.

II. derivatives

alphabetization /ˌalfəˌbetəˈzāSHən /

noun

alphabet soup /ˈalfəˌbet so͞op/

I. noun

‹informal› incomprehensible or confusing language, typically containing many abbreviations or symbols.

– origin early 20th cent.: alluding to a kind of clear soup containing pasta in the shapes of letters.

alpha blocker

noun

[Medicine] any of a class of drugs that prevent the stimulation of the adrenergic receptors responsible for increased blood pressure.

Alpha Centauri /ˌalfə senˈtôrē / ‹Astronomy›

the third brightest star in the sky, in the constellation Centaurus, visible only to observers in the southern hemisphere. It is the nearest bright star to the solar system (distance 4.34 light years), and is a visual binary.
Also called Rigil Kentaurus.

alpha-fetoprotein /ˌalfəˌfēdōˈprōtēn/

noun

[Medicine] a protein produced by a fetus that is present in amniotic fluid and the bloodstream of the mother. Levels of the protein can be measured to detect certain congenital defects such as spina bifida and Down syndrome.

alpha geek

noun

‹informal› a person who has great expertise in computing and related technology

• the alpha geeks are often a few years ahead of their time.

alpha-hydroxy acid /ˌalfəhīˌdräksē ˈasəd/

noun

[Chemistry] an organic acid containing a hydroxyl group bonded to the carbon atom adjacent to the carboxylic acid group. A number of such compounds are used in skin-care preparations for their exfoliating properties.
Also called fruit acid.

alpha male

noun

1. the dominant male animal in a particular group

• two of them trotted over to greet the alpha male, a black wolf with a graying muzzle.

2. a man tending to assume a dominant or domineering role in social or professional situations

• most alpha males need to control the women in their lives.

alphanumeric /ˌalfən(y)o͞oˈmerik/

I. adjective

consisting of or using both letters and numerals

• alphanumeric data

• an alphanumeric keyboard.

II. noun

a character that is either a letter or a number.

III. derivatives

alphanumerical

adjective

– origin 1950s: blend of alphabetical and numerical.

alpha particle

noun

[Physics] a helium nucleus emitted by some radioactive substances, originally regarded as a ray.

alpha radiation

noun

ionizing radiation consisting of alpha particles, emitted by some substances undergoing radioactive decay.

Alpharetta /ˌalfəˈredə/

a city in northwestern Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta; pop. 49,903 (est. 2008).

alpha rhythm

noun

[Physiology] the normal electrical activity of the brain when conscious and relaxed, consisting of oscillations (alpha waves) with a frequency of 8 to 13 hertz.

alpha test

I. noun

a trial of machinery, software, or other products carried out by a developer before a product is made available for beta testing.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. subject (a product) to an alpha test.

alpha version

noun

[Computing] a version of a piece of software that is made available for testing, typically by employees of the company that is developing it, before its general release

• at this time we are close to finishing the alpha version.

Compare with beta version.

alphorn /ˈalpˌhôrn/

noun

another term for alpenhorn.

alpine /ˈalˌpīn/

I. adjective — [usu. attrib.]

1. of or relating to high mountains

• alpine and subalpine habitats.

2. (Alpine) — of or relating to the Alps

• the major Alpine ski venues.

3. (also Alpine) — (of skiing) involving downhill racing

• an alpine ski team.

II. noun

1. a plant native to mountain districts, often suitable for growing in rock gardens.

2. a North American butterfly that typically has brownish-black wings with orange-red markings.
[Genus Erebia, subfamily Satyrinae, family Nymphalidae: several species.]

– origin late Middle English: from Latin Alpinus, from Alpes ‘Alps’ (see Alps).

alpine house

noun

an unheated greenhouse used to grow alpine plants.

alpine touring

noun

another term for randonnée.

alpinist /ˈalpənəst/

I. noun

a climber of high mountains, especially in the Alps.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French alpiniste, from alpin (see alpine).

alprazolam /alˈprazəˌlam/

I. noun

[Medicine] a drug of the benzodiazepine group, used in the treatment of anxiety.

– origin 1970s: from al- of unknown origin + p(henyl) + (t)r(i)azol(e) + (-azep)am.

Alps /alps/

I. a mountain system in Europe that extends in a curve from the coast of southeastern France through northwestern Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, southern Germany, and Austria, into Slovenia. The highest peak, Mont Blanc, rises to a height of 15,771 feet (4,807 m).

– origin late Middle English: via French from Latin Alpes, from Greek Alpeis, of unknown origin.

al-Qaeda /alˈkīdə alkäˈēdə / al-Qaida

I. a militant Islamic fundamentalist group.

– origin Arabic al-qā‘ida, literally ‘the base.’

al-Qahira /ˌalkəˈhirə/

Arabic name for Cairo.

al-Qods /alˈkôdz/

the Arabic name for Jerusalem.

already /ˌôlˈredē/

I. adverb

1. before or by now or the time in question

• Anna has suffered a great deal already.

2. as surprisingly soon or early as this

• at 31, he already suffers from arthritis

• already it was past four o' clock.

3. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› used as an intensive after a word or phrase to express impatience

• enough already with these crazy kids and their wacky dances!

– origin Middle English: from all (as an adverb) + ready; sense 2 is influenced by Yiddish use.

ALS

noun

abbreviation for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Alsace /alˈsas/

a region of northeastern France, on the borders with Germany and Switzerland. It was annexed by Prussia, along with part of Lorraine, to form Alsace-Lorraine after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71. It was restored to France after World War I.

Alsatian /alˈsāSHən/

I. noun

1. (chiefly Brit.) another term for German shepherd.

2. a native or inhabitant of Alsace.

II. adjective

of or relating to Alsace or its inhabitants.

– origin from medieval Latin Alsatia ‘Alsace’ + -an.

alsike /ˈalˌsik, -ˌsīk / alsike clover

I. noun

a tall clover that is widely grown for fodder. Native to Europe, it has become naturalized in North America.
[Trifolium hybridum, family Leguminosae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after Alsike in Sweden; Linnaeus mentions the plant growing there.

also /ˈôlsō/

I. adverb

in addition; too

• a brilliant linguist, he was also interested in botany

• dyslexia, also known as word-blindness

• [sentence adverb] also, a car is very expensive to run.

– origin Old English alswā ‘quite so, in that manner, similarly’ (see all, so^1).

also-ran /ˈôlsō ˌran/

I. noun

1. a loser in a race or contest, especially by a large margin.

2. an undistinguished or unsuccessful person or thing.

– origin late 19th cent.: originally applied to racehorses that did not finish in the first three.

alstroemeria /ˌalstrəˈmirēə/

I. noun

a South American plant with showy lilylike flowers, often cultivated as an ornamental.
[Genus Alstroemeria, family Liliaceae: several species, in particular the Peruvian lily.]

– origin late 18th cent.: modern Latin, named after Klas von Alstroemer (1736–96), Swedish naturalist.

Alt /ôlt/

noun

short for Alt key.

alt- alt.

I. combining form

denoting a version of something, especially music, that is intended as a challenge to the traditional version

• an alt-classical quartet.

– origin 1990s: abbr. of alternative, influenced by the alt. prefix of some Usenet newsgroups.

Alta.

abbreviation

Alberta.

Altadena /ˌaltəˈdēnə/

a residential suburb in southwestern California, just north of Pasadena; pop. 42,610 (2000).

Altai /ˈalˌtī, ˈäl- / Altay

a krai (administrative territory) of Russia in southwestern Siberia, on the border with Kazakhstan; capital, Barnaul.

Altaic /alˈtāik/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to the Altai Mountains.

2. denoting or belonging to a phylum of languages that includes the Turkic, Mongolian, Tungusic, and Manchu languages. They are characterized by agglutination and vowel harmony.

II. noun

the Altaic family of languages.

Altai Mountains

a mountain system in central Asia that extends east for about 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from Kazakhstan into western Mongolia and northern China.

Altair /ˈalˌte(ə)r, -ˌtī(ə)r, alˈtī(ə)r, -ˈte(ə)r / ‹Astronomy›

I. the brightest star in the constellation Aquila.

– origin Arabic, literally ‘flying eagle.’

Altamira /ˌaltəˈmirə/

the site of a cave with Paleolithic rock paintings, south of Santander in northern Spain, discovered in 1879.

altar /ˈôltər/

I. noun

1. the table in a Christian church at which the bread and wine are consecrated in communion services.

2. a table or flat-topped block used as the focus for a religious ritual, especially for making sacrifices or offerings to a deity.

II. phrases

1. lead someone to the altar

marry.

2. sacrifice someone/something on/at the altar of someone/something

cause someone or something to suffer in the interests of someone or something else

• no businessman is going to sacrifice his company on the altar of such altruism.

– origin Old English altar, alter, based on late Latin altar, altarium, from Latin altus ‘high.’

altar boy /ˈôltər boi/

noun

a boy who acts as a priest's assistant, especially in the Roman Catholic Church.

altar call

noun

a summons to the altar at a Christian worship service to those wishing to show their commitment

• I never responded to an altar call, or if my pastor gave an altar call, I didn't think it applied to me.

altar girl

noun

a girl who acts as a priest's assistant during a service, especially in the Roman Catholic Church.

altarpiece /ˈôltərˌpēs/

noun

a work of art, especially a painting on wood, set above and behind an altar.

altar rail

noun

a railing in front of the altar, separating the chancel from the nave.

altazimuth /alˈtazəməTH/

I. noun

1. (also altazimuth mount or mounting) — [Astronomy] a telescope mounting that moves in azimuth (about a vertical axis) and in altitude (about a horizontal axis).
Compare with equatorial mount.

2. (also altazimuth telescope) — a telescope on an altazimuth mounting.

3. a surveying instrument for measuring vertical and horizontal angles, resembling a theodolite but larger and more precise.

– origin mid 19th cent.: blend of altitude and azimuth.

alt-country /ˈôltˌkəntrē / alt.country

noun

a style of country music that is influenced by alternative rock.

Altdorfer, Albrecht /ˈältˌdôrfər/

(c. 1485–1538), German painter and engraver. He was the principal artist of the Danube School.

alter /ˈôltər/

I. verb

1. change or cause to change in character or composition, typically in a comparatively small but significant way
[with obj.]

• Eliot was persuaded to alter the passage

• nothing alters the fact that children are our responsibility

• [no obj.] our outward appearance alters as we get older

• (as adj. altered) an altered state.

2. [with obj.] — make structural changes to (a building)

• plans to alter the dining hall.

3. [with obj.] — tailor (clothing) for a better fit or to conform to fashion

• skirts with the hemlines altered a dozen different times.

4. [with obj.] — (N. Amer.) (Austral.) castrate or spay (a domestic animal).

II. derivatives

alterable /ˈôlt(ə)rəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French alterer, from late Latin alterare, from Latin alter ‘other.’

alteration /ˌôltəˈrāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

the action or process of altering or being altered

• timetables are subject to alteration without notice

• alterations had to be made.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, or from late Latin alteratio(n-), from the verb alterare (see alter).

altercate /ˈôltərˌkāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹archaic› dispute or argue noisily and publicly.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin altercat- ‘wrangled,’ from altercari.

altercation /ˌôltərˈkāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

a noisy argument or disagreement, especially in public

• I had an altercation with the conductor.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin altercatio(n-), from the verb altercari (see altercate).

altered state

noun

a state of mind that differs from the normal state of consciousness, typically one induced by drugs, hypnosis, or mental disorder.

• he probably came up with this tune while he was in an altered state.

alter ego

I. noun

1. a person's secondary or alternative personality.

2. an intimate and trusted friend.

– origin mid 16th cent.: Latin, ‘other self.’

alterity /ôlˈterədē/

I. noun

‹formal› the state of being other or different; otherness.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from late Latin alteritas, from alter ‘other.’

alternant /ˈôltərnənt/

I. noun

an alternative form of a word or other linguistic unit; a variant.

II. adjective

alternating; changing from one to the other.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin alternant- ‘doing things by turns,’ from the verb alternare (see alternate).

alternate

I. verb — /ˈôltərˌnāt / [no obj.]

1. occur in turn repeatedly

• the governorship alternated between the Republican and Democratic parties

• bouts of depression alternate with periods of elation

• (as adj. alternating) a season of alternating hot days and cool nights.

2. [with obj.] — do or perform in turn repeatedly

• some adults who wish to alternate work with education.

II. adjective — /ˈôltərnət / [attrib.]

1. every other; every second

• she was asked to attend on alternate days.

2. (of two things) each following and succeeded by the other in a regular pattern

• alternate bouts of intense labor and of idleness.

3. [Botany] (of leaves or shoots) placed alternately on the two sides of the stem.

4. (chiefly N. Amer.) taking the place of; alternative

• the rerouted traffic takes a variety of alternate routes.

III. noun — /ˈôltərnət /

1. (N. Amer.) a person who acts as a deputy or substitute.

– origin early 16th cent.(earlier (late Middle English) as alternation): from Latin alternat- ‘done by turns,’ from alternare, from alternus ‘every other,’ from alter ‘other, the other.’ / usage: See usage at alternative.

alternate angles /ˈôltərˌnāt ˈaNGɡəlz/

plural noun

two angles, not adjoining one another, that are formed on opposite sides of a line that intersects two other lines. If the original two lines are parallel, the alternate angles are equal.

alternately /ˈôltərnətlē/

adverb

1. with two things continually following and succeeded by each other; one after the other

• she sounds alternately confused and confident.

2. [sentence adverb] — (chiefly N. Amer.) as another option or possibility; alternatively

• alternately, slice the cake in two when completely cooled and spread raspberry jam between the two halves.

alternating current /ˈôltərˌnādiNG ˈkərənt / AC, ac

noun

an electric current that reverses its direction many times a second at regular intervals, typically used in power supplies.
Compare with direct current.

alternation /ˌôltərˈnāSH(ə)n/

noun

the repeated occurrence of two things in turn

• the regular alternation of stressed and unstressed syllables

• Ghana's climate is warm and humid, with distinct alternations between rainy summer and dry winters.

alternation of generations

noun

[Biology] a pattern of reproduction occurring in the life cycles of many lower plants and some invertebrates, involving a regular alternation between two distinct forms. The generations are alternately sexual and asexual (as in ferns) or dioecious and parthenogenetic (as in some jellyfish).

alternative /ôlˈtərnədiv/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of one or more things) available as another possibility

• the various alternative methods for resolving disputes

• the alternative definition of democracy as popular power.

2. (of two things) mutually exclusive

• the facts fit two alternative scenarios.

3. of or relating to behavior that is considered unconventional and is often seen as a challenge to traditional norms

• an alternative lifestyle

• they have one foot in alternative music and the other in rock.

II. noun

one of two or more available possibilities

• audiocassettes are an interesting alternative to reading

• she had no alternative but to break the law.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘alternating, alternate’): from French alternatif, -ive or medieval Latin alternativus, from Latin alternare ‘interchange’ (see alternate). / usage: 1Alternate can be a verb, noun, or adjective, while alternative can be a noun or adjective. In both American and British English, the adjective alternate means ‘every other’ (there will be a dance on alternate Saturdays) and the adjective alternative means ‘available as another choice’ (an alternative route; alternative medicine; alternative energy sources). In American usage, however, alternate can also be used to mean ‘available as another choice’: an alternate plan called for construction to begin immediately rather than waiting for spring. Likewise, a book club may offer an ‘alternate selection’ as an alternative to the main selection. 2 Some traditionalists maintain, from an etymological standpoint, that you can have only two alternatives (from the Latin alter ‘other (of two); the other’) and that uses of more than two alternatives are erroneous. Such uses are, however, normal in modern standard English.

alternative dispute resolution ADR

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) the use of methods such as mediation and arbitration to resolve a dispute instead of litigation.

alternative energy

noun

energy generated in ways that do not deplete natural resources or harm the environment, especially by avoiding the use of fossil fuels and nuclear power.

alternative fuel

noun

a fuel other than gasoline for powering motor vehicles, such as natural gas, methanol, or electricity.

alternatively /ôlˈtərnədivlē/

adverb — [sentence adverb]

1. as another option or possibility

• alternatively, you may telephone us direct.

alternative medicine /ôlˈtərnədiv ˈmedəsən/

noun

any of a range of medical therapies that are not regarded as orthodox by the medical profession, such as herbalism, homeopathy, and acupuncture.
See also complementary medicine.

alternative rock

noun

a style of rock music characterized as unconventional or outside the mainstream

• the disaffection of grunge and alternative rock resonated powerfully with a generation weathering an economic recession.

alternative vote AV

noun

(chiefly Brit.) another term for instant runoff voting.

alternator /ˈôltərˌnādər/

noun

a generator that produces an alternating current.

Althing /ˈôlˌTHiNG, ˈäl-/

I. the bicameral legislative assembly of Iceland.

– origin Icelandic, from Old Norse.

althorn /ˈaltôrn/

I. noun

a musical instrument of the saxhorn family, especially the alto or tenor saxhorn in E flat.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from German, from alt ‘high’ (from Latin altus) + Horn ‘horn.’

although /ôlˈT͟Hō/

I. conjunction

1. in spite of the fact that; even though

• although the sun was shining it wasn't that warm

• although small, the room has a spacious feel.

2. however; but

• he says he has the team jersey, although I've never seen him wear it.

– origin Middle English: from all (as an adverb) + though. / usage: Although and though are interchangeable in the senses listed above, the only difference being that use of though tends to be less formal than that of although. In formal writing, although tends to sound better than though as the opening word of a sentence. Some uses of though, however, are not interchangeable with although—e.g., adverbial uses (it was nice of him to phone, though) and uses in conjunction with ‘as’ or ‘even’ (she doesn't look as though she's listening).

Althusser, Louis /ˈältˌho͞osər, ˌält(h)o͞oˈsā/

(1918–90), French philosopher. He reinterpreted traditional Marxism in the light of structuralist theories. Notable works: For Marx (1965) and Reading Capital (1970).

altimeter /alˈtimidər / alt.

I. noun

an instrument for determining altitude attained, especially a barometric or radar device used in an aircraft.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Latin altus ‘high’ + -meter.

altimetry /alˈtimətrē/

I. noun

the measurement of height or altitude.

II. derivatives

altimetric /altəˈmetrik /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin altimetria.

altiplano /ˌaltiˈplänō/

I. noun

the high tableland of central South America.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Spanish.

altissimo /alˈtisəˌmō, äl-/

I. adjective

[Music] very high in pitch

• the extreme altissimo range of his horn.

– origin Italian, superlative of alto ‘high.’

altitude /ˈaltəˌt(y)o͞od / alt.

I. noun

1. the height of an object or point in relation to sea level or ground level

• flight data including airspeed and altitude

• flying at altitudes over 15,000 feet.

2. great height

• the mechanism can freeze at altitude.

3. [Astronomy] the apparent height of a celestial object above the horizon, measured as an angle.

4. [Geometry] the length of the perpendicular line from a vertex to the opposite side of a figure.

II. derivatives

altitudinal /ˈaltəˌt(y)o͞od(ə)n(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin altitudo, from altus ‘high.’

altitude sickness /ˈaldəˌt(y)o͞od ˈsiknis/

noun

illness caused by ascent to a high altitude and the resulting shortage of oxygen, characterized chiefly by hyperventilation, nausea, exhaustion, and cerebral edema.

Alt key /ˈôlt ˌkē/

I. noun

[Computing] a key on a keyboard that when pressed at the same time as another key gives the second key an alternative function.

– origin late 20th cent.: abbreviation of alt(ernative) key.

Altman, Robert /ˈôltmən/

(1925–2006), US movie director. He made his name with M*A*S*H (1970), a black comedy about an army surgical hospital at the front in the Korean War. Other notable movies: Nashville (1975), The Player (1992), and Gosford Park (2001).

alto /ˈaltō/

I. noun

1. [Music] a voice, instrument, or part below the highest range and above tenor, in particular

2. [Music] the highest adult male singing voice; countertenor.

3. [Music] the lowest female singing voice; contralto.

4. [as modifier] — [Music] denoting the member of a family of instruments pitched second or third highest

• alto flute.

5. [Music] an alto instrument, especially an alto saxophone.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Italian alto (canto) ‘high (song).’

alto clef /ˈaltō ˈôltō klef/

noun

a clef placing middle C on the middle line of the staff, now used chiefly for viola music.

altocumulus /ˌaltōˈkyo͞omyələs/

I. noun

cloud forming a layer of rounded masses with a level base, occurring at medium altitude, usually 6,500–23,000 feet (2–7 km).

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin alto- (from Latin altus ‘high’) + cumulus.

altogether /ˌôltəˈɡeT͟Hər/

I. adverb

1. completely; totally

• I stopped seeing her altogether

• [as submodifier] I'm not altogether sure that I'd trust him.

2. including everything or everyone; in total

• he had married several times and had forty-six children altogether.

3. [sentence adverb] — taking everything into consideration; on the whole

• altogether it was a great evening.

II. phrases

in the altogether

‹informal› without any clothes on; naked

• she's agreed to pose in the altogether.

– origin Old English (see all, together). / usage: Note that altogether and all together do not mean the same thing. Altogether means ‘in total, totally’ as in there are six bedrooms altogether, or that is a different matter altogether, whereas all together means ‘all in one place’ or ‘all at once,’ as in it was good to have a group of friends all together, or they came in all together.

altoist /ˈaltōist/

noun

a person who plays an alto instrument, in particular a saxophone.

Alton /ˈôlt(ə)n/

an industrial city in southwestern Illinois, on the Mississippi River, north of St. Louis in Missouri; pop. 29,393 (est. 2008).

Altoona /alˈto͞onə/

a city in south central Pennsylvania, in the Allegheny Mountains; pop. 46,144 (est. 2008). A noted railroad center, it is near Horseshoe Curve, where rails first crossed the Alleghenies.

alto-relievo /ˌaltōrəˈlēvō/

I. noun

1. [Sculpture] another term for high relief at relief (sense 4).

2. [Sculpture] a sculpture or carving in high relief.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Italian alto-rilievo.

altostratus /ˌaltōˈstrātəs, -ˈstratəs/

I. noun

cloud forming a continuous uniform layer that resembles stratus but occurs at medium altitude, usually 6,500–23,000 feet (2–7 km).

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin alto- (from Latin altus ‘high’) + stratus.

altricial /alˈtriSHəl / ‹Zoology›

I. adjective

1. (of a young bird or other animal) hatched or born in an undeveloped state and requiring care and feeding by the parents.

2. (of a particular species) having altricial young.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin altrix, altric-, feminine of altor ‘nourisher,’ from alere ‘nourish.’

alt-rock /ˈôltˌräk/

noun

short for alternative rock:

• the soundtrack throbs with alt-rock and techno

• [as modifier] alt-rock radio.

altruism /ˈaltro͞oˌizəm/

I. noun

1. the belief in or practice of disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others

• some may choose to work with vulnerable elderly people out of altruism.

2. [Zoology] behavior of an animal that benefits another at its own expense.

II. derivatives

altruist /ˈalˌtro͞oəst /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French altruisme, from Italian altrui ‘somebody else,’ from Latin alteri huic ‘to this other.’

altruistic /ˌaltro͞oˈistik/

I. adjective

showing a disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others; unselfish

• it was an entirely altruistic act.

• I question how altruistic his motives were.

II. derivatives

altruistically /ˌaltro͞oˈistiklē /

adverb

Altus /ˈaltəs/

a city in southwestern Oklahoma; pop. 18,912 (est. 2008).

ALU

abbreviation

[Computing] arithmetic logic unit.

aludel /ˈalyəˌdel/

I. noun

a pear-shaped earthenware or glass pot, open at both ends to enable a series to be fitted one above another, formerly used in sublimation and other chemical processes.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French alutel, via Spanish from Arabic al-'uṯāl ‘the sublimation vessel.’

alula /ˈalyələ/

I. noun

technical term for bastard wing.

– origin late 18th cent.: modern Latin, literally ‘small wing,’ diminutive of ala.

alum^1 /ˈaləm/

I. noun

1. [Chemistry] a colorless astringent compound that is a hydrated double sulfate of aluminum and potassium, used in solution medicinally and in dyeing and tanning.
Also called potash alum. [Chem. formula: AlK(SO_4)2.12H_2O.]

2. [Chemistry] any of a number of analogous crystalline double sulfates of a monovalent metal (or group) and a trivalent metal.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin alumen, alumin-; related to aluta ‘tawed leather.’

alum^2 /əˈləm/

I. noun

‹informal› (chiefly US) an alumnus or alumna

• a fellow Wellesley alum.

– origin late 19th cent.: abbreviation.

alumina /əˈlo͞omənə/

I. noun

a white solid, aluminum oxide, that occurs in bauxite and is found in crystalline form as the main constituent of corundum, sapphire, and other minerals.
[Aluminum oxide; chem. formula: Al_2O_3.]

– origin late 18th cent.: from Latin alumen (see alum^1), on the pattern of words such as magnesia.

aluminize /əˈlo͞oməˌnīz/

verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. aluminized)

1. coat with aluminum

• an aluminized reflector.

aluminosilicate /əˌlo͞omənəˈsiləkət/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a silicate in which aluminum replaces some of the silicon, especially a rock-forming mineral such as a feldspar or a clay mineral.

– origin early 20th cent.: from alumino- (combining form of aluminum) + silicate.

aluminous /əˈlo͞omənəs/

I. adjective

(chiefly of minerals and rocks) containing alumina or aluminum.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin aluminosus, from alumen, alumin- (see alum^1).

aluminum /əˈlo͞omənəm / ‹Brit.› aluminium

I. noun

(Symbol: Al) — the chemical element of atomic number 13, a light silvery-gray metal.
Aluminum is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust and is obtained mainly from bauxite. Its lightness, resistance to corrosion, and strength (esp. in alloys) have led to widespread use in domestic utensils, engineering parts, and aircraft construction.

– origin early 19th cent.: from alumin(a) + (i)um.

aluminum bronze

noun

an alloy of copper and aluminum.

alumna /əˈləmnə/

I. noun

a female graduate or former student of a particular school, college, or university.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin, feminine of alumnus (see alumnus). / usage: See usage at alumnus.

alumnus /əˈləmnəs/

I. noun

a graduate or former student, especially male, of a particular school, college, or university

• a Harvard alumnus.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin, ‘nursling, pupil,’ from alere ‘nourish.’ / usage: In the singular, alumnus nearly always means a male, but the plural alumni usually refers to graduates or former students of either sex. See also alumna.

alumroot /ˈaləmˌro͞ot, -ˌro͝ot / alum root

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a heuchera, especially the green-flowered H. americana and the white-flowered H. parvifolia.

al-Uqsur /ˌalˈo͝oksər/

Arabic name for Luxor.

Alvarez, Luis Walter /ˈalvəˌrez/

(1911–88), US physicist. In particle physics, he made the first measurement of the neutron's magnetic moment. He also developed the bubble chamber. In 1980 Alvarez and his son identified iridium in sediment from the Cretaceous–Tertiary boundary and proposed that this resulted from a catastrophic meteorite impact. Nobel Prize for Physics (1968).

alveolar /alˈvē(ə)lər/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to an alveolus, in particular

2. [Anatomy] relating to or denoting the bony ridge that contains the sockets of the upper teeth.

3. [Phonetics] (of a consonant) pronounced with the tip of the tongue on or near this ridge (e.g., n, s, t).

4. [Anatomy] of or relating to an alveolus or the alveoli of the lung.

II. noun

[Phonetics] an alveolar consonant.

alveolus /alˈvēələs/

I. noun

1. [chiefly Anatomy] a small cavity, pit, or hollow, in particular

2. [chiefly Anatomy] any of the many tiny air sacs in the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place.

3. [chiefly Anatomy] the bony socket for the root of a tooth.

4. [chiefly Anatomy] an acinus in a gland.

II. derivatives

alveolate /alˈvēələt /

adjective

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin, ‘small cavity,’ diminutive of alveus.

always /ˈôlˌwāz / ‹archaic› alway

I. adverb

1. at all times; on all occasions

• the sun always rises in the east.

2. throughout a long period of the past

• she had always been an obstinate sort.

3. for all future time; forever

• she will always be missed.

4. repeatedly and annoyingly

• she is always making derogatory remarks.

5. as a last resort; failing all else

• if the marriage doesn't work out, we can always get divorced.

– origin Middle English: genitive case of all way, the inflection probably giving the sense ‘at every time’ as opposed to ‘at one uninterrupted time’; the difference between the two is no longer distinct.

always-on

adjective

denoting or relating to an Internet connection that is continuously accessible

• high-speed cable lines provide the Internet user with an always-on connection

• aircraft used to be one of the last refuges from our always-on world.

alyssum /əˈlisəm/

I. noun

a herbaceous Eurasian plant that bears small flowers in a range of colors, typically white or yellow. Several kinds are widely cultivated in gardens.
[Genera Alyssum and Lobularia, family Brassicaceae: many species, including sweet alyssum (L. maritima), with fragrant white flowers.]

– origin mid 16th cent. (used loosely to denote various medicinal herbs): modern Latin, from Latin alysson, from Greek alusson, from a- ‘without’ + lussa ‘rabies’ (referring to early herbalist use).

Alzheimer's /ˈältsˌhīmərz / Alzheimer's disease

I. noun

progressive mental deterioration that can occur in middle or old age, due to generalized degeneration of the brain. It is the most common cause of premature senility.

– origin early 20th cent.: named after Alois Alzheimer (1864–1915), German neurologist who first identified it.

Am

symbol

the chemical element americium.

AM

abbreviation

1. amplitude modulation.

2. (US) Master of Arts.
[Latin artium magister.]

a.m. /ˌāˈem/

I. abbreviation

before noon, used with times of day between midnight and noon

• we can deliver your most time-sensitive shipments by 10:30 a.m.

– origin from Latin ante meridiem.

AMA

abbreviation

1. American Management Association.

2. American Medical Association.

3. American Motorcycle Association.

amah /ˈämə/

I. noun

a nursemaid or maid in East Asia or India.

– origin from Portuguese ama ‘nurse.’

Amal /äˈmäl/

I. a Lebanese Shiite Muslim organization founded in 1975 and having political and paramilitary wings.

– origin from Arabic 'amal ‘hope.’

amalgam /əˈmalɡəm/

I. noun

1. a mixture or blend

• a curious amalgam of the traditional and the modern.

2. [Chemistry] an alloy of mercury with another metal, especially one used for dental fillings.

– origin late 15th cent.: from French amalgame or medieval Latin amalgama, from Greek malagma ‘an emollient.’

amalgamate /əˈmalɡəˌmāt/

I. verb

1. combine or unite to form one organization or structure
[with obj.]

• he amalgamated his company with another

• [no obj.] numerous small railroad companies amalgamated

• (as adj. amalgamated) his true genius lies in synthesis, in an amalgamated vision.

2. [with obj.] — [Chemistry] alloy (a metal) with mercury
(as adj. amalgamated)

• amalgamated zinc.

– origin early 17th cent.: from medieval Latin amalgamat- ‘formed into a soft mass,’ from the verb amalgamare, from amalgama (see amalgam).

amalgamation /əˌmalɡəˈmāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

the action, process, or result of combining or uniting

• the threat of amalgamation with a competitor

• an amalgamation of two separate companies.

– origin early 17th cent.: from medieval Latin amalgamare (see amalgamate).

Amalthea /ˌaməlˈTHēə, əmal- / ‹Astronomy›

I. satellite V of Jupiter, the third closest to the planet. It is reddish in color and heavily cratered, with a diameter of 106 miles (170 km).

– origin from the name of a goat in Greek mythology, which suckled the infant Zeus.

Amana Colonies /əˌmanə ˈkälənēz/

a group of seven villages in east central Iowa. Settled by a German religious group, they are famous for manufacturing appliances.

amandine /ˈäməndēn/

adjective

(of a dish) prepared or garnished with sliced almonds.

amanuensis /əˌmanyəˈwensəs/

I. noun

a literary or artistic assistant, in particular one who takes dictation or copies manuscripts.

– origin early 17th cent.: Latin, from (servus) a manu ‘(slave) at hand(writing), secretary’ + -ensis ‘belonging to.’

amaranth /ˈaməˌranTH/

I. noun

1. any plant of the genus Amaranthus, typically having small green, red, or purple tinted flowers. Certain varieties are grown for food.
[Family Amaranthaceae: several genera, esp. Amaranthus.]

2. an imaginary flower that never fades.

3. a purple color.

II. derivatives

amaranthine /ˌaməˈranTH(ə)n ˌaməˈranˌTHīn /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French amarante or modern Latin amaranthus, alteration (on the pattern of plant names ending in -anthus, from Greek anthos ‘flower’) of Latin amarantus, from Greek amarantos ‘everlasting,’ from a- ‘not’ + marainein ‘wither.’

amaretti /ˌaməˈredē/

I. plural noun

Italian almond-flavored cookies.

– origin Italian, based on amaro ‘bitter’; compare with amaretto.

amaretto /ˌaməˈretō, ˌäm-/

I. noun

(pl. amarettos) — a sweet, almond-flavored liqueur.

– origin Italian, diminutive of amaro ‘bitter’ (with reference to bitter almonds).

Amarillo /ˌaməˈrilō/

an industrial and commercial city in northwestern Texas, in the Panhandle; pop. 187,236 (est. 2008).

amaryllis /ˌaməˈrilis/

I. noun

a bulbous plant with white, pink, or red flowers and straplike leaves, of the type genus of the amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae.
[A South African plant (Amaryllis belladonna, also called belladonna lily), and (popularly) a tropical South American plant that is frequently grown as a houseplant (hybrids of the genus Hippeastrum, formerly Amaryllis).]

– origin modern Latin, from Latin Amaryllis (from Greek Amarullis), a name for a country girl in pastoral poetry.

amass /əˈmas/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. gather together or accumulate (a large amount or number of valuable material or things) over a period of time

• starting from nothing he had amassed a huge fortune.

2. [no obj.] — ‹archaic› (of people) gather together in a crowd or group

• the soldiers were amassing from all parts of Spain.

II. derivatives

amasser

noun

– origin late 15th cent.: from French amasser or medieval Latin amassare, based on Latin massa ‘lump’ (see mass).

Amaterasu /ˌämädəˈräso͞o/

the principal deity of the Japanese Shinto religion, the sun goddess and ancestor of Jimmu, founder of the imperial dynasty.

amateur /ˈamədər ˈaməˌtər ˈaməCHər/

I. noun

1. a person who engages in a pursuit, especially a sport, on an unpaid basis.

2. a person considered contemptibly inept at a particular activity

• that bunch of stumbling amateurs.

II. adjective

1. engaging or engaged in without payment; nonprofessional

• an amateur archaeologist

• amateur athletics.

2. inept or unskillful

• it's all so amateur!

III. derivatives

amateurism /ˈamədəˌrizəm ˈaməˌt(y)o͝oˌrizəm ˈaməˌCHo͝oˌrizəm /

noun

– origin late 18th cent.: from French, from Italian amatore, from Latin amator ‘lover,’ from amare ‘to love.’

amateurish /ˈamədəriSH ˌaməˈt(y)o͝oriSH aməˈCHo͝oriSH/

I. adjective

unskillful; inept

• the editing is choppy and amateurish

• amateurish actors.

II. derivatives

1. amateurishly /ˈˌaməˈˌtəriSHlē ˈˌaməˈˌt(y)o͝oriSHlē ˈˌaməˈˌCHo͝oriSHlē /

adverb

2. amateurishness /ˈˌaməˈˌtəriSHnis ˈˌaməˈˌt(y)o͝oriSHnis ˈˌaməˈˌCHo͝oriSHnis /

noun

Amati /äˈmädē/

the name of a family of Italian violin-makers from Cremona. In the 16th and 17th centuries, three generations, including Andrea (c. 1520–80), his sons Antonio (1550–1638) and Girolamo (1551–1635), and the latter's son Nicolò (1596–1684), developed the basic proportions of the violin, viola, and cello.

amatol /ˈaməˌtôl, ˈaməˌˌtäl/

I. noun

a high explosive consisting of a mixture of TNT and ammonium nitrate.

– origin early 20th cent.: formed irregularly from am(monium) + tol(uene).

amatory /ˈaməˌtôrē/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. relating to or induced by sexual love or desire

• his amatory exploits.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin amatorius, from amator (see amateur).

amaurosis /ˌamôˈrōsəs/

I. noun

[Medicine] partial or total blindness without visible change in the eye, typically due to disease of the optic nerve, spinal cord, or brain.

II. derivatives

amaurotic /ˌamôˈrädik /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Greek amaurōsis, from amauroun ‘darken,’ from amauros ‘dim.’

amaze /əˈmāz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. surprise (someone) greatly; fill with astonishment

• he was amazed at how modern everything was

• [with obj. and clause] she was amazed that Paul should notice her

• (as adj. amazed) she shook her head in amazed disbelief.

– origin Old English āmasian, of unknown origin.

amazeballs /əˈmāzbôlz/

I. adjective

‹informal› extremely good or impressive; amazing

• the atmosphere was nothing special but the food was amazeballs

• she looks amazeballs

• thanks for hosting another amazeballs party.

– origin early 21st cent.: humorous alteration of amazing.

amazement /əˈmāzmənt/

noun

a feeling of great surprise or wonder

• she shook her head in amazement

• he found to his amazement that it was a passageway.

amazing /əˈmāziNG/

adjective

1. causing great surprise or wonder; astonishing

• an amazing number of people registered

• it is amazing how short your memory is.

2. ‹informal› startlingly impressive

• she makes the most amazing cakes.

amazingly /əˈmāziNGlē/

adverb

1. [as sentence adverb] — in a way that causes great surprise or wonder

• amazingly, 66 passengers and crew members survived.

2. ‹informal› very impressively or well

• I genuinely thought Rachel sang amazingly.

3. [as submodifier] — ‹informal› very; extremely (usually expressing approval)

• there's an amazingly diverse range of work under one roof

• there are so many amazingly good clarets.

Amazon^1 /ˈaməˌzän ˈaməzən/

I. a river in South America that flows more than 4,150 miles (6,683 km) through Peru, Colombia, and Brazil into the Atlantic Ocean. It drains two-fifths of the continent and, in terms of water-flow, is the largest river in the world.

– origin the river bore various names after its discovery in 1500 and was finally called Amazon after a legendary tribe of female warriors believed to live on its banks.

Amazon^2 /ˈaməˌzän ˈaməzən/

I. noun

1. a member of a legendary race of female warriors believed by the ancient Greeks to exist in Scythia (near the Black Sea in modern Russia) or elsewhere on the edge of the known world.

2. (also amazon) — a tall and strong or athletic woman.

3. (amazon) — a parrot, typically green and with a broad rounded tail, found in Central and South America.
[Genus Amazona, family Psittacidae: numerous species.]

– origin late Middle English: via Latin from Greek Amazōn, explained by the Greeks as ‘without a breast’ (as if from a- ‘without’ + mazos ‘breast’), referring to the fable that the Amazons cut off the right breast so as not to interfere with the use of a bow, but probably a popular etymology of an unknown foreign word.

amazon ant

noun

a small reddish ant that captures the pupae of other ant colonies to raise as slaves.
[Genus Polyergus, family Formicidae.]

Amazonia /ˌaməˈzōnēə/

the area around the Amazon River in South America, principally in Brazil, but also extending into Peru, Colombia, and Bolivia. This region comprises approximately one-third of the world's remaining tropical rain forest.

Amazonian^1 /ˌaməˈzōnēən/

relating to or denoting the River Amazon or its surrounding region

• the Amazonian rainforest.

Amazonian^2 /ˌaməˈzōnēən/

I. (of a woman) tall and strong or athletic

• Amazonian supermodels

• an Amazonian physique.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Amazon^2 (sense 1).

ambassador /amˈbasədər/

I. noun

1. an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country

• the French ambassador to Portugal.

2. a person who acts as a representative or promoter of a specified activity

• he is a good ambassador for the industry.

II. derivatives

1. ambassadorial /amˌbasəˈdôrēəl /

adjective

2. ambassadorship /amˈbasədərˌSHip /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from French ambassadeur, from Italian ambasciator, based on Latin ambactus ‘servant.’

ambassador-at-large /amˈbasədərətˌlärj/

noun

(N. Amer.) an ambassador with special duties, not appointed to a particular country.

ambassadress /amˈbasədrəs/

noun

1. a female ambassador.

2. ‹archaic› an ambassador's wife.

Ambato /ämˈbädō/

a market town in the Andes of central Ecuador; pop. 209,000 (est. 2008).

amber /ˈambər/

I. noun

1. hard translucent fossilized resin produced by extinct coniferous trees of the Tertiary period, typically yellowish in color.
Amber has been used in jewelry since antiquity. It is found chiefly along the southern shores of the Baltic Sea; pieces often contain the bodies of trapped insects. When rubbed, amber becomes charged with static electricity: the word electric is derived from the Greek word for amber.

2. a honey-yellow color typical of amber.

3. a yellow light used as a cautionary signal between green for “go” and red for “stop”

• the lights were at amber.

II. adjective

1. made of amber

• amber beads.

2. having the yellow color of amber

• her amber eyes.

– origin late Middle English (also in the sense ‘ambergris’): from Old French ambre, from Arabic ῾anbar ‘ambergris,’ later ‘amber.’

AMBER Alert /ˈambər əˌlərt / ‹trademark› Amber Alert

I. noun

an emergency response system that disseminates information about a missing person (usually a child), by media broadcasting or electronic roadway signs

• our state's AMBER Alert became operational last September.

– origin acronym from America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response, named after Amber Hagerman, a child kidnapped in Texas in 1996.

ambergris /ˈambərˌɡris ˈambərˌɡrē(s)/

I. noun

a waxlike substance that originates as a secretion in the intestines of the sperm whale, found floating in tropical seas and used in perfume manufacture.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French ambre gris ‘gray amber,’ as distinct from amber jaune ‘yellow amber’ (the resin).

amberjack /ˈambərˌjak/

I. noun

a large marine game fish found in inshore tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic and South Pacific.
[Genus Seriola, family Carangidae: several species.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from amber (because of its yellowish tail) + jack^1.

ambidextrous /ˌambēˈdekst(ə)rəs/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) able to use the right and left hands equally well

• few of us are naturally ambidextrous.

2. (of an implement) designed to be used by left-handed and right-handed people with equal ease.

II. derivatives

1. ambidexterity /ˌambēˌdeksˈterədē /

noun

2. ambidextrously /ˌambēˈdekst(ə)rəslē /

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: from late Latin ambidexter (from Latin ambi- ‘on both sides’ + dexter ‘right-handed’) + -ous.

ambience /ˈambēəns / ambiance

I. noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. the character and atmosphere of a place

• the relaxed ambience of the cocktail lounge is popular with guests.

2. background noise added to a musical recording to give the impression that it was recorded live.

– origin late 19th cent.: from ambient + -ence, or from French ambiance, from ambiant ‘surrounding.’

ambient /ˈambēənt/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of or relating to the immediate surroundings of something

• the liquid is stored at below ambient temperature.

II. noun

a style of instrumental music with electronic textures and no persistent beat, used to create or enhance a mood or atmosphere.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French ambiant or Latin ambient- ‘going around,’ from ambire.

ambiguity /ˌambəˈɡyo͞owədē/

I. noun

1. uncertainty or inexactness of meaning in language

• we can detect no ambiguity in this section of the Act

• ambiguities in such questions are potentially very dangerous.

2. a lack of decisiveness or commitment resulting from a failure to make a choice between alternatives

• the film is fraught with moral ambiguity.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French ambiguite or Latin ambiguitas, from ambiguus ‘doubtful’ (see ambiguous).

ambiguous /amˈbiɡyo͞oəs/

I. adjective

1. (of language) open to more than one interpretation; having a double meaning

• the question is rather ambiguous

• ambiguous phrases.

2. unclear or inexact because a choice between alternatives has not been made

• this whole society is morally ambiguous

• the election result was ambiguous.

II. derivatives

ambiguousness /amˈbiɡyo͞oəsnəs /

noun

– origin early 16th cent. (in the sense ‘indistinct, obscure’): from Latin ambiguus ‘doubtful’ (from ambigere ‘waver, go around,’ from ambi- ‘both ways’ + agere ‘to drive’) + -ous.

ambiguously /amˈbiɡyo͝oəslē/

adverb

1. so as to be open to more than one interpretation

• the new clause is ambiguously worded.

2. so as to be open to doubt or uncertainty

• a developing adolescent of ambiguously defined sexuality.

ambisexual /ˌambəˈsekSH(o͞o)əl/

I. adjective

bisexual or androgynous.

II. noun

an ambisexual person.

III. derivatives

ambisexually

adverb

– origin 1930s: from Latin ambi- ‘on both sides’ + sexual.

ambisonic /ˌambəˈsänik/

I. adjective

denoting or relating to a high-fidelity audio system that reproduces the directional and acoustic properties of recorded sound using two or more channels.

II. noun — [treated as sing.]

1. ambisonic reproduction or systems.

– origin 1970s: from Latin ambi- ‘on both sides’ + sonic.

ambit /ˈambət/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. the scope, extent, or bounds of something

• within the ambit of federal law.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘precincts, environs’): from Latin ambitus ‘circuit,’ from ambire ‘go around.’

ambition /amˈbiSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work

• her ambition was to become a model

• he achieved his ambition of making a fortune.

2. desire and determination to achieve success

• life offered few opportunities for young people with ambition.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin ambitio(n-), from ambire ‘go around (canvassing for votes).’

ambitious /amˈbiSHəs/

I. adjective

1. having or showing a strong desire and determination to succeed

• his mother was hard-working and ambitious for her four children.

2. (of a plan or piece of work) intended to satisfy high aspirations and therefore difficult to achieve

• the scope of the book is very ambitious

• an ambitious enterprise.

II. derivatives

1. ambitiously /amˈbiSHəslē /

adverb

2. ambitiousness /amˈbiSHəsnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French ambitieux or Latin ambitiosus, from ambitio (see ambition).

ambivalence /amˈbivələns/

noun

the state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone

• the law's ambivalence about the importance of a victim's identity

• government ambivalence toward the arts.

ambivalent /amˈbivələnt/

I. adjective

having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone

• some loved her, some hated her, few were ambivalent about her

• an ambivalent attitude to technology.

II. derivatives

ambivalently

adverb

– origin early 20th cent.: from ambivalence (from German Ambivalenz), on the pattern of equivalent.

ambivert /ˈambəˌvərt/

I. noun

[Psychology] a person whose personality has a balance of extrovert and introvert features.

II. derivatives

ambiversion /ˌambiˈvərZHən /

noun

– origin 1920s: from Latin ambi- ‘on both sides,’ on the pattern of extrovert and introvert.

amble /ˈambəl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. walk or move at a slow, relaxed pace

• they ambled along the riverbank

• he ambled into the foyer.

II. noun

a walk at a slow, relaxed pace, especially for pleasure

• a peaceful riverside amble.

III. derivatives

ambler /ˈamblər /

noun

– origin Middle English (originally denoting a horse's gait): from Old French ambler, from Latin ambulare ‘to walk.’

amblyopia /ˌamblēˈōpēə/

I. noun

[Medicine] impaired or dim vision without obvious defect or change in the eye.

II. derivatives

amblyopic /-ˈäpik /

adjective

– origin early 18th cent.: from Greek ambluōpia ‘dim-sightedness,’ from ambluōpos (adjective), from amblus ‘dull’ + ōps, ōp- ‘eye.’

ambo /ˈambō/

I. noun

(in an early Christian church) an oblong pulpit with steps at each end.

– origin mid 17th cent.: via medieval Latin from Greek ambōn ‘rim’ (in medieval Greek ‘pulpit’).

Amboina wood /amˈboinə ˌwo͝od / Amboyna wood

I. noun

the decorative wood of a rapidly growing Southeast Asian tree, often used for furniture making.
[The tree is Pterocarpus indicus, family Leguminosae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after Amboina Island (see Ambon).

Amboinese /ˌamboiˈnēz, ˌämboiˈnēz/

I. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Ambon.

2. the Indonesian language of the Amboinese people.

II. adjective

relating to the island of Ambon, its people, or their language.

– origin from Amboina (see Ambon) + -ese.

Ambon /ämˈbôn, ˈamˌbän / Amboina

I. a mountainous island in eastern Indonesia, one of the Molucca Islands.

II. a port on the island of Ambon, the capital of the Molucca Islands; pop. 204,200 (est. 2005).

Ambrose, St. /ˈamˌbrōz, -ˌbrōs/

(c. 339–397), doctor of the Church. As bishop of Milan from 374, he introduced much Eastern theology and liturgical practice into the West. Feast day, December 7.

ambrosia /amˈbrōZH(ē)ə/

I. noun

1. [Greek & Roman Mythology] the food of the gods.

2. [Greek & Roman Mythology] something very pleasing to taste or smell

• the tea was ambrosia after the slop I'd been drinking.

3. [Greek & Roman Mythology] a fungal product used as food by ambrosia beetles.

4. [Greek & Roman Mythology] another term for bee bread.

5. [Greek & Roman Mythology] a dessert made with oranges and shredded coconut.

II. derivatives

ambrosial /amˈbrōZH(ē)əl /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek, ‘elixir of life,’ from ambrotos ‘immortal.’

ambrosia beetle

noun

a small dark wood-boring beetle, the adults and larvae of which feed on a fungus that they cultivate, called ambrosia.
[Genus Platypus (family Platypodidae), and Xyleborus and other genera (family Scolytidae).]

Ambrosian /amˈbrōzēən/

adjective

relating to St. Ambrose, especially in relation to his developments in church music

• two important manuscript sources of Ambrosian chant.

ambry /ˈômbrē / aumbry

I. noun

a small recess or cupboard in the wall of a church.

– origin Middle English: from Old French armarie, from Latin armarium ‘closet, chest,’ from arma ‘utensils.’

ambulacrum /ˌambyəˈlakrəm, -ˈlākrəm/

I. noun

[Zoology] (in a starfish or other echinoderm) each of the radially arranged bands, together with their underlying structures, through which the double rows of tube feet protrude.

II. derivatives

ambulacral /-rəl /

adjective

– origin early 19th cent.: Latin, ‘avenue,’ from ambulare ‘to walk.’

ambulance /ˈambyələns/

I. noun

a vehicle specially equipped for taking sick or injured people to and from the hospital, especially in emergencies.

– origin early 19th cent.: French, from hôpital ambulant ‘mobile (horse-drawn) field hospital,’ from Latin ambulant- ‘walking’ (see ambulant).

ambulance chaser /ˈambyələns ˈCHāsər/

I. noun

‹derogatory› (chiefly N. Amer.) a lawyer who specializes in bringing cases seeking damages for personal injury.

– origin late 19th cent.: from the reputation gained by certain lawyers for attending accidents and encouraging victims to sue.

ambulant /ˈambyələnt/

I. adjective

[Medicine] (of a patient) able to walk around; not confined to bed.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin ambulant- ‘walking,’ from ambulare.

ambulate /ˈambyəˌlāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹formal› ‹technical› walk; move about

• making use of crutches to ambulate

• tortoises are diurnally active, ambulating mainly over the course of the day.

II. derivatives

ambulation /ˌambyəˈlāSHən /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin ambulat- ‘walked,’ from the verb ambulare.

ambulatory /ˈambyələˌtôrē/

I. adjective

1. relating to or adapted for walking.

2. [Medicine] able to walk; not bedridden

• ambulatory patients.

3. [Medicine] relating to patients who are able to walk

• an ambulatory care facility.

4. movable; mobile

• an ambulatory ophthalmic service.

II. noun

a place for walking, especially an aisle around the apse or a cloister in a church or monastery.

– origin mid 16th cent. (as a noun): from Latin ambulatorius, from ambulare ‘to walk.’

ambulette /ˌambyəˈlet/

I. noun

(US) a specially equipped van for transporting disabled or convalescent passengers in nonemergency circumstances

• a week later, Eli would be taken by ambulette to the doctor.

– origin 1940s: from ambulance + -ette.

ambulocetus /ˌambyələˈsēdəs/

I. noun

a large carnivorous amphibian (Ambulocetus natans, order Cetacea) of the Eocene epoch, an early ancestor of today's whales.

– origin 1990s: modern Latin, from Latin ambulare ‘to walk’ + cetus ‘whale.’

ambuscade /ˈambəskād/

I. noun

‹dated› an ambush.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› attack from an ambush.

2. [no obj.] — ‹archaic› lie in ambush
(as adj. ambuscaded)

• ambuscaded thousands might swarm up over the embankment.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French embuscade, from Italian imboscata, Spanish emboscada, or Portuguese embuscada, based on a late Latin word meaning ‘to place in a wood’; related to bush.

ambush /ˈambo͝oSH/

I. noun

a surprise attack by people lying in wait in a concealed position

• seven members of a patrol were killed in an ambush

• kidnappers waiting in ambush.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make a surprise attack on (someone) from a concealed position

• they were ambushed and taken prisoner by the enemy.

2. confront (someone) suddenly and unexpectedly with unwelcome questions

• representatives were ambushed by camera crews.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘place troops in hiding in order to surprise an enemy’): from Old French embusche (noun), embuschier (verb), based on a late Latin word meaning ‘to place in a wood’; related to bush. The noun use dates from the late 15th cent.

ambush marketing

noun

the practice by which a rival company attempts to associate its products with an event that already has official sponsors.

AMD

I. noun

[Medicine] age-related macular degeneration (see macular degeneration)

• the results provide physicians and patients with new information about preventing vision loss from AMD.

II. abbreviation

Armenian dram(s).

am-dram /ˈam ˌdram/

I. noun

[treated as sing. or pl.] — ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) amateur dramatics

• a performance poised somewhere between slapstick and below-average am-dram.

– origin blend.

AME

abbreviation

African Methodist Episcopal.

amebiasis /ˌaməˈbīəsəs / amoebiasis

I. noun

[Medicine] infection with amoebas, especially as causing dysentery.

– origin early 20th cent.: from amoeba + -asis.

Ameche, Don /əˈmēCHē/

(1908–93), US actor; born Dominic Felix Amici. A leading man in movies of the 1930s and 1940s, he made a comeback in the 1980s in such movies as Trading Places (1983), Cocoon (1985), and Cocoon: The Return (1989).

amelanchier /ˈaməˌlant(SH)ē(ə)r/

I. noun

a tree or shrub of a genus that includes the juneberries.
[Genus Amelanchier, family Rosaceae.]

– origin from French dialect amelancier ‘medlar.’

ameliorate /əˈmēlyəˌrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better

• the reform did much to ameliorate living standards.

II. derivatives

ameliorative /əˈmēlēərədiv əˈmēlyərədiv əˈmēlēəˌrādiv əˈmēlyəˌrādiv /

adjective

– origin mid 18th cent.: alteration of meliorate, influenced by French améliorer, from meilleur ‘better.’

amelioration /əˌmēlēəˈrāSH(ə)n/

noun

‹formal› the act of making something better; improvement

• progress brings with it the amelioration of the human condition.

amen /äˈmen āˈmen/

I. exclamation

1. uttered at the end of a prayer or hymn, meaning ‘so be it.’

2. used to express agreement or assent

• amen to that!

II. noun

an utterance of “amen.”

– origin Old English, from ecclesiastical Latin, from Greek amēn, from Hebrew 'āmēn ‘truth, certainty,’ used adverbially as expression of agreement or consent, and adopted in the Septuagint as a solemn expression of belief or affirmation.

amenable /əˈmēnəb(ə)l əˈmenəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) open and responsive to suggestion; easily persuaded or controlled

• parents who have had easy babies and amenable children.

2. [predic.] (amenable to) — (of a thing) capable of being acted upon in a particular way; susceptible to

• the patients had cardiac failure not amenable to medical treatment.

II. derivatives

1. amenability /əˌmēnəˈbilədē əˌmenəˈbilədē /

noun

2. amenably /-blē /

adverb

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘liable to answer (to a law or tribunal)’): an Anglo-Norman French legal term, from Old French amener ‘bring to,’ from a- (from Latin ad) ‘to’ + mener ‘bring’ (from late Latin minare ‘drive (animals),’ from Latin minari ‘threaten’).

amen corner

noun

1. (US) (in some Protestant churches) seats, usually near the preacher, occupied by those who lead responses from the congregation.

2. (US) ‹informal› a group of people that give unwavering support.

amend /əˈmend/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make minor changes in (a text) in order to make it fairer, more accurate, or more up-to-date

• the rule was amended to apply only to nonmembers.

2. modify formally, as a legal document or legislative bill

• did she amend her original will later on?

• pressuring Panama to amend its banking laws.

3. make better; improve

• if you can amend or alter people's mindset.

4. ‹archaic› put right

• a few things had gone wrong, but these had been amended.

II. derivatives

1. amendable /əˈmendəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. amender

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French amender, based on Latin emendare (see emend).

amendment /əˈmen(d)mənt/

I. noun

1. a minor change in a document.

2. a change or addition to a legal or statutory document

• an amendment to existing bail laws.

3. (Amendment) — an article added to the US Constitution

• the First Amendment.

4. something that is added to soil in order to improve its texture or fertility.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘improvement, correction’): from Old French amendement, from amender (see amend).

amends /əˈmendz/

I. plural noun

reparation or compensation

• try to make amends for the rude way you spoke to Lucy.

II. phrases

an offer of amends

[Law] an offer to publish a correction and an apology for an act of libel.

– origin Middle English: from Old French amendes ‘penalties, fine,’ plural of amende ‘reparation,’ from amender (see amend).

amenity /əˈmenədē/

I. noun — (usu. amenities)

1. a desirable or useful feature or facility of a building or place

• heating is regarded as a basic amenity.

2. the pleasantness of a place or a person

• the exertion of amenity toward the boss.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French amenite or Latin amoenitas, from amoenus ‘pleasant.’

amenorrhea /āˌmenəˈrēə / ‹Brit.› amenorrhoea

I. noun

an abnormal absence of menstruation.

– origin early 19th cent.: from a-1 ‘without’ + meno- + -rrhea.

ament /ˈāment ˈāmənt/

I. noun

[Botany] a catkin.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin amentum ‘thong.’

amentia /āˈmen(t)SHēə/

I. noun

severe congenital mental handicap.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin, literally ‘madness,’ from amens, ament- ‘mad,’ from a- ‘without’ + mens ‘the mind.’

Amerasian /ˌamərˈāZHən/

I. adjective

having one American and one Asian parent.

II. noun

a person with one American and one Asian parent.

– origin 1960s: blend of American and Asian.

amercement /əˈmərsmənt/

I. noun

[English Law] ‹historical› a fine.

II. derivatives

amerce /əˈmərs /

verb

– origin late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French amerciment, based on estre amercie ‘be at the mercy of another’ (with respect to the amount of a fine), from a merci ‘at (the) mercy.’

America /əˈmerəkə / the Americas

I. a landmass in the western hemisphere that consists of the continents of North and South America joined by the Isthmus of Panama. The continent was originally inhabited by American Indians and Inuits. The northeast coastline of North America was visited by Norse seamen in the 8th or 9th century, but for the modern world the continent was first reached by Christopher Columbus in 1492.

II. used as a name for the United States.

– origin the name America dates from the early 16th cent. and is believed to derive from the Latin form (Americus) of the name of Amerigo Vespucci, who sailed along the west coast of South America in 1501.

American /əˈmerəkən/

I. adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the United States or its inhabitants

• the election of a new American president.

2. relating to or denoting the continents of America

• the American continent south of the tropic of Cancer.

II. noun

1. a native or citizen of the United States.

2. [usu. with adj.] — a native or inhabitant of any of the countries of North, South, or Central America.

3. the English language as it is used in the United States; American English.

III. derivatives

Americanness

noun

– origin from modern Latin Americanus, from America.

Americana /əˌmerəˈkänə əˌmerəˈkanə/

plural noun

things associated with the culture and history of America, especially the United States.

American aloe

noun

another term for century plant.

American bald eagle

noun

another term for bald eagle.

American cheese //

noun

a type of mild-flavored semisoft processed cheese.

American Civil War /əˈmerəkən ˈsivil wô(ə)r/

I. the war between the northern US states (usually known as the Union) and the Confederate states of the South, 1861–65.

The war was fought over the issues of slavery and states' rights. The pro-slavery southern states seceded from the Federal Union following the election of Abraham Lincoln on an anti-slavery platform, but were defeated by the North.

American crocodile

noun

a crocodile with a long tapering head, occurring from southernmost Florida to Ecuador.
[Crocodylus acutus, family Crocodylidae.]

American depositary receipt ADR, American depositary share

noun

(in the US) a negotiable certificate of title to a number of shares in a non-US company that are deposited in an overseas bank.

American dream /əˈmerəkən drēm/

noun

the ideal that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative

• he could achieve the American dream only by hard work.

American eagle //

noun

another term for bald eagle.

American egret

noun

another term for great egret.

American English /əˈmerəkən ˈiNG(ɡ)liSH/

noun

the English language as spoken and written in the US.

American Falls

see Niagara Falls.

American Federation of Labor

a federation of North American labor unions, merged in 1955 with the Congress of Industrial Organizations to form the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL–CIO).

American football //

noun

British term for football.

American Gothic

noun

1. a noted 1930 painting by Grant Wood (1891–1942), depicting a dour-faced farmer and his daughter in front of their house, with a Gothic-style window in the background. It is representative of traditional American rural values, and is widely copied and parodied.

2. [as modifier] — conservative in moral and social views.

American Independence, War of

British term for American Revolution.

American Indian /əˈmerəkən ˈindēən/

I. noun

a member of any of the indigenous peoples of North, Central, and South America, especially those of North America.

II. adjective

of or relating to American Indian groups.

usage: The term American Indian has been steadily replaced, especially in official contexts, by the more recent term Native American (first recorded in the 1950s and becoming prominent in the 1970s). The latter is preferred by some as being a more accurate description (the word Indian recalling Columbus's assumption that, on reaching America, he had reached the east coast of India). American Indian is still widespread in general use, however, partly because it is not normally regarded as offensive by American Indians themselves. See also Native American, Amerindian, and Indian.

Americanism /əˈmerik(ə)niz(ə)m/

noun

1. a word, expression, or other feature that is characteristic of American English

• the term is an Americanism dating back to the late nineteenth century.

2. a custom, quality, or institution characteristic of the United States

• Americanisms such as the barbecue and the swimming pool.

3. attachment or allegiance to the traditions, institutions, and ideals of the United States

• Americans in Europe have almost all preserved their Americanism.

Americanization /əˌmerək(ə)nəˈzāSH(ə)n əˌmerəkəˌnīˈzāSH(ə)n/

noun

the action of making a person or thing American in character or nationality

• the Americanization of popular culture continues apace.

Americanize /əˈmerəkəˌnīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. make American in character or nationality

• trying to Americanize the immigrant children

• (as adj. Americanized) an Americanized accent.

American League ‹trademark›

noun

one of the two major leagues in American professional baseball.

American Legion /əˈmerəkən ˈlējən/

an association of former US servicemen formed in 1919.

American linden

noun

another name for basswood.

Americano /əˌmeriˈkänō / café Americano

I. noun

a drink of espresso diluted with hot water.

– origin American Spanish, literally ‘American (coffee).’

American organ

noun

a type of reed organ resembling the harmonium but in which air is sucked (not blown) through reeds.

American Party

‹historical› a conservative US political party.

American plan /əˈmerəkən plan/

noun

(N. Amer.) (in hotels) a system of paying a single daily rate that covers the room and all meals.
Often contrasted with European plan.

American Revolution /əˈmerəkən ˌrevəˈlo͞oSHən/

I. the war of 1775–83 in which the American colonists won independence from British rule.
Called in Britain the War of American Independence.

The war was triggered by resentment at the economic policies of Britain, particularly the right of Parliament to tax the colonies, and by the exclusion of the colonists from participation in political decisions affecting their interests. Following disturbances such as the Boston Tea Party of 1773, fighting broke out in 1775; a year later the Declaration of Independence was signed. The Americans gained the support of France and Spain, and French sea power eventually played a crucial role in the decisive surrender of a British army at Yorktown in 1781.

American River

a river in north central California that joins the Sacramento River at Sacramento. Gold was discovered here in 1848, setting off the California gold rush.

American Saddle Horse

noun

a light, strong horse of a breed developed in Kentucky to be comfortable to ride over long distances.

American Samoa /əˌmerikən səˈmōə/

an unincorporated overseas territory of the US that is composed of a group of islands in the southern Pacific Ocean, east of Western Samoa and south of Kiribati; pop. 65,600 (est. 2009); capital, Fagatogo. The US acquired rights to the islands by agreement with Germany and Britain in 1899, and the two main islands were ceded to the US by their chiefs in April 1900.

American Sign Language ASL

noun

a form of sign language developed in the US and used also in English-speaking parts of Canada.

American Standard Version /əˈmerəkən ˈstandərd ˈvərZHən / ASV

noun

an English translation of the Bible published in the US in 1901, based on the Revised Version of 1881–95 with the incorporation of material produced by American scholars.

Americas /əˈmerəkəz/

(the Americas)

1. another name for America.

America's Cup

an international yachting race held every three to four years.

America's Dairyland

a nickname for the state of Wisconsin^1.

americium /aməˈrisēəm aməˈrēSHēəm/

I. noun

(Symbol: Am) — the chemical element of atomic number 95, a radioactive metal of the actinide series.
Americium does not occur naturally and was first made by bombarding plutonium with neutrons. It has been used in industrial measuring equipment as a source of gamma rays.

– origin 1940s: from America (where it was first made) + -ium.

Amerindian /ˌaməˈrindēən / Amerind

I. adjective, noun

another term for American Indian, used chiefly in anthropological and linguistic contexts.

– origin late 19th cent.: blend of American and Indian. / usage: See usage at Indian.

Ames /āmz/

a city in central Iowa, home to Iowa State University; pop. 56,510 (est. 2008).

Ameslan /ˈam(ə)ˌslan/

I. another term for American Sign Language.

– origin 1970s: acronym.

Ames test /ˈāmz ˌtest/

I. noun

[Medicine] a test to determine the mutagenic activity of chemicals by observing whether they cause mutations in sample bacteria.

– origin 1970s: named after Bruce N. Ames (born 1928), the American biochemist who devised it.

amethyst /ˈaməTHəst/

I. noun

1. a precious stone consisting of a violet or purple variety of quartz.

2. a violet or purple color.

II. derivatives

amethystine /ˌaməˈTHistin, -ˌtīn /

adjective

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin amethystus, from Greek amethustos ‘not drunken’ (because the stone was believed to prevent intoxication).

Amex /ˈameks/

abbreviation

1. ‹trademark› American Express.

2. American Stock Exchange.

Amhara /ämˈhärə/

noun

a member of an Amharic-speaking Semitic people of central Ethiopia.

Amharic /amˈherik/

I. noun

the Semitic language descended from Ge'ez that is the official language of Ethiopia.

II. adjective

of or relating to Amharic.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Amhara + -ic.

Amherst /ˈam(h)ərst/

I. a town in west central Massachusetts, home to several colleges and universities; pop. 35,565 (est. 2008).

II. a town in western New York, northeast of Buffalo; pop. 115,563 (est. 2008).

Amherst, Lord Jeffrey /ˈamərst/

(1717–97), English soldier and military commander in North America. He was appointed governor general of British North America 1760–63 and served as commander in chief of the British army 1772–95.

amiability /ˌāmēəˈbilədē/

noun

the quality of having a friendly and pleasant manner; geniality

• his good-natured amiability.

amiable /ˈāmēəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner

• an amiable, unassuming fellow.

II. derivatives

amiableness

noun

– origin late Middle English (originally in the senses ‘kind’ and ‘lovely, lovable’): via Old French from late Latin amicabilis ‘amicable.’ The current sense, influenced by modern French aimable ‘trying to please,’ dates from the mid 18th cent.

amiably /ˈāmēəblē/

adverb

in a friendly and pleasant manner

• soon everyone was chatting amiably.

amicable /ˈaməkəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

(of relations between people) having a spirit of friendliness; without serious disagreement or rancor

• there will be an amicable settlement of the dispute.

II. derivatives

amicability /ˌaməkəˈbilədē /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘pleasant, benign,’ applied to things): from late Latin amicabilis, from Latin amicus ‘friend.’

amicably /ˈamikəblē/

adverb

in a friendly and peaceable manner

• they have amicably resolved their outstanding dispute.

amice^1 /ˈaməs/

I. noun

a white linen cloth worn on the neck and shoulders, under the alb, by a priest celebrating the Eucharist.

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin amicia, amisia, of unknown origin.

amice^2 /ˈaməs/

I. noun

a cap, hood, or cape worn by members of certain religious orders.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French aumusse, from medieval Latin almucia, of unknown origin.

amicus /əˈmēkəs, əˈmī- / amicus curiae

I. noun

an impartial adviser, often voluntary, to a court of law in a particular case
[as modifier]

• he was planning to advance this position in an amicus brief.

– origin early 17th cent.: from modern Latin amicus curiae, literally ‘friend of the court.’

amid /əˈmid/

I. preposition

1. surrounded by; in the middle of

• our dream home, set amid magnificent rolling countryside.

2. in an atmosphere or against a background of

• talks broke down amid accusations of a hostile takeover bid.

– origin Middle English amidde(s).

Amidah /əˈmēdä/

I. noun

[Judaism] a prayer, part of the Jewish liturgy, consisting of a varying number of blessings recited while the worshipers stand.

– origin late 19th cent.: Hebrew, literally ‘standing.’

amide /ˈamīd ˈāmīd/

I. noun

1. [Chemistry] an organic compound containing the group —C(O)NH_2, related to ammonia by replacing a hydrogen atom by an acyl group.

2. [Chemistry] a compound derived from ammonia by replacement of a hydrogen atom by a metal, containing the anion NH_2–.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from ammonia + -ide.

amidships /əˈmidˌSHips / amidship

I. adverb, adjective

in the middle of a ship
[as adv.]

• the destroyer rammed her amidships

• [as adj.] an amidships engine.

– origin late 17th cent.: from a-2 (expressing position or direction) + midships (as a noun meaning ‘midship’), influenced by amid.

amidst /əˈmidst/

preposition

variant of amid.

Amiens /ˈamēənz, ämˈyeN/

the capital of the Picardy region of northern France; pop. 139,271 (2006).

amigo /əˈmēɡō/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› used to address or refer to a friend, chiefly in Spanish-speaking areas

• I will think about it, amigo.

– origin mid 19th cent.: Spanish.

Amin, Idi /äˈmēn/

(1925–2003), Ugandan soldier and head of state 1971–79; full name Idi Amin Dada. He was deposed after a rule that was characterized by the murder of political opponents.

Amindivi Islands /ˌämənˈdēvē ˌīləndz/

the northernmost group of islands in Lakshadweep, India's Union Territory in the Indian Ocean.

amine /əˈmēn ˈaˌmēn/

I. noun

[Chemistry] an organic compound derived from ammonia by replacement of one or more hydrogen atoms by organic groups.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from ammonia + -ine^4.

amino /əˈmēnō/

I. noun — [as modifier]

1. [Chemistry] the group —NH_2, present in amino acids, amides, and many amines.

– origin late 19th cent.: from amine.

amino-

combining form

[Chemistry] designating or containing the group —NH_2

• aminobutyric.

amino acid /əˌmēnō ˈasəd/

noun

[Biochemistry] a simple organic compound containing both a carboxyl (—COOH) and an amino (—NH_2) group.
Amino acids occur naturally in plant and animal tissues and are the basic constituents of proteins.

amir /əˈmir/

I. noun

an Arab ruler.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Persian and Urdu, from Arabic 'amīr ‘commander,’ from 'amara ‘to command’; compare with admiral, emir.

Amirante Islands /ˈamərant ˌīləndz/

a group of coral islands in the Indian Ocean that form part of the Seychelles.

Amis, Martin

(1949–), English novelist, son of Kingsley Amis; full name Martin Louis Amis. Notable works: The Rachel Papers (1973), Money (1984), and Night Train (1997).

Amis, Sir Kingsley /ˈāməs/

(1922–95), English novelist and poet, who achieved popular success with his first novel, Lucky Jim (1954). Other notable works: The Old Devils (1986), The Folks that Live on the Hill (1990), and You Can't Do Both (1994).

Amish /ˈämiSH/

I. plural noun

the members of a strict Mennonite sect that established major settlements in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and elsewhere in North America from 1720 onward.

II. adjective

of or relating to the Amish sect.

– origin mid 19th cent.: apparently from German amisch.

Amish Country

name for areas, chiefly in southeastern Pennsylvania and northeastern Ohio, that are inhabited by the Amish.

amiss /əˈmis/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. not quite right; inappropriate or out of place

• there was something amiss about his calculations.

II. adverb

wrongly or inappropriately

• how terrible was the danger of her loving amiss.

III. phrases

take something amiss

be offended by something that is said, typically through misinterpreting the intentions behind it

• don't take this amiss, it's all good-humored teasing.

– origin Middle English: probably from Old Norse á mis ‘so as to miss,’ from á ‘on’ + mis (related to miss^1).

amitotic /ˌāmīˈtätik, ˌamī-/

I. adjective

[Biology] relating to or denoting the division of a cell nucleus into two parts by constriction without the involvement of a mitotic apparatus.

II. derivatives

1. amitosis /-ˈtōsis /

noun

2. amitotically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

amitriptyline /ˌamiˈtriptəˌlēn, -lin/

I. noun

[Medicine] an antidepressant drug of the tricyclic group, with a mild tranquilizing action.

– origin 1960s: from ami(ne) + tri- + (he)ptyl + -ine^4.

amity /ˈamədē/

I. noun

a friendly relationship

• international amity and goodwill.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French amitie, based on Latin amicus ‘friend.’

Amman /ˈämän əˈmän/

the capital of Jordan, located in the northwestern part of the country; pop. 1,307,017 (2004).

ammeter /ˈa(m)ˌmēdər/

I. noun

an instrument for measuring electric current in amperes.

– origin late 19th cent.: from ampere + -meter.

ammo /ˈamō/

noun

informal term for ammunition.

Ammon /ˈamən/

Greek and Roman form of Amun.

ammonia /əˈmōnyə/

I. noun

1. a colorless gas with a characteristic pungent smell. It dissolves in water to give a strongly alkaline solution.
[Chem. formula: NH_3.]

2. a solution of ammonia used as a cleaning fluid.

– origin late 18th cent.: modern Latin, from sal ammoniacus (see sal ammoniac).

ammoniacal /ˌaməˈnīək(ə)l/

I. adjective

of or containing ammonia.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Middle English ammoniac, via Old French from Latin ammoniacus. This represented the Greek word ammōniakos ‘of Ammon,’ used as a name for the salt and gum obtained near the temple of Jupiter Ammon (the Greek name for the Egyptian deity Amen) at Siwa in Egypt. Compare with sal ammoniac.

ammoniated /əˈmōnēˌādəd/

I. adjective

combined or treated with ammonia.

II. derivatives

ammoniation /əˌmōnēˈāSHən /

noun

ammonite /ˈaməˌnīt/

I. noun

an ammonoid that belongs to the order Ammonitida, typically having elaborately frilled suture lines.
[Typified by ammonoids of the order Ammonitida.]

– origin mid 18th cent.: from modern Latin ammonites, from medieval Latin cornu Ammonis ‘horn of Ammon,’ from the fossil's resemblance to the ram's horn associated with Jupiter Ammon (see ammoniacal).

ammonium /əˈmōnēəm/

I. noun — [as modifier]

1. [Chemistry] the cation NH_4+, present in solutions of ammonia and in salts derived from ammonia.

– origin early 19th cent.: from ammonia + -ium.

ammonium carbonate

noun

[Chemistry] a white crystalline solid that slowly decomposes giving off ammonia and is an ingredient of sal volatile.
[Chem. formula: (NH_4)2CO_3. Commercial forms often contain other, related, salts.]

ammonium chloride

noun

[Chemistry] a white crystalline salt used chiefly in dry cells, as a mordant, and as soldering flux.
Also called sal ammoniac. [Chem. formula: NH_4Cl.]

ammonium nitrate

noun

[Chemistry] a white crystalline solid used as a fertilizer and as a component of some explosives.
[Chem. formula: NH_4NO_3.]

ammonoid /ˈaməˌnoid / ‹Paleontology›

I. noun

an extinct cephalopod mollusk with a flat-coiled spiral shell, found commonly as a fossil in marine deposits from the Devonian to the Cretaceous periods.
[Subclass Ammonoidea, class Cephalopoda: numerous families. See ammonite, ceratite, and goniatite.]

II. adjective

of or relating to the ammonoids.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Ammonoidea, based on Ammon (see ammonite).

ammunition /ˌamyəˈniSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a supply or quantity of bullets and shells.

2. considerations that can be used to support one's case in debate

• these figures provide ammunition to the argument for more resources.

– origin late 16th cent.: from obsolete French amunition, alteration (by wrong division) of la munition ‘the munition’ (see munition).

amnesia /amˈnēZHə/

I. noun

a partial or total loss of memory.

II. derivatives

1. amnesic /-zik, -sik /

adjective, noun

2. amnestic /amˈnestik /

adjective

– origin late 18th cent.: from Greek amnēsia ‘forgetfulness.’

amnesiac /amˈnēziak / amnesic

I. noun

a person experiencing a partial or total loss of memory

• amnesiacs commonly retain many of their old skills after the onset of amnesia.

II. adjective

experiencing or relating to a partial or total loss of memory

• the police last night launched a public appeal to help identify an amnesiac woman

• she stumbles back into town in an amnesiac daze.

amnesty /ˈamnəstē/

I. noun

1. an official pardon for people who have been convicted of political offenses

• an amnesty for political prisoners

• the new law granted amnesty to those who illegally left the country.

2. an undertaking by the authorities to take no action against specified offenses or offenders during a fixed period

• a month-long weapons amnesty.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. grant an official pardon to

• the guerrillas would be amnestied and allowed to return to civilian life.

– origin late 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek amnēstia ‘forgetfulness.’

Amnesty International

an independent international organization in support of human rights, especially for prisoners of conscience. It was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977.

amnio /ˈamnēō/

noun

informal term for amniocentesis.

amniocentesis /ˌamnēōsenˈtēsəs/

I. noun

[Medicine] the sampling of amniotic fluid using a hollow needle inserted into the uterus, to screen for developmental abnormalities in a fetus.

– origin 1950s: from amnion + Greek kentēsis ‘pricking’ (from kentein ‘to prick’).

amnion /ˈamnēän ˈamnēən/

I. noun

the innermost membrane that encloses the embryo of a mammal, bird, or reptile.

II. derivatives

amniotic /ˌamnēˈädik /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Greek, ‘caul,’ diminutive of amnos ‘lamb.’

amniote /ˈamnēˌōt/

I. noun

[Zoology] an animal whose embryo develops in an amnion and chorion and has an allantois; a mammal, bird, or reptile.

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Amniota, back-formation from amniotic (see amnion).

amniotic fluid /ˌamnēˌädik ˈflo͞oid/

noun

the fluid surrounding a fetus within the amnion.

amniotic sac

noun

the fluid-filled sac that contains and protects a fetus in the womb.

amn't /ant, ˈamənt / ‹chiefly Scottish Irish›

I. contraction

am not.

usage: see usage at aren't.

amoeba /əˈmēbə / ameba

I. noun

a single-celled animal that catches food and moves about by extending fingerlike projections of protoplasm. Amoebas are either free-living in damp environments or parasitic.
[Many families and genera in the phylum Rhizopoda, kingdom Protista, including the aquatic Amoeba proteus.]

II. derivatives

1. amoebic /əˈmēbik /

adjective

2. amoeboid /əˈmēˌboid /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek amoibē ‘change, alternation.’

amoebic dysentery /əˌmēbik ˈdis(ə)nterē / amebic dysentery

noun

dysentery caused by infection of the intestines by the protozoan Entamoeba histolytica, mostly in warm climates, and spread by contaminated food and water.

amok /əˈmək əˈmäk / amuck

I. adverb — (in phrase run amok)

1. behave uncontrollably and disruptively

• stone-throwing anarchists running amok

• ‹figurative› her feelings seemed to be running amok.

– origin mid 17th cent.: via Portuguese amouco, from Malay amok ‘rushing in a frenzy.’ Early use was as a noun denoting a Malay in a homicidal frenzy; the adverb use dates from the late 17th cent.

amole /əˈmōlā, -lē/

I. noun

a plant of a group native to Mexico and the southern US whose roots are used as detergent, especially the soap plant or the lechuguilla.

– origin mid 19th cent.: Mexican Spanish.

among /əˈməNG / ‹chiefly Brit.› amongst

I. preposition

1. surrounded by; in the company of

• wild strawberries hidden among the roots of the trees

• you're among friends.

2. being a member or members of (a larger set)

• he was among the first 29 students enrolled

• snakes are among the animals most feared by humans.

3. occurring in or practiced by (some members of a community)

• a drop in tooth decay among children

• this pronunciation is not popular among the general public

• rooting out abuses among the clergy.

4. involving most or all members of a group reciprocally

• members of the government bickered among themselves.

5. indicating a division, choice, or differentiation involving three or more participants

• the king called the three princesses to divide his kingdom among them

• choosing a privatization scheme from among five models.

– origin Old English ongemang (from on ‘in’ + gemang ‘assemblage, mingling’). The -st of amongst represents -s (adverbial genitive) + -t probably by association with superlatives (as in against). / usage: See usage at between.

amontillado /əˌmäntlˈädō, -təˈyädō/

I. noun

a medium dry sherry.

– origin Spanish, from Montilla, the name of a town in southern Spain where the original wine was produced.

amoral /āˈmôrəl/

I. adjective

lacking a moral sense; unconcerned with the rightness or wrongness of something

• an amoral attitude to sex.

II. derivatives

1. amorality /ˈˌāməˈralədē /

noun

2. amoralism /-ˌlizəm /

noun

3. amoralist /-list /

noun

usage: See usage at immoral.

amoretto /ˌaməˈredō/

I. noun

a representation of Cupid in a work of art.

– origin late 17th cent. (denoting a lover or a love song): Italian, diminutive of amore ‘love,’ from Latin amor.

amorist /ˈamərəst/

I. noun

a person who is in love or who writes about love.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin amor or French amour ‘love’ + -ist.

Amorite /ˈaməˌrīt/

I. noun

a member of seminomadic people living in Mesopotamia, Palestine, and Syria in the 3rd millennium BC, founders of Mari on the Euphrates and the first dynasty of Babylon.

II. adjective

of or relating to the Amorites.

– origin from Hebrew 'ĕmōrī, from Akkadian 'amurrū + -ite^1.

amoroso^1 /ˌäməˈrōsō/

I. adverb, adjective

[Music] (especially as a direction) in a loving or tender manner.

– origin Italian, from medieval Latin amorosus (see amorous).

amoroso^2

I. noun

a sweetened oloroso sherry.

– origin late 19th cent.: Spanish, literally ‘amorous,’ from medieval Latin amorosus (see amorous).

amorous /ˈam(ə)rəs/

I. adjective

showing, feeling, or relating to sexual desire

• she rejected his amorous advances.

II. derivatives

1. amorously /ˈam(ə)rəslē /

adverb

2. amorousness /ˈam(ə)rəsnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin amorosus, from Latin amor ‘love.’

amorphous /əˈmôrfəs/

I. adjective

1. without a clearly defined shape or form

• amorphous blue forms and straight black lines.

2. vague; ill-organized; unclassifiable

• make explicit the amorphous statements.

3. (of a group of people or an organization) lacking a clear structure or focus

• an amorphous and leaderless legislature.

4. [Mineralogy] [Chemistry] (of a solid) noncrystalline; having neither definite form nor apparent structure.

II. derivatives

1. amorphously

adverb

2. amorphousness

noun

– origin mid 18th cent.: from modern Latin amorphus, from Greek amorphos ‘shapeless’ (from a- ‘without’ + morphē ‘form’) + -ous.

amortize /ˈamərˌtīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. reduce or extinguish (a debt) by money regularly put aside

• loan fees can be amortized over the life of the mortgage.

2. gradually write off the initial cost of (an asset)

• they want to amortize the tooling costs quickly.

II. derivatives

amortization /ˈamərdəˈzāSHən ˈamôrˌtīˈzāSHən /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the senses ‘deaden’ and ‘transfer (land) to a corporation in mortmain’): from Old French amortiss-, lengthened stem of amortir, based on Latin ad ‘to, at’ + mors, mort- ‘death.’

Amos /ˈāməs/

I. a Hebrew minor prophet (c. 760 BC), a shepherd of Tekoa, near Jerusalem.

II. a book of the Bible containing the prophecies of Amos.

amosite /ˈaməˌsīt/

I. noun

an iron-rich amphibole asbestos, mined in South Africa.

– origin early 20th cent.: from the initial letters of A sbestos M ines o f S outh Africa + -ite^1.

amount /əˈmount/

I. noun

1. a quantity of something, typically the total of a thing or things in number, size, value, or extent

• the sport gives an enormous amount of pleasure to many people

• the substance is harmless if taken in small amounts.

2. a sum of money

• they have spent a colossal amount rebuilding the stadium.

II. verb — [no obj.] (amount to)

1. come to be (the total) when added together

• losses amounted to over 10 million dollars.

2. be the equivalent of

• their actions amounted to a conspiracy

• what this guy was doing clearly did amount to persecution.

3. develop into; become

• you'll never amount to anything.

III. phrases

1. any amount of

a great deal or number of

• a good marriage can withstand any amount of external pressure.

2. no amount of

not even the greatest possible amount of

• no amount of talk is going to change anything.

– origin Middle English (as a verb): from Old French amunter, from amont ‘upward,’ literally ‘uphill,’ from Latin ad montem. The noun use dates from the early 18th cent.

amour /əˈmo͝or äˈmo͝or/

I. noun

a secret or illicit love affair or lover.

– origin Middle English (originally in the sense ‘love, affection’): via Old French from Latin amor ‘love.’ The current sense dates from the late 16th cent.

amour fou /ˌämo͝or ˈfo͞o/

I. noun

uncontrollable or obsessive passion.

– origin 1970s: French, literally ‘insane love.’

amour propre /ˌämo͝or ˈprôpr(ə)/

I. noun

a sense of one's own worth; self-respect

• few indications in him of ordinary amour propre or common vanity.

– origin late 18th cent.: French, literally ‘self-esteem, vanity.’

amoxicillin /əˌmäksəˈsilin / amoxycillin

I. noun

a broad-spectrum semisynthetic penicillin, closely related to ampicillin but better absorbed when taken orally, used especially for ear and upper respiratory infections.

– origin late 20th cent.: blend of amino + contractions of hydroxy- + penicillin.

Amoy /äˈmoi/

another name for Xiamen.

amp^1 /amp/

noun

short for ampere.

amp^2 /amp/

I. noun

‹informal› short for amplifier.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (often amp something up) — play (music) through electric amplification

• their willingness to amp up traditional songs virtually began the folk-rock genre.

2. (as adj. amped or amped up) — (N. Amer.) ‹informal› full of nervous energy

• third-ranked Ohio State visits an amped-up Madison.

AMP

abbreviation

[Biochemistry] adenosine monophosphate.

Ampakine /ˈampəˌkīn/

I. noun

‹trademark› any of a class of synthetic compounds that facilitate transmission of nerve impulses in the brain and appear to improve memory and learning capacity.

– origin 1990s: from AMPA (an acronym denoting certain receptors in the brain) + Greek kinein ‘to move.’

ampelographer /ˌampəˈläɡrəfər/

I. noun

an expert in the study and classification of cultivated varieties of grape.

II. derivatives

ampelography

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: via French from Greek ampelos ‘vine’ + -grapher.

ampelopsis /ˌampəˈläpsəs/

I. noun

any of several woody vines of the grape family.
[Genus Ampelopsis, family Vitaceae: several species, including American ampelopsis (A. cordata), the pepper vine (ampelopsis arborea) and the porcelainberry (A. brevipedunculata).]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek ampelos ‘vine’ + opsis ‘appearance.’

amperage /ˈamp(ə)rij/

noun

the strength of an electric current in amperes.

ampere /ˈamˌpir ˈamˌper / A

I. noun

a unit of electric current equal to a flow of one coulomb per second.
[The SI base unit of electric current, 1 ampere is precisely defined as that constant current which, if maintained in two straight parallel conductors of infinite length, of negligible circular cross-section, and placed 1 meter apart in a vacuum, would produce between these conductors a force of 2 × 107 newton per meter.]

– origin late 19th cent.: named after A. M. Ampère (see Ampère, André-Marie).

Ampère, André-Marie /äNˈper/

(1775–1836), French physicist, mathematician, and philosopher, who analyzed the relationship between magnetic force and electric current.

ampersand /ˈampərˌsand/

I. noun

the sign & (standing for and, as in Smith & Co., or the Latin et, as in &c.

– origin late 18th cent.: alteration of and per se and ‘& by itself is and,’ chanted as an aid to learning the sign.

amphetamine /amˈfedəˌmēn amˈfedəˌmin/

I. noun

a synthetic, addictive, mood-altering drug, used illegally as a stimulant and legally as a prescription drug to treat children with ADD and adults with narcolepsy.
[Alternative name: 1-phenyl-2-aminopropane (or one of its salts, esp. amphetamine sulfate); chem. formula: C_6H_5CH_2CH(CH_3)NH_2.]

– origin 1930s: abbreviation of its chemical name, a(lpha-)m(ethyl) phe(ne)t(hyl)amine.

amphi-

I. combining form

1. both

• amphibian.

2. of both kinds

• amphipod.

3. on both sides

• amphiprostyle.

4. around

• amphitheater.

– origin from Greek.

amphibian /amˈfibēən/

I. noun

1. [Zoology] a cold-blooded vertebrate animal of a class that comprises the frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders. They are distinguished by having an aquatic gill-breathing larval stage followed (typically) by a terrestrial lung-breathing adult stage.
[Class Amphibia: orders Urodela (newts and salamanders), Anura (frogs and toads), and Gymnophiona (caecilians).]

2. [Zoology] a seaplane, tank, or other vehicle that can operate on land and on water.

II. adjective

[Zoology] of or relating to amphibians

• reptile and amphibian biology.

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘having two modes of existence or of doubtful nature’): from modern Latin amphibium ‘an amphibian,’ from Greek amphibion (noun use of amphibios ‘living both in water and on land,’ from amphi ‘both’ + bios ‘life’).

amphibious /amˈfibēəs/

I. adjective

1. relating to, living in, or suited for both land and water

• amphibious habitats

• an amphibious vehicle.

2. (of a military operation) involving forces landed from the sea

• an amphibious assault.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from modern Latin amphibium, from Greek amphibion (see amphibian) + -ous.

amphibole /ˈamfəˌbōl/

I. noun

any of a class of rock-forming silicate or aluminosilicate minerals typically occurring as fibrous or columnar crystals.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French, from Latin amphibolus ‘ambiguous’ (so called because of the varied structure of these minerals), from Greek amphibolos, from amphi- ‘both, on both sides’ + ballein ‘to throw.’

amphibolite /amˈfibəˌlīt/

I. noun

[Geology] a granular metamorphic rock consisting mainly of hornblende and plagioclase.

– origin early 19th cent.: from amphibole + -ite^1.

amphibology /ˌamfəˈbäləjē/

I. noun

a phrase or sentence that is grammatically ambiguous, such as she sees more of her children than her husband.

II. derivatives

amphibolous /amˈfibələs /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French amphibologie, from late Latin amphibologia, from Latin amphibolia, from Greek amphibolos ‘ambiguous’ (see amphibole).

amphiboly /amˈfibəlē/

noun

another term for amphibology.

amphibrach /ˈamfəˌbrak/

I. noun

[Prosody] a metrical foot consisting of a stressed syllable between two unstressed syllables or (in Greek and Latin) a long syllable between two short syllables.

– origin late 16th cent. (originally in the Latin forms amphibrachus, amphibrachys): via Latin from Greek amphibrakhus ‘short at both ends.’

amphimixis /ˌamfəˈmiksis/

I. noun

[Botany] sexual reproduction involving the fusion of two different gametes to form a zygote.
Often contrasted with apomixis.

II. derivatives

amphimictic /-ˈmiktik /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from amphi- + Greek mixis ‘mingling.’

amphioxus /ˌamfēˈäksəs/

I. noun

a lancelet that is caught for food in parts of Asia.
[Genus Branchiostoma (formerly Amphioxus), family Branchiostomidae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from amphi- + Greek oxus ‘sharp.’

amphipathic /ˌamfəˈpaTHik/

I. adjective

[Biochemistry] (of a molecule, especially a protein) having both hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts.

– origin 1930s: from amphi- + Greek pathikos (from pathos ‘experience’).

amphiphilic /ˌamfəˈfilik/

adjective

[Biochemistry] another term for amphipathic.

amphipod /ˈamfəˌpäd/

noun

[Zoology] a crustacean of the chiefly marine order Amphipoda.

Amphipoda /amˈfipədə / ‹Zoology›

I. an order of crustaceans with a laterally compressed body and a large number of leglike appendages.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from amphi- ‘of both kinds’ (because some legs are specialized for swimming and some for feeding) + Greek pous, pod- ‘foot.’

amphiprostyle /amˈfiprəˌstīl, ˌamfəˈprō-/

I. adjective

(of a classical building) having a portico at each end and no columns along the sides.

– origin early 18th cent.: via Latin from Greek amphiprostulos, from amphi- ‘both, on both sides’ + prostulos ‘having pillars in front’ (see prostyle).

amphisbaena /ˌamfəsˈbēnə/

I. noun

a legendary serpent with a head at each end.

– origin late Middle English: via Latin from Greek amphisbaina, from amphis ‘both ways’ + bainein ‘go.’

Amphisbaenia /ˌamfisˈbēnēə / ‹Zoology›

I. a group of reptiles that comprises the worm lizards.
[Suborder Amphisbaenia, order Squamata.]

II. derivatives

amphisbaenian

noun, adjective

– origin modern Latin, from Greek amphisbaina, from amphis ‘both’ + bainein ‘go, walk.’

amphitheater /ˈamfəˌTHēədər/

I. noun

1. (especially in Greek and Roman architecture) a round or oval building, typically unroofed, with a central space for the presentation of dramatic or sporting events. Tiers of seats for spectators surround the central space.

2. a sloping, semicircular seating gallery

• I was permitted to attend a lecture in the amphitheater of the hospital.

3. a large circular hollow in rocks or hills

• that vast amphitheater chiseled out of the mountain.

– origin late Middle English: via Latin from Greek amphitheatron, from amphi ‘on both sides’ + theatron (see theater).

Amphitrite /ˌam(p)fəˈtrīdē / ‹Greek Mythology›

a sea goddess, wife of Poseidon and mother of Triton.

amphiuma /ˌamfēˈyo͞omə/

noun

a fully aquatic eellike amphibian with very small limbs, found in stagnant water and swamps in the southeastern US.
[Family Amphiumidae and genus Amphiuma: three species (identified by the number of toes on each limb), the one-toed A. pholeter, the two-toed A. means, and the three-toed A. tridactylum.]

amphora /ˈamfərə amˈfôrə/

I. noun

a tall ancient Greek or Roman jar with two handles and a narrow neck.

– origin Latin, from Greek amphoreus, or from French amphore.

amphoteric /ˌamfəˈterik/

I. adjective

[Chemistry] (of a compound, especially a metal oxide or hydroxide) able to react both as a base and as an acid.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek amphoteros, comparative of amphō ‘both,’ + -ic.

ampicillin /ˌampəˈsilin/

I. noun

[Medicine] a semisynthetic form of penicillin used chiefly to treat infections of the urinary and respiratory tracts.

– origin 1960s: blend of amino and a contraction of penicillin.

ample /ˈampəl/

I. adjective

1. enough or more than enough; plentiful

• there is ample time for discussion

• an ample supply of consumer goods.

2. large and accommodating

• he leaned back in his ample chair.

3. used euphemistically to convey that someone is fat

• she stood with her hands on her ample hips.

II. derivatives

ampleness /ˈamp(ə)lnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English: via French from Latin amplus ‘large, capacious, abundant.’

amplexicaul /amˈpleksəˌkôl/

I. adjective

[Botany] (of a leaf) embracing and surrounding the stem.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from modern Latin amplexicaulis, from Latin amplexus ‘embrace’ + caulis ‘stem.’

amplexus /amˈpleksəs/

I. noun

[Zoology] the mating position of frogs and toads, in which the male clasps the female about the back.

– origin 1930s: from Latin, literally ‘an embrace.’

amplification /ˌamplifiˈkāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the process of increasing the volume of sound, especially using an amplifier

• even without amplification, her voice carries to the farthest corners.

2. the action of increasing the amplitude of an electrical signal or other oscillation

• the amplification of radio signals is possible.

3. the action of making something more marked or intense

• you're an actor in that you are using emotion and amplification of ideas to make your point.

4. the action of enlarging upon or adding detail to a story or statement

• the words 'no real prospect of succeeding' do not need any amplification

• thanks to all who wrote in with corrections and amplifications.

5. [Genetics] the action of making multiple copies of a gene or DNA sequence

• a technique known as random amplification of polymorphic DNA

• sequences were obtained from multiple amplifications from individual samples.

amplifier /ˈampləˌfī(ə)r/

noun

1. an electronic device for increasing the amplitude of electrical signals, used chiefly in sound reproduction.

2. a device consisting of an amplifier combined with a loudspeaker, used to amplify electric guitars and other musical instruments.

amplify /ˈampləˌfī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. increase the volume of (sound), especially using an amplifier

• the accompanying chords have been amplified in our arrangement.

2. increase the amplitude of (an electrical signal or other oscillation).

3. cause to become more marked or intense

• urban policy initiatives amplified social polarization.

4. [Genetics] make multiple copies of (a gene or DNA sequence).

5. enlarge upon or add detail to (a story or statement)

• the notes amplify information contained in the statement.

– origin late Middle English (in the general sense ‘increase, augment’): from Old French amplifier, from Latin amplificare, from amplus ‘large, abundant.’

amplitude /ˈampləˌt(y)o͞od/

I. noun

1. [Physics] the maximum extent of a vibration or oscillation, measured from the position of equilibrium.

2. the maximum difference of an alternating electrical current or potential from the average value.

3. [Astronomy] the angular distance of a celestial object from the true east or west point of the horizon at rising or setting.

4. breadth, range, or magnitude

• the amplitude of the crime of manslaughter lies beneath murder.

5. [Mathematics] the angle between the real axis of an Argand diagram and a vector representing a complex number.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the senses ‘physical extent’ and ‘grandeur’): from Latin amplitudo, from amplus ‘large, abundant.’

amplitude modulation /ˈampləˌt(y)o͞od ˌmäjəˌlāSHən / AM

noun

the modulation of a wave by varying its amplitude, used chiefly as a means of radio broadcasting, in which an audio signal is combined with a carrier wave.
Often contrasted with frequency modulation.

amply /ˈamplē/

adverb

enough or more than enough; plentifully

• the persistent reader is amply rewarded.

ampoule /ˈamp(y)o͞ol / ampul, ampule

I. noun

a sealed glass capsule containing a liquid, especially a measured quantity ready for injecting

• an ampoule of epinephrine.

– origin early 20th cent.: from French, from Latin ampulla (see ampulla).

ampulla /amˈpo͝olə/

I. noun

1. a roughly spherical flask with two handles, used in ancient Rome.

2. a flask for sacred uses such as holding holy oil.

3. [Anatomy] [Zoology] a cavity, or the dilated end of a duct, shaped like a Roman ampulla.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin, diminutive of ampora, variant of amphora (see amphora).

amputate /ˈampyəˌtāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cut off (a limb), typically by surgical operation

• surgeons had to amputate her left hand

• the wounded had to have legs or arms amputated.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin amputat- ‘lopped off,’ from amputare, from am- (for amb- ‘around’) + putare ‘to prune.’

amputation /ˌampyəˈtāSH(ə)n/

noun

the action of surgically cutting off a limb

• gangrene may appear and make amputation necessary

• in the United Kingdom there are about 5,000 major amputations a year.

amputee /ˌampyəˈtē/

noun

a person who has had a limb amputated.

AMRAAM /ˈamram/

abbreviation

advanced medium range air-to-air missile.

amrit /ˈəmrit / amrita

I. noun

a syrup considered divine by Sikhs and taken by them in religious observances.

– origin from Sanskrit amṛta ‘immortal.’

Amritsar /ˌəmˈritsər, äm-/

a city in the state of Punjab in northwestern India; pop. 1,194,700 (est. 2009). The center of the Sikh faith, it is the site of its Golden Temple.

amscray /ˈamskrā/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹informal› ‹dated› leave quickly

• just amscray and be done with it.

– origin 1930s: pig Latin from scram.

Amsterdam /ˈamstərˌdam/

the capital and largest city of the Netherlands; pop. 747,093 (2008) . It is an important port and financial center, especially known for its diamond industry.

AMT

abbreviation

alternative minimum tax, introduced to prevent companies and individuals using deductions and credits to pay no tax.

amtrac /ˈamtrak / amtrack, amtrak

I. noun

(US) an amphibious tracked vehicle used for landing assault troops on a shore.

– origin World War II: blend of amphibious and tractor.

Amtrak /ˈamtrak/

‹trademark› a federal passenger railroad service in the US, operated by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation.

amu

abbreviation

atomic mass unit.

Amu Darya /ˌämo͞o ˈdäryə/

a river in central Asia that rises in the Pamirs and flows 1,500 miles (2,400 km) into the Aral Sea. In classical times, it was known as the Oxus.

amulet /ˈamyələt/

I. noun

an ornament or small piece of jewelry thought to give protection against evil, danger, or disease.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin amuletum, of unknown origin.

Amun /ˈämən / ‹Egyptian Mythology› Amon

a supreme god of the ancient Egyptians, identified with the sun god Ra and in Greek and Roman times with Zeus and Jupiter (under the name Ammon).

Amundsen, Roald /ˈämənsən/

(1872–1928), Norwegian explorer. Amundsen was the first to navigate the Northwest Passage (1903–06), during which expedition he located the site of the magnetic North Pole. In 1911, he became the first person to reach the South Pole.

Amur /äˈmo͞or/

a river of northeastern Asia that forms, for much of its length, the boundary between Russia and China. Its length is about 2,737 miles (4,350 km).
Chinese name Heilong.

amuse /əˈmyo͞oz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (someone) to find something funny; entertain

• he made faces to amuse her

• (as adj. amused) people looked on with amused curiosity.

2. provide interesting and enjoyable occupation for (someone)

• the hotel has planned many activities to amuse its guests

• they amused themselves digging through an old encyclopedia

• (as adj. amused) elegant shops that will keep any browser amused for hours.

II. derivatives

amusedly /-zidlē /

adverb

amuse (sense 1)

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘delude, deceive’): from Old French amuser ‘entertain, deceive,’ from a- (expressing causal effect) + muser ‘stare stupidly.’ The current senses date from the mid 17th cent.

amuse-bouche /əˌmo͞ozˈbo͞oSH/

I. noun

another term for amuse-gueule.

– origin French, literally ‘amuse mouth.’

amuse-gueule /ˌämo͞ozˈɡəl/

I. noun

a small, savory item of food served as an appetizer before a meal.

– origin late 20th cent.: French, literally ‘amuse mouth.’

amusement /əˈmyo͞ozmənt/

I. noun

1. the state or experience of finding something funny

• we looked with amusement at our horoscopes.

2. the provision or enjoyment of entertainment

• an evening's amusement.

3. something that causes laughter or provides entertainment

• his daughter was an amusement to him.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘musing, diversion of the attention’): from French, from the verb amuser (see amuse).

amusement park /əˈmyo͞ozmənt pärk/

noun

a large outdoor area with fairground rides, shows, refreshments, games of chance or skill, and other entertainments.

amusing /əˈmyo͞oziNG/

adjective

causing laughter or providing entertainment

• such a likable, amusing man!

amusingly /əˈmyo͞oziNGlē/

adverb

1. in a way that causes laughter and provides entertainment

• his exquisite manners contrasted amusingly with our rude ways

• [as submodifier] he could always be relied upon to be amusingly pompous.

2. [sentence adverb] — used to express amusement at an event or situation

• amusingly, all the people near me seemed also to come from Wollongong.

amygdala /əˈmiɡdələ/

I. noun

[Anatomy] a roughly almond-shaped mass of gray matter inside each cerebral hemisphere, involved with the experiencing of emotions.

– origin late Middle English: via Latin from Greek amugdalē ‘almond.’

amygdalin /əˈmiɡdələn/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a bitter crystalline compound, found in bitter almonds and the stones of peaches, apricots, and other fruit.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin amygdala ‘almond’ + -in^1.

amygdaloid /əˈmiɡdəˌloid/

I. adjective

‹technical› shaped like an almond.

II. noun

1. (also amygdaloid nucleus) — [Anatomy] another term for amygdala.

2. [Geology] volcanic rock with amygdules.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin amygdala ‘almond’ + -oid.

amygdaloidal /əˌmiɡdəˈloid(ə)l/

adjective

[Geology] relating to or containing amygdules.

amygdule /əˈmiɡˌd(y)o͞ol / amygdale

I. noun

[Geology] a vesicle in an igneous rock, containing secondary minerals.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French, from Latin amygdala (see amygdala).

amyl /ˈaməl/

I. noun — [as modifier]

1. [Chemistry] the straight-chain pentyl radical —C_5H_11.

2. [Chemistry] ‹informal› short for amyl nitrite.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin amylum ‘starch’ + -yl.

amylase /ˈaməlās ˈaməlāz/

noun

[Biochemistry] an enzyme, found chiefly in saliva and pancreatic fluid, that converts starch and glycogen into simple sugars.

amyl nitrate /ˈaməl ˈnīˌtrāt/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a colorless synthetic liquid used as an additive in diesel fuel to improve its ignition properties.
[Chem. formula: C_5H_11NO_3.]

usage: Amyl nitrate and amyl nitrite are quite distinct substances, but amyl nitrate is often mistakenly used to refer to the street drug (inhaled and used as a stimulant and vasodilator), which is correctly called amyl nitrite.

amyl nitrite

I. noun

a yellowish volatile synthetic liquid used medicinally as a vasodilator. It is rapidly absorbed by the body on inhalation, and is sometimes used for its stimulatory effects.
[Chem. formula: C_5H_11NO_2.]

usage: See usage at amyl nitrate.

amyloid /ˈaməˌloid / ‹Medicine›

noun

1. a starchlike protein that is deposited in the liver, kidneys, spleen, or other tissues in certain diseases.

2. another term for amyloidosis.

amyloidosis /ˌaməloiˈdōsis/

noun

[Medicine] a disorder marked by deposition of amyloid in the body.

amylopectin /ˌaməlōˈpektin/

noun

[Biochemistry] the noncrystallizable form of starch, consisting of branched polysaccharide chains.

amylose /ˈaməlōs ˈaməlōz/

noun

[Biochemistry] the crystallizable form of starch, consisting of long unbranched polysaccharide chains.

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis /ˌāˌmīəˌträfik ˌladərəl skləˈrōsəs/

I. noun

a progressive degeneration of the motor neurons of the central nervous system, leading to wasting of the muscles and paralysis.
Also called ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease.

– origin late 19th cent.: amyotrophic from amyotrophy.

amyotrophy /ˌāmīˈätrəfē/

I. noun

[Medicine] muscular atrophy.

II. derivatives

amyotrophic /ˌāmīəˈträfik, -əˈtrō- /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from a-1 ‘not’ + Greek mus, muo- ‘muscle’ + -trophy (see -trophic).

Amytal /ˈaməˌtôl, -ˌtal/

I. noun

‹trademark› a barbiturate drug used as a sedative and a hypnotic.
[Alternative name: 5-ethyl-5-isopropylbarbituric acid, or its sodium salt (sodium amytal); chem. formula: C_11H_18N_2O_3.]

– origin 1920s: from amyl + -t- (for ease of pronunciation) + -al.

an /an ən/

I. determiner

the form of the indefinite article (see a) used before words beginning with a vowel sound.

usage: Is it ’a historical document’ or ’an historical document’? ‘A hotel’ or ‘an hotel’? There is still some divergence of opinion over which form of the indefinite article should be used before words that begin with h- and have an unstressed first syllable. In the 18th and 19th centuries, people often did not pronounce the initial h for these words, and so an was commonly used. Today the h is pronounced, and so it is logical to use a rather than an. However, the indefinite article an is still encountered before the h in both British and American English, particularly with historical: in the Oxford English Corpus around a quarter of examples of historical are preceded with an rather than a.

an-1

I. prefix

variant spelling of a-1 before a vowel (as in anemia, anechoic).

– origin from Greek.

an-2

prefix

variant spelling of ad- assimilated before n (as in annihilate, annotate).

an-3

prefix

variant spelling of ana- shortened before a vowel (as in aneurysm).

-an -ean, -ian

I. suffix

1. forming adjectives and nouns, especially from:

2. names of places

• Ohioan

• Russian.

3. names of systems

• Anglican

• Presbyterian.

4. names of zoological classes or orders

• crustacean.

5. names of founders or leaders when referring to them as sources

• Chomskyan

• Lutheran.

6. / / — [Chemistry] forming names of organic compounds, chiefly polysaccharides

• dextran.

– origin based on Latin -(i)anus, -aeus, adjectival endings.

ana- an-

I. prefix

1. up

• anabasis.

2. back

• anamnesis.

3. again

• anabiosis.

– origin from Greek ana ‘up.’

-ana

I. suffix

(forming plural nouns) denoting things associated with a person, place, or field of interest

• Americana

• Victoriana.

– origin from the neuter plural of the Latin adjectival ending -anus.

Anabaptism /ˌanəˈbapˌtizəm/

I. noun

the doctrine that baptism should only be administered to believing adults, held by a radical Protestant sect that emerged during the 1520s and 1530s.

II. derivatives

Anabaptist /ˌanəˈbaptəst /

noun, adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek anabaptismos, from ana- ‘over again’ + baptismos ‘baptism.’

anabasis /əˈnabəsəs/

I. noun

1. ‹rare› a march from a coast into the interior, as that of the younger Cyrus into Asia in 401 BC, as narrated by Xenophon in his work Anabasis.

2. ‹rare› a military advance.

– origin early 18th cent.: Greek, literally‘ascent.’

anabatic /ˌanəˈbadik/

I. adjective

[Meteorology] (of a wind) caused by local upward motion of warm air.
Compare with katabatic.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Greek anabatikos, from anabatēs ‘a person who ascends,’ from anabainein ‘walk up.’

anabiosis /ˌanəbīˈōsəs/

I. noun

[Zoology] a temporary state of suspended animation or greatly reduced metabolism.

II. derivatives

anabiotic /-ˈätik /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek anabiōsis, from anabioein ‘return to life.’

anabolic /ˌanəˈbälik/

adjective

[Biochemistry] relating to or promoting anabolism.

anabolic steroid /ˌanəˌbälik ˈsteˌroid ˌanəˌbälik ˈstiˌroid/

noun

a synthetic steroid hormone that resembles testosterone in promoting the growth of muscle. Such hormones are used medicinally to treat some forms of weight loss and (illegally) by some athletes and others to enhance physical performance.

anabolism /əˈnabəˌlizəm/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] the synthesis of complex molecules in living organisms from simpler ones together with the storage of energy; constructive metabolism.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek anabolē ‘ascent,’ from ana- ‘up’ + ballein ‘to throw.’

anachronism /əˈnakrəˌnizəm/

I. noun

1. a thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists, especially a thing that is conspicuously old-fashioned

• everything was as it would have appeared in centuries past apart from one anachronism, a bright yellow construction crane.

2. an act of attributing a custom, event, or object to a period to which it does not belong.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Greek anakhronismos, from ana- ‘backward’ + khronos ‘time.’

anachronistic /əˌnakrəˈnistik/

I. adjective

1. belonging to a period other than that being portrayed

• 'Titus' benefits from the effective use of anachronistic elements like cars and loudspeakers.

2. belonging or appropriate to an earlier period, especially so as to seem conspicuously old-fashioned

• she is rebelling against the anachronistic morality of her parents.

II. derivatives

anachronistically /əˌnakrəˈnistik /

adverb

anaclitic /ˌanəˈklidik/

I. adjective

[Psychoanalysis] relating to or characterized by a strong emotional dependence on another or others

• anaclitic depression.

– origin 1920s: from Greek anaklitos ‘for reclining,’ from anaklinein ‘recline.’

anacoluthon /ˌanəkəˈlo͞oTHän/

I. noun

a sentence or construction that lacks grammatical sequence, such as while in the garden, the door banged shut.

II. derivatives

anacoluthic /-THik /

adjective

– origin early 18th cent.: via late Latin from Greek anakolouthon, from an- ‘not’ + akolouthos ‘following.’

anaconda /ˌanəˈkändə/

I. noun

a semiaquatic snake of the boa family that may grow to a great size, native to tropical South America.
[Genus Eunectes, family Boidae: several species, in particular the green anaconda (E. murinus).]

– origin mid 18th cent. (originally denoting a kind of Sri Lankan snake): unexplained alteration of Latin anacandaia ‘python,’ from Sinhalese henakaňdayā ‘whipsnake,’ from hena ‘lightning’ + kaňda ‘stem.’

Anacreon /əˈnakrēən/

(c. 570–c. 487 BC), Greek lyric poet, best known for his celebrations of love and wine.

anacreontic /əˌnakrēˈän(t)ik/

I. adjective

(of a poem) written in the style of the ancient Greek poet Anacreon, known for his celebrations of love and wine

• I find anacreontic poetry to be darkly beautiful.

II. noun

a poem written in the style of the ancient Greek poet Anacreon, especially one celebrating love and wine

• I began by reading aloud an anacreontic.

– origin early 17th cent. (as an adjective): from late Latin anacreonticus, from Greek Anakreōn (see Anacreon).

anacrusis /ˌanəˈkro͞osəs/

I. noun

1. [Prosody] one or more unstressed syllables at the beginning of a verse.

2. [Music] one or more unstressed notes before the first bar line of a piece or passage.

– origin mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek anakrousis ‘prelude,’ from ana- ‘up’ + krousis, from krouein ‘to strike.’

anadama bread /anəˈdamə ˌbred/

noun

a type of yeast bread typically made with cornmeal and dark molasses.

anadromous /əˈnadrəməs/

I. adjective

[Zoology] (of a fish, such as the salmon) migrating up rivers from the sea to spawn.
The opposite of catadromous.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Greek anadromos (from ana- ‘up’ + dromos ‘running’) + -ous.

anaerobe /ˈanəˌrōb/

I. noun

[Biology] an organism that grows without air, or requires oxygen-free conditions to live.

– origin late 19th cent.: from an-1 + aerobe.

anaerobic /ˌanəˈrōbik/

I. adjective

1. [Biology] relating to, involving, or requiring an absence of free oxygen

• anaerobic bacteria.

2. [Biology] relating to or denoting exercise that does not improve or is not intended to improve the efficiency of the body's cardiovascular system in absorbing and transporting oxygen.

II. derivatives

anaerobically /-bik(ə)lē /

adverb

anagenesis /ˌanəˈjenəsəs/

I. noun

[Biology] species formation without branching of the evolutionary line of descent.
Compare with cladogenesis.

II. derivatives

anagenetic /-jəˈnetik /

adjective

anaglyph /ˈanəˌɡlif/

I. noun

1. [Photography] a stereoscopic photograph with the two images superimposed and printed in different colors, producing a stereo effect when the photograph is viewed through correspondingly colored filters.

2. an object, such as a cameo, embossed or carved in low relief.

II. derivatives

anaglyphic /ˌanəˈɡlifik /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent. (sense 2): from Greek anagluphē, from ana- ‘up’ + gluphē (from gluphein ‘carve’). Sense 1 dates from the late 19th cent.

anagram /ˈanəˌɡram/

I. noun

a word, phrase, or name formed by rearranging the letters of another, such as cinema, formed from iceman.

II. derivatives

1. anagrammatic /ˌanəɡrəˈmadik /

adjective

2. anagrammatical /ˌanəɡrəˈmatikəl /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: from French anagramme or modern Latin anagramma, from Greek ana- ‘back, anew’ + gramma ‘letter.’

anagrammatize /ˌanəˈɡramətīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make an anagram of (a word, phrase, or name).

II. derivatives

anagrammatization /-ˌɡramətəˈzāSHən /

noun

Anaheim /ˈanəˌhīm/

a city in California, southeast of Los Angeles; pop. 335,288 (est. 2008). It is home to Disneyland.

anal /ˈānl/

I. adjective

1. involving, relating to, or situated near the anus.

2. (in Freudian psychoanalysis) relating to or denoting a stage of infantile psychosexual development supposedly preoccupied with the anus and defecation.

3. ‹informal› anal-retentive

• he's anal about things like that.

II. derivatives

anally

adverb

– origin mid 18th cent.: from modern Latin analis, from Latin anus (see anus).

analects /ˈanlˌek(t)s / analecta

I. plural noun

a collection of short literary or philosophical extracts.

– origin late Middle English: via Latin from Greek analekta ‘things gathered up,’ from analegein ‘pick up,’ from ana- ‘up’ + legein ‘gather.’

analeptic /ˌanəˈleptik / ‹Medicine›

I. adjective

(chiefly of a drug) tending to restore a person's health or strength; restorative.

II. noun

1. a restorative drug.

2. a drug that stimulates the central nervous system.

– origin late 16th cent.: via late Latin from Greek analēptikos ‘restorative.’

anal fin

noun

[Zoology] an unpaired fin located on the underside of a fish posterior to the anus.

analgesia /ˌanlˈjēzēə ˌanlˈjēZHə/

I. noun

[Medicine] the inability to feel pain.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Greek analgēsia ‘painlessness,’ from an- ‘not’ + algeein ‘feel pain.’

analgesic /ˌanlˈjēzik ˌanlˈjēsik / ‹Medicine›

I. adjective

(chiefly of a drug) acting to relieve pain.

II. noun

an analgesic drug.

analog /ˈanlˌôɡ / analogue

I. noun

1. a person or thing seen as comparable to another

• the idea that the fertilized egg contains a miniature analog of every adult structure.

2. [Chemistry] a compound with a molecular structure closely similar to that of another.

II. adjective

1. relating to or using signals or information represented by a continuously variable physical quantity such as spatial position or voltage.
Often contrasted with digital (sense 1).

2. (of a clock or watch) showing the time by means of hands rather than displayed digits.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French, from Greek analogon, neuter of analogos ‘proportionate.’

analogize /əˈnaləˌjīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. make a comparison of (something) with something else to assist understanding

• he could analogize birth to the coming into being of a poem.

analogous /əˈnaləɡəs/

I. adjective — (often analogous to)

1. comparable in certain respects, typically in a way that makes clearer the nature of the things compared

• they saw the relationship between a ruler and his subjects as analogous to that of father and children.

2. [Biology] (of structures) performing a similar function but having a different evolutionary origin, such as the wings of insects and birds.
Often contrasted with homologous.

II. derivatives

analogously /əˈnaləɡəslē /

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek analogos ‘proportionate’ + -ous.

analog-to-digital converter ADC

noun

a device for converting analog signals to digital form.

analogy /əˈnaləjē/

I. noun

1. a comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification

• an analogy between the workings of nature and those of human societies

• he interprets logical functions by analogy with machines.

2. a correspondence or partial similarity

• the syndrome is called deep dysgraphia because of its analogy to deep dyslexia.

3. a thing that is comparable to something else in significant respects

• works of art were seen as an analogy for works of nature.

4. [Logic] a process of arguing from similarity in known respects to similarity in other respects.

5. [Linguistics] a process by which new words and inflections are created on the basis of regularities in the form of existing ones.

6. [Biology] the resemblance of function between organs that have a different evolutionary origin.

II. derivatives

1. analogical /ˌanəˈläjək(ə)l /

adjective

2. analogically

adverb

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘appropriateness, correspondence’): from French analogie, Latin analogia ‘proportion,’ from Greek, from analogos ‘proportionate.’

analphabetic /ˌanalfəˈbedik/

adjective

1. representing sounds by composite signs rather than by single letters or symbols

• Chinese has an analphabetic writing system.

2. completely illiterate.

anal-retentive ‹Psychoanalysis›

I. adjective

(of a person) excessively orderly and fussy (supposedly owing to conflict over toilet-training in infancy).

II. noun — (also anal retentive)

1. a person who is excessively orderly and fussy.

III. derivatives

1. anal retention /ˈˌānl rəˈten(t)SHən ˈˌānl rēˈten(t)SHən /

noun

2. anal retentiveness

noun

anal sex

noun

sexual activity involving penetration of the anus.

analysand /əˈnaləˌsand əˈnaləˌzand/

noun

a person undergoing psychoanalysis.

analysis /əˈnaləsəs/

I. noun

1. detailed examination of the elements or structure of something, typically as a basis for discussion or interpretation

• statistical analysis

• an analysis of popular culture.

2. the process of separating something into its constituent elements.
Often contrasted with synthesis.

3. the identification and measurement of the chemical constituents of a substance or specimen.

4. short for psychoanalysis.

5. [Linguistics] the use of separate, short words and word order rather than inflection or agglutination to express grammatical structure.

6. [Mathematics] the part of mathematics concerned with the theory of functions and the use of limits, continuity, and the operations of calculus.

II. phrases

in the final (or last) analysis

when everything has been considered (used to suggest that a statement expresses the basic truth about a complex situation)

• in the final analysis it is a question of political history.

– origin late 16th cent.: via medieval Latin from Greek analusis, from analuein ‘unloose,’ from ana- ‘up’ + luein ‘loosen.’

analyst /ˈanələst/

I. noun

1. a person who conducts analysis

• rising consumer confidence and falling oil prices are the keys to any upturn, many analysts believe.

2. short for psychoanalyst.

3. short for systems analyst.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French analyste, from the verb analyser (see analyze).

analyte /ˈanəˌlīt/

noun

[Chemistry] a substance whose chemical constituents are being identified and measured.

analytic /ˌanəˈlidik/

I. adjective

1. another term for analytical.

2. [Logic] true by virtue of the meaning of the words or concepts used to express it, so that its denial would be a self-contradiction.
Compare with synthetic.

3. [Linguistics] (of a language) tending not to alter the form of its words and to use word order rather than inflection or agglutination to express grammatical structure.
Often contrasted with synthetic.

– origin early 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek analutikos, from analuein ‘unloose.’ The term was adopted in the late 16th cent. as a noun denoting the branch of logic dealing with analysis, with specific reference to Aristotle's treatises on logic, the Analytics (Greek analutika).

analytical /ˌanəˈlidik(ə)l/

adjective

relating to or using analysis or logical reasoning

• analytical methods

• a suave, analytical type who missed his calling as a lawyer.

analytical geometry

noun

geometry using coordinates.

analytically /ˌanəˈlidik(ə)lē/

adverb

using analysis or logical reasoning

• the probabilities can be derived analytically.

analytical philosophy analytic philosophy

noun

a method of approaching philosophical problems through analysis of the terms in which they are expressed, associated with Anglo-American philosophy of the early 20th century.

analytical psychology

noun

the psychoanalytic system of psychology developed and practiced by Carl Jung.

analytics /ˌanəˈlidiks/

plural noun — [treated as sing. or pl.]

1. the systematic computational analysis of data or statistics

• content analytics is relevant in many industries.

2. information resulting from the systematic analysis of data or statistics

• these analytics can help you decide if it's time to deliver content in different ways.

analyze /ˈanlˌīz / ‹Brit.› analyse

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. examine methodically and in detail the constitution or structure of (something, especially information), typically for purposes of explanation and interpretation

• we need to analyze our results more clearly.

2. discover or reveal (something) through detailed examination

• I intend to analyze the sexism in such texts

• [with clause] he tried to analyze exactly what was going on.

3. psychoanalyze (someone).

4. identify and measure the chemical constituents of (a substance or specimen).

5. [Grammar] resolve (a sentence) into its grammatical elements; parse.

II. derivatives

1. analyzable /ˌanəˈlīzəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. analyzer /ˈanlˌīzər /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: influenced by French analyser, from medieval Latin analysis (see analysis).

anamnesis /ˌanəmˈnēsis/

I. noun

1. recollection, in particular

2. the remembering of things from a supposed previous existence (often used with reference to Platonic philosophy).

3. [Medicine] a patient's account of a medical history.

4. [Christian Church] the part of the Eucharist in which the Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension of Christ are recalled.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Greek anamnēsis ‘remembrance.’

anamnestic /ˌanəmˈnestik/

adjective

[Medicine] denoting an enhanced reaction of the body's immune system to an antigen that is related to an antigen previously encountered.

anamorphosis /ˌanəˈmôrfəsəs/

I. noun

1. a distorted projection or drawing that appears normal when viewed from a particular point or with a suitable mirror or lens.

2. the process by which anamorphic images are produced.

3. [Biology] a gradual, ascending progression or change of form to a higher type.

4. development of the adult form through a series of small changes, especially in some arthropods, the acquisition of additional body segments after hatching.

II. derivatives

anamorphic /-fik /

adjective

– origin early 18th cent.: from Greek anamorphōsis ‘transformation,’ from ana- ‘back, again’ + morphosis ‘a shaping’ (from morphoun ‘to shape,’ from morphē ‘shape, form’).

ananda /äˈnəndə/

I. noun

(in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism) extreme happiness, one of the highest states of being.

– origin from Sanskrit ānanda ‘blessedness, bliss.’

anandamide /əˈnandəˌmīd/

noun

a naturally occurring arachidonic acid derivative, present in some foods and in mammalian brains, where it acts as a messenger molecule and plays a role in pain, depression, appetite, memory, and fertility.

Ananias /ˌanəˈnīəs/

two figures in the New Testament, the husband of Sapphira, struck dead because he lied (Acts 5), and the Jewish high priest before whom St Paul was brought (Acts 23).

anapest /ˈanəˌpest / ‹Brit.› anapaest

I. noun

[Prosody] a metrical foot consisting of two short or unstressed syllables followed by one long or stressed syllable.

II. derivatives

anapestic /ˌanəˈpestik /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek anapaistos ‘reversed,’ from ana- ‘back’ + paiein ‘strike’ (so called because it is the reverse of a dactyl).

anaphase /ˈanəˌfāz/

noun

[Genetics] the stage of meiotic or mitotic cell division in which the chromosomes move away from one another to opposite poles of the spindle.

anaphor /ˈanəˌfôr/

I. noun

a word or phrase that refers to an earlier word or phrase (e.g., in my cousin said she was coming, she is used as an anaphor for my cousin).

– origin 1970s: back-formation from anaphora.

anaphora /əˈnaf(ə)rə/

I. noun

1. [Grammar] the use of a word referring to or replacing a word used earlier in a sentence, to avoid repetition, such as do in I like it and so do they.

2. [Rhetoric] the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.

II. derivatives

anaphoric /ˌanəˈfôrik /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: senses 1 and 2 via Latin from Greek, ‘repetition,’ from ana- ‘back’ + pherein ‘to bear.’

anaphrodisiac /ˌanafrəˈdizēˌak, ˌanafrəˈdēzēˌak / ‹Medicine›

I. adjective

(chiefly of a drug) tending to reduce sexual desire.

II. noun

an anaphrodisiac drug.

anaphylactic /ˌanəfəˈlaktik/

adjective

[Medicine] relating to or caused by anaphylaxis.

anaphylactic shock

noun

[Medicine] an extreme, often life-threatening allergic reaction to an antigen to which the body has become hypersensitive.

anaphylaxis /ˌanəfəˈlaksəs/

I. noun

[Medicine] an acute allergic reaction to an antigen (e.g., a bee sting) to which the body has become hypersensitive.

– origin early 20th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek ana- ‘again’ + phulaxis ‘guarding.’

anapsid /əˈnapsəd/

I. noun

[Zoology] a reptile of a group characterized by the lack of temporal openings in the skull, including the turtles and their relatives.
[Sometimes placed in a subclass Anapsida, though this taxon is now often not recognized.]

– origin 1930s: from modern Latin Anapsida, from Greek an- ‘without’ + apsis, apsid- ‘arch.’

anaptyxis /ˌanapˈtiksis/

I. noun

[Phonetics] the insertion of a vowel between two consonants in pronunciation, as in filim for film.

II. derivatives

anaptyctic /-ˈtiktik /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek anaptuxis ‘unfolding,’ from ana- ‘back, again’ + ptuxis ‘folding.’

anarch /ˈanärk/

I. noun

‹literary› an anarchist.

II. adjective

anarchic.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Greek anarkhos ‘without a chief’ (see anarchy).

anarchic /əˈnärˌkik/

I. adjective

1. with no controlling rules or principles to give order

• an anarchic and bitter civil war.

2. (of comedy or a person's sense of humor) uncontrolled by convention

• his anarchic wit.

II. derivatives

1. anarchical /-kikəl /

adjective

2. anarchically

adverb

anarchism /ˈanərˌkizəm/

I. noun

1. belief in the abolition of all government and the organization of society on a voluntary, cooperative basis without recourse to force or compulsion.

2. anarchists as a political force or movement

• ruling-class fears of international anarchism during the 1890s.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Greek anarkhos ‘without a chief’ (see anarchy) + -ism; later influenced by French anarchisme.

anarchist /ˈanərkəst/

I. noun

a person who believes in or tries to bring about anarchy.

II. adjective

relating to or supporting anarchy or anarchists

• an anarchist newspaper.

III. derivatives

anarchistic /ˌanərˈkistik /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Greek anarkhos ‘without a chief’ (see anarchy) + -ist; later influenced by French anarchiste.

anarchy /ˈanərkē/

I. noun

1. a state of disorder due to absence or nonrecognition of authority

• he must ensure public order in a country threatened with anarchy.

2. absence of government and absolute freedom of the individual, regarded as a political ideal.

– origin mid 16th cent.: via medieval Latin from Greek anarkhia, from anarkhos, from an- ‘without’ + arkhos ‘chief, ruler.’

Anasazi /ˌanəˈsäzē/

I. noun

a member of an ancient American Indian people of the southwestern US, who flourished between c. 200 BC and AD 1500. The earliest phase of their culture, typified by pit dwellings, is known as the Basket Maker period; the present day Pueblo culture developed from a later stage.

– origin 1930s: from Navajo, literally ‘ancestors of our enemies (the Pueblo peoples).’

anastigmat /ˌanəˈstiɡmat/

noun

an anastigmatic lens system.

anastigmatic /ˌanəstiɡˈmadik/

I. adjective

(of a lens system) constructed so that the astigmatism of each element is canceled out.

– origin late 19th cent.: from an-1 ‘not’ + astigmatic (see astigmatism).

anastomose /əˈnastəˌmōz əˈnastəˌmōs/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. [Medicine] be linked by anastomosis

• adjacent veins may anastomose.

2. [with obj.] (usu. be anastomosed) — [Medicine] link by anastomosis

• the graft is anastomosed to the vein of the recipient.

– origin late 17th cent.: coined in French from Greek anastomōsis (see anastomosis).

anastomosis /əˌnastəˈmōsəs/

I. noun

1. ‹technical› a cross-connection between adjacent channels, tubes, fibers, or other parts of a network.

2. ‹technical› [Medicine] a connection made surgically between adjacent blood vessels, parts of the intestine, or other channels of the body, or the operation in which this is constructed.

II. derivatives

anastomotic /-ˈmätik /

adjective, noun

– origin late 16th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek anastomōsis, from anastomoun ‘provide with a mouth.’

anastrophe /əˈnastrəfē/

I. noun

[Rhetoric] the inversion of the usual order of words or clauses.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Greek anastrophē ‘turning back,’ from ana- ‘back’ + strephein ‘to turn.’

anastrozole /anˈastrəˌzōl / ‹Medicine›

noun

a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor used in the treatment and prevention of breast cancer. It has been observed to have fewer adverse side effects than tamoxifen.

anat.

abbreviation

1. anatomical.

2. anatomy.

anatase /ˈanəˌtās, -ˌtāz/

I. noun

one of the tetragonal forms of titanium dioxide, usually found as brown crystals, used as a pigment in paints and inks.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French, from Greek anatasis ‘extension,’ with allusion to the length of the crystals.

anathema /əˈnaTHəmə/

I. noun

1. something or someone that one vehemently dislikes

• racial hatred was anathema to her.

2. a formal curse by a pope or a council of the Church, excommunicating a person or denouncing a doctrine.

3. ‹literary› a strong curse

• the sergeant clutched the ruined communicator, muttering anathemas.

– origin early 16th cent.: from ecclesiastical Latin, ‘excommunicated person, excommunication,’ from Greek anathema ‘thing dedicated,’ (later) ‘thing devoted to evil, accursed thing,’ from anatithenai ‘to set up.’

anathematize /əˈnaTHəməˌtīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. curse; condemn

• she anathematized Tom as the despoiler of a helpless widow.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French anathématiser, from Latin anathematizare, from Greek anathematizein, from anathema (see anathema).

Anatolia /ˌanəˈtōlēə/

the western peninsula of Asia, bounded by the Black, Aegean, and Mediterranean seas, that forms the greater part of Turkey.

Anatolian /ˌanəˈtōlēən/

I. adjective

of or relating to Anatolia, its inhabitants, or their ancient languages.

II. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Anatolia.

2. an extinct group of ancient languages constituting a branch of the Indo-European language family and including Hittite, Luwian, Lydian, and Lycian.

anatomical /ˌanəˈtämək(ə)l / anat.

I. adjective

1. of or relating to bodily structure

• anatomical abnormalities.

2. of or relating to anatomy

• anatomical lectures.

– origin late 16th cent.: from late Latin anatomicus, from anatomia (see anatomy), + -al.

anatomically /ˌanəˈtämək(ə)lē/

adverb

as regards bodily structure

• an anatomically correct replica of the human brain.

anatomically correct /ˌanəˌtämək(ə)lē kəˈrekt/

adjective

(of a doll) having the sexual organs plainly represented.

anatomist /əˈnadəməst/

I. noun

an expert in anatomy; a dissector.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French anatomiste, from a medieval Latin derivative of anatomizare (see anatomize).

anatomize /əˈnadəˌmīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. dissect (a body).

2. examine and analyze in detail

• successful comedy is notoriously difficult to anatomize.

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin anatomizare, from anatomia (see anatomy).

anatomy /əˈnadəmē / anat.

I. noun

1. the branch of science concerned with the bodily structure of humans, animals, and other living organisms, especially as revealed by dissection and the separation of parts.

2. the bodily structure of an organism

• descriptions of the cat's anatomy and behavior.

3. ‹informal› ‹humorous› a person's body

• he left dusty handprints on his lady customers' anatomies.

4. a study of the structure or internal workings of something

• Machiavelli's anatomy of the art of war.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French anatomie or late Latin anatomia, from Greek, from ana- ‘up’ + tomia ‘cutting’ (from temnein ‘to cut’).

Anaxagoras /ˌanəkˈsaɡərəs/

(c. 500–c. 428 BC), Greek philosopher. He believed that all matter was infinitely divisible and motionless until animated by mind (nous).

Anaximander /əˌnaksəˈmandər/

(c. 610–c. 545 BC), Greek scientist from Miletus. He believed the earth to be cylindrical and poised in space and is reputed to have taught that life began in water and that humans originated from fish.

Anaximenes /ˌanəkˈsimənēz/

(c. 546 BC), Greek philosopher and scientist from Miletus. He believed the earth to be flat and shallow, a view of astronomy that was a retrograde step from that of Anaximander.

ANC

abbreviation

African National Congress.

-ance /(ə)ns/

I. suffix

1. forming nouns:

2. denoting a quality or state or an instance of one

• allegiance

• extravagance

• perseverance.

3. denoting an action

• appearance

• utterance.

– origin representing French suffix -ance, from Latin nouns ending in -antia, -entia (from present participial stems -ant-, -ent-).

ancestor /ˈanˌsestər/

I. noun

1. a person, typically one more remote than a grandparent, from whom one is descended

• my ancestor Admiral Anson circumnavigated the globe 250 years ago.

2. an early type of animal or plant from which others have evolved.

3. an early version of a machine, system, etc.

• this instrument is an ancestor of the lute.

– origin Middle English: from Old French ancestre, from Latin antecessor, from antecedere, from ante ‘before’ + cedere ‘go.’

ancestral /anˈsestrəl/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of, belonging to, inherited from, or denoting an ancestor or ancestors

• the family's ancestral home

• the only records of the ancestral forms are their fossils.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French ancestrel, from ancestre (see ancestor).

ancestress /ˈanˌsestrəs/

noun

a female ancestor.

ancestry /ˈanˌsestrē/

I. noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. one's family or ethnic descent

• his Viking ancestry.

2. the evolutionary or genetic line of descent of an animal or plant

• the ancestry of the rose is extremely complicated.

3. the origin or background of something

• the book traces the ancestry of women's poetry.

– origin Middle English: alteration of Old French ancesserie, from ancestre (see ancestor).

Anchises /aNGˈkīsēz / ‹Greek & Roman Mythology›

the father of the Trojan hero Aeneas.

ancho /ˈanCHō, ˈän- / ancho chili

I. noun

a large aromatic variety of chili, used (usually dried) in dishes of Mexican origin or style.

– origin from Mexican Spanish (chile) ancho ‘wide (chili).’

anchoïade anchoiade

I. noun

a puree of anchovies, crushed garlic, and olive oil that is served with vegetables as a dip or spread on bread.

– origin Provençal, from French anchois ‘anchovy.’

anchor /ˈaNGkər/

I. noun

1. a heavy object attached to a rope or chain and used to moor a vessel to the sea bottom, typically one having a metal shank with a ring at one end for the rope and a pair of curved and/or barbed flukes at the other.

2. a person or thing that provides stability or confidence in an otherwise uncertain situation

• the European Community is the economic anchor of the New Europe.

3. (in full anchor store) — a store, e.g., a department store, that is the principal tenant of a mall or a shopping center.

4. (chiefly N. Amer.) an anchorman or anchorwoman, especially in broadcasting or athletics

• he signed off after nineteen years as CBS news anchor.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. moor (a ship) to the sea bottom with an anchor

• the ship was anchored in the lee of the island

• [no obj.] we anchored in the harbor.

2. secure firmly in position

• with cords and pitons they anchored him to the rock

• the tail is used as a hook with which the fish anchors itself to coral

• ‹figurative› the first baseman is anchored to the bag.

3. provide with a firm basis or foundation

• it is important that policy be anchored to some acceptable theoretical basis.

4. (chiefly N. Amer.) act as an anchor for (a television program or sporting event)

• she anchored a television documentary series in the early 1980s.

III. phrases

1. at anchor

(of a ship) moored by means of an anchor.

2. drop anchor

(of a ship) let down the anchor and moor.

3. weigh (or raise or heave) anchor

(of a ship) take up the anchor when ready to depart.

– origin Old English ancor, ancra, via Latin from Greek ankura; reinforced in Middle English by Old French ancre. The current form is from anchora, an erroneous Latin spelling. The verb (from Old French ancrer) dates from Middle English.

anchorage /ˈaNGk(ə)rij/

noun

1. an area that is suitable for a ship to anchor in.

2. the action of securing something to a base or the state of being secured

• the plant needs firm anchorage

• ‹figurative› the mother provides emotional anchorage.

3. ‹historical› an anchorite's dwelling place.

Anchorage /ˈaNGk(ə)rij/

a seaport in southern Alaska, on an inlet of the Pacific Ocean, the state's largest city; pop. 279,243 (est. 2008).

anchor baby

noun

‹offensive› used to refer to a child born to a noncitizen mother in a country which has birthright citizenship, especially when viewed as providing an advantage to family members seeking to secure citizenship or legal residency.

anchoress /ˈaNGk(ə)rəs/

noun

‹historical› a female anchorite.

anchorite /ˈaNGkəˌrīt/

I. noun

‹historical› a religious recluse.

II. derivatives

anchoritic /ˌaNGkəˈridik /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin anchorita (ecclesiastical Latin anchoreta), from ecclesiastical Greek anakhōrētēs, from anakhōrein ‘retire,’ from ana- ‘back’ + khōra, khōr- ‘a place.’

anchorman /ˈaNGkərˌman/

noun

1. a person who presents and coordinates a live television or radio program involving other contributors.

2. the central or most dependable contributor to something.

3. the member of a relay team who runs the last leg.

anchorperson /ˈaNGkərˌpərs(ə)n/

noun

an anchorman or anchorwoman (used as a neutral alternative).

anchor text

noun

the text that appears highlighted in a hypertext link and that can be clicked to open the target web page.

anchorwoman /ˈaNGkərˌwo͝omən/

noun

1. a woman who presents and coordinates a live television or radio program involving other contributors.

2. a female member of a relay team who runs the last leg

• the team's anchorwoman was the primary reason why they won April's crown.

anchovy /ˈanˌCHōvē anˈCHōvē/

I. noun

a small shoaling fish of commercial importance as a food fish and as bait. It is strongly flavored and is usually preserved in salt and oil.
[Genus Engraulis, family Engraulidae: several species, including E. encrasicolus of European waters.]

– origin late 16th cent.: from Spanish and Portuguese anchova, of unknown origin.

anchusa /aNGˈkyo͞ozə/

I. noun

an Old World plant of the borage family, often cultivated for its bright, typically blue, flowers.
[Genus Anchusa, family Boraginaceae.]

– origin via Latin from Greek ankhousa.

ancien régime /ˌänsēen rəˈZHēm/

I. noun

1. a political or social system that has been displaced, typically by one more modern.

2. (Ancien Régime) — the political and social system in France before the Revolution of 1789.

– origin late 18th cent.: French, literally ‘old rule.’

ancient^1 /ˈān(t)SHənt/

I. adjective

1. belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence

• the ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean.

2. having been in existence for a very long time

• an ancient gateway

• ancient forests.

3. ‹chiefly humorous› showing or feeling signs of age or wear

• an ancient pair of jeans

• you make me feel ancient.

II. noun

‹archaic› ‹humorous› an old person

• a solitary ancient in a tweed jacket.

III. phrases

1. the Ancient of Days

a biblical title for God.

2. the ancients

a. the people of ancient times, especially the Greeks and Romans of classical antiquity.

b. the classical Greek and Roman authors

• a thorough knowledge of the ancients is a prerequisite of criticism.

IV. derivatives

ancientness

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French ancien, based on Latin ante ‘before.’

ancient^2 /ˈān(t)SHənt/

I. noun

‹archaic› a standard, flag, or ensign.

– origin mid 16th cent.: alteration of ensign by association with ancien, an early form of ancient^1.

ancient history

I. noun

1. the history of the ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean area and the Near East up to the fall of the Western Roman Empire in AD 476.

2. ‹informal› something that is already long familiar and no longer new, interesting, or relevant

• the New Wave is ancient history now.

II. derivatives

ancient historian

noun

anciently /ˈān(t)SHən(t)lē/

adverb

long ago

• the area was anciently called Dalriada.

ancient world

noun

the region around the Mediterranean and the Near East before the fall of the Western Roman Empire in AD 476.

ancillary /ˈansəˌlerē/

I. adjective

1. providing necessary support to the primary activities or operation of an organization, institution, industry, or system

• the development of ancillary services to support its products.

2. additional; subsidiary

• paragraph 19 was merely ancillary to paragraph 16.

II. noun

1. a person whose work provides necessary support to the primary activities of an organization, institution, or industry

• the employment of specialist teachers and ancillaries.

2. something that functions in a supplementary or supporting role

• undergraduate courses of three main subjects with related ancillaries.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin ancillaris, from ancilla ‘maidservant.’

ancon /ˈaNGkän/

I. noun

1. [Architecture] a console or bracket, typically with two volutes, that supports or appears to support a cornice.

2. [Architecture] each of a pair of projections on either side of a block of stone or other material, used for lifting it.

– origin early 18th cent. (denoting the corner or quoin of a wall or rafter): via Latin from Greek ankōn ‘bend, elbow.’

Ancona^1 /aNGˈkōnə/

a port on the Adriatic coast of central Italy, capital of Marche region; pop. 102,047 (2008).

Ancona^2 /ˌaNGˈkōnə/

I. noun

a chicken of a breed with mottled black and white plumage.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from the place name Ancona (see Ancona^1).

-ancy

I. suffix

(forming nouns) denoting a quality or state

• buoyancy

• expectancy.

Compare with -ance.

– origin representing Latin suffix -antia (see also -ency).

ancylostomiasis /ˌaNGkəlōstəˈmīəsis, ˌansə- / ankylostomiasis

I. noun

[Medicine] hookworm infection of the small intestine, often leading to anemia.
[The infecting organism is typically Ancylostoma duodenale, class Phasmida (or Secernentea).]

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Ancylostoma (from Greek ankulos ‘crooked’ + stoma ‘mouth’) + -iasis.

Ancyra /anˈsīrə/

ancient Roman name for Ankara.

and /and (ə)n/

I. conjunction

1. used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences that are to be taken jointly

• bread and butter

• red and black tiles

• they can read and write

• a hundred and fifty.

2. used to connect two clauses when the second happens after the first

• he turned around and walked out

• she washed and dried her hair.

3. used to connect two clauses, the second of which results from the first

• do that once more, and I'll skin you alive.

4. connecting two identical comparatives, to emphasize a progressive change

• getting better and better

• he felt more and more like an outsider.

5. connecting two identical words, implying great duration or great extent

• I cried and cried

• it takes hours and hours.

6. used to connect two identical words to indicate that things of the same name or class have different qualities

• all human conduct is determined or caused—but there are causes and causes.

7. used to connect two numbers to indicate that they are being added together

• six and four make ten.

8. ‹archaic› used to connect two numbers, implying succession

• a line of men marching two and two.

9. used to introduce an additional comment or interjection

• if it came to a choice—and this was the worst thing—she would turn her back on her parents

• they believe they are descended from him, and quite right, too.

10. used to introduce a question in connection with what someone else has just said

• “I found the letter in her bag.” “And did you steam it open?”

11. (especially in broadcasting) used to introduce a statement about a new topic

• and now to the dessert.

12. ‹informal› used after some verbs and before another verb to indicate intention, instead of “to”

• I would try and do what he said

• come and see me.

II. noun

1. [Logic] [Electronics] a Boolean operator that gives the value one if and only if all the operands are one, and otherwise has a value of zero.

2. (also AND gate) — [Logic] [Electronics] a circuit that produces an output signal only when signals are received simultaneously through all input connections.

III. phrases

and/or

either or both of two stated possibilities

• audio and/or video components.

– origin Old English and, ond, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch en and German und. / usage: 1 It is still widely taught and believed that conjunctions such as and (and also but and because) should not be used to start a sentence, the argument being that a sentence starting with and expresses an incomplete thought and is therefore incorrect. Writers down the centuries have readily ignored this advice, however, using and to start a sentence, typically for rhetorical effect: What are the government's chances of winning in court? And what are the consequences? 2 A small number of verbs—notably try, come, and go—can be followed by ‘and’ with another verb, as in sentences like we're going to try and explain it to them or why don't you come and see the film? Such structures in these verbs correspond to the use of the infinitive ‘to,’ as in we're going to try to explain it to them or why don't you come to see the film? Since these structures are grammatically odd and, though extremely common, are mainly restricted to informal English, they are regarded as wrong by some and should be avoided in formal standard English. 3 On whether it is more correct to say both the boys and the girls or both the boys and girls, see usage at both. 4 Where a number of items are separated by and, the following verb needs to be in the plural: see usage at or^1.

-and

I. suffix

(forming nouns) denoting a person or thing to be treated in a specified way

• analysand.

– origin from Latin gerundive ending -andus.

Andalusia /ˌandəˈlo͞oZH(ē)ə/

the southernmost region of Spain, bordering on the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea; capital, Seville. The region was under Moorish rule from 711 to 1492.

Andalusian /ˌandəˈlo͞oZHēən/

I. adjective

of or relating to Andalusia or its people or their dialect.

II. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Andalusia.

2. the dialect of Spanish spoken in Andalusia.

3. a light horse of a strong breed from Andalusia.

andalusite /ˌandəˈlo͞osīt/

I. noun

a gray, green, brown, or pink aluminosilicate mineral occurring mainly in metamorphic rocks as elongated rhombic prisms, sometimes of gem quality.

– origin early 19th cent.: from the name of the Spanish region of Andalusia + -ite^1.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands /ˈandəmən and ˈnikəˌbär, ˈandəˌman/

two groups of islands in the Bay of Bengal that constitute a Union Territory in India; pop. 423,700 (est. 2009); capital, Port Blair.

andante /änˈdänˌtā / ‹Music›

I. adjective, adverb

(especially as a direction) in a moderately slow tempo.

II. noun

a movement or composition marked to be played andante.

– origin Italian, literally ‘going,’ present participle of andare.

andantino /ˌändänˈtēnō / ‹Music›

I. adjective, adverb

(especially as a direction) more lighthearted than andante, and in most cases quicker.

II. noun

a movement or composition marked to be played andantino.

– origin Italian, diminutive of andante.

Andean /ˈandēən anˈdēən/

I. adjective

of or relating to the Andes.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of the Andes.

Andersen, Hans Christian /ˈandərsən, ˈänərsən/

(1805–75), Danish author. He is noted for his fairy tales, published from 1835, such as “The Snow Queen,” “The Ugly Duckling,” and “The Little Match Girl.”

Anderson /ˈandərsən/

I. an industrial city in east central Indiana; pop. 57,282 (est. 2008).

II. a city in northwestern South Carolina; pop. 27,027 (est. 2008).

III. a city in north central California; pop. 10,538 (est. 2008).

Anderson, Carl David

(1905–91), US physicist. In 1932, he discovered the positron—the first antiparticle known. Nobel Prize for Physics (1936), shared with Victor F. Hess.

Anderson, Elizabeth Garrett

(1836–1917), English physician. In 1866 she established a dispensary for women and children in London.

Anderson, Marian

(1897–1993), US opera singer. Initially barred from giving concerts in the US because of racial discrimination, she gained international success during several European tours 1925–35. Her US career flourished from 1936; in 1955, she became the first black singer to perform at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York.

Anderson, Maxwell

(1888–1959), US playwright. His plays, many of which are written in verse, deal with social and moral problems. He also wrote many historical dramas. Notable works: Elizabeth the Queen (1930), Key Largo (1939), Anne of the Thousand Days (1948), and The Bad Seed (1954).

Anderson, Philip Warren

(1923–), American physicist. He made significant contributions to the study of solid-state physics, investigating magnetism and superconductivity. Nobel Prize for Physics (1977).

Anderson, Sherwood

(1876–1941), US author. He is noted for Winesburg, Ohio (1919), a collection of interrelated short stories that explore a discontent with small-town life.

Andersonville /ˈandərsənˌvil/

a village in southwestern Georgia, near Americus, that was the site of a large and infamous Confederate prison camp during the Civil War.

Andes /ˈandēz/

a major mountain system that runs the length of the Pacific coast of South America. It extends more than 5,000 miles (8,000 km), with a continuous height of more than 10,000 feet (3,000 m). Its highest peak is Aconcagua.

andesite /ˈandəˌzīt/

I. noun

[Geology] a dark, fine-grained, brown or grayish volcanic rock that is intermediate in composition between rhyolite and basalt.

II. derivatives

andesitic /ˌandiˈzitik /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after the Andes mountains, where it is found + -ite^1.

Andhra Pradesh /ˌəndrə prəˈdāSH, ˈändrə, prəˈdeSH/

a state in southeastern India, on the Bay of Bengal; capital, Hyderabad.

andiron /ˈanˌdīərn/

I. noun

a metal support, typically one of a pair, that holds wood burning in a fireplace.

– origin Middle English: from Old French andier, of unknown origin. The ending was altered by association with iron.

Andorra /anˈdôrə/

1. a small autonomous principality in southwestern Europe, in the southern Pyrenees, between France and Spain; pop. 83,900 (est. 2009); capital, Andorra la Vella; languages, Catalan (official) and French.

Andorra's independence dates from the late 8th century, when Charlemagne is said to have granted the Andorrans self-government for their help in defeating the Moors. Since World War II, tourism has driven the economy.

Andorran /anˈdôrən/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of Andorra or its people

• the oldest known church in the Andorran valleys.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of Andorra

• many Andorrans live in traditional, slate-roofed, stone farmhouses.

andouille /anˈdo͞oē/

I. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a spicy pork sausage seasoned with garlic, used especially in Cajun cooking.

– origin early 17th cent.: French.

andouillette /ˌandwēˈyet/

I. noun

a very small French sausage similar to andouille.

– origin French.

Andover /ˈanˌdōvər, ˈandəvər/

a town in northeastern Massachusetts, home to Phillips Academy, a noted prep school; pop. 33,418 (est. 2008).

andr-

combining form

andro- shortened before a vowel (as in androecium).

andradite /ˈandrəˌdīt/

I. noun

a mineral of the garnet group, containing calcium and iron. It occurs as yellow, green, brown, or black crystals, sometimes of gem quality.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after J. B. de Andrada e Silva (c. 1763–1838), Brazilian geologist, + -ite^1.

andragogy /ˈandrəˌɡäjē, -ɡäɡē/

I. noun

the method and practice of teaching adult learners; adult education.

• much has been written about andragogy in general education circles over the past fifty years.

II. derivatives

andragogical

adjective

– origin 1920s: blend of andro- and pedagogy.

Andre, Carl /ˈänˌdrā/

(1935–), US sculptor. Many of his works are ready-made units, such as bricks, stacked according to a mathematical system and without adhesives or joints.

André, John /ˈandrē/

(1750–80), British soldier. During 1779–80, he successfully negotiated with Benedict Arnold for the betrayal of West Point to the British. Captured while returning from West Point, he was tried and hanged as a spy.

Andreanof Islands /ˌandrēˈanôf, -əf, ˌändrēˈänəf/

an island group in southwestern Alaska, part of the Aleutian Islands.

Andretti, Mario /anˈdretē/

(1940–), US race car driver, born in Italy; full name Mario Gabriele Andretti. He won the Daytona 500 in 1967, the Indianapolis 500 in 1969, and the Grand Prix world driving championship in 1978.

Andrew, Prince /ˈandro͞o/

(1960–), British prince; second son of Elizabeth II; full name Andrew Albert Christian Edward, Duke of York. He married Sarah Ferguson in 1986, but the couple divorced in 1996; they have two children, Princess Beatrice (1988–) and Princess Eugenie (1990–).

Andrew, St.

an Apostle; the brother of St. Peter. The X-shaped cross is associated with him because he is said to have been crucified on such a cross. He is the patron saint of Scotland and Russia. Feast day, November 30.

Andrews, Julie /ˈanˌdro͞oz/

(1935–), English actress and singer; born Julia Elizabeth Wells. Best known for her lead roles in Mary Poppins (1964) and The Sound of Music (1965), she also starred in a number of other movies, including Darling Lili (1970), Victor/Victoria (1982), and The Princess Diaries (2001).

Andrews, Thomas

(1813–85), Irish physical chemist. He discovered the critical temperature of carbon dioxide and showed that ozone is an allotrope of oxygen.

Andrewsarchus /ˌandro͞oˈsärkəs/

I. noun

a very large carnivorous mammal (Andrewsarchus mongoliensis, order Creodonta) of the Eocene epoch.

– origin modern Latin: from the name of US paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews (1884-1960), who led the expedition on which the animal's fossils were found, + Greek arkhos ‘ruler.’

andro /ˈandrō/

noun

another term for androstenedione.

andro- andr-

combining form

man (as opposed to woman)

• androcentric

• androgenize.

androcentric /ˌandrōˈsentrik/

I. adjective

focused or centered on men

• in the radical feminist view science is sexist and androcentric.

II. derivatives

androcentrism /ˌandrōˈsentrizəm /

noun

– origin early 20th cent.: from Greek anēr, andr- ‘man’ + -centric.

Androcles /ˈandrəˌklēz/

a runaway slave in a story by Aulus Gellius (2nd century AD) who extracted a thorn from the paw of a lion, which later recognized him and refrained from attacking him when he faced it in the arena.

androcracy /anˈdräkrəsē/

I. noun

a social system ruled or dominated by men.

II. derivatives

androcratic /ˌandrəˈkratik /

adjective

androecium /anˈdrēSH(ē)əm/

I. noun

[Botany] the stamens of a flower collectively.

– origin mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek anēr, andr- ‘man’ + oikion ‘house.’

androgen /ˈandrəjən/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a male sex hormone, such as testosterone.

II. derivatives

androgenic /ˌandrəˈjenik /

adjective

– origin 1930s: from Greek anēr, andr- ‘man’ + -gen.

androgenize /anˈdräjəˌnīz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. androgenized)

1. treat with or expose to male hormones, typically resulting in the production of male sexual characteristics.

II. derivatives

androgenization /anˌdräjənəˈzāSHən /

noun

androgyne /ˈandrəˌjīn/

I. noun

1. an androgynous individual.

2. a hermaphrodite.

– origin mid 16th cent. (as a noun): via Latin from Greek androgunos, from anēr, andr- ‘man’ + gunē ‘woman.’

androgynous /anˈdräjənəs/

I. adjective

1. partly male and partly female in appearance; of indeterminate sex.

2. ‹dated› having the physical characteristics of both sexes; hermaphrodite.

II. derivatives

1. androgynously

adverb

2. androgyny /anˈdräj(ə)nē /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin androgynus (see androgyne) + -ous.

android /ˈanˌdroid/

I. noun

1. (in science fiction) a robot with a human appearance.

2. (Android) ( in the UK) — ‹trademark› an open-source operating system used for smartphones and tablet computers
[as modifier]

• I have an Android phone and I like it a lot.

– origin early 18th cent. (in the modern Latin form): from modern Latin androides, from Greek anēr, andr- ‘man’ + -oid.

andrology /anˈdräləjē/

I. noun

the branch of physiology and medicine that deals with diseases and conditions specific to men.

II. derivatives

andrologist

noun

Andromache /anˈdräməkē / ‹Greek Mythology›

the wife of Hector. She became the slave of Neoptolemus (son of Achilles) after the fall of Troy.

andromeda /anˈdrämədə/

noun

an evergreen shrub of the heath family, typically with clusters of small bell-like flowers.
[Two genera in the family Ericaceae: several species, including the bog rosemary (Andromeda glaucophylla and A. polifolia) of north temperate regions, and the widely cultivated Japanese andromeda (Pieris japonica).]

Andromeda /anˈdrämədə/

I. [Greek Mythology] an Ethiopian princess whose mother Cassiopeia boasted that she herself (or, in some stories, her daughter) was more beautiful than the Nereids. In revenge, Poseidon sent a sea monster to ravage the country; to placate him, Andromeda was fastened to a rock and exposed to the monster, from which she was rescued by Perseus.

II. [Astronomy] a large northern constellation between Perseus and Pegasus, with few bright stars. It is chiefly notable for the Andromeda Galaxy (or Great Nebula of Andromeda), a conspicuous spiral galaxy probably twice as massive as our own and located 2 million light years away.

III. (as genitive Andromedae ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate stars in this constellation

• the star Gamma Andromedae.

andropause /ˈandrəˌpôz/

I. noun

a collection of symptoms, including fatigue and a decrease in libido, experienced by some middle-aged men and attributed to a gradual decline in testosterone levels.

II. derivatives

andropausal

adjective

– origin 1960s: from andro-, on the pattern of menopause.

Andropov /anˈdräpôf, änˈdrôpəf/

former name (1984–89) for Rybinsk.

Andropov, Yuri /änˈdrôpəf/

(1914–84), Soviet statesman; general secretary of the Communist Party of the former Soviet Union 1982–84 and president 1983–84; full name Yuri Vladimirovich Andropov. As president, he initiated the reform process that was carried out by Mikhail Gorbachev, his successor.

Androscoggin River /ˌandrəˌskäɡən ˈrivər/

a river that flows for 175 miles (280 km) from northern New Hampshire through southwestern Maine to the Atlantic Ocean.

androstenedione /ˌandrəˌstēnˈdīōn/

noun

a naturally occurring steroid hormone, also available as a dietary supplement, believed to increase levels of serum testosterone.
Also called andro.

androsterone /anˈdrästəˌrōn/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a relatively inactive male sex hormone produced by metabolism of testosterone.

– origin 1930s: from Greek anēr, andr- ‘man’ + sterol + -one.

-androus

I. combining form

[Botany] [Zoology] having male organs or stamens of a specified number

• monandrous

• protandrous.

– origin based on modern Latin -andrus, from Greek -andros, from andros, genitive of anēr ‘man.’

-ane^1

suffix

variant spelling of -an, usually with a distinction of sense (such as humane compared with human) but sometimes with no corresponding form in -an (such as mundane).

-ane^2

I. suffix

[Chemistry] forming names of saturated hydrocarbons

• methane

• propane.

– origin on the pattern of words such as -ene, -ine.

anecdotage /ˈanəkˌdōdij/

noun

1. anecdotes collectively

• a number of reports cannot be dismissed as anecdotage.

[early 19th cent.: from anecdote + -age.]

2. ‹humorous› old age, especially in someone who is inclined to be garrulous.
[late 18th cent.: from a blend of anecdote and dotage.]

anecdotal /ˌanəkˈdōdl/

I. adjective

1. (of an account) not necessarily true or reliable, because based on personal accounts rather than facts or research

• while there was much anecdotal evidence there was little hard fact

• these claims were purely anecdotal.

2. characterized by or fond of telling anecdotes

• her book is anecdotal and chatty.

3. [attrib.] — (of a painting) depicting small narrative incidents

• nineteenth-century French anecdotal paintings.

II. derivatives

1. anecdotalist /-tl-ist /

noun

2. anecdotally

adverb

anecdote /ˈanəkˌdōt/

I. noun

1. a short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person

• told anecdotes about his job

• he had a rich store of anecdotes.

2. an account regarded as unreliable or hearsay

• his wife's death has long been the subject of rumor and anecdote.

3. the depiction of a minor narrative incident in a painting.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French, or via modern Latin from Greek anekdota ‘things unpublished,’ from an- ‘not’ + ekdotos, from ekdidōnai ‘publish.’

anechoic /ˌanəˈkōik/

adjective

1. ‹technical› free from echo

• an anechoic chamber.

2. ‹technical› (of a coating or material) tending to deaden sound.

anele /əˈnēl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› anoint (someone), especially as part of the Christian rite of giving extreme unction to the dying.

– origin Middle English: from an- ‘on’ + archaic elien ‘to oil’ (from Old English ele, from Latin oleum ‘oil’).

anemia /əˈnēmēə / ‹Brit.› anaemia

I. noun

a condition marked by a deficiency of red blood cells or of hemoglobin in the blood, resulting in pallor and weariness.

– origin early 19th cent.: via modern Latin from Greek anaimia, from an- ‘without’ + haima ‘blood.’

anemic /əˈnēmik / ‹Brit.› anaemic

adjective

1. suffering from anemia.

2. lacking in color, spirit, or vitality.

anemo-

combining form

wind

• anemometer.

anemograph /əˈneməˌɡraf/

I. noun

an anemometer that records on paper the speed, duration, and sometimes also the direction of the wind.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek anemos ‘wind’ + -graph.

anemometer /ˌanəˈmämədər/

I. noun

an instrument for measuring the speed of the wind, or of any current of gas.

II. derivatives

1. anemometry /ˌanəˈmämətrē /

noun

2. anemometric /-məˈmetrik /

adjective

– origin early 18th cent.: from Greek anemos ‘wind’ + -meter.

anemone /əˈnemənē/

I. noun

1. a plant of the buttercup family, typically bearing brightly colored flowers. Anemones are widely distributed in the wild, and several kinds are popular garden plants.
[Genus Anemone, family Ranunculaceae: numerous species, including the North American wood anemone (A. quinquefolia).]

2. short for sea anemone.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin, said to be from Greek anemōnē ‘windflower,’ literally ‘daughter of the wind,’ from anemos ‘wind,’ thought to be so named because the flowers open only when the wind blows.

anemone fish

noun

another term for clownfish.

anemophilous /ˌanəˈmäfələs/

I. adjective

[Botany] (of a plant) wind-pollinated.

II. derivatives

anemophily /ˌanəˈmäfəlē /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek anemos ‘wind’ + -philous (see -philia).

anencephalic /ˌanensəˈfalik / ‹Medicine›

I. adjective

having part or all of the cerebral hemispheres and the rear of the skull congenitally absent.

II. noun

an anencephalic fetus or infant.

III. derivatives

anencephaly /-ˈsefəlē /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek anenkephalos ‘without brain’ + -ic.

anent /əˈnent/

I. preposition

‹chiefly archaic› concerning; about

• I'll say a few words anent the letter.

– origin Old English on efen ‘in line with, in company with.’

-aneous

I. suffix

forming adjectives from Latin words

• cutaneous

• spontaneous.

– origin from the Latin suffix -aneus + -ous.

anergia /aˈnərj(ē)ə/

I. noun

[Psychiatry] abnormal lack of energy.

– origin late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek an- ‘without’ + ergon ‘work.’

anergy /ˈanərjē/

I. noun

1. [Medicine] absence of the normal immune response to a particular antigen or allergen.

2. another term for anergia.

II. derivatives

anergic /əˈnərjik /

adjective

– origin early 20th cent.: from German Anergie, from Greek an- ‘not,’ on the pattern of Allergie ‘allergy.’

aneroid /ˈanəˌroid/

I. adjective

relating to or denoting a barometer that measures air pressure by the action of the air in deforming the elastic lid of an evacuated box or chamber.

II. noun

an aneroid barometer.

– origin mid 19th cent.: coined in French from Greek a- ‘without’ + nēros ‘water.’

anesthesia /ˌanəsˈTHēZHə / ‹Brit.› anaesthesia

I. noun

insensitivity to pain, especially as artificially induced by the administration of gases or the injection of drugs before surgical operations.

– origin early 18th cent.: from modern Latin anaesthesia, from Greek anaisthēsia, from an- ‘without’ + aisthēsis ‘sensation.’

anesthesiology /ˌanəsˌTHēzēˈäləjē / ‹Brit.› anaesthesiology

I. noun

the branch of medicine concerned with anesthesia and anesthetics.

II. derivatives

anesthesiologist /ˌanəsˌTHēzēˈäləjəst /

noun

anesthetic /ˌanəsˈTHedik / ‹Brit.› anaesthetic

I. noun

1. a substance that induces insensitivity to pain.

2. [treated as sing.] (anesthetics) — the study or practice of anesthesia.

II. adjective

inducing or relating to insensitivity to pain.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek anaisthētos ‘insensible,’ related to anaisthēsia (see anesthesia), + -ic.

anesthetist /əˈnesTHədəst / ‹Brit.› anaesthetist

noun

a medical specialist who administers anesthetics.

anesthetize /əˈnesTHəˌtīz / ‹Brit.› anaesthetize

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. administer an anesthetic to (a person or animal), especially so as to induce a loss of consciousness.

2. deprive of feeling or awareness

• tragedy of a magnitude that anesthetizes the mind.

II. derivatives

anesthetization /əˌnesTHədəˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

aneuploid /ˈanyo͝oˌploid/

I. adjective

[Genetics] having particular genes or chromosomal regions present in extra or fewer copies than in the normal type.

II. derivatives

aneuploidy

noun

aneurysm /ˈanyəˌrizəm / aneurism

I. noun

[Medicine] an excessive localized enlargement of an artery caused by a weakening of the artery wall.

II. derivatives

aneurysmal /ˈanyəˌrizm(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Greek aneurusma ‘dilatation,’ from aneurunein ‘widen out.’

anew /əˈn(y)o͞o/

adverb

1. ‹chiefly literary› in a new or different, typically more positive, way

• her career had begun anew, with a lucrative Japanese modeling contract.

2. ‹chiefly literary› once more; again

• tears filled her eyes anew.

anfractuous /anˈfrak(t)SHo͞oəs/

I. adjective

‹rare› sinuous or circuitous.

II. derivatives

anfractuosity /-ˌfrakCHo͞oˈäsitē /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from late Latin anfractuosus, from Latin anfractus ‘a bending.’

Angara River /ˌäNGɡəˈrä, ˌəNG-/

a river in the southeastern part of Siberia in Russia that flows northwest and west for 1,039 miles (1,779 km) from Lake Baikal to meet the Yenisei River south of Yeniseysk.

angel /ˈānjəl/

I. noun

1. a spiritual being believed to act as an attendant, agent, or messenger of God, conventionally represented in human form with wings and a long robe

• God sent an angel to talk to Gideon

• the Angel of Death

• ‹figurative› Ella, ever the angel of mercy, organized the girls into baking cookies.

2. an attendant spirit, especially a benevolent one

• there was an angel watching over me.

See also guardian angel.

3. in traditional Christian angelology, a being of the lowest order of the celestial hierarchy.

4. a person of exemplary conduct or virtue

• women were then seen as angels or whores

• I know I'm no angel.

5. used in similes or comparisons to refer to a person's outstanding beauty, qualities, or abilities

• you sang like an angel.

6. used in approval when a person has been or is expected to be kind or willing to oblige

• be an angel and let us come in.

7. used as a term of endearment

• I miss you too, angel.

8. (also angel investor or business angel) — a person who supports a business financially, typically one who invests private capital in a small or newly established enterprise

• the longer it takes you to get your product into the marketplace, the longer it will be until the angels get their money back.

9. a financial backer of a theatrical production

• every year we raise the money for the next season and we are always looking for an angel.

10. ‹historical› an English coin minted between 1470 and 1634 and bearing the figure of the archangel Michael killing a dragon.

11. (angels) — [Aviation] ‹informal› an aircraft's altitude (often used with a numeral indicating thousands of feet)

• we rendezvous at angels nine.

12. [Aviation] ‹informal› an unexplained radar echo.

II. phrases

1. the angel in the house

‹chiefly ironic› a woman who is completely devoted to her husband and family.
[phrase from a poem by Coventry Patmore.]

2. on the side of the angels

on the side of what is right and just.

– origin Old English engel, ultimately via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek angelos ‘messenger’; superseded in Middle English by forms from Old French angele.

angel dust

noun

1. ‹informal› the hallucinogenic drug phencyclidine hydrochloride.

2. ‹informal› another term for clenbuterol.

Angeleno /ˌanjəˈlēnō / Los Angeleno, Angelino

I. noun

a native or inhabitant of Los Angeles
[as modifier]

• Angeleno sports fans.

– origin late 19th cent.: from American Spanish.

Angel Falls /ˌānjəl ˈfôlz/

a waterfall in the Guiana Highlands of southeastern Venezuela. The highest waterfall in the world, it has an uninterrupted descent of 3,210 feet (978 m). The falls were discovered in 1935 by US aviator and prospector James Angel (c. 1899–1956).

angelfish /ˈānjəlˌfiSH/

noun

any of a number of laterally compressed deep-bodied fish with extended dorsal and anal fins, typically brightly colored or boldly striped, including.
[● a freshwater fish native to the Amazon basin (genus Pterophyllum, family Cichlidae), in particular P. scalare, popular in tropical aquariums. ● a coastal marine fish (several genera in the family Pomacanthidae), including the blue and yellow queen angelfish (Holacanthus ciliaris) and the more drably colored gray angelfish (Pomacanthus arcuatus). ● another term for batfish (sense 2).]

angel food cake /ˈānjəl ˌfo͞od ˈkāk / ‹Brit.› angel cake

noun

a light, pale sponge cake made of flour, egg whites, and no fat, typically baked in a ring shape and covered with soft icing.

angel hair angel's hair

noun

a type of pasta consisting of very fine long strands.

angelic /anˈjelik/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to angels

• the angelic hosts.

2. (of a person) exceptionally beautiful, innocent, or kind

• she looks remarkably young and angelic.

II. derivatives

1. angelical /anˈjelək(ə)l /

adjective

2. angelically /anˈjelək(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from French angélique, via late Latin from Greek angelikos, from angelos (see angel).

angelica /anˈjeləkə/

I. noun

1. a tall aromatic plant of the parsley family, with large leaves and yellowish-green flowers. Native to both Eurasia and North America, it is used in cooking and herbal medicine.
[Genus Angelica, family Umbelliferae: many species, esp. the cultivated A. archangelica.]

2. the candied stalk of the angelica plant.

– origin early 16th cent.: from medieval Latin (herba) angelica ‘angelic (herb),’ so named because it was believed to be efficacious against poisoning and disease.

angelica tree

noun

another term for devil's walking stick (see Hercules-club).

Angelic Doctor

the nickname of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Angelico, Fra /änˈjelikō/

(c. 1400–55), Italian painter and Dominican friar; born Guido di Pietro; monastic name Fra Giovanni da Fiesole. Notable works: the frescos in the convent of San Marco, Florence (c. 1438–47).

Angel Island

an island in San Francisco Bay, in north central California, that was the chief immigration station on the US western coast. It is now a state park.

Angelman syndrome /ˈaNGɡəlmən ˌsindrōm / Angelman's syndrome

I. noun

a rare congenital disorder characterized by mental disability and a tendency toward jerky movement, caused by the absence of certain genes normally present on the copy of chromosome 15 inherited from the mother.

– origin 1970s: named after Harold Angelman, British doctor who described the condition.

angelology /ˌānjəˈläləjē/

I. noun

theological dogma or speculation concerning angels

• Gnostic angelology influenced Pseudo-Dionysius.

II. derivatives

angelologist /-jist /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.

Angelou, Maya /ˈanjəˌlō, -ˌlo͞o/

(1928–2014), US novelist and poet; born Marguerite Ann Johnson. The first volume of her autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1970), which recounts her harrowing experiences as a black child in the US South, was followed by six more: Gather Together in My Name (1974), Singin’ and Swingin’ and Gettin’ Merry Like Christmas (1976), The Heart of a Woman (1981), All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes (1986), A Song Flung Up to Heaven (2002), and Mom & Me & Mom (2013).

angel shark /ˈānjəl SHärk/

noun

an active bottom-dwelling cartilaginous fish with broad winglike pectoral fins.
[Family Squatinidae and genus Squatina: several species, in particular the Atlantic angel shark (S. dumerili).]

angel's trumpet

noun

a South American shrub or small tree of the nightshade family, with distinctive trumpet-shaped flowers, cultivated as an ornamental and in some regions consumed for its narcotic properties.
[Genus Brugmansia, family Solanaceae.]

Angelus /ˈanjələs / angelus

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. a Roman Catholic devotion commemorating the Incarnation of Jesus and including the Hail Mary, said at morning, noon, and sunset.

2. a ringing of church bells announcing this.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from the Latin phrase Angelus domini ‘the angel of the Lord,’ the opening words of the devotion.

angel wings

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. a white edible piddock found on the east coast of North America and in the West Indies.
[Barnea costata, family Pholadidae.]

anger /ˈaNGɡər/

I. noun

a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility

• the colonel's anger at his daughter's disobedience.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. fill (someone) with anger; provoke anger in

• she was angered by his terse answer

• [with obj. and infinitive] I was angered to receive a further letter from them

• [with obj. and clause] he was angered that he had not been told.

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse angr ‘grief,’ angra ‘vex.’ The original use was in the Old Norse senses; current senses date from late Middle English.

Angers /ˈanjərz, äNˈZHā/

a town in western France, capital of the former province of Anjou; pop. 156,965 (2006).

Angevin /ˈanjəvən/

I. noun

1. a native, inhabitant, or ruler of Anjou.

2. any of the Plantagenet kings of England, especially those who were also counts of Anjou (Henry II, Richard I, and John).

II. adjective

1. of or relating to Anjou.

2. of, relating to, or denoting the Plantagenets.

– origin from French, from medieval Latin Andegavinus, from Andegavum ‘Angers’ (see Angers).

angina /anˈjīnə/

I. noun

1. (also angina pectoris ) — a condition marked by severe pain in the chest, often also spreading to the shoulders, arms, and neck, caused by an inadequate blood supply to the heart.

2. [with modifier] — any of a number of disorders in which there is an intense localized pain

• Ludwig's angina.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the Latin sense): from Latin, ‘quinsy,’ from Greek ankhonē ‘strangling’; pectoris (sense 1): Latin, ‘of the chest.’

angio-

I. combining form

1. relating to blood vessels

• angiography.

2. relating to seed vessels

• angiosperm.

– origin from Greek angeion ‘vessel.’

angiogenesis /ˌanjēōˈjenəsəs/

I. noun

[Medicine] the development of new blood vessels.

II. derivatives

angiogenic /-ˈjenik /

adjective

angiogram /ˈanjēəˌɡram/

noun

an X-ray photograph of blood or lymph vessels, made by angiography.

angiography /ˌanjēˈäɡrəfē/

I. noun

examination by X-ray of blood or lymph vessels, carried out after introduction of a radiopaque substance.

II. derivatives

1. angiographer /-fər /

noun

2. angiographic /-əˈɡrafik /

adjective

3. angiographically /-əˈɡrafik(ə)lē /

adverb

angioma /ˌanjēˈōmə/

I. noun

[Medicine] an abnormal growth produced by the dilatation or new formation of blood vessels.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek angeion ‘vessel’ + -oma.

angioplasty /ˈanjēəˌplastē/

noun

surgical repair or unblocking of a blood vessel, especially a coronary artery.
See also balloon angioplasty.

angiosperm /ˈanjēəˌspərm/

noun

[Botany] a plant that has flowers and produces seeds enclosed within a carpel. The angiosperms are a large group and include herbaceous plants, shrubs, grasses, and most trees.
Compare with gymnosperm. [Subdivision Angiospermae, division Spermatophyta.]

angiostatin /ˌanjēōˈstatn/

noun

[Medicine] a drug used to inhibit the growth of new blood vessels in malignant tumors.

angiotensin /ˌanjēōˈtensən/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a protein whose presence in the blood promotes aldosterone secretion and tends to raise blood pressure.

– origin 1950s: from angio- + (hyper)tens(ion) + -in^1.

Angkor /ˈaNGkər, ˈaNGˌkôr/

the capital of the ancient kingdom of Khmer in northwestern Cambodia; noted for its temples, especially Angkor Wat (mid 12th century), the site was rediscovered in 1860.

angle^1 /ˈaNGɡəl/

I. noun

1. the space (usually measured in degrees) between two intersecting lines or surfaces at or close to the point where they meet.

2. a corner, especially an external projection or an internal recess of a part of a building or other structure

• a skylight in the angle of the roof.

3. slope; a measure of the inclination of two lines or surfaces with respect to each other, equal to the amount that one would have to be turned in order to point in the same direction as the other

• sloping at an angle of 33° to the horizontal

• he trudged back, the angle of his shoulders spelling dejection.

4. a position from which something is viewed or along which it travels or acts, often as measured by its inclination from an implicit horizontal or vertical baseline

• from this angle, Maggie could not see Naomi's face

• camera angles.

5. a particular way of approaching or considering an issue or problem

• discussing the problems from every conceivable angle

• he always had a fresh angle on life.

6. one part of a larger subject, event, or problem

• a black prosecutor who downplayed the racial angle

• his chosen angle was the language of the Old Testament.

7. a bias or point of view

• Zimmer saw the world from an angle that few could understand.

8. [often with modifier] — [Astrology] each of the four mundane houses (the first, fourth, seventh, and tenth of the twelve divisions of the heavens) that extend counterclockwise from the cardinal points of the compass.

9. angle iron or a similar construction material made of another metal.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. direct or incline at an angle

• Anna angled her camera toward the tree

• he angled his chair so that he could watch her.

2. [no obj.] — move or be inclined at an angle

• the cab angled across two lanes and skidded to a stop

• the sun angled into the dining room.

3. present (information) to reflect a particular view or have a particular focus.

III. phrases

1. at an angle

in a direction or at an inclination markedly different from parallel, vertical, or horizontal with respect to an implicit baseline

• she wore her beret at an angle

• an armchair was drawn up at an angle to his desk.

2. from all angles

from every direction or point of view

• they come shooting at us from all angles

• looking at the problem from all angles.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, from Latin angulus ‘corner.’

angle^2 /ˈaNGɡəl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. fish with rod and line

• there are no big fish left to angle for.

2. seek something desired by indirectly prompting someone to offer it

• Ralph had begun to angle for an invitation

• [with infinitive] her husband was angling to get into the Cabinet.

II. noun

‹archaic› a fishhook.

– origin Old English angul (noun); the verb dates from late Middle English.

Angle /ˈaNGɡəl/

I. noun

a member of a Germanic people, originally inhabitants of what is now Schleswig-Holstein, who migrated to England in the 5th century AD. The Angles founded kingdoms in Mercia, Northumbria, and East Anglia and gave their name to England and the English.

– origin from Latin Anglus, (plural) Angli ‘the people of Angul,’ a district of Schleswig (now in northern Germany), so called because of its shape; of Germanic origin, related to Old English angul (see angle^2). Compare with English.

angle bracket /ˈaNGɡəl ˌbrakət/

noun

1. either of a pair of marks in the form , used to enclose words or figures so as to separate them from their context.

2. another term for bracket (sense 3 of the noun).

angled /ˈaNGɡəld/

adjective

1. placed or inclined at an angle to something else

• he sent an angled shot into the net

• a sharply angled flight of stairs.

2. [in combination] — (of an object or shape) having an angle or angles of a specified type or number

• a right-angled bend

• an obtuse-angled triangle.

3. (of information) presented so as to reflect a particular view or to have a particular focus.

angle iron /ˈaNGɡəl ˈī(ə)rn/

noun

1. a construction material consisting of pieces of steel with an L-shaped cross-section, able to be bolted together.

2. a piece of angle iron.

angle of attack

noun

the angle between the chord of an airfoil and the direction of the surrounding undisturbed flow of gas or liquid.

angle of incidence

noun

[Physics] the angle that an incident line or ray makes with a perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence.

angle of reflection

noun

[Physics] the angle made by a reflected ray with a perpendicular to the reflecting surface.

angle of refraction

noun

[Physics] the angle made by a refracted ray with a perpendicular to the refracting surface.

angle of repose

noun

the steepest angle at which a sloping surface formed of a particular loose material is stable.

angler /ˈaNGɡlər/

noun

1. a person who fishes with a rod and line.

• a carp angler.

2. short for anglerfish.

anglerfish /ˈaNGɡlərˌfiSH/

noun

a fish that lures prey with a fleshy lobe attached to a filament that arises from the snout and hangs in front of the mouth. Most anglerfishes have a very large head and wide mouth, with a small body and tail.
[Order Lophiiformes: several families. Some rest motionless on the seabed, in particular those of the family Lophiidae; many others are deep-sea fish.]

Anglesey /ˈaNGɡəlsē/

an island in northwestern Wales, separated from the mainland by the Menai Strait; pop. 70,000 (est. 2009).

angle shades

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. a European moth with wings patterned in muted green, red, and pink.
[Phlogophora meticulosa, family Noctuidae and other species.]

Anglian /ˈaNGɡlēən/

I. adjective

of or relating to the ancient Angles.

– origin 1960s: from Latin Angli (see Angle) + -ian.

Anglican /ˈaNGɡləkən/

I. adjective

of, relating to, or denoting the Church of England or any Church in communion with it.

II. noun

a member of any of the Anglican Churches.

– origin early 17th cent.: from medieval Latin Anglicanus (its adoption suggested by Anglicana ecclesia ‘the English church’ in the Magna Carta), from Anglicus, from Angli (see Angle).

Anglican chant

noun

a method of singing unmetrical psalms and canticles to short harmonized melodies, the first note being extended to accommodate as many syllables as necessary.

Anglican Communion

the group of Christian Churches derived from or related to the Church of England, including the Episcopal Church in the US and other national, provincial, and independent churches. The body's primate is the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Anglicanism /ˈaNGɡləkəˌnizəm/

noun

the faith and practices of the Anglican Christian Churches.

Anglicism /ˈaNGɡləˌsizəm/

I. noun

1. a word or phrase that is peculiar to British English

• this new autobiography is studded with Anglicisms like lorries, plimsolls, and doing a bunk.

2. the quality of being typically English or of favoring English things.

3. a word or phrase borrowed from English into a foreign language

• the French have an irritating Anglicism: un toast.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin Anglicus, from Angli (see Angle) + -ism.

anglicize /ˈaNGɡləˌsīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make English in form or character

• he anglicized his name to Goodman

• (as adj. anglicized) an anglicized form of a Navajo word.

II. derivatives

anglicization /ˌaNGɡləsəˈzāSHən /

noun

angling /ˈaNGɡ(ə)liNG/

noun

the sport or pastime of fishing with a rod and line
[as modifier]

• an angling club

• an angling license.

Anglo /ˈaNGɡlō/

I. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a white, English-speaking American as distinct from a Hispanic American
[as modifier]

• Anglo neighborhoods.

– origin early 19th cent.: independent usage of Anglo-.

Anglo- /ˈaNGɡlō/

I. combining form

1. English

• anglophone.

2. of English origin

• Anglo-Saxon.

3. English and …

• Anglo-Latin.

4. British and …

• Anglo-Indian.

– origin modern Latin, from Latin Anglus ‘English.’

Anglo-American

I. adjective

1. of or relating to both Britain and the US

• the older Anglo-American conception of the American as an offshoot of the Anglo-Saxons.

2. of English descent, but born or living in the US.

II. noun

1. an American born in England or of English ancestry.

2. an American whose native tongue is English.

Anglo-Catholic /ˈˌaNGɡlō ˈkaTH(ə)lik/

I. adjective

of or relating to Anglo-Catholicism.

II. noun

a member of an Anglo-Catholic Church.

Anglo-Catholicism

noun

a tradition within the Anglican Church that is close to Catholicism in its doctrine and worship and is broadly identified with High Church Anglicanism. Anglo-Catholicism grew out of the Oxford Movement of the 1830s and 1840s.

Anglo-Celt /ˌaNGɡlōˈkelt/

I. noun

a person of British or Irish descent (typically used outside Britain and Ireland).

II. derivatives

Anglo-Celtic

adjective

Anglocentric /ˌaNGɡlōˈsentrik/

adjective

centered on or considered in terms of England or Britain

• an Anglocentric, white view of Australian history.

Anglo-French /aNGɡlōˈfren(t)SH/

adjective

1. relating to both England (or Britain) and France

• the possible signing of an Anglo-French treaty

• Anglo-French relations.

2. of mixed English (or British) and French parentage or origin

• wealthy Anglo-French families in the wine trade

• the Anglo-French firm is now the UK's biggest producer of electricity.

Anglo-Indian /ˌaNGɡlōˈindēən/

I. adjective

1. of, relating to, or involving both Britain and India

• Anglo-Indian business cooperation.

2. (especially of a person living in South Asia) of mixed British and Indian parentage.

3. ‹chiefly historical› of British descent or birth but living or having lived long in India.

II. noun

an Anglo-Indian person.

Anglo-Irish /ˌaNGɡlōˈīriSH/

adjective

1. of or relating to both Britain and Ireland (or specifically the Republic of Ireland).

2. of English descent but born or resident in Ireland.

3. of mixed English and Irish parentage.

Anglo-Irish Treaty

an agreement signed in 1921 by representatives of the British government and the provisional Irish Republican government, which gave southern Ireland dominion status as the Irish Free State in 1922.

Anglo-Latin /ˌaNGɡlōˈlatn/

I. noun

the form of Latin used in medieval England.

II. adjective

of, in, or relating to Anglo-Latin.

Anglomania /ˌaNGɡlōˈmānēə/

noun

excessive admiration of English customs.

Anglo-Norman French Anglo-Norman

I. noun

the variety of Norman French used in England after the Norman Conquest. It remained the language of the English nobility for several centuries and has had a strong influence on legal phraseology in English.

II. adjective

of or relating to Anglo-Norman French.

Anglophile /ˈaNGɡləˌfīl/

I. noun

a person who is fond of or greatly admires England or Britain.

II. adjective

fond or admiring of England or Britain.

III. derivatives

Anglophilia /ˌaNGɡləˈfilēə /

noun

Anglophobe /ˈaNGɡləˌfōb/

I. noun

a person having a strong dislike of England or Britain.

II. derivatives

Anglophobia /ˌaNGɡləˈfōbēə /

noun

anglophone /ˈaNGɡləˌfōn/

I. adjective

English-speaking

• anglophone students

• the population is largely anglophone.

II. noun

an English-speaking person.

– origin early 20th cent. (as a noun; rare before the 1960s): from Anglo- + -phone, on the pattern of francophone.

Anglo-Saxon /ˌaNGɡlōˈsaksən/

I. adjective

1. relating to or denoting the Germanic inhabitants of England from their arrival in the 5th century up to the Norman Conquest.

2. of English descent.

3. of, in, or relating to the Old English language.

4. ‹informal› (of an English word or expression) plain, in particular vulgar

• using a lot of good old Anglo-Saxon expletives.

II. noun

1. a Germanic inhabitant of England between the 5th century and the Norman Conquest.

2. a person of English descent.

3. (chiefly N. Amer.) any white, English-speaking person.

4. another term for Old English.

5. ‹informal› plain English, in particular vulgar slang.

– origin from modern Latin Anglo-Saxones (plural), medieval Latin Angli Saxones.

Anglosphere /ˈaNGɡləˌsfir, ˈaNGɡlōˌsfir/

noun

(the Anglosphere) — the countries where English is the main native language, considered collectively.

Angola /aNGˈɡōlə/

1. a republic on the western coast of southern Africa; pop. 12,799,300 (est. 2009); capital, Luanda; languages, Portuguese (official), Bantu languages.

Angola was a Portuguese possession from the end of the 16th century until it achieved independence in 1975. Independence was followed by years of civil war, chiefly between the ruling Marxist MPLA and the UNITA movement; this was halted by the signing of a ceasefire in 2002.

Angolan /aNGˈɡōlən/

I. adjective

relating to Angola or its people

• Angolan agriculture is dominated by small-scale subsistence farmers.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of Angola, or a person of Angolan descent

• many Angolans are bilingual.

angora /aNGˈɡôrə/

I. noun — [often as modifier]

1. a cat, goat, or rabbit of a long-haired breed

• angora rabbits.

2. a fabric made from the hair of the angora goat or rabbit

• an angora cardigan.

– origin early 19th cent. (denoting a long-haired breed): from the place name Angora.

Angora /aNGˈɡôrə/

former name (until 1930) of Ankara.

angora wool

noun

a mixture of sheep's wool and angora rabbit hair.

angostura /ˌaNGɡəˈst(y)o͝orə / angostura bark

I. noun

1. an aromatic bitter bark from some South American trees, used as a flavoring, and formerly as a tonic and to reduce fever.
[This bark is taken from the trees Angostura febrifuga and Galipea officinalis, family Rutaceae.]

2. short for Angostura bitters.

– origin late 18th cent.: from the place name Angostura.

Angostura /ˌaNGɡəˈst(y)o͝orə/

former name (until 1846) for Ciudad Bolívar.

Angostura bitters

noun

‹trademark› a kind of tonic first made in Angostura.

angrily /ˈaNGɡrəlē/

adverb

1. in a manner resulting from or betraying anger

• workers reacted angrily to the announcement.

2. stormily or threateningly

• the sky was black and thundered angrily.

angry /ˈaNGɡrē/

adjective

1. having a strong feeling of or showing annoyance, displeasure, or hostility; full of anger

• why are you angry with me?

• an angry customer

• Christine had made him angry

• I'm angry that she didn't call me.

2. (of the sea or sky) stormy, turbulent, or threatening

• the wild, angry sea.

3. (of a wound or sore) red and inflamed

• her skin was splotched with angry red burns.

angry white male

noun

‹derogatory› (chiefly US) a politically conservative or antiliberal white man.

angry young man

noun

1. a young man dissatisfied with and outspoken against existing social and political structures.

2. (Angry Young Men) — a number of British playwrights and novelists of the early 1950s whose work was marked by irreverence toward the Establishment and disgust at the survival of class distinctions and privilege. Notable members of the group were John Osborne and Kingsley Amis.

angst /äNG(k)st/

I. noun

1. a feeling of deep anxiety or dread, typically an unfocused one about the human condition or the state of the world in general

• adolescent angst.

2. ‹informal› a feeling of persistent worry about something trivial

• my hair causes me angst.

– origin 1920s: from German, ‘fear, anxiety.’

angst-ridden /ˈaNG(k)stˌridn ˈäNG(k)stˌridn/

adjective

filled with deep anxiety, especially about oneself or about the nature of existence

• frustrated, angst-ridden teenagers.

Ångström, Anders Jonas /ˈôNGstrəm, ˈaNG-/

(1814–1874), Swedish physicist. He proposed a relationship between the emission and absorption spectra of chemical elements and measured optical wavelengths in the unit later named in his honor.

angstrom /ˈaNGstrəm / ångström, angstrom unit, Å

I. noun

a unit of length equal to one hundred-millionth of a centimeter, 10–10 meter, used mainly to express wavelengths and interatomic distances.

– origin late 19th cent.: named after A. J. Ångström (see Ångström, Anders Jonas).

Anguilla /aNGˈɡwilə/

I. the northernmost island of the Leeward Islands in the West Indies; pop. 14,400 (est. 2009); capital, The Valley. Formerly a British colony and briefly united with St. Kitts and Nevis in 1967, it is now a self-governing British overseas territory.

II. derivatives

Anguillan

adjective, noun

anguish /ˈaNGɡwiSH/

I. noun

severe mental or physical pain or suffering

• she shut her eyes in anguish

• Philip gave a cry of anguish.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. be extremely distressed about something

• he anguished over how to reply.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin angustia ‘tightness,’ (plural) ‘straits, distress,’ from angustus ‘narrow.’

anguished /ˈaNGɡwiSHt/

I. adjective

experiencing or expressing severe mental or physical pain or suffering

• he gave an anguished cry

• when she turned, her face was anguished.

– origin early 17th cent.: past participle of anguish (verb) in the rare sense ‘distress with severe mental or physical pain,’ from Old French anguissier, from ecclesiastical Latin angustiare ‘to distress,’ from Latin angustia (see anguish).

angular /ˈaNGɡyələr/

I. adjective

1. (of an object, outline, or shape) having angles or sharp corners

• angular chairs

• Adam's angular black handwriting.

2. (of a person or part of their body) lean and having a prominent bone structure

• her angular face.

3. (of a person's way of moving) not flowing smoothly; awkward or jerky

• his movements were stiff and angular

• ‹figurative› the music is angular and sardonic.

4. [chiefly Physics] denoting physical properties or quantities measured with reference to or by means of an angle, especially those associated with rotation

• angular acceleration.

5. [Astrology] located in or relating to one of the houses that begin at the four cardinal points.

II. derivatives

1. angularity /ˌaNGɡyəˈlerədē /

noun

2. angularly

adverb

– origin late Middle English (as an astrological term): from Latin angularis, from angulus (see angle^1).

angular diameter

noun

[Astronomy] the apparent diameter of a planet or other celestial object measured by the angle that it subtends at the point of observation.

angular momentum

noun

[Physics] the quantity of rotation of a body, which is the product of its moment of inertia and its angular velocity.

angular velocity

noun

[Physics] the rate of change of angular position of a rotating body.

angulate /ˈaNGɡyəˌlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹technical› hold, bend, or distort (a part of the body, especially of an animal) so as to form an angle or angles
(as adj. angulated)

• the hindquarters are more strongly angulated than the forequarters.

2. ‹technical› [Skiing] incline (the upper body) sideways and outward during a turn
[no obj.]

• angulate slightly with the knees.

II. derivatives

angulation /aNGɡyəˈlāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin late 15th cent. (as angulated, used chiefly as a botanical or zoological term): from Latin angulatus, past participle of angulare, from angulus ‘angle.’

angwantibo /aNGˈ(ɡ)wän(t)əˌbō/

I. noun

a small rare nocturnal primate of west central Africa, related to the potto.
[Arctocebus calabarensis, family Lorisidae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Efik.

anharmonic /ˌanhärˈmänik/

I. adjective

[Physics] relating to or denoting motion that is not simple harmonic.

II. derivatives

anharmonicity /anˌhärməˈnisitē /

noun

anhedonia /ˌanhēˈdōnēə, -hi-/

I. noun

[Psychiatry] inability to feel pleasure.

II. derivatives

anhedonic /-ˈdänik /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from French anhédonie, from Greek an- ‘without’ + hēdonē ‘pleasure.’

anhedral /anˈhēdrəl/

I. adjective

[Crystallography] (of a crystal) having no plane faces.

II. noun

[Aeronautics] downward inclination of an aircraft's wing, or the angle of this.
Compare with dihedral.

– origin late 19th cent. (as an adjective): from an-1 ‘not’ + -hedral (see -hedron).

anhinga /anˈhiNGɡə/

I. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a long-necked fish-eating bird related to the cormorants, typically found in fresh water. Anhingas spear fish with their long pointed bills and frequently swim submerged to the neck.
Also called darter, snakebird. [Family Anhingidae and genus Anhinga: four species.]

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Portuguese, from Tupi áyinga.

Anhui /ˌänˈhwā / Anhwei

a province in eastern China; capital, Hefei.

anhydride /anˈhīˌdrīd/

I. noun

1. [Chemistry] the compound obtained by removing the elements of water from a particular acid.

2. [usu. with modifier] — [Chemistry] an organic compound containing the group —C(O)OC(O)—, derived from a carboxylic acid.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek anudros (see anhydrous) + -ide.

anhydrite /anˈhīˌdrīt/

I. noun

a white mineral consisting of anhydrous calcium sulfate. It typically occurs in evaporite deposits.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Greek anudros (see anhydrous) + -ite^1.

anhydrous /anˈhīdrəs/

I. adjective

[Chemistry] (of a substance, especially a crystalline compound) containing no water.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Greek anudros (from an- ‘without’ + hudōr ‘water’) + -ous.

ani /äˈnē/

I. noun

a glossy black long-tailed bird of the cuckoo family, with a large deep bill, found in Central and South America.
[Genus Crotophaga, family Cuculidae: three species.]

– origin early 19th cent.: from Spanish ani, Portuguese anum, from Tupi anũ.

aniline /ˈanələn/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a colorless oily liquid present in coal tar. It is used in the manufacture of dyes, drugs, and plastics, and was the basis of the earliest synthetic dyes.
[Chem. formula: C_6H_5NH_2.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from anil ‘indigo’ (from which it was originally obtained), via French and Portuguese from Arabic an-nīl (from Sanskrit nīlī, from nīla ‘dark blue’).

aniline dye

noun

‹chiefly historical› a synthetic dye, especially one made from aniline.

anilingus /ˌānəˈliNGɡəs/

I. noun

sexual stimulation of the anus by the tongue or mouth.

– origin 1960s: from Latin anus ‘anus’ on the pattern of cunnilingus.

anima /ˈanəmə/

I. noun

1. [Psychology] Jung's term for the feminine part of a man's personality.
Often contrasted with animus (sense 3).

2. [Psychology] the part of the psyche that is directed inward, and is in touch with the subconscious.
Often contrasted with persona.

– origin 1920s: from Latin, literally ‘mind, soul.’

animadversion /ˌanəmadˈvərZH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. ‹formal› criticism or censure

• her animadversion against science.

2. ‹formal› a comment or remark, especially a critical one

• animadversions that the poet receives quite humbly.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French, or from Latin animadversio(n-), from the verb animadvertere (see animadvert).

animadvert /ˌanəmadˈvərt/

I. verb — [no obj.] (animadvert on/upon/against)

1. ‹formal› pass criticism or censure on; speak out against

• we shall be obliged to animadvert most severely upon you in our report

• many travelers animadvert against their own towns and cities.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘pay attention to’): from Latin animadvertere, from animus ‘mind’ + advertere (from ad- ‘toward’ + vertere ‘to turn’).

animal /ˈanəməl/

I. noun

1. a living organism that feeds on organic matter, typically having specialized sense organs and nervous system and able to respond rapidly to stimuli

• animals such as spiders

• wild animals adapt badly to a caged life

• humans are the only animals who weep.

2. a living organism other than a human being

• are humans superior to animals, or just different?

3. a mammal, as opposed to a bird, reptile, fish, or insect

• the snowfall seemed to have chased all birds, animals, and men indoors.

4. a person whose behavior is regarded as devoid of human attributes or civilizing influences, especially someone who is very cruel, violent, or repulsive

• those men have to be animals—what they did to that boy was savage.

5. [with adj. or noun modifier] — a particular type of person or thing

• I am a political animal

• the government that followed the election was a very different animal.

Animals are generally distinguished from plants by being unable to synthesize organic molecules from inorganic ones, so that they have to feed on plants or on other animals. They are typically able to move about, although this ability is sometimes restricted to a particular stage in the life cycle. The great majority of animals are invertebrates, of which there are some thirty phyla; the vertebrates constitute but a single subphylum. See also higher animals, lower animals.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of animals

• a wide range of animal species

• animal welfare.

2. of animals as distinct from plants

• tissues of animal and vegetable protein.

3. characteristic of the physical and instinctive needs of animals; of the flesh rather than the spirit or intellect

• a crude surrender to animal lust.

– origin Middle English: as a noun from Latin animal, based on Latin animalis ‘having breath,’ from anima ‘breath’; as an adjective via Old French, from Latin animalis.

animal cracker

noun

a type of sweet cracker or cookie made in the shapes of various animals.

animalcule /ˌanəˈmalkyo͞ol/

I. noun

‹archaic› a microscopic animal.

– origin late 16th cent.: from modern Latin animalculum, from animal ‘an animal’ + -cule.

animal husbandry /ˈanəməl ˈhəzbəndrē/

noun

the science of breeding and caring for farm animals.

animalism /ˈanəməˌlizəm/

noun

1. behavior that is characteristic of or appropriate to animals, particularly in being physical and instinctive.

2. religious worship of or concerning animals.

animalistic /ˌanəməˈlistik/

adjective

1. characteristic of animals, particularly in being physical and instinctive

• these dogs are an extension of their owners' animalistic tendencies.

2. relating to or practicing the religious worship of animals

• images of animalistic ritual costumes spring to mind.

animality /ˌanəˈmalədē/

I. noun

1. animal nature or character

• a prehuman condition of animality.

2. physical, instinctive behavior or qualities

• what attracted me to her was her animality.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French animalité, from animal (adjective), from Latin animalis ‘animate, living’ (see animal).

animalize /ˈanəməˌlīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make into or like an animal.

II. derivatives

animalization /ˌanəmələˈzāSH(ə)n ˌanəməˌlīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

animal life

noun

animals collectively, especially those native to a particular region, habitat, or geological period

• early animal life in the oceans

• an impressive diversity of animal life.

animal magnetism

noun

1. a quality of sexual attractiveness

• he had an animal magnetism that women found irresistible.

2. ‹historical› a supposed emanation to which the action of hypnotism was ascribed.

animal pole

noun

[Embryology] the portion of an ovum that contains the nucleus and less yolk, opposite the vegetal pole.

animal rightist

noun

a person who campaigns for the rights of animals to live free from human exploitation and abuse

• animal rightists hurled themselves between the harpoons and the whale.

animal rights /ˈanəməl rīts/

plural noun

rights believed to belong to animals to live free from use in medical research, hunting, and other services to humans.

animal spirits

plural noun

natural exuberance.

animate

I. verb — /ˈanəˌmāt / [with obj.]

1. bring to life

• the desert is like a line drawing waiting to be animated with color.

2. give inspiration, encouragement, or renewed vigor to

• she has animated the nation with a sense of political direction.

3. (usu. be animated) — give (a movie or character) the appearance of movement using animation techniques.

II. adjective — /ˈanəmət /

1. alive or having life (often as a contrast with inanimate)

• all of creation, animate and inanimate.

2. lively and active

• party photos of animate socialites.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin animat- ‘instilled with life,’ from the verb animare, from anima ‘life, soul.’

animated /ˈanəˌmādəd/

I. adjective

1. full of life or excitement; lively

• an animated conversation.

2. (of a movie or image) made using animation techniques

• an animated version of the classic fairy tale.

II. derivatives

animatedly /ˈanəˌmādidlē /

adverb

animatic /ˌanəˈmadik/

I. noun

a preliminary version of a movie, produced by shooting successive sections of a storyboard and adding a soundtrack.

– origin 1970s: from animat(ed) + -ic, or a blend of animated and schematic.

animation /ˌanəˈmāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the state of being full of life or vigor; liveliness

• they started talking with animation.

2. ‹chiefly archaic› the state of being alive.

3. the technique of photographing successive drawings or positions of puppets or models to create an illusion of movement when the movie is shown as a sequence
[as modifier]

• animation techniques

• animations as backdrops for live action.

4. (also computer animation) — the manipulation of electronic images by means of a computer in order to create moving images.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘encouragement’): from Latin animatio(n-), from animare ‘instill with life’ (see animate). Sense 1 dates from the early 19th cent.

animato /ˌanəˈmädō / ‹Music›

I. adjective, adverb

(especially as a direction) in an animated manner.

II. noun

a passage marked animato.

– origin Italian.

animator /ˈanimādər/

noun

a person who makes animated films

• usually animators make a series of drawings on paper or on the computer.

animatronics /ˌanəməˈträniks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the technique of making and operating lifelike robots, typically for use in film or other entertainment.

II. derivatives

animatronic /ˌanəməˈtränik /

adjective

– origin 1970s: blend of animated and electronics.

anime /ˈanəˌmā/

I. noun

a style of Japanese film and television animation, typically aimed at adults as well as children.
Compare with manga.

– origin 1980s: Japanese, shortened from animēshon, based on English animation.

animism /ˈanəˌmizəm/

I. noun

1. the attribution of a soul to plants, inanimate objects, and natural phenomena.

2. the belief in a supernatural power that organizes and animates the material universe.

II. derivatives

1. animist /ˈanəməst /

noun

2. animistic /ˌanəˈmistik /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin anima ‘life, soul’ + -ism.

animosity /ˌanəˈmäsədē/

I. noun

strong hostility

• he no longer felt any animosity toward her

• the animosity between the king and his brother

• the five decided to put aside their animosities.

– origin late Middle English (originally in the sense ‘spirit, courage’): from Old French animosité or late Latin animositas, from animosus ‘spirited,’ from Latin animus ‘spirit, mind.’ The current sense dates from the early 17th cent.

animus /ˈanəməs/

I. noun

1. hostility or ill feeling

• the author's animus toward her.

2. motivation to do something

• the reformist animus came from within the Party.

3. [Psychology] Jung's term for the masculine part of a woman's personality.
Often contrasted with anima.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin, ‘spirit, mind.’

anion /ˈanˌīən/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a negatively charged ion, i.e., one that would be attracted to the anode in electrolysis.
The opposite of cation.

II. derivatives

anionic /ˌanīˈänik /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from anode or ana- + ion.

anise /ˈanəs/

I. noun

1. a Mediterranean plant of the parsley family, cultivated for its aromatic seeds, which are used in cooking and herbal medicine.
[Pimpinella anisum, family Umbelliferae. See also aniseed.]

2. an Asian or American tree or shrub that bears fruit with an aniseedlike odor.
[Genus Illicium, family Illiciaceae: many species, esp. star anise (I. verum), used in Chinese cooking.]

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin anisum, from Greek anison ‘anise, dill.’

aniseed /ˈanə(s)ˌsēd/

I. noun

the seed of the anise, used in cooking and herbal medicine.

– origin late Middle English: from anise + seed.

anisette /ˌanəˈset ˌanəˈzet/

I. noun

a liqueur flavored with aniseed.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, diminutive of anis (see anise).

anisogamy /ˌanīˈsäɡəmē/

I. noun

[Biology] sexual reproduction by the fusion of dissimilar gametes.
Often contrasted with isogamy.

II. derivatives

anisogamous /-məs /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek anisos ‘unequal’ + -gamy (from gamos ‘marriage’).

anisotropic /anˌīsəˈtrōpik, -ˈträpik/

I. adjective

1. [Physics] (of an object or substance) having a physical property that has a different value when measured in different directions. A simple example is wood, which is stronger along the grain than across it.

2. [Physics] (of a property or phenomenon) varying in magnitude according to the direction of measurement.

II. derivatives

anisotropy /ˌanīˈsätrəpē /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek anisos ‘unequal’ + tropos ‘turn’ + -ic.

Anjou^1 /ˈänZHo͞o/

a former province of western France, on the Loire River. It was an English possession 1154–1204.

Anjou^2 /ˈänZHo͞o/

noun

an egg-shaped variety of pear. The most popular type has bright green skin.

Ankara /ˈäNGkərə ˈaNGkərə/

the capital of Turkey since 1923; pop. 3,763,600 (est. 2007). Prominent in Roman times as Ancyra, it later declined in importance until chosen by Kemal Atatürk in 1923 as his seat of government.
Former name (until 1930) Angora.

ankh /äNGk/

I. noun

an object or design resembling a cross but having a loop instead of the top arm, used in ancient Egypt as a symbol of life.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Egyptian, literally ‘life, soul.’

ankle /ˈaNGk(ə)l/

I. noun

1. the joint connecting the foot with the leg
[as modifier]

• an ankle injury.

2. the narrow part of the leg between the foot and the calf

• her slim ankles

• I stood up to my ankles in snow

• [as modifier] ankle socks.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — ‹informal› leave

• he ankled the series to do a movie.

2. [no obj.] — (US) ‹informal› walk.

3. [no obj.] (usu. as noun ankling) — flex the ankles while cycling in order to increase pedaling efficiency.

– origin Old English ancleow, of Germanic origin; superseded in Middle English by forms from Old Norse; related to Dutch enkel and German Enkel, from an Indo-European root shared by angle^1.

ankle-biter /ˈaNGkəl ˌbīdər/

noun

‹humorous› (chiefly N. Amer.) (Austral./NZ) a child

• traveling overseas with an ankle-biter has its advantages.

ankle bone /ˈaNGkəl bōn/

noun

the chief bone of the ankle joint; the talus.

ankle boot

noun

a boot that reaches to or just above the ankle

• she wore gray skinny jeans and high-heeled ankle boots.

ankle-deep /ˌaNGk(ə)lˈdēp/

adjective, adverb

of or at a depth or height to reach the ankles
[as adj.]

• the cool ankle-deep water of the pool

• [as adv.] she stood ankle-deep in the water.

anklet /ˈaNGklət/

I. noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) a sock that reaches just above the ankle.

2. an ornament worn around an ankle.

– origin early 19th cent.: from ankle + -let, on the pattern of bracelet.

ankylosaur /ˈaNGkiləˌsôr / ankylosaurus

I. noun

a heavily built quadrupedal herbivorous dinosaur primarily of the Cretaceous period, armored with bony plates.
[Infraorder Ankylosauria, order Ornithischia: several genera, in particular Ankylosaurus.]

II. derivatives

ankylosaurian

adjective

– origin early 20th cent.: from modern Latin Ankylosaurus, from Greek ankulos (see ankylosis) + sauros ‘lizard.’

ankylose /ˈaNGkəlōs ˈaNGkəlōz/

I. verb

(be/become ankylosed) — [Medicine] (of bones or a joint) be or become stiffened or united by ankylosis.

– origin late 18th cent.: back-formation from ankylosis, on the pattern of words such as anastomose.

ankylosing spondylitis /ˈaNGkəˌlōsiNG ˌspəndlˈītis, -ˌlōziNG/

noun

[Medicine] a form of spinal arthritis, chiefly affecting young males, that eventually causes ankylosis of vertebral and sacro-iliac joints.

ankylosis /ˈaNGkəˌlōsəs/

I. noun

[Medicine] abnormal stiffening and immobility of a joint due to fusion of the bones.

II. derivatives

ankylotic /-ˈlätik /

adjective

– origin early 18th cent.: from Greek ankulōsis, from ankuloun ‘to crook,’ from ankulos ‘crooked.’

anlage /ˈanläɡə/

I. noun

[Biology] the rudimentary basis of a particular organ or other part, especially in an embryo.

– origin late 19th cent.: from German, ‘foundation, basis.’

Ann, Cape /an/

a peninsula in northeastern Massachusetts, noted for its resorts and scenery.

Annaba /əˈnäbə/

a port of northeastern Algeria; pop. 205,600 (est. 2009). The modern town is adjacent to the site of Hippo Regius, a prominent city in Roman Africa and the home and bishopric of St. Augustine of Hippo from 396 to 430.
Former name Bône.

an-Najaf /ˌan ˈnajaf/

another name for Najaf.

annalist /ˈan(ə)ləst/

I. noun

a person who writes annals.

II. derivatives

annalistic /ˌan(ə)lˈistik /

adjective

annals /ˈanlz/

I. plural noun

1. a record of events year by year

• eighth-century Northumberland annals.

2. historical records

• the annals of the famous European discoverers

• ‹figurative› the deed will live forever in the annals of infamy.

3. (Annals) — used in the titles of learned journals

• Annals of Internal Medicine.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin annales (libri) ‘yearly (books),’ from annus ‘year.’

Annan, Kofi /əˈnän/

(1938–), Ghanaian diplomat; secretary general of the United Nations 1997–2007; full name Kofi Atta Annan.

Annandale /ˈanənˌdāl/

a residential suburb in northern Virginia, southwest of Washington, DC; pop. 54,994 (2000).

Annapolis /əˈnap(ə)ləs/

the state capital of Maryland, on the western coast of Chesapeake Bay; pop. 36,524 (est. 2008). It is the home of the US Naval Academy.

Annapurna /ˌanəˈpərnə/

a ridge of the Himalayas, in north central Nepal. Its highest peak rises to 26,503 ft. (8,078 m.).

Ann Arbor /ˌan ˈärbər/

a city in southeastern Michigan, home to the University of Michigan; pop. 114,386 (est. 2008).

Anna's hummingbird /ˌanəz ˈhəmiNGbərd/

I. noun

a North American hummingbird that lives chiefly in California. The male has an iridescent rose-red head and throat.
[Calypte anna, family Trochilidae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after Anna, the wife of Prince François Massena (c. 1795–1863), Duc de Ravoli, who obtained the original specimen.

annatto /əˈnädō / anatto

I. noun

1. an orange-red dye obtained from the pulp of a tropical fruit, used for coloring foods and fabric.

2. the tropical American tree that yields the fruit from which annatto is obtained.
[Bixa orellana, family Bixaceae.]

– origin early 17th cent.: from Carib.

Anne /an/

(1665–1714), queen of England and Scotland (known as Great Britain from 1707) and Ireland 1702–14. The last of the Stuart monarchs and daughter of the Catholic James II (but herself a Protestant), she succeeded her brother-in-law William III to the throne.

Anne, Princess

Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise, the Princess Royal (1950–), daughter of Queen Elizabeth II. Her two children are Peter (1977–) and Zara (1981–), by her former husband, Mark Philips (1948–).

Anne, St.

traditionally the mother of the Virgin Mary; first mentioned by name in the apocryphal gospel of James (2nd century). Feast day, July 26.

anneal /əˈnēl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. heat (metal or glass) and allow it to cool slowly, in order to remove internal stresses and toughen it.

2. [Biochemistry] recombine (DNA) in the double-stranded form following separation by heat.

II. derivatives

annealer

noun

– origin Old English onǣlan, from on + ǣlan ‘burn, bake,’ from āl ‘fire, burning’ The original sense was ‘set on fire,’ hence (in late Middle English) ‘subject to fire, alter by heating’; sense 1 dates from the mid 17th cent.

annelid /ˈanəˌlid / ‹Zoology›

I. noun

a segmented worm of the phylum Annelida, such as an earthworm or leech.

II. adjective

relating to or denoting annelids.

III. derivatives

annelidan /əˈnelidn /

noun, adjective

Annelida /əˈnelidə / ‹Zoology›

I. a large phylum that comprises the segmented worms, which include earthworms, lugworms, and leeches.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from French (animaux) annelés ‘ringed (animals),’ from Old French anel ‘a ring,’ from Latin anellus, diminutive of anulus ‘a ring.’

Anne of Cleves /ˌan əv ˈklēvz/

(1515–57), fourth wife of Henry VIII. The politically arranged marriage was dissolved after only six months.

annex

I. verb — /əˈneks ˈaneks / [with obj.]

1. append or add as an extra or subordinate part, especially to a document

• the first ten amendments were annexed to the Constitution in 1791

• (as adj. annexed) the annexed diagram.

2. add (territory) to one's own territory by appropriation

• the left bank of the Rhine was annexed by France in 1797.

3. ‹informal› take for oneself; appropriate

• it was bad enough that Richard should have annexed his girlfriend.

4. ‹archaic› add or attach as a condition or consequence.

II. noun — /ˈaneks /

1. a building joined to or associated with a main building, providing additional space or accommodations.

2. an addition to a document

• an annex to the report.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French annexer, from Latin annectere ‘connect,’ from ad- ‘to’ + nectere ‘tie, fasten.’

annexation /ˌanekˈsāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

the action of annexing something, especially territory

• the annexation of Austria.

II. derivatives

annexationist /ˌanekˈsāSH(ə)nəst /

noun, adjective

Annigoni, Pietro /ˌänəˈɡōnē/

(1910–88), Italian painter. One of the few 20th-century artists to practice the techniques of the Old Masters, he is noted for his portraits of Queen Elizabeth II (1955, 1970) and of President John F. Kennedy (1961).

annihilate /əˈnīəˌlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. destroy utterly; obliterate

• a simple bomb of this type could annihilate them all

• a crusade to annihilate evil.

2. defeat utterly

• the stronger force annihilated its opponent virtually without loss.

3. [Physics] convert (a subatomic particle) into radiant energy.

II. derivatives

1. annihilator /əˈnīəˌlādər /

noun

2. annihilation /əˌnīəˈlāSHən /

noun

– origin late Middle English (originally as an adjective meaning ‘destroyed, annulled’): from late Latin annihilatus ‘reduced to nothing,’ from the verb annihilare, from ad- ‘to’ + nihil ‘nothing.’ The verb sense ‘destroy utterly’ dates from the mid 16th cent.

Anniston /ˈanəstən/

an industrial and military city in northeastern Alabama; pop. 23,662 (est. 2008).

anniversary /ˌanəˈvərs(ə)rē/

I. noun

1. the date on which an event took place in a previous year

• the 50th anniversary of the start of World War II

• [as modifier] anniversary celebrations.

2. the date on which a country or other institution was founded in a previous year

• Canada's 125th anniversary.

3. the date on which a couple was married in a previous year

• he even forgot our tenth anniversary!

4. ‹informal› the date on which a romance began in a previous month or week.

– origin Middle English: from Latin anniversarius ‘returning yearly,’ from annus ‘year’ + versus ‘turning.’

Anno Domini /ˌanō ˈdämənē/

I. adverb

full form of AD.

– origin mid 16th cent.: Latin, literally ‘in the year of the Lord.’

annotate /ˈanəˌtāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. add notes to (a text or diagram) giving explanation or comment

• documentation should be annotated with explanatory notes

• (as adj. annotated) an annotated bibliography.

II. derivatives

1. annotatable

adjective

2. annotator /ˈanəˌtādər /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin annotat- ‘marked,’ from the verb annotare, from ad- ‘to’ + nota ‘a mark.’

annotation /ˌanəˈtāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a note of explanation or comment added to a text or diagram

• marginal annotations.

2. the action of annotating a text or diagram

• annotation of prescribed texts.

– origin late Middle English: from French, or from Latin annotatio(n-), from the verb annotare (see annotate).

announce /əˈnouns/

I. verb — [reporting verb]

1. make a public and typically formal declaration about a fact, occurrence, or intention
[with clause]

• the president's office announced that the state of siege would be lifted

• [with obj.] he announced his retirement from football

• [with direct speech] “I have a confession to make,” she announced.

2. [with obj.] — make known

• we announce our failures by warring against ourselves and others

• these glossy and expensive volumes announce anxiety.

3. [with obj.] — give information about (transportation) in a station or airport via a public address system

• they were announcing her train.

4. [with obj.] — (of a notice, letter, sound, etc.) give information to (someone) via the senses of sight or hearing

• storms came announced by long wisps that lashed out from a snow cloud's body

• she heard the traditional strains of music announcing her arrival in the church.

5. [with obj.] — make known the arrival or imminence of (a guest or a meal) at a formal social occasion

• dinner was announced.

– origin late 15th cent.: from French annoncer, from Latin annuntiare, from ad- ‘to’ + nuntiare ‘declare, announce’ (from nuntius ‘messenger’).

announcement /əˈnounsmənt/

noun

1. a public and typically formal statement about a fact, occurrence, or intention

• the spokesperson was about to make an announcement

• a policy announcement

• he was shaken by her announcement.

2. the action of making a formal statement

• the announcement of the decision of the president.

3. a notice appearing in a newspaper or public place and announcing something such as a birth, death, or marriage

• an announcement is appearing in the Morning Post tomorrow.

4. a statement of information given over a public address system

• a loudspeaker announcement echoed across the field.

announcer /əˈnounsər/

noun

a person who announces something, in particular someone who introduces or gives information about programs on radio or television.

annoy /əˈnoi/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. irritate (someone); make (someone) a little angry

• your damned cheerfulness has always annoyed me

• [no obj.] rock music loud enough to annoy.

2. ‹archaic› harm or attack repeatedly

• a gallant Saxon, who annoyed this Coast.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘be hateful to’): from Old French anoier (verb), anoi (noun), based on Latin in odio in the phrase mihi in odio est ‘it is hateful to me.’

annoyance /əˈnoiəns/

I. noun

1. the feeling or state of being annoyed; irritation

• a look of annoyance on his face

• annoyance at government interference

• he turned his charm on Tara, much to Herbert's annoyance.

2. a thing that annoys someone; a nuisance

• the Council found him an annoyance.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French anoiance, from anoier (see annoy).

annoyed /əˈnoid/

I. adjective

slightly angry; irritated

• Kelly was annoyed with him

• he was annoyed at being woken up so early.

• I got very annoyed watching the film.

II. derivatives

annoyedly

adverb

annoying /əˈnoiiNG/

I. adjective

causing irritation or annoyance

• annoying habits

• unsolicited calls are annoying.

II. derivatives

annoyingness

noun

annoyingly /əˈnoiiNGlē/

adverb

in a way that causes irritation or annoyance

• the alarm clock rang annoyingly in her ear

• [as submodifier] I was being annoyingly facetious earlier

• [sentence adverb] even more annoyingly, I couldn't find my phone.

annual /ˈany(o͞o)əl/

I. adjective

1. occurring once every year

• the union's annual conference

• the sponsored walk became an annual event

• an annual report.

2. calculated over or covering a period of a year

• annual accounts

• an annual rate of increase

• his basic annual income.

3. (of a plant) living for a year or less, perpetuating itself by seed

• annual flowers.

II. noun

1. a book or magazine that is published once a year under the same title but with different contents

• a Christmas annual

• trade journals, annuals, and directories.

2. an annual plant

• sow annuals in spring.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French annuel, from late Latin annualis, based on Latin annus ‘year.’

annualized /ˈany(o͞o)əˌlīzd/

adjective

(of a rate of interest, inflation, or return on an investment) recalculated as an annual rate

• an annualized yield of about 11.5%.

annually /ˈanyo͞oəlē/

adverb

once a year; every year

• the prize is awarded annually

• sales are increasing by about 17% annually.

annual ring

noun

another term for tree ring.

annuitant /əˈn(y)o͞oəd(ə)nt/

I. noun

‹formal› a person who receives an annuity.

– origin early 18th cent.: from annuity, on the pattern of accountant.

annuity /əˈn(y)o͞oədē/

I. noun

1. a fixed sum of money paid to someone each year, typically for the rest of their life

• he left her an annuity of $1,000 in his will.

2. a form of insurance or investment entitling the investor to a series of annual sums
[as modifier]

• an annuity plan.

– origin late Middle English: from French annuité, from medieval Latin annuitas, from Latin annuus ‘yearly,’ from annus ‘year.’

annul /əˈnəl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. declare invalid (an official agreement, decision, or result)

• the elections were annulled by the general amid renewed protests.

2. declare (a marriage) to have had no legal existence

• her first marriage was finally annulled by His Holiness.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French anuller, from late Latin annullare, from ad- ‘to’ + nullum ‘nothing.’

annular /ˈanyələr/

I. adjective

‹technical› ring-shaped.

II. derivatives

annularly

adverb

– origin late 16th cent.: from French annulaire or Latin annularis, from anulus, annulus ‘a ring.’

annular eclipse

noun

an eclipse of the sun in which the edge of the sun remains visible as a bright ring around the moon.

annulate /ˈanyəlāt/

I. adjective

[chiefly Zoology] having rings; marked with or formed of rings

• an annulate worm.

II. derivatives

1. annulated

adjective

2. annulation /ˌanyəˈlāSHən /

noun

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin annulatus, from anulus, annulus ‘a ring.’

annulet /ˈanyələt/

I. noun

1. [Architecture] a small fillet or band encircling a column.

2. [Heraldry] a charge in the form of a small ring.

– origin late Middle English (sense 2): from Old French anelet, from Latin anulus, annulus ‘ring’ + -et^1. The spelling change in the 16th cent. was due to association with the Latin.

annulment /əˈnəlmənt/

noun

the act of annulling something

• the applicant sought the annulment of the decision

• grounds for an annulment.

annulus /ˈanyələs/

I. noun

‹technical› a ring-shaped object, structure, or region.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin anulus, annulus.

annunciate /əˈnənsēˌāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› announce (something).

– origin late Middle English (originally as a past participle): from medieval Latin annunciat-, variant spelling of Latin annuntiat- ‘announced,’ from the verb annuntiare.

annunciation /əˌnənsēˈāSHən/

I. noun

1. the announcement of the Incarnation by the angel Gabriel to Mary (Luke 1:26–38).

2. the church festival commemorating this, held on March 25 (Lady Day).

3. ‹formal› ‹archaic› the announcement of something

• the annunciation of a set of rules applying to the relationships between states.

– origin Middle English: from Old French annonciation, from late Latin annuntiatio(n-), from the verb annuntiare (see annunciate).

annunciator /əˈnənsēˌādər/

noun

a bell, light, or other device that provides information on the state or condition of something by indicating which of several electrical circuits has been activated
[as modifier]

• the annunciator panel and warning lights.

annus horribilis /ˌanəs həˈribələs/

I. noun

a year of disaster or misfortune.

– origin late 20th cent.: modern Latin on the pattern of annus mirabilis.

annus mirabilis /ˌanəs məˈräbələs/

I. noun

a remarkable or auspicious year.

– origin mid 17th cent.: modern Latin, literally ‘wonderful year.’

anoa /əˈnōə/

I. noun

a small deerlike water buffalo, native to Sulawesi.
[Genus Bubalus, family Bovidae: two species.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: a local name.

anode /ˈanōd/

I. noun

1. the positively charged electrode by which the electrons leave a device.
The opposite of cathode.

2. the negatively charged electrode of a device supplying current such as a primary cell.

II. derivatives

1. anodal /anˈōdl, āˈnōdl /

adjective

2. anodic /anˈädik /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek anodos ‘way up,’ from ana ‘up’ + hodos ‘way.’

anodize /ˈanəˌdīz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. anodized)

1. coat (a metal, especially aluminum) with a protective oxide layer by an electrolytic process in which the metal forms the anode.

II. derivatives

anodizer

noun

anodyne /ˈanəˌdīn/

I. adjective

not likely to provoke dissent or offense; inoffensive, often deliberately so

• anodyne New Age music

• I attempted to keep the conversation as anodyne as possible.

II. noun

a painkilling drug or medicine.

– origin mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek anōdunos ‘painless,’ from an- ‘without’ + odunē ‘pain.’

anogenital /ˌanōˈjenədl/

I. adjective

[Medicine] [Anatomy] of or relating to the anus and genitals.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Latin ano- (combining form of anus) + genital.

anoint /əˈnoint/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. smear or rub with oil, typically as part of a religious ceremony

• high priests were anointed with oil

• bodies were anointed after death for burial.

2. (anoint something with) — smear or rub something with (any other substance)

• Cuna Indians anoint the tips of their arrows with poison.

3. ceremonially confer divine or holy office upon (a priest or monarch) by smearing or rubbing with oil

• the Lord has anointed me to preach to the poor

• [with obj. and complement] Samuel anointed him king.

4. nominate or choose (someone) as successor to or leading candidate for a position

• he was anointed as the organizational candidate of the party

• (as adj. anointed) his officially anointed heir.

II. phrases

1. Anointing of the Sick

(in the Roman Catholic Church) the sacramental anointing of the ill or infirm with blessed oil; unction.

2. God's (or the Lord's) anointed

a monarch ruling by divine right.

III. derivatives

1. anointer

noun

2. anointment /əˈnointmənt /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French enoint ‘anointed,’ past participle of enoindre, from Latin inungere, from in- ‘upon’ + ungere ‘anoint, smear with oil.’

anole /əˌnōlē/

I. noun

a small, mainly arboreal American lizard with a throat fan that (in the male) is typically brightly colored. Anoles have some ability to change color.
Also called chameleon. [Genus Anolis, family Iguanidae: numerous species, in particular the green anole (A. carolinensis), which is popular as a pet.]

– origin early 18th cent.: from Carib.

anomalistic month /əˌnäməˌlistik ˈmənTH/

noun

a month measured between successive perigees of the moon (approximately 27½ days).

anomalistic year

noun

a year measured between successive perihelia of the earth (approximately 365 ¼ days).

anomalous /əˈnämələs/

I. adjective

deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected

• an anomalous situation

• sentences that are grammatically anomalous.

II. derivatives

1. anomalously /əˈnämələslē /

adverb

2. anomalousness

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: via late Latin from Greek anōmalos (from an- ‘not’ + homalos ‘even’) + -ous.

anomaly /əˈnäməlē/

I. noun

1. something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected

• there are a number of anomalies in the present system

• a legal anomaly

• [with clause] the apparent anomaly that those who produced the wealth were the poorest

• the position abounds in anomaly.

2. [Astronomy] the angular distance of a planet or satellite from its last perihelion or perigee.

– origin late 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek anōmalia, from anōmalos (see anomalous).

anomia /əˈnōmēə/

I. noun

[Medicine] a form of aphasia in which the patient is unable to recall the names of everyday objects.

II. derivatives

anomic /əˈnämik, əˈnō- /

adjective

– origin early 20th cent.: formed irregularly from a-1 ‘without, not’ + Latin nomen ‘name’ + -ia^1.

anomie /ˈanəˌmē / anomy

I. noun

lack of the usual social or ethical standards in an individual or group

• the theory that high-rise architecture leads to anomie in the residents.

II. derivatives

anomic /əˈnämik, əˈnō- /

adjective

– origin 1930s: from French, from Greek anomia, from anomos ‘lawless.’

anon /əˈnän/

I. adverb

‹archaic› soon; shortly

• I'll see you anon.

– origin Old English on ān ‘into one,’ on āne ‘in one’ The original sense was ‘in or into one state, course, etc.,’ which developed into the temporal sense ‘at once.’

anon. /əˈnän/

abbreviation

anonymous.

anonymity /ˌanəˈnimədē/

noun

1. the condition of being anonymous

• most people who agreed to talk requested anonymity.

2. lack of outstanding, individual, or unusual features; impersonality

• the anonymity of big city life definitely has its advantages.

anonymize /əˈnänəˌmīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make anonymous

• manuscripts will be anonymized by the editorial assistant.

2. (usu. as adj. anonymized) — [Medicine] remove identifying particulars from (test results) for statistical or other purposes

• anonymized testing of routine blood samples.

II. derivatives

anonymization /ənänəˌmīˈzāSHən /

noun

– origin 1970s: from anonymous + -ize.

anonymous /əˈnänəməs/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) not identified by name; of unknown name

• the anonymous author of Beowulf

• the donor's wish to remain anonymous

• an anonymous phone call.

2. having no outstanding, individual, or unusual features; unremarkable or impersonal

• the anonymous black car waiting to take him to the airport

• a faceless, anonymous group.

3. [postpositive] — used in names of support groups for addicts of a substance or behavior to indicate the confidentiality maintained among members of the group

• Alcoholics Anonymous

• Debtors Anonymous.

– origin late 16th cent.: via late Latin from Greek anōnumos ‘nameless’ (from an- ‘without’ + onoma ‘name’) + -ous.

anonymous FTP

noun

[Computing] part of the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) on the Internet that lets anyone log on to an FTP server, using a general username and without a password.

anonymously /əˈnäniməslē/

adverb

1. in a way that prevents a person from being identified by name

• Newman published two novels, both anonymously.

2. in a way that produces no outstanding, individual, or unusual features; unremarkably or impersonally

• the anonymously furnished parlor.

anopheles /əˈnäfəˌlēz / anopheles mosquito

I. noun

a mosquito of a genus that is particularly common in warmer countries and includes the mosquitoes that transmit the malarial parasite to humans.
Compare with culex. [Genus Anopheles, subfamily Anophelinae, family Culicidae.]

II. derivatives

anopheline /-ˌlīn, -lin /

adjective, noun

– origin late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek anōphelēs ‘unprofitable, useless.’

Anoplura /ˌanəˈplo͝orə / ‹Entomology›

I. an order of insects that comprises the sucking lice.

II. derivatives

anopluran

noun, adjective

– origin modern Latin (plural), from anoplos ‘unarmed’ + oura ‘tail.’

anorak /ˈanəˌrak/

I. noun

1. a waterproof jacket, typically with a hood, of a kind originally used in polar regions.

2. (Brit.) ‹informal› ‹derogatory› a studious or obsessive person with unfashionable and largely solitary interests.

• with his thick specs, shabby shoes, and grey suit, he looks a bit of an anorak.

II. derivatives

1. anoraked

adjective

2. anorakish

adjective

3. anoraky

adjective

– origin 1920s: from Greenlandic anoraq.

anorectal /ˌanəˈrektəl/

I. adjective

[Medicine] [Anatomy] of or relating to the anus and rectum.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French ano-rectal, from Latin ano- (combining form of anus) + rectal (see rectal).

anorexia /ˌanəˈreksēə/

I. noun

1. a lack or loss of appetite for food (as a medical condition).

2. (also anorexia nervosa ) — an emotional disorder characterized by an obsessive desire to lose weight by refusing to eat.
Compare with bulimia.

– origin late 16th cent.: via late Latin from Greek, from an- ‘without’ + orexis ‘appetite.’

anorexic /ˌanəˈreksik / anorectic

I. adjective

1. relating to, characterized by, or suffering from anorexia.

2. ‹informal› extremely thin.

II. noun

1. a person suffering from anorexia.

2. (anorectic) — a medicine that produces a loss of appetite.

III. derivatives

anorexically

adverb

anorgasmia /ˌanôrˈɡazmēə/

I. noun

[Medicine] persistent inability to achieve orgasm despite responding to sexual stimulation.

II. derivatives

anorgasmic /-mik /

adjective

– origin 1970s: from an-1 + orgasm + -ia^1.

anorthite /əˈnôrˌTHīt/

I. noun

a calcium-rich mineral of the plagioclase feldspar group, typically white, occurring especially in limestones metamorphosed by contact with an igneous intrusion.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from an-1 + Greek orthos ‘straight’ + -ite^1.

anorthosite /əˈnôrTHəˌsīt/

I. noun

[Geology] a plutonic rock composed largely of calcic plagioclase.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French anorthose ‘plagioclase’ + -ite^1.

anosmia /aˈnäzmēə aˈnäsmēə/

I. noun

[Medicine] the loss of the sense of smell, either total or partial. It may be caused by head injury, infection, or blockage of the nose.

II. derivatives

anosmic /-mik /

adjective

– origin early 19th cent.: from an-2 + Greek osmē ‘smell.’

another /əˈnəT͟Hər/

I. determiner, pronoun

1. used to refer to an additional person or thing of the same type as one already mentioned or known about; one more; a further
[as determiner]

• have another drink

• I didn't say another word

• [as pronoun] they have two practices, one in the morning and another in the afternoon

• she was to become another of his stars.

2. [usu. as determiner] — used with a proper name to indicate someone or something's similarity to the person or event specified

• they said she was another Jennifer Aniston

• this will not be another Vietnam.

3. used to refer to a different person or thing from one already mentioned or known about
[as determiner]

• come back another day

• his wife left him for another man

• [as pronoun] moving from one place to another

• it is one thing to formulate policies and quite another to implement them.

4. [determiner] — used to refer to someone sharing an attribute in common with the person already mentioned

• his kiss with another man caused a tabloid rumpus.

– origin Middle English: as an other until the 16th cent.

Anouilh, Jean /äˈno͞oē, änˈwē/

(1910–87), French playwright. Notable works: Ring Around the Moon (1947), Thieves' Carnival (1932), and Antigone (1944).

ANOVA /ˈanōvə əˈnōvə/

I. noun

analysis of variance, a statistical method in which the variation in a set of observations is divided into distinct components.

– origin 1960s: acronym.

anovulant /əˈnävyələnt / ‹Medicine›

I. adjective

(chiefly of a drug) preventing ovulation.

II. noun

an anovulant drug.

– origin 1960s: from an-1 + ovul(ation) + -ant.

anovulatory /anˈävyələˌtôrē/

adjective

[Medicine] (of a menstrual cycle) in which ovulation does not occur.

anoxia /aˈnäksēə/

I. noun

1. ‹technical› an absence of oxygen.

2. ‹technical› [Medicine] an absence or deficiency of oxygen reaching the tissues; severe hypoxia.

II. derivatives

anoxic /aˈnäksik /

adjective

– origin 1930s: from an-1 + ox(ygen) + -ia^1.

ANS

abbreviation

autonomic nervous system.

Anschluss /ˈänˌSHlo͞os/

I. the annexation of Austria by Germany in 1938. Hitler had forced the resignation of the Austrian chancellor by demanding that he admit Nazis into his Cabinet. The new chancellor, a pro-Nazi, invited German troops to enter the country on the pretext of restoring law and order.

– origin German, from anschliessen ‘to join.’

Anselm, St. /ˈanˌselm/

(c. 1033–1109), English philosopher and theologian; born in Italy; archbishop of Canterbury 1093–1109. Feast day, April 21.

Anshan /anˈSHan/

a city in Liaoning, China; pop. 1,293,000 (est. 2006). It is situated close to major iron-ore deposits, and China's largest iron and steel complex is nearby.

ANSI /ˈansē/

abbreviation

American National Standards Institute.

answer /ˈansər/

I. noun

1. a thing said, written, or done to deal with or as a reaction to a question, statement, or situation

• he knocked and entered without waiting for an answer.

2. a thing written or said in reaction to a question in a test or quiz

• write your answers on a postcard.

3. the correct solution to a question in a test or quiz

• the answer is 280°.

4. a solution to a problem or dilemma

• the answer to poverty and unemployment is a properly funded range of services.

5. [in sing.] (answer to) — a thing or person that imitates or fulfills the same role as something or someone else

• the press called her Britain's answer to Marilyn Monroe.

6. [Law] the defendant's reply to the plaintiff's charges.

II. verb

1. [reporting verb] — say or write something to deal with or as a reaction to someone or something
[with direct speech]

• “Of course I can,” she answered

• [with clause] she answered that she would take nothing but the ring

• [with obj.] she tried to answer his questions truthfully

• I didn't answer him

• [no obj.] Steve was about to answer, but Hazel spoke first.

2. [with obj.] — provide the required responses to (a test or quiz)

• answer the questions below for a chance to win a vacation.

3. [no obj.] (answer back) — respond impudently or disrespectfully to someone, especially when being criticized or told to do something

• one couldn't argue with a parent; one couldn't answer back

• [with obj.] Mary resisted the temptation to answer her mother back.

4. [with obj.] — act in reaction to (a sound such as a telephone ringing or a knock or ring on a door)

• David answered the door

• [no obj.] she called Edward's house, hoping he would answer.

5. [no obj.] (answer to) — be responsible or report to (someone)

• I answer to the assistant commissioner.

6. [with obj.] — defend oneself against (a charge, accusation, or criticism)

• he said he would return to Spain to answer all charges.

7. [no obj.] (answer to) — be required to explain or justify oneself to (someone)

• you will have the police to answer to.

8. [no obj.] (answer for) — be responsible or to blame for

• the dust mite has a lot to answer for, especially if you are asthmatic.

9. [with obj.] — be suitable for fulfilling (a need); satisfy

• entrepreneurship is necessary to answer the needs of national and international markets

• [no obj.] nothing short of that would answer.

III. phrases

1. answer the description of

correspond to a description, especially one of a suspect issued by the police

• he answers the description of being slightly taller than his two supposed companions.

2. answer to (the name of)

‹often humorous› be called

• an attractive woman answering to the name of Suzanne.

3. have (or know) all the answers

‹informal› be confident in one's knowledge of something, typically unjustifiably so

• it was his air of knowing all the answers that riled Mrs. Farrar.

4. in answer to

as a response to or as a result of

• in answer to the stresses on modern woman, we have developed a range of beauty treatments.

IV. derivatives

1. answerer /ˈans(ə)rər /

noun

2. answerless

adjective

– origin Old English andswaru (noun), andswarian (verb), of Germanic origin; from a base shared by swear.

answerability /ˌansərəˈbilədē/

noun

responsibility for explaining or justifying one's actions

• the answerability of governments to the citizens.

answerable /ˈans(ə)rəb(ə)l/

adjective

1. [predic.] (answerable to) — required to explain or justify one's actions to; responsible or having to report to

• I'm not answerable to you for my every movement.

2. (answerable for) — responsible for

• an employer is answerable for the negligence of his employees.

3. (of a question) able to be answered

• straightforward and answerable questions.

answering machine

noun

a tape recorder or digital device that supplies a recorded answer to a telephone call and can record a message from the caller.

answering service /ˈans(ə)riNG ˈsərvəs/

noun

a business that receives and answers telephone calls for its clients.

ant /ant/

I. noun

a small insect, often with a sting, that usually lives in a complex social colony with one or more breeding queens. It is wingless except for fertile adults, which often form large mating swarms, and is proverbial for industriousness.
[Family Formicidae, order Hymenoptera: several subfamilies.]

II. phrases

have ants in one's pants

‹informal› be fidgety or restless.

– origin Old English ǣmete; related to German Ameise. Compare with emmet.

ant-

prefix

variant spelling of anti- before a vowel or h (as in Antarctic).

-ant

I. suffix

1. (forming adjectives) denoting attribution of an action or state

• arrogant

• expectant.

2. (forming nouns) denoting an agent

• deodorant

• propellant.

– origin from Latin or French present participial verb stems (see also -ent).

Antabuse /ˈan(t)əˌbyo͞os/

I. noun

trademark for disulfiram.

– origin 1940s: from anti- + abuse.

antacid /ˌan(t)ˈasəd/

I. adjective

(chiefly of a medicine) preventing or correcting acidity, especially in the stomach.

II. noun

an antacid medicine.

Antaeus /anˈtēəs, -ˈtā- / ‹Greek Mythology›

a giant, the son of Poseidon and Earth, who compelled all comers to wrestle with him, overcoming and killing them all until he was defeated by Hercules.

antagonism /anˈtaɡəˌnizəm/

I. noun

1. active hostility or opposition

• the antagonism between them

• his antagonism toward the local people

• petty antagonisms and jealousies.

2. [Biochemistry] inhibition of or interference with the action of one substance or organism by another.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French antagonisme, from Greek antagōnizesthai ‘struggle against’ (see antagonist).

antagonist /anˈtaɡənəst/

I. noun

1. a person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something; an adversary

• he turned to confront his antagonist.

2. [Biochemistry] a substance that interferes with or inhibits the physiological action of another.
Compare with agonist.

3. [Anatomy] a muscle whose action counteracts that of another specified muscle.
Compare with agonist.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French antagoniste or late Latin antagonista, from Greek antagōnistēs, from antagōnizesthai ‘struggle against’ (see antagonize).

antagonistic /anˌtaɡəˈnistik/

I. adjective

1. showing or feeling active opposition or hostility toward someone or something

• he was antagonistic to the government's reforms

• an antagonistic group of bystanders.

2. [Biochemistry] [Physiology] of or relating to an antagonist or its action.

II. derivatives

antagonistically /ˌanˌtaɡəˈnistik(ə)lē /

adverb

antagonize /anˈtaɡəˌnīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (someone) to become hostile

• he antagonized many colleagues during the budget wars.

2. [Biochemistry] (of a substance) act as an antagonist of (a substance or its action)

• two other drugs antagonized the antidepressantlike effect.

– origin mid 18th cent. (in the sense ‘struggle against’): from Greek antagōnizesthai, from ant- ‘against’ + agōnizesthai ‘struggle’ (from agōn ‘contest’).

Antakya /ˌäntäkˈyä/

Turkish name for Antioch.

Antalya /ˌänˌtälˈyä, ˌäntlˈyä/

a port in southern Turkey; pop. 775,200 (est. 2007).

Antananarivo /ˌäntəˌnänəˈrēvō, ˌantəˌnanə-/

the capital of Madagascar, located in the central plateau; pop. 1,697,000 (est. 2007).
Former name (until 1975) Tananarive.

Antarctic /anˈ(t)ärktik/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to the south polar region or Antarctica.

2. [Botany] of, relating to, or denoting a phytogeographical kingdom comprising New Zealand, southern parts of Chile and Argentina, and islands in the South Atlantic and southern Indian Ocean.

II. noun — (the Antarctic)

1. the Antarctic region.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French antartique or Latin antarcticus, from Greek antarktikos ‘opposite to the north,’ from ant- ‘against’ + arktikos (see Arctic).

Antarctica /antˈärktəkə anˈ(t)ärdəkə/

a continent around the South Pole, situated mainly within the Antarctic Circle and almost entirely covered by ice sheets. Its exploitation is governed by an international treaty of 1959, which was renewed in 1991.

Antarctic Circle //

the parallel of latitude 66° 33ʹ south of the equator. It marks the southernmost point at which the sun is visible on the southern winter solstice and the northernmost point at which the midnight sun can be seen on the southern summer solstice.

Antarctic Convergence

the zone of the Antarctic Ocean where the cold, nutrient-laden Antarctic surface water sinks beneath the warmer waters to the north.

Antarctic Ocean /anˈ(t)ärktik ˈōSHən/

another name (esp. formerly) for Southern Ocean.

Antarctic Peninsula

a mountainous peninsula of Antarctica between the Bellingshausen and Weddell seas that extends northward toward Cape Horn and the Falkland Islands.

Antares /anˈterēz/

I. the brightest star in the constellation Scorpius. It is a binary star of which the main component is a red supergiant.

– origin Greek, literally ‘simulating Mars (in color).’

ant bear

noun

1. another term for aardvark.

2. another term for giant anteater (see anteater).

antbird /ˈantbərd/

noun

an insectivorous, long-legged, short-tailed bird that typically has dark gray plumage in the male and brown in the female. Antbirds, found mainly in the tropical forests of South America, often feed on insects that have been disturbed by swarms of army ants.
[Family Formicariidae: several genera, in particular Myrmeciza, Cercomacra, and Drymophila.]

ante /ˈan(t)ē/

I. noun

a stake put up by a player in poker and similar games before receiving cards.

II. verb — [with obj.] (ante something up)

1. put up an amount as an ante in poker and similar games.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› pay an amount of money in advance

• he anted up $925,000 of his own money.

3. [no obj.] (ante up) — ‹informal› put up one's money; pay up

• the owners have to ante up if they want to attract the best talent.

III. phrases

up (or raise) the ante

increase what is at stake or under discussion, especially in a conflict or dispute

• he decided to up the ante in the trade war.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘before.’

ante-

I. prefix

before; preceding

• antechapel

• antecedent.

– origin from Latin ante ‘before.’

anteater /ˈan(t)ˌēdər/

noun

a mammal that feeds on ants and termites. It has a long snout and sticky tongue.
[Most anteaters are edentates of the Central and South American family Myrmecophagidae, which includes the giant anteater and the tamanduas. The echidna, numbat, and pangolin are also known as spiny anteater, banded anteater, and scaly anteater, respectively.]

antebellum /ˌan(t)ēˈbeləm/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. occurring or existing before a particular war, especially the American Civil War

• the conventions of the antebellum South.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin, from ante ‘before’ and bellum ‘war.’

antecedent /ˌan(t)əˈsēdnt/

I. noun

1. a thing or event that existed before or logically precedes another

• some antecedents to the African novel might exist in Africa's oral traditions.

2. (antecedents) — a person's ancestors or family and social background

• her early life and antecedents have been traced.

3. [Grammar] a word, phrase, clause, or sentence to which another word (especially a following relative pronoun) refers.

4. [Logic] the statement contained in the “if” clause of a conditional proposition.

5. [Mathematics] the first term in a ratio.

II. adjective

1. preceding in time or order; previous or preexisting

• the antecedent events that prompt you to break a diet.

2. denoting a grammatical antecedent.

III. derivatives

antecedence /ˌan(t)əˈsēdns /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French or from Latin antecedent- ‘going before,’ from antecedere, from ante ‘before’ + cedere ‘go.’

antechamber /ˈan(t)ēˌCHāmbər/

I. noun

a small room leading to a main one.

– origin mid 17th cent. (as antichamber): from French antichambre, from Italian anticamera, from anti- ‘preceding’ + camera (see chamber).

antechapel /ˈan(t)ēˌCHapəl/

noun

a vestibule for a college chapel, lying beyond the west end of the nave.

antechinus /ˌan(t)ēˈkīnəs/

I. noun

a marsupial mouse of shrewlike habits and appearance, found in Australia, New Guinea, and Tasmania.
[Genera Antechinus and Parantechinus, family Dasyuridae: several species.]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek anti- ‘simulating’ + ekhinos ‘sea urchin, hedgehog’ (from its bristly fur).

antedate /ˈan(t)iˌdāt/

verb — [with obj.]

1. precede in time; come before (something) in date

• a civilization that antedated the Roman Empire.

2. indicate or discover that (a document, event, or word) should be assigned to an earlier date

• there are no references to him that would antedate his birth.

antedating /ˈan(t)iˌdādiNG/

noun

an example or instance of a word, phrase, etc., at a date earlier than previously known or recorded

• antedatings of some prize-fighting terms.

antediluvian /ˌan(t)ēdəˈlo͞ovēən/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of or belonging to the time before the biblical Flood

• gigantic bones of antediluvian animals.

2. ‹chiefly humorous› ridiculously old-fashioned

• they maintain antediluvian sex-role stereotypes.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from ante- + Latin diluvium ‘deluge’ + -an.

antelope /ˈan(t)əˌlōp/

I. noun

1. a swift-running deerlike ruminant with smooth hair and upward-pointing horns, native to Africa and Asia.
[Many genera and species, in the family Bovidae.]

2. (N. Amer.) another term for pronghorn.

– origin late Middle English (originally the name of a fierce mythical creature with long serrated horns, said to live on the banks of the Euphrates): via Old French and medieval Latin from late Greek antholops, of unknown origin and meaning.

antemortem /ˌan(t)ēˈmôrdəm/

I. adjective, adverb

before death
[as adj.]

• the antemortem instructions of the dead leader

• [as adv.] abnormalities of the sinus are difficult to demonstrate antemortem.

– origin late 19th cent.: Latin, literally ‘before death.’

antenatal /ˌan(t)ēˈnādl/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. before birth; during or relating to pregnancy; prenatal

• antenatal care.

II. noun

‹informal› a medical examination during pregnancy.

III. derivatives

antenatally

adverb

antenna /anˈtenə/

I. noun

1. (pl. antennae ) — [Zoology] either of a pair of long, thin sensory appendages on the heads of insects, crustaceans, and some other arthropods.

2. (antennae) — the faculty of instinctively detecting and interpreting subtle signs

• he has the political antennae of a party whip.

3. (pl. antennas) — (chiefly N. Amer.) ‹technical› a rod, wire, or other device used to transmit or receive radio or television signals.

II. derivatives

antennal /-ˈtenl /

adjective

antenna (sense 1)

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin, alteration of antemna ‘yard’ (of a ship), used in the plural to translate Greek keraioi ‘horns (of insects),’ used by Aristotle.

antennule /anˈtenˌyo͞ol/

I. noun

[Zoology] a small antenna, especially either of the first pair of antennae in a crustacean.

– origin mid 19th cent.: diminutive of antenna.

antepartum /ˌan(t)ēˈpärdəm/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. [Medicine] occurring not long before childbirth.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin, ‘before birth.’

antepenultimate /ˌan(t)ēpəˈnəltəmət/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. last but two in a series; third last

• the antepenultimate item on the agenda

• the antepenultimate syllable.

anterior /ˌanˈtirēər/

I. adjective

1. ‹technical› [chiefly Anatomy] [Biology] nearer the front, especially situated in the front of the body or nearer to the head

• the veins anterior to the heart.

The opposite of posterior.

2. [Botany] (of a part of a flower or leaf) situated further away from the main stem.

3. ‹formal› coming before in time; earlier

• there are few examples of gold and silver work anterior to the dynasty of the Romanoffs.

II. derivatives

1. anteriority /anˌtirēˈôrədē /

noun

2. anteriorly

adverb

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French antérieur or Latin anterior, comparative of ante ‘before.’

antero-

combining form

[chiefly Anatomy] representing anterior:

• anteroposterior.

anterograde /ˈan(t)ərōˌɡrād/

I. adjective

1. directed forward in time.
The opposite of retrograde.

2. of or denoting a type of amnesia involving inability to remember any new information.

– origin late 19th cent.: from anterior, on the pattern of retrograde.

anterolateral /ˌan(t)ərōˈladərəl/

adjective

[chiefly Anatomy] both anterior and lateral.

anteroom /ˈan(t)ēˌro͞om ˈan(t)ēˌro͝om/

noun

1. an antechamber, typically serving as a waiting room.

2. [Military] a sitting room in an officers' mess.

anteroposterior /ˌantərōpäˈstirēər, -pō-/

adjective

[chiefly Anatomy] relating to or directed toward both front and back

• an anteroposterior axis.

anteverted /ˈan(t)ēˌvərdəd/

I. adjective

[Anatomy] [Medicine] (of an organ of the body, typically the uterus) inclined forward.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin antevertere, from ante ‘before’ + vertere ‘to turn’ + -ed^2.

anthelion /antˈhēlēən, anˈTHē-/

I. noun

1. a luminous halo around a shadow projected by the sun onto a cloud or fog bank.

2. a parhelion seen opposite the sun in the sky.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Greek anthēlion, neuter of anthēlios ‘opposite to the sun,’ from anth- (variant of anti- ‘against’) + hēlios ‘sun.’

anthelmintic /ˌant-helˈmintik, ˌanTHel- / ‹Medicine›

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (chiefly of medicines) used to destroy parasitic worms.

II. noun

an anthelmintic medicine.

– origin late 17th cent. (as an adjective): from anth- (variant of anti ‘against’) + Greek helmins, helminth- ‘worm’ + -ic.

anthem /ˈanTHəm/

I. noun

1. a rousing or uplifting song identified with a particular group, body, or cause

• the song became the anthem for hippie activists.

2. (also national anthem) — a solemn patriotic song officially adopted by a country as an expression of national identity.

3. a choral composition based on a biblical passage, for singing by a choir in a church service.

– origin Old English antefn, antifne (denoting a composition sung antiphonally), from late Latin antiphona (see antiphon). The spelling with th, which began in the 16th cent., was on the pattern of similar words, such as Antony, Anthony or amarant, amaranth.

anthemic /anˈTHēmik, -ˈTHemik/

adjective

(of a song) like an anthem in being rousing or uplifting.

anthemion /anˈTHēmēən/

I. noun

a flowerlike ornament used in the decorative arts.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek, literally ‘flower.’

anther /ˈanTHər/

I. noun

[Botany] the part of a stamen that contains the pollen.

– origin early 18th cent.: from French anthère or modern Latin anthera, from Greek anthēra ‘flowery,’ from anthos ‘flower.’

antheridium /ˌanTHəˈridēəm/

I. noun

[Botany] the male sex organ of algae, mosses, ferns, fungi, and other nonflowering plants.

II. derivatives

antheridial /-T͟Həˈridēəl /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from anthera (see anther) + -idium (from the Greek diminutive suffix -idion).

antherozoid /ˌanTHərəˈzō-id, ˈanTHərəˌzoid/

I. noun

[Botany] another term for spermatozoid.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from anther + zooid.

anthesis /anˈTHēsis/

I. noun

[Botany] the flowering period of a plant, from the opening of the flower bud.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek anthēsis ‘flowering,’ from anthein ‘to blossom.’

anthill /ˈantˌhil/

noun

a moundlike nest built by ants or termites.

antho-

I. combining form

of or relating to flowers

• anthophilous.

– origin from Greek anthos ‘flower.’

anthocyanin /ˌanTHəˈsīənən/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a blue, violet, or red flavonoid pigment found in plants.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from German Anthocyan, from Greek anthos ‘flower’ + kuanos ‘blue’ + -in^1.

anthologize /anˈTHäləˌjīz/

verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. anthologized)

1. include (an author or work) in an anthology

• the most anthologized of today's poets.

anthology /anˈTHäləjē/

I. noun

1. a published collection of poems or other pieces of writing

• an anthology of European poetry.

2. a published collection of songs or musical compositions issued in one album.

II. derivatives

anthologist /anˈTHäləjəst /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: via French or medieval Latin from Greek anthologia, from anthos ‘flower’ + -logia ‘collection’ (from legein ‘gather’). In Greek, the word originally denoted a collection of the “flowers” of verse, i.e., small choice poems or epigrams, by various authors.

Anthony, St. /ˈanTHənē / Antony

(c. 251–356), Egyptian hermit; the founder of monasticism. Feast day, January 17.

Anthony, Susan B. /ˈanTHənē/

(1820–1906), US social reformer and leader of the woman suffrage movement.; full name Susan Brownell Anthony. She traveled, lectured, and campaigned throughout her life for women's rights. With Elizabeth Cady Stanton, she organized the National Woman Suffrage Association in 1869. With Stanton and Matilda Joslyn Gage, she compiled the History of Woman Suffrage (1881–1902).

Anthony of Padua, St. /ˈantənē / Antony

(1195–1231), Portuguese Franciscan friar. His devotion to the poor is commemorated by alms known as St. Anthony's bread; he is invoked to find lost articles. Feast day, June 13.

anthophilous /anˈTHäfələs/

adjective

[Zoology] (of insects or other animals) frequenting flowers.

Anthozoa /ˌanTHəˈzōə / ‹Zoology›

I. a large class of sedentary marine coelenterates that includes the sea anemones and corals. They are either solitary or colonial, and have a central mouth surrounded by tentacles.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek anthos ‘flower’ + zōia ‘animals.’

anthozoan /ˌanTHəˈzōən / ‹Zoology›

I. noun

a member of a large class of marine coelenterates (the Anthozoa), such as a sea anemone or coral.

II. adjective

relating to or denoting anthozoans.

anthracene /ˈanTHrəˌsēn/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a colorless crystalline aromatic hydrocarbon obtained by the distillation of crude oils and used in chemical manufacture.
[A tricyclic compound; chem. formula: C_14H_10.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek anthrax, anthrak- ‘coal’ + -ene.

anthracite /ˈanTHrəˌsīt/

I. noun

coal of a hard variety that contains relatively pure carbon and burns with little flame and smoke.
Also called hard coal.

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting a gem described by Pliny and said to resemble coals, supposedly hydrophane): from Greek anthrakitēs, from anthrax, anthrak- ‘coal.’

anthracnose /anˈTHrakˌnōs/

I. noun

a mainly fungal disease of plants, causing dark lesions.
[This is usually caused by fungi of the subdivision Deuteromycotina.]

– origin late 19th cent.: coined in French from Greek anthrax, anthrak- ‘coal’ + nosos ‘disease.’

anthraquinone /ˌanTHrəkwiˈnōn, -ˈkwēnōn/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a yellow crystalline compound obtained by oxidation of anthracene. It is the basis of many natural and synthetic dyes.
[Chem. formula: C_14H_8O_2.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from anthra(cene) + quinone.

anthrax /ˈanˌTHraks/

I. noun

a notifiable bacterial disease of sheep and cattle, typically affecting the skin and lungs. It can be transmitted to humans, causing severe skin ulceration or a form of pneumonia (also called wool-sorter's disease).

– origin late Middle English: Latin, ‘carbuncle’ (the earliest sense in English), from Greek anthrax, anthrak- ‘coal, carbuncle,’ with reference to the skin ulceration in humans.

anthropic principle /anˌTHräpik ˈprinsəp(ə)l/

I. noun

the cosmological principle that theories of the universe are constrained by the necessity to allow human existence.
In its ‘weak’ form the principle affirms that a universe in which living observers cannot exist is inherently unobservable. ‘Strong’ forms take this line of reasoning further, seeking to explain features of the universe as being so because they are necessary for human existence.

– origin 1970s: anthropic from Greek anthrōpikos, from anthrōpos ‘human being.’

anthropo-

I. combining form

1. human; of a human being

• anthropometry.

2. relating to humankind

• anthropology.

– origin from Greek anthrōpos ‘human being.’

Anthropocene /ˈanTHrəpəˌsēn/

I. adjective

1. relating to or denoting the current geological age, viewed as the period during which human activity has been the dominant influence on climate and the environment.

2. (as noun the Anthropocene) — the Anthropocene period.

– origin early 21st cent.: from anthropo-, on the pattern of Holocene, Pleistocene, etc.

anthropocentric /ˌanTHrəpəˈsentrik/

I. adjective

regarding humankind as the central or most important element of existence, especially as opposed to God or animals.

II. derivatives

1. anthropocentrically /-trik(ə)lē /

adverb

2. anthropocentrism /ˌanTHrəpəˈsenˌtrizəm /

noun

anthropogenic /ˌanTHrəpōˈjenik/

I. adjective

(chiefly of environmental pollution and pollutants) originating in human activity

• anthropogenic emissions of sulfur dioxide.

II. derivatives

anthropogenically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

anthropogeny /ˌanTHrəˈpäjənē/

noun

‹rare› the study of the origin of humankind.

anthropoid /ˈanTHrəˌpoid/

I. adjective

1. resembling a human being in form

• cartoons of anthropoid frogs.

2. [Zoology] relating to the group of higher primates, which includes monkeys, apes, and humans.

3. [Zoology] (of an ape) belonging to the groups that include the great apes and gibbons.

II. noun

[Zoology] a higher primate, especially an ape or apeman.
[Suborder Anthropoidea, order Primates.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek anthrōpoeidēs, from anthrōpos ‘human being’ + -oid.

anthropological /ˌanTHrəpəˈläjikl/

I. adjective

relating to the study of humankind

• an anthropological expedition to Borneo.

II. derivatives

anthropologically

adverb

anthropologist /ˌanTHrəˈpäləjəst/

noun

an expert in or student of anthropology

• some anthropologists think that members of hunting and gathering societies tend to have more leisure.

anthropology /ˌanTHrəˈpäləjē/

noun

1. the study of humankind, in particular

2. (also cultural or social anthropology) — the comparative study of human societies and cultures and their development.

3. (also physical anthropology) — the science of human zoology, evolution, and ecology.

anthropometry /ˌanTHrəˈpämətrē/

I. noun

the scientific study of the measurements and proportions of the human body.

II. derivatives

anthropometric /-pōˈmetrik /

adjective

anthropomorphic /ˌanTHrəpəˈmôrfik/

I. adjective

1. relating to or characterized by anthropomorphism.

2. having human characteristics

• anthropomorphic bears and monkeys.

II. derivatives

anthropomorphically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin early 19th cent.: from Greek anthrōpomorphos (see anthropomorphous) + -ic.

anthropomorphism /ˌanTHrəpəˈmôrfizəm/

I. noun

the attribution of human characteristics or behavior to a god, animal, or object.

II. derivatives

anthropomorphize /ˌanTHrəpəˈmôrˌfīz /

verb

anthropomorphous /ˌanTHrəpəˈmôrfəs/

I. adjective

(of a god, animal, or object) human in form or nature.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Greek anthrōpomorphos (from anthrōpos ‘human being’ + morphē ‘form’) + -ous.

anthropophagist /ˌanTHrəˈpäfəjəst / anthropophagite

I. noun

‹rare› a person who eats the flesh of other human beings; a cannibal

• they had been living among anthropophagists, and had joined in their feasts.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek anthropos ‘human being’ + phago- ‘eating’ (from the verb phagein) + -ist (see anthropophagus).

anthropophagus /ˌanTHrəˈpäfəɡəs ˌanTHrəˈpäfəjəs/

I. noun

a cannibal, especially in legends or fables.

– origin mid 16th cent.: Latin, from Greek anthrōpophagos ‘man-eating,’ from anthrōpos ‘human being’ + -phagos (see -phagous).

anthropophagy /ˌanTHrəˈpäfəjē/

I. noun

the eating of human flesh by human beings.

II. derivatives

anthropophagous /ˌanTHrəˈpäfəɡəs /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Greek anthrōpophagia, from anthrōpophagos (see anthropophagus).

anthroposophy /ˌanTHrəˈpäsəfē/

I. noun

a formal educational, therapeutic, and creative system established by Rudolf Steiner, seeking to use mainly natural means to optimize physical and mental health and well-being.

II. derivatives

anthroposophical /-pəˈsäfikəl /

adjective

– origin early 20th cent.: from anthropo- + Greek sophia ‘wisdom.’

anthurium /anˈTH(y)o͝orēəm/

I. noun

a tropical American plant often grown elsewhere for its ornamental foliage or brightly colored flowering spathes.
[Genus Anthurium, family Araceae.]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek anthos ‘flower’ + oura ‘tail.’

anti /ˈan(t)ē ˈanˌtī/

I. preposition

opposed to; against

• I'm anti the abuse of drink and the hassle that it causes.

II. adjective — [predic.]

1. ‹informal› opposed

• neither side in the debate, whether anti or pro, has offered a particularly convincing case.

III. noun

‹informal› a person opposed to a particular policy, activity, or idea

• a shadow army of antis who endanger your sport.

– origin late 18th cent. (as a noun): independent usage of anti-.

anti- /ˈan(t)ē ˈanˌtī / ant-

I. prefix

1. opposed to; against

• antiaircraft.

2. preventing or suppressing

• antibacterial.

3. reversing or undoing

• anticoagulant

• antigravity

• antipruritic.

4. the opposite of

• anticlimax.

5. [Physics] the opposite state of matter or of a specified particle

• antimatter

• antiproton.

6. acting as a rival

• antipope.

7. unlike the conventional form

• antihero.

– origin representing Greek anti ‘against.’

antiabortion /ˌan(t)ēəˈbôrSH(ə)n ˌanˌtīəˈbôrSH(ə)n/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. opposing or legislating against medically induced abortion.

II. derivatives

antiabortionist /ˈˌanˌtī əˈbôrSHənəst ˈˌan(t)ē əˈbôrSHənəst /

noun

anti-aging /ˌan(t)ēˈājiNG ˌanˌtīˈājiNG / anti-ageing

adjective

(of a product or technique) designed to prevent the appearance of getting older

• an anti-aging cream.

antiaircraft /ˌan(t)ēˈerˌkraft ˌanˌtīˈerˌkraft / AA

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (especially of a gun or missile) used to attack enemy aircraft.

– origin World War I: from anti- + aircraft.

antialiasing /ˌantēˈālēəsiNG, ˌantīˈālēəsiNG/

noun

(in computer graphics) a technique used to add greater realism to a digital image by smoothing jagged edges on curved lines and diagonals.

anti-American /ˌan(t)ēəˈmerikən, ˌan(t)īəˈmerikən/

adjective

hostile to the interests of the United States; opposed to Americans.

anti-Americanism /ˌan(t)ēəˈmerək(ə)n ˌanˌtīəˈmerək(ə)n/

noun

hostility to the interests of the United States

• the film was attacked by some critics for its allegedly virulent anti-Americanism

• he encountered widespread anti-Americanism among intellectuals.

antibacterial /ˌan(t)ēbakˈtirēəl ˌan(t)ībakˈtirēəl/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. active against bacteria.

antiballistic missile /ˌan(t)ēbəˌlistik ˈmisəl ˌanˌtībəˌlistik ˈmisəl / ABM

noun

a missile designed for intercepting and destroying a ballistic missile while in flight.

Antibes /änˈtēbz/

a fishing port and resort in southeastern France; pop. 76,925 (2006).

antibiosis /ˌantēbīˈōsəs/

I. noun

[Biology] an antagonistic association between two organisms (especially microorganisms), in which one is adversely affected.
See also symbiosis.

– origin late 19th cent.: from anti- + a shortened form of symbiosis.

antibiotic /ˌan(t)ēbīˈädik ˌan(t)ībīˈädik/

I. noun

a medicine (such as penicillin or its derivatives) that inhibits the growth of or destroys microorganisms.

II. adjective

relating to, involving, or denoting antibiotics.

– origin mid 19th cent. (in the sense ‘doubting the possibility of life in a particular environment’): from anti- + Greek biōtikos ‘fit for life’ (from bios ‘life’).

antibody /ˈan(t)əˌbädē/

I. noun

a blood protein produced in response to and counteracting a specific antigen. Antibodies combine chemically with substances that the body recognizes as alien, such as bacteria, viruses, and foreign substances in the blood.

– origin early 20th cent.: from anti- + body, translating German Antikörper, from anti- ‘against’ + Körper ‘body.’

antibubble /ˈantēˌbəbəl, ˈantī-/

noun

a membrane of air, submerged in liquid and surrounding a sphere of liquid.

antic /ˈan(t)ik/

I. adjective

‹literary› grotesque or bizarre.

– origin early 16th cent.: from Italian antico ‘antique,’ used to mean ‘grotesque.’

anticancer /ˌantēˈkansər, ˌanˌtīˈkansər/

adjective

used in the treatment of cancer

• anticancer drugs

• new anticancer therapies.

anticapitalist /ˌantiˈkapit(ə)list ˌantʌiˈkapit(ə)list/

I. adjective

opposed to capitalism.

II. noun

a person who is opposed to capitalism.

anticathode /ˌan(t)ēˈkaˌTHōd ˌanˌtīˈkaTHōd/

noun

[Physics] the target (or anode) of an X-ray tube that is struck by electrons from the cathode and from which X-rays are emitted.

antichoice /ˌantēˈCHois, ˌantī-/

adjective

(chiefly N. Amer.) opposed to a pregnant woman's choice of a medically induced abortion.
Compare with pro-life.

anticholinergic /ˌantēˌkōləˈnərjik, ˌantī-/

I. adjective

[Medicine] (chiefly of a drug) inhibiting the physiological action of acetylcholine, especially as a neurotransmitter.

II. noun

an anticholinergic drug.

Antichrist /ˈan(t)ēˌkrīst ˈanˌtīˌkrīst/

I. noun

1. (usu. the Antichrist) — (in some Christian teachings) a personal opponent of Christ expected to appear before the end of the world

• the battle between Christ and the Antichrist.

2. a person or force seen as opposing Christ or the Christian Church

• St. Paul really did have to fear for his life at the hands of an Antichrist named Nero.

3. a person or thing regarded as supremely evil or as a fundamental enemy or opponent

• they regard feminists like me as the Antichrist.

– origin Old English, via Old French or ecclesiastical Latin from Greek antikhristos, from anti ‘against’ + Khristos (see Christ).

anti-Christian /ˌan(t)ēˈkrisCHən ˌanˌtīˈkrisCHən/

I. adjective

1. opposed to Christianity or Christian values.

2. of or relating to the Antichrist.

II. noun

a person who opposes Christianity.

anticipate /anˈtisəˌpāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. regard as probable; expect or predict

• she anticipated scorn on her return to the theater

• [with clause] it was anticipated that the rains would slow the military campaign.

2. guess or be aware of (what will happen) and take action in order to be prepared

• they failed to anticipate a full scale invasion.

3. look forward to

• Stephen was eagerly anticipating the break from the routine of business.

4. act as a forerunner or precursor of

• he anticipated Bates's theories on mimicry and protective coloration.

5. come or take place before (an event or process expected or scheduled for a later time).

6. react or respond to (someone) too quickly, without giving them a chance to do or say something.

7. pay (a debt) before it is due.

II. derivatives

anticipator /anˈtisəˌpādər /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the senses ‘to take something into consideration,’ ‘mention something before the proper time’): from Latin anticipat- ‘acted in advance,’ from anticipare, based on ante- ‘before’ + capere ‘take.’

anticipation /anˌtisəˈpāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action of anticipating something; expectation or prediction

• her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

2. [Music] the introduction in a composition of part of a chord that is about to follow in full.

II. phrases

in anticipation

with the probability or expectation of something happening

• they manned the telephones in anticipation of a flood of calls.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin anticipatio(n-), from the verb anticipare (see anticipate).

anticipatory /anˈtisəpəˌtôrē/

adjective

1. happening, performed, or felt in anticipation of something

• an anticipatory flash of excitement.

2. [Law] (of a breach of contract) taking the form of an announcement or indication that a contract will not be honored.

anticlerical /ˌan(t)ēˈklərək(ə)l ˌantīˈklərək(ə)l / ‹chiefly historical›

I. adjective

opposed to the power or influence of the clergy, especially in politics.

II. noun

a person holding anticlerical views.

III. derivatives

anticlericalism /ˈˌanˌtīˈklərəkəˌlizəm ˈˌan(t)ēˈklərəkəˌlizəm ˈˌan(t)əˈklərəkəˌlizəm /

noun

anticlimactic /ˌan(t)ēˌklīˈmaktik ˌanˌtīklīˈmaktik/

I. adjective

causing disappointment at the end of an exciting or impressive series of events

• it was an anticlimactic finish to the match.

II. derivatives

anticlimactically /ˌan(t)ēˌklīˈmaktik ˌanˌtīklīˈmaktik /

adverb

anticlimax /ˌan(t)ēˈklīˌmaks ˌan(t)īˈklīˌmaks/

noun

a disappointing end to an exciting or impressive series of events

• the rest of the journey was an anticlimax by comparison

• a sense of anticlimax and incipient boredom.

anticline /ˈan(t)ēˌklīn ˈantīˌklīn/

I. noun

[Geology] a ridge-shaped fold of stratified rock in which the strata slope downward from the crest.
Compare with syncline.

II. derivatives

anticlinal /ˈanˌtīˌklīnl ˈan(t)ēˌklīnl ˈan(t)əˌklīnl /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from anti- + Greek klinein ‘lean,’ on the pattern of incline.

anticlockwise /ˌan(t)ēˈkläkˌwīz ˌanˌtīˈkläkˌwīz/

adverb, adjective

British term for counterclockwise.

anticoagulant /ˌan(t)ēkōˈaɡyələnt ˌan(t)īkōˈaɡyələnt/

I. adjective

having the effect of retarding or inhibiting the coagulation of the blood.

II. noun

an anticoagulant substance.

anticodon /ˌantēˈkōdn, ˌantī-/

noun

[Biochemistry] a sequence of three nucleotides forming a unit of genetic code in a transfer RNA molecule, corresponding to a complementary codon in messenger RNA.

anticompetitive /ˌantēkəmˈpetitiv/

I. adjective

tending to stifle or suppress competition, especially when this violates antitrust laws

• an anticompetitive advantage in the software industry.

II. derivatives

1. anticompetitively

adverb

2. anticompetitiveness

noun

anticonvulsant /ˌan(t)ēkənˈvəlsənt ˌanˌtīkənˈvəlsənt/

I. adjective

(chiefly of a drug) used to prevent or reduce the severity of epileptic fits or other convulsions.

II. noun

an anticonvulsant drug.

anticorruption /ˌantēˌkəˈrəpSHn, ˌantī-/

adjective

designed to eradicate or prevent dishonest or fraudulent conduct, especially in a political context

• an anticorruption campaign.

antics /ˈan(t)iks/

I. plural noun

foolish, outrageous, or amusing behavior

• the antics of our political parties.

– origin early 16th cent.: from antic.

anticyclone /ˌan(t)ēˈsīklōn ˌan(t)īˈsīklōn/

I. noun

a weather system with high atmospheric pressure at its center, around which air slowly circulates in a clockwise (northern hemisphere) or counterclockwise (southern hemisphere) direction. Anticyclones are associated with calm, fine weather.

II. derivatives

anticyclonic /ˈˌanˌtīˌsīˈklänik ˈˌan(t)ēˌsīˈklänik ˈˌan(t)əˌsīˈklänik /

adjective

antidemocratic /ˌantēˌdeməˈkratik ˌantīˌdeməˈkratik/

adjective

in conflict with the principles of democracy

• these antidemocratic measures have severely curtailed political freedom.

antidepressant /ˌan(t)ēdəˈpresnt ˌan(t)īdəˈpresnt/

I. adjective

(chiefly of a drug) used to alleviate depression.

II. noun

an antidepressant drug.

antidiarrheal /ˌantēˌdīəˈrēəl, ˌantī-/

I. adjective

(of a drug) used to alleviate diarrhea.

II. noun

an antidiarrheal drug.

antidiuretic hormone /ˌantēˌdīəˈretik, ˌantī- / ADH

noun

another term for vasopressin.

antidote /ˈan(t)iˌdōt/

I. noun

1. a medicine taken or given to counteract a particular poison.

2. something that counteracts or neutralizes an unpleasant feeling or situation

• laughter is a good antidote to stress.

3. (in homeopathy) a substance that cancels or opposes the effect of a remedy.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. counteract or cancel with an antidote

• What remedy will antidote henbane?

III. derivatives

antidotal /ˌantiˈdōtl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: via Latin, from Greek antidoton, neuter of antidotos ‘given against,’ from anti- ‘against’ + didonai ‘give.’

antidromic /ˌan(t)ēˈdrämik/

I. adjective

[Physiology] (of an impulse) traveling in the opposite direction to that normal in a nerve fiber.
The opposite of orthodromic.

– origin early 20th cent.: from anti- + Greek dromos ‘running’ + -ic.

antiemetic /ˌan(t)ēəˈmedik ˌanˌtīəˈmedik/

I. adjective

(chiefly of a drug) preventing vomiting.

II. noun

an antiemetic drug.

antiestablishment /ˌan(t)ēiˈstabliSHmənt ˌan(t)īiˈstabliSHmənt/

adjective

against the establishment or established authority.

Antietam /anˈtēdəm/

historic site in northwestern Maryland, on Antietam Creek, southeast of Sharpsburg, scene of a major Civil War battle in September 1862.

antifeedant /ˌantēˈfēdnt, ˌantī-/

I. noun

a naturally occurring substance in certain plants that adversely affects insects or other animals that eat them.

– origin 1960s: from anti- + feed + -ant.

antiferromagnetic /ˌantēˌferōməɡˈnetik, ˌantī-/

adjective

[Physics] designating or exhibiting a form of magnetism characterized by an antiparallel alignment of adjacent electron spins in a crystal lattice.
Compare with ferrimagnetic.

antifouling /ˌantēˈfouliNG, ˌantī-/

noun

treatment of a boat's hull with a paint or similar substance designed to prevent fouling.

antifraud /ˌantēˈfrôd, ˌantī-/

adjective

designed to prevent fraudulent practices

• new antifraud measures will save the taxpayer millions in lost revenue.

antifreeze /ˈan(t)ēˌfrēz/

noun

a liquid, typically one based on ethylene glycol, which can be added to water to lower the freezing point, chiefly used in the radiator of a motor vehicle.

antifungal /ˌantēˈfəNGɡəl, ˌanˌtīˈfəNGɡəl/

I. adjective

used to prevent fungal growth; active against fungi

• ringworm can be treated with antifungal cream

• coconut oil has antifungal and antibacterial properties.

II. noun

an antifungal drug or other substance

• the patient responded well to systemic antifungals.

anti-g /ˌan(t)ēˈjē ˌanˌtīˈjē/

I. adjective

short for antigravity.

– origin 1940s: from anti- + g, the symbol for acceleration due to gravity.

antigay /ˌan(t)ēˈɡā ˌan(t)īˈɡā/

I. adjective

prejudiced against or opposed to homosexuality or homosexuals

• the reform of antigay laws.

II. noun

a person who is prejudiced against or opposed to homosexuality or homosexuals.

• antigays were angry the event wasn't banned outright.

antigen /ˈan(t)əjən/

I. noun

a toxin or other foreign substance that induces an immune response in the body, especially the production of antibodies.

II. derivatives

antigenic /ˌantiˈjenik /

adjective

– origin early 20th cent.: via German from French antigène (see anti-, -gen).

antigenic determinant

noun

[Biochemistry] another term for epitope.

antiglobalization /ˌan(t)ēˌɡlōbələˈzāSH(ə)n ˌan(t)īˌɡlōbələˈzāSH(ə)n/

noun

opposition to the increase in the global power and influence of businesses, especially multinational corporations
[as modifier]

• antiglobalization protesters.

Antigone /anˈtiɡənē / ‹Greek Mythology›

daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta, the subject of a tragedy by Sophocles. She was sentenced to death for defying her uncle Creon, king of Thebes, but she took her own life before the sentence could be carried out, and Creon's son Haemon, who was engaged to her, killed himself over her body.

antigorite /anˈtiɡəˌrīt/

noun

a mineral of the serpentine group, occurring typically as thin green plates.

antigovernment /ˌan(t)ēˈɡəvərnmənt ˌanˌtīˈɡəvərnm(ə)nt/

adjective

against a government or the administration in office.

antigravity /ˌan(t)ēˈɡravədē ˌanˌtīˈɡravədē/

I. noun

[Physics] a hypothetical force opposing gravity.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (chiefly of clothing for a pilot or astronaut) designed to counteract the effects of high acceleration.

Antigua /anˈtēɡwə / Antigua Guatemala

a town in the central highlands of Guatemala; pop. 54,100 (est. 2009).

Antigua and Barbuda /anˌtēɡwə ən bärˈbo͞odə/

I.
1. a country in the western West Indies, in the Leeward Islands, that consists of two main islands (Antigua and Barbuda) and Redonda, a smaller island to the southwest of Antigua; pop. 85,600 (est. 2009); capital, St. John's (on Antigua); languages, English (official), Creole.

Discovered in 1493 by Columbus and settled by the English in 1632, Antigua became a British colony with Barbuda as its dependency; the islands gained independence within the Commonwealth of Nations in 1981.

II. derivatives

Antiguan

adjective, noun

antihero /ˈan(t)ēˌhirō ˈan(t)īˌhirō/

noun

a central character in a story, movie, or drama who lacks conventional heroic attributes.

antiheroine /ˈantēˌherōin, ˈantī-/

noun

a female antihero.

antihistamine /ˌan(t)ēˈhistəmēn ˌanˌtīˈhistəmēn/

noun

a drug or other compound that inhibits the physiological effects of histamine, used especially in the treatment of allergies.

antihypertensive /ˌan(t)īˌhīpərˈtensiv ˌan(t)ēˌhīpərˈtensiv/

I. adjective

(of a drug) used to lower high blood pressure

• increasing dosages of antihypertensive drug treatments.

II. noun

an antihypertensive drug

• the ability to act as an antihypertensive.

anti-infective /ˌantēinˈfektiv, ˌantī-/

I. adjective

(of a drug) used to prevent infection.

II. noun

an anti-infective drug.

anti-inflammatory /ˌan(t)ēinˈflaməˌtôrē ˌanˌtīinˈflaməˌtôrē/

I. adjective

(chiefly of a drug) used to reduce inflammation.

II. noun

an anti-inflammatory drug.

anti-intellectual /ˌantēˌintlˈekCHo͞oəl, ˌantī-/

I. noun

a person who scorns intellectuals and their views and methods.

II. adjective

characteristic of an anti-intellectual person.

III. derivatives

anti-intellectualism

noun

antiknock /ˈan(t)ēnäk ˈanˌtīnäk/

noun

a substance (such as tetraethyl lead) added to gasoline to inhibit preignition.

Anti-Lebanon Mountains /ˌantē ˈlebənən, -əˌnän/

a range of mountains that run north to south along the border between Lebanon and Syria, east of the Lebanon range.

antilife /ˌantēˈlīf, ˌantī-/

adjective

1. opposed to or restricting the full development of life

• the new industrial age was antilife.

2. opposing the development of life by advocating abortion.

Antilles /anˈtilēz/

a group of islands that form the greater part of the West Indies. The Greater Antilles extend roughly east to west and comprise Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), and Puerto Rico; the Lesser Antilles, to the southeast, include the Virgin, Leeward, and Windward islands, Barbados, and various small islands to the north of Venezuela.
See also Netherlands Antilles.

antilock /ˌan(t)ēˈläk ˌan(t)īˈläk/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of brakes) designed so as to prevent the wheels from locking and the vehicle from skidding if applied suddenly.

antilog /antēˈlôːɡ antīˈlôːɡ/

noun

short for antilogarithm.

antilogarithm /ˌan(t)ēˈlôɡəˌriT͟Həm ˌanˌtīˈlôɡəˌriT͟Həm/

noun

the number to which a logarithm belongs.

antimacassar /ˌan(t)ēməˈkasər/

I. noun

‹chiefly historical› a piece of cloth put over the back of a chair to protect it from grease and dirt or as an ornament.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from anti- + Macassar.

antimagnetic /ˌan(t)ēmaɡˈnedik ˌanˌtīˌmaɡˈnedik/

adjective

(especially of watches) resistant to magnetization.

antimatter /ˈan(t)ēˌmadər ˈanˌtīˌmadər/

noun

[Physics] molecules formed by atoms consisting of antiprotons, antineutrons, and positrons. Stable antimatter does not appear to exist in our universe.

antimetabolite /ˌantēmiˈtabəˌlīt, ˌantī-/

noun

[Physiology] a substance that interferes with the normal metabolic processes within cells, typically by combining with enzymes.

antimonarchist /ˌan(t)ēˈmänərkist ˌanˌtīˈmänərkist/

noun

an opponent of monarchy.

antimony /ˈan(t)əˌmōnē/

I. noun

(Symbol: Sb) — the chemical element of atomic number 51, a brittle silvery-white metalloid.
Antimony was known from ancient times; the naturally occurring black sulfide was used as the cosmetic kohl. The element is used in alloys, usually with lead, such as pewter, type-metal, and Britannia metal.

II. derivatives

1. antimonial /ˌan(t)əˈmōnēəl /

adjective

2. antimonic /ˌan(t)əˈmänik /

adjective

3. antimonious /ˌan(t)əˈmōnēəs /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (denoting stibnite, the most common ore of the metal): from medieval Latin antimonium, of unknown origin. The current sense dates from the early 19th cent.

antinational /ˌan(t)ēˈnaSH(ə)n(ə)l ˌanˌtīˈnaəSH(ə)n(ə)l/

adjective

opposed to national interests or nationalism

• an antinational party.

antineutron /ˈan(t)ēˌn(y)o͞oträn ˈanˌtīˌn(y)o͞oträn/

noun

[Physics] the antiparticle of a neutron.

antinode /ˈan(t)iˌnōd/

noun

[Physics] the position of maximum displacement in a standing wave system.

antinoise /ˈan(t)ēnoiz ˈanˌtīnoiz/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. promoting the suppression or reduction of noise

• stringent antinoise regulations.

II. noun

sound generated for the purpose of reducing noise by interference.

antinomian /ˌan(t)ēˈnōmēən/

I. adjective

of or relating to the view that Christians are released by grace from the obligation of observing the moral law.

II. noun

a person holding antinomian beliefs.

III. derivatives

antinomianism /-ˌnizəm /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin Antinomi, the name of a 16th-cent. sect in Germany alleged to hold this view, from Greek anti- ‘opposite, against’ + nomos ‘law.’

antinomy /anˈtinəmē/

I. noun

a contradiction between two beliefs or conclusions that are in themselves reasonable; a paradox.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘a conflict between two laws’): from Latin antinomia, from Greek, from anti ‘against’ + nomos ‘law.’

antinuclear /ˌan(t)ēˈn(y)o͞oklēər ˌan(t)īˈn(y)o͞oklēər/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. opposed to the development of nuclear weapons or nuclear power.

Antioch /ˈantēäk/

I. a city in southern Turkey, near the Syrian border; pop. 186,200 (est. 2007). Antioch was the ancient capital of Syria under the Seleucid kings, who founded it c. 300 BC.
Turkish name Antakya.

II. a city in ancient Phrygia.

III. a city in north central California; pop. 100,219 (est. 2008).

Antiochus /anˈtīəkəs/

I. the name of eight Seleucid kings, notably.

II. Antiochus III (c. 242–187 BC), reigned 223–187 BC; known as Antiochus the Great. He restored and expanded the Seleucid empire.

III. Antiochus IV (c. 215–163 BC), son of Antiochus III; reigned 175–163 BC; known as Antiochus Epiphanes. His attempt to Hellenize the Jews resulted in the revival of Jewish nationalism and the Maccabean revolt.

antioxidant /ˌan(t)ēˈäksədənt ˌanˌtīˈäksədənt/

noun

1. a substance that inhibits oxidation, especially one used to counteract the deterioration of stored food products.

2. a substance such as vitamin C or E that removes potentially damaging oxidizing agents in a living organism.

antiparallel /ˌantēˈparəˌlel, ˌantī-/

adjective

[Physics] parallel but moving or oriented in opposite directions.

antiparticle /ˈan(t)ēˌpärdək(ə)l ˈanˌtīˌpärdək(ə)l/

noun

[Physics] a subatomic particle having the same mass as a given particle but opposite electric or magnetic properties. Every kind of subatomic particle has a corresponding antiparticle, e.g., the positron has the same mass as the electron but an equal and opposite charge.

antipasto /ˌantēˈpastō, ˌäntēˈpästō/

I. noun

(in Italian cooking) an appetizer typically consisting of olives, anchovies, cheeses, and meats.

– origin Italian, from anti- ‘before’ + pasto (from Latin pastus ‘food’).

antipathetic /anˌtipəˈTHedik/

I. adjective

showing or feeling a strong aversion

• it is human nature to be antipathetic to change.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from antipathy, on the pattern of pathetic.

antipathy /anˈtēpəTHē/

I. noun

a deep-seated feeling of dislike; aversion

• his fundamental antipathy to capitalism

• a thinly disguised mutual antipathy.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘opposition of feeling, nature, or disposition’): from French antipathie or Latin antipathia, from Greek antipatheia, from antipathēs ‘opposed in feeling,’ from anti ‘against’ + pathos ‘feeling.’

antipersonnel /ˌan(t)ēˌpərsəˈnel ˌan(t)īˌpərsəˈnel/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of weapons, especially bombs) designed to kill or injure people rather than to damage buildings or equipment.

antiperspirant /ˌan(t)ēˈpərspərənt/

noun

a substance that is applied to the skin, especially under the arms, to prevent or reduce perspiration.

antiphon /ˈan(t)əˌfän/

I. noun

1. (in traditional Western Christian liturgy) a short sentence sung or recited before or after a psalm or canticle.

2. a musical setting of an antiphon.

– origin late Middle English: via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek antiphōna ‘harmonies,’ neuter plural of antiphōnos ‘responsive,’ from anti ‘in return’ + phōnē ‘sound.’

antiphonal /ˌanˈtifən(ə)l/

I. adjective

(in traditional Western Christian liturgy) (of a short sentence or its musical setting) sung, recited, or played alternately by two groups.

II. noun

another term for antiphonary.

III. derivatives

antiphonally

adverb

antiphonary /anˈtifəˌnerē/

I. noun

a collection of antiphons.

– origin early 17th cent.: from ecclesiastical Latin antiphonarium, from antiphona (see antiphon).

antiphony /anˈtifənē/

noun

antiphonal singing, playing, or chanting.

antipiracy /ˌantēˈpīrəsē, ˌantī-/

adjective

1. designed to prevent the unauthorized use or reproduction of copyright material

• the music industry's antipiracy campaign.

2. denoting activities or measures designed to prevent or thwart piracy on the seas

• the law will allow direct involvement by Japanese vessels in antipiracy patrols.

antipodal /anˈtipədl/

adjective

1. relating to or situated on the opposite side of the earth.

2. (antipodal to) — diametrically opposed to something.

3. [Botany] relating to or denoting cells formed at the chalazal end of the embryo sac.

antipode /ˈan(t)əˌpōd/

I. noun

the direct opposite of something else

• the pole and its antipode.

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting an inhabitant of the opposite side of the earth): back-formation from antipodes.

antipodes /anˈtipədēz/

I. plural noun

1. Australia and New Zealand (used by inhabitants of the northern hemisphere).

2. the direct opposite of something

• we are the very antipodes of labor unions.

II. derivatives

antipodean /anˌtipəˈdēən /

adjective, noun

– origin late Middle English: via French or late Latin from Greek antipodes ‘having the feet opposite,’ from anti ‘against, opposite’ + pous, pod- ‘foot.’ The term originally denoted the inhabitants of opposite sides of the earth, or of the side opposite to oneself, and was later transferred to the places where they live (mid 16th cent).

antipope /ˈan(t)iˌpōp/

I. noun

a person established as pope in opposition to one held by others to be canonically chosen.

– origin late Middle English antipape, via French from medieval Latin antipapa (on the pattern of Antichrist). The spelling change in the 17th cent. was due to association with pope^1.

antiproton /ˈan(t)ēˌprōˌtän ˈanˌtīˌprōˌtän/

noun

[Physics] the negatively charged antiparticle of a proton.

antipruritic /ˌan(t)ēˌprəˈridik ˌanˌtīˌprəˈridik/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (chiefly of a drug) used to relieve itching.

II. noun

an antipruritic drug.

– origin late 19th cent.: from anti- + pruritic (see pruritus).

antipsychotic /ˌantēsīˈkätik, ˌantī-/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (chiefly of a drug) used to treat psychotic disorders.

II. noun

an antipsychotic drug.

antipyretic /ˌan(t)ēˌpīˈredik ˌanˌtīˌpīˈredik/

I. adjective

(chiefly of a drug) used to prevent or reduce fever.

II. noun

an antipyretic drug.

antiquarian /ˌan(t)əˈkwerēən/

I. adjective

1. relating to or dealing in antiques or rare books.

2. valuable because rare or old

• out-of-print and antiquarian books.

II. noun

a person who studies or collects antiques or antiquities.

III. derivatives

antiquarianism /ˌan(t)əˈkwerēəˌnizəm /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin antiquarius (see antiquary).

antiquark /ˈantikwäːk/

noun

[Physics] the antiparticle of a quark.

antiquary /ˈan(t)əˌkwerē/

I. noun

another term for antiquarian.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin antiquarius, from antiquus (see antique).

antiquated /ˈan(t)əˌkwādəd/

I. adjective

old-fashioned or outdated

• this antiquated central heating system.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘old, of long standing’): from ecclesiastical Latin antiquare ‘make old,’ from antiquus (see antique).

antique /anˈtēk/

I. noun

a collectible object such as a piece of furniture or work of art that has a high value because of its considerable age

• Pauline loves collecting antiques

• [as modifier] an antique dealer.

II. adjective

1. (of a collectible object) having a high value because of considerable age

• an antique clock.

2. (of a method of finishing a wooden surface) intended to resemble the appearance of antique furniture

• bookshelves with an antique finish.

3. belonging to ancient times

• statues of antique gods.

4. old-fashioned or outdated

• trade unions defending antique work practices.

5. ‹often humorous› showing signs of great age or wear

• an antique divorcee in reduced circumstances.

III. verb

1. (antiques, antiquing, antiqued) [with obj.] (usu. as adj. antiqued) — make (something) resemble an antique by artificial means

• an antiqued door.

2. (go antiquing) — shop in stores where antiques are sold

• we would often go antiquing in search of furnishings.

– origin late 15th cent. (as an adjective): from Latin antiquus, anticus ‘former, ancient,’ from ante ‘before.’

antiquity /anˈtikwədē/

I. noun

1. the ancient past, especially the period before the Middle Ages

• the great civilizations of antiquity.

2. [with adj.] — a specified historical period during the ancient past

• cameos dating from classical antiquity.

3. (usu. antiquities) — an object, building, or work of art from the ancient past

• an extensive collection of Greek antiquities.

4. great age

• a church of great antiquity.

– origin Middle English: from Old French antiquite, from Latin antiquitas, from antiquus ‘old, former’ (see antique).

antiracism /ˌan(t)ēˈrāˌsizəm ˌan(t)īˈrāˌsizəm/

I. noun

the policy or practice of opposing racism and promoting racial tolerance.

II. derivatives

antiracist

noun, adjective

anti-racist /ˌan(t)ēˈrāsəst ˌanˌtīˈrāsəst/

I. noun

a person who opposes racism and promotes racial tolerance

• a committed anti-racist who used his vocal genius and popularity to break racist picket lines at schools.

II. adjective

opposing racism and promoting racial tolerance

• he was active in the anti-racist movement in the US.

antiretroviral /ˌan(t)ēˌretrōˈvīrəl ˌan(t)īˌretrōˈvīrəl/

I. adjective

working against or targeted against retroviruses, especially HIV

• antiretroviral therapy.

II. noun

an antiretroviral drug.

antiroll bar /ˈanˌtī ˈan(t)ē rōl bär/

noun

a rubber-mounted bar fitted in the suspension of a vehicle to increase its stability, especially when cornering.

antirrhinum /ˌan(t)əˈrīnəm/

I. noun

a plant of the figwort family, with showy two-lipped flowers.
[Genus Antirrhinum, family Scrophulariaceae: several species, in particular the snapdragon.]

– origin from Latin, from Greek antirrhinon, from anti- ‘counterfeiting’ + rhis, rhin- ‘nose,’ from the resemblance of the flower to an animal's snout.

antiscorbutic /ˌan(t)ēˌskôrˈbyo͞odik ˌanˌtīˌskôrˈbyo͞odik / ‹Medicine›

I. adjective

(chiefly of a drug) having the effect of preventing or curing scurvy.

II. noun

an antiscorbutic food or drug.

anti-Semite /ˌan(t)ēˈseˌmīt ˌanˌtīˈseˌmīt/

noun

a person who is hostile to or prejudiced against Jews

• he was not just a bigot, but also an anti-Semite.

anti-Semitic /ˌan(t)ēsəˈmidik ˌanˌtīsəˈmidik/

adjective

hostile to or prejudiced against Jews

• anti-Semitic remarks were posted on the site

• a steep rise in anti-Semitic incidents worldwide.

anti-Semitism /ˌan(t)ēˈseməˌtizəm ˌan(t)īˈseməˌtizəm/

noun

hostility to or prejudice against Jews.

antisense /ˈantēˌsens, ˈantī-/

adjective

[Genetics] having a sequence of nucleotides complementary to (and hence capable of binding to) a coding sequence, which may be either that of the strand of a DNA double helix that undergoes transcription, or that of a messenger RNA molecule.

antisepsis /ˌan(t)əˈsepsəs/

noun

the practice of using antiseptics to eliminate the microorganisms that cause disease.
Compare with asepsis.

antiseptic /ˌan(t)əˈseptik/

I. adjective

1. of, relating to, or denoting substances that prevent the growth of disease-causing microorganisms.

2. (of medical techniques) based on the use of antiseptic substances.

3. scrupulously clean or pure, especially so as to be bland or characterless

• the antiseptic modernity of a conference center.

II. noun

an antiseptic compound or preparation.

III. derivatives

antiseptically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

antiserum /ˈan(t)iˌsirəm/

noun

a blood serum containing antibodies against specific antigens, injected to treat or protect against specific diseases.

antislavery /ˌantēˈslāvərē ˌantīˈslāvərē/

adjective

opposed to the practice or system of slavery.

• it brought together antislavery sectionalists and other northern dissenters.

antisocial /ˌan(t)ēˈsōSHəl ˌan(t)īˈsōSHəl/

I. adjective

1. contrary to the laws and customs of society; devoid of or antagonistic to sociable instincts or practices

• a dangerous, unprincipled, antisocial type of man.

2. not sociable; not wanting the company of others.

usage: See usage at unsociable.

antispasmodic /ˌan(t)ēˌspazˈmädik ˌanˌtīˌspazˈmädik/

I. adjective

(chiefly of a drug) used to relieve spasm of involuntary muscle.

II. noun

an antispasmodic drug.

antistatic /ˌan(t)ē ˈstatik ˈanˌtīˈstatik/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. preventing the buildup of static electricity or reducing its effects.

antistrophe /anˈtistrəfē/

I. noun

the second section of an ancient Greek choral ode or of one division of it.
Compare with strophe and epode (sense 2).

– origin mid 16th cent. (as a term in rhetoric denoting the repetition of words in reverse order): via late Latin from Greek antistrophē, from antistrephein ‘turn against,’ from anti ‘against’ + strephein ‘to turn.’

antisymmetric /ˌantēsəˈmetrik, ˌantī-/

adjective

[Mathematics] [Physics] unaltered in magnitude but changed in sign by exchange of two variables or by a particular symmetry operation.

antitank /ˌan(t)ēˈtaNGk ˌan(t)īˈtaNGk/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. for use against enemy tanks

• new antitank missiles.

antiterror /ˌantēˈterər, ˌantī-/

adjective

denoting political activities or measures designed to prevent or thwart terrorism

• the government introduced tough new antiterror laws.

antiterrorism /ˌan(t)ēˈterəˌrizəm ˌan(t)īˈterəˌrizəm/

I. noun

the prevention or abatement of terrorism

• a meeting of experts on antiterrorism

• [as modifier] antiterrorism measures.

II. derivatives

antiterrorist /ˌan(t)ēˈterəˌrist /

noun, adjective

antitetanus /ˌan(t)ēˈtetnəs ˌanˌtīˈtetnəs/

adjective

[Medicine] preventing or effective against tetanus

• an antitetanus injection.

antithesis /anˈtiTHəsəs/

I. noun

1. a person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else

• love is the antithesis of selfishness.

2. a contrast or opposition between two things

• the antithesis between occult and rational mentalities.

3. a figure of speech in which an opposition or contrast of ideas is expressed by parallelism of words that are the opposites of, or strongly contrasted with, each other, such as “hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins”

• his sermons were full of startling antitheses.

4. (in Hegelian philosophy) the negation of the thesis as the second stage in the process of dialectical reasoning.
Compare with synthesis.

– origin late Middle English (originally denoting the substitution of one grammatical case for another): from late Latin, from Greek antitithenai ‘set against,’ from anti ‘against’ + tithenai ‘to place.’ The earliest current sense, denoting a rhetorical or literary device, dates from the early 16th cent.

antithetical /ˌan(t)əˈTHedək(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. directly opposed or contrasted; mutually incompatible

• people whose religious beliefs are antithetical to mine

• two antithetical emotions pulled at her.

2. [attrib.] — connected with, containing, or using the rhetorical device of antithesis.

II. derivatives

1. antithetic /ˌan(t)əˈTHedik /

adjective

2. antithetically /ˌan(t)əˈTHedək(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin late 16th cent. (sense 2): from Greek antithetikos, from antithetos ‘placed in opposition,’ from antitithenai ‘set against.’

antitoxin /ˌan(t)ēˈtäksən/

I. noun

[Physiology] an antibody that counteracts a toxin.

II. derivatives

antitoxic /ˈˌanˌtīˈtäksik ˈˌan(t)ēˈtäksik ˈˌan(t)əˈtäksik /

adjective

antitrades /ˈan(t)iˌtrādz/

plural noun

steady winds that blow in the opposite direction to and overlie the trade winds.

antitrust /ˌan(t)ēˈtrəst ˌan(t)īˈtrəst/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. of or relating to legislation preventing or controlling trusts or other monopolies, with the intention of promoting competition in business.

antitumor /ˌan(t)ēˈt(y)o͞omər ˌanˌtīˈt(y)o͞omər/

adjective

inhibiting the growth of a tumor or tumors

• in laboratory tests, this genetically altered adenovirus produced encouraging antitumor effects.

antitussive /ˌan(t)ēˈtəsiv/

I. adjective

(especially of a drug) used to prevent or relieve a cough.

II. noun

an antitussive drug.

antitype /ˈan(t)iˌtīp/

I. noun

1. a person or thing that represents the opposite of someone or something else.

2. something that is represented by a symbol

• the ship in danger is easily understood to be its old antitype, the Commonwealth.

II. derivatives

antitypical /ˌantiˈtipikəl /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: from late Latin antitypus, from Greek antitupos ‘corresponding as an impression to the die,’ from anti ‘against, opposite’ + tupos ‘type, a stamp.’

anti-vax /ˌan(t)ēˈvaks, ˌan(t)īˈvaks/

I. adjective

(US) ‹informal› opposed to vaccination

• anti-vax parents.

– origin 1990s: from anti- + vax.

anti-vaxxer /ˌan(t)ēˈvaksər, ˌan(t)īˈvaksər / anti-vaxer

I. noun

(US) ‹informal› a person who is opposed to vaccination, typically a parent who does not wish to vaccinate their child

• experts say several diseases that are avoidable are making a comeback due to anti-vaxxers who refuse to vaccinate their kids.

– origin early 21st cent.: from anti-vax.

antivenin /ˌan(t)ēˈvenin ˌanˌtīˈvenin/

I. noun

an antiserum containing antibodies against specific poisons, especially those in the venom of snakes, spiders, and scorpions.
Also called antivenom.

– origin late 19th cent.: from anti- + ven(om) + -in^1.

antivenom /ˌantēˈvenəm, ˌantī-/

noun

another term for antivenin.

antiviral /ˌan(t)ēˈvīrəl ˌan(t)īˈvīrəl/

I. adjective

1. [Medicine] (chiefly of a drug or treatment) effective against viruses.

2. [Computing] (of software) designed to detect, remove, or offer protection against computer viruses.

II. noun

[Medicine] an antiviral drug or medicine.

antivirus /ˌan(t)ēˈvīrəs ˌan(t)īˈvīrəs/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. [Computing] (of software) designed to detect and destroy computer viruses.

antivivisection /ˌan(t)ēˌvivəˈsekSHən ˌantīˌvivəˈsekSHən/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. opposed to operations on live animals for scientific research.

II. derivatives

1. antivivisectionism /ˌan(t)ēˌvivəˈsekSHəˌnizəm ˌanˌtīˌvivəˈsekSHəˌnizəm /

noun

2. antivivisectionist /ˌan(t)ēˌvivəˈsekSHənəst ˌanˌtīˌvivəˈsekSHənəst /

noun, adjective

antiwar /ˌan(t)ēˈwôr ˌan(t)īˈwôr/

adjective

opposed to war in general or to the conduct of a specific war

• his speech was interrupted by antiwar protesters.

anti-Western

adjective

hostile to the interests of Europe and North America, especially the United States

• another wave of anti-Western sentiment could emerge as a result of such an attack.

antler /ˈantlər/

I. noun

1. one of the branched horns on the head of an adult (usually male) deer, which are made of bone and are grown and cast off annually.

2. each of the branches on a set of antlers.

II. derivatives

antlered /ˈantlərd /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (originally denoting the lowest (forward-directed) branch of the antler): from Anglo-Norman French, variant of Old French antoillier, of unknown origin. The current sense dates from the early 19th cent.

Antlia /ˈan(t)lēə / ‹Astronomy›

I. a small and faint southern constellation (the Air Pump), between Hydra and Vela.

II. (as genitive Antliae ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate stars in the constellation

• the star Alpha Antliae.

– origin Latin, from Greek.

ant lion

noun

an insect that resembles a dragonfly, with predatory larvae that construct conical pits into which insect prey, especially ants, fall.
[Family Myrmeleontidae, order Neuroptera.]

Antofagasta /ˌän(t)ōfəˈɡästə/

a port in northern Chile, capital of Antofagasta region; pop. 341,900 (est. 2006).

Antonine /ˈan(t)əˌnīn/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of or relating to the Roman emperors Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius or their rules (AD 137–80).

II. plural noun — (the Antonines)

1. the Antonine emperors.

Antoninus Pius /ˌan(t)əˌnīnəs ˈpīəs/

(86–161), Roman emperor 138–161, the adopted son and successor of Hadrian. His reign was generally peaceful.

Antonioni, Michelangelo /ˌantōnēˈōnē, -təˈnyō-/

(1912–2007), Italian movie director. Notable movies: L'avventura (1960), Blow-Up (1966), Zabriskie Point (1970), and Beyond the Clouds (1995).

antonomasia /anˌtänəˈmāZH(ē)ə/

I. noun

1. [Rhetoric] the substitution of an epithet or title for a proper name (e.g., the Bard for Shakespeare).

2. [Rhetoric] the use of a proper name to express a general idea (e.g., a Scrooge for a miser).

– origin mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek, from antonomazein ‘name instead,’ from anti- ‘against, instead’ + onoma ‘a name.’

Antony, Mark /ˈantənē, ˈanTHənē/

(c. 83–30 BC), Roman general and triumvir; Latin name Marcus Antonius. Following Julius Caesar's assassination in 44 BC, he took charge of the Eastern Empire, where he established his association with Cleopatra. Quarrels with Octavian led finally to his defeat at the battle of Actium and to his suicide.

Antony, St.

see Anthony, St.

antonym /ˈan(t)əˌnim/

I. noun

[Linguistics] a word opposite in meaning to another (e.g., bad and good).

II. derivatives

antonymous /anˈtänəməs /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French antonyme, from ant- (from Greek anti- ‘against’) + Greek onuma ‘name.’

Antony of Padua, St.

see Anthony of Padua, St.

antrectomy /anˈtrektəmē/

noun

surgical removal of an antrum, especially the antrum of the stomach.

Antrim /ˈantrəm/

I. one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, formerly an administrative area.

II. a town in the county of Antrim, on the northeastern shore of Lough Neagh; pop. 22,000 (est. 2009).

Antron /ˈanträn/

I. noun

‹trademark› a type of strong, light nylon fiber used chiefly in making carpets and upholstery.

– origin 1960s: invented name.

antrum /ˈantrəm/

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] a natural chamber or cavity in a bone or other anatomical structure.

2. [Anatomy] the part of the stomach just inside the pylorus.

II. derivatives

antral /-trəl /

adjective

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin, from Greek antron ‘cave.’

antsy /ˈantsē/

I. adjective

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› agitated, impatient, or restless

• he was too antsy to stay in one place for long.

– origin mid 19th cent.: probably from the phrase have ants in one's pants (see ant).

ant-thrush /ˈantTHrəSH/

noun

any of a number of thrush-sized ant-eating birds.
[● a large antbird (three genera in the family Formicariidae). ● an African thrush (genus Neocossyphus, subfamily Turdinae, family Muscicapidae: four species). ● another term for pitta^1.]

Antung /ˌänˈdo͝oNG/

former name for Dandong.

Antwerp /ˈantwərp/

I. a port in northern Belgium, on the Scheldt River; pop. 472,071 (2008). By the 16th century, it was a leading European commercial and financial center. Flemish name Antwerpen.
French name Anvers.

II. a province of Belgium of which Antwerp is the capital.

Anubis /əˈno͞obis / ‹Egyptian Mythology›

the god of mummification, protector of tombs, typically represented as having the head of a jackal.

Anura /əˈn(y)o͝orə / ‹Zoology›

I. an order of tailless amphibians that comprises the frogs and toads.
Also called Salientia or Batrachia.

II. (as plural noun anura) — amphibians of the order Anura; frogs and toads.

– origin modern Latin, from an-1 + Greek oura ‘tail.’

Anuradhapura /ˌənəˌrädəˈpo͝orə/

a city in north central Sri Lanka; pop. 81,500 (est. 2007). The ancient capital of Sri Lanka, it is a center of Buddhist pilgrimage.

anuran /əˈn(y)o͝orən / ‹Zoology›

I. noun

a tailless amphibian of the order Anura; a frog or toad.

II. adjective

relating to or denoting anurans.

anuria /əˈn(y)o͝orēə/

I. noun

[Medicine] failure of the kidneys to produce urine.

II. derivatives

anuric /-ik /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from an-1 + -uria.

anus /ˈānəs/

I. noun

[Anatomy] [Zoology] the opening at the end of the alimentary canal through which solid waste matter leaves the body.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin, originally ‘a ring.’

Anvers /änˈverz/

French name of Antwerp.

anvil /ˈanvil/

I. noun

1. a heavy steel or iron block with a flat top, concave sides, and typically a pointed end, on which metal can be hammered and shaped.

2. the horizontally extended upper part of a cumulonimbus cloud
[as modifier]

• anvil clouds.

3. [Anatomy] another term for incus.

– origin Old English anfilte, from the Germanic base of on + a verbal stem meaning ‘beat.’

ANWR

noun

1. the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a wilderness area in Alaska.

2. a Congressional bill that would open up the ANWR to oil exploration and drilling
[as modifier]

• to date, ANWR language has not gained enough bipartisan backing.

anxiety /aNGˈzīədē/

I. noun

1. a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome

• he felt a surge of anxiety

• anxieties about the moral decline of today's youth.

2. [with infinitive] — desire to do something, typically accompanied by unease

• the housekeeper's eager anxiety to please.

3. [Psychiatry] a nervous disorder characterized by a state of excessive uneasiness and apprehension, typically with compulsive behavior or panic attacks.

– origin early 16th cent.: from French anxiété or Latin anxietas, from anxius (see anxious).

anxiolytic /ˌaNGzēəˈlidik / ‹Medicine›

I. adjective

(chiefly of a drug) used to reduce anxiety.

II. noun

an anxiolytic drug.

– origin 1960s: from anxiety + -lytic.

anxious /ˈaNG(k)SHəs/

I. adjective

1. experiencing worry, unease, or nervousness, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome

• she was extremely anxious about her exams.

2. [attrib.] — (of a period of time or situation) causing or characterized by worry or nervousness

• there were some anxious moments.

3. [usu with infinitive] — wanting something very much, typically with a feeling of unease

• the company was anxious to avoid any trouble

• [with clause] my parents were anxious that I get an education.

II. derivatives

anxiousness /ˈaNG(k)SHəsnəs /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin anxius (from angere ‘to choke’) + -ous. / usage: Anxious and eager both mean ‘looking forward to something,’ but they have different connotations. Eager suggests enthusiasm about something, a positive outlook: I'm eager to get started on my vacation. Anxious implies worry about something: I'm anxious to get started before it rains.

anxiously /ˈaNGkSHəslē/

adverb

in a manner resulting from or revealing anxiety

• they listened anxiously to the radio for more information.

any /ˈenē/

I. determiner, pronoun

1. [usu. with negative or in questions] — used to refer to one or some of a thing or number of things, no matter how much or many
[as determiner]

• I don't have any choice

• do you have any tips to pass on?

• [as pronoun] someone asked him for a match, but Joe didn't have any

• you don't know any of my friends

• if there is any left, throw it away.

2. [as pronoun] — anyone

• they are unlikely to be known by name to any but specialists.

3. whichever of a specified class might be chosen
[as determiner]

• these constellations are visible at any hour of the night

• any fool knows that

• [as pronoun] the illness may be due to any of several causes.

II. adverb — [usu. with negative or in questions, as submodifier]

1. (used for emphasis) at all; in some degree

• he wasn't any good at basketball

• why look any further?

• no one would be any the wiser.

2. (US) ‹informal› used alone, not qualifying another word

• I didn't hurt you any.

III. phrases

1. any amount of

see amount.

2. any old

see old.

3. any time (also anytime)

a. at whatever time

• she can come any time.

b. without exception or doubt

• I can handle a shrimp like him anytime.

4. any time (or day or minute, etc.) now

‹informal› very soon

• we'll get them back any day now.

5. be not having any (of it)

‹informal› be unwilling to cooperate

• I tried to make polite conversation, but he wasn't having any.

6. hardly any

see hardly.

7. not just any —

a particular or special thing of its type rather than an ordinary one of that type

• he had an acting job at last, and not just any part, but the lead in a new film.

– origin Old English ǣnig (see one, -y^1), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch eenig and German einig. / usage: When used as a pronoun, any can be used with either a singular or a plural verb, depending on the context: we needed more sugar but there wasn't any left (singular verb) or are any of the new videos available? (plural verb).

anybody /ˈenēˌbädē ˈenēˌbədē/

I. pronoun

1. anyone

• there wasn't anybody around.

2. a person of any importance

• everybody who was anybody in state government turned out to be involved.

II. phrases

anybody's guess

see guess.

anyhoo /ˈenēˌho͞o/

I. adverb

‹informal› anyhow; anyway (used to indicate a change of subject or a return to a previous subject after a digression or interruption)

• anyhoo, I think we're all taking ourselves far too seriously today

• anyhoo, to get to the point.

– origin mid 19th cent.: representing a regional or informal pronunciation of anyhow.

anyhow /ˈenēˌhou/

adverb

1. another term for anyway.

2. in a careless or haphazard way

• two suitcases flung anyhow.

anymore /ˌenēˈmôr / any more

adverb — [usu. with negative or in questions]

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) to any further extent; any longer

• she refused to listen anymore

• you don't get men like him anymore.

anyone /ˈenēˌwən/

I. pronoun

1. [usu. with negative or in questions] — any person or people

• there wasn't anyone there

• does anyone remember him?

• I was afraid to tell anyone.

2. [without negative] — used for emphasis

• anyone could do it.

3. a person of importance or authority

• they are read by anyone who's anyone.

II. phrases

1. be anyone's

‹informal› (of a person) be open to sexual advances from anyone

• three drinks and he's anyone's.

2. anyone's game

an evenly balanced contest

• it was still anyone's game at halftime.

3. anyone's guess

see guess.

usage: Any one is not the same as anyone, and the two forms should not be used interchangeably. Any one, meaning ‘any single (person or thing),’ is written as two words to emphasize singularity: any one of us could do the job; not more than ten new members are chosen in any one year. Otherwise it is written as one word: anyone who wants to come is welcome. Note that this distinction is structurally similar to, although not identical with, the difference between every day and everyday: see usage at everyday.

anyplace /ˈenēˌplās/

adverb

(N. Amer.) informal term for anywhere:

• Miami is hotter than anyplace else.

anything /ˈenēˌTHiNG/

I. pronoun

1. [usu. with negative or in questions] — used to refer to a thing, no matter what

• nobody was saying anything

• have you found anything?

• he inquired whether there was anything he could do.

2. [without negative] — used for emphasis

• I was ready for anything.

3. used to indicate a range

• he trains anything from seven to eight hours a day.

II. phrases

1. anything but

not at all (used for emphasis)

• he is anything but racist.

2. anything like —

[with negative] — at all like— (used for emphasis)

• it doesn't taste anything like wine.

3. (as) — as anything

‹informal› extremely—

• she said it out loud, clear as anything.

4. if anything

see if.

5. like anything

see like^1.

6. or anything

[usu. with negative or in questions] — ‹informal› added as a general reference to other things similar to the thing mentioned

• no strings attached, you don't have to join up or anything.

anytime /ˈenēˌtīm/

adverb

variant of any time at any.

Anytown /ˈenēˌtoun / Anytown USA

noun

any real or fictional place regarded as being typical of American small-town appearance or values

• the party was looking for that elusive candidate from Anytown.

anyway /ˈenēˌwā/

adverb

1. used to confirm or support a point or idea just mentioned

• I told you, it's all right, and anyway, it was my fault

• it's too late now anyway.

2. used in questions to emphasize the speaker's wish to obtain the truth

• What are you doing here, anyway?

3. used in conversations:

4. to change the subject or to resume a subject after interruption

• How she lives with him is beyond me. Anyway, I really like her.

5. to indicate that the speaker wants to end the conversation

• Anyway, Dot, I must go.

6. to indicate that the speaker is passing over less significant aspects of an account in order to focus on the most important points

• Poor John always enjoyed a drink. Anyway, he died last year.

7. used to indicate that something happened or will happen in spite of something else

• nobody invited Miss Honey to sit down so she sat down anyway.

anyways /ˈenēˌwāz/

adverb

(N. Amer.) informal or dialect form of anyway:

• you wouldn't understand all them long words anyways.

anywhere /ˈenēˌ(h)wer/

I. adverb — [usu. with negative or in questions]

1. in or to any place

• he couldn't be found anywhere.

2. [without negative] — used for emphasis

• I could go anywhere in the world.

3. used to indicate a range

• this iron garden seat dates anywhere from 1890 to 1920

• she could have been anywhere between twenty-five and forty.

II. pronoun

any place

• he doesn't have anywhere to live.

III. phrases

anywhere near

a. [with negative or in questions] — (used for emphasis) at all near

• I wouldn't dream of letting a surgeon anywhere near my eyes.

b. remotely close to in extent, level, or scope

• imitations rarely look anywhere near as good as the real thing.

anywheres /ˈenē(h)werz/

adverb, pronoun

(chiefly N. Amer.) informal or dialect form of anywhere:
[as adv.]

• I'll see if I can find your clothes anywheres.

anywise /ˈenēˌwīz/

I. adverb

‹archaic› in any manner or way.

– origin Old English on ǣnige wīsan ‘in any wise.’

Anzac /ˈanzak/

I. noun

1. a soldier in the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (1914–18).

2. ‹dated› a person, especially a member of the armed services, from Australia or New Zealand.

– origin acronym.

Anzio /ˈäntsēˌō, ˈanzēō/

a seaport in western Italy, south of Rome; pop. 52,192 (2008). It was a popular resort for citizens of ancient Rome. Allied troops landed here in January 1944, amid fierce fighting, to begin their drive to capture Rome.

AOC

abbreviation

appellation d'origine contrôlée (see appellation contrôlée).

ao dai /ˈou ˌdī, ˈô/

I. noun

a Vietnamese woman's long-sleeved tunic with ankle-length panels at front and back, worn over trousers.

– origin 1960s: Vietnamese.

A-OK ‹N. Amer. informal› A-okay

I. adjective

in good order or condition; all right

• everything will be A-OK

• the pictures look A-OK to me.

II. adverb

in a good manner or way; all right

• we hit it off A-OK.

– origin 1960s (originally an astronauts' term): from a ll systems OK.

AOR

I. noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. a type of popular music in which a hard rock background is combined with softer or more melodic elements.

– origin 1970s: from album-oriented rock or adult-oriented rock.

Aoraki/Mount Cook /ouˈrakē/

official name (since 1999) for Mount Cook, the highest peak in New Zealand: 12,349 feet (3,764 m).

aorist /ˈāərəst / ‹Grammar›

I. noun

(especially in Greek) an unqualified past tense of a verb without reference to duration or completion of the action.

II. adjective

relating to the aorist tense.

III. derivatives

aoristic /ˌāəˈristik /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: from Greek aoristos ‘indefinite,’ from a- ‘not’ + horizein ‘define, limit.’

aorta /āˈôrdə/

I. noun

the main artery of the body, supplying oxygenated blood to the circulatory system. In humans it passes over the heart from the left ventricle and runs down in front of the backbone.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Greek aortē (used in the plural by Hippocrates for the branches of the windpipe, and by Aristotle for the great artery), from aeirein ‘raise.’

aortic /āˈôrdik/

adjective

relating to the aorta, the main artery of the body

• the aortic valve.

Aotearoa /ouˌtāəˈrōə/

I. the Maori name for New Zealand.

– origin Maori, literally ‘land of the long white cloud.’

aoudad /ˈäo͝oˌdad/

I. noun

another term for Barbary sheep.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French, from Berber udād.

à outrance /ˌä o͞oˈträns/

I. adverb

‹literary› to the death or the very end

• a duel à outrance.

– origin early 17th cent.: French, literally ‘to the utmost.’

Aouzou Strip /ˌouzo͞o ˈstrip/

a narrow corridor of disputed desert land in northern Chad. It forms the border between Chad and Libya. In 1994, Libya agreed to withdraw its troops from the area.

AP

abbreviation

1. advanced placement.

2. American plan.

3. Associated Press.

ap-1

prefix

variant spelling of ad- assimilated before p (as in apposite, apprehend).

ap-2

prefix

variant spelling of apo- before h (as in aphelion).

apace /əˈpās/

I. adverb

‹literary› swiftly; quickly

• work continues apace.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French a pas ‘at (a considerable) pace.’

apache /əˈpaSH, äˈpäSH/

I. noun

a violent street ruffian, originally in Paris.

– origin early 20th cent.: French, from Apache, by association with the reputed ferocity of the American Indian people.

Apache /əˈpaCHē/

I. noun

1. (pl. same or Apaches) — a member of a North American Indian people living chiefly in New Mexico and Arizona. The Apache put up fierce resistance to the European settlers and were, under the leadership of Geronimo, the last American Indian people to be conquered.

2. any of the Athabaskan languages of the Apache, which have about 14,000 speakers altogether, though some are virtually extinct.

II. adjective

relating to the Apache or their language.

– origin from Mexican Spanish, probably from Zuni Apachu, literally ‘enemy.’

Apalachicola River /ˌapəlaCHiˌkōlə ˈrivər/

see Chattahoochee River.

apart /əˈpärt/

I. adverb

1. (of two or more people or things) separated by a distance; at a specified distance from each other in time or space

• his parents are now living apart

• two stone gateposts some thirty feet apart

• countries as far apart as New Zealand and the US

• ‹figurative› the two sides remained far apart on the issue.

2. to or on one side; at a distance from the main body

• Isabel stepped away from Joanna and stood apart

• ‹figurative› their religious commitment sets them apart.

3. used after a noun to indicate that someone or something has distinctive qualities that mark them out from other people or things

• wrestlers were a breed apart.

4. used after a noun to indicate that someone or something has been dealt with sufficiently or is being excluded from what follows

• Alaska apart, much of America's energy business concentrates on producing gas.

5. so as to be shattered; into pieces

• he leapt out of the car just before it was blown apart.

II. phrases

1. apart from

a. except for

• the whole world seemed to be sleeping, apart from Barbara.

b. in addition to; as well as

• quite apart from all the work, he had such financial problems.

2. tell apart

distinguish or separate one from another

• the twins were so identical that it was impossible to tell them apart.

III. derivatives

apartness

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, from Latin a parte ‘at the side.’

apartheid /əˈpärtˌ(h)āt əˈpärtˌ(h)īt/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› (in South Africa) a policy or system of segregation or discrimination on grounds of race.

2. ‹historical› segregation on grounds other than race

• sexual apartheid.

Adopted by the successful Afrikaner National Party as a slogan in the 1948 election, apartheid extended and institutionalized existing racial segregation. Despite rioting and terrorism at home and isolation abroad from the 1960s onward, the white regime maintained the apartheid system with only minor relaxation until February 1991.

– origin 1940s: Afrikaans, literally ‘separateness,’ from Dutch apart ‘separate’ + -heid (equivalent of -hood).

apartment /əˈpärtmənt / apt.

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a suite of rooms forming one residence, typically in a building containing a number of these.

2. (N. Amer.) a large building containing residential suites; an apartment building.

3. (apartments) — a suite of rooms in a very large or grand house set aside for the private use of a monarch or noble

• the Imperial apartments.

– origin mid 17th cent. (denoting a suite of rooms for the use of a particular person or group): from French appartement, from Italian appartamento, from appartare ‘to separate,’ from a parte ‘apart.’

apartment building apartment block, apartment house

noun

a large building divided into separate apartments.

apathetic /ˌapəˈTHedik/

I. adjective

showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern

• apathetic slackers who don't vote.

II. derivatives

apathetically /ˌapəˈTHedək(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin mid 18th cent.: from apathy, on the pattern of pathetic.

apathy /ˈapəTHē/

I. noun

lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern

• widespread apathy among students.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French apathie, via Latin from Greek apatheia, from apathēs ‘without feeling,’ from a- ‘without’ + pathos ‘suffering.’

apatite /ˈapəˌtīt/

I. noun

a widely occurring pale green to purple mineral, consisting of calcium phosphate with some fluorine, chlorine, and other elements. It is used in the manufacture of fertilizers.

– origin early 19th cent.: coined in German from Greek apatē ‘deceit’ (from the mineral's diverse forms and colors).

apatosaur /əˈpatōsôr / apatosaurus

I. noun

a huge herbivorous dinosaur of the late Jurassic period, with a long neck and tail.
Also called brontosaur. [Genus Apatosaurus (popularly Brontosaurus), infraorder Sauropoda, order Saurischia.]

II. derivatives

apatosaurian

adjective

– origin modern Latin, from Greek apatē ‘deceit’ + sauros ‘lizard.’

APB

abbreviation

(US) all-points bulletin.

APC

abbreviation

1. armored personnel carrier.

2. aspirin, phenacetin, and caffeine, a compound used in some analgesics.

ape /āp/

I. noun

1. a large primate that lacks a tail, including the gorilla, chimpanzees, orangutan, and gibbons.
See also great ape, gibbon. [Families Pongidae and Hylobatidae.]

2. used in names of macaque monkeys with short tails, e.g., Barbary ape.

3. (in general use) any monkey.

4. an unintelligent or clumsy person.

5. ‹archaic› an inferior imitator or mimic

• cunning is but the ape of wisdom.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. imitate the behavior or manner of (someone or something), especially in an absurd or unthinking way

• new architecture can respect the old without aping its style.

III. phrases

go ape

‹informal› express wild excitement or anger

• your kids will go ape over these Popsicles!

• a washerwoman gone ape with a butcher knife.

IV. derivatives

apelike /ˈāplīk /

adjective

– origin Old English apa, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch aap and German Affe.

APEC /ˈāˌpek/

abbreviation

Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, a regional economic forum established in 1989, including the US, Japan, China, Australia, Indonesia, and Thailand.

Apeldoorn /ˈapəlˌdôrn/

a town in the east central Netherlands; pop. 155,108 (2008). It is the site of the summer residence of the Dutch royal family.

apeman /ˈāpˌman/

noun

an extinct apelike primate believed to be related or ancestral to present-day humans.

Apennines /ˈapəˌnīnz/

a mountain range in Italy that extends for 880 miles (1,400 km) from the northwest to the southern tip of the country.

aperçu /ˌapərˈso͞o/

I. noun

a comment or brief reference that makes an illuminating or entertaining point.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French, past participle of apercevoir ‘perceive.’

aperient /əˈpirēənt / ‹Medicine›

I. adjective

(chiefly of a drug) used to relieve constipation.

II. noun

an aperient drug.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin aperient- ‘opening,’ from aperire.

aperiodic /ˌāpirēˈädik/

I. adjective

1. ‹technical› not periodic; irregular

• aperiodic fluctuations.

2. ‹technical› [Physics] denoting a potentially oscillating or vibrating system (such as an instrument with a pointer) that is damped to prevent oscillation or vibration.

II. derivatives

aperiodicity /āˌpi(ə)rēəˈdisitē /

noun

aperitif /äˌperəˈtif/

I. noun

an alcoholic drink taken before a meal to stimulate the appetite.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French apéritif, from medieval Latin aperitivus, based on Latin aperire ‘to open.’

aperture /ˈapərˌCHər ˈapərˌCHo͝or/

I. noun

1. ‹chiefly technical› an opening, hole, or gap

• the bell ropes passed through apertures in the ceiling.

2. ‹chiefly technical› a space through which light passes in an optical or photographic instrument, especially the variable opening by which light enters a camera.

II. derivatives

apertural

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin apertura, from apert- ‘opened,’ from aperire ‘to open.’

aperture priority

noun

[Photography] an exposure system used in some automatic cameras in which the aperture is selected by the user and the appropriate shutter speed is controlled automatically.
Compare with shutter priority.

apery /ˈāpərē/

noun

‹archaic› the act of imitating the behavior or manner of someone, especially in an absurd or unthinking way.

apeshit /ˈāpˌSHit/

noun

(go apeshit) — ‹vulgar slang› another way of saying go ape (see ape).

apetalous /ˌāˈpedələs/

I. adjective

[Botany] (of a flower) having no petals.

– origin early 18th cent.: from modern Latin apetalus, from Greek apetalos ‘leafless’ (from a- ‘without’ + petalon ‘leaf’) + -ous.

apex /ˈāpeks/

I. noun

1. the top or highest part of something, especially one forming a point

• the living room extends right up into the apex of the roof

• ‹figurative› the apex of his career was when he hoisted aloft the World Cup.

2. [Geometry] the highest point in a plane or solid figure, relative to a base line or plane.

3. [Botany] the growing point of a shoot.

4. the highest level of a hierarchy, organization, or other power structure regarded as a triangle or pyramid

• the central bank is at the apex of the financial system.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. reach a high point or climax

• melodic lines build up to the chorus and it apexes at the solo.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin, ‘peak, tip.’

Apex /ˈāpeks/

I. noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. a system of reduced fares for scheduled airline flights and railroad journeys that must be booked and paid for before a certain period in advance of departure

• Apex fares.

– origin 1970s: from A dvance P urchase Ex cursion.

Apgar score /ˈapɡär ˌskôr/

I. noun

[Medicine] a measure of the physical condition of a newborn infant. It is obtained by adding points (2, 1, or 0) for heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, response to stimulation, and skin coloration; a score of ten represents the best possible condition.

– origin 1960s: named after Virginia Apgar (1909–74), American anesthesiologist who devised this method of assessment in 1953.

aphaeresis /əˈferəsəs/

I. noun

1. [Linguistics] the loss of a sound or sounds at the beginning of a word, e.g., in the derivation of adder from nadder.

2. [Medicine] the removal of blood plasma from the body by the withdrawal of blood, its separation into plasma and cells, and the reintroduction of the cells, used especially to remove antibodies in treating autoimmune diseases.

– origin mid 16th cent.: via late Latin from Greek aphairesis, from aphairein ‘take away,’ from apo ‘from’ + hairein ‘take.’

aphasia /əˈfāZH(ē)ə əˈfāzēə/

I. noun

[Medicine] loss of ability to understand or express speech, caused by brain damage.
Compare with aphonia.

II. derivatives

aphasic /əˈfāzik /

adjective, noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek, from aphatos ‘speechless,’ from a- ‘not’ + phanai ‘speak.’

aphelion /əˈfēlēən/

I. noun

[Astronomy] the point in the orbit of a planet, asteroid, or comet at which it is furthest from the sun

• Mars is at aphelion.

The opposite of perihelion.

– origin mid 17th cent.: alteration of modern Latin aphelium (by substitution of the Greek inflection -on), from Greek aph' hēlion ‘from the sun.’

aphesis /ˈafəsəs/

I. noun

[Linguistics] the loss of an unstressed vowel at the beginning of a word (e.g., of a from around to form round).

II. derivatives

1. aphetic /əˈfetik /

adjective

2. aphetically /əˈfetik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek, literally ‘letting go,’ from apo ‘from’ + hienai ‘let go, send.’

aphicide /ˈāfiˌsīd, ˈaf-/

noun

an insecticide used against aphids.

aphid /ˈāfid ˈafid/

I. noun

a minute bug that feeds by sucking sap from plants. It reproduces rapidly, often producing live young without mating, and may live in large colonies that cause extensive damage to crops.
[Superfamily Aphidoidea, suborder Homoptera.]

– origin late 19th cent.: back-formation from aphides, plural of aphis.

aphis /ˈāfis ˈafis/

I. noun

an aphid, especially one of the genus Aphis.

– origin late 18th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek, perhaps a misreading of koris ‘bug’ (misinterpreting the Greek characters κορ ‘kor’ as αφ ‘aph’).

aphonia /āˈfōnēə əˈfōnēə / aphony

I. noun

[Medicine] loss of ability to speak through disease of or damage to the larynx or mouth.
Compare with aphasia.

– origin late 17th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek aphōnia, from aphōnos ‘voiceless,’ from a- ‘without’ + phōnē ‘voice.’

aphorism /ˈafəˌrizəm/

I. noun

1. a pithy observation that contains a general truth, such as, “if it ain't broke, don't fix it.”

2. a concise statement of a scientific principle, typically by an ancient classical author.

II. derivatives

1. aphorist

noun

2. aphoristic /ˌafəˈristik /

adjective

3. aphoristically /ˌafəˈristik(ə)lē /

adverb

4. aphorize /-ˌrīz /

verb

– origin early 16th cent.: from French aphorisme or late Latin aphorismus, from Greek aphorismos ‘definition,’ from aphorizein ‘define.’

aphrodisiac /ˌafrəˈdizēˌak afrəˈdēzēˌak/

I. noun

1. a food, drink, or drug that stimulates sexual desire

• the Romans worshiped the apple as an aphrodisiac

• [as adj.] aphrodisiac powers.

2. a thing that causes excitement

• for a few seconds she'd fallen for the powerful aphrodisiac of music

• power is an aphrodisiac.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Greek aphrodisiakos, from aphrodisios, from Aphroditē (see Aphrodite).

Aphrodite /ˌafrəˈdīdē / ‹Greek Mythology›

I. the goddess of beauty, fertility, and sexual love. She is variously described as the daughter of Zeus and Dione, or as being born from the sea.
Roman equivalent Venus.

– origin Greek, literally ‘foam-born,’ from aphros ‘foam.’

aphtha /ˈafTHə/

I. noun

1. [Medicine] a small ulcer occurring in groups in the mouth or on the tongue.

2. [Medicine] a condition in which aphthae occur.

II. derivatives

aphthous /-THəs /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek, connected with haptein ‘set on fire.’

API

abbreviation

1. American Petroleum Institute.

2. [Computing] application programming interface.

Apia /əˈpēə, äˈpēə/

the capital of Samoa; pop. 43,000 (est. 2007).

apian /ˈāpēən/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of or relating to bees.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin apianus, from apis ‘bee.’

apiary /ˈāpēˌerē/

I. noun

a place where bees are kept; a collection of beehives.

II. derivatives

1. apiarian /ˌāpēˈe(ə)rēən /

adjective

2. apiarist /ˈāpēərəst /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin apiarium, from apis ‘bee.’

apical /ˈāpikəl, ˈap-/

I. adjective

1. ‹technical› of, relating to, or denoting an apex.

2. ‹technical› [Phonetics] (of a consonant) formed with the tip of the tongue.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin apex, apic- (see apex) + -al.

apices /ˈāpəsēz ˈapəˌsēz/

plural form of apex.

Apicomplexa /ˌapikəmˈpleksə/

another term for Sporozoa.

apiculture /ˈāpəˌkəlCHər/

I. noun

technical term for beekeeping.

II. derivatives

1. apicultural /ˌāpiˈkəlCHərəl /

adjective

2. apiculturist /ˌāpiˈkəlCHərist /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin apis ‘bee’ + culture, on the pattern of words such as agriculture.

apiece /əˈpēs/

I. adverb

(used after a noun or an amount) to, for, or by each one of a group

• we sold 385 prints at $10 apiece.

– origin late Middle English: from a + piece.

Apis /ˈāpis / ‹Egyptian Mythology›

a god depicted as a bull, symbolizing fertility and strength in war.

apish /ˈāpiSH/

I. adjective

1. of or resembling an ape in appearance

• Australopithecus had an apish cranium and a humanlike jaw.

2. resembling or likened to an ape in being foolish or silly.

II. derivatives

1. apishly

adverb

2. apishness

noun

apitherapy /ˌāpiˈTHerəpē/

noun

the use of products derived from bees as medicine, including venom, honey, pollen, and royal jelly.

aplanat /ˈapləˌnat/

I. noun

[Physics] a reflecting or refracting surface that is free from spherical aberration.

II. derivatives

aplanatic /ˌapləˈnatik /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: coined in German from Greek aplanētos ‘free from error,’ from a- ‘not’ + planan ‘wander.’

aplasia /əˈplāZHə/

I. noun

[Medicine] the failure of an organ or tissue to develop or to function normally.

II. derivatives

aplastic /āˈplastik /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from a-1 ‘without’ + Greek plasis ‘formation.’

aplastic anemia /āˌplastik əˈnēmēə/

noun

[Medicine] deficiency of all types of blood cells caused by failure of bone marrow development.

aplenty /əˈplen(t)ē/

adjective — [postpositive]

1. in abundance

• there are going to be disasters aplenty in the garden.

aplomb /əˈpläm əˈpləm/

I. noun

self-confidence or assurance, especially when in a demanding situation

• Diana passed the test with aplomb.

– origin late 18th cent. (in the sense ‘perpendicularity, steadiness’): from French, from à plomb ‘according to a plummet.’

apnea /ˈapnēə / ‹Brit.› apnoea

I. noun

[Medicine] temporary cessation of breathing, especially during sleep

• thousands suffer from sleep apnea.

II. derivatives

apneic

adjective

– origin early 18th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek apnoia, from apnous ‘breathless.’

APO

abbreviation

1. (US) Air Force Post Office.

2. (US) Army Post Office.

apo-

I. prefix

1. away from

• apocrypha

• apostrophe.

2. separate

• apocarpous.

3. [Astronomy] denoting the furthest point in the orbit of a body in relation to the primary

• apolune.

Compare with peri-.

– origin from Greek apo ‘from, away, quite, un-.’

Apoc.

abbreviation

1. Apocalypse.

2. Apocrypha.

3. Apocryphal.

apocalypse /əˈpäkəˌlips/

I. noun

1. (often the Apocalypse) — the complete final destruction of the world, especially as described in the biblical book of Revelation.
See also Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

2. (the Apocalypse) — (especially in the Vulgate Bible) the book of Revelation.

3. an event involving destruction or damage on an awesome or catastrophic scale

• a stock market apocalypse

• an era of ecological apocalypse.

– origin Old English, via Old French and ecclesiastical Latin from Greek apokalupsis, from apokaluptein ‘uncover, reveal,’ from apo- ‘un-’ + kaluptein ‘to cover.’

apocalyptic /əˌpäkəˈliptik/

I. adjective

1. describing or prophesying the complete destruction of the world

• the apocalyptic visions of ecologists.

2. resembling the end of the world; momentous or catastrophic

• the struggle between the two countries is assuming apocalyptic proportions.

3. of or resembling the biblical Apocalypse

• apocalyptic imagery.

II. derivatives

apocalyptically /əˌpäkəˈliptik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin early 17th cent. (as a noun denoting the writer of the Apocalypse, St. John): from Greek apokaluptikos, from apokaluptein ‘uncover’ (see apocalypse).

apocarpous /ˌapəˈkärpəs/

I. adjective

[Botany] (of a flower, fruit, or ovary) having distinct carpels that are not joined together.
The opposite of syncarpous.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from apo- + Greek karpos ‘fruit’ + -ous.

apochromat /ˌapəˈkrōmat/

I. noun

[Physics] a lens or lens system that reduces spherical and chromatic aberration.

II. derivatives

apochromatic /ˌapəkrōˈmadik /

adjective

– origin early 20th cent.: from apo- + chromatic.

apocope /əˈpäkəpē/

I. noun

[Linguistics] the loss of a sound or sounds at the end of a word, e.g., in the derivation of curio from curiosity.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from late Latin, from Greek apokoptein ‘cut off,’ from apo- ‘from’ + koptein ‘to cut.’

Apocr.

abbreviation

Apocrypha.

apocrine /ˈapəkrin, ˈapəˌkrīn, ˈapəˌkrēn/

I. adjective

[Physiology] relating to or denoting multicellular glands that release some of their cytoplasm in their secretions, especially the sweat glands associated with hair follicles in the armpits and pubic regions.
Compare with eccrine.

– origin early 20th cent.: from apo- + Greek krinein ‘to separate.’

Apocrypha /əˈpäkrəfə/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing. or pl.]

1. biblical or related writings not forming part of the accepted canon of Scripture.

2. (apocrypha) — writings or reports not considered genuine.

– origin late Middle English: from ecclesiastical Latin apocrypha (scripta) ‘hidden (writings),’ from Greek apokruphos, from apokruptein ‘hide away.’

apocryphal /əˈpäkrəfəl/

adjective

1. (of a story or statement) of doubtful authenticity, although widely circulated as being true

• an apocryphal story about a former president.

2. (also Apocryphal) — of or belonging to the Apocrypha

• the Apocryphal Gospel of Thomas.

apodal /āˈpōdl/

I. adjective

1. [Zoology] without feet or having undeveloped feet.

2. [Zoology] (of fish) without ventral fins.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Greek apous, apod- ‘footless’ (from a- ‘without’ + pous, pod- ‘foot’) + -ous.

apodictic /ˌapəˈdiktik / apodeictic

I. adjective

‹formal› clearly established or beyond dispute.

– origin mid 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek apodeiktikos, from apodeiknunai ‘show off, demonstrate.’

apodosis /əˈpädəsəs/

I. noun

[Grammar] the main (consequent) clause of a conditional sentence (e.g., I would agree in if you asked me I would agree).
Often contrasted with protasis.

– origin early 17th cent.: via late Latin from Greek, from apodidonai ‘give back.’

apodous /ˈapədəs/

adjective

[Zoology] without feet or having only rudimentary feet.

apogee /ˈapəjē/

I. noun

1. the highest point in the development of something; the climax or culmination

• the White House is considered the apogee of American achievement.

2. [Astronomy] the point in the orbit of the moon or a satellite at which it is furthest from the earth.
The opposite of perigee.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French apogée or modern Latin apogaeum, from Greek apogaion (diastēma) ‘(distance) away from earth,’ from apo ‘from’ + gaia, gē ‘earth.’

apolar /āˈpōlər/

adjective

[chiefly Biochemistry] having no electrical polarity.

apolitical /ˌāpəˈlidək(ə)l/

I. adjective

not interested or involved in politics

• a former apolitical housewife.

II. derivatives

apolitically

adverb

Apollinaire, Guillaume /əˌpäləˈne(ə)r/

(1880–1918), French poet; pseudonym of Wilhelm Apollinaris de Kostrowitzki. He coined the term surrealist and was acknowledged by the surrealist poets as their precursor. Notable works: Les Alcools (1913) and Calligrammes (1918).

Apollinaris /əˌpäləˈnərəs/

I. (c. 310–c. 390), bishop of Laodicea in Asia Minor. He upheld the heretical doctrine that Jesus Christ had a human body and soul but no human spirit, this being replaced by the divine Logos.

II. derivatives

Apollinarian

adjective, noun

Apollo /əˈpälō/

I. [Greek Mythology] a god, son of Zeus and Leto and brother of Artemis. He is associated with music, poetic inspiration, archery, prophecy, medicine, pastoral life, and in later poetry with the sun; the sanctuary at Delphi was dedicated to him.

II. the American space program for landing astronauts on the moon. Apollo 8 was the first mission to orbit the moon (1968), Apollo 11 was the first to land astronauts (July 20, 1969), and five further landings took place up to 1972.

Apollonian /ˌapəˈlōnēən/

adjective

1. [Greek Mythology] of or relating to the god Apollo.

2. of or relating to the rational, ordered, and self-disciplined aspects of human nature

• the struggle between cold Apollonian categorization and Dionysiac lust and chaos.

Compare with Dionysian.

Apollonius^1 /ˌapəˈlōnēəs/

(c. 260–190 BC), Greek mathematician; known as Apollonius of Perga. He examined and redefined the various conic sections and was the first to use the terms ellipse, parabola, and hyperbola for these classes of curve.

Apollonius^2

(3rd century BC), Greek poet and grammarian; known as Apollonius of Rhodes. He wrote Argonautica, an epic poem in Homeric style.

Apollyon /əˈpälyən/

I. a name for the Devil (Rev. 9:11).

– origin from late Latin (Vulgate), from Greek Apolluōn ‘destroyer’ (translating Abaddon), from apollunai, from apo- ‘quite’ + ollunai ‘destroy.’

apologetic /əˌpäləˈjedik/

I. adjective

1. regretfully acknowledging or excusing an offense or failure

• she was very apologetic about the whole incident.

2. of the nature of a formal defense or justification of something such as a theory or religious doctrine

• the apologetic proposition that production for profit is the same thing as production for need.

– origin late Middle English (as a noun denoting a formal defense or justification): from French apologétique or late Latin apologeticus, from Greek apologētikos, from apologeisthei ‘speak in one's own defense,’ from apologia (see apology). The current sense dates from the mid 19th cent.

apologetically /əˌpäləˈjediklē/

adverb

in a manner that expresses or shows regretful acknowledgment of an offense or failure

• he smiles apologetically and slips away.

apologetics /əˌpäləˈjediks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing. or pl.]

1. reasoned arguments or writings in justification of something, typically a theory or religious doctrine

• free market apologetics.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from apologetic.

apologia /ˌapəˈlōj(ē)ə/

I. noun

a formal written defense of one's opinions or conduct

• an apologia for book banning.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Latin (see apology).

apologist /əˈpäləjəst/

I. noun

a person who offers an argument in defense of something controversial

• an enthusiastic apologist for fascism in the 1920s.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French apologiste, from Greek apologizesthai ‘give an account’ (see apologize).

apologize /əˈpäləˌjīz/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. express regret for something that one has done wrong

• I must apologize for disturbing you like this

• we apologize to him for our error.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘make a defensive argument, offer a justification’): from Greek apologizesthai ‘give an account,’ from apologos (see apologue). In English the verb has always been used as if it were a direct derivative of apology.

apologue /ˈapəlôɡ/

I. noun

a moral fable, especially one with animals as characters.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French, via Latin from Greek apologos ‘story.’

apology /əˈpäləjē/

I. noun

1. a regretful acknowledgment of an offense or failure

• we owe you an apology

• my apologies for the delay

• I make no apologies for supporting that policy.

2. a formal, public statement of regret, such as one issued by a newspaper, government, or other organization

• the Prime Minister demanded an apology from the ambassador.

3. (apologies) — used to express formally one's regret at being unable to attend a meeting or social function

• apologies for absence were received from Miss Brown.

4. (an apology for) — a very poor or inadequate example of

• we were shown into an apology for a bedroom.

5. a reasoned argument or writing in justification of something, typically a theory or religious doctrine

• a specious apology for capitalism.

II. phrases

with apologies to

used before the name of an author or artist to indicate that something is a parody or adaptation of their work

• here, with apologies to Rudyard Kipling, is a more apt version of “If.”

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting a formal defense against an accusation): from French apologie, or via late Latin from Greek apologia ‘a speech in one's own defense,’ from apo ‘away’ + -logia (see -logy).

apols /əˈpälz/

I. plural noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› apologies

• apols to those who have read this before.

– origin 1980s: abbreviation.

apolune /ˈapəˌlo͞on/

I. noun

the point at which a spacecraft in lunar orbit is furthest from the moon.
The opposite of perilune.

– origin 1960s: from apo- + Latin luna ‘moon,’ on the pattern of apogee.

apomict /ˈapəˌmikt/

noun

[Botany] a plant that reproduces by apomixis.

apomixis /ˌapəˈmiksis/

I. noun

[Botany] asexual reproduction in plants, in particular agamospermy.
Often contrasted with amphimixis.

II. derivatives

apomictic /-ˈmiktik /

adjective

– origin early 20th cent.: from apo- + Greek mixis ‘mingling.’

apomorphine /ˌapəˈmôrfēn, -fin/

noun

[Medicine] a white crystalline compound used as an emetic and in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
[A morphine derivative; chem. formula: C_17H_17NO_2.]

aponeurosis /ˌapən(y)o͝oˈrōsəs/

I. noun

[Anatomy] a sheet of pearly-white fibrous tissue that takes the place of a tendon in sheetlike muscles having a wide area of attachment.

II. derivatives

aponeurotic /-ˈrätik /

adjective

– origin late 17th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek aponeurōsis, from apo ‘off, away’ + neuron ‘sinew’ + -osis.

apophatic /ˌapəˈfadik/

I. adjective

[Theology] (of knowledge of God) obtained through negation.
The opposite of cataphatic.

II. derivatives

1. apophatically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

2. apophaticism /-ˌsizəm /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek apophatikos ‘negative,’ from apophasis ‘denial,’ from apo- ‘other than’ + phanai ‘speak.’

apophyllite /əˈpäfəˌlīt, ˌapəˈfilīt/

I. noun

a mineral occurring typically as white glassy prisms, usually as a secondary mineral in volcanic rocks. It is a hydrated silicate and fluoride of calcium and potassium.

– origin early 19th cent.: from apo- + Greek phullon ‘leaf’ + -ite^1.

apophysis /əˈpäfəsəs/

I. noun

1. [Zoology] [Anatomy] a natural protuberance from a bone, or inside the shell or exoskeleton of a sea urchin or insect, for the attachment of muscles.

2. [Zoology] [Anatomy] [Botany] a swelling at the base of the sporangium in some mosses.

3. [Zoology] [Anatomy] [Geology] a small offshoot extending from an igneous intrusion into the surrounding rock.

II. derivatives

apophyseal /əˈpäfəsēəl /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek apophusis ‘offshoot,’ from apo- ‘from, away’ + phusis ‘growth.’

apoplectic /ˌapəˈplektik/

I. adjective

1. ‹informal› overcome with anger; extremely indignant

• Mark was apoplectic with rage at the decision.

2. ‹informal› ‹dated› relating to or denoting apoplexy (stroke)

• an apoplectic attack.

II. derivatives

apoplectically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin early 17th cent.: from French apoplectique or late Latin apoplecticus, from Greek apoplēktikos, from apoplēssein ‘disable by a stroke’ (see apoplexy).

apoplexy /ˈapəˌpleksē/

I. noun

1. ‹dated› unconsciousness or incapacity resulting from a cerebral hemorrhage or stroke.

2. ‹dated› ‹informal› incapacity or speechlessness caused by extreme anger

• this drives the social engineers of government into apoplexy.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French apoplexie, from late Latin apoplexia, from Greek apoplēxia, from apoplēssein ‘disable by a stroke.’

apoprotein /ˈapōprōtēn/

noun

[Biochemistry] a protein that together with a prosthetic group forms a particular biochemical molecule such as a hormone or enzyme.

apoptosis /ˌapəpˈtōsəs/

I. noun

[Physiology] the death of cells that occurs as a normal and controlled part of an organism's growth or development.
Also called programmed cell death.

II. derivatives

apoptotic /-ˈtätik /

adjective

– origin 1970s: from Greek apoptōsis ‘falling off,’ from apo ‘from’ + ptōsis ‘falling, a fall.’

aporia /əˈpôrēə/

I. noun

1. an irresolvable internal contradiction or logical disjunction in a text, argument, or theory

• the celebrated aporia whereby a Cretan declares all Cretans to be liars.

2. [Rhetoric] the expression of doubt.

– origin mid 16th cent.: via late Latin from Greek, from aporos ‘impassable,’ from a- ‘without’ + poros ‘passage.’

aposematic /ˌapəseˈmadik/

I. adjective

1. [Zoology] (of coloration or markings) serving to warn or repel predators.

2. [Zoology] (of an animal) having aposematic coloration or markings.

II. derivatives

aposematism /ˌapəˈsēməˌtizəm /

noun

aposiopesis /ˌapəˌsīəˈpēsis/

I. noun

[Rhetoric] the device of suddenly breaking off in speech.

II. derivatives

aposiopetic /-ˈpetik /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek aposiōpēsis, from aposiōpan ‘be silent.’

apostasy /əˈpästəsē/

I. noun

the abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political belief.

– origin Middle English: from ecclesiastical Latin apostasia, from a late Greek alteration of Greek apostasis ‘defection.’

apostate /əˈpäˌstāt əˈpästət/

I. noun

a person who renounces a religious or political belief or principle.

II. adjective

abandoning a religious or political belief or principle.

III. derivatives

apostatical /ˌapəˈstatikəl /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from ecclesiastical Latin apostata, from Greek apostatēs ‘apostate, runaway slave.’

apostatize /əˈpästəˌtīz/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. renounce a religious or political belief or principle.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from medieval Latin apostatizare, from apostata (see apostate).

a posteriori /ˌä ˌpästērēˈôrē ˌā ˌpästērēˈôrī/

I. adjective

1. relating to or denoting reasoning or knowledge that proceeds from observations or experiences to the deduction of probable causes.
Compare with a priori.

2. (loosely) of the nature of an afterthought or subsequent rationalization.

II. adverb

1. in a way based on reasoning from known facts or past events rather than by making assumptions or predictions.

2. [sentence adverb] — (loosely) with hindsight; as an afterthought.

– origin early 17th cent.: Latin, ‘from what comes after.’

apostle /əˈpäsəl/

I. noun

1. each of the twelve chief disciples of Jesus Christ.

2. any important early Christian teacher, especially St. Paul.

3. (Apostle of) — the first successful Christian missionary in a country or to a people

• Kiril and Metodije, the Apostles of the Slavs.

4. a vigorous and pioneering advocate or supporter of a particular policy, idea, or cause

• Leo Buscaglia, leading apostle of love and okayness.

5. a messenger or representative

• apostles of doom and defeat.

6. one of the twelve administrative officers of the Mormon church.

The twelve Apostles were Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James (the Less), Judas (or Thaddaeus), Simon, and Judas Iscariot. After the suicide of Judas Iscariot his place was taken by Matthias.

II. derivatives

apostleship /-ˌSHip /

noun

– origin Old English apostol, via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek apostolos ‘messenger,’ from apostellein ‘send forth.’

Apostle Islands

an island group in northern Wisconsin, in Lake Superior.

Apostles' Creed

a statement of Christian belief used in the Western Church, dating from the 4th century and traditionally ascribed to the twelve Apostles.

Apostle spoon Apostle teaspoon

noun

a teaspoon with the figure of an Apostle or saint on the handle.

apostolate /əˈpästəlāt əˈpästələt/

I. noun

1. (chiefly in Roman Catholic contexts) the position or authority of an Apostle or a religious leader.

2. a group of Apostles or religious leaders.

3. religious or evangelistic activity or works

• our apostolate of hospitality to the elderly.

– origin late Middle English: from ecclesiastical Latin apostolatus, from apostulus (see apostle).

apostolic /ˌapəˈstälik/

I. adjective

1. [Christian Church] of or relating to the Apostles

• apostolic writings

• a simple apostolic life.

2. [Christian Church] of or relating to the pope, especially when he is regarded as the successor to St. Peter

• an apostolic nuncio.

– origin Middle English: from French apostolique or ecclesiastical Latin apostolicus, from Greek apostolikos, from apostolos (see apostle).

Apostolic Fathers

plural noun

the Christian leaders immediately succeeding the Apostles.

apostolic succession

noun

(in Christian thought) the uninterrupted transmission of spiritual authority from the Apostles through successive popes and bishops, taught by the Roman Catholic Church but denied by most Protestants.

apostrophe^1 /əˈpästrəfē/

I. noun

a punctuation mark ( ’ ) used to indicate either possession (e.g., Harry's book; boys' coats) or the omission of letters or numbers (e.g., can't; he's; class of ’99).

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting the omission of one or more letters): via late Latin, from Greek apostrophos ‘accent of elision,’ from apostrephein ‘turn away,’ from apo ‘from’ + strephein ‘to turn.’ / usage: The apostrophe is used to indicate missing letters or numbers (bo'sun; the summer of ’63), to form some possessives (see usage at possessive), and to form some plurals (see usage at plural).

apostrophe^2 /əˈpästrəfē/

I. noun

[Rhetoric] an exclamatory passage in a speech or poem addressed to a person (typically one who is dead or absent) or thing (typically one that is personified).

– origin mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek apostrophē ‘turning away,’ from apostrephein ‘turn away’ (see apostrophe^1).

apostrophize /əˈpästrəˌfīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. [Rhetoric] address an exclamatory passage in a speech or poem to (someone or something).

2. punctuate (a word) with an apostrophe.

apothecaries' measure /əˈpäTHəkerēz ˌmeZHər / apothecaries' weight

noun

‹historical› systems of units formerly used in pharmacy for liquid volume (or weight). They were based respectively on the fluid ounce (= 8 drachms or 480 minims) and the ounce troy (= 8 drams or 24 scruples or 480 grains).

apothecary /əˈpäTHəˌkerē/

I. noun

‹archaic› a person who prepared and sold medicines and drugs.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from late Latin apothecarius, from Latin apotheca, from Greek apothēkē ‘storehouse.’

apothegm /ˈapəˌTHem / ‹Brit.› apophthegm

I. noun

a concise saying or maxim; an aphorism.

II. derivatives

apothegmatic /ˌapəTHeɡˈmatik /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French apophthegme or modern Latin apothegma, from Greek, from apophthengesthai ‘speak out.’

apothem /ˈapəˌTHem/

I. noun

[Geometry] a line from the center of a regular polygon at right angles to any of its sides.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek apotithenai ‘put aside, deposit,’ from apo ‘away’ + tithenai ‘to place.’

apotheosis /əˌpäTHēˈōsəs/

I. noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. the highest point in the development of something; culmination or climax

• his appearance as Hamlet was the apotheosis of his career.

2. the elevation of someone to divine status; deification.

– origin late 16th cent.: via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek apotheōsis, from apotheoun ‘make a god of,’ from apo ‘from’ + theos ‘god.’

apotheosize /əˈpäTHēəsīz ˌapəˈTHēəˌsīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. elevate to, or as if to, the rank of a god; idolize.

apotropaic /ˌapətrəˈpāik/

I. adjective

supposedly having the power to avert evil influences or bad luck

• apotropaic statues.

II. derivatives

apotropaically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek apotropaios ‘averting evil,’ from apotrepein ‘turn away or from’ + -ic.

app /ap/

noun

[Computing] an application, especially as downloaded by a user to a mobile device.

• apparently there are these new apps that will actually read your emails to you.

Appalachia /ˌapəˈlāCH(ē)ə ˌapəˈlāSH(ē)ə/

I. a term for areas in the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern US that exhibit long-term poverty and distinctive folkways.

II. derivatives

Appalachian /ˌapəˈlāCH(ē)ən ˌapəˈlāSH(ē)ən /

adjective

Appalachian Mountains /ˌapəˌlāCHēən ˈmountənz / the Appalachians

a mountain system in eastern North America that stretches from Quebec and Maine in the north to Georgia and Alabama in the south. Its highest peak, Mount Mitchell in North Carolina, rises to 6,684 feet (2,037 m).

Appalachian Trail

an approximately 2,000-mi. (3,200-km.) footpath through the Appalachian Mountains from Mount Katahdin in Maine to Springer Mountain in Georgia.

appall /əˈpôl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. greatly dismay or horrify

• bankers are appalled at the economic incompetence of some officials

• (as adj. appalled) Alison looked at me, appalled.

– origin Middle English: from Old French apalir ‘grow pale,’ from a- (from Latin ad ‘to, at’) + palir ‘to pale.’ The original sense was ‘grow pale,’ later ‘make pale,’ hence ‘dismay, horrify’ (late Middle English).

appalling /əˈpôliNG/

adjective

‹informal› awful; terrible

• his conduct was appalling.

appallingly /əˈpôliNGlē/

adverb

to a horrifying or shocking degree

• there are people who suffer appallingly all the time

• [as submodiifier] the public waiting list is appallingly long.

Appaloosa /ˌapəˈlo͞osə/

I. noun

a horse of a North American breed having dark spots on a light background.

– origin 1920s: from Opelousas in Louisiana, or Palouse, a river in Idaho.

appanage /ˈapənij / apanage

I. noun

1. ‹archaic› a gift of land, an official position, or money given to the younger children of kings and princes to provide for their maintenance.

2. ‹archaic› a necessary accompaniment

• there is a tendency to make microbiology an appanage of organic chemistry.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French, based on medieval Latin appanare ‘provide with the means of subsistence,’ from ad- ‘to’ + panis ‘bread.’

apparat /ˈäpəˌrät, ˌapə-/

I. noun

‹chiefly historical› the administrative system of a communist party, typically in a communist country.

– origin 1940s: Russian, from German, literally ‘apparatus.’

apparatchik /ˌäpəˈräCHik/

I. noun

1. ‹chiefly historical› a member of a communist party apparat.

2. ‹chiefly historical› ‹derogatory› ‹humorous› an official in a large political organization

• Tory apparatchiks.

– origin 1940s: Russian, from apparat (see apparat).

apparatus /ˌapəˈradəs ˌapəˈrādəs/

I. noun

1. the technical equipment or machinery needed for a particular activity or purpose

• laboratory apparatus.

2. a complex structure within an organization or system

• the apparatus of government.

3. (also critical apparatus or apparatus criticus) — a collection of notes, variant readings, and other matter accompanying a printed text.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin, from apparare ‘make ready for,’ from ad- ‘toward’ + parare ‘make ready.’

apparel /əˈperəl/

I. noun

1. ‹formal› (US) clothing.

2. (apparels) — ‹formal› (US) embroidered ornamentation on ecclesiastical vestments.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› clothe (someone)

• all the vestments in which they used to apparel their Deities.

– origin Middle English (as a verb in the sense ‘make ready or fit’; as a noun ‘furnishings, equipment’): from Old French apareillier, based on Latin ad- ‘to’ (expressing change) + par ‘equal.’

apparent /əˈperənt/

I. adjective

1. clearly visible or understood; obvious
[with clause]

• it became apparent that he was talented

• for no apparent reason she laughed.

2. seeming real or true, but not necessarily so

• his apparent lack of concern.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French aparant, from Latin apparent- ‘appearing,’ from the verb apparere (see appear).

apparently /əˈperən(t)lē/

adverb — [sentence adverb]

1. as far as one knows or can see

• the child nodded, apparently content with the promise.

2. used by speakers or writers to avoid committing themselves to the truth of what they are saying

• foreign ministers met but apparently failed to make progress.

apparent magnitude

noun

[Astronomy] the magnitude of a celestial object as it is actually measured from the earth.
Compare with absolute magnitude.

apparent solar time

noun

[Astronomy] time as calculated by the motion of the apparent (true) sun. The time indicated by a sundial corresponds to apparent solar time.
Compare with mean solar time.

apparent time

noun

another term for mean solar time.

apparition /ˌapəˈriSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a ghost or ghostlike image of a person.

2. the appearance of something remarkable or unexpected, typically an image of this type

• twentieth-century apparitions of the Virgin.

II. derivatives

apparitional /-SHənl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘the action of appearing’): from Latin apparitio(n-) ‘attendance,’ from the verb apparere (see appear).

appeal /əˈpēl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. make a serious or urgent request, typically to the public

• police are appealing for information about the incident

• she appealed to Germany for political asylum.

2. [Law] apply to a higher court for a reversal of the decision of a lower court

• he said he would appeal against the conviction.

3. [with obj.] — (chiefly N. Amer.) apply to a higher court for a reversal of (the decision of a lower court)

• they have 48 hours to appeal the decision.

4. [Baseball] (of the team in the field) call on the umpire to rule a strike or out on a completed play.

5. (appeal to) — address oneself to (a principle or quality in someone) in anticipation of a favorable response

• I appealed to his sense of justice.

6. be attractive or interesting

• the range of topics will appeal to youngsters.

II. noun

1. a serious or urgent request, typically one made to the public

• his mother made an appeal for the return of the ring.

2. an attempt to obtain financial support

• a public appeal to raise $120,000.

3. entreaty

• a look of appeal on his face.

4. [Law] an application to a higher court for a decision to be reversed

• he has 28 days in which to lodge an appeal

• the right of appeal.

5. an address to a principle or quality in anticipation of a favorable response

• an appeal to black pride.

6. the quality of being attractive or interesting

• the popular appeal of football.

III. derivatives

appealer /əˈpēlər /

noun

– origin Middle English (in legal contexts): from Old French apel (noun), apeler (verb), from Latin appellare ‘to address,’ based on ad- ‘to’ + pellere ‘to drive.’

appealing /əˈpēliNG/

I. adjective

1. attractive or interesting

• the rural life is somehow more appealing

• an appealing young woman.

2. (of an expression or tone of voice) showing that one wants help or sympathy

• an appealing look.

II. derivatives

appealingly /əˈpēliNGlē /

adverb

appeals court

noun

a court that hears appeals from a lower court.

appear /əˈpir/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. come into sight; become visible or noticeable, typically without visible agent or apparent cause

• smoke appeared on the horizon.

2. come into existence or use

• the major life forms appeared on earth.

3. (of a book) be published

• the paperback edition didn't appear for another two years.

4. feature or be shown

• the symbol appears in many paintings of the period.

5. perform publicly in a movie, play, etc.

• he appeared on Broadway.

6. (of an accused person, witness, or lawyer) make an official appearance in a court of law

• he appeared on six charges of theft.

7. ‹informal› arrive at a place

• by ten o'clock Bill still hadn't appeared.

8. seem; give the impression of being
[with infinitive]

• she appeared not to know what was happening

• [with clause] it appears unlikely that interest rates will fall

• [with complement] he appeared unaware of the rebuke.

– origin Middle English: from Old French apareir, from Latin apparere, from ad- ‘toward’ + parere ‘come into view.’

appearance /əˈpirəns/

I. noun

1. the way that someone or something looks

• I like the appearance of stripped antique pine

• they are similar in appearance.

2. an impression given by someone or something, although this may be misleading

• she read it with every appearance of interest.

3. an act of performing or participating in a public event

• he is well-known for his television appearances.

4. [usu. in sing.] — an act of becoming visible or noticeable; an arrival

• the sudden appearance of her daughter startled her.

5. a process of coming into existence or use

• the appearance of the railroad.

II. phrases

1. keep up appearances

maintain an impression of wealth or well-being, typically to hide the true situation.

2. make (or put in) an appearance

attend an event briefly, typically out of courtesy.

3. to (or by) all appearances

as far as can be seen

• to all appearances, it had been a normal day.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French aparance, aparence, from late Latin apparentia, from Latin apparere (see appear).

appearance money

noun

money paid to secure the appearance of a celebrity, typically a sports figure, at a particular event.

appease /əˈpēz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. pacify or placate (someone) by acceding to their demands

• amendments have been added to appease local pressure groups.

2. relieve or satisfy (a demand or a feeling)

• we give to charity because it appeases our guilt.

II. derivatives

appeaser /əˈpēzər /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French apaisier, from a- (from Latin ad ‘to, at’) + pais ‘peace.’

appeasement /əˈpēzmənt/

noun

the action or process of appeasing

• a policy of appeasement.

Appel, Karel /ˈäpəl/

(1921–2006), Dutch painter, sculptor, and graphic artist.

appellant /əˈpelənt/

I. noun

[Law] a person who applies to a higher court for a reversal of the decision of a lower court.

– origin late Middle English: from French apelant, literally ‘appealing,’ from the verb apeler (see appeal).

appellate /əˈpelət/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. [Law] (typically of a court) concerned with or dealing with applications for decisions to be reversed.

– origin late Middle English (originally in the sense ‘appealed against, accused’): from Latin appellatus ‘appealed against,’ from the verb appellare (see appeal). The current sense dates from the mid 18th cent.

appellation^1 /ˌapəˈlāSHən/

I. noun

1. ‹formal› a name or title

• the city fully justifies its appellation “the Pearl of the Orient.”

2. ‹formal› the action of giving a name to a person or thing.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin appellatio(n-), from the verb appellare (see appeal).

appellation^2 /äpeläˈsyôn/

I. noun

1. an appellation contrôlée.

2. a wine bearing an appellation contrôlée.

3. the district in which a wine bearing an appellation contrôlée is produced.

– origin abbreviation of appellation (d'origine) contrôlée.

appellation contrôlée /äpeläˌsyôn ˌkäntrôˈlā / appellation d'origine contrôlée

I. noun

a description awarded to French wine guaranteeing that it was produced in the region specified, using vines and production methods that satisfy the regulating body.

– origin mid 20th cent.: French, literally ‘controlled appellation.’

appellative /əˈpelədiv/

I. adjective

‹formal› relating to or denoting the giving of a name.

II. noun

[Grammar] a common noun, such as “doctor,” “mother,” or “sir,” used as a vocative.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin appellativus, from appellat- ‘addressed,’ from the verb appellare (see appeal).

appellee /ˌapəˈlē/

I. noun

[Law] (chiefly US) the respondent in a case appealed to a higher court.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French appelé, past participle of appeler ‘call,’ from Latin appellare ‘to address’ (see appeal).

append /əˈpend/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. add (something) as an attachment or supplement

• the results of the survey are appended to this chapter.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin appendere ‘hang on,’ from ad- ‘to’ + pendere ‘hang.’

appendage /əˈpendij/

noun

1. (often with negative or pejorative connotations) a thing that is added or attached to something larger or more important

• they treat Scotland as a mere appendage of England.

2. [Biology] a projecting part of an invertebrate or other living organism, with a distinct appearance or function

• many species have specialized clutching appendages.

appendant /əˈpendənt / ‹formal›

I. adjective

attached or added, typically in a subordinate capacity.

II. noun

a subordinate person or thing.

– origin late Middle English (in legal contexts): from Old French apendant, from apendre ‘depend on, belong to,’ from Latin appendere (see append).

appendectomy /ˌapənˈdektəmē / ‹Brit.› appendicectomy

noun

a surgical operation to remove the appendix.

appendicitis /əˌpendəˈsīdəs/

noun

a serious medical condition in which the appendix becomes inflamed and painful.

appendicular /ˌapənˈdikyələr/

I. adjective

1. ‹technical› relating to or denoting an appendage or appendages.

2. ‹technical› [Anatomy] of or relating to a limb or limbs

• the appendicular skeleton.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin appendicula ‘small appendage,’ diminutive of appendix, + -ar^1.

appendix /əˈpendiks/

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] a tube-shaped sac attached to and opening into the lower end of the large intestine in humans and some other mammals.
Also called vermiform appendix. In humans the appendix is small and has no known function, but in rabbits, hares, and some other herbivores it is involved in the digestion of cellulose.

2. a section or table of additional matter at the end of a book or document.

– origin mid 16th cent. (sense 2): from Latin, from appendere ‘hang upon’ (see append). Sense 1 dates from the early 17th cent. / usage: Appendix typically has the plural appendixes in the anatomical sense, and appendices when referring to a part of a book or document.

apperception /ˌapərˈsepSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. [Psychology] ‹dated› the mental process by which a person makes sense of an idea by assimilating it to the body of ideas he or she already possesses.

2. [Psychology] ‹dated› fully conscious perception

• an immediate apperception of a unity lying beyond.

II. derivatives

apperceptive /-tiv /

adjective

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French aperception or modern Latin aperceptio(n-), from Latin ad- ‘to’ + percipere ‘perceive.’

appertain /ˌapərˈtān/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (appertain to) — relate to; concern

• the answers generally appertain to improvements in standards of service.

2. be appropriate or applicable

• the institutional arrangements that appertain under the system.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French apertenir, from late Latin appertinere, from ad- ‘to’ + Latin pertinere ‘to pertain.’

appestat /ˈapəˌstat/

I. noun

[Physiology] the region of the hypothalamus of the brain that is believed to control a person's appetite for food.

– origin 1950s: from appetite, probably on the pattern of thermostat.

appetency /ˈapədənsē/

I. noun

1. ‹archaic› a longing or desire.

2. ‹archaic› a natural tendency or affinity.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin appetentia, from appetere ‘seek after’ (see appetite).

appetite /ˈapəˌtīt/

I. noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. a natural desire to satisfy a bodily need, especially for food

• he has a healthy appetite

• they suffered from loss of appetite.

2. a strong desire or liking for something

• an unquenchable appetite for life.

– origin Middle English: from Old French apetit (modern appétit), from Latin appetitus ‘desire for,’ from appetere ‘seek after,’ from ad- ‘to’ + petere ‘seek.’

appetitive /ˈapəˌtīdiv/

I. adjective

characterized by a natural desire to satisfy bodily needs

• the appetitive behavior of animals.

II. derivatives

1. appetitiveness

noun

2. appetitively

adverb

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French appétitif or medieval Latin appetitivus, from appetire ‘seek after’ (see appetite).

appetizer /ˈapəˌtīzər/

noun

a small dish of food or a drink taken before a meal or the main course of a meal to stimulate one's appetite.

appetizing /ˈapəˌtīziNG / appetising

I. adjective

stimulating one's appetite

• the appetizing aroma of sizzling bacon.

II. derivatives

appetizingly /ˈapəˌtīziNGlē /

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French appétissant, irregular formation from appétit (see appetite).

Appian Way /ˌapēən ˈwā/

in classical times, the principal road south from Rome, named after the censor Appius Claudius Caecus, who built the section to Capua in 312 BC; it was later extended to Brindisi.
Latin name Via Appia.

applaud /əˈplôd/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. show approval or praise by clapping

• the crowd whistled and applauded

• [with obj.] his speech was loudly applauded.

2. [with obj.] — show strong approval of (a person or action); praise

• Jill applauded the decision.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Latin applaudere, from ad- ‘to’ + plaudere ‘to clap,’ reinforced by French applaudir.

applause /əˈplôz/

I. noun

approval or praise expressed by clapping

• they gave him a round of applause.

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin applausus, from the verb applaudere (see applaud).

applause line

noun

(US) a statement in a political speech calculated to win a favorable response from an audience

• an urgent plea for health-care reform is still a reliable applause line.

apple /ˈapəl/

I. noun

1. the round fruit of a tree of the rose family, which typically has thin red or green skin and crisp flesh. Many varieties have been developed as dessert or cooking fruit or for making cider.

2. [with modifier] — an unrelated fruit that resembles an apple in some way.
See also custard apple, thorn apple.

3. (also apple tree) — the tree which bears apples.
[Genus Malus, family Rosaceae: numerous hybrids and cultivars.]

4. (the Apple) — short for Big Apple.

II. phrases

1. the apple never falls far from the tree

‹proverb› family characteristics are usually inherited.

2. the apple of one's eye

a person of whom one is extremely fond and proud.
[originally denoting the pupil of the eye, considered to be a globular solid body, extended as a symbol of something cherished.]

3. apples and oranges apples to oranges

(N. Amer.) used with reference to two things that are fundamentally different and therefore not suited to comparison

• unless you also drove a Corolla on the same roads as the A8, you're comparing apples and oranges.

4. apples to apples

[often with negative] — (N. Amer.) used with reference to a comparison regarded as valid because it concerns two things that are fundamentally the same

• there is no apples-to-apples comparison when comparing a foreign currency to USD

• you want to compare us to Australia or Great Britain, like it’s apples to apples.

5. a rotten (or bad) apple

‹informal› a bad or corrupt person in a group, typically one whose behavior is likely to have a detrimental influence on his or her associates.
[with reference to the effect that a rotten apple has on fruit with which it is in contact.]

6. upset the applecart

spoil a plan or disturb the status quo.

– origin Old English æppel, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch appel and German Apfel.

apple butter

noun

(N. Amer.) a paste of spiced stewed apple used as a spread or condiment, typically made with cider.

apple-cheeked /ˈap(ə)lˌCHēkt/

adjective

(of a person) having round rosy cheeks.

apple core

noun

the tough central part of an apple, containing the seeds

• he tossed his apple core into someone's garden.

• rotting apple cores.

apple green /ˈapəl ɡrēn/

noun

a bright yellowish green.

apple-head doll apple doll

noun

in American folk art, a doll whose head has been fashioned from a dried peeled apple.

Apple Isle ‹Austral.› Apple Island

a nickname for Tasmania.

applejack /ˈapəlˌjak/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) an alcoholic drink distilled from fermented cider.

– origin early 19th cent.: from apple + jack^1.

apple knocker

noun

1. (US) ‹informal› a person who picks or sells apples.

2. (US) ‹informal› a baseball player, specifically a batter.

3. (US) ‹informal› ‹derogatory› an ignorant or unsophisticated person.

apple pie /ˈˌapəl ˈpī/

I. noun

1. a pie made with apples.

2. (N. Amer.) used to represent a cherished ideal of comfort and familiarity

• to say I'm fed up with the Olympics is like being against motherhood and apple pie.

II. phrases

as American as apple pie

(N. Amer.) typically American in character.

apple-pie order

noun

perfect order or neatness

• everything was in apple-pie order.

apple polisher /ˈapəl ˈpäliSHər/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a person who behaves obsequiously to someone important.

II. derivatives

apple-polishing

noun

applesauce /ˈapəlˌsôs/

noun

1. a puree of stewed apples, typically sweetened.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› nonsense

• Equal Opportunity for All—Elmer says that's all applesauce.

Appleseed, Johnny /ˈapəlˌsēd/

(1774–1845), US folk hero; born John Chapman. A Swedenborgian missionary, he traveled throughout Ohio and Indiana planting and caring for apple orchards.

applet /ˈaplət/

I. noun

[Computing] a very small application, especially a utility program performing one or a few simple functions.

– origin 1990s: blend of application and -let.

appletini /ˌapəlˈtēnē/

I. noun

a cocktail consisting of vodka mixed with apple juice, apple liqueur, or cider

• in the absence of margaritas the drink of choice was appletinis.

– origin 1990s: blend of apple and martini.

Appleton /ˈapəltən/

an industrial and academic city in east central Wisconsin; pop. 70,305 (est. 2008).

Appleton, Sir Edward Victor

(1892–1965), English physicist. He discovered a region of ionized gases (the Appleton layer) in the atmosphere above the Heaviside or E layer. Nobel Prize for Physics (1947).

Apple Valley

I. a town in southwestern California, northeast of Los Angeles; pop. 70,200 (est. 2008).

II. a city in southeastern Minnesota, south of Minneapolis; pop. 50,004 (est. 2008).

applewood /ˈapəlˌwo͝od/

noun

the timber of the apple tree, used in carpentry and to smoke food.

appliance /əˈplīəns/

noun

1. a device or piece of equipment designed to perform a specific task, typically a domestic one

• electrical and gas appliances.

2. an apparatus fitted by a surgeon or a dentist for corrective or therapeutic purpose.

3. (Brit.) the action or process of bringing something into operation

• the appliance of science could increase crop yields.

applianced /əˈplīənst/

adjective

(US) (of a kitchen) having or fitted with appliances.

applicability /əplikəˈbilədē/

noun

the quality of being relevant or appropriate

• the case has raised questions about the applicability of local laws to acts committed by foreigners outside the country.

applicable /ˈapləkəb(ə)l əˈplikəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

relevant or appropriate

• the same considerations are equally applicable to accident claims.

II. derivatives

applicably /-blē /

adverb

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘compliant’): from Old French, or from medieval Latin applicabilis, from the verb applicare (see apply).

applicant /ˈapləkənt/

I. noun

a person who makes a formal application for something, typically a job.

– origin early 19th cent.: from application + -ant.

application /ˌapləˈkāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a formal request to an authority for something

• an application for leave

• [with infinitive] an application to join the forum

• [as modifier] application form.

2. the action of putting something into operation

• the application of general rules to particular cases

• massage has far-reaching medical applications.

3. [often with negative] — practical use or relevance

• this principle has no application to the present case.

4. the action of putting something on a surface

• a fresh application of makeup

• paints suitable for application on fabric.

5. a medicinal substance put on the skin.

6. sustained effort; hard work

• the job takes a great deal of patience and application.

7. (also application program) — [Computing] a program or piece of software designed and written to fulfill a particular purpose of the user

• a database application.

II. derivatives

applicational /-SHənl /

adjective

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin applicatio(n-), from the verb applicare (see apply).

application program

noun

another term for application (sense 5).

application programming interface API

noun

[Computing] a system of tools and resources in an operating system, enabling developers to create software applications.

applicative /ˈapliˌkātiv, əˈplikə-/

I. adjective

relating to or involving the application of a subject or idea; practical or applied

• applicative algebra.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin applicat- ‘set close or in contact, fastened to,’ from the verb applicare (see apply).

applicator /ˈapləˌkādər/

I. noun

1. a device used for inserting something or for applying a substance to a surface.

2. a person who applies a substance or installs something, such as house siding.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin applicat- ‘fastened to’ (from the verb applicare) + -or^1.

applied /əˈplīd/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of a subject or type of study) put to practical use as opposed to being theoretical

• applied chemistry.

Compare with pure.

appliqué /ˌapləˈkā/

I. noun

ornamental needlework in which pieces of fabric are sewn or stuck onto a large piece of fabric to form pictures or patterns.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be appliquéd)

1. decorate (a piece of fabric) with appliqué

• the coat is appliquéd with exotic-looking cloth

• (as adj. appliquéd) 19th-century appliquéd silks.

2. sew or stick (pieces of fabric) onto a large piece of fabric to form pictures or patterns

• the floral motifs are appliquéd to christening robes.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French, past participle of appliquer ‘apply,’ from Latin applicare (see apply).

apply /əˈplī/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — make a formal application or request

• you need to apply to the local authorities for a grant

• [with infinitive] a number of people have applied to vote by proxy.

2. put oneself forward formally as a candidate for a job

• she had applied for a number of positions.

3. [no obj.] — be applicable or relevant

• the offer does not apply to unionized workers

• normal rules apply.

4. [with obj.] — put or spread (something) on a surface

• the sealer can be applied to new wood.

5. administer

• smooth over with a cloth, applying even pressure.

6. (apply oneself) — give one's full attention to a task; work hard.

7. [with obj.] — bring or put into operation or practical use

• the oil industry has failed to apply appropriate standards of care.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French aplier, from Latin applicare ‘fold, fasten to,’ from ad- ‘to’ + plicare ‘to fold.’

appoggiatura /əˌpäjəˈto͝orə/

I. noun

[Music] a grace note performed before a note of the melody and falling on the beat.

– origin Italian, from appoggiare ‘lean upon, rest.’

appoint /əˈpoint/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. assign a job or role to (someone)

• she has been appointed to the board

• [with obj. and infinitive] a delegated engineer will be appointed to oversee each graduate

• they appointed her as personnel manager.

2. determine or decide on (a time or a place)

• they appointed a day in May for the meeting.

3. ‹archaic› decree

• such laws are appointed by God.

4. [Law] decide the disposal of (property of which one is not the owner) under powers granted by the owner

• trustees appoint the capital to the beneficiaries.

II. derivatives

appointer

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French apointer, from a point ‘to a point.’

appointed /əˈpoin(t)əd/

adjective

1. (of a time or place) decided on beforehand; designated

• she arrived at the appointed time.

2. (of a building or room) equipped or furnished in a specified way or to a specified standard

• a luxuriously appointed lobby.

appointee /əpoinˈtē/

noun

1. a person to whom a job or role is assigned

• an appointee to to the federal judiciary

• the Commission calls for a reduction in the number of political appointees.

2. [Law] a person empowered by the owner of property to decide the disposition of that property

• an appointee will arrange to receive your state benefits and pay your bills.

appointive /əˈpoin(t)iv/

adjective

(N. Amer.) (of a job) relating to or filled by appointment rather than election.

appointment /əˈpointmənt/

I. noun

1. an arrangement to meet someone at a particular time and place

• she made an appointment with my receptionist.

2. an act of appointing; assigning a job or position to someone

• his appointment as president.

3. a job or position

• she took up an appointment as head of communications.

4. a person appointed to a job or position.

5. (appointments) — furniture or fittings

• the room was spartan in its appointments.

II. phrases

1. by appointment

having previously made an arrangement to do something

• visits are by appointment only.

2. power of appointment

a. power to select the holder of a particular job or position.

b. [Law] power to decide the disposal of property, in exercise of a right conferred by the owner.

– origin Middle English: from Old French apointement, from apointer (see appoint).

Appomattox /ˌapəˈmadəks/

a historic site in central Virginia, at the head of the Appomattox River, where Robert E. Lee's surrender of his Confederate forces in April 1865 ended the Civil War.

apportion /əˈpôrSH(ə)n/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. divide and allocate

• voting power will be apportioned according to contribution.

2. assign

• they did not apportion blame or liability to any one individual.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Old French apportionner or medieval Latin apportionare, from ad- ‘to’ + portionare ‘divide into portions.’

apportionment /əˈpôrSHənmənt/

noun

1. the action or result of apportioning something

• an exercise in apportionment of blame.

2. the determination of the proportional number of members each US state sends to the House of Representatives, based on population figures.

appose /əˈpōz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹technical› place (something) in proximity to or juxtaposition with something else

• the specimen was apposed to X-ray film.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin apponere, on the pattern of words such as compose, expose.

apposite /ˈapəzət/

I. adjective

apt in the circumstances or in relation to something

• an apposite quotation

• the observations are apposite to the discussion.

II. derivatives

1. appositely /ˈapəzətlē /

adverb

2. appositeness /ˈapəzətnəs /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin appositus, past participle of apponere ‘apply,’ from ad- ‘toward’ + ponere ‘put.’

apposition /ˌapəˈziSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. ‹chiefly technical› the positioning of things or the condition of being side by side or close together.

2. [Grammar] a relationship between two or more words or phrases in which the two units are grammatically parallel and have the same referent (e.g., my friend Sue; the first US president, George Washington.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin appositio(n-), from apponere ‘to apply’ (see apposite).

appositional /ˌapəˈziSHənl / ‹Grammar›

I. adjective

of or relating to apposition.

II. noun

a term standing in apposition.

appositive /əˈpäzədiv/

I. adjective, noun

[Grammar] another term for appositional.

– origin late 17th cent.: from late Latin appositivus ‘subsidiary.’

appraisal /əˈprāzəl/

noun

1. an act of assessing something or someone

• treatment begins with a thorough appraisal of the patient's condition

• the report has been subject to appraisal.

2. an expert estimate of the value of something

• the final figure is just a little more than triple the appraisal.

appraisal drilling

noun

drilling undertaken to establish the quality, quantity, and other characteristics of oil or gas in a newly discovered field.

appraise /əˈprāz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. assess the value or quality of

• she stealthily appraised him in a pocket mirror

• [no obj.] the interviewer's job is to appraise and evaluate.

2. (of an official or expert) set a price on; value

• they appraised the painting at $200,000.

II. derivatives

1. appraiser /əˈprāzər /

noun

2. appraisingly

adverb

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘set a price on’): alteration of apprize, by association with praise. The current sense dates from the mid 19th cent. / usage: Appraise, meaning ‘evaluate,’ should not be confused with apprise, which means ‘inform’: the painting was appraised at $3,000,000; they gasped when apprised of this valuation.

appreciable /əˈprēSH(ē)əb(ə)l/

I. adjective

large or important enough to be noticed

• tea and coffee both contain appreciable amounts of caffeine.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French appréciable, from apprécier (see appreciate).

appreciably /əˈprēSH(ē)əblē/

adverb

to an appreciable extent; considerably

• profits have grown appreciably over the last four years

• [as submodifier] an appreciably higher risk.

appreciate /əˈprēSHēˌāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. recognize the full worth of

• she feels that he does not appreciate her.

2. be grateful for (something)

• I'd appreciate any information you could give me.

3. understand (a situation) fully; recognize the full implications of

• they failed to appreciate the pressure he was under

• [with clause] I appreciate that you cannot be held totally responsible.

4. [no obj.] — rise in value or price

• they expected the house to appreciate in value.

II. derivatives

appreciator /-ˌātər /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from late Latin appretiat- ‘set at a price, appraised,’ from the verb appretiare, from ad- ‘to’ + pretium ‘price.’

appreciation /əˌprēSHēˈāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the recognition and enjoyment of the good qualities of someone or something

• I smiled in appreciation

• she shows a fine appreciation of obscure thinkers.

2. gratitude for something

• they would be the first to show their appreciation.

3. a piece of writing in which the qualities of a person or the person's work are discussed and assessed.

4. sensitive understanding of the aesthetic value of something

• courses in music appreciation.

5. a full understanding of a situation

• they have an appreciation of the needs of users

• the bank's lack of appreciation of their problems.

6. increase in monetary value

• the appreciation of the franc against the dollar.

– origin late 15th cent.: from French appréciation, from late Latin appretiatio(n-), from the verb appretiare ‘set at a price, appraise’ (see appreciate).

appreciative /əˈprēSH(ē)ədiv/

I. adjective

feeling or showing gratitude or pleasure

• the team is very appreciative of your support

• an appreciative audience.

II. derivatives

1. appreciatively /əˈprēSH(ē)ədivlē /

adverb

2. appreciativeness

noun

apprehend /ˌaprəˈhend/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. arrest (someone) for a crime

• a warrant was issued but he has not been apprehended.

2. understand or perceive

• great art invites us to apprehend beauty.

3. ‹archaic› anticipate (something) with uneasiness or fear.

– origin late Middle English (originally in the sense ‘grasp, get hold of (physically or mentally)’): from French appréhender or Latin apprehendere, from ad- ‘toward’ + prehendere ‘lay hold of.’

apprehensible /ˌaprəˈhensəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

‹archaic› ‹literary› capable of being understood or perceived

• a bat whirred, apprehensible only from the displacement of air.

– origin early 17th cent.: from late Latin apprehensibilis, from Latin apprehendere (see apprehend).

apprehension /ˌaprəˈhenSHən/

I. noun

1. anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen

• he felt sick with apprehension

• she had some apprehensions about the filming.

2. understanding; grasp

• the pure apprehension of the work of art.

3. the action of arresting someone

• they acted with intent to prevent lawful apprehension.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘learning, acquisition of knowledge’): from late Latin apprehensio(n-), from apprehendere ‘seize, grasp’ (see apprehend).

apprehensive /ˌaprəˈhensiv/

I. adjective

1. anxious or fearful that something bad or unpleasant will happen

• he felt apprehensive about going home

• [with clause] they were apprehensive that something might go wrong.

2. ‹archaic› ‹literary› of or relating to perception or understanding.

II. derivatives

1. apprehensively /ˈˌaprəˈhensivlē ˈˌaprēˈhensivlē /

adverb

2. apprehensiveness /ˌaprəˈhensivnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English (sense 2): from French appréhensif or medieval Latin apprehensivus, from Latin apprehendere ‘seize, grasp’ (see apprehension).

apprentice /əˈpren(t)əs/

I. noun

1. a person who is learning a trade from a skilled employer, having agreed to work for a fixed period at low wages
[as modifier]

• an apprentice electrician.

2. [usu. as modifier] — a beginner at something

• an apprentice confidence trickster.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. employ (someone) as an apprentice

• Edward was apprenticed to a printer.

2. [no obj.] — (N. Amer.) serve as an apprentice

• she apprenticed with midwives in San Francisco.

– origin Middle English: from Old French aprentis (from apprendre ‘learn,’ from Latin apprehendere ‘apprehend’), on the pattern of words ending in -tis, -tif, from Latin -tivus (see -ive).

apprenticeship /əˈpren(t)ə(s)ˌSHip/

noun

the position of an apprentice

• the company once offered apprenticeships

• six young chefs have completed their apprenticeships.

• he's in the second year of his apprenticeship.

appress /əˈpres/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be appressed)

1. ‹technical› press (something) close to something else

• the two cords can be closely appressed to one another.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin appress- ‘pressed close,’ from the verb apprimere, from ad- ‘to’ + premere ‘to press.’

apprise /əˈprīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. inform or tell (someone)

• I thought it right to apprise Chris of what had happened.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French appris, apprise, past participle of apprendre ‘learn, teach,’ from Latin apprehendere (see apprehend). / usage: See usage at appraise.

apprize /əˈprīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› put a price upon; appraise

• the sheriff was to apprize the value of the lands.

2. ‹archaic› value highly; esteem

• how highly your Highness apprizeth peace.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French aprisier, from a- (from Latin ad ‘to, at’) + prisier ‘to price, prize,’ from pris (see price). The spelling change in the 17th cent. was due to association with prize^1.

approach /əˈprōCH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. come near or nearer to (someone or something) in distance

• the train approached the main line

• [no obj.] she hadn't heard him approach

• (as adj. approaching) an approaching car.

2. come near or nearer to (a future time or event)

• he was approaching retirement.

3. [no obj.] — (of a future time) come nearer

• the time is approaching when you will be destroyed.

4. come close to (a number, level, or standard) in quality or quantity

• the population will approach 12 million by the end of the decade.

5. ‹archaic› bring nearer

• all those changes shall serve to approach him the faster to the blest mansion.

6. speak to (someone) for the first time about something, typically with a proposal or request

• the department had been approached about funding.

7. start to deal with (something) in a certain way

• one must approach the matter with caution.

II. noun

1. a way of dealing with something

• we need a whole new approach to the job.

2. an act of speaking to someone for the first time about something, typically a proposal or request

• the landowner made an approach to the developer.

3. (approaches) — ‹dated› behavior intended to propose personal or sexual relations with someone

• feminine resistance to his approaches.

4. [in sing.] — the action of coming near or nearer to someone or something in distance or time

• the approach of winter.

5. (approach to) — an approximation to something

• the past is impossible to recall with any approach to accuracy.

6. the part of an aircraft's flight in which it descends gradually toward an airfield or runway for landing.

• the aircraft completed the approach and touched down.

7. (usu. approaches) — a road, sea passage, or other way leading to a place

• the eastern approach to the town.

– origin Middle English: from Old French aprochier, aprocher, from ecclesiastical Latin appropiare ‘draw near,’ from ad- ‘to’ + propius (comparative of prope ‘near’).

approachable /əˈprōCHəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. friendly and easy to talk to

• managers should be approachable.

2. (of a place) able to be reached from a particular direction or by a particular means

• at night parrotfish are approachable as they sleep in nooks and crannies on the reef.

II. derivatives

approachability /əˌprōCHəˈbilədē /

noun

approach shot /əˈprōCH SHät/

noun

[Golf] a stroke that sends the ball from the fairway onto or nearer to the green.

approbate /ˈaprəˌbāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (US) ‹rare› approve formally; sanction

• a letter approbating the affair.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin approbat- ‘approved,’ from the verb approbare, from ad- ‘to’ + probare ‘try, test’ (from probus ‘good’).

approbation /ˌaprəˈbāSHən/

I. noun

‹formal› approval or praise

• the opera met with high approbation.

II. derivatives

1. approbative /ˈaprəˌbātiv, əˈprōbətiv /

adjective

2. approbatory /ˈaprəbəˌtôrē əˈprōbəˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin approbatio(n-), from the verb approbare (see approbate).

appropriacy /əˈprōprēəsē/

noun

1. the quality of being suitable or proper in the circumstances

• the appropriacy of the methodology employed.

2. [Linguistics] the extent to which a word, phrase, or grammatical pattern is correct or suitable for a particular context or social situation

• don't concentrate on grammar at the expense of organization and appropriacy.

appropriate

I. adjective — /əˈprōprēət /

1. suitable or proper in the circumstances

• a measure appropriate to a wartime economy.

II. verb — /əˈprōprēˌāt / [with obj.]

1. take (something) for one's own use, typically without the owner's permission

• his images have been appropriated by advertisers.

2. devote (money or assets) to a special purpose

• there can be problems in appropriating funds for legal expenses.

III. derivatives

appropriator /əˈprōprēˌādər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin appropriatus, past participle of appropriare ‘make one's own,’ from ad- ‘to’ + proprius ‘own, proper.’

appropriately /əˈprōprēətlē/

adverb

in a manner that is suitable or proper in the circumstances

• volunteers need to be approachable, calm, and able to respond appropriately

• [as submodifier] walls of raw concrete form a neutral yet appropriately rugged backdrop for the various objects.

appropriateness /əˈprōprēətnəs/

noun

the quality of being suitable or proper in the circumstances

• some staff members question the appropriateness of this practice

• activities are selected for their appropriateness to the day's weather.

appropriation /əˌprōprēˈāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action of taking something for one's own use, typically without the owner's permission

• the appropriation of parish funds.

2. ‹often derogatory› the artistic practice or technique of reworking images from well-known paintings, photographs, etc., in one's own work.

3. a sum of money or total of assets devoted to a special purpose.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin appropriatio(n-), from appropriare ‘make one's own’ (see appropriate).

appropriationist /əˌprōprēˈāSHənəst/

noun

‹often derogatory› an artist whose work contains reworkings of well-known images by other artists
[as modifier]

• appropriationist art.

approval /əˈpro͞ovəl/

I. noun

1. the action of officially agreeing to something or accepting something as satisfactory

• the road plans have been given approval

• they have delayed the launch to await project approvals.

2. the belief that someone or something is good or acceptable

• step-parents need to win a child's approval.

3. (usu. approvals) — [Philately] stamps sent by request to a collector or potential customer.

II. phrases

1. on approval

(of goods) supplied on condition that they may be returned if not satisfactory.

2. seal (or stamp) of approval

an official statement or indication that something is accepted or regarded favorably.

approve /əˈpro͞ov/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. officially agree to or accept as satisfactory

• the budget was approved by Congress

• (as adj. approved) an approved profit-sharing plan.

2. [no obj.] — believe that someone or something is good or acceptable

• I don't approve of the way she pampers my father and brothers.

3. ‹archaic› prove; show

• he approved himself ripe for military command.

– origin Middle English: from Old French aprover, from Latin approbare (see approbate). The original sense was ‘prove, demonstrate,’ later ‘corroborate, confirm,’ hence ‘pronounce to be satisfactory’ (late Middle English).

approving /əˈpro͞oviNG/

adjective

showing or feeling approval of someone or something

• the wine drew approving comments from across the table.

approvingly /əˈpro͞oviNGlē/

adverb

in a manner resulting from or revealing approval

• several heads nodded approvingly at this concept.

approx.

abbreviation

approximate(ly).

approximate

I. adjective — /əˈpräksəmət /

1. close to the actual, but not completely accurate or exact

• the calculations are very approximate.

II. verb — /əˈpräksəˌmāt / [no obj.]

1. come close or be similar to something in quality, nature, or quantity

• a leasing agreement approximating to ownership

• [with obj.] reality can be approximated by computational techniques.

2. [with obj.] — estimate or calculate (a quantity) fairly accurately

• I had to approximate the weight of my horse.

– origin late Middle English (in the adjectival sense ‘close, similar’): from late Latin approximatus, past participle of approximare, from ad- ‘to’ + proximus ‘very near.’ The verb (originally meaning ‘bring close’) arose in the mid 17th cent.; the current adjectival sense dates from the early 19th cent.

approximately /əˈpräksəmətlē/

adverb

used to show that something is almost, but not completely, accurate or exact; roughly

• a journey of approximately two hours.

approximation /əˌpräksəˈmāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. a value or quantity that is nearly but not exactly correct

• these figures are only approximations.

2. a thing that is similar to something else, but is not exactly the same

• the band smashed up their equipment in an approximation of rock star behavior.

approximative /əˈpräksəˌmādiv/

adjective

(of a method, description, etc.) giving only an approximation to something

• a crudely approximative outline.

appt.

noun

‹informal› (as written abbreviation) an appointment

• one of the children has medical problems requiring lots of doctor's appts.

• I have an appt. with my accountant on Monday morning.

appurtenance /əˈpərt(ə)nəns/

I. noun — (usu. appurtenances)

1. an accessory or other item associated with a particular activity or style of living

• all the appurtenances of luxurious travel.

– origin Middle English: from Old French apertenance, based on late Latin appertinere ‘belong to’ (see appertain).

appurtenant /əˈpərt(ə)nənt/

I. adjective

belonging; pertinent

• secondary buildings that are appurtenant to the main building.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French apartenant ‘appertaining,’ from the verb apartenir (see appertain).

APR

abbreviation

annual or annualized percentage rate, typically of interest on loans or credit.

Apr.

abbreviation

April.

apraxia /āˈpraksēə/

I. noun

[Medicine] inability to perform particular purposive actions, as a result of brain damage.

II. derivatives

apraxic /-sik /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from German Apraxie, from Greek apraxia ‘inaction.’

après-

I. prefix

‹informal› ‹humorous› coming after in time, typically specifying a period following an activity

• a low-fat, après-workout snack.

– origin mid 20th cent.: French, literally ‘after,’ used in combinations on the pattern of après-ski.

après-ski /ˌäprā ˈskē/

I. noun

the social activities and entertainment following a day's skiing
[as modifier]

• the après-ski disco.

II. derivatives

après-skiing

noun

– origin 1950s: French, literally ‘after skiing.’

apricot /ˈaprəˌkät ˈāprəˌkät/

I. noun

1. a juicy, soft fruit, resembling a small peach, of an orange-yellow color.

2. an orange-yellow color like the skin of a ripe apricot.

3. (also apricot tree) — the tree bearing apricots.
[Prunus armeniaca, family Rosaceae.]

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Portuguese albricoque or Spanish albaricoque, from Spanish Arabic al ‘the’ + barḳūḳ (from late Greek praikokion, from Latin praecoquum, variant of praecox ‘early ripe’); influenced by Latin apricus ‘ripe’ and by French abricot.

April /ˈāprəl/

I. noun

the fourth month of the year, in the northern hemisphere usually considered the second month of spring

• the prison was to close in April

• [as modifier] April showers.

– origin Old English, from Latin Aprilis.

April Fool /ˈāprəl fo͞ol/

noun

1. a person who is the victim of a trick or hoax on April 1
[as exclamation]

• Lucy was waiting right outside. “April Fool!” she said.

2. a trick or hoax on April 1
[as modifier]

• an April Fool joke.

April Fool's Day /ˈˌāprəl ˈfo͞olz ˌdā / April Fools' Day

noun

April 1, in many Western countries traditionally an occasion for playing tricks. This custom has been observed for hundreds of years, but its origin is unknown.
Also called All Fools' Day.

a priori /ˌā prīˈôrī/

I. adjective

relating to or denoting reasoning or knowledge that proceeds from theoretical deduction rather than from observation or experience

• a priori assumptions about human nature.

II. adverb

in a way based on theoretical deduction rather than empirical observation

• sexuality may be a factor, but it cannot be assumed a priori

• [sentence adverb] a priori, it would seem that his government was an extension of that power.

III. derivatives

apriorism /āˈprīəˌrizəm /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: Latin, ‘from what is before.’

apron /ˈāprən/

I. noun

1. a protective or decorative garment worn over the front of one's clothes and tied at the back.

2. a garment similar to an apron worn as part of official dress, as by an Anglican bishop or a Freemason.

3. a sheet of lead worn to shield the body during an X-ray examination.

4. a small area adjacent to another larger area or structure

• a tiny apron of garden.

5. a hard-surfaced area on an airfield used for maneuvering or parking aircraft.

6. (also apron stage) — a projecting strip of stage for playing scenes in front of the curtain.

7. (US) a broadened area of pavement at the end of a driveway.

8. the narrow strip of the floor of a boxing ring lying outside the ropes.

9. the outer edge or border of a golf green.

10. [Geology] an extensive outspread deposit of sediment, typically at the foot of a glacier or mountain.

11. an object resembling an apron in shape or function, in particular

12. a covering protecting an area or structure, for example, from water erosion.

13. [often as modifier] — an endless conveyor made of overlapping plates

• apron feeders bring coarse ore to a grinding mill.

14. [Medicine] a pendulous fold of abdominal fat that obscures the genital region.

II. phrases

(tied to) someone's apron strings

(too much under) the influence and control of someone

• we have all met sturdy adults who are tied to mother's apron strings.

– origin Middle English naperon, from Old French, diminutive of nape, nappe ‘tablecloth,’ from Latin mappa ‘napkin.’ The n was lost by wrong division of a napron; compare with adder.

apropos /ˌaprəˈpō/

I. preposition

with reference to; concerning

• she remarked apropos of the initiative, “It's not going to stop the abuse.”

II. adverb — [sentence adverb] (apropos of nothing)

1. used to state a speaker's belief that someone's comments or acts are unrelated to any previous discussion or situation

• Isabel kept smiling apropos of nothing.

III. adjective — [predic.]

1. very appropriate to a particular situation

• the composer's reference to child's play is apropos.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French à propos ‘(with regard) to (this) purpose.’

apsara /ˈäpsərä / apsaras

I. noun

[Hindu Mythology] a celestial nymph, typically the consort of a gandharva or heavenly musician.

– origin from Hindi apsarā, from Sanskrit apsarās.

apse /aps/

I. noun

1. a large semicircular or polygonal recess in a church, arched or with a domed roof, typically at the eastern end, and usually containing the altar.

2. another term for apsis.

– origin early 19th cent. (sense 2): from Latin apsis (see apsis).

apsidal /ˈapsədl/

I. adjective

1. [Architecture] in the form of or resembling an apse.

2. [Astronomy] of or relating to an apsis.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin apsis (see apsis) + -al.

apsis /ˈapsəs/

I. noun

either of two points on the orbit of a planet or satellite that are nearest to or furthest from the body around which it moves.

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting the orbit of a planet): via Latin from Greek apsis, hapsis ‘arch, vault,’ perhaps from haptein ‘fasten, join.’

apt /apt/

I. adjective

1. appropriate or suitable in the circumstances

• an apt description of her nature.

2. [predic.] (apt to do something) — having a tendency to do something

• she was apt to confuse the past with the present.

3. quick to learn

• he proved an apt scholar.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘suited, appropriate’): from Latin aptus ‘fitted,’ past participle of apere ‘fasten.’

apt.

I. noun

(N. Amer.) short for apartment:

• a minimalist one-bedroom apt. on the Upper West Side

• apt. 18, 2330 Bedford St.

– origin early 20th cent.: abbreviation.

apterous /ˈaptərəs/

I. adjective

[Entomology] (of an insects) having no wings.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Greek apteros (from a- ‘without’ + pteron ‘wing’) + -ous.

Apterygota /ˌapteriˈɡōdə / ‹Entomology›

I. a group of insects that includes the bristletails and springtails. They have a primitive body form that lacks wings and typically have no distinct larval stage.
Compare with Pterygota. [Subclass Apterygota, class Insecta (or Hexapoda): several orders, some of which are sometimes not included with the Insecta.]

– origin modern Latin Apterygota, from Greek a- ‘not’ + pterugōtos ‘winged.’

apterygote /apˈteriˌɡōt/

noun

[Entomology] a primitive wingless insect of the group Apterygota, which includes the bristletails and springtails.

aptitude /ˈaptəˌt(y)o͞od/

I. noun

1. (often aptitude for) — a natural ability to do something

• he had a remarkable aptitude for learning words.

2. a natural tendency

• his natural aptitude for failure.

3. ‹archaic› suitability or fitness

• aptitude of expression.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from late Latin aptitudo, from aptus (see apt).

aptitude test /ˈaptəˌt(y)o͞od test/

noun

a test designed to determine a person's ability in a particular skill or field of knowledge.

aptly /ˈaptlē/

adverb

in a manner that is appropriate or suitable in the circumstances

• America's aptly named Sunshine State.

aptness /ˈap(t)nəs/

noun

the quality of being appropriate or suitable

• the aptness of the punishment.

aptronym /ˈaptrəˌnim / aptonym

I. noun

a person's name that is regarded as amusingly appropriate to their occupation

• he began collecting aptronyms when he saw an ad for a flower shop operated by Flora Gardner.

• while Maryland lacks a ‘Judge Judge’, there are many attorneys here with aptonyms.

II. derivatives

aptronymic aptonymic

adjective

– origin 1920s: from apt + -onym, probably on the pattern of patronym.

APU

abbreviation

auxiliary power unit, a device used on aircraft to provide power while on the ground and to start the main engines.

Apuleius /ˌapyəˈlēəs/

(born c. AD 123), Roman writer; born in Africa. He wrote Metamorphoses (The Golden Ass).

Apulian /əˈpyo͞olēən/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of the Italian region of Apulia or its inhabitants

• a coastguard ship on the Apulian coast.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of the Italian region of Apulia

• the young Apulian overcame the difficulties he had in his first two seasons.

Apus /ˈāpəs / ‹Astronomy›

I. a faint southern constellation, the Bird of Paradise, close to the south celestial pole.

II. (as genitive Apodis ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate stars

• the star Beta Apodis.

– origin Latin, denoting a kind of bird, from Greek apous.

Aqaba /ˈäkəbə, ˈak-/

Jordan's only port, at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba; pop. 79,839 (2004).

Aqaba, Gulf of

part of the Red Sea that extends northward between the Sinai and Arabian peninsulas.

aqua /ˈäkwə ˈakwə/

I. noun

a light bluish-green color; aquamarine

• houses of yellow and aqua

• [as modifier] aqua blue.

– origin 1930s: abbreviation of aquamarine.

aqua-

I. combining form

1. relating to water

• aquaculture.

2. relating to water sports or aquatic entertainment

• aquacade.

– origin from Latin aqua ‘water.’

aquacade /ˈäkwəˌkād, ˈak-/

noun

(US) a spectacle involving swimming and diving, usually with musical accompaniment.

aquaculture /ˈäkwəˌkəlCHər ˈakwəˌkəlCHər/

I. noun

[Botany] the rearing of aquatic animals or the cultivation of aquatic plants for food.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin aqua ‘water’ + culture, on the pattern of words such as agriculture.

aqua fortis /ˈäkwə ˈfôrtis, ˈak-/

I. noun

archaic term for nitric acid.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘strong water.’

aqualung /ˈäkwəˌləNG ˈakwəˌləNG / ‹trademark› Aqua-Lung

I. noun

a portable breathing apparatus for divers, consisting of cylinders of compressed air strapped on the diver's back, feeding air automatically through a mask or mouthpiece.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹dated› swim underwater using an aqualung.

– origin 1950s (originally a proprietary name in the US): from Latin aqua ‘water’ + lung.

aquamarine /ˌäkwəməˈrēn ˌakwəməˈrēn/

I. noun

1. a precious stone consisting of a light bluish-green variety of beryl.

2. a light bluish-green color

• the aquamarine of the Atlantic Ocean

• [as modifier] the aquamarine water.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Latin aqua marina ‘seawater.’

aquanaut /ˈäkwənôt ˈakwəˌnôt/

I. noun

a person who swims underwater using an aqualung.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin aqua ‘water’ + Greek nautēs ‘sailor.’

aquaplane /ˈäkwəˌplān ˈakwəˌplān/

I. noun

a board for riding on water, pulled by a speedboat.

II. verb — [no obj.] (often as noun aquaplaning)

1. ride standing on an aquaplane.

2. (of a vehicle) slide uncontrollably on a wet surface

• the plane is believed to have aquaplaned on the runway.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Latin aqua ‘water’ + plane^1.

aquaponics /ˌäkwəˈpäniks, ˌak-/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. a system of aquaculture in which the waste produced by farmed fish or other aquatic animals supplies nutrients for plants grown hydroponically, which in turn purify the water.

• thanks to its automatic recirculating system, aquaponics does not require much monitoring or measuring.

II. derivatives

aquaponic

adjective

– origin 1930s (in the sense ‘hydroponics’): blend of aqua- and hydroponics.

aqua regia /ˌäkwə ˈrēj(ē)ə ˌakwə ˈrēj(ē)ə/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a mixture of concentrated nitric and hydrochloric acids. It is a highly corrosive liquid that will dissolve gold and other resistant substances.

– origin early 17th cent.: Latin, literally ‘royal water.’

aquarelle /ˌäkwəˈrel ˌakwəˈrel/

I. noun

1. a style of painting using thin, typically transparent, watercolors.

2. a painting made by using the aquarelle style.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, from Italian acquarella ‘watercolor,’ diminutive of acqua, from Latin aqua ‘water.’

Aquarian /əˈkwerēən / ‹Astrology›

I. noun

a person born under the sign of Aquarius.

II. adjective

1. of or relating to people born under the sign of Aquarius.

2. of or relating to the Age of Aquarius or the New Age.

aquarist /əˈkwerəst/

noun

a person who keeps an aquarium.

aquarium /əˈkwerēəm/

I. noun

1. a transparent tank of water in which fish and other water creatures and plants are kept.

2. a building containing aquariums, especially one that is open to the public.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin, neuter of aquarius ‘of water,’ on the pattern of vivarium.

Aquarius /əˈkwerēəs/

I. [Astronomy] a large constellation, the Water-carrier or Water-bearer, said to represent a man pouring water from a jar. It contains no bright stars but has several planetary nebulae.

II. (as genitive Aquarii ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate stars

• the star Alpha Aquarii.

III. [Astrology] the eleventh sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters about January 21.

IV. (an Aquarius) — a person born when the sun is in the sign of Aquarius.

V. phrases

Age of Aquarius

an age that the world has just entered or is about to enter, believed by some to signal a period of peace and harmony.

– origin Latin aquarius ‘of water,’ used as a noun to mean ‘water carrier.’

aquatic /əˈkwädik əˈkwadik/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to water.

2. (of a plant or animal) growing or living in or near water

• the bay could support aquatic life.

3. (of a sport) played in or on water.

4. (of a shop or dealer) specializing in products for ponds or aquariums.

II. noun

1. an aquatic plant or animal, typically one suitable for a pond or aquarium.

2. (aquatics) — sports played in or on water.

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘watery, rainy’): from Old French aquatique or Latin aquaticus, from aqua ‘water.’

aquatint /ˈäkwəˌtint ˈakwəˌtint/

I. noun

1. a print resembling a watercolor, produced from a copper plate etched with nitric acid.

2. the technique or process of producing aquatints.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. create (a print) using the aquatint process.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French aquatinte, from Italian acqua tinta ‘colored water.’

aquavit /ˈäkwəˌvēt, ˈak- / akvavit

I. noun

an alcoholic spirit made from potatoes or other starchy plants.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish akvavit (see aqua vitae).

aqua vitae /ˌäkwə ˈvīdē ˌakwə ˈvīdē/

I. noun

strong alcoholic spirit, especially brandy.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin, literally ‘water of life’; compare with aquavit, eau-de-vie, usquebaugh, and whiskey.

aqueduct /ˈäkwəˌdəkt ˈakwəˌdəkt/

I. noun

1. an artificial channel for conveying water, typically in the form of a bridge supported by tall columns across a valley.

2. [Anatomy] a small canal containing fluid.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from obsolete French (now aqueduc), from Latin aquae ductus ‘conduit,’ from aqua ‘water’ + ducere ‘to lead.’

aqueous /ˈākwēəs ˈakwēəs/

I. adjective

1. of or containing water, typically as a solvent or medium

• an aqueous solution of potassium permanganate.

2. like water; watery

• a great hall of aqueous marble.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin aqueus, from Latin aqua ‘water.’

aqueous humor

noun

the clear fluid filling the space in the front of the eyeball between the lens and the cornea.
Compare with vitreous humor.

Aquidneck /əˈkwidˌnek/

the former name of Rhode Island, the largest island in Narragansett Bay, part of the state of Rhode Island.

aquifer /ˈäkwəfər ˈakwəfər/

I. noun

a body of permeable rock that can contain or transmit groundwater.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Latin aqui- (from aqua ‘water’) + -fer ‘bearing’ (from ferre ‘to bear’).

Aquila /əˈkwilə, ˈakwilə / ‹Astronomy›

I. a small northern constellation, the Eagle, said to represent the eagle that carried Ganymede to Olympus. It contains the bright star Altair, and some rich star fields of the Milky Way.

II. (as genitive Aquilae ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate stars

• the star Beta Aquilae.

– origin Latin.

aquilegia /ˌakwəˈlēj(ē)ə/

I. noun

a plant of the buttercup family, bearing showy flowers with backward-pointing spurs. Native to temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, it is widely grown in gardens.
[Genus Aquilegia, family Ranunculaceae. See also columbine.]

– origin from medieval Latin, probably from Latin aquilegus ‘water collecting.’

aquiline /ˈakwəˌlīn ˈakwəˌlin/

I. adjective

1. like an eagle.

2. (of a person's nose) hooked or curved like an eagle's beak.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin aquilinus, from aquila ‘eagle.’

Aquinas, St. Thomas /əˈkwīnəs/

(1225–74), Italian philosopher, theologian, and Dominican friar; known as the Angelic Doctor. He is regarded as the greatest figure of scholasticism. One of his most important achievements was the introduction of the work of Aristotle to Christian western Europe. His works include commentaries on Aristotle as well as the Summa Contra Gentiles and Summa Theologiae. Feast day, January 28.

Aquino, Corazón /äˈkēnō, əˈkē-/

(1933–2009), Filipino stateswoman; full name Maria Corazón Sumulong Cojuangco Aquino. She was president of the Philippines 1986–92. Her son Benigno Simeon Aquino III (1960–), known as Noynoy, has been president since 2010.

Aquitaine /ˈakwəˌtān/

a region and former province in southwestern France, on the Bay of Biscay. It became an English possession as a result of the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine to Henry II in 1152 and remained so until 1453.

Aquitaine, Eleanor of

see Eleanor of Aquitaine.

aquiver /əˈkwivər/

adjective — [predic.]

1. quivering; trembling

• her face aquiver with pleasure.

Ar

symbol

the chemical element argon.

AR

abbreviation

1. (also A/R) — accounts receivable.

2. (US) Arkansas (in official postal use).

3. Army Regulation.

4. Autonomous Republic.

ar-

prefix

variant spelling of ad- assimilated before r (as in arrive, arrogate).

-ar^1

I. suffix

1. (forming adjectives) of the kind specified; relating to

• lunar

• molecular.

2. forming nouns such as scholar.

– origin from Old French -aire, -ier, or from Latin -aris.

-ar^2

I. suffix

forming nouns such as pillar.

– origin from French -er or representing Latin -ar, -are (neuter of -aris).

-ar^3

I. suffix

forming nouns such as bursar, vicar.

– origin from Old French -aire, -ier, or from Latin -arius, -arium.

-ar^4

suffix

alteration of -er^1, -or^1 (as in beggar, liar).

Ara /ˈārə, ˈe(ə)rə / ‹Astronomy›

I. a small and faint southern constellation, the Altar, in the Milky Way near Scorpius.

II. (as genitive Arae ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate stars

• the star Delta Arae.

– origin Latin.

Arab /ˈerəb/

I. noun

1. a member of a Semitic people, originally from the Arabian peninsula and neighboring territories, inhabiting much of the Middle East and North Africa.

2. an Arabian horse.

II. adjective

of or relating to Arabia and the people of Arabia

• Arab countries.

– origin from French Arabe, via Latin and Greek from Arabic ῾arab. / usage: See usage at Arabian.

arabesque /ˌerəˈbesk/

I. noun

1. an ornamental design consisting of intertwined flowing lines, originally found in Arabic or Moorish decoration
[as modifier]

• arabesque scrolls.

2. [Music] a passage or composition with fanciful ornamentation of the melody.

3. [Ballet] a posture in which the body is supported on one leg, with the other leg extended horizontally backward.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, from Italian arabesco ‘in the Arabic style,’ from arabo ‘Arab.’

Arabia /əˈrābēə / Arabian peninsula

a peninsula in southwestern Asia, largely desert, that lies between the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf and is bounded on the north by Jordan and Iraq. The original homeland of the Arabs and the historic center of Islam, it comprises the states of Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

Arabian /əˈrābēən/

I. adjective

‹historical› of or relating to Arabia or Arabs.

II. noun

1. ‹historical› a native or inhabitant of Arabia.

2. (also Arabian horse) — ‹historical› a horse of a breed originating in Arabia, with a distinctive dished face and high-set tail.

usage: Arab is now generally used in reference to people; the use of Arabian in this sense is historical.

Arabian camel

noun

the domesticated one-humped camel, probably native to the deserts of North Africa and southwestern Asia.
See also dromedary. [Camelus dromedarius, family Camelidae.]

Arabian Desert /əˌrābēən ˈdezərt/

a desert in eastern Egypt, between the Nile River and the Red Sea.
Also called Eastern Desert.

Arabian Gulf

another name for Persian Gulf.

Arabian Nights

a collection of stories and romances written in Arabic, called in full The Arabian Nights' Entertainment. The stories include the tales of Aladdin and Sinbad the Sailor.
Also called the Thousand and One Nights.

Arabian peninsula

another name for Arabia.

Arabian Sea

the northwestern part of the Indian Ocean, between Arabia and India.

Arabic /ˈerəbik/

I. noun

the Semitic language of the Arabs, spoken by some 150 million people throughout the Middle East and North Africa.

II. adjective

of or relating to the literature or language of Arab people.
Arabic is written from right to left in a characteristic cursive script of twenty-eight consonants, the vowels being indicated by additional signs. The script has been adapted for various languages, including Persian, Urdu, Malay, and (formerly) Turkish.

– origin Middle English: via Latin from Greek arabikos, from Araps, Arab- ‘Arab.’

arabica /əˈrabikə/

I. noun

1. coffee from the most widely grown kind of coffee plant.

2. the bush of the bedstraw family that produces arabica beans, native to the Old World tropics.
[Coffea arabica, family Rubiaceae.]

– origin 1920s: from Latin, feminine of arabicus (see Arabic).

Arabic numeral

noun

any of the numerals 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. Arabic numerals reached western Europe through Arabia, replacing Roman numerals, by about AD 1200, but probably originated in India.

arabinose /əˈrabəˌnōs, ˈarəbə-/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a sugar of the pentose class that is a constituent of many plant gums.

– origin late 19th cent.: from arabin, a carbohydrate derived from gum arabic, (based on gum arabic + -in^1) + -ose^2.

arabis /ˈerəbəs/

I. noun

a low-growing herbaceous plant that typically bears white or pink flowers and is frequently grown in rock gardens.
Also called rock cress. [Genus Arabis, family Brassicaceae.]

– origin via medieval Latin from Greek, feminine of Araps, Arab- (see Arab).

Arabism /ˈerəˌbizəm/

noun

1. Arab culture or identity.

2. support for Arab nationalism or political interests.

3. an Arabic linguistic usage, word, or phrase.

Arabist /ˈerəbəst/

noun

1. a person who studies Arabic civilization or language.

2. a person who supports Arab nationalism or political interests.

Arabize /ˈerəˌbīz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. Arabized)

1. give (someone or something) an Arab or Arabic character

• an Arabized script.

II. derivatives

Arabization /ˌerəˌbīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

arable /ˈerəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. (of land) used or suitable for growing crops.

2. (of crops) able to be grown on suitable land.

3. concerned with growing arable crops

• arable farming.

II. noun

arable land or crops.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin arabilis, from arare ‘to plow.’

Arab Spring

a series of antigovernment uprisings in various countries in North Africa and the Middle East, beginning in Tunisia in December 2010.

Aracajú /ˌärəkəˈZHo͞o/

a port in eastern Brazil, on the Atlantic coast; pop. 520,303 (2007).

aracari /ˌärəˈsärē/

I. noun

a small toucan with a serrated bill, and typically with a green back and wings, yellow underside, and red rump.
[Genus Pteroglossus, family Ramphastidae: several species.]

– origin early 19th cent.: via Portuguese from Tupi arasa'ri.

arachidonic acid /ˌerəkəˌdänik ˈasəd/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a polyunsaturated fatty acid present in animal fats. It is important in metabolism, especially in the synthesis of prostaglandins and leukotrienes, and is an essential constituent of the diet.
[Alternative name: eicosa-5,8,11,14-enoic acid; chem. formula: C_19H_31COOH.]

– origin early 20th cent.: arachidonic formed irregularly from arachidic (a saturated fatty acid) + -one + -ic.

Arachne /əˈraknē / ‹Greek Mythology›

I. a woman of Colophon in Lydia, a skillful weaver who challenged Athena to a contest. Athena destroyed Arachne's work and Arachne tried to hang herself, but Athena changed her into a spider.

– origin from Greek arakhnē ‘spider.’

arachnid /əˈraknid / ‹Zoology›

I. noun

an arthropod of the class Arachnida, such as a spider or scorpion.

II. adjective

relating to or denoting arachnids.

Arachnida /əˈraknidə / ‹Zoology›

I. a class of chelicerate arthropods that includes spiders, scorpions, mites, and ticks. They have become adapted for a terrestrial life and possess book lungs and tracheae, and many have silk or poison glands.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek arakhnē ‘spider.’

arachnoid /əˈrakˌnoid/

I. adjective

like a spider or arachnid.

II. noun

[Anatomy] a fine, delicate membrane, the middle one of the three membranes or meninges that surround the brain and spinal cord, situated between the dura mater and the pia mater.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from modern Latin arachnoides, from Greek arakhnoeidēs ‘like a cobweb,’ from arakhnē ‘spider.’

arachnophobia /əˌraknəˈfōbēə/

I. noun

extreme or irrational fear of spiders.

II. derivatives

1. arachnophobe /əˈraknəˌfōb /

noun

2. arachnophobic /-bik /

adjective

– origin 1920s: modern Latin, from Greek arakhnē ‘spider’ + -phobia.

Arafat, Yasser /ˈarəˌfat/

(1929–2004), Palestinian statesman, chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization 1968–2004 and Palestinian president 1996–2004. He became leader of the new Palestine National Authority in 1994, following the signing of a PLO–Israeli peace accord for which he shared the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize with Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres.

Arafura Sea /ˌerəˌfo͝orə ˈsē/

a sea that lies between northern Australia and eastern Indonesia and New Guinea.

Aragon /ˈerəɡän/

an autonomous region in northeastern Spain, bounded on the north by the Pyrenees and on the east by Catalonia and Valencia; capital, Saragossa. Formerly an independent kingdom, it was united with Catalonia in 1137 and with Castile in 1479. Spanish name Aragón.

Aragon, Catherine of

see Catherine of Aragon.

aragonite /əˈraɡənīt ˌerəɡəˈnīt/

I. noun

a mineral consisting of calcium carbonate, typically occurring in white seashells and as colorless prisms in deposits in hot springs.

– origin early 19th cent.: from the place name Aragon + -ite^1.

aralia /əˈrālyə/

I. noun

a plant of a diverse group of trees and shrubs of the ginseng family, native to America and Asia. Several kinds are cultivated for their foliage and profusion of tiny flowers, and some are used in herbal medicine.
[Genus Aralia, family Araliaceae: several species, including the bristly sarsaparilla (A. hispida).]

– origin modern Latin, of unknown origin.

Aral Sea /ˌarəl ˈsē/

an inland sea in central Asia, on the border between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Its area was reduced by one-third and serious environmental consequences resulted between 1960 and 1990 after water was diverted for irrigation.

Aramaean /ˌarəˈmāən, -ˈmēən/

I. noun

a member of an ancient Aramaic-speaking people inhabiting Aram (modern Syria) and part of Babylonia in the 11th–8th centuries BC.

II. adjective

of or relating to Aram or the Aramaeans.

– origin from Latin Aramaeus (from Greek Aramaios: see Aramaic) + -an.

Aramaic /ˌerəˈmāik/

I. noun

a Semitic language, a Syrian dialect of which was used as a lingua franca in the Near East from the 6th century BC. It gradually replaced Hebrew as the language of the Jews in those areas and was itself supplanted by Arabic in the 7th century AD.

II. adjective

of or in the Aramaic language.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek Aramaios ‘of Aram’ (the biblical name of Syria) + -ic.

arame /ˈarəˌmā, əˈrä-/

noun

an edible Pacific seaweed with broad brown leaves, used in Japanese cooking.
[Ecklonia bicyclis, class Phaeophyceae.]

aramid /ˈerəmid/

I. noun

any of a class of synthetic polymers, related to nylon, that yield fibers of exceptional strength and thermal stability.

– origin 1970s: from ar(omatic) + (poly)amid(e).

Aran /ˈerən/

I. adjective

denoting a type of knitwear with traditional patterns, typically involving a raised cable stitch and large diamond designs.

– origin 1960s: from the Aran Islands.

arancini /ärənˈCHēnē/

I. plural noun

small balls of rice stuffed with a savory filling, coated in breadcrumbs, and fried

• sun-dried tomato and mozzarella arancini served with salad.

– origin Italian, plural of arancino, from arancia ‘orange’ + the diminutive suffix -ino.

araneid /əˈrānēid/

I. noun

[Zoology] an invertebrate of an order that comprises the spiders.
[Order Araneae, in particular the family Araneidae.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Araneida (former order name), from aranea ‘spider.’

Aran Islands

three islands, Inishmore, Inishmaan, and Inisheer, located off the west coast of the Republic of Ireland.

Aranyaka /ˌäˈrənyəkə/

noun

each of a set of Hindu sacred treatises based on the Brahmanas, composed in Sanskrit c. 700 BC. Intended only for initiates, the Aranyakas contain mystical and philosophical material and explications of esoteric rites.

Arapaho /əˈrapəˌhō/

I. noun

1. (pl. same or Arapahos) — a member of a North American Indian people living chiefly on the Great Plains, especially in Wyoming.

2. the Algonquian language of the Arapaho, now almost extinct.

II. adjective

relating to the Arapaho or their language.

– origin from Crow aaraxpéahu, probably literally ‘those having many tattoo marks.’

arapaima /ˌerəˈpīmə/

I. noun

a large, long edible freshwater fish native to tropical South America.
[Arapaima gigas, family Osteoglossidae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Tupi.

Ararat, Mount /ˈarəˌrat/

two volcanic peaks in eastern Turkey, near the borders with Armenia and Iran. The higher peak, which rises to 16,946 feet (5,165 m), is the traditional site of the resting place of Noah's ark after the Flood (Gen. 8:4).

arational /āˈraSHənl/

adjective

not based on or governed by reason.

Araucanian /ˌerôˈkānēən/

I. noun

1. a member of a group of South American Indian peoples of Chile and adjacent parts of Argentina, of which the only people that has a surviving cultural identity is the Mapuche.

2. the family of languages spoken by the Araucanians.

II. adjective

relating to the Araucanians or their language.
See also Mapuche.

– origin from Spanish Araucania, a region in Chile, + -an.

araucaria /ˌerôˈkerēə/

I. noun

an evergreen conifer of a genus that includes the monkey puzzle and the Norfolk Island pine, having stiff sharp leaves.
[Genus Araucaria, family Araucariaceae.]

– origin modern Latin, from Spanish Arauco, the name of a province of Araucania, Chile.

Arawak /ˈerəˌwäk/

I. noun

1. a member of a people originally of the Greater Antilles and adjacent South America, now living mainly in Guiana. They were forced out of the Antilles by the more warlike Caribs shortly before Spanish expansion in the Caribbean.

2. any of the languages of the Arawak.

II. adjective

relating to the Arawak or their languages.

Arawakan /ˌerəˈwäkən/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to the Arawak people.

2. denoting or belonging to a widely scattered family of South American Indian languages, most of which are now extinct or nearly so.

II. noun

the Arawakan family of languages.

arb /ärb/

noun

‹informal› short for arbitrageur.

arbalest /ˈärbələst/

I. noun

‹historical› a crossbow with a special mechanism for drawing back and releasing the string.

– origin Old English arblast, from Old French arbaleste, from late Latin arcubalista, from Latin arcus ‘bow’ + ballista (see ballista).

arbiter /ˈärbədər/

I. noun

1. a person who settles a dispute or has ultimate authority in a matter

• the military acted as arbiter of conflicts between political groups.

2. a person whose views or actions have great influence over trends in social behavior

• an arbiter of taste.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin, ‘judge, supreme ruler.’

arbiter elegantiarum /ˌärbədər ˌeləɡanSHēˈärəm / arbiter elegantiae

I. noun

a judge of artistic taste and etiquette.

– origin early 19th cent.: Latin, ‘judge of elegance,’ used by Tacitus to describe Petronius, Gaius, arbiter of taste at Nero's court.

arbitrage /ˈärbəˌträZH/

I. noun

the simultaneous buying and selling of securities, currency, or commodities in different markets or in derivative forms in order to take advantage of differing prices for the same asset.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. buy and sell assets using arbitrage.

– origin late Middle English (originally denoting the exercise of individual judgment): from French, from arbitrer ‘give judgment,’ from Latin arbitrari (see arbitrate). The current sense dates from the late 19th cent.

arbitrageur /ˌärbəˌträˈZHər / arbitrager

I. noun

a person who engages in arbitrage.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French, from arbitrer ‘give judgment,’ from Latin arbitrari (see arbitrate).

arbitral /ˈärbətrəl/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. relating to or resulting from the use of an arbitrator to settle a dispute.

– origin late 15th cent.: from late Latin arbitralis, from arbiter ‘judge, supreme ruler.’

arbitrament /ärˈbitrəmənt/

I. noun

1. the settling of a dispute by an arbitrator.

2. an authoritative decision made by an arbitrator.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French arbitrement, from medieval Latin arbitramentum, from arbitrari (see arbitrate).

arbitrarily /ˌärbəˈtrerəlē/

adverb

1. on the basis of random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system

• recurrent infection is arbitrarily defined as three or more infections a year.

2. without restraint in the use of authority; autocratically

• everyone has the right not to be arbitrarily detained.

arbitrariness /ˈärbəˌtrərēnəs/

noun

1. the quality of being based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system

• disparate peoples were forced together by the arbitrariness of a colonial map-maker's pen.

2. a lack of restraint in the use of authority; autocracy

• the law protects the people against the arbitrariness of those in office.

arbitrary /ˈärbəˌtrerē/

I. adjective

1. based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system

• his mealtimes were entirely arbitrary.

2. (of power or a ruling body) unrestrained and autocratic in the use of authority

• arbitrary rule by King and bishops has been made impossible.

3. [Mathematics] (of a constant or other quantity) of unspecified value.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘dependent on one's will or pleasure, discretionary’): from Latin arbitrarius, from arbiter ‘judge, supreme ruler,’ perhaps influenced by French arbitraire.

arbitrate /ˈärbəˌtrāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of an independent person or body) reach an authoritative judgment or settlement

• the board has the power to arbitrate in disputes

• [with obj.] it set up a commission to arbitrate border tensions.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin arbitrat- ‘judged,’ from arbitrari, from arbiter ‘judge, supreme ruler.’

arbitration /ˌärbəˈtrāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

the use of an arbitrator to settle a dispute.

II. phrases

go to arbitration

submit a dispute to an arbitrator.

arbitrator /ˈärbəˌtrādər/

noun

an independent person or body officially appointed to settle a dispute.

arbor^1 /ˈärbər/

I. noun

1. an axle or spindle on which something revolves.

2. a device holding a tool in a lathe.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French arbre ‘tree, axis.’ The spelling change was due to association with Latin arbor ‘tree.’

arbor^2 /ˈärbər / ‹Brit.› arbour

I. noun

a shady garden alcove with sides and a roof formed by trees or climbing plants trained over a wooden framework.

– origin Middle English (also denoting a lawn or flower bed): from Old French erbier, from erbe ‘grass, herb,’ from Latin herba. The phonetic change to ar- (common in words having er- before a consonant) was assisted by association with Latin arbor ‘tree.’

Arbor Day

I. noun

a day dedicated annually to public tree-planting in the US, Australia, and other countries. It is usually observed in late April or early May.

– origin from Latin arbor ‘tree.’

arboreal /ärˈbôrēəl/

I. adjective

1. (chiefly of animals) living in trees

• arboreal rodents.

2. of or relating to trees.

II. derivatives

arboreality /ärˌbôrēˈalitē /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin arboreus, from arbor ‘tree,’ + -al.

arborescent /ˌärbəˈres(ə)nt/

I. adjective

[chiefly Botany] treelike in growth or appearance

• arborescent ferns.

II. derivatives

arborescence /ˌärbəˈresns /

noun

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin arborescent- ‘growing into a tree,’ from arborescere, from arbor ‘tree.’

arboretum /ˌärbəˈrēdəm/

I. noun

a botanical garden devoted to trees.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin, ‘a place with trees,’ from arbor ‘tree’ + -etum.

arboriculture /ˈärbərəˌkəlCHər ärˈbôrəˌkəlCHər/

I. noun

the cultivation of trees and shrubs.

II. derivatives

1. arboricultural /ˌärbəriˈkəlCHərəl, ärˈbôriˌkəl- /

adjective

2. arboriculturist /ˈärb(ə)rəˌkəlCHərəst ärˈbôrəˌkəlCH(ə)rəst /

noun

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin arbor ‘tree’ + culture, on the pattern of words such as agriculture.

Arborio /ärˈbôrēō/

I. noun

a variety of round-grained rice produced in Italy and used in making risotto.

– origin Italian.

arborist /ˈärbərəst/

noun

a tree surgeon.

arborization /ˌärb(ə)rəˈzāSHən ˌärbəˌrīˈzāSHən/

noun

[Anatomy] a fine branching structure at the end of a nerve fiber.

arbor vitae /ˌärbər ˈvīdē / arborvitae

I. noun

1. a North American and eastern Asian evergreen coniferous tree of the cypress family.
[Genus Thuja, family Cupressaceae: several species, in particular the northern white cedar (see white cedar).]

2. the arborescent appearance of the white matter in a vertical section of the cerebellum.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘tree of life,’ probably with reference to its medicinal use.

arbovirus /ˈärbōˌvīrəs/

I. noun

[Medicine] any of a group of viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks, or other arthropods. They include encephalitis, dengue, and yellow fever.

– origin 1950s: from ar(thropod)-bo(rne) + virus.

Arbus, Diane /ˈärbəs/

(1923–71), US photographer. She is best known for her disturbing images of people, especially the poor or unusual, on city streets.

Arbuthnot, John /ärˈbəTHnət, ˈärbəTHˌnät/

(1667–1735), Scottish physician and writer. His satirical History of John Bull (1712) was the origin of John Bull as the personification of the typical Englishman.

arbutus /ärˈbyo͞odəs/

I. noun

either of two evergreen plants of the family Ericaceae (heath family).
[● a tree or shrub of the genus Arbutus, which includes the strawberry tree. ● a North American trailing plant that bears pink or white flowers (Epigaea repens). Also called mayflower.]

– origin from Latin.

arc /ärk/

I. noun

1. a part of the circumference of a circle or other curve.

2. a curved shape, or something shaped like a curve

• the huge arc of the sky.

3. a curving trajectory

• he swung his flashlight in a wide arc.

4. [as modifier] — [Mathematics] indicating the inverse of a trigonometrical function.
[from the former method of defining trigonometrical functions by arcs.]

5. (also electric arc) — a luminous electrical discharge between two electrodes or other points.

6. (in a novel, play, or movie) the development or resolution of the narrative or principal theme

• his transformation provides the emotional arc of the story.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. [with adverbial of direction] — move with a curving trajectory

• the ball arced across the room.

2. (usu. as noun arcing) — form an electric arc

• check that switches operate properly with no sign of arcing.

III. phrases

1. minute of arc

see minute^1 (sense 2).

2. second of arc

see second^2 (sense 2).

– origin late Middle English (denoting the path of a celestial object, especially the sun, from horizon to horizon): via Old French from Latin arcus ‘bow, curve.’

ARC /ärk/

abbreviation

1. [Medicine] AIDS-related complex.

2. American Red Cross.

arcade /ärˈkād/

I. noun

1. a covered passageway with arches along one or both sides.

2. a covered walk with stores along one or both sides.

3. [Architecture] a series of arches supporting a wall, or set along it.

4. short for video arcade.

II. derivatives

1. arcaded /ärˈkādəd /

adjective

2. arcading

noun

– origin late 17th cent.: from French, from Provençal arcada or Italian arcata, based on Latin arcus ‘bow’ (see arc).

Arcadia /ärˈkādēə/

I. a mountainous district in the Peloponnese of southern Greece. In poetic fantasy it represents a pastoral paradise, and in Greek mythology it is the home of Pan.

II. a city in southwestern California, northeast of Los Angeles; pop. 56,248 (est. 2008). The Santa Anita racetrack is here.

Arcadian /ärˈkādēən/

I. noun

1. a native of Arcadia.

2. ‹literary› an idealized country dweller.

II. adjective

1. of or relating to Arcadia.

2. ‹literary› of or relating to an ideal rustic paradise.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin Arcadius, from Greek Arkadia (see Arcadia).

Arcady /ˈärkədē/

I. noun

‹literary› an ideal rustic paradise.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Greek Arkadia (see Arcadia).

arcana /ärˈkānə/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing. or pl.]

1. secrets or mysteries

• his knowledge of federal budget arcana is legendary.

2. [treated as sing.] — either of the two groups of cards in a tarot pack: the twenty-two trump cards (the major arcana) and the fifty-six suit cards (the minor arcana).

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin, neuter plural of arcanus (see arcane).

arcane /ärˈkān/

I. adjective

understood by few; mysterious or secret

• modern math and its arcane notation.

II. derivatives

arcanely

adverb

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin arcanus, from arcere ‘to shut up,’ from arca ‘chest.’

Arcaro, Eddie /ärˈkarō, -ˈke(ə)rō/

(1916–97), US jockey; full name George Edward Arcaro. He was the first two-time Triple Crown winner, riding Whirlaway in 1941 and Citation in 1948.

Arc de Triomphe /ˌärk də ˌtrēˈônf/

a ceremonial arch standing at the top of the Champs-Élysées in Paris, commissioned by Napoleon to commemorate his victories in 1805–06. Inspired by the Arch of Constantine in Rome, it was completed in 1836.

arc furnace

noun

a furnace that uses an electric arc as a heat source, especially for steelmaking.

arch^1 /ärCH/

I. noun

1. a curved symmetrical structure spanning an opening and typically supporting the weight of a bridge, roof, or wall above it.

2. an arched structure forming a passageway or a ceremonial monument

• a triumphal arch.

3. a shape resembling an arch or a thing with such a shape

• the delicate arch of his eyebrows.

4. the inner side of the foot.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — have the curved shape of an arch

• a beautiful bridge that arched over a canal.

2. form or cause to form the curved shape of an arch

• her eyebrows arched in surprise

• [with obj.] she arched her back.

3. [with obj.] (usu. as adj. arched) — provide (a bridge, building, or part of a building) with an arch

• high arched windows.

4. ‹archaic› ‹literary› span (something) by or as if by an arch

• the vine arched his evening seat.

– origin Middle English: from Old French arche, based on Latin arcus ‘bow’ (see arc).

arch^2 /ärCH/

I. adjective

deliberately or affectedly playful and teasing

• arch observations about even the most mundane matters.

II. derivatives

1. archly /ˈärCHlē /

adverb

2. archness /ˈärCHnəs /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘chief, principal’): from arch-, because of its association with words such as rogue.

arch- /äːCH/

I. combining form

1. chief; principal

• archbishop.

2. preeminent of its kind

• archenemy.

3. (in unfavorable senses) out-and-out

• arch-scoundrel.

– origin via Latin from Greek arkhi-, from arkhos ‘chief.’

archaea /ärˈkēə/

I. plural noun

another term for archaebacteria.

II. derivatives

archaean archaeal

adjective, noun

archaebacteria /ˌärkēbakˈtirēə/

I. plural noun

[Biology] microorganisms that are similar to bacteria in size and simplicity of structure but radically different in molecular organization. They are now believed to constitute an ancient intermediate group between the bacteria and eukaryotes.
Also called archaea.

II. derivatives

archaebacterial

adjective

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek arkhaios ‘primitive.’

archaeo- archeo-

I. combining form

relating to archaeology or prehistoric times

• archaeoastronomy

• archaeomagnetism.

– origin from Greek arkhaios ‘ancient,’ from arkhē ‘beginning.’

archaeoastronomy /ˌärkēōəˈstränəmē/

noun

the investigation of the astronomical knowledge of prehistoric cultures.
Also called astroarchaeology.

archaeological /ˌärkēəˈläjək(ə)l / archeological

I. adjective

relating to archaeology

• uprooting trees will disturb any archaeological remains below ground level

• the archaeological sites of Mesopotamia.

II. derivatives

1. archaeologic /ˌärkēəˈläjək(ə)l /

adjective

2. archaeologically /ˌärkēəˈläjək(ə)lē /

adverb

archaeologist /ˌärkēˈäləjəst / archeologist

noun

a person who studies human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts and other physical remains

• Chinese archaeologists uncovered life-sized terracotta statues.

archaeology /ˌärkēˈäləjē / archeology

I. noun

the study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts and other physical remains.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘ancient history’): from modern Latin archaeologia, from Greek arkhaiologia ‘ancient history,’ from arkhaios ‘ancient’ (see archaeo-). The current sense dates from the mid 19th cent.

archaeopteryx /ˌärkēˈäptəriks/

I. noun

the oldest known fossil bird, of the late Jurassic period. It had feathers, wings, and hollow bones like a bird, but teeth, a bony tail, and legs like a small coelurosaur dinosaur.
[Archaeopteryx lithographica, subclass Archaeornithes.]

– origin from Greek arkhaios ‘ancient’ (see archaeo-) + pterux ‘wing.’

archaic /ärˈkāik/

I. adjective

1. very old or old-fashioned

• prisons are run on archaic methods.

2. (of a word or a style of language) no longer in everyday use but sometimes used to impart an old-fashioned flavor.

3. of an early period of art or culture, especially the 7th–6th centuries BC in Greece

• the archaic temple at Corinth.

II. derivatives

archaically /ärˈkāik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French archaïque, from Greek arkhaikos, from arkhaios, from arkhē ‘beginning.’

archaism /ˈärkēˌizəm ˈärkāˌizəm/

I. noun

1. a thing that is very old or old-fashioned.

2. an archaic word or style of language or art.

3. the use or conscious imitation of very old or old-fashioned styles or features in language or art.

II. derivatives

archaistic /ˌärkēˈistik ˌärkāˈistik /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from modern Latin archaismus, from Greek arkhaismos, from arkhaizein ‘imitate archaic styles,’ from arkhaios ‘ancient,’ from arkhē ‘beginning.’

archaizing /ˈärkēˌīziNG, ˈärkā-/

adjective

consciously imitating a word or a style of language or art that is very old or old-fashioned

• some archaizing poetry.

archangel /ˈärkˌānjəl/

I. noun

1. an angel of high rank.

2. in traditional Christian angelology, a being of the eighth order of the ninefold celestial hierarchy.

II. derivatives

archangelic /ˌärkanˈjelik /

adjective

– origin Middle English, from Anglo-Norman French archangele, via ecclesiastical Latin from ecclesiastical Greek arkhangelos, from arkhi- ‘chief’ + angelos ‘messenger, angel.’

Archangel /ˈärkˌānjəl/

a port in northwestern Russia, on the White Sea; pop. 348,700 (est. 2008). It is named after the monastery of the Archangel Michael that is situated here.
Russian name Arkhangelsk.

archbishop /ˌärCHˈbiSHəp/

I. noun

the chief bishop responsible for an archdiocese.

– origin Old English, from arch- ‘chief’ + biscop (see bishop), replacing earlier heah-biscop ‘high bishop.’

archbishopric /ˌärCHˈbiSHəprik/

I. noun

1. the office of an archbishop.

2. an archdiocese.

– origin Old English arcebiscoprice (see arch-, bishopric).

archconservative /ˌärCHkənˈsərvədiv/

I. adjective

extremely averse to change and strongly adhering to traditional values

• his social philosophy is archconservative.

II. noun

a person who is extremely averse to change and strongly adheres to traditional values

• her father was an archconservative in the colonial era tradition.

archdeacon /ˌärCHˈdēkən/

I. noun

a senior Christian cleric (in the early Church a deacon, in the modern Anglican church a priest) to whom a bishop delegates certain responsibilities.

– origin Old English arce-, ercediacon, from ecclesiastical Latin archidiaconus, from ecclesiastical Greek arkhidiakonos, from arkhi- ‘chief’ + diakonos (see deacon).

archdeaconry /ˌärCHˈdēkənrē/

noun

1. the office of an archdeacon.

2. the district for which an archdeacon is responsible.

3. the residence of an archdeacon.

archdiocese /ˌärCHˈdīəsis ˌärCHˈdīəˌsēz/

I. noun

the district for which an archbishop is responsible.

II. derivatives

archdiocesan /ˌärCHdīˈäsəsən /

adjective

archduchess /ˌärCHˈdəCHəs/

noun

1. ‹historical› the wife or widow of an archduke.

2. ‹historical› a daughter of the emperor of Austria.

archduke /ˈärCHˌd(y)o͞ok/

I. noun

‹historical› a son of the emperor of Austria.

II. derivatives

archducal /ˌärCHˈd(y)o͞ok(ə)l /

adjective

– origin early 16th cent.: from Old French archeduc, from Merovingian Latin archidux, archiduc-, from archi- ‘chief’ + dux, duc- (see duke).

Archean /ärˈkēən / ‹Brit.› Archaean

I. adjective

1. [Geology] of, relating to, or denoting the eon that constitutes the earlier (or middle) part of the Precambrian, in which there was no life on earth. It precedes the Proterozoic eon.
Also called azoic.

2. (as noun the Archean) — [Geology] the Archean eon or the system of rocks deposited during it.

The Archean extended from the origin of the earth (see Precambrian) to about 2,500 million years ago. In models that include the Priscoan eon, the Archean began about 4,000 million years ago.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek arkhaios ‘ancient’ + -an.

archegonium /ˌärkəˈɡōnēəm/

I. noun

[Botany] the female sex organ in mosses, liverworts, ferns, and most conifers.

– origin mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek arkhegonos, from arkhe- ‘first’ + gonos ‘race.’

archenemy /ˌärCHˈenəmē/

noun

1. a person who is extremely hostile or opposed to someone or something

• the twins were archenemies.

2. (the Archenemy) — the Devil.

archenteron /ärkˈen(t)əˌrän/

I. noun

[Embryology] the rudimentary alimentary cavity of an embryo at the gastrula stage.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek arkhē ‘beginning’ + enteron ‘intestine.’

archeo-

combining form

archaeo-.

archer /ˈärCHər/

I. noun

1. a person who shoots with a bow and arrows, especially at a target for sport.

2. (the Archer) — the zodiacal sign or constellation Sagittarius.

– origin Middle English: from Old French archier, based on Latin arcus ‘bow.’

archerfish /ˈärCHərˌfiSH/

noun

a freshwater fish that knocks insect prey off overhanging vegetation by spitting water at it. It is native to Asia, Australia, and the Philippines.
[Genus Toxotes, family Toxotidae: several species, in particular T. jaculator.]

archery /ˈärCH(ə)rē/

I. noun

the sport or skill of shooting with a bow and arrows, especially at a target.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French archerie, from archier (see archer).

arches /ˈärCHəz/

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. used in names of moths with curving archlike patterns on the wings, such as dark arches.
[Several genera in the families Noctuidae and Notodontidae.]

archetypal /ˌärkəˈtīp(ə)l/

adjective

1. very typical of a certain kind of person or thing

• the archetypal country doctor.

2. recurrent as a symbol or motif in literature, art, or mythology

• an archetypal journey representing the quest for identity.

3. of, relating to, or denoting an original that has been imitated

• the archetypal believer, Abraham.

4. relating to or denoting Jungian archetypes.

archetype /ˈärkəˌtīp/

I. noun

1. a very typical example of a certain person or thing

• the book is a perfect archetype of the genre.

2. an original that has been imitated

• the archetype of faith is Abraham.

3. a recurrent symbol or motif in literature, art, or mythology

• mythological archetypes of good and evil.

4. [Psychoanalysis] (in Jungian psychology) a primitive mental image inherited from the earliest human ancestors, and supposed to be present in the collective unconscious.

II. derivatives

archetypical /ˌärk(ə)ˈtipik(ə)l /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek arkhetupon ‘something molded first as a model,’ from arkhe- ‘primitive’ + tupos ‘a model.’

archfiend /ˌärCHˈfēnd/

noun

‹literary› a chief fiend, especially the Devil.

archidiaconal /ˌärkəˌdīˈakən(ə)l/

I. adjective

of or relating to an archdeacon.

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin archidiaconalis, from archi- ‘chief’ + diaconalis (see diaconal).

archiepiscopal /ˌärkēəˈpiskəpəl/

I. adjective

of or relating to an archbishop.

II. derivatives

1. archiepiscopacy /-əˈpiskəpəsē /

noun

2. archiepiscopate /ˌärkēəˈpiskəpət /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek arkhiepiskopos ‘archbishop’ (from arkhi- ‘chief’ + episkopos ‘bishop’) + -al.

archil /ˈärCHəl/

noun

archaic spelling of orchil.

Archilochus /ˌärˈkiləkəs/

(8th or 7th century BC), Greek poet. He is credited with the invention of iambic meter.

archimandrite /ˌärkəˈmandrīt/

I. noun

1. the head of a large monastery or group of monasteries in the Orthodox Church.

2. an honorary title given to a monastic priest.

– origin mid 17th cent.: via ecclesiastical Latin, from ecclesiastical Greek arkhimandritēs, from arkhi- ‘chief’ + mandra ‘monastery.’

Archimedean /ˌärkəˈmēdēən/

adjective

relating to or invented by the mathematician Archimedes

• an Archimedean globe.

Archimedean screw /ˌärkəˌmēdēən ˈskro͞o/

noun

a device invented by Archimedes for raising water by means of a spiral within a tube.

Archimedes /ˌärkəˈmēdēz/

(c. 287–212 BC), Greek mathematician and inventor from Syracuse. He is noted for his discovery of Archimedes' principle (legend has it that he made this discovery while taking a bath and ran through the streets shouting “Eureka!”). Among his mathematical discoveries are the ratio of the radius of a circle to its circumference and formulas for the surface area and volume of a sphere and of a cylinder.

Archimedes' principle ‹Physics›

a result stating that a body totally or partially immersed in a fluid is subject to an upward force equal in magnitude to the weight of fluid it displaces.

archipelago /ˌärkəˈpeləˌɡō/

I. noun

1. a group of islands.

2. a sea or stretch of water containing many islands.

– origin early 16th cent.: from Italian arcipelago, from Greek arkhi- ‘chief’ + pelagos ‘sea.’ The word was originally used as a proper name (the Archipelago ‘the Aegean Sea’): the generalization of meaning occurred because the Aegean Sea is remarkable for its large numbers of islands.

Archipenko, Aleksandr /ˌärkəˈp(y)eNGkō/

(1887–1964), US sculptor; born in Russia; full name Aleksandr Porfirevich Archipenko. He adapted cubist techniques to sculpture.

Archipiélago de Colón /ärCHēˌpyālaɡō dā kəˈlōn/

official Spanish name for Galapagos Islands.

architect /ˈärkəˌtekt/

I. noun

1. a person who designs buildings and in many cases also supervises their construction.

2. a person who is responsible for inventing or realizing a particular idea or project

• a chief architect of the plan to slash income taxes.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be architected)

1. [Computing] design and make

• few software packages were architected with Ethernet access in mind.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French architecte, from Italian architetto, via Latin from Greek arkhitektōn, from arkhi- ‘chief’ + tektōn ‘builder.’

architectonic /ˌärkəˌtekˈtänik/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to architecture or architects.

2. (of an artistic composition or physical appearance) having a clearly defined structure, especially one that is artistically pleasing

• the painting's architectonic harmony.

II. noun — (architectonics) [usu. treated as sing.]

1. the scientific study of architecture.

2. musical, literary, or artistic structure

• the architectonics of Latin prose.

III. derivatives

architectonically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek arkhitektonikos, from arkhitektōn (see architect).

architectural /ärkiˈtekCHərəl/

I. adjective

1. relating to the art or practice of designing and constructing buildings

• an architectural firm.

2. relating to or constituting buildings

• Wootton Bassett has retained much of its architectural heritage.

3. bearing a resemblance to buildings

• he liked architectural plants, particularly large spiky palms.

II. derivatives

architecturally /ärkiˈtekCHərəlē /

adverb

architecture /ˈärkəˌtek(t)SHər/

I. noun

1. the art or practice of designing and constructing buildings.

2. the style in which a building is designed or constructed, especially with regard to a specific period, place, or culture

• Victorian architecture.

3. the complex or carefully designed structure of something

• the chemical architecture of the human brain.

4. the conceptual structure and logical organization of a computer or computer-based system

• a client/server architecture.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin architectura, from architectus (see architect).

architrave /ˈärkəˌtrāv/

I. noun

1. (in classical architecture) a main beam resting across the tops of columns, specifically the lower third entablature.

2. the molded frame around a doorway or window.

3. a molding around the exterior of an arch.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French, from Italian, from archi- ‘chief’ + -trave from Latin trabs, trab- ‘a beam.’

archival /ˌärˈkīvl/

adjective

1. relating to or constituting archives

• the club maintains an archival research library.

2. (of a material such as paper) of suitable quality to be used in archives.

• the illustrations are printed with archival inks that will last about 70 years.

archive /ˈärˌkīv / archives

I. noun

1. a collection of historical documents or records providing information about a place, institution, or group of people

• source materials in local archives

• [as modifier] a section of archive film.

2. the place where historical documents or records are kept

• to get into the archives I had to fill in a request form.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. place or store (something) in an archive.

2. [Computing] transfer (data) to a less frequently used storage medium such as magnetic tape, typically external to the computer system and having a greater storage capacity.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘place where records are kept’): from French archives (plural), from Latin archiva, archia, from Greek arkheia ‘public records,’ from arkhē ‘government.’ The verb dates from the late 19th cent.

archivist /ˈärkəvəst ˈärˌkīvəst/

noun

a person who maintains and is in charge of archives.

archivolt /ˈärkəˌvōlt/

I. noun

1. a band of molding, resembling an architrave, around the lower curve of an arch.

2. the lower curve itself from impost to impost of the columns.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French archivolte or Italian archivolto, based on Latin arcus ‘bow, arch’ + volvere ‘to roll.’

archlute /ˈärCHˌlo͞ot/

I. noun

a bass lute with an extended neck and unstopped bass strings.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French archiluth, from archi- ‘chief’ + luth (see lute^1).

archon /ˈärkän/

I. noun

1. each of the nine chief magistrates in ancient Athens.

2. any ruler

• rock's archons are disc jockeys and concert promoters.

II. derivatives

archonship /-ˌSHip /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from Greek arkhōn ‘ruler,’ noun use of the present participle of arkhein ‘to rule.’

archosaur /ˈärkəˌsôr / archosaurus

I. noun

[Zoology] [Paleontology] a reptile of a large group that includes the dinosaurs and pterosaurs, represented today only by the crocodilians.
[Subdivision Archosauria, subclass Diapsida.]

II. derivatives

archosaurian /ˌärkəˈsôrēən /

adjective

– origin 1930s: from modern Latin Archosauria, from Greek arkhos ‘chief’ or arkhōn ‘ruler’ + -saur.

archpriest /ˌärCHˈprēst/

noun

a chief priest.

archway /ˈärCHˌwā/

noun

a curved structure forming a passage or entrance.

arc light arc lamp

noun

a light source using an electric arc.

arc sine arcsin

noun

a mathematical function that is the inverse of the sine function.

arc tangent arctan

noun

a mathematical function that is the inverse of the tangent function.

Arctic /ˈärktik ˈärdik/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to the regions around the North Pole

• an Arctic explorer.

2. (of animals or plants) living or growing in the regions around the North Pole.

3. (arctic) — ‹informal› (of weather conditions) very cold.

II. noun

1. (the Arctic) — the regions around the North Pole.

2. (arctics ) — (N. Amer.) thick waterproof overshoes extending to the ankle or above.

3. (arctic) — a drab-colored hairy butterfly of the arctic and subarctic regions of the New World.
[Genus Oenis, subfamily Satyrinae, family Nymphalidae.]

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin arcticus, articus, from Greek arktikos, from arktos ‘bear, Ursa Major, North Star.’

Arctic Archipelago

the name for all of the islands that lie north of mainland Canada and the Arctic Circle. Sparsely populated, they have varied mineral resources and wildlife. Baffin Island is the largest of the group.

Arctic Circle

the parallel of latitude 66° 33ʹ north of the equator. It marks the northernmost point at which the sun is visible on the northern winter solstice and the southernmost point at which the midnight sun can be seen on the northern summer solstice.

Arctic fox /ˈärktik fäks/

noun

a fox with a thick coat that turns white in winter, found on the tundra of North America and Eurasia.
[Alopex lagopus, family Canidae.]

Arctic hare

noun

a hare whose coat turns white in winter, found in the arctic areas of North America.
[Lepus arcticus, family Leporidae.]

Arctic Ocean

a sea that surrounds the North Pole and lies within the Arctic Circle. Much of the sea is covered with pack ice throughout the year.

Arctic tern

noun

a red-billed tern that breeds in the Arctic and adjacent areas, migrating to Antarctic regions for the winter.
[Sterna paradisaea, family Sternidae.]

Arctic willow arctic willow

noun

a shrub, Salix arctica, found in the Canadian tundra.

Arctogaea /ˌärktōˈjēə / ‹Zoology› Arctogea

I. a major zoogeographical area comprising the Palearctic, Nearctic, Ethiopian, and Oriental regions.

II. derivatives

Arctogaean

adjective

– origin modern Latin, from Greek arktos ‘northern’ + gaia ‘earth.’

arctophile /ˈärktəˌfīl/

I. noun

a person who collects or is very fond of teddy bears.

II. derivatives

1. arctophilia /ˌärktəˈfilēə /

noun

2. arctophilist /ärkˈtäfilist /

noun

3. arctophily /-ˈtäfilē /

noun

– origin 1970s: from Greek arktos ‘bear’ + philos ‘loving.’

Arcturus /ˌärkˈtyo͝orəs / ‹Astronomy›

I. the fourth brightest star in the sky, and the brightest in the constellation Boötes. It is an orange giant.

– origin from Greek arktos ‘bear’ + ouros ‘guardian’ (because of its position in line with the tail of Ursa Major).

arcuate /ˈärkyo͞oət ˈärkyo͞oˌāt/

I. adjective

‹technical› shaped like a bow; curved

• the arcuate sweep of the chain of islands.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin arcuatus, past participle of arcuare ‘to curve,’ from arcus ‘bow, curve.’

arcus senilis /ˌärkəs səˈnīlis/

I. noun

[Medicine] a narrow opaque band encircling the cornea, common in old age.

– origin late 18th cent.: Latin, literally ‘senile bow.’

arc welding /ˈˌärk ˈˌweldiNG/

noun

a technique in which metals are welded using heat generated by an electric arc.

-ard

I. suffix

1. forming nouns such as bollard, wizard.

2. forming nouns having a depreciatory sense

• drunkard

• dullard.

– origin Middle English and Old French, from German -hard ‘hard, hardy.’

Arden, Elizabeth /ˈärdn/

(c. 1880–1966), US executive in the cosmetics industry; born in Canada; born Florence Nightingale Graham.

Ardennes /ärˈden/

a forested upland region extending over parts of southeastern Belgium, northeastern France, and Luxembourg. It was the scene of fierce fighting in both world wars.

ardent /ˈärdnt/

I. adjective

1. enthusiastic or passionate

• an ardent baseball fan

• an ardent suitor.

2. ‹archaic› ‹literary› burning; glowing

• the ardent flames.

– origin Middle English: from Old French ardant, from Latin ardens, ardent-, from ardere ‘to burn.’

ardently /ˈädn(t)lē/

adverb

very enthusiastically or passionately

• both men ardently supported the war.

Ardi /ˈärdē/

the nickname of a partial female skeleton of a fossil hominid found in Ethiopia in 1994, about 4.4 million years old and 4 feet (1.2 m) in height.
[Ardipithecus ramidus, family Hominidae. The species is believed to have been bipedal on the ground and quadrupedal when in trees.]

Ardmore /ˈärdmôr/

a city in southern Oklahoma, in an oil-producing and agricultural area; pop. 24,810 (est. 2008).

ardor /ˈärdər / ‹Brit.› ardour

I. noun

enthusiasm or passion

• they felt the stirrings of revolutionary ardor.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin ardor, from ardere ‘to burn.’

arduous /ˈärjo͞oəs/

I. adjective

involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring

• an arduous journey.

II. derivatives

1. arduously /ˈärjəwəslē /

adverb

2. arduousness /ˈärjo͞oəsnəs /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin arduus ‘steep, difficult’ + -ous.

are^1 /är ər/

2nd person singular present and 1st, 2nd, 3rd person plural present of be.

are^2 /er är/

I. noun

‹historical› a metric unit of measure, equal to 100 square meters (about 119.6 square yards).

– origin late 18th cent.: from French, from Latin area (see area).

area /ˈerēə/

I. noun

1. a region or part of a town, a country, or the world

• rural areas of New Jersey

• people living in the area are at risk.

2. [with modifier] — a space allocated for a specific purpose

• the dining area.

3. a part of an object or surface

• areas of the body.

4. a subject or range of activity or interest

• the key areas of science.

5. [usu. as modifier] — (Brit.) a sunken enclosure giving access to the basement of a building

• a bicycle padlocked to the area railing.

6. the extent or measurement of a surface or piece of land

• the area of a triangle

• the room is twelve square feet in area.

II. derivatives

areal

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘space allocated for a specific purpose’): from Latin, literally ‘vacant piece of level ground.’

area code /ˈerēə ˌkōd/

noun

a three-digit number that identifies one of the telephone service regions into which the US, Canada, and certain other countries are divided and that is dialed when calling from one area to another.

area rug

noun

a rug that covers only a part of a floor in a room.

areaway /ˈerēəwā/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) a sunken enclosure giving access to the basement of a building.

2. (N. Amer.) a passageway between buildings.

areca /əˈrēkə ˈerəkə / areca palm

I. noun

a tropical Asian palm.
[Genus Areca, family Palmae: several species, in particular A. catechu.]

– origin via Portuguese from Malayalam áḍekka.

areca nut

noun

the astringent seed of an areca palm (Areca catechu), which is often chewed with betel leaves.
Also called betel nut.

Arecibo /ˌärəˈsēbō/

a community in northwestern Puerto Rico, west of San Juan; pop. 47,300 (est. 2009). It is an academic center noted for its huge radio telescope facility.

areligious /ˌāriˈlijəs/

adjective

not influenced by or practicing religion

• the sexual mores of today's secular and areligious culture.

arena /əˈrēnə/

I. noun

1. a level area surrounded by seats for spectators, in which sports, entertainments, and other public events are held.

2. a place or scene of activity, debate, or conflict

• he has re-entered the political arena.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin harena, arena ‘sand, sand-strewn place of combat.’

arenaceous /ˌärəˈnāSHəs/

I. adjective

1. [Geology] consisting of sand or sandlike particles.

2. [Geology] [Biology] (of animals or plants) living or growing in sand.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin arenaceus, from arena, harena ‘sand.’

Arendt, Hannah /ˈärənt/

(1906–75), US philosopher and political theorist; born in Germany. A student of Martin Heidegger, she established her reputation as a political thinker with one of the first works to propose that Nazism and Stalinism had common roots. Notable works: The Origins of Totalitarianism (1951), Eichmann in Jerusalem (1963), and On Violence (1970).

arenosol /əˈrēnəˌsôl, -ˌsäl/

I. noun

[Soil Science] a soil type consisting mainly of sand with very little organic matter and supporting limited amounts of specialized vegetation.

– origin mid 20th cent.: from Latin arena ‘sand’ + -sol.

aren't /är(ə)nt/

I. contraction

1. are not

• they aren't here.

2. am not (only used in questions)

• I'm right, aren't I?

• why aren't I being given a pay raise?

usage: The contraction aren't is used in standard English to mean ‘am not’ in questions, as in I'm right, aren't I? Outside of questions, it is incorrect to use aren't to mean ‘am not’ (for example, I aren't going is clearly wrong). The nonstandard (although logical) form amn't is restricted to Scottish, Irish, and dialect use.

areola /əˈrēələ/

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] a small circular area, in particular the ring of pigmented skin surrounding a nipple.

2. [Anatomy] [Biology] any of the small spaces between the veins on a leaf or the nervures on an insect's wing.

3. [Anatomy] [Medicine] a reddened patch around a spot or papule.

II. derivatives

1. areolar

adjective

2. areolate /-lit, -ˌlāt /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘small space or interstice’): from Latin, literally ‘small open space,’ diminutive of area (see area).

areole /ˈerēˌōl/

I. noun

[Biology] an areola, especially a small area bearing spines or hairs on a cactus.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French aréole, from Latin (see areola).

areology /ˌerēˈäləjē/

I. noun

the study of the planet Mars.

II. derivatives

1. areological /ˌe(ə)rēəˈläjikəl /

adjective

2. areologist

noun, adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from Ares (Greek equivalent of the Roman war god Mars) + -ology.

Areopagus /ˌerēˈäpəɡəs/

I. (in ancient Athens) a hill on which met the highest governmental council and later a judicial court.

– origin from Greek Areios pagos ‘hill of Ares’; the name for the site came to denote the court itself.

arepa /äˈrāpə/

I. noun

a corn pancake, sweetened or unsweetened, eaten in Venezuela and Colombia.

– origin Cariban.

Arequipa /ˌärəˈkēpə/

a city in southern Peru, in the Andes; pop. 784,700 (est. 2007).

Ares /ˈerēz / ‹Greek Mythology›

the Greek war god, son of Zeus and Hera.
Roman equivalent Mars.

arête /əˈrāt/

I. noun

a sharp mountain ridge.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French, from Latin arista ‘ear of wheat, fish bone, spine.’

arethusa /ˌerəˈTHo͞ozə/

noun

a pinkish-red North American wild orchid that grows in boggy ground.
Also called dragon's mouth. [Arethusa bulbosa, family Orchidaceae.]

arf /ärf/

exclamation

used to imitate or represent a dog's bark.

argali /ˈärɡəlē/

I. noun

the largest wild sheep, which has massive horns and is found in mountainous areas of Asia.
[Ovis ammon, family Bovidae.]

– origin late 18th cent.: from Mongolian.

Argand diagram /ˈärɡənd, -ɡand/

I. noun

[Mathematics] a diagram on which complex numbers are represented geometrically using Cartesian axes, the horizontal coordinate representing the real part of the number and the vertical coordinate the complex part.

– origin early 20th cent.: named after J. R. Argand (1768–1822), French mathematician.

Argand lamp

I. noun

‹historical› an oil or gas lamp equipped with a tubular wick that allowed air to pass both inner and outer surfaces of the flame, securing more perfect combustion and brighter light.

– origin late 18th cent.: named after A. Argand (1755–1803), French physicist.

argan oil /ˈärɡən ˌoil/

noun

an aromatic culinary oil expressed from the seeds of the argan tree, native to an area of southwestern Morocco.
[Argania spinosa, family Sapotaceae.]

argent /ˈärjənt/

I. adjective

‹literary› [Heraldry] silver; silvery white

• the argent moon.

II. noun

[Heraldry] silver as a heraldic tincture.

– origin late Middle English (denoting silver coins): via Old French from Latin argentum ‘silver.’

argentiferous /ˌärjənˈtifərəs/

I. adjective

(of rocks or minerals) containing silver.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Latin argentum ‘silver’ + -ferous.

Argentina /ˌärjənˈtēnə/

1. a republic that occupies much of the southern part of South America; pop. 40,913,600 (est. 2009); capital, Buenos Aires; official language, Spanish.

Colonized by the Spanish in the 16th century, Argentina declared its independence in 1816. It emerged as a democratic republic in the mid 19th century, but has periodically fallen under military rule. In 1982, Argentina's claim to the Falkland Islands led to an unsuccessful war with Britain.

argentine /ˈärjəntīn ˈärjənˌtēn/

I. adjective

‹archaic› of or resembling silver.

II. noun

a small marine fish with a silvery sheen.
[Family Argentinidae: two genera and several species, in particular Argentina silus of the North Atlantic.]

– origin late Middle English: from Old French argentin, argentine, from argent ‘silver,’ from Latin argentum.

Argentine /ˈärjəntīn ˈärjənˌtēn/

I. adjective

of or relating to Argentina or its people.

II. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Argentina, or a person of Argentine descent.

2. (the Argentine) — another name for Argentina.

Argentine ant

noun

a small South American ant that has become established in parts of the US.
[Iridomyrmex humilis, family Formicidae.]

Argentinian /ärjənˈtinēən/

I. adjective

of or relating to Argentina or its people.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of Argentina, or a person of Argentine descent.

argil /ˈärj(ə)l/

I. noun

‹rare› clay, especially potter's clay.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Old French argille, from Latin argilla ‘clay.’

argillaceous /ˌärjəˈlāSHəs/

I. adjective

[Geology] (of rocks or sediment) consisting of or containing clay.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin argillaceus (from argilla ‘clay’) + -ous.

argillite /ˈärjəˌlīt/

I. noun

[Geology] a sedimentary rock that does not split easily, formed from consolidated clay.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Latin argilla ‘clay’ + -ite^1.

arginine /ˈärjəˌnēn, -ˌnīn/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a basic amino acid that is a constituent of most proteins. It is an essential nutrient in the diet of vertebrates.
[Chem. formula: HN=C(NH_2)NH(CH_2)3CH(NH_2)COOH.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from German Arginin, perhaps from Greek arginoeis ‘bright-shining, white.’

Argive /ˈärˌjīv, -ˌɡīv/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to the ancient city of Argos.

2. (especially in Homer) Greek.

II. noun

1. a citizen of Argos.

2. (especially in Homer) a Greek person.

– origin from Latin Argivus, from Greek Argeios ‘relating to Argos.’

argle-bargle /ˌärɡəl ˈbärɡəl/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) copious but meaningless talk or writing; nonsense

• bureaucratic argle-bargle.

2. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) another term for argy-bargy.

– origin early 19th cent.: reduplication of dialect argle, a late 16th-cent. alteration of argue.

Argo /ˈärɡō / ‹Astronomy historical› Argo Navis

I. a large southern constellation (the ship Argo), which is now divided into the constellations Carina, Puppis, and Vela.

– origin Latin.

argol /ˈärɡəl/

I. noun

tartar obtained from wine fermentation.

– origin Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French argoile, of unknown origin.

argon /ˈärˌɡän/

I. noun

(Symbol: Ar) — the chemical element of atomic number 18, an inert gaseous element of the noble gas group. Argon is the most common noble gas, making up nearly one percent of the earth's atmosphere.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek, neuter of argos ‘idle,’ from a- ‘without’ + ergon ‘work.’

argonaut /ˈärɡəˌnôt/

noun

a small floating octopus, the female of which has webbed arms like sails and secretes a thin, coiled, papery shell in which the eggs are laid.
Also called paper nautilus. [Genus Argonauta, order Octopoda.]

Argonauts /ˈärɡəˌnôts / ‹Greek Mythology›

I. a group of heroes who accompanied Jason on board the ship Argo in the quest for the Golden Fleece.

– origin argonaut from Greek argonautēs ‘sailor in the ship Argo.’

Argonne /ärˈɡän, ˈärˌɡän/

a wooded plateau in northeastern France, near the Belgian border. The region is thinly populated. A major Allied offensive was staged here during World War I; during World War II the region was occupied by Germany from 1940 until 1944.

Argos /ˈärɡəs ˈärɡôs/

a city in southern Greece, in the northeastern Peloponnese; pop. 23,600 (est. 2009). One of the oldest cities of ancient Greece, it dominated the Peloponnese and the western Aegean in the 7th century BC.

argosy /ˈärɡəsē/

I. noun

‹literary› a large merchant ship, originally one from Ragusa (now Dubrovnik) or Venice.

– origin late 16th cent.: apparently from Italian Ragusea (nave) ‘(vessel) of Ragusa’ (see Ragusa).

argot /ˈärɡō ˈärɡət/

I. noun

the jargon or slang of a particular group or class

• teenage argot.

– origin mid 19th cent. (originally denoting the jargon or slang of criminals): from French, of unknown origin.

arguable /ˈärɡyo͞oəb(ə)l/

adjective

1. able to be argued or asserted

• an arguable case for judicial review

• [with clause] it is arguable that egg donation raises a series of moral and practical problems.

2. open to disagreement; not obviously correct

• a highly arguable assumption.

arguably /ˈärɡy(o͞o)əblē/

adverb — [sentence adverb]

1. it may be argued (used to qualify the statement of an opinion or belief)

• she is arguably the greatest woman tennis player of all time.

argue /ˈärɡyo͞o/

I. verb

1. [reporting verb] — give reasons or cite evidence in support of an idea, action, or theory, typically with the aim of persuading others to share one's view
[with clause]

• defense attorneys argue that the police lacked “probable cause” to arrest the driver

• [with direct speech] “It stands to reason,” she argued.

2. [with obj.] (argue someone into/out of) — persuade someone to do or not to do (something) by giving reasons

• I tried to argue him out of it.

3. [no obj.] — exchange or express diverging or opposite views, typically in a heated or angry way

• don't argue with me

• ‹figurative› I wasn't going to argue with a gun

• [with obj.] she was too tired to argue the point.

II. derivatives

arguer

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French arguer, from Latin argutari ‘prattle,’ frequentative of arguere ‘make clear, prove, accuse.’

argufy /ˈärɡyəˌfī/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹humorous› ‹dialect› argue or quarrel, typically about something trivial

• it won't do to argufy, I tell you.

– origin late 17th cent.: fanciful formation from argue; compare with speechify.

argument /ˈärɡyəmənt/

I. noun

1. an exchange of diverging or opposite views, typically a heated or angry one

• I've had an argument with my father

• heated arguments over public spending

• there was some argument about the decision.

2. a reason or set of reasons given with the aim of persuading others that an action or idea is right or wrong

• there is a strong argument for submitting a formal appeal

• [with clause] he rejected the argument that keeping the facility would be costly.

3. [Mathematics] an independent variable associated with a function and determining the value of the function. For example, in the expression y = F (x_1, x_2), the arguments of the function F are x 1 and x 2, and the value is y.

4. another term for amplitude (sense 4).

5. [Computing] a value or address passed to a procedure or function at the time of call.

6. [Linguistics] any of the noun phrases in a clause that are related directly to the verb, typically the subject, direct object, and indirect object.

7. [Logic] the middle term in a syllogism.

8. ‹archaic› a summary of the subject matter of a book.

II. phrases

for the sake of argument

as a basis for discussion or reasoning.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘process of reasoning’): via Old French from Latin argumentum, from arguere ‘make clear, prove, accuse.’

argumentation /ˌärɡyəmənˈtāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

the action or process of reasoning systematically in support of an idea, action, or theory

• lines of argumentation used to support his thesis.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin argumentatio(n-), from argumentat- ‘conducted as an argument,’ from argumentari.

argumentative /ˌärɡyəˈmen(t)ədiv/

I. adjective

1. given to expressing divergent or opposite views

• an argumentative child.

2. using or characterized by systematic reasoning

• the highest standards of argumentative rigor.

II. derivatives

1. argumentatively

adverb

2. argumentativeness

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French argumentatif, -ive or late Latin argumentativus, from argumentari ‘conduct an argument.’

argument from design

noun

[Christian Theology] the argument that God's existence is demonstrable from the evidence of design in the universe.

argus /ˈärɡəs/

I. noun

1. (Argus) — [Greek Mythology] a monster with a hundred eyes, used by Hera to watch over Io. He was killed by Hermes, and Hera then used his eyes to deck the peacock's tail.

2. an alert, watchful guardian.

3. (also argus pheasant) — a long-tailed pheasant with generally brown plumage, found in Southeast Asia and Indonesia.
[Two species in the family Phasianidae: the male great argus (Argusianus argus) has lengthened secondary wing feathers bearing eyespots, spread during display; the crested argus (Rheinartia ocellata) has the longest tail feathers of any bird.]

4. a small brown or bluish Eurasian butterfly that typically has eyelike markings near the wing margins.
[Aricia and other genera, family Lycaenidae.]

5. (also argus fish) — a silvery deep-bodied fish with round spots, widely distributed throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific region in both fresh and salt water.
[Scatophagus argus, family Scatophagidae.]

– origin late Middle English: from Latin, from Greek Argos, the name of the mythical watchman with a hundred eyes.

Argus-eyed /ˈärɡəsˌīd/

adjective

‹literary› vigilant.

argy-bargy /ˌärjēˈbärjē/

I. noun

‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) noisy quarreling or wrangling.

– origin late 19th cent. (originally Scots): rhyming jingle based on argue.

argyle /ˈärˌɡīl/

I. noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. a pattern composed of diamonds of various colors on a plain background, used in knitted garments such as sweaters and socks.

2. a sock with an argyle pattern.

– origin 1940s: from Argyll, a family name and a former county of Scotland. The pattern is based on the tartan of the Argyll branch of the Campbell clan.

arhat /ˈärhət/

I. noun

(in Buddhism and Jainism) someone who has attained the goal of the religious life.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Sanskrit, literally ‘meritorious.’

aria /ˈärēə/

I. noun

[Music] a long, accompanied song for a solo voice, typically one in an opera or oratorio.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Italian, from Latin aer ‘air.’

Ariadne /ˌerēˈadnē / ‹Greek Mythology›

the daughter of King Minos of Crete and Pasiphaë. She helped Theseus to escape from the Minotaur's labyrinth by giving him a ball of thread, which he unraveled as he went in and used to trace his way out again after killing the Minotaur.

Arian^1 /ˈerēən/

I. noun

a person born under the sign of Aries.

II. adjective

of or relating to a person born under the sign of Aries.

Arian^2 /ˈerēən/

I. noun

an adherent of the doctrine of Arianism.

II. adjective

of or concerning Arianism.

-arian

I. suffix

(forming adjectives and corresponding nouns) having a concern or belief in a specified thing

• antiquarian

• humanitarian

• vegetarian.

– origin from the Latin suffix -arius.

Arianism /ˈerēəˌnizəm/

noun

[Christian Theology] an influential heresy denying the divinity of Christ, originating with the Alexandrian priest Arius (c. 250–c. 336). Arianism maintained that the Son of God was created by the Father and was therefore neither coeternal with the Father, nor consubstantial.

Arias Sanchez, Oscar /ˈärē-äs ˈsänCHes/

(1941–), Costa Rican president 1986–90 and 2006–10. He worked to achieve peace in Central America, particularly in Nicaragua. Nobel Peace Prize (1987).

arid /ˈerəd/

I. adjective

1. (of land or a climate) having little or no rain; too dry or barren to support vegetation

• hot and arid conditions.

2. lacking in interest, excitement, or meaning

• his arid years in suburbia.

II. derivatives

1. aridity /əˈridədē eˈridədē /

noun

2. aridly

adverb

3. aridness /ˈerədnəs /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French aride or Latin aridus, from arere ‘be dry or parched.’

aridisol /əˈridiˌsôl, -ˌsäl/

noun

[Soil Science] a soil of an order comprising typically saline or alkaline soils with very little organic matter, characteristic of arid regions.

ariel /ˈerēəl/

I. noun

a gazelle found in the Middle East and North Africa.
[Genus Gazella, family Bovidae: the mountain gazelle (G. gazella) or the dorcas gazelle (G. dorcas).]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Arabic ῾aryal.

Ariel /ˈerēəl/

I. [Astronomy] a satellite of Uranus discovered in 1851, the twelfth closest to the planet and the fourth largest, with a diameter of 721 miles (1,160 km).

II. a series of six American and British satellites devoted to studies of the ionosphere and X-ray astronomy (1962–79).

– origin named after a fairy or spirit in Shakespeare's The Tempest.

Aries /ˈerēz/

I. [Astronomy] a small constellation (the Ram), said to represent the ram whose Golden Fleece was sought by Jason and the Argonauts.

II. (as genitive Arietis ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate stars

• the star Beta Arietis.

III. [Astrology] the first sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters at the vernal equinox (about March 20).

IV. (pl. same) (an Aries) — a person born when the sun is in the sign of Aries.

V. phrases

First Point of Aries

[Astronomy] the point on the celestial sphere where the path of the sun crosses the celestial equator from south to north in March, marking the zero point of right ascension. Owing to precession of the equinoxes, it has moved from Aries into Pisces, and is now approaching Aquarius.
Also called vernal equinox.

– origin Latin.

aright /əˈrīt/

I. adverb

‹dialect› correctly; properly

• I wondered if I'd heard aright.

– origin Old English on riht, ariht (see a-2 ‘in,’ right).

aril /ˈerəl/

I. noun

[Botany] an extra seed-covering, typically colored and hairy or fleshy, e.g., the red fleshy cup around a yew seed.

II. derivatives

arillate /-lit, -ˌlāt /

adjective

– origin mid 18th cent.: from modern Latin arillus, of unknown origin; perhaps related to medieval Latin arilli ‘dried grape stones.’

arioso /ˌärēˈōsō, -zō/

I. noun

[Music] (especially in opera and oratorio) vocal music that is more melodic than recitative but less formal than an aria.

• short passages of arioso.

• his final arioso was more assured.

• [as modifier] these anthems contain arioso writing.

– origin Italian, from aria.

Ariosto, Ludovico /ˌärēˈästō, -ˈōstō/

(1474–1533), Italian poet; noted for his romantic epic Orlando Furioso (final version 1532).

-arious

I. suffix

forming adjectives such as gregarious, vicarious.

– origin from the Latin suffix -arius + -ous.

arise /əˈrīz/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a problem, opportunity, or situation) emerge; become apparent

• new difficulties had arisen.

2. come into being; originate

• the practice arose in the nineteenth century.

3. (arise from/out of) — occur as a result of

• most conflicts arise from ignorance or uncertainty.

4. ‹formal› ‹literary› get or stand up

• he arose at 9:30 and went out for a walk.

– origin Old English ārīsan, from ā- ‘away’ (as an intensifier) + the verb rise.

Aristarchus^1 /ˌerəˈstärkəs/

(3rd century BC), Greek astronomer; known as Aristarchus of Samos. Founder of an important school of Hellenic astronomy, he was aware of the rotation of the earth around the sun and so was able to account for the seasons.

Aristarchus^2 /ˌerəˈstärkəs/

(c. 217–145 BC), Greek scholar; known as Aristarchus of Samothrace. He is noted for his editions of the writings of Homer and other Greek authors.

Aristide, Jean-Bertrand /ärēˈstēd/

(1953–), Haitian president 1991, 1994–96, and 2001–04. He led a movement against the dictatorship of Duvalier in the 1980s and was elected president of Haiti in 1990, but was forced into exile 1991–94 by a military coup. US troops facilitated his return, and he served as president 1994–96 and 2001–04, when he was again forced into exile.

Aristides /ˌerəˈstīdēz/

(5th century BC), Athenian statesman and general; known as Aristides the Just. He commanded the Athenian army at the battle of Plataea (479 BC).

Aristippus /ˌerəˈstipəs/

(late 5th century BC), Greek philosopher; known as Aristippus the Elder (of Cyrene). He is considered the founder of the Cyrenaic school.

aristo /əˈristō/

noun

informal term for aristocrat.

aristocracy /ˌerəˈstäkrəsē/

I. noun — [treated as sing.] (or pl., usu. the aristocracy)

1. the highest class in certain societies, especially those holding hereditary titles or offices

• the ancient Polish aristocracy had hereditary right to elect the king.

2. a form of government in which power is held by the nobility.

3. a state governed by the aristocracy.

4. a group regarded as privileged or superior in a particular sphere

• high-level technocrats make up a large part of this “technical aristocracy.”

– origin late 15th cent.: from Old French aristocratie, from Greek aristokratia, from aristos ‘best’ + -kratia ‘power.’ The term originally denoted the government of a state by its best citizens, later by the rich and well-born, hence the sense ‘nobility,’ regardless of the form of government (mid 17th cent). / usage: Aristocracy, oligarchy, and plutocracy are sometimes confused. All mean some form of rule by a small elite. Aristocracy is rule by a traditional elite, held to be made up of ‘the best’ people, and is usually hereditary. Oligarchy is literally rule by a few. Plutocracy is rule by the (necessarily few) very rich.

aristocrat /əˈristəˌkrat/

I. noun

1. a member of the aristocracy

• an aristocrat by birth.

2. something believed to be the best of its kind

• the trout is the aristocrat of freshwater fish.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French aristocrate (a word of the French Revolution), from aristocratie (see aristocracy).

aristocratic /əˌristəˈkradik/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to the aristocracy

• an aristocratic family.

2. distinguished in manners or bearing

• a stately, aristocratic manner.

3. grand; stylish

• aristocratic-sounding names

• a snob with aristocratic aspirations.

II. derivatives

aristocratically /əˌristəˈkradək(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin early 17th cent.: from French aristocratique, from Greek aristokratikos, from aristokratia (see aristocracy).

Aristophanes /ˌerəˈstäfənēz/

(c. 450–c. 385 BC), Greek comic playwright. Notable works: Lysistrata, The Birds, and The Frogs.

Aristotelian /əˌristəˈtēlēən ˌeristəˈtēlēən/

I. adjective

of or relating to Aristotle or his philosophy.

II. noun

a student of Aristotle or an adherent of his philosophy.

Aristotelian logic

noun

the traditional system of logic expounded by Aristotle and developed in the Middle Ages, concerned chiefly with deductive reasoning as expressed in syllogisms.
Compare with symbolic logic.

Aristotle /ˈerəstädl/

(384–322 BC), Greek philosopher and scientist. A student of Plato and tutor to Alexander the Great, he founded a school (the Lyceum) outside Athens. He is one of the most influential thinkers in the history of Western thought. His surviving works cover a vast range of subjects, including logic, ethics, metaphysics, politics, natural science, and physics.

Aristotle's lantern

noun

[Zoology] a conical structure of calcareous plates and muscles supporting the rasping teeth of a sea urchin.

Arita /əˈrēdə/

I. noun

a type of Japanese porcelain characterized by asymmetric decoration.

– origin late 19th cent.: named after Arita, a town in Japan, where it is made.

arithmetic

I. noun — /əˈriTHməˌtik /

1. the branch of mathematics dealing with the properties and manipulation of numbers

• the laws of arithmetic.

2. the use of numbers in counting and calculation

• he could do arithmetic in his head.

II. adjective — /ˌeriTHˈmedik /

1. of or relating to arithmetic

• perform arithmetic functions.

III. derivatives

1. arithmetically /ariTHˈmediklē /

adverb

2. arithmetician /əˌriTHməˈtiSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French arismetique, based on Latin arithmetica, from Greek arithmētikē (tekhnē) ‘(art) of counting,’ from arithmos ‘number.’

arithmetic logic unit /ˌeriTHˌmedik ˈläjik ˌyo͞onət/

noun

a unit in a computer that carries out arithmetic and logical operations.

arithmetic mean /ˌeriTHˌmedik ˈmēn/

noun

the average of a set of numerical values, calculated by adding them together and dividing by the number of terms in the set.

arithmetic progression /ˌeriTHˌmedik prəˈɡreSH(ə)n / arithmetic series

noun

1. a sequence of numbers in which each differs from the preceding by a constant quantity (e.g., 3, 6, 9, 12, etc.; 9, 7, 5, 3, etc.).

2. the relationship between numbers in an arithmetic progression

• the numbers are in arithmetic progression.

arithmetic unit

noun

another term for arithmetic logic unit.

arithmetize /əˈriTHməˌtīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. express arithmetically; reduce to arithmetic form.

-arium

I. suffix

forming nouns usually denoting a place

• planetarium

• vivarium.

– origin from Latin, neuter ending of adjectives in -arius.

Ariz.

abbreviation

Arizona.

Arizona /ˌerəˈzōnə/

a state in the southwestern US, on the border with Mexico; pop. 6,500,180 (est. 2008); capital, Phoenix; statehood, Feb. 14, 1912 (48). Part of New Spain until 1821, it was organized as a US territory in 1863 from lands ceded by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 and the Gadsden Purchase in 1853.

Arizonan /ˌerəˈzōnən/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of the US state of Arizona or its inhabitants

• an Arizonan summer.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of the US state of Arizona

• he became the 92nd Arizonan to play in the major leagues.

Arjuna /ˈärjənə, ˈər- / ‹Hinduism›

a hero prince in the Mahabharata, one of the two main characters in the Bhagavadgita.

Ark.

abbreviation

Arkansas.

ark /ärk/

I. noun

1. (the ark) — (in the Bible) the ship built by Noah to save his family and two of every kind of animal from the Flood; Noah's ark.

2. a vessel or sanctuary that serves as protection against extinction

• a starship ark built by their android protectors.

3. ‹archaic› a chest or box

• the ark was of Italian walnut.

4. a large, flat-bottomed boat.

5. short for Ark of the Covenant.

6. (also Holy Ark) — a chest or cupboard housing the Torah scrolls in a synagogue.

7. (also ark shell) — a widely distributed bivalve mollusk that typically attaches itself to rocks with byssus threads.
[Order Arcoidea: Arca and other genera.]

– origin Old English ærc, from Latin arca ‘chest.’

Arkansas /ˈärkənˌsô/

a state in the southern central US, on the western banks of the Mississippi River; pop. 2,855,390 (est. 2008); capital, Little Rock; statehood, June 15, 1836 (25). Arkansas seceded from the Union in 1861 to fight for the Confederacy during the Civil War and rejoined the Union in 1868. In 1957, federal troops were needed to enforce school desegregation in Little Rock.

Arkansas River /ˈärkənˌsô, ärˈkanzəs/

a river in the southwestern US, which flows for 1,450 miles (2,320 km) from the Rockies in Colorado to join the Mississippi River in Arkansas. It has been made navigable for oceangoing vessels as far west as Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Arkhangelsk /ärˈKHänɡilsk, ärˈkaNGˌɡelsk/

Russian name for Archangel.

Ark of the Covenant Ark of the Testimony

the wooden chest that contained the tablets of the laws of the ancient Israelites. Carried by the Israelites on their wanderings in the wilderness, it was later placed by Solomon in the Temple at Jerusalem.

arkose /ˈärˌkōs/

I. noun

[Geology] a coarse-grained sandstone that is at least 25 percent feldspar.

II. derivatives

arkosic /ärˈkōsik /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, probably from Greek arkhaios ‘ancient.’

Arkwright, Sir Richard /ˈärkˌrīt/

(1732–92), English inventor and industrialist. In 1767 he patented a water-powered spinning machine known as the spinning jenny.

Arles /ˈär(ə)l/

a city in southeastern France; pop. 53,058 (2006). It was the capital of the medieval kingdom of Arles, formed in the 10th century by the union of the kingdoms of Provence and Burgundy.

Arlington /ˈärliNGtən/

I. a county in northern Virginia, forming a suburb of Washington. It is the site of the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery.

II. a town in eastern Massachusetts, northwest of Boston; pop. 40,993 (est. 2008).

III. an industrial city in northern Texas, between Dallas and Fort Worth; pop. 374,417 (est. 2008).

Arlington Heights

a village in northeastern Illinois, northwest of Chicago; pop. 73,399 (est. 2008).

arm^1 /ärm/

I. noun

1. each of the two upper limbs of the human body from the shoulder to the hand

• she held the baby in her arms.

2. (in technical use) each of the upper limbs from the shoulder to the elbow.

3. each of the forelimbs of an animal.

4. a flexible limb of an invertebrate animal, e.g., an octopus.

5. a sleeve of a garment.

6. an ability to throw a ball skillfully

• he has a good arm.

7. an athlete with an ability to throw a ball skillfully

• he wasn't the best arm in the outfield, but his performance at the plate more than compensated.

8. used to refer to the holding of a person's arm in support or companionship

• as they walked he offered her his arm

• he arrived with a pretty girl on his arm.

9. used to refer to something perceived as powerful or protective

• the comforting arms of the church.

10. a thing resembling an arm in form or function, in particular

11. a side part of a chair or other seat on which a sitter's arm can rest.

12. a narrow strip of water or land projecting from a larger body.

13. a large branch of a tree.

14. a long, narrow shape or object

• a long arm of sunshine.

15. a branch or division of a company or organization

• the political arm of the separatist group.

16. one of the types of troops of which an army is composed, such as infantry or artillery.
[also understood as a figurative use of arm^2.]

17. [Mathematics] each of the lines enclosing an angle.

II. phrases

1. arm in arm

(of two or more people) with arms linked.

2. the long arm of the law

used to refer to the criminal justice system as far-reaching

• act now before the long arm of the law catches up with you.

3. as long as one's (or someone's) arm

‹informal› very long

• I have a list of vices as long as your arm.

4. at arm's length

away from the body, with the arm fully extended

• I held the telephone at arm's length.

5. cost an arm and a leg

‹informal› be extremely expensive.

6. get one's arms around

‹informal› fully understand an issue or situation

• doctors are having difficulty getting their arms around these new findings.

7. give one's right arm

‹informal› used to convey a strong desire to have or do something

• I'd give my right arm to go with them.

8. into the arms of

into the possession or control of

• the violin passed into the arms of a wealthy dilettante.

9. keep someone/something at arm's length

avoid intimacy or close contact with someone or something.

10. put the arm on

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› attempt to force or coerce (someone) to do something

• she started putting the arm on them for donations.

11. under one's arm

between one's arm and one's body

• Barbara tucked the papers under her arm.

12. with open arms

with great affection or enthusiasm

• schools have welcomed such arrangements with open arms.

13. within arm's reach

near enough to reach by extending one's arm.

III. derivatives

armless /ˈärmləs /

adjective

– origin Old English arm, earm, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch arm and German Arm.

arm^2 /ärm/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. supply or provide with weapons

• both sides armed themselves with grenades and machine guns.

2. supply or provide with equipment, tools, or other items in preparation or readiness for something

• she armed them with brushes and mops.

3. activate the fuse of (a bomb or other device) so that it is ready to explode.

II. noun

see arms.

– origin Middle English: from Old French armer (verb), from Latin armare, from arma ‘armor, arms.’

ARM

abbreviation

adjustable-rate mortgage.

armada /ärˈmädə/

I. noun

1. a fleet of warships

• an armada of destroyers, minesweepers, and gunboats.

2. (the Spanish Armada) — a Spanish naval invasion force sent against England by Philip II of Spain in 1588. It was defeated by the English fleet and almost completely destroyed by storms off the Hebrides.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Spanish, from armata, feminine past participle of Latin armare ‘to arm.’ Compare with army.

armadillo /ˌärməˈdilō/

I. noun

a nocturnal omnivorous mammal that has large claws for digging and a body covered in bony plates. Armadillos are native to the south central US and Central and South America.
[Family Dasypodidae, order Xenarthra (or Edentata): several genera and species, including the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus), which has spread into the southern US.]

– origin late 16th cent.: from Spanish, diminutive of armado ‘armed man,’ from Latin armatus, past participle of armare ‘to arm.’

Armageddon /ˌärməˈɡedn/

I. noun

1. (in the New Testament) the last battle between good and evil before the Day of Judgment.

2. a biblical hill of Megiddo, an archaeological site on the plain of Esdraelon, south of present-day Haifa in Israel.
See also Megiddo.

3. the place where the last battle between good and evil will be fought.

4. a dramatic and catastrophic conflict, typically seen as likely to destroy the world or the human race

• nuclear Armageddon.

– origin Greek, from Hebrew har mĕgiddōn ‘hill of Megiddo’ (Rev. 16:16.).

Armagh /ärˈmä/

I. one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, formerly an administrative area.

II. the chief town of the county of Armagh; pop. 15,100 (est. 2009).

Armagnac /ˌärmənˈyak, -ˈyäk/

noun

a type of brandy, traditionally made in Aquitaine in southwestern France.

Armalite /ˈärməˌlīt/

noun

‹trademark› a type of light automatic rifle.

armament /ˈärməmənt/

I. noun — (also armaments)

1. military weapons and equipment

• chemical weapons and other unconventional armaments.

2. the process of equipping military forces for war.

3. ‹archaic› a military force equipped for war.

– origin late 17th cent. (in the sense ‘force equipped for war’): from Latin armamentum, from armare ‘to arm’ (see arm^2).

armamentarium /ˌärməmənˈterēəm/

I. noun

1. the medicines, equipment, and techniques available to a medical practitioner.

2. a collection of resources available for a certain purpose

• the entire armamentarium of electronic surveillance.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin, ‘arsenal, armory.’

Armani, Giorgio /ärˈmänē/

(1934–), Italian fashion designer.

armature /ˈärməˌCHər ˈärməˌCHo͝or/

I. noun

1. the rotating coil or coils of a dynamo or electric motor.

2. any moving part of an electrical machine in which a voltage is induced by a magnetic field.

3. a piece of iron or other object acting as a keeper for a magnet.

4. a metal framework on which a sculpture is molded with clay or similar material.

5. a framework or formal structure, especially of a literary work

• Shakespeare's plots have served as the armature for many novels.

6. [Biology] the protective covering of an animal or plant.

7. ‹archaic› armor.

– origin late Middle English: from French, from Latin armatura ‘armor,’ from armare ‘to arm’ (see arm^2). The original sense was ‘armor,’ hence ‘protective covering’ (sense 3, early 18th cent.), later ‘keeper of a magnet,’ source of sense 1 (mid 19th cent.).

armband /ˈärmˌband/

noun

a band worn around a person's upper arm to hold up a shirtsleeve or as a symbol.

arm candy

noun

‹informal› a sexually attractive companion accompanying a person, especially a celebrity, at social events

• the athletes and their arm candy clustered around the bar.

armchair /ˈärmˌCHer/

I. noun

a comfortable chair, typically upholstered, with side supports for a person's arms.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. lacking or not involving practical or direct experience of a particular subject or activity

• armchair adventurers.

Armco /ˈärmkō/

I. noun

‹trademark› a very pure soft iron, used in particular for roadside guardrails.

– origin early 20th cent.: acronym from American Rolling Mill Company.

armed /ärmd/

I. adjective

1. equipped with or carrying a weapon or weapons

• the security forces are armed with automatic rifles

• heavily armed troops.

2. involving the use of firearms

• armed robbery.

3. (of a bomb, alarm, or other device) prepared to activate or explode.

4. supplied with equipment, tools, or other items in preparation or readiness for something

• he is armed with a list of questions.

5. [Heraldry] having claws, a beak, etc., of a specified tincture.

II. phrases

armed to the teeth

see teeth.

armed camp

noun

a town, territory, or group of people fully armed for war.

armed forces /ˌärmd ˈfôrsəz / armed services

plural noun

a country's military forces, especially its army, navy, and air force.

Armenia /ärˈmēnēə/

I. a landlocked country in southwestern Asia, in the Caucasus; pop. 2,967,000 (est. 2009); capital, Yerevan; official language, Armenian.

The Armenian homeland fell under Turkish rule from the 16th century and with the decline of the Ottomans was divided among Turkey, Iran, and Russia. In 1915 the Turks forcibly deported 1,750,000 Armenians to the deserts of Syria and Mesopotamia; more than 600,000 were killed or died on forced marches. Russian Armenia was absorbed into the former Soviet Union in 1922 and gained independence as a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States in 1991. Since 1988 there has been conflict with neighboring Azerbaijan over the ethnically Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh and the predominantly Azerbaijani territory of Naxçivan.

Armenian /ärˈmēnyən/

I. adjective

of or relating to Armenia, its language, or the Christian Church established there.

II. noun

1. a native of Armenia or a person of Armenian descent.

2. the Indo-European language of Armenia, spoken by around 4 million people and written in a distinctive alphabet of thirty-eight letters.

Armenian Church Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church

an independent Christian Church established in Armenia since c. 300 and influenced by Roman and Byzantine as well as Syrian traditions. A small Armenian Catholic Church also exists (see Uniate).

armful /ˈärmfo͝ol/

noun

1. as much as a person can hold in both arms

• she rushed into the dressing room with an armful of clothes.

2. (often armfuls) — a large quantity

• most of us will end up with armfuls of stuff we do not need.

armguard /ˈärmɡärd/

noun

another term for bracer^2.

armhole /ˈärmˌhōl/

noun

each of two openings in a garment through which the wearer puts their arms.

armiger /ˈärməjər/

I. noun

a person entitled to heraldic arms.

II. derivatives

armigerous /ärˈmijərəs /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: Latin, literally ‘bearing arms,’ from arma ‘arms’ + gerere ‘to bear.’

armillary sphere /ˌärməˌlerē ˈsfir/

I. noun

a model of the celestial globe constructed from rings and hoops representing the equator, the tropics, and other celestial circles, and able to revolve on its axis.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from modern Latin armillaris ‘relating to an armilla,’ an astronomical instrument consisting of a hoop fixed in the plane of the equator (sometimes crossed by one in the plane of the meridian), used by the ancient astronomers to show the recurrence of equinoxes and solstices; from Latin armilla ‘bracelet.’

Arminian /ärˈminēən/

I. adjective

relating to the doctrines of Jacobus Arminius (Latinized name of Jakob Hermandszoon, 1560–1609), a Dutch Protestant theologian, who rejected the Calvinist doctrine of predestination. His teachings had a considerable influence on Methodism.

II. noun

an adherent of Arminian doctrines.

III. derivatives

Arminianism /-ˌnizəm /

noun

armistice /ˈärməstəs/

I. noun

an agreement made by opposing sides in a war to stop fighting for a certain time; a truce.

– origin early 18th cent.: from French, or from modern Latin armistitium, from arma ‘arms’ (see arm^2) + -stitium ‘stoppage.’

Armistice Day

noun

the anniversary of the armistice of November 11, 1918, observed since 1954 as Veterans Day in the US.

armlet /ˈärmlət/

noun

1. a band or bracelet worn around the upper part of a person's arm.

2. a small inlet of a sea or branch of a river.

armload /ˈärmlōd/

noun

the amount that can be carried with one arm or in both arms.

armlock /ˈärmˌläk/

noun

a method of restraining someone by holding an arm tightly behind their back.

armoire /ärmˈwär, ˈärmˌwär/

I. noun

a wardrobe or movable cabinet, typically one that is ornate or antique.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French, from Old French armarie (see ambry).

armor /ˈärmər / ‹Brit.› armour

I. noun

1. the metal coverings formerly worn by soldiers or warriors to protect the body in battle

• knights in armor

• a suit of armor.

2. (also armor plate) — the tough metal layer covering a military vehicle or ship to defend it from attack.

3. military vehicles collectively

• the contingent includes infantry, armor, and logistic units.

4. the protective layer or shell of some animals and plants.

5. a person's emotional, social, or other defenses

• his armor of self-confidence.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. provide (someone) with emotional, social, or other defenses

• the knowledge armored him against her.

III. derivatives

armor-plated /ˌärmərˈplādəd /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French armure, from Latin armatura, from armare ‘to arm’ (see arm^2).

armored /ˈärmərd / ‹Brit.› armoured

adjective

1. (of a military vehicle or ship) covered with a tough metal layer as a defense against attack

• armored vehicles.

2. (of troops) equipped with armored vehicles

• the 2nd Armored Division.

3. (of some animals and plants) having a protective layer or shell

• armored fish.

4. ‹historical› (of a soldier) wearing armor

• armored and mounted knights.

armored car ‹Brit.› armoured car

noun

1. a light military vehicle covered with armor plate

• we were taken in an armored car to a temporary army camp.

2. a civilian car or truck reinforced with armor plate and bulletproof glass

• he shunned the armored cars favored by diplomats and CIA agents.

armored personnel carrier /ˈärmərd ˈˌpərs(ə)nˈˌel ˈkerēər/

noun

an armored military vehicle used to transport troops.

armorer /ˈärmərər / ‹Brit.› armourer

I. noun

1. a maker, supplier, or repairer of weapons or armor.

2. an official in charge of the arms of a military unit.

– origin Middle English: from Old French armurier, from armure (see armor).

armorial /ärˈmôrēəl/

I. adjective

of or relating to heraldry or heraldic devices

• armorial shields.

II. noun

a book of heraldic devices.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French armoierie (see armory^1).

armory^1 /ˈärmərē / ‹Brit.› armoury

I. noun

1. a place where arms are kept.

2. a supply of arms

• the most powerful weapon in our armory.

3. (US) a place where arms are manufactured.

4. an array of resources available for a particular purpose

• his armory of comic routines.

5. (N. Amer.) a place where military reservists are trained or headquartered.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘armor’): from Old French armoirie, armoierie, from armoier ‘to blazon,’ from arme ‘weapon’ (see arms). The spelling change in the 17th cent. was due to association with armor.

armory^2 /ˈärmərē/

I. noun

heraldry.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French armoierie (see armory^1).

Armour, Philip Danforth /ˈärmər/

(1832–1901), US industrialist. He reorganized his brother Herman's grain commission house into the Armour & Co. meatpacking company in 1870.

armpit /ˈärmˌpit/

I. noun

1. a hollow under the arm at the shoulder.
Also called axilla.

2. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) a place regarded as extremely unpleasant

• they call the region the armpit of America.

II. phrases

up to one's armpits

(chiefly US) deeply involved in a particular unpleasant situation or enterprise

• the country is up to its armpits in drug trafficking.

armrest /ˈärmˌrest/

noun

a padded or upholstered arm of a chair or other seat on which a sitter's arm can comfortably rest.

arms /ärmz/

I. plural noun

1. weapons and ammunition; armaments

• they were subjugated by force of arms

• [as modifier] arms exports.

2. distinctive emblems or devices, originally borne on shields in battle and now forming the heraldic insignia of families, corporations, or countries.
See also coat of arms.

II. phrases

1. a call to arms

a call to prepare for confrontation

• a call to arms to defend against a takeover.

2. take up arms

begin fighting.

3. under arms

equipped and ready for war or battle

• the Empire now had half a million men under arms.

4. up in arms (about/over)

protesting vigorously about something

• teachers are up in arms about new school tests.

– origin Middle English: from Old French armes, from Latin arma.

arms control /ärmz kənˈtrōl/

noun

international disarmament or arms limitation, especially by mutual consent.

arm's-length

adjective — [attrib.]

1. avoiding intimacy or close contact

• an arm's-length relationship.

arms race /ärmz rās/

noun

a competition between nations for superiority in the development and accumulation of weapons, especially between the US and the former Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Armstrong, Edwin Howard /ˈärmˌstrôNG/

(1890–1954), US electrical engineer, inventor of the superheterodyne radio receiver and the frequency modulation (FM) system.

Armstrong, Lance

(1971–), US cyclist. He won the Tour de France in 1999 after successfully battling testicular cancer, and repeated the win for the next six years (2000–05). In 2012 he was stripped of these titles for using performance-enhancing drugs.

Armstrong, Louis

(1901–71), US jazz musician; nicknamed Satchmo; full name Daniel Louis Armstrong. A major influence on Dixieland jazz, he was a trumpet and cornet player, as well as a bandleader and a distinctive singer. He also appeared in many movies, including The Birth of the Blues (1941).

Armstrong, Neil

(1930–2012), US astronaut; full name Neil Alden Armstrong. He commanded the Apollo 11 mission, during which he became the first man to set foot on the Moon (July 20, 1969).

arm-twisting /ˈärmˌtwistiNG/

I. noun

‹informal› persuasion by the use of physical force or moral pressure

• eight years of arguing and diplomatic arm-twisting.

II. derivatives

arm-twist

verb

arm-wrestling /ˈärmˌres(ə)liNG/

I. noun

a trial of strength in which two people sit opposite each other with one elbow resting on a table, clasp each other's hands, and try to force each other's arm down onto the table.

II. derivatives

arm-wrestle /ˈärmˌresəl /

verb

army /ˈärmē/

I. noun

1. an organized military force equipped for fighting on land

• the two armies were in position.

2. (the army or the Army) — the branch of a nation's armed services that conducts military operations on land

• an enlisted man in the army

• [as modifier] army officers.

3. (an army of or armies of) — a large number of people or things, typically formed or organized for a particular purpose

• an army of photographers

• armies of cockroaches.

II. phrases

1. an army marches on its stomach

see stomach.

2. you and whose army?

‹informal› used as an expression of disbelief in someone's ability to carry out a threat

• “One word to him and I'll nail you.” “You and whose army?”

– origin late Middle English: from Old French armee, from armata, feminine past participle of Latin armare ‘to arm.’

army ant /ˈärmē ant/

noun

a blind nomadic tropical ant that forages in large columns, preying chiefly on insects and spiders.
Also called driver ant. [Subfamily Dorylinae, family Formicidae.]

army brat

noun

‹informal› a child of a career soldier, especially one who has lived in various places as a result of military transfers.

army issue

noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. equipment or clothing supplied by the army.

army-navy /ˌärmēˈnāvē/

adjective

(US) denoting the type of store that specializes in military surplus equipment, or the goods sold there.

Army Reserve

noun

a volunteer force that provides a reserve of trained and disciplined military personnel for use in an emergency

• some members of the National Guard and the Army Reserve have been called up for duty

• [as modifier] forty-two Army Reserve units answered the call.

army surplus

noun

goods and equipment that are in excess of the army's requirements
[as modifier]

• an army surplus store.

army worm

noun

any of a number of insect larvae that occur in large numbers, in particular
[● the caterpillars of some moths, which feed on cereals and other crops, moving en masse when the food is exhausted (Spodoptera and other genera, family Noctuidae). ● the small maggots of certain fungus gnats, which move in very large numbers within secreted slime (genus Sciara, family Mycetophilidae).]

Arne, Thomas /ärn/

(1710–78), English composer of the music for “Rule, Britannia.”

Arnel /ärˈnel/

noun

1. ‹trademark› a synthetic fiber made from cellulose triacetate.

2. ‹trademark› fabric made from Arnel.

Arnhem /ˈärnəm, ˈärnˌhem/

a town in the eastern Netherlands, situated on the Rhine River; pop. 143,582 (2008).

Arnhem Land

a peninsula in Northern Territory, Australia.

arnica /ˈärnəkə/

I. noun

1. a plant of the daisy family that bears yellow daisylike flowers. Native to cooler regions of the northern hemisphere, it is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental.
[Genus Arnica, family Compositae: many species, esp. mountain tobacco (A. montana) of central Europe.]

2. a preparation of arnica used medicinally, especially for the treatment of bruises.

– origin mid 18th cent.: modern Latin, of unknown origin.

Arno /ˈärnō/

a river that rises in the Apennines in northern Italy and flows west for 150 miles (240 km) through Florence and Pisa to the Ligurian Sea.

Arnold, Benedict /ˈärnld/

(1741–1801), American general and traitor. During the American Revolution, he was instrumental, with Ethan Allan, in the capture of Fort Ticonderoga but later planned to betray West Point to the British. He fled behind British lines and lived the rest of his life in Britain. His name became synonymous with 'traitor.'.

Arnold, Matthew

(1822–88), English poet, essayist, and social critic. He is known for such poems as “The Scholar-Gipsy” and “Dover Beach” and was professor of poetry at Oxford 1857–67.

aroid /ˈeroid / aroid lily

I. noun

[Botany] a plant of the arum family (Araceae).

– origin late 19th cent.: from arum + -oid.

arolla /əˈrälə, əˈrō- / arolla pine

I. noun

a tall pine tree native to the Alps and Carpathian mountains, often planted in dense clumps as an avalanche break.
[Pinus cembra, family Pinaceae.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from Swiss French arol(l)e.

aroma /əˈrōmə/

I. noun

1. a distinctive, typically pleasant smell

• the tantalizing aroma of fresh coffee.

2. a subtle, pervasive quality or atmosphere of a particular type

• the aroma of officialdom.

– origin Middle English (usually in the plural denoting fragrant plants or spices): via Latin from Greek arōma ‘spice.’

aromatase /əˈrōməˌtās/

noun

an adrenal enzyme that converts androstenedione and estrone to estrogen. Inhibiting its action is one approach to breast cancer prevention and treatment.

aromatherapy /əˌrōməˈTHerəpē/

I. noun

the use of aromatic plant extracts and essential oils in massage or baths.

II. derivatives

1. aromatherapeutic /-ˌTHerəˈpyo͝otik /

adjective

2. aromatherapist /əˌrōməˈTHerəpəst /

noun

aromatic /ˌerəˈmadik/

I. adjective

1. having a pleasant and distinctive smell

• a massage with aromatic oils.

2. [Chemistry] (of an organic compound) containing a planar unsaturated ring of atoms that is stabilized by an interaction of the bonds forming the ring. Such compounds are typified by benzene and its derivatives.
Compare with alicyclic.

II. noun

1. a substance or plant emitting a pleasant and distinctive smell.

2. (usu. aromatics) — [Chemistry] an aromatic compound.

III. derivatives

1. aromatically

adverb

2. aromaticity /-məˈtisitē /

noun

( — [Chemistry]

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from late Latin aromaticus, from Greek arōmatikos, from arōma (see aroma).

aromatize /əˈrōməˌtīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Chemistry] convert (a compound) into an aromatic structure.

2. cause to have a pleasant and distinctive smell

• vinegar aromatized with plant juices and honey.

II. derivatives

aromatization /əˌrōmətiˈzāSHən /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French aromatiser, from late Latin aromatizare, from Greek arōmatizein ‘to spice.’

aronia /əˈrōnyə/

I. noun

a plant of the genus Aronia in the rose family, especially (in gardening) a chokeberry.

– origin modern Latin, from Greek arōnia ‘medlar.’

arose /əˈrōz/

past of arise.

around /əˈround/

I. adverb

1. ( also round) — (Brit.) located or situated on every side

• the mountains towering all around

• a building visible for miles around.

2. so as to surround someone or something

• everyone crowded around

• a pool with banks all the way around.

3. so as to give support and companionship

• if one girl is distraught, the others will rally around.

4. with circular motion

• the boats were spun around by waterspouts.

5. so as to cover or take in the whole area surrounding a particular center

• she paused to glance around admiringly at the decor.

6. so as to reach everyone in a particular group or area

• he passed a newspaper clipping around.

7. (round) — (Brit.) so as to rotate and face in the opposite direction

• Jack seized her by the shoulders and turned her around

• ‹figurative› having him in my corner has turned my career around.

8. so as to lead in another direction

• it was the last house before the road curved around.

9. used in describing the position of something, typically with regard to the direction in which it is facing or its relation to other items

• the picture shows the pieces the wrong way around.

10. used to describe a situation in terms of the relation between people, actions, or events

• it was he who was attacking her, not the other way around.

11. (round) — (Brit.) so as to reach a new place or position, typically by moving from one side of something to the other

• he made his way around to the back of the building

• they went the long way around by the main road.

12. in or to many places throughout a locality

• his only ambition is to drive around in a sports car

• word got around that he was on the verge of retirement.

13. used to convey an ability to navigate or orient oneself

• I like pupils to find their own way around.

14. ‹informal› used to convey the idea of visiting someone else

• why don't you come around to my office?

15. randomly or unsystematically; here and there

• John tried to focus on her but she kept moving around

• one of them was glancing nervously around.

16. (round) — (Brit.) in existence, in the vicinity, or in active use

• there was no one around

• by being around I threaten her happiness

• barley has been around for a long time.

17. near at hand

• he would want to have her around as much as possible.

18. approximately; about

• software costs would be around $1,500

• [as prep.] I returned to my hotel around 3 a.m.

II. preposition

1. on every side of

• the palazzo is built around a courtyard

• the hills around the city.

2. (of something abstract) having (the thing mentioned) as a focal point

• our entire culture is built around those loyalties

• you can organize your essay around an existing critical controversy.

3. in or to many places throughout (a community or locality)

• cycling around the village

• a number of large depots around the country.

4. on the other side of (a corner or obstacle)

• Steven parked the car around the corner.

5. so as to hit (something) in passing

• if he didn't shut up, he might get a slap around the ear.

6. so as to encircle or embrace (someone or something)

• he put his arm around her

• warming her hands around a cup of coffee

• the polar vortex around Antarctica.

7. (of a person's arm or arms) partially encircling (another person) as part of a gesture of affection

• Mike put an arm around Mary and kissed her.

8. following an approximately circular route

• he walked around the airfield

• it can drill around corners

• the contour followed around a curve to the north.

9. so as to cover or take in the whole area of (a place)

• she went around the house and saw that all the windows were barred.

III. phrases

1. around the bend

see bend^1.

2. have been around

‹informal› have a lot of varied experience and understanding of the world.

– origin Middle English: from a-2 ‘in, on’ + round. / usage: Are around and round (as preposition and adverbial particle) interchangeable? In US English, the normal form in most contexts is around; round is generally regarded as informal or nonstandard and is standard only in certain fixed expressions, as in the park is open year round and they went round and round in circles.

arousal /əˈrouzl/

noun

the action or fact of arousing or being aroused

• sexual arousal in dreams is common.

arouse /əˈrouz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. evoke or awaken (a feeling, emotion, or response)

• something about the man aroused the guard's suspicions

• the letter aroused in him a sense of urgency.

2. excite or provoke (someone) to anger or strong emotions

• an ability to influence the audience and to arouse the masses.

3. excite (someone) sexually.

4. awaken (someone) from sleep

• she had been aroused by the telephone.

– origin late 16th cent.: from rouse, on the pattern of the pair of rise, arise.

ARP

abbreviation

adjustable-rate preferred.

Arp, Jean /ärp/

(1887–1966), French painter, sculptor, and poet; also known as Hans Arp. He was a cofounder of the Dada movement.

arpeggiate /ärˈpejēˌāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Music] play (a chord) as a series of ascending or descending notes.

II. derivatives

1. arpeggiation /ärˌpejēˈāSHən /

noun

2. arpeggiator /-ˌātər /

noun

arpeggio /ärˈpejēˌō/

I. noun

[Music] the notes of a chord played in succession, either ascending or descending.

– origin Italian, from arpeggiare ‘play the harp,’ from arpa ‘harp.’

arpeggione /ärˌpejēˈōnē, ˌärpeˈjyōnē/

I. noun

an early 19th-century stringed instrument resembling a guitar in shape and having six strings and frets, but played with a bow like a cello.

– origin late 19th cent.: from German, from arpeggio.

arpent /ˈärpənt, ˈärpäN/

I. noun

1. (Canadian) an old French unit of land area equivalent to 3,420 square meters (about 1 acre), the standard measure of land in those areas settled during the French regime and in use until the 1970s.

2. (Canadian) a unit of linear measure equivalent to about 190 feet (58 m), used in New France.

– origin French.

arquebus /ˈärk(w)əbəs / harquebus

I. noun

‹historical› an early type of portable gun supported on a tripod or a forked rest.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French harquebuse, based on Middle Low German hakebusse, from hake ‘hook’ + busse ‘gun.’

arr.

abbreviation

1. (of a piece of music) arranged by

• Variations on a theme of Corelli (arr. Wild).

2. (with reference to the arrival time of a bus, train, or airplane) arrives.

arrabbiata /ˌärəˈbēädə/

I. adjective

denoting a spicy pasta sauce made with tomatoes and hot peppers.

– origin Italian, literally ‘angry,’ feminine past participle of arrabbiare ‘make angry.’

arrack /ˈerək əˈrak / arak

I. noun

an alcoholic liquor typically distilled from the sap of the coconut palm or from rice.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Arabic ῾araḳ ‘sweat,’ from the phrase ῾arak al-tamr, denoting an alcoholic spirit made from dates.

arraign /əˈrān/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — call or bring (someone) before a court to answer a criminal charge

• her sister was arraigned on attempted murder charges.

2. find fault with (someone or something); censure

• the soldiers bitterly arraigned the government for failing to keep its word.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French araisnier, based on Latin ad- ‘to’ + ration- ‘reason, account.’

arraignment /əˈrānmənt/

noun

the action of arraigning someone in court

• he's scheduled for arraignment in New York on Thursday

• she pleaded not guilty at her arraignment.

Arran /ˈerən/

an island in the Firth of Clyde, in the west of Scotland.

arrange /əˈrānj/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. put (things) in a neat, attractive, or required order

• she had just finished arranging the flowers

• the columns are arranged in 12 rows.

2. organize or make plans for (a future event)

• they hoped to arrange a meeting

• we've arranged the funeral for Saturday

• [no obj.] my aunt arranged for the furniture to be stored.

3. [no obj.] — reach agreement about an action or event in advance

• I arranged with my boss to have the time off

• [with infinitive] they arranged to meet at eleven o'clock.

4. ensure that (something) is done or provided by organizing it in advance

• accommodations can be arranged if required.

5. [Music] adapt (a composition) for performance with instruments or voices other than those originally specified

• songs arranged for viola and piano.

6. ‹archaic› settle (a dispute or claim)

• the quarrel, partly by the interference of the crown prince, was arranged.

II. derivatives

arrangeable

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French arangier, from a- (from Latin ad ‘to, at’) + rangier ‘to range’ (see range).

arranged marriage /əˈrānjd ˈmerij/

noun

a marriage planned and agreed to by the families or guardians of the bride and groom, who have little or no say in the matter themselves.

arrangement /əˈrānjmənt/

noun

1. the action, process, or result of arranging or being arranged

• the arrangement of the furniture in the room.

2. a thing that has been arranged in a neat or attractive way

• an intricate arrangement of gravel paths.

3. (usu. arrangements) — plans or preparations for a future event

• all the arrangements for the wedding were made.

4. an agreement with someone

• the travel agents have an arrangement with the hotel

• by special arrangement, students can take a course in other degree programs.

5. [Music] a composition adapted for performance with different instruments or voices than those originally specified

• Mozart's symphonies in arrangements for cello and piano.

6. ‹archaic› a settlement of a dispute or claim.

arranger /əˈrānjər/

noun

1. a person who adapts a musical composition for performance

• he was among the finest arrangers and orchestrators of ballet scores.

2. a person who arranges flowers in a display

• a group of enthusiastic flower arrangers.

3. a person who organizes or makes plans for an event or deal

• the arrangers of the bond sale started to test market demand.

arrant /ˈerənt/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. ‹dated› complete, utter

• what arrant nonsense!

– origin Middle English: variant of errant, originally in phrases such as arrant thief ‘outlawed, roving thief.’

arras /ˈerəs/

I. noun

a rich tapestry, typically hung on the walls of a room or used to conceal an alcove.

– origin late Middle English (originally denoting the fabric itself): named after the French town of Arras.

Arras /äˈräs, ˈarəs/

a town in northeastern France; pop. 43,663 (2006). In medieval times, it was a center for the manufacture of tapestries.

array /əˈrā/

I. noun

1. an impressive display or range of a particular type of thing

• there is a vast array of literature on the topic

• a bewildering array of choices.

2. an ordered arrangement, in particular

3. an arrangement of troops.

4. [Mathematics] an arrangement of quantities or symbols in rows and columns; a matrix.

5. [Computing] an indexed set of related elements.

6. [Law] a list of jurors empaneled.

7. ‹literary› elaborate or beautiful clothing

• he was clothed in fine array.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. display or arrange (things) in a particular way

• arrayed across the table was a buffet

• the forces arrayed against him.

2. (usu. be arrayed in) — dress someone in (the clothes specified)

• they were arrayed in Hungarian national dress.

3. [Law] empanel (a jury).

– origin Middle English (in the senses ‘preparedness’ and ‘place in readiness’): from Old French arei (noun), areer (verb), based on Latin ad- ‘toward’ + a Germanic base meaning ‘prepare.’

arrears /əˈrirz/

I. plural noun

money that is owed and should have been paid earlier

• he was suing the lessee for the arrears of rent.

II. phrases

in arrears ‹chiefly Law› in arrear

a. behind in paying money that is owed

• two out of three tenants are in arrears.

b. (of payments made or due for wages, rent, etc.) at the end of each period of work or occupancy

• you will be paid monthly in arrears.

III. derivatives

arrearage /əˈririj /

noun

– origin Middle English (first used in the phrase in arrear): from arrear (adverb) ‘behind, overdue,’ from Old French arere, from medieval Latin adretro, from ad- ‘toward’ + retro ‘backward.’

arrest /əˈrest/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. seize (someone) by legal authority and take into custody

• the police arrested him for possession of marijuana

• two youths aged 16 were arrested.

2. stop or check (progress or a process)

• the spread of the disease can be arrested

• (as adj. arrested) arrested development may occur.

3. [no obj.] — suffer a heart attack

• they were trying to resuscitate a patient who had arrested.

4. attract the attention of (someone)

• his attention was arrested by a strange sound.

II. noun

1. the action of seizing someone to take into custody

• I have a warrant for your arrest

• they placed her under arrest

• at least 69 arrests were made.

2. a stoppage or sudden cessation of motion

• a respiratory arrest.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French arester, based on Latin ad- ‘at, to’ + restare ‘remain, stop.’

arrestee /əˌresˈtē/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a person who has been arrested.

arrester /əˈrestər / arrestor

noun — [usu. with modifier]

1. a device that prevents or stops a specified thing

• a spark arrester

• a lightning arrester.

2. a device on an aircraft carrier that slows aircraft after landing by means of a hook and cable.

arresting /əˈrestiNG/

I. adjective

1. striking; eye-catching

• at 6 feet 6 inches he was an arresting figure.

2. a person or agency that seizes and detains (someone or something) by legal authority

• the arresting officer.

II. derivatives

arrestingly

adverb

arrest of judgment

noun

[Law] a postponement or stay of a court decision because of a legal challenge or problem.

Arretine /ˈariˌtīn, -ˌtēn/

I. adjective

denoting fine red pottery made at Arretium, an ancient city in central Italy, and elsewhere from c. 100 BC until the late 1st century AD.

– origin late 18th cent.: from the name of the city Arretium (modern Arezzo) + -ine^1.

Arrhenius, Svante August /əˈrēnēəs, -ˈrā-/

(1859–1927), Swedish chemist, noted for his work on electrolytes. Nobel Prize for Chemistry (1903).

arrhythmia /āˈriT͟Hmēə əˈriT͟Hmēə/

I. noun

[Medicine] a condition in which the heart beats with an irregular or abnormal rhythm.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek arruthmia ‘lack of rhythm,’ from a- ‘without’ + rhuthmos (see rhythm).

arrhythmic /əˈriT͟Hmik / arhythmic

I. adjective

1. not rhythmic; without rhythm or regularity

• the arrhythmic clip-clop of pony steps.

2. [Medicine] of, relating to, or suffering from cardiac arrhythmia.

II. derivatives

1. arrhythmical

adjective

2. arrhythmically /-mik(ə)lē /

adverb

arrière-pensée /ärēˌerpänˈsā/

I. noun

a concealed thought or intention; an ulterior motive.

– origin early 19th cent.: French, literally ‘behind thought.’

arris /ˈerəs/

I. noun

[Architecture] a sharp edge formed by the meeting of two flat or curved surfaces.

– origin late 17th cent.: alteration of early modern French areste ‘sharp ridge,’ earlier form of arête.

arrival /əˈrīvəl/

I. noun

1. the action or process of arriving

• Ruth's arrival in New York

• he was dead on arrival at the hospital.

2. a person who has arrived somewhere

• hotel staff greeted the late arrivals.

3. the emergence or appearance of a new development, phenomenon, or product

• the arrival of democracy.

4. a newly emerged development, phenomenon, or product

• sociology is a relatively new arrival on the academic scene.

– origin late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French arrivaille, from Old French arriver (see arrive).

arrive /əˈrīv/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. reach a place at the end of a journey or a stage in a journey

• we arrived at his house and knocked at the door

• the team arrived in New Delhi on July 30

• they had recently arrived from Turkey.

2. (of a thing) be brought or delivered

• the invitation arrived a few days later.

3. (arrive at) — reach (a conclusion or decision)

• they arrived at the same conclusion.

4. (of an event or a particular moment) happen or come

• we will be in touch with them when the time arrives.

5. (of a new development or product) come into existence or use

• microcomputers arrived at the start of the 1970s.

6. (of a baby) be born

• he will feel jealous when a new baby arrives.

7. ‹informal› achieve success or recognition.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘reach the shore after a voyage’): from Old French ariver, based on Latin ad- ‘to’ + ripa ‘shore.’

arriviste /ˌärēˈvēst/

I. noun

an ambitious or ruthlessly self-seeking person, especially one who has recently acquired wealth or social status.

– origin early 20th cent.: from French, from arriver (see arrive).

arrogance /ˈerəɡəns/

noun

the quality of being arrogant

• the arrogance of this man is astounding.

arrogant /ˈerəɡənt/

I. adjective

having or revealing an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities

• he's arrogant and opinionated

• a typically arrogant assumption.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin arrogant- ‘claiming for oneself,’ from the verb arrogare (see arrogate).

arrogantly /ˈerəɡən(t)lē/

adverb

in a manner resulting from or revealing an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities

• the prime minister arrogantly dismissed such concerns.

arrogate /ˈerəˌɡāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. take or claim (something) without justification

• they arrogate to themselves the ability to divine the nation's true interests.

II. derivatives

arrogation /ˌerəˈɡāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin arrogat- ‘claimed for oneself,’ from the verb arrogare, from ad- ‘to’ + rogare ‘ask.’ / usage: See usage at abrogate.

arrondissement /əˈrändismənt, äˈräNdēsˌmäN/

I. noun

1. a subdivision of a department in France, for purposes of local government administration.

2. an administrative district of certain large French cities, in particular Paris.

– origin French, from arrondir ‘make round.’

arrow /ˈerō/

I. noun

1. a shaft sharpened at the front and with feathers or vanes at the back, shot from a bow as a weapon or for sport

• his ability to launch an arrow accurately.

2. a mark or sign resembling an arrow, used to show direction or position; a pointer

• we drove in the main gate and followed a series of arrows

• [as modifier] you can use the up and down arrow keys.

II. phrases

1. arrow of time (or time's arrow)

the direction of travel from past to future in time considered as a physical dimension.

2. straight as an arrow

perfectly straight, with no deviation.

III. derivatives

arrowy

adjective

– origin Old English arewe, arwe, from Old Norse.

Arrow, Kenneth Joseph /ˈarō/

(1921–), US economist, noted chiefly for his work on general economic equilibrium and social choice. His Social Choices and Individual Values (1951) argued the impossibility of aggregating the preferences of individuals into a single combined order of priorities for society as a whole. Nobel Prize for Economics (1972), shared with John R. Hicks.

arrowhead /ˈerōˌhed/

noun

1. the pointed end of an arrow, typically wedge-shaped.

2. a decorative device resembling an arrowhead.

3. an aquatic or semiaquatic plant with arrow-shaped leaves and three-petaled white flowers.
[Genus Sagittaria, family Alismataceae: several species, in particular the common broad-leaved arrowhead S. latifolia.]

arrowroot /ˈerōˌro͞ot/

I. noun

1. a West Indian herbaceous plant from which a starch is prepared.
[Maranta arundinacea, family Marantaceae.]

2. the fine-grained starch obtained from the arrowroot, used in cooking and medicine.

– origin late 17th cent.: alteration of Arawak aru-aru (literally ‘meal of meals’) by association with arrow and root^1, the tubers being used to absorb poison from arrow wounds.

arrow slit

noun

(especially in a medieval fortified building) a narrow vertical slit in a wall for shooting or looking through, or to admit light and air.

arrow-straight /ˈerōˌstrāt/

adjective, adverb

completely straight
[as adj.]

• the roads are empty and arrow-straight

• [as adv.] an index leads the reader arrow-straight to documents of interest.

arrow worm

noun

a slender transparent wormlike animal with fins, having spines on the head for grasping prey. It is common in marine plankton.
Also called chaetognath (see Chaetognatha). [Phylum Chaetognatha.]

arroyo /əˈroiˌ(y)ō/

I. noun

a steep-sided gully cut by running water in an arid or semiarid region.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Spanish.

Arroyo, Grace /əˈroiˌō/

(1947–), president of the Philippines 2001–10; full name Maria Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

arroz /əˈrōs/

noun

Spanish word for rice, used in the names of various dishes.

arroz con pollo /äˌrōs ˌkôn ˈpô(l)yô/

I. noun

a Spanish and Latin American dish of chicken and rice simmered with tomatoes, stock, and herbs.

– origin Spanish, ‘chicken with rice.’

arse /ärs/

I. noun

British spelling of ass^2.

– origin Old English ærs, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch aars and German Arsch.

arsenal /ˈärs(ə)n(ə)l/

I. noun

1. a collection of weapons and military equipment stored by a country, person, or group

• Britain's nuclear arsenal.

2. a place where weapons and military equipment are stored or made.

3. an array of resources available for a certain purpose

• an arsenal of computers at our disposal.

– origin early 16th cent. (denoting a dock for the construction and repair of ships): from French, or from obsolete Italian arzanale, based on Arabic dār-aṣ-ṣinā῾a, from dār ‘house’ + al- ‘(of) the’ + sinā῾a ‘art, industry’ (from ṣana῾a ‘make, fabricate’).

arsenate /ˈärs(ə)nət ˈärs(ə)ˌnāt/

noun

[Chemistry] a salt or ester of arsenic acid.

arsenic

I. noun — /ˈärs(ə)nik /

1. (Symbol: As) — the chemical element of atomic number 33, a brittle steel-gray metalloid.
Arsenic compounds (and their poisonous properties) have been known since ancient times, and the metallic form was isolated in the Middle Ages. Arsenic occurs naturally in orpiment, realgar, and other minerals, and rarely as the free element. Arsenic is used in semiconductors and some specialized alloys; its toxic compounds are widely used in wood preservation.

II. adjective — /ärˈsenik /

1. of or relating to arsenic.

2. [Chemistry] of arsenic with a valence of five; of arsenic (V).

– origin late Middle English (denoting yellow orpiment, arsenic sulfide): via Old French from Latin arsenicum, from Greek arsenikon ‘yellow orpiment,’ identified with arsenikos ‘male,’ but in fact from Arabic al-zarnīḵ ‘the orpiment,’ based on Persian zar ‘gold.’

arsenic acid /ärˌsenik ˈasid/

noun

[Chemistry] a weakly acidic crystalline solid with oxidizing properties, formed when arsenic reacts with nitric acid.
[Chem. formula: H_3AsO_4.]

arsenical /ärˈsenək(ə)l/

I. adjective

of or containing arsenic.

II. noun — (usu. arsenicals)

1. an arsenical drug or other compound.

arsenide /ˈärsəˌnīd/

noun

[Chemistry] a binary compound of arsenic with a metallic element.

arsenopyrite /ˌärs(ə)nōˈpīrīt/

noun

a silvery-gray mineral consisting of an arsenide and sulfide of iron.
[Chem. formula FeAsS.]

arsine /ˈärsēn/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a poisonous gas smelling slightly of garlic, made by the reaction of some arsenides with acids.
[Arsenic trihydride; chem. formula: AsH_3.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from arsenic, on the pattern of amine.

arsis /ˈärsəs/

I. noun

[Prosody] the unstressed syllable of a metrical foot. To the Greeks, the two terms designated the raising and lowering of the foot in walking, but their meanings became reversed in the Latin tradition, where grammarians identified them with the lowering and raising of the voice.

– origin late Middle English: via late Latin from Greek, literally ‘lifting,’ from airein ‘raise.’

arson /ˈärs(ə)n/

I. noun

the criminal act of deliberately setting fire to property

• police are treating the fire as arson

• [as modifier] an arson attack.

– origin late 17th cent.: an Anglo-Norman French legal term, from medieval Latin arsio(n-), from Latin ardere ‘to burn.’

arsonist /ˈärsənəst/

noun

a person who commits arson

• police believe arsonists were responsible for both fires.

arsphenamine /ärsˈfenəmən, -ˌmēn/

I. noun

[Medicine] a synthetic organic arsenic compound formerly used to treat syphilis and other diseases.

– origin early 20th cent.: blend of arsenic, phenyl, and amine.

arsy-versy /ˌärsē ˈvərsē / ‹informal chiefly Brit.›

I. adjective

in a confused, disordered, or perversely contrary state or condition

• the whole place was arsy-versy

• they got things all arsy-versy.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from arse + Latin versus ‘turned,’ the addition of -y^1 to both elements forming a jingle.

art^1 /ärt/

I. noun

1. the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power

• the art of the Renaissance

• great art is concerned with moral imperfections

• she studied art in Paris.

2. works produced by human creative skill and imagination

• his collection of modern art

• an exhibition of Mexican art

• [as modifier] an art critic.

3. creative activity resulting in the production of paintings, drawings, or sculpture

• she's good at art.

4. (the arts) — the various branches of creative activity, such as painting, music, literature, and dance

• the visual arts

• [in sing.] the art of photography.

5. (arts) — subjects of study primarily concerned with the processes and products of human creativity and social life, such as languages, literature, and history (as contrasted with scientific or technical subjects)

• the belief that the arts and sciences were incompatible

• the Faculty of Arts.

6. a skill at doing a specified thing, typically one acquired through practice

• the art of conversation.

II. phrases

1. art for art's sake

used to convey the idea that the chief or only aim of a work of art is the self-expression of the individual artist who creates it.

2. art is long, life is short

‹proverb› there is so much knowledge (or skill) to acquire that a lifetime is not sufficient.

3. art of war

the strategy, tactics, and techniques of combat.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin ars, art-.

art^2 /ärt/

archaic or dialect 2nd person singular present of be.

art.

abbreviation

1. article.

2. artificial.

3. artillery.

Artaud, Antonin /ärˈtō/

(1896–1948), French actor, director, and poet. He developed the concept of the nonverbal Theater of Cruelty.

art car

noun

a car or other four-wheel motor vehicle decorated as a work of art.

art deco /ˌärt ˈdekō/

I. noun

the predominant decorative art style of the 1920s and 1930s, characterized by precise and boldly delineated geometric shapes and strong colors, and used most notably in household objects and in architecture.

– origin 1960s: shortened from French art décoratif ‘decorative art,’ from the 1925 Exposition des Arts décoratifs in Paris.

artel /ärˈtel/

I. noun

‹historical› (in prerevolutionary Russia) a cooperative association of craftsmen living and working together.

– origin from Russian artelʹ.

Artemis /ˈärdəməs / ‹Greek Mythology›

a goddess, daughter of Zeus and sister of Apollo. She was a huntress and is typically depicted with a bow and arrows.
Roman equivalent Diana.

artemisia /ˌärdəˈmēZH(ē)ə/

I. noun

an aromatic or bitter-tasting plant of a genus that includes wormwood, mugwort, and sagebrush. Several kinds of artemisia are used in herbal medicine and many are cultivated for their feathery gray foliage.
[Genus Artemisia, family Compositae.]

– origin Middle English: via Latin from Greek, ‘wormwood,’ named after the goddess Artemis, to whom it was sacred.

artemisinin /ˌärtəˈmēsənin, -ˈmis-/

I. noun

another term for qinghaosu.

– origin 1970s: blend of artemisia and quinine.

Arte Povera /ˈärtā ˈpōvərə, ˈpô-/

I. noun

a style and movement in art originating in Italy in the 1960s combining aspects of conceptual, minimalist, and performance art, and making use of worthless or common materials such as stones or newspapers, in the hope of subverting the commercialization of art.

– origin 1960s: Italian, literally ‘impoverished art,’ from arte ‘art’ + povera (feminine of povero ‘needy’).

arterial /ˌärˈtirēəl/

I. noun

a through road

• sabotaged arterials needed for evacuation of civilians.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of or relating to an artery or arteries.

2. denoting an important route in a system of roads, railroad lines, or rivers

• one of the main arterial routes from New York.

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin arterialis, from Latin arteria (see artery).

arterialize /ärˈtirēəˌlīz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. arterialized)

1. convert venous into arterial (blood) by reoxygenation, especially in the lungs.

II. derivatives

arterialization /ärˌtirēələˈzāSH(ə)n ärˌtirēəˌlīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

arterio-

I. combining form

of or relating to the arteries

• arteriosclerosis.

– origin from Greek artēria (see artery).

arteriography /ärˌtirēˈäɡrəfē/

noun

[Medicine] radiography of an artery, carried out after injection of a radio-opaque substance.

arteriole /ärˈtirēˌōl/

I. noun

[Anatomy] a small branch of an artery leading into capillaries.

II. derivatives

arteriolar /ärˌti(ə)rēˈōlər /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French artériole, diminutive of artère (see artery).

arteriosclerosis /ärˌtirēōskləˈrōsəs/

I. noun

[Medicine] the thickening and hardening of the walls of the arteries, occurring typically in old age.

II. derivatives

arteriosclerotic /ärˌtirēōskləˈrädik /

adjective

arteriovenous /ärˌtirēōˈvēnəs/

adjective

[Anatomy] of, relating to, or affecting an artery and a vein.

arteritis /ˌärdəˈrīdəs/

noun

[Medicine] inflammation of the walls of an artery.

artery /ˈärdərē/

I. noun

1. any of the muscular-walled tubes forming part of the circulation system by which blood (mainly that which has been oxygenated) is conveyed from the heart to all parts of the body.
Compare with vein (sense 1).

2. an important route in a system of roads, rivers, or railroad lines

• the east-west artery between San Francisco and Sacramento.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin arteria, from Greek artēria, probably from airein ‘raise.’

artesian /ärˈtēZHən/

I. adjective

relating to or denoting a well bored perpendicularly into water-bearing strata lying at an angle, so that natural pressure produces a constant supply of water with little or no pumping

• the water from artesian wells makes agriculture possible.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French artésien ‘from Artois’ (see Artois), where such wells were first made.

art film

noun

a film that is artistic or experimental in its primary intent.

art form /ˈärt ˌfô(ə)rm/

noun

1. a conventionally established form of artistic composition, such as the novel, sonata, or sonnet.

2. any activity regarded as a medium of imaginative or creative self-expression

• he elevates stage managing to an art form.

artful /ˈärtfəl/

I. adjective

1. (of a person or action) clever or skillful, typically in a crafty or cunning way

• her artful wiles.

2. showing creative skill or taste

• an artful photograph of a striking woman.

II. derivatives

artfulness /ˈärtfəlnəs /

noun

artfully /ˈärtfəlē/

adverb

1. in a way that is clever or skillful and also cunning

• body scanners are turning up artfully concealed items.

2. in a manner that shows creative skill or taste

• a dish of artfully arranged fruit.

art gallery

noun

a room or building for the display or sale of works of art

• her father runs an art gallery in New York City.

art history

I. noun

the academic study of the history and development of painting, sculpture, and the other visual arts.

II. derivatives

1. art historian

noun

2. art historical

adjective

art house

noun

a movie theater that specializes in films that are artistic or experimental rather than merely entertaining.

arthralgia /ˌärˈTHralj(ē)ə/

I. noun

[Medicine] pain in a joint.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek arthron ‘joint’ + -algia.

arthritic /ärˈTHridik/

I. adjective

affected by or associated with arthritis.

II. noun

a person suffering from arthritis.

arthritis /ärˈTHrīdəs/

I. noun

painful inflammation and stiffness of the joints.

– origin mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek, from arthron ‘joint.’ Arthritic was already used in late Middle English.

arthro-

I. combining form

of a joint; relating to joints

• arthroscope.

– origin from Greek arthron ‘joint.’

arthrodesis /ärˈTHrädəsəs/

I. noun

surgical immobilization of a joint by fusion of the adjacent bones.

– origin early 20th cent.: from arthro- + Greek desis ‘binding together.’

arthroplasty /ˈärTHrəˌplastē/

I. noun

[Medicine] the surgical reconstruction or replacement of a joint

• the ever-increasing population of older adults will expand the demand for arthroplasty.

– origin late 19th cent.: from arthro- + -plasty.

arthropod /ˈärTHrəˌpäd/

noun

[Zoology] an invertebrate animal of the large phylum Arthropoda, such as an insect, spider, or crustacean.

Arthropoda /ärˈTHräpədə / ‹Zoology›

I. a large phylum of invertebrate animals that includes insects, spiders, crustaceans, and their relatives. They have a segmented body, an external skeleton, and jointed limbs, and are sometimes divided among several phyla.

– origin late 19th cent.: modern Latin (plural), from Greek arthron ‘joint’ + pous, pod- ‘foot.’

arthroscope /ˈärTHrəˌskōp/

I. noun

[Medicine] an instrument through which the interior of a joint may be inspected or operated on.

II. derivatives

1. arthroscopic /ˌärTHrəˈskäpik /

adjective

2. arthroscopy /ärˈTHräskəpē /

noun

Arthur /ˈärTHər/

a legendary king of Britain, historically perhaps a 5th- or 6th-century Romano-British chieftain or general. Stories of his life, the exploits of his knights, and the Round Table of the court at Camelot were developed by Malory, Chrétien de Troyes, and other medieval writers and became the subject of many legends.

Arthur, Chester Alan

(1829–86), 21st president of the US 1881–85. A New York Republican, he became James Garfield's vice president in March 1881, succeeding to the presidency upon the assassination of Garfield six months later. During his term of office, he was responsible for the enactment of Civil Service reforms and for improving the strength of the US Navy.

Arthurian /ärˈTH(y)o͝orēən/

adjective

relating to or characteristic of the legendary King Arthur of Britain, or any of the stories of his life

• the Arthurian literary tradition.

artichoke /ˈärdəˌCHōk/

I. noun

1. (also globe artichoke) — a European plant cultivated for its large thistlelike flower heads.
[Cynara scolymus, family Compositae.]

2. the unopened flower head of this, of which the heart and the fleshy bases of the bracts are edible.

3. see Jerusalem artichoke.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from northern Italian articiocco, from Spanish alcarchofa, from Arabic al-ḵaršūfa.

artichoke gall

noun

a hard egg-shaped gall that forms inside an artichoke bud in response to the developing larva of a gall wasp.
[The wasp is Andricus fecundator, family Cynipidae.]

article /ˈärdək(ə)l/

I. noun

1. a particular item or object, typically one of a specified type

• small household articles

• articles of clothing.

2. a piece of writing included with others in a newspaper, magazine, or other publication

• an article about middle-aged executives.

3. a separate clause or paragraph of a legal document or agreement, typically one outlining a single rule or regulation
[as modifier]

• it is an offense under Article 7 of the treaty.

4. [Grammar] see definite article, indefinite article.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be articled)

1. bind by the terms of a contract, as one of apprenticeship.

III. phrases

1. an article of faith

a firmly held belief

• it was an article of faith with this circle that women must free themselves.

2. the genuine article

a person or thing considered to be an authentic and excellent example of their kind.

– origin Middle English (denoting a separate clause of the Apostles' Creed): from Old French, from Latin articulus ‘small connecting part,’ diminutive of artus ‘joint.’

Article 15

noun

1. a section of the Uniform Code of Military Justice allowing commanders to carry out discretionary punishments without judicial proceedings.

2. a judgment or punishment issued under Article 15

• if I agree to accept the Article 15, am I admitting guilt?

Articles of Confederation

plural noun

the original constitution of the US, ratified in 1781, which was replaced by the US Constitution in 1789.

articular /ärˈtikyələr/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of or relating to a joint or the joints

• articular cartilage.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin articularis, from articulus ‘small connecting part’ (see article).

articulate

I. adjective — /ärˈtikyələt /

1. (of a person or a person's words) having or showing the ability to speak fluently and coherently

• an articulate account of their experiences.

2. having joints or jointed segments.

3. [Zoology] denoting a brachiopod that has projections and sockets that form a hinge joining the two halves of the shell.

II. verb — /ärˈtikyəˌlāt /

1. [with obj.] — express (an idea or feeling) fluently and coherently

• they were unable to articulate their emotions.

2. pronounce (something) clearly and distinctly

• he articulated each word with precision

• [no obj.] people who do not articulate well are more difficult to lip-read.

3. [no obj.] — form a joint

• the mandible is a solid piece articulating with the head.

4. (be articulated) — be connected by joints

• the wing is articulated to the thorax.

III. derivatives

1. articulable

adjective

2. articulacy /ärˈtikyələsē /

noun

3. articulately /ärˈtikyələtlē /

adverb

4. articulateness /ärˈtikyələtnəs /

noun

5. articulator /-ˌlātər /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin articulatus, past participle of articulare ‘divide into joints, utter distinctly,’ from articulus ‘small connecting part’ (see article).

articulated /ärˈtikyəˌlādəd/

adjective

1. having two or more sections connected by a flexible joint

• eight articulated trailer coaches

• the trilobite's thorax has a variable number of articulated segments.

2. (of an idea or feeling) expressed; put into words

• the lack of a clearly articulated policy.

articulation /ärˌtikyəˈlāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action of putting into words an idea or feeling of a specified type

• it would involve the articulation of a theory of the just war.

2. the formation of clear and distinct sounds in speech

• the articulation of vowels and consonants.

3. [Music] clarity in the production of successive notes

• beautifully polished articulation from the violins.

4. [Phonetics] the act or manner of uttering a speech sound, especially a consonant.

5. the state of being jointed

• the area of articulation of the lower jaw.

6. [with modifier] — a specified joint

• the leg articulation.

– origin late Middle English (in the senses ‘joint,’ ‘joining’): from Latin articulatio(n-), from the verb articulare (see articulate).

articulatory /ärˈtikyələˌtôrē/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. of or relating to the formation of speech sounds.

artifact /ˈärdəfakt / ‹Brit.› artefact

I. noun

1. an object made by a human being, typically an item of cultural or historical interest

• gold and silver artifacts.

2. something observed in a scientific investigation or experiment that is not naturally present but occurs as a result of the preparative or investigative procedure

• widespread tissue infection may be a technical artifact.

II. derivatives

artifactual /ˌärtəˈfakCHo͞oəl /

adjective

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin arte ‘by or using art’ + factum ‘something made’ (neuter past participle of facere ‘make’).

artifice /ˈärdəfəs/

I. noun

clever or cunning devices or expedients, especially as used to trick or deceive others

• artifice and outright fakery

• the style is not free from the artifices of the period.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘workmanship’): from Old French, from Latin artificium, based on ars, art- ‘art’ + facere ‘make.’

artificer /ärˈtifəsər/

I. noun

1. ‹archaic› a skilled craftsman or inventor.

2. ‹archaic› (Brit.) [Military] a skilled mechanic in the armed forces.

– origin late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French, probably an alteration of Old French artificien, from artifice (see artifice).

artificial /ˌärdəˈfiSHəl/

I. adjective

1. made or produced by human beings rather than occurring naturally, typically as a copy of something natural

• her skin glowed in the artificial light

• an artificial limb

• artificial flowers.

2. (of a situation or concept) not existing naturally; contrived or false

• the artificial division of people into age groups.

3. [Bridge] (of a bid) conventional as opposed to natural.

4. (of a person or a person's behavior) insincere or affected

• an artificial smile.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French artificiel or Latin artificialis, from artificium ‘handicraft’ (see artifice).

artificial climbing

noun

the sport of climbing on an indoor or outdoor wall whose surface simulates a mountain.

artificial horizon /ˌärdəˈfiSHəl həˈrīzən/

noun

a gyroscopic instrument or a fluid surface, typically one of mercury, used to provide a horizontal reference plane for navigational measurement.

artificial insemination /ˌärdəˈfiSHəl inˌseməˈnāSHən / AI

noun

the injection of semen into the vagina or uterus other than by sexual intercourse.

artificial intelligence /ˌärdəˈfiSHəl inˈteləjəns / AI

noun

the theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and translation between languages.

artificiality /ärdəfiSHēˈalədē/

noun

1. the quality of being made or produced by human beings rather than occurring naturally

• vigorous debates about the authenticity of the original and the artificiality of the copy.

2. the quality of being contrived or false

• users complain about the artificiality of war games.

3. insincerity or affectedness

• he claimed to have been horrified by the artificiality of his actors during the making of his first feature film.

artificial life

noun

the production or action of computer programs or computerized systems that simulate the behavior, population dynamics, or other characteristics of living organisms.

artificially /ärdəˈfiSHəlē/

adverb

1. by means of human intervention rather than naturally

• she never wanted to be kept artificially alive with life support.

2. in a contrived or false way

• the presenter tried to artificially create an argument between the two

• [as submodifier] artificially low prices.

3. in an insincere or affected way

• I'm next to him, smiling artificially through my misery.

artificial respiration /ˌärdəˈfiSHəl ˌrespəˈrāSHən/

noun

the restoration or substitution of someone's breathing by manual, mechanical, or mouth-to-mouth methods.

artificial surface

noun

(also artificial turf) — [Sports] a carpetlike playing surface used in stadiums instead of natural grass.

artillery /ˌärˈtil(ə)rē/

I. noun

1. large-caliber guns used in warfare on land

• tanks and heavy artillery.

2. a military detachment or branch of the armed forces that uses large-caliber guns.

II. derivatives

1. artillerist /-rist /

noun

2. artilleryman /ärˈtil(ə)rēmən /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French artillerie, from artiller, alteration of atillier ‘equip, arm,’ probably a variant of atirier, from a- (from Latin ad ‘to, at’) + tire ‘rank, order.’

artiodactyl /ˌärdēōˈdaktl / ‹Zoology›

I. noun

a mammal of the order Artiodactyla, such as a cow, sheep, camel, or pig.

II. adjective

relating to or denoting artiodactyls.

Artiodactyla /ˌärdēōˈdaktlə / ‹Zoology›

I. an order of mammals that comprises the even-toed ungulates.
Compare with Perissodactyla.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek artios ‘even’ + daktulos ‘finger, toe.’

artisan /ˈärdəzən/

I. noun

1. a worker in a skilled trade, especially one that involves making things by hand.

2. [as modifier] — (of food or drink) made in a traditional or non-mechanized way using high-quality ingredients

• local artisan cheeses

• the growing appreciation of artisan foods.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French, from Italian artigiano, based on Latin artitus, past participle of artire ‘instruct in the arts,’ from ars, art- ‘art.’

artisanal /ärˈtēzən(ə)l/

adjective

1. relating to or characteristic of an artisan

• artisanal skills

• artisanal workshops.

2. (of a product, especially food or drink) made in a traditional or non-mechanized way

• artisanal cheeses.

artisanship /ˈärdəzənˌSHip/

noun

skill in a particular craft

• pieces of jewelry which testify to the high artisanship of these ancient people

• a heritage of exquisite artisanship.

artist /ˈärdəst/

I. noun

1. a person who produces paintings or drawings as a profession or hobby.

2. a person who practices any of the various creative arts, such as a sculptor, novelist, poet, or filmmaker.

3. a person skilled at a particular task or occupation

• a surgeon who is an artist with the scalpel.

4. a performer, such as a singer, actor, or dancer.

5. [with modifier] — ‹informal› a habitual practitioner of a specified reprehensible activity

• a con artist

• rip-off artists.

– origin early 16th cent. (denoting a master of the liberal arts): from French artiste, from Italian artista, from arte art, from Latin ars, art-.

artiste /ärˈtēst/

I. noun

a professional entertainer, especially a singer or dancer

• cabaret artistes.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French (see artist).

artistic /ärˈtistik/

adjective

1. having or revealing natural creative skill

• my lack of artistic ability.

2. of, relating to, or characteristic of art or artistry

• a denial of artistic freedom

• her artistic temperament.

3. aesthetically pleasing

• computer programs that produce artistic designs.

artistically /ärˈtistiklē/

adverb

1. as regards art or artists; from an artistic point of view

• the Soviet film industry was artistically limited by outside pressures

• her home was cozy and so artistically decorated for Christmas.

2. in an aesthetically pleasing way

• the buildings are artistically lit.

artistic director

noun

the person with overall responsibility for the selection and interpretation of the works performed by a theater, ballet, or opera company.

artistry /ˈärdəstrē/

noun

creative skill or ability

• the artistry of the pianist.

artist's fungus

noun

a bracket fungus with a reddish-brown upper surface and a pale lower surface on which scratches remain visible as dark marks, found in both Eurasia and North America.
[Ganoderma applanatum, family Ganodermataceae, class Hymenomycetes.]

artist's impression

noun

a sketch or drawing of someone or something, produced when no photograph is available.

artless /ˈärtləs/

I. adjective

1. without guile or deception

• an artless, naive girl

• artless sincerity.

2. without effort or pretentiousness; natural and simple

• an artless literary masterpiece.

3. without skill or finesse

• her awkward, artless prose.

II. derivatives

artlessly /ˈärtləslē /

adverb

art nouveau /ˌär no͞oˈvō ˌärt no͞oˈvō/

I. noun

a style of decorative art, architecture, and design prominent in western Europe and the US from about 1890 until World War I and characterized by intricate linear designs and flowing curves based on natural forms.

– origin early 20th cent.: from French, literally ‘new art.’

Artois /ärˈtwä/

a region and former province of northwestern France.

art paper

noun

high-quality paper coated with china clay or a similar substance to give it a smooth surface.

arts and crafts

plural noun

decorative design and handicraft.

Arts and Crafts Movement

an English decorative arts movement of the second half of the 19th century that sought to revive the ideal of craftsmanship in an age of increasing mechanization and mass production. William Morris was its most prominent member.

art school

noun

a college which provides training in art

• she studied at various art schools in New York.

art song

noun

[Music] a song written to be sung in recital, typically with piano accompaniment and often set to a poem.

art student

noun

a person who is studying to be an artist at a university or other institution of higher education

• he was an art student in Paris in the 1950s.

artsy /ˈärtsē / arty

I. adjective

‹informal› making a strong, affected, or pretentious display of being artistic or interested in the arts

• the artsy town of Taos

• artsy French flicks.

II. derivatives

artsiness

noun

artsy-craftsy /ˌärtsē ˈkraftsē / ‹informal›

adjective

interested or involved in making decorative, artistic objects, typically ones perceived as quaint or homespun

• artsy-craftsy gift shops.

artsy-fartsy /ˌärtsēˈfärtsē/

adjective

‹informal› ‹derogatory› associated with or showing a pretentious interest in the arts

• you can wear a turtleneck to join your artsy-fartsy friends.

art therapy

noun

a form of psychotherapy involving the encouragement of free self-expression through painting, drawing, or modeling, used as a remedial activity or an aid to diagnosis.

artwork /ˈärtˌwərk/

noun

1. illustrations, photographs, or other nontextual material prepared for inclusion in a publication.

2. paintings, drawings, or other artistic works

• a collection of artwork from tribal cultures

• each artwork is reproduced in color on a full page.

Aruba /əˈro͞obə/

an island in the Caribbean Sea, close to the Venezuelan coast; pop. 103,100 (est. 2009); capital, Oranjestad. Formerly part of the Netherlands Antilles, it separated in 1986 to become a self-governing territory of the Netherlands.

arugula /əˈro͞oɡələ / rucola, rugola

I. noun

(N. Amer.) the rocket plant, used in cooking.

– origin 1970s: from Italian dialect, ultimately a diminutive of Latin eruca, ‘downy-stemmed plant.’

arum /ˈerəm/

I. noun

a North American and European plant that has arrow-shaped leaves and a broad leafy spathe enclosing a club-shaped spadix, and that bears bright red berries in late summer.
[Arum, Arisaema, and other genera, family Araceae (the arum family): several species, including jack-in-the-pulpit, cuckoopint, and skunk cabbage. The arum family also contains a number of popular houseplants, such as philodendrons and calla lilies.]

– origin late Middle English: from Latin, from Greek aron.

arum lily

noun

chiefly British term for calla lily (see calla).

Arunachal Pradesh /ˌärəˌnaCHəl prəˈdeSH/

a mountainous state in far northeastern India that lies on the border of Tibet to the north and Burma (Myanmar) to the east; capital, Itanagar. It became a state of India in 1986.

Arvada /ärˈvadə, -ˈvädə/

a city in north central Colorado, northwest of Denver; pop. 107,361 (est. 2008).

-ary^1

I. suffix

1. forming adjectives such as budgetary, primary.

2. forming nouns such as dictionary, granary.

– origin from French -aire or Latin -arius ‘connected with.’

-ary^2

I. suffix

forming adjectives such as capillary, military.

– origin from French -aire or Latin -aris ‘belonging to.’

Aryabhata I /ˌäryəˌbədə T͟Həˈfərst/

(476–c. 550), Indian astronomer and mathematician. His surviving work, Aryabhatiya (499), deals with mathematics, the measurement of time, planetary models, the sphere, and eclipses.

Aryan /ˈerēən ˈärēən/

I. adjective

1. relating to or denoting a people speaking an Indo-European language who invaded northern India in the 2nd millennium BC, displacing the Dravidian and other aboriginal peoples.

2. dated term for Proto-Indo-European or for Indo-Iranian.

3. (in Nazi ideology) relating to people of Caucasian race not of Jewish descent.

The idea that there was an “Aryan” race corresponding to the parent Indo-European language was proposed by certain 19th century writers and was taken up by Hitler and other proponents of racist ideology, but it has been generally rejected by scholars.

II. noun

1. a member of the ancient Aryan people.

2. the language of the Aryan people.

3. (in Nazi ideology) a person of Caucasian race not of Jewish descent.

– origin from Sanskrit ārya ‘noble’ + -an.

aryl /ˈerəl/

I. noun — [as modifier]

1. [Chemistry] of or denoting a radical derived from an aromatic hydrocarbon by removal of a hydrogen atom

• aryl groups.

– origin early 20th cent.: from aromatic + -yl.

arytenoid /əˈridənˌoid, ˌerəˈtēˌnoid / ‹Anatomy›

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of, relating to, or denoting a pair of cartilages at the back of the larynx.

II. noun

either of the arytenoid cartilages.

– origin early 18th cent.: from modern Latin arytaenoides, from Greek arutainoeidēs, from arutaina ‘funnel.’

as^1 /az əz/

I. adverb — (usu. as —— as)

1. used in comparisons to refer to the extent or degree of something

• hailstones as big as tennis balls

• go as fast as you can

• it tasted like grape juice but not as sweet.

2. used to emphasize an amount

• as many as twenty-two rare species may be at risk.

II. conjunction

1. used to indicate that something happens during the time when something is taking place

• Frank watched him as he ambled through the crowd

• as she grew older, she kept more to herself.

2. used to indicate by comparison the way that something happens or is done

• dress as you would if you were having guests

• they can do as they wish

• [as adv.] she kissed him goodbye, as usual

• as in the past, a collection is to be taken.

3. used to add or interject a comment relating to the statement of a fact

• as you can see, I didn't go after all

• he has, as you know, called for a referendum.

4. because; since

• I must stop now as I have to go out.

5. even though

• sweet as he is, he doesn't pay his bills

• try as he might, he failed to pull it off.

III. preposition

1. used to refer to the function or character that someone or something has

• he got a job as a cook

• they were treated as foreigners

• it came as a shock

• as a dairy producer, you should evaluate and analyze your farm from many viewpoints.

2. during the time of being (the thing specified)

• he had often been sick as a child

• as a student, my nickname was Space.

IV. phrases

1. as and when

at the time when (used to refer to an uncertain future event)

• they deal with an issue as and when it rears its head.

2. as for

with regard to

• as for you, you'd better be quick.

3. as if (or as though)

as would be the case if

• she behaved as if he weren't there.

4. as if!

‹informal› I very much doubt it

• You know how lottery winners always say it won't change their lives? Yeah, as if!

5. as (it) is

in the existing circumstances

• I've got enough on my plate as it is.

6. as it were

in a way (used to be less precise)

• areas that have been, as it were, pushed aside.

7. as long as

see long^1.

8. as much

see much.

9. as of

used to indicate the time or date from which something starts

• as of January 1, a free market will be created

• I'm on unemployment as of today.

10. as per

see per.

11. as such

see such.

12. as though

see as if above.

13. as to

with respect to; concerning

• decisions as to which patients receive treatment.

14. as well

see well^1.

15. as yet

[usu. with negative] — until now or a particular time in the past

• the damage is as yet undetermined.

– origin Middle English: reduced form of Old English alswā ‘similarly’ (see also). / usage: 1 A small, seemingly innocent word, as is so frequently misused (or not used where needed) that interested writers are advised to consult a full-length usage guide for counsel on its proper use. As is often used in causal senses in place of because or since (As Julie wasn't hungry, she ordered only a cup of coffee); in such constructions, where as may cause confusion, it is generally advisable to use the unambiguous because, or since. 2 On whether it is more correct to say he's not as shy as I rather than he's not as shy as me, or I live in the same street as she rather than I live in the same street as her, see usage at personal pronoun. 3 For a discussion of when to use as rather than like, see usage at like^1.

as^2 /as/

I. noun

an ancient Roman copper coin.

– origin Latin, literally ‘a unit.’

As

symbol

the chemical element arsenic.

AS

abbreviation

1. American Samoa.

2. Anglo-Saxon.

3. Asperger's syndrome.

4. Associate in Science.

as-

prefix

variant spelling of ad- assimilated before s (as in assemble, assess).

ASA

abbreviation

American Standards Association (especially in film-speed specification)

• color film from 50 to 400 ASA.

asafetida /ˌasəˈfedidə / ‹Brit.› asafoetida

I. noun

1. a fetid resinous gum obtained from the roots of a herbaceous plant, used in herbal medicine and Indian cooking.

2. a Eurasian plant of the parsley family, from which this gum is obtained.
[Ferula, family Apiaceae.]

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin asafoetida, from asa (from Persian azā ‘mastic’) + foetida (see fetid).

asana /ˈäsənə/

I. noun

a posture adopted in performing hatha yoga.

– origin from Sanskrit āsana ‘seat, manner of sitting.’

Asansol /ˌäsənˈsōl/

an industrial city in northeastern India, in West Bengal, northwest of Kolkata (Calcutta); pop. 499,300 (est. 2009).

ASAP

abbreviation

as soon as possible.

asbestos /asˈbestəs azˈbestəs/

I. noun

1. a heat-resistant fibrous silicate mineral that can be woven into fabrics, and is used in fire-resistant and insulating materials such as brake linings

• asbestos was used for pipe insulation

• [as modifier] asbestos shingles.

2. fabric containing asbestos.

The asbestos minerals include chrysotile (white asbestos) and several kinds of amphibole, notably amosite (brown asbestos) and crocidolite (blue asbestos). The danger to health caused by breathing in highly carcinogenic asbestos particles has led to stringent control of its use.

– origin early 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek asbestos ‘unquenchable’ (applied by Dioscurides to quicklime), from a- ‘not’ + sbestos (from sbennumi ‘quench’).

asbestosis /ˌasbesˈtōsəs ˌazˌbesˈtōsəs/

noun

a lung disease resulting from the inhalation of asbestos particles, marked by severe fibrosis and a high risk of mesothelioma (cancer of the pleura).

Asbury Park /ˈazˌberē, -b(ə)rē/

a city in east central New Jersey, on the Atlantic Ocean, long a noted resort; pop. 16,546 (est. 2008).

ASCAP

abbreviation

American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers.

ascariasis /ˌaskəˈrīəsəs/

noun

[Medicine] infection of the intestine with ascarids.

ascarid /ˈaskərid / ascaris

I. noun

[Zoology] a parasitic nematode worm of a family (Ascaridae) whose members typically live in the intestines of vertebrates.

– origin late 17th cent.: back-formation from Greek askarides, plural of askaris ‘intestinal worm.’

ascend /əˈsend/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — go up or climb

• she ascended the stairs

• [no obj.] new magmas were created and ascended to the surface.

2. climb to the summit of (a mountain or hill)

• the first traveler to ascend the mountain.

3. (of a fish or boat) move upstream along (a river).

4. [no obj.] — rise through the air

• we had ascended 3,000 ft.

5. (of a road or flight of steps) slope or lead up

• the road ascends to the lake.

6. move up the social or professional scale

• he took exams to ascend through the ranks

• some executives ascend to top-level positions.

7. (of a spiritual being or soul) rise into heaven

• the Prophet ascended to heaven

• (as adj. ascended) the risen and ascended Christ.

8. (of a voice or sound) rise in pitch

• Carolyn's voice had ascended into high-pitched giggles.

II. phrases

ascend the throne

become king or queen.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin ascendere, from ad- ‘to’ + scandere ‘to climb.’

ascendancy /əˈsendənsē / ascendency

noun

occupation of a position of dominant power or influence

• the ascendancy of good over evil

• they have a moral ascendancy over the rich.

ascendant /əˈsendənt / ascendent

I. adjective

1. rising in power or influence

• ascendant moderate factions in the party.

2. [Astrology] (of a planet, zodiacal degree, or sign) just above the eastern horizon.

II. noun

[Astrology] the point on the ecliptic at which it intersects the eastern horizon at a particular time, typically that of a person's birth.

III. phrases

in the ascendant

rising in power or influence

• the reformers are in the ascendant.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin ascendent- ‘climbing up,’ from the verb ascendere (see ascend).

ascender /əˈsendər/

noun

1. a person or thing that ascends, in particular

2. a part of a letter that extends above the main part (as in b and h).

3. a letter having an ascender.

4. a device used in climbing that can be clipped to a rope to act as a foothold or handhold, or to keep something in position.

ascending /əˈsendiNG/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. increasing in size or importance

• incomes ranked in ascending order of size.

2. sloping or leading upward

• a gently ascending forest path

• blood pressure in the ascending aorta.

ascending colon

noun

[Anatomy] the first main part of the large intestine, which passes upward from the cecum on the right side of the abdomen.

ascension /əˈsen(t)SH(ə)n/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. the act of rising to an important position or a higher level

• his ascension to the ranks of pop star.

2. (Ascension) — the ascent of Christ into heaven on the fortieth day after the Resurrection.

– origin Middle English (referring to the ascent of Christ): via Old French from Latin ascensio(n-), from the verb ascendere (see ascend).

Ascension Day

the fortieth day after Easter, on which Christ's Ascension is celebrated in the Christian Church.
Also called Holy Thursday.

Ascension Island /əˌsen(t)SH(ə)n ˈīlənd/

a small island in the South Atlantic Ocean; with St. Helena it is a dependency of the UK; pop. 1,100 (est. 2009).

ascent /əˈsent/

I. noun

1. a climb or walk to the summit of a mountain or hill

• the first ascent of the Matterhorn

• the routes of ascent can be retraced.

2. an upward slope or path

• the ascent grew steeper.

3. [in sing.] — an instance of rising through the air

• the first balloon ascent was in 1783.

4. [in sing.] — a rise to an important position or a higher level

• his ascent to power.

– origin late 16th cent.: from ascend, on the pattern of the pair of descend, descent.

ascertain /ˌasərˈtān/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. find (something) out for certain; make sure of

• an attempt to ascertain the cause of the accident

• [with clause] management should ascertain whether adequate funding can be provided.

II. derivatives

1. ascertainable /ˌasərˈtānəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. ascertainment /ˌasərˈtānmənt /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘assure, convince’): from Old French acertener, based on Latin certus ‘settled, sure.’

ascetic /əˈsedik/

I. adjective

characterized by or suggesting the practice of severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons

• an ascetic life of prayer, fasting, and manual labor

• a narrow, humorless, ascetic face.

II. noun

a person who practices severe self-discipline and abstention.

III. derivatives

ascetically /əˈsedək(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin asceticus or Greek askētikos, from askētēs ‘monk,’ from askein ‘to exercise.’

asceticism /əˈsedəˌsizəm/

noun

severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons

• acts of physical asceticism.

Ascham, Roger /ˈaskəm/

(c. 1515–68), English humanist scholar and writer. He was noted for his treatise on archery, Toxophilus (1545), and for The Scholemaster (1570), a practical and influential tract on education.

aschelminth /ˈaskhelˌminTH, ˈaSHhel-/

I. noun

[Zoology] an invertebrate animal belonging to a group of phyla that are distinguished by the lack of a well-developed coelom and blood vessels. Most aschelminths are minute wormlike animals, including the nematode worms, rotifers, and water bears.
[Phylum Nematoda and about seven minor phyla, formerly placed in a phylum Aschelminthes.]

– origin from modern Latin Aschelminthes (former phylum name), from Greek askos ‘sac’ + helminth ‘worm’ (from the former belief that animals of this group had a fluid-filled internal sac).

asci /ˈaskī ˈaskē/

plural form of ascus.

ascidian /əˈsidēən/

I. noun

[Zoology] a sea squirt.
[Phylum Chordata, Subphylum Urochordata, class Ascidiacea.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin plural Ascidia (genus name), from Greek askidion, diminutive of askos ‘wineskin.’

ASCII /ˈaskē/

abbreviation

[Computing] American Standard Code for Information Interchange, a set of digital codes representing letters, numerals, and other symbols, widely used as a standard format in the transfer of text between computers.

ascites /əˈsīdēz/

I. noun

[Medicine] the accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, causing abdominal swelling.

II. derivatives

ascitic /əˈsitik /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: via late Latin from Greek askitēs, from askos ‘wineskin.’

Asclepius /əˈsklēpēəs / ‹Greek Mythology›

a hero and god of healing, son of Apollo.

ascomycete /ˌaskəˈmīsēt, -mīˈsēt/

I. noun

[Botany] a fungus whose spores develop within asci. The ascomycetes include most molds, mildews, and yeasts, the fungal component of most lichens, and a few large forms such as morels and truffles.
Compare with basidiomycete. [Phylum Ascomycota (formerly subdivision Ascomycotina), class Ascomycetes.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Ascomycetes (former class name), from Greek askos ‘sac’ + muskētes ‘fungi.’

ascon /ˈaskän/

I. noun

[Zoology] a sponge of the simplest structure, with a tubelike or baglike form lined with choanocytes.
Compare with leucon and sycon.

– origin late 19th cent.: modern Latin (genus name), from Greek askos ‘bag.’

ascorbic acid /əˌskôrbik ˈasəd/

I. noun

a vitamin found particularly in citrus fruits and green vegetables. It is essential in maintaining healthy connective tissue, and is also thought to act as an antioxidant. Severe deficiency causes scurvy.
Also called vitamin C. [A lactone; chem. formula: C_6H_8O_6.]

II. derivatives

ascorbate /-bāt, -bit /

noun

– origin 1930s: from a-1 ‘without’ + medieval Latin scorbutus ‘scurvy’ + -ic.

ascot /ˈasˌkät, -kət/

I. noun

a man's broad silk necktie.

– origin early 20th cent.: from the place name Ascot, by association with formal dress at race meetings held there.

Ascot /ˈaskät ˈaskət/

a town in southern England, southwest of London. It is the site of an annual horse race.

ascribe /əˈskrīb/

I. verb — [with obj.] (ascribe something to)

1. attribute something to (a cause)

• he ascribed Jane's short temper to her upset stomach.

2. (usu. be ascribed to) — attribute (a text, quotation, or work of art) to a particular person or period

• a quotation ascribed to Thomas Cooper.

3. (usu. be ascribed to) — regard (a quality) as belonging to

• tough-mindedness is a quality commonly ascribed to top bosses.

II. derivatives

ascribable /əˈskrībəbəl /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Latin ascribere, from ad- ‘to’ + scribere ‘write.’

ascription /əˈskripSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the attribution of something to a cause

• an ascription of effect to cause.

2. the attribution of a text, quotation, or work of art to a particular person or period

• her ascription of the text to Boccaccio

• questions of authorial ascription.

3. the action of regarding a quality as belonging to someone or something

• the author's ascription of human attributes to his hero or villain.

4. a preacher's words ascribing praise to God at the end of a sermon.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin ascriptio(n-), from the verb ascribere (see ascribe).

ascus /ˈaskəs/

I. noun

[Botany] a sac, typically cylindrical in shape, in which the spores of ascomycete fungi develop.

– origin mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek askos ‘bag.’

ASD

noun

short for autistic spectrum disorder.

ASDIC /ˈazdik/

I. noun

(chiefly Brit.) an early form of sonar used to detect submarines.

– origin World War I: said to be an acronym from Allied Submarine Detection Investigation Committee.

-ase

I. suffix

[Biochemistry] forming names of enzymes

• amylase.

– origin from (diast)ase.

ASEAN /ˈasēan/

abbreviation

Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

aseismic /āˈsīzmik/

adjective

[Geology] not characterized by earthquake activity.

asepsis /āˈsepsəs/

noun

1. the absence of bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms.

2. the exclusion of bacteria and other microorganisms, typically during surgery.
Compare with antisepsis.

aseptic /āˈseptik/

adjective

1. free from contamination caused by harmful bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms.

2. [attrib.] — (of surgical practice) aiming at the complete exclusion of harmful microorganisms.

3. [attrib.] — (of a wound, instrument, or dressing) surgically sterile or sterilized.

asexual /āˈsekSH(o͞o)əl/

I. adjective

1. without sexual feelings or associations

• she rested her hand on the back of his head, in a maternal, wholly asexual, gesture.

2. [Biology] (of reproduction) not involving the fusion of gametes.

3. without sex or sexual organs

• asexual parasites.

II. noun

a person who has no sexual feelings or desires.

III. derivatives

1. asexuality /āsekSHo͞oˈalədē /

noun

2. asexually /āˈsekSH(o͞o)əlē /

adverb

Asgard /ˈasˌɡärd, ˈaz- / ‹Scandinavian Mythology›

a region in the center of the universe, inhabited by the gods.

ash^1 /aSH/

I. noun

1. the powdery residue left after the burning of a substance

• cigarette ash

• a day's worth of paper burned to ashes.

2. (ashes) — the remains of something destroyed; ruins

• the people are really living in the ashes of those traditions and institutions.

3. (ashes) — the remains of the human body after cremation or burning

• his ashes were scattered on a Welsh mountainside.

4. powdery material thrown out by a volcano

• the plains have been showered by volcanic ash.

5. the mineral component of an organic substance, as assessed from the residue left after burning

• coal contains higher levels of ash than premium fuels.

II. phrases

1. (turn to) ashes in one's mouth

(become) something that is bitterly disappointing or worthless

• they found words such as “heroic” turn to ashes in their mouths during the scandal.

2. rise (or emerge) from the ashes

be renewed after destruction

• Atlanta has risen from the ashes.

[compare with rise like a phoenix from the ashes (see phoenix).]

– origin Old English æsce, aexe, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch as and German Asche.

ash^2 /aSH/

I. noun

1. (also ash tree) — a tree with silver-gray bark and compound leaves. The ash is widely distributed throughout north temperate regions where it can form forests.
[Genus Fraxinus, family Oleaceae: many species, including the North American white ash (F. americana) and the European ash (F. excelsior).]

2. the hard pale wood of the ash tree.

3. [with modifier] — any of a number of unrelated trees with leaves similar to the ash.
See also mountain ash.

4. an Old English runic letter (so named from the word of which it was the first letter).

5. the symbol æ or Æ, used in the Roman alphabet in place of the runic letter, and as a phonetic symbol.
See also Æ.

– origin Old English æsc, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch es and German Esche.

ashamed /əˈSHāmd/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. embarrassed or guilty because of one's actions, characteristics, or associations

• you should be ashamed of yourself

• his clothes and manners made me ashamed of him

• [with clause] she felt ashamed that she had hit him.

2. (ashamed to do something) — reluctant to do something through fear of embarrassment or humiliation

• I'm ashamed to say I followed him home

• I am not ashamed to be seen with them.

II. derivatives

ashamedly /əˈSHāmədlē /

adverb

– origin Old English āscamod, past participle of āscamian ‘feel shame,’ from ā- (as an intensifier) + the verb shame.

Ashanti^1 /əˈSHäntē, əˈSHantē / Asante

a region of central Ghana. Annexed by Britain in 1902, it became part of the former British colony of the Gold Coast.

Ashanti^2 Asante

I. noun

1. a member of a people of south central Ghana.

2. the dialect of Akan spoken by the Ashanti.

II. adjective

relating to the Ashanti or their language.

– origin the name in Akan.

ash blond /aSH ˈbländ / ash blonde

I. adjective

(of a person or their hair) very pale blond.

II. noun

1. a very pale blond color.

2. a person with very pale blond hair.

ashcan /ˈaSHˌkan/

noun

1. (US) a metal receptacle for trash or ashes.

2. (US) ‹military slang› a depth charge.

Ashcan School /ˈaSHkan ˌsko͞ol/

a group of American realist painters active from c. 1908 until World War I, who painted scenes from the slums of New York. The school grew out of the group called “the Eight.”

Ashcroft, Dame Peggy

(1907–91), English actress; born Edith Margaret Emily Ashcroft. She won an Academy Award for best supporting actress in the movie A Passage to India (1984).

Ashcroft, John David /ˈaSHˌkrôft/

(1942–), US attorney general 2001–05. Under him, the Justice Department was reorganized to focus on antiterrorism, following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

ash dieback

noun

a serious fungal disease of the European ash, characterized by the progressive death of the tree's branches

• the number of woodland sites where ash dieback has been detected has doubled.

[The disease is caused by Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus (also called Chalara fraxinea), subdivision Ascomycotina.]

Ashe, Arthur /aSH/

(1943–93), US tennis player; full name Arthur Robert Ashe. He won the men's singles title at the US Open 1968 and Wimbledon 1975, becoming the first black male player to achieve world rankings.

ashen^1 /ˈaSHən/

adjective

1. of the pale gray color of ash

• the ashen morning sky.

2. (of a person's face) very pale with shock, fear, or illness.

3. of or resembling ashes

• the volcano's ashen breath.

ashen^2 /ˈaSHən/

adjective

‹archaic› ‹literary› made of timber from the ash tree.

Asher /ˈaSHər/

I. (in the Bible) a Hebrew patriarch, son of Jacob and Zilpah.

II. the tribe of Israel traditionally descended from him.

Asheville /ˈaSHvəl, -ˌvil/

a city in western North Carolina, a resort in the Blue Ridge Mountains; pop. 74,543 (est. 2008). The Biltmore estate is here.

Ashgabat /ˌäSHɡəˈbät / Ashkhabad

the capital of the central Asian republic of Turkmenistan; pop. 744,000 (est. 2007).
Former name (1919–27) Poltoratsk.

ashine /əˈSHīn/

adjective — [predic.]

1. ‹literary› shining

• eyes ashine in the darkness.

A-shirt /ˈāˌSHərt/

noun

a sleeveless athletic shirt or undershirt.

Ashkenazi /äSHkəˈnäzē ˌaSHkəˈnäzē/

I. noun

a Jew of central or eastern European descent. More than 80 percent of Jews today are Ashkenazim; they preserve Palestinian rather than Babylonian Jewish traditions, and some still use Yiddish. Compare with Sephardi.

II. derivatives

Ashkenazic /äSHkəˈnäzik ˌaSHkəˈnäzik /

adjective

– origin from modern Hebrew, from Ashkenaz, son of Japheth, one of the sons of Noah (Gen. 10:3).

Ashkenazy, Vladimir /ˌaSHkəˈnäzē, ˌäSH-/

(1937–), Russian pianist; full name Vladimir Davidovich Ashkenazy. A child prodigy, he left the former Soviet Union in 1963, finally settling in Iceland in 1973.

Ashland /ˈaSHl(ə)n(d)/

I. a city in northeastern Kentucky, on the Ohio River; pop. 21,346 (est. 2008). It is a center of the area's coal industry.

II. a city in north central Ohio; pop. 21,850 (est. 2008).

ashlar /ˈaSHlər/

I. noun

1. masonry made of large square-cut stones, typically used as a facing on walls of brick or stone.

2. a stone used in ashlar.

– origin Middle English: from Old French aisselier, from Latin axilla, diminutive of axis ‘plank.’

ashlaring /ˈaSHləriNG/

noun

1. ashlar masonry.

2. upright boarding fixed from the joists to the rafters of an attic to cut off the acute angle between the roof and the floor.

Ashley, Laura /ˈaSHlē/

(1925–85), Welsh fashion and textile designer; known for her use of floral patterns and romantic Victorian and Edwardian styles.

Ashmolean Museum /aSHˌmōlēən myo͞oˈzēəm/

a museum of art and antiquities in Oxford, England. It opened in 1683 and was the first public institution of its kind in England.

Ashmore and Cartier Islands /ˈaSHˌmôr, ˈkärtēˌā, ˌkärtēˈā/

uninhabited islands in the Indian Ocean, an external territory of Australia.

ashore /əˈSHôr/

adverb

1. to or on the shore from the direction of the sea

• the seals come ashore to breed.

2. on land as opposed to at sea

• we spent the day ashore.

ash pan /ˈaSH pan/

noun

a tray fitted beneath a grate in which ashes can be collected and removed.

ashram /ˈäSHrəm/

I. noun

1. (in South Asia) a hermitage, monastic community, or other place of religious retreat for Hindus.

2. a place of religious retreat or community life modeled on the Indian ashram.

– origin from Sanskrit āśrama ‘hermitage.’

Ash Shariqah /ˌäSH ˈSHärēkə/

variant form of Sharjah.

Ashtabula /ˌaSHtəˈbyo͞olə/

a port city in northeastern Ohio, on Lake Erie; pop. 19,689 (est. 2008).

ashtanga /aSHˈtäNGə / ashtanga yoga, astanga

I. noun

a type of yoga based on eight principles and consisting of a series of poses executed in swift succession, combined with deep, controlled breathing.

– origin from Hindi aṣṭaṇ or its source, Sanskrit ashṭaṅga ‘having eight parts,’ from ashtán ‘eight.’

Ashton, Sir Frederick /ˈaSHtən/

(1904–88), British ballet dancer, choreographer, and director; full name Sir Frederick William Mallandaine Ashton.

ashtray /ˈaSHˌtrā/

noun

a receptacle for tobacco ash and cigarette butts.

Ashurbanipal /ˌäSHo͝orˈbänēˌpäl/

king of Assyria c. 668–627 BC; grandson of Sennacherib. A patron of the arts, he established a library of more than 20,000 clay tablets at Nineveh.

Ash Wednesday /ˈaSH ˈwenzˌdā/

I. noun

the first day of Lent in the Western Christian Church, marked by services of penitence.

– origin from the custom of marking the foreheads of penitents with ashes on that day.

ashy /ˈaSHē/

adjective

1. of a pale grayish color; ashen

• the ashy shadows of the mountains.

2. covered with, consisting of, or resembling ashes

• an ashy sediment.

ASI

abbreviation

airspeed indicator.

Asia /ˈāZHə/

the largest of the world's continents, constituting nearly one-third of the landmass, lying entirely north of the equator except for some Southeast Asian islands. It is connected to Africa by the Isthmus of Suez and borders Europe (part of the same landmass) along the Ural Mountains and across the Caspian Sea.

asiago /ˌäsēˈäɡō/

I. noun

a strong-flavored cow's milk cheese originally made in northern Italy.

– origin named after Asiago, the plateau and town in northern Italy where the cheese was first made.

Asia Minor /ˌāZHə ˈmīnər/

the western peninsula of Asia that now constitutes most of modern Turkey.

Asian /ˈāZHən/

I. adjective

of or relating to Asia or its people, customs, or languages.

II. noun

a native of Asia or a person of Asian descent.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin Asianus, from Greek Asianos, from Asia (see Asia). / usage: In North America, Asian refers to people from China, Japan, and other countries of East Asia, while in Britain it is used to refer to people who come from (or whose parents came from) India, Pakistan, or elsewhere in South Asia. See also usage at oriental.

Asian American /ˈāZHən əˈmerəkən/

I. noun

an American who is of Asian (chiefly East Asian) descent.

II. adjective

of or relating to Asian Americans.

Asian cobra

noun

another term for spectacled cobra.

Asian Development Bank

a bank with forty-seven member countries (thirty-two are from the Asia-Pacific region) located in Manila. Its aim is to promote the economic and social progress of its developing member countries.

Asian elephant

noun

another term for Indian elephant.

Asian long-horned beetle

noun

a large black beetle with white spots whose larvae feed on hardwoods. Infestations in the US have led to large-scale destruction of trees in order to eradicate the pest.
[Anoplophora glabripennis, family Cerambycidae.]

Asian pear

noun

the crisp apple-shaped fruit of a tree that is native to Japan and China and cultivated in Australia and New Zealand.
Also called nashi. [This fruit is obtained from varieties of Pyrus pyrifolia, family Rosaceae.]

Asian swamp eel

noun

a freshwater eel that can breathe air and traverse land. Its introduction in the southeastern US threatens some native aquatic fauna.
[Monopterus albus, family Synbranchidae.]

Asia-Pacific /ˌāZHəpəˈsifik/

noun

a business region consisting of the whole of Asia as well as the countries of the Pacific Rim.

Asiatic /ˌāZHēˈadik ˌāzēˈadik/

I. adjective

relating to or deriving from Asia

• Asiatic cholera

• Asiatic coastal regions.

II. noun

‹often offensive› an Asian person.

– origin via Latin Asiaticus from Greek Asiatikos, from Asia (see Asia). / usage: The standard and accepted term when referring to individual people is Asian rather than Asiatic, which can be offensive. However, Asiatic is standard in scientific and technical use, for example in biological and anthropological classifications. See also usage at oriental.

ASIC /ˈāsik/

abbreviation

[Electronics] application specific integrated circuit.

aside /əˈsīd/

I. adverb

1. to one side; out of the way

• he pushed his plate aside

• they stood aside to let a car pass

• she must put aside all her antagonistic feelings.

2. in reserve; for future use

• she set aside some money for rent.

3. used to indicate that one is dismissing something from consideration, or that one is shifting from one topic or tone of discussion to another

• joking aside, I've certainly had my fill.

II. noun

1. a remark or passage by a character in a play that is intended to be heard by the audience but unheard by the other characters in the play.

2. a remark not intended to be heard by everyone present

• “Does that make him a murderer?” whispered Alice in an aside to Fred.

3. a remark that is not directly related to the main topic of discussion

• the recipe book has little asides about the importance of home and family.

III. phrases

1. aside from

(chiefly N. Amer.) apart from.

2. take (or draw) someone aside

move someone away from a group of people in order to talk privately.

– origin Middle English (originally on side): see a-2, side.

A-side /ˈā ˌsīd/

noun

the side of a pop single record regarded as the main release.

Asimov, Isaac /ˈazəˌmôv, -ˌmôf/

(1920–92), US writer and scientist; born in Russia; particularly known for his works of science fiction, his books on science for nonscientists, and his essays on a wide variety of subjects. Building on Karel Čapek's concept of the robot, in 1941, Asimov coined the term robotics. Notable science fiction works: I, Robot (1950) and Foundation (trilogy, 1951–53).

asinine /ˈasəˌnīn/

I. adjective

extremely stupid or foolish

• Lydia ignored his asinine remark.

II. derivatives

asininity /ˌasəˈninədē /

noun

– origin late 15th cent.: from Latin asininus, from asinus ‘ass.’

Asir Mountains /äˌsēər ˈmount(ə)nz/

a range of mountains in southwestern Saudi Arabia that run parallel to the Red Sea.

-asis -iasis

I. suffix

forming the names of diseases

• onchocerciasis

• psoriasis.

– origin via Latin from Greek in nouns denoting a state or condition.

asity /ˈasədē/

I. noun

a stocky perching bird related to the pittas, found only in Madagascar.
[Family Philepittidae: two genera, in particular Philepitta (two species). See also false sunbird.]

– origin probably a local name.

ask /ask/

I. verb

1. [reporting verb] — say something in order to obtain an answer or some information
[with clause]

• he asked if she wanted coffee

• he asked whether his electric wheelchair would fit through their doors

• [with obj.] people are always asking questions

• [with direct speech] “How much further?” I asked

• [no obj.] the old man asked about her job.

2. [no obj.] (ask around) — talk to various people in order to find something out

• there are fine meals to be had if you ask around.

3. [no obj.] (ask after) — inquire about the health or well-being of

• Mrs. Savage asked after Iris's mother.

4. [with obj.] — request (someone) to do or give something

• Mary asked her father for money

• [with obj. and infinitive] I asked him to call the manager

• [no obj.] don't be afraid to ask for advice.

5. [with clause] — request permission to do something

• she asked if she could move in

• [with infinitive] he asked to see the officer involved.

6. [no obj.] (ask for) — request to speak to

• when I arrived, I asked for Catherine.

7. request (a specified amount) as a price for selling something

• he was asking $250 for the guitar.

8. expect or demand (something) of someone

• it's asking a lot, but could you look through Billy's things?

9. [with obj.] — invite (someone) to one's home or a function

• it's about time we asked Pam to dinner.

10. (ask someone along) — invite someone to join one on an outing

• do you want to ask him along?

11. (ask someone out) — invite someone out socially, typically on a date.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. a request, especially for a donation

• it was an awkward ask for more funding.

2. (US) the price at which an item, especially a financial security, is offered for sale
[as modifier]

• ask prices for bonds.

III. phrases

1. be asking for it (or trouble)

‹informal› behave in a way that is likely to result in difficulty for oneself

• they accused me of asking for it

• you're asking for trouble.

2. don't ask me!

‹informal› used to indicate that one does not know the answer to a question and that one is surprised or irritated to be questioned

• “Is he her boyfriend then?” “Don't ask me!”

3. for the asking

used to indicate that something can be easily obtained

• the job was his for the asking.

4. I ask you!

‹informal› an exclamation of shock or disapproval intended to elicit agreement from one's listener

• A toaster for a birthday present? I ask you!

5. if you ask me

‹informal› used to emphasize that a statement is one's personal opinion

• if you ask me, it's just an excuse for laziness.

IV. derivatives

asker /ˈaskər /

noun

– origin Old English āscian, āhsian, āxian.

askance /əˈskans / askant

I. adverb

with an attitude or look of suspicion or disapproval

• the reformers looked askance at the mystical tradition

• a waiter looked askance at Charlie's jeans.

– origin late 15th cent.: of unknown origin.

askari /əˈskärē/

I. noun

(in East Africa) a soldier or police officer.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Arabic 'askarī ‘soldier.’

askesis /əˈskēsəs / ascesis

I. noun

the practice of severe self-discipline, typically for religious reasons.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek askēsis ‘training,’ from askein ‘to exercise.’

askew /əˈskyo͞o/

I. adverb, adjective

1. not in a straight or level position
[as adv.]

• the door was hanging askew on one twisted hinge

• [as predic. adj.] her hat was slightly askew.

2. wrong; awry
[as adv.]

• the plan went sadly askew

• [as adj.] outrageous humor with a decidedly askew point of view.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from a-2 ‘on’ + skew.

asking price /ˈaskiNG ˌprīs/

noun

the price at which something is offered for sale.

ASL

abbreviation

American Sign Language.

aslant /əˈslant/

I. adverb

at an angle or in a sloping direction

• some of the paintings hung aslant.

II. preposition

across at an angle or in a sloping direction

• rays of light fell aslant a door.

asleep /əˈslēp/

I. adjective, adverb

1. in or into a state of sleep
[as adj.]

• she had been asleep for over three hours

• [as adv.] Bob regularly fell asleep in his recliner.

2. not attentive or alert; inactive
[as adj.]

• the competition was not asleep.

3. (of a limb) having no feeling; numb
[as adj.]

• his legs were asleep.

4. ‹literary› used euphemistically to say that someone is dead.

II. phrases

asleep at the switch (or wheel)

‹informal› not attentive or alert; inactive

• someone must have been asleep at the switch to allow this.

aslope /əˈslōp/

I. adverb, adjective

‹archaic› ‹literary› in a sloping position
[as adj.]

• the steps are aslope and broken

• [as adv.] against the mast he leans aslope.

– origin late Middle English: origin uncertain; this form appears earlier than slope.

ASM

abbreviation

1. air-to-surface missile.

2. assistant stage manager.

Asmara /ˌasˈmerə / Asmera

the capital of Eritrea; pop. 601,000 (est. 2007).

asocial /āˈsōSHəl/

adjective

avoiding social interaction; inconsiderate of or hostile to others

• the cat's independence has encouraged a view that it is asocial.

Asoka /əˈsōkə / Ashoka

(died c. 232 BC), emperor of India c. 269–232 BC. He converted to Buddhism and established it as the state religion.

Asoka pillar Ashoka pillar

I. the pillar of the Emperor Asoka with four lions on the capital, built at Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh to mark the spot where the Buddha publicly preached his doctrine, and adopted as a symbol by the government of India.

– origin Asoka from Sanskrit aśoka.

asp /asp/

I. noun

1. a small southern European viper with an upturned snout.
[Vipera aspis, family Viperidae.]

2. another term for Egyptian cobra.

– origin Middle English: from Latin aspis, from Greek.

ASP

abbreviation

application service provider, a company providing Internet access to software applications that would otherwise have to be installed on individual computers.

asparagine /əˈsperəjēn əˈsperəjən/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a hydrophilic amino acid that is a constituent of most proteins.
[An amide of aspartic acid; chem. formula: CONH_2CH_2CH(NH_2)COOH.]

– origin early 19th cent.: from asparagus (which contains it) + -ine^4.

asparagus /əˈsperəɡəs/

I. noun

1. a tall plant of the lily family with fine feathery foliage, cultivated for its edible shoots.
[Asparagus officinalis, family Liliaceae.]

2. the tender young shoots of the asparagus, eaten as a vegetable and considered a delicacy.

– origin mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek asparagos.

asparagus beetle

noun

a small, boldly marked leaf beetle whose adults and larvae feed on the leaves of asparagus.
[Crioceris asparagi, family Chrysomelidae.]

asparagus fern /əˈsperəɡəs fərn/

noun

a decorative indoor or greenhouse plant with feathery foliage, related to the edible asparagus.
[Genus Asparagus, family Liliaceae: several species, in particular A. plumosus.]

aspartame /ˈaspärˌtām/

noun

a very sweet substance used as an artificial sweetener, chiefly in low-calorie products. It is a derivative of aspartic acid and phenylalanine.

aspartic acid /əˌspärtik ˈasid/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] an acidic amino acid that is a constituent of most proteins and also occurs in sugar cane. It is important in the metabolism of nitrogen in animals and also acts as a neurotransmitter.
[Chem. formula: COOHCH_2CH(NH_2)COOH.]

II. derivatives

aspartate /-tāt /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: aspartic from French aspartique, formed arbitrarily from Latin asparagus (see asparagus).

ASPCA

abbreviation

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

aspect /ˈaspekt/

I. noun

1. a particular part or feature of something

• the financial aspect can be overstressed.

2. a specific way in which something can be considered

• from every aspect, theirs was a changing world.

3. [in sing.] — a particular appearance or quality

• the air of desertion lent the place a sinister aspect

• a man of decidedly foreign aspect.

4. [usu. in sing.] — the positioning of a building or thing in a specified direction

• a greenhouse with a southern aspect.

5. the side of a building facing a particular direction

• the front aspect of the hotel was unremarkable.

6. [Astrology] a particular position of a planet or other celestial body relative to another, as measured by angular distance

• the sun in Aries formed an adverse aspect with Uranus in Capricorn.

7. [Grammar] a grammatical category or form that expresses the way in which time is denoted by the verb

• the semantics of tense and aspect

• four verbal aspects.

There are two aspects in English, the progressive or continuing aspect (expressing duration, typically using the auxiliary verb be with a form in -ing, as in I was reading a book) and the perfect or perfective (expressing completed action, typically using the auxiliary verb have with a past participle, as in I have read the book).

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Astrology] (of a planet) form an aspect with (another celestial body)

• the sun is superbly aspected by your ruler Mars on the 19th.

III. derivatives

aspectual /aˈspek(t)SH(o͞o)əl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (denoting the action or a way of looking at something): from Latin aspectus, from aspicere ‘look at,’ from ad- ‘to, at’ + specere ‘to look.’

aspect ratio

noun

1. the ratio of the width to the height of an image or screen.

2. [Aeronautics] the ratio of the span to the mean chord of an airfoil.

aspen /ˈaspən/

I. noun

a poplar tree with rounded, long-stalked, and typically coarsely toothed leaves that tremble in even a slight breeze.
[Genus Populus, family Salicaceae: several species, in particular the North American quaking aspen (P. tremuloides) and bigtooth aspen (P. grandidentata) and the European P. tremula.]

– origin late Middle English: from dialect asp (in the same sense) + -en^2, forming an adjective later used as a noun (late 16th cent).

Aspen /ˈaspən/

a resort in south central Colorado; pop. 5,902 (est. 2008) A thriving recreational center, it is noted particularly for its skiing facilities.

Asperger's syndrome /ˈaspərɡərz ˌsindrōm / Asperger syndrome

I. noun

a developmental disorder related to autism and characterized by higher than average intellectual ability coupled with impaired social skills and restrictive, repetitive patterns of interest and activities.

– origin named after Hans Asperger (1906–80), the Austrian psychiatrist who described the condition in 1944.

asperges /əˈspərjəz/

I. noun

1. [Christian Church] the rite of sprinkling holy water at the beginning of the Mass, still used occasionally in Catholic churches.

2. [Christian Church] another term for aspergillum.

– origin late 16th cent.: the first word of the Latin (Vulgate) text of Psalms 51:9 (literally ‘thou shalt purge’), recited before Mass during the sprinkling of holy water.

aspergillosis /ˌaspərjəˈlōsəs/

I. noun

a condition in which certain fungi infect the tissues. It most commonly affects the lungs, owing to inhalation of spores from moldy hay, and is then informally called farmer's lung.
[The fungi that cause this condition are blackish molds of the genus Aspergillus, phylum Ascomycota.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Aspergillus, from aspergillum, + -osis.

aspergillum /ˌaspərˈjiləm/

I. noun

an implement for sprinkling holy water.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin.

asperity /əˈsperədē/

I. noun

1. harshness of tone or manner

• he pointed this out with some asperity.

2. (asperities) — harsh qualities or conditions

• the asperities of a harsh and divided society.

3. (usu. asperities) — a rough edge on a surface

• the asperities of the metal surfaces.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘hardship, rigor’): from Old French asperite, or Latin asperitas, from asper ‘rough.’

aspermia /āˈspərmēə/

noun

[Medicine] failure to produce semen, or absence of sperm in the semen.

asperse /əˈspərs/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹rare› attack or criticize the reputation or integrity of

• he aspersed the place and its inhabitants.

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘sprinkle or spatter with liquid’): from Latin aspers- ‘sprinkled,’ from the verb aspergere, from ad- ‘to’ + spargere ‘sprinkle.’

aspersion /əˈspərZHən aˈspərSHən/

I. noun — (usu. aspersions)

1. an attack on the reputation or integrity of someone or something

• I don't think anyone is casting aspersions on you.

– origin late Middle English (denoting the sprinkling of water, especially at baptism): from Latin aspersio(n-), from aspergere (see asperse).

asphalt /ˈasfôlt/

I. noun

1. a mixture of dark bituminous pitch with sand or gravel, used for surfacing roads, flooring, roofing, etc.

2. the bituminous pitch used in making asphalt, sometimes found in natural deposits but usually made by the distillation of crude oil.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. cover with asphalt.

III. derivatives

asphaltic /asˈfôltik /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from French asphalte, based on late Latin asphalton, asphaltum, from Greek asphalton.

asphalt jungle

noun

Variant of concrete jungle.

aspherical /āˈsferək(ə)l/

I. adjective

(especially of the surface of an optical lens) not spherical.

II. derivatives

aspheric

adjective

asphodel /ˈasfəˌdel/

I. noun

1. a Eurasian plant of the lily family, typically having long slender leaves and flowers borne on a spike.
[Genera Asphodelus and Asphodeline, family Liliaceae. See also bog asphodel.]

2. ‹literary› an immortal flower said to grow in the Elysian fields.

– origin late Middle English: via Latin from Greek asphodelos; compare with daffodil.

asphyxia /asˈfiksēə/

I. noun

a condition arising when the body is deprived of oxygen, causing unconsciousness or death; suffocation.

II. derivatives

1. asphyxial /aˈsfiksēəl /

adjective

2. asphyxiant /aˈsfiksēənt /

adjective, noun

– origin early 18th cent. (in the sense ‘stopping of the pulse’): modern Latin, from Greek asphuxia, from a- ‘without’ + sphuxis ‘pulse.’

asphyxiate /əˈsfiksēˌāt/

verb — [with obj.] (usu. be asphyxiated)

1. kill (someone) by depriving them of air

• they were asphyxiated by the carbon monoxide fumes

• ‹figurative› avoiding asphyxiating government control.

2. [no obj.] — die by asphyxiation

• they slowly asphyxiated.

asphyxiation /əsˌfiksēˈāSH(ə)n/

noun

the state or process of being deprived of oxygen, which can result in unconsciousness or death; suffocation

• the cause of death was asphyxiation.

aspic /ˈaspik/

I. noun

a savory jelly made with meat stock, set in a mold and used to contain pieces of meat, seafood, or eggs

• chicken in aspic

• ‹figurative› a world preserved in aspic, far removed from mass unemployment.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French, literally ‘asp,’ from the colors of the jelly as compared with those of the snake.

aspidistra /ˌaspəˈdistrə/

I. noun

a bulbous plant with broad tapering leaves, native to eastern Asia and often grown as a houseplant.
[Genus Aspidistra, family Liliaceae.]

– origin early 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek aspis, aspid- ‘shield’ (because of the shape of the stigma), on the pattern of Tupistra, a related genus.

Aspie /ˈaspē / ‹informal› aspie

I. noun

a person with Asperger's syndrome

• a Michigan author and self-described Aspie.

II. adjective

having or displaying characteristics of Asperger's syndrome

• a deeper understanding of the Aspie way of mind can free you from many misconceptions

• I'm quite Aspie.

– origin 1990s: abbreviation of Asperger's syndrome.

aspirant /ˈaspərənt əˈspīrənt/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of a person) having ambitions to achieve something, typically to follow a particular career

• an aspirant politician.

II. noun

a person who has ambitions to achieve something

• an aspirant to the throne.

– origin mid 18th cent. (as a noun): from Latin aspirant- ‘aspiring,’ from the verb aspirare (see aspire).

aspirate

I. verb — /ˈaspəˌrāt / [with obj.]

1. (often as adj. aspirated) — [Phonetics] pronounce (a sound) with an exhalation of breath

• the aspirated allophone of p occurs in “pie.”

2. [no obj.] — pronounce the sound h at the beginning of a word.

3. [Medicine] draw (fluid) by suction from a vessel or cavity.

4. breathe (something) in; inhale

• some drowning victims don't aspirate any water.

5. (usu. as adj. aspirated) — provide (an internal combustion engine) with air

• the superchargers produce twice the power of standard aspirated engines.

See also normally aspirated.

II. noun — /ˈasp(ə)rət /

1. [Phonetics] an aspirated consonant.

2. the sound h or a character used to represent this sound.

3. [Medicine] matter that has been drawn from the body by aspiration

• gastric aspirate

• esophageal aspirates.

III. adjective — /ˈasp(ə)rət /

1. [Phonetics] ‹rare› (of a sound) pronounced with an exhalation of breath; aspirated.

– origin mid 16th cent. (as an adjective): from Latin aspiratus ‘breathed,’ past participle of aspirare (see aspire).

aspiration /ˌaspəˈrāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. (usu. aspirations) — a hope or ambition of achieving something

• he had nothing tangible to back up his literary aspirations

• the yawning gulf between aspiration and reality.

2. the object of one's hope or ambition; a goal

• fabrics and oriental rugs were my aspirations.

3. [Medicine] the action or process of drawing breath.

4. the action of drawing fluid by suction from a vessel or cavity.

5. [Phonetics] the action of pronouncing a sound with an exhalation of breath.

II. derivatives

aspirational /ˌaspəˈrāSHənl ˌaspəˈrāSHnəl /

adjective

aspiration (sense 1)

– origin late Middle English (sense 3): from Latin aspiratio(n-), from the verb aspirare (see aspire).

aspirator /ˈaspəˌrādər/

noun

[Medicine] an instrument or apparatus for aspirating fluid from a vessel or cavity.

aspire /əˈspī(ə)r/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. direct one's hopes or ambitions toward achieving something

• we never thought that we might aspire to those heights

• [with infinitive] other people will aspire to be like you.

2. ‹literary› rise high; tower

• above the domes of loftiest mosques, these pinnacles of death aspire.

– origin late Middle English: from French aspirer or Latin aspirare, from ad- ‘to’ + spirare ‘breathe.’

aspirin /ˈasp(ə)rən/

I. noun

1. a synthetic compound used medicinally to relieve mild or chronic pain and to reduce fever and inflammation.
[Alternative name: acetylsalicylic acid; chem. formula: C_6H_4(OCOCH_3)COOH.]

2. (pl. same or aspirins) — a tablet containing aspirin.

– origin late 19th cent.: from German, from acetylierte Spirsäure ‘acetylated salicylic acid’ (the element Spir- being from the plant genus name Spiraea).

aspiring /əˈspī(ə)riNG/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. directing one's hopes or ambitions toward becoming a specified type of person

• an aspiring artist.

asportation /ˌaspərˈtāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

[Law] ‹rare› the detachment, movement, or carrying away of property, considered an essential component of the crime of larceny.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Latin asportation-, from asportare ‘carry away.’

asprawl /əˈsprôl/

adverb, adjective

sprawling
[as adv.]

• he slipped on the greasy tiles and fell asprawl

• [as predic. adj.] she lay, legs and arms asprawl.

asquint /əˈskwint/

I. adverb, adjective

with a glance to one side or from the corner of the eyes
[as adv.]

• a woman looked asquint at me.

– origin Middle English: perhaps from a-2 ‘on’ + a Low German or Dutch word related to modern Dutch schuinte ‘slant.’

Asquith, Herbert Henry /ˈaskwəTH/

1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith (1852–1928), British statesman; prime minister 1908–16.

ass^1 /as/

I. noun

1. a hoofed mammal of the horse family with a braying call, typically smaller than a horse and with longer ears.
[Genus Equus, family Equidae: E. africanus of Africa, which is the ancestor of the domestic ass or donkey, and E. hemionus of Asia.]

2. (in general use) a donkey.

3. ‹informal› a foolish or stupid person

• that ass of a young man.

II. phrases

make an ass of oneself

‹informal› behave in a way that makes one look foolish or stupid

• he is stewed and about to make an ass of himself.

– origin Old English assa, from a Celtic word related to Welsh asyn, Breton azen, based on Latin asinus.

ass^2 /as / ‹Brit.› arse

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) ‹vulgar slang› a person's buttocks or anus.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹vulgar slang› a stupid, irritating, or contemptible person.

3. (N. Amer.) ‹vulgar slang› women regarded as a source of sexual gratification.

4. (N. Amer.) ‹vulgar slang› oneself (used in phrases for emphasis)

• get your ass in here fast

• the bureaucrat who wants everything in writing so as to cover his ass.

II. phrases

1. bust one's ass

(N. Amer.) ‹vulgar slang› try very hard to do something.

2. bust (or whip) someone's ass

(N. Amer.) ‹vulgar slang› beat someone in a fight or contest.

3. chew (someone's) ass

(N. Amer.) ‹vulgar slang› reprimand severely.

4. get your ass in (or into) gear

[in imperative] — (N. Amer.) ‹vulgar slang› hurry

• if you get your ass in gear, you can make it out of here tonight.

5. get off one's ass

(N. Amer.) ‹vulgar slang› stop being lazy.

6. haul (or drag or tear) ass

(N. Amer.) ‹vulgar slang› hurry or move fast

• I just turn around and haul ass right out of there.

7. kick (some) ass (or kick someone's ass)

(N. Amer.) ‹vulgar slang› see kick^1.

8. kiss ass ‹N. Amer. vulgar slang›

see kiss.

9. my ass

(N. Amer.) ‹vulgar slang› used to convey that one does not believe something that has just been said

• sold out, my ass!

10. not give (or care) a rat's ass

(N. Amer.) ‹vulgar slang› not care at all about something.

11. not know one's ass from a hole in the ground (or from one's elbow)

(N. Amer.) ‹vulgar slang› be totally ignorant or incompetent.

12. a pain in the ass ‹N. Amer. vulgar slang›

see pain.

13. a piece of ass ‹N. Amer. vulgar slang›

see piece.

14. put (or have) someone's ass in a sling

(N. Amer.) ‹vulgar slang› get someone in trouble

• you managed to put his ass in a sling along with your own.

15. up your ass

(N. Amer.) ‹vulgar slang› used to express contempt for someone or something.

16. you bet your ass

(N. Amer.) ‹vulgar slang› you can be very sure
[with clause]

• you can bet your ass I'll go for it every time.

III. derivatives

assed /ast /

adjective

-ass

I. combining form

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› used in slang terms as an intensifier, often with depreciatory reference

• smart-ass

• lame-ass.

– origin see ass^2.

Assad, Hafiz al- /äˈsäd, ˈäˌsäd/

(1930–2000), Syrian statesman; president 1971–2000. While in office, he ensured the strengthening of Syria's oil-based economy and suppressed political opposition such as the uprising of Muslim extremists (1979–82). He supported the coalition forces during the 1991 Gulf War. His son Bashar al-Assad (1965–) succeeded him in 2000.

assai /äˈsī/

I. adverb

[Music] (especially as a direction after a tempo marking) very

• allegro assai.

– origin Italian, ‘very much.’

assail /əˈsāl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make a concerted or violent attack on

• the Scots army assailed Edward's army from the rear.

2. (usu. be assailed) — (of an unpleasant feeling or physical sensation) come upon (someone) suddenly and strongly

• she was assailed by doubts and regrets.

3. criticize (someone) strongly.

II. derivatives

assailable /əˈsāləb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French asaill-, stressed stem of asalir, from medieval Latin assalire, from Latin assilire, from ad- ‘to’ + salire ‘to leap’; compare with assault.

assailant /əˈsālənt/

noun

a person who physically attacks another.

Assam /ˌaˈsam ˈaˌsam/

a state in northeastern India, much of which lies in the valley of the Brahmaputra River, noted for its production of tea; capital, Dispur.

Assamese /ˌäsəˈmēz/

I. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Assam.

2. the Indic language, related to Bengali, that is the official language of Assam.

II. adjective

of or relating to Assam, its people, or its language.

assassin /əˈsasn/

I. noun

1. a murderer of an important person in a surprise attack for political or religious reasons.

2. (Assassin) — ‹historical› a member of the Nizari branch of Ismaili Muslims at the time of the Crusades, when the newly established sect ruled part of northern Persia (1094–1256). They were renowned as militant fanatics, and were popularly reputed to use hashish before going on murder missions.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French, or from medieval Latin assassinus, from Arabic ḥašīšī ‘hashish eater.’

assassinate /əˈsasnˌāt/

I. verb

murder (an important person) in a surprise attack for political or religious reasons.

– origin early 17th cent.: from medieval Latin assassinat- ‘killed,’ from the verb assassinare, from assassinus (see assassin).

assassination /əˌsasnˈāSH(ə)n/

noun

the action of assassinating someone

• the assassination of President Kennedy

• [as modifier] a failed assassination attempt.

• a wave of bombings and assassinations.

assassin bug

noun

a long-legged predatory or bloodsucking bug that occurs chiefly in the tropics and feeds mainly on other arthropods. Some of those that bite humans can transmit microorganisms such as the one causing Chagas’ disease.
[Family Reduviidae, suborder Heteroptera: numerous species.]

Assateague Island /ˌasətēɡ ˈīlənd/

a barrier island in southeastern Maryland and northeastern Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean, noted for its wild ponies.

assault /əˈsôlt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make a physical attack on

• he pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer

• she was sexually assaulted as a child.

2. attack or bombard (someone or the senses) with something undesirable or unpleasant

• her right ear was assaulted with a tide of music.

3. carry out a military attack or raid on (an enemy position)

• they left their strong position to assault the hill.

4. rape.

II. noun

1. a physical attack

• his imprisonment for an assault on the film director

• sexual assaults.

2. [Law] an act, criminal or tortious, that threatens physical harm to a person, whether or not actual harm is done

• he appeared in court charged with assault.

3. a military attack or raid on an enemy position

• troops began an assault on the city

• [as modifier] an assault boat.

4. a strong verbal attack

• the assault on the party's tax policies.

5. a concerted attempt to do something demanding

• a winter assault on Mt. Everest.

III. derivatives

assaulter

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French asaut (noun), assauter (verb), based on Latin ad- ‘to’ + saltare, frequentative of salire ‘to leap.’ Compare with assail.

assault and battery

noun

[Law] the crime of threatening a person together with the act of making physical contact with them.

assaultive /əˈsôltiv/

adjective

1. tending or likely to commit an assault

• they found that assaultive men had abusive parents.

2. extremely aggressive or forcefully assertive

• his loud, assaultive playing style can leave you cowering.

assault rifle

noun

a rapid-fire, magazine-fed automatic rifle designed for infantry use.

assay /ˈaˌsā aˈsā/

I. noun

1. the testing of a metal or ore to determine its ingredients and quality

• submission of plate for assay.

2. a procedure for measuring the biochemical or immunological activity of a sample

• each assay was performed in duplicate

• the results of sequential assays of serum were analyzed

• immunofluorescence assay.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. determine the content or quality of (a metal or ore).

2. determine the biochemical or immunological activity of (a sample)

• cell contents were assayed for enzyme activity.

3. examine (something) in order to assess its nature

• stepping inside, I quickly assayed the clientele.

4. ‹archaic› attempt

• I assayed a little joke of mine on him.

III. derivatives

assayer /ˈasāər /

noun

– origin Middle English (in the general sense ‘testing, or a test of, the merit of someone or something’): from Old French assai (noun), assaier (verb), variant of essai ‘trial,’ essayer ‘to try’ (see essay).

ass-backwards

adverb, adjective

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› backwards or in a contrary way.

ass bandit

noun

1. ‹vulgar slang› a male homosexual sodomite or pederast.

2. ‹vulgar slang› an eager seducer of young women.

assclown /ˈasˌkloun/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹vulgar slang› a stupid or contemptible person.

assegai /ˈasəˌɡī / assagai

I. noun

1. a slender, iron-tipped, hardwood spear used chiefly by southern African peoples.

2. (also assegai wood) — a South African tree of the dogwood family that yields hard timber.
[Curtisia dentata, family Cornaceae.]

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. wound or kill with an assegai.

– origin early 17th cent.: from obsolete French azagaie or Portuguese azagaia, from Arabic az-zaġāyah, from az, al ‘the’ + Berber zaġāyah ‘spear.’

assemblage /əˈsemblij/

noun

1. a collection or gathering of things or people

• a wondrous assemblage of noble knights, cruel temptresses, and impossible loves.

2. a machine or object made of pieces fitted together

• some vast assemblage of gears and cogs.

3. a work of art made by grouping found or unrelated objects.

4. the action of gathering or fitting things together.

assemble /əˈsembəl/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — (of people) gather together in one place for a common purpose

• a crowd had assembled outside the gates.

2. [with obj.] — bring (people or things) together for a common purpose

• he assembled the surviving members of the group for a tour.

3. (usu. as noun assembling) — [Entomology] (of male moths) gather for mating in response to a pheromone released by a female.

4. [with obj.] — fit together the separate component parts of (a machine or other object)

• a factory that assembled parts for trucks.

5. [Computing] translate (a program) from assembly language into machine code.

– origin Middle English: from Old French asembler, based on Latin ad- ‘to’ + simul ‘together.’

assembler /əˈsemblər/

noun

1. a person who assembles a machine or its parts.

2. [Computing] a program for converting instructions written in low-level symbolic code into machine code.

3. another term for assembly language.

assembly /əˈsemblē/

I. noun

1. a group of people gathered together in one place for a common purpose

• an assembly of scholars and poets.

2. a group of people elected to make laws or decisions for a particular country or region, especially the lower legislative house in some US states

• the Connecticut General Assembly.

3. the action of gathering together as a group for a common purpose

• a decree guaranteeing freedom of assembly.

4. a regular gathering of the teachers and students of a school

• catcalling occurred during the assembly.

5. (usu. the assembly) — ‹chiefly historical› a signal for troops to assemble, given by drum or bugle.

6. [often as modifier] — the action of fitting together the component parts of a machine or other object

• a car assembly plant.

7. a unit consisting of components that have been fitted together

• the tail assembly of the aircraft.

8. [usu. as modifier] — [Computing] the conversion of instructions in low-level code to machine code by an assembler.

– origin Middle English: from Old French asemblé, feminine past participle of asembler (see assemble).

assembly language /əˈsemblē ˌlaNGɡwij/

noun

[Computing] a low-level symbolic code converted by an assembler.

assembly line /əˈsemblē ˌlīn/

noun

a series of workers and machines in a factory by which a succession of identical items is progressively assembled

• their latest economy car rolled off the assembly line last August

• ‹figurative› new teenage idols were pouring off the assembly line.

Compare with production line.

assemblyman /əˈsemblēmən/

noun

(chiefly US) a person who is a member of a legislative assembly.

assembly point

noun

a location designated as the place for a group to meet or for people to gather in an emergency

• there were three different assembly points for the demonstration

• after calling the fire service the manager should proceed to the assembly point.

assemblywoman /əˈsemblēˌwo͝omən/

noun

(chiefly US) a woman who is a member of a legislative assembly.

assent /əˈsent/

I. noun

1. the expression of approval or agreement

• a loud murmur of assent

• he nodded assent.

2. official agreement or sanction

• the governor has power to withhold his assent from a bill.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. express approval or agreement, typically officially

• Roosevelt assented to the agreement

• [with direct speech] “Guest house, then,” Frank assented cheerfully.

III. derivatives

assenter

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French as(s)enter (verb), as(s)ente (noun), based on Latin assentiri, from ad- ‘toward’ + sentire ‘feel, think.’

assert /əˈsərt/

I. verb — [reporting verb]

1. state a fact or belief confidently and forcefully
[with clause]

• the company asserts that the cuts will not affect development

• [with obj.] he asserted his innocence

• [with direct speech] “I don't know why she came,” he asserted.

2. [with obj.] — cause others to recognize (one's authority or a right) by confident and forceful behavior

• the good librarian is able to assert authority when required.

3. (assert oneself) — behave or speak in a confident and forceful manner

• it was time to assert himself.

II. derivatives

asserter /əˈsərdər /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin asserere ‘claim, affirm,’ from ad- ‘to’ + serere ‘to join.’

assertion /əˈsərSH(ə)n/

noun

1. a confident and forceful statement of fact or belief
[with clause]

• his assertion that his father had deserted the family.

2. the action of stating something or exercising authority confidently and forcefully

• the assertion of his legal rights.

assertive /əˈsərdiv/

I. adjective

having or showing a confident and forceful personality

• patients should be more assertive with their doctors.

II. derivatives

assertively /əˈsərdivlē /

adverb

assertiveness /əˈsərdivnəs/

noun

confident and forceful behavior

• she has difficulty standing up for herself, even when assertiveness may be warranted.

asses /ˈasəz/

plural form of as^2, ass^1, ass^2.

assess /əˈses/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. evaluate or estimate the nature, ability, or quality of

• the committee must assess the relative importance of the issues

• [with clause] it is difficult to assess whether this is a new trend.

2. (usu. be assessed) — calculate or estimate the price or value of

• the damage was assessed at $5 billion.

3. set the value of a tax, fine, etc., for (a person or property) at a specified level

• all empty properties will be assessed at 50 percent.

II. derivatives

assessable /əˈsesəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French assesser, based on Latin assidere ‘sit by’ (in medieval Latin ‘levy tax’), from ad- ‘to, at’ + sedere ‘sit.’ Compare with assize.

assessment /əˈsesmənt/

noun

the evaluation or estimation of the nature, quality, or ability of someone or something

• the assessment of educational needs

• he made a rapid assessment of the situation

• assessments of market value.

assessor

noun

1. a person who evaluates the quality of a person or thing

• the assessor interviews the candidates and observes them actually using the language.

2. a person who calculates or estimates the price or value of something

• loss assessors were beginning to get an idea of the extent of the damage

• the county tax assessor had reported separate valuations for the buildings and the land.

3. a person who is knowledgeable in a particular field and is called upon for advice, typically by a judge or committee of inquiry

• the expert assessor recommended that the applicant have sole custody.

asset /ˈaset/

I. noun

1. a useful or valuable thing, person, or quality

• quick reflexes were his chief asset

• the school is an asset to the community.

2. (usu. assets) — property owned by a person or company, regarded as having value and available to meet debts, commitments, or legacies

• growth in net assets

• [as modifier] debiting the asset account.

3. (assets) — military equipment, such as planes, ships, communications and radar installations, employed or targeted in military operations.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the plural in the sense ‘sufficient estate to allow discharge of a will’): from an Anglo-Norman French legal term, from Old French asez ‘enough,’ based on Latin ad ‘to’ + satis ‘enough.’

asset-backed /ˈaˌsitˌbakt/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. denoting securities having as collateral the return on a series of mortgages, credit agreements, or other forms of lending.

asset stripping /ˈaˌset ˈstripiNG/

I. noun

the practice of taking over a company in financial difficulties and selling each of its assets separately at a profit without regard for the company's future.

II. derivatives

asset stripper /ˈaˌset ˈstripər /

noun

asseveration /əˌsevəˈrāSHən/

I. noun

the solemn or emphatic declaration or statement of something

• I fear that you offer only unsupported asseveration

• the dogmatic outlook marks many of his asseverations.

II. derivatives

asseverate /əˈsevəˌrāt /

verb

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin asseveratio(n-), from the verb asseverare, from ad- ‘to’ + severus ‘serious.’

asshat /ˈashat/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹vulgar slang› a stupid or contemptible person.

asshole /ˈasˌhōl/

noun

1. ‹vulgar slang› the anus.

2. ‹vulgar slang› an irritating or contemptible person.

assibilate /əˈsibəˌlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Phonetics] pronounce (a sound) as a sibilant or affricate ending in a sibilant (e.g., sound t as ts).

II. derivatives

assibilation /əˌsibəˈlāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin assibilat- ‘hissed at,’ from the verb assibilare, from ad- ‘to’ + sibilare ‘to hiss.’

assiduity /ˌasəˈd(y)o͞oədē/

I. noun

1. constant or close attention to what one is doing

• the assiduity with which he could wear down his opponents.

2. (assiduities) — ‹archaic› ‹literary› constant attentions to someone.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin assiduitas, from assiduus ‘occupied with’ (see assiduous).

assiduous /əˈsijo͞oəs/

I. adjective

showing great care and perseverance

• she was assiduous in pointing out every feature.

II. derivatives

assiduousness /əˈsijo͞oəsnəs /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin assiduus, from assidere ‘be engaged in doing’ (see assess), + -ous.

assiduously /əˈsijo͞oəslē/

adverb

with great care and perseverance

• leaders worked assiduously to hammer out an action plan.

assign /əˈsīn/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. allocate (a job or duty)

• Congress assigned the task to the agency

• [with two objs.] his leader assigned him this mission.

2. appoint (someone) to a particular job, task, or organization

• she has been assigned to a new job

• [with obj. and infinitive] he was assigned to prosecute the case.

3. designate or set (something) aside for a specific purpose

• managers happily assign large sums of money to travel budgets.

4. (assign something to) — attribute something as belonging to

• it is difficult to decide whether to assign the victory to Goodwin.

5. transfer (legal rights or liabilities)

• they will ask you to assign your rights against the airline.

II. noun

[Law] another term for assignee (sense 1).

III. derivatives

1. assignable /əˈsīnəb(ə)l /

adjective

assign (sense 3 of the verb)

2. assigner

noun

3. assignor /əˈsīnər /

noun

assign (sense 3 of the verb)

– origin Middle English: from Old French asigner, assiner, from Latin assignare, from ad- ‘to’ + signare ‘to sign.’

assignation /ˌasiɡˈnāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. an appointment to meet someone in secret, typically one made by lovers

• his assignation with an older woman.

2. the allocation or attribution of someone or something as belonging to something.

– origin late Middle English (in the senses ‘command, appointment to office, or allotment of revenue’): via Old French from Latin assignatio(n-), from the verb assignare (see assign).

assignee /əˌsīˈnē/

I. noun

1. [chiefly Law] a person to whom a right or liability is legally transferred.

2. [chiefly Law] a person appointed to act for another.

– origin Middle English: from Old French assigne, past participle of assigner ‘allot’ (see assign).

assignment /əˈsīnmənt/

I. noun

1. a task or piece of work assigned to someone as part of a job or course of study

• a homework assignment.

2. the allocation of a job or task to someone

• the effective assignment of tasks.

3. the task or post to which one has been appointed

• his assignment was to the County Court

• I was on assignment for a German magazine.

4. the attribution of someone or something as belonging

• the assignment of individuals to particular social positions.

5. an act of making a legal transfer of a right, property, or liability

• an assignment of leasehold property.

6. a document effecting the legal transfer of a right or property.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French assignement, from medieval Latin assignamentum, from Latin assignare ‘allot’ (see assign).

assimilate /əˈsiməˌlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. take in (information, ideas, or culture) and understand fully

• Marie tried to assimilate the week's events.

2. (usu. be assimilated) — absorb and integrate (people, ideas, or culture) into a wider society or culture

• pop trends are assimilated into the mainstream with alarming speed

• [no obj.] the converts were assimilated into the society of their conquerors.

3. (usu. be assimilated) — (of the body or any biological system) absorb and digest (food or nutrients)

• the sugars in the fruit are readily assimilated by the body.

4. cause (something) to resemble; liken

• philosophers had assimilated thought to perception.

5. [no obj.] — come to resemble

• the churches assimilated to a certain cultural norm.

6. [Phonetics] make (a sound) more like another in the same or next word.

II. derivatives

1. assimilable /əˈsimələb(ə)l /

adjective

2. assimilative /əˈsiməˌlādiv əˈsimələdiv /

adjective

3. assimilator /-ˌlātər /

noun

4. assimilatory /-ləˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin assimilat- ‘absorbed, incorporated,’ from the verb assimilare, from ad- ‘to’ + similis ‘like.’

assimilation /əˌsimiˈlāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the process of taking in and fully understanding information or ideas

• the assimilation of the knowledge of the Greeks.

2. the absorption and integration of people, ideas, or culture into a wider society or culture

• the assimilation of Italians into American society.

3. the absorption and digestion of food or nutrients by the body or any biological system

• nitrate assimilation usually takes place in leaves.

4. the process of becoming similar to something

• Watson was ready to work for the assimilation of Scots law to English law where he thought it was justified.

5. [Phonetics] the fact of a sound being made more like another in the same or next word

• when p is preceded by some Latin prefixes, it is doubled because of the assimilation of a consonant, as in 'apparent' (ad-parent)

• [as count noun] there are many assimilations and elisions of consonants and vowels.

assimilationist /əˌsiməˈlāSHənəst/

noun

a person who advocates or participates in racial or cultural integration
[as modifier]

• the assimilationist policies of the right.

Assiniboin /əˈsinəboin / Assiniboine

I. noun

1. a member of an American Indian people formerly living in southern Manitoba, but now living in Montana, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.

2. the Siouan language of the Assiniboin.

II. adjective

relating to the Assiniboin or their language.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Canadian French, from Ojibwa assini:pwa:n ‘stone Sioux,’ from assin ‘stone’ + pwa:n ‘Sioux.’

Assiniboine River /əˌsinəboin ˈrivər/

a river in south central Canada that flows for 590 miles (950 km) from eastern Saskatchewan into Manitoba to join the Red River at Winnipeg.

Assisi^1 /əˈsēsē əˈsēzē/

a town in the province of Umbria in central Italy; pop. 27,507 (2008). It is the birthplace of St. Francis, whose tomb is located there.

Assisi^2 /əˈsēsē əˈsēzē/

see Clare of Assisi, St.

Assisi^3 /əˈsēsē əˈsēzē/

see Francis of Assisi, St.

assist /əˈsist/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. help (someone), typically by doing a share of the work

• a senior academic would assist him in his work

• [with obj.] he assisted her to find employment

• [no obj.] their presence would assist in keeping the peace.

2. help by providing money or information

• they were assisting police with their inquiries

• [no obj.] funds to assist with capital investment.

3. [no obj.] — be present as a helper or spectator

• two midwives who assisted at a water birth.

II. noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) an act of helping, typically by providing money

• the budget must have an assist from tax policies.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) (chiefly in ice hockey, basketball, or baseball) the act of touching the puck or ball in a play in which a teammate scores or an opposing batter is put out

• he led the league with 14 outfield assists.

III. derivatives

1. assister

noun

2. assistive

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French assister, from Latin assistere ‘take one's stand by,’ from ad- ‘to, at’ + sistere ‘take one's stand.’

assistance /əˈsistəns/

I. noun

1. the provision of money, resources, or information to help someone

• plans offering financial assistance to employers

• she will be glad to give advice and assistance.

2. the action of helping someone with a job or task

• the work was completed with the assistance of carpenters.

II. phrases

1. be of assistance

be of practical use or help

• the guide will be of assistance to development groups.

2. come to someone's assistance

act to help someone.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, or from medieval Latin assistentia, from Latin assistere (see assist).

assistant /əˈsistənt/

I. noun

1. a person who ranks below a senior person

• the managing director and his assistant

• [as modifier] an assistant manager.

2. [with adj. or noun modifier] — a person who helps in particular work

• a laboratory assistant.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, or from medieval Latin assistent- ‘taking one's stand beside,’ from the verb assistere (see assist).

assistant professor

noun

(N. Amer.) a college teacher ranking immediately below an associate professor.

assistant referee

noun

another term for referee's assistant.

assistantship /əˈsistəntˌSHip/

noun

(N. Amer.) a paid academic appointment made to a graduate student that involves part-time teaching or research.

assisted dying

noun

the practice whereby a person suffering from a terminal illness or incurable condition is helped to take their own life, especially by means of lethal drugs provided by a doctor for the purpose

• assisted dying is lawful in Switzerland and the Netherlands.

assisted living

noun

housing for elderly or disabled people that provides nursing care, housekeeping, and prepared meals as needed
[as modifier]

• an assisted living facility.

assisted suicide /əˈsistid ˈso͞oəˌsīd/

noun

the suicide of a patient suffering from an incurable disease, effected by the taking of lethal drugs provided by a doctor for this purpose.

assize /əˈsīz/

I. noun — (usu. assizes)

1. ‹historical› a court that formerly sat at intervals in each county of England and Wales to administer the civil and criminal law. In 1972 the civil jurisdiction of assizes was transferred to the High Court, and the criminal jurisdiction to the Crown Court.

– origin Middle English: from Old French assise, feminine past participle of asseeir ‘sit, settle, assess,’ from Latin assidere (see assess).

ass-kicking

adjective

(US) ‹informal› forceful or aggressive.

ass-kissing /ˈasˌkisiNG/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹vulgar slang› the use of compliments, flattery, or other obsequious behavior in order to gain favor.

II. derivatives

ass-kisser /ˈasˌkisər /

noun

ass-licking ‹vulgar slang›

another term for ass-kissing.

assload /ˈaslōd/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹vulgar slang› a large number or amount of something.

assn.

abbreviation

association.

Assoc.

abbreviation

1. Associate.

2. (as part of a title) Association.

associate

I. verb — /əˈsōsēˌāt əˈsōSHēˌāt / [with obj.]

1. connect (someone or something) with something else in one's mind

• I associated wealth with freedom.

2. (usu. be associated) — connect (something) with something else because they occur together or one produces another

• the environmental problems associated with nuclear waste.

3. (associate oneself with) — allow oneself to be connected with or seen to be supportive of

• I cannot associate myself with some of the language used.

4. (be associated with) — be involved with

• she has been associated with the project from the first.

5. [no obj.] — meet or have dealings with someone commonly regarded with disapproval

• they are at risk of associating with criminals.

II. noun — /əˈsōSHēət /

1. a partner or colleague in business or at work

• he arranged for a close associate to take control of the institute.

2. a companion or friend

• his old friend and hearty associate.

3. a person with limited or subordinate membership in an organization.

4. a person who holds an academic degree conferred by a junior college (only in titles or set expressions)

• an associate's degree in science

• an Associate of Arts.

5. [chiefly Psychology] a concept connected with another.

III. adjective — /əˈsōSHēət / [attrib.]

1. joined or connected with an organization or business

• an associate company.

2. denoting shared function or membership but with a lesser status

• the associate director of the academy.

IV. derivatives

1. associability /əˌsōSH(ē)əˈbilədē /

noun

2. associable /əˈsōSH(ē)əbəl /

adjective

3. associateship /əˈsōsēətˌSHip əˈsōSHēətˌSHip /

noun

– origin late Middle English (as a verb in the sense ‘join with in a common purpose’; as an adjective in the sense ‘allied’): from Latin associat- ‘joined,’ from the verb associare, from ad- ‘to’ + socius ‘sharing, allied.’

associated /əˈsōsēˌādid əˈsōSHēˌādid/

adjective

1. (of a person or thing) connected with something else

• two associated events.

2. (of a company) connected or amalgamated with another company or companies.

3. [Chemistry] (of liquids) in which the molecules are held together by hydrogen bonding or other weak interaction.

Associated Press AP

an international news agency based in New York City.

Associate of Arts AA, Associate's degree

noun

a degree granted after a two-year course of study, especially by a community or junior college.

associate professor

noun

(N. Amer.) an academic ranking immediately below full professor.

association /əˌsōsēˈāSH(ə)n əˌsōSHēˈāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. (abbr.: assn.) — (often in names) a group of people organized for a joint purpose

• the National Association of Broadcasters.

2. [Ecology] a plant community defined by a characteristic group of dominant plant species.

3. a connection or cooperative link between people or organizations

• he developed a close association with the university

• the program was promoted in association with the Department of Music.

4. the action or state of becoming a member of an organization with subordinate status
[as modifier]

• Slovenia signed association agreements with the European Union.

5. [Chemistry] the linking of molecules through hydrogen bonding or other interaction short of full bond formation.

6. (usu. associations) — a mental connection between ideas or things

• the word bureaucracy has unpleasant associations.

7. the action of making a mental connection

• the association of alchemy with “hieroglyphics” and “cabala.”

8. the fact of occurring with something else; co-occurrence

• cases of cancer found in association with colitis.

II. derivatives

associational /-SHənl /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘uniting in a common purpose’): from medieval Latin associatio(n-), from Latin associare ‘to unite, ally’ (see associate).

association area

noun

[Anatomy] a region of the cortex of the brain that connects sensory and motor areas, and that is thought to be concerned with higher mental activities.

Association football

I. noun

more formal term for soccer.

– origin so called because it is played according the rules of the Football Association.

associationism /əsōsēˈāSHnizəm/

I. noun

a theory in philosophy or psychology that regards the simple association or co-occurrence of ideas or sensations as the primary basis of meaning, thought, or learning.

II. derivatives

associationist

noun, adjective

Association of Southeast Asian Nations ASEAN

a regional organization intended to promote economic cooperation and now comprising the countries of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Burma (Myanmar), and Cambodia.

associative /əˈsōSHēˌādiv əˈsōsēˌādiv əˈsōSH(ē)ədiv əˈsōsēədiv/

adjective

1. of or involving the action of associating ideas or things

• an associative, nonlinear mode of thought.

2. [attrib.] — [Computing] of or denoting computer storage in which items are identified by content rather than by address.

3. [Mathematics] involving the condition that a group of quantities connected by operators gives the same result whatever their grouping, as long as their order remains the same, e.g., (a × b) × c = a × (b × c).

associative memory

noun

[Computing] a memory capable of determining whether a given datum (the search word) is contained in one of its addresses or locations.

assonance /ˈasənəns/

I. noun

in poetry, the repetition of the sound of a vowel or diphthong in nonrhyming stressed syllables near enough to each other for the echo to be discernible (e.g., penitence, reticence).
Compare with alliteration.

II. derivatives

1. assonant /ˈas(ə)nənt /

adjective

2. assonate /ˈasəˌnāt /

verb

– origin early 18th cent.: from French, from Latin assonare ‘respond to,’ from ad- ‘to’ + sonare (from sonus ‘sound’).

assort /əˈsôrt/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — [Genetics] (of genes or characters) become distributed among cells or progeny.

2. [with obj.] — ‹archaic› place in a group; classify

• he would assort it with the fabulous dogs as a monstrous invention.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Old French assorter, from a- (from Latin ad ‘to, at’) + sorte ‘sort, kind.’

assortative /əˈsôrdədiv/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. denoting or involving the preferential mating of animals or marrying of people with similar characteristics.

assorted /əˈsôrdəd/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. of various sorts put together; miscellaneous

• bowls in assorted colors.

assortment /əˈsôrtmənt/

noun

a miscellaneous collection of things or people

• the room was filled with an assortment of clothes.

ASSR

abbreviation

‹historical› Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.

Asst.

abbreviation

Assistant.

assuage /əˈswāj/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense

• the letter assuaged the fears of most members.

2. satisfy (an appetite or desire)

• an opportunity occurred to assuage her desire for knowledge.

II. derivatives

assuagement

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French assouagier, asouagier, based on Latin ad- ‘to’ (expressing change) + suavis ‘sweet.’

As Sulaymaniyah /ˌäs ˌso͞olīməˈnēyə/

variant form of Sulaymaniyah.

assume /əˈso͞om/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. suppose to be the case, without proof

• you're afraid of what people are going to assume about me

• [with clause] it is reasonable to assume that such changes have significant social effects

• [with obj. and infinitive] they were assumed to be foreign.

2. take or begin to have (power or responsibility)

• he assumed full responsibility for all organizational work.

3. seize (power or control)

• the rebels assumed control of the capital.

4. take on (a specified quality, appearance, or extent)

• militant activity had assumed epidemic proportions.

5. take on or adopt (a manner or identity), sometimes falsely

• Oliver assumed an expression of penitence

• she puts on a disguise, assumes a different persona, and cruises the squalid bars on the bad side of town

• (as adj. assumed) a man living under an assumed name.

II. derivatives

assumedly /-midlē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Latin assumere, from ad- ‘toward’ + sumere ‘take.’

assuming /əˈso͞omiNG/

I. conjunction

used for the purpose of argument to indicate a premise on which a statement can be based

• assuming that the treaty is ratified, what is its relevance?

II. adjective

‹archaic› arrogant or presumptuous.

assumption /əˈsəm(p)SH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof

• they made certain assumptions about the market

• [with clause] we're working on the assumption that the time of death was after midnight.

2. the action of taking or beginning to take power or responsibility

• the assumption of an active role in regional settlements.

3. (Assumption) — the reception of the Virgin Mary bodily into heaven. This was formally declared a doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church in 1950.
See also Dormition.

4. the feast in honor of this, celebrated on August 15.

5. ‹archaic› arrogance or presumption.

– origin Middle English (sense 3): from Old French asompsion or Latin assumptio(n-), from the verb assumere (see assume).

assumptive /əˈsəm(p)tiv/

I. adjective

1. ‹rare› of the nature of an assumption.

2. ‹archaic› apt to seize something for oneself.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘taken, adopted’): from Latin assumptivus, from the verb assumere (see assume).

assurance /əˈSHo͝orəns/

I. noun

1. a positive declaration intended to give confidence; a promise
[with clause]

• he gave an assurance that work would not recommence until Wednesday.

2. confidence or certainty in one's own abilities

• she drove with assurance.

3. certainty about something

• the crowd’s assurance of Joe’s guilt.

4. (chiefly Brit.) insurance, specifically life insurance.

– origin late Middle English (sense 2): from Old French, from assurer ‘assure.’

assure /əˈSHo͝or/

I. verb

1. [reporting verb] — tell someone something positively or confidently to dispel any doubts they may have
[with obj. and clause]

• Tony assured me that there was a supermarket in the village

• [with obj. and direct speech] “I quite understand,” Mrs. Lewis assured her

• [with obj.] they assured him of their full confidence.

2. make (someone) sure of something

• you would be assured of a fine welcome

• she assured herself that he was asleep.

3. [with obj.] — make (something) certain to happen

• victory was now assured

• [with clause] their influence assured that the report would be tough.

4. (chiefly Brit.) cover (a person) with life insurance.

5. secure the future payment of (an amount) with insurance.

II. derivatives

assurer /əˈSHo͝orər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French assurer, based on Latin ad- ‘to’ (expressing change) + securus (see secure).

assured /əˈSHo͝ord/

adjective

1. confident

• “Certainly not,” was her assured reply.

2. [attrib.] — protected against discontinuance or change

• an assured tenancy.

assuredly /əˈSHo͝or(ə)dlē/

adverb

1. confidently

• he relates the story to his comrades, saying assuredly that they will be moving the next day.

2. [as sentence adverb]

a. used to express the speaker's certainty that something is true

• potted roses will most assuredly not survive winter without protection.

Assyria /əˈsirēə/

an ancient country in what is now northern Iraq. From the early part of the 2nd millennium BC, Assyria was the center of a succession of empires.

Assyrian /əˈsirēən/

I. noun

1. an inhabitant of ancient Assyria.

2. the language of ancient Assyria, a dialect of Akkadian.

3. a dialect of Aramaic still spoken by a group of people of mainly Christian faith living in the mountains of Syria, northern Iraq, and surrounding regions.

II. adjective

1. of or relating to ancient Assyria or its language.

2. relating to or denoting modern Assyrian or its speakers.

Assyriology /əˌsirēˈäləjē/

I. noun

the study of the language, history, and antiquities of ancient Assyria.

II. derivatives

1. Assyriological /əˌsi(ə)rēəˈläjikəl /

adjective

2. Assyriologist /əˌsirēˈäləjəst /

noun

AST

abbreviation

Atlantic Standard Time (see Atlantic time).

astable /āˈstābəl/

adjective

[chiefly Electronics] of or relating to a system or electric circuit that oscillates spontaneously between unstable states.

Astaire, Fred /əˈste(ə)r/

(1899–1987), US dancer, singer, and actor; born Frederick Austerlitz. He starred in a number of movie musicals, including Top Hat (1935) and Shall We Dance? (1937) with Ginger Rogers and Easter Parade (1948) with Judy Garland.

Astana /asˈtänə/

the capital of Kazakhstan (since 1998); pop. 550,400 (est. 2006). Formerly called Aqmola and, earlier, Tselinograd.

Astarte /əˈstärdē / ‹Mythology›

a Phoenician goddess of fertility and sexual love who corresponds to the Babylonian and Assyrian goddess Ishtar and who became identified with the Egyptian Isis, the Greek Aphrodite, and others.

astatic /āˈstadik/

I. adjective

1. not keeping a steady position or direction, in particular

2. [Physics] (of a system or instrument) consisting of or employing a combination of magnets suspended in a uniform magnetic field on a single wire or thread in such a way that no torque is present (e.g., to minimize the effect of the earth's magnetic field).

– origin early 19th cent.: from Greek astatos ‘unstable’ + -ic.

astatine /ˈastəˌtēn/

I. noun

(Symbol: At) — the chemical element of atomic number 85, a radioactive member of the halogen group. Astatine was first produced by bombarding bismuth with alpha particles, and it occurs in traces in nature as a decay product.

– origin 1940s: from Greek astatos ‘unstable’ + -ine^4.

aster /ˈastər/

I. noun

1. a plant of the daisy family that has bright rayed flowers, typically of purple or pink.
[Genus Aster, family Compositae: numerous species, many of which bloom in autumn, including the wild purple New England aster (A. novae-angliae). See also China aster.]

2. [Biology] a star-shaped structure formed during division of the nucleus of an animal cell.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the Greek sense): via Latin from Greek astēr ‘star.’

-aster

I. suffix

1. forming nouns:

2. denoting poor quality

• criticaster

• poetaster.

3. [Botany] denoting incomplete resemblance

• oleaster.

– origin from Latin.

asterisk /ˈastəˌrisk/

I. noun

1. a symbol (*) used to mark printed or written text, typically as a reference to an annotation or to stand for omitted matter.

2. a thing resembling a star in shape

• soft asterisks of pollen.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. asterisked)

1. mark (printed or written text) with an asterisk

• asterisked entries.

– origin late Middle English: via late Latin from Greek asteriskos ‘small star,’ diminutive of astēr. / usage: Even though asterisk does not look like a tricky word to pronounce, it can be problematic. In both its singular and plural forms, it is often mispronounced as if it ends with -rix. Pronounced correctly, it ends with a -risk sound when singular and -risks when plural.

asterism /ˈastəˌrizəm/

I. noun

1. [Astronomy] a prominent pattern or group of stars, typically having a popular name but smaller than a constellation.

2. a group of three asterisks (⁂) drawing attention to following text.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Greek asterismos, from astēr ‘star.’

astern /əˈstərn/

I. adverb

1. behind or toward the rear of a ship or aircraft

• the engine rooms lay astern.

2. (of a ship) backward

• the lifeboat was carried astern by the tide.

– origin late Middle English: from a-2 (expressing position or direction) + stern^2.

asteroid /ˈastəˌroid/

I. noun

1. a small rocky body orbiting the sun. Large numbers of these, ranging in size from nearly 600 miles (1,000 km) across (Ceres) to dust particles, are found (as the asteroid belt) especially between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, though some have more eccentric orbits, and a few pass close to the earth or enter the atmosphere as meteors.

2. [Zoology] an echinoderm of the class Asteroidea; a starfish.

II. adjective

[Zoology] relating to echinoderms of the class Asteroidea.

III. derivatives

asteroidal /ˌastəˈroidl /

adjective

– origin early 19th cent.: from Greek asteroeidēs ‘starlike,’ from astēr ‘star.’

Asteroidea /ˌastəˈroidēə / ‹Zoology›

I. a class of echinoderms that comprises the starfishes.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek asteroeidēs ‘starlike,’ from astēr ‘star.’

asthenia /asˈTHēnēə/

I. noun

[Medicine] abnormal physical weakness or lack of energy.

– origin late 18th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek astheneia, from asthenēs ‘weak.’

asthenic /asˈTHenik/

I. adjective

[Medicine] relating to, involving, or suffering from asthenia.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Greek asthenikos, from asthenēs ‘weak.’

asthenosphere /asˈTHenəˌsfir/

I. noun

[Geology] the upper layer of the earth's mantle, below the lithosphere, in which there is relatively low resistance to plastic flow and convection is thought to occur.

II. derivatives

asthenospheric /asˌTHenəˈsfi(ə)rik, -ˈsferik /

adjective

– origin early 20th cent.: from Greek asthenēs ‘weak’ + sphere.

asthma /ˈazmə/

I. noun

a respiratory condition marked by spasms in the bronchi of the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing. It usually results from an allergic reaction or other forms of hypersensitivity.

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin asma, from Greek asthma, from azein ‘breathe hard.’

asthmatic /azˈmadik/

I. adjective

relating to or suffering from asthma.

II. noun

a person who suffers from asthma.

III. derivatives

asthmatically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin early 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek asthmatikos, from asthma (see asthma).

asthtanga /asˈtäNGə/

noun

variant spelling of ashtanga.

Asti /ˈästē/

noun

1. a white wine from the Italian province of Asti and neighboring parts of Piedmont.

2. a light sparkling wine from the region of Asti.

astigmatism /əˈstiɡməˌtizəm/

I. noun

a defect in the eye or in a lens caused by a deviation from spherical curvature, which results in distorted images, as light rays are prevented from meeting at a common focus.

II. derivatives

astigmatic /ˌastiɡˈmadik /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from a-1 ‘without’ + Greek stigma ‘point’ + -ism.

astilbe /əˈstilbē/

I. noun

an Old World plant of the saxifrage family, with plumes of tiny white, pink, or red flowers.
[Genus Astilbe, family Saxifragaceae.]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek a- ‘not’ + stilbē, feminine of stilbos ‘glittering’ (because the individual flowers are small and inconspicuous).

astir /əˈstər/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. in a state of excited movement

• the streets are all astir.

2. awake and out of bed

• he woke before anyone else was astir.

– origin late 18th cent.: from a-2 ‘on’ + the noun stir^1.

Asti Spumante /ˌästē sp(y)o͞oˈmän(t)ē/

noun

former term for Asti (sense 2).

Aston, Francis William /ˈastən/

(1877–1945), English physicist. He invented the mass spectrograph (with J. J. Thomson) and eventually discovered many of the 287 naturally occurring isotopes of nonradioactive elements. Nobel Prize for Chemistry (1922).

astonish /əˈstäniSH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. surprise or impress (someone) greatly

• you never fail to astonish me

• [with obj. and clause] it astonished her that Mrs. Browning could seem so anxious.

– origin early 16th cent. (as astonished, in the sense ‘stunned, bewildered, dismayed’): from obsolete astone ‘stun, stupefy,’ from Old French estoner, based on Latin ex- ‘out’ + tonare ‘to thunder.’

astonished /əˈstänəSHt/

adjective

greatly surprised or impressed; amazed

• he was astonished at the change in him

• an astonished expression on her face.

astonishing /əˈstänəSHiNG/

adjective

extremely surprising or impressive; amazing

• an astonishing achievement

• I find it astonishing that they ever thought it could work.

astonishingly /əˈstäniSHiNGlē/

adverb

1. extremely surprisingly or impressively

• this recording is, if anything, even more astonishingly played

• [as submodifier] some of the best food is astonishingly cheap.

2. [sentence adverb] — used to express surprise at an event or situation

• astonishingly, the novel is still selling 7,600 copies a year.

astonishment /əˈstäniSHmənt/

noun

great surprise

• she looked at him in astonishment.

Astor, John Jacob /ˈastər/

(1763–1848), US merchant; born in Germany. He immigrated to the US in 1784 and made a fortune in the fur trade and in real estate.

Astor, Nancy

Viscountess (1879–1964), British politician, born in the US; born Nancy Witcher Langhorne. She became the first woman to sit in the House of Commons when she succeeded her husband as a member of Parliament.

Astoria /əˈstôrēə/

I. a city in northwestern Oregon, near the mouth of the Columbia River on the Pacific coast; pop. 9,851 (est. 2008). In the 19th century it was a noted fur-trading center.

II. a section of northwestern Queens in New York City, noted for its large Greek-American population.

astound /əˈstound/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. shock or greatly surprise

• her bluntness astounded him.

– origin Middle English (as an adjective in the sense ‘stunned’): from astoned, past participle of obsolete astone (see astonish).

astounding /əˈstoundiNG/

adjective

surprisingly impressive or notable

• the summit offers astounding views.

astoundingly /əˈstoundiNGlē/

adverb

1. surprisingly impressively or notably

• both cars handle competently and precisely, if not astoundingly

• [as submodifier] an astoundingly good performance.

2. [sentence adverb] — used to express surprise at a situation or event

• astoundingly, even after all these centuries something of his effort survives.

astraddle /əˈstradl/

I. preposition

with the legs stretched widely on each side of

• policemen sitting astraddle motorcycles.

II. adjective, adverb

with the legs stretched widely on each side.

Astraea /aˈstrēə / ‹Astronomy›

I. an asteroid discovered in 1845, with a diameter of 78 miles (125 km).

– origin from the name of a Roman goddess associated with justice.

astragal /ˈastrəɡəl/

I. noun

1. a convex molding or wooden strip across a surface or separating panels, typically semicircular in cross-section.

2. [Architecture] a small semicircular molding around the top or bottom of a column.

3. a wooden molding that covers the gap between a pair of doors or casement windows.

4. a glazing bar, typically one used in cabinetmaking.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from astragalus, partly via French astragale.

astragalus /əˈstraɡələs/

I. noun

[chiefly Zoology] another term for talus^1.

– origin mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek astragalos ‘ankle bone, molding,’ also the name of a vetch.

astrakhan /ˈastrəkən ˈastrəˌkan/

I. noun

1. the dark curly fleece of young karakul lambs from central Asia
[as modifier]

• an astrakhan collar.

2. a cloth imitating this.

– origin mid 18th cent.: named after the city of Astrakhan in Russia, from which the fleeces were exported.

Astrakhan /ˈastrəˌkan, -kən/

a city in southern Russia, on the delta of the Volga River; pop. 503,100 (est. 2008).

astral /ˈastrəl/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of, connected with, or resembling the stars

• astral navigation.

2. of or relating to a supposed nonphysical realm of existence to which various psychic and paranormal phenomena are ascribed, and in which the physical human body is said to have a counterpart.

– origin early 17th cent.: from late Latin astralis, from astrum ‘star.’

astray /əˈstrā/

I. adverb

1. away from the correct path or direction

• we went astray but a man redirected us.

2. into error or morally questionable behavior

• he was led astray by boozy colleagues.

II. phrases

go astray

(of an object) become lost or mislaid

• the money had gone astray.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘distant from the correct path’): from an Anglo-Norman French variant of Old French estraie, past participle of estraier, based on Latin extra ‘out of bounds’ + vagari ‘wander.’

astride /əˈstrīd/

preposition

1. with a leg on each side of

• he was sitting astride the bike

• a figure astride a horse

• [as adv.] he sat on the chair astride.

2. extending across

• the port stands astride an international route

• why do people build their dream homes astride some seismic fault?

3. [as adv.] — with legs apart

• he stood, legs astride.

astringent /əˈstrinjənt/

I. adjective

1. causing the contraction of body tissues, typically of the skin

• an astringent skin lotion.

2. sharp or severe in manner or style

• her astringent words had their effect.

3. (of taste or smell) sharp or bitter

• an astringent smell of rotting apples.

II. noun

a substance that causes the contraction of body tissues, typically used to protect the skin and to reduce bleeding from minor abrasions.

III. derivatives

1. astringency /əˈstrinj(ə)nsē /

noun

2. astringently

adverb

astringent (sense 2 of the adjective)

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French, from Latin astringent- ‘pulling tight,’ from the verb astringere, from ad- ‘toward’ + stringere ‘bind, pull tight.’

astro- /ˈastrō/

I. combining form

relating to the stars, celestial objects, or outer space

• astrocompass

• astrophysics

• astrochemistry

• astrophotography.

– origin from Greek astron ‘star.’

astroarchaeology /ˌastrōˌärkēˈäləjē/

noun

another term for archaeoastronomy.

astrobiology /ˌastrōbīˈäləjē/

noun

the branch of biology concerned with the study of life on earth and in space.

astrobleme /ˈastrəˌblēm/

I. noun

[Geology] an eroded remnant of a large crater made by the impact of a meteorite or comet.

– origin 1960s: from Greek astron ‘star’ + blēma ‘wound.’

astrochemistry /ˌastrōˈkeməstrē/

I. noun

the study of the chemical substances and species occurring in stars and interstellar space.

II. derivatives

1. astrochemical /-kəl /

adjective

2. astrochemist /ˈastrōˌkemist /

noun

astrocompass /ˈastrōˌkəmpəs, -ˌkäm-/

noun

an instrument designed to indicate direction with respect to the stars.

astrocyte /ˈastrəˌsīt/

I. noun

[Anatomy] a star-shaped glial cell of the central nervous system.

II. derivatives

astrocytic /ˌastrəˈsitik /

adjective

astrodome /ˈastrəˌdōm/

noun

1. a domed window in an aircraft for astronomical observations.

2. (the Astrodome) — (chiefly US) an enclosed stadium in Houston with a domed roof.

astrogation /ˌastrəˈɡāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

(in science fiction) navigation in outer space.

II. derivatives

astrogator /ˈastrəˌɡātər /

noun

– origin 1930s: blend of astro- and navigation.

astroid /ˈastroid/

noun

[Mathematics] a hypocycloid with four cusps (like a square with concave sides).

astrolabe /ˈastrəˌlāb/

I. noun

‹chiefly historical› an instrument formerly used to make astronomical measurements, typically of the altitudes of celestial bodies, and in navigation for calculating latitude, before the development of the sextant. In its basic form (known from classical times), it consists of a disk with the edge marked in degrees and a pivoted pointer.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French astrelabe, from medieval Latin astrolabium, from Greek astrolabon, neuter of astrolabos ‘star-taking.’

astrologer /əˈsträləjər / astrologist

noun

a person who uses astrology to tell others about their character or to predict their future

• he was advised by astrologers to delay his departure.

astrological /ˌastrəˈläjikl/

I. adjective

of or relating to astrology

• the astrological sign of Taurus.

II. derivatives

astrologically

adverb

astrology /əˈsträləjē/

I. noun

the study of the movements and relative positions of celestial bodies interpreted as having an influence on human affairs and the natural world.
Ancient observers of the heavens developed elaborate systems of explanation based on the movements of the sun, moon, and planets through the constellations of the zodiac, for predicting events and for casting horoscopes. By 1700 astrology had lost intellectual credibility in the West, but continued to have popular appeal. Modern astrology is based on that of the Greeks, but other systems are extant, notably those of China and India.

II. derivatives

astrologist /əˈsträləjəst /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French astrologie, from Latin astrologia, from Greek, from astron ‘star.’ The term (in full natural astrology) originally denoted the practical uses of astronomy, applied in the measurement of time and the prediction of natural phenomena. The current sense (in full judicial astrology, relating to human affairs) dates from the mid 16th cent.

astrometric binary /ˌastrōˈmetrik ˈbīnərē/

noun

[Astronomy] a binary star system in which one companion is invisible, but is known to be present from its effect on measurements relating to the other.

astrometry /əˈsträmətrē/

I. noun

the measurement of the positions, motions, and magnitudes of stars.

II. derivatives

astrometric /ˌastrōˈmetrik /

adjective

astronaut /ˈastrəˌnôt/

I. noun

a person who is trained to travel in a spacecraft.

II. derivatives

astronautical /ˌastrəˈnôdək(ə)l /

adjective

– origin 1920s: from astro-, on the pattern of aeronaut and aquanaut.

astronautics /ˌastrəˈnôdiks/

noun

the science and technology of human space travel and exploration.

astronavigation /ˌastrōˌnavəˈɡāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

determination of the position and course of an aircraft or a spacecraft by means of observation of the stars.

II. derivatives

astronavigator /-ˈnaviˌɡātər /

noun

– origin mid 20th cent.: from astro- + navigation.

astronomer /əˈstränəmər/

noun

an expert in or student of astronomy.

astronomical /ˌastrəˈnämək(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to astronomy.

2. ‹informal› (of an amount) extremely large

• he wanted an astronomical fee.

II. derivatives

1. astronomic /ˌastrəˈnämik /

adjective

astronomical (sense 2)

2. astronomically /ˈˌastrəˈnämək(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek astronomikos, from astronomia (see astronomy).

astronomical unit AU

noun

[Astronomy] a unit of measurement equal to 149.6 million kilometers, the mean distance from the center of the earth to the center of the sun.

astronomy /əˈstränəmē/

I. noun

the branch of science that deals with celestial objects, space, and the physical universe as a whole.
In ancient times, observation of the sun, moon, stars, and planets formed the basis of timekeeping and navigation. Astronomy was greatly furthered by the invention of the optical telescope, but modern observations are made in all parts of the spectrum, including X-ray and radio frequencies, using terrestrial and orbiting instruments and space probes.

– origin Middle English (also denoting astrology): from Old French astronomie, from Latin astronomia, from Greek, from astronomos (adjective) ‘star-arranging.’

astrophotography /ˌastrōfəˈtäɡrəfē/

I. noun

the use of photography in astronomy; the photographing of celestial objects and phenomena.

II. derivatives

1. astrophotographer /-fər /

noun

2. astrophotographic /-ˌfōtəˈɡrafik /

adjective

astrophysicist /ˌastrōˈfizisəst/

noun

an expert in or student of astrophysics.

astrophysics /ˌastrōˈfiziks/

I. noun

the branch of astronomy concerned with the physical nature of stars and other celestial bodies, and the application of the laws and theories of physics to the interpretation of astronomical observations.

II. derivatives

astrophysical /ˌastrōˈfizək(ə)l /

adjective

AstroTurf /ˈastrōˌtərf/

I. noun

‹trademark› an artificial grass surface, used for athletic fields.

– origin 1960s: from astrodome (sense 1), where it was first used, + turf.

Asturian /aˈsto͝orēən/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of the Spanish region of Asturias, its inhabitants, or the language spoken there

• I did a wonderful walk along the Asturian coast.

II. noun

1. the language of the Spanish region of Asturias

• slogans translated into Spanish and Asturian.

2. a native or inhabitant of the Spanish region of Asturias

• the Asturian had already shown his ability against Barcelona.

Asturias /aˈsto͝orēəs/

an autonomous region and former principality in northwestern Spain; capital, Oviedo.

Asturias, Miguel Ángel

(1899–1974), Guatemalan novelist and poet, best known for his experimental novel The President (1946). Nobel Prize for Literature (1967).

astute /əˈst(y)o͞ot/

I. adjective

having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage

• an astute businessman.

II. derivatives

astuteness /əˈst(y)o͞otnəs /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from obsolete French astut or Latin astutus, from astus ‘craft.’

astutely /əˈst(y)o͞otlē/

adverb

accurately assessinɡ situations or people; perceptively

• she astutely pointed out that usually you have to be dead to be a legend.

astylar /āˈstīlər/

I. adjective

[Architecture] (of a classical building) lacking columns or pilasters.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from a-1 ‘without’ + Greek stulos ‘column’ + -ar^1.

Asunción /äˌso͞onsēˈōn/

the capital and chief port of Paraguay, on the Paraguay River; pop. 519,100 (est. 2007).

asunder /əˈsəndər/

I. adverb

1. ‹archaic› ‹literary› apart; divided

• those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder.

2. ‹archaic› ‹literary› into pieces

• the desk burst asunder.

– origin Old English on sundran ‘in or into a separate place’; compare with sunder.

asura /ˈäso͝orə/

noun

a member of a class of divine beings in the Vedic period, which in Indian mythology tend to be evil and in Zoroastrianism are benevolent.
Compare with deva, Ahura Mazda.

Aswan /ˈazwän/

a city on the Nile River in southern Egypt, 10 miles (16 km), north of Lake Nasser; pop. 266,000 (est. 2006). Two dams across the Nile have been built nearby. The controlled release of water from Lake Nasser behind the High Dam produces the greater part of Egypt's electricity.

aswarm /əˈswôrm/

adjective — [predic.]

1. crowded; full of moving beings or objects

• the streets were aswarm with vendors.

aswim /əˈswim/

adjective — [predic.]

1. swimming

• sardines aswim in oil.

aswirl /əˈswərl/

adjective, adverb

swirling; covered or surrounded with something swirling
[predic. adj.]

• flowers aswirl with bees

• [adv.] she shook her head, sending the streamers aswirl.

asylee /əsīˈlē/

noun

a person who is seeking or has been granted political asylum.

asylum /əˈsīləm/

I. noun

1. (also political asylum) — the protection granted by a nation to someone who has left their native country as a political refugee

• she applied for asylum and was granted refugee status.

2. shelter or protection from danger

• we provide asylum for those too ill to care for themselves.

3. ‹dated› an institution offering shelter and support to people who are mentally ill

• he'd been committed to an asylum.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘place of refuge,’ especially for criminals): via Latin from Greek asulon ‘refuge,’ from asulos ‘inviolable,’ from a- ‘without’ + sulon ‘right of seizure.’ The current senses date from the 18th cent.

asylum seeker

noun

a person who has left their home country as a political refugee and is seeking asylum in another

• only asylum seekers who are granted refugee status are allowed to work in the country.

asymmetrical /ˌāsəˈmetrək(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. having parts that fail to correspond to one another in shape, size, or arrangement; lacking symmetry

• the church has an asymmetrical plan with an aisle only on one side.

2. having parts or aspects that are not equal or equivalent; unequal in some respect

• the asymmetrical relationship between a landlord and a tenant.

II. derivatives

1. asymmetric /ˌāsiˈmetrik /

adjective

2. asymmetrically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

asymmetrical warfare

noun

warfare involving surprise attacks by small, simply armed groups on a nation armed with modern high-tech weaponry.

asymmetric bars /ˌāsəˌmetrik ˈbärz/

plural noun

British term for uneven bars.

asymmetry /āˈsimətrē/

I. noun

lack of equality or equivalence between parts or aspects of something; lack of symmetry.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Greek asummetria, from a- ‘without’ + summetria (see symmetry).

asymptomatic /ˌāsim(p)təˈmadik/

adjective

[Medicine] (of a condition or a person) producing or showing no symptoms.

asymptote /ˈasəm(p)ˌtōt/

I. noun

a line that continually approaches a given curve but does not meet it at any finite distance.

II. derivatives

1. asymptotic /ˌasəm(p)ˈtädik /

adjective

2. asymptotically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: from modern Latin asymptota (linea) ‘(line) not meeting,’ from Greek asumptōtos ‘not falling together,’ from a- ‘not’ + sun ‘together’ + ptōtos ‘apt to fall’ (from piptein ‘to fall’).

asynchronous /āˈsiNGkrənəs/

I. adjective

1. [Computing] [Telecommunications] of or requiring a form of computer control timing protocol in which a specific operation begins upon receipt of an indication (signal) that the preceding operation has been completed.

2. not going at the same rate and exactly together with something else, in particular

3. (of a machine or motor) not working in time with the alternations of current.

4. [Astronomy] (of a satellite) revolving around the parent planet at a different rate from that at which the planet rotates.

5. [Astronomy] (of an orbit) such that a satellite in it is asynchronous.

6. (of two or more objects or events) not existing or happening at the same time.

II. derivatives

asynchronously

adverb

asyndeton /əˈsindəˌtän/

I. noun

the omission or absence of a conjunction between parts of a sentence.

II. derivatives

asyndetic /ˌasənˈdetik /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek asundeton, neuter of asundetos ‘unconnected,’ from a- ‘not’ + sundetos ‘bound together.’

at^1 /at ət/

I. preposition

1. expressing location or arrival in a particular place or position

• they live at Conway House

• she was constantly at the telex machine

• they stopped at a small trattoria.

2. used in speech to indicate the sign @ in email addresses, separating the address holder's name from their location.

3. expressing the time when an event takes place

• the children go to bed at nine o'clock

• his death came at a time when the movement was split.

4. [without adj.] — denoting a particular period of time

• the sea is cooler at night.

5. [without adj.] — denoting the time spent by someone attending an educational institution, a workplace, or their home

• we all need to get involved in fighting crime whether it's at work, at home, or at school.

6. denoting a particular point or segment on a scale

• prices start at $18,500

• driving at 50 mph.

7. referring to someone's age

• at fourteen he began to work as a mailman.

8. expressing a particular state or condition

• placed them at a serious disadvantage

• the coroner accepted that the machines were at fault.

9. expressing a relationship between an individual and a skill

• boxing was the only sport I was any good at

• he is poor at giving instructions.

10. expressing the object of a look, gesture, thought, action, or plan

• I looked at my watch

• Leslie pointed at him.

11. expressing the target of a shot from a weapon

• they tore down the main street, firing at anyone in sight.

12. emphasizing the directing of an action toward a specified object

• she clutched at the thin gown

• he hit at her face with the gun.

13. expressing the means by which something is done

• holding a corrections officer at knifepoint

• ‹figurative› her pride had taken a beating at his hands.

II. phrases

1. at all

see all.

2. at first

see first.

3. at it

engaged in some activity, typically a reprehensible one

• oh dear, they are at it again.

4. at last

see last^1.

5. at least

see least.

6. at most

see most.

7. at once

see once.

8. at that

in addition; furthermore

• it was not fog but smoke, and very thick at that.

9. not at all

see not.

10. where it's at

‹informal› the fashionable place, possession, or activity

• New York is where it's at, stylewise.

11. where someone is at

‹informal› someone's true or fundamental nature or character

• I think we've got enough information to have an idea of where he's at.

– origin Old English æt, of Germanic origin; related to Old Frisian et and Old Norse at, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin ad ‘to.’

at^2 /ät/

noun

a monetary unit of Laos, equal to one hundredth of a kip.

At

symbol

the chemical element astatine.

at-

prefix

variant spelling of ad- assimilated before t (as in attend, attenuate).

Atabrine /ˈatəbrin, -ˌbrēn/

noun

trademark for quinacrine.

Atacama Desert /ˌätəˈkämə, ˌatə-/

an arid region in western Chile that extends roughly 600 miles (965 km) south from the Peruvian border.

atactic /āˈtaktik/

I. adjective

[Chemistry] (of a polymer or polymer structure) in which the repeating units have no regular stereochemical configuration.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek ataktos, from a- ‘not’ + taktos ‘arranged’ + -ic.

Atalanta /ˌädəˈlän(t)ə / ‹Greek Mythology›

a huntress who would marry only someone who could beat her in a foot race. She was beaten when a suitor threw down three golden apples which she stopped to pick up.

ataman /ˈädəmän/

I. noun

a Cossack leader.
See also hetman.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Russian.

ataraxy /ˈadəˌraksē / ataraxia

I. noun

a state of serene calmness.

II. derivatives

1. ataractic /ˌatəˈraktik /

adjective

2. ataraxic /ˌatəˈraksik /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: from French ataraxie, from Greek ataraxia ‘impassiveness,’ from a- ‘not’ + tarassein ‘disturb.’

Atascadero /əˌtaskəˈderō/

a city in southwestern California; pop. 28,452 (est. 2008).

Atatürk, Kemal /ˌatəˈtərk/

(1881–1938), Turkish general and statesman; president 1923–38; born Mustafa Kemal; also called Kemal Pasha. As the first president of the Turkish republic, he abolished the caliphate and introduced other policies designed to make Turkey a modern secular state.

atavistic /ˌadəˈvistik/

I. adjective

relating to or characterized by reversion to something ancient or ancestral

• atavistic fears and instincts.

II. derivatives

1. atavism /ˈadəˌvizəm /

noun

2. atavistically /-tik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin late 19th cent.: based on Latin atavus ‘forefather,’ via French atavisme, + -ic.

ataxia /əˈtaksēə āˈtaksēə / ataxy

I. noun

[Medicine] the loss of full control of bodily movements.

II. derivatives

ataxic /əˈtaksik /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek, from a- ‘without’ + taxis ‘order.’ The original sense was ‘irregularity, disorder,’ later (in medical use) denoting irregularity of function or symptoms.

ATB

abbreviation

all-terrain bike.

at-bat /ətˈbat / ‹Baseball›

I. noun

a player's turn at batting, as officially recorded

• O'Neill had three singles in four at-bats.

Compare with plate appearance.

II. adverb

batting.

ATC

abbreviation

1. air traffic control.

2. air traffic controller.

Atchafalaya River /əˌCHafəˌlīə ˈrivər/

a river in south central Louisiana that flows south for 170 miles (275 km) to the Gulf of Mexico. It is used to control flooding on the Red and Mississippi rivers.

ate /āt/

past of eat.

ATE

abbreviation

automated test equipment.

-ate^1

I. suffix

1. forming nouns:

2. denoting status or office

• doctorate

• episcopate.

3. a state or function

• curate

• mandate.

4. denoting a group

• electorate.

5. [Chemistry] denoting a salt or ester, especially of an acid with a corresponding name ending in -ic

• chlorate

• nitrate.

6. denoting a product (of a chemical process)

• condensate

• filtrate.

– origin representing Old French -at or -é(e), or from Latin -atus (as a noun or past participial form).

-ate^2

I. suffix

1. forming adjectives and nouns such as associate, duplicate, separate.

2. forming adjectives from Latin

• caudate.

– origin representing French -é or its Latin source -atus (past participial suffix).

-ate^3

I. suffix

forming verbs such as fascinate, hyphenate.

– origin representing French -er or its Latin source -are. Originally forms were based on existing past participial adjectives ending in -atus, later extended to any verb ending in -are.

A-team /ā tēm/

I. noun

a group of elite soldiers or the top advisers or workers in an organization.

– origin 1970s: from sports terminology in which an organization's A-team is its best team.

atelectasis /ˌadlˈektəsəs/

I. noun

[Medicine] partial or complete collapse of the lung.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek atelēs ‘imperfect’ + ektasis ‘extension.’

atelier /ˌadlˈyā/

I. noun

a workshop or studio, especially one used by an artist or designer.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French, from Old French astelle ‘splinter of wood,’ from Latin astula.

a tempo /ˌä ˈtempō/

I. adverb

[Music] (especially as a direction) in the previous or original tempo.

– origin Italian, literally ‘in time.’

atemporal /āˈtemp(ə)rəl/

I. adjective

existing or considered without relation to time.

II. derivatives

atemporality /ˌātempəˈralitē /

noun

Aten /ˈätn / ‹Egyptian Mythology› Aton

the sun or solar disk, the deity of a strong monotheistic cult, particularly during the reign of Akhenaten.

atenolol /əˈtenəˌlôl, -ˌläl/

I. noun

[Medicine] a beta blocker used mainly to treat angina and high blood pressure.

– origin 1970s: perhaps from a(ngina) + ten(sion) + (propran)olol, a related compound.

ATF

abbreviation

(Federal Bureau of) Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

Athabasca River /ˌaTHəˌbaskə ˈrivər/

a river in Canada that flows northeast for 765 miles (1,230 km) from the Rocky Mountains across Alberta to Lake Athabasca, Canada's fourth-largest lake. The river valley has large oil tar deposits.

Athabaskan /ˌaTHəˈbaskən / Athapaskan

I. adjective

denoting, belonging to, or relating to a family of North American Indian languages including especially Navajo and various Apache languages of the southwest US, several languages of coastal California and Oregon, and many languages of Alaska and northwestern Canada, including Chipewyan.

II. noun

1. the Athabaskan family of languages.

2. a speaker of any of the Athabaskan languages.

– origin from Athabasca, the name of a lake in western Canada, from Cree athapaskaw ‘grass and reeds here and there,’ + -an.

Athanasian Creed /ˌaTHəˌnāZHən ˈkrēd/

a summary of Christian doctrine formerly attributed to St. Athanasius, but probably dating from the 5th century.

Athanasius, St. /ˌaTHəˈnāSHəs/

(c. 296–373), Greek theologian and upholder of Christian orthodoxy against the Arian heresy. Feast day, May 2.

athanor /ˈaTHəˌnôr/

I. noun

a type of furnace used by alchemists, able to maintain a steady heat for long periods.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Arabic at-tannūr, from al- ‘the’ + tannūr ‘baker's oven.’ Compare with tandoor.

Atharva Veda /əˈtärvə ˈvādə, ˈvēdə / ‹Hinduism›

I. a collection of hymns and ritual utterances, written in early Sanskrit and added at a later stage to the existing Vedic material.

– origin from Sanskrit Atharvan (the name of Brahma's eldest son, said to be the author of the collection) + vēda ‘(sacred) knowledge.’

atheism /ˈāTHēˌizəm/

I. noun

disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French athéisme, from Greek atheos, from a- ‘without’ + theos ‘god.’

atheist /ˈāTHēəst/

I. noun

a person who disbelieves or lacks belief in the existence of God or gods

• he is a committed atheist.

II. derivatives

atheistical /-ˈistikəl /

adjective

atheistic /ˌāTHēˈistik / atheistical

adjective

disbelieving or lackinɡ belief in the existence of God

• the leaders of scientific thought are overwhelmingly atheistic in their beliefs.

atheling /ˈaTHəliNG, ˈaT͟H-/

I. noun

‹historical› a prince or lord in Anglo-Saxon England.

– origin Old English ætheling, from a base meaning ‘race, family.’

Athelstan /ˈaTHəlˌstan/

(893/4–939), king of England 925–939.

athematic /ˌaTHēˈmadik ˌāTHēˈmadik/

adjective

1. [Music] (of a composition) not based on the use of themes.

2. [Grammar] (of a verb form) having a suffix attached to the stem without a connecting (thematic) vowel.

Athena /əˈTHēnə / ‹Greek Mythology› Athene

the patron goddess of Athens, worshiped as the goddess of wisdom, handicrafts, and warfare. She is often allegorized into a personification of wisdom.

Athenaeum /ˌaTHəˈnēəm / Atheneum

I. noun

1. used in the names of libraries or institutions for literary or scientific study

• the Boston Athenaeum.

2. used in the titles of periodicals concerned with literature, science, and art.

– origin mid 18th cent.: via Latin from Greek Athēnaion, denoting the temple of Athena.

Athenian /əˈTHēnēən/

I. adjective

relating to ancient or modern Athens or its people.

II. noun

a native or citizen of Athens.

Athenian empire /əˌTHēnēən ˈempī(ə)r/

see Delian League.

Athens /ˈaTHənz/

I. the capital of Greece, in the southern part of the country; pop. 745,500 (est. 2009). A flourishing city state in ancient Greece, it was an important cultural center in the 5th century BC. It came under Roman rule in 146 BC and fell to the Goths in AD 267. After its capture by the Turks in 1456, Athens declined to the status of a village until chosen as the capital of a newly independent Greece in 1834.
Greek name Athínai.

II. a city in northeastern Georgia, the seat of the University of Georgia; since a 1991 merger, is part of Athens–Clarke County; consolidated pop. 113,398 (est. 2008).

III. a city in southeastern Ohio, the seat of Ohio University; pop. 22,088 (est. 2008).

atherogenic /ˌaTH(ə)rōˈjenik/

I. adjective

[Physiology] tending to promote the formation of fatty plaques in the arteries.

II. derivatives

atherogenesis /-əsis /

noun

– origin 1950s: from atheroma + -genic.

atheroma /ˌaTHəˈrōmə/

I. noun

1. [Medicine] degeneration of the walls of the arteries caused by accumulated fatty deposits and scar tissue, and leading to restriction of the circulation and a risk of thrombosis.
See also atherosclerosis.

2. [Medicine] the fatty material that forms plaques in the arteries.

II. derivatives

atheromatous /-ˈrämətəs, -ˈrō- /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek athērōma, from athērē, atharē ‘groats.’

atherosclerosis /ˌaTHərōskləˈrōsəs/

I. noun

[Medicine] a disease of the arteries characterized by the deposition of plaques of fatty material on their inner walls.
See also atheroma and arteriosclerosis.

II. derivatives

atherosclerotic /-ˈrätik /

adjective

– origin early 20th cent.: coined in German from Greek athērē ‘groats’ + sklērōsis ‘hardening’ (see sclerosis).

athetize /ˈaTHəˌtīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹rare› reject (a passage in a text) as spurious.

II. derivatives

athetesis /ˌaTHiˈtēsis /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek athetos ‘without position’ + -ize, rendering the Greek verb athetein.

athetosis /ˌaTHəˈtōsəs/

I. noun

[Medicine] a condition in which abnormal muscle contractions cause involuntary writhing movements. It affects some people with cerebral palsy, impairing speech and use of the hands.

II. derivatives

1. athetoid /ˈaTHiˌtoid /

adjective

2. athetotic /-ˈtätik /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek athetos ‘without position’ + -osis.

Athínai /äˈTHēne/

variant spelling of Athens.

athirst /əˈTHərst/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. ‹archaic› thirsty.

2. ‹archaic› very eager to get something

• she was athirst for news.

– origin Old English ofthyrst, shortened from ofthyrsted, past participle of ofthyrstan ‘be thirsty.’

athlete /ˈaTHˌlēt/

I. noun

1. a person who is proficient in sports and other forms of physical exercise.

2. (chiefly Brit.) a person who is skilled in competitive track and field events (athletics).

– origin late Middle English: from Latin athleta, from Greek athlētēs, from athlein ‘compete for a prize,’ from athlon ‘prize.’

athlete's foot /ˈaTHˌlēts ˌfo͝ot/

noun

a fungal infection affecting the skin between the toes. It is a form of ringworm.

athletic /ˌaTH(ə)ˈledik/

I. adjective

1. [attrib.] — of or relating to athletes or athletics

• athletic events

• an athletic club.

2. physically strong, fit, and active

• big, muscular, athletic boys.

II. derivatives

athletically /aTH(ə)ˈledək(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French athlétique or Latin athleticus, from Greek athlētikos, from athlētēs (see athlete).

athleticism /aTHˈledəsizəm/

noun

the physical qualities that are characteristic of athletes, such as strength, fitness, and agility

• what he lacks in stature, he more than makes up for with speed and athleticism.

athletics /ˌaTH(ə)ˈlediks/

plural noun — [usu. treated as sing.]

1. (N. Amer.) physical sports and games of any kind.

2. (chiefly Brit.) the sport of competing in track and field events, including running races and various competitions in jumping and throwing
[as modifier]

• athletics championships.

athletic supporter

noun

another term for jockstrap.

at-home

I. noun

1. an informal party in a person's home.

2. ‹dated› a period when a person has announced that they will receive visitors in their home.

II. adjective

occurring in or suited to one's home

• at-home athletic equipment.

Athos, Mount /ˈaTHˌäs, ˈāˌTHäs/

I. a narrow, mountainous peninsula in northeastern Greece that projects into the Aegean Sea. It is inhabited by Greek Orthodox monks, who forbid women and even female animals to set foot on the peninsula.

II. derivatives

Athonite /ˈaTHəˌnīt /

adjective, noun

athwart /əˈTHwôrt/

I. preposition

1. from side to side of; across

• a long counter thrown athwart the entranceway.

2. in opposition to; counter to

• these statistics run sharply athwart conventional presumptions.

II. adverb

1. across from side to side; transversely

• one table running athwart was all the room would hold.

2. so as to be perverse or contradictory

• our words ran athwart and we ended up at cross purposes.

– origin late Middle English: from a-2 ‘on’ + thwart.

-atic

I. suffix

forming adjectives and nouns such as aquatic, idiomatic.

– origin from French -atique or Latin -aticus, often based on Greek -atikos.

-ation

I. suffix

1. (forming nouns) denoting an action or an instance of it

• exploration

• hesitation.

2. denoting a result or product of action

• plantation.

– origin representing French -ation or Latin -ation-.

Ativan /ˈadəˌvan/

noun

trademark for lorazepam.

-ative

I. suffix

(forming adjectives) denoting a characteristic or propensity

• pejorative

• talkative.

– origin representing French -atif, -ative, or from Latin -ativus.

Atkins diet /ˈatkənz ˌdīət/

I. noun

‹trademark› a diet high in protein and fat and low in carbohydrates, prescribed for weight loss.

– origin 1970s: after its originator, cardiologist Dr. Robert C. Atkins (1930–2003) and his book Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution (1972).

Atkinson, Sir Harry /ˈatkinsən/

(1831–92), New Zealand statesman; born in Britain; prime minister 1876–77, 1883–84, and 1887–91; full name Sir Harry Albert Atkinson.

Atlanta /ətˈlantə/

the capital of the state of Georgia in the US, in northwest central Georgia; pop. 537,958 (est. 2008). It was burned by Union forces under Gen. William T. Sherman in 1864 during the Civil War.

Atlantean^1 /ˌatˈlanˌtēən / ‹Mythology›

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of the legendary island of Atlantis

• she lives in an Atlantean castle.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of the legendary island of Atlantis

• when the explorers reach the city they meet the Atlanteans.

Atlantean^2 /ˌatˈlanˌtēən / ‹Greek Mythology›

adjective

1. relating to or characteristic of Atlas, one of the Titans, who was punished for his part in their revolt against Zeus by being made to support the heavens

• Atlantean shoulders fit to bear the weight of mightiest monarchies.

2. referring to a great weight or burden of responsibility

• I'm terrified you're going to buckle under the Atlantean burden.

atlantes /ətˈlantēz/

plural form of atlas (sense 3).

Atlantic /ətˈlan(t)ik atˈlan(t)ik/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of or adjoining the Atlantic Ocean

• an Atlantic storm

• the Atlantic coast of Europe.

II. noun

short for Atlantic Ocean.

– origin late Middle English: via Latin from Greek Atlantikos, from Atlas, Atlant- (see atlas). The term originally referred to the Atlas Mountains in North Africa, hence to the sea near the west African coast, later extended to the whole ocean.

Atlantic, Battle of the

a succession of sea operations during World War II in which Axis naval and air forces attempted to destroy shipping carrying supplies from North America to the UK.

Atlantic Charter /ətˈlan(t)ik ˈCHärdər/

a declaration of eight common principles in international relations drawn up by Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt in August 1941, which provided the ideological basis for the United Nations organization.

Atlantic City

a resort city in southeastern New Jersey, on the Atlantic Ocean; pop. 39,408 (est. 2008). It is noted for its gambling casinos and its boardwalk.

Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway

a water route in the US that allows sheltered boat passage for 1,900 miles (3,100 km) along the Atlantic coast between Boston and Key West.

Atlanticism /ətˈlan(t)əˌsizəm/

I. noun

belief in or support for a close relationship between western Europe and the US, or particularly for NATO.

II. derivatives

Atlanticist

noun, adjective

Atlantic Ocean /ətlantikˈōSHn/

the ocean that lies between Europe and Africa on the east and North and South America on the west. It is divided by the equator into the North Atlantic and the South Atlantic oceans.

Atlantic Provinces /ətˈlan(t)ik ˈprävənsəz/

the Canadian provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Maritime Provinces.

Atlantic seal

noun

another term for gray seal.

Atlantic time

the standard time in a zone including the easternmost parts of mainland Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, specifically.
[● standard time based on the mean solar time at the longitude 60° W, four hours behind GMT. ● Atlantic time during daylight savings, three hours behind GMT.]

Atlantis /ətˈlan(t)əs/

a legendary island, beautiful and prosperous, which sank into the sea.

atlas /ˈatləs/

I. noun

1. (pl. atlases) — a book of maps or charts

• I looked in the atlas to find a map of Italy

• a road atlas.

2. a book of illustrations or diagrams on any subject

• Atlas of Surgical Operations.

3. (also atlas vertebra) (pl. atlases) — [Anatomy] the topmost vertebra of the backbone, articulating with the occipital bone of the skull.

4. (pl. atlantes ) — [Architecture] a stone carving of a male figure, used as a column to support the entablature of a Greek or Greek-style building.

– origin late 16th cent. (originally denoting a person who supported a great burden): via Latin from Greek Atlas, the god who held up the pillars of the universe and whose picture appeared at the front of early atlases.

Atlas /ˈatləs / ‹Greek Mythology›

one of the Titans, who was punished for his part in their revolt against Zeus by being made to support the heavens. He became identified with the Atlas Mountains.

atlas moth

noun

a very large, boldly marked silkworm moth that occurs in both the Old and New World tropics.
[Genus Attacus, family Saturniidae: several species, in particular A. atlas of Asia, which is the largest moth in the world.]

Atlas Mountains

a range of mountains in North Africa that extends from Morocco to Tunisia in a series of chains, including the Anti-Atlas, High Atlas, Middle Atlas, Rif Mountains, Tell Atlas, and Sahara Atlas.

atlatl /ˌätˈlätl/

I. noun

1. a stick used by Eskimos and early American Indians to propel a spear or dart.

2. a device similar to the atlatl used in modern sport.

– origin Nahuatl atlatl ‘spear-thrower.’

atm

abbreviation

[Physics] atmosphere(s), as a unit of pressure.

ATM /ˌā tē ˈem/

abbreviation

1. [Telecommunications] asynchronous transfer mode.

2. automated (or automatic) teller machine.

atman /ˈätmən / Atman

I. noun

1. [Hinduism] the spiritual life principle of the universe, especially when regarded as inherent in the real self of the individual.

2. [Hinduism] a person's soul.

– origin from Sanskrit ātman, literally ‘essence, breath.’

atmosphere /ˈatməsˌfir/

I. noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. the envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet

• part of the sun's energy is absorbed by the earth's atmosphere.

2. the air in any particular place

• we couldn't breathe in the dusty atmosphere of his apartment.

3. (abbr.: atm) — [Physics] a unit of pressure equal to mean atmospheric pressure at sea level, 101,325 pascals.

4. the pervading tone or mood of a place, situation, or work of art

• the hotel is famous for its friendly, welcoming atmosphere

• this crisis further compounded the prevailing atmosphere of gloom.

5. a pleasurable and interesting or exciting mood

• a superb restaurant, full of atmosphere.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from modern Latin atmosphaera, from Greek atmos ‘vapor’ + sphaira ‘ball, globe.’

atmospheric /ˌatməsˈfirik ˌatməsˈferik/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to the atmosphere of the earth or (occasionally) another planet

• atmospheric conditions such as fog, snow, rain.

2. creating a distinctive mood, typically of romance, mystery, or nostalgia

• atmospheric lighting.

II. derivatives

1. atmospherical

adjective

( — ‹archaic›

2. atmospherically

adverb

atmospheric pressure

noun

the pressure exerted by the weight of the atmosphere, which at sea level has a mean value of 101,325 pascals (roughly 14.6959 pounds per square inch).
Also called barometric pressure.

atmospherics /atməsˈfiriks/

plural noun

1. electrical disturbances in the atmosphere due to lightning and other phenomena, especially as they interfere with telecommunications.

2. effects intended to create a particular atmosphere or mood, especially in music

• a jazz sound with spooky atmospherics.

atoll /ˈatˌôl ˈatˌäl/

I. noun

a ring-shaped reef, island, or chain of islands formed of coral.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Maldivian atoḷu.

atom /ˈadəm/

I. noun

1. the basic unit of a chemical element.

2. atoms as a source of nuclear energy

• the power of the atom.

3. [usu. with negative] — an extremely small amount of a thing or quality

• I shall not have one atom of strength left.

An atom, roughly 108 cm in diameter, consists of a tiny, dense, positively charged nucleus made of neutrons and protons, surrounded by a cloud of negatively charged electrons. Each chemical element consists of atoms that possess a characteristic number of protons. Atoms are held together in molecules by sharing electrons.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Old French atome, via Latin from Greek atomos ‘indivisible,’ based on a- ‘not’ + temnein ‘to cut.’

atom bomb /ˈadəm ˌbäm / atomic bomb

noun

a bomb that derives its destructive power from the rapid release of nuclear energy by fission of heavy atomic nuclei, causing damage through heat, blast, and radioactivity.
Compare with hydrogen bomb. In such a bomb two pieces of a fissile material are brought together by a conventional explosion to form a super critical mass. Neutrons then cause an uncontrolled fission chain reaction that quickly releases large amounts of energy.

atomic /əˈtämik/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to an atom or atoms

• the atomic nucleus.

2. [Chemistry] (of a substance) consisting of uncombined atoms rather than molecules

• atomic hydrogen.

3. of or forming a single irreducible unit or component in a larger system

• a society made up of atomic individuals pursuing private interests.

4. relating to, denoting, or using the energy released in nuclear fission or fusion

• the atomic age required a new way of political thinking

• atomic weapons.

II. derivatives

atomically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin late 17th cent.: from modern Latin atomicus, from atomus ‘indivisible’ (see atom).

atomic age

noun

another term for nuclear age.

atomic clock

noun

an extremely accurate type of clock that is regulated by the vibrations of an atomic or molecular system such as cesium or ammonia.

atomic energy

noun

another term for nuclear energy.

atomicity /ˌadəˈmisədē/

noun

1. [Chemistry] the number of atoms in the molecules of an element.

2. the state or fact of being composed of indivisible units.

atomic mass

noun

the mass of an atom of a chemical element expressed in atomic mass units. It is approximately equivalent to the number of protons and neutrons in the atom (the mass number) or to the average number allowing for the relative abundances of different isotopes.

atomic mass unit amu

noun

a unit of mass used to express atomic and molecular weights, equal to one-twelfth of the mass of an atom of carbon-12. It is equal to approximately 1.66 x 10-27 kg.

atomic number

noun

(Symbol: Z) — [Chemistry] [Physics] the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, which determines the chemical properties of an element and its place in the periodic table.

atomic physics

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the branch of physics concerned with the structure of the atom, its energy states, and its interactions with particles and fields.

atomic pile

noun

dated term for nuclear reactor.

atomic power

noun

another term for nuclear power.

atomic spectrum

noun

the spectrum of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation emitted or absorbed during transitions of electrons between energy levels within an atom. Each element has a characteristic spectrum by which it can be recognized.

atomic theory

noun

1. the theory that all matter is made up of tiny indivisible particles (atoms). According to the modern version, the atoms of each element are effectively identical, but differ from those of other elements, and unite to form compounds in fixed proportions.

2. in any field, a theory that proposes the existence of distinct, separable, independent components

• an atomic theory of heredity.

atomic volume

noun

[Chemistry] the volume occupied by one gram-atom of an element under standard conditions.

atomic weight /əˈtämik wāt/

noun

[Chemistry] another term for atomic mass.

atomism /ˈadəˌmizəm/

I. noun

[chiefly Philosophy] a theoretical approach that regards something as interpretable through analysis into distinct, separable, and independent elementary components.
The opposite of holism.

II. derivatives

1. atomist /ˈadəməst /

noun

2. atomistic /ˌadəˈmistik /

adjective

atomize /ˈadəˌmīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. convert (a substance) into very fine particles or droplets

• the CO_2 depressurized, atomizing the paint into a mist of even-size particles.

2. reduce (something) to atoms or other small distinct units

• by disrupting our ties with our neighbors, crime atomizes society.

II. derivatives

atomization /ˌadəməˈzāSH(ə)n ˌadəˌmīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

atomizer /ˈadəˌmīzər / ‹Brit.› atomiser

noun

a device for emitting water, perfume, or other liquids as a fine spray.

atom smasher

noun

informal term for particle accelerator.

atomy /ˈadəmē/

I. noun

‹archaic› a skeleton or emaciated body.

– origin late 16th cent.: from anatomy, taken as an atomy.

atonal /āˈtōnl aˈtōnl/

I. adjective

[Music] not written in any key or mode.

II. derivatives

1. atonalism /-ˌizəm /

noun

2. atonalist /-ist /

noun

3. atonality /ˌātōˈnalədē ˌatōˈnalədē /

noun

atone /əˈtōn/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. make amends or reparation

• he was being helpful, to atone for his past mistakes.

– origin Middle English (originally in the sense ‘make or become united or reconciled,’ rare before the 16th cent.): from at one in early use; later by back-formation from atonement.

atonement /əˈtōnmənt/

I. noun

1. reparation for a wrong or injury

• she wanted to make atonement for her husband's behavior.

2. (in religious contexts) reparation or expiation for sin

• an annual ceremony of confession and atonement for sin.

3. (the Atonement) — [Christian Theology] the reconciliation of God and humankind through Jesus Christ.

– origin early 16th cent. (denoting unity or reconciliation, especially between God and man): from at one + -ment, influenced by medieval Latin adunamentum ‘unity,’ and earlier onement from an obsolete verb one ‘to unite.’

atonic /āˈtänik/

I. adjective

1. [Linguistics] (of a syllable) without accent or stress.

2. [Physiology] lacking muscular tone.

II. derivatives

atony /ˈatnē /

noun

atop /əˈtäp/

I. preposition

on the top of

• the weathervane is perched atop the barn.

II. adverb

on the top

• the air raid siren atop of the courthouse.

atopic /ˌāˈtäpik/

I. adjective

denoting a form of allergy in which a hypersensitivity reaction such as dermatitis or asthma may occur in a part of the body not in contact with the allergen.

II. derivatives

atopy /ˈatəpē /

noun

– origin early 20th cent.: from Greek atopia ‘a being out of place,’ from atopos ‘out of place,’ from a- ‘without’ + topos ‘place.’

-ator

I. suffix

1. forming agent nouns such as agitator.

2. used in names of implements, machines, etc.

• escalator.

– origin from Latin, or sometimes representing French -ateur.

-atory

I. suffix

(forming adjectives) relating to or involving an action

• explanatory

• predatory.

– origin from Latin -atorius.

ATP

abbreviation

[Biochemistry] adenosine triphosphate.

atrabilious /ˌatrəˈbilyəs/

I. adjective

‹literary› melancholy or ill-tempered.

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘affected by black bile,’ one of the four supposed cardinal humors of the body, believed to cause melancholy): from Latin atra bilis ‘black bile,’ translation of Greek melankholia ‘melancholy,’ + -ious.

atraumatic /ˌātrəˈmadik, ˌātrouˈmadik, ˌātrôˈmadik/

adjective

(of a medical or surgical procedure) causing minimal tissue injury.

atrazine /ˈatrəˌzēn/

I. noun

a synthetic compound used as an agricultural herbicide.
[A triazine derivative; chem. formula: C_8H_14N_5Cl.]

– origin 1960s: blend of amino and triazine.

atremble /əˈtrembəl/

adjective — [predic.]

1. ‹literary› trembling

• the breeze failed to set a single leaf atremble.

atresia /əˈtrēZH(ē)ə/

I. noun

1. [Medicine] absence or abnormal narrowing of an opening or passage in the body.

2. [Physiology] the degeneration of those ovarian follicles that do not ovulate during the menstrual cycle.

– origin early 19th cent.: from a-1 ‘without’ + Greek trēsis ‘perforation’ + -ia^1.

Atreus /ˈātrēəs / ‹Greek Mythology›

the son of Pelops and father of Agamemnon and Menelaus. He quarreled with his brother Thyestes and invited him to a banquet at which he served up the flesh of Thyestes' own children.

atrioventricular /ˌātrēōvenˈtrikyələr/

adjective

[Anatomy] [Physiology] relating to the atrial and ventricular chambers of the heart, or the connection or coordination between them.

at-risk //

adjective

vulnerable, especially to abuse or delinquency

• a church-run school for the most at-risk children.

atrium /ˈātrēəm/

I. noun

1. [Architecture] an open-roofed entrance hall or central court in an ancient Roman house.

2. a central hall or court in a modern building, with rooms or galleries opening off it, often glass-covered.

3. [Anatomy] each of the two upper cavities of the heart from which blood is passed to the ventricles. The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the veins of the body; the left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the pulmonary vein.
Also called auricle.

II. derivatives

atrial /ˈātrēəl /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin.

atrocious /əˈtrōSHəs/

I. adjective

1. horrifyingly wicked

• atrocious cruelties.

2. of a very poor quality; extremely bad or unpleasant

• he attempted an atrocious imitation of my English accent

• atrocious weather.

II. derivatives

1. atrociously /əˈtrōSHəslē /

adverb

2. atrociousness /əˈtrōSHəsnəs /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin atrox, atroc- ‘cruel’ + -ious.

atrocity /əˈträsədē/

I. noun

1. an extremely wicked or cruel act, typically one involving physical violence or injury

• war atrocities

• scenes of hardship and atrocity.

2. ‹humorous› a highly unpleasant or distasteful object

• the house was a split-level atrocity.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘cruelty’): from French atrocité or Latin atrocitas, from atrox, atroc- ‘cruel.’

atrophy /ˈatrəfē/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of body tissue or an organ) waste away, typically due to the degeneration of cells, or become vestigial during evolution

• without exercise, the muscles will atrophy

• (as adj. atrophied) in some beetles, the hind wings are atrophied.

2. gradually decline in effectiveness or vigor due to underuse or neglect

• her artistic skills atrophied from lack of use.

II. noun

the process of atrophying or state of having atrophied

• gastric atrophy

• extensive TV viewing may lead to atrophy of children's imaginations.

III. derivatives

atrophic /əˈträfik /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: from French atrophier (verb), atrophie (noun), from late Latin atrophia, from Greek, ‘lack of food,’ from a- ‘without’ + trophē ‘food.’

atropine /ˈatrəˌpēn/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a poisonous compound found in deadly nightshade and related plants. It is used in medicine as a muscle relaxant, e.g., in dilating the pupil of the eye.
[An alkaloid; chem. formula: C_17N_23NO_3.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: modern Latin Atropa belladonna ‘deadly nightshade,’ from Atropos + -ine^4.

Atropos /ˈatrəˌpäs / ‹Greek Mythology›

I. one of the three Fates.

– origin Greek, literally ‘inflexible.’

at sign

noun

the symbol @.

Atsina /atˈsēnə/

I. noun

a member of a North American Indian people living chiefly in the north central plains region. They speak an Algonquian language.
Also called Gros Ventre.

II. adjective

of or relating to the Atsina.

attaboy /ˈadəˌboi/

I. exclamation

an informal expression of encouragement or admiration, typically to a man or boy.

II. noun

a piece of encouragement or congratulations, especially a letter

• our boss will write you guys an attaboy.

– origin early 20th cent.: probably representing a casual pronunciation of that's the boy.

attach /əˈtaCH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. fasten; join

• he made certain that the trailer was securely attached to the van.

2. fasten (a related document) to another, or to an email

• I attach a copy of the memo for your information.

3. include (a condition) as part of an agreement

• the Commission can attach appropriate conditions to the operation of the agreement.

4. (attach oneself to) — join (someone or something) without being invited

• they were all too ready to attach themselves to you for the whole day.

5. (usu. be attached) — appoint (someone) for special or temporary duties

• I was attached to another department.

6. (attach something to) — attribute importance or value to

• he doesn't attach too much importance to radical ideas.

7. [no obj.] (attach to) — (of importance or value) be attributed to

• great importance attaches to the family role.

8. [Law] seize (a person's property) by legal authority

• the court attached his wages for child support.

II. derivatives

attachable /əˈtaCHəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘seize by legal authority’): from Old French atachier or estachier ‘fasten, fix,’ based on an element of Germanic origin related to stake^1; compare with attack.

attaché /ˌadəˈSHā ˌaˈtaSHā/

I. noun

1. a person on the staff of an ambassador, typically with a specialized area of responsibility

• military attachés.

2. (N. Amer.) short for attaché case.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French, literally ‘attached,’ past participle of attacher.

attaché case

noun

a small, flat, rectangular case used for carrying documents.

attached /əˈtaCHt/

adjective

1. joined or fastened to something

• please complete the attached form.

2. (of a building or room) adjacent to and typically connected with another building or room

• a ground-floor bedroom with a bathroom attached.

3. full of affection or fondness

• during his visit, Mark became increasingly attached to Tara.

4. (attached to) — (of a person) appointed to an organization or group for special or temporary duties

• he was attached to military intelligence.

5. (of an organization or body) affiliated to another larger organization or body

• a public relations agency attached to the university.

attachment /əˈtaCHmənt/

I. noun

1. an extra part or extension that is or can be attached to something to perform a particular function

• the food processor comes with a blender attachment.

2. a computer file appended to an email.

3. the condition of being attached to something or someone, in particular

4. affection, fondness, or sympathy for someone or something

• she felt a sentimental attachment to the place.

5. an affectionate relationship between two people

• he formed an attachment with a young widow.

6. the action of attaching something

• the case has a loop for attachment to your belt.

7. legal seizure of property.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘arrest for contempt of court’): from Old French attachement, from atachier ‘fasten, fix’ (see attach).

attack /əˈtak/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. take aggressive action against (a place or enemy forces) with weapons or armed force, typically in a battle or war

• in December, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor

• [no obj.] Italian forces attacked in October.

2. (of a person or animal) act against (someone or something) aggressively in an attempt to injure or kill

• a doctor was attacked by two youths.

3. (of a disease, chemical substance, or insect) act harmfully on

• HIV is thought to attack certain cells in the brain.

4. criticize or oppose fiercely and publicly

• he attacked the government's defense policy.

5. begin to deal with (a problem or task) in a determined and vigorous way

• a plan of action to attack unemployment.

6. [no obj.] — make an aggressive or forceful attempt to score a goal or point, or gain or exploit an advantage in a game against an opposing team or player
(as adj. attacking)

• the home team showed some good attacking play.

7. [Chess] move into or be in a position to capture (an opponent's piece).

II. noun

1. an aggressive and violent action against a person or place

• he was killed in an attack on a checkpoint

• three classrooms were gutted in the arson attack.

2. destructive action by a disease, chemical, or insect

• the tissue is open to attack by fungus.

3. a sudden short bout of an illness or stress

• an attack of nausea

• an asthma attack.

4. an instance of fierce public criticism or opposition

• he launched a stinging attack on the White House.

5. a determined attempt to tackle a problem or task

• an attack on inflation.

6. [Music] the manner of beginning to play or sing a passage.

7. forceful and decisive style in performing music or another art

• the sheer attack of Hendrix's playing.

8. an aggressive attempt to score a goal, win points, or gain or exploit an advantage in a game.

9. [Chess] a threat to capture an opponent's piece.

III. phrases

under attack

subject to aggressive, violent, or harmful action

• his paintings have come under attack for their satanic content.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French attaque (noun), attaquer (verb), from Italian attacco ‘an attack,’ attaccare ‘join battle,’ based on an element of Germanic origin (see attach).

attack dog

noun

1. a dog trained to attack on command and kept for this purpose.

2. a person who is very aggressive in defense or support of someone or something

• he was accused of being an all-purpose attack dog for the party.

attacker /əˈtakər/

noun

1. a person or animal that attacks someone or something.

2. (in soccer and other games) a player that makes an assertive or aggressive attempt to score; a forward.

attagirl /ˈadəˌɡərl/

I. exclamation

an informal expression of encouragement or admiration to a woman or girl.

– origin 1920s: on the pattern of attaboy.

attain /əˈtān/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. succeed in achieving (something that one desires and has worked for)

• clarify your objectives and ways of attaining them

• he attained the rank of admiral

• human beings can attain happiness.

2. reach (a specified age, size, or amount)

• dolphins can attain remarkable speeds in water.

– origin Middle English (in the senses ‘bring to justice’ and ‘reach (a state)’): from Old French ateindre, from Latin attingere, from ad- ‘at, to’ + tangere ‘to touch.’

attainable /əˈtānəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

able to be attained; achievable

• yields in excess of 6% are easily attainable

• an attainable target.

II. derivatives

attainability /əˌtānəˈbilədē /

noun

attainder /əˈtāndər/

I. noun

‹historical› the forfeiture of land and civil rights suffered as a consequence of a sentence of death for treason or felony.

II. phrases

bill of attainder

‹historical› an item of legislation (prohibited by the US Constitution) that inflicts attainder without judicial process.

– origin late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French, variant (used as a noun) of Old French ateindre in the sense ‘convict, bring to justice’ (see attain).

attainment /əˈtānmənt/

noun

1. the action or fact of achieving a goal toward which one has worked

• the attainment of a complete collection is the measure of a collector’s success.

2. (often attainments) — a thing achieved, especially a skill or educational achievement

• scholarly attainments.

attaint /əˈtānt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (usu. be attainted) — ‹historical› subject to attainder.

2. ‹archaic› affect or infect with disease or corruption.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘touch, reach, attain’): from obsolete attaint (adjective), from Old French ataint, ateint, past participle of ateindre ‘bring to justice’ (see attain); influenced in meaning by taint.

Attalid /ˈadlˌid/

I. noun

a member of a Hellenistic dynasty centered on the city of Pergamum in Asia Minor and named after Attalus I (reigned 241–197 BC), which flourished in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC.

II. adjective

of or relating to the Attalid dynasty.

attar /ˈadər / otto

I. noun

a fragrant essential oil, typically made from rose petals.

– origin late 17th cent.: via Persian from Arabic 'aṭir ‘fragrant.’

attempt /əˈtem(p)t/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make an effort to achieve or complete (something, typically a difficult task or action)

• she attempted a comeback in 1989

• [with infinitive] those who attempted to flee were captured at the border.

2. try to climb to the top of (a mountain)

• the group's next plan was to attempt Everest.

3. ‹archaic› try to take (a life)

• he would not have attempted the life of a friend.

II. noun

1. an act of trying to achieve something, typically one that is unsuccessful or not certain to succeed
[with infinitive]

• an attempt to halt the bombings

• any attempt at talking politics ended in a fit of laughter

• an abortive coup attempt.

2. an effort to surpass a record or conquer a mountain

• we made an attempt on the southwest buttress.

3. a bid to kill someone

• Karakozov made an attempt on the tsar's life.

4. a thing produced as a result of trying to make or achieve something

• her first attempt at a letter ended up in the wastebasket.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French attempter, from Latin attemptare, from ad- ‘to’ + temptare ‘to tempt.’

Attenborough, Richard /ˈatnb(ə)rə/

Baron Attenborough of Richmond-upon-Thames (1923–2014), English movie actor, producer, and director; full name Richard Samuel Attenborough. He directed Oh! What a Lovely War (1969), A Bridge Too Far (1977), Gandhi (1982), and Shadowlands (1993).

attend /əˈtend/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — be present at (an event, meeting, or function)

• the entire sales force attended the conference

• she was unable to attend the wedding.

2. go regularly to (an educational, religious, social, or clinical institution)

• all children are required to attend school.

3. [no obj.] (attend to) — deal with

• he muttered that he had business to attend to.

4. give practical help and care to; look after

• the severely wounded had two medics to attend to their wounds

• [with obj.] each of the beds in the intensive care unit is attended by a nurse.

5. pay attention to

• Alice hadn't attended to a word of his sermon.

6. [with obj.] (usu. be attended) — occur with or as a result of

• people feared that the switch to a peacetime economy would be attended by a severe slump.

7. escort or accompany (a member of royalty or other important personage) so as to assist them; wait on

• Her Royal Highness was attended by two capable women.

II. derivatives

attender /əˈtendər /

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘apply one's mind, one's energies to’): from Old French atendre, from Latin attendere, from ad- ‘to’ + tendere ‘stretch.’

attendance /əˈtendəns/

I. noun

1. the action or state of going regularly to or being present at a place or event

• my attendance at church was very irregular.

2. the number of people present at a particular event, function, or meeting

• reports placed the attendance at 500,000.

II. phrases

in attendance

a. present at a function or a place.

b. accompanying a member of royalty or the aristocracy in the capacity of an assistant or servant.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, from atendre ‘give one's attention to’ (see attend).

attendant /əˈtendənt/

I. noun

1. a person employed to provide a service to the public in a particular place

• a flight attendant

• a gas station attendant.

2. an assistant to an important person; a servant or courtier.

3. a person who is present at an event, meeting, or function

• he had become a regular attendant at chapel.

II. adjective

1. occurring with or as a result of; accompanying

• the sea and its attendant attractions

• he warns against the dangers attendant on solitary life.

2. (of a person or animal) accompanying another as a companion or assistant

• a pair of blind tourists with their attendant dogs.

– origin late Middle English (as an adjective): from Old French, from atendre ‘give one's attention to’ (see attend).

attendee /əˌtenˈdē ˌatenˈdē/

noun

a person who attends a conference or other gathering.

attention /əˈten(t)SH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. notice taken of someone or something; the regarding of someone or something as interesting or important

• he drew attention to three spelling mistakes

• you've never paid that much attention to her opinions.

2. the mental faculty of considering or taking notice of someone or something

• he turned his attention to the educational system.

3. the action of dealing with or taking special care of someone or something

• the business needed her attention

• he failed to give the patient adequate medical attention.

4. (attentions) — a person's interest in someone, especially when unwelcome or regarded as excessive

• his primary aim was to avoid the attentions of the newspapers.

5. (attentions) — a person's actions intended to express interest of a sexual or romantic nature in someone, sometimes when unwelcome

• she felt flattered by his attentions.

6. [Military] a position assumed by a soldier, standing very straight with the heels together and the arms straight down the sides of the body

• the squadron stood to attention when we arrived

• midshipmen standing at attention.

7. [as exclamation] — an order to assume the position of attention.

II. derivatives

attentional /-CHənl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin attentio(n-), from the verb attendere (see attend).

attention deficit disorder /əˈten(t)SHən ˈdefəsət diˈsôrdər / attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADD, ADHD

noun

any of a range of behavioral disorders occurring primarily in children, including such symptoms as poor concentration, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

attention-grabbing

adjective

attracting people's notice; striking

• the buildings were sufficiently attention-grabbing to find their place in international magazines.

attention span /əˈten(t)SHən span/

noun

the length of time for which a person is able to concentrate mentally on a particular activity.

attentive /əˈten(t)iv/

I. adjective

1. paying close attention to something

• never before had she had such an attentive audience

• Congress should be more attentive to the interests of taxpayers.

2. assiduously attending to the comfort or wishes of others; very polite or courteous

• the hotel has a pleasant atmosphere and attentive service.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French attentif, -ive, from atendre ‘give one's attention to’ (see attend).

attentively /əˈten(t)ivlē/

adverb

1. while paying close attention

• throughout our discussion the president listened attentively.

2. while assiduously attending to the comfort or wishes of others; very politely or courteously

• though many of these places see few visitors, they are all attentively staffed by local people who are eager to help.

attentiveness /əˈten(t)ivnəs/

noun

1. the action of paying close attention to something

• half the children who ate the cereal showed no improvement in attentiveness

• the past scenes are beautifully handled, with a clear attentiveness to detail.

2. the action of assiduously attending to the comfort or wishes of others; politeness or courtesy

• this sight has maintained its top grading due to the attentiveness of the staff

• Mary was particularly touched by Georgiana's attentiveness to her during her recovery.

attenuate

I. verb — /əˈtenyəˌwāt / [with obj.]

1. reduce the force, effect, or value of

• her intolerance was attenuated by a rather unexpected liberalism.

2. reduce the amplitude of (a signal, electric current, or other oscillation).

3. (usu. as adj. attenuated) — reduce the virulence of (a pathogenic organism or vaccine)

• attenuated strains of rabies virus.

4. reduce in thickness; make thin

• the trees are attenuated from being grown too close together.

II. adjective — /əˈtenyo͞oət əˈtenyo͞oˌāt /

1. ‹rare› reduced in force, effect, or physical thickness.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin attenuat- ‘made slender,’ from the verb attenuare, from ad- ‘to’ + tenuare ‘make thin’ (from tenuis ‘thin’).

attenuated /əˈtenyəˌwādəd/

adjective

1. unnaturally thin

• she was a drooping, attenuated figure.

2. weakened in force or effect

• Roman influence became attenuated.

attenuation /əˌtenyo͝oˈāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the reduction of the force, effect, or value of something

• human security required the attenuation of a wide range of threats to people.

2. the reduction of the amplitude of a signal, electric current, or other oscillation

• the products are used mostly by aircraft manufacturers for noise attenuation in engine housings

• [as count noun] attenuations of the order of 50 to 200 dB are required.

attenuator /əˈtenyəˌwādər/

noun

a device consisting of an arrangement of resistors that reduces the strength of a radio or audio signal.

attest /əˈtest/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. provide or serve as clear evidence of

• his status is attested by his recent promotion

• [no obj.] his numerous drawings of ships attest to his fascination with them.

2. [no obj.] — declare that something exists or is the case

• I can attest to his tremendous energy

• [with clause] the deceased's attorney attested that he had been about to institute divorce proceedings.

3. be a witness to; certify formally

• the witnesses must attest and sign the will in the testator's presence.

II. derivatives

attestation /ˌaˌteˈstāSH(ə)n ˌadəˈstāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin early 16th cent.: from French attester, from Latin attestari, from ad- ‘to’ + testari ‘to witness’ (from testis ‘a witness’).

attic /ˈadik/

I. noun

a space or room just below the roof of a building.

– origin late 17th cent. (as an architectural term designating a small order (column and entablature) above a taller one): from French attique, from Latin Atticus ‘relating to Athens or Attica.’

Attic /ˈadik/

I. adjective

of or relating to Athens or Attica, or the dialect of Greek spoken there in ancient times.

II. noun

the dialect of Greek used by the ancient Athenians, the chief literary form of classical Greek.

– origin late 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek Attikos.

Attica /ˈadəkə/

I. a triangular promontory in eastern Greece. With the islands in the Saronic Gulf, it forms a department of Greece, of which Athens is the capital.

II. a town in western New York, the scene of a bloody 1971 prison uprising; pop. 7,533 (est. 2008).

Atticism /ˈadəˌsizəm/

I. noun

a word or form characteristic of Attic Greek.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Greek Attikismos, from Attikos (see Attic). From the original sense of ‘the Greek language as used by the Athenians,’ arose the meaning ‘refined, elegant Greek,’ later extended to language in general.

Attila /əˈtilə/

(406–453), king of the Huns 434–453. He ravaged vast areas between the Rhine and the Caspian Sea before being defeated by the joint forces of the Roman army and the Visigoths at Châlons in 451.

attire /əˈtī(ə)r/

I. noun

clothes, especially fine or formal ones

• holiday attire.

II. verb — (be attired)

1. be dressed in clothes of a specified kind

• Donna was attired in an elaborate evening gown

• (attired) the outrageously attired rock star.

– origin Middle English: from Old French atirier, atirer ‘equip,’ from a tire ‘in order,’ of unknown origin.

Attis /ˈadəs / ‹Anatolian Mythology›

the youthful consort of Cybele. His death and resurrection were associated with the spring festival.

attitude /ˈadəˌt(y)o͞od/

I. noun

1. a settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, typically one that is reflected in a person's behavior

• she took a tough attitude toward other people's indulgences

• being competitive is an attitude of mind

• differences in attitude were apparent between groups.

2. a position of the body proper to or implying an action or mental state

• the boy was standing in an attitude of despair, his chin sunk on his chest.

3. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) truculent or uncooperative behavior; a resentful or antagonistic manner

• I asked the waiter for a clean fork, and all I got was attitude.

4. ‹informal› individuality and self-confidence as manifested by behavior or appearance; style

• she snapped her fingers with attitude.

5. the orientation of an aircraft or spacecraft, relative to the direction of travel.

6. [Ballet] a position in which one leg is lifted behind with the knee bent at right angles and turned out, and the corresponding arm is raised above the head, the other extended to the side.

– origin late 17th cent. (denoting the placing or posture of a figure in art): from French, from Italian attitudine ‘fitness, posture,’ from late Latin aptitudo, from aptus ‘fit.’

attitudinal /ˌadəˈt(y)o͞od(ə)n(ə)l/

I. adjective

relating to attitudes

• unless there are certain attitudinal changes, women will continue to get a raw deal.

II. derivatives

attitudinally

adverb

attitudinize /ˌadəˈt(y)o͞odnˌīz/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. adopt or express a particular attitude or attitudes, typically just for effect.

II. derivatives

attitudinizer

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from Italian attitudine (see attitude) + -ize.

Attleboro /ˈatlˌbərō, -ˌbərə, -ˌbə-rō, ˌbə-rə/

an industrial city in southeastern Massachusetts, northeast of Providence in Rhode Island; pop. 42,833 (est. 2008).

Attlee, Clement /ˈatlē/

1st Earl Attlee (1883–1967), British Labour statesman; Labour prime minister 1945–51; full name Clement Richard Attlee. His term saw the creation of the modern welfare state and the nationalization of major industries.

attn.

abbreviation

(on an envelope, packet, package, or cover letter) attention (i.e., for the attention of)

• attn.: Harold Carter.

atto-

I. combining form

[Mathematics] (used in units of measurement) denoting a factor of 10–18

• attowatt.

– origin from Danish or Norwegian atten ‘eighteen.’

attorn /əˈtərn/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. [Law] formally make or acknowledge a transfer of something.

2. [with obj.] — [Law] ‹archaic› transfer (something) to someone else.

II. phrases

attorn tenant

[Law] formally make or acknowledge a transfer of tenancy.

– origin Middle English (in the senses ‘turn, change, transform’): from Old French atorner ‘appoint, assign,’ from a- (from Latin ad ‘to, at’) + torner ‘to turn.’

attorney /əˈtərnē/

I. noun

1. a person appointed to act for another in business or legal matters.

2. (chiefly US) a lawyer.

– origin Middle English: from Old French atorne, past participle of atorner ‘assign,’ from a ‘toward’ + torner ‘turn.’

attorney-at-law

noun

a lawyer who is qualified to represent a client in court.

attorney general AG, Atty. Gen.

noun

1. the principal legal officer who represents a country or a state in legal proceedings and gives legal advice to the government.

2. the head of the US Department of Justice.

attornment /əˈtərnmənt/

noun

[Law] the formal transference of something to someone else.

attract /əˈtrakt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause to come to a place or participate in a venture by offering something of interest, favorable conditions, or opportunities

• a campaign to attract more visitors to West Virginia

• he hoped this strategy would attract foreign investment by multinationals.

2. evoke (a specified reaction)

• I did not want to attract attention

• his criticism of the government attracted widespread support.

3. cause (someone) to have a liking for or interest in something

• I was attracted to the idea of working for a ballet company.

4. cause (someone) to have a sexual or romantic interest in someone

• it was her beauty that attracted him.

5. exert a force on (an object) that is directed toward the source of the force

• the negatively charged ions attract particles of dust.

II. derivatives

attractor /-tər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin attract- ‘drawn near,’ from the verb attrahere, from ad- ‘to’ + trahere ‘draw.’

attractant /əˈtraktənt/

I. noun

a substance that attracts something (especially animals)

• a sex attractant given off by female moths to attract a mate.

II. adjective

attracting.

attraction /əˈtrakSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action or power of evoking interest, pleasure, or liking for someone or something

• she has romantic ideas about sexual attraction

• the timeless attraction of a good tune.

2. a quality or feature of something or someone that evokes interest, liking, or desire

• this reform has many attractions for those on the left

• the main attraction of Peking duck is the crackling texture of its skin.

3. a thing or place that draws visitors by providing something of interest or pleasure

• the church is the town's main tourist attraction.

4. [Physics] a force under the influence of which objects tend to move toward each other

• gravitational attraction.

5. [Grammar] the influence exerted by one word on another that causes it to change to an incorrect form, e.g., the wages of sin is (for are) death.

– origin late Middle English (denoting the action of a poultice in drawing matter from the tissues): from Latin attractio(n-), from the verb attrahere (see attract).

attractive /əˈtraktiv/

I. adjective

1. (of a thing) pleasing or appealing to the senses

• an attractive home

• foliage can be as attractive as flowers.

2. (of a person) appealing to look at; sexually alluring

• an attractive, charismatic man.

3. (of a thing) having beneficial qualities or features that induce someone to accept what is being offered

• the site is close to the high-rent district, which should make it attractive to developers.

4. of or relating to attraction between physical objects.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘absorbent’): from French attractif, -ive, from late Latin attractivus, from the verb attrahere (see attract).

attractively /əˈtraktivlē/

adverb

1. in a way that is pleasing or appealing to the senses

• desserts were attractively presented.

2. (with reference to a person) in such a way as to be appealing or sexually alluring to look at

• fashion-conscious women should be entitled to dress attractively.

3. in a way that arouses interest

• the properties are attractively priced.

attractiveness /əˈtraktivnəs/

noun

1. the quality of being pleasing or appealing to the senses

• this scheme could enhance the attractiveness of the area.

2. (in a person) the quality of being appealing or sexually alluring to look at

• my aunt did not marry until late in life in spite of her attractiveness

• she was aware of her husband's magnetic attractiveness to women.

3. the possession of qualities or features that arouse interest

• the new agreements will enhance the city 's attractiveness to overseas investors.

attributable /əˈtribyo͝odəb(ə)l/

adjective

1. (attributable to) — regarded as being caused by

• 43 percent of all deaths in Ireland were attributable to cardiovascular disease.

2. (often attributable to) — (of a work or remark) able to be ascribed to a particular author, artist, or speaker

• some 50 liturgical works by or attributable to him have survived

• this may be Leonardo 's earliest securely attributable painting.

attribute

I. verb — /əˈtriˌbyo͞ot / [with obj.] (attribute something to)

1. regard something as being caused by (someone or something)

• he attributed the firm's success to the efforts of the managing director

• the bombing was attributed to the IRA.

2. ascribe a work or remark to (a particular author, artist, or speaker)

• the building was attributed to Frank Lloyd Wright.

3. regard a quality or feature as characteristic of or possessed by (someone or something)

• ancient peoples attributed magic properties to certain stones.

II. noun — /ˈatrəˌbyo͞ot /

1. a quality or feature regarded as a characteristic or inherent part of someone or something

• flexibility and mobility are the key attributes of our army.

2. a material object recognized as symbolic of a person, especially a conventional object used in art to identify a saint or mythical figure.

3. [Computing] a piece of information that determines the properties of a field or tag in a database or a string of characters in a display.

4. [Grammar] an attributive adjective or noun.

5. [Statistics] a real property that a statistical analysis is attempting to describe.

– origin late 15th cent.: as a noun from Old French attribut, and as a verb from Latin attribut- ‘allotted,’ both from the verb attribuere, from ad- ‘to’ + tribuere ‘assign.’

attribution /ˌatrəˈbyo͞oSH(ə)n/

I. noun — (often attribution to)

1. the action of regarding something as being caused by a person or thing

• the electorate was disillusioned with his immediate attribution of the bombings to a separatist group.

2. the action of ascribing a work or remark to a particular author, artist, or person

• the study of Constable is fraught with problems of attribution

• the attribution to Mozart on the title page is correct

• he bought pictures unseen, according to their attributions.

3. the action of regarding a quality or feature as characteristic of or possessed by a person or thing

• the main unreality of this novel is her attribution of complicated emotions to her male characters

• attributions of false motives, especially of greed, are commonplace.

II. derivatives

attributional

adjective

attribution theory /ˌatrəˈbyo͞oSHən ˌTHēərē/

noun

[Psychology] a theory that supposes that one attempts to understand the behavior of others by attributing feelings, beliefs, and intentions to them.

attributive /əˈtribyədiv/

I. adjective

[Grammar] (of an adjective or noun) preceding the word it qualifies or modifies and expressing an attribute, as old in the old dog (but not in the dog is old) and expiration in expiration date (but not in date of expiration).
Often contrasted with predicative.

II. derivatives

attributively /əˈtribyədivlē /

adverb

– origin mid 18th cent. (as a noun in the sense ‘a word expressing an attribute’): from French attributif, -ive, from attribut ‘an attribute,’ from Latin attribuere ‘add to’ (see attribute).

attrit /əˈtrit/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (US) ‹informal› wear down (an opponent or enemy) by sustained action

• his defense was designed to attrit us.

– origin World War I: back-formation from attrition.

attrition /əˈtriSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action or process of gradually reducing the strength or effectiveness of someone or something through sustained attack or pressure

• the council is trying to wear down the opposition by attrition

• the squadron suffered severe attrition of its bombers.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) (Austral./NZ) the gradual reduction of a workforce by employees' leaving and not being replaced rather than by their being laid off

• with so few retirements since March, the year's attrition was insignificant.

3. wearing away by friction; abrasion

• the skull shows attrition of the edges of the teeth.

4. (in scholastic theology) sorrow, but not contrition, for sin.

II. derivatives

attritional /-SHənl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (sense 2): from late Latin attritio(n-), from atterere ‘to rub.’

Attu /ˈato͞o/

an island in southwestern Alaska, the westernmost of the Aleutian Islands. During World War II, it was occupied by Japanese forces.

Attucks, Crispus /ˈatəks/

(c.1723–70), American revolutionary. Believed to have been either an escaped or freed slave, he was one of five colonists killed by British soldiers in the Boston Massacre on March 5, 1770.

attune /əˈt(y)o͞on/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be attuned)

1. make receptive or aware

• a society more attuned to consumerism than ideology

• (as adj. attuned) the department is very attuned politically.

2. accustom or acclimatize

• students are not attuned to making decisions.

3. [no obj.] — become receptive to or aware of

• a conscious attempt to attune to the wider audience.

4. make harmonious

• the interests of East and West are now closely attuned.

– origin late 16th cent.: from at- + tune.

Atty.

abbreviation

Attorney.

Atty. Gen.

abbreviation

Attorney General.

ATV

abbreviation

(N. Amer.) all-terrain vehicle.

Atwater /ˈatˌwôtər, -ˌwätər/

a city in central California; pop. 26,565 (est. 2008).

Atwood, Margaret /ˈatˌwo͝od/

(1939–), Canadian novelist, poet, critic, and short-story writer; full name Margaret Eleanor Atwood. Notable works: The Edible Woman (1969), The Handmaid's Tale (1985), Cat's Eye (1989), and The Blind Assassin (Booker Prize, 2000).

atypical /ˌāˈtipək(ə)l/

I. adjective

not representative of a type, group, or class

• a sample of people who are rather atypical of the target audience

• there were somewhat atypical results in May and November.

II. derivatives

atypically /ˌāˈtipik(ə)lē /

adverb

atypicality /āˌtipiˈkalədē/

noun

the quality of not being representative of a type, group, or class

• we would stress the atypicality of the presentation.

Au

I. symbol

the chemical element gold.

– origin from Latin aurum.

AU

abbreviation

1. ångström unit(s).

2. (also a.u.) — astronomical unit(s).

aubade /ōˈbäd/

I. noun

a poem or piece of music appropriate to the dawn or early morning.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French, from Spanish albada, from alba ‘dawn.’

auberge /ōˈberZH/

I. noun

an inn in France or another French-speaking country.

– origin French, from Provençal alberga ‘lodging.’

aubergine /ˈōbərˌZHēn/

noun

1. (chiefly Brit.) another term for eggplant.

2. (chiefly Brit.) a dark purple color like that of eggplant.

Aubrey, John /ˈôbrē/

(1626–97), English antiquarian and author. He is noted for Brief Lives, a collection of biographies of eminent people.

aubrietia /ôˈbrēSH(ē)ə / aubretia

I. noun

a dwarf evergreen Eurasian trailing plant with dense masses of foliage and purple, pink, or white flowers. It is widely cultivated in rock gardens and on banks.
[Aubrieta deltoidea, family Brassicaceae.]

– origin early 19th cent.: modern Latin, named after Claude Aubriet (1668–1743), French botanist. / usage: Aubretia is named after French botanist Claude Aubriet, and the original spelling was aubrieta, which is the plant's genus name. In nontechnical use, however, the forms aubrietia and aubretia are now more usual.

auburn /ˈôbərn/

I. adjective

(chiefly of a person's hair) of a reddish-brown color.

II. noun

a reddish-brown color.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French auborne, alborne, from Latin alburnus ‘whitish,’ from albus ‘white.’ The original sense was ‘yellowish white,’ but the word became associated with brown because in the 16th and 17th centuries it was often written abrune or abroun.

Auburn /ˈôbərn/

I. an academic city in eastern Alabama, home to Auburn University; pop. 56,088 (est. 2008).

II. an industrial city in southwestern Maine, on the Androscoggin River, across from Lewiston; pop. 23,177 (est. 2008).

III. an industrial and commercial city in west central New York, on Owasco Lake; pop. 27,138 (est. 2008).

IV. an industrial city in west central Washington; pop. 55,426 (est. 2008).

Aubusson /ˈōbəˌsôn/

I. noun

a kind of French tapestry or carpet, principally from the 18th century.

– origin from Aubusson, the name of a town in central France where the tapestries were made.

AUC

I. abbreviation

used to indicate a date reckoned from 753 BC, the year of the foundation of Rome

• 765 AUC.

– origin from Latin ab urbe condita ‘from the foundation of the city,’ also anno urbis conditae ‘in the year of the founding of the city.’

Auchincloss, Louis Stanton /ˈôkənˌkläs/

(1917–2010), US lawyer and author; early pseudonym Andrew Lee. His novels and short stories often depict life among the elite of New York City.

Auckland /ˈôklənd/

the largest city and chief seaport of New Zealand, on North Island; pop. 404,658 (2006). It was the capital of New Zealand until 1865.

au contraire /ō ˌkänˈtre(ə)r/

I. exclamation

‹often humorous› on the contrary.

– origin French.

au courant /ˌō ˈko͝oränt/

I. adjective

1. aware of what is going on; well informed

• they were au courant with the literary scene.

2. fashionable

• light, low-fat, au courant recipes.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French, literally ‘in the (regular) course.’

auction /ˈôkSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a public sale in which goods or property are sold to the highest bidder

• the books are expected to fetch a six-figure sum at tomorrow's auction

• [as modifier] an auction sale.

2. the action or process of selling something at an auction

• the Ferrari sold at auction for $10 million.

3. [Bridge] the part of the play in which players bid to decide the contract in which the hand shall be played.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. sell or offer for sale at an auction

• his collection of vintage cars is to be auctioned off tomorrow.

III. phrases

on the auction block

see on the block at block.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin auctio(n)- ‘increase, auction,’ from the verb augere ‘to increase.’

auction bridge /ˈôkSHən brij/

noun

an obsolete form of the card game bridge, in which all tricks won count toward the game whether bid or not.

auctioneer /ˌôkSHəˈnir/

I. noun

a person who conducts auctions by accepting bids and declaring goods sold.

II. derivatives

auctioneering

noun

auction house /ˈôkSHən ˌhous/

noun

a company that runs auctions.

audacious /ôˈdāSHəs/

I. adjective

1. showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks

• a series of audacious takeovers.

2. showing an impudent lack of respect

• an audacious remark.

II. derivatives

1. audaciously /ôˈdāSHəslē /

adverb

2. audaciousness

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin audax, audac- ‘bold’ (from audere ‘dare’) + -ious.

audacity /ôˈdasədē/

I. noun

1. the willingness to take bold risks

• her audacity came in handy during our most recent emergency.

2. rude or disrespectful behavior; impudence

• she had the audacity to pick up the receiver and ask me to hang up.

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin audacitas, from audax, audac- ‘bold’ (see audacious).

audax /ˈôˌdaks/

I. noun

a type of long-distance road cycling event in which participants must navigate a route within a specified period of time

• I'm riding a 100k audax on Sunday.

– origin via French from Italian (apparently originally with reference to a ride from Rome to Naples first held in 1897), from Latin audax, audac- ‘bold, daring’ (see audacious).

Auden, W. H. /ˈôdn/

(1907–73), British poet; full name Wystan Hugh Auden. He was a leading left-wing poet and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for The Age of Anxiety (1947).

audial /ˈôdēəl/

I. adjective

relating to or perceived through the sense of hearing.

– origin late 20th cent.: formed irregularly from Latin audire ‘hear’ (compare with audile), on the pattern of visual.

audible /ˈôdəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

able to be heard

• ultrasound is audible to dogs.

II. noun

[Football] a change in the offensive play called by the quarterback at the line of scrimmage.

III. derivatives

audibility /ˌôdəˈbilədē /

noun

– origin late 15th cent.: from late Latin audibilis, from audire ‘hear.’

audibly /ˈôdəblē/

adverb

in a way that can be heard

• the view of the snow-capped Alps caused everyone in the carriage to gasp audibly.

audience /ˈôdēəns/

I. noun

1. the assembled spectators or listeners at a public event, such as a play, movie, concert, or meeting

• the orchestra was given an enthusiastic ovation from the audience.

2. the people who watch or listen to a television or radio program

• the program attracted an audience of almost twenty million.

3. the readership of a book, magazine, or newspaper

• the newspaper has a sophisticated audience.

4. the people giving or likely to give attention to something

• there will always be an audience for romantic literature.

5. a formal interview with a person in authority

• he demanded an audience with the pope.

6. ‹archaic› formal hearing.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, from Latin audientia, from audire ‘hear.’

audile /ˈôdīl/

I. adjective

another term for auditory.

– origin late 19th cent.: formed from Latin audire ‘hear,’ on the pattern of tactile.

audio /ˈôdēō/

I. noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. sound, especially when recorded, transmitted, or reproduced

• audio equipment

• the machine can retrieve and play audio from a CD-ROM.

– origin 1930s: independent usage of audio-.

audio- /ˈôdēō/

I. combining form

relating to hearing or sound

• audiometer

• audio-visual.

– origin from Latin audire ‘hear.’

Audio-Animatronics /ˌôdēōˌanəməˈträniks/

I. plural noun

trademark for animatronics.

II. derivatives

Audio-Animatronic

adjective

audiobook /ˈôdēōˌbo͝ok / audio book

noun

an audiocassette or CD recording of a reading of a book, typically a novel.

audiocassette /ˌôdēōkəˈset/

noun

a cassette of audiotape.

audio frequency /ˈôdēō ˈfrēkwənsē/

noun

a frequency of oscillation capable of being perceived by the human ear, generally between 20 and 20,000 Hz.

audiogram /ˈôdēōˌɡram/

noun

a graphic record produced by audiometry.

audio guide

noun

a handheld device that provides recorded information for visitors touring a museum, gallery, or other place of interest.

audiology /ˌôdēˈäləjē/

I. noun

the branch of science and medicine concerned with the sense of hearing.

II. derivatives

1. audiological /-əˈläjikəl /

adjective

2. audiologist /ˌôdēˈäləjəst /

noun

audiometry /ˌôdēˈämətrē/

I. noun

measurement of the range and sensitivity of a person's sense of hearing.

II. derivatives

1. audiometer /ˌôdēˈämədər /

noun

2. audiometric /-əˈmetrik /

adjective

audiophile /ˈôdēōˌfīl/

noun

a hi-fi enthusiast.

audiotape /ˈôdēōˌtāp/

I. noun

1. magnetic tape on which sound can be recorded.

2. a length of this, typically in the form of a cassette.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. record (sound) on tape

• each interview was audiotaped and transcribed.

audiovisual /ˌôdēōˈviZHo͞oəl/

adjective

using both sight and sound, typically in the form of slides or video and recorded speech or music

• audiovisual presentations.

audit /ˈôdət/

I. noun

1. an official inspection of an individual's or organization's accounts, typically by an independent body.

2. a systematic review or assessment of something

• a complete audit of flora and fauna at the site.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. conduct an official financial examination of (an individual's or organization's accounts)

• companies must have their accounts audited.

2. conduct a systematic review of

• auditing obstetrical and neonatal care.

3. (N. Amer.) attend (a class) informally, not for academic credit.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin auditus ‘hearing,’ from audire ‘hear,’ in medieval Latin auditus (compoti) ‘audit (of an account),’ an audit originally being presented orally.

audition /ôˈdiSH(ə)n/

I. noun

an interview for a particular role or job as a singer, actor, dancer, or musician, consisting of a practical demonstration of the candidate's suitability and skill.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. perform an audition

• he was auditioning for the lead role in the play.

2. [with obj.] — assess the suitability of (someone) for a role by means of an audition

• she was auditioning people for her new series.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘power of hearing or listening’): from Latin auditio(n)-, from audire ‘hear.’ The current sense of the noun dates from the late 19th cent.

auditive /ˈôdədiv/

adjective

another term for auditory.

auditor /ˈôdədər/

I. noun

1. a person who conducts an audit.

2. a listener

• so low was Jim's voice that his auditors had to give it close attention.

3. (N. Amer.) a person who attends a class informally without working for academic credit.

II. derivatives

auditorial /ˌôdəˈtôrēəl /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French auditeur, from Latin auditor, from audire ‘to hear.’

auditorium /ˌôdəˈtôrēəm/

I. noun

1. the part of a theater, concert hall, or other public building in which the audience sits.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) a large building or hall used for public gatherings, typically speeches or stage performances.

3. a large room for public gatherings, especially in a school.

– origin early 17th cent. (originally in the general sense ‘a place for hearing’): from Latin, neuter of auditorius ‘relating to hearing’ (see auditory).

auditory /ˈôdəˌtôrē/

I. adjective

of or relating to the sense of hearing

• the auditory nerves

• teaching methods use both visual and auditory stimulation.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin auditorius, from audire ‘hear.’

audit trail

noun

1. a system that traces the detailed transactions relating to any item in an accounting record

• with no satisfactory audit trail, not all overpayments had been identified.

2. [Computing] a record of the changes that have been made to a database or file

• you must be able to provide a complete audit trail of user activity across all these systems.

Audubon, John James /ˈôdəˌbän/

(1785–1851), US naturalist and artist. His most notable work is The Birds of America (1827–38), in which he portrayed even the largest birds life-size and painted them in action.

Auerbach, Frank /ˈou-ərˌbäk, -ˌbäKH/

(1931–), British painter, born in Germany.

Auerbach, Red /ˈou-ərˌbak, -ˌbäk/

(1917–2006), US basketball coach; full name Arnold Jacob Auerbach. As coach of the Boston Celtics 1950–66, he led the team to nine National Basketball Association (NBA) championships 1957, 1959–66. Basketball Hall of Fame (1968).

au fait /ˌō ˈfā/

I. adjective — (au fait with)

1. having a good or detailed knowledge of something

• you should be reasonably au fait with the company and its products.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French, literally ‘to the fact, to the point.’

au fond /ˌō ˈfônd/

I. adverb

in essence

• she might be, au fond, quite a pleasant woman.

– origin late 18th cent.: French, literally ‘at bottom.’

Aug.

abbreviation

August.

Augean /ôˈjēən/

adjective

1. of or relating to Augeas

• the Augean stables.

2. (of a task or problem) requiring so much effort to complete or solve as to seem impossible

• Augean amounts of debris to clear.

Augeas /ôˈjēəs / ‹Greek Mythology›

a legendary king whose vast stables had never been cleaned. Hercules cleaned them in a day by diverting the Alpheus River to flow through them.

augend /ˈôˌjend/

I. noun

[Mathematics] [Computing] the number to which an addend is added.

• we can begin with the combination in which both the addend and the augend are 0's but the carry bit from the previous column is a 1.

– origin late 19th cent.: via German from Latin augendus, gerundive of augere ‘to increase.’

auger /ˈôɡər/

I. noun

1. a tool with a helical bit for boring holes in wood.

2. a tool with a large helical bit for boring holes in the ground.

– origin Old English nafogār, from nafu (see nave^2) + gār ‘piercer.’ The n was lost by wrong division of a nauger; compare with adder and apron.

Auger effect /ōˈZHā əˌfekt/

I. noun

[Physics] a process in which an electron in an outer shell of an atom makes a transition to a vacancy in an inner shell. The energy gained is transferred to an electron that escapes from the atom.

– origin 1930s: named after Pierre V. Auger (1899–1944), French physicist.

aught^1 /ôt / ‹archaic› ought

I. pronoun

anything at all

• know you aught of this fellow, young sir?

– origin Old English āwiht (see aye^2, wight).

aught^2 /ôt/

noun

the digit 0; zero.

augite /ˈôjīt/

I. noun

a dark green or black aluminosilicate mineral of the pyroxene group. It occurs in many igneous rocks, including basalt, gabbro, and diabase.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin augites, denoting a precious stone (probably turquoise), from Greek augitēs, from augē ‘luster.’

augment

I. verb — /ôɡˈment / [with obj.]

1. make (something) greater by adding to it; increase

• he augmented his summer income by painting houses.

II. noun — /ˈôɡˌment /

1. [Linguistics] a vowel prefixed to past tenses of verbs in Greek and other Indo-European languages.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French augmenter (verb), augment (noun), or late Latin augmentare, from Latin augere ‘to increase.’

augmentation /ˌôɡmenˈtāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action or process of making or becoming greater in size or amount

• the augmentation of the curriculum with new subjects.

2. [Music] the lengthening of the time values of notes in a melodic part.

3. [Heraldry] an addition to a coat of arms granted as a mark of special honor.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin augmentatio(n-), from the verb augmentare (see augment).

augmentative /ôɡˈmen(t)ədiv/

I. adjective

[Grammar] (of an affix or derived word) reinforcing the idea of the original word, especially by meaning ‘a large —,’ as with the Italian suffix -one in borrone ‘ravine,’ compared with borro ‘ditch.’

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘having a tendency to increase’): from Old French augmentatif, -ive or medieval Latin augmentativus, from the verb augmentare (see augment).

augmented /ˌôɡˈmentəd/

adjective

1. having been made greater in size or value

• augmented pensions for those retiring at 65.

2. [Music] denoting or containing an interval that is one semitone greater than the corresponding major or perfect interval

• augmented fourths.

augmented reality

noun

a technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user's view of the real world, thus providing a composite view.

au gratin /ˌō ˈɡrätn ō ˈɡratan/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. sprinkled with breadcrumbs or grated cheese, or both, and browned

• lentils and mushrooms au gratin.

– origin early 19th cent.: French, literally ‘by grating.’

Augsburg /ˈôɡzˌbərɡ, ˈouksˌbo͝ork/

a city in southern Germany, in Bavaria; pop. 262,500 (est. 2006).

Augsburg Confession

a statement of the Lutheran position, drawn up mainly by Melanchthon and approved by Luther before being presented to the Emperor Charles V at Augsburg on June 25, 1530.

augur /ˈôɡər/

I. verb — [no obj.] (augur well/badly/ill)

1. (of an event or circumstance) portend a good or bad outcome

• the end of the Cold War seemed to augur well

• the return to the gold standard augured badly for industry.

2. [with obj.] — portend or bode (a specified outcome)

• a new coalition would not augur a new period of social reforms.

3. [with obj.] — ‹archaic› foresee or predict.

II. noun

(in ancient Rome) a religious official who observed natural signs, especially the behavior of birds, interpreting these as an indication of divine approval or disapproval of a proposed action.

III. derivatives

augural /ˈôɡ(y)ərəl /

adjective

( — ‹archaic›

– origin late Middle English (as a noun): from Latin, ‘diviner.’

augury /ˈôɡ(y)ərē/

I. noun

1. a sign of what will happen in the future; an omen

• they heard the sound as an augury of death.

2. the work of an augur; the interpretation of omens.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘divination’): from Old French augurie or Latin augurium ‘interpretation of omens,’ from augur (see augur).

august /ôˈɡəst/

I. adjective

respected and impressive

• she was in august company.

II. derivatives

augustly

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French auguste or Latin augustus ‘consecrated, venerable.’

August /ˈôɡəst/

I. noun

the eighth month of the year, in the northern hemisphere usually considered the last month of summer

• the sultry haze of late August

• [as modifier] an August cold snap.

– origin Old English, from Latin augustus ‘consecrated, venerable’; named after Augustus Caesar, the first Roman emperor.

Augusta /əˈɡəstə/

I. a city in eastern Georgia; since a 1996 merger, is part of Augusta–Richmond County; consolidated pop. 199,486 (est. 2008).

II. the capital of Maine, in the southwestern part of the state, on the Kennebec River; pop. 18,282 (est. 2008).

Augustan /ôˈɡəstən/

I. adjective

1. connected with or occurring during the reign of the Roman emperor Augustus.

2. relating to or denoting Latin literature of the reign of Augustus, including the works of Virgil, Horace, Ovid, and Livy.

3. relating to or denoting 17th- and 18th-century English literature of a style considered refined and classical, including the works of Pope, Addison, and Swift.

II. noun

a writer of the (Latin or English) Augustan age.

– origin from Latin Augustanus ‘relating to Augustus’ (see Augustus).

Augustine /ˈôɡəstēn/

I. noun

an Augustinian friar.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French augustin, from Latin Augustinus ‘Augustine’ (see Augustinian).

Augustine, St.1 /ˈôɡəˌstēn, əˈɡəstən/

(died c. 604), Italian churchman; known as St. Augustine of Canterbury. Sent from Rome by Pope Gregory the Great, he founded a monastery at Canterbury and became its first archbishop. Feast day, May 26.

Augustine, St.2

(354–430), doctor of the Church; known as St. Augustine of Hippo. He became bishop of Hippo in North Africa in 396. His writings, such as Confessions (400) and City of God (412–427), dominated subsequent Western theology. Feast day, August 28.

Augustinian /ˌôɡəˈstinēən/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to St. Augustine of Hippo or his theological doctrines.

2. of or relating to a religious order observing a rule derived from St. Augustine's writings.

II. noun

1. a member of an Augustinian order.

2. an adherent of the doctrines of St. Augustine.

Augustus /əˈɡəstəs/

(63 BC–AD 14), the first Roman emperor; born Gaius Octavianus; also called Octavian. He was adopted in the will of his great-uncle Julius Caesar and gained supreme power by his defeat of Antony in 31 BC. In 27 BC he was given the title Augustus (“venerable”) and became in effect emperor.

au jus /ō ˈZHo͞os, ˈZHY/

I. adjective

(of meat) with its own natural juices from cooking.

– origin French 'with the juice.'.

auk /ôk/

I. noun

a short-winged diving seabird found in northern oceans, typically with a black head and black and white underparts.
[Family Alcidae (the auk family), which comprises the guillemots, murres, razorbills, puffins, and their relatives. See also great auk, dovekie.]

– origin late 17th cent.: from Old Norse álka ‘razorbill.’

auklet /ˈôklət/

noun

a small stubby auk (seabird) found in the North Pacific, typically with gray underparts.
[Aethia and three other genera, family Alcidae: several species.]

auld /ôld ōld/

I. adjective

Scottish form of old.

– origin Old English ald, Anglian form of old.

auld lang syne /ôld laNG ˈzīn, ˈsīn/

I. noun

times long past.

II. phrases

for auld lang syne

for old times' sake.

– origin late 18th cent.: Scots (see auld, lang syne). The phrase was popularized as the title and refrain of a song by Robert Burns (1788).

au naturel /ˌō ˌnaCHəˈrel/

I. adjective, adverb

1. with no elaborate treatment, dressing, or preparation
[as adv.]

• I wear my hair au naturel these days

• [as adj.] the cheese is delicious whether au naturel or seasoned.

2. (humorous) naked.

– origin early 19th cent.: French, literally ‘in the natural (state).’

Aung San /ˌouNG ˈsän/

(1914–47), Burmese nationalist leader. As leader of the Council of Ministers, he negotiated a promise of self-government from the British shortly before his assassination.

Aung San Suu Kyi /ˌouNG ˌsän ˌso͞o ˈCHē/

(1945–), Burmese political leader, daughter of Aung San and leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) 1988– . She was kept under house arrest 1989–95, and the military government refused to recognize her party's victory in the 1990 elections. From 2000 she was frequently detained again before being released in 2010. Nobel Peace Prize (1991).

aunt /ant änt/

I. noun

1. the sister of one's father or mother or the wife of one's uncle.

2. ‹informal› an unrelated older woman friend, especially of a child.

– origin Middle English: from Old French ante, from Latin amita.

auntie /ˈan(t)ē / aunty

noun

informal term for aunt.

Aunt Sally /ˌant ˈsalē/

noun

1. a game played in some parts of Britain in which players throw sticks or balls at a wooden dummy.

2. a dummy used in the game of Aunt Sally.

3. a person or thing that is subjected to much criticism, especially one set up as an easy target for it.

au pair /ˌō ˈper/

I. noun

a young foreign person, typically a woman, who helps with housework or child care in exchange for room and board.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French, literally ‘on equal terms.’ The phrase was originally adjectival, describing an arrangement between two parties paid for by the exchange of mutual services; the noun usage dates from the 1960s.

aura /ˈôrə/

I. noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. the distinctive atmosphere or quality that seems to surround and be generated by a person, thing, or place

• the ceremony retains an aura of mystery.

2. a supposed emanation surrounding the body of a living creature, viewed by mystics, spiritualists, and some practitioners of complementary medicine as the essence of the individual, and allegedly discernible by people with special sensibilities.

3. any invisible emanation, especially a scent or odor

• there was a faint aura of disinfectant.

4. (pl. also aurae ) — [Medicine] a warning sensation experienced before an attack of epilepsy or migraine.

– origin late Middle English (originally denoting a gentle breeze): via Latin from Greek, ‘breeze, breath.’ Current senses date from the 18th cent.

aural /ˈôrəl/

I. adjective

of or relating to the ear or the sense of hearing

• aural anatomy

• information held in written, aural, or database form.

II. derivatives

aurally

adverb

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin auris ‘ear’ + -al. / usage: The words aural and oral have the same pronunciation in standard English, which is sometimes a source of confusion. A distinctive pronunciation for aural has been proposed, with the first syllable rhyming with cow, but it has not become standard.

Aurangzeb /ˌôräNGˈzeb/

(1618–1707), Mogul emperor of Hindustan 1658–1707, who increased the Mogul empire to its greatest extent.

aurar /ˈouˌrär, ˈoi-/

plural form of eyrir.

aureate /ˈôrēət ˈôrēˌāt/

I. adjective

1. denoting, made of, or having the color of gold.

2. (of language) highly ornamented or elaborate.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin aureatus, from Latin aureus ‘golden,’ from aurum ‘gold.’

Aurelian /ôˈrēlēən/

(c. 215–275), Roman emperor 270–275; Latin name Lucius Domitius Aurelianus.

Aurelius, Marcus /ôˈrēlēəs/

(121–80), Roman emperor 161–180; full name Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus. He was occupied for much of his reign with wars against invading Germanic tribes. His Meditations are evidence of his philosophical interest.

aureole /ˈôrēˌōl / aureola

I. noun

1. a circle of light or brightness surrounding something, especially as depicted in art around the head or body of a person represented as holy.

2. another term for corona^1 (sense 1).

3. another term for areola.

4. [Geology] the zone of metamorphosed rock surrounding an igneous intrusion.

– origin Middle English: from Old French aureole, from Latin aureola (corona) ‘golden (crown),’ feminine of aureolus (diminutive of aureus, from aurum ‘gold’).

aureus /ˈôrēəs/

I. noun

a gold coin of ancient Rome, worth 25 silver denarii.

– origin Latin, noun use of aureus ‘golden,’ from aurum ‘gold.’

au revoir /ˌō rəvˈwär/

I. exclamation

good-bye until we meet again.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French, literally ‘to the seeing again.’

auric^1 /ˈôrik/

adjective

of or relating to the aura supposedly surrounding a living creature.

auric^2 /ˈôrik/

I. adjective

[Chemistry] of gold with a valence of three.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin aurum ‘gold’ + -ic.

Auric, Georges /ōˈrēk/

(1899–1983), French composer. He is best known for his scores for movies such as The Lavender Hill Mob (1951) and Moulin Rouge (1952).

auricle /ˈôrək(ə)l/

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] [Biology] a structure resembling an ear or earlobe.

2. [Anatomy] [Biology] another term for atrium (of the heart).

3. [Anatomy] [Biology] strictly, a small muscular appendage of each atrium.

4. [Anatomy] [Biology] the external part or pinna of the ear.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin auricula ‘external part of the ear,’ diminutive of auris ‘ear.’

auricular /ôˈrikyələr/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to the ear or hearing.

2. of, relating to, or shaped like an auricle.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin auricularis, from auricula, diminutive of auris ‘ear.’

auriculate /ôˈrikyələt/

I. adjective

[Botany] [Zoology] having one or more structures shaped like an ear or earlobe.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Latin auricula ‘external part of the ear’ (diminutive of auris ‘ear’) + -ate^2.

auriculotherapy /ôˌrikyəlōˈTHerəpē/

I. noun

a form of acupuncture applied to points on the ear in order to treat other parts of the body.

– origin 1970s: from Latin auricula ‘external part of the ear’ + therapy.

auriferous /ôˈrifərəs/

I. adjective

(of rocks or minerals) containing gold.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin aurifer ‘gold-bearing’ (from aurum ‘gold’) + -ous.

Auriga /ôˈrīɡə / ‹Astronomy›

I. a large northern constellation (the Charioteer), said to represent a man holding a whip.

II. (as genitive Aurigae ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate stars

• the star Theta Aurigae.

– origin Latin.

Aurignacian /ˌôriɡˈnāSHən, ˌôrinˈyā-/

I. adjective

1. [Archaeology] of, relating to, or denoting the early stages of the Upper Paleolithic culture in Europe and the Near East. It is dated in most places to about 34,000–29,000 years ago and is associated with Cro-Magnon Man.

2. (as noun the Aurignacian) — [Archaeology] the Aurignacian culture or period.

– origin early 20th cent.: from French Aurignacien, from Aurignac in southwestern France, where remains of this culture were found.

auriscope /ˈôrəˌskōp / auroscope

I. noun

another term for otoscope.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin auris ‘ear’ + -scope.

aurochs /ˈouˌräks ˈôˌräks/

I. noun

a large wild Eurasian ox that was the ancestor of domestic cattle. It was probably exterminated in Britain in the Bronze Age, and the last one was killed in Poland in 1627.
Also called urus. [Bos taurus , family Bovidae.]

– origin late 18th cent.: from German, early variant of Auerochs, from Old High German ūrohso, from ūr (form also found in Old English, of unknown origin) + ohso ‘ox.’

aurora /əˈrôrə ôˈrôrə/

I. noun

1. a natural electrical phenomenon characterized by the appearance of streamers of reddish or greenish light in the sky, usually near the northern or southern magnetic pole.
[borealis from Latin, ‘northern,’ based on Greek Boreas, the god of the north wind; australis from Latin, ‘southern,’ from Auster ‘the south, the south wind.’] The effect is caused by the interaction of charged particles from the sun with atoms in the upper atmosphere. In northern and southern regions it is respectively called aurora borealis or Northern Lights and aurora australis or Southern Lights.

2. [in sing.] — ‹literary› the dawn.

II. derivatives

auroral /əˈrôrəl ôˈrôrəl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (sense 2): from Latin, ‘dawn, goddess of the dawn.’ Sense 1 dates from the early 18th cent.

Aurora^1 /əˈrôrə/

I. a city in north central Colorado, east of Denver; pop. 319,057 (est. 2008).

II. an industrial city in northeastern Illinois; pop. 171,782 (est. 2008).

Aurora^2 /əˈrôrə, ôˈrôrə / ‹Roman Mythology›

goddess of the dawn.
Greek equivalent Eos.

AUS A.U.S.

abbreviation

Army of the United States.

Auschwitz /ˈouSHvits/

a Nazi concentration camp in World War II, near the town of Oświęcim (Auschwitz) in Poland.

auscultation /ˌôskəlˈtāSHən/

I. noun

the action of listening to sounds from the heart, lungs, or other organs, typically with a stethoscope, as a part of medical diagnosis.

II. derivatives

1. auscultate /ˈôskəlˌtāt /

verb

2. auscultatory /ôˈskəltəˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin auscultatio(n-), from auscultare ‘listen to.’

Auslese /ˈouslāzə/

I. noun

a white wine of German origin or style made from selected bunches of grapes picked later than the general harvest.

– origin from German, from aus ‘out’ + Lese ‘picking, vintage.’

auspice /ˈôspəs/

I. noun

‹archaic› a divine or prophetic token.

II. phrases

under the auspices of

with the help, support, or protection of

• the delegation's visit was arranged under UN auspices.

– origin mid 16th cent. (originally denoting the observation of bird flight in divination): from French, or from Latin auspicium, from auspex ‘observer of birds,’ from avis ‘bird’ + specere ‘to look.’

auspicious /ôˈspiSHəs/

I. adjective

1. conducive to success; favorable

• it was not the most auspicious moment to hold an election.

2. giving or being a sign of future success

• they said it was an auspicious moon—it was rising.

3. ‹archaic› characterized by success; prosperous

• he was respectful to his auspicious customers.

II. derivatives

1. auspiciously /ôˈspiSHəslē /

adverb

2. auspiciousness

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from auspice + -ous.

Aussie /ˈôsē ˈôzē /ˈôsē ˈôzē/ / ‹informal› Ozzie

I. noun

1. a person from Australia

• he's an Aussie and so he probably played cricket as a kid

• this is Australia and we are Ozzies.

2. Australia

• I was in Auckland for the last few years, but now I live in Aussie.

II. adjective

Australian

• he married an Aussie girl and moved to Australia in 1948

• an Aussie accent

• the Ozzie government.

– origin early 20th cent.: abbreviation.

Austen, Jane /ˈôstən/

(1775–1817), English novelist. Her major novels are Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814), Emma (1815), Northanger Abbey (1818), and Persuasion (1818).

austenite /ˈôstəˌnīt/

I. noun

[Metallurgy] a solid solution of carbon in a nonmagnetic form of iron, stable at high temperatures. It is a constituent of some forms of steel.

II. derivatives

austenitic /ˌôstəˈnitik /

adjective

– origin early 20th cent.: from the name of Sir William Roberts-Austen (1843–1902), English metallurgist, + -ite^1.

austere /ôˈstir/

I. adjective

1. severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance

• an austere man, with a rigidly puritanical outlook

• an austere expression.

2. (of living conditions or a way of life) having no comforts or luxuries; harsh or ascetic

• conditions in the prison could hardly be more austere.

3. having an extremely plain and simple style or appearance; unadorned

• the cathedral is impressive in its austere simplicity.

4. (of an economic policy or measure) designed to reduce a budget deficit, especially by cutting public expenditure.

II. derivatives

austerely /ôˈstirlē /

adverb

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin austerus, from Greek austēros ‘severe.’

austerity /ôˈsterədē/

I. noun

1. sternness or severity of manner or attitude

• he was noted for his austerity and his authoritarianism.

2. extreme plainness and simplicity of style or appearance

• the room was decorated with a restraint bordering on austerity.

3. (austerities) — conditions characterized by severity, sternness, or asceticism

• a simple life of prayer and personal austerity.

4. difficult economic conditions created by government measures to reduce a budget deficit, especially by reducing public expenditure

• a period of austerity

• [as modifier] austerity measures.

– origin late Middle English: from French austérité, from Latin austeritas, from austerus ‘severe’ (see austere).

Austerlitz, Battle of /ˈôstərˌlits, ˈoustər-/

a battle in 1805 near the town of Austerlitz (now in the Czech Republic), in which Napoleon defeated the Austrians and Russians.

Austin^1 /ˈôstən/

I. the capital of Texas; pop. 757,688 (est. 2008). First settled by Anglo-Americans in 1835 (a year before Texas gained independence from Mexico), it was named Waterloo until 1839, when it was renamed to honor Stephen F. Austin.

II. a city in southeastern Minnesota, noted for its meatpacking industry; pop. 22,800 (est. 2008).

Austin^2 /ˈôstən/

adjective, noun

another name for Augustinian.

Austin, J. L.

(1911–60), English philosopher; full name John Langshaw Austin. Notable works: Sense and Sensibilia and How to Do Things with Words (both 1962).

Austin, John

(1790–1859), English jurist. His work is significant for its strict delimitation of the sphere of law and its distinction from that of morality.

Austin, Stephen Fuller

(1793–1836), colonizer of Texas. He founded the first recognized Anglo-American settlement in Texas 1823 and served briefly as secretary of state of the Republic of Texas 1836. His colonization of Texas was a continuation of the effort begun by his father, Moses Austin (1761–1821), who in 1821 became the first man allowed to bring Anglo-American settlers into Spanish Texas.

austral /ˈôstrəl/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to the south, in particular

2. ‹technical› of the southern hemisphere

• the austral spring.

3. (Austral) — of Australia or Australasia.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Latin australis, from Auster ‘the south, the south wind.’

Australasia /ˌôstrəˈlāZHə/

the region that consists of Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, and the neighboring islands of the Pacific Ocean.

Australasian /ˌôstrəˈlāZH(ə)n/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of Australasia.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of Australasia.

Australia /ôˈstrālyə əˈstrālyə/

I. an island country and continent in the southern hemisphere, in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, a member state of the Commonwealth of Nations; pop. 21,262,600 (est. 2009); capital, Canberra; official language, English.

Inhabited by Aboriginal peoples since prehistoric times, Australia was explored by the Dutch from 1606; British colonization began in 1788, as did the transportation of convicts from Britain, a practice that was discontinued in 1868. Australia was declared a commonwealth in 1901 when the six colonies (New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania) federated as sovereign states. The two mainland federal territories, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory, became self-governing in 1978 and 1988, respectively. Although an independent nation, Australia is a constitutional monarchy whose formal head of state is Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

Australian /ôˈstrālēən/

I. noun

a native or inhabitant of Australia, or a person of Australian descent.

II. adjective

1. of or relating to Australia.

2. [Zoology] of, relating to, or denoting a zoogeographical region comprising Australasia together with Indonesia east of Wallace's line, in which monotremes and marsupials dominate the fauna.
Compare with Notogaea, oriental.

3. [Botany] of, relating to, or denoting a phytogeographical kingdom comprising only Australia and Tasmania.

III. derivatives

Australianism /-ˌnizəm /

noun

– origin from French australien, from Latin australis in the phrase Terra Australis ‘the southern land,’ the name of the supposed southern continent.

Australian Antarctic Territory

an area of Antarctica that lies between longitudes 142° east and 136° east. It is administered by Australia.

Australian Capital Territory

a federal territory in New South Wales, Australia, that consists of two enclaves ceded by New South Wales—one in 1911 to contain Canberra, the other in 1915 containing Jervis Bay. The latter became the Jervis Bay Territory in 1988.

Australian crawl

noun

(chiefly Austral.) another term for crawl (sense 2 of the noun).

Australian Labor Party ALP

Australia's oldest political party, founded in 1891. The party is moderately liberal; it has provided three recent Australian Prime Ministers, Gough Whitlam, Bob Hawke, and Paul Keating.

Australian pine

noun

another name for the beefwood.

Australian Rules Australian Rules football

noun

a form of football played on an oval ground with an oval ball by teams of eighteen players. Official name Australian National football.
The game dates from 1858. Players may run with the ball if they touch it to the ground every fifteen meters, and may pass it in any direction by punching. There are both inner and outer goalposts: a behind (between the outer posts) scores one point and a goal (between the inner posts) scores six.

Australian terrier

noun

a wire-haired terrier of a breed originating in Australia.

Australian willow

noun

another term for wilga.

Austral Islands /ˌôstrəl ˈīləndz/

another name for Tubuai Islands.

australite /ˈôstrəˌlīt/

noun

[Geology] a tektite from the strewn field in Australia.

Australoid /ˈôstrəˌloid / ‹dated offensive›

I. adjective

of or belonging to the division of humankind represented by Australian Aboriginal peoples.

II. noun

a person belonging to the Australian Aboriginal division of humankind.

usage: The term Australoid belongs to a set of terms introduced by 19th-century anthropologists attempting to categorize human races. Such terms are associated with outdated notions of racial types and so are now potentially offensive and best avoided. See usage at Mongoloid.

Australopithecus /ˌôstrəlōˈpiTHəkəs/

I. noun

a fossil bipedal primate with both apelike and human characteristics, found in Pliocene and lower Pleistocene deposits (c. 4 million to 1 million years old) in Africa.
[Genus Australopithecus, family Hominidae: several species, including the lightly built A. africanus, which is thought to be the immediate ancestor of the human genus Homo. The more heavily built forms (often placed in the genus Paranthropus), such as A. robustus and A. boisei, were probably evolutionary dead ends.]

II. derivatives

australopithecine /-ˌsēn, -ˌsīn /

noun, adjective

– origin modern Latin, from Latin australis ‘southern’ (see austral) + Greek pithēkos ‘ape.’

Australorp /ˈôstrəˌlôrp/

I. noun

a black Orpington chicken of an Australian breed.

– origin early 20th cent.: blend of Australian and Orpington.

Austria /ˈôstrēə/

1. a republic in central Europe; pop. 8,210,300 (est. 2009); capital, Vienna; official language, German.

Austria was dominated from the early Middle Ages by the Habsburg family and became the center of a massive central European empire that lasted until 1918. The country was incorporated within the Nazi Reich in 1938 and after World War II was occupied by the Allies before regaining its sovereignty in 1955. A referendum in 1994 approved Austria's entry into the European Union.

Austria–Hungary Austro-Hungarian Empire

the dual monarchy established in 1867 by the Austrian emperor Franz Josef, according to which Austria and Hungary became autonomous states under a common sovereign.

Austrian /ˈôstrēən/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of Austria or its people.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of Austria, or a person of Austrian descent.

Austrian shade /ˌôstrēən ˈSHād/

noun

a window shade made from fabric shirred in puffy frills or pleats.

Austrian Succession, War of the

a group of several related conflicts (1740–48), involving most of the states of Europe, that were triggered by the death of the Emperor Charles VI and the accession of his daughter Maria Theresa in 1740 to the Austrian throne.
See also pragmatic sanction.

Austro-1

combining form

Austrian; Austrian and …

• Austro-Hungarian.

Austro-2

I. combining form

1. Australian; Australian and …

• Austro-Malayan.

2. southern

• Austro-Asiatic.

– origin from Latin australis ‘southern.’

Austro-Asiatic /ˈôstrōˌāZHēˈatik, ˈôstrōˌāzēˈatik/

I. adjective

of, relating to, or denoting a phylum of languages spoken in Southeast Asia, consisting of the Mon-Khmer family, the Munda family, and one or two other isolated languages.

II. noun

the Austro-Asiatic phylum of languages.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Austro-2 ‘southern’ + Asiatic.

Austronesian /ˌôstrōˈnēZHən/

I. adjective

of, relating to, or denoting a family of languages spoken in an area extending from Madagascar in the west to the Pacific islands in the east.
Also called Malayo-Polynesian.

II. noun

the Austronesian family of languages.

– origin from German austronesisch, based on Latin australis ‘southern’ (see austral) + Greek nēsos ‘island.’

aut-

prefix

variant spelling of auto-1 shortened before a vowel (as in autarky).

autarch /ˈôtärk/

I. noun

a ruler who has absolute power.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Greek autarkhos, from autos ‘self’ + arkhos ‘leader.’

autarchy /ˈôˌtärkē/

I. noun

1. another term for autocracy.

2. variant spelling of autarky.

II. derivatives

autarchic /ôˈtärkik /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from modern Latin autarchia, from Greek autos ‘self’ + -arkhia (from arkhein ‘take the lead’), on the pattern of monarchia ‘monarchy.’

autarky /ˈôˌtärkē/

I. noun

1. economic independence or self-sufficiency.

2. a country, state, or society that is economically independent.

II. derivatives

autarkic /ôˈtärkik /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: from Greek autarkeia, from autarkēs ‘self-sufficiency,’ from autos ‘self’ + arkein ‘suffice.’

autecology /ˌôdəˈkäləjē / autoecology

I. noun

[Biology] the ecological study of an individual organism, or sometimes a particular species.
Contrasted with synecology.

II. derivatives

autecological /ˌôtekəˈläjikəl, -ēkə- /

adjective

auteur /ōˈtər/

I. noun

a filmmaker whose personal influence and artistic control over a movie are so great that the filmmaker is regarded as the author of the movie.

II. derivatives

1. auteurism /-ˌizəm /

noun

2. auteurist /-ist /

adjective

– origin 1960s: French, literally ‘author.’

auth.

abbreviation

1. authentic.

2. author.

3. authority.

4. authorized.

authentic /ôˈTHen(t)ik / auth.

I. adjective

1. of undisputed origin; genuine

• the letter is now accepted as an authentic document

• authentic 14th-century furniture.

2. made or done in the traditional or original way, or in a way that faithfully resembles an original

• the restaurant serves authentic Italian meals

• every detail of the movie was totally authentic.

3. based on facts; accurate or reliable

• an authentic depiction of the situation.

4. (in existentialist philosophy) relating to or denoting an emotionally appropriate, significant, purposive, and responsible mode of human life.

5. [Music] (of a church mode) comprising the notes lying between the principal note or final and the note an octave higher.
Compare with plagal.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from late Latin authenticus, from Greek authentikos ‘principal, genuine.’

authentically /əˈTHen(t)ək(ə)lē/

adverb

1. undisputedly; genuinely

• her dances are as authentically Brazilian as their creator.

2. in the traditional or original way, or in a way that faithfully resembles an original

• finding someone to cook curry authentically can be a real challenge

• the film authentically recreates 17th-century Delft.

3. (in existentialist philosophy) in accordance with an emotionally appropriate, significant, purposive, and responsible mode of human life

• am I living authentically, in a way that embodies my personal values?

authenticate /ôˈTHen(t)əˌkāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. prove or show (something, especially a claim or an artistic work) to be true or genuine

• they were invited to authenticate artifacts from the Italian Renaissance.

2. validate

• the nationalist statements authenticated their leadership among the local community.

3. [no obj.] — [Computing] (of a user or process) have one's identity verified.

II. derivatives

authenticator /-ˌkātər /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from medieval Latin authenticat- ‘established as valid,’ from the verb authenticare, from late Latin authenticus ‘genuine’ (see authentic).

authentication /ôˌTHen(t)iˈkāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the process or action of proving or showing something to be true, genuine, or valid

• the prints will be stamped with his seal and accompanied by a letter of authentication

• [as count noun] the authentications were both carried out by the Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Justice.

2. [Computing] the process or action of verifying the identity of a user or process

• user authentication for each device ensures that the individual using the device is recognized by the company

• [as count noun] passwords and authentications are necessary parts of system security.

authenticity /ˌôTHenˈtisədē/

noun

the quality of being authentic

• the paper should have established the authenticity of the documents before publishing them.

authigenic /ˌôTHəˈjenik/

I. adjective

[Geology] (of minerals and other materials) formed in their present position.
Often contrasted with allogenic.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek authigenēs ‘born on the spot’ + -ic.

author /ˈôTHər / auth.

I. noun

1. a writer of a book, article, or report

• he is the author of several books on the subject.

2. someone who writes books as a profession

• my favorite authors are Kurt Vonnegut and Aldous Huxley.

3. the writings of a professional author

• I had to read authors I disliked.

4. an originator or creator of something, especially a plan or idea

• the authors of the peace plan.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. be the author of (a book or piece of writing)

• she has authored several articles on wildlife.

2. be the originator of; create

• the concept has been authored largely by insurance companies.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘a person who invents or causes something’): from Old French autor, from Latin auctor, from augere ‘increase, originate, promote.’ The spelling with th arose in the 15th cent., and perhaps became established under the influence of authentic. / usage: In the sense ‘be the author of,’ the verb author is objected to by some traditionalists, who regard it as an awkward or pretentious substitute for write or compose. It is widespread and well established, though, especially in North America, and has been in use since the end of the 16th century.

authoress /ˈôTHərəs/

I. noun

a female author.

usage: See usage at -ess^1.

authorial /ôˈTHôrēəl/

adjective

belonging or relating to the writer of a book, article, or document

• no authorial voice interferes to color the scene for us.

authoring /ˈôTHəriNG/

noun

[Computing] the creation of programs and databases for computer applications such as computer-assisted learning or multimedia products
[as modifier]

• an authoring system.

authoritarian /əˌTHôrəˈterēən/

I. adjective

1. favoring or enforcing strict obedience to authority, especially that of the government, at the expense of personal freedom

• the transition from an authoritarian to a democratic regime.

2. showing a lack of concern for the wishes or opinions of others; domineering; dictatorial

• he had an authoritarian and at times belligerent manner.

II. noun

an authoritarian person.

authoritarianism /ôˌTHäriˈterēənizəm/

noun

1. the enforcement or advocacy of strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom.

2. lack of concern for the wishes or opinions of others.

authoritative /əˈTHôrəˌtādiv/

I. adjective

1. able to be trusted as being accurate or true; reliable

• clear, authoritative information and advice

• an authoritative source.

2. (of a text) considered to be the best of its kind and unlikely to be improved upon

• the authoritative study of mollusks.

3. commanding and self-confident; likely to be respected and obeyed

• she had an authoritative air

• his voice was calm and authoritative.

4. proceeding from an official source and requiring compliance or obedience

• authoritative directives.

II. derivatives

authoritativeness /əˈTHôrəˌtādivnəs /

noun

authoritatively /əˈTHôrəˌtādivlē/

adverb

1. in a way that is trusted as being accurate or true; with authority

• he could speak authoritatively on art, philosophy, literature, history, current affairs.

2. in a commanding and self-confident manner that induces respect and obedience

• she shouted authoritatively, "Hey you! Drop your weapon, now!".

3. in an official capacity or with official sanction, and therefore requiring compliance or obedience

• the correct interpretation of the Convention can be authoritatively expounded only by the Strasbourg court.

authority /əˈTHôrədē / auth.

I. noun

1. the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience

• he had absolute authority over his subordinates

• positions of authority

• they acted under the authority of the UN Security Council

• a rebellion against those in authority.

2. [often with infinitive] — the right to act in a specified way, delegated from one person or organization to another

• military forces have the legal authority to arrest drug traffickers.

3. official permission; sanction

• the money was spent without congressional authority.

4. (often authorities) — a person or organization having power or control in a particular, typically political or administrative, sphere

• the health authorities

• the Chicago Transit Authority

• the authorities ordered all foreign embassies to close

• she wasn't used to dealing with authority.

5. the power to influence others, especially because of one's commanding manner or one's recognized knowledge about something

• he has the natural authority of one who is used to being obeyed

• he spoke with authority on the subject.

6. the confidence resulting from personal expertise

• he hit the ball with authority.

7. a person with extensive or specialized knowledge about a subject; an expert

• she was an authority on the stock market.

8. a book or other source able to supply reliable information or evidence, typically to settle a dispute

• the court cited a series of authorities supporting their decision.

II. phrases

have something on good authority

have ascertained something from a reliable source

• I have it on good authority that there is a waiting list of up to five weeks.

– origin Middle English: from Old French autorite, from Latin auctoritas, from auctor ‘originator, promoter’ (see author).

authority figure

noun

a person who has or represents authority

• these techniques can help parents re-establish their role as authority figures.

authorization /ˌôTHərəˈzāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action or fact of authorizing or being authorized

• the raising of revenue and the authorization of spending

• power stations will have to obtain authorizations to continue their operations.

2. a document giving permission or authority.

authorize /ˈôTHəˌrīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. give official permission for or approval to (an undertaking or agent)

• the government authorized further aircraft production

• [with obj. and infinitive] the troops were authorized to use force.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French autoriser, from medieval Latin auctorizare, from auctor ‘originator, promoter’ (see author).

authorized /ˈôTHəˌrīzd/

adjective

having official permission or approval

• an authorized dealer

• authorized access to the computer.

Authorized Version /ˈôTHəˌrīzd ˈvərZHən/

noun

(chiefly Brit.) another name for King James Bible.

authorship

noun

1. the state or fact of being the writer of a book, article, or document or the creator of a work of art

• the single authorship of the book gives it a uniformity of style and a proper balance between chapters

• a number of paintings have been attributed to him on stylistic grounds, though his authorship is not certain.

2. the occupation of writing

• he took to authorship.

autism /ˈôˌtizəm/

I. noun

a mental condition, present from early childhood, characterized by difficulty in communicating and forming relationships with other people and in using language and abstract concepts.

II. derivatives

autist

noun

– origin early 20th cent. (originally with reference to a condition in which fantasy dominates over reality, regarded as a symptom of schizophrenia and other disorders): from Greek autos ‘self’ + -ism.

autistic /ôˈtistik/

I. adjective

of, relating to, or affected by autism.

II. noun

an autistic person.

autistic spectrum

noun

a range of conditions (from autism to Asperger’s syndrome) characterized by difficulties in social interaction and communication and by restricted or repetitive patterns of thought and behavior

• kids on the autistic spectrum

• there are many different manifestations of the autistic spectrum.

autistic spectrum disorder

noun

a developmental disability characterized by difficulties in social interaction and communication and by restricted or repetitive patterns of thought and behavior

• pupils with autistic spectrum disorder

• Joshua, aged six, has an autistic spectrum disorder.

auto /ˈôdō/

I. noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) an automobile

• the auto industry.

– origin late 19th cent.: abbreviation of automobile.

auto-1 /ˈôdō / aut-

I. combining form

1. self

• autoanalysis.

2. one's own

• autograph.

3. by oneself or spontaneous

• autoxidation.

4. by itself or automatic

• autofocusing.

– origin from Greek autos ‘self.’

auto-2 /ˈôdō/

I. combining form

relating to cars

• autocross.

– origin abbreviation of automobile.

autoantibody /ˌôdōˈan(t)əˌbädē/

noun

[Physiology] an antibody produced by an organism in response to a constituent of its own tissues.

autobahn /ˈôdəˌbän/

I. noun

a German, Austrian, or Swiss expressway.

– origin 1930s: from German, from Auto ‘automobile’ + Bahn ‘path, road.’

autobiographical /ˌôdəbīəˈɡrafək(ə)l/

I. adjective

(of a written work) dealing with the writer's own life

• an autobiographical account

• the book is partly autobiographical.

II. derivatives

autobiographic /ˌôdəˌbīəˈɡrafik /

adjective

autobiography /ˌôdəbīˈäɡrəfē/

I. noun

1. an account of a person's life written by that person

• he gives a vivid description of his childhood in his autobiography.

2. the autobiography as a literary genre.

II. derivatives

autobiographer /ˌôdəˌbīˈäɡrəfər /

noun

autocatalysis /ˌôdəkəˈtaləsəs/

I. noun

[Chemistry] catalysis of a reaction by one of its products.

II. derivatives

1. autocatalyst /-ˈkatl-ist /

noun

2. autocatalytic /-ˌkatlˈitik /

adjective

autocephalous /ˌôdəˈsefələs/

I. adjective

(of an Eastern Christian Church) appointing its own head, not subject to the authority of an external patriarch or archbishop.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek autokephalos (from autos ‘self’ + kephalē ‘head’) + -ous.

autochrome /ˈôdōˌkrōm/

noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. an early form of color photography using plates coated with dyed starch grains, patented by the Lumière brothers in 1904

• the autochrome process.

2. a color photograph made by the autochrome process.

autochthon /ôˈtäkTHən ôˈtäkˌTHän/

I. noun

an original or indigenous inhabitant of a place; an aborigine.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Greek, literally ‘sprung from the earth,’ from autos ‘self’ + khthōn ‘earth, soil.’

autochthonous /ôˈtäkTHənəs/

adjective

1. (of an inhabitant of a place) indigenous rather than descended from migrants or colonists.

2. [Geology] (of a deposit or formation) formed in its present position.
Often contrasted with allochthonous.

autoclave /ˈôdōˌklāv/

I. noun

a strong, heated container used for chemical reactions and other processes using high pressures and temperatures, e.g., steam sterilization.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. heat (something) in an autoclave.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French, from auto- ‘self’ + Latin clavus ‘nail’ or clavis ‘key’ (so called because it is self-fastening).

autocomplete /ˌôdōkəmˈplēt/

I. noun

a software function that gives users the option of completing words or forms by a shorthand method on the basis of what has been typed before.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. complete (a word or form) with autocomplete.

III. derivatives

autocompletion /-kəmˈplēSHən /

noun

autocorrect

I. noun — /ˈôdōkəˌrekt /

1. a software function that automatically makes or suggests corrections for mistakes in spelling or grammar made while typing

• disable autocorrect so you can see your mistakes and find your weak spots.

II. verb — /ˌôdōkəˈrekt / [with obj.]

1. (of a software function) automatically correct (mistakes in spelling or grammar)

• people rely on machines and phones to autocorrect spellings.

autocorrelation /ˌôdōkôrəˈlāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. [Statistics] correlation between the elements of a series and others from the same series separated from them by a given interval.

2. [Statistics] a calculation using autocorrelation.

autocracy /ôˈtäkrəsē/

I. noun

1. a system of government by one person with absolute power.

2. a country, state, or society governed by one person with absolute power.

3. domineering rule or control

• a boss who shifts between autocracy, persuasion, and consultation.

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘autonomy’): from Greek autokrateia, from autokratēs (see autocrat).

autocrat /ˈôdəˌkrat/

I. noun

1. a ruler who has absolute power.

2. someone who insists on complete obedience from others; an imperious or domineering person.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French autocrate, from Greek autokratēs, from autos ‘self’ + kratos ‘power.’

autocratic /ˌôdəˈkradik/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to a ruler who has absolute power

• the constitutional reforms threatened his autocratic power.

2. taking no account of other people's wishes or opinions; domineering

• an autocratic management style.

II. derivatives

autocratically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

autocross /ˈôˌtōˌkrôs ˈôdəˌkrôs/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a form of competition in which cars are driven around an obstacle course, typically marked out by cones.

– origin 1960s: blend of automobile and cross-country.

auto-da-fé /ˌôdədəˈfā/

I. noun

1. the burning of a heretic by the Spanish Inquisition.

2. a sentence condemning a person to an auto-da-fé.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Portuguese, literally ‘act of the faith.’

autodial /ˈôdōˌdī(ə)l/

I. noun

a function of telephonic equipment that allows for automatic dialing of preprogrammed or of randomly selected numbers

• have a telephone with autodial by your bed.

II. verb

automatically dial a telephone number, with or without human prompting
[no obj.]

• it had autodialed and been online for over 2hours

• [with obj.] if the first number is busy the modem autodials the backup number.

autodialer /ˈôdōˌdī(ə)lər/

noun

an electronic device that dials telephone numbers randomly or from a list and may also leave recorded messages or request information.

autodidact /ˌôdōˈdīdakt/

I. noun

a self-taught person.

II. derivatives

autodidactic /-ˌdīˈdaktik /

adjective

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Greek autodidaktos ‘self-taught,’ from autos ‘self’ + didaskein ‘teach.’

autoenroll /ˌôdōənˈrōl / ‹Brit.› auto-enrol

verb — [with obj.]

1. automatically register (someone) in a program without that person's active authorization

• the company is again allowed to autoenroll participants in its special plan for low-income seniors

• younger investors are more likely to be autoenrolled in their retirement plans.

autoenrollment /ˌôdōənˈrōlmənt / ‹Brit.› auto-enrolment

noun

the action or practice of automatically registering someone in a program without that person's active authorization

• companies with more than 120,000 employees were required to start autoenrollment

• [as modifier] 56 percent of companies offer some kind of autoenrollment program.

autoerotic /ˌôdōəˈrädik/

I. adjective

of or relating to sexual excitement generated by stimulating or fantasizing about one's own body.

II. derivatives

autoeroticism /ˌôdōəˈrädəˌsizəm /

noun

autoerotic asphyxia

noun

asphyxia that results from intentionally strangling oneself while masturbating, in an attempt to heighten sexual pleasure by limiting the oxygen supply to the brain.

autoexposure /ˈôdōikˌspōZHər/

noun

1. a device that sets the exposure automatically on a camera or other piece of equipment.

2. the facility to set exposure automatically.

autofocus /ˈôdōˌfōkəs/

I. noun

1. a device that focuses a camera or other piece of equipment automatically.

2. automatic focusing.

II. derivatives

autofocusing /-siNG /

noun

autogamy /ôˈtäɡəmē əˈtäɡəmē/

I. noun

[Biology] self-fertilization, especially the self-pollination of a flower.

II. derivatives

autogamous /-məs /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from auto-1 ‘self’ + Greek -gamia (from gamos ‘marriage’).

autogenetic /ˌôdōjəˈnedik/

adjective

‹technical› self-generated

• autogenetic succession.

autogenic training /ˌôdəjenik ˈtrāniNG/

noun

a form of relaxation therapy involving autosuggestion.

autogenous /ôˈtäjənəs əˈtäjənəs/

adjective

1. arising from within or from a thing itself.

2. (of welding) done either without solder or with a filler of the same metal as the pieces being welded.

autogiro /ˌôdōˈjīrō / autogyro

I. noun

a form of aircraft with freely rotating horizontal vanes and a propeller. It differs from a helicopter in that the vanes are not powered but rotate in the slipstream, propulsion being by a conventional mounted engine.

– origin 1920s: from Spanish, from auto- ‘self’ + giro ‘gyration.’

autograft /ˈôdəˌɡraft/

noun

a graft of tissue from one point to another of the same individual's body.

autograph /ˈôdəˌɡraf/

I. noun

1. a signature, especially that of a celebrity written as a memento for an admirer

• fans surged around the car asking for autographs.

2. a manuscript or musical score in the author's or musician's own handwriting.

3. a person's handwriting

• a songbook in Purcell's autograph.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a celebrity) write one's signature on (something); sign

• the whole team autographed a shirt for him

• (as adj. autographed) an autographed photo.

III. adjective

1. written in the author's own handwriting

• an autograph manuscript.

2. (of a painting or sculpture) done by the artist, not by a copier.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French autographe or late Latin autographum, from Greek autographon, neuter of autographos ‘written with one's own hand,’ from autos ‘self’ + graphos ‘written.’

autography /ôˈtäɡrəfē/

noun

an autobiography

• Arthur Miller's splendid autography, Timebends.

autoharp /ˈôdōˌhärp/

noun

a kind of zither with a mechanical device that allows the playing of a chord by damping all the other strings.

autohypnosis /ˌôdōhipˈnōsəs/

I. noun

induction of a hypnotic state in oneself; self-hypnosis.

II. derivatives

autohypnotic /-ˈnätik /

adjective

autoimmune /ˌôdōəˈmyo͞on/

I. adjective

[Medicine] of or relating to disease caused by antibodies or lymphocytes produced against substances naturally present in the body

• the infection triggers an autoimmune response.

II. derivatives

autoimmunity /ˌôdōəˈmyo͞onədē /

noun

autointoxication /ˌôdōənˌtäksəˈkāSH(ə)n/

noun

[Medicine] poisoning by a toxin formed within the body itself.

autoload /ˈôdōˌlōd/

I. adjective

self-loading; semiautomatic

• 24mm film in autoload cartridges.

II. derivatives

1. autoloader

noun

2. autoloading

noun

autologous /ôˈtäləɡəs/

adjective

(of cells or tissues) obtained from the same individual

• autologous bone marrow transplants.

autolysis /ôˈtäləsəs/

I. noun

[Biology] the destruction of cells or tissues by their own enzymes, especially those released by lysosomes.

II. derivatives

autolytic /ˌôtlˈitik /

adjective

automagically /ˌôdəˈmajək(ə)lē/

I. adverb

‹informal› (especially in relation to the operation of a computer process) automatically and in a way that seems ingenious, inexplicable, or magical

• just type in the name of what you want to listen to, and it automagically appears on your computer.

– origin 1940s: blend of automatic and magically.

automaker /ˈôdōˌmākər/

noun

(N. Amer.) a company that manufactures cars.

automat /ˈôdəˌmat/

I. noun

(US) ‹historical› a cafeteria in which food and drink were obtained from vending machines.

– origin late 17th cent. (denoting an automaton): from German, from French automate, from Latin automaton (see automaton). The current sense dates from the early 20th cent.

automate /ˈôdəˌmāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. convert (a process or facility) to largely automatic operation

• industry is investing in automating production

• (as adj. automated) a fully automated process.

– origin 1950s: back-formation from automation.

Automated Clearinghouse /ˌôdəˌmādid ˈkliriNGˌhous/

noun

the electronic clearing and settlement system used for financial transactions by US commercial banks and other institutions.

automated teller machine automatic teller machine, ATM

noun

a machine that automatically provides cash and performs other banking services on insertion of a special card by the account holder.

automatic /ˌôdəˈmadik/

I. adjective

1. (of a device or process) working by itself with little or no direct human control

• an automatic kettle that switches itself off when it boils

• calibration is fully automatic.

2. (of a firearm) self-loading and able to fire continuously until the ammunition is exhausted or the pressure on the trigger is released

• automatic weapons.

3. (of a motor vehicle or its transmission) using gears that shift by themselves according to speed and acceleration

• a four-speed automatic gearbox.

4. done or occurring spontaneously, without conscious thought or intention

• automatic physical functions such as breathing

• “Nice to meet you,” he said, with automatic politeness.

5. occurring as a matter of course and without debate

• he is the automatic choice for the senior team.

6. (especially of a legal sanction) given or imposed as a necessary and inevitable result of a fixed rule or particular set of circumstances

• for missing the team workout, he received an automatic one-game suspension.

II. noun

1. an automatic machine or device, in particular

2. a gun that continues firing until the ammunition is exhausted or the pressure on the trigger is released.

3. a vehicle with automatic transmission.

4. [Football] another term for audible.

III. derivatives

automaticity /-məˈtisitē /

noun

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Greek automatos ‘acting of itself’ (see automaton) + -ic.

automatically /ˌôdəˈmadiklē/

adverb

1. (with reference to a device or process) by itself with little or no direct human control

• the kettle automatically switched off when it boiled.

2. (with reference to a firearm) continuously until the ammunition is exhausted or the pressure on the trigger is released

• the recovered weapons had been illegally modified to fire fully automatically.

3. without conscious thought or attention; spontaneously

• although I used my best Italian, the receptionists automatically replied in English.

4. as a necessary and inevitable result of a fixed rule or particular set of circumstances

• his passport was automatically revoked

• the winners of the Division 2 final are not automatically promoted.

automatic gain control AGC

noun

[Electronics] a feature of certain amplifier circuits that gives a constant output over a wide range of input levels.

automatic pilot /ˈˌôdəˈmadik ˈpīlət/

noun

a device for keeping an aircraft on a set course without the intervention of the pilot

• ‹figurative› cruising through life on automatic pilot.

automatic writing

noun

writing said to be produced by a spiritual, occult, or subconscious agency rather than by the conscious intention of the writer.

automation /ˌôdəˈmāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

the use of largely automatic equipment in a system of manufacturing or other production process

• unemployment due to the spread of automation

• the automation of office tasks.

– origin 1940s (originally US): irregular formation from automatic + -ation.

automatism /ôˈtäməˌtizəm əˈtäməˌtizəm/

I. noun

1. the performance of actions without conscious thought or intention.

2. [Art] the avoidance of conscious intention in producing works of art, especially by using mechanical techniques or subconscious associations.

3. an action performed unconsciously or involuntarily.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French automatisme, from automate ‘automaton,’ from Greek automatos ‘acting of itself’ (see automaton).

automatize /ôˈtäməˌtīz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. automatized)

1. make automatic or habitual

• the need to refresh automatized forms of literature.

II. derivatives

automatization /ôˌtämətiˈzāSHən /

noun

automaton /ôˈtämədən ôˈtäməˌtän/

I. noun

1. a moving mechanical device made in imitation of a human being.

2. a machine that performs a function according to a predetermined set of coded instructions, especially one capable of a range of programmed responses to different circumstances.

3. used in similes and comparisons to refer to a person who seems to act in a mechanical or unemotional way

• she went about her preparations like an automaton.

– origin early 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek, neuter of automatos ‘acting of itself,’ from autos ‘self.’

automimicry /ˌôtōˈmimikrē/

noun

[Biology] the mimicking or accentuation of some characteristic of one's own species as an adaptive response.

automize /ˈôdəˌmīz/

verb

1. another term for automate.

2. another term for automatize.

automobile /ˈôdəmōˌbēl/

I. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a road vehicle, typically with four wheels, powered by an internal combustion engine or electric motor and able to carry a small number of people.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French, from auto- ‘self’ + mobile ‘mobile.’

automotive /ˌôdəˈmōdiv/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. of, relating to, or concerned with motor vehicles.

autonomic /ˌôdəˈnämik/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. [chiefly Physiology] involuntary or unconscious; relating to the autonomic nervous system.

– origin mid 19th cent. (in the sense ‘self-governing’): from autonomy + -ic.

autonomic nervous system

noun

the part of the nervous system responsible for control of the bodily functions not consciously directed, such as breathing, the heartbeat, and digestive processes.

autonomous /ôˈtänəməs/

I. adjective

1. (of a country or region) having self-government, at least to a significant degree

• the federation included sixteen autonomous republics.

2. acting independently or having the freedom to do so

• an autonomous committee of the school board

• autonomous underwater vehicles.

3. (in Kantian moral philosophy) acting in accordance with one's moral duty rather than one's desires.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Greek autonomos ‘having its own laws’ + -ous.

autonomously /əˈtänəməslē/

adverb

with the freedom to act independently

• each canton in Switzerland operates almost autonomously.

autonomy /ôˈtänəmē/

I. noun

1. (of a country or region) the right or condition of self-government, especially in a particular sphere

• Tatarstan demanded greater autonomy within the Russian Federation.

2. a self-governing country or region.

3. freedom from external control or influence; independence

• economic autonomy is still a long way off for many women.

4. (in Kantian moral philosophy) the capacity of an agent to act in accordance with objective morality rather than under the influence of desires.

II. derivatives

autonomist /-mist /

noun, adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: from Greek autonomia, from autonomos ‘having its own laws,’ from autos ‘self’ + nomos ‘law.’

autopathography /ˌôdōpəˈTHäɡrəfē/

I. noun

an autobiography dealing primarily with the influence of a disease, disability, or psychological disorder on the author's life.

– origin blend of autobiography and pathography.

autopen /ˈôdōˌpen/

noun

a mechanical device that automatically reproduces a person's signature, used typically in situations where someone is required to sign a large volume of documents.

• the secretary of defense was using an autopen to place his signature on condolence letters to the families of the dead.

autophagy /ôˈtäfəjē/

I. noun

1. [Biology] consumption of the body’s own tissue as a metabolic process occurring in starvation and certain diseases

• the process of starvation-induced autophagy was recently the focus of extensive research.

2. [Biology] destruction of damaged or redundant cellular components occurring in vacuoles within the cell.

II. derivatives

autophagous /ôˈtäfəɡəs /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from auto-1 + -phagy.

autopilot /ˈôdōˌpīlət/

noun

short for automatic pilot.

autopsy /ˈôˌtäpsē/

I. noun

a postmortem examination to discover the cause of death or the extent of disease
[as modifier]

• an autopsy report.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. perform a postmortem examination on (a body or organ)
(as adj. autopsied)

• an autopsied brain.

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘personal observation’): from French autopsie or modern Latin autopsia, from Greek, from autoptēs ‘eyewitness,’ from autos ‘self’ + optos ‘seen.’

autoradiogram /ˌôdōˈrādēəˌɡram/

noun

another term for autoradiograph.

autoradiograph /ˌôdōˈrādēəɡraf/

I. noun

a photograph of an object produced by radiation from radioactive material in the object and revealing the distribution or location of labeled material in the object.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make an autoradiograph of.

III. derivatives

1. autoradiographic /-ˌrādēəˈɡrafik /

adjective

2. autoradiography /-ˌrādēˈäɡrəfē /

noun

autoresponder /ˌôdōrəˈspändər/

noun

[Computing] a program that automatically generates a set response to all messages sent to a particular email address.

• I got a reply almost right away, which I assume was from an autoresponder.

autorotation /ˌôdōˌrōˈtāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. rotation of an object caused by the flow of moving air or water around the shape of the object (e.g., a winged seed).

2. autorotation in the rotor blades of a helicopter that is descending without engine power.

II. derivatives

autorotate /-ˈrōtāt /

verb

autoroute /ˈôdōˌro͞ot/

I. noun

a highway in a French-speaking country.

– origin 1960s: from French, from auto(mobile) ‘car’ + route ‘route.’

autoshaping /ˈôdōˌSHāpiNG/

noun

[Psychology] a method of conditioning in which the conditioned response has not been reinforced by reward or punishment, but is a modified instinctive response to certain stimuli.

autosome /ˈôdəˌsōm/

I. noun

[Biology] any chromosome that is not a sex chromosome.

II. derivatives

autosomal /ˌôtōˈsōməl /

adjective

autostereoscopic /ˌôdōˌsterēəˈskäpik/

I. adjective

relating to or denoting two-dimensional images that may be perceived as three-dimensional without the need for special optical equipment

• the ultimate solution will be autostereoscopic screens that don't require glasses.

II. derivatives

autostereoscopy /-ˈɒskəpi /

noun

– origin early 20th cent.: from auto-1 + stereoscopic.

autostrada /ˈôdōˌsträdə/

I. noun

an Italian highway.

– origin 1920s: from Italian, from auto ‘automobile’ + strada ‘road.’

autosuggestion /ˌôdōsəˈjesCH(ə)n ˌôdōsəɡˈjesCH(ə)n/

noun

the hypnotic or subconscious adoption of an idea that one has originated oneself, e.g. through repetition of verbal statements to oneself in order to change behavior.

autotelic /ˌôdōˈtelik/

I. adjective

‹formal› (of an activity or a creative work) having an end or purpose in itself.

– origin early 20th cent.: from auto-1 ‘self’ + Greek telos ‘end’ + -ic.

autotomy /ôˈtädəmē/

noun

[Zoology] the casting off of a part of the body (e.g., the tail of a lizard) by an animal under threat.

autotoxin /ˈôdōˌtäksən/

I. noun

a substance produced by an organism that is toxic to the organism itself.

II. derivatives

autotoxic /ˌôtōˈtäksik /

adjective

autotransformer /ˌôdōtransˈfôrmər/

noun

an electrical transformer that has a single coil winding, part of which is common to both primary and secondary circuits.

autotransplantation /ˌôdōˌtransplanˈtāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

transplantation of tissue from one site to another in the same individual.

II. derivatives

1. autotransplant /ˌôdōtran(t)sˈplant /

noun

2. autotransplanted /-transˈplantid /

adjective

autotroph /ˈôdəˌträf, ˈôdəˌtrōf/

I. noun

[Biology] an organism that is able to form nutritional organic substances from simple inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide.
Compare with heterotroph.

II. derivatives

1. autotrophic

adjective

2. autotrophy

noun

autotune /ˈôdōˌt(y)o͞on/

I. noun

a device or facility for tuning something automatically, especially a piece of computer software that enables the correction of an out-of-tune vocal performance.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. tune (something) automatically

• there's also an FM radio which can autotune stations and has a ‘record’ option.

2. alter (the pitch of a voice recording) by means of a computer program

• vocals are often autotuned to fake perfection

• (as adj. autotuned) Cher is the woman that many credit for bringing autotuned vocals into mainstream music.

autowinder /ˈôdōˌwīndər/

I. noun

a device that automatically advances the film in a camera after a picture has been taken.

II. derivatives

autowind /ˈôdōˌwīnd /

noun, verb

autoworker /ˈôdōˌwərkər/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a worker in the automobile industry.

autoxidation /ˌôdəˌäksəˈdāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

[Chemistry] spontaneous oxidation of a substance at ambient temperatures in the presence of oxygen.

II. derivatives

autoxidize /ôˈtäksiˌdīz /

verb

Autry, Gene /ˈôtrē/

(1907–98), US singer and actor; full name Orvon Gene Autry; known as the Singing Cowboy. His credits include the first cowboy song recording (1929) and many musical western movies.

autumn /ˈôdəm/

I. noun

1. the third season of the year, when crops and fruits are gathered and leaves fall, in the northern hemisphere from September to November and in the southern hemisphere from March to May

• the countryside is ablaze with color in autumn

• [as modifier] autumn leaves

• ‹figurative› he was in the autumn of his life.

2. [Astronomy] the period from the autumnal equinox to the winter solstice.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French autompne, or later directly from Latin autumnus.

autumnal /ôˈtəmnəl/

I. adjective

of, characteristic of, or occurring in autumn

• chilly autumnal weather.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin autumnalis, from autumnus ‘autumn.’

autumnal equinox

noun

the equinox in autumn, on about September 22 in the northern hemisphere and March 20 in the southern hemisphere.

autumn crocus

noun

a crocuslike Eurasian plant of the lily family, cultivated for its autumn-blooming flowers.
[Genus Colchicum, family Liliaceae: several species, in particular meadow saffron.]

autunite /ôˈtənīt, ˈôtnˌīt/

I. noun

a yellow or pale green mineral occurring as square crystals that fluoresce in ultraviolet light. It is a hydrated phosphate of calcium and uranium.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Autun, the name of a town in eastern France, + -ite^1.

Auvergne /ōˈvern(yə) ōˈvərn/

I. a region in south central France that was a province of the Roman Empire. The region is mountainous and contains extinct volcanic cones known as the Puys.

– origin from Latin Arverni, the name of a Celtic tribe that lived there in Roman times.

auxiliary /ôɡˈzilyərē ôɡˈzil(ə)rē/

I. adjective

1. providing supplementary or additional help and support

• an auxiliary nurse

• auxiliary airport staff.

2. (of equipment) held in reserve

• the ship has an auxiliary power source.

3. (of troops) engaged in the service of a nation at war but not part of the regular army, and often of foreign origin.

4. (of a sailing vessel) equipped with a supplementary engine.

II. noun

1. a person or thing providing supplementary or additional help and support

• a nursing auxiliary

• there are two main fuel tanks and two auxiliaries.

2. (N. Amer.) a group of volunteers giving supplementary support to an organization or institution

• members of the Volunteer Fire Department's women's auxiliary.

3. (auxiliaries) — troops engaged in the service of a nation at war but not part of the regular army, and often of foreign origin.

4. [Grammar] an auxiliary verb.

5. a naval vessel with a supporting role, not armed for combat.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin auxiliarius, from auxilium ‘help.’

auxiliary verb /ôɡˈzilyərē əɡˈzilyərē ôɡˈzil(ə)rē əɡˈzil(ə)rē vərb/

noun

[Grammar] a verb used in forming the tenses, moods, and voices of other verbs.
See also modal verb. The primary auxiliary verbs in English are be, do, and have; the modal auxiliaries are can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, and would.

auxin /ˈôksən/

I. noun

a plant hormone that causes the elongation of cells in shoots and is involved in regulating plant growth.

– origin 1930s: coined in German from Greek auxein ‘to increase’ + -in^1.

auxotroph /ˈôksəˌträf, -ˌtrōf/

I. noun

[Biology] a mutant organism (typically a bacterium or fungus) that requires a particular additional nutrient that the normal strain does not.

II. derivatives

auxotrophic /ˌôksəˈträfik, -ˈtrō- /

adjective

– origin 1950s: from Latin auxilium ‘help’ + Greek trophos ‘feeder.’

AV

abbreviation

1. audiovisual (teaching aids).

2. Authorized Version.

3. alternative vote.

avadavat /ˈavədəˌvat / amadavat

I. noun

a small southern Asian waxbill that is often kept as a caged bird. The male has red or green plumage and a red bill.
[Genus Amandava, family Estrildidae: the red avadavat (A. amandava) and the green avadavat (A. formosa).]

– origin late 17th cent.: named after the city of Ahmadabad in India, where the birds were sold.

avail /əˈvāl/

I. verb

1. (avail oneself of) — use or take advantage of (an opportunity or available resource)

• my daughter did not avail herself of my advice.

2. help or benefit
[with obj.]

• no amount of struggle availed Charles

• [no obj.] the dark and narrow hiding place did not avail to save the fugitives.

II. phrases

1. avail someone nothing

‹archaic› (of an action) be of no help at all to someone

• this protest availed her nothing.

2. of little (or no) avail

not very (or not at all) effective or successful

• Latin was of little avail in the practical affairs of life.

3. to little (or no) avail

with little (or no) success or benefit

• he tried to get his work recognized, but to little avail.

– origin Middle English: from obsolete vail ‘be of use or value’ (apparently on the pattern of pairs such as amount, mount), from Old French valoir, from Latin valere ‘be strong, be of value.’

availability /əˌvāləˈbilədē/

noun

1. the quality of being able to be used or obtained

• turkey producers had been losing sales because of the all-year-round availability of beef

• the cost and availability of housing for teachers still remains a problem.

2. the state of being otherwise unoccupied; freedom to do something

• they inquired as to my availability for a game the following evening.

3. ‹informal› the state of not being currently involved in a sexual or romantic relationship

• if you call yourself "Miss," you're advertising your availability to any man who takes a fancy.

available /əˈvāləb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. able to be used or obtained; at someone's disposal

• refreshments will be available all afternoon

• a slush fund available to universities.

2. (of a person) not otherwise occupied; free to do something

• the nurse is only available at certain times

• the minister was not available for comment.

3. ‹informal› not currently involved in a sexual or romantic relationship

• there's a dearth of available women here.

– origin late Middle English (in the senses ‘effectual, serviceable’ and ‘legally valid’): from avail + -able. Sense 1 dates from the early 19th cent.

avalanche /ˈavəˌlan(t)SH/

I. noun

1. a mass of snow, ice, and rocks falling rapidly down a mountainside.

2. a large mass of any material moving rapidly downhill

• an avalanche of mud.

3. a sudden arrival or occurrence of something in overwhelming quantities

• we have had an avalanche of applications.

4. [Physics] a cumulative process in which a fast-moving ion or electron generates further ions and electrons by collision.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a mass of snow, ice, and rocks) descend rapidly down a mountainside.

2. [with obj.] — engulf or carry off by an avalanche

• the climbers were avalanched down the south face of the mountain.

3. [Physics] undergo a rapid increase in conductivity due to an avalanche process.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French, alteration of the Alpine dialect word lavanche (of unknown origin), influenced by avaler ‘descend’; compare with Italian valanga.

Avalon /ˈavəˌlän/

(in Arthurian legend) the place to which Arthur was conveyed after death.

avant- /ˈavänt, ˈaväN/

combining form

(especially with reference to popular music) original or innovative; avant-garde

• even in avant-rock, a song's words are usually its focus.

avant-garde /ˌaväntˈɡärd/

I. noun — (usu. the avant-garde)

1. new and unusual or experimental ideas, especially in the arts, or the people introducing them

• works by artists of the Russian avant-garde.

II. adjective

favoring or introducing experimental or unusual ideas

• a controversial avant-garde composer.

III. derivatives

1. avant-gardism /ˌäˌvänˈɡärˌdizəm /

noun

2. avant-gardist /ˌäˌvänˈɡärdəst /

noun

– origin late Middle English (denoting the vanguard of an army): from French, literally ‘vanguard.’ Current senses date from the early 20th cent.

avarice /ˈavərəs/

I. noun

extreme greed for wealth or material gain.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, from Latin avaritia, from avarus ‘greedy.’

avaricious /ˌavəˈriSHəs/

I. adjective

having or showing an extreme greed for wealth or material gain

• a corrupt and avaricious government.

II. derivatives

1. avariciously

adverb

2. avariciousness

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French avaricieux, based on Latin avarus ‘greedy’ (see avarice).

avascular /əˈvaskyələr, āˈvas-/

adjective

[Medicine] characterized by or associated with a lack of blood vessels.

avast /əˈvast/

I. exclamation

[Nautical] stop; cease

• you, young man, avast there!

– origin early 17th cent.: from Dutch hou'vast, houd vast ‘hold fast!’

avatar /ˈavəˌtär/

I. noun

1. [chiefly Hinduism] a manifestation of a deity or released soul in bodily form on earth; an incarnate divine teacher.

2. an incarnation, embodiment, or manifestation of a person or idea

• he chose John Stuart Mill as the avatar of the liberal view.

3. [Computing] an icon or figure representing a particular person in computer games, Internet forums, etc.

– origin from Sanskrit avatāra ‘descent,’ from ava ‘down’ + tar- ‘to cross.’

avaunt /əˈvônt/

I. exclamation

‹archaic› go away

• avaunt, you worm-faced fellows of the night!

– origin late Middle English: from an Anglo-Norman French variant of Old French avant, from Latin ab ‘from’ + ante ‘before.’

ave /ˈävā/

I. exclamation

‹literary› used to express good wishes on meeting or parting.

II. noun

1. (Ave) — short for Ave Maria.

2. ‹literary› a shout of welcome or farewell.

– origin Middle English: from Latin, ‘fare well!,’ singular imperative of avere.

Ave.

abbreviation

Avenue.

Avebury /ˈāvb(ə)rē, ˈāvˌberē/

a village in Wiltshire, site of one of Britain's major henge monuments of the late Neolithic period.

Ave Maria /ˌävā məˈrēə/

I. noun

a prayer to the Virgin Mary used in Catholic worship. The first line is adapted from Luke 1:28.
Also called Hail Mary.

– origin Middle English: the opening words in Latin, literally ‘Hail, Mary!’

avenge /əˈvenj/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. inflict harm in return for (an injury or wrong done to oneself or another)

• his determination to avenge the murder of his brother

• they are eager to avenge last year's Super Bowl defeat.

2. inflict harm on behalf of (oneself or someone else previously wronged or harmed)

• we must avenge our dead

• she avenged herself after he broke off their engagement

• the warrior swore he would be avenged on their prince.

II. derivatives

avenger /əˈvenjər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French avengier, from a- (from Latin ad ‘to’) + vengier, from Latin vindicare ‘vindicate.’

avens /ˈavənz/

I. noun

a plant of the rose family, typically having serrated, divided leaves and seeds bearing small hooks. Several kinds are grown in gardens.
[Genus Geum, family Rosaceae: several species, including the widespread water avens (G. rivale), with drooping pinkish flowers, and the mat-forming alpine avens (G. montanum).]

– origin Middle English: from Old French avence (medieval Latin avencia), of unknown origin.

aventurine /əˈven(t)SHəˌrēn əˈven(t)SHəˌrīn/

I. noun

1. brownish glass containing sparkling particles of copper or gold
[as modifier]

• aventurine glass.

2. a translucent mineral containing small reflective particles, typically quartz containing mica or iron compounds, or feldspar containing hematite.

– origin early 18th cent.: from French, from Italian avventurino, from avventura ‘chance’ (because of its accidental discovery).

avenue /ˈavəˌn(y)o͞o/

I. noun

1. a broad road in a town or city, typically having trees at regular intervals along its sides

• tree-lined avenues surround the hotel

• [in proper names] Euclid Avenue.

2. [in proper names] — (N. Amer.) a thoroughfare running at right angles to the streets in a city laid out on a grid pattern

• 7th Avenue.

3. a tree-lined road or path, especially one that leads to a country house or similar building

• an avenue of limes.

4. a way of approaching a problem or making progress toward something

• three possible avenues of research suggested themselves.

– origin early 17th cent. (sense 2): from French, feminine past participle of avenir ‘arrive, approach,’ from Latin advenire, from ad- ‘toward’ + venire ‘come.’

aver /əˈvər/

I. verb — [reporting verb]

1. ‹formal› state or assert to be the case
[with clause]

• he averred that he was innocent of the allegations

• [with direct speech] “You're the most beautiful girl in the world,” he averred.

2. [with obj.] — ‹formal› [Law] allege as a fact in support of a plea.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘declare or confirm to be true’): from Old French averer, based on Latin ad ‘to’ (implying ‘cause to be’) + verus ‘true.’

average /ˈav(ə)rij / avg.

I. noun

1. a number expressing the central or typical value in a set of data, in particular the mode, median, or (most commonly) the mean, which is calculated by dividing the sum of the values in the set by their number

• the housing prices there are twice the national average.

Compare with mean^3 (sense 1 of the noun).

2. an amount, standard, level, or rate regarded as usual or ordinary

• the month's snowfall is below average

• they take about thirty minutes on average.

3. the apportionment of financial liability resulting from loss of or damage to a ship or its cargo.

4. reduction in the amount payable under an insurance policy, e.g., in respect of partial loss.

II. adjective

1. constituting the result obtained by adding together several quantities and then dividing this total by the number of quantities

• the average temperature in May was 64°F.

2. of the usual or ordinary standard, level, or quantity

• a woman of average height.

3. having qualities that are seen as typical of a particular person or thing

• the average teenager prefers comfort to high fashion.

4. mediocre; not very good

• a very average director who made very average movies.

III. verb

1. [with obj.] — achieve or amount to as an average rate or amount over a period of time

• annual inflation averaged 2.4 percent.

2. calculate or estimate the average of (figures or measurements)

• their earnings, averaged out over the month, were only $62 a week.

3. [no obj.] (average out) — result in an even distribution; even out

• it is reasonable to hope that the results will average out.

4. [no obj.] (average out at/to) — result in an average figure of

• the cost should average out to about $6 per page.

IV. derivatives

averagely /ˈav(ə)rəjlē /

adverb

– origin late 15th cent.: from French avarie ‘damage to ship or cargo,’ earlier ‘customs duty,’ from Italian avaria, from Arabic 'awār ‘damage to goods’; the suffix -age is on the pattern of damage. Originally denoting a charge or customs duty payable by the owner of goods to be shipped, the term later denoted the financial liability from goods lost or damaged at sea, and specifically the equitable apportionment of this between the owners of the vessel and the cargo (late 16th cent.); this gave rise to the general sense of the equalizing out of gains and losses by calculating the mean (mid 18th cent).

averment /əˈvərmənt/

I. noun

1. ‹formal› an affirmation or allegation.

2. ‹formal› [Law] a formal statement by a party in a case of a fact or circumstance that the party offers to prove or substantiate.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French averrement, averement, from averer ‘declare true’ (see aver).

Averroës /əˈverōˌēz, ˌavəˈrō-ēz/

(c. 1126–98), Islamic philosopher, judge, and physician, born in Spain; Arabic name ibn-Rushd. His highly influential commentaries on Aristotle sought to reconcile the Greek philosophical tradition with the Arabic.

averse /əˈvərs/

I. adjective — [predic., usu. with negative] (averse to)

1. having a strong dislike of or opposition to something

• as a former CIA director, he is not averse to secrecy

• [in combination] the bank's approach has been risk-averse.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin aversus ‘turned away from,’ past participle of avertere (see avert). / usage: The widespread phrase for expressing dislike, opposition, or hostility (to things, usually not people) is averse to. Similarly, one may be said to have an aversion to (usually not aversion from) certain things or activities (but usually not people): Katherine was known for her aversion to flying, but she was brave and boarded the plane anyway. Averse from was prescribed by Samuel Johnson and is preferred by traditionalists, who condemn averse to as nonsensical (the Latin origin of averse has the meaning ‘turn from’). In both US and British English, however, averse to is now by far the more common occurrence. See also usage at adverse.

aversion /əˈvərZHən/

I. noun

1. a strong dislike or disinclination

• he had a deep-seated aversion to most forms of exercise.

2. someone or something that arouses strong feelings of dislike.

II. derivatives

aversive /-siv, -ziv /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent. (originally denoting the action of turning away or averting one's eyes): from Latin aversio(n-), from avertere ‘turn away from’ (see avert).

aversion therapy

noun

a type of behavior therapy designed to make a patient give up an undesirable habit by causing them to associate it with an unpleasant effect.

avert /əˈvərt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. turn away (one's eyes or thoughts)

• she averted her eyes during the more violent scenes.

2. prevent or ward off (an undesirable occurrence)

• talks failed to avert a rail strike.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘divert or deter someone from a place or a course of action’): from Latin avertere, from ab- ‘from’ + vertere ‘to turn’; reinforced by Old French avertir.

Aves /ˈävāz / ‹Zoology›

I. a class of vertebrates that comprises the birds.

– origin Latin, plural of avis ‘bird.’

Avesta /əˈvestə/

I. noun

the sacred writings of Zoroastrianism, compiled in the 4th century AD.

– origin Persian.

Avestan /əˈvestən/

I. adjective

of or relating to the Avesta or to the ancient Indo-Iranian language in which it is written, closely related to Vedic Sanskrit.

II. noun

the Avestan language.

avg.

abbreviation

average.

avgas /ˈavɡas/

I. noun

aircraft fuel.

– origin 1940s: from av(iation) + gas.

avian /ˈāvēən/

I. adjective

of or relating to birds

• avian tuberculosis.

II. noun

a bird.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin avis ‘bird’ + -an.

avian influenza avian flu

noun

the technical name for bird flu.

aviary /ˈāvēˌerē/

I. noun

a large cage, building, or enclosure for keeping birds in.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin aviarium, from avis ‘bird.’

aviate /ˈāvēˌāt/

I. verb

pilot or fly in an airplane
[with obj.]

• an aircraft that can be aviated without effort

• [no obj.] there are fewer opportunities to aviate in winter.

– origin late 19th cent.: back-formation from aviation.

aviation /ˌāvēˈāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

the flying or operating of aircraft
[as modifier]

• the aviation industry

• aviation engineering.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, formed irregularly from Latin avis ‘bird.’

aviator /ˈāvēˌādər/

noun

1. ‹chiefly dated› a pilot.

2. (aviators) — a pair of aviator glasses.

• I wear aviators, but it's purely because they are practical sunglasses as opposed to being fashion accessories.

aviator glasses

noun

a style of sunglasses with thin wire frames and large lenses.

aviator jacket

noun

another term for flight jacket or bomber jacket.

aviatrix /ˌāvēˈātriks ˈāvēəˌtriks/

noun

‹dated› a female pilot.

Avicenna /ˌavəˈsenə/

(980–1037), Islamic philosopher and physician, born in Persia; Arabic name ibn-Sina. His philosophical system was the major influence on the development of scholasticism.

avicularium /əˌvikyəˈlerēəm/

I. noun

[Zoology] (in some bryozoans) any of a number of modified zooids that take the form of a pair of snapping jaws resembling a bird's head, serving to prevent other organisms from settling on the colony.
Compare with vibraculum.

– origin mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from avicula, diminutive of avis ‘bird.’

aviculture /ˈāvəˌkəlCHər ˈavəˌkəlCHər/

I. noun

the breeding and rearing of birds.

II. derivatives

1. avicultural /ˌāviˈkəlCHərəl, ˌavi- /

adjective

2. aviculturalist /ˌāviˈkəlCHərəlist, ˌavi- /

noun

3. aviculturist /ˈāvəˌkəlCH(ə)rəst ˈavəˌkəlCH(ə)rəst /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin avis ‘bird’ + culture.

avid /ˈavəd/

I. adjective

1. having or showing a keen interest in or enthusiasm for something

• an avid reader of science fiction

• she took an avid interest in the project.

2. (avid for) — having an eager desire for something

• she was avid for information about the murder inquiry.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French avide or Latin avidus, from avere ‘crave.’

avidin /ˈavədən/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a protein found in raw egg white, which combines with biotin and hinders its absorption.

– origin 1940s: from avid + -in^1.

avidity /əˈvidədē/

I. noun

1. extreme eagerness or enthusiasm

• he read detective stories with avidity.

2. [Biochemistry] the overall strength of binding between an antibody and an antigen.

– origin late Middle English: from French avidité or Latin aviditas, from avidus ‘eager, greedy.’

avidly /ˈavidlē/

adverb

with great interest or enthusiasm

• I came across her avidly reading a magazine.

avifauna /ˌāvēˈfônə ˌavēˈfônə/

I. noun

the birds of a particular region, habitat, or geological period.

II. derivatives

avifaunal

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin avis ‘bird’ + fauna.

Avignon /ˌavənˈyôn/

a city on the Rhône River in southeastern France; pop. 94,787 (2006). From 1309 until 1377, it was the residence of the popes during their exile from Rome, and it was papal property until the French Revolution.

Ávila, Teresa of

see Teresa of Ávila, St.

avionics /ˌāvēˈäniks/

I. plural noun — [usu. treated as sing.]

1. electronics as applied to aviation.

2. electronic equipment fitted in an aircraft.

– origin 1940s: blend of aviation and electronics.

avirulent /ˌāˈvir(y)ələnt/

adjective

(of a microorganism) not virulent.

avitaminosis /āˌvīdəməˈnōsəs/

noun

[Medicine] a condition resulting from a deficiency of one or more particular vitamins.

avocado /ˌavəˈkädō ˌävəˈkädō/

I. noun

1. a pear-shaped fruit with a rough leathery skin, smooth oily edible flesh, and a large stone

• serve with slices of avocado.

Also called alligator pear.

2. a light green color like that of the flesh of avocados.

3. the tropical evergreen tree that bears the avocado. It is native to Central America and widely cultivated elsewhere.
[Persea americana, family Lauraceae.]

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Spanish, alteration (influenced by avocado ‘advocate’) of aguacate, from Nahuatl ahuacatl.

avocation /ˌavəˈkāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

a hobby or minor occupation.

II. derivatives

avocational /-SHənl /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin avocatio(n-), from avocare ‘call away,’ from ab- ‘from’ + vocare ‘to call.’

avocet /ˈavəˌset/

I. noun

a long-legged wading bird with a slender upturned bill and strikingly patterned plumage.
[Genus Recurvirostra, family Recurvirostridae: four species, including the American avocet (R. americana), which has black and white plumage.]

– origin late 17th cent.: from French avocette, from Italian avosetta.

Avogadro, Amedeo /ˌävəˈɡädˌrō, ˌävō-/

(1776–1856), Italian chemist and physicist. His law, formulated in 1811, was used to derive both molecular weights and a system of atomic weights.

Avogadro's law ‹Chemistry›

a law stating that equal volumes of gases at the same temperature and pressure contain equal numbers of molecules.

Avogadro's number ‹Chemistry› Avogadro's constant

the number of atoms or molecules in one mole of a substance, equal to 6.023 × 10^23.

avoid /əˈvoid/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. keep away from or stop oneself from doing (something)

• avoid excessive exposure to the sun.

2. contrive not to meet (someone)

• boys lined up to meet Gloria, but avoided her bossy sister.

3. not go to or through (a place)

• this route avoids downtown Boston.

4. prevent from happening

• make the necessary adjustments to avoid an accident.

5. [Law] repudiate, nullify, or render void (a decree or contract).

II. phrases

avoid someone/something like the plague

try hard to avoid someone or something

• a place that Robyn normally avoided like the plague.

• I avoid business lunches like the plague.

III. derivatives

avoider

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French evuider ‘clear out, get rid of,’ from vuide ‘empty’ (see void).

avoidable /əˈvoidəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

able to be avoided or prevented

• the accident was entirely avoidable

• avoidable costs.

II. derivatives

avoidably

adverb

avoidance /əˈvoidəns/

noun

1. the action of keeping away from or not doing something

• one third of cancer deaths could be prevented by avoidance of smoking.

2. the action of preventing something from happening

• a pilotless passenger aircraft would rely on computers and automatic collision avoidance.

3. [Law] the action of repudiating, nullifying, or rendering void a decree or contract

• insurance underwriters could not rely on non-disclosure to justify avoidance of the contract.

avoidance relationship

noun

a familial relationship that is forbidden according to rules operating in some traditional societies. In Australian Aboriginal society, for example, mothers-in-law and sons-in-law may not meet face to face or speak directly with one another.

avoidant /əˈvoidənt/

adjective

[Psychology] relating to or denoting a type of personality or behavior characterized by the avoidance of intimacy or social interaction.

• he was also anxious, avoidant, and unable to manage conflict.

avoirdupois /ˌävərdəˈpoiz ˌävərdəˈpwä/

I. noun

1. a system of weights based on a pound of 16 ounces or 7,000 grains, widely used in English-speaking countries
[as modifier]

• avoirdupois weights

• [postpositive] a pound avoirdupois.

Compare with troy.

2. ‹humorous› weight; heaviness

• she was putting on the avoirdupois like nobody's business.

– origin Middle English (denoting merchandise sold by weight): from Old French aveir de peis ‘goods of weight,’ from aveir ‘to have’ (infinitive used as a noun, from Latin habere) + peis ‘weight’ (see poise^1).

avoision /əˈvoiZHən / tax avoision

I. noun

the arrangement of one's financial affairs so as to avoid or minimize tax liability in such a way that it is not clear whether this constitutes lawful avoidance of tax or illegal tax evasion.

• tax avoision is a consequence of the web of tax rules that has undermined compliance.

• [as modifier] the higher the tax rate, the more popular the avoision schemes.

– origin 1970s: blend of avoidance (see avoid) and evasion.

Avon /ˈāvän/

I. a river in central England that rises near the border between the counties of Leicestershire and Northamptonshire and flows 96 miles (154 km) southwest through Stratford to the Severn River.

II. a river in southwestern England that rises near the Gloucestershire–Wiltshire border and flows 75 miles (121 km) through Bath and Bristol to the Severn River.

III. a county in southwestern England; county town, Bristol.

Avondale /ˈavənˌdāl/

a city in south central Arizona, a western suburb of Phoenix; pop. 81,299 (est. 2008).

avouch /əˈvouCH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› affirm or assert.

II. derivatives

avouchment /əˈvouCHmənt /

noun

– origin late 15th cent.: from Old French avochier, from Latin advocare ‘summon in defense,’ from ad- ‘to’ + vocare ‘to call.’

avow /əˈvou/

I. verb — [reporting verb]

1. assert or confess openly
[with clause]

• he avowed that he had voted Republican in every election

• [with obj.] he avowed his change of faith.

II. derivatives

avowal /əˈvou(ə)l /

noun

– origin Middle English (in the senses ‘acknowledge, approve’ and ‘vouch for’): from Old French avouer ‘acknowledge,’ from Latin advocare ‘summon in defense’ (see avouch).

avowed /əˈvoud/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. that has been asserted, admitted, or stated publicly

• an avowed atheist

• they came to power with the avowed aim of promoting religious toleration.

avowedly /əˈvouədlē/

adverb

as has been asserted, admitted, or stated publicly; openly

• the article is avowedly a historical analysis

• the country's first avowedly left-wing president.

avulsion /əˈvəlSHən/

I. noun

1. [chiefly Medicine] the action of pulling or tearing away.

2. [chiefly Medicine] [Law] the sudden separation of land from one property and its attachment to another, especially by flooding or a change in the course of a river.
Compare with alluvion.

II. derivatives

avulse /əˈvəls /

verb

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin avulsion-, from the verb avellere, from ab- ‘from’ + vallere ‘pluck.’

avuncular /əˈvəNGkyələr/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to an uncle.

2. kind and friendly toward a younger or less experienced person

• an avuncular manner.

3. [Anthropology] of or relating to the relationship between men and their siblings' children.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin avunculus ‘maternal uncle,’ diminutive of avus ‘grandfather.’

avunculate /əˈvəNGkyəlit, -ˌlāt/

I. noun — (the avunculate)

1. [Anthropology] the special relationship in some societies between a man and his sister's son.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Latin avunculus ‘maternal uncle’ + -ate^2.

aw /ô / aww

I. exclamation

1. used to express mild protest, entreaty, or sympathy

• aw, come on, Andy

• aww, you poor thing.

2. used to express mild disappointment or self-deprecation

• aw, it's a shame I can't make it

• aww, thanks for the nice comments.

3. used to express pleasure, delight, or affection, especially in response to something regarded as sweet or endearing

• aww, the kitten is too cute!

• aww, are you guys an item?

– origin natural exclamation: first recorded in American English in the mid 19th cent.

AWACS /ˈāwaks/

I. noun

a long-range airborne radar system for detecting enemy aircraft and missiles and directing attacks on them
[as modifier]

• AWACS aircraft.

– origin 1960s: acronym from airborne warning and control system.

await /əˈwāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a person) wait for (an event)

• we await the proposals with impatience

• prisoners awaiting trial

• (awaited) an eagerly awaited debut.

2. (of an event or circumstance) be in store for (someone)

• many dangers await them.

– origin Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French awaitier, from a- (from Latin ad ‘to, at’) + waitier ‘to wait.’

awake /əˈwāk/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — stop sleeping; wake from sleep

• she awoke to find the streets covered in snow.

2. [with obj.] — cause (someone) to wake from sleep

• my screams awoke my parents.

3. regain consciousness

• I awoke six hours after the operation.

4. (awake to) — become aware of; come to a realization of

• the authorities finally awoke to the extent of the problem.

5. make or become active again

• there were echoes and scents that awoke some memory in me.

II. adjective — [predic.]

1. not asleep

• the noise might keep you awake at night.

2. (awake to) — aware of

• too few are awake to the dangers.

– origin Old English āwæcnan, āwacian, both used in the sense ‘come out of sleep’ (see a-2, wake^1).

awaken /əˈwākən/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. rouse from sleep; cause to stop sleeping

• Anna was awakened by the telephone.

2. [no obj.] — stop sleeping

• he sighed but did not awaken.

3. rouse (a feeling)

• different images can awaken new emotions within us.

4. (awaken someone to) — make someone aware of (something) for the first time

• the movie helped to awaken the public to the horrors of apartheid.

– origin Old English onwæcnan, from on ‘on’ + waken.

awakening /əˈwāk(ə)niNG/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. an act or moment of becoming suddenly aware of something

• the war came as a rude awakening to the hardships of life.

2. ‹formal› an act of waking from sleep.

3. the beginning or rousing of something

• the awakening of democracy in Eastern Europe.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. coming into existence or awareness

• his awakening desire

• an awakening conscience.

award /əˈwôrd/

I. verb — [with two objs.]

1. give or order the giving of (something) as an official payment, compensation, or prize to (someone)

• he was awarded the Purple Heart

• the 3.5 percent pay raise was awarded to the staff.

2. grant or assign (a contract or commission) to (a person or organization).

II. noun

1. a prize or other mark of recognition given in honor of an achievement

• the company's annual award for high-quality service

• [as modifier] an award ceremony.

2. an amount of money paid to someone as an official payment, compensation, or grant

• a generous award given to promising young dancers.

3. the action of giving a payment, compensation, or prize

• the award of an honorary doctorate

• an award of damages.

III. derivatives

1. awardee /əˌwôrˈdē /

noun

2. awarder

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘issue a judicial decision,’ also denoting the decision itself): from Anglo-Norman French awarder, variant of Old French esguarder ‘consider, ordain,’ from es- (from Latin ex ‘thoroughly’) + guarder ‘watch (over),’ based on a word of Germanic origin related to ward; compare with guard.

awards ceremony award ceremony

noun

a formal occasion at which prizes are given to honor achievement in a particular field

• winners will be selected and brought together at a special awards ceremony

• a prestigious awards ceremony.

aware /əˈwer/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. having knowledge or perception of a situation or fact

• most people are aware of the dangers of sunbathing

• I am well aware of the problem

• [with clause] he was aware that a problem existed

• as far as I'm aware, no one has complained.

2. [with adverbial] — concerned and well-informed about a particular situation or development

• unless everyone becomes more environmentally aware, catastrophe is inevitable

• a politically aware electorate.

– origin Old English gewær; related to German gewahr, also to ware^2.

awareness /əˈwernəs/

noun

1. knowledge or perception of a situation or fact

• we need to raise public awareness of the issue.

• there is a lack of awareness of the risks.

2. concern about and well-informed interest in a particular situation or development

• a growing environmental awareness.

• his political awareness developed.

awareness bracelet

noun

a colored bracelet worn to raise awareness of a particular cause.

awash /əˈwôSH əˈwäSH/

adjective — [predic.]

1. covered or flooded with water, especially seawater or rain

• the boat rolled violently, its decks awash.

2. containing large numbers or amounts of someone or something

• the city was awash with journalists.

3. level with the surface of water, especially the sea, so that it just washes over

• a rock awash outside the reef entrance.

away /əˈwā/

I. adverb

1. to or at a distance from a particular place, person, or thing

• she landed badly, and crawled away

• they walked away from the church in silence

• Bernice pushed him away

• we'll be away for four nights

• there's a river not far away.

2. at a specified distance

• when he was ten or twelve feet away, he stopped

• a loud explosion a short distance away

• we have had patients from as far away as Toronto.

3. at a specified future distance in time

• the wedding is only weeks away.

4. toward a lower level; downward

• in front of them the land fell away to the river.

5. conceptually to one side, so as no longer to be the focus of attention

• the museum has shifted its emphasis away from research toward exhibitions.

6. into an appropriate place for storage or safekeeping

• he put away the lawn furniture

• Philip locked away all the cash every night.

7. toward or into nonexistence

• the sound of hoofbeats died away

• Marie felt her distress ebbing away.

8. constantly, persistently, or continuously

• there was little Edgar crooning away

• have your camera ready and click away when you spot something.

II. adjective

1. (of a sports game) played at the opponents' field or court

• tomorrow night's away game at Yankee Stadium

• an away victory.

2. relating to or denoting a sports team that is playing at the opponents' field or court

• the away team left with a win in the shootout.

III. noun

a game played or won by a team at their opponents' field or court.

IV. phrases

away with

see with.

– origin Old English onweg, aweg ‘on one's way’ (see a-2, way).

away message

noun

a message indicating that someone is unavailable, especially on an instant messaging service.

awe /ô/

I. noun

1. a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder

• they gazed in awe at the small mountain of diamonds

• the sight filled me with awe

• his staff members are in awe of him.

2. ‹archaic› capacity to inspire awe

• is it any wonder that Christmas Eve has lost its awe?

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be awed)

1. inspire with awe

• they were both awed by the vastness of the forest.

– origin Old English ege ‘terror, dread, awe,’ replaced in Middle English by forms related to Old Norse agi.

awed /ôd/

adjective

filled with awe or wonder

• he spoke in a hushed, awed whisper

• I watched her in awed silence.

aweigh /əˈwā/

I. adjective

[Nautical] (of an anchor) raised just clear of the sea or riverbed.

– origin early 17th cent.: from a-2 ‘on’ + weigh^1.

awe-inspiring /ˈô ənˌspī(ə)riNG/

adjective

arousing awe through being impressive, formidable, or magnificent

• Michelangelo's awe-inspiring masterpiece.

awesome /ˈôsəm/

I. adjective

1. extremely impressive or daunting; inspiring great admiration, apprehension, or fear

• the awesome power of the atomic bomb.

2. ‹informal› extremely good; excellent

• the band is truly awesome!

II. derivatives

1. awesomely

adverb

2. awesomeness

noun

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘filled with awe’): from awe + -some^1.

awesomesauce /ˈôsəmˌsôs/

I. adjective

(US) ‹informal› extremely good; excellent

• the ladies' awesomesauce weekend in Vegas ended prematurely

• seeing them perform live was awesomesauce!

• [as exclamation] awesomesauce, looking forward to it.

– origin early 21st cent.: humorous alteration of awesome, on the pattern of weak sauce.

awestruck /ˈôˌstrək / awestricken

adjective

filled with or revealing awe

• people were awestruck by the pictures sent back to earth.

awful /ˈôfəl/

I. adjective

1. very bad or unpleasant

• the place smelled awful

• I look awful in a swimsuit

• an awful speech.

2. extremely shocking; horrific

• awful, bloody images.

3. [attrib.] — used to emphasize the extent of something, especially something unpleasant or negative

• I've made an awful fool of myself.

4. (of a person) very unwell, troubled, or unhappy

• I felt awful for being so angry with him

• you look awful—you should go and lie down.

5. ‹archaic› inspiring reverential wonder or fear.

II. adverb — [as submodifier]

1. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) awfully; very

• we're an awful long way from the main road.

III. phrases

an awful lot

a very large amount; a great deal

• we've had an awful lot of letters

• you've still got an awful lot to learn.

– origin Old English (see awe, -ful).

awfulize /ˈôfəˌlīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› imagine (a situation) to be as bad as it can possibly be

• I awfulized the upcoming confrontation I was planning to have with my boss.

awfully /ˈôf(ə)lē/

adverb

1. [as submodifier] — (used especially in spoken English) very

• I'm awfully sorry to bother you so late

• an awfully nice man.

2. very badly or unpleasantly

• we played awfully.

awfulness /ˈôfəlnəs/

noun

1. the state of being very bad or unpleasant

• the chili and pineapple relish did manage to mask the awfulness of the deep-fried Brie.

2. the shocking or horrific nature of something

• the awfulness of his crime.

awhile /əˈ(h)wīl/

I. adverb

for a short time

• stand here awhile.

– origin Old English āne hwīle ‘(for) a while.’ / usage: The adverb awhile, meaning 'for a short time,' should be written as one word (we paused awhile). The noun phrase, meaning ‘a period of time,’ especially when preceded by a preposition, should be written as two words (Margaret rested for a while; we'll be there in a while). See also usage at worthwhile.

awhirl /əˈ(h)wərl/

adjective — [predic.]

1. in a whirl; whirling

• her mind was awhirl with images.

awk /ôk / awks /ôks/

I. adjective

‹informal› (of a situation) causing uneasy embarrassment; awkward or uncomfortable

• next Sunday's dinner is going to be a little awk

• I sent that text complaining about work to my boss instead of my boyfriend—awks

• the awks encounter with her ex.

– origin early 21st cent.: abbreviation of awkward.

awkward /ˈôkwərd/

I. adjective

1. causing difficulty; hard to do or deal with

• one of the most awkward jobs is painting a ceiling

• some awkward questions

• the wheelbarrow can be awkward to maneuver.

2. deliberately unreasonable or uncooperative

• you're being damned awkward!

3. causing or feeling embarrassment or inconvenience

• he had put her in a very awkward situation.

4. not smooth or graceful; ungainly

• Luther's awkward movements impeded his progress

• she was long-legged and rather awkward.

5. uncomfortable or abnormal

• make sure the baby isn't sleeping in an awkward position.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘the wrong way around, upside down’): from dialect awk ‘backward, perverse, clumsy’ (from Old Norse afugr ‘turned the wrong way’) + -ward.

awkwardly /ˈôkwədlē/

adverb

1. in an ungainly manner; not smoothly or gracefully

• she waddled up the stairs awkwardly

• he landed awkwardly after both of his vaults

• the conclusion seems awkwardly grafted on to the main text.

2. in a way that shows uneasy embarrassment

• Seth responded awkwardly, allowing the silence once again to settle between them

• I cleared my throat awkwardly.

3. in a way that causes difficulty

• the cruise control is placed awkwardly on the control column

• the ball bounced awkwardly, but Auguste controlled it with his chest.

awkwardness /ˈôkwərdnəs/

noun

the quality of being awkward

• there was a moment of awkwardness

• the awkwardness of youth.

awl /ôl/

I. noun

a small pointed tool used for piercing holes, especially in leather.

– origin Old English æl, of Germanic origin; related to German Ahle.

awn /ôn/

I. noun

[Botany] a stiff bristle, especially one of those growing from the ear or flower of barley, rye, and many grasses.

II. derivatives

awned

adjective

– origin Old English, from Old Norse ǫgn; related to Swedish agn, Danish avn.

awning /ˈôniNG/

I. noun

a sheet of canvas or other material stretched on a frame and used to keep the sun or rain off a storefront, window, doorway, or deck.

– origin early 17th cent. (originally in nautical use): of unknown origin.

awoke /əˈwōk/

past of awake.

awoken /əˈwōkən/

past participle of awake.

AWOL /ˈāˌwôl/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. [Military] absent from one's post but without intent to desert

• the men have gone AWOL

• ‹humorous› now the parrot has gone AWOL.

– origin 1920s: acronym from absent without (official) leave.

awry /əˈrī/

I. adverb, adjective

1. away from the appropriate, planned, or expected course; amiss
[as adv.]

• many youthful romances go awry

• [as predic. adj.] I got the impression that something was awry.

2. out of the normal or correct position; askew
[as predic. adj.]

• he was hatless, his silver hair awry.

– origin late Middle English: from a-2 ‘on’ + wry.

aw-shucks

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› (of a personal quality or manner) self-deprecating and shy

• his aw-shucks niceness disguised his conniving nature.

– origin late 20th cent.: from aw + shucks (see shuck).

ax /aks / axe

I. noun

1. a tool typically used for chopping wood, usually a steel blade attached at a right angle to a wooden handle.

2. a measure intended to reduce costs drastically, especially one that involves elimination of staff

• thirty workers are facing the ax in the assembly department.

3. ‹informal› a musical instrument, especially one played by a jazz or rock musician.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. end, cancel, or dismiss suddenly and ruthlessly

• the company is axing 125 jobs

• 2,500 staff were axed as part of the realignment.

2. reduce (costs or services) drastically

• the candidates all promised to ax government spending.

3. cut or strike with an ax, especially violently or destructively

• the door had been axed by the firefighters.

III. phrases

have an ax to grind

have a self-serving reason for doing or being involved in something

• she joined the board because she had an ax to grind with the school system.

– origin Old English æx, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch aaks and German Axt.

axel /ˈaksəl / Axel

I. noun

[Figure Skating] a jump with a forward takeoff from the forward outside edge of one skate to the backward outside edge of the other, with one and a half turns in the air.

– origin 1930s: named after Axel R. Paulsen (1885–1938), Norwegian skater.

axenic /āˈzēnik, āˈzen-/

I. adjective

[chiefly Botany] of, relating to, or denoting a culture that is free from living organisms other than the species required.

II. derivatives

axenically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin 1940s: from a- ‘not’ + Greek xenikos ‘alien, strange’ + -ic.

axes /ˈakˌsēz/

plural form of axis.

axial /ˈaksēəl/

I. adjective

1. of, forming, or relating to an axis

• the main axial road.

2. around an axis

• the axial rotation rate of the earth.

II. derivatives

axially

adverb

axil /ˈaksəl/

I. noun

[Botany] the upper angle between a leaf stalk or branch and the stem or trunk from which it is growing.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Latin axilla ‘armpit’ (see axilla).

axilla /akˈsilə/

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] the space below the shoulder through which vessels and nerves enter and leave the upper arm; a person's armpit.

2. [Anatomy] [Botany] an axil.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin, diminutive of ala ‘wing.’

axillary /akˈsilərē/

adjective

1. [Anatomy] of or relating to the armpit

• enlargement of the axillary lymph nodes.

2. [Anatomy] [Botany] in or growing from an axil

• axillary shoots.

Often contrasted with terminal.

axillary bud

noun

[Botany] a bud that grows from the axil of a leaf and may develop into a branch or flower cluster.
Also called lateral bud.

axiology /ˌaksiˈäləjē/

I. noun

1. [Philosophy] the study of the nature of value and valuation, and of the kinds of things that are valuable.

2. [Philosophy] a particular theory of axiology

• all consequentialists start with an axiology which tells us what things are valuable or fitting to desire.

– origin early 20th cent.: from French axiologie, from Greek axia ‘worth, value.’

axiom /ˈaksēəm/

I. noun

1. a statement or proposition that is regarded as being established, accepted, or self-evidently true

• the axiom that supply equals demand.

2. [chiefly Mathematics] a statement or proposition on which an abstractly defined structure is based.

– origin late 15th cent.: from French axiome or Latin axioma, from Greek axiōma ‘what is thought fitting,’ from axios ‘worthy.’

axiomatic /ˌaksēəˈmadik/

I. adjective

1. self-evident or unquestionable

• it is axiomatic that dividends have to be financed.

2. [attrib.] — [chiefly Mathematics] relating to or containing axioms.

II. derivatives

axiomatically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin late 18th cent.: from Greek axiōmatikos, from axiōma ‘what is thought fitting’ (see axiom).

axion /ˈaksēˌän/

I. noun

[Physics] a hypothetical subatomic particle postulated to account for the rarity of processes that break charge-parity symmetry. It is very light, electrically neutral, and pseudoscalar.

– origin 1970s: from axial + -on.

axis /ˈaksəs/

I. noun

1. an imaginary line about which a body rotates

• the earth revolves on its axis once every 24 hours.

2. [Geometry] an imaginary straight line passing through the center of a symmetrical solid, and about which a plane figure can be conceived as rotating to generate the solid.

3. an imaginary line that divides something into equal or roughly equal halves, especially in the direction of its greatest length.

4. [Mathematics] a fixed reference line for the measurement of coordinates

• the variable that is thought of as a cause is placed on the horizontal axis, and the variable that is thought of as an effect on the vertical axis.

5. a straight central part in a structure to which other parts are connected.

6. [Botany] the central column of an inflorescence or other growth.

7. [Zoology] the skull and backbone of a vertebrate animal.

8. [Anatomy] the second cervical vertebra, below the atlas at the top of the backbone.

9. an agreement or alliance between two or more countries that forms a center for an eventual larger grouping of nations

• the Anglo-American axis.

10. (the Axis) — the alliance of Germany and Italy formed before and during World War II, later extended to include Japan and other countries
[as modifier]

• the Axis Powers.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin, ‘axle, pivot.’

axis deer axis

I. noun

a deer that has lyre-shaped antlers and a yellowish-brown coat with white spots, native to India and Sri Lanka.
[Cervus axis, family Cervidae.]

– origin early 17th cent.: axis from Latin, the name of an Indian animal mentioned by Pliny.

axisymmetric /ˌaksēsəˈmetrik/

adjective

[Geometry] symmetrical about an axis.

axle /ˈaksəl/

I. noun

a rod or spindle (either fixed or rotating) passing through the center of a wheel or group of wheels
[as modifier]

• axle grease

• axle loads.

– origin Middle English (originally axle-tree): from Old Norse ǫxultré.

axman /ˈaksman / axeman

noun

1. a person who works with an ax

• he was like an axman at work in a tangled thicket.

2. ‹informal› a rock or jazz guitarist.

Axminster /ˈaksˌminstər / Axminster carpet

I. noun

a kind of machine-woven patterned carpet with a cut pile.

– origin early 19th cent.: named after the town of Axminster in southern England, noted since the 18th cent. for the production of carpets.

ax murderer

noun

a person who commits murder with an ax (frequently used to evoke an image of a violent psychopathic criminal)

• a convicted ax murderer

• you could be an ax murderer for all I know!

axolotl /ˈaksəˌlädl/

I. noun

a Mexican salamander which in natural conditions retains its aquatic newtlike larval form throughout life but is able to breed.
[Ambystoma mexicanum, family Ambystomatidae.]

– origin late 18th cent.: from Nahuatl, from atl ‘water’ + xolotl ‘servant.’

axon /ˈakˌsän/

I. noun

the long threadlike part of a nerve cell along which impulses are conducted from the cell body to other cells.

II. derivatives

axonal /ˈaksənl, akˈsänl /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent. (denoting the body axis): from Greek axōn ‘axis.’

axoneme /ˈaksəˌnēm/

I. noun

[Biology] the central strand of a cilium or flagellum. It is composed of an array of microtubules, typically in nine pairs around two single central ones.

II. derivatives

axonemal /aksəˈnēməl /

adjective

– origin early 20th cent.: from Greek axōn ‘axis’ + nēma ‘thread.’

axonometric /ˌaksənəˈmetrik/

adjective

using or designating an orthographic projection of an object, such as a building, on a plane inclined to each of the three principal axes of the object; three-dimensional but without perspective.

axoplasm /ˈaksōˌplazəm/

I. noun

[Biology] the cytoplasm of a nerve axon.

II. derivatives

axoplasmic /ˌaksəˈplazmik /

adjective

Ayacucho /ˌīəˈko͞oCHō/

a city in the Andes in south central Peru; pop. 151,000 (est. 2007).

ayah /ˈīə/

I. noun

a native maid or nursemaid employed by Europeans in India.

– origin Anglo-Indian, from Portuguese aia ‘nurse,’ feminine of aio ‘tutor.’

ayahuasca /ˌīəˈwäskə/

I. noun

1. a tropical vine native to the Amazon region, noted for its hallucinogenic properties.
[Genus Banisteriopsis, family Malpighiaceae: several species, in particular B. caapi.]

2. a hallucinogenic drink prepared from the bark of this.

– origin 1940s: from South American Spanish, from Quechua ayawáskha, from aya ‘corpse’ + waskha ‘rope.’

ayatollah /ˌīəˈtōlə/

I. noun

a Shiite religious leader in Iran.

– origin 1950s: from Persian, from Arabic āyatu-llāh, literally ‘token of God.’

Ayckbourn, Sir Alan /ˈākˌbôrn/

(1939–), English playwright. Notable plays: Relatively Speaking (1967), Absurd Person Singular (1973), and A Chorus of Disapproval (1985).

aye^1 /ī / ay

I. exclamation

1. ‹archaic› ‹dialect› said to express assent; yes

• aye, you're right about that.

2. (aye, aye) — ‹archaic› ‹dialect› [Nautical] a response acknowledging an order

• aye, aye, captain.

3. ‹archaic› ‹dialect› (in voting) I assent

• all in favor say, “aye.”

II. noun

an affirmative answer or assent, especially in voting

• the House was divided: Ayes 211, Noes 271.

III. phrases

the ayes have it

the affirmative votes are in the majority.

– origin late 16th cent.: probably from I, first person personal pronoun, expressing assent.

aye^2 /ā/

I. adverb

‹archaic› (Scottish) always or still.

II. phrases

for aye

‹archaic› (Scottish) forever

• I shall treasure the memory for aye.

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse ei, ey; related to Latin aevum ‘age’ and Greek aie(i) ‘ever,’ aiōn; ‘aeon.’

aye-aye /ˈīī/

I. noun

a rare nocturnal Madagascan primate allied to the lemurs. It has rodentlike incisor teeth and an elongated twiglike finger on each hand with which it pries insects from bark.
[Daubentonia madagascariensis, the only member of the family Daubentoniidae.]

– origin late 18th cent.: from French, from Malagasy aiay.

Ayer, Sir A. J. /e(ə)r/

(1910–89), English philosopher; full name Alfred Jules Ayer. He was an important proponent of logical positivism. Notable works: Language, Truth, and Logic (1936) and The Problem of Knowledge (1956).

Ayers Rock /ˌerz ˈräk/

a red rock mass in Northern Territory, Australia, southwest of Alice Springs. The largest monolith in the world, it is 1,143 feet (348 m) high and about 6 miles (9 km) in circumference.
Aboriginal name Uluru.

Ayesha /īˈēSHə/

the wife of Muhammad.

Aymara /ˌīməˈrä/

I. noun

1. a member of a South American Indian people inhabiting the high plateau region of Bolivia and Peru near Lake Titicaca.

2. the language of the Aymara, related to Quechua.

II. adjective

relating to the Aymara or their language.

– origin Spanish.

Ayrshire /ˈe(ə)rSHər, -ˌSHi(ə)r/

I. noun

an animal of a mainly white breed of dairy cattle.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after Ayrshire, a former Scottish county where the cattle were bred.

AYT

abbreviation

‹informal› are you there?

Ayub Khan, Muhammad /äˈyo͞ob ˈkän, ˈKHän/

(1907–74), Pakistani soldier and statesman; president 1958–69.

Ayurveda /ˌäyərˈvādə/

I. noun

the traditional Hindu system of medicine, which is based on the idea of balance in bodily systems and uses diet, herbal treatment, and yogic breathing.

II. derivatives

Ayurvedic /ˌäyərˈvādik /

adjective

– origin from Sanskrit āyus ‘life’ + veda ‘science.’

AZ

abbreviation

Arizona (in official postal use).

Azad Kashmir /ˈäzäd käSHˈmi(ə)r, kaSH-/

I. an autonomous state in northeastern Pakistan, formerly part of Kashmir; administrative center, Muzzafarabad. It was established in 1949 after Kashmir was split as a result of the partition of India.

– origin from Urdu, literally ‘Free Kashmir.’

azalea /əˈzālyə/

I. noun

a deciduous flowering shrub of the heath family with clusters of brightly colored, sometimes fragrant flowers. Technically classified as rhododendrons, azaleas are characteristically smaller than most other rhododendrons.
[Genus Rhododendron, family Ericaceae: many cultivars.]

– origin mid 18th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek, feminine of azaleos ‘dry,’ because the shrub flourishes in dry soil.

azan /äˈzän / adhan

I. noun

the Muslim call to ritual prayer, typically made by a muezzin from the minaret of a mosque.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Arabic ῾aḏān ‘announcement.’ Compare with muezzin.

azarole /ˈazəˌrōl/

noun

a small tree related to the hawthorn, cultivated in southern Europe for its small yellow or reddish fruit.
[Crataegus azarolus, family Rosaceae.]

azeotrope /āˈzēəˌtrōp/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a mixture of two liquids that has a constant boiling point and composition throughout distillation.

II. derivatives

azeotropic /ˌāˌzēəˈträpik /

adjective

– origin early 20th cent.: from a-1 ‘without’ + Greek zein ‘to boil’ + tropos ‘turning.’

Azerbaijan /ˌazərˌbīˈjän ˌäzərˌbīˈjän/

I. a country in southwestern Asia, in the Caucasus, on the western shore of the Caspian Sea; pop. 8,238,700 (est. 2009); capital, Baku; languages, Azerbaijani (official), Russian.

Historically, the name Azerbaijan refers to a larger region that formed part of Persia. The northern part of this was ceded to Russia in the early 19th century; the southern part remained a region in northwestern Iran. Russian Azerbaijan was absorbed into the Soviet Union in 1922 and gained independence on the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. Azerbaijan contains the predominantly Armenian region of Nagorno-Karabakh, over which open conflict with Armenia broke out in 1988. The Azeri autonomous republic of Naxçivan forms an enclave within the Republic of Armenia and similarly continues to be the subject of armed conflict.

Azerbaijani /ˌazərbīˈjänē ˌäzərbīˈjänē/

I. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Azerbaijan or a person of Azerbaijani descent.

2. the Turkic language of Azerbaijan.

II. adjective

relating to Azerbaijan, its people, or their language.

Azeri /əˈzerē/

I. noun

1. a member of a Turkic people forming the majority population of Azerbaijan, and also living in Armenia and northern Iran.

2. the Azerbaijani language.

II. adjective

relating to the Azeris or their language.

– origin from Turkish azerî.

azide /ˈāzīd/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a compound containing the anion N_3− or the group —N_3.

– origin early 20th cent.: from azo- + -ide.

azidothymidine /ˌazidōˈTHīməˌdēn, əˌzīdōˈTHīməˌdēn/

noun

former name for the drug zidovudine.

Azikiwe, Nnamdi /ˌäziˈkēwā/

(1904–96), Nigerian statesman; full name Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe the first governor general of independent Nigeria 1960–63 and its first president 1963–66.

azimuth /ˈazəməTH/

I. noun

1. the direction of a celestial object from the observer, expressed as the angular distance from the north or south point of the horizon to the point at which a vertical circle passing through the object intersects the horizon.

2. the horizontal angle or direction of a compass bearing.

II. derivatives

azimuthal /ˌazəˈməTH(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (denoting the arc of a celestial circle from the zenith to the horizon): from Old French azimut, from Arabic as-samt, from al ‘the’ + samt ‘way, direction.’

azimuthal projection /ˌazəˈməTHəl prəˈjekSHən/

noun

a map projection in which a region of the earth is projected onto a plane tangential to the surface, typically at a pole or the equator.

azine /ˈazēn ˈāˌzēn/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a cyclic organic compound having a ring including one or (typically) more nitrogen atoms.

– origin late 19th cent.: from azo- + -ine^4.

azo-

I. prefix

[Chemistry] containing two adjacent nitrogen atoms between carbon atoms

• azobenzene.

– origin from obsolete azote ‘nitrogen,’ from French, from Greek azōos ‘without life.’

azobenzene /ˌāzōˈbenzēn, ˌazōˈbenzēn/

noun

[Chemistry] a synthetic crystalline organic compound used chiefly in dye manufacture.
[Chem. formula: (C_6H_5)N=N(C_6H_5).]

azo dye /ˈazō, ˈāzō/

noun

[Chemistry] any of a large class of synthetic dyes whose molecules contain two adjacent nitrogen atoms between carbon atoms.

azoic /āˈzōik əˈzoik/

I. adjective

1. having no trace of life or organic remains.

2. (Azoic) — [Geology] another term for Archean.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek azōos ‘without life’ + -ic.

azonal /ˌāˈzōn(ə)l/

adjective

(especially of soils) having no zonal organization or structure.

azoospermia /ˌāzōəˈspərmēə/

I. noun

[Medicine] absence of motile (and hence viable) sperm in the semen.

II. derivatives

azoospermic /-ˈspərmik /

adjective

Azores /ˈāˌzôrz/

a group of volcanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean, west of Portugal, a possession of Portugal but partially autonomous; pop. 244,780 (2007); capital, Ponta Delgada.

Azores High

noun

[Meteorology] a semipermanent area of high pressure located over the Azores in winter and early spring.
Compare with Bermuda High.

azoturia /ˌazəˈt(y)o͝orēə/

I. noun

1. [Medicine] abnormal excess of nitrogen compounds in the urine.

2. [Medicine] [Veterinary Medicine] a condition of horses that causes stiffness and pain in the muscles of the hindquarters and back, and the production of dark-colored urine containing myoglobin.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from obsolete azote ‘nitrogen’ + -uria.

Azov, Sea of /ˈazˌôf, ˈāˌzôf/

an inland sea in southern Russia and Ukraine, separated from the Black Sea by the Crimea and linked to it by a narrow strait.

Azrael /ˌazrēˈel/

(in Jewish and Islamic mythology) in the angel who severs the soul from the body at death.

AZT

abbreviation — ( in the UK)

1. ‹trademark› azidothymidine.

Aztec /ˈaztek/

I. noun

1. a member of the American Indian people dominant in Mexico before the Spanish conquest of the 16th century.

2. the extinct language of the Aztecs, a Uto-Aztecan language from which modern Nahuatl is descended.

II. adjective

relating to the Aztecs or their language.

– origin from French Aztèque or Spanish Azteca, from Nahuatl aztecatl ‘person of Aztlan,’ their legendary place of origin.

azulejo /ˌaZHəˈlāˌhō, ˌazyə-/

I. noun

a kind of glazed colored tile traditionally used in Spanish and Portuguese buildings.

– origin from Spanish, from azul ‘blue.’

azure /ˈaZHər/

I. adjective

1. bright blue in color, like a cloudless sky

• white beaches surrounded by azure seas.

2. [Heraldry] blue
[postpositive]

• a saltire azure.

II. noun

1. a bright blue color.

2. ‹literary› the clear sky.

3. a small butterfly that is typically blue or purplish, with color differences between the sexes.
[Celastrina and other genera, family Lycaenidae.]

– origin Middle English (denoting a blue dye): from Old French asur, azur, from medieval Latin azzurum, azolum, from Arabic al ‘the’ + lāzaward (from Persian lāžward ‘lapis lazuli’).

azurite /ˈaZHəˌrīt/

I. noun

a blue mineral consisting of copper hydroxyl carbonate. It occurs as blue prisms or crystal masses, often with malachite.

– origin early 19th cent.: from azure + -ite^1.

Azusa /əˈzo͞osə/

a city in southwestern California, northeast of Los Angeles; pop. 46,847 (est. 2008).

azygos vein /ˈazəɡəs ˌvān/

I. noun

[Anatomy] a large vein on the right side at the back of the thorax, draining into the superior vena cava.

– origin mid 17th cent.: azygos from Greek azugos, from a- ‘without’ + zugon ‘yoke,’ the vein not being one of a pair.

azygous /āˈzīɡəs/

I. adjective

[Anatomy] [Biology] (of an organic structure) single; not existing in pairs.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek azugos ‘unyoked’ (from a- ‘without’ + zugon ‘yoke’) + -ous.

az-Zarqa /ä(z)ˈzärkə/

variant form of Zarqa.

b

abbreviation

1. [Physics] barn(s).

2. (b.) — born (used to indicate a date of birth)

• George Lloyd (b. 1913).

3. billion.

4. bass.

5. basso.

B^1 /bē / b

I. noun

1. the second letter of the alphabet.

2. the second highest class of academic mark.

3. denoting the second-highest-earning socioeconomic category for marketing purposes, including intermediate management and professional personnel.

4. (b) — [Chess] denoting the second file from the left, as viewed from White's side of the board.

5. (usu. b) — the second constant to appear in an algebraic equation.

6. [Geology] denoting a soil horizon of intermediate depth, typically the subsoil.

7. the human blood type (in the ABO system) containing the B antigen and lacking the A.

8. (usu. B) — [Music] the seventh note of the diatonic scale of C major.

9. a key based on a scale with B as its keynote.

II. phrases

plan B

an alternative strategy

• it's time I put plan B into action.

B^2 /bē/

I. abbreviation

1. (used in recording moves in chess) bishop

• Be5.

2. black (used in describing grades of pencil lead)

• 2HB pencils.

3. (in personal ads) Black.

4. bomber (in designations of US aircraft types)

• a B52.

II. symbol

1. the chemical element boron.

2. [Physics] magnetic flux density.

Ba

symbol

the chemical element barium.

BA /ˌbē ˈā/

abbreviation

1. Bachelor of Arts

• David Brown, BA.

2. [Baseball] batting average.

3. Buenos Aires.

baa /bä/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a sheep or lamb) bleat.

II. noun

the cry of a sheep or lamb.

– origin early 16th cent.: imitative.

Baade, Walter /ˈbädə/

(1893–1960), US astronomer, born in Germany; full name Wilhelm Heinrich Walter Baade. He proved that the Andromeda galaxy was much farther away than had been thought, which implied that the universe was much older and more extensive than had been supposed. He also contributed to the understanding of the life cycles of stars.

Baader–Meinhof Group /ˌbädərˈmīnhäf ˌɡro͞op/

I. an extreme left-wing terrorist organization operating in the former West Germany between 1970 and 1998.
Also called Red Army Faction.

– origin from the names of Andreas Baader (1943–77) and Ulrike Meinhof (1934–76), two of the organization's founders.

Baal /ˈbā(ə)l / Bel

I. a fertility god whose cult was widespread in ancient Phoenician and Canaanite lands.

– origin from Hebrew ba῾al ‘lord.’

Baalbek /ˈbälˌbek, ˈbāəl-/

a town in eastern Lebanon, site of the ancient city of Heliopolis.

Baathist /ˈbäTHəst / Ba'athist

I. noun

a member or follower of the Baath Party, a pan-Arab political party

• high-ranking Baathists.

II. adjective

relating to the Baath Party

• a Baathist stronghold.

III. derivatives

Baathism

noun

Baath Party /ˈbäTH ˌpärdē / Ba'ath Party

I. a pan-Arab political party founded in Syria in 1943. Different factions of the Baath Party hold power in Syria and formerly held power in Iraq.

– origin Baath, from Arabic ba῾ṯ ‘resurrection, renaissance.’

baba^1 /ˈbäˌbä / baba au rhum

I. noun

a small rich sponge cake, typically soaked in rum-flavored syrup.

– origin early 19th cent.: via French from Polish, literally ‘married peasant woman.’

baba^2 /ˈbäˌbä/

I. noun

1. (Indian) ‹informal› father (often as a proper name or as a familiar form of address).

2. (Indian) ‹informal› a respectful form of address for an older man

• “Sit down, baba, you like tea?”

3. (often Baba) — (Indian) ‹informal› a holy man (often as a proper name or form of address).

4. (Indian) ‹informal› a child, especially a male one (often in names or as an affectionate form of address).

– origin from Hindi bābā.

baba ghanouj /ˌbäbə ɡəˈno͝oSH / baba ganoush

I. noun

a thick sauce or spread made from ground eggplant and sesame seeds, olive oil, lemon, and garlic, typical of eastern Mediterranean cuisine.

– origin from Egyptian Arabic, from Arabic bābā, literally ‘father’ + gannuug, perhaps a personal name.

babassu /ˌbäbəˈso͞o / babaçu

I. noun

a Brazilian palm that yields an edible oil sometimes used in cosmetics.
[Genus Orbignya, family Palmae.]

– origin 1920s: from Brazilian Portuguese babaçu, from Tupi ybá ‘fruit’ + guasu ‘large.’

Babbage, Charles /ˈbabij/

(1791–1871), English mathematician, inventor, and pioneer of machine computing. With Ada Lovelace, he designed a mechanical computer that would perform calculations and print the results, but he was unable to complete it during his lifetime.

Babbitt /ˈbabət/

I. noun

‹dated› (chiefly N. Amer.) a materialistic, complacent, and conformist businessman.

II. derivatives

Babbittry /-trē /

noun

– origin 1922: from the name George Babbitt, the protagonist of the novel Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis.

Babbitt, Bruce /ˈbabit/

(1938–), US Democratic politician and lawyer; full name Bruce Edward Babbitt. A noted environmentalist, he served as governor of Arizona 1978–87 and US secretary of the interior 1993–2001.

Babbitt, Milton

(1916–2011), US composer and mathematician, noted as a pioneer of electronic music; full name Milton Byron Babbitt. His compositions developed from the twelve-note system of Arnold Schoenberg and Anton von Webern.

babble /ˈbabəl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. talk rapidly and continuously in a foolish, excited, or incomprehensible way

• he would babble on in his gringo Spanish.

2. [reporting verb] — utter something rapidly and incoherently
[with direct speech]

• I gasped and stared and babbled, “Look at this!”

• [with obj.] he began to babble an apology.

3. reveal something secret or confidential by talking impulsively or carelessly

• he babbled to another convict while he was in jail

• [with obj.] my father babbled out the truth.

4. (usu. as adj. babbling) — (of a stream) make the continuous murmuring sound of water flowing over stones

• a gently babbling brook.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. the sound of people talking quickly and in a way that is difficult or impossible to understand

• a babble of protest.

2. foolish, excited, or confused talk

• her soft voice stopped his babble.

3. the continuous murmuring sound of water flowing over stones in a stream

• the babble of a brook.

4. background disturbance caused by interference from conversations on other telephone lines.

– origin Middle English: from Middle Low German babbelen, or an independent English formation, as a frequentative based on the repeated syllable ba, typical of a child's early speech.

-babble

combining form

forming nouns denoting confusing or pretentious jargon characteristic of a specified field or group

• psychobabble

• technobabble.

babbler /ˈbab(ə)lər/

noun

1. a person who babbles.

2. a thrushlike Old World songbird with a long tail, short rounded wings, and typically a loud discordant or musical voice.
[Family Timaliidae (the babbler family): numerous genera.]

babe /bāb/

I. noun

1. ‹chiefly literary› a baby.

2. (also babes) — ‹informal› an affectionate form of address, typically for someone with whom one has a sexual or romantic relationship

• I'm the golden boy, babe

• hey babes, I know it is unscrupulous and underhand, but don't blame me!

3. a sexually attractive young woman or girl

• he's been pumping up his pecs to impress the babes.

II. phrases

1. babe in arms

a baby that is too young to walk.

2. babe in the woods

an innocent or naive person, especially one in an unfamiliar or dangerous environment

• she was no babe in the woods and knew exactly what she was doing.

• he knows how to handle himself in NY, unlike we mere babes in the wood who live here in Seattle.

– origin late Middle English: probably imitative of an infant's first attempts at speech. Compare with baby.

babel /ˈbāb(ə)l ˈbab(ə)l/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. a confused noise, typically that made by a number of voices

• the babel of voices on the road.

2. a scene of noisy confusion.

– origin early 16th cent.: from Babel (see Tower of Babel), where, according to the biblical story in Gen. 11:4–9, God made the builders all speak different languages.

Babel, Tower of

see Tower of Babel.

babelicious /ˌbābəˈliSHəs, ˌbab-/

I. adjective

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› (of a woman) sexually very attractive.

– origin 1992: coined in the film Wayne's World.

babe magnet

noun

1. ‹informal› a man who is very attractive to women

• when it comes to women, he's a veritable babe magnet.

2. ‹informal› a thing perceived as contributing to a man's attractiveness

• someone told my wife that Ferraris were real babe magnets.

babesiosis /bəˌbēzēˈōsəs / babesiasis

I. noun

a disease of cattle and other livestock, transmitted by the bite of ticks. It affects the red blood cells and causes the passing of red or blackish urine.
Also called piroplasmosis. [This is caused by protozoans of the genus Babesia, phylum Sporozoa.]

– origin early 20th cent.: from modern Latin Babesia, from the name Victor Babès (1854–1926), Romanian bacteriologist.

Babi /ˈbäbē/

noun

an adherent of Babism.

babiche /bəˌbēSH/

I. noun

rawhide, typically formed into strips, as used by North American Indians for making fastenings, animal snares, snowshoes, etc.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Canadian French, from Micmac a:papi:č.

Babinski reflex /bəˈbinskē ˌrēfleks/

I. noun

a reflex action in which the big toe remains extended or extends itself when the sole of the foot is stimulated, abnormal except in young infants.

– origin named for Joseph François Felix Babinski (1857–1932), French neurologist.

babirusa /ˌbäbəˈro͞osə, ˌbab-/

I. noun

a forest-dwelling wild pig with several upturned hornlike tusks, native to Malaysia.
[Babyrousa babyrussa, family Suidae.]

– origin late 17th cent.: from Malay, from babi ‘hog’ + rusa ‘deer.’

Babism /ˈbäbizəm/

I. noun

a religion founded in 1844 by the Persian Mirza Ali Muhammad of Shiraz (1819–50) (popularly known as “the Bab”), who taught that a new prophet would follow Muhammad.
See also Baha'i.

– origin mid 19th cent.: via Persian from Arabic bāb ‘intermediary,’ literally ‘gate’ (taken as a name by the founder) + -ism.

babka /ˈbäbkə/

I. noun

a loaf-shaped coffee cake made with sweet yeast dough to which raisins, chocolate, or nuts may be added.

– origin Polish, diminutive of baba (see baba^1).

baboon /baˈbo͞on/

I. noun

1. a large Old World ground-dwelling monkey with a long doglike snout, large teeth, and naked callosities on the buttocks. Baboons are social animals and live in troops.
[Genera Papio and Mandrillus, family Cercopithecidae: several species, including the drill and mandrill.]

2. an ugly or uncouth person.

– origin Middle English (denoting a grotesque figure used in architecture): from Old French babuin or medieval Latin babewynus, perhaps from Old French baboue ‘muzzle, grimace.’

Baboquivari Mountains /ˌbäbōkəˌvärē ˈmount(ə)nz/

a range in southern Arizona that rises to 7,734 feet (2,357 m) at Baboquivari Peak.

babouche /bəˈbo͞oSH/

I. noun

a heelless slipper, typically in oriental style.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French, from Arabic bābūj, Persian pāpūš, literally ‘foot covering.’

Babruisk /bäˈbro͞oisk / Babruysk, Bobruisk, Bobruysk

a river port in central Belarus, on the Berezina River, southeast of Minsk; pop. 219,000 (est. 2009).

babu /ˈbäbo͞o/

I. noun

1. (Indian) a respectful title or form of address for a man, especially an educated one

• I could see Kana-babu's shop.

2. (Indian) an office worker; a clerk.

– origin from Hindi bābū, literally ‘father.’

babul /bəˈbo͞ol/

I. noun

(in South Asia) a tropical acacia introduced from Africa, used as a source of fuel, gum arabic, and (formerly) tannin.
[Acacia nilotica, family Leguminosae.]

– origin early 19th cent.: from Hindi babūl.

Babur /ˈbäbo͝or/

(1483–1530), first Mogul emperor of India c. 1525–30; descendant of Tamerlane; born Zahir ad-Din Muhammad. He invaded India c. 1525 and conquered the territory that extended from the Oxus to Patna.

babushka /bəˈbo͝oSHkə/

I. noun

1. (in Poland and Russia) an old woman or grandmother.

2. (N. Amer.) a headscarf tied under the chin, typical of those worn by Polish and Russian women.

– origin mid 20th cent.: Polish, Russian, ‘grandmother.’

Babuyan Islands /ˌbäbo͝oˌyän ˈīləndz/

a group of 24 volcanic islands lying to the north of the island of Luzon in the northern Philippines.

baby /ˈbābē/

I. noun

1. a very young child, especially one newly or recently born

• his wife's just had a baby

• [as modifier] a baby girl.

2. a young or newly born animal.

3. the youngest member of a family or group

• Clara was the baby of the family.

4. a timid or childish person

• “Don't be such a baby!” she said witheringly.

5. (one's baby) — ‹informal› one's particular responsibility, achievement, or concern

• “This is your baby, Gerry,” she said, handing him the brief.

6. ‹informal› a young woman or a person with whom one is having a romantic relationship (often as a form of address)

• my baby left me for another guy

• baby, don't cry!

7. a thing regarded with affection or familiarity

• this baby can reach speeds of 140 mph.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. comparatively small or immature of its kind

• a baby grand piano.

2. (of vegetables) picked before reaching their usual size

• baby carrots.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. treat (someone) as a baby; pamper or be overprotective toward

• her aunt babied her and fussed over her clothes.

IV. phrases

throw the baby out with the bathwater

discard something valuable along with other things that are inessential or undesirable.

V. derivatives

babyhood /ˈbābēˌho͝od /

noun

– origin late Middle English: probably imitative of an infant's first attempts at speech.

Baby Bell

noun

‹informal› ‹historical› a nickname for any of the telephone companies created in 1984 from the breakup of the telecommunications company AT&T, which was nicknamed “Ma Bell.”

baby blue /ˈˌbābē ˈblo͞o/

noun

1. a pale shade of blue.

2. (baby blues) — ‹informal› blue eyes.

3. (baby blues) — depression affecting a woman after giving birth; postnatal depression.

baby-blue-eyes

noun

a plant of western North America with blue bowl-shaped flowers.
[Genus Nemophila, family Hydrophyllaceae: several species, in particular N. menziesii of California and southern Oregon.]

baby boom /ˈbābē ˌbo͞om/

noun

‹informal› a temporary marked increase in the birth rate, especially the one following World War II

• the number of college graduates mushroomed in the early- to mid-1970s, thanks to the baby boom

• [as modifier] the baby boom generation.

baby boomer

noun

‹informal› a person born in the years following World War II, when there was a temporary marked increase in the birth rate

• America's health care costs are expected to soar as baby boomers become senior citizens

• [as modifier] these are the children of baby boomer parents.

baby buggy /ˈbābē ˈbəɡē/

noun

(Brit.) ‹trademark› a baby carriage.

baby bump

noun

‹informal› the protrusion of a pregnant woman's abdomen, especially when it first becomes noticeable to other people.

baby bust

I. noun

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) a temporary marked decrease in the birth rate.

II. derivatives

baby buster

noun

baby carriage /ˈbābē ˈkerij/

noun

(N. Amer.) a four-wheeled carriage for a baby, typically with a retractable hood, pushed by a person on foot.

babycino /ˌbābēˈCHēnō / babyccino

I. noun

a drink of hot milk that has been frothed up with pressurized steam, intended for children.

• naturally, all the kids enjoyed their babycinos.

– origin 1990s: blend of baby and cappuccino.

baby corn

noun

individual cobs of corn that have been harvested when very small and immature, eaten as a vegetable.

baby daddy

noun

‹informal› the father of one or more of a woman's children, especially one who is not her husband or current partner

• she doesn't feel the pressure to wed her baby daddy.

Baby Doc

see Duvalier.

baby-doll

adjective

denoting a style of women's clothing or sleepwear resembling that traditionally worn by a doll or young child, especially short, high-waisted, short-sleeved dresses.

baby face

noun

a smooth round face like a baby's.

baby-faced /ˈbābē ˌfāst/

adjective

having a youthful or innocent face

• baby-faced tough guys.

baby fat

noun

1. fat on the body of a baby or child that disappears as it grows up.

2. the extra body fat that a woman may develop during pregnancy.

babyfather /ˈbābēˌfäT͟Hər/

noun

the father of one or more of a woman's children, who is not her husband or current partner

• she is finding it hard to deal with her separation from her babyfather.

baby grand /ˌbābē ˈɡrand/

noun

the smallest size of grand piano, about 4.5 feet (1.5 m) long.

babyish /ˈbābēiSH/

I. adjective

1. ‹derogatory› (of appearance or behavior) characteristic of a baby

• he pursed his mouth into a babyish pout.

2. ‹derogatory› (of clothes or toys) suitable for a baby

• he declared that dolls were silly, babyish things.

II. derivatives

1. babyishly

adverb

2. babyishness

noun

Babylon^1 /ˈbabəlän/

I. an ancient city in Mesopotamia, the capital of Babylonia in the 2nd millennium BC. The city was on the banks of the Euphrates River and was noted for its luxury, its fortifications, and, particularly, for the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

II. a town on the southern shore of Long Island in New York that includes the villages of Babylon and Amityville; pop. 219,761 (est. 2008).

– origin Greek Babulōn (from Hebrew bāḇel), also the name of the mystical city of the Apocalypse. Compare with babel.

Babylon^2 /ˈbabəlän/

I. noun

(chiefly among Rastafarians) a contemptuous or dismissive term for aspects of a society seen as degenerate or oppressive, especially the police

• praise them for bringing a new rectitude to Babylon.

– origin 1940s: by association with Babylon^1.

Babylonia /ˌbabəˈlōnēə/

an ancient region of Mesopotamia, formed when the kingdoms of Akkad in the north and Sumer in the south combined in the first half of the 2nd millennium BC.

Babylonian /ˌbabəˈlōnēən/

I. noun

1. an inhabitant of Babylon or Babylonia.

2. the dialect of Akkadian spoken in ancient Babylon.

II. adjective

of or relating to Babylon or Babylonia.

Babylonian Captivity

the captivity of the Israelites in Babylon, lasting from their deportation by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC until their release by Cyrus the Great in 539 BC.

baby mama baby mamma, ‹N. Amer.› baby momma

noun

‹informal› the mother of one or more of a man’s children, especially one who is not his wife or current partner

• he and his baby mama have been broken up for years.

babymoon /ˈbābēˌmo͞on/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› a relaxing or romantic vacation taken by parents-to-be before their baby is born

• on the eve of my third trimester, we boarded a plane for a week-long babymoon among the quiet canals of Amsterdam.

2. ‹informal› a period of time following the birth of a baby during which the new parents can focus on establishing a bond with their child

• a babymoon is regarded as a crucial time for a family to establish itself.

– origin 1970s: blend of baby and honeymoon.

babymother /ˈbābēˌməT͟Hər/

I. noun

the mother of one or more of a man’s children, who is not his wife or current partner

• I knew his babymother, Miss Richards, as we went to school and grew up together.

– origin 1960s: from baby + mother, after babyfather; originally in Caribbean English.

baby oil

noun

a mineral oil used to soften the skin.

baby pink

noun

a pale shade of pink

• turquoise and baby pink are the new black this season

• [as modifier] a baby pink turtleneck sweater.

baby's breath

noun

a herbaceous plant of delicate appearance that bears tiny scented pink or white flowers.
[Gypsophila paniculata, family Caryophyllaceae.]

babysit /ˈbābēˌsit/

verb — [no obj.]

1. look after a child or children while the parents are out

• I babysit for my neighbor sometimes

• [with obj.] she was babysitting Sophie

• (as noun babysitting) part-time jobs such as babysitting.

babysitter /ˈbābēˌsidər/

I. noun

a person who looks after a child or children while the parents are out

• he couldn't find a babysitter

• Natalie had worked for her as a babysitter.

II. derivatives

babysitting /ˈbābēsidiNG /

noun

baby step

noun

a tentative act or measure that is the first stage in a long or challenging process

• the country is just taking its first baby steps toward the future.

baby talk /ˈbābē tôk/

noun

childish talk used by or to young children.

baby tooth /ˈbābē to͞oTH/

noun

another term for milk tooth.

babywearing /ˈbābēˌweriNG/

noun

the action or practice of carrying a baby close against one's body in a sling or similar carrier

• babywearing remains the norm in many developing countries

• [as modifier] the two moms bonded through their local babywearing group.

baby weight

noun

‹informal› the extra weight gained by a woman during the course of pregnancy, in particular that which remains after she has given birth

• she thinks stars who lose their baby weight too quickly are setting an impossible standard for normal mothers.

bacalao /ˌbäkəˈlou/

I. noun

codfish, often dried or salted, as used in Spanish and Latin American cooking.

– origin Spanish.

Bacall, Lauren /bəˈkôl/

(1924–2014), US actress; born Betty Joan Perske. Her movies with husband Humphrey Bogart include The Big Sleep (1946) and Key Largo (1948). She received Tonys for her lead roles in the stage musicals Applause (1970) and Woman of the Year (1981).

Bacardi /bəˈkärdē/

I. noun

‹trademark› a West Indian rum produced originally in Cuba.

– origin named after the Companía Ron Bacardi of Cuba (now Bacardi & Co. Ltd., Nassau).

baccala /ˌbakəˈlä, ˈbakəˌlä/

noun

Italian term for bacalao.

baccalaureate /ˌbakəˈlôrēət/

I. noun

1. a college bachelor's degree.

2. (Brit.) an examination intended to qualify successful candidates for higher education.

3. (US) a religious service held at some educational institutions before commencement, containing a farewell sermon to the graduating class.

– origin mid 17th cent. (sense 1): from French baccalauréat or medieval Latin baccalaureatus, from baccalaureus ‘bachelor.’ The earlier form baccalarius was altered by wordplay to conform with bacca lauri ‘laurel berry,’ because of the laurels awarded to scholars. Sense 2 dates from 1970.

baccarat /ˈbäkərä ˌbakəˈrä/

I. noun

a gambling card game in which players hold two- or three-card hands, the winning hand being that giving the highest remainder when its face value is divided by ten.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French baccara, of unknown origin.

baccate /ˈbakāt/

adjective

1. [Botany] bearing berries; berried.

2. [Botany] of the nature of a berry; berrylike.

Bacchae /ˈbakē, ˈbäkē/

the priestesses or female devotees of the Greek god Bacchus.

bacchanal /ˈbäkənäl ˈbakənäl ˈbakənl / ‹chiefly literary›

I. noun

1. an occasion of wild and drunken revelry.

2. a drunken reveler.

3. a priest, worshiper, or follower of Bacchus.

II. adjective

another term for bacchanalian.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin bacchanalis, from the name of the god Bacchus.

Bacchanalia /ˌbakəˈnālyə/

I. plural noun — [also treated as sing.]

1. the Roman festival of Bacchus.

2. (bacchanalia) — drunken revelry.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin bacchanalia, neuter plural of the adjective bacchanalis (see bacchanal).

bacchanalian /ˌbäkəˈnālēən ˌbakəˈnālēən/

adjective

characterized by or given to drunken revelry; riotously drunken

• a bacchanalian orgy.

bacchant /bəˈkänt, -ˈkant/

I. noun

a priest, priestess, or follower of Bacchus.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French bacchante, from Latin bacchari ‘celebrate the feast of Bacchus.’

Bacchic /ˈbäkik ˈbakik/

adjective

1. relating to Bacchus or the worship of Bacchus

• I adopted its religion and celebrated the Bacchic rites.

2. drunken and debauched

• in the evening, this bar becomes positively Bacchic.

Bacchus /ˈbäkəs ˈbakəs / ‹Greek Mythology›

I. another name for Dionysus.

– origin Latin, from Greek Bakkhos.

baccy /ˈbakē/

noun

(chiefly Brit.) informal term for tobacco.

Bach, Johann Sebastian /bäKH, bäk/

(1685–1750), German composer. An exceptional and prolific baroque composer, his compositions range from violin concertos, suites, and the six Brandenburg Concertos (1720–21) to clavier works and sacred cantatas. Large-scale choral works include The Passion according to St. John (1723), The Passion according to St. Matthew (1729), and the Mass in B minor (1733–38). Three of his sons were also well-known composers: J. C. Bach (1735–82), known as the London Bach, full name Johann Christian Bach; J. C. F. Bach (1732–95), known as the Bückeburg Bach, full name Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach; and W. F. Bach (1710–84), known as the Halle Bach, full name Wilhelm Friedemann Bach.

Bacharach, Burt /ˈbakəˌrak/

(1928–), US writer of popular songs. His songs, many of which were written with lyricist Hal David (1921–2012), include “Walk On By” (1961), “Alfie” (1966), and “Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head” (1969).

bachata /bäˈCHätä/

I. noun

1. a style of romantic music originating in the Dominican Republic.

2. a bachata song.

– origin Caribbean Spanish, literally ‘a party, good time.’

bachelor /ˈbaCH(ə)lər/

I. noun

1. a man who is not and has never been married

• Mark is a confirmed bachelor

• one of the country's most eligible bachelors.

2. [Zoology] a male bird or mammal without a mate, especially one prevented from breeding by a dominant male.

3. a person who holds an undergraduate degree from a university or college (only in titles or set expressions)

• he graduated with a bachelor's degree in philosophy

• a Bachelor of Arts.

4. ‹historical› a young knight serving under another's banner.
[said to be from French bas chevalier, literally ‘low knight’ (i.e., knight of a low order).]

II. derivatives

bachelorhood /ˈbaCH(ə)lərˌho͝od /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French bacheler; of uncertain origin.

bachelor apartment /ˈbaCH(ə)lər əˈpärtmənt/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) an apartment occupied by a bachelor.

2. (N. Amer.) an apartment consisting of a single large room serving as bedroom and living room, with a separate bathroom.

bachelorette /ˌbaCH(ə)ləˈret/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) a young unmarried woman.

2. (N. Amer.) a small bachelor apartment

• a bachelorette in a high-rise complex.

bachelorette party /ˌbaCHələˈret pärdē/

noun

a party given for a woman who is about to get married, typically one attended by women only.

bachelor girl /ˈbaCH(ə)lər ɡərl/

noun

an independent, unmarried young woman.

bachelor party

noun

(N. Amer.) a party given for a man who is about to get married, typically attended by men only.

bachelor's buttons

plural noun — [treated as sing. or pl.]

1. any of a number of ornamental plants that bear small, buttonlike, double flowers, in particular the vivid blue cornflower Centaurea cyanus.

bacilliform /bəˈsiləˌfôrm/

adjective

[chiefly Biology] rod-shaped.

bacillus /bəˈsiləs/

I. noun

1. a disease-causing bacterium.

2. a rod-shaped bacterium.

II. derivatives

bacillary /ˈbasəˌlerē /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from late Latin, diminutive of Latin baculus ‘stick.’ / usage: All bacteria belonging to the genus Bacillus are called bacilli, but not all bacteria called bacilli belong to the genus Bacillus.

bacitracin /ˌbasiˈtrāsin/

noun

an antibiotic typically used topically for skin and eye infections.
[The drug is obtained from the bacterium Bacillus subtilis.]

back /bak/

I. noun

1. the rear surface of the human body from the shoulders to the hips

• he lay on his back

• Forbes slapped me on the back

• [as modifier] back pain.

2. the upper surface of an animal's body that corresponds to a person's back.

3. the spine of a person or animal.

4. the part of a chair against which the sitter's back rests.

5. the part of a garment that covers a person's back.

6. a person's back regarded as carrying a load or bearing an imposition

• they wanted the government off their backs.

7. the side or part of something that is away from the spectator or from the direction in which it moves or faces; the rear

• at the back of the hotel is a secluded garden

• an empty spot in the back of the plane.

8. [in sing.] — the position directly behind someone or something

• she unbuttoned her dress from the back.

9. the side or part of an object opposed to the one that is normally seen or used; the less active, visible, or important part of something

• write on the back of a postcard

• he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

10. a player in a field game whose initial position is behind the front line

• their backs showed some impressive running and passing.

II. adverb

1. toward the rear; in the opposite direction from the one that one is facing or traveling

• she moved back a pace

• she walked away without looking back.

2. expressing movement of the body into a reclining position

• he leaned back in his chair

• sit back and relax.

3. at a distance away

• I thought you were miles back

• the officer pushed the crowd back.

4. (back of) — (N. Amer.) ‹informal› behind

• he knew that other people were back of him.

5. expressing a return to an earlier or normal condition

• she put the book back on the shelf

• drive to Montreal and back

• I went back to sleep

• he was given his job back.

6. fashionable again

• sideburns are back.

7. in or into the past

• he made his fortune back in 1955.

8. at a place previously left or mentioned

• the folks back home are counting on him.

9. in return

• they wrote back to me.

III. verb

1. [with obj.] — give financial, material, or moral support to

• he had a newspaper empire backing him

• go up there and tell them—I'll back you up.

2. bet money on (a person or animal) winning a race or contest

• he backed the horse at 33–1.

3. be in favor of

• over 97 percent backed the changes.

4. supplement in order to reinforce or strengthen

• U.S. troops were backed up by forces from European countries.

5. [with obj.] — cover the back of (an object) in order to support, protect, or decorate it

• a mirror backed with tortoiseshell.

6. (especially in popular music) provide musical accompaniment to (a singer or musician)

• brisk guitar work backed by drums, bass, fiddle, and accordion.

7. put a song or piece of music on the less important side of (a recording)

• the new single is backed with a track from the LP.

8. [no obj.] — walk or drive backward

• she tried to back away

• backing down the stairs

• ‹figurative› the administration backed away from the plan

• [with obj.] he backed the Mercedes into the yard.

9. (of the wind) change direction counterclockwise around the points of the compass

• the wind had backed to the northwest.

The opposite of veer^1.

10. [with obj.] — [Sailing] put (a sail) aback in order to slow the vessel down.

11. [no obj.] — (of a property) have its back adjacent to (a piece of land or body of water)

• a row of cottages backed on the water

• his garage wall backs onto the neighboring property.

12. [with obj.] (usu. be backed) — lie behind or at the back of

• the promenade is backed by lots of cafes.

IV. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of or at the back of something

• the back garden

• the back pocket of his jeans.

2. situated in a remote or subsidiary position

• back roads.

3. (especially of wages or something published or released) from or relating to the past

• she was owed back pay.

4. directed toward the rear or in a reversed course

• back currents.

5. [Phonetics] (of a sound) articulated at the back of the mouth.

V. phrases

1. at someone's back

in pursuit or support of someone.

2. back and fill

a. trim the sails of a vessel so that the wind alternately fills and spills out of them, in order to maneuver in a limited space.

b. zigzag or vacillate.

3. back and forth

to and fro.

4. someone's back is turned

someone's attention is elsewhere

• he kissed her quickly, when the landlady's back was turned.

5. the back of (the) beyond

a remote or inaccessible place.

6. the back of one's mind

used to express that something is in one's mind but is not consciously thought of or remembered

• she had a little nagging worry at the back of her mind.

7. back to front

/ˌbak tə ˈfrənt / — (Brit.) reversed; backward

• the exhausts had been fitted back to front

• a back-to-front baseball cap.

8. back through the box

see box^1.

9. back water

reverse the action of the oars while rowing, causing a boat to slow down or stop.

10. back the wrong horse

make a wrong or inappropriate choice.

11. behind someone's back

without a person's knowledge and in an unfair or dishonorable way

• Carla made fun of him behind his back.

12. get (or put) someone's back up

make someone annoyed or angry.

13. in back

(N. Amer.) at the back of something, especially a building

• my dad demolished an old shed in back of his barn.

14. know something like the back of one's hand

be entirely familiar with a place or route.

15. on one's back

a. in bed recovering from an injury or illness.

b. full-length on the ground

• he slipped off the heap and landed flat on his back.

16. put one's back into

approach (a task) with vigor.

17. turn one's back on

a. ignore (someone) by turning away.

b. reject or abandon

• she turned her back on her career to devote her life to animals.

18. with one's back to (or up against) the wall

in a desperate situation; hard-pressed.

VI. phrasal verbs

1. back down

withdraw a claim or assertion in the face of opposition

• the contenders backed down from their original pledge.

2. back off

a. draw back from action or confrontation

• they backed off from fundamental reform of the system.

b. (N. Amer.) another way of saying back down.

3. back out

withdraw from a commitment

• if he backs out of the deal they'll sue him.

4. back up

a. (of vehicles) form a line due to congestion

• the traffic began to back up.

b. (of running water) accumulate behind an obstruction.

5. back something up ‹Computing›

a. make a spare copy of data or a disk.

b. (usu. be backed up) — cause vehicles to form into a queue due to congestion

• the traffic was backed up a couple of miles in each direction.

– origin Old English bæc, of Germanic origin; related to Middle Dutch and Old Norse bak. The adverb use dates from late Middle English and is a shortening of aback.

backache /ˈbakˌāk/

noun

a prolonged pain in one's back.

back alley

I. noun

a narrow passage behind or between buildings.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. secret or illegal, as might be found in a back alley

• a back-alley drug deal.

backbar /ˈbakbär/

noun

(chiefly US) a structure behind a bar counter, with shelves for holding bottles and other supplies.

Back Bay

a historic residential and commercial district in western Boston, Massachusetts, on land along the Charles River that was reclaimed in the 19th century.

backbeat /ˈbakbēt/

noun

[Music] a strong accent on one of the normally unaccented beats of the bar, used especially in jazz and popular music.

backbench /ˈbakˌben(t)SH/

adjective

(in the UK) denoting or relating to a Member of Parliament who does not hold office in the government or opposition and who sits behind the front benches in the House of Commons

• a revolt by backbench MPs.

backbencher /ˈbakˌben(t)SHər/

noun

(in the UK) a Member of Parliament who does not hold office in the government or opposition and who sits behind the front benches in the House of Commons.

• he was cheered by Tory backbenchers.

backbend /ˈbakˌbend/

noun

a movement in gymnastics, dance, or yoga in which the body is arched backwards and downwards from an upright position until the hands touch the floor or arched upwards from a supine position, using the hands and feet for support

• a lot of girls liked to practice gym skills—handstands, backbends, cartwheels, and so on.

backbiting /ˈbakˌbīdiNG/

I. noun

malicious talk about someone who is not present.

II. derivatives

1. backbite /ˈbakˌbīt /

verb

2. backbiter /ˈbakˌbīdər /

noun

backboard /ˈbakbôrd/

noun

1. a board placed at or forming the back of something, such as a collage or piece of electronic equipment.

2. [Basketball] an upright board behind the basket, off which the ball may rebound.

3. a board used to support or straighten a person's back, especially after an accident.

backbone /ˈbakˌbōn/

noun

1. the series of vertebrae extending from the skull to the pelvis; the spine.

2. (US) the spine of a book.

3. [Biochemistry] the main chain of a polymeric molecule.

4. the chief support of a system or organization; the mainstay

• these firms are the backbone of our industrial sector.

5. strength of character; firmness

• he has the backbone to see us through this difficulty.

6. [Computing] [Telecommunications] a high-speed, high-capacity digital connection which forms the axis of a local or wide area network.

back-breaking /ˈbakˌbrākiNG / backbreaking

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (especially of manual labor) physically demanding

• a day's back-breaking work.

back burner /ˈˌbak ˈbərnər/

I. noun

a state of inaction or suspension; a position of relatively little importance

• priorities that have been placed on the back burner year after year.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be back-burnered)

1. (US) postpone consideration of or action on

• a planned test of the new ale has been back-burnered.

back button

noun

[Computing] (in a graphical user interface) an icon, typically displaying an arrow pointing to the left, that may be selected in order to to return to the previous page or screen

• use the back button on your browser to return to this page.

backcast /ˈbakkast / ‹Fishing›

I. noun

a backward swing of a fishing line preparatory to casting.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. make a backcast.

back catalog back catalogue

noun

all the works previously produced by a recording artist or record company.

backchannel /ˈbakˌCHanl / back channel

noun

1. a secondary or covert route for the passage of information

• the agency offered a reliable backchannel to Washington

• [as modifier] backchannel briefings.

2. [Psychology] a sound or gesture made to give continuity to a conversation by a person who is listening to another.

backchat /ˈbakˌCHat/

noun

another term for back talk.

backcountry /ˈbakˌkəntrē/

noun — (the backcountry)

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) sparsely inhabited rural areas; wilderness

• exploring the backcountry on horseback

• [as modifier] backcountry skiing.

backcourt /ˈbakˌkôrt/

noun

1. (in tennis, basketball, and similar games) the part of each side of the court nearest the back wall or back boundary line.

2. the defensive players in a basketball team.

backcross /ˈbakkrôs / ‹Genetics›

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cross (a hybrid) with one of its parents or an organism with the same genetic characteristics as one of the parents
(as adj. backcrossed)

• after five generations the backcrossed dogs were indistinguishable from purebred dalmatians.

• [no obj.] they backcrossed with red-flowered parents to reinforce the effect.

II. noun

an instance or result of backcrossing.

backdate /ˈbakˌdāt/

verb — [with obj.]

1. put an earlier date to (a document or agreement) than the actual one

• they backdated the sale documents to evade a court order.

back door /ˈˌbak ˈdô(ə)r/

I. noun

1. the door or entrance at the back of a building.

2. a feature or defect of a computer system that allows surreptitious unauthorized access to data.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of an activity) clandestine; underhanded

• backdoor private deals.

backdown /ˈbakdoun/

noun

an act of backing down.

backdraft /ˈbakdraft / ‹Brit.› backdraught

I. noun

1. a current of air or water that flows backward down a chimney, pipe, etc.

2. a phenomenon in which a fire that has consumed all available oxygen suddenly explodes when more oxygen is made available, typically because a door or window has been opened.

II. derivatives

backdrafting

noun

backdrop /ˈbakˌdräp/

I. noun

1. a painted cloth hung at the back of a theater stage as part of the scenery.

2. the setting or background for a scene, event, or situation

• the conference took place against a backdrop of increasing diplomatic activity.

II. verb

provide a background or setting for

• an ornate fountain, and at its center, backdropped with golden spray, a statue of a young girl.

back end /ˌbakˈend/

I. noun

1. the end of something that is farthest from the front or the working end

• the back end of the car swung around.

2. (chiefly Brit.) the latter part of a period of time or process

• the book takes us up to the back end of last year.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. relating to the end or outcome of a project, process, or investment

• many annuities have back-end surrender charges.

2. [Computing] denoting a subordinate processor or program, not directly accessed by the user, which performs a specialized function on behalf of a main processor or software system

• a back-end database server.

backer /ˈbakər/

noun

1. a person, institution, or country that supports something, especially financially

• $3.3 million was provided by the project's backers.

2. a person who bets on a horse.

back-fanged /ˈbakˌfäNGd/

adjective

[Zoology] (of a snake such as a boomslang) having the rear one or two pairs of teeth modified as fangs, with grooves to conduct the venom.
Compare with front-fanged.

back fat

noun

fat on the back of a meat-producing animal.

backfield /ˈbakˌfēld/

noun

1. [Football] the area of play behind either the offensive or defensive line.

2. [Football] the players positioned in the backfield.

backfill /ˈbakfil/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. refill (an excavated hole) with the material dug out of it

• they backfill the hole to street level.

II. noun

material used for backfilling.

backfire /ˈbakˌfī(ə)r/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of an engine) undergo a mistimed explosion in the cylinder or exhaust

• a car backfired in the road.

2. (of a plan or action) rebound adversely on the originator; have the opposite effect to what was intended

• overzealous publicity backfired on her.

II. noun

1. a mistimed explosion in the cylinder or exhaust of a vehicle or engine.

2. (N. Amer.) a fire set intentionally to arrest the progress of an approaching fire by creating a burned area in its path, thus depriving the fire of fuel.

backflip /ˈbakflip/

noun

a backward somersault done in the air with the arms and legs stretched out straight.

back focus

noun

[Photography] the distance between the back of a lens and the image of an object at infinity.

back-formation

noun

1. a word that is formed from an already existing word from which it appears to be a derivative, often by removal of a suffix (e.g., laze from lazy and edit from editor).

2. the process by which back-formations are formed.

back four

noun

[Soccer] the defensive players in a formation that employs four defenders, typically two center backs and two full backs

• Darwen's attacks were dealt with excellently by the back four

• the back four were very solid.

backgammon /ˈbakˌɡamən/

I. noun

1. a board game in which two players move their pieces around twenty-four triangular points according to the throw of dice, the winner being the first to remove all their pieces from the board.

2. the most complete form of win in the game of backgammon.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from back + gammon^2.

background /ˈbakˌɡround/

noun

1. [in sing.] — the area or scenery behind the main object of contemplation, especially when perceived as a framework for it

• the house stands against a background of sheltering trees.

2. the part of a picture or design that serves as a setting to the main figures or objects, or that appears furthest from the viewer

• the background shows a landscape of domes and minarets

• the word is written in white on a red background.

3. a position or function that is not prominent or conspicuous

• after that evening, Athens remained in the background.

4. [Computing] used to describe tasks or processes running on a computer that do not need input from the user

• programs can be left running in the background.

5. [Physics] low-intensity radiation from radioisotopes present in the natural environment.

6. unwanted signals, such as noise in the reception or recording of sound.

7. the circumstances or situation prevailing at a particular time or underlying a particular event

• the political and economic background

• [as modifier] background information.

8. a person's education, experience, and social circumstances

• she has a background in nursing

• a mix of students from many different backgrounds.

backgrounder /ˈbakˌɡroundər/

noun

(N. Amer.) an official briefing or handout giving background information

• their departure had to be explained by aides in a backgrounder the next day.

background music

noun

music intended as an unobtrusive accompaniment to some activity, such as dining in a restaurant, or to provide atmosphere in a movie.

background noise

noun

1. extraneous sound which can be heard while listening to or monitoring other sounds

• the background noise overwhelms any dialogue.

2. a person or thing considered to be irrelevant or incidental to the main issue or situation

• she is nothing but background noise in the story

• it's the basics that make our lives meaningful, the rest is just background noise.

background radiation

noun

[Astronomy] the uniform microwave radiation remaining from the Big Bang.

backhand /ˈbakˌhand/

I. noun

1. (in tennis and other racket sports) a stroke played with the back of the hand facing in the direction of the stroke, typically starting with the arm crossing the body

• he drove a backhand into the net

• [as modifier] a backhand volley.

2. a blow or stroke delivered in a way similar to a backhand in tennis, or in a direction opposite to the usual

• ground balls hit to my backhand

• [as modifier] he made a backhand stop of the ball.

3. handwriting that slopes to the left.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. strike with a backhanded blow or stroke

• in a flash, he backhanded Ace across the jaw.

backhanded /bakˈhandəd/

I. adjective

1. made with the back of the hand facing in the direction of movement

• a backhanded pass.

2. indirect; ambiguous or insincere

• coming from me, teasing is a backhanded compliment.

II. adverb

with the back of the hand or with the hand turned backward

• Frank hit him backhanded.

backhander /ˈbakˌhandər/

noun

1. a backhand stroke or shot in a game.

2. a blow made with the back of the hand.

3. (Brit.) ‹informal› a secret payment, typically one made illegally; a bribe.

backhaul /ˈbakhôl/

I. noun

1. cargo carried on a return journey.

2. an unedited video transmission via satellite or other means to a network or station.

3. a frequency on which transmissions of backhaul occur.

II. verb

carry (freight) on a return journey.

backhoe /ˈbakhō / ‹Brit.› backhoe loader

noun

a mechanical excavator that draws toward itself a bucket attached to a hinged boom.

backing /ˈbakiNG/

noun

1. support or help

• he accepted the backing of the police group

• they had financial backing from local firms.

2. a layer of material that forms, protects, or strengthens the back of something

• the fabric has a special backing for durability.

3. (especially in popular music) the music or singing that accompanies the main singer or soloist

• the trio provided backing to some of the most popular vocalists of the day

• [as modifier] backing vocals.

4. [Phonetics] the movement of the place of formation of a sound toward the back of the mouth.

backing track

noun

a recorded musical accompaniment, especially for a soloist to play or sing along with.

back issue /bak ˈiSH(y)o͞o/

noun

a past issue of a journal or magazine.

backland /ˈbakland/

noun

1. (also backlands) — another term for backcountry.

2. land behind or beyond an area that is built on or otherwise developed.

backlash /ˈbakˌlaSH/

noun

1. [in sing.] — a strong and adverse reaction by a large number of people, especially to a social or political development

• a public backlash against racism.

2. recoil arising between parts of a mechanism.

3. degree of play between parts of a mechanism.

backless /ˈbakləs/

adjective

(of a woman's garment) cut low at the back

• a backless Lycra dress.

backlight /ˈbakˌlīt/

I. noun

illumination from behind.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. illuminate from behind

• she was backlit by the morning sun

• (as adj. backlit) a backlit LCD screen.

III. derivatives

backlighting /ˈbakˌlīdiNG /

noun

backlink /ˈbakˌliNGk/

noun

[Computing] an incoming hyperlink from one web page to another website.

• the more backlinks you have pointing back to your site, the more popular it will be.

• one single article can result in hundreds of quality backlinks.

backlist /ˈbakˌlist/

noun

a publisher's list of older books still in print.

backload /ˈbaklōd/

verb — [with obj.] (usu. be backloaded)

1. place more charges at the later stages of (a financial agreement) than at the earlier stages.

backlog /ˈbakˌlôɡ ˈbakˌläɡ/

noun

an accumulation of something, especially uncompleted work or matters that need to be dealt with

• the company took on extra staff to clear the backlog of work.

backlot /ˈbaklät/

noun

an outdoor area in a movie studio where large exterior sets are made and some outside scenes are filmed.

back nine

noun

[Golf] the final nine holes on an eighteen-hole course

• he had a double bogey and a triple bogey on the back nine.

back number /ˈˌbak ˈnəmbər/

noun

1. an issue of a periodical earlier than the current one.

2. ‹informal› a person or thing seen as old-fashioned.

back office

noun

an office or center in which the administrative work of a business is carried out, as opposed to its dealings with customers.

backorder /ˈbakˌôrdər/

I. noun

a retailer's order for a product that is temporarily out of stock with the supplier

• the phone I wanted was on backorder.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. place an order for (a product) that is temporarily out of stock.

• the item was backordered by our distributor.

backpack /ˈbakˌpak/

I. noun

1. a bag with shoulder straps that allow it to be carried on one's back.

2. a load or piece of equipment carried on a person's back

• a two-tank scuba backpack.

II. verb — [no obj.] (usu. as noun backpacking)

1. travel or hike carrying one's belongings in a backpack

• a week's backpacking in the Pyrenees

• he has backpacked around the world.

backpacker /ˈbakpakər/

noun

a person who travels or hikes carrying their belongings in a backpack

• backpackers who braved the country's interior

• [as modifier] a backpacker hotel in Melbourne.

back pay

noun

payment for work done in the past that was withheld at the time, or for work that could have been done had the worker not been prevented from doing so

• Hickman should be provided back pay plus any expenses.

backpedal /ˈbakˌpedl/

verb — [no obj.]

1. move the pedals of a bicycle backward in order to brake.

2. move hastily backward

• backpedaling furiously, he flipped a perfect pass.

3. reverse one's previous action or opinion

• you've criticized him for backpedaling on budget reform.

backplane /ˈbakplān/

noun

a board to which the main circuit boards of a computer may be connected and that provides connections between them.

backplate /ˈbakplāt/

noun

a plate placed at or forming the back of something.

back-projection /ˈˌbak prəˈjekSHən/

noun

another term for rear projection.

backrest /ˈbakˌrest/

noun

a support for a person's back when the person is seated.

backronym /ˈbakrəˌnim / bacronym

I. noun

an acronym deliberately formed from a phrase whose initial letters spell out a particular word or words, either to create a memorable name or as a fanciful explanation of a word's origin

• Biodiversity Serving Our Nation, or BISON (a backronym if ever there was one).

– origin 1980s: blend of back and acronym.

back room

noun

a place where secret, administrative, or supporting work is done

• this would lead to weak government and deals in back rooms

• [as modifier] back-room strategists.

back rub

noun

a brief massage of a person’s back and shoulders

• giving her a back rub was therapeutic for him as well.

backsaw /ˈbaksô/

noun

a type of saw with a reinforced back edge that keeps the thin blade from being distorted.

backscatter /ˈbakˌskadər/

I. noun

1. [Physics] deflection of radiation or particles through an angle of 180°.

2. [Physics] radiation or particles that have been deflected in this way.

3. [Physics] [Photography] light from a flashgun or other light source that is deflected directly into a lens

• backscatter causes an underexposed picture with a blizzard effect.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Physics] deflect (radiation or particles) through an angle of 180°
(as adj. backscattered)

• backscattered sound reaches the sonar receiver.

backscratcher /ˈbakˌskraCHər/

noun

a rod terminating in a clawed hand for scratching one's own back.

backscratching /ˈbakˌskraCHiNG/

noun

the mutual providing of favors or services, especially when the legitimacy of such dealings is doubtful

• the friendship thrives on little more than mutual backscratching.

back seat /ˈˌbak ˈsēt / backseat

I. noun

a seat at the back of a vehicle.

II. phrases

take a back seat

take or be given a less important position or role

• printed words will take a back seat to TV and video screens.

backseat driver /ˌbaksēt ˈdrīvər/

I. noun

1. a passenger in a car who gives the driver unwanted advice.

2. a person who is eager to advise without responsibility.

II. derivatives

backseat driving

noun

backshift /ˈbakSHift/

noun

[Grammar] the changing of a present tense in direct speech to a past tense in reported speech (or a past tense to pluperfect).

backside /ˈbakˌsīd/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› a person's buttocks or rump.

2. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) the rear side or view of a thing

• the backside of the hill.

II. adjective

(of a maneuver in surfing and other board sports) done clockwise for a regular rider and counterclockwise for a goofy rider.

back slang /ˈˌbak ˈslaNG/

noun

slang in which words are spoken as though they were spelled backward (e.g., redraw for warder).

backslapping /ˈbakˌslapiNG/

I. noun

the action of effusively congratulating or encouraging someone, typically by slapping a person's back

• effusive displays of backslapping and arm-punching.

II. adjective

vigorously hearty

• those cheerful, backslapping journalists.

III. derivatives

1. backslap

verb, noun

2. backslapper /ˈbakˌslapər /

noun

backslash /ˈbakˌslaSH/

noun

[Computing] a backward-sloping diagonal line (\), used to separate file and folder names in some path statements.

backslide /ˈbakslīd/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. relapse into bad ways or error

• converted vegetarians backslide to T-bones

• (as noun backsliding) there would be no backsliding from the administration's sound policies.

II. derivatives

backslider /ˈbakˌslīdər /

noun

backspace /ˈbakˌspās/

I. noun

1. a key on a typewriter or computer keyboard that causes the carriage or cursor to move backward.

2. a device on a video recorder or camcorder that produces a slight backward run between shots to eliminate disturbance caused by the interruption of the scanning process.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. move a typewriter carriage or computer cursor back one or more spaces.

backspin /ˈbakˌspin/

noun

a backward spin given to a moving ball, causing it to stop more quickly or rebound at a steeper angle on hitting a surface.

backsplash /ˈbaksplaSH/

noun

(N. Amer.) a panel behind a sink or stove that protects the wall from splashes.

backstabbing /ˈbakˌstabiNG/

I. noun

the action or practice of criticizing someone in a treacherous manner while feigning friendship.

II. adjective

(of a person) behaving in a backstabbing way.

III. derivatives

1. backstab /ˈbakˌstab /

verb

2. backstabber /ˈbakˌstab /

noun

backstage /bakˈstāj/

I. noun

the area in a theater out of view of the audience, especially in the wings or dressing rooms

• backstage was the scene of pleasant pandemonium.

II. adjective

1. of, relating to, or situated in the area behind the stage in a theater

• a backstage tour of the opera house.

2. kept from public scrutiny; secret

• backstage deals.

III. adverb

1. in or to the backstage area in a theater

• I went backstage after the show.

2. not known to the public; in secret

• we planned our strategies backstage.

backstairs /ˈbakˌsterz/

I. plural noun

stairs at the back or side of a building.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. underhanded or clandestine

• I won't make backstairs deals with politicians.

backstay /ˈbakstā/

noun

a stay on a sailing ship leading downward and aft from the top or upper part of a mast.

backstitch /ˈbakˌstiCH/

I. noun

sewing with overlapping stitches.

II. verb

sew using backstitches
[with obj.]

• you can simply backstitch the edges

• [no obj.] this method avoids having to backstitch through open loops.

backstop /ˈbakstäp/

I. noun

1. a person or thing placed at the rear of or behind something as a barrier, support, or reinforcement

• bullets volleyed into the backstop of a flood-control canal.

2. [Baseball] a high fence or similar structure behind the home plate area.

3. [Baseball] ‹informal› a catcher

• he tore the chest protector completely off the big Yankee backstop.

4. an emergency precaution or last resort

• the human operator has to act as the ultimate backstop when things go badly wrong.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Baseball] act as backstop for.

2. [Hockey] act as goaltender for.

3. support or reinforce

• the founding banks were backstopping the loans.

backstory /ˈbakˌstôrē/

noun

1. a history or background created for a fictional character in a motion picture or television program.

2. similar background information about a real person or thing that promotes fuller understanding of it

• the little-known backstory about the theory of evolution.

backstreet /ˈbakstrēt/

I. noun

a minor street remote from a main road

• the fetid backstreets of the shanty town

• [as modifier] a backstreet garage.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. operating or performed secretly, and typically illegally

• a loophole that allowed backstreet chemists to make methamphetamine.

backstretch /ˈbakˌstreCH/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) the part of a racecourse that is farthest from the grandstand and parallel to the homestretch.

2. (N. Amer.) the area adjacent to a racetrack where the horses are stabled and stable employees have temporary living accommodations.

backstroke /ˈbakˌstrōk/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. a swimming stroke performed on the back with the arms lifted alternately out of the water in a backward circular motion and the legs extended and kicking

• I concentrated on the backstroke most of the time

• [as modifier] I won the backstroke and breaststroke events

• [as adv.] they would swim freestyle and then backstroke.

2. (the backstroke) — a race, typically of a specified length or kind, in which the backstroke style of swimming is used

• he was fifth in the 200-meter backstroke.

II. derivatives

backstroker

noun

backswept /ˈbakswept/

adjective

swept, slanted, or sloped backward

• his backswept hair.

backswimmer /ˈbakˌswimər/

noun

a predatory aquatic bug that swims on its back using its long back legs as oars. It is able to capture large prey such as tadpoles and fish.
See also water boatman. [Family Notonectidae, suborder Heteroptera: Notonecta and other genera.]

backswing /ˈbakswiNG/

noun

a backward swing, especially of an arm or of a golf club when about to hit a ball.

backsword /ˈbakˌsôrd/

noun

a sword with only one cutting edge.

back talk backtalk

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› rude or impertinent remarks made in reply to someone in authority

• no back talk, I'm warning you.

back-to-back /ˈˌbak tə ˈbak/

I. adjective

consecutive

• back-to-back homers in a major league baseball game.

II. adverb

1. (of two people) facing in opposite directions with backs touching

• they sat on the ground, leaning back to back.

2. consecutively; in succession

• the games were played back to back.

back-to-nature /ˌbaktəˈnāCHər/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. advocating or relating to reversion to a simpler way of life

• a back-to-nature lifestyle.

backtrack /ˈbakˌtrak/

verb

1. [no obj.] — retrace one's steps

• she had to bypass two closer farms and backtrack to them later

• ‹figurative› to backtrack a little, the case is a complex one.

2. reverse one's previous action or opinion

• the unions have had to backtrack on their demands.

3. [with obj.] — (US) pursue, trace, or monitor

• he was able to backtrack the buck to a ridge nearby.

backup /ˈbakˌəp/

noun

1. help or support

• no police backup could be expected.

2. a person or thing that can be called on if necessary; a reserve

• I've got a security force as backup

• the filter is an excellent backup to other systems

• [as modifier] a backup generator.

3. [Computing] the procedure for making extra copies of data in case the original is lost or damaged

• automatic online backup

• [as modifier] a backup system.

4. an extra copy of data from a computer.

5. (N. Amer.) an overflow caused by a stoppage, as in water or automobile traffic

• there are long backups on all routes.

backup light /ˈbakˌəp līt/

noun

(N. Amer.) a light at the rear of a vehicle that comes on when the vehicle is in reverse gear.

backward /ˈbakwərd/

I. adjective

1. [attrib.] — directed behind or to the rear

• she left the room without a backward glance

• a gradual backward movement.

2. looking toward the past, rather than being progressive; retrograde

• he said the decision was a backward step.

3. having made less than normal progress

• economically backward countries.

4. ‹dated› ‹offensive› (of a person) having learning difficulties.

• a lively child but a bit backward.

II. adverb

1. (of a movement) away from one's front; in the direction of one's back

• he took a step backward

• Harry suddenly fell backward into a somersault.

2. in reverse of the usual direction or order

• counting backward

• baseball caps turned backward.

3. toward or into the past

• a loving look backward at his early life.

4. toward or into a worse state

• a giant step backward for child-centered education.

III. phrases

1. backward and forward

in both directions alternately; to and fro.

2. bend (or lean) over backward to do something

‹informal› make every effort, especially to be fair or helpful

• Jensen bent over backward to be fair.

3. know something backward (and forward)

be entirely familiar with something.

IV. derivatives

backwardly /ˈbakwərdlē /

adverb

– origin Middle English: from earlier abackward, from aback. / usage: In US English, the adverb form is sometimes spelled backwards (the ladder fell backwards), but the adjective is almost always backward (a backward glance). Directional words using the suffix -ward tend to have no s ending in US English, although backwards is more common than afterwards, towards, or forwards. The s ending often (but not always) appears in the phrases backwards and forwards and bending over backwards. In British English, the spelling backwards is more common than backward.

backward-compatible /ˌbakwərdkəmˈpadəb(ə)l / backwards-compatible

I. adjective

(of computer hardware or software) able to be used with an older piece of hardware or software without special adaptation or modification.

II. derivatives

backward compatibility

noun

backwardness /ˈbakwərdnəs/

noun

the state of having made less progress than is normal or expected

• unification failed to remedy the economic backwardness of the south

• technological backwardness.

backwash /ˈbakˌwôSH ˈbakˌwäSH/

I. noun

1. the motion of receding waves.

2. a backward current of water or air created by the motion of an object through it

• the backwash of a truck on the highway.

3. repercussions

• the backwash of the Cuban missile crisis.

4. (US) ‹informal› the liquid that flows back into a bottle, glass, etc., after someone has taken a drink, assumed to contain that person's saliva

• Can you please stop drinking straight from the milk carton? I don't want your backwash!

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. clean (a filter) by reversing the flow of fluid through it.

backwater /ˈbakˌwôdər/

noun

1. a part of a river not reached by the current, where the water is stagnant

• the eels inhabit backwaters.

2. an isolated or peaceful place

• a sleepy Midwest backwater.

3. a place or condition in which no development or progress is taking place

• the country remained an economic backwater.

backwind /ˈbakwind / ‹Sailing›

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a sail or vessel) deflect a flow of air into the back of (another sail or vessel).

II. noun

a flow of air deflected into the back of a sail.

backwoods /ˈbakˌwo͝odz/

I. plural noun — [often as modifier]

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) remote uncleared forest land

• backwoods homesteads.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) a remote or sparsely inhabited region, especially one considered backward.

II. derivatives

backwoodsman /ˈbakwo͝odzmən /

noun

backyard /ˌbakˈyärd/

noun

1. a yard behind a house or other building, typically surrounded by a fence

• a tree-shaded succession of backyards

• [as modifier] a casual backyard party.

2. the area close to where one lives, or the territory close to a particular country, regarded with proprietorial concern

• anything was preferable to a nuclear dump in their own backyard.

bacne /ˈbaknē / backne

I. noun

‹informal› acne on the skin of a person's back

• if you have a severe case of bacne, it's worth consulting a dermatologist.

– origin 1990s: blend of back and acne.

Bacolod /bəˈkōläd/

a city in the central Philippines, a port on the northwestern coast of the island of Negros; pop. 499,500 (est. 2007).

bacon /ˈbākən/

I. noun

1. cured meat from the sides and belly of a pig, having distinct strips of fat and typically served in thin slices.

2. cured meat from the back of a pig.

II. phrases

1. bring home the bacon ‹informal›

a. supply material provision or support; earn a living.

b. achieve success.

2. save someone's bacon

rescue someone from danger or difficulty

• only hard braking and a quick turn on to the hard shoulder saved our bacon.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, from a Germanic word meaning ‘ham, flitch’; related to back.

Bacon, Francis^1 /ˈbākən/

Baron Verulam and Viscount St. Albans (1561–1626), English statesman and philosopher. As a scientist he advocated the inductive method. Notable works: The Advancement of Learning (1605) and Novum Organum (1620).

Bacon, Francis^2

(1909–92), British painter, born in Ireland. His work chiefly depicts human figures in grotesquely distorted postures, their features blurred or erased.

Bacon, Roger

(c. 1214–94), English philosopher, scientist, and Franciscan monk. Most notable for his work in the field of optics, he emphasized the need for an empirical approach to scientific study.

Baconian /bəˈkōnēən bāˈkōnēən/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to Sir Francis Bacon or his inductive method of reasoning and philosophy.

2. relating to or denoting the theory that Bacon wrote the plays attributed to Shakespeare.

II. noun

1. an adherent of Bacon's philosophical system.

2. a supporter of the theory that Bacon wrote the plays attributed to Shakespeare.

bacteremia /ˌbaktəˈrēmēə / ‹Brit.› bacteraemia

I. noun

[Medicine] the presence of bacteria in the blood.

II. derivatives

bacteremic /-mik /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from bacterium + -emia.

bacterial /bakˈtirēəl/

I. adjective

relating to or caused by bacteria

• a bacterial infection.

II. derivatives

bacterially

adverb

bactericide /bakˈtirəˌsīd/

I. noun

a substance that kills bacteria.

II. derivatives

bactericidal /bakˌtirəˈsīdl /

adjective

bacterio- bacteri-, bacter-

combining form

representing bacterium.

bacteriocin /ˌbakˈtirēəsən/

I. noun

[Biology] a protein produced by bacteria of one strain and active against those of a closely related strain.

– origin 1950s: from French bactériocine, from Greek baktērion ‘small cane’ + a shortened form of colicin.

bacteriological /bakˌtirēəˈläjək(ə)l/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of or relating to bacteriology or bacteria.

2. relating to or denoting germ warfare.

II. derivatives

1. bacteriologic /-jik /

adjective

2. bacteriologically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

bacteriology /bakˌtirēˈäləjē/

I. noun

the study of bacteria.

II. derivatives

bacteriologist /bakˌtirēˈäləjəst /

noun

bacteriolysis /bakˌtirēˈäləsəs/

I. noun

[Biology] the rupture of bacterial cells, especially by an antibody.

II. derivatives

bacteriolytic /-ˌti(ə)rēəˈlitik /

adjective

bacteriophage /bakˈtirēəˌfāj/

I. noun

[Biology] a virus that parasitizes a bacterium by infecting it and reproducing inside it.

– origin 1920s: from bacterium + Greek phagein ‘eat.’

bacteriorhodopsin /bakˌtirēōˌrōˈdäpsin/

noun

[Biochemistry] a protein present in the bacterium Halobacterium halobium that transports protons across the cytoplasmic membrane when illuminated.

bacteriostat /bakˈtirēəˌstat/

I. noun

a substance that prevents the multiplying of bacteria without destroying them.

II. derivatives

1. bacteriostasis /-ˌti(ə)rēəˈstāsis /

noun

2. bacteriostatic /-ˌti(ə)rēəˈstatik /

adjective

3. bacteriostatically

adverb

– origin early 20th cent.: from bacterium + Greek statos ‘standing.’

bacterium /ˌbakˈtirēəm/

I. noun

a member of a large group of unicellular microorganisms that have cell walls but lack organelles and an organized nucleus, including some that can cause disease.
Bacteria are widely distributed in soil, water, and air, and on or in the tissues of plants and animals. Formerly included in the plant kingdom, they are now classified separately (as prokaryotes). They play a vital role in global ecology, as the chemical changes they bring about include those of organic decay and nitrogen fixation. Much modern biochemical knowledge has been gained from the study of bacteria because they grow easily and reproduce rapidly in laboratory cultures.

– origin mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek baktērion, diminutive of baktēria ‘staff, cane’ (because the first ones to be discovered were rod-shaped). Compare with bacillus. / usage: Bacteria is the plural form (derived from Latin) of bacterium. Like any other plural it should be used with the plural form of the verb: the bacteria causing salmonella are killed by thorough cooking, not the bacteria causing salmonella is killed by thorough cooking. However, the unfamiliarity of the form means that bacteria is sometimes mistakenly treated as a singular form, as in the example above.

bacteriuria /bakˌtirēˈyo͝orēə/

noun

[Medicine] the presence of bacteria in the urine.

bacterize /ˈbaktəˌrīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. treat with bacteria.

II. derivatives

bacterization /ˌbaktərəˈzāSHən /

noun

bacteroid /ˈbaktəˌroid/

I. adjective

of the nature of or resembling a bacterium.

II. noun

a bacteroid organism or structure, especially a modified cell formed by a symbiotic bacterium in a root nodule of a leguminous plant.

Bactria /ˈbaktrēə/

I. an ancient country in central Asia, corresponding to the northern part of modern Afghanistan.

II. derivatives

Bactrian

adjective, noun

Bactrian camel /ˌbaktrēən ˈkaməl/

noun

the two-humped camel, which has been domesticated but is still found wild in central Asia.
[Camelus bactrianus , family Camelidae.]

baculovirus /ˈbakyəlōˌvīrəs/

I. noun

[Biology] a member of a family of DNA viruses infecting only invertebrate animals. Some have a very specific insect host and may be used in biological pest control.

– origin 1980s: from Latin baculum ‘rod, stick’ + virus.

baculum /ˈbakyələm/

I. noun

another term for os penis.

– origin 1930s: modern Latin.

bad /bad/

I. adjective

1. of poor quality; inferior or defective

• a bad diet

• bad eyesight.

2. (of a person) not able to do something well; incompetent

• I'm so bad at names

• a bad listener.

3. not such as to be hoped for or desired; unpleasant or unwelcome

• bad weather

• we had the worst luck

• (as noun the bad) taking the good with the bad.

4. (of an unwelcome thing) serious; severe

• bad headaches

• a bad crash

• a bad mistake.

5. unfavorable; adverse

• bad reviews.

6. harmful

• soap was bad for his face.

7. not suitable

• morning was a bad time to ask Andy about anything.

8. (of food) decayed; putrid

• everything in the fridge would go bad.

9. (of the atmosphere) polluted; unhealthy

• bad air.

10. (of parts of the body) injured, diseased, or causing pain

• a bad back.

11. [as complement] — (of a person) unwell

• I feel bad.

12. [as complement] — regretful, guilty, or ashamed about something

• working mothers who feel bad about leaving their children.

13. morally depraved; wicked

• the bad guys

• bad language

• a bad reputation.

14. naughty; badly behaved

• what a bad girl

• bad behavior.

15. worthless; not valid

• he ran up 87 bad checks.

16. (badder, baddest) — ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) good; excellent

• they want the baddest, best-looking Corvette there is.

II. adverb

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› badly

• he beat her up real bad.

III. phrases

1. come to a bad end

see end.

2. from bad to worse

into an even worse state

• the country's going from bad to worse.

3. in a bad way

a. ill

• Sammy shivered. He was in a bad way.

b. in trouble

• the fleet was in a bad way, mainly due to a shortage of spares.

4. my bad

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› used to acknowledge responsibility for a mistake

• Sorry about the confusion. It's my bad.

5. not (or not so) bad

‹informal› fairly good

• she discovered he wasn't so bad after all.

6. to the bad

a. to ruin

• I hate to see you going to the bad.

b. in deficit

• he was $80 to the bad.

7. too bad

‹informal› used to indicate that something is regrettable but now beyond retrieval

• too bad, but that's the way it is.

IV. derivatives

baddish /ˈbadiSH /

adjective

– origin Middle English: perhaps representing Old English bǣddel ‘hermaphrodite, womanish man.’ / usage: Confusion in the use of bad versus badly usually has to do with verbs called copulas, such as feel or seem. Thus, standard usage calls for I feel bad, not I feel badly. As a precise speaker or writer would explain, I feel badly means ‘I do not have a good sense of touch.’ See also usage at good.

bada bing /ˌbädə ˈbiNG/

I. exclamation

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› used to emphasize that something will happen effortlessly and predictably

• follow the appropriate twelve-step program and—bada bing—you're rolling in it.

– origin probably imitating the sound of a drum roll; popularized by the television series The Sopranos.

badass /ˈbadˌas / ‹N. Amer. informal›

I. noun

1. a tough, uncompromising, or intimidating person

• one of them is a real badass, the other's pretty friendly.

2. a formidably impressive person

• she is so wonderful, so sweet, so rad, so amazing; she's a badass.

II. adjective

1. tough, uncompromising, or intimidating

• a badass demeanor.

2. formidable; excellent

• this was one badass camera.

– origin 1950s: from the adjective bad + ass^2.

badassery /ˈbadˌasərē/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› behavior, characteristics, or actions regarded as formidably impressive

• few of us can attain her level of badassery.

bad blood /ˌbad ˈbləd/

noun

ill feeling

• there has always been bad blood between these families.

bad boy

noun

1. ‹informal› a man who does not conform to approved standards of behavior, especially in a particular sphere of activity

• the bad boy of classical music.

2. ‹informal› (chiefly US) a thing that is regarded as extremely impressive or effective

• we went 142 mph in that bad boy.

bad break

noun

‹informal› a piece of bad luck

• a weird coincidence and a bad break.

bad breath /ˌbad ˈbreTH/

noun

unpleasant-smelling breath; halitosis.

bad debt /ˈbad ˌdet/

noun

a debt that cannot be recovered.

baddeleyite /ˈbad(ə)lēˌīt/

I. noun

a mineral consisting largely of zirconium dioxide, ranging from colorless to yellow, brown, or black.

– origin late 19th cent.: named after Joseph Baddeley, English traveler, + -ite^1.

badderlocks /ˈbadərˌläks/

I. plural noun

(chiefly Scottish) an edible seaweed with a long greenish frond and prominent midrib, occurring in northern Europe.
[Alaria esculenta, class Phaeophyceae.]

– origin late 18th cent.: perhaps from Balderlocks, based on the name of the god Balder.

baddie /ˈbadē / ‹informal› baddy

noun

a villain or criminal in a story, movie, etc.

bade /bad bād/

past of bid^2.

bad egg

noun

see egg^1 (sense 2).

Baden /ˈbädn/

a spa town in eastern Austria, south of Vienna; pop. 25,255 (2006). It is noted for its warm mineral springs.

Baden-Baden /ˌbädn ˈbädn/

a spa town in the Black Forest in southwestern Germany; pop. 54,900 (est. 2007).

Baden-Powell, Robert /ˌbädn ˈpōəl, ˈpou-əl/

1st Baron Baden-Powell of Gilwell (1857–1941), English soldier and founder of the Boy Scout movement; full name Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell.

Baden-Württemberg /ˌbädnˈwərdəmˌbərɡ, ˌbädnˈvərtəmˌberk/

a state of western Germany; capital, Stuttgart.

bad faith

noun

1. intent to deceive

• the owners have bargained in bad faith.

2. (in existentialist philosophy) refusal to confront facts or choices.

bad form

noun

an offense against current social conventions

• it was considered bad form to talk about money.

badge /baj/

I. noun

1. a distinctive emblem worn as a mark of office, membership, achievement, licensed employment, etc.

• name badges

• a Girl Scout badge.

2. a distinguishing object or emblem

• a large gold key hung around his neck as his badge of office.

3. a feature or sign that reveals a particular condition or quality

• my jeans had patches on the knees, like badges of courage marking encounters with barbed wire.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. mark with a badge or other distinguishing emblem.

– origin late Middle English: of unknown origin.

badge engineering

noun

the practice of marketing a motor vehicle under two or more brand names.

badger /ˈbajər/

I. noun

1. a heavily built omnivorous nocturnal mammal of the weasel family, typically having a gray and black coat.
[Several genera and species in the family Mustelidae, in particular the Eurasian Meles meles, which has a white head with two black stripes, and the North American Taxidea taxus, with a white stripe on the head.]

2. (Badger) — ‹informal› a native of Wisconsin.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ask (someone) repeatedly and annoyingly for something; pester

• journalists badgered him about the deals

• Tom had finally badgered her into going

• [with obj. and infinitive] his daughter was always badgering him to let her join.

– origin early 16th cent.: perhaps from badge, with reference to its distinctive head markings. The verb sense (late 18th cent.) originates from the formerly popular sport of badger baiting.

Badger State

a nickname for the state of Wisconsin^1.

bad hair day

noun

‹informal› a day on which everything seems to go wrong, characterized as a day on which one's hair is particularly unmanageable.

badinage /ˌbadnˈäZH/

I. noun

humorous or witty conversation

• cultured badinage about art and life.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, frombadiner ‘to joke,’ from badin ‘fool,’ based on Provençal badar ‘gape.’

badlands /ˈbadˌlandz/

I. plural noun

1. extensive tracts of heavily eroded, uncultivable land with little vegetation.

2. (the Badlands) — a barren plateau region of the western US, mainly in southwestern South Dakota and northwestern Nebraska, south of the Black Hills, noted for its harsh terrain.

– origin mid 19th cent. (originally US): translation of French mauvaises terres.

badly /ˈbadlē/

I. adverb

1. in an unsatisfactory, inadequate, or unsuccessful way

• a badly managed company

• the war was going badly.

2. in an unfavorable way

• try not to think badly of me.

3. in an unacceptable or unpleasant way

• she realized she was behaving rather badly.

4. to a great or serious degree; severely

• the building was badly damaged by fire

• I wanted a baby so badly

• things had begun to go badly wrong.

II. adjective — [as complement]

1. ‹informal› guilty or regretful

• I felt badly about my unfriendliness of the previous evening.

III. phrases

badly off /ˌbadlē ˈäf /

in an unfavorable situation; at a disadvantage

• with his pension benefits, he shouldn't be too badly off

• she was a lot worse off before the divorce.

usage: See usage at bad.

bad manners

I. plural noun

lack of polite or well-bred social behavior

• it's bad manners to talk with your mouth full.

• I have never experienced such bad manners and ignorance.

II. derivatives

bad-mannered /ˌbadˈmanərd /

adjective

badminton /ˈbadmin(t)n/

I. noun

a game with rackets in which a shuttlecock is played back and forth across a net.

– origin named after Badminton, a country home in southwestern England.

bad mood

noun

an angry or irritable state of mind

• the cold put him in a bad mood

• I smiled, my bad mood forgotten for the moment.

bad-mouth /ˈbad ˌmouTH/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› criticize (someone or something); speak disloyally of

• no one wants to hire an individual who bad-mouths a prior employer.

badness /ˈbadnəs/

noun

1. poor quality or low standard

• none of you are doing justice to the badness of this film

• the badness of the writing is astonishing.

2. lack of or failure to conform to moral virtue; wickedness; evil

• she is not doing this out of badness

• the concepts of goodness and badness.

bad news

noun

‹informal› a person or thing that is regarded as unpleasant, unlucky, or undesirable

• dry weather is always bad news for gardeners.

bad seed

noun

‹informal› (chiefly US) a person regarded as bad or corrupt by nature and liable to have a harmful influence on other people

• school officials became exasperated and wrote her off as a bad seed.

bad-tempered /ˈˌbad ˈtempərd/

I. adjective

1. easily annoyed or made angry

• in a heat wave, many people become increasingly bad-tempered.

2. characterized by anger or ungraciousness

• Mary was feeling very bad-tempered

• a bad-tempered exchange.

II. derivatives

bad-temperedly

adverb

badware /ˈbadwer/

noun

software that has been installed on a computer without a user's knowledge or control.

bae /bā/

I. noun

(US) ‹informal› a person's boyfriend or girlfriend (often as a form of address)

• I'm going to see my bae

• [as name] Bae just made me tacos

• what's wrong, bae?

– origin early 21st cent.: abbreviation of baby or babe.

Baedeker, Karl /ˈbādikər, ˈbed-/

(1801–59), German publisher of travel guidebooks. He is remembered chiefly for the series of guidebooks to which he gave his name and which are still published.

Baekeland, Leo Hendrik /ˈbakəˌlänt, ˈbāk(ə)lənd/

(1863–1944), US chemist and inventor; born in Belgium. He invented the synthetic resin Bakelite in 1907.

Baer, Karl Ernest von /be(ə)r/

(1792–1876), German biologist. He discovered that ova are particles within the ovarian follicles, and he formulated the principle that general characters appear before special ones do in the developing embryo. His studies were used by Darwin in the theory of evolution.

Baeyer, Adolf von /ˈbāər/

(1835–1917), German organic chemist; full name Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Adolf von Baeyer. He prepared the first barbiturates, investigated dyes, and synthesized indigo. Nobel Prize for Chemistry (1905).

Baez, Joan /ˈbīˌez, bīˈez/

(1941–), US folk singer and civil rights activist. She is best known for her performances at civil rights demonstrations in the early 1960s. Notable albums: Any Day Now (1968) and Diamonds and Rust (1975).

Baffin, William /ˈbafən/

(c. 1584–1622), English navigator and explorer, the pilot of several expeditions in search of the Northwest Passage 1612–16. He discovered the largest island of the Canadian Arctic in 1616; this and the strait between it and Greenland are named after him.

Baffin Bay

an extension of the North Atlantic Ocean between Baffin Island and Greenland, linked to the Arctic Ocean by three passages. It is largely ice-bound in winter.

Baffin Island

a large island in the Canadian Arctic Ocean, situated at the mouth of Hudson Bay. It is separated from Greenland by Baffin Bay.

baffle /ˈbafəl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. totally bewilder or perplex

• an unexplained occurrence that baffled everyone.

2. restrain or regulate (a fluid, sound, etc.)

• to baffle the noise further, I pad the gunwales.

II. noun

a device used to restrain the flow of a fluid, gas, or loose material or to prevent the spreading of sound or light in a particular direction.

III. derivatives

bafflement /ˈbafəlmənt /

noun

baffle (sense 1 of the verb)

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘cheat, deceive’): perhaps related to French bafouer ‘ridicule’ or obsolete French beffer ‘mock, deceive.’

bafflegab /ˈbafəlˌɡab/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› incomprehensible or pretentious language, especially bureaucratic jargon

• the smooth chairman who had elevated bafflegab to an art form.

baffling /ˈbaf(ə)liNG/

I. adjective

impossible to understand; perplexing

• the crime is a baffling mystery for the police.

II. derivatives

bafflingly

adverb

[as submodifier]

• his team selection has been bafflingly erratic

bag /baɡ/

I. noun

1. a container made of flexible material with an opening at the top, used for carrying things

• brown paper bags

• a shopping bag.

2. an amount held by a bag

• a bag of apples.

3. a woman's handbag or purse.

4. a piece of luggage

• she began to unpack her bags.

5. [Baseball] a base.

6. (bags) — ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) plenty of something

• I had bags of energy.

7. the amount of game shot by a hunter.

8. (usu. bags) — a loose fold of skin under a person's eye

• the bags under his eyes gave him a sad appearance.

9. ‹informal› ‹derogatory› a woman, especially an older one, perceived as unpleasant, bad-tempered, or unattractive

• an interfering old bag.

10. (one's bag) — ‹informal› one's particular interest or taste

• if religion and politics are your bag, you'll find something to interest you here.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. put (something) in a bag

• customers bagged their own groceries

• we bagged up the apples.

2. (of a hunter) succeed in killing or catching an animal

• in 1979, handgun hunters bagged 677 deer.

3. succeed in securing (something)

• we've bagged three awards for excellence.

4. [no obj.] — (of clothes, especially pants) hang loosely or lose shape

• these trousers never bag at the knee.

5. swell or bulge.

6. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› quit; give up on

• it was a drag to be in the ninth grade at 17, so he bagged it.

7. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› fit (a patient) with an oxygen mask or other respiratory aid.

III. phrases

1. bag and baggage

with all one's belongings

• he threw her out bag and baggage.

2. a bag of bones

an emaciated person or animal

• the pony is just a bag of bones.

3. a bag (or whole bag) of tricks

‹informal› a set of ingenious plans, techniques, or resources

• hoteliers are using a whole new bag of tricks to keep their guests on the premises.

4. be left holding the bag

see hold^1.

5. in the bag ‹informal›

a. (of something desirable) as good as secured

• the election is in the bag.

b. (N. Amer.) drunk

• I don't think my parents even suspected that I was half in the bag.

IV. phrasal verbs

bag on

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› criticize

• I don't know why everyone is bagging on Palmer.

V. derivatives

bagful /ˈbaɡˌfo͝ol /

noun

– origin Middle English: perhaps from Old Norse baggi.

Baganda /bəˈɡändə/

I. plural noun

an African people of the kingdom of Buganda, now forming part of Uganda.

II. adjective

relating to the Baganda or their language.

– origin a local name; compare with Kiswahili Waganda, Ganda, Luganda, Muganda.

bagasse /bəˈɡas/

I. noun

the dry pulpy residue left after the extraction of juice from sugar cane, used as fuel for electricity generators, etc.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French, from Spanish bagazo ‘pulp.’

bagatelle /ˌbaɡəˈtel/

I. noun

1. a thing of little importance; a very easy task

• dealing with these boats was a mere bagatelle for the world's oldest yacht club.

2. a game in which small balls are hit and then allowed to roll down a sloping board on which there are holes, each numbered with the score achieved if a ball goes into it, with pins acting as obstructions.

3. a short, light piece of music, especially one for the piano.

– origin mid 17th cent. (sense 1): from French, from Italian bagatella, perhaps from baga ‘baggage’ or from a diminutive of Latin baca ‘berry.’ Sense 2 dates from the early 19th cent.

bagel /ˈbāɡəl/

I. noun

a dense bread roll in the shape of a ring, made by boiling dough and then baking it.

– origin early 20th cent. (as beigel): from Yiddish beygel.

baggage /ˈbaɡij/

I. noun

1. personal belongings packed in suitcases for traveling; luggage.

2. the portable equipment of an army.

3. past experiences or long-held ideas regarded as burdens and impediments

• the emotional baggage I'm hauling around

• the party jettisoned its traditional ideological baggage.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French bagage (from baguer ‘tie up’), or bagues ‘bundles’; perhaps related to bag.

baggage claim

noun — [in sing.]

1. the area in an airport where arriving passengers collect luggage that has been carried in the hold of the aircraft.

baggage handler

noun

a person who loads and unloads items of luggage at an airport

• a planned strike by baggage handlers threatened disruption for thousands of travelers.

Baggie /ˌbaɡē/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) ‹trademark› a plastic bag typically used for storing food.

2. (baggie) — (N. Amer.) ‹trademark› ‹informal› any small plastic bag.

baggy /ˈbaɡē/

I. adjective

1. (of clothing) loose and hanging in folds

• baggy pants.

2. (of eyes) with folds of puffy skin below them

• his eyes were baggy with the fatigue of overwork.

II. noun — (baggies)

1. ‹informal› loose and wide-legged pants, shorts, or swim trunks.

III. derivatives

1. baggily /ˈbaɡəlē /

adverb

2. bagginess /ˈbaɡēnəs /

noun

Baghdad /ˈbaɡˌdad/

the capital of Iraq, on the Tigris River; pop. 6,194,800 (est. 2009).

bag lady /ˈbaɡ ˌlādē/

noun

‹informal› a homeless woman who carries her possessions in shopping bags.

bagless /ˈbaɡlis/

adjective

(of a vacuum cleaner) designed to operate without the use of a replaceable bag.

bag lunch

noun

(N. Amer.) a cold lunch prepared at home and carried in a bag to work, to school, or on an excursion.

bagman /ˈbaɡman/

noun

1. (US) (Austral./NZ) ‹informal› an agent who collects or distributes the proceeds of illicit activities

• one million dollars cash paid to the general's bagman.

2. (Canadian) a political fundraiser

• a Tory bagman.

3. (Brit.) ‹informal› ‹dated› a traveling salesman.

bagnio /ˈbanyō, ˈbän-/

I. noun

1. ‹archaic› a brothel.

2. ‹historical› an oriental prison.

– origin late 16th cent. (sense 2): from Italian bagno, from Latin balneum ‘bath.’

bag of waters

noun

another term for amniotic sac.

bagpipe /ˈbaɡpīp/

I. noun — (usu. bagpipes)

1. a musical instrument with reed pipes that are sounded by the pressure of wind emitted from a bag squeezed by the player's arm. Bagpipes are associated especially with Scotland, but are also used in folk music in Ireland, Northumberland, and France.

II. derivatives

bagpiper /ˈbaɡˌpīpər /

noun

ba gua /ˌbä ˈɡwä / pa kua

I. noun

1. a Chinese religious motif incorporating the eight trigrams of the I Ching, typically arranged octagonally around a symbol denoting the balance of yin and yang, or around a mirror.

2. bagua regarded in feng shui as a pattern determining the significance and auspicious qualities of spatial relationships.

3. a Chinese martial art in which movements are focused on a circle and the defense of eight points around it.

– origin from Chinese bā ‘eight’ + guà ‘divinatory symbols.’

baguette /baˈɡet/

I. noun

1. a long, narrow loaf of French bread.

2. a gem, especially a diamond, cut in a long rectangular shape
[often as modifier]

• a baguette diamond.

3. [Architecture] a small molding, semicircular in section.

4. a slim, rectangular handbag.

– origin early 18th cent. (sense 3): from French, from Italian bacchetto, diminutive of bacchio, from Latin baculum ‘staff.’ Sense 1 and sense 2 date from the 20th cent.

bagwig /ˈbaɡwiɡ/

noun

‹historical› a wig fashionable in the 18th century with the back hair enclosed in an ornamental bag.

bagworm /ˈbaɡwərm/

noun

a drab moth, the caterpillar and flightless female of which live in a portable protective case constructed out of plant debris.
[Family Psychidae: many genera.]

bah /bä/

I. exclamation

an expression of contempt or disagreement

• You think it was an accident? Bah!

– origin early 19th cent.: probably from French.

Baha'i /bäˈhī / Bahai

I. noun

1. a monotheistic religion founded in the 19th century as a development of Babism, emphasizing the essential oneness of humankind and of all religions and seeking world peace. The Baha'i faith was founded by the Persian Baha'ullah (1817–92) and his son Abdul Baha (1844–1921).

2. an adherent of the Baha'i faith.

II. derivatives

Baha'ism /-ˌizəm /

noun

– origin Persian, from Arabic bahā' ‘splendor.’

Bahamas /bəˈhäməz/

1. a country in the northwestern West Indies, an archipelago off the southeastern coast of Florida; pop. 307,600 (est. 2009); capital, Nassau; languages, English (official), Creole.

It was here that Columbus first landed in the New World (Oct. 12, 1492). The islands were a British colony from the 18th century until they gained independence within the Commonwealth of Nations in 1973.

Bahamian /bəˈhämēən bəˈhāmēən/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of the Bahamas or their people

• a television program that showcases Bahamian history.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of the Bahamas

• water sports are popular with Bahamians and tourists.

Bahasa Indonesia /bəˌhäsə ˌindəˈnēZH(ē)ə/

I. noun

the official language of Indonesia.
See Indonesian.

– origin from Malay bahasa ‘language.’

Bahasa Malaysia /bəˌhäsə məˈlāZH(ē)ə/

noun

the official language of Malaysia.
See Malay.

Bahawalpur /bəˈhäwəlˌpo͝or/

a city in east central Pakistan, in Punjab province; pop. 530,400 (est. 2009).

Bahia /bäˈēə, bəˈhēə/

I. a state of eastern Brazil, on the Atlantic coast; capital, Salvador.

II. former name for Salvador.

Bahía Blanca /bäˌēə ˈbläNGkə/

a port in Argentina serving the southern part of the country; pop. 315,700 (est. 2008).

Bahrain /bäˈrān/

1. a country in western Asia that consists of a group of islands in the Persian Gulf; pop. 728,700 (est. 2009); capital, Manama; official language, Arabic.

Ruled by the Portuguese in the 16th century and the Persians in the 17th century, Bahrain became a British protectorate in 1861 and gained independence in 1971. Its economy is dependent on the refining and export of oil.

Bahraini /bäˈrānē/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of Bahrain or its people

• he is a member of the Bahraini royal family.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of Bahrain

• an opportunity for young Bahrainis to spend a postgraduate year in another country.

baht /bät/

I. noun

the basic monetary unit of Thailand, equal to 100 satangs.

– origin from Thai bāt.

Bahutu /bäˈho͞oˌto͞o/

plural form of Hutu.

Baikal, Lake /bīˈkäl, -ˈkôl, -ˈkal / Baykal

a large lake in southern Siberia, in Russia, the largest freshwater lake in Europe and Asia and, with a depth of 5,714 feet (1,743 m), the deepest lake in the world.

bail^1 /bāl/

I. noun

1. the temporary release of an accused person awaiting trial, sometimes on condition that a sum of money be lodged to guarantee their appearance in court

• he has been released on bail.

2. money paid for the release an accused person as security.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be bailed)

1. release or secure the release of (a prisoner) on payment of bail

• his son called home to get bailed out of jail.

See also bail out at bail^3.

III. phrases

1. jump bail

‹informal› fail to appear for trial after being released on bail

• he jumped bail and was on the run until his arrest.

2. go bail (or stand bail)

act as surety for an accused person.

3. post bail

pay a sum of money as bail

• I posted bail for him.

IV. derivatives

bailable /ˈbāləb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French, literally ‘custody, jurisdiction,’ from Old French bailler ‘take charge of,’ from Latin bajulare ‘bear a burden.’

bail^2 /bāl/

I. noun

1. a bar that holds something in place, in particular

2. [Fishing] a bar that guides fishing line on a reel.

3. a bar on a typewriter or computer printer that holds the paper steady.

4. [Mountaineering] a bar on a crampon that fits into a groove in the sole of a boot.

5. a bar separating horses in an open stable.

6. an arched handle, such as on a bucket or a teapot
[as modifier]

• drawers fitted with brass bail handles.

7. (usu. bails) — [Cricket] either of the two crosspieces bridging the stumps, which the bowler and fielders try to dislodge with the ball to get the batsman out.

– origin Middle English (denoting the outer wall of a castle): from Old French baile ‘palisade, enclosure,’ baillier ‘enclose,’ perhaps from Latin baculum ‘rod, stick.’ Compare with bailey.

bail^3 /bāl/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — scoop water out of (a ship or boat)

• the first priority is to bail out the boat with buckets.

2. scoop (water) out of a ship or boat

• I started to use my hands to bail out the water.

3. [no obj.] — abandon a commitment, obligation, or responsibility

• after 12 years of this, including Sunday Mass with the family, I bailed.

4. (bail on) — (N. Amer.) ‹informal› let (someone) down by failing to fulfill a commitment, obligation, or responsibility

• he looks a little like the guy who bailed on me.

II. phrasal verbs

1. bail out

a. (of a member of an aircrew) make an emergency parachute descent from an aircraft; eject.

b. become free of an obligation or commitment; discontinue an activity

• she felt ready to bail out of the corporate rat race.

2. bail someone/something out

release someone or something from a difficulty; rescue

• the state will not bail out loss-making enterprises.

III. derivatives

bailer /ˈbālər /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from obsolete bail ‘bucket,’ from French baille, based on Latin bajulus ‘carrier.’

baile /ˈbīlā/

I. noun

(in the southwestern US and parts of Central and South America) a gathering for dancing.

– origin Spanish, ‘dance, dancing.’

Baile Átha Cliath /ˌblä ˈklēə/

Irish name for Dublin.

bailee /bāˈlē/

noun

[Law] a person or party to whom goods are delivered for a purpose, such as custody or repair, without transfer of ownership.

bailey /ˈbālē/

I. noun

1. the outer wall of a castle.

2. a court enclosed by this.

– origin Middle English: probably from Old French baile ‘palisade, enclosure’ (see bail^2).

bailie /ˈbālē/

I. noun

‹chiefly historical› a municipal officer and magistrate in Scotland.

– origin Middle English (originally used interchangeably with bailiff): from Old French bailli.

bailiff /ˈbālif/

I. noun

1. a person who performs certain actions under legal authority, in particular

2. (N. Amer.) an official in a court of law who keeps order, looks after prisoners, etc.

3. (chiefly Brit.) a sheriff's officer who executes writs and processes and carries out distraints and arrests.

4. (Brit.) the agent or steward of a landlord.

– origin Middle English: from Old French baillif, inflected form of bailli, based on Latin bajulus ‘carrier, manager.’

bailiwick /ˈbāləˌwik/

I. noun

1. (one's bailiwick) — one's sphere of operations or particular area of interest

• you never give the presentations—that's my bailiwick.

2. [Law] the district or jurisdiction of a bailie or bailiff.

– origin late Middle English: from bailie + wick^2.

bailment /ˈbālmənt/

noun

[Law] an act of delivering goods to a bailee for a particular purpose, without transfer of ownership.

bailor /ˈbālər/

noun

[Law] a person or party that entrusts goods to a bailee.

bailout /ˈbāˌlout/

noun

‹informal› an act of giving financial assistance to a failing business or economy to save it from collapse.

Bainbridge Island /ˌbānbrij ˈīlənd/

an island in western Washington, in Puget Sound, west of Seattle.

bain-marie /ˌbanməˈrē/

I. noun

a container holding hot water into which a pan is placed for slow cooking.

– origin early 18th cent.: French, translation of medieval Latin balneum Mariae ‘bath of Maria,’ translating Greek kaminos Marias ‘furnace of Maria,’ said to be a Jewish alchemist.

Baird, John Logie /be(ə)rd/

(1888–1946), Scottish inventor. He made the first transatlantic transmission and demonstration of color television in 1928 using a mechanical system that was soon superseded by an electronic system.

Bairiki /bīˈrēkē/

the capital of Kiribati, on South Tarawa Island; pop. 2,766 (2005).

bairn /bern/

I. noun

(chiefly Scottish) (N. English) a child.

– origin Old English bearn, of Germanic origin; related to the verb bear^1.

Baisakhi /bīˈsäkē/

I. noun

a Sikh festival held annually to commemorate the founding of the khalsa by Gobind Singh in 1699.

– origin from Sanskrit Vaiśākha, denoting a month of the Hindu lunar year corresponding to April–May, regarded in some areas as the start of the new year.

bait /bāt/

I. noun

1. food used to entice fish or other animals as prey

• herrings make excellent bait for pike

• fishing with live baits.

2. an allurement; a thing intended to tempt or entice

• she used the prospect of freedom as bait to trap him into talking

• many potential buyers are reluctant to take the bait.

3. variant spelling of bate.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. deliberately annoy or taunt (someone)

• the other boys reveled in baiting him about his love of literature.

2. torment (a trapped or restrained animal), especially by allowing dogs to attack it.

3. prepare (a hook, trap, net, or fishing area) with bait to entice fish or animals as prey

• she baited a trap with carrots and corn.

III. phrases

1. fish or cut bait

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› stop vacillating and act on something or disengage from it

• when it comes to flagging brands, companies are being forced to fish or cut bait.

2. rise to the bait

react to a provocation or temptation exactly as intended

• Jenny was being provocatively rude, but he never rose to the bait.

3. with baited breath

misspelling of with bated breath at bated.

IV. derivatives

baiter

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse beit ‘pasture, food,’ beita ‘to hunt or chase.’ / usage: See usage at bated.

bait-and-switch

noun

the action (generally illegal) of advertising goods that are an apparent bargain, with the intention of substituting inferior or more expensive goods
[as modifier]

• a bait-and-switch scheme.

baitfish /ˈbātfiSH/

noun

a fish used as bait to catch a larger fish.

baiza /ˈbīzə/

noun

a monetary unit of Oman, equal to one thousandth of a rial.

baize /bāz/

I. noun

a coarse, feltlike, woolen material that is typically green, used for covering billiard and card tables and for aprons.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French baies, feminine plural of bai ‘chestnut-colored’ (see bay^4), treated as a singular noun. The name is presumably from the original color of the cloth, although several colors are recorded.

Baja California /ˌbähä ˌkaləˈfôrnyə/

a mountainous peninsula in northwestern Mexico that extends southward from the border with California and separates the Gulf of California from the Pacific Ocean. It consists of two states of Mexico: Baja California (capital, Mexicali) and Baja California Sur (capital, La Paz).
Also called Lower California.

bajada /bəˈhädə/

I. noun

a broad slope of alluvial material at the foot of an escarpment or mountain.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Spanish, ‘descent, slope.’

Bajan /ˈbājən/

adjective, noun

informal term for Barbadian.

bajillion /bəˈjilyən/

I. cardinal number

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) an extremely large number (used for emphasis)

• I've still got a bajillion things to do.

– origin 1990s: fanciful formation on the pattern of billion and million.

Baka /ˈbäkə/

I. noun

1. a member of a nomadic Pygmy people inhabiting the rain forests of southeastern Cameroon and northern Gabon.

2. the Bantu language of the Baka.

– origin the name in Baka.

bake /bāk/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cook (food) by dry heat without direct exposure to a flame, typically in an oven or on a hot surface

• they bake their own bread and cakes

• [with two objs.] I baked him a cake for his birthday

• (as adj. baked) baked apples.

2. [no obj.] — (of food) be cooked by baking

• the bread was baking on hot stones.

3. (of the sun or other agency) subject (something) to dry heat, especially so as to harden it

• the sun has baked the earth a dusty brown.

4. [no obj.] — ‹informal› (of a person or place) be or become extremely hot in prolonged sun or hot weather

• the city was baking in a heat wave

• (as adj. baking) the summer's baking heat.

II. noun — [with modifier]

1. (N. Amer.) a social gathering at which baked food is eaten

• lobster bakes on deserted islands.

III. phrases

baked in the cake

(US) ‹informal› inevitable or unchangeable as a result of previous actions or events

• look out for the next big tax—it is pretty much baked in the cake now.

IV. phrasal verbs

bake something in

incorporate something as an integral part of a product, service, or system

• we have baked in XML web services as part of the core of our platform

• (as adj. baked-in) the company continues to place a heavy emphasis on baked-in security.

– origin Old English bacan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bakken and German backen.

baked /bākt/

adjective

1. (of food) cooked by dry heat in an oven

• baked apples.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› intoxicated by alcohol or drugs, especially marijuana.

• I just want to get baked and watch a movie.

baked Alaska

I. noun

sponge cake and ice cream in a meringue covering, cooked for a very short time.

– origin named after the state of Alaska.

baked beans /ˌbāk(t) ˈbēnz/

plural noun

short for Boston baked beans.

Baked Bean State

a nickname for the state of Massachusetts.

baked goods

plural noun

bread, cakes, pastries, and similar items of food that are cooked in an oven

• the moment you open the door at Billy's Bakery the aroma of baked goods overwhelms you

• bran can impart a hearty flavor to breads and other baked goods.

bakehouse /ˈbākˌhous/

noun

‹dated› a building or area in which bread is made.

Bakelite /ˈbāk(ə)ˌlīt/

I. noun

‹trademark› an early form of brittle plastic, typically dark brown, made from formaldehyde and phenol, used chiefly for electrical equipment.

– origin early 20th cent.: named after Leo H. Baekeland (1863–1944), the Belgian-born American chemist who invented it, + -ite^1.

bake-off

noun

1. a contest in which cooks prepare baked goods such as bread and cakes for judging.

2. ‹informal› a contest between companies to win a contract.

baker /ˈbākər/

I. noun

1. a person who makes bread and cakes, especially commercially.

2. [often with modifier.] — an oven for a particular purpose

• a bread baker.

– origin Old English bæcere, from bacan (see bake).

Baker, Josephine /ˈbākər/

(1906–75), US dancer. She was a star of the Folies-Bergère in Paris in the 1930s, famed for her exotic dancing and risqué clothing.

Baker Island

an uninhabited island in the central Pacific Ocean, near the equator, claimed by the US in 1857. Once a guano source, it is now a wildlife refuge.

baker's dozen

I. noun

a group or set of thirteen

• a baker's dozen of love songs.

– origin late 16th cent.: from the former bakers' custom of adding an extra loaf to a dozen sold, this constituting the retailer's profit.

Bakersfield /ˈbākərzˌfēld/

an industrial city in south central California, an oil industry center in the San Joaquin Valley; pop. 321,078 (est. 2008).

baker's yeast

noun

a dried preparation of yeast used or suitable for use as leaven.

bakery /ˈbāk(ə)rē/

noun

1. a place where bread and cakes are made or sold

• delicious aromas wafting from the bakery

• [as modifier] an assortment of bakery goods.

2. baked goods such as bread and cakes

• a table overflowing with homemade bakery and wine.

bake sale

noun

a sale of home-baked items as a fundraising activity.

• a bake sale staffed by high-school moms.

bakeshop /ˈbākSHäp/

noun

(N. Amer.) a place where bread and cakes are made or sold.

bakeware /ˈbākˌwer/

noun

tins, trays, and other items placed in the oven during baking.

baking powder /ˈbākiNG ˈˌpoudər/

noun

a mixture of sodium bicarbonate and cream of tartar, used instead of yeast in baking.

baking sheet ‹Brit.› baking tray

noun

a metal tray on which food may be cooked in an oven

• lay the peppers on a baking sheet and roast for 30 minutes.

baking soda /ˈbākiNG ˈˌsōdə/

noun

sodium bicarbonate used in cooking, for cleaning, or in toothpaste.

Bakker, Robert T. /ˈbakər/

(1945–), US paleontologist. He proposed the controversial idea that dinosaurs were both active and warm-blooded.

baklava /ˌbäkləˈvä/

I. noun

a dessert originating in the Middle East made of phyllo pastry filled with chopped nuts and soaked in honey.

– origin Turkish.

baksheesh /bakˈSHēːSH/

I. noun

(in parts of Asia) a small sum of money given as alms, a tip, or a bribe.

– origin based on Persian baḵšīš, from baḵšīdan ‘give.’

Bakst, Léon /bäkst/

(1866–1924), Russian painter and designer; born Lev Samuilovich Rozenberg. He was a member of the Ballets Russes, for which he designed exotic, richly colored sets and costumes.

Baku /bäˈko͞o/

the capital of Azerbaijan, on the Caspian Sea; pop. 1,917,000 (est. 2008). It is an industrial port and a center of the oil industry.

Bakunin, Mikhail /bəˈko͞onyin/

(1814–76), Russian anarchist and writer who participated in the revolutionary movements of 1848–49; full name Mikhail Aleksandrovich Bakunin.

balaclava /ˌbaləˈklävə / balaclava helmet

I. noun

a close-fitting garment covering the whole head and neck except for parts of the face, typically made of wool.

– origin late 19th cent. (denoting a garment worn originally by soldiers serving in the Crimean War): named after the village of Balaclava in the Crimea (see Balaclava, Battle of).

Balaclava, Battle of /ˌbaləˈklävə/

a battle of the Crimean War, fought between Russia and an alliance of British, French, and Turkish forces in and around the port of Balaclava (now Balaklava) in the southern Crimea in 1854. The battle ended inconclusively; and is chiefly remembered as the scene of the Charge of the Light Brigade.

balafon /ˈbaləˌfän/

I. noun

a large xylophone having hollow gourds as resonators, used in West African music.

– origin late 18th cent.: via French from Manding bala ‘xylophone’ + fo ‘to play.’

balalaika /ˌbaləˈlīkə/

I. noun

a guitarlike musical instrument with a triangular body and two, three, or four strings, popular in Russia and other Slavic countries.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Russian, of Tatar origin.

balance /ˈbaləns/

I. noun

1. an even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady

• slipping in the mud but keeping their balance

• she lost her balance before falling.

2. stability of one's mind or feelings

• the way to some kind of peace and personal balance.

3. [Sailing] the ability of a boat to stay on course without adjustment of the rudder.

4. a condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions

• overseas investments can add balance to an investment portfolio

• [in sing.] try to keep a balance between work and relaxation.

5. [Art] harmony of design and proportion.

6. [in sing.] — the relative volume of various sources of sound

• the balance of the voices is good.

7. an apparatus for weighing, especially one with a central pivot, beam, and a pair of scales.

8. (the Balance) — the zodiacal sign or constellation Libra.

9. a counteracting weight or force.

10. (also balance wheel) — the regulating device in a mechanical clock or watch.

11. a predominating weight or amount; the majority

• the balance of opinion was that work was more important than leisure.

12. a figure representing the difference between credits and debits in an account; the amount of money held in an account

• he accumulated a healthy balance with the savings bank.

13. the difference between an amount due and an amount paid

• unpaid credit-card balances.

14. [in sing.] — an amount left over.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. keep or put (something) in a steady position so that it does not fall

• a mug that she balanced on her knee.

2. [no obj.] — remain in a steady position without falling

• Richard balanced on the ball of one foot.

3. offset or compare the value of (one thing) with another

• the cost of obtaining such information needs to be balanced against its benefits.

4. counteract, equal, or neutralize the weight or importance of

• he balanced his radical remarks with more familiar declarations.

5. establish equal or appropriate proportions of elements in

• balancing work and family life.

6. compare debits and credits in (an account), typically to ensure that they are equal

• the law requires the council to balance its books each year.

7. [no obj.] — (of an account) have credits and debits equal.

III. phrases

1. balance of payments

the difference in total value between payments into and out of a country over a period.

2. balance of power

a. a situation in which nations of the world have roughly equal power.

b. the power held by a small group when larger groups are of equal strength.

3. balance of trade

the difference in value between a country's imports and exports.

4. in the balance

uncertain; at a critical stage

• his survival hung in the balance for days.

5. on balance

with all things considered

• but on balance he was pleased.

6. strike a balance

choose a moderate course or compromise

• she's decided to strike a balance between fashionable and accessible.

IV. derivatives

balancer /ˈbalənsər /

noun

– origin Middle English (sense 3 of the noun): from Old French balance (noun), balancer (verb), based on late Latin (libra) bilanx ‘(balance) having two scalepans,’ from bi- ‘twice, having two’ + lanx ‘scalepan.’

balance beam

noun

1. a narrow horizontal bar raised off the floor, on which a gymnast balances while performing exercises.

2. [in sing.] — the set of exercises performed on a balance beam.

balanced /ˈbalənst/

adjective

1. keeping or showing a balance; arranged in good proportions

• she assembled a balanced team.

2. taking everything into account; fairly judged or presented

• accurate and balanced information.

3. (especially of food) having different elements in the correct proportions

• a healthy, balanced diet.

4. (of a person or state of mind) having no emotion lacking or too strong; stable

• a balanced personality.

5. (of an electrical circuit or signal) being symmetrical with respect to a reference point, typically ground.

balance sheet /ˈbaləns ˌSHēt/

noun

a statement of the assets, liabilities, and capital of a business or other organization at a particular point in time, detailing the balance of income and expenditure over the preceding period.

balance tab

noun

a tab on a control surface of an aircraft that reduces the amount of force needed to move the control surface by moving in the opposite direction.

balance wheel /ˈbaləns ˌ(h)wēl/

noun

the regulating device in a watch or clock.

Balanchine, George /ˌbalənˈCHēn, ˈbalənˌCHēn/

(1904–83), US ballet dancer and choreographer; born in Russia; born Georgi Melitonovich Balanchivadze. He was chief choreographer of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes during the 1920s, and in 1934 he cofounded the company that later became the New York City Ballet. Notable ballets: The Firebird (1949) and A Midsummer Night's Dream (1962).

balancing act /ˈbalənsiNG akt/

noun

an action or activity that requires a delicate balance between different situations or requirements

• our balancing act between working more to buy luxuries and having enough leisure to enjoy them.

balas ruby /ˈbaləs ˌro͞obē/

I. noun

a spinel of a delicate rose-red variety.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French balais, from Arabic balaḵš, from Persian Badaḵšān, a district of Afghanistan, where it is found.

balata /bəˈlädə/

I. noun

1. a tropical American tree that bears edible fruit and produces latex.
[Several species in the family Sapotaceae, in particular, Manilkara bidentata.]

2. the dried sap of the balata tree used as a substitute for rubber.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Carib balatá.

Balaton, Lake /ˈbôləˌtōn, ˈbäləˌtän/

a large shallow lake in west central Hungary, situated in a wine-producing and resort region south of the Bakony mountains.

balayage /ˌbalāˈyäZH / baliage, balliage

I. noun

a technique for highlighting the hair in which the dye is painted on in such a way as to create a graduated, natural-looking effect

• she specializes in balayage, color corrections, restyles, and extensions.

– origin 1970s: French, literally ‘sweeping,’ from balayer ‘to sweep.’

balboa /balˈbōə/

I. noun

the basic monetary unit of Panama, equal to 100 centésimos.

– origin named after Vasco Núñez de Balboa (see Balboa, Vasco Núñez de).

Balboa, Vasco Núñez de /balˈbōə/

(1475–1519), Spanish explorer. In 1513 he reached the western coast of the isthmus of Darien (Panama), thereby becoming the first European to see the eastern shores of the Pacific Ocean.

balbriggan /balˈbriɡən/

I. noun

a fine, unbleached knitted cotton fabric, used for stockings and underwear.

– origin late 19th cent.: named after the town of Balbriggan in Ireland, where it was originally made.

Balcones Escarpment /balˌkōnəs iˈskärpmənt/

the scarp marking the geologic fault that separates the plains of eastern Texas from highlands to the west. San Antonio, Austin, and Waco lie near or on it.

balcony /ˈbalkənē/

I. noun

1. a platform enclosed by a wall or balustrade on the outside of a building, with access from an upper-floor window or door.

2. (the balcony) — the upstairs seats in a theater, concert hall, or auditorium.

II. derivatives

balconied /ˈbalk(ə)nēd /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: from Italian balcone, probably ultimately of Germanic origin.

bald /bôld/

I. adjective

1. having a scalp wholly or partly lacking hair

• he had a shiny bald head

• he was starting to go bald.

2. (of an animal) not covered by the usual fur, hair, or feathers

• hedgehogs are born bald.

3. (of a plant or an area of land) not covered by the usual leaves, bark, or vegetation

• the bald trunks with their empty branches.

4. (of a tire) having the tread worn away

• my car had two bald tires.

5. [attrib.] — not having any extra detail or explanation; plain or blunt

• the bald statement in the preceding paragraph requires amplification.

II. derivatives

baldish

adjective

– origin Middle English: probably from a base meaning ‘white patch,’ whence the archaic sense ‘marked or streaked with white.’

baldachin /ˈbôldəkən / baldaquin, baldacchino /bôldəˈkinō/

I. noun

a ceremonial canopy of stone, metal, or fabric over an altar, throne, or doorway.

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting an embroidered material, woven with silk and gold thread): from Italian baldacchino, from Baldacco ‘Baghdad,’ place of origin of the original brocade.

bald cypress

noun

a deciduous North American conifer with exposed buttress roots and ball-shaped cones, typically growing in swamps and on water margins.
[Taxodium distichum, family Taxodiaceae.]

bald eagle /bôld ˈēɡəl/

noun

a white-headed North American eagle that includes fish among its prey. Now most common in Alaska, it is the national emblem of the US.
[Haliaetus leucocephalus, family Accipitridae.]

Balder /ˈbôldər / ‹Scandinavian Mythology›

a son of Odin and god of the summer sun. He was invulnerable to all things except mistletoe, with which the god Loki, by a trick, induced the blind god Hödur to kill him.

balderdash /ˈbôldərˌdaSH/

I. noun

senseless talk or writing; nonsense

• she dismissed talk of plots as “bunkum and balderdash.”

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting a frothy liquid; later, an unappetizing mixture of drinks): of unknown origin.

bald-faced

adjective

(N. Amer.) shameless and undisguised; barefaced

• a bald-faced lie.

bald-headed

adjective

having a scalp wholly or partly lacking hair; bald

• a big, bald-headed man.

balding /ˈbôldiNG/

adjective

going bald

• a man in his late twenties, prematurely balding.

baldly /ˈbôldlē/

adverb

without any extra detail or explanation; plainly; bluntly

• "I really needed the cash," she says baldly

• it seems enough to state the facts baldly.

baldness /ˈbôldnəs/

noun

1. the condition of having a scalp wholly or partly lacking hair

• we cannot cure baldness, nor restore hair to denuded scalps

• baldness ran in his family.

2. speech without any extra detail or explanation; plainness; bluntness

• the baldness of his comments on this subject.

baldpate /ˈbôldpāt/

noun

the American wigeon, in allusion to its white-crowned head.

baldric /ˈbôldrik/

I. noun

‹historical› a belt for a sword or other piece of equipment, worn over one shoulder and reaching down to the opposite hip.

– origin Middle English baudry, from Old French baudre, of unknown ultimate origin.

Baldwin, Henry /ˈbôldwin/

(1780–1844), US Supreme Court associate justice 1830–44. He also served in Congress as a representative from Pennsylvania 1817–22.

Baldwin, James

(1924–87), US writer and civil rights activist; full name James Arthur Baldwin. Notable works: novels Go Tell It on the Mountain (1953), Giovanni's Room (1956), and Another Country (1962); essay collections Nobody Knows My Name (1961) and The Price of a Ticket (1985).

Baldwin, Stanley

1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley (1867–1947), British statesman; prime minister 1923–24, 1924–29, and 1935–37.

Baldwin Park

a city in southwestern California, east of Los Angeles; pop. 77,380 (est. 2008).

baldy /ˈbôldē / baldie

I. noun

‹informal› ‹derogatory› a baldheaded person.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (chiefly Scottish) (Irish) bald

• a baldy head.

bale^1 /bāl/

I. noun

1. a bundle of paper, hay, cotton, etc., tightly wrapped and bound with cords or hoops

• the fire destroyed 500 bales of hay.

2. the quantity in a bale as a measure, especially 500 pounds of cotton.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (something) into bales

• they baled a lot of good hay

• (as noun baling) most baling and field work have been finished.

– origin Middle English: probably from Middle Dutch, from Old French; ultimately of Germanic origin and related to ball^1.

bale^2 /bāl/

I. noun

1. ‹archaic› ‹literary› evil considered as a destructive force.

2. ‹archaic› ‹literary› evil suffered; physical torment or mental suffering.

– origin Old English balu, bealu, of Germanic origin.

Bâle /bäl/

French name for Basle.

Balearic Islands /balēˌerik ˈīləndz / the Balearics

a group of four large and seven small islands in the Mediterranean off the eastern coast of Spain that form an autonomous region of Spain; capital, Palma (on the island of Majorca).

baleen /bəˈlēn/

I. noun

whalebone.

– origin Middle English (also denoting a whale): from Old French baleine, from Latin balaena ‘whale.’

baleen whale

noun

a whale that has plates of whalebone in the mouth for straining plankton from the water. Baleen whales include the rorquals, humpback, right whales, and gray whale.
Also called whalebone whale. [Suborder Mysticeti, order Cetacea: three families and ten species.]

balefire /ˈbālˌfī(ə)r/

I. noun

(US) a large open-air fire; a bonfire.

– origin Old English (recorded in poetry), from obsolete bale ‘great fire’ + fire.

baleful /ˈbālfəl/

I. adjective

1. threatening harm; menacing

• Bill shot a baleful glance in her direction

• the baleful light cast trembling shadows.

2. having a harmful or destructive effect

• drug money has had a baleful impact on the country.

II. derivatives

1. balefully /ˈbālfəlē /

adverb

2. balefulness

noun

– origin Old English bealufull (see bale^2, -ful).

Balenciaga, Cristóbal /ˌbälensēˈäɡə, ˌbälenˈTHyäɡə/

(1895–1972), Spanish couturier. In the 1950s he contributed to the move away from the tight-waisted New Look originated by Christian Dior to a looser, semifitted style.

baler /ˈbālər/

noun

a machine for making paper, hay, or cotton into bales.

Balfour, Arthur James /ˈbalˌfôr/

1st Earl of Balfour (1848–1930), British statesman; prime minister 1902–05. In 1917, as foreign secretary, he issued the Balfour Declaration that favored a Jewish national home in Palestine.

Bali /ˈbälē/

a mountainous island in Indonesia, east of Java; chief city, Denpasar; pop. 3,470,700 (est. 2009). It is noted for its beauty and the richness of its culture.

Balinese /ˌbäləˈnēz/

I. adjective

of or relating to Bali or its people or language.

II. noun

1. a native of Bali.

2. the Indonesian language of Bali.

– origin from Bali, on the pattern of Dutch Balinees.

balk /bôk / ‹Brit.› baulk

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. hesitate or be unwilling to accept an idea or undertaking

• any gardener will at first balk at enclosing the garden.

2. [with obj.] — thwart or hinder (a plan or person)

• the utmost of his influence will be invoked to balk the law.

3. [with obj.] (balk someone of) — prevent a person or animal from having (something)

• the lions, fearing to be balked of their prey.

4. (of a horse) refuse to go on.

5. [with obj.] — ‹archaic› miss or refuse (a chance or invitation).

6. [Baseball] (of a pitcher) make an illegal motion, penalized by an advance of the base runners

• the rookie balked and permitted Robinson to score.

II. noun

1. [Baseball] an illegal motion made by a pitcher that may deceive a base runner.

2. a roughly squared timber beam.

3. any area on a pool or billiard table in which play is restricted in some way.

4. a ridge left unplowed between furrows.

– origin late Old English balc, from Old Norse bálkr ‘partition.’ The original use was ‘unplowed ridge,’ in late Middle English ‘land left unplowed by mistake,’ hence ‘blunder, omission’ (giving rise to the verb sense ‘miss (a chance)’). A late Middle English sense ‘obstacle’ gave rise to the verb senses ‘hesitate’ and ‘hinder.’

Balkan /ˈbälk(ə)n/

adjective

relating to the Balkan Mountains or to the countries occupying the part of SE Europe lying south of the Danube and Sava Rivers

• films from the Balkan countries

• a Balkan state.

Balkanize /ˈbôlkəˌnīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. divide (a region or body) into smaller mutually hostile states or groups.

II. derivatives

Balkanization /ˌbôlkəˌnīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin 1920s: from Balkan Peninsula (where this was done in the late 19th and early 20th cent.) + -ize.

Balkans /ˈbôlkənz/

I. (also Balkan Mountains) — a range of mountains stretching east across Bulgaria from the Serbian frontier to the Black Sea. The highest point is Botev Peak (7,793 feet; 2,375 m).

II. the countries occupying the part of southeastern Europe that lies south of the Danube and Sava rivers and forms a peninsula bounded by the Adriatic and Ionian seas in the west, the Aegean and Black seas in the east, and the Mediterranean Sea in the south.

Balkan Wars /ˌbôlkən ˈwôrz/

I. two wars of 1912–13 that were fought over the last European territories of the Ottoman Empire.

In 1912 Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece, and Montenegro forced Turkey to give up Albania and Macedonia, leaving the area around Constantinople (Istanbul) as the only Ottoman territory in Europe. The following year Bulgaria disputed with Serbia, Greece, and Romania for possession of Macedonia, which was partitioned between Greece and Serbia.

balkline /ˈbôkˌlīn / balk line

noun

a line on a billiard table marking off an area in which play is restricted.

balky /ˈbôkē / ‹Brit.› baulky

adjective

(chiefly US) reluctant; uncooperative

• he was trying to get his balky horse to move.

ball^1 /bôl/

I. noun

1. a solid or hollow sphere or ovoid, especially one that is kicked, thrown, or hit in a game

• a soccer ball.

2. a ball-shaped object

• a ball of wool

• he crushed the card into a ball.

3. ‹historical› a solid nonexplosive missile for a firearm.

4. (N. Amer.) a game played with a ball, especially baseball

• kids have been playing ball in that lot for almost a hundred years.

5. [Baseball] a pitch delivered outside the strike zone that the batter does not attempt to hit

• the umpire called it a ball.

6. [Sports] a pass of a ball from one player to another

• Whelan sent a long ball to Goddard.

7. (in full the ball of the foot) — the rounded protuberant part of the foot at the base of the big toe.

8. (in full the ball of the thumb) — the rounded protuberant part of the hand at the base of the thumb.

9. (balls) — ‹vulgar slang› testicles.

10. courage or nerve.

11. nonsense; rubbish (often said to express strong disagreement).

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (usu. ball up) — squeeze or form (something) into a rounded shape

• Robert balled up his napkin and threw it onto his plate.

2. clench or screw up (one's fist) tightly

• she balled her fist so that the nails dug into her palms.

3. [no obj.] — form a round shape

• the fishing nets eventually ball up and sink.

4. wrap the rootball of (a tree or shrub) in burlap to protect it during transportation.

5. (N. Amer.) ‹vulgar slang› have sexual intercourse with.

III. phrases

1. balled up

entangled; confused

• I got slightly balled up in my facts.

2. the ball is in your court

it is up to you to make the next move.

3. a ball of fire

a person full of energy and enthusiasm.

4. keep the ball rolling

maintain the momentum of an activity.

5. keep one's eye on (or take one's eye off) the ball

keep (or fail to keep) one's attention focused on the matter in hand.

6. on the ball

a. alert to new ideas, methods, and trends

• maintaining contact with customers keeps me on the ball.

b. indicating competence, alertness, or intelligence

• a woman like that, with so much on the ball.

7. play ball

a. play a ball game such as baseball

• we noticed some youngsters playing ball in a vacant lot.

b. ‹informal› work willingly with others; cooperate

• if his lawyers won't play ball, there's nothing we can do.

c. [Baseball] the umpire's command to begin or resume play.

8. start (or get or set) the ball rolling

set an activity in motion; make a start

• to start the ball rolling, the government was asked to contribute a million dollars to the fund.

9. the whole ball of wax

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› everything.

IV. phrasal verbs

balls) something up ">ball ( balls) something up

bungle something.

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse bǫllr, of Germanic origin.

ball^2 /bôl/

I. noun

a formal social gathering for dancing

• the social season was highlighted by debutante balls

• [as modifier] a ball gown.

II. phrases

have a ball

‹informal› enjoy oneself greatly; have a lot of fun

• I had a ball on my fortieth birthday.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French bal ‘a dance,’ from late Latin ballare ‘to dance’; related to Greek ballizein ‘to dance’ (also ballein ‘to throw’).

-ball

combining form

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› used in various derogatory terms as an intensifier

• sleazeball

• goofball.

Ball, John /bôl/

(died 1381), English rebel. He was a priest who preached egalitarianism. Following the Peasants' Revolt, he was hanged as a traitor.

Ball, Lucille

(1911–89), US comedienne known in particular for the popular television series I Love Lucy (1951–55); full name Lucille Désirée Ball. Notable movies: Stage Door (1937), Sorrowful Jones (1949), and Yours, Mine, and Ours (1968).

ballad /ˈbaləd/

I. noun

1. a poem or song narrating a story in short stanzas. Traditional ballads are typically of unknown authorship, having been passed on orally from one generation to the next as part of the folk culture.

2. a slow sentimental or romantic song.

– origin late 15th cent. (denoting a light, simple song): from Old French balade, from Provençal balada ‘dance, song to dance to,’ from balar ‘to dance,’ from late Latin ballare (see ball^2). The sense ‘narrative poem’ dates from the mid 18th cent.

ballade /bəˈläd/

I. noun

1. a poem normally composed of three stanzas and an envoi. The last line of the opening stanza is used as a refrain, and the same rhymes, strictly limited in number, recur throughout.

2. a short, lyrical piece of music, especially one for piano.

– origin late Middle English: earlier spelling and pronunciation of ballad.

balladeer /ˌbaləˈdir/

noun

a singer or composer of ballads.

ballad opera

noun

a theatrical entertainment popular in early 18th-century England, taking the form of a satirical play interspersed with traditional or operatic songs. The best-known example is John Gay's The Beggar's Opera (1728).

balladry /ˈbalədrē/

noun

1. ballads collectively.

2. the art of writing or performing ballads.

ballad stanza

noun

[Prosody] a four-line stanza in iambic meter in which the first and third unrhymed lines have four metrical feet and the second and fourth rhyming lines have three metrical feet.

ball and chain /ˌbôl (ə)n ˈCHān/

noun

1. a heavy metal ball secured by a chain to the leg of a prisoner to prevent escape.

2. a crippling encumbrance

• the ball and chain of debt.

ball-and-socket joint

noun

a natural or manufactured joint or coupling, such as the hip joint, in which a partially spherical end lies in a socket, allowing multidirectional movement and rotation.

Ballard, J. G. /ˈbalərd/

(1930–2009), British novelist and short-story writer; full name James Graham Ballard. Notable works: The Drowned World (1962), Crash (1973), and Empire of the Sun (1984).

ballast /ˈbaləst/

I. noun

1. heavy material, such as gravel, sand, iron, or lead, placed low in a vessel to improve its stability.

2. heavy material carried in an airship or on a hot-air balloon to stabilize it, and jettisoned when greater altitude is required.

3. something that gives stability or substance

• the film is an entertaining comedy with some serious ideas thrown in for ballast.

4. gravel or coarse stone used to form the bed of a railroad track or road.

5. a mixture of coarse and fine aggregate for making concrete.

6. a passive component used in an electric circuit to moderate changes in current.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be ballasted)

1. give stability to (a ship) by putting a heavy substance in its bilge

• the vessel has been ballasted to give the necessary floating stability.

2. form (the bed of a railroad line or road) with gravel or coarse stone.

III. phrases

in ballast

(of a ship) laden only with ballast.

– origin mid 16th cent.: probably of Low German or Scandinavian origin.

ball bearing /bôl ˈberiNG/

noun

1. a bearing between a wheel and a fixed axle, in which the rotating part and the stationary part are separated by a ring of small solid metal balls that reduce friction.

2. a metal ball used in a ball bearing.

ball boy

noun

a boy who retrieves balls that go out of play during a game such as tennis or baseball, and who supplies players or umpires with new balls.

ball-breaker /bôl ˈbrākər / ball-buster

I. noun

1. ‹informal› a tough disciplinarian or taskmaster

• to be one of the world's best chefs, you have to be a ball-breaker.

2. ‹informal› a dominating or threatening woman who destroys a man's self-confidence.

3. ‹informal› a demanding and punishing task or situation

• the early stretch of the race is the ball-breaker.

II. derivatives

ball-breaking

adjective

ballcarrier /ˈbôlˌkerēər/

noun

[Football] a player in possession of the ball and attempting to advance it.

ballcock /ˈbôlkäk/

noun

a valve that automatically fills a tank after liquid has been drawn from it. Used, for example, in a flush toilet, a ballcock has a float on the end of a pivoting arm that opens the valve when the arm drops.

baller /ˈbôlər/

I. noun

1. a person or device that makes or forms something into balls

• a melon baller.

2. (US) ‹informal› a player of a ball game, especially a talented basketball player

• he's a baller who will take an open shot or create one.

3. a successful person, typically one who has a lavish or self-indulgent lifestyle

• who doesn't feel like a baller sipping whiskey out of a personalized glass?

II. adjective

(US) ‹informal› extremely good or impressive; excellent

• he must have some pretty baller pick-up lines to be reeling in all those ladies

• this place is baller!

ballerina /ˌbaləˈrēnə/

I. noun

1. a female ballet dancer.

2. [usu. as modifier] — a ballet shoe

• wear ballerina pumps with a pretty day dress for a perfect spring/summer look.

• New Yorkers walk a lot, so ballerinas make sense.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Italian, feminine of ballerino ‘dancing master,’ from ballare ‘to dance,’ from late Latin.

Ballesteros, Severiano /ˌbīyəˈstārōs, ˌbäləˈste(ə)rōs/

(1957–2011), Spanish golfer; full name Severiano Ballesteros Sota; known as Seve Ballesteros. In 1979, he became the youngest player in the 20th century to win the British Open, and he won it again in 1984 and 1988. In 1980, he was the youngest-ever and the second European to win the US Masters; he won it again in 1983. He holds the record for most European Tour wins (50).

ballet /baˈlā ˈbalā/

I. noun

1. an artistic dance form performed to music using precise and highly formalized set steps and gestures. Classical ballet, which originated in Renaissance Italy and established its present form during the 19th century, is characterized by light, graceful, fluid movements and the use of pointe shoes.

2. a creative work or performance of ballet, or the music written for it.

3. a group of dancers who regularly perform ballets

• the New York City Ballet.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, from Italian balletto, diminutive of ballo ‘a dance,’ from late Latin ballare ‘to dance’ (see ball^2).

balletic /baˈledik bəˈledik/

I. adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of ballet

• a graceful, balletic movement.

II. derivatives

balletically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

ballet master /baˈlā ˈmastər/

noun

a person employed by a ballet company to teach and rehearse dancers.

balletomane /baˈledəˌmān/

I. noun

a ballet enthusiast.

II. derivatives

balletomania /-ˌletəˈmānēə /

noun

– origin 1920s: from ballet + Greek manēs ‘mad.’

ballet shoe ballet pump, ballet flat

noun

a light, round-toed shoe with very flat heels for women or girls, resembling the type worn by ballet dancers.

Ballets Russes /ˌbalā ˈro͞os/

I. a ballet company formed in Paris in 1909 by Sergei Diaghilev.

The company presented a unified whole encompassing music, dance, decor, and costume: music was commissioned from the composers Stravinsky, Satie, and Rimsky-Korsakov, while Picasso and Jean Cocteau designed sets. The company's choreographers and dancers included Michel Fokine, Anna Pavlova, Vaslav Nijinsky, and George Balanchine. It was responsible for reviving ballet as an art form in western Europe.

ball float

noun

the spherical float attached to the pivoting arm of the ballcock in a toilet tank.

ball game /ˈbôl ˌɡām/

noun

1. a game played with a ball.

2. (N. Amer.) a baseball game

• I took the afternoon off and went to a ball game.

3. [in sing.] — ‹informal› a particular situation, especially one that is completely different from the previous situation

• making the film was a whole new ball game for her.

ball girl

noun

a girl who retrieves balls that go out of play during a game such as tennis or baseball, and who supplies players or umpires with new balls.

ballgown /ˈbôlˌɡoun/

noun

a woman's elaborate full-length dress suitable for wearing to balls and similar social gatherings.

ballhawk /ˈbôlˌhôk/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a skilled ball player, in particular a football or basketball player adept at stealing or intercepting the ball or an outfielder in baseball skilled at catching fly balls.

II. derivatives

ballhawking

noun

ball hockey

noun

(Canadian) a form of hockey played in a gymnasium or arena, or on any outdoor surface without ice, using a hard plastic ball in place of a puck

• I remember playing ball hockey with friends

• [as modifier] The youngsters set up a ball hockey game in a parking lot.

ballista /bəˈlistə/

I. noun

1. a catapult used in ancient warfare for hurling large stones.

2. a large crossbow for firing a spear.

– origin early 16th cent.: from Latin, based on Greek ballein ‘to throw.’

ballistic /bəˈlistik/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of or relating to projectiles or their flight.

2. moving under the force of gravity only.

II. phrases

go ballistic

‹informal› fly into a rage.

III. derivatives

ballistically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin late 18th cent.: from ballista + -ic.

ballistic missile /bəˈlistik ˈmisəl/

noun

a missile with a high, arching trajectory, that is initially powered and guided but falls under gravity onto its target.
Compare with guided.

ballistics /bəˈlistiks/

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the science of projectiles and firearms.

2. the study of the effects of being fired on a bullet, cartridge, or gun.

ballistocardiogram /bəˌlistōˈkärdēəˌɡram/

noun

a record made by a ballistocardiograph.

ballistocardiograph /bəˌlistōˈkärdēəˌɡraf/

noun

an instrument for recording the movements of the body caused by ejection of blood from the heart at each beat.

ball lightning /bôl ˈlītniNG/

noun

a rare and little known kind of lightning having the form of a moving globe of light several centimeters across that persists for periods of up to a minute.

ballon /bəˈlôn/

I. noun

1. (in dancing) the ability to appear effortlessly suspended while performing movements during a jump.

2. variant spelling of balloon (sense 4 of the noun).

– origin French, from Italian ballone, from balla ‘ball.’

ballonet /ˌbaləˈnā / ballonnet

I. noun

a separate gas- or air-filled compartment within the main envelope of a balloon or airship, designed for the maintenance or adjustment of the envelope's shape, buoyancy, or orientation.

– origin French.

balloon /bəˈlo͞on/

I. noun

1. a brightly colored rubber sac inflated with air and then sealed at the neck, used as a children's toy or a decoration.

2. (also hot-air balloon) — a large bag filled with hot air or gas to make it rise in the air, typically carrying a basket for passengers

• he set his sights on crossing the Pacific by balloon.

3. a rounded outline in which the words or thoughts of characters in a comic strip or cartoon are written.

4. (also balloon glass) — a large rounded drinking glass, used for brandy and other drinks.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. swell out in a spherical shape; billow

• the trousers ballooned out below his waist

• [with obj.] the wind ballooned her sleeves.

2. (of an amount of money) increase rapidly

• the company's debt has ballooned in the last five years

• (as adj. ballooning) ballooning government spending.

3. (of a person) increase rapidly and dramatically in weight

• I had ballooned on the school's starchy diet.

4. travel by hot-air balloon

• he is famous for ballooning across oceans.

III. adjective

resembling a balloon; puffed

• a flouncy balloon curtain.

– origin late 16th cent. (originally denoting a game played with a large inflated leather ball): from French ballon or Italian ballone ‘large ball.’

balloon angioplasty /bəˈlo͞on ˈanjēəˌplastē/

noun

[Medicine] surgical widening of a blocked or narrowed blood vessel, especially a coronary artery, by means of a balloon catheter.

balloon catheter

noun

[Medicine] a type of catheter incorporating a small balloon that may be introduced into a canal, duct, or blood vessel and then inflated in order to clear an obstruction or dilate a narrowed region.

ballooning /bəˈlo͞oniNG/

I. noun

the sport or pastime of flying in a balloon.

II. derivatives

balloonist /bəˈlo͞onəst /

noun

balloon mortgage

noun

a mortgage in which a large portion of the borrowed principal is repaid in a single payment at the end of the loan period.

balloon payment

noun

a repayment of the outstanding principal sum made at the end of a loan period, interest only having been paid hitherto.

balloon tire

I. noun

a large tire containing air at low pressure.

II. derivatives

balloon-tired

adjective

balloon vine

noun

a tropical American vine with inflated balloonlike pods.
[Cardiospermum halicacabum, family Sapiondaceae.]

ballot /ˈbalət/

I. noun

1. a process of voting, in writing and typically in secret

• next year's primary ballot

• the commissioners were elected by ballot.

2. (the ballot) — the total number of votes cast in a ballot

• he won 54 percent of the ballot.

3. the piece of paper used to record someone's vote.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of an organization) elicit a secret vote from (members) on a particular issue

• the union is preparing to ballot its members on the same issue.

2. [no obj.] — cast one's vote on a particular issue

• ambulance crews balloted unanimously to reject the deal.

3. decide the allocation of (something) to applicants by drawing lots.

– origin mid 16th cent. (originally denoting a small colored ball placed in a container to register a vote): from Italian ballotta, diminutive of balla (see ball^1).

ballot box /ˈbalət ˌbäks/

noun

1. a sealed box into which voters put completed ballots.

2. (the ballot box) — democratic principles and methods

• the proper remedy was the ballot box and not the court.

ballotin /ˈbälətən/

I. noun

a decorative cardboard box, slightly larger at the top and with broad flaps, in which chocolates are sold.

– origin French, from ballot ‘a small package of goods.’

ballottine /ˈbaləˌtēn/

I. noun

a dish of meat, poultry, or fish that is stuffed and rolled.

– origin French.

ballpark /ˈbôlˌpärk/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a baseball stadium or field.

2. ‹informal› a particular area or range

• we can make a pretty good guess that this figure's in the ballpark.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. ‹informal› (of prices or costs) approximate; rough

• the ballpark figure is $400–500.

ball-peen hammer

noun

a hammer with a rounded end opposite the face.

ballplayer /ˈbôlˌplāər/

noun

(N. Amer.) a baseball player.

ballpoint /ˈbôlˌpoint / ballpoint pen

noun

a pen with a tiny ball as its writing point. The ball transfers ink from a cartridge to the paper.

ball race

noun

either of the ring-shaped components of a ball bearing that have grooves in which the balls run.

ballroom /ˈbôlˌro͞om ˈbôlˌro͝om/

noun

1. a large room used for dancing.

2. ballroom dancing

• the number of people learning ballroom has doubled in the last two years.

ballroom dancing

I. noun

formal social dancing in couples, popular as a recreation and also as a competitive activity. The ballroom dance repertoire includes dances developed from old European folk dances such as the waltz, Latin American dances such as the tango, rumba, and cha-cha, and dances of 20th-century origin such as the foxtrot and quickstep.

II. derivatives

1. ballroom dance

noun

2. ballroom dancer

noun

ball-shaped

adjective

spherical like a ball

• a wheelbarrow with a ball-shaped wheel for added stability.

balls-up /ˈbôlzəp/

noun

(Brit.) ‹vulgar slang› a bungled or badly carried out task or action; a mess.

ballsy /ˈbôlzē/

I. adjective

‹informal› tough and courageous

• a cool, ballsy woman who could not be intimidated.

II. derivatives

ballsiness

noun

– origin 1950s: from ball^1 (sense 4 of the noun) + -y^1.

ball valve /ˈbôl ˌvalv/

noun

1. a one-way valve that is opened and closed by pressure on a ball that fits into a cup-shaped opening.

2. (Brit.) another term for ballcock.

ballyhoo /ˈbalēˌho͞o / ‹informal›

I. noun

extravagant publicity or fuss

• after all the ballyhoo, the film was a flop.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) praise or publicize extravagantly
(as adj. ballyhooed)

• a much-ballyhooed musical extravaganza.

– origin late 19th cent.: American coinage of unknown origin.

balm /bä(l)m/

I. noun

1. a fragrant ointment or preparation used to heal or soothe the skin.

2. something that has a comforting, soothing, or restorative effect

• the murmur of the water can provide balm for troubled spirits.

3. a tree that yields a fragrant resinous substance, typically one used in medicine.
[Species in several families, in particular those of the genus Commiphora (family Burseraceae).]

4. the resinous substance yielded by a balm.

5. (also lemon balm or sweet balm) — a bushy herb of the mint family, with leaves smelling and tasting of lemon.
[Melissa officinalis, family Labiatae.]

6. used in names of other aromatic herbs of the mint family, e.g., bee balm.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘preparation for embalming, fragrant resinous substance’): from Old French basme, from Latin balsamum (see balsam).

balmacaan /ˌbalməˈkan, -ˈkän/

noun

a loose overcoat with raglan sleeves.

Balmer series /ˈbämər ˌsirēz / ‹Physics›

a series of lines in the visible and ultraviolet spectrum of atomic hydrogen, between 656 and 365 nanometers.

balm of Gilead /ˌbä(l)m əv ˈɡilēəd/

I. noun

1. a fragrant medicinal resin obtained from certain kinds of tree.

2. a tree that yields a fragrant medicinal resin, in particular
[● an Arabian tree traditionally of importance in medicine and perfumery (Commiphora gileadensis, family Burseraceae). ● either of two poplars with sticky aromatic buds (Populus × gileadensis and the balsam poplar, family Salicaceae). ● the balsam fir.]

– origin early 16th cent.: balm from a translation in Coverdale's Bible (Gen. 37:25), rendered ‘resin’ in the Vulgate; Gilead from the assumption that this resin is the substance mentioned in the Bible as coming from Gilead.

balmoral /ˌbalˈmôrəl / Balmoral

I. noun

1. a type of brimless round cocked hat with a cockade or ribbons attached, worn by certain Scottish regiments.

2. a heavy laced leather walking boot.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

Balmoral Castle

a vacation residence of the British royal family, on the Dee River in Scotland.

balmy /ˈbä(l)mē/

I. adjective

1. (of the weather) pleasantly warm

• the balmy days of late summer.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹dated› extremely foolish; eccentric

• this is a balmy decision.

3. mad; crazy

• I think he's gone balmy again.

II. derivatives

balminess /ˈbä(l)mēnəs /

noun

balneology /ˌbalnēˈäləjē/

I. noun

1. the study of therapeutic bathing and medicinal springs.

2. another term for balneotherapy.

II. derivatives

1. balneological /-nēəˈläjikəl /

adjective

2. balneologist /-jist /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin balneum ‘bath’ + -logy.

balneotherapy /ˌbalnēōˈTHerəpē/

I. noun

the treatment of disease by bathing in mineral springs.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin balneum ‘bath’ + therapy.

baloney /bəˈlōnē/

noun

1. ‹informal› foolish or deceptive talk; nonsense

• typical salesman's baloney.

[corruption of bologna.]

2. ‹informal› (N. Amer.) variant of bologna.

Balqash, Lake /bälˈkäSH, balˈkaSH / Balkhash

a shallow salt lake in Kazakhstan.

balsa /ˈbôlsə/

I. noun

1. (also balsa wood) — a very lightweight wood used in particular for making models and rafts.

2. the fast-growing tropical American tree from which this wood is obtained.
[Ochroma lagopus , family Bombacaceae.]

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting a kind of South American raft or fishing boat): from Spanish, ‘raft.’

balsam /ˈbôlsəm/

I. noun

1. an aromatic resinous substance, such as balm, exuded by various trees and shrubs and used as a base for certain fragrances and medical and cosmetic preparations.

2. a tree or shrub that yields balsam.

3. a herbaceous plant cultivated for its flowers, which are typically pink or purple and carried high on the stem.
[Genus Impatiens, family Balsaminaceae: several species, including garden balsam (I. balsamina) and Himalayan balsam (I. glandulifera), which is naturalized in Europe and North America, sometimes to the detriment of the native flora.]

– origin Old English, via Latin from Greek balsamon.

balsam fir /ˈbôlsəm fər/

noun

a North American fir tree that yields Canada balsam.
[Abies balsamea, family Pinaceae.]

balsamic /bôlˈsamik/

I. adjective

1. of the nature of or yielding balsam

• balsamic resins.

2. relating to balsamic vinegar

• a balsamic dressing on the side.

II. noun

short for balsamic vinegar:

• grilled vegetables with balsamic.

balsamic vinegar

noun

dark, sweet Italian vinegar that has been matured in wooden barrels.

balsam poplar

noun

a North American poplar tree that yields balsam.
[Populus balsamifera, family Salicaceae.]

Balsas, Rio /ˌrēō ˈbôlsəs/

a river that flows 450 miles (725 km) through central Mexico, through Puebla, Guerrero, and Michoacán states, into the Pacific Ocean.

Balt /bôlt/

I. noun

1. a speaker of a Baltic language; a Lithuanian or Latvian.

2. a native or inhabitant of one of the Baltic States of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.

3. ‹historical› a German-speaking inhabitant of any of the Baltic States of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.

II. adjective

of or relating to the Balts.

– origin late 19th cent.: from late Latin Balthae ‘dwellers near the Baltic Sea.’

Balthasar /balˈTHāzər / Balthazar

one of the three Magi.

balthazar /balˈTHāzər/

I. noun

a very large wine bottle, with a capacity of 12 liters, equivalent to that of 16 ordinary wine bottles.

– origin 1930s: from Balthazar, the name of the King of Babylon, who “made a great feast…and drank wine before a thousand” (Dan. 5:1).

Baltic /ˈbôltik/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to the Baltic Sea or the region surrounding it.

2. denoting, belonging to, or relating to a branch of the Indo-European family of languages consisting of Lithuanian, Latvian, and Old Prussian.

II. noun

1. (the Baltic) — the Baltic Sea or the Baltic States.

2. the Baltic languages collectively.

– origin late 16th cent.: from medieval Latin Balticus, from late Latin Balthae ‘dwellers near the Baltic Sea.’

Baltic Sea

a sea in northern Europe. Almost landlocked, it is linked with the North Sea by Kattegat Strait and the Øresund Channel.

Baltic States /ˈbôltik stāts/

I. the independent republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

II. the ten members of the Council of Baltic States established in 1992: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, and Sweden.

Baltimore /ˈbôltəmôr/

I. a seaport in northern Maryland, the largest city in Maryland, on Chesapeake Bay; pop. 636,919 (est. 2008).

– origin named after George Calvert, the first Baron Baltimore (c. 1580–1632), who in 1632 obtained a grant of land for the colony that later became Maryland.

Baltimore County

a county in north central Maryland that surrounds but does not include the city of Baltimore; pop. 785,618 (est. 2008). Towson is its seat.

Baltistan /ˌbôltəˈstan, ˌbôltəˈstän/

a region of the Karakoram range of the Himalayas, to the south of K2 peak.
Also called Little Tibet.

Balto-Slavic /ˌbôltōˈslävik/

I. noun

a branch of the Indo-European language family that includes the Baltic and Slavic languages.

II. adjective

relating to Balto-Slavic.

Baluchi /bəˈlo͞oCHē / Baluch

I. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Baluchistan.

2. the Iranian language of Baluchistan.

II. adjective

relating to the Baluchi or their language.

– origin from Persian Balūč(ī).

Baluchistan /bəˈlo͞oCHiˌstan, -stän/

I. a mountainous region of western Asia that includes part of southeastern Iran, southwestern Afghanistan, and western Pakistan.

II. a province of western Pakistan; capital, Quetta.

baluster /ˈbaləstər/

I. noun

1. a short pillar or column, typically decorative in design, in a series supporting a rail or coping.

2. [as modifier] — (of a furniture leg or other decorative item) having the form of a baluster.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French balustre, from Italian balaustro, from balaust(r)a ‘wild pomegranate flower’ (via Latin from Greek balaustion), so named because part of the pillar resembles the curving calyx tube of the flower.

balustrade /baləˈstrād/

I. noun

a railing supported by balusters, especially an ornamental parapet on a balcony, bridge, or terrace.

II. derivatives

balustraded /ˈbaləˌstrādəd /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, from balustre (see baluster).

Balzac, Honoré de /ˈbôlˌzak, ˈbal-/

I. (1799–1850), French novelist; chiefly remembered for his series of ninety-one interconnected novels and stories known collectively as La Comédie humaine.

II. derivatives

Balzacian /bôlˈzakēən, bal- /

adjective

bam /bam/

I. exclamation

used to imitate the sound of a hard blow or to convey the abruptness of an occurrence

• he'll have to make a dash for it, and when he does, bam, he's dead.

– origin 1920s: imitative.

Bamako /bäməˈkō baməˈkō/

the capital of Mali, in the south part of the country, on the Niger River; pop. 1,728,400 (est. 2009).

Bambara /bämˈbärə/

I. noun

1. a member of an indigenous people living chiefly in Mali.

2. the language of the Bambara, belonging to the Mande group.

II. adjective

relating to the Bambara or their language.

bambino /bamˈbēnō/

I. noun

1. ‹often humorous› a baby or young child.

2. ‹often humorous› an image of the infant Jesus.

– origin early 18th cent.: Italian, diminutive of bambo ‘silly.’

bamboo /bamˈbo͞o/

I. noun

1. a giant woody grass that grows chiefly in the tropics, where it is widely cultivated.
[Bambusa and other genera, family Gramineae.]

2. the hollow jointed stem of the bamboo plant, used as a cane or to make furniture and implements
[as modifier]

• a bamboo serving tray.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Dutch bamboes, based on Malay mambu.

bamboo curtain

I. noun — (often the Bamboo Curtain)

1. ‹chiefly historical› a political and economic barrier between China and noncommunist countries.

– origin 1940s: after Iron Curtain.

bamboo shoot /ˈˌbamˈbo͞o SHo͞ot/

noun

a young shoot of bamboo, eaten as a vegetable.

bamboozle /bamˈbo͞ozəl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› fool or cheat (someone)

• Tom Sawyer bamboozled the neighborhood boys into doing it for him.

2. ‹informal› confound or perplex

• bamboozled by the number of savings plans being offered.

– origin early 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

bamboozlement /bamˈbo͞ozəlmənt/

noun

‹informal› a state of deception or mystification

• wave after wave of bamboozlement is in store as these stories unfold.

BAME

abbreviation

(Brit.) black, Asian, and minority ethnic (used to refer to members of nonwhite communities in the UK)

• about 26 percent of local government employees are from BAME backgrounds.

bammy /ˈbamē / bammie

I. noun

(in the West Indies) a flat roll or pancake made from cassava flour.

– origin probably from a West African language.

ban^1 /ban/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. officially or legally prohibit

• he was banned from driving for a year

• a proposal to ban all trade in ivory.

2. officially exclude (someone) from a place

• he once was banned from a casino in Reno.

II. noun

1. an official or legal prohibition

• a proposed ban on cigarette advertising

• a three-year driving ban.

2. an official exclusion of a person from an organization, country, or activity

• a proposed ban on foreign correspondents was condemned by international leaders.

3. ‹archaic› a curse.

– origin Old English bannan ‘summon by a public proclamation,’ of Germanic origin, reinforced by Old Norse banna ‘curse, prohibit’; the noun is partly from Old French ban ‘proclamation, summons, banishment.’

ban^2 /ban/

I. noun

a monetary unit of Romania, equal to one hundredth of a leu.

– origin Romanian.

Banaba /bəˈnäbə, -ˈnabə/

an island in the western Pacific, just south of the equator to the west of the Gilbert Islands. Formerly within the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, it has been part of Kiribati since 1979.
Also called Ocean Island.

banal /bəˈnäl bəˈnal/

I. adjective

so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring

• songs with banal, repeated words.

II. derivatives

banally

adverb

– origin mid 18th cent. (originally relating to feudal service in the sense ‘compulsory,’ hence ‘common to all’): from French, from ban ‘a proclamation or call to arms’; ultimately of Germanic origin and related to ban^1.

banality /bəˈnalədē/

noun

1. the fact or condition of being banal; unoriginality

• there is an essential banality to the story he tells.

2. something that is banal

• the banalities of contemporary celebrity culture.

banana /bəˈnanə/

I. noun

1. a long curved fruit that grows in clusters and has soft pulpy flesh and yellow skin when ripe.

2. (also banana plant or banana tree) — the tropical and subtropical treelike plant that bears this fruit. It has very large leaves and resembles a palm, but lacks a woody trunk.
[Genus Musa, family Musaceae: several species, in particular M. sapientum.]

II. adjective

(bananas) — ‹informal› insane or extremely silly

• he's beginning to think I'm bananas.

III. phrases

1. go bananas

a. ‹informal› go insane

• Roy's customers think the council has gone bananas.

b. rave; cheer wildly

• I have never had a product that people went so bananas over.

c. become extremely angry or excited

• she went bananas when I said I was going to leave the job.

2. second banana

‹informal› the second most important person in an organization or activity.

3. top banana

‹informal› the most important person in an organization or activity.

– origin late 16th cent.: via Portuguese or Spanish from Mande.

banana belt

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a region with a comparatively warm climate.

banana oil

noun

a colorless liquid with a bananalike odor used in flavorings and as a solvent.
[Chem. formula: CH_3CO_2C_5H_11.]

banana plug

noun

[Electronics] ‹informal› a single-pole connector with a curved spring along its tip.

bananaquit /bəˈnanəˌkwit/

I. noun

a small songbird with a curved bill, typically with a white stripe over the eye, a sooty gray back, and yellow underparts. It is common in the West Indies and Central and South America.
[Coereba flaveola, the only member of the family Coerebidae (sometimes placed in the subfamily Parulinae, family Emberizidae).]

– origin see quit^2.

banana republic

noun

‹chiefly derogatory› a small nation, especially in Central America, dependent on one crop or the influx of foreign capital.

banana seat

noun

a narrow, elongated bicycle seat that curves up toward the rear.

banana split /bəˈnanə split/

noun

a dessert made with a split banana, ice cream, sauce, whipped cream, nuts, and a cherry.

banausic /bəˈnôzik, -sik/

I. adjective

1. ‹formal› not operating on a refined or elevated level; mundane.

2. ‹formal› relating to technical work.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek banausikos ‘of or for artisans.’

banco /ˈbaNGkō/

I. exclamation

used in baccarat, chemin de fer, and similar games to express a player's willingness to meet the banker's whole stake single-handed.

– origin late 18th cent.: via French from Italian.

Bancroft, Anne /ˈbanˌkrôft, ˈbaNG-, -ˌkräft/

(1931–2005), US actress; born Anna Maria Louisa Italiano. For her stage and film portrayal of Helen Keller's teacher Annie Sullivan in The Miracle Worker, she won a 1960 Tony Award and a 1962 Academy Award. Her role as Mrs. Robinson in the movie The Graduate (1967) is considered iconic.

band^1 /band/

I. noun

1. a flat, thin strip or loop of material put around something, typically to hold it together or to decorate it

• wads of banknotes fastened with gummed paper bands.

2. a plain ring for the finger, especially a gold wedding ring

• a narrow band of gold was her only jewelry.

3. [Ornithology] (N. Amer.) a ring of metal placed around a bird's leg to identify it.

4. (bands) — a collar with two hanging strips, worn by certain clerics and academics as part of their formal dress.

5. [Mechanics] a belt connecting wheels or pulleys.

6. a stripe or elongated area of a different color, texture, or composition than its surroundings

• a long, narrow band of cloud.

7. a range of frequencies or wavelengths in a spectrum (especially of radio frequencies)

• channels in the UHF band.

8. ‹archaic› a thing that restrains, binds, or unites.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. surround (an object) with something in the form of a strip or ring, typically for reinforcement or decoration

• doors are banded with iron to make them stronger.

2. [Ornithology] (N. Amer.) put a band on (a bird) for identification.

3. mark (something) with a stripe or stripes of a different color

• the bird's bill is banded across the middle with black

• (as adj. banded) banded agate.

– origin late Old English (sense 4 of the noun), from Old Norse, reinforced in late Middle English by Old French bande, of Germanic origin; related to bind.

band^2 /band/

I. noun

1. a group of people who have a common interest or purpose

• guerrilla bands

• a determined band of activists.

2. [Anthropology] a subgroup of a tribe.

3. a small group of musicians and vocalists who play pop, jazz, or rock music

• the band's last two albums

• a local band.

4. a group of musicians who play brass, wind, or percussion instruments

• a military band.

5. ‹informal› an orchestra.

6. (N. Amer.) a herd or flock

• moving bands of caribou.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of people or organizations) form a group for a mutual purpose

• local people banded together to fight the company.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French bande, of Germanic origin; related to banner.

Banda, Hastings Kamuzu /ˈbandə/

(1906–1997), Malawian statesman; prime minister 1964–94; the first president of the Republic of Malawi 1966–94.

bandage /ˈbandij/

I. noun

a strip of material used to bind a wound or to protect an injured part of the body

• her leg was swathed in bandages

• a sterile adhesive bandage with nonstick pad.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. bind (a wound or a part of the body) with a protective strip of material

• bandage the foot so that the ankle is supported

• the doctors bandaged up his wounds.

III. derivatives

bandaging /ˈbandəjiNG /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from French, from bande (see band^2).

bandage dress

noun

a tight-fitting dress made of a stretchy fabric that appears to be wrapped around the body in layers.

• she wore a figure-hugging gold Herve Leger bandage dress and peep-toe platform shoes.

Band-Aid /ˈbandād/

noun

1. ‹trademark› (chiefly N. Amer.) an adhesive bandage with a gauze pad in the center, used to cover minor wounds.

2. (also band-aid) — ‹trademark› (chiefly N. Amer.) a makeshift or temporary solution
[as modifier]

• a band-aid solution to a much deeper problem.

bandanna /banˈdanə / bandana

I. noun

a large handkerchief, typically having a colorful pattern, worn tied around the head or neck.

– origin mid 18th cent.: probably via Portuguese from Hindi.

Bandaranaike, Sirimavo /ˌbəndərəˈnīkə/

(1916–2000), Sinhalese stateswoman; prime minister of Sri Lanka 1960–65, 1970–77, and 1994–2000; full name Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike. The world's first woman prime minister, she succeeded her husband, S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike (1899–1959), after his assassination. Their daughter Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga (1949–) was Sri Lanka's president 1994–2005.

Bandar Lampung /ˌbəndər ˈlämpo͝oNG/

a city at the southern tip of Sumatra, in Indonesia; pop. 916,600 (est. 2009). It was created in the 1980s as a result of the amalgamation of the city of Tanjungkarang and the nearby port of Telukbetung.

Bandar Seri Begawan /ˌbändər ˌserē bəˈɡäwən/

the capital of Brunei, in the northern part of the country; pop. 32,300 (est. 2008).

Banda Sea /ˈbandə, ˈbändə/

a sea in eastern Indonesia, between the central and south Molucca Islands.

B & B /ˌbē ən ˈbē/

abbreviation

bed and breakfast.

bandbox /ˈbandbäks/

I. noun

a cardboard box, typically circular, for carrying hats.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from band^2 + box^1, the box being used originally for neckbands.

B & E

abbreviation

breaking and entering.

bandeau /banˈdō/

I. noun

1. a narrow band worn around the head to hold the hair in position

• their dusty blonde hair smoothly combed in bandeaux.

2. a woman's strapless top formed from a band of fabric fitting around the bust

• white two-piece bathing suit with quilted sateen bandeau top.

– origin early 18th cent.: from French, from Old French bandel, diminutive of bande (see band^2).

banderilla /ˌbandəˈrēyə/

I. noun

a decorated dart thrust into a bull's neck or shoulders during a bullfight.

– origin Spanish, diminutive of bandera ‘banner.’

banderillero /ˌbandərēˈyerō/

I. noun

a bullfighter who uses banderillas.

– origin Spanish.

banderole /ˈbandəˌrōl / banderol

I. noun

1. a narrow flaglike object, in particular

2. a long, narrow flag with a cleft end, flown at a masthead.

3. an ornamental streamer on a knight's lance.

4. a ribbonlike stone scroll bearing an inscription.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French, from Italian banderuola, diminutive of bandiera ‘banner.’

bandicoot /ˈbandēˌko͞ot/

I. noun

a mainly insectivorous marsupial native to Australia and New Guinea.
[Family Peramelidae: several genera and species, some of which are endangered or extinct, including the short-nosed bandicoot (Isodon obesulus).]

– origin late 18th cent.: from Telugu pandikokku, literally ‘pig-rat.’

bandicoot rat

noun

an Asian rat that is often a destructive pest.
[Genera Bandicota and Nesokia, family Muridae: four species, in particular the large B. indica.]

banding /ˈbandiNG/

noun

1. the presence or formation of visible stripes of contrasting color

• the yellow and black banding of bees and wasps.

2. [Biochemistry] the pattern of regions on a chromosome made visible by staining.

3. [Biochemistry] the separation of molecules into bands of concentration in a gel.

4. the marking of individual birds or other animals with bands or rings

• banding is a useful tool for the study of migration.

bandit /ˈbandit/

I. noun

1. a robber or outlaw belonging to a gang and typically operating in an isolated or lawless area

• the bandit produced a weapon and demanded money.

2. ‹military slang› an enemy aircraft.

II. phrases

make out like a bandit

profit greatly from an activity.

III. derivatives

banditry /ˈbanditrē /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from Italian bandito, literally ‘banned,’ past participle of bandire.

bandito /banˈdēdō / bandido

noun

(N. Amer.) a Mexican bandit, especially as represented in movies and popular culture.

bandleader /ˈbandˌlēdər / band leader

noun

a player or conductor at the head of a musical band.

bandmaster /ˈban(d)ˌmastər/

noun

the conductor of a musical band, especially a brass or military one.

bandmate /ˈbandˌmāt/

noun

a fellow musician or singer in a band.

bandog /ˈbandäɡ/

I. noun

a dog bred for its strength and ferocity by crossing aggressive breeds.

– origin Middle English (originally denoting a dog kept on a chain or “band”): from band^1 + dog.

bandolier /ˌbandəˈlir / bandoleer

I. noun

a shoulder-belt with loops or pockets for cartridges.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French bandoulière; perhaps from Spanish bandolera (from banda ‘sash’), or from Catalan bandolera (from bandoler ‘bandit’).

bandoneon /banˈdōnēən/

I. noun

a type of concertina used especially in South America.

– origin via Spanish from German Bandonion, named after Heinrich Band, the 19th-cent. German musician who invented it, + -on- (as in Harmonika ‘harmonica’) + -ion (as in Akkordion ‘accordion’).

bandora /banˈdôrə/

I. noun

a bass stringed instrument of the cittern family, having a long neck and a scallop-shaped body.

– origin mid 16th cent.: origin uncertain; compare with Dutch bandoor, Spanish bandurria, also with banjo.

bandpass /ˈbandpas/

I. adjective

[Electronics] (of a filter) transmitting only a set range of frequencies

• a 1–40 Hz bandpass filter.

II. noun

the range of frequencies transmitted through a bandpass.

bandsaw /ˈbandsô / band saw

noun

an endless saw, consisting of a steel band with a serrated edge running over wheels.

bandshell /ˈbandSHel / band shell

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a bandstand in the form of a large concave shell with special acoustic properties.

bandsman /ˈban(d)zmən/

noun

a player in a musical band, especially a military or brass one.

bandstand /ˈban(d)stand/

noun

1. a covered outdoor platform for a band to play on, typically in a park.

2. a raised platform for performing musicians in a restaurant or dance hall.

Bandung /ˈbänˌdo͝oNG/

a city in Indonesia; pop. 1,601,800 (est. 2009). Founded by the Dutch in 1810, it was the capital of the former Dutch East Indies.

bandwagon /ˈbandˌwaɡən/

I. noun

1. a wagon used for carrying a band in a parade or procession.

2. [usu. in sing.] — a particular activity or cause that has suddenly become fashionable or popular

• the local deejays are on the home-team bandwagon.

II. phrases

jump (or climb) on the bandwagon

join others in doing or supporting something fashionable or likely to be successful

• scientists and doctors alike have jumped on the bandwagon.

bandwidth /ˈbandˌwidTH/

noun

1. [Electronics] the range of frequencies within a given band, in particular that used for transmitting a signal.

2. [Electronics] the transmission capacity of a computer network or other telecommunication system.

3. [Electronics] the energy or mental capacity required to deal with a situation

• he lives alone, and says he doesn't have the bandwidth to handle a steady relationship.

bandy^1 /ˈbandē/

I. adjective

1. (of a person's legs) curved so as to be wide apart at the knees.

2. (often bandy-legged) — (of a person) having legs that are curved so as to be wide apart at the knees; bowlegged.

– origin late 17th cent.: perhaps from obsolete bandy ‘curved stick used in hockey.’

bandy^2 /ˈbandē/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be bandied about/around)

1. pass on or discuss (an idea or rumor) in a casual or uninformed way

• $40,000 is the figure that has been bandied about.

II. phrases

bandy words with

argue pointlessly or rudely

• don't bandy words with me, Sir!

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘pass (a ball) to and fro’): perhaps from French bander ‘take sides in a tennis match,’ from bande ‘band, crowd’ (see band^2).

bandy^3 /ˈbandē/

I. noun

1. a game similar to field hockey or ice hockey.

2. (pl. bandies) — the stick used to play the game of bandy.

– origin late 17th cent.: perhaps from bandy^2.

bane /bān/

I. noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. a cause of great distress or annoyance

• the bane of the decorator is the long, narrow hall

• the depressions that were the the bane of her existence.

2. ‹archaic› something, typically poison, that causes death.

II. derivatives

baneful /ˈbānf(ə)l /

adjective

( — ‹archaic›

– origin Old English bana ‘thing causing death, poison,’ of Germanic origin.

baneberry /ˈbānˌberē/

I. noun

1. a plant of the buttercup family that bears fluffy spikes of creamy-white flowers followed by shiny berries. Native to north temperate regions, it was formerly used in medicine.
[Genus Actaea, family Ranunculaceae: many species, including the North American white baneberry (A. pachypoda), with clusters of black-eyed white berries on red stalks.]

2. the bitter, typically poisonous berry of the baneberry plant.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from bane in the sense ‘poison’ + berry.

bang^1 /baNG/

I. noun

1. a sudden loud noise

• the door slammed with a bang

• I heard a series of loud bangs.

2. a sharp blow causing a sudden loud noise

• I went to answer a bang on the front door.

3. a sudden painful blow

• a nasty bang on the head.

4. (bangs) — (N. Amer.) a fringe of hair cut straight across the forehead

• she brushed back her wispy bangs.

[from a use of the adverb bang to mean ‘abruptly.’]

5. ‹vulgar slang› an act of sexual intercourse.

6. [Computing] (chiefly N. Amer.) the character “!”

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. strike or put down (something) forcefully and noisily, typically in anger or in order to attract attention

• he began to bang the table with his fist

• Sarah banged the phone down

• [no obj.] someone was banging on the door.

2. come into contact with (something) suddenly and sharply, typically by accident

• I banged my head on the low beams

• [no obj.] she banged into some shelves in the darkness.

3. [no obj.] — make a sudden loud noise, typically repeatedly

• the shutter was banging in the wind.

4. (with reference to a door) open or close violently and noisily
[with obj. and complement]

• he banged the kitchen door shut behind him

• [no obj., with complement] the door banged open and a man staggered out.

5. [no obj.] — (of a person) move around or do something noisily, especially as an indication of anger or irritation

• she was banging around the kitchen.

6. (of a sports player) hit (a ball or a shot) forcefully and successfully

• in his second start he banged out two hits.

7. ‹vulgar slang› (of a man) have sexual intercourse with (a woman).

8. (N. Amer.) cut (hair) in a fringe.

III. adverb

1. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) exactly

• bang in the middle of town.

2. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) completely

• bring your wardrobe bang up to date.

IV. exclamation

1. used to express or imitate the sound of a sudden loud noise

• firecrackers went bang

• Bang, Bang! You're dead.

2. used to convey the suddenness of an action or process

• the minute something becomes obsolete, bang, it's gone.

V. phrases

1. bang for one's (or the) buck

(US) ‹informal› value for money; performance for cost

• this cross between a sports car and a family sedan gave a lot of bang for the buck.

2. bang (or knock or crack) people's heads together

see head.

3. get a bang out of

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› derive excitement or pleasure from

• some people get a bang out of reading that stuff.

4. with a bang

a. abruptly

• the remark brought me down to earth with a bang.

b. impressively or spectacularly

• the occasion went with a bang

• the day starts with a bang—the steep climb to the mountain top.

VI. phrasal verbs

1. bang away at

‹informal› do something in a persistent or dogged way

• he was banging away at his novel.

2. bang something out ‹informal›

a. play music noisily, enthusiastically, and typically unskillfully

• Dad was annihilating a Beethoven sonata, banging out notes.

b. produce hurriedly or in great quantities

• they weren't banging out ads in my day the way they are now.

3. bang someone/something up

a. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› damage or injure someone or something

• he banged up his knee.

b. (Brit.) ‹informal› imprison someone

• they've been banged up for something they didn't do.

– origin mid 16th cent.: imitative, perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compare with Old Norse bang ‘hammering.’

bang^2 /baNG/

noun

variant spelling of bhang.

Bangalore /ˌbaNGɡəˈlôr/

a city in south central India, capital of the state of Karnataka; pop. 5,310,300 (est. 2009).

Bangalore torpedo bangalore torpedo

noun

a tube containing explosives used by infantry for blowing up barriers.

banger /ˈbaNGər/

noun

1. (chiefly Brit.) ‹informal› a sausage

• bangers and beans.

2. (chiefly Brit.) ‹informal› a car in poor condition, especially a noisy one

• they've got an old banger.

3. (chiefly Brit.) a loud explosive firework.

Bangkok /ˈbaNGˌkäk/

the capital and chief port of Thailand, on the Chao Phraya waterway, 25 miles (40 km) upstream from its outlet into the Gulf of Thailand; pop. 5,705,100 (est. 2007).

Bangladesh /ˌbäNGɡləˈdeSH ˌbaNGɡləˈdeSH/

1. a country in southern Asia, in the Ganges River delta, on the Bay of Bengal; pop. 156,050,900 (est. 2009); capital, Dhaka; official language, Bengali.

Formerly part of British India, the region, as East Pakistan, became one of the two geographical units of Pakistan. After civil war, the independent republic of Bangladesh was proclaimed in 1971. Cyclones in the Bay of Bengal cause repeated devastation to the country.

Bangladeshi /baNGɡləˈdeSHē bäNGɡləˈdeSHē/

I. adjective

relating to Bangladesh

• though my parents are both Bangladeshi, I was born and raised in London

• the Bangladeshi garment industry.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of Bangladesh, or a person of Bangladeshi descent

• the majority of Bangladeshis in urban areas have mobile phones.

bangle /ˈbaNGɡəl/

I. noun

a rigid bracelet or anklet.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Hindi baṅglī ‘glass bracelet.’

Bangor /ˈbaNGɡər/

an industrial city in east central Maine, on the Penobscot River, formerly a lumbering center; pop. 31,756 (est. 2008).

bangtail /ˈbaNGtāl/

noun

a horse's tail that has been cut straight across just below the level of the hocks.

Bangui /ˈbaNGɡē/

the capital of the Central African Republic, in the southwestern part of the country, on the Ugandi River; pop. 672,000 (est. 2007).

bang-up /ˈbaNGɡ ˌəp/

adjective

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› excellent

• for a novice, he has done a bang-up job.

banh mi /ˈbän mē/

I. noun

(in Vietnamese cuisine) a sandwich consisting of a baguette (traditionally baked with both rice and wheat flour) filled with a variety of ingredients, typically including meat, pickled vegetables, and chili peppers.

• along with classic banh mi, there are refreshing cold noodles and exceptional bowls of soup.

– origin from Vietnamese bánh mi ‘bread.’

bani /ˈbänē/

plural form of ban^2.

banish /ˈbaniSH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. send (someone) away from a country or place as an official punishment

• they were banished to Siberia for political crimes.

2. forbid, abolish, or get rid of (something unwanted)

• it's perfectly feasible to banish the smoke without banning smoking

• all thoughts of romance were banished from her head.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French baniss-, lengthened stem of banir; ultimately of Germanic origin and related to ban^1.

banishment /ˈbaniSHmənt/

noun

1. the punishment of being sent away from a country or other place

• Adam and Eve's banishment from the Garden of Eden

• the total banishment of his daughter from the country

• ‹figurative› his banishment to the political wilderness.

2. the action of getting rid of something unwanted

• the banishment of world hunger.

banister /ˈbanəstər / bannister

I. noun — (also banisters)

1. the structure formed by uprights and a handrail at the side of a staircase.

2. a single upright at the side of the staircase

• I stuck my head between the banisters.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from earlier barrister, alteration of baluster.

Banja Luka /ˌbänyə ˈlo͞okə/

a spa town in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina; pop. 164,200 (est. 2008). It served as a base for Bosnian Serbs during their war against Bosnian Muslims in the 1990s.

Banjarmasin /ˌbänjərˈmäsən, ˌban-/

a deep-water port in Indonesia, on the southern part of the island of Borneo; pop. 576,400 (est. 2009).

banjo /ˈbanjō/

I. noun

1. a stringed musical instrument with a long neck and a round open-backed body consisting of parchment stretched over a metal hoop like a tambourine, played by plucking or with a plectrum. It is used especially in American folk music.

2. an object resembling a banjo in shape
[as modifier]

• a banjo clock.

II. derivatives

banjoist /ˈbanjōəst /

noun

– origin mid 18th cent.: originally a black American alteration of earlier bandore; probably based on Greek pandoura ‘three-stringed lute.’ Compare with bandora.

Banjul /ˈbänˌjo͞ol/

the capital of Gambia; pop. 34,828 (2003). Until 1973 it was known as Bathurst.

bank^1 /baNGk/

I. noun

1. the land alongside or sloping down to a river or lake

• willows lined the bank.

2. a slope, mass, or mound of a particular substance

• a bank of clouds

• a bank of snow.

3. an elevation in the seabed or a riverbed; a mudbank or sandbank.

4. a transverse slope given to a road, railroad, or sports track to enable vehicles or runners to maintain speed around a curve.

5. the sideways tilt of an aircraft when turning in flight

• flying with small amounts of bank.

6. a set or series of similar things, especially electrical or electronic devices, grouped together in rows

• the DJ had big banks of lights and speakers on either side of his console.

7. a tier of oars

• the early ships had only twenty-five oars in each bank.

8. the cushion of a pool table
[as modifier]

• a bank shot.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. heap (a substance) into a mass or mound

• the rain banked the soil up behind the gate

• snow was banked in humps at the roadside.

2. [no obj.] — rise or form into a mass or mound

• purple clouds banked up over the hills.

3. heap (a fire) with tightly packed fuel so that it burns slowly

• she could have made a fire and banked it with dirt.

4. edge or surround with a ridge or row of something

• steps banked with pots of chrysanthemums.

5. (of an aircraft or vehicle) tilt or cause to tilt sideways in making a turn
[no obj.]

• the plane banked as if to return to the airport

• [with obj.] I banked the aircraft steeply and turned.

6. [no obj.] — build (a road, railroad, or sports track) higher at the outer edge of a bend to facilitate fast cornering.

7. (N. Amer.) (in pool and other games) play (a ball) so that it rebounds off a surface such as a backboard or cushion.

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse bakki, of Germanic origin; related to bench. The senses ‘set of similar things in sloping rows’ and ‘tier of oars’ are from French banc, of the same ultimate origin.

bank^2 /baNGk/

I. noun

1. a financial establishment that invests money deposited by customers, pays it out when required, makes loans at interest, and exchanges currency

• I paid the money straight into my bank.

2. a stock of something available for use when required

• a blood bank

• building a bank of test items is the responsibility of teachers.

3. a site or receptacle where something may be stored

• the computer's memory bank.

4. (the bank) — the store of money or tokens held by the banker in some gambling or board games.

5. the person holding the store of money or tokens in a game; the banker.

6. (Brit.) a site or receptacle where something may be deposited for recycling

• a paper bank.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. deposit (money or valuables) in a bank

• I banked the check.

2. [no obj.] — have an account at a particular bank

• he did not bank with the old family banks.

3. ‹informal› (especially of a competitor in a game or race) win or earn (a sum of money)

• he banked $100,000 for a hole-in-one.

4. store (something, especially blood, tissue, or sperm) for future use

• the sperm is banked or held in storage for the following spring.

III. phrases

break the bank

a. (in gambling) win more money than is held by the bank.

b. [usu. with negative] — ‹informal› cost more than one can afford

• Christmas need not break the bank.

IV. phrasal verbs

bank on

base one's hopes or confidence on

• they can bank on my winning 25 games next year.

– origin late 15th cent. (originally denoting a money dealer's table): from French banque or Italian banca, from medieval Latin banca, bancus, of Germanic origin; related to bank^1 and bench.

bankable /ˈbaNGkəbəl/

I. adjective

1. (especially in the entertainment industry) certain to bring profit and success

• he needed some bankable names to star in the film.

2. reliable

• a bankable assurance.

II. derivatives

bankability /ˌbaNGkəˈbilitē /

noun

bank account //

noun

an arrangement made with a bank whereby one may deposit and withdraw money and in some cases be paid interest.

bank balance /baNGk ˈbaləns/

noun

the amount of money held in a bank account at a given moment.

bank barn

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a barn built into a hill or other sloped ground.

bank bill

noun

1. (Brit.) a bill of exchange drawn by one bank on another.

2. (US) another term for banknote.

bank book

noun

another term for passbook.

bank card /ˈbaNGk ˌkärd/

noun

a plastic card issued by a bank which enables a customer to withdraw money at an automated teller machine.

bank clerk

noun

(chiefly Brit.) a person employed in a bank to handle customers' transactions and undertake administrative duties

• the police were tipped off by a suspicious bank clerk.

bank discount

noun

interest computed on the face value of a loan and deducted in advance from the loan by the lending bank.

bank draft /ˈbaNGk ˌdraft/

noun

a check drawn by a bank on its own funds in another bank.

banker /ˈbaNGkər/

I. noun

1. an officer or owner of a bank or group of banks.

2. the person running the table, controlling play, or acting as dealer in some gambling or board games.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French banquier, from banque (see bank^2).

banker's hours

plural noun

(N. Amer.) short working hours (in reference to the typical opening hours of a bank in former times).

Bankhead, Tallulah /ˈbaNGkˌhed/

(1902–68), US actress noted for her uninhibited public persona, rich laugh, and harsh drawl. Her best-known movie appearance was in Alfred Hitchcock's Lifeboat (1944).

bank holiday /ˈˌbaNGk ˈhäləˌdā/

noun

(Brit.) a day on which banks are officially closed, observed as a public holiday.

Ban Ki-moon /ˌban kēˈmo͞on/

(1944–), South Korean diplomat; secretary general of the United Nations since 2007.

banking /ˈbaNGkiNG/

noun

the business conducted or services offered by a bank

• with this account, you are entitled to free banking

• a 23-year career in banking.

bank machine

noun

another term for automated teller machine.

banknote /ˈbaNGkˌnōt / bank note

noun

a piece of paper money, constituting a central bank's promissory note to pay a stated sum to the bearer on demand

• is the $1 bill the only banknote with George Washington's picture on it?

bank rate //

noun

the rate of discount set by a central bank.

bank robber

noun

a person who commits a bank robbery

• a group of bank robbers uses sophisticated technology to perform their heists.

bank robbery

noun

an act or instance of robbing a bank

• he had participated in a bank robbery netting $4 million

• she is awaiting trial on charges of bank robbery.

bankroll /ˈbaNGkˌrōl/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a roll of paper money.

2. (N. Amer.) financial resources

• his bankroll allowed him to run campaigns all over the U.S.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› support (a person, organization, or project) financially

• the project is bankrolled by wealthy expatriates.

bankrupt /ˈbaNGkˌrəpt/

I. adjective

1. (of a person or organization) declared in law unable to pay outstanding debts

• the company was declared bankrupt

• his father went bankrupt and the family had to sell their home.

2. impoverished or depleted

• a bankrupt country with no natural resources.

3. completely lacking in a particular quality or value

• their cause is morally bankrupt.

II. noun

a person judged by a court to be insolvent, whose property is taken and disposed of for the benefit of creditors.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. reduce (a person or organization) to bankruptcy

• the strike nearly bankrupted the union.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Italian banca rotta ‘broken bench,’ from banca (see bank^2) and rompere ‘to break.’ The change in the ending was due to association with Latin rupt- ‘broken.’

bankruptcy /ˈbaNGkˌrəp(t)sē/

noun

1. the state of being bankrupt

• many companies were facing bankruptcy

• a series of bankruptcies and scandals

• [as modifier] bankruptcy proceedings.

2. the state of being completely lacking in a particular quality or value

• the moral bankruptcy of turning away desperate people.

Banks, Ernie /baNGks/

(1931–), US baseball player; full name Ernest Banks; known as Mr. Cub. He played shortstop, then first base, for the Chicago Cubs from 1953 until 1971. Baseball Hall of Fame (1977).

Banks, Sir Joseph

(1743–1820), English botanist. He accompanied Captain James Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific.

banksia /ˈbaNGksēə/

I. noun

an evergreen Australian shrub that typically has narrow, leathery leaves and spikes of bottlebrushlike flowers.
[Genus Banksia, family Proteaceae.]

– origin modern Latin, named after Sir Joseph Banks (see Banks, Sir Joseph).

bank statement /baNGk ˈstātmənt/

noun

a printed record of the balance in a bank account and the amounts that have been paid into it and withdrawn from it, issued periodically to the holder of the account.

bankster /ˈbaNGkstər/

I. noun

‹derogatory› (chiefly US) a member of the banking industry seen as profiteering or dishonest

• nothing ever seems to happen to any of the banksters who caused all the problems in the first place.

– origin late 19th cent. (as nonderogatory nickname): blend of banker and gangster.

bank vole

noun

a common reddish-brown Eurasian vole that lives in woodland and scrub.
[Clethrionomys glareolus, family Muridae.]

Banneker, Benjamin /ˈbanikər/

(1731–1806), US inventor, astronomer, and mathematician. Born to a slave father and freed slave mother, he published an almanac 1791–1802 that featured his astronomical and tide calculations. On the recommendation of Thomas Jefferson, he was hired to assist in the surveying of the District of Columbia 1790.

banner /ˈbanər/

I. noun

1. a long strip of cloth bearing a slogan or design, hung in a public place or carried in a demonstration or procession

• a banner in the front window announced “Grand Reopening”

• students waved banners and chanted slogans.

2. a flag on a pole used as the standard of a monarch, army, or knight.

3. an idea or principle used to rally public opinion

• the administration is flying the free trade banner.

4. a heading or advertisement appearing on a web page in the form of a bar, column, or box

• to get a new banner now, click Step 1

• [as modifier] a banner ad.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (N. Amer.) excellent; outstanding

• I predict that 1998 will be a banner year.

III. phrases

under the banner of

a. claiming to support a particular cause or set of ideas

• campaigns fought under the banner of multiculturalism.

b. as part of a particular group or organization

• the party is running under the banner of the Left-Wing Alliance.

IV. derivatives

bannered /ˈbanərd /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French baniere, ultimately of Germanic origin and related to band^2.

banneret /ˈban(ə)rət ˌbanəˈret/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› a knight who commanded his own troops in battle under his own banner.

2. ‹historical› a knighthood given on the battlefield for courage.

– origin Middle English: from Old French baneret, literally ‘bannered,’ from baniere ‘banner.’

banner headline /ˈbanər ˈhedˌlīn/

noun

a newspaper headline running across a whole page, especially one on the front page.

Bannister, Sir Roger /ˈbanəstər/

(1929–), British middle-distance runner and neurologist; full name Sir Roger Gilbert Bannister. In 1954, he became the first man to run a mile in under 4 minutes.

bannock /ˈbanək/

I. noun

a round, flat loaf, typically unleavened, associated with Scotland and northern England.

– origin Old English bannuc, of Celtic origin; related to Welsh ban, Breton bannac'h, banne, and Cornish banna ‘a drop.’

Bannockburn, Battle of /ˈbanəkˌbərn/

a battle that took place near Stirling in central Scotland in 1314, in which the English army of Edward II, advancing to break the siege of Stirling Castle, was defeated by the Scots under Robert the Bruce.

banns /banz/

I. plural noun

a notice read out on three successive Sundays in a parish church, announcing an intended marriage and giving the opportunity for objections.

– origin Middle English: plural of ban^1.

banquet /ˈbaNGkwit/

I. noun

1. an elaborate and formal evening meal for many people, often followed by speeches

• the Austrian emperor's lavish banquets

• [as modifier] a banquet table.

2. an elaborate and extensive meal; a feast

• a ten-course banquet.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. entertain with a banquet

• there are halls for banqueting up to 3,000 people

• (as adj. banqueting) a banqueting hall.

III. derivatives

banqueter /ˈbaNGkwədər /

noun

– origin late 15th cent.: from French, diminutive of banc ‘bench’ (see bank^1).

banquette /baNGˈket/

I. noun

1. an upholstered bench along a wall, especially in a restaurant or bar.

2. a raised step behind a rampart.

– origin early 17th cent. (sense 2): from French, from Italian banchetta, diminutive of banca ‘bench’ (see bank^2). Sense 1 dates from the mid 19th cent.

banshee /ˈbanSHē/

I. noun

(in Irish legend) a female spirit whose wailing warns of an impending death in a house

• the little girl dropped her ice cream and began to howl like a banshee

• [as modifier] a horrible banshee wail.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Irish bean sídhe, from Old Irish ben síde ‘woman of the fairies.’

bantam /ˈban(t)əm/

I. noun

1. a chicken of a small breed, of which the cock is noted for its aggressiveness

• ‹figurative› what a wiry bantam he is!

2. short for bantamweight.

– origin mid 18th cent.: apparently named after the province of Bantam in Java, although the fowl is not native there.

bantamweight /ˈban(t)əmˌwāt/

noun

1. a weight in boxing and other sports intermediate between flyweight and featherweight. In boxing it ranges from 112 to 118 pounds (51 to 54 kg).

2. a boxer or other competitor weighing from 112 to 118 pounds (51 to 54 kg).

banteng /ˌbanˈteNG/

I. noun

a Southeast Asian forest ox that resembles the domestic cow. It has been domesticated in Bali.
[Bos javanicus, family Bovidae.]

– origin early 19th cent.: from Malay.

banter /ˈban(t)ər/

I. noun

the playful and friendly exchange of teasing remarks

• there was much singing and good-natured banter.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. talk or exchange remarks in a good-humored teasing way

• the men bantered with the waitresses

• (as adj. bantering) a bantering tone.

– origin late 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

Banting, Sir Frederick /ˈbantiNG/

(1891–1941), Canadian physiologist and surgeon; full name Sir Frederick Grant Banting. With the assistance of Charles H. Best, Banting discovered insulin 1921–22, using it to treat diabetes. Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine (1923), shared with J. J. R. Macleod.

bantling /ˈbantliNG/

I. noun

‹archaic› a young child.

– origin late 16th cent.: from band^1 + -ling, or a corruption of German bänkling ‘bastard.’

Bantu /ˈbanto͞o/

I. adjective

relating to or denoting a group of Niger–Congo languages spoken in central and southern Africa, including Swahili, Xhosa, and Zulu.

II. noun

1. a group of Niger–Congo languages spoken in central and southern Africa, including Swahili, Xhosa, and Zulu.

2. ‹offensive› a member of an indigenous people of central and southern Africa that speaks a Bantu language.

– origin mid 19th cent.: plural (in certain Bantu languages) of -ntu ‘person.’ / usage: The word Bantu became a strongly offensive term under the apartheid regime in South Africa, especially when used to refer to a single individual. In standard current use in South Africa the term black or African is used as a collective or non-specific term for African peoples. The term Bantu has, however, continued to be accepted as a neutral ‘scientific’ term outside South Africa used to refer to the group of languages and their speakers collectively.

banyan /ˈbanyən ˈbanˌyan / banian

I. noun

an Indian fig tree whose branches produce aerial roots that later become accessory trunks. A mature tree may cover several acres in this manner.
[Ficus benghalensis, family Moraceae.]

– origin late 16th cent.: from Portuguese, from Gujarati vāṇiyo ‘man of the trading caste,’ from Sanskrit. Originally denoting a Hindu trader or merchant, the term was applied by Europeans in the mid 17th cent. to a particular tree under which such traders had built a pagoda.

banzai /ˈbanzī/

I. exclamation

1. a Japanese battle cry.
[early 20th cent.]

2. a form of greeting used to the Japanese emperor.
[late 19th cent.]

II. adjective

(especially of Japanese troops) attacking fiercely and recklessly

• a banzai charge.

– origin Japanese, literally ‘ten thousand years (of life to you).’

bao /bou / baozi

I. noun

a Chinese steamed bread roll with a filling of meat or vegetables

• the chicken bao had an excellent filling.

– origin Chinese bāo ‘bun.’

baobab /ˈbāōˌbab ˈbouˌbab/

I. noun

a short tree with an enormously thick trunk and large edible fruit. It can live to a great age.
[Genus Adansonia, family Bombacaceae: several species, in particular the African A. digitata and the Australian A. gregorii.]

– origin mid 17th cent.: probably from an African language; first recorded in Latin (1592), in a treatise on the plants of Egypt by Prosper Alpinus, Italian botanist.

Baotou /ˌbouˈtō/

an industrial city in Inner Mongolia, northern China, on the Yellow River; pop. 1,194,600 (est. 2006).

baptism /ˈbapˌtizəm/

I. noun

1. (in the Christian Church) the religious rite of sprinkling water onto a person's forehead or of immersion in water, symbolizing purification or regeneration and admission to the Christian Church. In many denominations, baptism is performed on young children and is accompanied by name-giving.

2. a ceremony or occasion at which baptism takes place.

3. a person's initiation into a particular activity or role, typically one perceived as difficult

• this event constituted his baptism as a politician.

II. phrases

baptism of fire

a difficult or painful new undertaking or experience.
[from the original sense of ‘a soldier's first battle.’]

– origin Middle English: from Old French baptesme, via ecclesiastical Latin from ecclesiastical Greek baptismos ‘ceremonial washing,’ from baptizein ‘immerse, baptize.’

baptismal /bapˈtizm(ə)l/

adjective

relating to the Christian rite of baptism

• we will renew our baptismal vows

• baptismal rites.

baptismal name /bapˈtizməl babˈtizməl nām/

noun

a personal name given at baptism.

baptist /ˈbaptəst/

I. noun

1. (Baptist) — a member of a Protestant Christian denomination advocating baptism only of adult believers by total immersion. Baptists form one of the largest Protestant bodies and are found throughout the world and especially in the US.

2. a person who baptizes someone.

– origin Middle English (sense 2): from Old French baptiste, via ecclesiastical Latin from ecclesiastical Greek baptistēs, from baptizein ‘immerse, baptize.’

baptistery /ˈbaptəstrē / baptistry

I. noun

1. the part of a church used for baptism.

2. ‹historical› a building next to a church, used for baptism.

3. (in a Baptist chapel) a sunken receptacle used for baptism by total immersion.

– origin Middle English: from Old French baptistere, via ecclesiastical Latin from ecclesiastical Greek baptistērion, from baptizein ‘immerse, baptize.’

baptize /ˈbapˌtīz bapˈtīz/

I. verb — [with obj. and often with complement]

1. administer baptism to (someone); christen

• he was baptized Joshua.

2. admit (someone) into a specified church by baptism

• Mark had been baptized a Catholic.

3. give a name or nickname to

• he baptized the science of narrative “narratology.”

– origin Middle English: via Old French from ecclesiastical Latin baptizare, from Greek baptizein ‘immerse, baptize.’

bar^1 /bär/

I. noun

1. a long rod or rigid piece of wood, metal, or similar material, typically used as an obstruction, fastening, or weapon.

2. an amount of food or another substance formed into a regular narrow block

• a bar of chocolate

• gold bars.

3. a band of color or light, especially on a flat surface

• bars of sunlight shafting through the broken windows.

4. see crossbar.

5. a sandbank or shoal at the mouth of a harbor, bay, or estuary.

6. (Brit.) a rail marking the end of each chamber in the Houses of Parliament.

7. [Heraldry] a charge in the form of a narrow horizontal stripe across the shield.

8. a counter across which alcoholic drinks or refreshments are served.

9. a room in a restaurant or hotel in which alcohol is served.

10. an establishment where alcohol and sometimes other refreshments are served.

11. [usu. with modifier] — a small store or booth serving refreshments or providing a service

• a dairy bar.

12. a barrier or restriction to an action or advance

• political differences are not necessarily a bar to a good relationship.

13. [Music] a measure of music or the time of a piece of music.

14. (the bar) — a partition in a courtroom or legislative assembly, now usually notional, beyond which most people may not pass and, in court, at which an accused person stands

• the prisoner at the bar

• he had to appear at the Bar of the House for a reprimand by the Speaker.

15. a plea arresting an action or claim in a law case.

16. a particular court of law.

17. (the Bar) — the legal profession.

18. (N. Amer.) lawyers collectively.

19. (Brit.) barristers collectively.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. fasten (something, especially a door or window) with a bar or bars

• she bolts and bars the door.

2. prevent or forbid the entrance or movement of

• boulders barred her passage

• she was barred from a men-only dinner.

3. prohibit (someone) from doing something

• journalists had been barred from covering the elections.

4. forbid (an activity) to someone

• the job she loved had been barred to her.

5. exclude (something) from consideration

• nothing is barred in the crime novel.

6. [Law] prevent or delay (an action) by objection.

7. mark (something) with bars or stripes

• his face was barred with light.

III. preposition

(chiefly Brit.) except for; apart from

• everyone, bar a few ascetics, thinks it desirable.

IV. phrases

1. bar none

with no exceptions

• the greatest living American poet bar none.

2. behind bars

in prison.

3. lower (or raise or lift) the bar

lower (or raise) the standards that need to be met in order to qualify for something

• they have drastically lowered the bar for anyone who wants to call themselves a musician.

– origin Middle English: from Old French barre (noun), barrer (verb), of unknown origin.

bar^2 /bär/

I. noun

a unit of pressure equivalent to 100,000 newtons per square meter or approximately one atmosphere.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Greek baros ‘weight.’

Bar.

abbreviation

[Bible] Baruch.

Barak, Ehud /baˈrak/

(1942–), Israeli Labor statesman; prime minister 1999–2001.

Barataria Bay /ˌbärəˈterēə ˌbā/

an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico in southeastern Louisiana, south of New Orleans, associated with Jean Lafitte and other early 19th-century outlaws.

barathea /ˌberəˈTHēə/

I. noun

a fine woolen cloth, sometimes mixed with silk or cotton, used chiefly for coats and suits.

– origin mid 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

barb^1 /bärb/

I. noun

1. a sharp projection near the end of an arrow, fishhook, or similar item, angled away from the main point so as to make extraction difficult.

2. a cluster of spikes on barbed wire.

3. a deliberately hurtful remark

• his barb hurt more than she cared to admit.

4. a beardlike filament at the mouth of some fish, such as barbel and catfish.

5. each of the fine hairlike filaments growing from the shaft of a feather, forming the vane.

6. a freshwater fish that typically has barbels around the mouth, popular in aquariums.
[Barbus and other genera, family Cyprinidae: numerous species, including the tiger barb (B. pentazona) and the rosy barb (B. conchonius).]

II. derivatives

barbless

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French barbe, from Latin barba ‘beard.’

barb^2 /bärb/

I. noun

a small horse of a hardy breed originally from North Africa.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French barbe, from Italian barbero ‘of Barbary.’

barbacoa /ˈbärbəˌkōə/

I. noun

(in Mexican cooking) beef, lamb, or other meat that has been slowly cooked with seasonings, typically shredded as a filling in tacos, burritos, etc.

• a burrito stuffed with barbacoa.

– origin Mexican Spanish use of Spanish barbacoa ‘barbecue’ (see barbecue); in Mexican Spanish barbacoa can also refer to an underground oven in which meat is cooked slowly.

Barbadian /bärˈbādēən/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of Barbados or its inhabitants

• a senior Barbadian player.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of Barbados

• written literature by Barbadians received its first real debut in the 1940s and 1950s.

Barbados /bärˈbāˌdōs bärˈbādəs/

an island country in the Caribbean, the most easterly of the Caribbean islands; pop. 284,600 (est. 2009); capital, Bridgetown; official language, English. Barbados was a British colony until it gained independence within the Commonwealth of Nations in 1966.

barbarian /ˌbärˈberēən/

I. noun

1. (in ancient times) a member of a community or tribe not belonging to one of the great civilizations (Greek, Roman, Christian).

2. an uncultured or brutish person.

II. adjective

1. of or relating to ancient barbarians

• barbarian invasions

• barbarian peoples.

2. uncultured; brutish.

– origin Middle English (as an adjective used depreciatively to denote a person with different speech and customs): from Old French barbarien, from barbare, or from Latin barbarus (see barbarous).

barbaric /bärˈberik/

I. adjective

1. savagely cruel; exceedingly brutal

• he had carried out barbaric acts in the name of war.

2. primitive; unsophisticated

• the barbaric splendor he found in civilizations since destroyed.

3. uncivilized and uncultured.

II. derivatives

barbarically /bärˈberək(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English (as a noun in the sense ‘a barbarian’): from Old French barbarique, or via Latin from Greek barbarikos, from barbaros ‘foreign’ (especially with reference to speech).

barbarism /ˈbärbəˌrizəm/

I. noun

1. absence of culture and civilization

• the collapse of civilization and the return to barbarism.

2. a word or expression that is badly formed according to traditional philological rules, for example a word formed from elements of different languages, such as breathalyzer (English and Greek) or television (Greek and Latin).

3. extreme cruelty or brutality

• she called the execution an act of barbarism

• barbarisms from the country's past.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French barbarisme, via Latin from Greek barbarismos, from barbarizein ‘speak like a foreigner,’ from barbaros ‘foreign.’

barbarity /ˌbärˈberədē/

noun

1. extreme cruelty or brutality

• the barbarity of the slave trade

• the barbarities of the last war.

2. absence of culture and civilization

• beyond the Empire lay barbarity.

barbarize /ˈbärbəˌrīz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. barbarizing)

1. cause to become savage or uncultured

• the barbarizing effect of four decades of rock 'n' roll.

II. derivatives

barbarization /ˌbärbərəˈzāSHən /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘speak using barbarisms’): from late Latin barbarizare, from Greek barbarizein ‘speak like a foreigner.’

Barbarossa^1 /ˌbärbəˈräsə, -ˈrōsə/

see Frederick I.

Barbarossa^2 /ˌbärbəˈräsə/

(c. 1483–1546), Barbary pirate; born Khair ad-Din. He was notorious for his successes against Christian vessels in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

barbarous /ˈbärbərəs/

I. adjective

1. savagely cruel; exceedingly brutal

• many early child-rearing practices were barbarous by modern standards.

2. primitive; uncivilized

• a remote and barbarous country.

3. (especially of language) coarse and unrefined.

II. derivatives

barbarously /ˈbärb(ə)rəslē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English (sense 2): via Latin from Greek barbaros ‘foreign’ + -ous.

Barbary /ˈbärbərē / Barbary States

I. a former name for the Saracen countries of north and northwestern Africa, together with Moorish Spain. The area was noted between the 16th and 18th centuries as a haunt of pirates.
Compare with Maghreb.

– origin based on Arabic barbar (see Berber).

Barbary ape /ˈbärbərē āp/

noun

a tailless macaque monkey that is native to northwestern Africa and also found on the Rock of Gibraltar.
[Macaca sylvana, family Cercopithecidae.]

Barbary Coast /ˌbärbərē ˈkōst/

a former name for the Mediterranean coast of North Africa from Morocco to Egypt.

Barbary sheep

noun

a short-coated sheep with a long neck ruff, found in the high deserts of northern Africa.
Also called aoudad. [Ammotragus lervia, family Bovidae.]

barbecue /ˈbärbəˌkyo͞o / barbeque

I. noun

1. a meal or gathering at which meat, fish, or other food is cooked out of doors on a rack over an open fire or on a portable grill.

2. a portable grill used for the preparation of food at a barbecue, or a brick fireplace containing a grill.

3. (N. Amer.) food cooked on a barbecue.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. cook (meat, fish, or other food) on a barbecue

• fish barbecued with herbs

• (as adj. barbecued) barbecued chicken.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Spanish barbacoa, perhaps from Arawak barbacoa ‘wooden frame on posts.’ The original sense was ‘wooden framework for sleeping on, or for storing meat or fish to be dried.’

barbecue sauce

noun

a highly seasoned sauce containing vinegar, spices, and usually chilies.

barbecue summer

noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› a summer characterized by long spells of warm, dry weather

• Britain's barbecue summer helped retail sales race ahead last month

• the unseasonable conditions are set to dash hopes of a barbecue summer.

barbed /bärbd/

adjective

1. having a barb or barbs

• barbed arrows.

2. (of a remark or joke) deliberately hurtful

• a fair degree of barbed wit.

barbed wire /ˈbärb(d) ˈˌwī(ə)r/

noun

wire with clusters of short, sharp spikes set at intervals along it, used to make fences or in warfare as an obstruction.

barbel /ˈbärbəl/

I. noun

1. a fleshy filament growing from the mouth or snout of a fish.

2. a large European freshwater fish of the minnow family that has fleshy filaments hanging from its mouth. It lives in running water.
[Barbus barbus, family Cyprinidae.]

3. [with modifier] — a marine or freshwater African fish with barbels around the mouth.
[Species in several families, including Tachysurus feliceps (family Aniidae), of southern African coasts and estuaries, whose toxin-coated spines can inflict a dangerous wound.]

– origin late Middle English (sense 2): via Old French from late Latin barbellus, diminutive of barbus ‘barbel,’ from barba ‘beard.’

barbell /ˈbärˌbel/

I. noun

a long metal bar to which disks of varying weights are attached at each end, used for weightlifting.

– origin late 19th cent.: from bar^1 + bell^1.

barber /ˈbärbər/

I. noun

a person who cuts hair, especially men's, and shaves or trims beards as an occupation.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. cut or trim (a man's hair)

• his hair was neatly barbered.

– origin Middle English: via Anglo-Norman French from Old French barbe (see barb^1).

Barber, Samuel /ˈbärbər/

(1910–81), US composer. He developed a style based on romanticism allied to classical forms. Notable works: Adagio for Strings (1936) and Vanessa (opera, 1958).

barberry /ˈbärberē/

I. noun

a thorny shrub that bears yellow flowers and red or blue-black berries.
[Genus Berberis, family Berberidaceae: many species, including the American barberry (B. canadensis), with widely toothed leaves, and the European barberry (B. vulgaris), with more closely toothed leaves.]

– origin late Middle English: from Old French berberis. The change in the ending was due to association with berry.

barbershop /ˈbärbərˌSHäp/

noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) a shop where a barber works.

2. [often as modifier] — a popular style of close harmony singing, typically for four male voices

• a barbershop quartet.

[from the custom in the 16th and 17th centuries of passing time in a barbershop by harmonizing to a lute or guitar provided to entertain customers waiting their turn.]

barber's itch

noun

ringworm of the face or neck communicated by unsterilized shaving apparatus.

barber's pole barber pole

noun

a pole painted with spiraling red and white stripes and hung outside barbershops as a business sign.

Barberton /ˈbärbərt(ə)n/

a city in northeastern Ohio, southwest of Akron; pop. 26,581 (est. 2008).

barbet /ˈbärbət/

I. noun

a large-headed, brightly colored, fruit-eating bird that has a stout bill with tufts of bristles at the base. Barbets are found on all continents, especially in the tropics.
[Family Capitonidae: numerous genera and species.]

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting a poodle until the early 19th cent.): from French, from barbe ‘beard’ (see barb^1). The current sense dates from the early 19th cent.

barbette /bärˈbet/

I. noun

1. a fixed armored housing at the base of a gun turret on a warship or armored vehicle.

2. ‹historical› a platform on which a gun is placed to fire over a parapet.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French, diminutive of barbe ‘beard’ (see barb^1).

barbican /ˈbärbəkən/

I. noun

the outer defense of a castle or walled city, especially a double tower above a gate or drawbridge.

– origin Middle English: from Old French barbacane; probably based on Arabic.

barbicel /ˈbärbəˌsel/

noun

any of the minute hooked filaments that interlock the barbules of a bird's feathers.

barbie /ˈbärbē/

I. noun

‹informal› (chiefly Austral.) a barbecue.

– origin 1970s: abbreviation.

Barbie /ˈbärbē / Barbie doll

I. noun

1. ‹trademark› a doll representing a conventionally attractive young woman.

2. ‹trademark› ‹informal› a woman who is attractive in a glossily artificial way and is typically considered to be unintelligent and characterless.

– origin 1950s: diminutive of the given name Barbara.

barbital /ˈbärbətäl/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a long-acting sedative and sleep-inducing drug of the barbiturate type.
[Alternative name: diethylbarbituric acid; chem. formula: C_6H_12O_3N_2.]

– origin early 20th cent.: from barbituric acid, on the pattern of veronal (an alternative name).

barbitone /ˈbärbəˌtōn/

I. noun

British term for barbital.

– origin early 20th cent.: from barbituric acid + -one.

barbiturate /bärˈbiCHərət/

noun

1. any of a class of sedative and sleep-inducing drugs derived from barbituric acid.

2. [Chemistry] a salt or ester of barbituric acid.

barbituric acid /ˌbärbəˌCHo͝orik ˈasəd/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a synthetic organic acid from which the barbiturates are derived.
[A cyclic derivative of urea and malonic acid; chem. formula: C_4H_4O_3N_2.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French barbiturique, from German Barbitursäure, from the given name Barbara + Säure ‘acid.’

Barbizon School /ˈbärbəˌzän ˌsko͞ol/

I. a mid-19th-century school of French landscape painters who reacted against classical conventions and based their art on direct study of nature. Led by Théodore Rousseau, the group included Charles Daubigny and Jean-François Millet.

– origin named after Barbizon, a small village in the forest of Fontainebleau, near Paris, where Rousseau and others worked.

Barbour, Philip Pendleton /ˈbärbər/

(1783–1841), US Supreme Court associate justice 1836–41. He also served in Congress as a representative from Virginia 1814–25, 1827–30.

Barbuda /bärˈb(y)o͞odə/

I. see Antigua and Barbuda.

II. derivatives

Barbudan /bärˈbo͞odn /

adjective, noun

barbule /ˈbärbyo͞ol/

I. noun

a minute filament projecting from the barb of a feather.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin barbula, diminutive of barba ‘beard.’

barbwire /ˌbärbˈwī(ə)r/

noun

(N. Amer.) barbed wire.

BarcaLounger /ˈbärkəˌlounjər/

I. noun

(US) ‹trademark› a type of deeply padded reclining chair.

– origin 1970s: from the name of Edward J. Barcolo, who acquired the original license to manufacture the chairs, and lounger.

barcarole /ˈbärkəˌrōl / barcarolle

I. noun

1. a song traditionally sung by Venetian gondoliers.

2. a musical composition in the style of a barcarole.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French barcarolle, from Venetian Italian barcarola ‘boatman's song,’ from barca ‘boat.’

Barcelona /ˌbärsəˈlōnə/

a city on the coast of northeastern Spain, capital of Catalonia; pop. 1,615,908 (2008).

Barcelona chair

noun

an armless chair with a curved metal frame and padded leather cushions.

barchan /bärˈkän/

I. noun

a crescent-shaped shifting sand dune, concave on the leeward side.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Turkic barkhan.

bar chart /ˈbär ˌCHärt/

noun

another term for bar graph.

Bar-Cochba /ˌbärˈkôKHbə/

Jewish rebel leader; known as Simeon in Jewish sources. He led the rebellion in AD 132 against the Romans and was accepted by some of his Jewish contemporaries as the Messiah.

barcode /ˈbärˌkōd/

I. noun

a machine-readable code in the form of numbers and a pattern of parallel lines of varying widths, printed on and identifying a product.
Also called Universal Product Code.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. mark with a barcode

• all the merchandise is barcoded and scanned.

bard^1 /bärd/

I. noun

1. ‹archaic› ‹literary› a poet, traditionally one reciting epics and associated with a particular oral tradition.

2. (the Bard or the Bard of Avon) — ‹archaic› ‹literary› Shakespeare.

II. derivatives

bardic /ˈbärdik /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Scottish Gaelic bàrd, Irish bard, Welsh bardd, of Celtic origin. In Scotland in the 16th cent. it was a derogatory term for an itinerant musician, but was later romanticized by Sir Walter Scott.

bard^2 /bärd/

I. noun

a slice of bacon placed on meat or game before roasting.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. cover (meat or game) with slices of bacon.

– origin early 18th cent.: from French barde, a transferred sense of barde ‘armor for the breast and flanks of a warhorse,’ based on Arabic barḏa'a ‘saddlecloth, padded saddle.’

Bardeen, John /bärˈdēn/

(1908–91), US physicist. With William Shockley and Walter Brattain, he developed a point-contact transistor, for which they shared the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1956. He also worked on the theory of superconductivity, for which he shared the prize in 1972 with colleagues Leon N. Cooper (1930–) and John Robert Schrieffer (1931–).

bardo /ˈbärdō/

I. noun

1. (in Tibetan Buddhism) a state of existence between death and rebirth, varying in length according to a person's conduct in life and manner of, or age at, death.

2. an indeterminate, transitional state

• wandering adrift in a bardo of intense negativity, blame, disappointment, criticism, and denial.

– origin Tibetan bár-do, from bar ‘interval’ + do ‘two.’

bardolatry /bärˈdälətrē/

I. noun

‹humorous› excessive admiration of Shakespeare.

II. derivatives

bardolater /-ˈdälitər / bardolator

noun

Bardolino /ˌbärdəˈlēnō/

I. noun

a red wine from the Veneto region of Italy.

– origin Italian.

Bardot, Brigitte /bärˈdō/

(1934–), French actress. The movie And God Created Woman (1956) established her reputation as an international sex symbol.

bare /ber/

I. adjective

1. (of a person or part of the body) not clothed or covered

• he was bare from the waist up

• she padded in bare feet toward the door.

2. without the appropriate, usual, or natural covering

• a clump of bare aspen trees

• bare floorboards.

3. without the appropriate or usual contents

• a bare cell with just a mattress.

4. unconcealed; without disguise

• an ordeal that would lay bare a troubled family background.

5. without addition; basic and simple

• he outlined the bare essentials of the story

• a strange, bare production of Twelfth Night.

6. [attrib.] — only just sufficient

• a bare majority.

7. [attrib.] — surprisingly small in number or amount

• all you need to get started with this program is a bare 10K bytes of memory.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. uncover (a part of the body or other thing) and expose it to view

• he bared his chest to show his scar.

III. determiner

(Brit.) ‹informal› a large amount or number of

• I've got bare work to do.

IV. adverb — [as submodifier]

1. (Brit.) ‹informal› very; really (used as an intensifier)

• that girl is bare lazy.

V. phrases

1. bare all

take off all of one's clothes and display oneself to others

• Lysette bared all for Playboy in 1988.

2. the bare bones

the basic facts about something, without any detail

• the bare bones of the plot.

3. bare of

without

• the interior, bare of plaster, leaked a smell of old timbers.

4. bare one's soul

reveal one's innermost secrets and feelings to someone.

5. bare one's teeth

show one's teeth, typically when angry.

6. with one's bare hands

without using tools or weapons.

VI. derivatives

bareness /ˈbernəs /

noun

– origin Old English bær (noun), barian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch baar.

bareback /ˈberbak/

adjective, adverb

on an unsaddled horse or other animal
[as adj.]

• a bareback circus rider

• [as adv.] riding bareback.

barebacking /ˈberbakiNG/

noun

‹vulgar slang› anal intercourse without a condom.

bareboat /ˈberbōt/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. relating to or denoting a boat or ship hired without a crew

• bareboat charters.

II. derivatives

bareboating

noun

bare-bones /ˈberbōnz/

adjective

reduced to or comprising only the basic or essential elements of something

• a bare-bones version of the story.

barefaced /ˈberˌfāst/

adjective

1. shameless; undisguised

• a barefaced lie.

2. having an uncovered face, so as to be exposed or vulnerable to something

• his years of working barefaced, breathing down dust.

barefoot /ˈberfo͝ot / barefooted

adjective, adverb

wearing nothing on the feet
[as adv.]

• I won't walk barefoot.

barefoot doctor

noun

a paramedical worker with basic medical training working in a rural district in China.

barège /bəˈreZH / barege

I. noun

a light, silky dress fabric resembling gauze, typically made from wool.

– origin French, named after the village of Barèges in southwestern France, where it was originally made.

barehand /ˈberhand/

verb

(in baseball) field with one's ungloved hand.

barehanded /ˌberˈhandəd/

adjective, adverb

1. with nothing in or covering one's hands

• his running, barehanded catch in foul territory.

2. carrying no weapons.

bareheaded /ˌberˈhedəd/

adjective, adverb

without a covering for one's head
[as adv.]

• he walked bareheaded in the teeming rain.

Bareilly /bəˈrālē/

an industrial city in northern India, in Uttar Pradesh; pop. 825,100 (est. 2009).

bare-knuckle /ˈber ˌnəkəl / bare-knuckled, bare-knuckles

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of a boxer or boxing match) without gloves.

2. ‹informal› with no scruples or reservations

• an apostle of bare-knuckled capitalism.

barelegged /ˈberleɡəd/

adjective, adverb

with one's legs uncovered by clothing.

barely /ˈberlē/

adverb

1. only just; almost not

• she nodded, barely able to speak

• [as submodifier] a barely perceptible pause.

2. only a short time before

• they had barely sat down when forty policemen swarmed in.

3. in a simple and sparse way

• their barely furnished house.

4. ‹archaic› openly; explicitly.

Barenboim, Daniel /ˈbarənˌboim/

(1942–), Argentine-born pianist and conductor; husband of Jacqueline du Pré. He was musical director of the Orchestre de Paris 1975–88 and of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra 1991–2006.

Barents, Willem /ˈbarənts, ˈbär-/

(died 1597), Dutch explorer. The leader of several expeditions in search of the Northeast Passage to Asia, Barents discovered Spitsbergen and reached Novaya Zemlya.

Barents Sea /ˈberən(t)s sē/

a part of the Arctic Ocean north of Norway and Russia, bounded on the west by Svalbard, on the north by Franz Josef Land, and on the east by Novaya Zemlya.

barf /bärf / ‹informal chiefly N. Amer.›

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. vomit.

II. noun

vomited food.

– origin 1960s: of unknown origin.

barf bag

noun

‹informal› a bag provided to airplane passengers for use in case of vomiting associated with motion sickness.

barfly /ˈbärˌflī/

noun

‹informal› a person who spends much time drinking in bars.

barfy /ˈbärfē/

I. adjective

1. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) nauseous or inclined to vomit

• I started feeling really barfy on the train into town.

2. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) causing a feeling of nausea or disgust; nauseating

• barfy sweetheart music.

– origin 1950s: from barf + -y^1.

bargain /ˈbärɡən/

I. noun

1. an agreement between two or more parties as to what each party will do for the other

• the extraconstitutional bargain between the northern elite and the southern planters.

2. a thing bought or offered for sale more cheaply than is usual or expected

• the secondhand table was a real bargain

• [as modifier] household and electrical goods at bargain prices.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. negotiate the terms and conditions of a transaction

• he bargained with the city council to rent the stadium

• (as noun bargaining) many statutes are passed by political bargaining.

2. [with obj.] (bargain something away) — part with something after negotiation but get little or nothing in return

• his determination not to bargain away any of the province's existing economic powers.

3. (bargain for/on) — be prepared for; expect

• I got more information than I'd bargained for

• he didn't bargain on this storm.

III. phrases

1. drive a hard bargain

be uncompromising in making a deal.

2. into (or in) the bargain

in addition to what was expected; moreover

• an upstate yokel and a raving paranoiac into the bargain.

3. keep one's side of the bargain

carry out the promises one has made as part of an agreement.

4. strike a bargain

make a bargain; agree to a deal.

IV. derivatives

bargainer /ˈbärɡ(ə)nər /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French bargaine (noun), bargaignier (verb); probably of Germanic origin and related to German borgen ‘borrow.’

bargain basement /ˈbärɡən ˌbāsmənt/

noun

a part of a store where goods are sold cheaply, typically because they are old or imperfect
[as modifier]

• bargain-basement prices

• ‹figurative› a mixture of styles from pop culture's bargain basement.

bargaining chip /ˈbärɡ(ə)niNG ˌCHip/

noun

a potential concession or other factor that can be used to advantage in negotiations.

barge /bärj/

I. noun

1. a flat-bottomed boat for carrying freight, typically on canals and rivers, either under its own power or towed by another.

2. a long ornamental boat used for pleasure or ceremony.

3. a boat used by the chief officers of a warship.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — move forcefully or roughly

• we can't just barge into a private garden.

2. (barge in) — intrude or interrupt rudely or awkwardly

• sorry to barge in on your cozy evening.

3. (chiefly in a sporting context) collide with

• displays of dissent, such as deliberately barging into the umpire.

4. [with obj.] — convey (freight) by barge.

– origin Middle English (denoting a small seagoing vessel): from Old French, perhaps ultimately from Greek baris ‘Egyptian boat.’

bargeboard /ˈbärjbôrd/

I. noun

a board, typically ornamental, fixed to the gable end of a roof to hide the ends of the roof timbers.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from mid 16th-cent. barge- (used in architectural terms relating to the gable of a building).

bargee /bärˈjē/

noun

(chiefly Brit.) a bargeman.

Bargello /bärˈjelō, -ˈZHelō / bargello

I. noun

a kind of embroidery, typically worked on upholstery fabrics, in stitch patterns suggestive of flames.
Also called flame stitch.

– origin 1940s: named after Bargello Palace, in Florence, Italy, which contains upholstered chairs with such embroidery.

bargeman /ˈbärjmən/

noun

a person who has charge of, or works on, a barge.

bar graph bar chart

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a diagram in which the numerical values of variables are represented by the height or length of lines or rectangles of equal width.

Bar Harbor /ˌbär ˈhärbər/

a resort town in southern central Maine, on Mount Desert Island; pop. 5,129 (est. 2008).

barhop /ˈbärhäp/

verb — [no obj.]

1. drink at a number of bars during a single day or evening.

Bari /ˈbärē/

an industrial seaport on the Adriatic coast of southeastern Italy; pop. 320,677 (2008).

bariatrics /ˌberēˈatriks/

I. plural noun — [usu. treated as sing.]

1. the branch of medicine that deals with the study and treatment of obesity.

II. derivatives

bariatric /ˌberēˈatrik /

adjective

– origin 1960s: from baro- + Greek iatros ‘physician’ + -ics.

bariatric surgery

noun

surgical procedures performed on the stomach or intestines to induce weight loss.

barilla /bəˈrilə, -ˈrēə/

I. noun

an impure alkali formerly made from the ashes of burned plants, especially saltworts.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Spanish barrilla, diminutive of barra ‘bar.’

Barisal /ˈberəˌsôl/

a river port in southern Bangladesh, on the Ganges delta; pop. 210,374 (2008).

barista /bəˌrēstə bəˈristə/

I. noun

a person whose job involves preparing and serving different types of coffee.

– origin 1980s: Italian, ‘barman.’

barite /ˈberīt/

noun

a mineral consisting of barium sulfate, typically occurring as colorless prismatic crystals or thin white flakes.

baritone /ˈberəˌtōn/

I. noun

1. an adult male singing voice between tenor and bass

• he sang in a rich baritone.

2. a singer with a baritone voice.

3. a part written for a baritone voice.

4. (in full baritone horn) — an instrument that is second lowest in pitch in its family.

5. a large, valved brass instrument in coiled oval form, used especially in military or street bands.

II. adjective

second lowest in musical pitch.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Italian baritono, from Greek barutonos, from barus ‘heavy’ + tonos (see tone).

baritonist /ˈbariˌtōnist/

noun

a person who plays a baritone instrument, in particular a saxophone or a horn.

barium /ˈberēəm/

I. noun

1. (Symbol: Ba) — the chemical element of atomic number 56, a soft white reactive metal of the alkaline earth group.

2. a mixture of barium sulfate and water, opaque to X-rays, that is swallowed to permit radiological examination of the stomach or intestines
[as modifier]

• a barium meal.

Barium compounds are used in water purification, the glass industry, and pigments, and as an ingredient of signal flares and fireworks, giving a bright yellowish-green color. Barium oxide is a component of high-temperature superconductors.

– origin early 19th cent.: from baryta + -ium.

barium sulfate

noun

an odorless, insoluble white powder used in the making of pigments, paper, textiles, and plastics, and ingested as a contrasting agent in X-raying the digestive tract.
[Chem. formula: BaSO_4.]

bark^1 /bärk/

I. noun

1. the sharp explosive cry of certain animals, especially a dog, fox, or seal.

2. a sound resembling a sharp explosive cry, typically one made by someone laughing or coughing

• a short bark of laughter.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — (of a dog or other animal) emit a bark

• a dog barked at her.

2. (of a person) make a sound, such as a cough or a laugh, resembling a bark

• she barked with laughter.

3. [with obj.] — utter (a command or question) abruptly or aggressively

• he began barking out his orders

• [with direct speech] “Nobody is allowed up here,” he barked

• [no obj.] he was barking at me to make myself presentable.

4. [no obj.] — (US) call out in order to sell or advertise something

• doormen bark at passersby, promising hot music and cold beer.

III. phrases

1. someone's bark is worse than their bite

someone is not as ferocious as they appear or sound.

2. be barking up the wrong tree

‹informal› be pursuing a mistaken or misguided line of thought or course of action.

– origin Old English beorc (noun), beorcan (verb), of Germanic origin; possibly related to break.

bark^2 /bärk/

I. noun

1. the tough, protective outer sheath of the trunk, branches, and twigs of a tree or woody shrub.

2. the bark of a tree used for tanning leather, making dyestuffs, or as a mulch in gardening.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. strip the bark from (a tree or piece of wood).

2. scrape the skin off (one's shin) by accidentally hitting it against something hard.

3. ‹technical› tan or dye (leather or other materials) using the tannins found in bark.

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse bǫrkr; perhaps related to birch.

bark^3 /bärk / barque

I. noun

1. a sailing ship, typically with three masts, in which the foremast and mainmast are square-rigged and the mizzenmast is rigged fore-and-aft.

2. ‹archaic› ‹literary› a ship or boat.

– origin late Middle English: variant of barque.

bark beetle

noun

a small wood-boring beetle that tunnels under the bark of trees, which die if heavily infested.
[Family Scolytidae: many genera and species, including the smaller European elm bark beetle (Scolytus multistriatus), which is responsible for the spread of the fungus that causes Dutch elm disease.]

barkcloth /ˈbärkˌklôTH/

noun

cloth made from the inner bark of the paper mulberry or similar tree.

barked /bärkt/

adjective — [in combination]

1. (of a tree or woody shrub) having bark of a specified kind

• thick-barked trees that could resist fire.

barkeeper /ˈbärˌkēpər / barkeep

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a person who owns or serves drinks in a bar.

barkentine /ˈbärkənˌtēn / ‹Brit.› barquentine

I. noun

a sailing ship similar to a bark but square-rigged only on the foremast.

– origin late 17th cent.: from bark^3, on the pattern of brigantine.

barker /ˈbärkər/

I. noun

‹informal› a person who stands in front of a theater, sideshow, etc., and calls out to passersby to attract customers.

– origin late Middle English: from bark^1 + -er^1. The original sense was ‘a person or animal that barks; noisy protester,’ hence the current sense (late 17th cent).

barking deer

noun

another term for muntjac.

Barkley, Alben W. /ˈbärklē/

(1877–1956), US politician; full name Alben William Barkley. He served as Harry S. Truman's vice president 1949–53. He also served in the US Senate 1927–49, 1955–56.

Barkley, Charles

(1963–), US basketball player; full name Charles Wade Barkley. He played for the Philadelphia 76ers 1984–92, the Phoenix Suns 1992–96, and the Houston Rockets 1996–2000. He was also a member of the US Olympic “Dream Team" in 1992. Basketball Hall of Fame (2006).

barley /ˈbärlē/

I. noun

1. a hardy cereal that has coarse bristles extending from the ears. It is widely cultivated, chiefly for use in brewing and stockfeed.
[Genus Hordeum, family Gramineae.]

2. the grain of the barley plant.
See also pearl barley.

– origin Old English bærlic (adjective), from bære, bere ‘barley’ + -lic (see -ly^1).

barleycorn /ˈbärlēˌkôrn/

noun

1. a grain of barley.

2. a former unit of measurement (about a third of an inch) based on the length of a grain of barley.

barley sugar /ˈbärlē ˌSHo͝oɡər/

I. noun

an amber-colored candy made of boiled sugar, traditionally shaped as a twisted stick.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. shaped like twisted barley-sugar sticks.

barley water

noun

a drink made from water and a boiled barley mixture, typically flavored with orange or lemon.

barley wine /ˈbärlē ˌwīn/

noun

a strong English ale.

bar line /bär līn/

noun

[Music] a vertical line used in a musical score to mark a division between bars.

Barlow knife /ˈbärlō ˌnīf/

noun

a large single-bladed pocketknife.

barm /bärm/

I. noun

1. the froth on fermenting malt liquor.

2. ‹archaic› ‹dialect› yeast or leaven.

– origin Old English beorma.

barmaid /ˈbärˌmād/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) a waitress who serves drinks in a bar.

2. (Brit.) a woman bartender.

barman /ˈbärmən/

noun

(chiefly Brit.) a male bartender.

Barmecide /ˈbärməˌsīd / ‹rare› Barmecidal

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. illusory or imaginary and therefore disappointing.

II. noun

a person who offers benefits that are illusory or disappointing.

– origin early 18th cent. (as a noun): from Arabic Barmakī, the name of a prince in the Arabian Nights' Entertainments, who gave a beggar a feast consisting of ornate but empty dishes.

bar mitzvah /ˌbär ˈmitsvə/

I. noun

1. the religious initiation ceremony of a Jewish boy who has reached the age of 13 and is regarded as ready to observe religious precepts and eligible to take part in public worship.

2. a boy undergoing the bar mitzvah ceremony.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be bar mitzvahed)

1. celebrate the bar mitzvah of (a boy).

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Hebrew bar miṣwāh, literally ‘son of the commandment.’

barmy /ˈbärmē/

I. adjective

(Brit.) another term for balmy (sense 2).

II. derivatives

1. barmily /-məlē /

adverb

2. barminess

noun

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘frothy’): from barm + -y^1.

barmy army

noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› supporters of a particular sports team who are known for their vociferous support during matches, especially a group of fans who follow the England cricket team

• the barmy army added their voice to a very memorable occasion.

barn^1 /bärn/

I. noun

1. a large farm building used for storing grain, hay, or straw or for housing livestock.

2. (N. Amer.) a large shed used for storing vehicles.

3. a large and unattractive building

• moved into that barn of a house.

– origin Old English bern, berern, from bere ‘barley’ + ern, ærn ‘house.’

barn^2 /bärn / b

I. noun

[Physics] a unit of area, 10–28 square meters, used especially in particle physics.

– origin 1940s: apparently from the phrase as big as a barn door.

Barnabas, St. /ˈbärnəbəs/

(died c. 61), a Cypriot Levite and apostle. The traditional founder of the Cypriot Church, he is said to have been martyred in Cyprus. Feast day, June 11.

barnacle /ˈbärnək(ə)l/

I. noun

1. a marine crustacean with an external shell, which attaches itself permanently to a variety of surfaces. Barnacles feed by filtering particles from the water using their modified feathery legs.
[Class Cirripedia. See acorn barnacle, goose barnacle.]

2. used figuratively to describe a tenacious person or thing

• buses careered along with men hanging from their doors like barnacles.

II. derivatives

barnacled

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: from medieval Latin bernaca, of unknown origin. In Middle English the term denoted the barnacle goose, whose breeding grounds were long unknown and which was believed to hatch from the shell of the crustacean to which it gave its name.

barnacle goose /ˈbärnəkəl ɡo͞os/

I. noun

a goose with a white face and black neck, breeding in the arctic tundra of Greenland and northern Europe.
[Branta leucopsis, family Anatidae.]

– origin mid 18th cent.: see barnacle.

Barnard, Christiaan /ˈbärnərd/

(1922–2001), South African surgeon; a pioneer in human heart transplantation; full name Christiaan Neethling Barnard. He performed the first heart transplant in December 1967.

Barnaul /ˌbärnəˈo͞ol/

the capital of Altai territory in southern Russia, on the Ob River; pop. 597,200 (est. 2008).

barn burner barnburner

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› an event, typically a sports contest, that is very exciting or intense.

barn dance /ˈˌbärn ˈdans/

noun

an informal social gathering for square dancing, originally held in a barn.

barn door /ˈbärn ˌdô(ə)r/

noun

1. the large door of a barn.

2. a target too large to be missed

• on the shooting range he could not hit a barn door.

3. a hinged metal flap fitted to a spotlight to control the direction and intensity of its beam.

Barnegat Bay /ˈbärniˌɡat, -ɡət/

a tidal body in southeastern New Jersey, shielded from the Atlantic Ocean by barrier islands, the site of numerous resorts.

barn owl /ˈbärn ˌoul/

noun

an owl with a heart-shaped face, dark eyes, and relatively long, slender legs. It typically nests in farm buildings or in holes in trees.
[Genus Tyto, family Tytonidae: three species, esp. the white-faced T. alba, which is found throughout the world.]

Barnsley /ˈbärnzlē/

a town in northern England; pop. 70,100 (est. 2009).

Barnstable /ˈbärnstəbəl/

a town in southeastern Massachusetts, on the southwestern part of Cape Cod; pop. 46,184 (est. 2008). It is the commercial center for a resort area.

barnstorm /ˈbärnˌstôrm/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) tour rural districts giving theatrical performances, originally often in barns.

2. [with obj.] — (chiefly N. Amer.) make a rapid tour of (an area), typically as part of a political campaign.

3. (chiefly N. Amer.) travel around giving exhibitions of flying and performing aeronautical stunts
(as noun barnstorming)

• barnstorming had become a popular occupation among many trained pilots.

II. derivatives

barnstormer /ˈbärnˌstôrmər /

noun

Barnum, P. T. /ˈbärnəm/

(1810–91), US showman; full name Phineas Taylor Barnum. He was noted for his extravagant advertising and exhibition of freaks at his museum in New York City. When his circus opened in 1871, he billed it as “The Greatest Show on Earth”; ten years later, he founded the Barnum and Bailey circus with former rival Anthony Bailey (1847–1906).

Barnum effect

I. noun

[Psychology] the tendency to accept certain information as true, such as character assessments or horoscopes, even when the information is so vague as to be worthless.

– origin named after P. T. Barnum (see Barnum, P. T.); the word Barnum was in use from the mid 19th cent. as a noun in the sense ‘nonsense, humbug.’

barnyard /ˈbärnˌyärd/

I. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) the area of open ground around a barn.

II. adjective

(especially of manners or language) characterized by a lack of propriety; coarse, indecent, earthy

• a polite way of avoiding barnyard language.

baro-

I. combining form

relating to pressure

• barotrauma

• baroreceptor.

– origin from Greek baros ‘weight.’

barogram /ˈberəˌɡram/

noun

a record of atmospheric pressure produced by a barograph.

barograph /ˈberəˌɡraf/

I. noun

a barometer that records its readings on a moving chart.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek baros ‘weight’ + -graph.

Barolo /bəˈrōlō/

noun

a full-bodied red Italian wine from Barolo, a region of Piedmont.

barometer /bəˈrämədər/

I. noun

1. an instrument measuring atmospheric pressure, used especially in forecasting the weather and determining altitude.

2. something that reflects changes in circumstances or opinions

• furniture is a barometer of changing tastes.

II. derivatives

1. barometric /ˈˌberəˈmetrik /

adjective

2. barometrical

adjective

3. barometry /bəˈrämətrē /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Greek baros ‘weight’ + -meter.

barometric pressure

noun

another term for atmospheric pressure.

baron /ˈberən/

I. noun

1. a member of the lowest order of the British nobility. The term “Baron” is not used as a form of address in Britain, barons usually being referred to as “Lord.”

2. a member of a foreign nobility having a rank similar to that of a baron.

3. ‹historical› a person who held lands or property from the sovereign or a powerful overlord.

4. [with modifier] — an important or powerful person in a specified business or industry

• a press baron.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, from medieval Latin baro, baron- ‘man, warrior,’ probably of Germanic origin.

baronage /ˈberənij/

I. noun

1. [treated as sing. or pl.] — barons or nobles collectively.

2. an annotated list of barons or peers.

– origin Middle English: from Old French barnage (from baron), or from medieval Latin baronagium, from baro (see baron).

baroness /ˈberənəs/

I. noun

1. the wife or widow of a baron. The term “Baroness” is not used as a form of address in Britain, baronesses usually being referred to as “Lady.”

2. a woman holding the rank of baron either as a life peerage or as a hereditary rank.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French baronesse, from baron (see baron).

baronet /ˈberənət/

I. noun

a member of the lowest hereditary titled British order, with the status of a commoner but able to use the prefix “Sir.”

– origin late Middle English: from Anglo-Latin baronettus, from Latin baro, baron- ‘man, warrior.’ The term originally denoted a gentleman, not a nobleman, summoned by the king to attend parliament; the current order was instituted in the early 17th cent.

baronetage /ˈbarənitij, ˌbarəˈnetij/

noun

1. [treated as sing. or pl.] — baronets collectively.

2. an annotated list of baronets.

baronetcy /ˈberənetsē/

noun

the rank of a baronet.

baronial /bəˈrōnēəl/

adjective

belonging or relating to a baron or barons; suitable for a baron

• a leading baronial family

• halls of baronial splendor.

baron of beef

noun

a joint of beef consisting of two sirloins joined at the backbone.

barony /ˈberənē/

noun

1. the rank and estates of a baron.

2. ‹historical› (in Ireland) a division of a county.

3. ‹historical› (in Scotland) a large manor or estate.

baroque /bəˈrōk/

I. adjective

1. relating to or denoting a style of European architecture, music, and art of the 17th and 18th centuries that followed mannerism and is characterized by ornate detail. In architecture the period is exemplified by the palace of Versailles and by the work of Bernini in Italy. Major composers include Vivaldi, Bach, and Handel; Caravaggio and Rubens are important baroque artists.

2. highly ornate and extravagant in style

• the candles were positively baroque.

II. noun

the baroque style or period.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French (originally designating a pearl of irregular shape), from Portuguese barroco, Spanish barrueco, or Italian barocco; of unknown ultimate origin.

baroreceptor /ˌberōrəˈseptər/

noun

[Zoology] a receptor sensitive to changes in pressure.

barotrauma /ˌbarōˈtroumə, -ˈtrô-/

noun

[Medicine] injury caused by a change in air pressure, typically affecting the ear or the lung.

barouche /bəˈro͞oSH/

I. noun

‹historical› a four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage with a collapsible hood over the rear half, a seat in front for the driver, and seats facing each other for the passengers, used especially in the 19th century.

– origin early 19th cent.: from German dialect Barutsche, from Italian baroccio, based on Latin birotus ‘two-wheeled,’ from bi- ‘having two’ + rota ‘wheel.’

barque /bärk/

I. noun

variant spelling of bark^3.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, probably from Provençal barca, from late Latin barca ‘ship's boat.’

Barquisimeto /ˌbärkəsəˈmādō/

a city in northwestern Venezuela; pop. 1,018,900 (est. 2009).

Barr, Roseanne /bär/

(1952–), US comedienne and actress. Her television sitcom Roseanne (1988–97) was inspired by her popular stand-up comedy persona.

barrack^1 /ˈberək/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. provide (soldiers) with accommodations in a building or set of buildings

• the granary in which the platoons were barracked.

– origin early 18th cent.: from barracks.

barrack^2 /ˈberək/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (Brit.) (Austral./NZ) jeer loudly at (someone performing or speaking in public) in order to express disapproval or to create a distraction

• opponents barracked him when he addressed the opening parliamentary session

• (as noun barracking) the disgraceful barracking which came from the mob.

2. [no obj.] (barrack for) — (Brit.) (Austral./NZ) (Austral./NZ) give support and encouragement to

• I take it you'll be barracking for Labour tonight?

– origin late 19th cent.: probably from Northern Irish dialect.

barracks /ˈberəks/

I. plural noun — [often treated as sing.]

1. a building or group of buildings used to house soldiers

• the troops were ordered back to barracks.

2. a building or group of buildings used to house large numbers of people.

– origin late 17th cent.: barrack from French baraque, from Italian baracca or Spanish barraca ‘soldier's tent,’ of unknown origin.

barracks bag

noun

a large cloth bag for carrying clothing, equipment, and personal items; a duffel bag.

barracoon /ˌberəˈko͞on/

I. noun

‹historical› an enclosure in which black slaves were confined for a limited period.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Spanish barracón, from barraca ‘soldier's tent’ (see barracks).

barracuda /ˌberəˈko͞odə/

I. noun

a large, predatory tropical marine fish with a slender body and large jaws and teeth.
[Genus Sphyraena, family Sphyraenidae: several species, in particular the inedible and poisonous great barracuda (S. barracuda) and the edible Pacific barracuda (S. argentea).]

– origin late 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

barrage /bəˈrä(d)ZH/

I. noun

1. a concentrated artillery bombardment over a wide area.

2. a concentrated outpouring, as of questions or blows

• she was not prepared for his barrage of questions

• a barrage of 60-second television spots.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be barraged)

1. bombard (someone) with something

• his doctor was barraged with unsolicited advice.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, from barrer ‘to bar,’ of unknown origin.

barrage balloon /bəˈrä(d)ZH bəˈlo͞on/

noun

a large balloon anchored to the ground by cables and often with netting suspended from it, serving as an obstacle to low-flying enemy aircraft.

barramundi /ˌberəˈməndē/

I. noun

any of a number of large, chiefly freshwater, fishes of Australia and Southeast Asia.
[● a fish that migrates between the sea and rivers and is valued as a food fish (Lates calcarifer, family Centropomidae). ● a mouthbrooder (genus Scleropages, family Osteoglossidae), in particular S. leichardti, which is popular with fly fishermen.]

– origin late 19th cent.: probably from an Aboriginal language of Queensland, Australia.

barranca /bəˈräNGkə / barranco

I. noun

(chiefly US) a narrow, winding river gorge.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Spanish.

Barranquilla /ˌbärənˈkēlyə/

the chief port of Colombia; pop. 1,112,889 (2005). Founded in 1629, it lies at the mouth of the Magdalena River, near the Caribbean Sea.

barratry /ˈberətrē/

I. noun

1. ‹archaic› fraud or gross negligence of a ship's master or crew at the expense of its owners or users.

2. [Law] vexatious litigation or incitement to it.

3. ‹historical› trade in the sale of church or state appointments.

II. derivatives

1. barrator /ˈberədər /

noun

( — ‹historical› barratry (sense 2)

2. barratrous /-trəs /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (sense 3): from Old French baraterie, from barater ‘deceive,’ based on Greek prattein ‘do, perform, manage’ (sometimes dishonestly); perhaps influenced by Old Norse barátta ‘contest.’

Barr body /ˈbär ˌbädē/

noun

[Anatomy] [Physiology] a small, densely staining structure in the cell nuclei of female mammals, consisting of a condensed, inactive X chromosome. It is regarded as diagnostic of genetic femaleness.

barre /bär/

I. noun

a horizontal bar at waist level on which ballet dancers rest a hand for support during exercises.

– origin early 20th cent.: French, literally ‘bar.’

barré /bäˈrā/

I. noun

[Music] a method of playing a chord on the guitar or similar instrument with a finger laid across the strings at a particular fret, raising their pitch.

– origin late 19th cent.: French, literally ‘barred,’ past participle of barrer.

barred /bärd/

adjective

1. closed or secured with a long rod or rigid piece of wood, metal, or similar material

• he sits by a barred window

• a barred gate.

2. marked with bands of color or light

• he spotted a barred owl.

barred owl

noun

large gray-brown North American owl with brown eyes and a barred pattern across the chest.
[Strix varia, family Strigidae.]

barrel /ˈberəl/

I. noun

1. a cylindrical container bulging out in the middle, traditionally made of wooden staves with metal hoops around them.

2. a barrel together with its contents

• a barrel of beer.

3. a measure of capacity used for oil and beer. It is usually equal to 36 imperial gallons for beer and 35 imperial gallons or 42 US gallons (roughly 159 liters) for oil.

4. a tube forming part of an object such as a gun or a pen.

5. the belly and loins of a four-legged animal such as a horse.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) drive or move fast, often heedless of surroundings or conditions

• we barreled across the Everglades

• barreling along the Ventura freeway.

2. [with obj.] — put into a barrel or barrels.

III. phrases

1. a barrel of laughs

[often with negative] — ‹informal› a source of fun or amusement

• life is not exactly a barrel of laughs at the moment.

2. on the barrel

(of payment) without delay

• I gotta be paid cash on the barrel.

3. over a barrel

‹informal› in a helpless position; at someone's mercy.

4. with both barrels

‹informal› with unrestrained force or emotion.

– origin Middle English: from Old French baril, from medieval Latin barriclus ‘small cask.’

barrel bomb

I. noun

a crude bomb consisting of an oil drum or similar container filled with explosives, typically dropped from an aircraft

• he estimated that dozens of barrel bombs had been dropped on the province in the last nine days.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. drop a barrel bomb or bombs on

• another of the makeshift medical centers was barrel-bombed on June 23rd

• (as noun barrel-bombing) the latest barrel-bombing reportedly killed 17 civilians.

barrel cactus

noun

a spiny, ribbed cylindrical cactus.
[Ferocactus, Echinocereus, and other genera, family Cactaceae: numerous species, including the Arizona barrel cactus (F. wislizenii), with yellow, orange, or red flower.]

barrel-chested /ˈberəl ˌCHestəd/

adjective

having a large rounded chest.

barrel distortion

noun

a type of defect in optical or electronic images in which vertical or horizontal straight lines appear as convex curves.

barrelhead /ˈberəlˌhed/

I. noun

the flat top of a barrel.

II. phrases

on the barrelhead

(N. Amer.) another way of saying on the barrel (see barrel).

barrelhouse /ˈberəlˌhous/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a cheap or disreputable bar.

2. [usu. as modifier] — an unrestrained and unsophisticated style of jazz music.

– origin late 19th cent.: so named because of the rows of barrels along the walls of such a bar.

barrel knot

noun

another term for blood knot.

barrel organ /ˈberəl ˈˌôrɡən/

noun

a mechanical musical instrument from which predetermined music is produced by turning a handle, played, especially in former times, by street musicians.

barrel roll

noun

an aerobatic maneuver in which an aircraft follows a single turn of a spiral while rolling once about its longitudinal axis.

barrel vault

I. noun

[Architecture] a vault forming a half cylinder.

II. derivatives

barrel-vaulted

adjective

barren /ˈberən/

I. adjective

1. (of land) too poor to produce much or any vegetation.

2. (of a tree or plant) not producing fruit or seed.

3. ‹archaic› (of a woman) unable to have children.

4. (of a female animal) not pregnant or unable to become so.

5. showing no results or achievements; unproductive

• much of philosophy has been barren.

6. (of a place or building) bleak and lifeless

• the sports hall turned out to be a rather barren concrete building.

7. empty of meaning or value

• those young heads were stuffed with barren facts.

8. (barren of) — devoid of

• the room was barren of furniture.

II. noun — (usu. barrens)

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) a barren tract or tracts of land

• crossing the barrens was no easy feat.

III. derivatives

barrenness /ˈberənˌnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French barhaine, of unknown origin.

Barrett, Elizabeth /ˈbarit/

see Browning, Elizabeth Barrett.

barrette /bəˈret/

I. noun

(US) a typically bar-shaped clip or ornament for the hair.

– origin early 20th cent.: from French, diminutive of barre ‘bar.’

barricade /ˈberəˌkād/

I. noun

an improvised barrier erected across a street or other thoroughfare to prevent or delay the movement of opposing forces.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. block or defend with an improvised barrier

• he barricaded the door with a bureau

• (as adj. barricaded) the heavily barricaded streets.

2. shut (oneself or someone) into a place by blocking all the entrances

• detainees who barricaded themselves into their dormitory.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French, from barrique ‘cask,’ from Spanish barrica; related to barrel (barrels being often used to build barricades).

Barrie, Sir J. M. /ˈbarē/

(1860–1937), Scottish dramatist and novelist; full name Sir James Matthew Barrie. He wrote Peter Pan (1904), a fantasy for children about a boy who would not grow up. Other notable plays include The Admirable Crichton (1902).

barrier /ˈberēər/

I. noun

1. a fence or other obstacle that prevents movement or access.

2. a circumstance or obstacle that keeps people or things apart or prevents communication or progress

• a language barrier

• the cultural barriers to economic growth.

3. the starting gate of a racecourse.

4. (Brit.) a gate at a parking lot that controls access by being raised or lowered.

5. (in full barrier island) — a long narrow island lying parallel and close to the mainland, protecting the mainland from erosion and storms.

II. phrases

break the barrier

pass or exceed a significant level or amount

• the Tokyo stock exchange reopened to break the 5000-yen barrier.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a palisade or fortification defending an entrance): from Old French barriere, of unknown origin; related to barre.

barrier method /ˈberēər ˈmeTHəd/

noun

a method of contraception using a device or preparation that prevents live sperm from reaching an ovum.

barrier reef /ˈberēər rēf/

noun

a coral reef running parallel to the shore but separated from it by a channel of deep water.

barring /ˈbäriNG/

I. preposition

except for; if not for

• barring a miracle, you’ll lose.

– origin late 15th cent.: from the verb bar^1 + -ing^2.

barrio /ˈbärēˌō/

I. noun

1. a district of a town in Spain and Spanish-speaking countries.

2. (in the US) the Spanish-speaking quarter of a town or city, especially one with a high poverty level.

– origin Spanish, perhaps from Arabic.

barrique /bəˈrēk/

I. noun

a wine barrel, especially a small one made of new oak, in which Bordeaux and other wines are aged.

– origin late 18th cent.: French.

barrister /ˈberəstər / barrister-at-law

I. noun

(chiefly Brit.) a lawyer entitled to practice as an advocate, particularly in the higher courts.
Compare with attorney, solicitor.

– origin late Middle English: from the noun bar^1, perhaps on the pattern of minister.

barroom /ˈbäro͞om ˈbäro͝om/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a room where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter.

barrow^1 /ˈberō/

I. noun

1. a wheelbarrow.

2. a luggage trolley.

3. (Brit.) a two-wheeled handcart used especially by street vendors.

II. derivatives

barrowload /ˈberōˌlōd /

noun

– origin Old English bearwe ‘stretcher, bier,’ of Germanic origin; related to bear^1.

barrow^2 /ˈberō/

I. noun

[Archaeology] an ancient burial mound.

– origin Old English beorg, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch berg, German Berg ‘hill, mountain.’

barrow^3 /ˈberō/

noun

a male pig castrated before maturity.

Barrow /ˈberō/

a city in north central Alaska, a commercial center on the Arctic Ocean. It is the northernmost US city; pop. 4,010 (est. 2008). Nearby Point Barrow is the northernmost point in the US.

Barrow, Clyde

(1909–34), US bank robber and murderer. He and his partner, Bonnie Parker, shot and killed at least thirteen people during a notorious two-year crime spree across the Southwest. They were finally stopped and shot to death at a Louisiana roadblock.

barrow boy /ˈberō ˌboi/

noun

(Brit.) a boy or man who sells wares from a barrow in the street.

barry /ˈberē/

I. adjective

[Heraldry] divided into typically four, six, or eight equal horizontal bars of alternating tinctures.

– origin late 15th cent.: from French barré ‘barred, striped,’ past participle of barrer.

Barry, Sir Charles /ˈbarē/

(1795–1860), English architect, designer of the Houses of Parliament.

Barrymore /ˈberəˌmôr/

a US family of film and stage actors, notably Lionel (1878–1954), his sister Ethel (1879–1959), their brother John (1882–1942), and John's granddaughter Drew (1975–).

Barsac /ˈbärsak/

noun

a sweet white wine from the district of Barsac, a department of the Gironde in France.

bar sinister

noun

popular and erroneous term for bend sinister.

barstool /ˈbärsto͞ol / bar stool

noun

a tall padded stool for customers at a bar to sit on.

Barstow /ˈbärstō/

a city in south central California, in the Mojave Desert, northeast of Los Angeles; pop. 24,596 (est. 2008).

Bart. /bärt, berənet/

abbreviation

Baronet.

Bart, Lionel /bärt/

(1930–99), English composer and lyricist; born Lionel Beglieter. His musicals include Oliver! (1960).

bar tack

I. noun

a stitch made to strengthen a potential weak spot in a garment or other sewn item.

II. derivatives

bar-tacked

adjective

bartender /ˈbärˌtendər/

I. noun

a person who mixes and serves drinks at a bar.

II. derivatives

1. bartend /ˈbärˌtend /

verb

2. bartending /ˈbärˌtend /

noun

barter /ˈbärdər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. exchange (goods or services) for other goods or services without using money

• he often bartered a meal for drawings

• [no obj.] the company is prepared to barter for Russian oil.

II. noun

1. the action or system of exchanging goods or services without using money

• it will be paid for by a mixture of barter and cash.

2. the goods or services used in bartering

• I took a supply of coffee and cigarettes to use as barter.

III. derivatives

barterer /ˈbärd(ə)rər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: probably from Old French barater ‘deceive’ (see barratry).

Barth, John /bärTH/

(1930–), US novelist and short-story writer noted for complex experimental novels; full name John Simmons Barth. Notable works: The Sot-Weed Factor (1960), Giles Goat-Boy (1966), and Letters (1979).

Barth, Karl /bärt/

(1886–1968), Swiss theologian. His seminal work Epistle to the Romans (1919) established a neo-orthodox or theocentric approach to contemporary religious thought that remains influential in Protestant theology.

Barthes, Roland /bärt/

(1915–80), French writer and critic. He was a leading exponent of structuralism and semiology in literary criticism. Notable works: On Racine (1963), Mythologies (1957), and Elements of Semiology (1964).

Bartholdi, Auguste /bärˈtôldē/

(1834–1904), French sculptor; full name Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi. He is known primarily as the designer of the Statue of Liberty.

Bartholin's gland /ˈbärTHəlinz ˌɡland ˈbärdəlinz ˌɡland/

I. noun

[Anatomy] one of a pair of glands lying near the entrance of the vagina, which secrete a fluid that lubricates the vulva.

– origin early 18th cent.: named by Caspar Bartholin (1655–1738), Danish anatomist, as a tribute to his father.

Bartholomew, St. /bärˈTHäləˌmyo͞o/

an Apostle; regarded as the patron saint of tanners. Feast day, August 24.

bartizan /ˈbärdəzən/

I. noun

[Architecture] an overhanging corner turret at the top of a castle or church tower.

– origin early 19th cent.: from 17th-cent. bertisene, Scots variant of bratticing ‘temporary breastwork or parapet,’ from brattice; revived and reinterpreted by Sir Walter Scott.

Bartlesville /ˈbärdlzˌvil/

a city in northeastern Oklahoma, noted as an oil industry center; pop. 35,914 (est. 2008).

Bartlett^1 /ˈbärtlit/

a town in southwestern Tennessee, northeast of Memphis; pop. 47,501 (est. 2008).

Bartlett^2 /ˈbärtlət / Bartlett pear

noun

a dessert pear of a juicy, early-ripening variety.

Bartók, Béla /ˈbärˌtäk, -ˌtôk/

(1881–1945), Hungarian composer, whose work owes much to Hungarian folk music. Notable works: Concerto for Orchestra (1943) and Duke Bluebeard's Castle (opera, 1911).

Bartolommeo, Fra /ˌbärtōləˈmāō/

(c. 1472–1517), Italian painter; born Baccio della Porta. A Dominican friar, he worked chiefly in Florence. Notable works: The Vision of St. Bernard (1507) and The Mystic Marriage of St. Catherine (1511).

Barton, Clara /ˈbärtn/

(1821–1912), US social activist; full name Clarissa Harlowe Barton. She founded the American Red Cross and served as its first president 1881–1904.

bar towel ‹US› bar mop

noun

a small piece of thick absorbent cloth used in a bar for wiping tables and cleaning glasses

• she threw the bar towel in the sink

• Travis picked up his bar mop and began shining the wooden surface.

bartsia /ˈbärtsēə/

I. noun

a herbaceous plant of the figwort family. Some kinds obtain additional nourishment by attachment to the roots of other plants, especially grasses.
[Bartsia and related genera, family Scrophulariaceae: several species, in particular the pink-flowered red bartsia (Odontites serotina).]

– origin modern Latin, from the name of Johann Bartsch (1709–38), Prussian botanist.

Baruch /ˈbäro͝ok/

a book of the Apocrypha, attributed in the text to Baruch, the scribe of Jeremiah (Jer. 36).

Baruch, Bernard /bəˈro͞ok/

(1870–1965), US financier and economic consultant; full name Bernard Mannes Baruch. As an adviser to Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Franklin D. Roosevelt, he served as chairman of the War Industries Board 1918–19 and US representative on the UN Atomic Energy Commission 1946.

barware /ˈbärwer/

noun

glassware of various shapes and sizes used for preparing and serving alcoholic drinks.

barycentric /ˌberəˈsentrik/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of or relating to the center of gravity.

II. derivatives

barycenter /ˈbarəˌsentər /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek barus ‘heavy’ + -centric.

baryon /ˈberēˌän/

I. noun

[Physics] a subatomic particle, such as a nucleon or hyperon, that has a mass equal to or greater than that of a proton.

II. derivatives

baryonic /ˌbarēˈänik /

adjective

– origin 1950s: from Greek barus ‘heavy’ + -on.

baryonic matter

noun

matter composed of protons and neutrons; ordinary matter, as distinct from exotic forms.

Baryshnikov, Mikhail /bəˈriSHnəˌkôf, -ˌkôv/

(1948–), US ballet dancer, born in Latvia of Russian parents; full name Mikhail Nikolaevich Baryshnikov. In 1974 he defected to the West while touring with the Kirov Ballet. He served as the American Ballet Theater's artistic director 1980–89.

baryta /bəˈrīdə/

I. noun

[Chemistry] barium hydroxide.
[Chem. formula: Ba(OH)2.]

– origin early 19th cent.: from baryte, on the pattern of words such as soda.

basal /ˈbāsəl ˈbāzəl/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. ‹chiefly technical› forming or belonging to a bottom layer or base.

basal body basal granule

noun

[Biology] an organelle that forms the base of a flagellum or cilium.
Also called kinetosome.

basal cell

noun

a type of cell in the innermost layer of the epidermis or other epithelial tissue.

basal cell carcinoma /ˈbāsəl ˈbāzəl sel ˌkärsəˈnōmə/

noun

technical term for rodent ulcer.

basal ganglia

plural noun

[Anatomy] a group of structures linked to the thalamus in the base of the brain and involved in coordination of movement.

basal metabolic rate /ˈbāsəl ˈbāzəl ˈˌmedəˈbälik rāt/

I. noun

the rate at which the body uses energy while at rest to keep vital functions going, such as breathing and keeping warm.

II. derivatives

basal metabolism

noun

basalt /bəˈsôlt/

I. noun

1. a dark, fine-grained volcanic rock that sometimes displays a columnar structure. It is typically composed largely of plagioclase with pyroxene and olivine.

2. a kind of black stoneware resembling basalt.

II. derivatives

basaltic /bəˈsôltik /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent. (in the Latin form): from Latin basaltes (variant of basanites), from Greek basanitēs, from basanos ‘touchstone.’

bascule /ˈbaskyo͞ol / bascule bridge

I. noun

1. a type of bridge with a pivoting section that is raised and lowered using counterweights.

2. a moveable section of road forming part of a bascule bridge.

– origin late 19th cent.: earlier denoting a lever apparatus of which one end is raised while the other is lowered, from French (earlier bacule), ‘seesaw,’ from battre ‘to bump’ + cul ‘buttocks.’

base^1 /bās/

I. noun

1. the lowest part or edge of something, especially the part on which it rests or is supported

• she sat down at the base of a tree.

2. [Architecture] the part of a column between the shaft and pedestal or pavement.

3. [Botany] [Zoology] the end at which a part or organ is attached to the trunk or main part

• a shoot is produced at the base of the stem.

4. [Geometry] a line or surface on which a figure is regarded as standing

• the base of the triangle.

5. [Surveying] a line of known length used in triangulation.

6. [Heraldry] the lowest part of a shield.

7. a conceptual structure or entity on which something draws or depends

• the town's economic base collapsed.

8. something used as a foundation or starting point for further work; a basis

• uses existing data as the base for the study.

9. [with modifier] — a group of people regarded as supporting an organization, for example by buying its products

• a client base.

10. the main place where a person works or stays

• she makes the studio her base.

11. [chiefly Military] a place used as a center of operations by the armed forces or others; a headquarters

• the corporal headed back to base

• a base for shipping operations.

12. a main or important element or ingredient to which other things are added

• soaps with a vegetable oil base.

13. a substance used as a foundation for makeup.

14. a substance such as water or oil into which a pigment is mixed to form paint.

15. [Chemistry] a substance capable of reacting with an acid to form a salt and water, or (more broadly) of accepting or neutralizing hydrogen ions.
Compare with alkali.

16. [Biochemistry] a purine or pyrimidine group in a nucleotide or nucleic acid.

17. [Electronics] the middle part of a bipolar transistor, separating the emitter from the collector.

18. [Linguistics] the root or stem of a word or a derivative.

19. the uninflected form of a verb.

20. [Mathematics] a number used as the basis of a numeration scale.

21. a number in terms of which other numbers are expressed as logarithms.

22. [Baseball] one of the four stations that must be reached in turn to score a run.

23. ‹informal› used to refer to progressive levels of sexual intimacy

• she and her boyfriend got to second base.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. have as the foundation for (something); use as a point from which (something) can develop

• the film is based on a novel by Pat Conroy

• inaccurate conclusions based on incomplete facts.

2. situate as the center of operations

• a research program based at the University of Arizona

• (-based) a London-based band.

III. phrases

1. off-base

‹informal› mistaken

• the boy is way off-base.

2. touch base(s)

‹informal› briefly make or renew contact with someone.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, from Latin basis ‘base, pedestal,’ from Greek.

base^2 /bās/

I. adjective

1. (of a person or a person's actions or feelings) without moral principles; ignoble

• the electorate's baser instincts of greed and selfishness

• we hope his motives are nothing so base as money.

2. ‹archaic› denoting or befitting a person of low social class.

3. (of coins or other articles) not made of precious metal

• the basest coins in the purse were made in the seventh century AD.

II. derivatives

basely /ˈbāslē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Old French bas, from medieval Latin bassus ‘short’ (found in classical Latin as a cognomen). The senses in late Middle English included ‘low, short’ and ‘of inferior quality’; from the latter arose a sense ‘low on the social scale, menial,’ and hence (mid 16th cent.) ‘reprehensibly cowardly, selfish, or mean.’

baseball /ˈbāsˌbôl/

noun

1. a ball game played between two teams of nine on a field with a diamond-shaped circuit of four bases. It is played chiefly in the US, Canada, Latin America, and East Asia.

2. the hard ball used in the game of baseball.

baseball cap /ˈbāsˌbôl kap/

noun

a fabric cap of a kind originally worn by baseball players, with a large brim and an adjustable strap at the back.

baseboard /ˈbāsbôrd/

noun

(N. Amer.) a narrow wooden board running along the base of an interior wall.

baseborn /ˈbāsbôrn/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. ‹archaic› of low birth or origin.

2. ‹archaic› illegitimate.

base burner

noun

‹historical› a stove or furnace that burns fuel in a chamber at the base which is replenished from above by means of a hopper.

base camp /ˈbās ˌkamp/

noun

a camp from which mountaineering expeditions set out.

base dressing

noun

1. the application of manure or fertilizer to the earth, which is then plowed or dug in.

2. manure or fertilizer which has been plowed or dug in to the earth.

base exchange BX

noun

a store at a naval or air force base selling personal items, clothing, refreshments, etc.

basehead /ˈbāsˌhed/

I. noun

(US) ‹informal› a habitual abuser of freebase or crack cocaine.

– origin 1980s: from a shortened form of freebase + -head^2.

base hit

noun

[Baseball] a fair ball hit such that the batter can advance safely to a base without aid of an error committed by the team in the field.

base hospital

noun

a military hospital situated at some distance from the area of active operations during a war.

base jump BASE jump

I. noun

a parachute jump from a fixed point, typically a high building or promontory, rather than an aircraft.

II. verb — [no obj.] (often as noun base jumping)

1. perform a base jump.

III. derivatives

base jumper

noun

– origin 1980s: base from b uilding, a ntenna tower, s pan, e arth (denoting the types of structure used).

Basel /ˈbäz(ə)l/

German name for Basle.

baseless /ˈbāsləs/

I. adjective

1. without foundation in fact

• baseless allegations.

2. [Architecture] (of a column) not having a base between the shaft and pedestal.

II. derivatives

1. baselessly /ˈbāsləslē /

adverb

2. baselessness /ˈbāsləsnəs /

noun

baseline /ˈbāsˌlīn/

noun

1. a minimum or starting point used for comparisons.

2. (in tennis, volleyball, etc.) the line marking each end of the court.

3. [Baseball] the line between bases, which a runner must stay close to when running.

4. [Printing] the imaginary straight line on which a line of type rests.

baseman /ˈbāsmən/

noun

[Baseball] a fielder designated to cover first, second, or third base.

basement /ˈbāsmənt/

I. noun

1. the floor of a building partly or entirely below ground level.

2. [Geology] the oldest formation of rocks underlying a particular area.

– origin mid 18th cent.: probably from archaic Dutch basement ‘foundation,’ perhaps from Italian basamento ‘column base.’

basement membrane

noun

[Anatomy] a thin, delicate membrane of protein fibers and glycosaminoglycans separating an epithelium from underlying tissue.

base metal /ˈbās ˌmedl/

noun

a common metal not considered precious, such as copper, tin, or zinc.

baseness /ˈbāsnis/

noun

lack of moral principles; bad character

• the baseness of human nature.

basenji /bəˈsenjē/

I. noun

a small hunting dog of a central African breed, which growls and yelps but does not bark.

– origin 1930s: a local word.

base on balls BB

noun

[Baseball] another term for walk (sense 3 of the noun).

base pair

noun

[Biochemistry] a pair of complementary bases in a double-stranded nucleic acid molecule, consisting of a purine in one strand linked by hydrogen bonds to a pyrimidine in the other. Cytosine always pairs with guanine, and adenine with thymine (in DNA) or uracil (in RNA).

base path

noun

[Baseball] the straight-line path from one base to the next, along which a base runner travels while a play is being made.

base pay

noun

the base rate of pay for a job or activity, excluding additional payments such as overtime or bonuses.

baseplate /ˈbāsplāt/

noun

a sheet of metal forming the bottom of an object.

base runner baserunner

I. noun

[Baseball] a player on the team at bat who is on a base, or running between bases.

II. derivatives

base-running baserunning

noun

bases /ˈbāsēz/

plural form of basis.

base station

noun

1. a relay located at the center of any of the cells of a cellular telephone system.

2. a short-range transceiver that connects a cordless phone, computer, or other wireless device to a central hub and allows connection to a network.

base unit

noun

a fundamental unit that is defined arbitrarily and not by combinations of other units. The base units of the SI system are the meter, kilogram, second, ampere, kelvin, mole, and candela.

bash /baSH / ‹informal›

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. strike hard and violently

• bash a mosquito with a newspaper.

2. (bash something in) — damage or break something by striking it violently

• the car's rear window had been bashed in.

3. [no obj.] (bash into) — collide with

• the other vehicle bashed into the back of them.

4. criticize severely

• a remark bashing the Belgian brewing industry.

II. noun

1. a heavy blow

• a bash on the head.

2. [usu. with modifier] — a party or social event

• a birthday bash.

III. phrasal verbs

bash something out

‹informal› produce something rapidly without preparation or attention to detail.

– origin mid 17th cent. (as a verb): imitative, perhaps a blend of bang^1 and smash, dash, etc. Sense 2 of the noun is a 20th-cent. usage.

bashaw /bəˈSHô/

noun

another term for pasha (sense 1).

basher /ˈbaSHər/

noun — [usu. with modifier]

1. ‹informal› a person who physically assaults another

• gay-bashers

• a woman basher.

2. ‹informal› a harsh critic or opponent

• theory-basher

• animal rights bashers.

bashert /bəˈSHərt/

I. noun

(in Jewish use) a person's soulmate, especially when considered as an ideal or predestined marriage partner.

– origin Yiddish ‘fate, destiny.’

bashful /ˈbaSHfəl/

I. adjective

reluctant to draw attention to oneself; shy

• don't be bashful about telling folks how you feel.

II. derivatives

1. bashfully /ˈbaSHfəlē /

adverb

2. bashfulness /ˈbaSHfəlnəs /

noun

– origin late 15th cent.: from obsolete bash ‘make or become abashed’ (from abash) + -ful.

bashing /ˈbaSHiNG/

noun — [usu. with modifier]

1. ‹informal› violent physical assault

• nine incidents of gay bashing were reported to the police.

2. ‹informal› severe criticism

• press bashing.

Bashkir /baSHˈkir/

I. noun

1. a member of a Muslim people living in the southern Urals.

2. the Turkic language of the Bashkirs.

II. adjective

relating to the Bashkirs or their language.

– origin via Russian from Turkic Başkurt.

Bashkiria /ˌbaSHˈkirēə/

an autonomous republic in central Russia, west of the Urals; pop. 4,042,900 (est. 2009); capital, Ufa. Also called Bashkir Autonomous Republic, Bashkortostan.

basic /ˈbāsik/

I. adjective

1. forming an essential foundation or starting point; fundamental

• certain basic rules must be obeyed

• the laying down of arms is basic to the agreement.

2. offering or consisting in the minimum required without elaboration or luxury; simplest or lowest in level

• basic and unsophisticated resorts

• the food was good, if a bit basic.

3. common to or required by everyone; primary and ineradicable or inalienable

• basic human rights.

4. [Chemistry] having the properties of a base, or containing a base; having a pH greater than 7.
Often contrasted with acid or acidic; compare with alkaline.

5. [Geology] (of rock, especially igneous rock) relatively poor in silica.

6. [Metallurgy] relating to or denoting steelmaking processes involving lime-rich refractories and slags.

II. noun — (basics)

1. the essential facts or principles of a subject or skill

• learning the basics of the business

• storytelling has re-emerged as people have turned back to basics.

2. essential food and other supplies

• people are facing a shortage of basics like flour.

3. [Military] basic training.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from base^1 + -ic.

BASIC /ˈbāsik/

I. noun

a simple high-level computer programming language that uses familiar English words, designed for beginners and formerly used widely.

– origin 1960s: acronym from Beginners' All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code.

basically /ˈbāsik(ə)lē/

adverb — [often as submodifier]

1. in the most essential respects; fundamentally

• we started from a basically simple idea.

2. [sentence adverb] — used to indicate that a statement summarizes the most important aspects, or gives a roughly accurate account, of a more complex situation

• I basically played the same tunes every night.

Basic English

noun

a simplified form of English limited to 850 selected words, intended for international communication.

basicity /bāˈsisədē/

noun

[Chemistry] the number of hydrogen atoms replaceable by a base in a particular acid.

basic training

noun

[Military] the initial period of training for new personnel, involving intense physical activity and behavioral discipline.

basidiomycete /bəˌsidēōˈmīsēt/

I. noun

[Botany] a fungus whose spores develop in basidia. Basidiomycetes include the majority of familiar mushrooms and toadstools.
Compare with ascomycete. [Phylum Basidiomycota: classes Basidiomycetes (mushrooms, toadstools, puffballs, earthstars, stinkhorns, polypores), Teliomycetes (rusts), and Ustomycetes (smuts).]

– origin late 19th cent.: anglicized singular of modern Latin Basidiomycetes, from basidium (see basidium) + Greek mukētes ‘fungi.’

basidiospore /bəˈsidēōˌspôr/

noun

a spore produced by a basidium.

basidium /bəˈsidēəm/

I. noun

a microscopic, club-shaped spore-bearing structure produced by certain fungi.

– origin mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek basidion, diminutive of basis (see basis).

Basie, Count /ˈbāsē/

(1904–84), US jazz pianist, organist, and bandleader; born William Basie. In 1935 he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, which became one of the best-known and most successful bands of the swing era.

basify /ˈbāsəˌfī/

verb — [with obj.]

1. [Chemistry] change into a base; alkalize.

basil /ˈbāzəl ˈbazəl/

I. noun

1. an aromatic annual herb of the mint family, native to tropical Asia.
[Genus Ocimum, family Labiatae: several species, in particular the common sweet basil (O. basilicum) and the low-growing, compact bush basil O. minimum.]

2. the leaves of the basil plant used as a culinary herb, especially in Mediterranean dishes.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French basile, via medieval Latin from Greek basilikon, neuter of basilikos ‘royal’ (see basilica).

Basil, St. /ˈbazəl, ˈbāzəl/

(c. 330–379), doctor of the Church; bishop of Caesarea; known as St. Basil the Great. Brother of St. Gregory of Nyssa, he staunchly opposed the Arian heresy and established a monastic rule that is still the basis of monasticism in the Eastern Church. Feast day, June 14.

basilar /ˈbasələr/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of or situated at the base of something, especially of the skull, or of the organ of Corti in the ear.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from modern Latin basilaris, formed irregularly from Latin basis (see basis).

basilar membrane

noun

[Anatomy] a membrane in the cochlea that bears the organ of Corti.

Basildon /ˈbazəldən/

a town in southeastern England; pop. 100,600 (est. 2009).

basilect /ˈbāzəˌlekt, ˈbaz-/

I. noun

[Linguistics] a less prestigious dialect or variety of a particular language (used especially in the study of Creoles).
Compare with acrolect, mesolect.

II. derivatives

basilectal /ˌbāzəˈlektəl, ˌbaz- /

adjective

Basilian /bəˈzilyən/

I. adjective

of or relating to St. Basil the Great, or the order of monks and nuns following his monastic rule.

II. noun

a Basilian monk or nun.

basilica /bəˈsiləkə/

I. noun

1. a large oblong hall or building with double colonnades and a semicircular apse, used in ancient Rome as a court of law or for public assemblies.

2. a building similar to a Roman basilica, used as a Christian church.

3. the name given to certain churches granted special privileges by the pope.

II. derivatives

basilican /bəˈsilək(ə)n /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘royal palace,’ from Greek basilikē, feminine of basilikos ‘royal,’ from basileus ‘king.’

basilisk /ˈbasəˌlisk ˈbazəˌlisk/

I. noun

1. a mythical reptile with a lethal gaze or breath, hatched by a serpent from a cock's egg.

2. [Heraldry] another term for cockatrice.

3. a long, slender, and mainly bright green lizard found in Central America, the male of which has a crest running from the head to the tail. It can swim well and is able to run on its hind legs across the surface of water.
[Basiliscus plumifrons, family Iguanidae.]

– origin late Middle English: via Latin from Greek basiliskos ‘little king, serpent,’ from basileus ‘king.’

basilosaurus /ˌbasələˈsôrəs/

I. noun

a large marine cetacean of the Eocene epoch, having a long, slender body and vestigial fore and hind limbs. Fossils were discovered in the early 1990s.
[Genus Basilosaurus, suborder Archaeoceti, order Cetacea.]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek basileus ‘king’ + sauros ‘lizard.’

basin /ˈbās(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a bowl for washing, typically attached to a wall and having faucets connected to a water supply; a washbasin.

2. a wide, round open container, especially one used for holding liquid.

3. a natural depression on the earth's surface, typically containing water

• the Indian Ocean basin.

4. the tract of country that is drained by a river and its tributaries or drains into a lake or sea

• the Amazon basin

• a drainage basin.

5. an enclosed area of water where vessels can be moored

• a yacht basin.

6. [Geology] a circumscribed area within which the rock strata dip toward the center.

II. derivatives

basinful /ˈbāsnˌfo͝ol /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French bacin, from medieval Latin bacinus, from bacca ‘water container,’ perhaps of Gaulish origin.

Basin and Range Province

a largely arid region of the southwestern US, chiefly in Nevada, Utah, and California. The Great Basin and Death Valley are parts of the region.

basinet /ˌbasəˈnet / bascinet

I. noun

a medieval helmet of light steel, fitting close to the wearer's head and typically having a visor.

– origin Middle English: from Old French bacinet ‘little basin.’

basipetal /bāˈsipədl/

I. adjective

1. [Botany] (of growth or development) downward toward the base or point of attachment.
The opposite of acropetal.

2. [Botany] (of the movement of dissolved substances) inward from the shoot and root apexes.

II. derivatives

basipetally

adverb

– origin mid 19th cent.: from basis + Latin petere ‘seek’ + -al.

basis /ˈbāsəs/

I. noun

1. the underlying support or foundation for an idea, argument, or process

• trust is the only basis for a good working relationship.

2. the system or principles according to which an activity or process is carried on

• she needed coaching on a regular basis

• flea markets operate on a cash-only basis.

3. the justification for or reasoning behind something

• on the basis of these statistics, important decisions are made.

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting a base or pedestal): via Latin from Greek, ‘stepping.’ Compare with base^1.

basis point

noun

[Finance] one hundredth of one percent, used chiefly in expressing differences of interest rates.

bask /bask/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. lie exposed to warmth and light, typically from the sun, for relaxation and pleasure

• sprawled figures basking in the afternoon sun.

2. (bask in) — revel in and make the most of (something pleasing)

• he went on basking in the glory of his first book.

– origin late Middle English (originally in the sense ‘bathe’): perhaps related to Old Norse batha ‘bathe.’

Baskerville /ˈbaskərˌvil/

I. noun

a typeface much used in books.

– origin early 19th cent.: named after John Baskerville (1706–75), English printer, designer of the typeface.

basket /ˈbaskət/

I. noun

1. a container used to hold or carry things, typically made from interwoven strips of cane or wire

• a laundry basket.

2. (also shopping basket) — a facility on a website that records items selected by a customer for purchase until the transaction is completed

• click on the order button to add a title to your basket.

3. a structure suspended from a hot-air balloon for carrying the crew, equipment, and ballast.

4. [Finance] a group or range of currencies or investments

• the European currency unit is made up of a basket of ten currencies.

5. [Basketball] a net fixed on a hoop used as the goal.

6. a goal scored.

– origin Middle English: from Old French basket, of unknown ultimate origin.

basketball /ˈbaskətˌbôl/

noun

1. a game played between two teams of five players in which goals are scored by throwing a ball through a netted hoop fixed above each end of the court.

2. the inflated ball used in the game of basketball.

basket case /ˈbaskət ˌkās/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› a person or thing regarded as useless or unable to cope.

2. ‹informal› a country or organization that is in severe financial or economic difficulties, especially one that is unable to pay its debts.

• sudden meltdowns—such as the financial crisis—can turn flourishing countries into basket cases overnight.

– origin World War I: originally slang denoting a soldier who had lost all four limbs, thus unable to move independently.

basket hilt

noun

a sword hilt with a guard resembling basketwork.

basketmaker /ˈbaskətˌmākər/

I. noun

a person who makes baskets.

II. derivatives

basketmaking /ˈbaskitˌmākiNG /

noun

Basket Maker

noun

a member of a culture of the southwestern US, forming the early stages of the Anasazi culture, from the 1st century BC until c. AD 700. The name comes from the basketry and other woven fragments found in early cave sites.

basket-of-gold

noun

a cultivated evergreen alyssum, with gray-green leaves and numerous small yellow flowers.
[Alyssum saxatile, family Brassicaceae.]

basketry /ˈbaskətrē/

noun

1. the craft of basket-making.

2. baskets collectively.

basket star

noun

a brittlestar having branched arms.
[Genus Gorgonocephalus, family Gorgonocephalidae: several species, including the large G. eucnemis.]

basket weave

noun

a style of weave or a pattern resembling basketwork.

basket-weaving

noun

1. the art or activity of creating woven baskets.

2. (also underwater basket-weaving) — ‹humorous› used as the type of college course that is thought to be without any practical or professional value.

basketwork /ˈbaskətˌwərk/

noun

1. material woven in the style of a basket.

2. the craft of making material woven in the style of a basket.

basking shark /ˈbaskiNG ˌSHärk/

noun

a large shark that feeds exclusively on plankton and often swims slowly close to the surface, found chiefly in the open ocean.
[Cetorhinus maximus, the only member of the family Cetorhinidae.]

Basle /bäl/

a commercial and industrial city on the Rhine River in northwestern Switzerland; pop. 163,521 (2007).
French name Bâle, German name Basel.

basmati /ˌbäzˈmädē ˌbäsˈmädē / basmati rice

I. noun

a kind of long-grain Indian rice of a high quality.

– origin from Hindi bāsmatī, literally ‘fragrant.’

bas mitzvah /bäs ˈmitsvə/

noun

a variant of bat mitzvah.

basophil /ˈbāsəfil/

noun

[Physiology] a basophilic white blood cell.

basophilia /ˌbāsəˈfilēə/

noun

1. a tendency to stain readily with a basic dye.

2. a condition of the blood marked by the formation and accumulation of an excess of basophil cells.

basophilic /ˌbāsəˈfilik/

adjective

[Physiology] (of a cell or its contents) readily stained with basic dyes.

Basotho /bəˈsōˌtō/

I. noun

a member of the Sotho people of southern Africa, especially Lesotho.

– origin from Sesotho, from ba- (prefix denoting a plural) + Sotho. Compare with Basutoland.

basque /bask/

I. noun

a close-fitting bodice extending from the shoulders to the waist and often with a short continuation below waist level.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Basque, referring to Basque dress.

Basque /bask/

I. noun

1. a member of a people living in the Basque Country of France and Spain. Culturally one of the most distinct groups in Europe, the Basques were largely independent until the 19th century.

2. the language of the Basques, which has no known relation to any other language.

II. adjective

relating to the Basques or their language.

– origin from French, from Latin Vasco; compare with Gascon.

Basque Country /ˈbask ˌkəntrē/

a region of the western Pyrenees in both France and Spain, the homeland of the Basque people.
French name Pays Basque.

Basque Provinces

an autonomous region consisting of the provinces of Álava, Guipúzcoa, and Vizcaya in northern Spain, on the Bay of Biscay; capital, Vitoria.

Basra /ˈbäsrə/

an oil port in Iraq, on the Shatt al-Arab waterway; pop. 870,000 (est. 2007).

bas-relief /basriˈlēːf/

I. noun

1. [Sculpture] see relief (sense 4).

2. [Sculpture] a sculpture, carving, or molding in bas-relief.

– origin early 17th cent. (as basse relieve): from Italian basso-rilievo ‘low relief,’ later altered to the French form.

bass^1 /bās/

I. noun

1. a voice, instrument, or sound of the lowest range, in particular

2. the lowest adult male singing voice.

3. [as modifier] — denoting the member of a family of instruments that is the lowest in pitch

• a bass clarinet

• a bass drum.

4. a bass guitar or double bass.

5. the low-frequency output of a radio or audio system, corresponding to the bass in music.

– origin late Middle English: alteration of base^2, influenced by basso.

bass^2 /bas/

I. noun

1. the common European freshwater perch.

2. any of a number of fish similar to or related to the perch, in particular
[● a mainly marine fish found in temperate waters (family Moronidae, including the European bass Dicentrarchus labrax of European waters (also called sea bass) and genus Morone of North America); see also striped bass, . ● an American freshwater fish of the sunfish family, popular with anglers (genera Ambloplites and Micropterus, family Centrarchidae); see also black bass, .]

– origin late Middle English: alteration of dialect barse, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch baars and German Barsch.

bass^3 /bas/

I. noun

another term for bast.

– origin late 17th cent.: alteration.

bass-ackwards /ˌbasˈakwərds/

adverb, adjective

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› another way of saying ass-backwards.

bass clef /ˌbās ˈklef/

noun

a clef placing F below middle C on the second-highest line of the staff.

bass drum /ˌbās ˈdrəm/

noun

a large, two-headed drum that has a low booming sound.

Bassein /bəˈsān/

a port on the Irrawaddy delta in southwestern Myanmar (Burma); pop. 215,600 (est. 2004).

Basse-Normandie /ˌbäsˈnôrməndē/

a region of northwestern France, on the coast of the English Channel, including the Cherbourg peninsula and the city of Caen.

Basseterre /bäsˈter/

the capital of St. Kitts and Nevis in the Leeward Islands, on the island of St. Kitts; pop. 13,000 (est. 2007).

Basse-Terre /bäsˈter/

I. the main island of Guadeloupe in the West Indies.

II. a city on Basse-Terre Island; the capital of Guadeloupe; pop. 13,000 (est. 2007).

basset horn /ˈbasət ˌhôrn/

I. noun

an alto clarinet in F.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from German, translation of French cor de bassette, from Italian corno di bassetto, from corno ‘horn’ + di ‘of’ + bassetto (diminutive of basso ‘low,’ from Latin bassus ‘short’).

basset hound /ˈbasət hound/

I. noun

a sturdy hunting dog of a breed with a long body, short legs, and big ears.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French, diminutive of bas ‘low,’ from medieval Latin bassus ‘short.’

bass fiddle /ˌbās ˈfidəl/

noun

another term for double bass.

Bassi, Laura /ˈbäsē/

(1711–78), Italian physicist and professor, born in Bologna. After receiving her college degree in 1732, she became a professor at the University of Bologna, teaching philosophy, mathematics, and physics. She was the first woman to pursue a scientific career for which she was paid a salary. She also gave private instruction in physics and performed experiments in her home.

bassinet /ˌbasəˈnet/

I. noun

a baby's wicker cradle, usually with a hood.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, diminutive of bassin ‘basin’; compare with basinet.

bassi profundi /ˌbasē prəˈfəndē/

plural form of basso profundo.

bassist /ˈbāsəst/

noun

a person who plays a double bass or bass guitar.

basslet /ˈbaslət/

noun

a small, brightly colored fish related to the sea basses.
[Genera Gramma and Lipogramma, family Grammidae: several species.]

bassline /ˈbāsˌlīn/

noun

the lowest part or sequence of notes in a piece of music.

basso /ˈbasō/

I. noun

a bass voice or vocal part.

– origin early 18th cent.: Italian, ‘low,’ from Latin bassus ‘short, low.’

bassoon /bəˈso͞on/

I. noun

a bass instrument of the oboe family with a double reed.

II. derivatives

bassoonist /bəˈso͞onəst /

noun

– origin early 18th cent.: from French basson, from Italian bassone, from basso ‘low,’ from Latin bassus ‘short, low.’

basso profundo /ˌbasō prəˈfəndō/

I. noun

a bass singer with an exceptionally low range.

– origin mid 19th cent.: Italian, from basso ‘low’ + profondo ‘deep.’

basso-relievo /ˌbasōrəˈlēvō/

I. noun

[Sculpture] another term for bas-relief (see relief (sense 4)).

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Italian basso-rilievo.

Bass Strait /ˌbas ˈstrāt/

a channel that separates Tasmania from the mainland of Australia.

bass viol /ˌbās ˈvīəl/

noun

1. a viola da gamba.

2. (N. Amer.) a double bass.

basswood /ˈbaswo͝od/

I. noun

a North American linden tree, commonly planted along streets.
[Genus Tilia, family Tiliaceae: several species, in particular the large-leaved T. americana (also called American linden) of the northern US and Canada.]

– origin late 17th cent.: from bass^3 + wood.

bast /bast/

I. noun

1. fibrous material from the phloem of a plant, used as fiber in matting, cord, etc.

2. [Botany] the phloem or vascular tissue of a plant.

– origin Old English bæst; related to Dutch bast, German Bast; of unknown origin.

bastard /ˈbastərd/

I. noun

1. ‹archaic› ‹derogatory› a person born of parents not married to each other.

2. ‹informal› an unpleasant or despicable person

• he lied to me, the bastard!

3. [with adj.] — a person of a specified kind

• the poor bastard

• he was a lucky bastard.

4. a difficult or awkward thing, undertaking, or situation

• it's been an absolute bastard of a week.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. ‹archaic› ‹derogatory› born of parents not married to each other; illegitimate

• a bastard child.

2. (of a thing) no longer in its pure or original form; debased

• a bastard Darwinism.

3. (of a handwriting script or typeface) showing a mixture of different styles.

III. derivatives

bastardy /ˈbastərdē /

noun

bastard (sense 1 of the noun)

– origin Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin bastardus. / usage: In the past, the word bastard was the standard term in both legal and nonlegal use for ‘an illegitimate child.’ Today, however, it has little importance as a legal term and is retained today in this older sense only as a term of abuse.

bastardize /ˈbastərˌdīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (often as adj. bastardized) — corrupt or debase (something such as a language or art form), typically by adding new elements

• a strange, bastardized form of French.

2. ‹archaic› declare (someone) illegitimate

• to annul the marriage and bastardize the child.

II. derivatives

bastardization /ˌbastərdiˈzāSHən /

noun

bastard wing

noun

a group of small quill feathers on the first digit of a bird's wing.

baste^1 /bāst/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. pour juices or melted fat over (meat) during cooking in order to keep it moist.

– origin late 15th cent.: of unknown origin.

baste^2 /bāst/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Needlework] tack with long, loose stitches in preparation for sewing.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French bastir ‘sew lightly,’ ultimately of Germanic origin and related to bast.

baste^3 /bāst/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› ‹dated› beat (someone) soundly; thrash

• go baste him one!

– origin mid 16th cent.: perhaps a figurative use of baste^1.

Bastet /ˈbastət / ‹Egyptian Mythology›

a goddess usually shown as a woman with the head of a cat, wearing one gold earring.
See also Sekhmet.

Bastia /ˈbästēə, bästˈyä/

the chief port of the French island of Corsica, on the northeastern coast; pop. 43,300 (2007).

Bastille /baˈstēl/

I. a fortress in Paris built in the 14th century and used in the 17th–18th centuries as a state prison. Its storming by the mob on July 14, 1789, marked the start of the French Revolution.

– origin via Old French from Provençal bastida, from bastir ‘build.’

Bastille Day

noun

July 14, the date of the storming of the Bastille in 1789, celebrated as a national holiday in France.

bastinado /ˌbastəˈnādō ˌbastəˈnädō / ‹chiefly historical›

I. noun

a form of punishment or torture that involves caning the soles of someone's feet.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be bastinadoed)

1. punish or torture (someone) by caning the soles of the feet.

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting a blow with a stick): from Spanish bastonada, from bastón ‘stick, cudgel,’ from late Latin bastum ‘stick.’

bastion /ˈbasCH(ə)n ˈbastēən/

I. noun

1. a projecting part of a fortification built at an angle to the line of a wall, so as to allow defensive fire in several directions.

2. a natural rock formation resembling a bastion.

3. an institution, place, or person strongly defending or upholding particular principles, attitudes, or activities

• the last bastion of male privilege.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French, from Italian bastione, from bastire ‘build.’

bastnaesite /ˈbastnəˌsīt/

I. noun

a yellow to brown mineral consisting of a fluoride and carbonate of cerium and other rare earth metals.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Bastnäs, the name of a district in Västmanland, Sweden, + -ite^1.

Bastogne /bäˈstōnyə/

a town in southeastern Belgium; pop. 14,577 (2008). It was the scene of heavy fighting during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II.

basuco /bəˈso͞okō/

I. noun

impure or low-grade cocaine, especially when mixed with coca paste and tobacco and marijuana.

– origin 1980s: from Colombian Spanish; perhaps related to Spanish bazucar ‘shake violently.’

Basutoland /bəˈso͞odōˌland/

former name (until 1966) of Lesotho. Compare with Basotho.

bat^1 /bat/

I. noun

1. an implement with a handle and a solid surface, usually of wood, used for hitting the ball in games such as baseball, cricket, and table tennis.

2. the person batting, especially in cricket

• the team's opening bat.

3. each of a pair of objects resembling table tennis bats, used by a person on the ground to guide a taxiing aircraft.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — (of a team or a player in sports such as baseball) take in turns the role of hitting rather than fielding

• Ruth came to bat in the fifth inning.

2. [with obj.] — hit at (someone or something) with the palm of one's hand

• he batted the flies away.

III. phrases

1. bat a thousand

‹informal› be very successful; achieve perfection

• with the tortellini, I batted a thousand—both kids had seconds.

2. go to bat for

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) defend the interests of; support

• his willingness to go to bat for his employees.

3. right off the bat

(N. Amer.) at the very beginning.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. bat around (or about)

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) travel widely, frequently, or casually

• I'm always batting around between England and America.

2. bat something around (or about)

‹informal› discuss an idea or proposal casually or idly.

– origin late Old English batt ‘club, stick, staff,’ perhaps partly from Old French batte, from battre ‘to strike.’

bat^2 /bat/

I. noun

1. a mainly nocturnal mammal capable of sustained flight, with membranous wings that extend between the fingers and connecting the forelimbs to the body and the hindlimbs to the tail.
[Order Chiroptera: many families and numerous species. The large tropical fruit bats (suborder Megachiroptera) generally have good eyesight and feed mainly on fruit; the numerous smaller bats (suborder Microchiroptera) are mouselike in appearance, mainly insectivorous, and use ultrasonic echolocation.]

2. (usu. old bat) — a woman regarded as unattractive or unpleasant

• some deranged old bat.

II. phrases

1. have bats in the (or one's) belfry

‹informal› be eccentric or crazy.

2. like a bat out of hell

‹informal› very fast and wildly.

– origin late 16th cent.: alteration, perhaps by association with medieval Latin batta, blacta, of Middle English bakke, of Scandinavian origin.

bat^3 /bat/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. flutter one's eyelashes, typically in a flirtatious manner

• she batted her long dark eyelashes at him.

II. phrases

not bat (or without batting) an eyelid (or eye or eyelash)

‹informal› show (or showing) no reaction

• she paid the bill without batting an eyelid.

– origin late 19th cent.: from dialect bat ‘to wink, blink,’ variant of obsolete bate ‘to flutter.’

Bataan /bəˈtan, -ˈtän/

a peninsula and province in the Philippines, on the western part of the island of Luzon, bounded by Manila Bay on the east and the South China Sea on the west; site of World War II battles and the infamous “Death March.” Pop. 721,000 (est. 2009).

Batak /bəˈtäk/

I. noun

1. (pl. same or Bataks) — a member of a people of northern Sumatra.

2. the Indonesian language of the Batak.

II. adjective

relating to the Batak or their language.

– origin the name in Batak.

Batan Islands /bəˈtän ˌīləndz/

the northernmost islands in the Philippines.

batata /bəˈtädə/

I. noun

(in the southern West Indies) sweet potato.

– origin via Spanish from Taino.

Batavia /bəˈtāvēə/

former name (until 1949) for Jakarta.

Batavian /bəˈtāvēən / ‹historical archaic›

I. adjective

1. of or relating to the ancient Germanic people who inhabited the island of Betuwe between the Rhine and the Waal (now part of the Netherlands).

2. of or relating to the people of the Netherlands.

3. of or relating to Jakarta in Indonesia (formerly the Dutch East Indies).

II. noun

a Batavian person.

– origin from Latin Batavia (from Batavi ‘the people of Betuwe’) + -an.

batboy /ˈbatboi/

noun

a boy who is employed to look after and retrieve bats during a baseball game and as a general assistant at other times.

batch /baCH/

I. noun

1. a quantity or consignment of goods produced at one time

• a batch of cookies

• the company undertakes thirty-six separate quality control checks on every batch.

2. ‹informal› a number of things or people regarded as a group or set

• a batch of hostile letters came.

3. [Computing] a group of records processed as a single unit, usually without input from a user.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. arrange (things) in sets or groups.

– origin late 15th cent. (in the senses ‘process of baking,’ ‘quantity produced at one baking’): based on an Old English word related to bacan (see bake). Current senses date from the early 18th cent.

batch file /baCH fīl/

noun

a computer file containing a list of instructions to be carried out in turn.

batch processing

noun

1. the performing of an industrial process on material in batches of a limited quantity or number.

2. [Computing] the processing of previously collected jobs in a single batch.

bate /bāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. [Falconry] (of a hawk) beat the wings in an attempt to escape from the perch

• the hawks bated when the breeze got in their feathers.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French batre ‘to beat’ (see also batter^1).

bateau /baˈtō/

I. noun

a light flat-bottomed riverboat used in eastern and central North America.

– origin early 18th cent.: French, literally ‘boat.’

bated /ˈbādəd/

I. adjective — (in phrase with bated breath)

1. in great suspense; very anxiously or excitedly

• he waited for a reply to his offer with bated breath.

– origin late 16th cent.: from the past participle of obsolete bate ‘restrain,’ from abate. / usage: The spelling baited breath instead of bated breath is a common mistake. Almost a third of citations for this idiom in the Oxford English Corpus are for the incorrect spelling.

Bates, Sir Alan

1934–2003, English actor. Notable films: The Caretaker (1964), Zorba the Greek (1964), The Fixer (1968), Women in Love (1969), and An Unmarried Woman (1978). He also played a number of roles on stage and won a Tony Award for his performance in Turgenev's Fortune's Fool (2002).

Batesian mimicry /ˌbātsēən ˈmiməkrē/

I. noun

[Zoology] mimicry in which an edible animal is protected by its resemblance to a noxious one that is avoided by predators.
Compare with Müllerian mimicry.

– origin late 19th cent.: named after Henry W. Bates (1825–92), the English naturalist who first described it.

Bateson, William /ˈbātsən/

(1861–1926), English geneticist. He coined the term genetics in its current sense and publicized the work of Gregor Mendel.

batfish /ˈbatfiSH/

noun

1. a fish of tropical and temperate seas with a flattened body that is round or almost triangular when viewed from above. It typically has a hard or spiny covering.
[Family Ogcocephalidae: several genera and species, including the southern African Halieuta fitzsimonsi.]

2. a deep-bodied, laterally compressed marine fish of the Indo-Pacific region that resembles an angelfish.
[Genus Platax, family Ephippidae: several species, including the large P. pinnatus (also called angelfish).]

batfowl /ˈbatfoul/

verb — [no obj.]

1. catch birds at night by dazing them with a light and knocking them down or netting them.

batgirl /ˈbatɡərl/

noun

a girl who is employed to look after and retrieve bats during a baseball game and as a general assistant at other times.

bath^1 /baTH/

I. noun

1. an act or process of immersing and washing one's body in a large container of water

• she took a long, hot bath.

2. a container of water and its contents; a bathtub

• he lay thinking in the bath.

3. (usu. baths) — a public establishment offering bathing facilities.

4. (baths) — a resort with a mineral spring used for medical treatment.

5. (chiefly N. Amer.) a bathroom.

6. [with modifier] — a container holding a liquid or other substance in which something is immersed, typically when undergoing a process such as film developing.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. wash (someone) while immersing him or her in a container of water

• how to bath a baby.

III. phrases

take a bath

‹informal› suffer a heavy financial loss.

– origin Old English bæth, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bad and German Bad.

bath^2 /baTH/

I. noun

an ancient Hebrew liquid measure equivalent to about 40 liters or 9 gallons.

– origin from Hebrew baṯ.

Bath /baTH/

a spa town in southwestern England; pop. 81,600 (est. 2009).

bath chair /ˈbaTH ˌCHer/

I. noun

‹dated› a kind of wheelchair for invalids, typically with a hood.

– origin early 19th cent.: named after the city of Bath, which attracted many invalids because of the supposed curative powers of its hot springs.

bathe /bāT͟H/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. wash by immersing one's body in water.

2. [with obj.] — soak or wipe gently with liquid to clean or soothe

• she bathed and bandaged my knee.

3. [with obj.] — (N. Amer.) wash (someone) in a bath

• they bathed the baby.

4. (chiefly Brit.) spend time in the ocean or a lake, river, or swimming pool for pleasure.

5. [with obj.] (usu. be bathed) — suffuse or envelop in something

• the park lay bathed in sunshine

• mussels bathed in garlic butter.

II. derivatives

bather /ˈbāT͟Hər /

noun

– origin Old English bathian, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German baden.

bathetic /bəˈTHedik/

adjective

producing an unintentional effect of anticlimax

• the movie manages to be poignant without becoming bathetic.

bathhouse /ˈbaTHˌhous/

noun

1. a building with baths for communal use.

2. a building where swimmers change clothes.

Bathinette /ˌbaTHəˈnet/

I. noun

‹trademark› a portable folding bathtub for infants.

– origin a play on the word bassinet.

bathing beauty

noun

a contestant in a beauty contest in which bathing suits are worn.

bathing cap //

noun

a close-fitting elastic cap worn while swimming to keep the hair dry or to reduce friction.

bathing machine /ˈbāT͟HiNG məˌSHēn/

noun

‹historical› a wheeled hut drawn to the edge of the sea, used for changing in and swimming from.

bathing suit /ˈbāT͟HiNG ˌso͞ot/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a garment worn for swimming; a swimsuit.

bath mat /ˈbaTH ˌmat/

noun

1. a mat for someone to stand on after getting out of a bathtub.

2. a rubber mat placed in the bottom of a bathtub to prevent someone from slipping while getting in or out.

batholith /ˈbaTHəˌliTH/

I. noun

[Geology] a very large igneous intrusion extending deep in the earth's crust.

– origin early 20th cent.: coined in German from Greek bathos ‘depth’ + -lith.

bathos /ˈbāTHäs/

I. noun

(especially in a work of literature) an effect of anticlimax created by an unintentional lapse in mood from the sublime to the trivial or ridiculous.

– origin mid 17th cent. (first recorded in the Greek sense): from Greek, literally ‘depth.’ The current sense was introduced by Alexander Pope in the early 18th cent.

bathrobe /ˈbaTHˌrōb/

noun

a robe, typically made of terry cloth, worn especially before and after taking a bath.

bathroom /ˈbaTHˌro͞om ˈbaTHˌro͝om/

I. noun

1. a room containing a toilet and sink and typically also a bathtub or shower.

2. (N. Amer.) a public lavatory; a restroom.

3. a set of matching fixtures to be fitted in a bathroom, especially as sold together.

II. phrases

go to (or use) the bathroom

urinate or defecate

• I have to go to the bathroom.

bathroom break

noun

‹informal› a break in a meeting or other organized gathering to allow those in attendance to use the bathroom.

bathroom suite

noun

(Brit.) a set of coordinating fixtures for a bathroom, typically comprising a bathtub, sink, and toilet

• she hired a plumber to install a new bathroom suite in the house.

bath salts /ˈbaTH ˌsôlts/

plural noun

1. a crystalline substance that is dissolved in bath water to soften or perfume the water

• a jar of vanilla-scented bath salts.

2. ‹informal› a kind of synthetic drug with mood-altering and stimulant properties, typically in the form of crystals and containing MDPV or mephedrone

• he was allegedly high on bath salts.

Bathsheba /ˌbaTHˈSHēbə/

(in the Bible) the mother of Solomon, she was originally the wife of Uriah the Hittite, and later one of the wives of David.

bath sponge

noun

a marine sponge of warm waters, the fibrous skeleton of which is used as a sponge for washing.
[Genera Spongia and Hippospongia, family Spongiidae.]

bath towel

noun

a large towel suitable for drying oneself after bathing or showering

• Robin was dressed only in a bath towel, as he'd just finished showering.

bathtub /ˈbaTHˌtəb/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a tub, usually installed in a bathroom, in which to bathe.

bathtub gin

noun

‹informal› homemade liquor, especially that was illicitly produced during Prohibition

• mixing bathtub gin with sweeter, more flavorful additions made the booze more palatable.

Bathurst /ˈbaTHərst/

former name (until 1973) of Banjul.

bathy-

I. combining form

relating to depth

• bathymetry

• bathysphere.

– origin from Greek bathus ‘deep.’

bathyal /ˈbaTHēəl/

adjective

of or relating to the zone of the sea between the continental shelf and the abyssal zone.

bathymeter /bəˈTHimədər/

I. noun

an instrument used to measure the depth of water in oceans, seas, or lakes.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek bathos ‘depth’ + -meter.

bathymetry /bəˈTHimətrē/

I. noun

the measurement of depth of water in oceans, seas, or lakes.

II. derivatives

bathymetric /baTHiˈmetrik /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek bathus ‘deep’ + -metry.

bathypelagic /ˌbaTHəpəˈlajik/

adjective

[Biology] (of fish and other organisms) inhabiting the deep sea where the environment is dark and cold, approximately 3,300–9,800 feet (1,000–3,000 m) below the surface.

bathyscaphe /ˈbaTHəˌskaf/

I. noun

‹chiefly historical› a manned submersible vessel of a kind used by the French deep-sea explorer Auguste Piccard (1884–1962).

– origin 1940s: coined in French by its inventor, Auguste Piccard, from Greek bathus ‘deep’ + skaphos ‘vessel; hull (of a ship).’

bathysphere /ˈbaTHəˌsfir/

I. noun

a manned spherical chamber for deep-sea observation, lowered by cable from a ship.

– origin 1930s: from Greek bathus ‘deep’ + sphere.

batik /bəˈtēk ˈbadik/

I. noun

1. a method (originally used in Java) of producing colored designs on textiles by dyeing them, having first applied wax to the parts to be left undyed.

2. cloth that has been dyed using the batik method.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Javanese, literally ‘painted.’

Batista, Fulgencio /bəˈtēstə/

(1901–73), Cuban soldier and statesman; president 1940–44 and 1952–59; full name Fulgencio Batista y Zaldívar. Despite support from the US, his second government was overthrown by Fidel Castro.

batiste /bəˈtēst/

I. noun

a fine, light linen or cotton fabric resembling cambric.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French (earlier batiche); probably related to battre ‘to beat.’

batman /ˈbatmən/

I. noun

‹dated› (in the British armed forces) an officer's personal servant.

– origin mid 18th cent. (originally denoting an orderly in charge of the bat horse ‘packhorse’ that carried the officer's baggage): from Old French bat (from medieval Latin bastum ‘packsaddle’) + man.

bat mitzvah /bat ˈmitsvə/

I. noun

1. a religious initiation ceremony for a Jewish girl aged twelve years and one day, regarded as the age of religious maturity.

2. the girl undergoing a bat mitzvah ceremony.

– origin from Hebrew baṯ miṣwāh ‘daughter of the commandment,’ on the pattern of bar mitzvah.

baton /bəˈtän/

I. noun

1. a short stick or staff or something resembling one, in particular

2. a thin stick used by a conductor to direct an orchestra or choir.

3. [Track & Field] a short stick or tube passed from runner to runner in a relay race.

4. a long stick carried and twirled by a drum major.

5. a police officer's club.

6. a staff symbolizing office or authority, especially one carried by a field marshal.

7. [Heraldry] a narrow bend truncated at each end.

8. a short bar replacing some figures on the dial of a clock or watch.

9. (batons) — one of the suits in some tarot packs, corresponding to wands in others.

II. phrases

1. pass (on) the baton

hand over a particular duty or responsibility.

2. take up (or pick up) the baton

accept a duty or responsibility.

3. under the baton of

(of an orchestra or choir) conducted by

• under the baton of Sir Edward Downes.

– origin early 16th cent. (denoting a staff or cudgel): from French bâton, earlier baston, from late Latin bastum ‘stick.’

Baton Rouge /ˌbat(ə)n ˈro͞oZH/

I. the capital of Louisiana, in the southeastern central part of the state, on the Mississippi River; pop. 223,689 (est. 2008).

– origin French, literally ‘red stick,’ with reference to a post placed as a boundary marker for the settlement.

Batrachia /bəˈtrākēə / ‹Zoology›

I. another term, esp. formerly, for Anura.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek batrakhos ‘frog.’

batrachian /bəˈtrākēən/

noun, adjective

[Zoology] another term for anuran.

bats /bats/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. ‹informal› ‹dated› (of a person) crazy; insane.

– origin early 20th cent.: from the phrase have bats in the belfry (see bat^2).

batshit /ˈbatˌSHit/

adjective

(N. Amer.) ‹vulgar slang› completely mad or crazy.

batsman /ˈbatsmən/

I. noun

a player, especially in baseball and cricket, who is batting or whose chief skill is in batting.

II. derivatives

batsmanship /-ˌSHip /

noun

batt /bat/

I. noun

1. a piece of felted material used for lining or insulating items such as quilts and sleeping bags.

2. a piece of fiberglass used to insulate buildings.

– origin late Middle English (in the general sense ‘lump, piece’): of unknown origin.

battalion /bəˈtalyən/

I. noun

1. a large body of troops ready for battle, especially an infantry unit forming part of a brigade typically commanded by a lieutenant colonel.

2. a large, organized group of people pursuing a common aim or sharing a major undertaking.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French bataillon, from Italian battaglione, from battaglia ‘battle,’ from Latin (see battle).

Battambang /ˈbadəmˌbaNG / Batdambang

the capital of a province of the same name in western Cambodia; pop. 182,600 (est. 2009).

battement /ˈbatmənt/

I. noun — [with modifier]

1. [Ballet] a movement in which one leg is moved outward from the body and in again

• performing battements tendus.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, literally ‘beating.’

batten^1 /ˈbatn/

I. noun

1. a long, flat strip of squared wood or metal used to hold something in place or as a fastening against a wall.

2. a strip of wood or metal for securing the edges of a tarpaulin that covers a ship's hatch.

3. a strip of wood or plastic used to stiffen and extend the leech of a sail.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. strengthen or fasten (something) with battens

• Stephen was battening down the shutters.

III. phrases

batten down the hatches

a. [Nautical] secure a ship's hatch-tarpaulins, especially when rough weather is expected.

b. prepare for a difficulty or crisis.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Old French batant, present participle (used as a noun) of batre ‘to beat,’ from Latin battuere.

batten^2 /ˈbatn/

I. verb — [no obj.] (batten on)

1. thrive or prosper at the expense of (someone)

• multinational monopolies batten on the working classes.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘improve in condition, grow fat’): from Old Norse batna ‘get better,’ related to better^1.

Batten, Jean /ˈbatn/

(1909–82), New Zealand aviator. She was the first woman to fly from England to Australia and back 1934–35.

battening /ˈbat(ə)niNG/

noun

1. the application or addition of battens.

2. a structure formed with battens.

batter^1 /ˈbadər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. strike repeatedly with hard blows; pound heavily and insistently

• a prisoner was battered to death with a table leg

• ‹figurative› their idealism has been battered.

2. (often as noun battering) — subject (one's spouse, partner, or child) to repeated violence and assault.

3. (usu. as noun battering) — censure, criticize, or defeat severely

• the movie took a battering from critics.

II. derivatives

batterer

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French batre ‘to beat’ (from Latin battuere) + -er^3.

batter^2 /ˈbadər/

I. noun

1. a semiliquid mixture of flour, egg, and milk or water used in cooking, especially for making cakes or for coating food before frying.

2. [Printing] ‹historical› a damaged area of metal type or a printing block.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French bateure ‘the action of beating,’ from batre ‘to beat.’

batter^3 /ˈbadər/

noun

(in various sports, especially baseball) a player who is batting.

batter^4 /ˈbadər/

I. noun

a gradual backward slope in a wall or similar structure.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a wall) have a receding slope.

– origin mid 16th cent. (as a verb): of unknown origin.

battered^1 /ˈbadərd/

adjective

1. injured by repeated blows or punishment

• he finished the day battered and bruised.

2. having suffered repeated violence from a spouse, partner, or parent

• a battered wife.

3. (of a thing) damaged by age and repeated use; shabby

• a pair of battered black boots.

battered^2 /ˈbadərd/

adjective

(of food) coated in batter and deep-fried until crisp.

battered child syndrome

noun

the set of symptoms, injuries, and signs of mistreatment seen on a severely or repeatedly abused child.

battered woman syndrome

noun

the set of symptoms, injuries, and signs of mistreatment seen in a woman who has been repeatedly abused by a spouse, partner, or relative.

batterie /ˈbadərē/

I. noun

[Ballet] the action of beating or crossing the feet or calves together during a leap or jump.

– origin early 18th cent.: French, literally ‘beating.’

batterie de cuisine /baˌtrē də kwēˈzēn/

I. noun

the apparatus or set of utensils for serving or preparing a meal.

– origin late 18th cent.: French, literally ‘set of equipment for the kitchen.’ The sense of ‘set’ developed from the original meaning of ‘collection of artillery equipment (for “beating” the enemy)’; see also battery.

battering parent syndrome

noun

the set of symptoms and signs indicating a psychological disorder in a parent or child-care provider resulting in a tendency toward repeated abuse of a child.

battering ram /ˈbadəriNG ˈram/

noun

1. a heavy object swung or rammed against a door to break it down

• ‹figurative› a battering ram to crush opposing views.

2. ‹historical› a heavy beam, originally with an end in the form of a carved ram's head, used in breaching fortifications.

battery /ˈbadərē/

I. noun

1. a container consisting of one or more cells, in which chemical energy is converted into electricity and used as a source of power
[as modifier]

• battery power.

2. a fortified emplacement for heavy guns.

3. an artillery subunit of guns, men, and vehicles.

4. a set of units of equipment, typically when connected together

• a battery of equipment to monitor blood pressure.

5. an extensive series, sequence, or range of things

• children given a battery of tests.

6. [Law] the crime or tort of unconsented physical contact with another person, even where the contact is not violent but merely menacing or offensive.
See also assault and battery.

7. (the battery) — [Baseball] the pitcher and the catcher in a game, considered as a unit.

– origin Middle English: from French batterie, from battre ‘to strike,’ from Latin battuere. The original sense was ‘metal articles wrought by hammering,’ later ‘a number of pieces of artillery used together’; on this was based a sense ‘a number of Leyden jars connected up so as to discharge simultaneously’ (mid 18th cent.), from which sense 1 developed. The general meaning ‘a set or series of similar units’ (sense 3) dates from the late 19th cent.

Battery /ˈbadərē/

(the Battery) — a historic area at the southern end of Manhattan Island in New York City.

battery-operated /ˌbadərēˈäpəˌrādəd / battery-powered

adjective

powered by means of a battery

• emergency equipment such as battery-operated radios.

batting

noun

cotton wadding prepared in sheets for use in quilts.

batting average

noun

[Baseball] the average performance of a batter, expressed as a ratio of a batter's safe hits per official times at bat.

batting cage

noun

[Baseball] an area for batting practice that is enclosed by fencing or netting.

batting order

noun

[Baseball] the order in which batters take their turn at bat.

battle /ˈbadl/

I. noun

1. a sustained fight between large, organized armed forces
[in names]

• the Battle of Shiloh

• he died in battle.

2. a lengthy and difficult conflict or struggle

• the battle over the future shape of Europe

• the battle against aging.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. fight or struggle tenaciously to achieve or resist something

• he has been battling against the illness

• representatives from eight countries are battling for the title.

2. [with obj.] — engage in a fight or struggle against

• firefighters battled a 9,800-acre brush fire.

III. phrases

1. battle it out

fight or compete to a definite conclusion.

2. do battle

fight; engage in conflict

• do battle with the forces of evil.

3. battle royal

(pl. battles royal) /ˌbadl ˈroi(ə)l / — a fiercely contested fight or dispute

• there promises to be a battle royal between the two companies.

4. battle stations

(chiefly US) the positions taken by military personnel in preparation for battle (often used as a command or signal to prepare for battle).

5. half the battle

an important step toward achieving something

• he never gives in, and that's half the battle.

– origin Middle English: from Old French bataille (noun), bataillier (verb), based on late Latin battualia ‘military or gladiatorial exercises,’ from Latin battuere ‘to beat.’

battle-ax /ˈbadlaks / battle-axe

noun

1. a large broad-bladed ax used in ancient warfare.

2. ‹informal› a formidably aggressive older woman.

Battleborn State /ˈbadlbôrn ˌstāt/

nickname for Nevada.

Battle Creek

a city in southern Michigan, noted as a center of the cereal industry; pop. 52,053 (est. 2008).

battlecruiser /ˈbadlˌkro͞ozər/

noun

‹historical› a large warship of a type built in the early 20th century, carrying similar armament to a battleship but faster and more lightly armored.

battle cry /ˈbadl ˌkrī/

noun

1. a word or phrase shouted by soldiers going into battle to express solidarity and intimidate the enemy.

2. a slogan expressing the ideals of people promoting a cause.

battledore /ˈbadlˌdôr/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› a game played with a shuttlecock and rackets, a forerunner of badminton.

2. ‹historical› the small racket used in the game of battledore.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘a paddle-shaped implement used in washing clothes’): perhaps from Provençal batedor ‘beater, paddle,’ from batre ‘to beat.’

battle fatigue /ˈbadl fəˈtēɡ/

noun

another term for shell shock.

battlefield /ˈbadlˌfēld / battleground

noun

1. the piece of ground on which a battle is or was fought

• death on the battlefield

• [as modifier] battlefield conditions.

2. a place or situation of strife or conflict

• an ideological battlefield.

battlefront /ˈbadlˌfrənt/

noun

1. the region or line along which opposing armies engage in combat.

2. the area in which opponents or opposing ideas meet.

battleground state

noun

another term for swing state.

• thousands or even hundreds of votes in a battleground state can be significant.

battle group

noun

a military force created to fight together, typically consisting of several different types of troops.

battle jacket

noun

a style of waist-length jacket worn by army personnel.

battlement /ˈbadlmənt/

I. noun — (usu. battlements)

1. a parapet at the top of a wall, usually of a fort or castle, that has regularly spaced, squared openings for shooting through.

2. a section of roof enclosed by this.

II. derivatives

battlemented /ˈbadlmən(t)əd /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French bataillier ‘fortify with movable defense turrets,’ possibly related to battle.

battler /ˈbatlər, ˈbatl-ər/

noun

1. a person who battles or fights.

2. a person who refuses to admit defeat in the face of difficulty

• a battler taking swings at opponents and rallying friends.

battle-scarred /ˈbadlskärd/

adjective

damaged or affected by fighting

• a group of battle-scarred veterans

• ‹figurative› the battle-scarred executives of the technology boom.

battleship /ˈbadlˌSHip/

I. noun

a heavy warship of a type built chiefly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with extensive armor and large-caliber guns.

– origin late 18th cent.: shortening of line-of-battle ship, originally with reference to the largest wooden warships.

battleship gray

noun

a bluish gray color, typically used for warships to reduce their visibility.

battle star

noun

former term for service star.

battlewagon /ˈbadlˌwaɡən / battle wagon

noun

‹informal› a battleship or an armored vehicle.

battue /baˈto͞o/

I. noun

1. the driving of game toward hunters by beaters.

2. a hunting party arranged by driving game toward hunters by beaters.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French, feminine past participle of battre ‘to beat,’ from Latin battuere.

batty /ˈbadē/

I. adjective

‹informal› crazy; insane

• you'll drive me batty!

II. derivatives

1. battily /ˈbatəlē /

adverb

2. battiness

noun

– origin early 20th cent.: from bat^2 + -y^1. Compare with bats.

Batwa /baˈtwä/

plural form of Twa.

batwing /ˈbatwiNG/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of a sleeve) having a deep armhole and a tight cuff.

2. (of a garment) having sleeves with deep armholes and tight cuffs.

bauble /ˈbôbəl/

I. noun

1. a small, showy trinket or decoration.

2. something that is superficially attractive but useless or worthless.

• people in quest of honors are wasting time and effort to secure baubles.

3. ‹historical› a baton formerly used as an emblem by jesters.

– origin Middle English: from Old French baubel ‘child's toy,’ of unknown origin.

Baucis /ˈbôsəs / ‹Greek Mythology›

the wife of Philemon.

baud /bôd/

I. noun

[Computing] [Telecommunications] a unit of transmission speed equal to the number of times a signal changes state per second. For one baud is equivalent to one bit per second.

– origin 1930s: coined in French from the name of J. M. E. Baudot (1845–1903), French engineer who invented a telegraph printing system.

Baudelaire, Charles /ˌbōdəˈle(ə)r, -dlˈe(ə)r/

(1821–67), French poet and critic; full name Charles Pierre Baudelaire. He is noted for Les Fleurs du mal (1857), a series of 101 lyrics that explore his isolation and melancholy and the attraction of evil and the macabre.

Baudrillard, Jean /ˌbōdrēˈ(y)är/

(1929–2007), French sociologist and cultural critic, associated with postmodernism.

Baugh, Sammy /bô/

(1914–2008), US football player; full name Samuel Adrian Baugh; known as Slingin' Sammy. He played for the Washington Redskins 1937–52, where his trademark pinpoint passing revolutionized professional football by making the forward pass a routine play from scrimmage. In 1943, he became the only player to lead the National Football League in passing, punting, and interceptions in the same season. Football Hall of Fame (1963).

Bauhaus /ˈbouˌhous/

I. a school of design established by Walter Gropius in Weimar in 1919, best known for its designs of objects based on functionalism and simplicity.

– origin German, ‘house of architecture,’ from Bau ‘building’ + Haus ‘house.’

Baum, L. Frank /bôm, bäm/

(1856–1919), US journalist and author; full name Lyman Frank Baum. His many children's books include Father Goose: His Book (1899), The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900), and other Oz books.

Baumé scale /bōˈmā, ˈbōmā/

I. noun

a scale with arbitrary markings, used with a hydrometer to measure the relative density of liquids.

– origin named for Antoine Baumé (1728–1804), French chemist.

Bausch, John Jacob /bouSH/

(1830–1926), US businessman, born in Germany. He cofounded (with Henry Lomb) the Bausch & Lomb Optical Company in 1853.

bauxite /ˈbôksīt/

I. noun

an amorphous clayey rock that is the chief commercial ore of aluminum. It consists largely of hydrated alumina with variable proportions of iron oxides.

II. derivatives

bauxitic /ˌbôkˈsitik /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, from Les Baux (the name of a village near Arles in southeastern France, near which it was first found) + -ite^1.

bavardage /ˌbavərˈdäZH/

I. noun

idle gossip; chitchat.

– origin French, from bavarder ‘to chatter,’ from bavard ‘talkative,’ from bave ‘drivel.’

Bavaria /bəˈverēə/

a state in southern Germany, formerly an independent kingdom; capital, Munich.
German name Bayern.

Bavarian /bəˈverēən/

I. adjective

relating to the southern German state of Bavaria, its people, or their language

• cheerful Bavarian folk music

• the scenic Bavarian foothills.

II. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Bavaria

• a fellow Bavarian.

2. the dialect of German spoken in Bavaria, Austria, and surrounding areas

• she was yelling at him loudly in Bavarian.

bavarois /ˌbävärˈwä / bavaroise

I. noun

a dessert containing gelatin and whipped cream, served cold.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, literally ‘Bavarian.’

bawbee /ˈbôbē/

I. noun

1. (Scottish) (N. Irish) a coin of low value.

2. (Scottish) (N. Irish) ‹historical› a former silver coin worth three (later six) Scottish pennies.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from the name of the laird of Sillebawby, mint master under James V.

bawd /bôd/

I. noun

‹archaic› a woman in charge of a brothel.

– origin late Middle English: shortened from obsolete bawdstrot, from Old French baudestroyt ‘procuress,’ from baude ‘shameless.’

bawdry /ˈbôdrē/

noun

obscenity in speech or writing.

bawdy /ˈbôdē/

I. adjective

dealing with sexual matters in a comical way; humorously indecent.

II. noun

humorously indecent talk or writing.

III. derivatives

1. bawdily /ˈbôdəlē /

adverb

2. bawdiness /ˈbôdēnis /

noun

bawdy house

noun

‹archaic› a brothel.

bawl /bôl/

I. verb

1. [reporting verb] — shout or call out noisily and unrestrainedly
[with direct speech]

• “Move!” bawled the drill sergeant

• [with obj.] lustily bawling out the hymns

• [no obj.] Joe bawled with laughter.

2. [no obj.] — weep or cry noisily

• she began to bawl like a child

• (as adj. bawling) bawling babies.

II. noun

a loud, unrestrained shout.

III. phrasal verbs

bawl someone out

reprimand someone angrily

• tales of how she bawled out employees.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘(of an animal) howl, bark’): imitative.

Baxter, Anne /ˈbakstər/

(1923–85), US actress. She won an Academy Award in 1946 for her supporting role in The Razor's Edge.

Baxter State Park /ˌbakstər ˌstāt ˈpärk/

a preserve in northern Maine that incorporates Mount Katahdin and the northern end of the Appalachian Trail.

bay^1 /bā/

I. noun

1. a broad inlet of the sea where the land curves inward
[in place names]

• San Francisco Bay

• the Bay of Biscay.

2. an indentation or recess in a range of hills or mountains.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French baie, from medieval Latin baia.

bay^2 /bā/

I. noun

1. (also bay tree, bay laurel, or sweet bay) — an evergreen Mediterranean shrub of the laurel family, with deep green leaves and purple berries. Its aromatic leaves are used in cooking and were formerly used to make triumphal crowns for victors.
[Laurus nobilis, family Lauraceae.]

2. a similarly aromatic tree or shrub of North America, especially the bayberry used in the preparation of bay rum.

– origin late Middle English (denoting the laurel berry): from Old French baie, from Latin baca ‘berry.’

bay^3 /bā/

I. noun

1. a recessed or enclosed area, in particular

2. a space created by a window-line projecting outward from a wall.

3. short for bay window.

4. a section of wall between two buttresses or columns, especially in the nave of a church.

5. [with modifier] — a compartment with a particular function in a motor vehicle, aircraft, or ship

• an engine bay

• a bomb bay.

6. an area allocated or marked off for a specified purpose

• a loading bay.

7. [Computing] a cabinet, or a space in the cabinet, into which an electronic device is installed

• a drive bay.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French baie, from baer ‘to gape,’ from medieval Latin batare, of unknown origin.

bay^4 /bā/

I. adjective

(of a horse) brown with black points.

II. noun

a bay horse.

– origin Middle English: from Old French bai, from Latin badius.

bay^5 /bā/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a dog, especially a large one) bark or howl loudly

• the dogs bayed

• a jackal baying at the moon.

2. (of a group of people) shout loudly, typically to demand something

• as a mob bayed below, the king was dead.

3. [with obj.] — ‹archaic› bay at

• a pack of wolves baying at the moon.

II. noun

the sound of baying, especially that of hounds in close pursuit of their quarry.

III. phrases

1. at bay

forced to confront one's attackers or pursuers; cornered.

2. bring someone/something to bay

trap or corner a person or animal being hunted or chased.

3. hold (or keep) someone/something at bay

prevent someone or something from approaching or having an effect.

4. stand at bay

turn to face one's pursuers.

– origin Middle English (as a noun): from Old French a)bai (noun), ((a)baiier (verb) ‘to bark,’ of imitative origin.

bayadère /ˈbīəˌder/

I. noun

a Hindu dancing girl, in particular one at a southern Indian temple.

– origin from French, from Portuguese bailadeira, from bailar ‘to dance’ (related to medieval Latin ballare ‘to dance’).

Bay Area

the region around San Francisco Bay, in north central California. Oakland is the hub of the East Bay, San Jose of the South Bay.

bayberry /ˈbāˌberē/

I. noun

1. a North American shrub with aromatic leathery leaves and waxy berries.
See also wax myrtle. [Genus Myrica, family Myricaceae: several species, in particular northern bayberry (M. pensylvanica) and black bayberry (M. heterophylla).]

2. a tropical American shrub with aromatic leaves that are used in the preparation of bay rum.
Also called bay rum tree. [Pimenta racemosa, family Myrtaceae.]

– origin late 17th cent.: from bay^2 + berry.

Bay City

an industrial city in eastern Michigan, on the Saginaw River, near Lake Huron; pop. 33,874 (est. 2008).

Bayern /ˈbīərn/

German name for Bavaria.

Bayes' theorem /ˈbāz ˌTHēərəm / ‹Statistics›

I. a theorem describing how the conditional probability of each of a set of possible causes for a given observed outcome can be computed from knowledge of the probability of each cause and the conditional probability of the outcome of each cause.

II. derivatives

Bayesian /ˈbāzēən /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after Thomas Bayes (1702–61), English mathematician.

Bayeux Tapestry /bäˈyo͝o, bāˈyo͞o/

a medieval English embroidery made between 1066 and 1077, telling the story of the Norman Conquest.

Baykal, Lake

variant spelling of Baikal, Lake.

bay leaf /ˈbā ˌlēf/

noun

the aromatic, usually dried, leaf of the bay tree, used in cooking.

Baylis, Lilian /ˈbālis/

(1874–1937), English theater manager; full name Lilian Mary Baylis. She is noted for her management of the Old Vic and for her initiative in reopening the old Sadler's Wells Theatre in 1931.

Baylor, Elgin /ˈbālər/

(1934–), US basketball player; full name Elgin Gay Baylor. He played for the Lakers (Minneapolis until 1960, then Los Angeles) 1958–71. Basketball Hall of Fame (1977).

bayonet /ˈbāənət ˌbāəˈnet/

I. noun

1. a swordlike stabbing blade that may be fixed to the muzzle of a rifle for use in hand-to-hand fighting.

2. [as modifier] — denoting a fitting for a light bulb, camera lens, or other appliance that is engaged by being pushed into a socket and then twisted to lock it in place.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. stab (someone) with a bayonet.

– origin late 17th cent. (denoting a kind of short dagger): from French baïonnette, from Bayonne, the name of a town in southwestern France, where they were first made.

Bayonne /bāˈyōn/

an industrial port city in northeastern New Jersey, on New York Bay; pop. 57,448 (est. 2008).

bayou /ˈbīo͞o ˈbīō/

I. noun

(in the southern US) a marshy outlet of a lake or river.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Louisiana French, from Choctaw bayuk.

Bayou State

a nickname for the state of Louisiana.

Bayou Teche /ˌbīo͞o ˈteSH/

a water route in south central Louisiana, at the heart of Cajun Country.
Also called the Teche.

Bayreuth /ˈbīˌroit, bīˈroit/

a town in Bavaria where Wagner is buried and where festivals of his operas are held regularly.

bay rum /ˈbā ˌrəm/

noun

an aromatic liquid, used especially for the hair or as an aftershave, typically distilled from rum and the leaves of the bayberry.

bay rum tree

noun

another name for bayberry (sense 2).

bayside /ˈbāsīd/

I. adjective

on or near the shore of a bay.

II. noun

the land on the shore of a bay.

Bay State

a nickname for the state of Massachusetts.

Baytown /ˈbātoun/

a city in southeastern Texas, east of Houston, a center of the oil industry; pop. 70,330 (est. 2008).

bay window /ˈbā ˈwindō/

noun

a window built to project outward from an outside wall.

bazaar /bəˈzär/

I. noun

1. a market in a Middle Eastern country.

2. a fundraising sale of goods, typically for charity.

3. ‹dated› a large shop selling miscellaneous goods.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Italian bazarro, from Turkish, from Persian bāzār ‘market.’

bazillion /bəˈzilyən/

I. cardinal number

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) a very large exaggerated number

• you were going a bazillion miles per hour!

– origin 1980s: probably a blend of billion and gazillion (also a large exaggerated number).

bazoo /bəˈzo͞o/

I. noun

1. (US) ‹informal› a person's mouth.

2. (US) ‹informal› a person's buttocks or anus.

– origin late 19th cent.: of unknown origin; compare with Dutch bazuin ‘trombone, trumpet.’

bazooka /bəˈzo͞okə/

I. noun

1. a short-range tubular rocket launcher used against tanks.

2. a trombonelike type of kazoo.

– origin 1930s sense 2: apparently from slang bazoo in the original sense ‘kazoo.’

bazoom /bəˈzo͞om/

I. noun — (usu. bazooms)

1. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) a woman's breast.

– origin 1950s: probably an alteration of bosom.

BB

I. symbol

(N. Amer.) a standard size of lead pellet used in air rifles.

II. abbreviation

[Baseball] base on balls.

b-ball

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› basketball.

BBC /ˌbē ˌbē ˈsē/

abbreviation

short for British Broadcasting Corporation.

BB gun /ˈbēːbēːɡən/

noun

an air rifle that fires BBs.

BBIN

abbreviation

Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal, considered as a group with regard to development, public health, and economic issues.

bbl.

abbreviation

barrels (especially of oil).

BBM

I. abbreviation

‹trademark› BlackBerry Messenger, an instant messaging application installed on BlackBerry mobile devices.

II. noun

an instant messaɡe that is sent or received using BlackBerry Messenger

• he just sent me a BBM to remind me.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. send (someone) an instant message using BlackBerry Messenger

• I BBM him every once in a while.

– origin early 21st cent.: from the initial letters of BlackBerry Messenger, from BlackBerry, the proprietary name of the mobile devices on which the messaging application is installed (see BlackBerry).

b-boy /ˈbēboi/

I. noun

‹informal› (chiefly US) a young man involved with hip-hop culture.

– origin 1980s: b- probably from the noun beat or from breakdancing.

BBQ

abbreviation

‹informal› barbecue.

BBS

abbreviation

[Computing] bulletin board system.

BC /ˌbē ˈsē/

I. abbreviation

1. before Christ (used to indicate that a date is before the Christian Era).

2. British Columbia (in official postal use).

3. Batallion Commander.

usage: BC is normally written in small capitals and placed after the numerals, as in 72 BC (notBC 72). See also usage at AD.

bcc /ˌbēsēˈsē/

abbreviation

blind carbon copy, a copy of an email sent to someone whose name and address isn't visible to other recipients.

BCD

abbreviation

1. [Military] bad conduct discharge.

2. binary coded decimal.

BCE /bēːsēːˈēː/

abbreviation

1. Bachelor of Chemical Engineering.

2. Bachelor of Civil Engineering.

3. before the Common Era (used of dates before the Christian era, especially by non-Christians).

B cell

I. noun

[Physiology] a lymphocyte not processed by the thymus gland, and responsible for producing antibodies.

– origin B for bursa, referring to the organ in birds where it was first identified.

BCF

abbreviation

bromochlorodifluoromethane, a substance formerly used in fire extinguishers.

BCG /ˌbē ˌsē ˈjē/

abbreviation

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin, an antituberculosis vaccine.

BD

abbreviation

Bachelor of Divinity.

b-day b'day

noun

‹informal› short for birthday:

• Rebecca got her ears pierced for her 5th b-day.

BDD

abbreviation

body dysmorphic disorder.

Bde

abbreviation

Brigade.

bdellium /ˈdelēəm/

I. noun

a fragrant resin produced by a number of trees related to myrrh, used in perfumes.

– origin late Middle English: via Latin from Greek bdellion, of Semitic origin.

bdrm

abbreviation

bedroom

• spacious 4-bdrm, 3-bath home for rent.

BDSM

abbreviation

bondage, discipline (or domination), sadism, and masochism (as a type of sexual practice).

BDU

abbreviation

battle dress uniform.

be /bē/

I. verb

1. (usu. there is/are) — exist

• there are no easy answers

• there once was a man

• there must be something wrong

• I think, therefore I am.

2. be present

• there is a boy sitting on the step

• there were no curtains around the showers

• Are there any castles in this area?

3. [with adverbial] — occur; take place

• the exhibition will be in November

• the opening event is on October 16

• that was before the war.

4. occupy a position in space

• the Salvation Army store was on his left

• she was not at the window.

5. stay in the same place or condition

• she was here until about ten-thirty

• he's a tough customer—let him be.

6. attend

• the days when she was in school.

7. come; go; visit

• he's from Missouri

• I have just been to Thailand

• the doctor's been here twice today.

8. [as copular verb] — having the state, quality, identity, nature, role, etc., specified

• Amy was 91

• the floor was uneven

• I want to be a teacher

• father was not well

• his hair's brown

• it will be Christmas soon

• “Be careful,” Mr. Carter said.

9. cost

• the tickets were $25.

10. amount to

• one and one is two

• two sixes are twelve.

11. represent

• let A be a square matrix of order n.

12. signify

• we were everything to each other.

13. consist of; constitute

• the monastery was several three-story buildings.

14. ‹informal› say

• when I got there, they were like “What are you doing here?”

II. auxiliary verb

1. used with a present participle to form continuous tenses

• they are coming

• he had been reading

• she will be waiting.

2. used with a past participle to form the passive mood

• it was done

• it is said

• his book will be published.

3. [with infinitive] — used to indicate something due to happen

• construction is to begin next summer

• I was to meet him at 6:30.

4. used to express obligation or necessity

• you are to follow these orders

• they said I was to remain on board.

5. used to express possibility

• these snakes are to be found in North America

• she was nowhere to be seen.

6. used to hypothesize about something that might happen

• if I were to lose

• if I was to tell you, you'd think I was crazy

• were she to cure me, what could I offer her?

7. ‹archaic› used with the past participle of intransitive verbs to form perfect tenses

• I am returned

• all humanity is fallen.

III. phrases

1. as/that was

‹archaic› as someone or something was previously called

• General Dunstaple had married Miss Hughes that was.

2. the be-all and end-all

‹informal› a feature of an activity or a way of life that is of greater importance than any other.

3. be oneself

act naturally, according to one's character and instincts.

4. be that as it may

see may^1.

5. been there, done that

see there.

6. not be oneself

not feel well.

7. -to-be

[in combination] — of the future

• my bride-to-be.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. be about

see about.

2. be off

go away; leave

• he was anxious to be off.

– origin Old English bēon, an irregular and defective verb, whose full conjugation derives from several originally distinct verbs. The forms am and is are from an Indo-European root shared by Latin sum and est. The forms was and were are from an Indo-European root meaning ‘remain.’ The forms be and been are from an Indo-European root shared by Latin fui ‘I was,’ fio ‘I become’ and Greek phuein ‘bring forth, cause to grow.’ The origin of are is uncertain. / usage: For a discussion of whether it is correct to say that must be he at the door and it is I rather than that must be him at the door and it is me, see usage at personal pronoun.

Be

symbol

the chemical element beryllium.

BE

abbreviation

1. Bachelor of Education.

2. Bachelor of Engineering.

3. bill of exchange.

4. Black English.

be-

I. prefix

1. forming verbs:

2. all over; all around

• bespatter.

3. thoroughly; excessively

• bewilder.

4. (added to intransitive verbs) expressing transitive action

• bemoan.

5. (added to adjectives and nouns) expressing transitive action

• befool

• befriend.

6. (added to nouns) affect with

• befog.

7. (added to adjectives) cause to be

• befoul.

8. (forming adjectives ending in -ed) having; covered with

• bejeweled.

– origin Old English, weak form of bī ‘by.’

beach /bēCH/

I. noun

a pebbly or sandy shore, especially by the ocean between high- and low-water marks.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. run or haul up (a boat or ship) onto a beach

• at the water's edge a rowboat was beached

• [no obj.] crews would not beach for fear of damaging craft.

2. (often as adj. beached) — cause (a whale or similar animal) to become stranded out of the water.

3. [no obj.] — (of a whale or similar animal) become stranded out of the water.

4. (of an angler) land (a fish) on a beach.

5. cause (someone) to suffer a loss

• competitive procurement seems to have beached several companies.

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting shingle on the seashore): perhaps related to Old English bæce, bece ‘brook’ (an element that survives in place names such as Wisbech and Sandbach), assuming an intermediate sense ‘pebbly river valley.’

beach ball /ˈbēCH ˈˌbôl/

noun

a large inflatable ball used for playing games on the beach.

beach buggy /bēCH ˈbəɡē/

noun

another term for dune buggy.

beach bum /ˈbēCH ˌbəm/

noun

‹informal› a person who loafs on or around a beach.

beachcomber /ˈbēCHˌkōmər/

noun

1. a vagrant who makes a living by searching beaches for articles of value and selling them.

2. a person who searches beaches for useful or interesting items.

3. a long wave rolling in from the sea; a comber.

beach flea

noun

a small crustacean of the seashore that typically lives among seaweed and leaps when disturbed.
Also called sand flea, sand hopper. [Orchestia and other genera, order Amphipoda.]

beachfront /ˈbēCHˌfrənt/

noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) the part of a coastal town next to and directly facing the sea
[as modifier]

• beachfront property.

beachgoer /ˈbēCHˌɡōər/

noun

a person who goes to the beach

• a red flag was flying, warning beachgoers not to swim

• the bikini may be standard for most young beachgoers, but over the last few seasons the swimsuit has enjoyed a renaissance.

beach grass

noun

marram grass, or any related grass of the genus Ammophila.

beachhead /ˈbēCHˌhed/

I. noun

a defended position on a beach taken from the enemy by landing forces, from which an attack can be launched.

– origin World War II (originally US): formed on the pattern of bridgehead.

beach hut

noun

a simple one-roomed structure on or next to a beach, used for privacy or shelter while visiting the beach during the day

• along Southwold's beachfront are the famous brightly colored beach huts.

beach plum

noun

1. a maritime shrub related to the plum, native to northeastern North America.
[Prunus maritima, family Rosaceae.]

2. the edible fruit of the beach plum.

beach resort

noun

a coastal holiday resort with a beach.

beachside /ˈbēCHˌsīd/

noun

the area adjacent to a beach.

beachwear /ˈbēCHˌwer/

noun

clothing suitable for wearing on the beach, though not necessarily for swimming in.

beachy /ˈbēCHē/

I. adjective

relating to, suggestive of, or appropriate for a beach or a vacation spent at the beach

• an extensive beachy area on the east side of town

• a beachy dress and handbag

• she's gone blonde, with tousled, beachy waves.

II. derivatives

beachiness /-ēnis /

noun

beacon /ˈbēkən/

I. noun

1. a fire or light set up in a high or prominent position as a warning, signal, or celebration

• a chain of beacons carried the news

• ‹figurative› the prospect of a new government was a beacon of hope for millions.

2. (Brit.) (often in place names) a hill suitable for beacon of fire or light

• Ivinghoe Beacon

• the Brecon Beacons.

3. a light or other visible object serving as a signal, warning, or guide, especially at sea or on an airfield.

4. a radio transmitter whose signal helps to fix the position of a ship, aircraft, or spacecraft.

– origin Old English bēacn ‘sign, portent, ensign’; related to beckon.

Beacon Hill

a historic neighborhood in downtown Boston, Massachusetts, on high ground north of the Boston Common.

bead /bēd/

I. noun

1. a small piece of glass, stone, or similar material, typically rounded and perforated for threading with others as a necklace or rosary or for sewing onto fabric.

• long strings of beads.

• rosary beads.

• she fastened the beads round my neck.

• [as modifier] a bead bracelet.

2. a drop of a liquid on a surface

• beads of sweat.

3. a small knob forming the front sight of a gun.

4. the reinforced inner edge of a pneumatic tire that grips the rim of the wheel.

5. an ornamental molding resembling a string of beads or having a semicircular cross-section.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (often as adj. beaded) — decorate or cover with beads

• a beaded evening bag.

2. string (beads) together.

3. cover (a surface) with drops of moisture

• his face was beaded with perspiration.

III. phrases

1. draw (or get) a bead on

a. (chiefly N. Amer.) take aim at.

b. fully understand or make sense of

• it's hard to draw a bead on the stock market these days.

2. tell (or say) one's beads

use the beads of a rosary in counting prayers.

– origin Old English gebed ‘prayer,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bede and German Gebet, also to bid^1. Current senses derive from the use of a rosary, each bead representing a prayer.

bead curtain beaded curtain

noun

a screen formed of a set of long strings threaded with beads, typically hung in a doorway

• the hot wind from the dusty street stirred the bead curtains.

beading /ˈbēdiNG/

noun

decoration or ornamental molding resembling a string of beads or of a semicircular cross section.

beadle /ˈbēdl/

I. noun

1. (Brit.) a ceremonial officer of a church, college, or similar institution.

2. (Brit.) (Scottish) a church officer assisting the minister.

3. (Brit.) ‹historical› a minor parish officer dealing with petty offenders.

– origin Old English bydel ‘a person who makes a proclamation,’ gradually superseded in Middle English by forms from Old French bedel, ultimately of Germanic origin; related to German Büttel, also to bid^1.

beadwork /ˈbēdwərk/

noun

decorative work made of beads.

beady /ˈbēdē/

I. adjective

1. (of a person's eyes) small, round, and gleaming.

2. (of a look) bright and penetrating

• she fixed him with a beady stare.

II. derivatives

beadily /ˈbēdəlē /

adverb

beady-eyed /ˌbēdēˈīd/

adjective

1. having small, glinting eyes

• a beady-eyed chicken.

2. ‹informal› keenly observant, typically in a sinister or hostile way

• beady-eyed security guards

• uniformed guards view you with beady-eyed suspicion.

beagle /ˈbēɡəl/

I. noun

a small sturdy hound of a breed with a coat of medium length, bred especially for hunting.

II. derivatives

beagler /-ɡ(ə)lər /

noun

– origin late 15th cent.: perhaps from Old French beegueule ‘open-mouthed,’ from beer ‘open wide’ + gueule ‘throat.’

beak /bēk/

I. noun

1. a bird's horny projecting jaws; a bill.

2. the horny projecting jaw of animals other than birds, for example a turtle or squid.

3. ‹informal› a person's nose, especially a hooked one

• she can't wait to stick her beak in.

4. a projection at the prow of an ancient warship, typically shaped to resemble the head of a bird or other animal, used to pierce the hulls of enemy ships.

II. derivatives

beaked /bēkt /

adjective

[in combination]

• a yellow-beaked alpine chough

– origin Middle English: from Old French bec, from Latin beccus, of Celtic origin.

beaked whale

noun

a medium-sized whale with elongated jaws that form a beak, often showing marked differences in size and body form between the sexes.
[Family Ziphiidae: four genera and several species.]

beaker /ˈbēkər/

I. noun

1. a lipped cylindrical glass container for laboratory use.

2. ‹archaic› ‹literary› a large drinking container with a wide mouth.

3. [Archaeology] a waisted pot characteristic of graves of the Beaker folk.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘large drinking container’): from Old Norse bikarr, perhaps based on Greek bikos ‘drinking bowl.’

Beaker folk /ˈbēkər ˌfōk/

plural noun

[Archaeology] a late Neolithic and early Bronze Age European people (c. 2700–1700 BC), named after distinctive waisted pots (Beaker ware) that were associated with their burials and appear to have been used for alcoholic drinks.

beaky /ˈbēkē/

adjective

1. ‹informal› (of a person's nose) resembling a bird's beak; hooked.

2. ‹informal› (of a person) having nose resembling a bird's beak.

Beale, Dorothea /bēl/

(1831–1906), English educator. She campaigned for women's suffrage and for higher education.

Beale Street /ˈbēl ˌstrēt/

a historic commercial street in downtown Memphis, Tennessee, that is associated with black music and commerce.

beam /bēm/

I. noun

1. a long, sturdy piece of squared timber or metal spanning an opening or part of a building, usually to support the roof or floor above.

2. another term for balance beam.

3. a horizontal piece of squared timber or metal supporting the deck and joining the sides of a ship.

4. [Nautical] the direction of an object visible from the port or starboard side of a ship when it is perpendicular to the center line of the vessel

• there was land in sight on the port beam.

5. a ship's breadth at its widest point

• a cutter with a beam of 16 feet.

6. [in sing.] — ‹informal› the width of a person's hips

• notice how broad in the beam she's getting?

7. the main stem of a stag's antler.

8. the crossbar of a balance.

9. (especially in a stationary steam engine) an oscillating shaft through which the vertical piston movement is transmitted to the crank or pump.

10. ‹historical› the main timber of a horse-drawn plow.

11. a ray or shaft of light

• a beam of light flashed in front of her

• the flashlight beam dimmed perceptibly.

12. a directional flow of particles or radiation

• beams of electrons.

13. a series of radio or radar signals emitted to serve as a navigational guide for ships or aircraft.

14. [in sing.] — a radiant or good-natured look or smile

• a beam of satisfaction.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — transmit (a radio signal or broadcast) in a specified direction

• beaming a distress signal into space

• [no obj.] the TV station begins beaming into homes in the new year.

2. (beam someone up/down) — (in science fiction) transport someone instantaneously to another place, especially to or from a spaceship

• Scotty, beam me up!

[phrase from the television series Star Trek.]

3. [no obj.] — (of a light or light source) shine brightly

• the sun's rays beamed down.

4. [no obj.] — smile radiantly

• she beamed with pleasure

• (as adj. beaming) a beaming smile.

5. [with obj.] — express (an emotion) with a radiant smile

• the teacher beamed her approval

• [with direct speech] “Isn't that wonderful, Beatrice?” beamed the nun.

6. (beamed) — construct a ceiling with exposed beams

• vaulted beamed ceilings in the family room.

III. phrases

1. a beam in one's eye

a fault that is greater in oneself than in the person one is finding fault with.
[with biblical allusion to Matt. 7:3.]

2. off (or way off) beam

‹informal› on the wrong track; mistaken

• you're way off beam on this one.

3. on the beam

‹informal› on the right track.

4. on her (or its) beam-ends

(of a ship) heeled over on its side; almost capsized.

– origin Old English bēam ‘tree, beam’; related to Dutch boom and German Baum.

beam compass /bēm ˈkəmpəs / beam compasses

noun

a drawing compass consisting of a horizontal rod or beam connected by sliding sockets to two vertical legs, used for drawing large circles.

beamish /ˈbēmiSH/

adjective

beaming with happiness, optimism, or anticipation.

Beamon, Bob /ˈbēmən/

(1946–), US long jumper; full name Robert Beamon. He set a world record at the 1968 Olympic Games that stood until 1991.

beam sea

noun

[Nautical] a sea that is running at approximately right angles to a vessel's heading.

beam splitter

noun

a device for dividing a beam of light or other electromagnetic radiation into two or more separate beams.

beamy /ˈbēmē/

adjective

(of a ship) broad-beamed.

bean /bēn/

I. noun

1. an edible seed, typically kidney-shaped, growing in long pods on certain leguminous plants.

2. the hard seed of coffee, cocoa, and certain other plants.

3. a leguminous plant that bears beans in pods.
[Phaseolus and other genera, family Leguminosae: numerous species, including the scarlet runner (P. coccineus), kidney bean (P. vulgaris), and broad bean (Vicia faba).]

4. (also beans) [with negative] — ‹informal› a very small amount or nothing at all of something (used emphatically)

• there is not a single bean of substance in the report

• I didn't know beans about being a step-parent.

5. ‹informal› a person's head, typically when regarded as a source of common sense.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) hit (someone) on the head

• Boone was nearly beaned by that wild pitch.

III. phrases

1. full of beans

‹informal› lively; in high spirits.

2. a hill (or row) of beans

[with negative] — anything of any importance or value

• three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world.

3. old bean

(Brit.) ‹informal› ‹dated› a friendly form of address, usually to a man

• great to see you, old bean!

– origin Old English bēan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch boon and German Bohne.

Bean, Roy /bēn/

(c. 1825–1903), US frontiersman; known as Judge Roy Bean. In 1882, he named himself justice of the peace in Val Verde County, Texas, where he held court in his saloon, the Jersey Lilly, so-named for actress Lillie Langtry.

beanbag /ˈbēnˌbaɡ/

I. noun

1. a small bag filled with dried beans and typically used in children's games.

2. [Football] a square of colored plastic with a weighted section, used as a penalty flag.

3. a large cushion, typically filled with polystyrene beads, used as a seat.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Football] indicate (a penalty) or charge (a player) with a penalty using a beanbag.

beanball /ˈbēnbôl/

noun

[Baseball] ‹informal› a ball pitched, especially intentionally, at the batter's head.

bean counter //

I. noun

‹informal› ‹derogatory› a person, typically an accountant or bureaucrat, perceived as placing excessive emphasis on controlling expenditure and budgets.

II. derivatives

bean counting

noun

bean curd /ˈbēn ˌkərd/

noun

another term for tofu.

beaner /ˈbēnər/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› ‹offensive› a Mexican or a person of Mexican descent.

beanery /ˈbēnərē/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a cheap restaurant.

beanie /ˈbēnē/

I. noun

a small, close-fitting hat worn on the back of the head.

– origin 1940s: perhaps from bean (in the sense ‘head’) + -ie.

beanpole /ˈbēnˌpōl/

noun

1. a stick for supporting bean plants.

2. ‹informal› a tall, thin person.

bean sprouts

plural noun

the sprouting seeds of certain beans, especially mung beans, used in Asian cooking.

beanstalk /ˈbēnˌstôk/

noun

the stem of a bean plant, proverbially fast growing and tall.

bear^1 /ber/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a person) carry

• he was bearing a tray of brimming glasses

• the warriors bore lances tipped with iron.

2. (of a vehicle or boat) convey (passengers or cargo)

• steamboats bear the traveler out of Kerrerra Sound.

3. have or display as a visible mark or feature

• a small boat bearing a white flag

• many of the papers bore his flamboyant signature.

4. be called by (a name or title)

• he bore the surname Tiller.

5. [with adverbial] (bear oneself) — carry or conduct oneself in a particular manner

• she bore herself with dignity.

6. support

• walls that cannot bear a stone vault.

7. take responsibility for

• no one likes to bear the responsibility for such decisions

• the expert's fee shall be borne by the tenant.

8. be able to accept or stand up to

• it is doubtful whether either of these distinctions would bear scrutiny.

9. endure (an ordeal or difficulty)

• she bore the pain stoically.

10. [with modal and negative] — manage to tolerate (a situation or experience)

• she could hardly bear his sarcasm

• [with infinitive] I cannot bear to see you hurt.

11. (cannot bear someone/something) — strongly dislike

• I can't bear caviar.

12. give birth to (a child)

• she bore six daughters

• [with two objs.] his wife had borne him a son.

13. (of a tree or plant) produce (fruit or flowers)

• a squash that bears fruit shaped like cucumbers.

14. [no obj.] — turn and proceed in a specified direction

• bear left and follow the old road.

II. phrases

1. be borne in upon

come to be realized by

• the folly of her action was borne in on her with devastating precision.

2. bear arms

a. carry firearms.

b. wear or display a coat of arms.

3. bear the brunt of

see brunt.

4. bear the burden of

suffer the consequences of.

5. bear fruit

yield positive results

• plans for power-sharing may be about to bear fruit.

6. bear someone a grudge

nurture a feeling of resentment against someone.

7. bear a hand

‹archaic› help in a task or enterprise.

8. bear someone malice (or ill will)

[with negative] — wish someone harm.

9. bear a resemblance (or similarity) to

resemble.

10. bear a relation (or relationship) to

[with negative] — be logically consistent with

• the map didn't seem to bear any relation to the roads.

11. bear the stamp of

be clearly identifiable with

• every work of mine must inevitably bear the stamp of my own personality.

12. bear witness (or testimony) to

testify to

• little is left to bear witness to the past greatness of the city.

13. does not bear thinking about

is too terrible to contemplate.

14. grin and bear it

see grin.

15. have one's cross to bear

see cross.

III. phrasal verbs

1. bear away

another way of saying bear off.

2. bear down

a. (of a woman in labor) exert downward pressure in order to push the baby out.

b. put pressure on someone or something

• he bore down and allowed the Bears only one more run.

3. bear down on

a. move quickly toward someone, in a purposeful or an intimidating manner.

b. take strict measures to deal with

• a commitment to bear down on inflation.

4. bear off

a. [Sailing] change course away from the wind.

b. [Nautical] steer away from something, typically the land.

5. bear on

a. be relevant to (something)

• two kinds of theories that bear on literary studies.

b. [with adverbial] — be a burden on (someone)

• a tax that will bear heavily on poorer households.

6. bear something out

support or confirm something

• this assumption is not borne out by any evidence.

7. bear up

remain cheerful in the face of adversity

• she's bearing up remarkably well.

8. bear with

be patient or tolerant with.

– origin Old English beran, of Germanic origin; from an Indo-European root shared by Sanskrit bharati, Greek pherein, and Latin ferre. / usage: In the early 17th century, borne and born were simply variant forms of the past participle of bear used interchangeably with no distinction in meaning. By around 1775, however, the present distinction in use had become established. At that time, borne became the standard past participle used in all the senses listed in this dictionary entry, e.g., she has borne you another son, the findings have been borne out, and so on. Born became restricted to just one very common use (which remains the case today), in the passive, without by, as the standard, neutral way to refer to birth: she was born in 1965, he was born lucky, or I was born and bred in Boston.

bear^2 /ber/

I. noun

1. a large, heavy, mammal that walks on the soles of its feet, with thick fur and a very short tail. Bears are related to the dog family, but most species are omnivorous.
[Family Ursidae: several genera and species.]

2. a teddy bear.

3. ‹informal› a rough, unmannerly, or uncouth person.

4. a large, heavy, cumbersome man

• a lumbering bear of a man.

5. (the Bear) — ‹informal› a nickname for Russia.

6. (the Bear) — the constellation Ursa Major or Ursa Minor.

7. [Stock Market] a person who forecasts that prices of stocks or commodities will fall, especially a person who sells shares hoping to buy them back later at a lower price
[as modifier]

• bear markets.

[said to be from a proverb warning against ‘selling the bear's skin before one has caught the bear.’]

II. phrases

loaded for bear

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› fully prepared for any eventuality, typically a confrontation or challenge.

– origin Old English bera; related to Dutch beer and German Bär.

bearable /ˈberəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

able to be endured

• a ceiling fan made the heat bearable.

II. derivatives

bearably

adverb

bearbaiting /ˈberˌbādiNG/

noun

‹historical› a form of entertainment that involved setting dogs to attack a captive bear.

bearberry /ˈberberē/

noun

a creeping dwarf shrub of the heath family, with pinkish flowers and bright red berries.
[Genus Arctostaphylos, family Ericaceae: several species, in particular A. uva-ursi, found esp. in circumpolar regions.]

bearcat /ˈberkat/

noun

1. a bearlike climbing mammal, especially the red panda.

2. a binturong.

3. (US) ‹informal› an aggressive or forceful person.

bear claw

noun

a filled pastry made from a folded circle of dough with slits cut in it.

beard /ˈbird/

I. noun

1. a growth of hair on the chin and lower cheeks of a man's face

• he had a black beard

• three days' growth of beard.

2. a tuft of hair on the chin of certain mammals, for example a lion or goat.

3. an animal's growth or marking that is likened to a beard, e.g., the gills of an oyster, or the beak bristles of certain birds.

4. a tuft of hairs or bristles on certain plants, especially the awn of a grass.

5. (US) ‹informal› a person who carries out a transaction, typically a bet, for someone else in order to conceal the other's identity.

6. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a person who pretends to have a romantic or sexual relationship with someone else in order to conceal the other's true sexual orientation.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. boldly confront or challenge (someone formidable).

III. phrases

beard the lion in his den (or lair)

confront or challenge someone on their own ground.

IV. derivatives

1. bearded /ˈbi(ə)rdid /

adjective

[in combination]

• a gray-bearded man

2. beardless /ˈbirdləs /

adjective

– origin Old English; related to Dutch baard and German Bart.

Beard, James

(1903–85), US chef and cookbook author. He hosted the first televised cooking show and founded a cooking school in New York.

bearded collie

noun

a dog of a shaggy breed of collie with long hair on the face.

bearded vulture

noun

another term for lammergeier.

Beardmore Glacier /ˌbiərdmôr ˈɡlāSHər/

a glacier in Antarctica that flows from the Queen Maud Mountains to the Ross Ice Shelf, at the southern edge of the Ross Sea, 260 miles (418 km) long.

Beardsley, Aubrey /ˈbi(ə)rdzlē/

(1872–98), English artist and illustrator, associated with art nouveau and the Aesthetic Movement; full name Aubrey Vincent Beardsley.

beardtongue /ˈbirdˌtəNG/

noun

a North American plant of the figwort family with showy, five-lobed flowers. Each blossom has a tuft of hair on one of its stamens.
[Genus Penstemon, family Scrophulariaceae: several species, including hairy beardtongue (P. hirsutus) and the widespread foxglove beardtongue (P. digitalis).]

beardy /ˈbirdē / ‹informal›

I. adjective

(of a man) having a beard

• in the year of beardy hipsters, he looks nearly a decade out of fashion.

II. noun

1. (Brit.) a bearded man, especially one regarded as lacking in style

• the cartoons show him as a mad beardie.

2. (Brit.) a bearded collie

• expect to be greeted with a bounce when you meet a beardie.

bearer /ˈberər/

noun

1. a person or thing that carries or holds something

• I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings

• [in combination] a flag-bearer.

2. a carrier of equipment on an expedition.

3. a person who carries the coffin at a funeral; pall-bearer.

4. a person who presents a check or other order to pay money

• promissory notes payable to the bearer.

5. [as modifier] — payable to the possessor

• bearer bonds.

beargrass /ˈberɡras / bear grass

noun

a North American plant with long, coarse, grasslike leaves, in particular
[● a wild yucca (genus Yucca, family Agavaceae). ● a cultivated ornamental plant, the leaves of which were formerly used by American Indians to make watertight baskets (Xerophyllum tenax, family Liliaceae). Also called elk grass.]

bear hug /ˈbe(ə)r ˌhəɡ/

noun

a rough, tight embrace.

bearing /ˈberiNG/

noun

1. [in sing.] — a person's way of standing or moving

• a man of precise military bearing.

2. the way one behaves or conducts oneself

• she has the bearing of a First Lady.

3. relation or relevance

• the case has no direct bearing on the issues.

4. the level to which something bad can be tolerated

• school was bad enough, but now it's past bearing.

5. a part of a machine that bears friction, especially between a rotating part and its housing.

6. a ball bearing.

7. [Architecture] a structural part that supports weight, such as a wall that supports a beam.

8. the point at which a structural part rests upon a supporting structure, such as the specific area of a beam that rests upon a wall.

9. the direction or position of something, or the direction of movement, relative to a fixed point. It is typically measured in degrees, usually with magnetic north as zero

• the Point is on a bearing of 015°.

10. (one's bearings) — awareness of one's position relative to one's surroundings

• he rose unsteadily to his feet and tried to get his bearings.

11. [Heraldry] a device or charge

• armorial bearings.

bearing rein

noun

a fixed rein that causes the horse to raise its head and arch its neck.

bearish /ˈberiSH/

I. adjective

1. resembling or likened to a bear, typically in being rough, surly, or clumsy

• a bearish figure with muttonchop whiskers.

2. [Stock Market] characterized by or associated with falling share prices.

3. (of a dealer) inclined to sell because of an anticipated fall in prices.

II. derivatives

1. bearishly

adverb

2. bearishness

noun

bear market /ˈˌbe(ə)r ˈmärkət/

noun

[Stock Market] a market in which prices are falling, encouraging selling.

Béarnaise sauce /ˌberˈnāz ˌsôs/

I. noun

a rich sauce thickened with egg yolks and flavored with tarragon.

– origin Béarnaise, feminine of French Béarnais ‘of Béarn,’ a region of southwestern France.

bearskin /ˈberˌskin/

noun

1. the pelt of a bear, especially when used as a rug or wrap.

2. a tall cap of black fur worn ceremonially by certain military troops.

Beas /ˈbēäs/

a river in northern India that rises in the Himalayas and flows through Himachal Pradesh to join the Sutlej River in Punjab. It is one of the five rivers that gave Punjab (“five waters”) its name.

beast /bēst/

I. noun

1. an animal, especially a large or dangerous four-footed one

• a wild beast.

2. (usu. beasts) — a domestic animal, especially a bovine farm animal.

3. ‹archaic› ‹humorous› an animal as opposed to a human

• the gift of reason differentiates humanity from the beasts.

4. an inhumanly cruel, violent, or depraved person

• he is a filthy drunken beast.

5. ‹informal› an objectionable or unpleasant person or thing

• a scheming, manipulative little beast.

6. (the beast) — a person's brutish or untamed characteristics

• the beast in you is rearing its ugly head.

7. [with adj.] — ‹informal› a thing or concept possessing a particular quality

• that much-maligned beast, the rave record.

– origin Middle English: from Old French beste, based on Latin bestia.

beastie /ˈbēstē/

noun

1. (Scottish) ‹humorous› an animal, insect, or germ

• our immune systems are killing millions of wee beasties.

2. [with adj.] — (Scottish) ‹humorous› a vehicle or device of a particular kind

• these little beasties only have three wheels.

beastly /ˈbēstlē/

I. adjective

1. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) very unpleasant

• this beastly war.

2. unkind; malicious

• don't be beastly to him.

3. ‹archaic› cruel and unrestrained

• beastly immorality.

II. adverb — [as submodifier]

1. (Brit.) ‹informal› ‹dated› possessing a specified characteristic to an intense and unpleasant degree

• a beastly hot summer.

III. derivatives

beastliness /ˈbēstlēnəs /

noun

beast of burden

noun

an animal such as a mule or donkey that is used for carrying loads.

beast of prey

noun

an animal, especially a mammal, that kills and eats other animals.

beat /bēt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. strike (a person or an animal) repeatedly and violently so as to hurt or injure them, usually with an implement such as a club or whip

• a woman whose husband would frequently beat her after becoming drunk

• the victims were beaten to death with baseball bats.

2. strike (an object) repeatedly so as to make a noise

• he beat the table with his hand.

3. [no obj.] — (of an instrument) make a rhythmical sound by being struck

• drums were beating in the distance.

4. strike (a carpet, blanket, etc.) repeatedly in order to remove dust.

5. flatten or shape (metal) by striking it repeatedly with a hammer

• pure gold can be beaten out to form very thin sheets.

6. (beat something against/on) — strike something against (something)

• she beat her fists against the wood.

7. [no obj.] (beat on/against) — strike repeatedly on

• Sidney beat on the door with the flat of his hand.

8. [no obj.] (beat at) — make striking movements toward

• Emmie seized the hearthrug and began to beat at the flames.

9. move across (an area of land) repeatedly striking at the ground cover in order to raise game birds for shooting.

10. defeat (someone) in a game, competition, election, or commercial venture

• she beat him easily at chess

• the Senators beat out the Yankees for the 1933 pennant.

11. ‹informal› baffle

• it beats me how you manage to work in this heat.

12. overcome (a problem, or disease)

• they are investing their savings in hopes of beating inflation

• he beat heroin addiction in 1992.

13. do or be better than (a record or score)

• he beat his own world record.

14. ‹informal› be better than

• you can't beat the taste of fresh raspberries.

15. succeed in getting somewhere ahead of (someone)

• I could beat him on my bicycle

• the goalie beat him to the ball.

16. take action to avoid (difficult or inconvenient effects of an event or circumstance)

• they set off early to beat the traffic.

17. [no obj.] — (of the heart) pulsate

• her heart beat faster with panic.

18. (of a bird) move (the wings) up and down.

19. [no obj.] — (of a bird) fly making rhythmic wing movements

• an owl beat low over the salt marsh.

20. stir (cooking ingredients) vigorously with a fork, whisk, or beater to make a smooth or frothy mixture.

21. (beat it) — ‹informal› leave
[in imperative]

• now beat it, will you!

22. [no obj.] — [Sailing] sail into the wind, following a zigzag course with repeated tacking

• we beat southward all that first day.

II. noun

1. a main accent or rhythmic unit in music or poetry

• the glissando begins on the second beat.

2. a strong rhythm in popular music

• the music changed to a funky disco beat.

3. [in sing.] — a regular, rhythmic sound or movement

• the beat of the wipers became almost hypnotic.

4. the sound made when something, typically a musical instrument, is struck

• he heard a regular drumbeat.

5. a pulsation of the heart.

6. a periodic variation of sound or amplitude due to the combination of two sounds, electrical signals, or other vibrations having similar but not identical frequencies.

7. the movement of a bird's wings.

8. an area allocated to a police officer to patrol

• a patrolman who strived to make his beat a safe one

• public clamor for more police officers on the beat.

9. a spell of duty allocated to a police officer

• her beat ended at 6 a.m.

10. an area regularly frequented by someone, typically a prostitute.

11. a person's area of interest

• his beat is construction, property, and hotels.

12. a brief pause or moment of hesitation, typically one lasting a specified length

• she waited for a beat of three seconds.

[as a stage direction.]

13. ‹informal› short for beatnik.

III. adjective

1. [predic.] — ‹informal› completely exhausted

• I'm dead beat.

2. [attrib.] — of or relating to the beat generation or its philosophy

• beat poet Allen Ginsberg.

IV. phrases

1. beat all

be amazing or impressive

• well, that beats all.

2. beat around (or beat about) the bush

discuss a matter without coming to the point.

3. beat someone at their own game

see game.

4. beat someone's brains out

see brain.

5. beat one's breast

see breast.

6. beat the bushes

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› search thoroughly

• I was out beating the bushes for investors to split the risk.

7. beat the clock

perform a task quickly or within a fixed time limit.

8. beat a dead horse

waste energy on a lost cause or unalterable situation.

9. beat the drum for

see drum^1.

10. beat the hell out of ‹informal›

a. beat (someone) very severely.

b. surpass or defeat easily.

c. totally confuse or puzzle (someone).

11. beat the living daylights out of

see daylight (sense 2).

12. beat one's meat

‹vulgar slang› (of a man) masturbate.

13. beat the pants off

‹informal› prove to be vastly superior to.

14. beat a path to someone's door

(of a large number of people) hasten to make contact with someone regarded as interesting or inspiring, or in association with whom one stands to profit.

15. beat a (hasty) retreat

withdraw, typically in order to avoid something unpleasant

• as the bombs started to go off, they beat a hasty retreat across the field.

16. beat the shit out of

‹vulgar slang› beat (someone) very severely.

17. beat the system

succeed in finding a means of getting around rules, regulations, or other means of control.

18. beat time

indicate or follow a musical tempo with a baton or other means.

19. beat someone to it

succeed in doing something or getting somewhere before someone else, to their annoyance.

20. miss a beat

see miss^1.

21. to beat all ——s

that is infinitely better than all the things mentioned

• a PC screen saver to beat all screen savers.

22. to beat the band

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› in such a way as to surpass all competition

• they were talking to beat the band.

V. phrasal verbs

1. beat someone back (usu. be beaten back)

force (someone attempting to do something) to retreat

• I tried to get in but was beaten back by the flames.

2. beat down

a. (of the sun) radiate intense heat and brightness.

b. (of rain) fall hard and continuously.

3. beat something down

quell defense or resistance.

4. beat someone down

force someone to reduce the price of something.

5. beat off

‹vulgar slang› (of a man) masturbate.

6. beat someone/something off

a. succeed in resisting an attacker or an attack.

b. win against a challenge or rival.

7. beat something out

a. produce a loud, rhythmic sound by striking something

• he beat out a rhythm on the drums.

b. extinguish flames by striking at them with a suitable object.

8. beat someone up

a. assault and severely injure someone by hitting, kicking, or punching them repeatedly.

b. abuse someone verbally.

9. beat up on

another way of saying beat someone up.

VI. derivatives

beatable

adjective

– origin Old English bēatan, of Germanic origin.

beatbox /ˈbētbäks/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› a drum machine.

2. ‹informal› a radio or radio cassette player used to play loud music, especially rap.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. imitate the sounds of a drum machine with the voice.

III. derivatives

1. beatboxer

noun

2. beatboxing

noun

beatdown /ˈbētˌdoun/

noun

1. ‹informal› a physical beating or assault

• a savage beatdown.

2. ‹informal› a decisive defeat

• the Lakers handed out a beatdown on the Pacers, 99–77.

beaten /ˈbētn/

I. past participle of beat.

II. adjective

1. having been defeated

• I knew when I was beaten.

2. exhausted and dejected

• he sat feeling old and beaten.

3. having been beaten or struck

• he trudged home like a beaten dog.

4. (of food) whipped to a uniform consistency

• beaten eggs.

5. (of metal) shaped by hammering, typically so as to give the surface a dimpled texture.

6. (of precious metal) hammered to form thin foil for ornamental use.

7. (of a path) well trodden; much used.

III. phrases

off the beaten track (or path)

a. in or into an isolated place.

b. unusual
[as adj.]

• off-the-beaten-track experiences.

beater /ˈbēdər/

noun

1. a person who hits someone or something, in particular

2. a person employed to flush out or drive game animals for shooting by striking at the ground cover.

3. a person who beats metal in manufacturing.

4. [in combination] — a person who habitually hits someone

• a wife-beater.

5. an implement or machine used for beating.

6. [in combination] — ‹informal› a means of defeating or preventing something

• a recession-beater.

7. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a dilapidated but serviceable car

• If you provide the kids with a car, give them an old beater.

beater bar

noun

the rotating-brush unit within the powerhead of a vacuum cleaner.

beat frequency

noun

[Physics] the number of beats per second, equal to the difference in the frequencies of two interacting tones or oscillations.

beat generation /bēt ˌjenəˈrāSHən/

a movement of young people in the 1950s who rejected conventional society and favored Zen Buddhism, modern jazz, free sexuality, and recreational drugs. Among writers associated with the movement were Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg.

beatific /ˌbēəˈtifik/

I. adjective

1. blissfully happy

• a beatific smile.

2. [Christian Theology] imparting holy bliss.

II. derivatives

beatifically /ˌbēəˈtifik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French béatifique or Latin beatificus, from beatus ‘blessed.’

beatification /bēˌadəfəˈkāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

(in the Roman Catholic Church) declaration by the pope that a dead person is in a state of bliss, constituting a step toward canonization and permitting public veneration.

– origin early 16th cent. (in the sense ‘action of making blessed’): from Old French, or from ecclesiastical Latin beatificatio(n-), from beatificare ‘make blessed,’ from Latin beatus ‘blessed.’

beatify /bēˈadəˌfī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (in the Roman Catholic Church) announce the beatification of.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘make blessed or supremely happy’): from Old French beatifier or ecclesiastical Latin beatificare, from Latin beatus ‘blessed.’

beating /ˈbēdiNG/

I. noun

1. a punishment or assault in which the victim is hit repeatedly

• if he got dirt on his clothes, he'd get a beating

• torture methods included beating.

2. pulsation or throbbing, typically of the heart.

3. a defeat in a competitive situation.

II. phrases

take a beating

‹informal› suffer damage or hurt.

beatitude /bēˈadəˌt(y)o͞od/

I. noun

1. supreme blessedness.

2. (the Beatitudes) — the blessings listed by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:3–11).

3. (his/your Beatitude) — a title given to patriarchs in the Orthodox Church.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French beatitude or Latin beatitudo, from beatus ‘blessed.’

Beatlemania /ˌbēdlˈmānēə/

noun

extreme enthusiasm for the Beatles, as manifested in the frenzied behavior of their fans in the 1960s.

• the band took to spending weeks on end in the studio as a way of escaping from the mayhem of Beatlemania.

• the sound reminded him of old newsclips he'd seen of Beatlemania— girls screaming their heads off for the moptops from Liverpool.

Beatlemaniac /ˌbēdlˈmānēˌak/

noun

a very enthusiastic fan of the Beatles pop group

• every Beatlemaniac knows Paul McCartney is left-handed.

Beatles /ˈbēd(ə)lz/

I. (the Beatles) — a pop and rock group from Liverpool, England, consisting of George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr. Remembered for the quality and stylistic diversity of their songs (mostly written by Lennon and McCartney), they achieved success with their first single "Love Me Do" (1962) and went on to produce albums such as Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967).

II. (as modifier Beatle) — characteristic of the Beatles

• a Beatle jacket.

beat-match

verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a DJ) synchronize the tempos of (two recordings) to enable a smooth transition between them in a set of uninterrupted music

• if you want to play in a club where the DJ's expected to beat-match records, you'd better develop the skill.

• [no obj.] we know how to mix and we know how to beat-match.

beat-matching

noun

the action or technique of synchronizing the tempos of two recordings to enable a smooth transition between them in a set of uninterrupted music

• if your music is badly chosen, the best beat-matching in the world won't save you.

beatnik /ˈbētnik/

I. noun

a young person in the 1950s and early 1960s belonging to a subculture associated with the beat generation.

– origin 1950s: from beat + -nik on the pattern of sputnik, perhaps influenced by US use of Yiddish -nik, denoting someone or something who acts in a particular way.

Beaton, Sir Cecil /ˈbētn/

(1904–80), English photographer; full name Sir Cecil Walter Hardy Beaton. He is noted for his fashion features and portraits of celebrities.

Beatrix /ˈbāəˌtriks, ˈbē-/

(1938–), queen of the Netherlands (1980–2013); full name Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard.

Beattie, Ann /ˈbētē/

(1947–), US author. Her works include the novels Chilly Scenes of Winter (1976), Picturing Will (1989), and Another You (1995) and the short-story collection Park City (1998).

Beatty, Warren /ˈbētē, ˈbātē/

(1937–), US actor, director, and screenwriter; born Henry Warren Beaty; the brother of actress Shirley MacLaine. He produced Bonnie and Clyde (1967), wrote and produced Shampoo (1975), codirected Heaven Can Wait (1978), and was producer, cowriter, and Academy Award-winning director of Reds (1981). He starred in them all.

beat-up /ˈˌbēd ˈˌəp/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. ‹informal› (of a thing) worn out by overuse; in a state of disrepair.

beau /bō/

I. noun

1. ‹dated› a boyfriend or male admirer.

2. ‹dated› a rich, fashionable young man; a dandy.

– origin late 17th cent. (sense 2): from French, literally ‘handsome,’ from Latin bellus.

beaucoup /ˌbōˈko͞o / beaucoup de

I. adjective

‹informal› many or much

• beaucoup profits are at stake

• I've never met anyone with beaucoup de bucks that didn't work their butt off.

– origin mid 18th cent.: French, ‘a large quantity, a lot.’

Beaufort scale /ˈbōfərt ˌskāl/

I. a scale of wind speed based on a visual estimation of the wind's effects, ranging from force 0 (less than 1 knot or 1 mph, “calm”) to force 12 (64 knots or 74 mph and above, “hurricane”).

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after Sir Francis Beaufort (1774–1857), the English admiral and naval hydrographer who devised it.

Beaufort Sea

I. a part of the Arctic Ocean that lies to the north of Alaska and Canada.

– origin named after Sir Francis Beaufort (see Beaufort scale).

beau geste /ˌbō ˈZHest/

I. noun

a noble and generous act.

– origin early 20th cent.: French, literally ‘splendid gesture.’

beau idéal /ˌbō ˌēdāˈal, īˈdēəl/

I. noun

a person or thing representing the highest possible standard of excellence in a particular respect.

– origin early 19th cent.: French, literally ‘ideal beauty.’

Beaujolais /ˌbōZHəˈlā/

noun

a light red or (less commonly) white burgundy wine produced in the Beaujolais district of southeastern France.

Beaujolais Nouveau /ˌbōZHəˌlā no͞oˈvō/

I. noun

a Beaujolais wine sold in the first year of a vintage.

– origin from Beaujolais + French nouveau ‘new.’

Beaumarchais, Pierre de /ˌbōmärˈSHā/

(1732–99), French playwright; full name Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais. He is chiefly remembered for his comedies The Barber of Seville (1775) and The Marriage of Figaro (1784).

beau monde /ˌbō ˈmônd/

I. noun — (the beau monde)

1. fashionable society.

– origin late 17th cent.: French, literally ‘fine world.’

Beaumont /ˈbōmänt/

an industrial port in southeastern Texas, on the Neches River, a center of the oil industry; pop. 110,553 (est. 2008).

Beaumont, Francis

(1584–1616), English playwright. He collaborated with John Fletcher on Philaster (1609), The Maid's Tragedy (1610–11), and many other plays. The Knight of the Burning Pestle (c. 1607) is attributed to Beaumont alone.

Beaune /bōn/

noun

a red burgundy wine from the region around Beaune in eastern France.

Beauregard, P. G. T. /ˈbōriˌɡärd/

(1818–93), Confederate army officer; full name Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard. He served as superintendent of the US Military Academy at West Point, but resigned in 1861 to join the Confederacy. He commanded the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter, which officially began the Civil War.

beaut /byo͞ot / ‹informal›

I. noun

1. a particularly fine example of something

• the idea was a beaut.

2. a beautiful person.

– origin mid 19th cent.: abbreviation of beauty or beautiful.

beauteous /ˈbyo͞odēəs/

I. adjective

‹literary› beautiful

• his beauteous bride.

– origin late Middle English: from beauty, on the pattern of bounteous and plenteous.

beautician /byo͞oˈtiSHən/

noun

a person whose job is to do hair styling, manicures, and other beauty treatments.

beautiful /ˈbyo͞odəfəl/

I. adjective

1. pleasing the senses or mind aesthetically

• beautiful poetry

• a beautiful young woman

• the mountains were calm and beautiful.

2. of a very high standard; excellent

• the house had been left in beautiful order

• she spoke in beautiful English.

II. phrases

1. the beautiful people

a. fashionable, glamorous, and privileged people.

b. (in the 1960s) hippies.

2. the body beautiful

an ideal of physical beauty.

beautifully /ˈbyo͞odiflē/

adverb

1. in a way that pleases the senses or mind aesthetically

• she does sing beautifully

• [as submodifier] a beautifully illustrated book.

2. very well; excellently

• all the elements combine beautifully.

beautify /ˈbyo͞odəˌfī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. improve the appearance of.

II. derivatives

1. beautification /ˌbyo͞odəfəˈkāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. beautifier

noun

beauty /ˈbyo͞odē/

I. noun

1. a combination of qualities, such as shape, color, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially the sight

• I was struck by her beauty

• an area of outstanding natural beauty.

2. a combination of qualities that pleases the intellect or moral sense.

3. [as modifier] — denoting something intended to make a woman more attractive

• beauty products

• beauty treatment.

4. a beautiful or pleasing thing or person, in particular

5. a beautiful woman.

6. an excellent specimen or example of something

• the fish was a beauty, around 14 pounds.

7. (the beauties of) — the pleasing or attractive features of something

• the beauties of the Pennsylvania mountains.

8. [in sing.] — the best feature or advantage of something

• the beauty of keeping cats is that they don't tie you down.

II. phrases

1. beauty is in the eye of the beholder

‹proverb› beauty cannot be judged objectively, for what one person finds beautiful or admirable may not appeal to another.

2. beauty is only skin-deep

‹proverb› a pleasing appearance is not a guide to character.

– origin Middle English: from Old French beaute, based on Latin bellus ‘beautiful, fine.’

beauty bush beautybush

noun

a deciduous Chinese shrub of the honeysuckle family, with clusters of yellow-throated pink tubular flowers, widely cultivated as an ornamental.
[Kolkwitzia amabilis, family Caprifoliaceae.]

beauty contest

noun

1. a competition for a prize given to the woman judged the most beautiful.

2. a contest between rival institutions or political candidates that depends heavily on presentation.

beauty mark

noun

(N. Amer.) another term for beauty spot (sense 2).

beauty parlor beauty salon, beauty shop

noun

an establishment in which hairdressing, makeup, and similar cosmetic treatments are carried out professionally.

beauty queen /ˈbyo͞odē ˈkwēn/

noun

a woman judged most beautiful in a beauty contest.

beauty sleep /ˈbyo͞odē ˈslēp/

noun

‹humorous› sleep considered to be sufficient to keep one looking young and beautiful.

beauty spot /ˈbyo͞odē ˈspät/

noun

1. a place known for its beautiful scenery.

2. a small natural or artificial mark such as a mole on a woman's face, considered to enhance another feature.

Beauvoir, Simone de

see de Beauvoir, Simone.

beaux /bōz/

plural form of beau.

beaux arts /ˌbōz ˈär/

I. plural noun

1. fine arts.

2. (usu. Beaux Arts) [as modifier] — relating to the classical decorative style maintained by the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, especially in the 19th century.

– origin from French beaux-arts.

beaver^1 /ˈbēvər/

I. noun

1. a large semiaquatic broad-tailed rodent that is native to North America and northern Eurasia. It is noted for its habit of gnawing through tree trunks to fell the trees in order to feed on the bark and build dams.
[Family Castoridae and genus Castor: the North American C. canadensis and the Eurasian C. fiber.]

2. the soft light brown fur of the beaver.

3. (also beaver hat) — ‹chiefly historical› a hat made of felted beaver fur.

4. (also beaver cloth) — a heavy woolen cloth resembling felted beaver fur.

5. a very hard-working person.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹informal› work hard

• Bridget beavered away to keep things running smoothly.

– origin Old English beofor, befor, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bever and German Biber, from an Indo-European root meaning ‘brown.’

beaver^2 /ˈbēvər/

I. noun

the lower part of the face guard of a helmet in a suit of armor. The term is also used to refer to the upper part or visor, or to a single movable guard.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Old French baviere ‘bib,’ from baver ‘to drool.’

beaver^3 /ˈbēvər/

I. noun

1. ‹vulgar slang› (chiefly N. Amer.) a woman's genitals or pubic area.

2. ‹vulgar slang› (chiefly N. Amer.) ‹offensive› a woman.

– origin early 20th cent.: of unknown origin.

beaverboard /ˈbēvərˌbôrd/

I. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a kind of fiberboard used in building.

– origin early 20th cent.: from beaver^1 + board.

Beaver State

a nickname for the state of Oregon.

Beaverton /ˈbēvərtn/

a city in northwestern Oregon, west of Portland, noted for its electronics industry; pop. 91,757 (est. 2008).

bebop /ˈbēˌbäp/

I. noun

a type of jazz originating in the 1940s and characterized by complex harmony and rhythms. It is associated particularly with Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, and Dizzy Gillespie.

II. derivatives

bebopper

noun

– origin 1940s (originally US): imitative of the typical rhythm of this music.

becalm /bəˈkälm bəˈkäm/

verb — [with obj.]

1. leave (a sailing vessel) unable to move through lack of wind.

became /biˈkām/

past of become.

because /bēˈkəz/

I. conjunction

1. for the reason that; since

• we did it because we felt it our duty

• just because I'm inexperienced doesn't mean that I lack perception.

2. ‹informal› used to introduce a word or phrase that stands for a clause expressing an explanation or reason

• there's probably somebody out there who would argue the point because Internet

• making a bag of popcorn with hot sauce for lunch because hungry.

II. phrases

because of

on account of; by reason of

• they moved here because of the baby.

– origin Middle English: from the phrase by cause, influenced by Old French par cause de ‘by reason of.’ / usage: 1 When because follows a negative construction, the meaning can be ambiguous. In the sentence he did not go because he was ill, for example, it is not clear whether it means either ‘the reason he did not go was that he was ill’ or ‘being ill was not the reason for his going—there was another reason.’ Some usage guides recommend using a comma when the first interpretation is intended (he did not go, because he was ill) and no comma where the second interpretation is intended, but in general it is probably safest to try to avoid such constructions altogether. 2 As with other conjunctions such as but and and, it is still widely believed and taught that it is incorrect to begin a sentence with because. It has, however, long been used in this way in both written and spoken English (typically for rhetorical effect), and it is quite correct—however, the sentence-opening because should be used sparingly. See also usage at and. 3 On the construction the reason … is because, see usage at reason. 4 On the use of since in the sense of because, see usage at since.

beccafico /ˌbekəˈfēkō/

I. noun

a European songbird, especially a warbler, eaten as a delicacy.

– origin Italian.

béchamel /ˌbāSHəˈmel / béchamel sauce

I. noun

a rich white sauce made with milk infused with herbs and other flavorings.

– origin named after the Marquis Louis de Béchamel (died 1703), steward to Louis XIV of France, who is said to have invented a similar sauce.

bechance /bəˈCHans/

verb

‹archaic› happen; befall.

bêche-de-mer /ˌbeSHdəˈmer/

I. noun

1. a large sea cucumber that is eaten as a delicacy in China and Japan.
Also called trepang.

2. variant spelling of Beach-la-mar.

– origin late 18th cent.: pseudo-French, alteration of Portuguese bicho do mar, literally ‘sea worm.’

Bechstein /ˈbekstīn/

noun

a piano made by the German piano-builder Friedrich Wilhelm Carl Bechstein (1826–1900) or by the firm that he founded in 1856.

beck^1 /bek/

I. noun

(chiefly Brit.) a mountain stream.

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse bekkr, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch beek and German Bach. Used as the common term for a brook in the northern areas of England, beck often refers, in literature, to a brook with a stony bed or following a rugged course, typical of such areas.

beck^2 /bek/

I. noun

‹literary› a gesture requesting attention, such as a nod or wave.

II. phrases

at someone's beck and call

always having to be ready to obey someone's orders immediately.

– origin Middle English: from archaic beck, abbreviated form of beckon.

Becker, Boris /ˈbekər/

(1967–), German tennis player. During 1985–91, he won the men's singles title at one US Open, one Australian Open, and three Wimbledon tournaments.

becket /ˈbekət/

I. noun

a loop of rope or similar device for securing loose items on a ship.

– origin early 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

Becket, St. Thomas à /ə ˈbekit/

(c. 1118–70), English prelate and statesman, archbishop of Canterbury 1162–70. He was assassinated when he opposed Henry II. Feast day, December 29.

Beckett, Samuel /ˈbekit/

(1906–89), Irish playwright, novelist, and poet; full name Samuel Barclay Beckett. He is well known for Waiting for Godot (1952), a seminal work in the Theater of the Absurd. Nobel Prize for Literature (1969).

Beckmann, Ernst Otto /ˈbekmən/

(1853–1923), German chemist. He devised a method for determining a compound's molecular weight by measuring the rise in boiling point of a solvent containing the compound.

Beckmann, Max

(1884–1950), German painter and graphic artist. His paintings reflect his first-hand experience of human evil during World War I.

beckon /ˈbekən/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. make a gesture with the hand, arm, or head to encourage someone to come nearer or follow

• Miranda beckoned to Adam.

2. [with obj.] — attract the attention of or summon someone by making a gesture with the hand, arm, or head

• he beckoned Christopher over

• [with obj. and infinitive] he beckoned Duncan to follow.

3. seem to be appealing or inviting

• the going is tough, and soft options beckon.

– origin Old English bīecnan, bēcnan; related to beacon.

becloud /bəˈkloud/

verb — [with obj.]

1. cause to become obscure or muddled

• self-interest beclouds the issue.

2. (usu. be beclouded) — cover or surround with clouds.

become /bəˈkəm/

I. verb

1. [no obj., with complement] — begin to be

• they became angry

• it is becoming clear that we are in a totally new situation.

2. grow to be; turn into

• the child will become an adult.

3. (of a person) qualify or be accepted as; acquire the status of

• she wanted to become a doctor.

4. (become of) — (in questions) happen to

• what would become of her now?

5. [with obj.] — (of clothing) look good on or suit (someone)

• the dress becomes her.

6. be appropriate or suitable to (someone)

• minor celebrity status did not become him.

– origin Old English becuman ‘come to a place, come (to be or do something)’ (see be-, come), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bekomen and German bekommen ‘get, receive.’

becoming /bəˈkəmiNG/

I. adjective

1. (especially of clothing) flattering a person's appearance

• what a becoming dress!

• New beret? It's very becoming.

2. decorous

• a becoming modesty.

II. noun

[Philosophy] the process of coming to be something or of passing into a state

• a series of poem sketches in a state of becoming.

III. derivatives

becomingly /bəˈkəmiNGlē /

adverb

becquerel /ˈbekəˌrel / Bq

I. noun

[Physics] the SI unit of radioactivity, corresponding to one disintegration per second.

– origin late 19th cent.: named after A.-H. Becquerel (see Becquerel, Antoine-Henri).

Becquerel, Antoine-Henri /ˌbek(ə)ˈrel/

(1852–1908), French physicist. With Marie and Pierre Curie, he discovered the natural radioactivity in uranium salts. Nobel Prize for Physics (1903), shared with the Curies.

bed /bed/

I. noun

1. a piece of furniture for sleep or rest, typically a framework with a mattress and coverings

• a large double bed

• she was in bed by nine

• getting out of bed is a real struggle.

2. a place or article used by a person or animal for sleep or rest

• a bed of straw.

3. the time for sleeping

• a glass of milk before bed.

4. a bed and associated facilities making up a place for a patient in a hospital or for a guest at a hotel

• a round of hospital staff layoffs and bed closings

• few can afford a bed in a hotel.

5. ‹informal› used with reference to a bed as the typical place for sexual activity

• some men care very little about pleasing their partners in bed

• she'd gone to bed with Tony willingly.

6. an area of ground, typically in a garden, where flowers and plants are grown

• a bed of tulips

• vegetable beds.

7. a flat base or foundation on which something rests or is supported, in particular

8. the foundation of a road or railroad.

9. (chiefly N. Amer.) the open part of a truck, wagon, or railroad car, where goods are carried.

10. the flat surface beneath the baize of a billiard table.

11. a layer or pile of something, in particular

12. a layer of food on which other foods are served

• the salad is served on a bed of raw spinach.

13. a layer of rock or other geological material

• a bed of clay.

14. any mass or pile resembling a bed

• pots steaming on the fragrant bed of coals

• a dog knocked the girl into a bed of ants.

15. the bottom of the sea or a lake or river

• a riverbed.

16. [with modifier] — a place on the seabed where shellfish, especially oysters or mussels, breed or are bred

• mussel beds.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — settle down to sleep or rest for the night, typically in an improvised place

• he usually bedded down on newspapers in the church porch.

2. (bed someone/something down) — settle a person or animal down to sleep or rest for the night.

3. ‹informal› have sexual intercourse with

• he should bed a woman his own age.

4. transfer (a plant) from a pot or seed tray to a garden plot

• I bedded out these houseplants.

5. (usu. be bedded in/on) — fix firmly; embed

• the posts should be firmly bedded in concrete.

6. lay or arrange (something, especially stone) in a layer.

III. phrases

1. bed of nails

a. a board with nails pointing out of it, as lain on by fakirs and ascetics.

b. a problematic or uncomfortable situation.

2. bed of roses

[often with negative] — used in reference to a situation or activity that is comfortable or easy

• farming is no bed of roses.

3. be brought to bed

‹archaic› (of a woman) give birth to a child

• she was brought to bed of a daughter.

4. get up on the wrong side of the bed

start the day in a bad temper.

5. in bed with

a. ‹informal› having sexual intercourse with

• he found his wife in bed with one of the neighbors.

b. in undesirably close association with

• these meetings with politicians put the gay movement in bed with the dreaded Establishment.

6. make a bed

fit a bed with sheets, blankets, and pillows.

7. put someone to bed

take or prepare someone, typically a child, for rest in bed

• Clare put her to bed and gave her a mug of cocoa.

8. put a newspaper to bed

‹informal› prepare a newspaper for press.

9. take to one's bed

stay in bed because of illness.

– origin Old English bed, bedd (noun), beddian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bed and German Bett.

BEd /bēˈed/

abbreviation

Bachelor of Education.

bedabble /bəˈdabəl/

verb — [with obj.] (usu. be bedabbled)

1. ‹archaic› stain or splash with dirty liquid or blood

• idols of gold bedabbled all with blood.

bedad /bəˈdad/

I. exclamation

(Irish) used to express surprise or for emphasis.

– origin early 18th cent.: alteration of by God; compare with begad and Gad^2.

bed and breakfast /ˈbe dən ˈbrekfəst / b. & b.

noun

1. sleeping accommodations for a night and a morning meal, provided in guest houses and small hotels.

2. a guest house or small hotel offering sleeping accommodations and a morning meal.

bedaub /bəˈdôb/

verb — [with obj.] (usu. be bedaubed)

1. ‹literary› smear or daub with a sticky substance

• a dozen maidens, all bedaubed with paint.

bedazzle /bəˈdazəl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. greatly impress (someone) with brilliance or skill

• bedazzled by him, they offered him a job in Paris.

2. cleverly outwit.

II. derivatives

bedazzlement

noun

bed-blocking /ˈbed ˌbläkiNG/

I. noun

(Brit.) the long-term occupation of hospital beds, chiefly by elderly people, due to a shortage of suitable care elsewhere.

II. derivatives

bed-blocker

noun

bedbug /ˈbedˌbəɡ/

noun

a bloodsucking bug that is a parasite of birds and mammals.
[Family Cimicidae, suborder Heteroptera: Cimex and other genera, and many species, in particular the chiefly nocturnal C. lectularius, which feeds mainly on humans, hiding in crevices or among clothing during the day.]

bedchamber /ˈbedˌCHāmbər/

noun

‹archaic› a bedroom.

bedclothes /ˈbedˌklō(T͟H)z/

plural noun

coverings for a bed, such as sheets and blankets.

bedcover /ˈbedˌcəvər/

noun

a bedspread.

beddable /ˈbedəbəl/

adjective

‹informal› sexually attractive or available.

bedded /ˈbedəd/

adjective

[Geology] (of rock) deposited in layers or strata, especially in a way specified

• thinly bedded carbonate mudstones.

bedder /ˈbedər/

noun

a plant suitable for use as a bedding plant.

bedding /ˈbediNG/

noun

1. coverings for a bed, such as sheets and blankets.

2. straw or similar material for animals to sleep on.

3. a base or bottom layer
[as modifier]

• a bedding course of sand.

4. a display of bedding plants.

5. [Geology] the stratification or layering of rocks or other geological materials
[as modifier]

• a bedding plane.

bedding plant

noun

a plant set into a garden bed or container when it is about to bloom, usually an annual used for display and discarded at the end of the season.

beddy-bye /ˈbedēˌbī/

I. noun

‹informal› a baby-talk word for bed or bedtime

• it was time for beddy-bye

• [as modifier] we got our beddy-bye kisses and trundled up the stairs.

II. phrases

go beddy-bye

‹informal› go to bed

• for the last ten miles, all I could think about was getting home and going beddy-bye.

– origin early 20th cent.: from bed + -y^2 and bye-bye.

Bede, St. /bēd/

(c. 673–735), English monk, theologian, and historian; known as the Venerable Bede. He wrote The Ecclesiastical History of the English People (written in Latin and completed in 731), a primary source for early English history. Feast day, May 27.

bedeck /bəˈdek/

verb — [with obj.]

1. decorate

• he led us into a room bedecked with tinsel.

bedeguar /ˈbedəˌɡär / bedeguar gall

I. noun

another term for mossy rose gall.

– origin late Middle English: from French bédégar, from Persian bād-āwar, literally ‘wind-brought.’

bedevil /bəˈdevəl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of something bad) cause great and continual trouble to

• inconsistencies that bedevil modern English spelling.

2. (of a person) torment or harass

• he bedeviled them with petty practical jokes.

II. derivatives

bedevilment /bəˈdevəlmənt /

noun

bedew /bəˈd(y)o͞o/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› cover or sprinkle with drops of water or other liquid.

bedfellow /ˈbedˌfelō/

noun

1. a person who shares a bed with another.

2. a person or thing allied or closely connected with another

• the treaty will make strange bedfellows of a number of enemies.

Bedford /ˈbedfərd/

a city in northeastern Texas, northeast of Fort Worth; pop. 49,155 (est. 2008).

Bedford cord

I. noun

a tough woven fabric having prominent ridges, similar to corduroy.

– origin late 19th cent.: named after the town of Bedford, England.

Bedford-Stuyvesant /ˌbedfərd ˈstīvəsənt/

a residential and commercial section of northern Brooklyn in New York City, home to one of the largest US black communities.

bed head

noun

‹informal› a casual hairstyle resulting from failure to comb or arrange the hair after sleep.

bed-hop /ˈbedhäp/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹informal› engage in successive casual sexual affairs
(as noun bed-hopping)

• a life of bed-hopping.

II. derivatives

bed-hopper

noun

bedight /bəˈdīt/

I. adjective

‹archaic› adorned

• a Christmas pudding bedight with holly.

– origin late Middle English: past participle of archaic bedight ‘equip, array’ (see be-, dight).

bedim /bəˈdim/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› cause to become dim

• a slight cloud would bedim the sky.

bedizened /bəˈdīzənd/

I. adjective

‹literary› dressed up or decorated gaudily

• a dress bedizened with resplendent military medals.

II. derivatives

bedizen /bəˈdīz(ə)n /

verb

– origin mid 17th cent.: from be- (as an intensifier) + obsolete dizen ‘deck out,’ probably of Dutch origin.

bedlam /ˈbedləm/

I. noun

1. a scene of uproar and confusion

• there was bedlam in the courtroom.

2. ‹archaic› an institution for the care of mentally ill people.

– origin late Middle English: early form of Bethlehem, referring to the hospital of St. Mary of Bethlehem in London, used as an institution for the insane.

bed linen /bed ˈlinin/

noun

sheets, pillowcases, and duvet covers.

Bedlington terrier /ˌbedliNGtən ˈterēər/

I. noun

a terrier of a breed with a narrow head, long legs, and curly hair.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after the village of Bedlington in northern England, where the breed originated.

bedmate /ˈbedmāt/

noun

a person with whom a bed is shared, especially a sexual partner.

Bedouin /ˈbed(ə)wən / Beduin

I. noun

a nomadic Arab of the desert.

II. adjective

of or relating to the Bedouin.

– origin from Old French beduin, based on Arabic badawī, (plural) badawīn ‘dwellers in the desert,’ from badw ‘desert.’

bedpan /ˈbedˌpan/

noun

a receptacle used by a bedridden patient as a toilet.

bedplate /ˈbedplāt/

noun

a metal plate forming the base of a machine.

bedpost /ˈbedˌpōst/

I. noun

any of the four upright supports of a bedstead.

II. phrases

between you, me, and the bedpost

see lamppost.

bedraggled /bəˈdraɡəld/

I. adjective

dirty and disheveled

• we got there, tired and bedraggled.

II. derivatives

bedraggle

verb

– origin early 18th cent.: from be- ‘thoroughly’ + draggle + -ed^2.

bedrail /ˈbedrāl/

noun

a rail along the side of a bed connecting the headboard to the footboard.

bed rest

noun

confinement of an invalid to bed as part of treatment.

bedridden /ˈbedˌridn/

I. adjective

confined to bed by sickness or old age.

– origin Middle English: formed irregularly from archaic bedrid ‘bedridden person,’ from the base of the verb ride.

bedrock /ˈbedˌräk/

noun

1. solid rock underlying loose deposits such as soil or alluvium.

2. the fundamental principles on which something is based

• honesty is the bedrock of a good relationship.

bedroll /ˈbedˌrōl/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a sleeping bag or other bedding rolled into a bundle.

bedroom /ˈbedˌro͞om ˈbedˌro͝om / bdrm.

I. noun

1. a room for sleeping in

• he shares his bedroom with a younger brother

• [in combination] a three-bedroom house.

2. [as modifier] — relating to sexual relations

• bedroom secrets.

3. [as modifier] — (N. Amer.) denoting a small town or suburb whose residents travel to work in a nearby city

• a bedroom community.

II. derivatives

bedroomed

adjective

[in combination]

• a three-bedroomed house

bedroom suite

noun

1. a set of coordinating furniture for a bedroom

• a four-piece satinwood bedroom suite.

2. a bedroom with one or more adjoining rooms, typically including a bathroom

• the main bedroom suite was impressive with separate bathrooms for the owners.

bedside /ˈbedˌsīd/

I. noun

the space beside a bed, typically that of someone who is ill

• he was summoned to the bedside of a dying man

• [as modifier] a bedside lamp.

II. phrases

bedside manner

a doctor's approach or attitude toward a patient.

bedsit /ˈbedˌsit / bedsitter, bed-sitting room

noun

(Brit.) a one-room apartment typically consisting of a combined bedroom and sitting room with cooking facilities.

bedskirt /ˈbedskərt/

noun

(N. Amer.) a decorative drapery attached to the frame of a bed; a dust ruffle.

bedsore /ˈbedsôr/

noun

a sore developed by an invalid because of pressure caused by lying in bed in one position.
Also called decubitus ulcer.

bedspread /ˈbedˌspred/

noun

a decorative cloth used to cover a bed.

bedstead /ˈbedˌsted/

noun

the framework of a bed on which the mattress is placed.

bedstraw /ˈbedstrô/

noun

a herbaceous plant with small, lightly perfumed, white or yellow flowers and whorls of slender leaves. It was formerly used for stuffing mattresses.
[Genus Galium, family Rubiaceae: several species, including yellow bedstraw (G. verum).]

bedtime /ˈbedˌtīm/

noun — [in sing.]

1. the usual time when someone goes to bed

• it was well past her bedtime

• [as modifier] a bedtime story.

bed warmer bedwarmer

noun

‹historical› a device for warming a bed, typically a metal pan filled with warm coals.

bed-wetting /ˈbedˌwediNG/

I. noun

involuntary urination during sleep.

II. derivatives

bed-wetter /ˈbedˌwedər /

noun

bee /bē/

I. noun

1. a honeybee.

2. an insect of a large group to which the honeybee belongs, including many solitary as well as social kinds.
[Superfamily Apoidea, order Hymenoptera: several families, often now placed in the single family Apidae.]

3. [with modifier] — a meeting for communal work or amusement

• a quilting bee.

II. phrases

1. have a bee in one's bonnet

‹informal› be preoccupied or obsessed about something, especially a scheme or plan of action.

2. the bee's knees

‹informal› an outstandingly good person or thing.
[first used to denote something small and insignificant, transferred to the opposite sense in US slang.]

– origin Old English bēo, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bij and German dialect Beie.

bee balm

noun

another term for bergamot (sense 3).

bee bread beebread

noun

honey or pollen used as food by bees.

beech /bēCH/

I. noun

a large tree with smooth gray bark, glossy leaves, and hard, pale, fine-grained timber. Its fruit, the beechnut, is an important food for numerous wild birds and mammals.
[Genera Fagus (of the north temperate zone) and Notofagus (the southern beeches, of Australasia and South America), family Fagaceae: many species, esp. the common American beech (F. grandifolia) and the European beech (F. sylvatica).]

– origin Old English bēce, of Germanic origin; related to book and to Latin fagus ‘beech,’ Greek phagos ‘edible oak.’

Beecham, Sir Thomas /ˈbēCHəm/

(1879–1961), English conductor and impresario. He founded the London Philharmonic 1932 and the Royal Philharmonic 1947.

beechdrops /ˈbēCHdräps/

noun

a broomrape that is parasitic on the roots of beech trees. Unlike most broomrapes, it has branching stems.
[Epifagus virginiana, family Orobanchaceae.]

Beecher, Catherine /ˈbēCHər/

(1800–78), US educator; full name Catherine Esther Beecher. She promoted educational rights for women and founded the American Women's Education Assocation in 1852. She was the sister of Henry Ward Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Beecher, Henry Ward

(1813–87), US clergyman, orator, and writer. Ordained as a Congregationalist in 1837, he became famous as an orator who attacked political corruption and slavery. He was the brother of Catherine Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe.

beech fern

noun

a fern with triangular, deeply lobed fronds. Native to eastern North America, it favors moist woodland habitats and streamsides.
[Genus Thelypteris, family Polypodiaceae: two species, the broad beech fern (T. hexagonptera) and the long beech fern (T. phegopteris).]

beech marten /ˈbēCH ˌmärtn/

noun

another term for stone marten.

beechmast /ˈbēCHmast/

I. noun

(collectively, especially when on the ground) beechnuts.

– origin late 16th cent.: from beech + mast^2.

beechnut /ˈbēCHˌnət/

noun

the small triangular brown fruit of the beech tree, pairs of which are enclosed in a prickly case.
See beechmast.

bee dance

noun

a series of movements performed in the hive by worker honeybees to inform the colony of the direction and distance to a food source.

bee-eater /ˈbēˌēdər/

noun

a brightly colored insectivorous bird with a large head and a long down-curved bill, and typically with long central tail feathers.
[Family Meropidae: three genera, in particular Merops, and including the European bee-eater (M. apiaster).]

beef /bēf/

I. noun

1. the flesh of a cow, bull, or ox, used as food.

2. (pl. beeves ) — [Farming] a cow, bull, or ox fattened for its meat.

3. ‹informal› flesh or muscle, typically when well developed

• he needs a little more beef on his bones.

4. ‹informal› strength or power

• he's been brought in to give the team more beef.

5. (pl. beefs) — ‹informal› a complaint or grievance

• he has a beef with American education: it doesn't teach the basics of investing.

6. (US) ‹informal› a criminal charge

• a drunk-driving beef.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹informal› complain

• he was beefing about how the recession was killing the business.

III. phrasal verbs

beef something up

‹informal› give more substance or strength to something

• cost-cutting measures are planned to beef up performance.

– origin Middle English: from Old French boef, from Latin bos, bov- ‘ox.’

beefalo /ˈbēfəˌlō/

I. noun

a hybrid animal, a cross between cattle and buffalo.

– origin 1970s: blend of beef and buffalo.

beef bourguignon /ˌbēf ˈbo͝orɡēˈnyôN/

noun

another term for boeuf bourguignon.

• the seared venison loin and beef bourguignon were delicious.

beefcake /ˈbēfˌkāk/

noun

‹informal› an attractive man with well-developed muscles.

beefeater /ˈbēfˌēdər/

I. noun

a Yeoman Warder or Yeoman of the Guard in the Tower of London.

– origin early 17th cent.(originally a derogatory term for a well-fed servant): the current sense dates from the late 17th cent.

bee fly

noun

a squat, hairy, beelike fly that hovers to feed from flowers using its long tongue. Its larvae usually parasitize other insects, especially bees and wasps.
[Family Bombyllidae: many genera.]

beefsteak /ˈbēfˌstāk/

noun

a thick slice of lean beef, typically from the rump and eaten grilled, broiled, or fried.

beefsteak fungus beefsteak mushroom

noun

an edible reddish-brown bracket fungus that resembles raw beef. Native to both Eurasia and North America, it usually grows on oak or sweet chestnut trees.
[Fistulina hepatica, family Fistulinaceae, class Hymenomycetes.]

beefsteak tomato

noun

a tomato of an exceptionally large and firm variety.

beef tea /ˈbēf ˈtē/

noun

(chiefly Brit.) a drink made from stewed extract of beef used as nourishment for invalids.

beef Wellington

noun

a dish of beef, typically coated in pâté de foie gras, wrapped in puff pastry, and baked.

beefwood /ˈbēfwo͝od/

noun

a tropical hardwood tree with close-grained red timber.
[Species in several families, in particular Casuarina equisetifolia (family Casuarinaceae), native to Australia and Southeast Asia.]

beefy /ˈbēfē/

I. adjective

1. ‹informal› muscular or robust

• he shrugged his beefy shoulders.

2. [attrib.] — large and impressively powerful

• beefy skis.

3. tasting like beef.

II. derivatives

1. beefily /ˈbēfəlē /

adverb

2. beefiness

noun

beehive /ˈbēˌhīv/

I. noun

1. a structure in which bees are kept, typically in the form of a dome or box.

2. [usu. as modifier] — something having the domed shape of a traditional wicker beehive

• beehive huts

• beehive ovens.

3. a busy, crowded place

• the church became a beehive of activity.

4. (the Beehive or the Beehive cluster) — another term for Praesepe.

5. a woman's domed and lacquered hairstyle, especially popular in the 1960s.

II. derivatives

beehived

adjective

beehive (sense 2)

Beehive State

a nickname for the state of Utah.

beekeeping /ˈbēˌkēpiNG/

I. noun

the occupation of owning and breeding bees for their honey.

II. derivatives

beekeeper /ˈbēˌkēpər /

noun

beeline /ˈbēlīn/

I. noun

a straight line between two places.

II. phrases

make a beeline for

hurry directly to.

– origin early 19th cent.: with reference to the straight line supposedly taken instinctively by a bee when returning to the hive.

Beelzebub /bēˈelzəˌbəb/

I. a name for the Devil.

– origin from late Latin Beëlzebub, translating Hebrew ba῾al zĕḇūḇ ‘lord of flies,’ the name of a Philistine god (2 Kings 1:2), and Greek Beelzeboul ‘the Devil’ (Matt. 12:24).

Beemer /ˈbēmər / Beamer

I. noun

‹informal› a car or motorcycle manufactured by the company BMW.

– origin 1980s (originally US): representing a pronunciation of the first two letters of BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke AG) + -er.

been /bin/

past participle of be.

Beene, Geoffrey /bēn/

(1927–2004), US fashion designer.

beep /bēp/

I. noun

a short, high-pitched sound emitted by electronic equipment or a vehicle horn.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a horn or electronic device) produce a short, high-pitched sound

• radio receivers squawked and beeped.

2. [with obj.] — (chiefly N. Amer.) summon (someone) by means of a pager

• they have themselves beeped in restaurants.

– origin 1920s: imitative.

beeper /ˈbēpər/

noun

(N. Amer.) another term for pager.

beer /bir/

I. noun

an alcoholic drink made from yeast-fermented malt flavored with hops

• a pint of beer

• I'm dying for a beer.

II. phrases

beer and skittles

[often with negative] — (Brit.) amusement or enjoyment

• life isn't all beer and skittles.

– origin Old English bēor, based on monastic Latin biber ‘a drink,’ from Latin bibere ‘to drink’; related to Dutch bier and German Bier.

beer belly /bi(ə)r ˈbelē / ‹informal› beer gut

I. noun

a man's fat stomach, caused by excessive consumption of beer.

II. derivatives

beer-bellied

adjective

Beerbohm, Sir Max /ˈbi(ə)rˌbōm/

(1872–1956), English caricaturist, essayist, and critic; full name Sir Henry Maximilian Beerbohm.

Beerenauslese /ˌberənˈousˌlāzə/

I. noun

a white wine of German origin or style made from selected individual grapes picked later than the general harvest.

– origin German, from Beeren ‘berries’ + aus ‘out’ + lese ‘picking.’

beer garden /ˈbi(ə)r ˌɡärdn/

noun

a garden, typically one attached to a bar or tavern, where beer is served.

beer goggles

plural noun

‹informal› used to refer to the supposed influence of alcohol on one's visual perception, whereby one is sexually attracted to people who would not otherwise be appealing.

beer hall

noun

a large room or building where beer is served.

beer money /bi(ə)r ˈmənē/

I. noun

‹informal› a small amount of money allowed or earned.

– origin early 19th cent.: so named because the allowance of money was made instead of beer.

beer o'clock

noun

‹humorous› an appropriate time of day to start drinking beer

• we went to find a bar as it was almost beer o'clock.

beer parlour

noun

(Canadian) a room in a hotel or tavern where beer is served.

beer pong

I. noun

(chiefly US) a drinking game in which players attempt to throw or hit table tennis balls into cups of beer, and their opponents are required to drink the contents of any cup in which a ball lands

• the bar was fairly empty but we had a great time playing beer pong.

– origin 1970s: from beer + pong (in Ping-Pong).

Beersheba /ˌbirˈSHēbə/

a town in southern Israel on the northern edge of the Negev Desert; pop. 187,200 (est. 2008).

beer-swilling /ˈbirˌswiliNG/

adjective

1. drinking a lot of beer.

2. disreputable, rowdy.

beery /ˈbirē/

adjective

‹informal› relating to or characterized by the drinking of beer, typically in large amounts

• many beery pledges were made

• stale beery breath.

beestings /ˈbēstiNGz / beastings

I. noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the first milk produced by a cow or goat after giving birth.

– origin Old English bȳsting; related to Dutch biest and German Biest(milch).

bee-stung /ˈbēstəNG/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. ‹informal› (of a woman's lips) full, red, and pouting.

beeswax /ˈbēzˌwaks/

noun

1. the wax secreted by bees to make honeycombs and used to make wood polishes and candles

• turning pollen into beeswax.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a person's concern or business

• that's none of your beeswax.

beet /bēt/

I. noun

1. a herbaceous plant widely cultivated as a source of food for humans and livestock, and for processing into sugar. Some varieties are grown for their leaves and some for their large nutritious root.
[Beta vulgaris, family Chenopodiaceae: several subspecies.]

2. (N. Amer.) the edible root of a kind of beet that is typically dark red and spherical and eaten as a vegetable.

3. the variety of beet that produces a dark red edible root, eaten as a vegetable.
[Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris.]

– origin Old English bēte, from Latin beta, perhaps of Celtic origin; related to Dutch beet and German Bete.

Beethoven, Ludwig van /ˈbāˌtōvən, ˈbātˌō-/

(1770–1827), German composer. Despite increasing deafness, Beethoven wrote prodigiously: nine symphonies, thirty-two piano sonatas, sixteen string quartets, the opera Fidelio (1814), and the Mass in D (the Missa Solemnis, 1823).

beetle^1 /ˈbēdl/

I. noun

an insect of an order distinguished by forewings typically modified into hard wing cases (elytra) that cover and protect the hind wings and abdomen.
[Order Coleoptera: see Coleoptera.]

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹informal› make one's way hurriedly or with short, quick steps

• the tourist beetled off.

– origin Old English bitula, bitela ‘biter,’ from the base of bītan ‘to bite.’

beetle^2 /ˈbēdl/

I. noun

1. a tool with a heavy head and a handle, used for tasks such as ramming, crushing, and driving wedges; a maul.

2. a machine used for heightening the luster of cloth by pressure from rollers.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ram, crush, or drive with a beetle.

2. finish (cloth) with a beetle.

– origin Old English bētel, of Germanic origin; related to beat.

beetle^3 /ˈbēdl/

I. verb — [no obj.] (usu. as adj. beetling)

1. (of a person's eyebrows) project or overhang threateningly

• piercing eyes glittered beneath a great beetling brow.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of a person's eyebrows) shaggy and projecting.

III. derivatives

beetle-browed /ˈbēdlˌbroud /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent. (as an adjective): back-formation from beetle-browed. The verb was apparently used as a nonce word by Shakespeare and was later adopted by other writers.

beet leafhopper

noun

a North American leafhopper found west of the Mississippi River and considered a serious pest to beets and members of the gourd family. It is a principal carrier of the virus that causes curly top.
[Circulifer tenellus, family Cicadellidae.]

bee tree

noun

a hollow tree used by bees for a hive

• in the Appalachians, the tupelo is a prime bee tree.

beetroot /ˈbētˌro͞ot/

noun

(chiefly Brit.) another term for beet (sense 2).

beet sugar /bēt ˈSHo͝oɡər/

noun

sugar obtained from sugar beet.

beeves /bēvz/

plural form of beef (sense 1 of the noun).

BEF

abbreviation

British Expeditionary Force.

befall /bəˈfôl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› (of something bad) happen to someone

• a tragedy befell his daughter

• [no obj.] she was to blame for anything that befell.

– origin Old English befeallan ‘to fall’ (early use being chiefly figurative); related to German befallen.

befit /bəˈfit/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. be appropriate for; suit

• the ballet ends nobly, as befits a tragedy

• (as adj. befitting) I answered in a befitting manner.

II. derivatives

befittingly

adverb

befog /bəˈfäɡ/

verb — [with obj.]

1. cause to become confused

• her brain was befogged with lack of sleep.

befool /bəˈfo͞ol/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› make a fool of

• novels that befool almost every intelligence.

before /bəˈfôr/

I. preposition, conjunction, adverb

1. during the period of time preceding (a particular event, date, or time)
[as prep.]

• she had to rest before dinner

• the day before yesterday

• before the war

• [as conjunction] they lived rough for four days before they were arrested

• it wasn't long before I had my first bite

• [as adv.] his playing days had ended six years before

• it's never happened to me before.

2. in front of
[as prep.]

• Matilda stood before her, panting

• the patterns swam before her eyes

• ‹archaic› trotting through the city with guards running before and behind.

3. [prep.] — in front of and required to answer to (a court of law, tribunal, or other authority)

• he could be taken before a magistrate for punishment

• a fall in the number of cases brought before the courts.

4. in preference to; with a higher priority than
[as prep.]

• a woman who placed duty before all else

• [as conjunction] they would die before they would cooperate with each other.

– origin Old English beforan (see by, fore), of Germanic origin; related to German bevor.

beforehand /bəˈfôrˌhand/

I. adverb

before an action or event; in advance

• rooms must be booked beforehand.

II. phrases

be beforehand with

‹archaic› anticipate; forestall.

– origin Middle English (originally as two words): from before + hand; probably influenced by Old French avant main.

beforetime /bəˈfôrˌtīm/

adverb

‹archaic› previously; formerly.

befoul /bəˈfoul/

verb — [with obj.]

1. make dirty; pollute

• they befoul our water with mining.

befriend /bəˈfrend/

verb — [with obj.]

1. act as a friend to (someone) by offering help or support.

befuddle /bəˈfədl/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. befuddled)

1. make (someone) unable to think clearly

• he has an air of befuddled unworldliness.

II. derivatives

befuddlement

noun

beg /beɡ/

I. verb

1. [reporting verb] — ask (someone) earnestly or humbly for something
[with obj.]

• I begged him for mercy

• [with obj. and infinitive] she begged me to say nothing to her father

• [no obj.] I must beg of you not to act impulsively.

2. ask for (something) earnestly or humbly

• he begged their forgiveness

• [with direct speech] “Don't leave me,” she begged.

3. ask formally for (permission to do something)

• I will now beg leave to make some observations

• [no obj.] we beg to inform you that we are instructed to wait.

4. [no obj.] — ask for something, typically food or money, as charity or a gift

• a young woman was begging in the street

• they had to beg for food.

5. [with obj.] — acquire (something) from someone by begging

• a piece of bread that I begged from a farmer.

6. (of a dog) sit up with the front paws raised expectantly in the hope of a reward.

II. phrases

1. beg, borrow, or steal

do whatever may be necessary to acquire something greatly desired

• I'm gonna get the money to buy Casey's ring, even if I have to beg, borrow, or steal.

2. beg off

request to be excused from a question or obligation

• asked to name her favorites from her films, Hepburn begs off.

3. beg one's bread

‹archaic› live by begging.

4. beg the question

a. (of a fact or action) raise a question or point that has not been dealt with; invite an obvious question.

b. avoid the question; evade the issue.

c. assume the truth of an argument or proposition to be proved, without arguing it.

5. beg to differ

see differ.

6. go begging

a. (of an article) be available for use because unwanted by others

• half the apartments in New York go begging in the summer.

b. (of an opportunity) not be taken

• we let so many good chances go begging.

III. phrasal verbs

beg off

withdraw from a promise or undertaking.

– origin Middle English: probably from Old English bedecian, of Germanic origin; related to bid^1. / usage: The original meaning of the phrase beg the question belongs to the field of logic and is a translation of the Latin term petitio principii, literally meaning ‘laying claim to a principle’ (that is, assuming something that ought to be proved first), as in the following sentence: by devoting such a large part of the anti-drug budget to education, we are begging the question of its significance in the battle against drugs. To some traditionalists, this is still the only correct meaning. However, over the last 100 years or so, another, more general use has arisen: ‘invite an obvious question,’ as in some definitions of mental illness beg the question of what constitutes normal behavior. This is by far the more common use today in modern standard English.

begad /bəˈɡad/

I. exclamation

‹archaic› used to express surprise or for emphasis.

– origin late 16th cent.: altered form; compare with bedad and Gad^2.

began /biˈɡan/

past of begin.

begat /bəˈɡat/

archaic past of beget.

begem /bəˈjem/

verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. begemmed)

1. set or stud with gems

• a begemmed cross.

beget /bəˈɡet/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› (typically of a man, sometimes of a man and a woman) bring (a child) into existence by the process of reproduction

• they hoped that the King might beget an heir by his new queen.

2. ‹literary› give rise to; bring about

• success begets further success.

II. derivatives

begetter /bəˈɡedər /

noun

– origin Old English begietan ‘get, obtain by effort’ (see be-, get).

beggar /ˈbeɡər/

I. noun

1. a person, typically a homeless one, who lives by asking for money or food.

2. [with adj.] — ‹informal› a person of a specified type, often one to be envied or pitied

• poor little beggars.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. reduce (someone) to poverty

• by being soft to the unfortunate, we beggared ourselves.

III. phrases

1. beggar belief (or description)

be too extraordinary to be believed or described.

2. beggars can't be choosers

‹proverb› people with no other options must be content with what is offered.

3. set a beggar on horseback and he'll ride to the Devil

‹proverb› someone unaccustomed to power or luxury will abuse or be corrupted by it.

– origin Middle English: from beg + -ar^3.

beggarly /ˈbeɡərlē/

I. adjective

1. poverty-stricken.

2. pitifully or deplorably meager or bad

• the stipend was a beggarly $26

• my beggarly physical condition.

II. derivatives

beggarliness

noun

beggar-my-neighbor /ˌbeɡərmīˈnābər/

I. noun

a card game for two players in which the object is to acquire one's opponent's cards. Players alternately turn cards up and if an honor is revealed, the other player must find an honor within a specified number of turns or else forfeit the cards already played.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (especially of national policy) self-aggrandizing at the expense of competitors

• failure would create a growing risk of trade wars as countries retreated into beggar-thy-neighbor policies.

beggar's purse

noun

(N. Amer.) an appetizer consisting of a crêpe stuffed with a savory filling, typically caviar and crème fraiche.

beggarticks /ˈbeɡərˌtiks / beggar's ticks

I. plural noun — [often treated as sing.]

1. a plant of the daisy family with inconspicuous yellow flowers and small barbed fruit that cling to passing animals. Several kinds are widespread weeds.
Also called bur marigold. [Genus Bidens, family Compositae: several species, in particular B. frondosa.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: apparently from the resemblance of the seedpods to ticks.

beggary /ˈbeɡərē/

noun

a state of extreme poverty.

begging bowl

noun

a bowl held out by a beggar for food or donations

• among them was a wandering mendicant, with wooden staff and begging bowl

• ‹figurative› they went to the government with a begging bowl to seek cash to finance the scheme.

begin /biˈɡin/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — start; perform or undergo the first part of (an action or activity)

• theorists have just begun to address these complex questions

• she began a double life

• (begin to do/doing something) it was beginning to snow

• [no obj.] she began by rewriting the syllabus.

2. [no obj.] — come into being or have its starting point at a certain time or place

• the ground campaign had begun

• the story begins with the death of her senile father

• the tour begins at the active Poas Volcano.

3. [no obj.] — (of a person) hold a specific position or role before holding any other

• he began as a drummer.

4. [no obj.] — (of a thing) originate

• Watts Lake began as a marine inlet.

5. [no obj.] (begin with) — have as a first element

• words beginning with a vowel.

6. [no obj.] (begin on/upon) — set to work at

• Picasso began on a great canvas.

7. [with direct speech] — start speaking by saying

• “I've got to go to the hotel,” she began.

8. [no obj.] (begin at) — (of an article) cost at least (a specified amount)

• rooms begin at $139.

9. [no obj. with negative] — ‹informal› not have any chance or likelihood of doing a specified thing

• circuitry that Karen could not begin to comprehend.

II. phrases

to begin with

a. at first.

b. in the first place

• such a fate is unlikely to befall him: to begin with, his is a genuine talent.

– origin Old English beginnan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German beginnen.

Begin, Menachem /ˈbāɡin, bəˈɡēn/

(1913–92), Israeli statesman, prime minister 1977–84. His hard line on Arab–Israeli relations softened in a series of meetings with President Anwar al-Sadat of Egypt, which led to a peace treaty between the countries. Nobel Peace Prize (1978), shared with Sadat.

beginner /bəˈɡinər/

I. noun

a person just starting to learn a skill or take part in an activity.

II. phrases

beginner's luck

good luck supposedly experienced by a beginner at a particular activity.

beginning /bəˈɡiniNG/

I. noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. the point in time or space at which something starts

• he left at the beginning of February

• they had reached the beginning of the forest.

2. the first part or earliest stage of something

• the ending of one relationship and the beginning of another

• she had the beginnings of a headache.

3. (usu. beginnings) — the background or origins of anything

• the series explores the beginnings of flight

• he had risen from humble beginnings to great wealth.

II. adjective

1. new or inexperienced

• a beginning gardener.

2. introductory or elementary

• the beginning guitar class.

III. phrases

the beginning of the end

the event to which ending or failure can be traced.

begird /bəˈɡərd/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹chiefly literary› gird about or around; encompass.

2. ‹chiefly literary› besiege.

begone /biˈɡôn, -ˈɡän/

exclamation

‹literary› go away (as an expression of annoyance)

• begone from my sight!

begonia /bəˈɡōnyə/

I. noun

a herbaceous plant of warm climates, the bright flowers of which have brightly colored sepals but no petals. Numerous cultivated varieties of begonia are grown for their flowers or for their striking foliage.
[Genus Begonia, family Begoniaceae.]

– origin modern Latin, named after Michel Bégon (1638–1710), French amateur botanist who discovered the plant on the island of Santo Domingo and introduced it to Europe.

begot /biˈɡät/

past of beget.

begotten /biˈɡätn/

past participle of beget.

begrime /bəˈɡrīm/

verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. begrimed)

1. blacken with ingrained dirt

• paint flaking from begrimed walls.

begrudge /bəˈɡrəj/

I. verb

1. [with two objs.] — envy (someone) the possession or enjoyment of (something)

• she begrudged Martin his affluence.

2. [with obj.] — give reluctantly or resentfully

• nobody begrudges a single penny spent on health.

II. derivatives

begrudgingly

adverb

beguile /bəˈɡīl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. charm or enchant (someone), sometimes in a deceptive way

• every prominent American artist has been beguiled by Maine

• (as adj. beguiling) a beguiling smile.

2. trick (someone) into doing something

• they were beguiled into signing a peace treaty.

3. ‹dated› help (time) pass pleasantly

• to beguile some of the time they went to the movie theater.

II. derivatives

1. beguilement /bəˈɡīlmənt /

noun

2. beguiler /bəˈɡīlər /

noun

3. beguilingly /bəˈɡīliNGlē /

adverb

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘deceive, deprive of by fraud’): from be- ‘thoroughly’ + obsolete guile ‘to deceive’ (see guile).

beguine^1 /bəˈɡēn/

I. noun

a popular dance of West Indian origin, similar to the foxtrot.

– origin 1930s: from West Indian French, from French béguin ‘infatuation.’

beguine^2 /ˈbeɡēn ˈbāɡēn bəˈɡēn/

I. noun

(in the Roman Catholic Church) a member of a lay sisterhood in the Low Countries, not bound by vows.

– origin late 15th cent.: Old French béguine, medieval Latin beguīna, from the name of Lambert Bègue or le Bègue (‘the Stammerer’), a 12th-cent. priest who founded the order.

begum /ˈbāɡəm ˈbēɡəm/

I. noun

1. (Indian) a Muslim lady of high rank.

2. (Begum) — (Indian) the title of a married Muslim woman, equivalent to Mrs.

– origin from Urdu begam, from eastern Turkish bigim ‘princess,’ feminine of big ‘prince.’

begun /biˈɡən/

past participle of begin.

behalf /bəˈhaf/

I. noun — (in phrase on ( also in) behalf of or on someone's/something's behalf)

1. in the interests of a person, group, or principle

• votes cast by labor unions on behalf of their members.

2. as a representative of

• he had to attend the funeral on Mama's behalf.

3. on the part of; done by

• this wasn't simply a philanthropic gesture on his behalf.

– origin Middle English: from a mixture of the earlier phrases on his halve and bihalve him, both meaning ‘on his side’ (see by, half).

behave /bəˈhāv/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. [with adverbial] — act or conduct oneself in a specified way, especially toward others

• he always behaved like a gentleman

• you should behave affectionately toward the patient.

2. (of a machine or natural phenomenon) work or function in a specified way

• each car behaves differently.

3. [often in imperative] — conduct oneself in accordance with the accepted norms of a society or group

• you can go as long as you behave

• (behave oneself) they were expected to behave themselves.

– origin late Middle English: from be- + have in the sense ‘have or bear (oneself) in a particular way’ (corresponding to modern German sich behaben).

behaved /bəˈhāvd/

adjective

conducting oneself in a specified way

• some of the boys had been badly behaved

• [in combination] a well-behaved child.

behavior /bəˈhāvyər / ‹Brit.› behaviour

I. noun

1. the way in which one acts or conducts oneself, especially toward others

• good behavior

• his insulting behavior toward me.

2. the way in which an animal or person acts in response to a particular situation or stimulus

• the feeding behavior of predators.

3. the way in which a natural phenomenon or a machine works or functions

• the erratic behavior of the old car.

II. phrases

be on one's best behavior

behave well when being observed

• warn them to be on their best behavior.

– origin late Middle English: from behave, on the pattern of demeanour (an earlier spelling of demeanor), and influenced by obsolete haviour from have.

behavioral /bəˈhāvyərəl/

I. adjective

involving, relating to, or emphasizing behavior

• closely related species have similar behavioral patterns

• a behavioral approach to children's language.

II. derivatives

behaviorally

adverb

behavioral economics

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. a method of economic analysis that applies psychological insights into human behavior to explain economic decision-making.

• behavioral economics helps explain why people under-save for retirement.

II. derivatives

behavioral economist

noun

behavioralism /biˈhāvyərəˌlizəm/

I. noun

1. the methods and principles of the science of animal (and human) behavior.

2. advocacy of or adherence to a behavioral approach to social phenomena.

II. derivatives

behavioralist

noun, adjective

behavioral science /bəˈhāvyərəl bēˈhāvyərəl ˈsīəns/

noun

the scientific study of human and animal behavior.

behaviorism /bəˈhāvyəˌrizəm / ‹Brit.› behaviourism

I. noun

1. [Psychology] the theory that human and animal behavior can be explained in terms of conditioning, without appeal to thoughts or feelings, and that psychological disorders are best treated by altering behavior patterns.

2. [Psychology] treatment using the practical application of the theory of behaviorism.

II. derivatives

1. behaviorist /bəˈhāvyərəst bēˈhāvyərəst /

noun, adjective

2. behavioristic /biˌhāvyəˈristik /

adjective

behavior modification

noun

1. the alteration of behavioral patterns through the use of such learning techniques as biofeedback and positive or negative reinforcement.

2. another term for behavior therapy.

behavior therapy /bəˈhāvyər bēˈhāvyər ˈTHerəpē/

noun

the treatment of neurotic symptoms by training the patient's reactions to stimuli.

behead /bəˈhed/

I. verb

cut off the head of (someone), typically as a form of execution

• the king was beheaded.

– origin Old English behēafdian; from be- ‘off’ (expressing removal) + hēafod (see head).

beheading /bəˈhediNG/

noun

the action or an act of cutting off a person's head, especially as a form of execution

• the beheading of the aristocracy during the French Revolution

• public beheadings.

beheld /biˈheld/

past and past participle of behold.

behemoth /bəˈhēməTH bəˈhēmäTH/

I. noun

1. a huge or monstrous creature.

2. something enormous, especially a big and powerful organization

• shoppers are now more loyal to their local stores than to faceless behemoths

• [as modifier] behemoth telephone companies.

– origin late Middle English: from Hebrew bĕhēmōṯ, intensive plural of bĕhēmāh ‘beast.’

behest /bəˈhest/

I. noun

‹literary› a person's orders or command

• they had assembled at his behest

• the slaughter of the male children at the behest of Herod.

– origin Old English behǣs ‘a vow,’ from a Germanic base meaning ‘bid’; related to hight.

behind /bəˈhīnd/

I. preposition

1. at or to the far side of (something), typically so as to be hidden by it

• the recording machinery was kept behind screens

• the sun came out from behind a cloud.

2. underlying (something) but not apparent to the observer

• the agony behind his decision to retire.

3. at the back of (someone), after they have passed through a door

• she ran out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

4. in a line or procession, following or further back than (another member of the line or procession)

• stuck behind a slow-moving tractor.

5. in support of or giving guidance to (someone else)

• whatever you decide to do, I'll be behind you

• the power behind the throne.

6. guiding, controlling, or responsible for (an event or plan)

• the chances were that he was behind the death of the girl

• the reasoning behind their decisions.

7. after the departure or death of (the person referred to)

• he left behind him a manuscript that was subsequently published.

8. less advanced than (someone else) in achievement or development

• the government admitted it is ten years behind the West in PC technology.

9. having a lower score than (another competitor)

• Woodnam moved to ten under par, five shots behind Fred Couples.

II. adverb

1. at or to the far side or the back side of something

• as I looked behind, my feet crashed into a basket

• Campbell grabbed him from behind.

2. in a place or time already past

• the adventure lay behind them.

3. remaining after someone or something is gone

• blocks of ice left behind by a retreating glacier

• don't leave me behind.

4. further back than other members of a group

• Bill led the way, with the others a short distance behind.

5. (in a game or contest) having a score lower than that of the opposition

• polls showed him as much as 50 points behind.

6. slow or late in accomplishing a task

• getting behind with my work

• things were falling behind.

7. in arrears

• she was behind with her rent.

III. noun

1. ‹informal› the buttocks

• sitting on her behind.

2. [Australian Rules Football] a one-point score made by kicking the ball between the outer set of two sets of goalposts (the behind line), or by touching the ball, causing it to pass between the inner posts (goalposts).

– origin Old English behindan, bihindan, from bi ‘by’ + hindan ‘from behind.’

behindhand /bəˈhīn(d)ˌhand/

I. adjective

1. late or slow in doing something, especially paying a debt

• the Yoruba have not been behindhand in economic activity.

2. ‹archaic› unaware of recent events

• you are miserably behindhand—Mr. Cole gave me a hint of it six weeks ago.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from behind + hand, on the pattern of beforehand.

behold /bəˈhōld/

I. verb — [with obj. often in imperative]

1. ‹archaic› ‹literary› see or observe (a thing or person, especially a remarkable or impressive one)

• behold your king!

• the botanical gardens were a wonder to behold.

II. phrases

beauty is in the eye of the beholder

see beauty.

– origin Old English bihaldan, from bi- ‘thoroughly’ + haldan ‘to hold.’

beholden /bəˈhōld(ə)n/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. owing thanks or having a duty to someone in return for help or a service

• I don't like to be beholden to anybody.

– origin late Middle English: former past participle of behold, in the otherwise unrecorded sense ‘bound.’

beholder /biˈhōldər/

noun

‹archaic› ‹literary› a person who sees or observes someone or something

• the building and landscape can elicit imaginative responses from the beholder.

behoof /bəˈho͞of/

I. noun

‹archaic› benefit or advantage

• to make laws for the behoof of the colony.

– origin Old English behōf; related to Dutch behoef and German Behuf, also to heave.

behoove /bəˈho͞ov / ‹Brit.› behove

I. verb — [with obj.] (it behooves someone to do something)

1. ‹formal› it is a duty or responsibility for someone to do something; it is incumbent on

• it behooves any coach to study his predecessors.

2. [with negative] — ‹formal› it is appropriate or suitable; it befits

• it ill behooves the opposition constantly to decry the sale of arms to friendly countries.

– origin Old English behōfian, from behōf (see behoof).

Behring, Emil Adolf von /ˈberiNG/

(1854–1917), German bacteriologist; one of the founders of immunology. Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine (1901).

Beiderbecke, Bix /ˈbīdərˌbek/

(1903–31), US jazz musician and composer; born Leon Bismarck Beiderbecke. A self-taught cornetist and pianist, he profoundly influenced the development of jazz.

beige /bāZH/

I. noun

a pale sandy yellowish-brown color

• tones of beige and green

• [as modifier] a beige raincoat.

– origin mid 19th cent. (denoting a usually undyed and unbleached woolen fabric of this color): from French, of unknown ultimate origin.

Beige Book

noun

a summary and analysis of economic activity and conditions, prepared with the aid of reports from the district Federal Reserve Banks and issued by the central bank of the Federal Reserve for its policy makers before a Federal Open Market Committee meeting

• Wednesday's Beige Book will be scanned for reports of tightness in labor markets.

beignet /benˈyā/

I. noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) a fritter

• a cheese beignet.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) a square of fried dough eaten hot sprinkled with confectioners' sugar.

– origin French, from archaic buyne ‘hump, bump.’

Beijing /ˌbāˈjiNG/

the capital of China, in the northeastern part of the country; pop. 8,580,400 (est. 2006). It became the country's capital in 1421, at the start of the Ming period, and survived as the capital of the Republic of China after the revolution of 1912.
Also called (esp. formerly) Peking.

being /ˈbēiNG/

I. present participle of be.

II. noun

1. existence

• the railroad brought many towns into being

• the moment when the universe came into being.

2. living; being alive

• holism promotes a unified way of being.

3. [in sing.] — the nature or essence of a person

• sometimes one aspect of our being has been developed at the expense of the others.

4. a real or imaginary living creature, especially an intelligent one

• alien beings

• a rational being.

Beira /ˈbīrə/

a port on the coast of Mozambique; pop. 436,240 (2007).

Beirut /bāˈro͞ot/

the capital and chief port of Lebanon; pop. 2,006,500 (est. 2009). It was badly damaged during the Lebanese civil war of 1975–89.

beit din /ˌbāt ˈdin/

I. noun

a rabbinical court that decides questions on the basis of Talmudic law

• would a beit din close Napster down?

– origin Hebrew, literally ‘house of judgment.’

Beja /ˈbājə/

I. noun

1. a member of a nomadic people living between the Nile and the Red Sea.

2. the Cushitic language of the Beja.

II. adjective

relating to the Beja or their language.

bejabbers /bəˈjabərz / bejabers

I. exclamation

another way of saying bejesus.

– origin early 19th cent.: alteration of by Jesus.

Béjart, Maurice /bāˈyär/

(1927–2007), French ballet choreographer; born Maurice Jean Berger.

bejesus /bəˈjēzəs / bejeezus

I. noun

‹informal› an exclamation traditionally attributed to the Irish, used to express surprise or for emphasis

• they were forty minutes late, cocky as bejesus.

II. phrases

1. beat the bejesus out of someone

‹informal› hit someone very hard or for a long time.

2. scare the bejesus out of someone

‹informal› frighten someone very much.

bejewel /bəˈjo͞oəl/

verb — [with obj.]

1. cover or adorn with jewels

• in the days of royalty, they bejeweled the rulers with their fine creations.

bejeweled /bəˈjo͞oəld / bejewelled

adjective

adorned with jewels

• a wave of his bejeweled hand.

bel /bel/

I. noun

a unit used in the comparison of power levels in electrical communication or of intensities of sound, corresponding to an intensity ratio of 10 to 1.
See also decibel.

– origin 1920s: from the name of Alexander Graham Bell (see Bell, Alexander Graham).

Bel /bel/

another name for Baal.

belabor /bəˈlābər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. argue or elaborate (a subject) in excessive detail

• critics thought they belabored the obvious.

2. attack or assault (someone) physically or verbally

• Tyndale seized every opportunity to belabor the Roman Church.

– origin late Middle English: from be- (expressing transitivity) + the verb labor.

Bel Air /ˌbel ˈer/

an affluent residential section of Los Angeles, California.

Belarus /ˌbeləˈro͞os ˌbāləˈro͞os/

I. a country in eastern Europe; pop. 9,648,500 (est. 2009); capital, Minsk; official language, Belorussian.
Formerly called Belorussia, White Russia.

Belarus became a republic of the former Soviet Union in 1921. It gained independence as a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States in 1991 but in 1996 signed a treaty with Russia that established a Community of Sovereign Republics. In 1999, Belarus signed another agreement with Russia for closer political and economic integration.

Belarusian /ˌbeləˈro͞osēən/

I. adjective

relating to Belarus, its people, or its language

• Belarusian villages

• a Belarusian journalist.

II. noun

1. a native of Belarus, or a person of Belarusian descent

• a Belarusian from Minsk.

2. the Eastern Slavic language of Belarus, with about 9 million speakers

• the book is currently available only in Belarusian.

belated /bəˈlādəd/

I. adjective

coming or happening later than should have been the case

• a belated apology.

II. derivatives

belatedness

noun

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘overtaken by darkness’): past participle of obsolete belate ‘delay’ (see be-, late).

belatedly /bəˈlādidlē/

adverb

later than should have been the case

• the High Command had belatedly altered its tactics.

belay /bəˈlā/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. fix (a running rope) around a cleat, pin, rock, or other object, to secure it.

2. secure (a climber) with a belayed rope

• he belayed his partner across the ice

• [no obj.] it is possible to belay here.

3. [usu. in imperative] — ‹nautical slang› stop; enough!

• “Belay that, mister. Man your post.”

II. noun

1. an act of belaying

• the leader may require belays to tackle more difficult sections.

2. a spike of rock or other hard material used for belaying.

III. derivatives

belayer

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (originally in nautical use): from be- + lay^1, on the pattern of Dutch beleggen.

Belaya River /ˌbyeləyə ˈrivər/

a river in the Bashkir Republic, in eastern Russia, that flows northwest for 700 miles (1,210 km) from the Ural Mountains to the Kama River.

belaying pin /bəˈlāiNG bēˈlāiNG pin/

noun

a pin or rod, typically of metal or wood, used on board ship and in mountaineering to secure a rope fastened around it.

bel canto /ˌbel ˈkäntō bel ˈkantō/

I. noun

a lyrical style of operatic singing using a full rich broad tone and smooth phrasing

• a superb piece of bel canto

• [as modifier] the bel canto arias of Bellini.

– origin late 19th cent.: Italian, literally ‘fine song.’

belch /belCH/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — emit gas noisily from the stomach through the mouth.

2. [with obj.] (often belch out/forth/into) — (especially of a chimney) send (smoke or flames) out or up

• a factory chimney belches out smoke.

3. [no obj.] (often belch from) — (of smoke or flames) pour out from a chimney or other opening

• flames belch from the wreckage.

II. noun

an act of belching

• he gave a loud belch.

– origin Old English belcettan, probably imitative.

beldam /ˈbeldəm / beldame

I. noun

1. ‹archaic› an old woman.

2. ‹archaic› a malicious and ugly woman, especially an old one; a witch.

– origin late Middle English (originally in the sense ‘grandmother’): from Old French bel ‘beautiful’ + dam^1.

beleaguer /bəˈlēɡər/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. beleaguered)

1. lay siege to

• he is leading a relief force to the aid of the beleaguered city.

2. beset with difficulties

• the board is supporting the beleaguered director amid calls for his resignation.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Dutch belegeren ‘camp around,’ from be- ‘(all) around’ + leger ‘a camp.’

Belém /bāˈlem, bə-/

a city and port in northern Brazil, at the mouth of the Amazon River; pop. 1,408,847 (2007). It is Brazil's chief commercial center.

belemnite /ˈbeləmˌnīt/

I. noun

an extinct cephalopod mollusk with a bullet-shaped internal shell that is often found as a fossil in marine deposits of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.
[Order Belemnoidea, class Cephalopoda: many genera.]

– origin early 17th cent.: from modern Latin belemnites, based on Greek belemnon ‘dart.’

Belfast /ˈbelˌfast belˈfast/

the capital and chief port of Northern Ireland; pop. 260,700 (est. 2009). It suffered damage and population decline from the early 1970s because of sectarian violence by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and Loyalist paramilitary groups.

Belfast sink

noun

(Brit.) a deep rectangular sink with a drain at one end, traditionally made of glazed white porcelain.

belfry /ˈbelfrē/

I. noun

1. a bell tower or steeple housing bells, especially one that is part of a church.

2. a space for hanging bells in a church tower.

II. phrases

bats in the (or one's) belfry

see bat^2.

– origin Middle English berfrey, from Old French berfrei, later belfrei. The change in the first syllable was due to association with bell^1.

Belgae /ˈbeljē, ˈbelˌɡī/

I. plural noun

an ancient Celtic people inhabiting Gaul north of the Seine and Marne rivers.

– origin from Latin.

Belgaum /belˈɡoum/

an industrial city in western India, in the state of Karnataka; pop. 458,200 (est. 2009).

Belgian /ˈbeljən/

I. adjective

of or relating to Belgium.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of Belgium or a person of Belgian descent.

Belgian hare

noun

a rabbit of a dark red long-eared domestic breed.

Belgian sheepdog

noun

a dog of a medium-sized breed, similar in appearance to a German shepherd.

Belgian waffle

noun

(N. Amer.) a waffle made with a special tool to have large, deep indentations in it.

Belgic /ˈbeljik/

adjective

of or relating to the Belgae.

Belgium /ˈbeljəm/

I. a low-lying country in western Europe, on the southern shore of the North Sea; pop. 10,414,300 (est. 2009); capital, Brussels, official languages, Flemish and French. French name Belgique, Flemish name België.

Belgium became independent from the Netherlands after a nationalist revolt in 1830. Occupied and devastated during both world wars, Belgium formed the Benelux Customs Union with the Netherlands and Luxembourg in 1948 and became a founding member of the EEC. Flemish is spoken mainly in the north, and French and Walloon are spoken in the south. / – origin Latin, from Belgae.

Belgorod /ˈbyelɡərət, ˈbelɡəˌräd/

an industrial city in southern Russia, on the Donets River close to the border with Ukraine; pop. 353,000 (est. 2008).

Belgrade /ˈbelˌɡrād ˈbelˌɡräd/

the capital of Serbia, on the Danube River; pop. 1,119,000 (est. 2008).

Belgravia /ˌbelˈɡrāvēə/

I. a wealthy residential district of central London, south of Knightsbridge.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Belgrave Square + -ia^1.

Belial /ˈbēlēəl/

I. a name for the Devil.

– origin from Hebrew bĕliyya῾al ‘worthlessness.’

belie /bəˈlī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of an appearance) fail to give a true notion or impression of (something); disguise or contradict

• his lively alert manner belied his years.

2. fail to fulfill or justify (a claim or expectation); betray

• the notebooks belie Darwin's later recollection.

– origin Old English belēogan ‘deceive by lying,’ from be- ‘about’ + lēogan ‘to lie’ Current senses date from the 17th cent.

belief /bəˈlēf/

I. noun

1. an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists

• his belief in the value of hard work

• a belief that solitude nourishes creativity.

2. something one accepts as true or real; a firmly held opinion or conviction

• contrary to popular belief, Aramaic is a living language

• we're prepared to fight for our beliefs.

3. a religious conviction

• Christian beliefs

• I'm afraid to say belief has gone

• local beliefs and customs.

4. (belief in) — trust, faith, or confidence in someone or something

• a belief in democratic politics

• I've still got belief in myself.

II. phrases

1. be of the belief that

hold the opinion that; think

• I am firmly of the belief that we need to improve our product.

2. beyond belief

astonishingly good or bad; incredible

• riches beyond belief

• the driving we have witnessed was beyond belief.

3. in the belief that

thinking or believing that

• he took the property in the belief that he had consent.

4. to the best of my belief

in my genuine opinion; as far as I know

• to the best of my belief, Francis never made a will.

– origin Middle English: alteration of Old English gelēafa; compare with believe.

believable /bəˈlēvəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. (of an account or the person relating it) able to be believed; credible.

2. (of a fictional character or situation) convincing or realistic.

II. derivatives

1. believability /biˌlēvəˈbilitē /

noun

2. believably

adverb

believe /bəˈlēv/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. accept (something) as true; feel sure of the truth of

• the superintendent believed Lancaster's story

• [with clause] Christians believe that Jesus rose from the dead.

2. accept the statement of (someone) as true

• he didn't believe her or didn't want to know.

3. [no obj.] — have faith, especially religious faith

• there are those on the fringes of the Church who do not really believe.

4. (believe something of someone) — feel sure that (someone) is capable of a particular action

• I wouldn't have believed it of Lois—what an extraordinary woman!

5. [with clause] — hold (something) as an opinion; think or suppose

• I believe we've already met

• things were not as bad as the experts believed

• humu-humu are, I believe, shrimp fritters

• (believe someone/something to be) four men were believed to be trapped.

II. phrases

1. be unable (or hardly able) to believe something

be amazed by something

• I couldn't believe what was happening

• Clarke could hardly believe his luck as he put the ball into the empty net.

2. be unable (or hardly able) to believe one's eyes (or ears)

be amazed by what one sees or hears

• I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened the box.

3. believe it or not

used to concede that a proposition or statement is surprising

• believe it or not, the speaker was none other than Horace.

4. believe me (or believe you me)

used to emphasize the truth of a statement or assertion

• believe me, she is a shrewd woman.

5. don't you believe it!

used to express disbelief in the truth of a statement

• he says he is left of center, but don't you believe it.

6. would you believe it?

used to express surprise at something one is relating

• they're still arguing, would you believe it?

III. phrasal verbs

believe in

a. have faith in the truth or existence of

• I believe in ghosts.

b. be of the opinion that (something) is right, proper, or desirable

• I don't believe in censorship of the arts

• he didn't believe in sex before marriage.

c. have confidence in (a person or a course of action)

• he had finally begun to believe in her.

– origin late Old English belȳfan, belēfan, alteration of gelēfan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch geloven and German glauben, also to lief.

believer /bəˈlēvər/

noun

1. a person who believes that a specified thing is effective, proper, or desirable

• a believer in ghosts

• a firm believer that party politics has no place in local government.

2. an adherent of a particular religion; someone with religious faith.

belike /bəˈlīk/

adverb

‹archaic› probably; perhaps.

belittle /bəˈlidl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (someone or something) seem unimportant

• this is not to belittle his role

• she felt belittled.

II. derivatives

1. belittlement /bəˈlidlmənt /

noun

2. belittler

noun

– origin late 18th cent.: a coinage of Thomas Jefferson originally meaning ‘diminish in size, make small’; the current sense dates from the very end of the 18th century.

Belitung /bāˈlēˌto͝oNG/

an Indonesian island in the Java Sea, between Borneo and Sumatra.
Former name Billiton.

Belize /bəˈlēz/

I.
1. a country in northeastern Central America, on the coast of the Caribbean Sea; pop. 307,900 (est. 2009); capital, Belmopan; languages, English (official), Creole, Spanish. Former name (until 1973) British Honduras.

Proclaimed as a British Crown Colony in 1862, Belize became independent within the Commonwealth of Nations in 1981. Guatemala, on the west and south, has always claimed the territory on the basis of old Spanish treaties, although in 1992 it agreed to recognize the existence of Belize.

– origin named after a river with a Mayan name meaning ‘muddy water.’

Belizean /bəˈlēzēən / Belizian

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of Belize or its people

• local Belizean music.

II. noun

a native of inhabitant of Belize

• the terminal was full of Belizeans wrapped in coats as they waited for their ride.

Belize City

the principal seaport and former capital (until 1970) of Belize; pop. 65,200 (est. 2008).

bell^1 /bel/

I. noun

1. a hollow object, typically made of metal and having the shape of a deep inverted cup widening at the lip, that sounds a clear musical note when struck, typically by means of a clapper inside.

• the church bells tolled.

• a bell tinkled as he went in the shop.

• [as modifier] the bell chamber.

2. a device that includes or sounds like a bell, used to give a signal or warning

• a bicycle bell.

3. (the bell) — a bell rung to denote intervals of time, such as (in boxing and other sports) to mark the start or end of a round

• at the bell, we dashed out of Latin class

• the fight went to the final bell for a decision.

4. a bell-shaped object or part of one, such as the end of a trumpet.

5. the corolla of a bell-shaped flower

• a flower with small, pale blue bells.

6. (bells) — a musical instrument consisting of a set of cylindrical metal tubes of different lengths, suspended in a frame and played by being struck with a hammer.
Also called tubular bells.

7. [Nautical] (preceded by a numeral) the time as indicated every half hour of a watch by the striking of the ship's bell one to eight times

• at five bells in the forenoon of June 11.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — provide with a bell or bells; attach a bell or bells to

• the young men were belling and hobbling the horses before releasing them

• (as adj. belled) animals in gaudy belled harnesses.

2. [no obj.] — make a ringing sound likened to that of a bell

• the organ belling away.

3. [no obj.] — spread or flare outward like the lip of a bell

• her shirt belled out behind.

III. phrases

1. be saved by the bell

a. (in boxing and other sports) avoid being counted out by the ringing of the bell at the end of a round.

b. escape from danger narrowly or by an unexpected intervention.

2. bell the cat

take the danger of a shared enterprise upon oneself.
[an allusion to a fable in which the mice (or rats) suggest hanging a bell around the cat's neck to have warning of its approach.]

3. bells and whistles

‹informal› attractive additional features or trimmings

• an advocate of more bells and whistles on the income tax code.

[an allusion to the various bells and whistles of old fairground organs.]

4. (as) clear (or sound) as a bell

perfectly clear or sound

• Aunt Nora's words came clear as a bell.

5. ring a bell

‹informal› revive a distant recollection; sound familiar

• the name Woodall rings a bell.

6. with bells on

‹informal› enthusiastically

• everybody's waiting for you with bells on.

– origin Old English belle, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bel, and perhaps to bell^2.

bell^2 /bel/

I. noun

the cry of a stag or buck at rutting time.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a stag or buck) make a cry at rutting time.

– origin Old English bellan ‘to bellow,’ of Germanic origin; related to German bellen ‘to bark, bray,’ and perhaps also to bell^1.

Bell^1 /bel/

a city in southwestern California, southeast of Los Angeles; pop. 36,657 (est. 2008).

Bell^2

Currer, Ellis, and Acton, the pseudonyms used by Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë, respectively.

Bell, Alexander Graham

(1847–1922), US scientist, born in Scotland. He invented a method for transmitting speech electrically and gave the first public demonstration of the telephone in 1876; he founded the Bell Telephone Company the following year.

Bell, Vanessa

(1879–1961), English painter and designer; born Vanessa Stephen. Together with her sister, Virginia Woolf, she was a prominent member of the Bloomsbury Group.

belladonna /ˌbeləˈdänə/

I. noun

1. deadly nightshade.

2. a drug prepared from the leaves and root of this, containing atropine.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from modern Latin, from Italian bella donna ‘fair lady,’ perhaps from the use of its juice to add brilliance to the eyes by dilating the pupils.

belladonna lily

noun

the South African amaryllis.

bellbird /ˈbelbərd/

noun

1. a tropical American bird of the cotinga family, with loud explosive calls. There are wattles on the head of the male.
[Genus Procnias, family Cotingidae: four species.]

2. any of a number of Australasian songbirds with ringing bell-like calls, including.
[● a New Zealand honeyeater (Anthornis melanura, family Meliphagidae). ● an Australian whistler (Oreoica gutturalis, family Pachycephalidae). ● the bell miner. See miner (sense 3).]

bell-bottoms /ˈbel ˈˌbädəmz/

I. plural noun

trousers with a marked flare below the knee
(as modifier bell-bottom)

• bell-bottom trousers.

II. derivatives

bell-bottomed /ˈbel ˈˌbädəmd /

adjective

bellboy /ˈbelˌboi/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) another term for bellhop.

bell buoy

noun

a buoy equipped with a bell rung by the motion of the sea, warning nearby vessels of shoal waters.

bell captain /bel ˈkaptən/

noun

(N. Amer.) the supervisor of a group of bellboys.

bell crank bell crank lever

noun

a lever with two arms that have a common fulcrum at their junction.

bell curve

noun

[Mathematics] a graph of a normal (Gaussian) distribution, with a large rounded peak tapering away at each end.

belle /bel/

I. noun

a beautiful girl or woman, especially the most beautiful at a particular event or in a particular group

• the belle of the season.

II. phrases

belle of the ball

the most beautiful and popular girl or woman at a dance.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French, feminine of beau, from Latin bella, feminine of bellus ‘beautiful.’

Belleau Wood /beˌlō ˈwo͝od/

a forest east of Paris, France, and just east of Château-Thierry, the scene of a June 1918 US victory over the Germans during World War I. French name Bois de Belleau.

belle époque /ˌbel əˈpäk/

I. noun

the period of settled and comfortable life preceding World War I
[as modifier]

• a romantic, belle-époque replica of a Paris bistro.

– origin mid 20th cent.: French, literally‘fine period.’

bellend /ˈbelend/

noun

1. (Brit.) ‹vulgar slang› the glans of the penis.

2. (Brit.) ‹vulgar slang› an annoying or contemptible manon

• he is a total bellend and should step down as soon as possible.

Bellerophon /bəˈlerəˌfän, -fən / ‹Greek Mythology›

a hero who slew the monster Chimera with the help of the winged horse Pegasus.

belles-lettres /ˌbelˈletrə/

I. plural noun — [also treated as sing.]

1. essays, particularly of literary and artistic criticism, written and read primarily for their aesthetic effect.

2. literature considered as a fine art.

II. derivatives

1. belletrism /belˈletrizəm /

noun

2. belletrist /belˈletrist /

noun

3. belletristic /ˌbeləˈtristik /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, literally ‘fine letters.’

Belleville /ˈbelvil/

I. an industrial city in southwestern Illinois; pop. 41,097 (est. 2008).

II. an industrial township in northeastern New Jersey; pop. 33,831 (est. 2008).

Bellevue /ˈbelvyo͞o/

I. a city in eastern Nebraska; pop. 49,699 (est. 2008).

II. a city in northwestern Washington, east of Seattle; pop. 123,771 (est. 2008).

bellflower /ˈbelˌflou(ə)r/

noun

a plant with bell-shaped flowers that are usually blue, purple, pink, or white. Many kinds are cultivated as ornamentals.
[Genus Campanula, family Campanulaceae: many species, including the Eurasian clustered bellflower (C. glomerata) and the harebell.]

Bellflower /ˈbelˌflou(ə)r/

a city in southwestern California, southeast of Los Angeles; pop. 73,033 (est. 2008).

Bell Gardens

a city east of Los Angeles, California; pop. 44,692 (est. 2008).

bellhop /ˈbelˌhäp/

noun

(N. Amer.) an attendant in a hotel who performs services such as carrying guests' luggage.

bellicose /ˈbeləˌkōs/

I. adjective

demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight

• a group of bellicose patriots.

II. derivatives

bellicosity /ˌbeləˈkäsədē /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin bellicosus, from bellicus ‘warlike,’ from bellum ‘war.’

belligerence /bəˈlij(ə)rəns / belligerency

noun

aggressive or warlike behavior

• the reaction ranged from wild enthusiasm to outright belligerence.

belligerent /bəˈlijərənt/

I. adjective

1. hostile and aggressive

• a bull-necked, belligerent old man.

2. engaged in a war or conflict, as recognized by international law.

II. noun

a nation or person engaged in war or conflict, as recognized by international law.

III. derivatives

belligerently /bəˈlij(ə)rəntlē /

adverb

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin belligerant- ‘waging war,’ from the verb belligerare, from bellum ‘war.’

Bellingham /ˈbeliNGˌham/

an industrial port city in northwestern Washington, on Bellingham Bay off Puget Sound; pop. 78,905 (est. 2008).

Bellingshausen Sea /ˌbeliNGzˌhouzən ˈsē/

I. a part of the southeastern Pacific Ocean off the coast of Antarctica, bounded on the east and the south by the Antarctic Peninsula and Ellsworth Land.

– origin named after the Russian explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen (1778–1852), who in 1819–21 became the first to circumnavigate Antarctica.

Bellini^1 /bəˈlēnē/

the name of a family of Italian painters in Venice, including Jacopo (c. 1400–70) and his sons Gentile (c. 1429–1507) and Giovanni (c. 1430–1516).

Bellini^2 /bəˈlēnē/

I. noun

a cocktail consisting of peach juice mixed with champagne.

– origin from the name of Venetian painter Giovanni Bellini (c. 1430–1516): the cocktail is said to have been invented in Venice during a major exhibition of the artist's work in 1948.

Bellini, Vincenzo

(1801–35), Italian opera composer. Notable works: La Sonnambula (1831), Norma (1831), and I Puritani (1835).

bell jar /ˈbel ˌjär/

noun

1. a bell-shaped glass cover used for covering delicate objects or used in a laboratory, typically for enclosing samples.

2. an environment in which someone is protected or cut off from the outside world

• let him stay in his bell jar of perfectionist concentration.

bell-like

adjective

1. resembling a bell, especially in producing a clear musical sound

• her clear bell-like voice.

2. shaped like a bell

• bell-like flowers.

bellman /ˈbelmən/

noun

1. another term for bellhop.

2. ‹historical› a town crier.

Belloc /bəˈlôk/

Hilaire (1870–1953), British writer, historian, and poet; born in France; full name Joseph Hilaire Pierre René. He is remembered chiefly for Cautionary Tales (1907).

bellow /ˈbelō/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a person or animal) emit a deep loud roar, typically in pain or anger

• he bellowed in agony

• (as noun bellowing) the bellowing of a bull.

2. [reporting verb] — shout something with a deep loud roar
[with obj.]

• the watchers were bellowing encouragement

• he bellowed out the order

• [with direct speech] “God send the right!” he bellowed

• [with infinitive] his desperate parents were bellowing at her to stop.

3. [with obj.] — sing (a song) loudly and tunelessly

• he got thrown out of bars for bellowing Portuguese folk songs.

II. noun

a deep roaring shout or sound

• a bellow of rage

• he delivers his lines in a bellow.

– origin Middle English: perhaps from late Old English bylgan.

Bellow, Saul /ˈbelō/

(1915–2005), US novelist; born in Canada. Notable works: The Adventures of Augie March (1953), Herzog (1964), More Die of Heartbreak (1987) and Ravelstein (2000). Nobel Prize for Literature (1976).

bellows /ˈbelōz/

I. plural noun — [also treated as sing.]

1. (also a pair of bellows) — a device with an air bag that emits a stream of air when squeezed together with two handles, used for blowing air into a fire.

2. a device similar to a pair of bellows used in a harmonium or small organ.

3. an object or device with concertinaed sides to allow it to expand and contract, such as a tube joining a lens to a camera body.

– origin Middle English: probably representing Old English belga, plural of belig (see belly), used as a shortened form of earlier blǣstbelig ‘blowing bag.’

bell pepper /bel ˈpepər/

noun

(N. Amer.) another term for sweet pepper.

bell pull /ˈbel ˌpo͝ol/

noun

a cord or handle that rings a bell when pulled, typically used to summon someone from another room.

bell-ringing /ˈbel riNGiNG/

I. noun

the activity or pastime of ringing church bells or handbells.

II. derivatives

bell-ringer /ˈbelriNGər /

noun

bell-shaped /ˈbelSHāpt/

adjective

having a shape that resembles that of a bell

• a small wild flower with bell-shaped blossoms.

Bell's palsy /ˈbelz ˌpôlzē/

I. noun

paralysis of the facial nerve, causing muscular weakness in one side of the face.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after Sir Charles Bell (1774–1842), the Scottish anatomist who first described it.

bell tower

noun

a tall narrow structure designed to house a bell or bells, typically forming part of a church

• four chimes from a church bell tower mark the hour

• medieval bell towers.

bellwether /ˈbelˌweT͟Hər/

noun

1. the leading sheep of a flock, with a bell on its neck.

2. an indicator or predictor of something

• college campuses are often the bellwether of change

• [as modifier] the market's bellwether stock.

Bellwood /ˈbelwo͝od/

a village in northeastern Illinois, west of Chicago; pop. 18,973 (est. 2008).

bellwort /ˈbelˌwərt, -ˌwôrt/

noun

a plant of the lily family bearing slender yellow bell-like flowers and found chiefly in eastern North America.
[Genus Uvularia, family Liliaceae: several species, including the large-flowered bellwort (U. grandiflora) and the perfoliate bellwort (U. perfoliata).]

belly /ˈbelē/

I. noun

1. the front part of the human trunk below the ribs, containing the stomach and bowels.

2. the stomach, especially as representing the body's need for food

• they'll fight all the better on empty bellies.

3. the underside of a bird or other animal.

4. a cut of pork from the underside between the legs.

5. a pig's belly as food, especially as a traded commodity.

6. the rounded underside of a ship or aircraft.

7. the top surface of an instrument of the violin family, across which the strings are placed.

II. verb

1. swell or cause to swell
[no obj.]

• as she leaned forward her sweater bellied out

• [with obj.] the wind bellied the sail out.

2. [no obj.] (belly up to) — (N. Amer.) ‹informal› move or sit close to (a bar or table)

• regulars who first bellied up to the bar years before.

III. phrases

go belly up

‹informal› go bankrupt.

IV. derivatives

bellied /ˈbelēd /

adjective

[usu. in combination]

• fat-bellied men

– origin Old English belig ‘bag,’ of Germanic origin, from a base meaning ‘swell, be inflated.’

bellyache /ˈbelēˌāk / ‹informal›

I. noun

an abdominal pain.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. complain noisily or persistently

• heads of departments bellyaching about lack of resources

• (as noun bellyaching) there was plenty of bellyaching.

III. derivatives

bellyacher /ˈbelēˌākər /

noun

bellyband /ˈbelēˌband / belly band

noun

1. a band placed around the belly, in particular

2. a part of a horse's harness that attaches to the shafts of a cart.

3. a cloth strip used to protect an infant's navel.

4. an absorbent cloth strip used to aid in a male dog's housebreaking.

5. a band wrapped around an item of merchandise, in particular

6. a band that prevents a product from opening prior to display or purchase.

7. a printed strip wrapped around a book or magazine for promotional purposes.

bellyboard /ˈbelēˌbôrd/

I. noun

a small surfboard ridden in a prone position

• the kids were up early to hit the surf, decked out with buckets, spades, and bellyboards.

II. derivatives

1. bellyboarder

noun

2. bellyboarding

noun

belly button /ˈbelē ˌbətn/

noun

‹informal› a person's navel.

belly dance /ˈbelē ˌdans/

I. noun

a dance originating in the Middle East, typically performed by a woman and involving undulating movements of the belly and rapid gyration of the hips.

II. derivatives

1. belly dancer /ˈbelē ˌdansər /

noun

2. belly dancing

noun

bellyflop /ˈbelēˌfläp / ‹informal›

I. noun

1. a dive into water, landing flat on one's front.

2. a commercial failure

• the film's bellyflop at the box office is unsurprising.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. perform a bellyflop.

2. (of an aircraft) perform a belly landing.

bellyful /ˈbelēˌfo͝ol/

I. noun

a quantity of food sufficient to fill one's stomach; a sustaining meal.

II. phrases

have a (or one's) bellyful

‹informal› become intolerant of someone or something after lengthy or repeated contact

• he had had his bellyful of hospitals.

belly landing /ˈbelē ˌlandiNG/

noun

a crash-landing of an aircraft on the underside of the fuselage, without lowering the undercarriage.

belly laugh /ˈbelē ˌlaf/

noun

a loud, unrestrained laugh.

Belmont /ˈbelmänt/

I. a city in north central California, southeast of San Francisco; pop. 24,776 (est. 2008).

II. a town in eastern Massachusetts, northwest of Boston; pop. 23,291 (est. 2008).

Belmopan /ˈbelməˌpan/

the capital of Belize since 1970, in the central part of the country. It is one of the smallest capital cities in the world; pop. 18,100 (est. 2008).

Belo Horizonte /ˌbālō ˌhôrəˈzôntā/

a city in eastern Brazil, the first planned city in Brazil; pop. 2,412,937 (2007).

Beloit /bəˈloit/

an industrial and academic city in southeastern Wisconsin; pop. 36,160 (est. 2008).

belong /bəˈlôNG/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. [with adverbial of place] — (of a thing) be rightly placed in a specified position

• learning to place the blame where it belongs.

2. be rightly classified in or assigned to a specified category

• bony fish: the vast majority of living fish belong here.

3. [usu. with adverbial of place] — (of a person) fit in a specified place or environment

• she is a stranger, and doesn't belong here

• you and me, we belong together

• (as noun belonging) we feel a real sense of belonging.

4. have the right personal or social qualities to be a member of a particular group

• young people are generally very anxious to belong.

5. (belong to) — be a member or part of (a particular group, organization, or class)

• they belong to garden and bridge clubs.

6. (belong to) — be the property of

• the vehicle did not belong to him.

7. be the rightful possession of; be due to

• most of the credit belongs to Paul.

8. (of a contest or period of time) be dominated by

• the race belonged completely to Ferguson.

II. derivatives

belongingness

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘be appropriately assigned to’): from be- (as an intensifier) + the archaic verb long ‘belong,’ based on Old English gelang ‘at hand, together with.’

belongings /bəˈlôNGiNGz/

plural noun

one's movable possessions.

Belorussia /ˌbelōˈrəSHə / Byelorussia

I. former name for Belarus.

– origin Russian Belorossiya, from belyĭ ‘white’ + Rossiya ‘Russia.’

Belorussian /ˌbelōˈrəSH(ə)n / Byelorussian

adjective, noun

former term for Belarusian.

Belostok /ˌbyeləˈstôk/

Russian name for Białystok.

beloved

I. adjective

1. /bəˈləv(ə)d / — dearly loved.

2. /biˈləvd / (beloved by/of) — very popular with or much used by a specified set of people

• being so close, the mountain hut is beloved of families on a day's outing.

II. noun — /bəˈləvəd /

1. a much loved person

• he watched his beloved.

– origin late Middle English: past participle of obsolete belove ‘be pleasing,’ later ‘love.’

below /bəˈlō/

I. preposition

1. extending underneath

• the tunnel below the crags

• cables running below the floorboards

• hanging space below a top storage shelf.

2. at a lower level or layer than

• just below the pocket was a stain

• blistered skin below his collar.

3. lower in grade or rank than

• they rated its financial soundness below its competitor's.

4. lower than (a specified amount, rate, or norm)

• below average

• below freezing

• a dive to below 60 feet.

II. adverb

1. at a lower level or layer

• he jumped from the window into the moat below.

2. on earth

• the lot of all that dwells here below.

3. in hell

• traitors gnash their teeth below.

4. lower than zero (especially zero degrees Fahrenheit) in temperature

• there's a north wind blowing, and it's 30 below.

5. (in printed text) mentioned later or further down on the same page

• our nutritionist is pictured below right

• the most common methods are shown below.

6. [Nautical] below deck

• I'll go below and fix us a drink.

III. phrases

below (the) ground

beneath the surface of the ground

• 60 feet below ground.

– origin late Middle English (as an adverb): from be- ‘by’ + the adjective low^1. Not common until the 16th cent., the word developed a prepositional use and was frequent in Shakespeare.

below decks below deck

I. adjective, adverb

in or into the space below the main deck of a ship
[as adj.]

• the sleeping quarters were below decks

• [as adv.] nuclear weapons stored below decks.

II. plural noun — (belowdecks)

1. the space below the main deck of a ship.

Bel Paese /ˌbel päˈāzē/

I. noun

‹trademark› a rich, white, mild, creamy cheese of a kind originally made in Italy.

– origin Italian, literally ‘fair country.’

Belsen /ˈbelsən/

a Nazi concentration camp in World War II, near the village of Belsen in northwestern Germany.

Belshazzar /ˈbelSHəˌzär, belˈSHazər/

(6th century BC), last king of Babylon, son of Nebuchadnezzar. According to the biblical book of Daniel, he was killed in the sacking of the city and his doom was foretold by writing that appeared on the palace walls at a great banquet.

belt /belt/

I. noun

1. a strip of leather or other material worn around the waist or across the chest, especially in order to support clothes or carry weapons

• a sword belt

• [as modifier] a belt buckle.

2. short for seat belt.

3. a belt worn as a sign of rank or achievement

• he was awarded the victor's belt.

4. a belt of a specified color, marking the attainment of a particular level in judo, karate, or similar sports
[as modifier]

• brown-belt level.

5. a person who has reached a belt of a specified color in a sport

• I am a karate black belt.

6. (the belt) — the punishment of being struck with a belt.

7. a strip of material used in various technical applications, in particular

8. a continuous band of material used in machinery for transferring motion from one wheel to another.

9. a conveyor belt.

10. a flexible strip carrying machine-gun cartridges.

11. a strip or encircling band of something having a specified nature or composition that is different from its surroundings

• the asteroid belt

• a belt of trees.

12. a heavy blow

• she ran in to administer a good belt with her stick.

13. ‹informal› (chiefly US) a gulp or shot of liquor

• they could probably use a few belts.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. fasten with a belt

• she paused only to belt a robe about her waist

• she belted her raincoat firmly.

2. [no obj.] — be fastened with a belt

• the jacket belts at the waist.

3. attach or secure with a belt

• he was securely belted into the passenger seat.

4. beat or strike (someone), especially with a belt, as a punishment.

5. hit (something) hard

• he belted the ball to the left-field fence.

6. gulp a drink quickly

• belting down shots of a potent drink called arrack.

• people who just wanted to belt back drinks with parasols in them.

7. [no obj.] — move quickly in a specified direction

• they belted along the empty road.

8. (of rain) fall hard

• the rain belted down on the tin roof.

III. phrases

1. below the belt

unfair or unfairly; disregarding the rules

• there has been yet another below-the-belt blow to the workers of Chicago.

[from the notion of an unfair and illegal blow in boxing.]

2. tighten one's belt

cut one's spending; live more frugally.

3. under one's belt

a. safely or satisfactorily achieved, experienced, or acquired

• I want to get more experience under my belt

• he now has almost a year as president under his belt.

b. (of food or drink) consumed

• Gus already had a large brandy under his belt.

IV. phrasal verbs

belt something out

sing or play a song loudly and forcefully.

– origin Old English, of Germanic origin, from Latin balteus ‘girdle.’

Beltane /ˈbeltān/

I. noun

an ancient Celtic festival celebrated on May Day.

– origin late Middle English: from Scottish Gaelic bealltainn.

belt drive

noun

a mechanism in which power is transmitted by a continuous flexible belt.

belted /ˈbeltəd/

adjective

1. (of a garment) secured or drawn in by a strip of leather or other material worn around the waist

• a belted black and gold dress.

2. marked with a strip or encircling area that is different in nature or composition from its surroundings

• a belted kingfisher.

3. wearing or distinguished by a belt as a sign of rank or achievement

• a belted earl.

belted galloway

noun

an animal belonging to a variety of the galloway breed of cattle (see Galloway).

belter /ˈbeltər/

noun

‹informal› a loud forceful singer or song.

belting /ˈbeltiNG/

noun

1. belts collectively, or material for belts

• a small piece of plastic belting.

2. a beating, especially with a belt, as a punishment.

belt loop

noun

1. a strip of material sewn on the waistband of a garment to hold a belt in place

• he stuck his thumbs in his belt loops.

2. a loop used to attach an object to a belt

• screws on the belt loop lock the holster securely to the belt.

belt sander

noun

a sander that uses a moving abrasive belt to smooth surfaces.

belt-tightening /ˈbeltˌtītniNG/

noun

the introduction of rigorous reductions in spending
[as modifier]

• belt-tightening measures.

beltway /ˈbeltˌwā/

noun

1. (US) a highway encircling an urban area.

2. (Beltway) [often as modifier] — (US) Washington, DC, especially as representing the perceived insularity of the US government

• conventional beltway wisdom.

[transferred use by association with the beltway encircling Washington.]

Beltway bandit

noun

‹informal› a company that does a large percentage of its business as a federal government contractor.

beluga /bəˈlo͞oɡə/

I. noun

1. a small, white-toothed whale related to the narwhal, living in herds mainly in Arctic coastal waters.
Also called white whale. [Delphinapterus leucas, family Monodontidae.]

2. a very large sturgeon occurring in the inland seas and associated rivers of central Eurasia.
[Huso huso, family Acipenseridae.]

3. (also beluga caviar) — caviar obtained from the beluga sturgeon.

– origin late 16th cent. (sense 2): from Russian belukha (sense 1), beluga (sense 2), both from belyĭ ‘white.’

belvedere /ˈbelvəˌdir/

I. noun

a summerhouse or open-sided gallery, usually at rooftop level, commanding a fine view.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Italian, literally ‘fair view,’ from bel ‘beautiful’ + vedere ‘to view.’

belying /bəˈlīiNG/

present participle of belie.

BEM

abbreviation

Bachelor of Engineering of Mines.

bema /ˈbēmə/

I. noun

1. the altar part or sanctuary in ancient and Orthodox churches.

2. (bima, bimah) — [Judaism] the podium or platform in a synagogue from which the Torah and Prophets are read.

3. ‹historical› the platform from which orators spoke in ancient Athens.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Greek bēma ‘step, raised place.’

Bemba /ˈbembə/

I. noun

1. a member of an indigenous people of Zambia.

2. the Bantu language of the Bemba.

II. adjective

relating to the Bemba or their language.

– origin of Bemba origin.

bemire /bəˈmī(ə)r/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› cover or stain with mud

• his shoes were bemired, as if he had been traveling on foot.

2. (be bemired) — ‹archaic› be stuck in mud

• men and horses and wagons all bemired.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from be- (expressing transitivity) + mire.

bemoan /bəˈmōn/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹often humorous› express discontent or sorrow over (something)

• single women bemoaning the absence of men.

– origin Old English bemǣnan ‘complain, lament’ The change in the second syllable (16th cent.) was due to association with moan, to which it is related.

bemuse /bəˈmyo͞oz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. bemused)

1. puzzle, confuse, or bewilder (someone)

• her bemused expression

• she was accepted with bemused resignation by her parents as a hippie.

II. derivatives

1. bemusedly /-zidlē /

adverb

2. bemusement /bəˈmyo͞ozmənt bēˈmyo͞ozmənt /

noun

– origin mid 18th cent.: from be- (as an intensifier) + muse^2.

ben^1 /ben/

I. noun

(Scottish) a high mountain or mountain peak (especially in place names)

• Ben Nevis.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Scottish Gaelic and Irish beann.

ben^2 /ben/

I. noun

(Scottish) (N. Irish) an inner room in a two-roomed cottage.

– origin late 18th cent.: dialect variant of Middle English binne ‘within’ (adverb), from Old English binnan (related to Dutch and German binnen).

Benares /bəˈnäris, -ēz/

former name for Varanasi.

Ben Bella, Ahmed /ben ˈbelə/

(1918–2012), Algerian statesman; prime minister 1962–63; president 1963–65; full name Muhammad Ahmed Ben Bella. The first president of an independent Algeria, he was overthrown in a military coup.

bench /ben(t)SH/

I. noun

1. a long seat for several people, typically made of wood or stone.

2. a long, sturdy work table used by a carpenter, mechanic, scientist, or other worker.

3. (the bench) — the office of judge or magistrate

• his appointment to the civil bench.

4. a judge's seat in a court.

5. judges or magistrates collectively

• rulings from the bench.

6. (Brit.) a seat in Parliament for politicians of a specified party or position

• the Conservative benches

• the Opposition benches.

7. the politicians occupying a specific seat in Parliament

• the pledge that was given by the Opposition benches yesterday.

8. (the bench) — a seat on which sports coaches and players sit during a game when they are not playing.

9. a flat ledge in masonry or on sloping ground.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. exhibit (a dog) at a show

• Affenpinschers and Afghans were benched side by side.

[from the practice of exhibiting dogs on benches.]

2. (N. Amer.) withdraw (a sports player) from play; substitute

• the coach benched quarterback Randall Cunningham in favor of Jim McMahon.

3. short for bench press.

III. phrases

on the bench

a. appointed as or in the capacity of a judge or magistrate

• he retired after twenty-five years on the bench.

b. acting as one of the possible substitutes in a sports contest.

– origin Old English benc, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bank and German Bank, also to bank^1.

Bench, Johnny /benCH/

(1947–), US baseball player; full name Johnny Lee Bench. He was a catcher for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 until 1983. Baseball Hall of Fame (1989).

bencher /ˈben(t)SHər/

noun

[Law] (in the UK) a senior member of any of the Inns of Court.

Benchley /ˈben(t)SHlē/

I. the name of a family of US writers, including:

II. Robert Charles (1889–1945), drama critic, actor, and humorist. He was a theater critic for Life magazine (1920–29) and The New Yorker (1929–40).

III. Nathaniel (1915–81), son of Robert. He was the author of such humorous novels as Lassiter's Folly (1971).

IV. Peter (1940–2006), son of Nathaniel. He wrote Jaws (1974), The Deep (1976), and White Shark (1994).

benchmark /ˈben(t)SHmärk/

I. noun

1. a standard or point of reference against which things may be compared or assessed
[as modifier]

• a benchmark case.

2. a problem designed to evaluate the performance of a computer system

• Xstones is a graphics benchmark.

3. a surveyor's mark cut in a wall, pillar, or building and used as a reference point in measuring altitudes.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. evaluate or check (something) by comparison with a standard

• we are benchmarking our performance against external criteria

• [no obj.] we continue to benchmark against the competition.

2. [no obj.] — show particular results during a benchmark test

• the device should benchmark at between 100 and 150 MHz.

benchmark test

noun

a test using a benchmark to evaluate a computer system's performance.

bench press /ˈbenCH ˌpres/

I. noun

a bodybuilding and weightlifting exercise in which a lifter lies on a bench with feet on the floor and raises a weight with both arms.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. raise (a weight) in a bench press

• Josh can bench-press more than 400 pounds

• [no obj.] my elbow hurts when I bench-press.

bench run

noun, verb

another term for bench test.

bench seat /ˈbenCH ˌsēt/

noun

a seat across the whole width of a car.

bench test /ˈbenCH ˌtest / ‹chiefly Computing›

I. noun

a test carried out on a machine, a component, or software before it is released for use, to ensure that it works properly.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. run a bench test on (something)

• they are offering you the chance to bench-test their applications.

2. [no obj.] — give particular results during a bench test

• it bench-tests two times faster than the previous version.

benchwarmer /ˈben(t)SHˌwôrmər/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a sports player who does not get selected to play; a substitute.

bench warrant

noun

a written order issued by a judge authorizing the arrest of a person charged with some contempt, crime, or misdemeanor.

benchwork /ˈben(t)SHwərk/

noun

work carried out at a bench in a laboratory or workshop.

bend^1 /bend/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — shape or force (something straight) into a curve or angle

• the rising wind bent the long grass.

2. [no obj.] — (of something straight) be shaped or forced into a curve or angle

• the oar bent as Lance heaved angrily at it.

3. [no obj.] — (of a road, river, or path) deviate from a straight line in a specified direction; have a sharply curved course

• the road bent left and then right

• the river slowly bends around Davenport.

4. [no obj.] — (of a person) incline the body downward from the vertical

• he bent down and picked her up

• I bent over my plate

• [with infinitive] he bent to tie his shoelaces.

5. [with obj.] — move (a jointed part of the body) to an angled position

• extend your left leg and bend your right

• Irene bent her head over her work.

6. force or be forced to submit
[with obj.]

• they want to bend me to their will

• [no obj.] a refusal to bend to mob rule.

7. [with obj.] — interpret or modify (a rule) to suit oneself or somebody else

• we cannot bend the rules, even for Darren.

8. [with obj.] — direct or devote (one's attention or energies) to a task

• Eric bent all his efforts to persuading them to donate some blankets

• [no obj.] she bent once more to the task of diverting the wedding guests.

9. [with obj.] — [Nautical] attach (a sail or rope) by means of a knot

• sailors were bending sails to the spars.

II. noun

1. a curve, especially a sharp one, in a road, river, racecourse, or path.

2. a curved or angled part or form of something

• making a bend in the wire.

3. a kind of knot used to join two ropes, or to tie a rope to another object, e.g. a carrick bend.

4. (the bends) — decompression sickness, especially in divers.

III. phrases

1. bend someone's ear

‹informal› talk to someone, especially with great eagerness or in order to ask a favor

• she regularly bent Michael's ear with her problems.

2. bend one's elbow

(N. Amer.) drink alcohol.

3. bend over backward

see backward.

4. on bended knee(s)

see knee.

5. around the bend

‹informal› crazy; insane

• I'd tell you if you were going around the bend.

IV. derivatives

bendable /ˈbendəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin Old English bendan ‘put in bonds, tension a bow by means of a string,’ of Germanic origin; related to band^1.

bend^2 /bend/

I. noun

[Heraldry] an ordinary in the form of a broad diagonal stripe from top left (dexter chief) to bottom right (sinister base) of a shield or part of one.

– origin late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French bande, Old French bende ‘flat strip.’

Bend /bend/

a city in central Oregon; pop. 77,181 (est. 2008).

bender /ˈbendər / ‹informal›

I. noun

1. [usu. in combination] — an object or person that bends something else

• a fender bender.

2. a wild drinking spree.

– origin late 15th cent. (denoting instruments such as pliers, for bending things): from bend^1 + -er^1.

bend sinister /ˈˌbend ˈsinəstər/

noun

[Heraldry] a broad diagonal stripe from top right to bottom left of a shield (a supposed sign of bastardy).

bendy /ˈbendē/

I. adjective

‹informal› capable of bending; soft and flexible.

II. derivatives

bendiness

noun

beneath /bəˈnēTH/

I. preposition

1. extending or directly underneath, typically with close contact

• in the labyrinths beneath central Moscow.

2. underneath so as to be hidden, covered, or protected

• unaltered even after years beneath the sea.

3. at a lower level or layer than

• beneath this floor there's a cellar

• her eyes were dull with dark shadows beneath them.

4. lower in grade or rank than

• relegated to the rank beneath theirs.

5. considered of lower status or worth than

• taking jobs beneath my abilities.

6. behind (a physical surface)

• they found another layer beneath the stucco.

7. behind or hidden behind (an appearance)

• beneath the gloss of success.

II. adverb

1. extending or directly underneath something

• a house built on stilts to allow air to circulate beneath.

2. at a lower level or layer

• the runways had cracked open, exposing the black earth beneath.

3. behind or hidden behind an appearance

• the smile revealed the evil beneath.

– origin Old English binithan, bineothan, from bi (see by) + nithan, neothan ‘below,’ of Germanic origin; related to nether.

benedicite /ˌbenəˈdisədē/

I. noun

1. a blessing, especially a grace said at table in religious communities.
[Middle English.]

2. (the Benedicite) — the canticle used in the Anglican service of matins beginning “O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord,” the text being taken from the Apocrypha.
[mid 17th cent.]

– origin Latin, ‘bless ye!,’ plural imperative from benedicere ‘wish well’; the first word of the canticle in Latin.

Benedict, St. /ˈbeniˌdikt/

(c. 480–c. 550), Italian hermit. He established a monastery at Monte Cassino and his Regula Monachorum (known as the Rule of St. Benedict) formed the basis of Western monasticism. Feast day, July 11 (formerly March 21).

Benedict XVI /ˌbenədikt T͟HəˌsiksˈtēnTH/

(1927–), German cleric, pope 2005–13; born Joseph Alois Ratzinger. He was the first pope to resign since Gregory XII in 1415.

Benedictine /ˌbenəˈdiktēn/

I. noun

1. a monk or nun of an order following the rule of St. Benedict.

2. /ˌbenəˈdiktēn / — ‹trademark› a liqueur based on brandy, originally made by Benedictine monks in France.

II. adjective

of St. Benedict or the Benedictines.

– origin from French bénédictine or modern Latin benedictinus, from the name Benedictus (see Benedict, St.).

benediction /ˌbenəˈdikSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the utterance or bestowing of a blessing, especially at the end of a religious service.

2. (Benediction) — a service in which the congregation is blessed with the Blessed Sacrament, held mainly in the Roman Catholic Church.

3. devout or formal invocation of blessedness

• her arms outstretched in benediction.

4. the state of being blessed

• he eventually wins benediction.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin benedictio(n-), from benedicere ‘wish well, bless,’ from bene ‘well’ + dicere ‘say.’

Benedict's solution /ˌbeniˌdikts səˈlo͞oSHən / Benedict's reagent

I. noun

a chemical solution that changes color in the presence of glucose and other reducing sugars, used in clinical urine tests for diabetes. It is a mixture of sodium or potassium citrate, sodium carbonate, and copper sulfate.

– origin named after S. R. Benedict (1884–1936), American chemist.

Benedictus /ˌbenəˈdiktəs/

I. noun

1. [Christian Church] an invocation beginning Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini (Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord) forming a set part of the Mass.

2. [Christian Church] a canticle beginning Benedictus Dominus Deus (Blessed be the Lord God) from Luke 1:68–79.

– origin mid 16th cent.: Latin, ‘blessed,’ past participle of benedicere ‘wish well.’

benefaction /ˌbenəˈfakSHən/

I. noun

a donation or gift.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from late Latin benefactio(n-), from bene facere ‘do good (to),’ from bene ‘well’ + facere ‘do.’

benefactive /ˌbenəˈfaktiv / ‹Grammar›

I. adjective

denoting a semantic case or construction that expresses the person or thing that benefits from the action of the verb, for example for you in I bought this for you.

II. noun

the benefactive case, or a word or expression in it.

– origin 1940s: from Latin benefactus ‘capable of giving’ + -ive.

benefactor /ˈbenəˌfaktər/

I. noun

a person who gives money or other help to a person or cause.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin, from bene facere ‘do good (to)’ (see benefaction).

benefactress /ˈbenəfaktrəs/

noun

a female benefactor.

benefic /bəˈnefik/

I. adjective

1. ‹rare› beneficent or kindly.

2. ‹rare› [Astrology] relating to or denoting the planets Jupiter and Venus, traditionally considered to have a favorable influence.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin beneficus, from bene facere ‘do good (to).’

benefice /ˈbenəfəs/

I. noun

a permanent Church appointment, typically that of a rector or vicar, for which property and income are provided in respect of pastoral duties.

II. derivatives

beneficed /ˈbenəfəst /

adjective

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin beneficium ‘favor, support,’ from bene ‘well’ + facere ‘do.’

beneficent /bəˈnefəsənt/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) generous or doing good.

2. resulting in good

• a beneficent democracy.

II. derivatives

1. beneficence /bəˈnefəs(ə)ns /

noun

2. beneficently

adverb

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin beneficent- (stem of beneficentior, comparative of beneficus ‘favorable, generous’), from bene facere ‘do good (to).’

beneficial /ˌbenəˈfiSH(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. favorable or advantageous; resulting in good

• the beneficial effect on the economy

• discoveries beneficial to mankind.

2. [Law] of or relating to rights, other than legal title

• the beneficiary will be taxed on the value of his beneficial use of the property.

II. derivatives

beneficially /ˌbenəˈfiSHəlē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin beneficialis, from beneficium (see benefice).

beneficials /ˌbenəˈfiSHəlz/

plural noun

insects that are a boon to gardeners

• daisies that are highly attractive to five key kinds of beneficials (ladybugs, lacewings, hover flies, tachinid flies, and miniwasps).

beneficiary /ˌbenəˈfiSHēˌerē/

I. noun

a person who derives advantage from something, especially a trust, will, or life insurance policy.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin beneficiarius, from beneficium (see benefice).

benefit /ˈbenəfit/

I. noun

1. an advantage or profit gained from something

• tenants bought their houses with the benefit of a discount

• enjoy the benefits of being a member

• uninformed criticism is of benefit to no one.

2. a payment or gift made by an employer, the state, or an insurance company

• welfare benefits

• wages and benefits.

3. a public performance or other entertainment of which the proceeds go to a particular charitable cause.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. receive an advantage; profit; gain

• areas that would benefit from regeneration.

2. [with obj.] — bring advantage to

• the bill will benefit the nation.

III. phrases

1. benefit of clergy

a. ‹historical› exemption of the English clergy and nuns from the jurisdiction of the ordinary civil courts, granted in the Middle Ages but abolished in 1827.

b. ecclesiastical sanction or approval

• they lived together without benefit of clergy.

2. the benefit of the doubt

a concession that a person or fact must be regarded as correct or justified, if the contrary has not been proven

• I'll give you the benefit of the doubt as to whether it was deliberate or not.

3. for the benefit of

a. in order to help, guide, or be of service to

• a man who has spent his life fighting evil for the benefit of the community.

b. in order to interest or impress someone

• it was all an act put on for his benefit.

4. give someone the benefit of

‹often ironic› explain or recount to someone at length

• the whole assembly was given the benefit of his opinions.

– origin late Middle English (originally denoting a kind deed or something well done): from Old French bienfet, from Latin benefactum ‘good deed,’ from bene facere ‘do good (to).’

Benelux /ˈbenəˌləks/

I. a collective name for Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, especially with reference to their economic union.

– origin 1947: acronym from Be lgium, Ne therlands, and Lux embourg.

benevolent /bəˈnevələnt/

I. adjective

1. well meaning and kindly

• a benevolent smile.

2. (of an organization) serving a charitable rather than a profit-making purpose

• a benevolent fund.

II. derivatives

1. benevolence /bəˈnevələns /

noun

2. benevolently /bəˈnevələntlē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Old French benivolent, from Latin bene volent- ‘well wishing,’ from bene ‘well’ + velle ‘to wish.’

Benford's Law /ˈbenfərdz ˌlô/

I. noun

[Mathematics] the principle that in any large, randomly produced set of natural numbers, such as tables of logarithms or corporate sales statistics, around 30 percent will begin with the digit 1, 18 percent with 2, and so on, with the smallest percentage beginning with 9. The law is applied in analyzing the validity of statistics and financial records.

– origin Named for US physicist Frank Benford, whose 1938 paper demonstrated the statistical validity of the phenomenon.

BEng

abbreviation

Bachelor of Engineering.

benga /ˈbeNGɡə/

I. noun

a style of African popular music originating in Kenya, characterized by a fusion of traditional Kenyan music and a lively arrangement of guitars, bass, and vocals.

– origin 1980s: from Luo (a Kenyan language).

Bengal /benˈɡôl/

a region of South Asia that contains the Ganges and Brahmaputra river deltas. In 1947, the province was divided into West Bengal, which has remained a state of India, and East Bengal, which is now Bangladesh.

Bengal, Bay of

a part of the Indian Ocean that lies between India on the west and Burma (Myanmar) and Thailand on the east.

Bengali /ˌbeNGˈɡälē/

I. noun

1. a native of Bengal.

2. the Indic language of Bangladesh and West Bengal.

II. adjective

relating to Bengal, its people, or their language.

– origin from Hindi baṅgālī.

bengaline /ˈbeNGɡəˌlēn/

I. noun

a strong ribbed fabric made of a mixture of silk and either cotton or wool.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French, so named because of a similarity with archaic Bengals denoting fabrics, usually silks, imported from Bengal.

Bengal light /ˌbeNGˈɡôl ˌlīt ˈbenɡäl ˌlīt/

noun

a kind of firework giving off a blue flame and used for lighting or signaling.

Benghazi /benˈɡäzē/

a Mediterranean port in northeastern Libya; pop. 670,800 (est. 2006). It was the joint capital (with Tripoli) 1951–72.

Benguela /benˈɡwelə/

a port and railroad terminal in Angola, on the Atlantic coast; pop. 115,900 (est. 2004). Copper is brought here from Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire).

Benguela Current

a cold ocean current that flows north from Antarctica along the west coast of southern Africa as far as Angola.

Ben-Gurion, David /ben ˈɡo͞orēən/

(1886–1973), Israeli statesman; prime minister 1948–53 and 1955–63. He was Israel's first prime minister and minister of defense.

Benicia /bəˈnēSHə/

a city in north central California, north of San Francisco Bay; pop. 26,174 (est. 2008).

benighted /bəˈnīdəd/

I. adjective

1. in a state of pitiful or contemptible intellectual or moral ignorance, typically owing to a lack of opportunity

• they saw themselves as bringers of culture to poor benighted peoples.

2. overtaken by darkness

• a storm developed and we were forced to wait benighted near the summit.

II. derivatives

benightedness

noun

– origin late 16th cent. (sense 2): past participle of archaic benight ‘cover in the darkness of night, obscure’ (see be-, night).

benign /bəˈnīn/

I. adjective

1. gentle; kindly

• her face was calm and benign

• his benign but firm manner.

2. (of a climate or environment) mild and favorable.

3. not harmful to the environment
[in combination]

• an ozone-benign refrigerant.

4. [Medicine] (of a disease) not harmful in effect: in particular, (of a tumor) not malignant.

II. derivatives

benignly /bəˈnīnlē /

adverb

– origin Middle English: from Old French benigne, from Latin benignus, probably from bene ‘well’ + -genus ‘-born.’ Compare with gentle.

benignant /bəˈniɡnənt/

I. adjective

1. kindly and benevolent

• an old man, with a face noble and benignant.

2. [Medicine] less common term for benign (sense 2).

3. ‹archaic› having a good effect; beneficial

• the benignant touch of love and beauty.

II. derivatives

1. benignancy /bəˈniɡnənsē /

noun

2. benignantly

adverb

– origin late 18th cent.: from benign, or Latin benignus, on the pattern of malignant.

benignity /bəˈniɡnədē/

I. noun

1. kindness or tolerance toward others

• his air of benignity.

2. ‹archaic› an act of kindness.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French benignite or Latin benignitas, from benignus (see benign).

benign neglect

noun

a noninterference that is intended to benefit someone or something more than continual attention would.

Benin /bəˈnēn bəˈnin/

I.
1. a country in West Africa, just west of Nigeria; pop. 8,791,800 (est. 2009); capital, Porto Novo; languages, French (official), West African languages.
Former name (until 1975) Dahomey.

The country was conquered by the French in 1893 and became part of French West Africa. In 1960, it achieved independence.

– origin name adopted in 1975, formerly used by an African kingdom, powerful in the 14th–17th centuries.

Benin, Bight of

a wide bay on the coast of Africa north of the Gulf of Guinea, bordered by Togo, Benin, and southwestern Nigeria. Lagos is its chief port.

Beninese /ˌbenəˈnēz/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of Benin or its people

• this bustling port is the lifeblood of the Beninese economy.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of Benin

• this is a very steep price for the average Beninese

• the Beninese legally import the vehicles from Europe.

Beni River /ˌbānē ˈrivər/

a river that flows for 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from central to northern Bolivia, east of the Andes, into the Madeira River.

benison /ˈbenəsən ˈbenəzən/

I. noun

‹literary› a blessing

• the rewards and benisons of marriage.

– origin Middle English: from Old French beneiçun, from Latin benedictio (see benediction).

Benjamin /ˈbenjəmən/

I. (in the Bible) a Hebrew patriarch, the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel (Gen. 35:18, 42, etc.).

II. the smallest tribe of Israel, traditionally descended from Benjamin.

benne /ˈbenē/

I. noun

another term for sesame.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Malay bene.

Bennett, R. B. /ˈbenit/

(1870–1947), Canadian Conservative statesman; prime minister 1930–35; full name Richard Bedford Bennett.

Bennett, Tony

(1926–), US singer; born Anthony Dominick Benedetto. A popular jazz singer from the early 1950s with such hits as “Because of You” (1951), he made a successful comeback during the 1990s.

Ben Nevis /ˌben ˈnevəs/

a mountain in western Scotland. Rising to 4,406 feet (1,343 m), it is the highest mountain in the British Isles.

Bennington /ˈbeniNGtən/

a historic town in southwestern Vermont; pop. 15,093 (est. 2008).

benny^1 /ˈbenē/

noun

‹informal› (chiefly US) a tablet of Benzedrine.

benny^2 /ˈbenē/

noun

(US) ‹informal› a benefit attached to employment.

Benny, Jack /ˈbenē/

(1894–1974), US comedian and actor; born Benjamin Kubelsky. His radio series The Jack Benny Program ran from 1932 to 1955. Made for television, The Jack Benny Show was broadcast 1950–65.

benomyl /ˈbenəˌmil/

I. noun

a systemic fungicide used on fruit and vegetable crops, derived from imidazole.

– origin 1960s: from ben(z)o- + m(eth)yl.

Benoni /bəˈnōnē/

a city in South Africa, east of Johannesburg; pop. 654,500 (est. 2009). It is a gold-mining center.

Bensalem /benˈsāləm/

a township in southeastern Pennsylvania; pop. 58,304 (est. 2008).

Bensonhurst /ˈbensənˌhərst/

a residential section in southwestern Brooklyn in New York City.

bent^1 /bent/

I. past and past participle of bend^1.

II. adjective

1. sharply curved or having an angle

• a piece of bent wire

• his bent shoulders.

2. (Brit.) ‹informal› dishonest; corrupt

• a bent cop.

3. stolen.

4. (Brit.) ‹informal› ‹derogatory› homosexual.

5. (bent on) — determined to do or have something

• a missionary bent on saving souls

• a mob bent on violence.

III. noun

a natural talent or inclination

• a man of religious bent

• she had no natural bent for literature.

IV. phrases

bent out of shape

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› angry or agitated

• it was just a mistake, nothing to get bent out of shape about.

bent^2 /bent/

I. noun

1. (also bent grass) — a stiff grass that is used for lawns and is a component of pasture and hay grasses.
[Agrostis and other genera, family Graminae: several species, including common bent (A. capillaris ).]

2. the stiff flowering stalk of a grass.

3. ‹archaic› any stiff-stemmed or rushlike grass or sedge.

4. (Brit.) ‹archaic› ‹dialect› a heath or unenclosed pasture.

– origin Middle English: representing Old English beonet (recorded in place names); related to German Binse.

Bentham, Jeremy /ˈbenTHəm/

(1748–1832), English philosopher and jurist, the first major proponent of utilitarianism. He wrote Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation (1789).

benthos /ˈbenTHäs/

I. noun

[Ecology] the flora and fauna found on the bottom, or in the bottom sediments, of a sea, lake, or other body of water.

II. derivatives

benthic /ˈbenTHik /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek, ‘depth of the sea.’

bento /ˈben(t)ō/

I. noun

1. a lacquered or decorated wooden Japanese lunchbox.

2. a Japanese-style packed lunch, consisting of such items as rice, vegetables, and sashimi (raw fish with condiments).

– origin Japanese.

Benton, Thomas Hart^1 /ˈbentn/

(1782–1858), US politician. A Democratic member of the US Senate from Missouri (1821–51), he supported frontier explorations and opposed extending slavery to the territories.

Benton, Thomas Hart^2

(1889–1975), US painter, a grandnephew of Senator Thomas Hart Benton. His paintings, of the American naturalist school, represent life in the Midwest.

bentonite /ˈben(t)nˌīt/

I. noun

a kind of absorbent clay formed by the breakdown of volcanic ash, used especially as a filler.

– origin late 19th cent.: from the name of Fort Benton in Montana, where it is found, + -ite^1.

Bentsen, Lloyd /ˈbentsən/

(1921–2006), US politician; full name Lloyd Millard Bentsen, Jr. He was a Democratic member of the US Senate from Texas 1971–93, a vice presidential candidate 1988, and secretary of the treasury 1993–94.

Bent's Fort /ˌbents ˈfôrt/

a historic site in east central Colorado, northeast of La Junta, on the Arkansas River and the former Santa Fe Trail.

bentwood /ˈbentˌwo͝od/

noun

wood that is artificially shaped for use in making furniture
[as modifier]

• bentwood chairs.

Benue-Congo /ˌbānˌwāˈkäNGɡō/

I. adjective

relating to or denoting a major branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages, spoken mainly in Nigeria and including Efik and Fula.

II. noun

the Benue-Congo group of languages.

– origin from the names of rivers.

Benue River

a river that flows for 870 miles (1,400 km) from northern Cameroon into Nigeria, where it joins the Niger River.

benumb /bəˈnəm/

I. verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. benumbed)

1. deprive of physical or emotional feeling

• a hoarse shout cut through his benumbed senses.

– origin late 15th cent.: from obsolete benome, past participle of benim ‘deprive,’ from be- (expressing removal) + Old English niman ‘take.’

Benxi /ˌbənˈSHē/

a city in northeastern China, in the province of Liaoning; pop. 846,700 (est. 2006).

Benz, Karl /benz, bents/

(1844–1929), German engineer and automobile manufacturer; full name Karl Friedrich Benz. In 1885 he built the first vehicle to be powered by an internal combustion engine.

benzaldehyde /benˈzaldəˌhīd/

noun

[Chemistry] a colorless liquid aldehyde with the odor of bitter almonds, used in the manufacture of dyes and perfumes.
[Chem. formula: C_6H_5CHO.]

Benzedrine /ˈbenzəˌdrēn/

I. noun

trademark for amphetamine.

– origin 1930s: blend of benzoin and ephedrine.

benzene /ˈbenˌzēn benˈzēn/

I. noun

a colorless volatile liquid hydrocarbon present in coal tar and petroleum, used in chemical synthesis. Its use as a solvent has been reduced because of its carcinogenic properties.
[Chem. formula: C_6H_6.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from benzoin + -ene.

benzene hexachloride /ˌbenzēn ˌheksəˈklôrīd / BHC

noun

1. a compound of benzene and chlorine used as an insecticide.
[Chem. formula: C_6H_6Cl_6.]

2. used as a general term for lindane.

benzene ring /ˈbenˌzēn ˌriNG ˌbenˈzēn ˌriNG/

noun

[Chemistry] the hexagonal unsaturated ring of six carbon atoms present in benzene and many other aromatic molecules.

benzenoid /ˈbenzəˌnoid/

adjective

[Chemistry] having the six-membered ring structure or aromatic properties of benzene.

benzidine /ˈbenzəˌdēn/

noun

a crystalline base used in making dyes and in detecting blood stains.
[Chem. formula: NH_2C_6H_4C_6H_4NH_2.]

benzine /ˈbenˌzēn benˈzēn / benzin

I. noun

a mixture of liquid hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum.

– origin mid 19th cent. (denoting benzene): from benzoin + -ine^4.

benzocaine /ˈbenzəˌkān/

noun

a white, odorless, crystalline powder used in ointments as a local anesthetic and to protect against sunburn.
[Chem. formula: NH_2C_6H_4C_6H_4NH_2.]

benzodiazepine /ˌbenzōˌdīˈazəˌpēn/

I. noun

[Medicine] any of a class of heterocyclic organic compounds used as tranquilizers, such as Librium and Valium.

– origin 1930s: from benzene + di-1 + azo- + epi- + -ine^4.

benzoic acid /benˌzō-ik ˈasid/

noun

[Chemistry] a white crystalline substance present in benzoin and other plant resins, and used as a food preservative.
[Chem. formula: C_6H_5COOH.]

benzoin /ˈbenzōən/

I. noun

1. (also gum benzoin) — a fragrant gum resin obtained from a tropical tree of eastern Asia, used in medicines, perfumes, and incense.
Also called gum benjamin. [This is obtained from several species of the genus Styrax, family Styracaceae, in particular S. benzoin.]

2. [Chemistry] a white crystalline aromatic ketone present in gum benzoin.
[Alternative name: 2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylethanone; chem. formula: C_6H_5CHOHCOC_6H_5.]

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French benjoin, based on Arabic lubānjāwī ‘incense of Java.’

benzophenone /ˌbenzōfiˈnōn, -ˈfēˌnōn/

noun

a white, crystalline ketone that is used in perfume, sunscreen, and as a flavoring agent.
[Chem. formula: C_6H_5COC_6H_5.]

benzopyrene /ˌbenzōˈpīrēn/

noun

[Chemistry] a compound that is the major carcinogen present in cigarette smoke. It also occurs in coal tar.
[A polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; chem. formula: C_20H_12.]

benzoquinone /ˌbenzōkwiˈnōn, -ˈkwinōn/

noun

[Chemistry] a yellow crystalline compound related to benzene but having two hydrogen atoms replaced by oxygen.
[Chem. formula: C_6H_4O_2; there are two isomers, with the oxygen atoms on opposite (1,4-benzoquinone) or adjacent (1,2-benzoquinone) carbon atoms.]

benzoyl /ˈbenzōwəl/

noun — [as modifier]

1. [Chemistry] the acyl radical —C(O)C_6H_5, derived from benzoic acid

• benzoyl peroxide.

benzoyl peroxide

noun

an antibacterial ingredient used in acne medications.

benzyl /ˈbenzēl/

noun — [as modifier]

1. [Chemistry] the radical —CH_2C_6H_5, derived from toluene

• benzyl benzoate.

Beothuk /ˈbāəˌTHo͝ok/

I. noun

1. a member of an extinct North American Indian people of Newfoundland.

2. the language of the Beothuk, of unknown affinity.

II. adjective

relating to the Beothuk or their language.

– origin probably the name in Beothuk.

Beowulf /ˈbāəˌwo͝olf/

I. an Old English epic poem celebrating the legendary Scandinavian hero Beowulf.

Generally dated to the 8th century, it was the first major poem in a European vernacular language and is the only complete Germanic epic that survives. It describes Beowulf's killing of the water monster Grendel and its mother and his death in combat with a dragon, and includes both pagan and Christian elements.

bequeath /bəˈkwēT͟H bəˈkwiTH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. leave (a personal estate or one's body) to a person or other beneficiary by a will

• an identical sum was bequeathed by Margaret

• he bequeathed his art collection to the town.

2. pass (something) on or leave (something) to someone else

• he is ditching the unpopular policies bequeathed to him.

II. derivatives

bequeather /bəˈkwēT͟Hər bəˈkwēTHər bēˈkwēT͟Hər bēˈkwēTHər /

noun

– origin Old English becwethan, from be- ‘about’ (expressing transitivity) + cwethan ‘say’ (see quoth).

bequest /bəˈkwest/

I. noun

1. a legacy

• her $135,000 was the largest bequest the library ever has received.

2. the action of bequeathing something

• a painting acquired by bequest.

– origin Middle English: from be- ‘about’ + Old English cwis ‘speech,’ influenced by bequeath.

BER

abbreviation

bit error rate.

berate /bəˈrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. scold or criticize (someone) angrily

• his mother came out and berated me for raising my voice.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from be- ‘thoroughly’ + rate^2.

Berber /ˈbərbər/

I. noun

1. a member of an indigenous people of North Africa. The majority of Berbers are settled farmers or (now) migrant workers.

2. the Afro-Asiatic language of the Berbers. There are several different dialects; some of them, e.g., Tamashek, are regarded by some scholars as separate languages.

II. adjective

relating to the Berbers or their language.

– origin from Arabic barbar, from Greek barbarus ‘foreigner’ (see barbarian).

berberine /ˈbərbəˌrēn/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a bitter yellow compound of the alkaloid class obtained from barberry and other plants.

– origin early 19th cent.: from berberis + -ine^4.

berberis /ˈbərbəris/

I. noun

a plant of a genus that comprises the barberries.
[Genus Berberis, family Berberidaceae.]

– origin modern Latin and Old French, from medieval Latin barbaris.

berceuse /berˈso͝oz, -ˈsœz/

I. noun

a lullaby.

– origin French, from bercer ‘to rock.’

Berchtesgaden /ˈbərKHtəsˌɡäd(ə)n ˈbərktəsˌɡäd(ə)n/

a town in southern Germany, in the Bavarian Alps close to the border with Austria; pop. 8,200 (est. 2006). Adolf Hitler had a fortified retreat there.

bereave /bəˈrēv/

I. verb — (be bereaved)

1. be deprived of a loved one through a profound absence, especially due to the loved one's death

• the year after they had been bereaved

• (as adj. bereaved) bereaved families

• (as plural noun the bereaved) those who counsel the bereaved.

II. derivatives

bereavement /bəˈrēvmənt bēˈrēvmənt /

noun

– origin Old English berēafian (see be-, reave). The original sense was ‘deprive of’ in general.

bereft /bəˈreft/

I. archaic past participle of bereave.

II. adjective

1. deprived of or lacking something, especially a nonmaterial asset

• her room was stark and bereft of color.

2. (of a person) lonely and abandoned, especially through someone's death or departure

• his death in 1990 left her bereft.

Berenice /ˌberəˈnēs/

(3rd century BC), Egyptian queen; wife of Ptolemy III. She offered her hair for the safe return of her husband from an expedition; the hair was stolen and, according to legend, placed in the heavens. The constellation Coma Berenices (Berenice's hair) is named after her.

beret /bəˈrā/

I. noun

a round flattish cap of felt or cloth.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French béret ‘Basque cap,’ from Old Provençal berret, based on late Latin birrus ‘hooded cape.’ Compare with biretta.

beretta

noun

variant spelling of biretta.

berg /bərɡ/

noun

short for iceberg.

Berg, Alban /berKH/

(1885–1935), Austrian composer, a leading exponent of twelve-tone composition; full name Alban Maria Johannes Berg.

bergamot /ˈbərɡəˌmät/

I. noun

1. an oily substance extracted from the rind of the fruit of a dwarf variety of the Seville orange tree. It is used in cosmetics and as flavoring in tea.

2. (also bergamot orange) — the tree which bears a variety of Seville orange from which bergamot is extracted.
[Citrus aurantium subsp. bergamia, family Rutaceae.]

3. an aromatic North American herb of the mint family, grown for its bright flowers and traditionally used in American Indian medicine.
Also called bee balm, Oswego tea. [Monarda didyma, family Labiatae.]

– origin late 17th cent. (sense 2): named after the city and province of Bergamo in northern Italy.

Bergen /ˈbərɡən, ˈber-/

a seaport in southwestern Norway; pop. 220,418 (2007). It is a center of the fishing and North Sea oil industries.

Bergenfield /ˈbərɡənˌfēld/

a suburban borough in northeastern New Jersey; pop. 25,611 (est. 2008).

Berger, Hans /ˈbərɡər/

(1873–1941), German psychiatrist. He detected electric currents in the brain's cortex and developed encephalography.

Berger, Thomas

(1924–2014), US writer. His works include Crazy in Berlin (1958), Little Big Man (1964), The Feud (1983), and Meeting Evil (1992).

Bergerac /ˈbərZHəˌrak/

see Cyrano de Bergerac, Savinien.

bergère /berˈZHer/

noun

a long-seated upholstered armchair fashionable in the 18th century.

Bergius, Friedrich /ˈberɡēo͝os/

(1884–1949), German industrial chemist; full name Friedrich Karl Rudolf Bergius. Nobel Prize for Chemistry (1931), shared with Carl Bosch (1874–1940).

Bergman, Ingmar /ˈbərɡmən, ˈber(yə)ˌmän/

(1918–2007), Swedish movie and theater director; full name Ernst Ingmar Bergman. He used haunting imagery and symbolism. Notable films: Smiles of a Summer Night (1955), The Seventh Seal (1957), and Fanny and Alexander (1982).

Bergman, Ingrid /ˈbərɡmən/

(1915–82), Swedish actress. Notable movies: Casablanca (1942), Gaslight (1944), Anastasia (1956), and Murder on the Orient Express (1974).

Bergson, Henri /ˈberɡsən, berkˈsôN/

(1859–1941), French philosopher; full name Henri Louis Bergson. He wrote Creative Evolution (1907). Nobel Prize for Literature (1927).

Beria, Lavrenti /ˈbyeryə/

(1899–1953), Soviet politician and head of the secret police 1938–53; full name Lavrenti Pavlovich Beria. After Joseph Stalin's death, he was arrested and executed.

beribboned /bəˈribənd/

adjective

decorated with many ribbons.

beriberi /ˌberēˈberē/

I. noun

a disease causing inflammation of the nerves and heart failure, caused by a deficiency of vitamin B_1.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Sinhalese, from beri ‘weakness.’

Bering, Vitus /ˈberiNG/

(1681–1741), Danish navigator and explorer; full name Vitus Jonassen Bering. He led several Russian expeditions to determine whether Asia and North America were connected by land. The Bering Sea and Bering Strait are named after him.

Beringia /bəˈrinjēə/

I. the area comprising the Bering Strait and adjacent parts of Siberia and Alaska, especially in connection with the migration of animals across the former Bering land bridge.
See Bering Strait.

II. derivatives

Beringian

adjective

Bering Sea

an arm of the North Pacific Ocean that lies between northeastern Siberia in Russia and Alaska, bounded on the south by the Aleutian Islands. It is linked to the Arctic Ocean by the Bering Strait. Both the sea and the strait are named after Vitus Bering.

Bering Strait /ˈberiNG strāt/

a narrow sea passage that separates the eastern tip of Siberia in Russia from Alaska and links the Arctic Ocean with the Bering Sea, about 53 miles (85 km) wide at its narrowest point. During the Ice Age, as a result of a drop in sea levels, the Bering land bridge formed between the two continents, allowing the migration of animals and dispersal of plants in both directions.

Berkeley /ˈbərklē/

a city in western California, on San Francisco Bay, site of a campus of the University of California; pop. 101,371 (est. 2008).

Berkeley, Busby /ˈbərklē/

(1895–1976), US choreographer and movie director; born William Berkeley Enos. He is remembered for his spectacular movie sequences in which dancers formed kaleidoscopic patterns on the screen. Notable movies: Gold Diggers series (1933–37) and Babes in Arms (1939).

Berkeley, George /ˈbärklē, ˈbər-/

I. (1685–1753), Irish philosopher and bishop. He argued that material objects exist only by being perceived.

II. derivatives

Berkeleianism /ˈbärklēəˌnizəm, ˈbər- /

noun

berkelium /ˌbərˈkēlēəm ˈbərklēəm/

I. noun

(Symbol: Bk) — the chemical element of atomic number 97, a radioactive metal of the actinide series. Berkelium does not occur naturally and was first made by bombarding americium with helium ions.

– origin 1949: from Berkeley, California (where it was first made) + -ium.

Berkshire /ˈbərkSHər ˈbərkˌSHir / Berkshire Pig

I. noun

a pig of a black breed, now rarely kept commercially.

– origin from the name of Berkshire, a county of southern England.

Berkshire Hills /ˌbərkSHər ˈhilz/

an upland in western Massachusetts, noted as a resort area.

Berle, Milton /bərl/

(1908–2002), US comedian and actor; born Milton Berlinger. He began as a vaudeville entertainer and went on to star on radio, stage, movies, and, in particular, on television with the Texaco Star Theater from 1948 until 1956 (renamed The Milton Berle Show in 1955).

Berlin /bərˈlin/

the capital of Germany; pop. 3,404,000 (est. 2006). At the end of World War II, the city was occupied by the Allies and divided into two parts: West Berlin and East Berlin. Between 1961 and 1989, the Berlin Wall separated the two parts, which were reunited in 1990.

Berlin, Irving

(1888–1989), US composer of popular music; born in Russia; born Israel Baline. His prolific work includes the songs“Alexander's Ragtime Band” (1911) and “God Bless America” (1918), the movie scores for Top Hat (1935) and White Christmas (1954), and the stage musicals Annie Get Your Gun (1946) and Call Me Madam (1950).

Berliner /bərˈlinər/

I. noun

a native or citizen of Berlin.

– origin mid 19th cent.: German.

Berlin Wall

a fortified and heavily guarded wall built on the boundary between East and West Berlin in 1961 by the communist authorities, chiefly to curb the flow of East Germans to the West. It was opened in November 1989 after the collapse of the communist regime in East Germany and subsequently was dismantled.

Berlin work

noun

worsted embroidery on canvas.

Berlioz, Hector /ˈberlēˌōz, berˈlyōz/

(1803–69), French composer; full name Louis-Hector Berlioz. Notable works: Les Troyens (opera, 1856–59), Symphonie fantastique (1830), and La Damnation de Faust (cantata, 1846).

berm /bərm/

I. noun

1. a flat strip of land, raised bank, or terrace bordering a river or canal.

2. a path or grass strip beside a road.

3. an artificial ridge or embankment, e.g., as a defense against tanks.

4. a narrow space, especially one between a ditch and the base of a parapet.

– origin early 18th cent. (denoting a narrow space): from French berme, from Dutch berm.

Bermuda /bərˈmyo͞odə / the Bermudas

I. a British dependency made up of about 150 small islands about 650 miles (1,046 km) east of the coast of North Carolina; pop. 67,800 (est. 2009); capital, Hamilton. It now has internal self-government.

II. derivatives

1. Bermudan /bərˈmyo͞od(ə)n /

adjective, noun

2. Bermudian /-ˈmyo͞odēən /

adjective, noun

– origin named after a Spanish sailor, Juan Bermúdez, who sighted the islands early in the 16th cent.

Bermuda grass

noun

a creeping grass common in warmer parts of the world, used for lawns and pasture.
[Cynodon dactylon, family Graminae.]

Bermuda High

noun

[Meteorology] a semipermanent area of high pressure located over Bermuda in summer and fall that steers many storm systems westward across the Atlantic.
Compare with Azores High.

Bermuda Hundred

a locality southeast of Richmond in Virginia, the site of an 1864 Civil War battle.

Bermuda onion

noun

a variety of cultivated onion with a mild flavor and a flattened shape.

Bermuda rig

noun

a tall yachting rig with a high, tapering fore-and-aft mainsail.

Bermuda shorts /bərmyo͞oːdəˈSHôːrts / Bermudas

plural noun

casual knee-length shorts.

Bermuda Triangle

an area of the western Atlantic Ocean between Florida, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico where a large number of ships and aircraft are said to have disappeared mysteriously.

Bernadette, St. /ˌbərnəˈdet/

(1844–79), French peasant girl; born Marie Bernarde Soubirous. Her visions of the Virgin Mary at Lourdes in 1858 led to the town's establishment as a center of pilgrimage. Feast day, February 18.

Bernadotte, Count Folke /ˌbernəˈdät, -ˈdôt/

(1895–1948), Swedish statesman. As vice president of the Swedish Red Cross, he arranged the exchange of prisoners of war and in 1945 conveyed a German offer of capitulation to the Allies. Appointed as UN mediator in Palestine in 1948, he was assassinated by the Stern Gang.

Bernadotte, Jean

(1763–1844), French soldier; full name Jean Baptiste Jules Bernadotte. One of Napoleon's marshals, he was adopted by Charles XIII of Sweden in 1810 and became king of Sweden as Charles XIV 1818–44, thus founding Sweden's present royal house.

Bernard, Claude /berˈnär/

(1813–78), French physiologist. He showed the role of the pancreas in digestion, the method of regulation of body temperature, and the function of nerves that supply the internal organs.

Bernard, St. /bərˈnärd, berˈnär/

(c. 996–c. 1081), French monk. He founded two hospices for travelers in the Alps. The St. Bernard passes, where the hospices were situated, and St. Bernard dogs, once kept by the monks and trained to aid travelers, are named after him. Feast day, May 28.

Bernard of Clairvaux, St. /bərˈnärd əv klerˈvō, berˈnär/

(1090–1153), French theologian and abbot. The first abbot of Clairvaux, his monastery was one of the chief centers of the Cistercian order. Feast day, August 20.

Berne /bərn bern / Bern

I. the capital of Switzerland, in the west central part of the country; pop. 122,658 (2007).

II. a canton of Switzerland.

Bernese /ˌbərˈnēz/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of the Swiss capital or canton of Berne or its inhabitants

• a large series of portraits from the Bernese region.

II. noun

1. (as plural noun the Bernese) — the people of the Swiss capital or canton of Berne

• the Bernese were proud of their victory over a distinguished mercenary captain.

2. short for Bernese mountain dog:

• the Bernese's beautiful coat needs only daily brushing to keep it in good condition.

Bernese mountain dog /ˈbərnēz, -nēs, bərˈnēz, -ˈnēs/

noun

a large dog with a black, white, and tan coat, of a breed originating in Switzerland.

Bernhardt, Sarah /ˈbərnˌhärt/

(1844–1923), French actress; born Henriette Rosine Bernard. She was noted for her portrayal of Marguerite in La Dame aux camélias and of Cordelia in King Lear.

Bernini, Gian Lorenzo /bərˈnēnē/

(1598–1680), Italian sculptor, painter, and architect. His work includes the great canopy over the altar and the colonnade around the piazza at St. Peter's in Rome.

Bernoulli /bərˈno͞o(l)ē/

I. a Swiss family that produced many eminent mathematicians and scientists.

II. Jakob (1654–1705), a professor of mathematics; also known as Jacques or James Bernoulli. He made discoveries in calculus and contributed to geometry and the theory of probabilities.

III. Johann (1667–1748), the brother of Jakob; also known as Jean or John Bernoulli. He contributed to differential and integral calculus.

IV. Daniel (1700–82), son of Johann. His greatest contributions were to hydrodynamics and mathematical physics.

Bernoulli's principle

I. noun

the principle in hydrodynamics that an increase in the velocity of a stream of fluid results in a decrease in pressure. Also called Bernoulli effect or Bernoulli theorem.

– origin Named for Swiss mathematician Daniel Bernoulli (1700–82).

Bernstein, Carl /ˈbərnˌstēn, -ˌstīn/

(1944–), US journalist. He was the Washington Post reporter who, with Bob Woodward, broke the story of the 1972 Watergate burglary and traced the financial payoffs to President Nixon. With Woodward, he wrote All The President's Men (1974) and The Final Days (1976).

Bernstein, Leonard

(1918–90), US composer, conductor, and pianist. He was a conductor with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra 1945–48 and 1957–69. Notable works: The Age of Anxiety (symphony, 1947–49), West Side Story (musical, 1957), and music for the movie On the Waterfront (1954).

Berra, Yogi /ˈberə/

(1925–), US baseball player and manager; born Lawrence Peter Berra. A New York Yankee (1946–63) for all but one season of his playing career, he set the record for most home runs (313) by a catcher in the American League. Baseball Hall of Fame (1972).

berried /ˈberēd/

adjective

1. bearing or covered with berries.

2. like a berry or berries, as in flavor or shape.

3. (of crustaceans or fish) bearing eggs.

berry /ˈberē/

I. noun

1. a small roundish juicy fruit without a stone

• juniper berries

• [as modifier] berry clusters.

2. [Botany] any fruit that has its seeds enclosed in a fleshy pulp, for example, a banana or tomato.

3. any of various kernels or seeds, such as the coffee bean.

4. a fish egg or the roe of a lobster or similar creature.

– origin Old English berie, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bes and German Beere.

Berry, Chuck /ˈberē/

(1926–), US rock-and-roll singer, guitarist, and songwriter; full name Charles Edward Berry. One of the first great rock-and-roll stars, his recording career was interrupted by a period of imprisonment 1962–64. Notable songs: “Maybellene” (1955), “Johnny B Goode” (1958), and “My Ding A Ling” (1972).

berrying /ˈberēiNG/

noun

the activity of gathering berries

• let's go berrying.

Berryman, John /ˈberēmən/

(1914–72), US poet and educator. His notable works include the Pulitzer Prize-winning 77 Dream Songs (1964).

berseem clover /bərˌsēm ˈklōvər/

noun

a white-flowered clover. Native to Egypt and Syria, it is an established forage plant in the southern US.
Also called Egyptian clover. [Trifolium alexandrinum, family Leguminosae.]

berserk /bərˈzərk bərˈsərk/

I. adjective

1. (of a person or animal) out of control with anger or excitement; wild or frenzied

• after she left him, he went berserk, throwing things about the apartment.

2. (of a device, system, or activity) operating in a wild or erratic way; fluctuating wildly

• the climate control went berserk and either roasted or froze us

• the stock market's gone berserk.

– origin early 19th cent. (originally as a noun denoting a wild Norse warrior who fought with frenzy): from Old Norse berserkr (noun), probably from birn-, bjǫrn (see bear^2) + serkr ‘coat,’ but also possibly from berr ‘bare’ (i.e., without armor).

berserker /bərˈzərkər, -ˈsər-/

noun

an ancient Norse warrior who fought in a wild frenzy.

berth /bərTH/

I. noun

1. a ship's allotted place at a wharf or dock.

2. a fixed bed or bunk on a ship, train, or other means of transport.

3. ‹informal› (often in a sports context) a situation or position in an organization or event

• today's victory clinched a berth for the Orioles in the playoffs.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. moor (a ship) in its allotted place

• these modern ships can almost berth themselves.

2. [no obj.] — (of a ship) dock

• the Dutch freighter berthed at the Brooklyn docks.

3. (of a passenger ship) provide a sleeping place for (someone).

III. phrases

give a wide berth

a. steer (a ship) well clear of something while passing it

• ships are advised to give a wide berth to the Outer Banks.

b. stay away from someone or something

• I'd sworn to give women a wide berth.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘adequate sea room’): probably from a nautical use of bear^1 + -th^2.

bertha /ˈbərTHə/

I. noun

‹chiefly historical› a deep collar, typically made of lace, attached to the top of a dress that has a low neckline.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from the given name Bertha.

berthing /ˈbərTHiNG/

noun

1. the action of mooring a ship

• as soon as the berthing was complete, they went ashore.

2. mooring position; accommodation in berths

• there were more than 12 miles of berthing.

Bertillon, Alphonse /ˈbərtlˌän, ˌbertēˈyôN/

(1853–1914), French criminologist. He devised a system of body measurements (the Bertillon system) for the identification of criminals, which was widely used until superseded by the technique of fingerprinting at the beginning of the 20th century.

Bertolucci, Bernardo /ˌbertlˈo͞oCHē/

(1940–), Italian movie director. Notable works: The Spider's Stratagem (1970), Last Tango in Paris (1972), The Last Emperor (1987), and The Dreamers (2003).

Berwyn /ˈbərˌwən/

a city in northeastern Illinois, west of Chicago; pop. 49,919 (est. 2008).

beryl /ˈberəl/

I. noun

a transparent pale green, blue, or yellow mineral consisting of a silicate of beryllium and aluminum, sometimes used as a gemstone.

– origin Middle English: from Old French beril, via Latin from Greek bērullos.

berylliosis /bəˌrilēˈōsəs/

noun

[Medicine] poisoning by beryllium or beryllium compounds, especially by inhalation causing fibrosis of the lungs.

beryllium /bəˈrilēəm/

noun

(Symbol: Be) — the chemical element of atomic number 4, a hard gray metal.
Beryllium is the lightest of the alkaline earth metals, and its chief source is the mineral beryl. It is used in the manufacture of light corrosion-resistant alloys and in windows in X-ray equipment.

Berzelius, Jöns Jakob /bərˈzālēəs, -ˈzē-/

(1779–1848), Swedish analytical chemist. He determined the atomic weights of many elements and discovered cerium, selenium, and thorium.

Bes /bes / ‹Egyptian Mythology›

a grotesque god depicted as having short legs, an obese body, and an almost bestial face, who dispelled evil spirits.

Besançon /ˈbezänsän/

a city in northeastern France; pop. 121,012 (2006).

Beschloss, Michael /ˈbeSHlôs/

(1955–), US historian and writer. Among his books on the twentieth-century presidency are Mayday: Eisenhower, Khrushchev, and the U-2 Affair (1986), The Crisis Years: Kennedy and Khrushchev, 1960–1963 (1991), and The Conquerors: Roosevelt, Truman, and the Destruction of Hitler's Germany, 1941–1945 (2002).

beseech /bəˈsēCH/

I. verb — [reporting verb]

1. ‹literary› ask (someone) urgently and fervently to do something; implore; entreat
[with obj. and infinitive]

• they beseeched him to stay

• [with obj.] they earnestly beseeched his forgiveness

• [with obj. and direct speech] “You have got to believe me,” Gloria beseeched him

• (as adj. beseeching) a beseeching gaze.

II. derivatives

beseechingly /bəˈsēCHiNGlē /

adverb

– origin Middle English: from be- (as an intensifier) + Old English sēcan (see seek).

beseem /bəˈsēm/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› seem; befit.

beset /bəˈset/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a problem or difficulty) trouble or threaten persistently

• the social problems that beset the inner city

• she was beset with self-doubt

• [as adj.] poverty is a besetting problem.

2. surround and harass; assail on all sides

• I was beset by clouds of flies.

3. hem in; enclose

• the ship was beset by ice.

4. (be beset with) — ‹archaic› be covered or studded with

• blades of grass beset with glistening drops of dew.

– origin Old English besettan, from be- ‘around’ + settan (see set^1).

beshrew /bəˈSHro͞o/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› make wicked; deprave.

2. ‹archaic› invoke evil upon; curse; blame for a misfortune.

beside /bəˈsīd/

I. preposition

1. at the side of; next to

• he sat beside me in the front seat

• on the table beside the bed.

2. compared with

• beside Beth's idealism, my priorities looked shabby.

3. in addition to; apart from

• he commissioned work from other artists beside Rivera.

II. phrases

1. beside oneself

overcome with worry or anger; distraught

• she was beside herself with anguish.

2. beside the point

see point.

– origin Old English be sīdan (adverb) ‘by the side’ (see by, side). / usage: It is sometimes said that beside should not be used to mean ‘apart from’ and that besides should be used instead (he commissioned work from other artists besides Minton rather than he commissioned work from other artists beside Minton). Although there is little logical basis for such a view, and in standard English both beside and besides are used for this sense, it is worth being aware of the potential ambiguity in the use of beside: beside the cold meat, there are platters of trout and salmon means either ‘the cold meat is next to the trout and salmon’ or ‘apart from the cold meat, there are also trout and salmon.’ Beside is always the word to use in the phrases beside the point and beside oneself.

besides /bəˈsīdz/

I. preposition

in addition to; apart from

• I have no other family besides my parents

• besides being a player, he was my friend.

II. adverb

1. in addition; as well

• I'm capable of doing the work, and a lot more besides.

2. moreover; anyway

• I had no time to warn you. Besides, I wasn't sure.

usage: See usage at beside.

besiege /bəˈsēj/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. surround (a place) with armed forces in order to capture it or force its surrender; lay siege to

• the guerrillas continued to besiege other major cities to the north

• (as adj. besieged) the besieged city.

2. crowd around oppressively; surround and harass

• she spent the whole day besieged by newsmen.

3. (be besieged) — be inundated by large numbers of requests or complaints

• the television station was besieged with calls.

II. derivatives

besieger /bəˈsējər /

noun

– origin Middle English: alteration (by change of prefix) of assiege, from Old French asegier.

besiegement /bəˈsējmənt/

noun

aggressive pressure or intimidation

• the policy of political besiegement.

besmear /bəˈsmir/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› smear or cover with a greasy or sticky substance.

– origin Old English bismierwan (see be-, smear).

besmirch /bəˈsmərCH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. damage the reputation of (someone or something) in the opinion of others

• he had besmirched the good name of his family.

2. ‹literary› make (something) dirty or discolored

• the ground was besmirched with blood.

– origin from be- + smirch.

besom /ˈbēzəm/

I. noun

a broom made of twigs tied around a stick.

– origin Old English besema; related to Dutch bezem and German Besen.

besotted /bəˈsädəd/

I. adjective

1. strongly infatuated

• he became besotted with his best friend's sister.

2. ‹archaic› intoxicated; drunk.

– origin late 16th cent.: past participle of besot ‘make foolishly affectionate,’ from be- ‘cause to be’ + sot.

besought /biˈsôt/

past and past participle of beseech.

bespatter /bəˈspadər/

verb — [with obj.]

1. splash small drops of a liquid substance all over (an object or surface)

• his shoes were bespattered with mud.

bespeak /bəˈspēk/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of an appearance or action) suggest; be evidence of

• the attractive tree-lined road bespoke money.

2. order or reserve (something) in advance

• obtaining the affidavits that it has been necessary to bespeak.

3. ‹archaic› speak to

• and in disgrace bespoke him thus.

– origin Old English bisprecan ‘speak up, speak out’ (see be-, speak), later ‘discuss, decide on,’ hence ‘arrange, order’ (sense 2, late 16th cent).

bespeckle /bəˈspekəl/

verb — [with obj.]

1. mark or cover with a large number of small spots or patches of color

• the designer whose trademark is to bespeckle his dresses with diamonds.

bespectacled /bəˈspektəkəld/

adjective

(of a person) wearing eyeglasses

• a bespectacled, studious youth.

bespoke /bəˈspōk/

I. past of bespeak.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (chiefly Brit.) (of goods, especially clothing) made to order

• a bespoke suit.

2. (chiefly Brit.) (of a trader) creating made-to-order goods

• bespoke tailors.

bespoken /bəˈspōkən/

past participle of bespeak.

besprent /bəˈsprent/

adjective — [archaic]

1. sprinkled.

besprinkle /bəˈspriNGk(ə)l/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› sprinkle all over with small drops or amounts of a substance

• their lips were besprinkled with flakes of pastry.

Bessarabia /ˌbesəˈrābēə/

I. a region in eastern Europe between the Dniester and Prut rivers. It was part of Romania 1918–40, but now lies in Moldova and Ukraine.

II. derivatives

Bessarabian

adjective, noun

Bessel, Friedrich Wilhelm /ˈbesəl/

(1784–1846), German astronomer and mathematician. He determined the positions of about 75,000 stars, obtained accurate measurements of stellar distances, and, following a study of the orbit of Uranus, predicted the existence of an eighth planet.

Bessemer /ˈbesəmər/

a city in north central Alabama, a steel and industrial center southwest of Birmingham; pop. 28,542 (est. 2008).

Bessemer, Sir Henry

(1813–98), English engineer and inventor. By 1860 he had developed the Bessemer process, the first successful method of making steel in quantity at low cost.

Bessemer process

noun

a steel-making process, now largely superseded, in which carbon, silicon, and other impurities are removed from molten pig iron by oxidation in a blast of air in a special tilting retort (a Bessemer converter).

best /best/

I. adjective

1. of the most excellent, effective, or desirable type or quality

• the best pitcher in the league

• how to obtain the best results from your machine

• her best black suit.

2. most enjoyable

• some of the best times of my life.

3. most appropriate, advantageous, or well advised

• do whatever you think best

• it's best if we both go.

II. adverb

1. to the highest degree; most

• the one we liked best

• you knew him best

• well-drained soil suits it best.

2. most excellently or effectively

• the best-dressed man in Hollywood

• the things we do best.

3. most suitably, appropriately, or usefully

• this is best done at home

• jokes are best avoided in essays.

III. noun — (usu. the best)

1. that which is the most excellent, outstanding, or desirable

• buy the best you can afford

• Sarah always had to be the best at everything

• this year’s event will cover the best of both domestic and international manufacturing practices.

2. the most meritorious aspect of a thing or person

• he brought out the best in people.

3. (one's best) — the peak of condition; the highest standard or level that a person or thing can reach

• this is jazz at its best

• try to look your best.

4. (one's best) — one's finest or most formal clothes

• she dressed in her best.

5. (in sports) a record performance

• a lifetime best of 12.0 seconds.

See also personal best.

IV. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› outwit or get the better of (someone)

• she refused to allow herself to be bested.

V. phrases

1. all the best

said or written to wish a person well on ending a letter or parting.

2. as best one can (or may)

as effectively as possible under the circumstances

• I went about my job as best I could.

3. at best

taking the most optimistic or favorable view

• signs of recovery are patchy at best.

4. at (or in) the best of times

even in the most favorable circumstances

• his memory is poor at the best of times.

5. be for (or all for) the best

be desirable in the end, although not at first seeming so.

6. best of (or in) breed

a. the animal in a show judged to be the best representative of its breed.

b. any item or product considered to be the best of its kind

• their technology is still considered best of breed, and demand for their products is still growing.

7. the best of friends

very good friends.

8. the best of three (or five, etc.)

victory achieved by winning the majority of a specified (usually odd) number of games.

9. the best part of

most of

• it took them the best part of 10 years.

10. best wishes

a. an expression of hope for someone's future happiness or welfare

• we sent our best wishes for a speedy recovery.

b. written at the end of a letter

• Best wishes, Celia.

11. one's best years

the most vigorous and productive period of one's life; one's prime

• he had spent the best years of his life working at the stables.

12. do (or try) one's best

do all one can

• Ruth did her best to reassure her.

13. get the best of

overcome (someone)

• his drinking got the best of him and he was fired.

14. had best do something

find it most sensible or well advised to do the thing mentioned

• I'd best be going.

15. make the best of

a. derive what limited advantage one can from (something unsatisfactory or unwelcome)

• you'll just have to make the best of the situation.

b. use (resources) as well as possible

• he tried to make the best of his talents.

16. to the best of one's ability

see ability.

17. to the best of one's knowledge

see knowledge.

18. with the best of them

as well or as much as anyone

• he'll be out there dancing with the best of them.

– origin Old English betest (adjective), betost, betst (adverb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German best, also to better^1. / usage: On the punctuation of best in compound adjectives, see usage at well^1.

Best, Charles Herbert /best/

(1899–1978), Canadian physiologist; born in the US. He assisted Frederick G. Banting in research leading to the discovery of insulin in 1922.

best ball

noun

[Golf] the better score at a hole of two or more players competing as a team
[as modifier]

• a best-ball match.

best boy /ˈbes(t) ˌboi/

noun

the assistant to the chief electrician of a movie crew.

best buy

noun

an item or product that gives the best value for money out of all its competitors.

bestest /ˈbestəst/

adjective

‹informal› the very best

• you're the bestest friend I've ever had.

best friend

noun

a person's closest friend

• Michael was Frank's best friend

• he's best friends with Eddie

• within a month we were best friends.

bestial /ˈbesCHəl ˈbēsCHəl/

I. adjective

1. of or like an animal or animals

• Darwin's revelations about our bestial beginnings.

2. savagely cruel and depraved

• bestial and barbaric acts.

II. derivatives

bestially

adverb

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from late Latin bestialis, from Latin bestia ‘beast.’

bestiality /ˌbesCHēˈalədē ˌbisCHēˈalədē/

I. noun

1. savagely cruel or depraved behavior

• there seems no end to the bestiality of human beings.

2. sexual intercourse between a person and an animal.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French bestialite, from bestial (see bestial).

bestiary /ˈbesCHēˌerē ˈbēsCHēˌerē/

I. noun

a descriptive or anecdotal treatise on various real or mythical kinds of animals, especially a medieval work with a moralizing tone.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from medieval Latin bestiarium, from Latin bestia ‘beast.’

bestie /ˈbestē/

noun

‹informal› a person's best friend.

bestir /bəˈstər/

verb — (bestir oneself)

1. make a physical or mental effort; exert or rouse oneself

• they rarely bestir themselves except in the most pressing of circumstances.

best-loved

adjective

most popular or favored

• one of America's best-loved broadcasters.

best man

noun — [in sing.]

1. a male friend or relative chosen by a bridegroom to assist him at his wedding.

best-of

noun

a list or collection comprising the best examples of something

• foodies have flocked like sheep to this critic's best-ofs

• [as modifier] a best-of CD.

bestow /bəˈstō/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. confer or present (an honor, right, or gift)

• the office was bestowed on him by the chief of state

• thank you for this honor that you have bestowed upon me

• ‹figurative› she bestowed her nicest smile on Jim.

II. derivatives

bestowal /bəˈstōəl /

noun

– origin Middle English bistowen (in the sense ‘use for, devote to’): from be- (as an intensifier) + stowen ‘to place,’ from Old English stōw ‘place.’

best practice

noun

commercial or professional procedures that are accepted or prescribed as being correct or most effective.

• the proprietors are keen to ensure best practice in food preparation, storage, and serving.

bestrew /bəˈstro͞o/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› cover or partly cover (a surface) with scattered objects

• the bride's train was bestrewn with rose petals.

2. ‹literary› (of objects) lie scattered over (a surface)

• sweeping away the sand and rubbish that bestrewed it.

– origin Old English bestrēowian (see be-, strew).

bestride /bəˈstrīd/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. stand astride over; span or straddle

• ‹figurative› creatures that bestride the dividing line between amphibians and reptiles.

2. sit astride on

• he bestrode his horse with the easy grace of a born horseman.

– origin Old English bestrīdan (see be-, stride).

bestseller /ˌbestˈselər/

noun

a book or other product that sells in very large numbers

• her autobiography is an international bestseller.

bestselling /ˌbestˈseliNG/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of a book or other product) having very large sales; very popular

• a bestselling novel.

besuited /bəˈso͞odəd/

adjective

(of a person, especially a man) wearing a suit

• the personification of Bloated Washington, heaving his besuited bulk from stump to stump.

bet /bet/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — risk something, usually a sum of money, against someone else's on the basis of the outcome of a future event, such as the result of a race or game

• betting on horses

• [with clause] I would be prepared to bet that what he really wanted was to settle down

• [with obj.] most people would bet their life savings on this prospect.

2. [with obj.] — risk a sum of money against (someone) on the outcome or happening of a future event
[with two objs.]

• I'll bet you $15 you won't find a single scratch.

3. [with clause] — ‹informal› feel sure

• I bet this place is really spooky late at night

• he'll be surprised to see me, I'll bet.

II. noun

1. an act of risking a sum of money on the outcome of a future event

• every Saturday she had a bet on the horses.

2. a sum of money staked on the outcome of a future event

• the bookies are taking bets on his possible successor.

3. [with adj.] — ‹informal› a candidate or course of action to choose; an option

• your best bet is to call a professional exterminator.

4. (one's bet) — ‹informal› an opinion, typically one formed quickly or spontaneously

• my bet is that the president will veto the bill.

III. phrases

1. all bets are off

‹informal› the outcome of a situation is unpredictable.

2. bet the farm

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› risk everything that one owns on a bet, investment, or enterprise

• they're betting the farm on this merger bid.

3. don't (or I wouldn't) bet on it

‹informal› used to express doubt about an assertion or situation

• he may be a suitable companion—but don't bet on it.

4. want to (or wanna) bet?

‹informal› used to express vigorous disagreement with a confident assertion

• “You can't be with me every moment.” “Want to bet?”

5. you bet

‹informal› you may be sure; certainly

• “Would you like this piece of pie?” “You bet!”

– origin late 16th cent.: perhaps a shortening of the obsolete noun abet ‘abetment.’

bet.

abbreviation

between.

beta /ˈbādə/

noun

1. the second letter of the Greek alphabet (Β, β), transliterated as ‘b.’

2. [as modifier] — denoting the second of a series of items, categories, forms of a chemical compound, etc.

• beta carotene

• beta blocker.

3. ‹informal› short for beta test:

• their database system is currently in beta

• [as modifier] beta software.

4. [followed by Latin genitive] (Beta) — the second (usually second-brightest) star in a constellation

• Beta Virginis.

5. [as modifier] — relating to beta decay or beta particles

• beta emitters.

beta-adrenergic

adjective

of, relating to, or affecting beta receptors

• sympathetic nerves that stimulate beta-adrenergic receptors.

beta blocker /ˈbādə ˌbläkər/

noun

any of a class of drugs that prevent the stimulation of the adrenergic receptors responsible for increased cardiac action. Beta blockers are used to control heart rhythm, treat angina, and reduce high blood pressure.

Betacam /ˈbādəˌkam/

noun

1. ‹trademark› a high quality format for video cameras and recorders.

2. ‹trademark› a camera using the Betacam format.

beta cell

noun

any of the insulin-producing cells in the islets of Langerhans.

beta decay

noun

radioactive decay in which an electron is emitted.

beta endorphin

noun

an endorphin produced in the pituitary gland that is a powerful pain suppressor.

betaine /ˈbēdəˌēn/

I. noun

1. [Chemistry] a crystalline compound with basic properties found in many plant juices.
[Chem. formula: (CH_3)3N+—CH_2CO_2–.]

2. [Chemistry] any zwitterionic compound of the type represented by betaine.

– origin mid 19th cent.: formed irregularly from Latin beta ‘beet’ (because originally isolated from sugar beet) + -ine^4.

betake /bəˈtāk/

verb — [with obj.] (betake oneself to)

1. ‹literary› go to

• I shall betake myself to my room.

Betamax /ˈbādəˌmaks/

noun

‹trademark› a format for video recorders, now largely obsolete.

beta particle beta ray

noun

[Physics] a fast-moving electron emitted by radioactive decay of substances. (The emission of beta particles was originally regarded as a ray.).

beta receptor

noun

an adrenergic receptor in the sympathetic nervous system, stimulation of which results especially in increased cardiac activity.

beta rhythm

noun

[Physiology] the normal electrical activity of the brain when conscious and alert, consisting of oscillations (beta waves) with a frequency of 18 to 25 hertz.

beta test

I. noun

a trial of machinery, software, or other products, in the final stages of its development, carried out by a party unconnected with its development.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. subject (a product) to a beta test.

betatron /ˈbādəˌträn/

I. noun

[Physics] an apparatus for accelerating electrons in a circular path by magnetic induction.

– origin 1940s: from beta + -tron.

beta version

noun

[Computing] a version of a piece of software that is made available for testing, typically by a limited number of users outside the company that is developing it, before its general release

• having fooled around with a beta version, I have to say that it's a technical marvel.

Compare with alpha version.

betcha /ˈbeCHə / ‹informal›

I. contraction

bet you (used to express confidence or certainty that something is the case or will happen)

• betcha can't find a better apartment

• I betcha 98% of Americans wouldn't know who he is.

II. phrases

you betcha

‹informal› used to express certainty or as a strongly positive response

• Had she pictured herself in a Broadway role? You betcha

• ‘You have everything under control?’ ‘You betcha!’

betel /ˈbēdl/

I. noun

1. the leaf of an Asian evergreen climbing plant that is used in the East as a mild stimulant. Parings of areca nut, lime, and cinnamon are wrapped in the leaf, which is then chewed, causing the saliva to go red and, with prolonged use, the teeth to go black.

2. the plant, related to pepper, from which the betel leaves are taken.
[Piper betle, family Piperaceae.]

– origin mid 16th cent.: via Portuguese from Malayalam veṛṛila.

Betelgeuse /ˈbēdlˌjo͞os, ˈbedlˌjo͞os, ˈbēdlˌjo͞oz, ˈbedlˌjo͞oz / ‹Astronomy› Betelgeux

I. the tenth brightest star in the sky, in the constellation Orion. It is a red supergiant, and variations in its brightness are associated with pulsations in its outer envelope.

– origin French, alteration of Arabic yad al-jauzā ‘hand of the giant’ (the giant being Orion).

betel nut /ˈbēdl ˌnət/

noun

another term for areca nut.

betel palm

noun

another term for areca.

bête noire /ˌbāt ˈnwär ˌbet ˈnwär/

I. noun

a person or thing that one particularly dislikes

• great-uncle Edward was my father's bête noire.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, literally ‘black beast.’

beth /bāt bāTH bās/

noun

the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

Bethany /ˈbeTHənē/

a city in central Oklahoma, west of Oklahoma City; pop. 19,729 (est. 2008).

bethel /ˈbeTHəl/

noun

1. a holy place.

2. a chapel for seamen.

3. (Brit.) a Nonconformist chapel.

Bethel /ˈbeTHəl/

a town in the Catskill Mountains, in southeastern New York; pop. 4,543 (est. 2008). It is the actual site of the 1969 Woodstock music festival.

Bethel Park

a borough in southwestern Pennsylvania, south of Pittsburgh; pop. 31,562 (est. 2008).

Bethesda /bəˈTHezdə/

an affluent unincorporated suburb in central Maryland, north of Washington, DC. It is home to the National Institutes of Health; pop. 55,277 (2000).

bethink /bəˈTHiNGk/

I. verb — (bethink oneself)

1. ‹formal› ‹archaic› think on reflection; come to think

• he bethought himself of the verse from the Book of Proverbs

• [with clause] the council bethought itself that this plan would leave room for future expansion.

– origin Old English bithencan (see be-, think).

Bethlehem /ˈbeTHləhem/

I. a small town 5 miles (8 km) south of Jerusalem, in the West Bank; pop. 43,100 (est. 2009). It was the native city of King David and is the reputed birthplace of Jesus.

II. an industrial city in eastern Pennsylvania, on the Lehigh River; pop. 72,241 (est. 2008). It is noted for the manufacturing of steel.

Bethune, Mary McLeod /bəˈTH(y)o͞on/

(1875–1955), US educator; full name Mary Jane McLeod Bethune. In 1904, she founded the Daytona Normal and Industrial Institute for Negro Girls, which, with the Cookman Institute, became Bethune-Cookman College in 1923. Bethune was founder and first president 1935–49 of the National Council of Negro Women.

betide /bəˈtīd/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹literary› happen

• I waited with beating heart, as yet not knowing what would betide.

2. [with obj.] — ‹literary› happen to (someone)

• she was trembling with fear lest worse might betide her.

II. phrases

woe betide

see woe.

– origin Middle English: from be- (as an intensifier) + obsolete tide ‘befall,’ from Old English tīdan ‘happen,’ from tīd (see tide).

betimes /bəˈtīmz/

I. adverb

‹literary› before the usual or expected time; early

• next morning I was up betimes.

– origin Middle English: from obsolete betime (see by, time).

bêtise /beˈtēz/

I. noun

a foolish or ill-timed remark or action.

– origin early 19th cent.: French, literally‘stupidity.’

betoken /bəˈtōkən/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› be a sign of; indicate

• she wondered if his cold, level gaze betokened indifference or anger.

2. ‹literary› be a warning or indication of (a future event)

• the falling comet betokened the true end of Merlin's powers.

– origin Old English betācnian, from be- (as an intensifier) + tācnian ‘signify,’ of Germanic origin; related to token.

betony /ˈbet(ə)nē/

I. noun

1. a Eurasian plant of the mint family that bears spikes of showy purple flowers.
[Stachys officinalis, family Labiatae.]

2. used in names of plants that resemble the betony, e.g., wood betony.

– origin Middle English: from Old French betoine, based on Latin betonica, perhaps from the name of an Iberian tribe.

betook /bəˈto͝ok/

past of betake.

betray /bəˈtrā/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. expose (one's country, a group, or a person) to danger by treacherously giving information to an enemy

• a double agent who betrayed some 400 British and French agents to the Germans.

2. treacherously reveal (secrets or information)

• many of those employed by diplomats betrayed secrets and sold classified documents.

3. be disloyal to

• his friends were shocked when he betrayed them.

4. unintentionally reveal; be evidence of

• she drew a deep breath that betrayed her indignation.

II. derivatives

1. betrayal /bəˈtrāəl bēˈtrāəl /

noun

2. betrayer /bəˈtrāər /

noun

– origin Middle English: from be- ‘thoroughly’ + obsolete tray ‘betray,’ from Old French trair, based on Latin tradere ‘hand over.’ Compare with traitor.

betroth /bəˈtrōT͟H bəˈtrôTH /bəˈtrōT͟H bəˈtrôTH//

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be betrothed)

1. ‹dated› enter into a formal agreement to marry

• soon I shall be betrothed to Isabel.

II. derivatives

betrothal /bəˈtrōT͟Həl bəˈtrôTHəl /

noun

– origin Middle English betreuthe: from be- (expressing transitivity) + truth. The change in the second syllable was due to association with troth.

betrothed /bəˈtrōT͟Hd bəˈtrôTHd/

noun — (one's betrothed)

1. the person to whom one is engaged

• how long have you known your betrothed?

Bettelheim, Bruno /ˈbetlˌhīm/

(1903–90), US psychologist; born in Austria. His experiences in Nazi Germany helped him to develop revolutionary theories and therapies for autistic children.

Bettendorf /ˈbetnˌdôrf/

an industrial city in southeastern Iowa, on the Mississippi River; pop. 32,584 (est. 2008). It is one of the Quad Cities.

better^1 /ˈbedər/

I. adjective

1. of a more excellent or effective type or quality

• hoping for better weather

• the new facilities were far better

• I'm better at algebra than Alice.

[comparative of good.]

2. more appropriate, advantageous, or well advised

• there couldn't be a better time to start this job

• it might be better to borrow the money.

3. [predic.] — partly or fully recovered from illness, injury, or mental stress; less unwell

• she's much better today

• his leg was getting better

• we'll feel a lot better after a decent night's sleep.

[comparative of well^1.]

II. adverb

1. more excellently or effectively

• Johnny could do better if he tried

• instruments are generally better made these days.

2. to a greater degree; more

• I liked it better when we lived in the country

• you may find alternatives that suit you better.

3. more suitably, appropriately, or usefully

• the money could be better spent on more urgent cases.

III. noun

1. the better one; that which is better

• the Natural History Museum book is by far the better of the two

• a change for the better.

2. (one's betters) — ‹chiefly dated› ‹humorous› one's superiors in social class or ability

• amusing themselves by imitating their betters.

IV. verb — [with obj.]

1. improve on or surpass (an existing or previous level or achievement)

• bettering his previous time by ten minutes.

2. make (something) better; improve

• his ideas for bettering the working conditions.

3. (better oneself) — achieve a better social position or status

• the residents are mostly welfare mothers who have bettered themselves.

4. overcome or defeat (someone)

• she bettered him at archery.

V. phrases

1. be better off

be in a better position, especially in financial terms

• the promotion would make her about $750 a year better off

• (as plural noun the better off) a paper read mainly by the better off.

2. the —— the better

used to emphasize the importance or desirability of the quality or thing specified

• the sooner we're off, the better

• the more people there the better.

3. the better part of

almost all of; most of

• it is the better part of a mile.

4. better safe than sorry

‹proverb› it's wiser to be cautious than to be hasty or rash and so do something you may later regret.

5. better than

(N. Amer.) more than

• he'd lived there for better than twenty years.

6. the better to ——

so as to —— better

• he leaned closer the better to hear her.

7. for better or (for) worse

whether the outcome is good or bad

• ours, for better or for worse, is the century of youth.

8. get the better of

(often of something immaterial) win an advantage over (someone); defeat or outwit

• curiosity got the better of her.

9. go one better

a. narrowly surpass a previous effort or achievement

• I want to go one better this time and score.

b. narrowly outdo (another person)

• he went one better than Jack by reaching the finals.

10. had better do something

would find it wiser to do something; ought to do something

• you had better be careful.

11. have the better of

be more successful in a contest

• she usually had the better of these debates.

12. no (or little) better than

just (or almost) the same as; merely

• government officials who were often no better than bandits.

– origin Old English betera (adjective), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch beter and German besser, also to best. / usage: 1 In the verb phrase had better do something, the word had acts like an auxiliary verb; in informal spoken contexts, it is often dropped, as in you better not come tonight. In writing, the had may be contracted to ’d (you'd better call), but it should not be dropped altogether (not you better call). 2 On the punctuation of better in compound adjectives, see usage at well^1.

better^2 /ˈbedər/

noun

variant spelling of bettor.

better half

noun

‹informal› a person's wife, husband, or partner.

betterment /ˈbedərmənt/

noun

1. the act or process of improving something

• they believed that what they were doing was vital for the betterment of society

• [as modifier] working at betterment projects throughout the city.

2. the enhanced value of real property arising from local improvements
[as modifier]

• a betterment charge.

betting /ˈbediNG/

noun

the act of gambling money on the outcome of a race, game, or other unpredictable event

• there was a good deal of betting on the races going on.

betting slip

noun

a slip of paper on which a bet is entered.

bettong /bəˈtôNG, -ˈtäNG/

I. noun

a short-nosed rat kangaroo found in Australia.
[Family Potoroidae: two genera, in particular Bettongia, and several species.]

– origin early 19th cent.: from Dharuk.

bettor /ˈbedər / better

noun

(chiefly US) a person who bets, typically regularly or habitually.

between /bəˈtwēn / bet.

I. preposition

1. at, into, or across the space separating (two objects or regions)

• the border between Mexico and the United States

• the dog crawled between us and lay down at our feet

• those who travel by train between London and Paris.

2. expressing movement from one side or point to the other and back again

• traveling by train between London and Paris.

3. in the period separating (two points in time)

• they snack between meals

• the long, cold nights between autumn and spring.

4. in the interval separating (two points on a scale)

• a man aged between 18 and 30

• between 25 and 40 percent off children's clothes

• the difference between income and expenditure.

5. indicating a connection or relationship involving two or more parties

• the relationship between Pauline and Chris

• negotiations between the two companies are continuing

• links between science and industry.

6. with reference to a collision or conflict

• a collision in midair between two light aircraft above Geneva

• the wars between Carthage and Rome.

7. with reference to a choice or differentiation involving two or more things being considered together

• if you have to choose between two or three different options.

8. by combining the resources or actions of (two or more people or other entities)

• we have created something between us

• oxygen and nitrogen between them account for 99 per cent of air.

9. shared by (two or more people or things)

• they had drunk between them a bottle of Chianti.

II. adverb

1. in or along the space separating two objects or regions

• layers of paper with tar in between

• from Leipzig to Dresden, with the gentle Elbe flowing between.

2. in the period separating two points in time

• sets of exercises with no rest in between.

III. phrases

1. between ourselves (or you and me)

in confidence

• just between you and me, I don't think it is going to happen.

2. (in) between times

in the intervals between other actions

• I have seen to the needs of my child, and in between times I have cooked the meals.

– origin Old English betwēonum, from be ‘by’ + a Germanic word related to two. / usage: 1Between is used in speaking of two things, people, etc.: we must choose between two equally unattractive alternatives. Among is used for collective and undefined relations of usually three or more: agreement on landscaping was reached among all the neighbors. But where there are more than two parties involved, between may be used to express one-to-one relationships of pairs within the group or the sense 'shared by': there is close friendship between the members of the club; diplomatic relations between the US, Canada, and Mexico. 2 Between you and I, between you and he, etc., are incorrect; between should be followed only by the objective case: between you and me, between you and him, etc. See also usage at personal pronoun.

betwixt /bəˈtwikst/

I. preposition, adverb

archaic term for between.

II. phrases

betwixt and between

‹informal› not fully or properly either of two things.

– origin Old English betwēox, from be ‘by’ + a Germanic word related to two.

beurre blanc /ˌbər ˈbläNGk/

I. noun

a creamy sauce made with butter, onions or shallots, and vinegar or lemon juice, usually served with seafood dishes.

– origin mid 20th cent.: French, literally ‘white butter.’

beurre noir /ˌbər ˈnwär/

noun

French term for black butter.

beurre noisette /ˌbər nwäˈzet/

I. noun

a sauce of butter cooked until golden or brown, usually flavored with capers, herbs, vinegar, etc.

– origin French, literally ‘hazelnut butter.’

Beuthen /ˈboitn/

German name for Bytom.

BeV

I. another term for GeV.

– origin 1940s: from b illion (10^9) e lectronv olts.

BEV

abbreviation

[Linguistics] Black English Vernacular.

bevatron /ˈbevəˌträn/

I. noun

a synchrotron used to accelerate protons to energies in the billion electron-volt range.

– origin 1940s: from BeV + -tron.

bevel /ˈbevəl/

I. noun

1. a slope from the horizontal or vertical in carpentry and stonework; a sloping surface or edge.

2. (in full bevel square) — a tool for marking angles in carpentry and stonework.

II. verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. beveled)

1. reduce (a square edge on an object) to a sloping edge

• a beveled mirror.

– origin late 16th cent. (as an adjective in the sense ‘oblique’): from an Old French diminutive of baif ‘open-mouthed,’ from baer ‘to gape’ (see bay^5).

bevel gear /ˈbevəl ɡi(ə)r/

noun

a gear working another gear at an angle to it by means of bevel wheels.

bevel wheel

noun

a toothed wheel whose working face is oblique to the axis.

beverage /ˈbev(ə)rij/

I. noun

a drink, especially one other than water.

– origin Middle English: from Old French bevrage, based on Latin bibere ‘to drink.’

Beverly /ˈbevərlē/

an industrial and resort city in northeastern Massachusetts; pop. 39,343 (est. 2008).

Beverly Hills

a largely residential city in California, on the northwestern side of the Los Angeles conurbation; pop. 34,445 (est. 2008). It is known as the home of many movie stars.

Bevin, Ernest /ˈbevən/

(1881–1951), British statesman and trade unionist. As foreign secretary 1945–51, he helped to establish NATO 1949.

bevy /ˈbevē/

I. noun

1. a large group of people or things of a particular kind

• he was surrounded by a bevy of beautiful girls.

2. a group of birds, especially quail, particularly when closely gathered on the ground.

– origin late Middle English: of unknown origin.

bewail /bəˈwāl/

verb — [with obj.]

1. express great regret, disappointment, or bitterness over (something)

• he bewailed the fact that heart trouble had slowed him down.

2. cry or wail loudly about (something).

beware /bəˈwer/

I. verb — [no obj. in imperative or infinitive]

1. be cautious and alert to the dangers of

• consumers were warned to beware of faulty packaging

• Beware! Dangerous submerged rocks ahead

• [with obj.] we should beware the incompetence of legislators.

– origin Middle English: from the phrase be ware (see be-, ware^2).

bewhiskered /bəˈ(h)wisˌkərd/

adjective

having hair or whiskers growing on the face.

bewigged /bəˈwiɡd/

adjective

(of a person) wearing a wig.

bewilder /bəˈwildər/

I. verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. bewildered)

1. cause (someone) to become perplexed and confused

• she seemed frightened and bewildered

• his reaction had bewildered her

• (as adj. bewildering) there is a bewildering array of desserts to choose from.

II. derivatives

1. bewilderedly

adverb

2. bewilderingly /bəˈwildəriNGlē /

adverb

– origin late 17th cent.: from be- ‘thoroughly’ + obsolete wilder ‘lead or go astray,’ of unknown origin.

bewilderment /biˈwildərmənt/

noun

a feeling of being perplexed and confused

• there was bewilderment at the shift of government policy

• the three of them looked at him in bewilderment.

bewitch /bəˈwiCH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cast a spell on and gain control over (someone) by magic

• his relatives were firmly convinced that he was bewitched.

2. enchant and delight (someone)

• they both were bewitched by the country and its culture

• (as adj. bewitching) she was certainly a bewitching woman.

II. derivatives

1. bewitchingly /bəˈwiCHiNGlē /

adverb

2. bewitchment /bəˈwiCHmənt /

noun

– origin Middle English: from be- ‘thoroughly’ + witch.

bey /bā/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› the governor of a district or province in the Ottoman Empire.

2. ‹historical› formerly used in Turkey and Egypt as a courtesy title.

– origin Turkish, modern form of beg ‘prince, governor.’

beyond /bēˈänd/

I. preposition, adverb

1. at or to the further side of
[as prep.]

• he pointed to a spot beyond the trees

• passengers traveling to destinations beyond Boston

• [as adv.] there was the terminal and, beyond, an endless line of warehouses.

2. [prep.] — outside the physical limits or range of

• the land sloped away until far beyond sight it reached the Great Plains.

3. more extensive or extreme than; further-reaching than
[as prep.]

• what these children go through is far beyond what most adults endure in a lifetime

• [as adv.] pushing the laws to their limits and beyond.

4. happening or continuing after (a specified time or event)
[as prep.]

• we can manage another two years, but beyond that the system is not viable

• [as adv.] music going on into the night and beyond.

5. having progressed or achieved more than (a specified stage or level)
[as prep.]

• we need to get beyond square one.

6. above or greater than (a specified amount)
[as prep.]

• the absenteeism had gone beyond 15%

• [as adv.] he could count up to a billion now, and beyond.

7. [prep.] — to a degree or condition where a specified action is impossible

• the landscape has changed beyond recognition.

8. too much for (someone) to achieve or understand

• I did something that I thought was beyond me.

9. [prep. with negative] — apart from; except

• beyond telling us that she was well educated, he has nothing to say about her

• there was little vegetation beyond scrub and brush.

II. noun — (the beyond)

1. the unknown after death

• messages from the beyond.

III. phrases

the back of beyond

see back.

– origin Old English begeondan, from be ‘by’ + geondan of Germanic origin (related to yon and yonder).

bezant /ˈbezənt/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› a gold or silver coin originally minted at Byzantium.

2. [Heraldry] a roundel or (i.e., a solid gold circle).

– origin Middle English: from Old French besant, from Latin Byzantius ‘Byzantine.’ Sense 2 dates from the late 15th cent.

bezel /ˈbezəl/

I. noun

1. a grooved ring holding the glass or plastic cover of a watch face or other instrument in position.

2. a groove holding the crystal of a watch or the stone of a gem in its setting.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Old French, of unknown origin.

bezique /bəˈzēk/

I. noun

1. a trick-taking card game for two, played with a double pack of 64 cards, including the seven to ace only in each suit.

2. the holding of the queen of spades and the jack of diamonds in this game.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French bésigue, perhaps from Persian bāzīgar ‘juggler’ or bāzī ‘game.’

bezoar /ˈbēzôr/

I. noun

a small stony concretion that may form in the stomachs of certain animals, especially ruminants, and which was once used as an antidote for various ailments.

– origin late 15th cent. (in the general sense ‘stone or concretion’): from French bezoard, based on Arabic bāzahr, bādizahr, from Persian pādzahr ‘antidote.’

bezzie /ˈbezē / ‹Brit. informal› bessie, bezzy

I. adjective

denoting a person's best or closest friend

• we're practically bezzie mates

• Fiona's my bezzy pal.

II. noun

a person's best or closest friend

• she and Nadine used to be bezzies and even shared a flat

• find out how well you know your bessie.

– origin mid 19th cent. (isolated US use, apparently in representation of vernacular speech): colloquial alteration of best.

BF

I. noun

1. ‹informal› a person's boyfriend

• I've been dating my BF since January.

2. ‹informal› a person's best friend

• Lottie is my absolute BF.

– origin from the syllabic initial letters of boyfriend, and the initial letters of best friend.

b.f.

abbreviation

1. [Printing] boldface.

2. board foot.

3. (also b/f or B/F) — (in bookkeeping) brought forward.

BFD

abbreviation

‹vulgar slang› big fucking deal (often used sarcastically).

BFF

I. noun

‹informal› a girl's best friend

• my BFF's boyfriend is cheating on her.

– origin 1996: from the initial letters of best friend forever.

BG B Gen

abbreviation

brigadier general.

BGH

abbreviation

bovine growth hormone.

Bh

symbol

the chemical element bohrium.

BHA

abbreviation

butylated hydroxyanisole.

Bhagavadgita /ˌbəɡəvədˈɡētə, ˌbäɡəväd- / ‹Hinduism› Gita

a poem composed between the 2nd century BC and the 2nd century AD and incorporated into the Mahabharata. Presented as a dialogue between the warrior prince Arjuna and his divine charioteer Krishna, it stresses the importance of doing one's duty and of faith in God.

Bhagwan /ˌbəɡˈwän/

I. noun

1. (Indian) God.

2. (Indian) a guru or revered person (often as a proper name or form of address).

– origin from Hindi bhagwān, from Sanskrit bhagavān, from the root bhaj ‘adore.’

bhajan /ˈbəjən, ˈbäˌjän/

I. noun

[Hinduism] a devotional song.

– origin from Sanskrit bhajana.

bhakti /ˈbəktē, ˈbäk-/

I. noun

[Hinduism] devotional worship directed to one supreme deity, usually Vishnu (especially in his incarnations as Rama and Krishna) or Shiva, by whose grace salvation may be attained by all regardless of sex, caste, or class. It is practiced by the majority of Hindus today.

– origin Sanskrit.

bhang /baNG / bang

I. noun

the leaves and flower heads of cannabis, used as a narcotic.

– origin from Hindi bhāṅg.

bhangra /ˈbaNG(ɡ)rə/

I. noun

a type of popular music combining Punjabi folk traditions with Western pop music.

– origin 1960s (denoting a traditional folk dance): from Punjabi bhāngrā.

Bharat /ˈbərət/

Hindi name for India.

Bhavnagar /bouˈnəɡər/

an industrial port in northwestern India, in Gujarat, on the Gulf of Cambay; pop. 600,600 (est. 2009).

bhikkhu /ˈbiko͞o/

I. noun

a Theravada Buddhist monk.

– origin Pali.

bhikkhuni /bəˈko͞onē/

I. noun

‹historical› a member of an order of Theravada Buddhist nuns.

– origin Pali.

Bhisho /ˈbēSHō/

a town in southern South Africa, situated near the coast to the northeast of Port Elizabeth; pop. 147,600 (est. 2009). Former name Bisho.

Bhn BHN

abbreviation

Brinell hardness number.

Bhojpuri /ˌbōjˈpo͝orē/

noun

a Bihari language spoken in western Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Bhopal /bōˈpäl/

a city in central India, the capital of the state of Madhya Pradesh; pop. 1,752,200 (est. 2009). In December 1984, leakage of poisonous gas from a US-owned pesticide factory in the city caused the death of about 2,500 people.

b.h.p.

abbreviation

brake horsepower.

BHT

abbreviation

butylated hydroxytoluene.

Bhubaneswar /ˌbo͝ovəˈnāSHwər/

a city in eastern India, capital of the state of Orissa; pop. 904,200 (est. 2009).

bhuna /ˈbo͞onə / bhoona

I. noun

a medium-hot, dry curry originating in Bengal, prepared typically by frying meat with spices at a high temperature

• lamb bhuna.

– origin 1950s: from Bengali Urdu bhunnā ‘to be fried,’ ultimately from Sanskrit bhrajj ‘fry, parch, roast.’

Bhutan /bo͞oˈtän bo͞oˈtan/

1. a small independent kingdom in southern Asia, on the southeastern slopes of the Himalayas, north of India; pop. 691,100 (est. 2009); capital, Thimphu; languages, Dzongkha (official), Nepali.

A British protectorate from 1910, it became independent in 1949, with continuing help from India regarding its foreign policy and aid.

Bhutanese /ˌbo͞odəˈnēz/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of Bhutan, its inhabitants, or their language

• a remote Bhutanese village.

II. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Bhutan

• the average Bhutanese speaks at least three to four languages

• the Bhutanese are well known for their archery skills.

2. the language of Bhutan

• one man who had been living there for some time could speak Bhutanese.

Bhutto, Benazir /ˈbo͞otō/

(1953–2007), Pakistani stateswoman; prime minister 1988–90 and 1993–96; daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. She was the first woman prime minister of a Muslim country. She was assassinated in Pakistan while campaigning for re-election as prime minister.

Bhutto, Zulfikar Ali

(1928–79), Pakistani statesman; president 1971–73; prime minister 1973–77. He was ousted by a military coup and executed for conspiring to murder a political rival.

bi /bī/

I. adjective

‹informal› bisexual

• are you both bi?

• I am a bi woman who has been in a relationship with a man.

– origin 1960s: abbreviation.

Bi

symbol

the chemical element bismuth.

BI

abbreviation

Block Island.

bi- /bī / bin-

I. combining form

1. two; having two

• bicolored

• biathlon

• binocular.

2. occurring twice in every one

• biannual

• bimonthly.

3. occurring once in every two

• bicentennial

• biennial.

4. lasting for two

• biennial

• biennium.

5. doubly; in two ways

• biconcave.

6. [Chemistry] a substance having a double proportion of the radical, group, etc., indicated by the simple word

• bicarbonate

• binoxalate.

7. [Botany] [Zoology] (of division and subdivision) twice over

• bipinnate.

– origin from Latin, earlier dui-, related to Greek di- ‘two’ and Sanskrit dvi- ‘doubly, having two.’ / usage: The meaning of bimonthly (and other similar words such as biweekly and biyearly) is ambiguous. Bimonthly, for instance, can mean either ‘occurring or produced twice a month’ or ‘occurring or produced every two months.’ So, if an organization holds bimonthly meetings, over the course of a year, will it meet six times or twenty-four times? The only way to avoid this ambiguity is to use alternative expressions like every two months and twice a month. See also usage at biennial.

Biafra /bēˈafrə bīˈafrə/

a state that was proclaimed in 1967 when part of southeastern Nigeria, inhabited chiefly by the Ibo people, sought independence from the rest of the country. In the ensuing civil war the new state's troops were overwhelmed by numerically superior forces, and by 1970 it had ceased to exist.

Biafran /bēˈafrən bīˈafrən/

I. adjective

relating to the former state of Biafra, which reunited with Nigeria in 1970

• an unofficial envoy for the Biafran government.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of the former state of Biafra

• I lived with the Biafrans for nine months.

bialy /bēˈälē/

I. noun

(US) a flat bread roll topped with chopped onions.

– origin mid 20th cent.: from Białystok, where the bread originated.

Białystok /byäˈwiˌstôk/

an industrial city in northeastern Poland, close to the border with Belarus; pop. 294,817 (2007).
Russian name Belostok.

biannual /ˌbīˈany(o͞o)əl/

I. adjective

occurring twice a year

• the biannual meeting of the planning committee.

II. derivatives

biannually /ˌbīˈany(o͞o)əlē /

adverb

usage: See usage at biennial.

Biarritz /ˌbēəˈrits, ˈbēəˌrits/

a seaside resort in southwestern France, on the Bay of Biscay; pop. 27,398 (2006).

bias /ˈbīəs/

I. noun

1. prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair

• there was evidence of bias against foreign applicants

• the bias toward younger people in recruitment

• [in sing.] a systematic bias in favor of the powerful.

2. [in sing.] — a concentration on or interest in one particular area or subject

• he worked on a variety of Greek topics, with a discernible bias toward philosophy.

3. [Statistics] a systematic distortion of a statistical result due to a factor not allowed for in its derivation.

4. in some sports, such as lawn bowling, the irregular shape given to a ball.

5. the oblique course taken by a ball as a result of its irregular shape.

6. [Electronics] a steady voltage, magnetic field, or other factor applied to an electronic system or device to cause it to operate over a predetermined range.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (usu. be biased) — cause to feel or show inclination or prejudice for or against someone or something

• readers said the paper was biased toward the conservatives

• the tests were biased against women and minorities.

2. give a bias to

• bias the ball.

III. phrases

cut on the bias

(of a fabric or garment) cut obliquely or diagonally across the grain.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘oblique line’; also as an adjective meaning ‘oblique’): from French biais, from Provençal, perhaps based on Greek epikarsios ‘oblique.’

bias-cut

adjective

(of a garment or fabric) cut obliquely or diagonally across the grain.

biased /ˈbīəst/

adjective

unfairly prejudiced for or against someone or something

• we will not tolerate this biased media coverage.

bias-ply /ˈbīəsˌplī/

adjective

(N. Amer.) (of a tire) having fabric layers with their threads running diagonally, crosswise to each other.
Compare with radial.

bias tape /ˈbīəs ˈbīndiNG / bias binding

noun

a narrow strip of fabric cut obliquely and used to bind edges or for decoration.

biathlon /bīˈaTHˌlän/

I. noun

an athletic contest combining two events, especially cross-country skiing and rifle shooting.

II. derivatives

biathlete /bīˈaTHlēt /

noun

– origin 1950s: from bi- ‘two’ + Greek athlon ‘contest,’ on the pattern of pentathlon. Compare with duathlon.

biaxial /bīˈaksēəl/

adjective

1. having or relating to two axes.

2. (of crystals) having two optic axes, as in the orthorhombic, monoclinic, and triclinic systems.

bib^1 /bib/

I. noun

1. a piece of cloth or plastic fastened around a person's neck to keep their clothes clean while eating.

2. the part above the waist of the front of an apron or pair of overalls.

3. a loose-fitting, sleeveless garment worn for identification, especially by competitors and officials at sporting events.

4. a patch of color on the throat of a bird or other animal

• a black bird with a white bib.

II. phrases

one's best bib and tucker

‹informal› one's finest clothes.

– origin late 16th cent.: probably from bib^2.

bib^2 /bib/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› drink (something alcoholic).

– origin late Middle English: probably from Latin bibere ‘to drink.’

bibber /ˈbibər/

noun — [usu. in combination]

1. a person who regularly drinks a particular drink

• a wine-bibber.

bibb lettuce /ˈbib ˌledis / Bibb

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a variety of butterhead lettuce that has crisp dark-green leaves.

– origin late 19th cent.: named after Jack Bibb (1789–1884), the American horticulturalist who developed it.

bibcock /ˈbibkäk/

I. noun

a faucet with a bent nozzle fixed at the end of a pipe.

– origin late 18th cent.: perhaps from bib^1 and cock^1.

bibelot /ˈbib(ə)ˌlō/

I. noun

a small, decorative ornament or trinket.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French, fanciful formation based on bel ‘beautiful.’

bibimbap /ˈbēbimˌbap/

I. noun

a Korean dish consisting of rice topped with sautéed vegetables, chili paste, and beef or other meat, sometimes with the addition of a raw or fried egg.

– origin Korean, literally ‘mixed rice.’

bibl. Bibl.

abbreviation

biblical.

Bible /ˈbībəl/

I. noun

1. the Christian scriptures, consisting of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments.

2. (the Bible) — the Jewish scriptures, consisting of the Torah or Law, the Prophets, and the Hagiographa or Writings.

3. (also bible) — a copy of the Christian or Jewish scriptures

• clutching a large black Bible under his arm.

4. a particular edition or translation of the Bible

• the New English Bible.

5. (bible) — ‹informal› any authoritative book

• “Larousse Gastronomique,” the bible of French cooking.

6. the scriptures of any religion.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from ecclesiastical Latin biblia, from Greek biblia ‘books,’ from biblion ‘book,’ originally a diminutive of biblos ‘papyrus, scroll,’ of Semitic origin.

Bible-believing

I. adjective

having faith in the absolute authority of the Bible, especially in a fundamentalist or conservative way

• a Bible-believing creationist.

II. derivatives

Bible believer

noun

Bible Belt /ˈbībəl belt/

noun — (the Bible Belt)

1. ‹informal› those areas of the southern and midwestern US and western Canada where Protestant fundamentalism is widely practiced.

Bible-thumping /ˈbībəlˌTHəmpiNG/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. denoting a person who expounds or follows the teachings of the Bible in an aggressively evangelical way

• a Bible-thumping evangelical Protestant.

II. derivatives

Bible-thumper /ˈbībəlˌTHəmpər /

noun

biblical /ˈbiblik(ə)l / Biblical, bibl., Bibl.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or contained in the Bible

• the biblical account of creation

• biblical times.

2. resembling the language or style of the Bible

• there is a biblical cadence in the last words he utters.

3. very great; on a large scale

• we need rainfall of biblical proportions to bring us back to normal.

biblically /ˈbiblik(ə)lē/

adverb

1. in a way that accords with or relates to the Bible

• a biblically grounded objection

• teach them to think biblically.

2. [as submodifier] — to a great extent

• a biblically idiotic haircut.

biblicist /ˈbibləsəst/

I. noun

one who interprets the Bible literally.

II. derivatives

biblicism /-ˌsizəm /

noun

biblio-

I. combining form

relating to a book or books

• bibliomania

• bibliophile.

– origin from Greek biblion ‘book.’

bibliog.

abbreviation

bibliography.

bibliographic /ˌbiblēəˈɡrafik / bibliographical

I. adjective

relating to bibliography

• researchers can now search the bibliographic records

• detailed bibliographical references.

II. derivatives

bibliographically /ˌbiblēəˈɡrafik /

adverb

bibliography /ˌbiblēˈäɡrəfē / bibliog.

I. noun

1. a list of the books referred to in a scholarly work, usually printed as an appendix.

2. a list of the books of a specific author or publisher, or on a specific subject

• a bibliography of his publications.

3. the history or systematic description of books, their authorship, printing, publication, editions, etc.

• he regarded bibliography as a science.

II. derivatives

1. bibliographer /ˌbiblēˈäɡrəfər /

noun

2. bibliographical /ˈˌbiblēəˈɡrafəkəl /

adjective

– origin early 19th cent.: from French bibliographie or modern Latin bibliographia, from Greek biblion ‘book’ + -graphia ‘writing.’

bibliolater /ˌbiblēˈälədər/

I. noun

1. a person who extravagantly admires a book or books

• maybe literature doesn't really have the power that bibliolaters like to claim.

2. a person who interprets the Bible on an extremely literal level

• bibliolaters would point to this passage as an amazing example of prophecy.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from biblio- + -later.

bibliolatry /ˌbiblēˈälətrē/

I. noun

1. an excessive adherence to the literal interpretation of the Bible.

2. an excessive love of books.

II. derivatives

bibliolatrous /-ˈälətrəs /

adjective

bibliomancy /ˈbiblēəˌmansē/

noun

‹rare› foretelling the future by interpreting a randomly chosen passage from a book, especially the Bible.

bibliomania /ˌbiblēəˈmānēə/

I. noun

passionate enthusiasm for collecting and possessing books.

II. derivatives

bibliomaniac /ˌbiblēəˈmānēˌak /

noun, adjective

bibliophile /ˈbiblēəˌfīl/

I. noun

a person who collects or has a great love of books.

II. derivatives

1. bibliophilic /ˌbiblēəˈfilik /

adjective

2. bibliophily /ˌbiblēˈäfəlē /

noun

– origin early 19th cent.: from French, from Greek biblion ‘book’ + philos ‘loving.’

bibliopole /ˈbiblēəˌpōl/

I. noun

‹archaic› a person who buys and sells books, especially rare ones.

– origin late 18th cent.: via Latin from Greek bibliopōlēs, from biblion ‘book’ + pōlēs ‘seller.’

bibliotheca /ˌbiblēəˈTHēkə/

noun

1. a library.

2. a list of books in a catalog, especially for use by a bookseller.

bibliotherapy /ˌbiblēəˈTHerəpē/

noun

the use of books as therapy in the treatment of mental or psychological disorders.

bibliotics /ˌbiblēˈädiks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the study of documents, handwriting, and writing materials to determine authenticity.

II. derivatives

1. bibliotic

noun

2. bibliotist /ˈbiblēətist /

noun

bib overalls

noun

(N. Amer.) see overall (noun).

bibulous /ˈbibyələs/

I. adjective

‹formal› excessively fond of drinking alcohol.

– origin late 17th cent. (in the sense ‘absorbent’): from Latin bibulus ‘freely or readily drinking’ (from bibere ‘to drink’) + -ous.

bicameral /ˌbīˈkamərəl/

I. adjective

(of a legislative body) having two branches or chambers.

II. derivatives

bicameralism /-ˌlizəm /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from bi- ‘two’ + Latin camera ‘chamber’ + -al.

bicarb /ˌbīˈkärb/

noun

‹informal› sodium bicarbonate.

bicarbonate /bīˈkärbəˌnāt bīˈkärbəˌnət/

noun

1. [Chemistry] a salt containing the anion HCO_3–.

2. (also bicarbonate of soda) — [Chemistry] sodium bicarbonate.

bice /bīs / blue bice, bice blue

I. noun

a medium blue pigment made from basic copper carbonate.

– origin Middle English (originally in the sense ‘dark or brownish gray’): from Old French bis ‘dark gray.’

bicentenary /ˌbīsenˈtenərē bīˈsen(t)əˌnerē/

noun, adjective

another term for bicentennial.

bicentennial /ˌbīsənˈtenēəl/

I. noun

the two-hundredth anniversary of a significant event

• last year's commemoration of the bicentennial of Mozart's birth.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of or relating to a two-hundredth anniversary

• the bicentennial celebrations.

bicephalous /bīˈsefələs/

I. adjective

having two heads.

– origin early 19th cent.: from bi- ‘two’ + Greek kephalē ‘head’ + -ous.

biceps /ˈbīˌseps/

I. noun

1. a muscle having two points of attachment at one end, in particular

2. (also biceps brachii ) — the large muscle in the upper arm that turns the hand to face palm uppermost and flexes the arm and forearm

• he clenched his fist and exhibited his bulging biceps.

3. (also biceps femoris ) — [Anatomy] the muscle in the back of the thigh that helps to flex the leg.

II. derivatives

bicep

adjective

• bicep curls

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘two-headed,’ from bi- ‘two’ + -ceps (from caput ‘head’).

bichir /ˈbiSHir/

I. noun

an elongated African freshwater fish with an armor of hard shiny scales and a series of separate fins along its back.
[Genus Polypterus, family Polypteridae: several species, including P. senegalus.]

– origin 1960s: via French from dialect Arabic abu shīr.

Bichon Frisé /ˈbēSHän friˈzā, ˈfrēz, ˈbēSHôN frēˈzā / Bichon Frise

noun

a small sturdy dog of a breed with a curly white coat and a tail that curves over its back.

bichromate /bīˈkrōmāt/

adjective

another term for dichromate.

bicipital /bīˈsipədl/

adjective

1. two-headed.

2. of or relating to biceps.

bicker /ˈbikər/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. argue about petty and trivial matters

• whenever the phone rings, they bicker over who must answer it

• (as noun bickering) the constant bickering between Edgar and his mother.

2. ‹literary› (of water) flow or fall with a gentle repetitive noise; patter

• against the glass the rain did beat and bicker.

3. (of a flame or light) flash, gleam, or flicker

• the restless wheels whose flashing spokes bicker and burn.

– origin Middle English: of unknown origin.

bicoastal /ˌbīˈkōst(ə)l/

adjective

(US) living on, taking place in, or involving two coasts, especially the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the US

• a bicoastal businessman

• a bicoastal custody settlement.

bicolor /ˈbīˌkələr/

I. adjective

having two colors

• a male bicolor damselfish.

II. noun

a bicolor blossom or animal.

III. derivatives

bicolored

adjective, noun

biconcave /bīˈkäNGkāv/

adjective

concave on both sides.

biconvex /bīˈkänveks/

adjective

convex on both sides.

bicultural /ˌbīˈkəlCH(ə)rəl/

I. adjective

having or combining the cultural attitudes and customs of two nations, peoples, or ethnic groups

• there is too little recognition of the children's bilingual and bicultural status.

II. derivatives

biculturalism /-ˌlizəm /

noun

bi-curious /bīˈkyo͝orēəs/

I. adjective

(of a heterosexual person) interested in having a sexual experience with a person of the same sex

• gay, bisexual, and bi-curious straight guys advertising on this unique confidential service.

• two of the women voiced their positions as bi-curious, but were still very much interested in men.

– origin 1990s: blend of bisexual and curious.

bicuspid /bīˈkəspəd/

I. adjective

having two cusps or points.

II. noun

a tooth with two cusps, especially a human premolar tooth.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from bi- ‘two’ + Latin cuspis, cuspid- ‘sharp point.’

bicuspid valve

noun

[Anatomy] another term for mitral valve.

bicycle /ˈbīsək(ə)l/

I. noun

a vehicle composed of two wheels held in a frame one behind the other, propelled by pedals and steered with handlebars attached to the front wheel.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. ride a bicycle in a particular direction

• they had spent the day bicycling around the island.

III. derivatives

bicyclist /ˈbīsəkləst /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from bi- ‘two’ + Greek kuklos ‘wheel.’

bicycle chain

noun

a chain that transmits the driving power from the pedals of a bicycle to its rear wheel.

bicycle clip

noun

either of a pair of metal clips worn by cyclists around their ankles to prevent their pants legs from becoming entangled in the bicycle chain.

bicycle pump

noun

a portable pump for inflating bicycle tires.

bicycle ricksha

noun

a three-wheeled bicycle for public hire, with a covered seat for passengers behind the driver.

bicyclic /bīˈsīklik, -ˈsik-/

adjective

[Chemistry] having two rings of atoms in its molecule.

bid^1 /bid/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. offer (a certain price) for something, especially at an auction

• a consortium of dealers bid a world record price for a snuff box

• what am I bid?

• [no obj.] guests will bid for pieces of fine jewelry.

2. [no obj.] (bid for) — (of a contractor) offer to do (work) for a stated price; tender for

• nineteen companies have indicated their intention to bid for the contract.

3. [no obj.] (bid for) — make an effort or attempt to achieve

• the two freshmen are bidding for places in the varsity swim team.

4. [Bridge] make a statement during the auction undertaking to make (a certain number of tricks with a stated suit as trumps) if the bid is successful and one becomes the declarer

• North bids four hearts

• [no obj.] with this hand, South should not bid.

II. noun

1. an offer of a price, especially at an auction

• several buyers made bids for the Van Gogh sketches.

2. an offer to buy the shares of a company in order to gain control of it

• a takeover bid.

3. an offer to do work or supply goods at a stated price; a tender.

4. an attempt or effort to achieve something
[with infinitive]

• an investigation would be carried out in a bid to establish what had happened

• she did not hesitate to help him make a bid for the presidency.

5. [Bridge] an undertaking by a player in the auction to make a stated number of tricks with a stated suit as trumps.

– origin Old English bēodan ‘to offer, command,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bieden and German bieten.

bid^2 /bid/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. utter (a greeting or farewell) to

• a chance to bid farewell to their president.

2. ‹archaic› ‹literary› command or order (someone) to do something

• I did as he bade me.

3. invite (someone) to do something

• he bade his companions enter.

II. phrases

bid fair to

‹archaic› ‹literary› seem likely to

• the girl bade fair to be pretty.

– origin Old English biddan ‘ask,’ of Germanic origin; related to German bitten.

bidarka /bīˈdärkə/

I. noun

a canoe covered with animal skins, used by the Inuit of Alaska and adjacent regions.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Russian baĭdarka, diminutive of baĭdara ‘an umiak.’

bid caller

noun

one who announces the bids and recognizes bidders at an auction.

biddable /ˈbidəbəl/

I. adjective

1. meekly ready to accept and follow instructions; docile and obedient.

2. [Bridge] strong enough to justify a bid.

II. derivatives

biddability /ˌbidəˈbilitē /

noun

Biddeford /ˈbidəfərd/

an industrial city in southwestern Maine; pop. 21,435 (est. 2008).

bidden /ˈbidn/

‹archaic› ‹literary› past participle of bid^2.

bidder /ˈbidər/

noun

a person or organization making a formal offer for something, especially at an auction

• she was the highest bidder for this rare portrait

• his government's preferred bidder for the contract.

bidding /ˈbidiNG/

I. noun

1. the offering of particular prices for something, especially at an auction

• their first sale produced a wide range of lots and some energetic bidding

• other companies in the bidding include General Electric.

2. the offers made by bidding in an auction

• from a cautious opener of $30, the bidding soared to $450.

3. (in bridge and whist) the action of stating before play how many tricks one intends to make.

4. the ordering or requesting of someone to do something

• the clandestine associations that would act at their bidding

• [in sing.] I never needed a second bidding.

II. phrases

do someone's bidding

do what someone orders or requests, typically in a way considered overly slavish.

bidding paddle

noun

a paddle-shaped baton, usually marked with an identifying number, used to signal bids at auctions.

bidding prayer /bidiNG ˈprāər/

noun

a prayer in the form of an invitation by a minister or leader to the congregation to pray about something.

biddy /ˈbidē/

I. noun

‹informal› a woman, usually an elderly one regarded as annoying or interfering

• the old biddies were muttering in his direction.

– origin early 17th cent. (originally denoting a chicken): of unknown origin; probably influenced by the use of biddy denoting an Irish maidservant, from Biddy, nickname for the given name Bridget.

bide /bīd/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹archaic› ‹dialect› remain or stay somewhere

• how long must I bide here to wait for the answer?

II. phrases

bide one's time

wait quietly for a good opportunity to do something

• she bided her time, patiently reading a magazine and planning her escape.

– origin Old English bīdan, of Germanic origin.

Biden, Joe /ˈbīdn/

(1942–) US vice president since 2009; full name Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. A Delaware Democrat, he served in the US Senate 1973–2009.

bidet /bəˈdā/

I. noun

a low oval basin used for washing one's genital and anal area.

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘horse’): from French, literally ‘pony,’ from bider ‘to trot,’ of unknown origin.

bidi /ˈbēdē / beedi, biri

I. noun

(in South Asia) a type of cheap cigarette made of unprocessed tobacco wrapped in leaves.

– origin from Hindi bīḍi ‘betel plug, cigar,’ from Sanskrit vīṭikā.

bidirectional /ˌbīdəˈrekSH(ə)n(ə)l ˌbīˌdīˈrekSH(ə)n(ə)l/

adjective

functioning in two directions.

bidonville /ˌbēdôNˈvēl, biˈdôNˌvēl/

I. noun

a shanty town built of oil drums or other metal containers, especially on the outskirts of a North African city.

– origin 1950s: from French, from bidon ‘container for liquids’ + ville ‘town.’

bid price /ˈbid ˌprīs/

noun

the price that a dealer or other prospective buyer is prepared to pay for securities or other assets.
Often contrasted with offering price.

Biedermeier /ˈbēdərˌmīər/

I. adjective

denoting or relating to a style of furniture and interior decoration current in Germany in the period 1815–48, characterized by restraint, conventionality, and utilitarianism.

– origin from the name of Gottlieb Biedermeier, a fictitious German provincial schoolmaster and poet created by German satirist Ludwig Eichrodt (1827–92) in 1854.

Bielefeld /ˈbēləˌfeld/

an industrial city in western Germany, in North Rhine–Westphalia; pop. 325,800 (est. 2006).

Bien Hoa /ˌbyen ˈhwä/

an industrial city in southern Vietnam, north of Ho Chi Minh City; pop. 446,400 (est. 2009). A major US airbase was here during the Vietnam War.

biennale /ˌbēenˈälā/

I. noun

a large art exhibition or music festival, usually one held biennially.

– origin 1930s (used originally as the name of an international art exhibition held in Venice): from Italian, literally ‘biennial.’

biennial /bīˈenēəl/

I. adjective

1. taking place every other year

• summit meetings are normally biennial.

2. (especially of a plant) living or lasting for two years.

II. noun

1. a plant that takes two years to grow from seed to fruition and die.
Compare with annual, perennial.

2. an event celebrated or taking place every two years.

III. derivatives

biennially /bīˈenēəlē /

adverb

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin biennis (from bi- ‘twice’ + annus ‘year’) + -al. / usage: Biennial and biannual are often confused. Biennial means 'occurring every two years' (the biennial Ryder Cup tournament), while biannual means 'twice a year' (the solstice is a biannual event). See also bi-.

biennium /bīˈenēəm/

I. noun — (usu. the biennium)

1. a specified period of two years

• the budget for the next biennium.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Latin, from bi- ‘twice’ + annus ‘year.’

bien pensant /ˈbyen pänˌsänt/

I. adjective

right-thinking; orthodox.

II. noun — (bien-pensant)

1. a right-thinking or orthodox person.

– origin French, from bien ‘well’ + pensant, present participle of penser ‘think.’

bier /ˈbir/

I. noun

a movable frame on which a coffin or a corpse is placed before burial or cremation or on which it is carried to the grave.

– origin Old English bēr, of Germanic origin; related to German Bahre, also to bear^1.

Bierce, Ambrose /bi(ə)rs/

(1842–c. 1914), US writer, best known for his sardonic short stories that include "An Occurrence at Owk Creek Bridge" (1891) and his satirical treatment of the English language in The Devil's Dictionary (1911); full name Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce. In 1913, he traveled to Mexico and mysteriously disappeared.

biface /ˈbīfās/

noun

[Archaeology] a type of prehistoric stone implement flaked on both faces.

bifacial /bīˈfāSHəl/

adjective

1. having two faces, in particular

2. [Botany] (of a leaf) having upper and lower surfaces that are structurally different.

3. [Archaeology] (of a flint or other artifact) worked on both faces.

biff /bif / ‹informal›

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. strike (someone) roughly or sharply, usually with the fist

• he biffed me on the nose.

II. noun

a sharp blow with the fist.

– origin mid 19th cent.: symbolic of a short sharp movement.

biffy /ˈbifē/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a toilet or outhouse

• a little path leads from the back door of the house to the biffy

• the kid was too young to go to the biffy on his own.

bifid /ˈbīfid/

I. adjective

[Botany] [Zoology] (of a part of a plant or animal) divided by a deep cleft or notch into two parts

• a bifid leaf

• the gut is bifid.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin bifidus, from bi- ‘doubly’ + fidus (from findere ‘to split’).

bifilar /bīˈfīlər/

I. adjective

consisting of or involving two threads or wires.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from bi- ‘two’ + filum ‘thread’ + -ar^1.

biflagellate /bīˈflajəlit, -ˌlāt/

adjective

having two flagella

• various types of biflagellate spermatozoa.

bifocal /ˈbīˌfōk(ə)l/

I. adjective

(usually of a pair of eyeglasses) having lenses each with two parts with different focal lengths, one for distant vision and one for near vision.

II. noun — (bifocals)

1. a pair of eyeglasses having lenses with two parts with different focal lengths.

bifold /ˈbīfōld/

adjective

double or twofold.

bifunctional /bīˈfəNG(k)SH(ə)n(ə)l/

adjective

1. having two functions.

2. [Chemistry] having two highly reactive binding sites in each molecule

• bifunctional enzymes retain stable levels of activity.

bifurcate

I. verb — /ˈbīfərˌkāt /

1. divide into two branches or forks
[no obj.]

• just below Cairo the river bifurcates

• [with obj.] the trail was bifurcated by a mountain stream.

II. adjective — /bīˈfərkāt bīˈfərkət /

1. forked; branched

• a bifurcate tree.

– origin early 17th cent.: from medieval Latin bifurcat- ‘divided into two forks,’ from the verb bifurcare, from Latin bifurcus ‘two-forked,’ from bi- ‘having two’ + furca ‘a fork.’

bifurcation /ˌbīfərˈkāSHən/

noun

1. the division of something into two branches or parts

• the bifurcation of the profession into social do-gooders and self-serving iconoclasts.

2. either of two branches into which something divides

• right aortic bifurcation nodes were seen.

big /biɡ/

I. adjective

1. of considerable size, extent, or intensity

• big hazel eyes

• big buildings

• big cuts in staff.

2. [attrib.] — of a large or the largest size

• my big toe.

3. grown up

• I'm a big girl now.

4. elder

• my big sister.

5. [attrib.] — ‹informal› doing a specified action very often or on a very large scale

• a big eater

• a big gambler.

6. ‹informal› on an ambitiously large scale

• a small company with big plans.

7. showing great enthusiasm

• a big tennis fan

• he tells me the Inuits of the Arctic are very big on Jim Reeves.

8. (big with) — ‹archaic› advanced in pregnancy

• my wife was big with child

• ‹figurative› a word big with fate.

9. of considerable importance or seriousness

• it's a big decision

• Mark's biggest problem is money

• he made a big mistake.

10. ‹informal› popular or exciting interest among the public

• Latino bands that are big in Los Angeles.

11. ‹informal› holding an important position or playing an influential role

• as a senior in college, he was a big man on campus.

12. [predic.] — ‹informal› ‹often ironic› generous

• “I'm inclined to take pity on you.” “That's big of you!”

II. noun — (the bigs)

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› the major league in a professional sport

• the day he made it to the bigs, he forgot every minor league ballpark he ever played in.

III. phrases

1. big bucks

‹informal› large amounts of money, especially as pay or profit

• Emily earns big bucks on Wall Street.

2. the big idea

‹chiefly ironic› a clever or important intention or scheme

• okay, what's the big idea?

3. the big lie

a gross distortion or misrepresentation of the facts, especially when used as a propaganda device by a politician or official body.

4. the big screen

‹informal› the movies

• the play was adapted for the big screen.

5. big shot /ˈbiɡ ˌSHät / big noise

‹informal› an important or influential person.

6. big stick /ˌbiɡ ˈstik /

‹informal› the use or threat of force or power

• the authorities used quiet persuasion instead of a big stick.

7. the Big Three, (Four, etc.)

‹informal› the dominant group of three, four, etc.

• increased competition between the Big Three networks.

8. go over big

‹informal› have a great effect; be a success

• the story went over big with the children.

9. in a big way

‹informal› on a large scale; with great enthusiasm

• he contributed to the project in a big way

• they went for it in a big way.

10. make it big

‹informal› become very successful or famous

• Simon had made it big in the financial world.

11. talk big

‹informal› talk boastfully or overconfidently

• he talked big, blinding her with legal jargon.

12. think big

‹informal› be ambitious

• to trade in a heavyweight world market we must think big.

13. too big for one's britches (or breeches)

‹informal› conceited.

IV. derivatives

1. biggish

adjective

2. bigness /ˈbiɡnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘strong, mighty’): of unknown origin.

big air

noun

‹informal› a high jump in sports such as skateboarding, snowboarding, and BMX.

bigamy /ˈbiɡəmē/

I. noun

the act of going through a marriage ceremony while already married to another person.

II. derivatives

1. bigamist /ˈbiɡəməst /

noun

2. bigamous /ˈbiɡəməs /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French bigamie, from bigame ‘bigamous,’ from late Latin bigamus, from bi- ‘twice’ + Greek -gamos ‘married.’

Big Apple /ˌbiɡ ˈapəl / ‹informal›

(the Big Apple)

1. a name for New York (sense 2):

• she flew into the Big Apple on Thursday.

big band /ˈbiɡ ˌband/

noun

a large group of musicians playing jazz or dance music
[as modifier]

• the big band sound.

Big Bang /biɡ ˈbaNG/

noun

[Astronomy] the rapid expansion of matter from a state of extremely high density and temperature that according to current cosmological theories marked the origin of the universe.
A fireball of radiation at extremely high temperature and density, but occupying a tiny volume, is believed to have formed around 13.7 billion years ago. This expanded and cooled, extremely fast at first, but more slowly as subatomic particles condensed into matter that later accumulated to form galaxies and stars. The galaxies are currently still retreating from one another. What was left of the original radiation continued to cool and has been detected as a uniform background of weak microwave radiation.

Big Bear Lake

a reservoir and recreational center in southern California, in the San Bernardino Mountains, east northeast of Los Angeles.

big beat

noun

popular music with a steady, prominent beat
[as modifier]

• had my big beat box and I was jammin'.

Big Ben

the great clock tower of the Houses of Parliament in London and its bell.

Big Bend National Park

a US national park in a bend of the Rio Grande, in the desert lands of southern Texas on the border with Mexico. In 1975, fossil remains of the pterosaur were discovered here.

Big Bend State

a nickname for the state of Tennessee.

Big Black River

a river in Mississippi that flows 330 miles (530 km) into the Mississippi River near Vicksburg.

Big Board ‹informal›

the New York Stock Exchange.

big-boned

adjective

(of a person or animal) of larger than average build

• a physically imposing man, tall and big-boned.

big box

noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a very large store that sells goods at discount prices, especially one specializing in a particular type of merchandise

• a big box store in the 'burbs.

big-breasted big-bosomed

adjective

(of a woman) having large breasts

• big-breasted fantasy women.

Big Brother /ˈˌbiɡ ˈbrəT͟Hər/

I. noun

a person or organization exercising total control over people's lives.

II. derivatives

Big Brotherism /ˈbrəT͟Hərˌizəm /

noun

– origin 1950s: from the name of the head of state in George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949).

big business /ˈˌbiɡ ˈbiznis/

noun

large-scale or important financial or commercial activity

• the children's toy market is big business now.

big cat /ˌbiɡ ˈkat/

noun

any of the large members of the cat family, including the lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, snow leopard, clouded leopard, cheetah, and cougar.
[Panthera and other genera, family Felidae.]

big crunch

noun

[Astronomy] a contraction of the universe to a state of extremely high density and temperature, hypothesized as a possible scenario for its demise.

Big Daddy Big Chief

noun

‹informal› a person in authority; the head of an organization or enterprise.

big data

noun

[Computing] extremely large data sets that may be analyzed computationally to reveal patterns, trends, and associations, especially relating to human behavior and interactions

• much IT investment is going towards managing and maintaining big data.

big day

noun

1. a very important or significant day

• it was a big day for country music

• the children enjoyed themselves preparing for their big day.

2. a person's wedding day

• wedding shops serve happy couples as they prepare for their big day.

Big Dipper

noun

1. (N. Amer.) a prominent group of seven stars in the constellation Ursa Major (the Great Bear), containing the Pointers that indicate the direction to Polaris.

2. (also big dipper) — (Brit.) a roller coaster.

Big Easy ‹informal›

(the Big Easy)

1. a name for New Orleans.

bigeminy /bīˈjemənē/

I. noun

a cardiac rhythm in which each normal beat is followed by an abnormal one.

II. derivatives

bigeminal /bīˈjemən(ə)l /

adjective

big end /ˌbiɡ ˈend/

noun

(in an engine) the end of the connecting rod that encircles the crankpin.

bi-gender bi-gendered

adjective

denoting or relating to a person whose sense of personal identity encompasses two genders

• she realized that she missed the feminine side of herself and gradually realized that she was bi-gender.

bigeneric /ˌbījəˈnerik/

adjective

[Botany] relating to or denoting a hybrid between two genera.

bigeye /ˈbiɡī/

noun

1. (also bigeye tuna) — a large migratory tuna that is very important to the commercial fishing industry.
[Thunnus obesus, family Scombridae.]

2. a reddish, large-eyed fish that lives in moderately deep waters of the tropical Atlantic and the western Indian Ocean.
Also called catalufa. [Priacanthus arenatus, family Priacanthidae.]

Bigfoot /ˈbiɡfo͝ot/

I. noun

a large, hairy, apelike creature resembling a yeti, supposedly found in northwestern America.
Also called Sasquatch.

– origin so named because of the size of its footprints.

big game /biɡ ɡām/

noun

large animals hunted for sport
[as modifier]

• a big-game hunter.

biggie /ˈbiɡē/

I. noun

‹informal› a big, important, or successful person or thing

• composers including most of the biggies like Brahms, Wagner, or Mendelssohn.

II. phrases

no biggie

‹informal› used to indicate that something is of little consequence

• no biggie, no one will know.

– origin 1920s: from big + -ie.

biggity /ˈbiɡədē / ‹US informal› biggety

I. adjective

conceited, self-important, or boastful

• we had no truck with biggity Yankees.

II. adverb

rudely; impudently

• so that's why you talked to him so biggity.

big government

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) government perceived as excessively interventionist and intruding into all aspects of the lives of its citizens.

big hair

noun

‹informal› a bouffant hairstyle, typically one that has been teased, permed, or sprayed to create volume.

bighead /ˈbiɡˌhed/

noun

‹informal› a conceited or arrogant person.

big-headed /ˈbiɡˌhedəd/

I. adjective

‹informal› conceited or arrogant

• I'm trying not to get too big-headed.

II. derivatives

big-headedness /ˈbiɡˌhedədnəs /

noun

big-hearted /ˌbiɡˈhärdəd/

adjective

(of a person or action) kind and generous.

bighorn /ˈbiɡhôrn / American bighorn sheep

noun

a stocky brown North American wild sheep, found especially in the Rocky Mountains.
Also called mountain sheep. [Ovis canadensis, family Bovidae.]

Bighorn Mountains /ˌbiɡhôrn ˈmount(ə)nz/

a range of the Rocky Mountains in Montana and Wyoming. The Bighorn River flows along its west side.

big house

noun

(US) ‹informal› a prison

• he's doing a stint in the big house.

bight /bīt/

I. noun

1. a curve or recess in a coastline, river, or other geographical feature.

2. a loop of rope, as distinct from the rope's ends.

– origin Old English byht ‘a bend or angle,’ of Germanic origin; related to bow^2.

Big Island

a popular name for the island of Hawaii.

big league

I. noun

1. a group of teams in a professional sport, especially baseball, competing for a championship at the highest level
[as modifier]

• big league teams.

2. (the big league) — ‹informal› a very successful or important group

• the film brought him into the movie world's big league.

II. derivatives

big leaguer

noun

big media

noun — [treated as sing. or pl.]

1. the main means of mass communication (i.e., television, radio, and the press), as opposed to blogs or other personal websites.

bigmouth /ˈbiɡmouTH/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› an indiscreet or boastful person.

2. Another term for largemouth bass; see black bass.

II. derivatives

bigmouthed

adjective

Big Muddy

a popular name for the Missouri River, whose waters are muddier than those of the Mississippi River.

big name /biɡ ˈnām/

noun

‹informal› a person who is famous in a certain sphere

• he's a big name in gymnastics.

bigorexia /ˌbiɡəˈreksēə/

I. noun

informal term for muscle dysmorphia.

II. derivatives

bigorexic

adjective, noun

– origin 1980s: from big + Greek orexis ‘appetite,’ on the pattern of anorexia.

bigot /ˈbiɡət/

I. noun

a person who is intolerant toward those holding different opinions

• don't let a few small-minded bigots destroy the good image of the city.

• he was a fanatical bigot.

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting a superstitious religious hypocrite): from French, of unknown origin.

bigoted /ˈbiɡədəd/

adjective

having or revealing an obstinate belief in the superiority of one's own opinions and a prejudiced intolerance of the opinions of others

• a bigoted group of reactionaries

• a thoughtless and bigoted article.

bigotry /ˈbiɡətrē/

I. noun

intolerance toward those who hold different opinions from oneself

• the difficulties of combating prejudice and bigotry.

– origin late 17th cent.: from bigot, reinforced by French bigoterie.

bigram /ˈbīɡram/

noun

[Linguistics] a pair of consecutive written units such as letters, syllables, or words.

• the method of encipherment required the message to be written in bigrams.

big rig

noun

‹informal› another term for tractor-trailer.

Big Rip

I. noun

a theory about the end of the universe holding that the accelerating forces driving its expansion will eventually rend all currently organized matter.

– origin early 21st cent.: on the pattern of Big Bang.

big science

noun

‹informal› scientific research that is expensive and involves large teams of scientists.

Big Sioux River

a river in South Dakota and Iowa that flows for 420 miles (680 km) to the Missouri River.

Big Sky Country

a nickname for the state of Montana.

Big Spring

a city in west Texas, an oil industry center northeast of Midland; pop. 24,270 (est. 2008).

Big Sur /ˌbiɡ ˈsər/

a scenic locality in west central California, south of Monterey on the Pacific coast.

big tent

noun

used in reference to a political party's policy of permitting or encouraging a broad spectrum of views among its members

• the struggle to change Wyoming takes place inside the Republican Party and its “big tent.”

Big Thicket

a forested area in eastern Texas, north of Beaumont, noted for its biological diversity.

big-ticket /ˈbiɡ ˈtikit/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› constituting a major expense

• big-ticket items such as cars, houses, and expensive vacations.

big time /ˈbiɡ ˈˌtīm / ‹informal›

I. noun — (the big time)

1. the highest or most successful level in a career, especially in entertainment

• a bit-part actor who finally made the big time in Hollywood.

II. adverb

on a large scale; to a great extent

• this time they've messed up big time.

III. derivatives

big-timer

noun

big top /ˌbiɡ ˈtäp/

noun

the main tent in a circus.

big tree

noun

(N. Amer.) another term for giant redwood (see redwood).

bigwig /ˈbiɡˌwiɡ/

noun

‹informal› an important person, usually in a particular sphere. Also called big wheel.

Bihar /bēˈhär/

a state in northeastern India; capital, Patna.

Bihari /bəˈhärē/

I. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Bihar.

2. a group of three closely related Indic languages, Bhojpuri, Maithili, and Magahi, spoken principally in Bihar.

II. adjective

of or relating to Bihar, its peoples, or their languages.

– origin from Hindi Bihārī.

bijou /ˈbēZHo͞o bēˈZHo͞o/

I. adjective

(especially of a residence or business establishment) small and elegant

• the greasy spoons have given way to bijou restaurants.

II. noun

‹archaic› a jewel or trinket.

– origin French, from Breton bizou ‘finger ring,’ from biz ‘finger.’

bijouterie /bēˈZHo͞odərē/

I. noun

jewelry or trinkets

• strewn about were bric-a-brac and bijouterie.

– origin French, from bijou.

bikable /ˈbīkəb(ə)l / bikeable

adjective

(of an environment) suitable or safe for cyclists

• bikable urban neighborhoods

• Detroit is flat and eminently bikable.

bike /bīk/

I. noun

a bicycle or motorcycle

• I'm going by bike

• [as modifier] a bike ride.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹informal› ride a bicycle or motorcycle

• we hope to encourage as many people as possible to bike to work

• (as noun biking) the terrain is perfect for biking.

– origin late 19th cent.: abbreviation.

bike lane

noun

a division of a road marked off with painted lines, for use by cyclists.

bike path

noun

a path or road for bicycles and not motor vehicles.

biker /ˈbīkər/

noun

1. ‹informal› a motorcyclist, especially one who is a member of a motorcycle gang or club
[as modifier]

• her biker boyfriend.

2. ‹informal› a cyclist

• a mountain biker.

bike shorts

plural noun

skintight knee-length shorts made of a stretch fabric, of a kind originally designed to be worn by cyclists.

bikeway /ˈbīkwā/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a path or lane for the use of bicycles.

bikini /biˈkēnē/

I. noun

1. a very brief two-piece swimsuit for women.

2. (also bikinis) — scanty underpants.

– origin 1940s: named after Bikini, where an atomic bomb was exploded in 1946 (because of the supposed ‘explosive’ effect created by the garment).

Bikini /biˈkēnē/

an atoll in the Marshall Islands, in the western Pacific Ocean, used by the US 1946–58 as a site for testing nuclear weapons.

bikini line /biˈkēnē līn/

noun

the area of skin around the edge of the bottom half of a bikini, used especially with reference to the cosmetic removal of the pubic hair in this area.

bikini wax

noun

a cosmetic treatment in which unwanted pubic hair is removed from the bikini line by applying hot wax and then peeling off the wax and hair together.

Biko, Steve /ˈbēkō/

(1946–77), South African radical leader; full name Stephen Biko. He was banned from political activity in 1973. After his death in police custody, he became a symbol of heroic resistance to apartheid.

Bikol /biˈkōl / Bicol

I. noun

1. a member of an indigenous people of southeastern Luzon in the Philippines.

2. the Austronesian language of the Bikol.

II. adjective

relating to the Bikol or their language.

Bikram yoga /ˌbikram ˈyōɡə/

I. noun

‹trademark› a type of hatha yoga characterized by a set series of postures and breathing exercises, performed in a room heated to a very high temperature.

– origin named after the Indian yoga teacher Bikram Choudhury (1946–), who developed it.

BIL

I. noun

‹informal› a person's brother-in-law

• my grandmother's sister married her BIL.

– origin 1960s: abbreviation.

bilabial /ˌbīˈlābēəl/

I. adjective

[Phonetics] (of a speech sound) formed by closure or near closure of the lips, as in p, b, m, w.

II. noun

a consonant sound formed by closure or near closure of the lips.

bilateral /ˌbīˈladərəl/

I. adjective

1. having or relating to two sides; affecting both sides

• bilateral hearing is essential for sound location.

2. involving two parties, usually countries

• the recently concluded bilateral agreements with Japan.

II. derivatives

bilaterally /ˌbīˈladərəlē /

adverb

bilateral symmetry

noun

the property of being divisible into symmetrical halves on either side of a unique plane.

bilayer /ˈbīˌlāər/

noun

[Biochemistry] a film two molecules thick (formed, e.g., by lipids), in which each molecule is arranged with its hydrophobic end directed inward toward the opposite side of the film and its hydrophilic end directed outward.

Bilbao /bilˈbou/

a seaport and industrial city in northern Spain; pop. 353,340 (2008).

bilberry /ˈbilˌberē/

I. noun

1. a hardy dwarf shrub closely related to the blueberry, with red drooping flowers and dark blue edible berries.
[Genus Vaccinium, family Ericaceae: several species, including the tundra bilberry (V. uliginosum).]

2. the small blue edible berry of the bilberry plant.

– origin late 16th cent.: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare with Danish bøllebær.

bilbo /ˈbilbō/

I. noun

a sword used in former times, noted for the temper and elasticity of its blade.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Bilboa, an earlier English form of the name Bilbao, noted for the manufacture of fine blades.

bilboes /ˈbilbōz/

I. plural noun

an iron bar with sliding shackles formerly used for confining a prisoner's ankles.

– origin mid 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

Bildungsroman /ˈbildo͝oNGzrōˌmän, ˈbēldo͝oNGks-/

I. noun

a novel dealing with one person's formative years or spiritual education.

– origin German, from Bildung ‘education’ + Roman ‘a novel.’

bile /bīl/

I. noun

1. a bitter greenish-brown alkaline fluid that aids digestion and is secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder.

2. anger; irritability

• that topic is sure to stir up plenty of bile.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French, from Latin bilis.

bile duct /ˈbīl ˌdəkt/

noun

the duct that conveys bile from the liver and the gallbladder to the duodenum.

bi-level /ˈbī levəl/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. having or functioning on two levels; arranged on two planes

• the unit's bi-level design keeps water in the sink.

2. (N. Amer.) denoting a style of two-story house in which the lower story is partially sunk below ground level, and the main entrance is between the two stories; split-level.

3. denoting a railroad passenger coach or a bus with seats on two levels.

II. noun

(N. Amer.) a bi-level house

• a three-bedroom bi-level.

bilge /bilj/

I. noun

1. the area on the outer surface of a ship's hull where the bottom curves to meet the vertical sides.

2. (bilges) — the lowest internal portion of the hull.

3. (also bilgewater) — dirty water that collects inside the bilges.

4. ‹informal› nonsense; rubbish

• romantic bilge dreamed up by journalists.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› break a hole in the bilge of (a ship)

• she was hopelessly bilged, her back broken.

– origin late 15th cent.: probably a variant of bulge.

bilge keel /ˈbilj ˌkēl/

noun

each of a pair of plates or timbers fastened under the sides of the hull of a ship to provide lateral resistance to the water, prevent rolling, and support its weight in dry dock.

bilharzia /ˌbilˈhärzēə/

I. noun

1. a chronic disease, endemic in parts of Africa and South America, caused by infestation with blood flukes (schistosomes).
Also called bilharziasis or schistosomiasis.

2. the fluke (schistosome) itself.

– origin mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, former name of the genus Schistosoma, named after T. Bilharz (1825–62), the German physician who discovered the parasite.

bilharziasis /ˌbilˌhärˈzīəsəs/

noun

[Medicine] another term for bilharzia (the disease).

biliary /ˈbilēˌerē/

I. adjective

[Medicine] of or relating to bile or the bile duct.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French biliaire, from bile ‘bile.’

bilinear /bīˈlinēər/

adjective

1. [Mathematics] ‹rare› of, relating to, or contained by two straight lines.

2. [Mathematics] of, relating to, or denoting a function of two variables that is linear and homogeneous in both independently.

bilingual /ˌbīˈliNGɡwəl/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) speaking two languages fluently

• a bilingual secretary.

2. (of a text or an activity) written or conducted in two languages

• bilingual dictionaries

• bilingual education.

3. (of a country, city, or other community) using two languages, especially officially

• the town is virtually bilingual in Dutch and German.

II. noun

a person fluent in two languages.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin bilinguis, from bi- ‘having two’ + lingua ‘tongue’ + -al.

bilingualism /ˌbīˈliNGɡwəlizəm/

noun

fluency in or use of two languages

• his proficient bilingualism

• earlier ads' playful bilingualism.

bilious /ˈbilyəs/

I. adjective

1. affected by or associated with nausea or vomiting

• I had eaten something that didn't agree with me and I was a little bilious.

2. (of a color) lurid or sickly

• a bilious olive hue.

3. spiteful; bad-tempered

• outbursts of bilious misogyny.

4. [Physiology] of or relating to bile.

II. derivatives

1. biliously

adverb

2. biliousness /ˈbilyəsnəs /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘biliary’): from Latin biliosus, from bilis ‘bile.’

bilirubin /ˌbiləˈro͞obin/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] an orange-yellow pigment formed in the liver by the breakdown of hemoglobin and excreted in bile.

– origin late 19th cent.: coined in German from Latin bilis ‘bile’ + ruber ‘red’ + -in^1.

biliverdin /ˌbiləˈvərdn, ˈbiliˌvərdn/

noun

[Biochemistry] a green pigment excreted in bile. It is an oxidized derivative of bilirubin.

bilk /bilk / ‹informal›

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. obtain or withhold money from (someone) by deceit or without justification; cheat or defraud

• government waste has bilked the taxpayer of billions of dollars.

2. obtain (money) fraudulently

• some businesses bilk thousands of dollars from unsuspecting elderly consumers.

3. ‹archaic› evade; elude

• I ducked into the pantry, bilking Edward for the third time this week.

II. derivatives

bilker

noun

– origin mid 17th cent. (originally used in cribbage meaning ‘spoil one's opponent's score’): perhaps a variant of balk.

bill^1 /bil/

I. noun

1. an amount of money owed for goods supplied or services rendered, set out in a printed or written statement of charges

• he was running up a bill of hundreds of dollars

• the bill for their meal came to $17.

2. a draft of a proposed law presented to parliament for discussion

• a debate over the civil rights bill.

3. a program of entertainment, especially at a theater

• she was top of the bill at America's leading vaudeville house.

4. (N. Amer.) a banknote; a piece of paper money

• a ten-dollar bill.

5. a poster or handbill

• the circus promoters were posting bills all over town.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (usu. be billed) — list (a person or event) in a program

• they were billed to appear but didn't show up.

2. (bill someone/something as) — describe someone or something in a particular, usually promotional, way, especially as a means of advertisement

• he was billed as “the new Sean Connery.”

3. send a note of charges to (someone)

• we shall be billing them for the damage caused

• [with two objs.] he had been billed $3,000 for his license.

4. charge (a sum of money)

• we billed her $400,000.

III. phrases

1. fit (or fill) the bill

be suitable for a particular purpose

• a partner is an ally or a companion, and you don't seem to fit the bill.

2. foot (or pick up) the bill

see foot (sense 1 of the verb).

IV. derivatives

billable

adjective

– origin Middle English (denoting a written list or catalog): from Anglo-Norman French bille, probably based on medieval Latin bulla ‘seal, sealed document’ (see also bull^2).

bill^2 /bil/

I. noun

1. the beak of a bird, especially when it is slender, flattened, or weak, or belongs to a web-footed bird or a bird of the pigeon family.

2. the muzzle of a platypus.

3. the point of an anchor fluke.

4. (N. Amer.) a stiff brim at the front of a cap.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of birds, especially doves) stroke bill with bill during courtship.

III. phrases

bill and coo

‹informal› exchange caresses or affectionate words; behave or talk in a very loving or sentimental way.

– origin Old English bile, of unknown origin.

bill^3 /bil/

I. noun

a medieval weapon like a halberd with a hook instead of a blade.

– origin Old English bil; related to German Bille ‘ax.’

billabong /ˈbiləˌbôNG/

I. noun

(Austral.) a branch of a river forming a backwater or stagnant pool, made by water flowing from the main stream during a flood.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Wiradhuri bilabang (originally as the name of the Bell River, New South Wales), from billa ‘water’ + bang ‘channel that is dry except after rain.’

billboard /ˈbilbôrd/

noun

a large outdoor board for displaying advertisements.

billbug /ˈbilˌbəɡ/

noun

a typically large weevil that feeds on various grasses and grains.
[Genus Sphenophorus, subfamily Rhynchophorinae, family Curculionidae: numerous species, including the maize billbug (S. maidis), which can cause serious damage to corn plants and can harm or kill poultry by clamping onto the bird's throat or tongue.]

billed /bild/

adjective — [in combination]

1. having a beak or bill of a specified kind

• black-billed and yellow-billed cuckoos.

Billerica /bilˈrikə/

a town in northeastern Massachusetts, south of Lowell; pop. 41,844 (est. 2008).

billet^1 /ˈbilit/

I. noun

a place, usually a civilian's house or other nonmilitary facility, where soldiers are lodged temporarily.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. lodge (soldiers) in a particular place, especially a civilian's house or other nonmilitary facility

• he didn't belong to the regiment billeted at the hotel.

– origin late Middle English (originally denoting a short written document): from Anglo-Norman French billette, diminutive of bille (see bill^1). The verb is recorded in the late 16th cent., and the noun sense ‘a written order requiring a householder to lodge the bearer, usually a soldier,’ from the mid 17th cent.; hence the current meaning.

billet^2 /ˈbilit/

I. noun

1. a thick piece of wood.

2. a small bar of metal for further processing.

3. [Architecture] each of a series of short cylindrical pieces inserted at intervals in decorative hollow moldings.

4. [Heraldry] a rectangle placed vertically as a charge.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French billette and billot, diminutives of bille ‘tree trunk,’ from medieval Latin billa, billus ‘branch, trunk,’ probably of Celtic origin.

billet-doux /ˈbilā ˈdo͞o/

I. noun

‹dated› ‹humorous› a love letter.

– origin late 17th cent.: French, literally ‘sweet note.’

billfish /ˈbilfiSH/

noun

a large, fast-swimming fish of open seas, with a streamlined body and a long, pointed, spearlike snout. It occurs on the surface in warmer waters and is a popular sporting fish.
[Family Istiophoridae: three genera and several species, including the marlins, sailfish, and spearfishes.]

billfold /ˈbilˌfōld/

noun

(N. Amer.) a wallet, typically made of leather, especially a thin one with few compartments.

billhook /ˈbilˌho͝ok/

noun

a tool with a sickle-shaped blade with a sharp inner edge, used for pruning or lopping branches or other vegetation.

billiard /ˈbilyərd/

I. noun

1. [usu. treated as sing.] (billiards) — a game usually for two people, played on a billiard table, in which three balls are struck with cues into pockets around the edge of the table

• play billiards at home

• (as modifier billiard) a billiard ball

• billiard room.

2. (in full English billiards) — a game played on a billiard table with pockets, in which points are made by caroms, pocketing an object ball, or caroming the cue ball into a pocket.

3. a stroke in which the cue ball strikes two balls successively.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French billard, denoting both the game and the cue, diminutive of bille (see billet^2).

billiard table

noun

1. a smooth rectangular cloth-covered table used for billiards and some forms of pool, with six pockets at the corners and sides into which the balls can be struck.

2. a table similar to a billiard table but without pockets used for playing carom billiards.

billing /ˈbiliNG/

noun

1. the action or fact of publicizing or being publicized in a particular way

• they can justify their billing as the American League favorites.

2. prominence in publicity, especially as an indication of importance

• he shared top billing with his wife.

3. the process of making out or sending invoices

• faster, more accurate order fulfillment and billing.

4. the total amount of business conducted in a given time, especially that of an advertising agency

• the account was worth about $2 million a year in billings.

Billings /ˈbiliNGz/

a commercial city in south central Montana, the state's largest city; pop. 103,994 (est. 2008).

Billings method

I. noun

a system for finding the time of ovulation by examining cervical mucus. It can be used as a form of birth control by avoiding sexual intercourse at that time.

– origin 1960s: named after Drs. John and Evelyn Billings, who devised the method.

billion /ˈbilyən/

I. cardinal number

1. the number equivalent to the product of a thousand and a million; 1,000,000,000 or 10^9

• a world population of over 6 billion

• half a billion dollars.

2. (billions) — ‹informal› a very large number or amount of something

• our immune systems are killing billions of germs right now.

3. a billion dollars (or pounds, etc.)

• the problem persists despite the billions spent on it.

4. ‹dated› (chiefly Brit.) a million million (1,000,000,000,000 or 10^12).

II. derivatives

billionth /ˈbilyənTH /

ordinal number

– origin late 17th cent.: from French, from million, by substitution of the prefix bi- ‘two’ for the initial letters.

billionaire /ˌbilyəˈner/

I. noun

a person possessing assets worth at least a billion dollars (or pounds, etc.).

– origin mid 19th cent.: from billion, on the pattern of millionaire.

Billiton /biˈlēˌtōn/

former name of Belitung.

bill of attainder

noun

see attainder.

bill of exchange /ˈbil əv əksˌCHānj/

noun

a written order to a person requiring the person to make a specified payment to the signatory or to a named payee; a promissory note.

bill of fare

noun

1. ‹dated› a menu.

2. ‹dated› ‹informal› the selection of food available to or consumed by (a person or animal)

• our bill of fare in Alaska included clams, mussels, and herring.

3. ‹dated› a program for a theatrical event.

bill of goods

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a consignment of merchandise.

II. phrases

sell someone a bill of goods

(N. Amer.) deceive someone, usually by persuading them to accept something untrue or undesirable

• she was sold a bill of goods about that dog's pedigree.

bill of health

I. noun

a certificate relating to the incidence of infectious disease on a ship or in the port from which it has sailed.

II. phrases

a clean bill of health

a declaration or confirmation that someone is healthy or that something is in good condition

• a survey gave the property a clean bill of health.

bill of indictment

noun

‹historical› (N. Amer.) a written accusation as presented to a grand jury.

bill of lading

noun

a detailed list of a shipment of goods in the form of a receipt given by the carrier to the person consigning the goods.

Bill of Rights

noun

1. [Law] the first ten amendments to the US Constitution, ratified in 1791 and guaranteeing such rights as the freedoms of speech, assembly, and worship.

2. [Law] the English constitutional settlement of 1689, confirming the deposition of James II and the accession of William and Mary, guaranteeing the Protestant succession, and laying down the principles of parliamentary supremacy.

3. [Law] a formal declaration of the legal and civil rights of the citizens of any state, country, federation, etc.

• international law and the New Zealand Bill of Rights say that everyone has the right to seek asylum if they are found to be persecuted.

4. [Law] a document or piece of legislation setting out the rights or entitlements of a particular group or class of people

• a record label that offers a Bill of Rights for recording artists

• an airline passengers' Bill of Rights.

bill of sale

noun

a certificate of transfer of personal property.

billon /ˈbilən/

I. noun

an alloy formerly used for coinage, containing gold or silver with a predominating amount of copper or other base metal.

– origin early 18th cent.: from French, literally ‘bronze or copper money,’ in Old French ‘ingot,’ from bille (see billet^2).

billow /ˈbilō/

I. noun

1. a large undulating mass of something, typically cloud, smoke, or steam.

2. ‹archaic› a large sea wave.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of fabric) fill with air and swell outward

• her dress billowed out around her.

2. (of smoke, cloud, or steam) move or flow outward with an undulating motion

• smoke was billowing from the chimney.

III. derivatives

1. billowing

adjective

2. billowy /ˈbilōē /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Old Norse bylgja.

billposter /ˈbilˌpōstər/

I. noun

a person who posts advertisements, notices, or posters.

II. derivatives

billposting /ˈbilˌpōstiNG /

noun

billy /ˈbilē/

I. noun

1. short for billy goat.

2. (also billy club) — (N. Amer.) a truncheon; a cudgel.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Billy, nickname for the given name William.

billy goat /ˈbilē ɡōt/

noun

a male goat.

bilobed /bīˈlōbd / bilobate

adjective

having or consisting of two lobes.

bilocation /ˌbīlōˈkāSHən/

noun

the supposed phenomenon of being in two places simultaneously.

Biloxi /biˈləksē, -ˈläksē/

a city in southeastern Mississippi, on the Gulf of Mexico; pop. 45,670 (est. 2008). It is a noted fishing and tourist center.

biltong /ˈbilˌtôNG/

I. noun

(chiefly S. African) lean meat that is salted and dried in strips.

– origin Afrikaans, from Dutch bil ‘buttock’ + tong ‘tongue.’

bimanual /bīˈmanyəwəl/

I. adjective

performed with both hands.

II. derivatives

bimanually

adverb

bimble /ˈbimbəl / ‹Brit. informal›

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. walk or travel at a leisurely pace

• on Sunday we bimbled around Spitalfields and Brick Lane.

II. noun

a leisurely walk or journey

• we were enjoying a pleasant bimble over the rocks.

– origin 1980s: probably an alteration of bumble.

bimbo /ˈbimbō / bimbette

I. noun

‹informal› an attractive but empty-headed young woman, especially one perceived as a willing sex object.

– origin early 20th cent. (originally in the sense ‘fellow, man’): from Italian, literally ‘little child.’

bimetallic /ˌbīməˈtalik/

I. adjective

1. made or consisting of two metals.

2. ‹historical› of or relating to bimetallism.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French bimétallique, from bi- ‘two’ + métallique ‘metallic.’

bimetallic strip /bīmətalikˈstrip/

noun

a temperature-sensitive electrical contact used in some thermostats, consisting of two bands of different metals joined face to face along their lengths. When heated, the metals expand at different rates, causing the strip to bend.

bimetallism /bīˈmedlˌizəm/

I. noun

‹historical› a system allowing the unrestricted currency of two metals (e.g., gold and silver) as legal tender at a fixed ratio to each other.

II. derivatives

bimetallist /ˌbīˈmedləst /

noun

bimillenary /bīˈmiləˌnerē/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of or relating to a period of two thousand years or a two-thousandth anniversary.

II. noun

a period of two thousand years or a two-thousandth anniversary.

Bimini /ˈbimənē / Biminis

resort islands in the northwestern Bahamas. The legendary Fountain of Youth sought by Ponce de León was thought to be here.

bimodal /bīˈmōdl/

adjective

having or involving two modes, in particular (of a statistical distribution) having two maxima.

bimolecular /ˌbīməˈlekyələr/

adjective

[Chemistry] consisting of or involving two molecules.

bimonthly /ˌbīˈmənTHlē/

I. adjective

occurring or produced twice a month or every two months

• a bimonthly newsletter.

II. adverb

twice a month or every two months

• the magazine appears bimonthly.

III. noun

a periodical produced twice a month or every two months.

usage: On the ambiguity of words like bimonthly, biweekly, etc., see usage at bi-.

bin /bin/

I. noun — [with modifier]

1. a receptacle for storing a specified substance

• a vegetable bin.

2. a receptacle in which to deposit trash or recyclables

• we tossed the soda cans in the bin marked “aluminum only.”

3. [Statistics] each of a series of ranges of numerical value into which data are sorted in statistical analysis.

4. short for loony bin:

• back in the bin, she suffers from dreadful nightmares.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. place (something) in a bin.

2. [Statistics] group together (data) in bins.

– origin Old English bin(n), binne, of Celtic origin; related to Welsh ben ‘cart.’ The original meaning was ‘receptacle’ in a general sense; also specifically ‘a receptacle for provender in a stable’ and ‘a receptacle for storing grain, bread, or other foodstuffs.’ The sense ‘receptacle for trash’ dates from the mid 19th cent.

bin-

prefix

variant spelling of bi- before a vowel (as in binaural).

binary /ˈbīnərē ˈbīˌnərē/

I. adjective

1. relating to, using, or expressed in a system of numerical notation that has 2 rather than 10 as a base.

2. relating to, composed of, or involving two things

• testing the so-called binary, or dual-chemical, weapons.

II. noun

1. the binary system: binary notation

• the device is counting in binary.

2. something having two parts.

3. a binary star.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘duality, a pair’): from late Latin binarius, from bini ‘two together.’

binary code

noun

[Electronics] a coding system using the binary digits 0 and 1 to represent a letter, digit, or other character in a computer or other electronic device.

binary coded decimal BCD

noun

1. [Electronics] a system for coding a number in which each digit of a decimal number is represented individually by its binary equivalent.

2. [Electronics] a number represented as a binary coded decimal.

binary digit

noun

one of two digits (0 or 1) in a binary system of notation.

binary operation

noun

a mathematical operation, such as addition or multiplication, performed on two elements of a set to derive a third element.

binary star /ˈbīnərē ˈbīˌnerē stär/

noun

a system of two stars in which one star revolves around the other or both revolve around a common center.

binary system /ˈbīnərē ˌsistəm ˈbīˌnerē ˌsistəm/

noun

1. a system in which information can be expressed by combinations of the digits 0 and 1.

2. a system consisting of two parts

• the binary system of state and public schools.

3. [Astronomy] a star system containing two stars orbiting around each other.

binary tree

noun

[Computing] a data structure in which a record is linked to two successor records, usually referred to as the left branch when greater and the right when less than the previous record.

binate /ˈbīnāt/

I. adjective

1. [Botany] growing in pairs.

2. [Botany] composed of two equal parts.

– origin early 19th cent.: from modern Latin binatus, from Latin bini ‘two together.’

binational /ˌbīˈnaSH(ə)n(ə)l/

adjective

concerning or consisting of two nations.

binaural /bīˈnôrəl/

adjective

1. of, relating to, or used with both ears

• human hearing is binaural.

2. of or relating to sound recorded using two microphones and usually transmitted separately to the two ears of the listener.

bind /bīnd/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. tie or fasten (something) tightly

• floating bundles of logs bound together with ropes

• the magician bound her wrists with a silk scarf.

2. restrain (someone) by the tying up of hands and feet

• the raider then bound and gagged Mr. Glenn.

3. wrap (something) tightly

• her hair was bound up in a towel.

4. bandage (a wound)

• he cleaned the wound and bound it up with a clean dressing

• she had bound his wounds with a poultice of herbs.

5. (be bound with) — (of an object) be encircled by something, typically metal bands, in order to strengthen it

• an ancient oak chest, bound with brass braces.

6. [Linguistics] (of a rule or set of grammatical conditions) determine the relationship between (coreferential noun phrases).

7. cohere or cause to cohere in a single mass
[with obj.]

• mix the flour with the coconut and enough egg white to bind them

• [no obj.] clay is made up chiefly of tiny soil particles that bind together tightly.

8. cause (painting pigments) to form a smooth medium by mixing them with oil

• use a white that is bound in linseed oil.

9. hold by chemical bonding

• a protein in a form that can bind DNA.

10. [no obj.] (bind to) — combine with (a substance) through chemical bonding

• these proteins have been reported to bind to calmodulin.

11. cause (people) to feel united

• the comradeship that had bound such a disparate bunch of young men together.

12. (bind someone to) — cause someone to feel strongly attached to (a person or place)

• loosened the ties that had bound him to the university.

13. ‹formal› impose a legal or contractual obligation on

• a party who signs a document will normally be bound by its terms.

14. indenture (someone) as an apprentice

• he was bound apprentice at the age of sixteen.

15. (bind oneself) — ‹formal› make a contractual or enforceable undertaking

• the government cannot bind itself as to the form of subsequent legislation.

16. secure (a contract), typically with a sum of money.

17. (be bound by) — be hampered or constrained by

• Sarah did not want to be bound by a rigid timetable.

18. fix together and enclose (the pages of a book) in a cover

• a small, fat volume, bound in red morocco.

19. trim (the edge of a piece of material) with a decorative strip

• a ruffle with the edges bound in a contrasting color.

20. [Logic] (of a quantifier) be applied to (a given variable) so that the variable falls within its scope.
[For example, in an expression of the form ‘For every x, if x is a dog, x is an animal,’ the universal quantifier is binding the variable x.]

II. noun

1. a problematical situation

• he is in a political bind over the welfare issue.

2. ‹formal› a statutory constraint

• the moral bind of the law.

3. (Brit.) [Music] another term for tie.

4. another term for bine.

III. phrases

bind someone hand and foot

see hand.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. bind off

(N. Amer.) cast off in knitting.

2. bind someone over

(usu. be bound over) — (of a court of law) require someone to fulfill an obligation, typically by paying a sum of money as surety

• he was bound over for trial on a felony charge.

– origin Old English bindan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German binden, from an Indo-European root shared by Sanskrit bandh.

binder /ˈbīndər/

noun

1. a thing or person that binds something, in particular

2. a cover for holding loose sheets of paper, magazines, etc., together.

3. a substance that acts cohesively.

4. a reaping machine that binds grain into sheaves.

5. a bookbinder.

binder twine /ˈbīndər twīn/

noun

(in farming) strong cord made from plastic or natural fiber, used in a baling machine or binder to tie hay and straw bales.

bindery /ˈbīndərē/

noun

a workshop or factory in which books are bound.

bindi /ˈbindē/

I. noun

a decorative mark worn in the middle of the forehead by Indian women.

– origin from Hindi bindī.

bindi-eye /ˈbindiˌī/

I. noun

a small perennial Australian plant of the daisy family that has a burlike fruit.
[Calotis cuneifolia, family Compositae.]

– origin early 20th cent.: perhaps from an Aboriginal language.

binding /ˈbīndiNG/

I. noun

1. a strong covering holding the pages of a book together.

2. fabric such as braid used for binding the edges of a piece of material.

3. (also ski binding) — a mechanical device fixed to a ski to grip a ski boot, especially either of a pair used for downhill skiing that hold the toe and heel of the boot and release it automatically in a fall.

4. the action of fastening, holding together, or being linked by chemical bonds

• the binding of antibodies to cell surfaces.

5. (in Chomskyan linguistics) the relationship between a referentially dependent form (such as a reflexive) and the independent noun phrase that determines its reference.

II. adjective

(of an agreement or promise) involving an obligation that cannot be broken

• business agreements are intended to be legally binding.

binding energy

noun

[Physics] the energy that holds a nucleus together, equal to the mass defect of the nucleus.

binding post

noun

[Electronics] a connector consisting of a threaded screw to which bare wires are attached and held in place by a nut.

bindlestiff /ˈbindəlˌstif/

I. noun

(US) ‹informal› a tramp or a hobo, especially one carrying a bundle containing a bedroll and other gear.

– origin early 20th cent.: probably from an alteration of bundle + stiff (in the sense ‘useless person’).

bindweed /ˈbīn(d)wēd/

noun

1. a twining plant with trumpet-shaped flowers. Several kinds are invasive weeds.
[Genera Convolvulus and Calystegia, family Convolvulaceae: several species, including the widespread hedge bindweed (or wild morning glory) (Calystegia sepium).]

2. used in names of twining plants similar to bindweed, e.g., black bindweed.

bine /bīn/

I. noun

a long flexible stem of a climbing plant, especially the hop.

– origin early 19th cent.: originally a dialect form of bind.

Binet, Alfred /bəˈnā/

(1857–1911), French psychologist. He devised a mental age scale that described performance in relation to the average performance of students of the same physical age. With psychiatrist Théodore Simon (1873–1961), he was responsible for a pioneering system of intelligence tests.

Binet–Simon scale /bəˌnāˈsīmən ˌskāl/

noun

the measurement of intelligence by the application of a test (see Binet–Simon test) consisting of tasks and problems graded in terms of mental age.

Binet–Simon test /biˌnāˈsīmən ˌtest / Binet test

noun

[Psychology] a test used to measure intelligence, especially that of children.

bing /biNG/

I. exclamation

indicating a sudden action or event

• Bing! They've hit you with something.

– origin late 19th cent. (originally dialect in the sense ‘sudden bang’): imitative.

Bing, Sir Rudolf /biNG/

(1902–97), British opera conductor and manager; born in Austria. He was conductor and director of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City 1950–72. In 1955, he hired Marian Anderson, ending the Met's unwritten ban against African Americans. He was knighted in 1971.

Bing cherry /ˈbiNG ˌCHerē/

noun

a large heart-shaped cherry, juicy, sweet and dark blackish-red.

binge /binj / ‹informal›

I. noun

a short period devoted to indulging in an activity to excess, especially drinking alcohol or eating

• he went on a binge and was in no shape to drive

• a spending binge.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. indulge in an activity, especially eating, to excess

• some dieters say they cannot help binging on chocolate

• (as noun binging) her secret binging and vomiting.

III. derivatives

binger

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

binge-drink

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. consume an excessive amount of alcohol in a short period of time

• if you don't allow alcohol to be served at a stadium, fans will just go out and binge-drink before the game.

II. derivatives

binge drinker

noun

binge drinking /ˈbin(d)ZH ˌdriNGkiNG/

noun

the consumption of an excessive amount of alcohol in a short period of time

• teenagers as young as 16 admit to binge drinking.

binge-eat

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. consume large quantities of food in a short period of time, typically as part of an eating disorder

• I started to binge-eat and feast on junk foods

• [with obj.] I'd diet for five days, then binge-eat a week's worth of food in one day.

II. derivatives

binge eater

noun

binge eating

noun

the consumption of large quantities of food in a short period of time, typically as part of an eating disorder.

binge-eating syndrome

noun

see bulimia.

binge-purge syndrome

noun

see bulimia.

binge-watch binge-view

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› watch multiple episodes of (a television program) in rapid succession, typically by means of DVDs or digital streaming

• you can binge-watch the entire season with this set.

II. derivatives

binge watcher binge viewer

noun

– origin 1990s: on the pattern of binge-drink, binge-eat.

binge watching binge viewing

noun

the practice of watching multiple episodes of a television program in rapid succession, typically by means of DVDs or digital streaming

• people who watch television online say they regularly indulge in binge watching.

Bingham, George Caleb /ˈbiNGəm/

(1811–79), US artist. His paintings of the US frontier include The Fur Traders Descending the Missouri (1845), The Trappers Return (1851), and The County Election (1851–52).

Binghamton /ˈbiNGəmtən/

an industrial city in south central New York, on the Susquehanna River, near the Pennsylvania border; pop. 44,729 (est. 2008).

bingo /ˈbiNGɡō/

I. noun

a game in which players mark off numbers on cards as the numbers are drawn randomly by a caller, the winner being the first person to mark off five numbers in a row or another required pattern.

II. exclamation

1. used to express satisfaction or surprise at a sudden positive event or outcome

• bingo, she leapfrogged into a sales trainee position.

2. a call by someone who wins a game of bingo.

– origin 1920s (as an interjection): of unknown origin.

binky /ˈbiNGkē / binkie

noun — ( in the US)

1. ‹trademark› a pacifier

• Daniel lay in his carriage, happily sucking a binky.

bin Laden, Osama /ˌbin ˈlädn/

(1957–2011), Islamic militant, born in Saudi Arabia. He was regarded as the founder of al-Qaeda and the mastermind behind the September 11 terrorist attacks. Following the attacks, he went into hiding, but was tracked down and killed by US special forces in Pakistan.

binnacle /ˈbinəkəl/

I. noun

a built-in housing for a ship's compass.

– origin late 15th cent. (as bittacle): from Spanish bitácula, bitácora or Portuguese bitacola, from Latin habitaculum ‘dwelling place,’ from habitare ‘inhabit.’ The change to binnacle occurred in the mid 18th cent.

binocs /bəˈnäks/

plural noun

‹informal› short for binoculars.

binocular /bəˈnäkyələr/

I. adjective

adapted for or using both eyes

• a binocular microscope.

– origin early 18th cent. (in the sense ‘having two eyes’): from Latin bini ‘two together’ + oculus ‘eye,’ on the pattern of ocular.

binoculars /bəˈnäkyələrz/

I. plural noun

an optical instrument with a lens for each eye, used for viewing distant objects.

– origin late 19th cent.: plural of binocular.

binocular vision

noun

vision using two eyes with overlapping fields of view, allowing good perception of depth.

binomial /bīˈnōmēəl/

I. noun

1. [Mathematics] an algebraic expression of the sum or the difference of two terms.

2. a two-part name, especially the Latin name of a species of living organism (consisting of the genus followed by the specific epithet).

3. [Grammar] a noun phrase with two heads joined by a conjunction, in which the order is relatively fixed (as in knife and fork).

II. adjective

1. [Mathematics] consisting of two terms.

2. of or relating to a binomial or to the binomial theorem.

3. having or using two names, used especially of the Latin name of a species of living organism.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French binôme or modern Latin binomium (from bi- ‘having two’ + Greek nomos ‘part, portion’) + -al.

binomial distribution

noun

[Statistics] a frequency distribution of the possible number of successful outcomes in a given number of trials in each of which there is the same probability of success.

binomial nomenclature /bīˈnōmēəl ˈnōmənˌklāCHər/

noun

[Biology] the system of nomenclature in which two terms are used to denote a species of living organism, the first one indicating the genus and the second the specific epithet.
Compare with systematic name.

binomial theorem /bīˈnōmēəl ˈTHēərəm ˈTHirəm/

noun

a formula for finding any power of a binomial without multiplying at length.

binturong /binˈto͝orôNG/

I. noun

a tree-dwelling Asian civet with a coarse blackish coat and a muscular prehensile tail.
[Arctictis binturong, family Viverridae.]

– origin early 19th cent.: from Malay.

binucleate /bīˈn(y)o͞oclēit, -ˌāt/

adjective

having two nuclei.

bio^1 /ˈbīō / ‹informal›

I. noun

a biography or short biographical profile of someone

• the latest in a series of unauthorized bios.

II. adjective

biographical

• it was excluded from her official bio material.

– origin 1920s: abbreviation.

bio^2 /ˈbīō / ‹informal›

I. noun

(US) biology

• I majored in bio and I'm waiting to see about med school.

II. adjective

biological

• studying the effects of bio treatment

• he's never met his bio dad.

– origin 1940s: abbreviation.

bio- /ˈbīō/

I. combining form

1. of or relating to life

• biosynthesis.

2. biological; relating to biology

• biohazard.

3. of living beings

• biogenesis.

4. relating to or involving the use of toxic biological or biochemical substances as weapons of war

• bioterrorism.

– origin from Greek bios ‘(course of) human life.’ The sense is extended in modern scientific usage to mean ‘organic life.’

bioaccumulate /ˌbīōəˈkyo͞omyəlāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a substance) become concentrated inside the bodies of living things.

II. derivatives

bioaccumulation /-ˌkyo͞omyəˈlāSHən /

noun

bioacoustics /ˌbīōəˈko͞ostiks/

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the branch of acoustics concerned with sounds produced by or affecting living organisms, especially as relating to communication.

bioactive /ˌbīōˈaktiv/

I. adjective

(of a substance) having a biological effect.

II. derivatives

bioactivity /-akˈtivitē /

noun

bioadhesive /ˌbīōadˈhēsiv, -ziv/

I. noun

an adhesive substance produced by or obtained from living organisms, or used on living tissue.

II. adjective

having the properties of a bioadhesive.

• bioadhesive polymers.

bioarchaeology /ˌbīōˌärkēˈäləjē / bioarcheology

I. noun

the study of bones and other biological materials found in archaeological remains in order to provide information about human life or the environment in the past

• he recommended that the skeletons be reinterred after being studied by experts in bioarchaeology.

II. derivatives

1. bioarchaeological

adjective

2. bioarchaeologist

noun

bioassay /ˌbīōəˈsā/

I. noun

measurement of the concentration or potency of a substance by its effect on living cells or tissues.

– origin early 20th cent.: from bio- ‘life’ + assay.

bioastronautics /ˌbīōˌastrəˈnôdiks/

noun

the study of the effects of space flight on living organisms.

bioavailability /ˌbīōˌəvāləˈbilədē/

I. noun

[Physiology] the proportion of a drug or other substance that enters the circulation when introduced into the body and so is able to have an active effect.

II. derivatives

bioavailable /-əˈvāləbəl /

adjective

biobank /ˈbīōˌbaNGk/

noun

a large collection of biological or medical data and tissue samples, amassed for research purposes.

• biobanks are a powerful tool in the study of complex diseases.

biobibliography /ˌbīōˌbiblēˈäɡrəfē/

noun

a bibliography containing biographical information about the author(s).

biocatalyst /ˌbīōˈkadələst/

I. noun

a substance, such as an enzyme or hormone, that initiates or increases the rate of a chemical reaction.

II. derivatives

biocatalytic /ˌbīōˌkatlˈitik /

adjective

biocenosis /ˌbīōsəˈnōsəs / biocoenosis

I. noun

[Ecology] an association of different organisms forming a closely integrated community.

– origin late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from bio- ‘life’ + Greek koinōsis ‘sharing’ (from koinos ‘common’).

biocentrism /ˌbīōˈsentrizəm/

I. noun

the view or belief that the rights and needs of humans are not more important than those of other living things.

II. derivatives

1. biocentric /-trik /

adjective

2. biocentrist

noun

biochar /ˈbīōˌCHär/

I. noun

charcoal produced from plant matter and stored in the soil as a means of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

– origin 1990s: blend of biomass and charcoal.

biochemical oxygen demand /ˌbīōˌkeməkəl ˈäksəjən diˌmand / BOD

noun

the amount of dissolved oxygen that must be present in water in order for microorganisms to decompose the organic matter in the water, used as a measure of the degree of pollution.
Also called biological oxygen demand.

biochemist /ˌbīōˈkeməst/

noun

an expert in or student of the branch of science concerning the chemical processes occurring within living organisms

• a new study by biochemists at Iowa State University.

biochemistry /ˌbīōˈkeməstrē/

I. noun

1. the branch of science concerned with the chemical and physicochemical processes that occur within living organisms.

2. biochemical processes

• abnormal brain biochemistry.

II. derivatives

1. biochemical /ˈˌbīōˈkeməkəl /

adjective

2. biochemically

adverb

biochip /ˈbīōˌCHip/

noun

1. a microchip intended to function in a biological environment, especially inside a living organism.

2. a logical device analogous to the silicon chip, whose components are formed from biological molecules or structures.

biocide /ˈbīəˌsīd/

I. noun

1. a poisonous substance, especially a pesticide.

2. the destruction of life

• our whims have brought us to the brink of biocide.

II. derivatives

biocidal /ˌbīəˈsīdl /

adjective

– origin 1940s: from bio- ‘life’ + -cide.

biocircuit /ˈbīōˌsərkət/

I. noun

an integrated circuit incorporating biological molecules or structures.

II. derivatives

biocircuitry /ˌbīōˈsərkitrē /

noun

bioclimatic /ˌbīōklīˈmadik/

adjective

[Ecology] of or relating to the interrelation of climate and the activities and distribution of living organisms.

bioclimatology /ˌbīōˌklīməˈtäləjē/

I. noun

the study of climate in relation to living organisms and especially to human health.

II. derivatives

bioclimatological /-ˌklīmətlˈäjikəl /

adjective

biocompatible /ˌbīōkəmˈpadəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

(especially of materials used in surgical implants) not harmful to living tissue.

II. derivatives

biocompatibility /-ˌpatəˈbilitē /

noun

biocomputer /ˈbīōkəmˌpyo͞odər/

noun

1. a hypothetical computer based on circuits and components formed from biological molecules or structures that would be smaller and faster than an equivalent computer built from semiconductor components.

2. a human being, or the human mind, regarded as a computer.

biocomputing /ˌbīōkəmˈpyo͞odiNG/

noun

1. the design and construction of computers using biochemical components.

2. an approach to programming that seeks to emulate or model biological processes.

3. computing in a biological context or environment.

biocontrol /ˌbīōkənˈtrōl/

noun

short for biological control.

bioconversion /ˌbīōkənˈvərZH(ə)n/

noun

the conversion of organic matter, such as animal or plant waste, into a source of energy through the action of microorganisms.

biodefense /ˈbīōdiˌfens, ˈbīōˌdēfens/

noun

defensive measures taken to protect against an attack using biological weapons.

• senators say that the government should spend $1.6 billion next year to bolster public health and biodefense.

biodegradable /ˌbīōdəˈɡrādəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

(of a substance or object) capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms.

II. derivatives

biodegradability /ˌbīōdəˌɡrādəˈbilədē /

noun

biodegrade /ˌbīōdəˈɡrād/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a substance or object) be decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms

• most plastics will not biodegrade at all.

II. derivatives

biodegradation /ˌbīōˌdeɡrəˈdāSH(ə)n /

noun

biodiesel /ˈbīōˌdēzəl ˈbīōˌdēsəl/

noun

a biofuel intended as a substitute for diesel.

biodiverse /ˌbīōdiˈvərs, ˌbīōdī-/

adjective

(of a habitat or region) having a high level of biodiversity

• Australia is one of the most biodiverse regions on earth.

biodiversity /ˌbīōdiˈvərsədē ˌbīōˌdīˈvərsədē/

noun

the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

biodynamics /ˌbīōdīˈnamiks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the study of physical motion or dynamics in living systems.

2. a method of organic farming involving such factors as the observation of lunar phases and planetary cycles and the use of incantations and ritual substances.

II. derivatives

biodynamic /ˌbīōdīˈnamik /

adjective

bioelectric /ˌbīōˌəˈlektrik/

I. adjective

of or relating to electricity or electrical phenomena produced within living organisms.

II. derivatives

bioelectrical

adjective

bioelectronics /ˌbīōilekˈträniks/

I. plural noun — [usu. treated as sing.]

1. the study and application of electronics in medicine and biological processes.

2. the integration of biological principles in electronic technology

• the impact of bioelectronics on computer hardware.

II. derivatives

1. bioelectronic

adjective

2. bioelectronically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

bioenergetics /ˌbīōˌenərˈjediks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the study of the transformation of energy in living organisms.

2. a system of alternative psychotherapy based on the belief that emotional healing can be aided through resolution of bodily tension.

II. derivatives

bioenergetic

adjective

bioenergy /ˌbīōˈenərjē/

noun

renewable energy produced by living organisms.

bioengineering /ˌbīōˌenjəˈniriNG/

I. noun

1. another term for genetic engineering.

2. the use of artificial tissues, organs, or organ components to replace damaged or absent parts of the body, such as artificial limbs and heart pacemakers.

3. the use in engineering or industry of biological organisms or processes.

II. derivatives

bioengineer

noun, verb

bioethanol /ˌbīōˈeTHənôl/

noun

ethanol produced from plants such as sugar cane or corn, used as an alternative to gasoline.

bioethics /ˌbīōˈeTHiks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the ethics of medical and biological research.

II. derivatives

1. bioethical /-ˈeTHikəl /

adjective

2. bioethicist /-ˈeTHəsist /

noun

biofeedback /ˌbīōˈfēdbak/

noun

the use of electronic monitoring of a normally automatic bodily function in order to train someone to acquire voluntary control of that function.

biofilm /ˈbīōˌfilm/

noun

a thin, slimy film of bacteria that adheres to a surface.

bioflavonoid /ˌbīōˈflāvənoid/

noun

any of a group of compounds occurring mainly in citrus fruits and black currants, formerly regarded as vitamins.

biofouling /ˈbīōˌfouliNG/

noun

the fouling of pipes and underwater surfaces by organisms such as barnacles and algae.

biofuel /ˈbīōˌfyo͞o(ə)l/

noun

a fuel derived directly from living matter.

biogas /ˈbīōˌɡas/

noun

gaseous fuel, especially methane, produced by the fermentation of organic matter.

biogeneric /ˌbīōjəˈnerik/

I. noun, adjective

another term for biosimilar:

• the advent of biogenerics could cause biotech companies to withhold more information about their products

• biogeneric versions of off-patent medicines.

– origin 1990s: from bio- + generic.

biogenesis /ˌbīōˈjenəsəs/

I. noun

1. the synthesis of substances by living organisms.

2. ‹historical› the hypothesis that living matter arises only from other living matter.

II. derivatives

biogenetic /ˌbīōjəˈnedik /

adjective

biogenetic law /ˌbīōjəˌnedik ˈlô/

noun

the theory that evolutionary stages are repeated in the growth of a young animal.
Also called recapitulation theory.

biogenic /ˌbīōˈjenik/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. produced or brought about by living organisms

• biogenic sediments.

biogeochemical /ˌbīōˌjēōˈkemək(ə)l/

I. adjective

relating to or denoting the cycle in which chemical elements and simple substances are transferred between living systems and the environment.

II. derivatives

1. biogeochemist /-ˈkemist /

noun

2. biogeochemistry /-ˈkeməstrē /

noun

biogeography /ˌbīōjēˈäɡrəfē/

I. noun

the branch of biology that deals with the geographical distribution of plants and animals.

II. derivatives

1. biogeographer /-fər /

noun

2. biogeographic /-ˌjēəˈɡrafik /

adjective

3. biogeographical /-ˌjēəˈɡrafikəl /

adjective

4. biogeographically

adverb

biographee /bīˌäɡrəˈfē/

noun

one who is the subject of a biography.

biographer /bīˈäɡrəfər/

noun

a person who writes an account of someone's life

• an important biographer of contemporary artists.

biographical /ˌbīəˈɡrafəkəl/

I. adjective

(of data or a written work) dealing with a particular person's life

• biographical information

• biographical books on the Beatles.

II. derivatives

1. biographic /ˌbīəˈɡrafik /

adjective

2. biographically /ˌbīəˈɡrafik /

adverb

biography /bīˈäɡrəfē/

I. noun

1. an account of someone's life written by someone else.

2. biographies as a branch of literature.

3. a human life in its course

• although their individual biographies are different, both are motivated by a similar ambition.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French biographie or modern Latin biographia, from medieval Greek, from bios ‘life’ + -graphia ‘writing.’

biohacking /ˈbīōhakiNG/

I. noun

the activity of exploiting genetic material experimentally without regard to accepted ethical standards, or for criminal purposes.

II. derivatives

biohacker

noun

biohazard /ˈbīōˌhazərd/

noun

a risk to human health or the environment arising from biological work, especially with microorganisms.

bioindicator /ˌbīōˈindəˌkādər/

I. noun

an organism whose status in an ecosystem is analyzed as an indication of the ecosystem's heath.

II. derivatives

bioindication /-ˌindiˈkāSHən /

noun

bioinformatics /ˌbīōˌinfərˈmadiks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the science of collecting and analyzing complex biological data such as genetic codes.

II. derivatives

bioinformatic

adjective

Bioko /bēˈōkō/

an island in Equatorial Guinea, in the eastern part of the Gulf of Guinea. Its chief town is Malabo, which is also the capital of Equatorial Guinea. Known as Fernando Póo until 1973, it was called Macias Nguema 1973–79.

biol.

abbreviation

1. biological.

2. biologist.

3. biology.

biologic /ˌbīōˈläjik/

I. adjective

relating to biology; biological.

• there is growing interest in the biologic activities of plant extracts in the treatment of disease.

II. noun — (usu. biologics)

1. another term for biological (noun).

• these natural biologics can be as potent as manufactured drugs.

biological /ˌbīəˈläjək(ə)l / biol.

I. adjective

1. of or relating to biology or living organisms.

2. relating to or involving the use of microorganisms or toxins of biological origin as weapons of war.

3. (of a detergent or other cleaning product) containing enzymes to assist the process of cleaning.

4. (of a member of a person's family) genetically related; related by blood

• the rights of the biological father.

II. noun — (usu. biologicals)

1. a therapeutic substance, such as a vaccine or drug, derived from biological sources

• an international biotechnology company with interests in biologicals, agriculture, and pharmaceutical products.

biological clock /ˈˌbīəˈläjəkəl kläk/

noun

an innate mechanism that controls the physiological activities of an organism that change on a daily, seasonal, yearly, or other regular cycle.

biological control

noun

the control of a pest by the introduction of a natural enemy or predator.

biologically /ˌbīəˈläjiklē/

adverb

1. in a way that concerns biology or living organisms

• the world's most biologically diverse ecosystems.

2. in an inherited or innate way

• biologically rooted instincts.

biological oxygen demand BOD

noun

another term for biochemical oxygen demand.

biological warfare //

noun

the use of toxins of biological origin or microorganisms as weapons of war

• opposed to chemical and biological warfare.

biologism /bīˈäləˌjizəm/

I. noun

the interpretation of human life from a strictly biological point of view.

II. derivatives

biologistic /-ˌäləˈjistik /

adjective

biologist /bīˈäləjəst/

noun

an expert in or student of the branch of science concerning living organisms

• a team of marine biologists.

biology /bīˈäləjē / biol.

I. noun

1. the study of living organisms, divided into many specialized fields that cover their morphology, physiology, anatomy, behavior, origin, and distribution.

2. the plants and animals of a particular area

• the biology of Chesapeake Bay.

3. the physiology, behavior, and other qualities of a particular organism or class of organisms

• human biology.

– origin early 19th cent.: coined in German, via French from Greek bios ‘life’ + -logy.

bioluminescence /ˌbīōˌlo͞oməˈnesəns/

I. noun

1. the biochemical emission of light by living organisms such as fireflies and deep-sea fishes.

2. the light emitted by organisms such as fireflies and deep-sea fishes.

II. derivatives

bioluminescent /-ˈnesənt /

adjective

biomagnetism /ˌbīōˈmaɡnəˌtizəm/

noun

the interaction of living organisms with magnetic fields.

biomagnification /ˌbīōˌmaɡnəfəˈkāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

the concentration of toxins in an organism as a result of its ingesting other plants or animals in which the toxins are more widely disbursed.

II. derivatives

biomagnify

verb

biomarker /ˈbīōˌmärkər/

noun

a measurable substance in an organism whose presence is indicative of some phenomenon such as disease, infection, or environmental exposure

• a biomarker that may predict aggressive disease recurrence in liver transplant recipients.

biomass /ˈbīōˌmas/

noun

1. the total mass of organisms in a given area or volume.

2. organic matter used as a fuel, especially in a power station for the generation of electricity.

biomaterial /ˌbīōməˈtirēəl/

noun

synthetic or natural material suitable for use in constructing artificial organs and prostheses or to replace bone or tissue.

biomathematics /ˌbīōˌmaTHəˈmadiks/

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the science of the application of mathematics to biology.

biome /ˈbīˌōm/

I. noun

[Ecology] a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat, e.g., forest or tundra.

– origin early 20th cent.: from bio- ‘life’ + -ome.

biomechanical

I. adjective

relating to the mechanical laws concerning the movement or structure of living organisms

• a biomechanical advantage

• we do a lot of biomechanical analysis of my running.

II. derivatives

biomechanically

adverb

biomechanics /ˌbīōməˈkaniks/

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the study of the mechanical laws relating to the movement or structure of living organisms.

biomedical /ˌbīōˈmedik(ə)l/

I. adjective

of or relating to both biology and medicine.

II. derivatives

biomedicine /ˌbīəˈmed(ə)s(ə)n /

noun

biometeorology /ˌbīōˌmēdēəˈräləjē/

I. noun

the study of the relationship between living organisms and weather.

II. derivatives

biometeorological /-ərəˈläjikəl /

adjective

biomethane /ˌbīōˈmeTHān/

noun

methane produced by the fermentation of organic matter

• renewable gas in the form of biomethane could be a key contributor to a stable and reliable energy supply.

biometric /ˌbīōˈmetrik/

I. adjective

relating to or involving the application of statistical analysis to biological data

• a biometric passport.

II. derivatives

1. biometrical /ˌbīōˈmetrik /

adjective

2. biometrician /ˌbīōˈmetrik /

noun

biometric reader /ˌbīōˌmetrik ˈrēdər/

noun

an electronic device that determines identity by detecting and matching physical characteristics.

biometrics /ˌbīōˈmetriks/

noun

1. another term for biometry.

2. another term for biostatistics.

biometric signature

noun

the unique pattern of a bodily feature such as the retina, iris, or voice, encoded on an identity card and used for recognition and identification purposes.

biometry /bīˈämətrē/

noun

the application of statistical analysis to biological data.
Also called biometrics.

biomimetic /ˌbīōməˈmedik/

I. adjective

[Biochemistry] relating to or denoting synthetic methods that mimic biochemical processes.

II. derivatives

biomimetics

noun

biomimicry /ˌbīōˈmiməkrē/

noun

the design and production of materials, structures, and systems that are modeled on biological entities and processes.

biomorph /ˈbīəmôrf/

I. noun

1. a decorative form or object based on or resembling a living organism.

2. a graphical representation of an organism generated on a computer, used to model evolution.

II. derivatives

biomorphic /ˌbīōˈmôrfik /

adjective

bionic /bīˈänik/

I. adjective

1. having artificial body parts, especially electromechanical ones.

2. ‹informal› having ordinary human powers increased by the aid of bionic devices (real or fictional)

• working out in gymnasiums to become bionic men.

3. of or relating to bionics.

II. derivatives

bionically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin 1960s: from bio- ‘human,’ on the pattern of electronic.

bionics /bīˈäniks/

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the study of mechanical systems that function like living organisms or parts of living organisms.

bionomics /bīəˈnämiks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the study of the mode of life of organisms in their natural habitat and their adaptations to their surroundings; ecology.

II. derivatives

bionomic

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from bio- ‘life,’ on the pattern of economics.

biopharma /ˈbīōˌfärmə/

noun

1. [usu. as modifier] — biopharmaceutical companies collectively as a sector of industry

• biopharma firms specializing in the development of new cancer drugs.

• Asia-Pacific countries may eventually be the centre for global biopharma.

2. a biopharmaceutical company

• large West Coast biopharmas.

biopharmaceutical /ˌbīōˌfärməˈso͞odək(ə)l/

I. noun — (usu. biopharmaceuticals)

1. a biological macromolecule or cellular component, such as a blood product, used as a pharmaceutical.

II. adjective

relating to biopharmaceuticals, or their preparation, use, or sale

• biopharmaceutical proteins

• the biopharmaceutical industry.

biopharmaceutics /ˌbīōˌfärməˈso͞odiks/

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the study of the chemical and physical properties of drugs and the biological effects they produce.

biopharming /ˈbīōfärmiNG/

noun

another term for pharming (sense 1).

• biopharming is a potential new industry at the boundary between medicine and food.

biophysics /ˌbīōˈfiziks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the science of the application of the laws of physics to biological phenomena.

II. derivatives

1. biophysical /ˌbīōˈfizək(ə)l /

adjective

2. biophysicist /ˌbīōˈfizəsist /

noun

biopic /ˈbīōˌpik/

I. noun

‹informal› a biographical movie.

– origin 1950s: blend of biographical (see biography) and pic.

biopiracy /ˌbīōˈpīrəsē/

noun

bioprospecting that exploits plant and animal species by claiming patents to restrict their general use.

bioplastic /ˌbīōˈplastik/

noun

a type of biodegradable plastic derived from biological substances rather than from petroleum.

biopolymer /ˌbīōˈpäləmər/

noun

a polymeric substance occurring in living organisms, e.g., a protein, cellulose, or DNA.

bioprinter /ˈbīōˌprin(t)ər/

noun

a 3D printer used for bioprinting

• he has designed a prototype bioprinter that makes living cartilage.

bioprinting /ˈbīōˌprin(t)iNG/

noun

the use of 3D printing technology with materials that incorporate viable living cells, e.g. to produce tissue for reconstructive surgery

• welcome to the age of bioprinting, where the machines we've built are building bits and pieces of us.

bioprospecting /ˌbīōˈpräspektiNG/

I. noun

the search for plant and animal species from which medicinal drugs and other commercially valuable compounds can be obtained.

II. derivatives

bioprospector /-ˈpräspektər /

noun

– origin 1990s: from bio(diversity) prospecting.

biopsy /ˈbīˌäpsē/

I. noun

an examination of tissue removed from a living body to discover the presence, cause, or extent of a disease.

– origin late 19th cent.: coined in French from Greek bios ‘life’ + opsis ‘sight,’ on the pattern of necropsy.

biopsychology /ˌbīōsīˈkäləjē/

noun

the branch of psychology concerned with its biological and physiological aspects.

bioreactor /ˌbīōrēˈaktər/

noun

an apparatus in which a biological reaction or process is carried out, especially on an industrial scale.

bioregion /ˈbīōˌrējən/

I. noun

a region defined by characteristics of the natural environment rather than by man-made divisions.

II. derivatives

bioregional /ˈbīōˌrēj(ə)n(ə)l /

adjective

bioregionalism /ˌbīōˈrējənlˌizəm/

I. noun

advocacy of the belief that human activity should be largely restricted to distinct ecological and geographical regions.

II. derivatives

bioregionalist

noun

bioremediation /ˌbīōriˌmēdēˈāSHən/

noun

the use of either naturally occurring or deliberately introduced microorganisms or other forms of life to consume and break down environmental pollutants, in order to clean up a polluted site.

biorhythm /ˈbīōˌriT͟Həm/

I. noun

1. a recurring cycle in the physiology or functioning of an organism, such as the daily cycle of sleeping and waking.

2. a cyclic pattern of physical, emotional, or mental activity said to occur in the life of a person.

II. derivatives

biorhythmic /ˌbīōˈriT͟Hmik /

adjective

BIOS /ˈbīäs/

I. noun

[Computing] a set of computer instructions in firmware that control input and output operations.

– origin acronym from Basic Input-Output System.

biosafety /ˌbīōˈsāftē/

noun

another term for biosecurity.

biosatellite /ˌbīōˈsadlˌīt/

noun

an artificial satellite that serves as an automated laboratory, conducting biological experiments on living organisms.

bioscience /ˈbīōˌsīəns/

I. noun

any of the life sciences.

II. derivatives

bioscientist /ˌbīōˈsīəntist /

noun

biosecurity /ˌbīōsəˈkyo͝orədē/

noun — [often as modifier]

1. procedures intended to protect humans or animals against disease or harmful biological agents

• biosecurity risks.

biosensor /ˈbīōˌsensər/

noun

a device that uses a living organism or biological molecules, especially enzymes or antibodies, to detect the presence of chemicals.

biosimilar /ˌbīōˈsim(ə)lər/

I. noun

a biopharmaceutical drug designed to have active properties similar to one that has previously been licensed

• copycat drug makers use an innovator's research data to make biosimilars.

– origin early 21st cent.: from bio- + similar.

biosocial /ˌbīōˈsōSHəl/

adjective

of or relating to the interaction of biological and social factors.

biosolids /ˈbīōˌsälədz/

plural noun

organic matter recycled from sewage, especially for use in agriculture.

biosphere /ˈbīəˌsfir/

I. noun

the regions of the surface, atmosphere, and hydrosphere of the earth (or analogous parts of other planets) occupied by living organisms.

II. derivatives

biospheric /ˌbīəˈsfi(ə)rik, -ˈsfer- /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: coined in German from Greek bios ‘life’ + sphaira (see sphere).

biostatistics /ˌbīōstəˈtistiks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the branch of statistics that deals with data relating to living organisms.
Also called biometrics.

II. derivatives

1. biostatistical /-tikəl /

adjective

2. biostatistician /-ˌstatəˈstiSHən /

noun

biostratigraphy /ˌbīōstrəˈtiɡrəfē/

I. noun

the branch of stratigraphy concerned with fossils and their use in dating rock formations.

II. derivatives

1. biostratigrapher /-fər /

noun

2. biostratigraphic /-ˌstratiˈɡrafik /

adjective

3. biostratigraphical /-ˌstratiˈɡrafikəl /

adjective

4. biostratigraphically

adverb

biosurgery /ˌbīōˈsərjərē/

noun

the medical use of maggots to clean infected wounds, especially in cases where a patient is resistant to conventional antibiotic treatment.

biosynthesis /ˌbīōˈsinTHəsəs/

I. noun

the production of complex molecules within living organisms or cells.

II. derivatives

biosynthetic /ˌbīōˌsinˈTHedik /

adjective

biosystematics /ˌbīōˌsistəˈmadiks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. taxonomy based on the study of the genetic evolution of plant and animal populations.

II. derivatives

biosystematist /-ˈsistəməˌtist /

noun

biota /bīˈōdə/

I. noun

[Ecology] the animal and plant life of a particular region, habitat, or geological period

• the biota of the river.

– origin early 20th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek biotē ‘life.’

biotech /ˈbīōˌtek/

I. noun

‹informal› short for biotechnology.

II. adjective

‹informal› genetically modified

• biotech corn.

biotechnology /ˌbīōtekˈnäləjē/

noun

the exploitation of biological processes for industrial and other purposes, especially the genetic manipulation of microorganisms for the production of antibiotics, hormones, etc.

biotelemetry /ˌbīōtəˈlemətrē/

I. noun

the detection or measurement of human or animal physiological functions from a distance using a telemeter

• a review of underwater biotelemetry, with emphasis on ultrasonic techniques.

II. derivatives

biotelemetric /-ˌteləˈmetrik /

adjective

bioterrorism /ˌbīōˈterərizəm/

noun

terrorism involving the release of toxic biological agents.

biotherapy /ˌbīōˈTHerəpē/

noun

the treatment of disease using substances obtained or derived from living organisms.

biotic /bīˈädik/

I. adjective

of, relating to, or resulting from living things, especially in their ecological relations

• the preservation of biotic diversity.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French biotique, or via late Latin from Greek biōtikos, from bios ‘life.’

biotin /ˈbīəd(ə)n/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a vitamin of the B complex, found in egg yolk, liver, and yeast. It is involved in the synthesis of fatty acids and glucose.
Also called vitamin H.

– origin 1930s: coined in German from Greek bios ‘life’ + -in^1.

biotite /ˈbīəˌtīt/

I. noun

a black, dark brown, or greenish black variety of mica, occurring in many igneous and metamorphic rocks.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after Jean Baptiste Biot (1774–1862), French mineralogist.

biotope /ˈbīəˌtōp/

I. noun

[Ecology] the region of a habitat associated with a particular ecological community.

– origin 1920s: from German Biotop, based on Greek topos ‘place.’

biotransformation /ˌbīōˌtransfərˈmāSHən/

noun

the alteration of a substance, such as a drug, within the body.

bioturbation /ˌbīōtərˈbāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

[Geology] the disturbance of sedimentary deposits by living organisms.

II. derivatives

bioturbated /-ˈtərbātid /

adjective

biotype /ˈbīōtīp/

noun

a group of organisms having an identical genetic constitution.

biowarfare /ˌbīōˈwôrfer/

noun

biological warfare, including the use of toxins of biological origin or microorganisms as weapons of war.

bioweapon /ˈbīōˌwepən/

noun

a biological weapon

• fears mount about smallpox as a bioweapon.

bipartisan /bīˈpärdəzən/

I. adjective

of or involving the agreement or cooperation of two political parties that usually oppose each other's policies

• educational reform received considerable bipartisan approval.

usage: See usage at cross-party.

bipartisanship /bīˈpärdəz(ə)nˌSHip/

noun

agreement or cooperation between two political parties that usually oppose each other's policies

• a renewed spirit of political bipartisanship.

bipartite /bīˈpärˌtīt/

I. adjective

1. involving or made by two separate parties

• the bipartite system of elementary and secondary schools.

2. ‹technical› consisting of two parts

• a bipartite uterus.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘divided into two parts’): from Latin bipartitus, past participle of bipartire, from bi- ‘two’ + partire ‘to part.’

biped /ˈbīped/

I. noun

an animal that uses two legs for walking.

II. adjective

using two legs for walking.

– origin mid 17th cent. (earlier (early 17th cent.) as bipedal): from Latin bipes, biped- (from bi-‘having two’ + pes, ped-‘foot’).

bipedal /ˌbīˈpēdl ˌbīˈpedl/

I. adjective

[Zoology] (of an animal) using only two legs for walking.

II. derivatives

1. bipedalism /bīˈpedlˌizəm /

noun

2. bipedality /ˌbīpiˈdalitē /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin bipes, biped- (from bi- ‘having two’ + pes, ped- ‘foot’) + -al.

biphasic /bīˈfāzik/

adjective

‹technical› having two phases

• the patient's biphasic recovery curve.

biphenyl /ˌbīˈfen(ə)l/

noun

[Chemistry] an organic compound containing two phenyl groups bonded together, e.g., the PCBs.

bipinnate /bīˈpinˌāt/

adjective

[Botany] (of a pinnate leaf) having leaflets that are further subdivided in a pinnate arrangement.

biplane /ˈbīˌplān/

noun

an early type of aircraft with two pairs of wings, one above the other.

bipod /ˈbīpäd/

noun

a two-legged stand or support.

bipolar /bīˈpōlər/

I. adjective

1. having or relating to two poles or extremities

• a sharply bipolar division of affluent and underclass.

2. relating to or occurring in both North and South polar regions

• bipolar species.

3. (of psychiatric illness) characterized by both manic and depressive episodes, or manic ones only.

4. (of a person) suffering from bipolar disorder.

5. (of a nerve cell) having two axons, one either side of the cell body.

6. [Electronics] (of a transistor or other device) using both positive and negative charge carriers.

II. derivatives

bipolarity /ˌbīpōˈlerədē /

noun

bipolar disorder //

I. noun

a mental disorder marked by alternating periods of elation and depression.

usage: See usage at manic depression.

biracial /ˌbīˈrāSH(ə)l/

adjective

concerning or containing members of two racial groups.

biramous /bīˈrāməs/

I. adjective

[Zoology] (especially of crustacean limbs and antennae) dividing to form two branches.

– origin late 19th cent.: from bi- ‘two’ + ramus + -ous.

birch /bərCH/

I. noun

1. (also birch tree) — a slender, fast-growing tree that has thin bark (often peeling) and bears catkins. Birch trees grow chiefly in north temperate regions, some reaching the northern limit of tree growth.
[Genus Betula, family Betulaceae: many species, including the yellow birch (B. alleghaniensis) of North America.]

2. (also birchwood) — the hard fine-grained pale wood of any of the birch trees.

3. (the birch) — ‹chiefly historical› a formal punishment in which a person is flogged with a bundle of birch twigs.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹chiefly historical› beat (someone) with a bundle of birch twigs as a formal punishment.

III. derivatives

birchen /ˈbərCH(ə)n /

adjective

( — ‹archaic›

– origin Old English bierce, birce, of Germanic origin; related to German Birke.

birchbark /ˈbərCHbärk / birch bark

noun

1. the impervious bark of the North American paper birch, Betula papyrifera, used, especially formerly by American Indians, to make canoes and containers

• stretch the birchbark over a cedar frame

• [as modifier] birchbark baskets.

2. a canoe made of birchbark.

Bircher /ˈbərCHər/

I. noun

a member or supporter of the John Birch Society, a conservative anticommunist American organization founded in 1958.

– origin from the name of John Birch, a Baptist missionary and US Army Air Force officer and called the “first casualty of the Cold War,” killed by Chinese communists in 1945.

bird /bərd/

I. noun

1. a warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrate distinguished by the possession of feathers, wings, and a beak and (typically) by being able to fly.
[Class Aves; birds probably evolved in the Jurassic period from small dinosaurs that may already have been warm-blooded.]

2. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) an aircraft, spacecraft, satellite, or guided missile

• the crews worked frantically to ready their birds for flight.

3. [usu. with adj.] — ‹informal› a person of a specified kind or character

• I'm a pretty tough old bird.

4. (Brit.) ‹informal› a young woman; a girlfriend.

II. phrases

1. a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

‹proverb› it's better to be content with what you have than to risk losing everything by seeking more.

2. the birds and the bees

basic facts about sex and reproduction, as told to a child.

3. birds of a feather flock together

‹proverb› people of the same sort or with the same tastes and interests will be found together

• these health professionals were birds of a feather.

4. eat like a bird

see eat.

5. flip someone the bird

(US) ‹informal› stick one's middle finger up at someone as a sign of contempt or anger, meaning 'fuck you'.
Compare with give someone the finger in finger.

6. (strictly) for the birds

‹informal› not worth consideration; unimportant

• this piece of legislation is for the birds.

7. give someone the bird

(N. Amer.) another way of saying flip someone the bird.

8. have a bird

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› be very shocked or agitated

• the press corps would have a bird if the president-to-be appointed his wife to a real job.

9. kill two birds with one stone

see kill^1.

10. a little bird told me

‹humorous› used to say that the speaker knows something but prefers to keep the identity of the informant a secret

• a little bird told me it was your birthday.

– origin Old English brid ‘chick, fledgling,’ of unknown origin.

Bird, Larry /bərd/

(1956–), US basketball player and coach. He played for the Boston Celtics 1979–92 and coached the Indiana Pacers 1997–2000. Basketball Hall of Fame (1998).

bird banding

I. noun

(N. Amer.) the practice of catching birds, marking them with an identifying band around the leg, and then releasing them.

II. derivatives

bird bander

noun

birdbath /ˈbərdbaTH/

noun

a small basin filled with water for birds to bathe in, typically found in a garden.

birdbrain /ˈbərdˌbrān/

I. noun

‹informal› an annoyingly stupid and shallow person.

II. derivatives

birdbrained /ˈbərdˌbrānd /

adjective

birdcage /ˈbərdˌkāj/

noun

a cage for pet birds, typically made of wire or cane.

bird call /ˈbərd ˌkôl/

noun

1. a note uttered by a bird for the purpose of contact, alarm, or marking its territory.

2. an instrument imitating a bird call, used especially by hunters.

bird cherry

noun

a small wild cherry tree or shrub, with bitter black fruit that is eaten by birds.
[Genus Prunus, family Rosaceae: many species, including the pin cherry (P. pensylvanica) of North America.]

bird colonel

I. noun

‹informal› a full colonel.

– origin mid 20th cent.; from the silver eagle indicating the rank of full colonel.

bird dog /ˈbərd ˈˌdôɡ / ‹N. Amer.›

I. noun

1. a gun dog trained to retrieve birds.

2. ‹informal› a person whose job involves searching, especially a talent scout for a sports team.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. search out or pursue with dogged determination

• he ordered the vice president to bird-dog Congress for funds.

birder /ˈbərdər/

noun

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) a bird-watcher.

bird flu //

noun

a severe, often fatal flu virus of birds, especially poultry, that is transmissible from them to humans.

birdhouse /ˈbərdˌhous/

noun

(N. Amer.) a box, typically made to resemble a house, provided for a bird to make its nest in.

birdie /ˈbərdē/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› a child's term for a bird.

2. [Golf] a score of one stroke under par at a hole.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Golf] play (a hole) with a score of one stroke under par

• she wound up birdieing the hole from 20 feet.

– origin late 18th cent.: diminutive of bird; the golf term from slang bird, denoting any first-rate thing.

birding /ˈbərdiNG/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) the observation of birds in their natural habitats as a hobby.

birdlife /ˈbərdlīf/

noun

birds collectively; the birds of a region

• the birdlife includes herons, dotterels, oystercatchers, and swarms of seagulls.

birdlike /ˈbərdlīk/

noun

resembling a bird in appearance or behavior

• a meticulous, birdlike woman

• a birdlike dinosaur.

birdlime /ˈbərdˌlīm/

I. noun

a sticky substance spread on twigs to trap small birds.

II. verb

1. spread with birdlime

• he birdlimed the branch.

2. catch or trap with birdlime.

bird of paradise

noun

1. (pl. birds of paradise) — a tropical Australasian bird, the male of which is noted for the beauty and brilliance of its plumage and its spectacular courtship display. Most kinds are found in New Guinea, where their feathers are used in ornamental dress.
[early 17th cent.: paradise suggested by the modern Latin family name Paradisaeidae (plural).] [Family Paradisaeidae: numerous genera.]

2. (also bird of paradise flower) — a southern African plant related to the banana. It bears a showy irregular flower with a long projecting tongue.
[late 19th cent.: named from the protrusion of flowers from a green spathe, resembling a bird of paradise in flight.] [Genus Strelitzia, family Strelitziaceae: several species, in particular S. regina, whose orange and dark blue flowers are pollinated by a sunbird.]

bird of passage

noun

1. ‹dated› a migratory bird.

2. ‹dated› a person who passes through or visits a place without staying for long.

bird of prey

noun

a predatory bird, distinguished by a hooked bill and sharp talons; a raptor.
[Orders Falconiformes (the diurnal birds of prey) and Strigiformes (the owls).]

bird pepper

noun

1. a tropical American pepper thought to be the ancestor of both sweet and chili peppers.
[Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum (or C. frutescens var. typicum), family Solanaceae.]

2. the small, red, very hot fruit of the bird pepper plant.

3. a variety of small hot pepper grown in Asia or Africa.

birdseed /ˈbərdˌsēd/

noun

any seed or blend of seed for feeding birds.

bird's-eye /ˈbərdzˌī/

noun

1. [usu. as modifier] — any of a number of plants with small flowers that have contrasting petals and centers, in particular
[● a primrose with yellow-centered purple flowers (Primula farinosa, family Primulaceae). ● a speedwell with bright blue flowers,also known as germander speedwell.]

2. (also bird's-eye chili or bird's-eye pepper) — a small, very hot chili pepper.

3. a small geometric pattern woven with a dot in the center, typically used in suiting and lining fabrics.

Birdseye, Clarence /ˈbərdˌzī/

(1886–1956), US businessman and inventor. A former fur trader, he had observed food preservation techniques practiced by the people of Labrador. He developed a process of rapidly freezing foods in small packages that were suitable for retail sale and created a revolution in eating habits.

bird's-eye maple

noun

the lumber from an American maple, typically the sugar maple, that contains eyelike markings, used in decorative woodwork.

bird's-eye view /ˌbərdzˌī ˈvyo͞o/

noun

a general view from above, or as if from above.

bird's-foot trefoil birdsfoot trefoil

noun

a small plant of the pea family with leaves that consist of three leaflets, yellow flowers streaked with red, and triple pods that resemble the feet of a bird.
[Lotus corniculatus, family Leguminosae.]

birdshot /ˈbərdSHät/

noun

the smallest size of shot for shotguns.

bird's-nest

noun

1. a North American brownish or yellowish flowering plant of the wintergreen family, with scalelike leaves. The bird's-nest is a saprophyte that lacks chlorophyll. Also called giant bird's-nest.
[Pterospora andromeda, family Monotropaceae.]

2. (also bird's-nest fungus) — a fungus of worldwide distribution that grows on dead wood and other plant debris. It produces a small bowl-shaped fruiting body that opens to reveal egg-shaped organs containing the spores.
[Family Nidulariaceae, class Basidiomycetes: several genera and species, including the common Crucibulum levis.]

bird's-nest orchid

noun

a European woodland orchid that lacks chlorophyll, the whole plant being yellowish-brown. It obtains nourishment by linking its nestlike mass of thick roots to a soil-dwelling fungus from which it absorbs nutrients.
[Neottia nidus-avis, family Orchidaceae.]

bird's nest soup /ˈˌbərdz ˌnest ˈso͞op/

noun

a Chinese soup made from the dried gelatinous coating of the nests of swifts and other birds.

birdsong /ˈbərdˌsôNG/

noun

the musical vocalizations of a bird or birds, typically uttered by a male songbird in characteristic bursts or phrases for territorial purposes.

bird strike /ˈbərd ˌstrīk/

noun

a collision between a bird or flock of birds and an aircraft.

birdwatcher /ˈbərdwäCHər/

I. noun

a person who observes birds in their natural surroundings as a hobby.

II. derivatives

birdwatching /ˈbərdwäCHiNG /

noun

birefringent /ˌbīrəˈfrinjənt/

I. adjective

[Physics] having two different refractive indices.

II. derivatives

birefringence /ˌbīrəˈfrinj(ə)ns /

noun

bireme /ˈbīrēm/

I. noun

an ancient warship with two files of oarsmen on each side.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin biremis, from bi- ‘having two’ + remus ‘oar.’

biretta /bəˈredə / beretta

I. noun

a square cap with three flat projections on top, worn by Roman Catholic clergymen.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Italian berretta or Spanish birreta, based on late Latin birrus ‘hooded cape.’ Compare with beret.

Birgitta, St. /birˈɡitə/

see Bridget, St.2

Birkenhead /ˈbərkənˌhed/

a town in northwestern England on the Wirral Peninsula on the Mersey River, opposite Liverpool; pop. 79,700 (est. 2009).

Birkenstock /ˈbərkənˌstäk/

I. noun

1. ‹trademark› a type of shoe or sandal with a contoured cork-filled sole and a thick leather upper.

2. [as modifier] — ‹trademark› denoting people concerned with political correctness or conservationist issues

• home builders are no longer content to leave environmentalism to the Birkenstock crowd.

– origin 1970s: from the name of the manufacturer.

Birman /ˈbərmən/

noun

a cat of a long-haired breed, typically with a cream body, a dark head, tail, and legs, and white paws.

Birmingham

I. /ˈbərmiNGˌham / — an industrial city in north central Alabama; pop. 228,798 (est. 2008).

II. /ˈbərmiNGˌham / — a city in southeastern Michigan, north of Detroit; pop. 18,932 (est. 2008).

III. /ˈbərmiNGəm / — an industrial city in west central England; pop. 945,700 (est. 2009).

birr /bər/

I. noun

the basic monetary unit of Ethiopia, equal to 100 cents.

– origin from Amharic.

birth /bərTH/

I. noun

1. the emergence of a baby or other young from the body of its mother; the start of life as a physically separate being

• he was blind from birth

• despite a difficult birth he's fit and healthy.

2. the beginning or coming into existence of something

• the birth of democracy.

3. a person's origin, descent, or ancestry

• the mother is American by birth

• he is not of noble birth.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) give birth to (a baby or other young)

• she had carried him and birthed him

• [no obj.] in spring the cows birthed.

III. phrases

give birth

bear a child or young

• she's due to give birth in March

• she gave birth to a son.

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse byrth; related to bear^1.

birth canal

noun

the passageway from the womb through the cervix, the vagina, and the vulva through which a fetus passes during birth.

birth certificate /bərTH ˌsərˈtifəkāt/

noun

an official document issued to record a person's birth, including such identifying data as name, gender, date of birth, place of birth, and parentage.

birth control /ˈbərTH kənˈtrōl/

noun

the practice of preventing unwanted pregnancies, typically by use of contraception.

birth control pill /bərTH kənˈtrōl pil/

noun

a contraceptive pill.

birthdate /ˈbərTHdāt/

noun

the date on which a person was born

• her baptismal record puts her birthdate as April 26, 1741.

birthday /ˈbərTHˌdā/

I. noun

1. the anniversary of the day on which a person was born, typically treated as an occasion for celebration and the giving of gifts

• I'm getting a dollhouse for my birthday

• [as modifier] a birthday cake

• the birthday boy.

2. the day of a person's birth

• she shares a birthday with Paul McCartney.

3. the anniversary of something starting or being founded

• the staff celebrated the twenty-fifth birthday of the paper.

II. phrases

in one's birthday suit

‹humorous› naked.

birth defect

noun

a physical or biochemical abnormality that is present at birth and that may be inherited or the result of environmental influence.

birther /ˈbərTHər/

noun

‹informal› a person who doubts the legitimacy of Barack Obama's presidency because of a conspiracy theory that Obama is not a natural-born US citizen.

birth family

noun

one's biological parents and siblings, as opposed to adoptive relatives.

birthing /ˈbərTHiNG/

noun

the action or process of giving birth
[as modifier]

• a birthing pool.

birthing center

noun

a medical facility, specializing in childbirth, that is less restrictive and more homelike than a hospital.

birthing room

noun

a room in a hospital or other medical facility that is equipped for labor and childbirth and is designed to be comfortable and homelike.

birthmark /ˈbərTHˌmärk/

noun

an unusual and typically permanent brown or red mark on someone's body from birth.

birth mother /bərTH ˈməT͟Hər/

noun

a woman who has given birth to a child, as opposed to an adoptive mother; a biological mother.

birth pang

noun — [usu. in pl.]

1. another term for labor pain.

birth parent

noun

a biological as opposed to an adoptive parent.

birth partner

noun

a person chosen by a pregnant woman to give her support during the process of childbirth.

• make sure your birth partner knows your wishes so they can be assertive for you if you're not in a position to do it yourself.

birthplace /ˈbərTHˌplās/

noun

1. the place where a person was born.

2. the place where something started or originated

• Florence was the birthplace of the Renaissance.

birth rate /ˈbərTH ˌrāt/

noun

the number of live births per thousand of population per year.

birthright /ˈbərTHˌrīt/

noun

1. a particular right of possession or privilege one has from birth, especially as an eldest child.

2. a natural or moral right, possessed by everyone

• she saw a liberal education as the birthright of every child.

birthright citizenship

noun

a legal right to citizenship for all children born in a country's territory, regardless of parentage

• he wants to amend the Constitution to remove birthright citizenship.

birthstone /ˈbərTHˌstōn/

noun

a gemstone popularly associated with the month or astrological sign of one's birth.

birthweight /ˈbərTHˌwāt/

noun

the weight of a baby at birth.

birthwort /ˈbərTHwərt ˈbərTHˌwôrt/

noun

a climbing or herbaceous plant that typically has heart-shaped leaves and deep-throated, often pipe-shaped, flowers. It was formerly used as an aid to childbirth and to induce abortion.
[Genus Aristolochia, family Aristolochiaceae.]

biryani /ˌbirēˈänē / biriani

I. noun

an Indian dish made with highly seasoned rice and meat, fish, or vegetables.

– origin Urdu, from Persian biryāni, from biriyān ‘fried, grilled.’

bis /bis/

I. adverb

again, as a direction in a musical score indicating that a passage is to be repeated.

– origin via French and Italian from Latin, literally ‘twice.’

bis-

combining form

[Chemistry] used to form the names of compounds containing two groups identically substituted or coordinated

• bis(2-aminoethyl) ether.

Bisbee /ˈbizbē/

a town in southeastern Arizona, near the Mexican border; pop. 5,991 (est. 2008). An artists' colony, it was a copper mining center in the early 1900s and is noted as the source of Bisbee turquoise, an incidental byproduct of the copper mining.

Biscay, Bay of /ˈbisˌkā/

a part of the North Atlantic Ocean between the northern coast of Spain and the western coast of France, noted for its strong currents and storms.

Biscayne Bay /ˌbiskān ˈbā/

an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in southeastern Florida, south of Miami, noted for its islands and resorts.

biscotti /biˈskädē/

I. plural noun

small, crisp rectangular twice-baked cookies typically containing nuts, made originally in Italy.

– origin Italian.

biscuit /ˈbiskit/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a small, typically round cake of bread leavened with baking powder, baking soda, or sometimes yeast.

2. (Brit.) a cookie or cracker.

3. another term for bisque^3:
[as modifier]

• biscuit ware.

4. a light brown color.

5. a small flat piece of wood used to join two mortised planks together.

II. adjective

light brown in color.

III. derivatives

biscuity

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French bescuit, based on Latin bis ‘twice’ + coctus, past participle of coquere ‘to cook’ (so named because originally biscuits were cooked in a twofold process: first baked and then dried out in a slow oven so that they would keep).

bisect /bīˈsekt ˈbīˌsekt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. divide into two parts

• a landscape of farmland bisected by long straight roads.

2. [Geometry] divide (a line, angle, shape, etc.) into two equal parts.

II. derivatives

1. bisection /bīˈsekSH(ə)n /

noun

2. bisector /bīˈsektər /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from bi- ‘two’ + Latin sect- (from secare ‘to cut’).

biserial /ˌbīˈsirēəl/

adjective

1. [Statistics] referring to the correlation between two sets measurements, one of which is dichotomous.

2. [Statistics] [Botany] [Zoology] arranged in or consisting of two series or rows.

bisexual /ˌbīˈsekSH(o͞o)əl/

I. adjective

1. sexually attracted to both men and women.

2. [Biology] having characteristics of both sexes.

II. noun

a person who is sexually attracted to both men and women.

bisexuality /ˌbīˌsekSHəˈwalədē/

noun

sexual attraction to both men and women

• an honest portrayal of bisexuality in a mainstream film.

Bishkek /biSHˈkek/

the capital of Kyrgyzstan; pop. 837,000 (est. 2007). From 1926 to 1991, the city was named Frunze.
Former name (until 1926) Pishpek.

bishop /ˈbiSHəp/

I. noun

1. a senior member of the Christian clergy, typically in charge of a diocese and empowered to confer holy orders.

2. (also bishop bird) — an African weaverbird, the male of which has red, orange, yellow, or black plumage.
[Genus Euplectes, family Ploceidae: several species, including the red bishop (E. orix), which has scarlet plumage with a black face and underparts.]

3. a chess piece, typically with its top shaped like a miter, that can move in any direction along a diagonal on which it stands. Each player starts the game with two bishops, one moving on white squares and the other on black.

4. mulled and spiced wine.

– origin Old English biscop, bisceop, based on Greek episkopos ‘overseer,’ from epi ‘above’ + -skopos ‘-looking.’

Bishop, Elizabeth /ˈbiSHəp/

(1911–79), US poet. Her poetry contrasts her experiences in South America 1952–67 with her New England origins. She was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for her first two collections, North and South (1946) and A Cold Spring (1955). Other notable works include Geography III (1976).

bishopric /ˈbiSHəprik/

I. noun

1. the office or rank of a bishop.

2. a district under a bishop's control; a diocese.

– origin Old English bisceoprīce, from bisceop (see bishop) + rīce ‘realm.’

Bislama /bisˈlämə/

I. noun

an English-based pidgin language used as a lingua franca in Fiji and the Solomon Islands and as an official language in Vanuatu.
Also called Beach-la-mar.

– origin alteration of Portuguese bicho do mar ‘sea cucumber’ (traded as a commodity, the word later being applied to the language of trade). Compare with bêche-de-mer.

Bismarck /ˈbizmärk/

the capital of North Dakota, in the south central part of the state, on the Missouri River; pop. 60,389 (est. 2008). It took the name of German Chancellor Bismarck in order to attract German capital for railroad building.

Bismarck, Otto von

Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg (1815–98), Prussian minister and German statesman; chancellor of the German Empire 1871–90; also known as the Iron Chancellor; full name Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck. He was the driving force behind the unification of Germany, orchestrating wars with Denmark (1864), Austria (1866), and France (1870–1) in order to achieve this end.

Bismarck Archipelago

an island group in the western Pacific Ocean, part of Papua New Guinea. Held by Germany from 1884 to World War I, it includes New Britain, New Ireland, and several hundred other islands.

Bismarck Sea

an arm of the Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Guinea and north of New Britain. In March 1943, the US destroyed a large Japanese naval force in these waters.

bismillah /bisˈmilə/

I. exclamation

in the name of Allah (an invocation used by Muslims at the beginning of any undertaking).

– origin from Arabic bi-smi-llāh(i), the first words of the Koran.

bismuth /ˈbizməTH/

I. noun

1. (Symbol: Bi) — the chemical element of atomic number 83, a brittle reddish-gray metal.

2. a compound containing bismuth used medicinally.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from modern Latin bisemutum, Latinization of German Wismut, of unknown origin.

bison /ˈbīs(ə)n/

I. noun

a humpbacked shaggy-haired wild ox native to North America and Europe.
[Genus Bison, family Bovidae: B. bison of North American prairies (also called buffalo), and B. bonasus of European forests (also called wisent), now found only in Poland. These are sometimes regarded as a single species.]

– origin late Middle English: from Latin, ultimately of Germanic origin and related to wisent.

bisphenol A /bisˌfēnôl ˈā/

noun

[Chemistry] a synthetic organic compound used in the manufacture of epoxy resins and other polymers.
[A bicyclic phenol; chem. formula: C(CH_3)2(C_6H_4OH)2.]

bisque^1 /bisk/

I. noun

a rich, creamy soup typically made with shellfish, especially lobster.

– origin mid 17th cent.: French, literally ‘crayfish soup.’

bisque^2 /bisk/

I. noun

an extra turn, point, or stroke allowed to a weaker player in croquet or court tennis.

– origin mid 17th cent. (originally a term in court tennis): from French, of unknown ultimate origin.

bisque^3 /bisk/

I. noun

1. fired unglazed pottery

• using bisque for doll heads

• [as modifier] bisque figurines.

2. a light brown color

• shades of bisque, taupe, and chocolate brown.

II. adjective

light brown in color.

Bissau /biˈsou/

the capital of Guinea-Bissau, in the western part of the country; pop. 330,000 (est. 2007).

bistable /bīˈstābəl/

I. noun

an electronic circuit that has two stable states.

II. adjective

(of a system) having two stable states.

bister /ˈbistər / bistre

I. noun

1. a brownish-yellowish pigment made from the soot of burned wood.

2. the color of the pigment bister.

– origin early 18th cent.: from French bistre, of unknown origin.

bistort /ˈbistôrt/

I. noun

a Eurasian herbaceous plant with a spike of flesh-colored flowers and twisted root that is sometimes used medicinally.
[Genus Polygonum, family Polygonaceae: several species, in particular P. bistorta.]

– origin early 16th cent.: from French bistorte or medieval Latin bistorta, from bis ‘twice’ + torta (feminine past participle of torquere ‘to twist’).

bistoury /ˈbistərē/

I. noun

a surgical knife with a long, narrow, straight or curved blade.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French bistouri, originally bistorie ‘dagger,’ of unknown origin.

bistro /ˈbistrō ˈbēstrō/

I. noun

a small restaurant.

– origin 1920s: French; perhaps related to bistouille, a colloquial term meaning ‘bad alcohol,’ perhaps from Russian bystro ‘rapidly.’

bisulfate /bīˈsəlˌfāt / ‹chiefly Brit.› bisulphate

noun

[Chemistry] a salt of the anion HSO_4–.

bisulfide /bīˈsəlˌfīd / ‹chiefly Brit.› bisulphide

noun

another term for disulfide.

bisulfite /bīˈsəlˌfīt / ‹chiefly Brit.› bisulphite

noun

an acid sulfite containing the radical HSO_3.

bit^1 /bit/

I. noun

1. a small piece, part, or quantity of something

• give the duck a bit of bread

• he read bits of his work to me.

2. (a bit) — a fair amount

• there's a bit to talk about there.

3. (a bit) — a short time or distance

• I fell asleep for a bit.

4. [with adj.] — ‹informal› a set of actions or ideas associated with a specific group or activity

• she's gone off to do her theatrical bit.

5. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› ‹dated› a unit of 12½ cents (used only in even multiples)

• the sideshow admission was twenty-five cents, two bits, the fourth of a dollar.

II. phrases

1. a bit

somewhat; to some extent

• he came back looking a bit annoyed.

2. bit by bit

gradually

• the school was built bit by bit over the years.

3. a bit of a —

a. used to suggest that something is not severe or extreme, or is true only to a limited extent

• he's a bit of a womanizer.

b. only a little —; a mere —

• we went on a bit of a walk.

4. bits and pieces

an assortment of small items

• weird bits and pieces of paraphernalia.

5. do one's bit

‹informal› make a useful contribution to an effort or cause

• she was keen to do her bit to help others.

6. every bit as

see every.

7. not a bit

not at all

• I'm not a bit tired.

8. to bits

a. into pieces

• he smashed it to bits with a hammer.

b. ‹informal› very much; to a great degree

• we've got two great kids whom I love to bits.

– origin Old English bita ‘bite, mouthful,’ of Germanic origin; related to German Bissen, also to bite.

bit^2 /bit/

past of bite.

bit^3 /bit/

I. noun

1. a mouthpiece, typically made of metal, that is attached to a bridle and used to control a horse.

2. a tool or piece for boring or drilling, typically of metal

• a drill bit.

3. the cutting or gripping part of a plane, pliers, or other tool.

4. the part of a key that engages with the lock lever.

5. the copper head of a soldering iron.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. put a bit into the mouth of (a horse).

2. restrain

• my own hysteria was bitted by upbringing and respect.

III. phrases

1. above the bit

(of a horse) carrying its head too high so that it evades correct contact with the bit.

2. behind the bit

(of a horse) carrying its head with the chin tucked in so that it evades contact with the bit.

3. off the bit (or bridle)

(of a horse) ridden on a loose rein to allow it to gallop freely, especially at the end of a race.

4. on the bit (or bridle)

(of a horse) ridden with a light but firm contact on the mouth, and accepting the bit in a calm and relaxed manner.

5. take (or get or have) the bit in (or between) one's teeth

begin to tackle a problem or task in a determined or independent way.

IV. derivatives

bitted

adjective

[in combination]

• a double-bitted ax

– origin Old English bite ‘biting, a bite,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch beet and German Biss, also to bite.

bit^4 /bit/

I. noun

[Computing] a unit of information expressed as either a 0 or 1 in binary notation.

– origin 1940s: blend of binary and digit.

bitartrate /bīˈtärˌtrāt/

noun

an acid tartrate containing the radical C_4H_5O_6.

bitch /biCH/

I. noun

1. a female dog, wolf, fox, or otter.

2. ‹informal› a spiteful or unpleasant woman.

3. ‹offensive› a woman.

4. ‹informal› a person who is completely subservient to another

• he will always be her bitch.

5. (a bitch) — ‹informal› a difficult or unpleasant situation or thing

• the stove is a bitch to fix.

6. ‹informal› a complaint

• my big bitch is that there's nothing new here.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹informal› express displeasure; grumble

• they bitch about everything

• (as noun bitching) we're tired of your bitching.

– origin Old English bicce, of Germanic origin.

bitchery /ˈbiCH(ə)rē/

noun

bitchy behavior.

bitch face

noun

‹informal› (typically with reference to a woman) a scowling facial expression, especially as the natural cast of a person's features

• I have a bitch face too! That's why people talk to my friends first instead of me!

• there's no reason to be rude and put on a bitch face when someone's just being friendly.

bitching /ˈbiCHiNG / ‹US informal› bitchen, bitchin'

I. adjective

excellent

• a bitching new album.

II. adverb — [as submodifier]

1. extremely

• it's bitchin' hot, ain't it?

bitch-slap

I. verb

[with obj.] — (US) ‹informal› deliver a stinging blow to (someone), typically in order to humiliate them

• I'd bitch-slap her too if she mouthed off to me like that.

– origin 1990s: originally black English, referring to a woman hitting or haranguing her male partner.

bitchy /ˈbiCHē / ‹informal›

I. adjective — (bitchier, bitchiest)

1. (of a person's comments or behavior) malicious or unpleasant

• bitchy remarks.

II. derivatives

1. bitchily /ˈbiCHəlē /

adverb

2. bitchiness /ˈbiCHēnəs /

noun

bitcoin /ˈbitˌkoin / BTC

I. noun

1. a type of digital currency in which encryption techniques are used to regulate the generation of units of currency and verify the transfer of funds, operating independently of a central bank

• bitcoin has become a hot commodity among speculators

• If you want to buy something using bitcoin you need to make sure the seller accepts the cryptocurrency.

2. a unit of bitcoin

• bitcoins can be used for online transactions between individuals.

– origin early 21st cent.: from bit^4 + coin.

bite /bīt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a person or animal) use the teeth to cut into something in order to eat it

• Rosa bit into a cupcake

• [with obj.] he bit a mouthful from the sandwich.

2. [with obj.] — (of an animal or a person) use the teeth in order to inflict injury on

• she had bitten, scratched, and kicked her assailant.

3. [with obj.] — (of a snake, insect, or spider) wound with fangs, pincers, or a sting

• she was bitten by an adder.

4. (bite at) — (of an animal) snap at; attempt to bite

• it is not unusual for this dog to bite at its owner's hand.

5. (of an acid) corrode a surface

• chemicals have bitten deep into the stone.

6. (of a fish) take the bait or lure on the end of a fishing line into the mouth.

7. (of a person) be persuaded to accept a deal or offer

• a hundred or so retailers should bite.

8. (of a tool, tire, boot, etc.) grip a surface

• once on the wet grass, my boots failed to bite.

9. (of an object) press into a part of the body, causing pain

• the handcuffs bit into his wrists.

10. cause emotional pain

• Cheryl's betrayal had bitten deep.

11. (of a policy or situation) take effect, with unpleasant consequences

• when the cuts in art education start to bite.

12. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› be very bad, unpleasant, or unfortunate

• it bites that your mom won't let you go.

II. noun

1. an act of biting into something in order to eat it

• Stephen ate a hot dog in three big bites.

2. a piece cut off by biting

• Robyn took a large bite out of her sandwich.

3. ‹informal› a quick snack

• I plan to stop off in the village and have a bite to eat.

4. a small morsel of prepared food, intended to constitute one mouthful

• minced bacon bites with cheese.

5. a short piece of information

• snack-sized bites of information.

See also sound bite.

6. a wound inflicted by an animal's or a person's teeth

• Perry's dog had given her a nasty bite.

7. a wound inflicted by a snake, insect, or spider

• his face was covered in mosquito bites.

8. an act of bait being taken by a fish

• by four o'clock he still hadn't had a single bite.

9. [Dentistry] the bringing together of the teeth in occlusion.

10. [Dentistry] the imprint of the teeth in occlusion in a plastic material.

11. a sharp or pungent flavor

• a fresh, lemony bite.

12. incisiveness or cogency of style

• his colorful characterizations brought added bite to the story.

13. a feeling of cold in the air or wind

• by early October there's a bite in the air.

III. phrases

1. someone's bark is worse than their bite

see bark^1.

2. be bitten by the —— bug

develop a passionate interest in a specified activity

• Joe was bitten by the showbiz bug at the age of four.

3. bite the big one

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› die.

4. bite the bullet

decide to do something difficult or unpleasant that one has been putting off or hesitating over.
[from the old custom of giving wounded soldiers a bullet to bite on when undergoing surgery without anesthetic.]

5. bite the dust

a. ‹informal› be killed

• and the bad guys bite the dust with lead in their bellies.

b. fail; come to an end

• she hoped the new program would not bite the dust for lack of funding.

6. bite the hand that feeds one

deliberately hurt or offend a benefactor.

7. bite someone's head off

see head.

8. bite one's lip

repress an emotion; stifle laughter or a retort

• he could have mocked Carol's obnoxious behavior, but he bit his lip.

9. bite off more than one can chew

take on a commitment one cannot fulfill.

10. bite one's tongue

make a desperate effort to avoid saying something

• I had to bite my tongue and accept his explanation.

11. one could have bitten one's tongue off

used to show that someone profoundly and immediately regrets having said something.

12. once bitten, twice shy

‹proverb› an unpleasant experience induces caution.

13. put the bite on

(N. Amer.) (Austral./NZ) ‹informal› borrow or extort money from.
[1930s: bite in the slang sense ‘cadging.’]

14. take a bite out of

‹informal› reduce by a significant amount

• insurance costs that can take a bite out of your retirement funds.

IV. phrasal verbs

bite something back

refrain with difficulty from saying something, making a sound, or expressing an emotion

• Melissa bit back a scathing comment.

V. derivatives

biter /ˈbīdər /

noun

– origin Old English bītan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bijten and German beissen.

bit error rate

noun

[Electronics] the rate at which errors occur in the transmission of digital data.

bite-sized /ˈbītˌsīzd / bite-size

adjective

1. (of a piece of food) small enough to be eaten in one mouthful

• cut the potatoes into bite-sized pieces.

2. ‹informal› very small or short

• a series of bite-sized essays.

bitewing /ˈbītwiNG/

noun

a dental film for X-raying the crowns of upper and lower teeth simultaneously and that is held in place by a tab between the teeth.

biting /ˈbīdiNG/

I. adjective

1. (of insects and certain other animals) able to wound the skin with a sting or fangs

• ridding the premises of biting red ants.

2. (of wind or cold) so cold as to be painful

• he leaned forward to protect himself against the biting wind.

3. (of wit or criticism) harsh or cruel

• his biting satire on corruption and power.

II. derivatives

bitingly /ˈbīdiNGlē /

adverb

biting midge

noun

a very small fly that typically occurs in large swarms. The female has piercing mouthparts and feeds on the blood of a variety of animals including humans.
[Family Ceratopogonidae: numerous genera and species, including the punkie (Culicoides and related genera).]

bitmap /ˈbitˌmap / ‹Computing›

I. noun

a representation in which each item corresponds to one or more bits of information, especially the information used to control the display of a computer screen.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. represent (an item) as a bitmap.

BITNET /ˈbitnet / ‹trademark› Bitnet

a data transmission network founded in 1981 to link North American academic institutions and to interconnect with other information networks.

bitonal /ˌbīˈtōn(ə)l/

I. adjective

(of music) having parts in two different keys sounding together.

II. derivatives

bitonality

noun

bit part /ˈbit ˌpärt/

noun

a small acting role in a play or a movie.

bit rate

noun

[Electronics] the number of bits per second that can be transmitted along a digital network.

bitstream /ˈbitstrēm/

noun

1. [Electronics] a stream of data in binary form.

2. (Bitstream) — [Electronics] ‹trademark› a system of digital-to-analog signal conversion used in some audio CD players, in which the signal from the CD is digitally processed to give a signal at a higher frequency before being converted to an analog signal.

bitten /ˈbitn/

past participle of bite.

bitter /ˈbidər/

I. adjective

1. having a sharp, pungent taste or smell; not sweet

• the raw berries have an intensely bitter flavor.

2. (of chocolate) dark and unsweetened.

3. (of people or their feelings or behavior) angry, hurt, or resentful because of one's bad experiences or a sense of unjust treatment

• I don't feel jealous or bitter.

4. (of a conflict, argument, or opponent) full of anger and acrimony

• a bitter, five-year legal battle.

5. (often used for emphasis) painful or unpleasant to accept or contemplate

• today's decision has come as a bitter blow.

6. (of wind, cold, or weather) intensely cold

• a bitter wind blowing from the east.

II. noun

1. (Brit.) beer that is strongly flavored with hops and has a bitter taste.

2. [treated as sing.] (bitters) — liquor that is flavored with the sharp pungent taste of plant extracts and is used as an additive in cocktails or as a medicinal substance to promote appetite or digestion.

III. phrases

to the bitter end

used to say that one will continue doing something until it is finished, no matter what

• the workers would fight to the bitter end for safer conditions.

[perhaps associated with a nautical word bitter denoting the last part of a cable inboard of the bitts, perhaps influenced by the biblical phrase ‘her end is bitter as wormwood’ (Prov. 5:4).]

– origin Old English biter, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German bitter, and probably to bite.

bitter almond

noun

an inedible, bitter form of almond, used to produce almond oil.

bitter apple

noun

another term for colocynth.

bittercress /ˈbidərˌkres/

noun

a plant with small white flowers that grows widely as a weed of temperate areas, especially in damp soils.
[Genus Cardamine, family Brassicaceae: several species, in particular the Pennsylvania bittercress (C. pensylvanica) of North America.]

bitter-ender /ˈbidərˌendər/

noun

a person who holds out until the end no matter what.

bitter gourd

noun

another term for bitter melon.

bitter greens

plural noun

(N. Amer.) mixed green leaves of a variety of salad vegetables with a bitter taste, such as kale, mustard, collard, endive, chicory, or spinach.

bittering agent

noun

a substance added to a toxic product (e.g., antifreeze) to make it taste or smell extremely bitter and thus discourage inhalation or ingestion.

bitterly /ˈbidərlē/

adverb

1. in an angry, hurt, or resentful way

• passengers complained bitterly about grand promises made by the company

• the two governments quarreled bitterly over the terms of the loan.

2. [as submodifier] — to an extreme, forceful, or particularly harsh degree

• he was bitterly opposed by the majority shareholder

• its humor is cutting and bitterly sarcastic.

3. (relating to wind or weather) to an intensely cold degree

• a bitterly cold day.

bitter melon

noun

1. a warty, green-colored, unripe fruit of an annual tropical vine, used in Asian cooking and for its medicinal properties.
Also called bitter gourd.

2. the widespread plant of the gourd family that produces this fruit.

[Momordica charantia, family Cucurbitaceae.]

bittern^1 /ˈbidərn/

I. noun

a large marsh bird of the heron family, typically smaller than a heron, with brown streaked plumage. The larger kinds are noted for the deep booming call of the male in the breeding season.
[Genera Botaurus and Ixobrychus, family Ardeidae: several species, esp. the American bittern (B. lentiginosus) and the least bittern (I. exilis).]

– origin late Middle English bitore, from Old French butor, based on Latin butio ‘bittern’ + taurus ‘bull’ (because of its call). The -n was added in the 16th cent., perhaps by association with hern, obsolete variant of heron.

bittern^2 /ˈbidərn / bitterns

I. noun

a concentrated solution of various salts remaining after the crystallization of salt from seawater.

– origin late 17th cent.: probably from the adjective bitter.

bitterness /ˈbidərnəs/

noun

1. sharpness of taste; lack of sweetness

• the lime juice imparts a slight bitterness.

2. anger and disappointment at being treated unfairly; resentment

• he expressed bitterness over his dismissal without notice.

bitter orange /ˈbidər ˈôrənj/

noun

another term for Seville orange.

bitterroot /ˈbitərˌro͞ot, -ˌro͝ot/

noun

a plant of the purslane family with showy pinkish-white flowers on short stems. Found throughout the rocky areas of western North America, it is particularly abundant in Montana, of which it is the state flower.
[Lewisia rediviva, family Portulacaceae.]

Bitterroot Range

part of the Rocky Mountains in western Montana and eastern Idaho.

bitter rot

noun

a disease of apples, characterized by sunken brown spots, caused by the fungus Glomerella cingulata.

bittersweet /ˈbidərˌswēt/

I. adjective

1. (of food, drink, or flavor) sweet with a bitter aftertaste.

2. arousing pleasure tinged with sadness or pain

• the room, with all its bittersweet memories.

II. noun

1. another term for woody nightshade (see nightshade).

2. (also climbing bittersweet) — a vinelike climbing plant that bears clusters of bright orange pods.
[Genus Celastrus, family Celastraceae: several species, in particular C. scandens.]

BitTorrent /ˈbitˌtôrənt/

I. noun

[Computing] ‹trademark› a peer-to-peer file transfer protocol for sharing large amounts of data over the Internet, in which each part of a file downloaded by a user is transferred to other users.

– origin early 21st cent.: blend of bit^4 and torrent.

bitts /bits/

I. plural noun

a pair of posts on the deck of a ship for fastening mooring lines or cables.

– origin Middle English: probably of Low German origin.

bitty /ˈbidē/

I. adjective

‹informal› (N. Amer.) tiny

• a little bitty house.

II. derivatives

1. bittily /ˈbitəlē /

adverb

2. bittiness /ˈbidēnəs /

noun

bitumen /bəˈt(y)o͞omən bīˈt(y)o͞omən/

I. noun

a black viscous mixture of hydrocarbons obtained naturally or as a residue from petroleum distillation. It is used for road surfacing and roofing.

– origin late Middle English (denoting naturally occurring asphalt used as mortar): from Latin.

bituminize /bəˈt(y)o͞omənˌīz bīˈt(y)o͞omənˌīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. convert into, impregnate with, or cover with bitumen.

II. derivatives

bituminization /-ˌt(y)o͞oməniˈzāSHən /

noun

bituminous /bəˈt(y)o͞omənəs bīˈt(y)o͞omənəs/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of, containing, or of the nature of bitumen.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French bitumineux, from Latin bituminosus.

bituminous coal

noun

black coal having a relatively high volatile content. It burns with a characteristically bright smoky flame.

bitwise /ˈbitwīz/

adjective

[Computing] designating an operator in a programming language that manipulates the individual bits in a byte or word.

bivalence /bīˈvāləns/

noun

[Logic] the existence of only two states or truth values (e.g., true and false).

bivalent /bīˈvālənt/

I. adjective

1. [Biology] (of homologous chromosomes) associated in pairs.

2. [Chemistry] another term for divalent.

II. noun

[Biology] a pair of homologous chromosomes.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from bi- ‘two’ + Latin valent- ‘being strong’ (from the verb valere).

bivalve /ˈbīˌvalv/

I. noun

an aquatic mollusk that has a compressed body enclosed within a hinged shell, such as oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops.
Also called pelecypod or lamellibranch. [Class Bivalvia (formerly Pelecypoda or Lamellibranchia).]

II. adjective

1. [Zoology] (of a mollusk or other aquatic invertebrate) with a hinged shell.

2. [Zoology] [Botany] having two valves.

bivariate /bīˈve(ə)rēit, -ˈve(ə)rēˌāt/

adjective

[Statistics] involving or depending on two variables.

bivouac /ˈbivo͞oˌak/

I. noun

a temporary camp without tents or cover, used especially by soldiers or mountaineers.

II. verb — [no obj.] (bivouacked, bivouacking)

1. stay in a temporary camp without cover

• he'd bivouacked on the north side of the town

• the battalion was now bivouacked in a field.

– origin early 18th cent. (denoting a night watch by the whole army): from French, probably from Swiss German Bîwacht ‘additional guard at night,’ apparently denoting a citizens' patrol supporting the ordinary town watch.

biweekly /bīˈwēklē/

I. adjective, adverb

appearing or taking place every two weeks or twice a week
[as adj.]

• a biweekly bulletin

• [as adv.] she followed her doctor's instructions to undergo health checks biweekly.

II. noun

a periodical that appears every two weeks or twice a week.

usage: On the ambiguity of words like biweekly, bimonthly, etc., see usage at bi-.

biyearly /ˌbīˈyirlē/

I. adjective, adverb

appearing or taking place every two years or twice a year.

usage: On the ambiguity of words like biyearly, bimonthly, etc., see usage at bi-.

biz /biz/

I. noun — [usu. in sing., usu. with modifier]

1. ‹informal› a business, typically one connected with entertainment

• the music biz.

– origin mid 19th cent. (originally US): abbreviation.

bizarre /bəˈzär/

I. adjective

very strange or unusual, especially so as to cause interest or amusement

• her bizarre dresses and outrageous hairdos.

II. derivatives

bizarreness

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, from Italian bizzarro ‘angry.’

bizarrely /biˈzärlē/

adverb

1. in a very strange or unusual manner

• he often dressed bizarrely

• a small part of me is bizarrely fascinated.

2. [sentence adverb] — used to express the opinion that something is very strange or unusual

• bizarrely enough, everyone loved it.

bizarrerie /bəˈzärərē/

I. noun

a thing considered extremely strange and unusual, typically in an amusing way

• the bizarreries of small talk.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French, from bizarre.

bizarro /bəˈzärō/

I. adjective

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) bizarre

• a whacked-out frontman for a bizarro fringe rock n' roll band.

– origin perhaps from Bizarro, the name of a character in DC Comics' Superman comic books, or from Bizarro, the name of a comic strip.

Bizet, Georges /biˈzā/

(1838–75), French composer; born Alexandre César Léopold Bizet. He is best known for the opera Carmen (1875).

BJ

abbreviation

blow job.

Bjerknes, Vilhelm /ˈbyerknəs/

(1862–1951), Norwegian geophysicist and meteorologist; full name Vilhelm Frimann Koren Bjerknes. He developed a theory of physical hydrodynamics for atmosphere and oceanic circulation and mathematical models for weather prediction.

bk

abbreviation

1. bank.

2. book.

3. brick.

Bk

symbol

the chemical element berkelium.

bl

abbreviation

1. bale.

2. barrel.

3. black.

4. blue.

BL

abbreviation

1. Bachelor of Law.

2. Bachelor of Letters.

3. bill of lading.

blab /blab / ‹informal›

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. reveal secrets by indiscreet talk

• she blabbed to the press

• [with obj.] there's no need to blab the whole story.

II. noun

a person who blabs.

– origin Middle English (as a noun): probably of Germanic origin; ultimately imitative.

blabber /ˈblabər / ‹informal›

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. talk foolishly, mindlessly, or excessively

• she blabbered on and on.

II. noun

1. a person who talks foolishly or indiscreetly.

2. foolish or mindless talk

• annoyed by their endless blabber.

blabbermouth /ˈblabərˌmouTH/

noun

‹informal› a person who talks excessively or indiscreetly.

black /blak/

I. adjective

1. of the very darkest color owing to the absence of or complete absorption of light; the opposite of white

• black smoke

• her hair was black.

2. (of the sky or night) completely dark owing to nonvisibility of the sun, moon, or stars

• the sky was moonless and black.

3. deeply stained with dirt

• his clothes were absolutely black.

4. (of a plant or animal) dark in color as distinguished from a lighter variety

• Japanese black pine.

5. (of coffee or tea) served without milk or cream.

6. of or denoting the suits spades and clubs in a deck of cards.

7. (of a ski run) of the highest level of difficulty, as indicated by black markers positioned along it.

8. (also Black) — of any human group having dark-colored skin, especially of African or Australian Aboriginal ancestry

• black adolescents of Jamaican descent.

9. of or relating to black people

• black culture.

10. (of a period of time or situation) characterized by tragic or disastrous events; causing despair or pessimism

• five thousand men were killed on the blackest day of the war

• the future looks black for those of us interested in freedom.

11. (of a person's state of mind) full of gloom or misery; very depressed

• Jean had disappeared and Mary was in a black mood.

12. (of humor) presenting tragic or harrowing situations in comic terms

• “Good place to bury the bodies,” she joked with black humor.

13. full of anger or hatred

• Roger shot her a black look.

14. ‹archaic› very evil or wicked

• my soul is steeped in the blackest sin.

II. noun

1. black color or pigment

• a tray decorated in black and green

• a series of paintings done only in grays and blacks.

2. black clothes or material, often worn as a sign of mourning

• dressed in the black of widowhood.

3. darkness, especially of night or an overcast sky

• the only thing visible in the black was the light of the lantern.

4. (often Black) — the player of the black pieces in chess or checkers.

5. a black thing, especially a ball or piece in a game.

6. (also Black) — a member of a dark-skinned people, especially one of African or Australian Aboriginal ancestry

• a coalition of blacks and whites against violence.

7. (the black) — the situation of not owing money to a bank or of making a profit in a business operation

• the company just managed to stay in the black

• I managed to break even in the first six months—quite a short time for a small business to get into the black.

[from the conventional use of black ink to indicate credit items.]

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. make black, especially by the application of black polish

• blacking the prize bull's hooves.

2. make (one's face, hands, and other visible parts of one's body) black with polish or makeup, so as not to be seen at night or, especially formerly, to play the role of a black person in a musical show, play, or movie

• white extras blacking up their faces to play Ethiopians.

IV. phrases

1. black someone's eye

hit someone in the eye so as to cause bruising.

2. look on the black side

‹informal› view a situation pessimistically.

3. men in black /ˌmen in ˈblak /

‹informal› anonymous dark-clothed men who supposedly visit people who have reported an encounter with a UFO or an alien in order to prevent their publicizing it.

4. the new black

a. a color that is currently so popular that it rivals the traditional status of black as the most reliably fashionable color

• brown is the new black this season.

b. something that is suddenly extremely popular or fashionable

• retro sci-fi is the new black.

5. not as black as one is painted

‹informal› not as bad as one is said to be.

V. phrasal verbs

1. black out

(of a person) undergo a sudden and temporary loss of consciousness

• they knocked me around and I blacked out.

2. black something out

a. (usu. be blacked out) — extinguish all lights or completely cover windows, especially for protection against an air attack or in order to provide darkness in which to show a movie

• the bombers began to come nightly and the city was blacked out.

b. subject a place to an electricity failure

• Chicago was blacked out yesterday after a freak flood.

c. obscure something completely so that it cannot be read or seen

• the license plate had been blacked out with masking tape.

d. (of a television company) suppress the broadcast of a program

• they blacked out the women's finals on local television.

VI. derivatives

1. blackish /ˈblakiSH /

adjective

2. blackly /ˈblaklē /

adverb

– origin Old English blæc, of Germanic origin. / usage: Black, designating Americans of African heritage, became the most widely used and accepted term in the 1960s and 1970s, replacing Negro. It is not usually capitalized: black Americans. Through the 1980s, the more formal African American replaced black in much usage, but both are now generally acceptable. Afro-American, first recorded in the 19th century and popular in the 1960s and 1970s, is now heard mostly in anthropological and cultural contexts. Colored people, common in the early part of the 20th century, is now usually regarded as offensive, although the phrase survives in the full name of the NAACP, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. An inversion, people of color, has gained some favor, but is also used in reference to other nonwhite ethnic groups: a gathering spot for African Americans and other people of color interested in reading about their cultures. See also usage at colored and person of color.

Black, Hugo /blak/

(1886–1971), US Supreme Court associate justice 1937–71; full name Hugo Lafayette Black. Noted as an advocate of First Amendment rights, he was also a US senator from Alabama 1927–37.

Black, Joseph

(1728–99), Scottish chemist. He developed accurate techniques for following chemical reactions by weighing reactants and products.

black Africa /blak ˈafrəkə/

the area of Africa, generally south of the Sahara, where black people predominate.

blackamoor /ˈblakəˌmo͝or/

I. noun

‹dated› ‹offensive› a black African; a very dark-skinned person.

– origin early 16th cent.: from black + Moor.

black and blue

adjective

1. discolored by bruising

• a black-and-blue mark on his arm.

2. (of a person) covered in bruises

• they were both black and blue the day after the accident.

black and tan

noun

1. a terrier of a breed with a black back and tan markings on face, flanks, and legs.

2. a drink composed of stout (or porter) and ale.

3. ‹informal› an event or establishment that is attended or frequented by both blacks and whites

• takes this guy out to the black and tan every night

• [as modifier] a black and tan nightclub.

Black and Tans

I. an armed force recruited by the British government to fight Sinn Fein in Ireland in 1920–21. Their harsh methods caused an outcry in Britain and the US.

– origin so named because of the mixture of military khaki and black constabulary colors of their uniform.

black and white /ˈˌblak ən ˈ(h)wīt/

I. adjective

1. (of a photograph, movie, television program, or illustration) in black, white, shades of gray, and no other color

• old black-and-white movies.

2. (of a television) displaying images only in black, white, and shades of gray.

3. (of a situation or debate) involving clearly defined opposing principles or issues

• there is nothing black and white about these matters.

II. noun

(US) ‹informal› a police car.

III. phrases

in black and white

a. in writing or in print, and regarded as more reliable, credible, or formal than by word of mouth

• getting her contract down in black and white.

b. in terms of clearly defined opposing principles or issues

• children think in black and white, good and bad.

Black Angus

noun

another term for Aberdeen Angus.

black ant

noun

an ant that is black and is often found in and around houses.
[Several species in the family Formicidae.]

black art

noun — (usu. the black art)

1. another term for black magic.

2. ‹often humorous› a technique or practice considered mysterious and sinister

• the black art of political news management.

blackball /ˈblakˌbôl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. reject (someone, usually a candidate applying to become a member of a private club), typically by means of a secret ballot

• her husband was blackballed when he tried to join the country club.

– origin late 18th cent.: from the practice of registering an adverse vote by placing a black ball in a ballot box.

black bass /ˌblak ˈbas/

noun

a North American freshwater fish of the sunfish family. It is a popular sporting and food fish.
[Genus Micropterus, family Centrarchidae: several species, in particular the largemouth bass (M. salmoides) and the smallmouth bass (M. dolomieui).]

black bean

noun

1. either of two cultivated varieties of bean plant having small black seeds.
[● a variety of soybean, used fermented in Asian cooking. ● a Mexican variety of string bean.]

2. the dried seed of the black bean plants, used as a vegetable.

3. either of two Australian plants of the pea family.
[● a large tree with red or yellow flowers, dark beanlike seeds, and a hard and decorative wood (Castanospermum australe, family Leguminosae). ● a liana with blackish flowers (Kennedia nigricans, family Leguminosae).]

black bear /blak ber/

noun

a medium-sized forest-dwelling bear with blackish fur and a paler face, found in North America and eastern Asia.
[Two species, family Ursidae: the American black bear (Ursus americanus), with a wide range of coat color, and the smaller Asian black bear (Selenarctos thibetanus).]

Blackbeard /ˈblakbird/

(died 1718), English pirate; real name Edward Teach. Originally a privateer during the War of the Spanish Succession 1701–14, he turned to piracy and concentrated on the West Indies and the Virginia–North Carolina coast of America.

black belt /ˈblak ˈˌbelt/

noun

1. a black belt worn by an expert in judo, karate, and other martial arts.

2. a person qualified to wear this.

Black Belt

an agricultural district in central Alabama and Mississippi, named for its rich soils.

blackberry /ˈblakˌberē/

I. noun

1. an edible soft fruit, consisting of a cluster of soft purple-black drupelets.

2. the prickly climbing shrub of the rose family that bears this fruit and that grows extensively in the wild.
[Rubus fruticosus, family Rosaceae (sometimes treated as an aggregate of many species).]

II. verb — [no obj.] (usu. as noun blackberrying)

1. gather blackberries in the wild.

BlackBerry /ˈblakˌberē/

I. noun

‹trademark› a handheld mobile device that provides Internet access along with email, telephone, and text messaging services.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. communicate with (someone) using a BlackBerry device

• I was BlackBerrying them while the speech was going on

• [no obj.] they blogged, BlackBerried, and texted—sometimes contacting someone only a few feet away.

black bile

I. noun

(in medieval science and medicine) one of the four bodily humors, believed to be associated with a melancholy temperament.
Also called melancholy.

– origin late 18th cent.: translation of Greek melankholia (see melancholy). Compare with atrabilious.

black bindweed

noun

a twining weed of the dock family, with arrowhead-shaped leaves and small greenish flowers.
[Polygonum convolvulus, family Polygonaceae.]

black birch

noun

another term for sweet birch.

blackbird /ˈblakˌbərd/

noun

1. a European thrush with mainly black plumage.
[Genus Turdus, subfamily Turdinae, family Muscicapidae: four species, in particular T. merula, the male of which has all-black plumage and a yellow bill.]

2. an American bird with a strong pointed bill. The male has black plumage that is iridescent or has patches of red or yellow.
[Family Icteridae: several genera and species, including the abundant red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus).]

blackboard /ˈblakbôrd/

noun

a large board with a smooth, typically dark, surface attached to a wall or supported on an easel and used for writing on with chalk, especially by teachers in schools.

black book

noun

a book containing a list of secret contacts, or of the names of people liable to be punished

• he lists his sexual conquests in his little black book.

black bottom

noun

a popular US dance of the 1920s.

black bottom pie

noun

pie with a bottom layer of chocolate cream or custard and a contrasting top layer, usually of whipped cream.

black box /ˈˌblak ˈbäks/

noun

1. a flight recorder in an aircraft.

2. any complex piece of equipment, typically a unit in an electronic system, with contents that are mysterious to the user.

black bread /ˌblak ˈbred/

noun

a coarse, dark-colored type of rye bread.

blackbuck /ˈblakˌbək/

noun

a small Indian gazelle, the horned male of which has a black back and white underbelly, the female being hornless.
[Antilope cervicapra, family Bovidae.]

Blackburn /ˈblakbərn/

an industrial town in northwestern England; pop. 104,100 (est. 2009).

black butter

noun

a sauce made by heating butter until it is dark brown. It is often flavored with vinegar and herbs.

blackcap /ˈblakˌkap/

noun

1. a mainly European warbler with a black cap in the male and a reddish-brown one in the female.
[Sylvia atricapilla, family Sylviidae.]

2. (N. Amer.) the black-capped chickadee.
See chickadee.

black caucus

noun

1. (US) a political caucus composed of black people interested in advancing the concerns of blacks.

2. (Black Caucus) — (US) a political caucus composed of black members of the US Congress.

black cherry

noun

1. a large North American cherry tree that yields valuable close-grained hard wood.
[Prunus serotina, family Rosaceae.]

2. the bitter blackish fruit of the black cherry tree, sometimes used for jellies and regularly eaten by wild birds and animals.

blackcock /ˈblakˌkäk/

noun

the male of the black grouse.

black consciousness

noun

1. awareness of one's identity as a black person.

2. a political movement or ideology (particularly in the US and South Africa) seeking to unite black people in affirming their common identity.

black currant /ˈblakkərənt/

noun — ( blackcurrant)

1. a small round edible black berry that grows in loose hanging clusters.

2. the shrub that produces black currants.
[Genus Ribes, family Grossulariaceae: several species, in particular the widely cultivated Ribes nigrum.]

blackdamp /ˈblakdamp/

noun

choking or suffocating gas, typically carbon dioxide, that is found in mines and other underground spaces.

Black Death /ˈˌblak ˈdeTH/

I. the great epidemic of bubonic plague that killed a large part of the population of Europe in the mid 14th century. It originated in central Asia and China and spread rapidly through Europe, carried by the fleas of black rats, reaching England in 1348 and killing between one third and one half of the population in a matter of months.

– origin a modern term (compare with earlier the (great) pestilence, great death, the plague), said to have been introduced into English history by Mrs. Markham (pseudonym of Mrs. Penrose) in 1823, and into medical literature by a translation of German der Schwarze Tod (1833). The epithet Black is of uncertain origin; its equivalent was first found in Swedish and Danish chroniclers.

black diamond /blak ˈdī(ə)mənd/

noun

1. ‹informal› a lump of coal.

2. [usu. as modifier] — (N. Amer.) a difficult ski slope

• a steep, black diamond run.

3. another term for carbonado.

black dog

I. noun

‹informal› used as a metaphor for melancholy or depression

• I'm very happy, but the black dog is there, lurking around the corner.

– origin late 18th cent.: figuratively from a cant name used during Queen Anne's reign (1702–14) for a base silver coin (usually a bad shilling).

black duck

noun

a duck with black plumage, especially the American black duck (Anas rubripes) of northeastern North America.

blacken /ˈblakən/

verb

1. become or make black or dark, especially as a result of burning, decay, or bruising
[no obj.]

• he set fire to the paper, watching the end blacken as it burned

• [with obj.] she blackened George's eye before he knew what had happened

• (as adj. blackened) her smile revealed blackened teeth.

2. [with obj.] — dye or color (the face or hair) black for camouflage or cosmetic effect

• in full combat gear with blackened faces.

3. [with obj.] — damage or destroy (someone's good reputation); defame

• she won't thank you for blackening her husband's name.

black English

noun

any of various nonstandard forms of English spoken by black people, especially as an urban dialect in the US.

Blackett, Patrick /ˈblakit/

Baron (1897–1974), English physicist; full name Patrick Maynard Stuart Blackett. He was a member of the Maud Committee, which dealt with the development of the atom bomb. He also modified the cloud chamber for the study of cosmic rays. Nobel Prize for Physics (1948).

black eye /ˌblak ˈī/

noun

1. a bruised and discolored area around the eye resulting from a blow

• it's gonna be a doozy of a black eye.

2. a mark or source of dishonor or shame

• legislators have caused the state to suffer yet another black eye.

black-eyed pea

noun

another term for cowpea.

black-eyed Susan /ˈblak ˌīd ˈso͞ozən/

noun

any of a number of flowers that have yellowish petals and a dark center, in particular
[● a daisylike North American flower with bristly leaves and stems (Rudbeckia hirta and its hybrids, family Compositae). ● a slender tropical climber, grown as a popular indoor or greenhouse plant (Thunbergia alata, family Acanthaceae).]

blackface /ˈblakfās/

noun

1. the makeup used by a nonblack performer playing a black role. The role played is typically comedic or musical and usually is considered offensive

• he appeared in blackface

• [as modifier] the blackface components of the minstrel era.

2. used to imply patronization of blacks by whites or by institutions perceived to be insincerely or ineffectively nonracist.

blackfish /ˈblakˌfiSH/

noun

1. any of a number of dark-colored fish, in particular
[● an open-ocean fish related to the perches (genera Centrolophus and Schedophilus, family Centrolophidae), in particular the large and widespread C. niger. ● a small fish occurring along the Arctic coasts of Alaska and Siberia, noted for its ability to withstand freezing (Dallia pectoralis, family Umbridae). ● a large fish of Australian rivers (Gadopsis marmoratus, family Gadopsidae). ● a salmon just after spawning.]

2. another term for pilot whale.

black flag

noun

1. ‹historical› a pirate's ensign, typically thought to feature a white skull and crossbones on a black background; Jolly Roger.

2. [Auto Racing] a black flag used to signal a driver to make an immediate pit stop as punishment for violating a rule or driving dangerously, or to force inspection of a hazardous condition such as an oil leak.

black fly

noun

1. a small black fly, the female of which sucks blood and can transmit a number of serious human and animal diseases. Large swarms sometimes cause distress to livestock and humans.
[Family Simuliidae: Simulium and other genera.]

2. a black or dark green aphid that is a common pest of crops and gardens.
[Several species in the family Aphididae, in particular Aphis fabae.]

Blackfoot /ˈblakˌfo͝ot/

I. noun

1. a member of a confederacy of North American Indian peoples of the northwestern plains. The Blackfoot confederacy comprised three closely related tribes: the Blackfoot proper, the Bloods, and the Piegan.

2. the Algonquian language of the Blackfoot.

3. a subdivision of the Teton Sioux.

II. adjective

relating to the Blackfoot or their language.

Black Forest /ˈˌblak ˈfôrəst/

a hilly wooded region of southwestern Germany that lies to the east of the Rhine River valley.
German name Schwarzwald.

Black Forest cake

I. noun

a chocolate sponge cake with layers of morello cherries or cherry jam and whipped cream and topped with chocolate icing.

– origin Black Forest, a translation of German Schwarzwald, the name of a forested area in southwestern Germany.

Black Friar /ˈˌblak ˈˌfrī(ə)r/

I. noun

a Dominican friar.

– origin early 16th cent.: so named because of the color of the order's habit.

Black Friday

I. noun

1. the day after Thanksgiving, regarded as the first day of the traditional Christmas shopping season, on which retailers offer special reduced prices

• shoppers were snapping up deals on Black Friday.

2. Friday, September 24, 1869, when an attempt by a few speculators to corner the US gold market was thwarted by President Ulysses S. Grant's release of government gold for sale, making gold prices plummet and creating a panic in the stock market.

– origin early 17th cent. (as school slang, in the sense ‘Friday on which an examination is held’). The shopping sense dates from the 1960s and was originally used with reference to congestion created by shoppers; it was later explained as a day when retailers’ accounts went from being “in the red” to “in the black”

black frost /ˌblak ˈfrôst/

noun

a dry, nonvisible killing frost that turns vegetation black.

black gold /ˌblak ˈɡōld/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› petroleum.

black grouse /blak ɡrous/

noun

a large Eurasian grouse, the male of which has glossy blue-black plumage and a lyre-shaped tail. The males display in communal leks.
[Tetrao tetrix, family Tetraonidae (or Phasianidae); the male is called a blackcock and the female a greyhen.]

blackguard /ˈblaɡərd ˈblaˌɡärd/

I. noun

‹dated› a person, particularly a man, who behaves in a dishonorable or contemptible way.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹dated› abuse or disparage (someone) scurrilously.

III. derivatives

blackguardly /ˈblaɡərdlē ˈblaˌɡärdlē /

adjective

– origin early 16th cent. (originally as two words): from black + guard. The term originally denoted a body of attendants or servants, especially the menials who had charge of kitchen utensils, but the exact significance of the epithet ‘black’ is uncertain. The sense ‘scoundrel, villain’ dates from the mid 18th cent., and was formerly considered highly offensive.

black guillemot

noun

a seabird of the auk family with black summer plumage and large white wing patches, breeding on the coasts of the Arctic and North Atlantic.
[Cepphus grylle, family Alcidae.]

black gum

noun

another term for sourgum.

Black Hand

noun

1. a secret criminal and terrorist society in New York during the early 20th century.

2. a secret criminal society similar to Black Hand.

black hat

I. noun

1. used in reference to a bad person, especially a villain or criminal in a movie, novel, or play

• we are the good guys—the black hats lost.

2. [Computing] ‹informal› a person who hacks into a computer network with malicious or criminal intent

• black hats have a history of disassembling source code and looking for lapses.

– origin 1950s: from the color of the hat traditionally worn by the bad character in westerns. Compare with white hat.

Black Hawk

(1767–1838), American Indian leader, chief of the Sauk and Fox Indians; native name Makataimeshekiakiak. He fought to repossess Indian lands in the Black Hawk War 1832.

blackhead /ˈblakˌhed/

noun

1. a plug of sebum in a hair follicle, darkened by oxidation.

2. an infectious disease of turkeys producing discoloration of the head, caused by a protozoan.

black-hearted

I. adjective

‹literary› cruel and wicked; malevolent

• a black-hearted villain.

II. derivatives

blackheartedness

noun

Black Hills

a mountain range in eastern Wyoming and western South Dakota. The highest point is Harney Peak (7,242 feet; 2,207 m); Mount Rushmore is also part of this range.

black hole /ˈˌblak ˈhōl/

noun

1. [Astronomy] a region of space having a gravitational field so intense that no matter or radiation can escape.

2. [Astronomy] ‹informal› a place where people or things, especially money, disappear without trace

• the moribund economy has been a black hole for federal funds

• juveniles lost for good in the black hole of the criminal justice system.

Black holes are probably formed when a massive star exhausts its nuclear fuel and collapses under its own gravity. If the star is massive enough, no known force can counteract the increasing gravity, and it will collapse to a point of infinite density. Before this stage is reached, within a certain radius (the event horizon), light itself becomes trapped and the object becomes invisible.

Black Hole of Calcutta

a dungeon 20 feet (6 m) square in Fort William, Calcutta (now Kolkata), where perhaps as many as 146 English prisoners were confined overnight following the capture of Calcutta by the nawab of Bengal, in 1756. Only twenty-three of them were still alive the next morning.

black ice /ˌblak ˈīs/

noun

a transparent coating of ice, found especially on a road or other paved surface.

blackjack /ˈblakˌjak/

noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) a gambling card game in which players try to acquire cards with a face value as close as possible to 21 without going over.
Also called twenty-one, vingt-et-un.

2. (N. Amer.) a short, leather-covered, typically lead-filled club with a flexible handle, used as a weapon.

3. ‹historical› a pirate's black ensign.

4. ‹historical› a tarred-leather container used for alcoholic drinks.

Black Jew

noun

another term for Falasha.

blacklead /ˈblakled/

noun

another term for graphite.

blackleg /ˈblakˌleɡ/

noun

1. any of a number of plant diseases in which part of the stem blackens and decays, in particular
[● a fungal disease of cabbages and related plants (caused by Leptosphaeria, Pleospora, and other genera). ● a bacterial disease of potatoes (caused by Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica).]

2. an acute infectious bacterial disease of cattle and sheep, causing necrosis in one or more legs.
[This disease is caused by Clostridium chauvoei.]

3. (Brit.) ‹derogatory› a strikebreaker.
[the reason for the name remains unknown.]

black letter

noun

an early, ornate, bold style of type, typically resembling Gothic.

black light

noun

ultraviolet or infrared radiation, invisible to the eye.

blacklist /ˈblakˌlist/

I. noun

a list of people or products viewed with suspicion or disapproval.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. put (a person or product) on a blacklist

• workers were blacklisted after being quoted in the newspaper.

black locust

noun

a North American tree with compound leaves and dense, hanging clusters of fragrant white flowers, widely grown as an ornamental.
[Robinia pseudoacacia, family Leguminosae.]

black lung

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) pneumoconiosis caused by inhalation of coal dust.

black magic /ˈˌblak ˈˌmajik/

noun

magic involving the supposed invocation of evil spirits for evil purposes.

blackmail /ˈblakˌmāl/

I. noun

1. the action, treated as a criminal offense, of demanding money from a person in return for not revealing compromising or injurious information about that person

• they were acquitted of charges of blackmail.

2. money demanded from a person in return for not revealing injurious information

• we do not pay blackmail.

3. the use of threats or the manipulation of someone's feelings to force them to do something

• out of fear, she submitted to Jim's emotional blackmail

• they are trying to blackmail us with hunger.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. demand money from (a person) in return for not revealing compromising or injurious information about that person

• trying to blackmail him for $400,000.

2. force (someone) to do something by using threats or manipulating their feelings

• he had blackmailed her into sailing with him.

III. derivatives

blackmailer /ˈblakˌmālər /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting protection money levied by Scottish chiefs): from black + obsolete mail ‘tribute, rent,’ from Old Norse mál ‘speech, agreement.’

black mamba

noun

a highly venomous, slender, olive-brown to dark gray snake that moves with great speed and agility. Native to eastern and southern Africa, it is the largest poisonous snake on the continent.
[Dendroaspis polylepis, family Elapidae.]

Black Maria /ˌblak məˈrīə/

I. noun

‹informal› a police vehicle for transporting prisoners.

– origin mid 19th cent.: said to be named after a black woman, Maria Lee, who kept a boarding house in Boston and helped police in escorting drunk and disorderly customers to jail.

black mark /ˌblak ˈmärk/

noun

‹informal› used to indicate that someone is remembered and regarded with disfavor

• an arrest will be a black mark on your record

• a black mark went down against him for turning down the job.

black market /ˈblak ˈmärkət/

I. noun — (the black market)

1. an illegal traffic or trade in officially controlled or scarce commodities

• they planned to sell the meat on the black market

• [as modifier] black market currency trading.

II. derivatives

1. black marketeer /ˈˌblak ˌmärkəˈti(ə)r / black-marketeer

noun

2. black-marketeer

verb

3. black marketer

noun

black mass /ˌblak ˈmas / Black Mass

noun

a travesty of the Roman Catholic Mass in worship of Satan.

Black Mesa

an upland in northeastern Arizona, home to many of the Navajo. The Hopi live on extensions to the south.

black metal

noun

a type of heavy metal music having lyrics that deal with Satan and the supernatural.

Black Monday

noun

Monday, October 19, 1987. On this date, the collapse of stock prices on Wall Street triggered similar declines in markets around the world.

black money

noun

income illegally obtained or not declared for tax purposes.

Black Monk /ˈblak məNGk/

I. noun

a Benedictine monk.

– origin Middle English: so named because of the color of the order's habit.

Blackmore, R. D. /ˈblakˌmôr/

(1825–1900), English novelist and poet; full name Richard Doddridge Blackmore. He is noted for his romantic novel Lorna Doone (1869).

Black Mountains

a range of the Appalachian Mountains in western North Carolina. Mount Mitchell at 6,684 feet (2,039 m) is the high point.

Blackmun, Harry /ˈblakmən/

(1908–99), US Supreme Court associate justice 1970–94; full name Harry Andrew Blackmun. He is noted as the author of Roe v. Wade, which ruled on the right to legal abortion in 1973.

Black Muslim

noun

a member of the Nation of Islam.

black nationalism

I. noun

the advocacy of separate national status for black people, especially in the US.

II. derivatives

black nationalist

noun

blackness /ˈblaknəs/

noun

1. the property or quality of being black in color

• it restores gray hair to blackness.

2. complete darkness; the absence of any light

• the entire house was plunged into pitch blackness.

3. the fact or state of belonging to any human group having dark-colored skin

• my experiences have made me far more aware of my blackness than ever before

• she holds that position not because of her blackness, but her effectiveness.

4. the quality or character associated with black people

• the blackness of his poetry is an inextricable aspect of his subject matter.

5. a state characterized by despair or depression

• there is a little hope amid the blackness of his life

• the absolute depths of blackness and morbidity.

6. ‹archaic› a state or condition of being evil or wicked

• the blackness of the human heart through the atrocities of war.

black-on-black /ˌblakˌänˈblak/

adjective

designating harmful actions in which both the perpetrator and the victim are black

• black-on-black violence.

black operations black ops

plural noun

covert military or political operations that may employ measures not generally authorized.

• the plan involved wiretapping, burglary, mail-opening, and other black operations.

blackout /ˈblakˌout/

noun

1. [often with modifier] — a failure of electrical power supply

• due to a power blackout, their hotel was in total darkness.

2. a period when all lights must be turned out or covered to prevent them being seen by the enemy during an air raid

• people found it difficult to travel in the blackout

• [as modifier] she peered out through the blackout curtains.

3. (usu. blackouts) — dark curtains put up in windows to cover lights during an air raid.

4. a moment in the theater when the lights on stage are suddenly turned off.

5. a suppression of information, especially one imposed on the media by government

• there is a total information blackout on minority interests.

6. a period during which a particular activity is prohibited

• there are no blackout days during the travel period.

7. a temporary loss of consciousness

• she was suffering from blackouts.

black oyster plant

noun

another term for scorzonera.

black panther

noun

a leopard that has black fur rather than the typical spotted coat.

Black Panther

noun

a member of a militant political organization set up in the US in 1966 to fight for black rights.

black pepper /blak ˈpepər/

noun

the dried black berries of the pepper (see pepper (sense 2 of the noun)), which are harvested while still green and unripe. Black pepper is widely used as a spice and a condiment and may be used whole (peppercorns) or ground.

blackpoll /ˈblakpōl / blackpoll warbler

noun

a North American warbler, the male of which has a black cap, white cheeks, and white underparts streaked with black.
[Dendroica striata, subfamily Parulinae, family Emberizidae.]

Blackpool /ˈblakpo͞ol/

a seaside resort in northwestern England; pop. 142,600 (est. 2009).

black poplar

noun

a Eurasian poplar with a blackish-brown trunk and arching lower branches.
[Populus nigra, family Salicaceae.]

black powder

noun

the original gunpowder, composed of charcoal, saltpeter, and sulfur, now used chiefly in antique firearms and in fireworks.

Black Power

noun

a movement in support of rights and political power for black people, especially prominent in the US in the 1960s and 1970s.

Black Prince

(1330–76), eldest son of Edward III of England; name given to Edward, Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall, most likely because of the black armor he wore when fighting. He was responsible for the British victory at Poitiers in 1356. He predeceased his father, and his son became King Richard II.

black pudding /blak ˈpo͝odiNG/

noun

blood sausage.

black raspberry

noun

1. an edible soft fruit related to the blackberry, consisting of a cluster of black drupelets.

2. the prickly arching shrub of the rose family that bears this fruit.
[Rubus occidentalis, family Rosaceae.]

black rat

noun

a rat with dark fur, large ears, and a long tail. It is found throughout the world, being particularly common in the tropics, and is the chief host of the plague-transmitting flea.
Also called roof rat. [Rattus rattus, family Muridae.]

black rhinoceros

noun

a two-horned rhinoceros with a prehensile upper lip, found in Africa south of the Sahara.
[Diceros bicornis, family Rhinocerotidae.]

Black River

a river that flows southeast for 300 miles (480 km) through Missouri and Arkansas, along the eastern edge of the Ozark Plateau.

Black Rod /ˌblak ˈräd / Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod

I. noun

(in the UK) the chief usher of the Lord Chamberlain's department of the royal household, who is also usher to the House of Lords.

– origin mid 17th cent.: so named because of the black wand carried as a symbol of office.

black rot

noun

a disease of fruits and vegetables caused by bacteria or fungi, producing blackening, rotting, and shriveling.

black salsify

noun

another term for scorzonera.

Blacksburg /ˈblaksbərɡ/

a town in southwestern Virginia, in the Appalachian Mountains, home to Virginia Polytechnic Institute; pop. 41,796 (est. 2008).

Black Sea /ˈˌblak ˈsē/

a tideless almost landlocked sea bounded by Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania. It is connected to the Mediterranean Sea through the Bosporus and the Sea of Marmara.

black sheep /ˈˌblak ˈSHēp/

I. noun

‹informal› a member of a family or group who is regarded as a disgrace to them

• the black sheep of the family.

– origin late 18th cent.: from the proverb there is a black sheep in every flock.

blackshirt /ˈblakˌSHərt/

I. noun

1. a member of a fascist organization, in particular

2. (in Italy) a member of a paramilitary group founded by Mussolini.

3. (in Nazi Germany) a member of the SS.

– origin 1920s: so named because of the color of the Italian Fascist uniform.

blacksmith /ˈblakˌsmiTH/

noun

1. a person who makes and repairs things in iron by hand.

2. a farrier.

black smoker

noun

[Geology] a geothermal vent on the seabed that ejects superheated water containing much suspended matter, typically black sulfide minerals.

blacksnake /ˈblaksnāk/

noun

a long black American racer, especially the common Northern blacksnake (Coluber constrictor constrictor), the adult of which is a patternless black, above and below.

black spot /ˌblak ˈspät/

noun

a disease of plants, especially of roses, producing black blotches on leaves.

Blackstone River /ˌblakˌstōn ˈrivər/

a river that flows south for 50 miles (80 km) through Worcester, Massachusetts, to Pawtucket, Rhode Island, below which it is called the Seekonk River. The Blackstone Valley was a site of early US industrial development.

blackstrap /ˈblakstrap/

noun

a dark, viscous molasses, the byproduct of the final extraction phase of sugar refining, used chiefly in cattle feed and in the industrial production of citric acid and vinegar.

black swan /ˌblak ˈswän/

noun

1. a mainly black swan with white flight feathers, which is common in Australia and Tasmania and has been introduced widely elsewhere.
[Cygnus atratus, family Anatidae.]

2. an unpredictable or unforeseen event, typically one with extreme consequences
[as modifier]

• geopolitical black swan events, such as the Arab Spring and the Japanese earthquake, have further complicated the market dynamics.

blacktail deer /ˌblaktāl ˈdir / black-tailed deer

noun

a type of mule deer with black markings on the upper side of its tail, found west of the crest of the Cascade Mountains.
[Odocoileus hemionus subsp. columbianus, family Cervidae.]

black tea

noun

1. tea of the most usual type, that is fully fermented before drying.
Compare with green tea.

2. tea served without milk or cream.

blackthorn /ˈblakˌTHôrn/

noun

1. a thorny Eurasian shrub that bears white flowers before the leaves appear and astringent blue-black fruits.
Also called sloe. [Prunus spinosa, family Rosaceae.]

2. a walking stick or cudgel made from the wood of the blackthorn shrub.

Black Thursday

noun

October 24, 1929. On this date, a then-record number of shares were traded on the New York Stock Exchange by panicked investors, marking the onset of the stock market crash that precipitated the Great Depression.

black tie /blak tī/

noun

1. a black bow tie worn with a dinner jacket.

2. formal evening dress

• the audience wears black tie

• [as modifier] evening meals were black-tie affairs.

blacktop /ˈblakˌtäp / ‹chiefly N. Amer.›

I. noun

1. asphalt, or other black material used for surfacing roads
[as modifier]

• blacktop roads.

2. a road or area surfaced with asphalt or other black material

• playing hopscotch on the blacktop behind the school.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. surface (a road or area) with asphalt or other black material

• 41 miles had been blacktopped to date.

Black Tuesday

noun

October 29, 1929. On this date, share prices on the New York Stock Exchange completely collapsed, becoming a pivotal factor in the emergence of the Great Depression.

black tupelo

noun

another term for sourgum.

black velvet /blak ˈvelvət/

noun

a drink consisting of a mixture of stout and champagne.

black vulture

noun

1. a large, aggressive American vulture with black plumage and a short square tail.
Also called carrion crow. [Coragyps atratus, family Cathartidae.]

2. a very large Old World vulture with blackish-brown plumage, now rare in Europe.
Also called cinereous vulture. [Aygypius monachus, family Accipitridae.]

Black Warrior River

a river that flows 178 miles (287 km) across northern Alabama to join the Tombigbee River. Tuscaloosa and the Birmingham area lie along its course.

black water

noun

‹technical› waste water from toilets.
Compare with gray water.

blackwater fever /ˈblakˌwädər ˌfēvər/

noun

a severe form of malaria in which blood cells are rapidly destroyed, resulting in dark urine.

Blackwell, Elizabeth /ˈblakwəl, -ˌwel/

(1821–1910), US physician, born in England. She was the first woman to receive a medical degree in the US (1849) and the first woman listed in the Medical Register of the United Kingdom (1859).

black widow black widow spider

noun

a highly venomous American spider that has a black body with red markings.
[Latrodectus mactans, family Theridiidae; subspecies also occur on other continents.]

blackwork /ˈblakwərk/

noun

a type of embroidery done in black thread on white cloth, especially popular in England during the Tudor period.

blad /blad/

noun

a promotional flyer or mockup for a product, especially for a book.

bladder /ˈbladər/

I. noun

1. a membranous sac in humans and other animals, in which urine is collected for excretion.

2. anything inflated and hollow

• an air bladder in the arch and collar of the shoe.

3. [Botany] an inflated fruit or vesicle in various plants

• a dried bladder of seaweed.

– origin Old English blǣdre, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch blaar and German Blatter, also to blow^1.

bladdered /ˈbladərd/

adjective

(Brit.) ‹informal› extremely drunk.

bladder fern

noun

a small delicate fern with rounded spore cases, growing on rocks and walls. Bladder ferns are native to both Eurasia and North America.
Also called brittle fern. [Genus Cystopteris, family Dryopteridaceae: several species.]

bladdernut /ˈbladərˌnət/

noun — (also bladder nut)

1. a shrub or small tree of north temperate regions that bears white flowers and inflated seed capsules.
[Genus Staphylea, family Staphyleaceae: several species, in particular the American bladdernut (S. trifolia) of the eastern US.]

2. the fruit of the bladdernut.

bladder senna

noun

a Mediterranean shrub of the pea family that bears yellow flowers followed by inflated reddish pods.
[Colutea arborescens, family Leguminosae.]

bladder worm

noun

an immature form of a tapeworm, which lives in the flesh of the secondary host. Further development is suspended until it is eaten by the primary host.

bladderwort /ˈbladərwərt ˈbladərˌwôrt/

noun

an aquatic plant of north temperate regions with small air-filled bladders that keep the plant afloat and trap tiny animals that provide additional nutrients.
[Genus Utricularia, family Lentibulariaceae.]

bladderwrack /ˈbladərˌrak / bladder wrack

noun

a common brown shoreline seaweed that has tough straplike fronds containing air bladders that give buoyancy.
[Fucus vesiculosus, class Phaeophyceae.]

blade /blād/

I. noun

1. the flat cutting edge of a knife, saw, or other tool or weapon.

2. short for razor blade.

3. ‹literary› a sword.

4. [Archaeology] a long, narrow flake.

5. the flat, wide section of an implement or device such as an oar or a propeller.

6. a thin, flat metal runner on an ice skate.

7. (also running blade) — a prosthetic lower limb designed for athletes, consisting of a flattened length of carbon fiber with a long, curved section at the base

• Lydia is being taught to run on blades

• the Paralympics brought prosthetics such as running blades into the limelight.

8. a long, narrow leaf of grass or another similar plant

• a blade of grass.

9. [Botany] the broad thin part of a leaf apart from the stalk.

10. a shoulder bone in a cut of meat, or the cut of meat itself.

11. the flat part of the tongue behind the tip.

12. ‹informal› ‹dated› a dashing or energetic young man.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (US) ‹informal› skate using in-line skates

• we bladed into the parking lot behind Mensky's.

III. derivatives

bladed /ˈblādəd /

adjective

[in combination]

• double-bladed paddles

– origin Old English blæd ‘leaf of a plant’ (also sense 2 of the noun), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch blad and German Blatt.

blague /bläɡ/

I. noun

a joke or piece of nonsense.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, literally ‘claptrap, nonsense.’

blagueur /ˈbläɡər bläˈɡər/

I. noun

a person who talks nonsense.

– origin French, from blague.

blah /blä / ‹informal›

I. exclamation

used to substitute for actual words in contexts where they are felt to be too tedious or lengthy to give in full

• the typical kid, going out every night, blah, blah, blah.

II. noun

1. (also blah-blah) — used to refer to something that is boring or without meaningful content

• talking all kinds of blah to him

• [as modifier] his blah feeling.

2. (the blahs) — (N. Amer.) depression

• he battled a case of the blahs

• the winter blahs.

– origin early 20th cent. (originally US): imitative.

blain /blān/

I. noun

‹rare› an inflamed swelling or sore on the skin.
See chilblain.

– origin Old English blegen; related to Dutch blein.

Blaine /blān/

a city in southeastern Minnesota, north of Minneapolis; pop. 55,042 (est. 2008).

Blair, Bonnie /ble(ə)r/

(1964–), US speed skater. She is the only US woman to win five Olympic gold medals—in the 500-meter race in 1988, 1992, and 1994 and in the 1,000-meter race in 1992 and 1994.

Blair, John

(1732–1800), US Supreme Court associate justice 1789–96. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention 1787 and signed the US Constitution. He favored a strong federal government.

Blair, Tony

(1953–), British statesman; prime minister 1997–2007; full name Anthony Charles Lynton Blair. He was elected leader of the Labour Party in 1994. His landslide victory in the election of 1997 gave his party its biggest-ever majority and made him the youngest prime minister since Lord Liverpool in 1812.

Blairite /ˈblerīt/

I. noun

a supporter of the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair or his policies

• she is a loyal Blairite.

II. adjective

relating to or characteristic of the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair or his policies

• figures from a Blairite think tank.

Blake, Eubie /blāk/

(1883–1983), US jazz pianist and composer. One of the foremost ragtime pianists, he wrote over 300 songs, many in collaboration with lyricist Noble Sissle (1889–1975).

Blake, Sir Peter

(1932–), English painter. He was prominent in the pop art movement in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Blake, William

(1757–1827), English artist and poet. His poems mark the beginning of romanticism and a rejection of the Age of Enlightenment. His watercolors and engravings, like his writings, were not fully appreciated until after his death. Notable collections of poems: Songs of Innocence (1789) and Songs of Experience (1794).

Blakey, Art /ˈblākē/

(1919–90), US jazz drummer; full name Arthur Blakey. A pioneer of the bebop movement, he was known for his group, the Jazz Messengers.

blame /blām/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. assign responsibility for a fault or wrong

• the inquiry blamed the engineer for the accident.

2. (blame something on) — assign the responsibility for something bad to (someone or something)

• they blame youth crime on unemployment.

II. noun

responsibility for a fault or wrong

• his players had to take the blame

• they are trying to put the blame on us.

III. phrases

1. be to blame

be responsible for a fault or wrong

• he was to blame for their deaths.

2. I don't (or can't) blame you (or her, etc.)

used to indicate that one agrees that the action or attitude taken was reasonable

• he was becoming impatient, and I couldn't blame him.

3. have only oneself to blame

be solely responsible for something bad that has happened.

IV. derivatives

1. blamable /ˈblāməb(ə)l / blameable

adjective

2. blameful /ˈblāmf(ə)l /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French blamer, blasmer (verb), from a popular Latin variant of ecclesiastical Latin blasphemare ‘reproach, revile, blaspheme,’ from Greek blasphēmein (see blaspheme).

blamed /blāmd/

adjective, adverb

‹informal› used for emphasis, especially to express disapprobation or annoyance

• a blamed old sodden-headed conservative.

blame game

I. noun

‹informal› a situation in which one party blames others for something bad or unfortunate rather than attempting to seek a solution.

II. derivatives

blame-gaming

noun

blameless /ˈblāmləs/

I. adjective

innocent of wrongdoing

• he led a blameless life.

II. derivatives

1. blamelessly /ˈblāmləslē /

adverb

2. blamelessness

noun

blamestorming /ˈblāmˌstôrmiNG/

I. noun

group discussion regarding the assigning of responsibility for a failure or mistake.

– origin 1990s: on the pattern of brainstorming.

blameworthy /ˈblāmˌwərT͟Hē/

I. adjective

responsible for wrongdoing and deserving of censure or blame.

II. derivatives

blameworthiness

noun

blanc fixe /ˈblaNGk ˈfiks, bläN ˈfēks/

noun

barium sulfate in the form of a white powder used in making pigments and paper.

blanch /blan(t)SH/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — make white or pale by extracting color; bleach

• the cold light blanched her face.

2. [with obj.] — whiten (a plant) by depriving it of light

• blanch endive by covering plants with large flowerpots.

3. [no obj.] — (of a person) grow pale from shock, fear, or a similar emotion

• many people blanch at the suggestion

• their faces blanched with fear.

4. [with obj.] — prepare (vegetables) for freezing or further cooking by immersing briefly in boiling water.

5. peel (almonds) by scalding them
(as adj. blanched)

• blanched almonds.

– origin Middle English: from Old French blanchir, from blanc ‘white,’ ultimately of Germanic origin.

Blanchard, Jean-Pierre /ˈblanCHərd, bläNˈSHär/

(1753–1809), French balloonist; full name Jean-Pierre François Blanchard. Together with an American, John Jeffries (1744–1819), he made the first air crossing of the English Channel, in a balloon, on January 7, 1785.

blancmange /bləˈmänj bləˈmäNZH/

I. noun

a sweet opaque gelatinous dessert made with cornstarch and milk.

– origin late Middle English blancmanger, from Old French blanc mangier, from blanc ‘white’ + mangier ‘eat’ (used as a noun to mean ‘food’). The shortened form without -er arose in the 18th cent.

bland /bland/

I. adjective

1. lacking strong features or characteristics and therefore uninteresting

• rebelling against the bland uniformity.

2. (of food or drink) mild or insipid

• bland and unadventurous vegetarian dish

• bland beers of mediocre quality.

3. (of a person or behavior) showing no strong emotion; dull and unremarkable

• offering bland reassurance

• his expression was bland and unreadable.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘gentle in manner’): from Latin blandus ‘soft, smooth.’

Blanda, George /ˈblandə/

(1927–), US football player; full name George Frederick Blanda. He scored 2,002 points in professional football, chiefly as a placekicker. He played the most games (340) for the most seasons (26). Football Hall of Fame (1981).

blandish /ˈblandiSH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› coax (someone) with kind words or flattery

• I was blandishing her with imprudences to get her off the subject.

– origin Middle English: from Old French blandiss-, lengthened stem of blandir, from Latin blandiri, from blandus ‘soft, smooth.’

blandishment /ˈblandiSHmənt/

noun

(usu. blandishments) — a flattering or pleasing statement or action used to persuade someone gently to do something

• the blandishments of the travel brochure.

blandly /ˈblandlē/

adverb

in an uninteresting manner that lacks strong emotion, features, or characteristics

• he smiled blandly at me

• he proved to be a blandly handsome man.

blandness /ˈblan(d)nəs/

noun

1. lack of strong emotions, features, or characteristics

• the overall blandness of his performance.

2. (with reference to food or drink) the quality of being unseasoned, mild-tasting, or insipid

• the boneless chops were underseasoned to the point of blandness.

blank /blaNGk/

I. adjective

1. (of a surface or background) unrelieved by decorative or other features; bare, empty, or plain

• the blank skyline

• a blank wall.

2. not written or printed on

• a blank sheet of paper.

3. (of a document) with spaces left for a signature or details

• blank tax-return forms.

4. (of a tape) with nothing recorded on it

• blank cassettes.

5. showing incomprehension or no reaction

• we were met by blank looks.

6. having temporarily no knowledge or understanding

• her mind went blank.

7. lacking incident or result

• those blank moments aboard airplanes.

8. [attrib.] — complete; absolute (used emphatically with negative force)

• he was met with a blank refusal to discuss the issue.

II. noun

1. a space left to be filled in a document

• leave blanks to type in the appropriate names

• this measure required subjects to fill in the blanks in a story.

2. a document with blank spaces to be filled.

3. (also blank cartridge) — a cartridge containing gunpowder but no bullet, used for training or as a signal.

4. an empty space or period of time, especially in terms of a lack of knowledge or understanding

• my mind was a total blank.

5. an object that has no mark or design on it, in particular

6. a roughly cut metal or wooden block intended for further shaping or finishing.

7. a domino with one or both halves blank.

8. a plain metal disk from which a coin is made by stamping a design on it.

9. a dash written instead of a word or letter, especially instead of an obscenity or profanity.

10. used euphemistically in place of a noun regarded as obscene, profane, or abusive.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. cover up, obscure, or cause to appear blank or empty

• electronic countermeasures blanked out the radar signals.

2. [no obj.] — become blank or empty

• the picture blanked out.

3. cut (a metal blank)

• the complete core disk can be blanked out in one piece.

4. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› defeat (a sports opponent) without allowing the opposition to score

• Baltimore blanked Toronto in a 7–0 victory.

IV. phrases

1. draw a blank

elicit no successful response; fail

• the search drew a blank.

2. firing blanks

‹informal› (of a man) infertile.

V. derivatives

blankness /ˈblaNGknəs /

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘white, colorless’): from Old French blanc ‘white,’ ultimately of Germanic origin.

blank check

noun

1. a bank check with the amount left for the payee to fill in.

2. [in sing.] — an unlimited freedom of action

• he was effectively granted a blank check to conduct a war without congressional authorization.

blanket /ˈblaNGkət/

I. noun

1. a large piece of woolen or similar material used as a bed covering or other covering for warmth.

2. a thick mass or layer of a specified material that covers something completely

• a dense gray blanket of cloud.

3. [Printing] a rubber surface used for transferring the image in ink from the plate to the paper in offset printing.

II. adjective

covering all cases or instances; total and inclusive

• a blanket ban on tobacco advertising.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. cover completely with a thick layer of something

• the countryside was blanketed in snow.

2. stifle or keep quiet (sound)

• the double glazing blankets the noise a bit.

3. [Sailing] take wind from the sails of (another craft) by passing to windward.

IV. phrases

born on the wrong side of the blanket

‹dated› born of parents not lawfully married to each other.

– origin Middle English (denoting undyed woolen cloth): via Old Northern French from Old French blanc ‘white,’ ultimately of Germanic origin.

blanket coat

noun

a coat made from a blanket or from blanketlike material.

blanketflower /ˈblaNGkətˌflou(ə)r/

noun

another term for gaillardia.

blanketing /ˈblaNGkədiNG/

noun

material used for making blankets.

blanket roll

noun

(N. Amer.) a blanket or sleeping bag made into a cylindrical roll for ease of carrying, often with utensils and other personal supplies inside; a bedroll.

blanket stitch /ˈblaNGkət stiCH/

noun

a buttonhole stitch used on the edges of a blanket or other material too thick to be hemmed.

blanketweed /ˈblaNGkətˌwēd/

noun

a common green freshwater alga that forms long unbranched filaments. It can be a problem in overenriched water and garden ponds.
[Genus Spirogyra, phylum Chlorophyta, kingdom Plantae (or Protista).]

blankety /ˈblaNGkədē / blankety-blank

adjective, noun

‹informal› used euphemistically to replace a word considered coarse or vulgar

• it's time to ditch the blankety-blank tax code.

blankly /ˈblaNGklē/

adverb

1. in a way that is plain and characterized by a lack of decorative or other features

• the suburbs that stretch blankly along the routes out from the city

• his clothes are blankly white.

2. in a way that shows a lack of interest or engagement

• the class looked back blankly

• my home life consists of staring blankly at the television.

3. in a way that temporarily shows no emotion or understanding, especially as a result of shock

• he stared blankly at the freshly dug grave and new tombstone

• the policeman's jaw had dropped in bewilderment and he was eyeing him blankly.

4. in an absolute or blunt manner

• the hospital has blankly refused to carry out tests

• officials have stated blankly that they will never extradite the operatives.

blank verse /ˈˌblaNGk ˈvərs/

noun

verse without rhyme, especially that which uses iambic pentameter.

blanquette /bläNGˈket/

I. noun

a dish consisting of white meat in a white sauce.

– origin French, based on blanc ‘white.’

Blantyre /ˈblanˌtī(ə)r/

the chief commercial and industrial city in Malawi; pop. 661,444 (2008) . It is named after explorer David Livingstone's birthplace in Scotland.

blare /bler/

I. verb

make or cause to make a loud, harsh sound
[no obj.]

• the ambulance arrived outside, siren blaring

• [with obj.] the radio was blaring out organ music.

II. noun

a loud harsh sound

• a blare of trumpets.

III. derivatives

blaring

adjective

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘roar, bellow’): from Middle Dutch blaren, bleren, or Low German blaren, of imitative origin. Current senses date from the late 18th cent.

blarney /ˈblärnē/

I. noun

1. talk that aims to charm, pleasantly flatter, or persuade

• he had the “street charm” of an Irish politician, but this blarney concealed his inner self.

2. amusing and harmless nonsense

• this story is perhaps just a bit of blarney.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. influence or persuade (someone) using charm and pleasant flattery.

– origin late 18th cent.: named after Blarney, a castle near Cork in Ireland, where there is a stone said to give the gift of persuasive speech to anyone who kisses it.

blasé /bläˈzā/

I. adjective

unimpressed or indifferent to something because one has experienced or seen it so often before

• she was becoming quite blasé about the dangers.

– origin early 19th cent.: French, past participle of blaser ‘cloy,’ probably ultimately of Germanic origin.

blaspheme /blasˈfēm ˈblasˌfēm/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. speak irreverently about God or sacred things

• he has blasphemed against God.

II. derivatives

blasphemer /blasˈfēmər /

noun

– origin Middle English: via Old French from ecclesiastical Latin blasphemare ‘reproach, revile, blaspheme,’ from Greek blasphēmein, from blasphēmos ‘evil-speaking.’ Compare with blame.

blasphemous /ˈblasfəməs/

I. adjective

sacrilegious against God or sacred things; profane

• blasphemous and heretical talk.

II. derivatives

blasphemously /ˈblasfəməslē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek blasphēmos ‘evil-speaking’ + -ous.

blasphemy /ˈblasfəmē/

I. noun

the act or offense of speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things; profane talk

• he was detained on charges of blasphemy

• screaming incomprehensible blasphemies.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek blasphēmia ‘slander, blasphemy.’

blast /blast/

I. noun

1. a destructive wave of highly compressed air spreading outward from an explosion

• they were thrown backward by the blast.

2. an explosion or explosive firing, especially of a bomb

• a bomb blast

• a shotgun blast.

3. a forceful attack or assault

• he defeated his weakest opponent in such a blast that the fans left unimpressed.

4. a strong gust of wind or air

• the icy blast hit them.

5. a strong current of air used in smelting.

6. a single loud note of a horn, whistle, or other noisemaking device

• a blast of the ship's siren.

7. ‹informal› a severe reprimand

• I braced myself for the inevitable blast.

8. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› an enjoyable experience or lively party

• it could turn out to be a real blast.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. blow up or break apart (something solid) with explosives

• quantities of solid rock had to be blasted away

• the explosion blasted out hundreds of windows.

2. produce (damage or a hole) by means of an explosion

• the force of the collision blasted out a tremendous crater.

3. [with obj.] — force or throw (something) in a specified direction by impact or explosion

• the car was blasted thirty feet into the sky.

4. shoot with a gun

• Fowler was blasted with an air rifle.

5. [no obj.] — move very quickly and loudly in a specified direction

• driving rain blasted through the smashed window.

6. ‹informal› criticize fiercely

• the school was blasted by government inspectors.

7. make or cause to make a loud continuous musical or other noise
[no obj.]

• music blasted out at full volume

• [with obj.] an impatient motorist blasted his horn.

8. kick, strike, or throw (a ball) hard

• Ripken blasted the ball into the gap in right field.

9. ‹literary› (of a wind or other natural force) wither, shrivel, or blight (a plant)

• crops blasted on the eve of harvest.

10. strike with divine anger

• damn and blast this awful place!

11. destroy or ruin

• a candidate whose only strategy is to blast the opposition.

III. exclamation

‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) expressing annoyance

• “Blast! The car won't start!”

IV. phrases

1. a blast from the past

‹informal› something forcefully nostalgic

• a request for a real old blast from the past.

2. (at) full blast

at maximum power or intensity

• the heat is on full blast.

V. phrasal verbs

blast off

(of a rocket or spacecraft) take off from a launching site.

– origin Old English blǣst, of Germanic origin; related to blaze^3.

-blast

I. combining form

1. [Biology] denoting an embryonic cell

• erythroblast.

Compare with -cyte.

2. [Biology] denoting a germ layer of an embryo

• epiblast.

– origin from Greek blastos ‘sprout.’

blast cell

noun

a primitive, undifferentiated blood cell, often found in the blood of those with acute leukemia.

blasted /ˈblastəd/

adjective

1. [attrib.] — ‹informal› used to express annoyance

• make your own blasted coffee!

2. [attrib.] — ‹literary› withered or blighted; laid waste

• an area of blasted trees.

3. [predic.] — ‹informal› drunk

• the waiter kept bringing us free cocktails; so I got really blasted.

blastema /blaˈstēmə/

I. noun

the primary formative material of plants and animals, from which cells are developed.

II. derivatives

1. blastemal

adjective

2. blastematic /ˌblastəˈmatik /

adjective

blaster

noun

1. a person or thing that emits or uses blasts

• blasters were paid according to how much rock they broke.

2. (in science fiction) a gunlike weapon that can destroy something solid, typically using light or sound energy

• don't try to stand in the way of laser blasters

• where was a super sonic death ray blaster gun when you needed one?

3. a move in which a ball is kicked or struck forcefully

• he let fly with a 35-yard blaster.

4. a type of physical exercise intended to strengthen specific muscle groups

• the glute blaster

• squats represent a total blaster for quads.

blast furnace /ˈblast ˈˌfərnəs/

noun

a smelting furnace in the form of a tower into which a blast of hot compressed air can be introduced from below. Such furnaces are used chiefly to make iron from a mixture of iron ore, coke, and limestone.

blasto-

I. combining form

relating to germination

• blastoderm.

– origin from Greek blastos ‘germ, sprout.’

blastocoel /ˈblastəˌsēl / blastocoele

I. noun

the fluid-filled cavity of a blastula.
Also called segmentation cavity.

II. derivatives

blastocoelic /ˌblastəˈsēlik /

adjective

blastocyst /ˈblastəˌsist/

noun

[Embryology] a mammalian blastula in which some differentiation of cells has occurred.
Also called blastodermic vesicle.

blastoderm /ˈblastəˌdərm/

I. noun

1. [Embryology] the layer of embryonic tissue that forms prior to the development of the embryonic axis.

2. [Embryology] the outer layer of cells that forms the wall of a blastula.

II. derivatives

blastodermic /ˌblastəˈdərmik /

adjective

blastodermic vesicle

noun

another term for blastocyst.

blastodisk /ˈblastəˌdisk / blastodisc

noun

[Embryology] a blastula having the form of a disk of cells on top of the yolk in the eggs of reptiles and birds.

blastoff /ˈblastˌôf/

noun

the launching of a rocket or spacecraft.

blastogenesis /ˌblastəˈjenəsəs/

I. noun

1. the theory of the transmission of inherited characteristics by germ plasm.

2. asexual reproduction of an organism by budding.

3. the development of lymphocytes into larger undifferentiated cells that can undergo mitosis.

II. derivatives

blastogenic /-ˈjenik /

adjective

blastoma /blaˈstōmə/

noun

a neoplasm consisting of immature undifferentiated cells.

blastomere /ˈblastəˌmir/

noun

[Embryology] a cell formed by cleavage of a fertilized ovum.

blastomycosis /ˌblastōmīˈkōsəs/

noun

[Medicine] a disease caused by infection with parasitic fungi affecting the skin or the internal organs.
[The fungi (blastomycetes) belong to the genus Blastomyces, subdivision Deuteromycotina.]

blastopore /ˈblastəˌpôr/

noun

the opening of the central cavity of an embryo in the early stage of development.

blastosphere /ˈblastəˌsfir/

noun

another term for blastula.

blastula /ˈblasCHələ/

I. noun

[Embryology] an animal embryo at the early stage of development when it is a hollow ball of cells.
Also called blastosphere.

– origin late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek blastos ‘sprout.’

blat /blat / ‹informal chiefly N. Amer.›

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. make a bleating sound.

II. noun

a bleat or similar noise

• the blat of Jack's horn.

– origin mid 19th cent.: imitative.

blatant /ˈblātnt/

I. adjective

1. (of bad behavior) done openly and unashamedly

• blatant lies.

2. completely lacking in subtlety; very obvious

• forcing herself to resist his blatant charm.

II. derivatives

blatancy /ˈblātnsē /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: perhaps an alteration of Scots blatand ‘bleating’ It was first used by Spenser as an epithet for a thousand-tongued monster produced by Cerberus and Chimera, a symbol of calumny, which he called the blatant beast. It was subsequently used to mean ‘clamorous, offensive to the ear,’ first of people (mid 17th cent.), later of things (late 18th cent.); the sense ‘obtrusive to the eye, unashamedly conspicuous’ arose in the late 19th cent.

blatantly /ˈblāt(ə)ntlē/

adverb

1. in an open and unashamed manner

• yet another space show that blatantly disregarded scientific fact

• [as submodifier] he found her remarks blatantly racist.

2. in a completely obvious and unsubtle way

• it's blatantly her first kiss.

Blatchford, Samuel /blaCHfərd/

(1820–93), US Supreme Court associate justice 1882–93. He was a circuit judge before being appointed to the Court by President Arthur. His specialty was patent law.

blather /ˈblaT͟Hər / blether , blither

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. talk long-windedly without making very much sense

• she began blathering on about spirituality and life after death

• (as noun blathering) now stop your blathering and get back to work.

II. noun

long-winded talk with no real substance.

– origin late Middle English (as a verb; originally Scots and northern English dialect): from Old Norse blathra ‘talk nonsense,’ from blathr ‘nonsense.’

blatherskite /ˈblaT͟Hərˌskīt/

I. noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) a person who talks at great length without making much sense.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) foolish talk; nonsense

• politicians get away all the time with their blatherskite.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from blather + skite, a Scottish derogatory term adopted into American colloquial speech during the American Revolution, from the Scottish song Maggie Lauder, by F. Semphill, which was popular with American troops.

Blaue Reiter /ˌblouə ˈrīdər/

I. a group of German expressionist painters formed in 1911, based in Munich. The group included Wassily Kandinsky, Jean Arp, and Paul Klee.

– origin German, literally ‘blue rider,’ the title of a painting by Kandinsky.

Blavatsky, Helena /bləˈvatskē, -ˈvätskē/

(1831–91), Russian spiritualist; born in Ukraine; born Helena Petrovna Hahn; known as Madame Blavatsky. In 1875, she cofounded the Theosophical Society in New York.

blaxploitation /ˌblaksploiˈtāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

the exploitation of black people, especially with regard to stereotyped roles in movies.

– origin 1970s: blend of blacks (plural of noun black) and exploitation (see exploit).

blaze^1 /blāz/

I. noun

1. a very large or fiercely burning fire

• twenty fireman fought the blaze.

2. [in sing.] — a very bright display of light or color

• the gardens in summer are a blaze of color.

3. [in sing.] — a conspicuous display or outburst of something

• their relationship broke up in a blaze of publicity.

4. (blazes) — ‹informal› used in various expressions of anger, bewilderment, or surprise as a euphemism for “hell”

• “Go to blazes!” he shouted

• what in blue blazes are you all talking about?

[with reference to the flames associated with hell.]

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. burn fiercely or brightly

• the fire blazed merrily.

2. shine brightly or powerfully

• the sun blazed down

• ‹figurative› Barbara's eyes were blazing with anger.

3. (of a gun or a person firing a gun) fire repeatedly or indiscriminately

• we go in with guns blazing.

4. ‹informal› achieve something in an impressive manner

• she blazed to a gold medal in the 200-meter sprint.

5. [with obj.] — hit (a ball) with impressive strength

• he blazed a drive into the rough.

III. phrases

1. like blazes

‹informal› very fast or forcefully

• I ran like blazes toward home.

[see blaze^1 (sense 2 of the noun).]

2. with all guns blazing

‹informal› with great determination and energy, typically without thought for the consequences.

IV. phrasal verbs

blaze up

a. burst into flame

• he attacked the fire with poker and tongs until it blazed up.

b. suddenly become angry

• he blazed up without warning.

– origin Old English blæse ‘torch, bright fire,’ of Germanic origin; related ultimately to blaze^2.

blaze^2 /blāz/

I. noun

1. a white spot or stripe on the face of a mammal or bird.

2. a broad white stripe running the length of a horse's face.

3. a mark made on a tree by cutting the bark so as to mark a route.

II. verb — (blaze a trail)

1. set an example by being the first to do something; pioneer

• small firms would set the pace, blazing a trail for others to follow.

2. mark out a path or route.

– origin mid 17th cent.(sense 1 of the noun): ultimately of Germanic origin; related to German Blässe ‘blaze’ and blass ‘pale,’ also to blaze^1, and probably to blemish.

blaze^3 /blāz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a newspaper) present or proclaim (news) in a prominent, typically sensational, manner.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘blow out on a trumpet’): from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch blāzen ‘to blow’; related to blow^1.

blaze orange

adjective

of a vivid orange color, especially as used for hunting attire to increase its visibility

• blaze orange clothing has helped reduce accidents at the start of pheasant season.

blazer /ˈblāzər/

I. noun

1. a lightweight jacket, typically solid-colored, often worn as part of a uniform by members of a club, sports team, or school.

2. a plain jacket, typically dark blue, not forming part of a suit but considered appropriate for formal or semiformal wear.

– origin late 19th cent.: from blaze^1 + -er^1. The original general sense was ‘a thing that blazes or shines’ (mid 17th cent.), giving rise to the term for a brightly colored sport coat.

blazing star

noun

any of a number of North American plants, some of which are cultivated for their flowers, in particular
[● a plant of the daisy family with tall spikes of purple or white flowers (genus Liatris, family Compositae. ● a plant of the western US with toothed leaves and yellow flowers (genus Mentzelia, family Loasaceae), especially the gray-leaved, large-flowered giant blazing star (M. laevicaulis. ● devil's bit.]

blazon /ˈblāz(ə)n/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [with adverbial of place] — display prominently or vividly

• they saw their company name blazoned all over the media.

2. report (news), especially in a sensational manner

• accounts of their ordeal blazoned to the entire nation.

3. [Heraldry] describe or depict (armorial bearings) in a correct heraldic manner.

4. inscribe or paint (an object) with arms or a name.

II. noun

1. [Heraldry] a correct description of armorial bearings.

2. [Heraldry] ‹archaic› a coat of arms.

– origin Middle English (denoting a shield, later one bearing a heraldic device): from Old French blason ‘shield,’ of unknown origin. The sense of the verb has been influenced by blaze^3.

blazonry /ˈblāz(ə)nrē/

noun

1. [Heraldry] the art of describing or painting heraldic devices or armorial bearings.

2. [plural noun] — [Heraldry] heraldic devices or armorial bearings.

bldg.

abbreviation

building.

bleach /blēCH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. whiten by exposure to sunlight or by a chemical process

• paper products are bleached with chlorine

• (as adj. bleached) permed and bleached hair.

2. deprive of vitality or substance

• his contributions to the album are bleached of personality.

3. clean and sterilize

• a new formula to bleach and brighten clothing.

II. noun

a chemical (typically a solution of sodium hypochlorite or hydrogen peroxide) used to whiten or sterilize materials.

– origin Old English blǣcan (verb), blǣce (noun), from blǣc ‘pale,’ of Germanic origin; related to bleak^1.

bleacher /ˈblēCHər/

noun

1. a person or thing that bleaches.

2. (usu. bleachers) — (N. Amer.) a cheap bench seat at a sports arena, typically in an outdoor uncovered stand.

3. (also bleacherite ) — a person occupying bleachers at a sports arena

• the bleachers cheered.

bleaching powder

noun

a powder containing calcium hypochlorite, used chiefly to remove color from materials.

bleah /ble/

I. exclamation

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› used to express disgust

• bleah, my hands are all gross from bathtub cleaning

• Beans on toast? Bleah!

– origin 1960s: probably imitative of the sound of gagging or retching.

bleak^1 /blēk/

I. adjective

1. (of an area of land) lacking vegetation and exposed to the elements

• a bleak and barren moor.

2. (of a building or room) charmless and inhospitable; dreary

• he looked around the bleak little room in despair.

3. (of the weather) cold and miserable

• a bleak midwinter's day.

4. (of a situation or future prospect) not hopeful or encouraging; unlikely to have a favorable outcome

• he paints a bleak picture of a company that has lost its way.

5. (of a person or a person's expression) cold and forbidding

• his bleak, near vacant eyes grew remote.

II. derivatives

bleakly /ˈblēklē /

adverb

– origin Old English blāc ‘shining, white,’ or in later use from synonymous Old Norse bleikr; ultimately of Germanic origin and related to bleach.

bleak^2 /blēk/

I. noun

a small silvery shoaling fish of the minnow family, found in Eurasian rivers.
[Genera Alburnus and Chalcalburnus, family Cyprinidae: several species, in particular A. alburnus.]

– origin late 15th cent.: from Old Norse bleikja.

bleakness /ˈblēknəs/

noun

1. the quality or state of being bare and inhospitable

• the bleakness of that destroyed landscape

• the grim concrete bleakness.

2. the quality or state of cold and miserable weather

• the bleakness of winter

• the evening's rainy bleakness.

3. the quality or state of being hopeless, discouraging, or unlikely to have a favorable outcome

• this story is marked by unrelenting bleakness

• the atrocities and bleakness of war.

blear /blir / ‹archaic›

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make dim; blur

• you would blear your eyes with books.

II. adjective

dim, dull, or filmy

• a medicine to lay to sore and blear eyes.

III. noun

a film over the eyes; a blur

• he forced his eyes open and shut to rid them of blear.

– origin Middle English (as a verb): probably related to Middle High German blerre ‘blurred vision’ and Low German blarroged ‘bleary-eyed.’

bleary /ˈblirē/

I. adjective

(of the eyes) unfocused or filmy from sleep or tiredness

• you hate to face the world with bleary, tear-soaked, itching eyes.

II. derivatives

1. blearily /ˈblirəlē /

adverb

2. bleariness

noun

bleary-eyed blear-eyed

adjective

(of a person) having bleary eyes.

bleat /blēt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a sheep, goat, or calf) make a characteristic wavering cry

• the lamb was bleating weakly

• ‹figurative› handing the mike to some woman who starts bleating out rap rhymes

• (as noun bleating) the silence was broken by the plaintive bleating of sheep.

2. [reporting verb] — speak or complain in a weak, querulous, or foolish way

• he bleated incoherently about the report.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. the wavering cry made by a sheep, goat, or calf

• the distant bleat of sheep in the field.

2. a person's plaintive cry

• his despairing bleat touched her heart.

3. ‹informal› a complaint

• they're hoping that I'll bow to their idiotic arrangements without a bleat.

– origin Old English blǣtan, of imitative origin.

bleb /bleb/

I. noun

1. a small blister on the skin.

2. a small bubble in glass or in a fluid.

3. [Biology] a rounded outgrowth on the surface of a cell.

– origin early 17th cent.: variant of blob.

bleed /blēd/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — lose blood from the body as a result of injury or illness

• the cut was bleeding steadily

• some casualties were left to bleed to death

• (as noun bleeding) the bleeding has stopped now.

2. (of a dye or color) seep into an adjacent color or area

• I worked loosely with the oils, allowing colors to bleed into one another.

3. [Printing] (with reference to an illustration or design) print or be printed so that it runs off the page after trimming

• the picture bleeds on three sides

• [with obj.] Faye showed us how to bleed the images for our brochure layout.

4. [with obj.] — draw blood from (someone), especially as a once-common method of treatment in medicine.

5. remove blood from (an animal carcass)

• the first steer rolled out on the floor to be bled, skinned, and dressed.

6. [with obj.] — ‹informal› drain (someone) of money or resources

• his policy of attempting to bleed unions of funds.

7. [with obj.] — allow (fluid or gas) to escape from a closed system through a valve

• open the valves and bleed air from the pump chamber.

8. [with obj.] — treat (a system) by allowing fluid or gas to escape through a valve

• bleeding the radiator at the air vent.

II. noun

1. an instance of bleeding

• a lot of blood was lost from the placental bleed.

2. [Printing] an instance of printing an illustration, design, or text to the edge of the page

• it allows printing of a tabloid page with full bleed.

3. the escape of fluid or gas from a closed system through a valve

• the amount of air bleed from the compressor.

4. the action or process of a dye, ink, or color seeping into an adjacent color or area

• color bleed is apparent on brighter hues.

III. phrases

1. bleed someone/something dry (or white)

drain someone or something of wealth or resources

• the railroads claimed that personnel costs were bleeding them dry.

2. my heart bleeds (for you)

used ironically to express the speaker's belief that the person spoken about does not deserve the sympathetic response sought

• “I flew out here feeling tired and overworked.” “My heart bleeds for you!” she replied.

– origin Old English blēdan, of Germanic origin; related to blood.

bleeder /ˈblēdər/

noun

1. ‹informal› a person who bleeds easily, especially a hemophiliac.

2. a blood vessel that bleeds freely during surgery.

3. [Baseball] a ground ball that barely passes between two infielders.

bleeding /ˈblēdiNG/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (Brit.) ‹informal› used for emphasis or to express annoyance.

bleeding edge

I. noun

the very forefront of technological development
[as modifier]

• an architecture that many people believe is still too bleeding edge for large mission-critical systems.

– origin 1980s: on the pattern of leading edge, cutting edge.

bleeding heart /ˌblēdiNG ˈhärt/

noun

1. ‹informal› ‹derogatory› a person considered to be dangerously softhearted, typically someone considered too liberal in political beliefs
[as modifier]

• a tirade against bleeding-heart environmentalists.

2. any of a number of plants that have heart-shaped flowers, typically pink or red, in particular
[● a popular herbaceous garden plant (genus Dicentra, family Fumariaceae, in particular D. spectabilus). ● a tropical twining shrub with cream and red flowers, often cultivated under glass (Clerodendrum thomsoniae, family Verbenaceae).]

bleep /blēp/

I. noun

1. a short high-pitched sound made by an electronic device as a signal or to attract attention

• the autopilot sent back an acknowledgment bleep.

2. a short high-pitched electronic sound used in broadcasting as a substitute for a censored word or phrase.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of an electronic device) make a short high-pitched sound or repeated sequence of sounds

• the screen flickered for a few moments and bleeped.

2. [with obj.] — substitute a bleep or bleeps for (a censored word or phrase)

• cable operators have bleeped out the accuser's name.

3. used in place of an expletive

• “what the bleep are we going to do?” he asked.

– origin 1950s: imitative.

bleeper /ˈblēpər/

noun

British term for pager.

bleeping /ˈblēpiNG/

I. adjective

1. (of an electronic device) making a short high-pitched sound or sounds

• a bleeping red display on the exercise machine.

2. ‹informal› ‹often humorous› used to express exasperation or annoyance, in place of an expletive

• we didn't do a bleeping thing, and we're still getting hung.

– origin 1950s: euphemistically for bleeding, by association with the “bleeps” used to dub expletives in broadcast texts.

blemish /ˈblemiSH/

I. noun

1. a small mark or flaw that spoils the appearance of something

• the merest blemish on a Rolls Royce might render it unsalable.

2. a moral defect or fault

• the offenses were an uncharacteristic blemish on an otherwise clean record

• local government is not without blemish.

II. verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. blemished)

1. spoil the appearance of (something) that is otherwise aesthetically perfect

• thousands of Web pages are blemished with embarrassing typos

• ‹figurative› his reign as world champion has been blemished by controversy.

– origin late Middle English (as a verb): from Old French ble(s)miss-, lengthened stem of ble(s)mir ‘make pale, injure’; probably of Germanic origin.

blench^1 /blen(t)SH/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. make a sudden flinching movement out of fear or pain

• he blenched and struggled to regain his composure.

– origin Old English blencan ‘deceive,’ of Germanic origin; later influenced by blink.

blench^2 /blen(t)SH/

verb

‹chiefly dialect› variant spelling of blanch.

blend /blend/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. mix (a substance) with another substance so that they combine together as a mass

• blend the cornstarch with a tablespoon of water

• [no obj.] add the grated cheese and blend well.

2. (often as adj. blended) — mix (different types of the same substance, such as tea, coffee, liquor, etc.) together so as to make a product of the desired quality

• a blended whiskey.

3. put or combine (abstract things) together

• blend basic information for the novice with some scientific gardening for the more experienced

• (as noun blending) a blending of romanticism with a more detached modernism.

4. merge (a color) with another so that one is not clearly distinguishable from the other.

5. [no obj.] — form a harmonious combination

• costumes, music, and lighting all blend together beautifully.

6. (blend in/into) — be unobtrusive or harmonious by being similar in appearance or behavior

• she would have to employ a permanent bodyguard in the house, someone who would blend in.

II. noun

1. a mixture of different things or qualities

• knitting yarns in mohair blends

• Ontario offers a cultural blend you'll find nowhere else on earth.

2. a mixture of different types or grades of a substance, such as tea, coffee, whiskey, etc.

3. a word made up of the parts of others and combining their meanings, for example motel from motor and hotel.

– origin Middle English: probably of Scandinavian origin and related to Old Norse blanda ‘to mix.’

blende /blend/

I. noun

another term for sphalerite.

– origin late 17th cent.: from German, from blenden ‘deceive’ (so named because it often resembles galena, but is deceptive in that it yields no lead).

blended family

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a family consisting of a couple and their children from this and all previous relationships.

blender /ˈblendər/

noun

a person or thing that mixes things together, in particular an electric mixing machine used in food preparation for liquefying, chopping, or pureeing.

Blenheim^1 /ˈblenəm/

a battle in 1704 in Bavaria, near the village of Blindheim, in which the English, under the Duke of Marlborough, defeated the French and the Bavarians.
See Marlborough, 1st Duke of.

Blenheim^2 /ˈblenəm/

I. noun

a dog of a small red and white breed of spaniel.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from the name of Blenheim palace, the Duke of Marlborough's seat in central England, given to the Duke in honor of his victory at Blenheim.

blenny /ˈblenē/

I. noun

1. a small, spiny-finned marine fish with scaleless skin and a blunt head, typically living in shallow inshore or intertidal waters.
[Family Blennidae: several genera, in particular Blennius.]

2. any of a number of other small fishes that resemble or are related to the true blennies, including the hairy blenny (Labrisomus nuchipinnis, family Clinidae), found especially along the Atlantic coast from the Bahamas to Brazil.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin blennius, from Greek blennos ‘mucus’ (because of its mucous coating).

blent /blent / ‹literary›

past and past participle of blend.

bleomycin /ˌblēōˈmīsin/

I. noun

[Medicine] an antibiotic used to treat Hodgkin's disease and other cancers.
[The drug is obtained from the bacterium Streptomyces verticillus.]

– origin 1960s: an arbitrary alteration of earlier phleomycin, the name of a related antibiotic.

blepharitis /ˌblefəˈrīdəs/

I. noun

[Medicine] inflammation of the eyelid.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek blepharon ‘eyelid’ + -itis.

blepharoplasty /ˈblefərōplastē/

I. noun

[Medicine] surgical repair or reconstruction of an eyelid.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek blepharon ‘eyelid’ + -plasty.

blepharospasm /ˈblefərəˌspazəm/

I. noun

involuntary tight closure of the eyelids.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek blepharon ‘eyelid’ + spasm.

Blériot, Louis /ˈblārēˌō, ble(ə)rˈyō/

(1872–1936), French aviation pioneer. On July 25, 1909, he became the first person to cross the English Channel (Calais to Dover) in a monoplane.

blesbok /ˈblesbäk/

I. noun

an antelope with a mainly reddish-brown coat and white face, found in southwestern South Africa. It belongs to the same species as the bontebok.
[Damaliscus dorcas phillipsi, family Bovidae.]

– origin early 19th cent.: from Afrikaans, from Dutch bles ‘blaze’ (because of the white mark on its forehead) + bok ‘buck.’

bless /bles/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a priest) pronounce words in a religious rite, to confer or invoke divine favor upon; ask God to look favorably on

• he blessed the dying man and anointed him.

2. consecrate (something) by a religious rite, action, or spoken formula.

3. (especially in Christian Church services) call (God) holy; praise (God).

4. (bless someone with) — (of God or some notional higher power) endow (someone) with a particular cherished thing or attribute

• God has blessed us with free will.

5. express or feel gratitude to; thank

• she silently blessed the premonition which had made her pack her best dress.

6. (bless oneself) — make the Christian gesture of the sign of the cross

• the poor parson, blessing himself, brought up the rear.

7. used in expressions of surprise, endearment, gratitude, etc.

• bless my soul, Alan, what are you doing?

• Lenore, bless her heart, had done just that.

II. phrases

bless you!

said to a person who has just sneezed.
[from the phrase (may) God bless you.]

– origin Old English blēdsian, blētsian, based on blōd ‘blood’ (i.e., originally perhaps ‘mark or consecrate with blood’). The meaning was influenced by its being used to translate Latin benedicere ‘to praise, worship,’ and later by association with bliss.

blessed /blest ˈblesid/

I. adjective

1. made holy; consecrated.

2. a title preceding the name of a dead person considered to have led a holy life, especially a person formally beatified by the Roman Catholic Church

• the Convent of the Blessed Agnes.

3. used respectfully in reference to a dead person

• a gracious lady of blessed memory.

4. endowed with divine favor and protection

• blessed are the meek.

5. bringing pleasure or relief as a welcome contrast to what one has previously experienced

• he half stumbled out of the room up to his bed and blessed, blessed sleep.

6. /blest / (blessed with) — endowed with (a particular quality or attribute)

• a beautiful city, steeped in history and blessed with huge sandy beaches.

7. ‹informal› used in mild expressions of annoyance or exasperation

• there wasn't a blessed thing anybody could have done.

II. plural noun — (the Blessed /ˈblesid/)

1. those who live with God in heaven.

III. derivatives

blessedly

adverb

blessedness /ˈblesədnəs/

noun

the state of being blessed with divine favor.

Blessed Virgin Mary /ˌblesəd ˌvərjən ˈmerē / Blessed Virgin, BVM

a title given to Mary, the mother of Jesus.
See Mary^1.

blessing /ˈblesiNG/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. God's favor and protection

• may God continue to give us his blessing.

2. a prayer asking for God's favor and protection

• a priest gave a blessing as the ship was launched.

3. grace said before or after a meal.

4. a beneficial thing for which one is grateful; something that brings well-being

• great intelligence can be a curse as well as a blessing

• it's a blessing we're alive.

5. a person's sanction or support

• he gave the plan his blessing even before it was announced.

II. phrases

1. a blessing in disguise

an apparent misfortune that eventually has good results.

2. count one's blessings

see count^1.

blest /blest/

adjective

archaic or literary term for blessed.

bleu cheese /ˌblo͞o ˈCHēz/

noun

variant spelling of blue cheese.

blew /blo͞o/

past of blow^1 and blow^3.

blewit /ˈblo͝oət / blewits

I. noun

an edible wild mushroom of Europe and North America, with a pale buff or lilac cap and a lilac stem.
[Genus Lepista, family Tricholomataceae, class Basidiomycetes: several species, including common blewit (L. saeva) and wood blewit (L. nuda).]

– origin early 19th cent.: probably from blue.

Bligh, William /blī/

(1754–1817), British naval officer; captain of HMS Bounty. In 1789, part of his crew, led by the first mate Fletcher Christian, mutinied and set Bligh adrift in an open boat. Bligh landed safely at Timor, nearly 4,000 miles (6,400 km) away, a few weeks later.

blight /blīt/

I. noun

1. a plant disease, especially one caused by fungi such as mildews, rusts, and smuts

• the vines suffered blight and disease

• potato blight.

2. [in sing.] — a thing that spoils or damages something

• her remorse could be a blight on that happiness.

3. an ugly, neglected, or rundown condition of an urban area

• the depressing urban blight that lies to the south of the city.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. infect (plants or a planted area) with blight

• a peach tree blighted by leaf curl.

2. spoil, harm, or destroy

• the scandal blighted the careers of several leading politicians

• (as adj. blighted) his father's blighted ambitions.

3. (usu. as adj. blighted) — subject (an urban area) to neglect

• plans to establish enterprise zones in blighted areas.

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting inflammation of the skin): of unknown origin.

blighter /ˈblīdər/

I. noun — [with adj.]

1. (Brit.) ‹informal› a person who is regarded with contempt, irritation, or pity

• you little blighter!

– origin early 19th cent.: from blight + -er^1.

Blighty /ˈblīdē/

I. noun

1. (Brit.) an informal and typically affectionate term for Britain or England, chiefly as used by soldiers of World War I and World War II.

2. (Brit.) ‹military slang› a wound suffered by a soldier in World War I that was sufficiently serious to merit being shipped home to Britain

• he had copped a Blighty and was on his way home.

– origin first used by soldiers in the Indian army; Anglo-Indian alteration of Urdu bilāyatī, wilāyatī ‘foreign, European,’ from Arabic wilāyat, wilāya ‘dominion, district.’

blimey /ˈblīmē/

I. exclamation

(Brit.) ‹informal› used to express one's surprise, excitement, or alarm.

– origin late 19th cent.: altered form of (God) blind (or blame) me!

blimming /ˈblimiNG/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (Brit.) ‹informal› used to express annoyance or for emphasis

• the blimming website is down tonight

• [as submodifier] it's blimming hot.

– origin early 20th cent.: alteration of blooming.

blimp /blimp/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› a small nonrigid airship.

2. (N. Amer.) an obese person

• I could work out four hours a day and still end up a blimp.

3. (also Colonel Blimp) — (Brit.) a pompous, reactionary type of person

• no Colonel Blimp could have been more nationalistic.

4. a soundproof cover for a movie camera.

II. derivatives

blimpish /ˈblimpiSH /

adjective

– origin World War I (sense 1): of uncertain origin. Sense 2 derives from the character invented by cartoonist David Low (1891–1963), used in anti-German or antigovernment drawings before and during World War II.

blin /blin/

singular form of blini.

blind /blīnd/

I. adjective

1. unable to see; sightless

• she suffered from glaucoma, which has left her completely blind

• he was blind in one eye.

2. [attrib.] — (of an action, especially a test or experiment) done without being able to see or without being in possession of certain information

• a blind tasting of eight wines.

3. [Aeronautics] (of flying) using instruments only

• blind landings during foggy conditions.

4. [predic.] — lacking perception, awareness, or discernment

• he's absolutely blind where you're concerned, isn't he?

• she was blind to the realities of her position.

5. [attrib.] — (of an action or state of mind) not controlled by reason or judgment

• they left in blind panic.

6. [attrib.] — not governed by purpose

• moving purposelessly in a world of blind chance.

7. [attrib.] — concealed or closed, in particular

8. (of a corner or bend in a road) impossible to see around

• two trucks collided on a blind curve in the road.

9. (of a door or window) walled up.

10. closed at one end

• a blind pipe.

11. (of a plant) without buds, eyes, or terminal flowers

• planting too shallowly is the most common cause of bulbs coming up blind.

12. [attrib. with negative] — (Brit.) ‹informal› (used in emphatic expressions) not the slightest

• you don't know a blind thing!

13. ‹informal› drunk.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (someone) to be unable to see, permanently or temporarily

• the injury temporarily blinded him

• eyes blinded with tears.

2. (be blinded) — deprive (someone) of understanding, judgment, or perception

• a clever tactician blinded by passion

• somehow Clare and I were blinded to the truth.

3. (blind someone with) — confuse or overawe someone with something difficult to understand

• they try to blind you with science.

III. noun

1. (as plural noun the blind) — people who are unable to see

• guide dogs for the blind.

2. an obstruction to sight or light, in particular

3. a screen for a window, especially one on a roller or made of slats

• she pulled down the blinds.

4. (Brit.) an awning over a shop window.

5. [in sing.] — something designed to conceal one's real intentions

• he phoned again from his own home: that was just a blind for his wife.

6. a hiding place

• you can sometimes use your car as a blind.

7. (N. Amer.) a camouflaged shelter used by hunters to get close to wildlife

• a duck blind.

8. (Brit.) ‹informal› ‹dated› a heavy drinking bout

• he's off on a blind again.

9. (Brit.) a legitimate business concealing a criminal enterprise.

IV. adverb

1. without being able to see clearly

• he was the first pilot in history to fly blind.

2. without having all the relevant information; unprepared

• he was going into the interview blind.

3. (of a stake in poker and other games) put up by a player before the cards dealt are seen.

V. phrases

1. (as) blind as a bat

‹informal› having very bad eyesight.

2. blind drunk

‹informal› extremely drunk.

3. effing and blinding

(Brit.) see eff.

4. rob (or steal) someone blind

‹informal› rob or cheat someone in a comprehensive or merciless way.

5. turn a blind eye

pretend not to notice.
[said to be in allusion to Nelson, who lifted a telescope to his blind eye at the Battle of Copenhagen (1801), in order to avoid seeing the signal to ‘discontinue the action.’]

– origin Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German blind.

blind alley /ˈblīnd ˈˌalē/

noun

1. an alley or road that is closed at one end.

2. a course of action leading nowhere

• many technologies that show early promise lead up blind alleys.

blind date /ˈblīn(d) ˈˌdāt/

noun

1. a social engagement or date with a person one has not previously met

• a blind date arranged by well-meaning friends.

2. either person of the couple on a blind date

• where do you take a blind date, anyway?

blinders /ˈblīndərz/

plural noun

1. (N. Amer.) a pair of small leather screens attached to a horse's bridle to prevent it seeing sideways and behind.
Also called blinkers (see blinker).

2. something that prevents someone from gaining a full understanding of a situation

• they will wear their cultural blinders to the grave.

blindfish /ˈblīndfiSH/

noun

another term for cavefish.

blindfold /ˈblīn(d)fōld/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. deprive (someone) of sight by tying a piece of cloth around the head so as to cover the eyes.

II. noun

a piece of cloth tied around the head to cover someone's eyes.

III. adjective

1. ‹literary› wearing a blindfold.

2. ‹literary› (of a game of chess) conducted without sight of board and pieces.

IV. adverb

1. with a blindfold covering the eyes

• the reporter was driven blindfold to meet the gangster.

2. done with great ease and confidence, as if it could have been done wearing a blindfold

• missing putts that he would normally hole blindfold.

– origin mid 16th cent.: alteration, by association with fold^1, of blindfeld, past participle of obsolete blindfell ‘strike blind, blindfold,’ from Old English geblindfellan (see blind, fell^2).

blind gut

noun

the cecum.

blinding /ˈblīndiNG/

I. noun

1. (Brit.) the process of covering a newly made road with grit to fill cracks.

2. (Brit.) the grit used to fill cracks in a new road.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of light) very bright and likely to dazzle or temporarily blind someone

• a massive explosion with a blinding flash of light.

2. (of a thing) temporarily obstructing a person's vision

• he saw the school bus approaching through almost blinding rain.

3. (of pain or an emotion) so intense as to block out everything else

• I've got a blinding headache.

4. (of a process or action) remarkably fast or skillful; dazzling

• a blinding fastball.

blindingly /ˈblīndiNGlē/

adverb

1. [usu. as submodifier] — in a very bright and dazzling way that is likely to cause temporary loss of vision

• blindingly white beams of light

• it started out blindingly sunny on Sunday morning.

2. [as submodifier] — very intensely; extremely

• the reason is blindingly obvious.

blindly /ˈblīn(d)lē/

adverb

1. as if blind; without seeing or noticing

• I continued to stare blindly into my coffee.

2. without reasoning or questioning

• solutions must be assessed, not blindly accepted.

blindman's bluff /ˌblīndˌmanz ˈbləf / blindman's buff

I. noun

a children's game in which a blindfolded player tries to catch others.

– origin early 17th cent.: bluff, alteration of buff ‘a blow,’ from Old French bufe (see buffet^2).

blindness /ˈblīndnəs/

noun

1. the state or condition of being unable to see because of injury, disease, or a congenital condition

• a leading cause of blindness in the elderly

• the field of vision gradually narrows and blindness can result.

2. lack of perception, awareness, or judgment; ignorance

• this policy is based on willful blindness to economic reality.

blind pool

noun

a company that sells stock without specifying how invested money will be spent.

blind side

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. a direction in which a person has a poor view, typically of approaching danger

• a minivan nearly clipped him on his blind side.

2. the side opposite the one toward which a person is looking

• they came at me from my blind side

• [as modifier] the crushing blind-side sack of the quarterback.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) hit or attack (someone) on the blind side

• Jenkins blindsided Adams, knocking him to the sidewalk.

2. (N. Amer.) catch (someone) unprepared; attack from an unexpected position

• protection against being technologically blindsided.

blindsight /ˈblīndsīt/

noun

[Medicine] the ability to respond to visual stimuli without consciously perceiving them. This condition can occur after certain types of brain damage.

blind snake

noun

a small burrowing insectivorous snake that lacks a distinct head and has very small inefficient eyes.
Also called worm snake. [Infraorder Scolecophidia: three families, in particular Typhlopidae, and several genera.]

blind spot /ˈblīn(d) ˈˌspät/

noun

1. [Anatomy] the point of entry of the optic nerve on the retina, insensitive to light.

2. an area where a person's view is obstructed

• the angle rearview mirror eliminates blind spots on both sides of the car.

3. an area in which a person lacks understanding or impartiality

• Ed had a blind spot where these ethical issues were concerned.

4. [Telecommunications] a point within the normal range of a transmitter where there is unusually weak reception.

blind stamping blind tooling

noun

the impressing of text or a design on a book cover without the use of color or gold leaf.

blind stitch

I. noun

a sewing stitch producing stitches visible on one side only.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. sew (something) using a blind stitch.

blind tiger blind pig

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› an illegal bar.

– origin mid 19th cent.: probably so named because in order to evade prohibition laws, the bars were disguised as exhibition halls for natural curiosities.

blind trust

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a financial arrangement in which a person in public office gives the administration of private business interests to an independent trust in order to prevent conflict of interest. Under the trust, the owner does not know how the assets are managed.

blindworm /ˈblīn(d)wərm/

noun

another term for slow-worm.

bling /bliNG / ‹informal›

I. noun

expensive, ostentatious clothing and jewelry, or the wearing of them

• behind the bling: are diamonds worth it?

II. adjective

denoting expensive, ostentatious clothing and jewelry, or the style or materialistic attitudes associated with them

• the bling lifestyle of diamond rings, flashy cars, and champagne.

III. derivatives

blingy

adjective

– origin 1990s: perhaps imitative of light reflecting off jewelry, or of jewelry clashing together.

blini /ˈblinē, ˈblē- / bliny, blinis

I. plural noun

pancakes made from buckwheat flour and served with sour cream.

– origin Russian (plural); compare with blintz.

blink /bliNGk/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. shut and open the eyes quickly

• she blinked, momentarily blinded

• [with obj.] he blinked his eyes nervously.

2. [with obj.] (blink back) — try to control or prevent (tears) by shutting and opening the eyes quickly

• Elizabeth blinked back tears.

3. [usu. with negative] (blink at) — react to (something) with surprise or disapproval

• he doesn't blink at the unsavory aspects of his subject.

4. back down from a confrontation

• the government blinked in the face of a coordinated public sector strike.

5. (of a light or light source) shine intermittently or unsteadily

• the icon for his email was blinking.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. an act of shutting and opening the eyes quickly

• he was observing her every blink.

2. a moment's hesitation

• Thompson would have given her all this without a blink.

3. a momentary gleam of light.

III. phrases

1. not blink an eye

show no reaction.

2. in the blink of an eye (or in a blink)

‹informal› very quickly.

3. on the blink

‹informal› (of a machine) not working properly; out of order

• the computer's on the blink.

– origin Middle English: from blenk, Scots variant of blench^1, reinforced by Middle Dutch blinken ‘to shine.’ Early senses included ‘deceive,’ ‘flinch’ (compare with blench^1), also ‘open the eyes after sleep’: hence sense 1 (mid 16th cent).

blinker /ˈbliNGkər/

I. noun

1. a device that blinks, especially a vehicle's turn signal.

2. (blinkers) — another term for blinders.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. put blinders on (a horse).

2. cause (someone) to have a narrow or limited outlook on a situation

• college education blinkers researchers so that they see poverty in terms of their own specialization.

blinkered /ˈbliNGkərd/

adjective

1. (of a horse) wearing blinders.

2. having or showing a limited outlook

• a small-minded, blinkered approach.

blinking /ˈbliNGkiNG/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (Brit.) ‹informal› used to express annoyance

• computers can be a blinking nuisance to operators.

blintz /blints / blintze

I. noun

a thin rolled pancake filled with cheese or fruit and then fried or baked.

– origin from Yiddish blintse, from Russian blinets ‘little pancakes’; compare with blini.

blip /blip/

I. noun

1. a short high-pitched sound made by an electronic device.

2. a flashing point of light on a radar screen representing an object, typically accompanied by a high-pitched sound.

3. an unexpected, minor, and typically temporary deviation from a general trend

• an upward blip in house prices.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — (of an electronic device) make a short high-pitched sound or succession of sounds.

2. [with obj.] — open (the throttle of a motor vehicle) momentarily.

– origin late 19th cent. (denoting a sudden rap or tap): imitative; the noun sense ‘unexpected deviation’ dates from the 1970s.

bliss /blis/

I. noun

1. perfect happiness; great joy

• she gave a sigh of bliss.

2. a state of spiritual blessedness, typically that reached after death.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (bliss out or be blissed out) — ‹informal› reach a state of perfect happiness, typically so as to be oblivious of everything else
[as adj.]

• blissed-out hippies.

– origin Old English blīths, bliss, of Germanic origin; related to blithe.

Bliss, Sir Arthur /blis/

(1891–1975), English composer; full name Sir Arthur Edward Drummond Bliss.

blissful /ˈblisfəl/

I. adjective

1. extremely happy; full of joy

• a blissful couple holding a baby.

2. providing perfect happiness or great joy

• the blissful caress of cool cotton sheets.

II. phrases

blissful ignorance

fortunate unawareness of something unpleasant.

III. derivatives

blissfulness

noun

blissfully /ˈblisfəlē/

adverb

1. in a manner characterized by extreme happiness or joy

• they are blissfully in love

• tucked up in bed, blissfully asleep.

2. in a way that provides perfect happiness or great joy

• the inn was blissfully peaceful.

3. in a way that shows a lack of knowledge or understanding of something bad

• I was blissfully unaware of the financial consequences

• there's something to be said for being blissfully ignorant.

blister /ˈblistər/

I. noun

1. a small bubble on the skin filled with serum and caused by friction, burning, or other damage.

2. a small bubble or swelling, filled with air or fluid, on the surface of a plant, heated metal, painted wood, or other object.

3. [Medicine] ‹chiefly historical› a preparation applied to the skin to cause a blister.

4. (Brit.) ‹informal› ‹dated› an annoying person

• the child is a disgusting little blister.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — form swellings filled with air or fluid on the surface of something

• the surface of the door began to blister

• (as adj. blistered) he had blistered feet.

2. [with obj.] — cause blisters to form on the surface of

• a caustic liquid that blisters the skin.

– origin Middle English: perhaps from Old French blestre ‘swelling, pimple.’

blister agent

noun

a chemical weapon that burns and blisters the skin or other tissues.

blister beetle

noun

a beetle that, when alarmed or crushed, gives off a substance that causes blisters. The larvae are typically parasites of other insects.
[Lytta and other genera, family Meloidae: several species. See also Spanish fly.]

blister copper

noun

partly purified copper with a blistered surface formed during smelting.

blistering /ˈblist(ə)riNG/

adjective

1. (of heat) intense

• the blistering heat of the desert.

2. (of criticism) expressed with great vehemence

• blistering diatribes.

3. extremely fast, forceful, or impressive

• Burke set a blistering pace.

blister pack /ˈblistər pak/

noun

a type of packaging in which a product is sealed in plastic, often with a cardboard backing.

blister rust

noun

any of several destructive diseases of pine trees caused by fungi of the genus Conartium, resulting in orange blisters on the bark and tips of branches.

blithe /blīT͟H blīTH/

I. adjective

1. showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper

• a blithe disregard for the rules of the road.

2. happy or joyous

• a blithe seaside comedy.

II. derivatives

1. blitheness

noun

2. blithesome /ˈblīT͟Hsəm /

adjective

( — ‹literary›

– origin Old English blīthe, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch blijde, also to bliss.

blithely /ˈblīT͟Hlē/

adverb

1. in a way that shows a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper

• her arrest order was blithely ignored by the police chief.

2. ‹literary› in a happy or carefree manner

• the prince was wandering blithely out into the courtyard.

blithering /ˈbliT͟HəriNG/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. ‹informal› senselessly talkative, babbling; used chiefly as an intensive to express annoyance or contempt

• a blithering idiot.

– origin late 19th cent.: from blither + -ing^2.

BLitt /bēːˈlit / BLit

I. abbreviation

1. Bachelor of Letters.

2. Bachelor of Literature.

– origin from Latin Baccalaureus Litterarum.

blitz /blits/

I. noun

1. an intensive or sudden military attack.

2. (the Blitz) — the German air raids on Britain in 1940–41.

3. ‹informal› a sudden, energetic, and concerted effort, typically on a specific task

• a major press blitz.

4. [Football] a charge of the passer by the defensive linebackers just after the ball is snapped.

5. a form of chess in which moves must be made at very short intervals.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. attack or damage (a place or building) in a blitz

• news came that Rotterdam had been blitzed

• ‹figurative› organizations blitzed Capitol Hill with mailgrams and postcards.

2. [Football] attack (the passer) in a blitz.

III. phrases

Blitz spirit the spirit of the Blitz

(Brit.) stoicism and determination in a difficult or dangerous situation, especially as displayed by a group of people

• he urged the British public to show their Blitz spirit in the face of the recession.

IV. derivatives

blitzer

noun

– origin 1930s: abbreviation of blitzkrieg.

blitzed /blitst/

adjective

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› intoxicated by drink or drugs.

• we're all hanging out getting blitzed as usual.

blitzkrieg /ˈblitsˌkrēɡ/

I. noun

an intense military campaign intended to bring about a swift victory.

– origin World War II: from German, literally ‘lightning war.’

Blixen, Karen /ˈbliksən/

Baroness Blixen-Finecke (1885–1962), Danish novelist and short-story writer; born Karen Dinesen; also known by the pseudonym of Isak Dinesen. She is best known for Seven Gothic Tales (1934) and her autobiography Out of Africa (1937), which was made into a movie in 1985.

blizzard /ˈblizərd/

I. noun

1. a severe snowstorm with high winds and low visibility.

2. an overabundance; a deluge

• a blizzard of legal forms.

– origin early 19th cent. (originally US, denoting a violent blow): of unknown origin.

bln

abbreviation

short for billion:

• pretax profits came in at just over US $2 bln

• the government will pump more than 450 bln liters of water into the ailing river.

bloat^1 /blōt/

I. verb

make or become swollen with fluid or gas
[with obj.]

• the fungus has bloated their abdomens

• (as noun bloating) she suffered from abdominal bloating.

II. noun

a disease of livestock characterized by an accumulation of gas in the stomach.

– origin late 17th cent. (in the sense ‘cause to swell’): from obsolete bloat ‘swollen, soft,’ perhaps from Old Norse blautr ‘soft, flabby.’ The noun sense dates from the late 19th cent.

bloat^2 /blōt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cure (a herring) by salting and smoking it lightly.

– origin late 16th cent.: related to the adjective bloat used in the compound bloat herring ‘bloater’ from the late 16th to mid 17th cent.; of obscure origin.

bloated /ˈblōdəd/

adjective

1. (of part of the body) swollen with fluid or gas

• he had a bloated, unshaven face.

2. excessive in size or amount

• the company trimmed its bloated labor force.

3. (of a person) excessively wealthy and pampered

• the bloated captains of industry.

bloater^1 /ˈblōdər/

noun

a herring cured by salting and light smoking.

bloater^2 /ˈblōdər/

noun

another term for cisco.

bloatware /ˈblōtˌwer/

noun

1. [Computing] ‹informal› software whose usefulness is reduced because of the excessive disk space and memory it requires

• a nasty piece of cross-platform bloatware that's in serious need of a total overhaul.

2. [Computing] ‹informal› unwanted software included on a new computer or mobile device by the manufacturer

• users must initially contend with the usual bevy of bloatware (unnecessary toolbars, games of questionable value).

blob /bläb/

I. noun

1. a drop of a thick liquid or other viscous substance

• blobs of paint.

2. a spot of color

• a badly printed blob on shopping bags.

3. an indeterminate mass or shape

• a leathery blob commonly known as a sea squirt.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. put small drops of thick liquid or spots of color on

• her nose was blobbed with paint.

III. derivatives

blobby /ˈbläbē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (denoting a bubble): perhaps symbolic of a drop of liquid; compare with blotch, blubber^1, and plop.

BLOB /bläb/

noun

[Computing] binary large objects.

blobfish

noun

a bottom-dwelling deep-sea fish with a large head

• the blobfish is at risk of extinction from fishing trawlers that drag the ocean floors.

[Family Psychrolutidae (the fathead sculpins): several species, in particular Psychrolutes marcidus of Australian and New Zealand waters, having gelatinous flesh and (once brought to the surface) a distinctive sagging face.]

bloc /bläk/

I. noun

a combination of countries, parties, or groups sharing a common purpose

• a center-left voting bloc.

– origin early 20th cent.: from French, literally ‘block.’

Bloch, Ernest /bläk/

(1880–1959), US composer; born in Switzerland. His work reflects the influence of the late 19th-century romanticism of Franz Liszt and Richard Strauss and of Jewish musical forms. Notable works: Israel Symphony (1912–16) and Solomon (1916).

block /bläk/

I. noun

1. a large solid piece of hard material, especially rock, stone, or wood, typically with flat surfaces on each side

• a block of marble.

2. a sturdy, flat-topped block used as a work surface, typically for chopping food.

3. (usu. blocks) — any of a set of solid cubes used as a child's toy.

4. (usu. blocks) — a starting block

• the thrust a sprinter gets when coming out of the blocks.

5. [Printing] a piece of wood or metal engraved for printing on paper or fabric.

6. (also cylinder block or engine block) — the main body of an internal combustion engine, containing the pistons.

7. a head-shaped mold used for shaping hats or wigs.

8. (N. Amer.) the area bounded by four streets in a town or suburb

• she went for a run around the block

• ours was the ugliest house on the block.

9. (N. Amer.) the length of one side of a town block, typically as a measure of distance

• he lives a few blocks away from the museum.

10. [with modifier] — a building, especially part of a complex, used for a particular purpose

• a cell block.

11. (chiefly Brit.) a large single building subdivided into separate rooms, apartments, or offices

• an apartment block.

12. a large quantity or allocation of things regarded as a unit

• a block of shares

• [as modifier] block grants.

13. [Computing] a large piece of text processed as a unit.

14. (chiefly Brit.) a set of sheets of paper glued along one edge, used for drawing or writing on

• a sketching block.

15. an unseparated unit of at least four postage stamps in at least two rows, generally a group of four.

16. an obstacle to the normal progress or functioning of something

• substantial demands for time off may constitute a block to career advancement

• an emotional block.

17. [Sports] a hindering or stopping of an opponent's movement or action.

18. [Tennis] a shot in which the racket is held stationary rather than being swung back, especially a stop volley.

19. short for mental block.

20. short for nerve block.

21. a chock for stopping the motion of a wheel.

22. a flat area of something, typically a solid area of color

• cover the eyelid with a neutral block of color.

23. a pulley or system of pulleys mounted in a case.

24. ‹informal› a person's head

• “I'll knock your block off,” he said.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make the movement or flow in (a passage, pipe, road, etc.) difficult or impossible

• block up the holes with sticky tape

• a police cordon blocked off roads

• (as adj. blocked) a blocked nose.

2. put an obstacle in the way of (something proposed or attempted)

• he stood up, blocking her escape

• the administration tried to block an agreement on farm subsidies.

3. restrict the use or conversion of (currency or any other asset).

4. [Sports] hinder or stop the movement or action of (an opponent, a ball, etc.).

5. [Medicine] produce insensibility in (a part of the body) by injecting an anesthetic close to the nerves that supply it.

6. [Bridge] play in such a way that an opponent cannot establish (a long suit).

7. impress text or a design on (a book cover).

8. [Theater] design or plan the movements of actors on a stage or movie set.

9. shape or reshape (a hat) using a wooden mold.

III. phrases

1. have been around the block (a few times)

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› (of a person) have a lot of experience.

2. the new kid on the block

‹informal› a newcomer to a particular place or sphere of activity, typically someone who has yet to prove themselves.

3. on the (auction) block

for sale at auction

• the original first manuscript for Ravel's Bolero goes on the block today

• ‹figurative› the company put its subsidiary on the block because it did not fit its core business interests.

4. put (or lay) one's head (or neck) on the block

‹informal› put one's standing or reputation at risk by proceeding with a particular course of action.
[with reference to the executioner's block.]

IV. phrasal verbs

1. block something in

a. mark something out roughly.

b. add something in a unit

• it's a good idea to block in regular periods of exercise.

c. paint something with solid areas of color.

d. park one's car in such a way as to prevent another car from moving away

• he blocked in Vera's minivan.

2. block something out

a. stop something, typically light or noise, from reaching somewhere

• you're blocking out my sun.

b. exclude something unpleasant from one's thoughts or memory.

c. mark or sketch something out roughly.

– origin Middle English (denoting a log or tree stump): from Old French bloc (noun), bloquer (verb), from Middle Dutch blok, of unknown ultimate origin.

blockade /bläˈkād/

I. noun

1. an act or means of sealing off a place to prevent goods or people from entering or leaving

• there was a blockade of humanitarian aid

• the police pulled down blockades on the highway.

2. an obstruction of a physiological or mental function, especially of a biochemical receptor.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. seal off (a place) to prevent goods or people from entering or leaving.

III. phrases

run a blockade

(of a ship) manage to enter or leave a blockaded port.

IV. derivatives

blockader /bläˈkādər /

noun

– origin late 17th cent.: from block + -ade^1, probably influenced by ambuscade.

blockade runner

noun

1. a vessel that runs or attempts to run into or out of a blockaded port.

2. the owner, master, or one of the crew of a blockade runner.

blockage /ˈbläkij/

noun

an obstruction that makes movement or flow difficult or impossible

• a blockage in the pipes

• the pumps are prone to blockage.

block and tackle

noun

a mechanism consisting of ropes and one or more pulley-blocks, used for lifting or pulling heavy objects.

block-book

verb — [with obj.]

1. book (a large quantity of tickets, seats, hotel rooms, etc.) at the same time

• all 18 rooms have been block-booked by the bride and groom.

blockbuster /ˈbläkˌbəstər/

I. noun

‹informal› a thing of great power or size, in particular a movie, book, or other product that is a great commercial success
[as modifier]

• a blockbuster pay-per-view special event.

– origin 1940s (denoting a huge aerial bomb capable of destroying a whole block of streets): from block + buster.

blockbusting /ˈbläkˌbəstiNG/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. very successful commercially

• his blockbusting novel.

II. noun

(N. Amer.) the practice of persuading owners to sell property cheaply because of the fear of people of another race or class moving into the neighborhood, and thus profiting by reselling at a higher price.

block capitals

plural noun

another term for block letters.

blockchain /ˈbläkˌCHān/

I. noun

a digital ledger in which transactions made in bitcoin or another cryptocurrency are recorded chronologically and publicly

• we can actually have a look at the blockchain and see evidence of what's going on.

– origin early 21st cent.: from block + chain.

block diagram /bläk ˈdīəˌɡram/

noun

a diagram showing in schematic form the general arrangement of parts or components of a complex system or process, such as an industrial apparatus or an electronic circuit.

blocker /ˈbläkər/

noun

1. a person or thing that blocks, in particular

2. [Football] a player whose task it is to block for the ballcarrier or kicker.

3. a substance that prevents or inhibits a given physiological function.

block grant /ˈblôk ˌɡrant/

noun

a grant from a central government that a local authority can allocate to a wide range of services.

blockhead /ˈbläkˌhed/

I. noun

‹informal› a stupid person.

II. derivatives

blockheaded

adjective

block heater

noun

(N. Amer.) a device for heating the engine block of a vehicle.

blockhouse /ˈbläkˌhous/

noun

1. a reinforced concrete shelter used as an observation point.

2. ‹historical› a one-storied timber building with loopholes, used as a fort.

3. (US) a house made of squared logs.

blocking /ˈbläkiNG/

noun

1. the action or process of obstructing movement, progress, or activity, in particular

2. obstructing or impeding the actions of an opponent in a game, especially (in ball sports) one who does not have control of the ball.

3. [Psychiatry] the sudden halting of the flow of thought or speech, as a symptom of schizophrenia or other mental disorder.

4. failure to recall or consider an unpleasant memory or train of thought.

5. the grouping or treatment of things (e.g., items of data or shades of color) in blocks.

6. the physical arrangement of actors on a stage or movie set.

blockish /ˈbläkiSH/

adjective

1. big, bulky, or crude in form or appearance

• his blockish architecture is ugly if functional.

2. unintelligent and stupid.

Block Island BI

a resort island in southern Rhode Island, in the Atlantic Ocean at the eastern end of Long Island Sound.

block letters

plural noun

plain capital letters.

block mountain

noun

[Geology] a mountain consisting of a block or blocks bounded by normal faults in the earth's crust.
See normal.

block party

noun

(N. Amer.) a party for all the residents of a block or neighborhood, typically held on a closed-off city street.

block plane

noun

a carpenter's plane with a blade set at an acute angle, used especially for planing across the end grain of wood.

block system

noun

a system of railroad signaling that divides the track into sections and allows no train to enter a section that is not completely clear.

block vote /bläk vōt/

noun

a vote proportional in power to the number of people a delegate represents.

blocky /ˈbläkē/

adjective

of the nature of or resembling a block or blocks

• blocky granite.

Bloemfontein /ˈblo͞omfänˌtān/

a city in central South Africa, judicial capital of the country, capital of Orange Free State; pop. 583,300 (est. 2009).

blog /bläɡ/

I. noun

a regularly updated website or web page, typically one run by an individual or small group, that is written in an informal or conversational style.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. add new material to or regularly update a blog

• it's about a week since I last blogged.

2. [with obj.] — write about (an event, situation, topic, etc.) in a blog

• he blogged the Democratic and Republican national conventions as an independent.

– origin 1990s: shortening of weblog.

bloggable /ˈbläɡəbəl/

adjective

suitable or sufficiently interesting as a topic for a blog

• I started subscribing to the journal in the hope of finding bloggable material in there.

blogger /ˈbläɡər/

noun

a person who regularly writes material for a blog

• food bloggers post a recipe on a particular theme

• the official festival blogger.

bloggy /ˈbläɡē/

adjective

‹informal› characteristic of a blog or blogs

• a lot of the journalism is quite bloggy, with opinions rather than facts.

blogosphere /ˈbläɡəˌsfir/

noun

personal websites and blogs collectively.

blog post

noun

a piece of writing or other item of content posted on a blog

• I've read your previous blog post on this topic.

blogroll /ˈbläɡˌrōl/

noun

(on a blog) a list of hyperlinks to other blogs or websites.

bloke /blōk/

I. noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› a man; a fellow.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Shelta.

blond /bländ / blonde

I. adjective

1. (of hair) fair or pale yellow

• short-cropped blond hair

• her hair was dyed blond.

2. (of a person) having hair of a fair or pale yellow color

• a slim blond woman.

3. (of a person) having fair hair and a light complexion (especially when regarded as a racial characteristic).

4. (of wood or another substance) light in color or tone

• a New York office full of blond wood.

II. noun

a person with fair hair and skin.

III. derivatives

1. blondish

adjective

2. blondness

noun

– origin late 15th cent.: from French blond, blonde, from medieval Latin blundus ‘yellow,’ perhaps from Germanic. / usage: The spellings blonde and blond correspond to the feminine and masculine forms in French. Although the distinction is often retained in Britain, American usage since the 1970s has generally preferred the gender-neutral blond. The adjective blonde may still refer to a woman's (but not a man's) hair color, although use of the noun risks offense (see that blonde over there?): the offense arises from the fact that the color of hair is not the person. The adjective applied to inanimate objects (such as wood or beer) is typically spelled blond.

blonde moment

I. noun

‹humorous› an instance of being silly or scatterbrained.

– origin 1990s: from the stereotypical perception of blonde-haired women as unintelligent.

blondie /ˈbländē/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› a blond-haired person, typically a woman (usually as a form of address)

• you have a great imagination, blondie

• we never did manage to bag any major roles in the nativity play—it was always the blue-eyed blondies who played the angels.

2. a small square of dense, pale-colored cake, typically of a butterscotch or vanilla flavor

• cut brownies, blondies, or other sweet squares into very small pieces.

– origin late 19th cent.: (in sense 1); from blond + -ie; sense 2 after brownie (sense 1).

blood /bləd/

I. noun

1.
a. the red liquid that circulates in the arteries and veins of humans and other vertebrate animals, carrying oxygen to and carbon dioxide from the tissues of the body

• drops of blood.

b. an internal bodily fluid, not necessarily red, that performs a similar function in invertebrates.

Blood consists of a mildly alkaline aqueous fluid (plasma) containing red cells (erythrocytes), white cells (leukocytes), and platelets; it is red when oxygenated and purple when deoxygenated. Red blood cells carry the protein hemoglobin, which gives blood its color and can combine with oxygen, thus enabling the blood to carry oxygen from the lungs to the tissues. White blood cells protect the body against the invasion of foreign agents (e.g., bacteria). Platelets and other factors present in plasma are concerned in the clotting of blood, preventing hemorrhage. In medieval science and medicine, blood was regarded as one of the four bodily humors, believed to be associated with a confident and optimistic temperament.

2. violence involving bloodshed

• a commando operation full of blood and danger.

3. temperament or disposition, especially when passionate

• a ritual that fires up his blood.

4. [with adj.] — family background; descent or lineage

• she must have Irish blood in her.

5. [in combination] — a person of specified descent

• a mixed-blood.

6. (US) ‹informal› a fellow black person.

7. (usu. Blood) — a member of a Los Angeles street gang.

8. ‹dated› (chiefly Brit.) a fashionable and dashing young man

• a group of young bloods.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. initiate (someone) in a particular activity

• clubs are too slow in blooding young players.

2. (in hunting) smear the face of (a novice) with the blood of the kill.

3. (in hunting) give (a hound) a first taste of blood.

III. phrases

1. be like getting blood out of (or from) a stone (or turnip)

be extremely difficult (said in reference to obtaining something from someone)

• getting a story out of her is like getting blood out of a stone!

2. blood and guts

‹informal› violence and bloodshed, typically in fiction.

3. blood and thunder

‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) unrestrained and violent action or behavior, typically in sports or fiction.

4. blood is thicker than water

‹proverb› relationships and loyalties within a family are the strongest and most important ones.

5. blood, sweat, and tears

extremely hard work; unstinting effort.

6. blood will tell

‹proverb› family characteristics cannot be concealed.

7. first blood

a. the first shedding of blood, especially in a boxing match or formerly in dueling with swords.

b. the first point or advantage gained in a contest

• King drew first blood when he took the opening set.

8. give blood

allow blood to be removed medically from one's body in order to be stored for use in transfusions.

9. have blood on one's hands

be responsible for someone's death.

10. have (or get) one's blood up

be in a fighting mood.

11. in one's blood

ingrained in or fundamental to one's character

• racing is in his blood.

12. in cold blood

see cold.

13. make someone's blood boil

‹informal› infuriate someone.

14. make someone's blood run cold

horrify someone.

15. new (or fresh) blood

new members admitted to a group, typically as an invigorating force.

16. out for (someone's) blood

set on getting revenge.

17. taste blood

achieve an early success that stimulates further efforts

• the speculators have tasted blood and could force a devaluation of the franc.

18. young blood

a younger member or members of a group, typically as an invigorating force.

– origin Old English blōd, of Germanic origin; related to German Blut and Dutch bloed.

Blood /bləd/

noun

a member of a North American Indian people belonging to the Blackfoot Confederacy.

blood bank /ˈbləd ˌbaNGk/

noun

a place where supplies of blood or plasma for transfusion are stored.

bloodbath /ˈblədˌbaTH/

noun

an event or situation in which many people are killed in a violent manner

• he allowed the protest to go ahead despite warnings that it would spark a bloodbath

• ‹figurative› the bad publicity would be a media bloodbath.

blood boosting

noun

another term for blood doping.

blood-borne /ˈblədˌbôrn/

adjective

(typically of a disease or pathogen) carried by the blood.

blood–brain barrier

noun

[Physiology] a filtering mechanism of the capillaries that carry blood to the brain and spinal cord tissue, blocking the passage of certain substances.

blood brother /bləd ˈbrəT͟Hər/

noun

1. a brother by birth.

2. a man who has sworn to treat another man as a brother, sometimes with a ceremonial mingling of blood.

blood cell /ˈbləd ˌsel/

noun

any of the kinds of cells normally found circulating in the blood.

blood clot //

noun

a gelatinous or semisolid mass of coagulated blood.

blood count /ˈbləd ˌkount/

noun

1. a determination of the number of corpuscles in a specific volume of blood.

2. the number of corpuscles found by taking a blood count

• a low blood count.

blood-curdling /ˈblədˌkərd(ə)liNG/

adjective

causing terror or horror

• the warrior's blood-curdling cry.

blood currant

noun

another term for red-flowering currant (see flowering currant).

blood diamond

noun

another term for conflict diamond.

blood donor /ˈbləd ˈˌdōnər/

noun

a person who gives blood for transfusion.

blood doping /ˈbləd ˌdōpiNG / blood boosting

noun

the injection of oxygenated blood into an athlete before an event in an attempt to enhance athletic performance.

blooded /ˈblədəd/

adjective — [usu. in combination]

1. having blood or a temperament of a specified kind

• warm-blooded animals.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) (of horses or cattle) of good pedigree

• a blooded stallion.

blood feud /ˈbləd ˈˌfyo͞od/

noun

a lengthy conflict between families involving a cycle of retaliatory killings or injury.

blood film

noun

a specimen of blood on a glass slide, used for microscopic investigation of possible abnormalities or pathogens.

bloodfin /ˈblədfin/

noun

a small South American freshwater fish that is silvery-yellow with bright red fins. It is popular in aquariums.
[Aphyocharax rubripinnis, family Characidae.]

blood fluke

noun

another term for schistosome.

blood group /ˈbləd ˈˌɡro͞op/

noun

any of the various types of human blood whose antigen characteristics determine compatibility in transfusion. The best known blood groups are those of the ABO system.

bloodguilt /ˈblədɡilt/

I. noun

guilt resulting from murder or bloodshed.

II. derivatives

1. bloodguiltiness

noun

2. bloodguilty

adjective

bloodhound /ˈblədˌhound/

noun

a large hound of a breed with a very keen sense of smell, used in tracking.

blood knot

noun

a type of knot used by anglers to join two fishing lines.
Also called barrel knot.

bloodless /ˈblədləs/

I. adjective

1. (of a revolution or conflict) without violence or killing

• a bloodless coup.

2. (of the skin or a part of the body) drained of color

• his bloodless lips.

3. (of a person) cold or unemotional

• a shrewd and bloodless Hollywood mogul.

4. lacking in vitality; feeble

• their occasionally bloodless chamber jazz.

II. derivatives

1. bloodlessly /ˈblədləslē /

adverb

2. bloodlessness /ˈblədləsnəs /

noun

bloodletting /ˈblədˌlediNG/

noun

1. ‹chiefly historical› the surgical removal of some of a patient's blood for therapeutic purposes.

2. ‹chiefly historical› the violent killing and wounding of people during a war or conflict

• gang members have halted their internecine bloodletting.

3. ‹chiefly historical› bitter division and quarreling within an organization.

blood libel

noun

an accusation that Jewish people used the blood of Christians in religious rituals, especially in the preparation of Passover bread, that was perpetrated throughout the Middle Ages and (sporadically) until the early 20th century.

bloodline /ˈblədˌlīn/

noun

1. an animal's set of ancestors or pedigree, typically considered with regard to the desirable characteristics bred into it.

2. a set of ancestors or line of descent of a person.

bloodlust /ˈblədˌləst/

noun

uncontrollable desire to kill or maim others.

blood meal

noun

dried blood used for feeding animals and as a fertilizer.

bloodmobile /ˈblədməˌbēl/

noun

a motor vehicle equipped for collecting blood from volunteer donors.

blood money /bləd ˈmənē/

noun

1. money paid in compensation to the family of someone who has been killed.

2. money paid to a hired killer.

3. money paid by the police or the media for information about a killer or killing.

blood orange /bləd ˈôrənj/

noun

an orange of a variety with red or red-streaked flesh.

blood platelet

noun

see platelet.

blood poisoning /bləd ˈpoizniNG/

noun

the presence of microorganisms or their toxins in the blood, causing disease; septicemia.

blood pressure /ˈbləd ˌpreSHər/

noun

the pressure of the blood in the circulatory system, often measured for diagnosis since it is closely related to the force and rate of the heartbeat and the diameter and elasticity of the arterial walls.

blood pudding /bləd ˈpo͝odiNG/

noun

another term for blood sausage.

blood red /ˈbləd ˈˌred/

noun

a deep red
[as modifier]

• a blood-red lipstick.

blood relation blood relative

noun

a person related to another by birth rather than by marriage.

bloodroot /ˈblədro͞ot/

noun

1. a North American plant of the poppy family that has white flowers and fleshy underground rhizomes that exude red sap when cut.
[Sanguinaria canadensis, family Papaveraceae.]

2. a lilylike Australian plant with a red rhizome that is roasted and eaten by some Aborigines.
[Haemodorum coccineum, family Haemodoraceae.]

blood sausage /bləd ˈsôsij / blood pudding

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a dark sausage containing pork, dried pig's blood, and suet.

bloodshed /ˈblədˌSHed/

noun

the killing or wounding of people, typically on a large scale during a conflict.

bloodshot /ˈblədˌSHät/

adjective

(of the eyes) inflamed or tinged with blood, typically as a result of tiredness.

blood sport /ˈbləd ˌspôrt/

noun — (usu. blood sports)

1. a sport involving the shedding of blood, especially the hunting or killing of animals

• cockfighting, bullfighting, fox hunting, and other blood sports

• ‹figurative› politics is a blood sport.

bloodstain /ˈblədˌstān/

I. noun

a stain or a spot caused by blood.

II. derivatives

bloodstained /ˈblədˌstānd /

adjective

bloodstock /ˈblədˌstäk/

noun — [treated as sing. or pl.]

1. thoroughbred horses considered collectively.

bloodstone /ˈblədstōn/

noun

a type of green chalcedony spotted or streaked with red, used as a gemstone.

bloodstream /ˈblədˌstrēm/

noun — [in sing.]

1. the blood circulating through the body of a person or animal.

bloodsucker /ˈblədˌsəkər/

I. noun

1. an insect or other animal that sucks blood, especially a leech or a mosquito.

2. a long-tailed arboreal Asian lizard that carries its head in a raised position. Its ability to change color is most marked in the male, whose head and shoulders become bright red when excited.
[Calotes versicolor, family Agamidae.]

3. a person who extorts money.

4. a person who lives off others; a parasite.

II. derivatives

bloodsucking /-ˌsəkiNG /

adjective

blood sugar /ˈbləd ˌSHo͝oɡər/

noun

the concentration of glucose in the blood.

blood test /ˈbləd ˌtest/

noun

a scientific examination of a sample of blood, typically for the diagnosis of illness or for the detection and measurement of drugs or other substances.

bloodthirsty /ˈblədˌTHərstē/

I. adjective

1. eager to shed blood

• a bloodthirsty dictator.

2. (of a story or movie) containing or depicting much violence

• a bloodthirsty novel.

II. derivatives

1. bloodthirstily /-stəlē /

adverb

2. bloodthirstiness /ˈblədˌTHərstēnəs /

noun

blood transfusion /bləd tran(t)sˈfyo͞oZHən/

noun

[Medicine] the process of transferring the blood of a person into the veins of another.

blood type //

noun

another term for blood group.

blood typing

noun

the testing of a sample of blood to determine an individual's blood group.

blood vessel /ˈbləd ˌvesəl/

noun

a tubular structure carrying blood through the tissues and organs; a vein, artery, or capillary.

bloodwood /ˈblədwo͝od/

noun

any of a number of hardwood trees with deep red timber, in particular
[● an Australian gum tree (genus Eucalyptus, family Myrtaceae, in particular E. gummifera). ● a tree of the Old World tropics (genus Pterocarpus, family Leguminosae).]

bloodworm /ˈblədwərm/

noun

1. the bright red aquatic larva of a nonbiting midge, the blood of which contains hemoglobin that allows it to live in poorly oxygenated water.
[Genus Chironomus, family Chironomidae.]

2. another term for tubifex.

bloodwort /ˈblədˌwərt, -ˌwôrt/

noun

any of various plants having red roots or leaves, especially the red-veined dock.

bloody^1 /ˈblədē/

I. adjective — (bloodier, bloodiest)

1. covered, smeared, or running with blood

• a bloody body.

2. composed of or resembling blood

• a bloody discharge.

3. involving or characterized by bloodshed or cruelty

• a bloody coup

• the bloody tyrannies of Europe.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. cover or stain with blood

• he ended the fight with his face bloodied and battered

• ‹figurative› she has been bloodied in her three years on the commission.

III. phrases

bloody (or bloodied) but unbowed

proud of what one has achieved despite having suffered great difficulties or losses.

IV. derivatives

1. bloodily /ˈblədəlē /

adverb

2. bloodiness /ˈblədēnəs /

noun

– origin Old English blōdig (see blood, -y^1).

bloody^2 /ˈblədē/

I. adjective

1. [attrib.] — ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) used to express anger, annoyance, or shock, or simply for emphasis

• took your bloody time

• [as exclamation] bloody Hell!—what was that?

• [as submodifier] it's bloody cold outside.

2. (Brit.) ‹dated› unpleasant or perverse

• don't be too bloody to poor Jack.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from bloody^1. The use of bloody to add emphasis to an expression is of uncertain origin, but is thought to have a connection with the “bloods” (aristocratic rowdies) of the late 17th and early 18th centuries; hence the phrase bloody drunk (= as drunk as a blood) meant ‘very drunk indeed’ After the mid 18th cent. until quite recently, bloody used as a swearword was regarded as unprintable, probably from the mistaken belief that it implied a blasphemous reference to the blood of Christ, or that the word was an alteration of “by Our Lady”; hence a widespread caution in using the term even in phrases such as bloody battle merely referring to bloodshed.

Bloody Mary^1

the nickname of Mary I of England (see Mary^2).

Bloody Mary^2

noun

a drink consisting of vodka and seasoned tomato juice.

bloody-minded /ˈblədē mīndid/

I. adjective

(Brit.) ‹informal› deliberately uncooperative.

II. derivatives

1. bloody-mindedly

adverb

2. bloody-mindedness

noun

blooey /ˈblo͞oē / ‹US informal› blooie

I. adverb, adjective

awry; amiss
[as adv.]

• the ignition switch went blooey

• my head for figures has gone blooey.

II. exclamation

used to convey that something has happened in an abrupt way

• and, blooey! He shot himself dead.

– origin 1920s: of unknown origin.

bloom^1 /blo͞om/

I. noun

1. a flower, especially one cultivated for its beauty

• an exotic bloom

• the hydrangea has a wealth of bloom.

2. the state or period of flowering

• the apple trees were in bloom.

3. the state or period of greatest beauty, freshness, or vigor

• a young girl, still in the bloom of youth.

4. [in sing.] — a youthful or healthy glow in a person's complexion

• her face had lost its usual bloom.

5. a delicate powdery surface deposit on certain fresh fruits, leaves, or stems.

6. (also algal bloom) — a rapid growth of microscopic algae or cyanobacteria in water, often resulting in a colored scum on the surface.

7. a grayish-white appearance on chocolate caused by cocoa butter rising to the surface.

8. a full bright sound, especially in a musical recording

• the remastering has lost some of the bloom of the strings.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. produce flowers; be in flower

• a rose tree bloomed on a ruined wall.

2. come into or be in full beauty or health; flourish

• she bloomed as an actress under his tutelage.

3. (of fire, color, or light) become radiant and glowing

• color bloomed in her cheeks.

III. phrases

the bloom is off the rose

(N. Amer.) something is no longer new, fresh, or exciting.

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse blóm ‘flower, blossom,’ blómi ‘prosperity,’ blómar ‘flowers.’

bloom^2 /blo͞om/

I. noun

1. a mass of iron, steel, or other metal hammered or rolled into a thick bar for further working.

2. ‹historical› an unworked mass of puddled iron.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as noun blooming)

1. make (iron, steel, etc.) into a bloom.

– origin Old English blōma, of unknown origin.

bloomer^1 /ˈblo͞omər/

noun — [usu. in combination]

1. a plant that produces flowers at a specified time

• fragrant night-bloomers such as nicotiana.

2. [with adj.] — a person who matures or flourishes at a specified time

• he was a late bloomer.

bloomer^2 /ˈblo͞omər/

I. noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› ‹dated› a serious or stupid mistake.

– origin late 19th cent.: equivalent to blooming error.

Bloomer, Amelia /ˈblo͞omər/

(1818–94), US suffragette and social reformer; full name Amelia Jenks Bloomer. She founded and edited 1849–55 the feminist paper Lily, and she wore full pants that came to be known as “bloomers.”

bloomers /ˈblo͞omərz/

I. plural noun

1. women's loose-fitting knee-length underpants, considered old-fashioned.

2. ‹historical› women's and girls' loose-fitting trousers, gathered at the knee or, originally, the ankle.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after Mrs. Amelia J. Bloomer (1818–94), an American social reformer who advocated a similar garment.

Bloomfield /ˈblo͞omfēld/

a township in northeastern New Jersey, north of Newark; pop. 43,885 (est. 2008).

Bloomfield, Leonard

(1887–1949), US linguist. One of the founders of American structural linguistics, his primary aim was to establish linguistics as an autonomous and scientific discipline. He wrote Language (1933).

blooming /ˈblo͞omiNG/

adjective

(Brit.) ‹informal› used for emphasis or to express annoyance

• I didn't learn a blooming thing

• [as submodifier] a blooming good read.

Bloomington /ˈblo͞omiNGtən/

I. a commercial city in central Illinois; pop. 73,026 (est. 2008).

II. a city in south central Indiana, noted for its limestone industry and home to Indiana University; pop. 71,819 (est. 2008).

III. a city in southeastern Minnesota, south of Minneapolis. It is home to the huge Mall of America; pop. 81,280 (est. 2008).

Bloomsbury /ˈblo͞omzbərē, -ˌberē/

I. an area of central London noted for its large squares and gardens and for its associations with the Bloomsbury Group. The British Museum is located here.

II. [as adj.] — associated with or similar to the Bloomsbury Group.

Bloomsbury Group

a group of writers, artists, and philosophers living in or associated with Bloomsbury in the early 20th century. Members of the group, which included Virginia Woolf, Lytton Strachey, Vanessa Bell, Duncan Grant, and Roger Fry, were known for their unconventional lifestyles and attitudes and were a powerful force in the growth of modernism.

bloop /blo͞op / ‹N. Amer. informal›

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — make a mistake

• the company admitted it had blooped.

2. [with obj.] — [Baseball] hit a ball weakly or make (a hit) from a poorly hit fly ball landing just beyond the reach of the infielders.

3. [no obj.] — (of an electronic device) emit a short low-pitched noise.

II. noun

1. a mistake

• a typical beginner's bloop.

2. [Baseball] another term for blooper (sense 2):
[as modifier]

• a bloop single.

3. a short low-pitched noise emitted by an electronic device.

III. derivatives

bloopy

adjective

– origin 1920s: imitative.

blooper /ˈblo͞opər/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) an embarrassing error

• he poked fun at his own tendency to utter bloopers.

2. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) a brief television or radio segment containing a humorous error, often collected with others for broadcast as a group

• a selection of bloopers and outtakes from the evening.

3. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) [Baseball] a weakly hit fly ball landing just beyond the reach of the infielders

• a blooper over the shortstop's head.

– origin 1926 (originally denoting a radio that caused others to bloop, i.e., emit a loud howling noise): from imitative bloop + -er^1.

blootered /ˈblo͞odərd/

I. adjective

(Scottish) ‹informal› very drunk

• I stayed out late at the blues club and came home blootered.

– origin 1980s: from Scots blooter ‘to hit hard’ + -ed^2.

blossom /ˈbläsəm/

I. noun

1. a flower or a mass of flowers on a tree or bush

• tiny white blossoms

• the slopes were ablaze with almond blossom.

2. the state or period of flowering

• fruit trees in blossom.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a tree or bush) produce flowers or masses of flowers

• the mango trees have shed their fruit and blossomed again.

2. mature or develop in a promising or healthy way

• their friendship blossomed into romance

• (as noun blossoming) the blossoming of experimental theater.

III. derivatives

blossomy

adjective

– origin Old English blōstm, blōstma (noun), blōstmian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bloesem, also to bloom^1.

blot /blät/

I. noun

1. a dark mark or stain, typically one made by ink, paint, or dirt

• a blot of ink.

2. a shameful act or quality that tarnishes an otherwise good character or reputation

• the only blot on an otherwise clean campaign.

3. [Biochemistry] a procedure in which proteins or nucleic acids separated on a gel are transferred directly to an immobilizing medium for identification.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. dry (a wet surface or substance) using an absorbent material

• Guy blotted his face with a dust rag.

2. [Biochemistry] transfer by means of a blot.

3. mark or stain (something)
(as adj. blotted)

• the writing was messy and blotted.

4. tarnish the good character or reputation of

• the turmoil blotted his memory of the school.

5. (blot something out) — cover writing or pictures with ink or paint so that they cannot be seen.

6. obscure a view

• a dust shield blotting out the sun.

7. obliterate or disregard something painful in one's memory or existence

• the concentration necessary to her job blotted out all the feelings.

– origin late Middle English: probably of Scandinavian origin and related to Old Norse blettr.

blotch /bläCH/

I. noun

an irregular patch or unsightly mark on a surface, typically the skin

• red blotches on her face.

II. verb

cover with blotches

• her face was blotched and swollen with crying.

– origin early 17th cent. (as a verb): partly an alteration of obsolete plotch in the same sense (of unknown origin), influenced by blot; partly a blend of blot and botch.

blotchy /ˈbläCHē/

adjective

covered with blotches; patchy

• discoloration or blotchy skin on the legs.

blotter /ˈblädər/

noun

1. a sheet or pad of blotting paper inserted into a frame and kept on a desk.

2. (N. Amer.) a temporary recording book, especially a police charge sheet

• the boys ended up on police blotters for property crimes.

blotting paper /ˈblädiNG ˌpāpər/

noun

absorbent paper used for soaking up excess ink when writing.

blotto /ˈblädō/

I. adjective

‹informal› extremely drunk

• we got blotto.

– origin early 20th cent.: from blot + -o.

blouse /blous blouz/

I. noun

1. a woman's loose upper garment resembling a shirt, typically with a collar, buttons, and sleeves.

2. a loose linen or cotton garment of a type worn by peasants and manual workers, typically belted at the waist.

3. a type of jacket worn as part of military uniform.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (a garment) hang in loose folds

• I bloused my trousers over my boots

• [no obj.] my dress bloused out above my waist.

– origin early 19th cent. (denoting a belted loose garment worn by peasants): from French, of unknown origin.

blouson /ˈblouˌsän ˈblouˌzän/

I. noun

a short loose-fitting jacket, typically bloused and finishing at the waist.

– origin early 20th cent.: from French, diminutive of blouse.

bloviate /ˈblōvēˌāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (US) ‹informal› talk at length, especially in an inflated or empty way.

II. derivatives

1. bloviation

noun

2. bloviator

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: perhaps from blow^1.

blow^1 /blō/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — (of wind) move creating an air current

• a cold wind began to blow.

2. [with obj.] — (of wind) cause to move; propel

• a gust of wind blew a cloud of smoke into his face

• the spire was blown down during a gale.

3. be carried, driven, or moved by the wind or an air current

• it was so windy that the tent nearly blew away

• cotton curtains blowing in the breeze.

4. [with obj.] — (N. Amer.) ‹informal› leave (a place)

• I'm ready to blow town

• [no obj.] I'd better blow.

5. [no obj.] — (of a person) expel air through pursed lips

• Willie took a deep breath, and blew

• he blew on his coffee to cool it.

6. [with obj.] — use one's breath to propel

• he blew cigar smoke in her face.

7. breathe hard; pant

• Uncle Albert was soon puffing and blowing.

8. [with obj.] — cause to breathe hard; exhaust of breath
(as adj. blown)

• an exhausted, blown horse.

9. [with obj.] — (of a person) force air through the mouth into (an instrument) in order to make a sound

• the umpire blew his whistle.

10. (of such an instrument) make a noise by having air forced through it

• police whistles blew.

11. [with obj.] — sound (the horn of a vehicle).

12. ‹informal› play jazz or rock music in an unrestrained style

• it took him maybe five choruses to warm up, but then he could really blow.

13. [with obj.] — force air through a tube into (molten glass) in order to create an artifact.

14. [with obj.] — remove the contents of (an egg) by forcing air through it.

15. [with adverbial of place] — (of flies) lay eggs in or on something

• to repel the hordes of flies that would otherwise blow on the buffalo hide.

16. (of a whale) eject air and vapor through the blowhole.

17. [with obj.] — (of an explosion or explosive device) displace violently or send flying

• the blast had blown the windows out of the van

• the back of his head had been blown away.

18. [no obj.] — (of a vehicle tire) burst suddenly while the vehicle is in motion.

19. burst or cause to burst due to pressure or overheating
[no obj.]

• the engines sounded as if their exhausts had blown

• [with obj.] frost will have blown a compression joint.

20. (of an electrical circuit) burn out or cause to burn out through overloading
[no obj.]

• the fuse in the plug had blown

• [with obj.] the floodlights blew a fuse.

21. [with obj.] — ‹informal› spend recklessly

• they blew $100,000 in just eighteen months.

22. [with obj.] — ‹informal› completely lose or miss (an opportunity)

• the wider issues were to show that politicians had blown it.

23. expose (a stratagem)

• a man whose cover was blown.

24. (past participle blowed) [with obj., usu. as imperative] — (Brit.) ‹informal› damn

• “Well, blow me,” he said, “I never knew that”

• [with clause] I'm blowed if I want to see him again.

25. [with obj.] — ‹vulgar slang› perform fellatio on (a man).

26. [no obj.] — (US) ‹informal› be extremely bad or unwelcome

• "This blows," she sighs, "I want it to be next week already".

II. noun

1. [in sing.] — a strong wind

• we're in for a blow.

2. an act of blowing on an instrument

• a number of blows on the whistle.

3. [in sing.] — an act of blowing one's nose

• give your nose a good blow.

4. [in sing.] — ‹informal› a spell of playing jazz or rock music.

5. (in steelmaking) an act of sending an air or oxygen blast through molten metal in a converter.

6. ‹informal› marijuana or cocaine.

III. phrases

1. be blown off course

(of a project) be disrupted by some circumstance.

2. be blown out of the water

(of a person, idea, or project) be shown to lack all credibility.

3. blow someone's brains out

‹informal› kill someone with a shot in the head with a firearm.

4. blow chunks

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› vomit.

5. blow the doors off

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› be considerably better or more successful than

• a package that blows the doors off anything on the market.

6. blow a fuse (or gasket)

‹informal› lose one's temper.

7. blow one's own horn

see horn.

8. blow hot and cold

vacillate.

9. blow someone a kiss

kiss the tips of one's fingers then blow across them toward someone as a gesture of affection.

10. blow one's lid (or top or stack or cool)

‹informal› lose one's temper.

11. blow the lid off

see lid.

12. blow me down

(Brit.) an exclamation of surprise.

13. blow someone's mind

‹informal› affect someone very strongly.

14. blow one's nose

clear one's nose of mucus by blowing through it into a handkerchief.

15. blow off steam

see let off steam at steam.

16. blow a raspberry

see raspberry.

17. blow someone's socks off

see sock.

18. blow something to bits (or pieces or smithereens)

use bombs or other explosives to destroy something, typically a building, completely.

19. blow something out of proportion

exaggerate the importance of something.

20. blow up in one's face

(of an action, project, or situation) go drastically wrong with damaging effects to oneself.

21. blow the whistle on

see whistle.

22. blow with the wind

be incapable of maintaining a consistent course of action.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. blow someone away ‹informal›

a. kill someone using a firearm.

b. (be blown away) — be extremely impressed

• I'm blown away by his new poem.

2. blow in

‹informal› (of a person) arrive casually and unannounced.

3. blow off

lose one's temper and shout.

4. blow someone off

a. ‹informal› fail to keep an appointment with someone.

b. end a romantic or sexual relationship with someone.

5. blow something off

a. ‹informal› ignore or make light of something.

b. fail to attend something

• Ivy blew off class.

6. blow out

a. be extinguished by an air current

• the candles blew out.

b. (of a tire) puncture while the vehicle is in motion.

c. (of an oil or gas well) emit gas suddenly and forcefully.

d. (blow itself out) — (of a storm) finally lose its force

• ‹figurative› the recession may finally have blown itself out.

7. blow someone out

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› defeat someone convincingly.

8. blow something out

a. use one's breath to extinguish a flame

• he blew out the candle.

b. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› render a part of the body useless

• he blew out his arm trying to snap a curveball.

9. blow over

(of trouble) fade away without serious consequences.

10. blow up

a. explode.

b. (of a person) lose one's temper

• Meg blows up at Patrick for always throwing his tea bags in the sink.

c. (of a wind or storm) begin to develop.

d. (of a scandal or dispute) emerge or become public.

e. inflate

• my stomach had started to blow up.

11. blow something up

a. cause something to explode.

b. inflate something

• a small pump for blowing up balloons.

c. enlarge a photograph or text.

– origin Old English blāwan, of Germanic origin; related to German blähen ‘blow up, swell,’ from an Indo-European root shared by Latin flare ‘blow.’

blow^2 /blō/

I. noun

1. a powerful stroke with a hand, weapon, or hard object

• he received a blow to the skull.

2. a sudden shock or disappointment

• the news came as a crushing blow.

II. phrases

1. at one blow

by a single stroke; in one operation

• the letter had destroyed his certainty at one blow.

2. come to blows

start fighting after a disagreement.

3. soften (or cushion) the blow

make it easier to cope with a difficult change or upsetting news

• monetary compensation was offered to soften the blow.

4. strike a blow for (or against)

act in support of (or opposition to)

• a chance to strike a blow for freedom.

– origin late Middle English: of unknown origin.

blow^3 /blō / ‹archaic literary›

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. produce flowers or be in flower

• I know a bank where the wild thyme blows.

II. noun

the state or period of flowering

• stocks in fragrant blow.

– origin Old English blōwan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bloeien and German blühen, also to bloom^1 and blossom.

blowback /ˈblōbak/

noun

1. a process in which gases expand or travel in a direction opposite to the usual one, especially through escape of pressure or delayed combustion.

2. (chiefly US) the unintended adverse results of a political action or situation

• this is the blowback from all those aggressive public health campaigns.

blow-by-blow /ˈblō ˌbī ˈblō/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of a description of an event) giving all the details in the order in which they occurred

• he gave them a blow-by-blow account of your rescue.

blowdart /ˈblōdärt/

noun

a dart shot from a blowpipe.

blowdown /ˈblōdoun/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) a tree or trees that have been blown down by the wind

• crews will be removing blowdown for a number of days.

2. the blowing down of a tree or trees

• the measures did not prevent mass blowdown.

3. the removal of solids or liquids from a container or pipe using pressure.

blow-dry /blō drī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. arrange (the hair) into a particular style while drying it with a handheld dryer.

2. (as adj. blow-dried) — (of a person) well groomed, polished, and assured.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. an act of arranging the hair while drying it with a handheld dryer.

III. derivatives

blow-dryer blowdrier

noun

blower /ˈblō(ə)r/

noun

1. a person or thing that blows, typically a mechanical device for creating a current of air used to dry or heat something.

2. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) a telephone.

blowfish /ˈblōˌfiSH/

noun

any of a number of fishes that are able to inflate their bodies when alarmed, such as a globefish.

blowfly /ˈblōˌflī/

noun

a large and typically metallic-colored fly that lays its eggs on meat and carcasses.
[Family Calliphoridae: numerous species, including the bluebottle.]

blowgun /ˈblōˌɡən/

noun

a primitive weapon consisting of a long tube through which an arrow or dart is propelled by force of the breath.

blowhard /ˈblōˌhärd/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a person who blusters and boasts in an unpleasant way

• a bunch of pompous blowhards trying to get on the news

• [as modifier] local blowhard politicians.

blowhole /ˈblōˌhōl/

noun

1. a hole for blowing or breathing through, in particular

2. the nostril of a whale on the top of its head.

3. a hole in ice to which seals, whales, and other aquatic animals come to breathe.

4. a vent for air or smoke in a tunnel or other structure.

5. a cavity in a metal casting, produced by the escape of air through the liquid metal.

blow job /ˈblō ˌjäb/

noun

‹vulgar slang› an act of oral sex performed on a man.

blown^1 /blōn/

I. past participle of blow^1.

II. adjective

‹informal› (of a vehicle or its engine) provided with a turbocharger.

blown^2 /blōn/

past participle of blow^3.

blown-up

adjective

1. destroyed or severely damaged by an explosion

• blown-up buildings.

2. enlarged

• a blown-up photograph.

3. inflated; swollen

• a blown-up balloon.

blowoff /ˈblōˌôf/

noun

the action of emitting a gas, typically to reduce pressure to a safe level.

blowout /ˈblōˌout/

noun

1. a sudden rupture or malfunction of a part or an apparatus due to pressure, in particular the bursting of an automobile tire.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› an outburst of anger; an argument

• that exchange led to a big blowout five years ago.

3. an uprush of oil or gas from a well.

4. a melting of an electric fuse.

5. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› an easy victory in a sporting contest or an election

• they had lost seven games—four by blowouts and three by slim margins.

6. ‹informal› a large or lavish meal or social gathering.

7. (N. Amer.) an event at which goods are sold at heavily discounted prices

• the purpose of the blowout is to motivate new customers to visit

• [as modifier] the local store is having a big blowout sale—everything 65% off.

8. (N. Amer.) an act or instance of blow-drying hair

• you can't do a blowout with super wet hair.

9. a hollow eroded by the wind.

blowout preventer

noun

a heavy valve or assembly of valves fitted at the top of an oil well during drilling and closed in the event of a blowout.

blowpipe /ˈblōˌpīp/

noun

1. another term for blowgun.

2. a long tube by means of which molten glass is blown into the required shape.

3. a tube used to intensify the heat of a flame by blowing air or other gas through it at high pressure.

blowsy /ˈblouzē / blowzy

I. adjective

(of a woman) coarse, untidy, and red-faced

• a blowsy woman wearing Bermuda shorts and a Bally's sweatshirt

• ‹figurative› blowsy, old-fashioned roses.

II. derivatives

1. blowsily /-zəlē /

adverb

2. blowsiness

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from obsolete blowze ‘beggar's female companion,’ of unknown origin.

blowtorch /ˈblōˌtôrCH/

noun

a portable device producing a hot flame that is directed onto a surface, typically to solder metal.

blowup /ˈblōˌəp/

I. noun

1. an enlargement of a photograph.

2. ‹informal› an outburst of anger.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. inflatable

• a blowup neck pillow.

blowy /ˈblōē/

adjective

having or affected by strong winds; windy or windswept

• a blowy day.

BLT

noun

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) a sandwich filled with bacon, lettuce, and tomato.

blubber^1 /ˈbləbər/

I. noun

1. the fat of sea mammals, especially whales and seals.

2. ‹informal› ‹derogatory› excessive human fat.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. ‹archaic› (of a person's lips) swollen or protruding.
[alteration of obsolete blabber ‘swollen.’]

III. derivatives

blubbery /ˈbləbərē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (denoting the foaming of the sea, also a bubble on water): perhaps symbolic; compare with blob and blotch.

blubber^2 /ˈbləbər/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹informal› sob noisily and uncontrollably

• he was blubbering like a child

• [with direct speech] “I don't like him,” blubbered Jonathan.

– origin late Middle English: probably symbolic; compare with blob and blubber^1.

bluchers /ˈblo͞okərz, -CHərz/

I. plural noun

‹historical› strong leather half-boots or high shoes.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after G. L. von Blücher (1742–1819), Prussian general.

bludgeon /ˈbləjən/

I. noun

a thick stick with a heavy end, used as a weapon

• ‹figurative› a rhetorical bludgeon in the war against liberalism.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. beat (someone) repeatedly with a bludgeon or other heavy object.

2. force or bully (someone) to do something

• she was determined not to be bludgeoned into submission.

3. (bludgeon one's way) — make one's way by brute force.

– origin mid 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

blue /blo͞o/

I. adjective

1. of a color intermediate between green and violet, as of the sky or sea on a sunny day

• the clear blue sky

• a blue silk shirt

• deep blue eyes.

2. (of a person's skin) having turned blue as a result of cold or breathing difficulties

• Annie went blue, and I panicked.

3. (of a bird or other animal) having blue markings

• a blue jay.

4. (of cats, foxes, or rabbits) having fur of a smoky gray color

• the blue fox.

5. (of a ski run) of the second lowest level of difficulty, as indicated by colored markers positioned along it.

6. [Physics] denoting one of three colors of quark.

7. ‹informal› (of a person or mood) melancholy, sad, or depressed

• he's feeling blue.

8. ‹informal› (of a movie, joke, or story) with sexual or pornographic content

• the blue movies are hugely profitable.

9. (of language) marked by cursing, swearing, and blasphemy.

10. ‹informal› ‹dated› rigidly religious or moralistic; puritanical.

II. noun

1. blue color or pigment

• she was dressed in blue

• the dark blue of his eyes

• armchairs in pastel blues and greens.

2. blue clothes or material

• Susan wore blue.

3. (usu. Blue) — the Union army in the Civil War, or a member of that army.
[because Union soldiers wore blue uniforms.]

4. a blue thing, in particular

5. a blue ball, piece, etc., in a game or sport.

6. (the blue) — ‹literary› the sky or sea; the unknown

• a lark went trilling up, up into the blue.

7. [usu. with modifier] — a small butterfly, the male of which is predominantly blue while the female is typically brown.
[Numerous genera in the family Lycaenidae.]

8. another term for bluing.

III. verb

1. make or become blue
[with obj.]

• the light dims, bluing the retina

• (as adj. blued) blued paper

• [no obj.] the day would haze, the air bluing with afternoon.

2. [with obj.] — heat (metal) so as to give it a grayish-blue finish
(as adj. blued)

• nickel-plated or blued hooks.

3. [with obj.] — wash (white clothes) with bluing.

IV. phrases

1. do something until (or till) one is blue in the face

‹informal› put all one's efforts into doing something to no avail

• she could talk to him until she was blue in the face, but he was just not hearing.

2. men in blue

‹informal› police officers.

3. once in a blue moon

‹informal› very rarely.
[because a “blue moon” is a phenomenon that occurs rarely.]

4. out of the blue out of a clear blue sky

‹informal› without warning; unexpectedly

• she phoned me out of the blue.

[with reference to a “blue” (i.e., clear) sky, from which nothing unusual is expected.]

5. talk a blue streak

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› speak continuously and at great length.

V. derivatives

blueness /ˈblo͞onəs /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French bleu, ultimately of Germanic origin and related to Old English blǣwen ‘blue’ and Old Norse blár ‘dark blue.’

blue baby /ˈblo͞o ˌbābē/

noun

a baby with a blue complexion from lack of oxygen in the blood due to a congenital defect of the heart or major blood vessels.

blueback /ˈblo͞obak/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a bird or fish, especially a trout or a sockeye salmon, having a bluish back.

Bluebeard /ˈblo͞obird/

I. a character in a tale by Charles Perrault, who killed several wives in turn for disobeying his order to avoid a locked room, which contained the bodies of his previous wives. Local tradition in Brittany identifies him with Gilles de Rais (c. 1400–40), a perpetrator of atrocities, although he had only one wife (who left him).

II. (as noun a Bluebeard) — a man who murders his wives.

blue beat

noun

another term for ska.

bluebell /ˈblo͞oˌbel/

noun

1. (also English bluebell) — a widely cultivated European woodland plant of the lily family that produces clusters of bell-shaped blue flowers in spring.
[Hyacinthoides nonscripta, family Liliaceae.]

2. any of a number of other plants with blue bell-shaped flowers, in particular
[● another term for bellflower ● chiefly Scottish term for harebell ● another term for squill and other scillas ● short for Virginia bluebell ● a plant of the bellflower family (genus Wahlenbergia, family Campanulaceae), distributed mostly in the southern hemisphere, e.g., the Australian bluebell (W. gloriosa).]

blueberry /ˈblo͞oˌberē/

noun

1. a hardy dwarf shrub of the heath family, with small, whitish drooping flowers and dark blue edible berries.
[Genus Vaccinium, family Ericaceae: several North American species, including the common highbush blueberry (V. corymbosum), from which many cultivated varieties originate.]

2. the small, sweet edible berry of the blueberry plant.

bluebill /ˈblo͞obil/

noun

any of a number of ducks with blue bills, especially the scaup.

bluebird /ˈblo͞oˌbərd/

I. noun

an American songbird of the thrush subfamily, the male of which has a blue head, back, and wings.
See also fairy bluebird. [Genus Sialia, subfamily Turdinae, family Muscicapidae: three species, including the eastern bluebird (S. sialis).]

II. adjective

denoting or relating to a period of time characterized by sunny, cloudless weather, typically after a night of snowfall

• on beautiful bluebird days the girls rode snowmobiles

• a week of bluebird skies

• it's bluebird, but 50-mile-per-hour winds have closed the gondola.

blue-black /ˈblo͞oˌblak/

adjective

black with a tinge of blue.

blue blood /ˈblo͞o ˌbləd/

I. noun

1. noble birth

• blue blood is no guarantee of any particular merit, competence, or expertise.

2. (also blueblood) — a person of noble birth

• a comforting figure among that crowd of blue bloods.

II. derivatives

blue-blooded /ˈblo͞o ˈˌblədəd /

adjective

bluebonnet /ˈblo͞oˌbänət/

noun

a blue-flowered lupine, especially common in Texas.
[Genus Lupinus, family Leguminosae: several species, in particular the Texas bluebonnet (L. texensis) and the shy bluebonnet (L. subcarnosus).]

Blue Book

noun

1. an official book listing government officials.

2. (Brit.) a report bound in a blue cover and issued by Parliament or the Privy Council.

3. (in full Kelley Blue Book) — (US) ‹trademark› a reference book listing the prices of used cars.

4. (usu. blue book) — an authoritative handbook, e.g., a listing of socially prominent people.

5. (blue book) — a blank book used for written examinations in high school and college.

bluebottle /ˈblo͞oˌbädl/

noun

1. a common blowfly with a metallic-blue body, the female of which often comes into houses searching for a suitable food source on which to lay her eggs.
[Calliphora vomitoria, family Calliphoridae.]

2. the wild cornflower.

blue box

noun

(chiefly US) an electronic device used to access long-distance telephone lines illegally.

blue cheese /blo͞o CHēz/

noun

cheese containing veins of blue mold, such as Gorgonzola and Danish Blue.

blue-chip /ˈblo͞o ˌCHip/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. denoting companies or their shares considered to be a reliable investment, though less secure than gilt-edged stock.

2. of the highest quality

• blue-chip art.

– origin early 20th cent. (originally US): from the blue chip used in gambling games, which usually has a high value.

blue chipper

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a highly valued person, especially an athlete.

blue coat /ˈblo͞o ˌkōt/

noun

1. a person who wears a blue uniform, in particular

2. a soldier, especially a Union soldier during the Civil War.

3. a police officer.

blue-collar /ˈblo͞o ˈˌkälər/

adjective

(chiefly N. Amer.) of or relating to manual work or workers, particularly in industry

• their speech and attitudes mark them as blue-collar guys.

Compare with white-collar.

blue corn

noun

(N. Amer.) a variety of corn with bluish grains.

blue crab

noun

a large edible swimming crab of the Atlantic coast of North America.
[Callinectes sapidus, family Portunidae.]

blue crane

noun

1. a large South African crane with blue-gray plumage.
Also called Stanley crane. [Anthropoides paradisea, family Gruidae.]

2. the blue crane as the national bird of South Africa.

bluecurls /ˈblo͞okərlz/

noun

a North American plant of the mint family, with small blue flowers and blue-stalked, deeply curled stamens.
[Genus Trichtostema, family Labiatae: several species, in particular T. dichotomum, found esp. in the northeastern US, and the typically more southern T. setaceum.]

blue devil

noun

1. ‹informal› a blue capsule containing a barbiturate.

2. (blue devils) — ‹informal› a feeling of despondency or low spirits.

3. (blue devils) — ‹informal› another term for delirium tremens.

blue dog Democrat Blue Dog Democrat

I. noun

‹informal› (in the US) a Democrat from a southern state who has a conservative voting record.

– origin from the name of a coalition of Southern Democrats in the US Congress formed in 1995. Their name alludes to an older term, “yellow dog Democrat,” for a party loyalist who allegedly “would vote for a yellow dog if it were on the ballot as a Democrat.”

blue-eyed boy /ˌblo͞oˌīd ˈboi/

noun

‹informal› a person highly regarded by someone and treated with special favor.

blue-eyed grass

noun

a North American plant of the iris family, cultivated for its blue flowers.
[Genus Sisyrinchium, family Iridaceae: several species, including the flat-stemmed S. montanum.]

blue-eyed Mary

noun

a low-growing plant of the borage family that bears bright blue flowers and spreads by means of runners.
[Omphalodes verna, family Boraginaceae.]

bluefin /ˈblo͞ofin / bluefin tuna

noun

the most common large tuna, which occurs worldwide in warm seas. It is probably the largest bony fish, and is very important as a food and game fish.
[Thunnus thynnus, family Scombridae.]

bluefish /ˈblo͞oˌfiSH/

noun

a predatory blue-colored marine fish that inhabits tropical and temperate waters and is popular as a game fish.
[Pomatomus saltatrix, the only member of the family Pomatomidae.]

blue flag /ˌblo͞o ˈflaɡ/

noun

1. a violet-flowered iris that grows in marshy places and wet meadows.
[Genus Iris, family Iridaceae: several species, in particular the larger blue flag (I. versicolor) and the slender blue flag (I. prismatica).]

2. a European award for beaches based on cleanliness and safety.

blue flu

noun

a strike action, especially among police officers, in which workers are absent on the pretext of sickness.

bluegill /ˈblo͞oɡil/

noun

an edible North American freshwater fish of the sunfish family, with a deep body and bluish cheeks and gill covers. It is popular with anglers.
[Lepomis macrochirus, family Centrarchidae.]

bluegrass /ˈblo͞oˌɡras/

noun

1. (also Kentucky bluegrass) — a bluish-green grass that was introduced into North America from northern Europe. It is widely grown for fodder, especially in Kentucky and Virginia.
See also meadow grass.

2. a kind of country music influenced by jazz and blues and characterized by virtuosic playing of banjos and guitars and high-pitched, close-harmony vocals.

Bluegrass State

a nickname for the state of Kentucky.

blue-green algae

plural noun

another term for Cyanobacteria.

blue ground

noun

another term for kimberlite.

blue gum

noun

a eucalyptus tree with blue-green aromatic leaves and smooth bark.
[Genus Eucalyptus, family Myrtaceae: several species, in particular E. regnans.]

bluehead /ˈblo͞oˌhed/

noun

a small wrasse (fish) of the tropical eastern Atlantic that is sometimes kept in aquariums. Large males have a blue head and green body with vertical stripes in between, and females and smaller males are predominantly yellowish.
[Thalassoma bifasciatum, family Labridae.]

blue helmet

noun

a member of a UN peacekeeping force.

Blue Hen State

a nickname for the state of Delaware^1.

blue ice

noun

clean, dense ice of a vivid blue color, formed in glaciers by the recrystallization of snow.

bluejacket /ˈblo͞oˌjakət/

noun

‹informal› a sailor in the navy.

blue jay /ˈblo͞o ˌjā/

noun

a common North American jay with a blue crest, back, wings, and tail.
[Cyanocitta cristata, family Corvidae.]

blue jeans //

noun

jeans made of blue denim.

blue law /ˈblo͞o ˌlô/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) a law prohibiting certain activities, such as shopping, on a Sunday.

2. (N. Amer.) (in colonial New England) a strict religious law, particularly one preventing entertainment or leisure activities on a Sunday.

Blue Law State

a nickname for the state of Connecticut.

blue line

noun

[Ice Hockey] either of the two blue-colored lines running across the ice between the center line and the goal lines.

blueliner /ˈblo͞oˌlīnər/

I. noun

[Ice Hockey] a defenseman

• the blueliner has played in a total of 110 games.

– origin 1930s: from blue line, with reference to the usual position of defensive players in the area behind this line on their team's side of the rink.

blue mold /blo͞o ˈmōld/

noun

a bluish fungus that grows on food. Blue molds are deliberately introduced into some cheeses, and some kinds are used to produce antibiotics such as penicillin.
[Penicillium and other genera, phylum Ascomycota.]

Blue Nile

one of the two principal headwaters of the Nile River. It rises from Lake Tana in northwestern Ethiopia and flows about 1,000 miles (1,600 km) south and then northwest into Sudan, where it meets the White Nile at Khartoum.

bluenose /ˈblo͞onōz/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› (US) a priggish or puritanical person
[as modifier]

• the most restrictive, bluenose standards.

2. (Bluenose) — ‹informal› a person from Nova Scotia.

II. derivatives

bluenosed

adjective

bluenose (sense 1)

blue note /blo͞o nōt/

noun

[Music] a minor interval where a major would be expected, used especially in jazz.

blue-pencil /ˌblo͞oˈpensəl/

verb — [with obj.]

1. edit or make cuts in (a manuscript, movie, or other work).

Blue Peter /ˈˌblo͞o ˈpēdər/

noun

a blue flag with a white square in the center, raised by a ship about to leave port.

blue plate

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (N. Amer.) (of a restaurant meal) consisting of a full main course ordered as a single menu item

• the blue plate special.

– origin mid 20th cent.: with reference to the original blue plates divided into compartments, on which fixed-price restaurant meals were served.

bluepoint /ˈblo͞opoint/

noun

a small oyster, in particular one harvested from the oyster beds in Great South Bay, at Blue Point, Long Island. Bluepoints are typically served raw, on the half shell.

blueprint /ˈblo͞oˌprint/

I. noun

1. a design plan or other technical drawing.

2. something that acts as a plan, model, or template

• a vague blueprint for fundamental land redistribution.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) draw up (a plan or model)
(as adj. blueprinted)

• a neatly blueprinted scheme.

– origin late 19th cent.: from the original process in which prints were composed of white lines on a blue ground or of blue lines on a white ground.

blue racer

noun

a grayish-blue variety of blacksnake (Coluber constrictor foxii), found in the central US.

blue ribbon /ˈˌblo͞o ˈˌribən / ‹Brit.› blue riband

I. noun

1. a badge made of blue ribbon and given as first prize to the winner of a competition.

2. (in the UK) a badge worn by members of the Order of the Garter.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (N. Amer.) of the highest quality; first-class

• blue-ribbon service.

2. (N. Amer.) (of a jury or committee) carefully or specially selected

• the SEC's blue-ribbon committee on auditor independence.

Blue Ridge Mountains

a range in the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern US that stretches from southern Pennsylvania to northern Georgia. Mount Mitchell is the highest peak, rising to a height of 6,684 feet (2,037 m).

blue rinse /blo͞o rins/

I. noun

a preparation used as a rinse on gray or white hair intended to make it look more silver.

II. adjective — (blue-rinse or blue-rinsed) [attrib.]

1. ‹informal› ‹derogatory› of or relating to elderly and conservative women

• the blue-rinse brigade.

blue roan

I. adjective

denoting an animal's coat consisting of black-and-white hairs evenly mixed, giving it a blue-gray hue.

II. noun

an animal with blue roan coat.

blues /blo͞oz/

I. plural noun

1. [treated as sing.] (or pl. often the blues) — melancholic music of black American folk origin, typically in a twelve-bar sequence. It developed in the rural southern US toward the end of the 19th century, finding a wider audience in the 1940s as blacks migrated to the cities. This urban blues gave rise to rhythm and blues and rock and roll.

2. [treated as sing.] — a piece of blues music

• we'll do a blues in C.

3. (the blues) — ‹informal› feelings of melancholy, sadness, or depression

• she's got the blues.

II. derivatives

bluesman

noun

blues (sense 1)

– origin mid 18th cent. (in sense 2): elliptically from blue devils ‘depression or delirium tremens.’

blue screen

noun — [often as modifier]

1. (in film and video techniques such as chromakey) a blue (or green) background in front of which moving subjects are filmed and which allows a separately filmed background to be added to the final image

• a blue-screen effect.

Also called green screen.

blue shark /ˌblo͞o ˈSHärk/

noun

a long slender shark with an indigo-blue back and white underparts, typically occurring in the open sea.
[Prionace glauca, family Carcharhinidae.]

blueshift /ˈblo͞oˌSHift / blue shift

noun

[Astronomy] the displacement of the spectrum to shorter wavelengths in the light coming from distant celestial objects moving toward the observer.
Compare with redshift.

blue-sky /ˈblo͞o ˈˌskī / ‹informal› blue-skies

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. not yet practical or profitable

• blue-sky research.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. make impractical or as yet unachievable plans.

blue-sky law

noun

a law regulating the sale of securities, intended to protect the public from fraud.

Blue Springs

a city in west central Missouri, east of Kansas City; pop. 55,698 (est. 2008).

blue spruce

noun

a North American spruce with sharp, stiff blue-green needles, growing wild in the central Rocky Mountains. Its many cultivated varieties tend to be bluer in color than the wild ones.
Also called Colorado blue spruce, Colorado spruce. [Picea pungens, family Pinaceae.]

blue star

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (US) denoting a relative of a person serving in the armed forces during wartime

• I'm a blue star mother

• blue star families.

– origin World War I: with reference to the blue stars displayed on flags to commemorate those serving in the armed forces.

blue state

I. noun

a US state that predominantly votes for or supports the Democratic Party.
Compare with red state.

– origin from the typical color used to represent the Democratic Party on maps during elections.

bluestem /ˈblo͞ostem/

noun

a coarse North American prairie grass with bluish leaf sheaths, often cultivated as forage.
[Genus Andropogon, family Gramineae.]

bluestocking /ˈblo͞oˌstäkiNG/

I. noun

‹often derogatory› an intellectual or literary woman.

– origin late 17th cent.: originally used to describe a man wearing blue worsted (instead of formal black silk) stockings; extended to mean ‘in informal dress’ Later the term denoted a person who attended the literary assemblies held (c. 1750) by three London society ladies, where some of the men favored less formal dress. The women who attended became known as blue-stocking ladies or blue-stockingers.

bluestone /ˈblo͞ostōn/

noun

1. any of various bluish or gray building stones.

2. any of the smaller stones made of dolerite found in the inner part of Stonehenge.

bluesy /ˈblo͞ozē/

adjective

of, resembling, or in the style of blues music

• bluesy guitar riffs

• the music has gotten warmer and bluesier.

bluet /ˈblo͞oət/

I. noun

a low-growing North American plant of the bedstraw family, with small four-petaled flowers and paired leaves. Bluets often grow in large groups.
[Genus Houstonia , family Rubiaceae: several species, esp. H. caerulea, with milky-blue or white flowers, and long-leaved bluets (H. longifolia), with white or lavender flowers.]

– origin early 18th cent.: from French, diminutive of bleu ‘blue.’

bluethroat /ˈblo͞oTHrōt/

noun

a small, lively thrush found in northern Eurasia and Alaska. The male has a blue throat with a reddish spot in the center.
[Luscinia svecica, subfamily Turdinae, family Muscicapidae.]

blue tit /ˌblo͞o ˈtit/

noun

a small titmouse with a blue cap, greenish-blue back, and yellow underparts, widespread in Eurasia and northwestern Africa.
[Parus caeruleus, family Paridae.]

blue-tongued skink blue-tongued lizard

noun

a heavily built Australian skink with a large head, short limbs, and a blue tongue, which is displayed in defense.
[Genus Tiliqua, family Scincidae: several species, in particular T. scincoides, which is commonly kept as a pet.]

Bluetooth /ˈblo͞oto͞oTH/

I. noun

‹trademark› a standard for the short-range wireless interconnection of mobile phones, computers, and other electronic devices.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. send (a photograph or other piece of data) from one electronic device to another via Bluetooth

• I just Bluetoothed a batch of pics from my phone to here.

– origin 1990s: said to be named after King Harald Bluetooth (910–985), credited with uniting Denmark and Norway, as Bluetooth technology unifies the telecommunications and computing industries.

blue vitriol

noun

‹archaic› crystalline copper sulfate.

blue-water /blo͞oˈwôdər/

adjective

relating to or associated with the open sea; oceangoing

• a blue-water navy.

blueweed /ˈblo͞owēd/

noun

another term for viper's bugloss.

blue whale /blo͞o (h)wāl/

noun

a migratory, mottled bluish-gray rorqual, found in all oceans of the world. Known to grow as long as 110 feet (33 m) and weigh as much as 150 tons (136,000 kg), it is the largest animal ever to inhabit the earth.
[Balaenoptera musculus, family Balaenopteridae.]

bluff^1 /bləf/

I. noun

an attempt to deceive someone into believing that one can or will do something

• the offer was denounced as a bluff

• his game of bluff.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. try to deceive someone as to one's abilities or intentions

• he's been bluffing all along

• he bluffed his way onto an Antarctic supply vessel

• [with obj.] the object is to bluff your opponent into submission.

2. (in a card game) bet heavily on a weak hand in order to deceive opponents.

III. phrases

call someone's bluff

challenge someone thought to be bluffing

• she was tempted to call his bluff, hardly believing he'd carry out his threat.

IV. derivatives

bluffer /ˈbləfər /

noun

– origin late 17th cent. (originally in the sense ‘blindfold, hoodwink’): from Dutch bluffen ‘brag,’ or bluf ‘bragging.’ The current sense (originally US, mid 19th cent.) originally referred to bluffing in the game of poker.

bluff^2 /bləf/

I. adjective

direct in speech or behavior but in a good-natured way

• a big, bluff, hearty man.

II. derivatives

1. bluffly

adverb

2. bluffness /ˈbləfnəs /

noun

– origin early 18th cent. (in the sense ‘surly, abrupt in manner’): figurative use of bluff^3. The current positive connotation dates from the early 19th cent.

bluff^3 /bləf/

I. noun

1. a steep cliff, bank, or promontory.

2. (Canadian) a grove or clump of trees.

II. adjective

(of a cliff or a ship's bow) having a vertical or steep broad front.

– origin early 17th cent. (as an adjective, originally in nautical use): of unknown origin. The Canadian sense dates from the mid 18th cent.

bluing /ˈblo͞oiNG / blueing

noun

1. ‹chiefly historical› blue powder used to preserve the whiteness of laundry.

2. a grayish-blue finish on metal produced by heating.

bluish /ˈblo͞oiSH / blueish

adjective

having a blue tinge; somewhat blue.

Blum, Léon /ˈblo͞om/

(1872–1950), French statesman; prime minister 1936–37, 1938, and 1946–47. As France's first socialist and Jewish prime minister, Blum introduced significant labor reforms.

Blume, Judy /blo͞om/

(1938–), US author, mostly of fiction for young adults; full name Judith Sussman Blume. Her works include Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret (1970), Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing (1972), Forever … (1975), and, for adults, Wifey (1978) and Summer Sisters (1998).

Blumenbach, Johann Friedrich /ˈblo͞omənˌbäKH/

(1752–1840), German physiologist and anatomist. He is regarded as the founder of physical anthropology, although his approach has since been much modified. He classified modern human beings into five broad categories (Caucasian, Mongoloid, Malayan, Ethiopian, and American), based mainly on cranial measurements.

blunder /ˈbləndər/

I. noun

a stupid or careless mistake.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. make a stupid or careless mistake; act or speak clumsily

• the mayor and the City Council have blundered in an ill-advised campaign

• I blundered on in my explanation

• (as adj. blundering) blundering actors.

2. move clumsily or as if unable to see

• we were blundering around in the darkness.

III. derivatives

1. blunderer /ˈblənd(ə)rər /

noun

2. blunderingly

adverb

– origin Middle English: probably of Scandinavian origin and related to blind.

blunderbuss /ˈbləndərˌbəs/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› a short-barreled large-bored gun with a flared muzzle, used at short range.

2. an action or way of doing something regarded as lacking in subtlety and precision

• economists resort too quickly to the blunderbuss of regulation.

– origin mid 17th cent.: alteration (by association with blunder) of Dutch donderbus, literally ‘thunder gun.’

blunge /blənj/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. mix (clay or other materials) with water in a revolving apparatus for use in ceramics.

II. derivatives

blunger

noun

– origin early 19th cent.: blend of blend and plunge.

blunt /blənt/

I. adjective

1. (of a knife, pencil, etc.) having a worn-down edge or point; not sharp

• a blunt knife.

2. having a flat or rounded end

• the blunt tip of the leaf.

3. (of a person or remark) uncompromisingly forthright

• he is as blunt as a kick in the shins

• a blunt statement of fact.

II. noun

‹informal› a hollowed-out cigar filled with marijuana.

III. verb

1. make or become less sharp
[with obj.]

• wood can blunt your ax

• [no obj.] the edge may blunt very rapidly.

2. [with obj.] — weaken or reduce (something)

• their determination had been blunted.

IV. derivatives

bluntness /ˈbləntnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘dull, insensitive’): perhaps of Scandinavian origin and related to Old Norse blunda ‘shut the eyes.’

Blunt, Anthony /blənt/

(1907–83), British art historian, foreign office official, and Soviet spy; full name Anthony Frederick Blunt.

blunt instrument

noun

1. a heavy object without a sharp edge or point, used as a weapon.

2. an imprecise or heavy-handed way of doing something

• as a promotional method, direct mail has been a blunt instrument.

bluntly /ˈblən(t)lē/

adverb

in an uncompromisingly forthright way

• a colleague bluntly told him that he had no business asking for the status report

• to put it bluntly, investors are suffering from a crisis.

blur /blər/

I. verb

make or become unclear or less distinct
[with obj.]

• tears blurred her vision

• his novels blur the boundaries between criticism and fiction

• [no obj.] as daylight waned, the pages blurred.

II. noun

1. a thing that cannot be seen or heard clearly

• the pale blur of her face

• the words were a blur.

2. an indistinct memory or impression of events, typically because they happened very fast

• the day before was a blur.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘smear that partially obscures something’): perhaps related to blear.

Blu-ray /ˈblo͞oˌrā/

I. noun

a format of DVD designed for the storage of high-definition video and data.

– origin early 21st cent.: from blu, a respelling of blue (from the color of the laser used to read and write this type of DVD), + ray^1.

blurb /blərb/

I. noun

a short description of a book, movie, or other product written for promotional purposes and appearing on the cover of a book or in an advertisement.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) write or contribute a blurb for (a book, movie, or other product).

– origin early 20th cent.: coined by Gelett Burgess (died 1951), American humorist.

blurred /blərd/

adjective

1. unable to see or be seen clearly

• blurred vision

• the camera caught only two blurred images.

2. not clear or distinct; hazy

• the blurred distinctions between childhood and adulthood.

blurriness /ˈblərēnəs/

noun

the quality of being unclear or indistinct

• my apologies for the blurriness of the photo

• he was suffering slight blurriness of vision.

blurry /ˈblərē/

adjective

1. not clearly or distinctly visible or audible

• video projectors provided extremely blurry images.

2. unable to perceive clear or sharp images

• vision may be hazy or blurry for a few days after surgery

• their eyes were blurry with tears.

3. perceived or remembered indistinctly

• there's a very blurry line between art and advertising

• my memories of him are blurry at best.

blurt /blərt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. say (something) suddenly and without careful consideration

• she wouldn't blurt out words she did not mean

• [with direct speech] “It wasn't my idea,” Gordon blurted.

– origin late 16th cent.: probably imitative.

blush /bləSH/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. develop a pink tinge in the face from embarrassment or shame

• she blushed at the unexpected compliment

• [with complement] Kate felt herself blushing scarlet.

2. feel embarrassed or ashamed
[with infinitive]

• he blushed to think of how he'd paraded himself.

3. (often as adj. blushing) — (of a flower or other thing) be or become pink or pale red

• the trees are loaded with blushing blossoms.

II. noun

1. a reddening of the face as a sign of embarrassment or shame

• he had brought a faint blush to her cheeks.

2. a pink or pale red tinge

• the roses were white with a lovely pink blush.

3. (N. Amer.) another term for blusher (sense 1).

4. (also blush wine) — a wine with a slight pink tint made in the manner of white wine but from red grape varieties.

III. phrases

at first blush

at the first glimpse or impression.

– origin Old English blyscan; related to modern Dutch blozen.

blusher /ˈbləSHər/

noun

1. a cosmetic of a powder or cream consistency used to give a warm color to the cheeks.
Also called blush.

2. (the blusher) — a woodland toadstool that has a buff cap bearing fluffy white spots and white flesh that turns pink when bruised or cut. It is native to both Eurasia and North America.
[Amanita rubescens, family Amanitaceae, class Basidiomycetes.]

blushing bride

noun

‹humorous› a modest and virtuous bride

• on the big day the blushing bride looked absolutely stunning.

bluster /ˈbləstər/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. talk in a loud, aggressive, or indignant way with little effect

• you threaten and bluster, but won't carry it through

• [with direct speech] “I don't care what he says,” I blustered

• (as adj. blustering) a blustering bully.

2. (of a storm, wind, or rain) blow or beat fiercely and noisily

• a winter gale blustered against the sides of the house

• (as adj. blustering) the blustering wind.

II. noun

loud, aggressive, or indignant talk with little effect

• their threats contained a measure of bluster.

III. derivatives

blusterer /ˈbləst(ə)rər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: ultimately imitative.

blustery /ˈbləstərē/

adjective

1. (of weather or a period of time) characterized by strong winds

• a gusty, blustery day.

2. (of a wind) blowing in strong gusts.

blvd.

abbreviation

boulevard.

Bly, Nellie /blī/

(1867–1922), US journalist and social reformer; pseudonym of Elizabeth Jane Cochrane. As a reporter for the Pittsburgh Dispatch, she wrote about child labor and unsafe working conditions in factories.

B lymphocyte

noun

[Physiology] another term for B cell.

Blytheville /ˈblīT͟Hvil/

a city in northeastern Arkansas; pop. 16,105 (est. 2008).

Blyton, Enid /ˈblītn/

(1897–1968), British writer of children's fiction. Her best-known creation was the character Noddy, who first appeared in 1949. Her books for older children included the series of the Famous Five and Secret Seven adventure stories.

BM /ˈˌbē ˈem/

abbreviation

1. Bachelor of Medicine.

2. Bachelor of Music.

3. bowel movement.

4. basal metabolism.

5. board measure.

6. black male.

7. British Museum.

BME

abbreviation

(Brit.) black and minority ethnic (used to refer to members of nonwhite communities in the UK)

• the research was based on focus groups of BME mothers of children under five.

BMI

abbreviation

body mass index.

BMOC

abbreviation

big man on campus.

B-movie /ˈbē ˌmo͞ovē/

noun

a low-budget movie, especially (formerly) one made for use as a companion to the main attraction in a double feature
[as modifier]

• a B-movie actress.

BMR

abbreviation

basal metabolic rate.

BMus

abbreviation

Bachelor of Music.

BMX /ˌbē ˌem ˈeks/

I. noun

1. organized bicycle racing on a dirt track, especially for youngsters
[as modifier]

• a BMX track.

2. a kind of bicycle designed to be used for organized racing on a dirt track.

– origin 1970s: from the initial letters of bicycle motocross, with X standing for cross.

bn

noun

short for billion.

Bn.

abbreviation

1. Baron.

2. Battalion.

B'nai B'rith /bəˌnā ˈbriTH/

I. a Jewish organization founded in New York in 1843. It pursues educational, humanitarian, and cultural activities and attempts to safeguard the rights and interests of Jews around the world.

– origin Hebrew, literally ‘sons of the covenant.’

BO /ˌbēˈō/

abbreviation

1. ‹informal› body odor.

2. best offer.

3. box office.

4. back order.

5. (also B/O or b/o) — (in bookkeeping) brought over.

b.o.

abbreviation

best offer.

boa /ˈbōə/

I. noun

1. a constrictor snake that bears live young and may reach great size, native to America, Africa, Asia, and some Pacific islands.
[Family Boidae, several genera and numerous species. See also boa constrictor.]

2. any snake that is a constrictor.

3. (also feather boa) — a long, thin decorative scarf or stole made of feathers or a similar material

• a sequined ballgown and feather boa.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin (mentioned in the writings of Pliny), of unknown ultimate origin.

boa constrictor /ˈbōə kənˌstriktər/

noun

a large and typically boldly marked snake that kills by coiling around its prey and asphyxiating it, native to tropical America.
[Boa constrictor, family Boidae.]

boar /bôr/

I. noun

1. (also wild boar) — a tusked Eurasian wild pig from which domestic pigs are descended.
[Sus scrofa, family Suidae.]

2. the flesh of the wild boar as food.

3. an uncastrated domestic male pig.

4. the full-grown male of certain other animals, especially a badger, guinea pig, or hedgehog.

– origin Old English bār; related to Dutch beer and German Bär.

board /bôrd/

I. noun

1. a long, thin, flat piece of wood or other hard material, used for floors or other building purposes

• loose boards creaked as I walked on them

• sections of board.

2. (the boards) — ‹informal› the stage of a theater.

3. a thin, flat, rectangular piece of wood or other stiff material used for various purposes, in particular

4. a vertical surface on which to write or pin notices.

5. a horizontal surface on which to cut things, play games, or perform other activities.

6. a flat insulating sheet used as a mounting for an electronic circuit

• a graphics board.

7. the piece of equipment on which a person stands in surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, and certain other sports.

8. (boards) — the wooden structure surrounding an ice-hockey rink.

9. (usu. boards) — [Basketball] informal term for backboard, referring specifically to rebounding:

• the absence of center David Robinson to dominate on the boards.

10. (boards) — pieces of thick stiff cardboard or, originally, wood used for book covers.

11. [treated as sing. or pl.] — a group of people constituted as the decision-making body of an organization

• he sits on the board of directors

• [in names] the Federal Reserve Board

• [as modifier] a board meeting.

12. the provision of regular meals when one stays somewhere, in return for payment or services

• your room and board will be free.

13. ‹archaic› a table set for a meal.

14. [Sailing] a distance covered by a vessel in a single tack.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — get on or into (a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle)

• we boarded the plane for Oslo

• [no obj.] they would not be able to board without a ticket.

2. (be boarding) — (of an aircraft) be ready for passengers to embark

• flight 172 to Istanbul is now boarding at gate 37.

3. [no obj.] — live and receive regular meals in a house in return for payment or services

• the cousins boarded for a while with Ruby.

4. (of a student) live at school during the semester in return for payment.

5. [with obj.] — provide (a person or animal) with regular meals and somewhere to live in return for payment

• dogs may have to be boarded at kennels.

6. [with obj.] (board something up) — cover or seal a window, storefront, or other structure with pieces of wood

• the shop was still boarded up.

7. [no obj.] — ride on a snowboard.

III. phrases

1. go by the board

(of something planned or previously upheld) be abandoned, rejected, or ignored

• my education just went by the board.

[earlier in nautical use meaning ‘fall overboard,’ used of a mast falling past the board, i.e., the side of the ship.]

2. on board

a. on or in a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle.

b. ‹informal› onto a team or group as a member

• the need to bring on board a young manager.

c. ‹informal› (of a jockey) riding.

d. [Baseball] on base.

3. take something on board

‹informal› fully consider or assimilate a new idea or situation

• we've got to take accusations of sexism on board.

4. tread the boards

‹informal› appear on stage as an actor.

– origin Old English bord, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch boord and German Bort; reinforced in Middle English by Old French bort ‘edge, ship's side’ and Old Norse borth ‘board, table.’

board book

noun

a book for very small children, with the pages pasted to heavy cardboard

• my daughter loves to cuddle up with Mommy reading board books.

board certification

noun

the process of examining and certifying the qualifications of a physician or other professional by a board of specialists in the field.

board-certified

adjective

having satisfied the requirements for board certification.

boarded /ˈbôrdəd/

adjective

1. (of a floor, roof, or other structure) built with pieces of wood.

2. (of a window, storefront, or other structure) covered or sealed with pieces of wood.

boarder /ˈbôrdər/

noun

1. a person who receives regular meals when staying somewhere, in return for payment or services.

2. a student who lives at school during the semester in return for payment.

3. a person who boards a ship during or after an attack.

4. a person who takes part in a sport using a board, such as surfing or snowboarding.

boardercross /ˈbôrdərˌkrôs/

I. noun

a snowboarding contest for four to six competitors on a winding, undulating course that includes jumps

• the big appeal of boardercross for many is racing against others.

Also called snowboard cross.

– origin 1990s: from boarder (sense 3) + -cross (as in motocross).

board foot

noun

a unit of volume for timber equal to 144 cubic inches, notionally twelve inches by twelve inches by one inch.

board game /ˈbô(ə)rd ˌɡām/

noun

any game played on a board, especially one that involves the movement of pieces on the board, such as chess or checkers.

boarding /ˈbôrdiNG/

noun

1. long, flat, thin pieces of wood used to build or cover something.

2. the procedure according to which students live at school during the semester in return for payment.

3. the action of getting on or into a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle.

boarding house

noun

a house providing food and lodging for paying guests.

boarding kennel

noun

a place in which dogs are kept and fed, typically while their owners are on vacation.

boarding pass boarding card

noun

a pass for boarding an aircraft, given to a passenger when the ticket is issued or upon check-in at the airport.

boarding school /ˈbôrdiNG ˌsko͞ol/

noun

a school where students reside during the semester.

board of education

noun

a body of officials elected or appointed to oversee a local or statewide school system or systems.
Compare with school board.

Board of Trade

noun

1. (N. Amer.) another term for chamber of commerce.

2. (also Chicago Board of Trade) — the Chicago futures exchange.

3. (Board of Trade) — a now nominal British government department within the Department of Trade and Industry concerned with commerce and industry.

boardroom /ˈbôrdˌro͞om ˈbôrdˌro͝om/

noun

1. a room in which the members of a board meet regularly.

2. the directors of a company or organization considered collectively.

boardsailing /ˈbôrdˌsāliNG/

I. noun

another term for windsurfing.

II. derivatives

boardsailor /-ˌsālər /

noun

board shorts

plural noun

long shorts of a kind originally worn by surfers.

boardslide /ˈbôrdslīd/

noun

(in skateboarding and snowboarding) a maneuver in which the board slides along a rail, ledge, edge of a ramp, etc., on the flat part of its underside between the trucks.

boardwalk /ˈbôrdwôk/

noun

1. a wooden walkway across sand or marshy ground.

2. (N. Amer.) a promenade along a beach or waterfront, typically made of wood.

Boas, Franz /ˈbōˌaz/

(1858–1942), US anthropologist; born in Germany. A pioneer of modern anthropology, he developed the linguistic and cultural components of ethnology. His most notable work was Race, Language, and Culture (1940).

boast^1 /bōst/

I. verb

1. [reporting verb] — talk with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about one's achievements, possessions, or abilities
[with direct speech]

• Ted used to boast, “I manage ten people”

• [with clause] he boasted that he had taken part in the crime

• [no obj.] she boasted about her many conquests.

2. [with obj.] — (of a person, place, or thing) possess (a feature that is a source of pride)

• the hotel boasts high standards of comfort.

II. noun

an act of talking with excessive pride and self-satisfaction

• I said I would score, and it wasn't an idle boast.

III. derivatives

1. boaster /ˈbōstər /

noun

2. boastingly

adverb

– origin Middle English (as a noun): of unknown origin.

boast^2 /bōst/

I. noun

(in squash) a stroke in which the ball is made to hit one of the sidewalls before hitting the front wall.

– origin late 19th cent.: perhaps from French bosse denoting a rounded projection in the wall of a court for court tennis.

boastful /ˈbōs(t)fəl/

I. adjective

showing excessive pride and self-satisfaction in one's achievements, possessions, or abilities.

II. derivatives

1. boastfully /ˈbōs(t)fəlē /

adverb

2. boastfulness /ˈbōs(t)fəlnəs /

noun

boat /bōt/

I. noun

1. a small vessel propelled on water by oars, sails, or an engine

• a fishing boat

• [as modifier] a boat trip.

2. (in general use) a ship of any size.

3. a serving dish in the shape of a boat

• a gravy boat.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. travel or go in a boat for pleasure

• they boated through fjords

• (as noun boating) she likes to go boating.

2. [with obj.] — transport (someone or something) in a boat in a specified direction

• they boated the timber down the lake.

3. [with obj.] — (of an angler) bring a caught fish into a boat.

III. phrases

1. be in the same boat

‹informal› be in the same unfortunate circumstances as others.

2. miss the boat

see miss^1.

3. off the boat

‹offensive› recently arrived from a foreign country, and by implication naive or an outsider

• what are you, fresh off the boat?

4. rock the boat

‹informal› say or do something to disturb an existing situation.

IV. derivatives

boatful /ˈbōtˌfo͝ol /

noun

– origin Old English bāt, of Germanic origin.

boatbill /ˈbōtˌbil/

noun

a small Central and South American heron with a broad, flattened bill and a prominent black crest.
[Cochlearius cochlearius, family Ardeidae.]

boatbuilding /ˈbōtˌbildiNG/

I. noun

the occupation or industry of building boats.

II. derivatives

boatbuilder /ˈbōtˌbildər /

noun

boat deck /ˈbōt ˌdek/

noun

the deck from which a ship's lifeboats are launched.

boatel /bōˈtel/

I. noun

1. a waterside hotel with facilities for mooring boats.

2. a ship moored at a wharf and used as a hotel.

– origin 1950s: blend of boat and hotel.

boater /ˈbōdər/

noun

1. a flat-topped hardened straw hat with a brim.
[so named because originally worn while boating.]

2. a person who uses or travels in a boat for pleasure.

boathook /ˈbōtho͝ok/

noun

a long pole with a hook and a spike at one end, used for fending off or pulling a boat.

boathouse /ˈbōtˌhous/

noun

a shed at the edge of a river or lake used for housing boats.

boating /ˈbōdiNG/

noun

rowing or sailing in boats as a sport or form of recreation.

boatload /ˈbōtˌlōd/

noun

1. a number of passengers or amount of cargo that will fill a ship or boat

• a boatload of coal.

2. ‹informal› a large amount

• a boatload of new regulations

• the festival brought together a boatload of guitarists from all corners of the world.

boatman /ˈbōtmən/

noun

a person who rents out or works on boats.

boat neck boatneck

I. noun

a type of wide neckline on a garment that passes just below the collarbone.

– origin from its shape.

boat people /ˈbōt ˌpēpəl/

plural noun

refugees who have left a country by sea, in particular the Vietnamese who fled in small boats to Hong Kong, Australia, and elsewhere after the conquest of South Vietnam by North Vietnam in 1975.

boat shoe

noun

a flat canvas or leather shoe with rubber soles to provide good traction on boat decks.
Also called deck shoe.

boatswain /ˈbōs(ə)n / bo'sun, bosun

I. noun

a ship's officer in charge of equipment and the crew.

– origin late Old English bātswegen (see boat, swain).

boatswain's chair

noun

a seat suspended from ropes, used in rescues and for work on the body or masts of a ship or the face of a building.

boat train /ˈbōt ˌtrān/

noun

a train scheduled to connect with the arrival or departure of a boat.

boatyard /ˈbōtˌyärd/

noun

a place where boats are built, repaired, or stored.

Boa Vista /ˌbōə ˈvistə/

a town in northern Brazil; pop. 249,853 (2007).

bob^1 /bäb/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a thing) make a quick short movement up and down

• I could see his red head bobbing around

• the boat bobbed up and down.

2. [with obj.] — cause (something) to make a quick short movement up and down

• she bobbed her head.

3. make a sudden move in a particular direction so as to appear or disappear

• a lady bobbed up from beneath the counter.

4. move up and down briefly in a curtsy.

II. noun

1. a movement up and down

• she could only manage a slight bob of her head.

2. another term for bobber.

3. a curtsy.

III. phrases

1. bob and weave

make rapid bodily movements up and down and from side to side, for example as an evasive tactic by a boxer.

2. bob for apples

try to catch floating or hanging apples with one's mouth alone, as a game.

– origin late Middle English: of unknown origin.

bob^2 /bäb/

I. noun

1. a style in which the hair is cut short and evenly all around so that it hangs above the shoulders.

2. a weight on a pendulum, plumb line, or kite-tail.

3. a bobsled.

4. a short line at or near the end of a stanza.

5. a horse's tail docked short.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] (usu. as adj. bobbed) — cut (someone's hair) in a bob

• she tied a headscarf over her bobbed brown hair.

2. [no obj.] — ride on a bobsled.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a bunch or cluster): of unknown origin.

bob^3 /bäb / ‹Brit. informal›

I. noun

1. a shilling.

2. used with reference to a moderately large but unspecified amount of money

• those vases are worth a few bob.

– origin late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

bob^4 /bäb/

I. noun

1. a change of order in bell-ringing.

2. used in names of change-ringing methods

• plain bob

• bob minor.

– origin late 17th cent.: perhaps connected with bob^1 in the noun sense ‘sudden movement up and down.’

boba tea

noun

another term for bubble tea.

bobber /ˈbäbər/

noun

a small float placed on a fishing line to hold the hook at the desired depth.

bobbin /ˈbäbin/

I. noun

1. a cylinder or cone holding thread, yarn, or wire, used especially in weaving, machine sewing, and lacemaking.

2. a spool or reel.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French bobine, of unknown origin.

bobbinet /ˌbäbəˈnet/

I. noun

machine-made cotton net (imitating lace made with bobbins on a pillow).

– origin mid 19th cent.: from bobbin + net^1.

bobbin lace /ˈbäbin ˌlās/

noun

lace made by hand with thread wound on bobbins.

bobble^1 /ˈbäbəl/

I. noun

a small ball made of strands of wool used as a decoration on a hat or on furnishings.

II. derivatives

bobbly /ˈbäb(ə)lē /

adjective

– origin 1920s: diminutive of bob^2.

bobble^2 /ˈbäbəl / ‹informal›

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — (N. Amer.) mishandle (a ball)

• Andy bobbled the ball, so his throw home was too late.

2. [no obj.] — move with an irregular bouncing motion

• the glare of the snow made the landscape bobble.

II. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a mishandling of a ball

• a once-a-season bobble by Jordan en route to a breakaway jam.

2. an irregular bouncing motion.

– origin early 19th cent.: frequentative of bob^1.

bobble hat

noun

(Brit.) a close-fitting knitted hat with a pom-pom at the top

• he was never without his striped top, bobble hat, walking stick, and glasses.

bobblehead /ˈbäbəlˌhed / bobblehead doll

I. noun

a figurine with a disproportionately large head mounted on a spring so that it bobs up and down, often made as a caricature of a famous person.

II. derivatives

bobble-headed

adjective

Bobbsey twins /ˈbäbzē ˌtwinz/

I. noun

‹humorous› a name for two people who are often seen together or who look and act alike.

– origin From the characters in a long-running series of children's books (1904–1992), written under the pen name Laura Lee Hope.

bobby /ˈbäbē/

I. noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› a police officer.

– origin mid 19th cent.: nickname for Robert, given name of Sir Robert Peel, Sir Robert.

bobby pin /ˈbäbē pin/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) (Austral./NZ) a kind of sprung hairpin or small clip.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. fix (hair) in place with a bobby pin.

– origin 1930s: from bob^2 (because bobby pins were originally used with bobbed hair) + -y^2.

bobby socks /ˈbäbē säks / bobby sox

I. plural noun

(N. Amer.) ‹dated› short socks reaching just above the ankle (used chiefly in the 1940s and 1950s to refer to the socks worn by teenage girls).

– origin 1940s: compare with bob^2 in the sense ‘cut short.’

bobby-soxer /ˈbäbē ˌsäksər/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› ‹dated› an adolescent girl.

bobcat /ˈbäbˌkat/

I. noun

a small North American cat species with a barred and spotted coat and a short tail.
[Lynx rufus, family Felidae. Compare with lynx.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from bob^2 (with reference to its short tail) + cat^1.

Bobo-Dioulasso /ˌbōbōdyo͞oˈläsō/

a commercial and industrial city in southwestern Burkina Faso; pop. 483,800 (est. 2009). It is an agricultural market and rail center.

bobolink /ˈbäbəˌliNGk/

I. noun

a North American songbird of the American blackbird family, with a finchlike bill. The male has black, buff, and white plumage.
[Dolichonyx oryzivorus, family Icteridae.]

– origin late 18th cent. (originally Bob o'Lincoln, Bob Lincoln): imitative of its call.

bobsled /ˈbäbˌsled/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a mechanically steered and braked sled, typically manned by crews of two or four, used for racing down a steep ice-covered run with banked curves.

II. verb

ride on a bobsled.

– origin mid 19th cent. (originally denoting a sled made of two short sleds coupled together and used for hauling logs): from bob^2 in the sense ‘short’ + sled.

bobsledding /ˈbäbˌslediNG/

noun

riding in a bobsled, especially as a winter sport.

bobsleigh /ˈbäbˌslā/

noun

another term for bobsled.

bobstay /ˈbäbstā/

I. noun

a rope used to hold down the bowsprit of a ship against the upward pull of the forestay.

– origin mid 18th cent.: probably from bob^1 + stay^2.

bobtail /ˈbäbˌtāl/

I. noun

a docked tail of a horse or dog.

II. adjective

cut short; abbreviated

• the bobtailed 1995 baseball season.

– origin mid 16th cent.: probably from bob^2 + tail^1. It was originally recorded as a humorous term for a kind of broad-headed arrow, probably because it looked as though it had been cut short.

bob weight

noun

a component used as a counterweight to a moving part in a machine.

bobwhite /ˈbäbˌ(h)wīt / bobwhite quail

I. noun

a New World quail with mottled reddish-brown plumage, and typically a pale throat and eyestripe.
[Genus Colinus, family Phasianidae: two species, in particular the northern bobwhite (C. virginianus).]

– origin early 19th cent.: imitative of its call.

bocaccio /bōˈkäCH(ē)ō/

I. noun

an edible rockfish, of particular commercial importance in California.
[Sebastes paucispinis, family Scorpaenidae.]

– origin ultimately from American Spanish bocacho ‘big-mouth(ed).’

bocage /bōˈkäZH/

I. noun

(in France) pastureland divided into small hedged fields interspersed with groves of trees.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French, from Old French boscage (see boscage).

Boca Raton /ˌbōkə rəˈtōn/

a city and resort in southeastern Florida, on the Atlantic Ocean, north of Fort Lauderdale; pop. 85,670 (est. 2008).

Boccaccio, Giovanni /bəˈkäCHēˌō/

(1313–75), Italian writer, poet, and humanist. He is most noted for the Decameron (1348–58), a collection of 100 tales told by ten young people living in the country in order to escape the Black Death.

bocce /ˈbäCHē / boccie, bocci

I. noun

an Italian game similar to lawn bowling but played on a shorter, narrower green.

– origin Italian, ‘bowls,’ plural of boccia ‘ball.’

Boccherini, Luigi /ˌbäkəˈrēnē, ˌbōkə-/

(1743–1805), Italian composer and cellist.

boccia /ˈbäCHə/

I. noun

1. a game similar to bocce, played by competitors who have a physical disability that requires the use of a wheelchair

• youngsters from special schools in the area will also take part in boccia.

2. variant spelling of bocce:
[as modifier]

• there are tennis courts, bowling alleys, boccia lanes, and a golf course.

– origin Italian, literally ‘ball.’

bocconcini /ˌbäkənˈCHēnē/

I. plural noun

small balls of mozzarella cheese.

– origin Italian.

Boche /ˈbôSH / ‹dated, offensive›

I. noun

1. a German, especially a soldier.

2. (the Boche) — Germans, especially German soldiers, considered collectively.

II. adjective

German.

– origin late 19th cent.: French soldiers' slang, originally in the sense ‘rascal,’ later used in World War I meaning ‘German.’

Bochum /ˈbōKHo͝om, ˈbōkəm/

an industrial city in the Ruhr valley, in North Rhine–Westphalia, Germany; pop. 383,700 (est. 2006).

bock /bäk / bock beer

I. noun

a strong dark beer brewed in the fall and drunk in the spring.

– origin mid 19th cent.: via French from an abbreviation of German Eimbockbier ‘beer from Einbeck,’ a town in Hanover.

bod /bäd/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› a body or physique

• shake your bod

• Roger was proud of his bod.

2. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) a person

• some clever bod wrote a song about them.

– origin late 18th cent. (originally Scots): abbreviation of body.

BOD

abbreviation

biochemical oxygen demand.

bodacious /ˌbōˈdāSHəs/

I. adjective

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› excellent, admirable, or attractive

• the restaurant serves bodacious grilled lobster.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› (US) audacious in a way considered admirable

• those bodacious dudes have an excellent time playing games with death.

– origin mid 19th cent. (in sense ‘complete, thorough’): perhaps a variant of southwestern English dialect boldacious, blend of bold and audacious.

bode /bōd/

I. verb — [no obj.] (bode well/ill)

1. be an omen of a particular outcome

• their argument did not bode well for the future

• [with obj.] the 12 percent interest rate bodes dark days ahead for retailers.

– origin Old English bodian ‘proclaim, foretell,’ from boda ‘messenger,’ of Germanic origin; related to German Bote, also to bid^1.

bodega /bōˈdāɡə/

I. noun

1. a small grocery store, especially in a Spanish-speaking neighborhood.

2. a wine shop or wine cellar.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Spanish, via Latin from Greek apothēkē ‘storehouse.’ Compare with apothecary, boutique.

Bodensee /ˈbōdnˌzā/

German name for Lake Constance (see Constance, Lake).

Bodhgaya /ˌbōdˈɡīə / Bodh Gaya, Buddh Gaya

a village in the state of Bihar in northeastern India, where Buddha attained enlightenment.

bodhisattva /ˌbōdiˈsätvə, -ˈsət- / Bodhisattva

I. noun

(in Mahayana Buddhism) a person who is able to reach nirvana but delays doing so out of compassion in order to save suffering beings.

– origin early 19th cent.: Sanskrit, ‘a person whose essence is perfect knowledge,’ from bodhi- ‘perfect knowledge’ (from budh- ‘awaken’ [see Buddha]) + sattva ‘being, essence.’

bodhrán /ˈbôrən/

I. noun

a shallow one-sided Irish drum typically played with a short two-headed drumstick.

– origin Irish.

bodice /ˈbädəs/

I. noun

1. the part of a woman's dress (excluding sleeves) that is above the waist.

2. a woman's vest, especially a laced vest worn as an outer garment.

3. a woman's vestlike undergarment.

– origin mid 16th cent. (originally bodies): plural of body, retaining the original pronunciation. The term probably first denoted an undergarment, then known as a pair of bodice, although this sense is not recorded until the early 17th cent.

bodice-ripper /ˈbädəs ˌripər/

I. noun

‹informal› ‹derogatory› ‹humorous› a sexually explicit romantic novel or movie with a historical setting.

II. derivatives

bodice-ripping

adjective

bodied /ˈbädēd/

adjective

1. having a body or trunk, typically of a specified kind

• we are bodied beings

• [in combination] crayfish are heavy bodied crustaceans

• [in combination] the narrow bodied hangar.

2. (of wine) having the specified quality of flavor

• a medium bodied Cabernet.

bodiless /ˈbädēləs/

adjective

1. lacking a body

• a bodiless head.

2. having no material existence; insubstantial

• a sinister, bodiless voice.

bodily /ˈbädəlē/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of or concerning the body

• children learn to control their bodily functions.

2. material or actual as opposed to spiritual or incorporeal

• the idea of angels taking human bodily form when they come to earth.

II. adverb

1. by taking hold of a person's body, especially with force

• he hauled her bodily from the van.

2. with one's whole body and with great force

• he launched himself bodily at the door.

bodkin /ˈbädkən/

I. noun

1. a blunt, thick needle with a large eye used especially for drawing tape or cord through a hem.

2. a small pointed instrument used to pierce cloth or leather.

3. ‹historical› a long pin used for fastening hair.

4. [Printing] ‹historical› a pointed tool used for removing pieces of metal type for correction.

– origin Middle English: perhaps of Celtic origin and related to Irish bod, Welsh bidog, Scottish Gaelic biodag ‘dagger.’

Bodleian Library /ˌbädlēən ˈlībrərē/

the main research library of Oxford University, and one of six copyright libraries in the UK.

Bodley, Sir Thomas /ˈbädlē/

(1545–1613), English scholar and diplomat. He enlarged the Oxford University library, which was renamed the Bodleian in 1602.

Bodoni, Giambattista /bōˈdōnē/

(1740–1813), Italian printer. He designed a typeface that is named after him.

body /ˈbädē/

I. noun

1. the physical structure of a person or an animal, including the bones, flesh, and organs

• it's important to keep your body in good condition

• [as modifier] body temperature.

2. the trunk apart from the head and the limbs

• the blow almost severed his head from his body.

3. a corpse

• they found his body washed up on the beach.

4. the physical and mortal aspect of a person as opposed to the soul or spirit

• a duality of body and soul.

5. ‹informal› a person's body regarded as an object of sexual desire

• he was just after her body.

6. ‹informal› ‹dated› a person, often one of a specified type or character

• a motherly body.

7. the main section of a car or aircraft

• the body of the aircraft was filled with smoke.

8. the main or central part of something, especially a building or text

• information that changes regularly is kept apart from the main body of the text.

9. the part of an email containing the message, as opposed to information such as the subject and sender

• put your name, address, and daytime phone number in the email's body.

Compare with header (sense 4).

10. a large or substantial amount of something; a mass or collection of something

• a rich body of Canadian folklore

• large bodies of seawater.

11. a group of people with a common purpose or function acting as an organized unit

• a regulatory body

• international bodies of experts.

12. [often with adj.] — ‹technical› a distinct material object

• the path taken by the falling body.

13. a full or substantial quality of flavor in wine.

14. fullness or thickness of a person's hair

• designed to add body to limp and straight hair.

15. (in pottery) a clay used for making the main part of ceramic ware, as distinct from a glaze.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (body something forth) — give material form to something abstract

• he bodied forth the traditional Prussian remedy for all ills.

2. build the bodywork of (a motor vehicle)

• an era when automobiles were bodied over wooden frames.

III. phrases

1. body and soul

involving every aspect of a person; completely

• the company owned them body and soul.

2. in a body

all together; as a group

• they departed in a body.

3. keep body and soul (or soul and body) together

stay alive, especially in difficult circumstances

• do you think a man can keep body and soul together by selling coconuts?

4. over my dead body

‹informal› used to emphasize that one opposes something and would do anything to prevent it from happening

• she moves into our home over my dead body.

– origin Old English bodig, of unknown origin.

body armor /ˈbädē ˈärmər/

noun

clothing worn by military and police personnel to protect against gunfire.

body art /ˈbädē ärt/

noun

1. items of jewelry or clothing worn on the body and regarded as art.

2. the practice of decorating the body by means of tattooing, piercing, plastic surgery, etc.

3. an artistic movement originating in the 1970s in which the physical presence of the artist (or of a model) is regarded as an integral part of the work.

body bag /ˈbädē ˌbaɡ/

noun

a bag used for carrying a corpse from a battlefield or the scene of an accident or crime.

body blow /ˈbädē blō/

noun

1. a heavy punch to the body.

2. a severe disappointment or crushing setback

• a tax on books would be a body blow for education.

bodyboard /ˈbädēˌbôrd/

I. noun

a short light type of surfboard ridden in a prone position.

II. derivatives

1. bodyboarder /ˈbädēˌbôrdər /

noun

2. bodyboarding /ˈbädēˌbôrdiNG /

noun

bodybuilder /ˈbädēˌbildər/

noun

1. a person who strengthens and enlarges the muscles of their body through strenuous exercise.

2. a person or company that builds the bodies of vehicles.
[with modifier]

• he trained as a car bodybuilder.

bodybuilding /ˈbädēˌbildiNG/

noun

a sport involving strenuous physical exercise in order to strengthen and enlarge the muscles of the body

• he developed a keen interest in bodybuilding

• [as modifier] a bodybuilding contest.

body burden

noun

the total amount of a particular chemical present in a human's or animal's body, typically a radioactive element or other toxic substance.

• even people with typical exposures to the chemicals in the survey could face health risks from their body burden.

body-centered /ˈbädēˌsen(t)ərd/

adjective

denoting a crystal structure in which there is an atom at each vertex and at the center of the unit cell.
Compare with face-centered.

body check /ˈbädē ˌCHek/

I. noun

(in sports, especially ice hockey) a deliberate obstruction of an opponent by placing one's body in the way.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. obstruct (a player) with a body check.

body clock /ˈbädē kläk/

noun

a person's or animal's biological clock.

body color

noun

an opaque pigment.

body-con

I. adjective

relating to or denoting a very tight-fitting style of clothing

• the approaching season is all about big earrings and body-con dresses.

– origin 1990s: shortening of body-conscious.

body corporate /ˈbädē ˈkôrpəˌrāt/

noun

formal term for corporation.

body count

noun

a list or total of casualties.

body double /ˈbädē ˈdəbəl/

noun

a stand-in for a movie actor used during stunt or nude scenes.

body dysmorphic disorder BDD

noun

a psychological disorder in which a person becomes obsessed with imaginary defects in their appearance.

body English

noun

(N. Amer.) a bodily action after throwing, hitting, or kicking a ball, intended as an attempt to influence the ball's trajectory

• see him waving and using body English to try to keep the ball from going foul.

body fascism

I. noun

prejudice or discrimination based on a person's weight and appearance

• there have also been complaints about gender discrimination and body fascism in elite sport.

II. derivatives

body fascist

noun, adjective

bodyguard /ˈbädēˌɡärd/

noun

a person or group of people hired to escort and protect another person, especially a dignitary.

body image

noun

the subjective picture or mental image of one's own body.

bodykit /ˈbädēˌkit / body kit

noun

a packaged set of decorations and fittings for customizing a car or motorcycle body.

body language /ˈbädē ˌlaNGɡwij/

noun

the process of communicating nonverbally through conscious or unconscious gestures and movements

• his intent was clearly expressed in his body language.

body lift

noun

a cosmetic surgical operation to remove or improve the appearance of loose skin or sagging flesh on various areas of the body.

• the body lift is a more radical procedure than a traditional tummy tuck.

body lotion

noun

a moisturizing lotion for the body

• I smothered myself in scented body lotion.

body louse

noun

a louse of a variety that infests the human body and is particularly prevalent where hygiene is poor. It can transmit several diseases through its bite, including typhus.
[Pediculus humanus humanus, family Pediculidae, order Anoplura. See also head louse.]

body man

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a political leader's personal aide or assistant.

body mass index BMI

noun

a weight-to-height ratio, calculated by dividing one's weight in kilograms by the square of one's height in meters and used as an indicator of obesity and underweight.

body mechanics

plural noun — [treated as sing. or pl.]

1. exercises designed to improve posture, coordination, and stamina.

body odor /ˈbädē ˈōdər/

noun

the smell of the human body, especially when unpleasant.

body piercing

noun

the piercing of holes in parts of the body other than the earlobes in order to insert rings or other decorative objects.

body politic /ˈˌbädē ˈpälətik/

noun — (usu. the body politic)

1. the people of a nation, state, or society considered collectively as an organized group of citizens.

body press

noun

[Wrestling] a move in which a wrestler uses their body weight to pin an opponent to the floor.

body scrub

noun

1. an exfoliating cosmetic preparation, applied to the body to cleanse the skin.

2. a type of beauty treatment in which the skin is cleaned and exfoliated.

body search /ˈbädē sərCH/

noun

a search, typically conducted by customs officials or the police, of a person's body and clothing for illicit weapons, drugs, or other articles.

body shirt

noun

1. a close-fitting woman's garment for the upper body that is closed at the crotch.

2. a close-fitting blouse or shirt.

body shop /ˈbädē ˌSHäp/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a garage where repairs to the bodies of vehicles are carried out.

bodyside /ˈbädēsīd/

noun

the side of the body of a vehicle
[as modifier]

• bodyside panels.

body slam

noun

[Wrestling] a move (illegal in some codes) in which the opponent's body is lifted and then thrown hard onto the floor.

bodysnatcher /ˈbädēˌsnaCHər/

I. noun

‹historical› a person who stole corpses from a graveyard for dissection, for which there was no legal provision until 1832.

II. derivatives

bodysnatching /ˈbädēˌsnaCHiNG /

noun

body stocking /ˈbädē ˌstäkiNG/

noun

a woman's one-piece undergarment that covers the torso and legs.

bodysuit /ˈbädēˌso͞ot/

noun

a close-fitting one-piece stretch garment for women, typically worn for sports.

bodysurf /ˈbädēˌsərf/

verb — [no obj.] (often as noun bodysurfing)

1. float on the crest of incoming waves without using a board.

body text

noun — (usu. the body text)

1. the main part of a printed text, excluding items such as headings and footnotes.

body wall

noun

the external surface of an animal body that encloses the body cavity and consists of ectoderm and mesoderm.

body wave

noun

a soft, light permanent wave designed to give hair fullness.

bodywork /ˈbädēˌwərk/

I. noun

1. the metal outer shell of a vehicle.

2. therapies and techniques in complementary medicine that involve touching or manipulating the body.

II. derivatives

bodyworker

noun

bodywork (sense 2)

body wrap

noun

a type of beauty treatment involving the application of skin-cleansing ingredients to the body, which is then wrapped in hot towels.

boehmite /ˈbāmīt, ˈbō-/

noun

a crystalline mineral compound composed of aluminum oxide and hydroxide and found in bauxite.
[Chem. formula: AlO(OH).]

Boeing, William Edward /ˈbō-iNG/

(1881–1956), US industrialist; born Wilhelm Edward Boeing. In 1927, he founded United Aircraft and Transport, which, in 1934, was divided into Boeing Aircraft, United Aircraft, and United Airlines.

Boeotia /bēˈōSHə/

a department in central Greece, north of the Gulf of Corinth, and a region of ancient Greece of which the chief city was Thebes.

Boeotian /bēˈōSH(ə)n/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of the Greek region of Boeotia or its inhabitants

• he was called upon to rescue the Boeotian army when it got into difficulties in Thessaly.

II. noun

an inhabitant of the Greek region of Boeotia

• he seems to have been a Boeotian by descent.

Boer /bôr bo͝or / ‹chiefly historical›

I. noun

a member of the Dutch and Huguenot population that settled in southern Africa in the late 17th century.
The Boers were Calvinist in religion and fiercely self-sufficient. Conflict with the British administration of Cape Colony after 1806 led to the Great Trek of 1835–37 and the Boer Wars, after which the Boer republics of Transvaal and Orange Free State became part of the Republic of South Africa. The Boers' present-day descendants are the Afrikaners.

II. adjective

of or relating to the Boers.

– origin from Dutch boer ‘farmer.’ Compare with boor.

boerbull /ˈbôrˌbo͝ol, ˈbo͝or- / boerbul

I. noun

(S. African) a large dog crossbred from the mastiff and indigenous African dogs.

– origin 1960s: from Afrikaans boerboel, from boer (commonly applied to indigenous plants and animals) + boel, from Dutch bul (as in bulhond ‘mastiff’).

boer goat /bôr, bo͝or/

I. noun

a goat of a hardy breed, originally from South Africa.

– origin from Afrikaans boer ‘farmer’ + goat.

Boer Wars

I. two wars fought by Great Britain in southern Africa.

The first war (1880–81) began with the revolt of the Boer settlers in Transvaal against British rule and ended with the establishment of an independent Boer Republic under British suzerainty. The second (1899–1902) was caused by the Boer refusal to grant equal rights to recent British immigrants and by the imperialist ambitions of Cecil Rhodes. The British eventually won through superior numbers and the employment of concentration camps to control the countryside.

boeuf /bəf/

noun

[Cooking] French word for beef, used in the names of various beef dishes.

boeuf bourguignon /ˌbəf ˌbo͝orɡēˈnyôn/

I. noun

a dish consisting of beef braised or stewed in a red wine sauce, to which mushrooms and onions are typically added.

– origin French, literally ‘Burgundy beef.’

boff /bäf / ‹N. Amer. informal›

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. have sexual intercourse with (someone).

II. noun

an act of sexual intercourse.

– origin 1920s (in the sense ‘blow, punch’): imitative. The current sense dates from the 1950s.

boffin /ˈbäfən/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) a person engaged in scientific or technical research

• a computer boffin.

2. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) a person with knowledge or a skill considered to be complex, arcane, and difficult

• he had a reputation as a tax boffin, a learned lawyer.

II. derivatives

boffiny

adjective

– origin World War II: of unknown origin.

boffo /ˈbäfō / ‹N. Amer. informal›

I. adjective

1. (of a theatrical production or movie, or a review of one) very successful or wholeheartedly commendatory

• a boffo box-office certainty.

2. (of a laugh) deep and unrestrained.

3. boisterously funny.

II. noun

a success

• the finale is a genuine boffo.

– origin 1940s: from boff ‘roaring success’ + -o.

boffola /bäˈfōlə / ‹N. Amer. informal›

I. noun

a joke or a line in a script meant to get a laugh.

II. adjective

(of a laugh) hearty and unrestrained.

– origin 1940s: extension of boff.

Bofors gun /ˈbōfôrz ˌɡən/

I. noun

a type of light antiaircraft gun.

– origin 1930s: named after Bofors in Sweden, where it was first manufactured.

bog /bäɡ bôɡ/

I. noun

1. wet muddy ground too soft to support a heavy body

• the island is a wilderness of bog

• a peat bog

• ‹figurative› a bog of legal complications.

2. [Ecology] wetland with acid, peaty soil, typically dominated by peat moss.
Compare with fen^1.

3. (usu. the bog) — (Brit.) ‹informal› a bathroom.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be bogged down)

1. cause (a vehicle, person, or animal) to become stuck in mud or wet ground

• the car became bogged down on the beach road.

2. (be bogged down) — (of a person or process) be unable to make progress

• you must not get bogged down in detail.

– origin Middle English: from Irish or Scottish Gaelic bogach, from bog ‘soft.’

Bogarde, Sir Dirk /ˈbōˌɡärd/

(1921–99), British actor and writer; born Derek Niven van den Bogaerde. Notable movies: The Servant (1963), Death in Venice (1971), and A Bridge Too Far (1977).

bogart /ˈbōɡärt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› (chiefly US) selfishly appropriate or keep (something, especially a lit marijuana cigarette).

– origin 1960s: from US actor Humphrey Bogart (1899–1957), who often smoked in films.

Bogart, Humphrey /ˈbōˌɡärt/

(1899–1957), US actor; full name Humphrey DeForest Bogart. His role on stage as a ruthless gangster in The Petrified Forest was repeated in the movie of 1936. His other movies include Casablanca (1942), The Big Sleep (1946), and The African Queen (1951).

bog asphodel

noun

a yellow-flowered marsh plant of the lily family.
[Genus Narthecium, family Liliaceae: several species, including N. ossifragum of Europe and N. americanum of the eastern US, esp. New Jersey.]

bogbean /ˈbäɡˌbēn/

noun

another term for buckbean.

bogey^1 /ˈbōɡē / ‹Golf›

I. noun

1. a score of one stroke over par at a hole.

2. archaic term for par^1 (sense 1 of the noun).

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. play (a hole) in one stroke over par.

– origin late 19th cent.: perhaps from Bogey, denoting the Devil (see bogey^2), regarded as an imaginary player.

bogey^2 /ˈbo͝oɡē / bogy

I. noun

1. a person or thing that causes fear or alarm

• the bogey of recession.

2. an evil or mischievous spirit.

3. (US) ‹military slang› an unidentified aircraft.

– origin mid 19th cent. (as a proper name applied to the Devil): of unknown origin; probably related to bogle.

bogeyman /ˈbo͝oɡēˌman ˈbōɡēˌman / boogeyman, bogyman

noun — (usu. the bogeyman)

1. an imaginary evil spirit, referred to typically to frighten children

• with the blankets pulled over our heads to keep out the bogeyman.

2. a person or thing that is widely regarded as an object of fear

• nuclear power is the environmentalists' bogeyman.

boggle /ˈbäɡəl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹informal› (of a person or a person's mind) be astonished or overwhelmed when trying to imagine something

• the mind boggles at the spectacle.

2. [with obj.] — ‹informal› cause (a person or a person's mind) to be astonished or overwhelmed

• the inflated salary of a CEO boggles the mind

• (as adj. boggling) the total was a boggling 1.5 trillion miles.

3. (boggle at) — ‹informal› (of a person) hesitate or be anxious at

• you never boggle at plain speaking.

– origin late 16th cent.: probably of dialect origin and related to bogle and bogey^2.

boggy /ˈbäɡē/

I. adjective

too wet and muddy to be easily walked on; marshy

• the shrub grows naturally in boggy ground.

II. derivatives

bogginess /ˈbäɡēnəs /

noun

bogie /ˈbōɡē/

I. noun

(chiefly Brit.) an undercarriage with four or six wheels pivoted beneath the end of a railroad car.

– origin early 19th cent. (originally in northern English dialect use): of unknown origin.

bog iron

noun

soft, spongy goethite deposited in bogs.

bogland /ˈbäɡˌland/

noun

(chiefly Brit.) marshy land.

bogle /ˈbōɡəl/

I. noun

1. a phantom or goblin.

2. (Scottish) (N. English) a scarecrow.

– origin early 16th cent.: of unknown origin; probably related to bogey^2.

bog moss

noun

another term for peat moss (sense 1).

bog myrtle

noun

another term for sweet gale.

bog oak /ˈbäɡ ˌōk/

noun

an ancient oak tree that has been preserved in a black state in peat.

BOGOF /ˈbäɡôf/

abbreviation

buy one, get one free.

Bogomil /ˈbäɡəmil/

I. noun

‹historical› a member of a heretical medieval Balkan sect professing a modified form of Manichaeism.

II. derivatives

Bogomilism /-ˌlizəm /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from medieval Greek Bogomilos, from Bogomil, literally ‘beloved of God,’ the name of the person who first disseminated the heresy, from Old Church Slavic.

bogong /ˈbōɡôNG, -ɡäNG / bogong moth

I. noun

(Austral.) a large brown moth native to southern Australia, formerly used as food by Aborigines.
[Agrotis infusa, family Noctuidae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Ngayawuh.

Bogotá /ˈbōɡətä/

the capital of Colombia, in the eastern Andes at about 8,560 feet (2,610 m); pop. 6,778,691 (2005). It was founded by the Spanish in 1538 on the site of a pre-Columbian center of the Chibcha culture.
Official name Santa Fé de Bogotá.

bog roll

noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› a roll of toilet paper

• an eight-pack of bog rolls

• bog roll is necessary for good hygiene.

bog rosemary

noun

See andromeda.

bog spavin

noun

a soft swelling of the joint capsule of the hock of horses that most commonly occurs in young, fast-growing horses.

bogtrotter /ˈbäɡˌträdər/

noun

1. a person who lives or works among bogs.

2. ‹informal› ‹offensive› an Irish person.

bogus /ˈbōɡəs/

I. adjective

not genuine or true; fake

• a bogus insurance claim.

II. derivatives

1. bogusly

adverb

2. bogusness

noun

– origin late 18th cent. (originally US, denoting a machine for making counterfeit money): of unknown origin.

bogus caller

noun

a person who visits or telephones someone under false pretences, typically for the purpose of theft or fraud

• a bogus caller preyed on an elderly deaf woman by claiming to be a carer.

Bo Hai /ˌbō ˈhī / Po Hai

a large inlet of the Yellow Sea, on the coast of eastern China.
Also called Chihli, Gulf of.

bohea /bōˈhē/

I. noun

a black China tea that comes from the last crop of the season and is typically regarded as of low quality.

– origin early 18th cent.: named after the Bu-yi (Wuyi) hills in China, from where black tea first came to Britain.

Bohemia /bōˈhēmēə/

a region that forms the western part of the Czech Republic. Formerly a Slavic kingdom, it became a province in the newly formed Czechoslovakia by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.

Bohemian /bōˈhēmēən/

I. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Bohemia.

2. (also bohemian) — a person who has informal and unconventional social habits, especially an artist or writer

• the young bohemians with their art galleries and sushi bars.

[mid 19th cent.: from French bohémien ‘Gypsy’ (because Gypsies were thought to come from Bohemia, or because they perhaps entered the West through Bohemia).]

II. adjective

1. of or relating to Bohemia or its people.

2. (also bohemian) — having informal and unconventional social habits

• the bohemian writer's drafty-garret existence.

III. derivatives

Bohemianism /bōˈhēmēənizəm /

noun

Bohemian (sense 2 of the adjective)

boho /ˈbōhō/

I. noun

informal term for Bohemian (sense 2 of the noun).

II. adjective

informal term for Bohemian (sense 2 of the adjective).

Bohol /bōˈhôl/

an island in the central Philippines, north of Mindanao; pop. 1,384,800 (est. 2009); chief town, Tagbilaran.

Bohr, Niels /bôr/

(1885–1962), Danish physicist and pioneer in quantum physics; full name Niels Henrik David Bohr. His theory of the structure of the atom incorporated quantum theory for the first time and is the basis for present-day quantum-mechanical models. Bohr helped to develop the atom bomb in Britain and then in the US. Nobel Prize for Physics (1922).

Bohr effect

I. noun

a decrease in the amount of oxygen associated with hemoglobin and other respiratory compounds in response to a lowered blood pH resulting from an increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood.

– origin named for Danish physiologist Christian Bohr (1855–1911).

bohrium /ˈbôrēəm/

noun

(Symbol: Bh) — the chemical element of atomic number 107, a very unstable element made by high-energy atomic collisions.

Bohr theory

I. noun

[Physics] a theory of the structure of atoms stating that electrons revolve in discrete orbits around a positively charged nucleus and that radiation is given off or absorbed only when an electron moves from one orbit to another.

– origin named for Danish physicist Niels Bohr (see Bohr, Niels).

bohunk /ˈbōˌhəNGk/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› ‹derogatory› an immigrant from central or southeastern Europe, especially a laborer.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› ‹derogatory› a rough or uncivilized person.

– origin early 20th cent.: apparently from Bohemian + -hunk, alteration of Hungarian.

boil^1 /boil/

I. verb

1. (with reference to a liquid) reach or cause to reach the temperature at which it bubbles and turns to vapor
[with obj.]

• we tried to get people to boil their drinking water

• I'll boil up the stock

• [no obj.] he waited for the water to boil.

2. (with reference to a kettle, pan, or other container) heat or be heated until the liquid inside reaches a temperature at which it bubbles and turns to vapor
[with obj.]

• she boiled the kettle and took down a couple of mugs

• [no obj.] the kettle boiled and he filled the teapot.

3. [with obj.] — subject (something) to the heat of boiling liquid, in particular

4. (with reference to food) cook or be cooked by immersing in boiling water or stock
[with obj.]

• boil the potatoes until well done

• (as adj. boiled) two boiled eggs

• [no obj.] make the sauce while the lobsters are boiling.

5. [no obj.] — (of food) be cooked in boiling water

• make the sauce while the lobsters are boiling.

6. wash or sterilize (clothes) in very hot water.

7. ‹historical› execute (someone) by subjecting them to the heat of boiling liquid.

8. [no obj.] — (of the sea or clouds) be turbulent and stormy

• a huge cliff with the black sea boiling below.

9. (of a person or strong emotion) be stirred up or inflamed

• he was boiling with rage.

II. noun

1. [in sing.] — the temperature at which a liquid bubbles and turns to vapor

• stir in cream and bring to a boil.

2. an act or process of heating a liquid to the temperature at which it bubbles and turns to vapor.

3. a state of vigorous activity or excitement.

4. an area of churning water

• massive current differentials, boils, and braided channels.

5. [Fishing] a sudden rise of a fish at a fly.

6. an outdoor meal at which seafood is boiled

• everything for a traditional Louisiana seafood boil can be carried down to the beach.

7. a blend of seasonings added to water to enhance the flavor of boiled seafood.

III. phrases

1. keep the pot boiling

maintain the momentum or interest value of something.

2. make one's blood boil

see blood.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. boil down to

be in essence a matter of

• everything boiled down to cash in the end.

2. boil something down

reduce the volume of a liquid by boiling

• they boil down the syrup until it is very thick.

3. boil over

a. (of a liquid) flow over the sides of the container in boiling.

b. (of a situation or strong emotion) become so excited or tense as to get out of control

• one woman's anger boiled over.

– origin Middle English: from Old French boillir, from Latin bullire ‘to bubble,’ from bulla ‘bubble.’

boil^2 /boil/

I. noun

an inflamed pus-filled swelling on the skin, typically caused by the infection of a hair follicle.

– origin Old English bȳle, bȳl; related to Dutch buil and German Beule.

Boileau, Nicholas /bwäˈlō/

(1636–1711), French critic and poet; full name Nicholas Boileau-Despréaux. One of the founders of French literary criticism, his didactic poem Art poétique (1674) defined principles of composition and criticism.

boiled shirt

noun

‹dated› a dress shirt with a starched front.

boiler /ˈboilər/

noun

1. a fuel-burning apparatus or container for heating water, in particular

2. a household device providing a hot-water supply or serving a central heating system.

3. a tank for generating steam under pressure in a steam engine.
See also steam boiler.

4. ‹dated› a metal tub for washing or sterilizing clothes at a very high temperature.

boiler house

noun

1. a building containing a device for heating water

• the project entails constructing a new boiler house to contain two new boilers.

2. [Rugby] the second row in a scrum formation

• the sheer power and bulk in the Castleknock boiler house

• he is set to partner Ian Evans in the boiler house for Wales.

boilermaker /ˈboilərˌmākər/

noun

1. a person who makes boilers.

2. a metalworker in heavy industry.

3. (N. Amer.) a shot of whiskey followed by a glass of beer as a chaser.

boilerplate /ˈboilərˌplāt/

noun

1. rolled steel for making boilers.

2. (boilerplates) — [Mountaineering] smooth, overlapping, and undercut slabs of rock

• the ice-worn boilerplates.

3. (N. Amer.) writing that is clichéd or expresses a generally accepted opinion or belief

• the same dreary boilerplate he’s been dishing up for years.

4. standardized pieces of text for use as clauses in contracts or as part of a computer program

• some sections have been written as boilerplate for use in all proposals.

boiler room

noun

1. a room in a building (typically in the basement) or a compartment in a ship containing a boiler and related heating or steam-generating equipment.

2. a room used for intensive telephone selling
[as modifier]

• boiler-room stock salesmen.

boiler suit /ˈboilər ˈˌso͞ot/

noun

British term for coveralls (see coverall).

boiling /ˈboiliNG/

I. adjective

1. (for fresh water at sea level) at 212°F (100°C).

2. (also boiling hot) — ‹informal› (used hyperbolically) extremely hot

• Saturday is forecast to be boiling and sunny.

II. noun

1. the action of bringing a liquid to the temperature at which it bubbles and turns to vapor.

2. the temperature at which a liquid bubbles and turns to vapor

• reheat gently to just below boiling.

boiling point /ˈboiliNG ˈˌpoint/

noun

1. the temperature at which a liquid boils and turns to vapor.

2. the point at which anger or excitement breaks out into violent expression

• emotions had reached boiling point and could spill over into violence.

• racial tension surges to boiling point.

boiling-water reactor /boiliNG ˈwôdər ˈwädər rēˈaktər / BWR

noun

a nuclear reactor in which the fuel is uranium oxide clad in zircaloy and the coolant and moderator is water, which is boiled to produce steam for driving turbines.

boing /boiNG/

I. exclamation

representing the noise of a compressed spring suddenly released.

II. noun

the noise representing the sound of a compressed spring suddenly released.

III. verb — [no obj.]

1. make a noise like that represented by a compressed spring suddenly released.

– origin 1950s: imitative.

Boise /ˈboisē, -zē/

a city in southwestern Idaho, the capital of the state; pop. 205,314 (est. 2008).

boiserie /bwäzəˈrē/

I. noun

wooden paneling.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French.

boisterous /ˈboist(ə)rəs/

I. adjective

1. (of a person, event, or behavior) noisy, energetic, and cheerful; rowdy

• the boisterous conviviality associated with taverns of that period.

2. (of wind, weather, or water) wild or stormy

• the boisterous wind was lulled.

II. derivatives

1. boisterously /ˈboist(ə)rəslē /

adverb

2. boisterousness /ˈboist(ə)rəsnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘rough, stiff’): variant of earlier boistuous ‘rustic, coarse, boisterous,’ of unknown origin.

boîte /bwät/

I. noun

a small restaurant or nightclub.

– origin French, literally ‘box.’

Bokassa, Jean Bédel /bəˈkäsə/

(1921–96), Central African Republic statesman and military leader; president 1972–76; self-styled emperor 1976–79.

bok choy /ˌbäk ˈCHoi/

noun

Chinese cabbage of a variety with smooth-edged tapering leaves.
Also called pak choi.

bokeh /bōˈkā/

I. noun

[Photography] the visual quality of the out-of-focus areas of a photographic image, especially as rendered by a particular lens

• a quick, visual survey of the foreground and background bokeh of a variety of lenses.

– origin from Japanese.

bokken /ˈbäkən/

noun

a wooden sword used as a practice weapon in kendo.

Bokmål /ˈbo͝okmôl/

I. noun

one of two standard forms of the Norwegian language, a modified form of Danish.
See Norwegian.

– origin from Norwegian bok ‘book’ + mål ‘language.’

bola /ˈbōlə / bolas

I. noun

(especially in South America) a weapon consisting of a number of balls connected by strong cord, which when thrown entangles the limbs of the quarry.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Spanish and Portuguese bolas, plural of bola ‘ball.’

bola tie /ˈbōlə ˌtī/

noun

variant spelling of bolo tie.

bold /bōld/

I. adjective

1. (of a person, action, or idea) showing an ability to take risks; confident and courageous

• a bold attempt to solve the crisis

• he was the only one bold enough to air his dislike.

2. ‹dated› (of a person or manner) so confident as to suggest a lack of shame or modesty

• she tossed him a bold look.

3. (of a color or design) having a strong or vivid appearance

• a coat with bold polka dots.

4. of a kind of typeface having dark, heavy strokes, used especially for emphasis.

II. noun

a bold typeface or letter

• difficult words and phrases are highlighted in bold.

III. phrases

1. be (or make) so bold (as to do something)

‹formal› dare to do something (often used when politely asking a question or making a suggestion)

• what would he be calling for, if I might make so bold as to ask?

2. (as) bold as brass

confident to the point of impudence

• she marched into the library as bold as brass.

3. a bold stroke

a daring action or initiative.

4. put a bold face on something

see face.

– origin Old English bald, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch boud and to German bald ‘soon.’

boldface /ˈbōl(d)fās/

I. noun

a typeface with thick strokes.

II. adjective

printed or displayed in a typeface having thick strokes.

III. derivatives

boldfaced

adjective

boldly /ˈbōldlē/

adverb

1. in a confident and courageous way; showing a willingness to take risks

• you will have our support as long as you fight boldly against corruption

• we urge the educational community to act boldly.

2. ‹dated› in a manner that is so confident as to be impudent or presumptuous

• thieves who boldly robbed the wounded and helpless passengers.

3. in a way that is characterized by having a strong, vivid, or clear appearance

• I grabbed a couple of boldly patterned fabric samples.

boldness /ˈbōldnəs/

noun

1. willingness to take risks and act innovatively; confidence or courage

• the boldness and independence that characterized his leadership

• a president who is showing incredible boldness in going after the cartels.

2. ‹dated› confidence to an impudent or presumptuous degree

• they had the boldness to mock a man who had served his country

• you will overlook my boldness, I hope.

3. the quality of having a strong, vivid, or clear appearance

• the boldness of the hues are very startling

• these works display a great boldness of forms.

bole^1 /bōl/

I. noun

the trunk of a tree.

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse bolr; perhaps related to balk.

bole^2 /bōl/

I. noun

fine, compact, earthy clay, typically of a reddish color, used as a pigment.

– origin Middle English: from late Latin bolus ‘rounded mass’ (see bolus).

bolection /bōˈlekSHən/

I. noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. [Architecture] a decorative molding that separates two planes (or surfaces), especially around a wooden panel, usually convex.

– origin mid 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

bolero /bəˈlerˌō/

I. noun

1. a Spanish dance in simple triple time.

2. a piece of music for the bolero dance.

3. (also bolero jacket) — a woman's short open jacket.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Spanish.

bolete /bōˈlēt / boletus

I. noun

a mushroom or toadstool with pores rather than gills on the underside of the cap. Boletes often have a thick stem, and several kinds are edible.
See also cep. [Genus Boletus, family Boletaceae, class Basidiomycetes.]

– origin from Latin, from Greek bōlitēs, perhaps from bōlos ‘lump.’

Boleyn, Anne /bo͝oˈlin, ˈbo͝olən/

(1507–36), second wife of Henry VIII; mother of Elizabeth I. Henry divorced Catherine of Aragon in order to marry Anne in 1533, but she fell from favor when she failed to provide him with a male heir. She was eventually executed because of alleged infidelities.

Bolger, Ray /ˈbōljər/

(1904–87), US dancer and actor; full name Raymond Wallace Bolger. He is best known for his role as the scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz (1939).

bolide /ˈbōlīd ˈbōləd/

I. noun

a large meteor that explodes in the atmosphere.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French, from Latin bolis, bolid-, from Greek bolis ‘missile.’

Bolingbroke /ˈbäliNGˌbro͝ok/

the surname of Henry IV of England (see Henry^1).

Bolingbrook /ˈbäliNGˌbro͝ok/

a village in northeastern Illinois, southwest of Chicago; pop. 70,823 (est. 2008).

bolivar /bəˈlēˌvär, ˈbäləvər/

I. noun

the basic monetary unit of Venezuela, equal to 100 centimos.

– origin named after S. Bolívar (see Bolívar, Simón).

Bolívar, Simón /bəˈlēˌvär, ˈbäləvər/

(1783–1830), Venezuelan patriot and statesman; known as the Liberator. He succeeded in driving the Spanish from Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador. Upper Peru was named Bolivia in his honor.

Bolivia /bəˈlivēə/

I.
1. a landlocked country in western South America; pop. 9,775,200 (est. 2009); capital, La Paz; legal capital and seat of the judiciary, Sucre; languages, Spanish (official), Aymara, and Quechua.

After the defeat of the Incas, Bolivia became part of Spain's empire in the Americas. Freed from Spanish rule in 1825, it has suffered continually from political instability.

– origin named after Simón Bolívar, who liberated the country from Spanish rule.

Bolivian /bəˈlivēən/

I. adjective

relating to Bolivia, its people, or their culture

• a major Bolivian city.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of Bolivia, or a person of Bolivian descent

• a Bolivian who revolutionized salsa

• many Bolivians marry in church.

boliviano /bəˌlivēˈänō/

I. noun

the basic monetary unit of Bolivia (1863–1962 and since 1987), equal to 100 centavos or cents.

– origin late 19th cent.: Spanish, literally ‘Bolivian,’ from Bolivia.

bolk /bōk / ‹archaic dialect›

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. belch.

2. vomit.

II. noun

1. a belch.

2. an attack of vomiting.

– origin Middle English bolke; related to German bolken ‘roar, bawl’ and Dutch bulken ‘bellow.’ Compare with belch.

boll /bōl/

I. noun

the rounded seed capsule of plants such as cotton or flax.

– origin Middle English (originally denoting a bubble): from Middle Dutch bolle ‘rounded object’; related to bowl^1.

Böll, Heinrich /bœl/

(1917–85), German novelist and short-story writer; full name Heinrich Theodor Böll. Notable works: Billiards at Half Past Nine (1959) and The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum (1974). Nobel Prize for Literature (1972).

bollard /ˈbälərd/

I. noun

1. a short, thick post on the deck of a ship or on a wharf, to which a ship's rope may be secured.

2. (Brit.) a short post used to divert traffic from an area or road.

– origin Middle English (sense 1): perhaps from Old Norse bolr (see bole^1) + -ard.

bollito misto /bōˌlētō ˈmistō/

I. noun

a dish of mixed kinds of meat, such as chicken, veal, and sausage, boiled with vegetables in broth.

– origin Italian, ‘boiled mixed meat,’ from bollito past participle of bollire ‘to boil’ and misto ‘mixed.’

bollix /ˈbäliks / ‹vulgar slang›

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. bollix something up)

1. bungle (a task).

II. plural noun

variant spelling of bollocks.

bollocks /ˈbäləks / ‹vulgar slang chiefly Brit.› ballocks, bollix

I. noun

1. [in pl.] — the testicles.

2. used to express contempt, annoyance, or defiance.

– origin mid 18th cent.: plural of bollock, variant of earlier ballock, of Germanic origin; related to ball^1.

boll weevil

noun

1. a small weevil that feeds on the fibers of the cotton boll. It is a major pest of the American cotton crop.
[Anthonomus grandis, family Curculionidae.]

2. ‹informal› in the US, a conservative Southern Democrat, especially a member of Congress.

bollworm /ˈbōlwərm/

noun

a moth caterpillar that attacks the cotton boll, in particular
[● a small moth that is a serious pest of the North American cotton crop (Pectinophora gossypiella, family Gelechiidae). ● another term for corn earworm.]

Bollywood /ˈbälēˌwo͝od/

I. noun

the Indian movie industry, based in Mumbai (Bombay).

– origin 1970s: blend of Bombay and Hollywood.

bolo /ˈbōlō/

I. noun

1. (pl. bolos) — a large single-edged knife used in the Philippines.

2. variant of bola.

3. short for bolo tie.

– origin Spanish.

BOLO

abbreviation

(typically in police use, referring to a suspected criminal or missing person) be on (the) lookout.

bologna /bəˈlōnē / bologna sausage

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a large smoked, seasoned sausage made of various meats, especially beef and pork.

– origin from Bologna.

Bologna /bəˈlōnyə/

a city in northern Italy, northeast of Florence; pop. 374,944 (2008). Its university, which dates from the 11th century, is the oldest in Europe.

Bolognese /bäləˈnāz/

I. adjective

1. relating to Bologna or its people

• the Bolognese painters of the 17th century.

2. (bolognese or also bolognaise) — ‹Brit.› denoting a sauce of ground beef, tomato, onion, and herbs, typically served with pasta

• ravioli with bolognese sauce

• [postpositive] pasta bolognese.

II. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Bologna

• the Bolognese invented tagliatelle, tortellini, and lasagna.

2. (bolognese or also bolognaise) — ‹Brit.› a pasta dish made with bolognese sauce, in particular spaghetti bolognese, or the sauce itself

• I offered to cook a bolognese for lunch.

– origin Italian; the form bolognaise is via French.

bolometer /bəˈlämədər/

I. noun

a sensitive electrical instrument for measuring radiant energy.

II. derivatives

bolometric /ˌbōləˈmetrik /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek bolē ‘ray of light’ + -meter.

boloney /bəˈlōnē/

noun

old-fashioned spelling of baloney.

bolo tie bola tie

noun

(N. Amer.) a type of tie consisting of a cord worn around the neck with a large, sliding, ornamental fastening at the throat.

Bolshevik /ˈbōlSHəˌvik/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› a member of the majority faction of the Russian Social Democratic Party, which was renamed the Communist Party after seizing power in the October Revolution of 1917.

2. ‹historical› ‹chiefly derogatory› (in general use) a person with politically subversive or radical views; a revolutionary.

II. adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of Bolsheviks or their views or policies.

III. derivatives

Bolshevist /ˈbōlSHəvəst /

noun

– origin Russian, from bolʹshe ‘greater’ (with reference to the greater faction).

Bolshevism /ˈbōlSHəˌvizəm/

I. noun

the communist form of government adopted in Russia following the Bolshevik revolution of 1917

• enthusiastic supporters of Bolshevism.

– origin Russian bol′shevizm, from bolʹshe ‘greater’ (see Bolshevik).

Bolshie /ˈbōlSHē / Bolshy

I. noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› a Bolshevik or socialist.

II. adjective

(Brit.) ‹informal› ‹dated› (of a person or attitude) deliberately combative or uncooperative

• policemen with bolshie attitudes.

III. derivatives

bolshiness

noun

– origin early 20th cent.: abbreviation of Bolshevik.

bolster /ˈbōlstər/

I. noun

1. a long, thick pillow that is placed under other pillows for support.

2. a part of a vehicle or tool providing structural support.

3. [Building] a short timber cap over a post designed to increase the bearing of the beams it supports.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. support or strengthen; prop up

• the fall in interest rates is starting to bolster confidence

• he wished to bolster up his theories with hard data.

2. provide (a seat) with padded support
(as adj. bolstered)

• I snuggled down into the heavily bolstered seat.

– origin Old English (in the sense ‘long, thick pillow’), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bolster and German Polster.

bolt^1 /bōlt/

I. noun

1. a metal pin or bar, in particular

2. a bar that slides into a socket to fasten a door or window.

3. a threaded pin that screws into a nut and is used to fasten things together.

4. the sliding piece of the breech mechanism of a rifle.

5. (in rock climbing) a long pin that is driven into a rock face so that a rope can be attached to it.

6. a short heavy arrow shot from a crossbow.

7. a flash of lightning leaving a jagged line across the sky.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. fasten (something) with a metal pin or bar, in particular

2. fasten (a door or window) with a bar that slides into a socket

• all the doors were locked and bolted.

3. fasten (an object) to something else with a bolt

• the lid was put into position and bolted down

• a camera was bolted to the aircraft.

III. phrases

1. a bolt from (or out of) the blue

a sudden and unexpected event or piece of news

• the job came like a bolt from the blue.

2. bolt upright

upright, with the back rigid and straight

• she sat bolt upright in bed.

3. have shot one's bolt

‹informal› have done all that one is able.

– origin Old English, ‘arrow,’ of unknown origin; related to Dutch bout and German Bolzen ‘arrow, bolt for a door.’

bolt^2 /bōlt/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — (of a horse or other animal) run away suddenly out of control

• the horses shied and bolted.

2. (of a person) move or run away suddenly

• they bolted down the stairs.

3. [with obj.] — (in hunting) cause (a rabbit or fox) to run out of its burrow or hole.

4. (of a plant) grow tall quickly and stop flowering as seeds develop

• the lettuces have bolted.

5. [with obj.] (often bolt something down) — eat or swallow (food) quickly

• it is normal for puppies to bolt down their food.

II. phrases

1. make a bolt for

try to escape by moving suddenly toward (something)

• Ellie made a bolt for the door.

2. shut the stable door after the horse has bolted

try to avert something bad or unwelcome when it is already too late to do so.

– origin Middle English: from bolt^1, expressing the sense ‘fly like an arrow.’

bolt^3 /bōlt/

I. noun

a roll of fabric, originally as a measure

• the room is stacked with bolts of cloth.

– origin Middle English: transferred use of bolt^1.

bolt^4 /bōlt / boult

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› pass (flour, powder, or other material) through a sieve.

– origin Middle English: from Old French bulter, of unknown ultimate origin. The change in the first syllable was due to association with bolt^1.

Bolt, Robert /bōlt/

(1924–95), English writer; full name Robert Oxton Bolt. His play A Man for All Seasons (1960) was made into a movie in 1967. He also wrote the screenplays for Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Dr. Zhivago (1965), and The Mission (1986).

Bolt, Usain

(1986–), Jamaican athlete; full name Usain St. Leo Bolt. At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, he won gold medals in the 100 meter and 200 meter races, setting a new world record time for each. He defended his Olympic titles in 2012, winning gold in the 100 meters and 200 meters.

bolt-action

adjective

(of a gun) having a breech that is opened by turning a bolt and sliding it back.

bolthole /ˈbōltˌhōl/

noun

1. a place where a person can escape and hide

• he thought of Antwerp as a possible bolthole.

2. (chiefly Brit.) a hole or burrow by which a rabbit or other wild animal can escape.

bolting /ˈbōltiNG/

noun

(in rock climbing) the action of driving metal pins into rock faces so that ropes can be attached to them.

Bolton /ˈbōltn/

a town in northwestern England, northwest of Manchester; pop. 135,200 (est. 2009).

bolt-on

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of an extra part of a machine) able to be fastened on with a bolt or catch.

II. noun

an extra part that can be fastened onto a machine with a bolt or catch.

bolt rope

noun

a rope sewn around the edge of a vessel's sail to prevent tearing.

Boltzmann, Ludwig /ˈbôltsmən/

(1844–1906), Austrian physicist. He made contributions to the kinetic theory of gases, statistical mechanics, and thermodynamics. He also derived the Maxwell–Boltzmann equation for the distribution of energy among colliding atoms.

Boltzmann's constant ‹Chemistry›

(Symbol: k) — the ratio of the gas constant to Avogadro's number, equal to 1.381 × 10–23 joules per kelvin in the case where the number of molecules is equal to Avogadro's number.

bolus /ˈbōləs/

I. noun

1. a small rounded mass of a substance, especially of chewed food at the moment of swallowing.

2. a type of large pill used in veterinary medicine.

3. [Medicine] a single dose of a drug or other medicinal preparation given all at once.

– origin mid 16th cent. denoting a large pill of medicine: via late Latin from Greek bōlos ‘clod.’

Bolzano /bôlˈzänō/

a city in northeastern Italy; pop. 102,000 (2009).

bomb /bäm/

I. noun

1. a container filled with explosive, incendiary material, smoke, gas, or other destructive substance, designed to explode on impact or when detonated by a time mechanism, remote-control device, or lit fuse.

2. [with modifier] — an explosive device fitted into a specified object

• a package bomb.

See also car bomb, letter bomb.

3. (the bomb) — nuclear weapons considered collectively as agents of mass destruction

• she joined the fight against the bomb.

4. a small pressurized container that sprays liquid, foam, or gas

• the bug bombs we tried did not kill the cockroaches.

5. (also volcanic bomb) — a lump of lava thrown out by a volcano.

6. ‹informal› a movie, play, or other event that fails badly.

7. an old car, especially a run-down one.

8. a long forward pass or hit in a ball game

• a big 40-yard bomb down the middle to tight end Howard Cross.

9. (the (or da) bomb) — (US) ‹informal› an outstandingly good person or thing

• the site would really be da bomb if its content were updated more frequently.

10. ‹informal› a marijuana cigarette.

11. (a bomb) — (Brit.) ‹informal› a large sum of money

• it will cost a bomb in call charges.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — attack (a place or vehicle) with a bomb or bombs

• London was bombed, night after night

• (as noun bombing) a series of bombings.

2. [no obj.] — ‹informal› (of a movie, play, or other event) fail miserably

• a big-budget movie that bombed at the box office

• he bombed out at several tournaments.

3. [no obj., with adverbial of direction] — (Brit.) ‹informal› move very quickly

• the bus came bombing along.

III. phrases

1. go down a bomb

(Brit.) ‹informal› be very well received

• those gigs we did went down a bomb.

2. it looks like a bomb's hit it

‹informal› used to describe a place that is extremely messy or untidy in appearance.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French bombe, from Italian bomba, probably from Latin bombus ‘booming, humming,’ from Greek bombos, of imitative origin.

bombard

I. verb — /bämˈbärd / [with obj.]

1. attack (a place or person) continuously with bombs, shells, or other missiles

• the city was bombarded by federal forces

• supporters bombarded police with bottles.

2. assail (someone) persistently, as with questions, criticisms, or information

• they will be bombarded with complaints.

3. [Physics] direct a high-speed stream of particles at (a substance).

II. noun — /ˈbämˌbärd /

1. ‹historical› a cannon of the earliest type, which originally fired a stone ball.

– origin late Middle English (as a noun denoting an early form of cannon, also a shawm): from Old French bombarde, probably based on Latin bombus ‘booming, humming’ (see bomb). The verb (late 16th cent.) is from French bombarder.

bombarde /ˈbämˌbärd/

I. noun

[Music] a medieval alto-pitched shawm.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, denoting a shawm (see bombard).

bombardier /ˌbämbə(r)ˈdir/

I. noun

1. a member of a bomber crew in the US Air Force responsible for sighting and releasing bombs.

2. a rank of noncommissioned officer in certain Canadian and British artillery regiments, equivalent to corporal.

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting a soldier in charge of a bombard, an early form of cannon): from French, from Old French bombarde ‘cannon’ (see bombard).

bombardier beetle

noun

a ground beetle that when alarmed discharges a puff of hot irritant vapor from its anus with an audible pop.
[Genus Brachinus, family Carabidae: several species.]

bombardment /bämˈbärdmənt/

noun

1. a continuous attack with bombs, shells, or other missiles

• an aerial bombardment will precede the attack.

2. a continuous flow of questions, criticisms, or information

• a steady bombardment of emails and phone calls.

bombardon /ˈbämbərdən bämˈbärdən/

I. noun

1. [Music] a type of valved bass tuba.

2. [Music] an organ stop imitating this.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Italian bombardone, from bombardo ‘cannon.’ Compare with bombarde.

bombast /ˈbämbast/

I. noun

high-sounding language with little meaning, used to impress people.

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting raw cotton or absorbent cotton used as padding, later used figuratively): from Old French bombace, from medieval Latin bombax, bombac-, alteration of bombyx ‘silkworm’ (see bombazine).

bombastic /ˌbämˈbastik/

I. adjective

high-sounding but with little meaning; inflated

• bombastic rhetoric

• bombastic music that drowned out what anyone was saying.

II. derivatives

bombastically /bämˈbastək(ə)lē /

adverb

Bombay /bämˈbā/

former name (until 1995) for Mumbai.

Bombay duck

I. noun

the bummalo (fish), especially when dried and eaten as an accompaniment with curry.

– origin mid 19th cent.: alteration of bummalo by association with Bombay in India (now Mumbai), from which bummalo were exported.

bombazine /ˈbämbəzēn/

I. noun

a twilled dress fabric of worsted and silk or cotton.

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting raw cotton): from French bombasin, from medieval Latin bombacinum, from bombycinum, neuter of bombycinus ‘silken,’ based on Greek bombux ‘silkworm.’

bomb bay /ˈbäm ˌbā/

noun

a compartment in the fuselage of an aircraft in which bombs are held and from which they may be dropped.

bomb disposal /ˈbäm dəˌspōzəl/

noun

the defusing or removal and detonation of unexploded and delayed-action bombs.

bombe /bäm(b)/

I. noun

1. a frozen dome-shaped dessert.

2. a dome-shaped mold in which a bombe is made.

– origin late 19th cent.: French, literally ‘bomb.’

bombé /bämˈbā/

I. adjective

(of furniture) rounded.

– origin early 20th cent.: French, literally ‘swollen out.’

bombed /bämd/

adjective

1. (of an area or building) subjected to bombing

• the rubble of a bombed house.

2. ‹informal› intoxicated by drink or drugs

• “we might as well get bombed out of our minds,” he said, downing another bottle.

bombed-out /ˌbämdˈout/

adjective

1. [attrib.] — (of a building or city) destroyed by bombing.

2. ‹informal› another term for bombed (sense 2).

bomber /ˈbämər/

noun

1. an aircraft designed to carry and drop bombs.

2. a person who plants, detonates, or throws bombs in a public place, especially as a terrorist.

3. ‹informal› a cigarette containing marijuana.

4. short for bomber jacket.

bomber jacket /ˈbämər ˈjakət/

noun

a short jacket similar to a flight jacket, but with a thick lining typically of sheepskin.

bombinate /ˈbämbəˌnāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹literary› buzz; hum
(as adj. bombinating)

• her head had become a bombinating vacuum.

– origin late 19th cent.: from medieval Latin bombinat- ‘buzzed,’ from the verb bombinare, from Latin bombus ‘humming’ (see bombard).

bombing run

noun

the part of the flight path of a bomber that brings it into position to release its weapons.

bomblet /ˈbämlət/

noun

a small bomb.

bombora /ˌbämˈbôrə/

I. noun

(Austral.) a wave that forms over a submerged offshore reef or rock, sometimes breaking heavily and producing a dangerous stretch of broken water.

– origin 1930s: from an Aboriginal word, perhaps Dharuk bumbora.

bombproof /ˈbämˌpro͞of/

adjective

1. strong enough to resist the effects of blast from a bomb.

2. (of a tame animal, typically a horse) not easily alarmed by unusual circumstances.

• piebald cob, seven years old, good to box, shoe, and clip, bombproof in traffic.

bomb scare

noun

an alert prompted by the suspicion that a bomb has been planted in a public place

• the court building was temporarily evacuated following a bomb scare.

bombshell /ˈbämˌSHel/

noun

1. an overwhelming surprise or disappointment

• the news came as a bombshell.

2. ‹informal› a very attractive woman

• a twenty-year-old blonde bombshell.

3. ‹dated› an artillery shell.

bombsight /ˈbämˌsīt/

noun

a mechanical or electronic device used in an aircraft for aiming bombs.

bomb squad /ˈbäm ˌskwäd/

noun

a division of a police force assigned to defuse explosive devices.

Bon /bän / O-Bon

noun

a Japanese Buddhist festival held annually in August to honor the dead.
Also called Festival of the Dead or Lantern Festival.

Bon, Cape /bôN/

a peninsula in northeastern Tunisia.

bona fide /ˌbōnə ˈfīdē/

I. adjective

genuine; real

• only bona fide members of the company are allowed to use the logo.

II. adverb

[chiefly Law] sincerely; without intention to deceive

• the court will assume that they have acted bona fide.

– origin mid 16th cent.: Latin, literally ‘with good faith,’ ablative singular of bona fides.

bona fides /ˌbōnə ˈfīdēz/

I. noun

1. a person's honesty and sincerity of intention

• he went to great lengths to establish his liberal bona fides.

2. [treated as pl.] — ‹informal› documentary evidence showing a person's legitimacy; credentials

• are you satisfied with my bona fides?

– origin late 18th cent.: Latin, literally ‘good faith.’

Bonaire /bəˈner/

a self-governing territory of the Netherlands, formerly one of the two principal islands of the Netherlands Antilles (the other was Curaçao); chief town, Kralendijk; pop. 12,877 (2009).

bonanza /bəˈnanzə/

I. noun

1. a situation or event that creates a sudden increase in wealth, good fortune, or profits

• a bonanza in military sales

• [as modifier] a bonanza year for the computer industry.

2. a large amount of something desirable

• the festive feature film bonanza.

– origin early 19th cent. (originally US, especially with reference to success when mining): from Spanish, literally ‘fair weather, prosperity,’ from Latin bonus ‘good.’

Bonaparte /ˈbōnəˌpärt / Buonaparte

a Corsican family, including the three French rulers named Napoleon.

bon appétit /ˌbōn ˌapəˈtē/

I. exclamation

used as a salutation to a person about to eat.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, literally ‘good appetite.’

Bonaventura, St. /ˌbōnəˌvenˈto͝orə/

(1221–74), Franciscan theologian; born Giovanni di Fidanza; known as the Seraphic Doctor. He wrote the official biography of St. Francis. Feast day, July 15 (formerly 14).

bonbon /ˈbänˌbän/

I. noun

a piece of candy, especially one covered with chocolate.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French, reduplication of bon ‘good,’ from Latin bonus.

bond /bänd/

I. noun

1. (bonds) — physical restraints used to hold someone or something prisoner, especially ropes or chains.

2. a thing used to tie something or to fasten things together

• she brushed back a curl that had strayed from its bonds

• ‹figurative› chaos could result if the bonds of obedience and loyalty were broken.

3. adhesiveness; ability of two objects to stick to each other

• a total lack of effective bond between the concrete and the steel.

4. a force or feeling that unites people; a common emotion or interest

• there was a bond of understanding between them.

5. an agreement with legal force, in particular

6. [Law] a deed by which a person is committed to make payment to another.

7. a certificate issued by a government or a public company promising to repay borrowed money at a fixed rate of interest at a specified time.

8. an insurance policy held by a company, which protects against losses resulting from circumstances such as bankruptcy or misconduct by employees.

9. (US) a sum of money paid as bail.

10. (also chemical bond) — a strong force of attraction holding atoms together in a molecule or crystal, resulting from the sharing or transfer of electrons.

11. [with modifier] — [Building] any of the various patterns in which bricks are conventionally laid in order to ensure the strength of the resulting structure.
See English bond, Flemish bond.

12. short for bond paper.

II. verb

1. join or be joined securely to something else, typically by means of an adhesive substance, heat, or pressure
[with obj.]

• press the material to bond the layers together

• [no obj.] this material will bond well to stainless steel rods

• (as adj. bonding) a bonding agent.

2. [no obj.] — establish a relationship with someone based on shared feelings, interests, or experiences

• the failure to properly bond with their children

• the team has bonded together well

• (as noun bonding) the film has some great male bonding scenes.

3. join or be joined by a chemical bond.

4. [with obj.] (usu. as adj. bonding) — lay (bricks) in an overlapping pattern so as to form a strong structure

• a bonding course.

5. (usu. as noun bonding) — place (dutiable goods) in bond.

– origin Middle English: variant of band^1.

bondage /ˈbändij/

I. noun

1. the state of being a slave

• the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt's bondage

• ‹figurative› the bondage of drug addiction.

2. sexual practice that involves the tying up or restraining of one partner.

– origin Middle English: from Anglo-Latin bondagium, from Middle English bond ‘serf’ (earlier ‘peasant, householder’), from Old Norse bóndi ‘tiller of the soil,’ based on búa ‘dwell’; influenced in sense by bond.

bonded /ˈbändəd/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of a thing) joined securely to another thing, especially by an adhesive, a heat process, or pressure

• bonded metal plates.

2. emotionally or psychologically linked

• a strongly bonded group of females.

3. held by a chemical bond

• bonded atoms.

4. (of a person or company) bound by a legal agreement, in particular

5. (of a debt) secured by bonds.

6. (of a worker or workforce) obliged to work for a particular employer, often in a condition close to slavery.

7. (of dutiable goods) placed in bond.

bonded warehouse /ˈbändəd ˈwe(ə)rˌhous/

noun

a customs-controlled warehouse for the retention of imported goods until the duty owed is paid.

bondholder /ˈbändˌhōldər/

noun

a person owning a bond or bonds issued by a government or a public company.

bondmaid /ˈbän(d)mād/

noun

‹archaic› a slave girl.

bondman /ˈbän(d)mən/

noun

‹archaic› a serf; a slave.

bond paper

noun

high-quality writing paper.

Bonds, Barry /bändz/

(1964–), US baseball player; full name Barry Lamar Bonds. The winner of seven National League Most Valuable Player awards (1990, 1992, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004), he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates 1986–1992 and the San Francisco Giants from 1993. In 2007, he eclipsed the home run record (755) of Hank Aaron.

bondservant /ˈbän(d)ˌsərvənt/

noun

1. a person bound in service without wages.

2. a slave or serf.

bondsman /ˈbändzmən/

I. noun

1. a person who stands surety for a bond.

2. ‹archaic› a slave.

– origin early 18th cent.: sense 1 from bond + man; sense 2 is a variant of Middle English bondman, from obsolete bond ‘serf’ (see also bondage).

bondwoman /ˈbän(d)ˌwo͝omən/

noun

a female bondservant or slave.

bone /bōn/

I. noun

1. any of the pieces of hard, whitish tissue making up the skeleton in humans and other vertebrates

• his injuries included many broken bones

• a shoulder bone.

The substance of bones is formed by specialized cells (osteoblasts) that secrete around themselves a material containing calcium salts (which provide hardness and strength in compression) and collagen fibers (which provide tensile strength). Many bones have a central cavity containing marrow.

2. (bones) — a person's body

• he hauled his tired bones upright.

3. (bones) — a corpse or skeleton

• the diggers turned up the bones of a fifteen-year-old girl

• bones of prehistoric mammals.

4. a bone of an animal with meat on it, used as food for people or dogs

• stewed in stock made with a ham bone

• dogs yelping over a bone.

5. the calcified material of which bones consist

• an earring of bone.

6. a substance similar to bone such as ivory, dentin, or whalebone.

7. (often bones) — a thing made of, or once made of, such a substance, for example a pair of dice.

8. the whitish color of bone

• the sandals she had dyed bone to match the small purse.

9. (bones) — the basic or essential framework of something

• you need to put some flesh on the bones of your idea.

10. ‹vulgar slang› a penis.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — remove the bones from (meat or fish)

• while the gumbo is simmering, bone the cooked chicken.

2. [no obj.] (bone up on) — ‹informal› study (a subject) intensively, often in preparation for something

• she boned up on languages she had learned long ago and went back to New Guinea.

3. [with obj.] — (US) ‹vulgar slang› (of a man) have sexual intercourse with (someone).

III. phrases

1. a bag of bones

see bag.

2. the bare bones

see bare.

3. be skin and bones

see skin.

4. a bone of contention

a subject or issue over which there is continuing disagreement

• the examination system has long been a serious bone of contention.

5. close to (or near) the bone

a. (of a remark) penetrating and accurate to the point of causing hurt or discomfort.

b. destitute; hard up.

6. cut (or pare) something to the bone

reduce something to the bare minimum

• costs will have to be cut to the bone.

7. (as) dry as a bone

see dry.

8. have a bone to pick with someone

‹informal› have reason to disagree or be annoyed with someone.

9. have not a —— bone in one's body

(of a person) have not the slightest trace of the specified quality

• there's not a conservative bone in his body.

10. in one's bones

felt, believed, or known deeply or instinctively

• he has rhythm in his bones

• something good was bound to happen; he could feel it in his bones.

11. make no bones about something

have no hesitation in stating or dealing with something, however awkward or distasteful it is

• the film is an op-ed piece, and the director makes no bones about its biases.

12. to the bone

a. (of a wound) so deep as to expose a person's bone

• his thigh had been axed open to the bone

• ‹figurative› his contempt cut her to the bone.

b. (especially of cold) affecting a person in a penetrating way

• chilled to the bone.

c. (or to one's bones) — used to emphasize that a person has a specified quality in an overwhelming or fundamental way

• she's a New Englander to her bones

• he's a cop to the bone.

13. throw a bone to

give someone only a token concession

• was the true purpose of the minimum wage hike to throw a bone to the unions?

14. what's bred in the bone will come out in the flesh (or blood)

‹proverb› a person's behavior or characteristics are determined by heredity.

15. work one's fingers to the bone

work very hard

• Tracy can work her fingers to the bone, but it's Ms. Green who gets the thanks.

– origin Old English bān, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch been and German Bein.

Bône /bōn/

former name for Annaba.

bone ash

noun

the mineral residue of calcined bones, used chiefly in the production of bone china and fertilizers.

bone black

noun

fine charcoal made by burning animal bones in a closed container, used as a pigment and in the refining of sugar.

bone-breaking

adjective

1. (also bone-shaking) — (of a surface or journey) bumpy, rough, or involving many sudden jolts

• what passed for roads were now simply bone-breaking tracks

• a bone-shaking two-hour drive.

2. involving great physical force or violence

• a bone-breaking blow.

bone china /ˌbōn ˈCHīnə/

noun

fine china made of clay mixed with bone ash.

boned /bōnd/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of meat or fish) having had the bones removed before cooking or serving

• boned turkey with cranberry stuffing.

2. [in combination] — (of a person) having bones of the specified type

• she was fine-boned and boyishly slim.

3. (of a garment) stiffened with strips of plastic or whalebone to give shape to the figure or the garment.

bone-dry

adjective

extremely or completely dry.

bonefish /ˈbōnˌfiSH/

noun

a silvery game fish of warm coastal waters.
Also called ladyfish. [Family Albulidae and genus Albula: several species, in particular A. vulpes.]

bonehead /ˈbōnˌhed/

I. noun

‹informal› a stupid person.

II. derivatives

boneheaded /ˈbōnˌhedəd /

adjective

boneless /ˈbōnləs/

I. adjective

1. (of a piece of meat or fish) having had the bones removed.

2. lacking physical or mental strength

• the slack and boneless character of his writing.

II. derivatives

bonelessly

adverb

• he collapsed bonelessly into an easy chair

bonemeal /ˈbōnˌmēl/

noun

crushed or ground bones used as a fertilizer.

boner /ˈbōnər/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a stupid mistake.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹vulgar slang› an erection of the penis.

– origin early 20th cent. (originally US): from bone + -er^1.

boneset /ˈbōnset/

noun

1. a North American plant of the daisy family that bears clusters of small flowers and is used in herbal medicine.
[Genus Eupatorium, family Compositae, several species, in particular the white-flowered E. perfoliatum and its purple-flowered form, purple boneset.]

2. another term for comfrey.
[its ground-up root was formerly used as a ‘plaster’ to set broken bones.]

bonesetter /ˈbōnˌsedər/

noun

‹historical› a person, typically not formally qualified, who sets broken or dislocated bones.

bone spavin

noun

osteoarthritis of the hock in horses, which may cause swelling and lameness.

bone-weary /ˌbōnˈwirē / bone-tired

adjective

utterly weary; extremely tired.

boneyard /ˈbōnyärd/

noun

‹informal› a cemetery.

bonfire /ˈbänˌfī(ə)r/

I. noun

a large open-air fire used as part of a celebration, for burning trash, or as a signal.

– origin late Middle English: from bone + fire. The term originally denoted a large open-air fire on which bones were burned (sometimes as part of a celebration), also one for burning heretics or proscribed literature. Dr. Johnson accepted the mistaken idea that the word came from French bon ‘good.’

bong^1 /bäNG/

I. noun

a low-pitched, resonant sound such as made by a large bell

• the clock had struck the hour, and it was only three bongs.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (especially of a bell) emit a low-pitched, resonant sound.

– origin 1920s (originally US): imitative.

bong^2 /bäNG/

I. noun

a water pipe used for smoking marijuana or other drugs.

– origin 1970s: from Thai baung, literally ‘wooden tube.’

bong^3 /bäNG/

I. noun

[Mountaineering] a large piton.

– origin 1960s: probably imitative of the sound of its being hammered into rock.

bongo^1 /ˈbäNGɡō / bongo drum

I. noun

either of a pair of small, long-bodied drums typically held between the knees and played with the fingers.

– origin 1920s: from Latin American Spanish bongó.

bongo^2 /ˈbäNGɡō/

I. noun

a forest antelope that has a chestnut coat with narrow white vertical stripes, native to central Africa.
[Tragelaphus euryceros, family Bovidae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Kikongo.

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich /ˈbänˌhôfər/

(1906–45), German Lutheran theologian and pastor. He was an active opponent of Nazism and was involved in the German resistance movement. Arrested in 1943, he was sent to Buchenwald concentration camp and later executed.

bonhomie /ˌbänəˈmē ˈbänəmē/

I. noun

cheerful friendliness; geniality

• he exuded good humor and bonhomie.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French, from bonhomme ‘good fellow.’

bonhomous /ˈbänəməs/

I. adjective

full of cheerful friendliness

• her relaxed, bonhomous nature.

– origin early 20th cent.: from bonhomie + -ous.

boniato /ˌbänēˈädō/

I. noun

a variety of sweet potato with white flesh.

– origin American Spanish.

Boniface, St. /ˈbänəfəs/

(680–754), Anglo-Saxon missionary; born Wynfrith; known as the Apostle of Germany. He was sent to Frisia and Germany to spread the Christian faith and was appointed primate of Germany in 732. He was martyred in Frisia. Feast day, June 5.

bonito /bəˈnēdō/

I. noun

1. a smaller relative of the tunas, with dark oblique stripes on the back and important as a food and game fish.
[Sarda and related genera, family Scombridae: several species.]

2. (also ocean bonito) — another term for skipjack (sense 1).

– origin late 16th cent.: from Spanish.

bonk /bäNGk / ‹informal›

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — knock or hit (something) so as to cause a reverberating sound

• he bonked his head on the plane's low bulkhead.

2. [with obj.] — have sexual intercourse with (someone).

3. [no obj.] — (of a cyclist or runner) reach a point of exhaustion that makes one unable to go further

• I bonked and couldn't pedal another stroke.

II. noun

1. an act of knocking or hitting something that causes a reverberating sound

• give it a bonk with a hammer.

2. an act of sexual intercourse.

3. (the bonk) — a level of exhaustion that makes a cyclist or runner unable to go further

• we had the bonk when we were saddle sore.

– origin 1930s: imitative.

bonkers /ˈbäNGkərz/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) mad; crazy

• and the fans go bonkers

• he's driving me bonkers.

– origin 1940s: of unknown origin.

bon mot /bäːnˈmō/

I. noun

a witty remark.

– origin mid 18th cent.: French, literally ‘good word.’

Bonn /bän/

a city in the state of North Rhine–Westphalia in Germany; pop. 314,300 (est. 2006). From 1949 until the reunification of Germany in 1990, it was the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany).

Bonnard, Pierre /bôˈnär/

(1867–1947), French painter and graphic artist; member of the Nabi Group.

bonne femme /ˌbän ˈfam/

I. adjective — [postpositive]

1. (of fish dishes, stews, and soups) cooked in a simple way.

– origin French, from the phrase à la bonne femme ‘in the manner of a good housewife.’

bonnet /ˈbänət/

I. noun

1. a woman's or child's hat tied under the chin, typically with a brim framing the face.

2. (also war bonnet) — the ceremonial feathered headdress of an American Indian.

3. a soft round brimless hat like a beret, especially as worn by men and boys in Scotland.

4. [Heraldry] the velvet cap within a coronet.

5. a protective cover or cap over a machine or object, in particular

6. a cowl on a chimney.

7. (Brit.) the hood of an automobile.

8. [Sailing] ‹historical› an additional canvas laced to the foot of a sail to catch more wind.

II. derivatives

bonneted

adjective

bonnet (sense 1)

– origin late Middle English (denoting a soft brimless hat for men): from Old French bonet, from medieval Latin abonnis ‘headgear.’ Sense 1 dates from the late 15th cent.

Bonneville Dam /ˌbänəvil ˈdam/

hydroelectric dam built in the 1930s on the Columbia River, east of Portland in Oregon.

Bonneville Salt Flats

a desert in northwestern Utah, west of the Great Salt Lake, noted as the site of automotive speed trials.

Bonney, William H. /ˈbänē/

(1859–81), US outlaw; born Henry McCarty; known as Billy the Kid. A notorious robber and murderer, he was captured by Sheriff Pat Garrett in 1880 and was shot by Garrett after he had escaped from jail.

bonny /ˈbänē / ‹chiefly Scottish N. English› bonnie

I. adjective

1. attractive; beautiful

• a bonny lass.

2. (of a baby) plump and healthy-looking.

3. sizable; considerable (usually expressing approval)

• it's worth a thousand pounds, a bonny sum.

II. noun — (my bonny)

1. ‹literary› used as a form of address for one's beloved or baby.

III. derivatives

1. bonnily /ˈbänəlē /

adverb

2. bonniness

noun

– origin late 15th cent.: perhaps related to Old French bon ‘good.’

bonny clabber

I. noun

another term for clabber.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Irish bainne clabair, denoting thick milk for churning.

Bono, Sonny /ˈbōnō/

(1935–98), US entertainer and politician; born Salvatore Bono. Famed as half of the singing duo Sonny and Cher 1964–74, he later became a Republican politician. He was elected mayor of Palm Springs, California, in 1988 and served in the US House of Representatives 1995–98. He died in a skiing accident.

bonobo /bəˈnōbō/

I. noun

a chimpanzee with a black face and black hair, found in the rain forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire).
Also called pygmy chimpanzee. [Pan paniscus, family Pongidae.]

– origin 1950s: a local word.

bonsai /bänˈsī ˈbänˌsī/

I. noun

1. an ornamental tree or shrub grown in a pot and artificially prevented from reaching its normal size.

2. the art of growing ornamental, artificially dwarfed trees or shrubs.

– origin 1950s: from Japanese, from bon ‘tray’ + sai ‘planting.’

bons mots /ˌbän ˈmō/

plural form of bon mot.

bonspiel /ˈbänspēl/

I. noun

(chiefly Scottish) (Canadian) a curling tournament.

– origin mid 16th cent.: probably of Low German origin.

bontebok /ˈbän(t)ēˌbäk/

I. noun

an antelope with a mainly reddish-brown coat and white face, found in eastern South Africa. It belongs to the same species as the blesbok.
[Damaliscus dorcas dorcas, family Bovidae.]

– origin late 18th cent.: from Afrikaans, from Dutch bont ‘pied’ + bok ‘buck.’

bon ton /bän ˈtän, bôN ˈtôN/

I. noun

the fashionable world.

– origin French, literally ‘good taste.’

bonus /ˈbōnəs/

I. noun

1. an amount of money added to wages on a seasonal basis, especially as a reward for good performance

• big Christmas bonuses.

2. something welcome and often unexpected that accompanies and enhances something that is itself good

• good weather is an added bonus but the real appeal is the landscape.

3. [Basketball] an extra free throw awarded to a fouled player when the opposing team has exceeded the number of team fouls allowed during a period.

4. (Brit.) an extra dividend or issue paid to the shareholders of a company.

5. (Brit.) a distribution of profits to holders of an insurance policy.

– origin late 18th cent. (probably originally London stock-exchange slang): from Latin bonus (masculine) ‘good,’ used in place of bonum (neuter) ‘good, good thing.’ Compare with boon^2.

bon vivant /ˌbän vēˈvänt/

I. noun

a person who enjoys a sociable and luxurious lifestyle.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French, literally ‘person living well,’ from bon ‘good’ and vivre ‘to live.’

bon viveur /ˈbän vēˈvər, ˌbôN vēˈvœr/

I. noun

another term for bon vivant.

– origin mid 19th cent.: pseudo-French, from French bon ‘good’ and viveur ‘a living person,’ on the pattern of bon vivant.

bon voyage /ˌbän ˌvoiˈäZH/

I. exclamation

used to express good wishes to someone about to go on a journey

• good luck and bon voyage!

• they had come to wish her bon voyage.

– origin late 17th cent.: French, literally ‘good journey.’

bony /ˈbōnē/

I. adjective

1. of or like bone

• the bony plates that protect turtles and tortoises.

2. (of a person or part of the body) so thin that the bones are prominent

• he held up his bony fingers.

3. (of a fish eaten as food) having many bones.

II. derivatives

boniness

noun

bony fish /ˈbōnē fiSH/

noun

a fish of a large class distinguished by a skeleton of bone, and comprising the majority of modern fishes.
Compare with cartilaginous fish. [Class Osteichthyes: two or three subclasses.]

bonze /bänz/

I. noun

a Japanese or Chinese Buddhist monk.

– origin late 16th cent.: probably from Japanese bonzō, bonsō ‘priest.’

bonzer /ˈbänzər/

I. adjective

(Austral./NZ) ‹informal› excellent, first-rate.

– origin early 20th cent.: perhaps an alteration of bonanza.

boo^1 /bo͞o/

I. exclamation

1. said suddenly to surprise someone

• “Boo!” she cried, jumping up to frighten him.

[probably an alteration of earlier bo, used in the same way since late Middle English.]

2. said to show disapproval or contempt, especially at a performance or athletic contest.

II. noun

an utterance of “boo” to show disapproval or contempt

• the audience greeted this comment with boos and hisses.

III. verb

say “boo” to show disapproval or contempt
[no obj.]

• they booed and hissed when he stepped on stage

• [with obj.] I was practically booed off the stage for talking about cyberpunk.

IV. phrases

1. say boo

[with negative] — say anything at all; utter a sound

• Walter looked at us, but he didn't say boo.

2. wouldn't say boo to a goose

(Brit.) used to emphasize that someone is very shy or reticent.

– origin early 19th cent. (sense 2 of the exclamation): imitative of the lowing of oxen. The sound was considered to be derisive; compare with hiss and hoot.

boo^2 /bo͞o/

I. noun

(US) ‹informal› a person's boyfriend or girlfriend.

– origin 1980s: origin uncertain; probably an alteration of French beau ‘boyfriend, male admirer.’

boob^1 /bo͞ob / ‹informal›

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a foolish or stupid person

• why was that boob given a key investigation?

2. (Brit.) an embarrassing mistake.

– origin early 20th cent.: abbreviation of booby^1.

boob^2 /bo͞ob/

I. noun — (usu. boobs)

1. ‹informal› a woman's breast.

– origin 1950s (originally US): abbreviation of booby^2, from dialect bubby, of uncertain origin; perhaps related to German dialect Bübbi ‘teat.’

booboisie /ˌbo͞obwäˈzē/

I. noun

(US) ‹informal› stupid people as a class.

– origin 1920s: from boob^1, humorous formation on the pattern of bourgeoisie.

boo-boo /ˈbo͞obo͞o/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› a mistake

• you could make a big boo-boo if you leap to any drastic conclusions.

2. ‹informal› (N. Amer.) a minor injury, such as a scratch

• there is no one to kiss the boo-boo!

– origin 1950s (originally US): reduplication of boob^1.

boob tube /bo͞ob t(y)o͞ob / ‹informal›

noun — (usu. the boob tube)

1. (N. Amer.) television or a television set

• librarians are scrambling for ways to compete with the boob tube.

booby^1 /ˈbo͞obē/

I. noun

1. a stupid or childish person.

2. a large tropical seabird of the gannet family, with brown, black, or white plumage and often brightly colored feet.
[Genus Sula, family Sulidae: several species, including the common red-footed booby (S. sula).]

– origin early 17th cent.: probably from Spanish bobo (in both senses), from Latin balbus ‘stammering.’

booby^2 /ˈbo͞obē/

I. noun — (usu. boobies)

1. ‹informal› a woman's breast.

– origin 1930s: alteration of dialect bubby (see boob^2).

booby hatch /ˈbo͞obē ˌhaCH/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a psychiatric hospital.

booby prize /ˈbo͞obē ˌprīz/

noun

a prize given as a joke to the last-place finisher in a race or competition.

booby trap /ˈbo͞obē ˌtrap/

I. noun

1. a thing designed to catch the unwary, in particular

2. an apparently harmless object containing a concealed explosive device designed to kill or injure anyone who touches it

• miles of mines, booby traps, and underground fortifications.

3. a trap intended as a practical joke, such as an object placed on top of a door ajar ready to fall on the next person to pass through.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. place a booby trap in or on (an object or area)
(as adj. booby-trapped)

• the area was heavily mined and booby-trapped.

boodle /ˈbo͞odl/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› money, especially that gained or spent illegally or improperly

• he spent $30 million of his own boodle trying to buy a Senate seat.

2. (boodles) — a great quantity, especially of money

• Scandinavian Air has boodles of seats for America

• the men expected to make boodles.

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting a pack or crowd): from Dutch boedel, boel ‘possessions, disorderly mass.’ Compare with caboodle.

boogaloo /ˈbo͞oɡəˌlo͞o / ‹US›

I. noun

a modern dance to rock-and-roll music performed with swiveling and shuffling movements of the body, originally popular in the 1960s.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. perform the boogaloo dance.

– origin 1960s: perhaps an alteration of boogie-woogie (see boogie).

booger /ˈbo͝oɡər/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› another term for bogeyman.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a piece of dried nasal mucus.

boogeyman /ˈbo͞oːɡēman/

noun

variant spelling of bogeyman.

boogie /ˈbo͝oɡē/

I. noun

1. a style of blues played on the piano with a strong, fast beat.

2. ‹informal› a dance to fast pop or rock music.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹informal› dance to fast pop or rock music

• ready to boogie down to the music of the house band

• he can boogie the night away.

2. ‹informal› (N. Amer.) move or leave somewhere fast

• I think we'd better boogie on out of here.

– origin early 20th cent. (originally US in the sense ‘party’): of unknown origin.

boogie board

I. noun

a short light type of surfboard ridden in a prone position.

II. derivatives

boogie boarder

noun

boohoo /ˌbo͞oˈho͞o/

I. exclamation

used to represent the sound of someone crying noisily.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. cry noisily

• she broke down and boohooed.

– origin mid 19th cent.: imitative.

boojum /ˈbo͞ojəm/

I. noun

an imaginary dangerous animal.

– origin 1876: nonsense word coined by Lewis Carroll.

book /bo͝ok/

I. noun

1. a written or printed work consisting of pages glued or sewn together along one side and bound in covers

• a book of selected poems

• a book on cats

• [as modifier] a book report.

2. a literary composition that is published or intended for publication as a book

• the book is set in the 1940s

• I'm writing a book.

3. (the books) — used to refer to studying

• he is so deep in his books he would forget to eat.

4. a main division of a classic literary work, an epic, or the Bible

• the Book of Genesis.

5. the libretto of an opera or musical, or the script of a play.

6. (the book) — the local telephone directory

• is your name in the book?

7. (the Book) — the Bible.

8. ‹informal› a magazine.

9. an imaginary record or list (often used to emphasize the thoroughness or comprehensiveness of someone's actions or experiences)

• she felt every emotion in the book of love.

10. [with modifier] — a bound set of blank sheets for writing or keeping records in

• an accounts book.

11. (books) — a set of records or accounts

• he can do more than balance the books.

12. a bookmaker's record of bets accepted and money paid out.

13. a set of tickets, stamps, matches, checks, samples of cloth, etc., bound together

• a pattern book

• a book of matches.

14. (the book) — the first six tricks taken by the declarer in a hand of bridge.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. reserve (accommodations, a place, etc.); buy (a ticket) in advance

• I have booked a table at the Swan

• [no obj.] book early to avoid disappointment.

2. reserve accommodations for (someone)

• his secretary had booked him into the Howard Hotel

• [with two objs.] book me a single room at my usual hotel.

3. engage (a performer or guest) for an occasion or event.

4. (be booked (up)) — have all appointments or places reserved; be full

• I'm booked till, like, 2014.

5. make an official record of the name and other personal details of (a criminal suspect or offender)

• the cop booked me and took me down to the station.

6. [no obj.] — (US) ‹informal› leave suddenly

• they just ate your pizza and drank your soda and booked.

7. move quickly; hurry

• my sister and I booked to the playground

• I didn't hear the verdict because I had to book it to work.

III. phrases

1. bring someone to book

bring someone to justice; punish.

2. by the book

strictly according to the rules

• a cop who doesn't exactly play it by the book.

3. close the book on

lay aside; expend no further energy on

• Congress closed the book on wool subsidies.

4. in someone's bad (or good) books

(chiefly Brit.) in disfavor (or favor) with a person.

5. in my book

in my opinion

• that counts as a lie in my book.

6. make book

(US) take bets on the outcome of an event.

• ‹figurative› I wouldn't make book on it.

7. one for the books

an extraordinary feat or event.

8. on the books

contained in a book of laws or records

• discriminatory laws still on the books

• the longest pitching career on the books.

9. People of the Book

Jews and Christians as regarded by Muslims.

10. suit someone's book

(Brit.) be convenient for someone

• it didn't suit her book at all to be moved.

11. take a leaf from (or out of) someone's book

imitate or emulate someone in a particular way

• Gorbachev must take a leaf from Deng's book and offer tangible benefits.

12. throw the book at

‹informal› charge or punish (someone) as severely as possible.

13. write the book

used in reference to particular expertise or proficiency in a subject, area of activity, etc.

• they actually care about the product they are making and they wrote the book on customer service

• he pretty much writes the book on how to be perfect in the media.

14. you can't judge a book by its cover

‹proverb› outward appearances are not a reliable indication of true character.

IV. derivatives

bookable /ˈbo͝okəbəl /

adjective

– origin Old English bōc (originally also ‘a document or charter’), bōcian ‘to grant by charter,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch boek and German Buch, and probably to beech (on which runes were carved).

book bag

noun

a bag of a type used to carry books

• Jane swung her book bag on to her shoulder.

bookbinder /ˈbo͝okˌbīndər/

I. noun

a person who binds books as a profession.

II. derivatives

bookbinding /ˈbo͝okˌbīndiNG /

noun

bookcase /ˈbo͝okˌkās/

noun

a set of shelves for books set in a surrounding frame or cabinet.

book club /ˈbo͝ok ˌkləb/

noun

1. another term for book group.

• I chose this novel for our book club but was a little disappointed in it.

2. an organization that sells selected books to members or subscribers, typically at reduced prices.

• to take advantage of the discounts consumers will have to sign up to the book club.

bookend /ˈbo͝okˌend/

I. noun

a support for the end of a row of books to keep them upright, often one of a pair.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be bookended)

1. ‹informal› occur or be positioned at the end or on either side of (something)

• the narrative is bookended by a pair of incisive essays.

booker /ˈbo͝okər/

noun

short for booking agent.

Booker Prize /ˈbo͝okər ˌprīz/

a literary prize awarded annually for a novel published by a British, Irish, or Commonwealth citizen during the previous year, formerly financed by the multinational company Booker McConnell and since 2002 by the investment management firm Man Group plc. Full name Man Booker Prize.

book group

noun

a group of people who meet regularly to discuss books that all the members have read.

book hand

noun

a formal style of handwriting as used by professional copiers of books before the invention of printing.

bookie /ˈbo͝okē/

noun

informal term for bookmaker.

booking /ˈbo͝okiNG/

noun

1. an act of reserving accommodations, travel, etc., or of buying a ticket in advance

• the hotel does not handle group bookings

• early booking is essential.

2. an engagement for a performance by an entertainer

• TV show bookings were mysteriously canceled.

booking agent

noun

1. a person who makes engagements or reservations for others, in particular

2. a person who arranges concert or club engagements for performers.

3. a person who makes travel arrangements for clients.

booking clerk /ˈbo͝okiNG klərk/

noun

(Brit.) an official selling tickets, especially at a railroad station.

booking hall booking office

noun

(Brit.) a room or area at a railroad station in which tickets are sold.

bookish /ˈbo͝okiSH/

I. adjective

1. (of a person or way of life) devoted to reading and studying rather than worldly interests

• by comparison I was very bookish, intellectual, and wordy in a wrong way.

2. (of language or writing) literary in style or allusion

• long bookish scholarship

• a bookish but eloquent erotic memoir.

II. derivatives

1. bookishly

adverb

2. bookishness /ˈbo͝okiSHnəs /

noun

bookkeeper /ˈbo͝o(k)ˌkēpər/

noun

a person whose job is to keep records of the financial affairs of a business

• the business had grown enough to justify hiring a bookkeeper.

bookkeeping /ˈbo͝okˌkēpiNG/

noun

the activity or occupation of keeping records of the financial affairs of a business.

book learning /ˈbo͝ok ˌlərniNG/

noun

knowledge gained from books or study; mere theory

• knowledge based on experience rather than book learning.

booklet /ˈbo͝oklit/

noun

a small book consisting of a few sheets, typically with paper covers.

booklouse /ˈbo͝oklous/

noun

a minute insect that typically has reduced or absent wings and often lives in books or papers, where it feeds on mold.
[Liposcelidae and related families in the order Psocoptera: many species.]

book lung

noun

[Zoology] (in a spider or other arachnid) each of a pair of respiratory organs composed of many fine leaves. They are situated in the abdomen and have openings on the underside.

bookmaker /ˈbo͝okˌmākər/

I. noun

a person who takes bets (especially on horse races), calculates odds, and pays out winnings.

II. derivatives

bookmaking /ˈbo͝okˌmākiNG /

noun

bookman /ˈbo͝okmən/

noun

a literary person, especially one involved in the business of books.

bookmark /ˈbo͝okˌmärk/

I. noun

1. a strip of leather, cardboard, or other material used to mark one's place in a book.

2. a record of the address of a website, file, or other data made to enable quick access in future.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. record the address of (a website, file, etc.) to enable quick access in future

• if you think politics is the ultimate game, be sure to bookmark eVote.

bookmarklet /ˈbo͝okmärklət/

noun

[Computing] a small software application stored as a bookmark in a web browser, which typically allows a user to interact with the currently loaded web page in some way.

• a JavaScript bookmarklet designed to help uncover clickjacking sites.

bookmobile /ˈbo͝okməbēl/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a truck, van, or trailer serving as a mobile library.

– origin 1930s: from book, on the pattern of automobile.

Book of Changes

noun

another name for I Ching.

Book of Common Prayer

noun

the official service book of the Church of England and, with some variation, of other churches of the Anglican Communion. It was compiled by Thomas Cranmer and others and first issued in 1549.

book of hours

noun

(in the Christian Church) a book containing the prayers or offices to be said at the canonical hours of the day, particularly popular in the Middle Ages.

book page

noun

1. a page of a book.

2. a page of a newspaper or magazine devoted to book reviews.

bookplate /ˈbo͝okˌplāt/

noun

a decorative label stuck in the front of a book, bearing the name of the book's owner.

bookrack /ˈbo͝okrak/

noun

1. a rack or shelf for books.

2. a stand or rack for holding an open book.
Also called bookstand.

bookseller /ˈbo͝okˌselər/

I. noun

a person who sells books, especially as the owner or manager of a bookstore.

II. derivatives

bookselling /ˈbo͝okˌseliNG /

noun

bookshelf /ˈbo͝okˌSHelf/

noun

a shelf on which books can be stored.

bookstall /ˈbo͝okˌstôl/

noun

1. a stand where books are sold, typically secondhand.

2. (chiefly Brit.) a newsstand.

bookstand /ˈbo͝okstand/

noun

1. another term for bookstall.

2. another term for bookrack.

bookstore /ˈbo͝okstôr / ‹chiefly Brit.› bookshop

noun

a store where books are sold.

book-to-bill ratio

noun

[Economics] the ratio of new orders to completed sales in the semiconductor industry, regarded as an economic indicator for overall trends in the technology sector

• the company's book-to-bill ratio was below 1 in the quarter, indicating that it is seeing weak order patterns.

book value /ˈbo͝ok ˌvalyo͞o/

noun

the value of a security or asset as entered in a company's books.
Often contrasted with market value.

bookwork /ˈbo͝okwərk/

noun

1. the activity of keeping records of accounts

• the bookwork has a tendency to pile up if I don't keep on top of it.

2. the studying of textbooks, as opposed to practical work

• he concentrates mainly on the flying, but the heavy bookwork is in there too.

bookworm /ˈbo͝okˌwərm/

noun

1. ‹informal› a person devoted to reading.

2. the larva of a wood-boring beetle that feeds on the paper and glue in books.

Boole, George /bo͞ol/

(1815–64), English mathematician; responsible for Boolean algebra. The study of mathematical or symbolic logic developed mainly from his ideas.

Boolean /ˈbo͞olēən/

I. adjective

denoting a system of algebraic notation used to represent logical propositions, especially in computing and electronics.

II. noun

[Computing] a binary variable, having two possible values called “true” and “false.”

– origin mid 19th cent.: from the name of G. Boole (see Boole, George) + -an.

boom^1 /bo͞om/

I. noun

1. a loud, deep, resonant sound

• the deep boom of the bass drum.

2. the characteristic resonant call of the bittern.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. make a loud, deep, resonant sound

• thunder boomed in the sky

• her voice boomed out.

2. [with direct speech] — say in a loud, deep, resonant voice

• the imperative “Silence!” boomed out by Ray himself.

3. (of a bittern) utter its characteristic resonant call.

III. derivatives

boomy

adjective

– origin late Middle English (as a verb): ultimately imitative; perhaps from Dutch bommen ‘to hum, buzz.’

boom^2 /bo͞om/

I. noun

a period of great prosperity or rapid economic growth

• a boom in precious metal mining

• [as modifier] a boom economy.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. enjoy a period of great prosperity or rapid economic growth

• business is booming

• the popularity of soy-based foods has boomed in the last two decades.

III. derivatives

1. boomlet /ˈbo͞omlit /

noun

2. boomy

adjective

– origin late 19th cent. (originally US): probably from boom^1.

boom^3 /bo͞om/

I. noun

1. a long pole or rod, in particular

2. a spar pivoting on the after side of the mast and to which the foot of a vessel's sail is attached, allowing the angle of the sail to be changed.

3. [often as modifier] — a movable arm over a television or movie set, carrying a microphone or camera

• a boom mike.

4. a long beam extending upward at an angle from the mast of a derrick, for guiding or supporting objects being moved or suspended.

5. a floating beam used to contain oil spills or to form a barrier across the mouth of a harbor or river.

6. a retractable tube for inflight transfer of fuel from a tanker airplane to another airplane.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the general sense ‘beam, pole’): from Dutch, ‘beam, tree, pole’; related to beam.

boom and bust boom or bust

noun

a situation in which a period of great prosperity or rapid economic growth is abruptly followed by one of economic decline

• he has warned it is a return to boom and bust

• [as modifier] the boom and bust business cycle.

boom box /ˈbo͞om ˌbäks/

noun

‹informal› a portable sound system, typically including radio and cassette or CD player, capable of powerful sound

• teenagers dance to boom boxes on warm April nights.

boomburb /ˈbo͞omˌbərb/

I. noun

(US) an outlying residential district of a city that is expanding rapidly

• a sprawling boomburb of nearly 800,000 people.

– origin early 21st cent.: from boom^2 + suburb.

boomer /ˈbo͞omər/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› (N. Amer.) short for baby boomer (see baby boom).

2. ‹informal› something large or notable of its kind, in particular

3. ‹informal› (Austral.) a large male kangaroo.

4. ‹informal› a large wave.

5. ‹informal› (US) a nuclear submarine with ballistic missiles.

6. ‹informal› a transient construction worker, especially a bridge builder.

7. ‹informal› another name for mountain beaver.

– origin early 19th cent.: probably from the verb boom^1 + -er^1.

boomerang /ˈbo͞oməˌraNG/

I. noun

a curved flat piece of wood that can be thrown so as to return to the thrower, traditionally used by Australian Aborigines as a hunting weapon.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a plan or action) return to the originator, often with negative consequences

• misleading consumers about quality will eventually boomerang on a carmaker.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Dharuk.

boomerang kid boomeranger

noun

‹informal› a young adult who goes back to live with a parent after a period of independence.

Boomer State

a nickname for the state of Oklahoma.

booming /ˈbo͞omiNG/

adjective

1. having a period of great prosperity or rapid economic growth

• the booming economy.

2. (of a sound or voice) loud, deep, and resonant

• his booming voice

• a booming laugh.

boomslang /ˈbo͞omslaNG/

I. noun

a large, highly venomous southern African tree snake, the male of which is bright green and the female dull olive brown.
[Dispholidus typus, family Colubridae.]

– origin late 18th cent.: from Afrikaans, from Dutch boom ‘tree’ + slang ‘snake.’

boom town boomtown

noun

a town undergoing rapid growth due to sudden prosperity

• the automobile was in its heady adolescence, and Detroit was America's newest boom town.

boon^1 /bo͞on/

I. noun

1. [usu. in sing.] — a thing that is helpful or beneficial

• the navigation system will be a boon to both civilian and military users.

2. ‹archaic› a favor or request

• may I have the inestimable boon of a few minutes' conversation?

– origin Middle English (originally in the sense ‘request for a favor’): from Old Norse bón.

boon^2 /bo͞on/

I. adjective

(of a companion or friend) close; intimate; favorite

• he debated the question with a few boon companions in the barroom.

– origin mid 16th cent.: boon from Old French bon, from Latin bonus ‘good.’ The early literal sense was ‘good fellow,’ originally denoting a drinking companion.

boondocks /ˈbo͞onˌdäks/

I. plural noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› rough, remote, or isolated country

• we're out here in the boondocks, miles from a telephone.

– origin 1940s: boondock from Tagalog bundok ‘mountain.’

boondoggle /ˈbo͞onˌdäɡəl / ‹N. Amer. informal›

I. noun

1. work or activity that is wasteful or pointless but gives the appearance of having value

• writing off the cold fusion phenomenon as a boondoggle best buried in literature.

2. a public project of questionable merit that typically involves political patronage and graft

• they each drew $600,000 in the final months of the great boondoggle.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. waste money or time on unnecessary or questionable projects.

– origin 1930s: of unknown origin.

Boone, Daniel /bo͞on/

(c. 1734–1820), American pioneer. He made trips west from North Carolina into the unexplored area that is now Kentucky, organizing settlements and successfully defending them against hostile Indians. He later moved further west to what is now Missouri, having been granted land there in 1799.

boonies /ˈbo͞onēz/

plural noun

short for boondocks.

boor /bo͝or/

I. noun

an unrefined, ill-mannered person

• at last the big obnoxious boor had been dealt a stunning blow for his uncouth and belligerent manner.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘peasant’): from Low German būr or Dutch boer ‘farmer.’ Compare with Boer.

boorish /ˈbo͝oriSH/

I. adjective

rough and bad-mannered; coarse

• boorish behavior.

II. derivatives

1. boorishly /ˈbo͝oriSHlē /

adverb

2. boorishness /ˈbo͝oriSHnəs /

noun

boost /bo͞ost/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. help or encourage (something) to increase or improve

• a range of measures to boost tourism.

2. (N. Amer.) push from below; assist

• people they were trying to boost over a wall.

3. amplify (an electrical signal).

4. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› steal, especially by shoplifting or pickpocketing.

II. noun

1. a source of help or encouragement leading to increase or improvement

• the cut in interest rates will give a further boost to the economy.

2. an increase or improvement

• a boost in exports.

3. (N. Amer.) a push from below.

– origin early 19th cent. (originally in the sense ‘push from below’): of unknown origin.

booster /ˈbo͞ostər/

noun

1. a person or thing that helps increase or promote something, in particular

2. (N. Amer.) a keen promoter of a person, organization, or cause
[as modifier]

• athletic booster clubs.

3. [in combination] — a source of help or encouragement

• job fairs are a great morale booster.

4. [Medicine] a dose of an immunizing agent increasing or renewing the effect of an earlier one.

5. the first stage of a rocket or spacecraft, used to give initial acceleration.

6. a device for increasing electrical voltage or signal strength.

7. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a shoplifter.

booster cable

noun

another term for jumper cable.

boosterish /ˈbo͞ostəriSH/

adjective

supporting or promoting something enthusiastically, and often uncritically

• the city's boosterish slogan “La Porte's on the Move.”

boosterism /ˈbo͞ostəˌrizəm/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) the enthusiastic promotion of a person, organization, or cause

• a barrage of boosterism about the wonderful recreation facilities.

booster seat

noun

an extra seat or cushion placed on an existing seat for a small child to sit on.

boot^1 /bo͞ot/

I. noun

1. a sturdy item of footwear covering the foot, the ankle, and sometimes the leg below the knee

• walking boots.

2. a covering or sheath to protect a mechanical connection, as on a gearshift.

3. (also Denver boot) — (US) a clamp placed by the police on the wheel of an illegally parked vehicle to make it immobile.

4. a covering to protect the lower part of a horse's leg.

5. ‹historical› an instrument of torture encasing and crushing the foot.

6. ‹informal› a hard kick

• I got a boot in the stomach.

7. (Brit.) the trunk of a car.

8. (also boot up) [usu. as modifier] — the process of starting a computer and putting it into a state of readiness for operation

• a boot disk.

9. (US) [Military] ‹informal› a navy or marine recruit.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (usu. as adj. booted) — place boots on (oneself, another person, or an animal)

• thin, booted legs.

2. kick (something) hard in a specified direction

• he ended up booting the ball into the stands.

3. (boot someone off) — force someone to leave a vehicle unceremoniously

• the driver booted two teenagers off the bus.

4. (boot someone out) — ‹informal› force someone to leave a place, institution, or job unceremoniously

• she had been booted out of school.

5. start (a computer) and put it into a state of readiness for operation

• the menu will be ready as soon as you boot up your computer

• [no obj.] the system won't boot from the original drive.

[from bootstrap.]

6. (US) place a Denver boot on (an illegally parked car).

III. phrases

1. boots on the ground

‹informal› ground troops who are on active service in a military operation

• they could have gone to their allies and got more boots on the ground

• while he backs high-tech warfare, he also sees boots on the ground as essential.

2. die with one's boots on

die in battle or while otherwise actively occupied.

3. get the boot

‹informal› be dismissed from one's job.

4. give someone the boot

‹informal› dismiss someone from their job.

5. one's heart sank (or fell) into one's boots

used to refer to a sudden onset of depression or dismay

• the way your heart drops to your boots if your foal has terribly crooked legs.

6. you (can) bet your boots

‹informal› used to express certainty about a situation or statement

• you can bet your boots that patrol has raised the alarm.

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse bóti or its source, Old French bote, of unknown ultimate origin.

boot^2 /bo͞ot/

I. noun — (in phrase to boot)

1. as well; in addition

• images that are precise, revealing, and often beautiful to boot.

– origin originally ‘something extra thrown into a bargain,’ from Old English bōt ‘advantage, remedy,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch boete and German Busse ‘penance, fine,’ also to better^1 and best.

bootable /ˈbo͞odəb(ə)l/

adjective

(of a disk) containing the software required to boot a computer.

bootblack /ˈbo͞otblak/

noun

‹chiefly historical› a person employed to polish boots and shoes.

boot camp /ˈbo͞ot ˌkamp/

noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) a military training camp for new recruits, with strict discipline.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) a prison for youthful offenders, run on military lines.

3. (chiefly N. Amer.) a short, intensive, and rigorous course of training

• a grueling, late-summer boot camp for would-be football players.

boot-cut bootcut

adjective

(of jeans or other trousers) flared very slightly below the knee, so as to be worn comfortably over boots.

Boötes /bōˈōtēz / ‹Astronomy›

I. a northern constellation (the Herdsman), said to represent a man holding the leash of two dogs (Canes Venatici) while driving a bear (Ursa Major). It contains the bright star Arcturus.

II. (as genitive Boötis ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate stars

• the star Gamma Boötis.

– origin Greek.

booth /bo͞oTH/

I. noun

1. a small temporary tent or structure at a market, fair, or exhibition, used for selling goods, providing information, or staging shows.

2. a small room where a vendor sits separated from customers by a window

• a ticket booth.

3. an enclosure or compartment for various purposes, such as telephoning, broadcasting, or voting

• the phone booth alongside the highway

• ex-athletes in the broadcast booth.

4. a set of a table and benches in a restaurant or bar

• I sat in a booth with coffee and a roll.

– origin Middle English (in the general sense ‘temporary dwelling or shelter’): from Old Norse buth, based on búa ‘dwell.’

Booth, John Wilkes /bo͞oTH/

(1838–65), US actor. He is better known as the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theater in Washington, DC.

Booth, William

(1829–1912), English religious leader; founder and first general of the Salvation Army.

Boothia, Gulf of /ˈbo͞oTHēə/

I. a gulf in the Canadian Arctic Ocean, in Northwest Territories, between Boothia Peninsula and Baffin Island.

– origin named in honor of Sir Felix Booth (1775–1850), patron of the expedition to the Arctic (1829–33) led by Sir John Ross.

Boothia Peninsula

a peninsula in northern Canada, in the Northwest Territories, located between Victoria and Baffin islands.

bootie /ˈbo͞odē / bootee

I. noun

1. a soft shoe, typically knitted, worn by a baby.

2. any soft, socklike shoe.

3. a protective shoe or lining for a shoe.

4. a woman's short boot.

– origin late 18th cent.: from boot^1 + -ie.

bootjack /ˈbo͞otjak/

noun

a device for holding a boot by the heel to ease withdrawal of one's foot.

bootlace /ˈbo͞otˌlās/

noun

a cord or leather strip for lacing boots.

bootleg /ˈbo͞otˌleɡ/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (especially of liquor, computer software, or recordings) made, distributed, or sold illegally

• bootleg cassettes

• bootleg whiskey.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make, distribute, or sell (illicit goods, especially liquor, computer software, or recordings) illegally
(as noun bootlegging)

• domestic bootlegging was almost impossible to control

• (as adj. bootlegged) bootlegged videos.

III. noun

1. an illegal musical recording, especially one made at a concert.

2. [Football] a play in which the quarterback fakes a handoff and runs with the ball hidden next to his hip

• he scored on a 29-yard bootleg on fourth down.

IV. derivatives

bootlegger /ˈbo͞otˌleɡər /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: from the smugglers' practice of concealing bottles in their boots.

bootless /ˈbo͞otləs/

I. adjective

‹archaic› (of a task or undertaking) ineffectual; useless

• words at this pass were vain and bootless.

– origin Old English bōtlēas ‘not able to be compensated for by payment’ (see boot^2, -less).

bootlicker /ˈbo͞otˌlikər/

I. noun

‹informal› an obsequious or overly deferential person; a toady

• bootlickers telling him what a big star he's going to be.

II. derivatives

bootlicking /-ˌlikiNG /

noun

bootloader /ˈbo͞otˌlōdər/

I. noun

[Computing] a program that loads an operating system when a computer is turned on

• Linux's GRUB bootloader can be used to select which operating system you'd like to boot into.

– origin 1970s: from boot^1 (sense 4 of the noun) and loader.

boots /bo͞ots/

I. noun

(Brit.) ‹dated› a hotel employee who cleans boots and shoes, carries luggage, and performs other menial tasks.

– origin late 18th cent.: plural of boot^1, used as a singular.

boot-scooting /ˈbo͞otˌsko͞odiNG/

noun

another term for line dancing.

bootstrap /ˈbo͞otˌstrap/

I. noun

1. a loop at the back of a boot, used to pull it on.

2. [Computing] a technique of loading a program into a computer by means of a few initial instructions that enable the introduction of the rest of the program from an input device.

3. [usu. as modifier] — the technique of starting with existing resources to create something more complex and effective

• we see the creative act as a bootstrap process.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. get (oneself or something) into or out of a situation using existing resources

• the company is bootstrapping itself out of a marred financial past.

2. start up (an enterprise), especially one based on the Internet, with minimal resources

• they are bootstrapping their stations themselves, not with lots of dot-com venture capital.

3. [Computing] fuller form of boot^1 (sense 3 of the verb).

III. adjective

(of a person or project) using one's own resources rather than external help

• a bootstrap capitalist's trip up the entrepreneurial ladder.

IV. phrases

pull oneself up by one's (own) bootstraps

improve one's position by one's own efforts.

boot top

noun

the part of a ship's hull just above the waterline, typically marked by a line of contrasting color.

booty^1 /ˈbo͞odē/

I. noun

1. valuable stolen goods, especially those seized in war

• the militias supply themselves with booty from the raided civilian populations.

2. ‹informal› something gained or won

• now the booty: four winners will receive prizes.

– origin late Middle English (denoting plunder acquired in common and destined to be divided among the plunderers): from Middle Low German būte, buite ‘exchange, distribution,’ of uncertain ultimate origin.

booty^2 /ˈbo͞odē/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a person's buttocks.

II. phrases

shake one's booty

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› dance energetically.

– origin 1920s: probably an alteration of the British word botty, a child's term for a person's buttocks.

booty call

I. noun

(US) ‹informal› a sexual invitation or rendezvous.

– origin 1990s: from booty^2 and call.

bootylicious /ˌbo͞odəˈliSHəs/

I. adjective

(US) ‹informal› (of a woman) sexually attractive.

– origin 1990s: from booty^2, on the pattern of delicious.

boo word

noun

‹informal› a word or expression denoting something that is regarded with disapproval or dislike

• positivism has become something of a boo word among many social scientists.

boo-yah /ˈbo͞oyä / booyah

exclamation

used to express joy, especially over a well-played or victorious moment in sports.

booze /bo͞oz / ‹informal›

I. noun

alcohol, especially hard liquor

• they turn to booze to beat work pressure.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. drink alcohol, especially in large quantities

• you used to booze a lot on expensive hard liquor

• (as noun boozing) Michael is trying to quit boozing.

– origin Middle English bouse, from Middle Dutch būsen ‘drink to excess.’ The spelling booze dates from the 18th cent.

booze cruise

noun

1. ‹informal› a cruise with freely available alcohol.

• I quit my temp job so I could go on the booze cruise during senior week.

2. ‹informal› (Brit.) an excursion to Europe by ferry, the aim of which is to bring back cheap or tax-free alcohol.

boozehound /ˈbo͞ozhound/

noun

‹informal› a person who drinks alcohol often and heavily.

boozer /ˈbo͞ozər/

noun

1. ‹informal› a person who drinks large quantities of alcohol.

2. ‹informal› (Brit.) a pub or bar.

booze-up /ˈbo͞oz ˌəp/

noun

‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) a drinking spree.

boozy /ˈbo͞ozē/

I. adjective

‹informal› intoxicated; addicted to drink

• the boozy and drugged-out wreckage of his later years.

II. derivatives

1. boozily /-zəlē /

adverb

2. booziness

noun

bop^1 /bäp / ‹informal›

I. noun

short for bebop.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. dance to pop music

• bopping to the radio while they made breakfast.

2. move or travel energetically

• we had been bopping around the county all morning.

III. derivatives

bopper /ˈbäpər /

noun

– origin 1940s: shortening of bebop.

bop^2 /bäp / ‹informal›

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. hit; punch lightly

• I warned him I'd bop him on the nose if he tried it.

II. noun

a blow or light punch.

– origin 1930s: imitative.

Bophuthatswana /ˌbōˌpo͝odətˈswänə/

a former homeland established in South Africa for the Tswana people.

boppy /ˈbäpē/

adjective

(of pop music) suitable or good for dancing to

• a boppy, lively tune.

bor.

abbreviation

borough.

bora /ˈbôrə/

I. noun

a strong, cold, dry northeast wind blowing in the upper Adriatic.

– origin mid 19th cent.: dialect variant of Italian borea, from Latin boreas ‘north wind’ (see boreal).

Bora-Bora /ˌbôrə ˈbôrə/

an island in the Society Islands group in French Polynesia.

boracic /bəˈrasik/

I. adjective

another term for boric.

– origin late 18th cent.: from medieval Latin borax, borac- (see borax) + -ic.

borage /ˈbôrij ˈbärij/

I. noun

a herbaceous plant with bright blue flowers and hairy leaves, used medicinally and as a salad green.
[Borago officinalis, family Boraginaceae (the borage family). This family includes many plants that typically have blue or purple flowers, including forget-me-not, comfrey, and bugloss.]

– origin Middle English: from Old French bourrache, from medieval Latin borrago, probably from Arabic.

borane /ˈbôrān/

I. noun

[Chemistry] any of a series of unstable binary compounds of boron and hydrogen, analogous to the alkanes. The simplest example is diborane, B_2H_6.

– origin early 20th cent.: from boron + -ane^2.

Borås /bo͞oˈrôs/

an industrial city in southwestern Sweden; pop. 101,487 (2008).

borate /ˈbôrāt/

noun

[Chemistry] a salt in which the anion contains both boron and oxygen, as in borax.

borax /ˈbôraks/

I. noun

a white mineral in some alkaline salt deposits, used in making glass and ceramics, as a metallurgical flux, and as an antiseptic.
[A hydrated sodium borate; chem. formula: Na_2B_4O_7(OH)4.8H_2O.]

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin, from Arabic būraḳ, from Pahlavi būrak.

Borazon /ˈbôrəˌzän/

I. noun

‹trademark› an industrial abrasive consisting of boron nitride.

– origin 1950s: from boron, with the insertion of azo-.

borborygmus /ˌbôrbəˈriɡməs/

I. noun

‹technical› a rumbling or gurgling noise made by the movement of fluid and gas in the intestines.

II. derivatives

borborygmic /-mik /

adjective

– origin early 18th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek borborugmos.

Bordeaux^1 /bôrˈdō/

a port in southwestern France, on the Garonne River; pop. 235,878 (2006).

Bordeaux^2 /bôrˈdō/

noun

a red, white, or rosé wine from the district of Bordeaux.

Bordeaux mixture

I. noun

a fungicide for vines, fruit trees, and other plants composed of equal quantities of copper sulfate and calcium oxide in water.

– origin late 19th cent.: first used in the vineyards of the Bordeaux region.

bordelaise /bôrdəˈlāz/

I. adjective

served with a sauce of red wine and onions
[postpositive]

• lobster bordelaise.

– origin French, from (à la) bordelaise ‘Bordeaux-style.’

bordello /ˌbôrˈdelō/

I. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a brothel.

– origin late 16th cent. (gradually replacing Middle English bordel): from Italian, probably from Old French bordel, diminutive of borde ‘small farm, cottage,’ ultimately of Germanic origin.

Borden, Lizzie /ˈbôrdn/

(1860–1927), US accused murderess; full name Lizzie Andrew Borden. Accused of the murder of her father and stepmother in Fall River, Massachusetts, in 1892, she was acquitted in a trial that became a national sensation.

Borden, Robert Laird

(1854–1937), Canadian Conservative statesman; prime minister 1911–20.

border /ˈbôrdər/

I. noun

1. a line separating two political or geographical areas, especially countries

• the German border with Denmark

• [as modifier] border patrols.

2. a district near a line separating two political or geographical areas

• a refugee camp on the border.

3. the edge or boundary of something, or the part near it

• the northern border of their distribution area

• ‹figurative› the unknown regions at the borders of physics and electronics.

4. a band or strip, especially a decorative one, around the edge of something

• put a white border around the picture.

5. a strip of ground along the edge of a lawn or path for planting flowers or shrubs

• the garden borders are planted with perennials.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. form an edge along or beside (something)

• a pool bordered by palm trees.

2. (of a country or area) be adjacent to (another country or area)

• regions bordering Azerbaijan

• [no obj.] the park is east of San Diego, bordering on Mexico.

3. [no obj.] (border on) — be close to an extreme condition

• Sam arrived in a state of excitement bordering on hysteria.

4. (usu. be bordered with) — provide (something) with a decorative edge

• a curving driveway bordered with chrysanthemums.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French bordeure; ultimately of Germanic origin and related to board.

Border collie /ˈbôrdər ˌkälē/

noun — (also border collie)

1. a common working sheepdog, typically with a black and white coat, of a medium-sized breed originating near the border between England and Scotland.

borderer /ˈbôrdərər/

noun

a person living near a border.

borderland /ˈbôrdərˌland/

noun — (usu. borderlands)

1. the district near a border.

2. an area of overlap between two things

• the murky borderland between history and myth.

borderless /ˈbôrdərləs/

adjective

1. without boundaries between countries, administrative divisions, or other areas

• we want to share our space and live in a borderless region

• naval forces will continue operating from an essentially borderless domain.

2. without restrictions caused by movement between or actions across boundaries of countries, administrative divisions, or other areas

• the borderless EU

• the era of unlimited competition and borderless economy.

3. lacking edges, limits, or boundaries

• an open, borderless digital society

• the uniform spread of blue light creates a borderless space.

4. lacking the plain or decorated strip typically included around the edge

• the printer can produce a 4x6 inch borderless photo in 36 seconds.

borderline /ˈbôrdərˌlīn/

I. noun

1. a line marking a border.

2. a division between two distinct (often extreme) conditions

• the borderline between ritual and custom.

II. adjective

barely acceptable in quality or as belonging to a category; on the borderline

• references may be requested in borderline cases.

border patrol

noun

1. a patrol sent to keep watch over an area along a country's border.

2. (Border Patrol) — an agency within the US Department of Homeland Security responsible for preventing the entry of illegal aliens as well as terrorists and their weapons into the United States.

border state

noun

1. any of the slave states that bordered the northern free states during the US Civil War.
See also Border States.

2. a US state that borders Canada or Mexico.

3. a small country that borders a larger, more powerful country or that lies between two larger countries.

Border States

those US states, including Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, Virginia, and Missouri, that were slave states but did not secede from the Union during the Civil War.

Border terrier

noun

a small terrier of a breed with rough hair, originating in the Cheviot Hills.

Bordet, Jules /bôrˈdā/

(1870–1961), Belgian bacteriologist and immunologist. He discovered the complement system of blood serum, and developed a vaccine for whooping cough.

bordure /ˈbôrjər/

I. noun

[Heraldry] a broad border used as a charge in a coat of arms, often as a mark of difference.

– origin late Middle English: variant of border.

bore^1 /bôr/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — make (a hole) in something, especially with a revolving tool

• they bored holes in the sides

• [no obj.] the drill can bore through rock

• ‹figurative› his eyes bored into hers.

2. [with obj.] — hollow out (a tube or tunnel)

• try to bore the tunnel at the correct angle.

3. hollow out (a gun barrel).

4. [no obj.] — make one's way through (a crowd).

II. noun

1. the hollow part inside a gun barrel or other tube.

2. [often in combination] — the diameter of this; the caliber

• a small-bore rifle.

3. [in combination] — a gun of a specified bore

• he shot a guard in the leg with a twelve-bore.

4. short for borehole.

– origin Old English borian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to German bohren.

bore^2 /bôr/

I. noun

1. a person whose talk or behavior is dull and uninteresting

• a crashing bore who tells the same old jokes over and over.

2. [in sing.] — a tedious situation or thing

• it's such a bore cooking when one's alone.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (someone) feel weary and uninterested by tedious talk or dullness

• rather than bore you with all the details, I'll hit some of the bright spots.

III. phrases

bore someone to death (or to tears)

weary (a person) in the extreme.

– origin mid 18th cent. (as a verb): of unknown origin.

bore^3 /bôr/

I. noun

a steep-fronted wave caused by the meeting of two tides or by the constriction of a tide rushing up a narrow estuary.

– origin early 17th cent.: perhaps from Old Norse bára ‘wave’; the term was used in the general sense ‘billow, wave’ in Middle English.

bore^4 /bôr/

past of bear^1.

boreal /ˈbôrēəl/

I. adjective

1. of the North or northern regions.

2. [Ecology] relating to or characteristic of the climatic zone south of the Arctic, especially the cold temperate region dominated by taiga and forests of birch, poplar, and conifers

• northern boreal forest.

3. (Boreal) — [Botany] relating to or denoting a phytogeographical kingdom comprising the arctic and temperate regions of Eurasia and North America.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin borealis, from Latin Boreas, denoting the god of the north wind, from Greek.

bored^1 /bôrd/

I. adjective

feeling weary because one is unoccupied or lacks interest in one's current activity

• she got bored with staring out of the window

• they would hang around all day, bored stiff.

II. derivatives

boredly

adverb

usage: The traditional constructions for bored are bored by or bored with. The construction bored of emerged more recently, and is extremely common, especially in informal language. Although it is perfectly logical by analogy with constructions such as tired of, it is not fully accepted in standard English.

bored^2 /bôrd/

adjective — [in combination]

1. (of a gun) having a specified bore

• large-bored guns.

boredom /ˈbôrdəm/

noun

the state of feeling bored

• the boredom of afternoon duty could be relieved by friendly conversation.

boreen /bôrˈēn/

I. noun

(Irish) a narrow country road.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Irish bóithrín, diminutive of bóthar ‘road.’

borehole /ˈbôrˌhōl/

noun

a deep, narrow hole made in the ground, especially to locate water or oil.

borek /bo͝oˈrek/

I. noun

an envelope of thin pastry filled with cheese, spinach, or ground meat and baked or fried.

– origin Turkish, ‘pie.’

borer /ˈbôrər/

noun

1. a worm, mollusk, insect, or insect larva that bores into wood, other plant material, or rock.

2. a tool for boring.

borescope /ˈbôrskōp/

noun

an instrument used to inspect the inside of a structure through a small hole.

Borg, Björn /bôrɡ/

(1956–), Swedish tennis player; full name Björn Rune Borg. During 1974–81, he won the men's singles title at six French Open and five consecutive Wimbledon tournaments.

borgata /bôrˈɡädə/

I. noun

(US) an organized branch of the Mafia.

– origin 1960s: Italian, ‘district, village.’

Borge, Victor /ˈbôrɡə/

(1909–2000), US pianist; born in Denmark. He was noted for his clowning while playing classical music. His one-man show, Comedy in Music, began an 849-performance run on Broadway in 1953.

Borges, Jorge Luis /ˈbôrˌhās/

(1899–1986), Argentine poet, short-story writer, and essayist. His volume of short stories A Universal History of Infamy (1935, revised 1954) is regarded as one of the first works of magic realism.

Borgia, Cesare /ˈbôrZHə/

(c. 1476–1507), Italian statesman, cardinal, and general. He was the illegitimate son of Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia (later Pope Alexander VI) and the brother of Lucrezia Borgia.

Borgia, Lucrezia

(1480–1519), Italian noblewoman; sister of Cesare Borgia. She was the illegitimate daughter of Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia (later Pope Alexander VI).

Borglum, Gutzon /ˈbôrɡləm/

(1867–1941), US sculptor; full name John Gutzon de la Mothe Borglum. His most famous work is the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota, which features the monumental heads of US Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and T. Roosevelt. The work, begun in 1927, was completed in 1941 with the help of his son Lincoln Borglum (1912–86).

Borgnine, Ernest /ˈbôrɡˌnīn/

(1917–2012), US actor; born Ermes Effron Borgnino. His movies include From Here to Eternity (1953) and Marty (1955). He later turned to television, starring in McHale's Navy (1962–66) and Airwolf (1984–87).

boric /ˈbôrik/

adjective

[Chemistry] of boron

• boric oxide.

boric acid

noun

[Chemistry] a weakly acid crystalline compound derived from borax, used as a mild antiseptic and in the manufacture of heat-resistant glass and enamels.
[Chem. formula: B(OH)3.]

Boricua /bôˈrēkwə/

noun

‹informal› a Puerto Rican, especially one living in the United States.

boring /ˈbôriNG/

I. adjective

not interesting; tedious

• I've got a boring job in an office.

II. derivatives

1. boringly /ˈbôriNGlē /

adverb

[as submodifier]

• the list is excoriated as boringly predictable

2. boringness

noun

bork /bôrk / Bork

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (US) ‹informal› obstruct (someone, especially a candidate for public office) through systematic defamation or vilification
(as noun borking)

• is fear of borking scaring people from public office?

– origin 1980s: from the name of Robert Bork (1927–2012), an American judge whose nomination to the US Supreme Court (1987) was rejected following unfavorable publicity for his allegedly extreme views.

Borlaug, Norman /ˈbôrˌlôɡ/

(1914–2009), US agronomist; full name Norman Ernest Borlaug. He worked for many years on the improvement of wheat crops and the adaptation of new strains of wheat to parts of the world where it had not previously been grown. Nobel Peace Prize (1970).

Bormann, Martin /ˈbôrmən/

(1900–c. 1945), German Nazi politician. Considered to be Hitler's closest collaborator, he disappeared at the end of World War II; his skeleton, exhumed in Berlin, was identified in 1973.

born /bôrn/

I. past participle of bear^1 (sense 4).

II. adjective

1. existing as a result of birth

• he was born in Seattle

• babies born to women aged 25–29

• he was born into a family of wine merchants

• she was born Margaret Roberts

• [in combination] a German-born philosopher.

2. [attrib.] — having a natural ability to do a particular job or task

• he's a born engineer.

3. [with infinitive] — perfectly suited or trained to do a particular job or task

• they believe that they are born to rule.

4. (of a thing) brought into existence

• her own business was born.

5. (born of) — existing as a result of a particular situation or feeling

• a power born of obsession.

III. phrases

1. born and bred

by birth and upbringing, especially when considered a typical product of a place

• he was a born and bred product of the Bronx.

2. born on the wrong side of the blanket

see blanket.

3. born with a silver spoon in one's mouth

see silver.

4. I (she, etc.) wasn't born yesterday

used to remind someone that one isn't naive.

5. in all one's born days

used to express surprise or shock at something one has not encountered before

• in all my born days I've never seen the like of it.

6. there's one (or a sucker) born every minute

there are many gullible people.

– origin Old English boren, past participle of beran ‘to bear’ (see bear^1). / usage: On the difference between born and borne, see usage at bear^1.

Born, Max /bôrn/

(1882–1970), German theoretical physicist, a founder of quantum mechanics. Nobel Prize for Physics (1954), shared with Walther Bothe (1891–1957).

born-again /ˈˌbôrnə ˈˌɡen/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) converted to a personal faith in Christ (with reference to John 3:3)

• a born-again Christian.

2. having the extreme enthusiasm of the newly converted or reconverted

• born-again environmentalists.

II. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a born-again Christian.

born digital

adjective

denoting texts or recordings produced in digital form, rather than having been converted from print or analog equivalents.

• as research libraries are discovering, born-digital materials are more complicated and costly to preserve than anticipated.

borne /bôrn/

I. past participle of bear^1.

II. adjective — [in combination]

1. carried or transported by

• waterborne bacteria

• insect-borne pollen.

Borneo /ˈbôrnēō/

I. a large island in the Malay Archipelago that is comprised of Kalimantan (a region of Indonesia), Sabah and Sarawak (states of Malaysia), and Brunei.

II. derivatives

Bornean /-nēən /

adjective, noun

born-free

noun

(in Africa) a member of a generation born in a country after its transition to democracy (in particular post-apartheid South Africa or post-independence Zimbabwe)

• the born-frees will make up about a third of voters by 2019.

Bornholm /ˈbôrnˌhōlm ˈbôrnˌhōm/

a Danish island in the Baltic Sea, southeast of Sweden.

Bornholm disease

I. noun

a viral infection with fever and pain in the muscles of the ribs.

– origin 1930s: named after the island of Bornholm, where it was first described.

bornite /ˈbôrnīt/

I. noun

a brittle reddish-brown crystalline mineral with an iridescent purple tarnish, consisting of a sulfide of copper and iron.

– origin early 19th cent.: from the name of Ignatius von Born (1742–91), Austrian mineralogist, + -ite^1.

boro-

combining form

[Chemistry] representing boron.

Borobudur /ˌbôrəbəˈdo͝or/

a Buddhist monument in central Java, built c. 800.

Borodin, Aleksandr /ˌbôrəˈdēn/

(1833–87), Russian composer; full name Aleksandr Porfirevich Borodin. He is noted for the opera Prince Igor, which was completed, after his death, by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Aleksandr Glazunov (1865–1936).

Borodino, Battle of /ˌbôrəˈdēnō/

a battle in 1812 at Borodino, a village about 110 km (70 miles) west of Moscow, at which Napoleon's forces defeated the Russian army.

boron /ˈbôrän/

I. noun

(Symbol: B) — the chemical element of atomic number 5, a nonmetallic solid.
Boron is usually prepared as an amorphous brown powder, but when very pure it forms hard, shiny, black crystals with semiconducting properties. The element has some specialized uses, such as in alloy steels and nuclear control rods.

II. derivatives

boride /ˈbôrˌīd /

noun

– origin early 19th cent.: from borax, on the pattern of carbon (which it resembles in some respects).

boronia /bəˈrōnēə/

I. noun

a sweet-scented Australian shrub cultivated for its perfume and for use as a cut flower.
[Genus Boronia, family Rutaceae.]

– origin modern Latin, named after Francesco Borone (1769–94), Italian botanist.

borosilicate /ˌbôrəˈsilikit, -ˌkāt/

noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. a low-melting-point glass made from a mixture of silica and boric oxide (B_2O_3).

borough /ˈbərō / bor.

I. noun

1. a town or district that is an administrative unit, in particular

2. an incorporated municipality in certain US states.

3. each of five divisions of New York City.

4. in Alaska, a district corresponding to a county elsewhere in the US.

5. (Brit.) a town (as distinct from a city) with a corporation and privileges granted by a royal charter.

6. (Brit.) ‹historical› a town sending representatives to Parliament.

– origin Old English burg, burh ‘fortress, citadel,’ later ‘fortified town,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch burg and German Burg. Compare with burgh.

Borromini, Francesco /ˌbôrəˈmēnē/

(1599–1667), Italian architect, a leading figure of the Italian baroque style.

borrow /ˈbärō ˈbôrō/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. take and use (something that belongs to someone else) with the intention of returning it

• he had borrowed a car from one of his colleagues

• (as adj. borrowed) she was wearing a borrowed jacket.

2. take and use (money) from a person or bank under an agreement to pay it back later

• I borrowed the money for a return plane ticket

• [no obj.] lower interest rates will make it cheaper for individuals to borrow.

3. take (a word, idea, or method) from another source and use it in one's own language or work

• the term is borrowed from Greek

• [no obj.] designers consistently borrow from the styles of preceding generations.

4. take and use (a book) from a library for a fixed period of time.

5. in subtraction, take a unit from the next larger denomination.

6. [Golf] allow (a certain distance) when playing a shot to compensate for sideways motion of the ball due to a slope or other irregularity.

II. noun

[Golf] a slope or other irregularity on a golf course that must be compensated for when playing a shot.

III. phrases

1. be (living) on borrowed time

used to say that someone has continued to survive against expectations, with the implication that this will not be for much longer.

2. borrow trouble

(N. Amer.) take needless action that may have detrimental effects.

– origin Old English borgian ‘borrow against security,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German borgen.

borrower /ˈbärōər/

noun

1. a person or organization that takes and uses something belonging to someone else with the intention of returning it

• my last pair were ruined by a careless borrower

• hundreds of thousands of renters and borrowers of aircraft fly without any insurance.

2. a person or organization that takes out a loan from a bank under an agreement to pay it back later, typically with interest

• most mortgage borrowers pay far too much interest

• companies that provided credit cards to high-risk borrowers.

3. a person who is registered to take books from a library for a fixed period of time

• her books continue to be popular among library borrowers into the twenty-first century.

borrowing /ˈbärōiNG/

noun

1. the action of borrowing something

• the borrowing of clothes.

2. the action of taking and using money from a bank under an agreement to pay it back later

• a curb on government borrowing

• the group had total borrowings of $570 million.

3. a word, idea, or method taken from another source and used in one's own language or work

• a hard-bop musician with some borrowings from free jazz.

Borsalino /ˌbôrsəˈlēnō/

I. noun

‹trademark› a man's wide-brimmed felt hat.

– origin early 20th cent.: from the name of the manufacturer.

borscht /bôrSHt / borsch

I. noun

a soup made with beets and usually served with sour cream, associated with the cuisine of eastern and central Europe, especially Russia, Poland, and Ukraine.

– origin Russian borshch.

Borscht Belt /ˈbôrSHt ˌbelt/

noun — (the Borscht Belt)

1. (N. Amer.) ‹humorous› a resort area in the Catskill Mountains frequented chiefly by Jewish guests
[as modifier]

• Borscht Belt entertainers.

borstal /ˈbôrst(ə)l / Borstal

I. noun

(Brit.) ‹historical› a custodial institution for youthful offenders.

– origin early 20th cent.: named after the village of Borstal in southern England, where the first of these was established.

bort /bôrt/

I. noun

small, granular, opaque diamonds, used as an abrasive in cutting tools.
Compare with carbonado.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Dutch boort.

borzoi /ˈbôrzoi/

I. noun

a large Russian wolfhound of a breed with a narrow head and silky, often white, coat.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Russian borzoĭ (adjective) ‘swift.’

Bosc /bäsk / Bosc pear

I. noun

a medium- to large-sized variety of pear, golden brown in color and often russeted. The Bosc's dense flesh makes it a common choice for baking and cooking.

– origin named after L. Bosc d'Antic (1759–1828), French naturalist.

boscage /ˈbäskij / boskage

I. noun

massed trees or shrubs

• the lush subtropical boscage.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French; ultimately of Germanic origin and related to bush. Compare with bocage.

Bosch, Hieronymus /bäSH, bôSH/

(c. 1450–1516), Dutch painter. His highly detailed works are typically crowded with half-human, half-animal creatures and grotesque demons in settings symbolic of sin and folly.

Bose, Satyendra Nath /bōz/

(1894–1974), Indian physicist. With Albert Einstein, he described fundamental particles that later came to be known as bosons.

bosh /bäSH/

I. noun

‹informal› something regarded as absurd; nonsense

• I think it's a load of bosh

• [as exclamation] bosh! You don't want to go with us.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Turkish boş ‘empty, worthless,’ which became widely known in English through James Morier's novel Ayesha (1834).

bosk /bäsk/

noun

a thicket of bushes; a small wood.

bosky /ˈbäskē/

I. adjective

wooded; covered by trees or bushes

• a river meandering between bosky banks.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Middle English bosk, variant of bush.

Bosman ruling /ˈbäzmən ˌro͞oliNG/

I. noun

a European Court ruling that obliges professional soccer or other sports clubs to allow players over the age of 25 to move freely between clubs once their contracts have expired.

– origin 1990s: named after Jean-Marc Bosman (1964–), a Belgian soccer player who brought a legal case that resulted in the ruling.

Bosnia /ˈbäznēə/

I. a region in the Balkans that forms the larger, northern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

II. short for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Bosnia and Herzegovina /ˌbäznēə ən ˌhertsəˈɡōvənə / Bosnia-Herzegovina

I. a country in southeastern Europe, in the Balkans, formerly a constituent republic of Yugoslavia; pop. 4,613,400 (est. 2009); capital, Sarajevo; languages, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian.

Bosnia and Herzegovina were conquered by the Turks in 1463. The province of Bosnia and Herzegovina was annexed by Austria in 1908, an event that contributed to the outbreak of World War I. In 1918, it became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which changed its name to Yugoslavia in 1929. In 1992, Bosnia and Herzegovina followed Slovenia and Croatia in declaring independence, but ethnic conflict among Muslims, Serbs, and Croats quickly reduced the republic to a state of civil war. An accord signed in December 1995 formally brought the conflict to an end.

Bosniak /ˈbäznēˌak / Bosniac

I. noun

a native or inhabitant of the Balkan country Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially one who is a Muslim

• the country's three largest nationalities: Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats.

II. adjective

relating to Bosnia and Herzegovina or its inhabitants, especially those who are Muslims

• the Albanian and Bosniak communities.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Bosnian Bošnjak.

Bosnian /ˈbäznēən/

I. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of the Balkan country Bosnia and Herzegovina.

2. the Slavic language of the Bosnians.

II. adjective

relating to Bosnia and Herzegovina, its people, or their language.

bosom /ˈbo͝ozəm/

I. noun

1. a woman's chest

• her ample bosom

• the dress offered a fair display of bosom.

2. (usu. bosoms) — a woman's breast.

3. a part of a woman's dress covering the chest.

4. the space between a person's clothing and chest used for carrying things

• he carried a letter in his bosom.

5. (the bosom of) — ‹literary› the loving care and protection of

• Bruno went home each night to the bosom of his family

• the town has taken the gay community to its bosom.

6. used to refer to the chest as the seat of emotions

• quivering dread was settling in her bosom.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of a friend) close or intimate

• the two girls had become bosom friends.

III. derivatives

bosomed

adjective

[in combination]

• her small-bosomed physique

– origin Old English bōsm; related to Dutch boezem and German Busen.

bosomy /ˈbo͝ozəmē/

adjective

(of a woman) having large breasts.

boson /ˈbōzän/

I. noun

[Physics] a subatomic particle, such as a photon, that has zero or integral spin and follows the statistical description given by S. N. Bose and Einstein.

– origin 1940s: named after S. N. Bose (see Bose, Satyendra Nath) + -on.

Bosporus /ˈbäsp(ə)rəs / Bosphorus

a strait that connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara and separates Europe from the Anatolian peninsula of western Asia. Istanbul is located at its south end.

boss^1 /bôs / ‹informal›

I. noun

1. a person in charge of a worker or organization

• I asked my boss for a promotion

• union bosses.

2. a person in control of a group or situation

• the boss of the largest crime family in the country.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. give (someone) orders in a domineering manner

• plump old battle-axes bossing everyone around.

III. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (N. Amer.) excellent; outstanding

• she's a real boss chick.

IV. phrases

1. be one's own boss

‹informal› be self-employed.

2. show someone who's boss

‹informal› make it clear that one is in charge.

– origin early 19th cent. (originally US): from Dutch baas ‘master.’

boss^2 /bôs/

I. noun

1. a round knob, stud, or other protuberance, in particular

2. a stud on the center of a shield.

3. [Architecture] a piece of ornamental carving covering the point where the ribs in a vault or ceiling cross.

4. [Geology] a large mass of igneous rock protruding through other strata.

5. [Mechanics] an enlarged part of a shaft.

– origin Middle English: from Old French boce, of unknown origin.

boss^3 /bôs/

I. noun

(US) ‹informal› a cow.
Compare with bossy^2.

– origin early 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

bossa nova /ˈbäsə ˈnōvə, ˈbô-/

I. noun

1. a style of Brazilian music derived from samba but placing more emphasis on melody and less on percussion.

2. a dance to this music.

– origin 1960s: from Portuguese, from bossa ‘tendency’ and nova (feminine of novo) ‘new.’

Bossier City /ˈbōZH, ər/

a city in northwestern Louisiana, on the Red River, just northeast of Shreveport; pop. 62,384 (est. 2008). It is a center for the oil and gas industry.

bossism /ˈbôsizəm, ˈbäs-/

noun

(US) a situation in which a political party is controlled by party managers.

bossman /ˈbôsman, ˈbäsman/

noun

‹informal› a man in charge of a worker or organization

• the bossman won't let her go until she hires a perfect replacement.

bossy^1 /ˈbôsē ˈbäsē/

I. adjective

‹informal› fond of giving people orders; domineering

• she was headlong, bossy, scared of nobody, and full of vinegar.

II. derivatives

1. bossily /ˈbôsəlē /

adverb

2. bossiness /ˈbôsēnəs /

noun

bossy^2 /ˈbôsē/

I. noun

(US) ‹informal› a cow or calf.
Compare with boss^3.

– origin mid 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

Boston^1 /ˈbôstən ˈbästən/

a city in eastern Massachusetts, the capital of the state, on Massachusetts Bay; pop. 609,023 (est. 2008). It was founded c. 1630 by the Massachusetts Bay Company under its governor, John Winthrop (1588–1649). Boston was the scene of many disturbances that led to the American Revolution at the end of the 18th century.

Boston^2 /ˈbôstən ˈbästən/

noun

1. a card game resembling solo whist.

2. a variation of the waltz or of the two-step.

Boston baked beans

plural noun

a dish of baked beans with salt pork and molasses.

Boston cream pie

noun

a round, two-layer cake that is filled with custard or cream and frosted, usually with chocolate.

Boston fern

noun

a variety of sword fern, with long, arching bright green fronds, widely cultivated especially as a hanging houseplant.
[Nephrolepis exaltata bostoniensis, family Dryopteridaceae.]

Bostonian /bäˈstōnēən/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of the city of Boston, the capital of the US state of Massachusetts, or its inhabitants

• she had a tinge of a Bostonian accent.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of the city of Boston, capital of the US state of Massachusetts

• a Bostonian arrived last week to give out presents and to entertain local youngsters.

Boston ivy

noun

a Virginia creeper with three-lobed leaves, cultivated for its foliage.
[Parthenocissus tricuspidata, family Vitaceae.]

Boston lettuce

noun

a butterhead lettuce of a variety that has medium or light green leaves.

Boston rocker

noun

a rocking chair with a decorative panel on a high spindled back and with arms and a seat that curves downward at the front.

Boston Tea Party

a violent demonstration in 1773 by American colonists before the American Revolution. Colonists boarded vessels in Boston harbor and threw the cargoes of tea into the water in protest at the imposition of a tax on tea by the British Parliament, in which the colonists had no representation.

Boston terrier

noun

a small smooth-coated terrier of a breed originating in Massachusetts from a crossing of the bulldog and terrier.

Boswell, James /ˈbäzwəl, -ˌwel/

(1740–95), Scottish author, companion and biographer of Samuel Johnson. Notable works: Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides (1785) and The Life of Samuel Johnson (1791).

Bosworth Field /ˌbäzwərTH ˈfēld / Battle of Bosworth

a battle of the Wars of the Roses fought in 1485 near Market Bosworth in Leicestershire. Henry Tudor defeated and killed the Yorkist king Richard III, which enabled him to take the throne as Henry VII.

bot^1 /bät/

I. noun

the larva of the botfly, which is an internal parasite of animals. It lives typically in the stomach, finally passing through the host's dung and pupating on the ground.

– origin early 16th cent.: probably of Low German origin.

bot^2 /bät/

I. noun

1. (chiefly in science fiction) a robot.

2. [Computing] an autonomous program on a network (especially the Internet) that can interact with computer systems or users, especially one designed to respond or behave like a player in an adventure game.

– origin 1960s: shortening of robot.

bot.

abbreviation

1. (with reference to journal titles) botanic; botanical; botany.

2. bottle.

3. bought.

-bot

I. combining form

used to form nouns denoting a computer program or robot with a very specific function

• fembot

• adbot.

– origin from robot.

botanical /bəˈtanək(ə)l/

I. adjective

of or relating to plants

• botanical specimens

• a botanical illustrator.

II. noun — (usu. botanicals)

1. a substance obtained from a plant and used as an additive, especially in gin or cosmetics.

III. derivatives

botanically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

botanical garden botanic garden

noun

an establishment where plants are grown for display to the public and often for scientific study.

botanist /ˈbädənəst/

noun

an expert in or student of the scientific study of plants

• a botanist announced he'd bred a new and beautiful variety of orchid.

botanize /ˈbätnˌīz/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. study plants, especially in their natural habitat

• I'd always be scheming to go off birdwatching or botanizing.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from modern Latin botanizare, from Greek botanizein ‘gather plants,’ from botanē ‘plant.’

botany /ˈbät(ə)nē/

I. noun

1. the scientific study of plants, including their physiology, structure, genetics, ecology, distribution, classification, and economic importance.

2. the plant life of a particular region, habitat, or geological period

• the botany of North America.

II. derivatives

botanic /bəˈtanik /

adjective

– origin late 17th cent.: from earlier botanic (from French botanique, based on Greek botanikos, from botanē ‘plant’) + -y^3.

Botany /ˈbät(ə)nē / Botany wool

I. noun

merino wool, especially from Australia.

– origin late 19th cent.: named after Botany Bay, from where the wool originally came.

Botany Bay

I. an inlet of the Tasman Sea just south of Sydney, Australia. It was the site of Captain James Cook's landing in 1770 and of an early British penal settlement.

– origin named by Cook after the large variety of plants collected there by his companion, Sir Joseph Banks.

botch /bäCH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› carry out (a task) badly or carelessly

• the ability to take on any task without botching it

• he was in a position to hire people, and he botched that up

• (as adj. botched) a botched attempt to kill them.

II. noun

‹informal› a bungled or badly carried out task or action

• I've probably made a botch of things.

III. derivatives

botcher /ˈbäCHər /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘repair’ but originally not implying clumsiness): of unknown origin.

botfly /ˈbätflī/

noun

a stout hairy-bodied fly with larvae that are internal parasites of mammals, in particular
[● a fly with larvae (bots) that develop within the guts of horses (Gasterophilus and other genera, family Gasterophilidae). ● a fly of the warble fly family (Oestridae).]

both /bōTH/

I. predeterminer, determiner, pronoun

used to refer to two people or things, regarded and identified together
[as predeterminer]

• both his parents indulged him

• [as determiner] I urge you to read both these books

• she held on with both hands

• he was blind in both eyes

• [as pronoun] a picture of both of us together

• Jackie and I are both self-employed

• he looked at them both.

II. adverb

used before the first of two alternatives to emphasize that the statement being made applies to each (the other alternative being introduced by “and”)

• they all loved to play, both the boys and the girls

• it has won favor with both young and old

• studies of finches, both in the wild and in captivity.

III. phrases

have it both ways

benefit from two incompatible ways of thinking or behaving

• countries cannot have it both ways: the cost of a cleaner environment may sometimes be fewer jobs.

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse báthir. / usage: When both is used in constructions with and, the structures following ‘both’ and ‘and’ should be symmetrical in well-formed English. Thus, studies of zebra finches, both in the wild and in captivity is stronger and clearer than studies of zebra finches, both in the wild and captivity. In the second example, the symmetry or parallelism of ‘in the wild’ and ‘in captivity’ has been lost.

Botha, Louis /ˈbōtə/

(1862–1919), South African soldier and statesman; first prime minister of the Union of South Africa 1910–19.

Botha, P. W.

(1916–2006), South African statesman; full name Pieter Willem Botha. As prime minister 1978–84 and state president 1984–89, he was an authoritarian leader who continued to enforce apartheid, but in response to pressure, he introduced limited reforms.

bother /ˈbäT͟Hər/

I. verb

1. [with negative] — take the trouble to do something

• nobody bothered locking the doors

• scientists rarely bother with such niceties

• [with infinitive] the driver didn't bother to ask why.

2. (of a circumstance or event) worry, disturb, or upset (someone)

• secrecy is an issue that bothers journalists

• [with obj. and clause] it bothered me that I hadn't done anything.

3. trouble or annoy (someone) by interrupting or causing inconvenience

• she didn't feel she could bother Mike with the problem.

4. [no obj., usu. with negative] — feel concern about or interest in

• don't bother about me—I'll find my own way home

• he wasn't to bother himself with day-to-day things

• (as adj. bothered) I'm not particularly bothered about how I look.

II. noun

1. effort, worry, or difficulty

• he saved me the bother of having to come up with a speech

• it may seem like too much bother to cook just for yourself.

2. (a bother) — a person or thing that causes worry or difficulty

• I hope she hasn't been a bother.

3. [with negative] — a nuisance or inconvenience

• it's no bother, it's on my way home.

III. phrases

1. can't be bothered (to do something)

be unwilling to make the effort to do something

• they couldn't be bothered to look it up.

2. hot and bothered

in a state of anxiety or physical discomfort.

– origin late 17th cent. (as a noun in the dialect sense ‘noise, chatter’): of Anglo-Irish origin; probably related to Irish bodhaire ‘noise,’ bodhraim ‘deafen, annoy.’ The verb (originally dialect) meant ‘confuse with noise’ in the early 18th cent.

botheration /ˌbäT͟HəˈrāSHən / ‹informal›

I. noun

effort, worry, or difficulty; bother

• he has caused us a deal of unnecessary botheration.

II. exclamation

‹dated› used to express mild irritation or annoyance.

bothersome /ˈbäT͟Hərsəm/

adjective

causing bother; troublesome

• most childhood stomachaches, though bothersome, aren't serious.

Bothnia, Gulf of /ˈbäTHnēə/

a northern arm of the Baltic Sea, between Sweden and Finland.

bothy /ˈbäTHē / bothie

I. noun

(in Scotland) a small hut or cottage.

– origin late 18th cent.: obscurely related to Irish and Scottish Gaelic both, bothan, and perhaps to booth.

botnet /ˈbätˌnet/

I. noun

[Computing] a network of private computers infected with malicious software and controlled as a group without the owners' knowledge, e.g., to send spam messages.

– origin 1990s: blend of bot^2 and network.

Botox /ˈbōtäks/

I. noun

‹trademark› a drug prepared from the bacterial toxin botulin, used medically to treat certain muscular conditions and cosmetically to remove wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing facial muscles.

II. derivatives

Botoxed

adjective

– origin 1990s: from bo(tulinum) tox(in).

bo tree /ˈbō ˌtrē / bodhi tree

I. noun

a fig tree native to India and Southeast Asia, regarded as sacred by Buddhists.
Also called peepul, pipal. [Ficus religiosa, family Moraceae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: representing Sinhalese bōgaha ‘tree of knowledge’ (Buddha's enlightenment having occurred beneath such a tree), from bō (from Sanskrit budh ‘understand thoroughly’) + gaha ‘tree.’

botryoidal /ˌbätrēˈoidl/

I. adjective

(chiefly of minerals) having a shape reminiscent of a cluster of grapes.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Greek botruoeidēs (from botrus ‘bunch of grapes’) + -al.

botrytis /bōˈtrīdəs/

I. noun

a fungus that forms a grayish powdery mold on a variety of organic matter. It causes a number of fungal plant diseases, including chocolate spot, and is deliberately cultivated (as noble rot) on the grapes used for certain wines.
[Genus Botrytis, phylum Ascomycota: numerous species, in particular the gray mold B. cinerea.]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek botrus ‘cluster of grapes.’

Botswana /bätˈswänə/

I.
1. a landlocked country in southern Africa, the western half of which is the Kalahari Desert; pop. 1,990,900 (est. 2009); capital, Gaborone; languages, English (official) and Setswana.

Inhabited by Sotho people and, in the Kalahari Desert, San (Bushmen), the area was made the British Protectorate of Bechuanaland in 1885. It became an independent republic within the Commonwealth of Nations in 1966 and adopted the name Botswana.

II. derivatives

Botswanan

adjective, noun

bottarga /bōˈtärɡə/

I. noun

the dried, pressed roe of the mullet, which is sold in blocks and shaved over Italian dishes.

– origin Italian, from Arabic butarkhah.

Botticelli, Sandro /ˌbätəˈCHelē/

(1445–1510), Italian painter; born Alessandro di Mariano Filipepi. He is noted for his mythological works, such as Primavera (c. 1478) and The Birth of Venus (c. 1480).

bottle /ˈbädl/

I. noun

1. a container, typically made of glass or plastic and with a narrow neck, used for storing drinks or other liquids

• a bottle of soda pop.

2. the contents of a bottle

• he managed to put away a bottle of wine.

3. (the bottle) — ‹informal› used in reference to heavy drinking

• more women are taking to the bottle.

4. a bottle fitted with a nipple for giving milk or other drinks to babies and very young children

• a bottle of formula.

5. a large metal cylinder holding liquefied gas.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. place (drinks or other liquid) in bottles or jars

• the wine is then bottled

• (as adj. bottled) bottled beer.

2. (usu. as adj. bottled) — store (gas) in a container in liquefied form

• connecting the bottled gas to the stove.

III. phrases

hit the bottle

‹informal› begin to drink heavily.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. bottle someone up

keep (someone) trapped or contained

• he had to stay bottled up in New York.

2. bottle something up

repress or conceal feelings over a period of time

• learning how to express anger instead of bottling it up

• (as adj. bottled up) Lily's bottled-up fury.

V. derivatives

bottler

noun

– origin late Middle English (denoting a leather bottle): from Old French boteille, from medieval Latin butticula, diminutive of late Latin buttis ‘cask, wineskin’ (see butt^4).

bottle age

noun

time spent by a wine maturing in its bottle.

bottle bill

noun

any of several US state laws that require deposits to be paid on beverages sold in recyclable bottles and cans.

bottle blond ‹derogatory› bottle blonde

I. adjective

(of a woman's hair) of a light blond shade, as though artificially lightened or bleached.

II. noun

a woman with artificially lightened blond hair.

bottlebrush /ˈbädlˌbrəSH/

noun

1. an Australian shrub or small tree with spikes of scarlet or yellow flowers that resemble a cylindrical brush in shape.
[Genus Callistemon, family Myrtaceae.]

2. any of a number of plants bearing spikes of flowers that resemble a cylindrical brush.

bottled gas

noun

butane or propane gas stored under pressure in portable tanks.

bottle-feed /ˈbädl ˌfēd/

verb — [with obj.]

1. feed (a baby) with milk from a bottle instead of from the mother's breast
(as adj. bottle-fed)

• a bottle-fed baby.

bottle green /ˈbädl ɡrēn/

noun

a dark shade of green.

bottle jack

noun

a bottle-shaped hydraulic jack used for lifting heavy objects.

bottleneck /ˈbädlˌnek/

noun

1. the neck or mouth of a bottle.

2. a point of congestion or blockage, in particular

3. a narrow section of road or a junction that impedes traffic flow

• narrow streets and a lack of parking space combine to make the town a bottleneck.

4. a situation that causes delay in a process or system

• lack of imports is making the bottlenecks in domestic output worse than usual.

5. a device shaped like the neck of a bottle, worn on a guitarist's finger to produce special sound effects.

6. (also bottleneck guitar) — the style of guitar playing that uses a device shaped like the neck of a bottle worn on the finger.

bottlenose dolphin /ˌbätlˌnōz ˈdälfin / bottle-nosed dolphin

noun

a stout-bodied dolphin with a distinct short beak, found in tropical and temperate coastal waters.
[Tursiops truncatus, family Delphinidae.]

bottle tree

noun

either of two Australian trees with swollen water-containing trunks.
[● the Australian baobab of the Kimberley region (Adansonia gregorii, family Bombacaceae). ● a relative of the flame tree occurring in Queensland (Brachychiton rupestre, family Sterculiaceae).]

bottom /ˈbädəm/

I. noun — (usu. the bottom)

1. the lowest point or part

• the bottom of the page

• she paused at the bottom of the stairs.

2. the lowest surface on the inside of a container

• place the fruit on the bottom of the dish.

3. the part on which a thing rests; the underside

• he sat on the bottom of an upturned bucket.

4. the ground under a sea, river, or lake

• the liner plunged to the bottom of the sea.

5. (also bottoms) — another term for bottomland.

6. the seat of a chair.

7. the lowest position in a competition or ranking

• he started at the bottom and now has his own business.

8. the basis or origin

• there's a mad scientist at the bottom of it all.

9. (also bottoms) — the lower half of a two-piece garment

• pajama bottoms

• a skimpy bikini bottom.

10. the lowest part of the hull of a ship, especially the relatively flat portion on either side of the keel.

11. ‹archaic› a ship, especially considered as a unit of transport capacity.

12. ‹archaic› stamina or strength of character, especially of a horse.

13. ‹informal› the buttocks

• he climbs the side of the gorge, scratching his bottom unselfconsciously.

14. [Baseball] the second half of an inning

• the bottom of the ninth.

15. [Physics] one of six flavors of quark.

II. adjective

1. in the lowest position

• the books on the bottom shelf.

2. in the lowest or last position in a competition or ranking

• households in the bottom income bracket.

III. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a performance or situation) reach the lowest point before stabilizing or improving

• interest rates have bottomed out.

IV. phrases

1. at bottom

basically; fundamentally

• at bottom, science is exploration.

2. bet your bottom dollar

‹informal› stake everything

• you can bet your bottom dollar it'll end in tears.

3. the bottom falls (or drops) out

collapse or failure occurs

• the bottom fell out of the market for classic cars.

4. bottoms up!

‹informal› a call to finish one's drink.

5. from the bottom of one's heart

see heart.

6. from the bottom up

starting at the lower end or beginning of a hierarchy or process and proceeding to the top or to completion

• we began to study history from the bottom up.

7. get to the bottom of

find an explanation for (a mystery)

• he hopes to get to the bottom of the scam.

V. derivatives

bottommost /ˈbädə(m)ˌmōst /

adjective

– origin Old English botm, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bodem ‘bottom, ground’ and German Boden ‘ground, earth.’

bottom-dwelling /ˈbädəmˌdweliNG/

I. adjective

1. (of an aquatic organism) dwelling on or near the bed of the sea, a lake, or other body of water.

2. (of a person or organization) characterized by poor, questionable, or unethical performance.

II. derivatives

bottom-dweller

noun

bottomed /ˈbädəmd/

adjective — [in combination]

1. having a base or lowest point of the specified kind

• a heavy-bottomed copper pan

• a clear, sandy-bottomed lake

• a rather unique glass-bottomed boat.

2. having buttocks of the specified kind

• a large-bottomed woman

• she was sitting on a chair bare-bottomed.

bottom feeder

noun

1. an aquatic creature that feeds at the bottom of a body of water.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› someone who profits from things cast off or left over by others.

bottom fermentation

noun

a process in the brewing of certain beers in which the yeast falls to the bottom during fermentation.

bottom fish

I. noun

a species of fish, such as flounder, that is a bottom feeder.

II. verb

1. fish for species that are bottom fish.

2. make profits from investments that are of low value or out of favor.

bottomland /ˈbädəmˌland/

noun

(N. Amer.) low-lying land, typically by a river and subject to overflow during floods.

bottomless /ˈbädəmləs/

adjective

1. without a bottom

• plant mint in a bottomless bucket sunk into the ground.

2. very deep

• the cold dark sea in whose bottomless depths monsters swam.

3. (of a supply of money or other resources) inexhaustible

• I don't have a bottomless pit of money.

4. naked below the waist.

bottom line /ˈbädəm ˈˌlīn/

noun

1. ‹informal› the final total of an account, balance sheet, or other financial document

• ‹figurative› the determination of Japanese companies to ignore the bottom line.

2. ‹informal› the underlying or ultimate outcome or criterion

• the bottom line is I'm still married to Denny

• the bottom line is, does it work?

bottom round

noun

a steak or other cut from the outer part of a round of beef.

bottomry /ˈbädəmrē/

I. noun

‹dated› a system of merchant insurance in which a ship is used as security against a loan to finance a voyage, the lender losing the investment if the ship sinks.

– origin late 16th cent.: from bottom (in the sense ‘ship’) + -ry, influenced by Dutch bodemerij.

bottom-up /bädəm ˈəp/

adjective

proceeding from the bottom of a hierarchy upward or from the beginning of a process forward.

botulin /ˈbäCHəlin/

noun

the bacterial toxin involved in botulism.

botulinum /ˌbäCHəˈlīnəm/

noun

a rod-shaped bacterium that produces botulin.
[Clostridium botulinum.]

botulinum toxin /ˌbäCHəˌlīnəm ˈtäksən / botulinus toxin

noun

another term for botulin.

botulism /ˈbäCHəˌlizəm/

I. noun

food poisoning caused by a bacterium (botulinum) growing on improperly sterilized canned meats and other preserved foods.

– origin late 19th cent.: from German Botulismus, originally ‘sausage poisoning,’ from Latin botulus ‘sausage.’

boubou /ˈbo͞obo͞o/

I. noun

1. (also boubou shrike) — an African bush shrike with the upper parts mainly blackish in color. It is noted for the duet of bell-like calls produced by the male and female together.
[Genus Laniarius, family Laniidae: several species, in particular the tropical boubou (L. aethiopicus) and the southern boubou (L. ferrugineus).]

2. a long, colorful, loose-fitting garment worn by both sexes in parts of Africa.

– origin French, from Malinke bubu.

bouchée /bo͞oˈSHā/

noun

a small pastry with a sweet or savory filling.

Boucher, François /bo͞oˈSHā/

(1703–70), French painter and decorative artist. One of the foremost artists of the rococo style in France, his works include The Rising of the Sun (1753) and Summer Pastoral (1749).

bouclé /bo͞oˈklā/

I. noun — [often as modifier]

1. yarn with a looped or curled ply, or fabric woven from this yarn

• a bouclé sweater.

– origin late 19th cent.: French, literally ‘buckled, curled.’

Boudicca /bo͞oˈdikə/

(died AD 62), a queen of the Britons; ruler of the Iceni tribe in eastern England; also known as Boadicea. She led her forces in revolt against the Romans and sacked Colchester, St. Albans, and London before being defeated by the Roman governor, Suetonius Paulinus.

boudin /bo͞oˈdan, -ˈdaN/

I. noun

1. a French type of blood sausage.

2. a spicy sausage used especially in Louisiana cuisine.

– origin early 19th cent.: French, literally ‘blood sausage.’

boudoir /ˈbo͞oˌdwär/

I. noun

‹chiefly historical› ‹humorous› a woman's bedroom or private room.

– origin late 18th cent.: French, literally ‘sulking place.’

bouffant /bo͞oˈfänt/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of a person's hair) styled so as to puff out in a rounded shape

• a blonde lady with bouffant hair.

II. noun

a bouffant hairstyle.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French, literally ‘swelling,’ present participle of bouffer.

Bougainville /ˈbo͞oɡənˌvil, ˈbō-/

I. a volcanic island in the South Pacific Ocean, the largest of the Solomon Islands.

– origin named after Louis de Bougainville (see Bougainville, Louis Antoine de), who visited it in 1768.

Bougainville, Louis Antoine de /ˌbo͞oɡaNˈvēl/

(1729–1811), French explorer. He led the first French circumnavigation of the globe 1766–69, visiting many of the islands of the South Pacific and compiling an invaluable scientific record of his findings.

bougainvillea /ˌbo͞oɡənˈvilēə ˌbōɡənˈvilēə / bougainvillaea

I. noun

an ornamental climbing plant that is widely cultivated in the tropics. The insignificant flowers are surrounded by brightly colored papery bracts that persist on the plant for a long time.
[Genus Bougainvillea, family Nyctaginaceae.]

– origin named after Louis de Bougainville (see Bougainville, Louis Antoine de).

bough /bou/

I. noun

a main branch of a tree

• apple boughs laden with blossom.

– origin Old English bōg, bōh ‘bough or shoulder,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch boeg ‘shoulders or ship's bow,’ German Bug ‘ship's bow’ and ‘horse's hock or shoulder,’ also to bow^3.

bought /bôt/

past and past participle of buy.

boughten /ˈbôtn/

I. adjective

‹dialect› (chiefly N. Amer.) bought rather than homemade

• wooden boxes full of boughten cookies

• her first store-boughten doll.

– origin late 18th cent.: dialect variant of bought.

bougie^1 /ˈbo͞oZHē/

I. noun

[Medicine] a thin, flexible surgical instrument for exploring or dilating a passage of the body.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French, literally ‘wax candle,’ from Arabic Bijāya, the name of an Algerian town that traded in wax.

bougie^2 /ˈbo͞oZHē / bourgie

I. adjective

(US) ‹informal› ‹often derogatory› exhibiting qualities attributed to the middle class, especially pretentiousness or conventionality

• the candlelit cocktail party was pretty bougie.

– origin 1960s (originally in African-American usage): from bourgeois.

bouillabaisse /ˈbo͞oːyəbās/

I. noun

a rich, spicy stew or soup made with various kinds of fish, originally from Provence.

– origin French, from modern Provençal bouiabaisso ‘boil down.’

bouillon /ˈbo͞o(l)yän/

I. noun

a broth made by stewing meat, fish, or vegetables in water.

– origin mid 17th cent.: French, literally ‘liquid in which something has boiled.’

bouillon cube

noun

a cube of concentrated stock, used for making bouillon.

boulder /ˈbōldər/

I. noun

a large rock, typically one that has been worn smooth by erosion.

II. derivatives

bouldery

adjective

– origin late Middle English: shortened from earlier boulderstone, of Scandinavian origin.

Boulder /ˈbōldər/

a city in north central Colorado, northwest of Denver, home to the University of Colorado; pop. 94,171 (est. 2008).

boulder clay /ˈbōldər ˌklā/

noun

(Brit.) another term for till^4.

bouldering /ˈbōld(ə)riNG/

noun

[Mountaineering] climbing on large boulders, either for practice or as a sport in its own right.

boule^1 /bo͞ol/

I. noun

a metal ball used in the French game of boules, a form of lawn bowling played on rough ground.

– origin 1920s (originally denoting a form of roulette): French, literally ‘bowl.’

boule^2 /bo͞oˈlā, ˈbo͞olē/

I. noun

a legislative body of ancient or modern Greece.

– origin from Greek boulē ‘senate.’

boulevard /ˈbo͝oləˌvärd / blvd.

I. noun

1. a wide street in a town or city, typically one lined with trees
[in names]

• Sunset Boulevard.

2. another term for boulevard strip.

– origin mid 18th cent.: French, literally ‘a rampart’ (later ‘a promenade on the site of one’), from German Bollwerk (see bulwark).

boulevardier /ˌbo͝oləvärˈdir ˌbo͝oləvärˈdyā/

I. noun

a wealthy, fashionable socialite.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French, originally in the sense ‘person who frequents boulevards.’

boulevard strip

noun

a grassy strip between a road and a sidewalk.

bouleversement /ˌbo͞oləvərsəˈmän/

I. noun

an inversion, especially a violent one; an upset or upheaval.

– origin from French bouleverser ‘overturn.’

Boulez, Pierre /bo͞oˈlez/

(1925–), French composer and conductor. He was principal conductor with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra 1971–78.

bounce /bouns/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of an object, especially a ball) move quickly up, back, or away from a surface after hitting it; rebound (once or repeatedly)

• the ball bounced off the rim

• the ball bounced away, and he chased it

• [with obj.] he was bouncing the ball against the wall.

2. (of light, sound, or an electronic signal) come into contact with an object or surface and be reflected

• short sound waves bounce off even small objects.

3. (also bounce back) — (of an email) be returned to its sender after failing to reach its destination

• I tried to email him, but the message bounced.

4. (bounce back) — recover well after a setback

• he was admired for his ability to bounce back from injury.

5. [Baseball] hit a ball that bounces before reaching a fielder

• bouncing out with the bases loaded

• [with obj.] bounced a grounder to third.

6. (of a person) jump repeatedly up and down, typically on something springy

• bouncing up and down on the mattress.

7. (of a thing) move up and down while remaining essentially in the same position

• the gangplank bounced under his confident step.

8. [with obj.] — cause (a child) to move lightly up and down on one's knee as a game

• I remember how you used to bounce me on your knee.

9. [often with adv. or prep. phrase showing direction] — move in an energetic or happy manner

• Linda bounced in through the open front door.

10. [often with adv. or prep. phrase showing direction] — (of a vehicle) move jerkily along a bumpy surface

• the car bounced down the narrow track.

11. ‹informal› (of a check) be returned by a bank when there are insufficient funds to meet it

• my rent check bounced.

12. [with obj.] — ‹informal› write (a check) on insufficient funds

• I've never bounced a check.

13. [with obj.] — ‹informal› eject (a troublemaker) forcibly from a nightclub or similar establishment.

14. (chiefly N. Amer.) dismiss (someone) from a job

• those who put in a dismal performance will be bounced from the tour.

II. noun

1. a rebound of a ball or other object

• a bad bounce caused the ball to get away from the second baseman.

2. the power of rebounding.

3. an act of jumping or an instance of being moved up and down

• every bounce of the truck brought them into fresh contact

• a bounce on your knee or a cuddle and pat on the back.

4. a sudden rise in the level of something

• economists agree that there could be a bounce in prices next year.

5. exuberant self-confidence

• the bounce was now back in Jenny's step.

6. health and body in the hair

• use conditioner to help hair regain its bounce.

III. phrases

1. bounce an idea off someone

‹informal› share an idea with another person in order to get feedback on it.

2. be bouncing off the walls

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› be full of nervous excitement or agitation.

– origin Middle English bunsen ‘beat, thump.’

bounce flash

noun

1. [Photography] a device for giving reflected photographic flashlight.

2. [Photography] the effect of reflected flashlight.

bouncer /ˈbounsər/

noun

1. a person employed by a nightclub or similar establishment to prevent troublemakers from entering or to eject them from the premises.

2. [Baseball] a batted ball that bounces before being fielded.

bounce rate

noun

the percentage of visitors to a particular website who navigate away from the site after viewing only one page.

• a rising bounce rate is a sure sign that your homepage is boring or off-putting.

bouncing /ˈbounsiNG/

adjective

1. (of a ball) rebounding up and down

• an awkwardly bouncing ball.

2. (of a baby) vigorous and healthy

• Lisa gave birth to a bouncing baby boy.

3. lively and confident

• by the next day she was her usual bouncing, energetic self.

bouncing Bet

noun

another term for soapwort.

bouncy /ˈbounsē/

I. adjective

1. bouncing well

• a bouncy ball.

2. resilient; springy

• that bouncy artificial grass.

3. (of a person) confident and lively

• she was still the girl he remembered, bouncy and full of life.

4. (of music) having a jaunty rhythm

• the bouncy cheerfulness of polka.

5. (of the hair) in good condition; having bounce

• hair with shiny, bouncy curls.

II. derivatives

1. bouncily /-səlē /

adverb

2. bounciness

noun

bound^1 /bound/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. walk or run with leaping strides

• Louis came bounding down the stairs

• the dog bounded up to him.

2. (of an object, typically a round one) rebound from a surface

• bullets bounded off the veranda.

II. noun

a leaping movement upward

• I went up the steps in two effortless bounds.

– origin early 16th cent. (as a noun): from French bond (noun), bondir (verb) ‘resound,’ later ‘rebound,’ from late Latin bombitare, from Latin bombus ‘humming.’

bound^2 /bound/

I. noun — (often bounds)

1. a territorial limit; a boundary

• the ancient bounds of the forest.

2. a limitation or restriction on feeling or action

• it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that the issue could arise again

• enthusiasm to join the union knew no bounds.

3. ‹technical› a limiting value.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be bounded)

1. form the boundary of; enclose

• the ground was bounded by a main road on one side and a meadow on the other.

2. place within certain limits; restrict

• freedom of action is bounded by law.

III. phrases

1. in bounds

[Sports] inside the regular playing area.

2. out of bounds

a. [Sports] outside the regular playing area

• he hit his third shot out of bounds at the 17th.

b. /ˌoud əv ˈboundz / — (of a place) outside the limits of where one is permitted to be

• his kitchen was out of bounds to me at mealtimes.

c. beyond what is acceptable

• Paul felt that this conversation was getting out of bounds.

– origin Middle English (in the senses ‘landmark’ and ‘borderland’): from Old French bodne, from medieval Latin bodina, earlier butina, of unknown ultimate origin.

bound^3 /bound/

I. adjective

1. heading toward somewhere

• trains bound for Chicago

• [in combination] the three moon-bound astronauts.

2. destined or likely to have a specified experience

• they were bound for disaster.

– origin Middle English boun (in the sense ‘ready, dressed’), from Old Norse búinn, past participle of búa ‘get ready’; the final -d is euphonic, or influenced by bound^4.

bound^4 /bound/

I. verb

past and past participle of bind.

II. adjective

1. [in combination] — restricted or confined to a specified place

• his job kept him city-bound.

2. prevented from operating normally by the specified conditions

• blizzard-bound Boston.

3. [with infinitive] — certain to do or have something

• there is bound to be a change of plan.

4. obliged by law, circumstances, or duty to do something

• I'm bound to do what I can to help Sam

• I'm bound to say that I'm not sure.

5. [in combination] — (of a book) having a specified binding

• fine leather-bound books.

6. [Linguistics] (of a morpheme) unable to occur alone, e.g., dis- in dismount.

7. constipated.

III. phrases

1. bound up in

focusing on, to the exclusion of all else

• she was too bound up in her own misery to care that other people were hurt.

2. bound up with (or in)

closely connected with or related to

• democracy is bound up with a measure of economic and social equality.

boundary /ˈbound(ə)rē/

I. noun

1. a line that marks the limits of an area; a dividing line

• the eastern boundary of the wilderness

• the boundary between the US and Canada

• [as modifier] a boundary wall.

2. (often boundaries) — a limit of a subject or sphere of activity

• a community without class or political boundaries.

– origin early 17th cent.: variant of dialect bounder, from bound^2 + -er^1, perhaps on the pattern of limitary.

boundary condition

noun

[Mathematics] a condition that is required to be satisfied at all or part of the boundary of a region in which a set of differential equations is to be solved.

boundary layer

noun

a layer of more or less stationary fluid (such as water or air) immediately surrounding an immersed object in relative motion with the fluid.

Boundary Waters

a region in northeast Minnesota, along the Ontario border, known as a canoeing wilderness.

bounden /ˈboundən/

I. archaic past participle of bind.

II. phrases

one's bounden duty

a responsibility regarded as obligatory

• the Pastor believed that it was his bounden duty to keep them on the right path.

bounder /ˈboundər/

noun

‹informal› ‹dated› (chiefly Brit.) a dishonorable man

• he is nothing but a fortune-seeking bounder.

bound form

noun

a morpheme that occurs only as an element of a compound word and cannot stand on its own, such as -ing or -er.

boundless /ˈboun(d)ləs/

I. adjective

unlimited; immense

• enthusiasts who devote boundless energy to their hobby.

II. derivatives

1. boundlessly

adverb

[as submodifier]

• the land was boundlessly fertile

2. boundlessness /ˈboun(d)ləsnəs /

noun

bounteous /ˈboun(t)ēəs/

I. adjective

‹archaic› generously given or giving; bountiful

• the earth yields a bounteous harvest.

II. derivatives

1. bounteously

adverb

2. bounteousness

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French bontif, -ive ‘benevolent’ (from bonte ‘bounty’), on the pattern of plenteous.

bountiful /ˈboun(t)əfəl/

I. adjective

1. large in quantity; abundant

• the ocean provided a bountiful supply of fresh food.

2. giving generously

• he was exceedingly bountiful to persons in distress.

II. derivatives

bountifully /ˈboun(t)əf(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin early 16th cent.: from bounty + -ful.

Bountiful /ˈboun(t)əfəl/

a city in northern Utah, north of Salt Lake City; pop. 44,473 (est. 2008).

bounty /ˈboun(t)ē/

I. noun

1. generosity; liberality

• ‹figurative› for millennia the people along the Nile have depended entirely on its bounty.

2. abundance; plenty

• we ask that growers share their bounty with others.

3. a monetary gift or reward, typically given by a government, in particular

4. a sum paid for killing or capturing a person or animal

• there was an increased bounty on his head.

5. ‹historical› a sum paid to encourage trade

• bounties were paid to colonial producers of indigo dye.

6. a sum paid to army or navy recruits upon enlistment.

7. ‹literary› something given or occurring in generous amounts

• the bounties of nature.

– origin Middle English (denoting goodness or generosity): from Old French bonte ‘goodness,’ from Latin bonitas, from bonus ‘good.’ The sense ‘monetary reward’ dates from the early 18th cent.

Bounty /ˈboun(t)ē/

a ship of the British navy on which in 1789 part of the crew, led by Fletcher Christian, mutinied against their commander, William Bligh, and set him adrift in an open boat with eighteen crewmen.

bounty hunter /ˈboun(t)ē ˌhən(t)ər/

noun

one who pursues a criminal or seeks an achievement for the sake of the reward.

bouquet /bōˈkā bo͞oˈkā/

I. noun

1. an attractively arranged bunch of flowers, especially one presented as a gift or carried at a ceremony.

2. an expression of approval; a compliment

• we will happily publish the bouquets.

3. a characteristic scent, especially that of a wine or perfume

• the aperitif has a faint bouquet of almonds

• champagnes have a delicacy of bouquet.

– origin early 18th cent.: from French (earlier ‘clump of trees’), from a dialect variant of Old French bos ‘wood.’ Sense 2 dates from the mid 19th cent.

bouquet garni /bōˈkā ɡärˈnē, bo͞o-/

I. noun

a bunch of herbs, typically encased in a cheesecloth bag, used for flavoring a stew or soup.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, literally ‘garnished bouquet.’

bourbon /ˈbərbən/

I. noun

a straight whiskey distilled from a mash having at least 51 percent corn in addition to malt and rye.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after Bourbon County, Kentucky, where it was first made.

Bourbon^1 /ˈbo͝orbən/

the surname of a branch of the royal family of France. The Bourbons ruled France from 1589, when Henry IV succeeded to the throne, until the monarchy was overthrown in 1848, and reached the peak of their power under Louis XIV in the late 17th century. Members of this family have also been kings of Spain (1700–1931 and since 1975).

Bourbon^2 /ˈbo͝orbən/

I. noun

1. (US) a reactionary.

2. (also Bourbon rose) — a rose of a variety that flowers over a long period and has a rich scent. It arose as a natural hybrid on the island of Réunion (formerly Île de Bourbon) and was introduced into Europe in the early 19th century.
[Rosa × borboniana, a hybrid of Rosa chinensis and R. damascena, family Rosaceae.]

– origin mid 19th cent. (sense 1): from the name of the Bourbon^1 family. Sense 2 dates from the 1930s.

Bourbon County

a county in north central Kentucky, in the Bluegrass region, birthplace of the American whiskey type.

Bourbonnais /ˌbo͝orbəˈnā/

a former duchy and province in central France; chief town, Moulins.

bourdon /ˈbo͝ordn/

I. noun

1. [Music] a low-pitched stop in an organ or harmonium, typically a sixteen-foot stopped diapason.

2. the drone pipe of a bagpipe.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘drone of a bagpipe’): from Old French, ‘drone,’ of imitative origin.

bourg /bo͝orɡ/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› a town or village under the shadow of a castle.

2. ‹historical› a French market town.

– origin French, from late Latin burgus ‘castle’ (in medieval Latin ‘fortified town’), ultimately of Germanic origin and related to borough.

bourgeois /bo͝orˈZHwä ˈbo͝orZHwä/

I. adjective

1. of or characteristic of the middle class, typically with reference to its perceived materialistic values or conventional attitudes

• a rich, bored, bourgeois family

• these views will shock the bourgeois critics.

2. (in Marxist contexts) upholding the interests of capitalism; not communist

• bourgeois society took for granted the sanctity of property.

II. noun

a bourgeois person

• a self-confessed and proud bourgeois.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French bourg. Compare with burgess.

bourgeoise /bo͝orˈZHwäz, ˈbo͝orZHwäz/

I. adjective

of or characteristic of female members of the bourgeoisie.

II. noun

a female member of the bourgeoisie.

– origin late 18th cent.: French, feminine of bourgeois ‘citizen’ (see bourgeois).

bourgeoisie /ˌbo͝orZHwäˈzē/

I. noun — (usu. the bourgeoisie)

1. the middle class, typically with reference to its perceived materialistic values or conventional attitudes.

2. (in Marxist contexts) the capitalist class who own most of society's wealth and means of production.

– origin early 18th cent.: French, from bourgeois.

Bourgogne /bo͝orˈɡônyə/

French name for Burgundy.

Bourguiba, Habib ibn Ali /bo͝orˈɡēbə/

(1903–2000), Tunisian nationalist and statesman. He was the first president of independent Tunisia 1957–87.

Bourke-White, Margaret /ˈbərk ˌ(h)wīt/

(1906–71), US photojournalist. During World War II, she was the first female photographer with the US armed forces. At the end of the war, she accompanied the Allied forces when they entered the Nazi concentration camps. Later assignments included the Korean War (1950–53) and work in India and South Africa.

bourn^1 /bôrn / bourne

I. noun

‹dialect› a small stream, especially one that flows intermittently or seasonally.

– origin Middle English: southern English variant of burn^2.

bourn^2 /bôrn / bourne

I. noun

1. ‹literary› a goal; a destination.

2. ‹literary› a limit; a boundary.

– origin early 16th cent. (denoting a boundary of a field): from French borne, from Old French bodne (see bound^2).

Bournemouth /ˈbôrnməTH/

a resort on the southern coast of England; pop. 159,500 (est. 2009).

bourrée /bo͝oˈrā/

I. noun

1. a lively French dance like a gavotte.

2. [Ballet] a series of very fast little steps, with the feet close together, typically performed on pointe and giving the impression that the dancer is gliding over the floor.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. perform a bourrée.

– origin late 17th cent.: French, literally ‘faggot of twigs’ (the dance being performed around a fire made with such twigs).

bourse /bo͝ors/

I. noun

1. a stock market in a non-English-speaking country, especially France.

2. (Bourse) — the Paris stock exchange.

– origin mid 16th cent. (as burse, the usual form until the mid 19th cent.): from French, literally ‘purse,’ via medieval Latin from Greek bursa ‘leather.’

Boursin /bo͝orˈsän/

I. noun

‹trademark› a kind of soft cheese from France.

– origin French.

boustrophedon /ˌbo͞ostrəˈfēdn/

I. adjective, adverb

(of written words) from right to left and from left to right in alternate lines.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Greek, literally ‘as an ox turns in plowing,’ from bous ‘ox’ + -strophos ‘turning.’

bout /bout/

I. noun

1. a short period of intense activity of a specified kind

• occasional bouts of strenuous exercise

• a drinking bout.

2. an attack of illness or strong emotion of a specified kind

• a severe bout of flu.

3. a wrestling or boxing match.

4. a curve in the side of a violin, guitar, or other musical instrument.

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting a curve or circuit, hence later a “turn” of activity): from dialect bought ‘bend, loop’; probably of Low German origin.

boutade /bo͞oˈtäd/

I. noun

‹formal› a sudden outburst or outbreak.

– origin early 17th cent.: French, from bouter ‘to thrust.’

boutique /bo͞oˈtēk/

I. noun

1. a small store selling fashionable clothes or accessories.

2. a business that serves a sophisticated or specialized clientele

• a small investment boutique

• [as modifier] a boutique film.

II. derivatives

boutiquey

adjective

‹informal›

– origin mid 18th cent.: French, literally ‘small shop,’ via Latin from Greek apothēkē ‘storehouse.’ Compare with bodega.

boutique brewery

noun

another term for microbrewery.

boutique hotel

noun

a small stylish hotel, typically one situated in a fashionable urban location.

bouton /bo͞oˈtôn/

I. noun

[Anatomy] an enlarged part of a nerve fiber or cell, especially an axon, where it forms a synapse with another nerve.

– origin 1930s: from French, literally ‘button.’

boutonnière /ˌbo͞otnˈir/

I. noun

a spray of flowers worn in a buttonhole.

– origin late 19th cent.: French, ‘buttonhole,’ from bouton ‘button.’

Boutros-Ghali, Boutros

(1922–), Egyptian diplomat and politician; secretary general of the United Nations 1992–97.

bouvier /bo͞oˈvyā/

I. noun

a large, powerful dog of a rough-coated breed originating in Belgium.

– origin French ‘cowherd.’

bouzouki /bo͝oˈzo͞okē/

I. noun

a long-necked Greek instrument similar to the mandolin.

– origin 1950s: from modern Greek mpouzouki, possibly related to Turkish bozuk ‘spoiled’ (with reference to roughly made instruments).

bovid /ˈbōvid/

I. noun

[Zoology] a mammal of the cattle family (Bovidae).

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Bovidae, from bos, bov- ‘ox.’

bovine /ˈbōvīn ˈbōvēn/

I. adjective

1. of, relating to, or affecting cattle

• bovine tuberculosis

• bovine tissue.

2. (of a person) slow-moving and dull-witted

• amiable bovine faces.

II. noun

an animal of the cattle group, which also includes buffaloes and bisons.

III. derivatives

bovinely

adverb

– origin early 19th cent.: from late Latin bovinus, from Latin bos, bov- ‘ox.’

bovine growth hormone BGH

noun

a natural hormone in cattle that helps regulate growth and milk production and that may be produced artificially and given to dairy cattle to increase the yield of milk.
Also called bovine somatotropin.

bovine somatotropin /ˌbōvīn səˌmadəˈtrōpən / BST

noun

another term for bovine growth hormone.

bow^1 /bō/

I. noun

1. a knot tied with two loops and two loose ends, used especially for tying shoelaces and decorative ribbons

• a girl with long hair tied back in a bow.

2. a decorative ribbon tied in a bow.

3. a weapon for shooting arrows, typically made of a curved piece of wood whose ends are joined by a taut string.

4. a bowman.

5. a long, partially curved rod with horsehair stretched along its length, used for playing the violin and other stringed instruments.

6. a single passage of a bow over the strings of a violin or other stringed instrument.

7. a thing that is bent or curved in shape, in particular

8. a curved stroke forming part of a letter (e.g., b, p).

9. a metal ring forming the handle of a key or pair of scissors.

10. (N. Amer.) a side piece or lens frame of a pair of glasses.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. play (a stringed instrument or music) using a bow

• the techniques by which the pieces were bowed.

2. bend into the shape of a bow

• the sides of the image are squeezed in or bowed out.

– origin Old English boga ‘bend, bow, arch,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch boog and German Bogen, also to bow^2.

bow^2 /bou/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. bend the head or upper part of the body as a sign of respect, greeting, or shame

• he turned and bowed to his father

• they refused to bow down before the king

• (as adj. bowed) councilors stood with heads bowed

• [with obj.] she knelt and bowed her head.

2. [with obj.] — express (thanks, agreement, or other sentiments) by bending one's head respectfully

• he looked at Hector before bowing grave thanks.

3. [no obj.] — bend the body in order to see or concentrate
[as adj.]

• my mother sat bowed over a library book.

4. bend with age or under pressure

• the grass bowed down before the wind

• [with obj.] the vines were bowed down with flowers.

5. submit to pressure or to someone's demands

• the mayor bowed to public opinion.

6. (chiefly N. Amer.) (of a movie or product) be premiered or launched

• the trailer bowed in theaters nationwide on December 23.

• the Pentium III bowed in early 1999.

II. noun

1. an act of bending the head or upper body as a sign of respect or greeting

• the man gave a little bow.

2. the premiere or launch of a movie or product

• the new big screen will make its bow at the game on Saturday.

III. phrases

1. bow and scrape

behave in an obsequious way to someone in authority.

2. make one's bow

make one's first formal appearance in a particular role

• he made his bow as a science fiction writer.

3. take a bow

(of a performer) acknowledge applause after a performance by bowing

• ‹figurative› the aides do the grind work while the boss takes the bows.

IV. phrasal verbs

bow out

withdraw or retire from an activity, role, or commitment

• many artists are forced to bow out of the profession at a relatively early age.

– origin Old English būgan ‘bend, stoop,’ of Germanic origin; related to German biegen, also to bow^1.

bow^3 /bou / bows

I. noun

the front end of a ship

• water sprayed high over her bows

• stand in the bow.

II. phrases

1. on the bow

[Nautical] within 45° of the point directly ahead.

2. a (warning) shot across the bows

a statement or gesture intended to frighten someone into changing their course of action

• supporters are firing a warning shot across the President's bows.

– origin late Middle English: from Low German boog, Dutch boeg ‘shoulder or ship's bow’; related to bough.

Bow, Clara /bō/

(1905–65), US actress. One of the most popular stars and sex symbols of the 1920s, she was known as the “It Girl.” Her silent movies include It (1927) and The Wild Party (1929).

bow compass /ˈbō ˌkəmpəs / bow compasses

noun

a compass with jointed legs.

bowdlerize /ˈbōdləˌrīz ˈboudləˌrīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove material that is considered improper or offensive from (a text or account), especially with the result that it becomes weaker or less effective
(as adj. bowdlerized)

• a bowdlerized version of the story.

II. derivatives

1. bowdlerism

noun

2. bowdlerization /ˌbōdləˌrīˈzāSHən ˌboudləˌrīˈzāSHən /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from the name of Dr. Thomas Bowdler (1754–1825), who published an expurgated edition of Shakespeare in 1818, + -ize.

bow echo /ˈbō ˌekō/

noun

[Meteorology] a bow-shaped radar signature associated with fast-moving storm systems accompanied by damaging winds.

bowel /ˈbou(ə)l / bowels

I. noun

1. the part of the alimentary canal below the stomach; the intestine.

2. (the bowels of ——) — the parts deep inside something large

• the train picks up speed for its final plunge into the subterranean bowels of Manhattan.

– origin Middle English: from Old French bouel, from Latin botellus, diminutive of botulus ‘sausage.’

Bowell, Sir Mackenzie /ˈbōəl/

(1823–1917), Canadian Conservative statesman; prime minister 1894–96.

bowel movement

noun

1. an act of defecation.

2. the feces discharged in an act of defecation.

Bowen, Elizabeth /ˈbōən/

(1899–1973), British novelist and short-story writer, born in Ireland; full name Elizabeth Dorothea Cole Bowen. Notable works: The Death of the Heart (1938) and The Heat of the Day (1949).

bower^1 /ˈbou(ə)r/

I. noun

1. a pleasant shady place under trees or climbing plants in a garden or wood.

2. ‹literary› a summerhouse or country cottage.

3. ‹literary› a lady's private room or bedroom.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› shade or enclose (a place or person)
(as adj. bowered)

• the bowered pathways into the tangle of vines.

– origin Old English būr ‘dwelling, inner room,’ of Germanic origin; related to German Bauer ‘birdcage.’

bower^2 /ˈbou(ə)r / bower anchor

I. noun

each of two anchors carried at a ship's bow.

– origin late 15th cent.: from bow^3 + -er^1.

bowerbird /ˈbou(ə)rˌbərd/

noun

a strong-billed Australasian bird, noted for the male's habit of constructing a bower adorned with feathers, shells, and other objects to attract the female.
[Family Ptilonorhynchidae: several genera and species, esp. the satin bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus), which decorates the bower with blue-colored articles.]

Bowery /ˈbou(ə)rē/

I. a street and district of lower Manhattan in New York City associated, especially formerly, with flophouses and rowdies.

– origin mid 17th cent.: built on the site of governor Peter Stuyvesant's bowery ‘farm,’ from Dutch bouwerij.

bowfin /ˈbōˌfin/

I. noun

a predatory American freshwater fish with a large blunt head and a long dorsal fin. It is able to survive for long periods out of water.
[Amia calva, the only living member of the family Amiidae.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from bow^1 + fin.

bow-fronted /ˌbōˈfrəntəd/

I. adjective

(of furniture) having a convexly curved front.

II. derivatives

bow front

noun, adjective

bowhead /ˈbōˌhed / bowhead whale

I. noun

a black Arctic right whale that feeds by skimming the surface for plankton.
Also called Greenland right whale. [Balaena mysticetus, family Balaenidae.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from bow^1 + head.

bowhunting /ˈbōˌhən(t)iNG/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) the practice of hunting animals with a bow rather than a gun.

II. derivatives

bowhunter /-ˌhəntər /

noun

Bowie /ˈbōē/

a town in west central Maryland, northeast of Washington, DC; pop. 52,544 (est. 2008).

Bowie, David /ˈbo͞o-ē/

(1947–), English rock singer, songwriter, and actor; born David Robert Jones. He is known for his theatrical performances and unconventional stage personae. Notable albums: Ziggy Stardust (1972), Let's Dance (1983), and Reality (2003).

Bowie, Jim /ˈbōē, ˈbo͞oē/

(1799–1836), US frontiersman; full name James Bowie. The Bowie knife was designed either by him or by his brother Rezin. One of the leaders among the US settlers who opposed Mexican rule in Texas, he shared command of the garrison that resisted the Mexican attack on the Alamo. He died during this battle.

bowie knife /ˈbo͞oē, ˈbōē/

I. noun

a long knife with a blade double-edged at the point.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after Jim Bowie or his brother (see Bowie, Jim).

bowknot /ˈbōnät/

noun

a double-looped knot in a ribbon, tie, or other fastening.

bowl^1 /bōl/

I. noun

1. a round, deep dish or basin used for food or liquid

• a mixing bowl

• a sugar bowl.

2. the contents of a bowl

• huge bowls of steaming spaghetti.

3. [usu. in names] — a decorative round dish awarded as a prize in a competition

• the McGeorge Rose Bowl.

4. a rounded, concave part of an object

• a toilet bowl

• the bowl of a spoon.

5. [Geography] a natural basin.

6. [in names] — (chiefly US) a stadium for sporting or musical events

• the Hollywood Bowl.

7. a football game played after the regular season between leading or all-star teams
[as modifier]

• their last four bowl games.

II. derivatives

bowlful /ˈbōlˌfo͝ol /

noun

– origin Old English bolle, bolla, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bol ‘round object,’ also to boll.

bowl^2 /bōl/

I. noun

a ball made slightly asymmetrical so that it runs on a curved course, used in the game of lawn bowling.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — roll (a ball or hoop) along the ground

• she snatched her hat off and bowled it ahead of her like a hoop.

2. [no obj.] — play the game of bowling

• I usually bowl Tuesday nights.

3. achieve (a certain score) in tenpin bowling

• she bowled a 162 high game.

4. [with obj.] — [Cricket] (of a bowler) propel (the ball) with a straight arm towards the batsman, typically in such a way that the ball bounces once

• Lillee bowled another bouncer

• [no obj.] Sobers bowled to Willis.

5. (also bowl someone out) — dismiss (a batsman) by knocking down the wicket with the ball that one has bowled

• Stewart was bowled for 33 in the one-day international.

6. [no obj.] — move rapidly and smoothly in a specified direction

• they bowled along the country roads.

III. phrasal verbs

bowl someone over

a. knock someone down.

b. ‹informal› completely overwhelm or astonish someone, for example by one's good qualities or looks

• when he met Angela, he was just bowled over by her.

– origin late Middle English (in the general sense ‘ball’): from Old French boule, from Latin bulla ‘bubble.’

bowlder

noun

archaic spelling of boulder.

bow legs /ˈbō ˌleɡz/

I. plural noun

legs that curve outward at the knee; bandy legs.

II. derivatives

bow-legged /ˈbō ˌleɡ(ə)d /

adjective

bowler^1 /ˈbōlər/

noun

1. a player at tenpin bowling, lawn bowling, or skittles.

2. [Cricket] a member of the fielding side who bowls or is bowling.

bowler^2 /ˈbōlər / bowler hat

I. noun

a man's hard felt hat with a round dome-shaped crown.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after William Bowler, the English hatter who designed it in 1850.

Bowles, Paul /bōlz/

(1910–99), US writer and composer; full name Paul Frederick Bowles. In the 1930s, he studied music in Paris and worked as a music critic and composer. His novels, which include The Sheltering Sky (1949), Let It Come Down (1952), and The Spider's House (1966), typically concern Westerners in the Arab world.

bowl haircut

noun

a haircut done by or as if by inverting a bowl on a person's head and cutting off the hair left exposed.

bowline /ˈboulīn/

I. noun

1. a rope attached to the weather leech of a square sail and leading forward, thus helping the ship sail nearer the wind.

2. a nonbinding knot for forming a nonslipping nonjamming loop at the end of a rope.

– origin Middle English: from Middle Low German bōlīne, Middle Dutch boechlijne, from boeg ‘ship's bow’ + lijne ‘line.’

bowling /ˈbōliNG/

noun

1. the game of tenpin bowling as a sport or recreation.

2. the game of candlepin or duckpin bowling.

3. the game of lawn bowling.

4. the game of skittles.

5. [Cricket] the delivery of the ball.

bowling alley /ˈbōliNG ˌalē/

noun

1. a long narrow track along which balls are rolled in the games of bowling (tenpin, candlepin, or duckpin) or skittles.

2. a building containing long narrow tracks used in bowling games.

bowling ball

noun

1. a large, heavy ball with holes for the thumb and two fingers, used in tenpin bowling.

2. a smaller, holeless ball used in candlepin and duckpin bowling.

bowling green //

noun

an area of closely mown grass on which the game of lawn bowling is played.

Bowling Green

a city in west central Kentucky; pop. 55,097 (est. 2008).

bowls /bōlz/

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. British term for lawn bowling.

2. (Brit.) tenpin bowling or skittles.

bowman^1 /ˈbōmən/

noun

an archer.

bowman^2 /ˈboumən/

noun

the rower who sits nearest the bow of a boat, especially a racing boat.

Bowman's capsule /ˈbōmənz ˌkapso͞ol/

noun

a capsule-shaped membranous structure surrounding the glomerulus of each nephron in the kidneys of mammals that extracts wastes, excess salts, and water from the blood.

bow saw /ˈbō ˌsô/

noun

a narrow saw stretched like a bowstring on a light frame.

bowser /ˈbouzər/

I. noun

‹trademark› a tanker used for fueling aircraft and other vehicles or for supplying water.

– origin 1920s: from the name of a company of oil storage engineers.

bowshot /ˈbōˌSHät/

noun — [in sing.]

1. the distance to which a bow can send an arrow

• the two armies camped almost within bowshot of each other.

bowsprit /ˈbouˌsprit ˈbōˌsprit/

I. noun

a spar extending forward from a ship's bow, to which the forestays are fastened.

– origin Middle English: from Middle Low German bōgsprēt, Middle Dutch boechspriet, from boech ‘bow’ + spriet ‘sprit.’

bowstring /ˈbōˌstriNG/

I. noun

the string of an archer's bow, traditionally made of three strands of hemp.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹historical› strangle with a bowstring (a former Turkish method of execution).

bowstring hemp

noun

another term for sansevieria.

bow tie /ˈbō ˌtī/

noun

1. a necktie in the form of a bow or a knot with two loops.

2. a pattern resembling a bow tie used in patchwork quilts
[as modifier]

• a bow-tie quilt.

bow wave /ˈbou ˌwāv/

noun

a wave or system of waves set up at the bows of a moving ship.

bow window /ˌbō ˈwindō/

noun

a curved bay window.

bowwood /ˈbōwo͝od/

noun

another name for Osage orange.

bow-wow /ˈbouˌwou/

I. exclamation

an imitation of a dog's bark.

II. noun — /ˈbouˌwou /

1. ‹informal› a child's word for a dog.

bowyer /ˈbōyər/

noun

a person who makes or sells archers' bows.

box^1 /bäks/

I. noun

1. a container with a flat base and sides, typically square or rectangular and having a lid

• a cereal box

• a hat box.

2. the contents of a box

• she ate a whole box of chocolates that night.

3. ‹informal› a casing containing a computer.

4. (the box) — ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) television or a television set

• light entertainment shows on the box.

5. ‹informal› a coffin

• I always thought I'd be in a box when I finally left here.

6. ‹historical› a coachman's seat.

7. ‹vulgar slang› (chiefly N. Amer.) a woman's vagina.

8. an area or space enclosed within straight lines, in particular

9. an area on a printed page that is to be filled in or that is set off by a border

• a picture of Sandy was in the upper right-hand box.

10. an area on a computer screen for user input or displaying information.

11. (also the batter's box) (the box) — [Baseball] the rectangular area occupied by the batter.

12. [Baseball] the rectangular area behind home plate for the catcher (catcher's box), or those near first and third bases, in foul territory, for each base coach (coach's box).

13. (the box) — [Soccer] the penalty area

• he curled in a shot from the edge of the box.

14. a small structure or building for a specific purpose, in particular

15. a separate section or enclosed area within a larger building, especially one reserved for a group of people in a theater or sports ground or for witnesses or the jury in a law court

• a box at the opera

• the jury was now in the box.

16. (Brit.) a small country house for use when hunting or fishing.

17. a protective casing for a piece of a mechanism.

18. ‹informal› short for gearbox.

19. a mailbox at a post office, newspaper office, or other facility where a person may arrange to receive correspondence

• write to me care of PO Box 112.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (often as adj. boxed) — put in or provide with a box

• the books are sold as a boxed set

• Muriel boxed up all of Christopher's clothes.

2. enclose (a piece of text) within printed lines

• boxed sections in magazines.

3. (box someone in) — restrict the ability of someone to move freely

• a van had double-parked alongside her car and totally boxed her in.

III. phrases

1. back through the box

[Baseball] (of a batted ball) hit in the direction of the pitcher past second base.

2. in a box

restricted or limited

• he will find himself in a box on US policy.

3. in-a-box in-the-box

packaged simply, cheaply, and conveniently

• the Butler-in-a-Box is the gadget of your dreams.

4. (right) out of the box ‹informal›

a. used to refer to the immediate usability or functionality of a newly purchased product, typically an electronic device or a piece of software

• most laptops come with wireless capability out of the box

• console games need to be good to go right out of the box.

b. (chiefly US) from the very beginning; immediately

• his family memoir was a ratings smash right out of the box.

5. think outside (of) the box

think in an original or creative way

• you have to give him credit for thinking outside the box.

IV. phrasal verbs

box someone out

[Basketball] block an opponent from an area by the position of one's body

• Miller neglected to box out his man in the final seconds.

V. derivatives

1. boxful /ˈbäksˌfo͝ol /

noun

2. boxlike /-ˌlīk /

adjective

– origin late Old English, probably from late Latin buxis, from Latin pyxis ‘boxwood box,’ from Greek puxos (see box^3).

box^2 /bäks/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. fight an opponent using one's fists; compete in the sport of boxing

• he boxed for England

• [with obj.] he had to box Bennett for the title.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. a slap with the hand on the side of a person's head given as a punishment or in anger

• she gave him a box on the ear.

III. phrases

box someone's ears

slap someone on the side of the head as a punishment or in anger.

– origin late Middle English (in the general sense ‘a blow’): of unknown origin.

box^3 /bäks/

I. noun

1. (also box tree) — a slow-growing European evergreen shrub or small tree with glossy dark green leaves. It is often grown as a hedge and for topiary.
[Buxus sempervirens, family Buxaceae.]

2. (also boxwood) — the hard, heavy wood of the box tree, formerly widely used for engraving and for musical instruments.

3. any of a number of trees that have wood or foliage similar to the box tree, in particular
[● several Australian eucalyptus trees (genus Eucalyptus, family Myrtaceae). ● the tropical American Venezuelan box (Casearia praecox, family Flacourtiaceae), the wood of which has now largely replaced that of the European box.]

– origin Old English, via Latin from Greek puxos.

box^4 /bäks/

I. verb — (in phrase box the compass)

1. [chiefly Nautical] recite the compass points in correct order.

2. [chiefly Nautical] make a complete change of direction

• by now the breeze had boxed the compass.

– origin mid 18th cent.: perhaps from Spanish bojar ‘sail around,’ from Middle Low German bōgen ‘bend,’ from the base of bow^1.

box beam

noun

another term for box girder.

boxboard /ˈbäksbôrd/

noun

a type of stiff cardboard used to make boxes.

box camera /bäks ˈkam(ə)rə/

noun

a simple box-shaped hand camera, typically lacking an adjustment for shutter speed.

box canyon

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a narrow canyon with a flat bottom and vertical walls.

– origin mid 19th cent.: probably a calque from Spanish cajón ‘large box, canyon.’

boxcar /ˈbäksˌkär/

noun

(N. Amer.) an enclosed railroad freight car, typically with sliding doors on the sides.

box-cutter

noun

a thin, inexpensive razor-blade knife designed to open cardboard boxes.

box elder

noun

an American maple of damp soils that has leaves resembling the ash and green or purplish twigs.
[Acer negundo, family Aceraceae.]

box-end wrench

noun

another term for box wrench.

boxer /ˈbäksər/

noun

1. a person who takes part in boxing, especially as a sport.

2. a medium-sized dog of a breed with a smooth brown coat and puglike face.

Boxer /ˈbäksər/

I. noun

a member of a fiercely nationalistic Chinese secret society that flourished in the 19th century. In 1899 the society led a Chinese uprising (the Boxer Rebellion) against Western domination that was eventually crushed by a combined European force, aided by Japan and the US.

– origin from boxer, translating Chinese yì hé quán, literally ‘righteous harmony fists.’

boxer shorts /ˈbäksər SHôrts / boxers

plural noun

men's loose underpants similar in shape to the shorts worn by boxers.

boxfish /ˈbäksfiSH/

noun

a tropical marine fish that has a shell of bony plates enclosing the body, from which spines project.
Also called trunkfish. [Family Ostraciontidae: numerous genera and species, including the widely distributed Tetrosomus gibbosus.]

box girder /bäks ˈɡərdər/

noun

a hollow girder square in cross section.

boxing /ˈbäksiNG/

noun

the sport or practice of fighting with the fists, especially with padded gloves in a roped square ring according to prescribed rules.

Boxing Day /ˈbäksiNG ˌdā/

I. noun

(in parts of the British Commonwealth) a public holiday celebrated on the first day (strictly, the first weekday) after Christmas Day.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from the custom of giving tradespeople a Christmas box on this day.

boxing glove /ˈbäksiNG ˈˌɡləv/

noun

a heavily padded mitten worn in boxing.

box jellyfish

noun

a jellyfish with a box-shaped swimming bell, living in warm seas.
See also sea wasp. [Class Cubozoa (formerly order Cubomedusae).]

box kite /ˈbäks ˌkīt/

noun

a tailless kite in the form of a long box open at each end.

box lunch /ˈbäks ˌlənCH/

noun

an individual lunch carried in a box rather than a bag.

box office

noun

1. a place at a theater or other arts establishment where tickets are bought or reserved.

2. [in sing.] — used to refer to the commercial success of a movie, play, or actor in terms of the audience size or takings they command
[as modifier]

• the movie was a huge box-office hit.

boxout /ˈbäksˌout/

noun

a piece of text written to accompany a larger text and printed in a separate area of the page.

box pew

noun

an old-fashioned church pew enclosed by wooden partitions.

box pleat /ˈbäks ˈˌplēt/

noun

a pleat consisting of two parallel creases facing opposite directions and forming a raised section in between.

box score

noun

(N. Amer.) the tabulated results of a baseball game or other sporting event, with statistics given for each player's performance.

box seat /ˈbäks ˌsēt/

noun

1. a seat in a box in a theater or sports stadium.

2. ‹historical› a coachman's seat.

box set boxed set

noun

a set of related items, typically books or recordings, packaged together in a box and sold as a unit.

box social

noun

a fundraising event in which box lunches are auctioned off.

box spring /ˈbäks ˈˌspriNG/

noun

each of a set of vertical springs housed in a frame in a mattress or upholstered chair base.

box stall

noun

an enclosed area in a barn in which a single animal can move around freely.

box step

noun

a dance step in which the feet describe the form of a square or rectangle.

box turtle

noun

a land-living turtle that has a lower shell with hinged lobes that can be drawn up tightly to enclose the animal. It is native to North America and Mexico and is sometimes kept as a pet.
[Genus Terrapene, family Emydidae: several species, including the eastern box turtle (T. carolina) and the western box turtle (T. ornata).]

box wrench /ˈbäks ˌrenCH/

noun

a cylindrical wrench with a hexagonal end fitting over the head of a nut, used especially when the nut is difficult to reach.
Also called box-end wrench.

boxy /ˈbäksē/

adjective

1. squarish in shape

• a boxy jacket

• nondescript highrises, boxy and uniform.

2. (of a room or space) cramped

• the children are too old to share this boxy bedroom.

3. (of recorded sound) restricted in tone.

boy /boi/

I. noun

1. a male child or young man

• a group of six boys.

2. a son

• she put her little boy to bed.

3. [with modifier] — a male child or young man who does a specified job

• a delivery boy.

4. [usu. with adj.] — used informally or lightheartedly to refer to a man

• the inspector was a local boy.

5. ‹dated› used as a friendly form of address from one man to another, often from an older man to a young man

• my dear boy, don't say another word!

6. ‹dated› ‹offensive› (often used as a form of address) a black male servant or worker.

7. used as a form of address to a male dog

• down boy, down!

II. exclamation

‹informal› used to express strong feelings, especially of excitement or admiration

• oh boy, that's wonderful!

III. phrases

1. the big boys

men or organizations considered to be the most powerful and successful.

2. boys will be boys

used to express the view that mischievous or childish behavior is typical of boys or young men and should not cause surprise when it occurs.

3. one of the boys

an accepted member of a group, especially a group of men

• he expected to be treated just like one of the boys

• Ms. Patton is one of the boys.

– origin Middle English (denoting a male servant): of unknown origin.

boyar /bōˈyär/

I. noun

‹historical› a member of the old aristocracy in Russia, next in rank to a prince.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Russian boyarin ‘grandee.’

boy band

noun

a pop group composed of attractive young men whose music and image are designed to appeal primarily to a young teenage audience.

boycott /ˈboiˌkät/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. withdraw from commercial or social relations with (a country, organization, or person) as a punishment or protest.

2. refuse to buy or handle (goods) as a punishment or protest.

3. refuse to cooperate with or participate in (a policy or event).

II. noun

a punitive ban that forbids relations with certain groups, cooperation with a policy, or the handling of goods.

– origin from the name of Captain C. C. Boycott (1832–97), an English land agent in Ireland, so treated in 1880, in an attempt instigated by the Irish to get rents reduced.

Boyer, Charles /boiˈ(y)ā/

(1897–1978), US actor; born in France. Before going to Hollywood in the 1930s, he enjoyed a successful stage career in France. Notable movies: Mayerling (1936), All This, and Heaven Too (1940), Tales of Manhattan (1942), Gaslight (1944), and Barefoot in the Park (1968).

boyf /boif/

I. noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› a person's boyfriend

• she's just been dumped by her boyf.

– origin 1990s: abbreviation.

boyfriend /ˈboiˌfrend/

noun

1. a regular male companion with whom one has a romantic or sexual relationship.

2. [as modifier] — denoting an item of clothing for a woman or girl that is designed to be loose-fitting or slightly oversized

• a boyfriend cardigan.

boyhood /ˈboiho͝od/

noun

the state or time of being a boy

• he has been passionate about cars since boyhood.

• [as modifier] a boyhood friend.

boyish /ˈboiiSH/

I. adjective

of, like, or characteristic of a male child or young man

• his boyish charm

• she looked boyish and defiant.

II. derivatives

1. boyishly

adverb

2. boyishness /ˈboiəSHnəs /

noun

Boyle, Robert /boil/

(1627–91), Irish scientist. He advanced a corpuscular view of matter and is known for his experiments with the air pump that led to the law named after him.

Boyle's law /ˈboilz ˌlô / ‹Chemistry›

a law stating that the pressure of a given mass of an ideal gas is inversely proportional to its volume at a constant temperature.

Boyne, Battle of the /boin/

a battle fought near the Boyne River in Ireland in 1690, in which the Protestant army of William of Orange, the newly crowned William III, defeated the Catholic army (including troops from both France and Ireland) led by the recently deposed James II. The battle is celebrated annually (on July 12) in Northern Ireland as a victory for the Protestant cause.

Boynton Beach /ˌboint(ə)n ˈbēCH/

a resort city in southeastern Florida; pop. 68,291 (est. 2008).

boyo /ˈboiō/

noun

‹informal› (chiefly Welsh) (Irish) a boy or man (usually used as a form of address).

Boy Scout /ˈboi ˈˌskout/

noun

1. a member of the Boy Scouts of America or a similar organization of boys.

2. an honest, friendly, and typically naive man
[as modifier]

• his trademark Boy Scout smile.

boysenberry /ˈboizənˌberē/

I. noun

1. a large red edible fruit resembling a blackberry.

2. the shrubby plant that bears the boysenberry, which is a hybrid of several kinds of bramble.
[Rubus loganobaccus, family Rosaceae.]

– origin 1930s: named after Robert Boysen (died 1950), the American horticulturalist who developed it.

boy shorts

plural noun

women's underpants or bikini bottoms that have a low waistline and are cut straight across the upper thigh.

Boys Town

a village in east central Nebraska, just west of Omaha, noted as a home for troubled youth; pop. 977 (est. 2008).

boy toy

noun

1. ‹informal› ‹derogatory› a young woman who offers herself as a sex object for young men.

2. ‹informal› ‹derogatory› a young man who offers himself as a sex object.

boy wonder

noun

an exceptionally talented young man or boy.

Boz /bäz/

the pseudonym used by Charles Dickens in his Pickwick Papers and contributions to the Morning Chronicle.

Bozeman /ˈbōzmən/

a city in southwestern Montana; pop. 39,442 (est. 2008).

bozo /ˈbōzō/

I. noun

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) a stupid, rude, or insignificant person, especially a man.

– origin 1920s: of unknown origin.

bp

abbreviation

1. baptized.

2. [Biochemistry] base pair(s), as a unit of length in nucleic acid chains.

3. [Finance] basis point(s).

4. (b.p.) — boiling point.

BP

abbreviation

1. before the present (era)

• 18,000 years BP.

2. blood pressure.

3. [Baseball] batting practice.

4. boiling point.

Bp.

abbreviation

Bishop.

BPD

abbreviation

barrels (of oil) per day

• the crude oil output of the four OPEC members rose to 16.3 million BPD in August

• the pipeline is capable of carrying 125,000 BPD.

BPh

abbreviation

Bachelor of Philosophy.

BPH

abbreviation

[Medicine] benign prostatic hyperplasia (or hypertrophy), an enlargement of the prostate gland common in older men.

bpi

abbreviation

[Computing] bits per inch, used to indicate the density of data that can be stored on magnetic tape or similar media.

B-picture

noun

another term for B-movie.

BPO

abbreviation

business process outsourcing.

BPR

abbreviation

business process re-engineering.

bps /ˌbēˌpēˈes/

abbreviation

[Computing] bits per second.

Bq

abbreviation

becquerel.

Br

symbol

the chemical element bromine.

BR

abbreviation

1. (N. Amer.) bedroom(s).

2. bills receivable.

3. (in the UK) British Rail or (formerly) British Railways.

Br.

abbreviation

1. British.

2. (with reference to religious orders) Brother.

bra /brä/

I. noun

1. an undergarment worn by women to support the breasts.

2. (also auto bra or car bra) — (N. Amer.) a carbon-based cover that fits over the front bumper of a car.

II. derivatives

braless

adjective

– origin 1930s: abbreviation of brassiere.

Brabant /brəˈbant/

a former duchy in western Europe, the capital of which was Brussels. It is now divided into two provinces: North Brabant in the Netherlands, of which the capital is ῾s-Hertogenbosch; and Brabant in Belgium, of which the capital remains Brussels.

bra burner

I. noun

‹informal› a feminist perceived as militant in the struggle for women's rights.

– origin from the mid 20th-cent. urban legend of women of burning bras to symbolize freedom from societal restraints.

brace /brās/

I. noun

1. a device that clamps things tightly together or that gives support, in particular

2. a device fitted to a weak or injured neck, leg, or other part of the body for support

• a neck brace.

3. (also braces) — a wire device fitted in the mouth to straighten the teeth.

4. a strengthening piece of iron or timber used in building and carpentry.

5. a tool in carpentry having a crank handle and a socket to hold a bit for boring.

6. a rope leading aft from each yardarm, used for trimming the sail.

7. (braces) — British term for suspenders.

8. (pl. same) — a pair of something, typically of birds or mammals killed in hunting

• thirty brace of grouse.

9. either of the two marks { and }, used either to indicate that two or more items on one side have the same relationship as each other to the single item to which the other side points, or in pairs to show that words between them are connected.

10. [Music] the mark {, used to join staves that are to be performed at the same time.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (a structure) stronger or firmer with wood, iron, or other forms of support

• the posts were braced by lengths of timber.

2. press (one's body or part of one's body) firmly against something in order to stay balanced

• she braced her feet against a projecting shelf

• (as adj. braced) he stood with legs braced.

3. prepare (someone or oneself) for something difficult or unpleasant

• both stations are bracing themselves for job losses

• police are braced for a traffic nightmare.

III. phrasal verbs

brace up

be strong or courageous.

– origin Middle English (as a verb meaning ‘clasp, fasten tightly’): from Old French bracier ‘embrace,’ from brace ‘two arms,’ from Latin bracchia, plural of bracchium ‘arm,’ from Greek brakhiōn.

brace and bit

noun

a revolving tool with a D-shaped crank handle for boring.

bracelet /ˈbrāslit/

I. noun

1. an ornamental band, hoop, or chain worn on the wrist or arm.

2. (bracelets) — ‹informal› handcuffs.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, from bras ‘arm,’ from Latin bracchium.

bracelet sleeve

noun

a sleeve on a woman's garment that reaches to just above the wrist.

bracer^1 /ˈbrāsər/

noun

‹informal› an alcoholic drink intended to prepare one for something difficult or unpleasant.

bracer^2 /ˈbrāsər/

I. noun

1. a wristguard used in archery, fencing, and other sports.
Also called armguard.

2. ‹historical› a portion of a suit of armor covering the arm.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French braciere, from bras ‘arm’ (see bracelet).

bracero /brəˈserˌō/

I. noun

a Mexican laborer allowed into the US for a limited time as a seasonal agricultural worker.

– origin Spanish ‘farm worker,’ from brazo ‘arm.’

brachial /ˈbrākēəl, ˈbrak-/

I. adjective

1. [Anatomy] of or relating to the arm, specifically the upper arm, or an armlike structure

• the brachial artery.

2. [Anatomy] [Zoology] denoting the upper valve of a brachiopod's shell.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin brachialis, from brac(c)hium ‘arm.’

brachiate

I. verb — /ˈbrākēˌāt, ˈbrak- / [no obj.]

1. (of certain apes) move by using the arms to swing from branch to branch

• the gibbons brachiate energetically across their enclosure.

II. adjective — /ˈbrākēāt, ˈbrākēət /

1. [Biology] branched, especially having widely spread paired branches on alternate sides.

2. [Biology] having arms.

III. derivatives

1. brachiation /ˌbrākēˈāSHən, ˌbrak- /

noun

2. brachiator /-ˌātər /

noun

– origin mid 18th cent. (originally in the sense ‘having paired branches’): from Latin brachium ‘arm’ + -ate^2.

brachiocephalic /ˌbrākēōsəˈfalik/

adjective

of or relating to both arm and head.

brachiopod /ˈbrākēəˌpäd, ˈbrak-/

noun

[Zoology] a marine invertebrate of the phylum Brachiopoda, which comprises the lamp shells.

Brachiopoda /ˌbrākēəˈpōdə, ˌbrak- / ‹Zoology›

I. a phylum of marine invertebrates that comprises the lamp shells.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek brakhiōn ‘arm’ + pous, pod- ‘foot.’

brachiosaur /ˈbrākēəˌsôr, ˈbrak- / brachiosaurus

I. noun

a huge herbivorous dinosaur of the late Jurassic to mid Cretaceous periods, with forelegs much longer than the hind legs.
[Genus Brachiosaurus, infraorder Sauropoda, order Saurischia.]

II. derivatives

brachiosaurian

adjective

– origin modern Latin, from Greek brakhiōn ‘arm’ + sauros ‘lizard.’

brachistochrone /brəˈkistəˌkrōn/

I. noun

a curve between two points along which a body can move under gravity in a shorter time than for any other curve.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Greek brakhistos ‘shortest’ + khronos ‘time.’

brachium /ˈbrākēəm, ˈbrak-/

noun

the arm, specifically the upper arm from shoulder to elbow.

brachy-

I. combining form

short

• brachycephalic.

– origin from Greek brakhus ‘short.’

brachycephalic /ˌbrakēsəˈfalik/

I. adjective

having a relatively broad, short skull (usually with the breadth at least 80 percent of the length).
Often contrasted with dolichocephalic.

II. derivatives

brachycephaly /ˌbrakēˈsefəlē /

noun

brachytherapy /ˌbrakēˈTHerəpē/

noun

the treatment of cancer, especially prostate cancer, by the insertion of radioactive implants directly into the tissue.

brachyura /ˌbrakēˈyo͝orə/

I. plural noun

a tribe or suborder of crustaceans that have short abdomens folded toward the ventral surface. It includes the true crabs.

– origin from brachy- + Greek oura ‘tail.’

brachyuran /ˌbrakēˈyo͝orən/

noun

a crab belonging to the brachyura suborder of crustaceans.

bracing /ˈbrāsiNG/

I. adjective

1. fresh and invigorating

• the bracing sea air.

2. [attrib.] — (of a support) serving to brace a structure

• bracing struts.

II. derivatives

bracingly

adverb

bracing (sense 1)

braciola /ˌbräCHēˈōlə, bräˈCHō-/

I. noun

a thin slice of beef or other meat wrapped around a filling and cooked in wine.

– origin Italian.

bracken /ˈbrakən/

I. noun

1. a tall fern with coarse lobed fronds that occurs worldwide and can cover large areas.
[Pteridium aquilinum, family Dennstaedtiaceae (or Hypolepidaceae).]

2. (loosely) any large coarse fern resembling this.

– origin Middle English: of Scandinavian origin; related to Danish bregne, Swedish bräken.

bracket /ˈbrakit/

I. noun

1. each of a pair of marks [ ] used to enclose words or figures so as to separate them from the context

• symbols are given in brackets.

2. [with adj. or noun modifier] — a category of people or things that are similar or fall between specified limits

• those in a high income bracket.

3. a right-angled support attached to and projecting from a wall for holding a shelf, lamp, or other object.

4. [Military] the distance between two artillery shots fired either side of the target to establish range.

5. (US) a diagram representing the sequence of matches in a sports tournament, especially as used for making predictions about its outcome

• with the March Madness tournament half the fun is filling out your bracket.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. enclose (words or figures) in brackets
(as adj. bracketed)

• the relevant data are included as bracketed points.

2. [Mathematics] enclose (a complex expression) in brackets to denote that the whole of the expression rather than just a part of it has a particular relation, such as multiplication or division, to another expression.

3. put (a belief or matter) aside temporarily

• he bracketed off the question of God.

4. place (one or more people or things) in the same category or group

• he is sometimes bracketed with the “new wave” of film directors.

5. hold or attach (something) by means of a right-angled support

• pipes should be bracketed.

6. [Military] establish the range of (a target) by firing two preliminary shots, one short of the target and the other beyond it.

7. [Photography] establish (the correct exposure) by taking several pictures with slightly more or less exposure.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French braguette or Spanish bragueta ‘codpiece, bracket, corbel,’ from Provençal braga, from Latin braca, (plural) bracae ‘breeches.’

bracket creep

noun

movement into a higher tax bracket as taxable income increases.

bracket fungus

noun

a fungus that grows on living trees or dead wood, forming one or more shelflike projections that are the spore-producing bodies. Hyphae spread through the wood absorbing nutrients and can cause the death of the tree.
[Several families (formerly in the order Aphyllophorales), class Basidiomycetes.]

brackish /ˈbrakiSH/

I. adjective

1. (of water) slightly salty, as is the mixture of river water and seawater in estuaries.

2. (of fish or other organisms) living in or requiring brackish water.

3. unpleasant or distasteful

• the lighting in the movie is brackish.

II. derivatives

brackishness

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from obsolete brack ‘salty,’ from Middle Low German, Middle Dutch brac.

braconid /ˈbrakənid/

I. noun

[Entomology] a small parasitic wasp of a family (Braconidae) that is related to that of the ichneumons. Unlike the latter, braconids lay numerous eggs in a single host.

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Braconidae, formed irregularly from Greek brakhus ‘short.’

bract /brakt/

I. noun

[Botany] a modified leaf or scale, typically small, with a flower or flower cluster in its axil. Bracts are sometimes larger and more brightly colored than the true flower, as in a poinsettia.

II. derivatives

bracteate /ˈbraktēit ˈbraktēˌāt /

adjective

– origin late 18th cent.: from Latin bractea ‘thin plate of metal.’

bracteolate /ˈbraktēəlit, -ˌlāt/

adjective

having bracteoles.

bracteole /ˈbraktēˌōl/

noun

a small bract, especially one on a floral stem.

brad /brad/

I. noun

a small wire nail with a small, often asymmetrical head.

– origin late Middle English: from Old Norse broddr ‘spike.’

bradawl /ˈbradˌôl/

I. noun

a hand boring tool similar to a small, sharpened screwdriver.

– origin early 19th cent.: from brad + awl.

Bradbury, Ray /ˈbradˌberē, -bərē/

(1920–2012), US writer of science fiction; full name Raymond Douglas Bradbury. Notable works: The Martian Chronicles (1950), Fahrenheit 451 (1951), and the semiautobiographical Green Town trilogy— Dandelion Wine (1957), Something Wicked This Way Comes (1962), and Farewell Summer (2006).

Braddock, Edward /ˈbradək/

(1695–1755) British soldier. Commander in chief of the British forces in America, he died in action in western Pennsylvania.

Bradenton /ˈbrādənt(ə)n/

a city in southwestern Florida, noted as a resort and for citrus processing; pop. 53,513 (est. 2008).

Bradford /ˈbradfərd/

an industrial city in northern England; pop. 280,400 (est. 2009).

Bradford, William

(1590–1657), American religious and colonial leader. He was a signer of the Mayflower Compact in 1620 and governor of Plymouth Colony sporadically from 1621 until 1656 (1621–32, 1635, 1637, 1639–43, 1645–56).

Bradley Bradley Fighting Vehicle

I. noun

a medium-sized tank equipped for use in combat.

– origin named for General Omar Bradley.

Bradley, Bill /ˈbradlē/

(1943–), US basketball player and politician; full name William Warren Bradley. He played professionally for the New York Knicks 1967–77 before entering politics. A New Jersey Democrat, he served as a US senator 1979–97. In 2000, he unsuccessfully campaigned to be the Democratic presidential nominee. Basketball Hall of Fame (1983).

Bradley, Joseph /ˈbradlē/

(1813–92), US Supreme Court associate justice 1870–92. In 1877, he was part of the Electoral College commission that was formed to resolve the indecisiveness of the Hayes-Tilden presidential election and cast the deciding vote in favor of Rutherford B. Hayes.

Bradley, Milton

(1836–1911), US publisher and manufacturer. His board game “The Checkered Game of Life” (1860) led to the formation of Milton Bradley and Company in 1864. Through the company, he also created books and other materials for kindergartens.

Bradley, Omar

(1893–1981), US army officer; full name Omar Nelson Bradley. As a general, he commanded the land contingent during the Normandy campaign of 1944–45. After World War II, he served as chief of staff of the US Army 1948–49 and chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff 1949–53.

Bradley, Tom

(1917–98), US politician and lawyer; full name Thomas J. Bradley. Elected mayor of Los Angeles 1973–93, he became the first African American to lead so large a city. He was with the Los Angeles police department 1940–62 and on the city council 1963–73 before becoming mayor.

Bradman, Don /ˈbradmən/

(1908–2001), Australian cricketer; full name Sir Donald George Bradman. His Test match batting average of 99.94 is well above that of any other cricketer of any era.

Bradshaw, Terry /ˈbradSHô/

(1948–), US football player; full name Terry Paxton Bradshaw. He quarterbacked for the Pittsburgh Steelers 1970–83. Football Hall of Fame (1989).

Bradstreet, Anne /ˈbradˌstrēt/

(1612–72), American poet; full name Anne Dudley Bradstreet. She came from England with her husband Simon Bradstreet to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630. Her poetry was first collected in The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America (1650).

Brady, Mathew B. /ˈbrādē/

(c. 1823–96) US photographer. The publication of his Gallery of Illustrious Americans (1850) established him as a leading US photographer, and his photographs of the Union armies taken during the Civil War became the basis for his National Photographic Collection.

Brady Bill /ˈbrādē ˌbil / Brady Law

I. noun

a provision of US federal law that requires a waiting period for handgun purchases and background checks on those who wish to purchase handguns.

– origin named for James S. Brady (1940–), who campaigned for the bill, which was signed into law in 1993. Brady was shot and seriously wounded in the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan.

Brady bond

noun

a restructured commercial bank loan to poor countries, denominated in US dollars.

bradycardia /ˌbradəˈkärdēə/

I. noun

[Medicine] abnormally slow heart action.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek bradus ‘slow’ + kardia ‘heart.’

bradykinin /ˌbradiˈkīnin, -ˈkinin/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a compound released in the blood in some circumstances that causes contraction of smooth muscle and dilation of blood vessels. It is a peptide comprising nine amino-acid residues.

– origin 1940s: from Greek bradus ‘slow’ + kinēsis ‘motion’ + -in^1.

brae /brā/

I. noun

(Scottish) (N. Irish) a steep bank or hillside.

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse brá ‘eyelash.’ Compare with brow^1, in which a similar sense development occurred.

Braeburn /ˈbrābərn/

noun

a dessert apple of a variety with crisp flesh, first grown in New Zealand.

brag /braɡ/

I. verb — [reporting verb]

1. say in a boastful manner
[with direct speech]

• “I found them,” she bragged

• [with clause] he brags that he wrote 300 pages in 10 days

• [no obj.] they were bragging about how easy it had been.

II. noun

1. a gambling card game that is a simplified form of poker.

2. [in sing.] — a boastful statement; an act of talking boastfully.

III. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (US) ‹informal› excellent; first-rate

• that was my brag heifer.

IV. derivatives

bragger

noun

– origin Middle English (as an adjective in the sense ‘boastful’): of unknown origin (French braguer is recorded only later).

Braganza /brəˈɡänzə/

the dynasty that ruled Portugal from 1640 until the end of the monarchy in 1910 and Brazil (on its independence from Portugal) from 1822 until the formation of a republic in 1889.

brag book

noun

a scrapbook or photo album intended to show its subject to advantage.

• they often pull out their wallets and brag books to show us their own African or Asian grandchild.

Bragg, Sir William Henry /braɡ/

(1862–1942), English physicist, a founder of solid-state physics. He collaborated with his son, Sir (William) Lawrence Bragg (1890–1971), in developing the technique of X-ray diffraction for determining the atomic structure of crystals. Nobel Prize for Physics (1915), shared with his son.

braggadocio /ˌbraɡəˈdō(t)SHēˌō/

I. noun

boastful or arrogant behavior.

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting a boaster): from Braggadocchio, the name of a braggart in Spenser's The Faerie Queene, from brag or braggart + the Italian suffix -occio, denoting something large of its kind.

braggadocious /ˌbraɡəˈdō(t)SHəs/

I. adjective

‹informal› (chiefly US) boastful or arrogant

• it sounds braggadocious, but I don't think I ever dropped a pass in a game

• I've never been a braggadocious kind of guy.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from braggadocio + -ous.

braggart /ˈbraɡərt/

I. noun

a person who boasts about achievements or possessions
[as modifier]

• braggart men.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French bragard, from braguer ‘to brag.’

bragging /ˈbraɡiNG/

I. noun

excessively proud and boastful talk about one's achievements or possessions

• she interrupted their endless bragging

• a little honest bragging doesn't hurt anyone.

II. adjective

exhibiting or characterized by excessive pride or boastfulness

• a competitive, bragging culture

• we became involved in a lively bragging session.

III. derivatives

braggingly

adverb

bragging rights

plural noun

a temporary position of ascendancy in a closely contested rivalry

• he walked off with a guaranteed $25,000 and bragging rights for at least a year.

brah /brä / bra

I. noun

1. ‹informal› (chiefly US) (S. African) a male friend or associate

• his brahs are giving him major props.

2. ‹informal› (chiefly US) (S. African) used as a familiar form of address for a man

• hey, brah!

3. (Bra) — ‹informal› (chiefly US) (S. African) used as an informal title before a man's name

• Bra Rufus.

– origin late 19th cent. (originally West Indian): perhaps originally representing a colloquial pronunciation of brother; compare bro, brer.

Brahe, Tycho /ˈbräˌhē/

(1546–1601), Danish astronomer. He built an observatory equipped with precision instruments, but despite demonstrating that comets follow sun-centered paths, he adhered to a geocentric system of planetary motions.

brahma /ˈbrämə/

noun

short for Brahmaputra.

Brahma /ˈbrämə/

I. the creator god in later Hinduism, who forms a triad with Vishnu the preserver and Shiva the destroyer.

II. another term for Brahman (sense 2).

– origin from Sanskrit brahman.

Brahma bull

noun

another term for Brahman (sense 3).

Brahman /ˈbrämən / Brahmin

I. noun

1. a member of the highest Hindu caste, that of the priesthood.
[from Sanskrit brāhmaṇa.]

2. (in Hinduism) the ultimate reality underlying all phenomena.
[from Sanskrit brahman.]

3. an ox of a humped breed originally domesticated in India that is tolerant of heat and drought and is now kept widely in tropical and warm-temperate countries.
Also called Brahma bull; zebu. [Bos indicus, family Bovidae; now usually included under the name B. taurus with other domestic cattle.]

II. derivatives

1. Brahmanic /bräˈmanik /

adjective

2. Brahmanical /bräˈmanək(ə)l /

adjective

Brahmana /ˈbrämənə/

noun

(in Hinduism) any of the lengthy commentaries on the Vedas, composed in Sanskrit c. 900–700 BC and containing expository material relating to Vedic sacrificial ritual.

Brahmanism /ˈbräməˌnizəm / Brahminism

noun

the complex sacrificial religion that emerged in post-Vedic India (c. 900 BC) under the influence of the dominant priesthood (Brahmans), an early stage in the development of Hinduism.

Brahmaputra /ˌbräməˈpo͞otrə/

a river in southern Asia that rises in the Himalayas and flows for 1,800 miles (2,900 km) through Tibet, northeastern India, and Bangladesh to join the Ganges River at its delta on the Bay of Bengal.

Brahmin /ˈbrämən/

I. noun

1. variant spelling of Brahman.

2. (US) a socially or culturally superior person, especially a member of the upper classes from New England.

II. derivatives

Brahminical /bräˈminək(ə)l /

adjective

Brahmin (sense 1)

Brahms, Johannes /brämz/

(1833–97), German composer and pianist. He eschewed program music and opera and concentrated on traditional forms. He wrote four symphonies, four concertos, chamber and piano music, choral works including the German Requiem (1857–68), and nearly 200 songs.

braid /brād/

I. noun

1. threads of silk, cotton, or other material woven into a decorative band for edging or trimming garments

• a coat trimmed with gold braid

• fancy braids.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) a length of hair made up of three or more interlaced strands

• women with long black braids.

3. a length made up of three or more interlaced strands of any flexible material

• a flexible copper braid

• braids of garlic.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. interlace three or more strands of (hair or other flexible material) to form a length

• their long hair was tightly braided

• (as adj. braided) horses with braided manes.

2. (often as adj. braided) — edge or trim (a garment) with braid

• braided red trousers.

3. (usu. as adj. braided) — (of a river or stream) flow into shallow interwoven channels divided by deposits of sediment.

– origin Old English bregdan ‘make a sudden movement,’ also ‘interweave,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch breien (verb).

braided rug

noun

(N. Amer.) a rug made of a long cloth braid wound around itself and sewn together to form a mat

• At the foot of the stairs in my grandmother's home lay a colorful braided rug.

braiding /ˈbrādiNG/

noun

decorative braid or braided work

• curtains heavy with gold braiding.

brail /brāl / ‹Sailing›

I. noun — (brails)

1. small ropes that are led from the leech of a fore-and-aft sail to pulleys on the mast for temporarily furling it.

II. verb — [with obj.] (brail a sail up)

1. furl (a sail) by hauling on brail ropes.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French braiel, from medieval Latin bracale ‘girdle,’ from braca ‘breeches.’

Brăila /brəˈēlä/

an industrial city and port in eastern Romania, on the Danube River; pop. 216,814 (2006).

Braille /brāl/

I. noun

a form of written language for blind people, in which characters are represented by patterns of raised dots that are felt with the fingertips.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. print or transcribe in Braille.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from the name of Louis Braille (see Braille, Louis).

Braille, Louis /brāl/

(1809–52), French educator. Blind from the age of 3, he had developed his own system of raised-point reading and writing by the age of 15. His system was officially adopted two years after his death.

braillewriter /ˈbrālˌrīdər/

noun

a machine for writing braille.

brain /brān/

I. noun

1.
a. an organ of soft nervous tissue contained in the skull of vertebrates, functioning as the coordinating center of sensation and intellectual and nervous activity.

b. (brains) — the substance of an animal's brain used as food.

c. ‹informal› an electronic device with functions comparable to those of the human brain.

The human brain consists of three main parts. (i) The forebrain, greatly developed into the cerebrum, consists of two hemispheres joined by a bridge of nerve fibers, and is responsible for thought and control of speech. (ii) The midbrain, the upper part of the tapering brainstem, contains cells involved in eye movements. (iii) The hindbrain, the lower part of the brainstem, contains cells responsible for breathing and for regulating heart action, the flow of digestive juices, and other unconscious actions and processes. The cerebellum, which lies behind the brain stem, plays an important role in the execution of highly skilled movements.

2. intellectual capacity

• I didn't have enough brains for the sciences

• success requires brain as well as brawn.

3. (the brains) — ‹informal› a clever person who supplies the ideas and plans for a group of people

• Tom was the brains of the outfit.

4. a person's mind

• a tiny alarm bell began to ring in her brain.

5. an exceptionally intelligent person

• he was known more as a snappy dresser than a brain.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› hit (someone) hard on the head with an object

• she brained me with a rolling pin.

III. phrases

1. beat (or blow) someone's brains out

‹informal› injure or kill someone with a hard hit on (or gunshot to) the head.

2. have something on the brain

‹informal› be obsessed with something

• John has cars on the brain.

– origin Old English brægen; related to Dutch brein.

brain candy

noun

‹informal› popular entertainment that is not intellectually stimulating.

• the show was a nice mix of substance and brain candy.

brain cell

noun

1. a cell in the tissue of the brain.

2. ‹informal› regarded as a unit of intellectual power

• it does help if the student has more than one brain cell.

brainchild /ˈbrānˌCHīld/

noun

‹informal› an idea or invention considered to be a particular person's creation

• the statue is the brainchild of a local landscape artist.

brain coral

noun

a compact coral with a convoluted surface resembling that of the brain.
[Diploria and other genera, order Scleractinia.]

brain cramp

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a moment in which one fails to think clearly or act sensibly

• they could easily be 4-1 if it weren't for a few brain cramps late in games.

brain damage /brān ˈdamij/

noun

injury to the brain that impairs its functions, especially permanently.

brain-damaged /ˈbrānˌdamijd/

adjective

1. suffering from an injury to the brain that impairs its functions, especially on a permanent basis

• she was irreversibly brain-damaged

• a neurologist who studies brain-damaged patients.

2. ‹informal› ‹offensive› extremely foolish or stupid

• he's a treacherous brain-damaged old vulture.

brain-dead /ˈbrān ˌded/

adjective

1. having suffered brain death

• brain-dead patients.

2. ‹informal› extremely stupid

• the brain-dead politics of the past.

brain death /ˈbrān ˌdeTH/

noun

irreversible brain damage causing the end of independent respiration, regarded as indicative of death.

brain drain /ˈbrān ˌdrān/

noun — [in sing.]

1. ‹informal› the emigration of highly trained or intelligent people from a particular country.

Braine, John /brān/

(1922–86), English novelist; full name John Gerard Braine. He is noted for Room at the Top (1957), whose opportunistic hero is hailed as a representative example of an “angry young man.”

brained /brānd/

adjective — [in combination]

1. (of vertebrates) having an organ in the skull of a certain size or kind

• large-brained mammals.

2. ‹derogatory› (of a person) having an intellectual capacity of a certain quality or kind

• pea-brained consumers.

brain fade

noun

‹informal› a temporary inability to concentrate or think clearly

• it was a poor decision—the big fella had a brain fade

• a serious case of brain fade on the 17th hole saw his dreams vanish.

brain fart

noun

‹informal› a temporary mental lapse or failure to reason correctly

• I'm having a brain fart and can't spell his name correctly.

brain fever /ˈbrān ˌfēvər/

noun

‹dated› inflammation of the brain.

brain fingerprinting

noun

the recording and analysis of an individual's neurological responses to images and words flashed on a screen, especially to determine if the person is telling the truth.

brain food

noun

food believed to be beneficial to the brain, especially in increasing intellectual power.

brainiac /ˈbrānēˌak/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› an exceptionally intelligent person.

– origin 1950s: from the name of a superintelligent alien character of the Superman comic strip, from a blend of brain and maniac.

brainless /ˈbrānləs/

I. adjective

stupid; foolish

• a brainless bimbo.

II. derivatives

1. brainlessly

adverb

2. brainlessness /ˈbrānləsnəs /

noun

brainpan /ˈbrānpan/

noun

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) a person's skull.

brainpower /ˈbrānˌpou(ə)r/

noun

mental ability; intelligence.

brainsick /ˈbrānsik/

adjective

diseased in the mind; mad or insane.

brainstem /ˈbrānˌstem / brain stem

noun

[Anatomy] the central trunk of the mammalian brain, consisting of the medulla oblongata, pons, and midbrain, and continuing downward to form the spinal cord.

brainstorm /ˈbrānˌstôrm/

I. noun

1. a spontaneous group discussion to produce ideas and ways of solving problems.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a sudden clever idea.

3. ‹informal› a moment in which one is suddenly unable to think clearly or act sensibly.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. produce an idea or way of solving a problem by holding a spontaneous group discussion
(as noun brainstorming)

• a brainstorming session.

brain surgeon

noun

1. a medical practitioner qualified to perform surgical operations on the brain and other parts of the neurosystem

• a leading brain surgeon in Oxford.

2. [usu. with negative] — ‹informal› an exceptionally intelligent person

• I'm hardly the staff brain surgeon

• it doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out what is actually happening.

brain surgery

noun

1. surgery performed on the brain or other parts of the nervous system

• she had undergone brain surgery to remove a tumor.

2. [usu. with negative] — ‹informal› an exceptionally difficult or complicated task

• obviously this is not brain surgery

• breadmaking is hardly brain surgery.

brain-teaser /ˈbrān ˌtēzər / brainteaser, brain-twister

I. noun

‹informal› a problem or puzzle, typically one designed to be solved for amusement.

II. derivatives

brain-teasing

adjective

Braintree /ˈbrāntrē/

a town in eastern Massachusetts, south of Boston; pop. 35,294 (est. 2008).

brain trust

noun

(N. Amer.) a group of experts appointed to advise a government or politician.

brainwash /ˈbrānˌwôSH ˈbrānˌwäSH/

verb — [with obj.]

1. make (someone) adopt radically different beliefs by using systematic and often forcible pressure

• the organization could brainwash young people

• they have been brainwashed into conformity and subservience.

brainwave /ˈbrānˌwāv/

noun — (usu. brainwaves)

1. an electrical impulse in the brain.

2. [usu. in sing.] — ‹informal› a sudden clever idea.

brainwork /ˈbrānwərk/

noun

mental activity or effort, especially as opposed to physical labor.

brainy /ˈbrānē/

I. adjective

having or showing intelligence

• a brainy, high-powered lawyer.

II. derivatives

1. brainily /-nəlē /

adverb

2. braininess

noun

braise /brāz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. fry (food) lightly and then stew it slowly in a closed container
(as adj. braised)

• braised veal.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French braiser, from braise ‘live coals’ (in which the container was formerly placed).

brake^1 /brāk/

I. noun

1. a device for slowing or stopping a moving vehicle, typically by applying pressure to the wheels

• he slammed on his brakes

• [as modifier] a brake pedal.

2. a thing that slows or hinders a process

• managers have a duty to put the brakes on growth when it is unsustainable.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. make a moving vehicle slow down or stop by using a brake

• drivers who brake abruptly

• (as adj. braking) an anti-lock braking system.

– origin late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

brake^2 /brāk/

I. noun

‹historical› an open, horse-drawn, four-wheeled carriage.

– origin mid 19th cent.

brake^3 /brāk/

I. noun

1. a toothed instrument used for crushing flax and hemp.

2. (also brake harrow) — a heavy machine formerly used in agriculture for breaking up large lumps of earth.

– origin late Middle English: possibly related to Middle Low German brake and Dutch braak, and perhaps also to break.

brake^4 /brāk/

I. noun

‹archaic› ‹literary› a thicket.
See also canebrake, fernbrake.

– origin Old English bracu (first recorded in the plural in fearnbraca ‘thickets of fern’), related to Middle Low German brake ‘branch, stump.’

brake^5 /brāk / brake fern

I. noun

1. a coarse fern of warm and tropical countries, frequently having the fronds divided into long linear segments.
[Genus Pteris, family Pteridaceae.]

2. archaic term for bracken.

– origin Middle English: perhaps an abbreviation of bracken (interpreted as plural).

brake^6 /brāk/

archaic past of break.

brake block /ˈbrāk ˌbläk/

noun

a block of hard material pressed against the rim of a wheel to slow it down by friction, typically one of a pair made of hardened rubber used on a bicycle.

brake disc /ˈbrāk ˌdisk/

noun

the disc attached to the wheel in a disc brake.

brake drum /ˈbrāk ˌdrəm/

noun

a broad, very short cylinder attached to a wheel, against which the brake shoes press in a drum brake.

brake fluid /brāk ˈflo͞oid/

noun

fluid used in a hydraulic brake system.

brake horsepower /brāk ˈhôrsˌpou(ə)r/

noun

the available power of an engine, assessed by measuring the force needed to brake it

• the net brake horsepower is only up by six.

brake light /ˈbrāk ˌlīt/

noun

a red light at the back of a vehicle that is automatically illuminated when the brakes are applied.

brake lining /ˈbrāk ˌlīniNG/

noun

a layer of asbestos or a similar material attached to a brake shoe to increase friction against the brake drum.

brakeman /ˈbrākmən/

noun

1. a railroad worker responsible for a train's brakes and other aspects of its operation.

2. a person in charge of brakes, for instance in a bobsled.

brake pad /ˈbrāk ˌpad/

noun

either of the thin blocks that grip the disc in a disc brake.

brake shoe /ˈbrāk ˌSHo͞o/

noun

either of the long curved blocks that press on the inside of the brake drum.

braking distance

noun

the approximate distance traveled before coming to a complete stop when the brakes are applied in a vehicle moving at a specified speed.

Bramante, Donato /bräˈmäntā/

(1444–1514), Italian architect; full name Donato di Angelo Bramante. He drew up the first plan for St. Peter's Cathedral, which was begun in 1506, and established the concept of a huge central dome.

bramble /ˈbrambəl/

I. noun

a prickly scrambling vine or shrub, especially a blackberry or other wild shrub of the rose family.

II. derivatives

brambly /ˈbramblē /

adjective

– origin Old English bræmbel, brǣmel, of Germanic origin; related to broom.

Brampton /ˈbramtən/

a city in south Ontario, an industrial and residential suburb west of Toronto; pop. 433,806 (2006).

bran /bran/

I. noun

pieces of grain husk separated from flour after milling.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, of unknown origin.

Branagh, Kenneth /ˈbranə, ˈbranˌô/

(1960–), English actor, producer, and director; full name Kenneth Charles Branagh. He is known for such Shakespearean films as Much Ado about Nothing (1993), Hamlet (1996), and Love's Labour's Lost (2000).

branch /bran(t)SH/

I. noun

1. a part of a tree that grows out from the trunk or from a bough.

2. a lateral extension or subdivision extending from the main part of something, typically one extending from a river, road, or railway

• a branch of the Susquehanna River.

3. a division or office of a large business or organization, operating locally or having a particular function

• he went to work at our Boston branch.

4. a conceptual subdivision of something, especially a family, group of languages, or a subject

• a branch of mathematics called graph theory.

5. [Computing] a control structure in which one of several alternative sets of program statements is selected for execution.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a road or path) divide into one or more subdivisions.

2. (of a tree or plant) bear or send out branches
(as adj. branched)

• the common sea lavender can be identified by its branched stem.

3. (branch off) — diverge from the main route or part

• the road branched off at the town

• ‹figurative› Ellington was constantly branching off with new musical styles.

4. (branch out) — extend or expand one's activities or interests in a new direction

• the company is branching out into Europe.

III. derivatives

1. branchlet /ˈbran(t)SHlət /

noun

2. branchlike /-ˌlīk /

adjective

3. branchy /ˈbran(t)SHē /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French branche, from late Latin branca ‘paw.’

branched

adjective

1. (of a tree or plant) having parts that grow out from the trunk or from a bough

• a tall, branched plant with flowers

• [in combination] many trees are bare-branched already.

2. having lateral extensions or subdivisions extending from the main part

• the elaborate branched antlers of the stag

• a branched network.

branchia /ˈbraNGkēə/

I. noun

the gills of fish and some invertebrate animals.

II. derivatives

branchial /ˈbraNGkēəl /

adjective

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin branchia, (plural) branchiae, from Greek brankhia (plural).

branchiopod /ˈbraNGkēəˌpäd/

noun

[Zoology] a small aquatic crustacean of the class Branchiopoda, such as a water flea or fairy shrimp.

Branchiopoda /ˌbraNGkēəˈpōdə / ‹Zoology›

I. a class of small aquatic crustaceans that includes water fleas and fairy shrimps, which are distinguished by having gills on their feet.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek brankhia ‘gills’ + pous, pod- ‘foot.’

branch line /branCH līn/

noun

a secondary railroad line branching off from a main line.

branch water branch

noun

1. (US) ordinary water, especially when added to alcoholic drinks.

2. (US) water from a stream or brook.

Brancusi, Constantin /branˈko͞osē, ˈbränˌko͞oSH/

(1876–1957), Romanian sculptor, who spent much of his working life in France. His sculpture represents an attempt to move away from representational art and to capture the essence of forms by reducing them to their ultimate, almost abstract, simplicity.

brand /brand/

I. noun

1. a type of product manufactured by a particular company under a particular name

• a new brand of detergent.

2. a brand name

• the company will market computer software under its own brand.

3. a particular identity or image regarded as an asset

• you can still invent your own career, be your own brand

• the Michael Jordan brand certainly hasn't hurt them.

4. a particular type or kind of something

• his incisive brand of intelligence.

5. an identifying mark burned on livestock or (especially formerly) criminals or slaves with a branding iron.

6. ‹archaic› a branding iron.

7. a habit, trait, or quality that causes someone public shame or disgrace

• the brand of Paula's alcoholism.

8. a piece of burning or smoldering wood

• he took two burning brands from the fire.

9. ‹literary› a torch.

10. ‹literary› a sword.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. mark (an animal, formerly a criminal or slave) with a branding iron.

2. mark indelibly

• an ointment that branded her with unsightly violet-colored splotches.

3. describe (someone or something) as something bad or shameful

• the do-gooders branded us as politically incorrect

• [with obj. and complement] she was branded a liar.

4. assign a brand name to
(as adj. branded)

• branded goods at low prices.

5. (as noun branding) — the promotion of a particular product or company by means of advertising and distinctive design.

III. derivatives

brander

noun

– origin Old English, of Germanic origin; related to German Brand, also to burn^1. The word originally meant ‘burning’ or ‘a piece of burning or smoldering wood’ (sense 3 of the noun); the verb sense ‘mark permanently with a hot iron’ dates from late Middle English. The noun sense ‘mark of ownership made by branding,’ based on the latter, arose in the mid 17th cent., and from it is derived sense 1 (early 19th cent).

brandade /bränˈdäd/

I. noun

a Provençal dish consisting of salt cod mixed into a puree with olive oil and milk.

– origin French, from modern Provençal brandado, literally ‘something that has been shaken.’

brand awareness /brand əˈwernəs/

noun

the extent to which consumers are familiar with the distinctive qualities or image of a particular brand of goods or services.

Brandeis, Louis /ˈbrandīs/

(1856–1941), US Supreme Court associate justice 1916–39; full name Louis Dembitz Brandeis. He gained an early reputation as the “people's attorney” by defending without a fee Boston residents seeking regulation of local public utilities. His “Brandeis brief” made use of social facts, rather than relying solely on precedent and general arguments.

Brandenburg /ˈbrandənˌbərɡ/

a state in northeastern Germany that surrounds but is independent of the city of Berlin; capital, Potsdam.

Brandenburg Gate

one of the city gates of Berlin. Built 1788–91, it is the only one that survives. After the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961, it stood in East Berlin, a conspicuous symbol of a divided city. It was reopened in December 1989.

brand equity

noun

the commercial value that derives from consumer perception of the brand name of a particular product or service, rather than from the product or service itself.

brand extension

noun

an instance of using an established brand name or trademark on new products, so as to increase sales.

brand image /ˈbrand ˈˌimij/

noun

the impression of a product held by real or potential consumers.

branding iron /ˈbrandiNG ˌī(ə)rn/

noun

a metal implement that is heated and used to brand livestock or (especially formerly) criminals or slaves.

brandish /ˈbrandiSH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. wave or flourish (something, especially a weapon) as a threat or in anger or excitement.

II. derivatives

brandisher

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French brandiss-, lengthened stem of brandir; ultimately of Germanic origin and related to brand.

brand leader /brand ˈlēdər/

noun

the best-selling or most highly regarded product or brand of its type.

brandling /ˈbrandliNG/

I. noun

a red earthworm that has rings of a brighter color, often found in manure, and used as bait by anglers and in composting kitchen waste.
[Eisenia fetida, family Lumbricidae.]

– origin mid 17th cent.: from brand + -ling.

brand loyalty /brand ˈloiəltē/

noun

the tendency of some consumers to continue buying the same brand of goods rather than competing brands.

brand name /ˈbran(d) ˈˌnām/

noun

1. a name given by the maker to a product or range of products, especially a trademark.

2. a familiar or widely known name
[as modifier]

• younger writers who clamber toward brand-name status.

brand new /ˈbran(d) ˈˌn(y)o͞o/

adjective

completely new.

Brando, Marlon /ˈbrandō/

(1924–2004), US actor. An exponent of method acting, he first attracted critical acclaim in the stage production of A Streetcar Named Desire (1947) and starred in the movie version four years later. Other notable movies: On the Waterfront (1954), The Godfather (1972), and Apocalypse Now (1979).

Brandt, Willy /bränt/

(1913–92), German statesman; chancellor of West Germany 1969–74; born Karl Herbert Frahm. He achieved international recognition for his policy of detente and the opening of relations with the countries of the Eastern bloc (Ostpolitik). Nobel Peace Prize (1971).

Brand X

noun

a name used for an unidentified brand contrasted unfavorably with a product of the same type being promoted.

brandy /ˈbrandē/

I. noun

a strong alcoholic spirit distilled from wine or fermented fruit juice.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from earlier brandwine, brandewine, from Dutch brandewijn, from branden ‘burn, distill’ + wijn ‘wine.’

brandy Alexander

I. noun

a cocktail made with brandy, chocolate liqueur, and cream

• we settled into a quiet corner, then ordered oysters and brandy Alexanders.

– origin 1940s: from the surname or male forename Alexander, with uncertain reference.

Brandywine Creek /ˌbrandēwīn ˈkrēk/

a historic stream in southeastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware, the birthplace of the US gunpowder industry.

brane /brān/

I. noun

[Physics] an extended object with any given number of dimensions, of which strings in string theory are examples with one dimension. Our universe is a 3-brane.

– origin 1980s: short for membrane.

brane world braneworld

noun

[Physics] a world model in which our space-time is the result of a 3-brane moving through a space-time of higher dimension, with all interactions except gravity being confined to the 3-brane.

Branford /ˈbranfərd/

a town in south central Connecticut, east of New Haven; pop. 28,969 (est. 2008).

branks /braNGks/

I. plural noun

‹historical› an instrument of punishment for a scolding woman, consisting of an iron framework for the head and a sharp metal gag for restraining the tongue.

– origin mid 16th cent.: origin uncertain; compare with German Pranger ‘a pillory or bit for a horse’ and Dutch prang ‘a fetter’; also with late Middle English barnacle(s), denoting a powerful bit for restraining a horse.

brannigan /ˈbranəɡən/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a brawl or violent argument.

– origin late 19th cent.: of unknown origin; perhaps from the surname Brannigan.

Branson /ˈbransən/

a city in southwestern Missouri, on the Ozark Plateau, noted as a resort based on country music; pop. 7,651 (est. 2008).

Branson, Richard

(1950–), English businessman and adventurer. He established Virgin Records in 1969 and Virgin Atlantic Airways in 1984. He also made the fastest transatlantic crossing by boat in 1986 and the first by hot-air balloon in 1987.

brant /brant/

noun

(N. Amer.) a small goose with a mainly black head and neck, breeding in the arctic tundra of Eurasia and Canada.
[Branta bernicla, family Anatidae.]

branzino /ˌbranˈzēnō/

I. noun

(chiefly US) a sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), especially as an item on a menu

• the whole roasted branzino was as fresh-tasting as if it had just been pulled from the sea.

– origin Italian, ‘sea bass.’

Braque, Georges /bräk/

(1882–1963), French painter. His collages, which introduced commercial lettering and fragmented objects into pictures to contrast the real with the “illusory” painted image, were the first stage in the development of synthetic cubism.

brash^1 /braSH/

I. adjective

1. self-assertive in a rude, noisy, or overbearing way

• he could be brash, cocky, and arrogant.

2. strong, energetic, or irreverent

• I like brash, vibrant flavors.

3. (of a place or thing) having an ostentatious or tasteless appearance

• the cafe was a brash new building.

II. derivatives

1. brashly /ˈbraSHlē /

adverb

2. brashness /ˈbraSHnəs /

noun

– origin early 19th cent. (originally dialect); perhaps a form of rash^1.

brash^2 /braSH/

I. noun

1. a mass of fragments, in particular

2. loose broken rock or ice.

– origin late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

Brasil /brəˈzēw/

Portuguese name for Brazil^1.

Brasilia /brəˈzilēə/

the capital, since 1960, of Brazil; pop. 2,455,903 (2007). Designed by Lúcio Costa in 1956, the city was built in the center of the country with the intention of drawing people away from the crowded coastal areas.

Braşov /bräˈSHôf/

a city in Romania; pop. 281,375 (2006). It belonged to Hungary until after World War I and was ceded to Romania in 1920.

brass /bras/

I. noun

1. a yellow alloy of copper and zinc
[as modifier]

• a brass plate on the door.

2. a decorative object made of brass

• shining brasses stood on the mantelpiece.

3. a memorial, typically medieval, consisting of a flat piece of inscribed brass, laid in the floor or set into the wall of a church.

4. a brass block or die used for stamping a design on a book binding.

5. (Brit.) ‹informal› money

• they wanted to spend their newly acquired brass.

6. [Music] brass wind instruments (including trumpet, horn, trombone) forming a band or a section of an orchestra

• the brass and percussion were consistently too loud.

7. (also top brass) — ‹informal› people in authority or of high military rank.

8. ‹informal› a person's hardness or effrontery

• he was the only one who had the brass to show his face.

II. phrases

the brass ring

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a prize or goal that someone strives for

• Willa went for the brass ring, joining the firm at a whopping salary.

[with reference to the reward of a free ride given on a merry-go-round to the person hooking a brass ring suspended over the horses.]

– origin Old English bræs, of unknown origin.

brassard /braˈsärd/

I. noun

1. a band worn on the sleeve, typically having an identifying mark and worn with a uniform.

2. ‹historical› a piece of armor for the upper arm.

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting a piece of armor for the upper arm): from French, from bras ‘arm.’

brass band /ˈbras ˈband/

noun

a group of musicians playing brass instruments and sometimes also percussion.

brass-bound

adjective

1. trimmed or banded with brass fittings.

2. (of a person) adhering inflexibly to tradition or belief.

3. (of a person) brazen or impudent.

brasserie /ˌbrasəˈrē/

I. noun

an informal restaurant, especially one in France or modeled on a French one and with a large selection of drinks.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, originally ‘brewery,’ from brasser ‘to brew.’

Brassey, Thomas /ˈbrasē/

(1805–70), English engineer and railroad contractor. He built more than 6,500 miles (10,000 km) of railroads in Europe, India, South America, and Australia.

brass hat /ˈbras ˈhat/

I. noun

‹informal› a high-ranking officer in the armed forces.

– origin late 19th cent.: so named because of the gilt insignia on the caps of such officers.

brassica /ˈbrasəkə/

I. noun

a plant of a genus that includes cabbage, turnip, Brussels sprout, and mustard.
[Genus Brassica, family Brassicaceae.]

– origin early 19th cent.: Latin, literally ‘cabbage.’

brassie /ˈbrasē / brassy

I. noun

[Golf] ‹informal› a number two wood.

– origin late 19th cent.: so named because the wood was originally shod with brass.

brassiere /brəˈzir/

I. noun

full form of bra.

– origin early 20th cent.: from French brassière, literally ‘bodice, child's vest.’

brass instrument

noun

a wind instrument, such as a trumpet or trombone, typically made of brass.

brass knuckles //

noun

a metal guard worn over the knuckles in fighting, especially to increase the effect of the blows.

brass monkey /ˈˌbras ˈməNGkē/

I. noun

‹informal› used in phrases to refer to extremely cold weather

• it's brass monkey weather tonight.

– origin mid 19th cent.: often said to be from a type of brass rack or ‘monkey’ in which cannonballs were stored and which contracted in very cold weather, ejecting the balls, but this explanation has not been proved.

Brassó /ˈbräSHô/

Hungarian name for Braşov.

brass rubbing /bras ˈrəbiNG/

noun

1. the action of rubbing crayon or chalk over paper laid on an engraved brass to reproduce its design.

2. an image created by doing this.

brassware /ˈbraswer/

noun

utensils or other objects made of brass.

brassy^1 /ˈbrasē/

I. adjective

1. resembling brass in colour.

2. sounding like a brass musical instrument; harsh and loud.

3. (of a person, typically a woman) tastelessly showy or loud in appearance or manner

• her brassy, audacious exterior.

II. derivatives

1. brassily /ˈbrasəlē /

adverb

2. brassiness

noun

brassy^2 /ˈbrasē/

noun

variant spelling of brassie.

brat^1 /brat/

I. noun

‹derogatory› ‹humorous› a child, typically a badly behaved one.

II. derivatives

1. brattish /ˈbradiSH /

adjective

2. brattishness /ˈbradiSH /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.

brat^2 /brät/

I. noun

(US) ‹informal› a bratwurst sausage

• burgers, fries, ribs, brats, potato salad, pies—you name it, this spread had it.

– origin 1940s: abbreviation.

Bratislava /ˌbrädəˈslävə/

the capital of Slovakia, in the western part of the country, a port on the Danube River; pop. 426,927 (2007). From 1526 to 1784 it was the capital of Hungary.
German name Pressburg; Hungarian name Pozsony.

brat pack /ˈbrat ˌpak/

I. noun

‹informal› a rowdy and ostentatious group of young celebrities, typically movie stars.

II. derivatives

brat packer

noun

Brattain, Walter Houser /ˈbratn/

(1902–87), US physicist and inventor. He invented the point-contact transistor 1947 with John Bardeen and William Shockley. The three shared the Nobel Prize for Physics (1956).

brattice /ˈbradəs/

I. noun

a partition or shaft lining in a coal mine, typically made of wood or heavy cloth.

II. derivatives

bratticed

adjective

– origin Middle English (denoting a temporary wooden gallery for use in a siege): from Old French bretesche, from medieval Latin britisca, from Old English brittisc ‘British.’ The current sense dates from the mid 19th cent.

brattle /ˈbradl / ‹dialect›

I. noun

a sharp rattling sound

• a distant brattle of thunder.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. rattle (something).

2. [no obj.] — produce a rattling sound.

– origin early 16th cent.: probably imitative, from a blend of break and rattle.

Brattleboro /ˈbratlˌbərə, -ˌbərō/

a town in southeastern Vermont, on the Connecticut River; pop. 11,491 (est. 2008).

bratty /ˈbradē/

adjective

‹derogatory› ‹humorous› spoiled, self-centered, and badly behaved

• a bratty little boy who threw his ice cream on the floor

• they have the brattiest children.

bratwurst /ˈbrätˌwərst/

I. noun

a type of fine German pork sausage that is typically fried or grilled.

– origin German, from Brat ‘a spit’ + Wurst ‘sausage.’

Braun, Eva /broun/

(1910–45), German mistress of Adolf Hitler. Braun and Hitler are thought to have married during the fall of Berlin, shortly before committing suicide together in the air-raid shelter of his Berlin headquarters.

Braun, Karl Ferdinand /broun/

(1850–1918), German physicist. He invented the coupled system of radio transmission and the Braun tube (forerunner of the cathode ray tube), in which a beam of electrons could be deflected. Nobel Prize for Physics (1909), shared with Guglielmo Marconi.

Braun, Wernher von /brôn, broun/

(1912–77), US rocket engineer; born in Germany; full name Wernher Magnus Maximilian von Braun. He led the development of the V-2 rockets used by Germany during World War II. After the war, he moved to the US, where he worked in the US space program.

Braunschweig /ˈbrounˌSHwīɡ/

German name for Brunswick.

braunschweiger /ˈbrounˌSHwīɡər/

noun

a variety of smoked liver sausage.

brava /ˈbrävä, bräˈvä/

exclamation

feminine of bravo^1.

bravado /brəˈväˌdō/

I. noun

a bold manner or a show of boldness intended to impress or intimidate.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Spanish bravada, from bravo ‘bold’ (see brave, -ado).

brave /brāv/

I. adjective

1. ready to face and endure danger or pain; showing courage

• a brave soldier

• he put up a brave fight before losing.

2. ‹literary› fine or splendid in appearance

• his medals made a brave show.

II. noun

1. (as plural noun the brave) — people who are ready to face and endure danger or pain.

2. ‹dated› an American Indian warrior.

3. a young man who shows courage or a fighting spirit.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. endure or face (unpleasant conditions or behavior) without showing fear

• we had to brave the full heat of the sun.

IV. phrases

1. brave new world

used to refer, often ironically, to a new and hopeful period in history resulting from major changes in society

• the brave new world of computing.

2. put a brave face on something

see face.

V. derivatives

braveness

noun

– origin late 15th cent.: from French, from Italian bravo ‘bold’ or Spanish bravo ‘courageous, untamed, savage,’ based on Latin barbarus (see barbarous).

bravely /ˈbrāvlē/

adverb

in a way that shows a willingness to face and endure danger or pain; courageously

• he has been hailed a hero after he bravely tackled a thief at a hotel

• while Tim excuses himself from the studio, Missy bravely takes a stab at some ballads.

bravery /ˈbrāv(ə)rē/

I. noun

courageous behavior or character.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘bravado’): from French braverie or Italian braveria, based on Latin barbarus (see barbarous).

bravissimo /bräˈvisəˌmō, -ˈvēsē-/

exclamation

used to express great approval of a performance or performer.

bravo^1 /ˈbrävō/

I. exclamation

used to express approval when a performer or other person has done something well

• people kept on clapping and shouting “bravo!”

II. noun

1. a cry of bravo

• bravos rang out.

2. a code word representing the letter B, used in radio communication.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French, from Italian, literally ‘bold’ (see brave).

bravo^2 /ˈbrävō/

I. noun

a thug or hired assassin.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Italian, from bravo ‘bold (one)’ (see brave).

bravura /brəˈv(y)o͞orə/

I. noun

1. great technical skill and brilliance shown in a performance or activity

• the recital ended with a blazing display of bravura

• [as modifier] a bravura performance.

2. the display of great daring

• the show of bravura hid a guilty timidity.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Italian, from bravo ‘bold.’

braw /brô/

I. adjective

(Scottish) fine

• it was a braw day.

II. derivatives

brawly

adverb

– origin late 16th cent.: variant of brave.

brawl /brôl/

I. noun

a rough or noisy fight or quarrel.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. fight or quarrel in a rough or noisy way.

2. ‹literary› (of a stream) flow noisily.

III. derivatives

brawler /ˈbrôlər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: perhaps ultimately imitative and related to bray^1.

brawn /brôn/

I. noun

1. physical strength in contrast to intelligence

• commando work required as much brain as brawn.

2. (Brit.) meat from a pig's or calf's head that is cooked and pressed in a pot with jelly.

– origin Middle English: from Old French braon ‘fleshy part of the leg,’ of Germanic origin; related to German Braten ‘roast meat.’

brawny /ˈbrônē/

I. adjective

physically strong; muscular.

II. derivatives

brawniness /ˈbrônēnəs /

noun

Braxton Hicks contractions /ˌbrakstən ˈhiks kənˌtrakSH(ə)nz/

I. plural noun

[Medicine] intermittent weak contractions of the uterus occurring during pregnancy.

– origin early 20th cent.: named after John Braxton Hicks (1823–97), English gynecologist.

braxy /ˈbraksē/

I. noun

a fatal bacterial infection of young sheep, caused by ingestion of frozen grass or contaminated feed.
[The bacterium is Clostridium septicum.]

– origin late 18th cent.

bray^1 /brā/

I. noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. the loud, harsh cry of a donkey or mule.

2. a sound, voice, or laugh resembling the cry of a donkey or mule.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a donkey or mule) utter a bray.

2. (of a person) speak or laugh loudly and harshly

• he brayed with laughter

• [with direct speech] ‘Leave!,’ brayed a voice behind her.

– origin Middle English: from Old French brait ‘a shriek,’ braire ‘to cry’ (the original senses in English), perhaps ultimately of Celtic origin.

bray^2 /brā/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› pound or crush (something) to small pieces, typically with a pestle and mortar.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French breier, of Germanic origin; related to break, brioche.

braze /brāz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. brazed)

1. form, fix, or join by soldering with an alloy of copper and zinc at high temperature.

II. noun

a brazed joint.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French braser ‘solder,’ ultimately of Germanic origin.

brazen /ˈbrāzən/

I. adjective

1. bold and without shame

• he went about his illegal business with a brazen assurance

• a brazen hussy!

2. ‹chiefly literary› made of brass.

3. harsh in sound

• the music's brazen chords.

II. verb — [with obj.] (brazen something out)

1. endure an embarrassing or difficult situation by behaving with apparent confidence and lack of shame.

III. phrasal verbs

brazen it (or something) out

IV. derivatives

brazenness /ˈbrāznˌnəs /

noun

– origin Old English bræsen ‘made of brass,’ from bræs ‘brass,’ of unknown ultimate origin.

brazen-faced

adjective

bold and without shame

• impudent, brazen-faced rogues.

brazenly /ˈbrāznlē/

adverb

in a bold and shameless way

• they are brazenly defying the law

• [as submodifier] brazenly bad performances on instruments they can't play.

brazier /ˈbrāZHər/

I. noun

1. a portable heater consisting of a pan or stand for holding lighted coals.

2. (N. Amer.) a barbecue.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French brasier, from braise ‘hot coals.’

Brazil^1 /brəˈzil/

1. the largest country in South America, in the east-central part of the continent, on the Atlantic Ocean; pop. 198,739,300 (est. 2009); capital, Brasilia; official language, Portuguese.
Portuguese name Brasil.

Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world. Previously inhabited in large part by Tupi and Guarani peoples, Brazil was colonized by the Portuguese, who imported large numbers of slaves from West Africa to work on sugar plantations. The country was proclaimed an independent empire in 1822 and became a republic after the overthrow of the monarchy in 1889.

Brazil^2 /brəˈzil / brazil

I. noun

1. (also Brazil nut) — a large three-sided nut with an edible kernel, several of which grow inside a large woody capsule. Brazil nuts grow on a South American forest tree, and most are harvested in the wild.
[Bertholletia excelsa, family Lecythidaceae.]

2. (also Brazil wood) — a hard red wood obtained from a tropical tree and from which dyes may be obtained.
[Genus Caesalpinia, family Leguminosae: several species.]

– origin Middle English (sense 2): from medieval Latin brasilium. The South American country Brazil (see Brazil^1) takes its name from the wood.

Brazilian /brəˈzilyən/

I. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Brazil.

2. (also Brazilian wax) — a style of waxing a woman's pubic hair in which almost all the hair is removed, with only a very small central strip remaining.

II. adjective

relating to Brazil.

Brazos River /ˌbrazəs ˈrivər/

a river that flows southeast for 840 miles (1,350 km) across Texas, from the Panhandle to the Gulf of Mexico. The cities at its mouth are called collectively Brazosport.

Brazzaville /ˈbräzəˌvil/

the capital of Congo, a major port; pop. 1,357,392 (2009). It was founded in 1880 by French explorer Savorgnan de Brazza (1852–1905) and was capital of French Equatorial Africa 1910–58.

BRB

abbreviation

‹informal› be right back (used in online conversations)

• I'm takin' a juice break, BRB.

breach /brēCH/

I. noun

1. an act of breaking or failing to observe a law, agreement, or code of conduct

• a breach of confidence

• I sued for breach of contract.

2. a break in relations

• a sudden breach between father and son.

3. a gap in a wall, barrier, or defense, especially one made by an attacking army.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make a gap in and break through (a wall, barrier, or defense)

• the river breached its bank.

2. break or fail to observe (a law, agreement, or code of conduct).

3. [no obj.] — (of a whale) rise and break through the surface of the water.

III. phrases

1. breach of the peace

an act of violent or noisy behavior that causes a public disturbance and is considered a criminal offense.

2. breach of promise

the action of breaking a sworn assurance to do something, formerly especially to marry someone.

3. step into the breach

replace someone who is suddenly unable to do a job or task.

– origin Middle English: from Old French breche, ultimately of Germanic origin; related to break.

bread /bred/

I. noun

1. food made of flour, water, and yeast or another leavening agent, mixed together and baked

• a loaf of bread

• [as modifier] a bread roll

• Italian breads.

2. the bread or wafer used in the Eucharist

• altar bread.

3. the food that one needs in order to live

• his day job puts bread on the table.

4. ‹informal› money

• I hate doing this, but I need the bread.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. coat (food) in breadcrumbs before cooking

• bread the chicken and fry it in oil.

III. phrases

1. the best (or greatest) thing since sliced bread

‹informal› used to emphasize one's enthusiasm about a new idea, person, or thing

• they think that she is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

2. bread and circuses

a diet of entertainment or political policies on which the masses are fed to keep them happy and docile.
[translating Latin panem et circenses (Juvenal's Satires, x.80).]

3. bread and water

a frugal diet that is eaten in poverty, chosen in abstinence, or given as a punishment.

4. bread and wine

the consecrated elements used in the celebration of the Eucharist; the sacrament of the Eucharist.

5. the bread of life

something regarded as a source of spiritual nourishment

• the Roman Catholic Church and faith were the bread of life to the subordinate classes.

6. break bread

a. celebrate the Eucharist.

b. ‹literary› share a meal with someone.

7. cast one's bread upon the waters

do good without expecting gratitude or reward.
[with biblical allusion to Eccles. 11:1.]

8. daily bread

the money or food that one needs in order to live

• she earned her daily bread by working long hours.

9. know which side one's bread is buttered (on)

‹informal› know where one's advantage lies.

10. one cannot live by bread alone

people have spiritual as well as physical needs.
[with biblical allusion to Deut. 8:3, Matt. 4:4.]

11. take the bread out of (or from) people's mouths

deprive people of their livings by competition or unfair working practices.

12. want one's bread buttered on both sides

‹informal› want more than is practicable or than is reasonable to expect.

– origin Old English brēad, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch brood and German Brot.

bread and butter /ˈˌbred (ə)n ˈbədər/

noun

1. a person's livelihood or main source of income, typically as earned by routine work

• their bread and butter is reporting local events

• [as modifier] bread-and-butter occupations.

2. an everyday or ordinary person or thing

• the bread and butter of non-League soccer

• [as modifier] a good bread-and-butter player.

bread-and-butter letter

noun

a letter expressing thanks for hospitality.

bread-and-butter pickle

noun

a variety of sweet pickle made with thin-sliced cucumbers and various seasonings.

Bread and Butter State

a nickname for the state of Minnesota.

breadbasket /ˈbredˌbaskət/

noun

1. a part of a region that produces cereals for the rest of it.

2. ‹informal› a person's stomach, considered as the target for a blow.

Breadbasket of America

a nickname for the state of Kansas.

breadboard /ˈbredbôrd/

I. noun

a board for making an experimental model of an electric circuit.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (an experimental circuit).

breadbox /ˈbredˌbäks/

noun

a box for storing bread and other baked goods.

breadcrumb /ˈbredˌkrəm/

I. noun — (usu. breadcrumbs)

1. a small fragment of bread.

2. (breadcrumbs or breadcrumb trail) — a series of connected pieces of information or evidence

• federal agents stood by in the hope that the trail of breadcrumbs would lead to a Mexican drug cartel

• you have to be careful about the digital breadcrumbs that you are leaving behind.

[from the traditional story of Hansel and Gretel, who leave a trail of breadcrumbs behind them as they walk through a forest, intending to use them in order to retrace their steps.]

3. a hierarchical series of hyperlinks displayed at the top of a web page, indicating the page's position in the overall structure of the website

• check to make sure that your site has good internal linking and consider adding breadcrumbs

• for breadcrumb trails, a smaller pixel size of 9 to 11 is good.

II. derivatives

breadcrumbed

adjective

breaded /ˈbredəd/

adjective

(of food) coated with breadcrumbs and then fried

• lightly breaded chicken strips.

breadfruit /ˈbredˌfro͞ot/

noun

1. the large, round, starchy fruit of a tropical tree, which is used as a vegetable and sometimes to make a substitute for flour.

2. (also breadfruit tree) — the large evergreen tree that bears the breadfruit, which is widely cultivated on the islands of the Pacific and the Caribbean.
[Artocarpus altilis, family Moraceae.]

breading /ˈbrediNG/

noun

a coating of breadcrumbs, typically on fried food

• onion rings with light, crispy breading.

bread knife /bred nīf/

noun

a long knife, typically with a serrated edge, for slicing bread.

breadline /ˈbredˌlīn/

noun

(N. Amer.) a line of people waiting to receive free food.

bread mold

noun

any of various fungi, especially of the genus Rhizopus, that grow on bread and other foods.

bread pudding

noun

a dessert consisting of slices of bread baked together with dried fruit, sugar, spices, eggs, and milk.

breadstick /ˈbredˌstik/

noun

a long, thin, often crisp piece of bread.

breadstuff /ˈbredˌstəf/

noun

1. any bread product.

2. grain or flour used in the making of bread.

breadth /bredTH/

I. noun

1. the distance or measurement from side to side of something; width

• a black sweater outlined the breadth of his shoulders

• the boat measured 27 feet in breadth

• we traveled the length and breadth of India.

2. wide range or extent

• she has the advantage of breadth of experience

• there is a greater breadth of sound in the later recordings.

3. ‹dated› a piece of cloth of standard or full width.

4. overall unity of artistic effect

• these masterpieces showed a new breadth of handling.

– origin early 16th cent.: from obsolete brede in the same sense (related to broad) + -th^2, on the pattern of length.

breadthwise /ˈbredTHwīz / breadthways

adverb

in a direction parallel with a thing's width.

breadwinner /ˈbredˌwinər/

I. noun

a person who earns money to support a family.

II. derivatives

breadwinning /-ˌwiniNG /

noun

break /brāk/

I. verb

1. separate or cause to separate into pieces as a result of a blow, shock, or strain
[no obj.]

• the rope broke with a loud snap

• the slate fell from my hand and broke in two on the hard floor

• [with obj.] windows in the street were broken by the blast

• break the chocolate into pieces.

2. sustain an injury involving the fracture of a bone or bones in a part of the body
[with obj.]

• she had broken her leg in two places

• [no obj.] what if his leg had broken?

3. [with obj.] — cause a cut or graze in (the skin)

• the bite had scarcely broken the skin.

4. make or become inoperative
[no obj.]

• the machine has broken, and they can't fix it until next week

• [with obj.] he's broken the video.

5. (of the amniotic fluid surrounding a fetus) be or cause to be discharged when the sac is ruptured in the first stages of labor
[no obj.]

• she realized her water had broken.

6. [with obj.] — open (a safe) forcibly.

7. [with obj.] — use (a piece of paper currency) to pay for something and receive change out of the transaction

• she had to break a ten.

8. [no obj.] — (of two boxers or wrestlers) come out of a clinch, typically at the referee's command

• I was acting as referee and telling them to break.

9. [with obj.] — unfurl (a flag or sail).

10. [with obj.] — succeed in deciphering (a code).

11. [with obj.] — open (a shotgun or rifle) at the breech.

12. [with obj.] — disprove (an alibi).

13. [with obj.] — invalidate (a will) through legal process.

14. [with obj.] — interrupt (a continuity, sequence, or course)

• the new government broke the pattern of growth

• his concentration was broken by a sound.

15. put an end to (a silence) by speaking or making contact.

16. make a pause in (a journey)

• we will break our journey in Venice.

17. [no obj.] — stop proceedings in order to have a pause or vacation

• at mid-morning they broke for coffee.

18. lessen the impact of (a fall)

• she put out an arm to break her fall.

19. stop oneself from being subject to (a habit).

20. put an end to (a tie in a game) by making a score.

21. [no obj.] — (chiefly of an attacking player or team, or of a military force) make a rush or dash in a particular direction

• the flight broke to the right and formed a defensive circle.

22. surpass (a record)

• the movie broke box-office records.

23. disconnect or interrupt (an electrical circuit).

24. [no obj.] — (of a pitched baseball) curve or drop on its way toward the batter.

25. [no obj.] — [Soccer] (of the ball) rebound unpredictably

• the ball broke to Craig but his shot rebounded from the post.

26. [no obj.] — (of a bowled cricket ball) change direction on bouncing, due to spin.

27. [with obj.] — fail to observe (a law, regulation, or agreement)

• the district attorney says she will prosecute retailers who break the law

• a legally binding contract that can only be broken by mutual consent.

28. fail to continue with (a self-imposed discipline)

• diets started without preparation are broken all the time.

29. [with obj.] — crush the emotional strength, spirit, or resistance of

• the idea was to better the prisoners, not to break them.

30. [no obj.] — (of a person's emotional strength) give way

• her self-control finally broke.

31. destroy the power of (a movement or organization).

32. destroy the effectiveness of (a strike), typically by bringing in other people to replace the striking workers.

33. tame or train (a horse).

34. [no obj.] — undergo a change or enter a new state, in particular

35. (of the weather) change suddenly

• the weather broke, and thunder rumbled through a leaden sky.

36. (of a storm) begin violently.

37. (of dawn or day) begin with the sun rising

• dawn was just breaking.

38. (of clouds) move apart and begin to disperse.

39. (of waves) curl over and dissolve into foam

• the Caribbean sea breaking gently on the shore.

40. (of the voice) falter and change tone, due to emotion

• her voice broke as she relived the experience.

41. (of a boy's voice) change in tone and register at puberty.

42. [Phonetics] (of a vowel) develop into a diphthong, under the influence of an adjacent sound.
(as noun breaking)

• breaking due to a following r or h.

43. (of prices on the stock exchange) fall sharply.

44. (of news or a scandal) suddenly become public

• since the news broke I've received thousands of wonderful letters.

45. [with obj.] (break something to someone) — make bad news known to someone.

46. make the first stroke at the beginning of a game of billiards, pool, or snooker.

II. noun

1. an interruption of continuity or uniformity

• the magazine has been published without a break since 1950.

2. an act of separating oneself from a state of affairs

• a break with the past.

3. a change in the weather.

4. [with modifier] — a change of line, paragraph, or page

• dotted lines on the screen show page breaks.

5. a curve or drop in the path of a pitched baseball.

6. a change of tone in the voice due to emotion

• there was a break in her voice now.

7. an interruption in an electrical circuit.

8. a rush or dash in a particular direction, especially by an attacking player or team

• he made a bounce pass for a basket on the break in the second quarter.

9. a breakout, especially from prison.

10. a sudden decrease, typically in prices.

11. ‹informal› an opportunity or chance, especially one leading to professional success

• his big break came when a critic gave him a rave review.

12. (also break of serve or service break) — [Tennis] the winning of a game against an opponent's serve.

13. a pause in work or during an activity or event

• I need a break from mental activity

• they take long coffee breaks

• those returning to work after a career break.

14. a short vacation

• the Christmas break.

15. a short solo or instrumental passage in jazz or popular music.

16. a gap or opening

• the spectacular vistas occasionally offered by a break in the rain forest

• he stopped to wait for a break in the traffic.

17. an instance of breaking; the point where something is broken

• a break in the valve was being repaired.

18. [Billiards] [Snooker] a player's turn to make the opening shot of a game or a rack.

19. a consecutive series of successful shots, scoring a specified number of points

• a break of 83 put him in front for the first time.

III. phrases

1. break a leg!

‹theatrical slang› good luck!

2. break bread

see bread.

3. break camp

see camp^1.

4. break someone's heart

see heart.

5. break in two

break into two parts.

• the slate fell from my hand and broke in two on the hard floor.

6. break of day

dawn.

7. break ranks

see rank^1.

8. break (someone's) serve (or service)

win a game in a tennis match against an opponent's service.

9. break step

see step.

10. break the back of

a. do the hardest part of (a task)

• we've broken the back of the problem.

b. overwhelm or defeat

• I thought we really had broken the back of inflation.

11. break the bank

see bank^2.

12. break the ice

see ice.

13. break the mold

see mold^1.

14. break wind

release gas from the anus.

15. give someone a break

a. [usu. in imperative] — ‹informal› stop putting pressure on someone about something.

b. (give me a break) — used to express contemptuous disagreement or disbelief about what has been said

• He's seven times as quick and he's only 20 years old. Give me a break.

16. make a break for

make a sudden dash in the direction of, typically in a bid to escape

• he made a break for the door.

17. make a clean break

remove oneself completely and finally from a situation or relationship.

18. those are (or them's) the breaks

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› that is the way things turn out.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. break away

a. (of a person) escape from someone's hold.

b. escape from the control of a person, group, or practice

• an attempt to break away from the elitism that has dominated the book trade.

c. (of a competitor in a race) move into the lead.

d. (of a material or object) become detached from its base, typically through decay or under force.

2. break down

a. (of a machine or motor vehicle) suddenly cease to function

• his van broke down.

b. (of a person) have the vehicle they are driving cease to function

• she broke down on the highway.

c. (of a relationship, agreement, or process) cease to continue; collapse

• pay negotiations with management broke down.

d. lose control of one's emotions when in a state of distress

• if she had tried to utter a word, she would have broken down

• the old woman broke down in tears.

e. (of a person's health or emotional control) fail or collapse

• his health broke down under the strain of overwork.

f. undergo chemical decomposition

• waste products that break down into low-level toxic materials.

3. break something down

a. demolish a door or other barrier

• they had to get the police to break the door down

• ‹figurative› race barriers can be broken down by educational reform.

b. separate something into parts

• each tutorial is broken down into more manageable units.

c. analyze information

• bar graphs show how the information can be broken down.

d. convert a substance into simpler compounds by chemical action

• almost every natural substance can be broken down by bacteria.

4. break even

reach a point in a business venture when the profits are equal to the costs.

5. break forth

burst out suddenly; emerge.

6. break free

another way of saying break away.

7. break in

a. force entry to a building

• it sounded like someone trying to break in.

b. [with direct speech] — interject

• “I don't want to interfere,” Mrs. Hendry broke in.

8. break someone in

a. familiarize someone with a new job or situation

• there was no time to break in a new executive assistant.

b. (break a horse) — accustom a horse to a saddle and bridle, and to being ridden.

9. break something in

wear something, typically a pair of new shoes, until it becomes supple and comfortable.

10. break in on

interrupt

• the doctor's voice broke in on her thoughts.

11. break into

a. enter or open a (place, vehicle, or container) forcibly, typically for the purposes of theft

• four men broke into the house

• a friend of mine had his car broken into.

b. succeed in winning a share of (a market or a position in a profession)

• Japanese companies failed to break into the US personal-computer market.

c. interrupt (a conversation).

d. (of a person) suddenly or unexpectedly burst forth into (laughter or song).

e. (of a person's face or mouth) relax into (a smile).

f. change one's pace to (a faster one)

• Greg broke into a sprint.

12. break off

a. become severed

• the fuselage had broken off just behind the pilot's seat.

b. abruptly stop talking

• she broke off, stifling a sob.

13. break something off

a. remove something from a larger unit or whole

• Tucker broke off a piece of bread.

b. discontinue talks or relations

• the US threatened to break off diplomatic relations.

14. break something open

open something forcibly.

15. break out

a. (of war, fighting, or similarly undesirable things) start suddenly

• forest fires have broken out across Indonesia.

b. (of a physical discomfort) suddenly manifest itself

• prickles of sweat had broken out along her backbone.

16. break out in

(of a person or a part of their body) be suddenly affected by an unpleasant sensation or condition

• something had caused him to break out in a rash.

17. break out of

escape from

• ‹figurative› executives looking to break out of the corporate hierarchy.

18. break something out

‹informal› open and start using something

• it was time to break out the champagne.

19. break through

a. make or force a way through (a barrier)

• demonstrators attempted to break through the police lines

• the sun might break through in a few spots.

b. (of a person) achieve success in a particular area

• so many talented players are struggling to break through.

20. break up

a. disintegrate; disperse

• the bones had broken up into minute fragments

• the gray clouds had begun to break up.

b. (of a gathering) disband; end.

c. (Brit.) end the school term

• we broke up for the summer.

d. (of a couple in a relationship) part company.

e. (chiefly N. Amer.) start laughing uncontrollably

• the whole cast broke up.

f. (chiefly N. Amer.) become emotionally upset.

21. break someone up

(chiefly N. Amer.) cause someone to become extremely upset.

22. break something up

a. cause something to separate into pieces, parts, or sections

• break up the chocolate, and place it in a bowl

• he intends to break the company up into strategic business units.

b. bring a social event or meeting to an end by being the first person to leave

• Richard was sorry to break up the party.

c. disperse or put an end to a gathering

• police broke up a demonstration in the capital.

23. break with

a. quarrel or cease relations with (someone)

• he had broken with his family long before.

b. act in a way that is not in accordance with (a custom or tradition).

– origin Old English brecan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch breken and German brechen, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin frangere ‘to break.’

breakable /ˈbrākəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

capable of breaking or being broken easily

• breakable ornaments

• an encrypted password isn't easily breakable.

II. noun — (breakables)

1. things that are fragile and easily broken.

breakage /ˈbrākij/

noun

the action of breaking something, or the fact of being broken

• some breakage of bone has occurred

• there had been three breakages in the overhead wires.

breakaway /ˈbrākəˌwā/

noun

1. a divergence or radical change from something established or long standing

• rock was a breakaway from pop

• [as modifier] the breakaway hit movie.

2. a secession of a number of people from an organization, typically following conflict or disagreement and resulting in the establishment of a new organization
[as modifier]

• the breakaway republic.

3. [Sports] a sudden attack or forward movement, especially in a bicycle race or in hockey or football

• a winning breakaway.

4. an object, such as a stage prop, designed to break apart easily
[as modifier]

• barroom brawls are staged with breakaway furniture.

breakbeat /ˈbrākbēt/

noun

1. [Music] a repeated sample of a drumbeat, usually forming a fast syncopated rhythm, used as a basis for dance music.

2. dance music featuring breakbeats.

breakbone fever /ˈbrākbōn ˌfēvər/

noun

another term for dengue.

break-bulk /ˈbrākˌbəlk/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. denoting a system of transporting cargo as separate pieces rather than in containers.

break crop

noun

a secondary crop grown to interrupt the repeated sowing of grain as part of crop rotation.

breakdancing /ˈbrākˌdansiNG/

I. noun

an energetic and acrobatic style of street dancing, developed by American blacks.

II. derivatives

1. breakdance /ˈbrākˌdans /

verb, noun

2. breakdancer /ˈbrākˌdansər /

noun

breakdown /ˈbrākˌdoun/

noun

1. a mechanical failure.

2. a failure of a relationship or system

• the breakdown of their marriage

• some of these women will have experienced marital breakdown

• a breakdown in military discipline.

3. a sudden collapse in someone's mental health.

4. the chemical or physical decomposition of something

• the breakdown of ammonia to nitrites.

5. an explanatory analysis, especially of statistics

• a detailed cost breakdown.

6. a lively, energetic American country dance.

breaker /ˈbrākər/

noun

1. a heavy sea wave that breaks into white foam on the shore or a shoal.

2. a person or thing that breaks something
[in combination]

• a rule-breaker

• a code-breaker.

3. a person who breaks horses.

4. short for circuit breaker.

5. a person who interrupts the conversation of others on a Citizens' Band radio channel, indicating a wish to transmit a message.

6. any CB radio user.

7. a break dancer.

break-even

noun

the point or state at which a person or company breaks even
[as modifier]

• the break-even point.

break-fall /ˈbrākˌfôl/

noun

(in martial arts) a controlled fall in which most of the impact is absorbed by the arms or legs.

breakfast /ˈbrekfəst/

I. noun

a meal eaten in the morning, the first of the day

• I often have toast for my breakfast

• I don't eat breakfast.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. eat breakfast

• she breakfasted on French toast and bacon.

III. phrases

have (or eat) someone for breakfast

‹informal› deal with or defeat someone with contemptuous ease.

IV. derivatives

1. breakfaster

noun

2. breakfastless

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from the verb break + fast^2.

breakfront /ˈbrākfrənt/

noun

a piece of furniture having the line of its front broken by a curve or angle
[as modifier]

• a breakfront bookcase.

break-in /ˈbrāk ˌin/

noun

a forced or unconsented entry into a building, car, computer system, etc., typically to steal something.

breaking and entering

noun

the crime of entering a building by force so as to commit burglary.

breaking news

noun

newly received information about an event that is currently occurring or developing

• some breaking news now of a rescue situation in California

• the announcement will likely be the lead story for the broadcast, barring other major breaking news.

breaking point /ˈbrākiNG ˌpoint/

noun

the moment of greatest strain at which someone or something gives way

• the tense situation reached the breaking point late last week

• her nerves were stretched to the breaking point.

breakneck /ˈbrākˌnek/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. dangerously or extremely fast

• he drove at breakneck speed.

break-off /ˈbrākôf/

noun

an instance of breaking something off or of discontinuing something.

breakout /ˈbrākˌout/

I. noun

1. a forcible escape, typically from prison

• a prison breakout.

2. [in sing.] — (in soccer, hockey, and other sports) a sudden attack by a team that had been defending.

3. [in sing.] — an outbreak

• a breakout of hostilities.

4. a categorized list

• an excellent breakout of websites by topic.

5. a sudden advance to a new level

• gold was overdue for a breakout.

6. the deformation or splintering of wood, stone, or other material being drilled or planed.

II. adjective

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› suddenly and extremely popular or successful

• a breakout movie.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› denoting or relating to groups that break away from a conference or other larger gathering for discussion

• we divided into 15 breakout groups.

break point /ˈbrāk ˌpoint/

noun

1. a place or time at which an interruption or change is made.

2. (usu. breakpoint) — [Computing] a place in a computer program where the sequence of instructions is interrupted, especially by another program or by the operator.

3. [Tennis] the state of a game when the side receiving service needs only one more point to win the game

• he hit a winner to reach break point.

4. another term for breaking point.

Breakspear, Nicholas /ˈbrākˌspi(ə)r/

see Adrian IV.

breakthrough /ˈbrākˌTHro͞o/

noun

1. a sudden, dramatic, and important discovery or development

• a major breakthrough in DNA research.

2. an instance of achieving success in a particular sphere or activity

• her big breakthrough came on the stage when she won a Tony Award in 1958

• [as modifier] the band's breakthrough album.

breakthrough bleeding

noun

bleeding from the uterus occurring between menstrual periods, a side effect of some oral contraceptives.

breakthrough pain

noun

(usually in connection with cancer) severe pain that erupts while a patient is already medicated with a long-acting painkiller.

breakup /ˈbrākˌəp/

noun

1. an end to a relationship, typically a marriage.

2. a division of a country or organization into smaller autonomous units

• the breakup of the two states constituting Czechoslovakia.

3. a physical disintegration of something

• large quantities of oil are released after the breakup of a tanker

• the spring breakup of the ice.

breakwater /ˈbrākˌwôdər/

noun

a barrier built out into a body of water to protect a coast or harbor from the force of waves.

bream^1 /brim/

I. noun

1. a greenish-bronze deep-bodied freshwater fish native to Europe, popular with anglers.
[Abramis brama, family Cyprinidae.]

2. used in names of other fishes resembling or related to this, e.g., sea bream.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French bresme, of Germanic origin; related to German Brachsen, Brassen.

bream^2 /brēm/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Nautical] ‹archaic› clear (a ship or its bottom) of weeds, shells, or other accumulated matter by burning and scraping it.

– origin late 15th cent.: probably of Low German origin and related to broom.

breast /brest/

I. noun

1. either of the two soft, protruding organs on the upper front of a woman's body that secrete milk after pregnancy.

2. the less-developed part of a man's body corresponding with a woman's breast.

3. a person's chest

• her heart was hammering in her breast.

4. the chest of a bird or mammal
[as modifier]

• the breast feathers of the doves.

5. a portion of poultry cut from the breast of a bird

• a grilled chicken breast.

6. the part of a garment that covers the chest
[as modifier]

• a breast pocket.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. face and move forward against or through (something)

• I watched him breast the wave.

2. reach the top of (a hill).

III. phrases

1. beat one's breast

make an exaggerated show of sorrow, despair, or regret.

2. make a clean breast of something

see clean.

IV. derivatives

breasted /ˈbrestid /

adjective

[in combination]

• a bare-breasted woman

• a crimson-breasted bird

– origin Old English brēost, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch borst and German Brust.

breast-beating

noun

a loud, emotional expression of remorse

• the breast-beating of American media commentators

• [as modifier] the breast-beating advocates of the people.

breastbone /ˈbres(t)ˌbōn/

noun

a thin, flat bone running down the center of the chest and connecting the ribs.
Also called sternum.

breast collar

noun

a thick chest strap that forms part of a horse's harness, often used instead of an ordinary collar on horses pulling lightweight or show vehicles.

breast drill

noun

a drill on which pressure is brought to bear by the operator's chest.

breastfeed /ˈbres(t)ˌfēd/

verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a woman) feed (a baby) with milk from the breast

• she breastfed her first child

• [no obj.] sometimes it is not possible to breastfeed.

2. [no obj.] — (of a baby) feed from the breast

• the child began to breastfeed.

breasthook /ˈbrestho͝ok/

noun

a large piece of shaped timber fitted horizontally in the bows of a ship, used to connect the sides to the stem.

breast implant

noun

a prosthesis consisting of a gel-like or fluid material in a flexible sac, implanted behind or in place of a female breast in reconstructive or cosmetic surgery.

breast milk

noun

milk produced by a woman's breasts after childbirth as food for her child

• a hormone called prolactin stimulates the body to produce breast milk

• [as modifier] breast milk substitutes.

breastplate /ˈbres(t)ˌplāt/

noun

1. a piece of armor covering the chest.

2. [Judaism] in ancient times, a jeweled vestment covering the chest of the Jewish high priest.

3. a set of straps attached to the front of a saddle, which pass across the horse's chest and prevent the saddle from slipping backward.

4. the strap of a harness covering the chest of a horse.

breast pump

noun

a device for drawing milk from a woman's breasts by suction.

breaststroke /ˈbres(t)ˌstrōk/

noun — [in sing.]

1. a style of swimming on one's front, in which the arms are pushed forward and then swept back in a circular movement, while the legs are tucked in toward the body and then kicked out in a corresponding movement.

2. (the breaststroke) — a race, typically of a specified length or kind, in which the breaststroke style of swimming is used

• she won the 200 m breaststroke.

breastwork /ˈbrestwərk/

noun

a low temporary defense or parapet.

breath /breTH/

I. noun

1. the air taken into or expelled from the lungs

• I was gasping for breath

• his breath smelled of garlic.

2. an inhalation or exhalation of air from the lungs

• she drew in a quick breath

• take three deep breaths.

3. ‹archaic› the power of breathing; life.

4. a brief moment; the time required for one act of respiration

• in Las Vegas, they marry you in a breath.

5. [in sing.] — a slight movement of air

• the weather was balmy, not a breath of wind.

6. [in sing.] — a sign, hint, or suggestion

• he avoided the slightest breath of scandal.

II. phrases

1. the breath of life

a thing that someone needs or depends on

• politics has been the breath of life to her for 50 years.

2. catch one's breath

a. cease breathing momentarily in surprise or fear.

b. rest after exercise to restore normal breathing

• she stood for a few moments, catching her breath.

3. don't hold your breath

‹informal› used hyperbolically to indicate that something is likely to take a long time

• don't hold your breath waiting for Congress to clean up political action committees.

4. draw breath

breathe in.

5. get one's breath (back)

begin to breathe normally again after exercise or exertion.

6. hold one's breath

a. cease breathing temporarily.

b. be in a state of suspense or anticipation

• France held its breath while the Senate chose its new president.

7. in the same (or next) breath

at the same time

• he congratulated Simon on his victory but in the same breath dismissed it.

8. last breath

the last moment of one's life (often used hyperbolically); death

• she would fight to the last breath to preserve her good name.

9. out of breath

gasping for air, typically after exercise

• he arrived on the top floor out of breath.

10. save one's breath

stop wasting time in futile talk

• save your breath; I know all about it.

11. take someone's breath away

astonish or inspire someone with awed respect or delight.

12. under (or below) one's breath

in a very quiet voice; almost inaudibly

• he swore violently under his breath.

Compare with sotto voce.

13. waste one's breath

talk or give advice without effect

• I have better things to do than waste my breath arguing.

– origin Old English brǣth ‘smell, scent,’ of Germanic origin; related to brood.

breathable /ˈbrēT͟Həb(ə)l/

adjective

1. (of the air) fit or pleasant to breathe.

2. (of clothes or material) admitting air to the skin and allowing sweat to evaporate.

breathalyze /ˈbreTHəˌlīz/

verb — [with obj.] (usu. be breathalyzed)

1. (of the police) use a breathalyzer.

breathalyzer /ˈbreTHəˌlīzər / Breathalyzer

I. noun

‹trademark› a device used by police for measuring the amount of alcohol in a driver's breath.

– origin 1960s: blend of breath and (an)alyze + -er^1.

breatharian /ˌbreTHˈerēən/

noun

a person who believes that it is possible, through meditation, to reach a level of consciousness where one can obtain all sustenance from the air or sunlight.

breathe /brēT͟H/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. take air into the lungs and then expel it, especially as a regular physiological process

• she was wheezing as she breathed

• breathe in through your nose

• he breathed out heavily

• [with obj.] we are polluting the air we breathe.

2. be or seem to be alive because of this

• at least I'm still breathing.

3. ‹literary› (of wind) blow softly.

4. [with direct speech] — say something with quiet intensity

• “We're together at last,” she breathed.

5. (of an animal or plant) respire or exchange gases

• plants breathe through their roots.

6. [with obj.] — give an impression of (something)

• the whole room breathed an air of hygienic efficiency.

7. (of wine) be exposed to fresh air

• red wine needs untold time to breathe.

8. (of material or soil) admit or emit air or moisture

• let your lawn breathe by putting air into the soil.

9. [with obj.] — allow (a horse) to rest after exertion.

10. (breathe upon) — ‹archaic› ‹literary› tarnish or taint

• before the queen's fair name was breathed upon.

II. phrases

1. breathe (freely) again

relax after being frightened or tense about something

• she wouldn't breathe freely again until she was airborne.

2. breathe down someone's neck

a. follow closely behind someone.

b. constantly check up on someone.

3. breathe one's last

die.

4. breathe (new) life into

fill with enthusiasm and energy; reinvigorate

• spring breathes new life into a wintry woods.

5. breathe a sigh of relief

exhale noisily as a sign of relief (often used hyperbolically)

• they breathed a great sigh of relief after the election was won.

6. live and breathe

see live^1.

7. not breathe a word

remain silent about something; keep secret.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘exhale, steam’): from breath.

breathed /breTHt/

adjective

1. [usu. in combination] — having breath of a specified kind

• a foul-breathed poodle.

2. /brēT͟Hd / — [Phonetics] unvoiced; voiceless.

breather /ˈbrēT͟Hər/

noun

1. [in sing.] — ‹informal› a brief pause for rest

• the director is taking a breather from his furious schedule.

2. a vent or valve to release pressure or to allow air to move freely around something

• a cask breather

• [as modifier] a breather pipe.

3. a person or animal that breathes in a particular way, or breathes a particular substance

• a heavy breather

• [in combination] reptiles are lung-breathers.

breathing /ˈbrēT͟HiNG/

noun

1. the process of taking air into and expelling it from the lungs

• his breathing was shallow.

2. a sign in Greek (῾ or ᾿) indicating the presence of an aspirate or the absence of an aspirate at the beginning of a word.

breathing room

noun

1. sufficient room to move and breathe comfortably.

2. breathing space.

breathing space /ˈbrēT͟HiNG ˈˌspās/

noun — [in sing.]

1. an opportunity to pause, relax, or decide what to do next.

breathless /ˈbreTHləs/

I. adjective

1. gasping for breath, typically due to exertion

• the climb left me breathless.

2. short of breath or appearing this way because of excitement or other strong feelings

• her breathless account of what happened in the courtroom.

3. (of the air or weather) unstirred by a wind or breeze; stiflingly still

• the warm, breathless air.

II. derivatives

breathlessness /ˈbreTHləsnəs /

noun

breathlessly /ˈbreTHləslē/

adverb

1. in a way that involves gasping for breath, typically due to exertion

• breathlessly, we run faster and faster

• she laughed breathlessly.

2. in a way that is characterized by great excitement or suspense

• we breathlessly await their new release

• fan websites that are breathlessly updated.

breathtaking /ˈbreTHˌtākiNG/

adjective

astonishing or awe-inspiring in quality, so as to take one's breath away

• the scene was one of breathtaking beauty.

breathtakingly /ˈbreTHtākiNGlē/

adverb

1. in an astonishing or awe-inspiring way, so as to take one's breath away

• the beach is endless and breathtakingly beautiful

• the sharks will pass breathtakingly close if you stay completely still.

2. [as submodifier] — to an extreme or shocking degree; incredibly

• a breathtakingly racist, angry rant

• a breathtakingly aggressive takeover.

breath test /ˈbreTH ˌtest/

I. noun

a test in which a driver is made to blow into a breathalyzer to check the amount of alcohol that has been drunk.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. give (someone) a breathalyzer test.

breathy /ˈbreTHē/

I. adjective

producing or causing an audible sound of breathing, often related to physical exertion or strong feelings

• a breathy laugh.

II. derivatives

1. breathily /ˈbreTHəlē /

adverb

2. breathiness

noun

breccia /ˈbreCHēə/

I. noun

[Geology] rock consisting of angular fragments cemented together.

II. derivatives

1. brecciate /-ēˌāt /

verb

2. brecciation /ˌbreCHēˈāSHən, ˌbreSH- /

noun

– origin late 18th cent.: from Italian, literally ‘gravel,’ ultimately of Germanic origin and related to break.

Brecht, Bertolt /brekt, breKHt/

(1898–1956), German playwright, producer, and poet; full name Eugen Bertolt Friedrich Brecht. His interest in combining music and drama led to collaboration with Kurt Weill in The Threepenny Opera (1928). Brecht's later dramas include Mother Courage (1941) and The Caucasian Chalk Circle (1948).

Brechtian /ˈbrektēən ˈbreKHtēən/

adjective

relating to or characteristic of the German dramatist, producer, and poet Bertolt Brecht or his work

• a masterpiece of Brechtian alienation.

Breckinridge, John C. /ˈbrekənˌrij/

(1821–75), US politician and vice president of the US 1857–61; full name John Cabell Breckinridge. He also served as a major general in the Confederate army 1861.

bred /bred/

I. past and participle of breed.

II. adjective — [usu. in combination]

1. (of a person or animal) reared in a specified environment or way

• a city-bred man.

Breda /brāˈdä, ˈbrādə/

a manufacturing town in the southwestern Netherlands; pop. 170,960 (2008). Historically, it is noted for the Compromise of Breda of 1566; the 1660 manifesto of Charles II; and the Treaty of Breda.

bred-in-the-bone

adjective

1. firmly established; deep-rooted.

2. long established and unlikely to change; inveterate.

breech /brēCH/

I. noun

1. the part of a cannon behind the bore.

2. the back part of a rifle or gun barrel.

3. ‹archaic› a person's buttocks.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› put (a boy) into breeches after being in petticoats since birth.

– origin Old English brēc (plural of brōc, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch broek), interpreted as a singular form. The original sense was ‘garment covering the loins and thighs’ (compare with breeches), hence ‘the buttocks’ (sense 2 of the noun, mid 16th cent.), later ‘the hind part’ of anything (late 16th cent).

breech birth breech delivery

noun

a delivery of a baby so positioned in the uterus that the buttocks or feet are delivered first.

breechblock /ˈbrēCHbläk/

noun

a metal block that closes the aperture at the back part of a rifle or gun barrel.

breechclout /ˈbrēCHklout / breechcloth

noun

(N. Amer.) another term for loincloth.

breeches /ˈbriCHiz ˈbrēCHiz/

I. plural noun

1. short trousers fastened just below the knee, now chiefly worn for riding a horse or as part of ceremonial dress.

2. ‹informal› trousers.

II. phrases

too big for one's breeches

see big.

– origin Middle English: plural of breech.

Breeches Bible

noun

the Geneva Bible of 1560, so named because the word breeches is used in Gen. 3:7 for the garments made by Adam and Eve.

breeches buoy /ˈbrēCHiz ˌbo͞oē ˈbrēCHiz ˌboi/

noun

a lifebuoy with canvas breeches attached that, when suspended from a rope, can be used to transfer a person to safety from a ship.

breeching /ˈbrēCHiNG/

noun

1. a strong leather strap passing around the hindquarters of a horse harnessed to a vehicle.

2. ‹historical› a thick rope used to secure the carriage of a cannon on a ship and to absorb the force of the recoil.

3. the hair or wool on the hindquarters of an animal.

breech-loader /ˈbrēCHˌlōdər/

I. noun

a gun designed to have ammunition inserted at the breech rather than through the muzzle.

II. derivatives

breech-loading /ˈbrēCHˌlōdiNG /

adjective

breech presentation

noun

a position of a fetus in which the feet or buttocks appear first during birth.

breed /brēd/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (an animal) to produce offspring, typically in a controlled and organized way

• he wants to see the animals his new stock has been bred from.

2. [no obj.] — (of animals) mate and then produce offspring

• toads are said to return to the pond of their birth to breed

• (as adj. breeding) the breeding season.

3. develop (a kind of animal or plant) for a particular purpose or quality

• these horses are bred for this sport.

4. rear and train (someone) to behave in a particular way or have certain qualities

• Theresa had been beautifully bred.

5. cause (something) to happen or occur, typically over a period of time

• success breeds confidence.

6. [Physics] create (fissile material) by nuclear reaction.

II. noun

1. a stock of animals or plants within a species having a distinctive appearance and typically having been developed by deliberate selection.

2. a sort or kind of person or thing

• a new breed of entrepreneurs was brought into being.

III. phrases

1. a breed apart

a sort or kind or person that is very different from the norm

• Japanese capitalism is a breed apart from that found in the US.

2. a dying breed

a sort or kind of person that is slowly disappearing

• the country's dying breed of elder statesmen.

3. what's bred in the bone will come out in the flesh (or blood)

see bone.

– origin Old English brēdan ‘produce (offspring), bear (a child),’ of Germanic origin; related to German brüten, also to brood.

breeder /ˈbrēdər/

noun

1. a person who breeds livestock, racehorses, other animals, or plants

• a plant breeder

• a breeder of fine cattle.

2. an animal that breeds at a particular time or in a particular way

• emperor penguins are winter breeders.

3. ‹informal› ‹derogatory› (among homosexuals) a heterosexual person.

breeder document

noun

a document, genuine or fraudulent, that can serve as a basis to obtain other identification documents or benefits fraudulently.

breeder reactor

noun

a nuclear reactor that creates fissile material (typically plutonium-239 by irradiation of uranium-238) at a faster rate than it uses another fissile material (typically uranium-235) as fuel.

breeding /ˈbrēdiNG/

noun

1. the mating and production of offspring by animals

• palolo worms use the moon to time their breeding.

2. the activity of controlling the mating and production of offspring of animals

• the breeding of rats and mice for experiments.

3. training and education, especially in proper social behavior

• a girl of good breeding.

4. the good manners regarded as characteristic of the aristocracy and conferred by heredity

• a lady of breeding.

breeding ground /ˈbrēdiNG ˌɡround/

noun

1. an area where birds, fish, or other animals habitually breed.

2. [usu. in sing.] — a thing that favors the development or occurrence of something

• Austin is a breeding ground for musical talent.

breeks /brēks/

plural noun

Scottish term for breeches.

breeze^1 /brēz/

I. noun

1. a gentle wind.

2. [with modifier] — a wind of force 2 to 6 on the Beaufort scale (4–27 knots or 4.5-31 mph).

3. ‹informal› a thing that is easy to do or accomplish

• traveling through London was a breeze.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹informal› come or go in a casual or lighthearted manner

• I breezed in as if nothing were wrong.

2. ‹informal› deal with something with apparently casual ease

• the computer has the power to breeze through huge documents

• he breezed to victory.

III. phrases

shoot the breeze

see shoot.

– origin mid 16th cent.: probably from Old Spanish and Portuguese briza ‘northeastern wind’ (the original sense in English).

breeze^2 /brēz/

I. noun

small cinders mixed with sand and cement to make cinder blocks.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French braise, (earlier) brese ‘live coals.’

breeze block /ˈbrēz ˌbläk/

noun

British term for cinder block.

breezeway /ˈbrēzˌwā/

noun

(N. Amer.) a roofed outdoor passage, as between a house and a garage.

breezy /ˈbrēzē/

I. adjective

1. pleasantly windy

• it was a bright, breezy day.

2. appearing relaxed, informal, and cheerily brisk

• the text is written in a breezy, matter-of-fact manner.

II. derivatives

1. breezily /ˈbrēzilē /

adverb

2. breeziness /ˈbrēzēnəs /

noun

bregma /ˈbreɡmə/

noun

the point or area of the skull where the sagittal and coronal sutures joining the parietal and frontal bones come together.

Brel, Jacques /brel/

(1929–78), Belgian singer and composer.

Bremen /ˈbrāmən, ˈbremən/

I. a state in northwestern Germany. Divided into two parts, which center on the city of Bremen and the port of Bremerhaven, it is surrounded by the state of Lower Saxony.

II. the capital of the state of Bremen, an industrial city linked by the Weser River to the port of Bremerhaven and the North Sea; pop. 547,900 (est. 2006).

Bremerhaven /ˈbremərˌhävən/

a seaport in northwestern Germany, on the North Sea coast, north of Bremen; pop. 115,300 (est. 2007). Bremerhaven is one of the largest seaports and fishing centers in Europe. The first regular shipping service between the US and Europe began here. Former name Wesermünde.

Bremerton /ˈbremərtn/

a city in west central Washington, on Puget Sound, home to large naval shipyards; pop. 36,006 (est. 2008).

bremsstrahlung /ˈbremˌSHträləNG/

I. noun

[Physics] electromagnetic radiation produced by the acceleration or especially the deceleration of a charged particle after passing through the electric and magnetic fields of a nucleus.

– origin 1940s: from German, from bremsen ‘to brake’ + Strahlung ‘radiation.’

Bren /bren / Bren gun

I. noun

a lightweight quick-firing machine gun used by the Allied Forces in World War II.

– origin blend of Brno (a town in the Czech Republic where it was originally made) and Enfield in England (site of the Royal Small Arms Factory where it was later made).

Brendan, St. /ˈbrendən/

(c. 486–c. 575), Irish abbot. Feast day, May 16.

Brennan, Walter /ˈbrenən/

(1894–1974), US actor. A character actor, he appeared in many movies and was the first actor to win three Academy Awards, all for best supporting actor. His award-winning movies were Come and Get It (1936), Kentucky (1938), and The Westerner (1940).

Brennan, William Joseph

Jr. (1906–97), US Supreme Court associate justice 1956–90. He was a New Jersey Supreme Court judge 1952–56 before being appointed to the US Supreme Court by President Eisenhower. He was noted for his defense of First Amendment rights.

Brenner Pass /ˌbrenər ˈpas/

an Alpine pass at the border between Austria and Italy, on the route between Innsbruck and Bolzano, at an altitude of 4,450 feet (1,371 m).

brent goose /ˈbrent ˌɡo͞os/

I. noun

British term for brant.

– origin late Middle English: of unknown origin.

Brentwood /ˈbrentwo͝od/

I. a village in central Long Island in New York; pop. 53,917 (2000).

II. a section of West Los Angeles, California, noted for expensive homes and celebrity inhabitants.

brer /brer/

I. noun

(US) ‹dialect› used as an informal title before a man's name

• Brer Jean

• Brer Rabbit.

– origin late 19th cent.: representing an African-American or southern US pronunciation of brother.

bresaola /breˈsōlə, briˈzō-/

I. noun

an Italian dish of raw beef cured by salting and air-drying, served typically in slices with a dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, and black pepper.

– origin Italian, from bresada, past part. of brasare ‘braise.’

Brescia /ˈbrāSHə, ˈbreSHə/

an industrial city in northern Italy, in the region of Lombardy; pop. 190,844 (2008).

Breslau /ˈbreslou/

German name for Wrocław.

Breslin, Jimmy /ˈbrezlən/

(1930–), US journalist and writer. He wrote The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1969), He Got Hungry and Forgot His Manners (1988), Damon Runyon: A Life (1991), and I Want to Thank My Brain for Remembering Me (1996). Pulitzer Prize (1986).

Brest /brest/

I. a port and naval base in northwestern France, on the Atlantic coast of Brittany; pop. 148,316 (2006).

II. a river port and industrial city in Belarus, close to the border with Poland; pop. 318,000 (est. 2009). The peace treaty between Germany and Russia was signed here in March 1918. Former name (until 1921) Brest-Litovsk.
Polish name Brześć nad Bugiem.

Bretagne /brəˈtänyə/

French name for Brittany.

brethren /ˈbreT͟H(ə)rən/

I. archaic plural form of brother.

II. plural noun

1. fellow Christians or members of a male religious order.
See also brother (sense 2 of the noun).

2. used for humorous or rhetorical effect to refer to people belonging to a particular group

• our brethren in the popular press.

Breton /ˈbretn/

I. noun

1. a native of Brittany.

2. the Celtic language of Brittany, related to Cornish.

II. adjective

1. of or relating to Brittany or its people or language.

2. denoting a casual striped top, typically white with narrow horizontal blue stripes, of a type loosely associated with French or Breton sailors

• just pull on a classic Breton t-shirt.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Old French, literally ‘Briton.’

Breton, André /breˈtôN/

(1896–1966), French poet, essayist, and critic. He launched the surrealist movement, outlining the movement's philosophy in his manifesto of 1924.

Brett, George /bret/

(1953–), US baseball player. Playing for the Kansas City Royals 1973–93, he was the American League batting champion in three different decades (1976, 1980, 1990). Baseball Hall of Fame (1999).

Bretton Woods /ˌbretn ˈwo͝odz/

a resort in the White Mountains of north central New Hampshire, noted as the site of UN conferences at the end of World War II.

Breuer, Marcel Lajos /ˈbroiər/

(1902–81), US architect; born in Hungary. He designed the UNESCO headquarters in Paris 1953–58 and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City 1963–66. He is also known for his chair designs.

Brevard County /brəˌvärd ˈkoun(t)ē/

a county in east central Florida, on the Atlantic Ocean, the site of Cape Canaveral and of large citrus and resort industries; pop. 536,521 (est. 2008).

breve /brēv, brev/

I. noun

1. a musical note having the time value of two semibreves or whole notes.

2. a written or printed mark (˘) indicating a short or unstressed vowel.

3. ‹historical› an authoritative letter from a pope or monarch.

– origin Middle English: variant of brief. In the musical sense, the term was originally used in a series where a long was of greater time value than a breve.

brevet /brəˈvet/

I. noun — [often as modifier]

1. a former type of military commission conferred especially for outstanding service by which an officer was promoted to a higher rank without the corresponding pay

• a brevet lieutenant.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. confer a brevet rank on.

– origin late Middle English (denoting an official letter, especially a papal indulgence): from Old French brievet ‘little letter,’ diminutive of bref.

breviary /ˈbrēvēˌerē, ˈbrev-/

I. noun

a book containing the service for each day, to be recited by those in orders in the Roman Catholic Church.

– origin late Middle English (also denoting an abridged version of the psalms): from Latin breviarium ‘summary, abridgment,’ from breviare ‘abridge,’ from brevis ‘short, brief.’

brevity /ˈbrevədē/

I. noun

1. concise and exact use of words in writing or speech.

2. shortness of time

• the brevity of human life.

II. phrases

brevity is the soul of wit

‹proverb› the essence of a witty statement lies in its concise wording and delivery.
[from Shakespeare's Hamlet II. ii. 90.]

– origin late 15th cent.: from Old French brievete, from Latin brevitas, from brevis ‘brief.’

brew /bro͞o/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (beer) by soaking, boiling, and fermentation.

2. make (tea or coffee) by mixing it with hot water

• I've just brewed some coffee

• [no obj.] he did a crossword while the tea brewed.

3. (brew up) — (Brit.) ‹informal› make tea.

4. [no obj.] — (of an unwelcome event or situation) begin to develop

• there was more trouble brewing as the airline pilots went on strike

• a storm was brewing.

II. noun

1. a kind of beer

• nonalcoholic brews.

2. ‹informal› a serving of beer.

3. a cup or mug of tea or coffee.

4. a mixture of events, people, or things that interact to form a more potent whole

• a dangerous brew of political turmoil and violent conflict.

– origin Old English brēowan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch brouwen and German brauen.

brewer /ˈbro͞oər/

noun

a person or company that manufactures beer

• pubs owned by regional brewers.

Brewer, David Josiah /ˈbro͞oər/

(1837–1910), US Supreme Court associate justice 1889–1910. Appointed to the Court by President Benjamin Harrison, he was considered a moderate conservative and generally opposed a strong central government.

brewer's yeast

noun

a yeast that is used in breadmaking, winemaking, and the brewing of top-fermenting beer. It is also consumed as a source of vitamin B and is used in laboratories as an important research organism.
[Saccharomyces cerevisiae, phylum Ascomycota.]

brewery /ˈbro͞o(ə)rē/

I. noun

a place where beer is made commercially.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from brew, probably on the pattern of Dutch brouwerij.

brewhouse /ˈbro͞ohous/

noun

a brewery.

brewmaster /ˈbro͞oˌmastər/

noun

a person who supervises the brewing process in a brewery.

brewpub /ˈbro͞oˌpəb/

noun

(chiefly US) an establishment selling beer brewed on the premises and often including a restaurant.

brewski /ˈbro͞oskē/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a bottle, can, or glass of beer.

Brexit /ˈbreksət / Brixit /ˈbriksət/

I. noun

a term for the potential or hypothetical departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union

• a Brexit is considered a real possibility for the first time in four decades

• the report warned that Brexit would reduce the EU's potential GDP by up to 0.36%.

– origin 2012 (as Brixit): blend of British (or Britain) and exit, probably on the pattern of Grexit (coined earlier in the same year).

Breyer, Stephen /ˈbrīər/

(1938–), US Supreme Court associate justice 1994– ; full name Stephen Gerald Breyer. He is known for his pragmatic judgments.

Brezhnev, Leonid /ˈbreZHˌnef, ˈbreZHnyif/

(1906–82), Soviet statesman; general secretary of the Communist Party of the former Soviet Union 1966–82; president 1977–82; full name Leonid Ilich Brezhnev. His administration was marked by intensified persecution of dissidents at home and by attempted detente followed by renewed Cold War in 1968; he was largely responsible for the invasion of Czechoslovakia 1968.

briarroot

noun

variant spelling of brierroot.

briarwood

noun

variant spelling of brierwood.

bribe /brīb/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. persuade (someone) to act in one's favor, typically illegally or dishonestly, by a gift of money or other inducement

• an undercover agent bribed the judge into giving a lenient sentence

• you weren't willing to be good to your sister without being bribed with a lollipop

• he has no money to bribe with.

II. noun

a sum of money or other inducement offered or given in this way.

III. derivatives

1. bribable /ˈbrībəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. briber /ˈbrībər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French briber, brimber ‘beg,’ of unknown origin. The original sense was ‘rob, extort,’ hence (as noun) ‘theft, stolen goods,’ also ‘money extorted or demanded for favors,’ later ‘offer money as an inducement’ (early 16th cent).

bribery /ˈbrīb(ə)rē/

noun

the giving or offering of a bribe

• he was convicted of racketeering and bribery

• [as modifier] a bribery scandal.

BRIC /brik/

abbreviation

Brazil, Russia, India, and China (regarded in terms of their fast-growing economies).

bric-a-brac /ˈbrikəˌbrak/

I. noun

miscellaneous objects and ornaments of little value.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, from obsolete à bric et à brac ‘at random.’

brick /brik/

I. noun

1. a small rectangular block typically made of fired or sun-dried clay, used in building.

2. bricks collectively as a building material

• this mill was built of brick

• [as modifier] a large brick building.

3. a small, rectangular object

• a brick of ice cream.

4. ‹informal› a large and relatively heavy mobile phone, typically an early model with limited functionality

• I had one of those Motorola bricks as my first cell phone.

5. a smartphone or other electronic device that has completely ceased to function

• while updating the firmware the USB cable got disconnected and the phone is now a brick.

6. (Brit.) ‹informal› ‹dated› a generous, helpful, and reliable person.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. block or enclose with a wall of bricks

• the doors have been bricked up.

2. ‹informal› cause (a smartphone or other electronic device) to become completely unable to function, typically on a permanent basis

• installing an unofficial OS voids the warranty and may brick the phone.

III. phrases

1. be built like a brick shithouse

see shithouse.

2. bricks and mortar

a. buildings

• David knows how inefficient it is to tie up your capital in bricks and mortar.

b. [as modifier] — used to denote a business that operates conventionally rather than (or as well as) over the Internet

• the bricks-and-mortar banks.

Compare with clicks and mortar.

3. a brick short of a load

see short.

4. hit (or run into) a brick wall

face an insuperable problem or obstacle while trying to do something.

5. like a ton of bricks

‹informal› with crushing weight, force, or authority

• all her years of marriage suddenly fell on her like a ton of bricks.

6. shit a brick (or bricks)

‹vulgar slang› be extremely anxious or nervous.

7. you can't make bricks without straw

‹proverb› nothing can be made or accomplished without proper or adequate material or information.
[with biblical allusion to Exodus 5; “without straw” meant “without having straw provided” (i.e., the Israelites were required to gather the straw for themselves). A misinterpretation has led to the current sense.]

– origin late Middle English: from Middle Low German, Middle Dutch bricke, brike; probably reinforced by Old French brique; of unknown ultimate origin.

Brick /brik/

a township in southeastern New Jersey; pop. 78,419 (est. 2008).

brickbat /ˈbrikˌbat/

noun

1. a piece of brick, typically when used as a weapon.

2. a remark or comment which is highly critical and typically insulting

• the plaudits were beginning to outnumber the brickbats.

brick-built /ˈbrikˌbilt/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of a building or structure) made of bricks.

brickfield /ˈbrikfēld/

noun

(Brit.) an area of ground where bricks are made.

bricklayer /ˈbrikˌlāər/

I. noun

a person whose job is to build walls, houses, and other structures with bricks.

II. derivatives

bricklaying /ˈbrikˌlāiNG /

noun

brick red /brik red/

noun

a deep brownish red

• various shades from blushing pink to angry brick red

• [as modifier] he had a brick-red face.

brick veneer

noun

1. a covering of brick applied to a timber frame.

2. timber frames covered in brick as a building material.

brickwork /ˈbrikˌwərk/

noun

1. the bricks in a wall, house, or other structure, typically in terms of their type or layout

• the patterned brickwork of the gables.

2. the craft or occupation of building walls, houses, or other structures with bricks.

brickyard /ˈbrikyärd/

noun

a place where bricks are made.

bricolage /ˌbrēkōˈläZH, ˌbrikə-/

I. noun

1. (in art or literature) construction or creation from a diverse range of available things

• the chaotic bricolage of the novel is brought together in a unifying gesture.

2. something constructed or created from a diverse range of available things

• bricolages of painted junk.

– origin mid 20th cent.: French, from bricoler ‘do odd jobs, repair.’

bricoleur /ˌbrēkōˈlər, ˌbrikə-/

I. noun

a person who engages in bricolage.

– origin mid 20th cent.: French, literally ‘handyman.’

bridal /ˈbrīdl/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of or concerning a bride or a wedding

• her white bridal gown

• the bridal party came out into the church porch.

– origin late Middle English: from Old English brȳd-ealu ‘wedding feast,’ from brȳd ‘bride’ + ealu ‘ale-drinking’ Since the late 16th cent., the word has been associated with adjectives ending in -al.

bridal gown

noun

a dress worn by a bride at her wedding, typically long and white

• a stunning white bridal gown.

bridal registry

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a service offered by a store or other organization in which a bridal couple's gift preferences are recorded so as to be available to family and friends when shopping at the store.

bridal suite /ˈbrīdl swēt/

noun

a suite of rooms in a hotel for the use of a newly married couple.

bridal wreath

noun

a spirea with sprays of white flowers.
[Spirea prunifolia, family Rosaceae.]

bride /brīd/

I. noun

a woman on her wedding day or just before and after the event.

– origin Old English brȳd, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bruid and German Braut.

Bride, St. /brīd, brēd/

see Bridget, St.1

bridegroom /ˈbrīdˌɡro͞om/

I. noun

a man on his wedding day or just before and after the event.

– origin Old English brȳdguma, from brȳd ‘bride’ + guma ‘man’ The change in the second syllable was due to association with groom.

bride price

noun — [in sing.]

1. a sum of money or quantity of goods given to a bride's family by that of the groom, especially in tribal societies

• payments of bride price from the husband's kin.

bridesmaid /ˈbrīdzˌmād/

I. noun

a girl or woman who accompanies a bride on her wedding day.

– origin late 18th cent.: alteration of earlier bridemaid.

bride-to-be

noun

a woman who is soon to be married; a fiancée

• both brides-to-be will be walking down the aisle shortly.

bridewell /ˈbrīdwel ˈbrīdwəl/

I. noun

a prison for petty offenders such as a reform school.

– origin mid 16th cent.: named after St. Bride's Well in the City of London, near which such a building stood.

bridezilla /ˌbrīdˈzilə/

I. noun

‹humorous› a woman whose behavior in planning her wedding is regarded as obsessive or intolerably demanding.

– origin 1990s: blend of bride and Godzilla.

bridge^1 /brij/

I. noun

1. a structure carrying a road, path, railroad, or canal across a river, ravine, road, railroad, or other obstacle

• a bridge across the river

• a railroad bridge.

2. something that is intended to reconcile or form a connection between two things

• a committee that was formed to create a bridge between rival parties.

3. a partial denture supported by natural teeth on either side.
See also bridgework.

4. the support formed by the hand for the forward part of a billiard cue.

5. a long stick with a frame at the end that is used to support a cue for a shot that is otherwise hard to reach.

6. [Music] an upright piece of wood on a string instrument over which the strings are stretched.

7. [Music] a bridge passage or middle eight.

8. short for land bridge.

9. the elevated, enclosed platform on a ship from which the captain and officers direct operations.

10. the upper bony part of a person's nose

• he pushed his spectacles further up the bridge of his nose.

11. the central part of a pair of glasses, fitting over this

• these sunglasses have a special nose bridge for comfort.

12. an electric circuit with two branches across which a detector or load is connected. These circuits are used to measure resistance or other property by equalizing the potential across the two ends of a detector, or to rectify an alternating voltage or current.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. be a bridge over (something)

• a covered walkway that bridged the gardens.

2. build a bridge over (something)

• earlier attempts to bridge the channel had failed.

3. make (a difference between two groups) smaller or less significant

• bridging the gap between avant garde art and popular culture.

III. phrases

1. a bridge too far

a. a step or act that is regarded as being too drastic to take

• having Botox would be a bridge too far.

b. something that is very difficult to achieve

• that second goal proved a bridge too far.

2. burn one's bridges

see burn^1.

3. cross that bridge when one comes to it

deal with a problem when and if it arises.

IV. derivatives

bridgeable /ˈbrijəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin Old English brycg (noun), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch brug and German Brücke.

bridge^2 /brij/

I. noun

a card game descended from whist, played by two partnerships of two players who at the beginning of each hand bid for the right to name the trump suit, the highest bid also representing a contract to make a specified number of tricks with a specified suit as trumps.

– origin late 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

bridge-and-tunnel

I. adjective

(US) ‹informal› (of a person) living in the suburbs and perceived as unsophisticated

• clubs catering to the beautiful people and the bridge-and-tunnel crowds.

– origin 1980s: with reference to the routes used for commuting into New York.

bridge-building /ˈbrij ˌbildiNG/

I. noun

1. the activity of building bridges.

2. the promotion of friendly relations between groups.

II. derivatives

bridge-builder /ˈbrij ˌbildər /

noun

bridgehead /ˈbrijˌhed/

noun

a strong position secured by an army inside enemy territory from which to advance or attack

• ‹figurative› in the 1970s, academic literary theory established bridgeheads in Britain.

bridge loan

noun

(N. Amer.) a sum of money lent by a bank to cover an interval between two transactions, typically the buying of one house and the selling of another.

bridge mix

noun

a mixture of various bite-size snack foods, such as nuts, raisins, and chocolates, typically served in a bowl at card games, parties, etc.

Bridge of Sighs /ˈˌbrij əv ˈsīz/

a 16th-century enclosed bridge in Venice between the Doges' Palace and the state prison, originally crossed by prisoners on their way to torture or execution.

bridge passage

noun

a transitional section in a musical composition leading to a new section or theme.

Bridgeport /ˈbrijpôrt/

an industrial city in southwestern Connecticut, on Long Island Sound; pop. 136,405 (est. 2008).

Bridges /ˈbrijiz/

I. the name of a family of US actors, including:

II. Lloyd (Vernet, Jr.) (1913–98), noted as the star of the television series Sea Hunt (1958–61). His movie credits include High Noon (1952) and Airplane (1980).

III. Beau (1941–), son of Lloyd; born Lloyd Vernet Bridges III. In addition to much work on television, he has appeared in such movies as Norma Rae (1979) and The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989), in which he costarred with brother Jeff.

IV. Jeff (1949–), son of Lloyd; full name Jeffrey Leon Bridges. His movies include The Fisher King (1991), The Big Lebowski (1998), and Seabiscuit (2003).

Bridges, Robert

(1844–1930), English poet and literary critic; poet laureate 1913–30; full name Robert Seymour Bridges. His long philosophical poem, The Testament of Beauty (1929), was written in the Victorian tradition.

Bridget, St.1 /ˈbrijət / Bride , Brigid

(6th century), Irish abbess; also known as St. Bridget of Ireland. She was venerated in Ireland as a virgin saint and noted in miracle stories for her compassion. Feast day, July 23.

Bridget, St.2 Birgitta

(c. 1303–73), Swedish nun and visionary; also known as St. Bridget of Sweden. She experienced her first vision of the Virgin Mary at the age of seven. Feast day, February 1.

Bridgetown /ˈbrijtoun/

the capital of Barbados, a port on the southern coast; pop. 116,000 (est. 2007).

bridgework /ˈbrijˌwərk/

noun

1. dental bridges collectively.

2. the construction or insertion of dental bridges.

3. [Building] the component parts of a bridge.

4. the construction of bridges.

bridging /ˈbrijiNG/

noun

1. the action of putting a bridge over something

• the bridging of a ditch.

2. [Mountaineering] a method of climbing a wide chimney by using the left hand and foot on one sidewall and the right hand and foot on the other.

Bridgman, Percy Williams /ˈbrijmən/

(1882–1961), US physicist. He worked with liquids and solids under very high pressures; his techniques were later used in making artificial minerals (including diamonds). Nobel Prize for Physics (1946).

bridle /ˈbrīdl/

I. noun

1. the headgear used to control a horse, consisting of buckled straps to which a bit and reins are attached.

2. a line, rope, or device that is used to restrain or control the action or movement of something.

3. [Nautical] a length of rope, chain, or cable fastened at both ends to an object that is to be secured or moved or to a vessel that is to do the towing, a pull being exerted at the center of its length.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] (usu. be bridled) — put a bridle on (a horse).

2. bring (something) under control; curb

• the fact that he was their servant bridled his tongue.

3. [no obj.] — show one's resentment or anger, especially by throwing up the head and drawing in the chin

• ranchers have bridled at excessive federal control.

III. phrases

1. off the bridle

see bit^3.

2. on the bridle

see bit^3.

– origin Old English brīdel (noun), brīdlian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch breidel (noun). Sense 2 of the verb use is from the action of a horse when reined in.

bridle path /ˈbrīdl ˌpaTH/

noun

a path or track used for horseback riding.

Brie /brē/

I. noun

a kind of soft, mild, creamy cheese with a firm white skin.

– origin named after Brie in northern France, where it was originally made.

brief /brēf/

I. adjective

1. of short duration

• the president made a brief visit to Moscow.

2. concise in expression; using few words

• introductions were brief and polite.

3. (of a piece of clothing) not covering much of the body; scanty

• Alice sported a pair of extremely brief black shorts.

II. noun

1. a concise statement or summary

• their comments were cribbed right from industry briefs.

2. a set of instructions given to a person about a job or task

• his brief is to turn around the country's economy.

3. (US) a written summary of the facts and legal points supporting one side of a case, for presentation to a court.

4. a letter from the pope to a person or community on a matter of discipline.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. instruct or inform (someone) thoroughly, especially in preparation for a task

• she briefed him on last week's decisions.

IV. phrases

1. hold no brief for

not support or argue in favor of

• I hold no brief for the president.

2. in brief

in a few words; in short

• he is, in brief, the embodiment of evil

• the news in brief.

V. derivatives

briefness /ˈbrēfnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French brief, from Latin brevis ‘short.’ The noun is via late Latin breve ‘note, dispatch,’ hence ‘an official letter.’

briefcase /ˈbrēfˌkās/

noun

a flat, rectangular container, typically made of leather, for carrying books and papers.

briefer

noun

a person who presents detailed information and offers instruction to someone, especially in preparation for a task

• military briefers prepare for war

• we have a briefer who will be able to go into this in greater detail.

briefing /ˈbrēfiNG/

noun

1. a meeting for giving information or instructions

• the daily press briefing.

2. the action of informing or instructing someone

• today's briefing of NATO allies.

briefly /ˈbrēflē/

adverb

1. for a short time; fleetingly

• he worked briefly as a lawyer.

2. using few words; concisely

• as I briefly mentioned earlier

• [sentence adverb] briefly, the plot is as follows.

briefs /brēfs/

plural noun

close-fitting legless underpants that are cut so as to cover the body to the waist, in contrast to a bikini.

brier^1 /ˈbrī(ə)r / briar

I. noun

any of a number of prickly scrambling shrubs, especially the sweetbrier and other wild roses.

II. derivatives

briery

adjective

– origin Old English brǣr, brēr, of unknown origin.

brier^2 /ˈbrī(ə)r / briar

I. noun

1. (also brier pipe) — a tobacco pipe made from nodules borne at ground level by a large woody plant of the heath family.

2. the white-flowered shrub of the heath family that bears these nodules, native chiefly to France and Corsica.
[Erica arborea, family Ericaceae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French bruyère ‘heath, heather,’ from medieval Latin brucus.

brierroot /ˈbrī(ə)rˌro͞ot, -ˌro͝ot/

noun

wood from the nodules of the brier (Erica arborea), used especially for making tobacco pipes.

brierwood /ˈbrī(ə)rˌwo͝od/

noun

another term for brierroot.

brig /briɡ/

I. noun

1. a two-masted, square-rigged ship with an additional gaff sail on the mainmast.

2. ‹informal› a prison, especially on a warship.

– origin early 18th cent.: abbreviation of brigantine (the original sense).

Brig. //

abbreviation

1. brigade.

2. brigadier.

brigade /briˈɡād/

I. noun

1. a subdivision of an army, typically consisting of a small number of infantry battalions and/or other units and often forming part of a division

• he commanded a brigade of 3,000 men.

2. an organization with a specific purpose, typically with a military or quasi-military structure

• the local fire brigade.

3. [in sing.] — ‹informal› ‹often derogatory› a group of people with a common characteristic or dedicated to a common cause

• the anti-smoking brigade.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹rare› form into a brigade.

2. associate with (someone or something)

• they thought the speech too closely brigaded with illegal action.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, from Italian brigata ‘company,’ from brigare ‘contend,’ from briga ‘strife.’

brigadier /ˌbriɡəˈdir/

I. noun

a rank of officer in the British army, above colonel and below major general.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French (see brigade, -ier).

brigadier general /ˈbriɡəˌdi(ə)r ˈjen(ə)rəl/

noun

an officer in the US Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps ranking above colonel and below major general.

brigand /ˈbriɡənd/

I. noun

‹literary› a member of a gang that ambushes and robs people in forests and mountains.

II. derivatives

1. brigandage /ˈbriɡ(ə)ndij /

noun

2. brigandry /-drē /

noun

– origin late Middle English (also denoting an irregular foot soldier): from Old French, from Italian brigante, literally ‘(person) contending,’ from brigare ‘contend’ (see brigade).

brigandine /ˈbriɡənˌdēn/

I. noun

‹historical› a coat of mail, typically one made of iron rings or plates attached to canvas or other fabric.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, from brigand (see brigand).

brigantine /ˈbriɡənˌtēn/

I. noun

a two-masted sailing ship with a square-rigged foremast and a fore-and-aft-rigged mainmast.

– origin early 16th cent. (denoting a small vessel used by pirates): from Old French, from Italian brigantino, from brigante (see brigand).

Briggs, Henry /briɡz/

(1561–1630), English mathematician. Renowned for his work on logarithms, he introduced the decimal base, made the thousands of calculations necessary for the tables, and popularized their use. He also devised the usual method used for long division.

bright /brīt/

I. adjective

1. giving out or reflecting a lot of light; shining

• I have problems seeing when the sun is bright

• her bright, dark eyes.

2. full of light

• the rooms are bright and spacious.

3. (of a period of time) having sunny, cloudless weather

• the long, bright days of June.

4. having a vivid color

• the bright flowers

• a bright tie.

5. (of color) vivid and bold

• the bright green leaves.

6. (of sound) clear, vibrant, and typically high-pitched

• her voice is fresh and bright.

7. (of a person, idea, or remark) intelligent and quick-witted

• a bright young journalist

• a suggestion box for bright ideas.

8. giving an appearance of cheerful liveliness

• she gave a bright smile.

9. (of someone's future) likely to be successful and happy

• the bright prospects for her early retirement.

II. adverb

luminously

• a full moon shining bright.

III. noun — (brights)

1. bold and vivid colors

• webbed gloves in neon brights.

2. (N. Amer.) headlights switched to high beam

• he turned the brights on, and we drove along the dirt road.

IV. phrases

1. bright and early

very early in the morning.

2. the bright lights

the glamor and excitement of the city

• they hankered for the bright lights of the capital.

3. look on the bright side

be optimistic or cheerful in spite of difficulties.

V. derivatives

brightish

adjective

– origin Old English beorht, of Germanic origin.

Bright, John /brīt/

(1811–89), English politician and reformer. A noted orator, Bright was the leader, along with Richard Cobden, of the campaign to repeal the Corn Laws and was closely identified with the 1867 Reform Act.

bright-colored ‹Brit.› bright-coloured

adjective

of a bold and vivid color or shade

• gowns of bright-colored silk.

brighten /ˈbrītn/

I. verb

1. make or become more light
[no obj.]

• the day began to brighten in the east

• [with obj.] the fire began to blaze fiercely, brightening the room.

2. [with obj.] — make (something) more attractively and cheerfully colorful

• this colorful hanging ornament will brighten any room

• daffodils brighten up many gardens and parks.

3. make or become happier and more cheerful
[no obj.]

• Sarah brightened up considerably as she thought of Emily's words

• [with obj.] she seems to brighten his life.

– origin Old English (ge)beorhtnian.

bright-eyed /ˈbrīd ˌīd/

I. adjective

1. having shining eyes.

2. alert and lively

• bright-eyed young lawyers

• a bright-eyed optimism.

II. phrases

bright-eyed and bushy-tailed

‹informal› alert and lively; eager.
[from the conventional description of a squirrel.]

brightly /ˈbrītlē/

adverb

1. in a way that gives out or reflects much light

• diamond stud earrings shone brightly in his ears

• lanterns glow brightly in the dark hall.

2. in a way that is characterized by having vivid colors

• a very brightly patterned floral sweater

• brightly painted fingernails.

3. in an intelligent and quick-witted way

• a wry, brightly written essay.

4. in a cheerful and lively way

• chattering brightly

• those on stage smiled brightly at the crowd.

brightness /ˈbrītnəs/

noun

1. the quality or state of giving out or reflecting light

• we can change the brightness of the bulb

• the comet's brightness had dimmed.

2. the quality or state of being well lit

• his mother called to him from the brightness of the kitchen.

3. sunny, cloudless weather

• the brightness will linger through Wednesday

• the brightness of a winter's day.

4. the quality of being vividly and boldly colored

• he adds brightness to the dishes by tossing in fresh herbs.

5. the quality of being intelligent and quick-witted

• he reminded me of my first son with his brightness and inquisitiveness.

6. the quality of being cheerful or lively

• there's so much light and brightness in their faces.

7. success and happiness

• there had been some brightness in her life.

8. the quality in sound of being clear, vibrant, and typically high-pitched

• tone alters the brightness of the sound.

Brighton /ˈbrītn/

a resort on the southern coast of England; pop. 127,700 (est. 2009).

Brighton Beach /ˌbrītn ˈbēCH/

a section of southern Brooklyn in New York City, east of Coney Island, noted for its Jewish community, and now home to a large Russian immigrant population.

Bright's disease /ˈbrīts dəˌzēz/

I. noun

a disease involving chronic inflammation of the kidneys.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after Richard Bright (1789–1858), the English physician who established its nature.

brightwork /ˈbrītwərk/

noun

polished metalwork on ships or vehicles.

Brigid, St. /ˈbrijəd, brēd/

see Bridget, St.1

brill /bril/

I. noun

a European flatfish that resembles a turbot.
[Scophthalmus rhombus, family Scophthalmidae (or Bothidae).]

– origin late 15th cent.: of unknown origin.

brilliance /ˈbrilyəns / brilliancy

noun

1. intense brightness of light

• the nights were dark, lit only by the brilliance of Aegean stars.

2. vividness of color.

3. exceptional talent or intelligence

• he's played the stock market with great brilliance.

brilliant /ˈbrilyənt/

I. adjective

1. (of light or color) very bright and radiant.

2. exceptionally clever or talented

• a brilliant young mathematician

• a brilliant idea.

3. outstanding; impressive

• his brilliant career at Harvard.

4. (Brit.) ‹informal› very good, excellent, or marvelous

• we had a brilliant time

• [as exclamation] “Brilliant!” he declared excitedly as she finished telling him what had happened.

II. noun

a diamond of brilliant cut.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French brillant ‘shining,’ present participle of briller, from Italian brillare, probably from Latin beryllus (see beryl).

brilliant cut

noun

a circular cut for diamonds and other gemstones in the form of two many-faceted pyramids joined at their bases, the upper one truncated near its apex.

brilliantine /ˈbrilyənˌtēn/

I. noun

1. ‹dated› scented oil used on men's hair to make it look glossy.

2. (US) shiny dress fabric made from cotton and mohair or cotton and worsted.

II. derivatives

brilliantined

adjective

brilliantine (sense 1)

– origin late 19th cent.: from French brillantine, from brillant ‘shining’ (see brilliant).

brilliantly /ˈbrilēən(t)lē/

adverb

1. in a very bright or dazzling way

• the brilliantly hued orchid

• at night the town was brilliantly lit.

2. in an exceptionally clever or talented way

• this fight was brilliantly choreographed.

3. in an impressive or outstanding way

• she succeeded brilliantly.

Brillo /ˈbrilō / Brillo pad

I. adjective

‹informal› denoting hair that is wiry or tightly curled.

– origin from the trademark Brillo, used for soaped, steel-wool scouring pads.

brim /brim/

I. noun

1. the projecting edge around the bottom of a hat

• a soft hat with a turned-up brim.

2. the upper edge or lip of a cup, bowl, or other container

• tankards frothing to the brim.

II. verb — (often as adj. brimming)

1. fill or be full to the point of overflowing
[no obj.]

• a brimming cup

• [with obj.] seawater brimmed the riverbanks.

2. fill something so completely as almost to spill out of it

• large tears brimmed in her eyes.

3. be possessed by or full of feelings or thoughts

• he is brimming with ideas.

III. derivatives

1. brimmed /brimd /

adjective

[in combination:]

• a wide-brimmed hat

2. brimless /ˈbrimləs /

adjective

– origin Middle English (denoting the edge of the sea or other body of water): perhaps related to German Bräme ‘trimming.’

brimful /ˈbrimfo͝ol/

adjective — [predic.]

1. filled with something to the point of overflowing

• a jug brimful of custard.

brimstone /ˈbrimˌstōn/

I. noun

‹archaic› sulfur.

II. phrases

fire and brimstone

see fire.

– origin late Old English brynstān, probably from bryne ‘burning’ + stān ‘stone.’

brindle /ˈbrindl/

I. noun

1. a brownish or tawny color of animal fur, with streaks of other color.

2. an animal with a brindled coat.

II. adjective

(especially of domestic animals) brownish or tawny with streaks of other color

• a brindle pup.

– origin late 17th cent.: back-formation from brindled, alteration of Middle English brinded in the same sense, probably of Scandinavian origin.

brine /brīn/

I. noun

1. water saturated or strongly impregnated with salt.

2. seawater

• dolphins and whales can't help taking in the odd gulp of brine as they swallow a fish.

3. a solution of salt and water in which food is preserved

• the classic dirty martini includes a few drops of olive brine.

4. ‹technical› a strong solution of a salt or salts

• these brines percolated downward.

II. verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. brined)

1. soak in or saturate with salty water

• brined anchovies.

– origin Old English brīne, of unknown origin.

Brinell hardness test /briˌnel ˈhärdnis ˌtest/

I. noun

a test to determine the hardness of metals and alloys by hydraulically pressing a steel ball into the metal and measuring the resulting indentation.

– origin named for Johan August Brinell (1849–1925), Swedish engineer.

brine shrimp

noun

a small fairy shrimp that lives in brine pools and salt lakes and is used as food for aquarium fish.
[Artemia salina, class Branchiopoda.]

bring /briNG/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — come to a place with (someone or something)

• she brought Luke home from the hospital

• [with two objs.] Liz brought her a glass of water.

2. cause (someone or something) to come to a place

• what brings you here?

• a felony case brought before a jury

• ‹figurative› his inner confidence has brought him through his ordeal.

3. make (someone or something) move in a particular direction or way

• he brought his hands out of his pockets

• heavy rain brought down part of the ceiling.

4. cause (something)

• the bad weather brought famine

• her letter brought forth a torrent of criticism.

5. cause (someone or something) to be in or change to a particular state or condition

• I'll give you some aspirin to bring down his temperature

• his approach brought him into conflict with government.

6. (bring someone in) — involve (someone) in a particular activity

• he has brought in a consultant.

7. initiate (legal action) against someone

• riot and conspiracy charges should be brought against them.

8. [usu. with negative] (bring oneself to do something) — force oneself to do something unpleasant or distressing

• she could not bring herself to mention it.

9. cause someone to receive (an amount of money) as income or profit

• two important Chippendale lots brought $10,000 each

• [with two objs.] five more novels brought him $150,000.

II. phrases

1. bring home the bacon

see bacon.

2. bring something home to someone

see home.

3. bring the house down

make an audience respond with great enthusiasm, typically as shown by their laughter or applause.

4. bring something into play

cause something to begin operating or to have an effect; activate.

5. bring it (on)

‹informal› used to express confidence in meeting a challenge

• if you want to fight me so bad, bring it on!

6. bring something to bear

a. exert influence or pressure so as to cause a particular result

• he was released after pressure had been brought to bear by the aid agencies.

b. aim a weapon

• he brought his rifle to bear on a distant target.

7. bring someone to book

see book.

8. bring something to light

see light^1.

9. bring someone/something to mind

cause one to remember or think of someone or something

• all that marble brought to mind a mausoleum.

10. bring something to pass

‹chiefly literary› cause something to happen.

III. phrasal verbs

1. bring something about

a. cause something to happen

• she brought about a revolution.

b. cause a ship to head in a different direction.

2. bring something back

a. cause something to return.

b. reintroduce something

• bringing back capital punishment would solve nothing.

3. bring someone down

a. cause someone to fall over, especially by tackling them during a football game or rugby match.

b. cause someone to lose power

• the vote will not bring down the government.

c. make someone unhappy.

4. bring someone/something down

a. cause an animal or person to fall over by shooting them.

b. cause an aircraft or bird to fall from the sky by shooting it.

5. bring something forth

‹archaic› ‹literary› give birth to

• why does Elsbeth not bring forth a child?

6. bring something forward

a. move a meeting or event to an earlier date or time.

b. (often as adj. brought forward) — in bookkeeping, transfer a total sum from the bottom of one page to the top of the next

• a profit and loss balance brought forward of $5,000,000.

c. propose a plan, subject, or idea for consideration.

7. bring something in

a. introduce something, especially a new law or product

• Congress brought in reforms to prevent abuse of presidential power.

b. make or earn a particular amount of money

• their fund-raising efforts have brought in more than $1 million.

c. (of a jury) give a decision in court

• the jury brought in a unanimous verdict.

8. bring someone off

a. be rescued from a ship in difficulties.

b. ‹vulgar slang› give someone or oneself an orgasm.

9. bring something off

achieve something successfully

• a good omelet is very hard to bring off.

10. bring someone on

encourage someone who is learning something to develop or improve at a faster rate.

11. bring something on

a. cause something, typically something unpleasant, to occur or develop

• ulcers are not brought on by a rich diet.

b. (bring something on/upon) — be responsible for something, typically something unpleasant, that happens to oneself or someone else

• the doom that he has brought upon himself.

12. bring someone out

a. encourage one to feel more confident or sociable

• she needs friends to bring her out of herself.

b. introduce (a young woman) formally into society.

c. introduce (a homosexual) into the homosexual subculture.

13. bring something out

a. produce and launch a new product or publication

• the band is bringing out a video.

b. make something more evident; emphasize something

• the shawl brings out the color of your eyes

• he brought out the best in his team.

14. bring someone around

a. restore someone to consciousness.

b. persuade someone to do something, especially to adopt one's own point of view

• my wife has brought me around to eating broiled grouper.

15. bring someone to

restore someone to consciousness.

16. bring something to

cause a boat to stop, especially by turning into the wind.

17. bring up

(chiefly of a ship) come to a stop.

18. bring someone up

a. look after a child until it is an adult.

b. (be brought up) — be taught as a child to adopt particular behavior or attitudes

• he had been brought up to believe that marriage was forever.

19. bring something up

a. vomit something.

b. raise a matter for discussion or consideration

• she tried repeatedly to bring up the subject of marriage.

IV. derivatives

bringer

noun

– origin Old English bringan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch brengen and German bringen.

bringdown /ˈbriNGdoun/

noun

a disappointment or letdown; comedown.

brinicle /ˈbrīnək(ə)l/

I. noun

a long, tapering vertical tube of ice formed in the sea around a plume of very cold seawater produced by a developing ice sheet

• an unprecedented time-lapse shot underwater records the growth of a brinicle—an ice stalactite progressing downward toward the seabed.

– origin early 21st cent.: blend of brine and icicle.

brink /briNGk/

I. noun

1. an extreme edge of land before a steep or vertical slope

• the brink of the cliffs.

2. a point at which something, typically something unwelcome, is about to happen; the verge

• the country was on the brink of a constitutional crisis.

• a hapless dictator teetering on the brink.

– origin Middle English: of Scandinavian origin.

Brink, André /briNGk/

(1935–2015), South African novelist, short-story writer, and playwright. His anti-apartheid Looking on Darkness (1973) became the first novel in Afrikaans to be banned by the South African government. Other notable works: the novel A Dry White Season (1979) and the memoir A Fork in the Road (2009).

Brinkley, David /ˈbriNGklē/

(1920–2003), US news commentator. He reported news for NBC 1951–81, co-anchoring The Huntley-Brinkley Report 1956–70 with Chet Huntley. He anchored ABC's This Week 1981–97.

brinkmanship /ˈbriNGkmənˌSHip / brinksmanship

noun

the art or practice of pursuing a dangerous policy to the limits of safety before stopping, typically in politics.

briny /ˈbrīnē/

I. adjective

of salty water or the sea; salty

• the briny tang of the scallops.

II. noun — (the briny)

1. (Brit.) ‹informal› the sea.

brio /ˈbrēō/

I. noun

vigor or vivacity of style or performance

• she told her story with some brio.

See also con brio.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Italian.

brioche /brēˈōSH brēˈôSH/

I. noun

a light, sweet yeast bread typically in the form of a small, round roll.

– origin French, from Norman French brier, synonym of broyer, literally ‘split up into very small pieces by pressure;’ related to bray^2.

briquette /brəˈket / briquet

I. noun

a block of compressed charcoal or coal dust used as fuel.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French, diminutive of brique ‘brick.’

bris /bris/

noun

the Jewish ceremony of circumcision.
Also called brith.

Brisbane /ˈbrizbən ˈbrizˌbān/

I. the capital of Queensland, Australia; pop. 1,945,639 (2008). It was founded in 1824 as a penal colony.

– origin named after Sir Thomas Brisbane (1773–1860), governor of New South Wales 1821–25.

brisé /brēˈzā/

I. noun

[Ballet] a jump in which the dancer sweeps one leg into the air to the side while jumping off the other, brings both legs together in the air and beats them before landing.

– origin late 18th cent.: French, literally ‘broken.’

brise-soleil /ˌbrēzsōˈlā/

I. noun

a device, such as a perforated screen or louvers, for shutting out direct or excessive sunlight.

– origin French, literally ‘sun-breaker.’

brisk /brisk/

I. adjective

1. active, fast, and energetic

• a good brisk walk

• business appeared to be brisk.

2. (of the weather or wind) cold but fresh and enlivening.

3. sharp or abrupt

• the brisk, dismissive nod of her head.

II. derivatives

briskness /ˈbrisknəs /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: probably from French brusque (see brusque).

brisket /ˈbriskit/

I. noun

meat cut from the breast of an animal, typically a cow.

– origin Middle English: perhaps from Old Norse brjósk ‘cartilage, gristle.’

briskly /ˈbrisklē/

adverb

1. in an active, quick, or energetic way

• she walked briskly into the building

• tickets have been selling briskly.

2. in an impatient or brusque way

• "we've never dated, if that's what you're asking," she replied briskly.

3. in a cold but pleasantly invigorating way

• the wind blew fairly briskly

• we spent our day swimming in the briskly cold water.

brisling /ˈbrizliNG ˈbrisliNG/

I. noun

a sprat, typically one seasoned and smoked in Norway and sold in a can.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Norwegian and Danish.

bristle /ˈbrisəl/

I. noun — (usu. bristles)

1. a short stiff hair, typically one of those on an animal's skin, a man's face, or a plant.

2. a stiff animal hair, or a man-made substitute, used to make a brush

• a toothbrush with nylon bristles

• the heads are made with natural bristle.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of hair or fur) stand upright away from the skin, especially in anger or fear

• the hair on the back of his neck bristled.

2. make one's hair or fur stand on end

• the cat bristled in annoyance.

3. react angrily or defensively, typically by drawing oneself up

• she bristled at his rudeness.

4. (bristle with) — be covered with or abundant in

• the roof bristled with antennas.

– origin Middle English: from Old English byrst (of Germanic origin, related to German Borste) + -le^1.

bristlecone pine /ˌbrisəlkōn ˈpīn/

noun

a very long-lived shrubby pine of western North America. It has been used in dendrochronology to correct radiocarbon dating.
[Pinus longaeva, family Pinaceae.]

bristle fern

noun

a filmy fern with hairlike bristles protruding from the spore-containing bodies. Most bristle ferns have delicate fronds and live in damp shady places, chiefly in tropical areas.
[Genus Trichomanes, family Hymenophyllaceae.]

bristletail /ˈbrisəlˌtāl/

noun

a small wingless insect that has bristles at the end of the abdomen.
[Orders Thysanura (the true bristletails, with three bristles, including the silverfish) and Diplura (the two-pronged bristletails), subclass Apterygota.]

bristle worm

noun

a marine annelid worm that has a segmented body with numerous bristles on the fleshy lobes of each segment.
Also called polychaete. [Class Polychaeta: numerous species, including ragworms, lugworms, fan worms, and their relatives.]

bristling /ˈbris(ə)liNG/

adjective

1. (especially of hair) close-set, stiff, and spiky

• a bristling beard.

2. aggressively brisk or tense

• he fills the screen with a restless, bristling energy.

bristly /ˈbrislē/

adjective

1. (of hair or foliage) having a stiff and prickly texture.

2. covered with short stiff hairs

• he rubbed his bristly chin.

Bristol /ˈbristl/

I. a city in southwestern England; pop. 374,000 (est. 2009). It is located on the Avon River about 6 miles (10 km) from the Bristol Channel.

II. an industrial city and township in west central Connecticut; pop. 60,927 (est. 2008).

III. a township in southeastern Pennsylvania, on the Delaware River; pop. 53,847 (est. 2008).

IV. an industrial city in eastern Tennessee; pop. 25,817 (est. 2008).

Bristol board /ˈbristl ˌbô(ə)rd/

I. noun

fine, smooth pasteboard used for drawing or cutting.

– origin early 19th cent.: named after the city of Bristol in southwestern England.

Bristol Channel

a wide inlet of the Atlantic Ocean between South Wales and the southwestern peninsula of England that narrows into the estuary of the River Severn.

Brit /brit / ‹informal›

I. noun

a British person.

II. adjective

British.

– origin early 20th cent.: abbreviation.

Britain /ˈbritn/

I. an island that consists of England, Wales, and Scotland. The name is broadly synonymous with Great Britain, but the longer form is more usual for the political unit.
See also Great Britain, United Kingdom.

– origin Old English Breoton, from Latin Brittones ‘Britons,’ superseded in Middle English by forms from Old French Bretaigne (from Latin Brit(t)annia).

Britannia /briˈtanyə/

I. the personification of Britain, usually depicted as a helmeted woman with shield and trident. The figure had appeared on Roman coins and was revived with the name Britannia on the coinage of Charles II.

– origin the Latin name for Britain.

Britannia metal /briˈtanyə ˈmedl/

noun

a silvery alloy consisting of tin with about 5–15 percent antimony and typically some copper, lead, or zinc.

Britannic /briˈtanik/

I. adjective

‹dated› (usually in names or titles) of Britain or the British Empire

• he answered His Britannic Majesty's call to arms.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin Britannicus, from Britannia (see Britannia).

britches /ˈbriCHiz/

I. plural noun

variant spelling of breeches.

II. phrases

too big for one's britches

see big.

Britcom /ˈbritˌkäm/

I. noun

a British comedy, especially a television series

• we went dressed as Edina and Patsy from our favorite Britcom.

– origin 1970s: on the pattern of sitcom.

brith /bris, brit/

I. noun

another term for bris.

– origin For brith milah, from Hebrew berit mila ‘covenant of circumcision’ (Gen 17:9–10).

Briticism /ˈbridəˌsizəm / Britishism

I. noun

an idiom used in Britain but not in other English-speaking countries.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from British, on the pattern of words such as Gallicism.

British /ˈbridiSH/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to Great Britain or the United Kingdom, or to its people or language.

2. of the British Commonwealth or (formerly) the British Empire.

II. noun — (as plural noun the British)

1. the British people.

– origin Old English Brettisc ‘relating to the ancient Britons,’ from Bret ‘Briton,’ from Latin Britto, or its Celtic equivalent.

British Antarctic Territory /ˈbridiSH anˈ(t)ärktik ˈterəˌtôrē/

that part of Antarctica claimed by Britain. It includes about 150,058 square miles (388,500 sq km) of the continent of Antarctica as well as the South Orkney and South Shetland islands in the South Atlantic Ocean.

British Broadcasting Corporation /ˈbridiSH ˈbrôdˌkastiNG ˌkôrpəˈrāSHən / BBC

I. a public corporation for radio and television broadcasting in Britain.

The BBC was established in 1927 by royal charter and held a monopoly until the introduction of the first commercial TV station in 1954. It is financed by the sale of television viewing licenses rather than by revenue from advertising and has an obligation to remain impartial in its reporting.

British Columbia /ˌbridiSH kəˈləmbēə/

a province on the western coast of Canada; pop. 4,113,487 (2006); capital, Victoria. Formed in 1866 by the union of Vancouver Island and the mainland area, then called New Caledonia, the province includes the Queen Charlotte Islands.

British Commonwealth

see commonwealth (sense 2).

British Empire

I. a former empire consisting of Great Britain and its possessions, dominions, and dependencies.

Colonization of North America and domination of India began in the 17th century. A series of small colonies, mostly in the West Indies, was gained during the late 17th–early 19th centuries, and Australia, New Zealand, various parts of the Far East, and large areas of Africa were added in the 19th century. Self-government was granted to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa in the mid 19th century, and most of the remaining colonies have gained independence since the end of World War II.

British English /ˈˌbridiSH ˈiNG(ɡ)liSH/

noun

English as used in Great Britain, as distinct from that used elsewhere.

Britisher /ˈbridiSHər/

noun

‹informal› (in North America and old-fashioned British English) a native or inhabitant of Britain.

British Expeditionary Force BEF

a British force made available by the army reform of 1908 for service overseas against foreign countries. Such forces were sent to France at the outbreak of both world wars.

British India

that part of the Indian subcontinent administered by the British from 1765, when the East India Company acquired control over Bengal, until 1947, when India became independent and Pakistan was created.
See also India.

British Indian Ocean Territory

a British overseas territory in the Indian Ocean that consists of the islands of the Chagos Archipelago and (until 1976) some other groups that now belong to the Seychelles. Ceded to Britain by France in 1814, the islands became a separate dependency in 1965.

British Isles /ˈˌbridiSH ˈīlz/

a group of islands lying off the coast of northwestern Europe, from which they are separated by the North Sea and the English Channel. They include Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Isle of Wight, the Hebrides, the Orkney Islands, the Shetland Islands, the Scilly Isles, and the Channel Islands.

British Museum

a national museum of antiquities in Bloomsbury, London. Established with public funds in 1753, it includes among its holdings the Magna Carta, the Elgin Marbles, and the Rosetta Stone.

Britishness /ˈbridiSHnəs/

noun

the quality of being British or of having characteristics regarded as typically British

• the company's reputation and its Britishness had helped cement the deal

• my Britishness comes out in my writing.

British Somaliland

a former British protectorate that was established on the Somali coast of East Africa in 1884. In 1960, it united with a former Italian territory to create the independent republic of Somalia.

British thermal unit Btu, BTU

noun

the amount of heat needed to raise one pound of water at maximum density through one degree Fahrenheit, equivalent to 1.055 × 10^3 joules.

Briton /ˈbritn/

I. noun

1. a citizen or native of Great Britain.

2. a person of British descent.

3. one of the people of southern Britain before and during Roman times.

– origin from Old French Breton, from Latin Britto, Britton-, or its Celtic equivalent.

Britpop /ˈbritpäp/

noun

pop music by a loose affiliation of British groups of the mid 1990s, typically influenced by the Beatles and other British groups of the 1960s and perceived as a reaction against American grunge music.

Brittany /ˈbrit(ə)nē/

a region and former duchy of northwestern France that forms a peninsula between the Bay of Biscay and the English Channel.
French name Bretagne.

Britten, Benjamin /ˈbritn/

(1913–76), English composer, pianist, and conductor; full name Edward Benjamin Britten, Lord Britten of Aldeburgh. Notable operas: Peter Grimes (1945), A Midsummer Night's Dream (1960), and Death in Venice (1973).

brittle /ˈbridl/

I. adjective

1. hard but liable to break or shatter easily

• her bones became fragile and brittle.

2. (of a sound, especially a person's voice) unpleasantly hard and sharp and showing signs of instability or nervousness

• a brittle laugh.

3. (of a person or behavior) appearing aggressive or hard but unstable or nervous within

• her manner was artificially bright and brittle.

II. noun

a candy made from nuts and set melted sugar

• peanut brittle.

III. derivatives

1. brittlely brittly

adverb

2. brittleness /ˈbridlnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English, ultimately of Germanic origin and related to Old English brēotan ‘break up.’

brittle bone disease

noun

1. [Medicine] another term for osteogenesis imperfecta.

2. [Medicine] another term for osteoporosis.

brittle fern

noun

another term for bladder fern.

brittle fracture

noun

fracture of a metal or other material occurring without appreciable prior plastic deformation.

brittlestar /ˈbridlˌstär/

noun

an echinoderm related to the starfish, with long, thin, flexible arms radiating from a small central disk.
[Class Ophiuroidea: Ophiura and other genera.]

Brittonic /brəˈtänik/

I. adjective, noun

variant of Brythonic.

– origin from Latin Britto, Britton- ‘Briton’ + -ic.

britzka /ˈbriCHkə, ˈbrits- / britzska

I. noun

‹historical› an open carriage with calash top and space for reclining.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Polish bryczka.

Brix scale /ˈbriks ˌskāl/

I. noun

a hydrometer scale for measuring the amount of sugar in a solution at a given temperature.

– origin late 19th cent.: the name of A. F. W. Brix (1798–1890), German scientist.

Brno /ˈbərnō/

an industrial city in the Czech Republic; pop. 366,812 (2007).

bro /brō/

noun

1. ‹informal› short for brother:

• his baby bro.

2. (Bro.) — ‹informal› Brother (used before a first name when referring in writing to a member of a religious order of men)

• Bro. Felix.

3. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) a male friend (often used as a form of address)

• they'd never choose a girl over their bros

• not cool, bro.

• you can lean on your close bros.

4. ‹informal› a young man, especially one who socializes primarily with his male peers and enjoys lively, unintellectual pursuits

• shirtless bros with plaid shorts throwing frisbees.

• lacrosse bros.

broach^1 /brōCH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. raise (a sensitive or difficult subject) for discussion

• he broached the subject he had been avoiding all evening.

2. pierce (a cask) to draw liquor.

3. open and start using the contents of (a bottle or other container).

4. [no obj.] — (of a fish or sea mammal) rise through the water and break the surface

• the salmon broach, then fall to slap the water.

– origin Middle English: from Old French brochier, based on Latin brocchus, broccus ‘projecting.’ The earliest recorded sense was ‘prick with spurs,’ part of the general meaning ‘pierce with something sharp,’ from which sense 2 arose in late Middle English. Sense 1, a figurative use of this, dates from the late 16th cent.

broach^2 /brōCH / ‹Nautical›

I. verb — [no obj.] (also broach to)

1. (of a ship with the wind on the quarter) veer and pitch forward because of bad steering or a sea hitting the stern, causing it to present a side to the wind and sea, lose steerage, and possibly suffer serious damage

• we had broached badly, side on to the wind and sea

• the ship would have broached to if the captain had not sprung to the wheel.

II. noun

a sudden and hazardous veering or pitching of a ship.

– origin early 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

broad /brôd/

I. adjective

1. having an ample distance from side to side; wide

• a broad staircase.

2. (after a measurement) giving the distance from side to side

• the valley is three miles long and half a mile broad.

3. large in area; spacious

• a broad expanse of prairie.

4. covering a large number and wide scope of subjects or areas

• a broad range of experience.

5. having or incorporating a wide range of meanings, applications, or kinds of things; loosely defined

• three broad categories of mutual funds.

6. including or coming from many people of many kinds

• broad support for the president's foreign policy.

7. general; without detail

• a broad outline of NATO's position.

8. (of a hint) clear and unambiguous; not subtle

• a broad hint.

9. somewhat coarse and indecent

• what we regard as broad or even bawdy is a fact of nature to him.

10. (of a phonetic transcription) showing only meaningful distinctions in sound and ignoring minor details.

11. (of a regional accent) very noticeable and strong

• his broad Bronx accent.

II. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a woman.

III. phrases

1. broad in the beam

fat around the hips.

2. in broad daylight

during the day, when it is light, and surprising or unexpected for this reason

• the kidnapping took place in broad daylight.

IV. derivatives

broadness /ˈbrôdnəs /

noun

– origin Old English brād, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch breed and German breit.

broad arrow /brôd ˈerō/

noun

a mark resembling a broad arrowhead, formerly used on British prison clothing, Navy timber, and other government property.

broadax /ˈbrôdaks / broadaxe

noun

an ax with a wide head and a short handle.

broadband /ˈbrôdˌband/

noun

a high-capacity transmission technique using a wide range of frequencies, which enables a large number of messages to be communicated simultaneously

• our ability to uplink on broadband has been curtailed

• [as modifier] broadband applications such as video and live audio.

broad-based /ˌbrôdˈbāst/

adjective

wide-ranging; general

• we expect to see broad-based support

• broad-based knowledge

• an introductory broad-based course.

broad bean /ˈbrôd ˈbēn/

noun

1. a large edible flat green bean that is typically eaten without the pod.
Also called fava bean, horsebean.

2. the plant that yields broad beans, often cultivated in gardens.
[Vicia faba, family Leguminosae.]

broadbill /ˈbrôdbil/

noun

1. a small bird of the Old World tropics, with a stocky body, a large head, a flattened bill with a wide gape, and typically very colorful plumage.
[Family Eurylaimidae: several genera.]

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) a bird with a broad bill, especially a duck like the shoveler or the scaup.

3. another term for swordfish.

broad-brush /brôd brəSH/

I. adjective

lacking in detail and subtlety

• a broad-brush measure of inflation.

II. noun

an approach characterized by a lack of detail or subtlety

• it's obvious the Democrats and Republicans paint each other with a broad brush.

broadcast /ˈbrôdˌkast/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. transmit (a program or some information) by radio or television

• the announcement was broadcast live

• (as noun broadcasting) the 1920s saw the dawn of broadcasting.

2. [no obj.] — take part in a radio or television transmission

• the station broadcasts 24 hours a day.

3. tell (something) to many people; make widely known

• we don't want to broadcast our unhappiness to the world.

4. scatter (seeds) by hand or machine rather than placing in drills or rows.

II. noun

a radio or television program or transmission.

III. adjective

of or relating to radio or television transmission

• a broadcast journalist.

IV. adverb

by scattering

• green manure can be sown broadcast or in rows.

– origin mid 18th cent. (in the sense ‘sown by scattering’): from broad + the past participle of cast^1. Senses relating to radio and television date from the early 20th cent.

broadcaster /ˈbrôdkastər/

noun

1. an organization that transmits a program or information by radio or television

• the broadcaster aired the news item on Tuesday

• radio and television broadcasters must accept some limits on their programming.

2. a person who presents a radio or television transmission

• the veteran broadcaster put everyone at their ease

• he became a successful broadcaster.

Broad Church /ˈbrôd ˈCHərCH/

noun

1. a tradition or group within the Anglican Church favoring a liberal interpretation of doctrine.

2. a group, organization, or doctrine that allows for and caters to a wide range of opinions and people.

broadcloth /ˈbrôdklôTH/

I. noun

clothing fabric of fine twilled wool or worsted, or plain-woven cotton.

– origin late Middle English: originally denoting cloth made 72 inches wide, as opposed to ‘strait’ cloth, 36 inches wide. The term now implies quality rather than width.

broaden /ˈbrôdn/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. become larger in distance from side to side; widen

• her smile broadened

• the river slowed and broadened out slightly.

2. expand to encompass more people, ideas, or things

• her interests broadened as she grew up

• [with obj.] efforts to broaden classical music's appeal.

II. phrases

broaden one's horizons

expand one's range of interests, activities, and knowledge.

broad gauge

noun

a railroad gauge that is wider than the standard gauge of 56.5 inches (1.435 m).

broad jump /brôd jəmp/

noun

(N. Amer.) another term for long jump.

broadleaf /ˈbrôdˌlēf/

I. adjective

another term for broadleaved.

II. noun

a tree or plant with wide flat leaves.

broadleaved /ˈbrôdˌlēvd/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of a tree or plant) having relatively wide, flat leaves rather than needles; nonconiferous.

2. (of a wood or woodland) consisting of trees with wide, flat leaves

• ancient broadleaved woodlands.

broadloom /ˈbrôdlo͞om/

I. noun

carpet woven in wide widths

• wall-to-wall broadloom.

II. derivatives

broadloomed

adjective

broadly /ˈbrôdlē/

adverb

1. in general and with the exception of minor details

• the climate is broadly similar in the two regions.

2. widely and openly

• he was grinning broadly.

broad-minded /ˌbrôdˈmīndid/

I. adjective

tolerant or liberal in one's views and reactions; not easily offended

• a broad-minded approach to religion.

II. derivatives

1. broad-mindedness

noun

2. broad-mindedly

adverb

broad pennant broad pendant

noun

a short swallow-tailed pennant distinguishing the commodore's ship in a squadron.

broad-ranging

adjective

covering an extensive range

• the questions were broad-ranging.

broad reach ‹Sailing›

I. noun

a point of sailing in which the wind blows over a boat's quarter, between the beam and the stern

• on a broad reach they are magnificent craft.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. sail on a broad reach.

broadsheet /ˈbrôdˌSHēt/

noun

1. a large piece of paper printed on one side only with information; a broadside.

2. (also broadsheet newspaper) — a newspaper with a large format regarded as more serious and less sensationalist than tabloids.

broad-shouldered /ˌbrôdˈSHōldərd/

adjective

(of a person) having broad shoulders that do not slope

• tall and broad-shouldered, he suddenly seemed very appealing.

broadside /ˈbrôdˌsīd/

I. noun

1. a nearly simultaneous firing of all the guns from one side of a warship.

2. a strongly worded critical attack

• broadsides against political correctness.

3. the set of guns that can fire on each side of a warship.

4. the side of a ship above the water between the bow and quarter.

5. a sheet of paper printed on one side only, forming one large page

• a broadside of Lee's farewell address.

Also called broadsheet.

II. adverb

1. with the side turned to a particular thing

• the yacht was drifting broadside to the wind.

2. on the side

• her car was hit broadside by another vehicle.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) collide with the side of (a vehicle)

• I had to skid my bike sideways to avoid broadsiding her.

broad-spectrum /brôd ˈspektrəm/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. denoting antibiotics, pesticides, etc., effective against a large variety of organisms.

broadsword /ˈbrôdsôrd/

noun

a sword with a wide blade, used for cutting rather than thrusting.

broadtail /ˈbrôdtāl/

noun

1. a karakul sheep.

2. the fleece or wool from a karakul lamb.

broadway /ˈbrôdwā/

noun

(usually in names) a large open or main road.

Broadway /ˈbrôdwā/

a street that runs the length of Manhattan in New York City. It is famous for its theaters, and its name has become synonymous with show business. It is also known as the Great White Way, in reference to its brilliant street illuminations.

broast /brōst/

verb

(N. Amer.) prepare food using a cooking process that combines broiling and roasting
[as adj.]

• broasted chicken.

Brobdingnagian /ˌbräbdiNGˈnaɡēən/

I. adjective

gigantic.

II. noun

a giant.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Brobdingnag, the name given by Swift (in Gulliver's Travels) to a land where everything is of huge size, + -ian.

brocade /brəˈkād/

I. noun

a rich fabric, usually silk, woven with a raised pattern, typically with gold or silver thread
[as modifier]

• a heavy brocade curtain.

II. derivatives

1. brocaded

adjective

2. brocading

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from Spanish and Portuguese brocado (influenced by French brocart), from Italian broccato, from brocco ‘twisted thread.’

Broca's area /ˈbrōkəz ˌerēə/

I. noun

[Anatomy] a region of the brain concerned with the production of speech, located in the cortex of the dominant frontal lobe. Damage in this area causes Broca's aphasia, characterized by hesitant and fragmented speech with little grammatical structure.

– origin late 19th cent.: named after P. Paul Broca (1824–80), French surgeon.

brocciflower /ˈbräkəˌflou(ə)r / broccoflower

I. noun

a light green vegetable that is a cross between broccoli and cauliflower.

– origin blend of broccoli and cauliflower.

broccoli /ˈbräk(ə)lē/

I. noun

a cabbage of a variety similar to the cauliflower, bearing heads of green or purplish flower buds. It is widely cultivated as a vegetable.
[There are several kinds of broccoli, in particular those in the “Italica” group.]

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Italian, plural of broccolo ‘cabbage sprout, head,’ diminutive of brocco ‘shoot,’ based on Latin brocchus, broccus ‘projecting.’

broccolini /ˌbräkəˈlēnē/

noun

‹trademark› a vegetable that is a hybrid of broccoli and kale, with small florets on slender stalks.

broccoli rabe /ˌbräk(ə)lē ˈräb / broccoli raab

noun

a vegetable related to the turnip, grown for its broccoli-like buds and bitter-flavored greens.
Also called rapini.

brochette /brōˈSHet/

I. noun

1. a skewer or spit on which chunks of meat or fish are barbecued, grilled, or roasted

• beef and lamb en brochette.

2. a dish of skewered meat or fish chunks, grilled or roasted.

– origin French, diminutive of broche (see broach^1).

brochure /brōˈSHo͝or/

I. noun

a small book or magazine containing pictures and information about a product or service.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French, literally ‘something stitched,’ from brocher ‘to stitch’ (see broach^1).

brochureware /brōˈSHo͝orˌwer/

noun

websites or web pages produced by converting a company's printed marketing or advertising material into an Internet format.

Brock, Lou /bräk/

(1939–), US baseball player. An outfielder, he played for the Chicago Cubs 1961–64 and the St. Louis Cardinals 1964—79. Baseball Hall of Fame (1985).

Brocken /ˈbräkən/

a mountain in northern central Germany, in the Harz Mountains, that rises to 3,747 feet (1,143 m). It is noted for the optical phenomenon of the Brocken specter, in which a greatly enlarged image appears projected on clouds, and for witches' revels that reputedly took place here on Walpurgis night.

brocket /ˈbräkət / brocket deer

I. noun

a small deer with short, straight antlers, found in Central and South America.
[Genus Mazama, family Cervidae: four species.]

– origin late Middle English (denoting any red deer stag in its second year, with straight antlers): from Anglo-Norman French broquet, diminutive of broque, variant of broche (see brooch). The current sense dates from the mid 19th cent.

Brockton /ˈbräktən/

an industrial city in southeastern Massachusetts, south of Boston, noted especially for shoe manufacture; pop. 93,007 (est. 2008).

broderie anglaise /brōdərēˈôːNGɡlāz/

I. noun

open embroidery, typically in white floral patterns, on fine white cotton or linen.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, literally ‘English embroidery.’

Brodsky, Joseph /ˈbrädskē, ˈbrät-/

(1940–96), US poet; born in Russia; born Iosif Aleksandrovich Brodsky; US poet laureate 1991. Writing both in Russian and in English, he was noted for his collection The End of a Beautiful Era (1977). Nobel Prize for Literature (1987).

Broederbond /ˈbrōdərˌbänd/

I. a largely secret society in South Africa (founded in 1918) promoting the interests of and restricted in membership to male, Protestant Afrikaners.

– origin Afrikaans, from broeder ‘brother’ + bond ‘league.’

brogan /ˈbroɡən/

I. noun

a coarse, stout leather shoe reaching to the ankle.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Irish brógán, Scottish Gaelic brógan, literally ‘small brogue.’

brogue^1 /brōɡ/

I. noun

1. a strong outdoor shoe with ornamental perforated patterns in the leather.

2. ‹historical› a rough shoe of untanned leather, formerly worn in parts of Ireland and the Scottish Highlands.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Scottish Gaelic and Irish bróg, from Old Norse brók (related to breech).

brogue^2 /brōɡ/

I. noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. a marked accent, especially Irish or Scottish, when speaking English

• a fine Irish brogue

• a sweet lilt of brogue in her voice.

– origin early 18th cent.: perhaps allusively from brogue^1, referring to the rough footwear of Irish peasants.

bro hug

noun

(US) ‹informal› another term for man hug.

broider /ˈbroidər/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› ornament with embroidery.

broigus /ˈbroiɡəs / broiges, broyges

I. noun

(chiefly in Jewish use) a bitter dispute or feud

• there was a rift between my grandfather and a cousin that translated into a big family broigus.

– origin from Yiddish broyges ‘dispute, quarrel’ (as noun), ‘angry’ (as adjective), from Hebrew bĕ-rōgez ‘in anger.’

broil^1 /broil/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) cook (meat or fish) by exposure to direct, intense radiant heat

• he broiled a wedge of sea bass

• (as adj. broiled) a broiled sirloin steak.

2. [no obj.] — (N. Amer.) become very hot, especially from the sun

• the countryside lay broiling in the sun.

– origin late Middle English (also in the sense ‘burn, char’): from Old French bruler ‘to burn,’ of unknown origin.

broil^2 /broil/

I. noun

‹archaic› a quarrel or a commotion.

– origin early 16th cent.: from obsolete broil ‘to muddle’ Compare with embroil.

broiler /ˈbroilər/

noun

1. (also broiler chicken) — a young chicken suitable for roasting, grilling, or barbecuing.

2. (N. Amer.) a gridiron, grill, or special part of a stove for broiling meat or fish.

broiling /ˈbroiliNG/

adjective

(N. Amer.) extremely hot; scorching

• the women toil in the broiling sun.

broke /brōk/

I. past (and archaic past participle) of break.

II. adjective — [predic.]

1. ‹informal› having completely run out of money

• many farmers went broke.

III. phrases

1. go for broke

‹informal› risk everything in an all-out effort.

2. if it ain't broke, don't fix it

‹informal› if something is reasonably successful or effective, there is no need to change or replace it

• Stick with the plan! If it ain't broke don't fix it.

broken /ˈbrōkən/

I. verb

past participle of break.

II. adjective

1. having been fractured or damaged and no longer in one piece or in working order

• a broken arm.

2. (of a relationship) ended, such as through infidelity

• a broken marriage.

3. disrupted or divided

• broken families.

4. (of an agreement or promise) not observed by one of the parties involved.

5. (of a person) having given up all hope; despairing

• he went to his grave a broken man.

6. having breaks or gaps in continuity

• a broken white line across the road.

7. (of speech or a language) spoken falteringly, as if overcome by emotion, or with many mistakes, as by a foreigner

• a young man talking in broken Italian.

8. having an uneven and rough surface

• broken ground.

III. derivatives

1. brokenly /ˈbrōk(ə)nlē /

adverb

2. brokenness

noun

Broken Arrow

a city in northeastern Oklahoma, southeast of Tulsa; pop. 92,931 (est. 2008).

broken chord /ˈbrōkən kô(ə)rd/

noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. [Music] a chord in which the notes are played successively

• the second entry is a straight broken-chord figure.

broken-down /ˈbrōkən ˈˌdoun/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. worn out and dilapidated by age, use, or ill-treatment

• a broken-down car.

2. (of a machine or vehicle) not functioning due to a mechanical failure.

3. (of a horse) with serious damage to the legs, in particular the tendons, caused by excessive strain.

broken-field /ˈbrōkənˌfēld / ‹Football›

adjective

1. relating to or occurring in the area beyond the line of scrimmage where defenders are relatively scattered

• a broken-field run.

2. ‹informal› (of a movement) with starts, stops, and changes of direction, in the manner of a broken-field ballcarrier

• a broken-field chase.

broken heart

noun

used in reference to a state of extreme grief or sorrow, typically caused by the death of a loved one or the ending of a romantic relationship

• he never spoke about his son's disappearance and friends said that he died of a broken heart

• she's been nursing a broken heart since splitting up with her fiancé.

broken-hearted /ˈˌbrōkən ˈˌhärdəd/

adjective

overwhelmed by grief or disappointment.

broken heart syndrome

noun

[Medicine] a condition characterized by sudden dysfunction of part of the left ventricle of the heart, accompanied by symptoms resembling those of a heart attack but occurring in the absence of significant coronary artery disease. Typically attributed to stressful events, the condition is usually transient

• patients with broken heart syndrome often complain of chest pain and shortness of breath.

Broken Hill

I. a town in New South Wales in Australia, a center of lead, silver, and zinc mining; pop. 20,001 (2008).

II. former name (1904–65) for Kabwe.

broken home /ˈbrōkən hōm/

noun

a family in which the parents are divorced or separated.

broken record ‹Brit.› stuck record

I. noun

used, especially in similes, to refer to a person's constant and annoying repetition of a particular statement or opinion

• at the risk of sounding like a broken record, let me repeat: it will be difficult to do well without attending classes regularly.

– origin 1940s: with reference to a scratched phonograph record that sticks at a particular point when played and constantly repeats the same passage.

broken wind /ˌbrōkən ˈwind/

I. noun

another term for COPD in horses.

II. derivatives

broken-winded /ˌbrōk(ə)nˈwindid /

adjective

broker /ˈbrōkər/

I. noun

a person who buys and sells goods or assets for others.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. arrange or negotiate (a settlement, deal, or plan)

• fighting continued despite attempts to broker a ceasefire.

– origin Middle English (denoting a retailer or peddler): from Anglo-Norman French brocour, of unknown ultimate origin.

brokerage /ˈbrōk(ə)rij/

noun

1. the business or service of acting as a broker.

2. a fee or commission charged by a broker

• a revenue of $1,400 less a sales brokerage of $12.50.

3. a company that buys or sells goods or assets for clients.

broker-dealer

noun

a brokerage firm that buys and sells securities on its own account as a principal before selling the securities to customers.

brolga /ˈbrälɡə/

I. noun

a large gray Australian crane that has an elaborate courtship display that involves much leaping, wing-flapping, and trumpeting.
[Grus rubicundus, family Gruidae.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from Kamilaroi burralga (also found in other Aboriginal languages).

bromance /ˈbrōˌmans/

I. noun

‹informal› a close but nonsexual relationship between two men.

II. derivatives

bromantic

adjective

– origin early 21st cent.: blend of brother and romance.

Bromberg /ˈbrämbərɡ/

German name for Bydgoszcz.

brome /brōm/

I. noun

an oatlike grass that is sometimes grown for fodder or ornamental purposes.
[Genus Bromus, family Gramineae.]

– origin mid 18th cent.: from modern Latin Bromus, from Greek bromos ‘oat.’

bromeliad /brōˈmēlēˌad/

I. noun

a plant native to tropical and subtropical America, typically having short stems with rosettes of stiff, usually spiny, leaves. Some kinds are epiphytic, and many are cultivated as houseplants.
[Family Bromeliaceae: Bromelia and other genera, and numerous species, including the pineapple and Spanish moss.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Bromelia (named by Linnaeus after Olaf Bromel (1639–1705), Swedish botanist) + -ad^1.

bromic acid /ˌbrōmik ˈasid/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a strongly oxidizing acid known only in aqueous solutions.
[Chem. formula: HBrO_3.]

II. derivatives

bromate /ˈbrōˌmāt /

noun

bromide /ˈbrōmīd/

I. noun

1. [Chemistry] a compound of bromine with another element or group, especially a salt containing the anion Br– or an organic compound with bromine bonded to an alkyl radical.

2. a trite and unoriginal idea or remark, typically intended to soothe or placate

• feel-good bromides create the illusion of problem solving.

3. ‹dated› a sedative preparation containing potassium bromide.

4. a reproduction or piece of typesetting on bromide paper.

II. derivatives

bromidic /brōˈmidik /

adjective

bromide (sense 2)

bromide paper

noun

photographic printing paper coated with silver bromide emulsion.

brominate /ˈbrōməˌnāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. treat with bromine.

2. (usu. as adj. brominated) — introduce one or more bromine atoms into a compound or molecule, usually in place of hydrogen

• brominated flame retardants.

II. derivatives

bromination /ˌbrōməˈnāSH(ə)n /

noun

bromine /ˈbrōmēn/

I. noun

(Symbol: Br) — the chemical element of atomic number 35, a dark red fuming toxic liquid with a choking, irritating smell. It is a member of the halogen group and occurs chiefly as salts in seawater and brines.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French brome, from Greek brōmos ‘a stink,’ + -ine^4.

bromism /ˈbrōˌmizəm/

noun

‹dated› a condition of dullness and weakness due to excessive intake of bromide sedatives.

bromo- brom-

combining form

[Chemistry] representing bromine.

Brompton cocktail /ˌbrämpt(ə)n ˈkäkˌtāl/

I. noun

a powerful painkiller and sedative consisting of vodka or other liquor laced with morphine and sometimes also cocaine.

– origin late 20th cent.: said to be from the name of Brompton Hospital, London, where the mixture was invented for cancer patients.

bronc /bräNGk/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› short for bronco.

bronchi /ˈbräNGˌkē ˈbräNGˌkī/

plural form of bronchus.

bronchia /ˈbräNGkēə/

noun

‹rare› the ramifications of the two main bronchi in the lungs.

bronchial /ˈbräNGkēəl/

adjective

of or relating to the bronchi or bronchioles

• bronchial pneumonia.

bronchial tree

noun

the branching system of bronchi and bronchioles conducting air from the windpipe into the lungs.

bronchial tube

noun

a bronchus or a primary branch off of one.

bronchiectasis /ˌbräNGkēˈektəsəs/

I. noun

[Medicine] abnormal widening of the bronchi or their branches, causing a risk of infection.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek bronkhia (denoting the branches of the main bronchi) + ektasis ‘dilatation.’

bronchiole /ˈbräNGkēˌōl/

I. noun

[Anatomy] any of the minute branches into which a bronchus divides.

II. derivatives

bronchiolar /ˌbräNGkēˈōlər /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin bronchiolus, bronchiolum, diminutives of late Latin bronchia, denoting the branches of the main bronchi.

bronchiolitis /ˌbräNGkēəˈlīdəs/

noun

[Medicine] inflammation of the bronchioles.

bronchitis /bräNGˈkīdəs/

I. noun

inflammation of the mucous membrane in the bronchial tubes. It typically causes bronchospasm and coughing.

II. derivatives

bronchitic /bräNGˈkidik /

adjective, noun

bronchium /ˈbräNGkēəm/

noun

a bronchial tube smaller than a bronchus and larger than a bronchiole.

broncho-

I. combining form

of or relating to the bronchi

• bronchopneumonia.

– origin from Greek bronkho-, from bronkhos (see bronchus).

bronchodilator /ˌbräNGkōdīˈlādər ˌbräNGkōˈdīlādər/

noun

[Medicine] a drug that causes widening of the bronchi, e.g., any of those taken by inhalation for the alleviation of asthma.

bronchogenic /ˌbräNGkōˈjenik/

adjective

of bronchial origin.

bronchopneumonia /ˌbräNGkōn(y)o͝oˈmōnyə/

noun

inflammation of the lungs, arising in the bronchi or bronchioles.

bronchoscope /ˈbräNGkəˌskōp/

I. noun

a fiber-optic cable that is passed into the windpipe in order to view the bronchi.

II. derivatives

bronchoscopy /ˌbräNGˈkäskəpē /

noun

bronchospasm /ˈbräNGkəˌspazəm/

noun

[Medicine] spasm of bronchial smooth muscle producing narrowing of the bronchi.

bronchus /ˈbräNGkəs/

I. noun

any of the major air passages of the lungs that diverge from the windpipe.

– origin late 17th cent.: from late Latin, from Greek bronkhos ‘windpipe.’

bronco /ˈbräNGkō/

I. noun

a wild or half-tamed horse, especially of the western US.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Spanish, literally ‘rough, rude.’

broncobuster /ˈbräNGkōˌbəstər/

noun

‹informal› a cowboy who breaks in wild or half-tamed horses.

Brontë /ˈbräntē, ˈbräntā ˈbrɑnteɪ/

I. three English novelists.

II. Charlotte (1816–55), author of Jane Eyre (1847), Shirley (1849), and Villette (1853).

III. Emily (1818–48), author of Wuthering Heights (1847); also a poet.

IV. Anne (1820–49), author of Agnes Grey (1845) and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (1847).

brontosaur /ˈbrän(t)əˌsôr / brontosaurus

I. noun

another term for apatosaur.

II. derivatives

brontosaurian /ˌbräntəˈsôrēən /

adjective

– origin modern Latin from Greek brontē ‘thunder’ + sauros ‘lizard.’

brontothere /ˈbrän(t)əTHir/

I. noun

a large ungulate mammal (Embolotherium andrewsi) of the Eocene epoch with a hornlike bony growth on the nose.

– origin modern Latin, from Greek brontē ‘thunder’ + thērion ‘wild beast.’

Bronx /bräNGks/

I. (the Bronx) — a borough in northeastern New York City.

– origin named after Jonas Bronck, a Dutch settler who purchased land here in 1641.

Bronx cheer

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a sound of derision or contempt made by blowing through closed lips with the tongue between them; a raspberry.

– origin 1920s: named after the Bronx in New York.

bronze /bränz/

I. noun

1. a yellowish-brown alloy of copper with up to one-third tin.

2. a yellowish-brown color

• rich, gleaming shades of bronze.

3. a work of sculpture or other object made of bronze.

4. short for bronze medal.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be bronzed)

1. make (a person or part of the body) suntanned

• Alison was bronzed by outdoor life.

2. give a surface of bronze or something resembling bronze to

• the doors were bronzed with sculpted reliefs.

III. derivatives

bronzy

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent. (as a verb): from French bronze (noun), bronzer (verb), from Italian bronzo, probably from Persian birinj ‘brass.’

Bronze Age /ˈbränz ˌāj/

I. a prehistoric period that followed the Stone Age and preceded the Iron Age, when certain weapons and tools came to be made of bronze rather than stone.

The Bronze Age began in the Near East and southeastern Europe in the late 4th and early 3rd millennium BC. It is associated with the first European civilizations, the beginnings of urban life in China, and the final stages of some Meso-American civilizations, but did not appear in Africa and Australasia at all.

bronzed /bränzd/

adjective

attractively and evenly suntanned; tanned

• bronzed and powerful arms.

bronze medal /bränz ˈmedl/

noun

a medal made of bronze, customarily awarded for third place in a race or competition.

bronzer /ˈbränzər/

noun

a cosmetic liquid or powder applied to the skin to give it color or shine, typically to give the appearance of a suntan.

Bronze Star

noun

a US military decoration awarded for heroic or meritorious achievement not involving participation in aerial flight.

Bronzino, Agnolo /brônˈzēnō/

(1503–72), Italian painter; born Agnolo di Cosimo.

brooch /brōCH bro͞oCH/

I. noun

an ornament fastened to clothing with a hinged pin and catch.

– origin Middle English: variant of broach, a noun originally meaning ‘skewer, bodkin,’ from Old French broche ‘spit for roasting,’ based on Latin brocchus, broccus ‘projecting.’ Compare with broach^1.

brood /bro͞od/

I. noun

1. a family of young animals, especially of a bird, produced at one hatching or birth

• a brood of chicks.

2. bee or wasp larvae.

3. ‹informal› all of the children in a family

• he was the youngest in a brood of six

• ‹figurative› a remarkable brood of writers.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — think deeply about something that makes one unhappy

• he brooded over his need to find a wife.

2. [with obj.] — (of a bird) sit on (eggs) to hatch them.

3. (of a fish, frog, or invertebrate) hold (developing eggs) within the body.

4. [usu. foll. by over] — (of silence, a storm, etc.) hang or hover closely

• a winter storm broods over the lake.

III. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of an animal) kept to be used for breeding

• a brood mare.

– origin Old English brōd, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch broed and German Brut, also to breed. Sense 1 of the verb was originally used with an object, i.e., ‘to nurse (feelings) in the mind’ (late 16th cent.), a figurative use of the notion of a hen nursing chicks under her wings.

brooder /ˈbro͞odər/

noun

1. a heated house for chicks or piglets.

2. a person who broods about something.

brooding /ˈbro͞odiNG/

I. adjective

1. showing deep unhappiness of thought

• he stared with brooding eyes.

2. appearing darkly menacing

• a dark, brooding landscape.

II. derivatives

broodingly

adverb

brood pouch

noun

a pouch in certain fish, frogs, and invertebrates in which the eggs are protected before hatching.

broody /ˈbro͞odē/

I. adjective

1. (of a hen) wishing or inclined to incubate eggs.

2. ‹informal› (of a woman) having a strong desire to have a baby.

3. thoughtful and unhappy

• his broody concern for the future.

II. derivatives

1. broodily /-dəlē /

adverb

2. broodiness /ˈbro͞odēnəs /

noun

brook^1 /bro͝ok/

I. noun

a small stream.

II. derivatives

brooklet /ˈbro͝oklət /

noun

– origin Old English brōc; related to Dutch broek and German Bruch ‘marsh.’

brook^2 /bro͝ok/

I. verb — [with obj. with negative]

1. ‹formal› tolerate or allow (something, typically dissent or opposition)

• Jenny would brook no criticism of Matthew.

– origin Old English brūcan ‘use, possess,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bruiken and German brauchen. The current sense dates from the mid 16th cent., a figurative use of an earlier sense ‘digest, stomach.’

Brooke, Edward /bro͝ok/

(1919–2015), US lawyer and politician; Edward William Brooke III. A Republican senator from Massachusetts 1967–79, he was the first African-American senator popularly elected to the US Senate. He was awarded the Spingarn Medal in 1967.

Brooke, Rupert

(1887–1915), English poet; full name Rupert Chawner Brooke. He is noted for his wartime poetry, 1914 and Other Poems (1915).

Brook Farm

a historic commune that existed in the 1840s in West Roxbury, now a southwestern section of Boston in Massachusetts, associated with Margaret Fuller and other writers.

Brookfield /ˈbro͝okfēld/

a city in southeastern Wisconsin, west of Milwaukee; pop. 39,020 (est. 2008).

Brookhaven /ˈbro͝okˌhāvən/

a town in eastern Long Island in New York that includes the villages of Brookhaven and Stony Brook, home to a noted nuclear laboratory; pop. 488,800 (est. 2008).

brooklime /ˈbro͝oklīm/

I. noun

a speedwell with smooth, fleshy leaves and deep blue flowers on long stalks. It grows in wet areas, where the stems take root or float in the water.
[Genus Veronica, family Scrophulariaceae: several species, in particular V. beccabunga of Eurasia and the American brooklime (V. americana).]

– origin Middle English broklemok, from brook^1 + hleomoce, the name of the plant in Old English.

Brookline /ˈbro͝oklīn/

a town in eastern Massachusetts, on the west side of Boston and almost surrounded by the city; pop. 54,896 (est. 2008).

Brooklyn /ˈbro͝oklən/

I. a borough of New York City, at the southwestern corner of Long Island.

II. derivatives

Brooklynite

noun

Brooklyn Bridge

a suspension bridge between southern Manhattan and northern Brooklyn (on Long Island) in New York City. Constructed 1869-1883, it was one of the period's engineering marvels and is celebrated in art and literature.

Brooklynese /ˌbro͝okləˈnēz/

noun

a form of New York speech associated especially with the borough of Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Park

a city in southeastern Minnesota, north of Minneapolis; pop. 71,308 (est. 2008).

Brookner, Anita /ˈbro͝oknər/

(1928–), English novelist and art historian. Notable works: Hotel du Lac (1984), Visitors (1997), The Bay of Angels (2001) and The Rules of Engagement (2003).

Brooks, Cleanth /bro͝oks/

(1906–94), US teacher and critic. A leading proponent of the New Criticism movement, he edited The Southern Review 1935–42 and taught at Yale University 1947–75. Notable works: Modern Poetry and Tradition (1939) and The Well-Wrought Urn (1947).

Brooks, Garth

(1962–), US country music singer and songwriter; full name Troyal Garth Brooks. His albums include No Fences (1990), Ropin' the Wind (1991), and Scarecrow (2001).

Brooks, Gwendolyn

(1917– 2000), US poet and writer. She was the first African-American woman named as poetry consultant to the Library of Congress 1985–86 and the first to be awarded a Pulitzer Prize for her poetry collected in Annie Allen (1949).

Brooks, Mel

(1926–), US comedian, screenwriter, director, and actor; born Melvin Kaminsky. He was both writer and director for a number of movies, including The Producers (1968) and Young Frankenstein (1974), both of which he later adapted to the stage as musicals.

Brooks Range /ˌbro͝oks ˈrānj/

a mountain chain that extends across northern Alaska. It is the northwestern end of the Rocky Mountains; the North Slope lies on its north.

brook trout

noun

(N. Amer.) see char^4.

broom /bro͞om bro͝om/

I. noun

1. a long-handled brush of bristles or twigs used for sweeping.

2. an implement for sweeping the ice in the game of curling.
[formerly made of twigs of broom.]

3. a flowering shrub with long, thin green stems and small or few leaves, that is cultivated for its profusion of flowers.
[Genera Cytisus and Genista, family Leguminosae: many species and cultivated hybrids. See also Spanish broom.]

II. phrases

a new broom sweeps clean

‹proverb› people newly appointed to positions of responsibility tend to be eager to make big or far-reaching changes.

– origin Old English brōm (sense 2), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch braam, also to bramble.

broomcorn /ˈbro͞omˌkôrn ˈbro͝omˌkôrn/

noun

a variety of sorghum whose dried inflorescences are used to make brooms.

broomrape /ˈbro͞omˌrāp ˈbro͝omˌrāp/

I. noun

a parasitic plant that bears tubular flowers on a leafless brown stem. It is attached by its tubers to the roots of a host plant, which may be any of a number of species.
[Genus Orobanche, family Orobanchaceae.]

– origin late 16th cent.: from broom + Latin rapum ‘tuber.’

broomstick /ˈbro͞omˌstik ˈbro͝omˌstik/

noun

1. the long handle of a broom.

2. a broom (especially one made of twigs) on which, in children's literature, witches are said to fly.

Bros. /bräs/

plural noun

brothers (in names of companies)

• Hills Bros. coffee.

broth /brôTH/

I. noun

1. soup consisting of meat or vegetable chunks, and often rice, cooked in stock.

2. meat or fish stock.

3. [Microbiology] liquid medium containing proteins and other nutrients for the culture of bacteria
[as modifier]

• broth cultures of intestinal tissue.

4. a liquid mixture for the preservation of tissue

• tissue samples were frozen in a cryoprotective broth.

II. phrases

a broth of a boy

‹informal› (chiefly Irish) used approvingly to refer to a very lively boy.

– origin Old English, of Germanic origin; related to brew.

brothel /ˈbräTHəl ˈbrôTHəl/

I. noun

a house where men can visit prostitutes.

– origin mid 16th cent. (originally brothel-house): from late Middle English brothel ‘worthless man, prostitute,’ related to Old English brēothan ‘degenerate, deteriorate.’

brothel creepers

plural noun

‹informal› soft-soled suede shoes

• I took to wearing baggy suits and brothel creepers.

brothel-keeper

noun

a person who runs a brothel

• the lowly daughter of the local brothel-keeper.

brother /ˈbrəT͟Hər/

I. noun

1. a man or boy in relation to other sons and daughters of his parents.

2. a male associate or fellow member of an organization

• fraternity brothers.

3. (also brotha or brutha) — (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a black man (chiefly used as a term of address among black people).

4. a fellow human being.

5. a thing that resembles or is connected to another thing

• the machine is almost identical to its larger brother.

6. (pl. also brethren ) — [Christian Church] a (male) fellow Christian.

7. a member of a religious order or congregation of men

• a Benedictine brother.

II. exclamation

(chiefly N. Amer.) used to express annoyance or surprise.

III. phrases

brothers in arms

soldiers fighting together, especially in a war.

– origin Old English brōthor, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch broeder and German Bruder, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin frater.

brotherhood /ˈbrəT͟Hərˌho͝od/

I. noun

1. the relationship between brothers.

2. the feeling of kinship with and closeness to a group of people or all people

• a gesture of solidarity and brotherhood.

3. an association, society, or community of people linked by a common interest, religion, or trade

• a religious brotherhood.

4. (N. Amer.) a labor union.

– origin Middle English: probably from obsolete brotherred (based on Old English -rǣden ‘condition, state’; compare with kindred). The change of suffix was due to association with words ending in -hood and -head^1.

brother-in-law /ˈbrəT͟Hər ən ˌlô/

noun

1. the brother of one's wife or husband.

2. the husband of one's sister or sister-in-law.

brotherly /ˈbrəT͟Hərlē/

I. adjective

1. characteristic of or appropriate for a brother or brothers; fraternal

• he and I had such a brotherly bond.

2. showing affection and concern; affectionate

• you could feel the warmth and the brotherly kindness.

II. derivatives

brotherliness

noun

brotherly love

noun

feelings of humanity and compassion toward one's fellow humans.

brougham /ˈbro͞oəm ˈbrōəm/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› a horse-drawn carriage with a roof, four wheels, and an open driver's seat in front.

2. ‹historical› an automobile with an open driver's seat.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after Lord Brougham (1778–1868), who designed the carriage.

brought /brôt/

past and past participle of bring.

brouhaha /ˈbro͞ohäˌhä/

I. noun

a noisy and overexcited reaction or response to something

• 24 members resigned over the brouhaha

• all that election brouhaha.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French, probably imitative.

Brouwer, Adriaen /ˈbrou-ər/

(c. 1605–38), Flemish painter. Providing an important link between Dutch and Flemish genre painting, his most typical works represent peasant scenes in taverns.

brow^1 /brou/

I. noun

1. a person's forehead

• he wiped his brow.

2. (usu. brows) — an eyebrow

• his brows lifted in surprise.

3. the summit of a hill or pass

• the cottages were built on the brow of a hill.

– origin Old English brū ‘eyelash, eyebrow,’ of Germanic origin. The sense ‘forehead’ dates from Middle English; compare with brae.

brow^2 /brou/

I. noun

1. a gangway from a ship to the shore.

2. a hinged part of a ferry or landing craft forming a landing platform or ramp.

– origin mid 19th cent.: probably from Norwegian bru, from Old Norse brú ‘bridge.’

Broward County /ˌbrouərd ˈkoun(t)ē/

a county in southeastern Florida, on the Atlantic Ocean, north of Miami; pop. 1,751,234 (est. 2008). Fort Lauderdale is its seat.

browbeat /ˈbrouˌbēt/

verb — [with obj.]

1. intimidate (someone), typically into doing something, with stern or abusive words

• a witness is being browbeaten under cross-examination.

-browed

combining form

having a specified kind of brow or brows
[in combination]

• furrow-browed

• monobrowed.

brown /broun/

I. adjective

1. of a color produced by mixing red, yellow, and black, as of dark wood or rich soil

• an old brown coat

• she had warm brown eyes.

2. dark-skinned or suntanned

• his face was brown from the sun.

3. (of bread) light brown in color and typically made with unbleached or unrefined wholewheat flour.

II. noun

1. brown color or pigment

• the brown of his eyes

• a pair of boots in brown

• the print is rich with velvety browns.

2. brown clothes or material

• a woman all in brown.

III. verb

make or become brown, typically by cooking
[with obj.]

• a skillet in which food has been browned

• [no obj.] bake the pizza until the cheese has browned.

IV. phrases

1. (as) brown as a berry

(of a person) very suntanned.

2. do something up brown

do something thoroughly or completely
[as adj.]

• a real picnic, done up brown according to all the rules.

3. in a brown study

see study.

V. phrasal verbs

brown someone off

(usu. as adj. browned off) — make someone feel irritated or depressed

• they are getting browned off with the overtime.

VI. derivatives

1. brownness

noun

2. browny /ˈbrounē /

adjective

– origin Old English brūn, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bruin and German braun.

Brown, Capability

(1716–83), English landscape gardener; born Lancelot Brown. He evolved an English style of natural-looking landscape parks.

Brown, Ford Madox

(1821–93), English painter. His early work was inspired by the Pre-Raphaelites, and in 1861 he became a founding member of William Morris's company, designing stained glass and furniture.

Brown, Gordon

(1951–), British Labour statesman; prime minister 2007–10; full name Gordon James Brown.

Brown, Henry Billings

(1836–1913), US Supreme Court associate justice 1891–1906. After serving in several judicial posts in Michigan, he was appointed to the Court by President Benjamin Harrison.

Brown, James

(1928–2006), US soul and funk singer and songwriter. In the 1960s he played a leading role in the development of funk with songs such as “Papa's Got a Brand New Bag” (1965) and “Sex Machine” (1970).

Brown, Jim

(1936–), US football player and actor; full name James Nathaniel Brown. He was the National Football League's premier running back, leading the league in rushing in eight of his nine seasons 1957–65 with the Cleveland Browns. He was later featured in several movies, including The Dirty Dozen (1967) and Ice Station Zebra (1968). Football Hall of Fame (1971).

Brown, John

(1800–59), US abolitionist. In 1859 he was executed after raiding a government arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (later part of West Virginia), with the intention of arming slaves and starting a revolt. He became a hero of the abolitionists in the Civil War, and he is commemorated in the song “John Brown's Body.”

Brown, Sir Arthur Whitten /broun/

(1886–1948), Scottish aviator. In 1919, he made the first transatlantic flight, with Sir John William Alcock.

brown algae

plural noun

algae belonging to a large group that includes many seaweeds, typically olive brown or greenish in color. They contain xanthophyll in addition to chlorophyll.
[Class Phaeophyceae, phylum Heterokonta, kingdom Protista; formerly division Phaeophyta.]

brown bag

I. noun

1. a bag made of opaque brown paper.

2. a bag made of brown paper in which a lunch is packed and carried to work, school, or informal functions
[as modifier]

• a brown-bag lunch.

II. verb — [with obj.] (brown-bag it)

1. take a packed lunch to work or school

• no school lunch next week, so I'm brown-bagging it.

III. derivatives

brown-bagger

noun

brown bagging

noun

1. the practice of bringing one's own packed lunch to work.

2. the practice of bringing one's own liquor to a restaurant or club that cannot sell alcoholic beverages.

brown bear /broun be(ə)r/

noun

a large bear with a coat color ranging from cream to black, occurring chiefly in forests in Eurasia and North America.
See also grizzly. [Ursus arctos, family Ursidae.]

brown belt

noun

1. a brown belt marking a high level of proficiency in judo, karate, or other martial arts, below that of a black belt.

2. a person qualified to wear a brown belt in martial arts.

Brown Betty

noun

(N. Amer.) a baked pudding made with apples or other fruit and breadcrumbs.

brown bread

I. noun

bread that is light brown in color, typically made using unbleached or unrefined whole wheat flour

• a plate of smoked salmon and brown bread.

• wheatgerm is often used as a dietary supplement and is added to some brown breads.

II. adjective

(Brit.) ‹rhyming slang› (of a person) dead

• if the bite isn't treated within a short period of time, you'll be brown bread.

brown cloud

noun

a visible pall of air pollutants that persists over a city or other area

• the Asian brown cloud

• throughout the day, air shifts in the valley cause variances in the brown cloud.

brown coal /broun kōl/

noun

another term for lignite.

brown dwarf

noun

[Astronomy] a celestial object intermediate in size between a giant planet and a small star, believed to emit mainly infrared radiation.

brown earth

noun

[Soil Science] a type of soil having a brown humus-rich surface layer.

brown fat /broun fat/

noun

a dark-colored adipose tissue with many blood vessels, involved in the rapid production of heat in hibernating animals and human babies.

brownfield /ˈbrounˌfēld/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of an urban site for potential building development) having had previous development on it.
Compare with greenfield.

II. noun

a former industrial or commercial site where future use is affected by real or perceived environmental contamination.

brown goods //

plural noun

television sets, audio equipment, and similar household appliances

• a supply chain that accommodates highly perishable products, as well as white and brown goods.

Compare with white goods.

brown-haired

adjective

having brown-colored hair

• a rangy, brown-haired man.

brown hare

noun

a hare found commonly in much of Eurasia.
[Lepus europaeus , family Leporidae.]

brown holland

noun

unbleached holland linen.

Brownian motion /ˌbrounēən ˈmōSHən/

I. noun

[Physics] the erratic random movement of microscopic particles in a fluid, as a result of continuous bombardment from molecules of the surrounding medium.

– origin late 19th cent.: named after Robert Brown (1773–1858), the Scottish botanist who first observed the motion.

brownie /ˈbrounē/

I. noun

1. a small square of rich chocolate cake, typically containing nuts.

2. (Brownie) — a member of the junior branch of the Girl Scouts, for girls aged between about 6 and 8.
[so named because of the color of the uniform.]

3. a benevolent elf supposed to haunt houses and do housework secretly.

– origin early 16th cent. (in sense 3): diminutive of brown (a “wee brown man” often appears in Scottish ballads and fairy tales).

brownie point /ˈbrounē ˌpoint/

noun

‹informal› ‹humorous› an imaginary award given to someone who does good deeds or tries to please

• his policy will win brownie points with voters.

Browning /ˈbrouniNG/

I. noun

1. a type of water-cooled automatic machine gun.

2. (also Browning automatic) — a type of automatic pistol.

3. (also Browning automatic rifle) — a gas-operated automatic rifle, typically fired from a bipod.

– origin early 20th cent.: named after J. M. Browning (1855–1926), American designer of the weapons.

Browning, Elizabeth Barrett /ˈbrouniNG/

(1806–61), English poet. She established her reputation with Poems (1844). In 1846, she eloped with Robert Browning. Other notable works: Sonnets from the Portuguese (1850), Aurora Leigh (novel, 1857), and the posthumous Last Poems (1862).

Browning, Robert

(1812–89), English poet. In 1842, he established his name with Dramatic Lyrics that contained “The Pied Piper of Hamelin” and “My Last Duchess.” A highly creative period followed his elopement with Elizabeth Barrett. Other notable works: Dramatic Romances and Lyrics (1845), Men and Women (1855), and The Ring and the Book (1868–69).

brownish /ˈbrouniSH/

adjective

having a brown tinge; slightly brown

• a brownish colored cat

• where I live the soil is brownish red.

brown-nose /ˈbroun ˌnōz / ‹informal› brownnose

I. noun

a person who acts in a grossly obsequious way.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. curry favor with (someone) by acting in an obsequious way

• academics were brown-nosing the senior faculty

• [no obj.] I dedicated a book to him—I was not brown-nosing.

– origin the assumed result of ass-kissing.

brownout /ˈbrounout/

I. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a reduction in or restriction on the availability of electrical power in a particular area

• the cities are experiencing brownouts as air conditioners are switched into overdrive.

– origin 1940s: after blackout.

brown owl /ˌbroun ˈoul/

noun

another term for tawny owl.

brown paper

noun

a type of paper made from unbleached wood pulp, used especially to make paper bags and envelopes or as wrapping for packages

• she came out with a package wrapped in brown paper and tied with string

• [as modifier] a brown paper grocery bag.

brown rat

noun

a rat found throughout the world, often living in association with man and regarded as a pest. It is commonly kept as a laboratory animal and as a pet, and is also bred in the albino form.
Also called common rat, Norway rat. [Rattus norvegicus, family Muridae.]

brown recluse brown recluse spider

noun

a brown venomous North American spider, identifiable by the dark brown violin-shaped marking on the top of its orange-yellow head.
Also called fiddleback, violin spider. [Loxosceles reclusa, family Loxoscelidae.]

brown rice /broun rīs/

noun

unpolished rice with only the husk of the grain removed.

brown rot

noun

a fungal disease causing the rotting and browning of parts of plants, in particular
[● a disease producing discoloration and shriveling of apples, pears, plums, etc. (caused by fungi of the genus Monilinia, phylum Ascomycota). ● a disease resulting in the softening and cracking of timber (caused by bracket fungi of the family Polyporaceae, class Basidiomycetes).]

brown sauce

noun

a savory sauce made with fat and flour cooked to a brown color.

Brownshirt /ˈbrounSHərt/

noun

a member of an early Nazi militia founded by Hitler in Munich in 1921, with brown uniforms resembling that of Mussolini's Blackshirts. They aided Hitler's rise to power, but were eclipsed by the SS after the “night of the long knives” in June 1934.
Also called storm troops or Sturmabteilung.

brown snake

noun

1. a fast-moving, venomous, and aggressive Australian snake, with a variety of color forms.
[Pseudonaja and other genera, family Elapidae: several species, in particular P. textilis.]

2. a small, secretive, harmless North American snake that is typically brownish in color.
[Storeria dekayi, family Colubridae.]

brownstone /ˈbrounˌstōn/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) a kind of reddish-brown sandstone used for building.

2. (N. Amer.) a building faced with reddish-brown sandstone.

brown sugar /broun ˈSHo͝oɡər/

noun

1. unrefined or partially refined sugar.

2. a consumer product made by adding molasses to white sugar.

Brownsville

I. a city in southern Texas, on the Rio Grande and the Mexican border; pop. 175,494 (est. 2008).

II. a section of eastern Brooklyn in New York City, noted in the early 20th century for its Jewish community, today a struggling inner-city neighborhood.

Brown Swiss

noun

an animal of a brown breed of dairy cattle, originally bred in Switzerland.

brown-tail /ˈbrounˌtāl / brown-tail moth

noun

a white European moth that has a brown tip on the abdomen and is a pest of tree foliage in several areas, including North America. The caterpillars live communally in web tents and bear irritant hairs that can produce an allergic reaction.
[Euproctis chrysorrhoea, family Lymantriidae.]

brown tree snake

noun

a nocturnal tree snake of Pacific origin that has escaped captivity as a pet to threaten native fauna in many Pacific Rim locations.
[Boiga irregularis, family Colubridae.]

brown trout /broun trout/

noun

the common trout of Europe, especially one of a nonmigratory race with dark spotted skin, that occurs in small rivers and pools. It has been introduced into North America as a game fish.
[Salmo trutta, family Salmonidae, in particular S. trutta fario. Compare with lake trout, sea trout.]

browse /brouz/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. survey goods for sale in a leisurely and casual way

• he stopped to browse around a sporting goods store.

2. scan through a text, website, or collection of data to gain an impression of the contents

• she browsed through the newspaper

• [with obj.] I decided to spend the night browsing the Internet.

3. (of an animal) feed on leaves, twigs, or other high-growing vegetation

• they reach upward to browse on bushes

• [with obj.] the animals browse the high foliage of trees.

II. noun

1. [in sing.] — an act of casual looking or reading

• the brochure is well worth a browse.

2. vegetation, such as twigs and young shoots, eaten by animals

• a moose needs to eat forty to fifty pounds of browse a day.

III. derivatives

browsable

adjective

– origin late Middle English (sense 2 of the verb): from Old French broster, from brost ‘young shoot,’ probably of Germanic origin.

browser /ˈbrouzər/

noun

1. a person who looks casually through books or magazines or at things for sale.

2. [Computing] a program with a graphical user interface for displaying HTML files, used to navigate the World Wide Web

• a web browser.

3. an animal that feeds mainly on high-growing vegetation.

brrr /bər/

exclamation

used to express someone's reaction to feeling cold

• Brrr! It's a freezing cold day.

Brubeck, Dave /ˈbro͞oˌbek/

(1920–2012), US jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader; full name David Warren Brubeck. He formed the Dave Brubeck Quartet in 1951 and gained a reputation as an experimental musician. He won international recognition with the album Time Out (1959), which included “Take Five.”

Bruce, Lenny /bro͞os/

(1925–66), US comedian; born Leonard Alfred Schneider. He gained notoriety for flouting the bounds of respectability with his humor and was imprisoned for obscenity in 1961. In 1963, he was refused entry to Britain and banned in Australia.

Bruce, Robert the

see Robert.

brucellosis /ˌbro͞osəˈlōsəs/

I. noun

a bacterial disease typically affecting cattle and buffalo and causing undulant fever in humans.
[This disease is caused by Gram-negative bacteria of the genus Brucella, in particular B. abortus.]

– origin 1930s: from modern Latin Brucella + -osis: named after Sir David Bruce (1855–1931), the Scottish physician who identified the bacterium.

brucine /ˈbro͞osēn/

noun

a highly toxic alkaloid present in nux vomica.
[Chem. formula: C_23H_26N_2O_4.]

brucite /ˈbro͞osīt/

I. noun

a white, gray, or greenish mineral consisting of magnesium hydroxide.

– origin early 19th cent.: named after Archibald Bruce (1777–1818), American mineralogist, + -ite^1.

Bruegel /ˈbroiɡəl / Breughel, Brueghel

I. the name of a family of Flemish artists.

II. Pieter (c. 1525–69); known as Pieter Bruegel the Elder. He produced landscapes, religious allegories, and satires of peasant life. Notable works: The Procession to Calvary (1564).

III. Pieter Bruegel the Younger (1564–1638), son of Pieter Bruegel the Elder; known as Hell Bruegel. A copyist of his father's work, he is also noted for his paintings of devils.

IV. Jan (1568–1623), son of Pieter Bruegel the Elder; known as Velvet. He was a celebrated painter of flower, landscape, and mythological pictures.

Bruges /bro͞oZH/

a city in northwestern Belgium; pop. 117,071 (2008).
Flemish name Brugge.

Brugge /ˈbro͞oɡə/

Flemish name for Bruges.

bruh /brə/

I. noun

(US) ‹informal› a male friend (often used as a form of address)

• get off the Internet and get a life bruh

• where are my bruhs at?

– origin early 20th cent. (as an informal title before a man's name): perhaps originally representing an African-American pronunciation of brother; compare brer, brah.

bruin /ˈbro͞oən/

I. noun

a bear, especially in children's fables.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Dutch bruin (see brown); used as a name for the bear in the 13th-cent. fable Reynard the Fox.

bruise /bro͞oz/

I. noun

1. an injury appearing as an area of discolored skin on the body, caused by a blow or impact rupturing underlying blood vessels.

2. an area of damage on a fruit, vegetable, or plant.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] (often as adj. bruised) — inflict an injury on (someone or something) causing discoloration of the skin

• a bruised knee.

2. hurt (someone's feelings)

• she tried to bolster her bruised pride.

3. [no obj.] — be susceptible to bruising

• potatoes bruise easily, so treat them with care.

4. crush or pound (something)

• bruise the raisins before adding to the mixture.

– origin Old English brȳsan ‘crush, injure or damage with a blow,’ reinforced in Middle English by Old French bruisier ‘break.’

bruiser /ˈbro͞ozər/

noun

1. ‹informal› ‹chiefly derogatory› a person who is tough and aggressive and enjoys a fight or argument.

2. ‹informal› ‹chiefly derogatory› a professional boxer.

bruising /ˈbro͞oziNG/

I. adjective

1. causing a bruise or bruises

• his legs took the bruising blows.

2. (of an antagonistic or competitive situation) conducted in an aggressive way and likely to have a stressful effect on those involved

• a bruising congressional battle over public spending.

II. noun

bruises on the skin

• her arm showed signs of bruising.

bruit /bro͞ot/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. spread (a report or rumor) widely

• I didn't want to have our relationship bruited about the office.

II. noun

1. ‹archaic› a report or rumor.

2. a sound, typically an abnormal one, heard through a stethoscope; a murmur.

– origin late Middle English (as a noun): from Old French bruit ‘noise,’ from bruire ‘to roar.’

Brumaire /bro͝oˈmer/

I. noun

the second month of the French Republican calendar (1793–1805), originally running from October 22 to November 20.

– origin French, from brume ‘mist.’

brumal /ˈbro͞oməl/

adjective

‹literary› of or relating to winter; wintry

• 'tis a brumal night.

brume /bro͞om/

I. noun

‹literary› mist or fog

• the birds rise like brume.

– origin early 18th cent.: from French, from Latin bruma ‘winter.’

Brummagem /ˈbrəməjəm / brummagem

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. cheap, showy, or counterfeit

• a vile Brummagem substitute for the genuine article.

– origin mid 17th cent.: dialect form of Birmingham, England, with reference to counterfeit coins and plated goods once made there.

Brummell, George Bryan /ˈbrəməl/

(1778–1840), English dandy; known as Beau Brummell. He was the arbiter of British fashion for the early 19th century, owing his social position to his friendship with the Prince Regent.

brumous /ˈbrəməs/

I. adjective

‹literary› foggy; wintry.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French brumeux, from late Latin brumosus (from bruma ‘winter’).

brunch /brən(t)SH/

I. noun

a late morning meal eaten instead of breakfast and lunch.

– origin late 19th cent.: blend of breakfast and lunch.

Brundtland, Gro Harlem /ˈbro͝ontˌländ/

(1939–), Norwegian stateswoman, prime minister 1981, 1986–89, and 1990–96. As Norway's first female prime minister, she chaired the World Commission on Environment and Development (known as the Brundtland Commission), which produced the Our Common Future report in 1987.

Brunei /bro͞oˈnī/

I.
1. a small oil-rich constitutional sultanate on the northwestern coast of Borneo, divided by parts of Malaysia's state of Sarawak; pop. 388,200 (est. 2009); capital, Bandar Seri Begawan; languages, Malay (official), English (official), Chinese. Official name Brunei Darussalam.

In the 16th century Brunei dominated Borneo and parts of the Philippines, but its power declined as that of the Portuguese and Dutch grew. In 1888, it was placed under British protection; it became a fully independent Commonwealth of Nations state in 1984. Brunei has been ruled by the same family for six centuries.

II. derivatives

Bruneian /-ˈnīən /

adjective, noun

Brunel, Isambard Kingdom /bro͝oˈnel/

(1806–59), English engineer, son of French-born engineer Sir Marc Isambard Brunel (1769–1849). He designed the Great Western (1838), the first transatlantic steamship, and the Great Eastern (1858), the world's largest ship until 1899.

Brunelleschi, Filippo /ˌbro͞onlˈeskē/

(1377–1446), Italian architect; born Filippo di Ser Brunellesco. He is noted for the dome of Florence Cathedral (1420–61), which he raised without the use of temporary supports.

brunette /bro͞oˈnet / brunet

I. noun

a person, typically a woman, with dark brown hair

• she's a gorgeous, green-eyed brunette.

II. adjective

1. (especially of a woman or girl) having dark brown hair

• a fresh-faced brunette woman in her thirties.

2. (of hair) dark brown

• her lustrous brunette tresses.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French, feminine of brunet, diminutive of brun ‘brown.’

brung /brəNG/

dialect past and past participle of bring.

Brunhild /ˈbro͞onˌhild, -ˌhilt / ‹Germanic Mythology›

in the Nibelungenlied, the wife of Gunther, who instigated the murder of Siegfried. In the Norse versions she is a Valkyrie whom Sigurd (the counterpart of Siegfried) wins by penetrating the wall of fire behind which she lies in an enchanted sleep.

Bruno, Giordano /ˈbro͞onō/

(1548–1600), Italian philosopher. A supporter of the heliocentric Copernican view of the solar system, envisaging an infinite universe of numerous worlds moving in space, he was tried by the Inquisition for heresy and burned at the stake.

Bruno, St. /ˈbro͞onō, brYˈnō/

(c. 1032–1101), French churchman, born in Germany. He founded the Carthusian order at La Grande Chartreuse in 1084. Feast day, October 6.

brunoise /bro͞onˈwäz/

noun

finely diced vegetables that are cooked in butter and used to flavor soups and sauces.

Brunswick /ˈbrənzwik/

I. a former duchy and state in central Germany, mostly incorporated into Lower Saxony.
German name Braunschweig.

II. the capital of the former duchy of Brunswick, an industrial city in Lower Saxony, Germany; pop. 245,500 (est. 2006).

III. a town in southwestern Maine, home to Bowdoin College; pop. 21,720 (est. 2008).

Brunswick stew

noun

(US) a stew originally made with squirrel or rabbit, but now consisting of chicken and vegetables including onion and tomatoes.

brunt /brənt/

I. noun — (the brunt)

1. the worst part or chief impact of a specified thing

• education will bear the brunt of the cuts.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a blow or an attack, also the force or shock of something): of unknown origin.

bruschetta /bro͞oˈskedə/

I. noun

toasted Italian bread drenched in olive oil and served typically with garlic or tomatoes.

– origin Italian. / usage: Note that the middle of bruschetta is spelled -sche- but pronounced -ske-.

brush^1 /brəSH/

I. noun

1. an implement with a handle, consisting of bristles, hair, or wire set into a block, used for cleaning or scrubbing, applying a liquid or powder to a surface, arranging the hair, or other purposes

• a paint brush.

2. an act of sweeping, applying, or arranging with a brush or with one's hand

• he gave the seat a brush.

3. (usu. brushes) — a thin stick set with long wire bristles, used to make a soft hissing sound on drums or cymbals.

4. the bushy tail of a fox.

5. a slight and fleeting touch

• the lightest brush of his lips against her cheek.

6. a brief encounter with someone or something unpleasant or notable

• a brush with death

• my first brush with fame.

7. a piece of carbon or metal serving as an electrical contact with a moving part in a motor or alternator.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — remove (dust or dirt) by sweeping or scrubbing

• we'll be able to brush the mud off easily

• he brushed himself down.

2. use a brush or one's hand to remove dust or dirt from (something)

• she brushed down her best coat.

3. clean (one's teeth) by scrubbing with a brush.

4. arrange (one's hair) by running a brush through it.

5. apply a liquid to (a surface) with a brush

• brush the potatoes with oil.

6. [no obj.] — touch lightly and gently

• stems of grass brush against her legs.

7. [with obj.] — push (something) away with a quick movement of the hand

• she brushed a wisp of hair away from her face.

III. phrasal verbs

1. brush someone/something aside

dismiss someone or something curtly and confidently

• people brushed aside the possibility of imminent war.

2. brush someone back

[Baseball] ‹informal› (of a pitcher) force a batter to step back to avoid being hit by a ball pitched close to the body.

3. brush someone/something off

dismiss someone or something in an abrupt way

• the state brushed off the idea as something that would never happen.

4. brush past

touch fleetingly and in passing

• she brushed past him to leave the room.

5. brush up on

improve one's previously good knowledge of or skill at a particular thing

• brush up on your telephone skills.

IV. derivatives

brushless /ˈbrəSHləs /

adjective

‹chiefly technical›

– origin Middle English: noun from Old French broisse; verb partly from Old French brosser ‘to sweep.’

brush^2 /brəSH/

I. noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) (Austral./NZ) undergrowth, small trees, and shrubs.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) (Austral./NZ) land covered with undergrowth, small trees, and shrubs.

3. (chiefly N. Amer.) (Austral./NZ) (N. Amer.) cut brushwood.

– origin Middle English: from Old French broce, perhaps based on Latin bruscum, denoting an excrescence on the maple.

brushback /ˈbrəSHˌbak / brushback pitch

noun

[Baseball] a pitch aimed close to the body so that the batter must step back to avoid it.

brushed /brəSHt/

adjective

1. having been treated with a brush, in particular

2. (of fabric) having a soft raised nap

• brushed cotton.

3. (of metal) finished with a nonreflective surface

• brushed aluminum.

brush fire brushfire

noun

1. a fire in brush or scrub.

2. a conflict, especially an armed conflict, that arises suddenly and is limited in scale or area
[as modifier]

• fighting brush-fire wars.

3. a minor crisis.

brush-off /ˈbrəSH ˌôf/

noun — [in sing.]

1. ‹informal› a rejection or dismissal in which someone is treated as unimportant

• he's been giving her the brush-off.

brushstroke /ˈbrəSHstrōk/

noun

1. the stroke of a brush, especially a hair brush or paintbrush.

2. the mark or effect created by this

• an errant brushstroke doesn't necessarily destroy a painting.

3. an individual action that contributes to an overall effect or work

• you write in broad, inaccurate brushstrokes, and seem incapable of grasping the meaning of your own words.

brush turkey

noun

a large mound-building bird of the megapode family, resembling a turkey and found mainly in New Guinea.
[Family Megapodiidae: several genera and species, including Alectura lathami of eastern Australia.]

brush wolf

noun

(N. Amer.) another term for coyote.

brushwood /ˈbrəSHˌwo͝od/

noun

undergrowth, twigs, and small branches, typically used for firewood or kindling.

brushwork /ˈbrəSHˌwərk/

noun

the way in which painters use their brush, as evident in their paintings

• canvases characterized by lively, flowing brushwork.

brushy /ˈbrəSHē/

adjective

1. covered in or consisting of brushwood

• a brushy hillside.

2. [Art] relating to or displaying bold use of the brush in painting

• brushy outlining of form.

brusque /brəsk/

I. adjective

abrupt or offhand in speech or manner

• she could be brusque and impatient.

II. derivatives

1. brusquely /ˈbrəsklē /

adverb

2. brusqueness /ˈbrəsknəs /

noun

3. brusquerie /ˌbrəskəˈrē, ˌbro͞o- /

noun

( — ‹archaic›

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, ‘lively, fierce,’ from Italian brusco ‘sour.’

Brussels /ˈbrəsəlz/

the capital of Belgium, in the central part of the country; pop. 1,048,491 (2008). The headquarters of the European Commission is located here. Flemish name Brussel.
French name Bruxelles.

Brussels carpet

I. noun

a carpet with a heavy woolen pile and a strong linen back.

– origin late 18th cent.: named after Brussels in Belgium.

Brussels lace

noun

an elaborate kind of lace, typically with a raised design, made using a needle or lace pillow.

Brussels sprout /ˈbrəsəlz sprout / brussels sprout

noun

1. a vegetable consisting of the small compact bud of a variety of cabbage.

2. the plant which yields Brussels sprouts, bearing many along a tall single stem.

brut /bro͞ot/

I. adjective

(of sparkling wine) unsweetened; very dry.

– origin late 19th cent.: French, literally ‘raw, rough.’

brutal /ˈbro͞odl/

I. adjective

1. savagely violent

• a brutal murder.

2. punishingly hard or uncomfortable

• the brutal winter wind.

3. direct and lacking any attempt to disguise unpleasantness

• the brutal honesty of his observations.

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘relating to the lower animals’): from Old French, or from medieval Latin brutalis, from brutus ‘dull, stupid’ (see brute).

brutalism /ˈbro͞odlˌizəm/

I. noun

a style of architecture or art characterized by a deliberate plainness, crudity, or violence of imagery. The term was first applied to functionalist buildings of the 1950s and 1960s that made much use of steel and concrete in starkly massive blocks.

II. derivatives

brutalist /ˈbro͞odləst /

noun, adjective

brutality /bro͞oˈtalədē/

noun

savage physical violence; great cruelty

• brutality against civilians.

brutalize /ˈbro͞odlˌīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. attack (someone) in a savage and violent way

• they brutalize and torture persons in their custody.

2. desensitize (someone) to the pain or suffering of others by exposing them to violent behavior or situations

• he had been brutalized in prison and became cynical

• (as adj. brutalizing) the brutalizing effects of warfare.

II. derivatives

brutalization /ˌbro͞odləˈzāSH(ə)n ˌbro͞odlˌīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

brutally /ˈbro͞odəlē/

adverb

1. in a savagely violent way

• he was imprisoned and brutally tortured

• he brutally murdered an innocent man.

2. [as submodifier] — in a direct way that does not attempt to disguise unpleasantness

• she was unapologetic and brutally honest

• a brutally candid interview.

3. [as submodifier] — to an extremely unpleasant or harsh degree

• weeks of brutally cold weather

• a brutally competitive market.

brute /bro͞ot/

I. noun

1. a savagely violent person or animal

• he was a cold-blooded brute.

2. ‹informal› a cruel, unpleasant, or insensitive person

• what an unfeeling little brute you are.

3. an animal as opposed to a human being.

4. something awkward, difficult, or unpleasant

• a great brute of a machine.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. unreasoning and animallike

• a brute struggle for social superiority.

2. merely physical

• we achieve little by brute force.

3. harsh, fundamental, or inescapable

• the brute necessities of basic subsistence.

– origin late Middle English (as an adjective): from Old French brut(e), from Latin brutus ‘dull, stupid.’

brutish /ˈbro͞odiSH/

I. adjective

resembling or characteristic of a brute

• brutish behavior.

II. derivatives

1. brutishly

adverb

2. brutishness /ˈbro͞odiSHnəs /

noun

Brutus, Lucius Junius /ˈbro͞otəs/

(6th century BC), legendary founder of the Roman Republic. Traditionally, he led a popular uprising, after the rape of Lucretia, against his uncle, the king, and drove him from Rome.

Brutus, Marcus Junius

(85–42 BC), Roman senator. With Cassius he led the conspirators who assassinated Julius Caesar in 44. They were defeated by Caesar's supporters, Antony and Octavian, at the battle of Philippi in 42, after which he committed suicide.

bruvver /ˈbrəvər / bruv

I. noun

1. (Brit.) ‹informal› a person's brother

• he's really looking forward to having a little bruvver or sister

• me and me bruv will be there.

2. (Brit.) ‹informal› used as a form of address between men

• it's been a long, hard journey, bruv, to be honest.

– origin late 19th cent.: representing a colloquial pronunciation of brother.

Bruxelles /bro͞oˈsel/

French name for Brussels.

bruxism /ˈbrəksizəm/

I. noun

the involuntary or habitual grinding of the teeth, typically during sleep.

– origin 1930s: from Greek brukhein ‘gnash the teeth’ + -ism.

Bryan /ˈbrīən/

a city in east central Texas; pop. 72,357 (est. 2008).

Bryansk /brēˈänsk / Briansk

an industrial city in western Russia, southwest of Moscow, on the Desna River; pop. 413,900 (est. 2008).

Bryant, William Cullen /ˈbrīənt/

(1794–1878), US poet and editor. He was co-owner and editor of the New York Evening Post 1829–78; his poems “Thanatopsis” (1811) and “To a Waterfowl” (1821) established him as the leading poet of his time.

Bryce Canyon /ˌbrīs ˈkanyən/

a region in south central Utah, site of a national park noted for spectacular rock formations.

Brylcreem /ˈbrilkrēm/

I. noun

‹trademark› a cream used on men's hair to give it a smooth, shiny appearance.

II. derivatives

Brylcreemed

adjective

bryology /brīˈäləjē/

I. noun

the study of mosses and liverworts.

II. derivatives

1. bryological /ˌbrīəˈläjikəl /

adjective

2. bryologist /brīˈäləjəst /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek bruon ‘moss’ + -logy.

bryony /ˈbrīənē/

I. noun

1. (also white bryony) — a climbing plant that has greenish-white flowers, red berries, and springlike tendrils. Native to Eurasia, it is the only British member of the gourd family.
[Bryonia dioica, family Cucurbitaceae.]

2. (black bryony) — a climbing plant with broad glossy leaves, poisonous red berries, and black tubers. Native to Europe, it is the only British member of the yam family.
[Tamus communis, family Dioscoreaceae.]

– origin Old English, via Latin from Greek bruōnia.

Bryophyta /ˌbrīōˈfīdə / ‹Botany›

I. a division of small, simple plants that comprises the mosses and liverworts. They lack flowers and roots, reproduce by spores released from a stalked capsule, and are anchored to the soil by specialized hairs.
[Division Bryophyta: classes Musci (mosses) and Hepaticae (liverworts).]

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek bruon ‘moss’ + phuta ‘plants.’

bryophyte /ˈbrīəˌfīt/

noun

[Botany] a small flowerless green plant of the division Bryophyta, which comprises the mosses and liverworts.

Bryozoa /ˌbrīəˈzōə / ‹Zoology›

I. a phylum of sedentary aquatic invertebrates that comprises the moss animals.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek bruon ‘moss’ + zōia ‘animals.’

bryozoan /ˌbrīəˈzōən / ‹Zoology›

I. noun

a sedentary aquatic invertebrate of the phylum Bryozoa, which comprises the moss animals.

II. adjective

relating to or denoting bryozoans.

Brythonic /ˌbriˈTHänik / Brittonic

I. adjective

denoting, relating to, or belonging to the southern group of Celtic languages, consisting of Welsh, Cornish, and Breton.

II. noun

the Brythonic languages collectively.

– origin from Welsh Brython ‘Britons’ + -ic.

Brześć nad Bugiem /bəˌZHesCH näd ˈbo͞oɡēəm/

Polish name for Brest (sense 2).

BS /ˈbē ˈes/

abbreviation

1. (US) Bachelor of Science.

2. balance sheet.

3. Blessed Sacrament.

4. (N. Amer.) ‹vulgar slang› used as a euphemism for “bullshit.”

BSA

abbreviation

Boy Scouts of America.

BSc /ˌbēˌesˈsē/

abbreviation

Bachelor of Science.

B-school /ˈbēsko͞ol/

abbreviation

business school.

BSE /ˈˌbē ˈˌes ˈē/

noun

bovine spongiform encephalopathy, a usually fatal disease of cattle affecting the central nervous system, causing agitation and staggering. It is thought to be caused by an agent such as a prion or a virino, and its possible connection with Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease in humans is still much debated.
Also (popularly) called mad cow disease.

B-side /ˈbē ˌsīd/

noun

the less important side of a pop single record.

BST /ˈˌbē ˈˌes ˈtē/

abbreviation

bovine somatotropin, especially as a hormone injected in cattle.

Bt.

abbreviation

Baronet.

B2B /bēːtəˈbēː/

abbreviation

business-to-business, denoting trade conducted via the Internet between businesses.

B2C

abbreviation

business-to-consumer, denoting trade conducted via the Internet between businesses and consumers.

B-tree /ˈbēˌtrē/

noun

[Computing] an organizational structure for information storage and retrieval in the form of a tree in which all terminal nodes are the same distance from the base, and all nonterminal nodes have between n and 2n subtrees or pointers (where n is an integer).

Btu BTU

abbreviation

British thermal unit(s).

BTW

abbreviation

by the way.

bu.

abbreviation

1. bureau.

2. bushel(s).

Bual /bwäl, bo͞oˈäl/

I. noun

1. a variety of wine grape grown chiefly in Madeira.

2. a Madeira wine of a medium sweet type made from Bual grapes.

– origin from Portuguese boal.

bub /bəb/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› an aggressive or rude way of addressing a boy or man

• hey, bub, I'm looking for someone.

– origin mid 19th cent.

bubal /ˈbyo͞obəl/

I. noun

a hartebeest, especially one of an extinct race that was formerly found in North Africa.
[Alcelaphus buselaphus buselaphus, family Bovidae.]

– origin late 18th cent.: from French bubale, via Latin from Greek boubalos ‘wild ox, antelope.’

bubba /ˈbəbə/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› used as an informal or affectionate form of address to a brother

• my sister has always called me bubba.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› ‹derogatory› a working-class white male of the rural South.

– origin late 19th cent.: alteration of brother.

bubbie /ˈbo͝obē, ˈbəbē/

I. noun

(US) ‹informal› (chiefly Jewish) one's grandmother.

– origin from Yiddish bubeleh ‘grandmother.’

bubble /ˈbəb(ə)l/

I. noun

1. a thin sphere of liquid enclosing air or another gas.

2. an air- or gas-filled spherical cavity in a liquid or a solidified liquid such as glass or amber.

3. used to refer to a good or fortunate situation that is isolated from reality or unlikely to last

• we both lived in a bubble, the kind provided by occupying a privileged pied-à-terre in Greenwich Village.

4. used to refer to a significant, usually rapid, increase in asset prices that is soon followed by a collapse in prices and typically arises from speculation or enthusiasm rather than intrinsic increases in value

• the US economy squandered trillions as a result of the 1990s stock market bubble

• many companies enjoyed rapid expansion before the bubble burst.

5. a transparent domed cover or enclosure

• piglets born into a sterile bubble.

6. a place or position that is protected from danger or unpleasant reality

• they are not on tour packages seeing foreign ports from a bubble.

7. (also bubble shell) — a marine mollusk that typically has a thin scroll-like shell.
[Bullidae and other families, order Cephalaspidea, class Gastropoda.]

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a liquid) contain bubbles of air or gas rising to the surface

• a pot of soup bubbled away on the stove.

2. (often as adj. bubbling) — make a sound resembling this

• a bubbling fountain.

3. (bubble with or over with) — (of a person) be exuberantly filled with an irrepressible positive feeling

• Ellen was bubbling with such enthusiasm.

4. (bubble up) — (especially of a negative feeling) become more intense and approach the point of being vehemently expressed

• the fury bubbling up inside her.

III. phrases

1. burst someone's bubble

shatter someone's illusions about something or destroy someone's sense of well-being.

2. on the bubble

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› (of a sports player or team) last or among the last awaiting news about qualifying for the final place in a competition.
[from sit on the bubble, with the implication that the bubble may burst.]

– origin Middle English: partly imitative, partly an alteration of burble.

bubble and squeak

I. noun

(Brit.) cooked cabbage fried with cooked potatoes and often meat.

– origin late 18th cent.: from the sounds of the mixture cooking.

bubble bath /ˈbəbl ˌbaTH/

noun

a bath of water with liquid, crystals, or powder added to make it foam and have a fragrant smell.

bubble canopy

noun

a transparent domed canopy on an aircraft or bubble car.

bubble car /ˈbəbəl kär/

noun

a small car with a transparent domed canopy and typically three wheels.

bubble chamber /ˈbəbəl ˈCHāmbər/

noun

[Physics] an apparatus designed to make the tracks of ionizing particles visible as a row of bubbles in a liquid.

bubble economy

noun

an unstable expanding economy; in particular, a period of heightened prosperity and increased commercial activity in Japan in the late 1980s brought about by artificially adjusted interest rates.

bubblegum /ˈbəb(ə)lˌɡəm/

noun

1. chewing gum that can be blown into bubbles.

2. (also bubblegum pink) — the bright pink color of bubblegum
[as modifier]

• bubblegum capri pants.

3. [usu. as modifier] — (chiefly N. Amer.) a thing considered to be insipid, simplistic, or adolescent in taste or style

• rockers hate bubblegum pop.

bubblehead /ˈbəbəlhed/

noun

‹informal› a foolish or empty-headed person.

bubblejet printer /ˈbəbəlˌjet ˌprin(t)ər/

noun

a kind of inkjet printer which the ink is heated, producing bubbles which force droplets of ink onto the paper.

bubble level

noun

another term for level (sense 3 of the noun).

bubble lift bubble

noun

‹informal› a ski lift with enclosed cabins.

bubble memory /ˈbəbəl ˌmem(ə)rē/

noun

[Computing] a type of memory in which data is stored as a pattern of magnetized regions in a thin layer of magnetic material.

bubble pack /ˈbəbəl pak/

noun

another term for bubble wrap.

bubbler /ˈbəb(ə)lər/

noun

(Austral.) (US) a drinking fountain.

bubble tea

noun

a cold, frothy drink made with iced tea, sweetened milk or other flavorings, and usually with sweet black balls or “pearls” made from tapioca.
Also called boba tea, pearl tea.

bubble wrap /ˈbəbəl rap / ‹US trademark› BubbleWrap

noun

plastic packaging material in sheets containing numerous small air cushions designed to protect fragile goods.

bubbly /ˈbəb(ə)lē/

I. adjective

1. containing bubbles

• bake until the top is crisp and bubbly.

2. (of a person) full of cheerful high spirits

• a bright and bubbly personality.

II. noun

‹informal› champagne.

Buber, Martin /ˈbo͞obər/

(1878–1965), Israeli religious philosopher, born in Austria. In his existentialist work I and Thou (1923), he argued that religious experience involves reciprocal relationships with a personal subject, rather than knowledge of some “thing.”

bubo /ˈb(y)o͞obō/

I. noun

a swollen, inflamed lymph node in the armpit or groin.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin, from Greek boubōn ‘groin or swelling in the groin.’

bubonic /b(y)o͞oˈbänik/

adjective

causing or characterized by swollen, inflamed lymph nodes in the armpit or groin

• three vials of inert bubonic bacteria from a laboratory

• patients suffering from the bubonic form of the plague should be placed in isolation.

bubonic plague /byo͞oˌbänik ˈplāɡ/

noun

the most common form of plague in humans, characterized by fever, delirium, and the formation of buboes.
The plague bacterium, Yersinia pestis is transmitted by rat fleas. Epidemics occurred in Europe throughout the Middle Ages (notably as the Black Death and the Great Plague of 1665–66); the disease is still endemic in parts of Asia.

bucatini /ˌbo͝okəˈtēnē/

I. noun

pasta in the shape of small tubes.

– origin Italian.

buccal /ˈbəkəl/

I. adjective

1. ‹technical› of or relating to the mouth

• the buccal cavity.

2. ‹technical› of or relating to the cheek

• the buccal side of the molars.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin bucca ‘cheek’ + -al.

buccaneer /ˌbəkəˈnir/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› a pirate, originally off the Spanish-American coasts.

2. ‹historical› a daring, adventurous, and sometimes reckless person, especially in business
[as modifier]

• a shrewd and buccaneering businessman.

– origin mid 17th cent. (originally denoting European hunters in the Caribbean): from French boucanier, from boucan ‘a frame on which to cook or cure meat,’ from Tupi mukem.

buccaneering /ˌbəkəˈniriNG/

adjective

daring and adventurous (often used in a business context)

• the buccaneering nature of the oil-transport industry.

buccinator /ˈbəksəˌnādər/

I. noun

[Anatomy] a flat, thin muscle in the wall of the cheek.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin, from buccinare ‘blow a trumpet,’ from buccina, denoting a kind of trumpet.

Bucephalus /byo͞oˈsefələs/

the favorite horse of Alexander the Great, who tamed the horse as a boy and took it with him on his campaigns until its death, after a battle, in 326 BC.

Buchanan, James /byo͞oˈkanən/

(1791–1868), 15th president of the US 1857–61. A Pennsylvania Democrat, he served as US congressman 1821–31, minister to Russia 1832–33, US senator 1834–45, US secretary of state 1845–49, and minister to Great Britain 1853–56. As president, his leanings toward the pro-slavery side in the developing dispute over slavery made the issue more fraught. He retired from politics in 1861.

Bucharest /ˈbo͞okəˌrest/

the capital of Romania, in the southeastern part of the country; pop. 1,931,236 (2006).
Romanian name Bucureşti.

Buchenwald /ˈbo͞okənˌwäld/

a Nazi concentration camp in World War II, near the village of Buchenwald in central Germany.

Buchner, Eduard /ˈbo͞oknər, ˈbo͝ok-/

(1860–1917), German organic chemist. He studied the chemistry of alcoholic fermentation and identified several enzymes, notably zymase. Nobel Prize for Chemistry (1907).

buck^1 /bək/

I. noun

1. the male of some antlered animals, especially the fallow deer, roe deer, reindeer, and antelopes.
Compare with doe.

2. a male hare, rabbit, ferret, rat, or kangaroo.

3. a vaulting horse.

4. a vertical jump performed by a horse, with the head lowered, back arched, and back legs thrown out behind.

5. ‹dated› a fashionable and typically high-spirited young man.

6. ‹informal› ‹offensive› a black or American Indian man.

7. (bucks) — an oxford shoe made of buckskin.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — (of a horse) to perform a buck

• he's got to get his head down to buck

• [with obj.] she bucked them off if they tried to get on her back.

2. (of a vehicle) make sudden jerky movements

• the boat began to buck in the water.

3. [with obj.] — oppose or resist (something that seems oppressive or inevitable)

• the shares bucked the market trend.

4. [with obj.] — ‹informal› make (someone) more cheerful

• Bella and Jim need me to buck them up

• (buck up) buck up, kid, it's not the end of the world.

III. adjective

(US) ‹military slang› lowest of a particular rank

• a buck private.

– origin Old English, partly from buc ‘male deer’ (of Germanic origin, related to Dutch bok and German Bock); reinforced by bucca ‘male goat,’ of the same ultimate origin.

buck^2 /bək/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) (Austral./NZ) ‹informal› a dollar

• a run-down hotel room for five bucks a night.

II. phrases

1. big bucks

(N. Amer.) (Austral./NZ) ‹informal› a lot of money.

2. a fast (or quick) buck

(N. Amer.) (Austral./NZ) ‹informal› easily and quickly earned money

• the pursuit of a fast buck is the cause of most losses.

– origin mid 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

buck^3 /bək/

I. noun

an article placed as a reminder before a player whose turn it is to deal at poker.

II. phrases

1. the buck stops here (or with someone)

‹informal› the responsibility for something cannot or should not be passed to someone else.

2. pass the buck

‹informal› shift the responsibility for something to someone else.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from the use of a buck-handled knife to indicate the dealer in a poker game.

Buck, Pearl S. /bək/

(1892–1973), US writer; full name Pearl Sydenstricker Buck. Her upbringing and work in China inspired her earliest novels, including The Good Earth (1931) and Dragon Seed (1942). Nobel Prize for Literature (1938).

buck-and-wing /ˌbəkənˈwiNG/

noun

(US) ‹chiefly historical› a lively solo tap dance, typically done in wooden-soled shoes.

buckaroo /ˌbəkəˈro͞o/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹dated› a cowboy.

– origin early 19th cent.: alteration of vaquero.

buckbean /ˈbəkbēn/

I. noun

a plant of bogs and shallow water with creeping rhizomes, beanlike leaves that consist of three leaflets, and white or pinkish hairy flowers. Formerly used as a substitute for hops, it is now cultivated as an ornamental aquatic plant.
Also called bogbean. [Menyanthes trifoliata, family Menyanthaceae.]

– origin late 16th cent.: from Flemish bocks boonen ‘goat's beans.’

buckboard /ˈbəkbôrd/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) an open, four-wheeled, horse-drawn carriage with seating that is attached to a plank stretching between the front and rear axles.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from buck ‘body of a cart’ (perhaps a variant of obsolete bouk ‘belly, body’) + board.

buckbrush /ˈbəkˌbrəSH/

noun

(N. Amer.) coarse vegetation on which wild deer browse.

buckeroo /ˌbəkəˈro͞o/

noun

variant spelling of buckaroo.

bucket /ˈbəkət/

I. noun

1. a roughly cylindrical open container, typically made of metal or plastic, with a handle, used to hold and carry liquids or other material.

2. the contents of a bucket or the amount it can contain

• she emptied a bucket of water over them.

3. (buckets) — ‹informal› large quantities of liquid, typically rain or tears

• I wept buckets.

4. [Basketball] ‹informal› a basket.

5. a compartment on the outer edge of a waterwheel.

6. the scoop of a dredger or grain elevator.

7. a scoop attached to the front of a loader, digger, or tractor.

8. [Computing] a unit of data that can be transferred from secondary storage in a single operation.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (it buckets, it is bucketing, etc.) — ‹informal› rain heavily

• it was still bucketing down.

2. [with adverbial of direction] — (of a vehicle) move quickly and jerkily

• the car came bucketing out of a side road.

III. phrases

1. a drop in the bucket

see drop.

2. kick the bucket

see kick^1.

IV. derivatives

bucketful /ˈbəkətˌfo͝ol /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French buquet ‘tub, pail,’ perhaps from Old English būc ‘belly, pitcher.’

bucket brigade

noun

a line of people who pass buckets of water from one to another to put out a fire.

bucket hat

noun

a simple soft cloth hat with a brim.

bucket list

I. noun

‹informal› a number of experiences or achievements that a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime

• making this trip is the first thing on my bucket list.

– origin early 21st cent.: from the phrase kick the bucket ‘die’ (see kick^1), popularized by the 2007 movie The Bucket List.

bucketload /ˈbəkətˌlōd/

noun

1. as much as can be held by a bucket.

2. ‹informal› a large quantity

• he scoops up business donations by the bucketload.

bucket seat /ˈbəkət ˈsēt/

noun

a seat in a car or aircraft with a rounded back to fit one person.

bucket shop /ˈbəkət ˌSHäp/

noun

‹informal› ‹derogatory› an unauthorized office for speculating in stocks or currency using the funds of unwitting investors.

bucketwheel /ˈbəkətˌ(h)wēl/

noun

a machine with a series of scoops or buckets on a rotating belt, used to excavate or move material.

buckeye /ˈbəkˌī/

noun

1. a North American tree or shrub related to the horse chestnut, with showy yellow, red, or white flowers.
[Genus Aesculus, family Hippocastanaceae: several species, including the Ohio buckeye (A. glabra), with yellow flowers and prickly fruit husks.]

2. (also buckeye butterfly) — an orange and brown New World butterfly with conspicuous eyespots on the wings.
[Junonia coenia, subfamily Nymphalinae, family Nymphalidae.]

3. (Buckeye) — (US) ‹informal› a native of the state of Ohio.
[from the name given to the state, with reference to the abundance of buckeye trees.]

4. (also buckeye coupling) — a kind of automatic coupling for railroad rolling stock.
[named after the Buckeye Steel Castings Company, Columbus, Ohio.]

Buckeye State

a nickname for the state of Ohio.

buck fever

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› nervousness felt by novice hunters when they first sight game.

buckhorn /ˈbəkhôrn/

noun

the horn of a deer, used typically to make knife handles, small containers, or rifle sights.

buckhound /ˈbəkhound/

noun

a staghound of a small breed.

buckjump /ˈbəkjəmp / ‹Austral.›

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a horse) jump vertically with the head lowered, back arched, and legs drawn together in an attempt to unseat the rider.

II. noun — [often as modifier]

1. an act or display of buckjumping

• a buckjump rider.

III. derivatives

buckjumper

noun

buckjumping /ˈbəkˌjəmpiNG/

noun

a rodeo event in which a rider attempts to stay in the saddle of a bucking horse for a period of eight seconds
[as modifier]

• a buckjumping event.

buckle /ˈbək(ə)l/

I. noun

1. a flat, typically rectangular frame with a hinged pin, used for joining the ends of a belt or strap.

2. a similarly shaped ornament, especially on a shoe.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — fasten or decorate with a buckle

• he buckled his belt.

2. [no obj.] (buckle up) — fasten one's seat belt in a car or aircraft.

3. [no obj.] — bend and give way under pressure or strain

• the earth buckled under the titanic stress.

[from French boucler ‘to bulge.’]

4. [with obj.] — bend (something) out of shape

• a giant oak buckles the sidewalk.

5. (of a person) yield or collapse under pressure

• a weaker person might have buckled under the strain.

III. phrasal verbs

buckle down

tackle a task with determination

• they will buckle down to negotiations over the next few months.

– origin Middle English: from Old French bocle, from Latin buccula ‘cheek strap of a helmet,’ from bucca ‘cheek.’

buckle bunny

noun

(US) ‹informal› a woman who is a follower or devotee of rodeos and cowboys.

buckler /ˈbək(ə)lər/

I. noun

‹historical› a small, round shield held by a handle or worn on the forearm.

– origin Middle English: from Old French (escu) bocler, literally ‘(shield) with a boss,’ from bocle ‘buckle, boss’ (see buckle).

Buckley, William F. /ˈbəklē/

(1925–2008), US journalist and writer; full name William Frank Buckley, Jr. Founder of the conservative magazine National Review (1955), he hosted the television discussion program Firing Line 1966–99.

buckminsterfullerene /ˌbəkminstərˈfo͝oləˌrēn/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a form of carbon having molecules of 60 atoms arranged in a polyhedron resembling a geodesic sphere.
See also fullerene.

– origin 1980s: named after Richard Buckminster Fuller (see Fuller, R. Buckminster).

buck naked //

adjective

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) completely naked.

bucko /ˈbəkō/

I. noun

‹informal› a young man (often as a form of address)

• now hold on a minute, bucko.

– origin late 19th cent. (originally nautical slang): from buck^1 + -o.

buck-passing /ˈbəkˌpasiNG/

noun

the practice of shifting the responsibility for something to someone else.

buckra /ˈbəkrə/

I. noun

(US) (W. Indian) ‹informal› ‹chiefly derogatory› a white person, typically a man.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Ibibio and Efik (m)bakara ‘European, master.’

buckram /ˈbəkrəm/

I. noun

coarse linen or other cloth stiffened with gum or paste and used typically as interfacing and in bookbinding.

– origin Middle English (denoting a kind of fine linen or cotton cloth): from Old French boquerant, perhaps from Bukhara in central Asia.

bucksaw /ˈbəksô/

noun

a type of saw typically set in an H-shaped frame and used with both hands.

Bucks County /ˌbəks ˈkoun(t)ē/

a county in southeastern Pennsylvania, on the Delaware River, noted for its affluent Philadelphia suburbs and its artists' colonies; pop. 621,643 (est. 2008). Its seat is Doylestown.

buckshee /ˌbəkˈSHē ˈbəkSHē/

I. adjective

‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) free of charge

• a buckshee brandy.

– origin World War I (originally soldiers' slang): alteration of baksheesh.

buckshot /ˈbəkˌSHät/

noun

coarse lead shot used in shotgun shells.

buckskin /ˈbəkˌskin/

I. noun

1. the skin of a male deer.

2. grayish leather with a suede finish, traditionally made from the skin of a male deer but now more commonly made from sheepskin
[as modifier]

• a pair of buckskin moccasins.

3. (buckskins) — clothes or shoes made from buckskin.

4. thick, smooth cotton or woolen fabric.

5. (N. Amer.) a horse of a grayish-yellow color.

II. derivatives

buckskinned

adjective

buckthorn /ˈbəkTHôrn/

I. noun

1. a shrub or small tree of the buckthorn family, typically bearing thorns. Some kinds yield dyes, and others have been used medicinally.
[Genus Rhamnus, family Rhamnaceae: several species, including the European common buckthorn (R. cathartica), now established in the northeastern and central US, and the Carolina buckthorn (R. caroliniana) of the southern US.]

2. (also buckthorn bumelia) — a shrub or small tree of the sapodilla family, with sharp thorns and clusters of small white flowers, commonly found in moist soils of the southern and central US.
[Bumelia lycioides, family Sapotaceae.]

– origin late 16th cent.: from buck^1 in the sense ‘deer’ + thorn, translating modern Latin spina cervina.

buck tooth

I. noun

an upper tooth that projects over the lower lip.

II. derivatives

buck-toothed /ˌbəkˈto͞oTHt /

adjective

buckwheat /ˈbəkˌ(h)wēt/

I. noun

1. an Asian plant of the dock family that produces starchy seeds. The seeds are used for fodder and are also milled into flour that is widely used in the US.
[Fagopyrum esculentum, family Polygonaceae.]

2. (in full buckwheat tree) — see titi^2.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Middle Dutch boecweite ‘beech wheat,’ its grains being shaped like beech mast.

buckyball /ˈbəkēˌbôl/

I. plural noun

[Chemistry] a hollow spherical molecule composed of a large number of carbon atoms.

– origin 1980s: from buckminsterfullerene and ball^1.

buckytube /ˈbəkēˌt(y)o͞ob/

noun

‹informal› a carbon nanotube.

bucolic /byo͞oˈkälik/

I. adjective

of or relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life

• the church is lovely for its bucolic setting.

II. noun — (usu. bucolics)

1. a pastoral poem.

– origin early 16th cent. (denoting a pastoral poem): via Latin from Greek boukolikos, from boukolos ‘herdsman,’ from bous ‘ox.’

Bucureşti /ˌbo͞oko͞oˈreSHt(ē)/

Romanian name for Bucharest.

bud^1 /bəd/

I. noun

1. a compact knoblike growth on a plant that develops into a leaf, flower, or shoot.

2. [Biology] an outgrowth from an organism (e.g., a yeast cell) that separates to form a new individual without sexual reproduction taking place.

3. [with modifier] — [Zoology] (of an animal) a rudimentary leg or other appendage that has not yet grown, or never will grow, to full size.

4. ‹informal› (chiefly US) marijuana

• I found him outside, smoking some bud.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. [Biology] (of a plant or animal) form a bud

• new blood vessels bud out from the vascular bed

• [with obj.] tapeworms bud off egg-bearing sections from their tail end.

2. [with obj.] — [Biology] graft a bud of (a plant) onto another plant.

III. phrases

in bud

(of a plant) having newly formed buds.

– origin late Middle English: of unknown origin.

bud^2 /bəd/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a form of address, usually to a boy or man, used especially when the name of the one being addressed is not known

• listen, bud, I saw you there with my own eyes.

– origin mid 19th cent.: abbreviation of buddy.

Budapest /ˈbo͞odəˌpest ˈbo͞odəˌpeSHt/

the capital of Hungary, in the northern central part of the country; pop. 1,712,210 (2009). It was formed in 1873 by the union of the city of Buda on the right bank of the Danube River with the city of Pest on the left.

Buddha /ˈbo͝odə/

I. (often the Buddha)

1. a title given to the founder of Buddhism, Siddartha Gautama (c. 563–c. 460 BC). Born a prince in what is now Nepal, he renounced wealth and family to become an ascetic, and after achieving enlightenment while meditating, taught all who came to learn from him.

2. (as noun a buddha) — [Buddhism] a person who has attained full enlightenment.

3. a statue or picture of the Buddha.

– origin Sanskrit, literally ‘enlightened,’ past participle of budh ‘know.’

Buddhism /ˈbo͞odizəm ˈbo͝odizəm/

noun

1. a widespread Asian religion or philosophy, founded by Siddartha Gautama in northeastern India in the 5th century BC.

Buddhism has no creator god and gives a central role to the doctrine of karma. The ‘four noble truths’ of Buddhism state that all existence is suffering, that the cause of suffering is desire, that freedom from suffering is nirvana, and that this is attained through the ‘eightfold’ path of ethical conduct, wisdom, and mental discipline (including meditation). There are two major traditions, Theravada and Mahayana.

Buddhist /ˈbo͝odəst/

I. noun

an adherent of the religion based on the teachings of Buddha

• she was a practicing Buddhist

• devout Buddhists participate in the ceremonies.

II. adjective

of or relating to the religion based on the teachings of Buddha

• the retiring Buddhist abbot

• a huge Buddhist altar.

III. derivatives

1. Buddhistic /bo͝oˈdistik /

adjective

2. Buddhistical /bo͝oˈdistik(ə)l /

adjective

budding /ˈbədiNG/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of a plant) having or developing buds

• a budding chrysanthemum.

2. (of a part of the body) becoming larger as part of the process of normal growth.

3. (of a person) beginning and showing signs of promise in a particular career or field

• budding young actors.

4. just beginning and showing promising signs of continuing

• their budding relationship.

buddle /ˈbəd(ə)l/

I. noun

a shallow inclined container in which ore is washed.

– origin mid 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

buddleia /ˈbədlēə ˌbədˈlēə/

I. noun

a widely cultivated shrub with fragrant lilac, white, or yellow flowers.
[Genus Buddleia (or Buddleja), family Loganiaceae: several species, esp. the butterfly bush.]

– origin modern Latin; named in honor of the English botanist Adam Buddle (died 1715), by Linnaeus, at the suggestion of Sir William Houston who introduced the plant to Europe from South America.

buddy /ˈbədē / ‹informal chiefly N. Amer.›

I. noun

1. a close friend.

2. a working companion with whom close cooperation is required.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. become friendly and spend time with

• I decided to buddy up to them.

– origin mid 19th cent.: perhaps an alteration of brother.

buddy-buddy /ˌbədēˈbədē/

adjective

‹informal› ‹chiefly derogatory› very friendly

• he's buddy-buddy with the ambassador.

buddy movie /ˈbədē ˈmo͞ovē/

noun

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) a movie portraying a close friendship between two people, especially between two men.

buddy system /ˈbədē ˈsistim ˈsistəm/

noun

a cooperative arrangement whereby individuals are paired or teamed up and assume responsibility for one another's instruction, productivity, welfare, or safety.

budge /bəj/

I. verb — [usu. with negative]

1. make or cause to make the slightest movement
[no obj.]

• the line in the bank hasn't budged

• [with obj.] I couldn't budge the door.

2. [no obj.] (budge over) — ‹informal› make room for another person by moving

• budge over, boys, make room for your uncle.

3. [usu. with modal] — change or make (someone) change an opinion
[no obj.]

• I tried to persuade him, but he wouldn't budge

• [with obj.] neither bribe nor threat will budge him.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French bouger ‘to stir,’ based on Latin bullire ‘to boil.’

Budge, Don /bəj/

(1915–2000), US tennis player; full name John Donald Budge. He was the first to win all four Grand Slam singles titles in the same year (1938).

budgerigar /ˈbəjərēˌɡär/

I. noun

a small gregarious Australian parakeet that in the wild is green with a yellow head. It is popular as a pet bird and has been bred in a variety of colors.
[Melopsittacus undulatus, family Psittacidae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: of Aboriginal origin, perhaps an alteration of Kamilaroi gijirrigaa (also in related languages).

budget /ˈbəjət/

I. noun

1. an estimate of income and expenditure for a set period of time

• keep within the household budget

• [as modifier] a budget deficit.

2. an annual or other regular estimate of national revenue and expenditure put forward by the government, often including details of changes in taxation.

3. the amount of money needed or available for a purpose

• they have a limited budget.

4. ‹archaic› a quantity of material, typically that which is written or printed.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. allow or provide a particular amount of money in a budget

• the university is budgeting for a deficit

• (as noun budgeting) corporate planning and budgeting.

2. [with obj.] — provide (a sum of money) for a particular purpose from a budget

• the council proposes to budget $100,000 to provide grants

• (as adj. budgeted) a budgeted figure of $31,000.

III. adjective — [attrib.]

1. inexpensive

• a budget guitar.

IV. phrases

on a budget

with a restricted amount of money

• we're traveling on a budget.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French bougette, diminutive of bouge ‘leather bag,’ from Latin bulga ‘leather bag, knapsack,’ of Gaulish origin. Compare with bulge. The word originally meant a pouch or wallet, and later its contents. In the mid 18th cent., the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the UK, in presenting his annual statement, was said “to open the budget.” In the late 19th cent. the use of the term was extended from governmental to private or commercial finances.

budgetary /ˈbəjiterē/

adjective

relating to or in accordance with an estimate of income and expenditure

• tight budgetary constraints

• a coalition to prevent budgetary cuts to schools.

budgie /ˈbəjē/

noun

informal term for budgerigar.

bud-graft /ˈbədˌɡraft/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. graft a bud of (a plant) onto another plant.

II. noun

a plant grown by grafting a bud onto another plant.

budtender /ˈbədˌtendər/

I. noun

(US) a person who serves customers at an establishment where marijuana is sold

• I started working at the dispensary as a budtender last June.

– origin 1990s: blend of bud^1 (sense 2 of the noun) and bartender.

Budweis /ˈbo͝otvīs/

German name for České Budějovice.

budwood /ˈbədwo͝od/

noun

short lengths of young branches with buds prepared for grafting onto the rootstock of another plant.

budworm /ˈbədwərm/

noun

a moth caterpillar that is destructive to buds.
See spruce budworm.

Buena Park /ˈbwānə, ˈbyo͞o-/

a city in southern California, southeast of Los Angeles; pop. 79,379 (est. 2008). Its tourist attractions include Knott's Berry Farm, a theme park.

Buenaventura /ˌbwānəvenˈt(y)o͝orə, ˌbwenə-/

the chief Pacific Ocean port of Colombia; pop. 324,207 (2005).

Buena Vista

a village in northern Mexico, in Coahuila state, near Saltillo, where US forces under Zachary Taylor won a major battle against Mexican forces under Santa Anna in February 1847.

Buenos Aires /ˌbwānəs ˈerēs ˈbwānəs ˌīrəz/

the capital city and chief port of Argentina, in the eastern central part of the country, on the Plata River; pop. 3,042,600 (est. 2008).

Buerger's disease /ˈbərɡərz diˌzēz/

I. noun

inflammation and thrombosis in small and medium-sized blood vessels, typically in the legs and leading to gangrene. It has been associated with smoking.

– origin early 20th cent.: named after L. Buerger (1879–1943), American surgeon.

buff^1 /bəf/

I. noun

1. a yellowish-beige color
[as modifier]

• a buff envelope.

2. a stout, dull yellow leather with a velvety surface.

3. a stick, wheel, or pad used for polishing or smoothing.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. polish (something)

• he buffed the glass until it gleamed.

2. give (leather) a velvety finish by removing the surface of the grain.

III. adjective

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› being in good physical shape with fine muscle tone.

IV. phrases

in the buff

‹informal› naked.

– origin mid 16th cent.: probably from French buffle, from Italian bufalo, from late Latin bufalus (see buffalo). The original sense in English was ‘buffalo,’ later ‘oxhide’ or ‘color of oxhide.’

buff^2 /bəf/

I. noun — [with modifier]

1. ‹informal› a person who is enthusiastically interested in and very knowledgeable about a particular subject

• a computer buff.

– origin early 20th cent.: from buff^1, originally applied to enthusiastic fire-watchers, because of the buff uniforms formerly worn by New York volunteer firemen.

buffalo /ˈbəf(ə)ˌlō/

I. noun

1. a heavily built wild ox with backswept horns, found mainly in the Old World tropics.
[● four species native to southern Asia (genus Bubalus, family Bovidae). See also water buffalo, anoa ● see African buffalo.]

2. the North American bison.

3. (also buffalo fish) — a large grayish-olive freshwater fish with thick lips, common in North America.
[Genus Ictiobus, family Catostomidae: several species.]

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› overawe or intimidate (someone)

• she didn't like being buffaloed.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› baffle (someone)

• the problem has buffaloed the advertising staff.

– origin mid 16th cent.: probably from Spanish or Portuguese búfalo, from late Latin bufalus, from earlier bubalus, from Greek boubalos ‘antelope, wild ox.’

Buffalo /ˈbəf(ə)ˌlō/

an industrial city in the northwestern part of the state of New York; pop. 270,919 (est. 2008). Located at the eastern end of Lake Erie, it is a major port on the St. Lawrence Seaway.

buffalo berry

noun

1. a North American shrub with silvery twigs and leaves and edible berries.
See also soapberry. [Genus Shepherdia, family Elaeagnaceae: two species, the western silver buffalo berry (S. argentea), with bright red berries, and the northern Canada buffalo berry (S. canadensis), with reddish or yellow berries.]

2. the berry of the buffalo berry shrub.

Buffalo Bill

(1846–1917), US showman; born William Frederick Cody. He gained his nickname for killing 4,280 buffalo in 8 months to feed the Union Pacific Railroad workers. He subsequently devoted his life to his traveling Wild West Show.

buffalo gnat

noun

(N. Amer.) another term for black fly (sense 2).

buffalo grass /ˈbəf(ə)ˌlō ɡras/

noun

any of a number of grasses, in particular
[● a creeping grass of the North American plains, which is sometimes used for erosion control (Buchloe dactyloides, family Gramineae). ● a grass native to Australia and New Zealand (Stenotaphrum secundatum, family Gramineae).]

buffalo mozzarella

noun

mozzarella cheese made in the traditional way, from the milk of the water buffalo.

Buffalo River

a river that flows for 132 miles (213 km) through the Ozark Plateau in northwestern Arkansas and is a designated national preserve.

buffalo robe

noun

a rug, cloak, or blanket made from the dressed hide of a North American bison.

buffalo soldier

noun

(in US history) an African-American cavalry soldier.

Buffalo wings buffalo wings, Buffalo chicken wings

plural noun

(N. Amer.) deep-fried chicken wings coated in a spicy sauce and usually served with blue cheese dressing.

buffer /ˈbəfər/

I. noun

1. a person or thing that prevents incompatible or antagonistic people or things from coming into contact with or harming each other

• family and friends can provide a buffer against stress.

2. (also buffer solution) — [Chemistry] a solution that resists changes in pH when acid or alkali is added to it. Buffers typically involve a weak acid or alkali together with one of its salts.

3. [Computing] a temporary memory area in which data is stored while it is being processed or transferred, especially one used while streaming video or downloading audio.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. lessen or moderate the impact of (something)

• the massage helped to buffer the strain.

2. treat with a chemical buffer

• add organic matter to buffer the resulting alkalinity.

3. [Computing] store (data) in a buffer while it is being processed or transferred

• try buffering as much of the video stream as you can before you hit the 'play' button.

– origin mid 19th cent.: probably from obsolete buff (verb), imitative of the sound of a blow to a soft body.

buffer state /ˈbəfər ˌstāt/

noun

a small neutral country, situated between two larger hostile countries, serving to prevent the outbreak of regional conflict.

buffer zone /ˈbəfər ˌzōn/

noun

1. a neutral area serving to separate hostile forces or nations.

2. an area of land designated for environmental protection

• oyster harvesters are not allowed in certain buffer zones.

buffet^1 /bəˈfā/

I. noun

1. a meal consisting of several dishes from which guests serve themselves
[as modifier]

• a cold buffet lunch.

2. a room or counter in a station, hotel, or other public building selling light meals or snacks.

3. (N. Amer.) a cabinet with shelves and drawers for keeping dinnerware and table linens.

– origin early 18th cent. (sense 3): from French, from Old French bufet ‘stool,’ of unknown origin.

buffet^2 /ˈbəfət/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (especially of wind or waves) strike repeatedly and violently; batter

• the rough seas buffeted the coast

• [no obj.] the wind was buffeting at their bodies.

2. knock (someone) over or off course

• he was buffeted from side to side.

3. (of misfortunes or difficulties) afflict or harm (someone) repeatedly or over a long period

• they were buffeted by a major recession.

II. noun

1. ‹dated› a blow, typically of the hand or fist.

2. a shock or misfortune

• the daily buffets of urban civilization.

3. [Aeronautics] another term for buffeting.

– origin Middle English: from Old French buffeter (verb), buffet (noun), diminutive of bufe ‘a blow.’

buffeting /ˈbəfədiNG/

noun

1. the action of striking someone or something repeatedly and violently

• the roofs have survived the buffeting of worse winds than this.

2. the action or result of afflicting or harming someone, typically repeatedly or over a long period

• the buffeting that people are taking in lost job status.

3. [Aeronautics] irregular oscillation of part of an aircraft, caused by turbulence.

Buffett, Warren /ˈbəfit/

(1930–), US businessman and financier, noted for his philanthropic activities; full name Warren Edward Buffett.

bufflehead /ˈbəflhed/

I. noun

a small North American diving duck related to the goldeneye, with a large puffy head. The male has white plumage with a black back.
[Bucephala albeola, family Anatidae.]

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘simpleton’): from obsolete buffle ‘buffalo’ + head. The current sense (mid 18th cent.) may be an independent formation because of the duck's large square-shaped head.

buffo /ˈbo͞ofō/

I. noun

a comic actor in Italian opera or a person resembling such an actor.

II. adjective

of or typical of Italian comic opera

• a buffo character.

– origin mid 18th cent.: Italian, ‘puff of wind, buffoon,’ from buffare ‘to puff,’ of imitative origin.

Buffon, Comte de /bYˈfôN/

(1707–88), French naturalist; born Georges-Louis Leclerc. A founder of paleontology, he emphasized the unity of all living species, minimizing the apparent differences between animals and plants. His compilation of the animal kingdom, the Histoire Naturelle, reached 36 volumes by the time of his death.

buffoon /bəˈfo͞on/

I. noun

a ridiculous but amusing person; a clown.

II. derivatives

buffoonish

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French bouffon, from Italian buffone, from medieval Latin buffo ‘clown.’ Originally recorded as a rare Scots word for a kind of pantomime dance, the term later (late 16th cent.) denoted a professional jester.

buffoonery /bəˈfo͞onərē/

noun

behavior that is ridiculous but amusing.

bug /bəɡ/

I. noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) a small insect.

2. ‹informal› a harmful microorganism, as a bacterium or virus.

3. an illness caused by a harmful microorganism such as a bacterium or virus

• suffering from a flu bug.

4. [with modifier] — ‹informal› an enthusiastic, almost obsessive, interest in something

• they caught the sailing bug

• Joe was bitten by the showbiz bug.

5. (also true bug) — [Entomology] an insect of a large order distinguished by having mouthparts that are modified for piercing and sucking.
[Order Hemiptera: see Hemiptera.]

6. a miniature microphone, typically concealed in a room or telephone, used for surveillance.

7. an error in a computer program or system.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. conceal a miniature microphone in (a room or telephone) in order to monitor or record someone's conversations

• the telephones in the presidential palace were bugged.

2. record or monitor (a conversation) by concealing a microphone in a room or telephone.

3. ‹informal› annoy or bother (someone)

• a persistent reporter was bugging me.

III. phrasal verbs

1. bug off

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› go away.

2. bug out ‹informal›

a. leave quickly

• if you see enemy troops, bug out.

b. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› bulge outward

• he did a double take and his eyes bugged out.

– origin early 17th cent.: of unknown origin. Current verb senses date from the early 20th cent.

bugaboo /ˈbəɡəˌbo͞o/

I. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) an object of fear or alarm; a bugbear.

– origin mid 18th cent.: probably of Celtic origin and related to Welsh bwci bo ‘bogey, the Devil,’ bwci ‘hobgoblin’ and Cornish bucca.

bugbane /ˈbəɡbān/

I. noun

a tall plant with wandlike spikes of cream or yellow flowers. A member of the buttercup family, it is native to north temperate regions.
[Genus Cimicifuga, family Ranunculaceae: several species, in particular the American bugbane (C. americana) of the eastern US and the black cohosh (C. racemosa).]

– origin early 19th cent.: from bug + bane, with reference to the former use of the species C. foetida to drive away bedbugs.

bugbear /ˈbəɡˌber/

I. noun

1. a cause of obsessive fear, irritation, or loathing.

2. ‹archaic› an imaginary being invoked to frighten children, typically a sort of hobgoblin supposed to devour them.

– origin late 16th cent.: probably from obsolete bug ‘bogey’ (of unknown origin) + bear^2.

bug-eyed /ˈbəɡ ˌīd/

adjective, adverb

with bulging eyes
[as adj.]

• bug-eyed monsters

• [as adv.] he stared bug-eyed at John.

bug fix

I. noun

a correction to a bug in a computer program or system

• software companies typically provide technical support and bug fixes for only a limited time.

II. derivatives

bug fixing

noun

bugger /ˈbəɡər ˈbo͝oɡər / ‹vulgar slang chiefly Brit.›

I. noun

1. a contemptible or pitied person, typically a man.

2. used as a term of affection or respect, typically grudgingly

• all right, let the little buggers come in.

3. ‹derogatory› a person who commits buggery.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. penetrate the anus of (someone) during sexual intercourse; sodomize.

III. exclamation

used to express annoyance or anger.

IV. phrasal verbs

bugger off

[usu. in imperative] — ‹vulgar slang› (chiefly Brit.) go away.

– origin Middle English (originally denoting a heretic, specifically an Albigensian): from Middle Dutch, from Old French bougre, originally in the sense ‘heretic,’ from medieval Latin Bulgarus ‘Bulgarian,’ particularly one belonging to the Orthodox Church and therefore regarded as a heretic by the Roman Church. The sense ‘sodomite’ (16th cent.) arose from an association of heresy with forbidden sexual practices; its use as a general insult dates from the early 18th cent. Compare with Bulgar.

buggery /ˈbəɡərē/

I. noun

anal intercourse.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘heresy’): from Middle Dutch buggerie, from Old French bougrerie, from bougre (see bugger).

buggy^1 /ˈbəɡē/

I. noun

1. a small or light vehicle, in particular

2. a small motor vehicle, typically one with an open top

• a golf buggy.

3. short for baby buggy.

4. ‹historical› a light, horse-drawn vehicle for one or two people, with two or four wheels.

– origin mid 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

buggy^2 /ˈbəɡē/

adjective

1. infested with bugs.

2. (of a computer program or system) faulty in operation.

3. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› crazy; insane.

bughouse /ˈbəɡˌhous / ‹N. Amer. informal›

I. noun

a mental hospital or asylum.

II. adjective

crazy; insane.

bug juice

noun

1. whisky or other liquor, especially when of poor quality.

2. a sweet, artificially colored, non-carbonated soft drink.

bugle^1 /ˈbyo͞oɡəl/

I. noun

1. a brass instrument like a small trumpet, typically without valves or keys and used for military signals.

2. a loud sound resembling that of a bugle, as the mating call of a bull elk

• the piercing bugle of adult bulls.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. sound a bugle.

2. [with obj.] — sound (a note or call) on a bugle

• he bugled a warning.

3. issue a loud sound resembling that of a bugle, particularly the mating call of a bull elk.

III. derivatives

bugler /ˈbyo͞oɡlər /

noun

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin buculus, diminutive of bos ‘ox.’ The early English sense was ‘wild ox,’ hence the compound bugle-horn, being originally the horn of an ox used to give signals in hunting.

bugle^2 /ˈbyo͞oɡəl/

I. noun

a creeping plant of the mint family with blue flowers held on upright stems.
Also called bugleweed. [Genus Ajuga, family Labiatae: several species, esp. the common A. reptans.]

– origin Middle English: from late Latin bugula.

bugle^3 /ˈbyo͞oɡəl/

I. noun — (also bugle bead)

1. an ornamental tube-shaped glass or plastic bead used in beadwork for clothing and fashion accessories.

– origin late 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

bugloss /ˈbyo͞oɡläs/

I. noun

a bristly plant of the borage family, with bright blue flowers.
[Anchusa, Lycopsis, and other genera, family Boraginaceae: several species, including the small bugloss (L. arvensis) and the widespread viper's bugloss.]

– origin late Middle English: from Old French buglosse or Latin buglossus, from Greek bouglōssos ‘ox-tongued,’ from bous ‘ox’ + glōssa ‘tongue.’

buhl /bo͞ol/

I. noun

brass, tortoiseshell, or other material cut to make a pattern and used for inlaying furniture
[as modifier]

• buhl cabinets.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French boule, from the name of André Charles Boulle (1642–1732), French cabinetmaker. The variant buhl, apparently a modern Germanized spelling, is standard in the US.

buhrstone /ˈbərstōn / burstone, burrstone

noun

a porous limestone formerly much used for millstones.

build /bild/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. construct (something, typically something large) by putting parts or material together over a period of time

• the factory was built in 1936.

2. commission, finance, and oversee the building of (something)

• the city council plans to build a bridge.

3. (build something in/into) — incorporate (something) and make it a permanent part of a structure, system, or situation

• engineers want to build in extra traction.

4. [Computing] compile (a program, database, index, etc.).

5. establish and develop (a business, relationship, or situation) over a period of time

• he'd built up the store from nothing.

6. [no obj.] (build on) — use as a basis for further progress or development

• the nation should build on the talents of its workforce.

7. increase the size, intensity, or extent of

• we built up confidence in our abilities

• [no obj.] the air of excited anticipation builds.

II. noun

1. the dimensions or proportions of a person's or animal's body

• she was of medium height and slim build

• [in sing.] he has the ideal build for a sprinter.

2. the style or form of construction of something, typically a vehicle.

3. [Computing] a compiled version of a program.

4. the process of compiling a program.

III. phrases

1. build one's hopes up

become ever more hopeful or optimistic about something.

2. built upon/on sand

without reliable foundations or any real substance

• what more could you expect from a relationship built upon sand?

– origin Old English byldan, from bold, botl ‘dwelling,’ of Germanic origin; related to bower^1.

builddown /ˈbildˌdoun/

noun

a gradual, systematic reduction in numbers, especially of nuclear weapons.

builder /ˈbildər/

noun

1. a person who constructs something by putting parts or material together over a period of time

• a boat builder.

2. a person whose job is to construct or repair houses, or to contract for their construction and repair.

3. [usu. in combination] — a person or thing that creates or develops a particular thing

• breaking the record was a real confidence builder.

building /ˈbildiNG / bldg.

noun

1. a structure with a roof and walls, such as a house, school, store, or factory.

2. the process or business of constructing something

• the building of highways

• [as modifier] building materials.

3. the process of creating or developing something, typically a system or situation, over a period of time

• the building of democracy in Guatemala.

-building

combining form

1. the process of constructing, shaping, developing, or forming a particular thing

• boat-building.

2. the process of promoting something

• bridge-building (between the nations).

3. able to build

• reef-building coral.

building block /ˈbildiNG bläk/

noun

1. a child's toy brick, typically made of wood or plastic.

2. a basic unit from which something is built up

• sounds are the building blocks of language.

building site /ˈbildiNG sīt/

noun

an area where a structure is being constructed or repaired.

buildout /ˈbildout/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) the growth, development, or expansion of something

• the rapid buildout of digital technology.

2. (N. Amer.) the state of maximum development as permitted by a plan or regulations

• Pueblo West will need a source for new water as the community approaches its buildout.

3. (N. Amer.) the execution of a building or community development plan

• we are working on Phase I Engineering and don't know if we'll even get the buildout.

buildup /ˈbildˌəp/

noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. a gradual accumulation or increase, typically of something negative and typically leading to a problem or crisis

• the buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

2. a period of excitement and preparation in advance of a significant event

• the buildup to Christmas.

3. a favorable description in advance; publicity

• a showbiz buildup before the album release.

built /bilt/

I. past and past participle of build.

II. adjective

(of a person) having a specified physical size or build

• a slightly built woman.

built-in /ˈbilt ˈˌin/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. forming an integral part of a structure or device

• a camera with a built-in zoom lens.

2. (of a characteristic) inherent; innate

• the system has a built-in resistance to change.

built-up /ˈbilt ˈˌəp/

adjective

1. (of an area) densely covered by houses or other buildings.

2. increased in height by the addition of parts

• shoes with built-up heels.

3. (of a feeling) increasing in intensity over a period of time

• built-up frustration.

Bujumbura /bo͞oˌjəmˈbo͞orə/

the capital of Burundi, at the northeastern end of Lake Tanganyika; pop. 429,000 (est. 2007). It was known as Usumbura until 1962.

Bukhara /bo͞oˈKHärə / Bukhoro , Bokhara

a city in southeastern Uzbekistan; pop. 249,000 (est. 2007). It is one of the oldest trade centers in central Asia, and is noted for the production of karakul fleeces.

bukkake /bo͞ˈkaˌkā, bo͞ˈkäˌkē/

I. noun

a type of sexual activity in which several men ejaculate on another person.

– origin Japanese, literally ‘act of splashing,’ also the name of a noodle dish.

Bulawayo /ˌbo͝oləˈwā-ō, -ˈwī-ō/

an industrial city in western Zimbabwe; pop. 740,100 (est. 2009).

bulb /bəlb/

I. noun

1. a rounded underground storage organ present in some plants, notably those of the lily family, consisting of a short stem surrounded by fleshy scale leaves or leaf bases and lying dormant over winter.
Compare with corm, rhizome.

2. a plant grown from a bulb.

3. an object with a rounded or teardrop shape like a bulb, in particular

4. a light bulb.

5. an expanded part of a glass tube such as that forming the reservoir of a thermometer.

6. a hollow flexible container with an opening through which the air can be expelled by squeezing, such as that used to fill a syringe.

7. a spheroidal dilated part at the end of an anatomical structure.

– origin late Middle English: via Latin from Greek bolbos ‘onion, bulbous root.’

bulbar /ˈbəlbər/

adjective

of or relating to an anatomical bulb, especially the medulla oblongata.

bulbil /ˈbəlbəl/

I. noun

[Botany] a small bulblike structure, especially in the axil of a leaf or at the base of a stem, that may form a new plant.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin bulbillus, diminutive of bulbus ‘onion, bulbous root.’

bulbous /ˈbəlbəs/

adjective

1. fat, round, or bulging

• a bulbous nose.

2. (of a plant) growing from a bulb.

bulbul /ˈbo͝olˌbo͝ol/

I. noun

a tropical African and Asian songbird that typically has a melodious voice and drab plumage. Many kinds have a crest.
[Family Pycnonotidae: several genera and numerous species.]

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Persian, of imitative origin.

Bulganin, Nikolai /bo͝olˈɡanən/

(1895–1975), Soviet statesman; premier 1955–58; full name Nikolai Aleksandrovich Bulganin.

bulgar /ˈbəlɡər / bulgur, bulgar wheat

I. noun

a cereal food made from whole wheat partially boiled then dried
[as modifier]

• bulgar wheat.

– origin 1930s: from Turkish bulgur ‘bruised grain.’

Bulgar /ˈbəlɡər/

I. noun

a member of a Slavic people who settled in what is now Bulgaria in the 7th century.

– origin from medieval Latin Bulgarus, from Old Church Slavic Blŭgarinŭ. Compare with bugger.

Bulgaria /ˌbəlˈɡerēə/

I. a country in southeastern Europe, on the western shores of the Black Sea; pop. 7,204,700 (est. 2009); capital, Sofia; official language, Bulgarian.

Part of the Ottoman Empire from the 14th century, Bulgaria remained under Turkish rule until the late 19th century, becoming independent in 1908. A communist state was set up by the former Soviet Union after World War II, and a multiparty democratic system was introduced in 1989. Bulgaria joined NATO in 2004 and became a member of the EU in 2007. / – origin named after the Bulgars (see Bulgar).

Bulgarian /ˌbəlˈɡerēən ˌbo͝olˈɡerēən/

I. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Bulgaria.

2. the South Slavic language spoken in Bulgaria.

II. adjective

relating to Bulgaria, its people, or their language.

bulge /bəlj/

I. noun

1. a rounded swelling or protuberance that distorts a flat surface.

2. (especially in a military context) a piece of land that projects outward from an otherwise regular line

• the advance created an eastward-facing bulge in the line.

3. [in sing.] — ‹informal› a temporary unusual increase in number or size

• a bulge in the birth rate.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. swell or protrude to an unnatural or incongruous extent

• the veins in his neck bulged

• (as adj. bulging) he stared with bulging eyes.

2. be full of and distended with

• a briefcase bulging with documents.

III. derivatives

bulgy /ˈbəljē /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French boulge, from Latin bulga (see budget). The original meaning was ‘wallet or bag,’ later ‘a ship's bilge’ (early 17th cent.); other senses presumably derived from association with the shape of a full bag.

bulgogi /bo͝olˈɡōɡē/

noun

a Korean dish of thin beef slices marinated and grilled on a barbecue.

bulimarexia /ˌbo͝oliməˈreksēə/

I. noun

(chiefly US) another term for bulimia nervosa (see bulimia).

II. derivatives

bulimarexic /-ˈreksik /

adjective, noun

– origin 1970s: blend of bulimia and anorexia.

bulimia /bo͝oˈlimēə bo͝oˈlēmēə/

I. noun

1. insatiable overeating as a medical condition, in particular

2. (also bulimia nervosa ) — an emotional disorder involving distortion of body image and an obsessive desire to lose weight, in which bouts of extreme overeating are followed by depression and self-induced vomiting, purging, or fasting.
Also called binge-purge syndrome.

3. an eating disorder in which a large quantity of food is consumed in a short period of time, often followed by feelings of guilt or shame.
Also called binge-eating syndrome.

– origin late Middle English (as bolisme, later bulimy): modern Latin, or from medieval Latin bolismos, from Greek boulimia ‘ravenous hunger,’ from bous ‘ox’ + limos ‘hunger.’

bulimic /bo͞oˈlimik/

I. adjective

relating to, characterized by, or suffering from an eating disorder marked by bouts of overeating, followed by fasting or vomiting

• for years she was bulimic

• the development of bulimic behavior.

II. noun

a person suffering from an eating disorder marked by bouts of overeating, followed by fasting or vomiting

• a recovering bulimic.

bulk /bəlk/

I. noun

1. the mass or magnitude of something large

• the sheer bulk of the bags.

2. a large mass or shape, for example of a building or a heavy body

• he moved quickly in spite of his bulk.

3. [as modifier] — large in quantity or amount

• bulk orders of more than 100 copies.

4. (the bulk) — the majority or greater part of something

• the bulk of the traffic had passed.

5. roughage in food

• bread and potatoes supply energy, essential protein, and bulk.

6. cargo that is an unpackaged mass such as grain, oil, or milk.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — be or seem to be of great size or importance

• territorial questions bulked large in diplomatic relations.

2. [with obj.] — treat (a product) so that its quantity appears greater than it in fact is

• traders were bulking up their flour with chalk.

3. [no obj.] (bulk up) — build up body mass, typically in training for athletic events.

III. phrases

in bulk

a. (especially of goods) in large quantities, usually at a reduced price

• buying tomatoes in bulk from a local farmer.

b. (of a cargo or commodity) loose; not packaged

• sugar is imported in bulk and bagged on the island.

– origin Middle English: the senses ‘cargo as a whole’ and ‘heap, large quantity’ (the earliest recorded) are probably from Old Norse búlki ‘cargo’; the origin of other senses remains uncertain, perhaps arising by alteration of obsolete bouk ‘belly, body.’ The original senses are also reflected in the phrases break bulk and in bulk.

bulk buying

I. noun

the purchase of goods in large amounts, typically at a discount.

II. derivatives

bulk-buy /ˈbəlk ˌbī /

verb

bulk carrier /ˈbəlk ˌkerēər/

noun

a ship that carries nonliquid cargoes such as grain or ore in bulk.

bulker /ˈbəlkər/

noun

‹informal› another term for bulk carrier.

bulkhead /ˈbəlkˌhed/

I. noun

a dividing wall or barrier between compartments in a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Old Norse bálkr ‘partition’ + head.

bulk mail

noun

(N. Amer.) a class of mail for sending out large numbers of identical items at a reduced rate.

bulky /ˈbəlkē/

I. adjective

1. taking up much space, typically inconveniently; large and unwieldy

• a bulky piece of luggage.

2. (of a person) heavily built.

3. (of clothing) made of a thick yarn or fabric

• a bulky sweater.

II. derivatives

1. bulkily /-kəlē /

adverb

2. bulkiness /ˈbəlkēnəs /

noun

bull^1 /bo͝ol/

I. noun

1. an uncastrated male bovine animal
[as modifier]

• bull calves.

2. a large male animal, especially a whale or elephant.

3. (the Bull) — the zodiacal sign or constellation Taurus.

4. [Stock Market] a person who buys shares hoping to sell them at a higher price later.
Often contrasted with bear^2.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of a part of the body, especially the neck) resembling the corresponding part of a male bovine animal in build and strength

• his bull neck and broad shoulders.

III. verb

1. [with obj.] — push or drive powerfully or violently

• he bulled the motorcycle clear of the tunnel

• [no obj.] he was bulling his way through a mob of admirers.

2. [no obj.] (be bulling) — (of a cow) behave in a manner characteristic of being in heat.

IV. phrases

1. like a bull in a china shop

behaving recklessly and clumsily in a place or situation where one is likely to cause damage or injury.

2. (like) a red rag to a bull

see red.

3. take the bull by the horns

deal bravely and decisively with a difficult, dangerous, or unpleasant situation.

– origin late Old English bula (recorded in place names), from Old Norse boli. Compare with bullock.

bull^2 /bo͝ol/

I. noun

a papal edict.

– origin Middle English: from Old French bulle, from Latin bulla ‘bubble, rounded object’ (in medieval Latin ‘seal or sealed document’).

bull^3 /bo͝ol/

I. noun

‹informal› stupid or untrue talk or writing; nonsense

• much of what he says is sheer bull.

– origin early 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

bulla /ˈbo͝olə/

I. noun

1. [Medicine] a bubblelike cavity filled with air or fluid, in particular

2. a large blister containing serous fluid.

3. an abnormal air-filled cavity in the lung.
[early 19th cent.]

4. [Anatomy] a rounded prominence.
[mid 19th cent.]

5. a round seal attached to a papal bull, typically made of lead.
[Middle English.]

– origin Latin, literally ‘bubble.’

bullace /ˈbo͝oləs/

I. noun

a thorny shrub or small tree of the rose family that bears purple-black fruits. It is a wild plum, of which the damson is the cultivated form.
[Prunus insititia (or Prunus domesticus subsp. insititia), family Rosaceae.]

– origin Middle English: from Old French buloce ‘sloe’: of unknown origin.

bullate /ˈbo͝olāt/

I. adjective

[Botany] covered with rounded swellings like blisters.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin bullatus, from bulla ‘bubble.’

bullbaiting /ˈbo͝olˌbādiNG/

noun

‹historical› the practice of setting dogs to harass and attack a tethered bull, popular as a sport in medieval Europe.

bullbat /ˈbo͝olbat/

noun

another term for nighthawk (sense 1).

bulldog /ˈbo͝olˌdôɡ/

I. noun

1. a dog of a sturdy smooth-haired breed with a large head and powerful protruding lower jaw, a flat wrinkled face, and a broad chest.

2. a person noted for courageous or stubborn tenacity
[as modifier]

• the bulldog spirit.

3. ‹informal› (at Oxford and Cambridge Universities) an official who assists the proctors, especially in disciplinary matters.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) wrestle (a steer) to the ground by holding its horns and twisting its neck
(as noun bulldogging)

• cowboys compete in bulldogging and bareback riding.

III. derivatives

bulldogger

noun

bulldoze /ˈbo͝olˌdōz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. clear (ground) or destroy (buildings, trees, etc.) with a bulldozer

• developers are bulldozing the site.

2. use insensitive force when dealing with (someone or something)

• she believes that to build status you need to bulldoze everyone else.

– origin late 19th cent. (in the sense ‘intimidate’): from bull^1 + -doze, alteration of the noun dose.

bulldozer /ˈbo͝olˌdōzər/

noun

1. a powerful tractor with a broad upright blade at the front for clearing ground.

2. a person or group exercising irresistible power, especially in disposing of obstacles or opposition

• he was a political bulldozer

• as president of the board, she was an insufferable bulldozer.

bulldyke /ˈbo͝oldīk / bulldike, bulldyker

noun

‹informal› ‹offensive› a lesbian of masculine appearance or manner.

bullet /ˈbo͝olət/

I. noun

1. a projectile for firing from a rifle, revolver, or other small firearm, typically made of metal, cylindrical and pointed, and sometimes containing an explosive.

2. used in similes and comparisons to refer to someone or something that moves very fast

• the ball sped across the grass like a bullet.

3. (US) (in a sporting context) a very fast ball.

4. [Printing] a small symbol, such as a solid circle, printed just before a line of type, such as an item in a list, to emphasize it.

II. phrases

dodge a bullet

‹informal› manage to avoid a difficult or unwelcome situation

• the US economy dodged a bullet today.

– origin early 16th cent. (denoting a cannonball): from French boulet, boulette ‘small ball,’ diminutive of boule, from Latin bulla ‘bubble.’

bulleted /ˈbo͝olədəd/

adjective

(of items in a list) preceded by a printed bullet.

bullethead /ˈbo͝oləthed/

I. noun

1. ‹derogatory› a person's head that is small and round.

2. ‹derogatory› a person with a head that is small and round.

3. ‹derogatory› a stupid, self-important, or obstinate person.

II. derivatives

bulletheaded

adjective

bulletin /ˈbo͝olətn ˈbo͝olədən/

I. noun

1. a short official statement or broadcast summary of news.

2. a regular newsletter or printed report issued by an organization or society.

– origin mid 17th cent. (denoting an official warrant in some European countries): from French, from Italian bullettino, diminutive of bulletta ‘passport,’ diminutive of bulla ‘seal, bull.’

bulletin board

noun

1. (N. Amer.) a board for displaying notices.

2. (also bulletin board system) — (N. Amer.) [Computing] an information storage system designed to permit any authorized computer user to access and add to it from a remote terminal.

bullet point /ˈbo͝olət point/

I. noun

1. each of several items in a list, preceded by a bullet symbol for emphasis.

2. a bullet symbol.

II. derivatives

bullet-pointed

adjective

bulletproof /ˈbo͝olətˌpro͞of/

adjective

designed to resist the penetration of bullets

• a bulletproof vest.

bullet train /ˈbo͝olət trān/

noun

‹informal› a high-speed passenger train

• a bullet train that would whisk passengers at speeds of 150-250 mph along a Tampa-Miami route.

bull fiddle

noun

‹informal› (chiefly US) a double bass.

bullfight /ˈbo͝olˌfīt/

I. noun

a public spectacle, particularly in Spain, Portugal, and Latin America, at which a bull is baited in a highly stylized manner and then usually killed.

II. derivatives

bullfighter /ˈbo͝olˌfīdər /

noun

bullfighting /ˈbo͝olˌfīdiNG/

noun

the sport of baiting and killing a bull as a public spectacle in an outdoor arena.
Bullfighting is the national spectator sport of Spain, and is found also in Latin America and Portugal. Typically, the bull is tormented with darts stuck into its neck, and the matador then baits it with a red cape and attempts to kill it with a sword-blow beneath the shoulder blade.

bullfinch /ˈbo͝olfin(t)SH/

noun

a stocky Eurasian finch with a short, thick bill, and typically with gray or pinkish plumage, dark wings, and a white rump.
[Genus Pyrrhula, family Fringillidae: several species, in particular the common P. pyrrhula, the male of which has a black face and pink breast.]

bullfrog /ˈbo͝olˌfrôɡ/

noun

a very large frog that has a deep booming croak and is often a predator of smaller vertebrates.
[Genera Rana and Pyxicephalus, family Ranidae: the North American bullfrog (R. catesbeiana), the Asian bullfrog (R. tigrina), and the African bullfrog (P. adspersus).]

bullhead /ˈbo͝olˌhed/

noun

1. (also bullhead catfish) — an American freshwater catfish with four pairs of barbels around the mouth.
[Family Ictaluridae: several genera and numerous species, including the black bullhead (Ameiurus melas).]

2. a small, mainly freshwater Eurasian fish of the sculpin family, with a broad flattened head and spiny fins.
[Genera Cottus and Taurulus, family Cottidae: three species.]

3. (also bullhead lily) — a North American water lily with globular yellow flowers.
[Nuphar variegatum, family Nymphaeaceae.]

Bullhead City /ˌbo͝olˌhed ˈsidē/

a city in northwestern Arizona, on the Colorado River, a resort and casino center; pop. 40,868 (est. 2008).

bullheaded /ˌbo͝olˈhedəd/

I. adjective

determined in an obstinate or unthinking way

• a bullheaded belief that she is right.

II. derivatives

1. bullheadedly

adverb

2. bullheadedness

noun

bullhorn /ˈbo͝olˌhôrn/

noun

(N. Amer.) an electronic device for amplifying the sound of the voice so it can be heard at a distance.

bullion /ˈbo͝olyən/

I. noun

1. gold or silver in bulk before coining, or valued by weight.

2. (also bullion fringe) — ornamental braid or trimming made with twists of gold or silver thread.

– origin Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French, in the sense ‘a mint,’ variant of Old French bouillon, based on Latin bullire ‘to boil.’

bullion knot

noun

a decorative stitch in embroidery made by winding the thread several times around the needle before sewing a backstitch.

bullish /ˈbo͝oliSH/

I. adjective

1. resembling a bull

• a sketch of his round, bullish head.

2. stupid or oafish; bullheaded

• it's impossible to reason with such a bullish man.

3. assertively masculine; macho

• surrounded by girls and the aura of bullish manhood.

4. (chiefly Brit.) aggressively confident and self-assertive

• the team is at its most bullish.

5. [Stock Market] characterized by rising share prices

• the market was bullish.

6. (of a dealer) inclined to buy because of an anticipated rise in prices.

7. confident or optimistic about something

• those who are bullish on the nation's economic prospects.

II. derivatives

1. bullishly

adverb

2. bullishness

noun

bull kelp

noun

a very large brown seaweed found in Pacific and Antarctic waters, growing up to 165 feet (50 m) in length off the northwestern coasts of North America.
[Nereocystis and other genera, class Phaeophyceae.]

bull market /ˌbo͝ol ˈmärkət/

noun

[Stock Market] a market in which share prices are rising, encouraging buying.

bullmastiff /ˈbo͝olmastif/

noun

a dog of a crossbreed of bulldog and mastiff.

Bull Moose

noun

a supporter or member of the Progressive Party.

Bull Moose Party

another term for the Progressive Party.

bull-necked

adjective

having a short, thick neck

• a bull-necked man.

bullnose /ˈbo͝olnōz / ‹technical›

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of the edge of a surface) rounded.

2. (of a surface or object) having a rounded edge or edges

• a bullnose tile.

II. noun

a rounded edge on a surface or object.

bullock /ˈbo͝olək/

I. noun

another term for steer^2.

– origin late Old English bulluc, diminutive of bula (see bull^1).

bull of the woods

noun

1. a sexually mature male of a large wild species, such as moose or elk.

2. the supervisor of a logging camp.

bullous /ˈbo͝oləs/

adjective

[Medicine] characterized by blisters or bullae on the skin.

bullpen /ˈbo͝olˌpen/

noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) an enclosure for bulls.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) an exercise area for baseball pitchers.

3. (chiefly N. Amer.) the relief pitchers of a baseball team.

4. (chiefly N. Amer.) an open-plan office area.

5. (chiefly N. Amer.) a large cell in which prisoners are held before a court hearing.

bullring /ˈbo͝olˌriNG/

noun

an arena where bullfights are held.

Bull Run

a small river in eastern Virginia that was the scene of two Confederate victories—1861 and 1862—during the Civil War.

bull session /bo͝ol ˈseSHən/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) an informal, typically impromptu discussion, especially among a small group.

– origin 1920s: bull from bull^3.

bullseye /ˈbo͝olzī/

noun

1. the center of a target in sports such as archery, shooting, and darts.

2. a shot that hits the center of a target in archery, shooting, and darts.

3. used to refer to something that achieves exactly the intended effect

• the silence told him he'd scored a bullseye.

4. a large, round, hard peppermint-flavored candy.

5. ‹dated› a hemisphere or thick disk of glass forming a small window in a ship or the glass of a lamp
[as modifier]

• a bullseye lantern.

6. a thick knob or boss of glass at the center of a blown glass sheet.

bull shark

noun

a large, stout-bodied aggressive shark. Its widespread distribution, its habits of feeding close to shore, and its tendency to venture far into estuaries and rivers makes it a species particularly dangerous to humans.
[Carcharhinus leucas, family Carcharhinidae.]

bullshit /ˈbo͝olˌSHit / ‹vulgar slang›

I. noun

stupid or untrue talk or writing; nonsense.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. talk nonsense to (someone), typically to be misleading or deceptive.

III. derivatives

bullshitter /ˈbo͝olˌSHidər /

noun

– origin early 20th cent.: from bull^3 + shit.

bullshot /ˈbo͝olˌSHät/

noun

a cocktail made with vodka, beef bouillon, and Worcestershire sauce.

bull snake

noun

a constrictor found commonly on the plains and prairies of North America.
[Family Colubridae and genus Pituophis: several species, including the gopher snake P. catenifer sayi.]

bull terrier /ˈbo͝ol ˈˌterēər/

noun

a short-haired dog of a breed that is a cross between a bulldog and a terrier.

bull trout /bo͝ol trout/

noun

a North American trout that resembles the Dolly Varden, found in cold rivers and lakes.
[Salvelinus confluentus, family Salmonidae.]

bullwhip /ˈbo͝olˌ(h)wip / ‹N. Amer.›

I. noun

a whip with a long heavy lash.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. strike or thrash with a bullwhip.

bully^1 /ˈbo͝olē/

I. noun

a person who uses strength or power to harm or intimidate those who are weaker.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. use superior strength or influence to intimidate (someone), typically to force him or her to do what one wants

• a local man was bullied into helping them.

– origin mid 16th cent.: probably from Middle Dutch boele ‘lover.’ The original usage was as a term of endearment applied to either sex; later becoming a familiar form of address to a male friend. The current sense dates from the late 17th cent.

bully^2 /ˈbo͝olē / ‹informal›

I. adjective

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) very good; first-rate

• the statue really looked bully.

II. exclamation — (bully for)

1. an expression of admiration or approval

• he got away—bully for him.

– origin late 16th cent. (originally of a person meaning ‘admirable, gallant, jolly’): from bully^1. The current sense dates from the mid 19th cent.

bully^3 /ˈbo͝olē / ‹informal› bully beef

I. noun

corned beef.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French bouilli, literally ‘boiled.’

bully boy /ˈbo͝olē ˌboi/

noun

a tough or aggressive man
[as modifier]

• bully-boy tactics.

bully pulpit

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. (N. Amer.) a public office or position of authority that provides its occupant with an outstanding opportunity to speak out on any issue

• he could use the presidency as a bully pulpit to bring out the best in civic life.

– origin early 20th cent.: apparently originally used by President Theodore Roosevelt, explaining his personal view of the presidency.

bullyrag /ˈbo͝olēˌraɡ/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› treat (someone) in a scolding or intimidating way

• he would bullyrag his staff around but then kiss up to his superiors.

– origin late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

bulrush /ˈbo͝olˌrəSH / bullrush

I. noun

1. another term for cattail.

2. a tall rushlike water plant of the sedge family. Native to temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, it has been widely used for weaving and is grown as an aid to water purification in some areas.
[Scirpus lacustris, family Cyperaceae.]

3. (in biblical use) a papyrus plant.

– origin late Middle English: probably from bull^1 in the sense ‘large or coarse,’ as in words such as bullfrog.

bulwark /ˈbo͝olˌwərk/

I. noun

1. a defensive wall.

2. a person, institution, or principle that acts as a defense

• the security forces are a bulwark against the breakdown of society.

3. (usu. bulwarks) — an extension of a ship's sides above the level of the deck.

– origin late Middle English: from Middle Low German and Middle Dutch bolwerk; related to bole^1 and work.

bum^1 /bəm / ‹informal›

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a vagrant.

2. (N. Amer.) a lazy or worthless person

• you ungrateful bum.

3. [in combination] — (N. Amer.) a person who devotes a great deal of time to a specified activity

• a ski bum

• a poker bum.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — travel, with no particular purpose or destination

• he bummed around Florida for a few months.

2. pass one's time idly

• we spent most of the summer just bumming around.

3. [with obj.] — get by asking or begging

• they tried to bum money off us.

III. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of poor quality; bad or wrong

• not one bum note was played.

IV. phrases

1. give someone (or get) the bum's rush ‹informal chiefly N. Amer.›

a. forcibly eject someone (or be forcibly ejected) from a place or gathering.

b. abruptly dismiss someone (or be abruptly dismissed) for a poor idea or performance.

2. on the bum

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› traveling with rough provisions and with no fixed home; living as a vagrant.

3. bum someone out

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› make someone feel annoyed, upset, or disappointed

• it really bummed me out when he forgot my birthday.

– origin mid 19th cent.: probably from bummer.

bum^2 /bəm/

I. noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› buttocks.

– origin late Middle English: of unknown origin.

bumbag /ˈbəmˌbaɡ/

noun

British term for fanny pack.

bum-bailiff /ˈbəmˌbālif/

I. noun

‹historical› ‹derogatory› a bailiff empowered to collect debts or arrest debtors for nonpayment.

– origin early 17th cent.: from bum^2, so named because of the association of an approach from behind.

bumbershoot /ˈbəmbərˌSHo͞ot/

noun

(US) ‹informal› an umbrella.

bumble /ˈbəmbəl/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — move or act in an awkward or confused manner

• they bumbled around the house.

2. [no obj.] — speak in a confused or indistinct way

• the succeeding speakers bumbled.

3. [with adverbial] — (of an insect) buzz or hum

• she watched a bee bumble among the flowers.

II. derivatives

bumbler /ˈbəmblər /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘hum, drone’): from boom^1 + -le^4.

bumblebee /ˈbəmbəlˌbē/

noun

a large hairy bee with a loud hum, living in small colonies in holes underground.
[Genus Bombus, family Apidae: many species.]

bumbling /ˈbəmb(ə)liNG/

adjective

acting in a confused or ineffectual way; incompetent

• he's a bumbling fool.

bumboat /ˈbəmˌbōt/

I. noun

a small vessel carrying provisions for sale to ships in port.

– origin late 17th cent.: from bum^1 + boat. The term originally denoted a scavenger's boat removing refuse, etc., from ships, often also bringing produce for sale.

bumf /bəmf / bumph

I. noun

‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) useless or tedious printed information or documents.

– origin late 19th cent.: abbreviation of slang bum-fodder, in the same sense.

bummalo /ˈbəməˌlō/

I. noun

a small elongated fish of southern Asian coasts that is dried and used as food.
Also called Bombay duck. [Harpodon nehereus, family Harpadontidae.]

– origin late 17th cent.: perhaps from Marathi bombīl.

bummed bummed out

adjective — [usu. predic.]

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› annoyed, upset, or disappointed

• she was really bummed out that she never got to meet you

• a lot of people were bummed about not being able to dance.

bummer /ˈbəmər/

I. noun

1. (a bummer) — ‹informal› a thing that is annoying or disappointing

• the party was a real bummer.

2. ‹informal› an unpleasant reaction to a hallucinogenic drug.

3. ‹informal› (N. Amer.) a loafer or vagrant.

II. exclamation

‹informal› used to express frustration or disappointment, typically sympathetically

• You lost your wallet? Bummer!

– origin mid 19th cent.: perhaps from German Bummler, from bummeln ‘stroll, loaf around.’

bump /bəmp/

I. noun

1. a light blow or a jolting collision

• a nasty bump on the head.

2. the dull sound of a light blow or jolting collision.

3. [Aeronautics] a rising air current causing an irregularity in an aircraft's motion.

4. a protuberance on a level surface

• bumps in the road.

5. a swelling on the skin, especially one caused by illness or injury.

6. ‹dated› ‹humorous› a prominence on a person's skull, formerly thought to indicate a particular mental faculty; such a faculty

• he was making the most of his bump of direction.

7. ‹informal› (chiefly US) an increase

• a slight bump in sales.

8. a loosely woven fleeced cotton fabric used in upholstery and as lining material.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — knock or run into someone or something, typically with a jolt

• I almost bumped into him

• [with obj.] she bumped the girl with her hip.

2. (bump into) — meet by chance

• we might just bump into each other.

3. [with obj.] — hurt or damage (something) by striking or knocking it against something else

• she bumped her head on the sink.

4. [with obj.] — cause to collide with something

• she went through the door, bumping the bag against it.

5. [no obj.] — move or travel with much jolting and jarring

• the car bumped along the rutted track.

6. [with obj.] — push (something) jerkily in a specified direction

• she had to bump the wheelchair down the steps.

7. [with obj.] — refuse (a passenger) a reserved place on an airline flight, typically because of deliberate overbooking.

8. (N. Amer.) cause to move from a job or position, typically in favor of someone else; displace

• she was bumped for a youthful model.

III. phrases

a bump in the road

‹informal› a problem or setback

• their relationship has hit another bump in the road.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. bump someone off

‹informal› murder someone.

2. bump someone up

‹informal› move someone to a higher level or status; promote

• he was a writer for nine years before he was bumped up to editor.

3. bump something up ‹informal›

a. make larger, greater, or more numerous; increase

• they finally agreed to bump up her salary.

b. make, complete, or release earlier than planned or expected

• the date of publication was bumped up.

– origin mid 16th cent. (as a verb): imitative, perhaps of Scandinavian origin.

bumper /ˈbəmpər/

I. noun

1. a horizontal bar fixed across the front or back of a motor vehicle to reduce damage in a collision or as a trim.

2. ‹archaic› a generous glassful of an alcoholic drink, typically one drunk as a toast.

II. adjective

exceptionally large, fine, or successful

• a bumper crop.

III. phrases

bumper-to-bumper /ˌbəmpərtəˈbəmpər /

very close together, as cars in a traffic jam.

– origin late 17th cent. (in sense 2 of the noun): from bump + -er^1. Sense 2 of the noun derives from the earlier form bumping, meaning ‘very large, great,’ and is the source of the adjective meaning ‘exceptionally large, fine, or successful,’ as in a bumper year.

bumper car /ˈbəmpər kär/

noun

a small electrically powered car with rubber bumpers all around, driven in an enclosure at an amusement park with the aim of bumping into other such cars.

bumper sticker /ˈbəmpər ˈstikər/

noun

a label carrying a slogan or advertisement fixed to a vehicle's bumper.

bumpkin /ˈbəm(p)kən/

I. noun

‹informal› an unsophisticated or socially awkward person from the countryside

• she thought Tom a bit of a country bumpkin.

II. derivatives

bumpkinish

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.

bump-out

noun

an extension of a room or building that creates a projection in a wall

• a rear bump-out provided an ample extension to the master bedroom.

bump run

noun

a ski run with many small mounds on it, caused by skiers turning in the same places.

bumptious /ˈbəm(p)SHəs/

I. adjective

self-assertive or proud to an irritating degree

• these bumptious young boys today.

II. derivatives

1. bumptiously /ˈbəm(p)SHəslē /

adverb

2. bumptiousness /ˈbəm(p)SHəsnəs /

noun

– origin early 19th cent.: humorously from bump, on the pattern of fractious.

bumpy /ˈbəmpē/

I. adjective

1. (of a surface) uneven, with many patches raised above the rest

• the bumpy road.

2. (of a journey or other movement) involving sudden jolts and jerks

• she took us all on a bumpy ride

• ‹figurative› bumpy market conditions.

II. derivatives

1. bumpily /-pəlē /

adverb

2. bumpiness /ˈbəmpēnəs /

noun

bum rap /bəm rap/

noun — [in sing.]

1. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) a false charge, typically one leading to imprisonment

• he's been handed a bum rap for handling stolen goods.

2. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) an unfair punishment or scolding.

bum-rush /ˈbəmrəSH/

verb — [with obj.]

1. (US) ‹informal› suddenly force or barge one's way into

• fans bum-rushed record stores.

bum steer

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a piece of false information or guidance

• apparently, those who recommended your good service gave us a bum steer.

– origin 1920s: from bum^2 + steer^1 in the sense ‘advice, guidance.’

bun /bən/

I. noun

1. a bread roll of various shapes and flavorings, typically sweetened and often containing dried fruit.

2. a hairstyle in which the hair is drawn back into a tight coil at the back of the head.

3. (buns) — (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a person's buttocks.

II. phrases

have a bun in the oven

‹informal› be pregnant.

– origin late Middle English: of unknown origin.

bunch /bən(t)SH/

I. noun

1. a number of things, typically of the same kind, growing or fastened together

• a bunch of grapes.

2. [in sing.] — ‹informal› a group of people.

3. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) a large number or quantity; a lot

• I had to turn down a bunch of well-paid jobs.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. collect or fasten into a compact group

• she bunched the carnations together.

2. form or cause to form tight folds
[no obj.]

• his pants bunched around his ankles

• [with obj.] hold the fabric in both hands and gently bunch it up.

3. [no obj.] — form into a tight group or crowd

• he halted, forcing the rest of the field to bunch up behind him.

4. [no obj.] — (of muscles) flex or bulge.

III. phrases

the best (or the pick) of the bunch

the best in a particular group.

IV. derivatives

bunchy /ˈbən(t)SHē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: of unknown origin.

bunchberry /ˈbən(t)SHˌberē/

noun

a low-growing plant of the dogwood family that produces white flowers followed by red berries and bright red autumn foliage. It is native to North America, eastern Asia, and Greenland.
[Cornus canadensis, family Cornaceae.]

Bunche, Ralph /bənCH/

(1904–71), US diplomat and statesman; full name Ralph Johnson Bunche. Instrumental in the settlement of the Israeli-Arab conflict in 1948, he was the first African American to receive a Nobel Prize. Nobel Peace Prize (1950).

bunchflower /ˈbən(t)SHˌflou(ə)r/

noun

a North American plant of the lily family that is sometimes cultivated for its yellowish-green flowers.
[Melanthium virginicum, family Liliaceae.]

bunch grass bunchgrass

noun

(N. Amer.) a grass that grows in clumps.
[Schizachyrium and other genera, family Gramineae: several species, esp. S. scoparium, used for grazing and in erosion control, esp. on the Great Plains.]

bunco /ˈbəNGkō / ‹N. Amer. informal› bunko

I. noun — [often as modifier]

1. a swindle or confidence trick

• a bunco artist

• he was out to make a buck using fraud or bunco.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹dated› swindle or cheat

• he didn't propose to be buncoed without a fight.

– origin late 19th cent.: perhaps from Spanish banca, the name of a card game.

bund^1 /bo͝ond/

I. noun

1. an embankment or causeway.

2. a wall surrounding an industrial fuel tank.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Urdu band, from Persian.

bund^2 /bo͝ond/

noun

1. an association, especially a political one.

2. (Bund) — a pro-Nazi German-American organization of the 1930s.

3. (Bund) — an Ashkenazi Jewish socialist movement founded in Russia in 1897.

Bundestag /ˈbo͝ondəsˌtäɡ/

I. the Lower House of Parliament in Germany.

– origin German, from Bund ‘federation’ + tagen ‘confer.’

bundle /ˈbəndl/

I. noun

1. a collection of things, or a quantity of material, tied or wrapped up together

• a thick bundle of envelopes.

2. a set of nerve, muscle, or other fibers running close together in parallel.

3. a set of software or hardware sold together.

4. (a bundle) — ‹informal› a large amount of money

• the new printer cost a bundle.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — tie or roll up (a number of things) together as though into a parcel

• she quickly bundled up her clothes.

2. (usu. be bundled up) — dress (someone) in many clothes to keep warm

• they were bundled up in thick sweaters

• [no obj.] I bundled up in my parka.

3. sell (items of hardware and software) as a package.

4. [with obj.] — ‹informal› push or carry forcibly

• he was bundled into a van.

5. send (someone) away hurriedly or unceremoniously

• the old man was bundled off into exile.

6. [no obj.] — (especially of a group of people) move clumsily or in a disorganized way

• they bundled out into the corridor.

7. [no obj.] — ‹dated› sleep fully clothed with another person, particularly during courtship, as a former local custom in New England and Wales

• he would dance at country frolics and bundle with the Yankee lasses.

III. phrases

1. a bundle of fun (or laughs)

[often with negative] — ‹informal› something extremely amusing or pleasant

• the last year hasn't been a bundle of fun.

2. bundle of joy

‹informal› a newborn baby.

3. a bundle of nerves

‹informal› a person who is extremely timid or tense.

– origin Middle English: perhaps originally from Old English byndelle ‘a binding,’ reinforced by Low German and Dutch bundel (to which byndelle is related).

bundler /ˈbənd(ə)lər/

noun

1. a person or machine that packages something as or into a bundle

• the bundlers packaged finished yarn for shipment.

2. (US) a political fundraiser who collects contributions from donors on behalf of a campaign

• she was a bundler for Obama in 2012.

Bundt cake /ˈbənt ˌkāk/

noun

‹trademark› a ring-shaped cake made in a fluted tube pan, called a Bundt pan.

bunfight /ˈbənˌfīt/

noun

1. (Brit.) ‹informal› ‹humorous› a tea party or other function, typically of a grand or official kind.

2. (Brit.) ‹informal› ‹humorous› a heated argument or exchange.

bun foot

noun

a foot in the shape of a flattened sphere, used for chairs, tables, or other furniture in the late 17th century.

bung /bəNG/

I. noun

a stopper for closing a hole in a container.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. close with a stopper

• the casks are bunged before delivery.

2. (bung something up) — block (something), typically by overfilling it

• you let vegetable peelings bung up the sink.

– origin late Middle English: from Middle Dutch bonghe (noun).

bungalow /ˈbəNGɡəˌlō/

I. noun

a low house, with a broad front porch, having either no upper floor or upper rooms set in the roof, typically with dormer windows.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Hindi baṅglā ‘belonging to Bengal.’

bungarotoxin /ˌbəNGɡərəˈtäksən/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a powerful neurotoxin found in the venom of the krait.

– origin 1960s: from the modern Latin genus name Bungarus (perhaps from Sanskrit bhaṅgura ‘bent’) + toxin.

bungee /ˈbənjē/

I. noun

a long nylon-cased rubber band, used typically in bungee jumping or for securing luggage.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (as a sport) perform a bungee jump.

– origin 1930s (denoting an elastic cord for launching a glider): of unknown origin.

bungee jumping

I. noun

the sport of leaping from a height while secured by a long nylon-cased rubber band from the ankles.

II. derivatives

1. bungee jump

noun

2. bungee-jumper

noun

bunghole /ˈbəNGhōl/

noun

1. an aperture through which a cask can be filled or emptied.

2. ‹vulgar slang› the anus.

bungle /ˈbəNGɡəl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. carry out (a task) clumsily or incompetently, leading to failure or an unsatisfactory outcome

• she had bungled every attempt to help

• (as adj. bungled) a bungled bank raid.

2. [no obj.] (usu. as adj. bungling) — make or be prone to making many mistakes

• the work of a bungling amateur.

II. noun

a mistake or failure, typically one resulting from mismanagement or confusion.

– origin mid 16th cent.: of unknown origin; compare with bumble.

bungler /ˈbəNGɡ(ə)lər/

noun

a person who habitually bungles things; an amateur

• the Los Angeles Times this morning called them bunglers.

Bunin, Ivan /ˈbo͞onyin/

(1870–1953), Russian poet and writer; full name Ivan Alekseevich Bunin. An opponent of modernism, he concentrated on the themes of peasant life and love. Nobel Prize for Literature (1933).

bunion /ˈbənyən/

I. noun

a painful swelling on the first joint of the big toe.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Old French buignon, from buigne ‘bump on the head.’

bunk^1 /bəNGk/

I. noun

a narrow shelflike bed, typically one of two or more arranged one on top of the other.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) sleep in a narrow berth or improvised bed, typically in shared quarters as a temporary arrangement

• they bunk together in the dormitory.

– origin mid 18th cent.: of unknown origin; perhaps related to bunker.

bunk^2 /bəNGk/

I. noun

‹informal› nonsense

• anyone with a brain cell would never believe such bunk.

– origin early 20th cent.: abbreviation of bunkum.

bunk bed /ˈbəNGk ˌbed/

noun

a piece of furniture consisting of two beds, one above the other, that form a unit.

bunker /ˈbəNGkər/

I. noun

1. a large container or compartment for storing fuel

• a coal bunker.

2. (bunkers) — fuel for a ship.

3. a reinforced underground shelter, typically for use in wartime.

4. a hollow filled with sand, used as an obstacle on a golf course.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. fuel (a ship).

2. (be bunkered) — [Golf] (of a player) have one's ball lodged in a bunker

• he was bunkered at the fifth hole.

– origin mid 16th cent. (originally Scots, denoting a seat or bench): perhaps related to bunk^1.

bunker buster

noun

a bomb designed to penetrate deep into the ground or rock before exploding.

Bunker Hill /ˌbəNGkər ˈhil/

a hill in the Charlestown section of northern Boston in Massachusetts. It gave its name to the first pitched battle (1775) of the American Revolution, which was actually fought on nearby Breed's Hill. Although the British won, the good performance of the untrained Americans gave considerable impetus to the Revolution.

bunkhouse /ˈbəNGkˌhous/

noun

a building offering basic sleeping accommodations for workers, visitors, or campers.

bunkmate /ˈbəNGkmāt/

noun

a person who sleeps in an adjoining bunk or who shares one's sleeping quarters.

bunkum /ˈbəNGkəm / buncombe

I. noun

‹informal› ‹dated› nonsense

• they talk a lot of bunkum about their products.

– origin mid 19th cent. (originally buncombe): named after Buncombe County in North Carolina, mentioned in an inconsequential speech made by its congressman solely to please his constituents (c. 1820).

bunny /ˈbənē/

I. noun

1. (also bunny rabbit) — ‹informal› a rabbit, especially a young one.

2. [with adj.] — ‹informal› a person of a specified type or in a specified mood

• ski slopes crawling with snow bunnies

• that dumb bunny actually thought I was a famous writer.

– origin early 17th cent. (originally used as a term of endearment to a person, later as a pet name for a rabbit): from dialect bun ‘squirrel, rabbit,’ also used as a term of endearment, of unknown origin.

bunny boiler

I. noun

‹informal› a woman who acts vengefully after having been spurned by her lover.

– origin with reference to the movie Fatal Attraction (1987), in which a rejected woman boils her lover's pet rabbit.

bunny-hop

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. jump forward in a crouched position

• he bunny-hopped around the stage.

2. [with obj.] — move (a vehicle) forward jerkily.

3. move a bicycle forward by jumping in the air while standing on the pedals.

4. [with obj.] — jump (an obstacle) on a bicycle by bunny-hopping.

II. noun

1. a jump in a crouched position.

2. a short jump forward on a bicycle.

3. an obstacle on a cycling course that is usually cleared by jumping the bicycle over it.

4. a dance of hopping steps in which the participants face the same direction and form a line by placing their hands on the waist or shoulders of the person in front of them.

bunny hugger

noun

‹informal› ‹derogatory› an animal lover; a conservationist.

bunny slope

noun

[Skiing] (N. Amer.) a gentle slope suitable for beginners.

Bunsen, Robert /ˈbənsən/

(1811–99), German chemist; full name Robert Wilhelm Eberhard Bunsen. With Gustav Kirchhoff, he pioneered spectroscopy, detecting new elements (cesium and rubidium) and determining the composition of many substances and of the sun and stars. He also designed some chemical apparatuses, most notably the Bunsen burner (1855).

Bunsen burner /ˌbənsən ˈbərnər/

noun

a small adjustable gas burner used in laboratories.

Bunshaft, Gordon /ˈbənˌSHaft/

(1909–90), US architect. He is best known for his use of the International style in corporate architecture. He designed the Lever House 1952 in New York City and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden 1974 in Washington, DC.

bunt^1 /bənt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Baseball] (of a batter) gently tap (a pitched ball) without swinging in an attempt to make it more difficult to field

• the batter tried to bunt the ball down the first baseline

• [no obj.] Phil bunted and got to first.

2. (of a batter) help (a base runner) to progress to a further base by bunting a ball

• he bunted Davis to third.

3. (of a person or animal) butt with the head or horns

• he bunted her with his head.

II. noun

1. [Baseball] an act or result of bunting a pitched ball.

2. an act of flying an aircraft in part of an outside loop.

– origin mid 18th cent.: probably related to the noun butt^1 (the original sense). The usage in aeronautics dates from the 1930s.

bunt^2 /bənt/

I. noun

the baggy center of a fishing net or a sail.

– origin late 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

bunt^3 /bənt/

I. noun

a disease of wheat caused by a smut fungus, the spores of which give off a smell of rotten fish.
Also called stinking smut. [This disease is caused by Tilletia caries, class Teliomycetes.]

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting the puffball fungus): of unknown origin.

bunting^1 /ˈbən(t)iNG/

I. noun

1. an Old World seed-eating songbird related to the finches, typically with brown streaked plumage and a boldly marked head.
[Family Emberizidae, subfamily Emberizinae (the bunting family and subfamily): several genera, in particular Emberiza, and numerous species.]

2. a small New World songbird of the cardinal subfamily, the male of which is brightly colored.
[Family Emberizidae, subfamily Cardinalinae: genera Passerina and Cyanocompsa, and several species, in particular the deep blue indigo bunting (P. cyanea) and the painted bunting (P. ciris). The painted bunting, with its violet head, red body, and green back, is the only such multicolored songbird in North America.]

– origin Middle English: of unknown origin.

bunting^2 /ˈbən(t)iNG/

I. noun

1. flags and other colorful festive decorations.

2. a loosely woven fabric used to make bunting.

– origin early 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

buntline /ˈbəntlīn/

noun

a line for restraining the loose center of a sail while it is furled.

Buñuel, Luis /bo͝onˈwel/

(1900–83), Spanish movie director. Influenced by surrealism, he wrote and directed his first movie Un Chien andalou (1929) jointly with Salvador Dalí. Other notable movies: Belle de jour (1967) and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972).

bunya /ˈbənyə / bunya pine, bunya-bunya

I. noun

a tall coniferous Australian tree of the monkey puzzle family that bears large cones containing edible seeds.
[Araucaria bidwillii, family Araucariaceae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Wiradhuri.

Bunyan, John /ˈbənyən/

I. (1628–88), English writer. His major work, The Pilgrim's Progress (1678–84), is an allegory recounting the spiritual journey of its hero Pilgrim.

II. derivatives

Bunyanesque /ˌbənyəˈnesk /

adjective

bunyanize /ˈbənyəˌnīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (someone) to appear heroic or larger than life

• How are you going to allow teachers to finish their work if you keep bunyanizing them?

– origin late 20th cent.: after Paul Bunyan, legendary American giant lumberjack.

bunyip /ˈbənyip/

I. noun

1. (Austral.) a mythical amphibious monster inhabiting inland waterways.

2. [often as modifier] — (Austral.) an impostor or pretender

• Australia's bunyip aristocracy.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Wemba-wemba banib.

Buonarroti, Michelangelo /ˌbwänəˈrôtē/

see Michelangelo.

buoy /ˈbo͞oē boi/

I. noun

an anchored float serving as a navigation mark, to show reefs or other hazards, or for mooring.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. keep (someone or something) afloat

• I let the water buoy up my weight.

2. cause to become cheerful or confident

• the party was buoyed by an election victory.

3. cause (a price) to rise to or remain at a high level

• the price is buoyed up by investors.

4. mark with a buoy
(as adj. buoyed)

• a buoyed channel.

– origin Middle English: probably from Middle Dutch boye, boeie, from a Germanic base meaning ‘signal.’

buoyancy /ˈboiənsē ˈbo͞oyənsē/

noun

1. the ability or tendency to float in water or air or some other fluid.

2. the power of a liquid to keep something afloat.

3. an optimistic and cheerful disposition

• the happiness and buoyancy of his nature.

4. a high level of activity in an economy or stock market

• there is renewed buoyancy in the demand for steel.

buoyant /ˈboiənt ˈbo͞oyənt/

I. adjective

1. able or apt to stay afloat or rise to the top of a liquid or gas.

2. (of a liquid or gas) able to keep something afloat.

3. cheerful and optimistic

• the conference ended with the party in a buoyant mood.

4. (of an economy, business, or market) involving or engaged in much activity

• car sales were not buoyant.

II. derivatives

buoyantly /ˈboiəntlē ˈbo͞oyəntlē /

adverb

– origin late 16th cent.: from French bouyant or Spanish boyante, present participle of boyar ‘to float’ (see buoy).

bupkis /ˈbo͝opkis, ˈbəp-/

I. noun

(US) ‹informal› nothing at all

• you know bupkis about fundraising.

– origin from Yiddish.

buppie /ˈbəpē/

noun

‹informal› a young urban black professional; a black yuppie.

bupropion /byo͞oˈprōpēən/

I. noun

an antidepressant drug (C_13H_18ClNO) that is also given to relieve the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.
Also called Zyban .

– origin 1970s: from butane + propionic.

bur.

abbreviation

bureau.

burb /bərb/

noun — (usu. the burbs)

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› short for suburb:

• the leafy burbs of Connecticut.

Burbank /ˈbərbaNGk/

a city in southern California, a northern suburb of Los Angeles; pop. 102,968 (est. 2008). It is a center of the movie and television industries.

Burbank, Luther

(1849–1926), US horticulturist. His experiments in cross-breeding led to new types and improved varieties of plants, especially the Shasta daisy and the potato.

Burberry /ˈbərbərē, -ˌberē/

I. noun

‹trademark› a kind of lightweight belted raincoat, typically beige in color, with a distinctive tartan lining.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Burberrys, the name of the manufacturer.

burble /ˈbərbəl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. make a continuous murmuring noise

• the wind burbled at his ear.

2. speak in an unintelligible or silly way, typically at unnecessary length

• he burbled on about annuities

• [with obj.] he was burbling inanities.

3. (often as noun burbling) — [Aeronautics] (of an airflow) break up into turbulence.

II. noun

1. continuous murmuring noise.

2. rambling speech

• an hour of boring burble.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘to bubble’): imitative. Current senses date from the late 19th cent.

burbot /ˈbərbət/

I. noun

an elongated bottom-dwelling fish that is the only member of the cod family that lives in fresh water. It occurs in Eurasia and North America, but is almost extinct in Britain.
[Lota lota, family Gadidae.]

– origin Middle English: from Old French borbete, probably from borbe ‘mud, slime.’

burden /ˈbərdn/

I. noun

1. a load, especially a heavy one.

2. a duty or misfortune that causes hardship, anxiety, or grief; a nuisance

• the burden of mental illness.

3. the main responsibility for achieving a specified aim or task

• the burden of establishing that the cost was unreasonable.

4. a ship's carrying capacity; tonnage

• the schooner Wyoming, of about 6,000 tons burden.

5. (the burden) — the main theme or gist of a speech, book, or argument

• the burden of his views.

6. the refrain or chorus of a song.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. load heavily

• she walked forward burdened with a wooden box.

2. cause (someone) hardship or distress

• they were not yet burdened with adult responsibility.

III. phrases

burden of proof

the obligation to prove one's assertion.

– origin Old English byrthen; related to bear^1.

burdensome /ˈbərdnsəm/

adjective

1. difficult to carry out or fulfill; taxing

• the burdensome responsibilities of professional life.

2. undesirably restrictive

• bureaucratically burdensome assessment procedures.

burdock /ˈbərdäk/

I. noun

a large herbaceous Old World plant of the daisy family. The hook-bearing flowers become woody burrs after fertilization and cling to animals' coats for seed dispersal.
[Genus Arctium, family Compositae: several species, including the large-leaved great burdock (A. lappa), which has edible roots and is used in herbal medicine.]

– origin late 16th cent.: from bur + dock^3.

bureau /ˈbyo͝orō/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a chest of drawers.

2. (Brit.) a writing desk with drawers and typically an angled top opening downward to form a writing surface.

3. (abbr.: bur.) — an office or department for transacting particular business

• a news bureau

• the London bureau of the Washington Post.

4. a government department

• the intelligence bureau.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French, originally ‘baize’ (used to cover writing desks), from Old French burel, probably from bure ‘dark brown.’

bureaucracy /byo͝oˈräkrəsē/

I. noun

1. a system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.

2. a state or organization governed or managed as a bureaucracy.

3. the officials in a bureaucracy, considered as a group or hierarchy.

4. excessively complicated administrative procedure, seen as characteristic of bureaucracy

• the unnecessary bureaucracy in local government.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French bureaucratie, from bureau (see bureau, -cracy).

bureaucrat /ˈbyo͝orəˌkrat/

I. noun

an official in a government department, in particular one perceived as being concerned with procedural correctness at the expense of people's needs.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French bureaucrate, from bureaucratie (see bureaucracy).

bureaucratese /byo͝oˌräkrəˈtēz/

noun

a style of speech or writing characterized by jargon, euphemism, and abstractions, held to be typical of bureaucrats.

bureaucratic /ˌbyo͝orəˈkradik/

I. adjective

1. relating to the business of running an organization, or government

• well-established bureaucratic procedures.

2. overly concerned with procedure at the expense of efficiency or common sense

• the plan is overly bureaucratic and complex.

II. derivatives

bureaucratically /ˌbyo͞orəˈkradək(ə)lē /

adverb

bureaucratize /byo͝oˈräkrəˌtīz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. bureaucratized)

1. endue (someone or something) with the characteristics of a bureaucracy

• impersonal and bureaucratized welfare systems.

II. derivatives

bureaucratization /byo͝oˌräkrədəˈzāSH(ə)n byo͝oˌräkrəˌtīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

bureau de change /ˌbyo͝orō də ˈSHänZH/

I. noun

an establishment at which customers can exchange foreign money.

– origin 1950s: French, literally ‘office of exchange.’

burette /byo͝oˈret / ‹US› buret

I. noun

a graduated glass tube with a tap at one end, for delivering known volumes of a liquid, especially in titrations.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, from buire ‘jug,’ of Germanic origin; related to German Bauch ‘stomach.’

burg /bərɡ/

noun

1. an ancient or medieval fortress or walled town.
[from late Latin burgus (see burgess).]

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a town or city.
[mid 18th cent.: from German Burg ‘castle, city’; related to borough.]

burgage /ˈbərɡij/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› (in England and Scotland) tenure of land in a town held in return for service or annual rent.

2. ‹historical› a house or other property held by burgage tenure.

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin burgagium, from burgus ‘fortified town,’ of Germanic origin and related to borough.

Burgas /ˈbərɡəs/

an industrial port and resort in eastern Bulgaria, on the coast of the Black Sea; pop. 188,861 (2008).

burgee /bərˈjē ˈbərjē/

I. noun

a flag bearing the colors or emblem of a sailing club, typically triangular.

– origin mid 18th cent.: perhaps from French bourgeois (see burgess) in the sense ‘owner, master.’

burgeon /ˈbərjən/

I. verb — [no obj.] (often as adj. burgeoning)

1. begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish

• manufacturers are keen to cash in on the burgeoning demand.

2. put forth young shoots; bud.

– origin Middle English: from Old French bourgeonner ‘put out buds,’ from borjon ‘bud,’ based on late Latin burra ‘wool.’

burger /ˈbərɡər/

I. noun

1. short for hamburger.

2. [with modifier] — a particular variation of a hamburger with additional or substitute ingredients

• a veggie burger.

– origin 1930s (originally US): abbreviation.

Burger, Warren /ˈbərɡər/

(1907–95), US chief justice 1969–86; full name Warren Earl Burger. Appointed to head the US Supreme Court by President Richard Nixon, he was a conservative, except in matters of civil rights, and an advocate of judicial restraint.

burgess /ˈbərjəs/

I. noun

1. a person with municipal authority or privileges, in particular

2. (Brit.) ‹archaic› an inhabitant of a town or borough with full rights of citizenship.

3. (Brit.) ‹historical› a member of Parliament for a borough, corporate town, or university.

4. (in the US and also historically in the UK) a magistrate or member of the governing body of a town.

5. (US) ‹historical› a member of the assembly of colonial Maryland or Virginia.

– origin Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French burgeis, from late Latin burgus ‘castle, fort’ (in medieval Latin ‘fortified town’); related to borough.

Burgess, Anthony /ˈbərjəs/

(1917–93), English novelist and critic; pseudonym of John Anthony Burgess Wilson. He wrote A Clockwork Orange (1962), a disturbing, futuristic vision of juvenile delinquency, violence, and high technology. Other notable works: The Malayan Trilogy (1956–59) and Earthly Powers (1980).

Burgess, Guy

(1911–63), British foreign office official and spy; full name Guy Francis de Moncy Burgess. Acting as a Soviet agent from the 1930s, he was charged with espionage in 1951 and fled to the former Soviet Union with Donald Maclean.

Burgess Shale /ˈbərjis ˌSHāl/

I. a bed of shale exposed in the Rocky Mountains in British Columbia, Canada. The bed, dated to the Cambrian period (about 530 million years ago), is rich in well-preserved fossils of early marine invertebrates, many of which represent evolutionary lineages unknown in later times.

– origin named after the Burgess Pass, British Colombia, where the shale crops out.

burgh /ˈbərɡ ˈbərə/

I. noun

‹historical› (Scottish) a borough or chartered town.

II. derivatives

burghal /ˈbərɡəl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: Scots form of borough.

burgher /ˈbərɡər/

I. noun

‹archaic› ‹humorous› a citizen of a town or city, typically a member of the wealthy bourgeoisie.

– origin Middle English: from burgh, reinforced by Dutch burger, from burg ‘castle’ (see borough).

burglar /ˈbərɡlər/

I. noun

a person who commits burglary.

II. derivatives

burglarious /ˌbərˈɡlerēəs /

adjective

( — ‹archaic›

– origin mid 16th cent.: from legal French burgler or Anglo-Latin burgulator, burglator; related to Old French burgier ‘pillage.’

burglar alarm

noun

an electronic device that triggers a loud noise or other alert when someone attempts to make unauthorized entry to a building or other premises

• police say the thieves are taking advantage of the homes and businesses that don't have burglar alarms.

burglarize /ˈbərɡləˌrīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) enter (a building) illegally with intent to commit a crime, especially theft

• our summer house has been burglarized.

burglarproof /ˈbərɡlərˌpro͞of/

adjective

protected against or providing protection against burglary.

burglary /ˈbərɡlərē/

I. noun

entry into a building illegally with intent to commit a crime, especially theft

• a two-year sentence for burglary

• a series of burglaries.

– origin early 16th cent.: from legal French burglarie, from burgler (see burglar).

burgle /ˈbərɡəl/

I. verb

another term for burglarize.

– origin late 19th cent.: originally a humorous and colloquial back-formation from burglar.

burgomaster /ˈbərɡəˌmastər/

I. noun

the mayor of a Dutch, Flemish, German, Austrian, or Swiss town.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Dutch burgemeester, from burg ‘castle, citadel’ (see borough) + meester ‘master.’ The change in the final element was due to association with master^1.

burgonet /ˈbərɡəˌnet ˌbərɡəˈnet/

I. noun

‹historical› a kind of visored helmet.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French bourguignotte, perhaps a use of the feminine of bourguignot ‘Burgundian,’ the ending being assimilated to -et^1.

burgoo /bərˈɡo͞o/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a stew or thick soup, typically made for an outdoor meal.

2. an outdoor meal at which burgoo is served.

3. [chiefly Nautical] a thick porridge.

– origin from Arabic burġul.

Burgos /ˈbo͝orɡōs/

a town in northern Spain; pop. 177,879 (2008).

Burgoyne, John /ˈbərˌɡoin, bərˈɡoin/

(1722–92), English general and playwright; known as Gentleman Johnny. He surrendered to the Americans at Saratoga (1777) during the American Revolution. His plays include The Maid of the Oaks (1774) and The Heiress (1786).

burgrave /ˈbərɡrāv/

I. noun

‹historical› the governor or hereditary ruler of a German town or castle.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from German Burggraf, from Burg ‘castle’ (see borough) + Graf ‘count, noble.’

Burgundian /bərˈɡəndēən/

I. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Burgundy.

2. ‹historical› a member of a Germanic people that invaded Gaul from the east and established the kingdom of Burgundy in the 5th century AD.

II. adjective

of or relating to Burgundy or the Burgundians.

burgundy /ˈbərɡəndē / Burgundy

noun

1. a wine from Burgundy (usually taken to be red unless otherwise specified)

• a glass of Burgundy

• elegant red burgundies.

2. a deep red color like that of burgundy wine

• warm shades of brown and burgundy

• [as modifier] burgundy leather.

Burgundy /ˈbərɡəndē/

a region and former duchy of eastern central France, the center of which is Dijon. The region is noted for its wine.
French name Bourgogne.

burial /ˈberēəl/

I. noun

1. the action or practice of interring a dead body

• his remains were shipped home for burial.

2. a ceremony at which someone's body is interred; a funeral
[as modifier]

• burial rites.

3. [Archaeology] a grave or the remains found in it
[as modifier]

• burial mounds.

– origin Old English byrgels ‘place of burial, grave’ (interpreted as plural in Middle English, hence the loss of the final -s), of Germanic origin; related to bury.

burial ground /ˈberēəl ˌɡround/

noun — (often as burial grounds)

1. an area of ground set aside for the burying of human bodies.

2. a site at which the remains of once-living specimens can be found

• coral reefs are the burial grounds of untold organisms.

burin /ˈbyo͞orən/

I. noun

1. a steel tool used for engraving in copper or wood.

2. [Archaeology] a flint tool with a chisel point.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French; perhaps related to Old High German bora ‘boring tool.’

burka /ˈbərkə / burkha, burqa

I. noun

a long, loose garment covering the whole body from head to feet, worn in public by many Muslim women.

– origin Urdu and Persian burḳa῾, from Arabic burḳu῾.

Burke, Edmund /bərk/

(1729–97), British politician and man of letters. He wrote on the issues of political emancipation and moderation, notably with respect to Roman Catholics and the American colonies.

Burke, John

(1787–1848), Irish genealogical and heraldic writer. In 1826, he compiled the first edition of Burke's Peerage, still regarded as the authoritative guide to the British aristocracy.

Burkina Faso /bərˌkēnə ˈfäsō/

I.
1. a landlocked country in western Africa, in the Sahel; pop. 15,746,200 (est. 2009); capital, Ouagadougou; languages, French (official), indigenous languages.
Former name (until 1984) Upper Volta.

A French protectorate from 1898, it became an autonomous republic within the French Community in 1958 and a fully independent republic in 1960.

II. derivatives

1. Burkinabe /bərkēnəˈbā /

adjective, noun

2. Burkinan /bərˈkēnən /

adjective, noun

Burkitt's lymphoma /ˌbərkits limˈfōmə/

I. noun

[Medicine] cancer of the lymphatic system, caused by the Epstein–Barr virus, chiefly affecting children in central Africa.

– origin 1960s: named after D. P. Burkitt (1911–93), the British surgeon who described it.

burl /bərl/

I. noun

1. a slub or lump in wool or cloth.

2. (N. Amer.) a rounded knotty growth on a tree, giving an attractive figure when polished and used especially for handcrafted objects and veneers

• she used warty burls to construct her pieces

• wooden coin banks made of elm burl

• [as modifier] a burl bowl.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French bourle ‘tuft of wool,’ diminutive of bourre ‘coarse wool,’ from late Latin burra ‘wool.’

burlap /ˈbərlap/

I. noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) coarse canvas woven from jute, hemp, or a similar fiber, used especially for sacking.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) a material similar to burlap but lighter, used in dressmaking and furnishing
[as modifier]

• a burlap shirt

• fabrics ranging from hessians to burlaps.

– origin late 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

burlesque /bərˈlesk/

I. noun

1. an absurd or comically exaggerated imitation of something, especially in a literary or dramatic work; a parody

• the funniest burlesque of opera

• [as modifier] burlesque Shakespearean stanzas.

2. humor that depends on comic imitation and exaggeration; absurdity

• the argument descends into burlesque.

3. a variety show, typically including striptease
[as modifier]

• burlesque clubs.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause to appear absurd by parodying or copying in an exaggerated form

• she struck a ridiculous pose that burlesqued her own vanity.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, from Italian burlesco, from burla ‘mockery,’ of unknown origin.

burley /ˈbərlē/

I. noun

a tobacco of a light-colored variety grown mainly in Kentucky.

– origin late 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

Burlingame /ˈbərlənˌɡām, -liNG-/

a city in north central California, on San Francisco Bay, south of San Francisco; pop. 27,706 (est. 2008).

Burlington /ˈbərliNGtən/

I. a city in southern Canada, on Lake Ontario, southwest of Toronto; pop. 164,415 (2006).

II. a city in north central North Carolina, noted as a textile center; pop. 50,857 (est. 2008).

III. a city in northwestern Vermont, the largest in the state, on Lake Champlain; pop. 38,897 (est. 2008).

burly /ˈbərlē/

I. adjective

(of a person) large and strong; heavily built.

II. derivatives

burliness /ˈbərlēnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘dignified, imposing’): probably from an unrecorded Old English word meaning ‘stately, fit for the bower’ (see bower^1, -ly^1).

Burma /ˈbərmə/

I. a country in Southeast Asia, on the Bay of Bengal; pop. 48,137,700 (est. 2009); capital, Naypyidaw; official language, Burmese.
Official name (since 1989) Union of Myanmar.

Annexed by the British during the 19th century, the country was occupied by the Japanese from 1942 to 1945 and became an independent republic in 1948. In 1962, an army coup led by Ne Win overthrew the government and established an authoritarian state. The National League for Democracy (NLD) won the election held in May 1990, even though its leader Aung San Suu Kyi was under house arrest; however, the military regime did not relinquish power. / usage: The military authorities in Burma have promoted the name Myanmar as the name for their state since 1989, yet the name Burma continues to be used by various opposition groups within the country, as well as by certain foreign countries that do not recognize the current military government. Even US newscasters are not in agreement on the proper terminology: on one news program, you may hear a report about 'Myanmar, formerly Burma'; from another, the news may be about 'Burma, also known as Myanmar.'.

bur marigold

noun

another term for beggarticks.

Burma Road

a route that links Lashio in Burma (Myanmar) to Kunming in China and covers 717 miles (1,154 km). Completed in 1939, it was built by the Chinese to serve as a supply route to the interior in response to the Japanese occupation of the Chinese coast.

Burmese /bərˈmēz/

I. noun

1. a member of the largest ethnic group of Burma (Myanmar) in Southeast Asia.

2. a native or inhabitant of Burma.

3. the Tibeto-Burman language of the Burmese, written in an alphabet derived from that of Pali, and the official language of Burma.

4. (also Burmese cat) — a cat of a short-haired breed originating in Asia.

II. adjective

relating to Burma, its people, or their language.

burn^1 /bərn/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — (of a fire) flame or glow while consuming a material such as coal or wood

• a fire burned and crackled cheerfully in the grate.

2. (of a candle or other source of light) be alight

• a light was burning in the hall.

3. be or cause to be destroyed by fire

• he watched his restaurant burn to the ground.

4. [with obj.] — damage or injure by heat or fire

• I burned myself on the stove.

5. [no obj.] — (of a person, the skin, or a part of the body) become red and painful through exposure to the sun

• my skin tans easily but sometimes burns.

6. feel or cause to feel sore, hot, or inflamed, typically as a result of illness or injury.

7. (be burning with) — be possessed by (a desire or an emotion)

• Martha was burning with curiosity.

8. [with obj.] — use (a type of fuel) as a source of heat or energy

• a diesel engine converted to burn natural gas.

9. (of a person) convert (calories) to energy

• the speed at which your body burns calories.

10. [with obj.] — produce (a compact disc or DVD) by copying from an original or master copy.

11. [no obj., with adverbial of direction] — ‹informal› drive very fast

• he burned past us like a maniac.

II. noun

1. an injury caused by exposure to heat or flame

• he was treated in the hospital for burns to his hands.

2. a mark left on something as a result of being burned

• the carpet was covered with cigarette burns.

3. [with modifier] — a feeling of heat and discomfort on the skin caused by friction, typically by a rope or razor

• a smooth shave without razor burn.

4. consumption of a type of fuel as an energy source

• natural gas produces the cleanest burn of the lot.

5. a firing of a rocket engine in flight.

6. (N. Amer.) (Austral./NZ) an act of clearing vegetation by burning, intentionally or by accident.

7. an area of land cleared by burning.

8. a hot, painful sensation in the muscles experienced as a result of sustained vigorous exercise

• work up a burn.

9. short for burn rate.

III. phrases

1. be burned at the stake

‹historical› be executed by being burned alive in public, typically for heresy or witchcraft.

2. burn one's bridges

do something that makes it impossible to return to an earlier state.

3. burn the candle at both ends

go to bed late and get up early, especially to get work done.

4. burn the midnight oil

read, study, or work late into the night.

5. burn (or lay) rubber

‹informal› drive very fast.

6. go for the burn

‹informal› push one's body to the extremes when doing physical exercise.

7. money burns a hole in someone's pocket

someone has a strong urge to spend money as soon as they receive it.

8. slow burn

‹informal› a state of slowly mounting anger or annoyance

• the medical community's shrugging acceptance is fueling a slow burn among women.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. burn something down (or burn down)

(of a building or structure) destroy or be destroyed completely by fire.

2. burn something in/into

a. brand or imprint by burning

• designs are burned into the skin

• ‹figurative› a childhood incident that was burned into her memory.

b. [Photography] expose one area of a print more than the rest

• the sky and bottom of the picture needed substantial burning in.

3. burn something off

remove (a substance) using a flame

• using a blowtorch to burn off the paint.

4. burn out

a. be completely consumed and thus no longer aflame

• the candle in the saucer had burned out

• ‹figurative› his political ambitions had burned themselves out.

b. cease to function as a result of excessive heat or friction

• the clutch had burned out.

5. burn (oneself) out

ruin one's health or become completely exhausted through overwork.

6. burn someone out

make someone homeless by destroying their home by fire

• they were burned out of their homes.

7. burn something out

completely destroy a building or vehicle by fire, so that only a shell remains.

8. burn up

a. (of a fire) produce brighter and stronger flames.

b. (of an object entering the earth's atmosphere) be destroyed by heat.

9. burn someone up

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› make someone angry

• his thoughtless remarks really burn me up.

10. burn something up

b. use up the calories or energy provided by food, rather than converting these to fat

• in the typical Western diet, all the energy in protein is burned up daily.

– origin Old English birnan ‘be on fire’ and bærnan ‘consume by fire,’ both from the same Germanic base; related to German brennen.

burn^2 /bərn/

I. noun

(chiefly Scottish) (N. English) a small stream; a brook.

– origin Old English burna, burn(e), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bron and German Brunnen ‘well.’

burnable /ˈbərnəb(ə)l/

adjective

consisting or made of material that is able to be burned or is suitable for burning

• in 2000 Switzerland closed all of its landfills to burnable waste.

burned /bərnd / burnt

I. past and past participle of burn^1.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. having been burned

• burned wood

• burned shoulders and peeling noses.

2. (of a taste) like that of food that has been charred in cooking.

3. (of sugar) cooked or heated until caramelized.

4. (usu. burnt) — (of a warm color) dark or deep

• burnt orange.

burned-out burnt-out

adjective

1. (of a vehicle or building) destroyed or badly damaged by fire; gutted.

2. (of an electrical device or component) having failed through overheating.

3. (of a person) in a state of physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress

• she felt burned out, an empty shell

• a burned-out undercover cop.

4. ‹informal› (of a teenager or other person) having dropped out; drug-using.

Burne-Jones, Sir Edward /ˌbərn ˈjōnz/

(1833–98), English painter and designer; full name Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones. Notable paintings: The Golden Stairs (1880) and The Mirror of Venus (1898–99).

burner /ˈbərnər/

I. noun

1. a person or thing that burns
[in combination]

• uphill walking is a great calorie-burner.

2. a part of a stove, lamp, etc., that emits and shapes a flame.

3. (N. Amer.) the heating element of an electric stove.

4. an apparatus in which a fuel is used or an aromatic substance is heated.

5. short for CD burner.

6. (also burner phone) — (N. Amer.) ‹informal› an inexpensive mobile phone for whose telecommunications services one pays in advance, used typically for the sake of anonymity since no personal details are required by the service provider

• he bought a burner to get in touch with Shapiro

• one national security reporter suggested using burner phones.

7. (US) ‹informal› a handgun

• Mama pulled out a burner and shot a man down.

II. phrases

on the back (or front) burner

‹informal› having low (or high) priority

• he wants the matter to be put on the back burner.

burnet /bərˈnet ˈbərnət/

I. noun

1. a herbaceous plant of the rose family, with globular pinkish flower heads and leaves composed of many small leaflets.
[Genus Sanguisorba, family Rosaceae: several species, including the edible salad burnet (S. minor), which is often cultivated, and the spiny shrublike thorny burnet (S. spinosum), common in the eastern Mediterranean.]

2. a day-flying moth that typically has greenish-black wings marked with crimson spots.
[Zygaena and other genera, family Zygaenidae.]

– origin Middle English (denoting a kind of dark brown woolen cloth): from Old French brunete, burnete (denoting brown cloth or a plant with brown flowers), diminutives of brun ‘brown.’

Burnett, Carol /bərˈnet/

(1936–), US comedienne and actress. She is best known for the television program The Carol Burnett Show (1967–78).

Burnett, Frances Hodgson

(1849–1924), US novelist; born in Britain; full name Frances Eliza Hodgson Burnett. She is noted for her children's novels, which include Little Lord Fauntleroy (1886), A Little Princess (1905), and The Secret Garden (1911).

burn-in /ˈbərnin/

noun

1. damage to a computer or television screen, caused by being left on too long.

2. a reliability test in which a device is switched on for a long time.

burning /ˈbərniNG/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. on fire

• a burning building.

2. very hot or bright

• burning desert sands.

3. very keenly or deeply felt; intense

• he had a burning ambition to climb to the upper reaches of management.

4. of urgent interest and importance; exciting or calling for debate

• democracy remains a burning issue

• the burning question of independence.

II. derivatives

burningly

adverb

burning bush /ˈbərniNG bo͝oSH/

I. noun

1. any of a number of shrubs noted for their bright red autumn foliage, in particular
[● the kochia. ● the smoke tree.]

2. any of a number of shrubs or trees with bright red leaves or fruits.
[Several plants, in particular the purple-flowered North American Euonymus atropurpurea (family Celastraceae), a relative of the spindle tree.]

3. another term for gas plant.

– origin mid 19th cent.: with biblical allusion to Exod. 3:2.

burning glass /ˈbərniNG ɡlas/

noun

a lens for concentrating the sun's rays on an object so as to set fire to it.

burnish /ˈbərniSH/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. burnished)

1. polish (something, especially metal) by rubbing

• highly burnished armor.

2. enhance or perfect (something such as a reputation or a skill).

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. the shine on a highly polished surface.

III. derivatives

burnisher /ˈbərniSHər /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French burniss-, lengthened stem of burnir, variant of brunir ‘make brown,’ from brun ‘brown.’

burnoose /bərˈno͞os / burnous

I. noun

a long, loose hooded cloak worn by Arabs.

– origin late 16th cent.: French, from Arabic burnus, from Greek birros ‘cloak.’

burnout /ˈbərnˌout/

noun

1. the reduction of a fuel or substance to nothing through use or combustion

• good carbon burnout

• [as modifier] a burnout furnace.

2. physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress

• high levels of professionalism that may result in burnout

• you'll suffer a burnout.

3. ‹informal› a dropout or drug abuser.

4. failure of an electrical device or component through overheating

• an antistall mechanism prevents motor burnout.

5. [often as modifier] — a method of producing textile patterns in which a design is etched by chemicals that destroy only the surface fibers

• a tangerine jersey halter with silk floral burnout skirt.

burn rate

noun

the rate at which an enterprise spends money, especially venture capital, in excess of income

• the corporation lays off workers to cut burn rate.

Burns, George /bərnz/

(1896–1996), US comedian and movie actor; born Nathan Birnbaum. In 1922, he paired up with comedienne Gracie Allen (c. 1902–64), whom he married in 1926. They had shows in vaudeville, on radio, and later on television. Notable movies: The Sunshine Boys (1975) and Oh God! (1977).

Burns, Robert

(1759–96), Scottish poet, noted for poems such as “The Jolly Beggars” (1786) and “Tam o' Shanter” (1791), and for old Scottish songs that he collected, including “Auld Lang Syne.”

burnside /ˈbərnsīd/

I. noun — (usu. burnsides)

1. a mustache in combination with whiskers on the cheeks but no beard on the chin.

– origin late 19th cent.: named after A. Burnside (see Burnside, Ambrose).

Burnside, Ambrose /ˈbərnˌsīd/

(1824–81), US army officer; full name Ambrose Everett Burnside. He was appointed General of the Army of the Potomac in 1862, but his incompetence at the Battle of Fredericksburg that same year led to his transfer to the Ohio valley.

Burns Night

noun

the evening of 25 January, the birthday of the Scottish poet Robert Burns, on which celebrations in his honor are traditionally held in Scotland and elsewhere

• I've just realized it's Burns Night tonight, and I've no haggis in the fridge.

Burns Supper

noun

a festivity held on 25 January in celebration of the birthday of the Scottish poet Robert Burns, typically incorporating the eating of haggis, the drinking of whisky, and the reciting of Burns's poetry

• haggis has been the centerpiece of Burns Suppers for 250 years.

Burnsville /ˈbərnzˌvil/

a city in southeastern Minnesota, south of Minneapolis; pop. 59,139 (est. 2008).

burnt ocher

noun

1. a pigment made from ocher that has been darkened by heating, or resembling this in color.

2. the deep yellow-brown color of the pigment made from ocher.

burnt offering

noun

1. an offering burned on an altar as a religious sacrifice.

2. (usu. burnt offerings) — ‹humorous› overcooked or charred food.

burnt sienna

noun

1. a deep reddish-brown pigment made from sienna that has been darkened by heating, or resembling this in color.

2. a deep reddish-brown color.

burnt umber

noun

see umber (sense 1).

bur oak

noun

a North American oak, with large fringed acorn cups. Its timber was formerly important in shipbuilding.
Also called mossycup oak. [Quercus macrocarpa, family Fagaceae.]

burp /bərp / ‹informal›

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. noisily release air from the stomach through the mouth; belch.

2. [with obj.] — make (a baby) belch after feeding, typically by patting its back.

II. noun

a noise made by air released from the stomach through the mouth; a belch.

– origin 1930s: imitative.

burp gun /ˈbərp ˌɡən/

noun

(US) ‹informal› a lightweight submachine gun.

burr /bər/

I. noun

1. a whirring sound, such as a telephone ringing tone or the sound of cogs turning.

2. [in sing.] — a rough sounding of the sound r, especially with a uvular trill (a “French r”) as in certain Northern England accents.

3. (loosely) a regional accent

• a soft Scottish burr.

4. (also bur) — a rough edge or ridge left on an object (especially of metal) by the action of a tool or machine.

5. (also bur) — a small rotary cutting tool with a shaped end, used chiefly in woodworking and dentistry.

6. a small surgical drill for making holes in bone, especially in the skull.

7. a type of siliceous rock used for millstones.

8. a whetstone.

9. (also bur) — a prickly seed case or flower head that clings to clothing and animal fur.

10. [usu. as modifier] — a plant that produces burrs, for example bur-reed.

11. (also bur) [as modifier] — denoting wood containing knots or other growths which show a pattern of dense swirls in the grain when sawn, used for veneers and other decorative woodwork

• burr walnut.

12. a ring of bone at the base of a deer's antler.
Also called coronet.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — make a whirring sound.

2. speak with an accent in which the sound r is trilled
[with direct speech]

• “I like to have a purrrpose,” she burrs.

3. [with obj.] — form a rough edge on (metal)

• the handles were fixed by rivets burred over on the shield's front.

III. phrases

a burr under one's saddle

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a persistent source of irritation

• he had been a burr under the saddle of the government in his time.

– origin Middle English (in sense 5 of the noun): probably of Scandinavian origin and related to Danish burre ‘burr, burdock,’ Swedish kard-borre ‘burdock.’

Burr, Aaron /bər/

(1756–1836), US statesman. In 1804, while US vice president, he killed Alexander Hamilton, his rival, in a duel. He then plotted to form an independent administration in Mexico and was tried for treason but was acquitted.

burrata /bəˈrädə/

I. noun

a semisoft white Italian cheese made from mozzarella and cream

• the menu includes burrata served with charred cherry tomatoes and toasted garlic crostini.

– origin Italian, literally ‘buttered.’

burrawang /ˈbərəˌwaNG / burrawong

I. noun

1. an Australian cycad with palmlike leaves and a sunken underground trunk.
[Macrozamia spiralis, family Zamiaceae.]

2. the poisonous nut of the burrawang, which loses its toxicity after prolonged soaking and becomes edible.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Dharuk.

bur reed

noun

an aquatic reedlike plant with rounded flower heads. Its oily seeds are an important source of winter food for wildfowl.
[Genus Sparganium, family Sparganiaceae.]

burrfish /ˈbərfiSH/

noun

a porcupine fish with spines that are permanently erected, occurring in tropical waters of the Atlantic and Pacific.
[Genus Chilomycterus, family Diodontidae: several species, including the common striped burrfish (C. schoepfi) of the western Atlantic.]

burrito /bəˈrēdō/

I. noun

a Mexican dish consisting of a tortilla rolled around a filling, typically of beans or ground or shredded beef.

– origin Latin American Spanish, diminutive of Spanish burro, literally ‘donkey’ (see burro).

burro /ˈbərō ˈbo͝orō/

I. noun

(chiefly US) a small donkey used as a pack animal.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Spanish.

Burroughs, Edgar Rice /ˈbərōz/

(1875–1950), US novelist and science fiction writer. Although he began his writing career with science fiction stories, he was most successful with an adventure series that began with Tarzan of the Apes (1914).

Burroughs, John

(1837–1921), US naturalist and author. At his home near the Hudson River at West Park, New York, he entertained friends such as John Muir, Theodore Roosevelt, and Walt Whitman. Among his works are Wake-Robin (1871), Locusts and Wild Honey (1879), and The Summit of the Years (1913).

Burroughs, William

(1914–97), US novelist; full name William Seward Burroughs. In the 1940s, he became addicted to heroin, and his best-known writing, such as Junkie (1953) and The Naked Lunch (1959), deals in a unique, surreal style with life as a drug addict.

burrow /ˈbərō/

I. noun

a hole or tunnel dug by a small animal, especially a rabbit, as a dwelling.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of an animal) make a hole or tunnel, especially to use as a dwelling

• moles burrowing away underground

• (as adj. burrowing) burrowing earthworms

• [with obj.] the fish can burrow a hiding place.

2. [with adverbial of direction] — advance into or through something solid by digging or making a hole

• worms that burrow through dead wood.

3. [with adverbial of direction] — move underneath or press close to something in order to hide oneself or in search of comfort

• the child burrowed deeper into the bed.

4. make a thorough inquiry; investigate

• journalists are burrowing into the president's business affairs.

III. derivatives

burrower

noun

– origin Middle English.

burry /ˈbərē/

adjective

1. having or containing burs; prickly.

2. (of speech) having a burr.

bursa /ˈbərsə/

I. noun

[Anatomy] a fluid-filled sac or saclike cavity, especially one countering friction at a joint.

II. derivatives

bursal

adjective

– origin early 19th cent.: from medieval Latin, ‘bag, purse,’ from Greek bursa ‘leather.’

Bursa /ˈbərsə/

a city in northwestern Turkey; pop. 1,431,200 (est. 2007). It was the capital of the Ottoman Empire 1326–1402.

bursa of Fabricius /ˌbərsə əv fəˈbriSH(ē)əs/

I. noun

[Zoology] a glandular sac opening into the cloaca of a bird, producing B cells.

– origin mid 19th cent. (in the Latin form bursa Fabricii): from bursa, and a Latinized form of the name of Girolama Fabrici (1533–1619), Italian anatomist.

bursar /ˈbərsər/

I. noun

1. a person who manages the financial affairs of a college or university.

2. (chiefly Scottish) a student attending a college or university on a scholarship.

– origin late Middle English: from French boursier or (sense 1) medieval Latin bursarius, from bursa ‘bag, purse’ (see bursa).

bursary /ˈbərsərē/

I. noun

1. (chiefly Brit.) a scholarship to attend a college or university.

2. the treasury of an institution, especially a religious one.

– origin late 17th cent. (sense 2): from medieval Latin bursaria, from bursa ‘bag, purse’ (see bursa).

burse /bərs/

noun

a flat, square, fabric-covered case in which a folded corporal is carried to and from an altar in church.

bursitis /bərˈsīdəs/

noun

[Medicine] inflammation of a bursa, typically one in the knee, elbow or shoulder.

burst /bərst/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a container) break suddenly and violently apart, spilling the contents, typically as a result of an impact or internal pressure

• we inflated dozens of balloons and only one burst.

2. [with obj.] — cause to break, especially by puncturing

• he burst the balloon in my face.

3. [with obj.] — (of contents) break open (a container) from the inside by growing too large to be held

• the swollen river was expected to burst its banks.

4. [with obj.] — suffer from the sudden breaking of (a bodily organ or vessel)

• he burst a blood vessel during a fit of coughing.

5. be so full as almost to break open

• the drawers were bursting with clothes.

6. feel a very strong or irrepressible emotion or impulse

• he was bursting with joy and excitement

• [with infinitive] she was bursting to say something.

7. suddenly begin doing something as an expression of a strong feeling

• if anyone said anything to upset me, I'd burst out crying

• she burst into a fresh flood of tears.

8. issue suddenly and uncontrollably, as though from a splitting container

• the words burst from him in an angry rush

• an aircraft crashed and burst into flames.

9. be opened suddenly and forcibly

• a door burst open and a girl raced out.

10. [with adverbial of direction] — make one's way suddenly and typically violently

• he burst into the room without knocking.

11. [with obj.] — separate (continuous stationery) into single sheets.

II. noun

1. an instance of breaking or splitting as a result of internal pressure or puncturing; an explosion.

2. a sudden issuing forth

• her breath was coming in short bursts.

3. a sudden outbreak, typically short and often violent or noisy

• a sudden burst of activity

• he heard a burst of gunfire.

4. a short, sudden, and intense effort

• he sailed 474 miles in one 24-hour burst.

III. phrases

burst someone's bubble

see bubble.

– origin Old English berstan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bersten, barsten.

burster /ˈbərstər/

noun

1. a thing that bursts, in particular

2. [Astronomy] a cosmic source of powerful short-lived bursts of X-rays or other radiation.

3. a violent gale.

4. a machine that separates continuous stationery into single sheets.

bursty /ˈbərstē/

adjective

1. ‹informal› ‹technical› occurring at intervals in short sudden episodes or groups.

2. ‹informal› ‹technical› relating to or denoting the transmission of data in short separate bursts of signals.

burthen /ˈbərT͟Hən/

noun

archaic form of burden.

burton /ˈbərtn / burton-tackle

I. noun

‹chiefly historical› a light two-block tackle for hoisting.

– origin early 18th cent.: alteration of Middle English Breton tackle, a nautical term in the same sense (see Breton).

Burton, Harold Hitz /ˈbərtn/

(1888–1964), US Supreme Court associate justice 1945–58. He was the mayor of Cleveland, Ohio 1935–40 and a US senator 1941–45 before being appointed to the Court by President Truman.

Burton, Richard

(1925–84), Welsh actor; born Richard Jenkins. He played a number of Shakespearean roles on stage before appearing in movies such as The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1966) and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966). He often costarred with Elizabeth Taylor, whom he married twice.

Burton, Sir Richard

(1821–90), English explorer, anthropologist, and translator; full name Sir Richard Francis Burton. In 1858, he and John Hanning Speke were the first Europeans to see Lake Tanganyika. Notable translations: Arabian Nights (1885–88), Kama Sutra (1883), and The Perfumed Garden (1886).

Burundi /bəˈro͝ondē/

I.
1. a central African country on the northeastern side of Lake Tanganyika, south of Rwanda; pop. 9,511,300 (est. 2009); official languages, French and Kirundi; capital, Bujumbura.

Inhabited mainly by Hutu and Tutsi peoples, the area formed part of German East Africa from the 1890s until World War I, after which it was administered by Belgium. The country became an independent monarchy in 1962 and a republic in 1966. Multiparty elections in 1993 resulted in the country's being led for the first time by a member of the Hutu majority rather than the traditionally dominant Tutsis; the assassination of the president within months, and the death in 1994 of the country's next leader, sparked large-scale ethnic violence.

II. derivatives

Burundian /-dēən /

adjective, noun

bury /ˈberē/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — put or hide under ground

• he buried the box in the back garden

• (as adj. buried) buried treasure.

2. (usu. be buried) — place (a dead body) in the earth, in a tomb, or in the sea, typically with funeral rites

• he was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

3. lose (someone, typically a relative) through death

• she buried her sixty-year-old husband.

4. completely cover; cause to disappear or become inconspicuous

• the countryside has been buried under layers of concrete

• ‹figurative› the warehouse was buried in the faceless sprawl of the city.

5. move or put out of sight

• she buried her face in her hands

• with his hands buried in the pockets of his overcoat.

6. deliberately forget; conceal from oneself

• they had buried their feelings of embarrassment and fear.

7. overwhelm (an opponent) beyond hope of recovery

• losses that would bury multiple businesses.

8. (bury oneself) — involve oneself deeply in something to the exclusion of other concerns

• he buried himself in work.

II. phrases

1. bury the hatchet

end a quarrel or conflict and become friendly.

2. bury one's head in the sand

ignore unpleasant realities.

– origin Old English byrgan; related to the verb borrow and to borough.

Buryatia /bo͝orˈyädēə / Buryat Republic

an autonomous republic in southeastern Russia, between Lake Baikal and the Mongolian border; pop. 951,000 (est. 2009); capital, Ulan-Ude.

burying beetle

noun

a black beetle that typically has broad orange bands on its wing cases. It buries small animal carcasses to provide a food store for its larvae.
Also called sexton beetle. [Nicrophorus and other genera, family Silphidae.]

bus /bəs/

I. noun

1. a large motor vehicle carrying passengers by road, especially one serving the public on a fixed route and for a fare
[as modifier]

• a bus service.

2. [Computing] a distinct set of conductors carrying data and control signals within a computer system, to which pieces of equipment may be connected in parallel.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — transport in a communal road vehicle

• managerial staff was bused in and out of the factory.

2. (N. Amer.) transport (a child of one race) to a school where another race is predominant, in an attempt to promote racial integration.

3. [with obj.] — (N. Amer.) remove (dirty tableware) from a table in a restaurant or cafeteria

• I'd never bused so many dishes in one night.

4. remove dirty tableware from (a table)

• Chad buses tables on weekends.

III. phrases

throw someone under the bus

‹informal› (chiefly US) cause someone else to suffer in order to save oneself or gain personal advantage

• the government is ready to throw rural voters under the bus.

– origin early 19th cent.: shortening of omnibus.

bus.

abbreviation

business.

busbar /ˈbəsbär / bus bar

noun

a system of electrical conductors in a generating or receiving station on which power is concentrated for distribution.

busboy /ˈbəsˌboi/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a young man who clears tables in a restaurant or cafeteria.

– origin late 19th cent.: shortening of omnibus + boy.

busby /ˈbəzbē/

I. noun

1. a tall fur hat with a colored cloth flap hanging down on the right-hand side and often a plume on the top, worn by soldiers of certain regiments of hussars and artillerymen.

2. popular term for bearskin (the cap).

– origin mid 18th cent. (denoting a large bushy wig): of unknown origin.

bus conductor

noun

(chiefly Brit.) a person whose job is to collect fares and sell tickets on a bus.

• he began his career as a bus conductor for the Eastern National Omnibus Company.

bus driver

noun

a person whose job is to drive a bus.

• the police were called following reports of an argument between a passenger and the bus driver.

bush /bo͝oSH/

I. noun

1. a shrub or clump of shrubs with stems of moderate length

• a rose bush

• the plant will develop into a dense bush.

2. (the bush) — (especially in Australia, Africa, and Canada) wild or uncultivated country

• they have to spend a night camping in the bush.

3. vegetation growing in the bush

• the lowland country was covered in thick bush.

4. a luxuriant growth of thick hair or fur

• a childish face with a bush of bright hair.

5. ‹vulgar slang› a woman's pubic hair.

II. adjective

‹informal› short for bush league.

III. verb — [no obj.]

1. spread out into a thick clump

• her hair bushed out like a halo.

– origin Middle English: from Old French bos, bosc, variants of bois ‘wood,’ reinforced by Old Norse buski, of Germanic origin and related to obsolete Dutch bosch (now bos) and German Busch. The sense ‘uncultivated country’ is probably directly from Dutch bos.

Bush, George /bo͝oSH/

(1924–), 41st president of the US 1989–93; full name George Herbert Walker Bush. A Texas Republican, he served in the US House of Representatives 1967–71 and as director of the CIA 1976–77. His presidency was preceded by two terms as Ronald Reagan's vice president 1981–89. As president, Bush negotiated further arms reductions with the former Soviet Union and organized international action to expel the Iraqis from Kuwait following the invasion in 1990.

Bush, George W.

I. (1946–), 43rd president of the US 2001–2009; full name George Walker Bush. He is the son of President George Bush. A conservative Texas Republican, he served as governor of Texas 1995–2000 before he became president in one of the closest and most controversial presidential elections in US history, when the accuracy of the vote count in the state of Florida was challenged by Democratic nominee Al Gore. One of his early acts as president was to launch a ‘War on Terror’ against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan following the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon; he also ordered the invasion of Iraq in March 2003, maintaining that Saddam Hussein was developing chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons.

II. derivatives

Bushism

noun

bush baby bushbaby

noun

a small nocturnal tree-dwelling African primate with very large eyes.
Also called galago. [Genus Galago, family Lorisidae, suborder Prosimii: several species.]

bush bean

noun

1. a variety of bean plant whose bushy growth requires no support.
Compare with pole bean.

2. the edible pod from the bush bean.

bushbuck /ˈbo͝oSHˌbək/

I. noun

a small antelope with a reddish-brown coat with white markings, found in southern Africa.
[Tragelaphus scriptus, family Bovidae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from bush + buck^1, influenced by obsolete Dutch boshbok (now bosbok).

bushcraft /ˈbo͝oSHˌkraft/

noun

skill at living in the bush.

bush dog

noun

a small, stocky carnivorous mammal of the dog family, with short legs and small ears. It is native to the forests of Central and South America.
[Speothus venaticus, family Canidae.]

bushed /bo͝oSHt/

adjective

‹informal› tired out

• after three days of training, the rookies were totally bushed.

bushel /ˈbo͝oSHəl / bu.

I. noun

1. (US) a measure of capacity equal to 64 US pints (equivalent to 35.2 liters), used for dry goods.

2. ‹informal› a large amount

• we sold it for a bushel of money.

3. (Brit.) a measure of capacity equal to 8 imperial gallons (equivalent to 36.4 liters), used for dry goods and liquids.

4. a container with the capacity of a bushel
[as modifier]

• packing oysters into bushel baskets.

II. phrases

hide one's light under a bushel

see hide^1.

III. derivatives

bushelful /ˈbo͝oSHəlfo͝ol /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French boissel, perhaps of Gaulish origin.

bush fire /bo͝oSH ˈfī(ə)r / bushfire

noun

a fire in scrub or a forest, especially one that spreads rapidly

• ‹figurative› news of discontent igniting a bush fire of revolt.

bushido /ˈbo͞oSHēˌdō/

I. noun

the code of honor and morals developed by the Japanese samurai.

– origin Japanese, from bushi ‘samurai’ + dō ‘way.’

bushing /ˈbo͝oSHiNG/

noun

1. a metal lining for a round hole, especially one in which an axle revolves.

2. a bearing for a revolving shaft.

3. a sleeve that and protects an electric cable where it passes through a panel.

bush jacket /bo͝oSH ˈjakət/

noun

a belted cotton jacket with patch pockets.

bush league /ˈbo͝oSH ˈˌlēɡ / ‹N. Amer.›

I. noun

a minor league of a professional sport, especially baseball
[as modifier]

• their bush league image.

II. adjective

‹informal› not of the highest quality or sophistication; second-rate.

III. derivatives

bush leaguer

noun

Bushman /ˈbo͝oSHmən/

noun

1. a member of any of several aboriginal peoples of southern Africa, especially of the Kalahari Desert. They are traditionally nomadic hunter-gatherers.
[influenced by Dutch boschjesman.]

2. the language of the Bushmen.
Now usually called San.

3. (bushman) — a person who lives, works, or travels in the Australian bush.

bushmaster /ˈbo͝oSHˌmastər/

I. noun

a pit viper that is the largest venomous snake in the New World, found in Central and South America.
[Lachesis muta, family Viperidae.]

– origin early 19th cent.: perhaps from obsolete Dutch boschmeester (now bosmeester), from bos ‘bush’ + meester ‘master.’

bushmeat /ˈbo͝oSHˌmēt/

noun

the meat of African wild animals.

bush pig African bush pig

noun

a wild pig native to the forests and savannas of Africa and Madagascar.
[Potamochoerus porcus and P. larvatus, family Suidae.]

bush pilot

noun

one who flies small aircraft into remote areas.

bushranger /ˈbo͝oSHˌrānjər/

noun

1. (US) a person living far from civilization.

2. (Austral.) ‹historical› an outlaw living in the bush.

bush tea

noun

a tea made from dried leaves and twigs of various shrubs, especially in tropical countries.

bush telegraph /bo͝oSH ˈteləˌɡraf/

noun — [in sing.]

1. a rapid informal network by which information or gossip is spread.

bushtit /ˈbo͝oSHtit / bush tit

noun

a small American songbird of the long-tailed tit family, with mainly pale gray plumage and sometimes a black mask.
[Psaltriparus minimus, family Aegithalidae (formerly Paridae); formerly regarded as two species.]

bushwa /ˈbo͝oSHwə / bushwah

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› rubbish; nonsense.

– origin 1920s: from French bourgeois, now used as a euphemism for bullshit.

bushwalking /ˈbo͝oSHˌwôkiNG/

I. noun

(chiefly Austral./NZ) hiking or backpacking.

II. derivatives

bushwalker /-ˌwôkər /

noun

bushwhack /ˈbo͝oSHˌ(h)wak/

verb

1. [no obj.] (often as noun bushwhacking) — (N. Amer.) (Austral./NZ) live or travel in wild or uncultivated country

• I have not seen a bear yet after seven days of bushwhacking.

2. [with adverbial of direction] — cut or push one's way in a specified direction through dense vegetation

• he'd bushwhacked down the steep slopes.

3. [no obj.] — (N. Amer.) fight as a guerrilla in the bush.

4. [with obj.] — make a surprise attack on (someone) from a hidden place; ambush.

bushwhacker /ˈbo͝oSHˌ(h)wakər/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) (Austral./NZ) a person who clears woods and bush country.

2. a person who lives or travels in bush country.

3. (US) a guerrilla fighter (originally in the American Civil War).

bushy /ˈbo͝oSHē/

I. adjective

1. growing thickly into or so as to resemble a bush

• a dense, bushy plant

• his eyebrows were thick and bushy.

2. covered with bush or bushes

• bushy desert areas.

II. derivatives

1. bushily /ˈbo͞oSHəlē /

adverb

2. bushiness /ˈbo͝oSHēnəs /

noun

busily /ˈbizəlē/

adverb

1. in a very active way

• he was busily engaged in other activities.

2. while giving all one's attention to something

• he was busily writing away.

business /ˈbiznəs/

I. noun

1. a person's regular occupation, profession, or trade

• she had to do a lot of smiling in her business

• are you here on business?

2. an activity that someone is engaged in

• what is your business here?

3. a person's concern

• this is none of your business

• the neighbors make it their business to know all about you.

4. work that has to be done or matters that have to be attended to

• government business

• let's get down to business.

5. the practice of making one's living by engaging in commerce

• the world of business

• whom do you do business with in Manila?

• the jewelry business

• [as modifier] the business community.

6. trade considered in terms of its volume or profitability

• how's business?

7. a commercial operation or company

• a catering business.

8. [in sing.] — ‹informal› an affair or series of events, typically a scandalous or discreditable one

• they must be told about this blackmailing business.

9. ‹informal› a group of related or previously mentioned things

• use carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli, and serve the whole business hot.

10. [Theater] actions other than dialogue performed by actors

• a piece of business.

11. ‹informal› a scolding; harsh verbal criticism

• the supervisor really gave him the business.

II. phrases

1. business as usual

an unchanging state of affairs despite difficulties or disturbances

• apart from being under new management, it's business as usual in the department.

2. have no business

have no right to do something or be somewhere

• he had no business tampering with social services.

3. in business

a. operating, especially in commerce

• they will have to import from overseas to remain in business.

b. ‹informal› able to begin operations

• if you'll contact the right people, I think we'll be in business.

4. in the business of

engaged in or prepared to engage in

• I am not in the business of making accusations.

5. like nobody's business

‹informal› to an extraordinarily high degree or standard

• these weeds spread like nobody's business.

6. mean business

be in earnest.

7. mind one's own business

refrain from meddling in other people's affairs

• he was yelling at her to get out and mind her own business.

8. send someone about his/her business

‹dated› tell someone to go away.

– origin Old English bisignis (see busy, -ness). The sense in Old English was ‘anxiety’; the sense ‘the state of being busy’ was used from Middle English down to the 18th cent., but is now differentiated as busyness. The sense ‘an appointed task’ dates from late Middle English, and from it all the other current senses have developed.

business card

noun

a small card printed with one's name, professional occupation, company position, business address, and other contact information.

business case

noun

a justification for a proposed project or undertaking on the basis of its expected commercial benefit

• we have to put a business case forward to the managers as to why the training is necessary.

business casual ‹chiefly N. Amer.›

I. adjective

relating to or denoting a style of clothing that is less formal than traditional business wear, but is still intended to give a professional and businesslike impression.

II. noun

business casual clothing.

• business casual has become the standard in many work environments.

business class

noun

a class of seating on an aircraft that is superior to economy class but less expensive than first class, intended especially for people traveling on business

• the takeoff was even smoother in business class

• [as modifier] a business class passenger

• [as adverb] Michael and Sheila will fly business class.

business cycle /ˈbiznis ˈsīkəl ˈbizniz ˈsīkəl/

noun

a cycle or series of cycles of economic expansion and contraction.

business day

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) another term for workday.

business double

noun

[Bridge] a double made with the intention of increasing the penalty points scored by a partnership if they defeat their opponents' contract.
Often contrasted with takeout double.

business end

noun

1. ‹informal› the functional part of a tool, device, or weapon

• he found himself facing the business end of six lethal-looking weapons.

2. ‹informal› the essential or basic part of a process or operation

• the rigs are the business end of the oil industry.

business hours

plural noun

another term for office hours.

businesslike /ˈbiznəsˌlīk/

adjective

1. (of a person) carrying out tasks efficiently without wasting time or being distracted by personal or other concerns; systematic and practical

• his brisk, businesslike tone.

2. (of clothing, furniture, etc.) designed or appearing to be practical rather than decorative.

businessman /ˈbiznisˌman ˈbiznisˌmən/

noun

1. a man who works in business or commerce, especially at an executive level.

2. [with adj.] — a person with a specified level of skill in financial matters

• his knowledge and talent were never in question, but he was a poor businessman.

business model

noun

a design for the successful operation of a business, identifying revenue sources, customer base, products, and details of financing.

• many of the free sites have either shifted their business model or have gone out of business completely.

business park

noun

an area where company offices and light industrial premises are built.

business person businessperson

noun

a man or woman who works in business or commerce, especially at an executive level.

business process re-engineering BPR

noun

the process or activity of restructuring a company's organization and methods, especially to exploit the capabilities of computers.

business school

noun

a high-level educational institution at which students study subjects relating to business and commerce, such as economics, finance, and management

• he graduated with a degree from one of the most prestigious business schools in America.

business studies

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the study of economics and management, especially as an educational topic.

business trip

noun

a visit made to a place for work purposes, typically one involving a journey of some distance

• a business trip offers a break from the daily office routine.

business unit

noun

1. another term for strategic business unit.

• he is responsible for a business unit with a $4million turnover and 20 reports.

2. a building (typically one of a number of similar buildings) or a self-contained section of a building intended for use as business premises

• approximately 214,000 residential units and 30,000 business units sustained structural damage in the earthquake.

businesswoman /ˈbiznəsˌwo͝omən/

noun

1. a woman who works in business or commerce, especially at an executive level.

2. [with adj.] — a woman with a specified level of skill in financial affairs

• she has become quite the savvy businesswoman.

busk^1 /bəsk/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. play music or otherwise perform for voluntary donations in the street or in subways

• the group began by busking on Philadelphia sidewalks

• (as noun busking) busking was a real means of living.

2. (busk it) — ‹informal› improvise.

II. derivatives

busker /ˈbəskər /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from obsolete French busquer ‘seek,’ from Italian buscare or Spanish buscar, of Germanic origin. Originally in nautical use in the sense ‘cruise about, tack,’ the term later meant ‘go around selling,’ hence ‘go around performing’ (mid 19th cent).

busk^2 /bəsk/

I. noun

‹historical› a stay or stiffening strip for a corset.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French busc, from Italian busco ‘splinter’ (related to French bûche ‘log’), of Germanic origin.

buskin /ˈbəskən/

I. noun

1. ‹chiefly historical› a calf-high or knee-high boot of cloth or leather.

2. ‹chiefly historical› a thick-soled laced boot worn by an ancient Athenian tragic actor to gain height.

3. (the buskin) — ‹chiefly historical› the style or spirit of tragic drama.

II. derivatives

buskined /ˈbəsk(ə)nd /

adjective

– origin early 16th cent. (designating a calf-length boot): probably from Old French bouzequin, variant of brousequin, from Middle Dutch broseken, of unknown ultimate origin.

bus lane /ˈbəs ˌlān/

noun

a division of a road marked off with painted lines for use by buses.

busman /ˈbəsmən/

I. noun

a driver of a bus.

II. phrases

a busman's holiday

a vacation or form of recreation that involves doing the same thing that one does at work.

bus pass

noun

1. a card, ticket, or permit entitling the holder to travel by bus, typically for a particular period of time or within a particular area

• get your bus pass out or you can walk up the hill.

2. (in the UK) a permit enabling people receiving the retirement pension to travel by bus free of charge (sometimes used humorously to suggest that a person is getting old)

• he's almost ready to collect his bus pass, but he's lost none of his boyish charm.

buss /bəs / ‹archaic N. Amer. informal›

I. noun

a kiss.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. kiss.

– origin late 16th cent.: alteration of late Middle English bass (noun and verb), probably from French baiser, from Latin basiare.

busser /ˈbəsər/

noun

a person who clears tables in a restaurant or cafeteria.

bus shelter /ˈbəs ˌSHeltər/

noun

a roofed structure for people to wait under at a bus stop.

bus station /ˈbəs ˌstāSHən/

noun

a terminal where buses arrive and depart.

bus stop /ˈbəs ˌstäp/

noun

a place where a bus regularly stops, typically marked by a sign.

bust^1 /bəst/

I. noun

1. a woman's chest as measured around her breasts

• a 36-inch bust.

2. a woman's breasts, especially considered in terms of their size

• selecting clothes that would minimize her big bust.

3. a sculpture of a person's head, shoulders, and chest.

– origin mid 17th cent. (denoting the upper part or torso of a large sculpture): from French buste, from Italian busto, from Latin bustum ‘tomb, sepulchral monument.’

bust^2 /bəst / ‹informal›

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. break, split, or burst (something)

• they bust the tunnel wide open

• ‹figurative› the film busts every box-office record.

2. [no obj.] — come apart or split open

• he was laughing fit to bust.

3. cause to collapse; defeat utterly

• he promised to bust the mafia.

4. [no obj.] (bust up) — (especially of a married couple) separate, typically after a quarrel.

5. (bust something up) — cause (something) to break up

• men hired to bust up union rallies.

6. (N. Amer.) strike violently

• they wanted to bust me on the mouth.

7. [no obj.] (bust out) — break out; escape

• she busted out of prison.

8. [no obj.] — (in blackjack and similar card games) exceed the score of 21, losing one's stake.

9. (chiefly N. Amer.) raid or search (premises where illegal activity is suspected)

• their house got busted.

10. arrest

• he was busted for drugs.

11. (be/get busted) — be caught in the act of doing something wrong

• I sneaked up on them and told them they were busted.

12. (chiefly US) reduce (a soldier) to a lower rank; demote

• he was busted to private.

II. noun

1. a period of economic difficulty or depression

• the boom was followed by the present bust.

2. a raid or arrest by the police

• a drug bust.

3. a worthless thing

• as a show it was a bust.

III. adjective

bankrupt

• firms will go bust.

– origin mid 18th cent. (originally as a noun in the sense ‘an act of bursting or splitting’): variant of burst.

bustard /ˈbəstərd/

I. noun

a large, heavily built, swift-running bird, found in open country in the Old World. The males of most bustards have a spectacular courtship display.
[Family Otididae: several genera and species, including the great bustard (Otis tarda), which is the heaviest flying land bird.]

– origin late 15th cent.: perhaps an Anglo-Norman French blend of Old French bistarde and oustarde, both from Latin avis tarda ‘slow bird’: the name is unexplained, as the bustards are fast runners.

bustard quail

noun

the barred button quail (see button quail).

busted flush

noun

1. (in poker) a hand containing four cards of the same suit and one of a different suit.

2. ‹informal› a promising person or thing that turns out to be unsuccessful

• her leadership is already a busted flush.

bustee /bəsˈtē/

I. noun

(Indian) a slum area or shanty town.

– origin from Hindi bastī ‘dwelling.’

buster /ˈbəstər/

noun

1. ‹chiefly informal› a person or thing that breaks, destroys, or overpowers something
[in combination]

• the drug's reputation as a flu-buster.

2. ‹chiefly informal› short for broncobuster.

3. ‹chiefly informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) used as a mildly disrespectful or humorous form of address, especially to a man or boy

• your parents' decisions affect you, like it or not, buster.

bustier /ˈbo͞ostēā ˈbəstēā/

I. noun

a close-fitting strapless top worn by women.

– origin 1970s: from French, from buste (see bust^1).

bustle^1 /ˈbəsəl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. move in an energetic or noisy manner

• people clutching clipboards bustled about.

2. [with obj.] — make (someone) move hurriedly in a particular direction

• she bustled us into the kitchen.

3. (of a place) be full of activity

• the small harbor bustled with boats

• (as adj. bustling) the bustling little town.

II. noun

excited activity and movement

• all the noise and the traffic and the bustle.

– origin late Middle English: perhaps a variant of obsolete buskle, frequentative of busk ‘prepare,’ from Old Norse.

bustle^2 /ˈbəsəl/

I. noun

‹historical› a pad or frame worn under a skirt and puffing it out behind.

– origin late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

busty /ˈbəstē/

I. adjective

‹informal› (of a woman) having large breasts.

II. derivatives

bustiness

noun

busway /ˈbəswā/

noun

a road, or section of a road, set apart exclusively for buses, typically with tracks or grooves for guiding them.

busy /ˈbizē/

I. adjective

1. having a great deal to do

• he had been too busy to enjoy himself

• there was enough work to keep two people busy.

2. occupied with or concentrating on a particular activity or object of attention

• the team members are busy raising money

• he was busy with preparations.

3. (of a place) full of activity.

4. excessively detailed or decorated; fussy

• they papered the bedroom with a busy pattern of satyrs and dryads.

5. (chiefly N. Amer.) (of a telephone line) engaged.

II. verb — [with obj.] (busy oneself)

1. keep occupied

• she busied herself with her new home.

III. derivatives

busyness /ˈbizēnəs /

noun

– origin Old English bisgian (verb), bisig (noun); related to Dutch bezig.

busy bee /ˈbizē ˌbē/

noun

‹informal› an industrious person.

busybody /ˈbizēˌbädē/

noun

a meddling or prying person.

busy signal /ˈbizē ˌsiɡnəl/

noun

(N. Amer.) a sound indicating that a telephone line is engaged, typically a repeated single bleep.

busywork /ˈbizēˌwərk/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) work that keeps a person busy but has little value in itself.

but /bət/

I. conjunction

1. used to introduce something contrasting with what has already been mentioned.

2. nevertheless; however

• he stumbled but didn't fall

• this is one principle, but it is not the only one.

3. on the contrary; in contrast

• I am clean but you are dirty

• the problem is not that they are cutting down trees, but that they are doing it in a predatory way.

4. [with negative or in questions] — used to indicate the impossibility of anything other than what is being stated

• one cannot but sympathize

• there was nothing they could do but swallow their pride

• they had no alternative but to follow.

5. used to introduce a response expressing a feeling such as surprise or anger

• but that's an incredible saving!

• but why?

6. used after an expression of apology for what one is about to say

• I'm sorry, but I can't pay you.

7. [with negative] — ‹archaic› without its being the case that

• it never rains but it pours.

II. preposition

1. except; apart from; other than

• in Texas, we were never anything but poor

• I trusted no one but him

• the last but one.

2. used with repetition of certain words to give emphasis

• nobody, but nobody, was going to stop her.

III. adverb

no more than; only

• he is but a shadow of his former self

• choose from a colorful array of oranges, cherries, and raspberries, to name but a few.

IV. noun

an argument against something; an objection

• no buts—just get out of here

• as with all these proposals, ifs and buts abound.

V. phrases

1. all but

see all.

2. anything but

see anything.

3. but for

a. except for

• I walked along Broadway, deserted but for the occasional cab.

b. if it were not for

• the game could be over but for you.

4. but that

‹archaic› other than that; except that

• who knows but that the pictures painted on air are eternal.

5. but then

after all; on the other hand (introducing a contrasting comment)

• it couldn't help, but then again, it probably couldn't hurt.

• it's a very hard exam, but then they all are.

– origin Old English be-ūtan, būtan, būta ‘outside, without, except’ (see by, out). / usage: For advice about using but and other conjunctions to begin a sentence, see usage at and.

butadiene /ˌbyo͞odəˈdīēn/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a colorless gaseous hydrocarbon made by catalytic dehydrogenation of butane and used in the manufacture of synthetic rubber.
[Chem. formula: CH_2=CHCH=CH_2.]

– origin early 20th cent.: from butane + di-1 + -ene.

butane /ˈbyo͞oˌtān/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a flammable hydrocarbon gas that is a constituent of petroleum and is used in bottled form as a fuel. It is a member of the alkane series.
See also isobutane. [Chem. formula: CH_3CH_2CH_2CH_3.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from butyl + -ane^2.

butanoic acid /ˌbyo͞odəˌnōik ˈasəd/

noun

systematic chemical name for butyric acid.

butanol /ˈbyo͞odəˌnôl ˈbyo͞odəˌnäl/

noun

[Chemistry] each of two isomeric liquid alcohols used as solvents; butyl alcohol.
[Chem. formula: CH_3CH_2CH_2CH_2OH (1-butanol, butan-1-ol) and CH_3CH_2CH(OH)CH_3 (2-butanol, butan-2-ol).]

Butazolidin /ˌbyo͞odəˈzälədən/

noun

‹trademark› a preparation of phenylbutazone used to reduce pain and inflammation.

butch /bo͝oCH / ‹informal›

I. adjective

manlike or masculine in appearance or behavior, typically aggressively or ostentatiously so.

II. noun

a mannish lesbian, often contrasted with a more feminine partner.
Compare with femme.

III. derivatives

butchy

adjective

– origin 1940s: perhaps an abbreviation of butcher.

butcher /ˈbo͝oCHər/

I. noun

1. a person whose trade is cutting up and selling meat in a shop.

2. a person who slaughters and cuts up animals for food

• a pork butcher.

3. a person who kills or has people killed indiscriminately or brutally

• a callous butcher of men.

4. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a person selling refreshments, newspapers, and other items on a train or in a stadium or theater.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. slaughter or cut up (an animal) for food

• the meat will be butchered for the local market.

2. kill (someone) brutally

• they butchered 250 people.

3. ruin (something) deliberately or through incompetence

• the film was butchered by the studio that released it.

– origin Middle English: from an Anglo-Norman French variant of Old French bochier, from boc ‘he-goat,’ probably of the same ultimate origin as buck^1.

butcherbird /ˈbo͝oCHərˌbərd/

I. noun

1. a shrike (family Laniidae) that impales its prey on thorns.

2. a crowlike predacious Australasian songbird, with a heavy hook-tipped bill.
Compare with magpie (sense 2). [Family Cracticidae: three genera, in particular Cracticus, and several species.]

– origin mid 17th cent.: from its habit of impaling its prey on thorns.

butcher block

noun

(N. Amer.) a material used to make kitchen countertops and tables, consisting of strips of hardwood glued together

• a slab of butcher block

• [as modifier] a butcher-block table.

butcher knife

noun

a large, broad-bladed knife used for cutting meat.

butcher's block /ˈbo͝oCHərz ˌbläk/

noun

a sturdy wooden kitchen table with a square top on which food may be chopped.

butcher's broom

noun

a low evergreen Eurasian shrub of the lily family, with flat shoots that give the appearance of stiff, spine-tipped leaves.
[Ruscus aculeatus, family Liliaceae.]

butchery /ˈbo͝oCHərē/

I. noun

1. the savage killing of large numbers of people.

2. the work of slaughtering animals and preparing them for sale as meat.

– origin Middle English (denoting a slaughterhouse or meat market): from Old French boucherie, from bouchier ‘butcher.’

butch haircut

noun

a haircut that is trimmed very close to the head; a crewcut.

bute /byo͞ot/

noun

informal term for phenylbutazone.

buteo /ˈbyo͞odēō/

I. noun

[Ornithology] (chiefly US) a bird of prey of a group distinguished by broad wings that are used for soaring.
[Buteo and related genera, family Accipitridae; many species, including the buzzards and the red-tailed and Harris's hawks.]

– origin from Latin buteo ‘buzzard, hawk.’

Buteyko method /bo͞oˈtākō ˌmeTHəd/

I. noun

a technique of controlled breathing that is claimed to alleviate asthma.

– origin 1990s: named after Ukrainian physiologist Konstantin Buteyko (1923–2003), who devised the technique.

Buthelezi, Mangosuthu /ˌbo͞otlˈāzē/

(1928–), South African politician; minister of home affairs 1994–2004; full name Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi. He has been president of the Inkatha Freedom Party since 1975.

Butkus, Dick /ˈbətkis/

(1942–), US football player; full name Richard Marvin Butkus. A middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears 1965–73, he was named to the National Football League's (NFL) All-Pro team six times. Football Hall of Fame (1979).

butler /ˈbətlər/

I. noun

the chief manservant of a house.

– origin Middle English: from Old French bouteillier ‘cupbearer,’ from bouteille ‘bottle.’

Butler, Pierce /ˈbətlər/

(1866–1939), US Supreme Court associate justice 1922–39. A pro-business conservative, he was appointed to the Court by President Harding.

Butler, Samuel^1

(1612–80), English poet, most notable for his three-part satirical poem Hudibras (1663–78).

Butler, Samuel^2

(1835–1902), English novelist. Notable works: Erewhon (1872), Erewhon Revisited (1901), and The Way of All Flesh (1903).

butler's pantry

noun

a small service and storage room between a kitchen and a dining room.

butoh /ˈbo͞odō/

I. noun

a style of Japanese modern dance featuring dancers covered in white body paint.

– origin Japanese, literally ‘dance.’

butt^1 /bət/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a person or animal) hit (someone or something) with the head or horns

• she butted him in the chest with her head.

2. strike (the head) against something

• he butts his head against a wall.

II. noun

a push or blow, typically given with the head

• he would follow up with a butt from his head.

III. phrases

butt heads

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› engage in conflict or be in strong disagreement

• the residents continue to butt heads with the mall developers.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. butt in

take part in a conversation or activity, or enter somewhere, without being invited or expected

• sorry to butt in on you.

2. butt out

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› stop interfering

• anyone who tries to cut across our policies should butt out.

– origin Middle English: from Old French boter, of Germanic origin.

butt^2 /bət/

I. noun

1. the person or thing at which criticism or humor, typically unkind, is directed

• his singing is the butt of dozens of jokes.

2. (usu. butts) — an archery or shooting target or range.

3. a mound on or in front of which a target is set up for archery or shooting.

– origin Middle English (in the archery sense): from Old French but, of unknown origin; perhaps influenced by French butte ‘rising ground.’

butt^3 /bət/

I. noun

1. (also butt end) — the thicker end, especially of a tool or a weapon

• a rifle butt.

2. the square end of a plank or plate meeting the end or side of another, as in the side of a ship.

3. the thicker or hinder end of a hide used for leather.

4. (also butt end) — the stub of a cigar or a cigarette

• the ashtray was crammed with cigarette butts.

5. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) the buttocks or anus.

6. the trunk of a tree, especially the part just above the ground.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. adjoin or meet end to end

• the church butted up against the row of houses

• a garden that butted up to the neighbor's.

2. [with obj.] — join (pieces of stone, lumber, and other building materials) with the ends or sides flat against each other

• the floorboards will be butted up against each other to make tight seams.

– origin late Middle English: the noun apparently related to Dutch bot ‘stumpy,’ also to buttock; the verb partly from butt^2, reinforced by abut.

butt^4 /bət/

I. noun

1. a cask, typically used for wine, ale, or water.

2. (US) a liquid measure equal to 2 hogsheads (equivalent to 126 US gallons).

– origin late Middle English: from Old French bot, from late Latin buttis.

butt-dial ‹US informal›

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. inadvertently call (someone) on a mobile phone in one's rear pants pocket, as a result of pressure being accidentally applied to a button or buttons on the phone

• I have had several people butt-dial me, from former girlfriends to my brother.

II. noun

an inadvertent call made on a mobile phone in one's rear pants pocket, as a result of pressure being accidentally applied to a button or buttons on the phone

• who hasn't received a butt dial at some point and listened to their friends chatting, singing, or even talking to themselves?

butt dialing ‹Brit.› butt dialling

noun

(US) ‹informal› the action of inadvertently calling someone on a mobile phone in one's rear pants pocket

• thanks to screen locks, butt dialing is almost a thing of the past.

butte /byo͞ot/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹technical› an isolated hill with steep sides and a flat top (similar to but narrower than a mesa).

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, ‘mound,’ from Old French but, of unknown origin (compare with butt^2).

Butte /byo͞ot/

a city in southwestern Montana, noted as a mining center; pop. 32,119 (est. 2008).

butter /ˈbədər/

I. noun

a pale yellow edible fatty substance made by churning cream and used as a spread or in cooking.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. spread (something) with butter

• she buttered the toast

• (as adj. buttered) lavishly buttered bread.

III. phrases

look as if butter wouldn't melt in one's mouth

‹informal› appear gentle or innocent while typically being the opposite.

IV. phrasal verbs

butter someone up

‹informal› flatter or otherwise ingratiate oneself with someone.

– origin Old English butere, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch boter and German Butter, based on Latin butyrum, from Greek bouturon ‘cow cheese.’

butter-and-eggs /ˌbədərənˈeɡz/

noun

see toadflax.

butterball /ˈbədərˌbôl/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) a plump bird, especially a turkey or bufflehead.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› ‹derogatory› a fat person.

butter bean /ˈbədər ˌbēn/

noun

a lima bean, especially one of a variety with large flat white seeds that are usually dried.

butterbur /ˈbədərˌbər/

noun

a Eurasian waterside plant of the daisy family, the rounded flower heads of which are produced before the leaves. The large soft leaves were formerly used to wrap butter, and extracts of the plant have long been used medicinally as a powerful anticonvulsant.
[Genus Petasites, family Compositae: several species, in particular the common P. hybridus.]

buttercream /ˈbədərˌkrēm/

noun

a soft mixture of butter and powdered sugar used as a filling or topping for a cake.

buttercup /ˈbədərˌkəp/

noun

a herbaceous plant with bright yellow cup-shaped flowers, common in grassland and as a garden weed. All kinds are poisonous and generally avoided by livestock.
[Genus Ranunculus, family Ranunculaceae (the buttercup family): numerous species, including the very familiar common buttercup (R. acris). This large family also includes anemones, celandines, aconites, clematises, and hellebores, many of which have poisonous seeds.]

buttercup squash

noun

a winter squash of a variety with dark green skin and orange flesh.

butterface /ˈbədərˌfās/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› ‹derogatory› a woman regarded as having a desirable body but an unattractive face.

2. ‹informal› ‹derogatory› an unattractive face.

– origin early 21st cent.: alteration of the phrase but her face.

butterfat /ˈbədərˌfat/

noun

the natural fat contained in milk and dairy products.

butterfingers /ˈbədərˌfiNGɡərz/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› a clumsy person, especially one who fails to hold a catch.

2. ‹informal› clumsiness in handling something

• fumbling for the ball with butterfingers.

II. derivatives

butterfingered /ˈbədərˌfiNGɡərd /

adjective

butterfish /ˈbədərˌfiSH/

noun

any of a number of fishes with oily flesh or slippery skin, in particular
[● a deep-bodied edible fish of temperate and tropical seas (family Stromateidae), in particular Peprilus triacanthus of eastern North America. ● another term for gunnel^1 ● an Australasian reef fish (family Odacidae), in particular the edible Odax pullus of New Zealand, which has green bones and feeds on kelp. ● a tropical freshwater or marine fish that is popular in aquariums (several families, including Scatophagidae).]

butterfly /ˈbədərˌflī/

I. noun

1. an insect with two pairs of large wings that are covered with tiny scales, usually brightly colored, and typically held erect when at rest. Butterflies fly by day, have clubbed or dilated antennae, and usually feed on nectar.
[Superfamilies Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea, order Lepidoptera: several families. Formerly placed in a grouping known as the Rhopalocera. Compare with moth.]

2. a showy or frivolous person

• a social butterfly.

3. (butterflies) — ‹informal› a fluttering and nauseated sensation felt in the stomach when one is nervous.

4. (in full butterfly stroke) [in sing.] — a stroke in swimming in which both arms are raised out of the water and lifted forward together.

5. [as modifier] — having a two-lobed shape resembling the spread wings of a butterfly

• a butterfly clip.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. split (a piece of meat) almost in two and spread it out flat
(as adj. butterflied)

• butterflied shrimp.

– origin Old English, from butter + fly^2; perhaps from the cream or yellow color of common species, or from an old belief that the insects stole butter.

butterfly bush

noun

a Chinese buddleia that is cultivated in the West for its large spikes of fragrant purplish-lilac or white flowers, which are highly attractive to butterflies.
[Buddleia davidii, family Loganiaceae.]

butterfly effect

I. noun

(with reference to chaos theory) the phenomenon whereby a minute localized change in a complex system can have large effects elsewhere.

– origin 1980s: from the notion that a butterfly fluttering in Rio de Janeiro could change the weather in Chicago.

butterflyfish /ˈbədərˌflīfiSH/

noun

1. any of a number of typically brightly colored or boldly marked fish of warm waters, in particular
[● a reef-dwelling fish that is popular in marine aquariums (Chaetodon and other genera, family Chaetodontidae). ● a predatory marine fish that bears long venomous spines (genus Pterois, family Scorpaenidae).]

2. a West African freshwater fish with large pectoral fins used in leaping out of the water and long fin rays used as stilts.
[Pantodon buchholzi, the only member of the family Pantodontidae.]

butterfly knife

noun

a long broad knife used in pairs in some forms of kung fu.

butterfly net /ˈbədərˌflī net/

noun

1. a fine-meshed bag supported on a frame at the end of a handle for catching butterflies.

2. ‹humorous› a butterfly net supposedly dropped over a person in order to take the person away to a mental hospital

• the men with the butterfly nets will be sitting on the foot of my bed.

butterfly nut /ˈbədərˌflī nət/

noun

another term for wing nut.

butterfly orchid

noun

an epiphytic wild orchid of South America with large yellow and red flowers that somewhat resemble a butterfly in shape.
[Oncidium papilio, family Orchidaceae.]

butterfly stroke /ˈbədərˌflī strōk/

noun

another term for butterfly (in swimming).

butterfly valve /ˈbədərˌflī valv/

noun

1. a valve consisting of a disk rotating on an axis across the diameter of a pipe to regulate the flow, as in the throttles of many engines.

2. a valve consisting of a pair of semicircular plates that are attached to a spindle across a pipe and hinged to allow flow only one way.

butterfly weed

noun

a North American milkweed with bright orange flowers that are attractive to butterflies.
[Asclepias tuberosa, family Asclepiadaceae.]

butterhead lettuce /ˌbədərhed ˈledəs/

noun

a class of lettuce varieties having soft leaves that grow in a loose head.

butter icing

noun

another term for buttercream.

butter knife /ˈbədər nīf/

noun

a blunt knife used for cutting or spreading butter or other similar spreads.

buttermilk /ˈbədərˌmilk/

noun

1. the slightly sour liquid left after butter has been churned, used in baking or consumed as a drink.

2. a pale yellow color (used especially to describe paint or wallpaper)
[as modifier]

• buttermilk paintwork.

butternut /ˈbədərˌnət/

noun

1. a North American walnut tree that bears oblong sticky fruits. Its light-colored, soft timber is useful primarily for making furniture and cabinetry.
Also called white walnut. [Juglans cinerea, family Juglandaceae.]

2. the edible oily nut of the butternut.

3. ‹historical› ‹informal› a Confederate soldier or supporter (so called because the fabric of the Confederate uniform was typically homespun and dyed with butternut extract).

butternut squash

noun

a popular winter squash of a variety that has a bell-shaped fruit with sweet orange-yellow flesh.

butterscotch /ˈbədərˌskäCH/

noun

1. a flavor created originally by combining melted butter with brown sugar
[as modifier]

• butterscotch syrup.

2. a candy made with butterscotch flavoring.

butter-soft

adjective

having an extremely soft, smooth texture

• butter-soft handmade leather bags and sandals.

butter tart

noun

(Canadian) a tart with a filling of butter, eggs, brown sugar, and, typically, raisins.

butterweed /ˈbədərˌwēd/

noun

a yellow-flowered plant of the daisy family, closely related to ragwort.
[Genus Senecio, family Compositae: several species, including the common butterweed (S. vulgaris) of the Pacific states and Bolander's butterweed (S. bolanderi), found esp. along the Pacific coast of North America.]

butterwort /ˈbədərˌwərt ˈbədərˌwôrt/

I. noun

a carnivorous bog plant that has violet flowers borne above a rosette of yellowish-green greasy leaves that trap and digest small insects. It is native to both Eurasia and North America.
[Genus Pinguicula, family Lentibulariaceae: several species, in particular the common butterwort (P. vulgaris).]

– origin late 16th cent.

buttery^1 /ˈbədərē/

I. adjective

1. containing or tasting like butter

• layers of flaky buttery pastry.

2. covered with butter

• buttery fingers.

II. derivatives

butteriness

noun

buttery^2 /ˈbədərē/

I. noun

1. a pantry, or a room for storing wine and liquor.

2. (Brit.) a room, especially in a college, where food is kept and sold to students.

– origin Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French boterie ‘storeroom for casks,’ from Old French bot (see butt^4).

butthead /ˈbətˌhed/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a stupid or stubborn person

• only a butthead would drive a car like that.

butt hinge

noun

a hinge attached to the abutting surfaces of a door and a door jamb.

butthurt /ˈbətˌhərt / ‹US informal›

I. adjective

overly or unjustifiably offended or resentful

• they're all butthurt that she released the album online first

• that fight the other night was started by a butthurt player from the losing team.

II. noun

an excessive or unjustifiable feeling of personal offence or resentment

• it's time to get over the butthurt from last year's playoffs

• the butthurt just oozes out of this comment.

– origin 1990s: butt^3 (sense 3 of the noun) + hurt.

buttinsky /bətˈinskē/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a person who habitually butts in; an intruder or meddler.

butt joint

noun

(of wood, metal, etc.) a joint formed by two surfaces abutting at right angles.

buttle /ˈbədl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹humorous› work as a butler

• there is no one today worth buttling for.

– origin mid 19th cent.: back-formation from butler.

buttload /ˈbətˌlōd/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a large number or amount

• the company will make a buttload of money.

• a buttload of big-name actors.

buttock /ˈbədək/

I. noun

1. either of the two round fleshy parts that form the lower rear area of a human trunk.

2. (buttocks) — the rump of an animal.

– origin Old English buttuc, probably from the base of butt^3 + -ock.

button /ˈbətn/

I. noun

1. a small disk or knob sewn onto a garment, either to fasten it by being pushed through a slit made for the purpose, or for decoration

• a blouse with five buttons in front

• [as modifier] button thread.

2. a small, round object resembling a button

• chocolate buttons.

3. [Fencing] a knob fitted to the point of a foil to make it harmless.

4. a knob on a piece of electrical or electronic equipment that is pressed to operate it.

5. an element of a graphical user interface which a user can select to perform a particular action

• just search for the app you want and click the 'buy' or 'install' button.

6. (chiefly N. Amer.) a badge bearing a design or slogan and pinned to the clothing.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. fasten (clothing) with buttons

• he buttoned up his jacket.

2. (button someone into) — fasten the buttons of a garment being worn by (someone)

• he buttoned himself into the raincoat.

3. [no obj.] — (of a garment) be fastened with buttons

• a dress that buttons down the front.

4. [often in imperative] (button it) — ‹informal› stop talking.

III. phrases

1. button one's lip

‹informal› stop or refrain from talking.

2. on the button

a. ‹informal› punctually

• it was nearly visiting hours and she would arrive on the button.

b. exactly right

• his prediction was right on the button in terms of actual rainfall.

3. press the button

‹informal› initiate an action or train of events, especially nuclear war.

4. push (or press) someone's buttons

‹informal› arouse or provoke a reaction in someone

• stay cool and don't allow them to push your buttons.

IV. phrasal verbs

button something up

a. ‹informal› complete or conclude something satisfactorily

• trying to button up a deal.

b. repress or contain something

• it was repressive enough to keep public opinion buttoned up.

V. derivatives

buttonless /ˈbətnləs /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French bouton, of Germanic origin and related to butt^1.

buttonball tree /ˈbətnbôl ˌtrē/

noun

another term for sycamore (sense 1).

buttonbush /ˈbətnˌbo͝oSH/

noun

a low-growing North American aquatic shrub of the bedstraw family, with small tubular flowers that form globular flower heads.
[Cephalanthus occidentalis, family Rubiaceae.]

button-down /ˈbətn ˌdoun/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of a collar) having points that are buttoned to the garment.

2. (of a shirt) having a button-down collar.

3. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› (of a person) conservative or unimaginative.

II. noun

a shirt with a button-down collar.

buttoned /ˈbətnd/

adjective

1. (of clothing) fastened or decorated by buttons

• bowties and buttoned dress shirts

• [in combination] a one-buttoned jacket.

2. (of a piece of electrical or electronic equipment) operated by buttons that are pressed to activate specific functions

• a legacy from the buttoned phones

• [in combination] the app features a big-buttoned music player.

buttoned-up //

adjective

1. reserved and not inclined to reveal information

• Fleischer's buttoned-up style.

2. secured to the maximum degree against attack

• the tank had been buttoned up and had not been seriously damaged.

buttonhole /ˈbətnˌhōl/

I. noun

1. a slit made in a garment to receive a button for fastening.

2. (Brit.) a boutonnière.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› attract the attention of and detain (someone) in conversation, typically against his or her will.

2. make slits for receiving buttons in (a garment).

buttonholer /ˈbətnˌhōlər/

noun

an attachment for a sewing machine used to make buttonholes.

buttonhole stitch /ˈbətnˌhōl stiCH/

noun

a looped stitch used for edging buttonholes or pieces of material

• the edges are worked in buttonhole stitch.

buttonhook /ˈbətnˌho͝ok/

noun

1. a small hook with a long handle for fastening tight buttons (often formerly on buttoned boots or gloves).

2. [Football] a play in which a pass receiver runs straight downfield and then doubles back sharply toward the line of scrimmage.

button man

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a hired killer.

button mushroom

noun

a young unopened mushroom.

button quail

noun

a small quaillike Old World bird related to the rails, with only three toes.
[Family Turnicidae and genus Turnix: several species, including the widespread barred button quail (T. suscitator) of Asia.]

Buttons /ˈbətnz/

I. noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› a nickname for a liveried pageboy, especially in pantomimes.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from the rows of buttons on his jacket.

buttonwood /ˈbətnˌwo͝od/

noun

1. (also buttonwood tree) — (N. Amer.) another term for sycamore (sense 1).

2. either of two mangroves native mainly to tropical America, used in the production of tanbark and for charcoal.
[Conocarpus erectus (the button mangrove) and Laguncularia racemosa, family Combretaceae.]

buttress /ˈbətrəs/

I. noun

1. a projecting support of stone or brick built against a wall.

2. a projecting portion of a hill or mountain.

3. a source of defense or support

• there was a demand for a new stable order as a buttress against social collapse.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. provide (a building or structure) with projecting supports built against its walls
(as adj. buttressed)

• a buttressed wall.

2. increase the strength of or justification for; reinforce

• authority was buttressed by religious belief.

– origin Middle English: from Old French (ars) bouterez ‘thrusting (arch),’ from boter ‘to strike, thrust’ (see butt^1).

buttress root

noun

a tree root whose upper, exposed parts project from the trunk like a buttress.

butt ugly

adjective

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) extremely unattractive.

butut /ˈbo͞oto͞ot/

noun

a monetary unit of Gambia, equal to one hundredth of a dalasi.

butyl /ˈbyo͞odl/

I. noun — [as modifier]

1. [Chemistry] an alkyl radical —C_4H_9, derived from butane

• butyl acetate.

2. [Chemistry] short for butyl rubber.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from butyric acid + -yl.

butyl alcohol

noun

any of four isomeric alcohols used as solvents and in organic synthesis.

butylate /ˈbyo͞odlˌāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Chemistry] combine with a butyl group.

II. derivatives

butylation /ˌbyo͞otlˈāSHən /

noun

butylated hydroxyanisole /ˌbyo͞odlādid hīˌdräksēˈanəˌsōl / BHA

noun

a synthetic antioxidant used to preserve fats and oils in food.
[Chem. formula: C_11H_16O_2.]

butylated hydroxytoluene /ˌbyo͞odlˌādəd hīˌdräksēˈtälyo͞oˌēn / BHT

noun

a synthetic antioxidant used to preserve fats and oils in foods, medicinal drugs, and cosmetics.
[Chem. formula: C_15H_24O.]

butylene /ˈbyo͞odlˌēn/

noun

any of several isomeric hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum and used to make polymers and in organic synthesis.
[Chem. formula: C_4H_8.]

butyl rubber /ˈbyo͞odl ˈbyo͞oˌtil ˈrəbər/

noun

a synthetic rubber made by polymerizing isobutylene and isoprene.

butyraceous /ˌbyo͞odəˈrāSHəs/

adjective

of or like butter.

butyric acid /byo͞oˌtirik ˈasid/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a colorless, syrupy liquid organic acid found in rancid butter and in arnica oil.
[Alternative name: butanoic acid; chem. formula: C_3H_7COOH.]

II. derivatives

butyrate /ˈbyo͞odəˌrāt /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: butyric from Latin butyrum (see butter) + -ic.

butyrin /ˈbyo͞odərən/

noun

any of three glyceryl esters of butyric acid found naturally in butter.
[Chem. formula: C_3H_5(C_3H_4O_2)3.]

buxom /ˈbəksəm/

I. adjective

(of a woman) plump, especially with large breasts.

II. derivatives

buxomness

noun

– origin Middle English: from the stem of Old English būgan ‘to bend’ (see bow^2) + -some^1. The original sense was ‘compliant, obliging,’ later ‘lively and good-tempered,’ influenced by the traditional association of plumpness and good health with an easygoing nature.

buy /bī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. obtain in exchange for payment

• we had to find some money to buy a house

• he had been able to buy up hundreds of acres

• [with two objs.] he bought me a new dress

• [no obj.] had no interest in buying into an entertainment company.

2. (buy someone out) — pay someone to give up an ownership, interest, or share.

3. procure the loyalty and support of (someone) by bribery

• here was a man who could not be bought

• I'll buy off the investigators.

4. [often with negative] — be a means of obtaining (something) through exchange or payment

• money can't buy happiness.

5. get by sacrifice or great effort

• greatness is dearly bought.

6. [no obj.] — make a profession of purchasing goods for a store or firm.

7. ‹informal› accept the truth of

• I am not prepared to buy the claim that the ends justify the means

• [no obj.] I hate to buy into stereotypes.

8. (bought it) — ‹informal› used to say that someone has died

• his friends had bought it in the jungle.

II. noun

1. ‹informal› a purchase

• the wine is a good buy at $3.49.

2. ‹informal› an act of purchasing something

• out on a produce buy for the restaurant.

III. phrases

1. buy the farm

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› die

• I refused to admit to my recklessness, even when I nearly bought the farm.

2. buy time

delay an event temporarily so as to have longer to improve one's own position.

– origin Old English bycgan, of Germanic origin.

buy-back /ˈbīˌbak/

noun

1. the buying back of goods by the original seller.

2. the buying back by a company of its own shares.

3. a form of borrowing in which shares or bonds are sold with an agreement to repurchase them at a later date

• a share buy-back.

buyer /ˈbī(ə)r/

I. noun

1. a person who makes a purchase.

2. a person employed to select and purchase stock or materials for a large retail or manufacturing business, etc.

II. phrases

a buyer's market

an economic situation in which goods or shares are plentiful and buyers can keep prices down.

buy-in

noun

1. a purchase of shares by a broker after a seller has failed to deliver similar shares, the original seller being charged any difference in cost.

2. (also management buy-in) — a purchase of shares in a company by managers who are not employed by it.

3. the buying back by a company of its own shares.

4. ‹informal› agreement to support a decision

• the CEO got a buy-in from all his vice presidents to launch the new product.

buyout /ˈbīˌout/

noun

the purchase of a controlling share in a company.

buzkashi /bo͝oSHˈkəSHē/

noun

a sport in which teams on horseback compete to gain possession of a headless animal carcass and bring it to a scoring area. It is the national sport of Afghanistan.

buzz /bəz/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. a low, continuous humming or murmuring sound, made by or similar to that made by an insect

• the buzz of the bees

• a buzz of conversation.

2. the sound of a buzzer or telephone.

3. ‹informal› a telephone call

• I'll give you a buzz.

4. ‹informal› a rumor

• the buzz is that he's in big trouble.

5. an atmosphere of excitement and activity

• there is a real buzz about the place.

6. ‹informal› a feeling of excitement or euphoria

• I got such a buzz out of seeing the kids' faces.

7. ‹informal› a general sense of excitement about or interest in someone or something, as reflected in or generated by media coverage or word of mouth

• they created a huge buzz with their latest album

• the film has already generated a lot of buzz in the industry.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. make a humming sound

• mosquitoes were buzzing all around us.

2. (often as noun buzzing) — (of the ears) be filled with a humming sound

• I remember a buzzing in my ears.

3. signal with a buzzer

• the electric bell began to buzz for closing time

• [with obj.] he buzzed the stewardesses every five minutes.

4. [with obj.] — ‹informal› make a telephone call to (someone).

5. [with adverbial of direction] — move quickly or busily

• she buzzed along the highway back into town.

6. [with obj.] — [Aeronautics] ‹informal› fly very close to (another aircraft, the ground, etc.) at a high speed.

7. (of a place) have an air of excitement or purposeful activity

• the club is buzzing with excitement.

8. (of a person's mind or head) be filled with excited or confused thoughts

• her mind was buzzing with ideas.

III. phrasal verbs

buzz off

[often in imperative] — ‹informal› go away.

– origin late Middle English: imitative.

buzzard /ˈbəzərd/

I. noun

1. a large hawklike bird of prey with broad wings and a rounded tail, typically seen soaring in wide circles.
[Family Accipitridae: several genera, in particular Buteo, and including the common (Eurasian) buzzard (B. buteo).]

2. (N. Amer.) a North American vulture, especially a turkey vulture.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French busard, based on Latin buteo ‘falcon.’

Buzzards Bay /ˌbəzərdz ˈbā/

an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in southeastern Massachusetts, just west of Cape Cod.

buzz bomb /bəz bäm/

noun

‹informal› a robot bomb, especially the German V-1 used during World War II.

buzz cut

noun

a haircut in which all the hair is cut very close to the scalp.

buzzer /ˈbəzər/

I. noun

an electrical device, similar to a bell, that makes a buzzing noise and is used for signaling.

II. phrases

at the buzzer

(N. Amer.) at the end of a game or period of play

• Smith missed another 3-pointer at the buzzer.

buzzkill /ˈbəzkil/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a person or thing that has a depressing or dispiriting effect

• if you think bad weather at the zoo sounds like a buzzkill, you're right.

buzz saw /ˈbəz ˌsô/

noun

(N. Amer.) another term for circular saw.

buzzword /ˈbəzˌwərd / buzz phrase

noun

‹informal› a word or phrase, often an item of jargon, that is fashionable at a particular time or in a particular context.

buzzworthy /ˈbəzˌwərT͟Hē/

I. adjective

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) likely to arouse the interest and attention of the public, either by media coverage or word of mouth

• four of this year's most buzzworthy young stars

• the year was full of buzzworthy red carpet fashion moments.

– origin 1980s: from buzz (noun) and -worthy.

buzzy /ˈbəzē/

adjective

‹informal› (especially of a place or atmosphere) lively and exciting

• a buzzy bar with live music.

BVDs /ˌbēˌvēˈdēz/

I. plural noun

(N. Amer.) ‹trademark› a type of boxer shorts.

– origin late 19th cent.: abbreviation from the name of the manufacturers; the mistaken full form in folk etymology is babies' ventilated diapers.

BVM

abbreviation

Blessed Virgin Mary.

b/w

abbreviation

black and white (used especially to describe printing, movies, photographs, or television pictures).

bwana /ˈbwänə/

I. noun

(in East Africa) a boss or master (often used as a title or form of address)

• he can't hear you, bwana.

– origin Kiswahili.

BWI

abbreviation

‹historical› British West Indies.

BWR

abbreviation

boiling-water reactor.

by /bī/

I. preposition

1. identifying the agent performing an action.

2. after a passive verb

• the door was opened by my cousin Annie

• damage caused by fire.

3. after a noun denoting an action

• further attacks by the mob

• a clear decision by the electorate.

4. identifying the author of a text, idea, or work of art

• a book by Ernest Hemingway.

5. [often with verbal noun] — indicating the means of achieving something

• malaria can be controlled by attacking the parasite

• they plan to provide further working capital by means of borrowing.

6. indicating a term to which an interpretation is to be assigned

• what is meant by “fair?”

7. indicating a name according to which a person is known

• she mostly calls me by my last name.

8. indicating the means of transport selected for a journey

• traveling by train to Boston.

9. indicating the other parent of someone's child or children

• Richard is his son by his third wife.

10. indicating the sire of a pedigree animal, especially a horse

• a black filly by Goldfuerst.

11. (followed by a noun without an adjective) in various phrases indicating how something happens

• I heard by chance that she has married again

• Anderson, by contrast, rejects this view

• she ate by candlelight.

12. indicating the amount or size of a margin

• the shot missed her by miles

• the raising of taxes by 2.5%.

13. indicating a unit of measurement

• billing is by the minute.

14. in phrases indicating something happening repeatedly or progressively, typically with repetition of a unit of time

• colors changing minute by minute

• the risk becomes worse by the day.

15. identifying a parameter

• a breakdown of employment figures by age and occupation.

16. expressing multiplication, often in dimensions

• a map measuring 24 by 36 inches

• she multiplied it by 89.

17. indicating a deadline or the end of a particular time period

• I've got to do this report by Monday

• by now Kelly needed extensive physiotherapy.

18. indicating location of a physical object beside a place or object

• remains were discovered by the roadside

• the lamp was by the door.

19. past; beyond

• I drove by our house.

20. indicating the period in which something happens

• this animal always hunts by night.

21. concerning; according to

• anything you do is all right by me

• she had done her duty by him.

22. used in mild oaths

• it was the least he could do, by God.

[partly translating French par ‘through the medium or agency of.’]

II. adverb

so as to go past

• a car flashed by on the other side of the road

• he let only a moment go by.

III. noun

variant spelling of bye^1.

IV. phrases

1. by and by

before long; eventually.

2. by the by (or bye)

incidentally; parenthetically

• where's Hector, by the by?

3. by and large

on the whole; everything considered

• mammals have, by and large, bigger brains than reptiles.

[originally in nautical use, describing the handling of a ship both with the wind and against it.]

4. by oneself

a. alone

• living in that big house by himself.

b. unaided

• the patient often learns to undress by himself.

5. by way of

see way.

– origin Old English bī, bi, be, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bij and German bei.

by-

prefix

subordinate; incidental; secondary

• by-form

• byproduct.

Byatt, A. S. /ˈbīət/

(1936–), English novelist and literary critic; full name Antonia Susan Byatt. She is the sister of Margaret Drabble. Notable novels: The Virgin in the Garden (1978) and Possession (Booker Prize, 1990).

Byblos /ˈbibläs/

an ancient Mediterranean seaport, located on the site of modern Jebeil, north of Beirut in Lebanon. It was a thriving Phoenician city in the 2nd millennium BC.

by-blow /ˈbīˌblō/

noun

1. (Brit.) ‹dated› a side-blow not at the main target.

2. (Brit.) ‹dated› a man's illegitimate child.

by-catch

noun

the unwanted fish and other marine creatures caught during commercial fishing for a different species.

Bydgoszcz /ˈbidˌɡôSHCH/

an industrial river port in northern central Poland; pop. 362,397 (2007). Twenty thousand of its citizens were massacred by Nazis in September 1939.
German name Bromberg.

bye^1 /bī/

I. noun

1. the transfer of a competitor directly to the next round of a competition in the absence of an assigned opponent.

2. [Golf] one or more holes remaining unplayed after the match has been decided.

II. phrases

by the bye

variant spelling of by the by (see by).

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting a side issue or incidental matter): from the noun by.

bye^2 /bī/

exclamation

‹informal› short for goodbye.

bye-bye

I. exclamation

informal way of saying goodbye.

– origin early 18th cent.: child's reduplication.

by-election /ˈbī əˌlekSHən / bye-election

noun

(chiefly Brit.) an election to fill a vacancy arising during a term of office.

by-form /ˈbīˌfôrm/

noun

a secondary form of a word

• historically, “inquire” is a by-form of “enquire.”

bygone /ˈbīˌɡôn/

I. adjective

belonging to an earlier time

• relics of a bygone society.

II. noun — (usu. bygones)

1. a thing dating from an earlier time.

III. phrases

let bygones be bygones

forget past offenses or causes of conflict and be reconciled.

bylaw /ˈbīlô/

I. noun

1. a rule made by a company or society to control the actions of its members.

2. a regulation made by a local authority; an ordinance.

– origin Middle English: probably from obsolete byrlaw ‘local law or custom,’ from Old Norse býjar, genitive singular of býr ‘town,’ but associated with by.

byline /ˈbīˌlīn/

noun

a line in a newspaper naming the writer of an article.

byname /ˈbīˌnām/

noun

a sobriquet or nickname, especially one given to distinguish people with the same given name.

BYOB

abbreviation

bring your own bottle (or booze, or beer).

BYOD

I. noun

the practice of allowing the employees of an organization to use their own computers, smartphones, or other devices for work purposes

• the increasing prevalence of BYOD is set to have a fundamental impact on IT over the next few years

• [as modifier] many companies are putting themselves and their data at risk by jumping on to the BYOD bandwagon too quickly.

– origin early 21st cent.: abbreviation of bring your own device.

bypass /ˈbīˌpas/

I. noun

1. a road passing around a town or its center to provide an alternative route for through traffic.

2. a secondary channel, pipe, or connection to allow a flow when the main one is closed or blocked.

3. a surgical operation in which an alternative channel is created, especially to improve blood flow to the heart when a coronary artery is blocked

• my granddad is well into his eighties and had a bypass

• [as modifier] he's just had a triple bypass operation.

4. the alternative channel created during a bypass operation.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. go past or around

• bypass the farm and continue to the road.

2. provide (a town) with a route diverting traffic from its center

• the town has been bypassed.

3. avoid or circumvent (an obstacle or problem)

• a manager might bypass formal channels of communication.

bypath /ˈbīpaTH/

noun

an indirect route.

byplay /ˈbīplā/

noun

secondary or subsidiary action or involvement in a play or movie.

byproduct /ˈbīˌprädəkt/

noun

1. an incidental or secondary product made in the manufacture or synthesis of something else

• zinc is a byproduct of the glazing process.

2. a secondary result, unintended but inevitably produced in doing or producing something else

• he saw poverty as the byproduct of colonial prosperity.

Byrd, Charlie /bərd/

(1925–99), US guitarist; full name Charlie Lee Byrd. He was responsible for introducing and applying acoustic classical guitar techniques to jazz and popular music and for launching the samba and bossa nova movements of the 1960s in the US with his album Jazz Samba (1962) with Stan Getz.

Byrd, Richard

(1888–1957), US explorer, naval officer, and aviator; full name Richard Evelyn Byrd. He claimed to have made the first aircraft flight over the North Pole 1926, although his actual course has been disputed. He was the first to fly over the South Pole 1929 and led further scientific expeditions to the Antarctic in 1933–34 and 1939–41.

Byrd, Robert Carlyle

(1917–2010), US politician; born Cornelius Calvin Sale, Jr. A West Virginia Democrat, he was the longest-serving member of the US Senate (1950–52, 1959–2010).

byre /ˈbī(ə)r/

I. noun

(chiefly Brit.) a cowshed.

– origin Old English bȳre; perhaps related to bower^1.

Byrnes, James Francis /bərnz/

(1879–1972), US Supreme Court associate justice 1941–42. A Democrat from South Carolina, he was a member of the US House of Representatives 1911–25 and the US Senate 1931–41 before being appointed to the Court by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He resigned a year later to take several federal positions in the war effort, and from 1945 to 1947 was US secretary of state.

byroad /ˈbīˌrōd/

noun

a minor road.

Byron, George Gordon /ˈbīrən/

6th Baron (1788–1824), English poet. His poetry exerted considerable influence on the romantic movement, particularly on the Continent. Having joined the fight for Greek independence, he died of malaria before seeing serious action. Notable works: Childe Harold's Pilgrimage (1812–18) and Don Juan (1819–24).

Byronic /bīˈränik/

adjective

1. characteristic of Lord Byron or his poetry.

2. (of a man) alluringly dark, mysterious, or moody.

byssinosis /ˌbisəˈnōsəs/

I. noun

a lung disease caused by prolonged inhalation of textile fiber dust.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin byssinus ‘made of byssus’ (from Greek bussinos) + -osis.

byssus /ˈbisəs/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› a fine textile fiber and fabric of flax.

2. [Zoology] a tuft of tough silky filaments by which mussels and some other bivalves adhere to rocks and other objects
[as modifier]

• byssus threads.

II. derivatives

byssal /-səl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin, from Greek bussos, of Semitic origin.

bystander /ˈbīˌstandər/

noun

a person who is present at an event or incident but does not take part.

bystreet /ˈbīstrēt/

noun

a side street off the main thoroughfare.

byte /bīt/

I. noun

1. [Computing] a group of binary digits or bits (usually eight) operated on as a unit.
Compare with bit^4.

2. [Computing] a byte considered as a unit of memory size.

– origin 1960s: an arbitrary formation based on bit^4 and bite.

Bytom /ˈbiˌtôm/

a city in southern Poland, northwest of Katowice; pop. 185,793 (2007).
German name Beuthen.

bytownite /bīˈtounīt/

I. noun

a calcium-rich plagioclase present in many basic igneous rocks.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Bytown, the former name of Ottawa, Canada, + -ite^1.

byway /ˈbīˌwā/

noun

1. a road or track not following a main route; a minor road or path.

2. a little-known area or detail

• byways of Russian music.

byword /ˈbīˌwərd/

noun

1. a person or thing cited as a notorious and outstanding example or embodiment of something

• his name became a byword for luxury.

2. a word or expression summarizing a thing's characteristics or a person's principles

• “Small is beautiful” may be the byword for most couturiers.

by-your-leave /ˌbīyôrˈlēv/

noun

request for permission

• he borrowed my car without so much as a by-your-leave.

See also leave^2.

Byzantine /ˈbizənˌtēn ˈbizənˌtīn/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to Byzantium, the Byzantine Empire, or the Eastern Orthodox Church.

2. of an ornate artistic and architectural style that developed in the Byzantine Empire and spread especially to Italy and Russia. The art is generally rich and stylized (as in religious icons) and the architecture typified by many-domed, highly decorated churches.

3. (also byzantine) — (of a system or situation) excessively complicated, typically involving a great deal of administrative detail

• Byzantine insurance regulations.

4. characterized by deviousness or underhanded procedure

• Byzantine intrigues

• he has the most Byzantine mind in politics.

II. noun

a citizen of Byzantium or the Byzantine Empire.

III. derivatives

Byzantinism /bəˈzantəˌnizəm, bī- /

noun

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting a bezant, a Byzantine coin): from Latin Byzantinus, from Byzantium.

Byzantine Empire

the empire in southeastern Europe and Asia Minor formed from the eastern part of the Roman Empire. It ended with the loss of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453.

Byzantinist /biˈzantənist, bī-/

noun

a historian or other scholar specializing in the study of the Byzantine Empire.

Byzantium /bəˈzantēəm bīˈzantēəm bəˈzan(t)SHēəm/

an ancient Greek city, founded in the 7th century BC, at the southern end of the Bosporus, site of the modern city of Istanbul. It was rebuilt by Constantine the Great in AD 324–330 as Constantinople.

BZP

abbreviation

benzylpiperazine, a drug that has stimulant and euphoric properties similar to those of amphetamine.
[Chem. formula: C_11H_16N_2.]

c /sē/

I. abbreviation

1. cent(s).

2. [in combination] — (in units of measurement) centi-

• centistokes (cS).

3. (c.) — century or centuries

• a watch case, 19th c.

4. (also c.) — (preceding a date or amount) circa; approximately

• Isabella was born c. 1759.

5. (of water) cold

• all cabins have h & c.

6. colt.

II. symbol

[Physics] the speed of light in a vacuum

• E = mc^2.

C^1 /sē / c

noun

1. the third letter of the alphabet.

2. denoting the third in a set of items, categories, sizes, etc.

3. denoting the third of three or more hypothetical people or things.

4. the third highest class of academic grades.

5. (c) — [Chess] denoting the third file from the left of a chessboard, as viewed from White's side of the board.

6. (usu. c) — the third fixed constant to appear in an algebraic expression, or a known constant.

7. denoting the lowest soil horizon, comprising parent materials.

8. a shape like that of a letter C
[in combination]

• C-springs.

9. (usu. C) — [Music] the first note of the diatonic scale of C major, the major scale having no sharps or flats.

10. a key based on a scale with C as its keynote.

11. the Roman numeral for 100.
[abbreviation of Latin centum ‘hundred.’]

12. (C) — a high-level computer programming language originally developed for implementing the UNIX operating system.
[formerly known as B, abbreviation of BCPL.]

C^2 /sē/

I. abbreviation

1. (C.) — Cape (chiefly on maps)

• C. Hatteras.

2. Celsius or centigrade

• it was 29°C at noon.

3. (©) — copyright.

4. (in personal ads) Christian.

5. [Physics] coulomb(s).

II. symbol

1. [Physics] capacitance.

2. the chemical element carbon.

III. phrases

the Big C

‹informal› cancer.

C8

noun

a popular designation for ammonium perfluorooctanoate, a detergentlike chemical used in the manufacture of fluoropolymers.

ca ca.

abbreviation

(preceding a date or amount) circa.

Ca

symbol

the chemical element calcium.

CA

abbreviation

1. California (in official postal use).

2. Central America.

3. chief accountant.

4. (Canadian) (Scottish) chartered accountant.

cab^1 /kab/

I. noun

1. short for taxicab.

2. ‹historical› a horse-drawn vehicle for public hire.

3. the driver's compartment in a truck, bus, or train.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. travel in a taxi

• Roger cabbed home.

– origin early 19th cent.: abbreviation of cabriolet.

cab^2 /kab/

I. noun

‹informal› a cabinet containing a speaker or speakers for a guitar amplifier.

– origin late 20th cent.: abbreviation.

CAB

abbreviation

(US) Civil Aeronautics Board.

cabal /kəˈbäl kəˈbal/

I. noun

a secret political clique or faction

• a cabal of dissidents.

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting the cabbala): from French cabale, from medieval Latin cabala (see Kabbalah).

cabaletta /ˌkabəˈletə, ˌkäbə-/

I. noun

1. a simple aria with a repetitive rhythm.

2. the uniformly quick final section of an aria.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Italian, variant ofcoboletta ‘short stanza,’ diminutive of cobola, from Old Provençal cobla, from Latin copula ‘connection.’

cabalistic /ˌkabəˈlistik/

I. adjective

relating to or associated with mystical interpretation or esoteric doctrine.
See also Kabbalah.

II. derivatives

1. cabalism /ˈkabəˌlizəm /

noun

2. cabalist /ˈkabəlist /

noun

– origin earlly 17th cent.: variant of Kabbalistic: see Kabbalah.

caballero /ˌkabə(l)ˈye(ə)rō, -ˈle(ə)rō/

I. noun

1. a Spanish or Mexican gentleman.

2. (US) (in the southwestern US) a horseman.

– origin mid 19th cent.: Spanish ‘gentleman, horseman,’ based on Latin caballus ‘horse.’ Compare with cavalier, chevalier.

cabana /kəˈban(y)ə/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a cabin, hut, or shelter, especially one at a beach or swimming pool.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Spanish cabaña, from late Latin capana, cavana ‘cabin.’

cabaret /ˌkabəˈrā ˈkabəˌrā/

I. noun

1. entertainment held in a nightclub or restaurant while the audience eats or drinks at tables

• she was seen recently in cabaret

• [as modifier] a cabaret act.

2. a nightclub or restaurant where entertainment is performed.

– origin mid 17th cent. (denoting a French inn): from Old French, literally ‘wooden structure,’ via Middle Dutch from Old Picard camberet ‘little room.’ Current senses date from the early 20th cent.

cabbage /ˈkabij/

I. noun

1. a cultivated plant eaten as a vegetable, having thick green or purple leaves surrounding a spherical heart or head of young leaves.
[Brassica oleracea, family Brassicaceae (the cabbage family). As well as the brassicas, the members of this family (known as crucifers) include the mustards and cresses together with many ornamentals (candytuft, alyssum, stocks, nasturtiums, wallflowers).]

2. the leaves of a head of cabbage, eaten as a vegetable.

3. ‹informal› paper money

• I'd have cabbage galore in the bank if I were more frugal.

II. derivatives

cabbagey

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French (Picard) caboche ‘head,’ variant of Old French caboce, of unknown origin.

cabbage maggot

noun

a small fly whose larvae feed on the roots and stems of cabbages and related plants and can be a serious pest.
[Delia radicum, family Anthomyiidae.]

cabbage moth

noun

a brown moth whose caterpillars are pests of cabbages and related plants.
[Mamestra brassicae, family Noctuidae.]

cabbage palm

noun

any of a number of palms or palmlike plants that resemble a cabbage in some way, in particular
[● a Caribbean palm with edible buds that resemble a cabbage (Roystonea oleraceae, family Palmae). ● an evergreen plant occurring in warm regions and grown elsewhere as a greenhouse or indoor plant (genus Cordyline, family Agavaceae).]

cabbage roll

noun

(N. Amer.) a boiled cabbage leaf that is formed into a roll with a stuffing of rice and minced meat and then baked.

cabbage rose /ˈkabij rōz/

noun

a kind of rose with a large, round, compact double flower.

cabbage white /ˈkabij ˌ(h)wīt/

noun

a mainly white butterfly that has caterpillars that are pests of cabbages and related plants.
[Genus Pieris, family Pieridae: several species, in particular the imported cabbageworm P. rapae.]

cabbageworm /ˈkabəjˌwərm/

noun

(N. Amer.) any caterpillar that is a pest of cabbages, especially that of the cabbage white butterfly.

cabbie /ˈkabē / cabby

noun

‹informal› a taxicab driver.

caber /ˈkābər ˈkäbər/

I. noun

a roughly trimmed tree trunk used in the Scottish Highland sport of tossing the caber. This involves holding the caber upright and running forward to toss it so that it lands on the opposite end.

– origin early 16th cent.: from Scottish Gaelic cabar ‘pole.’

Cabernet /ˌkabərˈnā/

noun

short for Cabernet Franc or Cabernet Sauvignon.

Cabernet Franc /ˌkabərˌnā ˈfräNGk/

I. noun

1. a variety of black wine grape grown chiefly in parts of the Loire valley and northeastern Italy.

2. a red wine made from the Cabernet Franc grape.

– origin French.

Cabernet Sauvignon /ˌsōvinˈyôN, -vēˈnyôN/

I. noun

1. a variety of black wine grape from the Bordeaux area of France, now grown throughout the world.

2. a red wine made from the Cabernet Sauvignon grape.

– origin French.

Cabeza Prieta /kəˌbāzə prēˈādə/

a national wildlife refuge in southwestern Arizona, in the Sonoran Desert. The Cabeza Prieta Mountains give their name to the preserve, which is home to bighorn sheep and other species.

cabezon /ˈkabəˌzän, -ˌzōn/

I. noun

a heavy-bodied fish with a broad tentacle above each eye and a green-brown body with white patches, found on the west coast of North America.
[Scorpaenichthys marmoratus, family Cottidae.]

– origin Spanish.

cab-forward /ˌkabˈfôrwərd/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of the design of a car or truck) having the driver's or passenger compartment placed so as to extend further forward than the standard position.

cabildo /kəˈbildō/

I. noun

1. (in Spain and Spanish-speaking countries) a town council or local government council.

2. a town hall.

– origin Spanish, from late Latin capitulum ‘chapter house.’

cabin /ˈkabən/

I. noun

1. a private room or compartment on a ship.

2. the area for passengers in an aircraft.

3. a small shelter or house, made of wood and situated in a wild or remote area.

II. verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. cabined)

1. ‹dated› confine in a small place.

– origin Middle English: from Old French cabane, from Provençal cabana, from late Latin capanna, cavanna.

cabin boy /ˈkabən ˈˌboi/

noun

‹chiefly historical› a boy employed to wait on a ship's officers or passengers.

cabin class /ˈkabən klas/

noun

the intermediate class of accommodations on a passenger ship.

cabin crew /ˈkabən kro͞o/

noun — [treated as sing. or pl.]

1. the members of an aircraft crew who attend to passengers.

cabin cruiser /ˈkabən ˈkro͞ozər/

noun

a recreational motorboat with sleeping accommodations.

Cabinda /kəˈbində/

I. an exclave of Angola at the mouth of the Congo River, separated from the rest of Angola by a wedge of the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire).

II. the capital of Cabinda; pop. 287,000 (est. 2004).

cabinet /ˈkab(ə)nət/

I. noun

1. a cupboard with drawers or shelves for storing or displaying articles

• a medicine cabinet.

2. a wooden box, container, or piece of furniture housing a radio, television set, or speaker.

3. (in the US) a body of advisers to the president, composed of the heads of the executive departments of the government
[as modifier]

• a cabinet meeting.

4. (also Cabinet) — (in the UK, Canada, and other Commonwealth countries) the committee of senior ministers responsible for controlling government policy.

5. ‹archaic› a small private room.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from cabin + -et^1, influenced by French cabinet.

cabinetmaker /ˈkab(ə)nətˌmākər/

I. noun

a skilled joiner who makes furniture or similar high-quality woodwork.

II. derivatives

cabinetmaking /ˈkab(ə)nətˌmākiNG /

noun

cabinet minister /ˈkab(ə)nət ˈminəstər/

noun

(in the UK, Canada, and other Commonwealth countries) a member of a parliamentary cabinet.

cabinetry /ˈkabənətrē/

noun

cabinets collectively.

cabin fever

noun

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) irritability, listlessness, and similar symptoms resulting from long confinement or isolation indoors during the winter.

cable /ˈkābəl/

I. noun

1. a thick rope of wire or nonmetallic fiber, typically used for construction, mooring ships, and towing vehicles.

2. the chain of a ship's anchor.

3. [Nautical] a length of 200 yards (182.9 m) or (in the US) 240 yards (219.4 m).

4. short for cable stitch.

5. (also cable molding) — [Architecture] a molding resembling twisted rope.

6. an insulated wire or wires having a protective casing and used for transmitting electricity or telecommunication signals

• an underground cable

• transatlantic phone calls went by cable.

7. a cablegram.

8. short for cable television.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. contact or send a message to (someone) by cablegram.

2. transmit (a message) by cablegram.

3. [no obj.] — send a cablegram

• we cabled to a boat at sea, asking it to stop.

4. provide (an area or community) with power lines or with the equipment necessary for cable television.

5. [Architecture] decorate (a structure) with rope-shaped moldings.

– origin Middle English: from an Anglo-Norman French variant of Old French chable, from late Latin capulum ‘halter.’

cable car /ˈkābəl ˌkär/

noun

1. a transportation system, typically one traveling up and down a mountain, in which cabins are suspended on a continuous moving cable driven by a motor at one end of the route.

2. a cabin on a cable-car system.

3. a car on a cable railroad.

cablegram /ˈkābəlˌɡram/

noun

‹historical› a telegraph message sent by cable

• Walter shot off a cablegram

• we received the word of his death by cablegram.

cable-laid /ˈkābəlˌlād/

adjective

(of rope) made of three right-handed triple strands (or smaller ropes) twisted together left-handed, used originally of a very large rope of the type used for anchor cables.

cable modem

noun

a type of modem that connects a computer or local network to broadband Internet service through the same cable that supplies cable television service
[as modifier]

• a cable-modem connection.

cable railroad

noun

a railroad along which cars are drawn by a continuous cable.

cable-ready /ˈkābəlˌredē/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (N. Amer.) adapted for cable television.

cable release /ˈkābəl rəˈlēs rēˈlēs/

noun

[Photography] a cable attached to the shutter release of a camera, allowing the photographer to open the shutter without touching or moving the camera.

cable-stayed bridge

noun

a bridge in which the weight of the deck is supported by a number of cables running directly to one or more towers.

cable stitch /ˈkābəl stiCH/

noun

a combination of knitted stitches done to resemble twisted rope.

cable television /ˈkābəl ˈteləˌviZHən/

noun

a system in which television programs are transmitted to the sets of subscribers by cable rather than by a broadcast signal.

cable tier

noun

[Nautical] ‹historical› a place in a ship for stowing a coiled cable.

cableway /ˈkābəlˌwā/

noun

a transportation system in which goods are carried suspended from a continuous moving cable.

cabman /ˈkabman/

noun

1. a taxicab driver.

2. ‹historical› the driver of a horse-drawn hackney carriage.

cabochon /ˈkabəˌSHän/

I. noun

a gem polished but not faceted
[as modifier]

• a necklace of cabochon rubies.

II. phrases

en cabochon

/äN / — (of a gem) polished but not faceted.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French, diminutive of caboche ‘head.’

caboclo /kəˈbôklo͞o, -klō/

I. noun

1. (in Brazil) an American Indian.

2. a Brazilian of mixed white and Indian or Indian and black ancestry.

– origin Brazilian Portuguese, perhaps from Tupi Kaa-boc ‘person having copper-colored skin.’

caboodle /kəˈbo͞odl / kaboodle

I. noun — (in phrase the whole caboodle or the whole kit and caboodle)

1. ‹informal› the whole number or quantity of people or things in question.

– origin mid 19th cent. (originally US): perhaps from the phrase kit and boodle, in the same sense (see kit^1, boodle).

caboose /kəˈbo͞os/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a railroad car with accommodations for the train crew, typically attached to the end of the train.

2. ‹informal› (typically referring to a woman) buttocks

• she's got a sexy caboose.

3. ‹archaic› a kitchen on a ship's deck.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Dutch kabuis, kombuis, of unknown origin.

Cabora Bassa /kəˌbôrə ˈbäsə/

a lake on the Zambezi River in western Mozambique. Its waters are impounded by a dam and massive hydroelectric complex.

caboshed /kəˈbäSHt / caboched, cabossed

I. adjective — [usu. postpositive]

1. [Heraldry] (of the head of a stag, bull, etc.) shown full face with no neck visible.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French caboché, in the same sense.

Cabot /ˈkabət/

I. the name of two Italian explorers and navigators.

II. John (c. 1450–c. 1498); Italian name Giovanni Caboto. An Italian in the service of England, he sailed from Bristol in 1497 in search of Asia, but in fact discovered the mainland of North America.

III. Sebastian (c. 1475–c. 1557), son of John. It is thought that he accompanied his father on his voyage in 1497 and that he made further voyages after the latter's death, most notably to explore the coast of Brazil and the Plate River in 1526.

cabotage /ˈkabəˌtäZH ˈkabədij/

I. noun

1. the right to operate sea, air, or other transport services within a particular territory.

2. restriction of the operation of sea, air, or other transport services within or into a particular country to that country's own transport services.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, from caboter ‘sail along a coast,’ perhaps from Spanish cabo ‘cape, headland.’

Cabot Strait /ˌkabət ˈstrāt/

an ocean passage between Newfoundland and Nova Scotia that links the Gulf of St. Lawrence with the Atlantic Ocean.

cabover /ˈkabˌōvər/

noun

(N. Amer.) a truck where the driver's cab is mounted directly above the engine.

Cabrales /kəˈbrälās/

I. noun

a pungent blue cheese from Spain.

– origin Spanish, from cabra ‘goat.’

cab rank /ˈkab raNGk/

noun

(Brit.) a place where taxis park while waiting for customers

• taxi operators have hailed the decision to reinstate a cab rank at Haymarket station's main entrance.

Cabrini, St. Frances Xavier /kəˈbrēnē/

(1850–1917), US religious leader, born in Italy; born Maria Francesca Cabrini; known as Mother Cabrini. She founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart in 1880 and was responsible for the establishment of many schools, hospitals, and orphanages in the US and South America. She became the first American saint in 1946.

cabriole /ˈkabrēˌōl/

I. noun

[Ballet] a jump in which one leg is extended into the air forward or backward, the other is brought up to meet it, and the dancer lands on the second foot.

– origin French, literally ‘light leap,’ from cabrioler (earlier caprioler), from Italian capriolare ‘to leap in the air’ (see capriole).

cabriole leg

I. noun

a kind of curved leg characteristic of Chippendale and Queen Anne furniture.

– origin late 18th cent.: so named from the resemblance to the front leg of a leaping animal (see cabriole).

cabriolet /ˌkabrēəˈlā/

I. noun

1. a car with a roof that folds down.

2. a light, two-wheeled carriage with a hood, drawn by one horse.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French, from cabriole ‘goat's leap,’ from cabrioler ‘to leap in the air’ (see cabriole); so named because of the carriage's motion.

cabstand /ˈkabstand/

noun

a place for taxis to wait for passengers.

caca /ˈkärkə/

I. noun

‹informal› excrement.

– origin late 19th cent.: from cack ‘excrement,’ or directly from Latincacare‘defecate.’

ca'canny /kaˈkanē/

I. noun

(Brit.) ‹dated› the policy of deliberately limiting output at work.

– origin late 19th cent. (originally Scots in the sense ‘proceed warily’): from ca' (variant of the verb call) and canny.

cacao /kəˈkou kəˈkāō/

I. noun

1. beanlike seeds from which cocoa, cocoa butter, and chocolate are made.

2. the small tropical American evergreen tree that bears these seeds, which are contained in large, oval pods that grow on the trunk. The tree is now cultivated mainly in West Africa.
[Theobroma cacao, family Sterculiaceae.]

– origin mid 16th cent.: via Spanish from Nahuatl cacaua.

cacciatore /ˌkäCHəˈtôrē, ˌkaCH- / cacciatora

I. adjective — [postpositive]

1. prepared in a spicy tomato sauce with mushrooms and herbs

• chicken cacciatore.

– origin Italian, literally ‘hunter’ (because of the use of ingredients that a hunter might have at hand).

cachaca /kəˈSHäkə, -ˈSHäsə / cachaça

I. noun

a Brazilian white rum made from sugar cane.

– origin mid 19th cent.: Brazilian Portuguese, from Portuguese cacaça ‘(white) rum.’

cachalot /ˈkaSHəˌlät/

I. noun

another term for sperm whale.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French, from Spanish and Portuguese cachalote, from cachola ‘big head.’

cache /kaSH/

I. noun

1. a collection of items of the same type stored in a hidden or inaccessible place

• an arms cache

• a cache of gold coins.

2. a hidden or inaccessible storage place for valuables, provisions, or ammunition.

3. (also cache memory) — [Computing] an auxiliary memory from which high-speed retrieval is possible.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. store away in hiding or for future use.

2. [Computing] store (data) in a cache memory.

3. [Computing] provide (hardware) with a cache memory.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French, from cacher ‘to hide.’

cachectic /kəˈkektik/

adjective

[Medicine] relating to or having the symptoms of cachexia.

cachepot /ˈkaSHˌpät, ˈkaSH(ə)ˌpō/

I. noun

an ornamental holder for a flowerpot.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French cache-pot, from cacher ‘to hide’ + pot ‘pot.’

cache-sexe /ˈkaSHseks/

I. noun

a covering for a person's genitals, typically worn by erotic dancers or tribal peoples.

– origin 1920s: from French, from cacher ‘to hide’ and sexe ‘genitals.’

cachet /kaˈSHā/

I. noun

1. the state of being respected or admired; prestige

• no other shipping company had quite the cachet of Cunard.

2. a distinguishing mark or seal.

3. [Philately] a printed design added to an envelope to commemorate a special event.

4. a flat capsule enclosing a dose of unpleasant-tasting medicine.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French, from cacher in the sense ‘to press,’ based on Latin coactare ‘constrain.’

cachexia /kəˈkeksēə/

I. noun

[Medicine] weakness and wasting of the body due to severe chronic illness.

– origin mid 16th cent.: via late Latin from Greek kakhexia, from kakos ‘bad’ + hexis ‘habit.’

cachinnate /ˈkakəˌnāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹literary› laugh loudly.

II. derivatives

cachinnation /ˌkakəˈnāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin cachinnat- ‘laughed loudly,’ from the verb cachinnare, of imitative origin.

cachou /kaˈSHo͞o ˈkaSHo͞o/

I. noun

1. ‹dated› a pleasant-smelling lozenge sucked to mask bad breath.

2. var. of catechu.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘catechu’): from French, from Portuguese cachu, from Malay kacu. The ‘lozenge’ sense dates from the early 18th cent.

cachucha /kəˈCHo͞oCHə/

I. noun

a lively Spanish solo dance in triple time, accompanied by castanets.

– origin Spanish.

cacique /kəˈsēk/

I. noun

1. (in Latin America or the Spanish-speaking Caribbean) a native chief.

2. (in Spain or Latin America) a local political boss.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Spanish or French, from Taino.

cackle /ˈkak(ə)l/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a bird, typically a hen or goose) give a raucous, clucking cry

• the hen was cackling as if demented

• (as adj. cackling) cackling, whooping cries.

2. make a harsh, raucous sound when laughing

• she cackled with laughter

• [with direct speech] “Ah ha!” he cackled.

II. noun

1. the raucous clucking cry of a bird such as a hen or a goose.

2. a harsh laugh resembling the cry of a hen or goose

• her delighted cackle.

– origin Middle English: probably from Middle Low German kākelen, partly imitative, reinforced by kāke ‘jaw, cheek.’

cackleberry /ˈkakəlˌberē/

noun

‹humorous› a hen's egg.

cacodemon /ˌkakəˈdēmən/

I. noun

a malevolent spirit or person.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Greek kakodaimōn, from kakos ‘bad’ + daimōn ‘spirit.’

cacodyl /ˈkakəˌdil/

I. noun

1. [Chemistry] a malodorous, toxic, spontaneously flammable liquid compound containing arsenic.
[Chem. formula: ((CH_3)2As)2.]

2. [as modifier] — [Chemistry] of or denoting the radical —As(CH_3)2, derived from cacodyl.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek kakōdēs ‘stinking’ (from kakos ‘bad’) + -yl.

cacodylic acid /ˌkakəˌdilik ˈasid/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a toxic crystalline acid containing arsenic, used as a herbicide.
[Chem. formula: (CH_3)2AsO(OH).]

II. derivatives

cacodylate /ˌkakəˈdilˌāt /

noun

cacoethes /ˌkakəˈwēT͟Hēz/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. ‹rare› an irresistible urge to do something inadvisable.

– origin mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek kakoēthes ‘ill-disposed,’ from kakos ‘bad’ + ēthos ‘disposition.’

cacography /kəˈkäɡrəfē/

I. noun

‹archaic› bad handwriting or spelling.

II. derivatives

cacographer /-fər /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from Greek kakos ‘bad,’ on the pattern of orthography.

cacology /kəˈkäləjē/

I. noun

‹archaic› bad choice of words or poor pronunciation.

– origin late 18th cent.: via late Latin from Greek kakologia ‘vituperation,’ from kakos ‘bad.’

cacomistle /ˈkakəˌmis(ə)l/

I. noun

a nocturnal raccoonlike animal with a dark-ringed tail, found in North and Central America.
[Genus Bassariscus, family Procyonidae: two species, in particular B. sumichrasti of Central America. See also ring-tailed cat.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin American Spanish cacomixtle, from Nahuatl tlacomiztli.

cacophonous /kəˈkäfənəs/

adjective

involving or producing a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds

• the cacophonous sound of slot machines.

cacophony /kəˈkäfənē/

I. noun

a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds

• a cacophony of deafening alarm bells

• ‹figurative› a cacophony of architectural styles

• songs of unrelieved cacophony.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French cacophonie, from Greek kakophōnia, from kakophōnos ‘ill-sounding,’ from kakos ‘bad’ + phōnē ‘sound.’

cactus /ˈkaktəs/

I. noun

a succulent plant with a thick, fleshy stem that typically bears spines, lacks leaves, and has brilliantly colored flowers. Cacti are native to arid regions of the New World and are cultivated elsewhere, especially as houseplants.
[Family Cactaceae: numerous genera and species.]

II. derivatives

cactaceous /kakˈtāSHəs /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘cardoon’): from Latin, from Greek kaktos ‘cardoon.’

cactus dahlia

noun

a dahlia of a variety that has rolled petals, giving the flower a prickly appearance.

cactus wren

noun

the largest North American wren, with a distinct white eyestripe and spotted tail feathers, found in the southwestern US and Mexico.
[Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus, family Troglodytidae.]

cacuminal /kəˈkyo͞omən(ə)l/

I. adjective

[Phonetics] another term for retroflex.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin cacuminare ‘make pointed’ (from cacumen, cacumin- ‘top, summit’) + -al.

cad /kad/

I. noun

‹dated› ‹humorous› a man who behaves dishonorably, especially toward a woman

• her adulterous cad of a husband.

II. derivatives

1. caddish /ˈkadiSH /

adjective

2. caddishly

adverb

3. caddishness /ˈkadiSHnəs /

noun

– origin late 18th cent. (denoting a passenger picked up by the driver of a horse-drawn coach for personal profit): abbreviation of caddie or cadet.

CAD /kad/

abbreviation

computer-aided design.

cadastral /kəˈdastrəl/

I. adjective

(of a map or survey) showing the extent, value, and ownership of land, especially for taxation.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, from cadastre ‘register of property,’ from Provençal cadastro, from Italian catastro (earlier catastico), from late Greek katastikhon ‘list, register,’ from kata stikhon ‘line by line.’

cadastre /kəˈdasˌtər/

noun

a register of property showing the extent, value, and ownership of land for taxation.

cadaver /kəˈdavər/

I. noun

[Medicine] ‹literary› a corpse.

II. derivatives

cadaveric /kəˈdav(ə)rik /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin, from cadere ‘to fall.’

cadaverine /kəˈdavəˌrēn/

noun

a toxic liquid base, 1,5-diaminopentane, formed by the putrefaction of proteins.
[Chem. formula: H_2N(CH_2)5NH_2.]

cadaverous /kəˈdav(ə)rəs/

I. adjective

resembling a corpse in being very pale, thin, or bony

• he had a cadaverous appearance.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin cadaverosus, from cadaver ‘corpse.’

CADCAM /ˈkadkam / CAD/CAM

abbreviation

computer-aided design, computer-aided manufacturing.

caddie /ˈkadē / caddy

I. noun

a person who carries a golfer's clubs and provides other assistance during a match.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. work as a caddie.

– origin mid 17th cent. (originally Scots): from French cadet. The original term denoted a gentleman who joined the army without a commission, intending to learn the profession and follow a military career, later coming to mean ‘odd-job man’ The current sense dates from the late 18th cent.

caddisfly /ˈkadəsˌflī / caddis fly

I. noun

a small, mothlike insect with an aquatic larva that typically builds a protective, portable case of sticks, stones, and other particles. Some kinds have been traditionally used as bait by fishermen.
[Order Trichoptera: several families.]

– origin mid 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

caddis worm /ˈkadəs ˌwərm/

noun

the soft-bodied, aquatic larva of a caddisfly, often used as fishing bait.

Caddoan /ˈkadōən/

I. adjective

relating to or denoting a group of American Indian peoples formerly inhabiting the Midwest, or their languages.

II. noun

1. a member of any of the Caddoan peoples.

2. the family of languages spoken by the Caddoan peoples, which includes Pawnee and may be related to Siouan and Iroquoian.

– origin from Caddo (a language of this family) kaduhdacu, denoting a band belonging to this group, + -an.

caddy^1 /ˈkadē/

I. noun — [usu. with modifier]

1. a small storage container, typically one with divisions

• a tool caddy.

See also tea caddy.

– origin late 18th cent.: from earlier catty, denoting a unit of weight of 1⅓ lb. (0.61 kg), from Malay kati.

caddy^2 /ˈkadē/

noun, verb

variant spelling of caddie.

Cade, Jack /kād/

(died 1450), Irish rebel; full name John Cade. In 1450, he assumed the name of Mortimer and led the Kentish rebels against Henry VI. They occupied London for three days and executed the treasurer of England and the sheriff of Kent.

cadelle /kəˈdel/

I. noun

a small, dark beetle that is frequently found in food storage, where it scavenges and preys on other insects.
[Tenebroides mauritanicus, family Cleridae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, based on Latin catella, catellus ‘young (of an animal), little dog.’

cadence /ˈkādns/

I. noun

1. a modulation or inflection of the voice

• the measured cadences that he employed in the Senate.

2. a modulation in reading aloud as implied by the structure and ordering of words and phrases in written text

• the dry cadences of the essay.

3. a fall in pitch of the voice at the end of a phrase or sentence.

4. rhythm

• the thumping cadence of the engines

• try to vary your cadence during a run.

5. [Music] a sequence of notes or chords comprising the close of a musical phrase

• the final cadences of the Prelude.

II. derivatives

cadenced /ˈkādnst /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘rhythm or metrical beat’): via Old French from Italian cadenza, based on Latin cadere ‘to fall.’

cadency /ˈkādnsē/

I. noun

[chiefly Heraldry] the status of a younger branch of a family.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘rhythm or metrical beat’): based on Latin cadent- ‘falling,’ from the verb cadere. The current sense is apparently by association with cadet.

cadential /ˌkāˈden(t)SH(ə)l/

I. adjective

of or relating to a cadenza or cadence.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from cadence, on the pattern of pairs such as essence, essential.

cadenza /kəˈdenzə/

I. noun

[Music] a virtuoso solo passage inserted into a movement in a concerto or other work, typically near the end.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Italian (see cadence).

cadet /kəˈdet/

I. noun

1. a young trainee in the armed services or police force

• an air force cadet.

2. a student in training at a military school.

3. ‹formal› ‹archaic› a younger son or daughter.

4. [usu. as modifier] — a junior branch of a family

• a cadet branch of the family.

II. derivatives

cadetship /kəˈdetˌSHip /

noun

– origin early 17th cent. (sense 2): from French, from Gascon dialect capdet, a diminutive based on Latin caput ‘head.’ The notion “little head” or “inferior head” gave rise to that of ‘younger, junior.’

cadge /kaj/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› ask for or obtain (something to which one is not strictly entitled)

• he eats whenever he can cadge a meal

• [no obj.] they cadge, but timidly.

II. noun

[Falconry] a padded wooden frame on which hooded hawks are carried to the field.
[apparently an alteration of cage, perhaps confused with the dialect verb cadge ‘carry around.’]

III. phrases

on the cadge

(Brit.) ‹informal› looking for an opportunity to obtain something without paying for it.

IV. derivatives

cadger /ˈkajər /

noun

– origin early 17th cent. (in the dialect sense ‘carry around’): back-formation from the noun cadger, which dates from the late 15th cent., denoting (in northern English and Scots) an itinerant dealer, whence the verb sense ‘hawk, peddle,’ giving rise to the current verb senses from the early 19th cent.

cadi /ˈkädē ˈkādē / kadi

I. noun

(in Islamic countries) a judge.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Arabic ḳāḍī, from ḳaḍā ‘to judge.’

Cadillac /ˈkadilak/

I. noun

1. ‹trademark› a large luxury car that is the most prestigious brand of General Motors.

2. something that is an outstanding example of its kind, especially in terms of luxury, quality, or size

• the aircraft is widely regarded as the Cadillac of commuter planes.

– origin from Cadillac, Antoine Laumet de La Mothe.

Cadillac, Antoine Laumet de La Mothe /kädēˈyäk, ˈkadlˌak/

(1658–1730), French soldier and colonialist. He founded military posts at Mackinac 1694 and Detroit 1701; from 1710 to about 1716 or 1717 he served as governor of Louisiana.

Cadillac Mountain /ˌkadəlak ˈmount(ə)n/

a peak on Mount Desert Island in southeastern Maine, within Acadia National Park. At 1,532 feet (467 m), it is the highest point on the US east coast.

Cadiz /kəˈdiz/

a city and port on the southwestern coast of Spain; pop. 127,200 (2008). Spanish name Cádiz.

Cadmean /ˈkadmēən kadˈmēən/

adjective

of or relating to Cadmus.

cadmium /ˈkadmēəm/

I. noun

(Symbol: Cd) — the chemical element of atomic number 48, a silvery-white metal.
Cadmium occurs naturally in zinc ores and is obtained as a byproduct of zinc smelting. It is used as a component in low melting point alloys and as a corrosion-resistant coating on other metals.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin cadmia ‘calamine,’ so named because it is found with calamine in zinc ore. Compare with calamine.

cadmium cell

noun

a primary electric cell with a cathode of cadmium amalgam and an electrolyte of saturated cadmium sulfate solution, used in laboratories as a standard of electromotive force.

cadmium yellow

noun

1. a bright yellow pigment containing cadmium sulfide. Deeper versions are called cadmium orange; the addition of cadmium selenide gives cadmium red.

2. a bright yellow color.

Cadmus /ˈkadməs / ‹Greek Mythology›

the brother of Europa and traditional founder of Thebes in Boeotia. He killed a dragon that guarded a spring, and when (on Athena's advice) he sowed the dragon's teeth, there came up a harvest of armed men; he disposed of the majority by setting them to fight one another, and the survivors formed the ancestors of the Theban nobility.

cadre /ˈkadrē ˈkädrē ˈkadˌrā ˈkädˌrā/

I. noun

1. a small group of people specially trained for a particular purpose or profession

• a small cadre of scientists.

2. a group of activists in a communist or other revolutionary organization.

3. a member of an activist group.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, from Italian quadro, from Latin quadrus ‘square.’

caduceus /kəˈd(y)o͞oSH(ē)əs kəˈd(y)o͞osēəs/

I. noun

1. an ancient Greek or Roman herald's wand, typically one with two serpents twined around it, carried by the messenger god Hermes or Mercury.

2. a representation of this, traditionally associated with healing.

– origin Latin, from Doric Greek karukeion, from Greek kērux ‘herald.’

caducity /kəˈd(y)o͞osədē/

I. noun

1. ‹archaic› the infirmity of old age; senility.

2. ‹archaic› ‹literary› frailty or transitory nature

• read these books and reflect on their caducity.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French caducité, from caduc, from Latin caducus ‘liable to fall,’ from cadere ‘to fall.’

caducous /kəˈd(y)o͞okəs/

I. adjective

[chiefly Botany] (of an organ or part) easily detached and shed at an early stage.

– origin late 17th cent. (in the sense ‘epileptic’): from Latin caducus ‘liable to fall’ (from cadere ‘to fall’) + -ous.

CAE

abbreviation

computer-aided engineering.

caecilian /sēˈsilyən / coecilian

I. noun

[Zoology] a burrowing wormlike amphibian of a tropical order distinguished by poorly developed eyes and the lack of limbs.
[Order Gymnophiona (or Apoda): five families.]

– origin from modern Latin Caecilia (genus name), from Latin caecilia ‘slow-worm’ + -an.

Caedmon /ˈkadmən/

(7th century), Anglo-Saxon monk and poet. He is said to have been an illiterate herdsman who was inspired in a vision to compose poetry on biblical themes.

Caelum /ˈsēləm / ‹Astronomy›

I. a small and faint southern constellation (the Chisel), next to Eridanus.

II. (as genitive Caeli ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation

• the star Beta Caeli.

– origin Latin.

Caen /kän/

an industrial city and river port in northern France, in Normandy, on the Orne River, capital of the region of Basse-Normandie; pop. 113,249 (2006).

Caerdydd /kärˈdēT͟H/

Welsh name for Cardiff.

Caerphilly /kärˈfilē/

noun

a kind of mild white cheese, originally made in Caerphilly in Wales.

Caesar /ˈsēzər/

I. noun

1. a title used by Roman emperors, especially those from Augustus to Hadrian.

2. an autocrat.

3. [Medicine] ‹informal› a Caesarean section.

II. phrases

Caesar's wife

a person who is required to be above suspicion.
[with reference to Plutarch's Caesar (X. 6) ‘I thought my wife ought not even to be under suspicion.’]

– origin Middle English: from Latin Caesar, family name of the Roman statesman Caesar, Julius.

Caesar, Julius /ˈsēzər/

(100–44 BC), Roman general and statesman; full name Gaius Julius Caesar. He established the First Triumvirate with Pompey and Crassus in 60 and became consul in 59. Between 58 and 49 he fought the Gallic Wars, invaded Britain 55–54, and acquired immense power. After civil war with Pompey, which ended in Pompey's defeat at Pharsalus in 48, Caesar became dictator of the Roman Empire. He was murdered on the Ides (15th) of March in a conspiracy led by Brutus and Cassius.

Caesar, Sid

(1922–2014), US comedian and actor; full name Isaac Sidney Caesar. He costarred in the live television sketch comedy Your Show of Shows (1950–54) with comedienne Imogene Coca (1908–2001).

Caesarea /ˌsēzəˈrēə/

an ancient port on the Mediterranean coast of Israel, one of the principal cities of Roman Palestine.

Caesarea Mazaca /sēzəˌrēə ˈmäzəkə/

former name for Kayseri.

Caesarea Philippi /ˈfiləˌpī, fəˈlipˌī/

a city in ancient Palestine, on the site of the present-day village of Baniyas in the Golan Heights.

Caesar salad

I. noun

a salad typically consisting of romaine lettuce and croutons served with a dressing containing olive oil, lemon juice, raw egg, parmesan cheese, and seasonings.

• a formal repast of prime rib, wild rice, and Caesar salad.

– origin named after Caesar Cardini, the Italian-born restaurateur who invented it in 1924.

caesura /sēˈzyo͝orə siˈZHo͞orə/

I. noun

1. (in Greek and Latin verse) a break between words within a metrical foot.

2. (in modern verse) a pause near the middle of a line.

3. any interruption or break

• an unaccountable caesura: no deaths were reported in the newspapers.

II. derivatives

caesural

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin, from caes- ‘cut, hewn,’ from the verb caedere.

CAF

abbreviation

(N. Amer.) cost and freight.

cafard /kaˈfär/

I. noun

depression; melancholia.

– origin from French.

cafe /kaˈfā kəˈfā / café

I. noun

1. a small restaurant selling light meals and drinks.

2. (N. Amer.) a bar or nightclub.

3. (café) — a serving of coffee, especially prepared European-style
[in combination]

• an assortment of cappuccinos and café mochas.

– origin early 19th cent.: French, ‘coffee or coffeehouse.’

CAFE

abbreviation

Corporate Average Fuel Economy.

café au lait /ˌkafā ō ˈlā/

I. noun

1. coffee with milk.

2. the light brown color of this
[as modifier]

• smooth café au lait skin.

– origin French.

café con leche /ˈkafā kän ˈleCHā, kaˈfā-, kəˈfā-/

I. noun

coffee with milk.

– origin Spanish.

cafe culture

noun

a lifestyle characterized by regular social visits to cafes or coffeehouses, typically that associated with European countries such as France or Italy.

• a thriving cafe culture fueled in part by the large student population.

café filtre /ˌkafā ˈfēlt(rə)/

noun

coffee made with a cafetière.

café noir /ˌkafā ˈnwär/

I. noun

black coffee.

– origin French.

cafeteria /ˌkafəˈtirēə/

I. noun

a restaurant or dining room in a school or a business in which customers serve themselves or are served from a counter and pay before eating.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin American Spanish cafetería ‘coffee shop.’

cafeteria benefit

noun

(N. Amer.) an employee benefit selected from a variety of offerings under a fringe-benefit plan that can be tailored to fit individual needs.

cafetière /ˌkafəˈtyer/

I. noun

a French press coffee pot.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, from café ‘coffee.’

caffeinated /ˈkafəˌnādəd/

adjective

(of coffee or tea) containing the natural amount of caffeine, or with caffeine added.

caffeine /kaˈfēn ˈkafˌēn/

I. noun

a crystalline compound that is found especially in tea and coffee plants and is a stimulant of the central nervous system.
[An alkaloid, 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine; chem. formula: C_8H_10N_4O_2.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French caféine, from café ‘coffee.’

Cagayan Islands /ˈkäɡəyän ˌīləndz/

a group of seven small islands in the western Philippines, in the Sulu Sea.

cage /kāj/

I. noun

1. a structure of bars or wires in which birds or other animals are confined

• she kept a canary in a cage

• ‹figurative› his cage of loneliness.

2. a prison cell or camp.

3. an open framework forming the compartment in an elevator.

4. a structure of crossing bars or wires designed to hold or support something.

5. [Baseball] a portable backstop situated behind the batter during batting practice.

6. (in hockey and other games) a goal made from a network frame.

7. an indoor athletic facility with areas fenced off for security.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be caged)

1. confine in or as in a cage

• the parrot screamed, furious at being caged

• (as adj. caged) a caged bird.

2. ‹informal› put in prison.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin cavea.

Cage, John /kāj/

(1912–92), US composer, pianist, and writer; full name John Milton Cage. He was noted for his experimental approach, which included the use of aleatory music and periods of silence. He also experimented with musical instruments.

cage diving

I. noun

the activity of being lowered into the sea in a protective steel cage in order to view sharks or other dangerous sea creatures at close range.

• an environmental scientist has warned that cage diving is teaching the sharks to associate humans with food.

II. derivatives

cage diver

noun

cage fighting

I. noun

another term for mixed martial arts.

II. derivatives

cage fighter

noun

cagey /ˈkājē / cagy

I. adjective

‹informal› reluctant to give information owing to caution or suspicion

• manufacturers are cagey about the recipes they use to create a wine.

II. derivatives

1. cagily /ˈkājəlē /

adverb

2. caginess /ˈkājēnəs / cageyness

noun

– origin early 20th cent. (originally US): of unknown origin.

Cagliari /kalˈyärē/

the capital of the Italian island of Sardinia, a port on the southern coast; pop. 157,297 (2008).

Cagney, James /ˈkaɡnē/

(1899–1986), US actor. He is noted for playing gangster roles in movies such as The Public Enemy (1931) and Angels with Dirty Faces (1938). He was also a skilled dancer and comedian who received an Academy Award for his lead role in the musical Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942).

cagoule /kəˈɡo͞ol/

I. noun

a lightweight, hooded, thigh-length waterproof jacket.

– origin 1950s: from French, literally ‘cowl.’

cahier /käˈyā/

I. noun

an exercise book or notebook.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French; compare with quire.

Cahokia /kəˈhōkēə/

a village in southwestern Illinois, across the Mississippi River from St. Louis in Missouri; pop. 15,103 (est. 2008). The Cahokia Mounds, major pre-Columbian earthworks, are to the northeast.

cahoots /kəˈho͞ots/

I. plural noun — (in phrase in cahoots)

1. ‹informal› colluding or conspiring together secretly

• the area is dominated by guerrillas in cahoots with drug traffickers.

– origin early 19th cent. (originally US): of unknown origin.

cahow /kəˈhou/

I. noun

a large Atlantic petrel that breeds in Bermuda. It is an endangered species.
[Pterodroma cahow, family Procellariidae.]

– origin early 17th cent.: imitative of its call.

CAI

abbreviation

computer-assisted (or -aided) instruction.

caiman /ˈkāmən / cayman

I. noun

a semiaquatic reptile similar to the alligator but with a heavily armored belly, native to tropical America.
[Caiman and other genera, family Alligatoridae: three species, in particular the spectacled caiman (C. sclerops).]

– origin late 16th cent.: from Spanish caimán, Portuguese caimão, from Carib acayuman.

Cain /kān/

I. (in the Bible) the eldest son of Adam and Eve and murderer of his brother Abel.

II. phrases

raise Cain

‹informal› create trouble or a commotion.

Caine, Sir Michael /kān/

(1933–), English actor; born Maurice Micklewhite. Notable movies: The Ipcress File (1965), Educating Rita (1983), Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), and The Cider House Rules (1999).

caipirinha /ˌkīpəˈrēnyə/

I. noun

a Brazilian cocktail made with cachaca, lime or lemon juice, sugar, and crushed ice.

– origin Brazilian Portuguese, from caipira ‘yokel.’

caique /ˌkäˈēk kīk/

I. noun

1. a light rowboat used on the Bosporus.

2. a small eastern Mediterranean sailing ship.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French caïque, from Italian caicco, from Turkish kayık.

cairn /kern/

I. noun

1. a mound of rough stones built as a memorial or landmark, typically on a hilltop or skyline.

2. a prehistoric burial mound made of stones.

3. (also cairn terrier) — a small terrier of a breed with short legs, a longish body, and a shaggy coat.
[perhaps so named from being used to hunt among cairns.]

– origin late Middle English: from Scottish Gaelic carn.

cairngorm /ˈkernɡôrm/

I. noun

another term for smoky quartz.

– origin late 18th cent.: named after the Cairngorm Mountains.

Cairngorm Mountains /ˈke(ə)rnˈɡôrm, kernˈɡôrm / the Cairngorms

I. a mountain range in northern Scotland.

– origin from Scottish Gaelic carn gorm ‘blue cairn.’

Cairo /ˈkīrō/

I. the capital of Egypt, a port on the Nile River near the head of its delta; pop. 6,758,600 (est. 2006).
Arabic name al-Qahira.

II. derivatives

Cairene /kīˈrēn /

adjective, noun

caisson /ˈkāˌsän ˈkās(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a large watertight chamber, open at the bottom from which the water is kept out by air pressure and in which construction work may be carried out under water.

2. a floating vessel or watertight structure used as a gate across the entrance of a dry dock or basin.

3. ‹historical› a chest or wagon for holding or conveying ammunition.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French, literally ‘large chest,’ from Italian cassone, the spelling having been altered in French by association with caisse ‘case.’

caisson disease

noun

another term for decompression sickness.

caitiff /ˈkādəf/

I. noun

‹archaic› a contemptible or cowardly person
[as modifier]

• a caitiff knight.

– origin Middle English (denoting a captive or prisoner): from Old French caitif ‘captive,’ based on Latin captivus ‘(person) taken captive’ (see captive).

cajole /kəˈjōl/

I. verb — [with obj.] (often cajole someone into doing something)

1. persuade someone to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery

• he hoped to cajole her into selling the house

• [no obj.] she pleaded and cajoled as she tried to win his support.

II. derivatives

cajolement /kəˈjōlmənt /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French cajoler.

cajolery /kəˈjōl(ə)rē/

noun

coaxing or flattery intended to persuade someone to do something

• she uses cajolery, deception, and manipulation to get what she wants.

Cajun /ˈkājən/

I. noun

a member of any of the largely self-contained communities in the bayou areas of southern Louisiana formed by descendants of French Canadians, speaking an archaic form of French.

II. adjective

of or relating to the Cajuns, especially with reference to their folk music (typically featuring the concertina, accordion, and fiddle) or spicy cuisine.

– origin alteration of Acadian.

Cajun Country

a region of southern Louisiana that is inhabited largely by Cajuns, who are descendants of 18th-century exiles from Acadia, now Nova Scotia.

cajuput /ˈkajəpət, -ˌpo͝ot / cajeput

I. noun

1. (also cajuput oil) — an aromatic medicinal oil that is similar to eucalyptus oil, obtained from a tree of the myrtle family.

2. a chiefly Australasian tree related to the bottlebrushes, having papery bark and yielding this aromatic oil.
Also called paperbark. [Genus Melaleuca, family Myrtaceae: M. cajuputi, which produces cajuput oil, and M. quinquenervia.]

– origin late 18th cent.: from Malay kayu putih, literally ‘white tree.’

cake /kāk/

I. noun

1. an item of soft, sweet food made from a mixture of flour, shortening, eggs, sugar, and other ingredients, baked and often decorated

• a carrot cake

• [as modifier] cake pans

• a mouthful of cake.

2. an item of savory food formed into a flat, round shape, and typically baked or fried

• crab cakes.

3. a pancake

• buckwheat cakes.

4. a flattish, compact mass of something, especially soap

• a cake of soap.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a thick or sticky substance that hardens when dry) cover and become encrusted on (the surface of an object)

• a pair of boots caked with mud.

2. [no obj.] — (of a thick or sticky substance) dry or harden into a solid mass

• the blood under his nose was beginning to cake.

III. phrases

1. cakes and ale

‹dated› lively enjoyment.
[from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night II. 3. 1.]

2. a piece of cake

‹informal› something easily achieved

• I never said that training him would be a piece of cake.

3. take the cake

surpass or exceed all others

• of all the hard-hearted women, she takes the cake.

4. you can't have your cake and eat it (too)

‹proverb› you can't enjoy both of two desirable but mutually exclusive alternatives.

– origin Middle English (denoting a small flat bread roll): of Scandinavian origin; related to Swedish kaka and Danish kage.

cakebox /ˈkākˌbäks/

noun

1. a storage container for a round layer cake, with a surrounding cover that protects and preserves the cake.

2. a similarly shaped package for blank, recordable compact discs, with a central spindle on which discs are stacked.

cake pop

noun

a small round piece of cake coated with icing or chocolate and fixed on the end of a stick so as to resemble a lollipop

• the red velvet cake pops tasted as good as they looked.

cakewalk /ˈkākˌwôk/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› an absurdly or surprisingly easy task

• winning the game won't be a cakewalk.

2. a strutting dance popular at the end of the 19th century, developed from a black-American contest in graceful walking that had a cake as a prize.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹informal› achieve or win something easily

• he cakewalked to a 5-1 triumph.

2. walk or dance in the manner of a cakewalk

• a troupe of clowns cakewalked by.

cal cal.

abbreviation

1. calendar.

2. caliber.

3. calorie.

4. small calorie(s).

Cal

abbreviation

large calorie(s).

CAL

abbreviation

computer-assisted (or -aided) learning.

Cal.

abbreviation

California.

Calabar /ˈkaləˌbär, ˌkaləˈbär/

a seaport in southeastern Nigeria; pop. 429,700 (est. 2005).

Calabar bean

I. noun

the poisonous seed of a tropical West African climbing plant, containing physostigmine and formerly used for tribal ordeals.
[The plant is Physostigma venosum, family Leguminosae.]

– origin late 19th cent.: named after Calabar.

calabash /ˈkaləˌbaSH/

I. noun

1. an evergreen tropical American tree that bears fruit in the form of large woody gourds.
[Crescentia cujete, family Bignoniaceae.]

2. a gourd from the calabash tree.

3. a water container, tobacco pipe, or other object made from the dried shell of the calabash or similar gourd.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French calebasse, from Spanish calabaza, perhaps from Persian ḵarbuz ‘melon.’

calabaza /ˌkaləˈbäzə/

noun

another term for calabash.

calaboose /ˈkaləˌbo͞os/

I. noun

(US) ‹informal› a prison.

– origin late 18th cent.: from black French calabouse, from Spanish calabozo ‘dungeon.’

Calabria /kəˈläbrēə kəˈlābrēə/

a region of southwestern Italy, forming the “toe” of the Italian peninsula; capital, Catanzaro.

Calabrian /käˈläbrēən kəˈlābrēən/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of the Italian region of Calabria

• the Calabrian coast of southern Italy.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of the Italian region of Calabria

• Calabrians, Apulians, and Tuscans often feel as strong an affiliation with their home regions as they do with the Italian state.

caladium /kəˈlādēəm/

I. noun

a tropical South American plant of the arum family that is cultivated for its brilliantly colored ornamental foliage.
[Genus Caladium, family Araceae.]

– origin modern Latin, from Malay keladi.

Calais /kaˈlā, ˈkalā/

a ferry port in northern France; pop. 75,790 (2006).

calamanco /ˌkaləˈmaNGkō/

I. noun

‹historical› a glossy woolen cloth checkered on one side only.

– origin late 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

calamander /ˈkaləˌmandər / calamander wood

I. noun

another term for coromandel.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Sinhalese kaḷu-madīriya, perhaps from Coromandel ebony (see coromandel), changed by association with Sinhalese kaḷu ‘black.’

calamari /ˌkäləˈmärē, ˌkalə- / calamares

I. noun

squid served as food.

– origin Italian, plural of calamaro, from medieval Latin calamarium ‘pen case,’ from Greek kalamos ‘pen’ (with reference to the squid's long tapering internal shell and its ink). The variant calamares is Spanish.

calami /ˈkaləmī/

plural form of calamus.

calamine /ˈkaləˌmīn/

I. noun

1. a pink powder consisting of zinc carbonate and ferric oxide, used to make a soothing lotion or ointment.

2. ‹dated› smithsonite or a similar zinc ore.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin calamina, alteration of Latin cadmia ‘calamine,’ from Greek kadmeia (gē) ‘Cadmean (earth),’ from Kadmos ‘Cadmus’ (see Cadmus).

calamint /ˈkaləˌmint/

I. noun

an aromatic Eurasian herbaceous plant or shrub with blue or lilac flowers.
[Genus Calamintha, family Labiatae.]

– origin Middle English: from Old French calament, from medieval Latin calamentum, from late Latin calaminthe, from Greek kalaminthē.

calamite /ˈkaləˌmīt/

I. noun

a jointed-stemmed swamp plant of an extinct group related to the horsetails, growing to a height of 60 feet (18 m). Calamites are characteristic fossils of the Carboniferous coal measures.
[Calamites and other genera, family Calamitaceae, class Sphenopsida.]

– origin modern Latin, from calamus.

calamitous /kəˈlamədəs/

I. adjective

involving calamity; catastrophic; disastrous

• such calamitous events as fires, hurricanes, and floods.

II. derivatives

calamitously

adverb

calamity /kəˈlamədē/

I. noun

an event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; a disaster

• the fire was the latest calamity to strike the area

• the journey had led to calamity and ruin.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘disaster and distress’): from Old French calamite, from Latin calamitas.

Calamity Jane /kəˌlamədē ˈjān/

(c. 1852–1903), US frontierswoman; noted for her skill at shooting and riding; born Martha Jane Cannary. She dressed as a man and was known for her wild behavior and heavy drinking. She later joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.

calamondin /ˌkaləˈmändən / calamondin orange

I. noun

a small hybrid citrus plant that bears fragrant white flowers followed by small orange-yellow fruit, native to the Philippines and widely grown as a houseplant.
[× Citrofortunella microcarpa (formerly Citrus mitis), family Rutaceae.]

– origin early 20th cent.: from Tagalog kalamunding.

calamus /ˈkaləməs/

I. noun

1. another term for sweet flag.

2. (also calamus root) — a preparation of the aromatic root of the sweet flag.

3. [Zoology] the hollow lower part of the shaft of a feather, which lacks barbs; a quill.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a reed or an aromatic plant mentioned in the Bible): from Latin, from Greek kalamos. Sense 1 dates from the mid 17th cent.

calando /kəˈlandō/

I. adverb

[Music] (especially as a direction) gradually decreasing in tempo and volume of sound.

– origin Italian, literally ‘slackening.’

calandra /kəˈlandrə / calandra lark

I. noun

a large Eurasian lark with a stout bill and a black patch on each side of the neck.
[Genus Melanocorypha, family Alaudidae: two species, in particular M. calandra.]

– origin late 16th cent.: from Old French calandre, via medieval Latin from Greek kalandros.

calash /kəˈlaSH/

noun

another term for calèche.

calathea /ˌkaləˈTHēə/

I. noun

a tropical American plant that typically has variegated and ornamental leaves, widely grown as a greenhouse or indoor plant.
[Genus Calathea, family Marantaceae: many species.]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek kalathos ‘basket.’

Calaveras County /kaləˌverəs ˈkoun(t)ē/

a largely rural county in east central California, in the Sierra Nevada, associated with the 1840s gold rush and the writings of Mark Twain.

calc-

I. combining form

(used chiefly in geological terms) of lime or calcium

• calcalkaline.

– origin from German Kalk ‘lime,’ with spelling influenced by Latin calx ‘lime’ (see calx).

calcalkaline /kalˈkalkəlin, -ˌlīn/

adjective

[Geology] (chiefly of rocks) relatively rich in both calcium and alkali metals.

calcaneus /kalˈkānēəs / calcaneum

I. noun

[Anatomy] the large bone forming the heel. It articulates with the cuboid bone of the foot and the talus bone of the ankle, and the Achilles tendon (or tendo calcaneus) is attached to it.

II. derivatives

calcaneal /kalˈkānēəl /

adjective

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin.

calcareous /ˌkalˈkerēəs/

I. adjective

1. containing calcium carbonate; chalky.

2. [Ecology] (of vegetation) occurring on chalk or limestone.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin calcarius (from calx, calc- ‘lime’) + -eous.

calceolaria /ˌkalsēəˈlerēə/

I. noun

a South American plant of the figwort family that is cultivated for its brightly colored slipper- or pouch-shaped flowers.
Also called pocketbook plant. [Genus Calceolaria, family Scrophulariaceae.]

– origin late 18th cent.: modern Latin, from Latin calceolus, diminutive of calceus ‘shoe.’

calces /ˈkalsēz/

plural form of calx.

calci-

I. combining form

relating to calcium or its compounds

• calcifuge.

– origin from Latin calx, calc- ‘lime.’

calcic /ˈkalsik/

adjective

(chiefly of minerals) containing or relatively rich in calcium.

calcicole /ˈkalsəˌkōl/

I. noun

[Botany] a plant that grows best in calcareous soil, occurring chiefly on chalk and limestone
[as modifier]

• a rich calcicole flora.

II. derivatives

calcicolous /ˌkalˈsikələs /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from calci- + Latin colere ‘inhabit.’

calciferol /kalˈsifəˌrôl kalˈsifəˌrōl/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] one of the D vitamins, a sterol that is formed when its isomer ergosterol is exposed to ultraviolet light, and that is routinely added to dairy products.
Also called ergocalciferol, vitamin D2 (see vitamin D).

– origin 1930s: from calciferous + -ol.

calciferous /kalˈsif(ə)rəs/

adjective

containing or producing calcium salts, especially calcium carbonate.

calcifuge /ˈkalsəˌfyo͞oj/

noun

[Botany] a plant that is not suited to calcareous soil
[as modifier]

• calcifuge plants such as heathers.

calcify /ˈkalsəˌfī/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. calcified)

1. harden by deposition of or conversion into calcium carbonate or some other insoluble calcium compounds

• calcified cartilage.

II. derivatives

1. calcific /ˌkalˈsifik /

adjective

2. calcification /ˌkalsəfəˈkāSH(ə)n /

noun

calcimine /ˈkalsəˌmīn / kalsomine

I. noun

a kind of white or pale blue wash for walls and ceilings.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. whitewash with calcimine.

– origin mid 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

calcine /ˈkalsīn/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. calcined)

1. reduce, oxidize, or desiccate by roasting or strong heat

• calcined bone ash.

II. derivatives

calcination /kalsəˈnāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin calcinare, from late Latin calcina ‘lime,’ from Latin calx, calc- ‘lime’ (see calx).

calcite /ˈkalˌsīt/

I. noun

a white or colorless mineral consisting of calcium carbonate. It is a major constituent of sedimentary rocks such as limestone, marble, and chalk, can occur in crystalline form (as in Iceland spar), and may be deposited in caves to form stalactites and stalagmites.

II. derivatives

calcitic /kalˈsitik /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: coined in German from Latin calx, calc- ‘lime’ (see calx).

calcitonin /ˌkalsəˈtōnən/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a hormone secreted by the thyroid that has the effect of lowering blood calcium.

– origin 1960s: from calci- + tonic + -in^1.

calcium /ˈkalsēəm/

I. noun

(Symbol: Ca) — the chemical element of atomic number 20, a soft gray metal.
Calcium is one of the alkaline earth metals. Its compounds occur naturally in limestone, fluorite, gypsum, and other minerals. Many physiological processes involve calcium ions, and calcium salts are an essential constituent of bone, teeth, and shells.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin calx, calc- ‘lime’ (see calx) + -ium.

calcium antagonist

noun

[Medicine] a compound of a type that reduces the influx of calcium into the cells of cardiac and smooth muscle, reducing the strength of contractions. Such drugs are used to treat angina and high blood pressure.

calcium carbide

noun

see carbide.

calcium carbonate

noun

a white, insoluble solid occurring naturally as chalk, limestone, marble, and calcite, and forming mollusk shells and stony corals.
[Chem. formula: CaCO_3.]

calcium chloride

noun

a white crystalline salt used to de-ice roads and as a drying agent.
[Chem. formula: CaCl_2.]

calcium hydroxide

noun

a soluble white crystalline solid commonly produced in the form of slaked lime.
[Chem. formula: Ca(OH)2.]

calcium oxide

noun

a white caustic alkaline solid, commonly produced in the form of quicklime.
[Chem. formula: CaO.]

calculable /ˈkalkyələbəl/

I. adjective

able to be measured or assessed.

II. derivatives

1. calculability /ˌkalkyələˈbilədē /

noun

2. calculably /-blē /

adverb

calculate /ˈkalkyəˌlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. determine (the amount or number of something) mathematically

• Japanese land value was calculated at 2.5 times that of the U.S

• [with clause] he calculated that Texas would gain four new seats in the House of Representatives.

2. determine by reasoning, experience, or common sense; reckon or judge

• I was bright enough to calculate that she had been on vacation.

3. [no obj.] (calculate on) — include as an essential element in one's plans

• he may have calculated on maximizing pressure for policy revision.

4. (usu. be calculated to do something) — intend (an action) to have a particular effect

• his last words were calculated to wound her.

5. [with clause] — (US) ‹dialect› suppose; believe.

II. derivatives

calculative /-ˌlātiv /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin calculat- ‘counted,’ from the verb calculare, from calculus ‘a small pebble (as used on an abacus).’

calculated /ˈkalkyəˌlādəd/

I. adjective

(of an action) done with full awareness of the likely consequences

• a calculated decision

• victims of vicious and calculated assaults.

II. derivatives

calculatedly

adverb

calculating /ˈkalkyəˌlādiNG/

I. adjective

acting in a scheming and ruthlessly determined way

• he was a coolly calculating, ruthless man.

II. derivatives

calculatingly

adverb

calculation /ˌkalkyəˈlāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a mathematical determination of the size or number of something

• finding ways of saving money involves complicated calculations

• calculation of depreciation.

2. (often calculations) — an assessment of the risks, possibilities, or effects of a situation or course of action

• decisions are shaped by political calculations.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from late Latin calculatio(n-), from the verb calculare (see calculate).

calculator /ˈkalkyəˌlādər/

noun

something used for making mathematical calculations, in particular a small electronic device with a keyboard and a visual display.

calculus /ˈkalkyələs/

I. noun

1. (also infinitesimal calculus) (pl. calculuses) — the branch of mathematics that deals with the finding and properties of derivatives and integrals of functions, by methods originally based on the summation of infinitesimal differences. The two main types are differential calculus and integral calculus.

2. (pl. calculuses) — [Mathematics] [Logic] a particular method or system of calculation or reasoning.

3. (pl. calculi ) — [Medicine] a concretion of minerals formed within the body, especially in the kidney or gallbladder.

4. another term for tartar.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘small pebble (as used on an abacus).’

calculus of variations

noun

a form of calculus applied to expressions or functions in which the law relating the quantities is liable to variation, especially to find what relation between the variables makes an integral a maximum or a minimum.

Calcutta /kalˈkədə/

I. former name (until 2000) for Kolkata.

II. derivatives

Calcuttan /-ˈkətn /

noun, adjective

Caldecott, Randolph /ˈkôldikət, -ˌkät/

(1846–86), English graphic artist and watercolor painter. He is noted for his illustrations for children's books. A medal awarded annually for the illustration of US children's books is named for him.

Calder, Alexander /ˈkôldər/

(1898–1976), US sculptor and painter. He was one of the first artists to introduce movement into sculpture, making mobiles incorporating abstract forms. His static sculptures are known as stabiles.

caldera /kalˈderə, kôlˈderə, kalˈdirə/

I. noun

a large volcanic crater, typically one formed by a major eruption leading to the collapse of the mouth of the volcano.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Spanish, from late Latin caldaria ‘boiling pot.’

Calderón, Felipe /ˌkäldəˈrōn/

(1962–), Mexican statesman; president since 2006; full name Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa. A member of the National Action Party (PAN), he is a social conservative who advocates free trade.

Calderón de la Barca, Pedro /ˌkäldəˈrōn dā lä ˈbärkä/

(1600–81), Spanish playwright and poet. He wrote about 120 plays, more than 70 of them religious dramas.

Caldwell /ˈkôldwel/

a city in southwestern Idaho, west of Boise; pop. 42,331 (est. 2008).

Caldwell, Erskine /ˈkôldˌwel/

(1903–87), US novelist and short-story writer; full name Erskine Preston Caldwell. Caldwell reproduced the dialect of the poor whites in his realistic, earthy, and popular novels. Notable works: Tobacco Road (1932) and God's Little Acre (1933).

calèche /kəˈleSH / caleche, calash

I. noun

1. ‹historical› a light low-wheeled carriage with a removable folding hood.

2. ‹historical› (Canadian) a two-wheeled one-horse vehicle with a seat for the driver on the splashboard.

3. ‹historical› a woman's hooped silk hood.

– origin mid 17th cent.: French, from German Kalesche, from Polish kołasa, from koło ‘wheel.’

Caledonian /ˌkaləˈdōnēən/

I. adjective

1. (chiefly in names or geographical terms) of or relating to Scotland or the Scottish Highlands

• the Caledonian Railway.

2. [Geology] relating to or denoting a mountain-forming (orogenic) period in northwestern Europe and Greenland during the Early Paleozoic era, especially the late Silurian.

II. noun

1. ‹humorous› ‹literary› a person from Scotland.

2. (the Caledonian) — [Geology] the Caledonian orogeny.

– origin from Caledonia, the Latin name for northern Britain, + -an.

Caledonian Canal

a system of lochs and canals that cross Scotland from east to west.

calefacient /ˌkaləˈfāSH(ə)nt/

I. noun

[Medicine] ‹archaic› a drug or other agent causing a sensation of warmth.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin calefacient- ‘making warm,’ from the verb calefacere, from calere ‘be warm’ + facere ‘make.’

calendar /ˈkaləndər/

I. noun

1. a chart or series of pages showing the days, weeks, and months of a particular year, or giving particular seasonal information.

2. (N. Amer.) a datebook.

3. a system by which the beginning, length, and subdivisions of the year are fixed.
See also Jewish calendar, Julian calendar, Gregorian calendar.

4. a timetable of special days or events of a specified kind or involving a specified group

• the college calendar.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. enter (something) in a calendar or timetable.

III. derivatives

1. calendric /kəˈlendrik /

adjective

2. calendrical /kəˈlendrikəl /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French calendier, from Latin kalendarium ‘account book,’ from kalendae (see calends).

calendarize /ˈkaləndəˌrīz/

verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. calendarized)

1. schedule, allocate, or record (something) on a month-by-month basis

• a calendarized budget.

calender /ˈkaləndər/

I. noun

a machine in which cloth or paper is pressed by rollers to glaze or smooth it.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. press in a calender.

– origin late 15th cent. (as a verb): from French calendre (noun), calendrer (verb), of unknown origin.

calends /ˈkalendz ˈkālendz / kalends

I. plural noun

the first day of the month in the ancient Roman calendar.

– origin Old English (denoting an appointed time): from Old French calendes, from Latin kalendae, calendae ‘first day of the month’ (when accounts were due and the order of days was proclaimed); related to Latin calare and Greek kalein ‘call, proclaim.’

calendula /kəˈlenjələ/

I. noun

a Mediterranean plant of a genus that includes the common (or pot) marigold.
[Genus Calendula, family Compositae.]

– origin modern Latin, diminutive of calendae (see calends); perhaps because it flowers for most of the year.

calenture /ˈkalənˌCHər/

I. noun

feverish delirium supposedly caused by the heat in the tropics.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French, from Spanish calentura ‘fever,’ from calentar ‘be hot,’ based on Latin calere ‘be warm.’

calf^1 /kaf/

I. noun

1. a young bovine animal, especially a domestic cow or bull in its first year.

2. the young of some other large mammals, such as elephants, rhinoceroses, large deer and antelopes, and whales.

3. short for calfskin.

4. a floating piece of ice detached from an iceberg.

II. phrases

1. in (or with) calf

(of a cow) pregnant.

2. kill the fatted calf

see fat.

III. derivatives

calflike /-ˌlīk /

adjective

– origin Old English cælf, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kalf and German Kalb.

calf^2 /kaf/

I. noun

the fleshy part at the back of a person's leg below the knee.

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse kálfi, of unknown origin.

calf-length

adjective

(of footwear or an item of clothing) reaching the calves

• a calf-length skirt.

calfskin /ˈkafˌskin/

noun

leather made from the hide or skin of a calf, used chiefly in bookbinding and shoemaking.

Calgary /ˈkalɡərē/

a city in southern Alberta, in southwestern Canada; pop. 988,193 (2006).

Calhoun, John C. /kalˈho͞on/

(1782–1850) US politician; full name John Caldwell Calhoun. A South Carolina Democrat, he served as US vice president 1825–32 and in the US Senate 1832–43, 1845–50. He was noted as a champion of states' rights and of slavery.

Cali /ˈkälē/

an industrial city in western Colombia; pop. 2,075,525 (2005).

caliber /ˈkaləbər / ‹Brit.› calibre, cal, cal.

I. noun

1. the quality of someone's character or the level of someone's ability

• they could ill afford to lose a man of his caliber.

2. the standard reached by something

• educational facilities of a very high caliber.

3. the internal diameter or bore of a gun barrel
[in combination]

• a .22 caliber repeater rifle.

4. the diameter of a bullet, shell, or rocket.

5. the diameter of a circular body, such as a tube, blood vessel, or fiber.

II. derivatives

calibered

adjective

[also in combination] —

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘social standing or importance’): from French calibre, from Italian calibro, perhaps from Arabic ḳālib ‘mold,’ based on Greek kalapous ‘shoemaker's last.’

calibrate /ˈkaləˌbrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. mark (a gauge or instrument) with a standard scale of readings.

2. correlate the readings of (an instrument) with those of a standard in order to check the instrument's accuracy.

3. adjust (experimental results) to take external factors into account or to allow comparison with other data.

4. carefully assess, set, or adjust (something abstract)

• the regulators cannot properly calibrate the risks involved

• (as adj. calibrated) their carefully calibrated economic policies.

II. derivatives

calibrator /-brātər /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from caliber + -ate^3.

calibration /kaləˈbrāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action or process of calibrating an instrument or experimental readings

• the measuring devices require calibration

• calibrations in the field of electronic measurements.

2. each of a set of graduations on an instrument.

caliche /kəˈlēCHē/

I. noun

1. a mineral deposit of gravel, sand, and nitrates, found especially in dry areas of South America.

2. an area of calcium carbonate formed in the soils of semiarid regions.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin American Spanish.

calico /ˈkaləˌkō/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) printed cotton fabric
[as modifier]

• a calico dress.

2. (Brit.) a type of cotton cloth, typically plain white or unbleached.

II. adjective

(N. Amer.) (of an animal, typically a cat) multicolored or mottled.

– origin mid 16th cent. (originally also calicut): alteration of Calicut, where the fabric originated.

Calicut /ˈkaləkət/

former name for Kozhikode.

Calif.

abbreviation

California.

California /ˌkaləˈfôrnyə/

a state in the western US, on the coast of the Pacific Ocean; pop. 36,756,666 (est. 2008); capital, Sacramento; statehood, Sept. 9, 1850 (31). Formerly part of Mexico, it was ceded to the US in 1847, having briefly been an independent republic. Large numbers of settlers were attracted to California in the 19th century, especially during the gold rushes of the 1840s; it is now the most populous state.

California, Gulf of

an arm of the Pacific Ocean that separates the Baja California peninsula from mainland Mexico.

California Current

a cold ocean current of the eastern Pacific Ocean that flows south along the western coast of North America.

Californian /ˌkaləˈfôrnyən/

I. adjective

relating to the US state of California or its inhabitants

• 67 percent of Californian voters backed the measure

• a richly flavored red wine which is quintessentially Californian.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of California

• a Californian by birth, I came to south Florida in 1997

• more than half of all Californians live in just five counties.

California poppy

noun

an annual poppy native to western North America that is cultivated for its brilliant yellow or orange flowers.
[Eschscholzia californica, family Papaveraceae.]

California roll

noun

a roll of sushi with a filling containing avocado, cucumber, and crabmeat

• where does one begin when choosing a sake to match their fresh California roll?

californium /ˌkaləˈfôrnēəm/

I. noun

(Symbol: Cf) — the chemical element of atomic number 98, a radioactive metal of the actinide series, first produced by bombarding curium with helium ions.

– origin 1950s: named after University of California at Berkeley (where it was first made) + -ium.

caliginous /kəˈlijənəs/

I. adjective

‹archaic› misty, dim; obscure, dark.

II. derivatives

caliginosity /kəˌlijəˈnäsitē /

noun

Caligula /kəˈliɡyo͝olə/

(AD 12–41), Roman emperor 37–41; born Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus. His reign was notorious for its tyrannical excesses.

caliper /ˈkaləpər / calliper

I. noun

1. (calipers) — an instrument for measuring external or internal dimensions, having two hinged legs resembling a pair of compasses and in-turned or out-turned points.

2. (also caliper rule) — an instrument for measuring having one linear component sliding along another, with two parallel jaws and a vernier scale.

3. (also brake caliper) — a motor-vehicle or bicycle brake consisting of two or more hinged components.

4. (also caliper splint) — a metal support for a person's leg.

– origin late 16th cent.: apparently an alteration of caliber.

caliph /ˈkāləf ˈkaləf/

I. noun

‹historical› the chief Muslim civil and religious ruler, regarded as the successor of Muhammad. The caliph ruled in Baghdad until 1258 and then in Egypt until the Ottoman conquest of 1517; the title was then held by the Ottoman sultans until it was abolished in 1924 by Atatürk.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French caliphe, from Arabic ḵalīfa meaning ‘deputy (of God)’ (from the title ḵalīfat Allāh), or meaning ‘successor (of Muhammad)’ (from the title ḵalīfat rasūl Allāh ‘of the Messenger of God’), from ḵalafa ‘succeed.’

caliphate /ˈkāləˌfāt ˈkaləˌfāt/

I. noun

1. ‹chiefly historical› the rule or reign of a caliph or chief Muslim ruler

• the Umayyad caliphate in Damascus was overthrown by the Abbasids.

2. ‹chiefly historical› the area ruled by a caliph

• Cordoba was the thriving capital of the Caliphate of Cordoba that governed almost all of the Iberian peninsula.

– origin early 17th cent.: from caliph + -ate^1.

calisthenics /ˌkaləsˈTHeniks / ‹Brit.› callisthenics

I. plural noun — [treated as sing. or pl.]

1. gymnastic exercises to achieve bodily fitness and grace of movement.

II. derivatives

calisthenic

adjective

– origin early 19th cent.: from Greek kallos ‘beauty’ + sthenos ‘strength’ + -ics.

call /kôl/

I. verb

1. [with obj. and complement] — give (an infant or animal) a specified name

• they called their daughter Hannah.

2. (be called) — have a specified name

• she is called Eva

• a 1942 mystery called Time To Kill.

3. address or refer to (someone) by a specified name, title, endearment, or term of abuse

• please call me Lucy

• if he remains quiet she calls him a wimp.

4. refer to, consider, or describe (someone or something) as being

• he's the only person I would call a friend.

5. [with obj.] — cry out (a word or words)

• he heard an insistent voice calling his name

• Meredith was already calling out a greeting.

6. cry out to (someone) in order to summon them or attract their attention

• she heard Terry calling her

• [no obj.] I distinctly heard you call.

7. [no obj.] — (of an animal, especially a bird) make its characteristic cry

• overhead, a skylark called.

8. shout out or chant (the steps and figures) to people performing a square dance or country dance.

9. [Bridge] make (a particular bid) during the auction.

• her partner called 6♠.

10. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› claim (a privilege) for oneself, typically by shouting out a particular word or set phrase

• I call first dibs on the bathroom.

11. [with obj.] — contact or attempt to contact (a person or number) by phone

• could I call you back?

• at the first sign of heart-attack symptoms call 911 immediately.

12. summon (something, especially an emergency service or a taxi) by telephone

• her husband called an ambulance.

13. [with obj.] — order or request the attendance of

• representatives of all three teams have been called to appear before the stewards

• I got a letter calling me for an interview.

14. bring (a witness) into court to give evidence

• four expert witnesses were called.

15. cause (someone) to have a strong urge to choose a particular career or way of life

• he was called to the priesthood

• I think teachers, really good teachers, are called to teach.

16. [with obj.] — announce or decide that (an event, especially a meeting, strike, or election) is to happen

• there appeared to be no alternative but to call a general election

• she intends to call a meeting of the committee early next week

• the Allied forces called a ceasefire.

17. [no obj.] — (chiefly Brit.) (of a person) pay a brief visit

• he called around last night looking for you

• he had promised Celia he would call in at the clinic.

18. [with obj. and complement] — (of an umpire or other official in a game) pronounce (a ball, stroke, or other action) to be the thing specified

• the linesman called the ball wide.

19. [with obj.] — predict the result of (a future event, especially an election or a vote)

• in the Northeast, the race remains too close to call

• few pundits risked calling the election for either Bush or Kerry.

20. [with obj.] — guess (the outcome) of tossing a coin

• Burnley called heads and won the toss

• [no obj.] “You call,” he said. “Heads or tails?”

21. [with obj.] — [Computing] cause (a subroutine) to be executed.

• one subroutine may call another subroutine (or itself).

II. noun

1. a cry made as a summons or to attract someone's attention

• a nearby fisherman heard their calls for help

• in response to the call, a figure appeared.

2. the characteristic cry of a bird or other animal

• it is best distinguished by its call, a loud “pwit”

3. [with modifier] — a series of notes sounded on a brass instrument as a signal to do something

• a bugle call to rise at 5:30.

4. a direction in a square dance given by the caller.

5. [Bridge] a bid, response, or double.

• the alternative call of 2♠ would be quite unsound.

6. an instance of speaking to someone on the phone or attempting to contact someone by phone

• I'll give you a call at around five

• he stopped returning her calls

• a ten-minute call to the emergency services.

7. a brief social visit

• we paid a call on Howard.

8. a visit or journey made by a doctor or other professional in response to a request for help, especially in an emergency situation

• the ambulance is out on a call

• the district nurse used to make her calls on a bicycle.

9. an appeal or demand for something to happen or be done

• the call for action was welcomed

• a call to all sides to remain calm and refrain from violence

• there are more and more calls on his time.

10. [usu. with negative] (call for) — demand or need for (goods or services)

• there was little call for work as sophisticated as his.

11. [in sing.] — an order or request for someone to be present

• he was delighted that so many former players had heeded the call to attend the conference.

12. a vocation

• feeling the call to ministry, I started looking for a Bible college.

13. a powerful force of attraction

• hikers can't resist the call of the Sierras.

14. (in sports) a decision or ruling made by an umpire or other official, traditionally conveyed by a shout, that the ball has gone out of play or that a rule has been breached

• he was visibly irritated with the umpire's calls.

15. a decision, judgement, or prediction

• personally, I'm all in favor, but it's your call

• that entrepreneurial instinct may account for his ability to make tough calls when profits are at stake

• the two old foes are so evenly matched that it's anyone's call.

16. [Computing] a command to execute a subroutine.

• parameter values may be changed by calls to a special purpose input specification subroutine.

17. [Finance] a demand for payment of lent or unpaid capital.

18. [Stock Market] short for call option.

19. [as modifier] — (US) (in a bar, club, etc.) denoting or made with relatively expensive brands of liquor which customers request by name.

• $6 call liquor drinks.

III. phrases

1. call attention to

cause people to notice

• he is seeking to call attention to himself by his crimes.

2. call someone's bluff

see bluff^1.

3. call collect

(N. Amer.) make a telephone call reversing the charges.

4. call something into play

cause or require something to start working so that one can make use of it

• our active participation as spectators is called into play.

5. call something into (or in) question

cast doubt on something

• these findings call into question the legitimacy of the proceedings.

6. call it a day

see day.

7. call someone names

see name.

8. call of nature

see nature.

9. call the shots (or tune)

take the initiative in deciding how something should be done.

• we believe in parents and teachers calling the shots.

10. call a spade a spade

see spade^1.

11. call someone to account

see account.

12. call someone/something to mind

a. cause one to think of someone or something, especially through similarity

• the still lifes call to mind certain of Cézanne's works.

b. [with negative] — remember someone or something
[with clause]

• I cannot call to mind where I have seen you.

13. call someone/something to order

ask those present at a meeting to be silent so that business may proceed.

14. don't call us, we'll call you

‹informal› used as a dismissive way of saying that someone has not been successful in an audition or a job application.

15. good call (or bad call)

‹informal› used to express approval (or criticism) of a person's decision or suggestion.
[with reference to decisions made by referees or umpires.]

16. on call

a. (of a person) able to be contacted in order to provide a professional service if necessary, but not formally on duty

• our technicians are on call around the clock.

b. (of money lent) repayable on demand.

17. to call one's own

used to describe something that one can genuinely feel belongs to one

• I had not an item to call my own.

18. within call

near enough to be summoned by calling

• she moved into the guest room, within call of her father's room.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. call for

a. make necessary

• desperate times call for desperate measures.

b. publicly ask for or demand

• the report calls for an audit of endangered species.

c. (N. Amer.) predict or describe (the likely weather conditions) for a period of time in the future

• the forecast is calling for more rain.

• they're calling for temperatures in the 80s for the rest of the week.

d. (chiefly Brit.) stop to pick up (someone) at the place where they are living or working

• I'll call for you around seven.

2. call something forth

elicit a response

• few things call forth more compassion.

3. call someone/something down

a. cause or provoke someone or something to appear or occur

• nothing called down the wrath of Nemesis quicker.

b. ‹dated› reprimand someone.

• he called down Clarence Drum about being so high and mighty.

4. call someone in

enlist someone's aid or services.

• you can either do the work yourself or call in a local builder to help you.

5. call something in

require payment of a loan or promise of money.

• the bank would call in loans and foreign donations.

6. call someone/something off

order a person or dog to stop attacking someone.

• Gunda pleaded with him to call the dog off.

7. call something off

cancel an event or agreement.

• they held a ballot on whether to call off industrial action.

8. call on

a. pay a visit to (someone)

• he's planning to call on Katherine today.

b. (also call upon) — have recourse to

• we are able to call on academic staff with a wide variety of expertise.

c. [with infinitive] — demand that (someone) do something

• he called on the government to hold a plebiscite.

9. call someone out

a. summon someone, especially to deal with an emergency or to do repairs.

• patients are to be told to stop calling doctors out unnecessarily at night.

b. (also call someone out on something, call someone on something) — (N. Amer.) draw critical attention to someone’s unacceptable actions or behavior

• people were calling him out for his negative comments

• Dan had called her out on a couple of contradictions in her story

• she called him on his claim that the media were doing a bad job of covering the economy.

c. order or advise workers to strike.

d. ‹archaic› challenge someone to a duel.

10. call something over

‹dated› read out a list of names to determine those present.

• a gentleman proceeded to call over the names of the jury.

11. call someone up

a. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) phone someone.

• I have a list of people to call up in the morning.

b. summon someone to serve in the army

• they have called up more than 20,000 reservists.

c. select someone to play on a team, especially at a higher level of competition

• he was called up from Columbus to finish the season with the Yankees.

12. call something up

a. summon for use something that is stored or kept available

• icons that allow you to call up a graphic.

b. evoke something

• the special effects that called up the Mars landscape were impressive.

– origin late Old English ceallian, from Old Norse kalla ‘summon loudly.’

calla /ˈkalə/

I. noun

either of two plants of the arum family.
[● Genus Zantedeschia, family Araceae: several species, in particular Z. aethiopica. ● another term for water arum.]

– origin early 19th cent.: modern Latin.

callable /ˈkäləb(ə)l/

adjective

[Finance] designating a bond that can be paid off earlier than the maturity date.

Callaghan, James /ˈkaləˌhan/

(1912–2005), British Labour statesman; full name Leonard James Callaghan, Baron Callaghan of Cardiff; prime minister 1976–79.

callaloo /ˌkaləˈlo͞o, ˈkaləˌlo͞o / callalou

I. noun

1. the spinachlike leaves of a tropical American plant, widely used in Caribbean cooking.

2. a soup or stew made with callaloo leaves.

3. the plant of the arum family from which callaloo leaves are obtained.
[Genus Xanthosoma, family Araceae.]

– origin mid 18th cent.: from American Spanish calalú.

Callanetics /kaləˈnediks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing. or pl.] in the UK

1. ‹trademark› a system of physical exercises based on small repeated movements.

– origin 1980s: named after Callan Pinckney (born 1939), American deviser of the system, perhaps on the pattern of athletics.

Callao /kəˈyä-ō, kəˈyou/

the principal seaport of Peru, west of Lima; pop. 415,900 (est. 2007).

Callas, Maria /ˈkaləs/

(1923–77), US opera singer; born Maria Cecilia Anna Kalageropoulos. She was a coloratura soprano whose bel canto style of singing was especially suited to early Italian opera.

callback /ˈkôlˌbak/

noun

1. an invitation to return for a second audition or interview.

2. a telephone call made to return a call received.

3. a recall of a defective product

• ask which products have the most callbacks.

4. an emergency call summoning an employee to work after hours

• uncontrolled air leakage results in increased callbacks.

5. [Computing] a security feature used by systems accessed by telephone, in which a remote user must log on using a previously registered phone number, to which the system then places a return call.

call-board

noun

a bulletin board in a theater on which announcements for the cast and crew are posted.

call box /ˈkôl ˌbäks/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) a roadside telephone for use only in an emergency.

2. (Brit.) a public telephone booth.

call boy /ˈkôl boi/

noun

1. a person in a theater who summons actors when they are due on stage.

2. a male prostitute who accepts appointments by telephone.

call center

noun

an office set up to handle a large volume of telephone calls, especially for taking orders and providing customer service.

caller /ˈkôlər/

noun

1. a person who makes a telephone call or pays a brief visit.

2. a person who calls out numbers in a game of bingo or directions in a dance.

caller ID

noun

a facility that identifies and displays the telephone numbers of incoming calls made to a particular line.

call forwarding

noun

a telephone feature that allows calls made to one number to be forwarded to another specified number.

call girl /ˈkôl ɡərl/

noun

a female prostitute who accepts appointments by telephone.

Callicrates /kəˈlikrəˌtēz/

(5th century BC), Greek architect. He was the leading architect in Periclean Athens and, with Ictinus, designed the Parthenon (447–438 BC).

calligram /ˈkaləˌɡram/

I. noun

a word or piece of text in which the design and layout of the letters creates a visual image related to the meaning of the words themselves.

• an anonymous artist has transformed Dione's image into a calligram.

– origin 1930s: blend of calligraphy and -gram^1.

calligraph /ˈkaləˌɡraf/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be calligraphed)

1. write in calligraphic style

• invitations meticulously calligraphed in black ink.

– origin mid 19th cent. (as a noun): from French calligraphe, via medieval Latin from Greek kalligraphos (see calligraphy). The verb dates from the late 19th cent.

calligraphic /ˌkaləˈɡrafik/

adjective

of or relating to calligraphy

• a calligraphic pen

• calligraphic script.

calligraphy /kəˈliɡrəfē/

I. noun

1. decorative handwriting or handwritten lettering.

2. the art of producing decorative handwriting or lettering with a pen or brush.

II. derivatives

1. calligrapher /kəˈliɡrəfər /

noun

2. calligraphist /kəˈliɡrəfəst /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from Greek kalligraphia, from kalligraphos ‘person who writes beautifully,’ from kallos ‘beauty’ + graphein ‘write.’

Callimachus /kəˈliməkəs/

(c. 305–c. 240 BC), Greek poet and scholar. He wrote hymns and epigrams and was head of the library at Alexandria.

call-in /käl in/

noun

1. a radio or television program during which the listeners or viewers telephone the studio and participate.

2. [as modifier] — denoting something conducted by people leaving answers or messages by telephone

• a call-in poll.

calling /ˈkôliNG/

noun

1. the loud cries or shouts of an animal or person

• the calling of a cuckoo.

2. [in sing.] — a strong urge toward a particular way of life or career; a vocation

• those who have a special calling to minister to others' needs.

3. a profession or occupation

• he considered engineering one of the highest possible callings.

calling card /ˈkôliNG ˌkärd/

noun

1. a card bearing a person's name and address, sent or left in lieu of a formal social or business visit.

2. an action by which someone or something can be identified

• a dog whose calling card is a savage nip at the nearest ankles.

3. a card that allows the user to make telephone calls from any phone and charge the cost to their home telephone number.

4. (N. Amer.) a prepaid card that allows the user to make telephone calls up to a specified value.

calliope /kəˈlīəpē/

I. noun

‹chiefly historical› a keyboard instrument resembling an organ but with the notes produced by steam whistles, used chiefly on showboats and in traveling fairs.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from the Greek name Kalliopē (see Calliope).

Calliope /kəˈlīəpē / ‹Greek & Roman Mythology›

I. the Muse of epic poetry.

– origin from Greek Kalliopē, literally ‘having a beautiful voice.’

callipygian /ˌkaləˈpijēən / callipygean

I. adjective

having well-shaped buttocks.

II. derivatives

callipygous /-ˈpīɡəs /

adjective

– origin late 18th cent.: from Greek kallipūgos (used to describe a famous statue of Venus), from kallos ‘beauty’ + pūgē ‘buttocks,’ + -ian.

Callisto /kəˈlistō/

I. [Greek Mythology] a nymph who was changed into a bear by Zeus.
See also Ursa Major.

II. [Astronomy] one of the Galilean moons of Jupiter, the eighth closest satellite to the planet. Icy with a dark, cratered surface, it has a diameter of 2,938 miles (4,800 km).

callitrichid /ˌkaliˈtrikid, -ˈtrī-/

I. noun

[Zoology] a primate of a family (Callitrichidae or Callithricidae) that comprises the marmosets and tamarins.

– origin late 18th cent.: from modern Latin Callitrichidae (plural), from Greek kallitrikhos ‘beautiful-haired.’

call letters /kôl ˈledərz/

plural noun

(N. Amer.) a sequence of letters used by a television or radio station as an identifying code.

call money /ˈkôl ˈˌmənē/

noun

money lent by a bank or other institution that is repayable on demand.

call number

noun

a mark, especially a number, on the spine of a library book, or listed in the library's catalog, indicating the book's location in the library.

call option /ˈkôl ˈäpSHən/

noun

[Stock Market] an option to buy assets at an agreed price on or before a particular date.

callosity /kəˈläsədē/

I. noun

‹technical› a thickened and hardened part of the skin; a callus.

– origin late Middle English: from French callosité, from Latin callositas, from callosus ‘hard-skinned,’ from callum, callus ‘hardened skin.’

callous /ˈkaləs/

I. adjective

showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others

• his callous comments about the murder made me shiver.

II. noun

variant spelling of callus.

– origin late Middle English (in the Latin sense): from Latin callosus ‘hard-skinned.’

callously /ˈkaləslē/

adverb

in a way that shows an insensitive and cruel disregard for others; unfeelingly

• they use other people callously and remorselessly for their own ends.

callousness /ˈkaləsnəs/

noun

insensitive and cruel disregard for others

• the callousness of using children to send a political message.

call-out /ˈkôl ˌout/

noun

1. an instance of being summoned, especially in order to deal with an emergency or to do repairs
[as modifier]

• a call-out charge.

2. [Printing] a letter, word, number, or symbol identifying an illustration or a specific part of one.

3. a short piece of text set in larger type than the rest of the page and intended to attract attention.

callow /ˈkalō/

I. adjective

(especially of a young person) inexperienced and immature

• earnest and callow undergraduates.

II. derivatives

1. callowly

adverb

2. callowness

noun

– origin Old English calu ‘bald’; probably from Latin calvus ‘bald.’ This was extended to mean ‘unfledged,’ which led to the present sense ‘immature.’

Calloway, Cab /ˈkaləˌwā/

(1907–94), US jazz singer and bandleader; full name Cabell Calloway. He was known for his style of scat singing and for his flamboyant appearance. He is associated with songs such as “Minnie the Moocher” (1931) and “Jumpin' Jive” (1939) and led a succession of outstanding big bands 1928–53.

call sign /ˈkôl ˌsīn / call signal

noun

a message, code, or tune that is broadcast by radio to identify the broadcaster or transmitter.

call to quarters

noun

a bugle call summoning soldiers to their barracks.

call-up /ˈkôl ˌəp/

noun — [in sing.]

1. an act of summoning someone or of being summoned to serve in the armed forces or on a sports team
[as modifier]

• my call-up papers.

callus /ˈkaləs / callous

I. noun

1. a thickened and hardened part of the skin or soft tissue, especially in an area that has been subjected to friction.

2. [Medicine] the bony healing tissue that forms around the ends of broken bone.

3. [Botany] a hard formation of tissue, especially new tissue formed over a wound.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin callus (more commonly callum) ‘hardened skin.’

callused /ˈkaləst / calloused

adjective

(of a part of the body) having an area of hardened skin

• a callused palm.

call waiting /ˈkôl ˌwādiNG/

noun

a service whereby someone making a telephone call is notified of an incoming call and is able to place the first call on hold while answering the second.

calm /kä(l)m/

I. adjective

1. (of a person, action, or manner) not showing or feeling nervousness, anger, or other emotions

• keep calm, she told herself

• his voice was calm.

2. (of a place) peaceful, especially in contrast to recent violent activity

• the city was reported to be calm, but army patrols remained.

3. (of the weather) pleasantly free from wind

• the night was clear and calm.

4. (of the sea) not disturbed by large waves.

II. noun

1. the absence of violent or confrontational activity within a place or group

• the elections proceeded in an atmosphere of relative calm

• [in sing.] an edgy calm reigned in the capital.

2. the absence of nervousness, agitation, or excitement in a person

• his usual calm deserted him.

3. the absence of wind

• in the center of the storm calm prevailed.

4. still air represented by force 0 on the Beaufort scale (less than 1 knot).

5. (often calms) — an area of the sea without wind.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (someone) tranquil and quiet; soothe

• I took him inside and tried to calm him down

• he lit a cigarette to calm his nerves

• (as adj. calming) a cup of tea will have a calming effect.

2. [no obj.] (calm down) — (of a person) become tranquil and quiet

• gradually I calmed down and lost my anxiety.

IV. phrases

the calm before the storm

see storm.

– origin late Middle English: via one of the Romance languages from Greek kauma ‘heat (of the day).’

calmative /ˈkä(l)mədiv/

I. adjective

(of a drug) having a sedative effect.

II. noun

a calmative drug.

calmly /ˈkämlē ˈkälmlē/

adverb

without agitation or strong emotion

• he spoke slowly and calmly

• people living in the area reacted calmly to the incident.

calmness /ˈkämnəs ˈkälmnəs/

noun

1. the state or quality of being free from agitation or strong emotion

• those who worked with him refer time and again to his calmness under pressure

• she exuded calmness and good humor.

2. the state or condition of being free from disturbance or violent activity

• this relative calmness ended at around 7 a.m., when the wind picked up speed.

calmodulin /kalˈmäjələn/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a protein that binds calcium and is involved in regulating a variety of activities in cells.

– origin 1970s: from cal(cium) + modul(ate) + -in^1.

calomel /ˈkaləməl/

I. noun

a white powder used as a purgative and a fungicide.
Also called mercuric chloride. [Chem. formula: Hg_2Cl_2.]

– origin late 17th cent.: modern Latin, perhaps from Greek kalos ‘beautiful’ + melas ‘black’ (perhaps because it was originally obtained from a black mixture of mercury and mercuric chloride).

Caloocan /ˌkäləˈōkən / Kalookan

a city in the Philippines, on southern Luzon, northwest of Manila; pop. 1,378,900 (est. 2007).

caloric /kəˈlôrik kəˈlärik/

I. adjective

(chiefly N. Amer.) ‹technical› of or relating to heat; calorific

• a caloric value of 7 calories per gram.

II. noun

[Physics] ‹historical› (in the late 18th and early 19th centuries) a hypothetical fluid substance that was thought to be responsible for the phenomena of heat.

III. derivatives

calorically

adverb

– origin late 18th cent. (as a noun): from French calorique, from Latin calor ‘heat.’

calorie /ˈkal(ə)rē / cal.

I. noun

1. either of two units of heat energy.

2. (also small calorie) (abbr.: cal) — the energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water through 1 °C (now usually defined as 4.1868 joules).

3. (also large calorie) (abbr.: Cal) — the energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water through 1 °C, equal to one thousand small calories and often used to measure the energy value of foods.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, from Latin calor ‘heat’ + French suffix -ie (see -y^3).

calorie-controlled

adjective

denoting or suitable for a diet in which a limit is set on the total number of calories that may be consumed

• we also make products such as fat-free yogurt for people on calorie-controlled diets

• a calorie-controlled meal plan.

calorific /ˌkaləˈrifik/

I. adjective

1. (chiefly Brit.) relating to the amount of energy contained in food or fuel

• she knew the calorific contents of every morsel.

2. (chiefly Brit.) (of food or drink) containing many calories and so likely to be fattening

• there is fruit salad for those who can resist the more calorific concoctions.

II. derivatives

calorifically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin calorificus, from calor ‘heat.’

calorific value

noun

the energy contained in a fuel or food, determined by measuring the heat produced by the complete combustion of a specified quantity of it. This is now usually expressed in joules per kilogram.

calorimeter /ˌkaləˈrimidər/

I. noun

an apparatus for measuring the amount of heat involved in a chemical reaction or other process.

II. derivatives

1. calorimetric /ˌkalərəˈmetrik /

adjective

2. calorimetry /ˌkaləˈrimətrē /

noun

– origin late 18th cent.: from Latin calor ‘heat’ + -meter.

calotype /ˈkaləˌtīp / calotype process

I. noun

‹historical› an early photographic process in which negatives were made using paper coated with silver iodide.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek kalos ‘beautiful’ + type.

calque /kalk / ‹Linguistics›

I. noun

another term for loan translation.

II. verb — (be calqued on)

1. originate or function as a loan translation of.

– origin 1930s: from French, literally ‘copy, tracing,’ from calquer ‘to trace,’ via Italian from Latin calcare ‘to tread.’

caltrop /ˈkaltrəp/

I. noun

1. a spiked metal device thrown on the ground to impede wheeled vehicles or (formerly) cavalry horses.

2. a creeping plant with woody carpels that typically have hard spines and resemble military caltrops.
[Genus Tribulus, family Zygophyllaceae.]

3. (also water caltrop) — another term for water chestnut (sense 3).

– origin Old English calcatrippe, denoting any plant that tended to catch the feet, from medieval Latin calcatrippa, from calx ‘heel’ or calcare ‘to tread’ + a word related to trap^1. Sense 1 was probably adopted from French.

calumet /ˈkalyəˌmet/

I. noun

a North American Indian peace pipe.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French, from late Latin calamellus ‘little reed,’ diminutive of Latin calamus (referring to the pipe's reed stem).

Calumet City /ˌkalyəˌmet ˈsidē/

a city in northeastern Illinois, south of Chicago, on the Indiana border; pop. 36,800 (est. 2008). The surrounding industrial region, in both states, is called the Calumet.

calumniate /kəˈləmnēˌāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› make false and defamatory statements about

• foes were calumniating him in the US press.

II. derivatives

1. calumniation /kəˌləmnēˈāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. calumniator /kəˈləmnēˌādər /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin calumniari, from calumnia (see calumny).

calumny /ˈkaləmnē/

I. noun

1. the making of false and defamatory statements in order to damage someone's reputation; slander.

2. a false and slanderous statement.

II. derivatives

calumnious /kəˈləmnēəs /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin calumnia.

calutron /ˈkalyəˌträn/

I. noun

a device that uses large electromagnets to separate uranium isotopes from uranium ore. It was developed in the 1940s to produce highly enriched weapons-grade uranium.

– origin from Cal(ifornia) U(niversity) (cyclo)tron.

Calvados /ˌkalvəˈdōs / calvados

noun

apple brandy, traditionally made in the Calvados region of Normandy.

Calvary /ˈkalv(ə)rē/

I. the hill outside Jerusalem on which Jesus was crucified.

II. (as noun a calvary) — a sculpture or picture representing the scene of the Crucifixion.

– origin from late Latin calvaria ‘skull,’ translation of Greek golgotha ‘place of a skull’ (Matt. 27:33) (see Golgotha).

calve /kav/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — (of cows and certain other large animals) give birth to a calf.

2. [with obj.] — (of a person) help (a cow) give birth to a calf.

3. [with obj.] — (of an iceberg or glacier) split and shed (a smaller mass of ice).

4. [no obj.] — (of a mass of ice) split off from an iceberg or glacier.

– origin Old English calfian, from cælf ‘calf.’

calves /kavz/

plural form of calf^1, calf^2.

Calvin, John /ˈkalvin/

(1509–64), French theologian and reformer. On becoming a Protestant, he fled to Switzerland, where he attempted to reorder society on reformed Christian principles. His Institutes of the Christian Religion (1536) was the first systematic account of reformed Christian doctrine.

Calvin, Melvin

(1911–97), US biochemist; full name Melvin Ellis Calvin. He investigated photosynthesis and discovered the cycle of reactions (the Calvin cycle) that constitutes the dark reaction. Nobel Prize for Chemistry (1961).

Calvinism /ˈkalvəˌnizəm/

noun

the Protestant theological system of John Calvin and his successors, which develops Luther's doctrine of justification by faith alone and emphasizes the grace of God and the doctrine of predestination.

Calvinist /ˈkalv(ə)nəst/

I. noun

an adherent of the Protestant theological system of John Calvin and his successors

• she was a strict Calvinist.

II. adjective

of or relating to the Protestant theological system of John Calvin and his successors

• the Dutch state was still distinctly Calvinist.

III. derivatives

1. Calvinistic /kalv(ə)ˈnistik /

adjective

2. Calvinistical /ˈkalv(ə)nəst /

adjective

Calvino, Italo /kälˈvēnō, kal-/

(1923–87), Italian novelist and short-story writer; born in Cuba. Notable works: The Path to the Nest of Spiders (1947) and If on a winter's night a traveler (1979).

calx /kalks/

I. noun

[Chemistry] ‹archaic› a powdery metallic oxide formed when an ore or mineral has been heated.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin, ‘lime,’ probably from Greek khalix ‘pebble, limestone.’

calypso /kəˈlipsō/

I. noun

1. a kind of West Indian (originally Trinidadian) music in syncopated African rhythm, typically with words improvised on a topical theme.

2. a calypso song.

II. derivatives

calypsonian /kəˌlipˈsōnēən, ˌkalip- /

adjective, noun

– origin 1930s: of unknown origin.

Calypso /kəˈlipsō / ‹Greek Mythology›

I. a nymph who kept Odysseus on her island, Ogygia, for seven years.

– origin Greek, literally ‘she who conceals.’

calyx /ˈkāliks / calix

I. noun

1. [Botany] the sepals of a flower, typically forming a whorl that encloses the petals and forms a protective layer around a flower in bud.
Compare with corolla.

2. [Zoology] a cuplike cavity or structure, in particular

3. a portion of the pelvis of a mammalian kidney.

4. the cavity in a calcareous coral skeleton that surrounds the polyp.

5. the plated body of a crinoid, excluding the stalk and arms.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin, from Greek kalux ‘case of a bud, husk,’ related to kaluptein ‘to hide.’

calzone /kalˈzōnē ˌkalˈtsōnā ˌkalˈzōn/

I. noun

a type of pizza that is folded in half before cooking to contain a filling.

– origin Italian dialect, probably a special use of calzone ‘trouser leg,’ with reference to the shape of the pizza.

cam /kam/

I. noun

1. a projection on a rotating part in machinery, designed to make sliding contact with another part while rotating and to impart reciprocal or variable motion to it.

2. short for camshaft.

3. short for camera^1.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Dutch kam ‘comb,’ as in kamrad ‘cogwheel.’

CAM /kam/

abbreviation

1. computer-aided manufacturing.

2. complementary and alternative medicine.

cama /ˈkämə, ˈkamə/

noun

a hybrid animal produced by crossing a camel with a llama.

camaraderie /ˌkäməˈrädərē ˌkaməˈrädərē/

I. noun

mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together

• a genuine camaraderie on the hockey team.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, from camarade ‘comrade.’

camarilla /ˌkaməˈrilə, -ˈrēə/

I. noun

a small group of people, especially a group of advisers to a ruler or politician, with a shared, typically nefarious, purpose

• a military camarilla that has lost any sense of political reality.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Spanish, diminutive of camara ‘chamber.’

Camarillo /ˌkaməˈrilō, -ˈrēyō/

a city in southwestern California, west of Los Angeles; pop. 63,324 (est. 2008).

camas /ˈkaməs / camass, quamash

I. noun

a North American plant of the lily family, cultivated for its starry blue or purple flowers.
[Genera Camassia and Zigadenus, family Liliaceae: several species, including C. quamash, the large bulbs of which are edible.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Chinook Jargon qamas̆, qawas̆, perhaps from Nootka.

Cambay, Gulf of /kamˈbā/

an inlet of the Arabian Sea on the Gujarat coast of western India, north of Mumbai (Bombay).
Also called Khambhat, Gulf of.

camber /ˈkambər/

I. noun

1. a slightly convex or arched shape of a road or other horizontal surface

• the deck beams are curved for the camber of the deck.

2. (Brit.) a tilt built into a road at a bend or curve, enabling vehicles to maintain speed.

3. the slight sideways inclination of the front wheels of a motor vehicle.

4. the extent of curvature of a section of an airfoil.

II. derivatives

cambered

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French cambre, dialect variant of chambre ‘arched,’ from Latin camurus ‘curved inward.’

cambium /ˈkambēəm/

I. noun

[Botany] a cellular plant tissue from which phloem, xylem, or cork grows by division, resulting (in woody plants) in secondary thickening.

II. derivatives

cambial /-bēəl /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting one of the alimentary humors once supposed to nourish the body): from medieval Latin, ‘change, exchange.’

Cambodia /kamˈbōdēə/

I. a country in Southeast Asia between Thailand and southern Vietnam; pop. 14,494,300 (est. 2009); capital, Phnom Penh; official language, Khmer.
Also officially called the Khmer Republic (1970–75) and Kampuchea (1976–89).

The country was made a French protectorate in 1863 and remained under French influence until it became fully independent in 1953. During the Vietnam War, it was the scene of fighting between the North Vietnamese army and South Vietnamese and US forces. Following a civil war 1970–75, Cambodia came under the control of the Khmer Rouge led by Pol Pot; more than 2 million Cambodians died before the regime was toppled by a Vietnamese invasion in 1979. The Vietnamese withdrew in 1989, and the monarchy was restored in 1993. Elections were held in 1998 and again in 2003.

Cambodian /kamˈbōdēən/

I. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Cambodia, or a person of Cambodian descent.

2. another term for Khmer (the language).

II. adjective

relating to Cambodia, its people, or their language.

cam boy /ˈkam ˌboi/

noun

a boy or man who poses for a webcam.

cambozola /ˌkambəˈzōlə / cambazola

I. noun

‹trademark› a type of German blue soft cheese with a rind like Camembert, produced using Gorgonzola blue mold.

– origin an invented name, blend of Camembert and Gorgonzola, with the insertion of -bo-.

Cambrelle /kamˈbrel/

noun

‹trademark› a synthetic fabric that absorbs perspiration, used as a lining material for climbing and hiking boots.

Cambrian /ˈkambrēən/

I. adjective

1. (chiefly in names or geographical terms) Welsh

• the Cambrian Railway.

2.
a. [Geology] of, relating to, or denoting the first period in the Paleozoic era, between the end of the Precambrian eon and the beginning of the Ordovician period.

b. (as noun the Cambrian) — the Cambrian period or the system of rocks deposited during it.

The Cambrian lasted from about 570 million to 510 million years ago and was a time of widespread seas. It is the earliest period in which fossils, notably trilobites, can be used in geological dating.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin Cambria ‘Wales,’ variant of Cumbria, from Welsh Cymry ‘Welshman’ or Cymru ‘Wales.’

cambric /ˈkāmbrik/

I. noun

a lightweight, closely woven white linen or cotton fabric.

– origin late Middle English: from Kamerijk, Flemish form of Cambrai, a town in northern France, where it was originally made. Compare with chambray.

Cambridge /ˈkāmbrij/

I. a city in eastern England; pop. 116,900 (est. 2009). Cambridge University is located here.

II. a city in eastern Massachusetts, across the Charles River from Boston; pop. 105,596 (est. 2008). Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are located here.

Cambridgeshire /ˈkāmbrijSHər ˈkāmbrijˌSHir/

a county in eastern England; county town, Cambridge.

Cambyses /kamˈbīˌsēz/

(died 522 BC), king of Persia 529–522 BC, son of Cyrus. He is chiefly remembered for his conquest of Egypt in 525 BC.

camcorder /ˈkamˌkôrdər/

I. noun

a portable combined video camera and video recorder.

– origin 1980s: blend of camera^1 and recorder.

Camden /ˈkamdən/

an industrial city in southwestern New Jersey, across the Delaware River from Philadelphia in Pennsylvania; pop. 79,383 (est. 2008).

came /kām/

past tense of come.

camel /ˈkaməl/

I. noun

1. a large, long-necked ungulate mammal of arid country, with long slender legs, broad cushioned feet, and either one or two humps on the back. Camels can survive for long periods without food or drink, chiefly by using up the fat reserves in their humps.
[Genus Camelus, family Camelidae (the camel family): two species (see Arabian camel, Bactrian camel). The camel family also includes the llama and its relatives.]

2. a fabric made from camel hair.

3. a light yellowish-brown color like that of camel hair.

4. an apparatus for raising a sunken ship, consisting of one or more watertight chests to provide buoyancy.

5. a large floating fender used to keep a vessel off the dock.

– origin Old English, from Latin camelus, from Greek kamēlos, of Semitic origin.

camelback /ˈkaməlˌbak/

noun

a back with a hump-shaped curve on a sofa or other piece of furniture
[as modifier]

• a camelback sofa.

camel case /ˈkaməl kās / camelCase, CamelCase

I. noun

a typographical convention in which an initial capital is used for the first letter of a word forming the second element of a closed compound, e.g.PayPal, iPhone, MasterCard.

– origin 1990s: from the supposed resemblance of the visual effect to the hump or humps of a camel's back.

camel cricket

noun

a wingless humpbacked insect related to the grasshoppers, typically living in caves or holes.
Also called cave cricket. [Family Raphidophoridae: several genera.]

cameleer /ˌkaməˈlir/

noun

a person who controls or rides a camel.

camel hair /ˈkaməl he(ə)r / camel's hair

noun

1. a fabric made from the hair of a camel
[as modifier]

• a camel-hair coat.

2. [usu. as modifier] — fine, soft hair from a squirrel's tail, used in artists' brushes.

camelid /kəˈmēlid, ˈkaməlid/

I. noun

[Zoology] a mammal of the camel family (Camelidae).

– origin late 20th cent.: from modern Latin Camelidae (plural), from Latin camelus ‘camel,’ from Greek kamēlos.

camellia /kəˈmēlyə/

I. noun

an evergreen eastern Asian shrub related to the tea plant, grown for its showy flowers and shiny leaves.
[Genus Camellia, family Theaceae: several species, in particular the common camellia (C. japonica), which has numerous cultivars and hybrids.]

– origin modern Latin, named by Linnaeus after Joseph Kamel (Latinized as Camellus), Moravian botanist (1661–1706), who described the flora of Luzon, an island in the Philippines.

Camellia State

a nickname for the state of Alabama.

camelopard /kəˈmeləˌpärd/

I. noun

‹archaic› a giraffe.

– origin late Middle English: via Latin from Greek kamēlopardalis, from kamēlos ‘camel’ + pardalis (see pard).

Camelopardalis /kəˌmeləˈpärdələs / ‹Astronomy›

I. a large but inconspicuous northern constellation (the Giraffe), between Polaris and Perseus.

II. (as genitive Camelopardalis) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation

• the star Alpha Camelopardalis.

– origin via Latin from Greek kamēlopardalis (see camelopard).

Camelot /ˈkaməˌlät/

I. (in Arthurian legend) the place where King Arthur held his court.

II. (as noun a Camelot) — a place associated with glittering romance and optimism.

camel spider

noun

another term for sun spider.

camel toe

I. noun

‹informal› an effect created by a pair of pants or shorts that fit very tightly around a woman's groin, drawing attention to the shape of the external genitals.

– origin 1990s: from the supposed visual resemblance to the two toes of a camel's foot.

Camembert /ˈkaməmˌber/

noun

a kind of rich, soft, creamy cheese with a whitish rind, originally made near Camembert in Normandy.

cameo /ˈkamēˌō/

I. noun

1. a piece of jewelry, typically oval in shape, consisting of a portrait in profile carved in relief on a background of a different color.

2. a short descriptive literary sketch that neatly encapsulates someone or something

• cameos of street life.

3. a small character part in a play or movie, played by a distinguished actor or a celebrity
[as modifier]

• he played numerous cameo roles.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French camahieu, cama(h)u; later influenced by Italian cam(m)eo, from medieval Latin cammaeus, related to the Old French word.

camera^1 /ˈkam(ə)rə/

I. noun

a device for recording visual images in the form of photographs, film, or video signals.

• she faced the cameras.

• a photographer's camera flashed.

• a video camera.

II. phrases

on (or off) camera

while being filmed or televised (or not being filmed or televised)

• on camera, she was error-prone and nervous.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin (see camera^2, camera obscura).

camera^2 /ˈkam(ə)rə/

I. noun — [in names]

1. a chamber or round building

• the Radcliffe Camera.

II. phrases

in camera

/ˌin ˈkam(ə)rə / — [chiefly Law] in private, in particular taking place in the private chambers of a judge, with the press and public excluded

• judges assess the merits of such claims in camera.

[late Latin, ‘in the chamber.’]

– origin late 17th cent. (denoting a council or legislative chamber in Italy or Spain): from Latin, ‘vault, arched chamber,’ from Greek kamara ‘object with an arched cover.’

camera lucida /ˌkam(ə)rə ˈlo͞osədə/

I. noun

an instrument in which rays of light are reflected by a prism to produce on a sheet of paper an image, from which a drawing can be made.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin, ‘bright chamber,’ on the pattern of camera obscura.

cameraman /ˈkam(ə)rəˌman ˈkam(ə)rəmən/

noun

a person whose profession is operating a television or movie camera.

camera obscura /ˌkam(ə)rə əbˈskyo͝orə/

I. noun

1. a darkened box with a convex lens or aperture for projecting the image of an external object onto a screen inside. It is important historically in the development of photography.

2. a small round building with a rotating angled mirror at the apex of the roof, projecting an image of the landscape onto a horizontal surface inside.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Latin, ‘dark chamber.’

cameraperson /ˈkam(ə)rəˌpərs(ə)n/

noun

a cameraman or camerawoman (used as a neutral alternative).

camera phone

noun

a mobile phone incorporating a digital camera.

camera-ready /ˈkam(ə)rəˌredē/

adjective

[Printing] (of matter to be printed) in the right form and of good enough quality to be reproduced photographically onto a printing plate

• camera-ready copy.

camera-shy /ˈkam(ə)rəSHī/

adjective

reluctant to be photographed or filmed

• he's a little camera-shy.

camerawoman /ˈkam(ə)rəˌwo͝omən/

noun

a woman whose profession is operating a television or movie camera.

• a local news camerawoman.

camerawork /ˈkam(ə)rəˌwərk/

noun

the way in which cameras are used in a movie or television program

• discreet camerawork and underplayed acting.

Cameron, David /ˈkamərən/

(1966–), British Conservative statesman; prime minister since 2010 (2010–15 in coalition with the Liberal Democrats); full name David William Donald Cameron.

Cameroon /ˌkaməˈro͞on/

1. a country on the western coast of Africa, between Nigeria and Gabon; pop. 18,879,300 (est. 2009); capital, Yaoundé; languages, French and English (official), many local languages, pidgin. French name Cameroun.

A German protectorate from 1884 until 1916, it was subsequently administered by France and then by Britain as a League of Nations (later United Nations) trusteeship. In 1960, the French part became an independent republic and was joined in 1961 by part of British Cameroon; the remainder became part of Nigeria. Cameroon became a member of the Commonwealth of Nations in 1995.

Cameroonian /ˌkaməˈro͞onēən / Camerounian

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of Cameroon or its people

• a leading scholar in Cameroonian art.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of Cameroon, or a person of Cameroonian descent

• a Cameroonian living in Holland.

cam follower

noun

the part of a machine in sliding or rolling contact with a rotating cam and given motion by it.

cam girl /ˈkam ˌɡərl/

noun

a girl or woman who poses for a webcam.

cami /ˈkamē/

noun

‹informal› a camisole.

Camisard /ˌkaməˈzär(d)/

I. noun

a member of the French Protestant insurgents who rebelled against the persecution that followed the revocation of the Edict of Nantes.

– origin French, from Provençal camisa, from late Latin camisia ‘shirt,’ because of the white shirts worn by the insurgents over their clothing for ease of recognition.

camisole /ˈkaməˌsōl/

I. noun

a woman's loose-fitting undergarment for the upper body, typically held up by shoulder straps and having decorative trimming.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French, either from Italian camiciola, diminutive of camicia, or from Spanish camisola, diminutive of camisa, both from late Latin camisia ‘shirt or nightgown.’

camlock /ˈkamläk/

noun

a fastening mechanism that incorporates a cam or tab that is turned to engage a catch or slot.

camo /ˈkamō/

noun

‹informal› short for camouflage:
[as modifier]

• a camo jacket.

Camões, Luis de /kəˈmoiNSH / Camoëns

(c. 1524–80), Portuguese poet; full name Luis Vaz de Camões. His most noted work, The Lusiads (1572), describes Vasco da Gama's discovery of the sea route to India.

Camorra /kəˈmôrə/

I. (the Camorra)

1. a criminal organization originating in Naples and Neapolitan emigrant communities in the 19th century. Some members later moved to the US and formed links with the Mafia.

– origin Italian, perhaps from Spanish camorra ‘dispute, quarrel.’

camouflage /ˈkaməˌflä(d)ZH/

I. noun

1. the disguising of military personnel, equipment, and installations by painting or covering them to make them blend in with their surroundings

• on the trenches were pieces of turf, which served for camouflage

• [as modifier] camouflage nets.

2. the clothing or materials used for disguise

• figures dressed in army camouflage.

3. an animal's natural coloring or form that enables it to blend in with its surroundings

• the whiteness of polar bears provides camouflage.

4. actions or devices intended to disguise or mislead

• much of my apparent indifference was merely protective camouflage.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. hide or disguise the presence of (a person, animal, or object) by means of camouflage

• the war area had to be camouflaged with mud.

2. conceal the existence of (something undesirable)

• grievances should be discussed, not camouflaged.

– origin late 19th cent. (in sense ‘disguise, concealment’): French, from camoufler ‘to disguise’ (originally thieves' slang), from Italian camuffare ‘disguise, deceive,’ perhaps by association with French camouflet ‘whiff of smoke in the face.’ The military sense originated during World War I.

camp^1 /kamp/

I. noun

1. a place with temporary accommodations of huts, tents, or other structures, typically used by soldiers, refugees, prisoners, or travelers

• the enemy camp

• a detention camp

• the shot woke the whole camp.

2. a recreational institution providing facilities for outdoor activities, sports, crafts, and other special interests and typically featuring rustic overnight accommodations

• a summer camp for children

• drama camp.

3. temporary overnight lodging out of doors, typically in tents

• we made camp at a bend in the creek

• we pitched camp at a fine spot.

4. a facility at which athletes train during the off-season

• football tryout camps.

5. the supporters of a particular party or doctrine regarded collectively

• his views were firmly rooted in the conservative camp.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. live for a time in a camp, tent, or camper, as when on vacation

• parks in which you can camp or stay in a chalet.

2. lodge temporarily, especially in an inappropriate or uncomfortable place

• we camped out for the night in a mission schoolroom.

3. remain persistently in one place

• the press will be camping on your doorstep once they get onto this story.

III. phrases

break camp

take down a tent or the tents of an encampment when ready to leave.

– origin early 16th cent.: from French camp, champ, from Italian campo, from Latin campus ‘level ground,’ specifically applied to the Campus Martius in Rome, used for games, athletic practice, and military drill.

camp^2 /kamp / ‹informal›

I. adjective

1. deliberately exaggerated and theatrical in style, typically for humorous effect

• the movie seems more camp than shocking or gruesome.

2. (of a man or his manner) ostentatiously and extravagantly effeminate

• a heavily made-up and highly camp actor.

II. noun

deliberately exaggerated and theatrical behavior or style

• Hollywood camp.

III. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a man) behave in an ostentatiously effeminate way

• he camped it up a bit for the cameras.

IV. derivatives

1. campily /ˈkampəlē /

adverb

2. campiness

noun

3. campy

adjective

– origin early 20th cent.: of unknown origin.

Camp, Walter /kamp/

(1859–1925), US football coach; full name Walter Chauncey Camp. One of the first to play US football, he coached at Yale 1888–92 and was influential in shaping the rules of the sport. In 1889, he and a colleague initiated the annual selection of an All-American college football team.

campaign /kamˈpān/

I. noun

1. a series of military operations intended to achieve a particular objective, confined to a particular area, or involving a specified type of fighting

• a desert campaign

• the air campaign

• the army set off on campaign.

2. an organized course of action to achieve a particular goal

• an advertising campaign

• an election campaign

• the campaign for a full inquiry into the regime

• [with infinitive] his campaign to win the heart of a new woman.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. work in an organized and active way toward a particular goal, typically a political or social one

• people who campaigned against child labor

• [with infinitive] the services he had campaigned to protect.

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting a tract of open country): from French campagne ‘open country,’ via Italian from late Latin campania, from campus ‘level ground’ (see camp^1). The change in sense arose from an army's practice of “taking the field” (i.e., moving from a fortress or town to open country) at the onset of summer.

campaigner /kamˈpānər/

noun

a person who actively promotes the goals of a cause

• human rights campaigners are furious at the government's decision.

Campanella, Roy /ˌkampəˈnelə/

(1921–93), US baseball player; known as Campy. He was a catcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers 1948–58. Baseball Hall of Fame (1969).

Campanian /kämˈpänēən/

I. adjective

1. relating to or characteristic of the Italian region of Campania or its inhabitants

• the bright light and heat of Campanian high summer.

2. denoting a subdivision of the Late Cretaceous period

• both faunas are late Campanian.

II. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of the Italian region of Campania

• Octavian settled Campanians at Knossos.

2. (the Campanian) — the Campanian period or the system of rocks deposited during it

• increases in carnivore richness and abundance occurred before the Campanian.

campanile /ˌkampəˈnēlē/

I. noun

an Italian bell tower, especially a freestanding one.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Italian, from campana ‘bell.’

campanology /ˌkampəˈnäləjē/

I. noun

the art or practice of bell-ringing.

II. derivatives

1. campanological /ˌkampənlˈäjikəl /

adjective

2. campanologist /ˌkampəˈnäləjəst /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin campanologia, from late Latin campana ‘bell.’

campanula /kamˈpanyələ/

I. noun

another term for bellflower.

– origin modern Latin, diminutive of late Latin campana ‘bell.’

campanulate /kamˈpanyələt kamˈpanyəˌlāt/

adjective

[Botany] (of a flower) bell-shaped, as in a campanula.

Campari /kämˈpärē/

I. noun

‹trademark› a pinkish aperitif flavored with bitters.

– origin named after the manufacturer.

Campbell /ˈkambəl/

a city in west central California, southwest of San Jose, part of the Silicon Valley research and industrial complex; pop. 38,617 (est. 2008).

Campbell, John A. /ˈkam(b)əl/

(1811–89), US Supreme Court associate justice 1853–61; full name John Archibald Campbell. Appointed to the Court by President Pierce, he resigned to serve as assistant secretary of war in the Confederate cabinet 1862–65.

Campbell, Kim

(1947–), Canadian Progressive Conservative stateswoman; prime minister 1993; full name Avril Phaedra Douglas Campbell. She was Canada's first female prime minister.

Campbell, Mrs. Patrick

(1865–1940), English actress; born Beatrice Stella Tanner. George Bernard Shaw wrote the part of Eliza Doolittle in Pygmalion (1914) for her.

Campbell-Bannerman, Sir Henry /ˈbanərmən/

(1836–1908), British statesman; prime minister 1905–08.

Camp David

the country retreat of the President, in the Catoctin Mountains (part of the Blue Ridge Mountains) in northeastern Maryland. President Carter hosted talks there between the leaders of Israel and Egypt which resulted in the Camp David agreements (1978) and the Egypt–Israel peace treaty of 1979.

Campeche /kämˈpāCHā, kamˈpēCHē/

I. a state in southeastern Mexico, on the Yucatán Peninsula.

II. the capital of Campeche, a seaport on the Gulf of Mexico; pop. 238,850 (2005).

camper /ˈkampər/

noun

1. a person who spends a vacation in a tent or camp.

2. a large motor vehicle with facilities for sleeping and cooking while camping.

campesino /ˌkampəˈsēnō, ˌkäm-/

I. noun

(in Spanish-speaking regions) a peasant farmer.

– origin Spanish.

campfire /ˈkampˌfī(ə)r/

noun

an open-air fire in a camp, used for cooking and as a focal point for social activity.

camp follower /ˈkamp ˌfäləwər/

noun

1. a civilian who works in or is attached to a military camp.

2. a person who is nominally attached to a group but is not fully committed or does not make a substantial contribution to its activities

• cynical opportunists and camp followers.

campground /ˈkampˌɡround/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) a place used for camping, especially one equipped with cooking grills, water, and bathrooms.

2. (N. Amer.) a place where a camp meeting is held.

camphor /ˈkamfər/

I. noun

a white, volatile, crystalline substance with an aromatic smell and bitter taste, occurring in certain essential oils.
[A terpenoid ketone; chem. formula: C_10H_16O.]

– origin Middle English: from Old French camphore or medieval Latin camphora, from Arabic kāfūr, via Malay from Sanskrit karpūra.

camphorate /ˈkamfəˌrāt/

verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. camphorated)

1. impregnate or treat with camphor.

camphor tree

noun

an eastern Asian tree that belongs to the laurel family and serves as the chief natural source of camphor.
[Cinnamomum camphora, family Lauraceae.]

Campinas /kämˈpēnəs, käN-/

a city in southeastern Brazil, northwest of São Paulo; pop. 1,039,297 (2007).

camping /ˈkampiNG/

noun

the activity spending a vacation living in a camp, tent, or camper

• visitors can go camping in the vast wilderness surrounding the mountains.

• [as modifier] a camping trip.

campion /ˈkampēən/

I. noun

a plant of the pink family, typically having pink or white flowers with notched petals, found in both Eurasia and North America.
[Genera Silene and Lychnis, family Caryophyllaceae.]

– origin mid 16th cent.: perhaps related to champion. The name was originally used for the rose campion, whose name in Latin (Lychnis coronaria) and Greek (lukhnis stephanōmatikē) means ‘campion fit for a crown,’ and which was said in classical times to have been used for victors' garlands.

Campion, Jane /ˈkampēən/

(1954–), New Zealand movie director and screenwriter. She received an Academy Award for best screenplay for The Piano (1993).

Campion, St. Edmund /ˈkampēən/

(1540–81), English Jesuit priest and martyr. Feast day, December 1.

camp meeting /kamp ˈmēdiNG/

noun

(N. Amer.) a religious meeting held in the open air or in a tent, often lasting several days.

campo /ˈkampō, ˈkämpō/

I. noun

1. (usu. the campo) — (in South America, especially Brazil), a grass plain with occasional stunted trees.

2. a square in an Italian or Spanish town.

– origin from Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian campo, literally ‘field.’

Campobello Island /ˌkampəˌbelō ˈīlənd/

a resort island in southwestern New Brunswick, off Eastport in Maine, noted as the vacation home of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Campo Grande /ˌkämpo͞o ˈɡrändə/

a city in southwestern Brazil; pop. 724,524 (2007).

camporee /ˌkampəˈrē/

I. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a local or regional camping event for Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts.

– origin 1960s: blend of camp^1 and jamboree.

campsite /ˈkampˌsīt/

noun

a place used for camping.

campus /ˈkampəs/

I. noun

1. the grounds and buildings of a university or college

• for the first year I had a room on campus.

2. (N. Amer.) the grounds of a school, hospital, or other institution.

– origin late 18th cent. (originally US): from Latin campus ‘field’ (see camp^1).

campylobacter /ˈkampələˌbaktər, kamˈpilə-/

I. noun

[Medicine] a bacterium that sometimes causes abortion in animals and food poisoning in humans.
[Genus Campylobacter: several species, in particular C. jejuni; curved or spiral Gram-negative bacteria.]

– origin 1970s: modern Latin, from Greek kampulos ‘bent’ + bacterium.

Cam Ranh Bay /ˌkam ˌrän ˈbā/

an inlet of the South China Sea, in south central Vietnam. It has been a major base for France, Japan, the former Soviet Union, and the US, which had a major installation here during the Vietnam War.

camshaft /ˈkamˌSHaft/

noun

a shaft with one or more cams attached to it, especially one operating the valves in an internal combustion engine.

Camus, Albert /kaˈmo͞o/

(1913–60), French novelist, playwright, and essayist; closely aligned with existentialism. Notable works: The Stranger (1942), The Plague (1947), and The Rebel (1951). Nobel Prize for Literature (1957).

can^1 /kan/

I. modal verb

1. be able to

• they can run fast

• I could hear footsteps

• he can't afford it.

2. be able to through acquired knowledge or skill

• I can speak Italian.

3. have the opportunity or possibility to

• there are many ways vacationers can take money abroad.

4. [with negative or in questions] — used to express doubt or surprise about the possibility of something's being the case

• he can't have finished

• where can she have gone?

5. be permitted to

• you can use the phone if you want to

• nobody could legally drink on the premises.

6. used to ask someone to do something

• can you open the window?

• can't you leave me alone?

7. used to make a suggestion or offer

• we can have another drink if you like.

8. used to indicate that something is typically the case

• antique clocks can seem out of place in modern homes

• he could be very moody.

– origin Old English cunnan ‘know’ (in Middle English ‘know how to’), related to Dutch kunnen and German können; from an Indo-European root shared by Latin gnoscere ‘know’ and Greek gignōskein ‘know.’ / usage: Is there any difference between can and may when used to request or express permission, as in may I ask you a few questions? or can I ask you a few questions? Many people feel that can should be reserved for expressions denoting capability, as in can you swim?, rather than for those relating to permission. May is, generally speaking, a politer and more formal way of asking for something, and is the better choice in more formal contexts. See also usage at may^1.

can^2 /kan/

I. noun

1. a cylindrical metal container

• a garbage can

• a can of paint.

2. a small steel or aluminum container in which food or drink is hermetically sealed for storage over long periods

• soup cans.

3. the quantity of food or drink held by a can

• he drank two cans of beer.

4. (the can) — (N. Amer.) ‹informal› prison.

5. (the can) — (N. Amer.) ‹informal› the toilet.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. preserve (food) in a can.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› dismiss (someone) from their job

• he was canned because of a fight over promotion.

3. reject (something) as inadequate

• the editorial team was so disappointed that they canned the project.

III. phrases

1. a can of worms

a complicated matter likely to prove awkward or embarrassing

• to question the traditional model of education opens upa can of worms.

2. in the can

‹informal› on tape or film and ready to be broadcast or released.

IV. derivatives

canner /ˈkanər /

noun

– origin Old English canne, related to Dutch kan and German Kanne; either of Germanic origin or from late Latin canna.

Can.

abbreviation

Canada or Canadian.

Cana /ˈkānə/

an ancient small town in Galilee where Christ is said to have performed his first miracle by changing water into wine during a marriage feast (John 2:1–11).

Canaan /ˈkānən/

I. the biblical name for the area of ancient Palestine west of the Jordan River, the Promised Land of the Israelites, who conquered and occupied it during the latter part of the 2nd millennium BC.

– origin early 17th cent.: via ecclesiastical Latin from ecclesiastical Greek Khanaan, from Hebrew kĕna`an.

Canaanite /ˈkānəˌnīt/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of the biblical area of ancient Palestine west of the River Jordan

• the ancient Canaanite fertility god.

II. noun

(in the Bible) a native or inhabitant of the area of ancient Palestine west of the River Jordan

• the king of the Canaanites.

Canada /ˈkanədə/

1. a country in northern North America, the second largest country in the world; pop. 33,487,200 (est. 2009); capital, Ottawa; official languages, English and French.

Eastern Canada was colonized by the French in the 17th century, but the British emerged as the ruling colonial power in 1763 after the Seven Years War. Canada became a federation of provinces with dominion status in 1867. The signing of the Constitution Act of 1982 was the final step in attaining legal independence from the UK; however, Canada remains a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. French-speakers are largely concentrated in Quebec, the focal point for the French-Canadian separatist movement.

Canada balsam

noun

a yellowish resin obtained from the balsam fir and used for mounting preparations on microscope slides.

Canada goose /ˈkanədə ɡo͞os/

noun

a common North American goose with a black head and neck, a white chinstrap, and a loud, trumpeting call.
[Branta canadensis, family Anatidae.]

Canada jay

noun

another term for gray jay.

Canadarm /ˈkanəˌdärm/

I. noun

the popular name for a robotic manipulation system designed for use in zero gravity. It has accompanied numerous space missions as a component on space shuttles.

– origin 1970s: blend of Canada (where it was manufactured) and arm.

Canada thistle

noun

(N. Amer.) the European creeping or field thistle, which has become naturalized as a serious weed in North America.
[Cirsium arvense, family Compositae.]

Canadian /kəˈnādēən/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of Canada or its inhabitants

• the Canadian government's economic policies

• a culture that is distinctly Canadian.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of Canada

• a 27-year-old Canadian from Ontario

• more than four million Canadians play hockey.

III. derivatives

Canadianness

noun

Canadian bacon

noun

(US) lean cured meat from the back of a pig, typically served in thick, round slices

• we start by opting for leaner meats that still pack tons of flavor, including Canadian bacon.

Canadian football /kəˌnādēən ˈfo͝otbôl/

noun

a form of football played in Canada, derived from rugby but now resembling American football. There are twelve players on a side.

Canadian French

noun

the form of the French language written and spoken by French Canadians.

Canadian goose

noun

another term for Canada goose.

Canadianism /kəˈnādēənizəm/

noun

1. a word, expression, or other language feature that is characteristically Canadian

• I know I use more Canadianisms, and that I raise vowels more.

2. the state of being Canadian, or the character and spirit characteristic of Canadians

• he seems determined to submerge his Canadianism by becoming an expert on life in the US.

Canadian Pacific Railway

the first transcontinental railroad in Canada, completed in 1885.

Canadian River South Canadian River

a river that flows for 900 miles (1,450 km) from eastern New Mexico across the Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma. Oklahoma City lies on it.

Canadian Shield

a large plateau that occupies more than two fifths of the land area of Canada and is drained by rivers flowing into Hudson Bay.
Also called Laurentian Plateau.

Canadian tuxedo

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹humorous› a denim jacket worn with a pair of jeans

• if you can wear denim to the office, then you can wear a Canadian tuxedo.

canaille /kəˈnāl/

I. noun — (the canaille)

1. ‹derogatory› the common people; the masses

• the haughty contempt of a grandee sneering at the canaille.

– origin French, from Italian canaglia ‘pack of dogs,’ from cane ‘dog.’

canal /kəˈnal/

I. noun

1. an artificial waterway constructed to allow the passage of boats or ships inland or to convey water for irrigation.

2. a tubular duct in a plant or animal, serving to convey or contain food, liquid, or air

• the ear canal.

3. [Astronomy] any of a number of linear markings formerly reported as seen by telescope on the planet Mars.
[named canali (‘channels’) by G. V. Schiaparelli (1835–1910); the markings are now thought to have arisen from eye or lens defects.]

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, alteration of chanel ‘channel,’ from Latin canalis ‘pipe, groove, channel,’ from canna ‘cane.’

canal boat /kəˈnal bōt/

noun

a long, narrow boat used on canals.

Canaletto /ˌkanəˈledō/

(1697–1768), Italian painter; born Giovanni Antonio Canal. He is noted for his paintings of Venetian festivals and scenery.

canaliculus /ˌkanəˈlikyələs/

I. noun

[Anatomy] a small channel or duct.

II. derivatives

canalicular /-ˈikyələr /

adjective

canalize /ˈkan(ə)lˌīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. convert (a river) into a navigable canal.

2. convey (something) through a duct or channel.

3. give a direction or purpose to (something)

• his strategy was to canalize the enthusiasm of the diehards into party channels.

II. derivatives

canalization /ˌkanələˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French canaliser, from canal ‘channel’ (see canal).

Canal Zone

see Panama Canal.

canapé /ˈkanəˌpā ˈkanəˌpē/

I. noun

1. a small piece of bread or pastry with a savory topping, often served with drinks at a reception or formal party.

2. a sofa, especially a decorative French antique.

– origin French, sense 1 being a figurative extension of the sense ‘sofa’ (as a “couch” on which to place toppings). See also canopy.

canard /kəˈnär(d)/

I. noun

1. an unfounded rumor or story

• the old canard that LA is a cultural wasteland.

2. a small winglike projection attached to an aircraft forward of the main wing to provide extra stability or control, sometimes replacing the tail.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, literally ‘duck,’ also ‘hoax,’ from Old French caner ‘to quack.’

Canarsie /kəˈnärsē/

I. a residential section of southeastern Brooklyn in New York City, along Jamaica Bay.

– origin named after the American Indian tribe who originally inhabited the area.

canary /kəˈnerē/

I. noun

1. a mainly African finch with a melodious song, typically having yellowish-green plumage. One kind is popular as a pet bird and has been bred in a variety of colors, especially bright yellow.
[Genus Serinus, family Fringillidae: several species, esp. the island canary (S. canaria), which is native to the Canary Islands, the Azores, and Madeira, and from which the domestic canary was developed.]

2. (also canary yellow) — a bright yellow color resembling the plumage of a canary.

3. (also canary wine) — ‹historical› a sweet wine from the Canary Islands, similar to Madeira.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French canari, from Spanish canario ‘canary’ or ‘person from the Canary Islands’ (see Canary Islands).

canary grass /kəˈnerē ˌɡras/

noun

a tall grass of northwestern Africa and the Canary Islands, grown for its seeds, which are fed to canaries and other caged finches.
[Genus Phalaris, family Gramineae: several species, in particular P. canariensis.]

Canary Islands /kəˈnerē ˌīləndz / the Canaries

I. a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean, off the northwestern coast of Africa, that forms an autonomous region of Spain; capital, Las Palmas; pop. 2,098,593 (2009).

– origin from French Canarie, via Spanish from Latin Canaria (insula) ‘(island) of dogs,’ from canis ‘dog,’ one of the islands being noted in Roman times for large dogs.

canasta /kəˈnastə/

I. noun

1. a card game resembling rummy, using two packs. It is usually played by two pairs of partners, and the aim is to collect sets (or melds) of cards.

2. a meld of seven cards in the game of canasta.

– origin 1940s: from Spanish (of Uruguayan origin), literally ‘basket,’ based on Latin canistrum ‘basket’ (see canister).

Canaveral, Cape /kəˈnav(ə)rəl/

a cape on the eastern coast of Florida, known as Cape Kennedy from 1963 until 1973. It is the site of the John F. Kennedy Space Center.

Canberra /ˈkanb(ə)rə ˈkanˌberə/

the capital of Australia and seat of the federal government, in the Australian Capital Territory; it is an enclave within New South Wales; pop. 345,257 (2008).

cancan /ˈkanˌkan/

I. noun

a lively, high-kicking stage dance originating in 19th-century Parisian music halls and performed by women in long skirts and petticoats.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, child's word for canard ‘duck,’ from Old French caner ‘to quack.’

cancel /ˈkansəl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. decide or announce that (an arranged or planned event) will not take place

• he was forced to cancel his visit.

2. annul or revoke (a formal arrangement which is in effect)

• his visa had been canceled.

3. abolish or make void (a financial obligation)

• I intend to cancel your debt to me.

4. mark, pierce, or tear (a ticket, check, or postage stamp) to show that it has been used or invalidated
[as adj.]

• canceled checks.

5. (of a factor or circumstance) neutralize or negate the force or effect of (another)

• the electric fields may cancel each other out.

6. [Mathematics] delete (an equal factor) from both sides of an equation or from the numerator and denominator of a fraction.

II. noun

1. a mark made on a postage stamp to show that it has been used.

2. [Printing] a new page or section inserted in a book to replace the original text, typically to correct an error
[as modifier]

• a cancel title page.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘obliterate or delete writing by drawing or stamping lines across it’): from Old French canceller, from Latin cancellare, from cancelli ‘crossbars.’

cancelbot /ˈkansəlˌbät/

I. noun

[Computing] a program that searches for and deletes specified postings from Internet newsgroups.

– origin 1990s: from cancel + bot^2.

canceler /ˈkansələr / canceller

noun

a device used to cancel something, especially one that makes a cancellation on a postage stamp.

cancellation /ˌkansəˈlāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action of canceling something that has been arranged or planned

• train services are subject to cancellation at short notice

• the project was threatened with cancellation by the government

• the cancellation of the performance.

2. a crossing out of something written

• all cancellations on documents must be made indelibly.

3. a visible or electronic mark placed on a postage stamp to show that it has been used.

4. [Law] the annulling of a legal document

• the debtor can procure cancellation if satisfied within one month.

cancellous /ˈkansələs/

I. adjective

[Anatomy] of or denoting bone tissue with a meshlike structure containing many pores, typical of the interior of mature bones.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin cancelli ‘crossbars’ + -ous.

cancer /ˈkansər/

I. noun

1. the disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a part of the body

• he's got cancer

• smoking is the major cause of lung cancer.

2. a malignant growth or tumor resulting from the division of abnormal cells

• most skin cancers are curable.

3. a practice or phenomenon perceived to be evil or destructive and hard to contain or eradicate

• racism is a cancer sweeping across Europe.

– origin Old English, from Latin, ‘crab or creeping ulcer,’ translating Greek karkinos, said to have been used to name such tumors because the swollen veins around them resembled the limbs of a crab. canker was the usual form until the 17th cent. Compare with Cancer.

Cancer /ˈkansər/

I. [Astronomy] a constellation (the Crab), said to represent a crab crushed under the foot of Hercules. It is most noted for the globular star cluster of Praesepe (the Beehive cluster).

II. (as genitive Cancri ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation

• the star Delta Cancri.

III. [Astrology] the fourth sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters at the northern summer solstice (about June 21).

IV. (a Cancer) — a person born when the sun is in the sign of Cancer.

V. phrases

tropic of Cancer

see tropic^1.

– origin Latin.

cancer cluster

noun

a geographic area with a statistically higher than average occurrence of cancer among its residents.

Cancerian /kanˈserēən / ‹Astrology›

I. adjective

relating to the sign of Cancer

• my childhood best friend is Cancerian

• he has inherited his mother's Cancerian traits.

II. noun

a person born under the sign of Cancer

• a Cancerian can be highly emotional and moody.

cancerous /ˈkansərəs/

adjective

affected by or showing abnormalities characteristic of cancer

• a cancerous tumor

• if stem cells are unstable, they can become cancerous.

cancer stick /ˈkansər stik/

noun

‹informal› ‹humorous› a cigarette.

cancroid /ˈkaNGkroid/

adjective

1. [Zoology] like a crab, especially in structure.

2. [Medicine] (of a growth) resembling cancer.

Cancún /kanˈko͞on/

a resort town in southeastern Mexico, on the northeastern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula; pop. 526,701 (2005).

candela /kanˈdēlə kanˈdelə / cd

I. noun

[Physics] the SI unit of luminous intensity. One candela is the luminous intensity, in a given direction, of a source that emits monochromatic radiation of frequency 540 × 10^12 Hz and has a radiant intensity in that direction of 1/683 watt per steradian.

– origin 1950s: from Latin, ‘candle.’

candelabrum /ˌkandəˈläbrəm ˌkandəˈlabrəm/

I. noun

a large branched candlestick or holder for several candles or lamps.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin, from candela (see candle). / usage: Based on the Latin forms, the correct singular is candelabrum and the plural is candelabra. In practice, however, candelabra is increasingly used as the singular form, with the plural as candelabras. In the Oxford English Corpus, these forms are more common than the traditional ones and are coming to be regarded as part of standard English.

candescent /kanˈdesənt/

I. adjective

glowing with, or as with, heat.

II. derivatives

1. candescence /kənˈdesns /

noun

2. candescently

adverb

candid /ˈkandəd/

I. adjective

1. truthful and straightforward; frank

• his responses were remarkably candid

• a candid discussion.

2. (of a photograph of a person) taken informally, especially without the subject's knowledge.

II. derivatives

candidness /ˈkandədnəs /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the Latin sense): from Latin candidus ‘white.’ Subsequent early senses were ‘pure, innocent,’ ‘unbiased,’ and ‘free from malice,’ hence ‘frank’ (late 17th cent). Compare with candor.

candida /ˈkandidə/

I. noun

a yeastlike, parasitic fungus that can sometimes cause thrush.
[Genus Candida, phylum Ascomycota, esp. C. albicans.]

– origin modern Latin, feminine of Latin candidus ‘white.’

candidacy /ˈkandidəsē/

I. noun

the fact or condition of being considered for a particular position or status, especially in an election

• he's going to announce his candidacy for the US Senate.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from candidate + -acy.

candidate /ˈkandiˌdāt ˈkandidət/

I. noun

1. a person who applies for a job or is nominated for election

• candidates applying for this position should be computer-literate

• the Republican candidate.

2. a person taking an examination

• doctoral candidates in literature.

3. a person or thing regarded as suitable for or likely to receive a particular fate, treatment, or position

• she was the perfect candidate for a biography

• a leading candidate for the title of New York's ugliest building.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin candidatus ‘white-robed,’ also denoting a candidate for office (who traditionally wore a white toga), from candidus ‘white.’

candidature /ˈkan(d)ədəˌCHo͝o(ə)r ˈkan(d)əˌdāCHər/

I. noun

(Brit.) the fact or condition of being considered for a particular position or status; candidacy

• she is completing her PhD candidature as a part-time student

• his candidature for the presidency has received enthusiastic public support.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from candidate + -ure, probably via French.

candidiasis /ˌkandəˈdīəsəs/

noun

infection with candida, especially as causing oral or vaginal thrush.

candidly /ˈkandidlē/

adverb

in an honest and straightforward way; frankly

• he candidly discussed his efforts to find employment.

candiru /ˌkandəˈro͞o/

I. noun

a minute, slender catfish of the Amazon region that feeds by sucking blood from other fishes and sometimes enters the body orifices of mammals. It is notorious for its occasional habit of entering the urethra of human swimmers.
[Vandellia cirrhosa, family Trichomycteridae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: via Portuguese from Tupi candirú.

candle /ˈkandl/

I. noun

1. a cylinder or block of wax or tallow with a central wick that is lit to produce light as it burns.

2. (also international candle) — [Physics] a unit of luminous intensity, superseded by the candela.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a poultry breeder) test (an egg) for freshness or fertility by holding it to the light.

III. phrases

be unable to hold a candle to

‹informal› be not nearly as good as

• nobody in the final could hold a candle to her.

IV. derivatives

candler /ˈkandlər, -dl-ər /

noun

– origin Old English candel, from Latin candela, from candere ‘be white or glisten.’

candleberry /ˈkandlˌberē/

noun

any of a number of trees or shrubs whose berries or seeds yield a wax or oil that can be used for making candles, in particular
[● a bayberry or related North American shrub (genus Myrica, family Myricaceae). ● the candlenut.]

candlefish /ˈkandlˌfiSH/

I. noun

a small, edible marine fish with oily flesh, occurring on the west coast of North America.
Also called eulachon. [Thaleichthys pacificus, family Osmeridae.]

– origin so named because the Chinook Indians formerly burned the oily bodies of these fish as candles.

candleholder /ˈkandlˌhōldər/

noun

a holder or support for a candle, typically one that is small or sturdy.

candlelight /ˈkandlˌlīt/

noun

dim light provided by a candle or candles

• we dined by candlelight.

candlelit /ˈkandlˌlit/

adjective

lit by a candle or candles

• a romantic candlelit dinner.

Candlemas /ˈkandlməs/

I. noun

a Christian festival held on February 2 to commemorate the purification of the Virgin Mary (after childbirth, according to Jewish law) and the presentation of Christ in the Temple. Candles were traditionally blessed at this festival.

– origin Old English Candelmæsse (see candle, Mass).

candlenut /ˈkandlˌnət/

noun

an evergreen tree of the spurge family, with large seeds that yield an oil used for lighting and other purposes, native to Southeast Asia and the South Pacific islands.
Also called candleberry. [Aleurites moluccana, family Euphorbiaceae.]

candlepower /ˈkandlˌpou(ə)r/

noun

illuminating power expressed in candelas or candles
[as modifier]

• a 16-candlepower lamp.

candlestick /ˈkandlˌstik/

noun

a support or holder for one or more candles, typically one that is tall and thin.

candlewick /ˈkandlˌwik/

noun

1. a thick, soft cotton fabric with a raised, tufted pattern
[as modifier]

• a candlewick dressing gown.

2. the yarn used to make candlewick.

3. tufted embroidery work made with heavy cotton yarn similar to that used to make wicks for candles.

can-do /ˌkan ˈdo͞o/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. ‹informal› characterized by or exhibiting a determination or willingness to take action and achieve results

• I like his can-do attitude.

candomblé /ˌkandōmˈblā/

I. noun

Brazilian sect of the macumba cult.

– origin Brazilian Portuguese.

candor /ˈkandər / ‹Brit.› candour

I. noun

the quality of being open and honest in expression; frankness

• a man of refreshing candor.

– origin late Middle English (in the Latin sense): from Latin candor ‘whiteness.’ The current sense dates from the mid 18th cent.; the development of the senses paralleled that of candid.

CANDU /ˈkanˌdo͞o, -ˈdo͞o / Candu

I. noun

a nuclear reactor of a Canadian design in which the fuel is unenriched uranium oxide clad in zircaloy and the coolant and moderator is heavy water.

– origin from Can(ada) + the initial letters of deuterium and uranium.

C & W //

abbreviation

country and western (music).

candy /ˈkandē/

I. noun

1. (also sugar candy) — (N. Amer.) a sweet food made with sugar or syrup combined with fruit, chocolate, or nuts
[as modifier]

• a candy bar

• pink and yellow candies.

2. sugar crystallized by repeated boiling and slow evaporation.

II. verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. candied)

1. preserve (fruit) by coating and impregnating it with a sugar syrup

• candied fruit.

– origin mid 17th cent. (as a verb): the noun use is from late Middle English sugar-candy, from French sucre candi ‘crystallized sugar,’ from Arabic sukkar ‘sugar’ + qandī ‘candied,’ based on Sanskrit khaṇḍa ‘fragment.’

candy apple

noun

1. (N. Amer.) an apple coated with a thin layer of cooked sugar or caramel and fixed on a stick.

2. (also candy-apple red) — (N. Amer.) a bright red color.

candy-ass /ˈkandē as/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a timid, cowardly, or despicable person.

II. derivatives

candy-assed

adjective

candy cane /ˈkandē kān/

noun

(N. Amer.) a cylindrical stick of striped, sweet candy with a curved end, resembling a walking stick.

candy corn

noun

a form of chewy candy shaped like a large kernel of corn.

candyman /ˈkandēˌman/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a person who sells illegal drugs.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from candy + man, an earlier sense denoting a ragman who gave toffee in exchange for goods.

candy-striped /ˈkandē ˌstrīpt/

I. adjective

(of material or a garment) patterned with alternating stripes of white and another color, typically pink.

II. derivatives

candy-stripe

adjective, noun

candy-striper /ˈkandēˌstrīpər/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a teenage girl who does volunteer nursing in a hospital.

– origin so named because of the candy-striped uniforms of such nurses.

candytuft /ˈkandēˌtəft/

I. noun

a European plant with small heads of white, pink, or purple flowers, often cultivated as a garden plant.
[Genus Iberis, family Brassicaceae.]

– origin early 17th cent.: from Candy (obsolete form of Candia, former name of Crete) + tuft.

cane /kān/

I. noun

1. the hollow, jointed stem of a tall grass, especially bamboo or sugar cane, or the stem of a slender palm such as rattan.

2. any plant that produces canes.

3. stems of bamboo, rattan, or wicker used as a material for making furniture or baskets
[as modifier]

• a cane coffee table.

4. short for sugar cane.

5. a flexible, woody stem of the raspberry plant or any of its relatives.

6. a length of cane or a slender stick, especially one used as a support for plants, as a walking stick, or as an instrument of punishment.

7. (the cane) — (chiefly Brit.) a form of corporal punishment used in certain schools, involving beating with a cane

• wrong answers were rewarded by the cane.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. beat with a cane as a punishment.

2. (usu. as adj. caned) — make or repair (furniture) with cane

• armchairs with caned seats.

III. derivatives

caner

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, via Latin from Greek kanna, kannē, of Semitic origin.

canebrake /ˈkānˌbrāk/

noun

(N. Amer.) a piece of ground covered with a dense growth of canes.

cane chair

noun

a chair with a seat made of woven cane strips.

cane corso /ˌkänā ˈkôrsō/

I. noun

a dog of a large, athletic breed of mastiff, developed in Italy

• Hercules is a black cane corso who tips the scale at about 150 pounds.

– origin Italian, literally ‘Corsican dog,’ from cane ‘dog’ and corso ‘Corsican.’

cane rat

noun

a large, ratlike, African rodent found in wetlands south of the Sahara. It is often a pest of sugar plantations.
[Family Thryonomyidae and genus Thryonomys: two species.]

cane sugar /ˌkān ˈSHo͝oɡər/

noun

sugar obtained from sugar cane.

Canes Venatici /ˈkānēz vəˈnatəsē, -ˌsī / ‹Astronomy›

I. a small northern constellation (the Hunting Dogs), said to represent two dogs (Asterion and Chara) held on a leash by Boötes.

II. (as genitive Canum Venaticorum ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation

• the star Beta Canum Venaticorum.

– origin Latin.

cane toad

noun

a large brown toad native to tropical America. It has been introduced elsewhere as a pest control agent but can become a serious pest itself, partly because animals eating it are killed by its toxins.
Also called marine toad, giant toad. [Bufo marinus, family Bufonidae.]

Canetti, Elias /kəˈnetē/

(1905–94), British writer; born in Bulgaria. Notable works: Auto-da-Fé (1936) and Crowds and Power (1960). Nobel Prize for Literature (1981).

Canfield /ˈkanfēld/

I. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a form of the card game solitaire.

– origin early 20th cent.: named after Richard A. Canfield (1855–1914), an American gambler.

canicular /kəˈnikyələr/

adjective

1. pertaining to a dog, in particular

2. of or pertaining to the Dog Star, Sirius.

3. of or pertaining to the dog days.

canid /ˈkanid, ˈkā-/

I. noun

[Zoology] a mammal of the dog family (Canidae).

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Canidae (plural), from Latin canis ‘dog.’

canine /ˈkāˌnīn/

I. adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling a dog or dogs

• canine distemper virus.

2. [Zoology] of or relating to animals of the dog family.

II. noun

1. a dog.

2. [Zoology] another term for canid.

3. (also canine tooth) — a pointed tooth between the incisors and premolars of a mammal, often greatly enlarged in carnivores.

– origin late Middle English (sense 2 of the noun): from French, from Latin caninus, from canis ‘dog.’

canine distemper

noun

see distemper^1 (sense 1).

Canis Major /ˈkānis, ˈkan- / ‹Astronomy›

I. a small constellation (the Great Dog), said to represent one of the dogs following Orion. It is just south of the celestial equator and contains the brightest star, Sirius.

II. (as genitive Canis Majoris ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation

• the star Eta Canis Majoris.

– origin Latin.

Canis Minor ‹Astronomy›

I. a small constellation (the Little Dog), said to represent one of the dogs following Orion. It is close to the celestial equator and contains the bright star Procyon.

II. (as genitive Canis Minoris ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation

• the star Beta Canis Minoris.

– origin Latin.

canister /ˈkanəstər/

I. noun

1. a round or cylindrical container, typically one made of metal, used for storing such things as food, chemicals, or rolls of film.

2. a cylinder of pressurized gas, typically one that explodes when thrown or fired from a gun

• riot police fired tear-gas canisters into the crowd.

3. ‹historical› small bullets packed in cases that fit the bore of an artillery piece or gun

• another deadly volley of canister.

– origin late 15th cent. (denoting a basket): from Latin canistrum, from Greek kanastron ‘wicker basket,’ from kanna ‘cane, reed’ (see cane).

canker /ˈkaNGkər/

I. noun

1. a necrotic, fungal disease of apple and other trees that results in damage to the bark.

2. an open lesion in plant tissue caused by infection or injury.

3. fungal rot in some fruits and vegetables, e.g., parsnips and tomatoes.

4. [Medicine] an ulcerous condition or disease, in particular

5. (also canker sore) — (N. Amer.) a small ulcer of the mouth or lips.

6. another term for thrush^2 (sense 2).

7. ulceration of the throat and other orifices of birds, typically caused by a protozoal infection.

8. (also ear canker) — inflammation of the ear of a dog, cat, or rabbit, typically caused by a mite infestation.

9. a malign and corrupting influence that is difficult to eradicate
[in sing.]

• racism remains a canker at the heart of the nation.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — (of woody plant tissue) become infected with canker
(as noun cankering)

• we found some cankering of the wood.

2. [with obj.] (usu. as adj. cankered) — infect with a pervasive and corrupting bitterness

• he hated her with a cankered, shameful abhorrence.

III. derivatives

cankerous /ˈkaNGk(ə)rəs /

adjective

– origin Middle English (denoting a tumor): from Old French chancre, from Latin cancer ‘crab’ (see cancer).

cankerworm /ˈkaNGkərˌwərm/

noun

the caterpillar of a North American moth that has wingless females. Cankerworms consume the buds and leaves of trees and can be a major pest.
[Several species in the family Geometridae, in particular Paleacrita vernata and Alsophila pometaria.]

cankle /ˈkaNGkəl/

I. noun

‹informal› an unusually thick or stout ankle.

– origin blend of calf and ankle.

Canmore /ˈkanmôr/

the nickname of Malcolm III of Scotland (see Malcolm).

canna /ˈkanə / canna lily

I. noun

a lilylike, tropical American plant with bright flowers and ornamental straplike leaves.
[Genus Canna, family Cannaceae: several species, in particular forms of Indian shot (C. indica), which are widely naturalized.]

– origin from modern Latin, from Latin canna ‘cane, reed’ (see cane).

cannabin /ˈkanəbən/

noun

a poisonous resin extracted from cannabis.

cannabinoid /ˈkanəbəˌnoid, kəˈnabə-/

noun

[Chemistry] any of a group of closely related compounds that include cannabinol and the active constituents of cannabis.

cannabinol /ˈkanəbəˌnôl, kəˈnabənôl/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a crystalline compound whose derivatives, especially THC, are the active constituents of cannabis.
[A polycyclic phenol; chem. formula: C_21H_26O_2.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from cannabis + -ol.

cannabis /ˈkanəbəs/

I. noun

1. a tall plant with a stiff upright stem, divided serrated leaves, and glandular hairs. It is used to produce hemp fiber and as a psychotropic drug.
Also called hemp, marijuana. [Cannabis sativa, family Cannabaceae (or Cannabidaceae): two subspecies (sometimes considered two species), C. s. sativa, which is chiefly used for hemp, and C. s. indica, from which the drug is usually obtained.]

2. a dried preparation of the flowering tops or other parts of this plant, or a resinous extract of it (cannabis resin), used (generally illegally) as a psychotropic drug, chiefly in cigarettes.

– origin from Latin, from Greek kannabis.

canned /kand/

adjective

1. (of food or drink) preserved or supplied in a sealed can

• canned beans.

2. ‹informal› ‹often derogatory› (of music, laughter, or applause) prerecorded and therefore considered to be lacking in freshness and spontaneity.

cannel coal /ˈkanl ˌkōl/

I. noun

a hard, compact kind of bituminous coal.

– origin mid 16th cent. (originally a northern English usage): of unknown origin.

cannellini bean /ˌkanlˈēnē ˌbēn/

I. noun

a kidney-shaped bean of a medium-sized, creamy-white variety.

– origin Italian cannellini, literally ‘small tubes.’

cannelloni /ˌkanəˈlōnē/

I. noun

1. rolls of pasta stuffed with a meat or vegetable mixture.

2. [treated as sing.] — an Italian dish consisting of stuffed rolls of pasta cooked in a cheese sauce.

– origin Italian, literally ‘large tubes,’ from cannello ‘tube.’

cannelure /ˈkanlˌ(y)o͞oər/

I. noun

a groove around the cylindrical part of a bullet.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French, from canneler ‘provide with a channel,’ from canne ‘reed, cane.’

cannery /ˈkanərē/

noun

a factory where food is canned.

Cannes /kan, kän/

a resort on the Mediterranean coast of France; pop. 71,526 (2006). An international film festival is held here annually.

cannibal /ˈkanəb(ə)l/

I. noun

1. a person who eats the flesh of other human beings
[as modifier]

• cannibal tribes.

2. an animal that feeds on flesh of its own species.

II. derivatives

1. cannibalistic /ˌkanəbəˈlistik /

adjective

2. cannibalistically /ˌkanəbəˈlistik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Spanish Canibales (plural), variant (recorded by Columbus) of Caribes, the name of a West Indian people reputed to eat humans (see Carib).

cannibalism /ˈkanibəlizəm/

noun

the practice of eating the flesh of one's own species

• the film is quite disturbing at points with references to cannibalism

• to avoid cannibalism caterpillars were reared individually.

cannibalize /ˈkanəbəˌlīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. use (a machine) as a source of spare parts for another, similar machine.

• cannibalizing two broken-down cars might provide spare parts to make one working car.

• ‹figurative› high culture should cannibalize mass culture.

2. (of a company) reduce the sales of (one of its products) by introducing another similar product.

3. (of an animal) eat (an animal of its own kind)

• female spiders cannibalize courting males.

II. derivatives

cannibalization /ˌkanəbələˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

Cannizzaro, Stanislao /ˌkänēdˈzärō/

(1826–1910), Italian chemist. He revived Avogadro's law and used it to distinguish clearly between atoms and molecules and to introduce the unified system of atomic and molecular weights.

cannoli /kəˈnōlē/

I. plural noun

(N. Amer.) Italian pastries in the form of hard tubular shells filled with sweetened ricotta cheese and often containing nuts, citron, or chocolate bits.

– origin Italian, plural of cannolo, from canna ‘reed,’ from Greek kanna, of Semitic origin.

cannon /ˈkanən/

I. noun

1. (pl. usu. same) — a large, heavy piece of artillery, typically mounted on wheels, formerly used in warfare.

2. an automatic heavy gun that fires shells from an aircraft or tank.

3. [Billiards] (chiefly Brit.) a carom.
[early 19th cent.: alteration of carom.]

4. [Engineering] a heavy cylinder or hollow drum that is able to rotate independently on a shaft.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. [Billiards] [Snooker] make a cannon shot.

– origin late Middle English: from French canon, from Italian cannone ‘large tube,’ from canna ‘cane, reed’ (see cane).

cannonade /ˌkanəˈnād/

I. noun

a period of continuous, heavy gunfire.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. discharge heavy guns continuously
(as noun cannonading)

• the daily cannonading continued.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French, from Italian cannonata, from cannone (see cannon).

cannonball /ˈkanənˌbôl/

noun

1. a round metal or stone projectile fired from a cannon in former times.

2. (also cannonball dive) — (N. Amer.) a jump into water performed upright with the knees clasped to the chest.

cannon bone /ˈkanən bōn/

noun

a long, tube-shaped bone in the lower leg of a horse or other large quadruped, between the fetlock and the knee or hock.

cannoneer /ˌkanəˈnir/

noun

‹historical› an artilleryman who positioned and fired a cannon.

cannon fodder /ˈkanən ˈfädər/

noun

soldiers regarded merely as material to be expended in war.

cannonry /ˈkanənrē/

noun

the use or discharge of cannon; artillery.

cannot /kəˈnät ˈkanˌät/

I. contraction

can not.

usage: Both the one-word form cannot and the two-word form can not are acceptable, but cannot is more common (in the Oxford English Corpus, three times as common). The two-word form is better only in a construction in which not is part of a set phrase, such as ‘not only … but (also)’: Paul can not only sing well, but he also paints brilliantly.

cannula /ˈkanyələ/

I. noun

[Surgery] a thin tube inserted into a vein or body cavity to administer medicine, drain off fluid, or insert a surgical instrument.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin, ‘small reed,’ diminutive of canna (see cane).

cannulate /ˈkanyəˌlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Surgery] introduce a cannula or thin tube into (a vein or body cavity).

II. derivatives

cannulation /ˌkanyəˈlāSHən /

noun

canny /ˈkanē/

I. adjective

1. having or showing shrewdness and good judgment, especially in money or business matters

• canny shoppers came early for a bargain.

2. (Scottish) (N. English) pleasant; nice

• she's a canny lass.

II. derivatives

1. cannily /ˈkanəlē /

adverb

2. canniness /ˈkanēnəs /

noun

– origin late 16th cent. (originally Scots): from can^1 (in the obsolete sense ‘know’) + -y^1.

canoe /kəˈno͞o/

I. noun

a narrow, keelless boat with pointed ends, propelled by a paddle or paddles.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. travel in or paddle a canoe

• he had once canoed down the Nile.

III. derivatives

canoeist /kəˈno͞oəst /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Spanish canoa, from Arawak, from Carib canaoua.

canoeing /kəˈno͞oiNG/

noun

the sport or activity of paddling a light, narrow boat

• the cadets demonstrated their skills at canoeing

• [as modifier] a canoeing trip.

canola /kəˈnōlə/

I. noun

oilseed rape of a variety developed in Canada and grown in North America. It yields a valuable culinary oil.

– origin 1970s: from Canada + -ola (based on Latin oleum ‘oil’).

canon^1 /ˈkanən/

I. noun

1. a general law, rule, principle, or criterion by which something is judged

• the appointment violated the canons of fair play and equal opportunity.

2. a church decree or law

• a set of ecclesiastical canons.

3. a collection or list of sacred books accepted as genuine

• the formation of the biblical canon.

4. the works of a particular author or artist that are recognized as genuine

• the Shakespeare canon.

5. the list of works considered to be permanently established as being of the highest quality

• Hopkins was firmly established in the canon of English poetry.

6. (also canon of the Mass) — (in the Roman Catholic Church) the part of the Mass containing the words of consecration.

7. [Music] a piece in which the same melody is begun in different parts successively, so that the imitations overlap.

II. phrases

in canon

[Music] with different parts successively beginning the same melody.

– origin Old English: from Latin, from Greek kanōn ‘rule,’ reinforced in Middle English by Old French canon.

canon^2 /ˈkanən/

I. noun

1. a member of the clergy who is on the staff of a cathedral, especially one who is a member of the chapter. The position is frequently conferred as an honorary one.

2. (also canon regular or regular canon) — (in the Roman Catholic Church) a member of certain orders of clergy that live communally according to an ecclesiastical rule in the same way as monks.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘canon regular’): from Old French canonie, from Latin canonicus ‘according to rule’ (see canonic). The other sense dates from the mid 16th cent.

cañon /ˈkanyən/

noun

archaic spelling of canyon.

canon cancrizans /ˌkanən ˈkaNGkrəzanz/

I. noun

[Music] a canon in which the theme or subject is repeated backward in the second part.
Also called crab canon.

– origin late 19th cent.: from canon^1 + medieval Latin cancrizans ‘walking backward’ (from cancer ‘crab’).

canoness /ˈkanənəs/

noun

(in the Roman Catholic Church) a member of certain religious orders of women living communally according to an ecclesiastical rule in the same way as nuns.

canonic /kəˈnänik/

I. adjective

1. [Music] in canon form.

2. another term for canonical.

– origin Old English (as a noun): from Old French canonique or Latin canonicus ‘canonical,’ from Greek kanonikos, from kanon ‘rule’ (see canon^1). The adjective dates from the late 15th cent.

canonical /kəˈnänək(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. according to or ordered by canon law

• the canonical rites of the Roman Church.

2. included in the list of sacred books officially accepted as genuine

• the canonical Gospels of the New Testament.

3. accepted as being accurate and authoritative

• the canonical method of comparative linguistics.

4. (of an artist or work) belonging to the literary or artistic canon

• canonical writers like Jane Austen.

5. according to recognized rules or scientific laws

• canonical nucleotide sequences.

6. [Mathematics] of or relating to a general rule or standard formula.

7. of or relating to a cathedral chapter or a member of it.

II. plural noun — (canonicals)

1. the prescribed official dress of the clergy

• Cardinal Bea in full canonicals.

III. derivatives

canonically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin canonicalis, from Latin canonicus (see canonic).

canonical hours

plural noun

1. the times of daily Christian prayer appointed in the breviary.

2. the offices set for canonical hours, namely matins with lauds, prime, terce, sext, nones, vespers, and compline.

canonicity /ˌkanəˈnisədē/

noun

the fact or status of being canonical

• established standards of canonicity.

canonist /ˈkanənəst/

I. noun

an expert in canon law.

II. derivatives

canonistic /ˌkanəˈnistik /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French canoniste or medieval Latin canonista, from Latin canon (see canon^1).

canonize /ˈkanəˌnīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (in the Roman Catholic Church) officially declare (a dead person) to be a saint

• he was the last English saint to be canonized prior to the Reformation.

2. regard as being above reproach or of great significance

• we have canonized freedom of speech as an absolute value overriding all others.

3. accept into the literary or artistic canon
[as adj.]

• a familiar, canonized writer.

4. sanction by Church authority.

II. derivatives

canonization /kanənəˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin canonizare ‘admit as authoritative’ (in medieval Latin ‘admit to the list of recognized saints’), from Latin canon (see canon^1).

canon law /ˈkanən ˌlô/

noun

ecclesiastical law, especially (in the Roman Catholic Church) that laid down by papal pronouncements.

canonry /ˈkanənrē/

noun

the office or benefice of a canon.

canoodle /kəˈno͞odl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹informal› kiss and cuddle amorously

• she was caught canoodling with her boyfriend.

– origin mid 19th cent. (originally US): of unknown origin.

Canopic jar /kəˈnōpik, -ˈnäpik / Canopic vase

I. noun

a covered urn used in ancient Egyptian burials to hold the entrails from an embalmed body.

– origin late 19th cent.: Canopic from Latin Canopicus, from Canopus, the name of a town in ancient Egypt.

Canopus /kəˈnōpəs / ‹Astronomy›

I. the second-brightest star in the sky, and the brightest in the constellation Carina. It is a supergiant, visible only to observers in the southern hemisphere and the southern part of the northern hemisphere.

– origin Latin, from Greek Kanōpus, the name of the pilot of the fleet of King Menelaus in the Trojan War.

canopy /ˈkanəpē/

I. noun

1. an ornamental cloth covering hung or held up over something, especially a throne or bed

• a romantic four-poster bed complete with drapes and a canopy

• ‹figurative› a full moon and a canopy of stars.

2. [Architecture] a rooflike projection or shelter

• they mounted the station steps under the concrete canopy.

3. the transparent plastic or glass cover of an aircraft's cockpit.

4. the expanding, umbrellalike part of a parachute, made of silk or nylon.

5. [in sing.] — the uppermost trees or branches of the trees in a forest, forming a more or less continuous layer of foliage

• monkeys spend hours every day sitting high in the canopy.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. canopied)

1. cover or provide with a canopy

• a canopied bed

• the river was canopied by overhanging trees.

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin canopeum ‘ceremonial canopy,’ alteration of Latin conopeum ‘mosquito net over a bed,’ from Greek kōnōpeion ‘couch with mosquito curtains,’ from kōnōps ‘mosquito.’

canorous /kəˈnôrəs/

I. adjective

‹rare› (of song or speech) melodious or resonant.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin canorus (from canere ‘sing’) + -ous.

canst /kanst/

archaic second person singular present of can^1.

cant^1 /kant/

I. noun

1. hypocritical and sanctimonious talk, typically of a moral, religious, or political nature

• the liberal case against all censorship is often cant.

2. [as modifier] — denoting a phrase or catchword temporarily current or in fashion

• they are misrepresented as, in the cant word of our day, uncaring.

3. language peculiar to a specified group or profession and regarded with disparagement

• thieves' cant.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹dated› talk hypocritically and sanctimoniously about something

• if they'd stop canting about “honest work,” they might get somewhere.

– origin early 16th cent.: probably from Latin cantare ‘to sing’ (see chant). The early meaning was ‘musical sound, singing’; in the mid 17th cent. this gave rise to the senses ‘whining manner of speaking’ and ‘form of words repeated mechanically in such a manner’ (for example a beggar's plea), hence ‘jargon’ (of beggars and other such groups).

cant^2 /kant/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (something) to be in a slanting or oblique position; tilt

• he canted his head to look at the screen.

2. [no obj.] — take or have a slanting position

• mismatched slate roofs canted at all angles.

II. noun

1. [in sing.] — a slope or tilt

• the outward cant of the curving walls.

2. a wedge-shaped block of wood, especially one remaining after the better-quality pieces have been cut off.

– origin Middle English (denoting an edge or brink): from Middle Low German kant, kante, Middle Dutch cant ‘point, side, edge,’ based on a Romance word related to medieval Latin cantus ‘corner, side.’

Cant.

abbreviation

[Bible] Canticles.

can't /kant/

contraction

cannot.

cantabile /känˈtäbəˌlā / ‹Music›

I. adverb, adjective

in a smooth singing style.

II. noun

a cantabile passage or movement.

– origin Italian, literally ‘singable.’

Cantabrigian /ˌkan(t)əˈbrijēən/

I. adjective

of or relating to Cambridge (in England) or Cambridge University.

II. noun

a student or faculty member of Cambridge University.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin Cantabrigia (see Cambridge) + -ian.

cantal /ˈkanˈtäl, käN-/

I. noun

a hard, strong cheese made chiefly in the Auvergne.

– origin named after Cantal, a department of Auvergne, France.

cantaloupe /ˈkan(t)əˌlōp / cantaloupe melon

I. noun

a small, round melon of a variety with orange flesh and ribbed skin.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French cantaloup, from Cantaluppi near Rome, where it was first grown in Europe after being introduced from Armenia.

cantankerous /kanˈtaNGk(ə)rəs/

I. adjective

bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative

• a crusty, cantankerous old man.

II. derivatives

1. cantankerously /kanˈtaNGk(ə)rəslē /

adverb

2. cantankerousness /kanˈtaNGk(ə)rəsnəs /

noun

– origin mid 18th cent.: of unknown origin; perhaps a blend of Anglo-Irish cant ‘auction’ and rancorous (see rancor).

cantata /kənˈtädə/

I. noun

a medium-length narrative piece of music for voices with instrumental accompaniment, typically with solos, chorus, and orchestra.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Italian cantata (aria) ‘sung (air),’ from cantare ‘sing.’

cant dog

noun

another term for cant hook.

canteen /kanˈtēn/

I. noun

1. a restaurant provided by an organization such as a military camp, college, factory, or company for its soldiers, students, staff, etc.

2. a small water bottle, as used by soldiers or campers.

– origin mid 18th cent. (originally denoting a type of shop in a barracks or garrison town): from French cantine, from Italian cantina ‘cellar.’

canter /ˈkan(t)ər/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. a three-beat gait of a horse or other quadruped between a trot and a gallop

• he kicked his horse into a canter

• I rode away at a canter.

2. a ride on a horse at the gait of a canter

• we came back from one of our canters.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a horse) move at a canter in a particular direction

• they cantered down into the village.

2. [with obj.] — make (a horse) move at a canter

• Katharine cantered Benji in a smaller and smaller circle.

– origin early 18th cent. (as a verb): short for Canterbury pace or Canterbury gallop, from the supposed easy pace of medieval pilgrims to Canterbury.

Canterbury /ˈkan(t)ərˌberē ˈkan(t)ərb(ə)rē /ˈkan(t)ərˌberē ˈkan(t)ərb(ə)rē//

a city in Kent, in southeastern England, the seat of the archbishop of Canterbury; pop. 41,900 (est. 2009).

Canterbury, Archbishop of

noun

the archbishop of the southern province of the Church of England, who is Primate of All England and plays a leading role in the worldwide Anglican Church.

Canterbury bell /ˈkan(t)ərˌbərē ˈbel ˈkan(t)ərˌberē ˈbel/

I. noun

a tall, sturdy cultivated bellflower with large blue, pink, or white flowers.
[Campanula medium, family Campanulaceae.]

– origin late 16th cent.: named after the bells on Canterbury pilgrims' horses (see canter).

cantharides /kanˈTHerəˌdēz/

I. plural noun

see Spanish fly.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin, plural of cantharis, from Greek kantharis ‘Spanish fly.’

cantharus /ˈkanTHərəs/

I. noun

(in ancient Greece and Rome) a large, two-handled drinking cup.

– origin Latin, from Greek kantharos.

cant hook

noun

a hinged metal hook at the end of a long handle, used for gripping and rolling logs.

canthus /ˈkanTHəs/

I. noun

the outer or inner corner of the eye, where the upper and lower lids meet.

II. derivatives

canthic /ˈkanTHik /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin, from Greek kanthos.

canticle /ˈkan(t)ək(ə)l/

I. noun

1. a hymn or chant, typically with a biblical text, forming a regular part of a church service.

2. (Canticles or Canticle of Canticles) — another name for Song of Songs (esp. in the Vulgate Bible).

– origin Middle English: from Latin canticulum ‘little song,’ diminutive of canticum, from canere ‘sing.’

cantilena /ˌkantəˈlēnə/

I. noun

[Music] a lyrical vocal or instrumental melody in a composition.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Italian, from Latin, ‘song.’

cantilever /ˈkan(t)lˌēvər ˈkan(t)lˌevər/

I. noun

1. a long projecting beam or girder fixed at only one end, used chiefly in bridge construction.

2. a long bracket or beam projecting from a wall to support a balcony, cornice, or similar structure.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. cantilevered)

1. support by a cantilever or cantilevers

• a cantilevered deck.

2. [no obj.] — project as or like a cantilever

• a conveyor cantilevered out over the river.

– origin mid 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

cantilever bridge

noun

a bridge in which each span is constructed from cantilevers built out sideways from piers.

cantillate /ˈkantəlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹rare› chant or intone (a passage of religious text).

II. derivatives

cantillation /ˌkantlˈlāSHən /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin cantillat- ‘hummed,’ from the verb cantillare, from cantare (see chant).

cantina /kanˈtēnə/

I. noun

1. (especially in a Spanish-speaking country or the southwestern US) a bar.

2. (in Italy) a wine shop.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Spanish and Italian.

canting arms

I. plural noun

[Heraldry] arms containing an allusion to the name of the bearer.

– origin early 17th cent.: canting from cant^1, in the obsolete sense ‘speak, say (in a particular way).’

cantle /ˈkan(t)l/

I. noun

the raised, curved part at the back of a horse's saddle.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘a corner’): from Anglo-Norman French cantel, variant of Old French chantel, from medieval Latin cantellus, from cantus ‘corner, side.’

canto /ˈkanˌtō/

I. noun

one of the sections into which certain long poems are divided.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Italian, literally ‘song,’ from Latin cantus.

canton /ˈkanˌtän ˈkant(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a subdivision of a country established for political or administrative purposes.

2. a state of the Swiss Confederation.

3. /ˈkant(ə)n / — [Heraldry] a square charge smaller than a quarter and positioned in the upper (usually dexter) corner of a shield.

II. derivatives

cantonal /kanˈtänəl ˈkant(ə)nəl /

adjective

– origin early 16th cent.: from Old French, literally ‘corner,’ from Provençal, based on a Romance word related to medieval Latin cantus (see cant^2).

Canton^1 /kanˈtän/

another name for Guangzhou.

Canton^2 /ˈkant(ə)n/

an industrial city in northeastern Ohio; pop. 78,362 (est. 2008). The Professional Football Hall of Fame is here.

Cantonese /ˌkantəˈnēz/

I. adjective

of or relating to Canton (Guangzhou), its inhabitants, their dialect, or their cuisine.

II. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Canton.

2. a form of Chinese spoken mainly in southeastern China (including Hong Kong).
Also called Yue.

cantonment /kanˈtōnmənt kanˈtänmənt/

I. noun

1. a military garrison or camp.

2. ‹historical› a permanent military station in British India.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French cantonnement, from cantonner ‘to quarter’ (see canton).

cantor /ˈkan(t)ər ˈkan(t)ôr/

I. noun

1. an official who sings liturgical music and leads prayer in a synagogue.
Also called hazzan.

2. (in formal Christian worship) a person who sings solo verses or passages to which the choir or congregation responds.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin, ‘singer,’ from canere ‘sing.’

Cantor, Georg /ˈkantər/

(1845–1918), German mathematician; born in Russia. His work on numbers laid the foundations for the theory of sets and stimulated 20th-century exploration of number theory.

cantorial /kanˈtôrēəl/

adjective

1. of or relating to a cantor.

2. relating to or denoting the north side of the choir of a church, the side on which the cantor sits.
The opposite of decanal.

cantrip /ˈkantrip/

I. noun

(Scottish) ‹archaic› a mischievous or playful act; a trick.

– origin late 16th cent. (also in the sense ‘witch's trick’): of unknown origin.

cantus /ˈkan(t)əs/

I. noun

the highest voice in polyphonic choral music.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin.

cantus firmus /ˌkan(t)əs ˈfərməs/

I. noun

[Music] an existing melody used as the basis for a polyphonic composition.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘firm song.’

Canuck /kəˈnək / ‹informal›

I. noun

1. a Canadian (sometimes derogatory in US use)

• as a true Canuck, Hayden loves pizza.

2. ‹dated› a French Canadian.

II. adjective

Canadian

• an impressive lineup of Canuck screen veterans.

– origin mid 19th cent.: apparently from Canada.

Canute /kəˈn(y)o͞ot / Cnut, Knut

(died 1035), Danish king of England 1017–35, Denmark 1018–35, and Norway 1028–35; son of Sweyn I.

canvas /ˈkanvəs/

I. noun

1. a strong, coarse unbleached cloth made from hemp, flax, cotton, or a similar yarn, used to make items such as sails and tents and as a surface for oil painting
[as modifier]

• a canvas bag.

2. a piece of canvas cloth prepared for use as the surface for an oil painting.

3. an oil painting

• Turner's late canvases.

4. a variety of canvas with an open weave, used as a basis for tapestry and embroidery.

5. (the canvas) — the floor of a boxing or wrestling ring, having a canvas covering.

6. either of a racing boat's tapering ends, originally covered with canvas.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be canvased)

1. cover with canvas

• the door had been canvased over.

III. phrases

1. by a canvas

(in boat racing) by a small margin.
[referring to the tapered front end of a racing boat (see above).]

2. under canvas

a. in a tent or tents

• the family will be living under canvas.

b. with sails spread.

– origin late Middle English: from Old Northern French canevas, based on Latin cannabis ‘hemp,’ from Greek kannabis.

canvasback /ˈkanvəsˌbak/

I. noun

a North American diving duck with a long, sloping black bill, related (and with similar coloring) to the pochard, common in Eurasia.
[Aythya valisineria, family Anatidae.]

– origin late 16th cent.: so named because of the white back of the male.

canvas duck

noun

a lightweight cotton or linen fabric.

canvass /ˈkanvəs/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — solicit votes from (electors in a constituency)

• in each ward, two workers canvassed some 2,000 voters

• [no obj.] she canvassed for votes.

2. question (someone) in order to ascertain their opinion on something

• they promised to canvass all member clubs for their views.

3. try to obtain; request

• they're canvassing support among shareholders.

4. [with obj.] — discuss thoroughly

• the issues that were canvassed are still unresolved.

II. noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. an act or process of attempting to secure votes or ascertain opinions

• a house-to-house canvass.

III. derivatives

canvasser /ˈkanvəsər /

noun

– origin early 16th cent. (in the sense ‘toss in a canvas sheet’ (as a sport or punishment)): from canvas. Later extended senses include ‘criticize, discuss’ (mid 16th cent.) and ‘propose for discussion’; hence ‘seek support for.’

canyon /ˈkanyən/

I. noun

a deep gorge, typically one with a river flowing through it.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Spanish cañón ‘tube,’ based on Latin canna ‘reed, cane.’

Canyon de Chelly /kanˌyän də ˈSHā/

a national monument in northeastern Arizona, on the Navajo Indian Reservation, noted for cliff dwellings and other ruins.

canyoning /ˈkanyəniNG / canyoneering

noun

the sport of exploring a canyon by engaging in such activities as rappelling, rafting, and waterfall jumping.

Canyonlands /ˈkanyənˌlandz/

a region in southeastern Utah, many of whose rock formations, carved by the Colorado and Green Rivers, are preserved in the Canyonlands National Park.

canzona /kanˈzōnə, kantˈsōnə/

I. noun

[Music] an instrumental arrangement of a French or Flemish song, typical of 16th-century Italy.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Italian, from canzone.

canzone /kanˈzōnē, käntˈsōnā/

I. noun

1. an Italian or Provençal song or ballad.

2. a type of lyric resembling a madrigal.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Italian,‘song,’ from Latin cantio(n-) ‘singing,’ from canere ‘sing.’

canzonetta /ˌkanzəˈnedə/

I. noun

a short, light vocal piece, especially in the Italian style of the 17th century.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Italian, ‘little song,’ diminutive of canzone, from Latin cantio(n-) ‘singing,’ from canere ‘sing.’

caoutchouc /kouˈCHo͞ok/

I. noun

unvulcanized natural rubber.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French, from obsolete Spanish cauchuc, from Quechua kauchuk.

cap^1 /kap/

I. noun

1. a kind of soft, flat hat without a brim, and sometimes having a visor.

2. [with adj. or noun modifier] — a kind of soft, close-fitting head covering worn for a particular purpose or as a mark of a particular profession or status

• a nurse's cap

• a bathing cap.

3. an academic mortarboard

• graduates in cap and gown.

4. a protective lid or cover for an object such as a bottle, the point of a pen, or a camera lens.

5. [Dentistry] an artificial protective covering for a tooth.

6. the top of a bird's head when distinctively colored.

7. the broad upper part of the fruiting body of most mushrooms and toadstools, at the top of a stem and bearing gills or pores.

8. an upper limit imposed on spending or other activities

• a cap on government purchases.

9. short for percussion cap.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. put a lid or cover on

• he capped his pen.

2. form a covering layer or top part of

• several towers were capped by domes

• (-capped) snow-capped mountains.

3. put an artificial protective covering on (a tooth).

4. provide a fitting climax or conclusion to

• he capped a memorable season by becoming champion.

5. follow or reply to (a story, remark, or joke) by producing a better or more apposite one

• they capped each other's stories.

6. place a limit or restriction on (prices, expenditure, or other activity)

• council budgets will be capped.

III. phrases

1. cap (or hat) in hand

humbly asking for a favor

• we have to go cap in hand begging for funds.

2. set one's cap for (or at)

‹dated› (of a woman) try to attract (a particular man) as a suitor.

IV. derivatives

capful /ˈkapˌfo͝ol /

noun

– origin Old English cæppe ‘hood,’ from late Latin cappa, perhaps from Latin caput ‘head.’

cap^2 /kap/

noun

[Finance] short for capitalization
[as modifier]

• mid-cap companies

• small-cap stocks.

CAP /ˌsē ā ˈpē/

abbreviation

Civil Air Patrol.

cap. /kap/

abbreviation

1. capacity.

2. capital (city).

3. capital letter.

capability /ˌkāpəˈbilədē/

noun — (often capability of doing (or to do) something)

1. power or ability

• he had an intuitive capability of bringing the best out in people

• the capability to increase productivity.

2. (often capabilities) — the extent of someone's or something's ability

• the job is beyond my capabilities.

3. a facility on a computer for performing a specified task

• a graphics capability.

4. forces or resources giving a country or state the ability to undertake a particular kind of military action

• their nuclear weapons capability.

capable /ˈkāpəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. (capable of doing something) — having the ability, fitness, or quality necessary to do or achieve a specified thing

• I'm quite capable of taking care of myself

• the aircraft is capable of flying 5,000 miles nonstop.

2. open to or admitting of something

• the strange events are capable of rational explanation.

3. able to achieve efficiently whatever one has to do; competent

• she looked enthusiastic and capable

• a highly capable man.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘able to take in,’ physically or mentally): from French, from late Latin capabilis, from Latin capere ‘take or hold.’

capably /ˈkāpəblē/

adverb

in a way that demonstrates skill and aptitude; competently

• both actors capably portray their characters.

capacious /kəˈpāSHəs/

I. adjective

having a lot of space inside; roomy

• she rummaged in her capacious handbag.

II. derivatives

1. capaciously

adverb

2. capaciousness /kəˈpāSHəsnəs /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin capax, capac- ‘capable’ + -ious.

capacitance /kəˈpasətəns/

I. noun

1. [Physics] the ability of a system to store an electric charge.

2. (Symbol: C) — [Physics] the ratio of the change in an electric charge in a system to the corresponding change in its electric potential.

– origin late 19th cent.: from capacity + -ance.

capacitate /kəˈpasəˌtāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› ‹archaic› make (someone) capable of a particular action or legally competent to act in a particular way.

2. (be capacitated) — ‹formal› ‹archaic› [Physiology] (of spermatozoa) undergo changes inside the female reproductive tract enabling them to penetrate and fertilize an ovum.

II. derivatives

capacitation /kəˌpasiˈtāSHən /

noun

capacitor /kəˈpasədər/

noun

a device used to store an electric charge, consisting of one or more pairs of conductors separated by an insulator.

capacity /kəˈpasədē/

I. noun

1. [in sing.] — the maximum amount that something can contain

• the capacity of the freezer is 1.1 cubic feet

• the stadium's seating capacity

• the room was filled to capacity.

2. [as modifier] — fully occupying the available area or space

• they played to a capacity crowd.

3. the amount that something can produce

• the company aimed to double its electricity-generating capacity

• when running at full capacity, the factory will employ 450 people.

4. the total cylinder volume that is swept by the pistons in an internal combustion engine.

5. former term for capacitance.

6. the ability or power to do, experience, or understand something

• I was impressed by her capacity for hard work

• [with infinitive] his capacity to inspire trust in others

• their intellectual capacities.

7. [in sing.] — a person's legal competence

• cases where a patient's testamentary capacity is in doubt.

8. [in sing.] — a specified role or position

• I was engaged in a voluntary capacity

• writing in his capacity as legal correspondent.

II. derivatives

capacitive /-ətiv / capacitative

adjective

[chiefly Physics]

– origin late Middle English: from French capacité, from Latin capacitas, from capax, capac- ‘that can contain,’ from capere ‘take or hold.’

cap and bells /ˌkap (ə)n ˈbelz/

plural noun

‹historical› the insignia of the professional jester.

cap and trade

noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. a system for controlling carbon emissions and other forms of atmospheric pollution by which an upper limit is set on the amount a given business or other organization may produce but which allows further capacity to be bought from other organizations that have not used their full allowance

• Congress has so far refused to adopt a carbon tax or cap-and-trade legislation

• some influential environmentalists oppose the whole idea of cap and trade.

caparison /kəˈperəsən/

I. noun

an ornamental covering spread over a horse's saddle or harness.

II. verb — (be caparisoned)

1. (of a horse) be decked out in rich decorative coverings.

– origin early 16th cent.: from obsolete French caparasson, from Spanish caparazón ‘saddlecloth,’ from capa ‘hood.’

cape^1 /kāp/

I. noun

1. a sleeveless cloak, typically a short one.

2. a part of a longer coat or cloak that falls loosely over the shoulders from the neckband.

3. (N. Amer.) the pelt from the head and neck of an animal, for preparation as a hunting trophy.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. skin the head and neck of (an animal) to prepare a hunting trophy.

III. derivatives

caped

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French, from Provençal capa, from late Latin cappa ‘covering for the head.’

cape^2 /kāp/

I. noun

1. a headland or promontory.

2. (the Cape) — Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

3. (the Cape) — the Cape of Good Hope.

4. (the Cape) — the former Cape Province of South Africa.

5. (Cape) — short for Cape Cod (the style of house).

– origin late Middle English: from Old French cap, from Provençal, based on Latin caput ‘head.’

Cape Barren goose

I. noun

a pale gray Australian goose related to the shelducks, with a short black bill that is almost covered by a waxy yellow cere, and a black tail.
Also called cereopsis goose. [Cereopsis novaehollandiae, family Anatidae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after Cape Barren, an island in the Bass Strait, Australia.

Cape Breton Island /ˌkāp ˌbretn ˈīlənd/

an island that forms the northeastern part of the province of Nova Scotia in eastern Canada.

capecitabine /kāpˈsīdəˌbēn/

noun

[Medicine] an antimetabolite used to treat various metastatic cancers by inhibiting tumor growth while sparing most surrounding tissue.

Cape Cod /ˌkāp ˈkäd / CC

I. a sandy peninsula in southeastern Massachusetts that forms a wide curve enclosing Cape Cod Bay. The Pilgrims landed on the northern tip of Cape Cod in November 1620.

II. (also Cape) — a type of rectangular house with a deeply gabled roof.

Cape Colony

early name (1814–1910) for the former Cape Province.

Cape colored /ˈkāp ˌkələrd/

I. noun

(in South Africa) a person of mixed ethnic descent resident in the Western Cape Province, speaking Afrikaans or English as their first language, and typically not a Muslim.
Compare with Cape Malay.

II. adjective

of or relating to Cape colored people.

Cape Coral

a resort city in southwestern Florida, near the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River, southwest of Fort Myers; pop. 156,835 (est. 2008).

capeesh /kəˈpēSH/

I. exclamation

‹informal› (chiefly US) do you understand?

• Upstairs is off limits. Capeesh?

– origin 1940s: from Italian capisce, third person singular present tense of capire ‘understand.’

Cape Fear River

a river that flows for 200 miles (320 km) across eastern North Carolina to enter the Atlantic Ocean near Wilmington at Cape Fear.

Cape Girardeau /ˌkāp jəˈrärdō/

a city in southeastern Missouri, on the Mississippi River; pop. 37,370 (est. 2008).

cape gooseberry

noun

1. a soft, edible, yellow berry enclosed in a husk that resembles a lantern in shape.

2. the tropical South American plant that has heart-shaped leaves and that bears this fruit.
[Physalis peruviana, family Solanaceae.]

Cape jasmine Cape jessamine

noun

a fragrant Chinese gardenia, some kinds of which have flowers that are used to perfume tea.
[Genus Gardenia, family Rubiaceae: several species, in particular G. jasminoides.]

Čapek, Karel /ˈCHäpek/

(1890–1938), Czech novelist and playwright. He is known for R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots) (1920), which introduced the word robot to the English language, and for The Insect Play (1921), written with his brother Josef (1887–1945).

capelin /ˈkāp(ə)lən / caplin

I. noun

a small fish of the North Atlantic, resembling a smelt. It is abundant in coastal waters and provides a staple food for humans and many animals.
[Mallotus villosus, family Osmeridae.]

– origin early 17th cent.: from French, from Provençal capelan, from medieval Latin cappellanus ‘custodian’ (see chaplain).

Capella /kəˈpelə / ‹Astronomy›

I. the sixth brightest star in the sky, and the brightest in the constellation Auriga. It is a yellow giant.

– origin Latin, ‘she-goat,’ diminutive of caper ‘goat.’

capellini /ˌkapəˈlēnē/

I. plural noun

pasta in the form of long, thin round strands, only slightly thicker than angel hair.

– origin 1950s: Italian, diminutive of capello ‘hair.’

Cape Malay Cape Muslim

I. noun

(in South Africa) a member of a predominantly Afrikaans-speaking and Muslim group resident mainly in the Western Cape Province.
Compare with Cape colored.

II. adjective

of or relating to the Cape Malay people.

Cape May

a resort city in extreme southern New Jersey, on the Atlantic Ocean; pop. 3,686 (est. 2008).

Cape of Good Hope /ˈˌkāp əv ˌɡo͝od ˈhōp/

a mountainous promontory south of Cape Town, South Africa, near the southern extremity of Africa. Sighted toward the end of the 15th century by Bartolomeu Dias, it was sailed around for the first time by Vasco da Gama in 1497.

Cape pigeon Cape petrel

noun

a common petrel of southern oceans that has black plumage with white markings.
Also called pintado petrel. [Daption capense, family Procellariidae.]

Cape Province /ˈkāp ˌprävəns/

a former province of South Africa, containing the Cape of Good Hope. The area became a British colony in 1814; it was known as Cape Colony from then until 1910, when it joined the Union of South Africa. In 1994 it was divided into the provinces of Northern Cape, Western Cape, and Eastern Cape.

caper^1 /ˈkāpər/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. skip or dance about in a lively or playful way

• children were capering about the room.

II. noun

1. a playful skipping movement

• she did a little caper.

2. ‹informal› an activity or escapade, typically one that is illicit or ridiculous.

3. an amusing or far-fetched story, especially one presented on film or stage

• a cop caper about intergalactic drug dealers.

III. phrases

cut a caper

make a playful, skipping movement.

IV. derivatives

caperer /ˈkāp(ə)rər /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: abbreviation of capriole.

caper^2 /ˈkāpər/

I. noun

1. (usu. capers) — the cooked and pickled flower buds of a bramblelike southern European shrub, used to flavor food.

2. the shrub from which capers are taken.
[Capparis spinosa, family Capparidaceae.]

– origin late Middle English: from French câpres or Latin capparis, from Greek kapparis; later interpreted as plural, hence the loss of the final -s in the 16th cent.

capercaillie /ˌkapərˈkāl(y)ē / ‹Scottish› capercailzie

I. noun

a large, turkeylike Eurasian grouse of mature pine forests. The male has a courtship display in which it fans the tail and makes an extraordinary succession of sounds.
[Genus Tetrao, family Tetraonidae (or Phasianidae): two species, in particular T. urogallus, which has been re-established in the Scottish Highlands.]

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Scottish Gaelic capull coille, literally ‘horse of the wood.’

capeskin /ˈkāpskin/

noun

a soft leather made from South African sheepskin.

Capet, Hugh /käˈpe, käˈpā, ˈkāpit/

(938–996), king of France 987–996; founder of the Capetian dynasty.

Capetian /kəˈpēSHən/

I. adjective

relating to or denoting the dynasty ruling France 987–1328.

II. noun

a member of the Capetian dynasty.

Cape Town /ˈkāp ˌtoun/

a city in southwestern South Africa at the foot of Table Mountain, the legislative capital of the country and the administrative capital of the province of Western Cape; pop. 3,569,400 (est. 2009).

Cape Verde /ˌkāp ˈvərd / Cape Verde Islands

1. a country in Africa that consists of a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Senegal, named after the most western cape in Africa; pop. 429,500 (est. 2009); capital, Praia; languages, Portuguese (official) and Creole.

Previously uninhabited, the islands were settled by the Portuguese from the 15th century and later served as a trading center for African slaves. They remained a Portuguese colony until 1975, when an independent republic was established.

Cape Verdean /ˌkāp ˈvərdēən/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of the Cape Verde Islands or their inhabitants

• an annual showcase of Cape Verdean music.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of the Cape Verde Islands

• many local Cape Verdeans took part in renovating the space.

capex /ˈkapeks/

I. noun

[Finance] capital expenditure

• in the current year the company's capex is expected to be in the region of $200 million.

– origin 1980s: shortened form of capital expenditure.

Cape York /ˌkāp ˈyôrk/

a cape extending into the Torres Strait at the northeast tip of Australia, in Queensland. It is the northernmost point of the continent of Australia.

Cap-Haïtien /kāp ˈhāSHən, ä-ēˈsyaN/

a historic port city in northern Haiti; pop. 127,800 (est. 2009). It is the former capital of Haiti and the second-largest city in the country.

capias /ˈkāpēəs/

I. noun

[Law] a writ ordering the arrest of a named person.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin capias (ad respondendum), literally ‘you are to seize (until reply is made),’ from capere ‘take.’

capillarity /ˌkapəˈlerədē/

I. noun

the tendency of a liquid in a capillary tube or absorbent material to rise or fall as a result of surface tension.
Also called capillary action.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French capillarité, from Latin capillaris ‘like a hair’ (see capillary).

capillary /ˈkapəˌlerē/

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] any of the fine branching blood vessels that form a network between the arterioles and venules.

2. (also capillary tube) — a tube that has an internal diameter of hairlike thinness.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of or relating to capillaries or capillarity.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin capillaris, from capillus ‘hair,’ influenced by Old French capillaire.

capillary action

noun

another term for capillarity.

capillary attraction

noun

the tendency of a liquid in a capillary tube to rise as a result of surface forces.

capital^1 /ˈkapədl/

I. noun

1. (also capital city or town) — the most important city or town of a country or region, usually its seat of government and administrative center.

2. [with modifier] — a place associated more than any other with a specified activity or product

• Milan is the fashion capital of the world.

3. wealth in the form of money or other assets owned by a person or organization or available or contributed for a particular purpose such as starting a company or investing

• the senior partner would provide the initial capital

• rates of return on invested capital were high.

4. the excess of a company's assets over its liabilities.

5. people who possess wealth and use it to control a society's economic activity, considered collectively

• a conflict of interest between capital and labor.

6. [with modifier] — a valuable resource of a particular kind

• there is insufficient investment in human capital.

7. (also capital letter) — a letter of the size and form used to begin sentences and names

• he wrote the name in capitals.

II. adjective

1. [attrib.] — (of an offense or charge) liable to the death penalty

• murder was a capital crime.

2. [attrib.] — (of a letter of the alphabet) large in size and of the form used to begin sentences and names.

3. ‹informal› ‹dated› excellent

• he's a really capital fellow.

III. exclamation

(Brit.) ‹informal› ‹dated› used to express approval, satisfaction, or delight

• That's splendid! Capital!

IV. phrases

1. make capital out of

use to one's own advantage

• trying to make political capital out of the weakness of his rival.

2. with a capital ——

used to give emphasis to the word or concept in question

• he's trouble with a capital T.

V. derivatives

capitally /ˈkapədlē /

adverb

capital 1 (sense 3 of the adjective)

– origin Middle English (as an adjective in the sense ‘relating to the head or top,’ later ‘standing at the head or beginning’): via Old French from Latin capitalis, from caput ‘head.’

capital^2 /ˈkapədl/

I. noun

[Architecture] the distinct, typically broader section at the head of a pillar or column.

– origin Middle English: from Old French capitel, from late Latin capitellum ‘little head,’ diminutive of Latin caput.

capital budget

noun

[Finance] a budget allocating money for the acquisition or maintenance of fixed assets such as land, buildings, and equipment

• the city had sufficient leeway in its capital budget to build the bridge itself.

capital expenditure

noun

money spent by a business or organization on acquiring or maintaining fixed assets, such as land, buildings, and equipment

• the past twelve months have seen cutbacks in capital expenditure by all ten water companies.

capital gain /ˌkapədl ˈɡān/

noun — (often capital gains)

1. a profit from the sale of property or of an investment.

capital gains tax

noun

a tax levied on profit from the sale of property or of an investment.

capital goods /ˈkapədl ɡo͝odz/

plural noun

goods that are used in producing other goods, rather than being bought by consumers.
Often contrasted with consumer goods.

capital-intensive /ˈkapədl inˌtensiv/

adjective

(of a business or industrial process) requiring the investment of large sums of money.

capitalism /ˈkapədlˌizəm/

noun

an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.

capitalist /ˈkapədləst/

I. noun

a wealthy person who uses money to invest in trade and industry for profit in accordance with the principles of capitalism

• the creation of the factory system by nineteenth-century capitalists.

II. adjective

practicing, supporting, or based on the principles of capitalism

• capitalist countries

• the global economy is essentially capitalist.

capitalistic /ˌkapədlˈistik/

I. adjective

supporting or based on the principles of capitalism

• a completely capitalistic system.

II. derivatives

capitalistically /ˌkapədlˈistik /

adverb

capitalize /ˈkapədlˌīz/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] (capitalize on) — take the chance to gain advantage from

• an attempt by the opposition to capitalize on the government's embarrassment.

2. [with obj.] — provide (a company or industry) with capital
(as adj. capitalized)

• a highly capitalized industry.

3. realize (the present value of an income); convert into capital.

4. reckon (the value of an asset) by setting future benefits against the cost of maintenance

• a trader will want to capitalize repairs expenditure.

5. [with obj.] — write or print (a word or letter) in capital letters.

6. begin (a word) with a capital letter.

II. derivatives

capitalization /ˌkapədləˈzāSHən ˌkapədlˌīˈzāSHən /

noun

capital market /ˈkapədl ˈmärkət/

noun

the part of a financial system concerned with raising capital by dealing in shares, bonds, and other long-term investments.

capital punishment /ˈkapədl ˈpəniSHmənt/

noun

the legally authorized killing of someone as punishment for a crime.

capital ratio

noun

the extent to which a financial institution finances its operations by issuing shares and retaining profits, expressed as a percentage of its assets

• spurred by stronger regulatory requirements, banks have steadily increased their capital ratios since the financial crisis.

capital reserve

noun

[Finance] a fund or account set aside for major long-term investment projects or other anticipated expenses

• attaining the equipment required can drain the capital reserves of all but the biggest farmers

• [as modifier] the district sets aside money for upkeep and repairs in its capital reserve fund.

capital ship /ˈkapədl SHip/

noun

a large warship such as a battleship or aircraft carrier.

capital structure

noun

[Finance] the particular distribution of debt and equity that makes up the finances of a company

• restructuring our operations and capital structure will enable the firm to emerge as a stronger company.

capital sum /ˈkapədl səm/

noun

a lump sum of money payable to an insured person or paid as an initial fee or investment.

capital territory

noun

a territory containing the capital city of a country, in Australia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and elsewhere.

capitano /ˌkapəˈtänō/

I. noun

(in Italy or among Italian speakers) a captain or chief (used chiefly as a form of address).

– origin Italian.

capitate /ˈkapəˌtāt/

I. adjective

[Botany] [Zoology] ending in a distinct compact head.

II. noun

[Anatomy] the largest of the carpal bones, situated at the base of the palm of the hand and articulating with the third metacarpal.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin capitatus, from caput, capit- ‘head.’

capitation /ˌkapəˈtāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

the payment of a fee or grant to a doctor, school, or other person or body providing services to a number of people, such that the amount paid is determined by the number of patients, students, or customers

• the increased capitation enabled schools to offer students an enhanced curriculum

• [as modifier] income capitation fees.

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting the counting of heads): from late Latin capitatio ‘poll tax,’ from caput ‘head.’

Capitol /ˈkapədl / the Capitol

I. the seat of the US Congress in Washington, DC.

II. (capitol) — (US) a building housing a legislative assembly

• 50,000 people marched on New Jersey's state capitol.

III. the temple of Jupiter on the Capitoline Hill in ancient Rome.

– origin from Old French capitolie, capitoile, later assimilated to Latin Capitolium (from caput, capit- ‘head’).

Capitol Hill /ˈkapədl ˈhil/

the region around the Capitol building in Washington, DC (often used as an allusive reference to the US Congress itself).

Capitol Reef National Park

a preserve in south central Utah, noted for its fossils and rock formations.

capitular /kəˈpiCHələr/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to a cathedral chapter.

2. [Anatomy] [Biology] of or relating to a capitulum.

– origin early 16th cent.: from late Latin capitularis, from Latin capitulum ‘small head.’

capitulary /kəˈpiCHəˌlərē/

I. noun

‹historical› a royal ordinance under the Merovingian dynasty.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from late Latin capitularius, from Latin capitulum in the sense ‘section of a law.’

capitulate /kəˈpiCHəˌlāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand; surrender

• the patriots had to capitulate to the enemy forces.

II. derivatives

capitulator /-ˈlātər /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘parley, draw up terms’): from French capituler, from medieval Latin capitulare ‘draw up under headings,’ from Latin capitulum, diminutive of caput ‘head.’

capitulation /kəˌpiCHəˈlāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action of surrendering or ceasing to resist an opponent or demand

• the victor sees it as a sign of capitulation

• a capitulation to wage demands.

2. (capitulations) — ‹historical› an agreement or set of conditions.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from late Latin capitulatio(n-), from the verb capitulare (see capitulate).

capitulum /kəˈpiCHələm/

I. noun

[Anatomy] [Biology] a compact head of a structure, in particular a dense, flat cluster of small flowers or florets, as in plants of the daisy family.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Latin, diminutive of caput ‘head.’

caplet /ˈkaplət / ‹trademark› Caplet

I. noun

a coated oral medicinal tablet.

– origin 1930s: blend of capsule and tablet.

cap'n /ˈkapn/

noun

informal contraction of captain, used in representing speech.

capo^1 /ˈkāpō ˈkapō / capo tasto

I. noun

a clamp fastened across all the strings of a fretted musical instrument to raise their tuning by a chosen amount.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Italian capo tasto, literally ‘head stop.’

capo^2 /ˈkäpō ˈkapō/

I. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) the head of a crime syndicate, especially the Mafia, or a branch of one.

– origin 1950s: from Italian, from Latin caput ‘head.’

capoeira /kapo͝oˈārə/

I. noun

a system of physical discipline and movement originating among Brazilian slaves, treated as a martial art and dance form.

– origin Portuguese.

cap of liberty

noun

a soft conical cap given to Roman slaves on their emancipation and often used as a republican symbol in more recent times.

capon /ˈkāˌpän ˈkāˌpən/

I. noun

a castrated domestic cock fattened for eating.

II. derivatives

caponize /ˈkāpəˌnīz /

verb

– origin late Old English: from Old French, based on Latin capo, capon-.

caponata /ˌkäpəˈnädə/

I. noun

a dish of eggplant, olives, and onions seasoned with herbs, typically served as an appetizer.

– origin Italian.

Capone, Al /kəˈpōn/

(1899–1947), US gangster; full name Alphonse Capone. He was notorious for his domination of organized crime in Chicago in the 1920s. Although he was believed responsible for many murders, including the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, it was for federal income tax evasion that he was eventually imprisoned in 1931.

capo tasto /ˌkäpō ˈtästō/

noun

another term for capo^1.

capote /kəˈpōt/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹historical› a long cloak or coat with a hood, typically part of an army or company uniform.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French, diminutive of cape (see cape^1).

Capote, Truman /kəˈpōtē/

(1924–84), US writer; born Truman Streckfus Persons. Notable works: Breakfast at Tiffany's (1958) and In Cold Blood (1966).

Capp, Al /kap/

(1909–79), US cartoonist; born Alfred Gerald Caplin. He was noted for his satirical comic strip “Li'l Abner,” which appeared in North American newspapers from 1934 to 1977.

Cappadocia /ˌkapəˈdōSHə/

I. an ancient region of central Asia Minor, between Lake Tuz and the Euphrates River, north of Cilicia. It was an important center of early Christianity.

II. derivatives

Cappadocian

adjective, noun

cappellacci /kapəˈläCHē/

I. plural noun

pieces of pasta stuffed with a filling of pumpkin (or other squash) and cheese and folded so as to resemble a hat

• they've brought back the restaurant's much-loved butternut squash cappellacci with Romano cheese.

– origin Italian, plural of cappellaccio, from cappello ‘hat’ + the pejorative suffix -accio.

cappelletti /ˌkapəˈledē/

I. noun

pieces of pasta stuffed with meat, cheese, or vegetables and folded so as to resemble small peaked hats, served either in broth or with a sauce.

– origin Italian, literally ‘little hats.’

capper /ˈkapər/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a more surprising, upsetting, or entertaining event or situation than all others that have gone before

• the capper was him accusing her of ripping off his car.

cappuccino /ˌkapəˈCHēnō/

I. noun

coffee made with milk that has been frothed up with pressurized steam.

– origin 1940s: from Italian, literally ‘Capuchin,’ because its color resembles that of a Capuchin's habit.

Capra, Frank /ˈkaprə/

(1897–1991), US movie director; born in Italy. He is known for movies such as It Happened One Night (1934), Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), You Can't Take It with You (1938), Arsenic and Old Lace (1944), and It's a Wonderful Life (1946).

caprese /kəˈprāzē/

I. adjective

denoting a salad of fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil.

• lunch featured a caprese salad and vegetable antipasto.

– origin Italian, literally ‘of Capri.’

Capri /kəˈprē ˈkaprē/

an island off the western coast of Italy, south of Naples.

capriccio /kəˈprēCHēˌō/

I. noun

1. a lively piece of music, typically one that is short and free in form.

2. a painting or other work of art representing a fantasy or a mixture of real and imaginary features.

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting a sudden change of mind): from Italian, literally ‘head with the hair standing on end,’ hence ‘horror,’ later ‘a sudden start’ (influenced by capra ‘goat,’ associated with frisky movement), from capo ‘head’ + riccio ‘hedgehog.’

capriccioso /kəˌprēCHēˈōsō, -ˈōzō/

I. adverb, adjective

[Music] (especially as a direction) in a free, playful, impulsive style.

– origin Italian, literally ‘capricious,’ from capriccio.

caprice /kəˈprēs/

I. noun

1. a sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behavior

• her caprices had made his life impossible

• a land where men were ruled by law and not by caprice.

2. [Music] another term for capriccio.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, from Italian (see capriccio).

capricious /kəˈpriSHəs kəˈprēSHəs/

I. adjective

given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior

• a capricious and often brutal administration

• a capricious climate.

II. derivatives

1. capriciously /kəˈpriSHəslē kəˈprēSHəslē /

adverb

2. capriciousness /kəˈpriSHisnəs kəˈprēSHisnəs /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from French capricieux, from Italian (see capriccioso).

Capricorn /ˈkaprəˌkôrn / ‹Astrology›

I. the tenth sign of the zodiac (the Goat), which the sun enters at the northern winter solstice (about December 21).
Compare with Capricornus.

II. (a Capricorn) — a person born when the sun is in the sign of Capricorn.

III. phrases

tropic of Capricorn

see tropic^1.

– origin Old English, from Latin capricornus, from caper, capr- ‘goat’ + cornu ‘horn,’ on the pattern of Greek aigokēros ‘goat-horned, Capricorn.’

Capricornian /ˈkaprəˌkôrnēən / ‹Astrology›

I. adjective

relating to the sign of Capricorn

• the Capricornian belief that you alone know what's best for everyone else.

II. noun

a person born under the sign of Capricorn

• I like to travel in company with a Capricornian.

Capricornus /ˌkaprəˈkôrnəs / ‹Astronomy›

I. a constellation (the Goat), said to represent a goat with a fish's tail. It has few bright stars.
Compare with Capricorn.

II. (as genitive Capricorni ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation

• the star 41 Capricorni.

– origin Latin (see Capricorn).

caprine /ˈkaprīn/

I. adjective

of, relating to, or resembling goats.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin caprinus, from caper, capr- ‘goat.’

capriole /ˈkaprēˌōl/

I. noun

1. a movement performed in classical riding, in which the horse leaps from the ground and kicks out with its hind legs.

2. a leap or caper in dancing, especially a cabriole.

– origin late 16th cent.: from obsolete French (now cabriole), from Italian capriola ‘leap,’ from capriolo ‘roebuck,’ from Latin capreolus, diminutive of caper, capr- ‘goat.’

capri pants /kəˈprē ˌpants / capris

I. plural noun

close-fitting calf-length tapered trousers, usually worn by women and girls.

– origin 1950s (originally US): named after the island of Capri.

Caprivi Strip /kəˌprēvē ˈstrip/

I. a narrow strip in Namibia that extends toward Zambia from the northeastern corner of Namibia and reaches the Zambezi River.

– origin named after Leo Graf von Caprivi, German imperial Chancellor 1890–94 at the time when this region became part of the colony of German Southwest Africa.

cap rock

noun

a layer of hard, impervious rock overlying and often sealing in a deposit of oil, gas, or coal.

caproic acid /kəˌprō-ik ˈasid/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a liquid fatty acid present in milk fat and coconut and palm oils.
[Alternative name: hexanoic acid; chem. formula: CH_3(CH_2)4COOH.]

II. derivatives

caproate /ˈkaprōˌāt /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: caproic from Latin caper, capr- ‘goat’ (because of its smell) + -ic.

caprolactam /ˌkaprōˈlaktam/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a synthetic crystalline compound that is an intermediate in nylon manufacture.
[A lactam; chem. formula: C_6H_11NO.]

– origin 1940s: from caproic acid + lactam.

caprylic acid /kəˌprilik ˈasəd/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a liquid fatty acid present in butter and other fats.
[Alternative name: n -octanoic acid; chem. formula: CH_3(CH_2)6COOH.]

II. derivatives

caprylate /ˈkaprəˌlāt /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin caper, capr- ‘goat’ + -yl + -ic.

caps /kaps/

abbreviation

capital letters.

capsaicin /kapˈsāəsən/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a compound that is responsible for the pungency of capsicums.
[A cyclic amide; chem. formula: C_18H_27NO_3.]

– origin late 19th cent.: alteration of capsicine, the name of a substance formerly thought to have the same property.

Capsian /ˈkapsēən/

I. adjective

1. [Archaeology] of, relating to, or denoting a Paleolithic culture of North Africa and southern Europe, noted for its microliths. It is dated to c. 8000–4500 BC.

2. (as noun the Capsian) — [Archaeology] the Capsian culture or period.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Latin Capsa (now Gafsa in Tunisia), where objects from this culture were found, + -ian.

capsicum /ˈkapsəkəm/

I. noun

1. a tropical American pepper plant of the nightshade family with fruits containing many seeds. Many cultivated varieties with edible, pungent fruits have been developed.
[Genus Capsicum, family Solanaceae: several species and varieties, in particular C. annuum var. annuum, the cultivated forms of which include the ‘grossum’ group (sweet peppers) and the ‘longum’ group (chili peppers).]

2. the fruit of any of the capsicum plants, varying in size, color, and pungency.

– origin late 16th cent.: modern Latin, perhaps from Latin capsa (see case^2).

capsid^1 /ˈkapsəd/

I. noun

another term for mirid.

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Capsidae (plural), from Capsus (genus name).

capsid^2 /ˈkapsəd/

I. noun

[Microbiology] the protein coat or shell of a virus particle, surrounding the nucleic acid or nucleoprotein core.

– origin 1960s: coined in French from Latin capsa (see case^2).

capsize /ˈkapˌsīz/

I. verb

(of a boat) overturn in the water
[no obj.]

• the craft capsized in heavy seas

• (as adj. capsized) a capsized dinghy

• [with obj.] gale-force gusts capsized the dinghies.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. an instance of capsizing.

– origin late 18th cent.: perhaps based on Spanish capuzar ‘sink (a ship) by the head,’ from cabo ‘head’ + chapuzar ‘to dive or duck.’

cap sleeve /ˈkap ˌslēv/

noun

a sleeve extending only a short distance from the shoulder and tapering to nothing under the arm.

capstan /ˈkapstən/

I. noun

1. a revolving cylinder with a vertical axis used for winding a rope or cable, powered by a motor or pushed around by levers.

2. the motor-driven spindle on a tape recorder that makes the tape travel past the head at constant speed.

– origin late Middle English: from Provençal cabestan, from cabestre ‘halter,’ from Latin capistrum, from capere ‘seize.’

capstone /ˈkapˌstōn/

noun

1. a stone fixed on top of something, typically a wall.

2. [Archaeology] a large, flat stone forming a roof over the chamber of a megalithic tomb.

capsule /ˈkapsəl ˈkapˌs(y)o͞ol/

I. noun

1. a small case or container, especially a round or cylindrical one.

2. a small, soluble case of gelatin containing a dose of medicine, swallowed whole.

3. short for space capsule.

4. [Anatomy] a tough sheath or membrane that encloses something in the body, such as a kidney, a lens, or a synovial joint.

5. [Biology] a gelatinous layer forming the outer surface of some bacterial cells.

6. the foil or plastic covering the cork of a wine bottle.

7. [Botany] a dry fruit that releases its seeds by bursting open when ripe, such as a pea pod.

8. [Botany] the spore-producing structure of mosses and liverworts, typically borne on a stalk.

9. [as modifier] — (of a piece of writing) shortened but retaining the essence of the original; condensed

• a capsule review of the movie.

10. (of a collection of clothing) consisting of a relatively small set of key items.

II. derivatives

1. capsular /ˈkaps(y)ələr /

adjective

2. capsulate /ˈkapsələt, -ˌlāt /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (in the general sense ‘small container’): via French from Latin capsula, diminutive of capsa (see case^2).

capsule endoscope

I. noun

see video pill.

II. derivatives

capsule endoscopy

noun

capsulize /ˈkapsəˌlīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. put (information) in compact form; summarize.

Capt. //

abbreviation

Captain.

captain /ˈkaptən/

I. noun

1. the person in command of a ship.

2. the pilot in command of a civil aircraft.

3. a naval officer of high rank, in particular (in the US Navy or Coast Guard) an officer ranking above commander and below commodore.

4. an army officer of high rank, in particular (in the US Army, Marine Corps, or Air Force) an officer ranking above first lieutenant and below major.

5. a police officer in charge of a precinct, ranking below a chief

• captain of the 20th precinct.

6. the head of a precinct's fire department.

7. the leader of a team, especially in sports.

8. a powerful or influential person in a particular field

• a captain of industry.

9. a political party leader in a local district.

10. (N. Amer.) a supervisor of waiters or bellboys.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. be the captain of (a ship, aircraft, or sports team).

– origin late Middle English (in the general sense ‘chief or leader’): from Old French capitain (superseding earlier chevetaigne ‘chieftain’), from late Latin capitaneus ‘chief,’ from Latin caput, capit- ‘head.’

captaincy /ˈkaptənsē/

noun

the position or period of command over a team, ship, or aircraft

• she gracefully declined the captaincy

• he still had time to enjoy his brief captaincy of the team.

captain general

noun

an honorary rank of senior officer in the British army, most commonly in an artillery regiment.

captain's chair

noun

a wooden chair with a row of vertical spindles supporting a bar that forms the back and armrests.

captain's table

noun

(on a ship) the dining table presided over by the captain, at which high-ranking crew members or invited guests may also sit

• the couple were invited to eat at the captain's table, with the chef providing a special meal.

captan /ˈkaptan/

noun

a synthetic fungicide derived from a mercaptan.

captcha /ˈkapSHə / CAPTCHA

I. noun

a program or system intended to distinguish human from machine input, typically as a way of thwarting spam and automated extraction of data from websites.

– origin early 21st cent.: acronym from completely automated public Turing test to tell computers and humans apart.

caption /ˈkapSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a title or brief explanation appended to an article, illustration, cartoon, or poster.

2. a piece of text appearing on a movie or television screen as part of a movie or broadcast.

3. [Law] the heading of a legal document.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be captioned)

1. provide (an illustration) with a title or explanation

• the drawings were captioned with humorous texts

• [with two objs.] the photograph was captioned “Three little maids.”

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘seizing, capture’): from Latin caption-, from capere ‘take, seize.’ Early senses ‘arrest’ and ‘warrant for arrest’ gave rise to ‘statement of where, when, and by whose authority a warrant was issued’ (late 17th cent.): this was usually appended to a legal document, hence the sense ‘heading or appended wording’ (late 18th cent).

captious /ˈkapSHəs/

I. adjective

‹formal› (of a person) tending to find fault or raise petty objections.

II. derivatives

1. captiously /ˈkapSHəslē /

adverb

2. captiousness /ˈkapSHəsnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English (also in the sense ‘intended to deceive someone’): from Old French captieux or Latin captiosus, from captio(n-) ‘seizing,’ (figuratively) ‘deceiving’ (see caption).

captivate /ˈkaptəˌvāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. attract and hold the interest and attention of; charm

• he was captivated by her beauty.

II. derivatives

captivation /ˌkaptəˈvāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin early 16th cent.: from late Latin captivat- ‘taken captive,’ from the verb captivare, from captivus (see captive).

captivating /ˈkaptəˌvādiNG/

I. adjective

capable of attracting and holding interest; charming

• a captivating smile.

II. derivatives

captivatingly /-ˌvātiNGlē /

adverb

captive /ˈkaptiv/

I. noun

a person who has been taken prisoner or an animal that has been confined.

II. adjective

1. imprisoned or confined

• the farm was used to hold prisoners of war captive

• a captive animal.

2. [attrib.] — having no freedom to choose alternatives or to avoid something

• advertisements at the movie theater reach a captive audience.

3. (of a facility or service) controlled by, and typically for the sole use of, an establishment or company

• a captive power plant.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin captivus, from capere ‘seize, take.’

captive balloon

noun

a lighter-than-air balloon secured by a rope to the ground, used to carry radar equipment or for parachute jumps.

captivity /kapˈtivədē/

I. noun

1. the condition of being imprisoned or confined

• he was released after 865 days in captivity

• the third month of their captivity.

2. (the Captivity) — short for Babylonian Captivity.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin captivitas, from captivus ‘taken captive’ (see captive).

captor /ˈkaptər ˈkapˌtôr/

I. noun

a person or animal that catches or confines another.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin, from capt- ‘seized, taken,’ from the verb capere.

capture /ˈkapCHər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. take into one's possession or control by force

• the Russians captured 13,000 men.

2. record or express accurately in words or pictures

• she did a series of sketches, trying to capture all his moods.

3. [Physics] absorb (an atomic or subatomic particle).

4. (in chess and other board games) make a move that secures the removal of (an opposing piece) from the board.

5. [Astronomy] (of a star, planet, or other celestial body) bring (a less massive body) permanently within its gravitational influence.

6. (of a stream) divert the upper course of (another stream) by encroaching on its catchment area.

7. cause (data) to be stored in a computer or in a digital format.

II. noun

1. the action of capturing or of being captured

• the capture of the city marks the high point of his career

• he was killed while resisting capture.

2. a person or thing that has been captured.

III. phrases

capture someone's imagination (or attention)

fascinate someone

• the project has captured the imagination of the local public.

IV. derivatives

capturer

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (as a noun): from French, from Latin captura, from capt- ‘seized, taken,’ from the verb capere.

capture-the-flag

noun

a game in which two teams each hide a colored cloth, representing the team's flag, and then try to find the other team's flag and return with it to their home base.

Capuchin /ˈkap(y)ə(t)SHən kəˈp(y)o͞o(t)SHən/

I. noun

1. a friar belonging to a branch of the Franciscan order that observes a strict rule drawn up in 1529.

2. (capuchin) — a cloak and hood formerly worn by women.

3. (capuchin or capuchin monkey) — a South American monkey with a cap of hair on the head that has the appearance of a cowl.
[Genus Cebus, family Cebidae: four species, including the brown capuchin (C. apella).]

4. (capuchin) — a pigeon of a breed with head and neck feathers resembling a cowl.

– origin late 16th cent.: from obsolete French, earlier form of capucin, from Italian cappuccino, from cappuccio ‘hood, cowl,’ from cappa (see cape^1), the friars being so named because of their sharp-pointed hoods.

capybara /kapəˈberə/

I. noun

a South American mammal that resembles a giant, long-legged guinea pig. It lives in groups near water and is the largest living rodent.
[Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, the only member of the family Hydrochaeridae.]

– origin early 17th cent.: from Spanish capibara or Portuguese capivara, from Tupi capiuára, from capĩ ‘grass’ + uára ‘eater.’

car /kär/

I. noun

1. a road vehicle, typically with four wheels, powered by an internal combustion engine and able to carry a small number of people

• we're going by car

• [as modifier] a car crash.

2. a railroad vehicle for passengers or freight

• the first-class cars.

3. the passenger compartment of an elevator, cableway, airship, or balloon.

4. ‹literary› a chariot.

II. derivatives

carful /ˈkärˌfo͝ol /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the general sense ‘wheeled vehicle’): from Old Northern French carre, based on Latin carrum, carrus, of Celtic origin.

carabao /ˌkarəˈbou, ˌkär-/

I. noun

another term for water buffalo.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Spanish, from a local word in the Philippines.

carabid /ˈkarəbid, kəˈrabid/

I. noun

[Entomology] a fast-running beetle of a family (Carabidae) that comprises the predatory ground beetles.

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Carabidae (plural), from Latin carabus, denoting a kind of crab.

carabineer /ˌkerəbəˈnir / carabinier

I. noun

‹historical› a cavalry soldier whose principal weapon was a carbine.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French carabinier, from carabine (see carbine).

carabiner /ˌkerəˈbēnər / karabiner

I. noun

a coupling link with a safety closure, used by rock climbers.

– origin 1930s: shortened from German Karabiner-haken ‘spring hook.’

carabinero /ˌkarəbəˈne(ə)rō, ˌkär-/

I. noun

a Spanish or South American frontier guard or customs officer.

– origin mid 19th cent.: Spanish, literally ‘soldier armed with a carbine.’

carabiniere /ˌkerəbəˈnyerē/

I. noun

a member of the Italian paramilitary police.

– origin Italian, literally ‘carabineer.’

caracal /ˈkerəˌkal/

I. noun

a long-legged lynxlike cat with black tufted ears and a uniform brown coat, native to Africa and western Asia.
Also called African lynx. [Felis caracal, family Felidae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French or Spanish, from Turkish karakulak, from kara ‘black’ + kulak ‘ear’ (because of its black ear tufts).

Caracalla /ˌkerəˈkälə/

(188–217), Roman emperor 211–217; born Septimius Bassanius; later called Marcus Aurelius Severus Antoninus Augustus. In 212, he granted Roman citizenship to all free inhabitants of the Roman Empire.

caracara /ˌkarəˈkarə, ˌkärəˈkärə/

I. noun

a large New World bird of prey of the falcon family, with a bare face and a deep bill, feeding largely on carrion.
[Family Falconidae: four genera and several species, in particular the common caracara (Polyborus plancus).]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Spanish or Portuguese caracará, from Tupi-Guarani, imitating its cry.

Caracas /kəˈräkəs kəˈrakəs/

the capital of Venezuela, in the northern part of the country near the Caribbean Sea; pop. 2,097,400 (est. 2009).

caracole /ˈkerəˌkōl/

I. noun

a half turn to the right or left by a horse.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a horse) perform a caracole.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French caracole, caracol ‘snail's shell, spiral.’

carafe /kəˈraf kəˈräf/

I. noun

an open-topped glass flask typically used for serving wine or water.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French, from Italian caraffa, probably based on Arabic g̣arafa ‘draw water.’

caragana /ˌkarəˈɡänə, -ˈɡanə/

I. noun

a leguminous shrub or small tree native to central Asia and Siberia, widely planted as an ornamental.
[Genus Caragana, family Leguminosae: several species, including the pea tree of Siberia.]

– origin modern Latin, of Turkic origin.

Carajás /ˌkärəˈZHäs/

a mining region in northern Brazil, the site of one of the world's richest deposits of iron ore.

caramba /kəˈrämbə/

I. exclamation

‹informal› ‹often humorous› an expression of surprise or dismay.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Spanish.

carambola /ˌkerəmˈbōlə/

I. noun

1. a golden-yellow juicy fruit with a star-shaped cross section.
Also called star fruit.

2. the small tropical tree which bears the carambola fruits.
[Averrhoa carambola, family Oxalidaceae.]

– origin late 16th cent.: from Portuguese, probably from Marathi karambal.

caramel /ˈkerəməl ˈkerəˌmel ˈkärməl/

I. noun

1. sugar or syrup heated until it turns brown, used as a flavoring or coloring for food or drink

• an apple dipped in caramel

• [as modifier] caramel ice cream.

2. the light brown color of caramel

• the liquid turns a pale caramel

• [as modifier] a caramel sweater.

3. a soft candy made with sugar and butter that have been melted and further heated.

– origin early 18th cent.: from French, from Spanish caramelo.

caramelize /ˈkerəməˌlīz ˈkärməˌlīz/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of sugar or syrup) be converted into caramel.

2. [with obj.] (usu. as adj. caramelized) — cook (food) with sugar so that it becomes coated with caramel.

II. derivatives

caramelization /ˌkarəmələˌzāSHən /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French caraméliser, from caramel ‘caramel.’

caramelly /ˈkerəməlē ˈkerəˌmelē ˈkärməlē / caramely

adjective

tasting or smelling of caramel

• a rich, caramelly flavor.

carangid /kəˈranjid, -ˈraNGɡid/

I. noun

[Zoology] a marine fish of the jack family (Carangidae), whose members typically have a sloping forehead and two dorsal fins.

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Carangidae (plural), from the genus name Caranx.

carapace /ˈkerəˌpās/

I. noun

the hard upper shell of a turtle, crustacean, or arachnid.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, from Spanish carapacho, of unknown origin.

carat /ˈkerət/

I. noun

1. a unit of weight for precious stones and pearls, now equivalent to 200 milligrams

• a half-carat diamond ring.

2. chiefly British spelling of karat.

– origin late Middle English (sense 2): from French, from Italian carato, from Arabic ḳīrāṭ (a unit of weight), from Greek keration ‘fruit of the carob’ (also denoting a unit of weight), diminutive of keras ‘horn,’ with reference to the elongated seedpod of the carob.

Caravaggio /ˌkerəˈväjēō/

(c. 1571–1610), Italian painter; full name Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. He was an influential figure in the transition from late mannerism to baroque.

caravan /ˈkerəˌvan/

I. noun

1. (Brit.) a vehicle equipped for living in, typically towed by a car and used for vacations
[as modifier]

• a caravan holiday.

2. a covered horse-drawn wagon

• a gypsy caravan.

3. (N. Amer.) a covered truck; a van.

4. ‹historical› a group of people, especially traders or pilgrims, traveling together across a desert in Asia or North Africa.

5. any large group of people, typically with vehicles or animals traveling together, in single file

• a caravan of cars and trucks.

– origin late 15th cent. (sense 2): from French caravane, from Persian kārwān. The sense ‘covered horse-drawn wagon’ dates from the early 19th cent.

caravansary /ˌkerəˈvansərē / ‹chiefly Brit.› caravanserai

I. noun

1. ‹historical› an inn with a central courtyard for travelers in the desert regions of Asia or North Africa.

2. a group of people traveling together; a caravan.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Persian kārwānsarāy, from kārwān ‘caravan’ + sarāy ‘palace.’

caravel /ˈkerəvel / carvel

I. noun

‹historical› a small, fast Spanish or Portuguese sailing ship of the 15th–17th centuries.

– origin early 16th cent.: from French caravelle, from Portuguese caravela, diminutive of caravo, via Latin from Greek karabos ‘horned beetle’ or ‘light ship.’

caraway /ˈkerəˌwā/

I. noun

1. (also caraway seed) — the seeds of a plant of the parsley family, used for flavoring and as a source of oil.

2. the white-flowered Mediterranean plant which bears caraway seeds.
[Carum carvi, family Umbelliferae.]

– origin Middle English: from medieval Latin carui, from Arabic alkarāwiyā, probably from Greek karon ‘cumin.’

carb^1 /kärb/

noun

short for carburetor.

carb^2 /kärb/

I. noun — (carbs)

1. dietary carbohydrates

• all of our products are naturally low in carbs

• [as modifier] consumers are really watching their carb intake.

– origin 1980s: short for carbohydrate.

carbamate /ˈkärbəˌmāt/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a salt or ester containing the anion NH_2COO– or the group —OOCNH_2, derived from the hypothetical compound carbamic acid.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from carbamic (from carbo- + amide + -ic) + -ate^1.

carbamazepine /ˌkärbəˈmazəpēn/

I. noun

[Medicine] a synthetic compound of the benzodiazepine class, used as an anticonvulsant and analgesic drug.

– origin 1960s: from carbo- + amide, on the pattern of benzodiazepine.

carbanion /kärˈbanˌīən, -ˌīˌän/

noun

[Chemistry] an organic anion in which the negative charge is located on a carbon atom.

carbaryl /ˈkärbəˌril/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a synthetic insecticide used to protect crops and in the treatment of fleas and lice.
[Alternative name: 1-naphthyl-N-methylcarbamate; chem. formula: C_12H_11NO_2.]

– origin mid 20th cent.: from carbamate + -yl.

carbazole /ˈkärbəˌzōl/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a colorless crystalline substance obtained from coal tar, used in dye production.
[A tricyclic heteroaromatic compound; chem. formula: C_12H_9N.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from carbo- + azo- + -ole.

carbene /ˈkärbēn/

noun

[Chemistry] a highly reactive molecule containing a divalent carbon atom, examples of which occur as intermediates in some organic reactions.

carbide /ˈkärbīd/

noun

1. [Chemistry] a binary compound of carbon with an element of lower or comparable electronegativity.

2. [Chemistry] calcium carbide (CaC_2), used to generate acetylene by reaction with water and formerly used in portable lamps
[as modifier]

• a carbide lamp.

carbine /ˈkärˌbīn ˈkärbēn/

I. noun

1. a light automatic rifle.

2. ‹historical› a short rifle or musket used by cavalry.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French carabine, from carabin ‘mounted musketeer,’ of unknown origin.

carbo-

combining form

representing carbon.

carbocation /ˌkärbəˈkāSHən/

I. noun

[Chemistry] another term for carbonium ion.

– origin 1950s: from carbo- + cation.

carbohydrate /ˌkärbəˈhīˌdrāt/

I. noun

1. any of a large group of organic compounds occurring in foods and living tissues and including sugars, starch, and cellulose. They contain hydrogen and oxygen in the same ratio as water (2:1) and typically can be broken down to release energy in the animal body

• water-soluble carbohydrates

• dehydrated foods high in carbohydrate.

• [as modifier] carbohydrate metabolism.

2. food consisting of or containing a lot of carbohydrates

• before the event I will starve myself of carbohydrates and eat a lot of protein.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from carbo- + hydrate.

carbolated /ˈkärbəˌlādəd/

adjective

impregnated with carbolic acid.

carbolic /kärˈbälik/

noun

short for carbolic acid or carbolic soap.

carbolic acid /kärˈbälik ˈasəd/

noun

phenol, especially when used as a disinfectant.

carbolic soap /kärˈbälik ˈsōp/

noun

disinfectant soap containing phenol.

carbo-load /ˈkärbōˌlōd/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. consume a large quantity of carbohydrates, especially in order to increase stores of glycogen in the muscles before taking part in a sporting event

• it's not unusual for athletes to start carbo-loading in the week leading up to the race.

– origin 1980s: from carbohydrate + load.

carbo-loaded /ˈkärbōˌlōdəd/

adjective

(of a food, beverage, or meal) containing a relatively high amount of carbohydrates.

• drink half a bottle of a carbo-loaded drink about 30 minutes before your workout.

car bomb /ˈkär ˌbäm/

I. noun

a bomb concealed in or under a parked car, used especially by terrorists.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. attack with a car bomb.

III. derivatives

car bomber

noun

carbon /ˈkärbən/

I. noun

1. (Symbol: C) — the chemical element of atomic number 6, a nonmetal that has two main forms (diamond and graphite) and that also occurs in impure form in charcoal, soot, and coal.

2. [usu. as modifier] — carbon fiber

• a bike with a carbon frame.

3. a rod of carbon in an arc lamp.

4. a piece of carbon paper or a carbon copy.

5. carbon dioxide or other gaseous carbon compounds released into the atmosphere, associated with climate change

• the level of carbon in the atmosphere has been consistently rising

• [as modifier] fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions continued to rise.

Compounds of carbon (organic compounds) form the physical basis of all living organisms. Carbon atoms are able to link with each other and with other atoms to form chains and rings, and an infinite variety of carbon compounds exist.

II. derivatives

carbonless

adjective

– origin late 18th cent.: from French carbone, from Latin carbo, carbon- ‘coal, charcoal.’

carbon-12 /ˌkärbənˈtwelv/

noun

the most common natural carbon isotope, of mass 12. It is the basis for the accepted scale of atomic mass units.

carbon-14 /ˌkärbənfôrˈtēn/

noun

a long-lived naturally occurring radioactive carbon isotope of mass 14, used in carbon dating and as a tracer in biochemistry.

carbonaceous /ˌkärbəˈnāSHəs/

adjective

(chiefly of rocks or sediments) consisting of or containing carbon or its compounds.

carbonado /ˌkärbəˈnādō/

I. noun

a dark opaque diamond, used in abrasives and cutting tools.
Compare with bort.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Portuguese.

carbonara /ˌkärbəˈnärə, -ˈnarə/

I. adjective

denoting a pasta sauce made with bacon or ham, egg, and cream
[postpositive]

• spaghetti carbonara.

– origin Italian, literally ‘charcoal kiln,’ perhaps influenced by carbonata, a dish of charcoal-grilled salt pork.

carbonate

I. noun — /ˈkärbənət ˈkärbəˌnāt /

1. [Chemistry] a salt of the anion CO_32–, typically formed by reaction of carbon dioxide with bases.

II. verb — /ˈkärbəˌnāt / [with obj.]

1. dissolve carbon dioxide in (a liquid).

2. [Chemistry] convert into a carbonate, typically by reaction with carbon dioxide.

III. derivatives

carbonation /ˌkärbəˈnāSHən /

noun

carbonated /ˈkärbənādəd/

adjective

(of a soft drink) effervescent on account of containing dissolved carbon dioxide.

carbon black /ˈkärbən ˌblak/

noun

a fine carbon powder used as a pigment, made by burning hydrocarbons in insufficient air.

carbon capture and storage

noun

the process of trapping carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels or any other chemical or biological process and storing it in such a way that it is unable to affect the atmosphere.

carbon copy /ˈkärbən ˌkäpē/

noun

1. a copy of written or typed material made with carbon paper.

2. a person or thing identical or very similar to another

• Karl was a carbon copy of his father.

carbon credit

noun

a permit that allows a country or organization to produce a certain amount of carbon emissions and that can be traded if the full allowance is not used.

carbon cycle /ˈkärbən ˌsīkəl/

noun

1. [Biochemistry] the series of processes by which carbon compounds are interconverted in the environment, chiefly involving the incorporation of carbon dioxide into living tissue by photosynthesis and its return to the atmosphere through respiration, the decay of dead organisms, and the burning of fossil fuels.

2. [Astronomy] the cycle of thermonuclear reactions believed to occur in stars, in which carbon nuclei are repeatedly formed and broken down in the conversion of hydrogen into helium.

Carbondale /ˈkärbənˌdāl/

a city in south central Illinois, a coal center and home to Southern Illinois University; pop. 26,231 (est. 2008).

carbon-date /ˈkärbənˌdāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. determine the age or date of (organic matter) from the relative proportions of the carbon isotopes carbon-12 and carbon-14 that it contains

• it proved impossible to carbon-date the bone fragment accurately

• a rock painting from Catal Hyuk in Turkey has been carbon-dated to 6200 BC.

II. noun

the age or date of organic matter as determined by the relative proportions of the carbon isotopes carbon-12 and carbon-14 that it contains

• the carbon dates were all in the last 5,000 to 10,000 years.

carbon dating /ˈkärbən ˌdādiNG/

noun

the determination of the age or date of organic matter from the relative proportions of the carbon isotopes carbon-12 and carbon-14 that it contains. The ratio between them changes as radioactive carbon-14 decays and is not replaced by exchange with the atmosphere.

carbon debt

noun

the imbalance between the carbon footprint of a particular country, group, person, etc., and any carbon offsetting that has been agreed or undertaken to counteract this.

carbon dioxide /ˈˌkärbən dīˈäksīd/

noun

a colorless, odorless gas produced by burning carbon and organic compounds and by respiration. It is naturally present in air (about 0.03 percent) and is absorbed by plants in photosynthesis.
[Chem. formula: CO_2.]

carbon disulfide /ˈˌkärbən dīˈsəlfīd/

noun

a colorless toxic flammable liquid used as a solvent, especially for rubber and sulfur, and in the manufacture of viscose rayon, cellophane, and carbon tetrachloride.
[Chem. formula: CS_2.]

carbon fiber /ˈkärbən ˌfībər/

noun

a material consisting of thin, strong crystalline filaments of carbon, used as a strengthening material, especially in resins and ceramics
[as modifier]

• a carbon-fiber chassis.

carbon footprint /ˌkäːrbənˈfo͝otprint/

noun

the amount of carbon dioxide and other carbon compounds emitted due to the consumption of fossil fuels by a particular person, group, etc.

carbonic /kärˈbänik/

adjective

of or relating to carbon or its compounds, especially carbon dioxide.

carbonic acid

noun

[Chemistry] a very weak acid formed in solution when carbon dioxide dissolves in water.
[Chem. formula: H_2CO_3.]

carbonic acid gas

noun

archaic term for carbon dioxide.

carbonic anhydrase /anˈhīˌdrās, -ˌdrāz/

noun

[Biochemistry] an enzyme that catalyzes the interconversion of dissolved bicarbonates and carbon dioxide.

Carboniferous /ˌkärbəˈnifərəs/

adjective

1. [Geology] of, relating to, or denoting the fifth period of the Paleozoic era, between the Devonian and Permian periods.

2. (the Carboniferous) [as noun] — [Geology] the Carboniferous period or the system of rocks deposited during it.

The Carboniferous lasted from about 360 million to 286 million years ago. This period is subdivided into two periods, the Older Carboniferous, or Mississippian Period (about 360-320 million years ago), and the Younger Carboniferous, or Pennsylvanian Period (about 320-286 million years ago). During this time the first reptiles and seed-bearing plants appeared, and there were extensive coral reefs and coal-forming swamp forests.

carbonium ion /kärˌbōnēəm ˈīˌän/

I. noun

[Chemistry] an organic cation in which the positive charge is located on a carbon atom.

– origin early 20th cent.: carbonium from carbo- ‘carbon,’ on the pattern of ammonium.

carbonize /ˈkärbəˌnīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. convert into carbon, typically by heating or burning, or during fossilization

• the steak was carbonized on the outside.

2. (usu. as adj. carbonized) — coat with carbon.

II. derivatives

carbonization /ˌkärb(ə)nəˈzāSH(ə)n ˌkärbəˌnīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

carbon monoxide /ˈˌkärbən məˈnäksīd/

noun

a colorless, odorless toxic flammable gas formed by incomplete combustion of carbon.
[Chem. formula: CO.]

carbonnade /ˌkärbəˈnād/

I. noun

a rich beef stew made with onions and beer.

– origin mid 17th cent. (denoting a piece of meat or fish cooked on hot coals): from French, from Latin carbo, carbon- ‘coal, charcoal.’

carbon-neutral /ˌkäːrbəˈno͞oːtrəl/

adjective

making no net release of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, especially through offsetting emissions by planting trees.

carbon offsetting /ˌkäːrbənˈôːfsetiNG/

noun

the counteracting of carbon dioxide emissions with an equivalent reduction of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

carbon paper /ˈkärbən ˌpāpər/

noun

thin paper coated with carbon or another pigmented substance, used for making copies of written or typed documents.

carbon process

noun

a method of making photographic prints that uses a pigment, especially carbon, contained in a sensitized tissue of gelatin.

carbon sequestration

noun

a natural or artificial process by which carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and held in solid or liquid form.

carbon sink

noun

[Ecology] a forest, ocean, or other natural environment viewed in terms of its ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

carbon steel /ˈkärbən stēl/

noun

steel in which the main alloying element is carbon, and whose properties are chiefly dependent on the percentage of carbon present.

carbon tax /ˈkärbən taks/

noun

a tax on fossil fuels, especially those used by motor vehicles, intended to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide.

carbon tetrachloride /ˌkärbən ˌtetrəˈklôrīd/

noun

[Chemistry] a colorless toxic volatile liquid used as a solvent, especially for fats and oils.
[Chem. formula: CCl_4.]

carbon trading

noun

another term for emissions trading.

carbonyl /ˈkärbəˌnil/

noun — [as modifier]

1. [Chemistry] of or denoting the divalent radical =C=O, present in such organic compounds as aldehydes, ketones, amides, and esters, and in organic acids as part of the carboxyl group

• carbonyl compounds.

2. [Chemistry] a coordination compound in which one or more carbon monoxide molecules are bonded as neutral ligands to a central metal atom

• nickel carbonyl.

carbonyl chloride

noun

another term for phosgene.

carborundum /ˌkärbəˈrəndəm/

I. noun

‹trademark› a very hard black solid consisting of silicon carbide, used as an abrasive.

– origin late 19th cent. (originally US, as a trademark): blend of carbon and corundum.

carboxyhemoglobin /kärˌbäksēˌhēməˈɡlōbən/

noun

[Biochemistry] a compound formed in the blood by the binding of carbon monoxide to hemoglobin. It is stable and therefore cannot absorb or transport oxygen.

carboxyl /kärˈbäksəl/

I. noun — [as modifier]

1. [Chemistry] of or denoting the acid radical —COOH, present in most organic acids

• the carboxyl group.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from carbo- + ox- ‘oxygen’ + -yl.

carboxylase /kärˈbäksəˌlās, -ˌlāz/

noun

[Biochemistry] an enzyme that catalyzes the addition of a carboxyl group to a specified substrate.

carboxylate /kärˈbäksəˌlāt, -lit / ‹Chemistry›

I. noun

a salt or ester of a carboxylic acid.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. add a carboxyl group to (a compound)
(as adj. carboxylated)

• carboxylated polysaccharides.

III. derivatives

carboxylation /kärˌbäksəˈlāSHən /

noun

carboxylic acid /ˌkärbäkˌsilik ˈasid/

noun

[Chemistry] an organic acid containing a carboxyl group. The simplest examples are methanoic (or formic) acid and ethanoic (or acetic) acid.

carboy /ˈkärˌboi/

I. noun

a large globular plastic bottle with a narrow neck, typically protected by a frame and used for holding acids or other corrosive liquids.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Persian ḳarāba ‘large glass flagon.’

carbuncle /ˈkärˌbəNGk(ə)l/

I. noun

1. a severe abscess or multiple boil in the skin, typically infected with staphylococcus bacteria.

2. a bright red gem, in particular a garnet cut en cabochon.

II. derivatives

carbuncular /kärˈbəNGkyələr /

adjective

– origin Middle English (sense 2): from Old French charbuncle, from Latin carbunculus ‘small coal,’ from carbo ‘coal, charcoal.’

carbureted /ˈkärb(y)əˌrātəd, -ˌretid / ‹Brit.› carburetted

I. adjective

(of a vehicle or engine) having fuel supplied through a carburetor, rather than an injector.

– origin early 19th cent.: from archaic carburet ‘carbide’ + -ed^2.

carburetor /ˈkärb(y)əˌrādər / carburator, ‹Brit.› carburettor

I. noun

a device in an internal combustion engine for mixing air with a fine spray of liquid fuel.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from archaic carburet ‘combine or charge with a hydrocarbon’ + -or^1.

carburize /ˈkärb(y)əˌrīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. add carbon to (iron or steel), in particular by heating in the presence of carbon to harden the surface.

II. derivatives

carburization /ˌkärb(y)əˌrīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French carbure ‘carbide’ + -ize.

carcade /ˈkärkād/

I. noun

(Indian) a procession of motor vehicles, typically carrying and escorting a famous or important person

• his carcade was cheered by people lining up the streets.

– origin 1960s: on the pattern of motorcade.

carcajou /ˈkärkəˌjo͞o, ˌZHo͞o/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) another term for the North American wolverine.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Canadian French, from Montagnais kwāhkwāčēw (compare with kinkajou).

car camping

noun

(N. Amer.) a type of camping which involves driving rather than walking to a campsite

• backpacking gear is lighter weight than gear intended for car camping.

carcanet /ˈkärkənet/

I. noun

‹archaic› a necklace or ornamental collar, typically made of gold or set with jewels.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French carcan ‘iron collar.’

carcass /ˈkärkəs / ‹Brit.› carcase

I. noun

1. the dead body of an animal.

2. the trunk of an animal such as a cow, sheep, or pig, for cutting up as meat.

3. the remains of a cooked bird after all the edible parts have been removed.

4. ‹derogatory› ‹humorous› a person's body, living or dead

• my obsession will last while there's life in this old carcass.

5. the structural framework of a building, ship, or piece of furniture.

6. the remains of something being discarded, dismembered, or worthless

• the floor is littered with the carcasses of newspapers.

– origin Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French carcois, variant of Old French charcois; in later use from French carcasse; of unknown ultimate origin.

carcinogen /kärˈsinəjən ˈkärsənəˌjen/

I. noun

a substance capable of causing cancer in living tissue.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from an abbreviation of carcinoma + -gen.

carcinogenesis /ˌkärsənəˈjenəsəs/

noun

the initiation of cancer formation.

carcinogenic /ˌkärs(ə)nəˈjenik/

I. adjective

having the potential to cause cancer.

II. derivatives

carcinogenicity /-ˌnōjəˈnisitē /

noun

carcinoid /ˈkärsəˌnoid/

I. noun

[Medicine] a tumor of a type occurring in the glands of the intestine (especially the appendix) or in the bronchi, and abnormally secreting hormones.

– origin late 19th cent.: from an abbreviation of carcinoma + -oid.

carcinoma /ˌkärsəˈnōmə/

I. noun

a cancer arising in the epithelial tissue of the skin or of the lining of the internal organs.

II. derivatives

carcinomatous /-ˈnōmətəs /

adjective

– origin early 18th cent.: via Latin from Greek karkinōma, from karkinos ‘crab’ (compare with cancer).

car coat

noun

a short, square-cut style of coat designed to be worn when driving a car.

car crash

noun

1. an instance of a car colliding with another vehicle or with an object

• he was killed in a car crash.

2. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) a chaotic or disastrous situation that holds a peculiar fascination for observers

• her life is turning into a car crash

• [as modifier] a classic piece of car-crash television.

card^1 /kärd/

I. noun

1. a piece of thick, stiff paper or thin pasteboard, in particular one used for writing or printing on

• some notes jotted down on a card.

2. a piece of thick paper printed with a picture and used to send a message or greeting

• a birthday card.

3. a small rectangular piece of thick paper with a person's name and other details printed on it for purposes of identification, for example a business card.

4. a small rectangular piece of plastic issued by a bank, containing personal data in a machine-readable form and used chiefly to obtain cash or credit.

5. a small rectangular piece of plastic containing machine-readable data, used for paying for a telephone call or gaining entry to a room.

6. a playing card

• a deck of cards.

7. (cards) — a game played with playing cards.

8. [Computing] short for expansion card.

9. ‹informal› a person regarded as odd or amusing

• He laughed, “You're a card, you know.”

10. a program of events at a racetrack.

11. a record of scores in a sporting event; a scorecard.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. write (something) on a card, especially for indexing.

2. (N. Amer.) check the identity card of (someone), in particular as evidence of legal drinking age.

3. ‹informal› (in golf and other sports) score (a certain number of points on a scorecard)

• he carded 68 in the final round.

4. (of the referee in soccer and some other sports) show a yellow or red card to (a player who is being cautioned or sent off)

• Reid, seconds after being carded, broke down the left wing

• a Mac flanker was carded and sent to the sin bin in the first half.

III. phrases

1. hold all the cards

be in a very strong or advantageous position.

2. in the cards

‹informal› very possible or likely

• an overwhelming military triumph is in the cards.

3. play the —— card

exploit the specified issue or idea mentioned, especially for political advantage

• he resisted the temptation to play the race card

• I'm really surprised she played the gender card.

4. play one's cards right

make the best use of one's assets and opportunities.

5. put (or lay) one's cards on the table

be completely open and honest in declaring one's resources, intentions, or attitude.

– origin late Middle English(sense 3 of the noun): from Old French carte, from Latin carta, charta, from Greek khartēs ‘papyrus leaf.’

card^2 /kärd/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. comb and clean (raw wool, hemp fibers, or similar material) with a sharp-toothed instrument in order to disentangle the fibers before spinning.

II. noun

a toothed implement or machine used to comb and clean raw fibers before spinning.

III. derivatives

carder /ˈkärdər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French carde, from Provençal carda, from cardar ‘tease, comb,’ based on Latin carere ‘to card.’

Card.

abbreviation

Cardinal.

cardamom /ˈkärdəməm / cardamon

I. noun

1. the aromatic seeds of a plant of the ginger family, used as a spice and also medicinally.

2. the Southeast Asian plant that bears cardamom seeds.
[Elettaria cardamomum, family Zingiberaceae.]

– origin late Middle English: from Old French cardamome or Latin cardamomum, from Greek kardamōmon, from kardamon ‘cress’ + amōmon, the name of a kind of spice plant.

Cardamom Mountains /ˌkärdəməm ˈmount(ə)nz/

a range of mountains in western Cambodia.

cardboard /ˈkärdbôrd/

noun

1. pasteboard or stiff paper
[as modifier]

• a cardboard box.

2. [as modifier] — (of a character in a literary work) lacking depth and realism; artificial

• with its superficial, cardboard characters, the novel was typical of her work.

card-carrying /ˈkärd ˌkerēiNG/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. registered as a member of a political party or labor union.

2. ‹often humorous› confirmed in or dedicated to a specified pursuit or outlook

• a card-carrying pessimist.

Cárdenas /ˈkärˈdāˌnäs, ˈkärdn-əs/

an industrial port in north central Cuba, east of Havana; pop. 98,200 (est. 2009).

cardholder /ˈkärdˌhōldər/

noun

a person who has a credit card or debit card.

cardia /ˈkärdēə/

I. noun

[Anatomy] the upper opening of the stomach, where the esophagus enters.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Greek kardia.

cardiac /ˈkärdēˌak/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to the heart

• a cardiac arrest.

2. of or relating to the part of the stomach nearest the esophagus.

II. noun

[Medicine] ‹informal› a person with heart disease.

– origin late Middle English (as a noun denoting heart disease): from French cardiaque or Latin cardiacus, from Greek kardiakos, from kardia ‘heart or upper opening of the stomach.’ The adjective dates from the early 17th cent.

cardiac arrest

noun

a sudden, sometimes temporary, cessation of function of the heart.

cardiac massage

noun

a procedure to resuscitate a patient suffering cardiac arrest or fibrillation by rhythmically compressing the chest and heart to restore circulation.
Also called heart massage.

cardiac muscle

noun

another term for myocardium.

cardialgia /ˌkärdēˈalj(ē)ə/

noun

1. heartburn.

2. another term for cardiodynia.

cardie /ˈkärdē / cardi, cardy

I. noun

‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) a cardigan

• a pink cashmere cardie.

– origin 1960s: abbreviation.

Cardiff /ˈkärdəf/

the capital of Wales, a seaport on the Bristol Channel, in the southern part of the country; pop. 314,100 (est. 2009).
Welsh name Caerdydd.

cardigan /ˈkärdəɡən/

I. noun

a knitted sweater fastening down the front, typically with long sleeves.

– origin mid 19th cent. (Crimean War): named after James Thomas Brudenel, 7th Earl of Cardigan (1797–1868), leader of the Charge of the Light Brigade, whose troops first wore such garments.

Cardin, Pierre /kärˈdaN, -ˈdan/

(1922–), French couturier, the first designer in the field of haute couture to show a collection of clothes for men as well as for women.

cardinal /ˈkärd(ə)nl/

I. noun

1. a leading dignitary of the Roman Catholic Church. Cardinals are nominated by the pope and form the Sacred College, which elects succeeding popes (now invariably from among their own number).

2. (also cardinal red) — a deep scarlet color like that of a cardinal's cassock.

3. a New World songbird of the bunting family, with a stout bill and typically with a conspicuous crest. The male is partly or mostly red in color.
[Family Emberizidae, subfamily Cardinalinae (the cardinal grosbeak subfamily): four genera and several species, esp. the northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), the male of which is scarlet with a black face. This subfamily also includes American grosbeaks, buntings, and saltators.]

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of the greatest importance; fundamental

• two cardinal points must be borne in mind.

III. derivatives

1. cardinalate /ˈkärd(ə)nələt /

noun

cardinal (sense 1 of the noun)

2. cardinally

adverb

3. cardinalship /ˈkärd(ə)nəlˌSHip /

noun

cardinal (sense 1 of the noun)

– origin Old English, from Latin cardinalis, from cardo, cardin- ‘hinge.’ Sense 1 of the noun has arisen through the notion of the important function of such priests as “pivots” of church life.

cardinal beetle

noun

a mainly bright red beetle with feathery or comblike antennae. It typically lives under loose bark.
[Family Pyrochroidae: several genera.]

cardinal fish

noun

a small brightly colored fish found in shallow tropical seas around reefs. The male often broods the eggs in his mouth.
[Family Apogonidae: several genera, in particular Apogon, and numerous species.]

cardinal flower /ˈkärdnəl ˌflou(ə)r ˈkärdənəl ˌflou(ə)r/

noun

a tall scarlet-flowered lobelia found in North America.
[Lobelia cardinalis, family Campanulaceae.]

cardinality /ˌkärdəˈnalədē/

noun

[Mathematics] the number of elements in a set or other grouping, as a property of that grouping.

cardinal number /ˈkärdnəl ˈnəmbər/

noun

a number denoting quantity (one, two, three, etc.), as opposed to an ordinal number (first, second, third, etc.).

cardinal point /ˈkärdnəl point/

noun

each of the four main points of the compass (north, south, east, and west).

cardinal sin

noun

1. another name for deadly sin.

2. ‹chiefly humorous› a serious error of judgment

• the program was canceled for the biggest cardinal sin of them all—it dared to be intelligent.

cardinal virtue /ˈkärdnəl ˈvərCHo͞o/

noun

each of the chief natural virtues of justice, prudence, temperance, and fortitude, as defined by Plato and Aristotle and adopted by the Church Fathers.
Compare with theological virtue.

card index /ˈkärd ˈinˌdeks/

noun

a catalog or similar collection of information in which each item is entered on a separate card, and the cards are arranged in a particular order, typically alphabetical.

carding wool

noun

short-stapled pieces of wool that result from the carding process, spun and woven to make standard-quality fabrics.
Compare with combing wool.

cardio /ˈkärdēō/

noun

‹informal› cardiovascular exercise.

cardio- /ˈkärdēō/

I. combining form

of or relating to the heart

• cardiograph

• cardiopulmonary.

– origin from Greek kardia ‘heart.’

cardiodynia /ˌkärdēōˈdinēə/

noun

pain in the region of the heart.

cardiogram /ˈkärdēəˌɡram/

noun

a record of muscle activity within the heart made by a cardiograph.

cardiograph /ˈkärdēəˌɡraf/

I. noun

an instrument for recording heart muscle activity, such as an electrocardiograph.

II. derivatives

1. cardiographer /ˌkärdēˈäɡrəfər /

noun

2. cardiography /ˌkärdēˈäɡrəfē /

noun

cardioid /ˈkärdēˌoid/

I. noun

1. [Mathematics] a heart-shaped curve traced by a point on the circumference of a circle as it rolls around another identical circle.

2. (also cardioid microphone) — [Mathematics] a directional microphone with a pattern of sensitivity of this shape.

II. adjective

of the shape of a cardioid.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Greek kardioeidēs ‘heart-shaped,’ from kardia ‘heart’ + eidos ‘form.’

cardiologist /kärdēˈäləjəst/

noun

a doctor who specializes in the study or treatment of heart diseases and heart abnormalities

• if you have chest pains I suggest you see a cardiologist.

cardiology /ˌkärdēˈäləjē/

I. noun

the branch of medicine that deals with diseases and abnormalities of the heart.

II. derivatives

cardiological /ˌkärdēəˈläjik(ə)l /

adjective

cardiomegaly /ˌkärdēōˈmeɡəlē/

I. noun

[Medicine] abnormal enlargement of the heart.

– origin 1960s: from cardio- + Greek megas, megal- ‘great.’

cardiomyopathy /ˌkärdēōmīˈäpəTHē/

noun

[Medicine] chronic disease of the heart muscle.

cardiopathy /ˌkärdēˈäpəTHē/

noun

heart disease.

cardiopulmonary /ˌkärdēōˈpo͝olmənerē/

adjective

[Medicine] of or relating to the heart and the lungs.

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

noun

a medical procedure involving repeated compression of a patient's chest, performed in an attempt to restore the blood circulation and breathing of a person who has suffered cardiac arrest.

cardiorespiratory /ˌkärdēōˈrespərətôrē/

adjective

[Medicine] relating to the action of both heart and lungs.

cardiovascular /ˌkärdēōˈvaskyələr/

adjective

[Medicine] of or relating to the heart and blood vessels.

cardiovascular system

noun

another term for circulatory system.

carditis /kärˈdīdəs/

noun

[Medicine] inflammation of the heart.

cardmember /ˈkärdˌmembər/

noun

a holder of a particular credit or charge card.

cardoon /kärˈdo͞on/

I. noun

a tall thistlelike southern European plant related to the globe artichoke, with leaves and roots that may be used as vegetables.
[Cynaracardunculus, family Compositae.]

– origin early 17th cent.: from French cardon, from carde ‘edible part of an artichoke,’ from modern Provençal cardo, based on Latin carduus, cardus ‘thistle, artichoke.’

Cardozo, Benjamin N. /kärˈdōzō/

(1870–1938), US Supreme Court associate justice 1932–38; full name Benjamin Nathan Cardozo. Considered a liberal, he championed court involvement in the making of public policy.

card reader

noun

1. an electronic sensor that reads a magnetic strip or bar code on a credit card, membership card, etc.

2. an electronic device that reads and transfers data from various portable memory storage devices.

card sharp /ˈkärd ˌSHärp / card sharper, card shark

noun

a person who cheats at cards in order to win money.

card table /ˈkärd ˌtābəl/

noun

a square table for playing cards on, typically having legs that fold flat for storage.

care /ker/

I. noun

1. the provision of what is necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance, and protection of someone or something

• the care of the elderly

• the child is safe in the care of her grandparents

• health care.

2. serious attention or consideration applied to doing something correctly or to avoid damage or risk

• he planned his departure with great care.

3. an object of concern or attention

• the cares of family life.

4. a feeling of or occasion for anxiety

• she was driving along without a care in the world.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. [often with negative] — feel concern or interest; attach importance to something

• they don't care about human life

• [with clause] I don't care what she says.

2. feel affection or liking

• you care very deeply for him.

3. (care for something/care to do something) — like or be willing to do or have something

• would you care for some tea?

• I don't care to listen to him.

4. (care for) — look after and provide for the needs of

• he has numerous animals to care for.

III. phrases

1. care of

at the address of

• write to me care of Anne.

2. could) care less ">I (or he, she, etc.) couldn't (or also could) care less

‹informal› used to express complete indifference

• he couldn't care less about football.

3. for all you care (or he, she, etc., cares)

‹informal› used to indicate that someone feels no interest or concern

• I could drown for all you care.

4. have a care

[often in imperative] — ‹dated› be cautious

• “Have a care!” she warned.

5. take care

a. [often in imperative] — be cautious; keep oneself safe

• take care if you're planning to go out tonight.

b. said to someone on leaving them

• take care, see you soon.

c. [with infinitive] — make sure of doing something

• he would take care to provide himself with an escape clause.

6. take care of

a. keep (someone or something) safe and provided for

• I can take care of myself.

b. deal with (something)

• he has the tools to take care of the electrical problem.

– origin Old English caru (noun), carian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Old High German chara ‘grief, lament,’ charon ‘grieve,’ and Old Norse kǫr ‘sickbed.’

CARE /ker/

abbreviation

Cooperative for American Relief Everywhere, a large private organization that provides emergency and long-term assistance to people in need throughout the world.

careen /kəˈrēn/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — turn (a ship) on its side for cleaning, caulking, or repair.

2. [no obj.] — (of a ship) tilt; lean over

• a heavy flood tide caused my vessel to careen dizzily.

3. [no obj.] — (chiefly N. Amer.) move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way in a specified direction

• an electric golf cart careened around the corner.

[influenced by the verb career.]

– origin late 16th cent. (as a noun denoting the position of a careened ship): from French carène, from Italian carena, from Latin carina ‘a keel.’

career /kəˈrir/

I. noun

1. an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person's life and with opportunities for progress.

2. the time spent by a person while committed to a particular profession

• the end of a distinguished career in the navy.

3. the progress through history of an institution or organization

• the court has had a checkered career.

4. [as modifier] — working permanently in or committed to a particular profession

• a career diplomat.

5. [as modifier] — (of a woman) pursuing a profession outside of the home.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way in a specified direction

• the car careered across the road and went through a hedge.

III. phrases

in full career

‹archaic› at full speed.

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting a road or racecourse): from French carrière, from Italian carriera, based on Latin carrus ‘wheeled vehicle.’

careerist /kəˈrirəst/

I. noun

a person whose main concern is for professional advancement, especially one willing to achieve this by any means
[as modifier]

• a careerist politician.

II. derivatives

careerism /kəˈriˌrizəm /

noun

carefree /ˈkerˌfrē/

I. adjective

free from anxiety or responsibility

• she changed from a carefree girl into a woman

• the carefree days of summer.

II. derivatives

carefreeness

noun

careful /ˈkerfəl/

I. adjective

1. making sure of avoiding potential danger, mishap, or harm; cautious

• I begged him to be more careful

• be careful not to lose her address

• [as exclamation] Careful! That stuff's worth a fortune!

2. (careful of/about) — anxious to protect (something) from harm or loss; solicitous

• he was very careful of his reputation.

3. prudent in the use of something, especially money

• he had always been careful with money.

4. done with or showing thought and attention

• a careful consideration of the facts.

II. derivatives

carefulness /ˈkerfəlnəs /

noun

– origin Old English carful (see care, -ful).

carefully /ˈkerfəlē/

adverb

in a way that deliberately avoids harm or errors; cautiously

• they must be carefully handled and stored

• he listened carefully to the way people spoke.

caregiver /ˈkerˌɡivər/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a family member or paid helper who regularly looks after a child or a sick, elderly, or disabled person.

II. derivatives

caregiving

noun, adjective

careless /ˈkerləs/

I. adjective

1. not giving sufficient attention or thought to avoiding harm or errors

• she had been careless and had left the window unlocked.

2. (of an action or its result) showing or caused by a lack of attention

• he admitted to careless driving

• a careless error.

3. [predic.] (careless of/about) — not concerned or worried about

• he was careless about his own safety.

4. showing no interest or effort; casual

• she gave a careless shrug.

– origin Old English carlēas ‘free from care’ (see care, -less).

carelessly /ˈkerləslē/

adverb

in a casual or reckless way; inattentively

• roadsides are full of litter thrown carelessly by passers-by

• he replied carelessly.

carelessness /ˈkerləsnəs/

noun

failure to give sufficient attention to avoiding harm or errors; negligence

• most road accidents are caused by carelessness on the part of motorists.

care package

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a parcel of food, money, or luxury items sent to a loved one who is away.

– origin probably from the CARE Packages originally distributed by the humanitarian organization Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe after World War II.

caress /kəˈres/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. touch or stroke gently or lovingly

• she caressed the girl's forehead

• ‹figurative› a gentle breeze caressed his skin

• (as adj. caressing) his caressing touch.

II. noun

a gentle or loving touch.

III. derivatives

caressingly

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French caresser (verb), caresse (noun), from Italian carezza, based on Latin carus ‘dear.’

caret /ˈkerət/

I. noun

a mark (‸, ⁁) placed below the line to indicate a proposed insertion in a printed or written text.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin, ‘is lacking.’

caretaker /ˈkerˌtākər/

I. noun

1. a person employed to look after a public building or a house in the owner's absence.

2. [as modifier] — holding power temporarily

• his was a caretaker regime.

3. (chiefly N. Amer.) a person employed to look after people or animals.

II. derivatives

caretake

verb

Carew, Rod /kəˈro͞o/

(1945–), US baseball player; born in Panama; full name Rodney Cline Carew. An infielder for the Minnesota Twins 1967–79 and the California Angels 1979–85, he was a seven-time American League batting champion 1969, 1972–75, 1977–78. Baseball Hall of Fame (1991).

care worker //

noun

(Brit.) a person employed to support and supervise vulnerable, infirm, or disadvantaged people, or those under the care of the state.

careworn /ˈkerˌwôrn/

adjective

tired and unhappy because of prolonged worry

• a careworn expression.

Carey, George /ˈke(ə)rē/

(1935–), English Anglican churchman; archbishop of Canterbury 1991–2002; full name George Leonard Carey.

Carey, Mariah

(1970–), US singer and songwriter, noted for her wide vocal range. Her albums include Mariah Carey (1990), Merry Christmas (1994), Daydream (1995), Butterfly (1997), and Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel (2009).

carfare /ˈkärfer/

noun

(N. Amer.) the fare for travel on a bus, subway, or similar mode of public transportation.

cargo /ˈkärɡō/

I. noun

goods carried on a ship, aircraft, or motor vehicle

• transportation of bulk cargo

• a cargo of oil.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Spanish cargo, carga, from late Latin carricare, carcare ‘to load,’ from Latin carrus ‘wheeled vehicle.’

cargo cult

noun

(in the Melanesian Islands) a system of belief based around the expected arrival of ancestral spirits in ships bringing cargoes of food and other goods.

cargo pants //

noun

loose-fitting casual slacks with large patch pockets on the thighs.

carhop /ˈkärhäp/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› ‹dated› a waiter or waitress at a drive-in restaurant.

Caria /ˈkerēə/

I. an ancient region of southwestern Asia Minor, south of the Maeander River and northwest of Lycia.

II. derivatives

Carian

adjective, noun

Carib /ˈkerəb/

I. noun

1. a member of an indigenous South American people living mainly in coastal regions of French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, and Venezuela.

2. the language of the Caribs.
Also called Galibi. The Caribs were in the process of colonizing the Lesser Antilles from the mainland, displacing Arawak peoples, when their expansion was halted by the arrival of the Spaniards, who all but wiped them out; a few hundred remain on Dominica. Carib is now spoken by around 20,000 people in parts of northern South America. Island Carib is an extinct language of the entirely distinct Arawakan group, formerly used in the Lesser Antilles; Black Carib, spoken in parts of Central America, is derived from this.

II. adjective

1. relating to the Caribs or their language.

2. relating to Island Carib or Black Carib.

– origin from Spanish caribe, from Haitian Creole. Compare with cannibal.

Cariban /ˈkarəbən, kəˈrē-/

I. adjective

of, belonging to, or denoting a family of South American languages scattered widely throughout Brazil, Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela, and Colombia. With the exception of Carib, they are all extinct or nearly so.

II. noun

the Cariban family of languages.

Caribbean /ˌkerəˈbēən kəˈribēən/

I. noun

the region consisting of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (including the West Indies), and the surrounding coasts.

II. adjective

of or relating to the Caribbean.

usage: There are two possible pronunciations of the word Caribbean, and both are used widely and acceptably in the US. In the Caribbean itself, the preferred pronunciation puts the stress on the -rib-. In Britain, speakers more often put the stress on the -be-, although in recent years, the other pronunciation has gained ground in Britain as the more ‘up-to-date’ and, to some, the more ‘correct’ pronunciation.

Caribbean Sea

the part of the Atlantic Ocean that lies between the Antilles and the mainland of Central and South America.

caribe /kəˈrēbē/

I. noun

another term for piranha.

– origin Spanish: see Carib.

Cariboo Mountains /ˌkerəbo͞o ˈmount(ə)nz/

a range in east central British Columbia, part of the Rocky Mountains. It was the site of an 1860s gold rush.

caribou /ˈkerəˌbo͞o/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a large North American reindeer.
[Genus Rangifer: several species, in particular the woodland caribou (R. caribou) and the barren ground caribou (R. tarandus).]

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Canadian French, from Micmac γalipu, literally ‘snowshoveler’ (because the caribou scrapes away snow to feed on the vegetation underneath).

caricature /ˈkerikəCHər ˈkerikəˌCHo͝or/

I. noun

1. a picture, description, or imitation of a person or thing in which certain striking characteristics are exaggerated in order to create a comic or grotesque effect

• a caricature of Jimmy Durante

• there are elements of caricature in the portrayal of the hero.

2. a ludicrous or grotesque version of someone or something

• he looked like a caricature of his normal self.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make or give a comically or grotesquely exaggerated representation of (someone or something)

• he was caricatured on the cover of TV Guide

• a play that caricatures the legal profession.

III. derivatives

1. caricatural /ˈkerəkəCH(ə)rəl /

adjective

2. caricaturist /ˈˌkerəkəˈˌCHo͝o(ə)rəst /

noun

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French, from Italian caricatura, from caricare ‘load, exaggerate,’ from Latin carricare (see charge).

caries /ˈkerēz/

I. noun

decay and crumbling of a tooth or bone.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin.

carillon /ˈkerəˌlän ˈkerələn/

I. noun

1. a set of bells in a tower, played using a keyboard or by an automatic mechanism similar to a piano roll.

2. a tune played on a carillon.

II. derivatives

carillonneur /ˌkarələˈnər /

noun

– origin late 18th cent.: from French, from Old French quarregnon ‘peal of four bells,’ based on Latin quattuor ‘four.’

carina /kəˈrēnə kəˈrīnə/

I. noun

1. [chiefly Biology] a keel-shaped structure, in particular

2. [chiefly Biology] [Zoology] the ridge of a bird's breastbone, to which the main flight muscles are attached.

3. [chiefly Biology] [Anatomy] cartilage situated at the point where the trachea divides into the two bronchi.

II. derivatives

carinal /kəˈrēn(ə)l kəˈrīn(ə)l /

adjective

– origin early 18th cent.: from Latin, ‘keel.’

Carina /kəˈrīnə / ‹Astronomy›

I. a southern constellation (the Keel) partly in the Milky Way, originally part of Argo. It contains the second brightest star in the sky, Canopus.

II. (as genitive Carinae ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation

• the star Beta Carinae.

– origin Latin.

carinate /ˈkerənət ˈkerəˌnāt/

I. adjective

1. having a keellike ridge.

2. (of a bird) having a deep ridge on the breastbone for the attachment of flight muscles.
Contrasted with ratite.

II. derivatives

1. carinated /-ˌnātid /

adjective

2. carination /ˌkarəˈnāSHən /

noun

– origin late 18th cent.: from Latin carinatus ‘having a keel,’ from carina ‘keel.’

caring /ˈkeriNG/

I. adjective

displaying kindness and concern for others

• a caring and invaluable friend.

II. noun

the work or practice of looking after those unable to care for themselves, especially sick and elderly people
[as modifier]

• the caring professions.

caring profession

noun

a job that involves taking care of other people, such as nursing, teaching, or social work.

Carinthian /kəˈrinTHēən/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of the Alpine Austrian state of Carinthia or its inhabitants

• a trip to the Carinthian countryside.

II. noun

an inhabitant of the Alpine Austrian state of Carinthia

• thanks to their climate and their ancestry, the Carinthians are as a rule very good looking.

Carioca /ˌkerēˈōkə/

I. noun

1. a native of Rio de Janeiro.

2. (carioca) — a Brazilian dance resembling the samba.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Portuguese, from Tupi kari'oka ‘house of the white man.’

cariogenic /ˌkerēəˈjenik/

adjective

‹technical› causing tooth decay.

carious /ˈkerēəs/

I. adjective

(of bones or teeth) decayed.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin cariosus (see caries).

caritas /ˈkariˌtas, ˈkäriˌtäs/

I. noun

Christian love of humankind; charity.

– origin mid 19th cent.: Latin.

carjacking /ˈkärˌjakiNG/

I. noun

the action of violently stealing an occupied car.

II. derivatives

1. carjack /ˈkärˌjak /

verb

2. carjacker /ˈkärˌjakər /

noun

– origin 1990s: blend of car and hijacking (see hijack).

carking /ˈkärkiNG/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. ‹archaic› causing distress or worry

• her carking doubts.

– origin mid 16th cent.: present participle of Middle English cark ‘worry, burden,’ from Old Northern French carkier, based on late Latin carcare (see charge).

carl /kärl/

I. noun

‹archaic› a peasant or man of low birth.

– origin Old English (denoting a peasant or villein): from Old Norse karl ‘man, freeman,’ of Germanic origin; related to churl.

carline /ˈkärlən / carline thistle

I. noun

a thistlelike European plant with flower heads that bear shiny persistent straw-colored bracts.
[Genus Carlina, family Compositae: several species, in particular C. vulgaris.]

– origin late 16th cent.: from French, from medieval Latin carlina, perhaps an alteration of cardina (from Latin carduus ‘thistle’), by association with Carolus Magnus (see Charlemagne), to whom its medicinal properties were said to have been revealed.

Carlisle /ˈkärlīl ˌkärˈlīl/

a historic borough in southern Pennsylvania, southwest of Harrisburg; pop. 18,379 (est. 2008). It is home to the Army War College.

Carlism /ˈkärˌlizəm/

I. noun

‹historical› a Spanish conservative political movement originating in support of Don Carlos, brother of Fernando VII (died 1833), who claimed the throne in place of Fernando's daughter Isabella. The movement supported the Catholic Church and opposed centralized government; it was revived in support of the Nationalist side during the Spanish Civil War.

II. derivatives

Carlist /ˈkärˌlist /

adjective, noun

carload /ˈkärˌlōd/

noun

1. the number of people that can travel in an automobile

• a carload of passengers.

2. (N. Amer.) the quantity of goods that can be carried in a railroad freight car.

Carlovingian /ˌkärləˈvinj(ē)ən/

I. adjective, noun

another term for Carolingian.

– origin from French carlovingien, from Karl ‘Charles,’ on the pattern of mérovingien ‘Merovingian.’

Carlow /ˈkärlō/

a county in the Republic of Ireland, in the province of Leinster.

Carlsbad /ˈkärlzbad/

I. a city in southwestern California, on the Pacific coast, north of San Diego; pop. 96,374 (est. 2008).

II. a city in southeastern New Mexico, on the Pecos River; pop. 25,629 (est. 2008). To the southwest is Carlsbad Caverns, a vast cave complex.

Carlsbad plum

I. noun

a dessert plum of a blue-black variety, that is often crystallized.

– origin late 19th cent.: named after Karlsbad (now Karlovy Vary).

Carlton, Steve /ˈkärltən/

(1944–), US baseball player; full name Steven Norman Carlton; nicknamed Lefty. He was the first pitcher to win four Cy Young awards 1972, 1977, 1980, 1982. He played chiefly for the St. Louis Cardinals 1965–71 and the Philadelphia Phillies 1972–86. Baseball Hall of Fame (1994).

Carlyle, Thomas /kärˈlīl, ˈkärˌlīl/

(1795–1881), Scottish historian and political philosopher. He wrote History of the French Revolution (1837).

carmaker /ˈkärˌmākər/

noun

a manufacturer of automobiles.

carman /ˈkärmən/

noun

‹dated› a driver of a streetcar or horse-drawn carriage.

Carmel /kärˈmel/

a city in west central California, a resort on the Pacific Ocean, south of Monterey; pop. 3,886 (est. 2008).

Carmel, Mount /ˈkärməl/

a group of mountains near the Mediterranean coast in northwestern Israel that shelter the port of Haifa. In the Bible it is the site of the defeat of the priests of Baal by the prophet Elijah (I Kings 18).

Carmelite /ˈkärməˌlīt/

I. noun

a friar or nun of a contemplative Catholic order founded at Mount Carmel during the Crusades.

II. adjective

of or relating to the Carmelites.

Carmichael /ˈkärˌmīk(ə)l/

a community in north central California, northeast of Sacramento; pop. 49,742 (2000).

Carmichael, Hoagy

(1899–1981), US jazz pianist, composer, and singer; full name Howard Hoagland Carmichael. His best-known songs include “Stardust” (1929), “Georgia on My Mind” (1930), and “In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening” (1951).

carminative /kärˈminədiv ˈkärməˌnādiv/

I. adjective

(chiefly of a drug) relieving flatulence.

II. noun

a drug that relieves flatulence.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French carminatif, -ive, or medieval Latin carminat- ‘healed (by incantation),’ from the verb carminare, from Latin carmen (see charm).

carmine /ˈkärmīn/

I. noun

1. a vivid crimson color
[as modifier]

• carmine roses.

2. a vivid crimson pigment made from cochineal.

– origin early 18th cent.: from French carmin, based on Arabic ḳirmiz (see kermes). Compare with crimson.

Carnac /ˈkärnak/

the site in Brittany of nearly 3,000 megalithic stones dating from the Neolithic period.

carnage /ˈkärnij/

I. noun

the killing of a large number of people.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French, from Italian carnaggio, from medieval Latin carnaticum, from Latin caro, carn- ‘flesh.’

carnal /ˈkärnl/

I. adjective

relating to physical, especially sexual, needs and activities

• carnal desire.

II. derivatives

1. carnality /kärˈnalədē /

noun

2. carnally

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Christian Latin carnalis, from caro, carn- ‘flesh.’

carnal knowledge

noun

‹dated› [chiefly Law] sexual intercourse.

carnallite /ˈkärnlˌīt/

I. noun

a white or reddish mineral consisting of a hydrated chloride of potassium and magnesium.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after Rudolf von Carnall (1804–74), German mining engineer, + -ite^1.

Carnap, Rudolf /ˈkärˌnap/

(1891–1970), US philosopher; born in Germany; a founding member of the logical positivist Vienna Circle. Notable works: The Logical Structure of the World (1928) and The Logical Foundations of Probability (1950).

carnassial /kärˈnasēəl/

I. adjective

[Zoology] denoting the large upper premolar and lower molar teeth of a carnivore, adapted for shearing flesh.

II. noun

a carnassial tooth.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French carnassier ‘carnivorous,’ based on Latin caro, carn- ‘flesh.’

Carnatic /kärˈnadik/

I. adjective

of or denoting the main style of classical music in southern India, as distinct from the Hindustani music of the north

• Carnatic music.

– origin Anglicization of Karnataka in southwestern India.

carnation^1 /kärˈnāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

a double-flowered cultivated variety of clove pink, with gray-green leaves and showy pink, white, or red flowers.
[Dianthus caryophyllus, family Caryophyllaceae: many cultivars.]

– origin late 16th cent.: perhaps based on a misreading of Arabic ḳaranful ‘clove or clove pink,’ from Greek karyophullon. The early forms suggest confusion with carnation ‘rosy pink color,’ with incarnation, and with coronation.

carnation^2 /kärˈnāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

a rosy pink color
[as modifier]

• sage and carnation throw pillows.

– origin early 16th cent.: from French carnation ‘color of one's flesh,’ based on Latin carn- ‘flesh.’

carnauba /kärˈnôbə, -ˈnoubə/

I. noun

1. a northeastern Brazilian fan palm, the leaves of which exude a yellowish wax.
Also called wax palm. [Copernicia cerifera, family Palmae.]

2. (also carnauba wax) — wax from the carnauba palm, formerly used as a polish and for making candles.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Portuguese, from Tupi.

carne asada /kärnā əˈsädə, kärnē əˈsädə/

I. noun

(in Mexican cooking) beef that has been marinated and grilled, typically served sliced in thin strips as a main course or as a filling in tacos, burritos, etc.

• the carne asada was served exactly the way you'd find it in Mexico.

– origin Spanish, ‘grilled meat.’

Carnegie, Andrew /ˈkärniɡē, kärˈnāɡē/

(1835–1919), US industrialist and philanthropist; born in Scotland. After building up a fortune in the steel industry, he retired in 1901 and devoted his wealth to charitable purposes, in particular to libraries, education, and the arts. He established the Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1900.

carnelian /kärˈnēlēən / cornelian

I. noun

a semiprecious stone consisting of an orange or orange-red variety of chalcedony.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French corneline; the prefix car- being suggested by Latin caro, carn- ‘flesh.’

carnet /kärˈnā/

I. noun

1. a book of tickets for use on public transport in some countries.

2. a customs permit allowing a motor vehicle to be taken across an international border for a limited period.

– origin 1920s: from French, ‘notebook.’

Carney, Art /ˈkärnē/

(1918–2003), US actor; full name Arthur William Matthew Carney. Best known for his role as Ed Norton in the 1950s television series The Honeymooners, he also appeared in such movies as Harry and Tonto (1974) and Going in Style (1979).

Carnic Alps /ˌkärnik ˈalps/

a range of the Alps on the border of southern Austria and northeastern Italy that reaches 9,124 feet (2,781 m) at Monte Coglians (Hohe Warte). German name Karnische Alpen.

carnitas /ˌkärˈnēdəs/

I. plural noun

(in Mexican cooking) braised or roasted pork served shredded in small pieces, often as a filling in tacos, burritos, etc.

• the carnitas had a great grilled flavor that melted in your mouth.

– origin Mexican Spanish, literally ‘little pieces of meat.’

carnival /ˈkärnəvəl/

I. noun

1. a period of public revelry at a regular time each year, typically during the week before Lent in Roman Catholic countries, involving processions, music, dancing, and the use of masquerade

• the culmination of the week-long carnival

• Mardi Gras is the last day of carnival

• [as modifier] a carnival parade.

2. a public event or celebration, typically held outdoors and offering entertainment and exhibitions

• he helped judge the ice-sculpture contest at the college's winter carnival.

3. an exciting or riotous mixture of something

• the whole evening was a carnival of fun.

4. (N. Amer.) a traveling amusement show or circus.

II. derivatives

carnivalesque /ˌkärnəvəˈlesk /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Italian carnevale, carnovale, from medieval Latin carnelevamen, carnelevarium ‘Shrovetide,’ from Latin caro, carn- ‘flesh’ + levare ‘put away.’

Carnivora /kärˈnivərə / ‹Zoology›

an order of mammals that comprises the cats, dogs, bears, hyenas, weasels, civets, raccoons, and mongooses. They are distinguished by having powerful jaws and teeth adapted for stabbing, tearing, and eating flesh.

carnivore /ˈkärnəˌvôr/

I. noun

1. an animal that feeds on flesh.

2. [Zoology] a mammal of the order Carnivora.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, from Latin carnivorus (see carnivorous).

carnivorous /ˌkärˈniv(ə)rəs/

I. adjective

1. (of an animal) feeding on other animals.

2. (of a plant) able to trap and digest small animals, especially insects.

II. derivatives

1. carnivorously

adverb

2. carnivorousness

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin carnivorus, from caro, carn- ‘flesh’ + -vorus (see -vorous).

carnosaur /ˈkärnəˌsôr / carnosaurus

I. noun

a large bipedal carnivorous dinosaur, typically one with greatly reduced forelimbs.
[Infraorder Carnosauria, suborder Theropoda, order Saurischia; includes tyrannosaurus, allosaurus, and megalosaurus.]

II. derivatives

carnosaurian

adjective

– origin 1930s: from modern Latin, from Latin caro, carn- ‘flesh’ + Greek sauros ‘lizard.’

Carnot, Sadi /kärˈnō/

(1796–1832), French scientist; full name Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot. His work in analyzing the efficiency of steam engines was of crucial importance to the theory of thermodynamics.

carnotite /ˈkärnəˌtīt/

I. noun

a lemon-yellow radioactive mineral consisting of hydrated vanadate of uranium and potassium, often found near petrified trees.

– origin late 19th cent.: named after Marie Adolphe Carnot (1839–1920), French inspector of mines, + -ite^1.

carny^1 /ˈkärnē / carnie, carney

noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a carnival or amusement show

• a carny atmosphere.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a person who works in a carnival or amusement show.

carny^2 /ˈkärnē / carney

I. adjective

(Brit.) ‹informal› artful; sly

• Finley's carny approach to baseball.

– origin late 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

carob /ˈkerəb/

I. noun

1. a brown floury powder extracted from the carob bean, used as a substitute for chocolate.

2. (also carob tree) — a small evergreen Arabian tree that bears long brownish-purple edible pods.
Also called locust tree (see locust (sense 3)). [Ceratonia siliqua, family Leguminosae.]

3. (also carob bean) — the edible pod of the carob tree.
Also called locust bean (see locust (sense 2)).

– origin late Middle English (denoting the carob bean): from Old French carobe, from medieval Latin carrubia, from Arabic ḵarrūba.

carol /ˈkerəl/

I. noun

a religious folk song or popular hymn, particularly one associated with Christmas

• singing Christmas carols around the tree

• [as modifier] a carol service.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (often as noun caroling) — sing Christmas songs or hymns, especially in a group

• a night of Christmas caroling was traditional

• we caroled from door to door.

2. [with obj.] — sing or say (something) happily

• she was cheerfully caroling the words of the song.

III. derivatives

caroler /ˈkerələr /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French carole (noun), caroler (verb), of unknown origin.

Carol City /ˌkerəl ˈsidē/

a suburban community in southeastern Florida, north of Miami; pop. 59,443 (2000).

Carolina /ˌkerəˈlīnə/

a commercial and residential suburb in Puerto Rico, east of San Juan; pop. 167,000 (est. 2009).

Carolina duck

noun

another term for wood duck.

Carolina parakeet

noun

a small long-tailed parakeet with mainly green plumage and a yellow and orange head. It was formerly common in the eastern US but was exterminated by about 1920.
[Conuropsis carolinensis, family Psittacidae.]

Carolina rose

noun

another term for pasture rose.

Caroline /ˈkerəˌlīn ˈkerəlin/

I. adjective

1. (also Carolean ) — of or relating to the reigns of Charles I and II of England

• a Caroline poet.

2. another term for Carolingian.

– origin early 17th cent.: from medieval Latin Carolus ‘Charles.’

Caroline Islands /ˈkerəlīn ˌīləndz / the Carolines

a group of islands in the western Pacific Ocean, north of the equator, divided between the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau.

Carolingian /ˌkerəˈlinj(ē)ən / Carlovingian

I. adjective

1. of or relating to the Frankish dynasty, founded by Charlemagne's father (Pepin III), that ruled in western Europe from 750 to 987.

2. denoting or relating to a style of minuscule script developed in France during the time of Charlemagne, on which modern lower-case letters are largely based.

II. noun

a member of the Carolingian dynasty.

– origin alteration of earlier Carlovingian, by association with medieval Latin Carolus ‘Charles.’

Carolingian Renaissance

a period during the reign of Charlemagne and his successors that was marked by achievements in art, architecture, learning, and music.

Carol Stream

a village in northeastern Illinois, west of Chicago; pop. 40,004 (est. 2008).

carom /ˈkerəm / ‹Billiards chiefly N. Amer.›

I. noun

1. another term for billiard (sense 2).

2. (also carom billiards) — any of the billiard games played on a table without pockets.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. make a carom; strike and rebound.

– origin late 18th cent.: abbreviation of carambole, from Spanish carambola, apparently from bola ‘ball.’

carotene /ˈkerəˌtēn/

I. noun

[Chemistry] an orange or red plant pigment found in carrots and many other plant structures. It is a terpenoid hydrocarbon with several isomers, of which one (beta carotene) is important in the diet as a precursor of vitamin A.

– origin mid 19th cent.: coined in German from Latin carota (see carrot).

carotenoid /kəˈrät(ə)nˌoid/

noun

[Chemistry] any of a class of mainly yellow, orange, or red fat-soluble pigments, including carotene, which give color to plant parts such as ripe tomatoes and autumn leaves. They are terpenoids based on a structure having the formula C_40H_56.

Carothers, Wallace /kəˈrəT͟Hərz/

(1896–1937), US industrial chemist; full name Wallace Hume Carothers. He developed neoprene, the first successful synthetic rubber and also Nylon 6.6, a synthetic fiber.

carotid /kəˈrädəd/

I. adjective

of, relating to, or denoting the two main arteries that carry blood to the head and neck, and their two main branches.

II. noun

each of the two main arteries that carry blood to the head and neck.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French carotide or modern Latin carotides, from Greek karōtides, plural of karōtis ‘drowsiness,’ from karoun ‘stupefy’ (because compression of these arteries was thought to cause stupor).

carotid body

noun

a small mass of receptors in the carotid artery sensitive to chemical change in the blood.

carouse /kəˈrouz/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. drink plentiful amounts of alcohol and enjoy oneself with others in a noisy, lively way

• they danced and caroused until the drink ran out

• (as noun carousing) a night of carousing.

II. noun

a noisy, lively drinking party

• corporate carouses.

III. derivatives

1. carousal /kəˈrouz(ə)l /

noun

2. carouser /kəˈrouzər /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: originally as an adverb meaning ‘all out, completely’ in the phrase drink carouse, from German gar aus trinken; hence ‘drink heavily, have a drinking bout.’

carousel /ˌkerəˈsel / carrousel

I. noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) a merry-go-round.

2. a rotating machine or device, in particular a conveyor system at an airport from which arriving passengers collect their luggage.

3. ‹historical› a tournament in which groups of knights took part in chariot races and other demonstrations of equestrian skills.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French carrousel, from Italian carosello.

carp^1 /kärp/

I. noun

a deep-bodied freshwater fish, typically with barbels around the mouth. Carp are farmed for food in some parts of the world and are widely kept in large ponds.
[Family Cyprinidae (the minnow family): several genera and species, including the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix). The family includes the majority of freshwater fishes in Eurasia, Africa, and North and Central America.]

– origin late Middle English: from Old French carpe, from late Latin carpa.

carp^2 /kärp/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. complain or find fault continually, typically about trivial matters

• I don't want to carp about the way you did it

• he was constantly carping at me.

II. derivatives

carper /ˈkärpər /

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘talk, chatter’): from Old Norse karpa ‘brag’; later influenced by Latin carpere ‘pluck at, slander.’

carpaccio /kärˈpäCH(ē)ō/

I. noun

an Italian hors d'oeuvre consisting of thin slices of raw beef or fish served with a sauce.

– origin Italian, named after Vittore Carpaccio (see Carpaccio, Vittore) (from his use of red pigments, resembling raw meat).

Carpaccio, Vittore /kärˈpäCH(ē)ō/

(c. 1455–1525), Italian painter.

carpal /ˈkärpəl/

I. adjective

relating to the bones forming the human carpus (wrist), or to their equivalent in an animal's forelimb.
See carpus.

II. noun

any of the carpal bones.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from carpus + -al.

carpal tunnel syndrome

noun

a painful condition of the hand and fingers caused by compression of a major nerve where it passes over the carpal bones through a passage at the front of the wrist, alongside the flexor tendons of the hand. It may be caused by repetitive movements over a long period, or by fluid retention, and is characterized by sensations of tingling, numbness, or burning.

car park /ˈkär ˌpärk/

noun

(Brit.) a parking lot or parking garage.

Carpathian Mountains /kärˌpāTHēən ˈmount(ə)nz / the Carpathians

a mountain system that extends southeast from southern Poland and the Czech Republic into Romania.

carpe diem /ˌkärpā ˈdēˌem/

I. exclamation

used to urge someone to make the most of the present time and give little thought to the future.

– origin early 19th cent.: Latin, ‘seize the day!,’ a quotation from Horace (Odes I.xi).

carpel /ˈkärpəl/

I. noun

[Botany] the female reproductive organ of a flower, consisting of an ovary, a stigma, and usually a style. It may occur singly or as one of a group.

II. derivatives

carpellary /ˈkärpəˌlerē /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French carpelle or modern Latin carpellum, from Greek karpos ‘fruit.’

Carpentaria, Gulf of /ˌkärpənˈte(ə)rēə/

a large bay on the northern coast of Australia, between Arnhem Land and the Cape York Peninsula.

carpenter /ˈkärpən(t)ər/

I. noun

a person who makes and repairs wooden objects and structures.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be carpentered)

1. make by shaping wood

• the rails were carpentered very skillfully.

2. [no obj.] — do the work of a carpenter.

– origin Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French, from Old French carpentier, charpentier, from late Latin carpentarius (artifex) ‘carriage (maker),’ from carpentum ‘wagon,’ of Gaulish origin; related to car.

carpenter ant /ˈkärpən(t)ər ant/

noun

a large ant that burrows into wood to nest.
[Genus Camponotus, family Formicidae: numerous species.]

carpenter bee /ˈkärpən(t)ər bē/

noun

a large solitary bee with purplish wings that nests in tunnels bored in dead wood or plant stems.
[Genus Xylocopa, family Apidae: several species.]

carpenter pants

plural noun

loose-fitting pants with many pockets of various sizes and loops for tools at the tops or sides of the legs.

carpentry /ˈkärpəntrē/

I. noun

1. the activity or occupation of making or repairing things in wood.

2. the work made or done by a carpenter

• the superb carpentry of the mahogany desk.

– origin late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French carpentrie, Old French charpenterie, from charpentier (see carpenter).

carpet /ˈkärpət/

I. noun

1. a floor or stair covering made from thick woven fabric, typically shaped to fit a particular room

• the house has wall-to-wall carpets throughout

• the floor was covered with carpet.

2. a large rug, typically an oriental one

• priceless Persian carpets.

3. a thick or soft expanse or layer of something

• carpets of snowdrops and crocuses.

4. ‹informal› (chiefly US) a carpetlike artificial playing surface on a tennis court or an athletic field.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. cover (a floor or stairs) with a carpet

• the stairs were carpeted in a lovely shade of red.

2. cover with a thick or soft expanse or layer of something

• the meadows are carpeted with flowers.

3. (Brit.) ‹informal› reprimand severely.

III. phrases

call someone on the carpet

‹informal› severely reprimand someone

• she might have called the accused person on the carpet.

[from carpet in the sense ‘table covering,’ referring to ‘the carpet of the council table,’ before which one would be summoned for reprimand; or simply referring to the carpet in front of a superior's desk.]

– origin Middle English (denoting a thick fabric used as a cover for a table or bed): from Old French carpite or medieval Latin carpita, from obsolete Italian carpita ‘woolen bedspread,’ based on Latin carpere ‘pluck, pull to pieces.’

carpetbag /ˈkärpətˌbaɡ/

I. noun

a traveling bag of a kind originally made of carpeting or carpetlike material.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. act as a carpetbagger
(as adj. carpetbagging)

• rich, carpetbagging developers.

carpetbagger /ˈkärpətˌbaɡər/

noun

1. ‹derogatory› a political candidate who seeks election in an area where they have no local connections.

2. ‹derogatory› ‹historical› (in the US) a person from the northern states who went to the South after the Civil War to profit from the Reconstruction.

3. ‹derogatory› a person perceived as an unscrupulous opportunist

• the organization is rife with carpetbaggers.

carpet beetle /ˈkärpət ˈbēdl/

noun

a small beetle whose larva (a woolly bear) is destructive to carpets, fabrics, and other materials.
[Genus Anthrenus, family Dermestidae.]

carpet-bomb /ˈkärpət bäm/

verb — [with obj.] (often as noun carpet-bombing)

1. bomb (an area) intensively.

carpeting /ˈkärpədiNG/

noun

1. carpets collectively

• offices with wall-to-wall carpeting.

2. the fabric from which carpets are made.

carpet moth

noun

a drab moth related to the clothes moth, the larvae of which feed on coarse textiles and animal hair.
[Trichophaga tapetzella, family Tineidae.]

carpet shark

noun

a relatively small shallow-water shark with barbels around the nose or mouth and typically with a conspicuous color pattern. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region and the Red Sea.
[Family Orectolobidae: Orectolobus and other genera, and several species.]

carpet shell

noun

a burrowing bivalve mollusk of temperate and warm seas, with concentric growth rings and irregular colored markings.
[Genus Venerupis, family Veneriidae.]

carpet slipper /ˈkärpət ˌslipər/

noun

a soft slipper whose upper part is made of wool or thick cloth.

carpet sweeper /ˈkärpət ˌswēpər/

noun

a manual household implement used for sweeping carpets, having a revolving brush or brushes and a receptacle for dust and dirt.

carpetweed /ˈkärpətˌwēd/

noun

any of various dicotyledonous, usually succulent plants that typically grow in warm, sandy regions.
[Family Aizoaceae, order Caryophyllales: several genera and species, in particular Mollugo verticillata, a North American weed with small whitish flowers; like many of the carpetweeds, it is prostrate and forms a dense mat on the ground.]

carphology /kärˈfäləjē/

I. noun

‹rare› plucking at the bedclothes by a delirious patient.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek karphologia, from karphos ‘straw’ + legein ‘collect.’

car phone /ˈkär ˌfōn/

noun

a mobile phone designed for use in a motor vehicle.

carping /ˈkärpiNG/

adjective

difficult to please; critical

• she has silenced the carping critics with a successful debut tour.

carpo-

combining form

fruit

• carpology

• carpophore.

carpology /kärˈpäləjē/

I. noun

‹rare› the study of fruits and seeds.

II. derivatives

carpological /ˌkärpəˈläjikəl /

adjective

– origin early 19th cent.: from Greek karpos ‘fruit’ + -logy.

carpool /ˈkärpo͞ol / ‹chiefly N. Amer.›

I. noun

1. an arrangement between people to make a regular journey in a single vehicle, typically with each person taking turns to drive the others.

2. a group of people in a carpool.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. form or participate in a carpool.

III. derivatives

carpooler

noun

carpophore /ˈkärpəˌfôr/

I. noun

1. [Botany] (in a flower) an elongated axis that raises the stem of the pistil above the stamens.

2. [Botany] (in a fungus) the stem of the fruiting body.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek karpos ‘fruit’ + -phore.

carport /ˈkärˌpôrt/

noun

a shelter for a car consisting of a roof supported on posts, built beside a house.

carpus /ˈkärpəs/

I. noun

the group of small bones between the main part of the forelimb and the metacarpus in terrestrial vertebrates. The eight bones of the human carpus form the wrist and part of the hand, and are arranged in two rows.

– origin late Middle English: from modern Latin, from Greek karpos ‘wrist.’

Carracci /kəˈräCHē/

the name of a family of Italian painters comprised of brothers Annibale (1560–1609) and Agostino (1557–1602) and their cousin Ludovico (1555–1619). Together they established a teaching academy at Bologna. Annibale is famed for his frescoes on the ceiling of the Farnese Gallery in Rome and for his invention of the caricature.

carrack /ˈkerək/

I. noun

a large merchant ship of a kind operating in European waters in the 14th to the 17th century.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French caraque; perhaps from Spanish carraca, from Arabic, perhaps from ḳarāḳir, plural of ḳurḳūra, a type of merchant ship.

carrageen /ˈkerəˌɡēn / carragheen, carrageen moss

I. noun

an edible red shoreline seaweed with flattened branching fronds, found in both Eurasia and North America and used to produce carrageenan.
Also called Irish moss. [Chondrus crispus, phylum Rhodophyta.]

– origin early 19th cent.: from Irish carraigín.

carrageenan /ˌkerəˈɡēnən/

I. noun

a substance extracted from red and purple seaweeds, consisting of a mixture of polysaccharides. It is used as a thickening or emulsifying agent in food products.

– origin 1960s: from carrageen + -an.

Carrara /kəˈrärə, -ˈre(ə)rə/

a town in northwestern Italy, in Tuscany, known for the white marble quarried here since Roman times; pop. 65,760 (2008).

carrefour /ˈkarəˌfo͝or, ˌkarəˈfo͝or/

noun

1. a crossroads.

2. a public square, plaza, or marketplace where roads converge.

carrel /ˈkerəl/

I. noun

1. a small cubicle with a desk for the use of a reader or student in a library.

2. ‹historical› a small enclosure or study in a cloister.

– origin late 16th cent.: apparently related to carol in the old sense ‘ring.’

Carrel, Alexis /käˈrel/

(1873–1944), French surgeon and biologist. He developed improved techniques for suturing arteries and veins and carried out some of the first organ transplants. Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine (1912).

Carreras, José /kəˈre(ə)rəs/

(1946–), Spanish opera singer, noted for his work in operas by Verdi and Puccini. He was one of the Three Tenors, along with Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo.

carriage /ˈkerij/

I. noun

1. a means of conveyance, in particular

2. a four-wheeled passenger vehicle pulled by two or more horses

• a horse-drawn carriage.

3. a baby carriage.

4. a shopping cart.

5. a wheeled support for moving a heavy object such as a gun.

6. (Brit.) a passenger car of a train

• the first-class carriages.

7. the transporting of items or merchandise from one place to another.

8. a moving part of a machine that carries other parts into the required position

• a typewriter carriage.

9. [in sing.] — a person's bearing or deportment

• her carriage was graceful, her movements quick and deft.

10. the harboring of a potentially disease-causing organism by a person or animal that does not contract the disease.

– origin late Middle English: from Old Northern French cariage, from carier (see carry).

carriage bolt

noun

(N. Amer.) a large bolt with a round head, used chiefly for fixing wooden panels to masonry or to one another.

carriage dog

I. noun

archaic term for Dalmatian.

– origin early 19th cent.: because Dalmatians were formerly trained to run behind a carriage as a guard dog.

carriage house

noun

(N. Amer.) a building for housing a horse-drawn carriage, typically such a building that has been converted into a dwelling.

carriage release

noun

a function or lever that enables the carriage on a manual or electric typewriter to move freely, instead of only in one direction when the keys are pressed.

carriage return

noun

another term for return (sense 5 of the noun).

carriage trade

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› the wealthy clientele of a business.

– origin with reference to people who formerly would have been wealthy enough to maintain a private carriage.

carriageway /ˈkerəjˌwā/

noun

1. (Brit.) each of the two sides of a divided highway or expressway, each of which usually have two or more lanes.

2. (Brit.) the part of a road intended for vehicles rather than pedestrians.

carrick bend /ˌkarik ˈbend/

I. noun

a kind of knot used to join ropes, especially hawsers, end to end, especially so that they can go around a capstan without jamming.

– origin early 19th cent.: from bend^2: carrick perhaps an alteration of carrack.

carrier /ˈkerēər/

noun

1. a person or thing that carries, holds, or conveys something

• water carriers.

2. a person or company that undertakes the professional conveyance of goods or people

• Pan Am was the third US carrier to cease operations in 1991.

3. a vessel or vehicle for transporting people or things, especially goods in bulk

• the largest timber carrier ever to dock at a Malaysian port.

4. an aircraft carrier.

5. a company that provides facilities for conveying telecommunications messages.

6. a person or animal that transmits a disease-causing organism to others. Typically, the carrier suffers no symptoms of the disease

• the black rat, best known as carrier of bubonic plague.

7. a person or other organism that possesses a particular gene, especially as a single copy whose effect is masked by a dominant allele, so that the associated characteristic (such as a hereditary disease) is not displayed but may be passed to offspring.

8. a substance used to support or convey another substance such as a pigment, catalyst, or radioactive material.

9. [Physics] short for charge carrier.

10. [Biochemistry] a molecule that transfers a specified molecule or ion within the body, especially across a cell membrane.

carrier pigeon /ˈkerēər ˌpijən/

noun

a homing pigeon trained to carry messages tied to its neck or leg.

carrier wave

noun

a high-frequency electromagnetic wave modulated in amplitude or frequency to convey a signal.

carriole /ˈkerēˌōl / cariole

I. noun

1. ‹historical› a small open horse-drawn carriage for one person.

2. a light covered cart.

3. (in Canada) a kind of sled pulled by a horse or dogs and with space for one or more passengers.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French, from Italian carriuola, diminutive of carro, from Latin carrum (see car).

carrion /ˈkerēən/

I. noun

the decaying flesh of dead animals.

– origin Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French and Old Northern French caroine, caroigne, Old French charoigne, based on Latin caro ‘flesh.’

carrion beetle /ˈkerēən ˈbēdl/

noun

a beetle that feeds on decaying animal and plant matter and insect larvae.
[Family Silphidae: many species, including the burying beetles.]

carrion crow /ˈkerēən ˌkrō/

noun

1. a medium-sized, typically all-black crow that is common throughout much of Eurasia.
[Corvus corone, family Corvidae. See also hooded crow.]

2. another name for black vulture (sense 1).

carrion flower

noun

1. a North American climbing plant with small white flowers that smell of decaying flesh.
[Genus Smilax: several species, in particular S. herbacea.]

2. another term for stapelia.

Carroll, Lewis /ˈkarəl/

(1832–98), English writer; pseudonym of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson. He wrote the children's classics Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and Through the Looking Glass (1871), which were inspired by Alice Liddell, the young daughter of the dean at the Oxford college where Carroll was a mathematics lecturer.

Carrollton /ˈkerəltən/

a city in northeastern Texas, north of Dallas; pop. 125,595 (est. 2008).

carronade /ˌkerəˈnād/

I. noun

‹historical› a short large-caliber cannon, formerly in naval use.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Carron, Scotland, where this kind of cannon was first made.

carrot /ˈkerət/

I. noun

1. a tapering orange-colored root eaten as a vegetable.

2. the cultivated feathery-leaved plant of the parsley family that yields this vegetable.
[Daucus carota, family Umbelliferae: two subspecies and many varieties; wild forms lack the swollen root.]

3. an offer of something enticing as a means of persuasion (often contrasted with the threat of something punitive or unwelcome)

• carrots will promote cooperation over the environment far more effectively than sticks.

[with allusion to the proverbial encouragement of a donkey to move by enticing it with a carrot.]

– origin late 15th cent.: from French carotte, from Latin carota, from Greek karōton.

carrot-and-stick /ˈkerətənˌstik/

adjective

characterized by both the offer of reward and the threat of punishment

• carrot-and-stick reforms intended to break long-term dependency on state and federal handouts.

carrot cake

noun

a moist cake containing grated carrot and typically topped with a buttercream or cream cheese icing.

• at lunchtime, how can we resist a fruit smoothie, a low-fat carrot cake, or a mocha cappuccino?

carrotwood /ˈkerətˌwo͝od/

noun

a tree of the soapberry family, native to southeast Asia, that threatens mangrove swamps and other habitats in the US because of its invasive habit.
[Cupaniopsis anacardioides, family Sapindaceae.]

carroty /ˈkerədē/

adjective

(of a person's hair or whiskers) orange-red in color.

carry /ˈkerē/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. support and move (someone or something) from one place to another

• medics were carrying a wounded man on a stretcher.

2. transport, conduct, or transmit

• the train service carries 20,000 passengers daily

• nerves carry visual information from the eyes.

3. have on one's person and take with one wherever one goes

• the money he was carrying was not enough to pay the fine

• ‹figurative› she had carried the secret all her life.

4. be infected with (a disease) and liable to transmit it to others

• ticks can carry Lyme disease.

5. support the weight of

• the bridge is capable of carrying even the heaviest loads.

6. be pregnant with

• she was carrying twins.

7. (carry oneself) — stand and move in a specified way

• she carried herself straight and with assurance.

8. assume or accept (responsibility or blame)

• they must carry the responsibility for the mess they have gotten the company into.

9. be responsible for the effectiveness or success of

• they relied on dialogue to carry the plot.

10. have as a feature or consequence

• being a combat sport, karate carries with it the risk of injury

• each bike carries a ten-year guarantee.

11. [no obj.] — (of a sound, ball, missile, etc.) reach a certain point

• his voice carried clearly across the room

• the balls seem to carry well in that ballpark.

12. (of a gun or similar weapon) propel (a missile) to a specified distance.

13. [Golf] hit the ball over and beyond (a particular point).

14. take or develop (an idea or activity) to a specified point

• he carried the criticism much further.

15. approve (a proposed measure) by a majority of votes

• the resolution was carried by a two-to-one majority.

16. persuade (colleagues or followers) to support one's policy

• he could not carry the cabinet.

17. (N. Amer.) gain (a state or district) in an election.

18. (of a newspaper or a television or radio station) publish or broadcast

• the paper carried a detailed account of the current crisis.

19. (of a retail outlet) keep a regular stock of (particular goods for sale)

• this store no longer carries phonograph equipment.

20. have visible on the surface

• the product does not carry the “UL” symbol.

21. be known by (a name)

• some products carry the same names as overseas beers.

22. transfer (a figure) to an adjacent column during an arithmetical operation (e.g., when a column of digits adds up to more than ten).

II. noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. an act of lifting and transporting something from one place to another

• we did a carry of equipment from the camp.

2. [Football] an act of running with the ball from scrimmage.

3. (N. Amer.) the action of keeping something, especially a gun, on one's person

• this pistol is the right choice for on-duty or off-duty carry.

4. (N. Amer.) ‹historical› a place or route between navigable waters over which boats or supplies had to be carried.

5. the transfer of a figure into an adjacent column (or the equivalent part of a computer memory) during an arithmetical operation.

6. [Finance] the maintenance of an investment position in a securities market, especially with regard to the costs or profits accruing.

7. (in golf) the distance a ball travels before reaching the ground.

8. the range of a gun or similar weapon.

9. (in golf) the distance a ball must travel to reach a certain destination.

III. phrases

1. carry conviction

be convincing.

2. carry the day

be victorious or successful.

3. carry weight

be influential or important

• the report is expected to carry considerable weight with the administration.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. be/get carried away

lose self-control

• I got a bit carried away when describing the final game.

2. carry something away

[Nautical] lose (a mast or other part of a ship) through breakage.

3. carry something forward

a. transfer figures to a new page or account.

b. keep something to use or deal with at a later time

• we carried forward a reserve, which allowed us to meet demands.

4. carry someone/something off

a. take someone or something away by force

• bandits carried off his mule.

b. (of a disease) kill someone

• Parkinson's disease carried him off in September.

5. carry something off

a. win a prize

• she failed to carry off the gold medal.

b. succeed in doing something difficult

• he could not have carried it off without government help.

6. carry on

a. continue an activity or task

• carry on with what you were doing.

b. (chiefly Brit.) continue to move in the same direction

• I knew I was going the wrong way, but I just carried on.

c. ‹informal› behave, especially speak, in an excited or bad-tempered way

• she carries on about television programming.

d. ‹informal› be engaged in a love affair, typically one of which the speaker disapproves

• she was carrying on with young Adam.

7. carry something on

engage in an activity

• he could not carry on a logical conversation.

8. carry something out

perform a task or planned operation

• we're carrying out a market-research survey.

9. carry over

extend beyond the normal or original area of application

• his artistic practice is clearly carrying over into his social thought.

10. carry something over

a. retain something and apply or deal with it in a new context

• much of the wartime economic planning was carried over into the next decade.

b. postpone an event

• the match had to be carried over till Sunday.

c. another way of saying carry something forward.

11. carry something through

a. bring a project to completion

• policy blueprints are rarely carried through perfectly.

b. bring something safely out of difficulties

• he was the only person who could carry the country through.

– origin late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French and Old Northern French carier, based on Latin carrus ‘wheeled vehicle.’

carryall /ˈkerēˌôl/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) a large bag or case.

2. ‹historical› a light carriage.
[early 18th cent.: apparently altered by folk etymology from French carriole, denoting a small covered carriage.]

3. (US) a large car or truck with seats facing each other along the sides.

carryback note /ˈkerēbak ˌnōt/

noun

[Finance] a negotiable promissory note representing the value of real estate when the seller has provided the financing.

carrying capacity

noun

1. the number or quantity of people or things that can be conveyed or held by a vehicle or container.

2. [Ecology] the number of people, other living organisms, or crops that a region can support without environmental degradation.

carrying charge

noun

1. [Finance] (chiefly N. Amer.) an expense or effective cost arising from unproductive assets such as stored goods or unoccupied premises.

2. a sum payable for the conveying of goods.

carrying-on /ˌkerēiNGˈän/

noun

1. excited or overwrought behavior

• I'm fed up with your incessant carrying-on.

2. salacious, improper, or immoral behavior

• the couple's public carrying-on embarrassed passersby.

carry-on /ˈkerēˌän/

adjective

(of a bag or suitcase) suitable for taking onto an aircraft as handheld luggage.

carry-out /ˈkerēˌout/

adjective, noun

(chiefly Scottish) (US) another term for takeout (sense 1).

carryover /ˈkerēˌōvər/

noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. something transferred or resulting from a previous situation or context

• the slow trading was a carryover from the big losses of last week.

car sharing

noun

the practice of sharing a car for regular traveling, especially for commuting

• varying shifts worked by staff make car sharing difficult

• [as modifier] some companies operate their own in-house car-sharing schemes.

carsick /ˈkärˌsik/

I. adjective

affected with nausea caused by the motion of a car or other vehicle in which one is traveling.

II. derivatives

carsickness /ˈkärˌsiknəs /

noun

Carson /ˈkärsən/

a city in southwestern California, south of Los Angeles; pop. 92,366 (est. 2008).

Carson, Johnny /ˈkärsən/

(1925–2005), US television personality and comedian; full name John William Carson. He hosted The Tonight Show 1962–92.

Carson, Kit

(1809–68), US frontiersman and scout; full name Christopher Carson. He was a US Indian agent in the Southwest 1853–61 and organized Union forces against Indians in the West during the Civil War.

Carson, Rachel

(1907–64), US biologist and environmentalist; full name Rachel Louise Carson. Her works include The Sea Around Us (1951) and Silent Spring (1962).

Carson City

the capital of Nevada, in the western part of the state, southeast of Reno; pop. 54,867 (est. 2008).

cart /kärt/

I. noun

1. a strong open vehicle with two or four wheels, typically used for carrying loads and pulled by a horse.

2. a shallow open container on wheels that may be pulled or pushed by hand.

3. (N. Amer.) a shopping cart.

4. (also shopping cart) — a facility on a website that records items selected by a customer for purchase until the transaction is completed

• from the product page select the size and quantity you'd like and click ‘Buy’ to add it to your cart.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. convey or put in a cart or similar vehicle

• the produce was packed in crates and carted to Kansas City.

2. ‹informal› carry (a heavy or cumbersome object) somewhere with difficulty

• they carted the piano down three flights of stairs.

3. remove or convey (someone) somewhere unceremoniously

• they carted off the refugees in the middle of the night.

III. phrases

put the cart before the horse

reverse the proper order or procedure of something.

IV. derivatives

1. carter /ˈkärdər /

noun

2. cartful /ˈkärtfo͝ol /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse kartr, probably influenced by Anglo-Norman French and Old Northern French carete, diminutive of carre (see car).

cartage /ˈkärdij/

noun

the transporting of something in a cart or other vehicle.

Cartagena /ˌkärtəˈhānə, -ˈɡānə/

I. a port in southeastern Spain; pop. 210,376 (2008). Originally named Mastia, it was refounded as Carthago Nova (New Carthage) in c. 225 BC as a base for the Carthaginian conquest of Spain.

II. a port, resort, and oil-refining center in northwestern Colombia, on the Caribbean Sea; pop. 885,400 (2005).

carte blanche /kärt ˈblänSH/

I. noun

complete freedom to act as one wishes or thinks best

• we were given carte blanche.

– origin late 17th cent.: French, literally ‘blank paper’ (i.e., a blank sheet on which to write whatever one wishes, particularly one's own terms for an agreement).

carte de visite /ˌkärt də viˈzēt/

I. noun

‹historical› a small photographic portrait of someone, mounted on a piece of card.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, ‘visiting card.’

cartel /kärˈtel/

I. noun

1. an association of manufacturers or suppliers with the purpose of maintaining prices at a high level and restricting competition

• the Colombian drug cartels.

2. ‹chiefly historical› a coalition or cooperative arrangement between political parties intended to promote a mutual interest.

– origin late 19th cent.: from German Kartell, from French cartel, from Italian cartello, diminutive of carta, from Latin carta (see card^1). It was originally used to refer to the coalition of the Conservatives and National Liberal parties in Germany (1887), and hence any political combination; later to denote a trade agreement (early 20th cent).

cartelize /ˈkärdəlīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. (of manufacturers or suppliers) form a cartel in (an industry or trade).

Carter, Angela /ˈkärtər/

(1940–92), English novelist and short-story writer. Notable works: The Magic Toyshop (1967) and Nights at the Circus (1984).

Carter, Elliott

(1908–2012), US composer; full name Elliott Cook Carter. He was noted for his innovative approach to meter and his choice of sources as diverse as modern jazz and Renaissance madrigals.

Carter, Howard

(1874–1939), English archaeologist. In 1922, while excavating in the Valley of the Kings at Thebes, he discovered the tomb of Tutankhamen.

Carter, Jimmy

(1924–), 39th president of the US 1977–81; full name James Earl Carter, Jr. A Georgia Democrat, he served as a state senator 1962–66 and as governor 1971–74. As president, he hosted the talks that led to the Camp David agreements of 1978. The accomplishments of his administration were marred by the crisis caused by the seizure of 52 American hostages in Iran in 1979. After losing a bid for re-election, Carter remained politically active in world affairs, dedicated to the causes of peace and human rights. Nobel Peace Prize (2002).

Cartesian /kärˈtēZHən/

I. adjective

of or relating to Descartes and his ideas.

II. noun

a follower of Descartes.

III. derivatives

Cartesianism /kärˈtēZHəˌnizəm /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from modern Latin Cartesianus, from Cartesius, Latinized form of the name of Descartes.

Cartesian coordinates /kärˈtēZHən kōˈôrdəˌnāts/

plural noun

[Mathematics] numbers that indicate the location of a point relative to a fixed reference point (the origin), being its shortest (perpendicular) distances from two fixed axes (or three planes defined by three fixed axes) that intersect at right angles at the origin.

Cartesian product

noun

[Mathematics] the product of two sets: the product of set X and set Y is the set that contains all ordered pairs (x, y) for which x belongs to X and y belongs to Y.

Carthage /ˈkärTHəj/

an ancient city on the coast of North Africa near present-day Tunis. Founded by the Phoenicians c. 814 BC, it became a major force in the Mediterranean Sea area and fought with Rome during the Punic Wars. It was finally destroyed by the Romans in 146 BC.

Carthaginian /ˌkärTHəˈjinēən/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of the ancient African city of Carthage

• Carthaginian trading posts.

II. noun

an inhabitant of the ancient African city of Carthage

• a Carthaginian had sailed out of the Mediterranean deep into the Atlantic.

cart horse /ˈkärt hôrs/

noun

(Brit.) a large, strong horse suitable for heavy work.

Carthusian /ˌkärˈTH(y)o͞oZHən/

I. noun

a monk or nun of an austere contemplative order founded by St. Bruno in 1084.

II. adjective

of or relating to the Carthusians.

– origin from medieval Latin Carthusianus, from Cart(h)usia, Latin name of Chartreuse, near Grenoble, France, where the order was founded.

Cartier, Jacques /kärˈtyā, ˈkärtēˌā/

(1491–1557), French explorer. The first to establish France's claim to North America, he made three voyages to Canada between 1534 and 1541.

Cartier-Bresson, Henri /ˌkärtyā brāˈsôN/

(1908–2004), French photographer and movie director. He is known for his collection of photographs, The Decisive Moment (1952), and for his documentary about the Spanish Civil War, Return to Life (1937).

cartilage /ˈkärdlij/

I. noun

1. firm, whitish, flexible connective tissue found in various forms in the larynx and respiratory tract, in structures such as the external ear, and in the articulating surfaces of joints. It is more widespread in the infant skeleton, being replaced by bone during growth.

2. a particular structure made of cartilage.

II. derivatives

cartilaginoid /ˌkärtlˈajəˌnoid /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from French, from Latin cartilago, cartilagin-.

cartilaginous /ˌkärdlˈajənəs/

I. adjective

1. [Anatomy] (of a structure) made of cartilage.

2. [Anatomy] [Zoology] (of a vertebrate animal) having a skeleton of cartilage.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin cartilaginosus, from cartilago, cartilagin- ‘cartilage.’

cartilaginous fish

noun

a fish of a class distinguished by having a skeleton of cartilage rather than bone, including the sharks, rays, and chimeras.
Compare with bony fish. [Class Chondrichthyes: subclasses Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) and Hoplocephali (chimeras).]

Cartland, Barbara /ˈkärtlənd/

(1901–2000), English author of light romantic fiction; full name Dame Mary Barbara Hamilton Cartland McCorquodale.

cartload /ˈkärtˌlōd/

noun

the amount held by a cart.

cartogram /ˈkärdəˌɡram/

I. noun

a map on which statistical information is shown in diagrammatic form.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French cartogramme, from carte ‘map or card’ + -gramme (from Greek gramma ‘thing written’).

cartographer /kärˈtäɡrəfər/

noun

a person who draws or produces maps

• a cartographer in the British army.

cartographic /ˌkärdəˈɡrafik / cartographical

I. adjective

relating to the science or practice of drawing maps

• he started his own cartographic printing company.

II. derivatives

cartographically

adverb

cartography /kärˈtäɡrəfē/

I. noun

the science or practice of drawing maps.

II. derivatives

cartographical /ˌkärtəˈɡrafikəl /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French cartographie, from carte ‘map, card’ (see card^1) + -graphie (see -graphy).

cartomancy /ˈkärdəˌmansē/

I. noun

fortune-telling by interpreting a random selection of playing cards.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French cartomancie, from carte ‘card’ + -mancie (see -mancy).

carton /ˈkärtn/

I. noun

a light box or container, typically one made of waxed cardboard or plastic in which drinks or foodstuffs are packaged.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French, from Italian cartone (see cartoon).

cartoon /kärˈto͞on/

I. noun

1. a simple drawing showing the features of its subjects in a humorously exaggerated way, especially a satirical one in a newspaper or magazine.

2. a comic strip.

3. a simplified or exaggerated version or interpretation of something

• this movie is a cartoon of rural life in America

• [as modifier] Dolores becomes a cartoon housewife, reading glossy magazines in a bathrobe.

4. a motion picture using animation techniques to photograph a sequence of drawings rather than real people or objects.

5. a full-size drawing made by an artist as a preliminary design for a painting or other work of art.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make a drawing of (someone) in a simplified or exaggerated way

• she has a face with enough character to be cartooned.

III. derivatives

cartoony

adjective

– origin late 16th cent. (sense 3 of the noun): from Italian cartone, from carta, from Latin carta, charta (see card^1). Sense 1 of the noun dates from the mid 19th cent.

cartoon character

noun

1. a fictional character depicted in an animated film or a comic strip

• your favorite cartoon characters.

2. a person or portrayal lacking in depth or characterized by exaggerated or stereotypical features

• in the films, Bond is a cartoon character

• she's become a cartoon character of what she once was.

cartooning /kärˈto͞oniNG/

noun

the activity or occupation of drawing cartoons for newspapers or magazines.

cartoonish /kärˈto͞oniSH/

adjective

characteristic of or resembling a cartoon, especially in being unrealistically simplified and involving humorous exaggeration

• colorful, cartoonish prints

• the imagery is too cartoonish to take seriously

• the movie develops in a cartoonish, tongue-in-cheek fashion.

cartoonist /kärˈto͞onəst/

noun

an artist who draws cartoons

• a political cartoonist for the local newspaper.

cartop /ˈkärtäp/

adjective

designed to be used or carried on the top of an automobile.

cartouche /kärˈto͞oSH/

I. noun

1. a carved tablet or drawing representing a scroll with rolled-up ends, used ornamentally or bearing an inscription.

2. [Archaeology] an oval or oblong enclosing a group of Egyptian hieroglyphs, typically representing the name and title of a monarch.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French cartouche (masculine noun), earlier cartoche, from Italian cartoccio, from carta, from Latin carta, charta (see card^1).

cartridge /ˈkärtrij/

I. noun

1. a container holding a spool of photographic film, a quantity of ink, or other item or substance, designed for insertion into a mechanism.

2. a casing containing a charge and a bullet or shot for small arms or an explosive charge for blasting.

3. a component carrying the stylus on the pickup head of a record player.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French cartouche (feminine noun), from Italian cartoccio (see cartouche).

cartridge belt /ˈkärtrij ˌbelt/

noun

a belt with pockets or loops for cartridges of ammunition, typically worn over the shoulder.

cartridge clip

noun

a metal frame or container that holds cartridges for loading into an automatic rifle or pistol.

cartwheel /ˈkärtˌ(h)wēl/

I. noun

1. the wheel of a cart.

2. a circular sideways handspring with the arms and legs extended.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. perform a circular sideways handspring or handsprings with the arms and legs extended

• he cartwheeled across the room.

Cartwright, Edmund /ˈkärtˌrīt/

(1743–1823), English engineer. He invented the power loom.

caruncle /kəˈrəNGkəl/

I. noun

1. a wattle of a bird such as a turkey.

2. the red prominence at the inner corner of the eye.

3. [Botany] an outgrowth from a seed near the micropyle, attractive to ants that aid the seed's dispersal.

II. derivatives

caruncular /kəˈrəNGkyələr /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: obsolete French, from Latin caruncula, from caro, carn- ‘flesh.’

Caruso, Enrico /kəˈro͞osō, -zō/

(1873–1921), Italian opera singer. He was the first major tenor to be recorded on phonograph records.

carve /kärv/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cut (a hard material) in order to produce an aesthetically pleasing object or design

• the wood was carved with runes

• (as adj. carved) bookcases of carved oak.

2. produce (an object) by cutting and shaping a hard material

• the altar was carved from a block of solid jade.

3. produce (an inscription or design) by cutting into hard material

• an inscription was carved over the doorway

• ‹figurative› the river carved a series of gorges into the plain.

4. cut (cooked meat) into slices for eating.

5. cut (a slice of meat) from a larger piece.

6. [Skiing] make (a turn) by tilting one's skis on to their edges and using one's weight to bend them so that they slide into an arc.

II. phrasal verbs

1. carve something out

a. take something from a larger whole, especially with difficulty

• carving out a 5 percent share of the overall vote.

b. establish or create something through painstaking effort

• he managed to carve out a successful photographic career for himself.

2. carve someone up

‹informal› slash someone with a knife or other sharp object.

3. carve something up

divide something ruthlessly into separate areas or domains

• West Africa was carved up by the Europeans.

– origin Old English ceorfan ‘cut, carve’; related to Dutch kerven.

carvel-built /ˈkärvəlˌbilt/

adjective

(of a boat or ship) having hull planks that do not overlap.
Compare with lapstrake.

carven /ˈkärvən/

archaic past participle of carve.

carveout /ˈkärvout/

noun

1. a small company created from a larger one

• companies that are breaking up—through spin-offs, split-offs, and carveouts.

2. a class of medical procedures treated separately with regard to insurance coverage.

3. a class of employees treated separately with regard to benefits.

4. the activity of effecting a carveout.

carver /ˈkärvər/

noun

1. a person who carves wood, stone, ivory, coral, etc., especially professionally

• we watched a decoy carver at work.

2. a knife designed for slicing meat.

3. a person who cuts and serves the meat at a meal.

Carver, George Washington /ˈkärvər/

(c. 1864–1943), US botanist. Born into slavery, he became the director of agricultural research at Alabama's Tuskegee Institute in 1896 and developed many products from soybeans, sweet potatoes, and peanuts.

carving /ˈkärviNG/

noun

an object or design cut from a hard material as an artistic work.

carving knife /ˈkärviNG ˌnīf/

noun

a knife with a long blade used for carving cooked meat into slices.

car wash

noun

1. a building containing equipment for washing motor vehicles automatically.

2. an event, typically a fundraiser, in which motor vehicles are washed

• the Teen Center will hold its third annual car wash on Saturday.

Cary /ˈkerē/

a town in east central North Carolina, a commercial and research center; pop. 129,545 (est. 2008).

caryatid /ˌkerēˈadəd ˈkerēəˌtid/

I. noun

[Architecture] a stone carving of a draped female figure, used as a pillar to support the entablature of a Greek or Greek-style building.

– origin mid 16th cent.: via French and Italian from Latin caryatides, from Greek karuatides, plural of karuatis ‘priestess of Artemis at Caryae,’ from Karuai (Caryae) in Laconia.

caryophyllaceous /ˌkerēōfəˈlāSHəs/

I. adjective

[Botany] of, relating to, or denoting plants of the pink family (Caryophyllaceae).

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Caryophyllaceae (plural), based on Greek karuophullon ‘clove pink,’ + -ous.

caryopsis /ˌkerēˈäpsəs/

I. noun

[Botany] a dry one-seeded fruit in which the ovary wall is united with the seed coat, typical of grasses and cereals.

– origin early 19th cent.: from modern Latin, from Greek karuon ‘nut’ + opsis ‘appearance.’

casaba /kəˈsäbə / cassaba

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a winter melon of a variety with a wrinkled yellow rind and sweet flesh.

– origin early 20th cent.: named after Kasaba (now Turgutlu) in Turkey, from which the melons were first exported.

Casablanca /ˌkäsəˈbläNGkə/

the largest city in Morocco, a seaport on the Atlantic coast; pop. 2,949,805 (2004).

Casals, Pablo /kəˈsälz/

(1876–1973), Spanish cellist, conductor, and composer.

Casanova, Giovanni Jacopo /ˌkazəˈnōvə, ˌkasə-/

(1725–98), Italian adventurer; full name Giovanni Jacopo Casanova de Seingalt. He is known for his memoirs that describe his sexual encounters and other exploits.

casbah /ˈkazˌbä / kasbah

I. noun

1. the citadel of a North African city.

2. (the casbah) — the area surrounding a North African citadel, typically in the old part of a city.

– origin mid 18th cent.: French, from Arabic ḳaṣaba ‘citadel.’

cascabel /ˈkaskəˌbel/

I. noun

a small red chile pepper of a mild-flavored variety.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Spanish, from Catalan cascavel, from medieval Latin cascabellus ‘little bell.’

cascade /kaˈskād/

I. noun

1. a small waterfall, typically one of several that fall in stages down a steep rocky slope.

2. a mass of something that falls or hangs in copious or luxuriant quantities

• a cascade of pink bougainvillea.

3. a large number or amount of something occurring or arriving in rapid succession

• a cascade of antiwar literature.

4. a process whereby something, typically information or knowledge, is successively passed on
[as modifier]

• the greater the number of people who are well briefed, the wider the cascade effect.

5. a succession of devices or stages in a process, each of which triggers or initiates the next.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — (of water) pour downward rapidly and in large quantities

• water was cascading down the stairs.

2. fall or hang in copious or luxuriant quantities

• blonde hair cascaded down her back.

3. [with obj.] — arrange (a number of devices or objects) in a series or sequence.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, from Italian cascata, from cascare ‘to fall,’ based on Latin casus (see case^1).

Cascade Range

a range of volcanic mountains in western North America that extends from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to northern California. Its highest peak is Mount Rainier. The range also includes an active volcano, Mount St. Helens.

cascara /kaˈskerə / cascara sagrada

I. noun

1. a purgative made from the dried bark of an American buckthorn.

2. (also cascara buckthorn) — the tree from which cascara is obtained, native to the Pacific Northwest.
[Rhamnus purshiana, family Rhamnaceae.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from Spanish cáscara (sagrada), literally ‘(sacred) bark.’

Casco Bay /ˌkaskō ˈbā/

an inlet of the Atlantic in southern Maine, known for its hundreds of islands and protected anchorages. Portland lies on it.

case^1 /kās/

I. noun

1. an instance of a particular situation; an example of something occurring

• a case of mistaken identity

• in many cases, valid statistics are not available.

2. [usu. in sing.] — the situation affecting or relating to a particular person or thing; one's circumstances or position

• I'll make an exception in your case.

3. an incident or set of circumstances under police investigation

• a murder case.

4. an instance of a disease or problem

• 200,000 cases of hepatitis B.

5. a person or their particular problem requiring or receiving medical or welfare attention

• most breast cancer cases were older women

• the welfare office discussed Gerald's case.

• urgent cases were turned away from the hospital.

6. [with adj. or noun modifier] — ‹informal› a person whose situation is regarded as pitiable or as having no chance of improvement

• Vicky was a very sad case.

7. ‹informal› ‹dated› an amusing or eccentric person.

8. a legal action, especially one to be decided in a court of law

• a libel case

• a former employee brought the case against the council.

9. a set of facts or arguments supporting one side in a legal action

• the case for the defense.

10. a legal action that has been decided and may be cited as a precedent.

11. a set of facts or arguments supporting one side of a debate or controversy

• the case against tobacco advertising.

12. [Grammar] any of the inflected forms of a noun, adjective, or pronoun that express the semantic relation of the word to other words in the sentence

• the accusative case.

13. the relation of a grammatical case to other words in the sentence, whether indicated by inflection or not

• English normally expresses case by the use of prepositions.

II. phrases

1. as the case may be

according to the circumstances (used when referring to two or more possible alternatives)

• the authorities will decide if they are satisfied or not satisfied, as the case may be.

2. be the case

be so.

3. in any case

a. whatever happens or may have happened.

b. used to confirm or support a point or idea just mentioned

• he wasn't allowed out yet, and in any case he wasn't well enough.

4. (just) in case

a. as a provision against something happening or being true

• we put on thick sweaters, in case it was cold.

b. if it is true that

• in case you haven't figured it out, let me explain.

5. in case of

in the event of (a particular situation)

• instructions about what to do in case of fire.

6. in no case

under no circumstances.

7. in that case

if that happens or has happened; if that is the situation

• “I'm free this evening.” “In that case, why not have dinner with me?”

8. on (or off) someone's case

‹informal› continually (or no longer) criticizing or harassing someone

• the teacher will get on your case if you keep forgetting your homework.

9. on the case

a. actively engaged in an official investigation

• officers on the case are unable to find a motive.

b. in the process of dealing with a particular situation or task

• the city council's pest control team are on the case.

– origin Middle English: from Old French cas, from Latin casus ‘fall,’ related to cadere ‘to fall’; sense 4 directly from Latin, translating Greek ptōsis, literally ‘fall.’

case^2 /kās/

I. noun

1. a container designed to hold or protect something

• he placed the trumpet safely in its velvet-lined case.

2. the outer protective covering of a natural or manufactured object

• a seed case.

3. (Brit.) an item of luggage; a suitcase.

4. a box containing bottles or cans of a beverage, sold as a unit

• there are twelve bottles of champagne in a case.

5. each of the two forms, capital or minuscule, in which a letter of the alphabet may be written or printed.
[from the use in printing to mean ‘partitioned container for loose metal type.’]

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. surround in a material or substance

• the towers are of steel cased in granite.

2. enclose in a protective container
(as adj. cased)

• a cased pair of pistols.

3. ‹informal› reconnoiter (a place) before carrying out a robbery

• I was casing the joint.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French casse, chasse (modern caisse ‘trunk, chest,’ châsse ‘reliquary, frame’), from Latin capsa, related to capere ‘to hold.’

caseation /ˌkāsēˈāSHən/

I. noun

[Medicine] a form of necrosis characteristic of tuberculosis, in which diseased tissue forms a firm, dry mass like cheese in appearance.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from medieval Latin caseatio(n-), from Latin caseus ‘cheese.’

casebook /ˈkāsˌbo͝ok/

noun

(US) a book containing a selection of source materials on a particular subject, especially one used as a reference work or in teaching.

casebound /ˈkāsbound/

adjective

(of a book) in a hard cover.

case file

noun

a collection of documents and evidence relating to a particular legal case

• she discusses a court case without referring to the case file.

case grammar /kās ˈɡramər/

noun

[Linguistics] a form of grammar in which the structure of sentences is analyzed in terms of the semantic roles of nouns in relation to predicates.

case-harden /ˈkāsˌhärdn/

verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. case-hardened)

1. harden the surface of (a material)

• case-hardened sandstones.

2. give a hard surface to (iron or steel) by carburizing it

• a case-hardened steel anvil.

3. make (someone) callous or tough

• a case-hardened politician.

case history /ˈkās ˈˌhist(ə)rē/

noun

a record of a person's background or medical history kept by a doctor or social worker.

casein /kāˈsēn ˈkāsēən/

I. noun

the main protein present in milk and (in coagulated form) in cheese. It is used in processed foods and in adhesives, paints, and other industrial products.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin caseus ‘cheese.’

case knife /kās nīf/

noun

a type of dagger carried in a sheath.

case law /ˈkās ˌlô/

noun

the law as established by the outcome of former cases.
Compare with common law, statute law.

caseload /ˈkāsˌlōd/

noun

the amount of work (in terms of number of cases) with which a doctor, lawyer, or social worker is concerned at one time.

casemate /ˈkāsmāt/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› a small room in the thickness of the wall of a fortress, with embrasures from which guns or missiles can be fired.

2. ‹historical› an armored enclosure for guns on a warship.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French, from Italian casamatta, perhaps from Greek khasma, khasmat- (see chasm).

casement /ˈkāsmənt/

I. noun

1. a window or part of a window set on a hinge so that it opens like a door
[as modifier]

• casement windows.

2. ‹chiefly literary› a window.

3. the sash of a sash window.

– origin late Middle English (as an architectural term denoting a hollow molding): from Anglo-Latin cassimentum, from cassa, from Latin capsa (see case^2).

caseous /ˈkāsēəs/

I. adjective

[Medicine] characterized by caseation.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin caseus ‘cheese’ + -ous.

case-sensitive /ˈˌkās ˈˌsensədiv/

adjective

1. [Computing] (of a program or function) differentiating between capital and lowercase letters.

2. [Computing] (of input) treated differently depending on whether it is in capitals or lowercase text.

case shot

noun

‹historical› bullets or pieces of metal in an iron case fired from a cannon.

case study /ˈkā(s) ˌstədē/

noun

1. a process or record of research in which detailed consideration is given to the development of a particular person, group, or situation over a period of time.

2. a particular instance of something used or analyzed in order to illustrate a thesis or principle

• airline deregulation provides a case study of the effects of the internal market.

case system

noun

a method of teaching or studying law that emphasizes the analysis and discussion of selected cases.

casework^1 /ˈkāsˌwərk/

I. noun

social work directly concerned with individuals, especially that involving a study of a person's family history and personal circumstances.

II. derivatives

caseworker /ˈkāsˌwərkər /

noun

casework^2 /ˈkāsˌwərk/

noun

the decorative outer case protecting the workings of a complex mechanism such as an organ or harpsichord.

cash^1 /kaSH/

I. noun

1. money in coins or notes, as distinct from checks, money orders, or credit

• the staff were paid in cash

• a discount for cash.

2. money in any form, especially that which is immediately available

• she was always short of cash.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. give or obtain notes or coins for (a check or money order).

2. [Bridge] lead (a high card) so as to take the opportunity to win a trick.

III. phrases

cash in one's chips

‹informal› die.
[with reference to gambling in a casino.]

IV. phrasal verbs

1. cash in

‹informal› take advantage of or exploit (a situation)

• the breweries were cashing in on the rediscovered taste for real ales.

2. cash something in

convert an insurance policy, savings account, or other investment into money.

3. cash out

a. cost

• juicy baked chicken cashed out at $7.

b. another way of saying cash something in.

V. derivatives

cashable /ˈkaSHəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting a box for money): from Old French casse or Italian cassa ‘box,’ from Latin capsa (see case^2).

cash^2 /kaSH/

I. noun

‹historical› a coin of low value from China, southern India, or Southeast Asia.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Portuguese caixa, from Tamil kāsu, influenced by cash^1.

Cash, Johnny /kaSH/

(1932–2003), US country music singer and songwriter; born J. R. Cash. Notable songs: “I Walk the Line” (1956), “Ring of Fire” (1963), and “A Boy Named Sue” (1969).

cash and carry /ˈˌkaSH ən(d) ˈkerē/

noun

1. a system of wholesale trading whereby goods are paid for in full at the time of purchase and taken away by the purchaser.

2. a wholesale store using the cash and carry system.

cash-back

adjective

denoting a form of incentive offered to buyers of certain products whereby they receive a cash refund after making their purchase.

cash bar

noun

a bar at a social function at which guests buy drinks rather than having them provided free.

cashbox /ˈkaSHˌbäks/

noun

a lockable metal box for keeping cash in.

cash buyer

noun

a person who is able to buy something, especially a property, without needing to take out a mortgage or loan to do so

• low mortgage rates, an improving economy, and interest from investors and cash buyers also fueled sales.

cash cow /ˈkaSH ˌkou/

noun

‹informal› a business, investment, or product that provides a steady income or profit

• traditional cash cows like cars and VCRs.

cash crop /ˈkaSH ˌkräp/

I. noun

a crop produced for its commercial value rather than for use by the grower.

II. derivatives

cash cropping

noun

cashew /ˈkaSHˌo͞o/

I. noun

1. (also cashew nut) — an edible kidney-shaped nut, rich in oil and protein, which is roasted and shelled before it can be eaten. Oil is extracted from the shells and used as a lubricant and insecticide and in the production of plastics.

2. (also cashew tree) — a bushy tropical American tree related to the mango, bearing cashew nuts singly at the tip of each swollen fruit.
Also called acajou. [Anacardium occidentale, family Anacardiaceae (the cashew family).]

– origin late 16th cent.: from Portuguese, from Tupi acajú, cajú.

cashew apple

noun

the swollen edible fruit of the cashew tree, from which the cashew nut hangs, sometimes used to make wine.

cash flow /ˈkaSH ˌflō/

noun

the total amount of money being transferred into and out of a business, especially as affecting liquidity.

cashier^1 /kaˈSHir/

I. noun

a person handling payments and receipts in a store, bank, or other business.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Dutch cassier or French caissier, from caisse ‘cash.’

cashier^2 /kaˈSHir/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. dismiss (someone) from the armed forces in disgrace because of a serious misdemeanor

• he was found guilty and cashiered

• (as adj. cashiered) a cashiered National Guard major.

2. ‹informal› suspend or dismiss from an office or position

• the team owner had been cashiered for consorting with a gambler.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘dismiss or disband troops’): from Flemish kasseren ‘disband (troops)’ or ‘revoke (a will),’ from French casser ‘revoke, dismiss,’ from Latin quassare (see quash).

cashless /ˈkaSHləs/

adjective

characterized by the exchange of funds by check, debit or credit card, or various electronic methods rather than the use of cash

• the cashless society.

cash machine //

noun

another term for automated teller machine.

cashmere /ˈkaSHˌmir ˈkaZHˌmir/

I. noun

1. fine soft wool, originally that from the Kashmir goat.

2. woolen material made from or resembling cashmere
[as modifier]

• a cashmere sweater.

– origin late 17th cent.: an early spelling of Kashmir.

cashmere goat

noun

variant spelling of Kashmir goat.

cash nexus

noun

the relationship constituted by monetary transactions.

cash on delivery /ˌkaSH än dəˈliv(ə)rē / COD

noun

the system of paying for goods when they are delivered.

cashpoint /ˈkaSHˌpoint/

noun

(Brit.) ‹trademark› another term for automated teller machine.

cash register /ˈkaSH ˈˌrejəstər/

noun

a machine used in places of business for regulating money transactions with customers. It typically has a compartmental drawer for cash, and it totals, displays, and records the amount of each sale.

cash-rich /kaSHˈriCH/

adjective

having a large amount of money available to spend

• cash-rich companies are rushing to build their portfolios

• many cash-rich, time-poor Britons have largely given up cooking from scratch.

casing /ˈkāsiNG/

noun

1. a cover or shell that protects or encloses something

• a waterproof casing.

2. the frame around a door or window.

casino /kəˈsēnō/

I. noun

a public room or building where gambling games are played.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Italian, diminutive of casa ‘house,’ from Latin casa ‘cottage.’

casita /kəˈsēdə/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) (especially in the US Southwest) a small house or other building.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Spanish, diminutive of casa ‘house.’

cask /kask/

I. noun

1. a large barrellike container made of wood, metal, or plastic, used for storing liquids, typically alcoholic drinks.

2. the quantity of liquid held in a cask

• a cask of cider.

– origin early 16th cent.: from French casque or Spanish casco ‘helmet.’ The current senses appear only in English; from the late 16th to the late 18th centuries the word also denoted a helmet (compare with casque).

casket /ˈkaskət/

I. noun

1. a small ornamental box or chest for holding jewels, letters, or other valuable objects.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) a coffin.

– origin late Middle English: perhaps an Anglo-Norman French form of Old French cassette, diminutive of casse (see case^2).

Caslon /ˈkazˌlän, -lən/

I. noun

a kind of roman typeface first introduced in the 18th century.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after William Caslon (1692–1766), English type founder.

Casnewydd /käsˈnewiT͟H/

Welsh name for Newport.

Caspar /ˈkaspər/

one of the three Magi.

Casper /ˈkaspər/

a city in east central Wyoming, on the North Platte River; pop. 54,047 (est. 2008). Oil is central to its economy.

Casper, Billy

(1931–), US golfer; full name William Earl Casper, Jr. His 68 professional wins include 51 PGA Tour wins, two US Open championships (1959, 1966), and a Masters Tournament championship (1970).

Caspian Sea /ˌkaspēən ˈsē/

a large landlocked salt lake, bounded by Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Iran. The world's largest body of inland water, its surface lies 92 feet (28 m) below sea level.

casque /kask/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› a helmet.

2. [Zoology] a helmetlike structure, such as that on the bill of a hornbill or the head of a cassowary.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French, from Spanish casco. Compare with cask.

Cassandra /kəˈsandrə / ‹Greek Mythology›

I. a daughter of the Trojan king Priam, who was given the gift of prophecy by Apollo. When she cheated him, however, he turned this into a curse by causing her prophecies, though true, to be disbelieved.

II. (as noun a Cassandra) — a prophet of disaster, especially one who is disregarded.

cassareep /ˈkasəˌrēp / casareep

I. noun

(W. Indian) a thick brown syrup made by boiling down the juice of grated cassava with sugar and spices, and typically used as a flavoring for pepper pot (see pepper pot (sense 2)).

– origin from Arawak casiripe.

cassata /kəˈsädə/

I. noun

a Neapolitan ice cream containing candied fruit and nuts.

– origin from Italian, literally ‘little case.’

cassation /kəˈsāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

[Music] an informal instrumental composition of the 18th century, similar to a divertimento and originally often for outdoor performance.

– origin late 19th cent.: from German Kassation ‘serenade,’ from Italian cassazione.

Cassatt, Mary /kəˈsat/

(1844–1926), US painter. Known for her draftsmanship, etching, and dry-point studies, she was persuaded by Edgar Degas to exhibit with the impressionists. She worked mostly in Paris, and her paintings, including Lady at the Tea Table (1885), display a close interest in everyday subject matter.

cassava /kəˈsävə/

I. noun

1. the starchy tuberous root of a tropical tree, used as food in tropical countries but requiring careful preparation to remove traces of cyanide from the flesh.
Also called manioc.

2. a starch or flour obtained from the cassava root.

3. the shrubby tree from which cassava is obtained, native to tropical America and cultivated throughout the tropics.
[Genus Manihot, family Euphorbiaceae: several species, in particular bitter cassava (M. esculenta) and sweet cassava (M. dulcis).]

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Taino casávi, cazábbi, influenced by French cassave.

Cassegrain telescope /ˌkasəɡrān ˈteləskōp/

I. noun

a reflecting telescope in which light reflected from a convex secondary mirror passes through a hole in the primary mirror.

– origin late 19th cent.: named after N. Cassegrain (1625–1712), the French astronomer who devised it.

casserole /ˈkasəˌrōl/

I. noun

1. a kind of stew or side dish that is cooked slowly in an oven

• a chicken casserole.

2. a large covered dish, typically of earthenware or glass, used for cooking casseroles.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. cook (food) slowly in a casserole
(as adj. casseroled)

• casseroled chicken.

– origin early 18th cent.: from French, diminutive of casse ‘spoonlike container,’ from Old Provençal casa, from late Latin cattia ‘ladle, pan,’ from Greek kuathion, diminutive of kuathos ‘cup.’

cassette /kəˈset/

I. noun

a sealed plastic unit containing a length of audiotape, videotape, film, etc. wound on a pair of spools, for insertion into a recorder or playback device.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French, diminutive of casse (see case^2).

cassette deck /kəˈset dek/

noun

a unit in hi-fi equipment for playing or recording audiocassettes.

cassette player cassette recorder

noun

a machine for playing back or recording audiocassettes.

cassette tape /kəˈset tāp/

noun

a cassette of audiotape or videotape.

cassia /ˈkaSHə/

noun

1. a tree, shrub, or herbaceous plant of the pea family, native to warm climates. Cassias yield a variety of products, including fodder, timber, and medicinal drugs, and many are cultivated as ornamentals.
[modern Latin.] [Genus Cassia, family Leguminosae: many species, including C. fistula, which provides much of the commercially produced senna.]

2. (also cassia bark) — the aromatic bark of an eastern Asian tree, yielding an inferior kind of cinnamon that is sometimes used to adulterate true cinnamon.
[from Latin, probably denoting the wild cinnamon, via Greek from Hebrew qĕṣī῾āh.] [Cinnamomum aromaticum, family Lauraceae.]

cassingle /kəˈsiNGɡəl/

I. noun

an audiocassette with a single piece of music, especially popular music, on each side.

– origin 1970s: blend of cassette and single.

Cassini, Giovanni Domenico /kaˈsēnē/

(1625–1712), French astronomer; born in Italy. He discovered the gap in the rings of Saturn known as Cassini's division.

Cassiopeia /ˌkasēəˈpēə/

I. [Greek Mythology] the wife of Cepheus, king of Ethiopia, and mother of Andromeda.

II. [Astronomy] a constellation near the north celestial pole, recognizable by the conspicuous “W” pattern of its brightest stars.

III. (as genitive Cassiopeiae ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation

• the star Delta Cassiopeiae.

cassis^1 /kaˈsēs / crème de cassis

I. noun

a syrupy liqueur flavored with black currants and produced mainly in Burgundy.

– origin late 19th cent.: French, literally ‘black currant,’ apparently from Latin cassia (see cassia).

cassis^2 /kaˈsēs/

noun

a wine produced in the region of Cassis, a small town near Marseilles.

cassiterite /kəˈsidəˌrīt/

I. noun

a reddish, brownish, or yellowish mineral consisting of tin dioxide. It is the main ore of tin.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek kassiteros ‘tin’ + -ite^1.

Cassius, Gaius /ˈkasēəs, ˈkaSHəs/

(died 42 BC), Roman general; full name Gaius Cassius Longinus. He was one of the leaders of the conspiracy in 44 BC to assassinate Julius Caesar.

cassock /ˈkasək/

I. noun

a full-length garment of a single color worn by certain Christian clergy, members of church choirs, acolytes, and others having some particular office or role in a church.

II. derivatives

cassocked

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French casaque ‘long coat,’ from Italian casacca ‘riding coat,’ probably from Turkic kazak ‘vagabond.’ Compare with Cossack.

cassoulet /ˌkasəˈlā/

I. noun

a stew made with meat and beans.

– origin French, diminutive of dialect cassolo ‘stewpan,’ from Old Provençal cassa ‘pan’; related to casserole.

cassowary /ˈkasəˌwərē/

I. noun

a very large flightless bird related to the emu, with a bare head and neck, a tall horny crest, and one or two colored wattles. It is native mainly to the forests of New Guinea.
[Family Casuariidae and genus Casuarius: three species, in particular the double-wattled cassowary (C. casuarius).]

– origin early 17th cent.: from Malay kesuari.

cast^1 /kast/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — throw (something) forcefully in a specified direction

• lemmings cast themselves off the cliff

• ‹figurative› individuals who do not accept the norms are cast out from the group.

2. throw (something) so as to cause it to spread over an area

• the fishermen cast a large net around a school of tuna

• ‹figurative› he cast his net far and wide in search of evidence.

3. direct (one's eyes or a look) at something

• she cast down her eyes

• [with two objs.] she cast him a desperate glance.

4. throw the hooked and baited end of (a fishing line) out into the water.

5. register (a vote)

• residents turned out in record numbers to cast their votes.

6. [Hunting] let loose (hounds) on a scent.

7. [no obj.] — [Hunting] (of a dog) search in different directions for a lost scent

• the dog cast furiously for the vanished rabbit.

8. let down (an anchor or sounding line).

9. [with obj.] — cause (light or shadow) to appear on a surface

• the moon cast a pale light over the cottages

• ‹figurative› running costs were already casting a shadow over the program.

10. cause (uncertainty or disparagement) to be associated with something

• journalists cast doubt on the government's version of events

• I do not wish to cast aspersions on your honesty.

11. cause (a magic spell) to take effect

• the witch cast a spell on her to turn her into a beast

• ‹figurative› the city casts a spell on the visitor.

12. [with obj.] — discard

• the issue was cast from the list of concerns.

13. shed (skin or horns) in the process of growth

• the antlers are cast each year.

14. (of a horse) lose (a shoe).

15. [with obj.] — shape (metal or other material) by pouring it into a mold while molten.

16. make (a molded object) by pouring metal or other material into a mold while molten

• a bell was cast for the church.

17. arrange and present in a specified form or style

• he issued statements cast in tones of reason.

18. calculate and record details of (a horoscope).

19. [no obj.] — (in country dancing) change one's position by moving a certain number of places in a certain direction along the outside of the line in which one is dancing.

II. noun

1. an object made by shaping molten metal or similar material in a mold

• bronze casts of the sculpture.

2. (also plaster cast) — a mold used to make an object by casting.

3. (also plaster cast) — a bandage stiffened with plaster of Paris, molded to the shape of a limb that is broken, and used to support and protect it.

4. an act of throwing something forcefully

• he grabbed a spear for a third cast.

5. ‹archaic› at dice, a throw or a number thrown.

6. [Fishing] a throw of a fishing line.

7. [with adj.] — the form or appearance of something, especially someone's features or complexion

• she had a somewhat masculine cast of countenance

• the colors he wore emphasized the olive cast of his skin.

8. the character of something

• this question is for minds of a more philosophical cast than mine.

9. a slight squint

• he had a cast in one eye.

10. a convoluted mass of earth or sand ejected onto the surface by a burrowing worm.

11. a pellet regurgitated by a hawk or owl.

12. a search made by a hound or pack of hounds over a wide area to find a trail.

III. phrases

1. be cast in a —— mold

(of a person) be of the type specified

• he was cast in a cautious mold.

2. cast adrift

see adrift.

3. cast one's bread upon the waters

see bread.

4. cast one's eyes over

have a quick appraising look at

• he was invited to cast his eyes over the exhibition.

5. cast light on

see light^1.

6. cast lots

see lot.

7. cast one's mind back

think back to a particular event or time

• he cast his mind back to the fatal evening.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. cast about (or around)

search far and wide (physically or mentally)

• he is restlessly casting about for novelties.

[from a hunting term meaning ‘(of a hound) go in all directions looking for game or a lost scent.’]

2. cast aside

discard or reject

• they cast aside the principles of their youth.

3. be cast away

be stranded after a shipwreck.

4. be cast down

feel depressed

• she was greatly cast down by abusive criticism of her novels.

5. cast off (or cast something off)

a. [Knitting] take the stitches off the needle by looping each over the next to finish the edge.

b. set a boat or ship free from its moorings

• the boatmen cast off and rowed downriver

• Jack cast off our moorings.

c. (cast off) — (of a boat or ship) be set free from its moorings

• the ferry cast off and made a beeline for the pier.

d. let loose a hunting hound or hawk.

e. [Printing] estimate the space that will be taken in print by manuscript copy.

6. cast someone off

exclude someone from a relationship.

7. cast on (or cast something on)

[Knitting] make the first row of a specified number of loops on the needle

• cast on and knit a few rows of stockinette stitch.

8. cast something up

a. (of the sea) deposit something on the shore.

b. ‹dated› add up figures.

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse kasta ‘to cast or throw.’

cast^2 /kast/

I. noun

the actors taking part in a play, movie, or other production

• he draws sensitive performances from his inexperienced cast.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. assign a part in a play, movie, or other production to (an actor)

• he was cast as the Spanish dancer

• ‹figurative› a campaign for good nutrition, in which red meat is cast as the enemy.

2. allocate parts in (a play, movie, or other production)

• assembling a great baseball team is as tricky as casting a play.

– origin mid 17th cent.: a special use of cast^1.

castanets /ˌkastəˈnets/

I. plural noun

small concave pieces of wood, ivory, or plastic, joined in pairs by a cord and clicked together by the fingers as a rhythmic accompaniment to Spanish dancing.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Spanish castañeta, diminutive of castaña, from Latin castanea ‘chestnut.’

castaway /ˈkastəˌwā/

noun

a person who has been shipwrecked and stranded in an isolated place.

caste /kast/

I. noun

1. each of the hereditary classes of Hindu society, distinguished by relative degrees of ritual purity or pollution and of social status

• members of the lower castes

• a man of high caste.

2. the system of dividing society into hereditary classes.

3. any class or group of people who inherit exclusive privileges or are perceived as socially distinct

• those educated in private schools belong to a privileged caste.

4. [Entomology] (in some social insects) a physically distinct individual with a particular function in the society.

There are four basic classes, or varnas, in Hindu society: Brahman (priest), Kshatriya (warrior), Vaishya (merchant or farmer), and Shudra (laborer).

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the general sense ‘race, breed’): from Spanish and Portuguese casta ‘lineage, race, breed,’ feminine of casto ‘pure, unmixed,’ from Latin castus ‘chaste.’

caste Hindu

noun

a Hindu who belongs to one of the four main castes.

casteism /ˈkastˌizəm/

I. noun

1. adherence to a caste system.

2. prejudice or antagonism directed against someone of a different caste.

II. derivatives

casteist

adjective

Castel Gandolfo /ˌkäsˌtel ɡänˈdôlfō, ˌkäsˌtel ɡänˈdälfō/

the summer residence of the pope, located on the edge of Lake Albano near Rome.

castellan /ˈkastələn/

I. noun

‹historical› the governor of a castle.

– origin late Middle English: from Old Northern French castelain, from medieval Latin castellanus, from Latin castellum (see castle).

castellated /ˈkas(t)əˌlādəd/

I. adjective

1. having battlements

• a castellated tower.

2. (of a nut or other mechanical part) having grooves or slots on its upper face.

– origin late 17th cent.: from medieval Latin castellatus, from Latin castellum (see castle).

castellations /ˌkas(t)əˈlāSH(ə)nz/

I. plural noun

1. defensive or decorative parapets with regularly spaced notches; battlements.

2. (castellation) — the use or building of defensive or decorative parapets.

– origin early 19th cent.: based on medieval Latin castellare ‘to build castles,’ from castellum (see castle).

caste mark /ˈkas(t) ˌmärk/

noun

a symbol on the forehead denoting membership of a particular Hindu caste.

caster /ˈkastər/

noun

1. a person who casts something or a machine for casting something.

2. [Fishing] a fly pupa used as bait.

3. each of a set of small wheels, free to swivel in any direction, fixed to the legs or base of a heavy piece of furniture so that it can be moved easily.

4. the angular inclination of a steering pivot or kingpin, especially that of the front wheel of a vehicle.

5. a small container with holes in the top, especially one used for sprinkling sugar or pepper.

castigate /ˈkastəˌɡāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› reprimand (someone) severely

• he was castigated for not setting a good example.

II. derivatives

1. castigation /ˌkastəˈɡāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. castigator /ˈkastəˌɡādər /

noun

3. castigatory /ˈkastəɡəˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin castigare ‘reprove,’ from castus ‘pure, chaste.’

Castile /kaˈstēl/

I. a region in central Spain, on the central plateau of the Iberian peninsula, formerly an independent Spanish kingdom.

– origin from French Castille, from Spanish Castilla.

Castile soap

I. noun

fine, hard white or mottled soap made with olive oil and sodium hydroxide.

– origin late Middle English: named after Castile in Spain, where it was originally made.

Castilian /kəˈstilyən/

I. noun

1. a native of Castile.

2. the dialect of Spanish spoken in Castile, which is standard Spanish.

II. adjective

of or relating to Castile, Castilians, or the Castilian form of Spanish.

Castilla-La Mancha /käˌstēyəlä ˈmän(t)SHə/

an autonomous region in central Spain; capital, Toledo.

Castilla-León /käˌstēyəlāˈōn/

an autonomous region in northern Spain; capital, Valladolid.

casting /ˈkastiNG/

noun

an object made by pouring molten metal or other material into a mold.

casting couch /ˈkastiNG kouCH/

noun

‹informal› used in reference to the supposed practice whereby actors or actresses are awarded parts in movies, plays, or other productions in return for granting sexual favors to the casting director

• she was no stranger to the casting couch.

casting director /ˈkastiNG dəˈrektər dīˈrektər/

noun

the person responsible for assigning roles in a movie, play, or other production.

casting vote /ˈkastiNG ˈˌvōt/

I. noun

an extra vote given by a chairperson to decide an issue when the votes on each side are equal.

– origin early 17th cent.: from an obsolete sense of cast ‘turn the scale.’

cast iron /ˈˌkast ˈˌīərn/

noun

1. a hard, relatively brittle alloy of iron and carbon that can be readily cast in a mold and contains a higher proportion of carbon than steel (typically 2.0–4.3 percent).

2. [as modifier] — firm and unchangeable

• there are no cast-iron guarantees.

castle /ˈkasəl/

I. noun

1. a large building or group of buildings fortified against attack with thick walls, battlements, towers, and in many cases a moat.

2. a magnificent and imposing mansion, especially one that is the home or former home of a member of the nobility
[in names]

• Castle Howard.

3. [Chess] ‹informal› old-fashioned term for rook^2.

II. verb — [no obj.] (often as noun castling)

1. [Chess] make a special move (no more than once in a game by each player) in which the king is transferred from its original square two squares along the back rank toward the corner square of a rook, which is then transferred to the square passed over by the king.

2. [with obj.] — [Chess] move (the king) by castling.

III. phrases

castles in the air (or in Spain)

visionary unattainable schemes; daydreams

• my father built castles in the air about owning a boat.

IV. derivatives

castled /ˈkasəld /

adjective

( — ‹archaic›

– origin late Old English: from Anglo-Norman French and Old Northern French castel, from Latin castellum, diminutive of castrum ‘fort.’

Castle, Vernon /ˈkasəl/

(1887–1918), British dancer; born William Vernon Blythe. With his wife Irene (1893–1969), he originated the one-step, the turkey trot, the Castle walk, and the hesitation waltz. He also served as an aviator 1916–18 during World War I.

cast net

noun

[Fishing] a net that is thrown out and immediately drawn in again, as opposed to one that is set up and left.

castoff /ˈkastäf/

I. adjective

no longer wanted; abandoned or discarded

• a pile of castoff clothes.

II. noun — (usu. castoffs)

1. something, especially a garment, that is no longer wanted

• I'm not going out in her castoffs!

castor /ˈkastər/

I. noun

a reddish-brown oily substance secreted by beavers, used in medicine and perfumes.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘beaver’): from Old French or Latin, from Greek kastōr.

Castor /ˈkastər/

I. [Greek Mythology] the twin brother of Pollux.
See Dioscuri.

II. [Astronomy] the second brightest star in the constellation Gemini, close to Pollux. It is a multiple star system, the three components visible in a moderate telescope being close binaries.

castor bean /ˈkastər bēn/

noun

1. the seed of the castor-oil plant. It contains a number of poisonous compounds, especially ricin, as well as castor oil.

2. (N. Amer.) the castor-oil plant.

castor oil /ˈˌkastər ˈˌoil/

I. noun

a pale yellow oil obtained from castor beans, used as a purgative and a lubricant and in manufacturing oil-based products.

– origin mid 18th cent.: perhaps so named because it succeeded castor in medicinal use.

castor-oil plant

noun

an African shrub with lobed serrated leaves, yielding the seeds from which castor oil is obtained and widely naturalized in warm countries.
[Ricinus communis, family Euphorbiaceae.]

castrate /ˈkaˌstrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove the testicles of (a male animal or man).

2. deprive of power, vitality, or vigor
(as adj. castrated)

• the nation is a castrated giant, afraid to really punish subversives.

II. noun

a man or male animal whose testicles have been removed.

III. derivatives

castrator /-ˌtrātər /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin castrare.

castration /kaˈstrāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the removal of the testicles of a male animal or man

• the castration of male calves was initiated to reduce fighting.

2. the state of being deprived of power, vitality, or vigor

• the inability to afford technology is economic castration.

castration complex

noun

[Psychoanalysis] (in Freudian theory) an unconscious anxiety arising during psychosexual development, represented in males as a fear that the penis will be removed by the father in response to sexual interest in the mother, and in females as a compulsion to demonstrate that they have an adequate symbolic equivalent to the penis, whose absence is blamed on the mother.

castrato /kaˈsträdō/

I. noun

‹historical› a male singer castrated in boyhood so as to retain a soprano or alto voice. The practice of castration was banned in 1903.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Italian, past participle of castrare (see castrate).

Castries /ˈkastrēz, ˈkastrēs/

the capital of the Caribbean island nation of St. Lucia, a seaport on the northwestern coast; pop. 14,000 (est. 2007).

Castro /ˈkastrō/

I. the name of a family of Cuban political leaders, including:

II. Fidel (1927–), prime minister 1959–76 and president 1976–2008; full name Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz. After overthrowing President Batista, he set up a communist regime that survived the abortive Bay of Pigs invasion, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the collapse of the Soviet bloc. In 2008, he stood down in favor of his brother Raúl.

III. Raúl (1931–), president since 2008; full name Raúl Modesto Castro Ruz. He was Cuba's vice president 1976–2008, an office created for him by his brother Fidel.

Castroism /ˈkastrəˌwizəm/

I. noun

the political principles or actions of Fidel Castro or his adherents or imitators.

II. derivatives

1. Castroist

noun, adjective

2. Castroite /-ˌīt /

noun, adjective

casual /ˈkaZHo͞oəl/

I. adjective

1. relaxed and unconcerned

• she regarded his affairs with a casual indulgence

• he tried to make his voice sound casual.

2. made or done without much thought or premeditation

• a casual remark.

3. done or acting in a desultory way

• to the casual observer, rugby looks something like soccer.

4. done or acting without sufficient care or thoroughness

• the casual way in which victims were treated.

5. not regular or permanent, in particular

6. employed or established on a temporary or irregular basis

• casual staff

• casual jobs.

7. (of a sexual relationship or encounter) occurring between people who are not regular or established sexual partners

• they don't do one-night stands or casual flings.

8. [attrib.] — happening by chance; accidental

• he pretended it was a casual meeting.

9. without formality of style or manner, in particular (of clothing) suitable for everyday wear rather than formal occasions

• a casual short-sleeved shirt

• an ideal coat for casual occasions

• the inn's casual atmosphere.

II. noun

1. a person who does something irregularly

• a number of casuals became regular customers.

2. a worker employed on an irregular or temporary basis.

3. (casuals) — clothes or shoes suitable for everyday wear rather than formal occasions.

III. derivatives

casualness /ˈkaZH(əw)əlnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in sense 2 of the adjective and sense 3 of the adjective): from Old French casuel and Latin casualis, from casus ‘fall’ (compare with case^1).

casual Friday

noun

Friday as a day when office workers are allowed to dress more casually than usual.

casually /ˈkaZHo͞oəlē/

adverb

1. in a relaxed and informal way

• she was just casually strolling through the mall

• the family was casually dressed in jeans and sweaters.

2. in a way that lacks sufficient care or thoughtfulness

• people who casually throw garbage around the streets.

3. without commitment or permanence; occasionally or irregularly

• I work casually as a staff nurse

• I wouldn't introduce my family to people I was casually dating.

casual sex

noun

sexual activity between people who are not established sexual partners or do not know each other well

• he wants a relationship, not just casual sex.

casualty /ˈkaZH(o͞o)əltē/

I. noun

1. a person killed or injured in a war or accident.

2. a person or thing badly affected by an event or situation

• the building industry has been one of the casualties of the recession.

3. (chiefly in insurance) an accident, mishap, or disaster.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘chance, a chance occurrence’): from medieval Latin casualitas, from casualis (see casual), on the pattern of words such as penalty.

casual water

noun

[Golf] water that has accumulated temporarily and does not constitute a recognized hazard of the course. A player may move a ball from casual water without penalty.

casuarina /ˌkaZHo͞oəˈrēnə/

I. noun

a tree with slender, jointed, drooping twigs that resemble horsetails and bear tiny scalelike leaves. It is native to Australia and Southeast Asia, and is a valuable source of timber and firewood.
[Genus Casuarina, family Casuarinaceae.]

– origin from modern Latin casuarius ‘cassowary’ (from the resemblance of the branches to the bird's feathers).

casuist /ˈkaZHo͞oəst/

I. noun

1. a person who uses clever but unsound reasoning, especially in relation to moral questions; a sophist.

2. a person who resolves moral problems by the application of theoretical rules to particular instances.

II. derivatives

1. casuistic /ˌkaZHo͞oˈistik /

adjective

2. casuistical /ˌkaZHo͞oˈistikəl /

adjective

3. casuistically

adverb

– origin early 17th cent.: from French casuiste, from Spanish casuista, from Latin casus (see case^1).

casuistry /ˈkaZHo͞oəstrē/

noun

1. the use of clever but unsound reasoning, especially in relation to moral questions; sophistry.

2. the resolving of moral problems by the application of theoretical rules to particular instances.

casus belli /ˈkäsəs ˈbelē, ˈkāsəs ˈbelˌī/

I. noun

an act or situation provoking or justifying war.

– origin Latin, from casus (see case^1) and belli, genitive of bellum ‘war.’

cat^1 /kat/

I. noun

1. a small domesticated carnivorous mammal with soft fur, a short snout, and retractile claws. It is widely kept as a pet or for catching mice, and many breeds have been developed.
[Felis catus, family Felidae (the cat family); probably domesticated in ancient Egypt from the local race of wildcat, and held in great reverence there. The cat family also includes the ocelot, serval, margay, lynx, and the big cats.]

2. a wild animal of the cat family

• a marbled cat.

See also big cat.

3. used in names of catlike animals of other families, e.g., ring-tailed cat.

4. ‹historical› short for cat-o'-nine-tails.

5. short for catfish.

6. short for cathead.

7. short for catboat.

8. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) (particularly among jazz enthusiasts) a person, especially a man.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Nautical] raise (an anchor) from the surface of the water to the cathead.

III. phrases

1. cat and mouse

a series of cunning maneuvers designed to thwart an opponent

• their elite fighters are playing cat and mouse with US troops.

2. a cat may look at a king

‹proverb› even a person of low status or importance has rights.

3. has the cat got your tongue?

said to someone who, when expected to speak, remains silent.

4. let the cat out of the bag

‹informal› reveal a secret carelessly or by mistake.

5. like a cat on a hot tin roof

‹informal› very agitated or anxious.

6. like herding cats ‹informal›

used to refer to a difficult or impossible task, typically an attempt to organize a group of people

• controlling the members of this expedition is like herding cats.

7. look like something the cat dragged in (or brought in)

‹informal› (of a person) look very dirty or disheveled.

8. when (or while) the cat's away, the mice will play

‹proverb› people will naturally take advantage of the absence of someone in authority to do as they like.

– origin Old English catt, catte, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kat and German Katze; reinforced in Middle English by forms from late Latin cattus.

cat^2 /kat/

noun

short for catalytic converter.

cat^3 /kat/

noun

short for catamaran.

CAT /kat/

abbreviation

1. clear air turbulence.

2. computer-assisted (or -aided) testing.

3. [Medicine] computerized axial tomography
[as adj.]

• a CAT scan.

cata- cat-

I. prefix

1. down; downward

• catadromous

• cataract.

2. wrongly; badly

• catachresis

• catastrophe.

3. completely; thoroughly

• catechize.

4. against

• catapult.

– origin from Greek kata ‘down.’

catabolism /kəˈtabəˌlizəm/

I. noun

[Biology] the breakdown of complex molecules in living organisms to form simpler ones, together with the release of energy; destructive metabolism.

II. derivatives

1. catabolic /ˌkadəˈbôlik /

adjective

2. catabolize /kəˈtabəˌlīz /

verb

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek katabolē ‘throwing down,’ from kata- ‘down’ + ballein ‘to throw.’

catabolite /kəˈtabəˌlīt/

noun

[Biochemistry] a product of catabolism.

catachresis /ˌkadəˈkrēsis/

I. noun

the use of a word in a way that is not correct, for example, the use of mitigate for militate.

II. derivatives

catachrestic /-ˈkrestik /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin, from Greek katakhrēsis, from katakhrēsthai ‘misuse,’ from kata- ‘down’ (expressing the sense ‘wrongly’) + khrēsthai ‘use.’

cataclysm /ˈkadəˌklizəm/

I. noun

1. a large-scale and violent event in the natural world.

2. a sudden violent upheaval, especially in a political or social context

• the cataclysm of the First World War.

– origin early 17th cent. (originally denoting the biblical Flood described in Genesis): from French cataclysme, via Latin from Greek kataklusmos ‘deluge,’ from kata- ‘down’ + kluzein ‘to wash.’

cataclysmic /ˌkadəˈklizmik/

I. adjective

1. relating to or denoting a violent natural event.

2. ‹informal› used to emphasize the extent of something bad or unwelcome

• the concert was a cataclysmic failure.

II. derivatives

cataclysmically /-mik(ə)lē /

adverb

catacomb /ˈkadəˌkōm/

I. noun — (usu. catacombs)

1. an underground cemetery consisting of a subterranean gallery with recesses for tombs, as constructed by the ancient Romans.

2. an underground construction resembling the catacombs built by ancient Romans.

– origin Old English, from late Latin catacumbas, the name of the subterranean cemetery of St. Sebastian near Rome.

catadioptric /ˌkadədīˈäptrik/

adjective

[Optics] denoting an optical system that involves both the reflecting and refracting of light, in order to reduce aberration.

catadromous /kəˈtadrəməs/

I. adjective

[Zoology] (of a fish such as the eel) migrating down rivers to the sea to spawn.
The opposite of anadromous.

– origin late 19th cent.: from cata- ‘down’ + Greek dromos ‘running,’ on the pattern of anadromous.

catafalque /ˈkadəˌfalk/

I. noun

a decorated wooden framework supporting the coffin of a distinguished person during a funeral or while lying in state.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, from Italian catafalco, of unknown origin. Compare with scaffold.

Catalan /ˈkadlˌan ˈkadələn/

I. noun

1. a native of Catalonia.

2. a Romance language closely related to Castilian Spanish and Provençal, widely spoken in Catalonia (where it has official status alongside Castilian Spanish) and in Andorra, the Balearic Islands, and parts of southern France.

II. adjective

of or relating to Catalonia, its people, or its language.

– origin from French, from Spanish catalán, related to Catalan català ‘Catalan,’Catalunya ‘Catalonia.’

catalase /ˈkatlˌās, -ˌāz/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] an enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of hydrogen peroxide.

– origin early 20th cent.: from catalysis + -ase.

catalectic /ˌkadəˈlektik / ‹Prosody›

I. adjective

(of a metrical line of verse) lacking one syllable in the last foot.

II. noun

a line lacking a syllable in the last foot.

– origin late 16th cent.: from late Latin catalecticus, from Greek katalēktikos, from katalēgein ‘leave off.’

catalepsy /ˈkadlˌepsē/

I. noun

a medical condition characterized by a trance or seizure with a loss of sensation and consciousness accompanied by rigidity of the body.

II. derivatives

cataleptic /ˌkadlˈeptik /

adjective, noun

– origin late Middle English: from French catalepsie or late Latin catalepsia, from Greek katalēpsis, from katalambanein ‘seize upon.’

catalexis /ˈkadəˌleksəs/

noun

the absence of a syllable in the last foot of a line or verse.

Catalina /ˌkadlˈēnə/

another name for Santa Catalina.

catalog /ˈkadlˌôɡ / catalogue

I. noun

1. a complete list of items, typically one in alphabetical or other systematic order, in particular

2. a list of all the books or resources in a library.

3. a publication containing details and often photographs of items for sale, especially one produced by a mail-order company.

4. a descriptive list of works of art in an exhibition or collection giving detailed comments and explanations.

5. (US) a list of courses offered by a university or college.

6. [in sing.] — a series of unfortunate or bad things

• his life was a catalog of dismal failures.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make a systematic list of (items of the same type).

2. enter (an item) in a systematic list

• the picture was withdrawn before being cataloged.

3. list (similar situations, qualities, or events) in succession

• the report catalogs dangerous work practices in the company.

III. derivatives

cataloger /ˈkadlˌôɡər ˈkadlˌäɡər / cataloguer

noun

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from late Latin catalogus, from Greek katalogos, from katalegein ‘pick out or enroll.’

catalogue raisonné /katlˌôɡ ˌrāzəˈnā, -ˌäɡ/

I. noun

a descriptive catalog of works of art with explanations and scholarly comments.

– origin late 18th cent.: French, literally ‘explained catalog.’

Catalonia /ˌkadlˈōnēə/

an autonomous region in northeastern Spain; capital, Barcelona. The region has a strong separatist tradition; the normal language for everyday purposes is Catalan, which has also won acceptance in recent years for various official purposes. Catalan name Catalunya; Spanish name Cataluña.

Catalonian /ˌkadəˈlōnēən/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of the Spanish region of Catalonia, its people, or its language

• a monumental 12th-century Catalonian fresco.

II. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of the Spanish region of Catalonia

• he is bilingual like many Catalonians.

2. the language of the Spanish region of Catalonia, also widely spoken in Andorra, the Balearic Islands, and parts of southern France; Catalan

• my faltering attempts at Catalonian.

catalpa /kəˈtalpə/

I. noun

a tree with large heart-shaped leaves, clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers, and long, slender beanlike seedpods, native to North America and eastern Asia and cultivated as an ornamental.
[Genus Catalpa, family Bignoniaceae: several species, including the southern catalpa (C. bignonioides).]

– origin from Creek.

catalufa /ˌkadlˈo͞ofə/

I. noun

another term for bigeye (sense 2).

– origin from Spanish.

catalysis /kəˈtaləsəs/

I. noun

[Chemistry] [Biochemistry] the acceleration of a chemical reaction by a catalyst.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin, from Greek katalusis, from kataluein ‘dissolve,’ from kata- ‘down’ + luein ‘loosen.’

catalyst /ˈkad(ə)ləst/

I. noun

1. a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change.

2. a person or thing that precipitates an event

• the governor's speech acted as a catalyst for debate.

– origin early 20th cent.: from catalysis, on the pattern of analyst.

catalytic /ˌkadlˈidik/

I. adjective

relating to or involving the action of a catalyst.

II. derivatives

catalytically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin mid 19th cent.: from catalysis, on the pattern of pairs such as analysis, analytic.

catalytic converter /katəlitikkənˈvɜːrtər/

noun

a device incorporated in the exhaust system of a motor vehicle, containing a catalyst for converting pollutant gases into less harmful ones.

catalyze /ˈkadlˌīz / ‹Brit.› catalyse

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause or accelerate (a reaction) by acting as a catalyst.

2. cause (an action or process) to begin

• the tragic event helped to catalyze the already growing popular anger.

– origin late 19th cent.: from catalysis, on the pattern of analyze.

catamaran /ˌkadəməˈran ˈkadəməˌran/

I. noun

a yacht or other boat with twin hulls in parallel.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Tamil kaṭṭumaram, literally ‘tied wood.’

Catamarca /ˌkätäˈmärkä, ˌkatəˈmärkə/

a mining and commercial town in northwestern Argentina, the capital of Catamarca province; pop. 153,200 (est. 2005).

catamenia /katəˈmēnēə/

I. noun

‹rare› blood and other matter discharged from the uterus at menstruation.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Greek, neuter plural form of katamēnios ‘monthly,’ from kata ‘down’ + mēn ‘month’: see -ia^2.

catamite /ˈkadəˌmīt/

I. noun

‹archaic› a boy kept for homosexual practices.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin catamitus, via Etruscan from Greek Ganumēdēs (see Ganymede).

catamount /ˈkadəˌmount / catamountain

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a medium-sized or large wild cat, especially a cougar.

– origin late Middle English (as catamountain): from the phrase cat of the mountain.

Catania /kəˈtanēə/

a seaport on the east coast of Sicily, in southern Italy, at the foot of Mount Etna; pop. 296,469 (2008).

Catanzaro /ˌkätän(d)ˈzärō/

the chief town of the Calabria region of southern Italy; pop. 93,519 (2008).

cataphatic /ˌkadəˈfadik/

I. adjective

[Theology] (of knowledge of God) obtained through affirmation.
The opposite of apophatic.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek kataphatikos ‘affirmative,’ from kataphasis ‘affirmation,’ from kata- (as an intensifier) + phanai ‘speak.’

cataphor /ˈkatəfər, -ˌfôr/

I. noun

[Grammar] a word or phrase that refers to or stands for a later word or phrase (e.g., in when they saw Ruth, the men looked slightly abashed, the word they is used as a cataphor for the men).

– origin late 20th cent.: back-formation from cataphora.

cataphora /kəˈtaf(ə)rə/

I. noun

[Grammar] the use of a word or phrase that refers to or stands for a later word or phrase (e.g., the pronoun he in he may be 37, but Jeff behaves like a teenager).
Compare with anaphora.

II. derivatives

1. cataphoric /ˌkadəˈfôrik /

adjective

2. cataphorically /ˌkatəˈfôrik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin 1970s: from cata- on the pattern of anaphora.

cataphoresis /ˌkadəfəˈrēsəs/

noun

another term for electrophoresis.

cataphract /ˈkadəˌfrakt/

I. noun

‹archaic› a soldier in full armor.

– origin late 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek kataphraktos ‘clothed in full armor.’

cataplasm /ˈkadəˌplazəm/

noun

another term for poultice.

cataplexy /ˈkadəˌpleksē/

I. noun

a medical condition in which strong emotion or laughter causes a person to suffer sudden physical collapse though remaining conscious.

II. derivatives

cataplectic /ˌkadəˈplektik /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek kataplēxis ‘stupefaction,’ from kataplessein, from kata- ‘down’ + plēssein ‘strike.’

catapult /ˈkadəˌpəlt/

I. noun

1. a device in which accumulated tension is suddenly released to hurl an object some distance, in particular

2. ‹historical› a military machine worked by a lever and ropes for hurling large stones or other missiles.

3. a mechanical device for launching a glider or other aircraft, especially from the deck of a ship.

4. (chiefly Brit.) a slingshot.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. hurl or launch (something) in a specified direction with or as if with a catapult

• the plane was refueled and catapulted back into the air again

• the explosion catapulted the car 30 yards along the road

• ‹figurative› their music catapulted them to the top of the charts.

2. [no obj.] — move suddenly or at great speed as though hurled by a catapult

• the horse catapulted away from the fence.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French catapulte or Latin catapulta, from Greek katapeltēs, from kata- ‘down’ + pallein ‘hurl.’

cataract /ˈkadəˌrakt/

I. noun

1. a large waterfall.

2. a sudden rush of water; a downpour

• the rain enveloped us in a deafening cataract.

3. a medical condition in which the lens of the eye becomes progressively opaque, resulting in blurred vision

• she had cataracts in both eyes.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin cataracta ‘waterfall, floodgate,’ also ‘portcullis’ (medical sense 2 probably being a figurative use of this), from Greek kataraktēs ‘down-rushing,’ from katarassein, from kata- ‘down’ + arassein ‘strike, smash.’

catarrh /kəˈtär/

I. noun

excessive discharge or buildup of mucus in the nose or throat, associated with inflammation of the mucous membrane.

II. derivatives

catarrhal /kəˈtärəl /

adjective

– origin early 16th cent.: from French catarrhe, from late Latin catarrhus, from Greek katarrhous, from katarrhein ‘flow down,’ from kata- ‘down’ + rhein ‘flow.’

catarrhine /ˈkadəˌrīn / ‹Zoology›

I. adjective

of or relating to primates of a group that comprises the Old World monkeys, gibbons, great apes, and humans. They are distinguished by having nostrils that are close together and directed downward.
Compare with platyrrhine.

II. noun

a catarrhine primate.
[Infraorder Catarrhini, order Primates: four families.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from cata- ‘down’ + Greek rhis, rhin- ‘nose.’

catastasis /kəˈtastəsəs/

noun

the third part of an ancient Greek drama, in which the action is heightened for the catastrophe.

catastrophe /kəˈtastrəfē/

I. noun

1. an event causing great and often sudden damage or suffering; a disaster

• a national economic catastrophe

• leading the world to catastrophe.

2. the denouement of a drama, especially a classical tragedy.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘denouement’): from Latin catastropha, from Greek katastrophē ‘overturning, sudden turn,’ from kata- ‘down’ + strophē ‘turning’ (from strephein ‘to turn’).

catastrophe theory

noun

a branch of mathematics concerned with systems displaying abrupt discontinuous change.

catastrophic /ˌkadəˈsträfik/

adjective

1. involving or causing sudden great damage or suffering

• a catastrophic earthquake.

2. involving a sudden and large-scale alteration in the state of something

• the body undergoes catastrophic collapse toward the state of a black hole.

3. of or relating to geological catastrophism.

4. extremely unfortunate or unsuccessful

• catastrophic mismanagement of the economy.

catastrophically /ˌkadəˈsträfək(ə)lē/

adverb

1. in a way that involves great damage, suffering, or deterioration in state

• tropical forests are being catastrophically destroyed.

2. [as submodifier] — to an extremely unsuccessful extent

• the film is catastrophically bad.

3. [Geology] in a way that results from a natural disaster

• two fossil specimens appear to have been buried together catastrophically.

catastrophism /kəˈtastrəˌfizəm/

I. noun

[Geology] the theory that changes in the earth's crust during geological history have resulted chiefly from sudden violent and unusual events.
Often contrasted with uniformitarianism.

II. derivatives

catastrophist /kəˈtastrəfəst /

noun, adjective

catatonia /ˌkadəˈtōnēə/

I. noun

1. [Psychiatry] abnormality of movement and behavior arising from a disturbed mental state (typically schizophrenia). It may involve repetitive or purposeless overactivity, or catalepsy, resistance to passive movement, and negativism.

2. [Psychiatry] ‹informal› a state of immobility and stupor.

– origin late 19th cent.: from cata- ‘badly’ + Greek tonos ‘tone or tension.’

catatonic /ˌkadəˈtänik/

adjective

1. [Psychiatry] of, relating to, or characterized by catatonia

• catatonic schizophrenia.

2. [Psychiatry] ‹informal› of or in an immobile or unresponsive stupor.

Catawba /kəˈtôbə, -ˈtäbə/

I. noun

1. a North American variety of grape.

2. a white wine made from the Catawba grape.

– origin named after the Catawba River.

Catawba River /kəˈtôbə/

a river that flows for 300 miles (480 km) from the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina across much of South Carolina.

catbird /ˈkatbərd/

I. noun

1. a long-tailed American songbird of the mockingbird family, with mainly dark gray or black plumage and catlike calls.
[Two genera and species, family Mimidae, in particular the gray catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) of North America.]

2. a thickset Australasian bird of the bowerbird family, typically with a loud call like a yowling cat. It does not generally construct bowers.
[Genus Ailuroedus (and Scenopoeetes), family Ptilonorhynchidae: several species, in particular the green catbird (A. crassirostris).]

II. phrases

in the catbird seat

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› in a superior or advantageous position.
[said to be an allusion to a baseball player in the fortunate position of having no strikes and therefore three balls still to play (a reference made in James Thurber's short story "The Catbird Seat").]

catboat /ˈkatbōt/

I. noun

a sailboat with a single mast placed well forward and carrying only one sail.

– origin mid 19th cent.: perhaps from cat (denoting a type of merchant ship formerly used in the coal and timber trades in northeastern England) + boat.

catbrier /ˈkatˌbrī(ə)r / catbriar

noun

another term for greenbrier.

cat burglar /ˈkat ˌbərɡlər/

noun

a thief who enters a building by climbing to an upper story.

cat cafe cat café

noun

a cafe or similar establishment where people pay to interact with cats housed on the premises

• she was one of many waiting in line this morning for the opening of North America's first pop-up cat cafe.

catcall /ˈkatˌkôl/

I. noun

1. a shrill whistle or shout of disapproval, typically one made at a public meeting or performance.

2. a loud whistle or a comment of a sexual nature made by a man to a passing woman.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. make a whistle, shout, or comment of a sexual nature to a woman passing by

• they were fired for catcalling at women.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from cat^1 + call, originally denoting a kind of whistle or squeaking instrument used to express disapproval at a theater.

catch /kaCH keCH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. intercept and hold (something that has been thrown, propelled, or dropped)

• she threw the bottle into the air and caught it again.

2. intercept the fall of (someone).

3. seize or take hold of

• he caught hold of her arm as she tried to push past him.

4. [no obj.] (catch at) — grasp or try to grasp

• his hands caught at her arms as she tried to turn away.

5. capture (a person or animal that tries or would try to escape)

• we hadn't caught a single rabbit.

6. [no obj.] — (of an object) accidentally become entangled or trapped in something

• the charm bracelet always caught on her clothing.

7. (of a person) have (a part of one's body or clothing) become entangled or trapped in something

• she caught her foot in the bedspread

• ‹figurative› companies face increased risks of being caught in a downward spiral.

8. fix or fasten in place

• her hair was caught back in a scrunchie.

9. reach in time and board (a train, bus, or aircraft)

• they caught the 12:15 from Chicago.

10. reach or be in a place in time to see (a person, performance, program, etc.)

• she was hurrying downstairs to catch the news.

11. come upon (someone) unexpectedly

• unexpected snow caught us by surprise.

12. (be caught in) — (of a person) unexpectedly find oneself in (an unwelcome situation)

• my sister was caught in a thunderstorm.

13. (catch it) — ‹informal› be punished or told off.

14. surprise (someone) in an incriminating situation or in the act of doing something wrong

• he was caught with bomb-making equipment in his home.

15. engage (a person's interest or imagination).

16. perceive fleetingly

• she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror.

17. hear or understand (something said), especially with effort

• he bellowed something Jess couldn't catch.

18. succeed in evoking or representing

• the program caught something of the flavor of Minoan culture.

19. [with obj.] — strike (someone) on a part of the body

• Ben caught him on the chin with an uppercut.

20. accidentally strike (a part of one's body) against something

• she fell and caught her head on the corner of the hearth.

21. contract (an illness) through infection or contagion.

22. [no obj.] — become ignited, due to contact with flame, and start burning

• the rafters have caught.

23. (of an engine) fire and start running.

II. noun

1. an act of catching something, typically a ball.

2. an amount of fish caught

• a record catch of 6.9 billion pounds of fish.

3. [in sing.] — ‹informal› a person considered attractive, successful, or prestigious and so desirable as a partner or spouse

• I mistakenly thought he would be a good catch.

4. a device for securing something such as a door, window, or box

• the window catch was rusty.

5. a hidden problem or disadvantage in an apparently ideal situation

• there's a catch in it somewhere.

6. [in sing.] — an unevenness in a person's voice caused by emotion

• there was a catch in Anne's voice.

7. [Music] a round, typically one with words arranged to produce a humorous effect.

III. phrases

1. catch someone napping

see nap^1.

2. be caught short

see short.

3. catch at straws

see straw.

4. catch one's breath

see breath.

5. catch one's death (of cold)

see death.

6. catch someone's eye

a. be noticed by someone

• a vase on a side table caught his eye.

b. attract someone's attention by making eye contact

• I caught Rhoda's eye and gave her a friendly wave.

7. catch fire

become ignited and burn.

8. catch someone in the act

see act.

9. catch the light

shine or glint in the light.

10. catch sight of

suddenly notice; glimpse.

11. you wouldn't catch —— doing something

‹informal› used to indicate that there is no possibility of the person mentioned doing what is specified

• you wouldn't catch me walking back to the house alone at night.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. catch on ‹informal›

a. (of a practice or fashion) become popular

• his music never caught on in the South.

b. understand what is meant or how to do something

• I caught on to what it was the guy was saying.

2. catch up

a. succeed in reaching a person who is ahead of one.

b. do work or other tasks that one should have done earlier

• he normally used the afternoons to catch up on paperwork.

3. catch up with

a. succeed in reaching a person who is ahead of one

• you go with Stasia and Katie, and I'll catch up with you.

b. talk to (someone) whom one has not seen for some time in order to find out what he or she has been doing in the interim

• a chance to catch up with old friends.

c. begin to have a damaging effect on

• the physical exertions began to catch up with Sue.

4. be/get caught up in

become involved in (something that one had not intended to become involved in)

• he had no desire to be caught up in political activities.

V. derivatives

catchable

adjective

– origin Middle English (also in the sense ‘chase’): from Anglo-Norman French and Old Northern French cachier, variant of Old French chacier, based on Latin captare ‘try to catch,’ from capere ‘take.’

catch-all /ˈkeCH ˌôl/

noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. a term or category that includes a variety of different possibilities

• the stigmatizing catch-all term “schizophrenia.”

catch-as-catch-can /ˌkaCHəzˌkaCHˈkan/

I. noun

‹archaic› wrestling in which all holds are permitted.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. using whatever methods or materials are available

• our catch-as-catch-can repair of fences.

catcher /ˈkaCHər ˈkeCHər/

noun

1. a person or thing that catches something.

2. [Baseball] a fielder positioned behind home plate to catch pitches not hit by the batter and to execute other defensive plays.

catchfly /ˈkeCHˌflī/

noun

a campion or similar plant of the pink family, with a sticky stem.
[Silene, Lychnis, and other genera, family Caryophyllaceae.]

catching /ˈkaCHiNG/

adjective — [predic.]

1. (of a disease) infectious

• Huntington's chorea isn't catching.

2. (of a person's emotion or mood) likely to spread to other people

• her enthusiasm is catching.

catchlight /ˈkaCHˌlīt, ˈkeCH-/

noun

a gleam of reflected light in the eye of a person or animal in a photograph.

catchline /ˈkaCHlīn/

noun

1. [Printing] a short, eye-catching line of type, typically one at the top of a page such as a running head.

2. [Printing] (Brit.) an advertising slogan.

catchment /ˈkaCHmənt/

noun

1. the action of collecting water, especially the collection of rainfall over a natural drainage area.

2. short for catchment area.

catchment area

noun

1. the area from which rainfall flows into a river, lake, or reservoir.

2. (chiefly Brit.) the area of a city, town, etc., from which a hospital's patients or school's students are drawn.

catchpenny /ˈkeCHˌpenē/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. having a cheap superficial attractiveness designed to encourage quick sales.

catchphrase /ˈkaCHˌfrāz/

noun

1. a well-known sentence or phrase, typically one that is associated with a particular famous person.

2. an advertising slogan.

catch-22

I. noun

a dilemma or difficult circumstance from which there is no escape because of mutually conflicting or dependent conditions
[as modifier]

• a catch-22 situation.

– origin 1970s: title of a novel by Joseph Heller (1961), in which the main character feigns madness in order to avoid dangerous combat missions, but his desire to avoid them is taken to prove his sanity.

catch-up /ˈkaCHˌəp / catchup

I. noun

‹informal› an act of catching someone up in a particular activity.

II. phrases

play catch-up

a. fall behind continually with work or financial matters

• I'm always playing catch-up with my homework.

b. (N. Amer.) try to equal a competitor in a sport or game.

catchweight /ˈkaCHˌwāt, ˈkeCH-/

noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. ‹chiefly historical› unrestricted weight in a wrestling match or other sporting contest

• a catchweight contest.

catchword /ˈkaCHˌwərd/

noun

1. a briefly popular or fashionable word or phrase used to encapsulate a particular concept

• “motivation” is a great catchword.

2. a word printed or placed so as to attract attention.

3. [Printing] ‹chiefly historical› the first word of a page given at the foot of the previous one.

catchy /ˈkaCHē ˈkeCHē/

I. adjective

(of a tune or phrase) instantly appealing and memorable

• a catchy recruiting slogan.

II. derivatives

1. catchily /ˈkaCHəlē, ˈkeCH- /

adverb

2. catchiness

noun

cate /kāt/

I. noun — (usu. cates)

1. ‹archaic› a choice food; a delicacy.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘selling, a bargain’): from obsolete acate ‘purchasing, things purchased,’ from Old French acat, achat, from acater, achater ‘buy,’ based on Latin captare ‘seize,’ from capere ‘take.’

catechesis /ˌkadəˈkēsəs/

I. noun

religious instruction given to a person in preparation for Christian baptism or confirmation, typically using a catechism.

– origin mid 18th cent.: via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek katēkhēsis ‘oral instruction.’

catechetical /ˌkadəˈkedək(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to religious instruction given to a person in preparation for Christian baptism or confirmation.

2. of or relating to religious teaching by means of questions and answers.

II. derivatives

1. catechetic /ˌkadəˈkedik /

adjective

2. catechetically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin early 17th cent.: from ecclesiastical Greek katēkhētikos, from katēkhētēs ‘catechist,’ from katēkhein ‘instruct orally’ (see catechize).

catechetics /ˌkadəˈkediks/

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the branch of theology that deals with the instruction given to Christians before baptism or confirmation.

2. religious teaching in general, typically that given to children in the Roman Catholic Church.

catechin /ˈkadəˌ(t)SHən/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a crystalline compound that is the major constituent of catechu.
[A phenol; chem. formula: C_15H_14O_6; several isomers.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from catechu + -in^1.

catechism /ˈkadəˌkizəm/

I. noun

1. a summary of the principles of Christian religion in the form of questions and answers, used for the instruction of Christians.

2. a series of fixed questions, answers, or precepts used for instruction in other situations.

II. derivatives

catechismal /ˌkatəˈkizməl /

adjective

– origin early 16th cent.: from ecclesiastical Latin catechismus, from ecclesiastical Greek, from katēkhizein (see catechize).

catechist /ˈkadəkəst/

I. noun

a teacher of the principles of Christian religion, especially one using a catechism.

– origin mid 16th cent.: via ecclesiastical Latin from ecclesiastical Greek katēkhistēs, from katēkhein ‘instruct orally.’

catechize /ˈkadəˌkīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. instruct (someone) in the principles of Christian religion by means of question and answer, typically by using a catechism.

2. put questions to or interrogate (someone).

II. derivatives

catechizer /ˈkadəˌkīzər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: via late Latin from ecclesiastical Greek katēkhizein, from katēkhein ‘instruct orally, make hear.’

catechol /ˈkatəˌkôl, -ˌkōl/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a crystalline compound obtained by distilling catechu.
[Alternative name: benzene-1,2-diol; chem. formula: C_6H_4(OH)2.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from catechu + -ol.

catecholamine /katəˈkōləˌmēn, -ˈkôlə-/

noun

[Biochemistry] any of a class of aromatic amines that includes a number of neurotransmitters such as epinephrine and dopamine.

catechu /ˈkadəˌ(t)SHo͞o / cachou

I. noun

a vegetable extract containing tannin, especially one (also called cutch) obtained from the heartwood of an Indian acacia tree, used chiefly for tanning and dyeing.
[The chief source of this is Acacia catechu, family Leguminosae.]

– origin late 17th cent.: modern Latin, from Malay kacu. Compare with cachou.

catechumen /ˌkadəˈkyo͞omən/

I. noun

1. a Christian convert under instruction before baptism.

2. a young Christian preparing for confirmation.

– origin late Middle English: via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek katēkhoumenos ‘being instructed,’ present participle of katēkhein ‘instruct orally’ (see catechize).

categorical /ˌkadəˈɡôrək(ə)l/

I. adjective

unambiguously explicit and direct

• a categorical assurance.

II. derivatives

categoric /ˌkadəˈɡôrik /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: from late Latin categoricus (from Greek katēgorikos, from katēgoria ‘statement’: see category) + -al.

categorical imperative /ˈˌkadəˈɡôrəkəl əmˈperədiv/

noun

[Philosophy] (in Kantian ethics) an unconditional moral obligation that is binding in all circumstances and is not dependent on a person's inclination or purpose.

categorically /kadəˈɡôriklē/

adverb

in a way that is unambiguously explicit and direct

• the rules state categorically, “No violence.”

categorization /ˌkadəɡ(ə)rəˈzāSH(ə)n ˌkadəɡəˌrīˈzāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action or process of placing into classes or groups

• categorization by topic.

2. a system of classes into which something is sorted

• categorizations in music.

categorize /ˈkadəɡəˌrīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. place in a particular class or group

• odors have been categorized into only seven basic groups.

category /ˈkadəˌɡôrē/

I. noun

1. a class or division of people or things regarded as having particular shared characteristics

• five categories of intelligence.

2. [Philosophy] one of a possibly exhaustive set of classes among which all things might be distributed.

3. one of the a priori conceptions applied by the mind to sense impressions.

II. derivatives

categorial /ˌkadəˈɡôrēəl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (sense 2): from French catégorie or late Latin categoria, from Greek katēgoria ‘statement, accusation,’ from katēgoros ‘accuser.’

category killer

noun

a large store, typically one of a chain, that specializes in a particular type of discounted merchandise and becomes the dominant retailer in that category.

category mistake category error

noun

[Logic] the error of assigning to something a quality or action that can properly be assigned to things only of another category, for example, treating abstract concepts as though they had a physical location.

catena /kəˈtēnə/

I. noun

1. ‹technical› a connected series or chain.

2. ‹technical› a connected series of texts written by early Christian theologians.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin, ‘chain,’ originally in catena patrum ‘chain of the (Church) Fathers.’

catenary /ˈkad(ə)nerē/

I. noun

1. a curve formed by a wire, rope, or chain hanging freely from two points and forming a U shape
[as modifier]

• a catenary wire.

2. a wire, rope, or chain forming a catenary.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin catenarius ‘relating to a chain,’ from catena ‘chain.’

catenated /ˈkadəˌnātəd/

I. adjective

‹technical› connected in a chain or series

• catenated molecules.

II. derivatives

catenation /ˌkadəˈnāSHən ˌkadnˈāSHən /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: past participle of the rare verb catenate, from Latin catenat- ‘chained, fettered,’ from the verb catenare, from catena ‘chain.’

catenative /ˈkatəˌnātiv, ˈkatnˌātiv / ‹Grammar›

I. adjective

denoting a verb that governs a nonfinite form of another verb, for example, like in I like swimming.

II. noun

a catenative verb.

– origin late 20th cent.: from Latin catena ‘chain’ + -ative.

catenoid /ˈkatəˌnoid, ˈkatnˌoid/

I. noun

[Geometry] the surface generated by rotating a catenary about its horizontal axis.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin catena ‘chain’ + -oid.

cater /ˈkādər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) provide food and drink, typically at social events and in a professional capacity

• he catered a lunch for 20 people

• (as adj. catered) planning another catered affair.

2. [no obj.] (cater for) — (chiefly Brit.) provide with food and drink in a professional capacity

• my mother helped to cater for the party.

3. [no obj.] (cater to) — provide with what is needed or required

• the school caters to children with learning difficulties.

4. [no obj.] (cater to) — try to satisfy (a particular need or demand)

• he catered to her every whim.

– origin late 16th cent.: from obsolete cater ‘caterer,’ from Old French acateor ‘buyer,’ from acater ‘buy’ (see cate).

cateran /ˈkadərən/

I. noun

‹historical› a warrior or raider from the Scottish Highlands.

– origin Middle English (originally in the plural or as a collective singular denoting the peasantry as fighters): from Scottish Gaelic ceathairne ‘peasantry.’

cater-cornered /ˈkadēˌkôrnərd ˈkadərˌkôrnərd / cater-corner, catty-cornered, kitty-corner

I. adjective, adverb

situated diagonally opposite someone or something
[as adj.]

• a restaurant cater-cornered from the movie theater

• [as adv.] motorcyclists cut cater-cornered across his yard.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from dialect cater ‘diagonally,’ from cater denoting the four on dice, from French quatre ‘four,’ from Latin quattuor.

caterer /ˈkādərər/

noun

a person or company providing food and drink at a social event or other gathering

• it is increasingly common to engage professional caterers.

caterpillar /ˈkadə(r)ˌpilər/

I. noun

1. the larva of a butterfly or moth, having a segmented wormlike body with three pairs of true legs and several pairs of leglike appendages. Caterpillars may be hairy, have warning coloration, or be colored to resemble their surroundings.

2. (in general use) any insect larva resembling the larvae of butterflies and moths, especially the sawfly.

3. (also caterpillar track or tread) — ‹trademark› an articulated steel band passing around the wheels of a vehicle for travel on rough ground.

4. a vehicle with caterpillar tracks.

– origin late Middle English: perhaps from a variant of Old French chatepelose, literally ‘hairy cat,’ influenced by obsolete piller ‘ravager.’ The association with “cat” is found in other languages, e.g., Swiss German Teufelskatz (literally ‘devil's cat’), Lombard gatta (literally ‘cat’). Compare with French chaton, English catkin, resembling hairy caterpillars.

caterwaul /ˈkadərˌwôl/

I. verb — [no obj.] (often as noun caterwauling)

1. (of a cat) make a shrill howling or wailing noise

• the caterwauling of a pair of bobcats

• ‹figurative› a caterwauling guitar.

II. noun

a shrill howling or wailing noise.

– origin late Middle English: from cat^1 + imitative waul.

catfight /ˈkatfīt/

I. noun

‹informal› a fight between women.

II. derivatives

catfighting

noun

catfish /ˈkatˌfiSH/

I. noun

1. a freshwater or marine fish with whiskerlike barbels around the mouth, typically bottom-dwelling.
[Order Siluriformes: many families, including the Eurasian family Siluridae and the large North American family Ictaluridae.]

2. another term for wolffish.

II. verb — (often as noun catfishing)

1. [no obj.] — fish for catfish

• with the Mississippi River far below its normal level, the catfishing kept getting better and better.

2. [with obj.] — (US) ‹informal› lure (someone) into a relationship by means of a fictional online persona

• he was being catfished by a cruel prankster

• a victim of catfishing.

[originally with reference to the 2010 documentary film Catfish, which concerns such a relationship.]

cat food

noun

commercially prepared food for pet cats

• I opened a can of cat food for my girlfriend's pets.

catgut /ˈkatˌɡət/

I. noun

a material used for the strings of some musical instruments, made of the dried twisted intestines of sheep or horses (but not cats).

– origin late 16th cent.: the association with cat^1 remains unexplained.

Cath.

abbreviation

1. Cathedral.

2. Catholic.

Cathar /ˈkaTHär/

I. noun

a member of a heretical medieval Christian sect that professed a form of Manichaean dualism and sought to achieve great spiritual purity.

II. derivatives

1. Catharism /ˈkaTHərizəm /

noun

2. Catharist /ˈkaTHərist /

noun, adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin Cathari (plural), from Greek katharoi ‘the pure.’

catharsis /kəˈTHärsəs/

I. noun

1. the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.

2. [Medicine] ‹rare› purgation.

– origin early 19th cent. (sense 2): from Greek katharsis, from kathairein ‘cleanse,’ from katharos ‘pure.’ The notion of “release” through drama (sense 1) derives from Aristotle's Poetics.

cathartic /kəˈTHärdik/

I. adjective

1. providing psychological relief through the open expression of strong emotions; causing catharsis

• crying is a cathartic release.

2. [Medicine] (chiefly of a drug) purgative.

II. noun

[Medicine] a purgative drug.

III. derivatives

cathartically

adverb

– origin early 17th cent. (in medical use): via late Latin from Greek kathartikos, from katharsis ‘cleansing’ (see catharsis).

Cathay /kəˈTHā/

I. the name by which China was known to medieval Europe.
Also called Khitai.

– origin from medieval Latin Cataya, Cathaya, from Turkic Khitāy.

cathead /ˈkatˌhed/

noun

a horizontal beam extending from each side of a ship's bow, used for raising and carrying an anchor.

cathectic /kəˈTHektik/

I. adjective

[Psychoanalysis] of or relating to cathexis.

– origin 1920s: from Greek kathektikos ‘capable of holding.’

cathedra /kəˈTHēdrə/

noun

1. a seat, specifically the chair of a bishop in his church.

2. a bishop's see.
See also ex cathedra.

cathedral /kəˈTHēdrəl/

I. noun

the principal church of a diocese, with which the bishop is officially associated
[in names]

• St. Paul's Cathedral.

– origin Middle English (as an adjective, the noun being short for cathedral church ‘the church that contains the bishop's throne’): from late Latin cathedralis, from Latin cathedra ‘seat,’ from Greek kathedra.

cathedral ceiling

noun

a pointed or slanting ceiling of a room that rises through more than one floor.

Cathedral City

a city in southern California, southeast of Palm Springs; pop. 52,095 (est. 2008).

Cather, Willa /ˈkaT͟Hər/

(1876–1974), US novelist and short-story writer; full name Willa Sibert Cather. Her home state of Nebraska provides the setting for some of her best writing. Notable works: O Pioneers! (1913), My Antonia (1918), and Death Comes for the Archbishop (1927).

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

(1982–), wife of Prince William of the United Kingdom; born Catherine Elizabeth Middleton. She married Prince William in April 2011 and gave birth to a son, Prince George Alexander Louis, in July 2013, and a daughter, Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, in May 2015.

Catherine, St.

(died c. 307), early Christian martyr; known as St. Catherine of Alexandria. According to tradition, she opposed the persecution of Christians under the emperor Maxentius and refused to recant or to marry the emperor. Feast day, November 25.

Catherine II /ˌkaTH(ə)rən T͟Həˈsekənd/

(1729–96), empress of Russia; reigned 1762–96; known as Catherine the Great. She became empress after her husband, Peter III, was deposed. She formed alliances with Prussia and Austria and made territorial advances at the expense of the Turks and Tartars.

Catherine de Médicis /ˌkaTH(ə)rən də ˈmedəCHē/

(1519–89), queen of France; wife of Henry II; Italian name Catherine de' Medici. She ruled as regent 1560–74 during the minority reigns of her three sons: Francis II, Charles IX, and Henry III.

Catherine of Aragon

(1485–1536), first wife of Henry VIII; youngest daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Castile; mother of Mary I. Henry's wish to annul his marriage to Catherine (due to her failure to produce a male heir) led eventually to England's break with the Roman Catholic Church.

Catherine wheel /ˈkaTH(ə)rən ˌ(h)wēl/

I. noun

1. a firework in the form of a flat coil that spins when fixed to something solid and lit.

2. [Heraldry] a wheel with curved spikes projecting around the circumference.

– origin late 16th cent. (as a heraldic term): named after St. Catherine (see Catherine, St.), with reference to her martyrdom.

catheter /ˈkaTHədər/

I. noun

[Medicine] a flexible tube inserted through a narrow opening into a body cavity, particularly the bladder, for removing fluid.

– origin early 17th cent.: from late Latin, from Greek kathetēr, from kathienai ‘send or let down.’

catheterize /ˈkaTHədəˌrīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Medicine] insert a catheter into (a patient or body cavity).

II. derivatives

catheterization /ˌkaTHəd(ə)rəˈzāSH(ə)n ˌkaTHədəˌrīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

cathexis /kəˈTHeksəs/

I. noun

[Psychoanalysis] the concentration of mental energy on one particular person, idea, or object (especially to an unhealthy degree).

– origin 1920s: from Greek kathexis ‘retention,’ translating German Libidobesetzung, coined by Freud.

cathode /ˈkaTHˌōd/

I. noun

1. the negatively charged electrode by which electrons enter an electrical device.
The opposite of anode.

2. the positively charged electrode of an electrical device, such as a primary cell, that supplies current.

II. derivatives

1. cathodal /ˈkaTHˌōdl /

adjective

2. cathodic /kaˈTHädik /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek kathodos ‘way down,’ from kata- ‘down’ + hodos ‘way.’

cathode ray /ˈkaˌTHōd ˌrā/

noun

a beam of electrons emitted from the cathode of a high-vacuum tube.

cathode ray tube /ˈkaˌTHōd rā t(y)o͞ob / CRT, cathode-ray tube

noun

a high-vacuum tube in which cathode rays produce a luminous image on a fluorescent screen, used chiefly in televisions and computer terminals.

catholic /ˈkaTH(ə)lik/

I. adjective

including a wide variety of things; all-embracing

• her tastes are pretty catholic.

II. derivatives

1. catholicity /ˌkaTHəˈlisədē /

noun

2. catholically /ˈkaTH(ə)ˌliklē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Catholic.

Catholic /ˈkaTH(ə)lik/

I. adjective

1. of the Roman Catholic faith.

2. of or including all Christians.

3. of or relating to the historic doctrine and practice of the Western Church.

II. noun

a member of the Roman Catholic Church.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French catholique or late Latin catholicus, from Greek katholikos ‘universal,’ from kata ‘with respect to’ + holos ‘whole.’

Catholic Church

noun

short for Roman Catholic Church.

Catholicism /kəˈTHäləˌsizəm/

noun

1. the faith, practice, and church order of the Roman Catholic Church.

2. adherence to the forms of Christian doctrine and practice which are generally regarded as Catholic rather than Protestant or Eastern Orthodox.

Catholicize /kəˈTHäləˌsīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. make Roman Catholic; convert to Catholicism.

Catholic League

see Holy League.

catholicon /kəˈTHäliˌkän, -ikən/

I. noun

1. a universal remedy; a panacea.

2. a comprehensive treatise.

– origin late Middle English: medieval Latin, from Greek dia katholikōn ‘made of general ingredients.’

Catholicos /kəˈTHäləkəs, -ˌkäs/

I. noun

the Patriarch of the Armenian or the Nestorian Church.

– origin early 17th cent.: from medieval Greek katholikos ‘universal’ (see Catholic).

cathouse /ˈkatˌhous/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a brothel.

cation /ˈkadīən/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a positively charged ion, i.e., one that would be attracted to the cathode in electrolysis.
The opposite of anion.

II. derivatives

cationic /ˌkatīˈänik /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from cata- ‘alongside’ or from cathode, + ion.

catkin /ˈkatkən/

I. noun

a flowering spike of trees such as willow and hazel. Catkins are typically downy, pendulous, composed of flowers of a single sex, and wind-pollinated.

– origin late 16th cent.: from obsolete Dutch katteken ‘kitten.’

catlike /ˈkatlīk/

adjective

resembling a cat in appearance, action, or character, especially by moving gracefully or stealthily.

catlinite /ˈkatləˌnīt/

I. noun

a red clay of the Upper Missouri region, the sacred pipestone of the American Indians.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from the name of George Catlin (1796–1872), American artist, + -ite^1.

catmint /ˈkatˌmint/

noun

another term for catnip.

catnap /ˈkatˌnap/

I. noun

a short, light sleep; a doze.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. have a short, light sleep.

catnip /ˈkatˌnip/

I. noun

1. a plant of the mint family, with downy leaves, purple-spotted white flowers, and a pungent smell attractive to cats.
Also called catmint. [Genus Nepeta, family Labiatae: several species, including the Eurasian N. cataria.]

2. someone or something that is very attractive or appealing to a particular person or group

• both men are aggressive self-promoters and catnip for the media

• biotech stocks have become catnip to investors this year.

– origin late 18th cent. (originally US): from cat^1 + nip, variant of dialect nep, nept, from medieval Latin nepta, from Latin nepeta ‘catmint.’

Cato, Marcus Porcius /ˈkātō/

(234–149 BC), Roman statesman, orator, and writer; known as Cato the Elder or Cato the Censor. As censor, he initiated a vigorous program of reform and attempted to stem the growing influence of Greek culture.

cat-o'-nine-tails /ˌkadəˈnīnˌtālz/

noun

‹historical› a rope whip with nine knotted cords, formerly used (especially at sea) to flog offenders.

Catonsville /ˈkātnzˌvil/

a community in central Maryland, southwest of Baltimore; pop. 39,820 (2000).

catoptric /kəˈtäptrik/

I. adjective

[Physics] of or relating to a mirror, a reflector, or reflection.

– origin mid 16th cent. (as a noun in the sense ‘the part of optics that deals with reflection’): from Greek katoptrikos, from katoptron ‘mirror.’

catoptrics /kəˈtäptriks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. [Physics] the branch of optics that deals with reflection.

– origin mid 16th cent. (originally catoptric): from Greek katoptrikos ‘reflecting,’ from katoptron ‘mirror.’

cat rig

noun

the rig of a catboat with the single mast placed far forward.

Catron, John /ˈkātrən/

(c.1786–1865), US Supreme Court associate justice 1837–65. Appointed to the Court by President Jackson, he was an advocate of states' rights.

CAT scan

I. noun

an X-ray image made using computerized axial tomography.

II. derivatives

CAT scanner

noun

cat's cradle /ˈkats ˈˌkrādl/

noun

a child's game in which a loop of string is put around and between the fingers and complex patterns are formed.

cat scratch fever cat scratch disease

noun

an infectious disease occurring after a scratch by a cat's claw, a splinter, or a thorn. Symptoms include mild fever and inflammation of the injury site and of the lymph glands.

cat's ear cat's ears

noun

a plant that resembles the dandelion, with yellow flowers and rosettes of leaves.
[Genus Hypochaeris, family Compositae: several species, in particular the Old World H. radicata, naturalized in North America.]

cat's-eye /ˈkats ˌī/

noun

a semiprecious stone, especially chalcedony or chrysoberyl, with a chatoyant luster.

cat shark

noun

a small bottom-dwelling shark that has catlike eyes and small dorsal fins set well back. It is typically strikingly marked and lives in warmer waters.
[Apristurus and other genera, family Scyliorhinidae: several species, including the brown cat shark (A. brunneus).]

cat-sit

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. look after a cat or cats while their owner is away, usually staying at the owner's home in order to do so

• I need someone to cat-sit this weekend

• a woman I used to cat-sit for.

II. derivatives

1. cat-sitter

noun

2. cat-sitting

noun

Catskill Mountains /ˌkatskil ˈmount(ə)nz / the Catskills

a range of mountains in the state of New York, part of the Appalachian system.

cat's meow

noun — (the cat's meow)

1. ‹informal› ‹dated› another term for the cat's pajamas (see cat's pajamas).

cat's pajamas

noun — (the cat's pajamas)

1. ‹informal› ‹dated› an excellent person or thing

• this car is the cat's pajamas.

cat's-paw /ˈkatsˌpô/

noun

a person who is used by another, typically to carry out an unpleasant or dangerous task.

catsuit /ˈkatˌso͞ot/

noun

a woman's jumpsuit, typically close-fitting and covering the body from the neck to the feet.

cat's whisker

I. noun

a fine adjustable wire in a crystal radio receiver.

II. phrases

the cat's whiskers

‹informal› another term for the cat's pajamas (see cat's pajamas).

Catt, Carrie Chapman /kat/

(1859–1947), US suffragist; full name Carrie Clinton Lane Chapman Catt. As president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association 1900–04, 1915–47 and of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance 1904–23, she was instrumental in the adoption of the 19th amendment to the Constitution in 1920.

cattail /ˈkatˌtāl/

noun

a tall, reedlike marsh plant with straplike leaves and a dark brown, velvety cylindrical head of numerous tiny flowers.
Also called reed mace, bulrush. [Genus Typha, family Typhaceae: several species, in particular the common cattail (T. latifolia).]

cattery /ˈkadərē/

noun

a boarding or breeding establishment for cats.

cattish /ˈkadiSH/

I. adjective

another term for catty.

II. derivatives

1. cattishly

adverb

2. cattishness

noun

cattle /ˈkadl/

I. plural noun

1. large ruminant animals with horns and cloven hoofs, domesticated for meat or milk, or as beasts of burden; cows.
[Bos taurus (including the zebu, B. indicus), family Bovidae; descended from the extinct aurochs.]

2. similar animals of a group related to domestic cattle, including yak, bison, and buffalo.
[Tribe Bovini, family Bovidae (the cattle family): four genera, in particular Bos. The cattle family also includes the sheep, goats, goat-antelopes, and antelopes.]

– origin Middle English (also denoting personal property or wealth): from Anglo-Norman French catel, variant of Old French chatel (see chattel).

cattle call /ˈkadl kôl/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› an open audition for parts in a play, movie, or other production.

cattle egret

noun

a small white heron with long buff feathers on the head, back, and chest in the breeding season, and normally feeding around grazing cattle and game herds. It is native to southern Eurasia and Africa, and has colonized North and South America and Australasia in the 20th century.
[Bubulcus ibis, family Ardeidae.]

cattle guard

noun

a metal grid covering a ditch, allowing vehicles and pedestrians to pass over but not cattle and other animals.

cattleman /ˈkadlmən/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a person who tends or rears cattle.

cattle stanchion

noun

see stanchion.

cattleya /ˈkatlēə/

I. noun

a tropical American orchid with brightly colored showy flowers and thick leaves, typically growing as an epiphyte. It is a popular greenhouse plant, with many hybrids.
[Genus Cattleya, family Orchidaceae.]

– origin early 19th cent.: modern Latin, named after William Cattley (died 1832), English patron of botany.

cat train

I. noun

(Canadian) a crawler tractor pulling a train of sleighs across snow or ice.

– origin cat from caterpillar.

catty /ˈkadē/

I. adjective

1. deliberately hurtful in one's remarks; spiteful.

2. of or relating to cats; catlike.

II. derivatives

1. cattily /ˈkadəlē /

adverb

2. cattiness /ˈkadēnəs /

noun

Catullus, Gaius Valerius /kəˈtələs/

(c. 84–c. 54 BC), Roman poet, known for his love poems.

CATV

abbreviation

community antenna television (i.e., cable television).

catwalk /ˈkatˌwôk/

noun

1. a platform extending into an auditorium, along which models walk to display clothes in fashion shows; a runway.

2. a narrow walkway or open bridge, especially in an industrial installation.

Cauca River /ˌkoukə ˈrivər/

a river in western Colombia that flows north for 800 miles (1,300 km) from the Andes to the Magdalena River.

Caucasian /kôˈkāZHən/

I. adjective

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) white-skinned; of European origin

• twenty of the therapists were Caucasian, two were African American, and two were Hispanic.

2. ‹dated› of or relating to one of the traditional divisions of humankind, covering a broad group of peoples from Europe, western Asia, and parts of India and North Africa.
[so named because the German physiologist Blumenbach believed that it originated in the Caucasus region of southeastern Europe.]

3. relating to the Caucasus.

4. relating to a group of languages spoken in the region of the Caucasus, of which thirty-eight are known, many not committed to writing. The most widely spoken is Georgian, of the small South Caucasian family, not related to the three North Caucasian families.

II. noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) a white person; a person of European origin

• the man is described as being a 50-year-old Caucasian with a full head of graying hair.

2. a person from the Caucasus

• the Caucasians of Southern Russia.

usage: In the racial classification as developed by anthropologists in the 19th century, Caucasian (or Caucasoid) included peoples whose skin color ranged from light (in northern Europe) to dark (in parts of North Africa and India). Although the classification is outdated and the categories are now not generally accepted as scientific (see usage at Mongoloid), the term Caucasian has acquired a more restricted meaning. It is now used as a synonym for ‘white or of European origin,’ as in the police are looking for a Caucasian male in his forties.

Caucasoid /ˈkôkəˌsoid/

I. adjective

‹dated› of or relating to the Caucasian division of humankind.

usage: The term Caucasoid belongs to a set of terms introduced by 19th-century anthropologists attempting to categorize human races. Such terms are associated with outdated notions of racial types, and so are now potentially offensive and best avoided. See usage at Mongoloid.

Caucasus /ˈkôkəsəs / Caucasia

a mountainous region in southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia that lies between the Black and Caspian seas in Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and southeastern Russia.

Cauchy, Augustin Louis /kôˈSHē/

Baron (1789–1857), French mathematician. He transformed the theory of complex functions, founded the modern theory of elasticity, and contributed substantially to the founding of group theory and analysis.

caucus /ˈkôkəs/

I. noun

1. a meeting of the members of a legislative body who are members of a particular political party, to select candidates or decide policy.

2. the members of a caucus.

3. a group of people with shared concerns within a political party or larger organization.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) hold or form a caucus.

– origin mid 18th cent. (originally US): perhaps from Algonquian cau'-cau'-as'u ‘adviser.’

caudal /ˈkôdl/

I. adjective

1. of or like a tail.

2. at or near the tail or the posterior part of the body.

II. derivatives

caudally

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: from modern Latin caudalis, from Latin cauda ‘tail.’

caudal fin

noun

[Zoology] another term for tail fin.

Caudata /kôˈdātə, kouˈdätə / ‹Zoology›

I. another term for Urodela.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Latin cauda ‘tail.’

caudate /ˈkôdāt/

I. adjective

1. [Anatomy] relating to or denoting the caudate nucleus.

2. [Zoology] (of an animal) having a tail.

II. noun

short for caudate nucleus.

– origin early 17th cent.: from medieval Latin caudatus, from cauda ‘tail.’

caudate nucleus

noun

[Anatomy] the upper of the two gray nuclei of the corpus striatum in the cerebrum of the brain.

caudex /ˈkôdeks/

I. noun

[Botany] the axis of a woody plant, especially a palm or tree fern, comprising the stem and root.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Latin, earlier form of codex.

caudillo /kôˈdē(y)ō, kouˈdēˌ(y)ō/

I. noun

(in Spanish-speaking regions) a military or political leader.

– origin Spanish, from late Latin capitellum, diminutive of caput ‘head.’ The title El Caudillo ‘the leader’ was assumed by General Franco of Spain in 1938.

caught /kôt/

past and past participle of catch.

caul /kôl/

I. noun

1. the amniotic membrane enclosing a fetus.

2. part of the amniotic membrane occasionally found on a child's head at birth, thought to bring good luck.

3. ‹historical› a woman's close-fitting indoor headdress or hairnet.

4. [Anatomy] the omentum.

– origin Middle English: perhaps from Old French cale ‘head covering,’ but recorded earlier.

cauldron /ˈkôldrən / caldron

I. noun

1. a large metal pot with a lid and handle, used for cooking over an open fire.

2. a situation characterized by instability and strong emotions

• a cauldron of repressed anger.

– origin Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French caudron, based on Latin caldarium, calidarium ‘cooking pot,’ from calidus ‘hot.’

cauliflower /ˈkälēˌflou(ə)r/

I. noun

1. a cabbage of a variety that bears a large immature flower head of small creamy-white flower buds.

2. the flower head of the cauliflower plant eaten as a vegetable.

– origin late 16th cent.: from obsolete French chou fleuri ‘flowered cabbage,’ probably from Italian cavolfiore or modern Latin cauliflora. The original English form colieflorie or cole-flory had its first element influenced by cole; the second element was influenced by flower during the 17th cent.

cauliflower ear

noun

an ear that has become thickened or deformed as a result of repeated blows, typically in boxing.

cauliflower fungus cauliflower mushroom

noun

an edible fungus that forms a distinctive fruiting body with a yellowish lobed surface, growing on wood and other plant debris in both Eurasia and North America.
[Genus Sparassis and family Sparassidaceae, class Basidiomycetes: several species, in particular S. crispa.]

caulk /kôk / calk

I. noun

a waterproof filler and sealant, used in building work and repairs.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. seal (a gap or seam) with a waterproof filler and sealant.

2. stop up (the seams of a boat) with oakum and waterproofing material, or by driving plate-junctions together; make (a boat) watertight by this method.

III. derivatives

caulker /ˈkôkər /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘copulate,’ used of birds): from Old Northern French cauquer, caukier, variant of cauchier ‘tread, press with force,’ from Latin calcare ‘tread,’ from calx, calc- ‘heel.’

causal /ˈkôzəl/

I. adjective

1. of, relating to, or acting as a cause

• the causal factors associated with illness.

2. [Grammar] [Logic] expressing or indicating a cause

• a causal conjunction.

– origin late Middle English (as a noun denoting a causal conjunction or particle): from late Latin causalis, from Latin causa ‘cause.’

causalgia /kôˈzalj(ē)ə, -ˈsal-/

I. noun

severe burning pain in a limb caused by injury to a peripheral nerve.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek kausos ‘heat, fever’ + -algia.

causality /kôˈzalədē/

I. noun

1. the relationship between cause and effect.

2. the principle that everything has a cause.

– origin late 15th cent.: from French causalité or medieval Latin causalitas, from Latin causa ‘cause.’

causally /ˈkôzəlē/

adverb

in terms of the way that one thing causes another; by way of cause and effect

• the storm cannot be understood causally

• the two traits are causally related.

causation /kôˈzāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action of causing something

• investigating the role of nitrate in the causation of cancer.

2. the relationship between cause and effect; causality.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Latin causatio(n-) ‘pretext’ (in medieval Latin ‘the action of causing’), from causare ‘to cause.’

causative /ˈkôzədiv/

I. adjective

1. acting as a cause

• a causative factor.

2. [Grammar] expressing causation

• a causative verb.

II. noun

a causative verb.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French causatif, -ive, or late Latin causativus, from causare ‘to cause.’

cause /kôz/

I. noun

1. a person or thing that gives rise to an action, phenomenon, or condition

• the cause of the accident is not clear.

2. reasonable grounds for doing, thinking, or feeling something

• Faye's condition had given no cause for concern

• [with infinitive] the government had good cause to avoid war

• class size is a cause for complaint in some schools.

3. a principle, aim, or movement that, because of a deep commitment, one is prepared to defend or advocate

• she devoted her life to the cause of deaf people

• I'm raising money for a good cause.

4. a matter to be resolved in a court of law.

5. an individual's case offered at law.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (something, typically something bad) happen

• this disease can cause blindness

• [with obj. and infinitive] we have no idea what has happened to cause people to stay away

• [with two objs] you could cause them problems.

III. phrases

1. cause and effect

a. the principle of causation.

b. the operation or relation of a cause and its effect.

2. cause of action

[Law] a fact or facts that enable a person to bring an action against another.

3. in the cause of

so as to support, promote, or defend something.

4. make common cause

unite in order to achieve a shared aim

• nationalist movements made common cause with the reformers.

5. a rebel without a cause

a person who is dissatisfied with society but does not have a specific aim to fight for.
[from the title of a US film, released in 1955.]

IV. derivatives

1. causeless /ˈkôzləs /

adjective

2. causer

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French, from Latin causa (noun), causare (verb).

’cause /kəz/

conjunction

‹informal› short for because.

cause célèbre /ˌkôz səˈleb(rə) ˌkōz səˈleb(rə)/

I. noun

a controversial issue that attracts a great deal of public attention.

– origin mid 18th cent.: French, literally ‘famous case.’

causerie /ˌkōzəˈrē/

I. noun

an informal article or talk, typically one on a literary subject.

– origin French, from causer ‘to talk.’

causeway /ˈkôzˌwā/

I. noun

a raised road or track across low or wet ground.

– origin late Middle English: from causey (from Anglo-Norman French causee, based on Latin calx ‘lime, limestone’ (used for paving roads)) + way.

caustic /ˈkôstik/

I. adjective

1. able to burn or corrode organic tissue by chemical action

• a caustic cleaner.

2. sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way

• the players were making caustic comments about the refereeing.

3. [Physics] formed by the intersection of reflected or refracted parallel rays from a curved surface.

II. noun

1. a caustic substance.

2. [Physics] a caustic surface or curve.

III. derivatives

1. caustically /ˈkôstək(ə)lē /

adverb

2. causticity /kôˈstisədē /

noun

– origin late Middle English: via Latin from Greek kaustikos, from kaustos ‘combustible,’ from kaiein ‘to burn.’

caustic potash /ˈkôstik ˈpädˌaSH/

noun

another term for potassium hydroxide.

caustic soda /ˈˌkôstik ˈsôdə/

noun

another term for sodium hydroxide.

cauterize /ˈkôdəˌrīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Medicine] burn the skin or flesh of (a wound) with a heated instrument or caustic substance, typically to stop bleeding or prevent the wound from becoming infected.

II. derivatives

cauterization /ˌkôd(ə)rəˈzāSH(ə)n ˌkôdəˌrīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French cauteriser, from late Latin cauterizare, from Greek kautēriazein, from kautērion ‘branding iron,’ from kaiein ‘to burn.’

cautery /ˈkôdərē/

I. noun

1. [Medicine] an instrument or a caustic substance used for cauterizing.

2. [Medicine] the action of cauterizing something.

– origin late Middle English: via Latin from Greek kautērion ‘branding iron’ (see cauterize).

Cauthen, Steve /ˈkôT͟Hən, ˈkä-/

(1960–), US jockey. In 1978, riding Affirmed, he became the youngest jockey to win the Triple Crown. He retired in 1992 with a total of 2,794 career victories. Horse Racing Hall of Fame (1994).

caution /ˈkôSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. care taken to avoid danger or mistakes

• anyone receiving a suspect package should exercise extreme caution.

2. warning

• business advisers have sounded a note of caution.

3. ‹informal› ‹dated› an amusing or surprising person.

II. verb — [reporting verb]

1. say something as a warning
[with clause]

• the secretary cautioned that economic uncertainties remained

• [with direct speech] “Be careful now,” I cautioned.

2. [no obj.] (caution against) — warn or advise against (doing something)

• advisers have cautioned against tax increases.

– origin Middle English (denoting bail or a guarantee): from Latin caution-, from cavere ‘take heed.’

cautionary /ˈkôSHəˌnerē/

adjective

serving as a warning

• a cautionary tale.

cautious /ˈkôSHəs/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) careful to avoid potential problems or dangers

• a cautious driver.

2. (of an action) characterized by the desire to avoid potential problems

• the plan received a cautious welcome.

II. derivatives

cautiousness /ˈkôSHəsnəs /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from caution, on the pattern of pairs such as ambition, ambitious.

cautiously /ˈkôSHəslē/

adverb

in a way that deliberately avoids potential problems or dangers

• we must proceed cautiously

• such laws have been cautiously welcomed.

Cauvery /ˈkôvərē / Kaveri /ˈkôvərē, ˈkä-/

a river in southern India that rises in northern Kerala and flows east for 475 miles (765 km) to the Bay of Bengal, south of Pondicherry. It is held sacred by Hindus.

cava /ˈkävə/

I. noun

a Spanish sparkling wine made in the same way as champagne.

– origin Spanish.

cavalcade /ˌkavəlˈkād/

I. noun

a formal procession of people walking, on horseback, or riding in vehicles.

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting a ride or raid on horseback): from French, from Italian cavalcata, from cavalcare ‘to ride,’ based on Latin caballus ‘horse.’

cavalier /ˌkavəˈlir/

I. noun

1. (Cavalier) — ‹historical› a supporter of King Charles I in the English Civil War.

2. ‹archaic› ‹literary› a courtly gentleman, especially one acting as a lady's escort.

3. ‹archaic› a horseman, especially a cavalryman.

4. (also Cavalier King Charles) — a small spaniel of a breed with a moderately long, noncurly, silky coat.

II. adjective

showing a lack of proper concern; offhand

• Anne was irritated by his cavalier attitude.

III. derivatives

cavalierly /ˌkavəˈlirlē /

adverb

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French, from Italian cavaliere, based on Latin caballus ‘horse.’ Compare with caballero and chevalier.

cavalry /ˈkavəlrē/

I. noun — [usu. treated as pl.]

1. (in the past) soldiers who fought on horseback.

2. modern soldiers who fight in armored vehicles.

II. derivatives

cavalryman /ˈkavəlrēmən /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French cavallerie, from Italian cavalleria, from cavallo ‘horse,’ from Latin caballus.

cavalry twill /ˈkavəlrē twil/

noun

strong woolen twill used typically for making pants and sportswear.

Cavan /ˈkavən/

a county in the Republic of Ireland, part of the old province of Ulster.

cavaquinho /ˌkävəˈkēnyō/

I. noun

a small, four-stringed guitar resembling a ukulele, popular in Brazil and Portugal.

– origin Portuguese.

cavatelli /kävəˈtelē/

I. plural noun

small discs or short strips of pasta with opposite edges rolled towards each other to form a hollow shape

• another wonderful dish was the cavatelli with chèvre and roasted peppers and onions.

– origin Italian, plural of cavatello, from cavato past participle of cavare ‘hollow out’ + the diminutive suffix -ello.

cavatina /ˌkavəˈtēnə/

I. noun

1. [Music] a short operatic aria in simple style without repeated sections.

2. [Music] a piece of lyrical instrumental music similar to a cavatina.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Italian.

cave /kāv/

I. noun

a large underground chamber, typically of natural origin, in a hillside or cliff.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. explore caves as a sport.

2. (US) capitulate or submit under pressure; cave in

• he caved because his position had become untenable

• she finally caved in the face of his persistence.

III. phrasal verbs

1. cave in

a. (of a roof or similar structure) subside or collapse

• the tunnel walls caved in.

b. capitulate or submit under pressure

• the manager caved in to his demands.

2. cave something in

cause to collapse

• storms caved the roof in

• the car smashed into the front door and almost caved in the porch.

IV. derivatives

1. cavelike /-ˌlīk /

adjective

2. caver /ˈkāvər /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French, from Latin cava, from cavus ‘hollow’ (compare with cavern). The usage cave in may be from the synonymous dialect expression calve in, influenced by obsolete cave ‘excavate, hollow out.’

caveat /ˈkavēˌat ˈkävēˌät/

I. noun

1. a warning or proviso of specific stipulations, conditions, or limitations.

2. [Law] a notice, especially in a probate, that certain actions may not be taken without informing the person who gave the notice.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘let a person beware.’

caveat emptor /ˌkavēˌät ˈem(p)ˌtôr/

I. noun

the principle that the buyer alone is responsible for checking the quality and suitability of goods before a purchase is made.

– origin early 16th cent.: Latin, literally ‘let the buyer beware.’

cave bear

noun

a large extinct bear of the Pleistocene epoch, whose remains are found commonly in caves throughout Europe.
[Ursus spelaeus, family Ursidae.]

cave cricket

noun

another term for camel cricket.

cave dweller /kāv ˈdwelər/

noun

a caveman or cavewoman.

cavefish /ˈkāvfiSH/

noun

a small colorless fish that lives only in limestone caves in North America. It has reduced or absent eyes, and the head and body are covered with papillae that are sensitive to vibration.
Also called blindfish. [Family Amblyopsidae: four genera, in particular Amblyopsis and Typhlichthys.]

cave-in /ˈkāvˌin/

noun

1. a collapse of a roof or similar structure, typically underground

• a mine cave-in.

2. [in sing.] — an instance of yielding or submitting under pressure

• the government's cave-in to industry pressure.

caveman /ˈkāvˌman/

noun

1. a prehistoric man who lived in caves.

2. a man whose behavior is uncivilized or violent
[as modifier]

• you can't change my mind by caveman tactics.

cavendish /ˈkavəndiSH/

I. noun

tobacco softened, sweetened, and formed into cakes.

– origin mid 19th cent.: probably from the surname Cavendish.

Cavendish, Henry /ˈkavəndiSH/

(1731–1810), English chemist and physicist. He identified hydrogen, studied carbon dioxide, and determined their densities relative to atmospheric air.

cave painting /ˈkāv ˌpān(t)iNG/

noun

a prehistoric picture on the interior of a cave, often depicting animals.

cavern /ˈkavərn/

I. noun

1. a cave, or a chamber in a cave, typically a large one.

2. used in similes and comparisons to refer to a vast, dark space

• the dark cavern of the main performance hall

• rouses me from the cavern of sleep.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French caverne or from Latin caverna, from cavus ‘hollow.’ Compare with cave.

cavernous /ˈkavərnəs/

I. adjective

1. like a cavern in size, shape, or atmosphere

• a cavernous warehouse.

2. giving the impression of vast, dark depths

• his cavernous eyes.

II. derivatives

cavernously

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Old French caverneux or Latin cavernosus (from caverna ‘cavern’).

cave salamander

noun

a cave-dwelling salamander with pinkish to brown skin.
[Several genera and species in the family Plethodontidae, including the North American Eurycea lucifuga and the European genus Hydromantes.]

cavesson /ˈkavəsən/

I. noun

a type of heavy bridle, which lacks a bit and has a thick noseband fitted with rings to which a lunge rein may be attached.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French caveçon, Italian cavezzone, based on Latin caput ‘head.’

cavewoman /ˈkāvˌwo͝omən/

noun

a prehistoric woman who lived in caves.

caviar /ˈkavēˌär / caviare

I. noun

the pickled roe of sturgeon or other large fish, eaten as a delicacy.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Italian caviale (earlier caviaro) or French caviar, probably from medieval Greek khaviari.

cavil /ˈkavəl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. make petty or unnecessary objections

• they caviled at the cost.

II. noun

a objection seen as petty or unnecessary.

III. derivatives

caviler

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French caviller, from Latin cavillari, from cavilla ‘mockery.’

caving /ˈkāviNG/

noun

another term for spelunking.

cavitation /ˌkavəˈtāSHən/

noun

1. [Physics] the formation of an empty space within a solid object or body.

2. [Physics] the formation of bubbles in a liquid, typically by the movement of a propeller through it.

cavity /ˈkavədē/

I. noun

1. an empty space within a solid object, in particular the human body

• the abdominal cavity

• a body cavity.

2. a decayed part of a tooth.

II. derivatives

cavitary /-iˌterē /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French cavité or late Latin cavitas, from Latin cavus ‘hollow.’

cavity wall /ˈkavədē ˌwôl/

noun

a wall formed from two thicknesses of masonry with a space between them.

cavolo nero /ˈkävəˌlō ˈne(ə)rō/

I. noun

an Italian variety of kale with very dark-colored leaves.

– origin Italian, from cavolo ‘cabbage’ + nero ‘black.’

cavort /kəˈvôrt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. jump or dance around excitedly

• spider monkeys leap and cavort in the branches.

2. ‹informal› apply oneself enthusiastically to sexual or disreputable pursuits

• he spent his nights cavorting with the glitterati.

– origin late 18th cent. (originally US): perhaps an alteration of curvet.

Cavour, Camillo Benso /kəˈvo͝or/

Conte di (1810–61), Italian statesman. In 1861, he became the first premier of a unified Italy.

cavy /ˈkāvē/

I. noun

a South American rodent with a sturdy body and vestigial tail.
[Family Caviidae: five genera and several species, in particular the guinea pig.]

– origin late 18th cent.: from modern Latin cavia, from Galibi cabiai.

caw /kô/

I. noun

the harsh cry of a crow or similar bird.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. utter a caw.

– origin late 16th cent.: imitative.

Cawley, Evonne Goolagong /ˈkôlē/

(1951–), Australian tennis player; born Evonne Fay Goolagong. During 1971–80, she won the women's singles title at two Wimbledon, one French Open, and four Australian Open tournaments.

Cawnpore /kônˈpôr/

former name for Kanpur.

Caxton, William /ˈkakstən/

(c. 1422–91), English printer. He printed the first book in English in 1474.

cay /kā kē/

I. noun

a low bank or reef of coral, rock, or sand.
Compare with key^2.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Spanish cayo ‘shoal, reef,’ from French quai ‘quay.’

cayenne /ˌkāˈ(y)en kīˈ(y)en / cayenne pepper

I. noun

a pungent hot-tasting red powder prepared from ground dried chili peppers.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Tupi kyynha, quiynha, later associated with Cayenne.

Cayenne /ˌkāˈ(y)en kīˈ(y)en /ˌkāˈ(y)en kīˈ(y)en//

the capital and chief port of French Guiana; pop. 63,000 (est. 2007).

Cayley, Arthur /ˈkālē/

(1821–95), English mathematician and attorney. The Cayley numbers, a generalization of complex numbers, are named after him.

Cayman Islands /ˌkāmən ˈīləndz / the Caymans

a group of three islands in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba; pop. 49,000 (est. 2009); capital, George Town. The Cayman Islands are a British overseas territory.

Cayuga /kāˈ(y)o͞oɡə, kī-/

I. noun

1. a member of an American Indian people, one of the Five Nations, formerly inhabiting New York.

2. the Iroquoian language of the Cayuga.

II. adjective

relating to the Cayuga or their language.

– origin from an Iroquoian place name.

Cayuga, Lake /kəˈyo͞oɡə, kāˈ(y)o͞o-/

one of the Finger Lakes, in west central New York. Ithaca lies at its southern end.

Cayuse /ˈkīˌ(y)o͞os, kīˈ(y)o͞os/

I. noun

1. a member of an American Indian people of Washington State and Oregon.

2. the language of the Cayuse, of unknown affinity.

3. (cayuse) — an American Indian pony.

4. ‹informal› a horse.

II. adjective

relating to the Cayuse or their language.

– origin probably from Chinook Jargon from Spanish caballos, ‘horses,’ for which the Cayuse were especially known.

CB

abbreviation

Citizens' Band (radio frequencies).

CBC

abbreviation

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

CBS /ˈˌsē ˈˌbē ˈes/

abbreviation

Columbia Broadcasting System.

CBT

abbreviation

cognitive behavioral therapy.

cc /ˌsēˈsē / c.c.

abbreviation

1. carbon copy (used as an indication that a duplicate has been or should be sent to another person).

2. cubic centimeter(s).

CC

abbreviation

1. closed-captioned.

2. Cape Cod.

CCD /ˌsē ˌsē ˈdē/

abbreviation

1. [Electronics] charge-coupled device, a high-speed semiconductor used chiefly in image detection.

2. Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.

CCK

abbreviation

[Biochemistry] cholecystokinin.

C clef

noun

the soprano, alto, or tenor clef.

CCS

abbreviation

[Ecology] carbon capture and storage.

CCTV /ˌsē ˌsē ˌtē ˈvē/

abbreviation

closed-circuit television.

CCU

abbreviation

1. cardiac care unit.

2. coronary care unit.

3. critical care unit.

cd

abbreviation

1. candela.

2. cord.

Cd

symbol

the chemical element cadmium.

CD^1

noun

a compact disc.

CD^2 /ˈˌsē ˈdē/

abbreviation

1. certificate of deposit.

2. civil defense.

3. corps diplomatique.

CD burner //

noun

a device for producing a compact disc by copying from an original or master copy.

CDC

abbreviation

Centers for Disease Control.

CD-I /ˈˌsē ˈˌdē ˈī/

abbreviation

‹trademark› compact disc (interactive).

CDM

abbreviation

cold dark matter.

CDMA

abbreviation

[Electronics] Code Division Multiple Access, a generic term denoting a wireless interface based on code division multiple access technology.

cDNA

abbreviation

complementary DNA.

Cdr. CDR

abbreviation

Commander.

CD-R

I. noun

‹trademark› a blank compact disc which can be recorded on once only.

– origin 1980s: abbreviation of compact disc recordable.

Cdre. CDRE

abbreviation

Commodore.

CD-ROM /ˌsēdēˈräm/

I. noun

a compact disc used as a read-only optical memory device for a computer system.

– origin 1980s: acronym from compact disc read-only memory.

CD-RW /ärː/

I. noun

a blank compact disc that can be recorded, erased, and rerecorded many times.

– origin 1980s: abbreviation of compact disc rewritable.

CDS

noun

short for credit default swap:

• triggering the CDS might even help Europe reduce the risk of contagion in the months ahead.

CDT

abbreviation

Central Daylight Time (see Central time).

CD video CDV

noun

a video system in which both sound and picture are recorded on compact disc.

Ce

symbol

the chemical element cerium.

CE

abbreviation

1. Chemical Engineer.

2. Church of England.

3. civil engineer.

4. Common Era.

5. Corps of Engineers.

ceanothus /ˌsēəˈnōTHəs/

I. noun

a North American shrub of the buckthorn family, cultivated for its dense clusters of small blue or white flowers.
[Genus Ceanothus, family Rhamnaceae: numerous species, esp. in the western US, including the blueblossom ceanothus of the Pacific coast.]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek keanōthos, denoting a kind of thistle.

Ceará /ˌsāəˈrä/

a state in northeastern Brazil, on the Atlantic coast; capital, Fortaleza.

cease /sēs/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. bring or come to an end

• the hostilities had ceased and normal life was resumed

• [with infinitive] on his retirement the job will cease to exist

• [with obj.] they were asked to cease all military activity.

II. phrases

1. never cease to

(in hyperbolic use) do something very frequently

• her exploits never cease to amaze me.

2. without cease

without stopping.

– origin Middle English: from Old French cesser, from Latin cessare ‘stop,’ from cedere ‘to yield.’

cease-and-desist

adjective

1. (US) [Law] denoting a legally enforceable order from a court or government agency directing someone to stop engaging in a particular activity

• they received a cease-and-desist order for conducting unlicensed property management activities

• the photographers would probably be within their rights to ask for a cease-and-desist injunction against the website.

2. (US) [Law] denoting a cautionary notice detailing the sender's complaint of alleged wrongdoing by the recipient and threatening legal action if the offending activity is not stopped

• she sent a cease-and-desist letter last July urging them to stop using the name.

ceasefire /ˈsēsˌfī(ə)r/

noun

1. a temporary suspension of fighting, typically one during which peace talks take place; a truce.

2. an order or signal to stop fighting.

ceaseless /ˈsēsləs/

adjective

constant and unending

• the fort was subjected to ceaseless bombardment.

ceaselessly /ˈsēsləslē/

adverb

continuously and without end

• a former policeman who has campaigned ceaselessly on his daughter's behalf.

Ceauşescu, Nicolae /CHouˈSHesko͞o/

(1918–89), Romanian communist statesman; first president of the Socialist Republic of Romania 1974–89. His regime became increasingly totalitarian and corrupt; a popular uprising in December 1989 resulted in its downfall and in his execution.

Cebu /sēˈbo͞o/

I. an island in southern central Philippines.

II. the chief city and port of Cebu; pop. 798,800 (est. 2007).

Cecilia, St. /səˈsilyə, -ˈsēlyə/

(2nd or 3rd century), Roman martyr. According to legend, she took a vow of celibacy, but, when forced to marry, converted her husband to Christianity and both were martyred. She is the patron saint of church music. Feast day, November 22.

cecitis /ˌsēˈkīdəs / ‹Brit.› caecitis

noun

[Medicine] inflammation of the cecum.

cecropia /səˈkrōpēə/

I. noun

1. a fast-growing tropical American tree, typically among the first to colonize a cleared area. Many cecropias have a symbiotic relationship with ants.
[Genus Cecropia, family Cecropiaceae.]

2. (also cecropia moth) — a very large North American silkworm moth with boldly marked reddish-brown wings. The caterpillars feed on a variety of forest trees.
[Hyalophora cecropia, family Saturniidae.]

– origin early 19th cent.: modern Latin, from the name Cecrops, a king of Attica.

cecum /ˈsēkəm / ‹Brit.› caecum

I. noun

[Anatomy] a pouch connected to the junction of the small and large intestines.

II. derivatives

cecal /ˈsēkəl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin (intestinum) caecum ‘blind (gut),’ translation of Greek tuphlon enteron.

cedar /ˈsēdər/

I. noun

any of a number of conifers that typically yield fragrant, durable timber, in particular
[● a large tree of the pine family (genus Cedrus, family Pinaceae), in particular the cedar of Lebanon (C. libani), with spreading branches, and the deodar. ● a tall slender North American or Asian tree (genus Thuja, family Cupressaceae), in particular the western red cedar (T. plicata) and the northern white cedar (T. occidentalis).]

II. derivatives

cedarn /ˈsēdərn /

adjective

( — ‹literary›

– origin Old English, from Old French cedre or Latin cedrus, from Greek kedros.

Cedar Falls

a city in northeastern Iowa, on the Cedar River; pop. 38,059 (est. 2008).

Cedar Rapids

an industrial and commercial city in east central Iowa, on the Cedar River; pop. 128,056 (est. 2008).

cedar waxwing

noun

a North American waxwing.
[Bombycilla cedrorum.]

cede /sēd/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. give up (power or territory)

• they have had to cede control of the schools to the government.

– origin early 16th cent.: from French céder or Latin cedere ‘to yield.’

cedi /ˈsādē/

I. noun

the basic monetary unit of Ghana, equal to 100 pesewas.

– origin of Ghanaian origin, perhaps an alteration of shilling.

cedilla /səˈdilə/

I. noun

1. a mark ( ¸ ) written under the letter c, especially in French, to show that it is pronounced like an s rather than a k (e.g., façade).

2. a mark similar to a cedilla written under s in Turkish and other languages.

– origin late 16th cent.: from obsolete Spanish, earlier form of zedilla, diminutive of zeda (the letter Z), from Greek zēta.

ceiba /ˈsābə/

I. noun

a very tall tropical American tree from which kapok is obtained, with lightweight yellowish or pinkish timber. It is pollinated by bats and was held sacred by the Maya.
Also called kapok. [Ceiba pentandra, family Bombacaceae.]

– origin early 19th cent.: via Spanish from Taino, literally ‘giant tree.’

ceil /sēl/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be ceiled)

1. ‹archaic› line or plaster the roof of (a building).

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘line (the interior of a room) with plaster or paneling’): perhaps related to Latin celare, French céler ‘conceal.’

ceilidh /ˈkālē/

I. noun

a social event at which there is Scottish or Irish folk music and singing, traditional dancing, and storytelling.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Scottish Gaelic ceilidh and Irish célidhe (earlier form of céilí), from Old Irish céilide ‘visit, visiting,’ from céile ‘companion.’

ceiling /ˈsēliNG/

I. noun

1. the upper interior surface of a room or other similar compartment.

2. an upper limit, typically one set on prices, wages, or expenditure.
See also glass ceiling.

3. the maximum altitude that a particular aircraft can reach.

4. the altitude of the base of a cloud layer.

5. the inside planking of a ship's bottom and sides.

– origin Middle English (denoting the action of lining the interior of a room with plaster or paneling): from ceil + -ing^1. Sense 1 dates from the mid 16th cent.

ceilometer /sēˈlämədər/

noun

a device for measuring and recording the height of clouds.

cel /sel/

I. noun

a transparent sheet of celluloid or similar film material that can be drawn on, used in the production of cartoons.

– origin mid 20th cent.: abbreviation of celluloid.

celadon /ˈseləˌdän/

I. noun

1. a willow-green color
[as modifier]

• paneling painted in celadon green.

2. a gray-green glaze used on pottery, especially that from China.

3. pottery made with celadon glaze.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French céladon, a color named after the hero in d'Urfé's pastoral romance L'Astrée (1607–27).

celandine /ˈselənˌdēn ˈselənˌdīn / lesser celandine

I. noun

a common plant of the buttercup family that produces yellow flowers in the early spring, reproducing either by seed or by bulbils at the base of the stems.
See also greater celandine. [Ranunculus ficaria, family Ranunculaceae.]

– origin Middle English, from Old French celidoine, from medieval Latin celidonia, based on Greek khelidōn ‘swallow’ (the flowering of the plant being associated with the arrival of swallows).

celeb /səˈleb/

I. noun

‹informal› a celebrity

• a TV celeb.

– origin early 20th cent. (originally US): abbreviation.

Celebes /ˈseləˌbēz, səˈlēbēz/

former name of Sulawesi.

Celebes Sea

a part of the western Pacific Ocean between the Philippines and the island of Sulawesi, and bounded on the west by Borneo. It is linked to the Java Sea by the Makassar Strait.

Celebra /səˈlebrə/

I. noun

‹trademark› a synthetic drug (a COX-2 inhibitor) used in the management of arthritic pain.

– origin 1990s: an invented word.

celebrant /ˈseləbrənt/

I. noun

1. a person who performs a rite, especially a priest at the Eucharist.

2. (N. Amer.) a person who celebrates something.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French célébrant or Latin celebrant- ‘celebrating,’ from the verb celebrare (see celebrate).

celebrate /ˈseləˌbrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. publicly acknowledge (a significant or happy day or event) with a social gathering or enjoyable activity

• they were celebrating their wedding anniversary at a restaurant

• [no obj.] she celebrated with a glass of champagne.

2. reach (a birthday or anniversary).

3. perform (a religious ceremony) publicly and duly, in particular officiate at (the Eucharist)

• he celebrated holy communion.

4. honor or praise publicly

• a film celebrating the actor's career.

II. derivatives

celebrator /-ˌbrātər /

noun

– origin late Middle English (sense 2): from Latin celebrat- ‘celebrated,’ from the verb celebrare, from celeber, celebr- ‘frequented or honored.’

celebrated /ˈseləˌbrādəd/

adjective

greatly admired; renowned

• a celebrated mathematician.

celebration /ˌseləˈbrāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

the action of marking one's pleasure at an important event or occasion by engaging in enjoyable, typically social, activity

• the birth of his son was a cause for celebration

• a birthday celebration.

– origin early 16th cent.: from Latin celebratio(n-), from the verb celebrare (see celebrate).

celebratory /ˈseləbrətôrē/

adjective

1. used or intended to publicly acknowledge a significant or happy day or event

• the guest of honor at a celebratory dinner

• several celebratory birthday champagnes.

2. feeling or expressing happiness and pride

• the impending anniversary has the restaurant in a celebratory mood

• the scowl was replaced by celebratory smiles for the seven-time series champion.

celebrity /səˈlebrədē/

I. noun

1. a famous person.

2. the state of being well known

• his prestige and celebrity grew.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘solemn ceremony’): from Old French celebrite or Latin celebritas, from celeber, celebr- ‘frequented or honored.’

celebrity guest

noun

a well-known person invited to take part in a television or radio program on which they do not regularly appear

• lots of celebrity guests were lined up for the show.

celebutante /səˈlebyo͝oˌtänt, -yə-/

I. noun

a celebrity who is well known in fashionable society.

– origin 1930s: blend of celebrity and debutante.

celeriac /səˈlerēˌak/

I. noun

celery of a variety that forms a large swollen turniplike root that can be eaten cooked or raw.
Also called celery root. [Apium graveolens rapaceum.]

– origin mid 18th cent.: from celery + an arbitrary use of -ac.

celerity /səˈlerədē/

I. noun

‹archaic› ‹literary› swiftness of movement.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Old French celerite, from Latin celeritas, from celer ‘swift.’

celery /ˈsel(ə)rē/

I. noun

a cultivated plant of the parsley family, with closely packed succulent leafstalks that are eaten raw or cooked.
[Apium graveolens var. dulce, family Umbelliferae.]

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French céleri, from Italian dialect selleri, based on Greek selinon ‘parsley.’

celery root

noun

another term for celeriac.

celery salt

noun

a mixture of salt and ground celery seed used for seasoning.

celery seed

noun

the seed of a plant related to the celery plant, with a celerylike flavor and aroma.

celesta /səˈlestə/

I. noun

a small keyboard instrument in which felted hammers strike a row of steel plates suspended over wooden resonators, giving an ethereal bell-like sound.

– origin late 19th cent.: pseudo-Latin, based on French céleste ‘heavenly.’

celestial /səˈlesCHəl/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. positioned in or relating to the sky, or outer space as observed in astronomy

• a celestial body.

2. belonging or relating to heaven

• the celestial city.

3. supremely good

• the celestial beauty of music.

II. derivatives

celestially

adverb

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin caelestialis, from Latin caelestis, from caelum ‘heaven.’

celestial bamboo

noun

another term for nandina.

celestial equator

noun

the projection into space of the earth's equator; an imaginary circle equidistant from the celestial poles.

celestial globe

noun

a spherical representation of the sky showing the constellations.

celestial horizon

noun

see horizon (sense 1).

celestial latitude

noun

[Astronomy] the angular distance of a point north or south of the ecliptic.
Compare with declination (sense 1).

celestial longitude

noun

[Astronomy] the angular distance of a point east of the vernal equinox, measured along the ecliptic.
Compare with right ascension.

celestial mechanics

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the branch of theoretical astronomy that deals with the calculation of the motions of celestial objects such as planets.

celestial navigation

noun

the action of finding one's way by observing the sun, moon, and stars.

celestial pole

noun

[Astronomy] the point on the celestial sphere directly above either of the earth's geographic poles, around which the stars and planets appear to rotate during the course of the night. The north celestial pole is currently within one degree of the star Polaris.

celestial sphere

noun

an imaginary sphere of which the observer is the center and on which all celestial objects are considered to lie.

celiac /ˈsēlēˌak / ‹Brit.› coeliac

I. adjective

1. [Anatomy] of or relating to the abdomen.

2. [Medicine] of, relating to, or affected by celiac disease

• a celiac child.

II. noun

a person with celiac disease.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin coeliacus, from Greek koiliakos, from koilia ‘belly.’

celiac disease /ˈsēlēˌak dəˌzēz/

noun

a disease in which the small intestine is hypersensitive to gluten, leading to difficulty in digesting food.

celibacy /ˈseləbəsē/

noun

the state of abstaining from marriage and sexual relations

• his brother's priestly vow of celibacy.

celibate /ˈseləbət/

I. adjective

1. abstaining from marriage and sexual relations, typically for religious reasons

• a celibate priest.

2. having or involving no sexual relations

• I'd rather stay single and celibate.

II. noun

a person who abstains from marriage and sexual relations.

– origin early 19th cent.: from celibacy, on the pattern of pairs such as magistracy, magistrate.

cell /sel/

I. noun

1. a small room in which a prisoner is locked up or in which a monk or nun sleeps.

2. ‹historical› a small monastery or nunnery dependent on a larger one.

3. [Biology] the smallest structural and functional unit of an organism, typically microscopic and consisting of cytoplasm and a nucleus enclosed in a membrane. Microscopic organisms typically consist of a single cell, which is either eukaryotic or prokaryotic.

4. an enclosed cavity in an organism.

5. a small compartment in a larger structure such as a honeycomb.

6. a small group forming a nucleus of political activity, typically a secret, subversive one

• the weapons may be used to arm terrorist cells.

7. the local area covered by one of the short-range transmitters in a cellular telephone system.

8. (N. Amer.) short for cellular phone:

• I'll just call him on his cell.

9. a device containing electrodes immersed in an electrolyte, used for current-generation or electrolysis.

10. a unit in a device for converting chemical or solar energy into electricity.

II. derivatives

1. celled

adjective

[in combination]

• a single-celled organism

2. cell-like /-ˌlīk /

adjective

– origin Old English, from Old French celle or Latin cella ‘storeroom or chamber.’

cella /ˈselə/

I. noun

the inner area of an ancient temple, especially one housing the hidden cult image in a Greek or Roman temple.

– origin late 17th cent.: Latin, literally ‘storeroom, shrine,’ from celare ‘hide.’ (See conceal).

cellar /ˈselər/

I. noun

1. a room below ground level in a house, typically one used for storing wine or coal.

2. a stock of wine.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. store (wine) in a cellar.

– origin Middle English (in the general sense ‘storeroom’): from Old French celier, from late Latin cellarium ‘storehouse,’ from cella ‘storeroom or chamber.’

cellarage /ˈselərij/

noun

1. cellars collectively.

2. money charged for the use of a cellar or storehouse.

cellarer /ˈselərər/

noun

the person in a monastery who is responsible for the provisioning of food and drink.

cellaret /ˌseləˈret / cellarette

noun

‹historical› a cabinet for keeping bottles of wine and liquor.

cell block /ˈsel ˌbläk/

noun

a large single building or part of a complex subdivided into separate prison cells.

cell division

noun

[Biology] the division of a cell into two daughter cells with the same genetic material.

cellie /ˈselē/

noun

variant spelling of celly.

Cellini, Benvenuto /CHəˈlēnē/

(1500–71), Italian goldsmith and sculptor.

cellist /ˈCHeləst/

I. noun

a person who plays the cello

• a cellist for a symphony orchestra.

– origin late 19th cent.: from cello + -ist.

cell line

noun

[Biology] a cell culture developed from a single cell and therefore consisting of cells with a uniform genetic makeup.

cellmate /ˈselmāt/

noun

a person with whom one shares a cell.

cell-mediated /selˈmēdēˌādəd/

adjective

[Physiology] denoting the aspect of an immune response involving the action of white blood cells, rather than that of circulating antibodies.
Often contrasted with humoral.

cell membrane

noun

the semipermeable membrane surrounding the cytoplasm of a cell.
Also called cytomembrane.

cello /ˈCHelō/

I. noun

a bass instrument of the violin family, held upright on the floor between the legs of the seated player.

– origin late 19th cent.: shortening of violoncello.

cellophane /ˈseləˌfān/

I. noun — ( in the UK)

1. ‹trademark› a thin transparent wrapping material made from viscose.

– origin early 20th cent.: originally a trademark.

cell phone /sel fōn / cellphone

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) short for cellular phone.

cellular /ˈselyələr/

I. adjective

1. of, relating to, or consisting of living cells

• cellular proliferation.

2. denoting or relating to a mobile telephone system that uses a number of short-range radio stations to cover the area that it serves, the signal being automatically switched from one station to another as the user travels about.

3. (of a fabric item, such as a blanket or vest) knitted so as to form holes or hollows that trap air and provide extra insulation.

4. consisting of small compartments or rooms

• cellular accommodations.

II. derivatives

cellularity /ˌselyəˈlaritē /

noun

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French cellulaire, from modern Latin cellularis, from cellula ‘little chamber,’ diminutive of cella.

cellular automaton

noun

[Computing] one of a set of units in a mathematical model that have simple rules governing their replication and destruction. They are used to model complex systems composed of simple units such as living things or parallel processors.

cellular blind

noun

a window blind with a single or double layer of collapsible voids that provide insulation when the blind is extended.

cellular phone /ˈˌselyələr ˈfōn / cellular telephone

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a telephone with access to a cellular radio system so it can be used over a wide area, without a physical connection to a network.
also called mobile phone.

cellulase /ˈselyəˌlās, -ˌlāz/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] an enzyme that converts cellulose into glucose or a disaccharide.

– origin early 20th cent.: from cellulose + -ase.

cellulite /ˈselyəˌlīt/

I. noun

persistent subcutaneous fat causing dimpling of the skin, especially on women's hips and thighs. Not in technical use.

– origin 1960s: from French, from cellule ‘small cell.’

cellulitis /ˌselyəˈlīdəs/

noun

[Medicine] inflammation of subcutaneous connective tissue.

celluloid /ˈselyəˌloid/

I. noun

1. a transparent flammable plastic made in sheets from camphor and nitrocellulose, formerly used for cinematographic film.

2. motion pictures as a genre

• having made the leap from theater to celluloid, she can now make more money.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from cellulose + -oid.

cellulose /ˈselyəˌlōs ˈselyəˌlōz/

I. noun

1. an insoluble substance that is the main constituent of plant cell walls and of vegetable fibers such as cotton. It is a polysaccharide consisting of chains of glucose monomers.

2. paint or lacquer consisting principally of cellulose acetate or nitrate in solution.

II. derivatives

cellulosic /ˌselyəˈläsik /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, from cellule ‘small cell’ + -ose^2.

cellulose acetate

noun

[Chemistry] a nonflammable thermoplastic polymer made by acetylating cellulose, used as the basis of artificial fibers and plastic.

cellulose nitrate

noun

another term for nitrocellulose.

cell wall /ˌsel ˈwôl/

noun

[Biology] a rigid layer of polysaccharides lying outside the plasma membrane of the cells of plants, fungi, and bacteria. In the algae and higher plants, it consists mainly of cellulose.

celly /ˈselē / cellie

I. noun

1. informal term for cellular phone:

• Timmy whips out his celly to beep White Mike.

2. ‹informal› (among prisoners) cellmate.

– origin by shortening and alteration.

celosia /səˈlōZH(ē)ə/

I. noun

a plant of a genus that includes cockscomb.
[Genus Celosia, family Amarantaceae.]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek kēlos ‘burned or dry’ (from the burned appearance of the flowers in some species).

Celsius /ˈselsēəs / C

I. adjective — [postpositive when used with a numeral]

1. of or denoting a scale of temperature in which water freezes at 0° and boils at 100° under standard conditions.

II. noun

the scale of temperature in which water freezes at 0° and boils at 100° under standard conditions.

usage: Celsius, rather than centigrade, is the standard accepted term when giving temperatures: use 25° Celsius rather than 25° centigrade.

Celsius, Anders /ˈselsēəs, ˈselSHəs/

(1701–44), Swedish astronomer; best known for his temperature scale.

celt /selt/

I. noun

[Archaeology] a prehistoric stone or metal implement with a beveled cutting edge, probably used as a tool or weapon.

– origin early 18th cent.: from medieval Latin celtis ‘chisel.’

Celt /kelt selt/

I. noun

1. a member of a group of peoples inhabiting much of Europe and Asia Minor in pre-Roman times. Their culture developed in the late Bronze Age around the upper Danube, and reached its height in the La Tène culture (5th to 1st centuries BC) before being overrun by the Romans and various Germanic peoples.

2. a native of any of the modern nations or regions in which Celtic languages are (or were until recently) spoken; a person of Irish, Highland Scottish, Manx, Welsh, or Cornish descent.

– origin from Latin Celtae (plural), from Greek Keltoi; in later use from French Celte ‘Breton’ (taken as representing the ancient Gauls). / usage: See usage at Celtic.

Celtiberian /ˌkelˌtīˈbirēən, ˌsel-/

noun

another term for Iberian (sense 3 of the noun).

Celtic /ˈkeltik ˈseltik/

I. adjective

of or relating to the Celts or their languages, which constitute a branch of the Indo-European family and include Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Breton, Manx, Cornish, and several extinct pre-Roman languages such as Gaulish.

II. noun

the Celtic language group.
See also P-Celtic, Q-Celtic.

III. derivatives

1. Celticism /ˈkeltəˌsizəm ˈseltəˌsizəm /

noun

2. Celticist /ˈkeltəˌsist, ˈsel- /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin Celticus (from Celtae ‘Celts’), or from French Celtique (from Celte ‘Breton’). / usage: Although Celt and Celtic can be pronounced with either an initial k- or an initial s- sound, in standard English the normal pronunciation is with the k- sound. A notable exception is the name of Boston's professional basketball team, the Celtics, which is always pronounced with the s- sound.

Celtic Church

the Christian Church in the British Isles from its foundation in the 2nd or 3rd century until its assimilation into the Roman Catholic Church (664 in England; 12th century in Wales, Scotland, and Ireland).

Celtic cross

noun

a Latin cross with a circle around the center.

Celtic fringe

noun

the Highland Scots, Irish, Welsh, and Cornish in relation to the rest of Britain.

Celtic harp

noun

a small harp with wire strings, used in the folk and early music of Scotland and Ireland.

Celtic Sea

the part of the Atlantic Ocean that is between southern Ireland and southwestern England.

cembalo /ˈCHembəˌlō/

I. noun

another term for harpsichord.

II. derivatives

cembalist /-bəlist /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Italian, shortening of clavicembalo, from medieval Latin clavicymbalum, from Latin clavis ‘key’ + cymbalum ‘cymbal.’

cement /səˈment/

I. noun

1. a powdery substance made with calcined lime and clay. It is mixed with water to form mortar or mixed with sand, gravel, and water to make concrete.

2. a soft glue that hardens on setting

• rubber cement.

3. an element that unites a group of people

• traditional entertainment was a form of community cement.

4. another term for concrete.

5. a substance for filling cavities in teeth.

6. (also cementum) — [Anatomy] a thin layer of bony material that fixes teeth to the jaw.

7. [Geology] the material that binds particles together in sedimentary rock.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. attach with cement

• wooden posts were cemented into the ground.

2. settle or establish firmly

• the two firms are expected to cement an agreement soon.

3. [Geology] (of a material) bind (particles) together in sedimentary rock.

III. derivatives

cementer

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French ciment (noun), cimenter (verb), from Latin caementum ‘quarry stone,’ from caedere ‘hew.’

cementation /ˌsēmenˈtāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. [chiefly Geology] the binding together of particles or other things by cement.

2. [Metallurgy] a process of altering a metal by heating it in contact with a powdered solid, especially a former method of making steel by heating iron in contact with charcoal.

cementite /səˈmenˌtīt/

I. noun

[Metallurgy] a hard, brittle iron carbide present in cast iron and most steels.
[Chem. formula: Fe_3C.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from cement + -ite^1.

cementitious /ˌsēmenˈtiSHəs/

adjective

of the nature of cement.

cement mixer /səˈment ˌmiksər / concrete mixer

noun

a machine with a revolving drum used for mixing cement with sand, gravel, and water to make concrete.

cemetery /ˈseməˌterē/

I. noun

a burial ground; a graveyard.

– origin late Middle English: via late Latin from Greek koimētērion ‘dormitory,’ from koiman ‘put to sleep.’

cenacle /ˈsenək(ə)l/

I. noun

1. a group of people, such as a discussion group or literary clique.

2. the room in which the Last Supper was held.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French cenacle, from Latin cenaculum, from cena ‘dinner.’

cenobite /ˈsenəˌbīt / coenobite

I. noun

a member of a monastic community.

II. derivatives

cenobitic /ˌsenəˈbitik /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French cenobite or ecclesiastical Latin coenobita, via late Latin from Greek koinobion ‘convent,’ from koinos ‘common’ + bios ‘life.’

cenobium /səˈnōbēəm / coenobium

I. noun

a monastery

• many pilgrims flocked to the cenobium in search of the monk.

– origin early 19th cent.: ecclesiastical Latin coenobium, from Greek koinobion ‘community life, convent,’ from koinos ‘common’ + bios ‘life.’

cenospecies /ˈsēnəˌspēsēz, -ˌspēSHēz/

noun

a group of species whose members produce partially fertile hybrids when crossbred.

cenotaph /ˈsenəˌtaf/

I. noun

a tomblike monument to someone buried elsewhere, especially one commemorating people who died in a war.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French cénotaphe, from late Latin cenotaphium, from Greek kenos ‘empty’ + taphos ‘tomb.’

Cenozoic /ˌsenəˈzōik / Cainozoic

I. adjective

1. [Geology] relating to or denoting the most recent era, following the Mesozoic era and comprising the Tertiary and Quaternary periods.

2. (as noun the Cenozoic) — [Geology] the Cenozoic era, or the system of rocks deposited during it.

The Cenozoic has lasted from about 65 million years ago to the present day. It has seen the rapid evolution and rise to dominance of mammals, birds, and flowering plants.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek kainos ‘new’ + zōion ‘animal’ + -ic.

cense /sens/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. perfume (something) ritually with the odor of burning incense.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French encenser.

censer /ˈsensər/

I. noun

a container in which incense is burned, typically during a religious ceremony.

– origin Middle English: from Old French censier, from encensier, from encens (see incense^1).

censor /ˈsensər/

I. noun

1. an official who examines material that is about to be released, such as books, movies, news, and art, and suppresses any parts that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security.

2. [Psychoanalysis] an aspect of the superego that is said to prevent certain ideas and memories from emerging into consciousness.
[from a mistranslation of German Zensur ‘censorship,’ coined by Freud.]

3. (in ancient Rome) either of two magistrates who held censuses and supervised public morals.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. examine (a book, movie, etc.) officially and suppress unacceptable parts of it

• my mail was being censored.

III. derivatives

censorial /senˈsôrēəl /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent. (sense 2 of the noun): from Latin, from censere ‘assess.’ / usage: Both censor and censure are used as both verbs and nouns, but censor means ‘scrutinize, revise, or cut unacceptable parts from (a book, movie, etc.)’ or ‘a person who does this,’ while censure means ‘criticize harshly’ or ‘harsh criticism’: the inmates received their mail only after prison officials had censored all the contents; some senators considered a resolution of censure to express strong disapproval of the president's behavior.

censorious /senˈsôrēəs/

I. adjective

severely critical of others

• modest, charitable in his judgments, never censorious, Jim carried tolerance almost too far.

II. derivatives

1. censoriously

adverb

2. censoriousness /senˈsôrēəsnəs /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin censorius (from censor ‘magistrate’) + -ious.

censorship /ˈsensərSHip/

noun

1. the suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, news, etc. that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security

• the regulation imposes censorship on all media

• [as modifier] we have strict censorship laws.

2. (in ancient Rome) the office or position of censor

• he celebrated a triumph together with his father and they held the censorship jointly.

censure /ˈsen(t)SHər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. express severe disapproval of (someone or something), typically in a formal statement

• a judge was censured in 1983 for a variety of types of injudicious conduct.

II. noun

the expression of formal disapproval

• angry delegates offered a resolution of censure against the offenders

• they paid the price in social ostracism and family censure.

III. derivatives

censurable /ˈsen(t)SH(ə)rəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘judicial sentence’): from Old French censurer (verb), censure (noun), from Latin censura ‘judgment, assessment,’ from censere ‘assess.’ / usage: On the difference in meaning between censure and censor, see usage at censor.

census /ˈsensəs/

I. noun

an official count or survey of a population, typically recording various details of individuals

• population estimates extrapolated from the 1981 census

• [as modifier] census data.

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting a poll tax): from Latin, applied to the registration of citizens and property in ancient Rome, usually for taxation, from censere ‘assess.’ The current sense dates from the mid 18th cent.

cent /sent/

I. noun

1. a monetary unit of the US, Canada, and various other countries, equal to one hundredth of a dollar, euro, or other decimal currency unit.

2. ‹informal› a small sum of money

• she saved every cent possible.

3. [in sing. with negative] — ‹informal› used for emphasis to denote any money at all

• he hadn't yet earned a cent.

4. [Music] one hundredth of a half step.

II. phrases

one's two cents’ worth

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› one's unsolicited opinion.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘a hundred’): from French cent, Italian cento, or Latin centum ‘hundred.’

cent.

abbreviation

1. centigrade.

2. century.

centas /ˈsentäs/

I. noun

a monetary unit of Lithuania, equal to one hundredth of a litas.

– origin Lithuanian.

centaur /ˈsentôr/

I. noun

[Greek Mythology] a creature with the head, arms, and torso of a man and the body and legs of a horse.

– origin via Latin from Greek kentauros, the Greek name for a Thessalonian tribe of expert horsemen; of unknown ultimate origin.

centaurea /senˈtôrēə/

I. noun

a plant of a Eurasian genus that includes the cornflower and knapweed. Several kinds are cultivated for their bright flowers.
[Genus Centaurea, family Compositae.]

– origin modern Latin based on Greek kentauros ‘centaur’ (see centaury).

Centaurus /senˈtôrəs / ‹Astronomy›

I. a large southern constellation (the Centaur). It lies in the Milky Way and contains the stars Alpha and Proxima Centauri.

II. (as genitive Centauri ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation

• the star Lambda Centauri.

– origin Latin.

centaury /ˈsenˌtôrē/

I. noun

a widely distributed herbaceous plant of the gentian family, typically having pink petals atop long calyx tubes.
[Centaurium and related genera, family Gentianaceae: many species, including the wild C. pulchellum and the cultivated ornamental C. scilloides.]

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin centaurea, based on Greek kentauros ‘centaur’ (because its medicinal properties were said to have been discovered by the centaur Chiron).

centavo /senˈtävō/

I. noun

a monetary unit of Mexico, Brazil, and certain other countries (including Portugal until the introduction of the euro), equal to one hundredth of the basic unit.

– origin Spanish and Portuguese, from Latin centum ‘a hundred.’

CENTCOM CentCom

I. abbreviation

the unified armed forces command organization that oversees US military operations in the Middle East.

– origin acronym from Central Command.

centenarian /ˌsentnˈerēən/

noun

a person who is one hundred or more years old.

centenary /senˈtenərē ˈsen(t)əˌnerē / ‹chiefly Brit.›

I. noun

the hundredth anniversary of a significant event; a centennial.

II. adjective

of or relating to a hundredth anniversary; centennial.

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting a century): from Latin centenarius ‘containing a hundred,’ based on Latin centum ‘a hundred.’

centennial /senˈtenēəl / ‹chiefly N. Amer.›

I. adjective

of or relating to a hundredth anniversary

• centennial celebrations.

II. noun

a hundredth anniversary

• the museum's centennial.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Latin centum ‘a hundred,’ on the pattern of biennial.

Centennial /senˈtenēəl/

a city in north-central Colorado, governed by home rule; pop. 99,680 (est. 2008).

Centennial State

a nickname for the state of Colorado.

center /ˈsen(t)ər / ‹Brit.› centre

I. noun

1. the middle point of a circle or sphere, equidistant from every point on the circumference or surface.

2. a point or part that is equally distant from all sides, ends, or surfaces of something; the middle

• the center of the ceiling

• the center of a vast territory.

3. a pivot or axis of rotation

• the galactic rotation of the solar system around the galactic center.

4. a political party or group holding moderate opinions.

5. [Sports] the middle player in a line or group in many games

• Terry played center on the basketball team.

6. [Baseball] short for center field:

• he flied out to center.

7. a core, such as the filling in a piece of chocolate

• truffles with liqueur centers.

8. a conical adjustable support for a workpiece in a lathe or similar machine.

9. the point from which an activity or process is directed, or on which it is focused

• the city was a center of discontent

• two issues at the center of the health-care debate.

10. the most important place in the respect specified

• Geneva was then the center of the international world.

11. a place or group of buildings where a specified activity is concentrated

• a center for medical research

• a shopping center.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] (center around/on or center something around/on) — have or cause to have something as (a major concern or theme)

• the case centers around the couple's adopted children

• the plot centers on two young men

• [with obj.] he is centering his discussion on an analysis of patterns of mortality.

2. (be centered in) — (of an activity) occur mainly in or around (a specified place)

• the mercantile association was centered in northern Germany.

3. [with obj.] — place in the middle

• to center the needle, turn the knob.

4. [Football] pass the ball back from the ground to another player to begin a down; snap.

III. derivatives

centermost /-ˌmōst /

adjective

– origin late Middle English centre, from Old French, or from Latin centrum, from Greek kentron ‘sharp point, stationary point of a pair of compasses,’ related to kentein ‘to prick.’ / usage: The construction center around (as opposed to center on, or revolve around) has been denounced as incorrect and illogical since it first appeared in the mid 19th century. Although the phrase is common, it defies geometry by confusing the orbit with the fixed point: the earth revolves around (or its revolution centers on) the sun. A careful writer will use a precise expression, such as centers on, revolves around, concerns, or involves.

center back

noun

[Sports] a player in the middle of the back line in some sports, such as volleyball.

center bit /ˈsen(t)ər bit/

noun

a tool for boring cylindrical holes.

centerboard /ˈsen(t)ərˌbôrd/

noun

a pivoted board that can be lowered through the keel of a sailboat to reduce sideways movement.
Compare with daggerboard.

centered /ˈsen(t)ərd / ‹Brit.› centred

I. adjective

1. placed or situated in the center.

2. [in combination] — having the specified subject as the focal element

• a computer-centered industry.

3. (chiefly US) (of a person) well balanced and confident or serene.

4. [in combination] — having a center or filling of a specified type

• a soft-centered chocolate.

II. derivatives

centeredness

noun

center field centerfield

I. noun

1. [Baseball] the central part of the outfield, behind second base

• a single to center field.

2. [Baseball] the position of an outfielder in center field

• Amaro played some center field when Dykstra went on the disabled list.

II. derivatives

center fielder

noun

centerfire /ˈsen(t)ərˌfī(ə)r/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of a gun cartridge) having the primer in the center of the base.

2. (of a gun) using centerfire cartridges.

II. noun

a gun using a centerfire cartridge.

centerfold /ˈsen(t)ərˌfōld/

noun

1. the two middle pages of a magazine, typically taken up by a single illustration or feature.

2. an illustration on the two middle pages of a magazine, typically a picture of a naked or scantily clad model.

center forward /ˈsen(t)ər ˈˌfôrwərd/

noun

[Sports] an attacker who plays in the middle of the field.

center halfback

noun

[Sports] another term for center back.

centering /ˈsen(t)əriNG/

noun

[Architecture] framing used to support an arch or dome while it is under construction.

centerline /ˈsen(t)ərˌlīn / center line

noun

1. a real or imaginary line through the center of something, especially one following an axis of symmetry.

2. a painted line running down the middle of a road, dividing traffic traveling in opposite directions.

center of attention

noun

a person or thing that draws general attention.

center of attraction

noun

1. [Physics] the point to which bodies tend by gravity.

2. another term for center of attention.

center of buoyancy

noun

[Physics] the centroid of the immersed part of a ship or other floating body.

center of curvature

noun

[Mathematics] the center of a circle that passes through a curve at a given point and has the same tangent and curvature at that point.

center of gravity /ˈsen(t)ər əv ə ˈɡravədē/

noun

a point from which the weight of a body or system may be considered to act. In uniform gravity it is the same as the center of mass.

center of mass

noun

a point representing the mean position of the matter in a body or system.

centerpiece /ˈsen(t)ərˌpēs/

noun

1. a decorative piece or display placed in the middle of a dining or serving table.

2. an item or issue intended to be a focus of attention

• the tower is the centerpiece of the park.

center punch

noun

a tool with a conical point for making an indentation in an object, to allow a drill to make a hole at the same spot without slipping.

center spread /ˈsen(t)ər ˌspred/

noun

the two facing middle pages of a newspaper or magazine.

center stage /ˈˌsen(t)ər ˈˌstāj/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. the center of a stage.

2. the most prominent position

• oil remains at center stage, with demands for expanded drilling.

II. adverb

1. at or toward the middle of a stage

• at the play's opening she stands center stage.

2. in or toward a prominent position

• Asian countries have moved center stage for world business.

center-weighted metering

noun

[Photography] a mode of automatic light metering in a camera that compensates for differences in the brightness of the central and peripheral portions of the image.

centesimal /senˈtesəməl/

I. adjective

of or relating to division into hundredths.

II. derivatives

centesimally

adverb

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin centesimus ‘hundredth,’ from centum ‘a hundred.’

centesimo /senˈtesəˌmō, CHenˈtez-/

I. noun

a monetary unit of Italy until the introduction of the euro, worth one hundredth of a lira (used only in calculations).

– origin Italian.

centésimo /senˈtesəˌmō/

I. noun

a monetary unit of Uruguay and Panama, equal to one hundredth of a peso in Uruguay and one hundredth of a balboa in Panama.

– origin Spanish.

centi- /ˈsenti-/

I. combining form

1. used commonly in units of measurement.

2. one hundredth

• centiliter.

3. hundred

• centigrade

• centipede.

– origin from Latin centum ‘hundred.’

centigrade /ˈsen(t)əˌɡrād/

I. adjective — [postpositive when used with a numeral]

1. another term for Celsius.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French, from Latin centum ‘a hundred’ + gradus ‘step.’ / usage: See usage at Celsius.

centigram /ˈsen(t)əˌɡram / cg

noun

a metric unit of mass, equal to one hundredth of a gram.

centiliter /ˈsen(t)əˌlēdər / ‹Brit.› centilitre, cl

noun

a metric unit of capacity, equal to one hundredth of a liter.

centime /ˈsänˌtēm ˈsenˌtēm/

I. noun

a monetary unit of Switzerland and certain other countries (including France, Belgium, and Luxembourg until the introduction of the euro), equal to one hundredth of a franc or other decimal currency unit.

– origin French, from Latin centesimus ‘hundredth,’ from centum ‘a hundred.’

centimeter /ˈsen(t)əˌmēdər / ‹Brit.› centimetre, cm

noun

a metric unit of length, equal to one hundredth of a meter.

centimeter-gram-second system

noun

a system of measurement using the centimeter, the gram, and the second as basic units of length, mass, and time.

centimo /ˈsen(t)əmō/

I. noun

a monetary unit of Spain (until the introduction of the euro) and a number of Latin American countries, equal to one hundredth of the basic unit.

– origin Spanish.

centipede /ˈsen(t)əˌpēd/

I. noun

a predatory myriapod invertebrate with a flattened elongated body composed of many segments. Most segments bear a single pair of legs.
[Class Chilopoda: several orders.]

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French centipède or Latin centipeda, from centum ‘a hundred’ + pes, ped- ‘foot.’

cento /ˈsen(t)ō/

I. noun

‹rare› a literary work made up of quotations from other works.

– origin early 17th cent.: Latin, ‘patchwork garment,’ the original sense in English.

centra /ˈsentrə/

a plural form of centrum.

central /ˈsentrəl/

I. adjective

1. of, at, or forming the center

• the station has a central courtyard.

2. accessible from a variety of places

• coaches met at a central location.

3. [Phonetics] (of a vowel) articulated in the center of the mouth.

4. of the greatest importance; principal or essential

• his preoccupation with American history is central to his work

• the rising crime rate remained the central campaign issue.

5. [attrib.] — (of a group or organization) having controlling power over a country or another organization

• central government

• the central office.

II. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a place with a high concentration of a specified type of person or thing

• you're in workaholic central here.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, or from Latin centralis, from centrum (see center).

Central African Republic /ˌsentrəl ˌafrəkən rēˈpəblik/

I. a country in central Africa; pop. 4,511,500 (est. 2009); capital, Bangui; languages, French (official) and Sango.
Former name (until 1958) Ubanghi Shari.

Formerly a French colony, it became a republic within the French Community in 1958 and a fully independent state in 1960. Some stability was achieved when a civilian government was elected in 1993.

Central America /ˌsentrəl əˈmerəkə/

I. the southernmost part of North America that links the continent to South America and consists of the countries of Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.

II. derivatives

Central American

adjective, noun

central bank /ˈsentrəl baNGk/

noun

a national bank that provides financial and banking services for its country's government and commercial banking system, as well as implementing the government's monetary policy and issuing currency.

central casting

I. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) an agency or department that supplies actors for minor, usually stereotypical or generic film roles

• ‹figurative› Lynch is a mild, methodical guy, a bureaucrat from central casting.

• ‹figurative› a couple of hammy doctors straight from central casting.

– origin 1920s: from the name of the organization Central Casting Corporation.

central city

noun

a heavily populated city at the center of a large metropolitan area.

Central Command Centcom

a military strike force consisting of units from the US Army, Air Force, and Navy, established in 1979 (as the Rapid Deployment Force) to operate in the Middle East and North Africa.

central heating /ˈˌsentrəl ˈhēdiNG/

noun

a system for warming a building by heating water or air in one place and circulating it through pipes and radiators or vents.

Central Intelligence Agency CIA

a US federal agency responsible for coordinating government intelligence activities.

centralism /ˈsentrəˌlizəm/

I. noun

a system that centralizes, especially an administration.

II. derivatives

centralist /ˈsentrələst /

noun, adjective

centrality /senˈtralədē/

noun

1. the quality or fact of being in the middle of somewhere or something.

2. the state of being accessible from a variety of places

• he believes that the location's centrality can only be an added advantage for guests.

3. the quality of being essential or of the greatest importance

• the centrality of religion in their lives

• the centrality and sovereignty of the state.

centralization /sentrələˈzāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the concentration of control of an activity or organization under a single authority

• the centralization of all financial power in the hands of its leaders

• increasing centralization of control over logistical planning.

2. the action or process of bringing activities together in one place

• greater centralization of food production.

centralize /ˈsentrəˌlīz/

verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. centralized)

1. concentrate (control of an activity or organization) under a single authority

• a vast superstructure of centralized control.

2. bring (activities) together in one place

• the ultimate goal is to centralize boxing under one umbrella.

central locking /ˈsentrəl läkiNG/

noun

a locking system in a motor vehicle that enables the locks of all doors to be operated simultaneously by a single person.

centrally /ˈsentrəlē/

adverb

1. in or toward the middle of something

• rounded petals blossom from a centrally placed flower.

2. in a way that is accessible from a variety of places

• the charming and centrally located village.

3. with the greatest importance or significance; essentially

• a clear recognition of how centrally important the ports are to sustaining economic growth.

4. from or by a central organization or system

• key business strategies are organized centrally.

central nervous system

noun

[Anatomy] the complex of nerve tissues that controls the activities of the body. In vertebrates it comprises the brain and spinal cord.

Central Park

a large public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City.

Central Powers

I. the alliance of Germany, Austria–Hungary, Turkey, and Bulgaria during World War I.

II. the alliance of Germany, Austria–Hungary, and Italy between 1882 and 1914.

central processing unit /ˈsentrəl prəˈsesiNG ˈyo͞onət / central processor, CPU

noun

[Computing] the part of a computer in which operations are controlled and executed.

Central time

the standard time in a zone that includes the central states of the US and parts of central Canada, specifically.
[● standard time based on the mean solar time at longitude 90° W, six hours behind GMT. ● Central time during daylight saving, five hours behind GMT.]

Central Valley

a lowland in central California that is drained in the north by the Sacramento River and also is called the Sacramento Valley. In the south, it is called the San Joaquin Valley.

centrex /ˈsentreks / ‹trademark› Centrex

I. noun

a telephone service in which a group of phone lines can be joined by part of the local exchange acting as a private exchange.

– origin 1990s: blend of central and exchange.

centric /ˈsentrik/

I. adjective

1. in or at the center; central

• centric and peripheral forces.

2. [Botany] (of a diatom) radially symmetrical.
Compare with pennate.

II. derivatives

1. centrical /-trikəl /

adjective

2. centricity /ˌsenˈtrisədē /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from Greek kentrikos, from kentron ‘sharp point’ (see center).

-centric

I. combining form

1. having a specified center

• geocentric.

2. forming an opinion or evaluation originating from a specified viewpoint

• Eurocentric

• ethnocentric.

– origin from Greek kentrikos, on the pattern of words such as (con)centric.

-centricity

combining form

in nouns corresponding to adjectives ending in -centric (such as ethnocentricity corresponding to ethnocentric).

centrifugal /senˈtrif(y)əɡəl/

I. adjective

[Physics] moving or tending to move away from a center.
The opposite of centripetal.

II. derivatives

centrifugally

adverb

– origin early 18th cent.: from modern Latin centrifugus, from Latin centrum (see center) + -fugus ‘fleeing’ (from fugere ‘flee’).

centrifugal force

noun

[Physics] an apparent force that acts outward on a body moving around a center, arising from the body's inertia.

centrifugal pump

noun

a pump that uses an impeller to move water or other fluids.

centrifuge /ˈsentrəˌfyo͞oj/

I. noun

a machine with a rapidly rotating container that applies centrifugal force to its contents, typically to separate fluids of different densities (e.g., cream from milk) or liquids from solids.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be centrifuged)

1. subject to the action of a centrifuge.

2. separate by centrifuge

• the black liquid is centrifuged into oil and water.

III. derivatives

centrifugation /ˌsentrəˌfyo͝oˈɡāSHən, senˌtrif(y)ə- /

noun

centriole /ˈsentrēˌōl/

I. noun

[Biology] a minute cylindrical organelle near the nucleus in animal cells, occurring in pairs and involved in the development of spindle fibers in cell division.

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin centriolum, diminutive of centrum (see center).

centripetal /senˈtripədl/

I. adjective

[Physics] moving or tending to move toward a center.
The opposite of centrifugal.

II. derivatives

centripetally

adverb

– origin early 18th cent.: from modern Latin centripetus, from Latin centrum (see center) + -petus ‘seeking’ (from petere ‘seek’).

centripetal force

noun

[Physics] a force that acts on a body moving in a circular path and is directed toward the center around which the body is moving.

centrist /ˈsentrəst/

I. adjective

having moderate political views or policies.

II. noun

a person who holds moderate political views.

III. derivatives

centrism /ˈsentˌrizəm /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: from French centriste, from Latin centrum (see center).

centroid /ˈsentroid/

noun

[Mathematics] the center of mass of a geometric object of uniform density.

centromere /ˈsentrəˌmir/

I. noun

[Biology] the point on a chromosome by which it is attached to a spindle fiber during cell division.

II. derivatives

centromeric /ˌsentrəˈmi(ə)rik, -ˈmerik /

adjective

– origin 1920s: from Latin centrum (see center) + Greek meros ‘part.’

centrosome /ˈsentrəˌsōm/

I. noun

[Biology] an organelle near the nucleus of a cell that contains the centrioles (in animal cells) and from which the spindle fibers develop in cell division.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin centrum (see center) + Greek sōma ‘body.’

centrosphere /ˈsentrəˌsfir/

noun

1. [Biology] a region of clear, differentiated cytoplasm from which the asters extend during cell division and containing the centriole(s) if present.

2. [Geology] the central or inner part of the earth.

centrum /ˈsentrəm/

I. noun

[Anatomy] the solid central part of a vertebra, to which the arches and processes are attached.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin.

centuple /senˈt(y)o͞opəl ˈsenˌt(y)o͞opəl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. multiply by a hundred or by a large amount

• they were centupling the national debt.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French, or from ecclesiastical Latin centuplus, alteration of Latin centuplex, from centum ‘hundred.’

centurion /senˈt(y)o͝orēən/

I. noun

the commander of a century in the ancient Roman army.

– origin Middle English: from Latin centurion-, from centuria (see century).

century /ˈsen(t)SH(ə)rē/

I. noun

1. a period of one hundred years

• a century ago most people walked to work.

2. a period of one hundred years reckoned from the traditional date of the birth of Jesus Christ

• the fifteenth century

• (-century) a twentieth-century lifestyle.

3. a company in the ancient Roman army, originally of one hundred men.

4. an ancient Roman political division for voting.

5. a bicycle race of one hundred miles
[as modifier]

• the nation's largest single-day century ride.

6. a score of one hundred in a sporting event, such as a cricket match.

II. derivatives

centurial /senˈt(y)o͝orēəl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (sense 2): from Latin centuria, from centum ‘hundred.’ Sense 1 dates from the early 17th cent. / usage: 1 In contemporary use, a century is popularly calculated as beginning in a year that ends with ‘00,’ whereas the traditional system designates the ‘00’ year as the final year of a century. This discrepancy was particularly apparent on January 1, 2000, which was commercially celebrated worldwide as the first day of the 21st century, even though January 1, 2001, was regarded as the more proper date for this milestone. 2 Since the 1st century ran from the year 1 to the year 100, the ordinal number (i.e., second, third, fourth, etc.) used to denote the century will always be one digit higher than the corresponding cardinal digit(s). Thus, 1492 is a date in the 15th century, 1776 is in the 18th century, and so on.

century plant

noun

a stemless agave with long spiny leaves, which produces a tall flowering stem after many years of growth and then dies.
Also called American aloe. [Agave americana, family Agavaceae.]

CEO /ˌsēˌēˈō/

noun

a chief executive officer, the highest-ranking person in a company or other institution, ultimately responsible for making managerial decisions.

cep /sep / cèpe

I. noun

an edible European and North American mushroom with a smooth brown cap, a stout white stalk, and pores rather than gills, growing in dry woodland and much sought after as a delicacy.
Also called king bolete, porcini. [Boletus edulis, family Boletaceae, class Basidiomycetes.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French cèpe, from Gascon cep ‘tree trunk, mushroom,’ from Latin cippus ‘stake.’

cèpe /sep/

noun

another term for cep.

cephalic /səˈfalik/

I. adjective

‹technical› of, in, or relating to the head.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French cephalique, from Latin cephalicus, from Greek kephalikos, from kephalē ‘head.’

-cephalic

combining form

equivalent to -cephalous.

cephalic index

noun

[Anthropology] a number expressing the ratio of the maximum breadth of a skull to its maximum length.

cephalin /ˈsefələn/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] any of a group of phospholipids present in cell membranes, especially in the brain.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek kephalē ‘brain’ + -in^1.

cephalization /ˌsefələˈzāSH(ə)n/

noun

[Zoology] the concentration of sense organs, nervous control, etc., at the anterior end of the body, forming a head and brain, both during evolution and in the course of an embryo's development.

cephalo-

I. combining form

relating to the head or skull

• cephalometry.

– origin from Greek kephalē ‘head.’

Cephalochordata /ˌsefəlōˌkôrˈdätə, -ˈdātə / ‹Zoology›

I. a small group of marine invertebrates comprising the lancelets.
[Subphylum Cephalochordata, phylum Chordata.]

II. derivatives

cephalochordate /-ˈkôrˌdāt /

noun, adjective

– origin modern Latin (plural), from cephalo- ‘head’ + Latin khorda ‘cord.’

cephalometer /sefəˈlämədər/

noun

a device for measuring the human head.

cephalometry /ˌsefəˈlämətrē/

I. noun

[Medicine] measurement and study of the proportions of the head and face, especially during development and growth.

II. derivatives

cephalometric /-lōˈmetrik /

adjective

cephalon /ˈsefəˌlän, -lən/

I. noun

[Zoology] (in some arthropods, especially trilobites) the region of the head, composed of fused segments.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek kephalē ‘head.’

cephalopod /ˈsefələˌpäd/

noun

[Zoology] an active predatory mollusk of the large class Cephalopoda, such as an octopus or squid.

Cephalopoda /ˌsefəˈläpədə / ‹Zoology›

I. a class of active predatory mollusks comprising octopuses, squids, and cuttlefish. They have a distinct head with large eyes and a ring of tentacles around a beaked mouth and are able to release a cloud of inky fluid to confuse predators.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek kephalē ‘head’ + pous, pod- ‘foot.’

cephalosporin /ˌsefəlōˈspôrən/

I. noun

any of a group of semisynthetic broad-spectrum antibiotics resembling penicillin.

– origin 1950s: from modern Latin Cephalosporium (genus providing molds for this) + -in^1.

cephalothorax /ˌsefələˈTHôraks/

noun

[Zoology] the fused head and thorax of spiders and other chelicerate arthropods.

-cephalous

I. combining form

-headed (used commonly in medical, zoological, and botanical terms)

• macrocephalous.

– origin based on Greek kephalē ‘head’ + -ous.

cepheid /ˈsēfēəd, ˈsef- / cepheid variable

I. noun

[Astronomy] a variable star having a regular cycle of brightness with a frequency related to its luminosity, so allowing estimation of its distance from the earth.

– origin early 20th cent.: from the name of the variable star Delta Cephei, which typifies this class of stars.

Cepheus /ˈsēfēəs, ˈsēˌfyo͞os / ‹Astronomy›

I. a constellation near the north celestial pole.

II. (as genitive Cephei ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation

• the star Beta Cephei.

– origin from the name of a king of Ethiopia, the husband of Cassiopeia.

’cept /sep(t)/

preposition, conjunction, verb

nonstandard contraction of except used in representing speech:

• everyone else had visitors—’cept for Captain.

ceramic /səˈramik/

I. adjective

1. made of clay and hardened by heat

• a ceramic bowl.

2. of or relating to the manufacture of ceramic articles.

II. noun — (ceramics)

1. pots and other articles made from clay hardened by heat

• handmade pottery and imaginative ceramics for the table.

2. [usu. treated as sing.] — the art of making ceramic articles

• sculpting, drawing, ceramics, and fiber art.

3. (ceramic) — the material from which ceramic articles are made

• tableware in ceramic.

4. (ceramic) — any nonmetallic solid that remains hard when heated.

III. derivatives

ceramicist /səˈraməsəst /

noun

– origin early 19th cent.: from Greek keramikos, from keramos ‘pottery.’

ceramic tile

noun

a tile made from clay that has been permanently hardened by heat, often having a decorative glaze

• the walls of the mosque are covered with blue ceramic tiles.

Ceram Sea /ˌsāräm ˈsē / Seram Sea

the part of the western Pacific Ocean that is at the center of the Molucca Islands in Indonesia.

cerastes /səˈrasˌtēz/

I. noun

a North African viper that has a spike over each eye.
[Genus Cerastes, family Viperidae: two species, in particular the horned viper.]

– origin late Middle English: from Latin, from Greek kerastēs ‘horned,’ from keras ‘horn.’

cerated /ˈsirˌādəd/

adjective

1. covered with wax or resin.

2. [Ornithology] having a cere.

ceratite /ˈserəˌtīt/

I. noun

an ammonoid fossil of an intermediate type found chiefly in the Permian and Triassic periods, typically with partly frilled and partly lobed suture lines.
Compare with ammonite and goniatite. [Typified by the genus Ceratites, order Ceratida.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Ceratites (from Greek keras, kerat- ‘horn’) + -ite^1.

ceratopsian /ˌserəˈtäpsēən/

I. noun

[Paleontology] a gregarious quadrupedal herbivorous dinosaur of a group found in the Cretaceous period, including triceratops. It had a large beaked and horned head and a bony frill protecting the neck.
[Infraorder Ceratopsia, order Ornithischia.]

– origin early 20th cent.: from modern Latin Ceratopsia (plural) (from Greek keras, kerat- ‘horn’ + ops ‘face’) + -an.

Cerberus /ˈsərbərəs / ‹Greek Mythology›

a monstrous watchdog with three (or in some accounts fifty) heads that guarded the entrance to Hades.

cercaria /ˌsərˈkerēə/

I. noun

[Zoology] a free-swimming larval stage in which a parasitic fluke passes from an intermediate host (typically a snail) to another intermediate host or to the final vertebrate host.

– origin mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, formed irregularly from Greek kerkos ‘tail.’

cerclage /sərˈkläZH/

I. noun

[Medicine] the use of a ring or loop to bind together the ends of an obliquely fractured bone or to encircle the opening of a malfunctioning cervix.

– origin early 20th cent.: from French, literally ‘encirclement.’

cercopithecine /ˌsərkōˈpiTHəˌsīn, -ˌsēn/

I. noun

[Zoology] an Old World monkey of a group that includes the macaques, mangabeys, baboons, and guenons.
[Subfamily Cercopithecinae, family Cercopithecidae.]

– origin from modern Latin Cercopithecinae (plural), based on Greek kerkopithēkos ‘long-tailed monkey,’ from kerkos ‘tail’ + pithēkos ‘ape.’

cercopithecoid /ˌsərkəˈpiTHəkoid / ‹Zoology›

I. noun

a primate of a group that comprises the Old World monkeys.
[Superfamily Cercopithecoidea, family Cercopithecidae.]

II. adjective

of or relating to cercopithecoid monkeys.

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Cercopithecoidea, based on Greek kerkopithēkos (see cercopithecine).

cercus /ˈsərkəs/

I. noun

[Zoology] a small appendage at the end of the abdomen of some insects and other arthropods, occurring in pairs.

– origin early 19th cent.: from modern Latin, from Greek kerkos ‘tail.’

cere /sir/

I. noun

[Ornithology] a waxy, fleshy covering at the base of the upper beak in some birds.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Latin cera ‘wax.’

cereal /ˈsirēəl/

I. noun

1. a grain used for food, such as wheat, oats, or corn.

2. (usu. cereals) — a grass producing a cereal grain, grown as an agricultural crop
[as modifier]

• low yields for cereal crops.

3. a breakfast food made from roasted grain, typically eaten with milk

• a bowl of cereal

• [as modifier] a cereal box.

– origin early 19th cent. (as an adjective): from Latin cerealis, from Ceres, the name of the Roman goddess of agriculture.

cereal bar

noun

a prepackaged food item similar in shape to a candy bar, made of breakfast cereal and, typically, fruit.

cerebellum /ˌserəˈbeləm/

I. noun

[Anatomy] the part of the brain at the back of the skull in vertebrates. Its function is to coordinate and regulate muscular activity.

II. derivatives

cerebellar /ˌserəˈbelər /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin, diminutive of cerebrum.

cerebral /səˈrēbrəl ˈserəbrəl/

I. adjective

1. of the cerebrum of the brain

• a cerebral hemorrhage

• the cerebral cortex.

2. intellectual rather than emotional or physical

• photography is a cerebral process.

3. [Phonetics] another term for retroflex.

II. derivatives

cerebrally

adverb

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin cerebrum ‘brain’ + -al.

cerebral aqueduct

noun

[Anatomy] a fluid-filled canal that runs through the midbrain connecting the third and fourth ventricles.

cerebral dominance

noun

the normal tendency for one side of the brain to control particular functions, such as handedness and speech.

cerebral edema

noun

[Medicine] a swelling in the brain caused by the presence of excessive fluid.

cerebral palsy /ˌserəbrəl ˈpôlzē/

noun

a condition marked by impaired muscle coordination (spastic paralysis) and/or other disabilities, typically caused by damage to the brain before or at birth.
See also spastic.

cerebration /ˌserəˈbrāSHən/

I. noun

‹technical› ‹formal› the working of the brain; thinking.

II. derivatives

cerebrate /ˈserəˌbrāt /

verb

cerebro-

I. combining form

of or relating to the brain

• cerebrospinal.

– origin from Latin cerebrum ‘brain.’

cerebroside /səˈrēbrəˌsīd, ˈserəbrə-/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] any of a group of complex lipids present in the sheaths of nerve fibers.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin cerebrum ‘brain’ + -ose^2 + -ide.

cerebrospinal /səˌrēbrōˈspīnl ˌserəbrōˈspīnl/

adjective

[Anatomy] of or relating to the brain and spine.

cerebrospinal fluid

noun

[Anatomy] clear watery fluid that fills the space between the arachnoid membrane and the pia mater.

cerebrovascular /səˌrēbrōˈvaskyələr, ˌserəbrō-/

adjective

[Anatomy] of or relating to the brain and its blood vessels.

cerebrum /səˈrēbrəm ˈserəbrəm/

I. noun

[Anatomy] the principal and most anterior part of the brain in vertebrates, located in the front area of the skull and consisting of two hemispheres, left and right, separated by a fissure. It is responsible for the integration of complex sensory and neural functions and the initiation and coordination of voluntary activity in the body.
See also telencephalon.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin, ‘brain.’

cerecloth /ˈsirklôTH/

I. noun

‹historical› waxed cloth typically used for wrapping a corpse.

– origin late Middle English: from earlier cered cloth, from cere ‘to wax,’ from Latin cerare, from cera ‘wax.’

cerement /ˈserəmənt, ˈsi(ə)rmənt/

I. noun — (usu. cerements)

1. ‹historical› waxed cloth for wrapping a corpse.

– origin early 17th cent. (first used by Shakespeare in Hamlet, 1602): from cere (see cerecloth).

ceremonial /ˌserəˈmōnēəl/

I. adjective

1. relating to or used for formal events of a religious or public nature

• ceremonial robes

• the solemn, ceremonial air of a procession of monks

• presented at ceremonial occasions.

2. (of a position or role) involving only nominal authority or power

• originally a ceremonial post, it is now a position with executive power.

II. noun

1. the system of rules and procedures to be observed at a formal or religious occasion

• the procedure was conducted with all due ceremonial.

2. a rite or ceremony

• a ceremonial called the ghost dance.

III. derivatives

1. ceremonialism /ˌserəˈmōnēəˌlizəm /

noun

2. ceremonialist /ˌserəˈmōnēələst /

noun

3. ceremonially /ˌserəˈmōnēəlē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin caerimonialis, from caerimonia ‘religious worship’ (see ceremony).

ceremonious /ˌserəˈmōnēəs/

I. adjective

1. relating or appropriate to grand and formal occasions

• a Great Hall where ceremonious and public appearances were made.

2. excessively polite; punctilious

• he accepted the gifts with ceremonious dignity.

II. derivatives

1. ceremoniously /ˌserəˈmōnēəslē /

adverb

2. ceremoniousness /ˌserəˈmōnēəsnəs /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French cérémonieux or late Latin caerimoniosus, from caerimonia (see ceremony).

ceremony /ˈserəˌmōnē/

I. noun

1. a formal religious or public occasion, typically one celebrating a particular event or anniversary

• the winners were presented with their prizes at a special ceremony

• a public ceremony.

2. an act or series of acts performed according to a traditional or prescribed form.

• we found a rabbi to perform the ceremony for us.

3. the ritual observances and procedures performed at grand and formal occasions

• the new Queen was proclaimed with due ceremony.

4. formal polite behavior

• he showed them to their table with great ceremony.

II. phrases

1. stand on ceremony

[usu. with negative] — insist on the observance of formalities

• we don't stand on ceremony in this house.

2. without ceremony

without preamble or politeness

• he was pushed without ceremony into the bathroom.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French ceremonie or Latin caerimonia ‘religious worship,’ (plural) ‘ritual observances.’

Cerenkov /CHəˈreNGˌkôv, CHəˈreNGˌkôf/

see Cherenkov, Pavel.

Cerenkov radiation Cherenkov radiation

noun

[Physics] electromagnetic radiation emitted by particles moving through a medium at speeds greater than that of light in the same medium.

cereology /ˌsirēˈäləjē/

I. noun

the study or investigation of crop circles.

II. derivatives

cereologist /-jist /

noun

– origin 1990s: from Ceres + -logy.

cereopsis goose /ˌsirēˈäpsəs ɡo͞os/

I. noun

another term for Cape Barren goose.

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Cereopsis (genus name), from Greek kerinos ‘waxen’ + opsis ‘face’ (because of its cere).

Ceres /ˈsirēz/

I. [Roman Mythology] the goddess of grain and agriculture.
Greek equivalent Demeter.

II. [Astronomy] the first asteroid to be discovered, found by G. Piazzi of Palermo in 1801. It is also the largest, with a diameter of 567 miles (913 km).

ceresin /ˈserəsən/

I. noun

a hard whitish paraffin wax used with or instead of beeswax.

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin ceres (from Latin cera ‘wax’) + -in^1.

cereus /ˈsirēəs/

noun

one of numerous neotropical cacti now or formerly included in the genus Cereus.

ceric /ˈsirik/

adjective

of cerium in its higher valency (4).

ceriman /ˈserəmən/

noun

another name for Swiss cheese plant.

cerise /səˈrēs səˈrēz/

I. noun

a bright or deep red color

• a shade of vivid cerise.

• [as modifier] a bright cerise suit.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, literally ‘cherry.’

cerium /ˈsirēəm/

I. noun

(Symbol: Ce) — the chemical element of atomic number 58, a silvery white metal. It is the most abundant of the lanthanide elements and is the main component of the alloy misch metal.

– origin early 19th cent.: named after the asteroid Ceres, discovered shortly before.

cermet /ˈsərmet/

I. noun

any of a class of heat-resistant materials made of ceramic and sintered metal.

– origin 1950s: blend of ceramic and metal.

CERN /sərn/

I. abbreviation

European Organization for Nuclear Research.

– origin initial letters of French Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire, its former title.

cero /ˈsirō/

I. noun

a large fish of the mackerel family, serving as an important food fish in the tropical western Atlantic.
[Scomberomorus regalis, family Scombridae.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from Spanish sierra ‘saw or sawfish.’

cero-

I. combining form

of or relating to wax

• ceroplastic.

– origin from Latin cera or Greek kēros ‘wax.’

ceroc /səˈräk/

I. noun

(chiefly Brit.) a type of modern social dance having elements of rock and roll, jive, and salsa.

– origin 1990s: invented word, apparently coined in English from French ce ‘this’ + roc ‘rock.’

ceroplastic /ˌsirōˈplastik ˌserōˈplastik/

adjective

of or relating to modeling in wax.

cerous /ˈsirəs/

adjective

of cerium in its lower valency (3).

Cerritos /səˈrēdəs/

a city in southwestern California, southeast of Los Angeles; pop. 51,326 (est. 2008).

Cerro Gordo /ˌserə ˈɡôrdō/

a mountain pass in eastern Mexico, between Veracruz and Jalapa, scene of an 1847 victory by US forces in the Mexican War.

cert. //

abbreviation

1. certificate.

2. certified.

certain /ˈsərtn/

I. adjective

1. known for sure; established beyond doubt

• it's certain that more changes are in the offing

• she looks certain to win an Oscar.

2. having complete conviction about something; confident

• are you absolutely certain about this?

• true and certain knowledge of the essence of existence.

3. [attrib.] — specific but not explicitly named or stated

• he raised certain personal problems with me

• the exercise was causing him a certain amount of pain.

4. used when mentioning the name of someone not known to the reader or hearer

• a certain General Percy captured the town.

II. pronoun — (certain of)

1. some but not all

• certain of his works have been edited.

III. phrases

1. for certain

without any doubt

• I don't know for certain.

2. make certain

a. [with clause] — take action to ensure that something happens or is the case

• I made certain that our paths would never cross again.

b. establish whether something is definitely correct or true

• he probably knew her, but it didn't do any harm to make certain.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, based on Latin certus ‘settled, sure.’

certainly /ˈsərtnlē/

adverb — [sentence adverb]

1. undoubtedly; definitely; surely

• the prestigious address certainly adds to the firm's appeal

• it certainly isn't worth risking your life.

2. (in answer to a question or command) yes; by all means

• “A good idea,” she agreed. “Certainly!”

certainty /ˈsərtntē/

I. noun

1. firm conviction that something is the case

• she knew with absolute certainty that they were dead.

2. the quality of being reliably true

• there is a bewildering lack of certainty and clarity in the law.

3. a fact that is definitely true or an event that is definitely going to take place

• an immediate transfer would be a certainty.

4. a person or thing that may be relied on

• he was expected to be a certainty for a gold medal.

II. phrases

for a certainty

beyond the possibility of doubt.

– origin Middle English: from Old French certainete, from certain (see certain).

certes /ˈsərdēz/

I. adverb

‹archaic› assuredly; I assure you.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, based on Latin certus ‘settled, sure.’

certifiable /ˈsərdəˌfīəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. able or needing to be certified

• encephalitis was a certifiable condition

• little hope for certifiable progress.

2. officially recognized as needing treatment for a mental disorder.

3. ‹informal› mad; crazy

• the world of fashion is almost entirely insane, the people who work in it mainly certifiable.

II. derivatives

certifiably /ˌsərdəˈfīəblē /

adverb

certificate

I. noun — /sərˈtifəkət /

1. an official document attesting a certain fact, in particular

2. a document recording a person's birth, marriage, or death.

3. a document attesting a level of achievement in a course of study or training

• graduate certificate in information technology.

4. a document attesting ownership of a certain item

• a stock certificate.

II. verb — /ˌsərˈtifəkāt / [with obj.]

1. (Brit.) provide with or attest in an official document.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘certification, attestation’): from French certificat or medieval Latin certificatum, from certificare (see certify).

certificate of deposit CD

noun

a certificate issued by a bank to a person depositing money for a specified length of time.

certification /ˌsərdifiˈkāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) the action or process of providing someone or something with an official document attesting to a status or level of achievement

• a fundamental requirement for organic certification

• the certification of teachers.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) an official document attesting to a status or level of achievement

• graduates who want to gain industry-recognized certifications.

certified check

noun

a check that is guaranteed by a bank.

certified mail

noun

(N. Amer.) a postal service in which the sending and receipt of a letter or package are recorded.

certified milk

noun

‹historical› milk guaranteed free from the tubercle bacillus.

certified public accountant /ˈsərdəˌfīd ˈpəblik əˈkoun(t)ənt / CPA

noun

(US) a member of an officially accredited professional body of accountants.

certify /ˈsərdəˌfī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. attest or confirm in a formal statement

• the profits for the year had been certified by the auditors

• [with clause] the medical witness certified that death was due to cerebral hemorrhage.

2. (often as adj. certified) — officially recognize (someone or something) as possessing certain qualifications or meeting certain standards

• a certified scuba instructor

• board certified in obstetrics and gynecology.

3. officially declare insane.

– origin Middle English: from Old French certifier, from late Latin certificare, from Latin certus ‘certain.’

certiorari /ˌserSH(ē)əˈrärē ˌserSH(ē)əˈrerī/

I. noun

[Law] a writ or order by which a higher court reviews a decision of a lower court

• an order of certiorari.

– origin late Middle English: from Law Latin, ‘to be informed,’ a phrase originally occurring at the start of the writ, from certiorare ‘inform,’ from certior, comparative of certus ‘certain.’

certitude /ˈsərdəˌt(y)o͞od/

I. noun

1. absolute certainty or conviction that something is the case

• the question may never be answered with certitude.

2. something that someone firmly believes is true

• his certitude that “we're number one.”

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin certitudo, from certus ‘certain.’

cerulean /səˈro͞olēən/

I. adjective

‹literary› deep blue in color like a clear sky

• cerulean waters and golden sands.

II. noun

a deep sky-blue color.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin caeruleus ‘sky blue,’ from caelum ‘sky.’

cerumen /səˈro͞omən/

I. noun

technical term for earwax.

– origin late 17th cent.: modern Latin, from Latin cera ‘wax.’

ceruse /səˈro͞os ˈsi(ə)ˌro͞os/

I. noun

archaic term for white lead.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin cerussa, perhaps from Greek kēros ‘wax.’

Cervantes, Miguel de /sərˈvantēz, serˈväntās/

(1547–1616), Spanish novelist and playwright; full name Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. His most well-known work is Don Quixote (1605–15), a satire on chivalric romances that greatly influenced the development of the novel.

cervical /ˈsərvik(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. [Anatomy] of or relating to the narrow necklike passage forming the lower end of the uterus

• cervical cancer.

2. [Anatomy] of or relating to the neck

• the fifth cervical vertebra.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French, or from modern Latin cervicalis, from Latin cervix, cervic- ‘neck.’

cervicitis /ˌsərvəˈsīdəs/

noun

[Medicine] inflammation of the cervix.

cervid /ˈsərvəd/

I. noun

[Zoology] a mammal of the deer family (Cervidae).

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Cervidae (plural), from Latin cervus ‘deer.’

cervine /ˈsərvīn/

I. adjective

of or relating to deer; deerlike.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin cervinus, from cervus ‘deer.’

cervix /ˈsərviks/

I. noun

1. the narrow necklike passage forming the lower end of the uterus.

2. ‹technical› the neck.

3. a part of other bodily organs resembling a neck.

– origin mid 18th cent.: Latin.

cesarean /səˈzerēən / caesarean, ‹chiefly Brit.› caesarian

I. adjective

of or effected by cesarean section

• a cesarean delivery.

II. noun

a cesarean section

• I had to have a cesarean

• two sons both born by cesarean.

– origin early 16th cent. (as a noun denoting a supporter of an emperor or imperial system): from Latin Caesareus ‘of Caesar’ + -an.

cesarean section

I. noun

a surgical operation for delivering a child by cutting through the wall of the mother's abdomen.

– origin early 17th cent.: cesarean from the story that Julius Caesar was delivered by this method.

cesium /ˈsēzēəm / ‹Brit.› caesium

I. noun

(Symbol: Cs) — the chemical element of atomic number 55, a soft, silvery, extremely reactive metal. It belongs to the alkali metal group and occurs as a trace element in some rocks and minerals.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin caesius ‘grayish-blue’ (because it has characteristic lines in the blue part of the spectrum).

České Budějovice /ˌCHeskā ˈbo͝odyəˌyōvitsə/

a city in the southern Czech Republic, on the Vltava River; pop. 94,925 (2007). It is noted for the production of lager.
German name Budweis.

cespitose /ˈsespəˌtōs/

I. adjective

[Botany] forming mats or growing in dense tufts or clumps.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin caespitosus, from caespes ‘turf’: see -ose^1.

cess^1 /ses / sess

I. noun

(in Scotland, Ireland, and India) a tax or levy.

– origin late 15th cent. (denoting the obligation placed on the Irish to supply the Lord Deputy's household and garrison with provisions at prices “assessed” by the government): shortened from the obsolete noun assess ‘assessment.’

cess^2 /ses/

I. noun — (in phrase bad cess to)

1. (chiefly Irish) a curse on

• bad cess to the day I joined that band!

– origin mid 19th cent. (originally Anglo-Irish): perhaps from cess^1.

cessation /seˈsāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

the fact or process of ending or being brought to an end

• the cessation of hostilities

• a cessation of animal testing of cosmetics.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin cessatio(n-), from cessare ‘cease.’

cesser /ˈsesər/

I. noun

[Law] termination or cessation, especially of a period of tenure or legal liability.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Old French cesser ‘cease,’ used as a noun.

cession /ˈseSHən/

I. noun

the formal giving up of rights, property, or territory, especially by a state

• the cession of twenty important towns.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin cession-, from cedere ‘cede.’

cesspit /ˈsesˌpit/

I. noun

1. a pit for the disposal of liquid waste and sewage.

2. a disgusting or corrupt place or situation

• the affair threatened to be a cesspit of scandal.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from cess (the supposed base of cesspool) + pit^1.

cesspool /ˈsesˌpo͞ol/

I. noun

1. an underground container for the temporary storage of liquid waste and sewage.

2. a disgusting or corrupt place

• they should clean out their own political cesspool.

– origin late 17th cent. (denoting a trap under a drain to catch solids): probably an alteration, influenced by pool^1, of archaic suspiral ‘vent, water pipe, settling tank,’ from Old French souspirail ‘air hole,’ based on Latin sub- ‘from below’ + spirare ‘breathe.’

cesta /ˈsestə/

I. noun

a wicker basket used in the game of jai alai to catch and throw the ball.

– origin Spanish.

c'est la vie /ˌsā lä ˈvē/

I. exclamation

that's life; such is life

• if you get thwarted, c'est la vie.

– origin early 20th cent.: French.

Cestoda /sesˈtōdə / ‹Zoology› Cestoidea

I. a class of parasitic flatworms that comprises the tapeworms.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Latin cestus, from Greek kestos, literally ‘stitched,’ used as a noun in the sense ‘girdle.’

cestode /ˈsesˌtōd/

noun

[Zoology] a parasitic flatworm of the class Cestoda; a tapeworm.

Cetacea /siˈtāSH(ē)ə / ‹Zoology›

I. an order of marine mammals that comprises the whales, dolphins, and porpoises. These have a streamlined hairless body, no hind limbs, a horizontal tail fin, and a blowhole on top of the head for breathing.
See also Mysticeti, Odontoceti.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Latin cetus, from Greek kētos ‘whale.’

cetacean /səˈtāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

a marine mammal of the order Cetacea; a whale, dolphin, or porpoise.

II. adjective

relating to or denoting cetaceans.

cetane /ˈsētān/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a colorless liquid hydrocarbon of the alkane series, used as a solvent.
[Alternative name: n -hexadecane; chem. formula: C_16H_34.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin cetus ‘whale,’ from Greek kētos (because related compounds were first derived from spermaceti) + -ane^2.

cetane number

noun

a measure of the ignition properties of diesel fuel relative to cetane as a standard.

ceteris paribus /ˌkād(ə)rəs ˈperəbəs/

I. adverb

‹formal› with other conditions remaining the same

• shorter hours of labor will, ceteris paribus, reduce the volume of output.

– origin early 17th cent.: modern Latin.

cetology /sēˈtäləjē/

I. noun

the branch of zoology that deals with whales, dolphins, and porpoises.

II. derivatives

cetologist

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin cetus ‘whale’ (see Cetacea) + -logy.

Cetshwayo /keCHˈwīō / Cetewayo

(c. 1826–84), Zulu king. He became ruler of Zululand in 1873 and was involved in a series of battles with the Afrikaners and British; he was deposed as leader after the capture of his capital by the British in 1879.

Cetus /ˈsēdəs / ‹Astronomy›

I. a large northern constellation (the Whale), said to represent the sea monster that threatened Andromeda. It contains the variable star Mira.

II. (as genitive Ceti ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation

• the star Tau Ceti.

– origin Latin.

cetyl alcohol /ˌsētl ˈalkəˌhäl/

noun

a waxy alcohol occurring in feces and esterified in spermaceti and wool wax. It is used in cosmetics and as an emulsifier.
[Chem. formula: CH_3(CH_2)15OH.]

Ceuta /ˈT͟Hāˌo͞otə, ˈsā-/

a Spanish enclave, consisting of a port and a military post, on the coast of Morocco in northern Africa; pop. 77,389 (2008). It overlooks the Mediterranean approach to the Strait of Gibraltar and with Melilla forms a community of Spain.

Cévennes /səˈven/

a mountain range in France, on the southeastern edge of the Massif Central.

ceviche /səˈvēCHā, -CHē / seviche

I. noun

a South American dish of marinated raw fish or seafood, typically garnished and served as an appetizer.

– origin South American Spanish.

Ceylon /siˈlän sāˈlän/

former name (until 1972) of Sri Lanka.

Ceylon moss

noun

a red seaweed of southern Asia, the main source of agar.
[Gracilaria lichenoides, phylum Rhodophyta.]

Cézanne, Paul /sāˈzän/

(1839–1906), French painter. He is closely identified with post-impressionism, and his later work had an important influence on cubism. Notable works: Still Life with Cupid (1895) and Bathers (sequence of paintings, 1890–1905).

Cf

symbol

the chemical element californium.

CF

abbreviation

1. (also c.f.) — carried forward (used to refer to figures transferred to a new page or account).

2. cost and freight.

3. cystic fibrosis.

cf. /ˌsēˈef/

I. abbreviation

compare with (used to refer a reader to another written work or another part of the same written work).

– origin from Latin confer ‘compare.’

CFA^1 CFA franc

I. noun

the basic monetary unit of Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, and the Central African Republic, equal to 100 centimes.

– origin from French Communauté Financière Africaine ‘African Financial Community.’

CFA^2

abbreviation

chartered financial analyst.

CFL

abbreviation

1. compact fluorescent light (or lamp).

2. Canadian Football League.

cfm

abbreviation

cubic feet per minute.

CFO /ˌsēˌefˈō/

noun

a chief financial officer, a senior executive with responsibility for the financial affairs of a corporation or other institution.

cfs

abbreviation

cubic feet per second.

CFS

abbreviation

chronic fatigue syndrome.

cg

abbreviation

centigram(s).

CG

abbreviation

1. Coast Guard.

2. commanding general.

CGI

abbreviation

1. computer-generated imagery.

2. [Computing] common gateway interface, a script standard for writing interactive programs generated by visitors to web pages.

CGI bin /ˌsēˌjēˈī ˌbin/

noun

[Computing] a server directory where CGI programs are stored.

cGMP

abbreviation

cyclic GMP.

cgs

abbreviation

centimeter-gram-second.

CGT

noun

(Brit.) short for capital gains tax.

CH

abbreviation

1. courthouse.

2. custom house.

ch.

abbreviation

1. chaplain.

2. chapter.

3. (of a horse) chestnut in color.

4. church.

c.h. C.H.

abbreviation

clearinghouse.

chabazite /ˈkabəˌzīt/

I. noun

a colorless, pink, or yellow zeolite mineral, typically occurring as rhombohedral crystals.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French chabazie, from Greek khabazie, a misreading of khalazie, vocative form of khalazios ‘hailstone’ (from khalaza ‘hail,’ because of its form and color), + -ite^1.

Chablis /ˈSHablē, ˈSHä-/

noun

a dry white burgundy wine from Chablis in eastern France.

Chabrol, Claude /SHäˈbrōl/

(1930–2010), French movie director; a member of the nouvelle vague.

cha-cha /ˈCHä ˌCHä / cha-cha-cha

I. noun

1. a ballroom dance with small steps and swaying hip movements, performed to a Latin American rhythm.

2. music for or in the rhythm of a cha-cha.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. dance the cha-cha.

– origin 1950s: Latin American Spanish.

chachalaca /ˌCHäCHəˈläkə/

I. noun

a pheasantlike tree-dwelling bird of the guan family, with a loud harsh call. It is found mainly in the forests of tropical America.
[Genus Ortalis, family Cracidae: several species, in particular the plain chachalaca (O. vetula).]

– origin late 19th cent.: via South American Spanish from Nahuatl, of imitative origin.

chacham /ˈKHäKHäm / haham

I. noun

a spiritual leader among Sephardic Jews, or, more generally, a person learned in Jewish law.

– origin from Hebrew ḥāḵām ‘wise.’

chacma baboon /ˌCHäkmə bəˈbo͞on/

I. noun

a dark gray baboon that lives on the savanna of southern Africa.
[Papio ursinus, family Cercopithecidae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Khoikhoi.

chaconne /SHäˈkôn/

I. noun

1. [Music] a composition in a series of varying sections in slow triple time, typically over a short repeated bass theme.
Compare with passacaglia.

2. [Music] a stately dance performed to a chaconne, popular in the 18th century.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French, from Spanish chacona.

Chaco War

a boundary dispute in 1932–35 between Bolivia and Paraguay, in which Paraguay eventually gained most of the disputed territory.

chacun à son goût /ˌSHäkən ä sôn ˈɡo͞o/

I. exclamation

each to one's own taste.

– origin late 19th cent.: French.

chad /CHad/

I. noun

a piece of waste material removed from card or tape by punching.

– origin 1950s: possibly from Scots chad ‘gravel, small stones’ or dialect chat ‘chip of wood.’ It is not, as suggested, from the name of Mr. Chadless, inventor of a Chadless Keypunch: no such person has been found. Nor is it formed as an acronym from ‘card hole aggregate debris.’

Chad /CHad/

1. a landlocked country in northern central Africa; pop. 10,329,200 (est. 2009); capital, N'Djamena; official languages, French and Arabic.

Much of the country lies in the Sahel, as well as the Sahara Desert in the north. A French colony from 1913, Chad became autonomous within the French Community in 1958 and fully independent as a republic in 1960. The country has been troubled by rebellions in the north since 1998.

Chad, Lake

a shallow lake on the borders of Chad, Niger, and Nigeria in north central Africa. Its size varies seasonally from about 4,000 square miles (10,360 sq km) to about 10,000 square miles (25,900 sq km).

Chadian /ˈCHadēən/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of Chad or its people

• Chadian craftsmen produce musical instruments of extremely high quality.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of Chad

• despite the harsh climate, Chadians grow a large variety of food.

Chadic /ˈCHadik/

I. noun

a group of Afro-Asiatic languages spoken in the region of Lake Chad, of which the most important is Hausa.

II. adjective

of or relating to the Chadic languages.

chador /ˈCHədər ˈCHädˌôr / chadar, chuddar

I. noun

a large piece of cloth that is wrapped around the head and upper body leaving only the face exposed, worn especially by Muslim women.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Urdu chādar, chaddar, from Persian čādar ‘sheet or veil.’

Chadwick, Sir James /ˈCHadwik/

(1891–1974), English physicist who discovered the neutron. Nobel Prize for Physics (1935).

chaebol /ˈkīˌbäl, -ˌbôl/

I. noun

(in South Korea) a large business conglomerate, typically a family-owned one.

– origin 1980s: Korean, literally ‘money clan.’

chaeta /ˈkēdə/

I. noun

[Zoology] a stiff bristle made of chitin, especially in an annelid worm.

– origin mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek khaitē ‘long hair.’

Chaetognatha /kēˈtäɡnəTHə / ‹Zoology›

I. a small phylum of marine invertebrates that comprises the arrow worms.

II. derivatives

chaetognath /ˈkētäɡˌnaTH /

noun

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek khaitē ‘long hair’ + gnathos ‘jaw.’

chafe /CHāf/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — (of something restrictive or too tight) make (a part of the body) sore by rubbing against it

• the collar chafed his neck.

2. [no obj.] — (of a part of the body) be or become sore as a result of abrasive rubbing.

3. [no obj.] — (of an object) rub abrasively against another object

• the grommet stops the cable from chafing on the metal.

4. [with obj.] — rub (a part of the body) to restore warmth or sensation.

5. become or make annoyed or impatient because of a restriction or inconvenience
[no obj.]

• the bank chafed at the restrictions imposed upon it

• [with obj.] it chafed him to be confined like this.

II. noun

1. wear or damage caused by rubbing

• to prevent chafe the ropes should lie flat.

2. ‹archaic› a state of annoyance.

III. phrases

chafe at the bit

see chomp at the bit at chomp.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘make warm’): from Old French chaufer ‘make hot,’ based on Latin calefacere, from calere ‘be hot’ + facere ‘make.’

chafer /ˈCHāfər/

I. noun

a flying beetle, the adult and larva of which can be very destructive to foliage and plant roots respectively.
[Several subfamilies of the family Scarabaeidae. See also cockchafer.]

– origin Old English ceafor, cefer, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kever.

chaff^1 /CHaf/

I. noun

1. the husks of corn or other seed separated by winnowing or threshing.

2. chopped hay and straw used as fodder.

3. worthless things; trash.

4. strips of metal foil or metal filings released in the atmosphere from aircraft, or deployed as missiles, to obstruct radar detection or confuse radar-tracking missiles.

II. phrases

separate the wheat from the chaff

distinguish valuable people or things from worthless ones.

– origin Old English cæf, ceaf, probably from a Germanic base meaning ‘gnaw’; related to Dutch kaf, also to chafer.

chaff^2 /CHaf/

I. noun

lighthearted joking; banter.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. tease.

– origin early 19th cent.: perhaps from chafe.

chaff-cutter /ˈCHafˌkədər/

noun

‹chiefly historical› a machine for chopping hay and straw for use as fodder.

chaffer /ˈCHafər/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. haggle about the terms of an agreement or price of something.

II. noun

‹archaic› haggling about the price of something.

III. derivatives

chafferer

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘trade or trading’): from Old English cēap ‘a bargain’ + faru ‘journey’; probably influenced by Old Norse kaupfǫr.

chaffinch /ˈCHafˌin(t)SH/

I. noun

a Eurasian and North African finch, typically with a bluish top to the head and dark wings and tail.
[Genus Fringilla, family Fringillidae: two species, in particular F. coelebs, which (in the male of the typical European form) has a pinkish face and breast.]

– origin Old English ceaffinc ‘chaff finch’ (because it forages around barns, picking seeds out of the chaff).

chaffweed /ˈCHafwēd/

I. noun

a tiny European pimpernel with pink or white flowers.
[Anagallis minima, family Primulaceae.]

– origin mid 16th cent.: probably from the verb chafe + weed.

chafing dish /ˈCHāfiNG ˌdiSH/

I. noun

1. a metal pan with an outer pan of hot water, used for keeping food warm.

2. a metal pan, typically one containing an alcohol lamp, used for cooking at the table.

– origin late 15th cent.: from the original (now obsolete) sense of chafe ‘become warm, warm up.’

Chagall, Marc /SHəˈɡäl/

(1887–1985), French painter and graphic artist; born in Russia. His work was characterized by the use of rich emotive color and dream imagery and had a significant influence on surrealism.

Chagas' disease /ˈSHäɡəs diˌzēz/

I. noun

a disease caused by trypanosomes transmitted by bloodsucking bugs, endemic in South America and causing damage to the heart and central nervous system.

– origin early 20th cent.: named after Carlos Chagas (1879–1934), the Brazilian physician who first described it.

Chagos Archipelago /ˌCHäɡəs ˌärkəˈpeləˌɡō/

an island group in the Indian Ocean that forms the British Indian Ocean Territory.

chagrin /SHəˈɡrin/

I. noun

distress or embarrassment at having failed or been humiliated

• Jeff, much to his chagrin, wasn't invited.

II. verb — (be chagrined)

1. feel distressed or humiliated

• he was chagrined when his friend poured scorn on him.

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘melancholy’): from French chagrin (noun), literally ‘rough skin, shagreen,’ chagriner (verb), of unknown origin.

chai /CHī/

I. noun

a type of Indian tea, made especially by boiling the tea leaves with milk, sugar, and cardamom.

– origin a term in various Indian languages.

chain /CHān/

I. noun

1. a connected flexible series of metal links used for fastening or securing objects and pulling or supporting loads.

2. (chains) — a series of metal links used to confine a prisoner

• the drug dealer is being kept in chains.

3. a series of decorative metal links worn as a decoration; a necklace.

4. (chains) — short for snow chains.

5. (chains) — a force or factor that binds or restricts someone

• the chains of illness.

6. a sequence of items of the same type forming a line

• he kept the chain of buckets supplied with water.

7. a sequence or series of connected elements

• a chain of events

• the food chain.

8. a group of establishments, such as hotels, stores, or restaurants, owned by the same company

• the nation's largest hotel chain

• [as modifier] a chain restaurant.

9. a range of mountains

• a chain of volcanic ridges.

10. a part of a molecule consisting of a number of atoms (typically carbon) bonded together in a linear sequence.

11. a figure in a quadrille or similar dance, in which dancers meet and pass each other in a continuous sequence.

12. a jointed measuring line consisting of linked metal rods.

13. a measure of length equivalent to a chain (66 ft.).

14. [Football] a measuring chain of ten yards, used in the determination of first downs.

15. (chains) — a structure of planks projecting horizontally from a sailing ship's sides abreast of the masts, used to widen the basis for the shrouds.
[formed earlier of iron plates.]

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. fasten or secure with a chain

• she chained her bicycle to the railing.

2. confine with a chain

• he had been chained up

• ‹figurative› as an actuary you will not be chained to a desk.

III. phrases

pull (or yank) someone's chain

‹informal› tease someone, typically by leading them to believe something untrue.

– origin Middle English: from Old French chaine, chaeine, from Latin catena ‘a chain.’

Chain, Sir Ernst Boris /CHān/

(1906–79), British biochemist; born in Germany. With Howard Florey, he isolated and purified penicillin. Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine (1945), shared with Florey and Alexander Fleming.

chain bridge

noun

a suspension bridge supported by chains rather than cables.

chain drive /CHān drīv/

I. noun

a mechanism in which power is transmitted from an engine, typically to the wheels of a vehicle or a boat's propeller, by means of a moving endless chain.

II. derivatives

chain-driven

adjective

chain gang /ˈCHān ˈˌɡaNG/

noun

a group of convicts chained together while working outside the prison.

chain gear

noun

a gear transmitting motion by means of a moving endless chain, especially on a bicycle.

chain harrow

noun

a harrow consisting of a net made of chains in a metal frame.

chain letter /ˈCHān ˌledər/

noun

one of a sequence of letters, each recipient in the sequence being requested to send copies to a specific number of other people.

chain-link /ˈCHānˌliNGk/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. made of wire in a diamond-shaped mesh

• a chain-link fence.

chain mail /ˈCHān ˌmāl/

noun

‹historical› armor made of small metal rings linked together.

chainplate /ˈCHānplāt/

noun

a strong link or plate on the hull of a sailboat or sailing ship, to which a shroud is secured.

chain reaction /ˈˌCHān rēˈakSHən/

noun

1. a chemical reaction or other process in which the products themselves promote or spread the reaction, which under certain conditions may accelerate dramatically.

2. the self-sustaining fission reaction spread by neutrons that occurs in nuclear reactors and bombs.

3. a series of events, each caused by the previous one

• an article in one publication sets off a chain reaction in the media.

chainring /ˈCHānriNG/

noun

a large cog carrying the chain on a bicycle, which is attached to the crank.

chainsaw /ˈCHānˌsô/

noun

a mechanical power-driven cutting tool with teeth set on a chain that moves around the edge of a blade.

chain shot

noun

‹historical› pairs of cannonballs or half balls joined by a chain, fired from cannons in sea battles in order to damage masts and rigging.

chain-smoke /ˈCHān ˌsmōk/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. smoke continually, especially by lighting a new cigarette from the butt of the last one smoked.

II. derivatives

chain-smoker /ˈCHān ˌsmōkər /

noun

chain stitch /ˈCHān ˌstiCH/

noun

an ornamental stitch in which loops are crocheted or embroidered in a chain.

chain store /ˈCHān ˌstô(ə)r/

noun

one of a series of stores owned by one company and selling the same merchandise.

chain wheel /ˈCHān ˌ(h)wēl/

noun

a toothed wheel transmitting power by means of a chain fitted to its edges.

chair /CHer/

I. noun

1. a separate seat for one person, typically with a back and four legs.

2. short for chairlift.

3. (the chair) — short for electric chair.

4. the person in charge of a meeting or organization (used as a neutral alternative to chairman or chairwoman)

• a three-year term as the board’s deputy chair.

5. an official position of authority, for example on a board of directors

• the editorial chair.

6. (also chair umpire) — [Tennis] another term for umpire.

7. a professorship

• he held a chair in physics.

8. a particular seat in an orchestra
[as modifier, in combination]

• she was fourth-chair trumpet.

9. (chiefly Brit.) a metal socket holding a railroad rail in place.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. act as chairperson of or preside over (an organization, meeting, or public event).

2. (Brit.) carry (someone) aloft in a chair or in a sitting position to celebrate a victory.

III. phrases

take the chair

act as chairperson.

– origin Middle English: from Old French chaiere (modern chaire ‘bishop's throne, etc.,’ chaise ‘chair’), from Latin cathedra ‘seat,’ from Greek kathedra. Compare with cathedral.

chairborne /ˈCHerbôrn/

adjective

‹military slang› assigned to a desk job rather than field duty.

chair car

noun

(N. Amer.) a railroad car with individual seats instead of long benches; a parlor car.

chairlady /ˈCHerˌlādē/

noun

another term for chairwoman.

chairlift /ˈCHerlift/

noun

1. a series of chairs hung from a moving cable, typically used for carrying passengers up and down a mountain.

2. a device for carrying people in wheelchairs from one floor of a building to another.

chairman /ˈCHermən/

noun

1. a person, especially a man, designated to preside over a meeting.

2. the permanent or long-term president of a committee, company, or other organization.

3. (Chairman) — (since 1949) the leading figure in the Chinese Communist Party.

4. a person, especially a man, who is the administrative head of a department of instruction at a college or university.

5. ‹historical› a sedan-bearer.

chairmanship /ˈCHermənSHip/

noun

1. the position or office of presiding over a meeting.

2. permanent or long-term presidency over a committee, company, or other organization

• he assumed the board chairmanship

• she was elected to the chairmanship of the company.

3. (Chairmanship) — (since 1949) the office of the leading figure in the Chinese Communist Party.

4. the action of presiding over a meeting

• a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Vice-Chancellor.

chairperson /ˈCHerˌpərs(ə)n/

noun

a chairman or chairwoman (used as a neutral alternative).

chairwoman /ˈCHerˌwo͝omən/

noun

1. a woman designated to preside over committee or board meetings.

2. a woman who is the administrative head of a department of instruction at a college or university.

chaise /SHāz/

I. noun

1. ‹chiefly historical› a horse-drawn carriage for one or two people, typically one with an open top and two wheels.

2. another term for post-chaise.

3. (N. Amer.) short for chaise longue.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, variant of chaire (see chair).

chaise longue /ˌSHāz ˈlôNG/

I. noun

a reclining chair with a lengthened seat forming a leg rest.

– origin early 19th cent.: French, literally ‘long chair.’

chaise lounge /SHāz ˈlounj, CHās/

I. noun

variant of chaise longue.

– origin early 20th cent.: alteration by association with lounge.

chakra /ˈCHäkrə/

I. noun

(in Indian thought) each of the centers of spiritual power in the human body, usually considered to be seven in number.

– origin from Sanskrit cakra ‘wheel or circle,’ from an Indo-European base meaning ‘turn,’ shared by wheel.

chalaza /kəˈlāzə, -ˈlazə/

I. noun

[Zoology] (in a bird's egg) each of two twisted membranous strips joining the yolk to the ends of the shell.

II. derivatives

chalazal

adjective

– origin early 18th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek khalaza ‘small knot.’

Chalcedon /ˈkalsəˌdän, kalˈsēdn/

a former city on the Bosporus in Asia Minor, now part of Istanbul.
Turkish name Kadiköy.

Chalcedon, Council of /ˈkalsəˌdän kalˈsēdn/

I. the fourth ecumenical council of the Christian Church, held at Chalcedon in 451. It condemned the Monophysite position and affirmed the dual but united nature of Christ as god and man.

II. derivatives

Chalcedonian /ˌkalsəˈdōnēən /

noun, adjective

chalcedony /kalˈsednē CHalˈsednē ˈkalsəˌdōnē ˈCHalsəˌdōnē/

I. noun

a microcrystalline type of quartz occurring in several different forms, including onyx, agate, and jasper.

II. derivatives

chalcedonic /ˌkalsəˈdänik /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin calcedonius, chalcedonius (often believed to mean ‘stone of Chalcedon,’ but this is doubtful), from Greek khalkēdōn.

chalcid /ˈkalsid / chalcid wasp

I. noun

a minute parasitic wasp of a large group whose members lay eggs inside the eggs of other insects. They typically have bright metallic coloration.
[Superfamily Chalcidoidea, order Hymenoptera.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Chalcis (genus name), from Greek khalkos ‘copper, brass,’ + -id^3.

chalcocite /ˈkalkəˌsīt/

noun

cuprous sulfide, an ore of copper, usu. occurring as black, fine-grained masses.
[Chem. formula: Cu_2S.]

chalcopyrite /ˌkalkəˈpīrīt/

I. noun

a yellow crystalline mineral consisting of a sulfide of copper and iron. It is the principal ore of copper.
[Chem. formula CuFeS_2.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin chalcopyrites, from Greek khalkos ‘copper’ + puritēs (see pyrite).

Chaldea /kalˈdēə/

I. an ancient country in what is now southern Iraq, inhabited by the Chaldeans.

– origin from Greek Khaldaia, from Akkadian Kaldû, the name of a Babylonian tribal group.

Chaldean /kalˈdēən/

I. noun

1. a member of an ancient people who lived in Chaldea c. 800 BC and ruled Babylonia 625–539 BC. They were renowned as astronomers and astrologers.

2. the Semitic language of the ancient Chaldeans.

3. a language related to Aramaic and spoken in parts of Iraq.

4. a member of a Syrian Uniate (formerly Nestorian) Church based mainly in Iran and Iraq.

II. adjective

1. of or relating to ancient Chaldea or its people or language.

2. of or relating to the East Syrian Uniate Church.

Chaldee /ˈkaldē/

I. noun

1. the Semitic language of the ancient Chaldeans.

2. ‹dated› the Aramaic language as used in some books of the Old Testament.

3. a native of ancient Chaldea.

– origin from Latin Chaldaei ‘Chaldeans,’ from Greek Khaldaioi, from Khaldaia (see Chaldea).

chalet /SHaˈlā/

I. noun

a wooden house or cottage with overhanging eaves, typically found in the Swiss Alps.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Swiss French, diminutive of Old French chasel ‘farmstead,’ based on Latin casa ‘hut, cottage.’

chalice /ˈCHaləs/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› a large cup or goblet, typically used for drinking wine.

2. ‹historical› the wine cup used in the Christian Eucharist.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin calix, calic- ‘cup.’

chalicothere /ˈkaləkōˌTHir/

I. noun

a horselike fossil mammal of the late Tertiary period, with stout claws on the toes instead of hooves.
[Family Chalicotheriidae, order Perissodactyla: several genera, in particular Moropus.]

– origin early 20th cent.: from modern Latin Chalicotherium (genus name), from Greek khalix, khalik- ‘gravel’ + thērion ‘wild animal.’

chalk /CHôk/

I. noun

1. a soft white limestone (calcium carbonate) formed from the skeletal remains of sea creatures.

2. a chalklike substance (calcium sulfate), made into white or colored sticks used for drawing or writing on a blackboard.

3. [Geology] a series of strata consisting mainly of chalk.

4. short for French chalk.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. draw or write with chalk.

2. draw or write on (a surface) with chalk

• blackboards chalked with Japanese phrases.

3. rub (something, especially a pool cue) with chalk.

4. (Brit.) charge (drinks bought in a bar) to a person's account.

III. phrases

1. as different as (or like) chalk and cheese

(Brit.) fundamentally different or incompatible.

2. by a long chalk

(Brit.) by far.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. chalk something out

sketch or plan something

• we have already chalked out the strategy for conducting raids.

2. chalk something up

a. achieve something noteworthy

• he has chalked up a box-office success.

b. ascribe something to a particular cause

• I chalked my sleeplessness up to nerves.

– origin Old English cealc (also denoting lime), related to Dutch kalk and German Kalk, from Latin calx (see calx).

chalkboard /ˈCHôkbôrd/

noun

(N. Amer.) another term for blackboard.

chalkface /ˈCHôkfās/

noun — [in sing.]

1. (Brit.) the day-to-day work of teaching in a school

• teachers at the chalkface.

chalkstone /ˈCHôkstōn/

noun — .

1. [Medicine] ‹dated› a chalky deposit of sodium urate formed in the hands and feet of sufferers from severe gout.

chalk-stripe /ˈCHôkˌstrīp/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of a garment or material) having a pattern of thin white stripes on a dark background.

II. noun — (chalk stripe)

1. a pattern of thin white stripes on a dark background.

III. derivatives

chalk-striped /ˈCHôkˌstrīpt /

adjective

chalk talk

noun

(N. Amer.) a talk or lecture in which the speaker uses blackboard and chalk.

chalky /ˈCHôkē/

I. adjective

1. consisting of or rich in chalk

• a chalky, powdery soil.

2. resembling chalk in texture or paleness of color

• patches of creamy or chalky white.

II. derivatives

chalkiness /ˈCHôkēnəs /

noun

challah /ˈhälə, ˈKHälə/

I. noun

a loaf of white leavened bread, typically plaited in form, traditionally baked to celebrate the Jewish sabbath.

– origin 1920s: from Hebrew ḥallah.

challenge /ˈCHalənj/

I. noun

1. a call to take part in a contest or competition, especially a duel

• he accepted the challenge.

2. a task or situation that tests someone's abilities

• the ridge is a challenge for experienced climbers.

3. an attempt to win a contest or championship in a sport

• a world title challenge.

4. an objection or query as to the truth of something, often with an implicit demand for proof

• a challenge to the legality of the order.

5. a sentry's call for a password or other proof of identity.

6. [Law] an objection regarding the eligibility or suitability of a jury member.

7. [Medicine] exposure of the immune system to pathogenic organisms or antigens

• recently vaccinated calves should be protected from challenge.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. invite (someone) to engage in a contest

• he challenged one of my men to a duel.

2. enter into competition with or opposition against

• incumbent Democrats are being challenged in the 29th district.

3. make a rival claim to or threaten someone's hold on (a position)

• they were challenging his leadership.

4. [with obj. and infinitive] — invite (someone) to do something that one thinks will be difficult or impossible; dare

• I challenged them to make up their own minds.

5. test the abilities of

• he needed something both to challenge his skills and to regain his crown as the king of the thriller.

6. dispute the truth or validity of

• employees challenged the company's requirement.

7. [Law] object to (a jury member).

8. (of a sentry) call on (someone) for proof of identity.

9. [Medicine] expose (the immune system) to pathogenic organisms or antigens.

III. derivatives

challengeable /ˈCHalənjəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin Middle English (in the senses ‘accusation’ and ‘accuse’): from Old French chalenge (noun), chalenger (verb), from Latin calumnia ‘calumny,’ calumniari ‘calumniate.’

challenged /ˈCHalənjd/

I. adjective — [with submodifier or in combination]

1. (used euphemistically) impaired or disabled in a specified respect

• physically challenged.

2. ‹informal› lacking or deficient in a specified respect

• vertically challenged

• today's attention-challenged teens.

usage: The use with a preceding adverb, e.g., physically challenged, originally intended to give a more positive tone than such terms as disabled or handicapped, arose in the US in the 1980s. Despite the originally serious intention, the term rapidly became stalled by uses whose intention was to make fun of the attempts at euphemism and whose tone was usually clearly ironic: examples include cerebrally challenged (not very smart), follicularly challenged (bald or balding), vertically challenged (short), etc.

challenger /ˈCHalinjər/

noun

1. a person who engages in a contest

• new championship challengers

• the leading team among the nine challengers.

2. a person who makes a rival claim to or threatens someone's hold on a position

• a serious challenger for the title

• a potential challenger for the party leadership.

3. a person who disputes the truth of or places themselves in opposition to something

• heroic challengers of authority

• the bold challenger of campus orthodoxy.

Challenger /ˈCHalənjər/

a US space shuttle that exploded 1.5 minutes after launch on January 28, 1986, killing its crew of seven.

challenger bank

noun

(Brit.) a relatively small retail bank set up with the intention of competing for business with large, long-established national banks.

Challenger Deep /ˌCHalənjər ˈdēp/

the deepest part (36,201 feet, 11,034 m) of the Mariana Trench in the North Pacific, discovered by HMS Challenger II in 1948.

challenging /ˈCHalənˌjiNG/

I. adjective

1. testing one's abilities; demanding

• challenging and rewarding employment.

2. inviting competition; provocative

• there was a challenging glint in his eyes.

II. derivatives

challengingly

adverb

challis /ˈSHalē/

I. noun

a soft lightweight clothing fabric made from silk and worsted.

– origin mid 19th cent.: origin uncertain; perhaps from the surname Challis.

chalumeau /ˌSHaləˈmō/

I. noun

1. a reed instrument of the early 18th century from which the clarinet was developed.

2. (also chalumeau register) — the lowest octave of the clarinet's range.

– origin early 18th cent.: from French, from Latin calamellus ‘little reed,’ diminutive of calamus.

chalupa /CHəˈlo͞opə/

I. noun

a fried tortilla in the shape of a boat, with a spicy filling.

– origin late 19th cent.: Spanish, ultimately related to Dutch sloep ‘sloop.’

chalybeate /kəˈlibēət/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of or denoting natural mineral springs containing iron salts.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from modern Latin chalybeatus, from Latin chalybs, from Greek khalups, khalub- ‘steel.’

Cham /kam/

I. noun

1. a member of an indigenous people of Vietnam and Cambodia, who formed an independent kingdom from the 2nd to 17th centuries AD, and whose culture is strongly influenced by that of India.

2. either of two Austronesian languages of the Cham.

II. adjective

relating to the Cham, their culture, or their language.

Chamaeleon /kəˈmēlyən / ‹Astronomy›

I. a small and faint southern constellation (the Chameleon), close to the south celestial pole.

II. (as genitive Chamaeleontis ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation

• the star Delta Chamaeleontis.

– origin from Greek.

chamaephyte /ˈkaməˌfīt/

I. noun

[Botany] a woody plant whose resting buds are on or near the ground.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Greek khamai ‘on the ground’ + -phyte.

chamber /ˈCHāmbər/

I. noun

1. a large room used for formal or public events.

2. any of the houses of a legislature

• the Senate chamber.

3. ‹literary› ‹archaic› a private room, typically a bedroom

• he had his meals brought to his chamber.

4. (chambers) — [Law] a judge's room used for official proceedings not required to be held in open court.

5. (chambers) — (Brit.) [Law] rooms used by a lawyer or lawyers.

6. an enclosed space or cavity

• an echo chamber.

7. a large underground cavern.

8. the part of a gun bore that contains the charge or bullet.

9. [Biology] a cavity in a plant, animal body, or organ

• the four chambers of the heart.

10. [as modifier] — [Music] of or for a small group of instruments

• a chamber concert.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. place (a bullet) into the chamber of a gun.

III. derivatives

chambered

adjective

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘private room’): from Old French chambre, from Latin camera ‘vault, arched chamber,’ from Greek kamara ‘object with an arched cover.’

chamberlain /ˈCHāmbərlən/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› an officer who manages the household of a monarch or noble.

2. ‹historical› (Brit.) the treasurer of a corporation or public body.

II. derivatives

chamberlainship /-ˌSHip /

noun

– origin Middle English (denoting a servant in a bedchamber): via Old French from Old Saxon kamera, from Latin camera ‘vault’ (see chamber).

Chamberlain, Neville /ˈCHāmbərlən/

(1869–1940), British statesman; prime minister 1937–40; full name Arthur Neville Chamberlain. He pursued a policy of appeasement with Nazi Germany and signed the Munich Agreement in 1938, but was forced to abandon this policy following Hitler's invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1939.

Chamberlain, Owen

(1920–2006), US physicist. He investigated subatomic particles and in 1955 discovered the antiproton with E. G. Segrè (1905–89). Nobel Prize for Physics (1959), shared with Segrè.

Chamberlain, Richard

(1934–), US actor; full name George Richard Chamberlain. Noted for his title role in the television series Dr. Kildare (1961–66), he also starred in the miniseries Shogun (1980) and The Thorn Birds (1983).

Chamberlain, Wilt

(1936–99), US basketball player; full name Wilton Norman Chamberlain; known as Wilt the Stilt. He played for the Philadelphia Warriors (later the Golden State Warriors), the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Los Angeles Lakers from 1959 until 1973. Basketball Hall of Fame (1978).

chambermaid /ˈCHāmbərˌmād/

noun

a maid who cleans bedrooms and bathrooms, especially in a hotel.

chamber music /ˈCHāmbər ˌmyo͞ozik/

noun

instrumental music played by a small ensemble, with one player to a part, the most important form being the string quartet which developed in the 18th century.

chamber of commerce C. of C.

noun

a local association to promote and protect the interests of the business community in a particular place.

Chamber of Deputies /ˈˌCHāmbər əv ˈdepyo͞odēz/

noun

the lower legislative assembly in some parliaments.

chamber of horrors

I. noun

an exhibit containing such gruesome displays as instruments or scenes of torture or execution.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from the name given to a room in Madame Tussaud's waxworks exhibition in London.

chamber orchestra

noun

a small orchestra.

chamber pot /ˈCHāmbər pät/

noun

a bowl kept in a bedroom and used as a toilet, especially at night.

Chambers, Whittaker /ˈCHāmbərz/

(1901–61), US journalist; born Jay Vivian Chambers. In 1948, he accused Alger Hiss of Communist party membership and of passing State Department documents to Soviet agents.

Chambertin /ˌSHäNbərˈtaN/

noun

a dry red burgundy wine of high quality from Gevrey Chambertin in eastern France.

chambray /ˈSHamˌbrā/

I. noun

a linen-finished gingham cloth with a white weft and a colored warp, producing a mottled appearance.

– origin early 19th cent. (originally US): formed irregularly from Cambrai, the name of a town in northern France, where it was originally made. Compare with cambric.

chambré /ˈSHamˌbrā, SHamˈbrā/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. (of red wine) at room temperature

• Cabernet tastes best chambré.

– origin 1950s: French, past participle of chambrer ‘bring to room temperature,’ from chambre ‘room’ (see chamber).

chameleon /kəˈmēlyən / ‹chiefly Brit.› chamaeleon

I. noun

1. a small slow-moving Old World lizard with a prehensile tail, long extensible tongue, protruding eyes that rotate independently, and a highly developed ability to change color.
[Family Chamaeleonidae: four genera, in particular Chamaeleo, and numerous species, including the European chameleon (C. vulgaris) and the common chameleon (C. chamaeleon).]

2. (also American chameleon) — (N. Amer.) an anole.

3. a person who changes their opinions or behavior according to the situation.

II. derivatives

chameleonic /kəˌmēlēˈänik /

adjective

– origin Middle English: via Latin chamaeleon from Greek khamaileōn, from khamai ‘on the ground’ + leōn ‘lion.’

chameleonlike /kəˈmēlyənˌlīk/

adjective

changing one's opinions, behavior, or appearance according to the situation

• they had grown disenchanted with chameleonlike politicians.

chametz /KHôˈmāts, ˈKHôˌmets / chometz

I. noun

[Judaism] leaven, or food mixed with leaven, prohibited during Passover.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Hebrew ḥāmēṣ.

chamfer /ˈ(t)SHamfər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. in carpentry, cut away (a right-angled edge or corner) to make a symmetrical sloping edge.

II. noun

a symmetrical sloping surface at an edge or corner.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘flute or furrow’): back-formation from chamfering, from French chamfrain, from chant ‘edge’ (see cant^2) + fraint ‘broken’ (from Old French fraindre ‘break,’ from Latin frangere).

chamise /SHaˈmēs/

I. noun

an evergreen shrub with small narrow leaves, common in the chaparral of California.
Also called greasewood. [Adenostoma fasciculatum, family Rosaceae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Mexican Spanish chamiso.

chamois

I. noun

1. (pl. same or ) /SHamˈwä / — an agile goat-antelope with short hooked horns, found in mountainous areas of Europe from Spain to the Caucasus.
[Genus Rupicapra, family Bovidae: R. rupicapra (of the Alps, East, and southeastern Europe), and R. pyrenaica (of the Pyrenees and Apennines, also called izard).]

2. (also chamois leather) /ˈSHamē / — a type of soft pliable leather now made from sheepskin or lambskin.

3. a piece of chamois leather, used typically for washing windows or cars.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French, of unknown ultimate origin.

chamomile /ˈkaməˌmēl ˈkaməˌmīl / camomile

I. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) an aromatic European plant of the daisy family, with white and yellow daisylike flowers.
[The perennial sweet chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile (or Anthemis nobilis), family Compositae), used, esp. formerly, for lawns and herbal medicine, the annual German chamomile (Matricaria recutita), used medicinally, and the yellow-flowered dyer's chamomile (Anthemis tinctoria), used to produce a yellow-brown dye.]

– origin Middle English: from Old French camomille, from late Latin chamomilla, from Greek khamaimēlon ‘earth apple’ (because of the applelike smell of its flowers).

chamomile tea camomile

noun

an infusion of dried flowers of sweet chamomile.

Chamorro /CHəˈmôrō/

noun

1. a member of the indigenous people of the Mariana Islands (including Guam).

2. the Austronesian language of the Chamorro.

champ^1 /CHamp/

I. verb

another term for chomp.

– origin late Middle English: imitative.

champ^2 /CHamp/

I. noun

‹informal› a champion.

– origin mid 19th cent.: abbreviation.

champagne /SHamˈpān/

noun

1. a white sparkling wine associated with celebration and regarded as a symbol of luxury, typically that made in the Champagne region of France.

2. a pale cream or straw color.

Champagne /SHamˈpān/

a former province in northeastern France that now corresponds to the Champagne-Ardenne administrative region. It is noted for the white sparkling wine first produced there in about 1700.

Champagne-Ardenne /ˌSHamˌpānärˈden/

a region of northeastern France that consists of part of the Ardennes forest and the vine-growing area of Champagne.

champagne socialist

I. noun

(Brit.) ‹derogatory› a person who espouses socialist ideals while enjoying a wealthy and luxurious lifestyle.

II. derivatives

champagne socialism

noun

champaign /SHamˈpān/

I. noun

‹literary› open level countryside.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French champagne, from late Latin campania, based on Latin campus ‘level ground.’ Compare with campaign.

Champaign /SHamˈpān/

a city in east central Illinois, home to the University of Illinois; pop. 79,389 (est. 2008).

champak /ˈCHəmpək, ˈCHam-/

I. noun

an Asian evergreen tree of the magnolia family, bearing fragrant orange flowers and sacred to Hindus and Buddhists.
[Michelia champaca, family Magnoliaceae.]

– origin from Sanskrit campaka.

champerty /ˈCHampərdē/

I. noun

[Law] an illegal agreement in which a person with no previous interest in a lawsuit finances it with a view to sharing the disputed property if the suit succeeds.

II. derivatives

champertous /-təs /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French champartie, from Old French champart ‘feudal lord's share of produce,’ from Latin campus ‘field’ + pars ‘part.’

champignon /SHamˈpēnyən ˌSHämpēnˈyôn/

I. noun

a small edible mushroom with a light brown cap, growing in short grass in both Eurasia and North America and widely grown commercially.
Also called meadow mushroom, field mushroom. [Agaricus campestris, family Agaricaceae, class Basidiomycetes.]

– origin late 16th cent.: from French, diminutive of Old French champagne ‘open country’ (see champaign).

champion /ˈCHampēən/

I. noun

1. a person who has defeated or surpassed all rivals in a competition, especially in sports
[as modifier]

• a champion hurdler.

2. a person who fights or argues for a cause or on behalf of someone else

• a champion of women's rights.

3. ‹historical› a knight who fought in single combat on behalf of the monarch.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. support the cause of; defend

• priests who championed human rights.

– origin Middle English (denoting a fighting man): from Old French, from medieval Latin campio(n-) ‘fighter,’ from Latin campus (see camp^1).

Champion, Gower /ˈCHampēən/

(1921–80), US choreographer, dancer, and director; full name Gower Carlyle Champion. He danced with his wife Marge (1919–) on stage and in movies such as Jupiter's Darling (1955), and he choreographed Broadway musicals such as 42nd Street (1980).

championship /ˈCHampēənˌSHip/

noun

1. a contest for the position of champion in a sport, often involving a series of games or matches.

2. the position or title of winner in a contest or sport.

3. the vigorous support or defense of someone or something

• Alan's championship of his estranged wife.

Champions League

‹trademark› the major annual competition for soccer clubs in Europe, administered by UEFA.

Champlain, Lake /SHamˈplān/

I. a lake in North America, east of the Adirondack Mountains. It forms part of the border between the states of New York and Vermont, and its northern tip extends into Quebec, Canada.

– origin named after Samuel de Champlain (see Champlain, Samuel de), who reached it in 1609.

Champlain, Samuel de /SHamˈplān/

(1567–1635), French explorer and colonial statesman. He established a settlement at Quebec in Canada in 1608 and developed alliances with the indigenous peoples. He was appointed lieutenant governor in 1612.

champlevé /ˌSHämpləˈvā/

I. noun

enamelwork in which hollows made in a metal surface are filled with colored enamel.

– origin French, from champ ‘field’ + levé ‘raised.’

Champollion, Jean-François /ˌSHäNpôlˈyôN/

(1790–1832), French Egyptologist. He is noted for his success in deciphering some of the hieroglyphic inscriptions on the Rosetta Stone in 1822.

Champs-Élysées /ˌSHänzˌālēˈzā/

an avenue in Paris, France, that extends from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe.

chance /CHans/

I. noun

1. a possibility of something happening

• a chance of victory

• there is little chance of his finding a job.

2. (chances) — the probability of something happening

• he played down his chances of becoming chairman.

3. [in sing.] — an opportunity to do or achieve something

• I gave her a chance to answer.

4. a ticket in a raffle or lottery.

5. [Baseball] an opportunity to make a defensive play, which if missed counts as an error

• 541 straight chances without an error.

6. the occurrence and development of events in the absence of any obvious design

• he met his brother by chance

• what a lucky chance that you are here.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. fortuitous; accidental

• a chance meeting.

III. verb

1. [no obj.] — do something by accident or without design

• if they chanced to meet.

2. (chance upon/on) — find or see by accident

• he chanced upon an interesting advertisement.

3. [with obj.] — ‹informal› do (something) despite its being dangerous or of uncertain outcome

• she waited a few seconds and chanced another look.

IV. phrases

1. by any chance

possibly (used in tentative inquiries or suggestions)

• were you looking for me by any chance?

2. no chance

‹informal› there is no possibility of that

• I asked if we could leave early and she said, “No chance.”

3. on the (off) chance

just in case

• Joan phoned at noon on the off chance that he'd be home.

4. stand a chance

[usu. with negative] — have a prospect of success or survival

• his rivals don't stand a chance.

5. take a chance (or chances)

a. behave in a way that leaves one vulnerable to danger or failure.

b. (take a chance on) — put one's trust in (something or someone) knowing that it may not be safe or certain.

6. take one's chances

do something risky with the hope of success.

– origin Middle English: from Old French cheance, from cheoir ‘fall, befall,’ based on Latin cadere.

chancel /ˈCHansəl/

I. noun

the part of a church near the altar, reserved for the clergy and choir, and typically separated from the nave by steps or a screen.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, from Latin cancelli ‘crossbars.’

chancellery /ˈCHans(ə)lərē/

I. noun

1. the position, office, or department of a chancellor.

2. the official residence of a chancellor.

3. (US) an office attached to an embassy or consulate.

– origin Middle English: from Old French chancellerie, from chancelier ‘secretary’ (see chancellor).

chancellor /ˈCHans(ə)lər/

I. noun

1. a senior state or legal official.

2. the head of the government in some European countries, such as Germany.

3. (US) the presiding judge of a chancery court.

4. (US) the president or chief administrative officer of a college or university.

5. (chiefly Brit.) the nonresident honorary head of a college or university.

6. a bishop's law officer.

7. (Chancellor) — short for Chancellor of the Exchequer.

II. derivatives

chancellorship /ˈCHans(ə)lərˌSHip /

noun

– origin late Old English, from Old French cancelier, from late Latin cancellarius ‘porter, secretary’ (originally a court official stationed at the grating separating public from judges), from cancelli ‘crossbars.’

Chancellor of the Exchequer

noun

the finance minister of the United Kingdom, responsible for preparing the nation's annual budgets.

Chancellorsville /ˈCHans(ə)lərzˌvil/

a historic locality in east central Virginia, west of Fredericksburg, site of a Civil War battle in May 1863.

chance-medley /ˈCHansˌmedlē/

I. noun

[Law] ‹rare› the killing of a person accidentally in self-defense in a fight.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Anglo-Norman French chance medlee, literally ‘mixed chance,’ from chance ‘luck’ + medlee, feminine past participle of medler ‘to mix’ (based on Latin miscere).

chancery /ˈCHans(ə)rē/

I. noun

1. (US) a court of equity.

2. equity.

3. ‹historical› the court of a bishop's chancellor.

4. (Chancery) — (Brit.) [Law] the Lord Chancellor's court, a division of the High Court of Justice.

5. (chiefly Brit.) an office attached to an embassy or consulate.

6. a public records office.

– origin late Middle English: contraction of chancellery.

Chan-chiang /ˌjänjēˈäNG/

variant of Zhanjiang.

chancre /ˈkaNGkər ˈSHaNGkər/

I. noun

[Medicine] a painless ulcer, particularly one developing on the genitals as a result of venereal disease.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French, from Latin cancer ‘creeping ulcer.’

chancroid /ˈkaNGkˌroid ˈSHaNGkˌroid/

noun

a venereal infection causing ulceration of the lymph nodes in the groin.
Also called soft chancre.

chancy /ˈCHansē/

I. adjective

‹informal› subject to unpredictable changes and circumstances

• the screening process was likely to be chancy and unreliable.

II. derivatives

1. chancily /-səlē /

adverb

2. chanciness

noun

chandelier /ˌSHandəˈlir/

I. noun

a decorative hanging light with branches for several light bulbs or candles.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French, from chandelle ‘candle,’ from Latin candela, from candere ‘be white, glisten.’

chandelier earring

noun

a long, elaborate dangling earring, typically consisting of various tiers of gemstones, crystals, beads, etc.

• a statement necklace or chandelier earrings can add sophistication to casual attire.

chandelle /SHanˈdel, SHäN-/

I. noun

a steep climbing turn executed in an aircraft to gain height while changing the direction of flight.

– origin 1970s: from French, literally ‘candle.’

Chandigarh /ˌCHəndēˈɡär/

I. a Union Territory in northwestern India, created in 1966.

II. a city in the territory of Chandigarh; pop. 1,033,700 (est. 2009). The present city was designed in 1950 by Le Corbusier as a new capital for the Punjab and is now the capital of the states of Punjab and Haryana.

chandler /ˈCHan(d)lər/

I. noun

1. (also ship chandler) — a dealer in supplies and equipment for ships and boats.

2. ‹historical› a dealer in household items such as oil, soap, paint, and groceries.

3. a person who makes and sells candles.

– origin Middle English (denoting a candlemaker or candle seller): from Old French chandelier, from chandelle ‘candle’ (see chandelier).

Chandler /ˈCHan(d)lər/

a city in south central Arizona, a suburb and resort southeast of Phoenix; pop. 247,140 (est. 2008).

Chandler, Raymond

(1888–1959), US novelist; full name Raymond Thornton Chandler. Much of his work, written in a tough and realistic style, features the private detective Philip Marlowe. Notable novels: The Big Sleep (1939), Farewell, My Lovely (1940), and The Long Goodbye (1953).

chandlery /ˈCHan(d)lərē/

noun

1. the warehouse or store of a chandler.

2. goods sold by a chandler.

Chandragupta Maurya /ˌCHəndrəˌɡo͝optə ˈmourēə/

(c. 325–297 BC), Indian emperor. He founded the Mauryan empire and annexed provinces in Afghanistan from Alexander's Greek successors.

Chandrasekhar, Subrahmanyan /ˌCHəndrəˈsākər/

(1910–95), US astronomer; born in India. He suggested that some stars could eventually collapse to form a dense white dwarf, provided that their mass does not exceed an upper limit (the Chandrasekhar limit).

Chanel, Coco /SHəˈnel/

(1883–1971), French couturière; born Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel. Her simple but sophisticated garments were a radical departure from the stiff corseted styles of the day.

Chaney /ˈCHānē/

I. the name of a family of US actors, notably:

II. Lon (1883–1930); full name Alonso Chaney. A silent film star known as the Man of a Thousand Faces, he played a wide variety of deformed villains and macabre characters in more than 150 movies, including The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) and The Phantom of the Opera (1925).

III. Lon, Jr. (1906–1973), Lon's son; born Creighton Tull Chaney. He played the lead in a number of horror movies, such as The Wolf Man (1941) and Son of Dracula (1943).

Changan /ˌCHäNGˈän/

former name of Xian.

Chang-chiakow /jäNGˈjēäkō/

variant of Zhangjiakou.

Changchun /ˌCHäNGˈCHo͝on/

an industrial city in northeastern China, capital of Jilin province; pop. 2,455,900 (est. 2006).

change /CHānj/

I. verb

1. make or become different
[with obj.]

• a proposal to change the law

• [no obj.] a Virginia creeper just beginning to change from green to gold.

2. make or become a different substance entirely; transform
[with obj.]

• filters change the ammonia into nitrate

• [no obj.] computer graphics can show cars changing into cheetahs.

3. [no obj., with complement] — alter in terms of

• the ferns began to change shape.

4. [no obj.] — (of traffic lights) move from one color of signal to another.

5. [no obj.] — (of the moon) arrive at a fresh phase; become new.

6. [with obj.] — take or use another instead of

• she decided to change her name.

7. move from one to another

• she changed jobs incessantly

• change sides.

8. [no obj.] — move to a different train, airplane, or subway line.

9. give up (something) in exchange for something else

• we changed the shades for vertical blinds.

10. remove (something dirty or faulty) and replace it with another of the same kind

• change a light bulb.

11. put a clean diaper on (a baby or young child).

12. engage a different gear in a motor vehicle

• wait for a gap and then change gears

• ‹figurative› with business concluded, the convention changes gear and a gigantic circus takes over the town.

13. exchange (a sum of money) for the same amount in smaller denominations or in coins, or for different currency.

14. [no obj.] — put different clothes on

• he changed for dinner.

II. noun

1. the act or instance of making or becoming different

• the change from a nomadic to an agricultural society

• environmental change.

2. the substitution of one thing for another

• a change of venue.

3. an alteration or modification

• a change came over Eddie's face.

4. a new or refreshingly different experience

• couscous makes an interesting change from rice.

5. [in sing.] — a clean garment or garments as a replacement for clothes one is wearing

• a change of socks.

6. (the change or the change of life) — ‹informal› menopause.

7. the moon's arrival at a fresh phase, typically at the new moon.

8. [Baseball] another term for change-up.

9. coins as opposed to paper currency

• a handful of loose change.

10. money given in exchange for the same amount in larger denominations.

11. money returned to someone as the balance of the amount paid for something

• I watched him pocket the change.

12. (usu. changes) — an order in which a peal of bells can be rung.

13. (Change or 'Change) — (Brit.) ‹historical› a place where merchants met to do business.

III. phrases

1. change color

blanch or flush.

2. change hands

a. (of a business or building) pass to a different owner.

b. (of money or a marketable commodity) pass to another person during a business transaction

• no money has changed hands.

3. change one's mind

adopt a different opinion or plan.

4. a change of heart

a move to a different opinion or attitude.

5. change places

exchange places or roles

• under the bishop's plan, he and I were to change places.

6. change step

(in marching) alter one's step so that the opposite leg marks time.

7. change the subject

begin talking about something different, especially to avoid embarrassment or the divulgence of confidences.

8. change one's tune

express a different opinion or behave in a different way.

9. for a change

contrary to how things usually happen; for variety

• it's nice to be pampered for a change.

10. ring the changes

vary the ways of expressing, arranging, or doing something.
[with allusion to bell-ringing and the different orders in which a peal of bells may be rung.]

IV. phrasal verbs

1. change off

take turns.

2. change over

move from one system or situation to another

• crop farmers have to change over to dairy farming.

V. derivatives

changeful /ˈCHānjf(ə)l /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French change (noun), changer (verb), from late Latin cambiare, from Latin cambire ‘barter,’ probably of Celtic origin.

changeable /ˈCHānjəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. irregular; inconstant

• the weather will be changeable, with rain at times.

2. able to change or be changed.

II. derivatives

1. changeability /ˌCHānjəˈbilədē /

noun

2. changeableness /ˈCHānjəbəlnəs /

noun

3. changeably /-blē /

adverb

changeless /ˈCHānjləs/

I. adjective

remaining the same.

II. derivatives

1. changelessly

adverb

2. changelessness /ˈCHānjləsnəs /

noun

changeling /ˈCHānjliNG/

noun

a child believed to have been secretly substituted by fairies for the parents' real child in infancy.

change management

noun

1. the management of change and development within a business or similar organization.

2. the controlled identification and implementation of required changes within a computer system.

changeout /ˈCHānjout/

noun

the replacement of a spent, used, dysfunctional or otherwise inferior part or object with a new one.

changeover /ˈCHānjˌōvər/

noun

a change from one system or situation to another.

change purse /CHānj pərs/

noun

(N. Amer.) a small strapless purse used for carrying money.

changer /ˈCHānjər/

noun

1. a person or thing that changes something.

2. a device that holds several computer disks or compact discs and is able to switch between them.

change-ringing /ˈCHānjˌriNGiNG/

I. noun

the ringing of sets of church bells or handbells in a constantly varying order.

II. derivatives

change-ringer

noun

change-up /ˈCHānjˌəp/

noun

[Baseball] a deceptively slow pitch intended to throw off the batter's timing.

Chang Jiang /ˌCHäNG jēˈäNG/

another name for Yangtze.

Changsha /ˌCHaNGˈSHä/

the capital of Hunan province in eastern central China; pop. 1,731,900 (est. 2006).

Changzhou /ˌCHäNGˈjō/

a city in Jiangsu province in eastern China, on the Grand Canal, north of Shanghai; pop. 1,103,900 (est. 2006).

channel /ˈCHanl/

I. noun

1. a length of water wider than a strait, joining two larger areas of water, especially two seas.

2. the navigable part of a waterway

• buoys marked the safe limits of the channel.

3. a hollow bed for a natural or artificial waterway.

4. (the Channel) — the English Channel.

5. a tubular passage or duct for liquid.

6. an electric circuit that acts as a path for a signal

• an audio channel.

7. [Electronics] the semiconductor region in a field-effect transistor that forms the main current path between the source and the drain.

8. a band of frequencies used in radio and television transmission, especially as used by a particular station.

9. a service or station using a particular frequency

• a shopping channel.

10. a medium for communication or the passage of information

• they didn't apply through the proper channels.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. direct toward a particular end or object

• advertisers channel money into radio.

2. guide along a particular route or through a specified medium

• many countries channel their aid through charities.

3. (of a person) serve as a medium for (a spirit).

4. emulate or seem to be inspired by

• Meg Ryan plays Avery as if she's channeling Nicole Kidman.

5. (usu. as adj. channeled) — form channels or grooves in

• the lower jawbone is deeply channeled.

– origin Middle English: from Old French chanel, from Latin canalis ‘pipe, groove, channel,’ from canna ‘reed’ (see cane). Compare with canal.

channel cat channel catfish

noun

a common North American freshwater catfish that has a pale blue to olive back with dark spots.
[Ictalurus punctatus, family Ictaluridae.]

channel-hop /ˈCHanl häp/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹informal› another term for channel-surf.

2. ‹informal› travel across the English Channel and back frequently or for only a brief trip.

II. derivatives

channel-hopper

noun

Channel Islands //

I. a group of islands in the English Channel off the northwestern coast of France, classed as British Crown dependencies; pop. 200,000 (est. 2007). The largest are Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney.

II. another name for the Santa Barbara Islands in California.

channelize /ˈCHanlˌīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) another term for channel (verb).

channel-surf /ˈCHanlˌsərf/

I. verb

‹informal› change frequently from one television channel to another, using a remote control device.

II. derivatives

1. channel-surfer

noun

2. channel-surfing /ˈCHanlˌsərfiNG /

noun

Channel Tunnel

a railroad tunnel under the English Channel that extends for 31 miles (49 km) and links England and France. The tunnel (popularly called the Chunnel) opened in 1994 after eight years of construction to link Holywell, near Folkestone, England, and Sangatte, near Calais, France.

chanson /SHänˈsôn/

I. noun

a French song.

– origin French, from Latin cantio(n-) ‘singing,’ from canere ‘sing.’

chanson de geste /SHänˌsôn də ˈZHest/

I. noun

a medieval historical romance in French verse, typically one connected with Charlemagne.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, literally ‘song of heroic deeds,’ from chanson ‘song’ (see chanson) and geste from Latin gesta ‘actions, exploits.’

chant /CHant/

I. noun

1. a repeated rhythmic phrase, typically one shouted or sung in unison by a crowd.

2. a monotonous or repetitive song, typically an incantation or part of a ritual.

3. [Music] a short musical passage in two or more phrases used for singing unmetrical words; a psalm or canticle sung to such music.

4. the style of music consisting of chants

• Gregorian chant.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. say or shout repeatedly in a singsong tone

• protesters were chanting slogans

• [with direct speech] the crowd chanted, “No violence!”

2. sing or intone (a psalm, canticle, or sacred text).

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘sing’): from Old French chanter ‘sing,’ from Latin cantare, frequentative of canere ‘sing.’

chanter /ˈCHan(t)ər/

I. noun

1. a person who chants something.

2. [Music] the pipe of a bagpipe with finger holes, on which the melody is played.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French chanteor, from Latin cantator, from cantare (see chant).

chanterelle /ˌSHan(t)əˈrel ˌSHän(t)əˈrel/

I. noun

an edible woodland mushroom with a yellow funnel-shaped cap and a faint smell of apricots, found in both Eurasia and North America.
[Cantharellus cibarius, family Cantharellaceae, class Basidiomycetes.]

– origin late 18th cent.: from French, from modern Latin cantharellus, diminutive of cantharus, from Greek kantharos, denoting a kind of drinking container.

chanteuse /ˌSHänˈto͞oz/

I. noun

a female singer of popular songs, especially in a nightclub.

– origin French, from chanter ‘sing.’

chantey /ˈSHan(t)ē / chanty, shanty, sea chantey

I. noun

a song with alternating solo and chorus, of a kind originally sung by sailors while performing physical labor together.

– origin mid 19th. cent.: probably from French chantez! ‘sing!,’ imperative plural of chanter.

chanticleer /ˈCHantəˌkli(ə)r, ˈSHant-/

I. noun

‹literary› a name given to a rooster, especially in fairy tales.

– origin Middle English: from Old French Chantecler, the name of the cock in the fable Reynard the Fox, from chanter ‘sing, crow’ (see chant) + cler ‘clear.’

Chantilly lace /SHanˈtilē/

I. noun

a delicate kind of bobbin lace.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after Chantilly, a town near Paris.

chanting goshawk

noun

a long-legged African hawk with pale gray upper parts, throat, and breast, noted for its prolonged musical fluting call delivered from a treetop perch.
[Genus Melierax, family Accipitridae: three species.]

chantry /ˈCHantrē/

I. noun

1. an endowment for a priest or priests to celebrate masses for the founder's soul.

2. a chapel, altar, or other part of a church endowed for priests to celebrate masses for the founder's soul.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French chanterie, from chanter ‘to sing.’

Chanute, Octave /SHəˈno͞ot/

(1832–1910), US aviation pioneer; born in France. From 1898, he produced a number of gliders, including a biplane that made over 700 flights. He assisted the Wright brothers in making the world's first controlled powered flight.

Chao Phraya /ˌCHou ˈprīə/

a major waterway in central Thailand that is formed by the junction of the Ping and Nan rivers.

chaos /ˈkāˌäs/

I. noun

1. complete disorder and confusion

• snow caused chaos in the region.

2. [Physics] behavior so unpredictable as to appear random, owing to great sensitivity to small changes in conditions.

3. the formless matter supposed to have existed before the creation of the universe.

4. (Chaos) — [Greek Mythology] the first created being, from which came the primeval deities Gaia, Tartarus, Erebus, and Nyx.

– origin late 15th cent. (denoting a gaping void or chasm, later formless primordial matter): via French and Latin from Greek khaos ‘vast chasm, void.’

chaos theory

noun

the branch of mathematics that deals with complex systems whose behavior is highly sensitive to slight changes in conditions, so that small alterations can give rise to strikingly great consequences.

chaotic /kāˈädik/

I. adjective

1. in a state of complete confusion and disorder

• a chaotic jumble of spools, tapes, and books.

2. [Physics] of or relating to systems that exhibit chaos.

II. derivatives

chaotically /kāˈädək(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin early 18th cent.: from chaos, on the pattern of words such as hypnotic.

chaotic attractor

noun

[Mathematics] another term for strange attractor.

chap^1 /CHap/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of the skin) become cracked, rough, or sore, typically through exposure to cold weather.

2. [with obj.] (usu. as adj. chapped) — (of the wind or cold) cause (skin) to crack through exposure to cold weather

• chapped lips.

II. noun

a cracked or sore patch on the skin.

– origin late Middle English: of unknown origin.

chap^2 /CHap/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) a man or a boy.

2. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) ‹dated› a friendly form of address between men and boys

• best of luck, old chap.

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting a buyer or customer): abbreviation of chapman. The current sense dates from the early 18th cent.

chap^3 /CHap/

I. noun

(usu. chaps) — the lower jaw or half of the cheek, especially that of a pig used as food.

– origin mid 16th cent.: of unknown origin. Compare with chops.

chap.

abbreviation

chapter.

chaparajos /ˌSHapəˈrā-ōs, -ˈrāəs / chaparejos

I. plural noun

(N. Amer.) full form of chaps.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Mexican Spanish chaparreras, from chaparra (with reference to protection from thorny vegetation: see chaparral); probably influenced by Spanish aparejo ‘equipment.’

chaparral /ˌSHapəˈral/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) vegetation consisting chiefly of tangled shrubs and thorny bushes.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Spanish, from chaparra ‘dwarf evergreen oak.’

chapati /CHəˈpädē / chapatti

I. noun

(in Indian cooking) a thin pancake of unleavened whole-grain bread cooked on a griddle.

– origin from Hindi capātī, from capānā ‘flatten, roll out.’

chapbook /ˈCHapˌbo͝ok/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› a small pamphlet containing tales, ballads, or tracts, sold by peddlers.

2. ‹historical› (N. Amer.) a small paperback booklet, typically containing poems or fiction.

– origin early 19th cent.: from chapman + book.

chape /CHāp/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› the metal point of a scabbard.

2. the metal pin of a buckle.

– origin Middle English (in the general sense ‘plate of metal overlaying or trimming something’): from Old French, literally ‘cape, hood,’ from late Latin cappa ‘cap.’

chapeau /SHaˈpō/

I. noun

a hat or cap.

– origin late 15th cent.: from French, from Latin cappellum, diminutive of cappa ‘cap.’

chapel /ˈCHapəl/

I. noun

1. a small building for Christian worship, typically one attached to an institution or private house

• a service in the chapel

• attendance at chapel was compulsory.

2. a part of a large church or cathedral with its own altar and dedication.

3. a room or building in which funeral services are held.

4. (Brit.) a place of worship for certain Protestant denominations.

5. (Brit.) [Printing] the members or branch of a labor union at a particular place of work.

– origin Middle English: from Old French chapele, from medieval Latin cappella, diminutive of cappa ‘cap or cape’ (the first chapel being a sanctuary in which St. Martin's cloak was preserved).

Chapel Hill

a town in north central North Carolina, home to the University of North Carolina as well as many research facilities; pop. 52,542 (est. 2008).

chapel of ease

noun

a chapel situated for the convenience of parishioners living a long distance from the parish church.

chaperone /ˈSHapəˌrōn / chaperon

I. noun

1. a person who accompanies and looks after another person or group of people.

2. ‹dated› an older woman responsible for the decorous behavior of a young unmarried girl at social occasions.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. accompany and look after or supervise.

III. derivatives

chaperonage /ˈSHapəˌrōnij /

noun

– origin late Middle English (denoting a hood or cap, regarded as giving protection): from French, feminine of chaperon ‘hood,’ diminutive of chape (see chape). The current sense dates from the early 18th cent.

chaperonin /ˌSHapəˈrōnən/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a protein that aids the assembly and folding of other protein molecules in living cells.

– origin late 20th cent.: from chaperone + -in^1.

chapfallen /ˈCHapˌfôlən / chopfallen

I. adjective

‹archaic› with one's lower jaw hanging due to extreme exhaustion or dejection.

– origin late 16th cent.: from chap^3.

chaplain /ˈCHaplən/

I. noun

a member of the clergy attached to a private chapel, institution, ship, branch of the armed forces, etc.

II. derivatives

chaplaincy /ˈCHaplənsē /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French chapelain, from medieval Latin cappellanus, originally denoting a custodian of the cloak of St. Martin, from cappella, originally ‘little cloak’ (see chapel).

chaplet /ˈCHaplət/

I. noun

1. a garland or wreath for a person's head.

2. a string of 55 beads (one third of the rosary number) for counting prayers, or as a necklace.

3. a metal support for the core of a hollow casting mold.

II. derivatives

chapleted

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French chapelet, diminutive of chapel ‘hat,’ based on late Latin cappa ‘cap.’

Chaplin, Charlie /ˈCHaplən/

(1889–1977), English movie actor and director; full name Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin. He directed and starred in many short silent comedies, mostly playing a bowler-hatted tramp, a character that was his trademark for more than 25 years. Notable movies: The Kid (1921) and The Gold Rush (1925).

chapman /ˈCHapmən/

I. noun

‹archaic› a peddler.

– origin Old English cēapman, from cēap ‘bargaining, trade’ (see cheap) + man.

Chappaquiddick Island /ˌCHapəˌkwidik ˈīlənd/

a small island in southern Massachusetts, just off the southeastern coast of Martha's Vineyard, the scene of a car accident in 1969 that involved Senator Edward Kennedy in which his assistant Mary Jo Kopechne drowned.

chappie /ˈCHapē/

noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› another term for chap^2.

chaps /CHaps/

I. plural noun

leather pants without a seat, worn by a cowboy over ordinary pants to protect the legs.

– origin mid 19th cent.: short for chaparajos.

Chap Stick

noun

‹trademark› a small stick of a cosmetic substance used to prevent chapping of the lips.

chaptalization /ˌSHaptələˈzāSHən/

I. noun

(in winemaking) the correction or improvement of must by the addition of calcium carbonate to neutralize acid, or of sugar to increase alcoholic strength.

II. derivatives

chaptalize /ˈSHaptəˌlīz /

verb

– origin late 19th cent.: from the name of Jean A. Chaptal (1756–1832), the French chemist who invented the process, + -ization (see -ize).

chapter /ˈCHaptər/

I. noun

1. a main division of a book, typically with a number or title.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) a local branch of a society

• the local chapter of the American Cancer Society.

3. the governing body of a religious community, especially a cathedral or a knightly order.

4. a period of time or an episode in a person's life, a nation's history, etc.

• a tragic chapter in European history.

5. a series or sequence

• the latest episode in a chapter of problems.

II. phrases

chapter and verse

an exact reference or authority

• she can give chapter and verse on current legislation.

– origin Middle English: from Old French chapitre, from Latin capitulum, diminutive of caput ‘head.’

Chapter 11

I. noun

(US) protection from creditors given to a company in financial difficulties for a limited period to allow it to reorganize.

– origin with allusion to Chapter 11 of the US bankruptcy code.

Chapter 13

I. noun

protection from creditors granted to individuals who legally file for bankruptcy, providing for repayment of debts by a court-approved plan.

– origin with allusion to Chapter 13 of the US bankruptcy code.

Chapter 7

I. noun

protection from creditors granted to individuals or companies who legally file for bankruptcy, providing for liquidation of certain assets to pay debts.

– origin with allusion to Chapter 7 of the US bankruptcy code.

chapter house

noun

1. a building used for the meetings of the canons of a cathedral or other religious community.

2. (US) a place where a college fraternity or sorority meets.

Chapultepec /CHəˈpo͞oltəˌpek/

a hill (“Grasshopper Hill”) in the major park of Mexico City in Mexico. It is the ancient seat of Aztec emperors and is surmounted by a castle that was captured by US forces in September 1847.

char^1 /CHär/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. partially burn (an object) so as to blacken its surface

• their bodies were badly charred in the fire

• (as adj. charred) charred remains.

2. [no obj.] — (of an object) become blackened or discolored by partial burning.

II. noun

material that has been charred.

– origin late 17th cent.: apparently a back-formation from charcoal.

char^2 /CHär / ‹Brit. informal›

I. noun

a charwoman.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. work as a charwoman.

char^3 /CHär / cha , chai

I. noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› tea.

– origin late 16th cent. (as cha; rare before the early 20th cent.): from Chinese (Mandarin dialect) chá.

char^4 /CHär / charr

noun

a troutlike freshwater or marine fish of northern countries, widely valued as a food and game fish.
[Genus Salvelinus, family Salmonidae: several species, in particular the North American brook trout (S. fontinalis), which has been introduced widely elsewhere, and the red-bellied Arctic char (S. alpinus), which occurs in Arctic waters as well as landlocked lakes.]

charabanc /ˈSHarəbaNG/

I. noun

(Brit.) an early form of bus, used typically for pleasure trips.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French char-à-bancs ‘carriage with benches’ (the original horse-drawn charabancs having rows of bench seats).

characin /ˈkerəsən/

I. noun

a small and brightly colored freshwater fish native to Africa and tropical America.
[Family Characidae: numerous species, including the piranhas and popular aquarium fishes such as the tetras.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Characinus (genus name), from Greek kharax, literally ‘pointed stake,’ denoting a kind of fish.

character /ˈkerəktər/

I. noun

1. the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual

• running away was not in keeping with her character.

2. the distinctive nature of something

• gas lamps give the area its character.

3. the quality of being individual, typically in an interesting or unusual way

• the island is full of character.

4. strength and originality in a person's nature

• she had character as well as beauty.

5. a person's good reputation

• to what do I owe this attack on my character?

6. ‹dated› a written statement of someone's good qualities; a recommendation.

7. a person in a novel, play, or movie.

8. a part played by an actor.

9. [with adj.] — a person seen in terms of a particular aspect of character

• he was a larger-than-life character

• shady characters.

10. ‹informal› an interesting or amusing individual

• he's a real character.

11. a printed or written letter or symbol.

12. [Computing] a symbol representing a letter or number.

13. [chiefly Biology] a characteristic, especially one that assists in the identification of a species.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› inscribe; engrave.

2. ‹archaic› describe; characterize

• you have well charactered him.

III. phrases

in (or out of) character

in keeping (or not in keeping) with someone's usual pattern of behavior.

IV. derivatives

1. characterful /-fəl /

adjective

2. characterfully

adverb

3. characterless /ˈker(ə)ktərˌləs /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French caractere, via Latin from Greek kharaktēr ‘a stamping tool.’ From the early sense ‘distinctive mark’ arose ‘token, feature, or trait’ (early 16th cent.), and from this ‘a description, esp. of a person's qualities,’ giving rise to ‘distinguishing qualities.’

character actor /ˈker(ə)ktər ˈaktər/

noun

an actor who specializes in playing eccentric or unusual people rather than leading roles.

character assassination /ˈker(ə)ktər əˌsasnˈāSHən/

noun

the malicious and unjustified harming of a person's good reputation.

character-building character-forming

adjective

requiring effort or endurance to a degree that strengthens or improves a person's character

• the national tour proved to be a tremendous character-building experience

• the character-forming benefits of National Service.

character code

noun

[Computing] the binary code used to represent a letter or number.

character dance

I. noun

a style of ballet deriving inspiration from national or folk dances, or interpreting and representing a particular profession, mode of living, or personality. The movements used tend to be less stylized than in classical ballet, allowing greater individual expression and diversity.

II. derivatives

character dancer

noun

characteristic /ˌker(ə)ktəˈristik/

I. adjective

typical of a particular person, place, or thing

• large farms are characteristic of this area.

II. noun

1. a feature or quality belonging typically to a person, place, or thing and serving to identify it

• inherited characteristics such as blood groups.

2. [Mathematics] the whole number or integral part of a logarithm, which gives the order of magnitude of the original number.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French caractéristique or medieval Latin characteristicus, from Greek kharaktēristikos, from kharaktēr ‘a stamping tool.’

characteristically /ˌkerəktəˈristiklē/

adverb

in a way that is typical of a particular person, place, or thing

• he characteristically helped an old man

• his response was characteristically blunt.

characteristic curve

noun

a graph showing the relationship between two variable but interdependent quantities.

characteristic function

noun

[Mathematics] a function whose result is one for the members of a given set and zero for all nonmembers.

characterization /ˌkerəktərīˈzāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the creation or construction of a fictional character

• he preferred to emphasize characterization and human conflict

• the film's narrative elegance and richly developed characterizations.

2. a description of the distinctive nature or features of someone or something

• she rejected that characterization of her film.

characterize /ˈkerəktəˌrīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. describe the distinctive nature or features of

• the historian characterized the period as the decade of revolution.

2. (of a feature or quality) be typical or characteristic of

• the disease is characterized by weakening of the immune system.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘engrave, inscribe’): from French caractériser or medieval Latin characterizare, from Greek kharaktērizein, from kharaktēr ‘a stamping tool.’

character part /ˈker(ə)ktər pärt/

noun

a part played by a character actor.

character recognition

noun

the identification by electronic means of printed or written characters.

character string

noun

a linear sequence of characters, typically one stored in or processed by a computer.

character witness

noun

a person who attests to another's moral conduct and good reputation in a court of law.

charactery /ˈkerəktərē/

noun

‹literary› the expression of thought by symbols or characters; the symbols or characters collectively.

charade /SHəˈrād/

I. noun

1. an absurd pretense intended to create a pleasant or respectable appearance

• talk of unity was nothing more than a charade.

2. (charades) — a game in which players guess a word or phrase from pantomimed clues.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French, from modern Provençal charrado ‘conversation,’ from charra ‘chatter,’ perhaps of imitative origin.

charango /CHəˈraNGɡō/

I. noun

a small Andean guitar, traditionally made from an armadillo shell.

– origin 1920s: from South American Spanish.

charas /ˈCHärəs/

I. noun

a psychoactive resin from the flower heads of hemp; cannabis resin.

– origin from Hindi caras.

charbroil /ˈCHärˌbroil/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. charbroiled)

1. (N. Amer.) grill (food, especially meat) on a rack over charcoal

• charbroiled steak.

– origin 1950s: blend of charcoal and broil^1.

charcoal /ˈCHärˌkōl/

I. noun

1. a porous black solid, consisting of an amorphous form of carbon, obtained as a residue when wood, bone, or other organic matter is heated in the absence of air.

2. briquettes of charcoal used for barbecuing

• lamb grilled on charcoal.

3. a drawing made using charcoal.

4. a dark gray color
[as modifier]

• his charcoal sweater.

II. verb — (usu. as adj. charcoaled)

1. cook over charcoal

• charcoaled lobster.

– origin late Middle English: probably related to coal in the early sense ‘charcoal.’

charcoal burner /ˈCHärˌkōl ˈbərnər/

noun

1. a small stove using charcoal as fuel.

2. a person who makes charcoal.

charcoal filter

noun

a filter containing charcoal to absorb impurities.

charcoal gray ‹Brit.› charcoal grey

noun

a very dark gray color

• she gave me a long skirt to try, in charcoal gray

• [as modifier] a sophisticated charcoal-gray coat.

Charcot, Jean-Martin /SHärˈkō/

(1825–93), French neurologist; regarded as one of the founders of modern neurology. His work on hysteria was adopted by his student Sigmund Freud.

charcuterie /ˌSHärˈko͞odərē/

I. noun

1. cold cooked meats collectively.

2. a store selling cold cooked meats.

– origin French, from obsolete char (earlier form of chair) ‘flesh’ + cuite ‘cooked.’

chard /CHärd/

I. noun

1. a beet of a variety with broad white leaf stalks that may be prepared and eaten separately from the green parts of the leaf.

2. the blanched shoots of other plants, eaten as a vegetable, e.g., globe artichoke.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French carde, perhaps influenced by chardon ‘thistle.’

Chardonnay /ˌSHärdəˈnā/

I. noun

1. a variety of white wine grape used for making champagne and other wines.

2. a wine made from the Chardonnay grape.

– origin French.

Charentais /ˌSHärənˈtā / Charentais melon

I. noun

a small melon with a pale green rind and orange flesh.

– origin French, literally ‘from the Charentes region.’

Charente /SHäˈrän(t)/

a river in western France that rises in the Massif Central and flows west for 225 miles (360 km) to the Bay of Biscay at Rochefort.

charge /CHärj/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. demand (an amount) as a price from someone for a service rendered or goods supplied

• the restaurant charged $15 for dinner

• [with two objs.] he charged me 2 euros for the postcard

• [no obj.] museums should charge for admission.

2. (charge something to) — record the cost of something as an amount payable by (someone) or on (an account)

• they charge the calls to their credit-card accounts.

3. accuse (someone) of something, especially an offense under law

• they were charged with assault.

4. [with clause] — make an accusation or assertion that

• opponents charged that below-cost pricing would reduce safety.

5. [Law] accuse someone of (an offense).

6. entrust (someone) with a task as a duty or responsibility

• the committee was charged with reshaping the educational system.

7. store electrical energy in (a battery or battery-operated device)

• the shaver can be charged up and used while traveling.

8. [no obj.] — (of a battery or battery-operated device) receive and store electrical energy.

9. load or fill (a container, gun, etc.) to the full or proper extent

• will you see to it that your glasses are charged?

10. fill or pervade (something) with a quality or emotion

• the air was charged with menace.

11. [no obj.] — rush forward in attack

• the plan is to charge headlong at the enemy.

12. rush aggressively toward (someone or something) in attack.

13. [with adverbial of direction] — move quickly and with impetus

• Henry charged up the staircase.

14. [Heraldry] place a heraldic bearing on

• a pennant argent, charged with a cross gules.

II. noun

1. a price asked for goods or services

• an admission charge.

2. a financial liability or commitment

• an asset of $550,000 should have been taken as a charge on earnings.

3. an accusation, typically one formally made against a prisoner brought to trial

• he appeared in court on a charge of attempted murder

• three people were arrested but released without charge.

4. the responsibility of taking care or control of someone or something

• the people in her charge are pupils and not experimental subjects.

5. a person or thing entrusted to the care of someone

• the babysitter watched over her charges.

6. ‹dated› a responsibility or onerous duty assigned to someone.

7. an official instruction, especially one given by a judge to a jury regarding points of law.

8. the property of matter that is responsible for electrical phenomena, existing in a positive or negative form.

9. the quantity of matter responsible for electrical phenomena carried by a body.

10. energy stored chemically for conversion into electricity.

11. an act or process of storing electrical energy in a battery.

12. [in sing.] — ‹informal› a thrill

• I get a real charge out of working hard.

13. a quantity of explosive to be detonated, typically in order to fire a gun or similar weapon.

14. a headlong rush forward, typically one made by attacking soldiers in battle

• a cavalry charge.

15. [Heraldry] a device or bearing placed on a shield or crest.

III. phrases

1. free of charge

without any payment due.

2. in charge

in control or with overall responsibility

• he was in charge of civil aviation matters.

3. press (or prefer) charges

accuse someone formally of a crime so that they can be brought to trial.

4. take charge

assume control or responsibility

• the candidate must take charge of an actual flight.

IV. derivatives

1. chargeable /ˈCHärjəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. chargee

noun

– origin Middle English (in the general senses ‘to load’ and ‘a load’): from Old French charger (verb), charge (noun), from late Latin carricare, carcare ‘to load,’ from Latin carrus ‘wheeled vehicle.’

charge account /ˈCHärj əˌkount/

noun

(N. Amer.) an account to which goods and services may be charged on credit.

chargeback /ˈCHärjbak/

noun

1. a demand by a credit-card provider for a retailer to make good the loss on a fraudulent or disputed transaction.

2. (in business use) an act or policy of allocating the cost of an organization's centrally located resources to the individuals or departments that use them.

charge card /ˈCHärj ˌkärd/

noun

a credit card for use with an account that must be paid when a statement is issued.

charge carrier

noun

1. [Physics] a particle that carries an electric charge.

2. [Physics] a mobile electron or hole by which an electric charge passes through a semiconductor.

charge conjugation

noun

[Physics] the operation of changing every particle into its antiparticle.

charged /CHärjd/

adjective

1. having an electric charge.

2. filled with excitement, tension, or emotion

• the highly charged atmosphere created by the boycott.

chargé d'affaires /SHärˌZHā däˈfer / chargé

I. noun

1. a diplomatic official who temporarily takes the place of an ambassador.

2. a state's diplomatic representative in a minor country.

– origin mid 18th cent.: French, ‘(a person) in charge of affairs.’

charge density

noun

[Physics] the electric charge per unit area of a surface, or per unit volume of a field or body.

chargemaster /ˈCHärjˌmastər / charge description master

noun

(US) a list detailing the official rate charged by a hospital for individual procedures, services, and goods

• the chargemaster is used to generate each hospital invoice

• [as modifier] most insurance companies do not pay the standard chargemaster price that hospitals bill the uninsured.

charge nurse /ˈCHärj ˌnərs/

noun

(Brit.) a nurse in charge of a ward in a hospital.

Charge of the Light Brigade

a British cavalry charge in 1854 during the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War. A misunderstanding between the commander of the Light Brigade and his superiors led to the British cavalry being destroyed. The charge was immortalized in verse by Tennyson.

charger^1 /ˈCHärjər/

noun

1. a horse trained for battle; a cavalry horse.

2. a device for charging a battery or battery-powered equipment.

charger^2 /ˈCHärjər / charger plate

I. noun

a large, flat dish; a platter.

– origin Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French chargeour, from chargier ‘to load,’ from late Latin carricare, carcare ‘to load’ (see charge).

charge sheet /ˈCHärj ˌSHēt/

noun

(Brit.) a record made in a police station of the charges against a person.

chargrill /ˈCHärɡril/

I. verb — (usu. as adj. chargrilled)

1. grill (food, typically meat or fish) quickly at a high heat.

– origin late 20th cent.: on the pattern of charbroil.

chariot /ˈCHerēət/

I. noun

1. a two-wheeled horse-drawn vehicle used in ancient warfare and racing.

2. ‹historical› a four-wheeled carriage with back seats and a coachman's seat.

3. ‹literary› a stately or triumphal carriage.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› convey in or as in a chariot.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, augmentative of char ‘cart,’ based on Latin carrus ‘wheeled vehicle.’

charioteer /ˌCHerēəˈtir/

I. noun

1. a chariot driver.

2. (the Charioteer) — the constellation Auriga.

– origin Middle English: from Old French charieter, from chariot ‘large cart’ (see chariot). The sense in astronomy dates from the early 20th cent.

Chari River /ˌCHärē ˈrivər / Shari

a river that flows for 660 miles (1,060 km) through the Central African Republic, Chad, and Cameroon. Emptying into Lake Chad, it is the longest river in the African continent that drains internally.

charism /ˈkerˌizəm/

noun

[Theology] another term for charisma (sense 2).

charisma /kəˈrizmə/

I. noun

1. compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others

• she enchanted guests with her charisma.

2. (also charism ) (pl. charismata ) — a divinely conferred power or talent.

– origin mid 17th cent. (sense 2): via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek kharisma, from kharis ‘favor, grace.’

charismatic /ˌkerəzˈmadik/

I. adjective

1. exercising a compelling charm that inspires devotion in others

• a charismatic leader.

2. of or relating to the charismatic movement in the Christian Church.

3. (of a power or talent) divinely conferred

• charismatic prophecy.

II. noun

1. an adherent of the charismatic movement.

2. a person who claims divine inspiration.

III. derivatives

charismatically

adverb

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek kharisma, kharismat- ‘charisma’ + -ic.

charismatic movement

noun

a movement within some Christian churches that emphasizes gifts believed to be conferred by the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and healing of the sick.

charitable /ˈCHerədəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to the assistance of those in need

• charitable works such as care of the sick.

2. (of an organization or activity) officially recognized as devoted to the assistance of those in need.

3. generous in giving to those in need.

4. apt to judge others leniently or favorably

• those who were less charitable called for his resignation.

II. derivatives

charitableness

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘showing Christian love to God and man’): from Old French, from charite (see charity).

charitably /ˈCHerədəblē/

adverb

1. in a way that relates to the assistance of those in need

• legal advisers who are publicly or charitably funded

• an estate tax on a charitably bequeathed asset.

2. in a generous way toward those in need

• he was a very charitably disposed person.

3. in a way that judges others leniently or favorably, especially when undeserved

• we charitably assume he's being satirical

• a city that might be charitably described as a work in progress.

charity /ˈCHerədē/

I. noun

1. the voluntary giving of help, typically in the form of money, to those in need.

2. help or money given voluntarily to those in need

• an unemployed teacher living on charity.

3. an organization set up to provide help and raise money for those in need.

4. the body of organizations viewed collectively as the object of fundraising or donations

• the proceeds of the sale will go to charity.

5. kindness and tolerance in judging others

• she found it hard to look on her mother with much charity.

6. ‹archaic› love of humankind, typically in a Christian context

• faith, hope, and charity.

II. phrases

charity begins at home

‹proverb› one's first responsibility is for the needs of one's own family and friends.

– origin late Old English (in the sense ‘Christian love of one's fellows’): from Old French charite, from Latin caritas, from carus ‘dear.’

charity case

noun

‹informal› a person or group regarded as needing help or financial support

• she was sent as a charity case to a Catholic boarding school

• I like to pay my way, not be a charity case.

charity school

noun

‹historical› a school supported by charitable contributions.

charivari /SHəˌrivəˈrē / shivaree

I. noun

1. ‹chiefly historical› a cacophonous mock serenade, typically performed by a group of people in derision of an unpopular person or in celebration of a marriage.

2. ‹chiefly historical› a series of discordant noises.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, of unknown origin.

charkha /ˈCHərkə, ˈCHär- / charka

I. noun

(in South Asia) a domestic spinning wheel used chiefly for cotton.

– origin from Urdu charḵa ‘spinning wheel,’ from Persian; related to Sanskrit cakra ‘wheel.’

charlady /ˈCHärˌlādē/

noun

(Brit.) a charwoman.

charlatan /ˈSHärlədən ˈSHärlətn/

I. noun

a person falsely claiming to have a special knowledge or skill; a fraud.

II. derivatives

1. charlatanism /ˈSHärlədəˌnizəm ˈSHärlətnˌizəm /

noun

2. charlatanry /ˈSHärlətənrē, -lətnrē /

noun

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting an itinerant seller of supposed remedies): from French, from Italian ciarlatano, from ciarlare ‘to babble.’

Charlemagne /ˈSHärləˌmān/

(742–814), king of the Franks 768–814 and Holy Roman Emperor (as Charles I) 800–814; Latin name Carolus Magnus; known as Charles the Great. As the first Holy Roman emperor, Charlemagne promoted the arts and education, and his court became the cultural center of the Carolingian Renaissance.

Charleroi /ˌSHärləˈrwä, -ˈroi/

an industrial city in southwestern Belgium; pop. 201,593 (2008).

Charles^1 /CHärlz/

I. the name of two kings of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

II. Charles I (1600–49), son of James I; reigned 1625–49. His reign was dominated by the deepening religious and constitutional crisis that resulted in the English Civil War 1642–49. After the battle of Naseby, Charles tried to regain power in alliance with the Scots, but his forces were defeated in 1648; he was tried by a special Parliamentary court and beheaded.

III. Charles II (1630–85), son of Charles I; reigned 1660–85. Charles was restored to the throne after the collapse of Oliver Cromwell's regime. Although he displayed considerable adroitness in handling the difficult constitutional situation, religious and political strife continued during his reign.

Charles^2 /CHärlz/

I. the name of four kings of Spain.

II. Charles I (1500–58), son of Philip I; reigned 1516–56; Holy Roman Emperor (as Charles V) 1519–56. His reign was characterized by the struggle against Protestantism in Germany, rebellion in Castile, and war with France 1521–44. Exhausted by these struggles, Charles handed Naples, the Netherlands, and Spain over to his son Philip II and the imperial Crown to his brother Ferdinand before retiring to a monastery.

III. Charles II (1661–1700), reigned 1665–1700. He inherited a kingdom already in a decline that he was unable to halt. His choice of Philip of Anjou, grandson of Louis XIV of France, as his successor gave rise to the War of the Spanish Succession.

IV. Charles III (1716–88), reigned 1759–88. He improved Spain's position as an international power by increasing foreign trade, and he brought a brief cultural and economic revival to Spain.

V. Charles IV (1748–1819), reigned 1788–1808. During the Napoleonic Wars he suffered the loss of the Spanish fleet, destroyed along with that of France at Trafalgar in 1805. Following the French invasion of Spain in 1807, he was forced to abdicate.

Charles^3 /CHärlz/

I. the name of two European kings.

II. Charles VII (1403–61), king of France 1422–61. At the time of his accession, much of northern France was under English occupation. After the intervention of Joan of Arc, however, the French experienced a dramatic military revival, and the defeat of the English ended the Hundred Years War.

III. Charles XII (1682–1718), king of Sweden 1697–1718. In 1700, he initiated a war against Denmark, Poland-Saxony, and Russia. Initially successful, he embarked on an expedition into Russia in 1709 that ended in the destruction of his army and his internment.

Charles^4 /CHärlz/

I. the name of seven Holy Roman Emperors.

II. Charles I see Charlemagne.

III. Charles II (823–877), reigned 875–877.

IV. Charles III (839–888), reigned 881–887.

V. Charles IV (1316–78), reigned 1355–78.

VI. Charles V Charles I of Spain (see Charles^2).

VII. Charles VI (1685–1740), reigned 1711–40. His claim to the Spanish throne instigated the War of the Spanish Succession, but he was ultimately unsuccessful. He drafted the Pragmatic Sanction in an attempt to ensure that his daughter Maria Theresa succeeded to the Habsburg dominions; this triggered the War of the Austrian Succession after his death.

VIII. Charles VII (1697–1745), reigned 1742–45.

Charles, Prince

Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales (1948–), heir apparent to Elizabeth II. He married Lady Diana Spencer in 1981; the couple had two children, Prince William Arthur Philip Louis (1982–) and Prince Henry Charles Albert David (known as Prince Harry, 1984–), and were divorced in 1996. In 2005 he married Mrs. Camilla Parker Bowles (1947–); she became HRH the Duchess of Cornwall.

Charles, Ray

(1930–2004), US pianist and singer; born Ray Charles Robinson. Totally blind from the age of six, he drew on blues, jazz, and country music for songs such as “What'd I Say” (1959), “Georgia On My Mind” (1960), and “Busted” (1963).

Charles' law ‹Chemistry› Charles's law

I. a law stating that the volume of an ideal gas at constant pressure is directly proportional to the absolute temperature.

– origin late 19th cent.: named after Jacques A. C. Charles (1746–1823), the French physicist who first formulated it.

Charles Martel /ˌCHärlz märˈtel/

(c. 688–741), Frankish ruler of the eastern part of the Frankish kingdom from 715 and the whole kingdom from 719; grandfather of Charlemagne. His rule marked the beginning of Carolingian power.

Charles River /ˌCHärlz ˈrivər/

a river that flows for 60 miles (100 km) through eastern Massachusetts, between Cambridge and Boston, to Boston Harbor.

Charles's Wain /ˈˌCHärlzəz ˈwān / ‹archaic chiefly Brit.›

I. the Big Dipper.

– origin Old English Carles wægn ‘the wain of Carl (Charlemagne),’ perhaps because the star Arcturus was associated with King Arthur, with whom Charlemagne was connected in legend.

Charleston^1 /ˈCHärlstən/

I. the capital of West Virginia, in the southwestern part of the state; pop. 50,302 (est. 2008).

II. a city and port in South Carolina; pop. 111,978 (est. 2008). The bombardment of Fort Sumter in 1861 by Confederate troops marked the beginning of the Civil War.

Charleston^2 /ˈCHärlstən / charleston

I. noun

a lively dance of the 1920s that involved turning the knees inward and kicking out the lower legs.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. dance the Charleston.

– origin 1920s: named after Charleston^1 in South Carolina.

Charlestown /ˈCHärlztoun/

a neighborhood in northern Boston in Massachusetts, north of the Charles River. Bunker Hill is here.

charley horse /ˈCHärlē ˌhôrs/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a cramp or feeling of stiffness in an arm or leg.

– origin late 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

Charlie /ˈCHärlē/

I. noun

1. a code word representing the letter C, used in radio communication.

2. ‹informal› cocaine.

3. (US) (Austral./NZ) ‹military slang› a member of the Vietcong or the Vietcong collectively.
[shortening of Victor Charlie, radio code for VC, representing Vietcong.]

– origin late 19th cent.: diminutive of the male given name Charles.

charlock /ˈCHärˌläk ˈCHärlək/

I. noun

a wild mustard with yellow flowers, commonly found as a weed in fields and along roadsides.
[Brassica kaber (or Sinapis arvensis), family Brassicaceae.]

– origin Old English cerlic, cyrlic, of unknown origin.

charlotte /ˈSHärlət/

I. noun

a dessert made of stewed fruit or mousse with a casing or covering of bread, sponge cake, ladyfingers, or breadcrumbs.

– origin French, from the female given name Charlotte.

Charlotte /ˈSHärlət/

a commercial city and transportation center in southern North Carolina; pop. 687,456 (est. 2008).

Charlotte Amalie /əˈmälyə, ˈaməlē/

I. the capital of the US Virgin Islands, a resort on the island of St. Thomas; pop. 10,100 (est. 2009).

– origin named after the wife of King Christian V of Denmark.

charlotte russe /ˌSHärlət ˈro͞os/

I. noun

a dessert consisting of custard enclosed in sponge cake or a casing of ladyfingers.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, literally ‘Russian charlotte.’

Charlottesville /ˈSHärlətsˌvil/

a city in central Virginia, in the Blue Ridge Mountains, home to the University of Virginia; pop. 41,487 (est. 2008). Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, is nearby.

Charlottetown /ˈSHärlətˌtoun/

the capital and chief port of Prince Edward Island, in eastern Canada; pop. 32,174 (2006).

charm /CHärm/

I. noun

1. the power or quality of giving delight or arousing admiration

• he was captivated by her youthful charm.

2. (usu. charms) — an attractive or alluring characteristic

• the hidden charms of the city.

3. a small ornament worn on a necklace or bracelet.

4. an object, act, or saying believed to have magic power

• the dreamcatcher is a charm used to prevent bad dreams.

5. an object kept or worn to ward off evil and bring good luck

• a good luck charm.

6. [Physics] one of six flavors of quark.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. delight greatly

• the books have charmed children the world over.

2. gain or influence by charm

• he charmed her into going out.

3. control or achieve by or as if by magic

• pretending to charm a cobra

• [with adverbial] she will charm your warts away.

III. phrases

1. turn on the charm

use one's ability to charm in order to influence someone.

2. work like a charm

be completely successful or effective.

– origin Middle English (in the senses ‘incantation or magic spell’ and ‘to use spells’): from Old French charme (noun), charmer (verb), from Latin carmen ‘song, verse, incantation.’

charm bracelet

noun

a bracelet hung with small trinkets or ornaments.

charmed /CHärmd/

I. adjective

1. (of a person's life) unusually lucky or happy as though protected by magic

• I felt that I had a charmed life.

2. [Physics] (of a particle) possessing the property charm

• a charmed quark.

II. exclamation

‹dated› expressing polite pleasure at an introduction

• charmed, I'm sure.

charmer /ˈCHärmər/

noun

a person with an attractive and engaging personality, typically one who uses this to impress or manipulate others.

charmeuse /SHärˈm(y)o͞oz/

I. noun

a soft, silky dress fabric.

– origin early 20th cent.: from French, feminine of charmeur ‘charmer,’ from charmer ‘to charm.’

charming /ˈCHärmiNG/

adjective

1. pleasant or attractive

• a charming country cottage.

2. (of a person or manner) polite, friendly, and likable

• he was a charming, affectionate colleague.

charmingly /ˈCHärmiNGlē/

adverb

1. in a very pleasant or attractive way

• picturesque processions through streets that are charmingly decorated with flowers

• seven or so charmingly illustrated children's books.

2. in a very endearing way

• he seems both amusingly cranky and charmingly self-deprecating

• a charmingly goofy puppy.

charmless /ˈCHärmləs/

I. adjective

unattractive or unpleasant.

II. derivatives

1. charmlessly

adverb

2. charmlessness

noun

charm offensive

noun

a campaign of flattery and friendliness designed to achieve the support or agreement of others

• a charm offensive aimed at winning the confidence of Russia.

charmonium /CHärˈmōnēəm/

I. noun

[Physics] a combination of a charmed quark and an antiquark.

– origin 1970s: from charm (sense 4 of the noun).

charm school /ˈCHärm ˌsko͞ol/

noun

‹dated› ‹humorous› a school offering tuition in social graces such as etiquette.

charnel /ˈCHärnl/

I. noun

short for charnel house.

II. adjective

associated with death

• I gagged on the charnel stench of the place.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, from medieval Latin carnale, neuter (used as a noun) of carnalis ‘relating to flesh’ (see carnal).

charnel house /ˈCHäːrnlhous/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› a building or vault in which corpses or bones are piled.

2. ‹historical› a place associated with violent death

• Europe in the immediate postwar period had become a charnel house.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Middle English charnel ‘burying place,’ from Old French, from medieval Latin carnale, from late Latin carnalis ‘relating to flesh,’ from caro, carn- ‘flesh.’

Charolais /ˌSHerəˈlā/

I. noun

one of a breed of large white beef cattle.

– origin late 19th cent.: named after the Monts du Charollais, hills in eastern France where the breed originated.

Charon /ˈkerən/

I. [Greek Mythology] an old man who ferried the souls of the dead across the Styx and Acheron rivers to Hades.

II. [Astronomy] the largest satellite of Pluto, discovered in 1978. Its diameter of 789 miles (1,270 km) is more than half that of Pluto.

Charophyta /kəˈräfədə / ‹Botany›

I. a phylum that includes the stoneworts, which are frequently treated as a class (Charophyceae) of the green algae.

– origin modern Latin (plural), former name of the family Characeae, from Chara (genus name) + Greek phuton ‘a plant.’

charophyte /ˈkarəˌfīt/

noun

[Botany] a lower plant of the division Charophyta, such as a stonewort.

charr /CHär / char

I. noun

variant spelling of char^4.

– origin mid 17th cent.: perhaps of Celtic origin.

charrette /SHəˈret / charette

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a meeting in which all stakeholders in a project attempt to resolve conflicts and map solutions.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a cart or wagon): from French charrette, literally ‘cart’; current sense dates from the mid 20th cent., possibly with reference to the use of a cart in 19th-cent. Paris to collect architecture students' work on the day of an exhibition.

charro /ˈCHärō/

I. noun

a Mexican horseman or cowboy, typically one in elaborate traditional dress.

– origin early 20th cent.: Mexican Spanish, from Spanish, literally ‘rustic.’

chart /CHärt/

I. noun

1. a sheet of information in the form of a table, graph, or diagram

• a chart showing how much do-it-yourself costs compared with retail.

2. (usu. the charts) — a weekly listing of the current best-selling pop records

• she topped the charts for eight weeks.

3. a geographical map or plan, especially one used for navigation by sea or air.

4. [Medicine] a written record of information about a patient

• scribbled on a patient's chart.

5. (also birth chart or natal chart) — [Astrology] a map showing the positions of the planets at the time of someone's birth, from which astrologers are said to be able to deduce character or potential.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — make a map of (an area).

2. plot (a course) on a chart

• the pilot found his craft taking a route he had not charted.

3. record the progress or development of

• the poems chart his descent into madness

• a major series charting the history of country music.

4. [no obj.] — (of a record) enter the weekly music charts at a particular position

• the record will probably chart at about No. 74.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French charte, from Latin charta ‘paper, papyrus leaf’ (see card^1).

chartbuster /ˈCHärtˌbəstər/

noun

1. ‹informal› a popular singer or group that makes a best-selling recording.

2. ‹informal› a best-selling recording.

charter /ˈCHärdər/

I. noun

1. a written grant by a country's legislative or sovereign power, by which an institution such as a company, college, or city is created and its rights and privileges defined.

2. a written constitution or description of an organization's functions.

3. the reservation of an aircraft, boat, or bus for private use

• a plane on charter to a multinational company.

4. an aircraft, boat, or bus that is reserved for private use.

5. a trip made by an aircraft, boat, or bus under charter

• he liked to see the boat sparkling clean before each charter.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. grant a charter to (a city, college, or other institution)

• the company was chartered in 1553.

2. reserve (an aircraft, boat, or bus) for private use

• he chartered a plane to take him to Paris.

– origin Middle English: from Old French chartre, from Latin chartula, diminutive of charta ‘paper’ (see card^1).

chartered /ˈCHärdərd/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (Brit.) (of an accountant, engineer, librarian, etc.) qualified as a member of a professional body that has a royal charter.

charterer /ˈCHärdərər/

noun

a person or organization that charters an aircraft, boat, or bus.

charter flight /ˈCHärdər flīt/

noun

a flight by an aircraft chartered for a specific trip, not part of an airline's regular schedule.

charterhouse /ˈCHärdərhous/

I. noun

‹historical› a Carthusian monastery.

– origin late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman Chartous, Old French Chartreuse, from medieval Latin Carthusius, from Cart(h)usia (see Carthusian): assimilated to charter + house.

charter member /ˈCHärdər ˈmembər/

noun

(N. Amer.) an original or founding member of an organization.

charter school

noun

(in North America) a publicly funded independent school established by teachers, parents, or community groups under the terms of a charter with a local or national authority.

Chartism /ˈCHärdˌizəm/

I. noun

a UK parliamentary reform movement of 1837–48, the principles of which were set out in a manifesto called The People's Charter.

II. derivatives

Chartist /ˈCHärdəst /

noun, adjective

chartist /ˈCHärdəst/

I. noun

a person who uses charts of financial data to predict future trends and to guide investment strategies.

II. derivatives

chartism /ˈCHärtˌizəm /

noun

chartlet /ˈCHärtlət/

noun

a small chart, as for navigation, highlighting a particular feature.

Chartres /ˈSHärt(rə) /

a city in northern France, noted for its Gothic cathedral; pop. 41,588 (2006).

chartreuse /SHärˈtro͞oz SHärˈtro͞os/

I. noun

1. a pale green or yellow liqueur made from brandy and aromatic herbs.

2. a pale yellow or green color resembling the liqueur chartreuse.

3. a dish made in a mold using pieces of meat, vegetables, or (now most often) fruit in jelly.

– origin named after La Grande Chartreuse, the Carthusian monastery near Grenoble, France, where the liqueur (sense 1) was first made; sense 2 is an extended use.

chart-topping

I. adjective

‹informal› (of a popular singer, group, or recording) having reached the top of the music charts.

II. derivatives

chart-topper /ˈCHärtˌtäpər /

noun

charwoman /ˈCHärˌwo͝omən/

I. noun

(Brit.) ‹dated› a woman employed to clean houses or offices.

– origin late 16th cent.: from obsolete char or chare ‘a turn of work, an odd job, chore’ (obscurely related to chore) + woman.

chary /ˈCHerē/

I. adjective

cautiously or suspiciously reluctant to do something

• most people are chary of allowing themselves to be photographed.

II. derivatives

charily /ˈCHerəlē /

adverb

– origin Old English cearig ‘sorrowful, anxious’; related to care. The current sense arose in the mid 16th cent.

Charybdis /kəˈribdis CHəˈribdis / ‹Greek Mythology›

a dangerous whirlpool in a narrow channel of the sea, opposite the cave of the sea monster Scylla.

Chas. /CHaz/

abbreviation

Charles.

chase^1 /CHās/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. pursue in order to catch or catch up with

• police chased the stolen car through the city

• [no obj.] the dog chased after the stick.

2. seek to attain

• seventy candidates chasing a single job.

3. seek the company of (a member of the opposite sex) in an obvious way

• playing football by day and chasing women by night.

4. drive or cause to go in a specified direction

• she chased him out of the house.

5. try to make contact with (someone) in order to get something owed or required

• chasing customers who had not paid their bills.

6. make further investigation of (an unresolved matter)

• investigators got a warrant, but they didn't have time to chase down the case.

II. noun

1. an act of pursuing someone or something

• they captured the youths after a brief chase

• a chase for limited supplies of hard currency

• a car chase.

2. (the chase) — hunting as a sport

• she was an ardent follower of the chase.

3. short for steeplechase.

4. (Brit.) an area of unenclosed land formerly reserved for hunting.

5. ‹archaic› a hunted animal.

III. phrases

give chase

go in pursuit

• a patrol car gave chase and finally overtook him.

– origin Middle English: from Old French chacier (verb), chace (noun), based on Latin captare ‘continue to take,’ from capere ‘take.’

chase^2 /CHās/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. chased)

1. engrave (metal, or a design on metal)

• a miniature container with a delicately chased floral design.

– origin late Middle English: apparently from earlier enchase, from Old French enchasser.

chase^3 /CHās/

I. noun

(in letterpress printing) a metal frame for holding the composed type and blocks being printed at one time.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French châsse, from Latin capsa ‘box’ (see case^2).

chase^4 /CHās/

I. noun

1. the part of a gun enclosing the bore.

2. a groove or furrow cut in the face of a wall or other surface to receive a pipe.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French chas ‘enclosed space,’ from Provençal cas, caus, from medieval Latin capsum ‘thorax or nave of a church.’

Chase, Salmon P. /CHās/

(1808–73), US chief justice 1864–73; full name Salmon Portland Chase. He served in the US Senate 1849–55, as governor of Ohio 1855–59, and as US secretary of the treasury 1861–64, during which time he established the national banking system and issued the first “greenbacks.”

Chase, Samuel

(1741–1811), US Supreme Court associate justice 1796–1811. A delegate to the Continental Congresses and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, he stressed national supremacy.

chaser /ˈCHāsər/

noun

1. a person or thing that chases
[in combination]

• promotion-chasers.

2. ‹informal› a drink taken after another of a different kind, typically a weak alcoholic drink after a stronger one

• bourbon on the rocks with a beer chaser.

3. a horse for steeplechasing.

chasm /ˈkazəm/

I. noun

1. a deep fissure in the earth, rock, or another surface.

2. a profound difference between people, viewpoints, feelings, etc.

• the chasm between rich and poor.

II. derivatives

chasmic /ˈkazmik /

adjective

( — ‹rare›

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting an opening up of the sea or land, as in an earthquake): from Latin chasma, from Greek khasma ‘gaping hollow.’

chassé /SHaˈsā/

I. noun

a gliding step in dancing in which one foot displaces the other.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. perform a chassé.

– origin early 19th cent.: French, literally ‘chased.’

chassepot /ˈSHaspō/

I. noun

a type of bolt-action breech-loading rifle used by the French army between 1866 and 1874.

– origin named for Antoine A. Chassepot (1833–1905), its French designer.

chasseur /SHaˈsər/

I. noun

‹historical› a soldier, usually in the light cavalry, equipped and trained for rapid movement, especially in the French army.

– origin mid 18th cent.: French, from chasser ‘to chase.’

chassis /ˈCHasē ˈSHasē/

I. noun

1. the base frame of a motor vehicle or other wheeled conveyance.

2. the outer structural framework of a piece of audio, radio, or computer equipment.

– origin early 20th cent.: from French châssis ‘frame,’ based on Latin capsa ‘box’ (see case^2).

chaste /CHāst/

I. adjective

1. abstaining from extramarital, or from all, sexual intercourse.

2. not having any sexual nature or intention

• a chaste, consoling embrace.

3. without unnecessary ornamentation; simple or restrained

• the dark, chaste interior was lightened by tilework.

II. derivatives

1. chastely /CHās(t)lē /

adverb

2. chasteness /ˈCHās(t)nəs /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French, from Latin castus.

chasten /ˈCHās(ə)n/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be chastened)

1. (of a reproof or misfortune) have a restraining or moderating effect on

• the director was somewhat chastened by his recent flops

• (as adj. chastening) a chastening experience.

2. ‹archaic› (especially of God) discipline; punish.

II. derivatives

chastener /ˈCHās(ə)nər /

noun

– origin early 16th cent.: from an obsolete verb chaste, from Old French chastier, from Latin castigare ‘castigate,’ from castus ‘morally pure, chaste.’

chaste tree

I. noun

a southern European shrub with blue or white flowers, grown as an ornamental. It is also highly valued for its dark purple berries, which yield medicinal preparations used to treat gynecological conditions.
Also called vitex. [Vitex agnus-castus, family Verbenaceae.]

– origin mid 16th cent.: so named because of its association with chastity in sacrifices to Ceres.

chastise /ˈCHasˌtīz ˌCHaˈstīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. rebuke or reprimand severely

• he chastised his colleagues for their laziness.

2. ‹dated› punish, especially by beating.

II. derivatives

1. chastisement /CHasˈtīzmənt ˈCHastizmənt /

noun

2. chastiser /ˈCHastīzər /

noun

– origin Middle English: apparently formed irregularly from the obsolete verb chaste (see chasten).

chastity /ˈCHastədē/

I. noun

the state or practice of refraining from extramarital, or especially from all, sexual intercourse

• vows of chastity.

– origin Middle English: from Old French chastete, from Latin castitas, from castus ‘morally pure’ (see chaste).

chastity belt /ˈCHastədē belt/

noun

‹historical› a garment or device designed to prevent a woman from having sexual intercourse.

chasuble /ˈCHasyəb(ə)l ˈCHazəb(ə)l/

I. noun

a sleeveless outer vestment worn by a Catholic or High Anglican priest when celebrating Mass, typically ornate and having a simple hole for the head.

– origin Middle English: from Old French chesible, later chasuble, from late Latin casubla, alteration of Latin casula ‘hooded cloak or little cottage,’ diminutive of casa ‘house.’

chat^1 /CHat/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. talk in a friendly and informal way

• she chatted to her mother on the phone every day.

2. exchange messages online in real time with one or more simultaneous users of a computer network

• I keep getting messages popping up on my screen from people wanting to chat.

II. noun

1. an informal conversation

• he dropped in for a chat

• the perfect place for loads of cocktails and plenty of chat.

2. the online exchange of messages in real time with one or more simultaneous users of a computer network

• join me for a live online chat Wednesday at 1400 hours.

III. phrasal verbs

chat someone up

a. ‹informal› engage someone in flirtatious conversation.

b. talk persuasively to someone, especially with a particular motive

• I chatted up the editor at the press club.

– origin Middle English: shortening of chatter.

chat^2 /CHat/

I. noun

1. [often in combination] — a small Old World songbird of the thrush subfamily, with a harsh call and typically with bold black, white, and buff or chestnut coloration.
[Saxicola and other genera, subfamily Turdinae, family Muscicapidae: numerous species. See also stonechat, whinchat.]

2. [with modifier] — any of a number of small songbirds with harsh calls.
[● a New World warbler that typically has a yellow or pink breast (genera Icteria and Granatellus, subfamily Parulinae, family Emberizidae). ● an Australian songbird related to the honeyeaters, the male of which is either mainly yellow or boldly marked (genera Ephthianura and Ashbyia, family Ephthianuridae).]

– origin late 17th cent.: probably imitative of its call.

chatbot /ˈCHatbät/

I. noun

a computer program designed to simulate conversation with human users, especially over the Internet

• chatbots often treat conversations like they're a game of tennis: talk, reply, talk, reply.

– origin 1990s from chat^1 and bot^2.

chateau /SHaˈtō / château

I. noun

a large French country house or castle often giving its name to wine made in its neighborhood
[in names]

• Château Margaux.

– origin mid 18th cent.: French, from Old French chastel (see castle).

chateaubriand /SHaˌtōbrēˈôn/

I. noun

a thick tenderloin of beef, typically served with Béarnaise sauce.

– origin late 19th cent.: named after François-René, Vicomte de Chateaubriand (see Chateaubriand, François-René), whose chef is said to have created the dish.

Chateaubriand, François-René /SHaˌtōbrēˈäN/

Vicomte de (1768–1848), French writer and diplomat. Notable works: Le Génie du Christianisme (1802) and Mémoires d'outre-tombe (autobiography, 1849–50).

Chateau-Thierry /SHaˌtōtyəˈrē/

a town in the Picardy region of northern France, on the Marne River; pop. 15,359 (2007). It was a major battlefield during World War I; there is a monument to the US soldiers who took the town from German occupiers in 1918 and a military cemetery.

chatelain /ˈSHadlˌān/

I. noun

another term for castellan.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French chastelain, from medieval Latin castellanus ‘castellan,’ from Latin castellum (see castle).

chatelaine /ˈSHadlˌān/

I. noun

1. ‹dated› a woman in charge of a large house.

2. ‹dated› ‹historical› a set of short chains attached to a woman's belt, used for carrying keys or other items.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French châtelaine, feminine of châtelain ‘castellan,’ from medieval Latin castellanus (see chatelain).

chat group

noun

a group of people who communicate regularly via the Internet, usually in real time but also by email.

Chatham, 1st Earl of /ˈCHatəm/

see Pitt.

Chatham Islands /ˈCHadəm ˌīləndz/

two islands, Pitt and Chatham, in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, east of New Zealand.

chat line chatline

noun

1. a telephone service that allows conversation among a number of people who call into it separately.

2. the access to, or connection with, a chat room.

chatoyant /SHəˈtoiənt/

I. adjective

(of a gem, especially when cut en cabochon) showing a band of bright reflected light caused by aligned inclusions in the stone.

II. derivatives

1. chatoyance

noun

2. chatoyancy /-ənsē /

noun

– origin late 18th cent.: French, present participle of chatoyer ‘to shimmer.’

chat room

noun

an area on the Internet or other computer network where users can communicate, typically limiting communication to a particular topic.

chat show /ˈCHat ˌSHō/

noun

British term for talk show.

Chattahoochee River /ˌCHadəˌho͞oCHē ˈrivər/

a river that flows for 435 miles (700 km) through Georgia to the Florida border, where it continues as the Apalachicola River into the Gulf of Mexico.

Chattanooga /ˌCHatnˈo͞oɡə/

a city in southeastern Tennessee, on the Tennessee River, near the Georgia border, a rail and industrial center; pop. 170,880 (est. 2008).

chattel /ˈCHadl/

I. noun

1. (in general use) a personal possession.

2. [Law] an item of property other than real estate.
See also goods and chattels.

– origin Middle English: from Old French chatel, from medieval Latin capitale, from Latin capitalis, from caput ‘head.’ Compare with capital^1 and cattle.

chattel mortgage

noun

(N. Amer.) a mortgage on a movable item of property.

chatter /ˈCHadər/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. talk rapidly or incessantly about trivial matters

• the kids chattered and splashed at the edge of the lagoon.

2. (of a bird, monkey, or machine) make a series of quick high-pitched sounds.

3. (of a person's teeth) click repeatedly together, typically from cold or fear.

II. noun

1. incessant trivial talk

• a stream of idle chatter.

2. electronic or radio communication, especially between individuals being monitored by a government agency as a result of suspected involvement in terrorist activity or espionage

• officials refused to comment on a news report that the patrols were resumed due to increased Internet chatter.

3. a series of quick high-pitched sounds

• the chatter of a typewriter.

4. undesirable vibration in a mechanism

• the wipers should operate without chatter.

III. phrases

the chattering classes

‹derogatory› educated people, especially those in academic, artistic, or media circles.

IV. derivatives

chattery

adjective

– origin Middle English: imitative.

chatterbot /ˈCHadərˌbät/

I. noun

a computer program designed to interact with people by simulating human conversation.

– origin 1990s: blend of chatter and (ro)bot.

chatterbox /ˈCHadərˌbäks/

noun

‹informal› a person who talks at length about trivial matters.

chatterer /ˈCHadərər/

noun

1. another term for chatterbox.

2. ‹informal› any of a number of birds with chattering calls, especially a babbler, a waxwing, or a cotinga.

chatty /ˈCHadē/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) fond of talking in an easy, informal way.

2. (of a conversation, letter, etc.) informal and lively.

II. derivatives

1. chattily /ˈCHadəlē /

adverb

2. chattiness /ˈCHadēnəs /

noun

Chaubunagungamaug, Lake /CHôˌbənəˈɡəNGɡəˌmôɡ/

a small lake in southern Massachusetts, south of Worcester, in the town of Webster. The full form of its name, Chargoggagoggmanchaugagoggchaubunagungamaugg, is said to be the longest American place name.

Chaucer, Geoffrey /ˈCHôsər/

(c. 1342–1400), English poet. His Canterbury Tales (c. 1387–1400) is a cycle of linked tales told by a group of pilgrims. His skills of characterization, humor, and versatility established him as the first great English poet. Chaucer also wrote Troilus and Criseyde (c. 1385).

Chaucerian /CHôˈsirēən/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of the English poet Geoffrey Chaucer or his works

• ribald Chaucerian pilgrimages.

II. noun

an admirer, imitator, or student of the works of the English poet Geoffrey Chaucer

• every English department wants a Chaucerian.

Chaudiere River /SHōˌdyer ˈrivər/

a river that flows north for 120 miles (190 km) from the Maine border through Quebec and empties into the St. Lawrence River opposite Quebec City.

chauffeur /SHōˈfər ˈSHōfər/

I. noun

a person employed to drive a private or rented automobile.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. drive (a car or a passenger in a car), typically as part of one's job

• she insisted on being chauffeured around.

– origin late 19th cent. (in the general sense ‘motorist’): from French, literally ‘stoker’ (by association with steam engines), from chauffer ‘to heat.’

chauffeuse /ˌSHōˈfəz/

noun

‹rare› a female chauffeur.

chaulmoogra /CHôlˈmo͞oɡrə/

I. noun

1. a tropical Asian evergreen tree with narrow leathery leaves and oil-rich seeds.
[Genus Hydnocarpus, family Flacourtiaceae: several species, in particular H. kurzii, a principal source of the oil.]

2. (also chaulmoogra oil) — the oil obtained from the seeds of the chaulmoogra tree. It is used medically and as a preservative, and was formerly used in the treatment of leprosy.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Bengali cāul-mugrā.

chausses /SHōs/

I. plural noun

‹historical› pantaloons or close-fitting coverings for the legs and feet, in particular those forming part of a knight's armor.

– origin late 15th cent.: French, literally ‘clothing for the legs.’

Chautauqua /SHəˈtôkwə/

I. a resort town in southwestern New York, on Chautauqua Lake, noted as the birthplace of a 19th-century popular education movement; pop. 4,510 (est. 2008).

II. (also chautauqua) [as noun] — an institution offering popular adult education courses and entertainment, typically held outdoors in the summer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

• some sophisticate who had attended Chautauquas in other parts of the country.

chauvinism /ˈSHōvəˌnizəm/

I. noun

1. exaggerated or aggressive patriotism

• public opinion was easily moved to chauvinism and nationalism.

2. excessive or prejudiced loyalty or support for one's own cause, group, or gender

• a bastion of male chauvinism.

– origin late 19th cent.: named after Nicolas Chauvin, a Napoleonic veteran noted for his extreme patriotism, popularized as a character by the Cogniard brothers in Cocarde Tricolore (1831).

chauvinist /ˈSHōvənəst/

I. noun

1. a person displaying aggressive or exaggerated patriotism.

2. a person displaying excessive or prejudiced loyalty or support for a particular cause, group, or gender

• what a male chauvinist that man is.

II. adjective

showing or relating to excessive or prejudiced loyalty or support for a particular group or cause

• a chauvinist slur.

chauvinistic /ˌSHōvəˈnistik/

I. adjective

1. feeling or displaying aggressive or exaggerated patriotism.

2. displaying excessive or prejudiced support for one's own cause, group, or sex.

II. derivatives

chauvinistically /ˌSHōvəˈnistik(ə)lē /

adverb

Chavez, Cesar /ˈCHävez, ˈSHä-/

(1927–93), US labor leader; full name Cesar Estrada Chavez. In 1962, he founded the organization that became the United Farm Workers, and he used nonviolent tactics to gain union contracts with California vineyard owners.

chaw /CHô / ‹informal chiefly N. Amer.›

I. noun

1. an act of chewing something, especially something not intended to be swallowed

• enjoying a good chaw.

2. something chewed, especially a wad of tobacco

• a chaw of tobacco.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. chew (something, especially tobacco).

– origin late Middle English (as a verb): variant of chew.

Chayefsky, Paddy /CHīˈefskē, -ˈev-/

(1923–81), US writer; born Sidney Aaron Chayefsky. He wrote television dramas, movie screenplays, stage plays, and a science fiction novel, Altered States (1978). His screenplays include Marty (1955), The Hospital (1971), and Network (1976).

chayote /CHīˈōdē/

I. noun

1. a green pear-shaped tropical fruit that resembles cucumber in flavor.

2. the tropical American vine that yields the chayote, also producing an edible yamlike tuberous root.
[Sechium edule, family Cucurbitaceae.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from Spanish, from Nahuatl chayotli.

CHD

abbreviation

coronary heart disease.

Ch.E.

abbreviation

Chemical Engineer.

cheap /CHēp/

I. adjective

1. (of an item for sale) low in price; worth more than its cost

• they bought some cheap fruit

• local buses were reliable and cheap.

2. charging low prices

• a cheap restaurant.

3. inexpensive because of inferior quality

• cheap, shoddy goods.

4. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› miserly; stingy

• she's too cheap to send me a postcard.

5. of little worth because achieved in a discreditable way requiring little effort

• her moment of cheap triumph.

6. deserving of contempt

• a cheap trick.

II. adverb

at or for a low price

• a house that was going cheap.

III. phrases

1. cheap and cheerful

(Brit.) simple and inexpensive.

2. cheap and nasty

(Brit.) of low cost and bad quality

• the materials can seem a bit cheap and nasty.

3. (as) cheap as chips

(Brit.) ‹informal› very inexpensive

• the second-hand copies are cheap as chips

• [as modifier] cheap-as-chips jewelry.

4. at half the price) ">cheap at the price (or at half the price)

(Brit.) well worth having, regardless of the cost.

• as an investment for the future, the books are cheap at the price.

5. on the cheap

‹informal› at a low cost

• in search of symbols of prestige, but on the cheap.

IV. derivatives

cheapish /ˈCHēpiSH /

adjective

– origin late 15th cent.: from an obsolete phrase good cheap ‘a good bargain,’ from Old English cēap ‘bargaining, trade,’ based on Latin caupo ‘small trader, innkeeper.’

cheapen /ˈCHēpən/

verb — [with obj.]

1. reduce the price of

• the depreciation of the dollar would cheapen U.S. exports.

2. degrade

• the mass media simplify and cheapen the experience of art.

cheapjack /ˈCHēpˌjak/

I. noun

a seller of cheap inferior goods, typically a hawker at a fair or market.

II. adjective

(chiefly N. Amer.) of inferior quality.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from cheap + jack^1.

cheaply /ˈCHēplē/

adverb

1. in an inexpensive way

• cheaply priced designer furniture

• cheaply made umbrellas.

2. in a way that requires little effort or sacrifice, especially where this is regarded as contemptible or exploitative

• peace of mind doesn't come cheaply

• some people forgive too cheaply.

cheapness /ˈCHēpnəs/

noun

1. the quality of being low in price, especially in relation to similar items or services

• the relative cheapness of imported goods

• the ease and cheapness of Internet shopping.

2. the condition of costing less due to being of inferior quality

• an immediate feeling of cheapness or toy-like quality

• the plastic chassis contributes a sense of cheapness.

3. the quality of requiring little effort or sacrifice, especially where this is regarded as devaluing the outcome

• the cheapness of their humor

• I'm disgusted with the cheapness of this team.

4. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› the quality of being selfish with money; miserliness

• my father's cheapness is the reason I feel ill when I lose even small amounts of money

• better to pay a little for backup now than regret your cheapness later.

cheapo /ˈCHēpō / ‹informal› cheapie

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. inexpensive and of poor quality

• a cheapo guitar.

II. noun

an inexpensive thing of poor quality.

cheapskate /ˈCHēpˌskāt/

I. noun

‹informal› a stingy person.

– origin late 19th cent. (originally US): from cheap + skate ‘a worn-out horse’ or ‘a mean, contemptible, or dishonest person,’ of unknown origin.

cheat /CHēt/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — act dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain an advantage, especially in a game or examination

• she always cheats at cards.

2. [with obj.] — deceive or trick

• he had cheated her out of everything she had.

3. ‹informal› be sexually unfaithful

• his wife was cheating on him.

4. [with obj.] — avoid (something undesirable) by luck or skill

• she cheated death in a spectacular crash.

5. ‹archaic› help (time) pass

• the tuneless rhyme with which the warder cheats the time.

II. noun

1. a person who behaves dishonestly in order to gain an advantage

• a liar and a cheat.

2. an act of cheating; a fraud or deception.

– origin late Middle English: shortening of escheat (the original sense).

cheater /ˈCHēdər/

noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) a person who acts dishonestly in order to gain an advantage.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) a person who cheats on a sexual partner.

3. (cheaters) — (chiefly N. Amer.) ‹informal› a pair of glasses or sunglasses.

cheat grass cheatgrass

I. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a tough wild grass of open land, sometimes growing as a weed among cereal crops and in pasture.
[Genus Bromus, family Gramineae: several species, in particular B. tectorum.]

– origin late 18th cent.: a local word for various wild plants, perhaps from their resemblance to the cereals among which they grew.

cheat sheet

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a piece of paper bearing written notes intended to aid one's memory, typically one used surreptitiously in an examination.

Cheboksary /ˌCHebäkˈsär(y)ē/

a city in western central Russia, on the Volga River, west of Kazan, capital of the autonomous republic of Chuvashia; pop. 441,600 (est. 2008).

Chechen /ˈCHeCHen/

I. noun

1. a member of the largely Muslim people inhabiting Chechnya.

2. the North Caucasian language of the Chechen.

II. adjective

relating to the Chechen or their language.

– origin from obsolete Russian chechen (earlier form of chechenets).

Chechnya /ˈCHeCHnēə / Chechenia

an autonomous republic in the Caucasus in southwestern Russia, on the border with Georgia; pop. 1,205,800 (est. 2009); capital, Grozny. The republic declared itself independent of Russia in 1991 and was invaded by Russian forces (1994). A peace treaty called for the withdrawal of troops, but the Russians invaded again in 1999. Also called Chechen Republic.

check^1 /CHek/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. examine (something) in order to determine its accuracy, quality, or condition, or to detect the presence of something

• customs officers have the right to check all luggage

• [no obj.] a simple blood test to check for anemia.

2. verify or establish to one's satisfaction

• check the expiration date on your passport

• [with clause] she glanced over her shoulder to check that the door was shut.

3. (check something against) — verify the accuracy of something by comparing it with (something else)

• keep your receipt to check against your statement.

4. [no obj.] — agree or correspond when compared.

5. ‹informal› look at; take notice of

• check the remix.

6. stop or slow down the progress of (something undesirable)

• efforts were made to check the disease.

7. curb or restrain (a feeling or emotion)

• he learned to check his excitement.

8. [Hockey] hamper or neutralize (an opponent) with one's body or stick.

9. [no obj.] (check against) — provide a means of preventing

• processes to check against deterioration in the quality of the data held.

10. (N. Amer.) (of a passenger) consign (baggage) to the care of the transport provider with whom they are traveling

• I checked my bag and got my boarding pass.

11. deposit (a coat, bag, or other item) for temporary safekeeping in the cloakroom of a restaurant, theater, etc.

• the drinks weren't expensive and there's no cover charge but you do have to check your coat for $3.00.

12. mark or click on (a box) in order to select a particular option on a form, questionnaire, etc.

• users who want privacy should check the box that prevents your files from being shared.

13. [with obj.] — [Chess] move a piece or pawn so that (the opposing king) is under attack.

14. [no obj.] — (in poker) choose not to make a bet when called upon, allowing the action to move to another player.

15. [no obj.] — (of a hound) pause to make sure of or regain a scent.

16. (of a trained hawk) abandon the intended quarry and fly after other prey.

II. noun

1. an examination to test or ascertain accuracy, quality, or satisfactory condition

• a campaign calling for regular checks on gas appliances

• a health check.

2. a stopping or slowing of progress

• there was no check to the expansion of the market.

3. a means of control or restraint

• a permanent check upon the growth or abuse of central authority.

4. [Hockey] an act of hampering or neutralizing an opponent with one's body or stick.

5. a temporary loss of the scent in hunting.

6. [Falconry] a false stoop when a hawk abandons its intended quarry and pursues other prey.

7. [Chess] a move by which a piece or pawn directly attacks the opponent's king. If the defending player cannot counter the attack, the king is checkmated.

8. (cheque) — (Brit.) a written order to a bank to pay a stated sum from the drawer's account

• he was awarded a check for $1,000.

9. (N. Amer.) the bill in a restaurant.

10. (also baggage or luggage check) — a token of identification for left luggage.

11. a counter used as a stake in a gambling game.

12. (N. Amer.) short for check mark.

13. a part of a piano that catches the hammer and prevents it from retouching the strings.

14. a crack or flaw in timber.

III. exclamation

1. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) expressing assent or agreement.

2. used by a chess player to announce that the opponent's king has been placed in check.

IV. phrases

1. in check

a. under control

• a way of keeping inflation in check.

b. [Chess] (of a king) directly attacked by an opponent's piece or pawn; (of a player) having the king in this position.

2. keep a check on

monitor

• keep a regular check on your score.

V. phrasal verbs

1. check in

arrive and register at a hotel or airport

• you must check in at least one hour before take-off.

2. check someone in

register someone upon their arrival at a hotel or airport

• they check in the passengers.

3. check something in

a. (of a passenger) consign baggage to the care of the transport provider with whom they are traveling

• I got a taxi to the airport and checked my bags in.

b. deposit a coat, bag, or other item for temporary safekeeping in the cloakroom of a restaurant, theater, etc.

• he was checking in his coat on the second floor when people started rushing past him.

4. check into

register one's arrival at (a hotel).

5. check something off

(chiefly N. Amer.) mark an item on a list, typically with a check mark, to show that it has been dealt with.

• check off each assignment as you complete it.

6. check on

a. verify, ascertain, or monitor the state or condition of

• the doctor had come to check on his patient.

b. another way of saying check up on.

7. check out

a. settle one's hotel bill before leaving.

b. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› die.

8. check someone/something out

a. establish the truth or inform oneself about someone or something

• they decided to go and check out a local restaurant.

b. (check something out) — (chiefly N. Amer.) enter the price of goods in a supermarket into a cash machine for addition and payment by a customer.

c. register something as having been borrowed.

9. check something over

inspect or examine something thoroughly.

10. check through

inspect or examine thoroughly.

11. check up on

investigate in order to establish the truth about or accuracy of.

VI. derivatives

checkable

adjective

– origin Middle English (originally as used in the game of chess): the noun and exclamation from Old French eschec, from medieval Latin scaccus, via Arabic from Persian šāh ‘king’; the verb from Old French eschequier ‘play chess, put in check.’ The sense ‘stop, restrain, or control’ arose from the use in chess, and led (in the late 17th cent.) to ‘examine the accuracy of, verify.’

check^2 /CHek/

I. noun

1. a pattern of small squares

• a fine black-and-white check.

2. a garment or fabric with a pattern of small squares.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. having a pattern of small squares

• a blue check T-shirt.

– origin late Middle English: probably from checker^2.

checkbook /ˈCHekˌbo͝ok/

noun

a book of blank checks with a register for recording checks written.

checkbook journalism

noun

‹chiefly derogatory› the practice of paying large amounts of money for exclusive rights to material for newspaper stories, especially personal ones.

checkbox /ˈCHekˌbäks/

noun

1. a small box on a form into which a check or other mark is entered as the response to a question

• Americans will be able to identify themselves as more than one race on the census form, choosing from 12 checkboxes and three write-in spaces.

2. [Computing] (in a graphical display) a small box that, when selected by the user, shows that a particular feature has been enabled or a particular option chosen

• click on the checkbox to activate the second function.

checked /CHekt/

adjective

1. (of clothes or fabric) having a pattern of small squares

• a checked shirt.

2. [Phonetics] (of a vowel) followed by one or more consonants in the same syllable.

checker^1 /ˈCHekər/

noun

1. a person or thing that verifies or examines something

• a spelling checker.

2. (US) a cashier in a supermarket.

checker^2 /ˈCHekər / ‹Brit.› chequer

I. noun

1. (often checkers) — a pattern of squares, typically alternately colored

• a geometric shape bordered by checkers

• (as modifier checker) a checker design.

2. (checkers) [treated as sing.] — (N. Amer.) a game for two players, with twelve pieces each, played on a checkerboard.

3. (checker) — a round flat piece, usually red or black, used to play checkers.

– origin Middle English: from exchequer. The original sense ‘chessboard’ gave rise to checkered meaning ‘marked like a chessboard’; hence sense 1 (early 16th cent).

Checker, Chubby /ˈCHekər/

(1941–), US singer; born Ernest Evans. He popularized dance crazes such as “The Twist” (1960).

checkerberry /ˈCHekərˌberē/

I. noun

1. a creeping evergreen North American shrub of the heath family, with spiny scented leaves and waxy white flowers.
Also called wintergreen. [Gaultheria procumbens, family Ericaceae.]

2. the edible red fruit of the checkerberry plant.

– origin late 18th cent.: from checkers or chequers ‘berries of the service tree’ (so named from their color) + berry.

checkerboard /ˈCHekərˌbôrd/

noun

1. a board for playing checkers and certain other games, with a regular pattern of squares in alternating colors, typically black and white.

2. a pattern resembling a board for playing checkers and other games, with a regular pattern of squares in alternating colors.

checkered /ˈCHekərd/

adjective

1. having a pattern of alternating squares of different colors.

2. marked by periods of varied fortune or discreditable incidents

• his checkered past might hurt his electability.

checkered flag /ˈCHekərd flaɡ/

I. noun

[Auto Racing] a flag with a black-and-white checkered pattern, displayed to drivers as they finish a race.

II. phrases

take the checkered flag

finish first in a race

• Unser took the checkered flag four times this spring.

checkerspot /ˈCHekərˌspät/

noun

a North American butterfly with pale markings on the wings that typically form a checkered pattern.
[Euphydryas and other genera, subfamily Melitaeinae, family Nymphalidae: several species, in particular the Baltimore checkerspot (E. phaeton).]

check-in /ˈCHek ˌin/

noun — [often as modifier]

1. the act of reporting one's presence and registering, typically at an airport or hotel

• the check-in counter.

2. the point at which registration at airport or hotel takes place.

checking account /ˈCHekiNG əˌkount / ‹Canadian› chequing account

I. noun

(N. Amer.) an account at a bank against which checks can be drawn by the account depositor.

– origin 1920s: from check^2.

checklist /ˈCHekˌlist/

noun

a list of items required, things to be done, or points to be considered, used as a reminder.

check mark

noun

(N. Amer.) a mark (✓) used to indicate that an item in a list or text is correct or has been chosen, checked, or dealt with.

checkmate /ˈCHekˌmāt/

I. noun

1. [Chess] a check from which a king cannot escape.

2. [as exclamation] — (by a player) announcing that the opponent's king is in the position of checkmate.

3. a final defeat or deadlock

• if the rebel forces succeed in cutting off the road, they will have achieved checkmate.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Chess] put into checkmate.

2. [Chess] defeat or frustrate totally

• the use of technology to checkmate present missile technology.

– origin Middle English: from Old French eschec mat, from Arabic šāh māta, from Persian šāh manad ‘the king is helpless.’

checkout /ˈCHekˌout/

noun

1. a point at which goods are paid for in a supermarket or other store
[as modifier]

• packaging that is scanned at the checkout counter.

2. the administrative procedure followed when a guest leaves a hotel at the end of a stay
[as modifier]

• checkout time.

checkpoint /ˈCHekˌpoint/

noun

1. a barrier or manned entrance, typically at a border, where travelers are subject to security checks.

2. a place along the route of a long-distance race where the time for each competitor is recorded.

3. a location whose exact position can be verified visually or electronically, used by pilots to aid navigation.

check rein /ˈCHek ˌrān/

noun

a bearing rein.

checkroom /ˈCHekˌro͞om ˈCHekˌro͝om/

noun

(N. Amer.) a room in a public building where coats, hats, luggage, etc., may be left temporarily.

checks and balances

plural noun

counterbalancing influences by which an organization or system is regulated, typically those ensuring that political power is not concentrated in the hands of individuals or groups.

checksum /ˈCHekˌsəm/

noun

a digit representing the sum of the correct digits in a piece of stored or transmitted digital data, against which later comparisons can be made to detect errors in the data.

checkup /ˈCHekˌəp/

noun

a thorough examination, especially a medical or dental one.

check valve

noun

a valve that closes to prevent backward flow of liquid.

cheddar /ˈCHedər/

noun

a kind of firm smooth cheese, originally made in Cheddar in southern England.

cheder /ˈKHedər, ˈKHā- / heder

I. noun

a school for Jewish children in which Hebrew and religious knowledge are taught.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Hebrew ḥeḏer ‘room.’

cheechako /CHēˈCHäkō/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a person newly arrived in the mining districts of Alaska or northwestern Canada.

– origin late 19th cent.: Chinook Jargon, ‘newcomer.’

cheek /CHēk/

I. noun

1. either side of the face below the eye

• tears rolled down her cheeks.

2. either of the inner sides of the mouth

• Sam had to bite his cheeks to keep from laughing.

3. ‹informal› either of the buttocks.

4. either of two side pieces or parts in a structure.

5. [in sing.] — impertinent talk or behavior

• he had the cheek to complain

• that's enough of your cheek!

II. phrases

1. cheek by jowl

close together; side by side

• the houses were packed cheek by jowl along the coast.

[from a use of jowl in the sense ‘cheek’; the phrase was originally cheek by cheek.]

2. cheek to cheek

(of two people dancing) with their heads close together in an intimate way.

3. turn the other cheek

refrain from retaliating when one has been attacked or insulted.
[with biblical allusion to Matt. 5:39.]

III. derivatives

cheeked /CHēkt /

adjective

[in combination]

• rosy-cheeked

– origin Old English cē(a)ce, cēoce ‘cheek, jaw’; related to Dutch kaak.

cheekbone /ˈCHēkˌbōn/

noun

the bone below the eye.

cheekily /ˈCHēkəlē/

adverb

in an impudent or irreverent way that is typically regarded as amusing

• he smiled cheekily at the camera

• she cheekily poked fun at her other half.

cheekpiece /ˈCHēkpēs/

noun

1. a part of an object that covers or rests on the cheek, in particular

2. the portion of the stock of a rifle or shotgun that rests against the face when aiming from the shoulder.

3. either of the two straps of a horse's bridle joining the bit and the headpiece.

4. a bar on a horse's bit that lies outside the mouth.

cheek pouch

noun

a saclike fold of skin on either side of the mouth, especially in squirrels, monkeys, and gophers, used for carrying food.

Cheektowaga /ˌCHēktəˈwäɡə/

a town in western New York, an industrial suburb east of Buffalo; pop. 87,788 (est. 2008).

cheeky /ˈCHēkē/

I. adjective

impudent or irreverent, typically in an endearing or amusing way

• a cheeky grin.

II. derivatives

cheekiness /ˈCHēkēnəs /

noun

cheep /CHēp/

I. noun

1. a shrill squeaky cry made by a bird, typically a young one.

2. a sound resembling the shrill squeaky cry made by a bird

• an electronic cheep from the alarm.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. make a shrill squeaky sound.

– origin early 16th cent. (originally Scots): imitative (compare with peep^2).

cheer /CHir/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — shout for joy or in praise or encouragement

• she cheered from the sidelines.

2. [with obj.] — praise or encourage with shouts

• they cheered his emotional speech

• the cyclists were cheered on by the crowds.

3. [with obj.] — give comfort or support to

• he seemed greatly cheered by my arrival.

4. (cheer someone up or cheer up) — make or become less miserable
[with obj.]

• I asked her out to lunch to cheer her up

• [no obj.] he cheered up at the sight of the food.

II. noun

1. a shout of encouragement, praise, or joy

• a tremendous cheer from the audience.

2. a brief phrase shouted in unison by a crowd, typically led by cheerleaders, in support of an athletic team.

3. (also good cheer) — cheerfulness, optimism, or confidence

• an attempt to inject a little cheer into this gloomy season.

4. food and drink provided for a festive occasion

• they had partaken heartily of the Christmas cheer.

III. phrases

1. of good cheer

‹archaic› cheerful; optimistic.

2. three cheers

three successive hurrahs shouted to express appreciation or congratulation

• three cheers for the winners!

3. what cheer?

‹archaic› how are you?

– origin Middle English: from Old French chiere ‘face,’ from late Latin cara, from Greek kara ‘head.’ The original sense was ‘face,’ hence ‘expression, mood,’ later specifically ‘a good mood.’

cheerful /ˈCHirfəl/

adjective

1. noticeably happy and optimistic

• how can she be so cheerful at six o'clock in the morning?

• a cheerful voice.

2. causing happiness by its nature or appearance

• a chatty, cheerful letter

• the room was painted in cheerful colors.

cheerfully /ˈCHirfəlē/

adverb

1. in a way that displays happiness or optimism

• he was whistling cheerfully.

2. in a way that inspires feelings of happiness

• cheerfully decorated rooms.

3. readily and willingly

• I could cheerfully have strangled her.

cheerfulness /ˈCHirf(ə)lnəs/

noun

1. the quality or state of being noticeably happy and optimistic

• her brand of hearty cheerfulness

• it's hard to be grumpy in the face of their resolute cheerfulness.

2. the quality of causing happiness

• the cheerfulness from the fire

• the overall cheerfulness of the film.

cheerily /ˈCHirəlē/

adverb

in a happy and optimistic way

• the children were waving cheerily

• he chats cheerily about city living.

cheerio /ˌCHirēˈō/

exclamation

1. (Brit.) ‹informal› used as an expression of good wishes on parting; goodbye.

2. (Brit.) ‹informal› ‹dated› used as a toast.

cheerleader /ˈCHirˌlēdər/

I. noun

1. a member of a team that performs organized cheering, chanting, and dancing in support of a sports team.

2. an enthusiastic and vocal supporter

• he was a cheerleader for individual initiative.

II. derivatives

cheerlead

verb

cheerleading

I. noun

1. a sport involving the performance of organized cheering, chanting, and dancing in support of a sports team at games

• she started cheerleading last year after a background in dance.

2. the enthusiastic and vocal support of someone or something

• the president deserves credit for not indulging in mindless cheerleading.

II. adjective

relating to the performance of organized cheering, chanting, and dancing

• the high school cheerleading squad.

cheerless /ˈCHirləs/

I. adjective

gloomy; depressing

• the corridors were ill-lit and cheerless.

II. derivatives

1. cheerlessly

adverb

2. cheerlessness /ˈCHirləsnəs /

noun

cheerly /ˈCHirlē/

adverb

‹archaic› heartily (used as a cry of encouragement among sailors).

cheers /CHirz/

exclamation

1. ‹informal› expressing good wishes, in particular

2. ‹informal› good wishes before drinking

• “Cheers,” she said, raising her glass.

3. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) good wishes on parting or ending a conversation

• “Cheers, Jack, see you later.”

4. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) gratitude or acknowledgment for something

• Billy tossed him the key. “Cheers, pal.”

cheery /ˈCHirē/

I. adjective

happy and optimistic

• a cheery smile.

II. derivatives

cheeriness /ˈCHirēnəs /

noun

cheese^1 /CHēz/

I. noun

1. a food made from the pressed curds of milk

• grated cheese

• a slice of cheese

• [as modifier] a cheese sandwich.

2. a complete molded mass of cheese with its rind, often in a round flat shape

• a 50-pound, muslin-wrapped cheese.

3. a round flat object resembling a cheese.

4. ‹informal› the quality of being too obviously sentimental

• the conversations tend too far toward cheese.

II. phrases

1. hard cheese

(Brit.) ‹informal› used to express sympathy over a petty matter.

2. say cheese

said by a photographer to encourage the subject to smile.

– origin Old English cēse, cȳse; related to Dutch kaas and German Käse; from Latin caseus.

cheese^2 /CHēz / big cheese

I. noun

‹informal› an important person

• he was a big cheese in the business world.

– origin early 19th cent. (originally in the sense ‘the right thing or something excellent’): probably from Urdu, from Persian čīz ‘thing.’ The current sense dates from the 1920s.

cheese^3 /CHēz/

I. verb

‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) exasperate, frustrate, or bore

• that really cheesed off Ricky.

II. phrases

cheese it

a. (Brit.) ‹archaic› look out.

b. ‹dated› run away

• cheese it, here comes Mr. Madigan!

– origin early 19th cent. (cheese^1 (sense 1) of cheese it): of unknown origin.

cheeseball /ˈCHēzˌbôl / ‹N. Amer. informal›

I. adjective

lacking taste, style, or originality

• I'll admit to watching some of those cheeseball daytime talk shows.

II. noun

a person who lacks taste, style, or originality.

• she's a walking cheeseball, but I love her anyway.

cheeseboard /ˈCHēzbôrd/

noun

1. a board on which cheese is served and cut.

2. a selection of cheeses.

cheeseburger /ˈCHēzˌbərɡər/

noun

a hamburger with a slice of cheese on it.

cheesecake /ˈCHēzˌkāk/

noun

1. a kind of rich dessert cake made with cream and soft cheese on a graham cracker, cookie, or pastry crust, typically topped with a fruit sauce.

2. ‹informal› photography, a movie, or art that portrays women in a manner emphasizing stereotypical sexual attractiveness
[as modifier]

• a cheesecake photo of herself wearing a silly hat and little else.

cheesecloth /ˈCHēzˌklôTH/

noun

thin, loosely woven cloth of cotton, used originally for making and wrapping cheese.

cheese-cutter /ˈCHēzˌkədər/

noun

1. an implement for cutting cheese, especially by means of a wire that can be pulled through the cheese.

2. (also cheese-cutter cap) — ‹informal› a cap with a broad, square brim.

cheese fly

noun

another term for cheese-skipper.

cheesehead /ˈCHēzˌhed/

noun

1. ‹informal› a resident of Wisconsin, especially a fan of the Green Bay Packers football team.
[so called because Wisconsin is noted for the production of cheese.]

2. ‹informal› a blockhead; an idiot.

cheesemaker /ˈCHēzˌmākər/

I. noun

a person who makes cheese.

II. derivatives

cheesemaking /ˈCHēzˌmākiNG /

noun

cheesemonger /ˈCHēzˌmäNGɡər, -ˌməNGɡər/

noun

(Brit.) a person who sells cheese, butter, and other dairy products.

cheeseparing /ˈCHēzˌperiNG/

I. adjective

careful or stingy with money.

II. noun

stinginess.

cheese-skipper /ˈCHēzˌskipər/

noun

a small shiny black fly whose larvae frequently infest cheese.
Also called cheese fly. [Piophila casei, family Piophilidae.]

cheesesteak /ˈCHēzstāk/

noun

(also Philly cheesesteak) — (US) a sandwich containing thin-sliced sautéed beef, melted cheese, and typically sautéed onions, served in a long roll.

cheese straw /ˈCHēz ˌstrô/

noun

a thin strip of pastry, flavored with cheese and eaten as a snack.

cheesy /ˈCHēzē/

I. adjective

1. like cheese in taste, smell, or consistency

• a pungent, cheesy sauce.

2. ‹informal› cheap, unpleasant, or blatantly inauthentic

• a big cheesy grin

• cheesy motel rooms.

II. derivatives

cheesiness

noun

cheetah /ˈCHēdə/

I. noun

a large spotted cat found in Africa and parts of Asia. It is the fastest animal on land.
[Acinonyx jubatus, family Felidae.]

– origin late 18th cent.: from Hindi cītā, perhaps from Sanskrit citraka ‘leopard.’

Cheever, John /CHēvər/

(1912–82), US novelist and short-story writer. His stories frequently satirize affluent residents of the suburbs of Westchester County and New England. Notable works: The Wapshot Chronicle (1957), The Wapshot Scandal (1964), Falconer (1977), and The Stories of John Cheever (1978).

chef /SHef/

I. noun

a professional cook, typically the chief cook in a restaurant or hotel.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹informal› work as a chef

• when they finish cheffing, they gather themselves together and they drink their owners' best wines.

– origin early 19th cent.: French, literally ‘head.’

chef-d'œuvre /ˌSHāˈdo͝ovrə/

I. noun

a masterpiece.

– origin early 17th cent.: French, literally ‘chief work.’

cheffy /ˈSHefē/

adjective

‹informal› relating to or characteristic of a chef (especially with reference to elaborate recipes, complicated techniques, etc.)

• there are no trendy ingredients or cheffy tricks

• when you cook and write a lot about food, you pick up some cheffy habits.

Chefoo /jəˈfo͞o/

former name of Yantai.

chef's salad

noun

a large salad of lettuce topped with strips of meat (usu. turkey and ham) and cheese, and large pieces of tomato and hard-boiled egg, typically served as a main course.

Cheka /ˈCHekə/

I. an organization under the Soviet regime for the investigation of counterrevolutionary activities. It executed many real and alleged enemies of Lenin's regime from its formation in 1917 until 1922 when it was replaced by the OGPU.

– origin Russian, from che, ka, the initial letters of Chrezvychaĭnaya komissiya ‘Extraordinary Commission (for combating Counterrevolution, Sabotage, and Speculation).’

Chekhov, Anton /ˈCHekˌôv, ˈCHekˌôf/

(1860–1904), Russian playwright and short-story writer; full name Anton Pavlovich Chekhov. His work, which portrays upper-class life in prerevolutionary Russia with a blend of naturalism and symbolism, had a considerable influence on 20th-century drama. Notable plays: The Seagull (1895), Uncle Vanya (1900), Three Sisters (1901), and The Cherry Orchard (1904).

Chekiang /ˌjəˈjyäNG/

variant of Zhejiang.

chela^1 /ˈkēlə/

I. noun

[Zoology] a pincerlike claw, especially of a crab or other crustacean.
Compare with chelicera.

– origin mid 17th cent.: modern Latin, from Latin chele or Greek khēlē ‘claw.’

chela^2 /ˈCHālä/

I. noun

a follower and student of a guru.

– origin from Hindi celā.

chelate /ˈkēlāt/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a compound containing a ligand (typically organic) bonded to a central metal atom at two or more points.

II. adjective

[Zoology] (of an appendage) bearing chelae.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Chemistry] form a chelate with.

IV. derivatives

1. chelation /kēˈlāSHən /

noun

2. chelator /-ˌlātər /

noun

chelation therapy

noun

1. a therapy for mercury or lead poisoning that binds the toxins in the bloodstream by circulating a chelating solution.

2. a form of complementary therapy involving the intravenous infusion of substances intended to remove calcium from hardened arteries.

chelicera /kəˈlisərə/

I. noun

[Zoology] either of a pair of appendages in front of the mouth in arachnids and some other arthropods, usually modified as pincerlike claws.
Compare with chela^1.

II. derivatives

cheliceral

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek khēlē ‘claw’ + keras ‘horn.’

Chelicerata /kəˌlisəˈrädə / ‹Zoology›

I. a large group of arthropods that comprises the arachnids, sea spiders, and horseshoe crabs. They lack antennae, but possess a pair of chelicerae, a pair of pedipalps, and (typically) four pairs of legs.
[Subphylum Chelicerata, phylum Arthropoda.]

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek khēlē ‘claw’ + keras ‘horn.’

chelicerate /kəˈlisəˌrāt, -rət / ‹Zoology›

I. noun

an arthropod of the large group Chelicerata; an arachnid, sea spider, or horseshoe crab.

II. adjective

relating to or denoting chelicerates.

Chellean /ˈSHelēən/

I. adjective, noun

former term for Abbevillian.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French Chelléen, from Chelles, near Paris, where tools from this period were discovered.

Chelmsford /ˈCHelmsfərd/

a city in southeastern England, noted for its cathedral; the county town of Essex; pop. 107,800 (est. 2009).

Chelonia /kəˈlōnēə / ‹Zoology›

I. former term for Testudines.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek khelōnē ‘tortoise.’

chelonian /kəˈlōnēən / ‹Zoology›

I. noun

a reptile of the order Testudines (formerly Chelonia); a turtle, terrapin, or tortoise.

II. adjective

relating to or denoting chelonians.

Chelsea /ˈCHelsē/

I. an industrial and commercial city in northeastern Massachusetts, just north of Boston; pop. 41,577 (est. 2008).

II. a residential district of London, on the northern bank of the Thames River.

III. a fashionable residential section of southern Manhattan in New York City, on the west side of the city.

Chelsea boot

noun

an elastic-sided, ankle-high boot.

Chelyabinsk /CHəˈlyäbinsk/

an industrial city in southern Russia, on the eastern slopes of the Ural Mountains; pop. 1,092,500 (est. 2008).

chem.

abbreviation

1. chemical.

2. chemist.

3. chemistry.

chemi-

combining form

representing chemical.
See also chemo-.

chemical /ˈkemək(ə)l / chem.

I. adjective

1. of or relating to chemistry or the interactions of substances as studied in chemistry

• the chemical composition of the atmosphere.

2. of or relating to chemicals

• chemical treatments for killing fungi.

3. relating to, involving, or denoting the use of poison gas or other chemicals as weapons of war

• the manufacture of chemical weapons.

II. noun

a compound or substance that has been purified or prepared, especially artificially

• never mix disinfectant with other chemicals

• controversy arose over treatment of apples with this chemical.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French chimique or modern Latin chimicus, chymicus, from medieval Latin alchymicus, from alchimia (see alchemy).

chemical abuse

noun

another term for substance abuse.

chemical dependency

noun

addiction to a mood- or mind-altering drug, such as alcohol or cocaine.

chemical engineering /ˈkeməkəl ˌenjəˈni(ə)riNG/

I. noun

the branch of engineering concerned with the design and operation of industrial chemical plants.

II. derivatives

chemical engineer

noun

chemically /ˈkemək(ə)lē/

adverb

1. in a way that relates to chemistry, or to the interactions of substances as studied in chemistry

• many of these compounds are chemically reactive.

2. by use of chemicals

• chemically modified vegetable oil

• her naturally wavy blonde hair was chemically straightened.

3. relating to or by means of alcohol or intoxicating drugs

• a chemically dependent person

• drugs and alcohol offered a chemically induced sense of belonging.

chemical potential

noun

the change in Gibbs free energy with respect to change in amount of the component, with pressure, temperature, and amounts of other components being constant. Components are in equilibrium if their chemical potentials are equal.

chemical reaction

noun

a process that involves rearrangement of the molecular or ionic structure of a substance, as opposed to a change in physical form or a nuclear reaction.

chemical toilet

noun

a toilet that is not connected to a sewage system but has a compartment in which waste is treated with chemicals for temporary storage

• the chemical toilet had been emptied and cleaned.

chemical weathering

noun

the erosion or disintegration of rocks, building materials, etc., caused by chemical reactions (chiefly with water and substances dissolved in it) rather than by mechanical processes.

chemico-

combining form

representing chemical.

chemiluminescence /ˌkemēlo͞oməˈnesəns/

I. noun

the emission of light during a chemical reaction that does not produce significant quantities of heat.

II. derivatives

chemiluminescent

adjective

chemin de fer /SHəˌmaN də ˈfer/

I. noun

a form of the card game baccarat.

– origin late 19th cent.: French, literally ‘railroad.’

chemise /SHəˈmēz SHəˈmēs/

I. noun

1. a dress hanging straight from the shoulders and giving the figure a uniform shape, popular in the 1920s.

2. a woman's loose-fitting undergarment or nightdress, typically of silk or satin with a lace trim.

3. a priest's alb or surplice.

4. ‹historical› a smock.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, from late Latin camisia ‘shirt or nightgown.’

chemisette /ˌSHeməˈzet/

I. noun

a woman's undergarment similar to a camisole, typically worn so as to be visible beneath an open-necked blouse or dress.

– origin early 19th cent.: French, diminutive of chemise.

chemisorption /ˌkemiˈsôrpSHən, -ˈzôrp-/

I. noun

[Chemistry] adsorption in which the adsorbed substance is held by chemical bonds.

II. derivatives

chemisorbed /ˈkemiˌsôrbd /

adjective

– origin 1930s: from chemi- + a shortened form of adsorption (see adsorb).

chemist /ˈkeməst / chem.

I. noun

1. an expert in chemistry; a person engaged in chemical research or experiments.

2. (Brit.) a drugstore.

3. a pharmacist.

– origin late Middle English (denoting an alchemist): from French chimiste, from modern Latin chimista, from alchimista ‘alchemist,’ from alchimia (see alchemy).

chemistry /ˈkeməstrē / chem.

noun

1. the branch of science that deals with the identification of the substances of which matter is composed; the investigation of their properties and the ways in which they interact, combine, and change; and the use of these processes to form new substances.

2. the chemical composition and properties of a substance or body

• the chemistry of soil.

3. the complex emotional or psychological interaction between two people

• their affair was triggered by intense sexual chemistry.

Chemnitz /ˈkemnits/

an industrial city in eastern Germany, on the Chemnitz River; pop. 245,700 (est. 2006).
Former name (1953–90) Karl-Marx-Stadt.

chemo /ˈkēmō/

noun

‹informal› chemotherapy.

chemo-

combining form

representing chemical.
See also chemi-.

chemoattractant /ˌkēmōəˈtraktənt, ˌkemō-/

noun

[Biology] a substance that attracts motile cells of a particular type

• a fibroblast chemoattractant.

chemoautotroph /ˌkēmōˈôtəˌtrōf, ˌkemō-/

I. noun

[Biology] an organism, typically a bacterium, that derives energy from the oxidation of inorganic compounds.

II. derivatives

1. chemoautotrophic /-ˌôtəˈtrōfik /

adjective

2. chemoautotrophy /-ˈôtəˌtrōfē /

noun

chemokine /ˈkēmōˌkīn, ˈkemō-/

noun

[Physiology] any of a class of cytokines with functions that include attracting white blood cells to sites of infection.

chemoprophylaxis /ˌkēmōˌprōfəˈlaksis, ˌkemō-/

I. noun

the use of drugs to prevent disease.

II. derivatives

chemoprophylactic

adjective

chemoreceptor /ˈkēmōrəˌseptər/

I. noun

[Physiology] a sensory cell or organ responsive to chemical stimuli.

II. derivatives

chemoreception /-riˈsepSHən /

noun

chemosensory /ˌkēmōˈsensərē/

adjective

1. [Physiology] (of a sense organ or receptor) responsive to chemical stimuli.

2. [Physiology] of or relating to chemosensory organs or their action

• patients with chemosensory impairment.

chemostat /ˈkēmōˌstat, ˈkemō-/

noun

a system in which the chemical composition is kept at a controlled level, especially for the culture of microorganisms.

chemosynthesis /ˌkēmōˈsinTHəsəs ˌkemōˈsinTHəsəs/

I. noun

[Biology] the synthesis of organic compounds by bacteria or other living organisms using energy derived from reactions involving inorganic chemicals, typically in the absence of sunlight.
Compare with photosynthesis.

II. derivatives

chemosynthetic /-sinˈTHetik /

adjective

chemotaxis /ˌkēmōˈtaksəs ˌkemōˈtaksəs/

I. noun

[Biology] movement of a motile cell or organism, or part of one, in a direction corresponding to a gradient of increasing or decreasing concentration of a particular substance.

II. derivatives

chemotactic /-ˈtaktik /

adjective

chemotherapy /ˌkēmōˈTHerəpē ˌkemōˈTHerəpē/

I. noun

the treatment of disease by the use of chemical substances, especially the treatment of cancer by cytotoxic and other drugs.

II. derivatives

chemotherapist /ˌkēmōˈTHerəpəst ˌkemōˈTHerəpəst /

noun

chemotropism

I. noun

a tropism, especially of a plant, in response to a particular substance.

II. derivatives

1. chemotropic /ˌkēmōˈträpik, ˌkemō-, -ˈtrō- /

adjective

2. chemotropically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

chemtrail /ˈkemˌtrāl/

I. noun

a visible trail left in the sky by an aircraft and believed by some to consist of chemical or biological agents released as part of a covert operation.

– origin 1990s: blend of chemical and trail, on the pattern of contrail.

chemurgy /ˈkemərjē/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) the chemical and industrial use of organic raw materials.

II. derivatives

chemurgic /kəˈmərjik, ke- /

adjective

– origin 1930s: from chemo-, on the pattern of metallurgy.

Chenab /CHəˈnäb/

a river in northern India and Pakistan that rises in the Himalayas and flows through Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir to join the Sutlej River in Punjab. It is one of the five rivers that gave Punjab its name.

Chen-chiang /ˌjenjēˈäNG/

variant of Zhenjiang.

Cheney, Dick /ˈCHānē/

(1941–), US vice president 2001–09; full name Richard Bruce Cheney. A conservative Republican from Wyoming, he served as secretary of defense under President George H. W. Bush 1989–93 before becoming vice president under President George W. Bush. He was a major proponent of the US invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Chengchow /ˌjəNGˈjō/

variant of Zhengzhou.

Chengdu /ˌCHəNGˈdo͞o/

the capital of Sichuan province in western central China; pop. 3,582,000 (est. 2006).

chenille /SHəˈnēl/

I. noun

a tufted velvety cord or yarn, used for trimming furniture and making carpets and clothing.

– origin mid 18th cent.: French, literally ‘hairy caterpillar.’

Chennai /ˈCHinī/

a seaport on the eastern coast of India, capital of Tamil Nadu; pop. 4,590,300 (est. 2009).
Former name (until 1995) Madras.

Chennault, Claire Lee /SHəˈnôlt/

(1890–1958), US military pilot and officer. During World War II, he formed the “Flying Tigers,” a US volunteer group, to aid China.

cheongsam /ˌCHôNGˈsam/

I. noun

a straight, close-fitting silk dress with a high neck, short sleeves, and a slit skirt, worn traditionally by Chinese and Indonesian women.

– origin Chinese (Cantonese dialect).

Cheops /ˈkēäps/

(fl. early 26th century BC), Egyptian pharaoh of the 4th dynasty; Egyptian name Khufu. He commissioned the building of the Great Pyramid at Giza.

cheque /CHek/

noun

British spelling of check^1 (sense 4 of the noun).

Cher^1 /SHer/

a river in central France that rises in the Massif Central and flows north for 220 miles (350 km) to meet the Loire River near Tours.

Cher^2 /SHer/

(1946–), US actress and singer; born Cherilyn Sarkisian. Her first marriage was to Sonny Bono, with whom she starred on a television show 1971–74. Her movies include Silkwood (1983), Moonstruck (1987), and Tea With Mussolini (1999).

Cherbourg /ˈSHerˌbo͝or(ɡ), ˈSHər-/

a seaport and naval base in Normandy, in northern France; pop. 42,113 (2006).

Cherenkov, Pavel /CHəˈreNGˌkôv, -ˌkôf, -kəf / Cerenkov

(1904–90), Soviet physicist; full name Pavel Alekseevich Cherenkov. He investigated the effects of high-energy particles and discovered the cause of blue light (now called Cerenkov radiation) emitted by radioactive substances underwater. He shared the 1958 Nobel Prize for Physics with Ilja Mikhailovich Frank (1908–90) and Igor Yevgenyevich Tamm (1895–1971).

Cherepovets /ˌCHiripəˈv(y)ets/

a city in northwestern Russia, on the Rybinsk Reservoir; pop. 308,000 (est. 2008).

cherimoya /ˌCHerəˈmoiə, ˌCHir- / chirimoya

I. noun

1. a tropical American fruit with a flavor like pineapple and scaly green skin.

2. the small tree which bears the cherimoya fruit, native to the Andes of Peru and Ecuador.
[Annona cherimola, family Annonaceae.]

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Spanish, from Quechua, from chiri ‘cold or refreshing’ + muya ‘circle.’

cherish /ˈCHeriSH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. protect and care for (someone) lovingly

• he cared for me beyond measure and cherished me in his heart.

2. hold (something) dear

• I cherish the letters she wrote

• (as adj. cherished) cherished possessions.

3. keep (a hope or ambition) in one's mind

• he had long cherished a secret fantasy about his future.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘treat with affection’): from Old French cheriss-, lengthened stem of cherir, from cher ‘dear,’ from Latin carus.

Cherkassy /CHirˈkäsē/

Russian for Cherkasy.

Cherkasy /CHirˈkäsē/

a port in central Ukraine, on the Dnieper River; pop. 288,600 (est. 2009).
Russian name Cherkassy.

Cherkessk /CHirˈk(y)esk/

a city in the Caucasus in southern Russia, capital of the republic of Karachai-Cherkessia; pop 113,000.

chermoula /SHe(ə)rˈmo͞oˌlə, SHär-, -lä/

I. noun

(in North African cookery) a sauce or marinade for fish or meat, typically containing olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and cilantro.

– origin French, from Arabic šeṛmula.

Chernenko, Konstantin /CHəˈreNGkō/

(1911–85), Soviet statesman, general secretary of the Communist Party of the former Soviet Union and president 1984–85; full name Konstantin Ustinovich Chernenko. He died after only thirteen months in office and was succeeded by Mikhail Gorbachev.

Chernigov /CHirˈn(y)ēɡəf/

Russian for Chernihiv.

Chernihiv /ˌCHirˈn(y)ēhəf/

a port in northern Ukraine, on the Desna River; pop. 297,800 (est. 2009).
Russian name Chernigov.

Chernivtsi /ˌCHirniftˈsē/

a city in western Ukraine, in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, close to the border with Romania; pop. 249,500 (est. 2009). It was part of Romania between 1918 and 1940. Russian name Chernovtsy.

Chernobyl /CHərˈnōbəl/

a town near Kiev in Ukraine where an accident at a nuclear power station in April 1986 resulted in serious radioactive contamination in Ukraine, Belarus, and other parts of Europe.

Chernorechye /ˌCHərnəˈreCHə/

former name (until 1919) for Dzerzhinsk.

chernozem /ˈCHernəˌZHôm, -ˌzem/

I. noun

[Soil Science] a fertile black soil rich in humus, with a lighter lime-rich layer beneath. Such soils typically occur in temperate grasslands such as the Russian steppes and North American prairies.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Russian, from chërnyĭ ‘black’ + zemlya ‘earth.’

Cherokee /ˈCHerəkē/

I. noun

1. a member of an American Indian people of the southeastern US, now living on reservations in Oklahoma and North Carolina.

2. the Iroquoian language of the Cherokee, which has had its own script since 1820.

II. adjective

relating to the Cherokee or their language.

– origin from Cherokee tsaraki.

Cherokee rose

noun

a climbing rose with fragrant white flowers, native to China and naturalized in the southern US.
[Rosa laevigata, family Rosaceae.]

cheroot /SHəˈro͞ot/

I. noun

a cigar with both ends open and untapered.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French cheroute, from Tamil curuṭṭu ‘roll of tobacco.’

cherry /ˈCHerē/

I. noun

1. a small, round stone fruit that is typically bright or dark red.
See also maraschino cherry.

2. (also cherry tree) — the tree that bears the cherry.
[Genus Prunus, family Rosaceae: several species, the edible fruits being derived from the mazzard cherry (P. avium) and the morello cherry (P. cerasus).]

3. the wood of the cherry tree.

4. used in names of plants unrelated to the cherry but with similar fruits, e.g., cornelian cherry.

5. a bright or deep red color
[as modifier]

• her mouth was a bright cherry red.

6. [in sing.] — ‹vulgar slang› the hymen, as representing a woman's virginity.

II. phrases

1. a bowl of cherries

[usu. with negative] — a pleasant or enjoyable situation or experience

• being in the band isn't a bowl of cherries.

2. pop someone's cherry

‹vulgar slang› have sexual intercourse with a girl or woman who is a virgin.

– origin Middle English: from Old Northern French cherise, from medieval Latin ceresia, based on Greek kerasos ‘cherry tree, cherry.’ The final -s was lost because cherise was interpreted as plural (compare with caper^2 and pea).

Cherry Hill

a township in southwestern New Jersey, southeast of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania; pop. 70,846 (est. 2008).

cherry laurel /ˈˌCHerē ˈlôrəl/

noun

an evergreen shrub or small tree of the rose family, with leathery leaves, white flowers, and cherrylike fruits, native to the Balkans and widely cultivated.
[Prunus laurocerasus, family Rosaceae.]

cherry-pick /ˈCHerē ˌpik/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — selectively choose (the most beneficial items) from what is available

• the company should buy the whole airline and not just cherry-pick its best assets.

2. [no obj.] — [Sports] in a game such as basketball, wait near the goal for a pass, which can be converted to an easy score.

II. derivatives

cherry-picking

noun

cherry picker /ˈCHerē ˈpikər/

noun

1. ‹informal› a hydraulic crane with a railed platform at the end for raising and lowering people, for instance to work on overhead cables.

2. ‹informal› a person who cherry-picks.

cherry tomato /ˈCHerē təˈˌmādō/

noun

a spherical miniature tomato. The fruit is glossy red, or occasionally yellow, and typically eaten in salad.
[Many varieties, in particular Lycopersicon lycopersicum cerasiforme.]

Chersonese /ˈkərsəˌnēz, ˌkərsəˌnēz/

I. ancient name for the Gallipoli peninsula.

– origin from Latin chersonesus, from Greek khersonēsos, from khersos ‘dry’ + nēsos ‘island.’

chert /CHert/

I. noun

a hard, dark, opaque rock composed of silica (chalcedony) with an amorphous or microscopically fine-grained texture. It occurs as nodules (flint) or, less often, in massive beds.

II. derivatives

cherty

adjective

– origin late 17th cent. (originally dialect): of unknown origin.

cherub /ˈCHerəb/

I. noun

1. a winged angelic being described in biblical tradition as attending on God. It is represented in ancient Middle Eastern art as a lion or bull with eagles' wings and a human face, and regarded in traditional Christian angelology as an angel of the second highest order of the ninefold celestial hierarchy.

2. (pl. cherubim or cherubs) — a representation of a cherub in art, depicted as a chubby, healthy-looking child with wings.

3. (pl. cherubs) — a beautiful or innocent-looking child.

– origin Old English cherubin, ultimately (via Latin and Greek) from Hebrew kĕrūḇ, plural kĕrūḇīm. A rabbinic folk etymology, which explains the Hebrew singular form as representing Aramaic kĕ-raḇyā ‘like a child,’ led to the representation of the cherub as a child.

cherubic /CHəˈro͞obik/

I. adjective

having the childlike innocence or plump prettiness of a cherub

• a round, cherubic face.

II. derivatives

cherubically /-bik(ə)lē /

adverb

Cherubini, Luigi /ˌkero͝oˈbēnē/

(1760–1842), Italian composer; full name Maria Luigi Carlo Zenobio Salvatore Cherubini. He is principally known for his church music and operas.

chervil /ˈCHərvəl/

I. noun

a plant of the parsley family, with small white flowers and delicate fernlike leaves that are used as a culinary herb.
[Anthriscus cerefolium, family Umbelliferae.]

– origin Old English, from Latin chaerephylla, from Greek khairephullon.

Chesapeake /ˈCHesəˌpēk/

a port city in central Virginia, in the Hampton Roads area; pop. 220,111 (est. 2008).

Chesapeake Bay /ˌCHesəpēk ˈbā/

a large inlet of the North Atlantic Ocean on the US coast that extends north for 200 miles (320 km) through the states of Virginia and Maryland.

chesed /ˈKHesəd/

I. noun

[Judaism] the attribute of grace, benevolence, or compassion, especially (in Kabbalism) as one of the sephiroth.

– origin Hebrew ḥeseḏ ‘grace, loving kindness.’

Cheshire^1 /ˈCHeSHər ˈCHeSHir/

a county in western central England; county town, Chester.

Cheshire^2 /ˈCHeSHər ˈCHeSHir / Cheshire cheese

noun

a kind of firm crumbly cheese, originally made in Cheshire, England.

Cheshire cat

I. noun

a cat depicted with a broad fixed grin, as popularized through Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865).

– origin late 18th cent.: of unknown origin, but it is said that cheeses made in Cheshire, England, used to be marked with the face of a smiling cat.

chess /CHes/

I. noun

a board game of strategic skill for two players, played on a checkered board. Each player begins the game with sixteen pieces that are moved and used to capture opposing pieces according to precise rules. The object is to put the opponent's king under a direct attack from which escape is impossible (checkmate).

– origin Middle English: from Old French esches, plural of eschec ‘a check’ (see check^1).

chessboard /ˈCHesbôrd/

noun

a square board divided into sixty-four alternating dark and light squares, used for playing chess or checkers.

chessman /ˈCHesˌman ˈCHesmən/

noun

a solid figure used as a chess piece.

chess pie

noun

a type of pie filled with a mixture of eggs, butter, and sugar, to which nuts and fruits may be added.

chess set /ˈCHes set/

noun

a chessboard and a set of chessmen.

chest /CHest/

I. noun

1. the front surface of a person's or animal's body between the neck and the abdomen.

2. the whole of a person's upper trunk, especially with reference to physical size

• a 42-inch chest.

3. a large strong box, typically made of wood and used for storage or shipping

• an oak chest.

4. a small cabinet for medicines, toiletries, etc.

• the medicine chest.

5. short for chest of drawers.

6. (Brit.) the treasury or financial resources of some institutions

• the university chest.

II. phrases

1. get something off one's chest

‹informal› say something that one has wanted to say for a long time, resulting in a feeling of relief.

2. play (or keep) one's cards close to one's chest (or vest)

‹informal› be secretive and cautious about one's intentions.

III. derivatives

chested

adjective

[in combination]

• a bare-chested youth

– origin Old English cest, cyst, related to Dutch kist and German Kiste, based on Greek kistē ‘box.’

Chester /ˈCHestər/

I. a town in western England, the county town of Cheshire; pop. 80,600 (est. 2009).

II. a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, on the Delaware River, southwest of Philadelphia; pop. 36,564 (est. 2008).

chesterfield /ˈCHestərˌfēld/

I. noun

1. a sofa with padded arms and a back of the same height and curved outward at the top.

2. (chiefly Canadian) any sofa or couch.

3. a man's plain straight overcoat, typically with a velvet collar.

– origin mid 19th cent. (sense 2): named after a 19th-cent. Earl of Chesterfield.

Chesterfield /ˈCHestərˌfēld/

a city in eastern Missouri, on the Missouri River, a suburb of St. Louis; pop. 46,064 (est. 2008).

Chesterton, G. K. /ˈCHestərtən/

(1874–1936), English essayist, novelist, and critic; full name Gilbert Keith Chesterton. His novels include The Napoleon of Notting Hill (1904) and a series of detective stories featuring Father Brown, a priest with a talent for crime detection.

Chester White

noun

a pig of a prolific white breed with drooping ears, developed in Pennsylvania.

chest freezer /CHest ˈfrēzər/

noun

a freezer with a hinged lid that opens from the top, rather than a front-opening door.

chestnut /ˈCHes(t)ˌnət/

I. noun

1. (also sweet chestnut) — a glossy brown nut that may be roasted and eaten.

2. (also chestnut tree, sweet chestnut, or Spanish chestnut) — the large European tree that produces the edible chestnut, which develops within a bristly case, with serrated leaves and heavy timber.
[Castanea sativa, family Fagaceae.]

3. (also American chestnut) — a related tree (C. dentata), which succumbed to a fungus bark disease in the early 1900s. Once prolific in the eastern US, very few large specimens survived.

4. (also Chinese chestnut) — a related tree (C. mollissima) native to China and Korea, cultivated elsewhere for its edible nut. The flowers have a putrid odor.

5. short for horse chestnut.

6. used in names of trees and plants that are related to the sweet chestnut or that produce similar nuts, e.g., water chestnut.

7. a deep reddish-brown color
[as modifier]

• chestnut hair.

8. a horse of a reddish-brown color, with a brown mane and tail.

9. a small horny patch on the inside of each of a horse's legs.

II. phrases

1. an old chestnut

a joke or story that has become tedious because of its age and constant repetition.

2. pull someone's chestnuts out of the fire

succeed in a hazardous undertaking for someone else's benefit.
[with reference to the fable of a monkey using a cat's paw to extract roasting chestnuts from a fire.]

– origin early 16th cent.: from Old English chesten (from Old French chastaine, via Latin from Greek kastanea) + nut.

Chestnut Hill

I. an affluent suburban area west of Boston in Massachusetts, partly in Brookline and partly in Newton.

II. an affluent residential section in northern Philadelphia in Pennsylvania.

chestnut oak

noun

a North American oak that has leaves resembling those of the chestnut.
[Genus Quercus, family Fagaceae: several species, in particular Q. montana (or Q. prinus) of the eastern US.]

chest of drawers

noun

a piece of furniture consisting of a set of drawers in a frame, typically used for storing clothes.

chest protector

noun

[Baseball] a padded covering worn over the chest by a catcher or umpire as protection against fouled-off or errant pitches.

chest voice

noun — [in sing.]

1. the lowest register of the voice in singing or speaking.

chesty /ˈCHestē/

I. adjective

1. ‹informal› (of a woman) having large or prominent breasts.

2. ‹informal› (N. Amer.) conceited and arrogant.

3. ‹informal› having a lot of mucus in the lungs

• a chesty cough.

II. derivatives

1. chestily /ˈCHestəlē /

adverb

2. chestiness

noun

Chetnik /ˈCHetnik/

I. noun

a member of a Slavic nationalist guerrilla force in the Balkans, especially one active during World War II.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Serbian četnik, from četa ‘band, troop.’

chetrum /ˈCHētrəm, ˈCHe-/

I. noun

a monetary unit of Bhutan, equal to one hundredth of a ngultrum.

– origin Dzongkha.

cheval-de-frise /SHəˌvaldəˈfrēz/

noun

1. a portable obstacle, consisting of a wooden frame covered with spikes or barbed wire, used by the military to close off a passage or block enemy advancement.

2. shards of glass or spikes set into masonry along the top of a wall.

cheval glass /SHəˈval ˌɡlas / cheval mirror

I. noun

a tall mirror fitted at its middle to an upright frame so that it can be tilted.

– origin mid 19th cent.: cheval from French, in the sense ‘frame.’

chevalier /ˌSHevəˈlir/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› a knight.

2. ‹historical› a chivalrous man.

3. ‹historical› a member of certain orders of knighthood or of modern French orders such as the Legion of Honor.

4. (Chevalier) — ‹historical› (Brit.) ‹historical› the title of James and Charles Stuart, pretenders to the British throne.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a horseman or mounted knight): from Old French, from medieval Latin caballarius, from Latin caballus ‘horse.’ Compare with caballero and cavalier.

Chevalier, Maurice /SHəˈvalˌyā, SHəvalˈyā/

(1888–1972), French singer and actor. Notable movies: Innocents of Paris (1929), Love Me Tonight (1932), and Gigi (1958).

Cheviot /ˈSHevēət/

noun

1. a sheep of a breed with short thick wool.

2. (cheviot) — the wool or tweed cloth obtained from the Cheviot sheep.

Cheviot Hills /ˈCHēvēət, ˈCHev-, ˈCHiv-, ˈSHev-/

(also the Cheviots) — a range of hills on the border between England and Scotland.

chevon /ˈSHev(ə)n/

I. noun

the flesh of goats as food; goat meat

• the entree was crisp-on-the-outside, succulent-inside haunch of spring chevon.

– origin from French chèvre, ‘goat,’ on the pattern of mutton.

chèvre /ˈSHev(rə)/

I. noun

cheese made with goat's milk.

– origin French, literally ‘goat, she-goat,’ from Latin capra.

chevron /ˈSHevrən/

I. noun

1. a line or stripe in the shape of a V or an inverted V, especially one on the sleeve of a uniform indicating rank or length of service.

2. [Heraldry] an ordinary in the form of a broad inverted V-shape.

– origin late Middle English (in heraldic use): from Old French, based on Latin caper ‘goat’; compare with Latin capreoli (diminutive of caper) used to mean ‘pair of rafters.’

chevrotain /ˈSHevrəˌtān/

I. noun

a small deerlike mammal with short tusks, typically nocturnal and found in the tropical rain forests of Africa and southern Asia.
Also called mouse deer. [Family Tragulidae: genera Moschiola (one Asian species), Tragulus (two Asian species), and Hyemoschus (one African species).]

– origin late 18th cent.: from French, diminutive of Old French chevrot, diminutive of chèvre ‘goat.’

Chevy /ˈSHevē/

noun

‹informal› a Chevrolet car.

Chevy Chase /ˌCHevē ˈCHās/

a fashionable suburb north of Washington, DC, in Montgomery County in Maryland; pop. 9,381 (2000).

chew /CHo͞o/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. bite and work (food) in the mouth with the teeth, especially to make it easier to swallow

• he was chewing a mouthful of toast

• [no obj.] he chewed for a moment, then swallowed.

2. gnaw at (something) persistently, typically as a result of worry or anxiety

• he chewed his lip reflectively

• [no obj.] she chewed at a fingernail.

II. noun

1. a repeated biting or gnawing of something.

2. something other than food that is meant for chewing

• a dog chew

• a chew of tobacco.

III. phrases

1. chew the cud

see cud.

2. chew the fat (or rag)

‹informal› chat in a leisurely way, especially at length.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. chew someone out

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› reprimand someone severely

• he chewed me out for being late.

2. chew something over

discuss or consider something at length

• executives met to chew over the company's future.

3. chew something up

a. chew food until it is soft or in small pieces.

b. damage or destroy something as if by chewing

• the bikes were chewing up the paths.

V. derivatives

1. chewable /ˈCHo͞oəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. chewer

noun

[usu. in combination]

• a tobacco-chewer

– origin Old English cēowan; related to Dutch kauwen and German kauen.

chewing gum /ˈCHo͞oiNG ˈˌɡəm/

noun

flavored gum for chewing, typically sold in packets of individually wrapped thin strips.

chewy /ˈCHo͞oē/

I. adjective

(of food) needing to be chewed hard or for some time

• the bread was never quite fresh, always pretty chewy.

II. derivatives

chewiness

noun

Cheyenne^1 /SHīˈan, SHīˈen/

the capital of Wyoming, in the southeastern part of the state; pop. 56,915 (est. 2008).

Cheyenne^2 /SHīˈan SHīˈen/

I. noun

1. a member of an American Indian people formerly living between the Missouri and Arkansas rivers but now on reservations in Montana and Oklahoma.

2. the Algonquian language of the Cheyenne.

II. adjective

relating to the Cheyenne or their language.

– origin Canadian French, from Dakota šahíyena, ‘little Cree.’

Cheyenne River /SHīˌan ˈrivər, SHīˌen ˈrivər/

a river that flows for 530 miles (850 km) from northeastern Wyoming into western South Dakota to join the Missouri River at Lake Oahe.

Cheyne–Stokes breathing /ˈCHān ˈstōks ˈbrēT͟HiNG, ˈCHānē/

I. noun

[Medicine] a cyclical pattern of breathing in which movement gradually decreases to a complete stop and then returns to normal. It occurs in various medical conditions, and at high altitudes.

– origin late 19th cent.: named after John Cheyne (1777–1836), Scottish physician, and William Stokes (1804–78), Irish physician.

chez /SHā/

I. preposition

at the home of (used in imitation of French, often humorously)

• I spent one summer chez Grandma.

– origin mid 18th cent.: French, from Old French chiese, from Latin casa ‘cottage.’

Chhattisgarh /ˌCHədēsˈɡär/

a state in central India, formed in 2000 from the southeastern part of Madhya Pradesh; capital, Raipur.

chi^1 /kī/

noun

1. the twenty-second letter of the Greek alphabet (Χ, χ), transliterated in the traditional Latin style as ‘ch’ (as in Christ) or in the modern style as ‘kh’ (as in Khaniá and in the etymologies of this dictionary).

2. [followed by Latin genitive] (Chi) — [Astronomy] the twenty-second star in a constellation

• Chi Ophiuchi.

chi^2 /CHē / qi, ki

noun

variant spelling of qi.

chia /ˈCHēə/

noun

a plant of the mint family with clusters of small two-lipped purple flowers. Chia is common throughout California and the Great Basin.
[Salvia columbariae, family Labiatae.]

Chiang Kai-shek /ˌCHaNG ˌkīˈSHek / Jiang Jie Shi

(1887–1975), Chinese statesman and general; president of China 1928–31 and 1943–49, and of Taiwan 1950–75. He tried to unite China by military means in the 1930s but was defeated by the Communists. Forced to abandon mainland China in 1949, he set up a separate Nationalist Chinese State in Taiwan.

Chiangmai /CHēˌäNGˈmī/

a city in northwestern Thailand; pop. 148,800 (est. 2007).

Chianina /ˌkēəˈnēnə/

I. noun

an animal of a large white breed of cattle, raised for its lean meat.

– origin from Italian.

Chianti /kēˈäntē / chianti

I. noun

a dry red wine, originally produced in Tuscany, Italy.

– origin named after the Chianti Mountains, Italy.

Chiapas /CHēˈäpəs, ˈCHäpəs/

a state in southern Mexico that borders on Guatemala; capital, Tuxtla Gutiérrez.

chiaroscuro /kyärəˈsk(y)o͝orō/

I. noun

1. the treatment of light and shade in drawing and painting.

2. an effect of contrasted light and shadow created by light falling unevenly or from a particular direction on something

• the chiaroscuro of cobbled streets.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Italian, from chiaro ‘clear, bright’ (from Latin clarus) + oscuro ‘dark, obscure’ (from Latin obscurus).

chiasma /kīˈazmə/

I. noun

[Biology] a point at which paired chromosomes remain in contact during the first metaphase of meiosis, and at which crossing over and exchange of genetic material occur between the strands.
See also optic chiasma.

– origin mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek chiasma ‘crosspiece, cross-shaped mark,’ from khiazein ‘mark with the letter chi.’

chiasmus /kīˈazməs/

I. noun

a rhetorical or literary figure in which words, grammatical constructions, or concepts are repeated in reverse order, in the same or a modified form; e.g. ‘Poetry is the record of the best and happiest moments of the happiest and best minds.’

II. derivatives

chiastic /kīˈastik /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the general sense ‘crosswise arrangement’): modern Latin, from Greek khiasmos ‘crosswise arrangement,’ from khiazein ‘mark with the letter chi,’ from khi ‘chi.’

chiastolite /kīˈastəˌlīt/

I. noun

a form of the mineral andalusite containing carbonaceous inclusions that cause some sections of the mineral to show the figure of a cross.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Greek khiastos ‘arranged crosswise’ + -lite.

Chiba /ˈCHēbə/

a city in Japan, on the island of Honshu, east of Tokyo; pop. 910,142 (2007).

Chibcha /ˈCHibCHə/

I. noun

1. a member of an indigenous people of Colombia whose well-developed political structure was destroyed by Europeans.

2. the extinct Chibchan language of the Chibcha.

II. adjective

relating to the Chibcha or their language.

– origin American Spanish, from Chibcha zipa ‘chief, hereditary leader.’

Chibchan /ˈCHibCHən/

I. noun

a language family of Colombia and Central America, most members of which are extinct or nearly so.

II. adjective

of or relating to Chibchan.

chibouk /CHəˈbo͞ok, SHə- / chibouque

I. noun

a long Turkish tobacco pipe.

– origin early 19th cent.: French chibouque, from Turkish çubuk, literally ‘tube.’

chic /SHēk/

I. adjective

elegantly and stylishly fashionable.

II. noun

stylishness and elegance, typically of a specified kind

• French chic

• biker chic.

III. derivatives

chicly

adverb

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, probably from German Schick ‘skill.’

chica /ˈCHēkə/

I. noun

(US) ‹informal› a girl or young woman (often as a form of address)

• you rock, chica!

• she is one tough chica.

– origin Spanish.

Chicago /SHiˈkäɡō SHiˈkôɡō/

a city in northeastern Illinois, on Lake Michigan; pop. 2,853,114 (est. 2008). Chicago developed during the 19th century as a major grain market and food-processing center.

Chicagoan /SHiˈkäɡəwən SHiˈkôɡəwən/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of the US city of Chicago in Illinois

• something Chicagoan like pizza.

II. noun

an inhabitant of the US city of Chicago in Illinois

• she was a Chicagoan and president of the group.

Chicagoland /SHəˈkäɡōˌland/

noun

Chicago and its suburbs, considered as a unit
[often as modifier]

• a thoughtful unpretentious matchmaking service for Chicagoland singles.

Chicana /CHiˈkänä/

I. noun

(chiefly US) (in North America) a woman or girl of Mexican origin or descent.

– origin Mexican Spanish, alteration of Spanish mejicana (feminine) ‘Mexican.’ / usage: See usage at Chicano.

chicane /SHəˈkān/

I. noun

1. an artificial narrowing or turn on a road or auto-racing course.

2. ‹dated› (in card games) a hand without cards of one particular suit; a void.

3. ‹archaic› chicanery.

II. verb

1. ‹archaic› employ trickery or chicanery.

2. [with obj.] — ‹archaic› deceive or trick (someone).

– origin late 17th cent. (in the senses ‘chicanery’ and ‘use chicanery’): from French chicane (noun), chicaner (verb) ‘quibble,’ of unknown origin.

chicanery /SHəˈkān(ə)rē/

I. noun

the use of trickery to achieve a political, financial, or legal purpose

• an underhanded person who schemes corruption and political chicanery behind closed doors.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French chicanerie, from chicaner ‘to quibble’ (see chicane).

Chicano /(t)SHiˈkänō/

I. noun

(chiefly US) (in North America) a person of Mexican origin or descent, especially a man or boy.
See also Chicana.

– origin Mexican Spanish, alteration of Spanish mejicano (masculine) ‘Mexican.’ / usage: The term Chicano (derived from Mexican Spanish), and the feminine form Chicana, became current in the early 1960s, first used by politically active groups. Chicano and Chicana are still in frequent use and have become less politicized. However, Mexican-Americans with less militant political views might find the terms offensive. Hispanic is a more generic term denoting persons in the US of Latin American or Spanish descent. See also usage at Hispanic.

chicharron /ˌCHēCHəˈrōn/

I. noun

(in Mexican cooking) a piece of fried pork crackling.

– origin from American Spanish chicharrón.

Chichén Itzá /ˌCHēCHen ˈētsä/

a site in northern Yucatán, Mexico, the center of the Mayan empire after AD 918 until about 1200. Its pyramids, temples, and other structures have been partly restored.

Chichester, Sir Francis /ˈCHiCHəstər/

(1901–72), English sailor; full name Sir Francis Charles Chichester. He was the first person to sail alone around the world 1966–67 with only one stop.

Chichewa /CHəˈCHāwə/

noun

another term for Nyanja (the language).

chichi^1 /ˈSHēːSHēː ˈCHēˌCHē/

I. adjective

attempting stylish elegance but achieving only an overelaborate pretentiousness

• the chichi world of Manhattan cultural privilege.

II. noun

pretentious and overelaborate refinement

• the relentless chichi of late-eighties dining.

– origin early 20th cent. (in the sense ‘showiness or pretentious object’): from French, of imitative origin.

chichi^2 /ˈCHēˌCHē/

I. noun

(US) ‹informal› a woman's breast.

– origin late 20th cent.: military slang, of Japanese origin.

Chichimec /ˈCHēCHəˌmek/

I. noun

1. a member of a group of indigenous peoples, including the Toltecs and the Aztecs, dominant in central Mexico from the 10th to the 16th centuries.

2. the Uto-Aztecan language of the Chichimec.

– origin Spanish, from Nahuatl.

chick /CHik/

I. noun

1. a young bird, especially one newly hatched.

2. a newly hatched domestic fowl.

3. ‹informal› a young woman

• she's a great-looking chick.

II. phrases

neither chick nor child

(N. Amer.) ‹dialect› no children at all.

– origin Middle English: abbreviation of chicken.

chickadee /ˈCHikədē/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a North American titmouse, in particular: the black-capped chickadee (Parus atricapillus), with distinctive black cap and throat, and the similar but smaller Carolina chickadee (P. carolinensis).

– origin mid 19th cent.: imitative of its call.

Chickamauga Creek /ˌCHikəmôɡə ˈkrēk/

a stream that flows from northwestern Georgia into the Tennessee River, near Chattanooga in Tennessee. A brutal Civil War battle was fought along it in September 1863.

chickaree /ˈCHikəˌrē/

I. noun

a squirrel with red fur, found in the coniferous forests of North America.
[Genus Tamiasciurus, family Sciuridae: three species, including the American red squirrel (T. hudsonicus).]

– origin early 19th cent.: imitative of its call.

Chickasaw /ˈCHikəˌsô/

I. noun

1. a member of an American Indian people formerly resident in Mississippi and Alabama, and now in Oklahoma.

2. the Muskogean language of the Chickasaw.

II. adjective

relating to the Chickasaw or their language.

– origin the name in Chickasaw.

chickee /CHiˈkē, ˈCHikē/

noun

a rough, open structure consisting of palm or palmetto thatching on a log frame with a raised floor, adapted for beach use from the original Seminole design.

chicken /ˈCHikən/

I. noun

1. a domestic fowl kept for its eggs or meat, especially a young one.

2. meat from a chicken

• roast chicken.

3. ‹informal› a game in which the first person to lose nerve and withdraw from a dangerous situation is the loser.

4. a coward.

5. ‹informal› (among homosexuals) an adolescent male.

II. adjective — [predic.]

1. ‹informal› cowardly

• they were too chicken to follow the murderers into the mountains.

III. verb — [no obj.] (chicken out)

1. ‹informal› withdraw from or fail in something through lack of nerve

• the referee chickened out of giving a penalty.

IV. phrases

don't count your chickens before they're hatched

see count^1.

– origin Old English cīcen, cȳcen, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kieken and German Küchlein, and probably also to cock^1.

chicken à la king

I. noun

cooked breast of chicken in a cream sauce with mushrooms and peppers.

– origin said to be named after E. Clark King, proprietor of a New York hotel.

chicken-and-egg /ˌCHikənənˈeɡ/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. denoting a situation in which each of two things appears to be necessary to the other, making it impossible to say which came first.

chicken breast

I. noun

[Medicine] another term for pigeon breast.

II. derivatives

chicken-breasted chicken-chested

adjective

chicken feed /ˈCHikən fēd/

noun

1. food for poultry.

2. ‹informal› an insignificant amount of money

• the pay was chicken feed for the work I put in.

chicken-fried steak /ˈCHikən frīd stāk/

noun

(US) a thin piece of beef that is lightly battered and fried until crisp.

chicken hawk chickenhawk

noun

1. (US) a hawk of a type that is reputed to prey on domestic fowl.

2. (US) ‹informal› an older man who seeks younger men or boys as sexual partners.

3. (US) ‹informal› a person who speaks out in support of war, yet has avoided active military service.

chicken-hearted /ˌCHikənˈhärdəd / chicken-livered

adjective

easily frightened; cowardly.

chicken Kiev

noun

a dish consisting of a chicken breast stuffed with garlic butter, coated with breadcrumbs, and then fried or baked

• chicken Kiev is always time-consuming to prepare but it's worth it.

Chicken Little

I. noun

(N. Amer.) an alarmist or doomsayer

• my beloved capital sounds more and more these days like a barnyard filled with Chicken Littles.

– origin 1990s: from the name of a character in a children's story who repeatedly warns that the sky is falling.

chickenpox /ˈCHikənˌpäks / chicken pox

I. noun

an infectious disease causing a mild fever and a rash of itchy inflamed blisters. It is caused by the herpes zoster virus and mainly affects children, who are afterward usually immune.
Also called varicella.

– origin early 18th cent.: probably so named because of its mildness, as compared to smallpox.

chickenshit /ˈCHikənˌSHit / ‹N. Amer. vulgar slang›

I. adjective

1. worthless or contemptible (used as a general term of deprecation)

• no more chickenshit excuses.

2. cowardly.

II. noun

1. a worthless or contemptible person.

2. something worthless or petty

• names are chickenshit; they didn't need any names.

chicken wire /ˈCHikən ˌwī(ə)r/

noun

light wire netting with a hexagonal mesh.

chick flick //

noun

‹informal› a movie that appeals mainly to women.

chickling pea /ˈCHikliNG ˌpē / chickling vetch

I. noun

another term for grass pea.

– origin mid 16th cent.: based on obsolete chich ‘chickpea.’

chick lit //

noun

‹informal› ‹chiefly derogatory› literature that appeals mainly to women.

chickpea /ˈCHikˌpē/

I. noun

1. a round yellowish seed, used widely as food.
Also called garbanzo.

2. the leguminous Old World plant which bears chickpeas.
[Cicer arietinum, family Leguminosae.]

– origin early 18th cent. (earlier as chiche-pease): from late Middle English chiche (from Old French chiche, cice, from Latin cicer ‘chickpea’) + pease.

chickweed /ˈCHikˌwēd/

noun

a small plant of the pink family with deeply cleft white petals, often growing as a garden weed and sometimes eaten by poultry.
[Stellaria, Cerastium, and other genera, family Caryophyllaceae: several species, including common chickweed (S. media), with smooth leaves and stems, and mouse-ear chickweed (C. vulgatum), with hairy leaves and stems.]

chicle /ˈCHikəl/

I. noun

1. the milky latex of the sapodilla tree, used to make chewing gum.

2. another term for sapodilla.

– origin via Latin American Spanish, from Nahuatl tzictli.

Chico /ˈCHēkō/

a city in northern California, at the north end of the Sacramento Valley; pop. 83,791 (est. 2008).

Chicopee /ˈCHikəˌpē/

a city in south central Massachusetts, an industrial center on the northern side of Springfield; pop. 54,941 (est. 2008).

chicory /ˈCHikərē/

I. noun

1. a blue-flowered Mediterranean plant of the daisy family, cultivated for its edible salad leaves and carrot-shaped root.
[Cichorium intybus, family Compositae.]

2. the root of the chicory plant, which is roasted and ground for use as an additive to or substitute for coffee.

3. (N. Amer.) another term for endive.

– origin late Middle English: from obsolete French cicorée (earlier form of chicorée) ‘endive,’ via Latin from Greek kikhorion.

chide /CHīd/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. scold or rebuke

• she chided him for not replying to her letters

• [with direct speech] “You mustn't speak like that,” she chided gently.

II. derivatives

1. chider

noun

2. chidingly

adverb

– origin Old English cīdan, of unknown origin.

chief /CHēf/

I. noun

1. a leader or ruler of a people or clan

• the chief of the village

• the Tlingit chief

• [as title] an island where Chief Seattle was born.

2. the person with the highest rank in an organization

• a bureau chief

• the chief of police.

3. an informal form of address, especially to someone of superior rank or status

• it's quite simple, chief.

4. [Heraldry] an ordinary consisting of a broad horizontal band across the top of the shield.

5. the upper third of the field.

II. adjective

1. most important

• the chief reason for the spending cuts

• chief among her concerns is working alone at night.

2. having or denoting the highest rank or authority

• the government's chief adviser.

III. phrases

1. chief cook and bottle-washer

‹informal› a person who performs a variety of important but routine tasks.

2. in chief

[Heraldry] at the top; in the upper part.

3. too many chiefs and not enough Indians

too many people giving orders and not enough people to carry them out.

IV. derivatives

1. chiefdom /ˈCHēfdəm /

noun

2. chiefship /-ˌSHip /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French chief, chef, based on Latin caput ‘head.’

chief justice //

noun

1. (the title of) the presiding judge in a supreme court.

2. (Chief Justice of the United States) — (the formal title of) the chief justice of the US Supreme Court.

chiefly /ˈCHēflē/

adverb

1. above all; mainly

• he is remembered chiefly for his sonatas.

2. for the most part; mostly

• this group has consisted chiefly of conservatives.

chief master sergeant /CHēf ˈmastər ˈsärjənt/

noun

a noncommissioned officer in the US Air Force ranking above senior master sergeant and below warrant officer.

chief of staff

noun

the senior staff officer of a service or command.

chief of state

noun

the titular head of a nation as distinct from the head of the government.

chief petty officer

noun

a senior noncommissioned officer in a navy, in particular an NCO in the US Navy or Coast Guard ranking above petty officer and below senior chief petty officer.

chief rabbi /CHēːfˈrabī/

noun

(in the UK and some other countries) the preeminent rabbi of a national Jewish community.

chieftain /ˈCHēftən/

I. noun

1. the leader of a people or clan.

2. ‹informal› a powerful member of an organization.

II. derivatives

1. chieftaincy /ˈCHēft(ə)nsē /

noun

2. chieftainship /ˈCHēft(ə)nˌSHip /

noun

– origin Middle English and Old French chevetaine, from late Latin capitaneus (see captain). The spelling was altered by association with chief.

chief warrant officer

noun

a member of the US armed forces ranking above warrant officer and below the lowest-ranking commissioned officer.

chiffchaff /ˈCHifˌCHaf/

I. noun

a migratory Eurasian and North African leaf warbler with drab plumage.
[Genus Phylloscopus, family Sylviidae: two species, in particular the common P. collybita.]

– origin late 18th cent.: imitative of its call.

chiffon /SHiˈfän/

I. noun

1. a light, sheer fabric typically made of silk or nylon
[as modifier]

• a chiffon blouse.

2. [as modifier] — (of a cake or dessert) made with beaten egg whites to give a light consistency

• chiffon cake.

– origin mid 18th cent. (originally plural, denoting trimmings or ornaments on a woman's dress): from French, from chiffe ‘rag.’

chiffonade /ˌSHifəˈnäd, ˌSHifəˈnād / chiffonnade

I. noun

a preparation of shredded or finely cut leaf vegetables, used as a garnish for soup.

– origin French, from chiffonner ‘to crumple.’

chiffonier /ˌSHifəˈnir/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a tall chest of drawers, often with a mirror on top.

2. (Brit.) a low cupboard, sometimes with a raised bookshelf on top.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French chiffonnier, chiffonnière, literally ‘ragpicker,’ also denoting a chest of drawers for odds and ends.

chifforobe /ˈSHifəˌrōb/

I. noun

(US) a piece of furniture with drawers on one side and hanging space on the other.

– origin early 20th cent.: blend of chiffonier and wardrobe.

chigger /ˈCHiɡər / jigger

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a tiny mite whose parasitic larvae live on or under the skin of warm-blooded animals, where they cause irritation and dermatitis and sometimes transmit scrub typhus.
Also called harvest mite. [Genus Trombicula, family Trombiculidae: many species.]

2. another term for chigoe.

– origin mid 18th cent.: variant of chigoe.

chignon /ˈSHēnyän SHēnˈyän/

I. noun

a knot or coil of hair arranged on the back of a woman's head.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French, originally ‘nape of the neck,’ based on Latin catena ‘chain.’

chigoe /ˈCHēˌɡō/

I. noun

a tropical flea, the female of which burrows and lays eggs beneath the host's skin, causing painful sores.
Also called chigger, sand flea. [Tunga penetrans, family Tungidae.]

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French chique, from a West African language.

Chihli, Gulf of /ˈjirˈlē, ˈCHēˈlē/

another name for Bo Hai.

chihuahua /CHəˈwäwä CHiˈwäwə/

I. noun

a small dog of a smooth-haired, large-eyed breed originating in Mexico.

– origin early 19th cent.: named after Chihuahua.

Chihuahua /CHəˈwäwä, CHəˈwäwə/

I. a state in northern Mexico.

II. the capital of the state of Chihuahua, the principal city of north central Mexico; pop. 748,518 (2005).

chilaquiles /ˌCHēləˈkēlās/

I. noun

(in Mexican cooking) a dish of fried tortilla strips typically topped with a spicy tomato sauce and cheese.

– origin from Nahuatl.

chilblain /ˈCHilˌblān/

I. noun

a painful, itching swelling on the skin, typically on a hand or foot, caused by poor circulation in the skin when exposed to cold.

II. derivatives

chilblained

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from chill + blain.

child /CHīld/

I. noun

1. a young human being below the age of puberty or below the legal age of majority.

2. a son or daughter of any age.

3. an immature or irresponsible person

• she's such a child!

4. a person who has little or no experience in a particular area

• he's a child in financial matters.

5. (children) — the descendants of a family or people

• the children of Abraham.

6. (child of) — a person or thing influenced by a specified environment

• a child of the sixties

• OPEC was in a sense a child of the Cold War.

II. phrases

1. child's play

a task that is easily accomplished.

2. from a child

since childhood.

3. with child

‹formal› pregnant.

– origin Old English cild, of Germanic origin. The Middle English plural childer or childre became childeren or children by association with plurals ending in -en, such as brethren.

Child, Julia /CHīld/

(1912–2004), US chef and cookbook author; born Julia Carolyn McWilliams. Her cookbooks, beginning with Mastering the Art of French Cooking (written in 1961 with Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle), and her television cooking show The French Chef, which began on PBS in 1963, revolutionized American cooking.

Child, Lydia Maria /CHīld/

(1802–80), US abolitionist and writer; born Lydia Maria Francis. She was editor of the National Anti-Slavery Standard 1841–43 and the author of novels, children's books, and the poem “Thanksgiving Day,” which begins “Over the river and through the woods.”

child abuse /CHīld əˈbyo͞oz/

noun

physical maltreatment or sexual molestation of a child.

childbearing /ˈCHīl(d)ˌberiNG/

noun

the process of giving birth to children
[as modifier]

• women of childbearing age.

childbed /ˈCHīl(d)bed/

noun

archaic term for childbirth.

childbed fever

noun

another term for puerperal fever.

childbirth /ˈCHīl(d)bərTH/

noun

the action of giving birth to a child

• she died in childbirth.

child care /ˈCHīld ˌker/

noun

1. the action or skill of looking after children.

2. the care of children by a day-care center, babysitter, or other provider while parents are working.

child-centered /ˈCHīldˌsen(t)ərd/

adjective

giving priority to the interests and needs of children

• child-centered teaching methods.

Childe /CHīld/

I. noun — [in names]

1. ‹archaic› ‹literary› a youth of noble birth

• Childe Harold.

– origin late Old English, variant of child.

Childermas /ˈCHildərˌmas/

I. noun

‹archaic› the feast of the Holy Innocents, December 28.

– origin Old English cildramæsse, from cildra ‘of children,’ genitive plural of cild (see child) + mæsse (see Mass).

childfree /ˌCHīldˈfrē/

adjective

pertaining to adults who do not have or live with children

• I'm interested in finding a childfree computer geek-girl with a worldview similar to mine.

childhood /ˈCHīldˌho͝od/

I. noun

1. the state of being a child

• the idealized world of childhood.

2. the period during which a person is a child

• she spent her childhood in Pennsylvania

• [as modifier] a childhood friend.

– origin Old English cildhād (see child, -hood).

childish /ˈCHīldiSH/

I. adjective

1. of, like, or appropriate to a child

• childish enthusiasm.

2. silly and immature

• a childish outburst.

II. derivatives

childishness /ˈCHīldiSHnis /

noun

childishly /ˈCHīldiSHlē/

adverb

1. in the manner of a child

• a childishly innocent remark

• he was childishly eager.

2. in a silly or immature way

• he childishly chooses himself above his friends

• he was childishly rude in his dismissals.

child labor /CHīld ˈlābər/

noun

the use of children in industry or business, especially when illegal or considered inhumane.

childless /ˈCHīldləs/

I. adjective

not having any children

• a childless couple

• I am childless by choice.

II. derivatives

childlessness

noun

childlike /ˈCHīl(d)līk/

adjective

(of an adult) having good qualities associated with a child

• she speaks with a childlike directness.

childminder /ˈCHīl(d)ˌmīndər/

I. noun

(Brit.) a child-care worker or babysitter.

II. derivatives

childminding

noun

childproof /ˈCHīl(d)pro͞of/

I. adjective

designed to prevent children from injuring themselves or doing damage

• disinfectants that are fitted with childproof caps.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make inaccessible to children

• childproof those cabinets with safety latches.

childrearing /ˈCHīldˌririNG/

noun

the process of bringing up a child or children

• modern ideas about childrearing

• [as modifier] childrearing costs.

children /ˈCHildrən/

plural form of child.

Children's Crusade

a crusade to the Holy Land in 1212 by tens of thousands of children, chiefly from France and Germany. Most of the children never reached their destination, and were sold into slavery.

child restraint

noun

a device used to control and protect a child in a motor vehicle.

child's pose

noun

a yoga pose assumed by kneeling and bending one's upper body downwards until one's head touches the floor in front of one's knees

• if you feel dizzy or lightheaded, rest in child's pose.

child support

noun

court-ordered payments, typically made by a noncustodial divorced parent, to support one's minor child or children.

child trafficking

I. noun

the illegal movement of children, typically for the purposes of forced labor or sexual exploitation

• child trafficking has become a worldwide concern in the past few years.

II. derivatives

child trafficker

noun

chile^1 /ˈCHilē/

noun

variant spelling of chili.

chile^2 /CHīl/

noun

nonstandard spelling of child, used in representing chiefly southern US dialect:

• where you been, honey chile?

Chile /ˈCHilā ˈCHilē/

1. a country in South America that occupies a long coastal strip that runs down the western coast of Bolivia and Argentina, on the Pacific Ocean; pop. 16,601,700 (est. 2009); capital, Santiago; official language, Spanish.

Most of Chile was part of the Inca empire and became part of Spanish Peru after Pizarro's conquest. Independence was achieved in 1818 with help from Argentina. After the overthrow of the Marxist democrat Salvador Allende in 1973, Chile was ruled by the right-wing military dictatorship of General Pinochet until a democratically elected president took office in 1990.

Chilean /CHəˈlāən ˈCHilēən/

I. adjective

relating to Chile or its people

• the Chilean coast

• a Chilean artist.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of Chile

• a new generation of Chileans will vote for the first time this weekend.

Chilean sea bass /CHilˌāən ˈsē ˌbas/

noun

see Patagonian toothfish.

Chilean wine palm

noun

another term for coquito.

chile con queso /ˌCHilē kän ˈkāsō / chili con queso

I. noun

a thick sauce of melted cheese seasoned with chili peppers, typically served warm as a dip for tortilla chips

• if you prefer a mild chile con queso, omit the chipotle.

– origin Spanish, ‘chile with cheese.’

chile relleno /ˌCHilā rəˈyānō/

I. noun

(in Mexican cuisine) a stuffed chili pepper, typically battered and deep-fried.

– origin early 20th cent.: Spanish, literally ‘stuffed chili.’

Chile saltpeter

noun

another term for sodium nitrate, esp. as a commercial product mined in Chile and other arid parts of the world.

chili /ˈCHilē / chili pepper, chile, ‹Brit.› chilli

I. noun

1. a small hot-tasting pod of a variety of capsicum, used chopped (and often dried) in sauces, relishes, and spice powders. There are various forms with pods of differing size, color, and strength of flavor, such as cascabels and jalapeños.
[Capsicum annuum var. annuum, ‘longum’ group (or var. longum).]

2. short for chili powder.

3. short for chili con carne.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Spanish chile, from Nahuatl chilli.

chiliast /ˈkilēˌast/

I. noun

another term for millenarian.

II. derivatives

1. chiliasm /ˈkilēˌazəm /

noun

2. chiliastic /ˌkilēˈastik /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: via late Latin from Greek khiliastēs, from khilias ‘a thousand years,’ from khilioi ‘thousand.’

chiliburger /ˈCHilēˌbərɡər/

noun

a hamburger with a topping of chili con carne.

chili con carne /ˌCHilā kän ˈkärnē/

I. noun

a spicy stew of beef and red chilies or chili powder, often with beans and tomatoes.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Spanish chile con carne, literally ‘chili pepper with meat.’

chili dog

noun

(N. Amer.) a hot dog garnished with chili con carne.

chili powder /ˈCHilē ˈpoudər/

noun

a hot-tasting spice made from ground dried red chilies, sometimes with other spices.

chili sauce

noun

a hot sauce made with tomatoes, chilies, and spices.

chill /CHil/

I. noun

1. an unpleasant feeling of coldness in the atmosphere, one's surroundings, or the body

• there was a chill in the air

• the disease begins abruptly with chills, headaches, and dizziness.

2. a feverish cold

• we had better return before you catch a chill.

3. a coldness of manner

• a long-term chill in relations could hurt commerce.

4. a depressing influence

• his statements have cast a chill over this whole country.

5. a sudden and powerful feeling of fear

• a chill ran down my spine.

• his words sent a chill of apprehension down my spine.

6. a metal mold or part of a mold, often cooled, designed to ensure rapid or even cooling of metal during casting.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (someone) cold

• I'm chilled to the bone.

2. cool (food or drink), typically in a refrigerator

• chill the soup slightly before serving.

3. [no obj.] — (of food or drink) be cooled by chilling

• the beers are chilling in the cooler.

4. horrify or frighten (someone)

• the city was chilled by the violence

• (as adj. chilling) a chilling account of the prisoners' fate.

5. [no obj.] (also chill out) — ‹informal› calm down and relax

• I can lean back and chill

• chill out, okay?

6. pass time without a particular aim or purpose, especially with other people

• we had a week at home and we chilled out.

III. adjective

1. chilly

• the chill gray dawn

• ‹figurative› the chill winds of public censure.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› very relaxed or easygoing

• I'm kind of a relaxed, chill guy

• the island is really chill and laid-back.

IV. phrases

1. chill someone's blood

horrify or terrify someone.

2. take the chill off

warm slightly.

V. derivatives

1. chillness /ˈCHilnəs /

noun

2. chillsome /-səm /

adjective

( — ‹literary›

– origin Old English cele, ciele ‘cold, coldness,’ of Germanic origin; related to cold.

chillax /ˈCHilaks/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹informal› calm down and relax

• you can dance to your favorite tune, chillax, or have friends over.

– origin early 21st cent.: blend of chill and relax.

chilled /CHild/

adjective

1. (of food or drink) cooled in a refrigerator

• a glass of chilled white wine

• chilled artichoke soup.

2. ‹informal› very relaxed

• by Sunday evening I'm usually feeling pretty chilled

• the chilled atmosphere makes this a great way to enjoy some typical French cuisine.

chiller /ˈCHilər/

noun

1. a machine for cooling something, especially a cold cabinet or refrigerator for keeping stored food a few degrees above freezing.

2. short for spine-chiller.

chill factor

noun

another term for windchill.

Chillicothe /ˌCHiləˈkäTHē, -ˈkôTHē/

a historic city in south central Ohio, an early capital of the state; pop. 22,296 (est. 2008).

chillingly /ˈCHiliNGlē/

adverb

in an unsettling or horrifying way

• her troubled childhood was brilliantly and chillingly evoked in her memoir

• [as submodifier] a chillingly cold-blooded plan.

chill pill

noun

‹informal› a notional pill taken to make a person calm down or relax

• is Tom right to get so uptight, or should he just take a chill pill?

chillum /ˈCHiləm/

I. noun

1. a hookah.

2. a pipe used for smoking marijuana.

– origin from Hindi cilam.

chilly /ˈCHilē/

I. adjective

1. uncomfortably cool or cold

• it had turned chilly

• a chilly day.

2. (of a person) feeling cold

• I felt a bit chilly.

3. unfriendly

• a chilly reception.

II. derivatives

chilliness /ˈCHilēnəs /

noun

Chilopoda /kīˈläpədə / ‹Zoology›

I. a class of myriapod arthropods that comprises the centipedes.

II. derivatives

chilopod /ˈkīləˌpäd /

noun

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek kheilos ‘lip’ + pous, pod- ‘foot.’

Chilpancingo /ˌCHēlpänˈsiNGɡō/

a city in southwestern Mexico, capital of the state of Guerrero; pop. 166,796 (2005).

Chiltern Hundreds /ˌCHiltərn ˈhəndrədz/

I. (in the UK) a Crown manor, whose administration is a nominal office for which a member of Parliament applies as a way of resigning from the House of Commons.

– origin from the Chiltern Hills in southern England and Hundreds (see the noun hundred).

Chiluba /CHəˈlo͞obə/

noun

another term for Luba (the language).

Chilung /ˌjēˈlo͝oNG / Chi-lung, Keelung

a chief port and naval base in Taiwan, at the northern tip of the island; pop. 390,400 (est. 2007).

chimbley /ˈCHimblē/

noun

dialect form of chimney.

Chimborazo /ˌCHimbəˈräzō, ˌSHim-/

the highest peak in the Andes in Ecuador. It rises to 20,487 feet (6,310 m).

Chimbote /CHēmˈbōˌtā/

an industrial port city in west central Peru, on the Pacific Ocean north of Lima; pop. 334,600 (est. 2007).

chime^1 /CHīm/

I. noun — (often chimes)

1. a bell or a metal bar or tube, typically one of a set tuned to produce a melodious series of ringing sounds when struck.

2. a melodious ringing sound produced by striking a set of chimes

• I hear the chimes of the hour from the courthouse.

3. (chimes) — a set of tuned metal rods used as an orchestral instrument.

4. (chimes) — a set of tuned bells used as a doorbell.

5. [Bell-ringing] a stroke of the clapper against one or both sides of a scarcely moving bell.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a bell or clock) make melodious ringing sounds, typically to indicate the time
[with complement]

• the clock chimed eight.

2. be in agreement; harmonize

• his poem chimes with our modern experience of loss.

III. phrasal verbs

chime in

a. interject a remark

• “Yes, you do that,” Doreen chimed in eagerly.

b. join in harmoniously.

IV. derivatives

chimer /ˈCHīmər /

noun

– origin Middle English (in the senses ‘cymbal’ and ‘ring out’): probably from Old English cimbal (see cymbal), later interpreted as chime bell.

chime^2 /CHīm / chimb

I. noun

the projecting rim at the end of a cask.

– origin late Middle English: probably from an Old English word related to Dutch kim and German Kimme. Compare with chine^3.

chimenea /ˌCHiməˈnēə ˌCHiməˈnāə / chiminea

I. noun

an earthenware outdoor fireplace shaped like a light bulb, with the bulbous end housing the fire and typically supported by a wrought-iron stand.

– origin 1990s: Spanish, ‘chimney.’

chimera /kīˈmirə kəˈmirə / chimaera

I. noun

1. (Chimera) — (in Greek mythology) a fire-breathing female monster with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail.

2. any mythical animal with parts taken from various animals.

3. a thing that is hoped or wished for but in fact is illusory or impossible to achieve

• the economic sovereignty you claim to defend is a chimera.

4. [Biology] an organism containing a mixture of genetically different tissues, formed by processes such as fusion of early embryos, grafting, or mutation

• the sheeplike goat chimera.

5. a DNA molecule with sequences derived from two or more different organisms, formed by laboratory manipulation.

6. (usu. chimaera) — a cartilaginous marine fish with a long tail, an erect spine before the first dorsal fin, and typically a forward projection from the snout.
[Subclass Hoplocephali: three families, in particular Chimaeridae. See also rabbitfish, ratfish.]

II. derivatives

1. chimeric /kīˈmerik kəˈmerik /

adjective

2. chimerical /kīˈmerək(ə)l kəˈmerək(ə)l /

adjective

3. chimerically

adverb

– origin late Middle English: via Latin from Greek khimaira ‘she-goat or chimera.’

chimerism /kīˈmi(ə)rˌizəm, ˈkīməˌrizəm/

noun

[Biology] the state of being a genetic chimera.

chimichanga /ˌCHimiˈCHäNGɡə, -ˈCHaNGɡə/

I. noun

a tortilla wrapped around a filling, typically of meat, and deep-fried.

– origin Mexican Spanish, literally ‘trinket.’

chimichurri /ˌCHimiˈCHo͝orē/

I. noun

(in South American and Mexican cooking) a piquant sauce or marinade traditionally used on grilled meat, typically containing parsley, garlic, vinegar, olive oil, and flakes of chili pepper.

• often billed as ‘Argentine barbecue sauce,’ chimichurri extends its influence far beyond the grill.

– origin Argentinian Spanish: origin unknown.

chimney /ˈCHimnē/

I. noun

1. a vertical channel or pipe that conducts smoke and combustion gases up from a fire or furnace and typically through the roof of a building.

2. the part of a chimney that extends above the roof; a chimney stack.

3. a glass tube that protects the flame of a lamp.

4. a steep narrow cleft by which a rock face may be climbed.

– origin Middle English (denoting a fireplace or furnace): from Old French cheminee ‘chimney, fireplace,’ from late Latin caminata, perhaps from camera caminata ‘room with a fireplace,’ from Latin caminus ‘forge, furnace,’ from Greek kaminos ‘oven.’

chimney breast /ˈCHimnē ˌbrest/

noun

a part of an interior wall that projects to surround a chimney.

chimney corner /ˈCHimnē ˈˌkôrnər/

noun

a warm seat at the side of an old-fashioned fireplace.

chimney piece /ˈCHimnē pēs/

noun

(Brit.) a mantelpiece.

chimney pot /ˈCHimnē pät/

noun

an earthenware or metal pipe at the top of a chimney, narrowing the aperture and increasing the updraft.

chimney stack /ˈCHimnē stak/

noun

the part of a chimney that projects above a roof.

chimney sweep /ˈCHimnē swēp/

noun

a person whose job is cleaning out the soot from chimneys.

chimney swift

noun

the common swift found over the eastern part of North America, with mainly dark gray plumage.
[Chaetura pelagica, family Apodidae.]

chimp /CHimp/

noun

informal term for chimpanzee.

chimpanzee /ˌCHimˌpanˈzē ˌCHimˈpanzē/

I. noun

a great ape with large ears, mainly black coloration, and lighter skin on the face, native to the forests of western and central Africa. Chimpanzees show advanced behavior such as the making and using of tools.
[Genus Pan, family Pongidae: the common chimpanzee (P. troglodytes) and the bonobo.]

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French chimpanzé, from Kikongo.

chin /CHin/

I. noun

the protruding part of the face below the mouth, formed by the apex of the lower jaw.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. draw one's body up so as to bring one's chin level with or above (a horizontal bar) with one's feet off the ground, as an exercise.

III. phrases

1. keep one's chin up

‹informal› remain cheerful in difficult circumstances

• keep your chin up, we're not lost yet.

2. take it on the chin

endure or accept misfortune courageously or stoically.

IV. derivatives

chinned

adjective

[in combination]

• square-chinned

– origin Old English cin, cinn, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kin, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin gena ‘cheek’ and Greek genus ‘jaw.’

Chin

variant spelling of Jin.

china /ˈCHīnə/

I. noun

1. a fine white or translucent vitrified ceramic material

• a plate made of china

• [as modifier] a china cup.

Also called porcelain.

2. household tableware or other objects made from china or a similar ceramic material

• the breakfast china.

– origin late 16th cent. (as an adjective): from Persian chīnī used attributively relating to China, where it was originally made.

China /ˈCHīnə/

I. a country in eastern Asia, the third largest and most populous in the world; pop. 1,338,613,000 (est. 2009); capital, Beijing; language, Chinese (Mandarin is the official form).
Official name People's Republic of China.

Chinese civilization stretches back until at least the 3rd millennium BC, the country being ruled by a series of dynasties until the Qing (or Manchu) dynasty was overthrown by Sun Yat-sen in 1911; China was proclaimed a republic the following year. After World War II, the Kuomintang government of Chiang Kai-shek was overthrown by the Communists under Mao Zedong, and the People's Republic of China was declared in 1949. Market-oriented reforms were introduced in the last quarter of the twentieth century.

China, Republic of

official name for Taiwan.

China aster

noun

a Chinese plant of the daisy family, cultivated for its bright showy flowers.
[Callistephus chinensis, family Compositae.]

chinaberry /ˈCHīnəˌberē / Chinaberry

noun

1. a tall tree of the mahogany family native to Asia and Australasia, bearing fragrant lilac flowers and yellow berries. It has become naturalized in parts of North America.
[Melia azedarach, family Meliaceae.]

2. the fruit of the chinaberry tree, used as beads and to make insecticides

• a rosary made of chinaberries.

china blue

noun

a pale grayish blue.

china clay /ˈˌCHīnə ˈˌklā/

noun

another term for kaolin.

Chinaman /ˈCHīnəmən/

noun

‹dated› ‹offensive› a native of China.

china marker

noun

a waxy pencil used to write on china, glass, or other hard surfaces.

chinar /CHəˈnär / chinar tree

I. noun

the oriental plane tree, native from southeastern Europe to northern Iran.
[Platanus orientalis, family Platanaceae.]

– origin from Persian chinār.

China rose

noun

1. a Chinese rose that was introduced into Europe in the 19th century.
[Rosa chinensis, family Rosaceae.]

2. any of a number of garden rose varieties derived from crosses of this plant.

3. a tropical shrubby evergreen hibiscus, cultivated for its large showy flowers.
[Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, family Malvaceae.]

China Sea /ˈCHīnə ˈˌsē/

the part of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of China, divided by the island of Taiwan into the East China Sea in the north and the South China Sea in the south.

china stone

noun

partly kaolinized granite containing plagioclase feldspar, ground and mixed with kaolin to make porcelain.

China syndrome

I. noun

a hypothetical sequence of events following the meltdown of a nuclear reactor, in which the core melts through its containment structure and deep into the earth.

– origin 1970s: from China (as being on the opposite side of the earth from a reactor in the US).

China tea /ˈCHīnə tē/

noun

tea made from a small-leaved type of tea plant grown in China, typically flavored by smoke curing or the addition of flower petals.

Chinatown /ˈCHīnəˌtoun/

noun

a district of any non-Chinese town, especially a city or seaport, in which the population is predominantly of Chinese origin.

china tree China tree

noun

another term for chinaberry.

chinaware /ˈCHīnəˌwer/

noun

dishes made of china.

chinch /CHin(t)SH / chinch bug

I. noun

a plant-eating ground bug that forms large swarms on grasses and rushes.
[Two species in the family Lygaeidae, suborder Heteroptera: the American Blissus leucopterus, which is a major pest of cereal crops, and the European Ischnodemus sabuleti.]

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘bedbug’): from Spanish chinche, from Latin cimex, cimic-.

chincherinchee /ˌCHinCHəˈrinCHē, -rinˈCHē/

I. noun

a white-flowered South African lily.
[Ornithogalum thyrsoides, family Liliaceae.]

– origin early 20th cent.: imitative of the squeaky sound made by rubbing its stalks together.

chinchilla /CHinˈCHilə/

I. noun

1. a small South American rodent with soft gray fur and a long bushy tail.
[Genus Chinchilla, family Chinchillidae: two species, in particular C. lanigera.]

2. a cat or rabbit of a breed with silver-gray or gray fur.

3. the highly valued fur of the chinchilla, or of the chinchilla rabbit.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Spanish, from Aymara or Quechua.

Chinchilla, Laura /CHinˈCHē(y)ə/

(1959–), president of Costa Rica since 2010; full name Laura Chinchilla Miranda.

Chincoteague Island /ˌSHiNGkəˈtēɡ, ˌCHiNG-/

an island in eastern Virginia, west of Assateague Island, noted for its wild horses.

Chincoteague pony /ˌSHiNGkəˌtēɡ ˈpōnē, ˈCHiNGkəˌtēɡ ˈpōnē/

noun

a small, hardy horse found running wild on the islands of Chincoteague and Assateague off the Virginia and Maryland coasts.

Chindit /ˈCHindit/

I. noun

a member of the Allied forces behind the Japanese lines in Burma in 1943–45.

– origin World War II: from Burmese chinthé, a mythical creature.

Chindwin /ˈCHinˌdwən/

a river that rises in northern Burma (Myanmar) and flows south for 550 miles (885 km) to meet the Irrawaddy River.

chine^1 /CHīn/

I. noun

1. a backbone, especially that of an animal as it appears in a cut of meat.

2. a cut of meat containing all or part of this.

3. a mountain ridge or arête.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. cut (meat) across or along the backbone.

– origin Middle English: from Old French eschine, based on a blend of Latin spina ‘spine’ and a Germanic word meaning ‘narrow piece,’ related to shin.

chine^2 /CHīn/

I. noun

(Brit.) a deep, narrow ravine formed by running water.

– origin Old English: cinu ‘cleft, chink,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch keen, also to chink^1.

chine^3 /CHīn/

I. noun

the angle where the bottom of a boat or ship meets the side.

– origin late Middle English: variant of chime^2 (the original sense).

Chinese /ˌCHīˈnēz/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to China or its language, culture, or people.

2. belonging to or relating to the people forming the dominant ethnic group of China and widely dispersed elsewhere.
Also called Han.

II. noun

1. the Chinese language.

2. a native or inhabitant of China, or a person of Chinese descent.
Chinese, a member of the Sino-Tibetan language family, is the world's most commonly spoken first language, with an estimated 1.2 billion native speakers worldwide. The script is logographic, using characters that originated as stylized pictographs but now also represent abstract concepts and the sounds of syllables. Though complex, it permits written communication between speakers of the many dialects, most of which are mutually incomprehensible in speech. About 8,000 characters are in everyday use, some having been simplified during the 20th century. For transliteration into the Roman alphabet, the Pinyin system is now usually used.

Chinese anise

noun

another term for star anise.

Chinese artichoke

noun

an Asian plant of the mint family, cultivated for its edible tubers.
[Genus Stachys, family Labiatae: several species, esp. S. sieboldii and S. affinis.]

Chinese black mushroom

noun

another term for shiitake.

Chinese box

noun

each of a series of nested boxes.

Chinese cabbage /ˌCHīˈnēz ˈkabij/

noun

an oriental cabbage that does not form a firm heart.
[Genus Brassica, family Brassicaceae: two species, bok choy (B. chinensis), which has smooth tapering leaves, and pe-tsai (B. pekinenis), which resembles lettuce; they are often treated as varieties of B. rapa.]

Chinese checkers

plural noun — [usu. treated as sing.]

1. a board game for two to six players who attempt to move marbles or counters from one corner to the opposite one on a star-shaped board.

Chinese chives

plural noun

an Asian relative of chives, with a garliclike flavor.
Also called garlic chives. [Allium tuberosum, family Liliaceae (or Alliaceae).]

Chinese date

noun

another term for jujube.

Chinese fire drill

noun

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› ‹offensive› a state of disorder or confusion.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› ‹offensive› a prank in which the passengers of a motor vehicle that is stopped at an intersection get out of the vehicle, circle it, and return to their seats.

Chinese gooseberry /ˌCHīˈnēz ˈɡo͞osˌberē/

noun

another term for kiwi fruit.

Chinese kale

noun

a leafy green Asian plant of the cabbage family, closely related to broccoli but with more leaf and stem and much smaller florettes. It is commonly used in Asian cooking.
[Brassica alboglabra, family Brassicaceae.]

Chinese lantern /ˌCHīˈnēz ˈlan(t)ərn/

noun

1. a collapsible paper lantern.

2. a Eurasian plant with white flowers and globular orange fruits enclosed in an orange-red papery calyx. The stems bearing these are dried and used for decoration.
[Physalis alkekengi, family Solanaceae.]

Chinese New Year

noun

the Chinese festival marking the start of the new year, beginning on the second new moon after the winter solstice and ending on the full moon fifteen days later. It is marked by visits to family and friends, special meals, fireworks, and gift giving.
Also called Spring Festival.

Chinese parsley

noun

another term for coriander.

Chinese pear

noun

another term for Asian pear.

Chinese puzzle /ˌCHīˈnēz ˈpəzəl/

noun

1. an intricate puzzle consisting of many interlocking pieces.

2. a very complicated or perplexing situation.

Chinese radish

noun

another term for daikon.

Chinese red

noun

a vivid orange-red.

Chinese restaurant syndrome

noun

an illness marked by short attacks of weakness, numbness, palpitations, and headaches, often attributed to overconsumption of monosodium glutamate (commonly used as a seasoning in Chinese cooking).

Chinese rhubarb

noun

a tall perennial plant with palmate leaves, whitish flowers, and winged fruits. The dried rhizomes and roots are used medicinally.
[Rheum longifolia, family Polygonaceae.]

Chinese wall

I. noun

an insurmountable barrier, especially to the passage of information or communication.

– origin early 20th cent.: with allusion to the Great Wall of China.

Chinese whispers /ˌCHīˈnēz ˈ(h)wispərz/

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. another term for the game of telephone (sense 2 of the noun).

Chinese white

noun

white pigment made from zinc oxide.

ching /CHiNG/

I. noun

an abrupt high-pitched ringing sound, typically one made by a cash register.

– origin imitative.

Chinglish /ˈCHiNGɡliSH/

noun

‹informal› a blend of Chinese and English, in particular a variety of English used by speakers of Chinese, incorporating some Chinese vocabulary or constructions.

• he speaks Mandarin Chinese but often uses a form of Chinglish.

chink^1 /CHiNGk/

I. noun

1. a narrow opening or crack, typically one that admits light

• a chink in the curtains.

2. a patch of light admitted by a narrow opening or crack

• I noticed a chink of light under the door.

II. phrases

a chink in someone's armor

a weak point in someone's character, arguments, or ideas, making them vulnerable to attack or criticism.

– origin mid 16th cent.: related to chine^2.

chink^2 /CHiNGk/

I. verb

make or cause to make a light and high-pitched ringing sound, as of glasses or coins striking together
[no obj.]

• the chain joining the handcuffs chinked

• [with obj.] they chinked glasses and kissed.

II. noun

a high-pitched ringing sound

• the chink of glasses.

– origin late 16th cent.: imitative.

Chink /CHiNGk/

I. noun

‹informal› ‹offensive› a Chinese person.

– origin late 19th cent.: irregular formation from China.

chinkara /CHiNGˈkärə/

I. noun

(in South Asia) the Indian gazelle, which occurs from Iran to central India.
[Gazella bennettii, family Bovidae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Hindi cikārā, from Sanskrit chikkāra.

Chinkiang /ˌjinjēˈäNG/

variant of Zhenjiang.

Chinky /ˈCHiNGkē / ‹informal, offensive›

I. noun

a Chinese person.

II. adjective

Chinese.

chinless /ˈCHinlis/

adjective

1. (of a person) lacking a well-defined chin.

2. ‹informal› lacking strength of character; ineffectual.

chin music

noun

1. (US) ‹informal› idle chatter.

2. (US) ‹informal› [Baseball] used to refer to a pitched ball that passes very close to the batter's chin

• Clemens delivered some wicked chin music to Hernandez.

chino /ˈCHēnō/

I. noun

1. a cotton twill fabric, typically khaki-colored.

2. (chinos) — casual pants made from chino or a similar fabric.

– origin 1940s: from Latin American Spanish, literally ‘toasted’ (referring to the typical color).

Chino /ˈCHēnō/

a city in southwestern California, east of Los Angeles; pop. 83,031 (est. 2008).

Chino-

combining form

equivalent to Sino-.

chinois /SHinˈwä, SHēn-/

noun

a cone-shaped sieve with a closely woven mesh for straining sauces.

chinoiserie /ˌSHēnˌwäzəˈrē ˌSHēnˈwäz(ə)rē/

I. noun

1. the imitation or evocation of Chinese motifs and techniques in Western art, furniture, and architecture, especially in the 18th century.

2. chinoiserie objects or decorations

• a piece of chinoiserie

• one room has red velvet and chinoiseries.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French, from chinois ‘Chinese.’

chinook /SHəˈno͝ok, CHə-/

I. noun

1. (also chinook wind) — a warm dry wind that blows down the east side of the Rocky Mountains at the end of winter.

2. (also chinook salmon) — a large North Pacific salmon that is an important commercial food fish.
[Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, family Salmonidae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from attributive use of Chinook.

Chinook /SHəˈno͝ok, CHə-/

I. noun

1. a member of an American Indian people originally inhabiting the region around the lower Columbia River in Oregon and Washington.

2. the language of the Chinook.

II. adjective

relating to the Chinook or their language.

– origin from c'inúk, a Salishan word for the name of a Chinook village.

Chinook Jargon

noun

an extinct pidgin composed of elements from Chinook, Nootka, English, French, and other languages, formerly used in the Pacific Northwest.

chinquapin /ˈCHiNGkəˌpin / chinkapin

I. noun

1. a North American chestnut tree.
[Several species in the family Fagaceae, in particular the Allegheny chinquapin (Castanea pumila).]

2. the edible nut of a chinquapin tree.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Virginia Algonquian.

chinstrap /ˈCHinˌstrap/

noun

a strap attached to a hat, helmet, or other headgear, designed to hold it in place by fitting under the wearer's chin.

chintz /CHin(t)s/

I. noun

printed multicolored cotton fabric with a glazed finish, used especially for curtains and upholstery

• a sofa upholstered in chintz

• [as modifier] floral chintz curtains.

– origin early 17th cent. (as chints, plural of chint, denoting a stained or painted calico cloth imported from India): from Hindi chīṃṭ ‘spattering, stain.’

chintzy /ˈCHin(t)sē/

I. adjective

1. (Brit.) of, like, or decorated with chintz

• brighten the room with fresh paint and chintzy fabrics.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› brightly colorful but gaudy and tasteless.

3. ‹informal› cheap and of poor quality.

4. miserly

• a chintzy salary increase.

II. derivatives

1. chintzily /ˈCHintsəlē /

adverb

2. chintziness

noun

chin-up /ˈCHinˌəp/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) another term for pull-up (sense 1).

chinwag /ˈCHinˌwaɡ / ‹informal› chin wag

I. noun

a chat.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. have a chat.

Chios /ˈkēˌäs/

I. a Greek island in the Aegean Sea; pop. 53,100 (2008).
Greek name Khios.

II. derivatives

Chian /ˈkēən, ˈkī- /

noun, adjective

chip /CHip/

I. noun

1. a small piece of something removed in the course of chopping, cutting, or breaking something, especially a hard material such as wood or stone

• mulch the shrubs with cedar chips.

2. a hole or mark on a hard object or surface where a small piece has broken of

• a chip on his tooth.

3. (Brit.) wood or woody fiber split into thin strips and used for weaving hats or baskets.

4. (N. Amer.) a thin slice of food made crisp by being fried, baked, or dried and typically eaten as a snack

• tortilla chips dipped in salsa

• banana chips.

5. a small chunk of candy added to desserts or sweet snacks, especially of chocolate.

6. (chips) — (chiefly Brit.) French fries

• an order of fish and chips.

7. short for microchip.

8. a counter used in certain gambling games to represent money

• a poker chip.

9. (in golf, soccer, and other sports) a short lofted kick or shot with the ball.

10. [Tennis] a softly sliced return intended to land between the net and the opponent's service line.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. cut or break (a small piece) from the edge or surface of a hard material

• we had to chip ice off the upper deck.

2. [no obj.] — (of a material or object) break at the edge or on the surface

• the paint had chipped off the gate.

3. cut pieces off (a hard material) to alter its shape or break it up

• it required a craftsman to chip the blocks of flint to the required shape

• [no obj.] she chipped away at the ground outside the door.

4. (in golf, soccer, and other sports) kick or strike (a ball or shot) to produce a short lobbed shot or pass

• he chipped a superb shot.

III. phrases

1. a chip off the old block

‹informal› someone who resembles his or her parent, especially in character.

2. a chip on one's shoulder

‹informal› a deeply ingrained grievance or feeling of resentment, often deriving from a sense of inferiority and marked by aggressive behavior.
[from an old custom of placing a chip of wood on one's shoulder as a challenge to a rival: if the rival knocked the chip off they were agreeing to fight.]

3. when the chips are down

‹informal› when a very serious and difficult situation arises.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. chip away

gradually and relentlessly make something smaller or weaker

• rivals may chip away at one's profits by undercutting product prices.

2. chip in (or chip something in)

contribute something as one's share of a joint activity, cost, etc.

• the rookie pitcher chipped in with nine saves and five wins

• the council will chip in a further $30,000 a year.

– origin Middle English: related to Old English forcippian ‘cut off.’

chipboard /ˈCHipbôrd/

noun

another term for particleboard.

Chipewyan /ˌCHipəˈwīən/

I. noun

1. a member of a Dene people of northwestern Canada.
Do not confuse with Chippewa.

2. the Athabaskan language of the Chipewyan.

II. adjective

relating to the Chipewyan or their language.

– origin from Cree čīpwayān, literally ‘(wearing) pointed-skin (garments).’

chipmaker /ˈCHipˌmākər/

noun

a company that manufactures microchips.

chipmunk /ˈCHipˌməNGk/

I. noun

a burrowing ground squirrel with cheek pouches and light and dark stripes running down the body, found in North America and northern Eurasia.
[Genus Tamias, family Sciuridae: many species, including the eastern chipmunk (T. striatus), common in the eastern US.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Ojibwa.

chipotle /CHəˈpōtlā/

I. noun

a smoked hot chili pepper used especially in Mexican cooking.

– origin Mexican Spanish, from Nahuatl.

Chippendale /ˈCHipənˌdāl/

adjective

(of furniture) designed, made by, or in the style of Thomas Chippendale.

Chippendale, Thomas /ˈCHipənˌdāl/

(1718–79), English furniture-maker and designer. He produced furniture in a neoclassical vein, with elements of the French rococo, chinoiserie, and Gothic revival styles.

chipper^1 /ˈCHipər/

I. adjective

‹informal› cheerful and lively.

– origin mid 19th cent.: perhaps from northern English dialect kipper ‘lively.’

chipper^2 /ˈCHipər/

noun

1. a person or thing that turns something into chips.

2. a machine for chipping the trunks and limbs of trees.

Chippewa /ˈCHipəˌwä / Chippeway

I. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) another term for Ojibwa. Do not confuse with Chipewyan.

– origin alteration of Ojibwa.

chipping sparrow

I. noun

a common American songbird related to the buntings, with a chestnut crown and a white stripe over the eye.
[Spizella passerina, family Emberizidae (subfamily Emberizinae).]

– origin early 19th cent.: chipping from chip ‘chirp,’ with reference to the bird's repetitive chirping song.

chippy^1 /ˈCHipē / ‹informal›

I. noun

1. (Brit.) a fish-and-chip shop.

2. (Brit.) a carpenter.

II. adjective

1. (of a person) touchy and defensive, especially on account of having a grievance or a sense of inferiority.

2. (N. Amer.) (of an ice-hockey game or player) rough and belligerent, with or incurring numerous penalties.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from chip + -y^2, -y^1; adjective is from the phrase a chip on one's shoulder.

chippy^2 /ˈCHipē / chippie

I. noun

‹informal› a prostitute or promiscuous young woman.

– origin late 19th cent.: of uncertain origin; perhaps from chip + -y^1, or from cheap.

chipset /ˈCHipˌset/

noun

a collection of integrated circuits that form the set needed to make an electronic device such as a computer motherboard or portable telephone.

chip shot

noun

[Golf] a stroke at which the ball is or must be chipped into the air.

Chirac, Jacques /SHēˈräk/

(1932–), French statesman; prime minister 1974–76 and 1986–88; president 1995–2007; full name Jacques René Chirac.

chiral /ˈkīrəl/

I. adjective

[Chemistry] asymmetric in such a way that the structure and its mirror image are not superimposable. Chiral compounds are typically optically active; large organic molecules often have one or more chiral centers where four different groups are attached to a carbon atom.

II. derivatives

chirality /kīˈralitē /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek kheir ‘hand’ + -al.

chi-rho /ˈkī ˌrō/

noun

a monogram of chi (Χ) and rho (Ρ) as the first two letters of Greek Khristos Christ, used as a Christian symbol.

Chiricahua /ˌCHirəˈkäwə/

I. noun

1. a member of an Apache people, formerly located in southern New Mexico, southeastern Arizona, and northern Mexico, now living primarily in Oklahoma and New Mexico.

2. the Athabaskan language of the Chiricahua.

II. adjective

relating to the Chiricahua or their language.

Chiricahua Mountains /ˌCHirəˌkäwə ˈmount(ə)nz/

a range in southeastern Arizona, on the Mexican border, controlled by Cochise and other Apache leaders during the 19th century.

chiro- cheiro-

I. combining form

of the hand or hands

• chiromancy.

– origin from Greek kheir ‘hand.’

chirography /kīˈräɡrəfē/

I. noun

handwriting, especially as distinct from typography.

II. derivatives

chirographic /ˌkīrəˈɡrafik /

adjective

chiromancy /ˈkīrōˌmansē/

noun

the supposed prediction of a person's future from interpreting the lines on the palms of their hands; palmistry.

Chiron /ˈkīrən/

I. [Greek Mythology] a learned centaur who acted as teacher to Jason, Achilles, and many other heroes.

II. [Astronomy] an asteroid discovered in 1977, with a diameter of 230 miles (370 km). It is notable for having an orbit lying mainly between the orbits of Saturn and Uranus.

chironomid /kīˈränəmid/

I. noun

[Entomology] an insect of a family (Chironomidae) that comprises the nonbiting midges.

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Chironomidae (plural), from the genus name Chironomus, from Greek kheironomos ‘pantomime dancer.’

chiropody /kəˈräpədē SHəˈräpədē/

I. noun

another term for podiatry.

II. derivatives

chiropodist /kəˈräpədəst /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: from chiro- ‘hand’ + Greek pous, pod- ‘foot.’

chiropractic /ˈkīrəˌpraktik/

I. noun

a system of complementary medicine based on the diagnosis and manipulative treatment of misalignments of the joints, especially those of the spinal column, which are held to cause other disorders by affecting the nerves, muscles, and organs.

– origin late 19th cent.: from chiro- ‘hand’ + Greek praktikos ‘practical,’ from prattein ‘do.’

chiropractor /ˈkī(ə)rōpraktər/

I. noun

a practitioner of the system of complementary medicine based on the diagnosis and manipulative treatment of misalignments of the joints.

– origin early 20th cent.: from chiro- ‘hand’ + Greek praktikos ‘practical,’ from prattein ‘do,’ + -or^1.

Chiroptera /kīˈräptərə / ‹Zoology›

I. an order of mammals that comprises the bats. There are over 900 living species of bats, and they are found on every continent except Antarctica.
See also Megachiroptera, Microchiroptera.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from chiro- ‘hand’ + Greek pteron ‘wing.’

chiropteran /kīˈräptərən / ‹Zoology›

I. noun

a mammal of the order Chiroptera; a bat.

II. adjective

relating to or denoting chiropterans.

chirp /CHərp/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (typically of a small bird or an insect) utter a short, sharp, high-pitched sound

• outside, the crickets chirped monotonously.

2. [with direct speech] — (of a person) say something in a lively and cheerful way

• “Good morning!” chirped Alex.

II. noun

a short, sharp, high-pitched sound.

III. derivatives

chirper

noun

– origin late Middle English: imitative.

chirpy /ˈCHərpē/

I. adjective

‹informal› cheerful and lively.

II. derivatives

1. chirpily /ˈCHərpəlē /

adverb

2. chirpiness /ˈCHərpēnəs /

noun

chirr /CHər / churr

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (especially of an insect) make a prolonged low trilling sound.

II. noun

a low trilling sound.

– origin early 17th cent.: imitative.

chirrup /ˈCHirəp/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (especially of a small bird) make repeated short high-pitched sounds; twitter.

2. [with direct speech] — (of a person) say something in a high-pitched voice

• “Yes, Miss Honey,” chirruped eighteen voices.

II. noun

a short, high-pitched sound.

III. derivatives

chirrupy

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: alteration of chirp, by trilling the -r-.

chiru /ˈCHiro͞o/

I. noun

a sandy-colored gazelle with black horns, found on the Tibetan plateau.
Also called Tibetan antelope. [Pantholops hodgsoni, family Bovidae.]

– origin late 19th cent.: probably from Tibetan.

chisel /ˈCHizəl/

I. noun

a long-bladed hand tool with a beveled cutting edge and a plain handle that is struck with a hammer or mallet, used to cut or shape wood, stone, metal, or other hard materials.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. cut or shape (something) with a chisel

• carefully chisel out a groove for the hinge.

2. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) cheat or swindle (someone) out of something

• he's chiseled me out of my dues.

III. derivatives

chiseler /ˈCHiz(ə)lər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old Northern French, based on Latin cis- (as in late Latin cisorium), variant of caes-, stem of caedere ‘to cut.’ Compare with scissors.

chiseled /ˈCHizəld/

adjective

1. (of wood or stone) shaped or cut with a chisel.

2. (of a facial feature, typically a man's) strongly and clearly defined

• the chiseled features of a male model.

Chisholm, Shirley /ˈCHizəm/

(1924–2005), US politician, social activist, and educator; full name Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm. The first African-American woman elected to Congress, she was a member of the House of Representatives from New York 1969–83.

Chisholm Trail

a historic route over which 19th-century cowboys drove cattle for 1,500 miles (2,400 km) north from Texas to Abilene and other Kansas cities that had been reached by developing railroads.

Chişinău /ˌkēSHəˈnou/

the capital of Moldova; pop. 630,300 (est. 2008).
Russian name Kishinyov.

chi-square /ˈkīskwer/

noun — [as modifier]

1. (Symbol: χ^2) — relating to or denoting a statistical method assessing the goodness of fit between observed values and those expected theoretically.

chit^1 /CHit/

I. noun

a short official note, memorandum, or voucher, typically recording a sum owed.

– origin late 18th cent.: Anglo-Indian, from Hindi ciṭṭhī ‘note, pass.’

chit^2 /CHit/

I. noun

a young woman regarded with disapproval for her immaturity or lack of respect

• a mere chit of a girl.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a whelp, cub, or kitten): perhaps related to dialect chit ‘sprout.’

Chita /CHiˈtä/

a city in southeastern Siberia in Russia, on the Trans-Siberian Railway; pop. 306,100 (est. 2008).

chital /ˈCHēdl/

I. noun

another term for axis deer.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Hindi cītal, from Sanskrit citrala ‘spotted,’ from citra ‘spot, mark.’

chitchat /ˈCHitˌCHat / ‹informal›

I. noun

inconsequential conversation.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. talk about trivial matters

• I can't stand around chitchatting.

– origin late 17th cent.: reduplication of chat^1.

chitin /ˈkītn/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a fibrous substance consisting of polysaccharides and forming the major constituent in the exoskeleton of arthropods and the cell walls of fungi.

II. derivatives

chitinous /ˈkītn-əs /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French chitine, formed irregularly from Greek khitōn (see chiton).

chitlin circuit /ˌCHitlin ˈsərkət/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› (during the era of US racial segregation) a network of clubs, theaters, and other venues where black entertainers were allowed to perform.

– origin see chitlins.

chitlins /ˈCHitlinz/

I. plural noun

‹informal› chitterlings.

– origin a dialect form of chitterlings (a food stereotypically associated with black people and poor southerners).

chiton /ˈkītn ˈkīˌtän/

noun

1. a long woolen tunic worn in ancient Greece.
[from Greek khitōn ‘tunic.’]

2. a marine mollusk that has an oval flattened body with a shell of overlapping plates.
[modern Latin (genus name).] [Class Polyplacophora.]

Chittagong /ˈCHitəˌɡäNG, -ˌɡôNG/

a seaport in southeastern Bangladesh, on the Bay of Bengal; pop. 2,579,107 (2008).

chitter /ˈCHidər/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. make a twittering or chattering sound.

– origin Middle English: imitative; compare with chatter.

chitter-chatter /ˈCHidərˌCHadər / ‹informal›

I. noun

informal and inconsequential conversation

• there was chitter-chatter in the lobby as Mabel entered the movie theater.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. talk about trivial matters

• people are chitter-chattering and laughter flows freely.

– origin early 18th cent.: reduplication of chatter.

chitterlings /ˈCHidərliNGz/

I. plural noun

the smaller intestines of a pig, cooked for food.

– origin Middle English: perhaps related to synonymous German Kutteln.

Chitungwiza /ˌCHito͝oNGˈɡwēzə/

a city in northeastern Zimbabwe, southeast of Harare; pop. 357,100 (est. 2009).

chivalrous /ˈSHivəlrəs/

I. adjective

1. (of a man or his behavior) courteous and gallant, especially toward women.

2. of or relating to the historical notion of chivalry.

II. derivatives

chivalrously /ˈSHivəlrəslē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘characteristic of a medieval knight’): from Old French chevalerous, from chevalier (see chevalier).

chivalry /ˈSHivəlrē/

I. noun

1. the medieval knightly system with its religious, moral, and social code.

2. ‹historical› knights, noblemen, and horsemen collectively

• I fought against the cream of French chivalry.

3. the combination of qualities expected of an ideal knight, especially courage, honor, courtesy, justice, and a readiness to help the weak.

4. courteous behavior, especially that of a man toward women

• their relations with women were models of chivalry and restraint.

II. derivatives

chivalric /SHəˈvalrik /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French chevalerie, from medieval Latin caballerius, from late Latin caballarius ‘horseman’ (see chevalier).

chives /CHīvz/

I. plural noun

a widely cultivated small Eurasian plant related to the onion, with purple-pink flowers and dense tufts of long tubular leaves that are used as a culinary herb

• freshly chopped chives

• (as modifier chive) chive and garlic dressing.

[Allium schoenoprasum, family Liliaceae (or Alliaceae).]

– origin Middle English: from Old French, dialect variant of cive, from Latin cepa ‘onion.’

chivvy /ˈCHivē / chivy, chevy

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. tell (someone) repeatedly to do something

• an association that chivvies government into action.

– origin late 18th cent.: probably from the ballad Chevy Chase, celebrating a skirmish (probably the battle of Otterburn, 1388) on the Scottish border (but often mistakenly thought to be a place name). Originally a noun denoting a hunting cry, the term later meant ‘a pursuit,’ hence the verb ‘to chase, worry’ (mid 19th cent).

Chkalov /CHəˈkäləf/

former name (1938–57) for Orenburg.

Chladni figures /ˈklädnē, ˈkladnē / Chladni patterns, Chladni's figures

I. plural noun

the patterns formed when a sand-covered surface is made to vibrate. The sand collects in the regions of least motion.

– origin early 19th cent.: named after Ernst Chladni (1756–1827), German physicist.

chlamydate /ˈklaməˌdāt/

adjective

[Zoology] having a mantle or pallium like that of a mollusk.

chlamydeous /kləˈmidēəs/

adjective

[Botany] having or pertaining to a perianth or floral envelope.

chlamydia /kləˈmidēə/

I. noun

a very small parasitic bacterium that, like a virus, requires the biochemical mechanisms of another cell in order to reproduce. Bacteria of this type cause various diseases including trachoma, psittacosis, and nonspecific urethritis.
[Genus Chlamydia and order Chlamydiales.]

II. derivatives

chlamydial

adjective

– origin 1960s: modern Latin (plural), from Greek khlamus, khlamud- ‘cloak.’

chlamydomonas /ˌklaməˈdämənəs/

I. noun

[Biology] a common single-celled green alga that lives in water and moist soil and typically has two flagella for swimming.
[Genus Chlamydomonas, division Chlorophyta (or phylum Plantae, kingdom Protista).]

– origin late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek khlamus, khlamud- ‘cloak’ + monas (see monad).

chlamydospore /kləˈmidəˌspôr/

I. noun

[Botany] (in certain fungi) a thick-walled hyphal cell that functions as a spore.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek khlamus, khlamud- ‘mantle’ + spore.

chlamys /ˈklaməs/

I. noun

a short cloak worn by men in ancient Greece.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Greek khlamus ‘mantle.’

chloasma /klōˈazmə/

I. noun

a temporary condition, typically caused by hormonal changes, in which large brown patches form on the skin, mainly on the face.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek khloazein ‘become green.’

chlor-

combining form

variant spelling of chloro- before a vowel (as in chloracne).

chloracne /klôrˈaknē/

noun

[Medicine] a skin disease resembling severe acne, caused by exposure to chlorinated chemicals.

chloral /ˈklôrəl/

I. noun

1. [Chemistry] a colorless, viscous liquid made by chlorinating acetaldehyde.
[Alternative name: trichloroethanal; chem. formula: CCl_3CHO.]

2. [Chemistry] short for chloral hydrate.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, blend of chlore ‘chlorine’ and alcool ‘alcohol.’

chloral hydrate

noun

[Chemistry] a colorless crystalline solid made from chloral and used as a sedative.
[Chem. formula: CCl_3CH(OH)2.]

chlorambucil /klôrˈambyəˌsil/

I. noun

[Medicine] a cytotoxic drug used in the treatment of cancer. It belongs to the class of nitrogen mustards.

– origin 1950s: from chlor(oethyl)am(inophenyl)bu(tyric acid), the systematic name, + -cil.

chloramine /ˈklôrəˌmēn/

noun

[Chemistry] an organic compound containing a chlorine atom bonded to nitrogen, especially any of a group of sulfonamide derivatives used as antiseptics and disinfectants.

chloramphenicol /ˌklôramˈfenəˌkôl ˌklôramˈfenəˌkōl/

I. noun

[Medicine] an antibiotic used against serious infections such as typhoid fever.
[This antibiotic is obtained from the bacterium Streptomyces venezuelae or produced synthetically.]

– origin 1940s: from chloro- (representing chlorine) + am(ide) + pheno- + ni(tro-) + (gly)col.

chlordane /ˈklôrdān/

I. noun

a synthetic viscous toxic compound used as an insecticide.
[A chlorinated derivative of indene; chem. formula: C_10H_6Cl_8.]

– origin 1940s: from chlor- (representing chlorine) + (in)dene + -ane^2.

chlordiazepoxide /ˌklôrdīˌazəˈpäkˌsīd/

noun

[Medicine] a tranquilizer of the benzodiazepine group, used chiefly to treat anxiety and alcoholism.
Also called Librium .

chlorella /kləˈrelə/

I. noun

[Biology] a common single-celled green alga of both terrestrial and aquatic habitats, frequently turning stagnant water an opaque green.
[Genus Chlorella, division Chlorophyta (or phylum Chlorophyta, kingdom Protista).]

– origin modern Latin, diminutive of Greek khlōros ‘green.’

chloric /ˈklôrik/

adjective

of, relating to, or containing chlorine in the pentavalent state.

chloric acid /ˌklôrik ˈasəd/

I. noun

1. [Chemistry] a colorless liquid acid with strong oxidizing properties.
[Chem. formula: HClO_3.]

2. [Chemistry] any acid containing chlorine and oxygen.

– origin early 19th cent.: chloric from chlorine + -ic.

chloride /ˈklôrˌīd/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a compound of chlorine with another element or group, especially a salt of the anion Cl– or an organic compound with chlorine bonded to an alkyl group.

– origin early 19th cent.: from chlorine + -ide.

chlorinate /ˈklôrəˌnāt/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. chlorinated)

1. impregnate or treat with chlorine

• chlorinated water.

2. [Chemistry] introduce chlorine into (a compound).

II. derivatives

1. chlorination /ˌklôrəˈnāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. chlorinator /-ˌnātər /

noun

chlorine /ˈklôrēn/

I. noun

(Symbol: Cl) — the chemical element of atomic number 17, a toxic, irritant, pale green gas.
A member of the halogen group, chlorine occurs in nature mainly as sodium chloride in seawater and salt deposits. The gas was used as a poison gas in World War I. Chlorine is added to water supplies as a disinfectant.

– origin early 19th cent.: named by Sir Humphrey Davy, from Greek khlōros ‘green’ + -ine^4.

chlorite^1 /ˈklôrīt/

I. noun

a dark green mineral consisting of a basic hydrated aluminosilicate of magnesium and iron. It occurs as a constituent of many metamorphic rocks, typically forming flat crystals resembling mica.

II. derivatives

chloritic /klôrˈitik /

adjective

– origin late 18th cent.: via Latin from Greek khlōritis, a green precious stone.

chlorite^2 /ˈklôrīt/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a salt of chlorous acid, containing the anion ClO_2.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from chlorine + -ite^1.

chloritoid /ˈklôrəˌtoid/

noun

a greenish-gray or black mineral resembling chlorite, found in metamorphosed clay sediments. It consists of a basic aluminosilicate of iron, often with magnesium.

chloro- chlor-

I. combining form

1. [Biology] [Mineralogy] green.

2. [Chemistry] representing chlorine:

• chloroquine.

– origin from Greek khlōros ‘green.’

chlorocarbon /ˈklôrōˌkärbən/

noun

a chemical compound that contains carbon and chlorine or carbon, chlorine, and hydrogen.

chlorofluorocarbon /ˌklôrōˌflôrōˈkärbən / CFC

noun

any of a class of compounds of carbon, hydrogen, chlorine, and fluorine, typically gases used in refrigerants and aerosol propellants. They are harmful to the ozone layer in the earth's atmosphere owing to the release of chlorine atoms upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

chloroform /ˈklôrəˌfôrm/

I. noun

a colorless, volatile, sweet-smelling liquid used as a solvent and formerly as a general anesthetic.
[Alternative name: trichloromethane; chem. formula: CHCl_3.]

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. render (someone) unconscious with chloroform.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from chloro- (representing chlorine) + form- from formic acid.

chloromelanite /ˌklôrōˈmeləˌnīt/

noun

a greenish-black variety of jadeite containing a high proportion of iron.

chloromycetin /ˌklôrōmīˈsētn/

I. noun

trademark for chloramphenicol.

– origin 1940s: from chloro- ‘green’ + Greek mukēs, mukēt- ‘fungus’ + -in^1.

chlorophyll /ˈklôrəˌfil/

I. noun

a green pigment, present in all green plants and in cyanobacteria, responsible for the absorption of light to provide energy for photosynthesis. Its molecule contains a magnesium atom held in a porphyrin ring.

II. derivatives

chlorophyllous /ˌklôrəˈfiləs /

adjective

– origin early 19th cent.: coined in French from Greek khlōros ‘green’ + phullon ‘leaf.’

Chlorophyta /klôrˈäfədə / ‹Botany›

I. a phylum that comprises the green algae. They are more recently treated as a phylum of the kingdom Protista.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek khlōros ‘green’ + phuton ‘plant.’

chlorophyte /ˈklôrəfīt/

noun

[Botany] a lower plant of the division Chlorophyta, which comprises the green algae.

chloroplast /ˈklôrəˌplast/

I. noun

[Botany] (in green plant cells) a plastid that contains chlorophyll and in which photosynthesis takes place.

– origin late 19th cent.: coined in German from Greek khlōros ‘green’ + plastos ‘formed.’

chloroprene /ˈklôrəˌprēn/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a colorless liquid made from acetylene and hydrochloric acid and polymerized to form neoprene.
[Chem. formula: CH_2=CClCH=CH_2.]

– origin 1930s: from chloro- + a shortened form of isoprene.

chloroquine /ˈklôrəˌkwēn/

I. noun

[Medicine] a synthetic drug related to quinoline, chiefly used against malaria.

– origin 1940s: from chloro- + quin(olin)e.

chlorosis /klôˈrōsəs/

I. noun

1. [Botany] abnormal reduction or loss of the normal green coloration of leaves of plants, typically caused by iron deficiency in lime-rich soils, or by disease or lack of light.

2. [Medicine] anemia caused by iron deficiency, especially in adolescent girls, causing a pale, faintly greenish complexion. It was a common diagnosis in the 19th century.

II. derivatives

chlorotic /kləˈrädik klôˈrädik /

adjective

chlorothiazide /ˌklôrōˈTHīəzīd/

noun

[Medicine] a synthetic drug used to treat fluid retention and high blood pressure. It is one of the thiazide diuretics.

chlorous acid /ˌklôrəs ˈasid/

noun

[Chemistry] a weak acid with oxidizing properties, formed when chlorine dioxide dissolves in water.
[Chem. formula: HClO_2.]

chlorpromazine /ˌklôrˈpräməzēn/

I. noun

[Medicine] a synthetic drug used as a tranquilizer, sedative, and antiemetic. It is a phenothiazine derivative.

– origin 1950s: from chloro- + prom(eth)azine.

chlorpyrifos /klôrˈpirəˌfäs/

noun

a broad-spectrum organophosphate insecticide, widely used in food crop agriculture and against termites.

chlortetracycline /ˌklôrtetrəˈsīklēn/

noun

[Medicine] an antibiotic of the tetracycline group, active against many bacterial and fungal infections.
[This antibiotic is obtained from the bacterium Streptomyces aureofaciens or produced synthetically.]

choanocyte /ˈkōənəˌsīt kōˈanəˌsīt/

I. noun

[Zoology] a flagellated cell with a collar of protoplasm at the base of the flagellum, numbers of which line the internal chambers of sponges.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek khoanē ‘funnel’ + -cyte.

chock /CHäk/

I. noun

1. a wedge or block placed against a wheel or rounded object, to prevent it from moving.

2. a support on which a rounded structure, such as a cask or the hull of a boat, may be placed to keep it steady.

3. a fitting with a gap at the top, through which a rope or line is run.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. prevent the forward movement of (a wheel or vehicle) with a chock.

2. support (a boat, cask, etc.) on chocks.

– origin Middle English: probably from an Old Northern French variant of Old French çouche, çoche ‘block, log,’ of unknown ultimate origin.

chockablock /ˈCHäkəˌbläk/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. ‹informal› crammed full of people or things

• the manual is chockablock with information.

– origin mid 19th cent. (originally in nautical use, with reference to tackle having the two blocks run close together): from chock (in chock-full) and block.

chock-full /ˌCHäkˈfo͝ol/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. ‹informal› filled to overflowing

• my briefcase is chock-full of notes.

– origin late Middle English: of unknown origin; later associated with chock.

chockstone /ˈCHäkˌstōn/

noun

[Climbing] a stone that has become wedged in a vertical cleft.

chocoholic /ˌCHäkəˈhôlik / chocaholic

noun

‹informal› a person who is addicted to or excessively fond of chocolate.

chocolate /ˈCHäk(ə)lət/

I. noun

1. a food preparation in the form of a paste or solid block made from roasted and ground cacao seeds, typically sweetened

• a bar of chocolate

• [as modifier] a chocolate cookie.

2. a candy made of or covered with this

• a box of chocolates.

3. hot chocolate

• I drink chocolate because it is so soothing.

4. a deep brown color
[as modifier]

• huge spiders, yellow and chocolate brown.

II. derivatives

chocolaty /ˈCHäklədē / chocolatey

adjective

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘a drink made with chocolate’): from French chocolat or Spanish chocolate, from Nahuatl chocolatl ‘food made from cacao seeds,’ influenced by unrelated cacaua-atl ‘drink made from cacao.’

chocolate chip

noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. a small piece of chocolate used in making cookies and other sweet foods

• chocolate-chip ice cream.

chocolate-colored

adjective

of a deep brown color

• a chocolate-colored Labrador.

chocolate spot

noun

a fungal disease affecting field and broad beans, characterized by dark brown spots on all parts of the plant.
[This is caused by the fungus Botrytis fabae (sometimes the gray mold B. cinerea), phylum Ascomycota.]

chocolate vine

noun

a fast-growing, shade-tolerant woody twining vine, native to Asia and introduced as an ornamental in the US. It has escaped cultivation and threatens native plants in some woodland habitats.
[Akebia quinata, family Lardizabalaceae.]

chocolatier /ˌCHôk(ə)ləˈti(ə)r, ˌSHôkəläˈtyā/

I. noun

a maker or seller of chocolate.

– origin late 19th cent.: French.

Choctaw /ˈCHäkˌtô/

I. noun

1. a member of an indigenous people now living mainly in Mississippi.

2. the Muskogean language of the Choctaw, closely related to Chickasaw.

3. [Figure Skating] a step from one edge of a skate to the other edge of the other skate in the opposite direction.

II. adjective

relating to the Choctaw or their language.

– origin from Choctaw čahta.

choice /CHois/

I. noun

1. an act of selecting or making a decision when faced with two or more possibilities

• the choice between good and evil.

2. the right or ability to make, or possibility of making, such a selection

• I had to do it, I had no choice.

3. a range of possibilities from which one or more may be selected

• you can have a sofa made to order in a choice of over forty fabrics.

4. a course of action, thing, or person that is selected or decided upon

• this CD drive is the perfect choice for your computer.

II. adjective

1. (especially of food) of very good quality

• he picked some choice early plums.

2. (of words, phrases, or language) rude and abusive

• he had a few choice words at his command.

III. phrases

1. by choice

of one's own volition.

2. of choice

selected as one's favorite or the best

• champagne was his drink of choice.

3. of one's choice

that one chooses or has chosen

• the college of her choice.

IV. derivatives

1. choicely /ˈCHoislē /

adverb

2. choiceness /ˈCHoisnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French chois, from choisir ‘choose,’ of Germanic origin and related to choose.

choil /CHoil/

I. noun

the end of a knife's cutting edge that is nearer to the handle.

– origin late 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

choir /ˈkwī(ə)r/

I. noun

1. an organized group of singers, typically one that takes part in church services or performs regularly in public

• the Baptist choir.

2. one of two or more subdivisions of a choral group performing together

• his famous Spem in alium for eight five-part choirs.

3. the part of a cathedral or large church between the altar and the nave, used by the choir and clergy.

4. a group of instruments of one family playing together

• a clarinet choir.

– origin Middle English quer, quere, from Old French quer, from Latin chorus (see chorus). The spelling change in the 17th cent. was due to association with Latin chorus and modern French choeur.

choirboy /ˈkwī(ə)rˌboi/

noun

a boy who sings in a church or cathedral choir.

choirgirl /ˈkwī(ə)rˌɡərl/

noun

a girl who sings in a church or cathedral choir.

choirmaster /ˈkwī(ə)rˌmastər/

noun

the conductor of a choir.

choir organ /ˈkwī(ə)r ˈôrɡən/

noun

a separate division of many large organs, played using a third manual (keyboard), and typically having distinctively toned stops.

choir stall

noun — (usu. choir stalls)

1. a fixed seat for one or more people in the choir of a church or chapel.

choi sum /CHoi ˈsəm / choy sum

I. noun

a small Chinese cabbage of a variety with mild-tasting leaves and small edible yellow flowers.
[Brassica rapa var. parachinensis, family Cruciferae.]

– origin Chinese (Cantonese dialect), literally ‘vegetable heart.’

choisya /ˈCHoiˌzēə/

I. noun

an evergreen Mexican shrub with sweet-scented white flowers, widely grown as an ornamental.
[Choisya ternata, family Rutaceae.]

– origin named after Jacques D. Choisy (1799–1859), Swiss botanist.

choke^1 /CHōk/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — (of a person or animal) have severe difficulty in breathing because of a constricted or obstructed throat or a lack of air

• Willie choked on a mouthful of soda.

2. [with obj.] — hinder or obstruct the breathing of (a person or animal) by choking.

3. [with obj.] — prevent (a plant) from growing by depriving it of light, air, or nourishment

• the bracken will choke the wild gladiolus.

4. (choke something down) — swallow something with difficulty

• I attempted to choke down supper.

5. [with obj.] — prevent or suppress (the occurrence of something)

• higher rates of interest choke off investment demand.

6. [no obj.] — ‹informal› (in sports) fail to perform at a crucial point of a game or contest owing to a failure of nerve

• we were the only team not to choke when it came to the crunch.

7. [with obj.] (often be choked with) — fill (a passage or space), especially so as to make movement difficult or impossible

• the roads were choked with traffic.

8. [with obj.] — overwhelm and make (someone) speechless with a strong and typically negative feeling or emotion

• she was choked with angry emotion.

9. become or cause to become tearful or extremely upset
[no obj.]

• I just choked up reading it.

10. suppress a strong emotion or the expression of such an emotion

• Liz was choking back her anger.

11. [with obj.] — enrich the fuel mixture in (a gasoline engine) by reducing the intake of air.

II. noun

1. a valve in the carburetor of a gasoline engine that is used to reduce the amount of air in the fuel mixture when the engine is started.

2. a knob that controls a choke valve in a gasoline engine.

3. a narrowed part of a shotgun bore, typically near the muzzle and serving to restrict the spread of the shot.

4. ‹informal› an electrical inductor, especially an inductance coil used to smooth the variations of an alternating current or to alter its phase.

5. an action or sound of a person or animal having or seeming to have difficulty in breathing

• a little choke of laughter.

III. phrasal verbs

choke up

(in sports) grip (a bat, racket, etc.) further from the narrow end than is usual

• he choked up on the bat a few inches.

– origin Middle English: from Old English ācēocian (verb), from cēoce (see cheek).

choke^2 /CHōk/

I. noun

the inedible mass of silky fibers at the center of a globe artichoke.

– origin late 17th cent.: probably a confusion of the ending of artichoke with choke^1.

chokeberry /ˈCHōkˌberē/

noun

1. a North American shrub of the rose family, with white flowers and red autumn foliage, cultivated as an ornamental.
[Genus Aronia, family Rosaceae: several species, esp. the red chokeberry (A. arbutifolia), purple chokeberry (A. floribunda), and black chokeberry (A. melanocarpa), each named for the color of its fruits.]

2. the berrylike fruit of the chokeberry plant, which is bitter and unpalatable.

choke chain

noun

a chain formed into a loop by passing one end through a ring on the other, placed around a dog's neck to exert control by causing pressure on the windpipe when the dog pulls.

chokecherry /ˈCHōkˌCHerē/

noun

a North American cherry with an edible astringent fruit that is more palatable when cooked.
[Prunus virginiana, family Rosaceae.]

chokedamp /ˈCHōkdamp/

noun

another term for blackdamp.

chokehold /ˈCHōkhōld/

noun

a tight grip around a person's neck, used to restrain him or her by restricting breathing

• the police have banned chokeholds

• ‹figurative› the southern delegates had the convention in a chokehold.

choke point

noun

(N. Amer.) a point of congestion or blockage

• the tunnel is a choke point at rush hour.

choker /ˈCHōkər/

noun

1. a necklace or ornamental band of fabric that fits closely around the neck.

2. a clerical or other high collar.

3. (N. Amer.) a cable looped around a log to drag it.

Chokwe /ˈCHôkwā/

I. noun

1. a member of a people living in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) and northern Angola.

2. the Bantu language of the Chokwe.

II. adjective

relating to the Chokwe or their language.

choky /ˈCHōkē/

adjective

1. having or causing difficulty in breathing

• the whole place was choky with tear gas.

2. breathless and overwhelmed with emotion

• “Nick,” she said, suddenly choky.

chola /ˈCHōlə/

I. noun

a Latin American woman or girl with Indian blood; a mestiza
[as modifier]

• a couple of chola girls.

– origin mid 19th cent.: American Spanish (see cholo).

cholangiography /kōˌlanjēˈäɡrəfē/

I. noun

[Medicine] X-ray examination of the bile ducts, used to locate and identify an obstruction.

II. derivatives

cholangiogram /kəˈlanjēəˌɡram /

noun

– origin 1930s: coined in Spanish from Greek kholē ‘bile’ + angeion ‘vessel’ + -graphia (see -graphy).

chole- chol-

I. combining form

[Medicine] [Chemistry] relating to bile or the bile ducts

• cholelithiasis

• cholesterol.

– origin from Greek kholē ‘gall, bile.’

cholecalciferol /ˌkōləˌkalˈsifəˌrôl, -ˌrōl/

noun

[Biochemistry] one of the D vitamins, a sterol that is formed by the action of sunlight on dehydrocholesterol in the skin. Deficiency of this vitamin affects calcium levels, causing rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.
Also called vitamin D3 (see vitamin D).

cholecyst-

I. combining form

relating to the gallbladder

• cholecystectomy.

– origin from modern Latin cholecystis ‘gallbladder.’

cholecystectomy /ˌkōləˌsisˈtektəmē/

noun

surgical removal of the gallbladder.

cholecystitis /ˌkōləsisˈtīdəs/

noun

[Medicine] inflammation of the gallbladder.

cholecystography /ˌkōləˌsisˈtäɡrəfē/

noun

[Medicine] X-ray examination of the gallbladder, especially used to detect the presence of gallstones.

cholecystokinin /ˌkōləˌsistōˈkīnən/

noun

[Biochemistry] a hormone that is secreted by cells in the duodenum and stimulates the release of bile into the intestine and the secretion of enzymes by the pancreas.

cholelithiasis /ˌkōlələˈTHīəsəs/

noun

[Medicine] the formation of gallstones.

cholent /ˈCHôlənt, ˈCHəl-/

I. noun

a Jewish Sabbath dish of slowly baked meat and vegetables, prepared on a Friday and cooked overnight.

– origin from Yiddish tsholnt.

choler /ˈkälər/

I. noun

1. (in medieval science and medicine) one of the four bodily humors, identified with bile, believed to be associated with a peevish or irascible temperament.
Also called yellow bile.

2. ‹literary› ‹archaic› anger or irascibility.

– origin late Middle English (also denoting diarrhea): from Old French colere ‘bile, anger,’ from Latin cholera ‘diarrhea’ (from Greek kholera), which in late Latin acquired the senses ‘bile or anger,’ from Greek kholē ‘bile.’

cholera /ˈkälərə/

I. noun

an infectious and often fatal bacterial disease of the small intestine, typically contracted from infected water supplies and causing severe vomiting and diarrhea.
[The disease is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. See vibrio.]

– origin late Middle English (originally denoting bile and later applied to various ailments involving vomiting and diarrhea): from Latin (see choler). The current sense dates from the early 19th cent.

choleraic /ˌkäləˈrāik/

adjective

‹archaic› infected with cholera.

choleric /ˈkälərik kəˈlerik/

I. adjective

1. bad-tempered or irritable.

2. ‹historical› influenced by or predominating in the humor called choler

• a choleric disposition.

II. derivatives

cholerically

adverb

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘bilious’): from Old French cholerique, via Latin from Greek kholerikos, from kholera (see choler).

cholesterol /kəˈlestəˌrôl kəˈlestəˌrōl/

I. noun

a compound of the sterol type found in most body tissues, including the blood and the nerves. Cholesterol and its derivatives are important constituents of cell membranes and precursors of other steroid compounds, but high concentrations in the blood (mainly derived from animal fats in the diet) are thought to promote atherosclerosis.
[Chem. formula: C_27H_45OH.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek kholē ‘bile’ + stereos ‘stiff’ + -ol.

cholic acid /ˌkōlik ˈasid/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a compound produced by oxidation of cholesterol. It is a steroidal fatty acid and its salts are present in bile.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek kholikos, from kholē ‘bile.’

choline /ˈkōlēn/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a strongly basic compound occurring widely in living tissues and important in the synthesis and transport of lipids.
[Chem. formula: HON(CH_3)3CH_2CH_2OH.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: coined in German from Greek kholē ‘bile.’

cholinergic /ˌkōləˈnərjik/

I. adjective

1. [Physiology] relating to or denoting nerve cells in which acetylcholine acts as a neurotransmitter.
Contrasted with adrenergic.

2. [Physiology] releasing or responding to acetylcholine.

– origin 1930s: from choline + Greek ergon ‘work’ + -ic.

cholinesterase /ˌkōləˈnestəˌrās, -ˌrāz/

noun

[Biochemistry] an enzyme, especially acetylcholinesterase, that hydrolyzes esters of choline.

cholla /ˈCHoi(y)ə/

I. noun

a cactus with a cylindrical stem, native to Mexico and the southwestern US.
[Genus Cylindropuntia, family Cactaceae: several species, including the densely spiny teddy-bear cholla (C. bigelovii) and the treelike cane cholla (C. spinosior).]

– origin mid 19th cent.: Mexican Spanish use of Spanish cholla ‘skull, head,’ of unknown origin.

cholo /ˈCHōlō/

I. noun

1. a Latin American with Indian blood; a mestizo.

2. (US) ‹informal› ‹offensive› a lower-class Mexican, especially in an urban area.

3. (US) a teenage boy, especially in a Mexican-American community, who is a member of a street gang.

– origin mid 19th cent.: American Spanish, from Cholollán (now Cholula), in Mexico.

chomp /CHämp CHômp/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. munch or chew vigorously and noisily

• he chomped on his sandwich.

2. (of a horse) make a noisy biting or chewing action.

3. fret impatiently

• he waited, chomping at her nonappearance.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. a chewing noise or action.

III. phrases

chomp (or champ or chafe) at the bit

be restless and impatient to start doing something.

– origin mid 17th cent.: probably imitative.

Chomsky, Noam /ˈCHäm(p)skē/

(1928–), US theoretical linguist; full name Avram Noam Chomsky. Noted for expounding the theory of generative grammar, he also theorized that linguistic behavior is innate, not learned, and that all languages share the same underlying grammatical base. Notable works: Syntactic Structures (1957) and Aspects of the Theory of Syntax (1965).

Chomskyan /ˈCHäm(p)skēən/

adjective

relating to or characteristic of the linguistic theories of Noam Chomsky, especially those concerning generative grammar

• Chomskyan ideas about an innate language faculty.

Chondrichthyes /känˈdrikTHēˌēz / ‹Zoology›

I. a class of fishes that includes those with a cartilaginous skeleton.
Compare with Osteichthyes.

– origin modern Latin, from Greek khondros ‘cartilage’ + ikhthus ‘fish.’

chondrite /ˈkändrīt/

I. noun

a stony meteorite containing small mineral granules (chondrules).

II. derivatives

chondritic /känˈdritik /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek khondros ‘granule’ + -ite^1.

chondro-

I. combining form

of or relating to cartilage

• chondrocyte.

– origin from Greek khondros ‘grain or cartilage.’

chondrocranium /ˌkändrōˈkrānēəm/

noun

[Zoology] [Embryology] the primary skull of vertebrates, composed of cartilage, which in humans and most other vertebrates is replaced by bone during development.

chondrocyte /ˈkändrəˌsīt/

noun

[Biology] a cell that has secreted the matrix of cartilage and become embedded in it.

chondroitin /känˈdroitn, -ˈdrōətn/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a compound that is a major constituent of cartilage and other connective tissue. It is a glycosaminoglycan and occurs mainly in the form of sulfate esters.

– origin late 19th cent.: from chondro- + -ite^1 + -in^1.

chondrule /ˈkändro͞ol/

noun

a spheroidal mineral grain present in large numbers in some stony meteorites.

Chongjin /ˌCHəNGˈjēn/

a port on the northeastern coast of North Korea; pop. 582,500 (est. 2005).

Chongqing /ˌCHo͝oNGˈCHiNG / Chungking

a city in Sichuan province, in central China, on the Yangtze River; pop. 4,776,000 (est. 2006). It was the capital of China from 1938 to 1946.

choo-choo /ˈCHo͞o ˌCHo͞o / choo-choo train

I. noun

a child's word for a railroad train or locomotive, especially a steam engine.

– origin early 20th cent.: imitative.

choon /CHo͞on/

I. noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› a song or piece of popular music

• play us some of your choons, bro!

– origin 1990s: informal respelling of tune.

choose /CHo͞oz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. pick out or select (someone or something) as being the best or most appropriate of two or more alternatives

• he chose a seat facing the door

• [no obj.] now it's my turn to choose.

2. [no obj.] — decide on a course of action, typically after rejecting alternatives
[with infinitive]

• he chose to go

• I'll stay as long as I choose.

II. phrases

1. cannot choose but do something

‹formal› have no alternative to doing something.

2. there is little (or nothing) to choose between

there is little or no difference between.

III. derivatives

chooser /ˈCHo͞ozər /

noun

– origin Old English cēosan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kiezen.

choosy /ˈCHo͞ozē/

I. adjective

‹informal› overly fastidious in making a choice.

II. derivatives

1. choosily /-zəlē /

adverb

2. choosiness

noun

chop /CHäp/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cut (something) into small pieces with repeated sharp blows using an ax or knife

• they chopped up the pulpit for firewood

• finely chop the parsley.

2. (chop something off) — remove by cutting

• they chopped off all her hair.

3. cut through the base of (something, especially a tree) with blows from an ax or similar implement, in order to fell it

• the boy chopped down eight trees

• [no obj.] the men were chopping at the undergrowth with machetes.

4. strike (a ball) with a short heavy blow, as if cutting at something.

5. (usu. be chopped) — abolish or reduce the size or extent of (something) in a way regarded as brutally sudden

• their training courses are to be chopped.

II. noun

1. a downward cutting blow or movement, typically with the hand

• an effective chop to the back of the neck.

2. a thick slice of meat, especially pork or lamb, adjacent to, and typically including, a rib.

3. (N. Amer.) crushed or ground grain used as animal feed.

4. [in sing.] — the broken motion of water, typically due to the action of the wind against the tide

• we started our run into a two-foot chop.

III. phrases

chop logic

argue in a tiresomely pedantic way; quibble.
[mid 16th cent.: from a dialect use of chop meaning ‘bandy words.’]

– origin late Middle English: variant of chap^1.

chop-chop /ˌCHäpˈCHäp/

I. adverb, exclamation

quickly; quick

• “Two beers, chop-chop,” Jimmy called.

– origin mid 19th cent.: pidgin English, based on Chinese dialect kuaì-kuaì. Compare with chopstick.

chophouse /ˈCHäpˌhous/

noun

a restaurant that specializes in steaks, chops, and similar fare.

Chopin, Frédéric /ˈSHōˌpan, SHōˈpaN/

(1810–49), French composer and pianist; born in Poland; Polish name Fryderyk Franciszek Szopen; full name Frédéric François Chopin. Writing almost exclusively for the piano, he composed numerous mazurkas and polonaises inspired by Polish folk music, as well as nocturnes, preludes, and two piano concertos (1829; 1830).

Chopin, Kate /ˈSHōˌpan, SHōˈpan/

(1851–1904), US novelist and short-story writer; full name Kate O'Flaherty Chopin. Notable works: Bayou Folk (1894), A Night in Acadie (1897), and The Awakening (1899).

chopped liver

noun

1. a savory spread made from sautéed liver and onions.

2. ‹informal› ‹humorous› a person or thing regarded as insignificant

• remember the three kings showed up with gold, frankincense, and myrrh, none of which were chopped liver back then.

chopper /ˈCHäpər/

noun

1. a short ax with a large blade.

2. a butcher's cleaver.

3. a device for regularly interrupting an electric current or a beam of light or particles.

4. (choppers) — ‹informal› teeth.

5. ‹informal› a helicopter.

6. ‹informal› a motorcycle, especially one with high handlebars and the front-wheel fork extended forward.

7. [Baseball] a batted ball that makes a high bounce after hitting the ground in fair territory

• Bell followed with a high chopper to the third baseman.

chopping block /ˈCHäpiNG ˌbläk/

I. noun

1. a block for chopping something on, in particular

2. a block for chopping wood.

3. a block for chopping food such as meat, vegetables, and herbs.

4. ‹historical› an executioner's block.

II. phrases

on the chopping block

likely to be abolished or drastically reduced.

choppy /ˈCHäpē/

I. adjective

1. (of a sea or river) having many small waves.

• sea conditions are often very choppy.

• heavy, choppy seas.

2. having a disjointed or jerky quality

• the choppy, electronic beat of hip hop.

3. denoting or relating to a hairstyle in which layers and sections of hair are cut at different lengths

• a choppy bob.

II. derivatives

1. choppily /ˈCHäpəlē /

adverb

2. choppiness /ˈCHäpēnəs /

noun

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘full of chaps or clefts’): from chop + -y^1.

chops /CHäps/

I. plural noun

1. ‹informal› a person's or animal's mouth or jaws

• a smack in the chops.

2. ‹informal› a person's cheeks; jowls.

3. ‹informal› the technical skill of a musician, especially one who plays jazz

• when I'm on tour, my chops go down.

II. phrases

1. bust one's chops

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› exert oneself.

2. bust someone's chops

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› nag or criticize someone.

– origin late Middle English: variant of chap^3.

chop shop

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a place where stolen vehicles are dismantled so that the parts can be sold or used to repair other stolen vehicles.

chopsocky /ˌCHäpˈsäkē/

I. noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› kung fu or a similar martial art, especially as depicted in violent action movies

• chopsocky epics from Hong Kong.

– origin 1970s: perhaps humorously, suggested by chop suey.

chopstick /ˈCHäpˌstik/

I. noun — (usu. chopsticks)

1. each of a pair of small, thin, tapered sticks of wood, ivory, or plastic, held together in one hand and used as eating utensils, especially by the Chinese, the Japanese, and other people in eastern Asia.

– origin late 17th cent.: pidgin English, from chop ‘quick’ + stick^1, translating Chinese dialect kuàizi, literally ‘nimble ones.’ Compare with chop-chop.

chop suey /ˌCHäp ˈso͞oē/

I. noun

a Chinese-style dish of meat stewed and fried with bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, and onions, and often served with rice.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Chinese (Cantonese dialect) tsaâp suì ‘mixed bits.’

choral /ˈkôrəl/

I. adjective

1. composed for or sung by a choir or chorus

• a choral work

• choral singing.

2. engaged in or concerned with singing

• a choral scholar.

II. derivatives

chorally /ˈkôrəlē /

adverb

– origin late 16th cent.: from medieval Latin choralis, from Latin chorus (see chorus).

chorale /kəˈral, -ˈräl/

I. noun

1. a musical composition (or part of one) consisting of or resembling a harmonized version of a simple, stately hymn tune.

2. (US) a choir or choral society.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from German Choral (gesang), translating medieval Latin cantus choralis.

chorale prelude

noun

an organ piece based on a chorale.

choral speaking

noun

the recitation of poetry or prose by a chorus or ensemble.

chord^1 /kôrd/

I. noun

a group of (typically three or more) notes sounded together, as a basis of harmony

• the triumphal opening chords

• a G major chord.

II. verb — [no obj.] (usu. as noun chording)

1. play, sing, or arrange notes in chords.

III. derivatives

chordal /ˈkôrdl /

adjective

– origin Middle English cord, from accord. The spelling change in the 18th cent. was due to confusion with chord^2. The original sense was ‘agreement, reconciliation,’ later ‘a musical concord or harmonious sound’; the current sense dates from the mid 18th cent.

chord^2 /kôrd/

I. noun

1. [Mathematics] a straight line joining the ends of an arc.

2. [Aeronautics] the width of an airfoil from leading to trailing edge.

3. [Engineering] each of the two principal members of a truss.

4. [Anatomy] variant spelling of cord:

• spinal chord.

5. ‹literary› a string on a harp or other instrument.

II. phrases

1. strike (or touch) a chord

affect or stir someone's emotions

• the issue of food safety strikes a chord with almost everyone.

[with figurative reference to the emotions being the ‘strings’ of the mind visualized as a musical instrument.]

2. strike (or touch) the right chord

skillfully appeal to or arouse a particular emotion in others

• Dickens knew how to strike the right chord in the hearts of his readers.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the anatomical sense): a later spelling (influenced by Latin chorda ‘rope’) of cord. / usage: In modern English there are two words spelled chord: the first is the musical term meaning ‘a group of notes sounded together,’ and the second is a technical term in mathematics, aeronautics, and engineering. Cord meaning ‘string or rope made from twisted strands’ is etymologically related to the second chord, but is now regarded as a distinct word. The anatomical term generally uses the spelling cord (as in spinal cord and vocal cord), although chord is an acceptable variant.

Chordata /kôrˈdätə, -ˈdātə / ‹Zoology›

I. a large phylum of animals that includes the vertebrates together with the sea squirts and lancelets. They are distinguished by the possession of a notochord at some stage during their development.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Latin chorda (see chord^2), on the pattern of words such as Vertebrata.

chordate /ˈkôrdət ˈkôrˌdāt / ‹Zoology›

I. noun

an animal of the large phylum Chordata, comprising the vertebrates together with the sea squirts and lancelets.

II. adjective

relating to or denoting chordates.

chordophone /ˈkôrdəˌfōn/

noun

[Music] ‹technical› a stringed instrument.

chordotonal /ˌkôrdəˈtōnl/

I. adjective

[Entomology] (in insects) denoting sense organs that are responsive to mechanical and sound vibrations.

– origin late 19th cent.: from chord^2 + tonal.

chore /CHôr/

I. noun

1. a routine task, especially a household one.

2. an unpleasant but necessary task

• he sees interviews as a chore.

– origin mid 18th cent. (originally dialect and US): variant of obsolete char or chare (see charwoman).

chorea /kəˈrēə/

I. noun

[Medicine] a neurological disorder characterized by jerky involuntary movements affecting especially the shoulders, hips, and face.
See also Huntington's chorea, Sydenham's chorea.

– origin late 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek khoreia ‘dancing in unison,’ from khoros ‘chorus.’

choreograph /ˈkôrēəˌɡraf/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. compose the sequence of steps and moves for (a performance of dance or ice skating)

• he is now choreographing a ballet.

2. plan and control (an event or operation)

• the committee choreographs the movement of troops.

– origin 1940s: back-formation from choreography.

choreographer /kôrēˈäɡrəfər/

noun

a person who composes the sequence of steps and moves for a performance of dance

• a professional choreographer.

choreography /ˌkôrēˈäɡrəfē/

I. noun

1. the sequence of steps and movements in dance or figure skating, especially in a ballet or other staged dance

• the lively choreography reflects the themes of the original play.

2. the art or practice of designing choreographic sequences.

3. the written notation for a choreographic sequence.

II. derivatives

1. choreographic /ˌkôrēəˈɡrafik /

adjective

2. choreographically /ˌkôrēəˈɡrafik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin late 18th cent. (in the sense ‘written notation of dancing’): from Greek khoreia ‘dancing in unison’ (from khoros ‘chorus’) + -graphy.

choreology /ˌkôrēˈäləjē/

I. noun

the notation of dance movement.

II. derivatives

choreologist /-jist /

noun

– origin 1960s: from Greek khoreia ‘dancing in unison’ (from khoros ‘chorus’) + -logy.

choriambus /ˌkôrēˈambəs / choriamb

I. noun

a metrical foot consisting of two short (or unstressed) syllables between two long (or stressed) ones.

II. derivatives

choriambic /ˌkôrēˈambik /

adjective

– origin late 18th cent.: via late Latin from Greek khoriambos, from khoreios ‘of the dance’ + iambos (see iambus).

choric /ˈkôrik/

I. adjective

belonging to, spoken by, or resembling a chorus in drama or recitation.

– origin mid 19th cent.: via late Latin from Greek khorikos, from khoros ‘chorus.’

chorine /ˈkôrēn/

I. noun

a chorus girl.

– origin 1920s (originally US): from chorus + -ine^3.

chorio-

combining form

representing chorion or choroid.

chorioallantoic /ˌkôrēōˌalənˈtōik/

adjective

[Embryology] relating to or denoting fused chorionic and allantoic membranes around a fetus.

choriocarcinoma /ˌkôrēōˌkärsəˈnōmə/

noun

[Medicine] a malignant tumor of the uterus that originates in the cells of the chorion of a fetus.

chorioid /ˈkôrēˌoid/

adjective

another term for choroid.

chorion /ˈkôrēˌän/

I. noun

[Embryology] the outermost membrane surrounding an embryo of a reptile, bird, or mammal. In mammals (including humans), it contributes to the formation of the placenta.

II. derivatives

chorionic /ˌkôrēˈänik /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Greek khorion.

chorionic villus sampling CVS

noun

[Medicine] a test made in early pregnancy to detect congenital abnormalities in the fetus. A tiny tissue sample is taken from the villi of the chorion, which forms the fetal part of the placenta.

chorister /ˈkôrəstər ˈkärəstər/

I. noun

1. a member of a choir, especially a child or young person singing the treble part in a church choir.

2. (US) a person who leads the singing of a church choir or congregation.

– origin late Middle English queristre, from an Anglo-Norman French variant of Old French cueriste, from quer (see choir). The change in the first syllable in the 16th cent. was due to association with obsolete chorist ‘member of a choir or chorus,’ but the older form quirister long survived.

chorizo /CHəˈrēzō, -sō/

I. noun

a spicy Spanish pork sausage.

– origin Spanish.

chorography /kəˈräɡrəfē/

I. noun

‹chiefly historical› the systematic description and mapping of regions or districts.

II. derivatives

1. chorographer /kəˈräɡrəfər /

noun

2. chorographic /ˌkôrəˈɡrafik /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek khōrographia, from khōra or khōros ‘region.’

choroid /ˈkôroid / chorioid

I. adjective

resembling the chorion, particularly in containing many blood vessels.

II. noun

the pigmented vascular layer of the eyeball between the retina and the sclera.

III. derivatives

choroidal /kəˈroidl /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Greek khoroeidēs (adjective), alteration of khorioeidēs, from khorion (see chorion).

choroid plexus

noun

a network of blood vessels in each ventricle of the brain. It is derived from the pia mater and produces the cerebrospinal fluid.

choropleth map /ˈkôrəˌpleTH ˌmap/

I. noun

a map that uses differences in shading, coloring, or the placing of symbols within predefined areas to indicate the average values of a property or quantity in those areas.
Compare with isopleth.

– origin 1930s: choropleth from Greek khōra ‘region’ + plēthos ‘multitude.’

Chorrillos /ˌCHōˈrēyōs/

a town in west central Peru, a resort and suburb south of Lima; pop. 262,525 (2005).

chortle /ˈCHôrdl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. laugh in a breathy, gleeful way; chuckle

• he chortled at his own pun.

II. noun

a breathy, gleeful laugh

• Thomas gave a chortle.

– origin 1871: coined by Lewis Carroll in Through the Looking Glass; probably a blend of chuckle and snort.

chorus /ˈkôrəs/

I. noun

1. a large organized group of singers, especially one that performs together with an orchestra or opera company.

2. a group of singers or dancers performing together in a supporting role in a stage musical or opera.

3. a piece of choral music, especially one forming part of a larger work such as an opera or oratorio.

4. a part of a song that is repeated after each verse, typically by more than one singer.

5. a simple song for group singing, especially in informal Christian worship.

6. (in ancient Greek tragedy) a group of performers who comment on the main action, typically speaking and moving together.

7. a simultaneous utterance of something by many people

• a growing chorus of complaint

• “Good morning,” we replied in chorus.

8. a single character who speaks the prologue and other linking parts of the play, especially in Elizabethan drama.

9. a section of text spoken by the chorus in drama.

10. a device used with an amplified musical instrument to give the impression that more than one instrument is being played
[as modifier]

• a chorus pedal.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a group of people) say the same thing at the same time

• they chorused a noisy amen

• [with direct speech] “Morning, Father,” the children chorused.

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting a character speaking the prologue and epilogue in a play and serving to comment on events): from Latin, from Greek khoros.

chorus girl /ˈkôrəs ˌɡərl/

noun

a young woman who sings or dances in the chorus of a musical.

Chorzów /ˈhôˌZHo͝of, ˈkô-/

a transportation and industrial center in southern Poland; pop. 113,314 (2008).

chose /CHōz/

past of choose.

chosen /ˈCHōzən/

I. past participle of choose.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. having been selected as the best or most appropriate

• music is his chosen vocation.

III. phrases

1. chosen few

a group of people who are special or different, typically in a way thought to be unfair

• why have they kept this secret to themselves, the chosen few?

2. chosen people

a. the Jewish people considered (in Jewish and Christian tradition) as having been selected by God for a special relationship with him.

b. (in Christian use) those destined for salvation; believing Christians.

choucroute /SHo͞oˈkro͞ot/

I. noun

pickled cabbage; sauerkraut.

– origin French, from German dialect Surkrut ‘sauerkraut,’ influenced by French chou ‘cabbage.’

choucroute garni /SHo͞oˌkro͞ot ɡärˈnē/

I. noun

a French dish consisting of sauerkraut flavored with juniper and served with assorted meats.

– origin French, literally ‘garnished sauerkraut.’

Chou En-lai /ˌjō en ˈlī/

variant of Zhou Enlai.

chough /CHəf/

I. noun

a black Eurasian and North African bird of the crow family, with a down-curved bill and broad rounded wings, typically frequenting mountains and sea cliffs.
[Genus Pyrrhocorax, family Corvidae: three species, esp. the red-billed chough (P. pyrrhocorax), with a long red bill, and the alpine chough (P. graculus), with a shorter yellow bill.]

– origin Middle English (originally denoting the jackdaw): probably imitative.

choux pastry /ˈSHo͞o ˌpāstrē/

I. noun

very light pastry made with egg, typically used for eclairs and profiteroles.

– origin late 19th cent.: from choux or chou, denoting a round cream-filled pastry cake (from French chou (plural choux) ‘cabbage, rosette,’ from Latin caulis) + pastry.

chow /CHou/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› food.

2. (also chow chow) — a dog of a sturdy Chinese breed with a broad muzzle, a tail curled over the back, a bluish-black tongue, and typically a dense thick coat.

II. verb

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› eat
[no obj.]

• he chowed down on lobster

• [with obj.] lions chow down their kills.

– origin late 19th cent.: shortened from chow chow.

chow chow /ˈCHou ˌCHou/

I. noun

1. another term for chow (sense 2 of the noun).

2. (also chow-chow) — a Chinese preserve of ginger, orange peel, and other ingredients, in syrup.

3. (also chow-chow) — a mixed vegetable pickle.

– origin late 18th cent.: pidgin English, of unknown ultimate origin.

chowder /ˈCHoudər/

I. noun

a rich soup typically containing fish, clams, or corn with potatoes and onions

• clam chowder.

– origin mid 18th cent.: perhaps from French chaudière ‘stew pot,’ related to Old Northern French caudron (see cauldron).

chowderhead /ˈCHoudərˌhed/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a stupid person.

II. derivatives

chowderheaded

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: probably a variant form of early 17th-cent. jolter-head ‘thick-headed person.’

chowhound /ˈCHouˌhound/

I. noun

(US) ‹informal› a very enthusiastic eater.

– origin early 20th cent. (originally military slang): from chow + hound.

chowkidar /ˈCHōkəˌdär / chokidar

I. noun

(in India) a watchman or gatekeeper.

– origin from Urdu caukīdār, from caukī ‘toll house’ + -dār ‘keeper.’

chow mein /ˌCHou ˈmān/

I. noun

a Chinese-style dish of fried noodles with shredded meat or seafood and vegetables.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Chinese chǎo miàn ‘fried noodles.’

CHP

abbreviation

combined heat and power, a system in which steam produced in a power station as a byproduct of electricity generation is used to heat nearby buildings.

Chr.

abbreviation

[Bible] Chronicles.

chrestomathy /kreˈstäməTHē/

I. noun

‹formal› a selection of passages from an author or authors, designed to help in learning a language.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek khrēstomatheia, from khrēstos ‘useful’ + -matheia ‘learning.’

Chrétien, Jean /krāˈtyeN, -ˈtyen/

(1934–), Canadian Liberal statesman; prime minister 1993–2003; full name Joseph-Jacques Jean Chrétien.

Chrétien de Troyes /krāˌtyen de ˈtrwä/

(12th century), French poet. His courtly romances on Arthurian themes include Lancelot (c. 1177–81) and Perceval (c. 1181–90, unfinished).

chrism /ˈkrizəm/

I. noun

a mixture of oil and balsam, consecrated and used for anointing at baptism and in other rites of Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican Churches.

– origin Old English, from medieval Latin crisma, ecclesiastical Latin chrisma, from Greek khrisma ‘anointing,’ from khriein ‘anoint.’

Chrismation /krisˈmāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

a rite in the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches that is comparable and similar to confirmation in the Roman Catholic Church.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from medieval Latin chrismatio(n-), from chrismare ‘to anoint.’

chrisom /ˈkrizəm/

I. noun

‹historical› a white robe put on a child at baptism.

– origin Middle English: alteration of chrism, representing a popular pronunciation with two syllables.

Chrissake /krī(s)ˌsāk / Chrissakes

I. noun — (in phrase for Chrissake)

1. ‹informal› for Christ's sake (used as an exclamation, typically of annoyance or exasperation)

• for Chrissake, listen to me!

– origin 1920s: representing a pronunciation.

Christ /krīst/

I. noun

the title, also treated as a name, given to Jesus of Nazareth (see Jesus).

II. exclamation

an oath used to express irritation, dismay, or surprise.

III. phrases

before Christ

full form of BC.

IV. derivatives

1. Christhood /-ˌho͝od /

noun

2. Christlike /ˈkrīs(t)ˌlīk /

adjective

3. Christly

adjective

– origin Old English Crīst, from Latin Christus, from Greek Khristos, noun use of an adjective meaning ‘anointed,’ from khriein ‘anoint,’ translating Hebrew māšīaḥ ‘Messiah.’

Christadelphian /ˌkristəˈdelfēən/

I. noun

a member of a Christian sect, founded in the US in 1848, that claims to return to the beliefs and practices of the earliest disciples and holds that Christ will return in power to set up a worldwide theocracy beginning at Jerusalem.

II. adjective

of or adhering to the Christadelphians and their beliefs.

– origin from late Greek Khristadelphos ‘in brotherhood with Christ’ (from Khristos ‘Christ’ + adelphos ‘brother’) + -ian.

Christchurch /ˈkrīs(t)ˌCHərCH/

a city in New Zealand, on the eastern coast of South Island; pop. 348,435 (2006). Christchurch suffered extensive damage and loss of life in a series of major earthquakes in 2010–11.

christen /ˈkris(ə)n/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. give (a baby) a Christian name at baptism as a sign of admission to a Christian Church
[with obj. and complement]

• their second daughter was christened Jeanette.

2. give to (someone or something) a name that reflects a notable quality or characteristic
[with obj. and complement]

• a person so creepy that his colleagues christened him “Millipede.”

3. dedicate (a vessel, building, etc.) ceremonially

• their first garbage truck was christened with a bottle of champagne.

4. ‹informal› use for the first time

• let's get steaks and christen the new grill.

II. derivatives

christener /ˈkris(ə)nər /

noun

– origin Old English crīstnian ‘make Christian,’ from crīsten ‘Christian,’ from Latin Christianus, from Christus ‘Christ.’

Christendom /ˈkris(ə)ndəm/

I. noun

1. ‹dated› the worldwide body or society of Christians.

2. ‹dated› the Christian world

• the greatest church in Christendom.

– origin Old English crīstendōm, from crīsten (see christen) + -dōm (see -dom).

Christer /ˈkrīstər/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a sanctimonious or ostentatiously pious Christian.

Christian /ˈkrisCHən/

I. adjective

1. of, relating to, or professing Christianity or its teachings

• the Christian Church.

2. ‹informal› having or showing qualities associated with Christians, especially those of decency, kindness, and fairness.

II. noun

a person who has received Christian baptism or is a believer in Jesus Christ and his teachings.

III. derivatives

1. Christianization /ˌkrisCHənəˈzāSHən /

noun

2. Christianize /ˈkrisCHəˌnīz /

verb

3. Christianly /ˈkrisCH(ə)nlē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Latin Christianus, from Greek Christianos (see Christ).

Christian, Fletcher

(c. 1764–93), English seaman and mutineer. In April 1789, as first mate under Captain Bligh on the HMS Bounty, he seized the ship and cast Bligh and others adrift. In 1790, the mutineers settled on Pitcairn Island, where Christian was probably killed by Tahitians.

Christian Brothers

a Roman Catholic lay teaching order founded in France in 1684.

Christian era

noun — (the Christian era)

1. the period of time that begins with the traditional date of Christ's birth.

Christiania /ˌkristēˈanēə, ˌkrisCHē- / Kristiania

former name (1624–1924) of Oslo.

Christianity /ˌkrisCHēˈanədē/

I. noun

1. the religion based on the person and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, or its beliefs and practices.

2. Christian quality or character

• his Christianity sustained him.

Christianity is today the world's most widespread religion, with more than a billion members, mainly divided between the Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox Churches. It originated among the Jewish followers of Jesus of Nazareth, who believed that he was the promised Messiah (or ‘Christ’), but the Christian Church soon became an independent organization, largely through the missionary efforts of St. Paul. In 313 Constantine ended official persecution in the Roman Empire and in 380 Theodosius I recognized it as the state religion. Most Christians believe in one God in three Persons (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) and that Jesus is the Son of God who rose from the dead after being crucified; a Christian hopes to attain eternal life after death through faith in Jesus Christ and tries to live by his teachings as recorded in the New Testament.

– origin Middle English: from Old French crestiente, from crestien ‘Christian,’ influenced by late Latin christianitas, from Latin Christianus, from Christus ‘Christ.’

Christian name /ˈkrisCHən ˌnām/

I. noun

a name given to an individual that distinguishes him or her from other members of the same family and is used as an address of familiarity; a forename, especially one given at baptism.

usage: In recognition of the fact that English-speaking societies have many religions and cultures, not just Christian ones, the term Christian name has largely given way, at least in official contexts, to alternative terms such as given name, first name, or forename.

Christian Science /ˌkrisCHən ˈsīəns/

I. noun

the beliefs and practices of the Church of Christ Scientist, a Christian sect founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 1879. Members hold that only God and the mind have ultimate reality, and that sin and illness are illusions that can be overcome by prayer and faith.

II. derivatives

Christian Scientist /ˈˌkrisCHən ˈsīən(t)əst /

noun

Christiansted /ˈkrisCHənˌsted/

a resort town on Saint Croix Island in the US Virgin Islands, once the capital of the Danish West Indies; pop. 2,700 (est. 2009).

Christie

I. noun

[Skiing] ‹dated› a sudden turn in which the skis are kept parallel, used for changing direction fast or stopping short.

– origin 1920s (earlier as Christiania): named after Christiania in Norway.

Christie, Dame Agatha /ˈkristē/

(1890–1976), English writer of detective fiction and plays. Many of her novels feature the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot or the resourceful Miss Marple. Her play The Mousetrap (1952) has run continuously since 1952 on the London stage. Other notable works: Murder on the Orient Express (1934) and Death on the Nile (1937).

Christie, Linford

(1960–), Jamaican-born British sprinter who won the Olympic gold medal in the 100 meters in 1992 and the world championship title at this distance in 1993.

Christingle /ˈkristiNGɡəl/

I. noun

a lighted candle symbolizing Christ as the light of the world, held by children especially at a special Advent service originating in the Moravian Church.

– origin 1950s: probably from German dialect Christkindl ‘Christ child, Christmas gift.’

Christmas /ˈkrisməs/

I. noun

1. the annual Christian festival celebrating Christ's birth, held on December 25 in the Western Church.

2. the period immediately before and after December 25

• we had guests over Christmas.

II. exclamation

‹informal› expressing surprise, dismay, or despair.

III. derivatives

Christmassy /ˈkrisməsē /

adjective

– origin Old English Crīstes mæsse (see Christ, Mass).

Christmas cactus

noun

a Brazilian cactus with branching stems of glossy green, flat, broad, tooth-edged sections, the tips of which bear long flowers, typically red or pink, with recurved outer petals. Christmas cacti are widely cultivated as houseplants.
[Schlumbergera bridgesii (or Zygocactus bridgesii), family Cactaceae.]

Christmas card

noun

a greeting card sent at Christmas.

Christmas Day /ˈˌkrisməs ˈdā/

noun

December 25, the day on which the festival of Christmas is celebrated.

Christmas Eve /ˈkrisməs ˈˌēv/

noun

December 24, the day or evening before Christmas Day.

Christmas fern

noun

an evergreen fern with dark green leathery fronds that grow in circular clumps from a central rootstock.
[Polystichum acrostichoides, family Polypodiaceae.]

Christmas Island

I. an island in the Indian Ocean, 200 miles (350 km) south of Java, administered as an external territory of Australia since 1958; pop. 1,400 (est. 2009).

II. former name (until 1981) of Kiritimati.

Christmas stocking /ˈkrisməs ˌstäkiNG/

noun

a long sock or similar receptacle hung up by children on Christmas Eve for Santa Claus to fill with presents.

Christmas tree /ˈkrisməs ˌtrē/

noun

a real or artificial evergreen tree set up and decorated with lights and ornaments as part of Christmas celebrations.

Christo-

I. combining form

of or relating to Christ

• Christocentric

• Christology.

– origin from Latin Christus or Greek Khristos ‘Christ.’

Christocentric /ˈkristəˈsentrik, ˌkrī-/

adjective

having Christ as its center

• a thoroughly Christocentric theology.

Christogram /ˈkristəˌɡram/

noun

a symbol for Christ, consisting of the Greek letters chi (Χ) and rho (Ρ).

Christology /krisˈtäləjē/

I. noun

the branch of Christian theology relating to the person, nature, and role of Christ.

II. derivatives

1. Christological /ˌkristlˈäjikəl /

adjective

2. Christologically /ˌkristlˈäjik(ə)lē /

adverb

Christopher, St. /ˈkristəfər/

a legendary Christian martyr, adopted as the patron saint of travelers, since it is said that he once carried Christ in the form of a child across a river.

Christopher, Warren /ˈkristəfər/

(1925–2011), US statesman and lawyer; full name Warren Minor Christopher. He served as secretary of state 1993–97 in President Bill Clinton's administration.

christophine /ˈkristəˌfēn / christophene

I. noun

another term for chayote (sense 1).

– origin probably based on the French given name Christophe.

Christ's thorn

noun

a thorny shrub popularly supposed to have formed Christ's crown of thorns, in particular
[● either of two shrubs related to the buckthorn: Paliurus spina-christi (also called Jerusalem thorn) and Ziziphus spina-christi (also called crown of thorns), family Rhamnaceae.]

chroma /ˈkrōmə/

I. noun

purity or intensity of color.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek khrōma ‘color.’

chromaffin /krōˈmafən/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. [Physiology] denoting granules or vesicles containing epinephrine and norepinephrine, and the secretory cells of the adrenal medulla in which they are found.

– origin early 20th cent.: from chromo-1 ‘chromium’ + Latin affinis ‘akin’ (because readily stained brown by chromates).

chromakey /ˈkrōməkē/

I. noun

a technique by which a block of a particular color (often blue or green) in a video image can be replaced either by another color or image, enabling, for example, a weather forecaster to appear against a background of a computer-generated weather map.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. manipulate (an image) using chromakey.

chromate /ˈkrōmāt/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a salt in which the anion contains both chromium and oxygen, especially one of the anion CrO_42.

– origin early 19th cent.: from chromic + -ate^1.

chromatic /krōˈmadik/

I. adjective

1. [Music] relating to or using notes not belonging to the diatonic scale of the key in which a passage is written.

2. (of a scale) ascending or descending by semitones.

3. (of an instrument) able to play all the notes of the chromatic scale.

4. of, relating to, or produced by color.

II. derivatives

1. chromatically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

2. chromaticism /-əˌsizəm /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from French chromatique or Latin chromaticus, from Greek khrōmatikos, from khrōma, khrōmat- ‘color, chromatic scale.’

chromatic aberration

noun

[Optics] the material effect produced by the refraction of different wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation through slightly different angles, resulting in a failure to focus. It causes colored fringes in the images produced by uncorrected lenses.

chromaticity /ˌkrōməˈtisədē/

noun

the quality of color, independent of brightness.

chromatid /ˈkrōməˌtid/

I. noun

[Biology] each of the two threadlike strands into which a chromosome divides longitudinally during cell division. Each contains a double helix of DNA.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Greek khrōma, khrōmat- ‘color’ + -id^2.

chromatin /ˈkrōmədən/

I. noun

[Biology] the material of which the chromosomes of organisms other than bacteria (i.e., eukaryotes) are composed. It consists of protein, RNA, and DNA.

– origin late 19th cent.: coined in German from Greek khrōma, khrōmat- ‘color.’

chromato- chromo-

I. combining form

color; of or in colors

• chromatopsia

• chromosome.

– origin from Greek khrōma, khrōmat- ‘color.’

chromatogram /krōˈmadəˌɡram/

noun

a visible record (such as a series of colored bands, or a graph) showing the result of separation of the components of a mixture by chromatography.

chromatograph /krōˈmadəˌɡraf/

noun

1. an apparatus for performing chromatography.

2. another term for chromatogram.

chromatography /ˌkrōməˈtäɡrəfē/

I. noun

[Chemistry] the separation of a mixture by passing it in solution or suspension or as a vapor (as in gas chromatography) through a medium in which the components move at different rates.

II. derivatives

chromatographic /krōˌmatəˈɡrafik /

adjective

– origin 1930s: from German Chromatographie (see chromato-, -graphy). The name alludes to the earliest separations when the result was displayed as a number of colored bands or spots.

chromatophore /krōˈmatəfôr/

I. noun

a cell or plastid that contains pigment.

II. derivatives

chromatophoric /krəˌmatəˈfôrik, ˌkrōmətə- /

adjective

chromatopsia /ˌkrōməˈtäpsēə/

I. noun

[Medicine] abnormally colored vision, a rare symptom of varied cause.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from chromato- ‘color’ + Greek -opsia ‘seeing.’

chrome /krōm/

I. noun

1. chromium plate as a decorative or protective finish on motor-vehicle fittings and other objects
[as modifier]

• a chrome bumper.

2. [as modifier] — denoting compounds or alloys of chromium

• chrome dyes.

3. short for chrome yellow.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French, from Greek khrōma ‘color’ (because of the brilliant colors of chromium compounds).

chrome alum

noun

a reddish-purple crystalline compound used in solution in photographic processing and as a mordant in dyeing.
[Chem. formula: K_2SO_4Cr_2(SO_4)3.24H_2O.]

chromed /krōmd/

adjective

chromium-plated.

chrome leather

noun

leather tanned with chromium salts.

chrome-moly /ˌkrōm ˈmōlē / chromoly

I. noun

a strong steel alloy made principally of chromium and molybdenum

• the bicycle is made lighter and stronger with chrome-moly tubing.

– origin 1980s: blend of chromium and molybdenum.

chrome red

noun

a bright red pigment consisting of lead chromate with varying amounts of lead oxide.

chrome steel /ˈˌkrōm ˈstēl/

noun

a hard fine-grained steel containing chromium, used for making tools.

chrome yellow /krōm ˈyelō/

noun

a bright yellow pigment made from lead chromate, now little used.

chromic /ˈkrōmik/

adjective

[Chemistry] of chromium with a higher valence, usually three.
Compare with chromous.

chromic acid

noun

[Chemistry] a corrosive and strongly oxidizing acid existing only in solutions of chromium trioxide.
[Chem. formula: H_2CrO_4.]

chrominance /ˈkrōmənəns/

I. noun

the colorimetric difference between a given color in a television picture and a standard color of equal luminance.

– origin 1950s: from Greek khrōma ‘color,’ on the pattern of luminance.

chromite /ˈkrōmīt/

I. noun

a brownish-black mineral that consists of a mixed oxide of chromium and iron and is the principal ore of chromium.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from chrome or chromium + -ite^1.

chromium /ˈkrōmēəm/

I. noun

(Symbol: Cr) — the chemical element of atomic number 24, a hard white metal used in stainless steel and other alloys.

– origin early 19th cent.: from chrome + -ium.

chromium plate /ˈkrōmēəm plāt/

I. noun

1. a thin layer of chromium, electroplated or otherwise applied as a coating to another metal.

2. metal with a coating of metallic chromium.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. cover (something) with a thin layer of chromium.

chromium-plated

adjective

covered with a thin layer of chromium

• an elegant molded mesh of chromium-plated steel wire.

chromium steel

noun

another term for chrome steel.

chromo /ˈkrōmō/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) shortened form of chromolithograph.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› chrome-moly.

chromo-1

combining form

[Chemistry] representing chromium.

chromo-2

combining form

variant spelling of chromato-.

chromogen /ˈkrōməjən/

noun

a substance that can be readily converted into a dye or other colored compound.

chromogenic /ˌkrōməˈjenik/

adjective

1. involving the production of color or pigments, in particular

2. [Photography] denoting a modern process of film developing that uses couplers to produce black-and-white or color images of very high definition.

3. [Photography] denoting any of a number of developing processes similar to the chromogenic process.

4. [Microbiology] (of a bacterium) producing a pigment.

chromolithograph /ˌkrōmōˈliTHəɡraf / ‹historical›

I. noun

a colored picture printed by lithography, especially in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. print or produce (a picture) by the chromolithographic process.

III. derivatives

1. chromolithographer /-liˈTHäɡrəfər /

noun

2. chromolithographic /-ˌliTHəˈɡrafik /

adjective

3. chromolithography /ˌkrōmōliˈTHäɡrəfē /

noun

chromophore /ˈkrōməˌfôr/

I. noun

[Chemistry] an atom or group whose presence is responsible for the color of a compound.

II. derivatives

chromophoric /ˌkrōməˈfôrik /

adjective

chromoplast /ˈkrōməˌplast/

I. noun

[Botany] a colored plastid other than a chloroplast, typically containing a yellow or orange pigment.

– origin late 19th cent.: from chromo-2 ‘color’ + Greek plastos ‘formed.’

chromosomal /ˌkrōməˈsōm(ə)l/

adjective

[Biology] involving or relating to chromosomes

• a chromosomal disorder.

chromosome /ˈkrōməˌsōm/

I. noun

[Biology] a threadlike structure of nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus of most living cells, carrying genetic information in the form of genes.
Each chromosome consists of a DNA double helix bearing a linear sequence of genes, coiled and recoiled around aggregated proteins (histones). Their number varies from species to species: humans have 22 pairs plus the two sex chromosomes (two X chromosomes in females, one X and one Y in males). During cell division, each DNA strand is duplicated, and the chromosomes condense to become visible as distinct pairs of chromatids joined at the centromere. Bacteria and viruses lack a nucleus and have a single chromosome without histones.

– origin late 19th cent.: coined in German from Greek khrōma ‘color’ + sōma ‘body.’

chromosome map

noun

[Genetics] a diagram showing the relative positions of genes along the length of a chromosome.

chromosome number

noun

[Genetics] the characteristic number of chromosomes found in the cell nuclei of organisms of a particular species.

chromosphere /ˈkrōməˌsfir/

I. noun

[Astronomy] a reddish gaseous layer immediately above the photosphere of the sun or another star. Together with the corona, it constitutes the star's outer atmosphere.

II. derivatives

chromospheric /ˌkrōməˈsfi(ə)rik, -ˈsferik /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from chromo-2 ‘color’ + sphere.

chromotherapy /ˌkrōməˈTHerəpē/

I. noun

another term for color therapy.

II. derivatives

chromotherapist

noun

chromous /ˈkrōməs/

adjective

[Chemistry] of chromium with a valence of two; of chromium(II).
Compare with chromic.

Chron.

abbreviation

[Bible] Chronicles.

chronaxie /ˈkrōˌnaksē, ˈkrä-/

noun

[Physiology] the minimum amount of time needed to stimulate a muscle or nerve fiber, using an electric current twice the strength required to elicit a threshold response.

chronic /ˈkränik/

I. adjective

1. (of an illness) persisting for a long time or constantly recurring

• chronic bronchitis.

Often contrasted with acute.

2. (of a person) having an illness persisting for a long time or constantly recurring

• a chronic asthmatic.

3. (of a problem) long-lasting and difficult to eradicate

• the school suffers from chronic overcrowding.

4. (of a person) having a particular bad habit

• a chronic liar.

II. derivatives

chronicity /kräˈnisədē /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from French chronique, via Latin from Greek khronikos ‘of time,’ from khronos ‘time.’ / usage: Chronic is often used to mean ‘habitual, inveterate,’ e.g., a chronic liar. Some consider this use incorrect. The precise meaning of chronic is ‘persisting for a long time,’ and it is used chiefly of illnesses or other problems: more than one million people in the US have chronic bronchitis.

chronically /ˈkräniklē/

adverb — [usu. as submodifier]

1. (in relation to illness) in a persistent and recurring way

• families dealing with a chronically ill child.

2. in a long-lasting or habitual and problematic way

• the office is chronically understaffed

• a mission to create jobs for the chronically unemployed.

chronic fatigue syndrome CFS

noun

a medical condition of unknown cause, with fever, aching, and prolonged tiredness and depression, typically occurring after a viral infection.

chronicle /ˈkränək(ə)l/

I. noun

1. a factual written account of important or historical events in the order of their occurrence.

2. a work of fiction or nonfiction that describes a particular series of events.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. record (a related series of events) in a factual and detailed way

• his work chronicles 20th-century displacement and migration.

– origin Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French cronicle, variant of Old French cronique, via Latin from Greek khronika ‘annals,’ from khronikos (see chronic).

chronicle play chronicle history

noun

a historical drama consisting of a series of short episodes arranged chronologically.

chronicler /ˈkränəklər/

noun

a person who writes accounts of important or historical events

• a chronicler of 18th-century American life.

Chronicles /ˈkränəkəlz/

the name of two books of the Bible, recording the history of Israel and Judah until the return from Exile (536 BC).
See also paralipomena.

chrono- /ˈkränō/

I. combining form

relating to time

• chronometry.

– origin from Greek khronos ‘time.’

chronobiology /ˌkränōˌbīˈäləjē, ˌkrōnōˌbīˈäləjē/

I. noun

the branch of biology concerned with natural physiological rhythms and other cyclical phenomena.

II. derivatives

chronobiologist /-ˌbīˈäləjist /

noun

chronograph /ˈkränəˌɡraf ˈkrōnəˌɡraf/

I. noun

1. an instrument for recording time with great accuracy.

2. a stopwatch.

II. derivatives

chronographic /ˌkränəˈɡrafik, ˌkrō- /

adjective

chronologer /krəˈnäləjər/

noun

‹historical› a person who studied historical records to establish the dates of past events

• Jonson was elected chronologer of London in 1628.

chronological /ˌkränəˈläjək(ə)l/

adjective

1. (of a record of events) starting with the earliest and following the order in which they occurred

• the entries are in chronological order.

2. relating to the establishment of dates and time sequences

• the diary provided a chronological framework for the events.

3. calculated in terms of the passage of time rather than some other criterion

• ratings are calculated by dividing a child's mental age by his or her chronological age.

chronologically /ˌkränəˈläjiklē/

adverb

in a way that follows the order in which events or records occurred

• the essays are arranged chronologically

• the narrative moves chronologically.

chronology /krəˈnäləjē/

I. noun

1. the arrangement of events or dates in the order of their occurrence

• the novel abandons the conventions of normal chronology

• a diary recording a chronology of events.

2. a document displaying an arrangement of events in order of their occurrence.

3. the study of historical records to establish the dates of past events.

II. derivatives

chronologist /krəˈnäləjəst /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from modern Latin chronologia, from Greek khronos ‘time’ + -logia (see -logy).

chronometer /krəˈnämədər/

noun

an instrument for measuring time, especially one designed to keep accurate time in spite of motion or variations in temperature, humidity, and air pressure. Chronometers were first developed for marine navigation, being used in conjunction with astronomical observation to determine longitude.

chronometry /krəˈnämətrē/

I. noun

the science of accurate time measurement.

II. derivatives

1. chronometric /ˌkränəˈmetrik /

adjective

2. chronometrical /ˌkränəˈmetrikəl, ˌkrō- /

adjective

3. chronometrically /ˌkränəˈmetrək(ə)lē /

adverb

chronoscope /ˈkränəˌskōp, ˈkrōnəˌskōp/

noun

a device for measuring short time intervals, especially in determining the velocity of projectiles, or a person's reaction time.

chronostratigraphy /ˌkränəˌstrəˈtiɡrəfē, ˌkrōnəˌstrəˈtiɡrəfē/

I. noun

the branch of geology concerned with establishing the absolute ages of strata.

II. derivatives

chronostratigraphic /-ˌstratəˈɡrafik /

adjective

chronotherapy /ˌkränōˈTHerəpē ˌkrōnōˈTHerəpē/

noun

treatment of an illness or disorder that takes into account the body's natural rhythms and cycles.

chronotype /ˈkränəˌtīp ˈkrōnəˌtīp/

I. noun

a person's natural inclination with regard to the times of day when they prefer to sleep or when they are most alert or energetic

• teenagers and students might find their chronotype shifts as they get older

• we have studied how a player's chronotype affects performance at different times of the day.

– origin 1970s: from chrono- + type.

chrysalis /ˈkrisələs / chrysalid

I. noun

1. a quiescent insect pupa, especially of a butterfly or moth.

2. the hard outer case of this, especially after being discarded.

3. a preparatory or transitional state

• she emerged from the chrysalis of self-conscious adolescence.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin chrysal(l)is, chrysal(l)id-, from Greek khrusallis, from khrusos ‘gold’ (because of the gold color or metallic sheen of the pupae of some species).

chrysanthemum /kriˈsanTHəməm/

I. noun

1. a popular plant of the daisy family, having brightly colored ornamental flowers and existing in many cultivated varieties.
[Genera Chrysanthemum or (most cultivated species) Dendranthema, family Compositae.]

2. a flower or flowering stem of the chrysanthemum plant.

– origin (originally denoting the corn marigold): from Latin, from Greek khrusanthemon, from khrusos ‘gold’ + anthemon ‘flower.’

chryselephantine /ˌkrisˌeləˈfanˌtīn/

I. adjective

(of ancient Greek sculpture) overlaid with gold and ivory.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Greek khruselephantinos, from khrusos ‘gold’ + elephas, elephant- ‘elephant’ or ‘ivory.’

Chrysler, Walter /ˈkrīslər/

(1875–1940), US automobile manufacturer; full name Walter Percy Chrysler. He was president and general manager of Buick Motor Company 1916–21 and introduced the Chrysler automobile in 1924.

chrysoberyl /ˈkrisəˌberəl/

I. noun

a greenish or yellowish-green mineral consisting of an oxide of beryllium and aluminum. It occurs as tabular crystals, sometimes of gem quality.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin chrysoberyllus, from Greek khrusos ‘gold’ + bērullos ‘beryl.’

chrysocolla /ˌkrisəˈkälə/

I. noun

a greenish-blue mineral consisting of hydrated copper silicate, typically occurring as opaline crusts and masses.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the Greek sense): from Latin, from Greek khrusokolla, denoting a mineral used in ancient times for soldering gold.

chrysolite /ˈkrisəˌlīt/

I. noun

a yellowish-green or brownish variety of olivine, used as a gemstone.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French crisolite, from medieval Latin crisolitus, from Latin chrysolithus, based on Greek khrusos ‘gold’ + lithos ‘stone.’

chrysomelid /ˌkrisəˈmelid, -ˈmēlid/

I. noun

[Entomology] a beetle of a family (Chrysomelidae) that comprises the leaf beetles and their relatives.

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Chrysomelidae (plural), from Chrysomela (genus name), from Greek khrusomēlon, literally ‘golden apple,’ influenced by khrusomēlolonthion ‘little golden chafer.’

chrysoprase /ˈkrisəˌprāz/

I. noun

1. an apple-green variety of chalcedony containing nickel, used as a gemstone.

2. (in the New Testament) a golden-green precious stone, perhaps a variety of beryl.

– origin Middle English (in the New Testament sense): from Old French crisopace, via Latin from Greek khrusoprasos, from khrusos ‘gold’ + prason ‘leek.’

Chrysostom, St. John /ˈkrisəstəm, krisˈästəm/

(c. 347–407), doctor of the Church; bishop of Constantinople. His attempts to reform the corrupt state of the court, clergy, and people caused him to be banished in 403. Feast day, January 27.

chrysotile /ˈkrisəˌtīl/

I. noun

a fibrous form of the mineral serpentine.
Also called white asbestos (see asbestos).

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek khrusos ‘gold’ + tilos ‘fiber.’

chthonic /ˈTHänik / chthonian

I. adjective

concerning, belonging to, or inhabiting the underworld

• a chthonic deity.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek khthōn ‘earth’ + -ic.

chub /CHəb/

I. noun

a thick-bodied European river fish with a gray-green back and white underparts, popular with anglers.
[Leuciscus cephalus, family Cyprinidae.]

– origin late Middle English: of unknown origin.

chubby /ˈCHəbē/

I. adjective

plump and rounded

• a pretty child with chubby cheeks.

II. derivatives

1. chubbily /ˈCHəbəlē /

adverb

2. chubbiness /ˈCHəbēnəs /

noun

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘short and thickset, like a chub’): from chub.

chuck^1 /CHək / ‹informal›

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. throw (something) carelessly or casually

• someone chucked a brick through the window

• ‹figurative› chucking money at the problem won't solve it.

2. throw (something) away

• they make a living out of stuff people chuck out.

3. give up (a job or activity) suddenly

• Richard chucked his cultural studies course.

4. break off a relationship with (a partner)

• Mary chucked him for another guy.

II. phrases

chuck it all in

‹informal› abandon a course of action or way of life, especially for another that is radically different.

III. phrasal verbs

chuck someone out

‹informal› force someone to leave a building

• the tenants have been chucked out of the cottages.

IV. derivatives

chucker

noun

– origin late 17th cent. (as a verb): from chuck^2.

chuck^2 /CHək/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. touch (someone) playfully or gently under the chin.

II. noun

a playful touch under the chin.

– origin early 17th cent. (as a noun): probably from Old French chuquer, later choquer ‘to knock, bump,’ of unknown ultimate origin.

chuck^3 /CHək/

I. noun

1. a device for holding a workpiece in a lathe or a tool in a drill, typically having three or four jaws that move radially in and out.

2. a cut of beef that extends from the neck to the ribs, typically used for stewing.

– origin late 17th cent., as a variant of chock; see also chunk^1.

chuck^4 /CHək/

I. noun

(US) ‹informal› food or provisions.

– origin mid 19th cent.: perhaps the same word as chuck^3.

chuck^5 /CHək/

noun

short for woodchuck.

chuck-a-luck /ˈCHəkəˌlək/

noun

(N. Amer.) a gambling game played with three dice.

chuckhole /ˈCHəkˌhōl/

noun

(N. Amer.) a hole or rut in a road or track.

chuck key /ˈCHək ˌkē/

noun

a small metal device for tightening the chuck of a drill so that it holds the drill bit securely.

chuckle /ˈCHək(ə)l/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. laugh quietly or inwardly

• I chuckled at the astonishment on her face

• [with direct speech] “That's a bit strong, isn't it?” he chuckled.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. a quiet or suppressed laugh.

III. derivatives

chuckler /ˈCHəklər /

noun

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘laugh convulsively’): from chuck meaning ‘to cluck’ in late Middle English.

chucklehead /ˈCHəkəlˌhed/

I. noun

‹informal› a stupid person.

II. derivatives

chuckleheaded /ˈCHəkəlˌhedəd /

adjective

– origin mid 18th cent.: from early 18th-cent. chuckle ‘big and clumsy,’ probably related to chuck^3.

chuck wagon /ˈCHək ˌwaɡən/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a wagon with cooking facilities providing food on a ranch, worksite, or campsite.

– origin late 19th cent.: chuck, colloquial in the sense ‘food, provisions.’

chuckwalla /ˈCHəkˌwälə/

I. noun

a large dark-bodied lizard, the male of which has a light yellow tail, native to the deserts of the southwestern US and Mexico. When threatened, it inflates itself with air to wedge itself into a crevice.
[Sauromalus obesus, family Iguanidae.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from Mexican Spanish chacahuala, from American Indian.

chuck-will's-widow /ˌCHək ˌwilz ˈwidō, ˈwidə/

I. noun

a large nightjar native to eastern North America.
[Caprimulgus carolinensis, family Caprimulgidae.]

– origin late 18th cent.: imitative of its call.

chufa /ˈCHo͞ofə/

I. noun

1. an Old World sedge that yields an edible tuber. It is cultivated on a small scale, particularly in some marshy regions of Spain and Italy.
Also called earth almond. [Cyperus esculentus var. sativus, family Cyperaceae.]

2. the tuber of the chufa plant, which may be roasted, made into flour, or turned into juice.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Spanish.

chuff /CHəf/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a steam engine) move with a regular sharp puffing sound.

– origin early 20th cent.: imitative.

chuffed /CHəft/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. (Brit.) ‹informal› very pleased

• I'm dead chuffed to have won.

– origin 1950s: from dialect chuff ‘plump or pleased.’

chug^1 /CHəɡ/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. emit a series of regular muffled explosive sounds, as of an engine running slowly

• he could hear the pipes chugging.

2. (of a vehicle or boat) move slowly with engine making regular muffled explosive sounds

• a cabin cruiser was chugging down the river.

II. noun

a muffled explosive sound or a series of such sounds

• the chug of a motorboat.

– origin mid 19th cent. (as a noun): imitative.

chug^2 /CHəɡ / ‹N. Amer. informal› chugalug, chug-a-lug

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. consume (a drink) in large gulps without pausing

• Avery chugged a cup of coffee.

II. noun

a large gulp of a drink

• Chris took a long chug of his beer.

– origin 1950s: imitative.

Chugach Mountains /ˈCHo͞oˌɡaCH, -ˌɡaSH/

a range of mountains, part of the Coast Ranges, in southern Alaska. Anchorage lies at its base, and it is noted for glaciers that flow south into the Gulf of Alaska.

chugger /ˈCHəɡər/

I. noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› a person who approaches passersby in the street to solicit donations to a particular charity

• when you have chuggers outside your shop, people just cross the road.

– origin early 21st cent.: blend of charity and mugger^1.

chugging /ˈCHəɡiNG/

I. noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› the action or practice of approaching passersby in the street to solicit donations to a particular charity

• the committee called on charities to publish their spend on campaigning and for tighter rules on chugging.

– origin early 21st cent.: blend of charity and mugging.

chukar /ˈCHo͝okˌär, CHo͝okˈär / chukar partridge

I. noun

a Eurasian partridge similar to the red-legged partridge, but with a call like a clucking domestic hen.
[Genus Alectoris, family Phasianidae: two species, in particular A. chukar.]

– origin early 19th cent.: from Sanskrit cakora.

Chukchi /ˈCHo͝okCHē, ˈCHək- / Chukchee

I. noun

1. a member of an indigenous people of extreme northeastern Siberia.

2. the language of the Chukchi, which belongs to a small, isolated language family.

II. adjective

relating to the Chukchi or their language.

– origin Russian (plural).

Chukchi Sea /ˌCHəkCHē ˈsi, ˌCHo͝okCHē ˈsi/

part of the Arctic Ocean that lies between North America and Asia and north of the Bering Strait.

chukker /ˈCHəkər / chukka

I. noun

each of a number of periods (typically six) into which play in a game of polo is divided. A chukker lasts 7½ minutes.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Hindi cakkar, from Sanskrit cakra ‘circle or wheel.’

Chula Vista /ˌCHo͞olə ˈvistə/

a city in southwestern California, south of San Diego, near the Mexican border; pop. 219,318 (est. 2008).

chum^1 /CHəm / ‹informal›

I. noun

1. a close friend.

2. a form of address expressing familiarity or friendliness

• it's your own fault, chum.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. be friendly to or form a friendship with someone

• they started chumming around in high school.

– origin late 17th cent. (originally Oxford University slang, denoting a roommate): probably short for chamber-fellow. Compare with comrade and crony.

chum^2 /CHəm / ‹chiefly N. Amer.›

I. noun

1. chopped fish, fish fluids, and other material thrown overboard as angling bait.

2. refuse from fish, especially that remaining after expressing oil.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. use chum as bait when fishing.

– origin mid 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

chum^3 /CHəm / chum salmon

I. noun

a large North Pacific salmon that is commercially important as a food fish.
[Oncorhyncus keta, family Salmonidae.]

– origin early 20th cent.: from Chinook Jargon tzum (samun), literally ‘spotted (salmon).’

Chumash /ˈCHo͞oˌmaSH/

I. noun

1. a member of an American Indian people inhabiting coastal parts of southern California.

2. the Hokan language of the Chumash.

II. adjective

relating to the Chumash or their language.

– origin Chumash, literally ‘islander.’

chummy /ˈCHəmē/

I. adjective

on friendly terms; friendly

• she's become pretty chummy with Ted lately.

II. derivatives

1. chummily /ˈCHəməlē /

adverb

2. chumminess /ˈCHəmēnəs /

noun

chump /CHəmp/

I. noun

‹informal› a foolish or easily deceived person

• how can this chump be a detective?

– origin early 18th cent. (in the sense ‘thick lump of wood’): probably a blend of chunk^1 and lump^1 or stump.

chump change

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a small or insignificant amount of money.

– origin 1960s: originally black English.

Chün /CHo͞on, jo͞on/

noun

a type of thickly glazed, typically bluish or purplish gray stoneware originally made at Chün Chou in Honan province, China, during the Song dynasty.

Chunchon /ˌCHo͞onˌCHən/

an industrial city in northeastern South Korea, the capital of Kangwon province; pop. 264,600 (est. 2008).

Chungking /ˌCHo͝oNGˈkiNG/

variant of Chongqing.

Chung-shan /CHo͝oNGˈSHän/

variant of Zhongshan.

chunk^1 /CHəNGk/

I. noun

1. a thick, solid piece of something

• huge chunks of masonry littered the street.

2. [in sing.] — an amount or part of something

• fuel takes a large chunk of their small income.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) divide (something) into chunks

• chunk four pounds of pears.

2. (in psychology or linguistic analysis) group together (connected items or words) so that they can be stored or processed as single concepts.

– origin late 17th cent.: apparently an alteration of chuck^3.

chunk^2 /CHəNGk/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) move with or make a muffled, metallic sound

• the door chunked behind them.

– origin late 19th cent.: imitative.

chunky /ˈCHəNGkē/

I. adjective

1. bulky and solid

• a chunky bracelet.

2. (of a person) short and sturdy.

3. (of food) containing chunks

• fresh chunky salsa

• a chunky soup.

II. derivatives

1. chunkily /ˈCHəNGkəlē /

adverb

2. chunkiness

noun

Chunnel /ˈCHən(ə)l/

I. noun

‹informal› short for Channel Tunnel.

– origin 1920s (but rare before the 1950s): blend.

chupacabra /ˌCHo͞opəˈkäbrə/

I. noun

an animal said to exist in parts of Latin America, where it supposedly attacks animals, especially goats.

– origin Spanish, literally ‘goatsucker,’ from chupar ‘suck’ + cabra ‘goat.’

chuppah /ˈKHo͝opə ˈho͝opə / chuppa

I. noun

a canopy beneath which Jewish marriage ceremonies are performed.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Hebrew ḥuppāh ‘cover, canopy.’

Chuquisaca /ˌCHo͞okēˈsäkə/

former name (1539–1840) of Sucre.

church /CHərCH/

I. noun

1. a building used for public Christian worship

• they came to church with me.

2. (usu. Church) — a particular Christian organization, typically one with its own clergy, buildings, and distinctive doctrines

• the Church of England.

3. (the Church) — the hierarchy of clergy of a Christian organization, especially the Roman Catholic Church or the Church of England.

4. institutionalized religion as a political or social force

• the separation of church and state.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› take (a woman who has recently given birth) to church for a service of thanksgiving.

– origin Old English cir(i)ce, cyr(i)ce, related to Dutch kerk and German Kirche, based on medieval Greek kurikon, from Greek kuriakon (dōma) ‘Lord's (house),’ from kurios ‘master or lord.’ Compare with kirk.

Church, Frederic Edwin /CHərCH/

(1826–1900), US painter. A student of Thomas Cole and a leader of the Hudson River School, he was known for his landscapes.

Churches of Christ

a number of Protestant denominations, chiefly in the US, originating in the Disciples of Christ but later separated over doctrinal issues.

churchgoer /ˈCHərCHˌɡō(ə)r/

I. noun

a person who goes to church, especially one who does so regularly.

II. derivatives

churchgoing /ˈCHərCHˌɡōiNG /

noun, adjective

Churchill, Sir Winston /ˈCHərˌCHil, ˈCHərCHˌhil/

(1874–1965), British statesman; prime minister 1940–45 and 1951–55; full name Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill. A consistent opponent of appeasement during the 1930s, he replaced Neville Chamberlain as British prime minister in 1940 and led Britain throughout World War II. Notable works: The Second World War (1948–53) and A History of the English-Speaking Peoples (1956–58). Nobel Prize for Literature (1953).

Churchill Downs

a horse-racing facility in Louisville in Kentucky, the site of the annual Kentucky Derby.

Churchillian /CHərˈCHilēən/

adjective

relating to or characteristic of the former British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill or his policies

• a Churchillian figure in time of war.

Churchill River^1

a river that flows for 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from northern Saskatchewan across Manitoba to Hudson Bay at Churchill.

Churchill River^2

a river that flows for 600 miles (1,000 km) from the Canadian Shield across eastern Labrador to the Labrador Sea. Its high falls generate hydroelectric power. Formerly called the Hamilton River.

church key

noun

(N. Amer.) a small metal device with a triangular point at one end for punching holes in cans and a rounded edge at the other end for removing bottle caps.

churchly /ˈCHərCHlē/

I. adjective

of or relating to the Christian Church; ecclesiastical

• views about biblical and churchly authority

• an exquisite album of churchly, ambient songs.

– origin Old English circlic, cyrclic, from church.

churchman /ˈCHərCHmən/

noun

a male member of the Christian clergy or of a church.

Church Militant

I. noun — (the Church Militant)

1. the whole body of living Christian believers.

– origin mid 16th cent.: contrasted with the Church Triumphant in heaven.

Church of Christ, Scientist

the Christian Science Church.

Church of England

the English branch of the Western Christian Church, which combines Catholic and Protestant traditions, rejects the pope's authority, and has the monarch as its titular head.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

the church of the Mormons.

Church of Rome

another term for Roman Catholic Church.

Church of Scotland

the national Christian Church in Scotland, established as Presbyterian in 1690.

church planting

noun

the practice of establishing a core of Christian worshipers in a parish, with the intention that they should develop into a thriving congregation.

Church Slavic Church Slavonic

noun

the liturgical language used in the Orthodox Church in Russia, Serbia, and some other countries. It is a modified form of Old Church Slavic.

churchwarden /ˈCHərCHˌwôrdn/

noun

1. either of the two elected lay representatives in an Anglican parish, formally responsible for movable church property and for keeping order in church.

2. (US) a church administrator.

3. (chiefly Brit.) a long-stemmed clay pipe.

churchwoman /ˈCHərCHˌwo͝omən/

noun

a female member of the Christian clergy or of a church.

churchy /ˈCHərCHē/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) excessively pious and consequently narrow-minded or intolerant.

2. resembling a church

• Gothic design looks too churchy.

II. derivatives

churchiness

noun

churchyard /ˈCHərCHˌyärd/

noun

an enclosed area surrounding a church, especially as used for burials.

churl /CHərl/

I. noun

1. an impolite and mean-spirited person.

2. ‹archaic› a miser.

3. ‹archaic› a person of low birth; a peasant.

– origin Old English ceorl; related to Dutch kerel and German Kerl ‘fellow,’ also to carl.

churlish /ˈCHərliSH/

I. adjective

rude in a mean-spirited and surly way

• it seems churlish to complain.

II. derivatives

1. churlishly /ˈCHərliSHlē /

adverb

2. churlishness /ˈCHərliSHnəs /

noun

– origin Old English cierlisc, ceorlisc (see churl, -ish^1).

churn /CHərn/

I. noun

1. a machine or container in which butter is made by agitating milk or cream.

2. short for churn rate.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — agitate or turn (milk or cream) in a machine in order to produce butter

• the cream is ripened before it is churned.

2. produce (butter) by churning.

3. [no obj.] — (of liquid) move about vigorously

• the seas churned

• ‹figurative› her stomach was churning at the thought of the ordeal.

4. [with obj.] — cause (liquid) to move about vigorously

• in high winds most of the lake is churned up.

5. [with obj.] — break up the surface of (an area of ground)

• the earth had been churned up where vehicles had passed through.

6. [with obj.] — (of a broker) encourage frequent turnover of (investments) in order to generate commission.

III. phrasal verbs

churn something out

produce something routinely or mechanically, especially in large quantities

• artists continued to churn out insipid works.

– origin Old English cyrin, of Germanic origin; related to Middle Low German kerne and Old Norse kirna.

churn rate

noun

the annual percentage rate at which customers stop subscribing to a service or employees leave a job.

• the churn rate for cable is much higher than that for satellite services.

• the staff turnover or "churn rate'"is about 1 percent.

Churrigueresque /ˌCHo͝orēɡəˈresk / churrigueresque

I. adjective

[Architecture] of or relating to the lavishly ornamented late Spanish baroque style

• a Churrigueresque church.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from the name José Benito de Churriguera (1665–1725), a Spanish architect who worked in this style.

churro /ˈCHo͝orō/

I. noun

a Latin American snack consisting of a strip of fried dough, very similar to funnel cake.

– origin Spanish, of uncertain origin; perhaps related to churro ‘coarse, rough.’

chute^1 /SHo͞ot / shoot

I. noun

1. a sloping channel or slide for conveying things to a lower level.

2. a water slide into a swimming pool.

3. short for chute-the-chute.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French, ‘fall’ (of water or rocks), from Old French cheoite, feminine past participle of cheoir ‘to fall,’ from Latin cadere; influenced by shoot.

chute^2 /SHo͞ot/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› a parachute.

2. ‹informal› [Sailing] informal term for spinnaker.

II. derivatives

chutist /ˈSHo͞otist /

noun

– origin 1920s: shortened form.

chute-the-chute chute-the-chutes

I. noun

a steep slide or roller coaster, especially with water at the foot.

II. verb — (chute the chute or chute the chutes)

1. slide down or ride on a chute-the-chute.

chutney /ˈCHətnē/

I. noun

a spicy condiment made of fruits or vegetables with vinegar, spices, and sugar, originating in India.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Hindi caṭnī.

chutzpah /ˈho͝otspə ˈKHo͝otspə / chutzpa, hutzpah, hutzpa

I. noun

‹informal› shameless audacity; impudence.

– origin late 19th cent.: Yiddish, from Aramaic ḥu ṣpā.

Chuuk Islands /ˌCHo͝ok ˈīləndz/

a group of 14 volcanic islands and numerous atolls in the western Pacific Ocean, in the Caroline Islands group, that forms part of the Federated States of Micronesia; pop. 53,300 (est. 2008).
Former name Truk Islands.

Chuvash /ˈCHo͞oˌväSH, CHo͞oˈväSH/

I. noun

1. a member of a people living mainly in Chuvashia.

2. the language of the Chuvash, usually classified as Turkic.

II. adjective

relating to the Chuvash or their language.

Chuvashia /CHo͞oˈväSHēə/

an autonomous republic in Russia, in Europe east of Nizhni Novgorod; pop. 1,278,600 (est. 2009); capital, Cheboksary.

chyle /kīl/

I. noun

[Physiology] a milky fluid consisting of fat droplets and lymph. It drains from the lacteals of the small intestine into the lymphatic system during digestion.

II. derivatives

chylous /ˈkīləs /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin chylus, from Greek khūlos ‘juice’ (see chyme).

chylomicron /ˌkīlōˈmīkrän/

I. noun

[Physiology] a droplet of fat present in the blood or lymph after absorption from the small intestine.

– origin 1920s: from chylo- (combining form of chyle) + micron.

chyme /kīm/

I. noun

[Physiology] the pulpy acidic fluid that passes from the stomach to the small intestine, consisting of gastric juices and partly digested food.

II. derivatives

chymous /ˈkīməs /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin chymus, from Greek khūmos ‘juice’ (compare with chyle). The Greek words khūlos and khūmos are from the same root and more or less identical in sense; however, khūlos came to be used for juice in a raw or natural state, khūmos for juice produced by decoction or digestion.

chymotrypsin /ˌkīmōˈtripsən/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a digestive enzyme that breaks down proteins in the small intestine. It is secreted by the pancreas and converted into an active form by trypsin.

– origin 1930s: from chymo- (combining form of chyme) + trypsin.

chyron /ˈkīrän/

I. noun

(US) ‹trademark› an electronically generated caption superimposed on a television or movie screen.

– origin 1970s: from Chyron Corporation, its manufacturer.

Ci

abbreviation

1. cirrus.

2. curie.

CI

abbreviation

1. certificate of insurance.

2. Channel Islands.

3. cost and insurance.

CIA /ˌsē ˌī ˈā/

abbreviation

Central Intelligence Agency.

ciabatta /CHəˈbädə / ciabatta bread

I. noun

a type of flattish, open-textured Italian bread with a floury crust, made with olive oil.

– origin Italian, literally ‘slipper’ (from its shape).

ciao /CHou/

I. exclamation

‹informal› used as a greeting at meeting or parting.

– origin 1920s: Italian, dialect alteration of schiavo ‘(I am your) slave,’ from medieval Latin sclavus ‘slave.’

ciborium /səˈbôrēəm/

I. noun

1. a receptacle shaped like a shrine or a cup with an arched cover, used in the Christian Church for the reservation of the Eucharist.

2. a canopy over an altar in a church, standing on four pillars.

– origin mid 16th cent.: via medieval Latin from Greek kibōrion ‘seed vessel of the water lily or a cup made from it.’ Sense 1 is probably influenced by Latin cibus ‘food.’

cicada /səˈkādə səˈkädə/

I. noun

a large homopterous insect with long transparent wings, occurring chiefly in warm countries. The male cicada makes a loud shrill droning noise by vibrating two membranes on its abdomen.
[Family Cicadidae, suborder Homoptera: many genera.]

– origin late Middle English: from Latin cicada, cicala.

cicatrix /ˈsikəˌtriks / cicatrice

I. noun

1. the scar of a healed wound.

2. a scar on the bark of a tree.

3. [Botany] a mark on a stem left after a leaf or other part has become detached.

II. derivatives

cicatricial /ˌsikəˈtriSH(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (as cicatrice): from Latin cicatrix or Old French cicatrice.

cicatrize /ˈsikəˌtrīz/

I. verb

(with reference to a wound) heal by scar formation
[with obj.]

• it was used to cicatrize certain types of wounds

• [no obj.] his wound had cicatrized.

II. derivatives

cicatrization /ˌsikətrəˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French cicatriser, from cicatrice ‘scar’ (see cicatrix).

cicchetti /CHiˈkedē / cicheti

I. plural noun

(chiefly in Venice) savory snacks or small side dishes, typically served in a bar or informal restaurant

• we dined on cicchetti washed down with a glass of local wine.

– origin Italian, from cicchetto (denoting a single dish).

cicely /ˈsisilē / sweet cicely

I. noun

an aromatic white-flowered plant of the parsley family, with fernlike leaves.
[Genera Myrrhis and Osmorhiza, family Umbelliferae: several species, in particular the European M. odorata, grown as a pot herb and used in herbal medicine, and the North American O. claytoni.]

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin seselis, from Greek. The spelling change was due to association with the given name Cicely.

Cicero^1 /ˈsisəˌrō/

a town in northeastern Illinois, just west of Chicago; pop. 80,414 (est. 2008).

Cicero^2 /ˈsisərō/

(106–43 BC), Roman statesman, orator, and writer; full name Marcus Tullius Cicero. He established a model for Latin prose. A supporter of Pompey against Julius Caesar, he attacked Mark Antony in the Philippics (43 BC). For this offense, Mark Antony had him put to death.

cicerone /ˌsisəˈrōnē/

I. noun

a guide who gives information about antiquities and places of interest to sightseers.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Italian, from Latin Cicero, Ciceron- (see Cicero^2), apparently alluding humorously to his eloquence and learning.

Ciceronian /ˌsisəˈrōnēən/

adjective

1. characteristic of the work and thought of Cicero.

2. (of a piece of speech or writing) in an eloquent and rhythmic style similar to that of Cicero.

cichlid /ˈsiklid/

I. noun

[Zoology] a perchlike freshwater fish of a family (Cichlidae) that is widely distributed in tropical countries. Cichlids provide a valuable source of food in some areas, and many are popular in aquariums.

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Cichlidae (plural), from Greek kikhlē, denoting a kind of fish.

CID

abbreviation

(in the UK) Criminal Investigation Department.

Cid, El /sid / the Cid

Count of Bivar (c. 1043–99), Spanish soldier; born Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar. He captured Valencia from the Moors in 1094 and went on to rule it. He is immortalized in Poema del Cid (12th century) and in Pierre Corneille's play Le Cid (1637).

-cide

I. combining form

1. denoting a person or substance that kills

• insecticide

• regicide.

2. denoting an act of killing

• homicide

• suicide.

– origin via French; sense 1 from Latin -cida; sense 2 from Latin -cidium, both from caedere ‘kill.’

cider /ˈsīdər/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) an unfermented drink made by crushing fruit, typically apples.

2. (also hard cider) — an alcoholic drink made from fermented crushed fruit, typically apples.

– origin Middle English: from Old French sidre, via ecclesiastical Latin from ecclesiastical Greek sikera, from Hebrew šēḵār ‘strong drink.’

cider press /ˈsīdər ˌpres/

noun

a press for crushing fruit, typically apples, to make cider.

cider vinegar

noun

a vinegar made from fermented cider.

cidery /ˈsīdərē/

I. noun

a place where cider is made commercially

• the cidery produces an assortment of tasty tipples from more than 50 varieties of organic heritage apples.

II. adjective

smelling or tasting of cider

• sorghum beer can have a tart, cidery taste

• the cidery scent of fruit browning under the trees.

ci-devant /ˌsēdəˈvänt/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. from or in an earlier time (used to indicate that someone or something once possessed a specified characteristic but no longer does so)

• her ci-devant student, now her lover.

– origin early 18th cent.: French, literally ‘heretofore.’

Cienfuegos /ˌsyenˈfwāɡōs/

a port city in south central Cuba, on Cienfuegos Bay in the Caribbean Sea, the capital of Cienfuegos province; pop. 143,356 (2008).

CIF C.I.F.

abbreviation

cost, insurance, freight (as included in a price).

cig /siɡ/

I. noun

‹informal› a cigarette.

– origin late 19th cent.: abbreviation.

cigar /səˈɡär/

I. noun

a cylinder of tobacco rolled in tobacco leaves for smoking.

II. phrases

close, but no cigar

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› (of an attempt) almost, but not quite successful.
[referring to a cigar received in congratulation.]

– origin early 18th cent.: from French cigare, or from Spanish cigarro, probably from Mayan sik'ar ‘smoking.’

cigarette /ˈsiɡəˌret ˌsiɡəˈret / cigaret

I. noun

1. a thin cylinder of finely cut tobacco rolled in paper for smoking.

2. a cylinder containing a narcotic, herbs, or a medicated substance for smoking.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, diminutive of cigare (see cigar).

cigarette holder

noun

a slim tubular device for holding a cigarette so that it can be smoked without direct contact with the fingers

• an iconic poster of Audrey Hepburn, sleek with cigarette holder, long black dress, and pearls.

cigarette pants

plural noun

women's pants with straight, very narrow legs.

cigarette paper

noun

a piece of thin paper with a gummed edge in which tobacco can be rolled to make a cigarette.

cigarillo /ˌsiɡəˈrilō/

I. noun

a small cigar.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Spanish, diminutive of cigarro (see cigar).

ciguatera /ˌsēɡwəˈterə/

I. noun

poisoning by neurotoxins as a result of eating the flesh of a tropical marine fish that carries a toxic dinoflagellate.
[This is caused by Gambierdiscus toxicus, phylum Dinophyta.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from American Spanish, from cigua ‘sea snail.’

cilantro /siˈlänˌtrō siˈlanˌtrō/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) another term for coriander (esp. the leaves).

– origin 1920s: from Spanish, from Latin coliandrum ‘coriander.’

cilia /ˈsilēə/

plural form of cilium.

ciliary /ˈsilēˌerē/

adjective

1. [Biology] of, relating to, or involving cilia

• ciliary action.

2. [Anatomy] of or relating to the eyelashes or eyelids.

3. of or relating to the ciliary body of the eye.

ciliary body

noun

[Anatomy] the part of the eye that connects the iris to the choroid. It consists of the ciliary muscle (which alters the curvature of the lens), a series of radial ciliary processes (from which the lens is suspended by ligaments), and the ciliary ring (which adjoins the choroid).

ciliate /ˈsilēāt ˈsilēət/

I. noun

[Zoology] a single-celled animal of a phylum distinguished by the possession of cilia or ciliary structures. The ciliates are a large and diverse group of advanced protozoans.
[Phylum Ciliophora, kingdom Protista (formerly class Ciliata, phylum Protozoa).]

II. adjective

1. [Zoology] (of an organism, cell, or surface) bearing cilia.

2. [Zoology] [Botany] (of a margin) having a fringe of hairs.

III. derivatives

1. ciliated /ˈsilēātid /

adjective

2. ciliation /ˌsilēˈāSHən /

noun

cilice /ˈsiləs/

I. noun

1. a hair shirt.

2. a spiked garter or other device worn by penitents and ascetics.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French, from Latin cilicium, from Greek kilikion, from Kilikia, the Greek name for Cilicia in Asia Minor (because hair shirts were originally made of Cilician goats' hair).

Cilicia /səˈliSHə/

I. an ancient region on the coast of southeastern Asia Minor.

II. derivatives

Cilician

adjective, noun

Cilician Gates /səˌliSHən ˈɡāts/

a mountain pass in the Taurus Mountains in southern Turkey. Historically, it forms part of a route that linked Anatolia with the Mediterranean coast.

ciliolate /ˈsilēəlit, -ˌlāt/

adjective

having cilia.

cilium /ˈsilēəm/

I. noun

1. [Biology] [Anatomy] a short, microscopic, hairlike vibrating structure. Cilia occur in large numbers on the surface of certain cells, either causing currents in the surrounding fluid, or, in some protozoans and other small organisms, providing propulsion.

2. [Biology] [Anatomy] an eyelash, or a delicate hairlike structure that resembles one.

– origin early 18th cent. (in the sense ‘eyelash’): from Latin.

Cimarron River /ˈsiməˌrän, -ˌrōn/

a river that flows for 600 miles (1,000 km) from New Mexico across Oklahoma to the Arkansas River near Tulsa. The western part of Oklahoma's panhandle was once known as the Territory of Cimarron.

cimetidine /sīˈmedəˌdēn/

I. noun

[Medicine] an antihistamine drug used to treat stomach acidity and peptic ulcers. It is a sulfur-containing derivative of imidazole.

– origin 1970s: from ci- (alteration of cy- in cyano-) + met(hyl) + -ide + -ine^4.

Cimmerian /səˈmirēən səˈmerēən/

I. adjective

1. relating to or denoting members of an ancient nomadic people who overran Asia Minor in the 7th century BC.

2. [Greek Mythology] relating to or denoting members of a mythical people who lived in perpetual mist and darkness near the land of the dead.

II. noun

a member of the historical or mythological Cimmerian people.

– origin via Latin from Greek Kimmerios + -an.

CINC /siNGk/

abbreviation

Commander in Chief.

cinch /sin(t)SH/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› an extremely easy task

• the program was a cinch to use.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) a sure thing; a certainty

• he was a cinch to take a prize.

3. (chiefly N. Amer.) a girth for a Western saddle or pack.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) secure (a garment) with a belt.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) fix (a saddle) securely by means of a girth; girth up (a horse).

3. (chiefly N. Amer.) ‹informal› make certain of

• his advice cinched her decision to accept the offer.

– origin mid 19th cent. (sense 2 of the noun): from Spanish cincha ‘girth.’

cinch bug

noun

another term for chinch.

cinchona /siNGˈkōnə/

I. noun

1. an evergreen South American tree or shrub of the bedstraw family, with fragrant flowers and cultivated for its bark.
[Genus Cinchona, family Rubiaceae: several species.]

2. (also cinchona bark) — the dried bark of the cinchona tree, which is a source of quinine and other medicinal alkaloids.

– origin mid 18th cent.: modern Latin, named after the Countess of Chinchón (died 1641), who was treated with a similar drug in South America.

cinchonine /ˈsiNGkəˌnēn ˈSHiNGkənən/

noun

[Chemistry] a compound with antipyretic properties, derived from cinchona bark and used as a substitute for quinine.
[An alkaloid; chem. formula: C_19H_22ON_2.]

cinchonism /ˈsiNGkəˌnizəm, ˈsinCHə-/

noun

poisoning due to excessive ingestion of cinchona alkaloids.

Cincinnati /ˌsinsəˈnadē/

an industrial city in southwestern Ohio, on the Ohio River; pop. 333,336 (est. 2008).

cincture /ˈsiNG(k)CHər/

I. noun

1. ‹literary› a girdle or belt.

2. [Architecture] a ring at either end of a column shaft.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘encircling or enclosure’): from Latin cinctura, from cinct- ‘encircled,’ from the verb cingere.

cinder /ˈsindər/

I. noun

a small piece of partly burned coal or wood that has stopped giving off flames but still has combustible matter in it.

II. derivatives

cindery

adjective

– origin Old English sinder ‘slag,’ of Germanic origin; related to German Sinter. The similar but unconnected French cendre (from Latin cinis ‘ashes’) has influenced both the sense development and the spelling. Compare with sinter.

cinder block /ˈsindər bläk/

noun

(N. Amer.) a lightweight building brick made from small cinders mixed with sand and cement.

cinder cone

noun

a cone formed around a volcanic vent by fragments of lava thrown out during eruptions.

Cinderella /ˌsindəˈrelə/

I. a girl in various traditional European fairy tales. In the version by Charles Perrault she is exploited as a servant by her family but enabled by a fairy godmother to attend a royal ball. She meets and captivates Prince Charming but has to flee at midnight, leaving the prince to identify her by the glass slipper that she leaves behind.

II. [as noun] — a person or thing of unrecognized or disregarded merit or beauty.

III. [as noun] — a neglected aspect of something

• is research into breast cancer to remain the Cinderella of medicine?

IV. [Philately] any stamplike label that is not valid as postage.

– origin from cinder + the diminutive suffix -ella, on the pattern of French Cendrillon, from cendre ‘cinders.’

cinder track /ˈsindər trak / cinder path

noun

a footpath or running track laid with fine cinders.

cine /ˈsinē/

adjective

(chiefly Brit.) cinematographic

• a cine camera.

cine-

combining form

representing cinematographic (see cinematography).

cineaste /ˈsinēˌast / cineast

I. noun

1. a filmmaker.

2. an enthusiast for or devotee of movies or filmmaking.

– origin 1920s: from French cinéaste, from ciné (from cinéma), on the pattern of enthousiaste ‘enthusiast.’

cinema /ˈsinəmə/

I. noun

1. (chiefly Brit.) a movie theater.

2. (chiefly Brit.) the production of movies as an art or industry

• the history of American cinema.

– origin early 20th cent.: from French cinéma, abbreviation of cinématographe (see cinematograph).

CinemaScope /ˈsinəməˌskōp/

I. noun

‹trademark› a cinematographic process in which special lenses are used to compress a wide image into a standard frame and then expand it again during projection. It results in an image that is almost two and a half times as wide as it is high.

II. derivatives

CinemaScopic /ˌsinəməˈskäpik /

adjective

cinematheque /ˈsinəməˌtek/

I. noun

1. a motion-picture library or archive.

2. a small movie theater, especially one that shows avant-garde or classic movies.

– origin 1960s: from French cinémathèque, from cinéma ‘cinema,’ on the pattern of bibliothèque ‘library.’

cinematic /ˌsinəˈmadik/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to motion pictures

• cinematic output.

2. having qualities characteristic of motion pictures

• the cinematic feel of their video.

II. derivatives

cinematically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

cinematize /ˈsinəməˌtīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. adapt (a play, story, etc.) to the cinema; make a movie of.

cinematograph /ˌsinəˈmadəɡraf / kinematograph

I. noun

‹historical› (chiefly Brit.) an early motion-picture projector.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French cinématographe, from Greek kinēma, kinēmat- ‘movement,’ from kinein ‘to move.’

cinematographer /ˌsinəməˈtäɡrəfər/

noun

a person who oversees or directs photography and camerawork in movie-making, especially one who operates the camera

• the film has been shot by an award-winning cinematographer

• a crew of daredevil underwater cinematographers.

cinematography /ˌsinəməˈtäɡrəfē/

I. noun

the art of making motion pictures.

II. derivatives

1. cinematographic /ˌsinəˌmadəˈɡrafik /

adjective

2. cinematographically /-ˌmatəˈɡrafik(ə)lē /

adverb

cinéma-vérité /ˌsinəməˌveriˈtā/

I. noun

1. a style of filmmaking characterized by realistic, typically documentary motion pictures that avoid artificiality and artistic effect and are generally made with simple equipment.

2. motion pictures made in the style of cinéma-vérité collectively.

– origin mid 20th cent.: French, literally ‘cinema truth.’

cinephile /ˈsinəˌfīl/

noun

a person who is fond of motion pictures.

cineplex /ˈsinəˌpleks / Cineplex

I. noun

‹trademark› (chiefly N. Amer.) a movie theater with several separate screens; a multiplex.

– origin 1970s: blend of cinema and complex.

cineraria /ˌsinəˈrerēə/

I. noun

a plant of the daisy family with compact masses of bright flowers, often cultivated as a houseplant.
[Genus Pericallis (formerly Senecio or Cineraria), family Compositae.]

– origin modern Latin, feminine of Latin cinerarius ‘of ashes,’ from cinis, ciner- ‘ashes’ (because of the ash-colored down on the leaves).

cinerarium /ˌsinəˈrerēəm/

I. noun

a place where the ashes of the cremated dead are kept.

II. derivatives

cinerary /ˈsinəˌrerē /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from late Latin, neuter (used as a noun) of cinerarius ‘of ashes.’

cinereous /səˈnirēəs/

I. adjective

(especially of hair or feathers) ash-gray.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin cinereus ‘similar to ashes’ (from cinis, ciner- ‘ashes’) + -ous.

cinereous vulture

noun

another term for black vulture (sense 2).

ciné-vérité /ˌsinə ˌveriˈtā, siˈnā/

noun

another term for cinéma-vérité.

cingulum /ˈsiNGɡyələm/

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] a curved bundle of nerve fibers in each hemisphere of the brain.

2. [Anatomy] a ridge of enamel on the base or margin of the crown of a tooth.

II. derivatives

cingulate /-lit /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin, ‘belt,’ from cingere ‘gird.’

cinnabar /ˈsinəˌbär/

I. noun

1. a bright red mineral consisting of mercury sulfide. It is the only important ore of mercury and is sometimes used as a pigment.

2. the bright red color of this; vermilion
[as modifier]

• the blood coagulated in cinnabar threads.

– origin Middle English: from Latin cinnabaris, from Greek kinnabari, of obscure origin.

cinnamic /səˈnamik/

adjective

1. of cinnamon.

2. denoting an acidic crystalline powder (cinnamic acid), C_9H_8O_2, derived from cinnamon or produced synthetically and used in medicine and perfumery.

cinnamon /ˈsinəmən/

I. noun

1. an aromatic spice made from the peeled, dried, and rolled bark of a Southeast Asian tree.

2. a reddish- or yellowish-brown color resembling that of cinnamon.

3. (also cinnamon tree) — the tree which yields cinnamon.
[Genus Cinnamomum, family Lauraceae: several species, in particular C. zeylanicum, native to southern India and Sri Lanka.]

– origin late Middle English: from Old French cinnamome (from Greek kinnamōmon), and Latin cinnamon (from Greek kinnamon), both from a Semitic language and perhaps based on Malay.

cinnamon bear /ˈsinəmən be(ə)r/

noun

a North American black bear of a variety with reddish-brown hair.

cinnamon fern

noun

a large North American fern whose fertile fronds are cinnamon-colored in spring.
[Osmunda cinnamomea, family Osmundaceae.]

cinnamon stick

noun

a piece, typically several inches long, of the peeled, dried, and rolled bark of a cinnamon tree, used decoratively or to flavor mulled drinks.

cinnamon toast

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) buttered toast sprinkled with ground cinnamon and sugar.

cinquain /siNGˈkān/

I. noun

(in verse) a five-line stanza.

– origin late 19th cent.: French, from cinq ‘five.’

cinque /siNGk saNGk / cinq

I. noun

the five on dice.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French cinc, cink, from Latin quinque ‘five.’

cinquecento /ˌCHiNGkwəˈCHen(t)ō/

I. noun — (the cinquecento)

1. the 16th century as a period of Italian art, architecture, or literature, with a reversion to classical forms.

– origin Italian, literally ‘500’ (shortened from milcinquecento ‘1500’) used with reference to the years 1500–99.

cinquefoil /ˈsiNGkˌfoil ˈsaNGkˌfoil/

I. noun

1. a widely distributed herbaceous plant of the rose family, with compound leaves of five leaflets and five-petaled yellow flowers.
[Genus Potentilla, family Rosaceae: numerous species, including the small-flowered creeping common cinquefoil (P. simplex) and the larger-flowered erect rough-fruited cinquefoil (P. recta).]

2. [Art] an ornamental design of five lobes arranged in a circle, e.g., in architectural tracery or heraldry.

– origin Middle English: from Latin quinquefolium, from quinque ‘five’ + folium ‘leaf.’

Cinzano /CHinˈzänō, sin-/

I. noun

‹trademark› a type of vermouth produced in Italy.

– origin from the name of the producers.

CIO

abbreviation

Congress of Industrial Organizations.

cipher /ˈsīfər / cypher

I. noun

1. a secret or disguised way of writing; a code

• he was writing cryptic notes in a cipher

• the information may be given in cipher.

2. a thing written in a cipher.

3. a key to such a cipher.

4. ‹dated› a zero; a figure 0.

5. a person or thing of no importance, especially a person who does the bidding of others and seems to have no will of their own.

6. a monogram.

7. a continuous sounding of an organ pipe, caused by a mechanical defect.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — put (a message) into secret writing; encode.

2. [no obj.] — ‹archaic› do arithmetic.

– origin late Middle English (in the senses ‘symbol for zero’ and ‘Arabic numeral’): from Old French cifre, based on Arabic ṣifr ‘zero.’ Sense 4 of the noun is perhaps a different word.

cir. circ.

abbreviation

1. circle.

2. circuit.

3. circular.

4. circulation.

5. circumference.

circa /ˈsərkə/

I. preposition

(often preceding a date) approximately

• built circa 1935.

– origin mid 19th cent.: Latin.

circadian /sərˈkādēən/

I. adjective

[Physiology] (of biological processes) recurring naturally on a twenty-four-hour cycle, even in the absence of light fluctuations

• a circadian rhythm.

– origin 1950s: formed irregularly from Latin circa ‘around’ + dies ‘day.’

Circassian /ˌsərˈkaSH(ə)n ˌsərˈkasēən/

I. adjective

relating to or denoting a group of mainly Sunni Muslim peoples of the northwest Caucasus.

II. noun

1. a member of the Circassian.

2. either of two North Caucasian languages of the Circassian.

– origin from Circassia, Latinized form of Russian Cherkes, denoting a district in the northern Caucasus.

Circe /ˈsərsē / ‹Greek Mythology›

I. an enchantress who lived with her wild animals on the island of Aeaea. When Odysseus visited the island, his companions were changed into pigs by her potions, but he protected himself with the mythical herb moly and forced her to restore his men into human form.

– origin via Latin from Greek Kirkē.

circinate /ˈsərsəˌnāt/

I. adjective

1. [Botany] rolled up with the tip in the center, for example the young frond of a fern.

2. [Botany] [Medicine] circular in appearance.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin circinatus, past participle of circinare ‘make round,’ from circinus ‘pair of compasses.’

Circinus /ˈsərsənəs / ‹Astronomy›

I. a small and faint southern constellation (the Compasses), in the Milky Way next to Centaurus.

II. (as genitive Circini ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation

• the star Alpha Circini.

– origin Latin.

circle /ˈsərk(ə)l / cir., circ.

I. noun

1. a round plane figure whose boundary (the circumference) consists of points equidistant from a fixed point (the center).

2. something in the shape of a circle

• the lamp spread a circle of light

• they all sat around in a circle.

3. a dark circular mark below each eye, typically caused by illness or tiredness.

4. a curved upper tier of seats in a theater.
See also dress circle.

5. a group of people with shared professions, interests, or acquaintances

• she did not normally move in such exalted circles.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. move all the way around (someone or something), especially more than once

• the two dogs circle each other with hackles raised

• [no obj.] we circled around the island.

2. [no obj.] (circle back) — move in a wide loop back toward one's starting point.

3. form a ring around

• the monastery was circled by a huge wall.

4. draw a line around

• circle the correct answers.

III. phrases

1. circle the wagons

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› (of a group) unite in defense of a common interest.
[with reference to the defensive position of a wagon train under attack.]

2. come (or turn) full circle

return to a past position or situation, especially in a way considered to be inevitable.

3. go around (or around and around) in circles

‹informal› do something for a long time without achieving anything but purposeless repetition

• the discussion went around and around in circles.

4. run around in circles

‹informal› be fussily busy with little result.

5. the wheel has turned (or come) full circle

the situation has returned to what it was in the past, as if completing a cycle.
[with reference to Shakespeare's King Lear, by association with the wheel fabled to be turned by Fortune and representing mutability.]

– origin Old English, from Old French cercle, from Latin circulus ‘small ring,’ diminutive of circus ‘ring.’

circle dance

noun

a country dance or folk dance, typically following a traditional set of steps, in which dancers form a circle.

circle graph

noun

another term for pie chart.

circlet /ˈsərklət/

I. noun

1. a circular band, typically one made of precious metal, worn on the head as an ornament.

2. a small circular arrangement or object.

– origin late Middle English: from circle + -et^1, perhaps reinforced by archaic French cerclet.

circuit /ˈsərkət / cir., circ.

I. noun

1. a roughly circular line, route, or movement that starts and finishes at the same place

• I ran a circuit of the village.

2. an established itinerary of events or venues used for a particular activity, typically involving public performance

• the alternative cabaret circuit.

3. a series of athletic exercises performed consecutively in one training session
[as modifier]

• circuit training.

4. a regular journey made by a judge around a particular district to hear cases in court
[as modifier]

• a circuit judge.

5. a district administered or formerly administered by traveling judges.

6. a group of local Methodist churches forming an administrative unit.

7. a chain of theaters or nightclubs under a single management.

8. a complete and closed path around which a circulating electric current can flow.

9. a system of electrical conductors and components forming a complete and closed path.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. move all the way around (a place or thing)

• the trains will follow the northern line, circuiting the capital.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin circuitus, from circuire, variant of circumire ‘go around,’ from circum ‘around’ + ire ‘go.’

circuit board /ˈsərkət bô(ə)rd/

noun

a thin rigid board containing an electric circuit; a printed circuit.

circuit breaker /ˈsərkət ˌbrākər/

noun

an automatic device for stopping the flow of current in an electric circuit as a safety measure.

circuitous /sərˈkyo͞oədəs/

I. adjective

(of a route or journey) longer than the most direct way

• the canal followed a circuitous route

• ‹figurative› a circuitous line of reasoning.

II. derivatives

1. circuitously /sərˈkyo͞oədəslē /

adverb

2. circuitousness

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin circuitosus, from circuitus ‘a way around’ (see circuit).

circuit rider /ˈsərkət ˌrīdər/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹historical› a clergyman who traveled on horseback from church to church, especially within a rural Methodist circuit.

circuitry /ˈsərkətrē/

noun

1. electric circuits collectively

• solid state circuitry.

2. a circuit or system of circuits performing a particular function in an electronic device

• switching circuitry.

circular /ˈsərkyələr / cir., circ.

I. adjective

1. having the form of a circle

• the building features a circular atrium.

2. (of a movement or journey) starting and finishing at the same place and often following roughly the circumference of an imaginary circle

• a circular walk.

3. [Logic] (of an argument) already containing an assumption of what is to be proved, and therefore fallacious.

4. [attrib.] — (of a letter or advertisement) for distribution to a large number of people.

II. noun

a letter or advertisement that is distributed to a large number of people.

III. derivatives

1. circularity /ˌsərkyəˈlerədē /

noun

2. circularly

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Old French circulier, from late Latin circularis, from Latin circulus ‘small ring’ (see circle).

circular breathing

noun

a technique of inhaling through the nose while blowing air through the lips from the cheeks, used to maintain constant exhalation especially by players of certain wind instruments.

circular firing squad

noun

(chiefly US) used in reference to a situation in which a group of people are engaged in self-destructive internal conflicts and mutual recriminations

• by Wednesday morning the party was preparing its traditional response to defeat: the circular firing squad.

circular function

noun

[Mathematics] another term for trigonometric function.

circularize /ˈsərkyələˌrīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. distribute a large number of letters, leaflets, or questionnaires to (a group of people) in order to advertise something or canvas opinion.

2. [Biochemistry] make (a stretch of DNA) into a circular loop.

II. derivatives

circularization /ˌsərkyələrəˈzāSHən /

noun

circular polarization

noun

[Physics] polarization of an electromagnetic wave in which either the electric or the magnetic vector executes a circle perpendicular to the path of propagation with a frequency equal to that of the wave. It is frequently used in satellite communications.

circular saw /ˈsərkyələr sô/

noun

a power saw with a rapidly rotating toothed disk.

circulate /ˈsərkyəˌlāt/

I. verb

1. move or cause to move continuously or freely through a closed system or area
[no obj.]

• antibodies circulate in the bloodstream

• [with obj.] the fan circulates hot air around the oven.

2. [no obj.] — move around a social function in order to talk to many different people.

3. pass or cause to pass from place to place or person to person
[no obj.]

• rumors of his arrest circulated

• [with obj.] they were circulating the list to conservation groups.

II. derivatives

1. circulative /-ˌlātiv, -lətiv /

adjective

2. circulator /ˈsərkyəˌlādər /

noun

– origin late 15th cent. (as an alchemical term meaning ‘distill something in a closed container, allowing condensed vapor to return to the original liquid’): from Latin circulat- ‘moved in a circular path,’ from the verb circulare, from circulus ‘small ring’ (see circle). Sense 1 dates from the mid 17th cent.

circulating library /ˈsərkyəlādiNG ˈlīˌbrərē/

noun

‹historical› a small library with books lent for a small fee to subscribers.

circulation /ˌsərkyəˈlāSH(ə)n / cir., circ.

I. noun

1. movement to and fro or around something, especially that of fluid in a closed system

• an extra pump for good water circulation.

2. the continuous motion by which the blood travels through all parts of the body under the action of the heart.

3. the movement of sap through a plant.

4. the public availability or knowledge of something

• his music has achieved wide circulation.

5. the movement, exchange, or availability of money in a country

• the new coins go into circulation today.

6. [in sing.] — the number of copies sold of a newspaper or magazine

• the magazine had a large circulation.

II. phrases

in (or out of) circulation

a. available (or unavailable) to the public; in (or not in) general use

• there is a huge volume of video material in circulation.

b. used of a person who is seen (or not seen) in public

• Anne had made a good recovery and was back in circulation.

– origin late Middle English (denoting continuous distillation of a liquid): from Latin circulatio(n-), from the verb circulare (see circulate).

circulatory /ˈsərkyələˌtôrē/

adjective

of or relating to the circulation of blood or sap.

circulatory system

noun

the system that circulates blood and lymph through the body, consisting of the heart, blood vessels, blood, lymph, and the lymphatic vessels and glands.
Also called cardiovascular system.

circum.

abbreviation

circumference.

circum-

I. prefix

about; around

• circumambulate

• circumpolar.

– origin from Latin circum ‘around.’

circumambient /ˌsərkəmˈambēənt/

I. adjective

‹chiefly literary› surrounding

• he could not see them clearly by reason of the circumambient water.

II. derivatives

1. circumambience

noun

2. circumambiency

noun

circumambulate /ˌsərkəmˈambyəlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› walk all the way around (something)

• they used to circumambulate the perimeter wall.

II. derivatives

1. circumambulation /-ˌambyəˈlāSHən /

noun

2. circumambulatory /-ˈambyələˌtôrē /

adjective

circumcise /ˈsərkəmˌsīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cut off the foreskin of (a young boy or man, especially a baby) as a religious rite, especially in Judaism and Islam, or as a medical treatment.

2. (as a practice traditional in some cultures) partially or totally remove the external genitalia of (a girl or young woman) for nonmedical reasons.

– origin Middle English: from Old French circonciser, or from Latin circumcis- ‘cut around,’ from the verb circumcidere, from circum ‘around, about’ + caedere ‘to cut.’

circumcision /ˈsərkəmˌsiZHən/

I. noun

1. the action or practice of circumcising a young boy or man.

2. (Circumcision) — (in church use) the feast of the Circumcision of Jesus, January 1.

3. the action or practice of circumcising a girl or young woman; female circumcision.

– origin Middle English: from late Latin circumcisio(n-), from the verb circumcidere (see circumcise).

circumference /sərˈkəmf(ə)rəns / cir., circ., circum.

I. noun

1. the enclosing boundary of a curved geometric figure, especially a circle.

2. the distance around something

• babies who have small head circumferences

• two inches in circumference.

II. derivatives

1. circumferential /sərˌkəmfəˈren(t)SH(ə)l /

adjective

2. circumferentially

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Old French circonference, from Latin circumferentia, from circum ‘around, about’ + ferre ‘carry, bear.’

circumflex /ˈsərkəmˌfleks/

I. noun

a mark (^) placed over a vowel in some languages to indicate contraction, length, or pitch or tone.

II. adjective

[Anatomy] bending around something else; curved

• circumflex coronary arteries.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin circumflexus (from circum ‘around, about’ + flectere ‘to bend’), translating Greek perispōmenos ‘drawn around.’

circumfluent /sərˈkəmflo͞oənt, ˌsərkəmˈflo͞oənt/

I. adjective

flowing around; surrounding.

II. derivatives

circumfluence

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin circumfluent- ‘flowing around,’ from the verb circumfluere, from circum ‘around, about’ + fluere ‘to flow.’

circumfuse /ˌsərkəmˈfyo͞oz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be circumfused)

1. ‹archaic› pour (a liquid) so as to cause it to surround something

• Earth with her nether Ocean circumfused.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin circumfus- ‘poured around,’ from the verb circumfundere, from circum ‘around’ + fundere ‘pour.’

circumjacent /ˌsərkəmˈjās(ə)nt/

I. adjective

‹archaic› surrounding

• the circumjacent parts of the mouth.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Latin circumjacent- ‘lying around, bordering upon,’ from the verb circumjacere, from circum ‘around’ + jacere ‘to lie.’

circumlocution /ˌsərkəmˌləˈkyo͞oSH(ə)n/

I. noun

the use of many words where fewer would do, especially in a deliberate attempt to be vague or evasive

• his admission came after years of circumlocution

• he used a number of poetic circumlocutions.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin circumlocutio(n-) (translating Greek periphrasis), from circum ‘around’ + locutio(n-), from loqui ‘speak.’

circumlocutory /ˌsərkəmˈläkyəˌtôrē/

adjective

using many words where fewer would do, especially in a deliberate attempt to be vague or evasive; long-winded

• he has a meandering, circumlocutory speaking style.

circumlunar /ˌsərkəmˈlo͞onər/

adjective

moving or situated around the moon

• a circumlunar flight.

circumnavigate /ˌsərkəmˈnavəɡāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. sail or travel all the way around (something, especially the world).

2. go around or avoid (an obstacle)

• he helped her to circumnavigate a frozen puddle.

3. avoid dealing with (something difficult or unpleasant)

• they circumnavigated the issue.

II. derivatives

circumnavigator /ˌsərkəmˈnavəˌɡādər /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin circumnavigare ‘to sail round’ + -ate^3.

circumnavigation /ˌsərkəmˌnaviˈɡāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action or process of sailing or otherwise traveling all the way around something, especially the world

• he completed the fastest solo circumnavigation in a small vessel

• the first circumnavigation of the globe in a helicopter.

2. the action of going around or avoiding an obstacle

• our leisurely circumnavigation of the rocks.

3. the action of avoiding something difficult or unpleasant

• a circumnavigation of the simple facts.

circumpolar /ˌsərkəmˈpōlər/

adjective

1. situated around or inhabiting one of the earth's poles

• the eight circumpolar countries met in 1991.

2. [Astronomy] (of a star or motion) above the horizon at all times in a given latitude

• the Big Dipper is circumpolar at Mediterranean latitudes.

circumrotate /ˌsərkəmˈrōtāt/

verb — [no obj.]

1. revolve or turn like a wheel.

circumscribe /ˈsərkəmˌskrīb/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. restrict (something) within limits

• their movements were strictly monitored and circumscribed.

2. [Geometry] draw (a figure) around another, touching it at points but not cutting it.
Compare with inscribe.

II. derivatives

1. circumscriber

noun

2. circumscription /ˌsərkəmˈskripSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin circumscribere, from circum ‘around’ + scribere ‘write.’

circumsolar /ˌsərkəmˈsōlər/

adjective

moving or situated around the sun.

circumspect /ˈsərkəmˌspekt/

I. adjective

wary and unwilling to take risks

• the officials were very circumspect in their statements.

II. derivatives

circumspectly /ˈsərkəmˌspek(t)lē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Latin circumspectus, from circumspicere ‘look around,’ from circum ‘around, about’ + specere ‘look.’

circumspection /ˌsərkəmˈspekSH(ə)n/

noun

the quality of being wary and unwilling to take risks; prudence

• circumspection is required in the day-to-day exercise of administrative powers.

circumstance /ˈsərkəmˌstans ˈsərkəmstəns/

I. noun

1. (usu. circumstances) — a fact or condition connected with or relevant to an event or action

• we wanted to marry but circumstances didn't permit.

2. an event or fact that causes or helps to cause something to happen, typically something undesirable

• he was found dead but there were no suspicious circumstances

• they were thrown together by circumstance.

3. one's state of financial or material welfare

• the artists are living in reduced circumstances.

II. phrases

1. under no circumstances

never, whatever the situation is or might be

• under no circumstances may the child be identified.

2. under (or in) the circumstances

given the difficult nature of the situation

• she had every right to be angry under the circumstances.

III. derivatives

circumstanced

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French circonstance or Latin circumstantia, from circumstare ‘encircle, encompass,’ from circum ‘around’ + stare ‘stand.’

circumstantial /ˌsərkəmˈstan(t)SH(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. (of evidence or a legal case) pointing indirectly toward someone's guilt but not conclusively proving it.

2. (of a description) containing full details

• the picture was circumstantial and therefore convincing.

II. derivatives

1. circumstantiality /ˌsərkəmˌstan(t)SHēˈalədē /

noun

2. circumstantially

adverb

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin circumstantia (see circumstance) + -al.

circumstantiate /ˌsərkəmˈstanSHēˌāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹rare› set forth or support with circumstances or details.

II. derivatives

circumstantiation /ˌsərkəmˌstanSHēˈāSHən /

noun

circumterrestrial /ˌsərkəmtəˈrestrēəl, -təˈresCHəl/

adjective

moving or situated around the earth

• circumterrestrial space.

circumvallate /ˌsərkəmˈvalāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. surround with or as if with a rampart

• the walls were circumvallated with a ditch.

II. adjective

1. ‹literary› surrounded as if by a rampart

• we looked at the circumvallate mountains.

2. ‹literary› [Anatomy] denoting certain papillae near the back of the tongue, surrounded by taste receptors.

– origin mid 17th cent. (as an adjective): from Latin circumvallat- ‘surrounded with a rampart,’ from the verb circumvallare, from circum ‘around’ + vallare, from vallum ‘rampart.’ The verb dates from the early 19th cent.

circumvent /ˌsərkəmˈvent/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. find a way around (an obstacle).

2. overcome (a problem or difficulty), typically in a clever and surreptitious way

• I found it quite easy to circumvent security.

3. ‹archaic› deceive; outwit

• he's circumvented her with some of his stories.

II. derivatives

circumvention /ˌsərkəmˈven(t)SH(ə)n /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin circumvent- ‘skirted around,’ from the verb circumvenire, from circum ‘around’ + venire ‘come.’

circumvolution /ˌsərkəmvəˈlo͞oSHən/

I. noun

a winding movement, especially of one thing around another.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin circumvolut- ‘rolled around,’ from the verb circumvolvere, from circum ‘around’ + volvere ‘roll.’

circumvolve /ˌsərkəmˈvôlv/

verb

1. ‹rare› rotate; revolve.

2. ‹rare› wind, fold, or twist around; enwrap.

circus /ˈsərkəs/

I. noun

1. a traveling company of acrobats, trained animals, and clowns that gives performances, typically in a large tent, in a series of different places
[as modifier]

• a circus elephant.

2. (in ancient Rome) a rounded or oblong arena lined with tiers of seats, used for equestrian and other sports and games.

3. ‹informal› a large group of people travelling together on the circuit of a particular high-profile activity

• the Formula One circus.

4. ‹informal› a public scene of frenetic and noisily intrusive activity

• a media circus.

5. (Brit.) (in place names) a rounded open space in a city where several streets converge

• Piccadilly Circus.

– origin late Middle English (with reference to the arena of Roman antiquity): from Latin, ‘ring or circus.’ The sense ‘traveling company of performers’ dates from the late 18th cent.

ciré /səˈrā / cire

I. noun

a fabric with a smooth shiny surface obtained by waxing and heating.

– origin 1920s: French, literally ‘waxed.’

cire perdue /ˌsir pərˈdyo͞o/

I. noun

another term for lost wax.

– origin late 19th cent.: French, literally ‘lost wax.’

cirque /sərk/

I. noun

1. [Geology] a half-open steep-sided hollow at the head of a valley or on a mountainside, formed by glacial erosion.
Also called corrie, cwm.

2. ‹literary› a ring, circlet, or circle.

– origin late 17th cent. (sense 2): from French, from Latin circus.

cirrhosis /səˈrōsəs/

I. noun

a chronic disease of the liver marked by degeneration of cells, inflammation, and fibrous thickening of tissue. It is typically a result of alcoholism or hepatitis.

II. derivatives

cirrhotic /səˈrädik /

adjective

– origin early 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek kirrhos ‘tawny’ (because this is the color of the liver in many cases).

cirriped /ˈsirəˌped / cirripede

noun

[Zoology] a crustacean of the class Cirripedia; a barnacle.

Cirripedia /ˌsirəˈpēdēə, -ˈpedēə / ‹Zoology›

I. a class of crustaceans that comprises the barnacles.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Latin cirrus ‘a curl’ (because of the form of the legs) + pes, ped- ‘foot.’

cirrocumulus /ˌsirōˈkyo͞omyələs/

noun

cloud forming a broken layer of small fleecy clouds at high altitude, usually 16,500–45,000 feet (5–13 km), typically with a rippled or granulated appearance (as in a mackerel sky).

cirrostratus /ˌsirōˈstradəs ˌsirōˈstrādəs/

noun

cloud forming a thin, more or less uniform, semitranslucent layer at high altitude, usually 16,500–45,000 feet (5–13 km).

cirrus /ˈsirəs/

I. noun

1. cloud forming wispy filamentous tufted streaks (“mare's tails”) at high altitude, usually 16,500–45,000 feet (5–13 km).

2. [Zoology] a slender tendril or hairlike filament, such as the appendage of a barnacle, the barbel of a fish, or the intromittent organ of an earthworm.

3. [Botany] a tendril.

– origin early 18th cent. (in the sense ‘tendril’): from Latin, literally ‘a curl.’

cis^1 /sis/

I. adjective

[Chemistry] denoting or relating to a molecular structure in which two particular atoms or groups lie on the same side of a given plane in the molecule, in particular denoting an isomer in which substituents at opposite ends of a carbon–carbon double bond are on the same side of the bond

• the cis isomer of stilbene.

Compare with trans^1.

– origin independent usage of cis-.

cis^2 /sis/

adjective

short for cisgender:

• we do not make arbitrary distinctions between trans and cis women.

CIS /ˈˌsē ˈˌī ˈes/

abbreviation

Commonwealth of Independent States.

cis-

I. prefix

1. on this side of; on the side nearer to the speaker.

• cisatlantic

• cislunar.

2. ‹historical› on the side nearer to Rome

• cisalpine.

3. (of time) closer to the present

• cis-Elizabethan.

4. referring or relating to those whose sense of personal identity corresponds with the gender assigned to them at birth.

• cisgender

• cissexism.

5. (usu. cis-) — [Chemistry] denoting molecules with cis arrangements of substituents

• cis -1,2-dichloroethylene.

– origin from Latin cis ‘on this side of.’

cisalpine /sisˈalpīn/

I. adjective

on the southern side of the Alps.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin cisalpinus.

cisatlantic /ˌsisətˈlan(t)ik/

adjective

on the same side of the Atlantic as the speaker.

cisco /ˈsiskō/

I. noun

a freshwater whitefish of northern countries. Most species are migratory and are important food fishes.
[Genus Coregonus, family Salmonidae: several species, including the lake cisco (C. artedii) of North America, and the Arctic cisco (C. autumnalis) of northern Eurasia and northern North America.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

cisgender /sisˈjendər / cisgendered

I. adjective

denoting or relating to someone whose sense of personal identity corresponds with the gender assigned to them at birth.

• this newfound attention to the plight of black trans folks by primarily cisgender allies is timely and necessary.

– origin 1990s: from cis- + gender.

cislunar /sisˈlo͞onər/

adjective

between the earth and the moon

• the darkness of cislunar space.

cismontane /sisˈmänˌtān/

adjective

on this side of the mountains, especially the Alps.
Compare with cisalpine.

cisplatin /ˌsisˈplat(ə)n/

I. noun

[Medicine] a cytotoxic drug used in cancer chemotherapy.
[A coordination compound of platinum; chem. formula: Pt(NH_3)2Cl_2.]

– origin late 20th cent.: from cis- + platinum.

cissexism /sisˈseksizəm/

I. noun

prejudice or discrimination against transgender people

• trans feminists have also focused on how trans people are impacted by institutionalized cissexism.

– origin early 21st cent.: from cis- (sense 2) + sexism.

cissexist /sisˈseksist/

I. adjective

showing or feeling discrimination or prejudice against transgender people

• many trans people have come up with language to describe the cissexist world they see around them.

– origin early 21st cent.: from cis- (sense 2) + sexist.

cissus /ˈsisəs/

I. noun

a woody climbing vine of the grape family, with trifoliate leaves that are sometimes evergreen.
[Genus Cissus, family Vitaceae: several species, esp. C. incisa of the central and southeastern US.]

– origin modern Latin: from Greek kissos ‘ivy.’

cist /sist / kist

I. noun

1. [Archaeology] an ancient coffin or burial chamber made from stone or a hollowed tree.

2. a box used in ancient Greece for sacred utensils.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin cista, from Greek kistē ‘basket’; sense 1 via Welsh.

Cistercian /siˈstərSH(ə)n/

I. noun

a monk or nun of an order founded in 1098 as a stricter branch of the Benedictines. The monks are now divided into two observances, the strict observance, whose adherents are known popularly as Trappists, and the common observance, which has certain relaxations.

II. adjective

of or relating to the Cistercians

• a Cistercian abbey.

– origin from French cistercien, from Cistercium, the Latin name of Cîteaux near Dijon in France, where the order was founded.

cistern /ˈsistərn/

I. noun

1. a tank for storing water, especially one supplying taps or as part of a flushing toilet.

2. an underground reservoir for rainwater.

– origin Middle English: from Old French cisterne, from Latin cisterna, from cista ‘box.’

cistron /ˈsisträn/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a section of a DNA or RNA molecule that codes for a specific polypeptide in protein synthesis.

– origin 1950s: from cis- + trans- (because of the possibility of two genes being on the same or different chromosomes) + -on.

cit.

abbreviation

1. citation.

2. cited.

3. citizen.

citadel /ˈsidədl ˈsidəˌdel/

I. noun

a fortress, typically on high ground, protecting or dominating a city.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French citadelle, or from Italian cittadella, based on Latin civitas ‘city’ (see city).

citation /sīˈtāSH(ə)n / cit.

I. noun

1. a quotation from or reference to a book, paper, or author, especially in a scholarly work

• there were dozens of citations from the works of Byron

• recognition through citation is one of the principal rewards in science.

2. a mention of a praiseworthy act or achievement in an official report, especially that of a member of the armed forces in wartime.

3. a note accompanying an award, describing the reasons for it

• the Nobel citation noted that his discovery would be useful for energy conversion technology.

4. [Law] a reference to a former tried case, used as guidance in the trying of comparable cases or in support of an argument.

5. (N. Amer.) a summons

• a traffic citation.

– origin Middle English (sense 2): from Old French, from Latin citation-, from citare ‘cite.’

cite /sīt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. quote (a passage, book, or author) as evidence for or justification of an argument or statement, especially in a scholarly work.

2. mention as an example

• medics have been cited as a key example of a modern breed of technical expert.

3. praise (someone, typically a member of the armed forces) for a courageous act in an official dispatch.

4. [Law] adduce a former tried case as a guide to deciding a comparable case or in support of an argument.

5. [Law] summon (someone) to appear in a court of law

• the summons cited four of the defendants.

II. noun

(US) a citation.

III. derivatives

citable /ˈsīdəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (sense 2 of the verb): from Old French citer, from Latin citare, from ciere, cire ‘to call.’

CITES /ˈsīdˌēz/

abbreviation

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

cithara /ˈsiTHərə, ˈkiTH- / kithara

I. noun

an ancient Greek and Roman stringed musical instrument similar to the lyre.

– origin late 18th cent.: Latin, from Greek kithara. Compare with cittern.

cithern /ˈsiTHərn, ˈsiT͟H-/

noun

variant spelling of cittern.

citied /ˈsidēd/

adjective

made into or like a city; occupied by a city or cities.

citified /ˈsidəˌfīd / cityfied

I. adjective

‹often derogatory› characteristic of or adjusted to an urban environment

• black-hatted, citified cowboys.

II. derivatives

1. citification /ˌsitifiˈkāSHən /

noun

2. citify /-fī /

verb

(citifies, citifying, citified) —

citizen /ˈsidizən ˈsidisən / cit.

I. noun

1. a legally recognized subject or national of a state or commonwealth, either native or naturalized

• a Polish citizen

• the rights of every citizen.

2. an inhabitant of a particular town or city

• the citizens of Los Angeles.

II. phrases

citizen of the world

a person who is at home in any country.

III. derivatives

1. citizenry /ˈsidizənrē ˈsidisənrē /

noun

2. citizenship /ˈsidizənˌSHip ˈsidisənˌSHip /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French citezein, alteration (probably influenced by deinzein ‘denizen’) of Old French citeain, based on Latin civitas ‘city’ (see city).

citizen journalism

I. noun

the collection, dissemination, and analysis of news and information by the general public, especially by means of the Internet.

II. derivatives

citizen journalist

noun

citizen's arrest /ˈˌsidizənz əˈrest ˈˌsidisənz əˈrest/

noun

an arrest by an ordinary person without a warrant, allowable in certain cases.

Citizens' Band CB

noun

a range of radio frequencies that are allocated for local communication by private individuals, especially by handheld or vehicle radio.

citizen science

I. noun

the collection and analysis of data relating to the natural world by members of the general public, typically as part of a collaborative project with professional scientists

• the director of education sees a need for citizen science in astronomy

• [as modifier] citizen science projects.

II. derivatives

citizen scientist

noun

Citlaltépetl /ˌsētlälˈtāpedl/

I. the highest peak in Mexico, in the eastern part of the country, north of Orizaba. It is 18,503 feet (5,699 m) high and is an extinct volcano.
Spanish name Pico de Orizaba.

– origin Aztec, literally ‘star mountain.’

citral /ˈsitrəl/

noun

[Chemistry] a fragrant liquid occurring in citrus and lemongrass oils and used in flavorings and perfumes.
[A terpene; chem. formula: C_10H_16O.]

citrate /ˈsitrāt/

noun

a salt or ester of citric acid.

citric /ˈsitrik/

I. adjective

derived from or related to citrus fruit

• lemongrass gives a slightly sweet citric flavor.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Latin citrus ‘citron tree’ + -ic.

citric acid /ˌsitrik ˈasəd/

noun

[Chemistry] a sharp-tasting crystalline acid present in the juice of lemons and other sour fruits. It is made commercially by the fermentation of sugar and used as a flavoring and setting agent.
[A tribasic acid; chem. formula: C_6H_8O_7.]

citric acid cycle

noun

another term for Krebs cycle.

citriculture /ˈsitrəˌkəlCHər/

noun

the cultivation of citrus fruit trees.

citrin /ˈsitrən/

noun

another term for bioflavonoid.

citrine /ˈsitrēn ˈsitrən/

I. noun

1. a glassy yellow variety of quartz.
Also called false topaz.

2. a light greenish-yellow.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French citrin ‘lemon-colored,’ from medieval Latin citrinus, from Latin citrus ‘citron tree.’

citron /ˈsitrən/

I. noun

1. a shrubby Asian tree that bears large fruits similar to lemons, but with flesh that is less acid and peels that are thicker and more fragrant.
[Citrus medica, family Rutaceae; one of the ancestors of modern commercial citrus fruits.]

2. the fruit of the citron tree.

– origin early 16th cent. (denoting the fruit): from French, from Latin citrus ‘citron tree,’ on the pattern of limon ‘lemon.’

citronella /ˌsitrəˈnelə/

I. noun

1. (also citronella oil) — a fragrant natural oil used as an insect repellent and in perfume and soap manufacture.

2. the southern Asian grass from which the citronella oil is obtained.
[Cymbopogon nardus, family Gramineae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from citron + the diminutive suffix -ella.

citronellal /ˌsitrəˈnelal/

noun

a terpenoid aldehyde found especially in citronella, rose, and geranium oils.
[Chem. formula: C_10H_18O.]

citrus /ˈsitrəs/

I. noun

1. a tree of a genus that includes citron, lemon, lime, orange, and grapefruit. Native to Asia, citrus trees are widely cultivated in warm countries for their fruit, which has juicy flesh and a pulpy rind.
[Genus Citrus, family Rutaceae.]

2. (also citrus fruit) — a fruit from a citrus tree
[as modifier]

• citrus extracts.

II. derivatives

1. citrous /ˈsitrəs /

adjective

2. citrusy

adjective

– origin early 19th cent.: Latin, literally ‘citron tree, thuja.’

Citrus Heights

a city in north central California, northeast of Sacramento; pop. 84,432 (est. 2008).

cittern /ˈsidərn / cithern

I. noun

a stringed instrument similar to a lute, with a flattened back and wire strings, used in 16th- and 17th-century Europe.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin cithara, from Greek kithara, denoting a kind of harp. The spelling has been influenced by gittern.

city /ˈsidē/

I. noun

1. a large town

• one of Italy's most beautiful cities

• [as modifier] the city council.

2. (N. Amer.) an incorporated municipal center.

3. [with modifier] — ‹informal› a place or situation characterized by a specified attribute

• panic city.

4. (the City) — the financial and commercial district of London, England.

II. derivatives

1. cityward /ˈsidēˌwərd /

adjective, adverb

2. citywards /-wərdz /

adverb

3. citywide /sidēˈwīd /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French cite, from Latin civitas, from civis ‘citizen.’ Originally denoting a town, and often used as a Latin equivalent to Old English burh ‘borough,’ the term was later applied to foreign and ancient cities and to the more important English boroughs.

city center ‹Brit.› city centre

noun

the central part or main business and commercial area of a city

• we took a bus back to the city center.

city desk /ˈsidē desk/

noun

(N. Amer.) the department of a newspaper dealing with local news.

city dweller

noun

a person who lives in a city

• many city dwellers live in rented apartments.

city editor /ˈsidē ˈedədər/

noun

(N. Amer.) an editor dealing with local news in a newspaper or magazine.

city father

noun — (usu. city fathers)

1. a person concerned with or experienced in the administration of a city

• the city fathers decided to build a museum.

city hall /ˈsidē hôl / City Hall

noun

1. the administration building of a municipal government.

2. [treated as sing.] — (N. Amer.) municipal offices or officers collectively

• they cultivated close ties with City Hall.

city manager /ˈsidē ˈmanijər ˈmanəjər/

noun

(N. Amer.) an appointed official who directs the administration of a city.

City of God

I. Paradise, perceived as an ideal community in Heaven.

II. the Christian Church.
[from The City of God by St. Augustine.]

City of London

the part of London that is within the ancient boundaries and governed by the Lord Mayor and the Corporation.

city planning /ˈsidē planiNG/

I. noun

the planning and control of the construction, growth, and development of a city or town.
Also called town planning.

II. derivatives

city planner

noun

cityscape /ˈsidēˌskāp/

noun

1. the visual appearance of a city or urban area; a city landscape

• shades of red brick which once colored the cityscape.

2. a picture of a city.

city slicker /ˈsidē ˌslikər/

noun

‹chiefly derogatory› a person with the sophistication and tastes or values generally associated with urban dwellers, typically regarded as unprincipled and untrustworthy.

city state /ˈsidē stāt/

noun

‹chiefly historical› a city that with its surrounding territory forms an independent state.

Ciudad Bolívar /syo͞oˌdä(d) bōˈlēvär/

a city in southeastern Venezuela, on the Orinoco River; pop. 355,800 (est. 2009). Formerly Angostura, its name was changed in 1846 to honor Simón Bolívar, the country's liberator.

Ciudad del Este /syo͞oˌdäd del ˈestā/

a port city in southeastern Paraguay, on the Paraná River, near the Itaipu Dam; pop. 320,782 (2008). Called (before 1989) Puerto Presidente Stroessner.

Ciudad Guayana /syo͞oˌdäd ɡīˈänə/

an industrial city in eastern Venezuela, at the junction of the Caroní and Orinoco rivers; pop. 789,500 (est. 2009).

Ciudad Juárez /syo͞oˌdäd ˈhwärəs/

a commercial and industrial city in Chihuahua state, in northern Mexico, across the Rio Grande from El Paso in Texas; pop. 1,216,608 (2005).

Ciudad Real /syo͞oˌdäd rāˈäl/

an agricultural market town in central Spain, between the Guadiana and Jablón rivers, capital of Ciudad Real province; pop. 72,200 (est. 2008).

Ciudad Trujillo /syo͞oˌdäd tro͞oˈhēyō/

former name (1936–61) for Santo Domingo.

Ciudad Victoria /syo͞oˌdäd vikˈtôrēə/

a city in northeastern Mexico, capital of the state of Tamaulipas; pop. 278,455 (2005).

civet /ˈsivət/

I. noun

1. a slender nocturnal carnivorous mammal with a barred and spotted coat and well-developed anal scent glands, native to Africa and Asia.
[Family Viverridae (the civet family): several genera and species, in particular the African civet (Viverra civetta). The civet family also includes the genets, linsang, and fossa, and formerly included the mongooses.]

2. a strong musky perfume obtained from the secretions of the civet's scent glands.

3. another term for cacomistle.

4. (US) the fur of the cacomistle.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French civette, from Italian zibetto, from medieval Latin zibethum, from Arabic zabād, denoting the perfume.

civic /ˈsivik/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of or relating to a city or town, especially its administration; municipal

• civic and business leaders.

2. of or relating to the duties or activities of people in relation to their town, city, or local area

• they could not be denied access to education, the vote, and other civic rights.

II. derivatives

civically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French civique or Latin civicus, from civis ‘citizen.’ The original use was in civic garland, crown, etc., translating Latin corona civica, denoting a garland of oak leaves and acorns given in ancient Rome to a person who saved a fellow citizen's life.

civic center /ˈsivik ˈsen(t)ər/

noun

(N. Amer.) a municipal building or building complex, often publicly financed, with space for conventions, sports events, and theatrical entertainment.

civics /ˈsiviks/

plural noun — [usu. treated as sing.]

1. the study of the rights and duties of citizenship.

civil /ˈsiv(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. [attrib.] — of or relating to ordinary citizens and their concerns, as distinct from military or ecclesiastical matters

• civil aviation.

2. (of disorder or conflict) occurring between citizens of the same country.

3. [Law] relating to private relations between members of a community; noncriminal

• a civil action.

4. [Law] of or relating to civil law.

5. courteous and polite

• we tried to be civil to him.

6. (of time measurement or a point in time) fixed by custom or law rather than being natural or astronomical

• civil twilight starts at sunset.

II. derivatives

civilly /ˈsivəlē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin civilis, from civis ‘citizen.’

civil commitment /ˌsivil kəˈmitmənt/

noun

post-sentence institutional detention of an offender with the intention of preventing further offenses

• a 75-year-old convicted sex offender being held in civil commitment.

civil conviction

noun

(in military use) a current or former criminal conviction, under civil law, of an enlisted person.

civil court

noun

a court dealing with noncriminal cases.

civil death

noun

‹rare› ‹or chiefly historical› the loss of a citizen's privileges through life imprisonment, banishment, etc.

civil defense /ˈsivil dəˈfens dēˈfens ˈdēˌfens/

noun

the organization and training of civilians for the protection of lives and property during and after attacks in wartime.

civil disobedience /ˈsivil ˈˌdisəˈbēdēəns/

noun

the refusal to comply with certain laws or to pay taxes and fines, as a peaceful form of political protest.

civil engineer /ˈsivil ˌenjəˈni(ə)r/

I. noun

an engineer who designs and maintains roads, bridges, dams, and similar structures.

II. derivatives

civil engineering

noun

civilian /səˈvilyən/

I. noun

1. a person not in the armed services or the police force.

2. ‹informal› a person who is not a member of a particular profession or group, as viewed by a member of that group

• I talk to a lot of actresses and they say that civilians are scared of them.

II. adjective

of, denoting, or relating to a person not belonging to the armed services or police

• military agents in civilian clothes.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a practitioner of civil law): from Old French civilien, in the phrase droit civilien ‘civil law.’ The current sense arose in the early 19th cent.

civilianize /səˈvilyəˌnīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (something) nonmilitary in character or function.

II. derivatives

civilianization /səˌvilyənəˈzāSHən /

noun

civility /səˈvilədē/

I. noun

1. formal politeness and courtesy in behavior or speech

• I hope we can treat each other with civility and respect.

2. (civilities) — polite remarks used in formal conversation

• she was exchanging civilities with his mother.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French civilite, from Latin civilitas, from civilis ‘relating to citizens’ (see civil). In early use the term denoted the state of being a citizen and hence good citizenship or orderly behavior. The sense ‘politeness’ arose in the mid 16th cent.

civilization /ˌsivələˈzāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the stage of human social development and organization that is considered most advanced

• they equated the railroad with progress and civilization.

2. the process by which a society or place reaches an advanced stage of social development and organization.

3. the society, culture, and way of life of a particular area

• the great books of Western civilization

• the early civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt.

4. the comfort and convenience of modern life, regarded as available only in towns and cities

• the fur traders moved further and further from civilization.

civilize /ˈsivəˌlīz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. civilized)

1. bring (a place or people) to a stage of social, cultural, and moral development considered to be more advanced

• a civilized society.

2. (as adj. civilized) — polite and well-mannered

• such an affront to civilized behavior will no longer be tolerated.

II. derivatives

civilizer /ˈsivəˌlīzər /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from French civiliser, from civil ‘civil.’

civil law /ˈsivil lô/

noun

1. the system of law concerned with private relations between members of a community rather than criminal, military, or religious affairs.
Contrasted with criminal law.

2. the system of law predominant on the European continent and of which a form is in force in Louisiana, historically influenced by the codes of ancient Rome.
Compare with common law.

civil liberty /ˈsivil ˈlibərdē/

I. noun

1. the state of being subject only to laws established for the good of the community, especially with regard to freedom of action and speech.

2. (civil liberties) — individual rights protected by law from unjust governmental or other interference.

II. derivatives

civil libertarian

noun

civil marriage /ˈsivil ˈmerij/

noun

a marriage solemnized as a civil contract without religious ceremony.

civil rights /ˌsivil ˈrīts/

plural noun

the rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality.

civil servant /ˈˌsivil ˈsərvənt/

noun

a member of the civil service.

civil service /ˈˌsivil ˈsərvəs/

I. noun

the permanent professional branches of a government's administration, excluding military and judicial branches and elected politicians.

– origin late 18th cent.: originally applied to the part of the service of the British East India Company conducted by staff who did not belong to the army or navy.

civil society

noun

society considered as a community of citizens linked by common interests and collective activity

• the corrosive impact of fear on politics and civil society

• they make important contributions to civil society

• a flourishing civil society indifferent to race, gender, or economic category.

civil union

noun

a legally recognized union of a same-sex couple, with rights similar to those of marriage.

civil war /ˌsivil ˈwô(ə)r/

noun

a war between citizens of the same country.
See also American Civil War, English Civil War, Spanish Civil War.

civil wrong

noun

[Law] an infringement of a person's rights, such as a tort or breach of contract.

civvies /ˈsivēz / ‹informal› civies

I. plural noun

civilian clothes, as opposed to a uniform

• he showered and changed into civvies.

II. adjective — [attrib.] (civvy)

1. of or relating to civilians

• I learned a good trade for civvy life.

– origin late 19th cent.: abbreviation.

CJ

abbreviation

chief justice.

CJD

abbreviation

short for Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease.

cl

abbreviation

centiliter

• 70 cl bottles.

Cl

symbol

the chemical element chlorine.

CL

abbreviation

chemiluminescence.

clabber /ˈklabər / ‹chiefly US›

I. noun

milk that has naturally clotted on souring.

II. verb

curdle or cause to curdle.

– origin early 19th cent.: shortening of bonny clabber.

clachan /ˈklaKHən ˈklakən/

I. noun

(in Scotland or Northern Ireland) a small village or hamlet.

– origin late Middle English: from Scottish Gaelic and Irish clachán.

clack /klak/

I. verb

1. make or cause to make a sharp sound or series of such sounds as a result of a hard object striking another
[no obj.]

• he heard the sound of her heels clacking across flagstones

• [with obj.] he clacked the castanets in fine syncopation.

2. [no obj.] — ‹archaic› chatter loudly

• he will sit clacking for hours.

II. noun

1. a sharp sound or series of sounds

• the clack of her high heels.

2. ‹archaic› loud chatter

• her clack would go all day.

III. derivatives

clacker

noun

– origin Middle English: imitative.

Clactonian /klakˈtōnēən/

adjective

1. [Archaeology] of, relating to, or denoting a Lower Paleolithic culture represented by flint implements found at Clacton-on-Sea in southeastern England, dated to about 250,000–200,000 years ago.

2. (as noun the Clactonian) — [Archaeology] the Clactonian culture or period.

clad^1 /klad/

I. past participle of clothe.

II. adjective

1. clothed

• they were clad in T-shirts and shorts

• [in combination] a leotard-clad instructor.

2. provided with cladding
[in combination]

• copper-clad boards.

clad^2 /klad/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. provide or encase with a covering or coating

• he cladded the concrete-frame structure in stainless steel.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘clothe’): apparently from clad^1.

cladding /ˈkladiNG/

noun

a covering or coating on a structure or material
[as modifier]

• a range of roofing and cladding products.

clade /klād/

I. noun

[Biology] a group of organisms believed to have evolved from a common ancestor, according to the principles of cladistics.

– origin 1950s: from Greek klados ‘branch.’

cladistics /kləˈdistiks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. [Biology] a method of classification of animals and plants according to the proportion of measurable characteristics that they have in common. It is assumed that the higher the proportion of characteristics that two organisms share, the more recently they diverged from a common ancestor.

II. derivatives

1. cladism /ˈklādˌizəm /

noun

2. cladistic

adjective

– origin 1960s: from clade + -ist + -ics.

clado-

I. combining form

relating to a branch or branching

• cladogram.

– origin from Greek klados ‘branch or shoot.’

Cladocera /kləˈdäsərə / ‹Zoology›

I. an order of minute branchiopod crustaceans that includes the water fleas. They typically have a transparent shell enclosing the trunk, and large antennae that are used for swimming.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek klados ‘branch or root’ + keras ‘horn’ (because of the branched antennae).

cladoceran /kləˈdäsərən / ‹Zoology›

I. noun

a minute branchiopod crustacean of the order Cladocera, which includes the water fleas.

II. adjective

relating to or denoting cladocerans.

cladode /ˈkladōd / cladophyll

I. noun

[Botany] a flattened leaflike stem.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek kladōdēs ‘with many shoots,’ from klados ‘shoot.’

cladogenesis /ˌkladəˈjenəsəs ˌklādōˈjenəsəs/

I. noun

[Biology] the formation of a new group of organisms or higher taxon by evolutionary divergence from an ancestral form.
Compare with anagenesis.

II. derivatives

cladogenetic /ˌkladōjəˈnetik /

adjective

cladogram /ˈkladəˌɡram ˈklādəˌɡram/

noun

[Biology] a branching diagram showing the cladistic relationship between a number of species.

clafoutis /ˌkläfo͞oˈtē/

I. noun

a tart made of fruit, typically cherries, baked in a sweet batter.

– origin French, from dialect clafir ‘to stuff.’

Claiborne, Craig /ˈklābôrn/

(1920–2000), US food editor and critic. He was the food editor for The New York Times 1957–70, 1974–88. He wrote The New York Times Cook Book (1961), Classic French Cuisine (1970), and Elements of Etiquette (1992).

claim /klām/

I. verb — [reporting verb]

1. state or assert that something is the case, typically without providing evidence or proof
[with clause]

• he claimed that he came from a wealthy, educated family

• [with direct speech] “I'm entitled to be conceited,” he claimed

• [with obj.] these sunblocks claim protection factors as high as 34.

2. [with obj.] — assert that one has gained or achieved (something)

• his supporters claimed victory in the presidential elections.

3. [with obj.] — formally request or demand; say that one owns or has earned (something)

• if no one claims the items, they will become government property.

4. [with obj.] — make a demand for (money) under the terms of an insurance policy

• she could have claimed the cost through her insurance.

5. call for (someone's notice and thought)

• a most unwelcome event claimed his attention.

6. cause the loss of (someone's life).

II. noun

1. an assertion of the truth of something, typically one that is disputed or in doubt
[with clause]

• he was dogged by the claim that he had CIA links

• history belies statesmen's claims to be in charge of events.

2. a demand or request for something considered one's due

• the court had denied their claims to asylum.

3. an application for compensation under the terms of an insurance policy.

4. a right or title to something

• they have first claim on the assets of the trust.

5. (also mining claim) — a piece of land allotted to or taken by someone in order to be mined.

III. phrases

claim to fame

a reason for being regarded as unusual or noteworthy

• his claim to fame was bringing Garbo to Hollywood.

IV. derivatives

claimable /ˈklāməb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French claime (noun), clamer (verb), from Latin clamare ‘call out.’

claimant /ˈklāmənt/

noun

a person making a claim, especially in a lawsuit or for a government-sponsored benefit.

claimer /ˈklāmər ˈkleɪmər/

noun

1. a person who claims something

• most people aren't big claimers—just 5 per cent of Americans account for 50 per cent of the healthcare bill.

2. (also claiming race) — [Horse Racing] a race in which every horse participating is for sale at a stipulated price.

3. (US) a horse entered in a claiming race

• the horses are bottom-level claimers, which is $3,200 at Fairmount.

4. (Brit.) a jockey who claims a weight allowance in a race.

• the horse has been ridden by a 7lb claimer in his two runs.

claims adjuster

noun

an insurance agent who assesses the amount of compensation that should be paid after a person has made a claim on their insurance policy.

clairaudience /ˌklerˈôdēəns/

I. noun

the supposed faculty of perceiving, as if by hearing, what is inaudible.

II. derivatives

clairaudient

adjective, noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French clair ‘clear’ + audience, on the pattern of clairvoyance.

clair de lune /ˌkle(ə)r dlˈo͞on, də ˈlo͞on/

I. noun

1. a pale blue-gray or pale green color.

2. a Chinese porcelain glaze of a pale blue-gray or pale green color.

– origin late 19th cent.: French, literally ‘moonlight.’

clairvoyance /ˌklerˈvoiəns/

I. noun

the supposed faculty of perceiving things or events in the future or beyond normal sensory contact

• she stared at the card as if she could contact its writer by clairvoyance.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, from clair ‘clear’ + voir ‘to see.’

clairvoyant /ˌklerˈvoiənt/

I. noun

a person who claims to have a supernatural ability to perceive events in the future or beyond normal sensory contact.

II. adjective

having or exhibiting an ability to perceive events in the future or beyond normal sensory contact

• he didn't tell me about it and I'm not clairvoyant.

III. derivatives

clairvoyantly

adverb

– origin late 17th cent. (in the sense ‘clear-sighted, perceptive’): from French, from clair ‘clear’ + voyant ‘seeing’ (from voir ‘to see’). The current sense dates from the mid 19th cent.

clam /klam/

I. noun

1. a marine bivalve mollusk with shells of equal size.
[Subclass Heterodonta: several families and numerous species, including the edible North American hard-shell clam (see quahog) and soft-shell clam. See also giant clam.]

2. ‹informal› any of a number of edible bivalve mollusks, e.g., a scallop.

3. (US) ‹informal› a dollar

• all I got for the job was 50 lousy clams.

4. ‹informal› a shy or withdrawn person.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) dig for or collect clams
(as noun clamming)

• it was one of the worst times for clamming.

2. (clam up) — ‹informal› abruptly stop talking, either for fear of revealing a secret or from shyness.

– origin early 16th cent.: apparently from earlier clam ‘a clamp,’ from Old English clam, clamm ‘a bond or bondage,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch klemme, German Klemme, also to clamp.

clamant /ˈklāmənt/

I. adjective

forcing itself urgently on the attention

• the proper use of biotechnology has become a clamant question.

II. derivatives

clamantly

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin clamant- ‘crying out,’ from the verb clamare.

clambake /ˈklamˌbāk/

noun

(N. Amer.) an outdoor social gathering at which clams and other seafood (and often chicken, potatoes, and sweet corn) are baked or steamed, traditionally in a pit, over heated stones and under a bed of seaweed.

clamber /ˈklambər/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. climb, move, or get in or out of something in an awkward and laborious way, typically using both hands and feet

• I clambered out of the trench.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. an awkward and laborious climb or movement

• a clamber up the cliff path.

– origin Middle English: probably from clamb, obsolete past tense of climb.

clamdiggers /ˈklamˌdiɡərz/

noun

close-fitting women's casual pants hemmed at mid-calf.

clammy /ˈklamē/

I. adjective

1. unpleasantly damp and sticky or slimy to touch

• his skin felt cold and clammy.

2. (of air or atmosphere) damp and unpleasant

• the clammy atmosphere of the cave.

II. derivatives

1. clammily /ˈklaməlē /

adverb

2. clamminess /ˈklamēnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from dialect clam ‘to be sticky or adhere,’ of Germanic origin; related to clay.

clamor /ˈklamər / ‹Brit.› clamour

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. a loud and confused noise, especially that of people shouting vehemently

• the questions rose to a clamor.

2. a strongly expressed protest or demand, typically from a large number of people

• the growing public clamor for more policemen on the beat.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a group of people) shout loudly and insistently

• the surging crowds clamored for attention.

2. make a vehement protest or demand

• scientists are clamoring for a ban on all chlorine substances.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin clamor, from clamare ‘cry out.’

clamorous /ˈklamərəs/

I. adjective

1. making a loud and confused noise

• a jostling, clamorous mob.

2. expressing or characterized by vehement protests or demands

• the clamorous radical wing of the party.

II. derivatives

1. clamorously /-ərəslē /

adverb

2. clamorousness /-ərəsnəs /

noun

clamp /klamp/

I. noun

1. a brace, band, or clasp used for strengthening or holding things together.

2. an electric circuit that serves to maintain the voltage limits of a signal at prescribed levels.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. fasten (something) in place with a clamp

• the sander is clamped onto the edge of a workbench.

2. fasten (two things) firmly together

• the two frames are clamped together.

3. hold (something) tightly against or in another thing

• Maggie had to clamp a hand over her mouth to stop herself from laughing.

4. maintain the voltage limits of (an electrical signal) at prescribed values.

III. phrasal verbs

clamp down

suppress or prevent something, typically in an oppressive or harsh manner

• police clamped down on a pro-democracy demonstration.

IV. derivatives

clamper

noun

– origin Middle English: probably of Dutch or Low German origin and related to clam.

clampdown /ˈklampˌdoun/

noun

‹informal› a severe or concerted attempt to suppress something

• a clampdown on crime.

clamshell /ˈklamˌSHel/

noun

1. the shell of a clam, formed of two roughly equal valves with a hinge.

2. a thing with hinged parts that open and shut in a manner resembling the parts of a clamshell, such as a kind of mechanical digger, a portable computer, or a box for takeout food

• some clamshells offer full desktop power

• [as modifier] a clamshell lid.

clan /klan/

I. noun

1. a group of close-knit and interrelated families (especially associated with families in the Scottish Highlands).

2. ‹often informal› a family, especially a large one

• the Kennedy clan gathered for the celebration.

3. a group of people with a strong common interest

• New York's garrulous clan of artists.

– origin late Middle English: from Scottish Gaelic clann ‘offspring, family,’ from Old Irish cland, from Latin planta ‘sprout.’

Clancy, Tom /ˈklansē/

(1947–2013), US novelist. His works, usually techno-military thrillers, include The Hunt for Red October (1984), Patriot Games (1987), Rainbow Six (1998), and The Teeth of the Tiger (2003).

clandestine /klanˈdestən ˈklandesˌtīn/

I. adjective

kept secret or done secretively, especially because illicit

• she deserved better than these clandestine meetings.

II. derivatives

clandestinity /ˌklandesˈtinitē /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French clandestin or Latin clandestinus, from clam ‘secretly.’

clandestinely /klanˈdest(ə)nlē ˈklandəsˌtēnlē/

adverb

in a secretive and illicit way

• traffickers operate clandestinely

• it prints money clandestinely at no cost to itself.

clang /klaNG/

I. noun

a loud, resonant metallic sound or series of sounds

• the steel door slammed shut with a clang.

II. verb

make or cause to make a clang
[no obj.]

• she turned the faucet on and the plumbing clanged

• [with obj.] the belfry still clangs its bell at 9 p.m.

– origin late 16th cent.: imitative, influenced by Latin clangere ‘resound.’

clangor /ˈklaNGər / ‹Brit.› clangour

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. a continuous loud banging or ringing sound

• he went deaf because of the clangor of the steam hammers.

II. derivatives

clangorous /ˈklaNGərəs /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin clangor, from clangere ‘resound.’

clank /klaNGk/

I. noun

a loud, sharp sound or series of sounds, typically made by pieces of metal meeting or being struck together

• the groan and clank of a winch.

II. verb

make or cause to make a clank
[no obj.]

• I could hear the chain clanking

• [with obj.] Cassie bounced on the bed, clanking the springs.

– origin late Middle English (but rare before the mid 17th cent.): imitative.

clannish /ˈklaniSH/

I. adjective

‹chiefly derogatory› (of a group or their activities) tending to exclude others outside the group.

II. derivatives

1. clannishly

adverb

2. clannishness

noun

clansman /ˈklanzmən/

noun

a male member of a clan.

clanswoman /ˈklanzˌwo͝omən/

noun

a female member of a clan.

• a fellow clanswoman.

clap^1 /klap/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. strike the palms of (one's hands) together repeatedly, typically in order to applaud

• Agnes clapped her hands in glee

• [no obj.] the crowd was clapping and cheering.

2. show approval of (a person or action) by clapping.

3. strike the palms of (one's hands) together once, especially as a signal

• the designer clapped his hands and the other girls exited the room.

4. slap (someone) encouragingly on the back or shoulder

• as they parted, he clapped Owen on the back.

5. place (a hand) briefly against or over one's mouth or forehead as a gesture of dismay or regret

• he swore and clapped a hand to his forehead.

6. (of a bird) flap (its wings) audibly.

II. noun

1. an act of striking together the palms of the hands, either once or repeatedly.

2. a friendly slap or pat on the back or shoulder.

3. an explosive sound, especially of thunder

• a clap of thunder echoed through the valley.

III. phrases

1. clap eyes on

see eye.

2. clap someone in jail (or irons)

put someone in prison (or in chains).

IV. phrasal verbs

clap something on

abruptly impose a restrictive or punitive measure on

• most countries clapped on tariffs to protect their farmers.

– origin Old English clappan ‘throb, beat,’ of imitative origin. Sense 1 of the noun dates from late Middle English.

clap^2 /klap/

I. noun — (usu. the clap)

1. ‹informal› a venereal disease, especially gonorrhea.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Old French clapoir ‘venereal bubo.’

clapboard /ˈklabərd ˈklapˌbôrd/

I. noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) a long, thin, flat piece of wood with edges horizontally overlapping in series, used to cover the outer walls of buildings
[as modifier]

• neat clapboard houses.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) ‹informal› a house with outer walls covered in clapboards.

II. derivatives

clapboarded

adjective

– origin early 16th cent. (denoting a piece of oak used for barrel staves or wainscot): partial translation of Low German klappholt ‘barrel stave,’ from klappen ‘to crack’ + holt ‘wood.’

clapped-out

adjective

‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) (of a vehicle, machine, or person) worn out from age or heavy use and unable to work or operate

• a clapped-out old van.

clapper /ˈklapər/

noun

the free-swinging metal piece inside a bell that is made to strike the bell to produce the sound.

clapperboard /ˈklapərˌbôrd/

noun

a device of hinged boards that are struck together before filming as a signal to synchronize the starting of picture and sound machinery.

clapper rail

I. noun

a large grayish rail of American coastal marshes. It has a distinctive clattering rattlelike call.
[Rallus longirostris, family Rallidae.]

– origin from clapper, denoting a device for making a loud clattering sound, with reference to the bird's cry.

Clapton, Eric /ˈklaptən/

(1945–), English blues and rock guitarist, singer, and composer.

claptrap /ˈklapˌtrap/

I. noun

absurd or nonsensical talk or ideas

• such sentiments are just pious claptrap.

– origin mid 18th cent. (denoting something designed to elicit applause): from clap^1 + trap^1.

claque /klak/

I. noun

1. a group of people hired to applaud (or heckle) a performer or public speaker.

2. a group of sycophantic followers

• the president was surrounded by a claque of scheming bureaucrats.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, from claquer ‘to clap.’ The practice of paying members of an audience for their support originated at the Paris opera.

claqueur /klaˈkər/

I. noun

a member of a claque.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, from claquer ‘to clap.’

clarabella /ˌklerəˈbelə/

I. noun

an organ stop with the quality of a flute.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from the feminine forms of Latin clarus ‘clear’ and bellus ‘pretty.’

Clare /kler/

a county in the Republic of Ireland, on the western coast in the province of Munster; county town, Ennis.

Claremont /ˈklermänt/

a city in southwestern California, east of Los Angeles; pop. 35,470 (est. 2008).

clarence /ˈklerəns / Clarence

I. noun

‹historical› a closed horse-drawn carriage with four wheels, seating four inside and two outside next to the coachman.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named in honor of the Duke of Clarence, later William IV.

Clarendon, Earl of /ˈklarəndən/

(1609–74), English statesman and historian; chief adviser to Charles II and chancellor of Oxford University 1660–67; born Edward Hyde.

Clare of Assisi, St. /kle(ə)r/

(1194–1253), Italian saint and abbess. With St. Francis, she founded the order of Poor Ladies of San Damiano (“Poor Clares”). Feast day, August 11 (formerly 12).

claret /ˈklerət/

I. noun

1. a red wine from Bordeaux, or wine of a similar character made elsewhere.

2. a deep purplish-red color.

– origin late Middle English (originally denoting a light red or yellowish wine, as distinct from a red or white): from Old French (vin) claret and medieval Latin claratum (vinum) ‘clarified (wine),’ from Latin clarus ‘clear.’

clarification /ˌklerəfəˈkāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action of making a statement or situation less confused and more comprehensible

• please advise us if you require further clarification.

2. a statement resulting from this

• the remaining changes are small clarifications.

II. derivatives

clarificatory

adjective

clarify /ˈklerəˌfī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (a statement or situation) less confused and more clearly comprehensible

• the report managed to clarify the government's position.

2. (often as adj. clarified) — melt (butter) in order to separate out the impurities.

II. derivatives

clarifier /ˈklerəˌfī(ə)r /

noun

– origin Middle English (in the senses ‘set forth clearly’ and ‘make pure and clean’): from Old French clarifier, from late Latin clarificare, from Latin clarus ‘clear.’

clarinet /ˌklerəˈnet/

I. noun

1. a woodwind instrument with a single-reed mouthpiece, a cylindrical tube with a flared end, and holes stopped by keys.

2. an organ stop with a tone resembling that of a clarinet.

II. derivatives

clarinetist /ˌklerəˈnedəst / ‹Brit.› clarinettist

noun

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French clarinette, diminutive of clarine, denoting a kind of bell; related to clarion.

clarion /ˈklerēən/

I. noun

1. ‹chiefly historical› a shrill, narrow-tubed war trumpet.

2. ‹chiefly historical› an organ stop with a quality resembling that of a clarion.

II. adjective

loud and clear

• clarion trumpeters.

III. phrases

clarion call

/ˈklerēən ˌkôl / — a strongly expressed demand or request for action

• he issued a clarion call to young people to join the party.

– origin Middle English: from medieval Latin clario(n-), from Latin clarus ‘clear.’

clarity /ˈklerədē/

I. noun

1. the quality of being clear, in particular

2. the quality of coherence and intelligibility

• for the sake of clarity, each of these strategies is dealt with separately.

3. the quality of being easy to see or hear; sharpness of image or sound

• the clarity of the picture.

4. the quality of being certain or definite

• it was clarity of purpose that he needed.

5. the quality of transparency or purity

• the crystal clarity of water.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘glory, divine splendor’): from Latin claritas, from clarus ‘clear.’ The current sense dates from the early 17th cent.

Clark, George Rogers /klärk/

(1752–1818), American military leader and frontiersman. He defended the Illinois frontier against the British during the American Revolution.

Clark, Joe

(1939–), Canadian Progressive Conservative statesman; prime minister 1979–80; full name Charles Joseph Clark.

Clark, Mark Wayne

(1896–1984), US army officer. He was an army chief of staff during World War II and commanded UN forces 1952–53 in Korea, where he signed the armistice ending the Korean conflict.

Clark, Tom C.

(1899–1977), US Supreme Court associate justice 1949–67; full name Thomas Campbell Clark. He was US attorney general 1945–49 before being appointed to the Court by President Truman. Considered somewhat conservative, he tended to be more liberal regarding civil rights issues.

Clark, Wesley

(1944–), US Army general and politician. A commander in the Vietnam War and the first Gulf War, he served as commander in chief, US European Command, and Supreme Allied Commander Europe 1997–2000 during the Kosovo conflict. In 2004 he ran for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Clark, William

(1770–1838), US explorer. With Meriwether Lewis, he commanded an expedition 1804–06 across the North American continent.

Clarke, John Hessin

(1857–1945), US Supreme Court associate justice 1916–22. Appointed to the Court by President Wilson, he was considered a liberal. He later headed the League of Nations Non-Partisan Committee 1922–28.

Clarke, Sir Arthur C. /klärk/

(1917–2008), English science fiction writer; full name Sir Arthur Charles Clarke. He wrote, with Stanley Kubrick, the screenplay for the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968).

Clark Fork River

a river that flows for 360 miles (580 km) from western Montana into eastern Idaho into the Columbia River.

clarkia /ˈklärkēə/

I. noun

a North American plant with showy white, pink, or purple flowers, cultivated as a border plant in gardens.
[Genus Clarkia, family Onagraceae.]

– origin modern Latin, named after W. Clark (see Clark, William), who discovered it.

Clarksville /ˈklärksˌvil, -vəl/

an industrial and commercial city in north central Tennessee, on the Cumberland River; pop. 119,735 (est. 2008).

clary /ˈklerē/

I. noun

an aromatic herbaceous plant of the mint family, some kinds of which are used as culinary and medicinal herbs.
[Genus Salvia, family Labiatae: several species, in particular the southern European S. sclarea, which is used in perfumery and from which an essential oil (clary sage) is obtained.]

– origin late Middle English: from obsolete French clarie, from medieval Latin sclarea.

clash /klaSH/

I. noun

1. a violent confrontation

• there have been minor clashes with security forces.

2. an incompatibility leading to disagreement

• a personality clash.

3. a mismatch of colors

• a clash of tweeds and a striped shirt.

4. an inconvenient coincidence of the timing of events or activities

• it is hoped that clashes of dates will be avoided.

5. a loud jarring sound made by or resembling that made by metal objects being struck together

• a clash of cymbals.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — meet and come into violent conflict

• protesters demanding self-rule clashed with police.

2. have a forceful disagreement

• Clarke has frequently clashed with his colleagues.

3. be incompatible or at odds

• his thriftiness clashed with Ross's largesse.

4. [no obj.] — (of colors) appear discordant or ugly when placed close to each other
(as adj. clashing)

• suits in clashing colors.

5. inconveniently occur at the same time

• the date of the wedding clashes with Sean's graduation.

6. [with obj.] — strike (cymbals) together, producing a loud discordant sound.

– origin early 16th cent.: imitative.

clasp /klasp/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. grasp (something) tightly with one's hand

• he clasped her arm.

2. place (one's arms) around something so as to hold it tightly

• Kate's arms were clasped around her knees.

3. hold (someone) tightly

• he clasped Joanne in his arms.

4. (clasp one's hands) — press one's hands together with the fingers interlaced

• he lay on his back with his hands clasped behind his head.

5. ‹archaic› fasten (something) with a small device, typically a metal one

• one modest emerald clasped her robe.

II. noun

1. a device with interlocking parts used for fastening things together

• a handbag with a golden clasp.

2. a silver bar on a medal ribbon, inscribed with the name of the battle at which the wearer was present.

3. [in sing.] — an embrace.

4. a grasp or handshake

• he took her hand in a firm clasp.

III. phrases

clasp hands

shake hands with fervor or affection.

– origin Middle English: of unknown origin.

claspers /ˈklaspərz/

I. plural noun

[Zoology] a pair of appendages under the abdomen of a male shark or ray, or at the end of the abdomen of a male insect, used to hold the female during copulation.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from clasp.

clasp knife /ˈklasp ˈˌnīf/

noun

a knife with a blade that folds into the handle.

class /klas/

I. noun

1. a set or category of things having some property or attribute in common and differentiated from others by kind, type, or quality

• the accommodations were good for a hotel of this class

• a new class of heart drug.

2. [Biology] a principal taxonomic grouping that ranks above order and below phylum or division, such as Mammalia or Insecta.

3. the system of ordering a society in which people are divided into sets based on perceived social or economic status

• people who are socially disenfranchised by class

• [as modifier] the class system.

4. a social division based on social or economic status

• the ruling class.

5. (the classes) — ‹archaic› the rich or educated.

6. ‹informal› impressive stylishness in appearance or behavior

• she's got class—she looks like a princess.

7. a group of students who are taught together.

8. an occasion when students meet with their teacher for instruction; a lesson

• I was late for a class.

9. a course of instruction

• I took classes in Indian music.

10. (chiefly N. Amer.) all those graduating from a school or college in a particular year

• the class of 1907.

II. verb — [with obj.] (often be classed as)

1. assign or regard as belonging to a particular category

• conduct that is classed as criminal.

III. adjective — [attrib.]

1. ‹informal› showing stylish excellence

• he's a class player.

IV. phrases

1. class act

a person or thing displaying impressive and stylish excellence.

2. in a class of (or on) its (or one's) own

unequaled, especially in excellence or performance

• the delicacy of English roses puts them in a class of their own.

– origin mid 16th cent. (sense 3 of the noun): from Latin classis ‘a division of the Roman people, a grade, or a class of pupils.’

class action /klas ˈakSHən/

noun

[Law] (N. Amer.) a lawsuit filed or defended by an individual or small group acting on behalf of a large group.

class consciousness /klas ˈkänSHəsnəs/

I. noun

awareness of one's place in a system of social classes, especially (in Marxist terms) as it relates to the class struggle.

II. derivatives

class-conscious /ˈklas ˌkänSHəs /

adjective

classic /ˈklasik/

I. adjective

1. judged over a period of time to be of the highest quality and outstanding of its kind

• a classic novel

• a classic car.

2. (of a garment or design) of a simple elegant style not greatly subject to changes in fashion

• this classic navy blazer.

3. remarkably and instructively typical

• Hamlet is the classic example of a tragedy

• I had all the classic symptoms of flu.

II. noun

1. a work of art of recognized and established value

• his books have become classics.

2. a garment of a simple, elegant, and long-lasting style.

3. a thing that is memorable and a very good example of its kind

• he's hoping that tomorrow's game will be a classic.

4. (usu. Classics) — a school subject that involves the study of ancient Greek and Latin literature, philosophy, and history.

5. (usu. the classics) — the works of ancient Greek and Latin writers and philosophers.

6. ‹dated› a scholar of ancient Greek and Latin.

7. a major sports tournament or competition, as in golf or tennis

• dozens of celebrity golfers attended the Bob Hope Desert Classic.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French classique or Latin classicus ‘belonging to a class or division,’ later ‘of the highest class,’ from classis (see class). / usage: Note that classic means ‘typical, excellent as an example, timeless,’ as in John Ford directed many classic Westerns, and classical means ‘relating to Greek or Roman antiquity,’ as in the museum was built in the classical style. Great art is considered classic, not classical, unless it is created in the forms of antiquity. Classical music is one exception to this rule, being formal music adhering to certain stylistic principles of the late 18th century. A classical education exposes a student to classical literature, history, and languages (especially Latin and Greek), but the study of Greek and Latin languages and their literatures is also referred to as the classics.

classical /ˈklasək(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to ancient Greek or Latin literature, art, or culture

• classical mythology.

2. (of art or architecture) influenced by ancient Greek or Roman forms or principles.

3. (typically of a form of art) regarded as representing an exemplary standard; traditional and long-established in form or style

• a classical ballet.

4. of or relating to the first significant period of an area of study

• classical mechanics.

5. [Physics] relating to or based upon concepts and theories that preceded the theories of relativity and quantum mechanics; Newtonian

• classical physics.

II. derivatives

1. classicalism /-ˌlizəm /

noun

2. classicality /ˌklasəˈkalədē /

noun

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘outstanding for its kind’): from Latin classicus ‘belonging to a class’ (see classic) + -al. / usage: See usage at classic.

classical conditioning

noun

[Psychology] a learning process that occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired; a response that is at first elicited by the second stimulus is eventually elicited by the first stimulus alone.

classically /ˈklasiklē/

adverb

1. in a way that relates to ancient Greek or Latin literature, art, or culture

• the nineteenth-century classically educated reader

• the classically austere traditions of the Roman republic.

2. (with reference to art or architecture) in a way that resembles or is influenced by ancient Greek or Roman forms or principles

• fine architecture and beautiful, classically designed buildings.

3. to an exemplary standard within a traditional and long-established form or style

• a classically trained British stage actor

• a truly terrific evening of classically inspired dance.

4. in a way that relates to the first significant period of an area of study

• so much of Marxist economics was classically oriented

• Iberian horses have been classically divided into two native groups.

5. in a way that is very typical of its kind

• a classically styled cyberpunk film.

6. [Physics] according to or in accordance with concepts and theories which preceded the theories of relativity and quantum mechanics

• we can describe light classically in terms of an electromagnetic wave

• wormholes may be unstable, both classically or quantum mechanically.

classical music /ˈklasəkəl ˈmyo͞ozik/

noun

1. serious or conventional music following long-established principles rather than a folk, jazz, or popular tradition.

2. (more specifically) music written in the European tradition during a period lasting approximately from 1750 to 1830, when forms such as the symphony, concerto, and sonata were standardized.
Often contrasted with baroque and romantic.

classicism /ˈklasəˌsizəm/

noun

1. the following of ancient Greek or Roman principles and style in art and literature, generally associated with harmony, restraint, and adherence to recognized standards of form and craftsmanship, especially from the Renaissance to the 18th century.
Often contrasted with romanticism.

2. the following of traditional and long-established theories or styles.

classicist /ˈklasəsəst/

noun

1. a person who studies Classics (ancient Greek and Latin).

2. a follower of classicism in the arts.

classicize /ˈklasəˌsīz/

verb — [no obj.] (usu. as adj. classicizing)

1. imitate a classical style

• the classicizing strains in Guercino's art.

Classico /ˈklasikō/

I. adjective — [postpositive]

1. used in the classification of Italian wines to designate a wine produced in the region from which the type takes its name

• Chianti Classico.

– origin Italian.

classic skiing classical skiing

I. noun

a style of cross-country skiing in which the skis are alternately pushed forward parallel to each other in a motion similar to walking or running

• a couple of hours classic skiing in the morning is my winter alternative to a long trail run.

Compare with skate skiing.

II. derivatives

classic skier classical skiier

noun

classification /ˌklasəfəˈkāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action or process of classifying something according to shared qualities or characteristics

• the classification of disease according to symptoms.

2. another term for taxonomy.

3. a category into which something is put.

classified /ˈklasəˌfīd/

I. adjective

1. arranged in classes or categories

• a classified catalog of books.

2. [attrib.] — (of newspaper or magazine advertisements or the pages on which these appear) organized in categories according to what is being advertised.

3. (of information or documents) designated as officially secret and to which only authorized people may have access

• classified information on nuclear experiments.

II. noun — (classifieds)

1. small advertisements placed in a newspaper and organized in categories.

classifier /ˈklasəˌfī(ə)r/

noun

1. a person or thing that classifies something.

2. [Linguistics] an affix or word that indicates the semantic class to which a noun belongs, typically used in numerals or other expressions of counting, especially in Chinese and Japanese, e.g. head in two head of cattle.

classify /ˈklasəˌfī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. arrange (a group of people or things) in classes or categories according to shared qualities or characteristics

• mountain peaks are classified according to their shape.

2. assign (someone or something) to a particular class or category

• elements are usually classified as metals or nonmetals.

3. designate (documents or information) as officially secret or to which only authorized people may have access

• government officials classified 6.3 million documents in 1992.

II. derivatives

1. classifiable /ˈˌklasəˈfīəbəl /

adjective

2. classificatory /-fikəˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin late 18th cent.: back-formation from classification, from French, from classe ‘class,’ from Latin classis ‘division.’

classifying /ˈklasəˌfīiNG/

adjective

[Grammar] denoting an adjective that describes the class that a head noun belongs to and characterized by not having a comparative or superlative (for example American, mortal).
Contrasted with gradable, qualitative.

class interval

noun

[Statistics] the size of each class into which a range of a variable is divided, as represented by the divisions of a histogram or bar chart.

classism /ˈklasˌizəm/

I. noun

prejudice against or in favor of people belonging to a particular social class.

II. derivatives

classist /ˈklasəst /

adjective, noun

classless /ˈklasləs/

I. adjective

1. (of a society) not divided into social classes.

• this is of course a classless society.

2. not showing obvious signs of belonging to a particular social class

• his voice was classless.

II. derivatives

classlessness /ˈklasləsnəs /

noun

classmate /ˈklasˌmāt/

noun

a fellow member of a class at school or college.

classroom /ˈklasˌro͞om ˈklasˌro͝om/

noun

a room, typically in a school, in which a class of students is taught.

class struggle /klas ˈstrəɡəl/

noun

(in Marxist ideology) the conflict of interests between the workers and the ruling class in a capitalist society, regarded as inevitably violent.

class war class warfare

noun

another term for class struggle.

classwork /ˈklasˌwərk/

noun

schoolwork that is done in class.

classy /ˈklasē/

I. adjective

‹informal› stylish and sophisticated

• the hotel is classy but relaxed.

II. derivatives

1. classily /ˈklasəlē /

adverb

2. classiness

noun

clast /klast/

I. noun

[Geology] a constituent fragment of a clastic rock.

– origin mid 20th cent.: back-formation from clastic.

clastic /ˈklastik/

I. adjective

[Geology] denoting rocks composed of broken pieces of older rocks.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French clastique, from Greek klastos ‘broken in pieces.’

clathrate /ˈklaTHrāt/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a compound in which molecules of one component are physically trapped within the crystal structure of another.

– origin 1940s: from Latin clathratus, from clathri ‘lattice bars,’ from Greek klēthra.

clatter /ˈkladər/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. a continuous rattling sound as of hard objects falling or striking each other

• the horse spun around with a clatter of hooves

• she dropped her knife and fork with a clatter.

II. verb

1. make or cause to make a continuous rattling sound
[no obj.]

• her coffee cup clattered in the saucer

• [with obj.] she clattered cups and saucers onto a tray.

2. [no obj.] — fall or move with a continuous rattling sound

• the knife clattered to the floor.

– origin Old English (as a verb), of imitative origin.

Claude glass /klôd, klōd/

I. noun

a convex dark or colored glass that reflects a small image in subdued colors, used by landscape painters to show the tonal values of a scene.

– origin named after the French painter Claude Lorrain.

Claude Lorrain /ˌklôd ləˈrān, ˌklōd ləˈren / Lorraine

(1600–82), French painter; born Claude Gellée. He is noted for the use of light in his landscapes. His works include Ascanius and the Stag (1682).

claudication /ˌklôdəˈkāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. [Medicine] limping.

2. (also intermittent claudication) — [Medicine] a condition in which cramping pain in the leg is induced by exercise, typically caused by obstruction of the arteries.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin claudicatio(n-), from the verb claudicare ‘to limp,’ from claudus ‘lame.’

Claudius /ˈklôdēəs/

(10 BC–AD 54), Roman emperor 41–54; full name Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus. He restored order after Caligula's decadence and expanded the empire, in particular by invading Britain in AD 43.

clause /klôz/

I. noun

1. a unit of grammatical organization next below the sentence in rank and in traditional grammar said to consist of a subject and predicate.
See also main clause, subordinate clause.

2. a particular and separate article, stipulation, or proviso in a treaty, bill, or contract.

II. derivatives

clausal /ˈklôzəl /

adjective

– origin Middle English: via Old French clause, based on Latin claus- ‘shut, closed,’ from the verb claudere.

Clausewitz, Karl von /ˈklouzəˌvits/

(1780–1831), Prussian general and military theorist. He wrote On War (1833), which had a marked influence on strategic studies in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Clausius, Rudolf /ˈklouzēəs/

(1822–88), German physicist. He was one of the founders of modern thermodynamics.

claustral /ˈklôstrəl/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to a cloister or religious house

• claustral buildings.

2. enveloping; confining

• this claustral heat.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin claustralis, from Latin claustrum ‘lock, enclosed place’ (see cloister).

claustration /ˌklôˈstrāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

confinement as if in a cloister.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin claustrum ‘lock, bolt’ + -ation.

claustrophobia /ˌklôstrəˈfōbēə/

I. noun

extreme or irrational fear of confined places.

II. derivatives

claustrophobe /ˈklôstrəˌfōb /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Latin claustrum ‘lock, bolt’ + -phobia.

claustrophobic /ˌklôstrəˈfōbik/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) suffering from claustrophobia

• crowds made him feel claustrophobic.

2. (of a place or situation) inducing claustrophobia

• the claustrophobic interior of the cruiser.

II. noun

a person who suffers from claustrophobia.

III. derivatives

claustrophobically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

claustrum /ˈklôstrəm, ˈkloustrəm/

I. noun

[Anatomy] a thin layer of gray matter in each cerebral hemisphere between the lentiform nucleus and the insula.

– origin mid 19th cent.: Latin.

clavate /ˈklāvāt/

I. adjective

[Botany] [Zoology] club-shaped; thicker at the apex than at the base.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from modern Latin clavatus, from Latin clava ‘club.’

clave^1 /klāv/

I. noun — (usu. claves)

1. [Music] one of a pair of hardwood sticks used to make a hollow sound when struck together.

– origin 1920s: from Latin American Spanish, from Spanish clave ‘keystone,’ from Latin clavis ‘key.’

clave^2 /klāv/

archaic past of cleave^2.

clavichord /ˈklavəˌkôrd/

I. noun

a small, rectangular keyboard instrument producing a soft sound by means of metal blades attached to the ends of key levers that gently press the strings, popular from the early 15th to early 19th centuries.

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin clavichordium, from Latin clavis ‘key’ + chorda ‘string.’

clavicle /ˈklavək(ə)l/

I. noun

[Anatomy] technical term for collarbone.

II. derivatives

clavicular /kləˈvikyələr /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin clavicula ‘small key,’ diminutive of clavis (because of its shape).

clavier /kləˈvir/

I. noun

a keyboard instrument, especially one with strings, such as the harpsichord.

– origin early 18th cent.: from German Klavier, from French clavier, from medieval Latin claviarius ‘key bearer,’ from Latin clavis ‘key.’

claviform /ˈklavəˌfôrm/

I. adjective

‹technical› another term for clavate.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin clava ‘club’ + -iform.

claw /klô/

I. noun

1. a curved pointed horny nail on each digit of the foot in birds, lizards, and some mammals.

2. either of a pair of small hooked appendages on an insect's leg.

3. the pincer of a crab, scorpion, or other arthropod.

4. a mechanical device resembling a claw, used for gripping or lifting.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — (of an animal or person) scratch or tear something with the claws or the fingernails

• the kitten was clawing at Lowell's trouser leg

• ‹figurative› bitter jealousy clawed at her

• [with obj.] her hands clawed his shoulders.

2. clutch at something with the hands

• his fingers clawed at the air.

3. (claw one's way) — make one's way with difficulty by hauling oneself forward with one's hands

• he clawed his way over a pile of bricks.

4. [with obj.] (claw something away) — try desperately to move or remove something with the hands

• rescuers clawed away rubble with their bare hands.

5. [no obj.] — (of a sailing ship) beat to windward

• the ability to claw off a lee shore.

III. phrases

get one's claws into

‹informal› enter into a possessive relationship with.

IV. phrasal verbs

claw something back

(of a government) recover money disbursed in the form of an allowance or benefit, typically by taxation.

V. derivatives

clawless

adjective

– origin Old English clawu (noun), clawian (verb); related to Dutch klauw and German Klaue.

clawback /ˈklôbak/

noun

the recovery of money already disbursed

• funds that are not subject to any clawback by the government.

clawed /klôd/

adjective

1. having a curved pointed horny nail on each digit

• a clawed hand grabbed for me

• scaly creatures with beaks and clawed feet

• [in combination] two Asian short-clawed otters.

2. (of crabs, lobsters, and other arthropods) having pincers

• clawed lobsters are found in Nova Scotia.

clawed frog

noun

a frog with a flattened body and claws on the hind toes.
[Xenopus and other genera, family Pipidae: several species. See also Xenopus.]

claw foot

I. noun

1. a foot on a piece of furniture or a standing fixture, shaped to resemble a claw.

2. [Medicine] an excessively arched foot with an unnaturally high instep.

II. derivatives

claw-footed

adjective

claw hammer /ˈklô ˌhamər/

noun

1. a hammer with one side of the head split and curved, used for extracting nails.

2. (clawhammer) — a style of banjo playing in which the thumb and fingers strum or pluck the strings in a downward motion.

clay /klā/

I. noun

1. a stiff, sticky fine-grained earth, typically yellow, red, or bluish-gray in color and often forming an impermeable layer in the soil. It can be molded when wet, and is dried and baked to make bricks, pottery, and ceramics.

2. ‹technical› sediment with particles smaller than silt, typically less than 0.00016 inch (0.004 mm).

3. a hardened clay surface for a tennis court.

4. ‹literary› the substance of the human body

• this lifeless clay.

II. phrases

feet of clay

see foot.

III. derivatives

1. clayey /ˈklāē /

adjective

2. clayish

adjective

3. claylike /-ˌlīk /

adjective

– origin Old English clǣg; related to Dutch klei, also to cleave^2 and climb.

Clay, Cassius /klā/

see Ali, Muhammad^2.

Clay, Henry

(1777–1852), US politician, statesman, and orator; nicknamed the Great Pacificator and the Great Compromiser. He was a leader of the anti-British “War Hawks” in 1811 and championed the Missouri Compromise 1820. He served as secretary of state 1825–29 and as a US senator from Kentucky 1806–07, 1810–11, 1831–42, 1849–52.

clay court

noun

a tennis court with a surface of hardened clay.

• she began playing on a clay court and retired as the greatest women's tennis champion of all time.

claymation /ˌklāˈmāSH(ə)n / ‹trademark› Claymation

I. noun

a method of animation in which clay figures are filmed using stop-motion photography.

– origin 1980s: from clay + animation.

clay mineral

noun

any of a group of minerals that occur as minute sheetlike or fibrous crystals in clay. They are all hydrated aluminosilicates having layered crystal structures.

claymore /ˈklāmôr/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› a two-edged broadsword used by Scottish Highlanders.

2. a single-edged broadsword having a hilt with a basketwork design, introduced in Scotland in the 16th century.

3. a type of antipersonnel mine.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Scottish Gaelic claidheamh ‘sword’ + mór ‘great.’

clay pigeon /ˌklā ˈpijən/

noun

a saucer-shaped piece of baked clay or other material thrown up in the air from a trap as a target for shooting.

-cle

I. suffix

forming nouns such as article, particle, which were originally diminutives.

– origin via French from Latin -culus, -cula, -culum.

clean /klēn/

I. adjective

1. free from dirt, marks, or stains

• the room was spotlessly clean

• keep the wound clean.

2. having been washed since last worn or used

• a clean blouse.

3. [attrib.] — (of paper) not yet marked by writing or drawing

• he copied the directions onto a clean sheet of paper.

4. (of a person) attentive to personal hygiene

• by nature he was clean and neat.

5. free from pollutants or unpleasant substances

• we will create a cleaner, safer environment.

6. free from or producing relatively little radioactive contamination.

7. morally uncontaminated; pure; innocent

• clean living.

8. not sexually offensive or obscene

• it's all good clean fun

• even when clean, his verses are very funny.

9. showing or having no record of offenses or crimes

• a clean driving license is essential for the job.

10. played or done according to the rules

• it was a good clean fight.

11. [predic.] — ‹informal› not possessing or containing anything illegal, especially drugs or stolen goods

• I searched him and his luggage, and he was clean.

12. [predic.] — ‹informal› (of a person) not taking or having taken drugs or alcohol.

13. free from ceremonial defilement, according to Mosaic Law and similar religious codes.

14. free from irregularities; having a smooth edge or surface

• a clean fracture of the leg.

15. having a simple, well-defined, and pleasing shape

• the clean lines and pared-down planes of modernism.

16. (of an action) smoothly and skillfully done

• I still hadn't made a clean takeoff.

17. (of a taste, sound, or smell) giving a clear and distinctive impression to the senses; sharp and fresh

• clean, fresh, natural flavors.

18. (of timber) free from knots.

II. adverb

1. so as to be free from dirt, marks, or unwanted matter

• the room had been washed clean.

2. ‹informal› used to emphasize the completeness of a reported action, condition, or experience

• he was knocked clean off his feet

• I clean forgot her birthday.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (something or someone) free of dirt, marks, or mess, especially by washing, wiping, or brushing

• clean your teeth properly after meals

• chair covers should be easy to clean

• we cleaned Uncle Jim up and made him presentable

• [no obj.] he always expected other people to clean up after him

• (as noun cleaning) Anne will help with the cleaning.

2. remove the innards of (fish or poultry) prior to cooking.

IV. phrases

1. (as) clean as a whistle

see whistle.

2. clean bill of health

see bill of health.

3. clean someone's clock

a. ‹informal› give someone a beating

• he went wild and cleaned everybody's clock down there in the dugout.

b. defeat or surpass someone decisively.

4. clean house

a. do housework.

b. eliminate corruption or inefficiency

• unless our organization cleans house, it will be difficult to raise funds.

5. clean one's plate

eat up all the food put on one's plate.

6. a clean sweep

a. the removal of all unwanted people or things in order to start afresh

• the new leaders wanted to make a clean sweep of the discredited old order.

b. the winning of all of a group of similar or related competitions, events, or matches

• he was in reach of the nomination after a clean sweep of Tuesday's primaries.

7. clean up one's act

‹informal› begin to behave in a better way, especially by giving up alcohol, drugs, or illegal activities

• the casino industry is bent on cleaning up its act.

8. come clean

‹informal› be completely honest; keep nothing hidden

• the company has refused to come clean about its pollution record.

9. have clean hands

be uninvolved and blameless with regard to an immoral act

• no one involved in the conflict has clean hands.

10. keep one's hands clean

not involve oneself in an immoral act.

11. keep one's nose clean

see nose.

12. make a clean breast of something (or make a clean breast of it)

confess fully one's mistakes or wrongdoings.

13. make a clean job of something

‹informal› do something thoroughly.

14. wipe the slate clean

see wipe.

V. phrasal verbs

1. clean someone out

‹informal› use up or take all someone's money

• they were cleaned out by the Englishman at the baccarat table.

2. clean up

a. make things or an area clean or neat

• he was in the kitchen, cleaning up.

b. ‹informal› make a substantial gain or profit.

c. win all the prizes available in a sporting competition or series of events

• the Germans cleaned up at Wimbledon.

3. clean something up

restore order or morality to

• the police chief was given the job of cleaning up a notorious district.

VI. derivatives

1. cleanable /ˈklēnəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. cleanish

adjective

3. cleanness /ˈklēnnəs /

noun

– origin Old English clǣne; related to Dutch and German klein ‘small.’

clean and jerk

noun — [in sing.]

1. a two-movement weightlifting exercise in which a weight is raised above the head following an initial lift to shoulder level.

clean-cut /ˈklēn ˈˌkət/

adjective

1. sharply outlined

• the normally clean-cut edge between sea and land has become blurred.

2. giving the appearance of neatness and respectability

• the ad featured two clean-cut teenagers.

cleaner /ˈklēnər/

I. noun

1. a person or thing that cleans something, in particular

2. a person employed to clean the interior of a building.

3. (the cleaners) — a place of business where clothes and fabrics are dry-cleaned

• my suit's at the cleaners.

4. a device for cleaning, such as a vacuum cleaner.

5. a chemical substance used for cleaning

• an oven cleaner.

II. phrases

take someone to the cleaners

a. ‹informal› take all someone's money or possessions in a dishonest or unfair way.

b. inflict a crushing defeat on someone

• the Blue Jays went home and were taken to the cleaners by the Red Sox.

cleaner fish

noun

a small fish, especially a striped wrasse, that is permitted to remove parasites from the skin, gills, and mouth of larger fishes, to their mutual benefit.
[Genus Labroides, family Labridae: several species, in particular L. dimidiatus.]

clean-limbed /ˌklēnˈlimd/

adjective

(especially of the human figure) slim; well formed and shapely.

cleanliness /ˈklenlēnəs/

noun

the state or quality of being clean or being kept clean

• standards of cleanliness have been criticized by patients and visitors

• she had an obsession with personal cleanliness and spent much of her time in the bathroom.

cleanly

I. adverb — /ˈklēnlē /

1. in a way that produces no dirt, noxious gases, or other pollutants

• the engine burns very cleanly.

2. without difficulty or impediment; smoothly and efficiently

• he vaulted cleanly through the open window.

[Old English clǣnlīce (see clean, -ly^2).]

II. adjective — /ˈklenlē /

1. ‹archaic› (of a person or animal) habitually clean and careful to avoid dirt.
[Old English clǣnlīc (see clean, -ly^1).]

clean-out /ˈklēnout/

noun

1. an instance of thoroughly cleaning the inside of something

• the entire sewer is having a clean-out.

2. an instance of removing and disposing of unwanted items or material

• I had a wardrobe clean-out, and I gave away two full bags of clothes

• ‹figurative› the leadership of this company needs a clean-out.

clean room

noun

an environment free from dust and other contaminants, used chiefly for the manufacture of electronic components.

cleanse /klenz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (something, especially the skin) thoroughly clean

• this preparation will cleanse and tighten the skin

• (as adj. cleansing) a cleansing cream.

2. rid (a person, place, or thing) of something seen as unpleasant, unwanted, or defiling

• the mission to cleanse the nation of subversives.

3. free (someone) from sin or guilt.

4. ‹archaic› (in biblical translations) cure (a leper).

– origin Old English clǣnsian, from clǣne (see clean).

cleanser /ˈklenzər/

noun

a substance that cleanses something, in particular a cosmetic product for cleansing the skin.

clean-shaven /ˈklēn ˈˌSHāvən/

adjective

(of a man) without a beard or mustache.

cleanskin /ˈklēnˌskin/

noun

1. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) a person who does not have an existing criminal record or who has not attracted the attention of police or security forces

• intelligence officials have been concerned for some time about the threat posed by cleanskins.

2. (also clearskin ) — ‹informal› (Austral./NZ) an animal that has not been branded with the owner's mark
[as modifier]

• Delacy began the trapping and branding of cleanskin cattle.

3. ‹informal› (Austral./NZ) a bottle of wine whose label does not identify the producer, typically sold at a low price

• Steve bought a cleanskin ($16) from the local tavern.

clean slate

noun

an absence of existing restraints or commitments

• no government starts with a clean slate.

cleanup /ˈklēnˌəp/

noun

1. an act of making a place clean or tidy

• an environmental cleanup.

2. an act of removing or putting an end to disorder, immorality, or crime.

3. [usu. as modifier] — [Baseball] the fourth position in a team's batting order, typically reserved for a power hitter likely to clear the bases by enabling any runners to score

• L.A.'s cleanup hitter smacked a fastball over the left-field fence

• [as adv.] he garnered a certain amount of attention while playing right field and batting cleanup.

clear /ˈklir/

I. adjective

1. easy to perceive, understand, or interpret

• the voice on the telephone was clear and strong

• clear and precise directions

• her handwriting was clear

• am I making myself clear?

2. leaving no doubt; obvious or unambiguous

• it was clear that they were in a trap

• a clear case of poisoning.

3. having or feeling no doubt or confusion

• every student must be clear about what is expected.

4. (of a substance) transparent

• the clear glass of the French windows

• a stream of clear water.

5. free of cloud, mist, or rain

• the day was fine and clear.

6. (of a person's skin) free from blemishes.

7. (of a person's eyes) unclouded; shining

• I looked into her clear gray eyes.

8. (of a color) pure and intense

• clear blue delphiniums.

9. ‹archaic› (of a fire) burning with little smoke

• a bright, clear flame.

10. free of any obstructions or unwanted objects

• with a clear road ahead, he shifted into high gear

• I had a clear view in both directions

• his desktop was almost clear.

11. (of a period of time) free of any appointments or commitments

• the following Saturday Mattie had a clear day.

12. [predic.] — (of a person) free of something undesirable or unpleasant

• after 18 months of treatment he was clear of TB.

13. (of a person's mind) free of something that impairs logical thought

• in the morning, with a clear head, she would tackle all her problems.

14. (of a person's conscience) free of guilt.

15. [predic.] (clear of) — not touching; away from

• the truck was wedged in the ditch, one wheel clear of the ground.

16. [attrib.] — (of a sum of money) net

• a clear profit of $1,100.

17. [Phonetics] denoting a palatalized form of l (as in salad or willing) in some southern US accents or as in leaf in Irish accents.
Often contrasted with dark.

II. adverb

1. so as to be out of the way of or away from

• he leapt clear of the car

• stand clear, I'll start the plane up.

2. so as not to be obstructed or cluttered

• the floor had been swept clear of litter.

3. completely

• he had time to get clear away.

4. (clear to) — (chiefly N. Amer.) all the way to

• you could see clear to the bottom of the lagoon.

III. verb

1. [no obj.] — become clear, in particular

2. (of the sky or weather) become free of cloud or rain

• we'll go out if the weather clears.

3. (of a liquid) become transparent

• a wine that refuses to clear.

4. become free of obstructions

• the boy's lungs cleared and he began to breathe more easily.

5. gradually go away or disappear

• the fever clears in two to four weeks

• the mist had cleared away.

6. (of a person's face or expression) assume a happier aspect following previous confusion or distress

• for a moment, Sam was confused; then his expression cleared.

7. (of a person's mind) regain the capacity for logical thought; become free of confusion

• his mind cleared and he began to reflect.

8. [with obj.] — make (something) clear, in particular

9. remove an obstruction or unwanted item or items from

• the driveway had been cleared of snow

• Carolyn cleared the table.

10. free (land) for cultivation or building by removing vegetation or existing structures.

11. free (one's mind) of unpleasantness or confusion

• even the final clue failed to clear his mind.

12. cause people to leave (a building or place)

• the police shouted a warning and cleared the streets.

13. [with obj.] — remove (an obstruction or unwanted item) from somewhere

• snow was cleared from the storm drains

• park staff cleared away dead trees.

14. [chiefly Soccer] send (the ball) away from the area near one's goal.

15. discharge (a debt).

16. [with obj.] — get past or over (something) safely or without touching it

• the plane rose high enough to clear the trees.

17. jump (a specified height) in a competition

• she cleared 1.50 meters in the high jump.

18. [with obj.] — show or declare (someone) officially to be innocent

• the commission had cleared the weightlifter of cheating.

19. [with obj.] — give official approval or authorization to

• I cleared him to return to his squadron.

20. get official approval for (something)

• the press releases had to be cleared with the White House.

21. (of a person or goods) satisfy the necessary requirements to pass through (customs)

• I can help her to clear customs quickly.

22. pass (a check) through a clearinghouse so that the money goes into the payee's account

• the check could not be cleared until Monday.

23. [no obj.] — (of a check) pass through a clearinghouse so that the money goes into the payee's account.

24. [with obj.] — earn or gain (an amount of money) as a net profit

• I would hope to clear $50,000 profit.

IV. phrases

1. as clear as mud

see mud.

2. clear the air

a. make the air less sultry.

b. defuse or clarify an angry, tense, or confused situation by frank discussion

• it's time a few things were said to clear the air.

3. (as) clear as a bell

see bell^1.

4. (as) clear as day

very easy to see or understand.

5. clear the decks

prepare for a particular event or goal by dealing with anything beforehand that might hinder progress.

6. clear the name of

show to be innocent

• the spokesman released a statement attempting to clear his client's name.

7. clear one's throat

cough slightly so as to speak more clearly, attract attention, or to express hesitancy before saying something awkward.

8. clear the way

a. remove an obstacle or hindrance to allow progress

• the ruling could be enough to clear the way for impeachment proceedings.

b. [in imperative] — stand aside

• Stand back, there! Clear the way!

9. in clear

not encrypted; not in code

• the Russian staff practice of sending radio messages and orders in clear.

10. in the clear

no longer in danger or suspected of something

• the latest information put her in the clear.

11. out of a (or the) clear blue sky

as a complete surprise

• his moods blew up suddenly out of a clear blue sky.

V. phrasal verbs

1. clear off

[usu. in imperative] — ‹informal› go away

• “Clear off!” he yelled.

2. clear out

‹informal› leave quickly.

3. clear something out

remove the contents from something so as to tidy it or free it for alternative use

• they told her to clear out her desk by the next day.

4. clear up

a. (of an illness or other medical condition) become cured

• all my health problems cleared up.

b. (of the weather) become brighter.

c. (of rain) stop.

5. clear something up

a. (also clear up) — tidy something up by removing trash or other unwanted items

• he decided to clear up his garage

• I keep meaning to come down here and clear up.

b. remove trash or other unwanted items to leave something tidy

• he asked the boys to clear up their mess.

c. solve or explain something

• he wanted to clear up some misconceptions.

d. cure an illness or other medical condition

• folk customs prescribed sage tea to clear up measles.

VI. derivatives

1. clearable

adjective

2. clearness /ˈkli(ə)rnis /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French cler, from Latin clarus.

clearance /ˈklirəns/

noun

1. the action or process of removing or getting rid of something or of something's dispersing

• cleaning of the machine should include clearance of blockages

• there will be sunny intervals after clearance of any early mist.

2. [often with modifier] — the removal of buildings, people, or trees from land so as to free it for alternative uses

• slum clearance accelerated during the 1960s

• forest clearances.

3. (in soccer and other games) a kick or hit that sends the ball out of a defensive zone.

4. official authorization for something to proceed or take place

• getting diplomatic clearance to fly into or over a country is not always easy.

5. (also security clearance) — official permission for someone to have access to classified information

• these people don't have clearance.

6. permission for an aircraft to take off or land at an airport

• he took off without air traffic clearance.

7. the clearing of a person or ship by customs.

8. a certificate showing that clearance of a person or ship has been granted.

9. the process of clearing checks through a clearinghouse.

10. clear space allowed for a thing to move past or under another

• always give cyclists plenty of clearance.

clearance sale /ˈklirəns sāl/

noun

a sale of goods at reduced prices to get rid of superfluous stock or because the store is closing down.

clear-cut /ˈkli(ə)r ˈˌkət/

I. adjective

1. sharply defined; easy to perceive or understand

• we now had a clear-cut objective.

2. (of an area) from which every tree has been cut down and removed.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. cut down and remove every tree from (an area)

• colonizers who clear-cut large jungle tracts.

clear-eyed /ˈklirīd/

adjective

1. having unclouded, bright eyes

• a handsome, clear-eyed young man.

2. having a shrewd understanding and no illusions

• clear-eyed about human nature.

Clearfield /ˈklirfēld/

a city in northern Utah, southwest of Ogden and of Hill Air Force Base, which is central to its economy; pop. 27,851 (est. 2008).

clearheaded /klirˈhedəd/

I. adjective

alert and thinking logically and coherently.

II. derivatives

1. clearheadedly

adverb

2. clearheadedness

noun

clearing /ˈkliriNG/

noun

an open space in a forest, especially one cleared for cultivation.

clearinghouse /ˈkliriNGˌhous / clearing house, c.h., C.H.

noun

1. a bankers' establishment where checks and bills from member banks are exchanged, so that only the balances need be paid in cash.

2. an agency or organization that collects and distributes something, especially information.

clearly /ˈklirlē/

adverb

1. in such a way as to allow easy and accurate perception or interpretation

• the ability to write clearly

• [as submodifier] on white paper, the seeds are clearly visible.

2. [sentence adverb] — without doubt; obviously

• clearly, there have been disasters and reversals here.

clear-sighted /ˈkli(ə)r sīdid/

I. adjective

thinking clearly and sensibly; perspicacious and discerning

• a clear-sighted sense of what is possible and appropriate.

II. derivatives

1. clear-sightedly

adverb

2. clear-sightedness

noun

clear-thinking

adjective

able to think clearly; discerning

• she impressed me as a serious, clear-thinking scholar.

Clearwater /ˈkli(ə)rˌwôtər, -ˌwätər/

a city in west central Florida, on the Gulf of Mexico, west of Tampa; pop. 105,774 (est. 2008).

Clearwater Mountains

a range in northern Idaho, part of the Rocky Mountains.

clearwing /ˈklirwiNG / clearwing moth

noun

a day-flying moth that has narrow mainly transparent wings and mimics a wasp or bee in appearance.
[Family Sesiidae: several genera and many species, including the hornet moth.]

cleat /klēt/

I. noun

1. a T-shaped piece of metal or wood, especially on a boat or ship, to which ropes are attached.

2. one of a number of projecting pieces of metal, rubber, or other material on the sole of a shoe, designed to prevent the wearer from losing their footing.

3. (cleats) — (N. Amer.) athletic shoes with a cleated sole, typically used when playing football.

4. an attachment for the sole of a cyclist's shoe which clips on to a pedal, keeping the foot in place while cycling and increasing the application of force to the pedal.

• I think more or less everyone who has used cleats has fallen off at some stage.

5. a projection on a spar or other part of a ship, to prevent slipping.

6. a small wedge, especially one on a plow or scythe.

II. derivatives

cleated /ˈklēdəd /

adjective

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘wedge’); related to Dutch kloot ‘ball, sphere’ and German Kloss ‘clod, dumpling,’ also to clot and clout.

cleavage /ˈklēvij/

noun

1. a sharp division; a split

• a system dominated by the class cleavage.

2. the hollow between a woman's breasts when supported, especially as exposed by a low-cut garment.

3. [Biology] cell division, especially of a fertilized egg cell.

4. the splitting of rocks or crystals in a preferred plane or direction.

cleave^1 /klēv/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. split or sever (something), especially along a natural line or grain

• the large ax his father used to cleave wood for the fire.

2. split (a molecule) by breaking a particular chemical bond.

3. make a way through (something) forcefully, as if by splitting it apart

• they watched a coot cleave the smooth water

• Stan was off, cleaving a path through the traffic

• [no obj.] an unstoppable warrior clove through their ranks.

4. [no obj.] — [Biology] (of a cell) divide

• the egg cleaves to form a mulberry-shaped cluster of cells.

II. derivatives

cleavable /ˈklēvəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin Old English clēofan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch klieven and German klieben.

cleave^2 /klēv/

I. verb — [no obj.] (cleave to)

1. ‹literary› stick fast to

• Rose's mouth was dry, her tongue cleaving to the roof of her mouth.

2. ‹literary› adhere strongly to (a particular pursuit or belief)

• part of why we cleave to sports is that excellence is so measurable.

3. ‹literary› become very strongly involved with or emotionally attached to (someone)

• it was his choice to cleave to the Brownings.

– origin Old English cleofian, clifian, clīfan; related to Dutch kleven and German kleben, also to clay and climb.

cleaver /ˈklēvər/

noun

a tool with a heavy broad blade, used by butchers for chopping meat.

Cleaver, Eldridge /ˈklēvər/

(1935–98), US political activist. A leading member of the Black Panthers, he converted to the Nation of Islam and wrote Soul on Ice (1968) about the black experience.

cleavers /ˈklēvərz/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing. or pl.]

1. a widely distributed scrambling plant related to bedstraws, with hooked bristles on the stem, leaves, and seeds that cling to fur and clothing.
Also called goosegrass. [Galium aparine, family Rubiaceae.]

– origin Old English clīfe, related to cleave^2.

Cleese, John /klēz/

(1939–), English comic actor and writer, noted for television's Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969–74) and Fawlty Towers (1975–79); full name John Marwood Cleese. His movie acting credits include A Fish Called Wanda (1988) and The Pink Panther 2 (2009).

clef /klef/

I. noun

[Music] any of several symbols placed at the left-hand end of a staff, indicating the pitch of the notes written on it.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French, from Latin clavis ‘key.’

cleft^1 /kleft/

I. past and past participle of cleave^1.

II. adjective

split, divided, or partially divided into two

• a cleft chin.

cleft^2 /kleft/

I. noun

1. a fissure or split, especially one in rock or the ground.

2. a vertical indentation in the middle of a person's forehead or chin.

3. a deep division between two parts of the body.

– origin Middle English clift: of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kluft and German Kluft, also to cleave^1. The form of the word was altered in the 16th cent. by association with cleft^1.

cleft lip

I. noun

a congenital split in the upper lip on one or both sides of the center, often associated with a cleft palate.

usage: Cleft lip is the standard, accepted term and should be used instead of harelip, which can cause offense.

cleft palate /ˈkleft ˈpalət/

noun

a congenital split in the roof of the mouth.

cleft sentence

noun

[Grammar] a sentence in which an element is emphasized by being put in a separate clause with the use of an empty introductory word such as it or that, e.g., it's money we want; it was today that I saw him; that was the King you were talking to.

cleg /kleɡ/

I. noun

(Brit.) another term for horsefly.

– origin late Middle English: from Old Norse kleggi.

cleistogamy /klīˈstäɡəmē/

I. noun

[Botany] self-fertilization that occurs within a permanently closed flower.

II. derivatives

cleistogamous /-əməs /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek kleistos ‘closed’ + -gamy (from gamos ‘marriage’).

clematis /ˈklemədəs/

I. noun

a climbing plant of the buttercup family that bears white, pink, or purple flowers and feathery seeds. Several kinds are cultivated as ornamentals.
[Genus Clematis, family Ranunculaceae.]

– origin Latin (also denoting the periwinkle), from Greek klēmatis, from klēma ‘vine branch.’

Clemenceau, Georges /ˌklemənˈsō, ˌklāˌmäNˈsō/

(1841–1929), French statesman, prime minister 1906–09 and 1917–20; full name Georges Eugène Benjamin Clemenceau. At the Versailles peace talks he pushed hard for a punitive settlement with Germany, but failed to obtain all that he demanded.

clemency /ˈklemənsē/

I. noun

mercy; lenience

• an appeal for clemency.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin clementia, from clemens, clement- ‘clement.’

Clemens, Roger /ˈklemənz/

(1962–), US baseball player; full name William Roger Clemens; known as the Rocket. In 2004, he became the first pitcher to have won seven Cy Young awards. He set and tied a major league record by twice (1986, 1996) striking out 20 batters during a nine-inning game. During his career 1984–2007, he played for the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, and Houston Astros.

Clemens, Samuel Langhorne

see Twain, Mark.

clement /ˈklemənt/

I. adjective

1. (of weather) mild.

2. (of a person or a person's actions) merciful.

– origin late Middle English (sense 2): from Latin clemens, clement-.

Clement, St.

(1st century AD), pope (bishop of Rome) c. 88–c. 97, probably the third after St. Peter; known as St. Clement of Rome. Feast day, November 23.

Clemente, Roberto /kləˈmentā, -tē/

(1934–72), US baseball player; born in Puerto Rico; full name Roberto Clemente Walker. An outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates 1955–72, he was a four-time National League batting champion. He was killed in an airplane crash on his way to bring aid to Nicaraguan earthquake victims. Baseball Hall of Fame (1973).

clementine /ˈklemənˌtin ˈklemənˌtīn/

I. noun

a tangerine of a deep orange-red North African variety that is grown around the Mediterranean and in South Africa.

– origin 1920s: from French clémentine, from the male given name Clément.

Clement of Alexandria, St. /ˈklemənt/

(c. 150–c. 215), Greek theologian; Latin name Titus Flavius Clemens. He related the ideas of Greek philosophy to the Christian faith. Feast day, December 5.

Clemson /ˈklemsən/

a city in northwestern South Carolina, home to Clemson University; pop. 13,012 (est. 2008).

clenbuterol /ˌklenˈbyo͞odəˌrôl ˌklenˈbyo͞odəˌrōl/

I. noun

[Medicine] a synthetic drug used in the treatment of asthma and other respiratory diseases and also in veterinary obstetrics. It also promotes the growth of muscle and has been used illegally by athletes to enhance performance.

– origin 1970s: from c(h)l(oro-) + (ph)en(yl) + but(yl) + er + -ol.

clench /klen(t)SH/

I. verb

1. (with reference to the fingers or hand) close into a tight ball, especially when feeling extreme anger
[with obj.]

• she clenched her fists, struggling for control

• [no obj.] John's right hand clenched into a fist

• (as adj. clenched) he struck the wall with his clenched fist.

2. (with reference to the teeth) press or be pressed tightly together, especially with anger or determination or so as to suppress a strong emotion
[no obj.]

• her teeth clenched in anger.

3. [with obj.] — grasp (something) tightly, especially with the hands or between the teeth

• he clenched the steering wheel so hard that the car wobbled.

4. [no obj.] — (of a muscular part of the body) tighten or contract sharply, especially with strong emotion

• Mark felt his stomach clench in alarm.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. a contraction or tightening of part of the body

• she saw the anger rise, saw the clench of his fists.

– origin Old English (in the sense of clinch ‘fix securely’): of Germanic origin; related to cling.

cleome /klēˈōmē/

I. noun

a plant of a chiefly tropical genus that includes the spider flower. Cleomes are noted for their long stamens.
[Genus Cleome, family Capparidaceae.]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek, denoting a different plant.

cleopatra /ˌklēəˈpatrə/

noun

a European butterfly related to the brimstone, with wings that vary from pale cream to orange-yellow.
[Gonepteryx cleopatra, family Pieridae.]

Cleopatra /ˌklēəˈpatrə/

(69–30 BC), queen of Egypt 47–30; the last Ptolemaic (Macedonian dynasty) ruler; also known as Cleopatra VII. After a brief liaison with Julius Caesar, she formed a political and romantic alliance with Mark Antony. Their ambitions ultimately brought them into conflict with Rome, and they were defeated at the battle of Actium in 31. She is reputed to have committed suicide by allowing herself to be bitten by an asp.

Cleopatra's Needles

a pair of granite obelisks erected at Heliopolis by Tuthmosis III c. 1475 BC. They were taken from Egypt in 1878, one being set up on the Thames Embankment in London and the other in Central Park, New York. They have no known historical connection with Cleopatra.

clepsydra /ˈklepsədrə/

I. noun

an ancient time-measuring device worked by a flow of water.

– origin late Middle English: via Latin from Greek klepsudra, based on kleptein ‘steal’ + hudōr ‘water.’

clerestory /ˈklirˌstôrē / clearstory

I. noun

1. the upper part of the nave, choir, and transepts of a large church, containing a series of windows. It is clear of the roofs of the aisles and admits light to the central parts of the building.

2. the windows in the clerestory of a church or similar windows in another building.

3. a raised section of roof running down the center of a railroad car, with small windows or ventilators.

– origin late Middle English: from clear + story^2.

clergy /ˈklərjē/

I. noun — [usu. treated as pl.]

1. the body of all people ordained for religious duties, especially in the Christian Church

• all marriages were to be solemnized by the clergy.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, based on ecclesiastical Latin clericus ‘clergyman’ (see cleric).

clergyman /ˈklərjēmən/

noun

a male priest, minister, or religious leader, especially a Christian one.

clergywoman /ˈklərjēˌwo͝omən/

noun

a female priest, minister, or religious leader, especially a Christian one.

cleric /ˈklerik/

I. noun

a priest or religious leader, especially a Christian or Muslim one.

– origin early 17th cent.: from ecclesiastical Latin clericus ‘clergyman,’ from Greek klērikos ‘belonging to the Christian clergy,’ from klēros ‘lot, heritage’ (Acts 1:26).

clerical /ˈklerək(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. (of a job or person) concerned with or relating to work in an office, especially routine documentation and administrative tasks

• temps are always needed for clerical work.

2. of or relating to the clergy

• he was still attired in his clerical outfit.

II. derivatives

1. clericalism /ˈklerəkəlˌizəm /

noun

clerical (sense 2)

2. clericalist /ˈklerəkələst /

noun

clerical (sense 2)

3. clerically

adverb

– origin late 15th cent. (sense 2): from ecclesiastical Latin clericalis, from clericus ‘clergyman’ (see cleric).

clerical collar /ˈklerəkəl ˈkälər/

noun

a stiff upright white collar that fastens at the back, worn by the clergy in some churches.

clerihew /ˈklerəˌhyo͞o/

I. noun

a short comic or nonsensical verse, typically in two rhyming couplets with lines of unequal length and referring to a famous person.

– origin 1920s: named after Edmund Clerihew Bentley (1875–1956), the English writer who invented it.

clerisy /ˈklerəsē/

I. noun — [usu. treated as pl.]

1. a distinct class of learned or literary people

• the clerisy are those who read for pleasure.

– origin early 19th cent.: apparently influenced by German Klerisei, based on Greek klēros ‘heritage’ (see cleric).

clerk /klərk/

I. noun

1. a person employed in an office or bank to keep records and accounts and to undertake other routine administrative duties

• the clerk inserted the bank's master key in the lower lock.

2. an official in charge of the records of a local council or court

• a clerk to the court.

3. a lay officer of a cathedral, parish church, college chapel, etc.

• a chapter clerk.

4. (also desk clerk) — (chiefly N. Amer.) a receptionist in a hotel.

5. an assistant in a store; a salesclerk.

6. (also clerk in holy orders) — ‹formal› a member of the clergy.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) work as a clerk

• eleven of those who left college this year are clerking in auction houses.

III. derivatives

clerkish

adjective

– origin Old English cleric, clerc (in the sense ‘ordained minister, literate person’), from ecclesiastical Latin clericus ‘clergyman’ (see cleric); reinforced by Old French clerc, from the same source. Sense 1 of the noun dates from the early 16th cent.

clerkly /ˈklərklē/

adjective

1. ‹archaic› of, relating to, or appropriate to a clerk

• a list drawn up in a clerkly hand.

2. ‹archaic› scholarly; learned.

clerkship /ˈklərkˌSHip/

noun

the position or status of a clerk, especially in the legal profession.

Clermont-Ferrand /ˌklermôntfəˈrän/

an industrial city in central France, capital of the Auvergne region, at the center of the Massif Central; pop. 142,449 (2006).

C-level c-level

I. adjective

denoting the executive level of a corporation

• a c-level corporate officer.

– origin early 2000s: from the fact that initialisms for jobs at this level begin with C (for chief).

Cleveland /ˈklēvlənd/

I. a major port and industrial city in northeastern Ohio, on Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River; pop. 433,748 (est. 2008).

II. a city in southeastern Tennessee, northeast of Chattanooga; pop. 39,753 (est. 2008).

Cleveland, Grover

(1837–1908), 22nd and 24th president of the US 1885–89 and 1893–97; full name Stephen Grover Cleveland. A New York Democrat, he served as governor of his state 1883–85 before being elected to the presidency. During his first term, he championed civil service reform and revision of the tariff system. Although he was defeated for re-election by Benjamin Harrison in 1888, he was again elected in 1892. His second term was marked by his application of the Monroe Doctrine to Britain's border dispute with Venezuela in 1895.

Cleveland Heights

a city in northeastern Ohio, northeast of Cleveland; pop. 45,827 (est. 2008).

clever /ˈklevər/

I. adjective

1. quick to understand, learn, and devise or apply ideas; intelligent

• a clever and studious young woman

• how clever of him to think of this!

2. skilled at doing or achieving something; talented

• he was clever at getting what he wanted

• she is clever with her hands.

3. showing intelligence or skill; ingenious

• a simple but clever idea for helping people learn computing.

4. [usu. with negative] — ‹dated› ‹informal› sensible; well-advised

• it wasn't too clever, leaving Dolly alone.

II. phrases

too clever by half

‹informal› annoyingly proud of one's intelligence or skill and in danger of overreaching oneself.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘quick to catch hold,’ only recorded in this period): perhaps of Dutch or Low German origin, and related to cleave^2. In the late 16th cent. the term came to mean (probably through dialect use) ‘manually skillful’; the sense ‘possessing mental agility’ dates from the early 18th cent.

cleverly /ˈklevərlē/

adverb

in an intelligent, original, or skillful way

• a very cleverly worded letter

• a mule that is cleverly disguised to look like a zebra.

cleverness /ˈklevərnəs/

noun

the quality of being clever; ingenuity or shrewdness

• people marveled at his cleverness

• the cleverness of her strategy.

clevis /ˈklevəs/

I. noun

a U-shaped or forked metal connector within which another part can be fastened by means of a bolt or pin passing through the ends of the connector.

– origin late 16th cent.: perhaps related to cleave^1.

clew /klo͞o/

I. noun

1. [Sailing] the lower or after corner of a sail.

2. (clews) — the cords by which a hammock is suspended.

3. (clew) — a ball of thread (used especially with reference to the thread supposedly used by Theseus to mark his way out of the Cretan labyrinth).

4. archaic variant of clue.

II. verb — [with obj.] (clew a sail up)

1. haul up the clews of a sail to the yard or into the mast ready for furling.

2. (clew a sail down) — lower an upper square sail by hauling down on the clew lines while slacking away on the halyard.

– origin Old English cliwen, cleowen (denoting a rounded mass, also a ball of thread), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kluwen. All senses are also recorded for the form clue.

CLI

abbreviation

short for cost-of-living index.

cliché /klēˈSHā / cliche

I. noun

1. a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought

• the old cliché “one man's meat is another man's poison.”

2. a very predictable or unoriginal thing or person

• each building is a mishmash of tired clichés.

3. [Printing] (chiefly Brit.) a stereotype or electrotype.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, past participle (used as a noun) of clicher ‘to stereotype.’

clichéd /klēˈSHād ˈklēˌSHād / cliched

adjective

showing a lack of originality; based on frequently repeated phrases or opinions

• the clichéd storytelling lacks that vital spark.

cliché-ridden cliche-ridden

adjective

(especially of a film or piece of writing) full of unoriginal or overused phrases or ideas

• a cliché-ridden love-triangle melodrama

• the chairman offered the usual cliché-ridden statement to the media.

click /klik/

I. noun

1. a short, sharp sound as of a switch being operated or of two hard objects coming quickly into contact

• she heard the click of the door.

2. [Phonetics] an ingressive consonantal stop produced by sudden withdrawal of the tongue from the soft palate, front teeth, or back teeth and hard palate, occurring in some southern African and other languages.

3. [Computing] an act of pressing a button on a mouse or similar device.

II. verb

1. make or cause to make a short, sharp sound
[no obj.]

• the key clicked in the lock and the door opened

• [with obj.] she clicked off the light

• Martha clicked her tongue

• (as adj. clicking) the clicking cameras outside the church.

2. [Computing] select an item in a graphical user interface by pressing a button on a mouse
[no obj.]

• click on the illustration for a larger version

• [with obj.] click the left mouse button twice.

3. [no obj.] — ‹informal› become suddenly clear or understandable

• finally it clicked what all the fuss had been about.

4. quickly become friendly or intimate

• we just clicked, and I found myself falling in love

• I didn't meet a woman who I really clicked with until I was 40.

5. become successful or popular

• I don't think this issue has clicked with the voters.

III. phrases

click into place

a. (of an object, especially part of a mechanism) fall smoothly into its allotted position.

b. become suddenly clear and understandable

• everything has clicked into place for the organization.

– origin late 16th cent. (as a verb): imitative.

clickable /ˈklikəb(ə)l/

adjective

[Computing] (of text or images on a computer screen) such that clicking on them with a mouse will produce a reaction.

clickbait /ˈklikbāt/

noun

‹informal› (on the Internet) content whose main purpose is to attract attention and encourage visitors to click on a link to a particular web page

• these recent reports of the show's imminent demise are hyperbolic clickbait

• [as modifier] a clickbait article.

click beetle

noun

a long, narrow beetle that can spring up with a click as a means of startling predators and escaping. Its larva is the wireworm.
Also called skipjack. [Family Elateridae: numerous genera.]

clicker /ˈklikər/

noun

1. a device that clicks.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) a remote control keypad.

clickety-clack /ˌklikədēˈklak/

I. noun

a repeated clicking sound as of shoe heels on a hard surface.

II. verb — [no obj., with adverbial of direction]

1. move with a repeated clicking sound

• the train clickety-clacked along the tracks.

click fraud

noun

the practice of repeatedly clicking on an advertisement hosted on a website with the intention of generating revenue for the host site or draining revenue from the advertiser.

• companies also analyze historical query information to detect and protect against click fraud.

clickjacking /ˈklikˌjakiNG/

I. noun

‹informal› the malicious practice of manipulating a website user's activity by concealing hyperlinks beneath legitimate clickable content, thereby causing the user to perform actions of which they are unaware.

• Microsoft has developed a technique to combat a common form of clickjacking.

– origin early 21st cent.: blend of click and hijacking (see hijack).

click language /klik ˈlaNGɡwij/

noun

a language in which clicks are used.

click rate click-through rate

noun

[Computing] the percentage of people visiting a web page who access a hypertext link to a particular advertisement.

clicks and mortar

noun

used to refer to a traditional business that has expanded its activities to operate also on the Internet
[as modifier]

• a clicks-and-mortar strategy.

Compare with bricks and mortar.

click stop

noun

a control for the aperture of a camera lens that clicks into position at certain standard settings.

clickstream /ˈklikstrēm/

noun

a series of mouse clicks made while using a website or in linking to multiple websites.

click-through

noun

1. [Computing] the action or facility of following a hypertext link to a particular website, especially a commercial one.

• the site allows click-through to the entire book.

• these reports reveal which of the ads are receiving the most click-throughs.

• [as modifier] click-through banners.

• click-through revenue generated by pop-up ads.

• the website offers quick click-through listings.

2. (also click rate, click-through rate) — [Computing] the ratio of clicks that an Internet advertisement receives to page views of the advertisement

• advertisers love high click-through

• the average click-through rate is only about 6 percent.

clickwrap /ˈklikrap/

adjective

denoting a legal agreement for which acceptance is confirmed by clicking on a screen icon, such as for software use

• do the clickwrap contracts adequately advise me of what the adware and spyware does?

client /ˈklīənt/

I. noun

1. a person or organization using the services of a lawyer or other professional person or company

• insurance tailor-made to a client's specific requirements.

2. a person receiving social or medical services

• a client referred for counseling.

3. (also client state) — a nation that is dependent on another, more powerful nation.

4. [Computing] (in a network) a desktop computer or workstation that is capable of obtaining information and applications from a server.

5. (also client application or program) — a program that is capable of obtaining a service provided by another program.

6. (in ancient Rome) a plebeian under the protection of a patrician.

7. ‹archaic› a dependent; a hanger-on.

II. derivatives

clientship /-ˌSHip /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin cliens, client-, variant of cluens ‘heeding,’ from cluere ‘hear or obey.’ The term originally denoted a person under the protection and patronage of another, hence a person “protected” by a legal adviser (sense 1).

clientele /ˌklīənˈtel ˌklēənˈtel/

I. noun — [treated as sing. or pl.]

1. clients collectively

• an upscale clientele.

2. the customers of a shop, bar, or place of entertainment

• the dancers don't mix with the clientele.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘clientship, patronage’): via French from Latin clientela ‘clientship,’ from cliens, client- (see client).

clientelism /ˌklīənˈtelˌizəm, ˌklē- / clientism

I. noun

a social order that depends upon relations of patronage; in particular, a political approach that emphasizes or exploits such relations.

II. derivatives

clientelistic /-telˈistik /

adjective

– origin 1970s: from Italian clientelismo ‘patronage system.’

client-server /ˈˌklīənt ˈˌs(ə)rvər/

adjective

[Computing] denoting a computer system in which a central server provides data to a number of networked workstations.

cliff /klif/

I. noun

a steep rock face, especially at the edge of the sea

• a path along the top of rugged cliffs

• [as modifier] the cliff face.

II. derivatives

1. clifflike /-ˌlīk /

adjective

2. cliffy /ˈklifē /

adjective

– origin Old English clif, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch klif.

cliffhanger /ˈklifˌhaNGər/

I. noun

1. an ending to an episode of a serial drama that leaves the audience in suspense.

2. a story or event with a strong element of suspense

• the game was a cliffhanger right up to the final buzzer.

II. derivatives

cliffhanging /ˈklifˌhaNGiNG /

adjective

Clifford, Clark /ˈklifərd/

(1906–98), US attorney and public official; full name Clark McAdams Clifford. A key adviser to four Democratic presidents, he helped draft the legislation that established the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) 1947 and the Department of Defense 1949.

Clifford, Nathan

(1803–81), US Supreme Court associate justice 1858–81. He was the US attorney general 1846–48 before being appointed to the Court by President Buchanan. He was an advocate of states' rights.

CliffsNotes /ˈklifsnōts/

I. noun

(US) ‹trademark› a brand name for a series of prepared notes used as study guides for literary works and other school and college subject matter.

– origin for Cliff Hillegass (1918–2001), US developer of the series.

clifftop /ˈklifˌtäp/

noun

an area of land at the top of a cliff

• the windswept clifftops

• [as modifier] clifftop paths.

Clift, Montgomery /klift/

(1920–66), US actor; full name Edward Montgomery Clift. Notable movies: A Place in the Sun (1951), From Here to Eternity (1953), and Judgment at Nuremberg (1961).

Clifton /ˈkliftən/

an industrial city in northeastern New Jersey, immediately west of Passaic; pop. 78,219 (est. 2008).

climacteric /klīˈmaktərik ˌklīˌmakˈterik/

I. noun

1. a critical period or event

• the first major climacteric in twentieth-century poetry.

2. [Medicine] the period of life when fertility and sexual activity are in decline; (in women) menopause.

3. [Botany] the ripening period of certain fruits such as apples, involving increased metabolism and only possible while still on the tree.

II. adjective

1. having extreme and far-reaching implications or results; critical

• Britain must possess so climacteric a weapon in order to deter an atomically armed enemy.

2. [Medicine] occurring at, characteristic of, or undergoing the climacteric; (in women) menopausal.

3. [Botany] (of a fruit) undergoing a climacteric.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘constituting a critical period in life’): from French climactérique or via Latin from Greek klimaktērikos, from klimaktēr ‘critical period,’ from klimax ‘ladder, climax.’

climactic /klīˈmaktik kləˈmaktik/

I. adjective

(of an action, event, or scene) exciting or thrilling and acting as a climax to a series of events

• the film's climactic scenes.

II. derivatives

climactically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin late 19th cent.: formed irregularly from climax + -ic, probably influenced by climacteric. / usage: Climactic and climatic are very similar in spelling and are often confused. Climactic means ‘forming a climax,’ as in the movie's climactic scene, while climatic means ‘relating to climate,’ as in prevailing climatic conditions.

climate /ˈklīmit/

I. noun

1. the weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long period

• our cold, wet climate

• agricultural development is constrained by climate.

2. a region with particular prevailing weather conditions

• vacationing in a warm climate.

3. the prevailing trend of public opinion or of another aspect of public life

• the current economic climate.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French climat or late Latin clima, climat-, from Greek klima ‘slope, zone,’ from klinein ‘to slope.’ The term originally denoted a zone of the earth between two lines of latitude, then any region of the earth, and later, a region considered with reference to its atmospheric conditions. Compare with clime.

climate change //

noun

a change in global or regional climate patterns, in particular a change apparent from the mid to late 20th century onwards and attributed largely to the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels.

climate control /ˈklīmit kənˈtrōl/

noun

another term for air conditioning.

climatic /klīˈmadik/

I. adjective

relating to climate

• under certain climatic conditions, desert locusts increase in number.

II. derivatives

1. climatical /klīˈmatikəl /

adjective

2. climatically /klīˈmatik(ə)lē /

adverb

usage: See usage at climactic.

climatology /ˌklīməˈtäləjē/

I. noun

the scientific study of climate.

II. derivatives

1. climatological /ˌklīmədəˈläjək(ə)l /

adjective

2. climatologist /ˌklīməˈtäləjəst /

noun

climax /ˈklīˌmaks/

I. noun

1. the most intense, exciting, or important point of something; a culmination or apex

• the climax of her speech

• a thrilling climax to the game.

2. an orgasm.

3. [Ecology] the final stage in a succession in a given environment, at which a plant community reaches a state of equilibrium
[as modifier]

• a mixed hardwood climax forest.

4. [Rhetoric] a sequence of propositions or ideas in order of increasing importance, force, or effectiveness of expression.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. culminate in an exciting or impressive event; reach a climax

• the day climaxed with a gala concert.

2. [with obj.] — bring (something) to a climax

• the sentencing climaxed a seven-month trial.

3. have an orgasm.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in rhetoric): from late Latin, from Greek klimax ‘ladder, climax.’ The sense ‘culmination’ arose in the late 18th cent.

climb /klīm/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — go or come up (a slope, incline, or staircase), especially by using the feet and sometimes the hands; ascend

• we began to climb the hill

• [no obj.] the air became colder as they climbed higher

• he climbed up the steps slowly.

2. [no obj.] — (of an aircraft or the sun) go upward

• we decided to climb to 6,000 feet.

3. [no obj.] — (of a road or track) slope upward or up

• the track climbed steeply up a narrow, twisting valley.

4. (of a plant) grow up (a wall, tree, or trellis) by clinging with tendrils or by twining

• when ivy climbs a wall, it infiltrates any crack

• [no obj.] there were roses climbing up the walls.

5. [no obj.] — grow in scale, value, or power

• the stock market climbed 24 points

• he climbed from a job as office messenger to president of the bank.

6. move to a higher position in (a chart or table)

• the song is climbing the adult-contemporary chart.

7. [no obj., with adverbial of direction] — move with effort, especially into or out of a confined space; clamber

• Howard started to climb out of the front seat

• I climbed down a narrow ladder

• he climbed to a high bough.

8. (climb into) — put on (clothes)

• he climbed into his suit.

II. noun

1. an ascent, especially of a mountain or hill, by climbing

• the rigorous climb up the mountain

• ‹figurative› his long climb from poverty.

2. a mountain, hill, or slope that is climbed or is to be climbed

• the mountain is no easy climb.

3. a recognized route up a mountain or cliff

• this may be the hardest rock climb in the world.

4. an aircraft's flight upward

• we leveled out from the climb at 600 feet

• rate of climb.

5. a rise or increase in value, rank, or power

• an above-average climb in prices.

III. phrases

be climbing the walls

‹informal› feel frustrated, helpless, and trapped

• his job soon had him climbing the walls.

IV. derivatives

climbable /ˈklīməb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin Old English climban; related to Dutch and German klimmen, also to clay and cleave^2.

climber /ˈklīmər/

noun

1. a person or animal that climbs

• leopards are great tree climbers.

2. a mountaineer.

3. a climbing plant.

4. see social climber.

climbing /ˈklīmiNG/

noun

the sport or activity of ascending mountains or cliffs.

climbing euonymus

noun

another name for winter creeper.

climbing irons /klīmiNG ˈī(ə)rnz/

plural noun

a set of spikes attached to boots for climbing trees or ice slopes.

climbing perch

noun

a small, edible freshwater fish that is able to breathe air and move over land, native to Africa and Asia.
[Family Anabantidae: three genera and several species, including Anabas testudinens.]

climbing wall /ˈklīmiNG ˌwôl/

noun

a wall at a sports center or in a gymnasium fitted with attachments to simulate a rock face for climbing practice.

climb-out /ˈklīmout/

noun

the part of a flight of an aircraft after takeoff and before it reaches a level altitude.

clime /klīm/

I. noun — (usu. climes)

1. ‹chiefly literary› a region considered with reference to its climate

• the Continent and its sunnier climes.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin clima ‘zone’ (see climate).

clin-

combining form

clino- shortened before a vowel.

clinch /klin(t)SH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. confirm or settle (a contract or bargain)

• to clinch a business deal.

2. conclusively settle (an argument or debate)

• these findings clinched the matter.

3. confirm the winning or achievement of (a game, competition, or victory)

• his team clinched the title.

4. secure (a nail or rivet) by driving the point sideways when it has penetrated.

5. fasten (a rope or fishing line) with a clinch knot.

6. [no obj.] — grapple at close quarters, especially (of boxers) so as to be too closely engaged for full-arm blows.

7. (of two people) embrace.

II. noun

1. a struggle or scuffle at close quarters, especially (in boxing) one in which the fighters become too closely engaged for full-arm blows.

2. an embrace, especially an amorous one

• we went into a passionate clinch on the sofa.

3. a knot used to fasten a rope to a ring or cringle, using a half hitch with the end seized back on its own part.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the senses ‘something that grips’ and ‘fix securely’): variant of clench.

clincher /ˈklin(t)SHər/

noun

1. a fact, argument, or event that settles a matter conclusively

• his two-run double was the clincher.

2. (in full clincher tire) — a bicycle or automobile tire that has flange beads that fit into the wheel rim.

Clinch River /ˌklin(t)SH ˈrivər/

a river that flows for 300 miles (480 km) from southwestern Virginia into Tennessee where it passes the Norris Dam and Oak Ridge before joining the Tennessee River.

cline /klīn/

I. noun

1. a continuum with an infinite number of gradations from one extreme to the other

• a point along a cline of activity.

2. [Biology] a gradation in one or more characteristics within a species or other taxon, especially between different populations.
See also ecocline.

II. derivatives

clinal /ˈklīnl /

adjective

– origin 1930s: from Greek klinein ‘to slope.’

Cline, Patsy /klīn/

(1932–63), US country singer; born Virginia Petterson Hensley. Her hit recordings included “Crazy” (1961) and “Sweet Dreams of You” (1963).

cling /kliNG/

I. verb — [no obj.] (cling to/onto/on)

1. (of a person or animal) hold on tightly to

• she clung to Joe's arm

• they clung together

• ‹figurative› she clung onto life.

2. (cling to) — adhere or stick firmly or closely to; be hard to part or remove from

• the smell of smoke clung to their clothes

• the fabric clung to her smooth skin.

3. (cling to) — remain very close to

• the fish cling to the line of the weed.

4. remain persistently or stubbornly faithful to something

• she clung resolutely to her convictions.

5. be overly dependent on someone emotionally

• you are clinging to him for security.

II. noun

a clingstone peach.

III. derivatives

clinger

noun

– origin Old English clingan ‘stick together,’ of Germanic origin; related to Middle Dutch klingen ‘adhere,’ Middle High German klingen ‘climb,’ also to clench.

cling film /ˈkliNG ˌfilm/

noun

British term for plastic wrap.

clingfish /ˈkliNGfiSH/

noun

a small fish occurring mainly in shallow or intertidal water, with a sucker for attachment to rocks and other surfaces.
[Family Gobiesocidae: several genera and species, including the shore clingfish (Lepadogaster lepadogaster) of Europe and West Africa.]

clinging /ˈkliNGiNG/

I. adjective

1. (of a garment) fitting closely to the body and showing its shape

• she was wearing a clinging black dress.

2. overly dependent on someone emotionally

• she wasn't the clinging type.

II. phrases

clinging vine

a person who is submissively dependent on another.

clingstone /ˈkliNGstōn/

noun

a peach or nectarine of a variety in which the flesh adheres to the stone.
Contrasted with freestone (sense 2).

clingy /ˈkliNGē/

I. adjective

(of a person or garment) liable to cling; clinging

• at about 18 months my son became very clingy

• clingy leggings.

II. derivatives

clinginess

noun

clinic /ˈklinik/

I. noun

1. an establishment or hospital department where outpatients are given medical treatment or advice, especially of a specialist nature

• a mental health clinic.

2. an occasion or time when outpatients are given medical treatment

• we're now holding regular clinics.

3. a gathering at a hospital bedside for the teaching of medicine or surgery.

4. a conference or short course on a particular subject

• a ski clinic.

– origin mid 19th cent. (in the sense ‘teaching of medicine at the bedside’): from French clinique, from Greek klinikē (tekhnē) ‘bedside (art),’ from klinē ‘bed.’

clinical /ˈklinək(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to the observation and treatment of actual patients rather than theoretical or laboratory studies

• clinical medicine

• clinical drug trials.

2. (of a disease or condition) causing observable and recognizable symptoms

• clinical depression.

3. efficient and unemotional; coldly detached

• the clinical detail of a textbook.

4. (of a room or building) bare, functional, and clean.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Greek klinikē ‘bedside’ (see clinic) + -al.

clinical death

noun

death as judged by the medical observation of cessation of vital functions. It is typically identified with the cessation of heartbeat and respiration, though modern resuscitation methods and life-support systems have required the introduction of the alternative concept of brain death.

clinical ecology

noun

an earlier name for environmental medicine.

clinically /ˈkliniklē/

adverb

1. in a way that relates to the observation and treatment of actual patients rather than theoretical or laboratory studies

• a clinically proven effective treatment

• the product would be developed and clinically tested in Denmark.

2. in a way that causes observable and recognizable symptoms

• this is manifested clinically as a heart attack

• he has been diagnosed as clinically depressed.

3. in a very efficient and detached way

• they calmly and clinically documented the ongoing destruction

• they used murder as a cold-blooded and clinically calculated means to a political end.

4. [usu. as submodifier] — in a bare, functional, and clean way

• the clinically clean kitchen design is curiously devoid of atmosphere

• a clinically lit room.

clinical psychology /ˈklinəkəl sīˈkäləjē/

I. noun

the branch of psychology concerned with the assessment and treatment of mental illness and disability.

II. derivatives

clinical psychologist

noun

clinical thermometer /ˈklinəkəl THərˈmämədər/

noun

a small medical thermometer with a short but finely calibrated range, for taking a person's temperature.

clinician /kləˈniSHən/

noun

a doctor having direct contact with and responsibility for patients, rather than one involved with theoretical or laboratory studies.

clink^1 /kliNGk/

I. noun

a sharp ringing sound, such as that made when metal or glass are struck

• a clink of keys

• the clink of ice in tall glasses.

II. verb

1. make or cause to make a clink
[no obj.]

• his ring clinked against the crystal

• (as adj. clinking) clinking chains

• (as noun clinking) the clinking of glasses

• [with obj.] I heard Suzie clink a piece of crockery.

2. [with obj.] — strike (a glass or glasses) with another to express friendly feelings toward one's companions before drinking

• she clinked her glass on mine.

– origin Middle English (as a verb): probably from Middle Dutch klinken.

clink^2 /kliNGk/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. ‹informal› prison

• he was put in the clink for six days.

– origin early 16th cent. (originally denoting a prison in Southwark, London): of unknown origin.

clinker^1 /ˈkliNGkər/

I. noun

1. the stony residue from burned coal or from a furnace.

2. (also clinker brick) — a brick with a vitrified surface.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from obsolete Dutch klinckaerd (earlier form of klinker), from klinken ‘to clink.’

clinker^2 /ˈkliNGkər/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› (N. Amer.) something that is unsatisfactory, of poor quality, or a failure

• marketing couldn't save such clinkers as these films.

2. ‹informal› a wrong musical note.

– origin late 17th cent. (denoting a person or thing that clinks): from clink^1 + -er^1. The current sense (with depreciatory reference) dates from the 1930s.

clinker-built /ˈkliNGkərˌbilt/

I. adjective

(of a boat) having external planks secured with clinched nails such that the bottom edge of an upper plank overlaps the upper edge of a lower plank.
Compare with carvel-built.

– origin mid 18th cent.: clinker from clink (northern English variant of clinch).

clino- clin-

combining form

slant; slope

• clinometer.

clinometer /klīˈnamədər/

I. noun

[Surveying] an instrument used for measuring the angle or elevation of slopes.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Greek klinein ‘to slope’ + -meter.

clinopyroxene /ˌklīnōpīˈräksēn/

I. noun

a mineral of the pyroxene group crystallizing in the monoclinic system.

– origin early 20th cent.: from clino- in the sense ‘monoclinic’ + pyroxene.

clinquant /ˈkliNGkənt/

I. adjective

glittering with gold and silver; tinseled.

II. noun

1. imitation gold leaf.

2. literary or artistic tinsel; false glitter.

Clinton /ˈklint(ə)n/

I. a city in east central Iowa, on the Mississippi River; pop. 26,407 (est. 2008).

II. a city in southwest central Mississippi, west of Jackson; pop. 26,313 (est. 2008).

Clinton, Bill

(1946–), 42nd president of the US 1993–2001; full name William Jefferson Blythe Clinton. An Arkansas Democrat, he served as governor of his state 1979–81, 1983–93 before becoming president. During his first term, he worked with a Republican-controlled Congress to balance the budget. His second term saw economic prosperity as well as international crises in the Middle East and Yugoslavia. Problems that included contested allegations of financial and sexual misconduct escalated, and in 1998 he became the second president ever to be impeached, in his case, on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. He was acquitted by the Senate in 1999.

Clinton, DeWitt

(1769–1828), US politician. Among his political positions, he was a member of the New York legislature 1798–1802, 1806–11, a US senator 1802–03, and mayor of New York City 1803–07, 1808–10, 1811–15. As governor of New York 1817–23, 1825–28, he was a champion of the Erie Canal.

Clinton, George

(1739–1812), US politician. He was governor of New York 1777–95, 1801–04 and vice president of the US 1805–12.

Clinton, Hillary Rodham

(1947–), US first lady and stateswoman; secretary of state 2009–13. As first lady during Bill Clinton's administration 1993–2001, she was noted for her work on health care reform. She served in the US Senate 2001–09 as a Democrat from New York.

Clio /ˈklīō ˈklēō/

I. [Greek & Roman Mythology] the Muse of history.

II. an award given annually for advertising achievement in television, radio, billboards, and other media.

– origin from Greek kleiein ‘celebrate.’

cliometrics /ˌklīəˈmetriks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. a technique for the interpretation of economic history, based on the statistical analysis of large-scale numerical data from population censuses, parish registers, and similar sources.

II. derivatives

1. cliometric

adjective

2. cliometrician /-meˈtriSHən /

noun

– origin 1960s (originally US): from Clio, on the pattern of words such as econometrics.

clip^1 /klip/

I. noun

1. a device, typically flexible or worked by a spring, for holding an object or objects together or in place.

2. a clip used to hold paper currency.

3. a piece of jewelry fastened by a clip.

4. a metal holder containing cartridges for an automatic firearm.

II. verb — [with adverbial of place]

1. fasten or be fastened with a clip or clips
[with obj.]

• she clipped on a pair of diamond earrings

• [no obj.] the panels simply clip onto the framework.

– origin Old English clyppan (verb). The noun use dates from the late 15th cent.

clip^2 /klip/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cut short or trim (hair, wool, nails, or vegetation) with shears or scissors

• clipping the hedge.

2. trim or remove the hair or wool of (an animal)

• how to clip your horse.

3. (clip something off) — cut off a thing or part of a thing with shears or scissors

• he clipped off a piece of wire

• ‹figurative› she clipped nearly two seconds off the world record.

4. cut (a section) from a newspaper or magazine

• a photograph clipped from a magazine.

5. pare the edge of (a coin), especially illicitly

• they clipped the edges of gold coins and melted the clippings down.

6. speak (words) in a quick, precise, staccato manner

• “Yes?” The word was clipped short

• (as adj. clipped) cold, clipped tones.

7. [Computing] process (an image) so as to remove the parts outside a certain area.

8. [Electronics] truncate the amplitude of (a signal) above or below predetermined levels.

9. strike briskly or with a glancing blow

• the steamroller clipped some parked cars

• branches clipped his face.

10. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) swindle or rob (someone)

• in all the years he ran the place, he was clipped only three times.

11. [no obj.] — ‹informal› (chiefly US) move quickly in a specified direction

• we clip down the track.

II. noun

1. an act of clipping or trimming something

• I gave him a full clip.

2. a short sequence taken from a movie or broadcast

• clips from earlier shows.

3. (also wool clip) — the quantity of wool clipped from a sheep or flock.

4. ‹informal› a quick or glancing blow

• you need a clip on the jaw.

5. [in sing.] — ‹informal› a specified speed or rate of movement, especially when rapid

• we crossed the dance floor at a fast clip.

III. phrases

1. at a clip

(US) ‹informal› at a time; all at once

• I spent several days with him, eight hours at a clip.

2. clip the wings of

a. trim the feathers of (a bird) so as to disable it from flight.

b. prevent (someone) from acting freely; check the aspirations of

• he finally clipped the wings of his high-flying chief of staff.

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse klippa, probably imitative.

clip art

noun

simple pictures and symbols made available for computer users to add to their documents.

clipboard /ˈklipbôrd/

noun

1. a small board with a spring clip at the top, used for holding papers and providing support for writing.

2. [Computing] a temporary storage area where material cut or copied from a file is kept for pasting into another file.

clip-clop /ˈklipkläp / clippety-clop

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. the sound as of a horse's hoofs beating on a hard surface.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. move with a clip-clop

• the horses clip-clopped slowly along the street.

– origin late 19th cent.: imitative.

clip joint /ˈklip ˌjoint/

noun

‹informal› a nightclub or bar that charges exorbitant prices.

clip-on /ˈklip ˌôn/

I. adjective

attached by a clip so as to be easy to fasten or remove

• a clip-on bow tie.

II. noun — (usu. clip-ons)

1. things, especially sunglasses or earrings, that are attached by clips.

clipper /ˈklipər/

noun

1. (usu. clippers) — an instrument for cutting or trimming small pieces off things

• hair clippers.

2. [Electronics] another term for limiter.

3. (also clipper chip) — a microchip that inserts an identifying code into encrypted transmissions, allowing them to be deciphered by a third party having access to a government-held key.

4. (also clipper ship) — a fast sailing ship, especially one of 19th-century design with concave bows and raked masts.

clipping /ˈklipiNG/

noun — (often clippings)

1. a small piece trimmed from something

• hedge clippings and grass cuttings.

2. an article cut from a newspaper or magazine.

clique /klēk klik/

I. noun

a small group of people, with shared interests or other features in common, who spend time together and do not readily allow others to join them.

II. derivatives

1. cliquish

adjective

2. cliquishness /ˈklēkiSHnəs ˈklikiSHnəs /

noun

– origin early 18th cent.: from French, from Old French cliquer ‘make a noise’; the modern sense is related to claque.

cliquey /ˈklēkē ˈklikē/

adjective

(of a group or place) tending to form or hold exclusive groups and so not welcoming to outsiders

• a cliquey school.

clit /klit/

noun

‹vulgar slang› short for clitoris.

clitellum /klīˈteləm/

noun

a raised band encircling the body of oligochaete worms and some leeches, made up of reproductive segments.

clitic /ˈklidik/

I. noun

[Grammar] an unstressed word that normally occurs only in combination with another word, for example ῾m in I'm.

II. derivatives

cliticization /ˌklitəsəˈzāSHən /

noun

– origin 1940s: from (en)clitic and (pro)clitic.

clitoridectomy /ˌklidərəˈdektəmē/

noun

excision of the clitoris; female circumcision.

clitoris /ˈklidərəs/

I. noun

a small sensitive and erectile part of the female genitals at the anterior end of the vulva.

II. derivatives

clitoral /ˈklid(ə)rəl /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek kleitoris.

clitter /ˈklidər/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. make a thin, vibratory, rattling sound

• a coded message clittered over the radio speakers.

– origin early 16th cent.: imitative.

Clive, Robert /klīv/

1st Baron Clive of Plassey (1725–74), British general and colonial administrator; known as Clive of India. He served as governor of Bengal, India, 1765–67, but was implicated in the East India Company's corruption scandals and committed suicide.

clivia /ˈklīvēə, ˈklivēə/

I. noun

a southern African plant of the lily family, with dark green, straplike leaves and trumpet-shaped orange, red, or yellow flowers.
Also called Kaffir lily. [Genus Clivia, family Liliaceae (or Amaryllidaceae).]

– origin modern Latin, from Clive, the maiden name of Charlotte, Duchess of Northumberland (1787–1866).

cloaca /klōˈākə/

I. noun

1. [Zoology] a common cavity at the end of the digestive tract for the release of both excretory and genital products in vertebrates (except most mammals) and certain invertebrates. Specifically, the cloaca is present in birds, reptiles, amphibians, most fish, and monotremes.

2. [Zoology] ‹archaic› a sewer.

II. derivatives

cloacal

adjective

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘sewer’): from Latin, related to cluere ‘cleanse.’ The current sense dates from the mid 19th cent.

cloak /klōk/

I. noun

1. an outdoor overgarment, typically sleeveless, that hangs loosely from the shoulders.

2. something serving to hide or disguise something

• lifting the cloak of secrecy on the arms trade.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. dress in a cloak

• she cloaked herself in black.

2. hide, cover, or disguise (something)

• the horror of war was cloaked in the trappings of chivalry.

– origin Middle English: from Old French cloke, dialect variant of cloche ‘bell, cloak’ (from its bell shape), from medieval Latin clocca ‘bell.’ Compare with clock^1.

cloak-and-dagger /ˈˌklōk ən ˈˌdaɡər/

adjective

involving or characteristic of mystery, intrigue, or espionage

• a cloak-and-dagger operation.

cloakroom /ˈklōkˌro͞om ˈklōkˌro͝om/

noun

a room in a public building where coats and other belongings may be left temporarily.

clobber^1 /ˈkläbər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› hit (someone) hard

• if he does that I'll clobber him!

2. ‹informal› treat or deal with harshly

• the recession clobbered other parts of the business.

3. ‹informal› defeat heavily
[with obj.]

• the Braves clobbered the Cubs 23–10.

– origin World War II (apparently British air-force slang): of unknown origin.

clobber^2 /ˈkläbər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. add enameled decoration to (porcelain).

– origin late 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

clochard /ˈklōSHərd, klōˈSHär/

I. noun

(in France) a beggar; a vagrant.

– origin French, from clocher ‘to limp.’

cloche /klōSH/

I. noun

1. a small translucent cover for protecting or forcing outdoor plants.

2. (also cloche hat) — a woman's close-fitting, bell-shaped hat.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French, literally ‘bell’ (see cloak).

clock^1 /kläk/

I. noun

1. a mechanical or electrical device for measuring time, indicating hours, minutes, and sometimes seconds, typically by hands on a round dial or by displayed figures.

2. (the clock) — time taken as a factor in an activity, especially in competitive sports

• they play against the clock

• her life is ruled by the clock.

3. ‹informal› a measuring device resembling a clock for recording things other than time, such as a speedometer, taximeter, or odometer.

4. see time clock.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. attain or register (a specified time, distance, or speed)

• Thomas has clocked up forty years service

• [no obj.] the book clocks in at 989 pages.

2. achieve (a victory)

• he clocked up his first win of the year.

3. record as attaining a specified time or rate

• the tower operators clocked a gust of 185 mph.

4. ‹informal› hit (someone), especially on the head

• someone clocked him for no good reason.

III. phrases

1. around (or round) the clock

all day and all night

• working around the clock.

2. run out the clock

[Sports] deliberately use as much time as possible in order to preserve one's own team's advantage

• facing a tie, he decided to run out the clock in the final moments.

3. stop the clock

allow extra time by temporarily ceasing to count the time left before a deadline arrives

• he agreed to stop the clock as negotiations continued.

4. turn (or put) back the clock

return to the past or to a previous way of doing things.

5. watch the clock

(of an employee) be overly strict or zealous about not working more than one's required hours.

IV. phrasal verbs

clock in (or out)

(of an employee) punch in (or out).

– origin late Middle English: from Middle Low German and Middle Dutch klocke, based on medieval Latin clocca ‘bell.’

clock^2 /kläk/

I. noun

‹dated› an ornamental pattern woven or embroidered on the side of a stocking or sock near the ankle.

– origin mid 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

clocker /ˈkläkər/

noun

‹informal› (US) a drug dealer, especially one who sells cocaine or crack.

clockmaker /ˈkläkˌmākər/

I. noun

a person who makes and repairs clocks and watches.

II. derivatives

clockmaking /-ˌmākiNG /

noun

clock radio /ˈkläk ˌrādēō/

noun

a combined radio and alarm clock that can be set so that the radio will come on at the desired time.

clock speed

noun

the operating speed of a computer or its microprocessor, defined as the rate at which it performs internal operations and expressed in cycles per second (megahertz).

clock tower /ˈkläk ˌtou(ə)r/

noun

a tower typically forming part of a church or civic building, with a large clock at the top.

clock-watcher clock watcher

I. noun

an employee who is overly strict or zealous about not working more than the required hours

• his lamp burned throughout the night; he was no clock-watcher.

II. derivatives

clock-watch /ˈkläk ˌwäCH ˈkläk ˌwôCH /

verb

clockwise /ˈkläkˌwīz/

adverb, adjective

in a curve corresponding in direction to the typical forward movement of the hands of a clock
[as adv.]

• turn the knob clockwise

• [as adj.] a clockwise direction.

clockwork /ˈkläkˌwərk/

I. noun

a mechanism with a spring and toothed gearwheels, used to drive a mechanical clock, toy, or other device.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. driven by clockwork

• a clockwork motor

• a clockwork toy.

2. very smooth and regular

• the clockwork precision of the galaxy.

3. repetitive and predictable

• it was a clockwork existence for the children.

III. phrases

1. as regular as clockwork

very regularly; repeatedly and predictably.

2. like clockwork

a. very smoothly and easily

• the event ran like clockwork.

b. with mechanical regularity

• these hens lay like clockwork.

clod /kläd/

I. noun

1. a lump of earth or clay.

2. ‹informal› a stupid person (often used as a general term of abuse).

– origin late Middle English: variant of clot.

cloddish /ˈklädiSH/

I. adjective

foolish, awkward, or clumsy.

II. derivatives

1. cloddishly

adverb

2. cloddishness

noun

clodhopper /ˈklädˌhäpər/

noun

1. a large, heavy shoe.

2. ‹informal› a foolish, awkward, or clumsy person.

clodhopping /ˈklädˌhäpiNG/

adjective

‹informal› foolish, awkward, or clumsy.

clog /kläɡ klôɡ/

I. noun

1. a shoe with a thick wooden sole.

2. an encumbrance or impediment

• a clog in the system.

II. verb

1. block or become blocked with an accumulation of thick, wet matter
[with obj.]

• the gutters were clogged up with leaves

• (as adj. clogged) clogged drains

• [no obj.] too much fatty food makes your arteries clog up.

2. [with obj.] — fill up or crowd (something) so as to obstruct passage

• tourists clog the roads in summer.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘block of wood to impede an animal's movement’): of unknown origin.

clog dance

I. noun

1. a dance performed in clogs with rhythmic beating of the feet, especially as a traditional dance in Ireland, Scotland, and the north of England.

2. a North American country tap dance performed in clogs with rhythmic beating of the feet.

II. derivatives

1. clog dancer

noun

2. clog dancing

noun

clogger /ˈkläɡər, ˈklôɡər/

noun

1. a person or thing that clogs something

• pore-cloggers.

2. a person who performs a clog dance.

clogging /ˈkläɡiNG/

noun

clog dancing.

cloisonné /ˌkloiznˈā/

I. noun

decorative work in which enamel, glass, or gemstones are separated by strips of flattened wire placed edgeways on a metal backing.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, literally ‘partitioned,’ past participle of cloisonner, from cloison ‘a partition or division.’

cloister /ˈkloistər/

I. noun

1. a covered walk in a convent, monastery, college, or cathedral, typically with a wall on one side and a colonnade open to a quadrangle on the other.

2. (the cloister) — monastic life

• he was inclined more to the cloister than the sword.

3. a convent or monastery.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. seclude or shut up in or as if in a convent or monastery

• the monastery was where the Brothers would cloister themselves to meditate

• she cloisters herself at home.

III. derivatives

cloistral /ˈkloistrəl /

adjective

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘place of religious seclusion’): from Old French cloistre, from Latin claustrum, clostrum ‘lock, enclosed place,’ from claudere ‘to close.’

cloistered /ˈkloistərd/

adjective

1. kept away from the outside world; sheltered

• a cloistered upbringing.

2. having or enclosed by a cloister, as in a monastery

• a cloistered walkway bordered the courtyard.

clomb /klōm/

archaic past and past participle of climb.

clomiphene /ˈkläməˌfēn, ˈklō-/

noun

[Medicine] a synthetic nonsteroidal drug used to treat infertility in women by stimulating ovulation.

clomp /klämp/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. walk with a heavy tread

• she clomped down the steps.

– origin early 19th cent.: imitative; compare with clump.

clonality /klōˈnalədē/

noun

the fact or condition of being genetically identical, as to a parent, sibling, or other biological source

• the lack of genetic diversity may be a combination of both isolation and clonality.

clone /klōn/

I. noun

1. [Biology] an organism or cell, or group of organisms or cells, produced asexually from one ancestor or stock, to which they are genetically identical.

2. [Biology] a person or thing regarded as identical to another

• successful women don't want to be male clones.

3. [Biology] a computer designed to simulate exactly the operation of another, typically more expensive, model

• an IBM PC clone.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. propagate (an organism or cell) as a clone

• of the hundreds of new plants cloned, the best ones are selected.

2. make an identical copy of.

3. [Biochemistry] replicate (a fragment of DNA placed in an organism) so that there is enough to analyze or use in protein production.

4. illegally copy the security codes from (a mobile phone) to one or more others as a way of obtaining free calls.

III. derivatives

clonal /ˈklōnl /

adjective

– origin early 20th cent.: from Greek klōn ‘twig.’

clonk /kläNGk/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. an abrupt, heavy sound of impact.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — move with or make such a sound

• the horses clonked and snorted softly.

2. [with obj.] — ‹informal› hit

• I'll clonk you on the head.

III. derivatives

clonky

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: imitative.

clonus /ˈklōnəs/

I. noun

[Medicine] muscular spasm involving repeated, often rhythmic, contractions.

II. derivatives

clonic /ˈklänik /

adjective

– origin early 19th cent.: from Greek klonos ‘turmoil.’

clop /kläp/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. a sound or series of sounds made by a horse's hooves on a hard surface.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a horse) move with a clop

• the animal clopped on at a steady pace.

– origin mid 19th cent.: imitative.

cloqué /klōˈkā/

I. noun

a fabric with an irregularly raised or embossed surface.

– origin French, literally ‘blistered.’ It was first recorded (1920s) in the anglicized form cloky; use of the French form dates from the 1950s.

close^1 /klōs/

I. adjective

1. a short distance away or apart in space or time

• the hotel is close to the sea

• her birthday and her wedding date were close together

• the months of living in close proximity to her were taking their toll.

2. with very little or no space in between; dense

• cloth with a closer weave

• this work occupies over 1,300 pages of close print.

3. narrowly enclosed

• animals in close confinement.

4. [predic.] (close to) — very near to (being or doing something)

• on a good day the climate in LA is close to perfection

• she was close to tears.

5. (with reference to a competitive situation) won or likely to be won by only a small amount or distance

• the race will be a close contest

• she finished a close second.

6. [Phonetics] another term for high (sense 7 of the adjective).

7. [attrib.] — denoting a family member who is part of a person's immediate family, typically a parent or sibling

• the family history of cancer in close relatives.

8. (of a person or relationship) on very affectionate or intimate terms

• they had always been very close, with no secrets at all.

9. (of a connection or resemblance) strong

• the college has close links with many other institutions.

10. (of observation, examination, etc.) done in a careful and thorough way

• we need to keep a close eye on this project

• pay close attention to what your body is telling you about yourself.

11. carefully guarded

• his whereabouts are a close secret.

12. not willing to give away money or information; secretive

• you're very close about your work, aren't you?

13. uncomfortably humid or airless

• a close, hazy day

• it was very close in the dressing room.

II. adverb

in a position so as to be very near to someone or something; with very little space between

• they stood close to the door

• he was holding her close.

III. phrases

1. close by

very near; nearby

• her father lives quite close by.

2. close to (or close on)

(of an amount) almost; very nearly

• he spent close to 30 years in jail.

3. close to the bone

see bone.

4. close to one's heart

see heart.

5. close to home

see home.

6. close up

very near

• close up she was no less pretty.

7. close to the wind

[Sailing] (of a sailing vessel) pointed as near as possible to the direction from which the wind is blowing while still making headway.

8. come close

almost achieve or do

• he came close to calling the President a liar.

9. too close for comfort

dangerously or uncomfortably near

• the friendly stranger who suddenly comes too close for comfort.

IV. derivatives

closish

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French clos (as noun and adjective), from Latin clausum ‘enclosure’ and clausus ‘closed,’ past participle of claudere.

close^2 /klōz/

I. verb

1. move or cause to move so as to cover an opening
[no obj.]

• she jumped into the train just as the doors were closing

• [with obj.] they had to close the window because of the insects.

2. [with obj.] — block up (a hole or opening)

• glass doors close off the living room from the hall

• ‹figurative› Stephen closed his ears to the sound.

3. [with obj.] — bring two parts of (something) together so as to block its opening or bring it into a folded state

• Loretta closed her mouth

• Ron closed the book.

4. [no obj.] — gradually get nearer to someone or something

• they plotted a large group of aircraft about 130 miles away and closing fast.

5. [no obj.] (close around/over) — come into contact with (something) so as to encircle and hold it

• my fist closed around the weapon.

6. [with obj.] — make (an electric circuit) continuous

• this will cause a relay to operate and close the circuit.

7. bring or come to an end
[with obj.]

• the members were thanked for attending, and the meeting was closed

• [no obj.] the concert closed with “Silent Night”

• (as adj. closing) the closing stages of the election campaign.

8. [no obj.] — (of a business, organization, or institution) cease to be in operation or accessible to the public, either permanently or at the end of a working day or other period of time

• the factory is to close with the loss of 150 jobs

• [with obj.] the country has been closed to outsiders for almost 50 years.

9. [no obj.] — finish speaking or writing

• we close with a point about truth

• (as adj. closing) Nellie's closing words.

10. [with obj.] — bring (a business transaction) to a satisfactory conclusion

• he closed a deal with a metal dealer.

11. [with obj.] — remove all the funds from (a bank account) and cease to use it.

12. [with obj.] — [Computing] make (a data file) inaccessible after use, so that it is securely stored until required again.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. the end of an event or of a period of time or activity

• the afternoon drew to a close.

2. (the close) — the end of a day's trading on a stock market

• at the close the Dow Jones average was down 13.52 points.

3. [Music] the conclusion of a phrase; a cadence.

4. the shutting of something, especially a door

• the door jerked to a close behind them.

III. phrases

1. close the door on (or to)

see door.

2. close one's eyes to

see eye.

3. close one's mind to

see mind.

4. close ranks

see rank^1.

5. close up shop

see shop.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. close something down (or close down)

cause to cease or cease business or operation, especially permanently

• the government promised to close down the nuclear plants within twenty years.

2. close in (on)

a. come nearer to someone being pursued

• the police were closing in on them.

b. gradually surround, especially with the effect of hindering movement or vision

• the weather has now closed in, so an attempt on the summit is unlikely.

c. (of days) get successively shorter with the approach of the winter solstice

• November was closing in.

3. close something out

(N. Amer.) bring something to an end

• Steve tried to close out the conversation.

4. close up

(of a person's face) become blank and emotionless or hostile

• he didn't like her laughter and his face closed up angrily.

5. close something up (or close up)

a. cause to cease or cease operation or being used

• the broker advised me to close the house up for the time being.

b. (close up) — (of an opening) grow smaller or become blocked by something

• she felt her throat close up.

6. close with

come near, especially so as to engage with (an enemy force).

V. derivatives

closable

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French clos-, stem of clore, from Latin claudere ‘to shut.’

Close, Glenn /klōs/

(1947–), US actress. Notable movies: The Big Chill (1983), Fatal Attraction (1987), and Dangerous Liaisons (1988). Her television work includes the lead role in Damages (2007–2012).

close call /ˌklōs ˈkôl/

noun

a narrow escape from danger or disaster.

close-cropped /klōsˈkräpt / closely cropped

adjective

(typically of hair or grass) cut very short.

closed /klōzd/

I. adjective

1. not open

• rooms with closed doors lined the hallway

• he sat with his eyes closed.

2. (of a business) having ceased trading, especially for a short period

• he put the “Closed” sign up on the door.

3. (of a society or system) not communicating with or influenced by others; independent.

4. limited to certain people; not open or available to all

• the UN Security Council met in closed session.

5. unwilling to accept new ideas

• you're facing the situation with a closed mind.

6. [Mathematics] (of a set) having the property that the result of a specified operation on any element of the set is itself a member of the set.

7. [Mathematics] (of a set) containing all its limit points.

8. [Geometry] of or pertaining to a curve whose ends are joined.

II. phrases

1. behind closed doors

taking place secretly or without public knowledge.

2. closed book

a subject or person about which one knows nothing

• accounting has always been a closed book to me.

closed caption

I. noun

one of a series of subtitles to a television program, accessible through a decoder.

II. verb — (with obj. usually as noun closed-captioning)

1. provide (a program) with closed captions.

closed chain

noun

[Chemistry] a number of atoms bonded together to form a closed loop in a molecule.

closed-circuit television /klōzd ˈsərkət ˈteləˌviZHən / CCTV

noun

a television system in which the video signals are transmitted from one or more cameras by cable to a restricted set of monitors.

closed compound

noun

a word that is made up of two or more existing words and contains no spaces or hyphens, e.g. football, birthday, blackboard.

closed couplet

noun

a rhyming couplet with end-stopped lines that is logically or grammatically complete, as "Instruct the planets in what orbs to run, / Correct old Time, and regulate the Sun".

closed-door

adjective

restricted; obstructive; secret

• the senior staff went into closed-door sessions.

closed-end /ˌklōzdˈend/

adjective

1. having a predetermined and fixed extent

• a closed-end contract.

2. (N. Amer.) denoting an investment trust or company that issues a fixed number of shares.

closed season /ˈklōzd ˌsēzən/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a period between specified dates when fishing or the killing of particular game is officially forbidden.

closed shop /ˈklōzd ˈSHäp/

noun

1. a place of work where membership in a union is a condition for being hired and for continued employment.
Compare with open shop, union shop.

2. [in sing.] — a system whereby a closed shop applies

• the outlawing of the closed shop.

closed universe

noun

[Astronomy] the condition in which there is sufficient matter in the universe to halt the expansion driven by the Big Bang and cause eventual recollapse. The amount of visible matter is only a tenth of the total required for closure, but there may be large quantities of dark matter.

close encounter /ˌklōs ənˈkoun(t)ər/

I. noun

a supposed encounter with a UFO or with aliens.

II. phrases

close encounter of the first (or second etc.) kind

used to describe encounters involving increasing degrees of complexity and apparent exposure of the witness to aliens, with the first kind being a mere sighting and the fourth kind being abduction.

close-fisted /ˌklōsˈfistəd/

adjective

unwilling to spend money; stingy.

close-fitting /ˌklōsˈfidiNG/

adjective

(of a garment) fitting tightly and showing the contours of the body.

close-fought closely fought

adjective

denoting or relating to a contest between evenly matched opponents that is won by only a small margin

• Gunston's three first-half goals were crucial in a close-fought match

• a close-fought victory

• the closely fought presidential election.

close-grained /klōsˈɡrānd/

adjective

(of wood, stone, or other material) having tightly packed fibers, crystals, or other structural elements.

close harmony /ˌklōs ˈhärmənē/

noun

[Music] harmony in which the notes of the chord are close together, typically in vocal music.

close-hauled /klōsˈhôld/

adjective, adverb

[Sailing] (of a ship) close to the wind.

close-in /ˈklōsin/

adjective

1. only a short distance away

• a close-in shot.

2. (N. Amer.) near to the center of a town or city

• close-in parking.

close-knit /ˌklōsˈnit / closely knit

adjective

(of a group of people) united or bound together by strong relationships and common interests

• a close-knit community.

closely /ˈklōslē/

adverb

1. with little or no space or time in between

• closely spaced homes

• the medical sergeant follows closely behind the squad.

2. in a narrowly enclosed way

• pens of closely confined fish.

3. in a way that involves only a small margin between the winner and loser

• a closely fought contest.

4. in a way that involves a strong resemblance or connection

• the students had to answer questions closely related to what they just learned

• the real-world injuries closely mirrored the university's experimental data.

5. in a collective or unified way

• we will be working closely with stakeholders

• the two companies collaborate closely.

6. very affectionately or intimately

• he has bonded very closely with his Miami family

• both children are clearly very closely attached to their parents.

7. in a careful and attentive way

• patients have to be watched closely for side effects.

8. in a cautious or secretive way

• a closely guarded plan.

close-minded

adjective

having or showing rigid opinions or a narrow outlook

• close-minded condemnation of people he knows nothing about.

close-mouthed /klōsˈmouTHt / close-lipped

adjective

reticent; discreet

• the candidates have been close-mouthed about their fund-raising goals.

closeness /ˈklōsnəs/

noun

1. the quality of being only a short distance away or apart in space or time

• the geographical closeness of our two countries

• the translator's closeness to the original time period.

2. the state of being narrowly enclosed

• the claustrophobic closeness of the living quarters.

3. the quality of having only a small margin between winner and loser

• the closeness of the race

• the scoreline did not reflect the closeness of the contest.

4. the quality of affection or intimacy in a relationship

• moments of closeness with friends and family members.

5. the quality or state of having a strong resemblance or connection

• apes are often selected due to their evolutionary closeness to humans.

6. the quality of being done in an attentive and thorough way

• the closeness with which he watched current events.

closeout /ˈklōzout/

noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. (US) a sale of goods at reduced prices to get rid of superfluous stock

• a closeout sale

• closeout prices.

close-packed

adjective

arranged or situated very close together

• close-packed houses

• a solid column of close-packed soldiers.

close quarters /ˌklōs ˈkwôrdərz/

plural noun

a situation of being very or uncomfortably close to someone or something

• living in close quarters with people

• engaging the enemy at close quarters.

closer /ˈkləʊzə/

noun

1. the last part of a performance, collection, or series

• the perfect closer to the album

• the last episode was still a great closer.

2. a person who is skilled at bringing a business transaction to a satisfactory conclusion

• this role will best suit closers who are hungry to make commissions.

3. [Baseball] a reliable relief pitcher who enters a game in the final innings, typically to preserve a slim lead

• he could develop into a big-league closer

• one of the game's highest-paid closers.

close range /ˌklōs ˈrānj/

noun

a short distance between someone or something and a target

• two bullets fired at close range

• watching a bird at close range.

close-ratio /ˌklōsˈrāSHēō/

adjective

(of a vehicle's gearbox) having gear ratios that are set at values not very different from each other.

close reach /ˌklōs ˈrēCH / ‹Sailing›

I. noun

a point of sailing in which the wind blows from slightly in front of the beam

• we sailed on a close reach directly for Sharp's Island.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. sail with the wind from slightly in front of the beam.

close season /ˈklōz ˌsēzən/

noun

British term for closed season.

close-set /ˌklōsˈset/

adjective

(of two or more things) placed or occurring with little space in between

• her eyes were too close-set for beauty.

close shave /ˌklōs ˈSHāv/

noun

1. a shave in which the hair is cut very short.

2. ‹informal› another term for close call.

closet /ˈkläzət/

I. noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) a cupboard or wardrobe, especially one tall enough to walk into.

2. a small room, especially one used for storing things or for private study.

3. ‹dated› short for water closet.

4. (the closet) — a state of secrecy or concealment, especially about one's homosexuality

• lesbians who had come out of the closet.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. secret; covert

• a closet alcoholic.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. shut (someone) away, especially in private conference or study

• he was closeted with the king

• he returned home and closeted himself in his room.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a private or small room): from Old French, diminutive of clos ‘closed’ (see close^1).

closet drama /ˈkläzət ˈdrämə / closet play

noun

a play to be read rather than acted.

close-up /ˈklōsˌəp/

noun

1. a photograph, movie, or video taken at close range and showing the subject on a large scale

• a close-up of her face

• they see themselves in close-up

• [as modifier] a close-up view.

2. an intimate and detailed description or study
[as modifier]

• the book's close-up account of the violence.

closing date /dāt/

noun

the last date by which something must be submitted for consideration, especially a job application.

closing price /prīs/

noun

the price of a security at the end of the day's business in a financial market.

closing time /ˈklōziNG ˌtīm/

noun

the regular time at which a restaurant, store, or other place closes to the public each day.

clostridium /kläˈstridēəm/

I. noun

[Biology] an anaerobic bacterium of a large genus that includes many pathogenic species, e.g., those causing tetanus, gas gangrene, botulism, and other forms of food poisoning.
[Genus Clostridium: typically rod-shaped and Gram-positive.]

II. derivatives

clostridial /-ˈstridēəl /

adjective

– origin modern Latin, based on Greek klōstēr ‘spindle.’

closure /ˈklōZHər/

I. noun

1. the act or process of closing something, especially an institution, thoroughfare, or frontier, or of being closed

• hospitals that face closure

• road closures.

2. a thing that closes or seals something, such as a cap or zipper.

3. a sense of resolution or conclusion at the end of an artistic work

• he brings modernistic closure to his narrative.

4. a feeling that an emotional or traumatic experience has been resolved

• I am desperately trying to reach closure but I don't know how to do it without answers from him.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, from late Latin clausura, from claus- ‘closed,’ from the verb claudere.

clot /klät/

I. noun

1. a thick mass of coagulated liquid, especially blood, or of material stuck together

• a flat, wet clot of dead leaves

• ‹figurative› a clot of people arguing in the doorway.

2. (Brit.) ‹informal› a foolish or clumsy person

• “Watch where you're going, you clot!”

II. verb

1. form or cause to form into clots
[no obj.]

• drugs that help blood to clot

• [with obj.] a blood protein known as factor VIII clots blood.

2. [with obj.] — cover (something) with sticky matter

• its nostrils were clotted with blood.

– origin Old English clott, clot, of Germanic origin; related to German Klotz.

clotbur /ˈklätbər/

I. noun

1. a herbaceous plant of the daisy family, with burred fruits. It originated in tropical America but is now cosmopolitan.
See also cocklebur. [Genus Xanthium, family Compositae: two or three species, in particular spiny clotbur (X. spinosum).]

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) a burdock.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from dialect clote ‘burdock’ + burr.

cloth /klôTH/

I. noun

1. woven or felted fabric made from wool, cotton, or a similar fiber

• shelves covered with bright red cloth

• [as modifier] a cloth bag.

2. a piece of cloth for a particular purpose, such as a dishcloth or a tablecloth

• wipe clean with a damp cloth.

3. (the cloth) — the clergy; the clerical profession

• a man of the cloth.

– origin Old English clāth, related to Dutch kleed and German Kleid, of unknown ultimate origin.

clothe /klōT͟H/

I. verb — [with obj.] (often be clothed in)

1. put clothes on (oneself or someone); dress

• she was clothed all in white

• she lay down fully clothed

• (clothed) a partially clothed body.

2. provide (someone) with clothes

• they already had eight children to feed and clothe.

3. (usu. be clothed with) — endow with a particular quality

• you have been clothed with power from on high.

– origin Old English (only recorded in the past participle geclāded), from clāth (see cloth).

clothes /klō(T͟H)z/

I. plural noun

1. items worn to cover the body

• he stripped off his clothes

• baby clothes

• [as modifier] a clothes shop.

2. bedclothes.

– origin Old English clāthas, plural of clāth (see cloth).

clothes horse /ˈklō(T͟H)z ˌhôrs/

noun

1. a frame on which washed clothes are hung to air indoors.

2. ‹informal› ‹often derogatory› a person, typically a woman, who is excessively concerned with wearing fashionable clothes.

clothesline /ˈklōT͟Hzlīn/

I. noun

a rope or wire on which washed clothes are hung to dry.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› (chiefly in football and other games) knock down (a runner) by placing one's outstretched arm in the runner's path at neck level.

clothes moth /ˈklō(T͟H)z ˌmôTH/

noun

a small, drab moth whose larvae feed on a range of animal fibers and can be destructive to clothing and other domestic textiles.
[Family Tineidae: several species, in particular the common clothes moth (Tineola biselliella).]

clothespin /ˈklō(T͟H)zˌpin / ‹Brit.› clothes peg

noun

a wooden or plastic clip for securing clothes to a clothes line.

clothier /ˈklōT͟Hēər/

I. noun

a person or company that makes, sells, or deals in clothes or cloth.

– origin Middle English clother, from cloth. The change in the ending was due to association with -ier.

clothing /ˈklōT͟HiNG/

noun

clothes collectively

• an item of clothing

• [as modifier] the clothing trade.

Clotho /ˈklōTHō / ‹Greek Mythology›

I. one of the three Fates.

– origin Greek, literally ‘she who spins.’

cloth of gold

noun

fabric made of gold threads interwoven with silk or wool.

cloth yard

noun

a unit for measuring cloth, formerly 37 inches but now equivalent to a standard yard (36 inches).

clotted cream /ˌklädəd ˈkrēm/

noun

(chiefly Brit.) thick cream obtained by heating milk slowly and then allowing it to cool while the cream content rises to the top in coagulated lumps.

clotting factor

noun

[Physiology] any of a number of substances in blood plasma that are involved in the clotting process, such as factor VIII.

cloture /ˈklōCHər/

I. noun

(US) (in a legislative assembly) a procedure for ending a debate and taking a vote
[as modifier]

• a cloture motion.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French clôture, from Old French closure (see closure).

cloud /kloud/

I. noun

1. a visible mass of condensed water vapor floating in the atmosphere, typically high above the ground

• the sun had disappeared behind a cloud

• the full moon, hidden by veils of cloud.

2. an indistinct or billowing mass, especially of smoke or dust

• a cloud of dust.

3. a large number of insects or birds moving together

• clouds of orange butterflies.

4. a vague patch of color in or on a liquid or transparent surface.

5. a state or cause of gloom, suspicion, trouble, or worry

• the only cloud to appear on the horizon was Leopold's unexpected illness

• a black cloud hung over their lives.

6. a frowning or depressed look

• a cloud passed over Jessica's face.

7. (often the cloud) — [Computing] a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet and used to store, manage, and process data in place of local servers or personal computers

• $13 per month gets you 25GB of storage in the cloud

• [as modifier] once you are logged in to your cloud storage space, you can upload files to it and share them with others.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — (of the sky) become overcast with clouds

• the blue skies clouded over abruptly.

2. [with obj.] — darken (the sky) with clouds

• the western sky was still clouded.

3. make or become less clear or transparent
[with obj.]

• blood pumped out, clouding the water

• [no obj.] her eyes clouded with tears.

4. [with obj.] — make (a matter or mental process) unclear or uncertain; confuse

• don't allow your personal feelings to cloud your judgment.

5. [with obj.] — spoil or mar (something)

• the general election was clouded by violence.

6. [no obj.] — (of someone's face or eyes) show worry, sorrow, or anger

• his expression clouded over.

7. [with obj.] — (of such an emotion such as worry, sorrow, or anger) show in (someone's face)

• suspicion clouded her face.

III. phrases

1. every cloud has a silver lining

see silver.

2. have one's head in the clouds

(of a person) be out of touch with reality; be daydreaming.

3. in the clouds

out of touch with reality

• this clergyman was in the clouds.

4. on cloud nine

extremely happy.
[with reference to a ten-part classification of clouds in which “nine” was next to the highest.]

5. under a cloud

under suspicion; discredited

• he left under something of a cloud, accused of misappropriating funds.

IV. derivatives

cloudlet /ˈkloudlət /

noun

– origin Old English clūd ‘mass of rock or earth’; probably related to clot. Sense 1 of the noun dates from Middle English.

cloud base

noun — [in sing.]

1. the level or altitude of the lowest part of a general mass of clouds.

cloudberry /ˈkloudˌberē/

I. noun

a dwarf bramble that has white flowers and edible orange fruit and that grows on the mountains and moorlands of northern Eurasia and northern North America.
[Rubus chamaemorus, family Rosaceae.]

– origin late 16th cent.: apparently from the noun cloud in the obsolete sense ‘hill’ + berry.

cloudburst /ˈkloudˌbərst/

noun

a sudden, violent rainstorm.

cloud chamber /ˈkloud ˌCHāmbər/

noun

[Physics] a device that contains air or gas supersaturated with water vapor and that is used to detect charged particles, X-rays, and gamma rays by the condensation trails that they produce.

cloud computing

noun

the practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store, manage, and process data, rather than a local server or a personal computer.

cloud cover /ˈkloud ˌkəvər/

noun — [in sing.]

1. a mass of cloud covering all or most of the sky.

cloud deck

noun

[Meteorology] a bank of clouds of a particular type forming a layer at a certain altitude.

clouded leopard

noun

a large spotted cat that hunts in trees at twilight and is found in forests in Southeast Asia.
[Neofelis nebulosa, family Felidae.]

cloud forest

noun

a moist tropical or subtropical forest that is characterized by persistent low-level cloud

• the lush cloud forests of the Andes.

cloud hopping

noun

the flying of an aircraft from cloud to cloud, typically for concealment.

cloudless /ˈkloudləs/

I. adjective

clear and free of clouds

• we picnicked under a cloudless blue sky

• a crisp and cloudless afternoon.

II. derivatives

cloudlessly

adverb

cloudscape /ˈkloudskāp/

I. noun

a large cloud formation considered in terms of its visual effect.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from the noun cloud, on the pattern of words such as landscape.

cloud seeding

noun

the dropping of crystals into clouds to cause rain.

cloudy /ˈkloudē/

I. adjective

1. (of the sky or weather) covered with or characterized by clouds; overcast

• next morning was cloudy.

2. (of a liquid) not transparent or clear

• the pond water is slightly cloudy.

3. (of a color) opaque; having white as a constituent

• cloudy reds and blues and greens.

4. (of marble) variegated with cloudlike markings.

5. (of someone's eyes) misted with tears

• she stared at him, her eyes cloudy.

6. uncertain; unclear

• the issue becomes more cloudy.

II. derivatives

1. cloudily /ˈkloudəlē /

adverb

2. cloudiness /ˈkloudēnis /

noun

Clouet /klo͞oˈā, klo͞oˈe/

two French court portrait painters, Jean (c. 1485–1541) and his son François (c. 1516–72).

clout /klout/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› a heavy blow with the hand or a hard object

• a clout on the ear.

2. ‹informal› influence or power, especially in politics or business

• I knew he carried a lot of clout.

3. ‹archaic› a piece of cloth or clothing, especially one used as a patch.

4. [Archery] a target used in long-distance shooting, placed flat on the ground with a flag marking its center.

5. a shot that hits a clout.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› hit hard with the hand or a hard object

• I clouted him on the head.

2. ‹archaic› mend with a patch.

– origin Old English clūt (in the sense ‘a patch or metal plate’); related to Dutch kluit ‘lump, clod,’ also to cleat and clot. The shift of sense to ‘heavy blow,’ which dates from late Middle English, is difficult to explain; possibly the change occurred first in the verb (from ‘put a patch on’ to ‘hit hard’).

clove^1 /klōv/

I. noun

1. the dried flower bud of a tropical tree, used as a pungent aromatic spice

• a teaspoon of ground cloves.

2. (oil of cloves) — aromatic analgesic oil extracted from the clove and used medicinally, especially for the relief of dental pain.

3. the Indonesian tree from which cloves are obtained.
[Syzygium aromaticum (also called Eugenia caryophyllus), family Myrtaceae.]

4. (also clove pink) — a clove-scented pink that is the original type from which the carnation and other double pinks have been bred.
[Dianthus caryophyllus, family Caryophyllaceae.]

– origin Middle English: from Old French clou de girofle, literally ‘nail of gillyflower’ (from its shape), gillyflower being originally the name of the spice and later applied to the similarly scented pink.

clove^2 /klōv/

I. noun

any of the small bulbs making up a compound bulb of garlic, shallot, etc.

– origin Old English clufu, of Germanic origin, corresponding to the first element of German Knoblauch (altered from Old High German klovolouh), and the base of cleave^1.

clove^3 /klōv/

past of cleave^1.

clove hitch /ˈklōv ˌhiCH/

I. noun

a knot by which a rope is secured by passing it twice around a spar or another rope that it crosses at right angles in such a way that both ends pass under the loop of rope at the front.

– origin mid 18th cent.: clove, past tense of cleave^1 (because the rope appears as separate parallel lines at the back of the knot).

cloven /ˈklōvən/

I. past participle of cleave^1.

II. adjective

split or divided in two.

cloven hoof cloven foot

I. noun

1. the divided hoof or foot of ruminants such as cattle, sheep, goats, antelopes, and deer.

2. a divided hoof ascribed to a satyr, the god Pan, or to the Devil, sometimes used as a symbol or mark of the Devil.

II. derivatives

1. cloven-hoofed

adjective

2. cloven-footed

adjective

clover /ˈklōvər/

I. noun

a herbaceous plant of the pea family that has dense, globular flower heads, and leaves that are typically three-lobed. It is an important and widely grown fodder and rotational crop.
[Genus Trifolium, family Leguminosae: many species, in particular red clover (T. pratense) and the creeping white clover (T. repens).]

II. phrases

in clover

in ease and luxury

• we'll be in clover down there, lying around in the sun and fishing on the lake.

– origin Old English clāfre, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch klaver and German Klee.

cloverleaf /ˈklōvərˌlēf/

noun

1. a shape or pattern resembling a leaf of clover
[as modifier]

• cloverleaf rolls.

2. (N. Amer.) a junction of roads intersecting at different levels with connecting sections forming the pattern of a four-leaf clover.

Clovis^1 /ˈklōvəs/

I. a city in central California, in the San Joaquin Valley, northeast of Fresno; pop. 92,318 (est. 2008).

II. an agricultural city in eastern New Mexico; pop. 32,352 (est. 2008). The Clovis culture of 11,000 years ago is named for artifacts found nearby.

Clovis^2 /ˈklōvəs/

(465–511), king of the Franks 481–511. He extended Merovingian rule to Gaul and Germany, making Paris his capital. After his conversion to Christianity, he championed orthodoxy against the Arian Visigoths, finally defeating them in the battle of Poitiers 507.

Clovis^3 /ˈklōvəs/

I. noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. [Archaeology] a Paleo-Indian culture of Central and North America, dated to about 11,500–11,000 years ago and earlier. The culture is distinguished by heavy, leaf-shaped stone spearheads.
Compare with Folsom^2.

– origin first found near Clovis^1, New Mexico.

clown /kloun/

I. noun

1. a comic entertainer, especially one in a circus, wearing a traditional costume and exaggerated makeup.

2. a comical, silly, playful person

• I was always the class clown.

3. a foolish or incompetent person

• we need a serious government, not a bunch of clowns.

4. ‹archaic› an unsophisticated country person; a rustic.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. behave in a comical way; act playfully

• Harvey clowned around pretending to be a dog.

– origin mid 16th cent. (sense 2 of the noun): perhaps of Low German origin.

clownfish /ˈklounfiSH/

noun

a small, tropical marine fish with bold vertical stripes or other bright coloration. It lives in close association with anemones and is protected from their stings by mucus.
Also called anemone fish. [Genera Amphiprion and Premnas, family Pomacentridae: several species, including A. percula.]

clownish /ˈklouniSH/

I. adjective

characteristic of or resembling a clown, especially in being foolish, playful, or humorously exaggerated

• clownish antics

• they only manage to look clumsy and clownish.

II. derivatives

1. clownishly

adverb

2. clownishness

noun

cloy /kloi/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. cloying)

1. disgust or sicken (someone) with an excess of sweetness, richness, or sentiment

• a romantic, rather cloying story

• a curious bittersweetness that cloyed her senses

• [no obj.] the first long sip gives a malty taste that never cloys.

II. derivatives

cloyingly /ˈkloiiNGlē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: shortening of obsolete accloy ‘stop up, choke,’ from Old French encloyer ‘drive a nail into,’ from medieval Latin inclavare, from clavus ‘a nail.’

clozapine /ˈklōzəˌpēn/

I. noun

[Medicine] a sedative drug used to treat schizophrenia.

– origin mid 20th cent.: from c(h)lo(ro)- + elements of benzodiazepine.

cloze test /ˈklōz ˌtest/

I. noun

a test in which one is asked to supply words that have been removed from a passage in order to measure one's ability to comprehend text.

– origin 1950s: cloze representing a spoken abbreviation of closure.

CLU

abbreviation

Civil Liberties Union.

club^1 /kləb/

I. noun — [treated as sing. or pl.]

1. an association or organization dedicated to a particular interest or activity

• a photography club

• [as modifier] the club secretary.

2. the building or facilities used by a club.

3. an organization or facility offering members social amenities, meals, and temporary residence

• we had dinner at his club.

4. a nightclub, especially one playing fashionable dance music.

5. [treated as sing. or pl.] — an organization constituted to play games in a particular sport

• a football club

• [as modifier] the club captain.

6. [usu. with modifier] — a commercial organization offering subscribers special benefits

• a shopping club.

7. [with adj. or noun modifier] — a group of people, organizations, or nations having something in common

• in cocktail lounges all over town convenes the daily meeting of the ain't-it-awful club.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹informal› go out to nightclubs

• she enjoys going clubbing in Orlando.

III. phrases

1. in the club (or the pudding club)

(Brit.) ‹informal› pregnant.

2. join the club

[in imperative] — ‹informal› ‹often humorous› used as an observation that someone else is in a difficult or unwelcome situation similar to one's own

• if you're confused, join the club!

– origin early 17th cent. (as a verb): formed obscurely from club^2.

club^2 /kləb/

I. noun

1. a heavy stick with a thick end, especially one used as a weapon.

2. short for golf club.

3. (clubs) — one of the four suits in a conventional deck of playing cards, denoted by a black trefoil.

4. a playing card of the suit of clubs.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. beat (a person or animal) with a club or similar implement

• the islanders clubbed whales to death.

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse clubba, variant of klumba; related to clump.

clubbable /ˈkləbəbəl/

I. adjective

suitable for membership of a club because of one's sociability or popularity.

II. derivatives

clubbability /ˌkləbəˈbilətē /

noun

clubby /ˈkləbē/

adjective

‹informal› friendly and sociable with fellow members of a group or organization but not with outsiders.

club car /ˈkləb ˌkär/

noun

(N. Amer.) a railroad car equipped with a lounge and other amenities.

club chair

noun

a thickly upholstered armchair of the type often found in clubs.

club face

noun

the side of the head of a golf club that strikes the ball.

club foot /ˌkləb ˈfo͝ot/

I. noun

1. a deformed foot that is twisted so that the sole cannot be placed flat on the ground. It is typically congenital or a result of polio.
Also called talipes.

2. a woodland toadstool with a grayish-brown cap, primrose-yellow gills, and a stem with a swollen woolly base, found in both Eurasia and North America.
[Clitocybe clavipes, family Tricholomataceae, class Basidiomycetes.]

II. derivatives

club-footed

adjective

clubhouse /ˈkləbˌhous/

noun

1. a building having a bar and other facilities for the members of a club.

2. a building or part of a building used by a sports team, especially a baseball team, as a locker room.

clubland /ˈkləbˌland/

noun

the world of nightclubs and of people who frequent them.

clubman /ˈkləbmən/

noun

a man who is a member of one or more clubs, especially a member of a gentleman's club.

club moss clubmoss

noun

a low-growing green plant that resembles a large moss, having branching stems with undivided leaves. Relatives of the club mosses were the first plants to colonize the land during the Silurian period.
[Class Lycopodiopsida, phylum Lycopodiophyta: one living family, Lycopodiaceae.]

clubroot /ˈkləbˌro͞ot ˈkləbˌro͝ot/

noun

a fungal disease of cabbages, turnips, and related plants, in which the root becomes swollen and distorted by a single large gall or groups of smaller galls.
[The fungus is Plasmodiophora brassicae, phylum Plasmodiophoromycota.]

club sandwich /ˈkləb ˌsan(d)wiCH/

noun

a sandwich of meat (usually chicken and bacon), tomato, lettuce, and mayonnaise, with two layers of filling between three slices of toast or bread.

club soda /ˌkləb ˈsōdə/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹trademark› another term for soda (sense 1).

club steak

noun

another term for Delmonico steak.

cluck /klək/

I. noun

1. the characteristic short, guttural sound made by a hen.

2. a short, guttural sound made by a person to express concern or disapproval

• Loretta gave a cluck of impatience.

3. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a stupid or foolish person

• a cluck too lazy to put up a clothesline.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a hen) make a short, guttural sound.

2. (of a person) make a short, low sound with one's tongue to express concern or disapproval

• the bystanders shook their heads and clucked sympathetically

• [with obj.] Michael clucked his tongue irritably.

3. [no obj.] (cluck over/at/about) — express fussy concern about

• they were cluck-clucking over the dishonor he brought to the office.

– origin late 15th cent. (as a verb): imitative, corresponding to Danish klukke, Swedish klucka.

cludgie /ˈkləjē/

I. noun

(Scottish) ‹informal› a toilet or bathroom

• he took turns at cleaning the cludgie in the flat.

– origin 1960s: origin uncertain.

clue /klo͞o/

I. noun

1. a piece of evidence or information used in the detection of a crime or solving of a mystery

• police officers are still searching for clues.

2. a fact or idea that serves as a guide or aid in a task or problem

• archaeological evidence can give clues about the past.

3. a verbal formula giving an indication as to what is to be inserted in a particular space in a crossword or other puzzle.

II. verb — [with obj.] (clue someone in)

1. ‹informal› inform someone about a particular matter

• Stella had clued her in about Peter.

III. phrases

not have a clue

‹informal› know nothing about something or about how to do something.

– origin late Middle English: variant of clew. The original sense was ‘a ball of thread’; hence one used to guide a person out of a labyrinth (literally or figuratively). Sense 1 of the noun dates from the early 17th cent.

clued-in /ˌklo͞odˈin/

adjective

‹informal› well-informed about a particular subject.

clueful /ˈklo͞ofəl/

adjective

‹informal› well-informed; competently intelligent

• clueful implementers are aware of the issues and are looking out for you.

clueless /ˈklo͞oləs/

I. adjective

‹informal› having no knowledge, understanding, or ability

• you're clueless about how to deal with the world.

II. derivatives

1. cluelessly

adverb

2. cluelessness

noun

Cluj–Napoca /ˈklo͞oZH ˈnäpōkə, näˈpōkə/

a city in western central Romania; pop. 305,620 (2006). The name was changed from Cluj in the mid 1970s to incorporate the name of a nearby ancient settlement.
Hungarian name Kolozsvár; original name Klausenburg.

Clumber spaniel /ˌkləmbər ˈspanyəl/

I. noun

a spaniel of a slow, heavily built breed.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from the name of Clumber Park, an estate in Nottinghamshire, England.

clump /kləmp/

I. noun

1. a compacted mass or lump of something

• clumps of earth.

2. a small, compact group of people

• they sat on the wall in clumps of two and three.

3. a small group of trees or plants growing closely together

• a clump of ferns.

4. [Physiology] an agglutinated mass of blood cells or bacteria, especially as an indicator of the presence of an antibody to them.

5. a thick extra sole on a boot or shoe.

6. the sound of heavy footsteps.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. form into a clump or mass

• the particles tend to clump together.

2. (also clomp) — walk with a heavy tread.

– origin Middle English (denoting a heap or lump): partly imitative, reinforced by Middle Low German klumpe and Middle Dutch klompe; related to club^2.

clumpy /ˈkləmpē/

adjective

1. (of shoes or boots) heavy and inelegant.

2. forming or showing a tendency to form clumps.

clumsily /ˈkləmzəlē/

adverb

1. in an awkward and careless way

• he climbed clumsily over the rail

• I reached over and fumbled clumsily until my finger found the button.

2. in a way that lacks skill or finesse

• poorly aimed, clumsily executed shots

• the clumsily translated English copy.

3. in a tactless way that shows a lack of social skills

• they clumsily said the wrong thing

• some of the issues are handled clumsily.

clumsiness /ˈkləmzēnəs/

noun

1. the quality of being awkward or careless in one's movements

• my bumbling clumsiness

• in an impressive display of clumsiness, I managed to spill peppermint tea on my desk.

2. the quality of being done in a way that lacks skill or finesse

• the telltale clumsiness of the amateur

• the sheer clumsiness of the ploy made it sure to be uncovered.

3. the quality of being tactless and lacking social skills

• the clumsiness of his flirtation.

clumsy /ˈkləmzē/

I. adjective

1. awkward in movement or in handling things

• a terribly clumsy fellow

• the cold made his fingers clumsy.

2. done awkwardly or without skill or elegance

• a clumsy attempt to park

• a clumsy remake of an old movie.

3. difficult to handle or use; unwieldy

• chairs with clumsy wooden armrests

• the legal procedure is far too clumsy.

4. lacking social skills and graces

• his choice of words was clumsy.

– origin late 16th cent.: from obsolete clumse ‘make numb, be numb,’ probably of Scandinavian origin and related to Swedish klumsig.

clung /kləNG/

past and past participle of cling.

Cluniac /ˈklo͞onēˌak/

I. adjective

of or relating to a reformed Benedictine monastic order founded at Cluny in eastern France in 910.

II. noun

a monk of the Cluniac order.

clunk /kləNGk/

I. noun

1. a heavy, dull sound such as that made by thick pieces of metal striking together.

2. (US) ‹informal› a stupid or foolish person.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. move with or make heavy, dull sounds

• the machinery clunked into life.

– origin late 18th cent. (originally Scots, as a verb): imitative; compare with clank, clink^1, and clonk.

clunker /ˈkləNGkər/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› an old, run-down vehicle or machine.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a thing that is totally unsuccessful

• novel after novel and not a clunker among them.

clunky /ˈkləNGkē/

I. adjective

1. ‹informal› awkwardly solid, heavy, and outdated

• even last year's laptops look clunky

• clunky brown shoes

• ‹figurative› surprisingly clunky comedy.

2. ‹informal› making a clunking sound

• clunky conveyor belts.

II. derivatives

1. clunkily

adverb

2. clunkiness

noun

clupeoid /ˈklo͞opēˌoid / ‹Zoology›

I. noun

a marine fish of a group that includes the herring family together with the anchovies and related fish.
[Order Clupeiformes or suborder Clupeoidei.]

II. adjective

of or relating to fish of the clupeoid group.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Clupeoidei (plural), from Latin clupea, the name of a river fish.

cluster /ˈkləstər/

I. noun

1. a group of similar things or people positioned or occurring closely together

• clusters of creamy-white flowers

• a cluster of antique shops.

2. [Astronomy] a group of stars or galaxies forming a relatively close association.

3. (also consonant cluster) — [Linguistics] a group of consonants pronounced in immediate succession, as str in strong.

4. a natural subgroup of a population, used for statistical sampling or analysis.

5. [Chemistry] a group of atoms of the same element, typically a metal, bonded closely together in a molecule.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. be or come into a cluster or close group; congregate

• the children clustered around her skirts.

2. [Statistics] (of data points) have similar numerical values

• students tended to have scores clustering around 70 percent.

– origin Old English clyster; probably related to clot.

cluster bean

noun

another term for guar.

cluster bomb /ˈkləstər ˌbäm/

noun

a bomb that releases a number of projectiles on impact to injure or damage personnel and vehicles.

clustered /ˈkləstərd/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. growing or situated in a group

• the spires and clustered roofs of the old town.

2. [Architecture] (of pillars, columns, or shafts) positioned close together, or disposed around or half-detached from a pier.

cluster fly

noun

a fly that often enters buildings in large numbers during the autumn while looking for a place to overwinter.
[Pollenia rudis (family Calliphoridae), whose larvae parasitize earthworms, and the smaller Thaumatomyia notata (family Chloropidae).]

clusterfuck /ˈkləstərˌfək/

I. noun

(US) ‹vulgar slang› a disastrously mishandled situation or undertaking.

– origin 1960s: from cluster + fuck.

cluster headache

noun

a type of severe headache that tends to recur over a period of several weeks and in which the pain is usually limited to one side of the head.

clutch^1 /kləCH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. grasp or seize (something) tightly or eagerly

• he stood clutching a microphone

• ‹figurative› Mrs. Longhill clutched at the idea.

2. (also clutch up) — become nervous and panicked

• doctors could clutch up and lose control as easily as anyone.

II. noun

1. a tight grasp or an act of grasping something

• she made a clutch at his body.

2. (someone's clutches) — a person's power or control, especially when perceived as cruel or inescapable

• she escaped the clutches of her temperamental family.

3. (N. Amer.) a slim, flat handbag without handles or a strap.

4. a mechanism for connecting and disconnecting a vehicle engine from its transmission system.

5. the pedal operating a vehicle's clutch.

III. adjective

1. (US) ‹informal› (in sport) denoting or occurring in a critical situation in which the outcome of a game or competition is at stake

• they both are hard-nosed players who seem to thrive in clutch situations.

2. (US) ‹informal› (of a player or action) achieving or characterized by success at a critical moment in a game or competition

• a clutch quarterback

• clutch free-throw shooting.

IV. phrases

1. clutch at straws

see straw.

2. in the clutch

(US) ‹informal› at a critical moment

• why are some athletes able to perform in the clutch while others choke?

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘bend, crook’): variant of obsolete clitch ‘close the hand,’ from Old English clyccan ‘crook, clench,’ of Germanic origin.

clutch^2 /kləCH/

I. noun

1. a group of eggs fertilized at the same time, typically laid in a single session and (in birds) incubated together.

2. a brood of chicks.

3. a small group of people or things

• a clutch of young girls on roller skates.

– origin early 18th cent.: probably a southern variant of northern English dialect cletch, related to Middle English cleck ‘to hatch,’ from Old Norse klekja.

Clutha /ˈklo͞oTHə/

a gold-bearing river at the southern end of South Island, in New Zealand. It flows for 213 miles (338 km) to the Pacific Ocean.

clutter /ˈklədər/

I. noun

1. a collection of things lying about in an untidy mass

• the attic is full of clutter.

2. [in sing.] — an untidy state

• the room was in a clutter of smelly untidiness.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. crowd (something) untidily; fill with clutter

• his apartment was cluttered with paintings and antiques

• luggage cluttered up the hallway.

– origin late Middle English (as a verb): variant of dialect clotter ‘to clot,’ influenced by cluster and clatter.

Clyde /klīd/

a river in western central Scotland that flows for 106 miles (170 km) from the southern uplands to the Firth of Clyde.

Clyde, Firth of

the estuary of the Clyde River in western Scotland that separates southern Scotland on the east from the southern end of the Highlands on the northwest.

Clydesdale /ˈklīdzdāl/

I. noun

1. a horse of a heavy, powerful breed, used for pulling heavy loads.

2. a dog of a small breed of terrier.

– origin from the name of the area around the river Clyde in Scotland, where they were originally bred.

clypeus /ˈklipēəs/

I. noun

[Entomology] a broad plate at the front of an insect's head.

II. derivatives

clypeal /-pēəl /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘round shield.’

clyster /ˈklistər/

I. noun

archaic term for enema.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French clystere or Latin clyster, from Greek klustēr ‘syringe,’ from kluzein ‘wash out.’

Clytemnestra /ˌklīdəmˈnestrə / ‹Greek Mythology›

wife of Agamemnon. She conspired with her lover Aegisthus to murder Agamemnon on his return from the Trojan War and was murdered in retribution by her son Orestes and her daughter Electra.

cm //

abbreviation

centimeter(s).

Cm

symbol

the chemical element curium.

CM

abbreviation

1. command module.

2. common meter or measure.

CMC

abbreviation

computer-mediated communication (that is, communication by means of email, instant messaging, social media, etc.).

Cmdr.

abbreviation

Commander.

Cmdre.

abbreviation

Commodore.

CMEA

abbreviation

Council for Mutual Economic Assistance.

c'mon /kəˈmän/

contraction

come on

• C'mon, it'll be fun!

CMOS

I. noun — [often as modifier]

1. [Electronics] a technology for making low power integrated circuits.

2. [Electronics] a chip built using CMOS technology.

– origin 1980s: from Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor.

CMS

abbreviation

content management system (a system designed to manage the content of a website or other electronic resource that is used collaboratively by a number of people)

• the choice of the proper CMS can have a big impact on the success of a website.

CMSgt

abbreviation

chief master sergeant.

CMV

abbreviation

cytomegalovirus.

CMYK

I. abbreviation

cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, the four colors used in most color printers, usually in two ink cartridges, one of black ink and the other containing cyan, magenta, and yellow inks in separate reservoirs.

– origin the final ‘k’ in black is used to differentiate black from blue; the color scheme RGB (red, green, blue) is used for color computer display screens.

Cn

symbol

the chemical element copernicium.

cnemial crest /ˌnēmēəl ˈkrest/

I. noun

[Zoology] (in the legs of many mammals, birds, and dinosaurs) a ridge at the front of the head of the tibia or tibiotarsus to which the main extensor muscle of the thigh is attached. It is particularly well developed in running species.

– origin late 19th cent.: cnemial, from Greek knēmē ‘tibia’ + -al.

CNG

abbreviation

compressed natural gas.

Cnidaria /nīdˈerēə / ‹Zoology›

I. a phylum of aquatic invertebrate animals that comprises the coelenterates.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek knidē ‘nettle.’

cnidarian /nīdˈerēən / ‹Zoology›

I. noun

an aquatic invertebrate animal of the phylum Cnidaria, which comprises the coelenterates.

II. adjective

relating to or denoting cnidarians.

CNN

abbreviation

Cable News Network.

C-note

I. noun

(US) ‹informal› a 100 dollar bill

• Helen's dad handed me a C-note for bringing his daughter home and this paid for the gas.

– origin 1930s: from the Roman numeral C (for 100).

CNR

abbreviation

‹historical› Canadian National Railways.

CNS

abbreviation

central nervous system.

Co

symbol

the chemical element cobalt.

CO /ˌsēˈō/

abbreviation

1. Colorado (in official postal use).

2. Commanding Officer.

3. conscientious objector.

Co. /kō/

I. abbreviation

1. company

• the Consett Iron Co.

2. county

• Hudson Co.

II. phrases

and Co.

a. used as part of the titles of commercial businesses to designate the partner or partners not named.

b. (also and co.) — ‹informal› and the rest of them

• I got there at 12.30 and waited for Mark and Co. to arrive.

c/o /ˌsēˈō/

abbreviation

1. care of.

2. carried over.

co- /kō/

I. prefix

1. (forming nouns) joint; mutual; common

• coeducation.

2. (forming adjectives) jointly; mutually

• coequal.

3. (forming verbs) together with another or others

• coproduce

• co-own.

4. [Mathematics] of the complement of an angle

• cosine.

5. the complement of

• colatitude

• coset.

– origin from Latin, originally a form of com-. / usage: 1 In modern American English, the tendency increasingly is to write compound words beginning with co- without hyphenation, as in costar, cosignatory, and coproduce. British usage generally tends more often to show a preference for the older, hyphenated spelling, but even in Britain the trend seems to be in favor of less hyphenation than in the past. In both the US and the UK, for example, the spellings of coordinate and coed are encountered with or without hyphenation, but the more common choice for either word in either country is without the hyphen. 2Co- with the hyphen is often used in compounds that are not yet standard (co-golfer), or to prevent ambiguity (co-driver —because codriver could be mistaken for cod river), or simply to avoid an awkward spelling (co-own is clearly preferable to coown). There are also some relatively less common terms, such as co-respondent (in a divorce suit), where the hyphenated spelling distinguishes the word's meaning and pronunciation from that of the more common correspondent.

CoA

abbreviation

[Biochemistry] coenzyme A.

coacervate /ˌkōəˈsərvət/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a colloid-rich viscous liquid phase that may separate from a colloidal solution on addition of a third component.

– origin early 20th cent.: back-formation from coacervation, based on Latin cum ‘(together) with’ + acervus ‘heap.’

coach^1 /kōCH/

I. noun

1. a horse-drawn carriage, especially a closed one.

2. a railroad car.

3. (also coach class) — (N. Amer.) economy class seating in an aircraft or train

• a transatlantic flight in coach isn't the most pleasant experience

• the cheapest coach-class fare.

4. a bus, especially one that is comfortably equipped and used for longer journeys.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. travel by coach

• they coached to Claude's dwelling.

III. adverb

(N. Amer.) in economy class accommodations in an aircraft or train

• flying coach.

– origin mid 16th cent. (sense 1 of the noun): from French coche, from Hungarian kocsi (szekér) ‘(wagon) from Kocs,’ a town in Hungary.

coach^2 /kōCH/

I. noun

1. an athletic instructor or trainer.

2. a tutor who gives private or specialized teaching.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. train or instruct (a team or player)

• he has coached the Edmeston Panthers for six years.

2. give (someone) extra or private teaching

• he was coached to speak more slowly and curb his hand gestures.

3. teach (a subject or sport) as a coach

• a Washington realtor who coaches soccer.

4. prompt or urge (someone) with instructions

• he had improperly coached the witness to testify more credibly.

– origin early 18th cent. (as a verb): figuratively from coach^1.

coach house

noun

an outbuilding in which a carriage is or was kept.

coachman /ˈkōCHmən/

noun

a driver of a horse-drawn carriage.

coachroof /ˈkōCHˌro͞of, -ˌro͝of/

noun

a raised part of the cabin roof of a yacht.

coach screw

noun

another term for lag screw.

coachwhip /ˈkōCH(h)wip/

noun

a harmless, fast-moving North American snake. The pattern of scales on its slender body is said to resemble a braided whip.
[Masticophis flagellum, family Colubridae.]

coachwood /ˈkōCHˌwo͝od/

noun

a slender tree of the rain forests of Australia and New Guinea, with close-grained timber that has a characteristic caramel scent and is used for cabinetmaking and veneers.
[Ceratopetalum apetalum, family Cunoniaceae.]

coaction /ˌkōˈakSH(ə)n/

noun

1. compulsion; restraint; coercion.

2. concerted action; acting together.

coadapted /ˌkōəˈdaptəd/

I. adjective

[Biology] mutually adapted; mutually accommodating.

II. derivatives

coadaptation /ˌkōadəpˈtāSHən /

noun

coadjutant /ˌkōˈajəd(ə)nt/

I. adjective

helping another or others, or with another or others.

II. noun

a person who thus helps.

coadjutor /kōˈajo͞odər kōˈajədər/

I. noun

a bishop appointed to assist a diocesan bishop, and often also designated as his successor.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from late Latin coadjutor, from co- (from Latin cum ‘together with’) + adjutor ‘assistant’ (from adjuvare ‘to help’).

coagulant /kōˈaɡyələnt/

I. noun

a substance that causes blood or another liquid to coagulate.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Latin coagulant- ‘curdling,’ from the verb coagulare (see coagulate).

coagulase /kōˈaɡyəˌlās, -ˌlāz/

noun

[Biochemistry] a bacterial enzyme that brings about the coagulation of blood or plasma and is produced by disease-causing forms of staphylococcus.

coagulate /kōˈaɡyəˌlāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a fluid, especially blood) change to a solid or semisolid state

• blood had coagulated around the edges of the wound.

2. [with obj.] — cause (a fluid) to change to a solid or semisolid state

• epinephrine coagulates the blood.

II. derivatives

1. coagulable /-ləbəl /

adjective

2. coagulative /kōˈaɡyəˌlādiv /

adjective

3. coagulator /kōˈaɡyəˌlādər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin coagulat- ‘curdled,’ from the verb coagulare, from coagulum ‘rennet.’

coagulation /ˌkōaɡyo͝oˈlāSH(ə)n/

noun

the action or process of a liquid, especially blood, changing to a solid or semi-solid state

• a supplement that inhibits blood coagulation

• [as modifier] an abnormal coagulation test result.

coagulum /kōˈaɡyələm/

I. noun

a mass of coagulated matter.

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting a coagulant): from Latin, literally ‘rennet.’

Coahuila /ˌkōəˈwēlə/

a state in northern Mexico, on the US border; capital, Saltillo.

coal /kōl/

I. noun

1. a combustible black or dark brown rock consisting mainly of carbonized plant matter, found mainly in underground deposits and widely used as fuel
[as modifier]

• a coal fire.

2. a red-hot piece of coal or other material in a fire

• the glowing coals.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. provide with a supply of coal
(as noun coaling)

• the coaling and watering of the engine.

III. phrases

1. coals to Newcastle

something brought or sent to a place where it is already plentiful.

2. rake (or haul) someone over the coals

reprimand someone severely.

IV. derivatives

coaly /ˈkōlē /

adjective

– origin Old English col (in the senses ‘glowing ember’ and ‘charred remnant’), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kool and German Kohle. The sense ‘combustible mineral used as fuel’ dates from Middle English.

coal-black /ˈkōl ˈblak/

adjective

as black as coal; utterly black.

coaler /ˈkōlər/

noun

1. a ship that transports coal.

2. a large mechanized structure for loading coal onto a ship, railroad car, or steam locomotive.

coalesce /ˌkōəˈles/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. come together and form one mass or whole

• the puddles had coalesced into shallow streams

• the separate details coalesce to form a single body of scientific thought.

2. [with obj.] — combine (elements) in a mass or whole

• to help coalesce the community, they established an office.

II. derivatives

1. coalescence /ˌkōəˈlesns /

noun

2. coalescent /-ˈlesənt /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘bring together, unite’): from Latin coalescere, from co- (from cum ‘with’) + alescere ‘grow up’ (from alere ‘nourish’).

coalfield /ˈkōlˌfēld/

noun

an extensive area containing a number of underground coal deposits.

coal-fired /ˈkōl ˌfī(ə)rd/

adjective

heated, driven, or produced by the burning of coal

• a coal-fired power station.

coal gas /ˈkōl ˌɡas/

noun

a mixture of gases (chiefly hydrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide) obtained by the destructive distillation of coal and formerly used for lighting and heating.

coalification /ˌkōləfəˈkāSH(ə)n/

noun

the process by which plant remains become coal.

coalition /ˌkōəˈliSH(ə)n/

I. noun

an alliance for combined action, especially a temporary alliance of political parties forming a government or of states

• a coalition of conservatives and disaffected Democrats

• the party was only able to govern in coalition with three or even four other parties

• [as modifier] a coalition government.

II. derivatives

coalitionist /ˌkōəˈliSH(ə)nəst /

noun

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘fusion’): from medieval Latin coalitio(n-), from the verb coalescere (see coalesce). Usage in politics dates from the late 18th cent.

coal measures

plural noun

[Geology] a series of strata of the Carboniferous period, including coal seams.

coal mine

noun

an excavation in the earth for extracting coal.

coal miner

noun

a person who works in a coal mine

• 200 coal miners were trapped deep underground for around six hours.

coal oil

noun

another term for kerosene.

Coalport /ˈkōlpôrt/

noun

a kind of porcelain, frequently decorated with floral designs, produced at Coalport, England, from the late 18th century.

Coalsack /ˈkōlsak / ‹Astronomy› the Coalsack

a dark nebula of dust near the Southern Cross that gives the appearance of a gap in the stars of the Milky Way.

coal scuttle //

noun

see scuttle^1.

coal tar /ˈkōl ˌtär/

noun

a thick black liquid produced by the destructive distillation of bituminous coal. It contains benzene, naphthalene, phenols, aniline, and many other organic chemicals.

coaming /ˈkōmiNG / coamings

I. noun

a raised border around the cockpit or hatch of a yacht or other boat to keep out water.

– origin early 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

coaptation /ˌkōapˈtāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the adaptation or adjustment of things, parts, or people to each other.

2. [Medicine] the drawing together of the separated tissue in a wound or fracture.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from late Latin coaptatio(n-), from the verb coaptare, from co- (from Latin cum ‘with, together’) + aptare (from aptus ‘apt’).

coarctate /kōˈärkˌtāt/

I. adjective

1. [chiefly Anatomy] [Biology] pressed close together; contracted; confined.

2. [chiefly Anatomy] [Biology] [Entomology] (of the pupa of certain flies) formed within and remaining concealed by the larval cuticle or puparium.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin coarctatus, past participle of coarctare ‘press or draw together.’

coarctation /ˌkōärkˈtāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

[Medicine] congenital narrowing of a short section of the aorta.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin coarctatio(n-), from the verb coarctare (see coarctate).

coarse /kôrs/

I. adjective

1. rough or loose in texture or grain

• a coarse woolen cloth.

2. made of large grains or particles

• dry, coarse sand.

3. (of grains or particles) large.

4. (of a person's features) not elegantly formed or proportioned.

5. (of food or drink) of inferior quality.

6. (of a person or their speech) rude, crude, or vulgar.

II. derivatives

1. coarsely /ˈkôrslē /

adverb

2. coarsish

adjective

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘ordinary or inferior’): origin uncertain; until the 17th cent. identical in spelling with course, and possibly derived from the latter in the sense ‘habitual or ordinary manner.’

coarse-grained /ˌkôrsˈɡrānd/

adjective

1. coarse in texture or grain

• a coarse-grained flour.

2. (of photographic film) having a noticeably grainy appearance.

3. coarse in manner or speech

• a coarse-grained man.

coarsen /ˈkôrs(ə)n/

verb

1. make or become rough
[with obj.]

• her hands were coarsened by outside work

• [no obj.] his facial features appeared to coarsen with age.

2. make or become crude, vulgar, or unpleasant
[with obj.]

• her experience has not coarsened her or made her cynical

• [no obj.] the voice coarsened.

coarseness /ˈkôrsnəs/

noun

1. the quality of being rough or harsh

• the coarseness of her hair.

2. the quality of being coarse in texture

• you can set the desired coarseness of your flour.

3. rudeness; vulgarity

• he disliked the coarseness of the men around him.

coarticulation /ˌkōärˌtikyəˈlāSH(ə)n/

noun

[Phonetics] the articulation of two or more speech sounds together, so that one influences the other.

coast /kōst/

I. noun

1. the part of the land near the sea; the edge of the land

• the west coast of Africa

• they sailed further up the coast

• [as modifier] the coast road.

2. (the Coast) — (N. Amer.) the Pacific coast of North America.

3. a run or movement in or on a vehicle without the use of power.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — (of a person or vehicle) move easily without using power

• the engines stopped, and the craft coasted along.

2. act or make progress without making much effort

• he coasted to victory.

3. slide down a snowy hill on a sled.

4. [no obj.] — sail along the coast, especially in order to carry cargo
(as adj. coasting)

• a coasting schooner.

III. phrases

the coast is clear

there is no danger of being observed or caught.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘side of the body’), from Old French coste (noun), costeier (verb), from Latin costa ‘rib, flank, side.’ Sense 1 of the noun arose from the phrase coast of the sea ‘side of the sea.’

coastal /ˈkōstəl/

adjective

of, relating to, or near a coast

• coastal erosion

• coastal waters.

coasteering /ˌkōstˈiriNG/

noun

(chiefly Brit.) the sport or activity of exploring a rocky coastline by climbing, jumping, and swimming.

coaster /ˈkōstər/

noun

1. a ship used to carry cargo along the coast.

2. [with adj.] — a person who inhabits a specified coast

• a West coaster.

3. a small tray or mat placed under a bottle or glass to protect the table underneath.

4. (N. Amer.) a toboggan.

5. short for roller coaster.

coast guard /ˈkōst ˌɡärd / coastguard

noun — (Coast Guard)

1. a branch of the US armed forces, under the Department of Transportation since 1967, responsible for the enforcement of maritime law and for the protection of life and property at sea. In time of war, or at the direction of the president, the Coast Guard serves as part of the US Navy.

2. (the coastguard) — a civilian or volunteer organization keeping watch on the sea near a coast in order to assist people or ships in danger and to prevent smuggling.

3. a member of a federal or civilian coast guard organization.

coastguardsman /ˈkōstˌɡärdzmən/

noun

a member of a coast guard, especially the US Coast Guard.

coastland /ˈkōstland/

noun — (usu. coastlands)

1. an expanse of land near the sea.

coastline /ˈkōstˌlīn/

noun

the outline of a coast, especially with regard to its shape and appearance

• the hotel has wonderful views of the rugged coastline.

Coast Mountains

a range that curves northwest for 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from British Columbia to Alaska and extends the line of the Cascade Mountains. Mount Waddington at 13,104 feet (3,994 m) is the high point.

Coast Ranges

the name for various ranges that extend from southern California along the Pacific coast to Alaska. Parallel to and west of the Coast Mountains, they reach 19,524 feet (5,951 m) at Mount Logan in the Yukon Territory.

coast to coast /ˌkōst tə ˈkōst/

adjective, adverb

all the way across an island or continent
[as adv.]

• retail stores from coast to coast

• (as adj. coast-to-coast) a coast-to-coast journey.

coastward /ˈkōstwərd / coastwards

adverb, adjective

toward the coast.

coastwise /ˈkōstwīz/

adjective, adverb

along, following, or connected with the coast
[as adj.]

• a small coastwise steamer

• [as adv.] the cargo was ferried coastwise.

coat /kōt/

I. noun

1. an outer garment worn outdoors, having sleeves and typically extending below the hips

• a winter coat

• [as modifier] his coat pocket.

2. an outer garment having sleeves and extending below the hips worn indoors as a protective garment

• a laboratory coat.

3. a man's jacket or tunic, especially as worn when hunting or by soldiers.

4. a man's or woman's tailored jacket.

5. an animal's covering of fur or hair.

6. a structure, especially a membrane, enclosing or lining an organ.

7. a skin, rind, or husk.

8. a layer of a plant bulb.

9. an outer layer or covering of a specified kind

• the protein coat of the virus.

10. a covering of paint or similar material laid on a surface at one time

• a protective coat of varnish.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. provide with a layer or covering of something; apply a coat to

• his boots were coated with mud

• coat each part with a thin oil.

2. (of a substance) form a covering to

• a film of dust coated the floor.

III. derivatives

coated /ˈkōdəd /

adjective

[in combination]

• plastic-coated wire

– origin Middle English: from Old French cote, of unknown ultimate origin.

coat armor

noun

heraldic arms.

coat check

noun

(N. Amer.) a cloakroom with an attendant.

coat checker

noun

a cloakroom attendant.

coat dress /ˈkōt ˌdres/

noun

a woman's tailored dress, typically fastening down the front and resembling a coat.

coati /kōˈädē/

I. noun

a raccoonlike animal found mainly in Central and South America, with a long, flexible snout and a ringed tail.
Also called coatimundi. [Genera Nasua and Nasuella, family Procyonidae: three or four species, in particular Nasua nasua, whose range reaches the southern US.]

– origin early 17th cent.: from Spanish and Portuguese, from Tupi kua'ti, from cua ‘belt’ + tim ‘nose.’

coatimundi /kōˌädēˈməndē/

I. noun

another term for coati.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Portuguese, from Tupi kuatimu'ne, from kua'ti (see coati) + mu'ne ‘snare or trick.’ The coatimundi was originally thought to be a different species from the coati, but then discovered to be the male of the same species.

coating /ˈkōdiNG/

noun

1. a thin layer or covering of something

• a coating of paint.

2. material used for making coats.

coat of arms /ˈkōd əv ˈˌärmz/

noun

the distinctive heraldic bearings or shield of a person, family, corporation, or country.

coat of mail /ˌkōt əv ˈmāl/

noun

‹historical› a jacket covered with or composed of metal rings or plates, serving as armor.

coatrack /ˈkōtrak / coat stand

noun

a rack or stand with hooks on which to hang coats, hats, etc.

coatroom /ˈkōtˌro͞om ˈkōtˌro͝om/

noun

(N. Amer.) another term for cloakroom.

Coats Land /ˈkōts ˌland/

a region of Antarctica, east of the Antarctic Peninsula.

coattail /ˈkōtˌtāl/

I. noun — (usu. coattails)

1. each of the flaps formed by the lower back of a coat, especially a tailcoat.

II. phrases

ride (on) the coattails of

benefit from the success of (another), sometimes undeservedly

• the film could ride the coattails of the hottest show on Broadway.

• the band is riding on the coattails of the garage-rock revival.

• he was elected on the coattails of his predecessor.

coauthor /ˌkōˈôTHər/

I. noun

a joint author.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. be a joint author of (a book, paper, or report).

coax^1 /kōks/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. persuade (someone) gradually or by flattery to do something

• the trainees were coaxed into doing hard, boring work

• “Come on now,” I coaxed.

2. (coax something from/out of) — use flattery or gradual persuasion to obtain something from

• we coaxed money out of my father

• ‹figurative› coaxing more speed from the car.

3. manipulate (something) carefully into a particular shape or position

• her lovely hair had been coaxed into ringlets.

II. derivatives

1. coaxer /ˈkōksər /

noun

2. coaxingly /ˈkōksiNGlē /

adverb

– origin late 16th cent.: from obsolete cokes ‘simpleton,’ of unknown origin. The original sense was ‘pet, fondle,’ hence ‘persuade by caresses or flattery,’ the underlying sense being ‘make a simpleton of.’

coax^2 /ˈkōaks / ‹informal›

I. noun

coaxial cable.

II. adjective

coaxial

• coax connectors.

coaxial /kōˈaksēəl/

I. adjective

1. having a common axis.

2. (of a cable or line) consisting of two concentric conductors separated by an insulator.

II. derivatives

coaxially

adverb

cob^1 /käb/

I. noun

1. (also corncob) — the central, cylindrical, woody part of the corn ear to which the grains, or kernels, are attached.

2. (also cobnut) — a hazelnut or filbert, especially one of a large variety.

3. a hazel or filbert bush.

4. a powerfully built, short-legged horse.

5. a male swan.

6. (Brit.) a roundish lump of coal.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a strong man or leader): of unknown origin. The underlying general sense appears to be ‘stout, rounded, sturdy.’

cob^2 /käb/

I. noun

(Brit.) a mixture of compressed clay and straw used, especially in former times, for building walls
[as modifier]

• cob and thatch cottages.

– origin early 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

COB

abbreviation

close of business

• you have until COB today to show us why you should not be disconnected.

Cobain, Kurt /ˈkōbān/

(1967–94), US rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter; full name Kurt Donald Cobain. As leader of the Seattle band Nirvana, his style helped characterize the alternative music scene. His notoriety reached cult status, particularly after his suicide in April 1994.

cobalamin /kōˈbôləmēn/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] any of a group of cobalt-containing substances including cyanocobalamin (vitamin B_12).

– origin 1950s: blend of cobalt and vitamin.

cobalt /ˈkōˌbôlt/

I. noun

1. (Symbol: Co) — the chemical element of atomic number 27, a hard silvery-white magnetic metal.

2. short for cobalt blue:
[as modifier]

• a cobalt sky.

Cobalt is chiefly obtained as a byproduct from nickel and copper ores. It is a transition metal similar in many respects to nickel. Its main use is as a component of magnetic alloys and those designed for use at high temperatures.

II. derivatives

1. cobaltic /kōˈbôltik /

adjective

2. cobaltous /kōˈbôltəs /

adjective

– origin late 17th cent.: from German Kobalt ‘imp, demon’ (because the presence of cobalt-bearing ore made it more difficult to extract silver, and miners believed that it was harmful to the silver ore with which it occurred).

cobalt blue /ˈˌkōˌbôlt ˈblo͞o/

noun

1. a deep blue pigment containing cobalt and aluminum oxides.

2. the deep blue color of this.

Cobb, Ty /käb/

(1886–1961), US baseball player; full name Tyrus Raymond Cobb; also known as the Georgia Peach. His lifetime batting average (.367) is the highest in major league history. An outfielder, he played for the Detroit Tigers 1905–26 and the Philadelphia Athletics 1927–28. Baseball Hall of Fame (1936).

Cobb County /ˌkäb ˈkoun(t)ē/

a county in northwestern Georgia that contains many northwestern suburbs of Atlanta; pop. 698,158 (est. 2008). Its seat is Marietta.

cobble^1 /ˈkäbəl/

I. noun — (usu. cobbles)

1. a cobblestone.

2. (cobbles) — (Brit.) coal in lumps the size of cobblestones.

– origin late Middle English: from cob^1 + -le^2.

cobble^2 /ˈkäbəl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹dated› repair (shoes).

2. (cobble something together) — roughly assemble or put together something from available parts or elements

• the mayor cobbled together a budget.

– origin late 15th cent.: back-formation from cobbler.

cobbled /ˈkäbəld/

adjective

(of an area or roadway) paved with cobbles

• a cobbled courtyard.

cobbler /ˈkäblər/

I. noun

1. a person who mends shoes as a job.

2. an iced drink made with wine or sherry, sugar, and lemon.

3. (chiefly N. Amer.) a dessert consisting of fruit baked in a deep dish with a thick, cake-like crust on top.

II. phrases

let the cobbler stick to his last

‹proverb› people should only concern themselves with things they know something about.
[translating Latin ne sutor ultra crepidam.]

– origin Middle English: of unknown origin.

cobblestone /ˈkäbəlˌstōn/

noun

a small, round stone of a kind formerly used to cover road surfaces.

cobby /ˈkäbē/

adjective

(of horses, dogs, and other animals) shortish and thickset; stocky.

cob coal

noun

see cob^1 (sense 5).

Cobden, Richard /ˈkäbdən/

(1804–65), English political reformer. From 1838, with John Bright, he led the Anti-Corn Law League in its successful campaign for the repeal of the Corn Laws 1846.

COBE /ˈkōbē/

I. a NASA satellite launched in 1989 to map the background microwave radiation from space in a search for evidence of the Big Bang.

– origin abbreviation of Cosmic Background Explorer.

co-belligerent /ˌkōbəˈlijərənt/

I. noun

any of two or more nations engaged in war as allies.

II. derivatives

co-belligerence

noun

cobia /ˈkōbēə/

I. noun

a large, edible game fish that lives in open waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and western Pacific oceans.
Also called sergeant fish. [Rachycentron canadum, family Rachycentridae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

COBOL /ˈkōbôl/

I. noun

a computer programming language designed for use in commerce.

– origin 1960s: from co(mmon) b(usiness) o(riented) l(anguage).

cobot /ˈkōˌbät, -bət/

I. noun

a computer-controlled robotic device designed to assist a person.

– origin blend of collaborative and robot.

cobra /ˈkōbrə/

I. noun

1. a highly venomous snake native to Africa and Asia that spreads the skin of its neck into a hood when disturbed.
[Naja and two other genera, family Elapidae: several species, in particular the king cobra and the spectacled cobra.]

2. (also cobra pose) — a yoga pose assumed by lying on one's stomach and raising one's upper body so as to curve it backwards, using one's arms and hands for support

• drop the pelvis and arch the back into cobra.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Portuguese cobra de capello, literally ‘snake with hood,’ based on Latin colubra ‘snake.’

co-brand /ˈkōbrand/

I. verb

[with obj.] — designate (a product or service) with the brands of joint manufacturers or sponsors.

II. noun

a product or service jointly offered by two manufacturers or sponsors.

III. derivatives

co-branding

noun

cobweb /ˈkäbˌweb/

I. noun — (usu. cobwebs)

1. a spider's web, especially when old and covered with dust.

2. [Zoology] a tangled three-dimensional spider's web.

3. something resembling a cobweb in delicacy or intricacy

• white cobwebs of frost.

II. phrases

blow (or clear) away the cobwebs

banish a state of sluggishness; enliven or refresh oneself.

III. derivatives

1. cobwebbed /ˈkäbwebd /

adjective

2. cobwebby

adjective

– origin Middle English coppeweb, copweb, from obsolete coppe ‘spider’ + web.

cobweb spider

noun

a spider that builds tangled three-dimensional webs.
[Family Theridiidae: many species, class Arachnida.]

coca /ˈkōkə/

I. noun

1. a tropical American shrub that is widely grown for its leaves, which are the source of cocaine.
[Erythroxylum coca, family Erythroxylaceae.]

2. the dried leaves of the coca plant, which are mixed with lime and chewed as a stimulant by the indigenous people of western South America.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Spanish, from Aymara kuka or Quechua koka.

cocaine /kōˈkān ˈkōˌkān/

I. noun

an addictive drug derived from coca or prepared synthetically, used as an illegal stimulant and sometimes medicinally as a local anesthetic.
[An alkaloid; chem. formula: C_17H_21NO_4.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from coca + -ine^4.

cocainism /kōˈkānizəm/

noun

(the condition due to) excessive use of or addiction to cocaine.

cocainize /kōˈkānīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. treat or anesthetize with cocaine.

coccid /ˈkäksid/

noun

a homopteran insect of the family Coccidae; a scale insect.

coccidia /käkˈsidēə/

I. plural noun

[Biology] parasitic protozoa of a group that includes those that cause diseases such as coccidiosis and toxoplasmosis.
[Suborder Eimeriorina (formerly order or subclass Coccidia), phylum Sporozoa.]

II. derivatives

coccidian

adjective, noun

coccidioidomycosis /käkˌsidēˌoidōmīˈkōsəs/

I. noun

a serious fungal disease of the lungs and other tissues, endemic in the warmer, arid regions of America.
[The fungus is Coccidioides immitis, phylum Ascomycota.]

– origin 1930s: from modern Latin Coccidioides (part of the binomial of the fungus) + mycosis.

coccidiosis /käkˌsidēˈōsəs/

I. noun

a disease of birds and mammals that chiefly affects the intestines, caused by coccidia.
[The coccidia belong to the genera Eimeria, Isopora, and others.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from coccidium (singular of modern Latin Coccidia, from Greek kokkis, diminutive of kokkos ‘berry’) + -osis.

coccidiostat /käkˈsidēōˌstat/

noun

[Veterinary Medicine] a substance administered to poultry, cattle, puppies, and kittens to retard the growth and reproduction of coccidian parasites.

coccidium /käkˈsidēəm/

noun

singular form of coccidia.

coccinellid /ˌkäksəˈnelid/

I. noun

[Entomology] a beetle of a family (Coccinellidae) that includes the ladybugs.

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Coccinellidae (plural), from the genus name Coccinella, from Latin coccineus ‘scarlet.’

coccolith /ˈkäkəˌliTH/

I. noun

[Biology] a minute, rounded, calcareous platelet, numbers of which form the spherical shells of coccolithophores.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek kokkos ‘grain or berry’ + lithos ‘stone.’

coccolithophore /ˌkäkəˈliTHəfôr/

I. noun

[Biology] a single-celled marine flagellate that secretes a calcareous shell, forming an important constituent of the phytoplankton.
[Order Coccolithophorida, phylum Haptophyta.]

II. derivatives

coccolithophorid /ˌkäkəliˈTHäfərid /

noun, adjective

coccus /ˈkäkəs/

I. noun

[Biology] any spherical or roughly spherical bacterium.

II. derivatives

1. coccal /ˈkäkəl /

adjective

2. coccoid /ˈkäkˌoid /

adjective

– origin mid 18th cent. (denoting a scale insect): modern Latin, from Greek kokkos ‘berry.’ Compare with cochineal.

coccyx /ˈkäksiks/

I. noun

a small, triangular bone at the base of the spinal column in humans and some apes, formed of fused vestigial vertebrae.

II. derivatives

coccygeal /käkˈsijēəl /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek kokkux ‘cuckoo’ (because the shape of the human bone resembles the cuckoo's bill).

Cochabamba /ˌkōCHəˈbämbə/

a city in western central Bolivia, at the center of a rich agricultural region; pop. 611,056 (2009).

cochair

I. noun — /ˈkōCHer /

1. a person who is in charge of a meeting or organization jointly with another or others.

II. verb — /ˈkōCHer / [with obj.]

1. chair (a meeting) jointly with others.

Cochin^1 /ˈkōCHin ˈkäCHin/

former name for Kochi.

Cochin^2 /ˈkōCHin ˈkäCHin / Cochin China

noun

a chicken of an Asian breed with feathery legs.

Cochin-China /ˌkōCHinˈCHīnə/

the former name for the southern region of what is now Vietnam. Part of French Indo-China from 1862, it became a French overseas territory in 1946 and then merged officially with Vietnam in 1949.

cochineal /ˈkäCHəˌnēəl/

I. noun

1. a scarlet dye used chiefly for coloring food.

2. the dried bodies of a female scale insect, which are crushed to yield cochineal dye.

3. a dye similar to cochineal made from the oak kermes insect (see kermes).

4. (cochineal insect) — the scale insect that is used for cochineal, native to Mexico and formerly widely cultivated on cacti.
[Dactylopius coccus, family Dactylopiidae, suborder Homoptera.]

– origin late 16th cent.: from French cochenille or Spanish cochinilla, from Latin coccinus ‘scarlet,’ from Greek kokkos ‘berry’ (because the insect bodies were originally mistaken for grains or berries). Compare with coccus and kermes.

Cochise /kōˈCHēs/

(c.1812–74), American Indian leader, chief of the Chiricahua Apache. With a band of followers, he resisted white encroachment on Arizona Indian lands.

cochlea /ˈkōklēə ˈkäklēə/

I. noun

the spiral cavity of the inner ear containing the organ of Corti, which produces nerve impulses in response to sound vibrations.

II. derivatives

cochlear /ˈkōklēər ˈkäklēər /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent. (used to denote spiral objects such as a spiral staircase and an Archimedean screw): from Latin, ‘snail shell or screw,’ from Greek kokhlias. The current sense dates from the late 17th cent.

cochleate /ˈkäklēit, -ˌāt / cochleated

adjective

[chiefly Botany] formed like a spiral shell; twisted.

Cochran, Eddie /ˈkäkrən/

(1938–60), US rock-and-roll singer and songwriter; born Ray Edward Cochrane. Notable songs: “Summertime Blues” (1958), “C'mon Everybody” (1959), and “Three Steps to Heaven” (1960).

Cochran, Jacqueline

(c. 1910–80), US aviator. The first woman to break the sound barrier (1953), she set many speed and altitude records.

cock^1 /käk/

I. noun

1. a male bird, especially a rooster.

2. [in combination] — used in names of birds, especially game birds, e.g., moorcock.

3. (Brit.) a male lobster, crab, or salmon.

4. ‹vulgar slang› a penis.

5. (Brit.) ‹informal› nonsense

• that's all a lot of cock.

6. a firing lever in a gun which can be raised to be released by the trigger.

7. a stopcock.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. tilt (something) in a particular direction

• she cocked her head slightly to one side.

2. bend a (limb or joint) at an angle
(as adj. cocked)

• she listened, her little finger cocked as she held her coffee cup.

3. (of a male dog) lift (a back leg) in order to urinate.

4. raise the cock of (a gun) in order to make it ready for firing.

III. phrases

1. at full cock

(of a gun) with the cock lifted to the position at which the trigger will act.

2. cock one's ear

a. (of a dog) raise its ears to an erect position.

b. (of a person) listen attentively to or for something.

3. cock one's eye (or eyebrow)

glance in a quizzical or knowing manner with a raised eyebrow.

4. cock of the walk

someone who dominates others within a group.

5. cock a snook

see snook^2.

– origin Old English cocc, from medieval Latin coccus; reinforced in Middle English by Old French coq.

cock^2 /käk/

I. noun

‹dated› a small pile of hay, straw, or other material, with vertical sides and a rounded top.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› shape (hay, straw, or other material) into a pile with vertical sides and a rounded top.

– origin late Middle English: perhaps of Scandinavian origin and related to Norwegian kok ‘heap, lump,’ Danish kok ‘haycock,’ and Swedish koka ‘clod.’

cockade /käˈkād/

I. noun

a rosette or knot of ribbons worn in a hat as a badge of office or party, or as part of a livery.

II. derivatives

cockaded /käˈkādəd /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French cocarde, originally in bonnet à la coquarde, from the feminine of obsolete coquard ‘saucy.’

cock-a-doodle-doo /ˌkäkəˌdo͞odlˈdo͞o/

noun

used to represent the sound made by a cock when it crows.

cock-a-hoop /ˌkäkəˈho͞op/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. extremely and obviously pleased, especially about a triumph or success.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from the phrase set cock a hoop, of unknown origin, apparently denoting the action of turning on the tap and allowing liquor to flow (prior to a drinking session).

cock-a-leekie /ˌkäkəˈlēkē/

I. noun

a Scottish soup traditionally made with chicken and leeks.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from cock^1 and leek.

cockalorum /ˌkäkəˈlôrəm/

I. noun

‹informal› ‹dated› a self-important little man.

– origin early 18th cent.: an arbitrary formation from cock^1.

cockamamie /ˈkäkəˌmāmē / cockamamy

I. adjective

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› ridiculous; implausible

• a cockamamie theory.

– origin 1940s (originally denoting a design left by a transfer): probably an alteration of decalcomania.

cock and bull story

noun

‹informal› a ridiculous and implausible story.

cockapoo /ˈkäkəˌpo͞o/

noun

a dog resulting from a cross between a cocker spaniel and a miniature poodle.

cockatiel /ˌkäkəˈtēl/

I. noun

a slender, long-crested Australian parrot related to the cockatoos, with a mainly gray body, white shoulders, and a yellow and orange face.
[Nymphicus hollandicus, family Cacatuidae (or Psittacidae).]

– origin late 19th cent.: from Dutch kaketielje, probably a diminutive of kaketoe ‘cockatoo.’

cockatoo /ˈkäkəˌto͞o/

I. noun

a parrot with an erectile crest, found in Australia, eastern Indonesia, and neighboring islands.
[Family Cacatuidae (or Psittacidae): several genera and numerous species, including the sulfur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua galerita).]

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Dutch kaketoe, from Malay kakatua, the spelling influenced by cock^1.

cockatrice /ˈkäkətrəs/

I. noun

1. another term for basilisk (sense 1).

2. [Heraldry] a mythical animal depicted as a two-legged dragon (or wyvern) with a cock's head.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French cocatris, from Latin calcatrix ‘tracker’ (from calcare ‘to tread or track’), translating Greek ikhneueinōn (see ichneumon).

cockbead /ˈkäkbēd/

I. noun

a projecting wooden molding used to decorate furniture.

II. derivatives

1. cockbeaded

adjective

2. cockbeading

noun

cockchafer /ˈkäkˌCHāfər/

I. noun

a large brown European beetle that flies at dusk and often crashes into lighted windows. The adults are damaging to foliage and flowers, and the larvae are a pest of cereal and grass roots.
[Melolontha melolontha, family Scarabaeidae.]

– origin early 18th cent.: from cock^1 (expressing size or vigor) + chafer.

Cockcroft, Sir John Douglas /ˈkäkˌkrôft/

(1897–1967), English physicist. In 1932, working with Ernest Walton, he succeeded in splitting the atom. Nobel Prize for Physics (1951), shared with Walton.

cockcrow /ˈkäkˌkrō/

noun

‹literary› dawn

• the hour of cockcrow was still far off.

cocked hat /ˌkäkt ˈhat/

I. noun

1. a brimless triangular hat pointed at the front, back, and top.

2. ‹historical› a hat with a wide brim permanently turned up toward the crown, such as a tricorn.

II. phrases

knock something into a cocked hat

utterly defeat or outdo something.

cockerel /ˈkäk(ə)rəl/

I. noun

a young domestic cock.

– origin Middle English: diminutive of cock^1.

cocker spaniel /ˌkäkər ˈspanyəl / cocker

I. noun

a small spaniel of a breed with a silky coat.

– origin early 19th cent.: from cock^1 + -er^1 (because the dog was bred to flush game birds such as woodcock, for shooting).

cockeye /ˈkäkī/

noun

an eye that squints or is affected by strabismus.

cockeyed /ˈkäkˌīd/

I. adjective

1. ‹informal› crooked or askew; not level

• cockeyed camera angles.

2. ‹informal› absurd; impractical

• do you expect us to believe a cockeyed story like that?

3. ‹informal› drunk

• I got cockeyed.

4. ‹informal› (of a person or a person's eyes) having a squint.

5. ‹informal› cross-eyed.

– origin early 19th cent.: apparently from the verb cock^1 and eye. The sense ‘drunk’ (originally US) dates from the 1920s.

cockfighting /ˈkäkˌfīdiNG/

I. noun

the sport (illegal in certain countries) of setting two cocks to fight each other. Fighting cocks often have had their legs fitted with metal spurs.

II. derivatives

cockfight /ˈkäkˌfīt /

noun

cockle^1 /ˈkäk(ə)l/

I. noun

1. an edible, burrowing bivalve mollusk with a strong ribbed shell.
[Genus Cardium, family Cardiidae.]

2. (also cockleshell) — ‹literary› a small shallow boat.

II. phrases

warm the cockles of one's heart

give one a comforting feeling of pleasure or contentment.

– origin Middle English: from Old French coquille ‘shell,’ based on Greek konkhulion, from konkhē ‘conch.’

cockle^2 /ˈkäk(ə)l/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of paper) bulge out in certain places so as to present a wrinkled or creased surface; pucker.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French coquiller ‘blister (bread in cooking),’ from coquille ‘shell’ (see cockle^1).

cocklebur /ˈkäkəlˌbər/

I. noun

a herbaceous plant of the daisy family, with broad leaves and burred fruits. It originated in tropical America but is now cosmopolitan.
See also clotbur. [Genus Xanthium, family Compositae: two or three species, in particular X. strumarium.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from cockle^2 + burr.

cockloft /ˈkäklôft/

noun

a small loft or attic.

cockney /ˈkäknē/

I. noun

1. a native of East London, traditionally one born within hearing of Bow Bells.

2. the dialect or accent typical of cockneys.

II. adjective

of or characteristic of cockneys or their dialect or accent

• cockney humor.

– origin late Middle English late Middle English (denoting a pampered child): origin uncertain; it is apparently not the same word as Middle English cokeney ‘cock's egg,’ denoting a small misshapen egg (probably from cock^1 + obsolete ey ‘egg’). A later sense was ‘a town-dweller regarded as affect or puny,’ from which the current sense arose in the early 17th cent.

cockneyism /ˈkäknēˌizəm/

noun

a feature or style of speech or idiom characteristic of cockneys.

cock-of-the-rock /ˌkäkəvT͟Hēˈräk/

noun

a crested cotinga found in the tropical forests of South America. The male has brilliant orange or red plumage used in communal display.
[Genus Rupicola, family Cotingidae: two species.]

cockpit /ˈkäkˌpit/

I. noun

1. a compartment for the pilot and sometimes also the crew in an aircraft or spacecraft.

2. a compartment for the driver in a racing car.

3. a sunken area in the after deck of a boat providing space for members of the crew.

4. a place where a battle or other conflict takes place

• the cockpit of capitalist conflict in Europe.

5. a place where cockfights are held.

– origin late 16th cent. (sense 2): from cock^1 + pit^1. In the early 18th cent. the term was in nautical use, denoting an area in the aft lower deck of a man-of-war where the wounded were taken, later coming to mean ‘the “pit” or well in a sailing yacht from which it was steered’; hence the place housing the controls of other vehicles (sense 1, early 20th cent).

cockroach /ˈkäkˌrōCH/

I. noun

a beetlelike insect with long antennae and legs, feeding by scavenging. Several tropical species have become established worldwide as pests in homes and food service establishments.
[Suborder Blattodea, order Dictyoptera: many genera and species, including the oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis) and the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana); some, esp. in the genus Ectobius, are small temperate species that live outdoors.]

– origin early 17th cent. (as cacaroch): from Spanish cucaracha. The spelling change was due to association with cock^1 and roach^2.

cockscomb /ˈkäkskōm/

noun

1. the crest or comb of a domestic cock.

2. a tropical plant with a crest or plume of tiny yellow, orange, or red flowers, widely cultivated as a garden annual or a houseplant.
[Celosia cristata, family Amaranthaceae.]

3. an orchid related to the coralroots but with more colorful flowers, native to southern North America.
Also called coralroot. [Genus Hexalectris, family Orchidaceae.]

cocksfoot /ˈkäksfo͝ot/

noun

British term for orchard grass.

cockshy /ˈkäkˌSHī/

I. noun

1. (Brit.) ‹dated› a target for throwing sticks or stones at as a game.

2. (Brit.) ‹dated› an act of throwing something at a cockshy.

3. (Brit.) ‹dated› an object of ridicule or criticism.

– origin from the original use of a cockerel, or a replica of a cockerel, as a target.

cocksman /ˈkäksmən/

I. noun

(US) ‹vulgar slang› a man reputed to be extremely virile or sexually accomplished.

II. derivatives

cocksmanship /-ˌSHip /

noun

cockspur thorn /ˈkäkspər ˌTHôrn/

noun

1. a North American hawthorn that is often cultivated for its rich orange autumn foliage.
[Crataegus crus-galli, family Rosaceae.]

2. any of a number of trees bearing long spiny thorns.

cocksucker /ˈkäkˌsəkər/

noun

‹vulgar slang› (chiefly N. Amer.) a contemptible person (used as a generalized term of abuse).

cocksure /ˌkäkˈSHo͝or/

I. adjective

presumptuously or arrogantly confident.

II. derivatives

1. cocksurely

adverb

2. cocksureness /ˌkäkˈSHo͝ornəs /

noun

– origin early 16th cent.: from archaic cock (a euphemism for God) + sure; later associated with cock^1.

cocktail /ˈkäkˌtāl/

I. noun

1. an alcoholic drink consisting of a spirit or several spirits mixed with other ingredients, such as fruit juice, lemonade, or cream
[as modifier]

• cocktail parties

• a cocktail bar.

2. a mixture of substances or factors, especially when dangerous or unpleasant in its effects

• financial pressure plus isolation can be a deadly cocktail for some people

• a cocktail of drugs that inhibits replication of HIV.

3. a dish consisting of small pieces of food, typically served cold at the beginning of a meal as an appetizer

• a chilled lobster cocktail prettily presented in a martini glass.

– origin early 17th cent.: from cock^1 + tail^1. The original use was as an adjective describing a creature with a tail like that of a cock, specifically a horse with a docked tail; hence (because hunters and coach horses were generally docked) a racehorse that was not a thoroughbred, having a cock-tailed horse in its pedigree (early 19th cent). Sense 1 (originally US, also early 19th cent.) is perhaps analogous, from the idea of an adulterated spirit.

cocktail dress /ˈkäkˌtāl dres/

noun

an elegant dress suitable for semiformal social occasions.

cocktail lounge

noun

a bar, typically in a hotel, restaurant, or airport, where alcoholic drinks are served.

cocktail napkin

noun

a small napkin designed to be placed under a drink when it is served.

cocktail sauce

noun

(N. Amer.) a cold sauce made with ketchup or chili sauce and horseradish, typically served with seafood

• six plump shrimp were accompanied by a slice of lemon and cup of zesty cocktail sauce.

cocktail table

noun

another term for coffee table.

cockteaser /ˈkäkˌtēzər / cocktease

noun

‹vulgar slang› a woman who leads a man to the mistaken belief that she is likely to have sexual intercourse with him.

cock-up /ˈkäk ˌəp/

noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› something done badly or inefficiently

• we've made a total cock-up of it.

cocky /ˈkäkē/

I. adjective

conceited or arrogant, especially in a bold or impudent way.

II. derivatives

1. cockily /ˈkäkəlē /

adverb

2. cockiness /ˈkäkēnis /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘lecherous’): from cock^1 + -y^1.

coco /ˈkōkō/

I. noun

1. [usu. as modifier] — coconut

• coco matting

• coco palm.

2. (W. Indian) the root of the taro.

– origin mid 16th cent. (originally denoting the nut): from Spanish and Portuguese, literally ‘grinning face’ (because of the appearance of the base of the coconut).

cocoa /ˈkōkō/

I. noun

1. a chocolate powder made from roasted and ground cacao seeds.

2. a hot drink made from cocoa powder mixed with sugar and milk or water.

3. variant spelling of coco, usu. regarded as a misspelling.

– origin early 18th cent. (denoting cacao seed): alteration of cacao.

cocoa bean

noun

a cacao seed.

cocoa butter

noun

a fatty substance obtained from cocoa beans and used especially in the manufacture of confectionery and cosmetics.

cocoa-colored

adjective

of a brown color like that of cocoa powder.

cocobolo /ˌkōkōˈbōlō/

I. noun

a tropical American tree with hard, reddish timber that is used chiefly to make cutlery handles.
[Dalbergia retusa, family Leguminosae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: via Spanish from Arawak kakabali.

coco de mer /ˌkōkō də ˈmer/

I. noun

1. a tall palm tree that is native to the Seychelles and has an immense, seaborne nut in a hard, woody shell, which is the largest known seed.
[Lodoicea maldivica, family Palmae.]

2. the large nut of the coco de mer.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French coco-de-mer, literally ‘coco from the sea’ (because the tree was first known from nuts found floating in the sea).

co-conspirator

noun

a person who is engaged in a conspiracy with another or others

• two men were named by the prosecution as co-conspirators.

coconut /ˈkōkəˌnət / cocoanut

noun

1. the large, oval, brown seed of a tropical palm, consisting of a hard shell lined with edible white flesh and containing a clear liquid. It grows inside a woody husk, surrounded by fiber.

2. the flesh of a coconut, especially when used as food.

3. (also coconut palm or tree) — the tall palm tree that yields the coconut, which grows mainly by coastal beaches and has become naturalized throughout the tropics. Many tropical economies are dependent upon its products, which include copra and coir.
[Cocos nucifera, family Palmae.]

coconut butter

noun

a solid fat obtained from the flesh of the coconut, and used in the manufacture of soap, candles, ointment, etc.

coconut crab

I. noun

a large terrestrial crablike crustacean that climbs coconut palms to feed on the nuts, found on islands in the Indo-Pacific area.
Also called robber crab. [Birgus latro, family Paguridae.]

– origin so named because it climbs trees to reach coconuts.

Coconut Creek

a city in southeastern Florida, northwest of Fort Lauderdale; pop. 50,436 (est. 2008).

Coconut Grove

a district in southwestern Miami in Florida, noted as an arts colony and a thriving tourist destination.

coconut matting /ˈkōkəˌnət ˈmadiNG/

noun

matting made of fiber from coconut husks.

coconut milk

noun

a milky white liquid expressed from coconut meat, used as a base in cooking.

coconut oil

noun

the fatty oil obtained from the coconut and used in candies and confections and in cosmetics.

coconut water

noun

the watery liquid found inside a coconut, consumed as a beverage.

cocoon /kəˈko͞on/

I. noun

1. a silky case spun by the larvae of many insects for protection in the pupal stage.

2. a covering that prevents the corrosion of metal equipment.

3. something that envelops or surrounds, especially in a protective or comforting way

• the cocoon of her kimono

• ‹figurative› a warm cocoon of love.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. envelop or surround in a protective or comforting way

• we began to feel cold even though we were cocooned in our sleeping bags.

2. spray with a protective coating.

3. [no obj.] — (N. Amer.) retreat from the stressful conditions of public life into the cozy private world of the family

• the movers and shakers are now cocooning.

III. derivatives

cocooner

noun

– origin late 17th cent.: from French cocon, from medieval Provençal coucoun ‘eggshell, cocoon,’ diminutive of coca ‘shell.’ The verb dates from the mid 19th cent.

Cocos Islands /ˌkōkəs ˈīləndz/

a group of 27 small coral islands in the Indian Ocean, administered as an external territory of Australia since 1955; pop. 600 (est. 2009).
Also called Keeling Islands.

cocotte /kôˈkôt, kəˈkät/

noun

1. (usu. en cocotte) — a covered, heatproof dish or casserole in which food can be both cooked and served; a Dutch oven.
[early 20th cent.: from French cocasse, from Latin cucuma ‘cooking container.’]

2. ‹dated› a fashionable prostitute.
[mid 19th cent.: French, from a child's name for a hen.]

co-counseling /ˈkōˌkounsəliNG, kōˈkoun- / cocounseling

noun

a form of personal or psychological counseling in which two or more people alternate the roles of therapist and patient.

Cocteau, Jean /käkˈtō/

(1889–1963), French playwright, novelist, and movie director. His movies include Beauty and the Beast (1945) and Orpheus (1949).

co-curricular

adjective

(chiefly N. Amer.) (of an activity at a school or college) pursued in addition to the normal course of study

• the academic and co-curricular activities of the college.

cocus wood /ˈkōkəs ˌwo͝od/

I. noun

hard, heavy timber that blackens with age and is used for musical instruments.
[This timber is obtained from the Jamaican ebony (Brya ebenus, family Leguminosae).]

– origin mid 17th cent.: cocus, of unknown origin.

cod /käd / codfish

I. noun

1. a large marine fish with a small barbel on the chin.
[Family Gadidae (the cod family): many genera and species, in particular the North Atlantic Gadus morhua, of great commercial importance as a food fish and as a source of cod liver oil. The cod family also includes the haddock, ling, pollack, whiting, and other food fishes.]

2. used in names of fishes similar or related to the cod, e.g., rock cod, tomcod.

– origin Middle English: of unknown origin; one suggestion is that the word is the same as Old English cod(d) ‘bag,’ because of the fish's appearance.

COD /ˈsēːˈōˈdēː/

abbreviation

1. cash on delivery.

2. (N. Amer.) collect on delivery.

coda /ˈkōdə/

I. noun

1. [Music] the concluding passage of a piece or movement, typically forming an addition to the basic structure.

2. [Music] the concluding section of a dance, especially of a pas de deux, or the finale of a ballet in which the dancers parade before the audience.

3. [Music] a concluding event, remark, or section

• his new novel is a kind of coda to his previous books.

– origin mid 18th cent.: Italian, from Latin cauda ‘tail.’

coddle /ˈkädl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. treat in an indulgent or overprotective way

• I was coddled and cosseted.

2. cook (an egg) in water below the boiling point.

II. derivatives

coddler /ˈkädlər, ˈkädl-ər /

noun

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘boil (fruit) gently’): origin uncertain; sense 1 is probably a dialect variant of obsolete caudle ‘administer invalids' gruel,’ based on Latin caldum ‘hot drink,’ from calidus ‘warm.’

code /kōd/

I. noun

1. a system of words, letters, figures, or other symbols substituted for other words, letters, etc., especially for the purposes of secrecy

• the Americans cracked their diplomatic code

• sending messages in code.

2. a system of signals, such as sounds, light flashes, or flags, used to send messages

• Morse code.

3. a series of letters, numbers, or symbols assigned to something for the purposes of classification or identification

• the genetic code

• calls with either code will work in the 201 area.

4. [Computing] program instructions

• hundreds of lines of code

• assembly code.

5. a systematic collection of laws or regulations

• the criminal code.

6. a set of conventions governing behavior or activity in a particular sphere

• a dress code.

7. a set of rules and standards adhered to by a society, class, or individual

• a stern code of honor.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. convert (the words of a message) into a particular code in order to convey a secret meaning

• only Mitch knew how to read the message—even the name was coded.

2. express the meaning of (a statement or communication) in an indirect or euphemistic way
(as adj. coded)

• a national campaign against “playing by ear,” a coded phrase that meant jazz.

3. assign a code to (something) for purposes of classification, analysis, or identification

• she coded the samples and sent them down for dissection.

4. write code for (a computer program)

• most developers code C + + like C

• [no obj.] I no longer actively code in PHP.

5. [no obj.] (code for) — [Biochemistry] specify the genetic sequence for (an amino acid or protein)

• genes that code for human growth hormone.

6. be the genetic determiner of (a characteristic)

• one pair of homologous chromosomes that codes for eye color.

III. phrases

bring something up to code

(N. Amer.) renovate an old building or update its features in line with the latest building regulations.

IV. derivatives

coder /ˈkōdər /

noun

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin codex, codic- (see codex). The term originally denoted a systematic collection of statutes made by one of the later Roman emperors, particularly that of Justinian; compare with sense 3 of the noun (mid 18th cent.), the earliest modern sense.

codebreaker /ˈkōdˌbrākər/

I. noun

a person who solves a code or codes.

II. derivatives

codebreaking

noun

codec /ˈkōdek/

I. noun

a device or program that compresses data to enable faster transmission and decompresses received data.

– origin 1960s: blend of coder (see code) and decoder.

codefendant /ˌkōdəˈfendənt/

noun

a joint defendant.

codeine /ˈkōˌdēn/

I. noun

[Medicine] a sleep-inducing and analgesic drug derived from morphine.
[An alkaloid; chem. formula: C_18H_21NO_3.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek kōdeia ‘poppy head’ + -ine^4.

code monkey

noun

‹informal› a computer programmer, especially an inexperienced or unskillful one.

code name /ˈkōd ˌnām/

noun

a word used for secrecy or convenience instead of the usual name.

code-named /ˈkōdˌnāmd/

adjective

identified by a word used for secrecy or convenience instead of the usual name

• the code-named operations

• the five code-named beaches where Allied soldiers landed.

codependency /ˌkōdəˈpendənsē/

I. noun

excessive emotional or psychological reliance on a partner, typically a partner who requires support due to an illness or addiction.

II. derivatives

1. codependence /-dəns /

noun

2. codependent /ˌkōdəˈpend(ə)nt /

adjective, noun

code-sharing

I. noun

agreement between two or more airlines to list certain flights in a reservation system under each other's names.

II. derivatives

code-share

verb

code-switching

I. noun

[Linguistics] the practice of alternating between two or more languages or varieties of language in conversation

• the conversational code-switching of the German-American bilingual community.

II. derivatives

code-switch

verb

codetermination /ˌkōdəˌtərməˈnāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

cooperation between management and workers in decision-making, especially by the representation of workers on boards of directors.

– origin 1950s: from co- ‘together’ + determination (translating German Mitbestimmung).

code word

noun

a word used for secrecy or convenience instead of the usual name for something

• secret projects were identified by special code words

• various parties had been asked to bring 'cigars' to the meeting—a code word for guns.

codex /ˈkōˌdeks/

I. noun

1. an ancient manuscript text in book form.

2. an official list of medicines, chemicals, etc.

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting a collection of statutes or set of rules): from Latin, literally ‘block of wood,’ later denoting a block split into leaves or tablets for writing on, hence a book.

codfish /ˈkädˌfiSH/

noun

another term for cod.

codger /ˈkäjər/

I. noun

‹often derogatory› an elderly man, especially one who is old-fashioned or eccentric

• old codgers always harp on about yesteryear.

– origin mid 18th cent.: perhaps a variant of cadger (see cadge).

codices /ˈkōdəsēz ˈkädəsēz/

plural form of codex.

codicil /ˈkädəˌsəl/

I. noun

an addition or supplement that explains, modifies, or revokes a will or part of one.

II. derivatives

codicillary /ˌkädəˈsilərē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin codicillus, diminutive of codex, codic- (see codex).

codification /ˌkädəfəˈkāSH(ə)n ˌkōdəfəˈkāSH(ə)n ˌkädəfəˈkāSH(ə)n ˌkōdəfəˈkāSH(ə)n/

noun

the action or process of arranging laws or rules according to a system or plan

• a codification of existing common-law principles

• the formal codification of yoga in India.

codify /ˈkädəˌfī ˈkōdəˌfī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. arrange (laws or rules) into a systematic code.

2. arrange according to a plan or system

• Verdi helped codify an international operatic culture.

II. derivatives

codifier /ˈkädəˌfī(ə)r ˈkōdəˌfī(ə)r /

noun

coding /ˈkōdiNG/

noun

1. the process of assigning a code to something for the purposes of classification or identification.

2. a code assigned for the purpose of classification or identification

• text type codings.

3. [Biochemistry] the process of coding genetically for an amino acid, protein, or characteristic.

codling /ˈkädliNG/

noun

an immature cod.

codling moth codlin moth

I. noun

a small, grayish moth whose larva feeds on apples.
[Cydia pomonella, family Tortricidae.]

– origin late Middle English: codling from Anglo-Norman French quer de lion ‘lionheart.’

cod liver oil /käd ˈlivər oil/

noun

oil pressed from the fresh liver of cod, which is rich in vitamins D and A.

codomain /ˌkōˌdōˈmān ˈkōdōˌmān/

noun

[Mathematics] a set that includes all the possible values of a given function.

codon /ˈkōdän/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a sequence of three nucleotides that together form a unit of genetic code in a DNA or RNA molecule.

– origin 1960s: from code + -on.

codpiece /ˈkädˌpēs/

I. noun

a pouch, especially a conspicuous and decorative one, attached to a man's breeches or close-fitting hose to cover the genitals, worn in the 15th and 16th centuries.

– origin from earlier cod ‘scrotum’ (from Old English codd ‘bag, pod’) + piece.

co-driver /ˈkōˌdrīvər/

noun

1. a person who shares the driving of a vehicle with another.

2. a person who navigates from the front passenger seat during a rally

• you have a co-driver there calling the turns

• the co-driver is responsible for memorizing the route and relaying exact instructions.

codswallop /ˈkädzˌwäləp/

I. noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› nonsense.

– origin 1960s: sometimes said to be named after Hiram Codd, who invented a bottle for carbonated beverages (1875); the derivation remains unconfirmed.

Cody /ˈkōdē/

a city in northwestern Wyoming, associated with Buffalo Bill Cody, who lived here; pop. 9,309 (est. 2008).

Cody, William Frederick

see Buffalo Bill.

Coe, Sebastian /kō/

Baron Coe of Ranmore (1956–), British middle-distance runner and politician. He won an Olympic gold medal in the 1,500 meters in 1980 and in 1984. After his retirement from athletics, he served as a member of Parliament 1992–97 and chaired the committee that organized the 2012 London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

coed /ˈkōˌed / ‹informal›

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹dated› a female student at a co-educational institution.

II. adjective

(of an institution or system) co-educational.

– origin late 19th cent.: abbreviation.

co-education /ˌkōˌejəˈkāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

the education of students of both sexes together.

II. derivatives

coeducational /ˌkōˌejəˈkāSHənl ˌkōˌejəˈkāSHnəl /

adjective

coefficient /ˌkōəˈfiSHənt/

I. noun

1. [Mathematics] a numerical or constant quantity placed before and multiplying the variable in an algebraic expression (e.g., 4 in 4x y).

2. [Physics] a multiplier or factor that measures some property

• coefficients of elasticity

• the drag coefficient.

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘cooperating to produce a result’): from modern Latin coefficient-, from com- ‘together’ + efficient- ‘accomplishing’ (see efficient).

coefficient of friction

noun

the ratio between the force necessary to move one surface horizontally over another and the pressure between the two surfaces.

coefficient of viscosity

noun

[Physics] the degree to which a fluid resists flow under an applied force, expressed as the ratio of the shearing stress to the velocity gradient. The coefficient of viscosity of liquids decreases as temperature increases because the bonds between molecules are weakened.

coelacanth /ˈsēləˌkanTH/

I. noun

a large, bony marine fish with a three-lobed tail fin and fleshy pectoral fins. It is thought to be related to the ancestors of land vertebrates and was known only from fossils until one was found alive in 1938; since then others have been found near the Comoro Islands in the Indian Ocean and off Sulawesi, Indonesia.
[Latimeria chalumnae, family Latimeriidae (or Coelacanthidae), subclass Crossopterygii.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Coelacanthus (genus name), from Greek koilos ‘hollow’ + akantha ‘spine’ (because its fins have hollow spines).

-coele -cele

I. combining form

[Medicine] denoting a swelling or hernia in a specified part

• meningocele.

– origin from Greek kēlē ‘tumor.’

coelenterate /sēˈlentərāt/

I. noun

[Zoology] an aquatic invertebrate animal of a phylum that includes jellyfishes, corals, and sea anemones. They are distinguished by having a tube- or cup-shaped body and a single opening ringed with tentacles.
Also called cnidarian. [Phylum Cnidaria (formerly Coelenterata): four classes.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Coelenterata, from Greek koilos ‘hollow’ + enteron ‘intestine.’

coelenteron /sēˈlen(t)əˌrän/

noun

the central gastric cavity of a coelenterate.

coelom /ˈsēləm / celom

I. noun

[Zoology] the body cavity in metazoans, located between the intestinal canal and the body wall.

II. derivatives

1. coelomate /ˈsēləˌmāt /

adjective, noun

2. coelomic

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek koilōma ‘cavity.’

coelostat /ˈsēləˌstat/

I. noun

[Astronomy] an advanced version of a heliostat, having a rotating mirror that continuously reflects the light from the same area of sky, allowing the path of a celestial object to be monitored.

– origin late 19th cent.: formed irregularly from Latin caelum ‘sky’ + -stat.

coelurosaur /siˈlo͝orəˌsôr, sē- / coelurosaurus

I. noun

a small, slender, bipedal, carnivorous dinosaur with long forelimbs, from which the birds are believed to have evolved.
[Infraorder Coelurosauria, suborder Theropoda, order Saurischia: many genera.]

II. derivatives

coelurosaurian /-ˌlo͝orəˈsôrēən /

adjective

– origin 1950s: from Greek koilos ‘hollow’ + oura ‘tail’ + sauros ‘lizard.’

coenocyte /ˈsēnəˌsīt/

I. noun

[Botany] a body of algal or fungal cytoplasm containing several nuclei enclosed in a single membrane.

II. derivatives

coenocytic /ˌsēnəˈsitik /

adjective

– origin early 20th cent.: from Greek koinos ‘common’ + -cyte.

coenzyme /kōˈenˌzīm/

noun

[Biochemistry] a nonprotein compound that is necessary for the functioning of an enzyme.

coenzyme A

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a coenzyme derived from pantothenic acid, important in respiration and many other biochemical reactions.

– origin A from acylation (see acylate).

coenzyme Q

I. noun

another term for ubiquinone.

– origin Q from quinone.

coequal /kōˈēkwəl/

I. adjective

equal with one another; having the same rank or importance

• coequal partners.

II. noun

a person or thing equal with another.

III. derivatives

coequality /ˌkōēˈkwälədē /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin coaequalis ‘of the same age,’ from co- ‘jointly’ + aequalis (see equal).

coerce /kōˈərs/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. persuade (an unwilling person) to do something by using force or threats

• they were coerced into silence.

2. obtain (something) by using force or threats

• their confessions were allegedly coerced by torture.

II. derivatives

coercible /kōˈərsəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin coercere ‘restrain,’ from co- ‘jointly, together’ + arcere ‘restrain.’

coercion /kōˈərZHən kōˈərSHən/

noun

the practice of persuading someone to do something by using force or threats

• it wasn't slavery because no coercion was used.

coercive /kōˈərsiv/

I. adjective

relating to or using force or threats

• coercive measures.

II. derivatives

1. coercively

adverb

2. coerciveness /kōˈərsivnəs /

noun

coercive force

noun

[Physics] another term for coercivity.

coercivity /ˌkōərˈsivədē/

noun

[Physics] the resistance of a magnetic material to changes in magnetization, equivalent to the field intensity necessary to demagnetize the fully magnetized material.

coessential /ˌkōəˈsen(t)SHəl/

I. adjective

1. united or inseparable in essence or being.

2. having the same substance or essence.

II. derivatives

1. coessentiality /kōiˌsenCHēˈalitē /

noun

2. coessentially

adverb

3. coessentialness

noun

coetaneous /ˌkōəˈtānēəs/

adjective

another term for coeval.

coeternal /ˌkōəˈtərn(ə)l/

I. adjective

equally eternal; existing with something else eternally

• the Deity is coeternal with Time and Space.

II. derivatives

coeternally

adverb

Coetzee, J. M. /ko͝otˈsē/

(1940–), South African novelist; full name John Maxwell Coetzee. Notable works: In the Heart of the Country (1977), Life & Times of Michael K (1983), White Writing (1988), and Age of Iron (1990). Nobel Prize for Literature (2003).

Coeur d'Alene /ˌkôr dlˈān/

a commercial and resort city in northwestern Idaho, on Coeur d'Alene Lake, which is fed by the Coeur d'Alene River; pop. 43,360 (est. 2008).

coeval /ˌkōˈēv(ə)l/

I. adjective

having the same age or date of origin; contemporary

• these lavas were coeval with the volcanic activity.

II. noun

a person of roughly the same age as oneself; a contemporary

• like so many of his coevals, he yearned for stability.

III. derivatives

1. coevality /ˌkō-ēˈvalitē /

noun

2. coevally

adverb

– origin early 17th cent. (as a noun): from late Latin coaevus, from co- ‘jointly, in common’ + Latin aevum ‘age.’

coevolution /ˌkōevəˈlo͞oSHən, -ēvə-/

I. noun

[Biology] the influence of closely associated species on each other in their evolution.

II. derivatives

1. coevolutionary /-SHəˌnerē /

adjective

2. coevolve /ˌkō-iˈvälv /

verb

coexist /ˌkōəɡˈzist/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. exist at the same time or in the same place

• traditional and modern values coexist in Africa.

2. (of nations or peoples) exist in mutual tolerance despite different ideologies or interests

• the task of diplomacy was to help different states to coexist.

II. derivatives

coexistent /ˌkōəɡˈzist(ə)nt /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from late Latin coexistere, from co- ‘together’ + existere ‘exist,’ from ex- ‘out’ + sister ‘take a stand.’

coexistence /ˌkōiɡˈzistəns/

noun

1. the state or condition of living in harmony despite different ideologies or interests

• what is needed today is peaceful coexistence

• the coexistence between Hindus and Muslims.

2. the state or fact of living or existing at the same time or in the same place

• a remarkable coexistence of two profoundly different artistic traditions

• it validates the coexistence of multiple viewpoints and interpretations.

coextend /ˌkōəkˈstend/

verb

extend equally through the same space or period of time.

coextensive /ˌkōəkˈstensiv/

adjective

1. extending over the same space or time; corresponding exactly in extent.

2. (of a term) denoting the same referent as another.

cofactor /ˈkōˌfaktər/

noun

1. a contributory cause of a disease.

2. [Biochemistry] a substance (other than the substrate) whose presence is essential for the activity of an enzyme.

3. [Mathematics] the quantity obtained from a determinant or a square matrix by removal of the row and column containing a specified element.

C. of C.

abbreviation

Chamber of Commerce.

C. of E. /sēːəvˈēː/

abbreviation

Church of England.

coffee /ˈkôfē ˈkäfē/

I. noun

1. a drink made from the roasted and ground beanlike seeds of a tropical shrub, served hot or iced

• a cup of coffee

• [as modifier] a coffee pot.

2. a cup of coffee

• she'll buy you a coffee.

3. coffee seeds raw, roasted and ground, or processed into a powder that dissolves in hot water

• a jar of instant coffee.

4. a pale brown color like that of coffee mixed with milk.

5. a party or reception at which coffee is served

• going to coffees and answering questions.

6. the shrub of the bedstraw family that yields the coffee seeds, two of which are contained in each red berry. Native to the Old World tropics, most coffee is grown in tropical America.
[Genus Coffea, family Rubiaceae: several species. See also arabica and robusta.]

– origin late 16th cent.: from Turkish kahveh, from Arabic ḳahwa, probably via Dutch koffie.

coffee bar

noun

a bar or cafe serving coffee and light refreshments.

coffee bean /ˈkôfē ˈˌbēn ˈkäfē ˈˌbēn/

noun

a beanlike seed of the coffee shrub.

coffee break

noun

a short break during the working day, during which people typically drink a cup of coffee or tea.

coffee cake

noun

(N. Amer.) a cake, often cinnamon-flavored, with a drizzled white icing or crumb topping, and usually eaten with coffee.

coffee-colored /ˈkôfēˌkələrd/

adjective

having a light brown color like that of milky coffee

• he was wearing a coffee-colored jacket

• coffee-colored creek water.

coffee grinder

noun

a small machine for grinding roasted coffee beans.

coffeehouse /ˈkôfēˌhous/

noun

a cafe or other place where coffee is served, sometimes also offering informal entertainment.

coffee klatsch coffee klatch

noun

variant spelling of kaffeeklatsch.

coffee maker coffeemaker

noun

a machine or pot for brewing coffee.

coffee mill /ˈkôfē ˈkäfē mil/

noun

another term for coffee grinder.

coffee pot /ˈkôfē ˌpät ˈkäfē ˌpät/

noun

a covered container with a spout, in which coffee is made or served.

coffee shop

noun

1. a cafe serving coffee and light refreshments.

2. a small, informal restaurant.

coffee table

noun

a low table, typically placed in front of a sofa.

coffee-table book

noun

a large, expensive, lavishly illustrated book, especially one intended only for casual reading.

coffer /ˈkôfər ˈkäfər/

I. noun

1. a strongbox or small chest for holding valuables.

2. (coffers) — the funds or financial reserves of a group or institution

• the federal government's empty coffers.

3. a recessed panel in a ceiling.

II. derivatives

coffered /ˈkôfərd /

adjective

coffer (sense 2)

– origin Middle English: from Old French coffre ‘chest,’ via Latin from Greek kophinos ‘basket.’

cofferdam /ˈkôfərˌdam ˈkäfərˌdam/

noun

a watertight enclosure pumped dry to permit construction work below the waterline, as when building bridges or repairing a ship.

coffin /ˈkôfən ˈkäfən/

I. noun

1. a long, narrow box, typically of wood, in which a corpse is buried or cremated.

2. ‹informal› an old and unsafe aircraft or vessel.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. put (a dead body) in a coffin.

– origin Middle English (in the general sense ‘box, chest, casket’): from Old French cofin ‘little basket or case,’ from Latin cophinus (see coffer).

Coffin, William Sloane /ˈkôfən, ˈkäf-/

Jr. (1924–2006), US Presbyterian minister and social activist. As Yale University chaplain 1958–75, he was a leader of antiwar protests. He served as senior minister of Riverside Church in New York 1977–1987.

coffin bone

noun

the terminal bone in a horse's hoof (the distal phalanx).

coffin joint

noun

the joint at the top of a horse's hoof.

coffin nail /ˈkôfən ˈkäfən nāl/

noun

‹informal› a cigarette.

coffle /ˈkôfəl/

I. noun

a line of animals or slaves fastened or driven along together.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Arabic ḳāfila ‘caravan.’

cofounder /ˈkōfoundər/

I. noun

a joint founder.

II. derivatives

cofound /ˈkōfound /

verb

cofunction /ˈkōˌfəNG(k)SH(ə)n/

noun

[Mathematics] the trigonometric function of the complement of an angle or arc.

cog /käɡ/

I. noun

1. a wheel or bar with a series of projections on its edge that transfers motion by engaging with projections on another wheel or bar.

2. each of the projections on a cog.

II. phrases

a cog in the (or a) machine (or wheel)

a small or insignificant member of a larger organization or system

• copywriters have been seen as just a cog in the big advertising machine.

III. derivatives

cogged

adjective

– origin Middle English: probably of Scandinavian origin and related to Swedish kugge and Norwegian kug.

cogency /ˈkōjənsē/

noun

the quality of being clear, logical, and convincing; lucidity

• the cogency of this argument.

cogeneration /ˌkōjenəˈrāSH(ə)n/

noun

the generation of electricity and other energy jointly, especially the utilization of the steam left over from electricity generation to produce heat.

cogent /ˈkōjənt/

I. adjective

(of an argument or case) clear, logical, and convincing.

II. derivatives

cogently /ˈkōjəntlē /

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin cogent- ‘compelling,’ from the verb cogere, from co- ‘together’ + agere ‘drive.’

cogitable /ˈkäjədəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

‹rare› able to be grasped by the mind; conceivable.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin cogitabilis, from the verb cogitare (see cogitate).

cogitate /ˈkäjəˌtāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹formal› ‹humorous› think deeply about something; meditate or reflect

• he stroked his beard and retired to cogitate.

II. derivatives

1. cogitative /ˈkäjəˌtādiv /

adjective

2. cogitator /-ˌtātər /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin cogitat- ‘considered,’ from the verb cogitare, from co- ‘together’ + agitare ‘turn over, consider.’

cogitation /ˌkäjəˈtāSH(ə)n/

noun

the action of thinking deeply about something; contemplation

• sorry, did I interrupt your cogitation?

cogito /ˈkäɡiˌtō, ˈkäj-/

I. noun — (usu. the cogito)

1. [Philosophy] the principle establishing the existence of a being from the fact of its thinking or awareness.

– origin mid 19th cent.: Latin, literally ‘I think,’ in Descartes's formula (1641) cogito, ergo sum ‘I think therefore I am.’

cognac /ˈkōnˌyak ˈkänˌyak/

noun

a high-quality brandy, properly that distilled in Cognac in western France.

cognate /ˈkäɡˌnāt/

I. adjective

1. [Linguistics] (of a word) having the same linguistic derivation as another; from the same original word or root (e.g., English is, German ist, Latin est, from Indo-European esti).

2. ‹formal› related; connected

• cognate subjects such as physics and chemistry.

3. related to or descended from a common ancestor.
Compare with agnate.

II. noun

1. [Linguistics] a cognate word.

2. [Law] a blood relative.

III. derivatives

1. cognately

adverb

2. cognateness

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin cognatus, from co- ‘together with’ + natus ‘born.’

cognate object

noun

1. [Grammar] a direct object that has the same linguistic derivation as the verb that governs it, as in “sing a song,” “live a good life.”

2. [Grammar] a direct object that makes explicit a semantic concept that is already wholly present in the semantics of the verb which governs it, as in “ask a question,” “eat some food.”

cognition /ˌkäɡˈniSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses.

2. a result of this; a perception, sensation, notion, or intuition.

II. derivatives

cognitional /-SHənl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin cognitio(n-), from cognoscere ‘get to know.’

cognitive /ˈkäɡnədiv/

I. adjective

of or relating to cognition.

II. derivatives

cognitively

adverb

– origin late 16th cent.: from medieval Latin cognitivus, from cognit- ‘known,’ from the verb cognoscere.

cognitive dissonance

noun

[Psychology] the state of having inconsistent thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes, especially as relating to behavioral decisions and attitude change.

cognitive grammar

noun

a theory of language that seeks to characterize knowledge of grammar in terms of symbolic conceptual and semantic categories and general cognitive processes.

cognitive map

noun

a mental representation of one's physical environment.

cognitive prosthesis

noun

an electronic computational device that extends the capability of human cognition or sense perception.

cognitive science

I. noun

the study of thought, learning, and mental organization, which draws on aspects of psychology, linguistics, philosophy, and computer modeling.

II. derivatives

cognitive scientist

noun

cognitive therapy cognitive behavioral therapy

noun

a type of psychotherapy in which negative patterns of thought about the self and the world are challenged in order to alter unwanted behavior patterns or treat mood disorders such as depression.

cognitivist /ˈkäɡnədəvəst/

I. noun

a person who believes or works in cognitive grammar.

II. adjective

of or relating to cognitive grammar.

III. derivatives

cognitivism /-ˌvizəm /

noun

– origin 1950s (in the sense ‘believing that moral judgments are true or false statements about moral facts’): from cognitive + -ist.

cognizable /ˈkäɡnəzəb(ə)l ˌkäɡˈnīzəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. ‹formal› perceptible; clearly identifiable.

2. [Law] within the jurisdiction of a court.

– origin late 17th cent.: from cognizance + -able.

cognizance /ˈkäɡnəzəns / cognisance

I. noun

1. ‹formal› knowledge, awareness, or notice

• he was deputed to bring the affair to the cognizance of the board.

2. [Law] the action of taking jurisdiction.

3. the action of taking judicial notice (of a fact beyond dispute).

4. [Heraldry] a distinctive device or mark, especially an emblem or badge formerly worn by retainers of a noble house.

II. phrases

take cognizance of

‹formal› attend to; take account of.

– origin Middle English conisance, from Old French conoisance, based on Latin cognoscere ‘get to know.’ The spelling with g, influenced by Latin, arose in the 15th cent. and gradually affected the pronunciation.

cognizant /ˈkäɡnəzənt ˌkäɡˈnīzənt / cognisant

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. ‹formal› having knowledge or being aware of

• statesmen must be cognizant of the political boundaries within which they work.

– origin early 19th cent.: probably directly from cognizance.

cognize /ˈkäɡnīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› perceive, know, or become aware of

• what the novel cognizes, discerns, knows.

– origin early 19th cent.: from cognizance, on the pattern of words such as recognize.

cognomen /käɡˈnōmən ˈkäɡnəmən/

I. noun

1. an extra personal name given to an ancient Roman citizen, functioning rather like a nickname and typically passed down from father to son.
Compare with nomen, praenomen, agnomen.

2. a name; a nickname.

– origin Latin, from co- ‘together with’ + gnomen, nomen ‘name.’

cognoscente /ˌkänyəˈSHenti, ˌkäɡnəˈSHenti/

I. noun

a connoisseur; a discerning expert

• the art historian as professional, expert, cognoscente, and aficionado.

– origin late 18th cent.: Italian, singular of cognoscenti.

cognoscenti /ˌkänyəˈSHentē ˌkäɡnəˈSHentē/

I. plural noun

people who are considered to be especially well informed about a particular subject

• it was hailed by the cognoscenti as one of the best golf courses in Europe.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Italian conoscenti, literally ‘people who know.’ The g was added under the influence of Latin cognoscent- ‘getting to know,’ from the verb cognoscere (Italian conoscere).

cogon grass /kōˈɡōn ˌɡras/

noun

a perennial, rhizomatous grass of Asian origin, used for thatching and as a packing material; identified as a noxious weed in much of the southeastern US.
[Imperata cylindrica, family Poaceae.]

cog railway /käɡ ˈrālˌwā/

noun

a railroad with a toothed central rail between the bearing rails that engages with a cogwheel under the locomotive, providing traction for ascending very steep slopes.

cogwheel /ˈkäɡˌ(h)wēl/

noun

another term for cog.

cohabit /ˌkōˈhabət/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. live together and have a sexual relationship without being married.

2. coexist

• animals that can cohabit with humans thrive.

II. derivatives

1. cohabitant

noun

2. cohabiter

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin cohabitare, from co- ‘together’ + habitare ‘dwell.’

cohabitation /ˌkōhabiˈtāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the state of living together and having a sexual relationship without being married

• couples increasingly prefer cohabitation to marriage.

2. the state or fact of living or existing at the same time or in the same place

• a harmonious cohabitation with other living creatures.

Cohan, George M. /ˈkōˌhan/

(1878–1942), US composer, playwright, actor, and producer; full name George Michael Cohan. Among his best known songs are “Yankee Doodle Dandy” (1904) and “Give My Regards to Broadway” (1904).

coheir /ˈkōˌer kōˈer/

noun

a joint heir.

coheiress /ˈkōˌerəs kōˈerəs/

noun

a joint heiress.

cohere /kōˈhir/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. be united; form a whole

• our mixed physical and spiritual natures cohere and mature.

2. (of an argument or theory) be logically consistent

• this view does not cohere with their other beliefs.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin cohaerere, from co- ‘together’ + haerere ‘to stick.’

coherence /ˌkōˈhirəns/

I. noun

1. the quality of being logical and consistent

• this raises further questions on the coherence of state policy.

2. the quality of forming a unified whole

• the group began to lose coherence and the artists took separate directions.

II. derivatives

coherency

noun

coherent /ˌkōˈhirənt/

I. adjective

1. (of an argument, theory, or policy) logical and consistent

• they failed to develop a coherent economic strategy.

2. (of a person) able to speak clearly and logically

• she was lucid and coherent and did not appear to be injured.

3. united as or forming a whole

• divided into a number of geographically coherent kingdoms.

4. [Physics] (of waves) having a constant phase relationship.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘logically related to’): from Latin cohaerent- ‘sticking together,’ from the verb cohaerere (see cohere).

coherently /kōˈhirən(t)lē/

adverb

1. (with reference to an argument, theory, or policy) in a logical and consistent way

• you argue your point coherently.

2. (with reference to speech) in a clear and understandable way

• he suffered a stroke that left him unable to walk or talk coherently.

3. in a way that forms a unified whole

• communities preferred coherently organized or curated online collections.

cohesion /kōˈhēZHən/

I. noun

1. the action or fact of forming a united whole

• the work at present lacks cohesion.

2. [Physics] the sticking together of particles of the same substance.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin cohaes- ‘cleaved together,’ from the verb cohaerere (see cohere), on the pattern of adhesion.

cohesive /kōˈhēsiv kōˈhēziv/

I. adjective

characterized by or causing cohesion.

II. derivatives

cohesively

adverb

cohesiveness /kōˈhēsivnəs kōˈhēzivnəs/

noun

the quality of forming a united whole

• the film lacks cohesiveness

• a sense of national pride and internal cohesiveness.

Cohn, Ferdinand /kōn/

(1828–98), German botanist; full name Ferdinand Julius Cohn. A founder of bacteriology, he was the first to devise a systematic classification of bacteria into genera and species.

coho /ˈkōhō / coho salmon, cohoe

I. noun

a deep-bodied North Pacific salmon with small black spots.
Also called silver salmon. [Oncorhynchus kisutch, family Salmonidae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: probably from Salish k'wəxwəθ.

cohort /ˈkōˌhôrt/

I. noun

1. [treated as sing. or pl.] — an ancient Roman military unit, comprising six centuries, equal to one tenth of a legion.

2. [treated as sing. or pl.] — a group of people banded together or treated as a group

• a cohort of civil servants patiently drafting legislation.

3. a group of people with a common statistical characteristic

• the 1940–44 birth cohort of women.

4. ‹often derogatory› a supporter or companion.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French cohorte, or from Latin cohors, cohort- ‘yard, retinue.’ Compare with court. / usage: The co- in cohort is not a prefix signifying a joint or auxiliary relationship (as in coauthor or codependency). The word derives from the Latin cohors, an ancient Roman military unit, and also ‘band of people with a common interest.’ In the mid 20th century, a new sense developed in the US, meaning ‘a companion or colleague,’ as in young Jack arrived with three of his cohorts. Although this use is well established, there are still some people who object to it on the grounds that cohort should be used only for groups of people, never for individuals.

cohosh /ˈkōhäSH/

I. noun

either of two medicinal plants native to North America.
[● a plant of the buttercup family, with small white flowers (Cimicifuga racemosa, family Ranunculaceae). ● a plant of the barberry family (Caulophyllum thalictroides, family Berberidaceae).]

– origin late 18th cent.: from Eastern Abnaki.

cohost /ˈkōhōst/

I. noun

a joint host.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. act as a joint host.

cohune /kəˈho͞on, kō- / cahoun

I. noun

1. a Central American palm that is a valuable source of oil.
[Orbignya cohune, family Palmae.]

2. (also cohune nut) — the oil-rich nut of the cohune palm.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Miskito.

coif /kwäːf/

I. noun

1. /koif / — a woman's close-fitting cap, now only worn under a veil by nuns.

2. ‹historical› a protective metal skullcap worn under armor.

3. /kwäːf / — ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) short for coiffure.

II. verb — /kwäːf / [with obj.]

1. style or arrange (someone's hair), typically in an elaborate way
(as adj. coiffed)

• her elaborately coiffed hair.

– origin Middle English: from Old French coife ‘headdress,’ from late Latin cofia ‘helmet.’

coiffeur /kwäˈfər/

I. noun

a hairdresser.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, from coiffer ‘arrange the hair,’ in Old French ‘cover with a coif’ (see coif).

coiffeuse /kwäˈf(y)o͞oz, -ˈfə(r)z/

noun

a female hairdresser.

coiffure /kwäˈfyo͝or/

I. noun

a person's hairstyle, typically an elaborate one.

II. derivatives

coiffured

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: French, from coiffer ‘arrange the hair,’ in Old French ‘cover with a coif’ (see coif).

coign /koin/

I. noun

a projecting corner or angle of a wall or building.

II. phrases

coign of vantage

a favorable position for observation or action.

– origin late Middle English: variant of coin. The phrase coign of vantage was first used by Shakespeare (Macbeth I. iv. 7), and later popularized by Sir Walter Scott.

coil^1 /koil/

I. noun

1. a length of something wound or arranged in a spiral or sequence of rings

• a coil of rope.

2. a single ring or loop in a length of coil

• the snake wrapped its coils around her.

3. a roll of postage stamps, especially one for use in a vending machine.

4. a slow-burning spiral made with the dried paste of pyrethrum powder, which produces a smoke that inhibits mosquitoes from biting.

5. (often the coil) — an intrauterine contraceptive device in the form of a coil.

6. an electrical device consisting of a length of wire arranged in a coil for converting the level of a voltage, producing a magnetic field, or adding inductance to a circuit

• a relay coil.

7. an electrical coil used for transmitting high voltage to the spark plugs of an internal combustion engine.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. arrange or wind (something long and flexible) in a joined sequence of concentric circles or rings

• he began to coil up the heavy ropes

• he coiled a lock of her hair around his finger.

2. [no obj.] — move or twist into a coil

• smoke coiled lazily toward the ceiling.

– origin early 16th cent. (as a verb): from Old French coillir, from Latin colligere ‘gather together’ (see collect^1).

coil^2 /koil/

I. noun

‹archaic› ‹dialect› a confusion or turmoil.

II. phrases

shuffle off this mortal coil

‹chiefly humorous› die.
[from Shakespeare's Hamlet (III. i. 67).]

– origin mid 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

coil spring /ˈkoil ˌspriNG/

noun

a helical spring made from metal wire or a metal band.

Coimbatore /ˌkoimbəˈto͝or/

a city in southern India, in the state of Tamil Nadu; pop. 1,008,300 (est. 2009).

coin /koin/

I. noun

1. a flat, typically round piece of metal with an official stamp, used as money.

2. money in the form of coins

• large amounts of coin and precious metal.

3. (US) ‹informal› money

• he showed me how we could make a lot of coin.

4. (coins) — one of the suits in some tarot packs, corresponding to pentacles in others.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (coins) by stamping metal.

2. make (metal) into coins.

3. invent or devise (a new word or phrase)

• he coined the term “desktop publishing.”

III. phrases

1. the other side of the coin

the opposite or contrasting aspect of a matter.

2. pay someone back in his or her own coin

retaliate with similar behavior.

3. to coin a phrase

a. said ironically when introducing a banal remark or cliché

• I had to find out the hard way—to coin a phrase.

b. said when introducing a new expression or a variation on a familiar one.

– origin Middle English: from Old French coin ‘wedge, corner, die,’ coigner ‘to mint,’ from Latin cuneus ‘wedge.’ The original sense was ‘cornerstone,’ later ‘angle or wedge’ (senses now spelled quoin); in late Middle English the term denoted a die for stamping money, or a piece of money produced by such a die.

coinage /ˈkoinij/

I. noun

1. coins collectively

• the volume of coinage in circulation.

2. the action or process of producing coins from metal.

3. a system or type of coins in use

• decimal coinage.

4. the invention of a new word or phrase.

5. a newly invented word or phrase.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French coigniage, from coignier ‘to mint’ (see coin).

coincide /ˌkōənˈsīd/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. occur at or during the same time

• publication is timed to coincide with a major exhibition

• the two events coincided.

2. correspond in nature; tally

• the interests of employers and employees do not always coincide.

3. correspond in position; meet or intersect

• the two long-distance walks briefly coincide here.

4. be in agreement

• the members of the College coincide in this opinion.

– origin early 18th cent. (in the sense ‘occupy the same space’): from medieval Latin coincidere, from co- ‘together with’ + incidere ‘fall upon or into.’

coincidence /kōˈinsədəns/

I. noun

1. a remarkable concurrence of events or circumstances without apparent causal connection

• it's no coincidence that this new burst of innovation has occurred in the free nations

• they met by coincidence.

2. correspondence in nature or in time of occurrence

• the coincidence of interest between the mining companies and certain politicians.

3. [Physics] the presence of ionizing particles or other objects in two or more detectors simultaneously, or of two or more signals simultaneously in a circuit.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘occupation of the same space’): from medieval Latin coincidentia, from coincidere ‘coincide, agree’ (see coincide). Sense 3 dates from the 1930s.

coincident /kōˈinsədənt kōˈinsəˌdent/

I. adjective

1. occurring together in space or time

• an increasing specialization of discourse coincident with the progress of the Industrial Revolution.

2. in agreement or harmony

• the stake of defense attorneys is not always coincident with that of their clients.

II. derivatives

coincidently /kōˌinsəˈdentlē /

adverb

– origin mid 16th cent.: from medieval Latin coincident- ‘coinciding, agreeing,’ from the verb coincidere (see coincide).

coincidental /kōˌinsəˈden(t)l/

adjective

1. resulting from a coincidence; done or happening by chance

• any resemblance between their reports is purely coincidental

• it cannot be coincidental that these years were a time of important new developments.

2. happening or existing at the same time

• it's convenient that his plan is coincidental with the group's closure.

coincidentally /kōinsəˈden(t)əlē/

adverb

1. in a way that results from chance despite being very unlikely

• her dad coincidentally happens to be the accountant at the bank

• the three are coincidentally reunited when captured by the enemy.

2. at the same time

• the report should be published coincidentally with the letter.

coiner /ˈkoinər/

noun

1. ‹historical› a person who coins money, in particular a maker of counterfeit coins.

2. a person who invents or devises a new word, sense, or phrase.

coin-operated /ˈkoinˌäpəˌrādəd / coin-op

I. adjective

operated by inserting coins in a slot

• coin-operated telephones.

II. noun

a machine that is coin-operated.

co-insurance

noun

a type of insurance in which the insured pays a share of the payment made against a claim.

Cointreau /kwänˈtrō/

I. noun

‹trademark› a colorless orange-flavored liqueur.

– origin named after the Cointreau family, liqueur producers based in Angers, France.

coir /ˈkoir/

I. noun

fiber from the outer husk of the coconut, used for making ropes and matting.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Malayalam kayaṛu ‘cord, coir.’

coition /kōˈiSHən/

I. noun

another term for coitus.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘meeting or uniting’): from Latin coitio(n-), from the verb coire, from co- ‘together’ + ire ‘go.’

coitus /ˈkōədəs ˈkoidəs/

I. noun

‹formal› sexual intercourse.

II. derivatives

coital /ˈkōədl ˈkoidl /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin, from coire ‘go together’ (see coition).

coitus interruptus /ˌkōədəs in(t)əˈrəptəs/

I. noun

sexual intercourse in which the penis is withdrawn before ejaculation.

– origin from coitus + Latin interruptus ‘interrupted.’

coitus reservatus /ˌrezərˈvātəs, -ˈvätəs/

I. noun

the postponement or avoidance of ejaculation, to prolong sexual intercourse.

– origin from coitus + Latin reservatus ‘reserved, kept.’

cojones /kəˈhōˌnāz, -ˌnās/

I. plural noun

1. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) a man's testicles.

2. courage; guts

• he does not have the cojones to kill a flea.

– origin Spanish.

coke^1 /kōk/

I. noun

1. a solid fuel made by heating coal in the absence of air so that the volatile components are driven off.

2. carbon residue left after the incomplete combustion of gasoline or other fuels.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as noun coking)

1. convert (coal) into coke.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘charcoal’): of unknown origin. The current sense dates from the mid 17th cent.

coke^2 /kōk/

I. noun

informal term for cocaine.

– origin early 20th cent.: abbreviation.

Coke-bottle /ˈkōkˌbädl/

noun — [as modifier]

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› denoting very thick lenses for glasses or glasses with such lenses.

coked /kōkt/

adjective

‹informal› having taken a large amount of cocaine

• he was obviously drunk or coked up.

• a druggie coked so far out of his mind that he'd torn the furniture apart.

col /käl/

I. noun

1. the lowest point of a ridge or saddle between two peaks, typically affording a pass from one side of a mountain range to another.

2. [Meteorology] a region of slightly elevated pressure between two anticyclones.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, literally ‘neck,’ from Latin collum.

col.

abbreviation

1. collected.

2. college.

3. colony.

4. column.

Col. //

abbreviation

1. colonel.

2. [Bible] Colossians.

col-

prefix

variant spelling of com- assimilated before l (as in collocate, collude).

cola /ˈkōlə/

noun

1. a brown carbonated drink that is flavored with an extract of cola nuts, or with a similar flavoring.
[shortening of Coca-Cola.]

2. (also kola) — a small evergreen African tree that is cultivated in the tropics for its seeds (cola nuts).
[from Temne k'ola ‘cola nut.’] [Genus Cola, family Sterculiaceae: several species, in particular C. acuminata.]

COLA

abbreviation

cost-of-living adjustment, an increase made to wages or Social Security benefits to keep them in line with inflation.

colander /ˈkələndər ˈkäləndər/

I. noun

a perforated bowl used to strain off liquid from food, especially after cooking.

– origin Middle English: based on Latin colare ‘to strain.’

cola nut /ˈkōlə nət / kola nut

noun

the seed of the cola tree, which contains caffeine and is chewed or made into a drink.

colatitude /ˌkōˈladət(y)o͞od/

noun

[Astronomy] the complement of the latitude; the difference between latitude and 90°.

colcannon /kälˈkanən/

I. noun

an Irish and Scottish dish of cabbage and potatoes boiled and pounded.

– origin late 18th cent.: from cole; the origin of the second element is uncertain but it is said that cannonballs were used to pound such vegetables as spinach.

colchicine /ˈkälCHəˌsēn ˈkälkəˌsēn/

noun

[Chemistry] a yellow compound present in the corms of colchicums, used to relieve pain in cases of gout.
[An alkaloid; chem. formula: C_22H_25NO_6.]

colchicum /ˈkälCHəkəm/

I. noun

1. a plant of a genus that includes the autumn crocuses.
[Genus Colchicum, family Liliaceae.]

2. the dried corm or seed of meadow saffron, which has analgesic properties and is used medicinally, especially as a tincture.

– origin from Latin, from Greek kolkhikon ‘of Colchis’ (see Colchis), alluding to the skills as a poisoner of the sorceress Medea of Colchis in classical mythology.

Colchis /ˈkôlkəs/

an ancient region south of the Caucasus Mountains at the eastern end of the Black Sea. In classical mythology it was the goal of Jason's expedition for the Golden Fleece.
Greek name Kolkhis.

cold /kōld/

I. adjective

1. of or at a low or relatively low temperature, especially when compared with the human body

• a freezing cold day

• it's cold outside

• a sharp, cold wind.

2. (of food or drink) served or consumed without being heated or after cooling

• a cold drink

• serve hot or cold.

3. (of a person) feeling uncomfortably cold

• she was cold, and I put some more wood on the fire.

4. feeling or characterized by fear or horror

• he suddenly went cold with a dreadful certainty

• a cold shiver of fear.

5. ‹informal› unconscious

• she was out cold.

6. dead

• lying cold and stiff in a coffin.

7. lacking affection or warmth of feeling; unemotional

• how cold and calculating he was

• cold black eyes

• cold politeness.

8. not affected by emotion; objective

• cold statistics.

9. sexually unresponsive; frigid.

10. depressing or dispiriting; not suggestive of warmth

• the cold, impersonal barrack-room

• a cold light streamed through the window.

11. (of a color) containing pale blue or gray.

12. ineffective in playing a game

• Butler capitalized on Xavier's cold shooting.

13. (of the scent or trail of a hunted person or animal) no longer fresh and easy to follow

• the trail went cold.

14. (in children's games) far from finding or guessing what is sought, as opposed to warm or nearing success.

15. without preparation or rehearsal; unawares

• going into the test cold.

II. noun

1. a low temperature, especially in the atmosphere; cold weather; a cold environment

• my teeth chattered with the cold

• they nearly died of cold.

2. a common viral infection in which the mucous membrane of the nose and throat becomes inflamed, typically causing running at the nose, sneezing, a sore throat, and other similar symptoms.

III. adverb

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› completely; entirely

• she knew world capitals cold by age nine.

IV. phrases

1. as cold as ice (or stone or the grave, etc.)

very cold.

2. catch (or take) cold

become infected with a cold.

3. cold comfort /ˌkōld ˈkəmfərt /

poor or inadequate consolation

• another drop in the inflation rate was cold comfort for the 2.74 million jobless.

4. cold feet

loss of nerve or confidence

• some investors got cold feet and backed out.

5. the cold light of day

the objective realities of a situation

• in the cold light of day it all seemed so ridiculous.

6. the cold shoulder

a show of intentional unfriendliness; rejection

• why is even his own family giving him the cold shoulder?

7. cold-shoulder someone

reject or be deliberately unfriendly to someone.

8. down cold

see down^1.

9. in cold blood

without feeling or mercy; ruthlessly

• the government forces killed them in cold blood.

10. out in the cold

ignored; neglected

• the talks left the French out in the cold.

11. throw (or pour) cold water on

be discouraging or negative about.

V. derivatives

coldish /ˈkōldiSH /

adjective

– origin Old English cald, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch koud and German kalt, also to Latin gelu ‘frost.’

cold-blooded /ˌkōldˈblədid/

I. adjective

1. (of a kind of animal) having a body temperature varying with that of the environment; poikilothermic.

2. without emotion or pity; deliberately cruel or callous

• a cold-blooded murder.

II. derivatives

1. cold-bloodedly /ˌkōldˈblədidlē /

adverb

2. cold-bloodedness /ˈkōld ˌblədədnəs /

noun

cold-call

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make an unsolicited call on (someone), by telephone or in person, in an attempt to sell goods or services
(as noun cold-calling)

• severe new regulations against cold-calling.

II. noun

an unsolicited visit or telephone call made by someone trying to sell goods or services.

cold case

noun

an unsolved criminal investigation which remains open pending the discovery of new evidence

• the cold cases that have never been solved.

cold cash

noun

(N. Amer.) another term for hard cash.

cold cathode

noun

[Electronics] a cathode that emits electrons without being heated.

cold chisel /kōld ˈCHizəl/

noun

a chisel used for cutting metal.

cold-cock

verb — [with obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› knock (someone) out, typically with a blow to the head.

cold cream /ˈkōl(d) ˌkrēm/

noun

a cosmetic preparation used for cleansing and softening the skin.

cold cuts /ˈkōld ˌkəts/

plural noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) slices of cold cooked or processed meats.
See lunchmeat.

cold deck

noun

1. (US) ‹informal› a deck of cards that has been dishonestly arranged beforehand.

2. (N. Amer.) a pile of logs stored away from the immediate area where logging is taking place.

cold-drawn /ˌkōldˈdrôn/

I. adjective

(of metal) drawn out into a wire or bar while cold.

II. derivatives

cold-drawing

noun

cold duck /kōld ˈdək/

noun

a type of sparkling wine made from red wine and champagne.

cold frame /ˈkōl(d) ˌfrām/

noun

a four-sided frame of boards with a removable glass or plastic top. The frame is placed on the ground and is used to house, protect, and harden off seedlings and small plants, without artificial heat.

cold front /ˈkōl(d) ˌfrənt/

noun

[Meteorology] the boundary of an advancing mass of cold air, in particular the trailing edge of the warm sector of a low-pressure system.

cold fusion /kōld ˈfyo͞oZHən/

noun

nuclear fusion occurring at or close to room temperature. Claims for its discovery in 1989 are generally held to have been mistaken.

cold-hearted /ˈkōld ˈˌhärdəd/

I. adjective

lacking affection or warmth; unfeeling.

II. derivatives

1. cold-heartedly

adverb

2. cold-heartedness

noun

cold light

noun

[Physics] light accompanied by little or no heat; luminescence.

coldly /ˈkōl(d)lē/

adverb

without affection or warmth of feeling; unemotionally

• Derek looked at her coldly

• a coldly contemptuous tone.

cold-molded

I. adjective

(of an object) molded from a resin that hardens without being heated.

II. derivatives

cold-molding

noun

coldness /ˈkōldnəs/

noun

1. the quality or condition of being of or at a low or relatively low temperature, especially when compared with the human body

• the air returned to the bright coldness of winter

• the bitter coldness of the British weather.

2. a feeling of fear or horror

• a sudden coldness crept around his heart.

3. the quality of lacking affection or warmth of feeling

• he replied with coldness in his voice.

4. (in reference to color) the quality of containing pale blue or gray

• the coldness of his paintings.

cold-rolled /ˌkōldˈrōld/

I. adjective

[Metallurgy] (of metal) having been rolled into sheets while cold, resulting in a smooth hard finish.

II. derivatives

cold-rolling

noun

cold snap /ˈkōld ˌsnap/

noun

a sudden, brief spell of cold weather.

cold sore /ˈkōl(d) ˌsô(ə)r/

noun

an inflamed blister in or near the mouth, caused by infection with the herpes simplex virus.

Cold Spring Harbor

a village on the north shore of Long Island in New York, in the town of Huntington, noted as a center for biological research; pop. 4,975 (2000).

cold storage /ˈkōl(d) ˈˌstôrij/

noun

1. the keeping of something in a refrigerator or other cold place for preservation.

2. the temporary postponement of something

• the project went into cold storage.

cold store /kōld stô(ə)r/

noun

a large refrigerated room for preserving food stocks at very low temperatures.

cold sweat /ˌkōld ˈswet/

noun

a state of sweating induced by fear, nervousness, or illness

• he used to break into a cold sweat when he was called on in class.

cold turkey /ˈkōl(d) ˈˌtərkē / ‹informal›

I. noun

the abrupt and complete cessation of taking a drug to which one is addicted

• cold turkey, with no medication, is not recommended for those with medical conditions.

II. adverb

(chiefly N. Amer.) in a sudden and abrupt manner

• many banks have cut commercial builders off cold turkey.

cold war /ˈkōl(d) ˈˌwô(ə)r/

noun

1. a state of political hostility between countries characterized by threats, propaganda, and other measures short of open warfare, in particular

2. (the Cold War) — the state of political hostility that existed between the Soviet bloc countries and the US-led Western powers from 1945 to 1990.

cold wave

noun

1. a spell of cold weather over a wide area.

2. a kind of permanent wave for the hair created by applying chemicals at room temperature.

cold-weld /ˈkōldˌweld/

verb — [with obj.]

1. join (a piece of metal) to another without the use of heat, by forcing them together so hard that the surface oxide films are disrupted and adhesion occurs.

cold-work /ˈkōldˌwərk/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. shape (metal) while it is cold.

II. noun

the shaping of metal while it is cold.

cole /kōl/

I. noun

‹chiefly archaic› a brassica, especially cabbage, kale, or rape.

– origin Old English cāwel, caul, related to Dutch kool and German Kohl, from Latin caulis ‘stem, cabbage’; reinforced in Middle English by forms from Old Norse kál. Compare with kale.

Cole, Nat King /kōl/

(1919–65), US singer and pianist; born Nathaniel Adams Coles. He became the first African American to have his own series on radio (1948–49) and then television (1956–57). Notable songs: “Mona Lisa” (1950) and “Ramblin' Rose” (1962).

Cole, Thomas

(1801–48), US artist, born in England. He was one of the founders of the Hudson River School of painting.

colectomy /kōˈlektəmē/

noun

surgical removal of all or part of the colon.

Coleman, Ornette /ˈkōlmən/

(1930–2015), US jazz saxophonist, trumpeter, violinist, and composer. His music is noted for its lack of harmony and chordal structure.

colemanite /ˈkōlməˌnīt/

I. noun

a white crystalline mineral, typically occurring as glassy prisms, consisting of hydrated calcium borate.

– origin named after William T. Coleman (1824–93) + -ite^1.

Coleman lantern /ˈkōlmən ˌlan(t)ərn / Coleman lamp

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹trademark› a type of bright gasoline lamp used by campers.

Coleoptera /ˌkōlēˈäptərə / ‹Entomology›

I. an order of insects that comprises the beetles (including weevils), forming the largest order of animals on the earth.

II. (as plural noun coleoptera) — insects of the order Coleoptera; beetles.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek koleopteros, from koleos ‘sheath’ + pteron ‘wing.’

coleopteran /ˌkōlēˈäptərən / ‹Entomology›

I. noun

an insect of the order Coleoptera; a beetle.

II. adjective

relating to or denoting coleopterans.

III. derivatives

coleopterous /-tərəs /

adjective

coleopterist /ˌkälēˈäpt(ə)rəst/

I. noun

a person who studies or collects beetles.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Coleoptera + -ist.

coleoptile /ˌkōlēˈäpˌtəl/

I. noun

[Botany] a sheath protecting a young shoot tip in a grass or cereal.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek koleon ‘sheath’ + ptilon ‘feather.’

coleorhiza /ˌkōlēəˈrīzə/

I. noun

[Botany] a sheath protecting the root of a germinating grass or cereal grain.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from koleos ‘sheath’ + rhiza ‘root.’

Coleridge, Samuel Taylor /ˈkōl(ə)rij/

(1772–1834), English poet, critic, and philosopher. His Lyrical Ballads (1798), written with William Wordsworth, marked the start of English romanticism and included “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” Other notable poems: “Christabel” and “Kubla Khan” (both 1816).

coleseed /ˈkōlsēd/

I. noun

old-fashioned term for rape^2.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Dutch koolzaad ‘cabbage or rape seed.’

coleslaw /ˈkōlˌslô/

I. noun

sliced raw cabbage mixed with mayonnaise and other vegetables, eaten as a salad.

– origin late 18th cent. (originally US): from Dutch koolsla, from kool ‘cabbage’ + sla (see slaw).

Colette /kəˈlet/

(1873–1954), French novelist; born Sidonie Gabrielle Claudine. Notable works Chéri (1920), La Fin de Chéri (1926), and Gigi (1945).

coleus /ˈkōlēəs/

I. noun

a tropical Southeast Asian plant of the mint family that has brightly colored variegated leaves and is popular as a houseplant.
[Genus Solenostemon (formerly Coleus), family Labiatae.]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek koleos ‘sheath’ (because of the way the stamens are joined together, resembling a sheath).

colewort /ˈkōlˌwərt, -ˌwôrt/

noun

‹chiefly archaic› another term for cole.

colic /ˈkälik/

I. noun

severe, often fluctuating pain in the abdomen caused by intestinal gas or obstruction in the intestines and suffered especially by babies.

II. derivatives

colicky /ˈkäləkē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French colique, from late Latin colicus, from colon (see colon^2).

colicin /ˈkäləsin, -ˌsēn/

I. noun

[Biology] a bacteriocin produced by a coliform bacterium.

– origin 1940s: from French colicine (from coli, denoting a bacterium) + -in^1.

colicroot /ˈkälikˌro͞ot, -ˌro͝ot/

noun

a North American plant of the lily family, with a rosette of leaves and a spike of small goblet-shaped white or cream flowers. It was formerly used in the treatment of colic.
[Aletris farinosa, family Liliaceae.]

coliform bacterium /ˈkōləˌfôrm, ˈkäl-/

I. noun

a rod-shaped bacterium, especially Escherichia coli and members of the genus Aerobacter, found in the intestinal tract of humans and other animals. Its presence in water indicates fecal contamination and can cause diarrhea and other dysenteric symptoms.
Also called colon bacillus.

– origin early 20th cent.: from modern Latin coli, specific epithet in the sense ‘of the colon’ + -iform + bacterium.

Colima /kôˈlēmə/

I. a state in southwestern Mexico, on the Pacific coast.

II. the capital city of Colima; pop. 123,587 (2005).

colinear /ˌkōˈlinēər / collinear

adjective

lying in the same straight line or linear sequence.

coliseum /ˌkäləˈsēəm / colosseum

I. noun — [in names]

1. a large theater or stadium

• the Charlotte Coliseum.

– origin late 19th cent.: from medieval Latin, alteration of Latin colosseum (see Colosseum).

colitis /kəˈlīdəs/

noun

[Medicine] inflammation of the lining of the colon.

Coll /kôl/

an island in the Inner Hebrides, west of Mull.

Coll.

abbreviation

1. Collateral.

2. Collected or Collection (used in written references to published works or sources).

3. College.

4. Colloquial.

collabo /kəˈlabō/

I. noun

‹informal› something produced by two or more people working together, especially a piece of music; a collaboration

• the trio won a Grammy for their hit collabo with the Gorillaz.

– origin 1990s: abbreviation of collaboration.

collaborate /kəˈlabəˌrāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. work jointly on an activity, especially to produce or create something

• he collaborated with a distinguished painter on the designs.

2. cooperate traitorously with an enemy

• the indigenous elite who collaborated with the colonizers.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin collaborat- ‘worked with,’ from the verb collaborare, from col- ‘together’ + laborare ‘to work.’

collaboration /kəˌlabəˈrāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action of working with someone to produce or create something

• he wrote on art and architecture in collaboration with John Betjeman.

2. something produced or created by collaboration

• his recent opera was a collaboration with Lessing.

3. traitorous cooperation with an enemy

• he faces charges of collaboration.

II. derivatives

collaborationist /kəˌlabəˈrāSH(ə)nəst /

noun, adjective

collaboration (sense 2)

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin collaboratio(n-), from collaborare ‘work together.’

collaborative /kəˈlab(ə)rədiv/

adjective

produced or conducted by two or more parties working together

• collaborative research.

collaboratively /kəˈlab(ə)rədivlē/

adverb

in a way that is produced by or involves two or more parties working together

• the guidelines have been developed collaboratively between key agencies.

collaborator /kəˈlabəˌrādər/

noun

1. a person who works jointly on an activity or project; an associate

• his collaborator on the book.

2. a person who cooperates traitorously with an enemy; a defector

• he was a collaborator during the occupation.

collage /kəˈläZH/

I. noun

1. a piece of art made by sticking various different materials such as photographs and pieces of paper or fabric onto a backing.

2. the art of making collages.

3. a combination or collection of various things.

II. derivatives

collagist /-läZHist /

noun

– origin early 20th cent.: from French, literally ‘gluing.’

collagen /ˈkäləjən/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] the main structural protein found in animal connective tissue, yielding gelatin when boiled.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French collagène, from Greek kolla ‘glue’ + French -gène (see -gen).

collapsar /kəˈlapˌsär/

I. noun

[Astronomy] an old star that has collapsed under its own gravity to form a white dwarf, neutron star, or black hole.

– origin late 20th cent.: from collapse, on the pattern of words such as pulsar.

collapse /kəˈlaps/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a structure) fall down or in; give way

• the roof collapsed on top of me.

2. [with obj.] — cause (something) to fall in or give way

• it feels as if the slightest pressure would collapse it

• ‹figurative› many people tend to collapse the distinction between the two concepts.

3. (of a lung or blood vessel) fall inward and become flat and empty
(as adj. collapsed)

• a collapsed lung.

4. [with obj.] — cause (a lung or blood vessel) to do this.

5. (of a person) fall down and become unconscious, typically through illness or injury

• he collapsed from loss of blood.

6. sit or lie down as a result of tiredness or amusement

• exhausted, he collapsed on the bed

• the three of them collapsed with laughter.

7. (of an institution or undertaking) fail suddenly and completely

• in the face of such resolve his opposition finally collapsed.

8. (of a price or currency) drop suddenly in value.

9. fold or be folded to fit into a small space
[no obj.]

• some cots collapse down to fit into a bag.

10. [with obj.] — compress a displayed part of (a spreadsheet or other electronic document)

• tabulation programs can be used to collapse this list in various ways.

II. noun

1. an instance of a structure falling down or in

• the collapse of a railroad bridge

• the church roof is in danger of collapse.

2. a sudden failure of an institution or undertaking

• the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.

3. a physical or mental breakdown

• he suffered a collapse from overwork

• she's lying there in a state of collapse.

– origin early 17th cent. (as collapsed): from medical Latin collapsus, past participle of collabi, from col- ‘together’ + labi ‘to slip.’

collapsible /kəˈlapsəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

(of an object) able to be folded into a small space

• a collapsible bed.

II. derivatives

collapsibility /kəˌlapsəˈbilitē /

noun

collar /ˈkälər/

I. noun

1. a band of material around the neck of a shirt, dress, coat, or jacket, either upright or turned over and generally an integral part of the garment

• we turned our collars up against the chill.

2. short for clerical collar.

3. a band of leather or other material put around the neck of a domestic animal, especially a dog or cat.

4. a colored marking resembling a collar around the neck of a bird or other animal.

5. a heavy rounded part of the harness worn by a draft animal, which rests at the base of its neck on the shoulders.

6. a restraining or connecting band, ring, or pipe in machinery.

7. (Brit.) a piece of meat rolled up and tied.

8. a cut of bacon taken from the neck of a pig.

9. [Botany] the part of a plant where the stem joins the roots.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — put a collar on

• biologists who were collaring polar bears.

2. [with obj.] — ‹informal› seize, grasp, or apprehend (someone)

• police collared the culprit.

3. approach aggressively and talk to (someone who wishes to leave)

• he collared a departing guest for some last words.

III. derivatives

collarless

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French colier, from Latin collare ‘band for the neck, collar,’ from collum ‘neck.’

collar beam /ˈkälər bēm/

noun

a horizontal wooden joist or beam connecting two rafters and forming with them an A-shaped roof truss.

collarbone /ˈkälərˌbōn/

noun

either of the pair of bones joining the breastbone to the shoulder blades.
Also called clavicle.

collards /ˈkälərdz / collard greens

I. noun

a cabbage of a variety that does not develop a heart.

– origin mid 18th cent.: reduced form of colewort, in the same sense, from cole + wort.

collared /ˈkälərd/

adjective

1. (of a garment) having a collar

• men were required to wear trousers and collared shirts

• [in combination] a fur-collared jacket.

2. (of a bird or other animal) having a colored marking resembling a collar around the neck

• I saw thousands of wood pigeons and collared doves

• you can sight collared lizards amidst cottonwoods and ferns.

collared dove /ˌkälərd ˈdəv/

noun

an Old World dove related to the ringed turtle dove, with buff, gray, or brown plumage and a narrow black band around the back of the neck.
[Genus Streptopelia, family Columbidae: several species, in particular the sandy gray S. decaocto, which originated in Asia, and has recently been found breeding widely in southeastern Florida.]

collared lizard

noun

a lizard that is typically marked with spots and bands and has a distinctive black-and-white collar. It is found in dry rocky areas in the southern US and Mexico.
[Crotaphytus collaris, family Iguanidae.]

collar stud /ˈkälər stəd/

noun

a stud used to fasten a detachable collar to a shirt.

collar tie

noun

another term for collar beam.

collate /kəˈlāt ˈkōˌlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. collect and combine (texts, information, or sets of figures) in proper order.

2. compare and analyze (texts or other data)

• these accounts he collated with his own experience.

3. [Printing] verify the order of (sheets of a book) by their signatures.

4. appoint (a member of the clergy) to a benefice.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘confer (a benefice) upon’): from Latin collat- ‘brought together,’ from the verb conferre (see confer).

collateral /kəˈladərəl kəˈlatrəl/

I. noun

1. something pledged as security for repayment of a loan, to be forfeited in the event of a default.

2. a person having the same descent in a family as another but by a different line.

II. adjective

1. additional but subordinate; secondary

• the collateral meanings of a word.

2. used euphemistically to refer to inadvertent casualties among civilians and destruction in civilian areas in the course of military operations

• munitions must be able to destroy the target without causing collateral damage

• collateral casualties.

3. descended from the same stock but by a different line

• a collateral descendant of George Washington.

4. situated side by side; parallel

• collateral veins.

III. derivatives

1. collaterality /kəˌlatəˈralitē /

noun

2. collaterally

adverb

– origin late Middle English (as an adjective): from medieval Latin collateralis, from col- ‘together with’ + lateralis (from latus, later- ‘side’). Sense 1 of the noun (originally US) is from the phrase collateral security, denoting something pledged in addition to the main obligation of a contract.

collateral contract

noun

[Law] a subsidiary contract that induces a person to enter into a main contract or that depends upon the main contract for its existence.

collateralize /kəˈlatərəˌlīz, kəˈlatrə-/

verb — [with obj.]

1. provide something as collateral for (a loan)

• these loans are collateralized by property.

collation /kəˈlāSHən/

I. noun

1. the action of collating something

• data management and collation.

2. a light, informal meal.

3. (in the Roman Catholic Church) a light meal allowed during a fast.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin collation-, from conferre (see confer). Originally (in the plural) the term denoted John Cassian's Collationes Patrum in Scetica Eremo Commorantium ‘Conferences of, or with, the Egyptian Hermits’ (AD 415–20), from which a reading would be given in Benedictine communities prior to a light meal (see sense 2).

collator /ˈkōlādər ˈkälādər/

noun

a person or machine that collates.

colleague /ˈkälēɡ/

I. noun

a person with whom one works, especially in a profession or business.

– origin early 16th cent.: from French collègue, from Latin collega ‘partner in office,’ from col- ‘together with’ + legare ‘depute.’

collect^1 /kəˈlekt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. bring or gather together (things, typically when scattered or widespread)

• he went around the office collecting old coffee cups

• he collected up all his clothing.

2. accumulate and store over a period of time

• collect rainwater to use on the garden.

3. systematically seek and acquire (items of a particular kind) as a hobby

• I've started collecting stamps

• [no obj.] the urge to collect, to have the full set, is in us all.

4. [no obj.] — come together and form a group or mass

• worshipers collected together in a stadium

• dust and dirt collect so quickly.

5. call for and take away; fetch

• the children were collected from school.

6. go somewhere and accept or receive (something), especially as a right or due

• she went to Oxford to collect her honorary degree.

7. solicit and receive (donations), especially for charity

• collecting money for the war effort

• [no obj.] we collected for the United Way.

8. receive (money that is due); be paid
[with obj.]

• they called to collect a debt

• [no obj.] he'd come to collect.

9. (collect oneself) — regain control of oneself, typically after a shock.

10. bring together and concentrate (one's thoughts).

11. ‹archaic› conclude; infer

• by all best conjectures, I collect Thou art to be my fatal enemy.

12. cause (a horse) to bring its hind legs further forward as it moves, thereby shortening the stride and increasing balance and impulsion.

II. adverb, adjective

(N. Amer.) (with reference to a telephone call) to be paid for by the person receiving it
[as adv.]

• I called my mother collect

• [as adj.] a collect call.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French collecter or medieval Latin collectare, from Latin collect- ‘gathered together,’ from the verb colligere, from col- ‘together’ + legere ‘choose or collect.’

collect^2 /ˈkälˌekt/

I. noun

(in church use) a short prayer, especially one assigned to a particular day or season.

– origin Middle English: from Old French collecte, from Latin collecta ‘gathering,’ feminine past participle of colligere ‘gather together’ (see collect^1).

collectanea /ˌkälekˈtānēə/

I. plural noun — [also treated as sing.]

1. passages, remarks, and other pieces of text collected from various sources.

– origin mid 17th cent.: Latin, neuter plural of collectaneus ‘gathered together,’ used as an adjective in Caesar's Dicta collectanea and as a noun in Solinus' Collectanea.

collected /kəˈlektəd/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) not perturbed or distracted

• outwardly they are cool, calm, and collected.

2. (of individual works) brought together in one volume or edition

• the collected works of Edgar Allan Poe.

3. (of a volume or edition) containing all the works of a particular person or category.

4. [Riding] (of a horse) moving with a shortened stride and with its hind legs correctly placed to achieve balance and impulsion.

II. derivatives

collectedly /kəˈlektədlē /

adverb

collected (sense 1)

collectedness /kəˈlektədnəs/

noun

the state of being calm and self-controlled

• she is the very picture of collectedness and confidence.

collectible /kəˈlektəb(ə)l / ‹chiefly Brit.› collectable

I. adjective

1. (of an item) worth collecting; of interest to a collector.

2. able to be collected

• a surplus collectible as rent by the landowner.

II. noun — (usu. collectibles)

1. an item valued and sought by collectors.

III. derivatives

collectibility /kəˌlektəˈbilitē /

noun

collection /kəˈlekSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action or process of collecting someone or something

• the collection of maple sap

• tax collection.

2. a regular removal of mail for dispatch or of trash for disposal.

3. an instance of collecting money in a church service or for a charitable cause

• when she died, they took up a collection for her burial.

4. a sum of money raised by a charity collection.

5. a group of things or people

• a rambling collection of houses.

6. an assembly of items such as works of art, pieces of writing, or natural objects, especially one systematically ordered

• paintings from the permanent collection

• a record collection.

7. (collections) — an art museum's holdings organized by medium, such as sculpture, painting, or photography.

8. a book or recording containing various texts, poems, songs, etc.

• a collection of essays.

9. a range of new clothes produced by a fashion house

• a preview of their autumn collection.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin collectio(n-), from colligere ‘gather together’ (see collect^1).

collective /kəˈlektiv/

I. adjective

1. done by people acting as a group

• a collective protest.

2. belonging or relating to all the members of a group

• ministers who share collective responsibility

• a collective sigh of relief from parents.

3. taken as a whole; aggregate

• the collective power of the workforce.

II. noun

1. a cooperative enterprise.

2. a collective farm.

III. derivatives

1. collectiveness

noun

2. collectivity /kəˌlekˈtivədē /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘representing many individuals’): from Old French collectif, -ive or Latin collectivus, from collect- ‘gathered together,’ from the verb colligere (see collect^1).

collective bargaining /kəˈlektiv ˈbärɡ(ə)niNG/

noun

negotiation of wages and other conditions of employment by an organized body of employees.

collective farm /kəˈlektiv färm/

noun

a jointly operated amalgamation of several small farms, especially one owned by the government.

collectively /kəˈlektivlē/

adverb

as a group; as a whole

• the vast range of resources that the American people collectively own

• the audience collectively winced.

collective mark

noun

a trademark or service mark that identifies members of a union, cooperative, or other collective organization.

collective memory

noun

the memory of a group of people, typically passed from one generation to the next.

collective noun /kəˈlektiv noun/

I. noun

[Grammar] a noun that denotes a group of individuals (e.g., assembly, family, crew).

usage: Examples of collective nouns include group, crowd, family, committee, class, crew, and the like. In the US, collective nouns are usually followed by a singular verb (the crowd was nervous), while in Britain it is more common to follow a collective noun with a plural verb (the band were late for their own concert). Notice that if the verb is singular, any following pronouns must also be singular: the council is prepared to act, but not until it has taken a poll. When preceded by the definite article the, the collective noun number is usually treated as a singular (the number of applicants was beyond belief), whereas it is treated as a plural when preceded by the indefinite article a (a number of proposals were considered). See also usage at number.

collective security /kəˈlektiv səˈkyo͝orədē/

noun

the cooperation of several countries in an alliance to strengthen the security of each.

collective unconscious /kəˈlektiv ˌənˈkänSHəs/

noun

(in Jungian psychology) the part of the unconscious mind that is derived from ancestral memory and experience and is common to all humankind, as distinct from the individual's unconscious.

collectivism /kəˈlektəˌvizəm/

noun

1. the practice or principle of giving a group priority over each individual in it.

2. the theory and practice of the ownership of land and the means of production by the people or the state.

collectivist /kəˈlektivəst/

I. adjective

of or relating to the practice or principle of giving a group priority over each individual in it

• collectivist cultures had disciplined and cooperative work forces

• collectivist policies which promised security and protection.

II. noun

an adherent of the practice or principle of giving a group priority over each individual in it

• an entire nation of collectivists.

III. derivatives

collectivistic

adjective

collectivize /kəˈlektəˌvīz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. collectivized)

1. organize (something) on the basis of ownership by the people or the state, abolishing private ownership or involvement

• collectivized agriculture.

II. derivatives

collectivization /kəˌlektəvəˈzāSHən kəˌlektəvīˈzāSHən /

noun

collector /kəˈlektər/

noun

1. a person who collects things of a specified type, professionally or as a hobby

• an art collector.

2. an official who is responsible for collecting money

• a tax collector.

3. an official who collects tickets from bus or train passengers.

4. (in some South Asian countries) the chief administrative official of a district.

5. [Electronics] the region in a bipolar transistor that absorbs charge carriers.

collectorate /kəˈlektərət/

noun

(in some South Asian countries) a district under the jurisdiction of a collector.
See collector (sense 3).

collector's item /kəˈlektərz ˈˌīdəm/

noun

an object of interest to collectors, especially because it is rare, beautiful, or associated with someone famous.

colleen /käˈlēn ˈkälēn/

I. noun

an Irish term for a girl or young woman.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Irish cailin, diminutive of caile ‘countrywoman.’

college /ˈkälij/

I. noun

1. an educational institution or establishment, in particular

2. one providing higher education or specialized professional or vocational training

• my brother wanted to go to college

• I'm at college studying graphic design.

3. (US) (within a university) a school offering a general liberal arts curriculum leading only to a bachelor's degree.

4. (in Britain) any of a number of independent institutions within certain universities, each having its own teaching staff, students, and buildings.

5. (Brit.) a private secondary school
[in names]

• Eton College.

6. the teaching staff and students of a college considered collectively

• the college was shocked by his death.

7. an organized group of professional people with particular aims, duties, and privileges
[in names]

• the electoral college.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, from Latin collegium ‘partnership, association,’ from collega ‘partner in office,’ from col- ‘together with’ + legare ‘depute.’

College Board

noun

an organization that prepares and administers standardized tests that are used in college admission and placement.

college-bound

adjective

(US) going or intending to go to college

• advice for parents of college-bound teenagers

• if you are college-bound, the chances are that you will have to take the SAT.

College of Arms College of Heralds

(in the UK) a corporation that officially records and grants armorial bearings. Formed in 1484, it comprises three Kings of Arms, six heralds, and four pursuivants.
Also called Heralds' College.

College of Cardinals

the body of cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church, founded in the 11th century and since 1179 responsible for the election of the pope.
Also called Sacred College.

College Park

a city in central Maryland, just northeast of Washington, DC, home to the University of Maryland; pop. 26,925 (est. 2008).

College Station

a city in east central Texas, home to Texas A&M University; pop. 84,128 (est. 2008).

college try

noun

a sincere effort or attempt at performing a difficult, or seemingly impossible, task

• the chances of overturning this decision are slim, but the Democrats will give it the old college try.

collegial /kəˈlēj(ē)əl/

I. adjective

1. relating to or involving shared responsibility, as among a group of colleagues.

2. another term for collegiate (sense 1).

II. derivatives

collegiality /kəˌlējēˈalitē /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French collegial or late Latin collegialis, from collegium ‘partnership, association’ (see college).

collegian /kəˈlējən/

I. noun

a member of a college, especially within a university.

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin collegianus, from collegium ‘partnership, association’ (see college).

collegiate /kəˈlēj(ē)ət/

I. adjective

1. belonging or relating to a college or its students

• collegiate life.

2. (of a university) composed of different colleges.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin collegiatus, from collegium ‘partnership, association’ (see college).

collegiate church

noun

1. a church endowed for a chapter of canons but without a bishop's see.

2. (US) (Scottish) a church or group of churches established under two or more pastors.

collegiate Gothic

I. adjective

of or in a style of neo-Gothic architecture used for some US university buildings

• the history-evoking Collegiate Gothic buildings.

II. noun

the collegiate Gothic style.

collegium /kəˈlējēəm/

I. noun

1. (in full collegium musicum ) (pl. collegia musica ) — a society of amateur musicians, especially one attached to a German or US college.

2. ‹historical› an advisory or administrative board in Russia.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘association.’

col legno /ˌkōl ˈlānyō/

I. adverb

(of a passage of music for a bowed instrument) played by hitting the strings with the back of the bow.

– origin Italian, ‘with the wood (of the bow).’

Collembola /kəˈlembələ / ‹Entomology›

I. an order of insects that comprises the springtails.

II. (as plural noun collembola) — insects of the order Collembola; springtails.

III. derivatives

collembolan /-bələn /

noun, adjective

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek kolla ‘glue’ + embolon ‘peg, stopper’ (with reference to the sticky substance secreted by the ventral tube of the insects).

collenchyma /kəˈleNGkəmə/

I. noun

[Botany] tissue strengthened by the thickening of cell walls, as in young shoots.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek kolla ‘glue’ + enkhuma ‘infusion.’

Colles fracture /ˈkäliz ˌfrakCHər/

I. noun

[Medicine] a fracture of the lower end of the radius in the wrist with a characteristic backward displacement of the hand.

– origin late 19th cent.: named after Abraham Colles (1773–1843), Irish surgeon.

collet /ˈkälət/

I. noun

1. a segmented band or sleeve put around a shaft or spindle and tightened so as to grip it.

2. a small collar in a clock to which the inner end of a balance spring is attached.

3. a flange or socket for setting a gem in jewelry.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a piece of armor to protect the neck): from Old French, diminutive of col ‘neck,’ from Latin collum.

colliculus /kəˈlikyələs/

I. noun

[Anatomy] a small protuberance, especially one of two pairs in the roof of the midbrain, involved respectively in vision and hearing.

II. derivatives

collicular /-lər /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin, diminutive of collis ‘hill.’

collide /kəˈlīd/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. hit with force when moving

• she collided with someone

• two suburban trains collided.

2. come into conflict or opposition

• in his work, politics and metaphysics collide.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘cause to collide’): from Latin collidere, from col- ‘together’ + laedere ‘to strike or damage.’

collider /kəˈlīdər/

noun

[Physics] an accelerator in which two beams of particles are made to collide.

collie /ˈkälē/

I. noun

a sheepdog of a breed originating in Scotland, having a long, pointed nose and thick, long hair.

– origin mid 17th cent.: perhaps from coal (the breed originally being black).

collier /ˈkälyər/

I. noun

1. (chiefly Brit.) a coal miner.

2. (chiefly Brit.) a ship carrying coal.

– origin Middle English: from coal + -ier. The original sense was ‘maker of charcoal,’ who usually brought it to market, hence ‘person selling charcoal,’ later ‘person selling coal,’ whence current senses.

colliery /ˈkälyərē/

noun

a coal mine and the buildings and equipment associated with it.

colligate /ˈkäləˌɡāt/

I. verb

[Linguistics] be or cause to be juxtaposed or grouped in a syntactic relation
[no obj.]

• the two grammatical items are said to colligate

• [with obj.] pronouns are regularly colligated with verbal forms.

II. derivatives

colligation /ˌkäləˈɡāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the literal Latin sense): from Latin colligat- ‘bound together,’ from the verb colligare, from col- ‘together’ + ligare ‘bind.’ The current sense dates from the 1960s.

colligative /ˈkäləˌɡādiv/

adjective

[Chemistry] of or relating to the binding together of molecules

• the colligative properties of dilute solutions.

collimate /ˈkäləˌmāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (rays of light or particles) accurately parallel
(as adj. collimated)

• a collimated electron beam.

2. accurately align (an optical or other system).

II. derivatives

collimation /käləˈmāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin collimare, an erroneous reading (in some editions of Cicero) of collineare ‘align or aim,’ from col- ‘together with’ + linea ‘line.’

collimator /ˈkäləˌmādər/

noun

1. a device for producing a parallel beam of rays or radiation.

2. a small fixed telescope used for adjusting the line of sight of an astronomical telescope.

collinear /kəˈlinēər/

I. adjective

[Geometry] (of points) lying in the same straight line.

II. derivatives

collinearity /kəˌlinēˈaritē, kä- /

noun

Collins

noun

short for Tom Collins.

Collins, Joan /ˈkälənz/

(1933–), English actress, a sex symbol in movies such as Our Girl Friday (1953) and known for the television series Dynasty (1981–89); full name Joan Henrietta Collins.

Collins, Michael

(1890–1922), Irish nationalist leader and politician. A member of Parliament for Sinn Fein, he was one of the negotiators of the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921. In 1922, he acted as head of the provisional government of the Irish Free State and then as commander of the Free State army in the civil war. He was killed in an ambush in August 1922.

Collins, Phil

(1951–), British rock musician and singer; full name Philip David Charles Collins. His many hits include “You Can't Hurry Love” (1982) and “Sussudio” (1985).

Collins, Wilkie

(1824–89), English novelist; full name William Wilkie Collins. He is noted for his detective stories The Woman in White (1860) and The Moonstone (1868).

collision /kəˈliZHən/

I. noun

1. an instance of one moving object or person striking violently against another

• a midair collision between two aircraft

• the device increases the chances of collision.

2. an instance of conflict between opposing ideas, interests, or factions

• a collision between experience and theory

• cultures in collision.

3. [Computing] an event of two or more records being assigned the same identifier or location in memory.

4. an instance of simultaneous transmission by more than one node of a network.

II. phrases

on (a) collision course

a. going in a direction that will lead to a collision with another moving object or person.

b. adopting an approach that is certain to lead to conflict with another person or group

• the strikers are on a collision course with the government.

III. derivatives

collisional /-ZHənl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin collisio(n-), from Latin collidere ‘strike together’ (see collide).

collocate

I. verb — /ˈkäləˌkāt /

1. [no obj.] — [Linguistics] (of a word) be habitually juxtaposed with another with a frequency greater than chance

• “maiden” collocates with “voyage.”

2. [with obj.] — ‹rare› place side by side or in a particular relation
(as adj. collocated)

• McAndrew was a collocated facility with Argentia Naval Station.

II. noun — /ˈkäləkət /

1. [Linguistics] a word that is habitually juxtaposed with another with a frequency greater than chance

• collocates for the word “mortgage” include “lend” and “property.”

– origin early 16th cent. (sense 2 of the verb): from Latin collocat- ‘placed together,’ from the verb collocare, from col- ‘together’ + locare ‘to place.’ Sense 1 of the verb dates from the 1950s.

collocation /ˌkäləˈkāSHən/

I. noun

1. [Linguistics] the habitual juxtaposition of a particular word with another word or words with a frequency greater than chance

• the words have a similar range of collocation.

2. a pair or group of words that are habitually juxtaposed

• “strong coffee” and “heavy drinker” are typical English collocations.

3. the action of placing things side by side or in position

• the collocation of the two pieces.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin collocatio(n-), from collocare ‘place together’ (see collocate).

collodion /kəˈlōdēən/

I. noun

a syrupy solution of nitrocellulose in a mixture of alcohol and ether, used for coating things, chiefly in surgery and in a former photographic process.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek kollōdēs ‘gluelike,’ from kolla ‘glue.’

collogue /kəˈlōɡ/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹archaic› talk confidentially or conspiratorially.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘flatter, pretend to agree with or believe’): probably an alteration of obsolete colleague ‘conspire,’ by association with Latin colloqui ‘to converse.’

colloid /ˈkäloid/

I. noun

1. a homogeneous, noncrystalline substance consisting of large molecules or ultramicroscopic particles of one substance dispersed through a second substance. Colloids include gels, sols, and emulsions; the particles do not settle and cannot be separated out by ordinary filtering or centrifuging like those in a suspension.

2. [Anatomy] [Medicine] a substance of gelatinous consistency.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of the nature of, relating to, or characterized by a colloid or colloids.

III. derivatives

colloidal /kəˈloidl /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek kolla ‘glue’ + -oid.

collop /ˈkäləp / ‹dialect›

I. noun

‹dialect› (N. Amer.) a slice of meat

• three collops of bacon.

– origin late Middle English: of Scandinavian origin and related to Swedish kalops ‘meat stew.’

colloquial /kəˈlōkwēəl/

I. adjective

(of language) used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal or literary.

II. derivatives

colloquially /kəˈlōkwēəlē /

adverb

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin colloquium ‘conversation’ + -al.

colloquialism /kəˈlōkwēəˌlizəm/

noun

1. a word or phrase that is not formal or literary, typically one used in ordinary or familiar conversation.

2. the use of ordinary or familiar words or phrases.

colloquium /kəˈlōkwēəm/

I. noun

an academic conference or seminar.

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting a conversation or dialogue): from Latin, from colloqui ‘to converse,’ from col- ‘together’ + loqui ‘to talk.’

colloquy /ˈkäləˌkwē/

I. noun

1. ‹formal› a conversation

• they broke off their colloquy at once

• an evening of sophisticated colloquy.

2. a gathering for discussion of theological questions.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin colloquium ‘conversation.’

collotype /ˈkäləˌtīp/

I. noun

1. [Printing] a process for making high-quality prints from a sheet of light-sensitive gelatin exposed photographically to the image without using a screen
[as modifier]

• collotype printing.

2. [Printing] a print made by the collotype process.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek kolla ‘glue’ + type.

collude /kəˈlo͞od/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. come to a secret understanding for a harmful purpose; conspire

• university leaders colluded in price-rigging

• the president accused his opponents of colluding with foreigners.

II. derivatives

colluder

noun

– origin early 16th cent.: from Latin colludere ‘have a secret agreement,’ from col- ‘together’ + ludere ‘to play.’

collusion /kəˈlo͞oZHən/

I. noun

1. secret or illegal cooperation or conspiracy, especially in order to cheat or deceive others

• the armed forces were working in collusion with drug traffickers

• collusion between media owners and political leaders.

2. [Law] illegal cooperation or conspiracy, especially between ostensible opponents in a lawsuit.

II. derivatives

1. collusive /kəˈlo͞osiv /

adjective

2. collusively /-sivlē, -zivlē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Latin collusion-, from colludere ‘have a secret agreement’ (see collude).

colluvium /kəˈlo͞ovēəm/

I. noun

[Geology] material that accumulates at the foot of a steep slope.

II. derivatives

colluvial /-vēəl /

adjective

– origin mid 20th cent.: from Latin colluvies ‘confluence or collection of matter,’ from colluere ‘to rinse,’ from col- ‘together’ + luere ‘to wash.’

collyrium /kəˈlirēəm/

I. noun

1. a medicated eyewash.

2. a kind of dark eyeshadow, used especially in Eastern countries.

– origin late Middle English: Latin, from Greek kollurion ‘poultice,’ from kollura ‘coarse bread roll.’

collywobbles /ˈkälēˌwäb(ə)lz/

I. plural noun

1. ‹informal› ‹chiefly humorous› stomach pain or queasiness

• an attack of collywobbles.

2. ‹informal› ‹chiefly humorous› intense anxiety or nervousness, especially with stomach queasiness

• such organizations give him the collywobbles.

– origin early 19th cent.: fanciful formation from colic and wobble.

Colman, Ronald /ˈkōlmən/

(1891–1958), British actor. Notable movies: A Tale of Two Cities (1935), The Prisoner of Zenda (1937), and Random Harvest (1942).

Colo.

abbreviation

Colorado.

colobine /ˈkäləˌbīn, -bin/

I. noun

[Zoology] an Old World monkey of a mainly leaf-eating group that includes the colobus monkeys, langurs, and leaf monkeys.
[Subfamily Colobinae, family Cercopithecidae.]

– origin 1950s: from modern Latin Colobinae, based on Greek kolobos ‘curtailed.’

coloboma /ˌkäləˈbōmə/

I. noun

[Medicine] a congenital malformation of the eye causing defects in the lens, iris, or retina.

– origin mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek kolobōma ‘part removed in mutilation,’ from kolobos ‘cut short.’

colobus /ˈkäləbəs / colobus monkey

I. noun

a slender, leaf-eating African monkey with silky fur, a long tail, and very small or absent thumbs.
[Genera Colobus and Procolobus, family Cercopithecidae: several species.]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek kolobos ‘cut short.’

co-locate /kōˈlōkāt/

verb — (be co-located)

1. share a location or facility with someone (or something) else

• a woman officer can often be co-located with her husband.

colocynth /ˈkäləˌsinTH/

I. noun

1. a tropical Old World climbing plant of the gourd family, which bears a pulpy fruit and has long been cultivated.
Also called bitter apple. [Citrullus colocynthis, family Curcurbitaceae.]

2. the fruit of the colocynth plant.

3. a bitter purgative drug obtained from the colocynth fruit.

– origin mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek kolokunthis.

cologne /kəˈlōn/

I. noun

eau de cologne or scented toilet water.

– origin early 19th cent.: named after Cologne in Germany.

Cologne /kəˈlōn/

an industrial and university city in western Germany, in North Rhine–Westphalia, on the Rhine River; pop. 989,800 (est. 2006).
German name Köln.

Coloma /kəˈlōmə/

a historic locality in northeastern California, on the American River, northeast of Sacramento, where gold was discovered in 1848 on John (Johann) Sutter's mill site that led to the California gold rush.

Colombia /kəˈləmbēə/

1. a country in extreme northwestern South America that has a coastline on both the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans; pop. 43,677,400 (est. 2009); capital, Bogotá; official language, Spanish.

Colombia was conquered by the Spanish in the early 16th century and achieved independence in the early 19th century, although the resulting Republic of Great Colombia lasted only until 1830, when first Venezuela and then Ecuador broke away to become independent states in their own right. Since the civil war of 1949–53, the country has struggled with poverty and social problems. During the 1990s, guerrilla warfare, partly funded by the growing drug trade, dominated Colombia's countryside.

Colombian /kəˈləmbēən/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of Colombia or its people

• a remote village near the Colombian border

• the former Colombian president.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of Colombia

• only 17 percent of Colombians live in Bogota.

Colombo /kəˈləmbō/

the capital and chief port of Sri Lanka, on the southwestern coast of the country; pop. 672,700 (est. 2007).

colon^1 /ˈkōlən/

I. noun

1. a punctuation mark (:) indicating.

2. that a writer is introducing a quotation or a list of items.

3. that a writer is separating two clauses of which the second expands or illustrates the first.

4. a statement of proportion between two numbers

• a ratio of 10:1.

5. the separation of hours from minutes (and minutes from seconds) in a statement of time given in numbers

• 4:30 p.m.

6. the number of the chapter and verse respectively in biblical references

• Exodus 3:2.

– origin mid 16th cent. (as a term in rhetoric denoting a section of a complex sentence, or a pause before it): via Latin from Greek kōlon ‘limb, clause.’

colon^2 /ˈkōlən/

I. noun

[Anatomy] the main part of the large intestine, which passes from the cecum to the rectum and absorbs water and electrolytes from food that has remained undigested. Its parts are called the ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid colon.

– origin late Middle English: via Latin from Greek kolon.

colón /kəˈlōn/

I. noun

the basic monetary unit of Costa Rica and El Salvador, equal to 100 centimos in Costa Rica and 100 centavos in El Salvador.

– origin from Cristóbal Colón, the Spanish name of Christopher Columbus (see Columbus, Christopher).

Colón /kəˈlōn/

the chief port of Panama, at the Caribbean Sea end of the Panama Canal; pop. 87,800 (est. 2009).

colon bacillus

noun

another term for coliform bacterium.

colonel /ˈkərnl/

I. noun

1. an army officer of high rank, in particular (in the US Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps) an officer above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general.

2. ‹informal› short for lieutenant colonel.

II. derivatives

colonelcy /ˈkərnlsē /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from obsolete French coronel (earlier form of colonel), from Italian colonnello ‘column of soldiers,’ from colonna ‘column,’ from Latin columna. The form coronel, source of the modern pronunciation, was usual until the mid 17th cent.

Colonel Blimp /ˈˌkərnl ˈblimp/

noun

another term for blimp (sense 2).

colonel-in-chief

noun

a title given to the honorary head of a regiment in the British army.

colonial /kəˈlōnyəl/

I. adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a colony or colonies

• British colonial rule

• colonial expansion.

2. relating to the period of the British colonies in America before independence.

3. (especially of architecture or furniture) made during or in the style of this period.

4. (of animals or plants) living in colonies.

II. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of a colony.

2. a house built in colonial style.

III. derivatives

colonially

adverb

colonialism /kəˈlōnēəˌlizəm/

noun

the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.

colonialist /kəˈlōnēələst/

I. noun

a person who supports the practice of gaining political control over other countries and occupying them with settlers

• 16th century Spanish colonialists in the Caribbean.

II. adjective

characteristic of or involving the practice of gaining political control over other countries and occupying them with settlers

• the nation's colonialist history.

colonic /kəˈlänik kōˈlänik/

I. adjective

[Anatomy] of, relating to, or affecting the colon.

II. noun

‹informal› an act or instance of colonic irrigation, performed for its supposed therapeutic benefits.

colonic irrigation

noun

a water enema given to flush out the colon.

colonist /ˈkälənəst/

noun

a settler in or inhabitant of a colony.

colonization /kälənəˈzāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action or process of settling among and establishing control over the indigenous people of an area

• Africa boasts a tradition of higher education institutions that predate Western colonization

• the European invasion and colonization of the Americas.

2. the action of appropriating a place or domain for one's own use

• the complete colonization of television entertainment by reality shows.

3. [Ecology] the action by a plant or animal of establishing itself in an area

• lower airway bacterial colonization

• suitable sites for colonization by Asian crabs.

colonize /ˈkäləˌnīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a country or its citizens) send a group of settlers to (a place) and establish political control over it

• the Greeks colonized Sicily and southern Italy.

2. come to settle among and establish political control over (the indigenous people of an area)

• a white family that tries to colonize a Caribbean island.

3. appropriate (a place or domain) for one's own use.

4. [Ecology] (of a plant or animal) establish itself in an area

• mussels can colonize even the most inhospitable rock surfaces

• [no obj.] insect borers colonize in rotted shoreline deadfalls.

II. derivatives

colonizer /ˈkäləˌnīzər /

noun

colonnade /ˌkäləˈnād/

I. noun

1. a row of columns supporting a roof, an entablature, or arcade.

2. a row of trees or other tall objects.

II. derivatives

colonnaded /käləˈnādid /

adjective

– origin early 18th cent.: from French, from colonne ‘column,’ from Latin columna.

colonoscope /kəˈlänəˌskōp/

noun

[Medicine] a flexible fiber-optic instrument inserted through the anus in order to examine the colon.

colonoscopy /ˌkōləˈnäskəpē/

noun

[Medicine] a procedure in which a flexible fiber-optic instrument is inserted through the anus in order to examine the colon

• a colonoscopy did not show any problem

• a large group of patients undergoing colonoscopy.

colon therapy

noun

another term for colonic irrigation.

colony /ˈkälənē/

I. noun

1. a country or area under the full or partial political control of another country, typically a distant one, and occupied by settlers from that country.

2. a group of people living in colony, consisting of the original settlers and their descendants and successors.

3. (the Colonies) — chiefly British term for Thirteen Colonies.

4. (the colonies) — all the foreign countries or areas formerly under British political control.

5. a group of people of one nationality or ethnic group living in a foreign city or country

• the British colony in New York.

6. a place where a group of people with similar interests live together

• an artists' colony.

7. [Biology] a community of animals or plants of one kind living close together or forming a physically connected structure

• a colony of seals.

8. a group of fungi or bacteria grown from a single spore or cell on a culture medium.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a settlement formed mainly of retired soldiers, acting as a garrison in newly conquered territory in the Roman Empire): from Latin colonia ‘settlement, farm,’ from colonus ‘settler, farmer,’ from colere ‘cultivate.’

colony-stimulating factor

noun

[Biochemistry] a substance secreted by bone marrow that promotes the growth and differentiation of stem cells into colonies of specific blood cells.

colophon /ˈkäləfən ˈkäləˌfän/

I. noun

1. a publisher's emblem or imprint, especially one on the title page or spine of a book.

2. ‹historical› a statement at the end of a book, typically with a printer's emblem, giving information about its authorship and printing.

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting a finishing touch): via late Latin from Greek kolophōn ‘summit or finishing touch.’

colophony /kəˈläfənē ˈkäləˌfōnē/

I. noun

another term for rosin.

– origin Middle English: from Latin colophonia (resina) ‘(resin) from Colophon,’ a town in Lydia, Asia Minor.

color /ˈkələr / ‹Brit.› colour

I. noun

1. the property possessed by an object of producing different sensations on the eye as a result of the way the object reflects or emits light

• the lights flickered and changed color.

2. one, or any mixture, of the constituents into which light can be separated in a spectrum or rainbow, sometimes including (loosely) black and white

• a rich brown color

• a range of bright colors.

3. the use of all colors, not only black, white, and gray, in photography or television

• he has shot the whole film in color

• [as modifier] color television.

4. a substance used to give something a particular color

• lip color.

5. [Heraldry] any of the major conventional colors used in coats of arms (gules, vert, sable, azure, purpure), especially as opposed to the metals, furs, and stains.

6. pigmentation of the skin, especially as an indication of someone's race

• discrimination on the basis of color.

7. a group of people considered as being distinguished by skin pigmentation

• all colors and nationalities.

8. rosiness of the complexion, especially as an indication of someone's health

• there was some color back in his face.

9. vividness of visual appearance resulting from the presence of brightly colored things

• for color, plant groups of winter-flowering pansies.

10. picturesque or exciting features that lend a particularly interesting quality to something

• a town full of color and character.

11. variety of musical tone or expression

• orchestral color.

12. (colors) — an item or items of a particular color or combination of colors worn to identify an individual or a member of a school, group, or organization.

13. the flag of a regiment or ship.

14. a national flag

• he was called to the colors during the war.

15. a shade of meaning

• many events in her past had taken on a different color.

16. character or general nature

• the hospitable color of his family.

17. [Physics] a quantized property of quarks which can take three values (designated blue, green, and red) for each flavor.

18. [Mining] a particle of gold remaining in a mining pan after most of the mud and gravel have been washed away.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — change the color of (something) by painting, dyeing, or shading it.

2. [no obj.] — take on a different color

• the foliage will not color well if the soil is too rich.

3. use crayons to fill (a particular shape or outline) with color

• color the head, eyes, and bill with crayons.

4. make vivid or picturesque

• he has colored the dance with gestures from cabaret and vaudeville.

5. [no obj.] — (of a person or their skin) show embarrassment or shame by becoming red; blush

• everyone stared at him, and he colored slightly.

6. [with obj.] — cause (a person or their skin) to change in color

• rage colored his pale complexion.

7. [with obj.] — (of a particular color) imbue (a person's skin)

• a faint pink flush colored her cheeks.

8. [with obj.] — (of an emotion) imbue (a person's voice) with a particular tone

• surprise colored her voice.

9. [with obj.] — influence, especially in a negative way; distort

• the experiences had colored her whole existence.

10. misrepresent by distortion or exaggeration

• witnesses might color evidence to make a story saleable.

III. phrases

1. lend (or give) color to

make something seem true or probable

• this lent color and credibility to his defense.

2. —— of color

see person of color.

3. show one's true colors

reveal one's real character or intentions, especially when these are disreputable or dishonorable.

4. under color of

under the pretext of.

5. with flying colors

see flying.

– origin Middle English (as colo(u)r): from Old French colour (noun), colourer (verb), from Latin color (noun), colorare (verb).

colorable /ˈkələrəbəl / ‹Brit.› colourable

adjective

1. apparently correct or justified

• a colorable legal claim.

2. counterfeit.

3. capable of being colored

• colorable illustrations.

Coloradan /ˌkäləˈräd(ə)n ˌkäləˈrad(ə)n / Coloradoan

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of the US state of Colorado or its inhabitants

• Coloradan geological and natural features.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of the US state of Colorado

• this Coloradan has a promising future.

Colorado /ˌkäləˈrädō ˌkäləˈradō/

I. a river that rises in the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado and flows southwest for 1,468 miles (2,333 km) to the Gulf of California. It passes through the Grand Canyon.

II. a river that flows east for 900 miles (1,450 km) across Texas, from the Llano Estacado to the Gulf of Mexico. Austin is situated on it.

III. a state in the central US; pop. 4,939,456 (est. 2008); capital, Denver; statehood, Aug. 1, 1876 (38). Part of Colorado was acquired by the US with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and the rest was ceded by Mexico in 1848.

Colorado blue spruce

noun

another term for blue spruce.

Colorado Desert

a region in southern California and northern Baja California in Mexico. The Salton Sea, the Imperial Valley, and the city of Palm Springs are here.

Colorado Plateau

a region of arid uplands in the southwestern US; along the Colorado River in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona; noted for its scenery.

Colorado potato beetle /ˌkäləˈrädō ˈˌbēdl/

I. noun

a yellow- and black-striped leaf beetle native to North America. The larvae are highly destructive to potato plants and have occurred in many countries.
[Leptinotarsa decemlineata, family Chrysomelidae.]

– origin late 19th cent.: named after the state of Colorado.

Colorado Springs

a city in central Colorado, south of Denver, at the foot of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, home to the US Air Force Academy; pop. 380,307 (est. 2008).

Colorado spruce

noun

another term for blue spruce.

colorant /ˈkələrənt / ‹Brit.› colourant

noun

a dye, pigment, or other substance that colors something.

coloration /ˌkələˈrāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a visual appearance with regard to color

• some bacterial structures take on a purple coloration.

2. the natural color or variegated markings of animals or plants

• the red coloration of many maples.

3. a scheme or method of applying color

• the coloration of the drawing.

4. a specified pervading character or tone of something

• the productions have taken on a political coloration.

5. a variety of musical or vocal expression

• the subtle colorations of big-box speakers

• a skillful singer can do much with coloration.

– origin early 17th cent.: from late Latin coloratio(n-), from colorare ‘to color.’

coloratura /ˌkələrəˈto͝orə ˌkälərəˈto͝orə/

I. noun

1. elaborate ornamentation of a vocal melody, especially in operatic singing by a soprano.

2. (also coloratura soprano) — a soprano skilled in coloratura.

– origin Italian, literally ‘coloring,’ from Latin colorare ‘to color.’

color bar

noun

1. a social system in which a group of people (typically nonwhite) are denied access to the same rights, opportunities, and facilities as other people (typically white) on the basis of skin color.

2. a strip on printed material or a screen display showing a range of colors, used to ensure that all colors are printed or displayed correctly.

color-blind /ˈkələrblīnd / colorblind

I. adjective

1. unable to distinguish certain colors, or (rarely in humans) any colors at all.
See protanopia.

2. not influenced by racial prejudice

• a color-blind society.

II. derivatives

color-blindness /ˈkələrˌblīndnəs /

noun

colorblock /ˈkələrˌbläk / colorblocked /ˈkələrˌbläkt/ , ‹Brit.› colourblock, colourblocked

adjective

(in fashion and design) denoting or relating to an item characterized by contrasting blocks or panels of solid, typically bright color

• a colorblock teal-and-yellow dress

• a pair of colorblocked platform sandals

• I love the colorblock trend.

colorblocking /ˈkələrˌbläkiNG / ‹Brit.› colourblocking

noun

(in fashion and design) the use of contrasting blocks or panels of solid, typically bright color

• coral leather looked infinitely cool styled with a cobalt skirt—a modern lesson in colorblocking

• from graphic prints to bold colorblocking, black and white footwear is a must-have for spring.

color code

I. noun

a system of marking things with different colors as a means of identification.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be color-coded)

1. mark (things) with different colors as a means of identification

• each unit is color-coded for clarity.

2. mark different features of (something) with different colors

• the map is color-coded.

colorectal /ˌkōlōˈrekt(ə)l/

adjective

relating to or affecting the colon and the rectum.

colored /ˈkələrd / ‹Brit.› coloured

I. adjective

1. having or having been given a color or colors, especially as opposed to being black, white, or neutral

• brightly colored birds are easier to see

• [in combination] a peach-colored sofa.

2. imbued with an emotive or exaggerated quality

• highly colored examples were used by both sides.

3. (also Colored) — wholly or partly of nonwhite descent (now considered offensive in the US).

4. (also Coloured) — (S. African) used as an ethnic label for people of mixed ethnic origin, including African slave, Malay, Chinese, and white.

5. ‹dated› ‹offensive› relating to people who are wholly or partly of nonwhite descent

• a colored club.

II. noun

1. (also Colored) — ‹dated› ‹offensive› a person who is wholly or partly of nonwhite descent.

2. (also Coloured) — (S. African) a person of mixed ethnic origin speaking Afrikaans or English as their mother tongue.

3. (coloreds) — clothes, sheets, etc., that are any color but white (used especially in the context of washing and color fastness).

usage: 1 Colored referring to skin color is first recorded in the early 17th century and was adopted in the US by emancipated slaves as a term of racial pride after the end of the Civil War. In the US, and in Britain (as coloured), it was the accepted term until the 1960s, when it was superseded by black. The term colored lost favor among black people during this period and is now widely regarded as offensive except in historical contexts and in particular as part of the name of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). 2 In South Africa, the term coloured (also written Coloured) has a different history. There it is used not as a synonym for black, but to refer to people of mixed-race parentage rather than to African peoples and their descendants. Under apartheid, it was imposed as an official racial designation. However, in modern use, the term is not generally considered offensive or derogatory.

colorfast /ˈkələrˌfast/

I. adjective

dyed in colors that will not fade or be washed out.

II. derivatives

colorfastness

noun

color-field painting colorfield

noun

a style of American abstract painting prominent from the late 1940s to the 1960s that features large expanses of unmodulated color covering the greater part of the canvas. Barnett Newman and Mark Rothko were considered its chief exponents.

color filter /ˈkələr ˈfiltər/

noun

a photographic filter that absorbs light of certain colors.

colorful /ˈkələrfəl / ‹Brit.› colourful

I. adjective

1. having much or varied color; bright

• a colorful array of fruit.

2. full of interest; lively and exciting

• a controversial and colorful character

• a colorful account of the meeting.

3. (of a person's life or background) involving variously disreputable activities

• he gained a playboy reputation during a colorful bachelorhood.

4. (of language) vulgar or rude

• colorful words usually impolite in public meetings.

II. derivatives

1. colorfully /-f(ə)lē /

adverb

2. colorfulness

noun

color guard

noun

a uniformed group, especially of soldiers, police officers, or school representatives, who parade or present their institution's flag (and sometimes their national flag) on ceremonial occasions.

colorific /ˌkələˈrifik/

I. adjective

‹rare› having much color

• the colorific radiance of costume.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French colorifique or modern Latin colorificus, from Latin color ‘color.’

colorimeter /ˌkələˈrimidər/

I. noun

an instrument for measuring the intensity of color.

II. derivatives

1. colorimetric /ˌkələrəˈmetrik /

adjective

2. colorimetry /ˌkələˈrimətrē /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin color ‘color’ + -meter.

coloring /ˈkələriNG / ‹Brit.› colouring

noun

1. the process or skill of applying a substance to something so as to change its original color.

2. the process of filling in a particular shape or outline with crayons
[as modifier]

• a coloring book.

3. visual appearance with regard to color, in particular

4. the arrangement of colors and markings on an animal.

5. the natural hues of a person's skin, hair, and eyes

• her fair coloring.

6. the pervading character or tone of something

• the comments give a distinctly more ideological coloring to research conclusions.

7. a substance used to give a particular color to something, especially food.

colorism /ˈkələrˌizəm / ‹Brit.› colourism

noun

(chiefly US) prejudice or discrimination against individuals with a dark skin tone, typically among people of the same ethnic or racial group

• colorism within the black community has been a serious emotional and psychological battle.

colorist /ˈkələrəst / ‹Brit.› colourist

noun

1. an artist or designer who uses color in a special or skillful way.

2. a person who tints black-and-white prints, photographs, or movies.

3. a hairdresser who specializes in dyeing people's hair.

coloristic /ˌkələˈristik / ‹Brit.› colouristic

I. adjective

1. showing or relating to a special use of color

• his great coloristic wallpapers.

2. having or showing a variety of musical or vocal expression

• the choir's coloristic resources.

II. derivatives

coloristically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

colorize /ˈkələˌrīz / ‹Brit.› colourize

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. add color to (a black-and-white movie) by means of computer technology.

II. derivatives

1. colorization /ˌkələrəˈzāSHən /

noun

2. colorizer

noun

colorless /ˈkələrləs / ‹Brit.› colourless

I. adjective

1. (especially of a gas or liquid) without color.

2. dull or pale in hue

• colorless cheeks.

3. lacking distinctive character or interest; dull

• the book is rather colorless, like its author.

II. derivatives

colorlessly

adverb

color line //

noun

another term for color bar (sense 1).

color phase

noun

a genetic or seasonal variation in the color of the skin, pelt, or feathers of an animal.

colorpoint /ˈkələrˌpoint / colourpoint

noun

chiefly British term for Himalayan.

color reversal

noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. [Photography] the process of producing a positive image directly from another positive

• color reversal films.

color scheme

noun

an arrangement or combination of colors, especially as used in interior decoration

• a cool, simple color scheme.

color separation

noun

1. [Photography] [Printing] any of three negative images of the same subject taken through green, red, and blue filters and combined to reproduce the full color of the original.

2. [Photography] [Printing] the production of color separations.

color temperature

noun

[Astronomy] [Physics] the temperature at which a black body would emit radiation of the same color as a given object.

color therapy /ˈkələr ˈTHerəpē/

noun

a system of alternative medicine based on the use of color, especially projected colored light.

color wash /ˈkələr ˈˌwôSH ˈkələr ˈˌwäSH/

I. noun

colored calcimine or tempera.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. paint (something) with colored calcimine or tempera.

colorway /ˈkələrˌwā / ‹Brit.› colourway

noun

any of a range of combinations of colors in which a style or design is available

• wallpaper books show coordinating patterns and colorways.

color wheel

noun

a circle with different colored sectors used to show the relationship between colors.

colossal /kəˈläsəl/

I. adjective

1. extremely large

• a colossal amount of mail

• a colossal mistake.

2. [Architecture] (of a giant order) having more than one story of columns.

3. [Sculpture] (of a statue) at least twice life size.

II. derivatives

colossally

adverb

– origin early 18th cent.: from French, from colosse, from Latin colossus (see colossus).

Colosseum /ˌkäləˈsēəm/

I. the name since medieval times of the Amphitheatrum Flavium, a vast amphitheater in Rome, begun by Vespasian c. AD 75. It held 50,000 spectators, its sections connected by an elaborate network of stairs, and was the scene of various kinds of combat.

– origin from Latin, neuter of colosseus ‘gigantic,’ from colossus (see colossus).

Colossians /kəˈläSH(ə)nz/

a book of the New Testament, an epistle of St. Paul to the Church at Colossae in Phrygia.

colossus /kəˈläsəs/

I. noun

1. a statue that is much bigger than life size.

2. a person or thing of enormous size, importance, or ability

• the Russian Empire was the colossus of European politics.

– origin late Middle English: via Latin from Greek kolossos (applied by Herodotus to the statues of Egyptian temples).

Colossus of Rhodes

a huge bronze statue of the sun god Helios, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Built c. 292–280 BC, it stood beside the harbor entrance at Rhodes for about fifty years.

colostomy /kəˈlästəmē/

I. noun

1. a surgical operation in which a piece of the colon is diverted to an artificial opening in the abdominal wall so as to bypass a damaged part of the colon.

2. an opening so formed
[as modifier]

• a colostomy bag.

– origin late 19th cent.: from colon^2 + Greek stoma ‘mouth.’

colostrum /kəˈlästrəm/

I. noun

the first secretion from the mammary glands after giving birth, rich in antibodies.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin.

colporteur /ˈkälpôrdər ˌkälpôrˈtər/

I. noun

1. a peddler of books, newspapers, and similar literature.

2. someone employed by a religious society to distribute Bibles and other religious tracts.

II. derivatives

colportage

noun

– origin late 18th cent.: French, from the verb colporter, probably an alteration of comporter, from Latin comportare ‘carry with one.’

colposcope /ˈkälpəˌskōp/

I. noun

a surgical instrument used to examine the vagina and the cervix of the uterus.

II. derivatives

colposcopy /kälˈpäskəpē /

noun

– origin 1940s: from Greek kolpos ‘womb, uterus’ + -scope.

colt /kōlt/

I. noun

a young, uncastrated male horse, in particular one less than four years old.

– origin Old English; perhaps related to Swedish kult, applied to boys or half-grown animals.

Colt /kōlt/

I. noun

‹trademark› a type of revolver.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from the name of the US inventor and firearms manufacturer Samuel Colt (1814–62).

Colt, Samuel /kōlt/

(1814–62), US inventor. He is remembered chiefly for the revolver named after him, which he originally patented in 1836. It was adopted by the US Army in 1846. His armory at Hartford, Connecticut, advanced the manufacturing techniques of interchangeable parts and the production line.

coltan /ˈkältan/

I. noun

a dull metallic mineral composed of columbite and tantalite, and refined to produce tantalum.

– origin 1990s: from col(umbite) + tan(talite).

coltish /ˈkōltiSH/

I. adjective

energetic but awkward in one's movements or behavior.

II. derivatives

1. coltishly

adverb

2. coltishness

noun

Colton /ˈkōlt(ə)n/

a city in southwestern California, just southwest of San Bernardino; pop. 50,517 (est. 2008).

Coltrane, John /ˈkōlˌtrān, kōlˈtrān/

(1926–67), US jazz saxophonist; full name John William Coltrane. He was a leading figure in avant-garde jazz, bridging the gap between the harmonically dense jazz of the 1950s and the free jazz that evolved in the 1960s.

coltsfoot /ˈkōltsfo͝ot/

I. noun

a Eurasian plant of the daisy family, with yellow flowers that appear in early spring, followed by large, heart-shaped leaves. It is used in herbal medicine for the treatment of coughs and respiratory disorders.
[Tussilago farfara, family Compositae.]

– origin mid 16th cent.: translating medieval Latin pes pulli ‘foal's foot,’ with reference to the shape of the leaves.

colubrid /ˈkäl(y)əbrəd/

I. noun

[Zoology] a snake of a very large family (Colubridae) that includes the majority of harmless species, such as grass snakes and garter snakes. The few venomous species have grooved fangs in the rear of the upper jaw.

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Colubridae (plural), from Latin coluber ‘snake.’

colubrine /ˈkäl(y)əˌbrīn/

I. adjective

of or belonging to a snake; snakelike

• he had played a game of subtle, colubrine misdirection.

– origin early 16th cent.: from Latin colubrinus, from coluber ‘snake.’

colugo /kəˈlo͞oɡō/

I. noun

another term for flying lemur.

– origin late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

Columba /kəˈləmbə / ‹Astronomy›

I. a small and faint southern constellation (the Dove), near Canis Major. It is sometimes said to represent the dove that Noah sent out from the Ark.

II. (as genitive Columbae ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation

• the star Beta Columbae.

– origin Latin.

Columba, St.

(c. 521–597), Irish abbot and missionary. He established a monastery at Iona c. 563 and converted the Picts to Christianity. Feast day, June 9.

columbarium /ˌkäləmˈberēəm/

I. noun

1. a room or building with niches for funeral urns to be stored.

2. a niche to hold a funeral urn.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘pigeon house.’

Columbia /kəˈləmbēə/

I. a river in northwestern North America that rises in the Rocky Mountains of southeastern British Columbia, Canada, and flows for 1,230 miles (1,953 km), first south into the US and then west to enter the Pacific Ocean south of Seattle.

II. a residential community in central Maryland, between Baltimore and Washington, DC, planned and established in the 1960s; pop. 88,254 (2000).

III. a city in central Missouri, home to the University of Missouri; pop. 100,733 (est. 2008).

IV. the capital of South Carolina, in the central part of the state; pop. 127,029 (est. 2008).

V. a city in west central Tennessee, on the Tennessee River, southwest of Nashville; pop. 34,402 (est. 2008).

Columbia, District of

see District of Columbia.

columbine /ˈkäləmˌbīn/

I. noun

an aquilegia with long-spurred flowers.
[Genus Aquilegia, family Ranunculaceae: several species, including the white-flowered Colorado blue columbine (A. coerulea) with blue sepals, and the red-flowered A. canadensis.]

– origin late Middle English: from Old French colombine, from medieval Latin colombina (herba) ‘dovelike (plant),’ from Latin columba ‘dove’ (from the supposed resemblance of the flower to a cluster of five doves).

Columbine /ˈkäləmˌbīn/

I. a character in Italian commedia dell'arte, the mistress of Harlequin.

– origin from French Colombine, from Italian Colombina, feminine of colombino ‘dovelike,’ from colombo ‘dove.’

columbite /ˈkäləmˌbīt/

I. noun

a black mineral, typically occurring as dense, tabular crystals, consisting of an oxide of iron, manganese, niobium, and tantalum. It is the chief ore of niobium.

– origin early 19th cent.: from columbium + -ite^1.

columbium /kəˈləmbēəm/

I. noun

old-fashioned term for niobium.

– origin early 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Columbia, a poetic name for America from the name of Christopher Columbus (see Columbus, Christopher).

Columbus /kəˈləmbəs/

I. an industrial city in western Georgia, on the Chattahoochee River, noted as a textile center; pop. 186,984 (est. 2008).

II. an industrial city in south central Indiana; pop. 40,001 (est. 2008).

III. a city in eastern Mississippi, on the Tombigbee River; pop. 23,798 (est. 2008).

IV. a city in eastern Nebraska, southwest of Lincoln, where the Loup and Platte rivers meet; pop: 21,595 (est. 2008).

V. the capital of Ohio, in the central part of the state; pop. 754,885 (est. 2008).

Columbus, Christopher

(1451–1506), Spanish explorer; born in Italy; Italian name Cristoforo Colombo; Spanish name Cristóbal Colón. Columbus persuaded the Spanish monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, to sponsor an expedition to sail across the Atlantic in search of Asia and to prove that the world was round. In 1492, he set sail with three small ships (the Niña, the Pinta, the Santa Maria) and discovered the New World (in fact, various Caribbean islands). He made three further voyages between 1493 and 1504, landing on the South American mainland in 1498.

Columbus Day

noun

a legal holiday commemorating the discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus in 1492. It is observed by most states on the second Monday of October.

columella /ˌkäl(y)əˈmelə/

I. noun

1. [Zoology] an ossicle of the middle ear of birds, reptiles, and amphibians.

2. [Anatomy] the pillar around which the cochlea spirals.

3. [Zoology] the axis of a spiral shell.

4. [Botany] the axis of the spore-producing body of some lower plants.

II. derivatives

columellar /-ˈmelər /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin,‘small column.’

column /ˈkäləm/

I. noun

1. an upright pillar, typically cylindrical and made of stone or concrete, supporting an entablature, arch, or other structure or standing alone as a monument.

2. a vertical, roughly cylindrical thing

• a great column of smoke.

3. an upright shaft forming part of a machine and typically used for controlling it

• a Spitfire control column.

4. a vertical division of a page or text.

5. a vertical arrangement of figures or other information.

6. a section of a newspaper or magazine regularly devoted to a particular subject or written by a particular person.

7. one or more lines of people or vehicles moving in the same direction

• a column of tanks moved northwest

• we walked in a column.

8. [Military] a narrow-fronted deep formation of troops in successive lines.

9. a military force or convoy of ships.

II. derivatives

1. columnar /kəˈləmnər /

adjective

2. columned /ˈkäləmd /

adjective

[often in combination]

• a four-columned portico

– origin late Middle English: partly from Old French columpne, reinforced by its source, Latin columna ‘pillar.’

columnated /ˈkäləmˌnādəd/

adjective

[Architecture] supported on or having columns

• a columnated church interior.

columniation /kəˌləmnēˈāSHən/

noun

[Architecture] the use or arrangement of columns.

column inch /ˈkäləm ˌinCH/

noun

a one-inch length of a column in a newspaper or magazine.

columnist /ˈkäləmnəst ˈkäləməst/

noun

a journalist contributing regularly to a newspaper or magazine.

colure /kəˈlo͝or/

I. noun

[Astronomy] either of two great circles intersecting at right angles at the celestial poles and passing through the ecliptic at either the equinoxes or the solstices.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin coluri (plural), from Greek kolourai (grammai) ‘truncated (lines),’ from kolouros ‘truncated,’ so named because the lower part is permanently cut off from view.

coly /ˈkōlē/

I. noun

another term for mousebird.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Colius, from Greek kolios, denoting a type of woodpecker.

colza /ˈkälzə ˈkōlzə/

I. noun

another term for rape^2.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Walloon French kolza, from Low German kōlsāt, Dutch koolzaad, from kool ‘cole’ + zaad ‘seed.’

COM /käm/

abbreviation

1. computer output on microfilm or microfiche.

2. (also Com.) — Commodore.

com- co-, col-, con-, cor-

I. prefix

with; together; jointly; altogether

• combine

• command

• collude.

– origin from Latin cum ‘with.’ / usage: Com- is used before b, m, p, also occasionally before vowels and f. The following variant forms occur: co- esp. before vowels, h, and gn; col- before l; cor- before r; and con- before other consonants.

coma^1 /ˈkōmə/

I. noun

a state of deep unconsciousness that lasts for a prolonged or indefinite period, caused especially by severe injury or illness

• a road crash left him in a coma

• ‹figurative› a victim of a legislative coma.

– origin mid 17th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek kōma ‘deep sleep’; related to koitē ‘bed’ and keisthai ‘lie down.’

coma^2 /ˈkōmə/

I. noun

1. [Astronomy] a diffuse cloud of gas and dust surrounding the nucleus of a comet.

2. [Astronomy] [Optics] aberration that causes the image of an off-axis point to be flared like a comet.

– origin early 17th cent. (as a botanical term): via Latin from Greek komē ‘hair of the head.’

Coma Berenices /ˌkōmə ˌberəˈnīsēz / ‹Astronomy›

I. an inconspicuous northern constellation (Berenice's Hair), said to represent the tresses of Queen Berenice. It contains a large number of galaxies.

II. (as genitive Comae Berenices ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation

• the star Beta Comae Berenices.

– origin Latin.

Comanche /kəˈman(t)SHē/

I. noun

1. a member of an American Indian people of the southwestern US. The Comanche were among the first to acquire horses (from the Spanish) and resisted white settlers fiercely.

2. the Uto-Aztecan language of the Comanche.

II. adjective

relating to the Comanche or their language.

– origin Spanish, from Ute kɨmmanči ‘strangers.’

Comaneci, Nadia /ˌkōməˈnēCH, -ˈnāCH/

(1961–), Romanian gymnast; immigrated to the US in 1989. In 1976, she became the first Olympic gymnast to be awarded the maximum score of 10.00.

comatose /ˈkōməˌtōs ˈkäməˌtōs/

I. adjective

1. of or in a state of deep unconsciousness for a prolonged or indefinite period, especially as a result of severe injury or illness

• she had been comatose for seven months

• lying in a comatose state.

2. ‹humorous› (of a person or thing) extremely exhausted, lethargic, or sleepy

• the economy remains almost comatose.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Greek kōma, kōmat- ‘deep sleep’ + -ose^1.

comb /kōm/

I. noun

1. a strip of plastic, metal, or wood with a row of narrow teeth, used for untangling or arranging the hair.

2. [in sing.] — an instance of untangling or arranging the hair with a comb

• she gave her hair a comb.

3. a short curved type of comb, worn by women to hold hair in place or as an ornament.

4. something resembling a comb in function or structure, in particular

5. a device for separating and dressing textile fibers.

6. a row of brass points for collecting the electricity in an electrostatic generator.

7. the red fleshy crest on the head of a domestic fowl, especially a rooster.

8. short for honeycomb (sense 1 of the noun).

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. untangle or arrange (the hair) by drawing a comb through it
(as adj. combed)

• neatly combed hair.

2. (comb something out) — remove something from the hair by drawing a comb through it

• she combed the burrs out of the dog's coat.

3. prepare (wool, flax, or cotton) for manufacture with a comb
(as adj. combed)

• the socks are made of soft combed cotton.

4. search carefully and systematically

• police combed the area for the murder weapon

• [no obj.] his mother combed through the cardboard boxes.

III. derivatives

comblike /-ˌlīk /

adjective

– origin Old English camb, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kam and German Kamm.

combat

I. noun — /ˈkämˌbat /

1. fighting between armed forces

• men killed in combat

• pilots re-enacted the aerial combats of yesteryear

• [as modifier] a combat zone.

2. nonviolent conflict or opposition

• intellectual combat.

II. verb — /kəmˈbat ˈkämˌbat / [with obj.]

1. take action to reduce, destroy, or prevent (something undesirable)

• an effort to combat drug trafficking.

2. ‹archaic› engage in a fight with; oppose in battle.
[no obj.]

• your men combated against the first of ours.

– origin mid 16th cent. (originally denoting a fight between two persons or parties): from French combattre (verb), from late Latin combattere, from com- ‘together with’ + battere, variant of Latin batuere ‘to fight.’

combatant /kəmˈbatnt ˈkämbədənt/

I. noun

1. a person or nation engaged in fighting during a war.

2. a person engaged in conflict or competition with another.

II. adjective

engaged in fighting during a war

• all the combatant armies went to war with machine guns.

– origin late Middle English (as an adjective used in heraldry to describe two lions facing one another with raised forepaws): from Old French, present participle of combatre ‘to fight’ (see combat).

combat boots

plural noun

boots of a type worn by soldiers in combat, typically black with laces and thick rubber soles.

combat fatigue

noun

1. psychological disturbance caused by prolonged exposure to active warfare, especially being under bombardment.

2. (combat fatigues) — a uniform of a type to be worn into combat.

combative /kəmˈbadiv/

I. adjective

ready or eager to fight; pugnacious

• he made some enemies with his combative style.

II. derivatives

1. combatively /kəmˈbadivlē /

adverb

2. combativeness /kəmˈbadivnəs /

noun

combat jacket

noun

a jacket of a type worn by soldiers in combat, typically having a camouflage pattern.

comb-back /ˈkōmˌbak/

noun

a high-backed Windsor chair with a straight top rail
[as modifier]

• a comb-back rocker.

combe /ko͞om kōm / coomb, coombe

I. noun

1. (Brit.) a short valley or hollow on a hillside or coastline.

2. (Brit.) [Geology] a dry valley in a limestone or chalk escarpment.

– origin Old English cumb, occurring in charters in the names of places in southern England, many of which survive; of Celtic origin, related to cwm. The current general use dates from the late 16th cent.

comber /ˈkōmər/

noun

1. a long curling sea wave.

2. a person or machine that separates and straightens the fibers of cotton or wool.

combfish /ˈkōmfiSH/

noun

a fish of the northeastern Pacific, with small rough scales and long spines in the comblike dorsal fin.
[Family Zaniolepididae and genus Zaniolepis: several species.]

combination /ˌkämbəˈnāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a joining or merging of different parts or qualities in which the component elements are individually distinct

• a combination of blackberries, raspberries, and rhubarb

• this color combination is stunningly effective.

2. the process of combining different parts or qualities or the state of being combined

• these four factors work together in combination.

3. an arrangement of elements

• the canvases may be arranged in any number of combinations.

4. (in various sports and games) a coordinated and effective sequence of moves

• a good uppercut/hook combination.

5. [as modifier] — uniting different uses, functions, or ingredients

• a combination garment bag and backpack.

6. [Chemistry] the joining of substances in a compound with new properties.

7. a sequence of numbers or letters used to open a combination lock
[as modifier]

• a combination briefcase.

8. [Mathematics] a selection of a given number of elements from a larger number without regard to their arrangement.

II. derivatives

1. combinational /-SHənl /

adjective

2. combinative /ˈkämbəˌnādiv kəmˈbīnədiv /

adjective

3. combinatorial /ˌkämb(ə)nəˈtôrēəl /

adjective

( — [Mathematics]

4. combinatorially

adverb

( — [Mathematics]

5. combinatory /kəmˈbīnəˌtôre, ˈkämbənə- /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin combinatio(n-), from the verb combinare ‘join two by two’ (see combine^1).

combinational circuit

noun

[Electronics] a circuit whose output depends only on the state of its inputs.
Compare with sequential circuit.

combination lock /ˌkämbəˈnāSHən läk/

noun

a lock that is opened by rotating a dial or set of dials, marked with letters or numbers, through a specific sequence.

combination oven

noun

an oven operating by both conventional heating and microwaves.

combination therapy

noun

treatment in which a patient is given two or more drugs (or other therapeutic agents) for a single disease.

combinatorics /ˌkämbənəˈtôriks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the branch of mathematics dealing with combinations of objects belonging to a finite set in accordance with certain constraints, such as those of graph theory.

– origin 1940s: from combinatorial (see combination), influenced by German Kombinatorik.

combine^1

I. verb — /kəmˈbīn / [with obj.]

1. unite; merge

• the band combines a variety of musical influences

• combine the flour with the margarine and salt

• [no obj.] high tides and winds combined to bring chaos to the East Coast.

2. [no obj.] — [Chemistry] unite to form a compound

• oxygen and hydrogen do not combine at room temperatures.

3. [no obj.] — unite for a common purpose

• groups of teachers combined to tackle a variety of problems.

4. engage in simultaneously

• combine shopping and sightseeing.

II. noun — /ˈkämˌbīn /

1. a group of people or companies acting together for a commercial purpose

• a powerful industrial combine.

III. derivatives

combinable /kəmˈbīnəbəl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French combiner or late Latin combinare ‘join two by two,’ from com- ‘together’ + Latin bini ‘two together.’

combine^2 /ˈkämˌbīn/

I. noun

an agricultural machine that cuts, threshes, and cleans a grain crop in one operation.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. harvest (a crop) by means of a combine.

combiner^1 /kəmˈbīnər/

noun

1. any of various electronic devices that combine signals, in particular

2. a device that couples different frequencies to a single antenna.

3. a component of a cipher that combines two data sources to encrypt text.

4. an electrical transformer comprising several smaller ones.

combiner^2 /ˈkämˌbīnər/

noun

an operator of a combine harvester.

combings /ˈkōmiNGz/

plural noun

hairs or other material removed with a comb.

combing wool

noun

long-stapled wool with straight, parallel fibers, suitable for combing and making into high-quality fabrics, in particular worsted.
Compare with carding wool.

combining form /kəmˈbīniNG ˌfôrm/

I. noun

[Grammar] a linguistic element used in combination with another element to form a word (e.g., Anglo- ‘English’ in Anglo-American, bio- ‘life’ in biology, -graphy ‘writing’ in biography).

usage: In this dictionary, combining form is used to denote an element that contributes to the particular sense of words (as with bio- and -graphy in biography), as distinct from a prefix or suffix that adjusts the sense of or determines the function of words (as with un-, -able, and -ation).

comb jelly

noun

a marine animal with a jellyfishlike body bearing rows of fused cilia for propulsion. They are typically small planktonic animals and are noted for their luminescence.
[Phylum Ctenophora: two classes.]

combo /ˈkämbō/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› a small jazz, rock, or pop band.

2. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) a combination, typically of different foods
[as modifier]

• the combo platter.

– origin 1920s (originally US): abbreviation of combination + -o.

combo box

noun

[Computing] ‹informal› a type of dialogue box containing a combination of controls, such as sliders, text boxes, and drop-down lists.

combo drive

noun

[Computing] an optical disk drive that can read and record CDs and can also read DVDs.

combover /ˈkōmˌōvər/

noun

hair that is combed over a bald spot in an attempt to cover it.

combust /kəmˈbəst/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. consume by fire.

2. [no obj.] — be consumed by fire.

– origin late 15th cent.: from obsolete combust ‘burned, calcined,’ from Latin combustus, past participle of comburere ‘burn up.’

combustible /kəmˈbəstəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. able to catch fire and burn easily

• highly combustible paint thinner.

2. excitable; easily annoyed

• two combustible personalities.

II. noun

a combustible substance.

III. derivatives

combustibility /kəmˌbəstəˈbilədē /

noun

– origin early 16th cent.: from Old French, from late Latin combustibilis, from Latin combust- ‘burned up,’ from the verb comburere.

combustion /kəmˈbəsCH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the process of burning something

• the combustion of fossil fuels.

2. [Chemistry] rapid chemical combination of a substance with oxygen, involving the production of heat and light.

II. derivatives

combustive /-ˈbəstiv /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin combustio(n-), from Latin comburere ‘burn up.’

combustion chamber

noun

an enclosed space in which combustion takes place, especially in an engine or furnace.

Comdr.

abbreviation

commander.

come /kəm/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. move or travel toward or into a place thought of as near or familiar to the speaker

• Jessica came into the kitchen

• they came here as immigrants

• he came rushing out.

2. arrive at a specified place

• we walked along till we came to a stream

• it was very late when she came back

• my trunk hasn't come yet.

3. (of a thing) reach or extend to a specified point

• women in slim dresses that came all the way to their shoes

• the path comes straight down.

4. (be coming) — approach

• someone was coming

• she heard the train coming.

5. travel in order to be with a specified person, to do a specified thing, or to be present at an event

• the police came

• come and live with me

• the electrician came to fix the stove

• ‹figurative› we have certainly come a long way since Aristotle.

6. join someone in participating in a specified activity or course of action

• do you want to come fishing tomorrow?

7. (come along/on) — make progress; develop

• he's coming along nicely

• she asked them how their garden was coming on.

8. [in imperative] (also come, come!) — said to someone when correcting, reassuring, or urging them on

• “Come, come, child, no need to thank me.”

9. occur; happen; take place

• twilight had not yet come

• waiting for a crash that never came

• a chance like this doesn't come along every day.

10. be heard, perceived, or experienced

• a voice came from the kitchen

• “No,” came the reply

• it came as a great shock.

11. (of a quality) become apparent or noticeable through actions or performance

• as an actor your style and personality must come through.

12. (come across or off over) — (of a person) appear or sound in a specified way; give a specified impression

• he'd always come across as a decent guy.

13. (of a thought or memory) enter one's mind

• the basic idea came to me while reading an article

• a passage from a novel came back to Adam.

14. take or occupy a specified position in space, order, or priority

• prisons come far down the list of priorities

• I make sure my kids come first.

15. achieve a specified place in a race or contest

• she came second among sixty contestants.

16. pass into a specified state, especially one of separation or disunion

• his shirt had come undone.

17. (come to/into) — reach or be brought to a specified situation or result

• you will come to no harm

• staff who come into contact with the public.

18. reach eventually a certain condition or state of mind

• he had come to realize she was no puppet.

19. be sold, available, or found in a specified form

• the cars come with a variety of extras

• they come in three sizes.

20. ‹informal› have an orgasm.

II. preposition

‹informal› when a specified time is reached or event happens

• I don't think that they'll be far away from honors come the new season.

III. noun

‹informal› semen ejaculated at orgasm.

IV. phrases

1. as —— as they come

used to describe someone or something that is a supreme example of the quality specified

• Smith is as tough as they come.

2. come again?

‹informal› used to ask someone to repeat or explain something they have said.

3. come and go

a. arrive and then depart again; move around freely.

b. exist or be present for a limited time; be transitory

• health fads come and go.

4. come from behind

win after lagging.

5. come off it

[in imperative] — ‹informal› said when vigorously expressing disbelief.

6. come to nothing

have no significant or successful result in the end.

7. come to pass

‹chiefly literary› happen; occur

• it came to pass that she had two sons.

8. come to rest

eventually cease moving.

9. come to that (or if it comes to that)

‹informal› in fact (said to introduce an additional point)

• there isn't a clock on the mantelpiece—come to that, there isn't a mantelpiece!

10. come to think of it

on reflection (said when an idea or point occurs to one while one is speaking).

11. come what may

no matter what happens.

12. have it coming (to one)

‹informal› be due for retribution on account of something bad that one has done

• his uppity sister-in-law had it coming to her.

13. how come?

‹informal› said when asking how or why something happened or is the case

• how come you never married, Jimmy?

14. to come

(following a noun) in the future

• films that would inspire generations to come

• in years to come.

15. where someone is coming from

‹informal› someone's meaning, motivation, or personality.

V. phrasal verbs

1. come about

a. happen; take place

• the relative speed with which emancipation came about.

b. (of a ship) change direction.

2. come across

a. meet or find by chance

• I came across these old photos recently.

b. ‹informal› hand over or provide what is wanted

• she has come across with some details.

c. (of a woman) agree to have sexual intercourse with a man.

3. come after

pursue or hunt down (someone).

4. come along

[in imperative] — said when encouraging someone or telling them to hurry up.

5. round) ">come around ( round)

a. recover consciousness

• I'd just come around from a drunken stupor.

b. be converted to another person's opinion

• I came around to her point of view.

c. (of a date or regular occurrence) recur; be imminent again

• Friday had come around so quickly.

6. come at

launch oneself at (someone); attack.

7. come away

be left with a specified feeling, impression, or result after doing something

• she came away feeling upset.

8. come back

a. (in sports) recover from a deficit

• the Mets came back from a 3–0 deficit.

b. reply or respond to someone, especially vigorously

• he came back at Judy with a vengeance.

9. come before

be dealt with by (a judge or court)

• it is the most controversial issue to come before the Supreme Court.

10. come between

interfere with or disturb the relationship of (two people)

• I let my stupid pride come between us.

11. come by

a. (N. Amer.) call casually and briefly as a visitor

• his friends came by

• she came by the house.

b. manage to acquire or obtain (something).

12. come down

a. (of a building or other structure) collapse or be demolished.

b. (of an aircraft) crash or crash-land.

c. be handed down by tradition or inheritance

• the name has come down from the last century.

d. reach a decision or recommendation in favor of one side or another

• advisers and inspectors came down on our side.

e. (Brit.) leave a university, especially Oxford or Cambridge, after finishing one's studies.

f. ‹informal› experience the lessening of an excited or euphoric feeling, especially one produced by a narcotic drug.

13. come down on

criticize or punish (someone) harshly

• she came down on me like a ton of bricks.

14. come down to

(of a situation or outcome) be dependent on (a specified factor)

• it came down to her word against Guy's.

15. come down with

begin to suffer from (a specified illness)

• I came down with influenza.

16. come for

(of police or other officials) arrive to arrest or detain (someone).

17. come forward

volunteer oneself for a task or post or to give evidence about a crime.

18. come from

a. originate in; have as its source

• the word caviar comes from the Italian caviale.

b. be the result of

• a dignity that comes from being in control.

c. have as one's place of birth or residence

• I come from the Bronx.

d. be descended from

• he comes from a family of artists.

19. come in

a. join or become involved in an enterprise

• that's where Jack comes in

• I agreed to come in on the project.

b. have a useful role or function

• this is where grammar comes in.

c. prove to have a specified good quality

• the money came in handy for treating his cronies at the tavern.

d. finish a race in a specified position

• the favorite came in first.

e. (of money) be earned or received regularly.

f. [in imperative] — begin speaking or make contact, especially in radio communication

• come in, London.

g. (of a tide) rise; flow.

20. come in for

receive or be the object of (a reaction), typically a negative one

• he has come in for a lot of criticism.

21. come into

suddenly receive (money or property), especially by inheriting it.

22. come of

a. result from

• no good will come of it.

b. be descended from

• she came of Neapolitan stock.

23. come off

a. (of an action) succeed; be accomplished.

b. fare in a specified way in a contest

• Jeff always came off worse in an argument.

c. become detached or be detachable from something.

24. come on

a. (of a state or condition) start to arrive or happen

• she felt a mild case of the sniffles coming on

• it was coming on to rain.

b. (also come upon) — meet or find by chance.

c. [in imperative] — said when encouraging someone to do something or to hurry up or when one feels that someone is wrong or foolish

• Come on! We must hurry!

d. said or shouted to express support, for example for a sports team.

25. come on to

‹informal› make sexual advances toward.

26. come out

a. (of a fact) emerge; become known

• it came out that the accused had illegally registered to vote.

b. happen as a result

• something good can come out of something that went wrong.

c. (of a photograph) be produced satisfactorily or in a specified way

• I hope my photographs come out all right.

d. (of the result of a calculation or measurement) emerge at a specified figure

• rough cider usually comes out at about eight percent alcohol.

e. (of a book or other work) appear; be released or published.

f. declare oneself as being for or against something

• residents have come out against the proposals.

g. achieve a specified placing in an examination or contest

• he deservedly came out the winner on points

• she came out victorious.

h. acquit oneself in a specified way

• surprisingly, it's Penn who comes out best.

i. (of a stain) be removed or able to be removed.

j. ‹informal› openly declare that one is homosexual.
[from the phrase come out of the closet (see closet (sense 2 of the noun)).]

k. ‹dated› (of a young upper-class woman) make one's debut in society.

27. come out in

(Brit.) (of a person's skin) break out in (pimples or a similar condition).

28. come out with

say (something) in a sudden, rude, or incautious way.

29. come over

a. (of a feeling or manner) begin to affect (someone).

b. change to another side or point of view.

30. come round

see come around .

31. come through

a. succeed in surviving or dealing with (an illness or ordeal)

• she's come through the operation very well.

b. (of a message) be sent and received.

c. (of an official decree) be processed and notified.

32. come to

a. (also come to oneself) — recover consciousness.

b. (of an expense) reach in total; amount to

• he hasn't the least idea of how much it will come to.

c. (of a ship) come to a stop.

33. come under

a. be classified as or among

• they all come under the general heading of opinion polls.

b. be subject to (an influence or authority).

c. be subjected to (pressure or aggression)

• his vehicle came under mortar fire.

34. come up

a. (of an issue, situation, or problem) occur or present itself, especially unexpectedly.

b. (of a specified time or event) approach or draw near

• she's got exams coming up.

c. (of a legal case) reach the time when it is scheduled to be dealt with.

d. (Brit.) begin one's studies at a university, especially Oxford or Cambridge.

35. come up against

be faced with or opposed by (something such as an enemy or problem).

36. come up with

produce (something), especially when pressured or challenged.

37. come upon

a. attack by surprise.

b. see come on (sense 2).

– origin Old English cuman, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch komen and German kommen. / usage: The use of come followed by and, as in come and see for yourself, dates back to Old English, but is seen by some as incorrect or only suitable for informal English. For more details, see usage at and.

come-along /ˈkəməˌlôNG/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a hand-operated winch.

comeback /ˈkəmˌbak/

noun

1. a return by a well-known person, especially an entertainer or sports player, to the activity in which they have formerly been successful

• the heavyweight champion is set to make his comeback

• [as modifier] his career died after a couple of comeback attempts.

2. a return to fashion of an item, activity, or style

• stirrup pants have made acomeback.

3. ‹informal› a quick reply to a critical remark.

4. the opportunity to seek redress

• there's no comeback if he messes up your case.

Comecon /ˈkäməˌkän/

I. an economic association of eastern European countries founded in 1949 and analogous to the European Economic Community. With the collapse of communism in eastern Europe, the association was dissolved in 1991.

– origin contraction of Council for Mutual Economic Assistance.

comedian /kəˈmēdēən/

I. noun

1. an entertainer whose act is designed to make an audience laugh.

2. ‹often ironic› an amusing or entertaining person.

3. a comic actor.

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting a comic playwright): from French comédien, from Old French comedie (see comedy). The sense ‘entertainer’ dates from the late 19th cent.

comedic /kəˈmēdik/

adjective

relating to or characteristic of comedy; comic

• the man is a comedic genius

• with perfect comedic timing, he delivers the punch line.

Comédie-Française /ˌkômədēfränˈsez/

the French national theater (used for both comedy and tragedy), in Paris, founded in 1680 by Louis XIV.

comedienne /kəˌmēdēˈen/

I. noun

a female comedian.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French comédienne, feminine of comédien (see comedian).

comedo /ˈkäməˌdō/

I. noun

technical term for blackhead (sense 1).

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘glutton,’ from comedere ‘eat up,’ from com- ‘altogether’ + edere ‘eat.’ Used formerly as a name for parasitic worms, the term here alludes to the wormlike matter that can be squeezed from a blackhead.

comedogenic /ˌkämədōˈjenik/

adjective

tending to cause blackheads by blocking the pores of the skin.

comedown /ˈkəmˌdoun/

noun

1. ‹informal› a loss of status or importance

• patrol duty? A comedown for a sergeant.

2. ‹informal› a feeling of disappointment or depression

• it's such a comedown after Christmas is over.

3. [in sing.] — ‹informal› a lessening of the sensations generated by a narcotic drug as its effects wear off.

comedy /ˈkämədē/

I. noun

1. professional entertainment consisting of jokes and satirical sketches, intended to make an audience laugh.

2. a movie, play, or broadcast program intended to make an audience laugh

• a rollicking new comedy.

3. the style or genre represented by comedy films, plays, and broadcast programs.

4. the humorous or amusing aspects of something

• advertising people see the comedy in their work.

5. a play characterized by its humorous or satirical tone and its depiction of amusing people or incidents, in which the characters ultimately triumph over adversity

• Shakespeare's comedies.

6. the dramatic genre represented by comedies

• satiric comedy.

Compare with tragedy (sense 2).

II. phrases

comedy of errors

a situation made amusing by bungling and incompetence

• the comedy of errors that is Medicare's physician payment schedule.

– origin late Middle English (as a genre of drama, also denoting a narrative poem with a happy ending, as in Dante's Divine Comedy): from Old French comedie, via Latin from Greek kōmōidia, from kōmōidos ‘comic poet,’ from kōmos ‘revel’ + aoidos ‘singer.’

comedy club

noun

a venue where comedians give stand-up performances in front of an audience

• she'd done a few amateur-night gigs at some local comedy clubs.

comedy of manners

noun

a comedy that satirizes behavior in a particular social group, especially the upper classes.

come-hither /ˌkəm ˈhiT͟Hər / ‹informal, dated›

adjective

flirtatious; sexually inviting

• nymphs with come-hither looks.

comely /ˈkəmlē/

I. adjective

1. (typically of a woman) pleasant to look at; attractive.

2. agreeable; suitable.

II. derivatives

comeliness /ˈkəmlēnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English: probably shortened from becomely ‘fitting, becoming,’ from become.

come-on /ˈkəm ˌän/

noun

1. ‹informal› a gesture or remark that is intended to attract someone sexually

• she was giving me the come-on.

2. ‹informal› a marketing ploy, such as a free or cheap offer
[as modifier]

• introductory come-on rates.

come-outer /ˌkəmˈoudər/

noun

(US) ‹chiefly historical› a person who dissociates himself or herself from an organization.

comer /ˈkəmər/

noun

1. a person who arrives somewhere

• feeding every comer is still a sacred duty.

See also all comers at all; latecomer; newcomer.

2. [in sing.] — (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a person or thing likely to succeed

• many in the party see tax relief as a comer.

comestible /kəˈmestəbəl/

I. noun — (usu. comestibles)

1. an item of food

• a fridge groaning with comestibles.

II. adjective

edible

• comestible plants.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Old French, from medieval Latin comestibilis, from Latin comest- ‘eaten up,’ from the verb comedere, from com- ‘altogether’ + edere ‘eat.’

comet /ˈkämət/

I. noun

a celestial object consisting of a nucleus of ice and dust and, when near the sun, a “tail” of gas and dust particles pointing away from the sun.
Originating in the remotest regions of the solar system, most comets follow regular eccentric orbits and appear in the inner solar system as periodic comets, some of which break up and can be the origin of annual meteor showers. They were formerly considered to be supernatural omens.

II. derivatives

cometary /ˈkäməˌterē /

adjective

– origin late Old English, from Latin cometa, from Greek komētēs ‘long-haired (star),’ from komē ‘hair’; reinforced by Old French comete.

comeuppance /ˌkəmˈəpəns/

noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. ‹informal› a punishment or fate that someone deserves

• he got his comeuppance.

comfit /ˈkəmfət ˈkämfət/

I. noun

‹dated› a candy consisting of a nut, seed, or other center coated in sugar.

– origin Middle English: from Old French confit, from Latin confectum ‘something prepared,’ neuter past participle of conficere ‘put together’ (see confect).

comfort /ˈkəmfərt/

I. noun

1. a state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint

• room for four people to travel in comfort.

2. (comforts) — things that contribute to physical ease and well-being

• the low upholstered chair was one of the room's few comforts.

3. prosperity and the pleasant lifestyle secured by it

• my father left us enough to live in comfort.

4. the easing or alleviation of a person's feelings of grief or distress

• a few words of comfort

• they should take comfort that help is available.

5. [in sing.] — a person or thing that helps to alleviate a difficult situation

• his friendship was a great comfort.

6. (US) ‹dialect› a warm quilt.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ease the grief or distress of; console

• she broke down in tears and her friend tried to comfort her.

2. improve the mood of or restore a sense of well-being to

• he dined outdoors, comforted by the crackling sounds of the fire.

III. phrases

too — for comfort

causing physical or mental unease by an excess of the specified quality

• it can be too hot for comfort in July and August.

– origin Middle English (as a noun, in the senses ‘strengthening, support, consolation’; as a verb, in the senses ‘strengthen, give support, console’): from Old French confort (noun), conforter (verb), from late Latin confortare ‘strengthen,’ from com- (expressing intensive force) + Latin fortis ‘strong.’ The sense ‘something producing physical ease’ arose in the mid 17th cent.

comfortable /ˈkəmfərdəb(ə)l ˈkəmftərbəl/

I. adjective

1. (especially of clothes or furnishings) providing physical ease and relaxation

• invitingly comfortable beds.

2. (of a person) physically relaxed and free from constraint

• he would not be comfortable in any other clothes.

3. not in pain (used especially of a hospital patient).

4. free from stress or fear

• they appear very comfortable in each other's company

• few of us are comfortable with confrontations.

5. free from financial worry; having an adequate standard of living.

6. as large as is needed or wanted

• a comfortable income.

7. with a wide margin

• a comfortable victory.

II. noun

(US) ‹dialect› a warm quilt.

III. derivatives

comfortableness

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘pleasant, pleasing’): from Anglo-Norman French confortable, from conforter ‘to comfort’ (see comfort).

comfortably /ˈkəmftərblē/

adverb

1. in a physically relaxed way that is free from constraint

• he lounges comfortably in an armchair.

2. in a way that is free from stress or tension

• a group of old friends getting together and chatting comfortably.

3. in a way that is free from financial worry

• she seems comfortably well-off.

4. in a way that gives as much space as is needed or wanted

• their furnishings fit comfortably inside it.

5. with a wide margin

• they went on to win comfortably in the end.

comfort blanket

noun

(Brit.) another term for security blanket (sense 1):

• it was just as well that 16-month-old Madison had her comfort blanket with her yesterday

• leaving the comfort blanket of a regular salary after 20 years is a bit overwhelming.

comfort eating /ˈkəmfərt ētiNG/

noun

eating to make oneself feel happier, rather than to satisfy hunger.

comforter /ˈkəmfərdər/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a warm quilt.

2. a person or thing that provides consolation.

3. (Comforter) — the Holy Spirit.

4. ‹dated› a woolen scarf.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French comforteor, from conforter ‘to comfort’ (see comfort).

comfort food /ˈkəmfərt fo͞od/

noun

food that provides consolation or a feeling of well-being, typically any with a high sugar or other carbohydrate content and associated with childhood or home cooking.

comforting /ˈkəmfərdiNG/

I. adjective

1. serving to alleviate a person's feelings of grief or distress

• we would like to thank our family and friends for their support and their comforting words.

2. serving to improve a person's mood or restore a sense of physical well-being

• a comforting bowl of soup.

II. derivatives

comfortingly

adverb

comfortless /ˈkəmfərtləs/

adjective

1. offering no means of relaxation and pleasure

• a comfortless prison.

2. having or offering nothing that serves to ease feelings or grief or distress

• it's difficult to get this comfortless message onto any bestseller list.

comfort station /ˈkəmfərt ˈstāSHən/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹euphemistic› a public restroom for travelers or campers.

comfort zone /ˈkəmfərt zōn/

noun

a place or situation where one feels safe or at ease and without stress

• times when we must act beyond our comfort zones

• if you stay within your comfort zone, you will never improve.

comfrey /ˈkəmfrē/

I. noun

a Eurasian plant of the borage family, with large hairy leaves and clusters of purplish or white bell-shaped flowers.
[Genus Symphytum, family Boraginaceae: several species, in particular the common comfrey (S. officinale), which is used in herbal medicine (see boneset).]

– origin Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French cumfirie, based on Latin conferva, from confervere ‘heal’ (literally ‘boil together,’ referring to the plant's medicinal use).

comfy /ˈkəmfē/

I. adjective

‹informal› comfortable.

II. derivatives

1. comfily /-fəlē /

adverb

2. comfiness

noun

– origin early 19th cent.: abbreviation.

comic /ˈkämik/

I. adjective

1. causing or meant to cause laughter

• comic and fantastic exaggeration.

2. relating to or in the style of comedy

• a comic actor

• comic drama.

II. noun

1. a comedian, especially a professional one

• a stand-up comic.

2. (comics) — (N. Amer.) comic strips.

– origin late 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek kōmikos, from kōmos ‘revel.’

comical /ˈkämək(ə)l/

I. adjective

amusing

• a series of comical misunderstandings.

II. derivatives

comicality /ˌkäməˈkalədē /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘relating to or in the style of comedy’): from Latin comicus (see comic) + -al.

comically /ˈkämək(ə)lē/

adverb

in an amusing, ludicrous, or absurd way

• a comically fumbled free kick

• [as submodifier] his comically inept teammates.

Comice /ˈkäməs / Doyenne du Comice

I. noun

a large yellow dessert pear.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, literally ‘association, cooperative,’ referring to the Comice Horticole of Angers, France, where this variety was developed.

comic opera /ˈˌkämik ˈäp(ə)rə/

noun

an opera that portrays humorous situations and characters, enhanced by spoken dialogue.

comic relief

noun

1. comic episodes in a dramatic or literary work that offset more serious sections.

2. a character or characters providing this.

comic strip /ˈkämik ˌstrip/

noun

a sequence of drawings in boxes that tell an amusing story, typically printed in a newspaper or comic book.

coming /ˈkəmiNG/

I. adjective

1. due to happen or just beginning

• work is due to start in the coming year.

2. likely to be important or successful in the future

• he was the coming man of French racing.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. an arrival or an approach

• the coming of a new age.

III. phrases

1. comings and goings

the busy movements of a person or group of people, especially in and out of a place.

2. not know if one is coming or going

‹informal› be confused, especially as a result of being very busy.

Comino /kəˈmēnō/

the smallest of the three main islands of Malta.

COMINT /ˈkämint/

abbreviation

communications intelligence.

Comintern /ˈkämənˌtərn/

I. the Third International, a communist organization (1919–43).
See international (sense 2 of the noun).

– origin from Russian Komintern, blend of kom(munisticheskiĭ) ‘communist’ and intern(atsional) ‘international.’

comital /ˈkämədl/

I. adjective

‹chiefly historical› of or relating to a count or earl.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from medieval Latin comitalis, from comes, comit- ‘a count.’

comity /ˈkämədē/

I. noun

1. courtesy and considerate behavior toward others.

2. an association of nations for their mutual benefit.

3. (also comity of nations) — the mutual recognition by nations of the laws and customs of others.

– origin mid 16th cent. (sense 1): from Latin comitas, from comis ‘courteous.’

comix /ˈkämiks/

I. plural noun

comic books and comic strips, especially ones written for adults or of an underground or alternative nature.

– origin alteration of comics.

comm /käm/

noun

short for communication:
[as modifier]

• a comm link.

comm.

abbreviation

1. commerce.

2. commercial.

3. commission.

4. commissioner.

5. committee.

6. common.

comma /ˈkämə/

I. noun

1. a punctuation mark (,) indicating a pause between parts of a sentence. It is also used to separate items in a list and to mark the place of thousands in a large numeral.

2. [Music] a minute interval or difference of pitch.

3. (also comma butterfly) — a butterfly that has wings with irregular, ragged edges and typically a white or silver comma-shaped mark on the underside of each hind wing.
[Genus Polygonia, subfamily Nymphalinae, family Nymphalidae: numerous species, in particular the common eastern comma (P. comma) of eastern North America.]

– origin late 16th cent. (originally as a term in rhetoric denoting a group of words shorter than a colon; see colon^1): via Latin from Greek komma ‘piece cut off, short clause,’ from koptein ‘cut.’

Commager, Henry Steele /ˈkämijər/

(1902–98), US educator and writer. Among his notable works are The Growth of the American Republic (co-authored with Samuel Eliot Morison, 1930), The American Mind (1959), and The Empire of Reason (1977).

command /kəˈmand/

I. verb

1. [reporting verb] — give an authoritative order
[with obj. and infinitive]

• a gruff voice commanded us to enter

• [with direct speech] “Stop arguing!” he commanded

• [with clause] he commanded that work should cease

• [with obj.] my mother commands my presence.

2. [with obj.] — [Military] have authority over; be in charge of (a unit)

• he commanded a battalion at Normandy.

3. [with obj.] — dominate (a strategic position) from a superior height

• the two castles commanded the harbor.

4. [with obj.] — ‹archaic› control or restrain (oneself or one's feelings)

• he commanded himself with an effort.

5. [with obj.] — be in a strong enough position to have or secure (something)

• no party commanded a majority

• a moral force that commanded respect.

II. noun

1. an authoritative order

• it's unlikely they'll obey your commands.

2. [Computing] an instruction or signal that causes a computer to perform one of its basic functions.

3. authority, especially over armed forces

• an officer took command

• who's in command?

• we will have nearly thirty thousand people under our command.

4. [in sing.] — the ability to use or control something

• he had a brilliant command of English.

5. [treated as sing. or pl.] — [Military] a group of officers exercising control over a particular group or operation.

6. [Military] a body of troops or a district under the control of a particular officer.

III. phrases

at someone's command

at someone's disposal; available

• he had at his command a vast number of ready-made phrases.

– origin Middle English: from Old French comander ‘to command,’ from late Latin commandare, from com- (expressing intensive force) + mandare ‘commit, command.’ Compare with commend.

command and control

noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. [chiefly Military] the running of an armed force or other organization

• a command-and-control bunker.

commandant /ˈkämənˌdant ˈkämənˌdänt/

I. noun

an officer in charge of a particular force or institution

• the West Point commandant of cadets.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French commandant, or Italian or Spanish comandante, all from late Latin commandare ‘to command’ (see command).

command-driven

adjective

[Computing] (of a program or computer) operated by means of commands keyed in by the user or issued by another program or computer.

command economy

noun

an economy in which production, investment, prices, and incomes are determined centrally by a government.

commandeer /ˌkämənˈdir/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. officially take possession or control of (something), especially for military purposes

• telegraph and telephone lines were commandeered by the generals.

2. take possession of (something) without authority

• he hoisted himself onto a table, commandeering it as a speaker's platform.

3. enlist (someone) to help in a task, typically against the person's will

• he commandeered the men to find a table.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Afrikaans kommandeer, from Dutch commanderen, from French commander ‘to command’ (see command).

commander /kəˈmandər / Comdr.

I. noun

1. a person in authority, especially over a body of troops or a military operation

• the commander of a paratroop regiment.

2. a naval officer of high rank, in particular (in the US Navy or Coast Guard) an officer ranking above lieutenant commander and below captain.

3. (in certain metropolitan police departments) the officer in charge of a division, district, precinct, or squad.

4. a member of a higher class in some orders of knighthood.

II. derivatives

commandership /kəˈmandərˌSHip /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French comandeor, from late Latin commandare ‘to command’ (see command).

commander in chief /kəˈmandər in CHēf / Commander in Chief

noun

1. a head of state or officer in supreme command of a country's armed forces.

2. an officer in charge of a major subdivision of a country's armed forces, or of its forces in a particular area.

Commander of the Faithful

noun

one of the titles of a caliph.

commanding /kəˈmandiNG/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (in military contexts) having a position of authority

• a commanding officer.

2. (of an advantage or position) controlling; superior

• a commanding 13-6 lead.

3. indicating or expressing authority; imposing

• a man of commanding presence

• her style is commanding.

4. (of a place or position) dominating physically; giving a wide view

• a commanding position looking out over the sea.

II. derivatives

commandingly

adverb

command language

noun

[Computing] a computer programming language composed chiefly of a set of commands or operators, used especially for communicating with the operating system of a computer.

commandment /kəˈman(d)mənt/

I. noun

1. a divine rule, especially one of the Ten Commandments.

2. a rule to be observed as strictly as one of the Ten Commandments.

– origin Middle English: from Old French comandement, from comander ‘to command’ (see command).

command module /kəˈmand ˈmäjo͞ol / CM

noun

the detachable control portion of a manned spacecraft.

commando /kəˈmanˌdō/

I. noun

1. a soldier specially trained to carry out raids.

2. a unit of soldiers specially trained to carry out raids.

II. phrases

go commando

‹humorous› wear no underpants.

– origin late 18th cent. (denoting a militia, originally consisting of Boers in South Africa): from Portuguese (earlier form of comando), from commandar ‘to command,’ from late Latin commandare (see command).

command performance /kəˈmand pərˈfôrməns/

noun

a presentation of a play, concert, opera, or other show at the request of royalty.

command post /kəˈmand pōst/

noun

the place from which a military unit is commanded.

command sergeant major

noun

a noncommissioned officer in the US Army ranking above first sergeant.

comme ci, comme ça /kôm ˈsē kômˈsä/

I. adverb, adjective

(in answer to a question) neither very good nor very bad; so-so.

– origin French, literally ‘like this, like that.’

commedia dell'arte /kəˌmādēə ˌdelˈärdā/

I. noun

an improvised kind of popular comedy in Italian theaters in the 16th–18th centuries, based on stock characters. Actors adapted their comic dialogue and action according to a few basic plots (commonly love intrigues) and to topical issues.

– origin Italian,‘comedy of art.’

comme il faut /ˌkôm ēl ˈfō/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. correct in behavior or etiquette.

– origin mid 18th cent.: French, literally ‘as is necessary.’

commemorate /kəˈmeməˌrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. recall and show respect for (someone or something) in a ceremony

• a wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate the war dead.

2. serve as a memorial to

• a stone commemorating a boy who died at sea.

3. celebrate (an event, a person, or a situation) by doing or building something

• it was a night commemorated in a song.

II. derivatives

commemorator /-ˌrātər /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin commemorat- ‘brought to remembrance,’ from the verb commemorare, from com- ‘altogether’ + memorare ‘relate’ (from memor ‘mindful’).

commemoration /kəˌmeməˈrāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. remembrance, typically expressed in a ceremony

• solemn ceremonies of commemoration.

2. a ceremony or celebration in which a person or event is remembered

• VJ-Day commemorations in August.

II. phrases

in commemoration

as a reminder, especially a ritual or official one

• the window was ordered by the duchess in commemoration of her son.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin commemoratio(n-), from the verb commemorare ‘bring to remembrance’ (see commemorate).

commemorative /kəˈmem(ə)rədiv kəˈmeməˌrādiv/

I. adjective

acting as a memorial or mark of an event or person

• a commemorative plaque.

II. noun

an object such as a stamp or coin made to mark an event or honor a person.
Compare with definitive.

commemoratory /kəˈmemərəˌtôrē/

adjective

serving to commemorate; commemorative.

commence /kəˈmens/

I. verb

begin; start
[with obj.]

• his design team commenced work

• [no obj.] a public inquiry is due to commence on the 16th.

– origin Middle English: from Old French commencier, comencier, based on Latin com- (expressing intensive force) + initiare ‘begin.’

commencement /kəˈmensmənt/

I. noun

1. [usu. in sing.] — a beginning or start

• at the commencement of training.

2. (N. Amer.) a ceremony in which degrees or diplomas are conferred on graduating students
[as modifier]

• a commencement address.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, from the verb commencier (see commence).

commend /kəˈmend/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. praise formally or officially

• he was commended by the judge for his courageous actions.

2. present as suitable for approval or acceptance; recommend

• I commend her to you without reservation.

3. cause to be acceptable or pleasing

• this recording has a lot to commend it.

4. (commend someone/something to) — entrust someone or something to

• I commend them to your care.

II. phrases

commend me to

‹archaic› remember me kindly to (someone)

• commend me to my son, and bid him rule better than I.

– origin Middle English: from Latin commendare, from com- (expressing intensive force) + mandare ‘commit, entrust.’ Compare with command.

commendable /kəˈmendəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

deserving praise

• commendable restraint.

II. derivatives

commendably /kəˈmendəblē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin commendabilis, from commendare (see commend).

commendation /ˌkämənˈdāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. praise

• the film deserved the highest commendation

• commendations for their kindness.

2. an award involving special praise

• the detectives received commendations for bravery.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, from Latin commendatio(n-), from commendare ‘commit to the care of’ (see commend). Originally (in the plural) the term denoted a liturgical office ending with a prayer commending the souls of the dead to God.

commendatory /kəˈmendəˌtôrē/

I. adjective

‹archaic› serving to commend; recommending.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from late Latin commendatorius, from Latin commendare ‘commit to the care of’ (see commend).

commensal /kəˈmensəl/

I. adjective

[Biology] of, relating to, or exhibiting commensalism.

II. noun

[Biology] a commensal organism, such as many bacteria.

III. derivatives

commensality /ˌkämenˈsalitē /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: from medieval Latin commensalis, from com- ‘sharing’ + mensa ‘a table.’

commensalism /kəˈmensəˌlizəm/

noun

[Biology] an association between two organisms in which one benefits and the other derives neither benefit nor harm.

commensurable /kəˈmens(ə)rəb(ə)l kəˈmenSH(ə)rəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. measurable by the same standard

• the finite is not commensurable with the infinite.

2. (commensurable to) — ‹rare› proportionate to.

3. [Mathematics] (of numbers) in a ratio equal to a ratio of integers.

II. derivatives

1. commensurability /kəˌmens(ə)rəˈbilədē kəˌmenSH(ə)rəˈbilədē /

noun

2. commensurably /-blē /

adverb

– origin mid 16th cent.: from late Latin commensurabilis, from com- ‘together’ + mensurabilis, from mensurare ‘to measure.’

commensurate /kəˈmensərət kəˈmenSHərət/

I. adjective

corresponding in size or degree; in proportion

• salary will be commensurate with experience

• such heavy responsibility must receive commensurate reward.

II. derivatives

commensurately

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: from late Latin commensuratus, from com- ‘together’ + mensuratus, past participle of mensurare ‘to measure.’

comment /ˈkäment/

I. noun

1. a verbal or written remark expressing an opinion or reaction

• you asked for comments on the new proposals.

2. discussion, especially of a critical nature, of an issue or event

• the plans were not sent to the council for comment.

3. an indirect expression of the views of the creator of an artistic work

• their second single is a comment on the commercial nature of raves.

4. an explanatory note in a book or other written text.

5. ‹archaic› a written explanation or commentary.

6. [Computing] a piece of specially tagged text placed within a program to help other users to understand it, which the computer ignores when running the program.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. express (an opinion or reaction)

• the review commented that the book was agreeably written

• [no obj.] the company would not comment on the venture

• “He's an independent soul,” she commented.

2. [with obj.] — [Computing] place a piece of specially tagged explanatory text within (a program) to assist other users.

3. [Computing] turn (part of a program) into a comment so that the computer ignores it when running the program

• you could try commenting out that line.

III. phrases

no comment

used in refusing to answer a question, especially in a sensitive situation.

– origin late Middle English (in the senses ‘expository treatise’ and ‘explanatory note’): from Latin commentum ‘contrivance’ (in late Latin also ‘interpretation’), neuter past participle of comminisci ‘devise.’

commentariat /ˌkämənˈterēət/

I. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) members of the news media considered as a class.

– origin late 20th cent.: blend of commentary and proletariat.

commentary /ˈkämənˌterē/

I. noun

1. an expression of opinions or offering of explanations explanations about an event or situation

• an editorial commentary

• narrative overlaid with commentary.

2. a descriptive spoken account (especially on a broadcast) of an event or performance as it happens.

3. a set of explanatory or critical notes on a text

• a commentary on the Old Testament.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin commentarius, commentarium (adjective, used as a noun), from commentari, frequentative of comminisci ‘devise.’

commentate /ˈkämənˌtāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. report on an event as it occurs, especially for a news or sports broadcast; provide a commentary.

– origin mid 19th cent.: back-formation from commentator.

commentator /ˈkämənˌtādər/

noun

1. a person who comments on events or on a text.

2. a person who delivers a live commentary on an event or performance.

commenter /ˈkäˌmen(t)ər/

noun

a person who expresses an opinion or engages in discussion of an issue or event, especially online in response to an article or blog post

• the first commenter suggested that the story is a hoax

• a regular commenter on many blogs.

commerce /ˈkämərs / comm.

I. noun

1. the activity of buying and selling, especially on a large scale

• the possible increase of commerce by a great railroad.

2. ‹dated› social dealings between people

• outside the normal commerce of civilized life.

3. ‹archaic› sexual intercourse.

– origin mid 16th cent. (sense 2): from French, or from Latin commercium ‘trade, trading,’ from com- ‘together’ + mercium (from merx, merc- ‘merchandise’).

commercial /kəˈmərSHəl / comm.

I. adjective

1. concerned with or engaged in commerce

• a commercial agreement.

2. making or intended to make a profit

• commercial products.

3. having profit, rather than artistic or other value, as a primary aim

• their work is too commercial.

4. (of television or radio) funded by the revenue from broadcast advertisements.

5. (of chemicals) supplied in bulk and not of the highest purity.

II. noun

a television or radio advertisement.

III. derivatives

commerciality /kəˌmərSHēˈalədē /

noun

commercial art /kəˈmərSHəl ärt/

noun

art used in advertising and selling.

commercial bank

noun

a bank that offers services to the general public and to companies.

commercial break /kəˈmərSHəl brāk/

noun

an interruption in the transmission of broadcast programming during which advertisements are broadcast.

commercialism /kəˈmərSHəˌlizəm/

noun

1. emphasis on the maximizing of profit

• deficits prompted efforts for greater commercialism.

2. ‹derogatory› practices and attitudes that are concerned with the making of profit at the expense of quality

• the issue of creeping commercialism in schools.

commercialization /kəmərSHələˈzāSH(ə)n/

noun

the process of managing or running something principally for financial gain

• the escalating commercialization of athletics

• rapid commercialization across the art world.

commercialize /kəˈmərSHəˌlīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. manage or exploit (an organization, activity, etc.) in a way designed to make a profit

• the museum has been commercialized.

commercialized /kəˈmərSHəˌlīzd/

adjective

designed principally for financial gain; profit-oriented

• commercialized resort areas.

commercially /kəˈmərSHəlē/

adverb

in a way that is concerned with buying, selling, and making a profit

• kiwi fruit is now also grown commercially

• he made historical drama appear commercially viable.

commercial paper

noun

short-term unsecured promissory notes issued by companies.

commercial traveler /kəˈmərSHəl ˈtrav(ə)lər/

noun

‹dated› a traveling sales representative.

commercial vehicle /kəˈmərSHəl ˈvēˌhikəl ˈvēəkəl/

noun

a vehicle used for carrying goods or fare-paying passengers.

commie /ˈkämē / ‹informal, derogatory› Commie

I. noun

a communist.

II. adjective

communist.

– origin 1940s: abbreviation.

commination /ˌkäməˈnāSHən/

I. noun

1. the action of threatening divine vengeance.

2. the recital of divine threats against sinners in the Anglican Liturgy for Ash Wednesday.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin comminatio(n-), from the verb comminari, from com- (expressing intensive force) + minari ‘threaten.’

comminatory /ˈkämənətôrē kəˈminəˌtôrē/

I. adjective

threatening, punitive, or vengeful.

– origin early 16th cent.: from medieval Latin comminatorius, from comminat- ‘threatened,’ from the verb comminari (see commination).

commingle /kəˈmiNGɡ(ə)l käˈmiNGɡ(ə)l/

I. verb

mix; blend
[no obj.]

• the dust had commingled with the rain

• [with obj.] publicly reproved for commingling funds.

– origin early 17th cent.: from com- ‘together’ + mingle.

comminuted /ˈkäməˌn(y)o͞odəd/

I. adjective

1. ‹technical› reduced to minute particles or fragments.

2. ‹technical› [Medicine] (of a fracture) producing multiple bone splinters.

– origin early 17th cent.: past participle of comminute, from Latin comminut- ‘broken into pieces,’ from the verb comminuere, from com- ‘together’ + minuere ‘lessen.’

comminution /ˌkäməˈn(y)o͞oSHən/

noun

‹technical› the action of reducing a material, an ore, to minute particles or fragments.

commis /ˈkäːmē / commis chef

I. noun

a junior chef.

– origin 1930s: from French, ‘deputy, clerk,’ past participle of commettre ‘entrust,’ from Latin committere (see commit).

commiserate /kəˈmizəˌrāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. express or feel sympathy or pity; sympathize

• she went over to commiserate with Rose on her unfortunate circumstances.

2. [with obj.] — ‹archaic› feel, show, or express pity for (someone)

• she did not exult in her rival's fall, but, on the contrary, commiserated her.

II. derivatives

commiserative /kəˈmiz(ə)rədiv /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin commiserat- ‘commiserated,’ from the verb commiserari, from com- ‘with’ + miserari ‘to lament’ (from miser ‘wretched’).

commiseration /kəˌmizəˈrāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others; compassion

• the other actors offered him clumsy commiseration.

2. (commiserations) — expressions of sympathy and sorrow for another

• our commiserations to those who didn't win.

commish /kəˈmiSH/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› short for commissioner.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› short for commission:

• out of commish.

commissaire /ˌkäməˈser/

I. noun

1. a senior police officer in France.

2. an official at a bicycle race or other sporting event.

– origin mid 18th cent.: French.

commissar /ˈkäməˌsär/

I. noun

1. an official of the Communist Party, especially in the former Soviet Union or present-day China, responsible for political education and organization.

2. a head of a government department in the former Soviet Union before 1946.

3. a strict or prescriptive figure of authority

• our academic commissars.

– origin early 20th cent. (Russian Revolution): from Russian komissar, from French commissaire, from medieval Latin commissarius (see commissary).

commissariat /ˌkäməˈserēət/

I. noun

1. [chiefly Military] a department for the supply of food and equipment.

2. a government department of the Soviet Union before 1946.

– origin late 16th cent. (as a Scots legal term denoting the jurisdiction of a commissary, often spelled commissariot): from French commissariat, reinforced by medieval Latin commissariatus, both from medieval Latin commissarius ‘person in charge,’ from Latin committere ‘entrust.’

commissary /ˈkäməˌserē/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a restaurant in a movie studio, military base, prison, or other institution.

2. a deputy or delegate.

II. derivatives

commissarial /ˌkäməˈserēəl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin commissarius ‘person in charge,’ from Latin commiss- ‘joined, entrusted,’ from the verb committere (see commit).

commission /kəˈmiSHən / comm.

I. noun

1. an instruction, command, or duty given to a person or group of people

• his commission to redesign the building

• he received a commission to act as an informer.

2. an order for something, especially a work of art, to be produced

• Mozart at last received a commission to write an opera.

3. a work produced in response to a commission.

4. ‹archaic› the authority to perform a task or certain duties.

5. a group of people officially charged with a particular function

• the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

6. an amount of money, typically a set percentage of the value involved, paid to an agent in a commercial transaction

• foreign banks may charge a commission

• he sold cosmetics on commission.

7. a warrant conferring the rank of officer in an army, navy, or air force

• he has resigned his commission.

8. the action of committing a crime or offense

• use of a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. give an order for or authorize the production of (something such as a building, piece of equipment, or work of art).

2. order or authorize (a person or organization) to do or produce something

• they commissioned an architect to manage the building project.

3. bring (something newly produced, such as a factory or machine) into working condition

• we had a few hiccups getting the heating equipment commissioned.

4. bring (a warship) into readiness for active service

• the aircraft carrier Midway was commissioned in 1945.

5. appoint (someone) to the rank of officer in the armed services

• he was commissioned after attending midshipman school

• (as adj. commissioned) a commissioned officer.

III. phrases

1. in commission

(of a ship, vehicle, machine, etc.) in use or in service.

2. out of commission

a. not in service; not in working order.

b. (of a person) unable to work or function normally, especially through illness or injury.

IV. derivatives

commissionable

adjective

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin commissio(n-), from committere ‘entrust’ (see commit).

commissionaire /kəˌmiSHəˈner/

I. noun

(chiefly Brit.) a uniformed door attendant at a hotel, theater, or other building.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, from medieval Latin commissarius ‘person in charge,’ from Latin committere ‘entrust’ (see commit).

commissioner /kəˈmiSH(ə)nər / comm.

I. noun

1. a person appointed to a role on or by a commission

• the traffic commissioner

• the New York State Health Commissioner.

2. (N. Amer.) a person appointed to regulate a particular sport

• the baseball commissioner.

3. a representative of the supreme authority in an area.

II. derivatives

commissionership /kəˈmiSH(ə)nərSHip /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin commissionarius, from Latin commissio (see commission).

commissure /ˈkäməˌSHo͝or/

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] the joint between two bones.

2. [Anatomy] a band of nerve tissue connecting the hemispheres of the brain, the two sides of the spinal cord, etc.

3. [Anatomy] the line where the upper and lower lips or eyelids meet.

II. derivatives

commissural /kəˈmiSHo͝orəl ˌkäməˈSHo͝orəl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin commissura ‘junction,’ from committere ‘join’ (see commit).

commit /kəˈmit/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. carry out or perpetrate (a mistake, crime, or immoral act)

• he committed an uncharacteristic error.

2. pledge or bind (a person or an organization) to a certain course or policy

• they were reluctant to commit themselves to an opinion

• the treaty commits each party to defend the other

• try it out before you commit to a purchase.

3. pledge or set aside (resources) for future use

• manufacturers will have to commit substantial funds to developing new engines.

4. (be committed to) — be in a long-term emotional relationship with (someone).

5. (be committed to) — be dedicated to (something)

• we must be committed to peace.

6. send, entrust, or consign, in particular

7. consign (someone) officially to prison, especially on remand

• he was committed to prison for contempt of court.

8. send (a person or case) for trial.

9. send (someone) to be confined in a psychiatric hospital

• he had been committed for treatment.

10. (commit something to) — transfer something to (a state or place)

• he composed a letter but didn't commit it to paper

• she committed each tiny feature to memory

• committed to the flames.

11. refer (a legislative bill) to a committee.

II. derivatives

1. committable

adjective

2. committer

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin committere ‘join, entrust’ (in medieval Latin ‘put into custody’), from com- ‘with’ + mittere ‘put or send.’

commitment /kəˈmitmənt/

noun

1. the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc.

• the company's commitment to quality.

2. a pledge or undertaking

• I cannot make such a commitment at the moment.

3. (usu. commitments) — an engagement or obligation that restricts freedom of action

• business commitments

• young people delay major commitments including marriage and children.

commitment ceremony

noun

a ceremony to mark the spousal union of two people who are not legally allowed to marry, such as gay people.

commitment order

noun

an order authorizing the admission and detention of a patient in a psychiatric hospital.

committal /kəˈmidl/

noun

1. the action of sending a person to an institution, especially prison or a psychiatric hospital

• his committal to prison

• [as modifier] committal proceedings.

2. the burial of a corpse.

committed /kəˈmidəd/

adjective

feeling dedication and loyalty to a cause, activity, or job; wholeheartedly dedicated

• a committed reformer.

committee /kəˈmidē/

I. noun

1. [treated as sing. or pl.] — a group of people appointed for a specific function, typically consisting of members of a larger group

• the housing committee

• [as modifier] a committee meeting.

2. a group of people appointed by a legislature to consider the details of proposed legislation

• there was much scrutiny in committee.

3. /ˌkämiˈtē / — [Law] a person entrusted with the charge of another person or another person's property.

4. (chiefly US) a person who has been judicially committed to the charge of another because of insanity or mental disability.

– origin late 15th cent. (in the general sense ‘person to whom something has been entrusted’): from commit + -ee.

committeeman /kəˈmidēmən/

noun

(in the US) a local political party leader.

committee of the whole /kəˈmidē əv ə T͟Hē T͟H(ə) T͟Hē hōl/

the entire membership of a legislative body when sitting as a committee.

committeewoman /kəˈmidēˌwo͝omən/

noun

(in the US) a female local political party leader.

commix /kəˈmiks/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› mix; mingle

• beat them till they be thoroughly commixed.

II. derivatives

commixture /kəˈmiksCHər /

noun

– origin late Middle English (as the past participle commixt): from Latin commixtus, from com- ‘together with’ + mixtus ‘mixed.’

commo /ˈkämō/

noun

(US) ‹informal› communication, especially as a departmental function in an organization.

commode /kəˈmōd/

I. noun

1. a piece of furniture containing a concealed chamber pot.

2. (N. Amer.) a toilet.

3. (N. Amer.) ‹historical› a movable washstand.

4. a chest of drawers or chiffonier of a decorative type popular in the 18th century.

– origin mid 18th cent. (sense 2): from French, literally‘convenient, suitable,’ from Latin commodus. Sense 1 dates from the early 19th cent.

commodification /kəˌmädəfəˈkāSH(ə)n/

noun

the action or process of treating something as a mere commodity

• the commodification of knowledge.

commodify /kəˈmädəˌfī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. turn into or treat as a commodity
(as adj. commodified)

• art has become commodified.

– origin 1980s: from commodity + -fy.

commodious /kəˈmōdēəs/

I. adjective

1. ‹formal› (especially of furniture or a building) roomy and comfortable.

2. ‹archaic› convenient.

II. derivatives

1. commodiously

adverb

2. commodiousness

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘beneficial, useful’): from French commodieux or medieval Latin commodiosus, based on Latin commodus ‘convenient.’

commoditize /kəˈmädəˌtīz/

I. verb

another term for commodify.

II. derivatives

commoditization /kəˌmäditəˈzāSHən /

noun

commodity /kəˈmädədē/

I. noun

1. a raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought and sold, such as copper or coffee.

2. a useful or valuable thing, such as water or time.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French commodite or Latin commoditas, from commodus (see commodious).

commodore /ˈkäməˌdôr/

I. noun

1. a naval officer of high rank, in particular an officer in the US Navy or Coast Guard ranking above captain and below rear admiral.

2. the president of a yacht club.

3. the senior captain of a shipping line.

– origin late 17th cent.: probably from Dutch komandeur, from French commandeur ‘commander.’

common /ˈkämən/

I. adjective

1. occurring, found, or done often; prevalent

• salt and pepper are the two most common seasonings

• it's common for a woman to be depressed after giving birth.

2. (of an animal or plant) found or living in relatively large numbers; not rare.

3. ordinary; of ordinary qualities; without special rank or position

• the dwellings of common people

• a common soldier.

4. (of a quality) of a sort or level to be generally expected

• common decency.

5. of the most familiar type

• the common or vernacular name.

6. denoting the most widespread or typical species of an animal or plant

• the common blue spruce.

7. showing a lack of taste and refinement; vulgar.

8. shared by, coming from, or done by more than one

• the two republics' common border

• problems common to both communities.

9. belonging to, open to, or affecting the whole of a community or the public

• common land.

10. [Mathematics] belonging to two or more quantities.

11. [Grammar] (in Latin and certain other languages) of or denoting a gender of nouns that are conventionally regarded as masculine or feminine, contrasting with neuter.

12. (in English) denoting a noun that refers to individuals of either sex (e.g., teacher).

13. [Prosody] (of a syllable) able to be either short or long.

14. [Law] (of a crime) of relatively minor importance

• common assault.

II. noun

1. a piece of open land for public use, especially in a village or town.

2. (in the Christian Church) a form of service used for each of a group of occasions.

III. phrases

1. the common good

the benefit or interests of all

• it is time our elected officials stood up for the common good.

2. common ground

opinions or interests shared by each of two or more parties

• artists from different cultural backgrounds found common ground.

3. common knowledge

something known by most people.

4. common or garden

(Brit.) ‹informal› of the usual or ordinary type

• a yak is your basic common or garden cow, only bigger, hairier, and wilder.

5. common property

a. a thing or things held jointly.

b. something known by most people.

6. the common touch

the ability to get along with or appeal to ordinary people.

7. in common

a. in joint use or possession; shared

• car engines have nothing in common with aircraft engines.

b. of joint interest

• the two men had little in common.

See also tenancy in common.

8. in common with

in the same way as

• in common with other officers, I had to undertake guard duties.

IV. derivatives

commonness /ˈkämənˌnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French comun (adjective), from Latin communis.

commonable /ˈkämənəbəl/

I. adjective

1. (Brit.) ‹chiefly historical› (of land) allowed to be jointly used or owned.

2. (Brit.) ‹chiefly historical› (of an animal) allowed to be pastured on public land

• these Acts exclude the deer and commonable cattle.

– origin early 17th cent.: from obsolete common ‘to exercise right of common’ + -able.

commonage /ˈkämənij/

noun

1. (chiefly Brit.) the right of pasturing animals on common land.

2. land held in common.

3. the common people; the commonalty.

Common Agricultural Policy /ˈkämən ˌaɡrəˈkəlCH(ə)rəl ˈpäləsē / CAP

the system in the EU for establishing common prices for most agricultural products within the European Union, a single fund for price supports, and levies on imports.

commonality /ˌkämənˈalədē/

I. noun

1. the state of sharing features or attributes

• a commonality of interest ensures cooperation.

2. a shared feature or attribute

• we discern the commonalities between these writers.

3. (the commonality) — another term for commonalty.

– origin late Middle English (in sense 2: variant of commonalty. Sense 1 dates from the mid 16th cent., but was rarely used before the 1950s.

commonalty /ˈkämən(ə)ltē/

I. noun — (treated as pl. the commonalty)

1. ‹chiefly historical› people without special rank or position; common people

• a petition by the earls, barons, and commonalty of the realm.

2. ‹chiefly historical› the general body of a group.

– origin Middle English: from Old French comunalte, from medieval Latin communalitas, from Latin communis ‘common, general’ (see common).

common carrier /ˈkämən ˈˌkerēər/

noun

1. a person or company that transports goods or passengers on regular routes at set rates.

2. (N. Amer.) a company providing public telecommunications facilities.

common chord /ˈkämən kô(ə)rd/

noun

[Music] a triad containing a root, a major or minor third, and a perfect fifth.

common cold /ˈkämən kōld/

noun — (the common cold)

1. another term for cold (sense 2 of the noun).

common council

noun

a town or city council in some parts of the US and Canada, and in London.

common denominator

noun

1. [Mathematics] a shared multiple of the denominators of several fractions.
See also lowest common denominator.

2. [Mathematics] a feature shared by all members of a group

• the common denominator for the fevers was the bite of a tick.

common divisor

noun

[Mathematics] a number that can be divided into all of the other numbers of a given set without any remainder. Also called common factor.

commoner /ˈkämənər/

I. noun

1. an ordinary person, without rank or title.

2. a person who has the right of common (commonage).

3. (at some British universities) an undergraduate who does not have a scholarship.

– origin Middle English (denoting a citizen or burgess): from medieval Latin communarius, from communa, communia ‘community,’ based on Latin communis (see common).

Common Era

noun — (the Common Era)

1. another term for Christian era.

common fraction

noun

a fraction expressed by a numerator and a denominator, not decimally.

common gender

noun

1. the gender of those nouns in English that are not limited to either sex, such as cousin or spouse.

2. in some languages, such as Latin, the gender of those nouns that may be either masculine or feminine but not neuter.

3. in some languages, such as modern Danish, the gender of those nouns derived from the earlier masculine and feminine genders that do not belong to the neuter gender.

common law /ˈkämən ˈˌlô/

noun

1. the part of English law that is derived from custom and judicial precedent rather than statutes. Often contrasted with statutory law.

2. the body of English law as adopted and modified separately by the different states of the US and by the federal government.
Compare with civil law.

3. [as modifier] — denoting a partner in a marriage by common law (which recognized unions created by mutual agreement and public behavior), not by a civil or ecclesiastical ceremony

• a common-law husband.

4. [as modifier] — denoting a partner in a long-term relationship of cohabitation.

common logarithm

noun

a logarithm to the base 10.

commonly /ˈkämənlē/

adverb

very often; frequently

• BSE, commonly called mad cow disease

• a commonly used industrial chemical.

common market /ˈkämən ˈmärkət/

noun

1. a group of countries imposing few or no duties on trade with one another and a common tariff on trade with other countries.

2. (the Common Market) — a name for the European Economic Community or European Union, used especially in the 1960s and 1970s.

common meter common measure, CM

noun

a metrical pattern for hymns in which the stanzas have four lines containing eight and six syllables alternately rhyming abcb or abab.

common multiple

noun

[Mathematics] a number into which each number in a given set may be evenly divided.

common noun /ˈkämən noun/

noun

[Grammar] a noun denoting a class of objects or a concept as opposed to a particular individual.
Often contrasted with proper noun.

commonplace /ˈkämənˌplās/

I. adjective

1. not unusual; ordinary

• unemployment was commonplace in his profession.

2. not interesting or original; trite

• the usual commonplace remarks.

II. noun

1. a usual or ordinary thing

• bombing has become almost a commonplace of public life there.

2. a trite saying or topic; a platitude

• it is a commonplace to talk of the young being alienated.

3. a notable quotation copied into a commonplace book.

III. derivatives

commonplaceness /ˈkämənˌplāsnəs /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (originally common place): translation of Latin locus communis, rendering Greek koinos topos ‘general theme.’

commonplace book /ˈkämənˌplās ˌbo͝ok/

noun

a book into which notable extracts from other works are copied for personal use.

Common Pleas ‹Law› Court of Common Pleas

(in some jurisdictions) a court for hearing civil cases between citizens.

common porpoise

noun

another term for harbor porpoise.

Common Prayer

the liturgy of the Anglican Communion, originally set forth in the Book of Common Prayer of Edward VI (1549).

common rat

noun

another term for brown rat.

common room

noun

a room in a school, college, or other institution for use of students or staff outside teaching hours.

commons /ˈkämənz/

I. plural noun

1. (US) a dining hall in a residential school or college.

2. [treated as sing.] — land or resources belonging to or affecting the whole of a community.

3. (the Commons) — short for House of Commons.

4. ‹historical› the common people regarded as a part of a political system, especially in Britain.

5. ‹archaic› provisions shared in common; rations.

II. phrases

short commons

‹archaic› insufficient allocation of food

• for two weeks we have been on short commons.

– origin Middle English: plural of common.

common sense /ˌkämən ˈsens/

I. noun

good sense and sound judgment in practical matters

• use your common sense

• [as modifier] a common-sense approach.

II. derivatives

commonsensical /ˈˌkämənˈˌsensəkəl /

adjective

common stock /ˈkämən ˌstäk/

plural noun

(N. Amer.) shares entitling their holder to dividends that vary in amount and may even be missed, depending on the fortunes of the company

• the company announced a public offering of 3.5 million shares of common stock.

Compare with preferred stock.

common time /ˈkämən tīm/

noun

[Music] a rhythmic pattern in which there are four beats, especially four quarter notes, in a measure. This pattern occurs often in classical music and is the norm in rock, jazz, country, and bluegrass.

commonweal /ˈkämənˌwēl/

noun — (the commonweal)

1. the welfare of the public.

commonwealth /ˈkämənˌwelTH/

I. noun

1. an independent country or community, especially a democratic republic.

2. an aggregate or grouping of countries or other bodies.

3. a community or organization of shared interests in a nonpolitical field

• the Christian commonwealth

• the commonwealth of letters.

4. a self-governing unit voluntarily grouped with the US, such as Puerto Rico.

5. a formal title of some of the states of the US, especially Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

6. the title of the federated Australian states.

7. (the Commonwealth) — the republican period of government in Britain between the execution of Charles I in 1649 and the Restoration of Charles II in 1660.

8. (the Commonwealth) (in full the Commonwealth of Nations) — an international association consisting of the UK together with states that were previously part of the British Empire, and dependencies. The British monarch is the symbolic head of the Commonwealth.

9. (the commonwealth) — ‹archaic› the general good.

– origin late Middle English (originally as two words, denoting public welfare; compare with commonweal): from common + wealth.

Commonwealth Games /ˈkämənˌwelTH ɡāmz / ‹trademark›

an amateur sports competition held every four years between member countries of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Commonwealth of Independent States /ˈkämənˌwelTH əv ə ˌindəˈpendənt stāts / CIS

a confederation of independent states that were formerly constituent republics of the Soviet Union, established in 1991. Member states are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Turkmenistan and Ukraine are associate members.

Common Worship

noun

a book containing the public liturgy of the Church of England, published in 2000 to replace the Alternative Service Book.

commotion /kəˈmōSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a state of confused and noisy disturbance

• she was distracted by a commotion across the street

• figure out what all the commotion is about.

2. civil insurrection

• damage caused by civil commotion.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin commotio(n-), from com- ‘altogether’ + motio (see motion).

commove /kəˈmo͞ov/

verb — [with obj.]

1. move violently; agitate or excite.

communal /kəˈmyo͞on(ə)l ˈkämyənəl/

I. adjective

1. shared by all members of a community; for common use

• a communal bathroom and kitchen.

2. of, relating to, or done by a community

• communal achievement.

3. involving the sharing of work and property

• communal living.

4. (of conflict) between different communities, especially those having different religions or ethnic origins

• violent communal riots.

II. derivatives

1. communality /ˌkämyəˈnalitē /

noun

2. communally /kəˈmyo͞on(ə)lē ˈkämyənəlē /

adverb

– origin early 19th cent. (in the sense ‘relating to a commune, esp. the Paris Commune’): from French, from late Latin communalis, from communis (see common).

communalism /kəˈmyo͞onlˌizəm ˈkäːmyənəlizəm/

I. noun

1. a principle of political organization based on federated communes.

2. the principle or practice of living together and sharing possessions and responsibilities.

3. allegiance to one's own ethnic group rather than to the wider society.

II. derivatives

1. communalist /kəˈmyo͞on(ə)ləst ˈkämyənəlist /

adjective, noun

2. communalistic /kəˌmyo͞onlˈistik /

adjective

communalize /kəˈmyo͞onlˌīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹rare› organize (something) on the basis of shared ownership

• attempts to communalize farming.

II. derivatives

communalization /kəˌmyo͞onl-əˈzāSHən /

noun

communard /ˈkämyəˌnärd/

I. noun

1. a member of a commune.

2. (Communard) — ‹historical› a supporter of the Paris Commune.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French, from commune^1.

commune^1 /ˈkämyo͞on/

I. noun

1. a group of people living together and sharing possessions and responsibilities.

2. a communal settlement in a communist country.

3. the smallest French territorial division for administrative purposes.

4. a territorial division similar to a French commune in other countries.

5. (the Commune) — the group that seized the municipal government of Paris in the French Revolution and played a leading part in the Reign of Terror until suppressed in 1794.

6. (also the Paris Commune) — the municipal government organized on communalistic principles elected in Paris in 1871. It was soon brutally suppressed by government troops.

– origin late 17th cent. (sense 2): from French, from medieval Latin communia, neuter plural of Latin communis (see common).

commune^2 /kəˈmyo͞on/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (commune with) — share one's intimate thoughts or feelings with (someone or something), especially when the exchange is on a spiritual level

• the purpose of praying is to commune with God.

2. feel in close spiritual contact with

• he spent an hour communing with nature on the bank of a stream.

3. receive Holy Communion.

– origin Middle English: from Old French comuner ‘to share,’ from comun (see common).

communicable /kəˈmyo͞onəkəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. able to be communicated to others

• the value of the product must be communicable to the potential consumers.

2. (of a disease) able to be transmitted from one sufferer to another; contagious or infectious.

II. derivatives

1. communicability /kəˌmyo͞onəkəˈbilədē /

noun

2. communicably /-blē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘communicating, having communication’): from Old French, from late Latin communicabilis, from the verb communicare ‘to share’ (see communicate).

communicant /kəˈmyo͞onəkənt/

I. noun

1. [Christian Church] a person who receives Holy Communion.

2. ‹archaic› a person who imparts information.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin communicant- ‘sharing,’ from the verb communicare (see communicate).

communicate /kəˈmyo͞onəˌkāt/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — share or exchange information, news, or ideas

• the prisoner was forbidden to communicate with his family.

2. [with obj.] — impart or pass on (information, news, or ideas)

• he communicated his findings to the inspector.

3. [with obj.] — convey or transmit (an emotion or feeling) in a nonverbal way

• the ability of good teachers to communicate their own enthusiasm

• his sudden fear communicated itself.

4. succeed in conveying one's ideas or in evoking understanding in others

• a politician must have the ability to communicate.

5. (of two people) be able to share and understand each other's thoughts and feelings.

6. [with obj.] (usu. be communicated) — pass on (an infectious disease) to another person or animal.

7. [with obj.] — transmit (heat or motion)

• the heat is communicated through a small brass grating.

8. (often as adj. communicating) — (of two rooms) have a common connecting door

• he went into the communicating room to pick up the phone.

9. [no obj.] — [Christian Church] receive Holy Communion.

– origin early 16th cent.: from Latin communicat- ‘shared,’ from the verb communicare, from communis (see common).

communication /kəˌmyo͞onəˈkāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the imparting or exchanging of information or news

• direct communication between the two countries will produce greater understanding

• at the moment I am in communication with London.

2. a letter or message containing information or news.

3. the successful conveying or sharing of ideas and feelings

• there was a lack of communication between Pamela and her parents.

4. social contact

• she gave him some hope of her return, or at least of their future communication.

5. (communications) — means of connection between people or places, in particular

6. the means of sending or receiving information, such as telephone lines or computers

• satellite communications

• [as modifier] a communications network.

7. the means of traveling or of transporting goods, such as roads or railroads

• a city providing excellent road and rail communications.

8. [treated as sing.] — the field of study concerned with the transmission of information by various means.

II. phrases

lines of communication

a. the connections between an army in the field and its bases.

b. any system for communicating information or ideas

• bureaucracies are characterized by established lines of communication.

III. derivatives

communicational /-ˈkāSHənl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French comunicacion, from Latin communicatio(n-), from the verb communicare ‘to share’ (see communicate).

communications satellite /kəˌmyo͞onəˈkāSHənz ˈsadlˌīt / communication satellite

noun

a satellite placed in orbit around the earth in order to relay television, radio, and telephone signals.

communication theory communications theory

noun

the branch of knowledge dealing with the principles and methods by which information is conveyed.

communicative /kəˈmyo͞onəˌkādiv kəˈmyo͞onikədiv/

I. adjective

1. ready to talk or impart information

• the patient was alert and communicative.

2. relating to the conveyance or exchange of information

• the communicative process in literary texts.

II. derivatives

communicatively

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin communicativus, from communicat- ‘shared,’ from the verb communicare (see communicate).

communicativeness /kəˈmyo͞onəˌkādivnəs kəˈmyo͞onəkədivnəs/

noun

the quality of being willing, eager, or able to talk or impart information

• his questions encouraged her communicativeness.

communicator /kəˈmyo͞onikādər/

I. noun

1. [usu. with adj.] — a person who is able to convey or exchange information, news, or ideas, especially one who is eloquent or skilled

• a gifted communicator

• his successor was a less effective communicator.

2. an apparatus used to exchange information between individuals, ships, planes, etc.

• it'll send a signal to your hand-held communicator.

II. derivatives

communicatory

adjective

communion /kəˈmyo͞onyən/

I. noun

1. the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially when the exchange is on a mental or spiritual level

• in this churchyard communion with the dead was almost palpable.

2. common participation in a mental or emotional experience

• popular festivals where all take part in joyous communion.

3. (often Communion or Holy Communion) — the service of Christian worship at which bread and wine are consecrated and shared.
See Eucharist.

4. the consecrated bread and wine so administered and received

• the priests gave him Holy Communion.

5. a relationship of recognition and acceptance between Christian churches or denominations, or between individual Christians or Christian communities and a church (signified by a willingness to give or receive the Eucharist)

• the Eastern Churches are not in communion with Rome.

6. a group of Christian communities or churches that recognize one another's ministries or that of a central authority.
See also Anglican Communion.

II. phrases

make one's communion

receive bread and wine that has been consecrated at a Eucharist, as a sacramental, spiritual, or symbolic act of receiving the presence of Christ.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin communio(n-), from communis (see common).

communion of saints

noun — [in sing.]

1. a fellowship between Christians living and dead.

communiqué /kəˌmyo͞onəˈkā kəˈmyo͞onəˌkā / communique

I. noun

an official announcement or statement, especially one made to the media.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, past participle of communiquer ‘communicate.’

communism /ˈkämyəˌnizəm / Communism

I. noun

a political theory derived from Karl Marx, advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs.
See also Marxism. The most familiar form of communism is that established by the Bolsheviks after the Russian Revolution of 1917, and it has generally been understood in terms of the system practiced by the former Soviet Union and its allies in eastern Europe, in China since 1949, and in some developing countries such as Cuba, Vietnam, and North Korea. Communism embraced a revolutionary ideology in which the state would wither away after the overthrow of the capitalist system. In practice, however, the state grew to control all aspects of communist society. Communism in eastern Europe collapsed in the late 1980s and early 1990s against a background of failure to meet people's economic expectations, a shift to more democracy in political life, and increasing nationalism such as that which led to the breakup of the Soviet Union.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French communisme, from commun (see common).

Communism Peak

former name (1962–98) for Ismail Samani Peak.

communist /ˈkämyənəst/

I. noun

a person who supports or believes in the principles of communism

• I was very left-wing, but I was never a communist.

II. adjective

adhering to or based on the principles of communism

• a French communist writer.

III. derivatives

communistic /ˌkämyəˈnistik /

adjective

communitarianism /kəˌmyo͞oniˈterēəˌnizəm/

I. noun

1. a theory or system of social organization based on small self-governing communities.

2. an ideology that emphasizes the responsibility of the individual to the community and the social importance of the family unit.

II. derivatives

communitarian

adjective, noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from community + -arian, on the pattern of words such as unitarian.

community /kəˈmyo͞onədē/

I. noun

1. a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common

• Rhode Island's Japanese community

• the scientific community.

2. a group of people living together in one place, especially one practicing common ownership

• a community of nuns.

3. a particular area or place considered together with its inhabitants

• a rural community.

4. a body of nations or states unified by common interests
[in names]

• the European Community

• the African Economic Community.

5. (the community) — the people of a district or country considered collectively, especially in the context of social values and responsibilities; society

• preparing prisoners for life back in the community.

6. [as modifier] — denoting a worker or resource designed to serve the people of a particular area

• community health services.

7. a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals

• the sense of community that organized religion can provide.

8. [in sing.] — a similarity or identity

• writers who shared a community of interests.

9. joint ownership or liability

• a commitment to the community of goods.

10. [Ecology] a group of interdependent organisms of different species growing or living together in a specified habitat

• communities of insectivorous birds.

II. phrases

the international community

the countries of the world considered collectively.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French comunete, reinforced by its source, Latin communitas, from communis (see common).

community antenna television CATV

noun

another term for cable television.

community architect

I. noun

an architect working in consultation with local inhabitants in designing housing and other amenities.

II. derivatives

community architecture

noun

community bank

noun

a commercial bank that derives funds from and lends to the community where it operates, and is not affiliated with a multibank holding company.

community center /kəˈmyo͞onədē ˈsen(t)ər/

noun

a place where people from a particular community can meet for social, educational, or recreational activities.

community chest /kəˈmyo͞onədē CHest/

noun

a fund for charitable activities among the people in a particular area.

community college /kəˈmyo͞onədē ˈkälij/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a nonresidential junior college offering courses to people living in a particular area.

community-minded

adjective

interested in helping the wider community; socially concerned

• community-minded businesses

• residents need to be community-minded and look out for each other.

community organizer

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a person whose job is to coordinate cooperative efforts and campaigning carried out by local residents to promote the interests of their community

• he was the chief community organizer mobilizing residents against the destruction of the Oak Ridges Moraine.

community organizing

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) the coordination of cooperative efforts and campaigning carried out by local residents to promote the interests of their community

• public school parents are now empowered to transform their child's failing school through community organizing.

community policing

noun

the system of allocating police officers to particular areas so that they become familiar with the local inhabitants.

community property /kəˈmyo͞onədē ˈpräpərdē/

noun

property owned jointly by a married couple.

community service /kəˈmyo͞onədē ˈsərvəs/

noun

1. voluntary work intended to help people in a particular area.

2. [Law] unpaid work, intended to be of social use, that an offender is required to do instead of going to prison

• sentenced to 600 hours of community service.

community-supported agriculture ‹chiefly Canadian› community-shared agriculture

noun

a system in which a farm operation is supported by shareholders within the community who share both the benefits and risks of food production.

communiversity /kəˌmyo͞onəˈvərsədē/

I. noun

an organization representing a liaison between a college or university and the community where it is located
[as modifier]

• a communiversity theater.

– origin 1990s: blend of community and university.

communize /ˈkämyəˌnīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (a country, people, or economic activity) to be organized on the principles of communism.

II. derivatives

communization /ˌkämyənəˈzāSHən /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin communis (see common) + -ize.

commutable /kəˈmyo͞odəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. (of a place or journey) allowing regular commuting to and from work.

2. ‹rare› capable of being exchanged or converted.

II. derivatives

commutability /kəˌmyo͞odəˈbilədē /

noun

commutate /ˈkämyəˌtāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. regulate or reverse the direction of (an alternating electric current), especially to make it a direct current.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin commutat- ‘changed altogether, exchanged, interchanged,’ from the verb commutare (see commute).

commutation /ˌkämyəˈtāSHən/

I. noun

1. action or the process of commuting a judicial sentence.

2. the conversion of a legal obligation or entitlement into another form, e.g., the replacement of an annuity or series of payments by a single payment.

3. the process of commutating an electric current.

4. [Mathematics] the property of having a commutative relation.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘exchange, barter,’ later ‘alteration’): from Latin commutatio(n-), from commutare ‘exchange, interchange’ (see commute). Sense 1 dates from the late 16th cent.

commutation ticket

noun

a ticket issued at a reduced rate by a railroad or bus company, entitling the holder to travel a given route a fixed number of times or during a specified period.

commutative /ˈkämyəˌtādiv kəˈmyo͞odədiv/

I. adjective

1. [Mathematics] involving the condition that a group of quantities connected by operators gives the same result whatever the order of the quantities involved, e.g., a × b = b × a.

2. [Mathematics] ‹rare› relating to or involving substitution or exchange.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘relating to transactions between people’): from French commutatif, -ive or medieval Latin commutativus, from commutat- ‘exchanged,’ from the verb commutare (see commute).

commutator /ˈkämyəˌtādər/

noun

1. an attachment, connected to the armature of a motor or generator, through which electrical connection is made and which ensures that the current flows as direct current.

2. a device for reversing the direction of flow of electric current.

commute /kəˈmyo͞ot/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — travel some distance between one's home and place of work on a regular basis

• she commuted from Westport in to Grand Central Station.

2. [with obj.] — reduce (a judicial sentence, especially a sentence of death) to one less severe

• the governor recently commuted the sentences of dozens of women convicted of killing their husbands.

3. (commute something for/into) — change one kind of payment or obligation for (another).

4. replace (an annuity or other series of payments) with a single payment

• if he had commuted some of his pension, he would have received $330,000.

5. [no obj.] — [Mathematics] (of two operations or quantities) have a commutative relationship.

II. noun

a regular journey of some distance to and from one's place of work.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘interchange (two things)’): from Latin commutare, from com- ‘altogether’ + mutare ‘to change.’ Sense 1 of the verb originally meant to buy and use a commutation ticket, a dated term for ‘a season ticket’ (because the daily fare is commuted to a single payment).

commuter /kəˈmyo͞odər/

noun

a person who travels some distance to work on a regular basis.

• the company provides showers and lockers for bicycle commuters.

commuter belt /kəˈmyo͞odər belt/

noun

the area surrounding a city from which a large number of people travel to work each day.

Como, Lake /ˈkōmō/

a lake in the foothills of the Alps in northern Italy.

Comodoro Rivadavia /ˌkōmōˌdôrō ˌrēväˈdävēə/

a port in southeastern Argentina, on the Atlantic coast of Patagonia; pop. 142,800 (est. 2005).

comonomer /kōˈmänəmər/

noun

[Chemistry] one of the monomers that constitutes a copolymer.

comorbidity /ˌkōmôrˈbidədē/

I. noun

the simultaneous presence of two chronic diseases or conditions in a patient

• the comorbidity of anxiety and depression in Parkinson's disease.

II. derivatives

comorbid

adjective

Comoros /ˈkäməˌrōz/

I.
1. a country in Africa that consists of a group of islands in the Indian Ocean, north of Madagascar; pop. 752,400 (est. 2009); capital, Moroni; languages, French (official), Arabic (official), and Shikomore (a blend of Swahili and Arabic).

The islands were first visited by the English at the end of the 16th century. At that time and for long afterward, Arab influence was dominant. In the mid 19th century they came under French protection until 1974 when all but one of the four major islands voted for independence.

II. derivatives

Comoran /ˈkämərən, kəˈmôrən /

adjective, noun

comp /kämp / ‹informal›

I. noun

1. short for:

2. a composition.

3. (N. Amer.) a complimentary ticket or voucher.

4. (N. Amer.) compensation.

5. (also comp time) — compensatory time.

6. a musical accompaniment.

7. a comprehensive examination.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. play (music) as an accompaniment, especially in jazz or blues

• if someone is comping chord changes, there are more textured harmonies

• [no obj.] he comps with an open, jangly sound.

2. (N. Amer.) give (something) away free, especially as part of a promotion

• the management did graciously comp our wine selection.

3. short for composite.

III. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (N. Amer.) complimentary; free

• the average fan was unable to get comp press tickets.

2. (N. Amer.) short for compensatory.

comp.

abbreviation

1. companion.

2. comparative.

3. compensation.

4. compilation.

5. compiled.

6. compiler.

7. complete.

8. composite.

9. composition.

10. compositor.

11. comprehensive.

compact^1

I. adjective — /kəmˈpakt ˈkämˌpakt /

1. closely and neatly packed together; dense

• a compact cluster of houses.

2. having all the necessary components or features neatly fitted into a small space

• a compact car.

3. (of a person or animal) small, solid, and well-proportioned.

4. (of speech or writing) concise in expression

• a compact summary of the play.

5. [predic.] (compact of) — ‹archaic› composed or made up of

• towns compact of wooden houses.

II. verb — /kəmˈpakt / [with obj.]

1. exert force on (something) to make it more dense; compress

• the soil may be compacted by iron oxide

• (as adj. compacted) compacted paper waste.

2. [no obj.] — (of a substance) become compressed

• the snow hardened and compacted.

3. ‹archaic› form (something) by pressing its component parts firmly together.

4. express in fewer words; condense

• the ideas are compacted into two sentences.

III. noun — /ˈkämˌpakt /

1. a small flat case containing face powder, a mirror, and a powder puff.

2. something that is a small and conveniently shaped example of its kind, in particular

3. short for compact car.

4. [Metallurgy] a mass of powdered metal compacted together in preparation for sintering.

IV. derivatives

1. compaction /kəmˈpakSHən /

noun

2. compactly /kəmˈpak(t)lē ˈkämˌpak(t)lē /

adverb

3. compactness /kəmˈpak(t)nəs ˈkämˌpak(t)nəs /

noun

4. compactor /kəmˈpaktər ˈkämˌpaktər / compacter

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin compact- ‘closely put together, joined,’ from the verb compingere, from com- ‘together’ + pangere ‘fasten.’

compact^2

I. noun — /ˈkämˌpakt /

1. a formal agreement or contract between two or more parties.

II. verb — /ˈkämˌpakt / [with obj.]

1. make or enter into (a formal agreement) with another party or parties

• the Democratic Party compacted an alliance with dissident groups.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin compactum, past participle of compacisci, from com- ‘with’ + pacisci ‘make a covenant.’ Compare with pact.

compact car

noun

(N. Amer.) a medium-sized car.

compact disc /ˈˌkämpakt ˈdisk / compact disk, CD

noun

a small plastic disc on which music or other digital information is stored, and from which the information can be read using reflected laser light.
See also CD-ROM.

compact fluorescent light bulb

noun

a low-wattage energy-efficient fluorescent light bulb designed for use in standard lighting equipment such as table lamps.

compadre /kəmˈpädrā/

I. noun

‹informal› (chiefly US) a way of addressing or referring to a friend or companion.

– origin mid 19th cent.: Spanish, literally ‘godfather,’ hence‘benefactor, friend.’ Compare with compère and gossip.

compand /kəmˈpand/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. reduce the signal-to-noise ratio of (a signal) using a compander.

– origin 1950s: back-formation from compander.

compander /kəmˈpandər / compandor

I. noun

a device that improves the signal-to-noise ratio of an electrical signal by compressing the range of amplitudes of the signal before transmission, and then expanding it on reproduction or reception.

– origin 1930s: blend of compressor and expander (see expand).

companion^1 /kəmˈpanyən/

I. noun

1. a person or animal with whom one spends a lot of time or with whom one travels

• his traveling companion

• ‹figurative› fear became my constant companion.

2. a person who shares the experiences of another, especially when these are unpleasant or unwelcome

• my companions in misfortune.

3. a person's long-term sexual partner outside marriage.

4. a person, especially an unmarried or widowed woman, employed to live with and assist another.

5. [Astronomy] a star, galaxy, or other celestial object that is close to or associated with another.

6. one of a pair of things intended to complement or match each other
[as modifier]

• a companion volume.

7. [usu. in names] — a book that provides information about a particular subject

• the Oxford Companion to English Literature.

8. (Brit.) ‹dated› a piece of equipment containing objects used in a particular activity

• a traveler's companion.

9. (Companion) — a member of the lowest grade of certain orders of knighthood.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› accompany

• he is companioned by a pageboy.

– origin Middle English: from Old French compaignon, literally ‘one who breaks bread with another,’ based on Latin com- ‘together with’ + panis ‘bread.’

companion^2 /kəmˈpanyən/

I. noun

1. [Nautical] a covering over the hatchway leading below decks.

2. [Nautical] ‹archaic› a raised frame with windows on the quarterdeck of a ship to allow light into the decks below.

3. [Nautical] short for companionway.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from obsolete Dutch kompanje (earlier form of kampanje) ‘quarterdeck,’ from Old French compagne, from Italian (camera della) compagna ‘(storeroom for) provisions.’

companionable /kəmˈpanyənəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) friendly and sociable

• a companionable young man.

2. (of a shared situation) relaxed and pleasant

• they walked in companionable silence.

II. derivatives

1. companionability /kəmˌpanyənəˈˌbilətē /

noun

2. companionableness

noun

3. companionably /kəmˈpanyənəblē /

adverb

– origin early 17th cent.: alteration of obsolete companiable, influenced by companion^1.

companion animal

noun

a pet or other domestic animal.

companionate /kəmˈpanyənət/

adjective

1. ‹formal› (of a marriage or relationship) between partners or spouses as equal companions.

2. ‹formal› (of a person) acting as a companion.

companion planting

I. noun

the close planting of different plants that enhance each other's growth or protect each other from pests.

II. derivatives

companion plant

noun

companionship /kəmˈpanyənˌSHip/

noun

a feeling of fellowship or friendship.

companionway /kəmˈpanyənˌwā/

noun

a set of steps leading from a ship's deck down to a cabin or lower deck.

company /ˈkəmp(ə)nē/

I. noun

1. a commercial business

• a shipping company

• [in names] the Ford Motor Company

• [as modifier] a company director.

2. the fact or condition of being with another or others, especially in a way that provides friendship and enjoyment

• I could do with some company.

3. a person or people seen as a source of such friendship and enjoyment

• she is excellent company.

4. the person or group of people whose society someone is currently sharing

• he was silent among such distinguished company.

5. a visiting person or group of people

• I'm expecting company.

6. a number of individuals gathered together, especially for a particular purpose

• the mayor addressed the assembled company.

7. a body of soldiers, especially the smallest subdivision of an infantry battalion, typically commanded by a major or captain

• the troops of C Company.

8. a group of actors, singers, or dancers who perform together

• a touring opera company.

9. (the Company) — ‹informal› the Central Intelligence Agency.

II. verb — [no obj.] (company with)

1. ‹literary› associate with; keep company with

• these men which have companied with us all this time.

2. [with obj.] — ‹literary› ‹archaic› accompany (someone)

• the fair dame, companied by Statius and myself.

III. phrases

1. and company

a. used after a person's name to denote those people usually associated with them

• the psycholinguistics of Jacques Lacan and company.

b. used in the name of a business to denote other unspecified partners

• Little, Brown and Company.

2. be in good company

be in the same situation as someone important or respected

• if you spot the ghost, you are in good company: King George V saw it too.

3. in company

with another person or a group of people

• you were never to mention in company your father's uncle.

4. in company with

together with

• the U.S. dollar went through a bad patch in 1986, in company with the oil market.

5. keep someone company

a. accompany or spend time with someone in order to prevent them from feeling lonely or bored.

b. engage in the same activity as someone else in order to be sociable

• I'll have a drink myself, just to keep you company.

6. keep company with

a. associate with habitually

• we don't especially care for the people he's been keeping company with.

b. have a social or romantic relationship with; date

• are you keeping company with anyone special these days?

7. part company

see part.

– origin Middle English (in sense 2 of the noun and sense 3 of the noun): from Old French compainie; related to compaignon (see companion^1).

company car /ˈkəmp(ə)nē kär/

noun

a car provided by a company for the business and sometimes private use of an employee.

company officer /ˈkəmp(ə)nē ˈôfəsər ˈäfəsər/

noun

an army officer serving within an infantry company.

comparable /ˈkämp(ə)rəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. (of a person or thing) able to be likened to another; similar

• flaked stone and bone tools comparable to Neanderthal man's tools.

2. of equivalent quality; worthy of comparison

• nobody is comparable with this athlete.

II. derivatives

comparability /ˌkämp(ə)rəˈbilədē /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, from Latin comparabilis, from the verb comparare (see compare). / usage: The correct pronunciation in standard English is with the stress on the first syllable rather than the second: comparable, not comparable.

comparably /ˈkämpərəblē/

adverb

in a similar way or to a similar degree

• a comparably priced CD player.

comparatist /kəmˈperədəst/

I. noun

a person who carries out comparative study, especially of language or literature.

– origin 1930s: from comparative + -ist.

comparative /kəmˈperədiv/

I. adjective

1. perceptible by comparison; relative

• he returned to the comparative comfort of his own home.

2. of or involving comparison between two or more branches of science or subjects of study

• comparative religion.

3. [Grammar] (of an adjective or adverb) expressing a higher degree of a quality, but not the highest possible (e.g., braver; more fiercely).
Contrasted with positive, superlative.

4. (of a clause) involving comparison (e.g., their memory is not as good as it used to be).

II. noun

1. [Grammar] a comparative adjective or adverb.

2. (the comparative) — [Grammar] the middle degree of comparison.

– origin late Middle English (sense 3 of the adjective): from Latin comparativus, from comparare ‘to pair, match’ (see compare).

comparative advantage

noun

the ability of an individual or group to carry out a particular economic activity (such as making a specific product) more efficiently than another activity.

comparative linguistics

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the study of similarities and differences between languages, in particular the comparison of related languages with a view to reconstructing forms in their lost parent languages.

comparatively /kəmˈperədivlē/

adverb — [as submodifier]

1. to a moderate degree as compared to something else; relatively

• inflation was comparatively low.

comparator /kəmˈperədər/

I. noun

1. a device for comparing a measurable property or thing with a reference or standard.

2. an electronic circuit for comparing two electrical signals.

3. something used as a standard for comparison.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin comparat- ‘paired, matched,’ from the verb comparare (see compare) + -or^1.

compare /kəmˈper/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. estimate, measure, or note the similarity or dissimilarity between

• individual schools compared their facilities with those of others in the area

• the survey compares prices in different countries

• total attendance figures were 28,000, compared to 40,000 at last year's event.

2. (compare something to) — point out the resemblances to; liken to

• her novel was compared to the work of Daniel Defoe.

3. (compare something to) — draw an analogy between one thing and (another) for the purposes of explanation or clarification

• he compared the religions to different paths toward the peak of the same mountain.

4. [no obj.] — have a specified relationship with another thing or person in terms of nature or quality

• salaries compare favorably with those of other professions.

5. [no obj.] — be of an equal or similar nature or quality

• sales were modest and cannot compare with the glory days of 1989.

6. (usu. be compared) — [Grammar] form the comparative and superlative degrees of (an adjective or an adverb)

• words of one syllable are usually compared by “-er” and “-est.”

II. phrases

1. beyond (or without) compare

of a quality or nature surpassing all others of the same kind

• a diamond beyond compare.

2. compare notes

(of two or more people) exchange ideas, opinions, or information about a particular subject.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French comparer, from Latin comparare, from compar ‘like, equal,’ from com- ‘with’ + par ‘equal.’ / usage: Traditionally, compare to is used when similarities are noted in dissimilar things: shall I compare thee to a summer's day? To compare with is to look for either differences or similarities, usually in similar things: compare the candidate's claims with his actual performance. In practice, however, this distinction is rarely maintained. See also usage at contrast.

comparison /kəmˈperəsən/

I. noun

1. the act or instance of comparing

• they drew a comparison between Gandhi's teaching and that of other teachers

• the two books invite comparison with one another.

2. an analogy

• perhaps the best comparison is that of seasickness.

3. the quality of being similar or equivalent

• if you want a thrill, there's no comparison to climbing on a truck and going out there on the expressway.

4. [Grammar] the formation of the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives and adverbs.

II. phrases

1. bear (or stand) comparison

be of sufficient quality to be likened favorably to someone or something of the same kind

• it can stand comparison with any publishing house.

2. beyond comparison

another way of saying beyond compare (see compare).

3. by/in comparison

when compared

• computer-based communication is extremely fast in comparison with telephone or postal services.

– origin Middle English: from Old French comparesoun, from Latin comparatio(n-), from comparare ‘to pair, match’ (see compare).

comparison shopping

I. noun

the practice of comparing the price of products or services from different vendors before buying.

II. derivatives

1. comparison-shop

verb

2. comparison shopper

noun

compartment /kəmˈpärtmənt/

I. noun

1. a separate section or part of something, in particular

2. a division of a railroad car marked by partitions

• a first-class compartment.

3. a section of a container in which certain items can be kept separate from others

• there's some ice cream in the freezer compartment.

4. a watertight section of a ship

• the aft cargo compartment.

5. an area in which something can be considered in isolation from other things

• religion and politics should be kept in different compartments.

6. [Heraldry] a grassy mound or other support depicted below a shield.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be compartmented)

1. divide (something) into separate parts or sections

• the buildings are to be compartmented by fire walls.

III. derivatives

compartmentation /kəmˌpärtˌmenˈtāSHən, -mən- /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French compartiment, from Italian compartimento, from compartire, from late Latin compartiri ‘divide.’

compartmental /kəmˌpärtˈmen(t)l/

I. adjective

characterized by division into separate sections

• the compartmental interior of the church.

II. derivatives

compartmentally

adverb

compartmentalize /kəmˌpärtˈmen(t)lˌīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. divide into sections or categories

• he had the ability to compartmentalize his life.

II. derivatives

1. compartmentalism /-ˌizəm /

noun

2. compartmentalization /kəmˌpärtˌmen(t)ələˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

compartment syndrome

noun

[Medicine] a condition resulting from increased pressure within a confined body space, especially of the leg or forearm.

compass /ˈkəmpəs/

I. noun

1. (also magnetic compass) — an instrument containing a magnetized pointer that shows the direction of magnetic north and bearings from it.
The use of the compass for navigation at sea was reported from China c. 1100, western Europe 1187, Arabia c. 1220, and Scandinavia c. 1300, although it probably dates from much earlier. Since the early 20th century the magnetic compass has been superseded by the gyrocompass as primary equipment for ships and aircraft.

2. (also pair of compasses) — an instrument for drawing circles and arcs and measuring distances between points, consisting of two arms linked by a movable joint, one arm ending in a point and the other usually carrying a pencil or pen.

3. [in sing.] — the range or scope of something

• the event had political repercussions that are beyond the compass of this book.

4. the enclosing limits of an area

• this region had within its compass many types of agriculture.

5. the range of notes that can be produced by a voice or a musical instrument

• the cellos were playing in a rather somber part of their compass.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› go around (something) in a circular course

• the ship wherein Magellan compassed the world.

2. ‹archaic› surround or enclose on all sides

• they were compassed with numerous fierce and cruel tribes.

3. ‹archaic› contrive to accomplish (something)

• he compassed his end only by the exercise of violence.

– origin Middle English: from Old French compas (noun), compasser (verb), based on Latin com- ‘together’ + passus ‘a step or pace.’ Several senses (‘measure,’ ‘artifice,’ ‘circumscribed area,’ and ‘pair of compasses’) that appeared in Middle English are also found in Old French, but their development and origin are uncertain. The transference of sense to the magnetic compass is held to have occurred in the related Italian word compasso, from the circular shape of the compass box.

compass card /ˈkəmpəs kärd/

noun

a circular rotating card showing the 32 principal bearings, forming the indicator of a magnetic compass.

compassion /kəmˈpaSHən/

I. noun

sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others

• the victims should be treated with compassion.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from ecclesiastical Latin compassio(n-), from compati ‘suffer with.’

compassionate /kəmˈpaSHənət/

I. adjective

feeling or showing sympathy and concern for others.

II. derivatives

compassionately /kəmˈpaSH(ə)nətlē /

adverb

– origin late 16th cent.: from compassion + -ate^2, influenced by archaic French compassioné ‘feeling pity.’

compassionate leave /kəmˈpaSHənət lēv/

noun

a period of absence from work granted to someone as the result of particular personal circumstances, especially the death of a close relative.

compassion fatigue

noun

indifference to charitable appeals on behalf of those who are suffering, experienced as a result of the frequency or number of such appeals.

compass rose /ˈkəmpəs rōz/

noun

a circle showing the principal directions printed on a map or chart.

compass saw /ˈkəmpəs sô/

noun

a handsaw with a narrow blade for cutting curves.

compatibility /kəmˌpadəˈbilədē/

noun

1. a state in which two things are able to exist or occur together without problems or conflict

• he argues for the compatibility of science and religion.

2. a feeling of sympathy and friendship; like-mindedness

• they felt the bond of true compatibility.

3. [Computing] the ability of one computer, piece of software, etc., to work with another.

• software compatibility is another important factor to consider.

compatible /kəmˈpadəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. (of two things) able to exist or occur together without conflict

• the fruitiness of Beaujolais is compatible with a number of meat dishes.

2. (of two people) able to have a harmonious relationship: well-suited

• it's a pity we're not compatible.

3. (of one thing) consistent with another

• the symptoms were compatible with gastritis or a peptic ulcer.

4. (of a computer, a piece of software, or other device) able to be used with a specified piece of equipment or software without special adaptation or modification

• the printer is fully compatible with all leading software.

II. noun

a computer that can use software designed for another make or type.

III. derivatives

compatibly /-blē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from French, from medieval Latin compatibilis, from compati ‘suffer with.’

compatriot /kəmˈpātrēət/

I. noun

a fellow citizen or national of a country

• Stich defeated his compatriot Boris Becker in the quarterfinals.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French compatriote, from late Latin compatriota (translating Greek sumpatriōtēs), from com- ‘together with’ + patriota (see patriot).

compeer /ˈkämpēər/

I. noun

1. ‹formal› a person of equal rank, status, or ability

• he was better versed in his profession than his compeers.

2. ‹formal› ‹archaic› a companion or associate.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French comper, from com- ‘with’ + per, from Latin par ‘equal’ (compare with peer^2).

compel /kəmˈpel/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. force or oblige (someone) to do something
[with obj. and infinitive]

• a sense of duty compelled Harry to answer her questions.

2. bring about (something) by the use of force or pressure

• they may compel a witness's attendance at court by issue of a summons.

3. ‹literary› drive forcibly

• by heav'n's high will compell'd from shore to shore.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin compellere, from com- ‘together’ + pellere ‘drive.’

compellable /kəmˈpeləbəl/

adjective

[Law] (of a witness) able to be made to attend court or testify.

compelling /kəmˈpeliNG/

adjective

1. evoking interest, attention, or admiration in a powerfully irresistible way

• his eyes were strangely compelling

• a compelling film.

2. not able to be refuted; inspiring conviction

• compelling evidence

• a compelling argument.

3. not able to be resisted; overwhelming

• the temptation to give up was compelling.

compellingly /kəmˈpeliNGlē/

adverb

1. in a way that evokes interest, attention, or admiration in a powerfully irresistible way

• this book is beautifully illustrated and compellingly narrated

• compellingly honest paintings.

2. in a convincing way that is not easily refuted

• an ambitious, compellingly argued book

• this assumption has never been compellingly demonstrated.

compendious /kəmˈpendēəs/

I. adjective

‹formal› containing or presenting the essential facts of something in a comprehensive but concise way

• a compendious study.

II. derivatives

1. compendiously

adverb

2. compendiousness

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French compendieux, from Latin compendiosus ‘advantageous, brief,’ from compendium ‘profit, saving, abbreviation.’

compendium /kəmˈpendēəm/

I. noun

1. a collection of concise but detailed information about a particular subject, especially in a book or other publication.

2. a collection of things, especially one systematically gathered

• the program is a compendium of outtakes from our archives.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin,‘profit, saving’ (literally ‘what is weighed together’), from compendere, from com- ‘together’ + pendere ‘weigh.’

compensable /kəmˈpensəbəl/

I. adjective

(of a loss or hardship) for which compensation can be obtained.

– origin mid 17th cent.: French, from compenser, from Latin compensare ‘weigh (something) against (another).’

compensate /ˈkämpənˌsāt/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — give (someone) something, typically money, in recognition of loss, suffering, or injury incurred; recompense

• payments were made to farmers to compensate them for cuts in subsidies.

2. pay (someone) for work performed

• he will be richly compensated for his efforts.

3. [no obj.] (compensate for) — make up for (something unwelcome or unpleasant) by exerting an opposite force or effect

• officials have boosted levies to compensate for huge deficits.

4. act to neutralize or correct (a deficiency or abnormality in a physical property or effect)

• the output voltage rises, compensating for the original fall.

5. [Psychology] attempt to conceal or offset (a disability or frustration) by development in another direction

• they identified with radical movements to compensate for their inability to relate to individual human beings.

6. [with obj.] — [Mechanics] provide (a pendulum) with extra or less weight to neutralize the effects of temperature, etc.

II. derivatives

1. compensative /kəmˈpensədiv ˈkämp(ə)nˌsādiv /

adjective

2. compensator /ˈkämp(ə)nˌsādər /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘counterbalance’): from Latin compensat- ‘weighed against,’ from the verb compensare, from com- ‘together’ + pensare (frequentative of pendere ‘weigh’).

compensation /ˌkämpənˈsāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. something, typically money, awarded to someone as a recompense for loss, injury, or suffering

• seeking compensation for injuries suffered at work

• [as modifier] a compensation claim.

2. the action or process of awarding someone money as a recompense for loss, injury, or suffering

• the compensation of victims.

3. (chiefly N. Amer.) the money received by an employee from an employer as a salary or wages.

4. something that counterbalances or makes up for an undesirable or unwelcome state of affairs

• the gray streets of London were small compensation for the loss of her beloved Africa

• getting older has some compensations.

5. [Psychology] the process of concealing or offsetting a psychological difficulty by developing in another direction.

II. derivatives

compensational /-SHənl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin compensatio(n-), from the verb compensare ‘weigh against’ (see compensate).

compensation pendulum

noun

[Physics] a pendulum constructed from metals with differing coefficients of expansion in order to neutralize the effects of temperature variation.

compensatory /kəmˈpensəˌtôrē/

adjective

1. (of a payment) intended to recompense someone who has experienced loss, suffering, or injury

• $50 million in compensatory damages.

2. reducing or offsetting the unpleasant or unwelcome effects of something

• the government is taking compensatory actions to keep the interest rate constant.

compensatory time

noun

an arrangement by which eligible employees are entitled to time off in lieu of overtime pay.

compère /ˈkämˌper / ‹Brit.›

I. noun

a person who introduces the performers or contestants in a variety show; host.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. act as a compère for (such a show).

– origin early 20th cent.: French, literally ‘godfather.’

compete /kəmˈpēt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. strive to gain or win something by defeating or establishing superiority over others who are trying to do the same

• universities are competing for applicants

• he competed with a number of other candidates

• (as adj. competing) competing political ideologies.

2. take part in a contest

• he competed in numerous track meets as a child.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin competere, in its late sense ‘strive or contend for (something),’ from com- ‘together’ + petere ‘aim at, seek.’

competence /ˈkämpədəns / competency

noun

1. the ability to do something successfully or efficiently

• the players displayed varying degrees of competence.

2. the legal authority of a court or other body to deal with a particular matter

• the court's competence has been accepted.

3. the ability of a criminal defendant to stand trial, as gauged by their mental ability to understand the proceedings and to assist defense lawyers.

4. (also linguistic or language competence) — [Linguistics] a speaker's subconscious, intuitive knowledge of the rules of their language.
Often contrasted with performance.

5. [Biology] [Medicine] effective performance of the normal function.

6. ‹dated› an income large enough to live on, typically unearned

• he found himself with an ample competence and no obligations.

competent /ˈkämpədənt/

I. adjective

1. having the necessary ability, knowledge, or skill to do something successfully

• a highly competent surgeon

• make sure the firm is competent to carry out the work.

2. (of a person) efficient and capable

• an infinitely competent mother of three.

3. acceptable and satisfactory, though not outstanding

• she spoke quite competent French.

4. (chiefly of a court or other body) accepted as having legal authority to deal with a particular matter

• the governor was not the competent authority to deal with the matter.

5. (of a criminal defendant) able to understand the charges and to aid in defending themselves.

6. [Biology] [Medicine] capable of performing the normal function effectively.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘suitable, adequate’): from Latin competent-, from the verb competere in its earlier sense ‘be fit or proper’ (see compete).

competently /ˈkämpitən(t)lē/

adverb

1. in an efficient and capable way

• our government's ability to cope competently with disasters

• one of the most competently directed comedies in recent years.

2. in an acceptable and satisfactory, though not outstanding, way

• it's only competently sung and it's all but devoid of character.

competition /ˌkämpəˈtiSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the activity or condition of competing

• there is fierce competition between banks

• at this conservatory, competition for admissions is stiff.

2. an event or contest in which people compete

• a beauty competition.

3. [in sing.] — the person or people with whom one is competing, especially in a commercial or sporting arena; the opposition

• I walked around to check out the competition.

4. [Ecology] interaction between organisms, populations, or species, in which birth, growth and death depend on gaining a share of a limited environmental resource.

– origin early 17th cent.: from late Latin competitio(n-) ‘rivalry,’ from competere ‘strive for’ (see compete).

competitive /kəmˈpedədiv/

I. adjective

1. of, relating to, or characterized by competition

• a competitive sport

• the intensely competitive newspaper industry.

2. having or displaying a strong desire to be more successful than others

• she had a competitive streak.

3. as good as or better than others of a comparable nature

• a car industry competitive with any in the world.

4. (of prices) low enough to compare well with those of rival merchants

• we offer prompt service at competitive rates.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin competit- ‘striven for,’ from the verb competere (see compete), + -ive.

competitive advantage

noun

a condition or circumstance that puts a company in a favorable or superior business position

• expansion is vital to maintaining a competitive advantage.

competitive exclusion

noun

[Ecology] the inevitable elimination from a habitat of one of two different species with identical needs for resources.

competitively /kəmˈpedədəvlē/

adverb

1. in a way that strives to gain or win something by defeating others

• I began swimming competitively nearly 30 years ago

• they were clamouring competitively for her attention.

2. in a way that compares favorably with others of the same nature, particularly in relation to price

• we will have to do some outsourcing to stay competitively priced.

competitiveness /kəmˈpedidivnəs/

noun

1. possession of a strong desire to be more successful than others

• a lot of people get wrapped up in competitiveness and jealousy.

2. the quality of being as good as or better than others of a comparable nature

• the competitiveness of the agricultural sector.

3. the quality of comparing well with rival traders in terms of pricing

• shoppers are often pleasantly surprised by the competitiveness of the prices.

competitor /kəmˈpedədər/

noun

1. an organization or country that is engaged in commercial or economic competition with others

• our main industrial competitors.

2. a person who takes part in an athletic contest.

compilation /ˌkämpəˈlāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action or process of producing something, especially a list, book, or report, by assembling information collected from other sources

• great care has been taken in the compilation of this guidebook.

2. a thing, especially a book, record, or broadcast program, that is put together by assembling previously separate items

• there are thirty-three stories in this compilation

• [as modifier] a compilation album.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin compilatio(n-), from compilare ‘to plunder’ (see compile).

compile /kəmˈpīl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. produce (something, especially a list, report, or book) by assembling information collected from other sources

• the local authority must compile a list of taxpayers.

2. collect (information) in order to produce something

• the figures were compiled from a survey of 2,000 schoolchildren.

3. accumulate (a specified score)

• the 49ers have compiled a league-leading 14–2 record.

4. [Computing] (of a computer) convert (a program) into a machine-code or lower-level form in which the program can be executed.

– origin Middle English: from Old French compiler or its apparent source, Latin compilare ‘plunder or plagiarize.’

compiler /kəmˈpīlər/

noun

1. a person who produces a list or book by assembling information or written material collected from other sources

• this passage was revised in different ways by later compilers.

2. [Computing] a program that converts instructions into a machine-code or lower-level form so that they can be read and executed by a computer

• conversion would require more than just running it through a different compiler.

comping /ˈkämpiNG/

I. noun

1. the process of making composite images, especially electronically.

2. the action of playing a musical accompaniment, especially in jazz or blues.

3. (Brit.) ‹informal› the practice of entering competitions, especially those promoting consumer products.

II. derivatives

comper /ˈkämpər /

noun

( — (Brit.) comping (sense 3)

complacency /kəmˈplāsənsē / complacence

I. noun

a feeling of smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements

• the figures are better, but there are no grounds for complacency.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin complacentia, from Latin complacere ‘to please.’

complacent /kəmˈplās(ə)nt/

I. adjective

showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements

• you can't afford to be complacent about security.

II. derivatives

complacently /kəmˈplāsntlē /

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘pleasant’): from Latin complacent- ‘pleasing,’ from the verb complacere. / usage: Complacent and complaisant are two words that are similar in pronunciation and that both come from the Latin verb complacere ‘to please,’ but in English do not mean the same thing. Complacent is the more common word and means ‘smug and self-satisfied’: after four consecutive championships, the team became complacent. Complaisant, on the other hand, means ‘willing to please’: the local people proved complaisant and cordial.

complain /kəmˈplān/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — express dissatisfaction or annoyance about a state of affairs or an event

• local authorities complained that they lacked sufficient resources

• [no obj.] “You never listen to me,” Larry complained

• [no obj.] we all complained bitterly about the food.

2. [no obj.] (complain of) — state that one is suffering from (a pain or other symptom of illness)

• her husband began to complain of headaches.

3. [no obj.] — state a grievance

• they complained to the French government.

4. [no obj.] — ‹literary› make a mournful sound

• let the warbling flute complain.

5. [no obj.] — (of a structure or mechanism) groan or creak under strain.

II. derivatives

1. complainer /kəmˈplānər /

noun

2. complainingly

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Old French complaindre, from medieval Latin complangere ‘bewail,’ from com- (expressing intensive force) + plangere ‘to lament.’

complainant /kəmˈplānənt/

I. noun

[Law] a plaintiff in certain lawsuits.

– origin late Middle English: from French complaignant, present participle of complaindre ‘to lament’ (see complain).

complaint /kəmˈplānt/

I. noun

1. a statement that a situation is unsatisfactory or unacceptable

• I intend to make an official complaint

• there were complaints that the building was an eyesore.

2. a reason for dissatisfaction

• I have no complaints about the hotel.

3. the expression of dissatisfaction

• a letter of complaint

• he hasn't any cause for complaint.

4. [Law] the plaintiff's reasons for proceeding in a civil action.

5. an illness or medical condition, especially a relatively minor one

• she is receiving treatment for her skin complaint.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French complainte, feminine past participle of complaindre ‘to lament’ (see complain).

complaisant /kəmˈplāsənt/

I. adjective

willing to please others; obliging; agreeable

• when unharnessed, Northern dogs are peaceful and complaisant.

II. derivatives

1. complaisance /kəmˈplās(ə)ns /

noun

2. complaisantly

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: French, from complaire ‘acquiesce in order to please,’ from Latin complacere ‘to please.’ / usage: See usage at complacent.

compleat /kəmˈplēt/

adjective, verb

archaic spelling of complete.

complected /kəmˈplektəd/

I. adjective — [in combination]

1. (N. Amer.) having a specified complexion

• lighter-complected invaders from the north.

– origin early 19th cent.: apparently from complexion.

complement

I. noun — /ˈkämpləmənt /

1. a thing that completes or brings to perfection

• the libretto proved a perfect complement to the music.

2. [in sing.] — a number or quantity of something required to make a group complete

• at the moment we have a full complement of staff.

3. the number of people required to crew a ship

• almost half the ship's complement of 322 were wounded.

4. [Geometry] the amount in degrees by which a given angle is less than 90°.

5. [Mathematics] the members of a set that are not members of a given subset.

6. [Grammar] one or more words, phrases, or clauses governed by a verb (or by a nominalization or a predicative adjective) that complete the meaning of the predicate.

7. (in systemic grammar) an adjective or noun that has the same reference as either the subject (as mad in he is mad) or the object (as mad in he drove her mad).

8. [Physiology] a group of proteins present in blood plasma and tissue fluid that combine with an antigen–antibody complex to bring about the lysis of foreign cells.

II. verb — /ˈkämpləˌment / [with obj.]

1. add to (something) in a way that enhances or improves it; make perfect

• a classic blazer complements a look that's stylish or casual.

2. add to or make complete

• the proposals complement the incentives already available.

III. derivatives

complemental /ˌkämpləˈmentl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘completion’): from Latin complementum, from complere ‘fill up’ (see complete). Compare with compliment. / usage: Complement and compliment (together with related words such as complementary and complimentary) are frequently confused. They are pronounced in the same way but have quite different meanings: as a verb, complement means ‘add to something in a way that enhances or improves,’ as in a classic blazer complements a look that's smart or casual, while compliment means ‘admire and praise someone for something,’ as in he complimented her on her appearance. Complementary means ‘forming a complement or addition, completing,’ as in I purchased a suit with a complementary tie. This is often confused with complimentary, for which one sense is ‘given freely, as a courtesy’: honeymooners receive complimentary fruit and flowers.

complementarity /ˌkämpləmenˈterədē/

noun

1. a complementary relationship or situation

• a culture based on the complementarity of men and women.

2. [Physics] the concept that two contrasted theories, such as the wave and particle theories of light, may be able to explain a set of phenomena, although each separately only accounts for some aspects.

3. [Law] the principle that jurisdictions will not overlap in legislation, administration, or prosecution of crime.

complementary /ˌkämpləˈment(ə)rē/

I. adjective

1. combining in such a way as to enhance or emphasize the qualities of each other or another

• three guitarists playing interlocking, complementary parts

• Internet technology is actually complementary to traditional technologies.

2. [Biochemistry] (of gene sequences, nucleotides, etc.) related by the rules of base pairing.

3. [attrib.] — of or relating to complementary medicine

• complementary therapies such as aromatherapy.

II. derivatives

1. complementarily /ˌkämpləˈmentrəlē, -menˈterəlē /

adverb

2. complementariness

noun

complementary angle

noun

either of two angles whose sum is 90°.

complementary colors

plural noun

colors directly opposite each other in the color spectrum, such as red and green or blue and orange, that when combined in the right proportions, produce white light.

complementary distribution /ˌkämpləˈmen(t)ərē ˌkämpləˈmentrē ˌdistrəˈbyo͞oSHən/

noun

[Linguistics] the occurrence of speech sounds in mutually exclusive contexts.

complementary DNA

noun

[Biochemistry] synthetic DNA in which the sequence of bases is complementary to that of a given example of DNA.

complementary function

noun

[Mathematics] the part of the general solution of a linear differential equation that is the general solution of the associated homogeneous equation obtained by substituting zero for the terms not containing the dependent variable.

complementary medicine

noun

any of a range of medical therapies that fall beyond the scope of scientific medicine but may be used alongside it in the treatment of disease and ill health. Examples include acupuncture and osteopathy.
See also alternative medicine.

complementation /ˌkämpləmenˈtāSHən/

noun

1. the action of complementing something.

2. [Grammar] all the clause constituents that are governed by a verb, nominalization, or adjective.

3. [Genetics] the phenomenon by which the effects of two different nonallelic mutations in a gene are partly or entirely canceled out when they occur together.

complement fixation test

noun

[Medicine] a test for infection with a microorganism that involves measuring the amount of complement available in serum to bind with an antibody–antigen complex.

complementizer /ˈkämpləˌmenˌtīzər, -mən-/

noun

[Grammar] a word or morpheme that marks an embedded clause as functioning as a complement, typically a subordinating conjunction or infinitival to.

complete /kəmˈplēt/

I. adjective

1. having all the necessary or appropriate parts

• a complete list of courses offered by the college

• no wardrobe is complete this year without culottes.

2. entire; full

• I only managed one complete term at school.

3. having run its full course; finished

• the restoration of the chapel is complete.

4. (often used for emphasis) to the greatest extent or degree; total

• a complete ban on smoking

• their marriage came as a complete surprise to me.

5. (also compleat) — ‹chiefly humorous› skilled at every aspect of a particular activity; consummate

• these articles are for the compleat mathematician.

[the spelling compleat is a revival of the 17th cent. use as in Walton's The Compleat Angler.]

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. finish making or doing

• he completed his Ph.D. in 1983.

2. [Football] (especially of a quarterback) successfully throw (a forward pass) to a receiver

• he completed 12 of 16 passes for 128 yards.

3. [no obj.] — (Brit.) conclude the sale of a property.

4. make (something) whole or perfect

• he only needed one thing to complete his happiness

• more recent box cameras complete the collection.

5. write the required information on (a form or questionnaire)

• please complete the attached forms.

III. phrases

complete with

having something as an additional part or feature

• the detachable keyboard comes complete with numeric keypad.

IV. derivatives

completer

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French complet or Latin completus, past participle of complere ‘fill up, finish, fulfill,’ from com- (expressing intensive force) + plere ‘fill.’ / usage: On the use of adjectives like complete, equal, and unique with submodifiers such as very or more, see usage at unique.

complete game

noun

[Baseball] a game in which one pitcher pitches all innings without relief.

completely /kəmˈplētlē/

adverb

totally; utterly

• the fire completely destroyed the building

• [as submodifier] no code can be completely secure.

completeness /kəmˈplētnəs/

noun

the state or condition of having all the necessary or appropriate parts

• the completeness of the records

• for the sake of completeness, a brief update is included here.

completion /kəmˈplēSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action or process of finishing something

• funds for the completion of the new building.

2. the state of being finished

• work on the new golf course is nearing completion

• [as modifier] the completion date is early next year.

3. [Football] a successful forward pass

• 21 completions in 26 attempts for 233 yards.

4. [Law] the final stage in the sale of a property, at which point it legally changes ownership

• the risk stays with the seller until completion.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Latin completion-, from complere ‘fill up’ (see complete).

completist /kəmˈplēdist/

noun

an obsessive, typically indiscriminate, collector or fan of something.

completive /kəmˈplēdiv/

noun

[Grammar] a word or morpheme that adds a sense of completeness to a word or phrase (e.g., up in the phrase break up).

complex

I. adjective — /ˌkämˈpleks kəmˈpleks ˈkämˌpleks /

1. consisting of many different and connected parts

• a complex network of water channels.

2. not easy to analyze or understand; complicated or intricate

• a complex personality

• the situation is more complex than it appears.

3. [Mathematics] denoting or involving numbers or quantities containing both a real and an imaginary part.

4. [Chemistry] denoting an ion or molecule in which one or more groups are linked to a metal atom by coordinate bonds.

II. noun — /ˈkämpleks /

1. a group of similar buildings or facilities on the same site

• a new apartment complex

• a complex of hotels.

2. a group or system of different things that are linked in a close or complicated way; a network

• a complex of mountain roads.

3. [Psychoanalysis] a related group of emotionally significant ideas that are completely or partly repressed and that cause psychic conflict leading to abnormal mental states or behavior.

4. ‹informal› a disproportionate concern or anxiety about something

• there's no point having a complex about losing your hair.

5. [Chemistry] an ion or molecule in which one or more groups are linked to a metal atom by coordinate bonds.

6. any loosely bonded species formed by the association of two molecules

• cross-linked protein-DNA complexes.

III. verb — /ˈkämpleks / [with obj.] (usu. be complexed)

1. [Chemistry] make (an atom or compound) form a complex with another

• the DNA was complexed with the nuclear extract

• (as adj. complexed) the complexed metal ion.

IV. derivatives

1. complexation /kämˌplekˈsāSHən, kəm- /

noun

( — [Chemistry]

2. complexly

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘group of related elements’): from Latin complexus, past participle (used as a noun) of complectere ‘embrace, comprise,’ later associated with complexus ‘plaited’; the adjective is partly via French complexe.

complex conjugate

noun

[Mathematics] each of two complex numbers having their real parts identical and their imaginary parts of equal magnitude but opposite sign.

complexion /kəmˈplekSHən/

I. noun

1. the natural color, texture, and appearance of a person's skin, especially of the face

• an attractive girl with a pale complexion.

2. the general aspect or character of something

• Congress's new complexion became boldly apparent last summer

• wind, rain, and road construction have gradually changed Baja's complexion.

II. derivatives

complexioned /kəmˈplekSHənd /

adjective

[often in combination]

• they were both fair-complexioned

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin complexio(n-) ‘combination’ (in late Latin ‘physical constitution’), from complectere ‘embrace, comprise.’ The term originally denoted physical constitution or temperament determined by the combination of the four bodily humors, hence sense 1 (late 16th cent.) as a visible sign of this.

complexity /kəmˈpleksədē/

noun

1. the state or quality of being intricate or complicated

• an issue of great complexity.

2. (usu. complexities) — a factor involved in a complicated process or situation

• the complexities of family life.

complex plane

noun

an infinite two-dimensional space representing the set of complex numbers, especially one in which Cartesian coordinates represent the real and imaginary parts of the complex numbers.

complex sentence

noun

[Grammar] a sentence containing a subordinate clause or clauses.

compliance /kəmˈplīəns / compliancy

noun

1. the action or fact of complying with a wish or command

• they must secure each other's cooperation or compliance.

2. the state or fact of according with or meeting rules or standards

• all imports of timber are in compliance with regulations

• [as modifier] this paper estimates the compliance costs of such a policy change.

3. unworthy or excessive acquiescence

• the appalling compliance with government views shown by the commission.

4. [Physics] the property of a material of undergoing elastic deformation or (of a gas) change in volume when subjected to an applied force. It is equal to the reciprocal of stiffness.

5. [Medicine] the ability of an organ to distend in response to applied pressure.

compliant /kəmˈplīənt/

I. adjective

1. inclined to agree with others or obey rules, especially to an excessive degree; acquiescent

• good-humored, eagerly compliant girls.

2. meeting or in accordance with rules or standards

• the systems are Y2K compliant.

3. [Physics] [Medicine] having the property of compliance.

II. derivatives

compliantly

adverb

complicate /ˈkämpləˌkāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (something) more difficult or confusing by causing it to be more complex

• middlemen can complicate the process

• (as adj. complicating) a complicating factor.

2. [Medicine] introduce complications in (an existing condition)

• smoking may complicate pregnancy.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘combine, entangle, intertwine’): from Latin complicat- ‘folded together,’ from the verb complicare, from com- ‘together’ + plicare ‘to fold.’

complicated /ˈkämpləˌkādəd/

I. adjective

1. consisting of many interconnecting parts or elements; intricate

• a complicated stereo system.

2. involving many different and confusing aspects

• a long and complicated saga.

3. [Medicine] involving complications

• complicated appendicitis.

II. derivatives

complicatedly

adverb

complication /ˌkämpləˈkāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a circumstance that complicates something; a difficulty

• there is a complication concerning ownership of the site.

2. an involved or confused condition or state

• to add further complication, English speakers use a different name.

3. [Medicine] a secondary disease or condition aggravating an already existing one

• she developed complications after the surgery.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin complicatio(n-), from Latin complicare ‘fold together’ (see complicate).

complicit /kəmˈplisit/

I. adjective

involved with others in an illegal activity or wrongdoing

• all of these people are complicit in some criminal conspiracy.

– origin 1940s: back-formation from complicity.

complicitous /kəmˈplisədəs/

adjective

another term for complicit:

• the incident proves they were complicitous with Nazi authorities.

complicity /kəmˈplisədē/

I. noun

the state of being involved with others in an illegal activity or wrongdoing

• they were accused of complicity in the attempt to overthrow the government.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Middle English complice ‘an associate,’ from Old French, from late Latin complex, complic- ‘allied,’ from Latin complicare ‘fold together’ (see complicate). Compare with accomplice.

compliment

I. noun — /ˈkämpləmənt /

1. a polite expression of praise or admiration

• she paid me an enormous compliment.

2. an act or circumstance that implies praise or respect

• it's a compliment to the bride to dress up on her special day.

3. (compliments) — congratulations or praise expressed to someone

• my compliments on your cooking.

4. (compliments) — greetings or regards, especially when sent as a message

• carry my compliments to your kinsmen.

II. verb — /ˈkämpləˌment / [with obj.]

1. politely congratulate or praise (someone) for something

• he complimented Erica on her appearance.

2. praise (something) politely

• complimenting the other team's good play.

3. (compliment someone with) — ‹archaic› present someone with (something) as a mark of courtesy

• Prince George expected to be complimented with a seat in the royal coach.

III. phrases

1. compliments of the season

used as a seasonal greeting at Christmas or the New Year.

2. pay one's compliments

send or express formal greetings.

3. return the compliment

a. give a compliment in return for another.

b. retaliate or respond in kind.

4. with someone's compliments (or the compliments of)

used to express the fact that what one is giving is free

• all drinks will be supplied with our compliments.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French compliment (noun), complimenter (verb), from Italian complimento ‘fulfillment of the requirements of courtesy,’ from Latin complementum ‘completion, fulfillment’ (reflected in the earlier English spelling complement, gradually replaced by the French form between 1655 and 1715). / usage: Compliment (together with complimentary) is quite different in meaning from complement (and complementary). See usage at complement.

complimentary /ˌkämpləˈmen(t)ərē ˌkämpləˈmentrē/

adjective

1. expressing a compliment; praising or approving

• Jennie was very complimentary about Kathy's riding

• complimentary remarks.

2. given or supplied free of charge

• a complimentary bottle of wine.

complimentary close complimentary closing

noun

the part of a letter that immediately precedes the writer's signature, consisting of words such as Sincerely, Cordially, Very truly yours, etc.

compline /ˈkämplin/

I. noun

a service of evening prayers forming part of the Divine Office of the Western Christian Church, traditionally said (or chanted) before retiring for the night.

– origin Middle English: from Old French complie, feminine past participle of obsolete complir ‘to complete,’ from Latin complere ‘fill up’ (see complete). The ending -ine was probably influenced by Old French matines ‘matins.’

comply /kəmˈplī/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a person or group) act in accordance with a wish or command

• we are unable to comply with your request.

2. (of an article) meet specified standards

• all secondhand furniture must comply with the new standards.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Italian complire, Catalan complir, Spanish cumplir, from Latin complere ‘fill up, fulfill’ (see complete). The original sense was ‘fulfill, accomplish,’ later ‘fulfill the requirements of courtesy,’ hence ‘to be agreeable, to oblige or obey.’ Compare with compliment.

component /kəmˈpōnənt/

I. noun

1. a part or element of a larger whole, especially a part of a machine or vehicle

• stereo components.

2. [Physics] each of two or more forces, velocities, or other vectors acting in different directions that are together equivalent to a given vector.

II. adjective

constituting part of a larger whole; constituent

• light passed through a prism breaks up into its component colors.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin component- ‘putting together,’ from the verb componere, from com- ‘together’ + ponere ‘put.’ Compare with compound^1.

componential analysis /ˌkämpəˌnen(t)SH(ə)l əˈnaləsəs/

noun

[Linguistics] the analysis of the meaning of an expression into discrete semantic components.

componentry /kəmˈpōnəntrē/

noun

the parts of a machine or vehicle considered collectively

• while the styling is retro, the componentry is from the 21st century.

compony /kəmˈpōnē/

I. adjective — [usu. postpositive]

1. [Heraldry] divided into a single row of squares in alternating tinctures

• a bordure compony.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French componé, from Old French compondre, from Latin componere ‘put together.’

comport^1 /kəmˈpôrt/

I. verb

1. (comport oneself) — ‹formal› conduct oneself; behave

• articulate students who comported themselves well in television interviews.

2. [no obj.] (comport with) — accord with; agree with

• the actions that comport with her own liberal views.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘tolerate’): from Latin comportare, from com- ‘together’ + portare ‘carry, bear.’

comport^2 /ˈkämpôrt/

I. noun

another term for compote (sense 2).

– origin late 19th cent.: apparently an abbreviation of French comportier, variant of compotier ‘dessert dish.’

comportment /kəmˈpôrtmənt/

I. noun

behavior; bearing

• he displayed the comportment expected of the rightful king.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French comportement, from the verb comporter, from Latin comportare (see comport^1).

compose /kəmˈpōz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. write or create (a work of art, especially music or poetry)

• he composed the First Violin Sonata four years earlier.

2. write or phrase (a letter or piece of writing) with care and thought

• the first sentence is so hard to compose.

3. form (a whole) by ordering or arranging the parts, especially in an artistic way

• compose and draw a still life.

4. order or arrange (parts) to form a whole, especially in an artistic way

• make an attempt to compose your images.

5. (of elements) constitute or make up (a whole)

• the system is composed of a group of machines.

6. be (a specified number or amount) of a whole

• women compose 49 percent of that group.

7. calm or settle (oneself or one's features or thoughts)

• she tried to compose herself.

8. ‹archaic› settle (a dispute)

• the king, with some difficulty, composed this difference.

9. prepare (a text) for printing by manually, mechanically, or electronically setting up the letters and other characters in the order to be printed.

10. set up (letters and characters) of a text in preparation for printing.

– origin late Middle English (in the general sense ‘put together, construct’): from Old French composer, from Latin componere (see component), but influenced by Latin compositus ‘composed’ and Old French poser ‘to place.’

composed /kəmˈpōzd/

I. adjective

having one's feelings and expression under control; calm.

II. derivatives

composedly /kəmˈpōzədlē /

adverb

composer /kəmˈpōzər/

noun

a person who writes music, especially as a professional occupation.

composite /kəmˈpäzət/

I. adjective

1. made up of various parts or elements.

2. (especially of a constructional material) made up of recognizable constituents

• a new composite material—a blend of plastic and ceramic resins.

3. (of a railroad car) having compartments of more than one class or function.

4. [Mathematics] (of an integer) being the product of two or more factors greater than one; not prime.

5. (Composite) — relating to or denoting a classical order of architecture consisting of elements of the Ionic and Corinthian orders.

6. /ˈkämpəzīt / — [Botany] relating to or denoting plants of the daisy family (Compositae).

II. noun

1. a thing made up of several parts or elements

• the English legal system is a composite of legislation and judicial precedent.

2. a composite constructional material.

3. /ˈkämpəzīt / — [Botany] a plant of the daisy family (Compositae).

4. (Composite) — the Composite order of architecture.

III. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as noun compositing)

1. combine (two or more images) to make a single picture, especially electronically

• photographic compositing by computer.

IV. derivatives

1. compositely

adverb

2. compositeness

noun

– origin late Middle English (describing a number having more than one digit): via French from Latin compositus, past participle of componere ‘put together.’

composite photograph

noun

a photograph made by overlapping or juxtaposing two or more separate images.

composition /ˌkämpəˈziSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the nature of something's ingredients or constituents; the way in which a whole or mixture is made up

• the social composition of villages.

2. the action of putting things together; formation or construction

• the composition of a new government was announced.

3. a thing composed of various elements

• a theory is a composition of interrelated facts.

4. ‹archaic› mental constitution; character

• persons who have a touch of madness in their composition.

5. [often as modifier] — a compound artificial substance, especially one serving the purpose of a natural one

• composition flooring.

6. [Linguistics] the formation of words into a compound word.

7. [Mathematics] the successive application of functions to a variable, the value of the first function being the argument of the second, and so on

• composition of functions, when defined, is associative.

8. [Physics] the process of finding the resultant of a number of forces.

9. a work of music, literature, or art

• Chopin's most romantic compositions.

10. the action or art of producing a work of music, literature, or art

• the technical aspects of composition.

11. an essay, especially one written by a school or college student.

12. the artistic arrangement of the parts of a picture

• spoiling the composition of many of the pictures.

13. the preparing of text for printing by setting up the characters in order.
See compose (sense 4).

14. a legal agreement to pay an amount of money in lieu of a larger debt or other obligation.

15. an amount of money paid under a legal agreement.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin composition-, from componere ‘put together.’

compositional /ˌkämpəˈziSH(ə)n(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. relating to the production of a creative work such as a poem or piece of music

• new compositional techniques arose

• the painting's compositional or dramatic structure.

2. composed of various elements

• strategies adopted in these fields tend to be compositional in nature.

II. derivatives

compositionally

adverb

compositor /kəmˈpäzədər/

I. noun

[Printing] a person who arranges type for printing or keys text into a composing machine.

– origin late Middle English (originally Scots, denoting an umpire or arbiter): from Anglo-Norman French compositour, from Latin compositor, from composit- ‘put together,’ from the verb componere (see composition).

compos mentis /ˌkämpəs ˈmen(t)əs/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. having full control of one's mind; sane

• are you sure he was totally compos mentis?

– origin early 17th cent.: Latin.

compossible /kəmˈpäsəbəl, käm-/

I. adjective

‹rare› (of one thing) compatible or possible in conjunction with another.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Old French, from medieval Latin compossibilis, from com- ‘together with’ + possibilis (see possible).

compost /ˈkämˌpōst/

I. noun

1. decayed organic material used as a plant fertilizer.

2. a mixture of decayed organic material with loam and/or other ingredients, used as a growing medium.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (vegetable matter or manure) into compost

• don't compost heavily infested plants.

2. treat (soil) with compost

• we turned clay soil into almost workable soil by composting it.

III. derivatives

1. compostable /ˈkämˌpōstəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. composter

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French composte, from Latin composita, compositum ‘something put together,’ feminine and neuter past participle of componere.

compost bin

noun

an outdoor container in which garden refuse and other organic waste is deposited in order to produce compost

• I have a compost bin in which I put my all kitchen scraps and grass cuttings.

compost heap compost pile

noun

a pile of garden and organic kitchen refuse that decomposes to produce compost.

composure /kəmˈpōZHər/

I. noun

the state or feeling of being calm and in control of oneself

• she was struggling to regain her composure.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘composing, composition’): from compose + -ure.

compote /ˈkämˌpōt/

I. noun

1. fruit preserved or cooked in syrup.

2. a dish consisting of fruit salad or stewed fruit, often with syrup.

3. a bowl-shaped dessert dish with a stem.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French, from Old French composte ‘mixture’ (see compost).

compound^1

I. noun — /ˈkämˌpound /

1. a thing that is composed of two or more separate elements; a mixture

• the air smelled like a compound of diesel and gasoline fumes.

2. (also chemical compound) — a substance formed from two or more elements chemically united in fixed proportions

• a compound of hydrogen and oxygen.

3. a word made up of two or more existing words, such as steamship.

II. adjective — /ˈkämˌpound kəmˈpound /

1. made up or consisting of several parts or elements, in particular

2. (of a word) made up of two or more existing words or elements

• a compound noun.

3. (of interest) payable on both capital and the accumulated interest

• compound interest.

Compare with simple.

4. [Biology] (especially of a leaf, flower, or eye) consisting of two or more simple parts or individuals in combination.

III. verb — /kəmˈpound ˈkämˌpound / [with obj.]

1. make up (a composite whole); constitute

• a dialect compounded of Spanish and Dutch.

2. mix or combine (ingredients or constituents)

• yellow pastas compounded with lemon zest or saffron.

3. calculate (interest) on previously accumulated interest

• the yield at which the interest is compounded.

4. make (something bad) worse; intensify the negative aspects of

• I compounded the problem by trying to make wrong things right.

5. [Law,] ‹dated› forbear from prosecuting (a felony) in exchange for money or other consideration.

6. settle (a debt or other matter) in exchange for money or other consideration

• he compounded the case with the defendant for a cash payment.

IV. derivatives

compoundable /kəmˈpoundəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English compoune (verb), from Old French compoun-, present tense stem of compondre, from Latin componere ‘put together.’ The final -d was added in the 16th cent. on the pattern of expound and propound. / usage: The sense of the verb compound that means ‘worsen,’ as in this compounds their problems, has an interesting history. It arose through a misinterpretation of the phrase compound a felony, which, strictly speaking, means ‘forbear from prosecuting a felony in exchange for money or other consideration.’ The ‘incorrect’ sense has become the usual one in legal uses and, by extension, in general senses too, and is now accepted as part of standard English.

compound^2 /ˈkämˌpound/

I. noun

an open area enclosed by a fence, for example around a factory or large house or within a prison.

– origin late 17th cent. (referring to such an area in Southeast Asia): from Portuguese campon or Dutch kampoeng, from Malay kampong ‘enclosure, hamlet’; compare with kampong.

compound-complex sentence

noun

a sentence having two or more coordinate independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

compounder /kəmˈpoundər/

noun

a person who mixes or combines ingredients in order to produce an animal feed, medicine, or other substance.

compound eye

noun

an eye consisting of an array of numerous small visual units, as found in insects and crustaceans.
Contrasted with simple eye.

compound fraction

noun

a fraction in which either the numerator or the denominator, or both, contain one or more fractions. Also called complex fraction.

compound fracture

noun

an injury in which a broken bone pierces the skin, causing a risk of infection.
Compare with simple fracture.

compound interval

noun

[Music] an interval greater than an octave.

compound leaf

noun

a leaf of a plant consisting of several or many distinct parts (leaflets) joined to a single stem.

compound number

noun

a quantity expressed in terms of more than one unit or denomination, such as 5 feet 7 inches or 2 pounds 3 ounces.

compound sentence

noun

a sentence with more than one subject or predicate.

compound time /kəmˈpound tīm/

noun

[Music] musical rhythm or meter in which each beat in a bar is subdivided into three smaller units, so having the value of a dotted note.
Compare with simple time.

comprador /ˌkämprəˈdôr / compradore

I. noun

a person within a country who acts as an agent for foreign organizations engaged in investment, trade, or economic or political exploitation.

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting a local person employed in a European household in Southeast Asia or India to make small purchases and keep the household accounts): from Portuguese,‘buyer,’ from late Latin comparator, from Latin comparare ‘to purchase,’ from com- ‘with’ + parare ‘provide.’

comprehend /ˌkämprəˈhend/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. grasp mentally; understand

• he couldn't comprehend her reasons for marrying Lovat

• I simply couldn't comprehend what had happened.

2. ‹formal› include, comprise, or encompass

• a divine order comprehending all men.

II. derivatives

comprehender

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French comprehender, or Latin comprehendere, from com- ‘together’ + prehendere ‘grasp.’

comprehensible /ˌkämprəˈhensəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

able to be understood; intelligible

• clear and comprehensible English.

II. derivatives

1. comprehensibility /ˌkämprəˌhensəˈbilədē /

noun

2. comprehensibly /ˌkämprəˈhensəblē /

adverb

– origin late 15th cent.: from French compréhensible or Latin comprehensibilis, from comprehens- ‘seized, comprised,’ from the verb comprehendere (see comprehend).

comprehension /ˌkämprəˈhen(t)SH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action or capability of understanding something

• some won't have the least comprehension of what I'm trying to do

• the comprehension of spoken language.

2. ‹archaic› inclusion.

– origin late Middle English: from French compréhension or Latin comprehensio(n-), from the verb comprehendere ‘seize, comprise’ (see comprehend).

comprehensive /ˌkämprəˈhensiv/

I. adjective

1. complete; including all or nearly all elements or aspects of something

• a comprehensive list of sources.

2. of large content or scope; wide-ranging

• a comprehensive collection of photographs.

3. (of automobile insurance) providing coverage for most risks, including damage to the policyholder's own vehicle

• comprehensive and collision insurance.

4. (also comprehensive examination or comp) — an examination testing a student's command of a special field of knowledge.

5. ‹archaic› of or relating to understanding.

II. noun — (in full comprehensive school)

1. (Brit.) a secondary school catering to children of all abilities from a given area.

III. derivatives

comprehensiveness /ˌkämprəˈhensivnəs /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from French compréhensif, -ive, from late Latin comprehensivus, from the verb comprehendere ‘grasp mentally.’

comprehensively /ˌkämprəˈhensivlē/

adverb

1. in a way that includes or deals with all or nearly all elements or aspects of something

• these books are precisely and comprehensively illustrated

• a comprehensively equipped vehicle.

2. in a very clear or convincing manner

• they were comprehensively defeated

• the public has comprehensively rejected the technology.

3. (in relation to insurance) in a way that provides cover for most risks

• she crashed her comprehensively insured vehicle.

compress

I. verb — /kəmˈpres / [with obj.]

1. flatten by pressure; squeeze; press

• the skirt can be folded and compressed into a small bag

• (as adj. compressed) compressed gas.

2. [no obj.] — be squeezed or pressed together or into a smaller space

• the land is sinking as the soil compresses.

3. squeeze or press (two things) together

• Violet compressed her lips together grimly.

4. express in a shorter form; abridge

• in this chapter we compress into summary form the main findings.

5. [Computing] alter the form of (data) to reduce the amount of storage necessary.

6. (as adj. compressed) — [chiefly Biology] having a narrow shape as if flattened, especially sideways

• most sea snakes have a compressed tail.

II. noun — /ˈkämˌpres /

1. a pad of absorbent material pressed onto part of the body to relieve inflammation or stop bleeding

• a cold compress.

III. derivatives

1. compressibility /kəmˌpresəˈbilədē /

noun

2. compressible /kəmˈpresəb(ə)l /

adjective

3. compressive /kəmˈpresiv /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French compresser or late Latin compressare, frequentative of Latin comprimere, from com- ‘together’ + premere ‘to press’; or directly from compress- ‘pressed together,’ from the verb comprimere.

compressed air /kəmˈprest e(ə)r/

noun

air that has been compressed to a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure.

compression /kəmˈpreSHən/

I. noun

1. the action of compressing or being compressed.

2. the reduction in volume (causing an increase in pressure) of the fuel mixture in an internal combustion engine before ignition.

II. derivatives

compressional /-SHənl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin compressio(n-), from comprimere ‘press together’ (see compress).

compression ratio /kəmˈpreSHən ˈrāSHō ˈrāSHēˌō/

noun

the ratio of the maximum to minimum volume in the cylinder of an internal combustion engine.

compressive strength

noun

the resistance of a material to breaking under compression.
Compare with tensile strength.

compressor /kəmˈpresər/

noun

1. an instrument or device for compressing something.

2. a machine used to supply air or other gas at increased pressure, e.g., to power a gas turbine.

3. an electrical amplifier that reduces the dynamic range of a signal.

comprise /kəmˈprīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. consist of; be made up of

• the country comprises twenty states.

2. make up; constitute

• this single breed comprises 50 percent of the Swiss cattle population

• (be comprised of) documents are comprised of words.

– origin late Middle English: from French, ‘comprised,’ feminine past participle of comprendre, from Old French comprehender (see comprehend). / usage: 1Comprise primarily means ‘consist of,’ as in the country comprises twenty states. It can also mean ‘constitute or make up a whole,’ as in this single breed comprises 50 percent of the Swiss cattle population. When this sense is used in the passive (as in the country is comprised of twenty states), it is more or less synonymous with the first sense (the country comprises twenty states). This usage is part of standard English, but the construction comprise of, as in the property comprises of bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen, is regarded as incorrect.2 On the differences between comprise and include, see usage at include.

compromise /ˈkämprəˌmīz/

I. noun

1. an agreement or a settlement of a dispute that is reached by each side making concessions

• an ability to listen to two sides in a dispute, and devise a compromise acceptable to both

• the secret of a happy marriage is compromise.

2. a middle state between conflicting opinions or actions reached by mutual concession or modification

• a compromise between commercial appeal and historical interest.

3. the acceptance of standards that are lower than is desirable

• sexism should be tackled without compromise.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — settle a dispute by mutual concession

• in the end we compromised and deferred the issue.

2. [with obj.] — ‹archaic› settle (a dispute) by mutual concession

• I should compromise the matter with my father.

3. [no obj.] — accept standards that are lower than is desirable

• we were not prepared to compromise on safety.

4. [with obj.] — weaken (a reputation or principle) by accepting standards that are lower than is desirable

• commercial pressures could compromise safety.

5. [with obj.] — bring into disrepute or danger by indiscreet, foolish, or reckless behavior

• situations in which his troops could be compromised.

6. cause to become vulnerable or function less effectively

• yo-yo dieting can compromise your immune system

• last month's leak of source code will not compromise your IT security.

III. derivatives

compromiser

noun

– origin late Middle English (denoting mutual consent to arbitration): from Old French compromis, from late Latin compromissum ‘a consent to arbitration,’ neuter past participle of compromittere, from com- ‘together’ + promittere (see promise).

compromising /ˈkämprəˌmīziNG/

adjective

(of information or a situation) revealing an embarrassing or incriminating secret about someone

• to cover up compromising evidence of malpractice.

compte rendu /ˈkônt räNˈdY, räNˈd(y)o͞o/

I. noun

a formal report or review.

– origin early 19th cent.: French, literally ‘account rendered.’

Compton /ˈkäm(p)t(ə)n/

an industrial city in southwestern California, just south of Los Angeles; pop. 93,851 (est. 2008).

Compton, Arthur Holly

(1892–1962), US physicist. He observed the Compton effect and thus demonstrated the dual particle and wave properties of electromagnetic radiation and matter, as predicted by quantum theory. Nobel Prize for Physics (1927), shared with C. T. R. Wilson.

Compton effect

I. noun

[Physics] an increase in wavelength of X-rays or gamma rays that occurs when they are scattered.

– origin early 20th cent.: named after A. H. Compton (see Compton, Arthur Holly).

comptroller /kənˈtrōlər ˌkäm(p)ˈtrōlər/

I. noun

a controller (used in the title of some financial officers).

– origin late 15th cent.: variant of controller, by erroneous association with French compte ‘calculation’ or its source, late Latin computus.

compulsion /kəmˈpəlSHən/

I. noun

1. the action or state of forcing or being forced to do something; constraint

• the payment was made under compulsion.

2. an irresistible urge to behave in a certain way, especially against one's conscious wishes

• he felt a compulsion to babble on about what had happened.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from late Latin compulsio(n-), from compellere ‘to drive, force’ (see compel).

compulsive /kəmˈpəlsiv/

I. adjective

1. resulting from or relating to an irresistible urge, especially one that is against one's conscious wishes

• compulsive eating.

2. (of a person) acting as a result of an irresistible urge

• a compulsive liar.

3. irresistibly interesting or exciting; compelling

• this play is compulsive viewing.

II. derivatives

compulsiveness

noun

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘compulsory’): from medieval Latin compulsivus, from compuls- ‘driven, forced,’ from the verb compellere (see compel). Sense 1 (originally a term in psychology) dates from the early 20th cent.

compulsively /kəmˈpəlsivlē/

adverb

1. in a way that results from or relates to an irresistible urge

• she exercised compulsively

• the students compulsively checked the time.

2. in an irresistible way

• the show is compulsively watchable.

compulsory /kəmˈpəlsərē/

I. adjective

1. required by law or a rule; obligatory

• compulsory military service

• it was compulsory to attend Mass.

2. involving or exercising compulsion; coercive

• the abuse of compulsory powers.

II. derivatives

1. compulsorily /kəmˈpəls(ə)rəlē /

adverb

2. compulsoriness /kəmˈpəls(ə)rēnəs /

noun

– origin early 16th cent. (as a noun denoting a legal mandate that had to be obeyed): from medieval Latin compulsorius, from compuls- ‘driven, forced,’ from the verb compellere (see compel).

compunction /kəmˈpəNG(k)SH(ə)n/

I. noun — [usu. with negative]

1. a feeling of guilt or moral scruple that follows the doing of something bad

• spend the money without compunction.

2. a pricking of the conscience

• he had no compunction about behaving blasphemously.

II. derivatives

1. compunctionless

adjective

2. compunctious /kəmˈpəNG(k)SHəs /

adjective

3. compunctiously /-SHəslē /

adverb

– origin Middle English: from Old French componction, from ecclesiastical Latin compunctio(n-), from Latin compungere ‘prick sharply,’ from com- (expressing intensive force) + pungere ‘to prick.’

compurgation /ˌkämpərˈɡāSHən/

I. noun

[Law] ‹historical› acquittal from a charge or accusation, obtained by statements of innocence given by witnesses under oath.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin compurgation-, from Latin compurgare, from com- (expressing intensive force) + purgare ‘purify’ (from purus ‘pure’).

compurgator /ˈkämpərˌɡādər/

I. noun

[Law] ‹historical› a sworn witness to the innocence or good character of an accused person.

– origin mid 16th cent.: medieval Latin, from Latin com- ‘together with’ + purgator, from purgare ‘purify’ (see compurgation).

computation /ˌkämpyəˈtāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action of mathematical calculation

• months of computation carried out on 200 computers

• statistical computations.

2. the use of computers, especially as a subject of research or study.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin computatio(n-), from the verb computare (see compute).

computational /ˌkämpyəˈtāSH(ə)n(ə)l/

adjective

1. of, relating to, or using computers

• the computational analysis of English

• computational power.

2. of or relating to the process of mathematical calculation.

computational linguistics

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the branch of linguistics in which the techniques of computer science are applied to the analysis and synthesis of language and speech.

computationally /ˌkämpyəˈtāSH(ə)n(ə)lē/

adverb

1. in a way that uses or relates to computers

• video images are processed computationally.

2. in a way that relates to the process of mathematical calculation

• a computationally efficient algorithm.

compute /kəmˈpyo͞ot/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. calculate or reckon (a figure or amount)

• we can compute the exact increase

• depreciation is computed by applying the straight-line method.

2. [no obj.] — make a calculation, especially using a computer

• modern circuitry can compute faster than any chess player.

3. [no obj., with negative] — ‹informal› seem reasonable; make sense

• the idea just doesn't compute.

[from the phrase does not compute, once used as an error message in computing.]

II. derivatives

1. computability /kəmˌpyo͞odəˈbilədē /

noun

2. computable /kəmˈpyo͞odəb(ə)l /

adjective

3. computably /-blē /

adverb

4. computist /-ˈpyo͞otist /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from French computer or Latin computare, from com- ‘together’ + putare ‘to settle (an account).’

computer /kəmˈpyo͞odər/

noun

1. an electronic device for storing and processing data, typically in binary form, according to instructions given to it in a variable program.

2. a person who makes calculations, especially with a calculating machine.

computer-aided /kəmˌpyo͞odərˈādəd/

adjective

completed partially or entirely by using a computer

• computer-aided engineering.

computer conferencing

noun

the use of computer and telecommunications technology to hold discussions between people operating computers in separate locations.

computer dating /kəmˈpyo͞odər dādiNG/

noun

the use of computer databases to identify potentially compatible partners for people.

computerese /kəmˌpyo͞odəˈrēz/

noun

1. ‹chiefly derogatory› the jargon associated with computers.

2. the symbols and rules of a computer programming language.

computer-friendly /kəmˌpyo͞odərˈfren(d)lē/

adjective

1. suitable for use with computers; compatible with computers

• present the data in computer-friendly form.

2. (of a person) well disposed toward computers

• a computer-friendly politician.

computer game /kəmˈpyo͞odər ɡām/

noun

a game played using a computer, typically a video game.

computerist /kəmˈpyo͞odərəst/

noun

a (frequent) user of computers.

computerize /kəmˈpyo͞odəˌrīz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. computerized)

1. convert to a system that is operated or controlled by computer

• the advantages of computerized accounting.

2. convert (information) to a form that is stored or processed by computer

• a computerized register of dogs.

II. derivatives

computerization /kəmˌpyo͞odərəˈzāSHən kəmˌpyo͞odəˌrīˈzāSHən /

noun

computerized axial tomography CAT

noun

a form of tomography in which a computer controls the motion of the X-ray source and detectors, processes the data, and produces the image.

computer-literate

I. adjective

(of a person) having sufficient knowledge and skill to be able to use computers; familiar with the operation of computers.

II. derivatives

computer literacy

noun

computer programmer /kəmˈpyo͞odər ˈˌprōˌɡramər/

noun

a person who writes programs for the operation of computers, especially as an occupation.

computer science /kəmˈpyo͞odər ˈˌsīəns/

noun

the study of the principles and use of computers.

computing /kəmˈpyo͞odiNG/

noun

the use or operation of computers

• developments in mathematics and computing

• [as modifier] computing facilities.

comrade /ˈkämˌrad ˈkämrəd/

I. noun

1. a companion who shares one's activities or is a fellow member of an organization.

2. (also comrade-in-arms) — a fellow soldier or member of the armed services.

3. a fellow socialist or communist (often as a form of address).

II. derivatives

comradely /ˈkämradlē ˈkämrədlē /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent. (originally also camerade): from French camerade, camarade (originally feminine), from Spanish camarada ‘roommate,’ from Latin camera ‘chamber.’ Compare with chum^1.

comradery /ˈkämradrē/

I. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) another term for camaraderie:

• the project created a real sense of comradery among those involved.

– origin late 19th cent.: from comrade + -ery, influenced by camaraderie.

comradeship /ˈkämˌradˌSHip ˈkämrədˌSHip/

noun

the company and friendship of others with common aims

• his greatest joy came from comradeship with others in the team.

Comsat /ˈkämsat/

I. noun

1. ‹trademark› the Communications Satellite Corporation, a private corporation authorized by Congress to develop commercial communications satellite systems.

2. (comsat) — ‹trademark› ‹informal› a communications satellite.

– origin 1960s: blend.

Comstockery /ˈkämˌstäkərē, ˈkəm-/

I. noun

excessive opposition to supposed immorality in the arts; prudery.

– origin named for Anthony Comstock (1844–1915), US author and reformer.

Comstock Lode /ˌkämˌstäk ˈlōd/

a historic gold and silver source in the Virginia Mountains of western Nevada, south of Reno, the basis of a boom that lasted from the 1850s through the late 19th century.

Comte, Auguste /kôNt/

I. (1798–1857), French philosopher; one of the founders of sociology. His positivist philosophy attempted to define the laws of social evolution and to found a genuine social science that could be used for social reconstruction.

II. derivatives

Comtism /ˈkôNˌtizəm /

noun

con^1 /kän / ‹informal›

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. persuade (someone) to do or believe something, typically by use of a deception

• I conned him into giving me your home number

• she was jailed for conning her aunt out of $500,000.

II. noun

an instance of deceiving or tricking someone

• when depositors, realizing that the whole thing is a con, demand repayment

• [as modifier] a con artist.

– origin late 19th cent. (originally US): abbreviation of confidence, as in confidence trick.

con^2 /kän/

I. noun

a disadvantage

• borrowers have to weigh up the pros and cons of each mortgage offer.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin contra ‘against.’

con^3 /kän/

I. noun

‹informal› a convict.

– origin late 19th cent.: abbreviation.

con^4 /kän/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› study attentively or learn by heart (a piece of writing)

• the girls conned their pages with a great show of industry.

– origin Middle English cunne, conne, con, variants of can^1.

con^5 /kän/

I. noun

‹informal› a convention, especially one for science fiction enthusiasts.

– origin 1940s: abbreviation.

con^6 /kän/

variant spelling of conn.

con-

I. prefix

variant spelling of com- assimilated before c, d, f, g, j, n, q, s, t, v, and sometimes before vowels (as in concord, condescend, confide, etc.).

– origin Latin variant of com-.

Conakry /ˈkänəkrē/

the capital and chief port of Guinea, in the western part of the county, on the Atlantic coast; pop. 1,484,000 (est. 2007).

con amore /ˌkän əˈmôrā, kōn/

I. adverb

[Music] (especially as a direction) with tenderness.

– origin Italian,‘with love.’

con artist

noun

‹informal› a person who cheats or tricks others by persuading them to believe something that is not true

• the debonair con artist lives by scamming rich women

• con artists are great at spotting our vulnerabilities.

conation /kōˈnāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

[Philosophy] [Psychology] the mental faculty of purpose, desire, or will to perform an action; volition.

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting an attempt or endeavor): from Latin conatio(n-), from conari ‘to try.’

con brio /kän ˈbrēō, kōn/

I. adverb

[Music] (especially as a direction) with vigor.

– origin Italian.

concatenate /kənˈkatnˌāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› ‹technical› link (things) together in a chain or series

• some words may be concatenated, such that certain sounds are omitted.

– origin late 15th cent. (as an adjective): from late Latin concatenat- ‘linked together,’ from the verb concatenare, from con- ‘together’ + catenare, from catena ‘chain.’

concatenation /kənˌkatnˈāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. a series of interconnected things or events

• a singular concatenation of events unlikely to recur.

2. the action of linking things together in a series.

concave /känˈkāv ˈkänˌkāv/

I. adjective

having an outline or surface that curves inward like the interior of a circle or sphere.
Compare with convex (sense 1).

II. derivatives

concavely

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Latin concavus, from con- ‘together’ + cavus ‘hollow.’

concavity /känˈkavədē/

noun

1. the state or quality of being concave.

2. a concave surface or thing.

concavo-concave /känˌkāvōˌkänˈkāv/

adjective

another term for biconcave.

concavo-convex /känˌkāvōˌkänˈveks/

adjective

(of a lens) concave on one side and convex on the other and thickest at the periphery.

conceal /kənˈsēl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. keep from sight; hide

• a line of sand dunes concealed the distant sea.

2. keep (something) secret; prevent from being known or noticed

• love that they had to conceal from others.

II. derivatives

concealable /kənˈsēləb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French conceler, from Latin concelare, from con- ‘completely’ + celare ‘hide.’

concealed /kənˈsēld/

adjective

kept secret; hidden

• a concealed weapon

• he spoke with barely concealed anger.

concealed carry

noun

(N. Amer.) the practice of carrying a concealed firearm on one's person in public

• concealed carry is legal in the vast majority of states

• [as modifier] a concealed carry permit.

Compare with open carry.

concealed weapon

noun

a weapon, typically a handgun, which someone keeps hidden on their body or in their vehicle

• college students were uncomfortable with concealed weapons on campus.

concealer /kənˈsēlər/

noun

a flesh-toned cosmetic used to cover facial blemishes and dark circles under the eyes.

concealment /kənˈsēlmənt/

noun

1. the action of hiding something or preventing it from being known

• the concealment of the body

• the deliberate concealment of material facts.

2. something that acts as a hiding place; cover

• he darted forward from the concealment of the bushes.

concede /kənˈsēd/

I. verb

1. [reporting verb] — admit that something is true or valid after first denying or resisting it
[with clause]

• I had to concede that I'd overreacted

• [with obj.] that principle now seems to have been conceded.

2. [with obj.] — admit (defeat) in a contest

• he conceded defeat.

3. [with obj.] — admit defeat in (a contest)

• ready to concede the gold medal.

4. [with obj.] — surrender or yield (something that one possesses)

• to concede all the territory he'd won.

5. grant (a right, privilege, or demand)

• their rights to redress of grievances were conceded once more.

6. (in sports) fail to prevent the scoring of (a goal or point) by an opponent

• the coach conceded three safeties rather than kick into the wind.

7. allow (a lead or advantage) to slip

• he took an early lead that he never conceded.

II. derivatives

conceder

noun

– origin late 15th cent.: from French concéder or Latin concedere, from con- ‘completely’ + cedere ‘yield.’

conceit /kənˈsēt/

I. noun

1. excessive pride in oneself

• he was puffed up with conceit.

2. a fanciful expression in writing or speech; an elaborate metaphor

• the idea of the wind's singing is a prime romantic conceit.

3. an artistic effect or device

• the director's brilliant conceit was to film this tale in black and white.

4. a fanciful notion

• he is alarmed by the widespread conceit that he spent most of the 1980s drunk.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘idea or notion,’ also ‘quaintly decorative article’): from conceive, on the pattern of pairs such as deceive, deceit.

conceited /kənˈsēdəd/

I. adjective

excessively proud of oneself; vain.

II. derivatives

1. conceitedly /kənˈsēdidlē /

adverb

2. conceitedness /kənˈsēdədnəs /

noun

conceivable /kənˈsēvəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

capable of being imagined or grasped mentally

• a mass uprising was entirely conceivable

• it was photographed from every conceivable angle.

II. derivatives

conceivability /kənˌsēvəˈbilədē /

noun

conceivably /kənˈsēvəblē/

adverb — [sentence adverb]

1. it is conceivable or imaginable that

• it may conceivably cause liver disease.

conceive /kənˈsēv/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. become pregnant with (a child)

• she was conceived when her father was 49.

2. [no obj.] — (of a woman) become pregnant

• five months ago Wendy conceived.

3. form or devise (a plan or idea) in the mind

• the dam project was originally conceived in 1977

• (as adj. conceived) a brilliantly conceived and executed robbery.

4. form a mental representation of; imagine

• without society an individual cannot be conceived as having rights

• [no obj.] we could not conceive of such things happening to us.

5. become affected by (a feeling)

• he conceived a passion for football.

– origin Middle English: from Old French concevoir, from Latin concipere, from com- ‘together’ + capere ‘take.’

concelebrate /ˌkänˈseləbrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Christian Church] officiate jointly at (a Mass)

• to concelebrate a Mass with other priests.

II. derivatives

1. concelebrant /-brənt /

noun

2. concelebration /känˌseləˈbrāSHən /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin concelebrat- ‘celebrated together,’ from the verb concelebrare, from con- ‘together’ + celebrare (see celebrate).

concenter /kənˈsentər, kän-/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. concentrate (something) in a small space or area.

2. [no obj.] — come together or collect at a common center

• his thoughts concenter there monotonously.

3. ‹archaic› bring or draw (two or more things) toward a common center.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French concentrer, from Latin con- ‘together’ + centrum ‘center.’

concentrate /ˈkänsənˌtrāt/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — focus one's attention or mental effort on a particular object or activity

• she couldn't concentrate on the movie.

2. (concentrate on/upon) — do or deal with (one particular thing) above all others

• Luke wants to concentrate on his film career.

3. [with obj.] — gather (people or things) together in numbers or in a mass

• wealth was concentrated in the hands of the governing elite.

4. [no obj.] — come together in numbers or in a mass

• troops were concentrating at the western front.

5. increase the strength or proportion of (a substance or solution) by removing or reducing the water or any other diluting agent or by selective accumulation of atoms or molecules.

II. noun

a substance made by removing water or other diluting agent; a concentrated form of something, especially food

• apple juice concentrate.

III. derivatives

1. concentrative /ˈkäns(ə)nˌtrādiv /

adjective

2. concentrator /ˈkäns(ə)nˌtrādər /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘bring toward a center’): Latinized form of concenter or from French concentrer ‘to concentrate.’ Sense 1 of the verb dates from the early 20th cent.

concentrated /ˈkänsənˌtrādəd/

I. adjective

1. wholly directed to one thing; intense

• a concentrated campaign.

2. (of a substance or solution) present in a high proportion relative to other substances; having had water or other diluting agent removed or reduced

• concentrated fruit juice.

II. derivatives

concentratedly

adverb

concentration /ˌkänsənˈtrāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action or power of focusing one's attention or mental effort

• frowning in concentration

• the worker needs total concentration.

2. (concentration on/upon) — dealing with one particular thing above all others

• concentration on the needs of the young can mean that the elderly are forgotten.

3. a close gathering of people or things

• the largest concentration of Canada geese on earth.

4. the action of gathering together closely

• the concentration of power.

5. the relative amount of a given substance contained within a solution or in a particular volume of space; the amount of solute per unit volume of solution

• the gas can collect in dangerous concentrations.

6. the action of strengthening a solution by the removal of water or other diluting agent or by the selective accumulation of atoms or molecules.

concentration camp /ˌkänsənˈtrāSHən ˈˌkamp/

noun

a place where large numbers of people, especially political prisoners or members of persecuted minorities, are deliberately imprisoned in a relatively small area with inadequate facilities, sometimes to provide forced labor or to await mass execution. The term is most strongly associated with the several hundred camps established by the Nazis in Germany and occupied Europe in 1933–45, among the most infamous being Dachau, Belsen, and Auschwitz.

concentric /kənˈsentrik/

I. adjective

of or denoting circles, arcs, or other shapes that share the same center, the larger often completely surrounding the smaller

• concentric circles indicate distances of 1 km, 2 km, and 3 km from the center.

II. derivatives

1. concentrically /kənˈsentriklē /

adverb

2. concentricity /ˌkänsenˈtrisədē /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French concentrique or medieval Latin concentricus, from con- ‘together’ + centrum ‘center.’

Concepción /ˌkänˌsepsēˈōn/

an industrial city in southern central Chile; pop. 220,000 (est. 2006).

concept /ˈkänˌsept/

I. noun

1. an abstract idea; a general notion

• structuralism is a difficult concept

• the concept of justice.

2. a plan or intention; a conception

• the center has kept firmly to its original concept.

3. an idea or invention to help sell or publicize a commodity

• a new concept in corporate hospitality.

4. [Philosophy] an idea or mental picture of a group or class of objects formed by combining all their aspects.

5. [as modifier] — (of a car or other vehicle) produced as an experimental model to test the viability of new design features.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘thought, frame of mind, imagination’): from Latin conceptum ‘something conceived,’ from concept- ‘conceived,’ from concipere (see conceive).

concept album

noun

a rock album featuring a cycle of songs expressing a particular theme or idea.

conception /kənˈsepSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action of conceiving a child or of a child being conceived

• an unfertilized egg before conception

• a rise in premarital conceptions.

2. the forming or devising of a plan or idea

• the time between a product's conception and its launch.

3. the way in which something is perceived or regarded

• our conception of how language relates to reality.

4. a general notion; an abstract idea

• the conception of a balance of power.

5. a plan or intention

• reconstructing Bach's original conceptions.

6. understanding; ability to imagine

• he had no conception of politics.

II. derivatives

conceptional /kənˈsepSH(ə)n(ə)l /

adjective

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin conceptio(n-), from the verb concipere (see conceive).

conceptual /kənˈsep(t)SH(o͞o)əl/

I. adjective

of, relating to, or based on mental concepts

• philosophy deals with conceptual difficulties.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin conceptualis, from Latin concept- ‘conceived,’ from the verb concipere (see concept).

conceptual art /kənˈsep(t)SH(əw)əl ärt / concept art

I. noun

art in which the idea presented by the artist is considered more important than the finished product, if there is one.

II. derivatives

conceptual artist

noun

conceptualism /kənˈsep(t)SH(o͞o)əˌlizəm/

I. noun

[Philosophy] the theory that universals can be said to exist, but only as concepts in the mind.

II. derivatives

conceptualist /kənˈsep(t)SH(o͞o)ələst /

noun

conceptualization /kənˌsep(t)SH(o͞o)ələˈzāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action or process of forming a concept or idea of something

• our experience is beyond any conceptualization

• [as modifier] the conceptualization phase.

2. an abstract idea or concept of something

• a new conceptualization of national identity.

conceptualize /kənˈsep(t)SH(o͞o)əˌlīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. form a concept or idea of (something)

• we can more easily conceptualize speed in miles per hour.

II. derivatives

conceptualizer

noun

conceptually /kənˈsep(t)SH(o͞o)əlē/

adverb

in terms of a concept or abstract idea

• a conceptually simple task

• conceptually, this is a complex process.

conceptus /kənˈseptəs/

I. noun

‹technical› the embryo in the uterus, especially during the early stages of pregnancy.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘conception, embryo.’

concern /kənˈsərn/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. relate to; be about

• the story concerns a friend of mine

• (be concerned with) this fable is concerned with forgiveness and redemption.

2. be relevant or important to; affect or involve

• they should not pry into what does not concern them

• many thanks to all concerned.

3. (be concerned with) — regard it as important or interesting to do something

• I was mainly concerned with making something that children could enjoy.

4. (be concerned in) — ‹formal› have a specific connection with or responsibility for

• the organs concerned in digestion and in blood-making.

5. (concern oneself with) — interest or involve oneself in

• we need not concern ourselves with the semantics of this language.

6. worry (someone); make anxious

• the roof of the barn concerns me because eventually it will fall in

• you must not concern yourself about me.

II. noun

1. anxiety; worry

• such unsatisfactory work gives cause for concern.

2. a cause of anxiety or worry

• the new techniques raise some safety concerns.

3. a matter of interest or importance to someone

• oil reserves are the concern of the Energy Department

• the survival of an endangered species is of concern to wildlife biologists.

4. (concerns) — affairs; issues

• public awareness of Aboriginal concerns.

5. a business; a firm

• a small, debt-ridden concern.

6. ‹informal› ‹dated› a complicated or awkward object or structure.

III. phrases

1. as (or so) far as —— is concerned

as regards the interests or case of ——

• the measures are irrelevant as far as inflation is concerned.

2. have no concern with

‹formal› have nothing to do with

• drama seemed to have no concern with “truth” at all.

3. to whom it may concern

a formula placed at the beginning of a letter or document when the identity of the reader or readers is unknown.

– origin late Middle English: from French concerner or late Latin concernere (in medieval Latin ‘be relevant to’), from con- (expressing intensive force) + cernere ‘sift, discern.’

concerned /kənˈsərnd/

I. adjective

worried, troubled, or anxious

• the villagers are concerned about burglaries.

II. derivatives

concernedly /-ˈsərnədlē /

adverb

concerning /kənˈsərniNG/

I. preposition

on the subject of or in connection with; about

• dreadful stories concerning a horrible beast.

II. adjective

causing anxiety; worrying

• I find many of the comments very concerning

• a concerning breach of security.

concernment /kənˈsərnmənt/

noun

1. ‹archaic› importance

• matters of great public concernment.

2. ‹archaic› a matter of interest or importance to someone; a concern

• a family or any absorbing concernment of that sort.

concern troll

noun

‹informal› ‹derogatory› a person who disingenuously expresses concern about an issue with the intention of undermining or derailing genuine discussion

• he is regarded among climate scientists as a concern troll.

concern trolling

noun

‹informal› ‹derogatory› the action or practice of disingenuously expressing concern about an issue in order to undermine or derail genuine discussion

• every election we're subjected to left-wing concern trolling about the GOP coalition.

concert

I. noun — /ˈkänˌsərt /

1. a musical performance given in public, typically by several performers or of several separate compositions

• symphony concerts

• [as modifier] a concert pianist.

2. [as modifier] — of, relating to, or denoting the performance of music written for opera, ballet, or theater on its own without the accompanying dramatic action

• the concert version of the fourth interlude from the opera.

See also concert performance.

3. ‹formal› agreement, accordance, or harmony

• critics' inability to describe with any precision and concert the characteristics of literature.

II. verb — /kənˈsərt / [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› arrange (something) by mutual agreement or coordination

• they started meeting regularly to concert their tactics.

III. phrases

in concert

a. acting jointly

• he made his decision in concert with his son and son-in-law.

b. (of music or a performer) giving a public performance; live

• they saw Pink Floyd in concert.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘unite, cause to agree’): from French concerter, from Italian concertare ‘harmonize.’ The noun use, dating from the early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘a combination of voices or sounds’), is from French concert, from Italian concerto, from concertare.

concertante /ˌkänCHərˈtäntē, -ˌtā/

I. adjective

1. denoting a piece of music containing one or more solo parts, typically of less prominence or weight than in a concerto.
See also sinfonia concertante.

2. ‹chiefly historical› denoting prominent instrumental parts present throughout a piece of music, especially in baroque and early classical compositions.

– origin Italian,‘harmonizing,’ from concertare ‘harmonize.’

concert band

noun

a relatively large group of brass, woodwind, and percussion players that performs in a concert hall, as distinguished from a marching band.

concerted /kənˈsərdəd/

I. adjective

1. jointly arranged, planned, or carried out; coordinated

• determined to begin a concerted action against them.

2. strenuously carried out; done with great effort

• it would take a concerted effort for a burglar to break into my home.

3. (of music) arranged in several parts of equal importance

• concerted secular music for voices.

II. derivatives

concertedly

adverb

concertgoer /ˈkänsərtˌɡōər/

noun

a person who attends a concert, especially one who does so regularly.

concert grand /kənˈsərt ɡrand/

noun

the largest size of grand piano, up to 12 feet (2.75 m) long, that produces enough sound to be used for concerts in large halls.

concert hall

noun

a large public building designed for the performance of concerts.

concertina /ˌkänsərˈtēnə/

I. noun

1. a small musical instrument, typically polygonal in form, played by stretching and squeezing between the hands, to work a central bellows that blows air over reeds, each note being sounded by a button.
Compare with accordion.

2. [as modifier] — opening or closing in multiple folds

• concertina doors.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. extend, compress, or collapse in folds like those of a concertina
(as adj. concertinaed)

• big rolls of concertinaed wire

• ‹figurative› a request that the negotiations be concertinaed into a week-long session.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from concert + -ina.

concertino /ˌkän(t)SHərˈtēnō/

I. noun

1. a simple or short concerto.

2. a solo instrument or solo instruments playing with an orchestra.

– origin late 18th cent.: Italian, diminutive of concerto (see concerto).

concertize /ˈkänsərˌtīz/

verb — [no obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) give a concert or concerts.

concertmaster /ˈkänsərtˌmastər/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) the leading first-violin player in some orchestras.

concerto /kənˈCHerdō/

I. noun

a musical composition for a solo instrument or instruments accompanied by an orchestra, especially one conceived on a relatively large scale.

– origin early 18th cent.: Italian, from concertare ‘harmonize.’

concerto grosso /ˈɡrōsō, ˈɡrôsō/

I. noun

a musical composition for a group of solo instruments accompanied by an orchestra. The term is used mainly of baroque works.

– origin early 18th cent.: Italian, literally ‘big concerto.’

concert overture

noun

a piece of music in the style of an overture but intended for independent performance.

concert performance /kənˈsərt pərˈfôrməns/

noun

1. a performance of a piece of music written for an opera, ballet, religious service, etc., at a concert without the accompanying dramatic action, dance, or liturgy.

2. a performance of a piece of music at a live concert.

concert pianist

noun

a classical pianist who regularly performs as a soloist in concert performances.

concert pitch /kənˈsərt piCH/

noun

1. [Music] a standard for the tuning of musical instruments, internationally agreed upon in 1960, in which the note A above middle C has a frequency of 440 Hz.

2. [Music] a state of readiness, efficiency, and keenness

• slightly unnerved by the contretemps, I was not at concert pitch.

concession /kənˈseSHən/

I. noun

1. a thing that is granted, especially in response to demands; a thing conceded

• the strikers returned to work having won some concessions.

2. the action of conceding, granting, or yielding something.

3. (a concession to) — a gesture, especially a token one, made in recognition of a demand or prevailing standard

• her only concession to fashion was her ornate silver ring.

4. a preferential allowance or rate given by an organization

• tax concessions.

5. the right to use land or other property for a specified purpose, granted by a government, company, or other controlling body

• new logging concessions.

6. a commercial operation within the premises of a larger concern, typically selling refreshments

• operates the concessions at the stadium

• [as modifier] public restrooms and concession stands.

7. (Canadian) a piece of land into which surveyed land is divided, itself further divided into lots.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin concessio(n-), from the verb concedere (see concede).

concessionaire /kənˌseSHəˈner / concessioner

I. noun

the holder of a concession or grant, especially for the use of land or commercial premises.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French concessionnaire, from Latin concessio (see concession).

concessional /kənˈseSH(ə)n(ə)l/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of a rate or allowance) constituting a concession

• concessional and commercial types of loans.

concession road concession line

noun

(Canadian) a rural road separating concessions.

concessive /kənˈsesiv/

I. adjective

1. characterized by, or tending to concession

• we must look for a more concessive approach.

2. [Grammar] (of a preposition or conjunction) introducing a phrase or clause denoting a circumstance that might be expected to preclude the action of the main clause, but does not (e.g., in spite of, although).

3. (of a phrase or clause) introduced by a concessive preposition or conjunction.

– origin early 18th cent. (sense 2): from late Latin concessivus, from concess- ‘withdrawn, yielded’ (see concession).

conch /käNGk känCH/

I. noun

1. (also conch shell) — a tropical marine mollusk with a spiral shell that may bear long projections and have a flared lip.
[Strombus and other genera, family Strombidae, class Gastropoda.]

2. a conch shell blown like a trumpet to produce a musical note, often depicted as played by Tritons and other mythological figures.

3. [Architecture] the roof of a semicircular apse, shaped like half a dome.

4. another term for concha.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin concha ‘shellfish, shell,’ from Greek konkhē ‘mussel, cockle, or shell-like cavity.’

concha /ˈkäNGkə/

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] [Zoology] a body part that resembles a spiral shell, in particular

2. the depression in the external ear leading to its central opening.

3. (also nasal concha) — any of several thin, scroll-like (turbinate) bones in the sides of the nasal cavity.

4. a round or oval hammered metal disk used as decoration on jewelry, belts, harnesses, etc.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin (see conch).

conchie /ˈkän(t)SHē/

I. noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› ‹derogatory› a conscientious objector.

– origin World War I: abbreviation.

conchiferous /känˈCHifərəs/

adjective

producing, bearing, or characterized by the presence of shells.

conchiolin /käNGˈkīələn/

I. noun

[Zoology] a tough, insoluble protein secreted by mollusks, forming the organic matrix of the shell within which calcium carbonate is deposited.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin concha ‘shell’ + the diminutive suffix -iola + -in^1.

concho belt /ˈkän(t)SHō ˌbelt/

noun

a belt decorated with conchas or representations of them.

conchoid /ˈkäNGkoid/

I. noun

[Mathematics] a plane quartic curve consisting of two separate branches either side of and asymptotic to a central straight line (the asymptote), such that if a line is drawn from a fixed point (the pole) to intersect both branches, the part of the line falling between the two branches is of constant length and is exactly bisected by the asymptote.
[Such curves are represented by the general equation (x – a)2(x 2 + y 2) = b 2x 2, where a is the distance between the pole and the asymptote, and b is the constant length. The branch on the same side of the asymptote as the pole typically has a cusp or loop.]

– origin early 18th cent.: from conch + -oid.

conchoidal /käNGˈkoidl/

adjective

[chiefly Mineralogy] denoting a type of fracture in a solid (such as flint or quartz) that results in a smooth rounded surface resembling the shape of a scallop shell.

conchology /käNGˈkäləjē/

I. noun

the scientific study or collection of mollusk shells.
Compare with malacology.

II. derivatives

1. conchological /ˌkäNGkəˈläjikəl /

adjective

2. conchologist /käNGˈkäləjəst /

noun

– origin late 18th cent.: from Greek konkhē ‘shell’ + -logy.

concierge /kôːnˈsyerz/

I. noun

1. (especially in France) a caretaker of an apartment complex or a small hotel, typically one living on the premises.

2. a hotel employee whose job is to assist guests by arranging tours, making theater and restaurant reservations, etc.

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting the warden of a house, castle, prison, or royal palace): French, probably based on Latin conservus ‘fellow slave.’

conciliar /kənˈsilēər/

I. adjective

of, relating to, or proceeding from a council, especially an ecclesiastical one

• conciliar decrees.

– origin late 17th cent.: from medieval Latin consiliarius ‘counselor,’ from Latin concilium (see council).

conciliate /kənˈsilēˌāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. stop (someone) from being angry or discontented; placate; pacify

• concessions were made to conciliate the peasantry.

2. [no obj.] — act as a mediator

• he sought to conciliate in the dispute.

3. ‹formal› reconcile; make compatible

• all complaints about charges will be conciliated if possible.

4. ‹archaic› gain (esteem or goodwill)

• the arts which conciliate popularity.

II. derivatives

conciliative /kənˈsilēədiv /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent. (sense 2): from Latin conciliat- ‘combined, gained,’ from the verb conciliare, from concilium (see council).

conciliation /kənˌsilēˈāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action of stopping someone from being angry; placation

• he held his hands up in a gesture of conciliation.

2. the action of mediating between two disputing people or groups

• many disputes are settled through conciliation by the official body.

conciliator /kənˈsilēˌādər/

noun

a person who acts as a mediator between two disputing people or groups

• he was seen as a conciliator, who would heal divisions in the party.

conciliatory /kənˈsilēəˌtôrē/

I. adjective

intended or likely to placate or pacify

• a conciliatory approach.

II. derivatives

conciliatoriness

noun

concinnity /kənˈsinədē/

I. noun

1. ‹rare› the skillful and harmonious arrangement or fitting together of the different parts of something.

2. ‹rare› studied elegance of literary or artistic style.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin concinnitas, from concinnus ‘skillfully put together.’

concise /kənˈsīs/

I. adjective

giving a lot of information clearly and in a few words; brief but comprehensive

• a concise account of the country's history.

II. derivatives

1. conciseness /kənˈsīsnəs /

noun

2. concision /-ˈsiZHən /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from French concis or Latin concisus, past participle of concidere ‘cut up, cut down,’ from con- ‘completely’ + caedere ‘to cut.’

concisely /kənˈsīslē/

adverb

in a way that is brief but comprehensive

• his main objections to it can be concisely summarized.

conclave /ˈkänˌklāv/

I. noun

1. a private meeting.

2. (in the Roman Catholic Church) the assembly of cardinals for the election of a pope.

3. the meeting place for a conclave.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a private room): via French from Latin conclave ‘lockable room,’ from con- ‘with’ + clavis ‘key.’

conclude /kənˈklo͞od/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — bring (something) to an end

• they conclude their study with these words

• [no obj.] we concluded by singing carols.

2. [no obj.] — come to an end

• the talk concluded with slides.

3. formally and finally settle or arrange (a treaty or agreement)

• an attempt to conclude a ceasefire.

4. arrive at a judgment or opinion by reasoning

• the doctors concluded that Esther had suffered a stroke

• what do you conclude from all this?

5. say in conclusion

• “It's a wicked old world,” she concluded.

6. [with infinitive] — (US) ‹dated› decide to do something

• I concluded to go without his knowledge.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘convince’): from Latin concludere, from con- ‘completely’ + claudere ‘to shut.’

conclusion /kənˈklo͞oZHən/

I. noun

1. the end or finish of an event or process

• the conclusion of World War Two.

2. the summing-up of an argument or text.

3. the settling or arrangement of a treaty or agreement

• the conclusion of a free-trade accord.

4. a judgment or decision reached by reasoning

• each research group came to a similar conclusion.

5. [Logic] a proposition that is reached from given premises.

II. phrases

1. in conclusion

lastly; to sum up

• in conclusion it is clear that the market is maturing.

2. jump (or leap) to conclusions (or the conclusion)

make a hasty judgment before learning or considering all the facts.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin conclusio(n-), from the verb concludere (see conclude).

conclusive /kənˈklo͞osiv kənˈklo͞oziv/

I. adjective

1. (of evidence or argument) serving to prove a case; decisive or convincing

• conclusive evidence

• the findings were by no means conclusive.

2. (of a victory) achieved easily or by a large margin.

II. derivatives

conclusiveness /kənˈklo͞osivnəs kənˈklo͞ozivnəs /

noun

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘summing up, concluding’): from late Latin conclusivus, from Latin conclus- ‘closed up,’ from the verb concludere (see conclusion).

conclusively /kənˈklo͞osivlē/

adverb

1. in a decisive way that has the effect of proving a case

• the story had been conclusively debunked

• I have shown conclusively that there was no such epidemic.

2. in a way that is achieved easily or by a large margin

• wars are difficult to win conclusively.

concoct /kənˈkäkt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (a dish or meal) by combining various ingredients

• they concoct relish from corn that is so naturally sweet no extra sugar is needed.

2. create or devise (said especially of a story or plan)

• they concocted a preposterous but entertaining story.

II. derivatives

concocter

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin concoct-, literally ‘cooked together,’ from concoquere. The original sense was ‘refine or purify metals or minerals by heating,’ later ‘cook.’

concoction /kənˈkäkSH(ə)n/

noun

1. a mixture of various ingredients or elements

• a concoction of gables, shingles, stained glass, and towers inspired by English medieval houses.

2. an elaborate story, especially a fabrication

• her story is an improbable concoction.

concomitance /kənˈkämədəns/

I. noun

1. the fact of existing or occurring together with something else.

2. [Theology] the doctrine that the body and blood of Christ are each present in both the bread and the wine of the Eucharist.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from medieval Latin concomitantia, from the verb concomitari ‘accompany’ (see concomitant).

concomitant /kənˈkämədənt / ‹formal›

I. adjective

naturally accompanying or associated

• she loved travel, with all its concomitant worries

• concomitant with his obsession with dirt was a desire for order.

II. noun

a phenomenon that naturally accompanies or follows something

• some of us look on pain and illness as concomitants of the stresses of living.

III. derivatives

concomitantly

adverb

– origin early 17th cent.: from late Latin concomitant- ‘accompanying,’ from concomitari, from con- ‘together with’ + comitari, from Latin comes ‘companion.’

concord /ˈkäNGˌkôrd/

I. noun

1. ‹formal› agreement or harmony between people or groups

• a pact of peace and concord.

2. a treaty.

3. [Grammar] agreement between words in gender, number, case, person, or any other grammatical category that affects the forms of the words.

4. [Music] a chord that is pleasing or satisfactory in itself.

– origin Middle English: from Old French concorde, from Latin concordia, from concors ‘of one mind,’ from con- ‘together’ + cor, cord- ‘heart.’

Concord^1 /ˈkäNGkərd/

I. a city in north central California, northeast of Oakland; pop. 121,160 (est. 2008).

II. a town in northeastern Massachusetts; pop. 17,450 (est. 2008). Battles here and at Lexington in April 1775 marked the start of the American Revolution.

III. the capital of New Hampshire, in the southern part of the state, on the Merrimack River; pop. 42,255 (est. 2008).

IV. /ˈkäNGkôrd / — an industrial city in south central North Carolina, a textile center; pop. 66,311 (est. 2008).

Concord^2

noun

a variety of dessert grape developed at Concord, Massachusetts.

concordance /kənˈkôrdns/

I. noun

1. an alphabetical list of the words (especially the important ones) present in a text, usually with citations of the passages concerned

• a concordance to the Bible.

2. ‹formal› agreement

• the concordance between the teams' research results.

3. [Medicine] the inheritance by two related individuals (especially twins) of the same genetic characteristic, such as susceptibility to a disease.

II. verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. concordanced)

1. make a concordance of

• the value of concordanced information.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, from medieval Latin concordantia, from concordant- ‘being of one mind’ (see concordant).

concordant /kənˈkôrdnt/

I. adjective

1. in agreement; consistent

• the answers were roughly concordant.

2. [Geology] corresponding in direction with the planes of adjacent or underlying strata.

3. [Medicine] (of twins) inheriting the same genetic characteristic, such as susceptibility to a disease.

4. [Music] in harmony.

II. derivatives

concordantly

adverb

– origin late 15th cent.: via Old French from Latin concordant- ‘being of one mind,’ from the verb concordare (see concord).

concordat /kənˈkôrˌdat/

I. noun

an agreement or treaty, especially one between the Vatican and a secular government relating to matters of mutual interest.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French, or from Latin concordatum ‘something agreed upon,’ neuter past participle of concordare ‘be of one mind’ (see concord).

Concorde /ˈkäNGˌkôrd/

a supersonic airliner able to cruise at twice the speed of sound. Produced through Anglo-French cooperation, it made its maiden flight in 1969 and its last in 2003.

Concord grape

noun

a cultivated variety of fox grape, used to make wine, juice, and jellies.

Concordia /känˈkôrdēə/

a port city in northeastern Argentina, in a farming region of Entre Ríos province, on the Uruguay River and the border with Uruguay; pop. 144,900 (est. 2005).

concours /kōnˈko͝or / concours d'élégance

I. noun

an exhibition or contest, especially a parade of vintage or classic motor vehicles in which prizes are awarded for those in the best original condition.

– origin mid 20th cent.: French, literally ‘contest (of elegance).’

concourse /ˈkänˌkôrs/

I. noun

1. a large open area inside or in front of a public building, as in an airport or train station

• the domestic arrivals concourse.

2. ‹formal› a crowd or assembly of people

• a vast concourse of learned men.

3. the action of coming together or meeting

• the attracted concourse of the beauty and wealth of modern civilization.

4. another term for concours.

– origin late Middle English (sense 2): from Old French concours, from Latin concursus, from concurs- ‘run together, met,’ from the verb concurrere (see concur). Sense 1 (originally US) dates from the mid 19th cent.

concrescence /kənˈkresəns/

I. noun

[Biology] the coalescence or growing together of parts originally separate.

II. derivatives

concrescent /-ˈkresənt /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent. (in the senses ‘growth by assimilation’ and ‘a concretion’): from con- ‘together’ + -crescence, on the pattern of words such as excrescence. The current sense dates from the late 19th cent.

concrete /ˈkänˌkrēt ˌkänˈkrēt/

I. adjective

1. existing in a material or physical form; real or solid; not abstract

• concrete objects like stones

• it exists as a physically concrete form.

2. specific; definite

• I haven't got any concrete proof.

3. (of a noun) denoting a material object as opposed to an abstract quality, state, or action.

II. noun

a heavy, rough building material made from a mixture of broken stone or gravel, sand, cement, and water, that can be spread or poured into molds and that forms a stonelike mass on hardening

• slabs of concrete

• [as modifier] the concrete sidewalk.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. cover (an area) with concrete

• the precious English countryside may soon be concreted over.

2. [with obj.] — fix in position with concrete

• the post is concreted into the ground.

3. ‹archaic› form (something) into a mass; solidify

• the juices of the plants are concreted upon the surface.

4. make real or concrete instead of abstract

• concreting God into actual form.

IV. phrases

be set in concrete

(of a policy or idea) be fixed and unalterable

• I do not regard the Constitution as set in concrete.

V. derivatives

concreteness

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘formed by cohesion, solidified’): from French concret or Latin concretus, past participle of concrescere ‘grow together.’ Early use was also as a grammatical term designating a quality belonging to a substance (usually expressed by an adjective such as white in white paper) as opposed to the quality itself (expressed by an abstract noun such as whiteness); later concrete came to be used to refer to nouns embodying attributes (e.g., fool, hero), as opposed to the attributes themselves (e.g., foolishness, heroism), and this is the basis of the modern use as the opposite of ‘abstract’ The noun sense ‘building material’ dates from the mid 19th cent.

concrete jungle /ˌkänˈkrēt ˈjəNGɡəl/

noun

a modern city or urban area, especially when perceived as an unpleasant or challenging place to live.

concretely /ˌkənˈkrētlē/

adverb

1. in a definitive or conclusive way

• a very real need to think concretely about the issues.

2. in a way that is material or physical

• these moments are captured concretely and indelibly on film.

concrete mixer /ˌkänˈkrēt ˌmiksər/

noun

a cement mixer.

concrete music

noun

another term for musique concrète.

concrete poetry

noun

poetry in which the meaning or effect is conveyed partly or wholly by visual means, using patterns of words or letters and other typographical devices.

concrete universal

noun

(in idealist philosophy) an abstraction that is manifest in a developing or organized set of instances, so having the qualities of both the universal and the particular.

concretion /kənˈkrēSHən ˌkänˈkrēSHən/

I. noun

1. a hard solid mass formed by the local accumulation of matter, especially within the body or within a mass of sediment

• a mass of small concretions, each built up layer upon layer around some small nucleus.

2. the process by which matter forms into a concretion.

II. derivatives

concretionary /kənˈkrēSHəˌnerē /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin concretio(n-), from concrescere ‘grow together.’

concretism /känˈkrēˌtizəm, ˈkänkrē-/

noun

the theory or practice of concrete poetry, in which the visual arrangement of words in patterns or forms on the page takes precedence over the semantic or phonetic elements involved.

concretize /ˈkänkrəˌtīz, känˈkrētˌīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (an idea or concept) real; give specific or definite form to

• the theme park is an attempt to concretize our fantasies.

II. derivatives

concretization /ˌkänˌkrētəˈzāSHən, ˌkäNGkrətə- /

noun

concubinage /kənˈkyo͞obənij/

I. noun

1. ‹chiefly historical› the practice of keeping a concubine.

2. ‹chiefly historical› the state of being a concubine.

– origin late Middle English: from French, from Old French concubine (see concubine).

concubine /ˈkäNGkyəˌbīn/

I. noun

1. ‹chiefly historical› (in polygamous societies) a woman who lives with a man but has lower status than his wife or wives.

2. ‹chiefly historical› ‹archaic› a mistress.

II. derivatives

concubinary /kənˈkyo͞obəˌnerē /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French, from Latin concubina, from con- ‘with’ + cubare ‘to lie.’

concupiscence /känˈkyo͞opəsəns/

I. noun

‹formal› strong sexual desire; lust.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from late Latin concupiscentia, from Latin concupiscent- ‘beginning to desire,’ from the verb concupiscere, from con- (expressing intensive force) + cupere ‘to desire.’

concupiscent /känˈkyo͞opəsənt/

adjective

‹formal› filled with sexual desire; lustful

• concupiscent dreams.

concur /kənˈkər/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. be of the same opinion; agree

• the authors concurred with the majority

• they concurred in the creation of the disciplinary procedures

• “That's right,” the chairman concurred.

2. (concur with) — agree with (a decision, opinion, or finding)

• we strongly concur with this recommendation.

3. happen or occur at the same time; coincide

• in tests, cytogenetic determination has been found to concur with enzymatic determination.

– origin late Middle English (also in the senses ‘collide’ and ‘act in combination’): from Latin concurrere ‘run together, assemble in crowds,’ from con- ‘together with’ + currere ‘to run.’

concurrence /kənˈkərəns / concurrency

noun

1. the fact of two or more events or circumstances happening or existing at the same time

• the incidental concurrence of two separate tumors.

2. [Mathematics] a point at which three or more lines meet

• the number of possible concurrences in the diagram.

3. agreement or consistency

• delays can be avoided by arriving at political concurrence at the start

• we want the concurrence of law enforcement.

concurrent /kənˈkərənt/

I. adjective

1. existing, happening, or done at the same time

• there are three concurrent art fairs around the city.

2. (of two or more prison sentences) to be served at the same time.

3. [Mathematics] (of three or more lines) meeting at or tending toward one point.

II. derivatives

concurrency /-ˈkərənsē /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin concurrent- ‘running together, meeting,’ from the verb concurrere (see concur).

concurrently /kənˈkərən(t)lē/

adverb

at the same time; simultaneously

• journal articles published concurrently with the exhibition.

concurrent resolution

noun

a resolution adopted by both houses of a legislative assembly that does not require the signature of the chief executive and that does not have the force of law.

concuss /kənˈkəs/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. concussed)

1. hit the head of (a person or animal), causing temporary unconsciousness or confusion

• she was shaken, slightly concussed, and in no state to carry on.

II. derivatives

concussive /-ˈkəsiv /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘shake violently’): from Latin concuss- ‘dashed together, violently shaken,’ from the verb concutere, from con- ‘together’ + quatere ‘shake.’

concussion /kənˈkəSHən/

I. noun

1. temporary unconsciousness caused by a blow to the head. The term is also used loosely of the aftereffects such as confusion or temporary incapacity.

2. a violent shock as from a heavy blow

• the ground shuddered with the concussion of the blast.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin concussio(n-), from the verb concutere ‘dash together, shake’ (see concuss).

condemn /kənˈdem/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. express complete disapproval of, typically in public; censure

• fair-minded people declined to condemn her on mere suspicion.

2. sentence (someone) to a particular punishment, especially death

• the rebels had been condemned to death

• (as adj. condemned) the condemned men.

3. officially declare (something, especially a building) to be unfit for use

• the pool has been condemned as a health hazard.

4. prove or show the guilt of

• she could see in his eyes that her stumble had condemned her.

5. (of circumstances) force (someone) to endure something unpleasant or undesirable

• the physical ailments that condemned him to a lonely childhood.

II. derivatives

condemnable /kənˈdem(n)əb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin Middle English (sense 2): from Old French condemner, from Latin condemnare, from con- (expressing intensive force) + damnare ‘inflict loss on’ (see damn).

condemnation /ˌkändəmˈnāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the expression of very strong disapproval; censure

• there was strong international condemnation of the attack.

2. the action of condemning someone to a punishment; sentencing.

condemnatory /ˌkənˈdemnəˌtôrē/

adjective

expressing strong disapproval; censorious

• condemnatory statements.

condensate /ˈkändənˌsāt ˈkänˌdenˌsāt kənˈdenˌsāt/

noun

1. liquid formed by condensation.

2. [Chemistry] a compound produced by a condensation reaction.

condensation /ˌkänˌdenˈsāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. water that collects as droplets on a cold surface when humid air is in contact with it.

2. the conversion of a vapor or gas to a liquid.

3. (also condensation reaction) — [Chemistry] a reaction in which two molecules combine to form a larger molecule, producing a small molecule such as H_2O as a byproduct.

4. [Psychology] the fusion of two or more images, ideas, or symbolic meanings into a single composite or new image, as a primary process in unconscious thought exemplified in dreams.

5. a concise version of something, especially a text

• a readable condensation of the recent literature.

– origin early 17th cent.: from late Latin condensatio(n-), from condensare ‘press close together’ (see condense).

condense /kənˈdens/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — make (something) denser or more concentrated

• the limestones of the Jurassic age are condensed into a mere 11 feet.

2. express (a piece of writing or speech) in fewer words; make concise

• he condensed the three plays into a three-hour drama.

3. change or cause to change from a gas or vapor to a liquid
[no obj.]

• the moisture vapor in the air condenses into droplets of water

• [with obj.] the cold air was condensing his breath.

II. derivatives

condensable /kənˈdensəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French condenser or Latin condensare, from condensus ‘very thick,’ from con- ‘completely’ + densus ‘dense.’

condensed /kənˈdenst/

adjective

1. made denser or more concise; compressed or concentrated

• a condensed version of the report.

2. (of a liquid) concentrated by the removal of water

• condensed soup.

3. changed from a gas or vapor to a liquid

• droplets of condensed moisture.

condensed milk /kənˈdenst milk/

noun

canned milk that has been thickened by evaporation and sweetened.

condensed tannin

noun

any of various tannins with antioxidant properties occurring naturally in plants, comprising polymers of flavonoids linked by a carbon-to-carbon bond.

condenser /kənˈdensər/

noun

1. an apparatus or container for condensing vapor.

2. a lens or system of lenses for collecting and directing light.

3. another term for capacitor.

condescend /ˌkändəˈsend/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. show feelings of superiority; be patronizing

• take care not to condescend to your reader.

2. do something in a haughty way, as though it is below one's dignity or level of importance

• we'll be waiting for twenty minutes before she condescends to appear.

II. derivatives

condescendence /ˌkändəˈsend(ə)ns /

noun

( — ‹rare›

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘give way, defer’): from Old French condescendre, from ecclesiastical Latin condescendere, from con- ‘together’ + descendere ‘descend.’

condescending /ˌkändəˈsendiNG/

I. adjective

having or showing a feeling of patronizing superiority

• she thought the teachers were arrogant and condescending

• a condescending smile.

II. derivatives

condescendingly /ˌkändəˈsendiNGlē /

adverb

condescension /ˌkändəˈsen(t)SH(ə)n/

noun

an attitude of patronizing superiority; disdain

• a tone of condescension

• I'm treated with condescension.

condign /kənˈdīn/

I. adjective

‹formal› (of punishment or retribution) appropriate to the crime or wrongdoing; fitting and deserved.

II. derivatives

condignly

adverb

– origin late Middle English (in the general sense ‘worthy, appropriate’): from Old French condigne, from Latin condignus, from con- ‘altogether’ + dignus ‘worthy.’

condiment /ˈkändəmənt/

I. noun

a substance such as salt or ketchup that is used to add flavor to food.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin condimentum, from condire ‘to pickle.’

condition /kənˈdiSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the state of something, especially with regard to its appearance, quality, or working order

• the wiring is in good condition

• [in sing.] the bridge is in an extremely dangerous condition.

2. a person's or animal's state of health or physical fitness

• he is in fairly good condition considering what he has has been through

• [in sing.] she was in a serious condition.

3. an illness or other medical problem

• a heart condition.

4. [in sing.] — a particular state of existence

• a condition of misery.

5. ‹archaic› social position or rank

• those of humbler condition.

6. (conditions) — the circumstances affecting the way in which people live or work, especially with regard to their safety or well-being

• harsh working and living conditions.

7. the factors or prevailing situation influencing the performance or the outcome of a process

• present market conditions.

8. the prevailing state of the weather, ground, sea, or atmosphere at a particular time, especially as it affects a sporting event

• the appalling conditions determined the style of play.

9. a state of affairs that must exist or be brought about before something else is possible or permitted

• for a member to borrow money, three conditions have to be met

• all personnel should comply with this policy as a condition of employment

• I'll accept your offer on one condition.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. have a significant influence on or determine (the manner or outcome of something)

• national choices are conditioned by the international political economy.

2. train or accustom (someone or something) to behave in a certain way or to accept certain circumstances

• we have all been conditioned to the conventional format of TV

• the child is conditioned to dislike food

• (as noun conditioning) the program examines aspects of social conditioning.

3. bring (something) into the desired state for use

• a product for conditioning leather.

4. (often as adj. conditioned) — make (a person or animal) fit and healthy

• he was six feet two of perfectly conditioned muscle and bone.

5. apply something to (the skin or hair) to give it a healthy or attractive look or feel

• I condition my hair regularly.

6. (often as adj. conditioned) — bring (beer or stout) to maturation after fermentation while the yeast is still present

• cask-conditioned real ales.

7. [no obj.] — (of a beer or stout) undergo conditioning

• brews that are allowed to condition in the bottle.

8. set prior requirements on (something) before it can occur or be done

• Congressmen have sought to limit and condition military and economic aid.

III. phrases

1. in (or out of) condition

in a fit (or unfit) physical state.

2. in no condition to do something

certainly not fit or well enough to do something

• you're in no condition to tackle the stairs.

3. on condition that

with the stipulation that

• he proposed deep cuts in offensive forces, on condition that an agreement be reached.

– origin Middle English: from Old French condicion (noun), condicionner (verb), from Latin condicio(n-) ‘agreement,’ from condicere ‘agree upon,’ from con- ‘with’ + dicere ‘say.’

conditional /kənˈdiSH(ə)n(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. subject to one or more conditions or requirements being met; made or granted on certain terms

• Western aid was only granted conditional on further reform

• the consortium has made a conditional offer.

2. [Grammar] (of a clause, phrase, conjunction, or verb form) expressing a condition.

II. noun

1. [Grammar] [Philosophy] a conditional clause or conjunction.

2. a statement or sentence containing a conditional clause.

3. [Grammar] the conditional mood of a verb, for example should die in if I should die.

III. derivatives

conditionality /kənˌdiSHəˈnalədē /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French condicionel or late Latin condicionalis, from condicio(n-) ‘agreement’ (see condition).

conditionally /kənˈdiSH(ə)nəlē/

adverb

in a way that is subject to one or more conditions or requirements being met

• they conditionally approved the proposal

• he conditionally accepted the job.

conditional probability

noun

[Statistics] the probability of an event (A), given that another (B) has already occurred.

conditional sale /kənˈdiSHənl kənˈdiSHnəl sāl/

noun

the sale of goods according to a contract containing conditions, typically that ownership does not pass to the buyer until after a set time, usually after payment of the last installment of the purchase price, although the buyer has possession and is committed to acquiring ownership.

conditioned response conditioned reflex

noun

[Psychology] an automatic response established by training to an ordinarily neutral stimulus.
See also classical conditioning.

conditioner /kənˈdiSH(ə)nər/

noun

1. a substance or appliance used to improve or maintain something's condition

• add a water conditioner to neutralize chlorine.

2. a liquid applied to the hair after shampooing to improve its condition

• conditioner will protect your hair from damage.

condo /ˈkändō/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› short for condominium (sense 1):

• a high-rise condo.

condole /kənˈdōl/

I. verb — [no obj.] (condole with)

1. express sympathy for (someone); grieve with

• the priest came to condole with Madeleine.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Christian Latin condolere, from con- ‘with’ + dolere ‘grieve, suffer.’

condolence /kənˈdōləns/

I. noun — (usu. condolences)

1. an expression of sympathy, especially on the occasion of a death

• we offer our sincere condolences to his widow

• letters of condolence.

– origin early 17th cent.: from condole, influenced by French condoléance.

condom /ˈkändəm/

I. noun

a thin rubber sheath worn on a man's penis during sexual intercourse as a contraceptive or as protection against infection.

– origin early 18th cent.: of unknown origin; often said to be named after a physician who invented it, but no such person has been traced.

condominium /ˌkändəˈminēəm/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a building or complex of buildings containing a number of individually owned apartments or houses.

2. each of the individual apartments or houses in a condominium complex.

3. the system of ownership by which condominiums operate, in which owners have full title to the individual apartment or house and an undivided interest in the shared parts of the property.

4. the joint control of a country's or territory's affairs by other countries.

5. a state so governed.

– origin early 18th cent.: modern Latin, from con- ‘together with’ + dominium ‘right of ownership’ (see dominion). Sense 1 dates from the 1960s.

condone /kənˈdōn/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. accept and allow (behavior that is considered morally wrong or offensive) to continue

• the college cannot condone any behavior that involves illicit drugs.

2. approve or sanction (something), especially with reluctance

• the practice is not officially condoned by any airline.

II. derivatives

1. condonable /kənˈdōnəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. condonation /kənˌdōˈnāSH(ə)n /

noun

3. condoner

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin condonare ‘refrain from punishing,’ from con- ‘altogether’ + donare ‘give.’

condor /ˈkänˌdôr ˈkänˌdər/

I. noun

a large New World vulture with a bare head and mainly black plumage, living in mountainous country and spending much time soaring.
[Two species in the family Cathartidae: the Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) of South America, and the California condor (Gymnogyps californianus), which is close to extinction in the wild.]

– origin early 17th cent.: from Spanish cóndor, from Quechua kuntur.

condottiere /ˌkändätēˈerē, ˌkändəˈtyerē/

I. noun

‹historical› a leader or a member of a troop of mercenaries, especially in Italy.

– origin Italian, from condotto ‘troop under contract,’ from condotta ‘a contract,’ from condurre ‘conduct,’ from Latin conducere (see conduct).

conduce /kənˈd(y)o͞os/

I. verb — [no obj.] (conduce to)

1. ‹formal› help to bring about (a particular situation or outcome)

• every possible care was taken that could conduce to their health and comfort.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘lead or bring’): from Latin conducere ‘bring together’ (see conduct).

conducive /kənˈd(y)o͞osiv/

I. adjective

making a certain situation or outcome likely or possible

• the harsh lights and cameras were hardly conducive to a relaxed atmosphere.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from conduce, on the pattern of words such as conductive.

conduct

I. noun — /ˈkänˌdəkt /

1. the manner in which a person behaves, especially on a particular occasion or in a particular context

• the conduct of the police during the riot

• members are bound by a code of conduct.

2. the action or manner of managing an activity or organization

• his conduct of the campaign.

3. ‹archaic› the action of leading; guidance

• traveling through the world under the conduct of chance.

II. verb — /kənˈdəkt / [with obj.]

1. organize and carry out

• in the second trial he conducted his own defense

• surveys conducted among students.

2. direct the performance of (a piece of music or a musical ensemble)

• my first attempt to conduct a great work

• [no obj.] Toscanini is coming to conduct.

3. lead or guide (someone) to or around a particular place

• he conducted us through his personal gallery of the Civil War.

4. [Physics] transmit (a form of energy such as heat or electricity) by conduction

• heat is conducted to the surface.

5. (conduct oneself) — behave in a specified way

• he conducted himself with the utmost propriety.

III. derivatives

1. conductible /kənˈdəktəbəl /

adjective

2. conductibility /kənˌdəktəˈbilədē /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French, from Latin conduct- ‘brought together,’ from the verb conducere. The term originally denoted some provision for safe passage, such as an escort or pass, surviving in safe conduct; later the verb sense ‘lead, guide’ arose, hence ‘manage’ and ‘management’ (late Middle English), later ‘management of oneself, behavior’ (mid 16th cent). The original form of the word was conduit, which was preserved only in the sense ‘channel’ (see conduit); in all other uses the spelling was influenced by Latin.

conductance /kənˈdəktəns/

noun

the degree to which an object conducts electricity, calculated as the ratio of the current that flows to the potential difference present. This is the reciprocal of the resistance, and is measured in siemens or mhos. .

conduct disorder

noun

(chiefly US) a range of antisocial types of behavior displayed in childhood or adolescence.

conduction /kənˈdəkSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the process by which heat or electricity is directly transmitted through a substance when there is a difference of temperature or of electrical potential between adjoining regions, without movement of the material.

2. the process by which sound waves travel through a medium.

3. the transmission of impulses along nerves.

4. the conveying of fluid through a pipe or other channel.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the senses ‘provision for safe passage’ and ‘leadership’): from Latin conductio(n-), from the verb conducere (see conduct).

conduction band

noun

[Physics] a delocalized band of energy partly filled with electrons in a crystalline solid. These electrons have great mobility and are responsible for electrical conductivity.

conductive /kənˈdəktiv/

I. adjective

1. having the property of conducting something (especially heat or electricity)

• to induce currents in conductive coils.

2. of or relating to conduction.

II. derivatives

conductively

adverb

conductivity /ˌkänˌdəkˈtivədē/

noun

1. the degree to which a specified material conducts electricity, calculated as the ratio of the current density in the material to the electric field that causes the flow of current. It is the reciprocal of the resistivity.

2. (also thermal conductivity) — the rate at which heat passes through a specified material, expressed as the amount of heat that flows per unit time through a unit area with a temperature gradient of one degree per unit distance.

conductor /kənˈdəktər/

I. noun

1. a person who directs the performance of an orchestra or choir

• he was appointed principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

2. (N. Amer.) a person in charge of a train, streetcar, or other public conveyance, who collects fares and sells tickets.

3. [Physics] a material or device that conducts or transmits heat, electricity, or sound, especially when regarded in terms of its capacity to do this

• graphite is a reasonably good conductor of electricity.

4. another term for lightning rod.

II. derivatives

1. conductorial /ˌkänˌdəkˈtôrēəl, kən- /

adjective

2. conductorship /kənˈdəktərˌSHip /

noun

conductor (sense 1)

– origin late Middle English (denoting a military leader): via Old French from Latin conductor, from conducere ‘bring together’ (see conduct).

conductress /kənˈdəktrəs/

noun

a female conductor, especially in a bus or other passenger vehicle.

conductus /kənˈdəktəs/

I. noun

a musical setting of a metrical Latin text, of the 12th or 13th century.

– origin from medieval Latin, from Latin conducere ‘bring together’ (see conduct).

conduit /ˈkänˌd(y)o͞oət/

I. noun

1. a channel for conveying water or other fluid

• a conduit for conveying water to the power plant.

2. a person or organization that acts as a channel for the transmission of something

• the office acts as a conduit for ideas to flow throughout the organization.

3. a tube or trough for protecting electric wiring

• the gas pipe should not be close to any electrical conduit.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, from medieval Latin conductus, from Latin conducere ‘bring together’ (see conduct).

condylarth /ˈkändəˌlärTH/

I. noun

a fossil herbivorous mammal of the early Tertiary period, ancestral to the ungulates.
[Order Condylarthra: several families.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Condylarthra (plural), from Greek kondulos ‘knuckle’ + arthron ‘joint.’

condyle /ˈkändīl/

I. noun

[Anatomy] a rounded protuberance at the end of some bones, forming an articulation with another bone.

II. derivatives

1. condylar /ˈkändələr /

adjective

2. condyloid /ˈkändəˌloid /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, from Latin condylus, from Greek kondulos ‘knuckle.’

condyloma /ˌkändəˈlōmə/

I. noun

[Medicine] a raised growth on the skin resembling a wart, typically in the genital region, caused by viral infection or syphilis and transmissible by contact.

II. derivatives

condylomatous /-mətəs /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: via Latin from Greek kondulōma ‘callous lump,’ from kondulos ‘knuckle.’

cone /kōn/

I. noun

1. a solid or hollow object that tapers from a circular or roughly circular base to a point.

2. [Mathematics] a surface or solid figure generated by the straight lines that pass from a circle or other closed curve to a single point (the vertex) not in the same plane as the curve. A cone with the vertex perpendicularly over the center of a circular base is a right circular cone.

3. (also traffic cone) — a plastic cone-shaped object that is used to separate off or close sections of a road.

4. an edible wafer container shaped like a cone in which ice cream is served.

5. a conical mountain or peak, especially one of volcanic origin.

6. (also pyrometric cone) — a ceramic pyramid that melts at a known temperature and is used to indicate the temperature of a kiln.

7. short for cone shell.

8. the dry fruit of a conifer, typically tapering to a rounded end and formed of a tight array of overlapping scales on a central axis that separate to release the seeds.

9. a flower resembling a pine cone, especially that of the hop plant.

10. [Anatomy] a light-sensitive cell of one of the two types present in the retina of the eye, responding mainly to bright light and responsible for sharpness of vision and color perception.
Compare with rod (sense 5).

– origin late Middle English (denoting an apex or vertex): from French cône, via Latin from Greek kōnos.

coned /kōnd/

adjective

1. conical.

2. having cones
[in combination]

• the big-coned southern California pine.

coneflower /ˈkōnˌflou(ə)r/

noun

a North American plant of the daisy family that has flowers with conelike disks that appear to consist of soft spines.
[Rudbeckia, Echinacea, and other genera, family Compositae: numerous species, including the yellow-flowered sweet coneflower (R. subtomentosa), the purple coneflower (E. purpurea) with swept-back reddish-purple petals, and the tall green-headed coneflower (R. laciniata) with yellow petals and greenish disks.]

cone of silence

I. noun

1. an imaginary device that prevents eavesdropping on a private conversation.

2. an electronic device or isolated room intended for the same purpose.

3. a directive that prohibits oral communication about a specified subject.

4. an agreement or conspiracy to maintain secrecy about a subject.

– origin 1960s: originally a fantasy prop in the television series Get Smart.

cone-shaped

adjective

having the shape of a cone, tapering from a round base to a point

• the ants construct cone-shaped mounds of soil.

cone shell

noun

shell a predatory mollusk of warm seas, with a conical shell that typically displays intricate patterns. It captures prey by injecting venom, which can be lethal to humans, and the shells are popular with collectors.
[Genus Conus, family Conidae, class Gastropoda: numerous species.]

Conestoga wagon /ˌkänəˈstōɡə ˌwaɡən/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹historical› a large covered wagon used for long-distance travel, typically carrying pioneers in the westward migration.

– origin early 18th cent.: named after Conestoga, a town in Pennsylvania.

conex /ˈkänˌeks/

I. noun

a large, steel-reinforced reusable container for shipping military cargo or, when modified, for use as temporary accommodations

• they told us we'd be staying in luxury air-conditioned conexes.

– origin acronym from container express.

coney /ˈkōnē / cony

I. noun

1. (Brit.) [Heraldry] a rabbit.

2. rabbit fur.

3. (N. Amer.) a pika.

4. (in biblical use) a hyrax.

5. a small grouper (fish) found on the coasts of the tropical western Atlantic, with variable coloration.
[Epinephelus fulvus, family Serranidae.]

– origin Middle English: from Old French conin, from Latin cuniculus.

Coney Island /ˌkōnē ˈīlənd/

a resort and amusement park in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, on the southern shore of Long Island.

confab ‹informal›

I. noun — /ˈkänfab kənˈfab /

1. an informal private conversation or discussion

• they wandered off to the woods for a private confab.

2. (N. Amer.) a meeting or conference of members of a particular group

• this year's annual American Booksellers Association confab.

II. verb — /ˈkänfab kənˈfab / [no obj.]

1. engage in informal private conversation

• Peter was confabbing with a curly-haired guy.

– origin early 18th cent.: abbreviation of confabulation (see confabulate).

confabulate /kənˈfabyəˌlāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹formal› engage in conversation; talk

• she could be heard on the telephone confabulating with someone.

2. [Psychiatry] fabricate imaginary experiences as compensation for loss of memory.

II. derivatives

1. confabulation /kənˌfabyəˈlāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. confabulatory /kənˈfabyələˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin confabulat- ‘chatted together,’ from the verb confabulari, from con- ‘together’ + fabulari (from fabula ‘fable’).

confect /kənˈfekt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› make (something) by putting together various elements

• together they had confected a valiseful of show tunes.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin confect- ‘put together,’ from the verb conficere, from con- ‘together’ + facere ‘make.’

confection /kənˈfekSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a dish or delicacy made with sweet ingredients

• a whipped chocolate and cream confection.

2. an elaborately constructed thing, especially a frivolous one

• the city is a classical confection of shimmering gold.

3. a fashionable or elaborate article of women's dress

• she was wearing some white confection with an enormous satin bow.

4. the action of mixing or compounding something.

II. derivatives

confectionary /kənˈfekSHəˌnerē /

adjective

– origin Middle English (in the general sense ‘something made by mixing,’ especially a medicinal preparation): via Old French from Latin confectio(n-), from conficere ‘put together’ (see confect).

confectioner /kənˈfekSH(ə)nər/

noun

a person whose occupation is making or selling candy and other sweets.

confectioners sugar confectioner's sugar

noun

(US) finely powdered sugar with cornstarch added, used for making icings and candy.

confectionery /kənˈfekSHəˌnerē/

noun

1. candy and other sweets considered collectively.

2. a shop that sells candy and other sweets.

confederacy /kənˈfed(ə)rəsē/

I. noun

1. a league or alliance, especially of confederate states.

2. (the Confederacy) — another term for Confederate States of America.

3. an alliance of people or groups formed for an illicit purpose.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French confederacie, based on Latin confoederare ‘join together in league’ (see confederation).

confederal /kənˈfedərəl/

I. adjective

relating to or denoting a confederation.

– origin late 18th cent.: from confederation, on the pattern of federal.

confederate

I. adjective — /kənˈfed(ə)rət /

1. joined by an agreement or treaty

• some local groups united to form confederate councils.

2. (Confederate) — of or relating to the Confederate States of America

• the Confederate flag.

II. noun — /kənˈfed(ə)rət /

1. a person one works with, especially in something secret or illegal; an accomplice

• where was his confederate, the girl who had stolen Richard's wallet?

2. (Confederate) — a supporter of the Confederate States of America.

III. verb — /kənˈfedəˌrāt / [with obj.] (usu. as adj. confederated)

1. bring (states or groups of people) into an alliance

• Switzerland is a model for the new confederated Europe.

– origin late Middle English: from late (ecclesiastical) Latin confoederatus, from con- ‘together’ + foederatus (see federate).

Confederate States of America the Confederacy

the eleven southern states (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia) that seceded from the US in 1860–61, thus precipitating the Civil War.

confederation /kənˌfedəˈrāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. an organization that consists of a number of parties or groups united in an alliance or league

• a confederation of trade unions.

2. a more or less permanent union of countries with some or most political power vested in a central authority

• Canada became a confederation in 1867.

3. the action of confederating or the state of being confederated

• a referendum on confederation.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French confederacion or late Latin confederatio(n-), from Latin confoederare, from con- ‘together’ + foederare ‘join in league with’ (from foedus ‘league, treaty’).

confer /kənˈfər/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — grant or bestow (a title, degree, benefit, or right)

• moves were made to confer an honorary degree on her.

2. [no obj.] — have discussions; exchange opinions

• the officials were conferring with allies.

II. derivatives

1. conferment /kənˈfərmənt /

noun

confer (sense 1)

2. conferrable /kənˈfərəb(ə)l /

adjective

3. conferral /-ˈfərəl /

noun

confer (sense 1)

– origin late Middle English (in the general sense ‘bring together,’ also sense 2): from Latin conferre, from con- ‘together’ + ferre ‘bring.’

conferee /ˌkänfəˈrē/

noun

1. a person who attends a conference.

2. a person on whom something is conferred.

conference /ˈkänf(ə)rəns/

I. noun

1. a formal meeting for discussion

• he gathered all the men around the table for a conference.

2. a formal meeting that typically takes place over a number of days and involves people with a shared interest, especially one held regularly by an association or organization

• an international conference on the environment

• the third annual National Wilderness Conference.

3. [usu. as modifier] — a linking of several telephones or computers, so that each user may communicate with the others simultaneously

• a conference call.

4. an association of sports teams that play each other.

5. the governing body of some Christian churches, especially the Methodist Church.

II. verb — [no obj.] (usu. as noun conferencing)

1. take part in a conference or conference call

• video conferencing.

III. phrases

in conference

in a meeting; engaged in discussions.

– origin early 16th cent. (in the general sense ‘conversation, talk’): from French conférence or medieval Latin conferentia, from Latin conferre ‘bring together’ (see confer).

Conference on Disarmament

a committee of 65 member nations that seeks to negotiate multilateral disarmament.

confess /kənˈfes/

I. verb — [reporting verb]

1. admit or state that one has committed a crime or is at fault in some way
[with clause]

• he confessed that he had attacked the old man

• [no obj.] he wants to confess to Caroline's murder

• [with direct speech] “I damaged your car,” she confessed

• [with obj.] once apprehended, they would confess their guilt.

2. admit or acknowledge something reluctantly, typically because one feels slightly ashamed or embarrassed
[with clause]

• I must confess that I was slightly surprised

• [no obj.] he confessed to a lifelong passion for food

• [with direct speech] “I needed to see you, too,” he confessed.

3. [with obj.] — declare (one's religious faith)

• 150 people confessed faith in Christ.

4. declare one's sins formally to a priest
[with obj.]

• I could not confess all my sins to the priest

• [no obj.] he gave himself up after confessing to a priest.

5. [with obj.] — (of a priest) hear the confession of (someone)

• St. Ambrose would weep bitter tears when confessing a sinner.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French confesser, from Latin confessus, past participle of confiteri ‘acknowledge,’ from con- (expressing intensive force) + fateri ‘declare, avow.’

confessant /kənˈfes(ə)nt/

noun

a person who confesses to a priest; a penitent.

confessedly /kənˈfesədlē/

adverb

by one's own admission

• many therapists have had clients who, confessedly or otherwise, have fallen in love with them.

confession /kənˈfeSHən/

I. noun

1. a formal statement admitting that one is guilty of a crime

• he signed a confession to the murders.

2. an admission or acknowledgment that one has done something that one is ashamed or embarrassed about

• by his own confession, he had strayed perilously close to alcoholism.

3. a formal admission of one's sins with repentance and desire of absolution, especially privately to a priest as a religious duty

• she still had not been to confession.

See also sacrament of reconciliation.

4. (confessions) — ‹often humorous› intimate revelations about a person's private life or occupation, especially as presented in a sensationalized form in a book, newspaper, or movie

• confessions of a driving instructor.

5. (also confession of faith) — a statement setting out essential religious doctrine.

6. (also Confession) — the religious body or church sharing a confession of faith.

7. a statement of one's principles

• his words are a political confession of faith.

II. derivatives

confessionary /kənˈfeSHəˌnerē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin confessio(n-), from confiteri ‘acknowledge’ (see confess).

confessional /kənˈfeSH(ə)n(ə)l/

I. noun

1. an enclosed stall in a church divided by a screen or curtain in which a priest sits to hear people confess their sins.

2. an admission or acknowledgment that one has done something that one is ashamed or embarrassed about; a confession.

II. adjective

1. (especially of speech or writing) in which a person reveals or admits to private thoughts or past incidents, especially ones that cause shame or embarrassment

• the autobiography is remarkably confessional

• his confessional outpourings.

2. of or relating to religious confession

• the priest leaned forward in his best confessional manner.

3. of or relating to confessions of faith or doctrinal systems

• the confessional approach to religious education.

– origin late Middle English (as an adjective): the adjective from confession + -al; the noun via French from Italian confessionale, from medieval Latin, neuter of confessionalis, from Latin confessio(n-), from confiteri ‘acknowledge’ (see confess).

confessor /kənˈfesər/

I. noun

1. a priest who hears confessions and gives absolution and spiritual counsel.

2. a person to whom another confides personal problems.

3. a person who avows religious faith in the face of opposition, but does not suffer martyrdom.

4. a person who makes a confession.

– origin Old English (sense 2): from Old French confessour, from ecclesiastical Latin confessor, from Latin confess- ‘acknowledged’ (see confess).

confetti /kənˈfedē/

I. noun

small pieces of colored paper thrown during a celebration such as a wedding.

– origin early 19th cent. (originally denoting the real or imitation sweets thrown during Italian carnivals): from Italian, literally ‘sweets,’ from Latin confectum ‘something prepared,’ neuter past participle of conficere ‘put together’ (see confect).

confidant /ˈkänfəˌdant ˈkänfəˌdänt/

I. noun

a person with whom one shares a secret or private matter, trusting them not to repeat it to others.

– origin mid 17th cent.: alteration of confident (as a noun in the same sense in the early 17th cent.), probably to represent the pronunciation of French confidente ‘having full trust.’

confide /kənˈfīd/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. tell someone about a secret or private matter while trusting them not to repeat it to others

• he confided his fears to his mother

• “I have been afraid,” she confided

• the judge confided that he had been swayed by the sister of the accused.

2. [no obj.] (confide in) — trust (someone) enough to tell them of a secret or private matter

• he confided in friends that he and his wife planned to separate.

3. (confide something to) — ‹dated› entrust something to (someone) for safekeeping

• the property of others confided to their care was unjustifiably risked.

II. derivatives

confidingly /kənˈfīdiNGlē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘place trust (in)’): from Latin confidere ‘have full trust.’ The sense ‘impart as a secret’ dates from the mid 18th cent.

confidence /ˈkänfədəns/

I. noun

1. the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something; firm trust

• we had every confidence in the staff

• he had gained the young man's confidence.

2. the state of feeling certain about the truth of something

• it is not possible to say with confidence how much of the increase in sea levels is due to melting glaciers.

3. a feeling of self-assurance arising from one's appreciation of one's own abilities or qualities

• she's brimming with confidence

• [in sing.] he would walk up those steps with a confidence he didn't feel.

4. the telling of private matters or secrets with mutual trust

• someone with whom you may raise your suspicions in confidence.

5. (often confidences) — a secret or private matter told to someone under a condition of trust

• the girls exchanged confidences about their parents.

II. phrases

1. in someone's confidence

in a position of trust with someone.

2. take someone into one's confidence

tell someone one's secrets.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin confidentia, from confidere ‘have full trust’ (see confident).

confidence game /ˈkänfəd(ə)ns ɡām / ‹Brit.› confidence trick

I. noun

a swindle in which the victim is persuaded to trust the swindler in some way.

II. derivatives

confidence trickster

noun

(Brit.)

confidence interval /ˈkänfəd(ə)ns ˈin(t)ərvəl/

noun

[Statistics] a range of values so defined that there is a specified probability that the value of a parameter lies within it.

confidence level /ˈkänfəd(ə)ns ˈlevəl/

noun

[Statistics] the probability that the value of a parameter falls within a specified range of values.

confidence limit

noun

[Statistics] either of the extreme values of a confidence interval.

confidence man /ˈkänfəd(ə)ns man/

noun

old-fashioned term for con man.

confident /ˈkänfədənt/

I. adjective

1. feeling or showing confidence in oneself; self-assured

• she was a confident, outgoing girl

• a confident smile.

2. feeling or showing certainty about something

• this time they're confident of a happy ending

• I am not very confident about tonight's game.

II. noun

‹archaic› a confidant.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French confident(e), from Italian confidente, from Latin confident- ‘having full trust,’ from the verb confidere, from con- (expressing intensive force) + fidere ‘trust.’

confidential /ˌkänfəˈden(t)SHəl/

adjective

1. intended to be kept secret

• confidential information

• knowledge that was privileged and confidential.

2. (of a person's tone of voice) indicating that what one says is private or secret

• he dropped his voice to a confidential whisper.

3. entrusted with private or restricted information

• a confidential secretary.

confidentiality /känfədenSHēˈalədē/

noun

the state of keeping or being kept secret or private

• the lead bank's duty of confidentiality to the borrower

• [as modifier] visitors have to sign confidentiality agreements.

confidentially /ˌkänfəˈden(t)SHəlē/

adverb

in a way that is intended to be private or secret; privately

• all queries will be treated confidentially.

confidently /ˈkänfidən(t)lē/

adverb

1. in a self-assured way that expresses faith in oneself or one's abilities or qualities

• I strode confidently up to the rope.

2. in a way that expresses little or no doubt about something

• he confidently predicts a change of fortune.

configuration /kənˌfiɡ(y)əˈrāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. an arrangement of elements in a particular form, figure, or combination

• the broad configuration of the economy remains capitalist

• the arena is equipped to stage indoor sports with various configurations of seating.

2. [Chemistry] the fixed three-dimensional relationship of the atoms in a molecule, defined by the bonds between them.
Compare with conformation.

3. [Computing] the arrangement or set-up of the hardware and software that make up a computer system

• the PC comes with a removable hard disk drive as part of the standard configuration.

4. [Psychology] another term for gestalt.

II. derivatives

1. configurational /-SHənl /

adjective

2. configurationally /-SHənl-ē /

adverb

3. configurative /-ˈfiɡ(y)ərətiv /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting the relative position of celestial objects): from late Latin configuratio(n-), from Latin configurare ‘shape after a pattern’ (see configure).

configure /kənˈfiɡyər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. shape or put together in a particular form or configuration

• two of the aircraft will be configured as VIP transports.

2. [Computing] arrange or order (a computer system or an element of it) so as to fit it for a designated task

• expanded memory can be configured as a virtual drive.

II. derivatives

configurable /kənˈfiɡyərəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (in the Latin sense): from Latin configurare ‘shape after a pattern,’ from con- ‘together’ + figurare ‘to shape’ (from figura ‘shape or figure’).

confine

I. verb — /kənˈfīn / [with obj.] (confine someone/something to)

1. keep or restrict someone or something within certain limits of (space, scope, quantity, or time)

• he does not confine his message to politics

• your boating will mostly be confined to a few hours at weekends

• you've confined yourself to what you know.

2. (confine someone to/in) — restrain or forbid someone from leaving (a place)

• the troops were confined to their barracks.

3. (be confined to) — (of a person) be unable to leave (one's bed, home, or a wheelchair) because of illness or disability

• he was confined to bed for four days with a bad dose of flu.

4. (be confined) — ‹dated› (of a woman) remain in bed for a period before, during, and after the birth of a child

• she was confined for nearly a month.

II. noun — /ˈkänfīn / (confines)

1. the borders or boundaries of a place, especially with regard to their restricting freedom of movement

• they were cramped within the confines of a little cabin.

2. the limits or restrictions of something abstract, especially a subject or sphere of activity

• the narrow confines of political life.

– origin late Middle English (as a noun): from French confins (plural noun), from Latin confinia, from confinis ‘bordering,’ from con- ‘together’ + finis ‘end, limit’ (plural fines ‘territory’). The verb senses are from French confiner, based on Latin confinis.

confined /kənˈfīnd/

adjective

(of a space) restricted in area or volume; cramped

• wear a dust mask and goggles when soldering in confined spaces.

confinement /kənˈfīnmənt/

noun

1. the action of confining, or the state of being confined

• he was immediately released from his confinement.

2. ‹dated› the condition of being in childbirth

• the pros and cons of home versus hospital confinement

• my grandmother's last six confinements.

confirm /kənˈfərm/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. establish the truth or correctness of (something previously believed, suspected, or feared to be the case)

• if these fears are confirmed, the outlook for the economy will be dire

• the report confirms that a diet rich in vitamin C can help to prevent cataracts.

2. state with assurance that a report or fact is true

• he confirmed that the general was in the hands of the rebels

• “It is indeed real coffee,” I confirmed.

3. (confirm someone in) — reinforce someone in (an opinion, belief, or feeling)

• he fueled his misogyny by cultivating women who confirmed him in this view.

4. make (a provisional arrangement or appointment) definite

• Mr. Baker's assistant telephoned to confirm his appointment with the chairman.

5. make (something, especially a person's appointment to a position or an agreement) formally valid; ratify

• the organization has confirmed the appointment of Mr. Collins as managing director.

6. formally declare (someone) to be appointed to a particular position

• he was confirmed as the new peace envoy.

7. administer the religious rite of confirmation to

• he had been baptized and confirmed.

II. derivatives

1. confirmative /kənˈfərmədiv /

adjective

2. confirmatory /kənˈfərməˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French confermer, from Latin confirmare, from con- ‘together’ + firmare ‘strengthen’ (from firmus ‘firm’).

confirmand /kənˈfərmənd/

noun

a person who is to undergo the religious rite of confirmation.

confirmation /ˌkänfərˈmāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action of confirming something or the state of being confirmed

• Sylvia received official confirmation of the instructorship.

2. (in the Christian Church) the rite at which a baptized person, especially one baptized as an infant, affirms Christian belief and is admitted as a full member of the church.

3. the Jewish ceremony of bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin confirmatio(n-), from confirmare ‘make firm, establish’ (see confirm).

confirmation bias

noun

the tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one's existing beliefs or theories.

confirmed /kənˈfərmd/

adjective

(of a person) firmly established in a particular habit, belief, or way of life and unlikely to change

• a confirmed bachelor

• a confirmed teetotaler.

confiscate /ˈkänfəˌskāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. take or seize (someone's property) with authority

• the guards confiscated his camera

• (as adj. confiscated) confiscated equipment.

2. take (a possession, especially land) as a penalty and give it to the public treasury

• the government confiscated his property.

II. derivatives

1. confiscator /ˈkänfəˌskādər /

noun

2. confiscatory /kənˈfiskəˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin confiscat- ‘put away in a chest, consigned to the public treasury,’ from the verb confiscare, based on con- ‘together’ + fiscus ‘chest, treasury.’

confiscation /ˌkänfəˈskāSH(ə)n/

noun

the action of taking or seizing someone's property with authority; seizure

• a court ordered the confiscation of her property.

confit /känˈfē/

I. noun

duck or other meat cooked slowly in its own fat.

– origin French,‘conserved,’ from confire ‘prepare.’

Confiteor /känˈfidēˌôr/

I. noun

a form of prayer confessing sins, used in the Roman Catholic Mass and some other sacraments.

– origin Middle English: Latin, literally ‘I confess,’ from the formula Confiteor Deo Omnipotenti ‘I confess to Almighty God.’

confiture /ˈkänfəCHər/

noun

1. a preparation of preserved fruit.

2. a confection.

conflagrant /kənˈflāɡrənt/

adjective

on fire; blazing.

conflagration /ˌkänfləˈɡrāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

an extensive fire that destroys a great deal of land or property.

– origin late 15th cent. (denoting consumption by fire): from Latin conflagratio(n-), from the verb conflagrare, from con- (expressing intensive force) + flagrare ‘to blaze.’

conflate /kənˈflāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. combine (two or more texts, ideas, etc.) into one

• the urban crisis conflates a number of different economic and social issues.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘fuse or melt down metal’): from Latin conflat- ‘kindled, fused,’ from the verb conflare, from con- ‘together’ + flare ‘to blow.’

conflation /kənˈflāSH(ə)n/

noun

the merging of two or more sets of information, texts, ideas, etc. into one

• the forceful conflation of two traditions.

conflict

I. noun — /ˈkänˌflikt /

1. a serious disagreement or argument, typically a protracted one

• the eternal conflict between the sexes

• doctors often come into conflict with politicians.

2. a prolonged armed struggle

• overseas conflicts.

3. an incompatibility between two or more opinions, principles, or interests

• there was a conflict between his business and domestic life.

4. [Psychology] a condition in which a person experiences a clash of opposing wishes or needs.

II. verb — /kənˈflikt ˈkänˌflikt / [no obj.]

1. be incompatible or at variance; clash

• parents' and children's interests sometimes conflict

• those tournament dates would have conflicted with Memorial Day.

2. (as adj. conflicted) — having or showing confused and mutually inconsistent feelings

• my feelings are so conflicted that I hardly know how to answer.

III. derivatives

1. conflictive /kənˈfliktiv, ˈkänˌflik- /

adjective

2. conflictual /kənˈflikCHo͞oəl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin conflict- ‘struck together, fought,’ from the verb confligere, from con- ‘together’ + fligere ‘to strike’; the noun is via Latin conflictus ‘a contest.’

conflict diamond

noun

(especially in Africa) an uncut diamond mined in an area of armed conflict and traded illicitly to finance the fighting.

conflict-free

adjective

1. not involving or characterized by serious disagreement or argument

• the separation was smooth and conflict-free

• a post-Marxist ideal of a classless, conflict-free society.

2. denoting or relating to a diamond or other mineral that has not been mined in an area of armed conflict and traded illicitly to finance the fighting

• when we were shopping for a ring we were looking for conflict-free diamonds

• these systems will enable companies to know with certainty that the minerals they are buying are really conflict-free

• the tin and tantalum are extracted from conflict-free mines.

conflicting /kənˈfliktiNG/

adjective

incompatible or at variance; contradictory

• there are conflicting accounts of what occurred.

conflict mineral

noun

(especially in Africa) a mineral mined in an area of armed conflict and traded illicitly to finance the fighting

• cell phones and laptops containing conflict minerals from Congo.

conflict of interest

noun

1. a situation in which the concerns or aims of two different parties are incompatible

• the conflict of interest between elected officials and corporate lobbyists.

2. a situation in which a person is in a position to derive personal benefit from actions or decisions made in their official capacity

• Watson quit his job after questions about a possible conflict of interest.

confluence /ˈkänˌflo͞oəns/

I. noun

1. the junction of two rivers, especially rivers of approximately equal width

• here at the confluence of the Laramie and North Platte Rivers.

2. an act or process of merging

• a major confluence of the world's financial markets.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin confluentia, from Latin confluere ‘flow together’ (see confluent).

confluent /ˈkänˌflo͞oənt kənˈflo͞oənt/

I. adjective

flowing together or merging

• warm confluent smells.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Latin confluent- ‘flowing together,’ from confluere, from con- ‘together’ + fluere ‘to flow.’

conflux /ˈkänˌfləks/

I. noun

another term for confluence.

– origin early 17th cent.: from late Latin confluxus, from con- ‘together’ + fluxus (see flux).

confocal /känˈfōkəl/

adjective

1. having a common focus or foci

• confocal ellipses.

2. denoting or using a microscope whose imaging system only collects light from a small spot on the specimen, giving greater resolution.

conform /kənˈfôrm/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. comply with rules, standards, or laws

• the kitchen does not conform to hygiene regulations

• the changes were introduced to conform with international classifications.

2. (of a person) behave according to socially acceptable conventions or standards

• the pressure to conform.

3. be similar in form or type; agree

• the countryside should conform to a certain idea of the picturesque.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘make (something) like another thing’): from Old French conformer, from Latin conformare, from con- ‘together’ + formare ‘to form.’

conformable /kənˈfôrməbəl/

I. adjective — (usu. conformable to)

1. (of a person) disposed or accustomed to conform to what is acceptable or expected.

2. similar in form or nature; consistent

• this proposition might be conformable to the original conjecture.

3. [Geology] (of strata in contact) deposited in a continuous sequence, and typically having the same direction of stratification.

II. derivatives

1. conformability /kənˌfôrməˈbilədē /

noun

2. conformably /kənˈfôrməblē /

adverb

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘compliant (to) or tractable’): from medieval Latin conformabilis, from Latin conformare ‘to form, fashion’ (see conform).

conformal /kənˈfôrməl/

I. adjective

(of a map projection or a mathematical mapping) preserving the correct angles between directions within small areas, though distorting distances.
Also called orthomorphic.

II. derivatives

conformally

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘conformable’): from late Latin conformalis, from con- ‘together’ + formalis ‘formal.’ The current sense was coined in German.

conformance /kənˈfôrməns/

noun

another term for conformity.

conformation /ˌkänfôrˈmāSHən ˌkänfərˈmāSHən/

I. noun

1. the shape or structure of something, especially an animal

• the judges run their hands over the dog's body and legs, checking its conformation.

2. [Chemistry] any of the spatial arrangements that the atoms in a molecule may adopt and freely convert between, especially by rotation about individual single bonds.
Compare with configuration.

II. derivatives

conformational /ˌkänfərˈmāSH(ə)n(ə)l /

adjective

– origin early 16th cent. (in the sense ‘conforming, adaptation’): from Latin conformatio(n-), from conformare ‘to shape, fashion’ (see conform).

conformer /kənˈfôrmər/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a form of a compound having a particular molecular conformation

• changing the temperature alters the relative proportions of the conformers.

– origin 1960s: blend of conformational (see conformation) and isomer.

conformist /kənˈfôrməst/

I. noun

1. a person who conforms to accepted behavior or established practices.

2. (Brit.) ‹chiefly historical› a person who conforms to the practices of the Church of England.

II. adjective

(of a person or activity) conforming to accepted behavior or established practices; conventional.

III. derivatives

conformism /kənˈfôrˌmizəm /

noun

conformity /kənˈfôrmədē/

I. noun

1. compliance with standards, rules, or laws

• conformity to regulations

• the goods were in conformity with the contract.

2. behavior in accordance with socially accepted conventions or standards

• loyalty to one's party need not imply unquestioning conformity.

3. (Brit.) ‹chiefly historical› compliance with the practices of the Church of England.

4. similarity in form or type; agreement in character

• these changes are intended to ensure conformity between all schemes.

5. [Geology] (of strata in contact) a continuous sequence of deposits, typically in parallel strata.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French conformite or late Latin conformitas, from conformare ‘to form, fashion’ (see conform).

confound /kənˈfound/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause surprise or confusion in (someone), especially by acting against their expectations

• the inflation figure confounded economic analysts.

2. prove (a theory, expectation, or prediction) wrong

• the rise in prices confounded expectations.

3. defeat (a plan, aim, or hope)

• we will confound these tactics by the pressure groups.

4. ‹archaic› overthrow (an enemy).

5. (often be confounded with) — mix up (something) with something else so that the individual elements become difficult to distinguish

• 'nuke' is now a cooking technique, as microwave radiation is confounded with nuclear radiation.

II. exclamation

‹dated› used to express anger or annoyance

• oh, confound it, where is the thing?

– origin Middle English: from Old French confondre, from Latin confundere ‘pour together, mix up.’ Compare with confuse.

confounded /kənˈfoundəd ˌkänˈfoundəd/

I. adjective

‹informal› ‹dated› used for emphasis, especially to express anger or annoyance

• he was a confounded nuisance.

II. derivatives

confoundedly /kənˈfoundədlē /

adverb

confraternity /ˌkänfrəˈtərnədē/

I. noun

a brotherhood, especially with a charitable or religious purpose.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French confraternite, from medieval Latin confraternitas, from confrater (see confrère).

confrère /ˈkänˌfrer känˈfrer / confrere

I. noun

a fellow member of a profession; a colleague

• executives from the four broadcast television networks, along with their cable confreres.

– origin mid 18th cent.: French, from medieval Latin confrater, from con- ‘together with’ + frater ‘brother.’

confront /kənˈfrənt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. meet (someone) face to face with hostile or argumentative intent

• 300 policemen confronted an equal number of union supporters.

2. face up to and deal with (a problem or difficult situation)

• we knew we couldn't ignore the race issue and decided we'd confront it head on.

3. compel (someone) to face or consider something, especially by way of accusation

• Tricia confronted him with her suspicions.

4. (of a problem, difficulty, etc.) present itself to (someone) so that dealing with it cannot be avoided

• post-czarist Russia was confronted with a Ukrainian national movement.

5. (usu. be confronted) — appear or be placed in front of (someone) so as to unsettle or threaten

• we were confronted with pictures of moving skeletons.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French confronter, from medieval Latin confrontare, from Latin con- ‘with’ + frons, front- ‘face.’

confrontation /ˌkänfrənˈtāSH(ə)n/

noun

a hostile or argumentative meeting or situation between opposing parties

• a confrontation with the legislature

• four months of violent confrontation between government and opposition forces.

confrontational /ˌkänfrənˈtāSH(ə)n(ə)l/

I. adjective

tending to deal with situations in an aggressive way; hostile or argumentative

• he distanced himself from the confrontational approach adopted by his predecessor.

II. derivatives

confrontationally

adverb

Confucian /kənˈfyo͞oSHən/

I. adjective

of or relating to Confucius or Confucianism.

II. noun

an adherent of Confucianism.

Confucianism /kənˈfyo͞oSHənˌizəm/

I. noun

a system of philosophical and ethical teachings founded by Confucius and developed by Mencius.

II. derivatives

Confucianist

noun, adjective

Confucius /kənˈfyo͞oSHəs/

(551–479 BC), Chinese philosopher; Latinized name of Kongfuzi (K'ung Fu-tzu) “Kong the master.” His ideas about the importance of practical moral values, collected by his disciples in the Analects, formed the basis of the philosophy known as Confucianism.

confusable /kənˈfyo͞ozəbəl/

I. adjective

able or liable to be confused with something else.

II. noun

a word or phrase that is easily confused with another in meaning or usage, such as mitigate, which is often confused with militate.

III. derivatives

confusability /kənˌfyo͞ozəˈbilitē /

noun

confuse /kənˈfyo͞oz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (someone) to become bewildered or perplexed

• past and present blurred together, confusing her still further.

2. make (something) more complex or less easy to understand

• the points made by the authors confuse rather than clarify the issue.

3. identify wrongly; mistake

• a lot of people confuse a stroke with a heart attack

• purchasers might confuse the two products.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘rout, bring to ruin’): from Old French confus, from Latin confusus, past participle of confundere ‘mingle together’ (see confound). Originally all senses of the verb were passive, and therefore appeared only as the past participle confused; the active voice occurred rarely until the 19th cent. when it began to replace confound.

confused /kənˈfyo͞ozd/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) unable to think clearly; bewildered

• she was utterly confused about what had just happened

• a very confused and unhappy boy.

2. showing bewilderment

• a confused expression crossed her face.

3. not in possession of all one's mental faculties, especially because of old age

• interviewing confused old people does take longer.

4. lacking order and thus difficult to understand

• the confused information supplied by authorities

• reports about the incident were rather confused.

5. lacking clear distinction of elements; jumbled

• the sound of a sort of confused hammering and shouting.

II. derivatives

confusedly /kənˈfyo͞ozədlē /

adverb

confusing /kənˈfyo͞oziNG/

adjective

bewildering or perplexing

• he found being in Egypt very confusing.

confusingly /kənˈfyo͞oziNGlē/

adverb

in a bewildering or perplexing way

• the mystery isn't really involving and ends confusingly.

confusion /kənˈfyo͞oZHən/

I. noun

1. lack of understanding; uncertainty

• there seems to be some confusion about which system does what

• he cleared up the confusion over the party's policy.

2. a situation of panic; a breakdown of order

• the shaken survivors retreated in confusion.

3. a disorderly jumble

• all I can see is a confusion of brown cardboard boxes.

4. the state of being bewildered or unclear in one's mind about something

• she looked about her in confusion.

5. the mistaking of one person or thing for another

• there is some confusion between “unlawful” and “illegal”

• most of the errors are reasonable confusions between similar words or sequences of words.

– origin Middle English: from Latin confusio(n-), from the verb confundere ‘mingle together’ (see confuse).

confute /kənˈfyo͞ot/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› prove (a person or an assertion) to be wrong

• restorers who sought to confute this view were accused of ignorance.

II. derivatives

confutation /ˌkänfyəˈtāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin early 16th cent.: from Latin confutare ‘restrain, answer conclusively,’ from con- ‘altogether’ + the base of refutare ‘refute.’

Cong.

abbreviation

1. Congress.

2. Congressional.

3. Congregational.

conga /ˈkäNGɡə/

I. noun

1. a Latin American dance of African origin, usually with several people in a single line, one behind the other.

2. (also conga drum) — a tall, narrow, low-toned drum beaten with the hands.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. dance the conga.

– origin 1930s: from Latin American Spanish, from Spanish, feminine of congo ‘Congolese.’

con game /kän ɡām/

noun

informal term for confidence game.

congé /kôNˈZHā, ˈkänˌjā/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. an unceremonious dismissal or rejection of someone

• the woman who gave you your congé when she wanted to marry Mr. Sugar.

– origin late Middle English (in the general sense ‘permission to do something’): from Old French congie, from Latin commeatus ‘leave of absence,’ from commeare ‘go and come.’ The word is now usually treated as equivalent to modern French.

congeal /kənˈjēl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. solidify or coagulate, especially by cooling

• the blood had congealed into blobs

• (as adj. congealed) congealed egg white.

2. take shape or coalesce, especially to form a satisfying whole

• the ballet failed to congeal as a single oeuvre.

II. derivatives

1. congealable /kənˈjēləb(ə)l /

adjective

2. congealment /kənˈjēlmənt /

noun

( — ‹archaic›

– origin late Middle English: from Old French congeler, from Latin congelare, from con- ‘together’ + gelare ‘freeze’ (from gelu ‘frost’).

congee /ˈkänjē/

I. noun

(in Chinese cooking) broth or porridge made from rice.

– origin from Tamil kañci.

congelation /ˌkänjəˈlāSHən/

I. noun

the process of congealing or the state of being congealed

• the component of metals that causes their congelation.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin congelatio(n-), from the verb congelare ‘freeze together’ (see congeal).

congener /kənˈjēnər/

I. noun

1. a thing or person of the same kind or category as another.

2. an animal or plant of the same genus as another

• these birds or their congeners may be found in East Africa.

3. a minor chemical constituent, especially one that gives a distinctive character to a wine or liquor or is responsible for some of its physiological effects.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin, from con- ‘together with’ + genus, gener- ‘race, stock.’

congeneric /ˌkänjəˈnerik/

I. adjective

1. [Biology] (of an animal or plant species) belonging to the same genus

• this animal is congeneric with the later species.

2. [Biology] of a related nature or origin

• the two sets were congeneric.

II. derivatives

congenerous /kənˈjenərəs, kän-, -ˈjēnərəs /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin congener (see congener) + -ic.

congenial /kənˈjēnēəl/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) pleasant because of a personality, qualities, or interests that are similar to one's own

• his need for some congenial company.

2. (of a thing) pleasant or agreeable because suited to one's taste or inclination

• he went back to a climate more congenial to his cold stony soul.

II. derivatives

1. congeniality /kənˌjēnēˈalədē /

noun

2. congenially

adverb

congenital /kənˈjenədl/

I. adjective

1. (especially of a disease or physical abnormality) present from birth

• a congenital malformation of the heart.

2. (of a person) having a particular trait from birth or by firmly established habit

• a congenital liar.

II. derivatives

congenitally /kənˈjenədəlē /

adverb

– origin late 18th cent.: from Latin congenitus, from con- ‘together’ + genitus (past participle of gignere ‘beget’) + -al.

conger /ˈkäNGɡər / conger eel

I. noun

a large edible predatory eel of shallow coastal waters.
[Conger and other genera, family Congridae: several species, in particular the European C. conger and the American C. oceanicus.]

– origin Middle English: from Old French congre, via Latin from Greek gongros.

congeries /ˈkänjərēz/

I. noun

a disorderly collection; a jumble

• whiffs of ground coffee and a congeries of smells.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin congeries ‘heap, pile,’ from congerere ‘heap up.’

congested /kənˈjestəd/

I. adjective

1. blocked up with or too full of something, in particular

2. (of a road or place) so crowded with traffic or people as to hinder freedom of movement

• one of the most congested airports in the world

• the streets are often heavily congested with traffic.

3. (of the respiratory tract) blocked with mucus so as to hinder breathing

• his nose was congested.

4. (of a part of the body) abnormally full of blood

• congested arteries.

– origin mid 19th cent.: past participle of congest, from Latin congest- ‘heaped up,’ from the verb congerere, from con- ‘together’ + gerere ‘bring.’

congestion /kənˈjesCH(ə)n/

I. noun

the state of being congested

• the new bridge should ease congestion in the area.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin congestio(n-), from congere ‘heap up,’ from con- ‘together’ + gerere ‘bring.’

congestive /kənˈjestiv/

I. adjective

[Medicine] involving or produced by congestion of a part of the body.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from congest (see congested) + -ive.

congestive heart failure

noun

a weakness of the heart that leads to a buildup of fluid in the lungs and surrounding body tissues.

congius /ˈkänjēəs/

I. noun

an ancient Roman liquid measure of one eighth of an amphora, equal in modern terms to about 6.4 pints (3.6 liters).

– origin late Middle English: Latin, from Greek konkhion, konkhē (see conch).

conglobulate /kənˈɡläbyələt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹rare› join closely together

• a group of tourists conglobulating in a close mass.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin globulus ‘globule,’ on the pattern of earlier conglobate ‘make into a ball.’

conglomerate

I. noun — /kənˈɡlämərət /

1. a number of different things or parts that are put or grouped together to form a whole but remain distinct entities

• the Earth is a specialized conglomerate of organisms.

2. a large corporation formed by the merging of separate and diverse firms

• a media conglomerate.

3. [Geology] a coarse-grained sedimentary rock composed of rounded fragments (> 2 mm) within a matrix of finer grained material

• the sediments vary from coarse conglomerate to fine silt and clay.

II. adjective — /kənˈɡlämərət /

1. of or relating to a conglomerate, especially a large corporation

• conglomerate businesses.

III. verb — /kənˈɡläməˌrāt / [no obj.]

1. gather together into a compact mass

• atoms that conglomerate at the center.

2. form a conglomerate by merging diverse businesses.

– origin late Middle English (as an adjective describing something gathered up into a rounded mass): from Latin conglomeratus, past participle of conglomerare, from con- ‘together’ + glomus, glomer- ‘ball.’ The geological sense dates from the early 19th cent.; the other noun senses are later.

conglomeration /kənˌɡläməˈrāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. a number of different things, parts or items that are grouped together; collection

• a loose conglomeration of pieces.

2. the process of forming a conglomerate

• the practice of media conglomeration.

Congo /ˈkäNGɡō/

I. a major river in central Africa that rises as the Lualaba River south of Kisangani in northern Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire). It flows for 2,880 miles (4,630 km) in a great curve to the west and then turns southwest to form the border between the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean.
Also called Zaire River.

II. an equatorial country in Africa, with a short Atlantic coastline; pop. 4,012,800 (est. 2009); languages, French (official), Kikongo, and other Bantu languages; capital, Brazzaville. Also called Republic of Congo, Congo-Brazzaville.
The region was colonized in the 19th century by France, and as Middle Congo formed part of the larger territory of French Congo (later, French Equatorial Africa). The country became independent in 1960.

Congo, Democratic Republic of

I. a large country in central Africa with a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean; pop. 68,692,500 (est. 2009); capital, Kinshasa; languages, French (official), Kongo, Lingala, Swahili, and others. Also called Congo-Kinshasa.
Formerly called (until 1997) Zaire.

The Democratic Republic of Congo was a Belgian colony known as the Congo Free State 1885–1908 and the Belgian Congo 1908–60. Independence in 1960 was followed by civil war and UN intervention. General Mobutu seized control in a coup in 1965 and changed the name of the country from the Republic of the Congo to Zaire in 1971. The country experienced a huge influx of refugees following the violence in Rwanda in 1994, and the first of three destructive civil wars broke out in 1996. Mobutu was overthrown in 1997 by Laurent Kabila, who changed the country's name to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Congolese /ˌkäNGɡəˈlēz/

I. adjective

of or relating to the Congo or the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire).

II. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of the Congo or the Democratic Republic of Congo.

2. any of the Bantu languages spoken in the Congo region, in particular Kikongo.

– origin from French Congolais.

Congo red

noun

a red-brown azo dye that becomes blue in acidic conditions, used as a chemical indicator and as a stain in histology.

congrats /kənˈɡrats/

I. plural noun

‹informal› congratulations
[as exclamation]

• “Congrats on your promotion, Cal!”

– origin late 19th cent.: abbreviation.

congratulate /kənˈɡraCHəˌlāt kənˈɡrajəˌlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. give (someone) one's good wishes when something special or pleasant has happened to them

• I went into the living room to congratulate Bill on his marriage.

2. praise (someone) for a particular achievement

• the operators are to be congratulated for the excellent service that they now provide.

3. (congratulate oneself) — feel pride or satisfaction

• she congratulated herself on her powers of deduction

• the Director was congratulating himself that nothing could go wrong.

II. derivatives

congratulator /-ˌlātər /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin congratulat- ‘congratulated,’ from the verb congratulari, from con- ‘with’ + gratulari ‘show joy’ (from gratus ‘pleasing’).

congratulation /kənˌɡraCHəˈlāSH(ə)n kənˌɡrajəˈlāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. an expression of praise for an achievement or good wishes on a special occasion; the act of congratulating

• he began pumping the hand of his son in congratulation.

2. (congratulations) — words expressing congratulation

• our congratulations to the winners

• [as exclamation] congratulations on a job well done!

– origin late Middle English: from Latin congratulatio(n-), from the verb congratulari (see congratulate).

congratulatory /kənˈɡraCHələtôrē/

adjective

conveying good wishes or praise to someone in response to an achievement or special occasion

• as well as a congratulatory message from the Queen, Elsie received many cards and flowers

• a congratulatory handshake to mark four years of community success.

congregant /ˈkäNGɡrəɡənt/

I. noun

a member of a congregation, especially that of a church or synagogue.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin congregant- ‘collecting (into a flock), uniting,’ from the verb congregare (see congregate).

congregate

I. verb — /ˈkäNGɡrəˌɡāt / [no obj.]

1. gather into a crowd or mass

• some 4000 demonstrators had congregated at a border point.

II. adjective — /ˈkäNGɡrəˌɡət /

1. communal

• nursing homes and adult congregate living facilities.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin congregat- ‘collected (into a flock), united,’ from the verb congregare, from con- ‘together’ + gregare (from grex, greg- ‘a flock’).

congregation /ˌkäNGɡrəˈɡāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a group of people assembled for religious worship.

2. a group of people regularly attending a particular place of worship

• that church took the place of the storefront the congregation had used before the war.

3. a gathering or collection of people, animals, or things

• large congregations of birds may cause public harm.

4. the action of gathering together in a crowd

• drought conditions lead to congregation of animals around watering points.

5. (often Congregation) — (in the Roman Catholic Church) a permanent committee of the College of Cardinals

• the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

6. (Brit.) (in some universities) a general assembly of resident senior members.

7. a group of people obeying a common religious rule but under less solemn vows than members of the older religious orders

• the sisters of the Congregation of Our Lady.

8. a group of communities within a religious order sharing particular historical or regional links.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin congregatio(n-), from congregare ‘collect (into a flock)’ (see congregate).

congregational /ˌkäNGɡrəˈɡāSH(ə)nl/

adjective

1. of or relating to a congregation

• congregational singing.

2. (Congregational) — of or adhering to Congregationalism

• the Congregational Church.

Congregationalism /ˌkäNGɡrəˈɡāSHənlˌizəm/

I. noun

a system of organization among Christian churches whereby individual local churches are largely self-governing.

II. derivatives

Congregationalist /ˌkäNGɡrəˈɡāSH(ə)n(ə)ləst /

noun, adjective

congress /ˈkäNGɡrəs/

I. noun

1. the national legislative body of a country.

2. (Congress) — the national legislative body of the US, meeting at the Capitol in Washington, DC. It was established by the Constitution of 1787 and is composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives

• changes in taxation required the approval of Congress.

3. a particular session of the US Congress

• the 104th Congress.

4. a formal meeting or series of meetings for discussion between delegates, especially those from a political party or labor union or from within a particular discipline

• an international congress of mathematicians.

5. a society or organization, especially a political one

• the National Congress of American Indians.

6. the action of coming together

• sexual congress.

– origin late Middle English (denoting an encounter during battle): from Latin congressus, from congredi ‘meet,’ from con- ‘together’ + gradi ‘walk.’

congress boot

noun

‹dated› a high boot with elastic sides.

congressional /kənˈɡreSH(ə)n(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. belonging or relating to a national legislative body, especially that of the US

• the document surfaced in a congressional hearing last year

• our congressional correspondent is standing by.

2. relating to a formal meeting or series of meetings between delegates

• the congressional agricultural committees.

II. derivatives

congressionally

adverb

congressman /ˈkäNGɡrəsmən/

noun

a member of Congress, especially a member of the US House of Representatives

• senators and congressmen joined in a standing ovation.

• [as title] Congressman Bob Smithers.

Congress of Industrial Organizations CIO

a federation of North American labor unions, organized largely by industry rather than craft. In 1955 it merged with the American Federation of Labor to form the AFL-CIO.

congressperson /ˈkäNGɡrəsˌpərsən/

noun

a member of a legislative congress, especially the US House of Representatives.

congresswoman /ˈkäNGɡrəsˌwo͝omən/

noun

a female member of Congress, especially a female member of the US House of Representatives

• we wrote the congresswoman voicing our concerns.

• [as title] Congresswoman Maxine Waters.

Congreve, William /ˈkäNGˌɡrēv, ˈkänˌɡrēv/

(1670–1729), English playwright. His plays, such as Love for Love (1695) and The Way of the World (1700), epitomize the wit and satire of Restoration comedy.

congruence /kənˈɡro͞oəns/

I. noun

agreement or harmony; compatibility

• the results show quite good congruence with recent studies.

II. derivatives

congruency

noun

congruent /kənˈɡro͞oənt ˈkäNGɡro͞oənt/

I. adjective

1. in agreement or harmony

• institutional and departmental objectives are largely congruent

• the rules may not be congruent with the requirements of the law.

2. [Geometry] (of figures) identical in form; coinciding exactly when superimposed.

II. derivatives

congruently

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Latin congruent- ‘agreeing, meeting together,’ from the verb congruere, from con- ‘together’ + ruere ‘fall or rush.’

congruous /ˈkäNGɡro͞oəs/

I. adjective

in agreement or harmony

• this explanation is congruous with earlier observations.

II. derivatives

1. congruity /kəNGˈɡro͞oədē /

noun

2. congruously /ˈkäNGɡro͞oəslē /

adverb

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin congruus, from congruere ‘agree’ (see congruent), + -ous.

conic /ˈkänik / ‹chiefly Mathematics›

I. adjective

of or like a cone.

II. noun

short for conic section. See also conics.

– origin late 16th cent.: from modern Latin conicus, from Greek kōnikos, from kōnos ‘cone.’

conical /ˈkänək(ə)l/

I. adjective

having the shape of a cone.

II. derivatives

conically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

conical projection conic projection

noun

a map projection in which an area of the earth is projected onto a cone whose vertex is usually above one of the poles, then unrolled onto a flat surface.

conics /ˈkäniks/

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the branch of mathematics concerned with conic sections.

conic section

noun

a figure formed by the intersection of a plane and a right circular cone. Depending on the angle of the plane with respect to the cone, a conic section may be a circle, an ellipse, a parabola, or a hyperbola.

conidiophore /kəˈnidēəˌfôr/

I. noun

[Botany] (in certain fungi) a conidium-bearing hypha or filament.

– origin late 19th cent.: from conidio- (combining form of conidium) + -phore.

conidium /kəˈnidēəm/

I. noun

[Botany] a spore produced asexually by various fungi at the tip of a specialized hypha.

– origin late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek konis ‘dust’ + the diminutive suffix -idium.

conifer /ˈkänəfər ˈkōnəfər/

I. noun

a tree that bears cones and evergreen needlelike or scalelike leaves. Conifers are of major importance as the source of softwood, and also supply resins and turpentine.
[Order Coniferales, class Coniferopsida, subdivision Gymnospermae: several families, including the pines and firs (Pinaceae) and the cypresses (Cupressaceae).]

II. derivatives

coniferous /kəˈnif(ə)rəs /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘cone-bearing,’ from conus (see cone).

coniform /ˈkōnəˌfôrm ˈkänəˌfôrm/

I. adjective

‹rare› having the shape of a cone.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Latin conus ‘cone’ + -iform.

coniine /ˈkōnēən ˈkōnēˌēn/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a volatile poisonous compound found in hemlock and other plants. It affects the motor nerves, causing paralysis and asphyxia.
[An alkaloid, 2-propylpiperidine; chem. formula: C_8H_17N.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin conium (from Greek kōneion ‘hemlock’) + -ine^4.

conj.

abbreviation

conjunction.

conjectural /kənˈjekCHərəl/

I. adjective

based on or involving conjecture

• much of the racial history of Madagascar remains conjectural.

II. derivatives

conjecturally /kənˈjek(t)SH(ə)rəlē /

adverb

– origin mid 16th cent.: via French from Latin conjecturalis, from conjectura ‘inference’ (see conjecture).

conjecture /kənˈjekCHər/

I. noun

1. an opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information

• conjectures about the newcomer were many and varied

• the purpose of the opening in the wall is open to conjecture.

2. an unproven mathematical or scientific theorem

• the Goldbach conjecture.

3. (in textual criticism) the suggestion or reconstruction of a reading of a text not present in the original source.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. form an opinion or supposition about (something) on the basis of incomplete information

• he conjectured the existence of an otherwise unknown feature

• many conjectured that she had a second husband in mind.

2. (in textual criticism) propose (a reading).

III. derivatives

conjecturable /kənˈjek(t)SH(ə)rəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (in the senses ‘to divine’ and ‘divination’): from Old French, or from Latin conjectura, from conicere ‘put together in thought,’ from con- ‘together’ + jacere ‘throw.’

conjoin /kənˈjoin/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› join; combine

• an approach that conjoins theory and method.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French conjoindre, from Latin conjungere, from con- ‘together’ + jungere ‘to join.’

conjoined twins /kənˌjoind ˈtwinz/

I. plural noun

twins that are physically joined at birth, sometimes sharing organs, and in some cases separable by surgery (depending on the degree of fusion).

usage: The term conjoined twins has supplanted Siamese twins in all contexts other than informal conversation.

conjoint /kənˈjoint ˌkänˈjoint/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. combining all or both people or things involved

• conjoint family therapy.

II. derivatives

conjointly /kənˈjointlē /

adverb

– origin Middle English: from Old French, past participle of conjoindre (see conjoin).

conjugal /ˈkänjəɡəl/

I. adjective

of or relating to marriage or the relationship of a married couple

• conjugal loyalty.

II. derivatives

1. conjugality /ˌkänjəˈɡalədē /

noun

2. conjugally

adverb

– origin early 16th cent.: from Latin conjugalis, from conjux, conjug- ‘spouse,’ from con- ‘together’ + jugum ‘a yoke.’

conjugal rights

plural noun

the rights, especially to sexual relations, regarded as exercisable in law by each partner in a marriage.

conjugal visit

noun

[Law] a visit to a prisoner, by the spouse of the prisoner, especially for sexual relations.

conjugate

I. verb — /ˈkänjəˌɡāt /

1. [with obj.] — [Grammar] give the different forms of (a verb in an inflected language) as they vary according to voice, mood, tense, number, and person.

2. [no obj.] — [Biology] (of bacteria or unicellular organisms) become temporarily united in order to exchange genetic material

• E. coli only conjugate when one of the cells possesses fertility genes.

3. (of gametes) become fused.

4. [with obj.] — [Chemistry] be combined with or joined to reversibly

• bilirubin is then conjugated by liver enzymes and excreted in the bile.

II. adjective — /ˈkänjəɡət /

1. coupled, connected, or related, in particular

2. [Chemistry] (of an acid or base) related to the corresponding base or acid by loss or gain of a proton.

3. [Mathematics] joined in a reciprocal relation, especially having the same real parts and equal magnitudes but opposite signs of imaginary parts.
Short for complex conjugate.

4. [Geometry] (of angles) adding up to 360°; (of arcs) combining to form a complete circle.

5. [Biology] (especially of gametes) fused.

III. noun — /ˈkänjəɡət ˈkänjəˌɡāt /

1. a thing that is conjugate or conjugated, in particular

2. [chiefly Biochemistry] a substance formed by the reversible combination of two or more others.

3. a mathematical value or entity having a reciprocal relation with another.
See also complex conjugate.

IV. derivatives

1. conjugacy /ˈkänjəɡəsē /

noun

2. conjugative /ˈkänjəˌɡātiv /

adjective

– origin late 15th cent. (as an adjective): from Latin conjugat- ‘yoked together,’ from the verb conjugare, from con- ‘together’ + jugum ‘yoke.’

conjugated /ˈkänjəˌɡādəd/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. another term for conjugate, in particular.

2. [Chemistry] relating to or denoting double or triple bonds in a molecule that are separated by a single bond, across which some sharing of electrons occurs.

3. (of a substance) reversibly combined with another

• conjugated bile salts.

conjugate diameter

noun

[Anatomy] the distance between the front and rear of the pelvis.

conjugated protein

noun

a complex protein, such as hemoglobin, consisting of amino acids combined with other substances.

conjugation /ˌkänjəˈɡāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the formation or existence of a link or connection between things, in particular

2. [Biology] the temporary union of two bacteria or unicellular organisms for the exchange of genetic material.

3. [Biology] the fusion of two gametes, especially when they are of a similar size.

4. [chiefly Biochemistry] the combination of two substances

• toxic compounds eliminated from the body by conjugation with glutathione.

5. [Chemistry] the sharing of electron density between nearby multiple bonds in a molecule.

6. [Mathematics] the solution of a problem by transforming it into an equivalent problem of a different form, solving this, and then reversing the transformation.

7. [Grammar] the variation of the form of a verb in an inflected language such as Latin, by which are identified the voice, mood, tense, number, and person.

8. the class in which a verb is put according to the manner of this variation

• a past participle of the first conjugation.

II. derivatives

conjugational /ˌkänjəˈɡāSH(ə)n(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (sense 2): from Latin conjugatio(n-), from conjugare ‘join together’ (see conjugate).

conjunct

I. adjective — /kənˈjəNGkt /

1. joined together, combined, or associated.

2. [Music] of or relating to the movement of a melody between adjacent notes of the scale.

3. [Astrology] in conjunction with

• Moon conjunct Jupiter.

II. noun — /ˈkänjəNGkt /

1. each of two or more things that are joined or associated.

2. [Logic] each of the terms of a conjunctive proposition.

3. [Grammar] an adverbial whose function is to join two sentences or other discourse units (e.g., however, anyway, in the first place).

– origin late Middle English: from Latin conjunctus, past participle of conjungere ‘join together’ (see conjoin).

conjunction /kənˈjəNG(k)SH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action or an instance of two or more events or things occurring at the same point in time or space

• a conjunction of favorable political and economic circumstances

• he postulated that the Americas were formed by the conjunction of floating islands.

2. [Astronomy] [Astrology] an alignment of two planets or other celestial objects so that they appear to be in the same, or nearly the same, place in the sky.

3. [Grammar] a word used to connect clauses or sentences or to coordinate words in the same clause (e.g., and, but, if).

II. phrases

in conjunction

together

• herbal medicine was used in conjunction with acupuncture and massage.

III. derivatives

conjunctional /kənˈjəNG(k)SH(ə)n(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin conjunctio(n-), from the verb conjungere (see conjoin).

conjunctiva /ˌkänjəNGkˈtīvə/

I. noun

[Anatomy] the mucous membrane that covers the front of the eye and lines the inside of the eyelids.

II. derivatives

conjunctival

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin (membrana) conjunctiva ‘conjunctive (membrane),’ from late Latin conjunctivus, from conjungere ‘join together’ (see conjoin).

conjunctive /kənˈjəNG(k)tiv/

I. adjective

1. serving to join; connective

• the conjunctive tissue.

2. involving the combination or co-occurrence of two or more conditions or properties

• conjunctive hypotheses are simpler to process than negative or disjunctive ones.

3. [Grammar] of the nature of or relating to a conjunction.

II. noun

[Grammar] a word or expression acting as a conjunction.

III. derivatives

conjunctively /kənˈjəNG(k)tivlē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin conjunctivus, from conjungere ‘join together’ (see conjunct).

conjunctivitis /kənˌjəNG(k)təˈvīdəs/

noun

[Medicine] inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye.
Also called pinkeye.

conjuncture /kənˈjəNG(k)CHər/

I. noun

1. a combination of events

• the peculiar political conjunctures that led to war.

2. a state of affairs

• the wider political conjuncture.

– origin early 17th cent.: from conjunction, by substitution of the suffix; influenced by obsolete French conjuncture, from Italian congiuntura, based on Latin conjungere ‘join together’ (see conjoin).

conjunto /känˈho͝on(t)ō/

I. noun

(in Latin America or Hispanic communities) a small musical group or band
[as modifier]

• Texas' leading female conjunto accordionist.

– origin Spanish, literally ‘an ensemble, group.’

conjuration /ˌkänjəˈāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a magic incantation or spell.

2. the performance of something supernatural by means of a magic incantation or spell.

– origin late Middle English (also in the sense ‘conspiracy, the swearing of an oath together’): via Old French from Latin conjuratio(n-), from conjurare (see conjure).

conjure

I. verb

1. /ˈkänjər / [with obj.] — make (something) appear unexpectedly or seemingly from nowhere as if by magic

• Anne conjured up a most delicious homemade stew.

2. call (an image) to mind

• she had forgotten how to conjure up the image of her mother's face.

3. (of a word, sound, smell, etc.) cause someone to feel or think of (something)

• one scent can conjure up a childhood summer beside a lake.

4. call upon (a spirit or ghost) to appear, by means of a magic ritual

• they hoped to conjure up the spirit of their dead friend.

5. /kənˈjo͝or / [with obj.] — ‹archaic› implore (someone) to do something.

II. phrases

a name to conjure with

the name of an important person within a particular sphere of activity

• on the merger scene his is a name to conjure with.

– origin Middle English (also in the sense ‘oblige by oath’): from Old French conjurer ‘to plot or exorcize,’ from Latin conjurare ‘band together by an oath, conspire’ (in medieval Latin ‘invoke’), from con- ‘together’ + jurare ‘swear.’

conjure woman /ˈkänjər, ˈkən-/

noun

(US) (W. Indian) a sorceress, especially one who practices voodoo.

conjuring /ˈkänjəriNG ˈkənjəriNG/

noun — [often as modifier]

1. the performance of tricks that are seemingly magical, typically involving sleight of hand

• a conjuring trick.

conjuror /ˈkänjərər ˈkənjərər / conjurer

I. noun

1. a person who conjures.

2. (chiefly Brit.) a performer of conjuring tricks; a magician.

– origin Middle English: partly from conjure, partly from Old French conjureor, conjurere, from medieval Latin conjurator, from Latin conjurare ‘conspire’ (see conjure).

conk^1 /käNGk kôNGk/

I. verb — [no obj.] (conk out)

1. ‹informal› (of a machine) break down

• my car conked out.

2. ‹informal› (of a person) faint or go to sleep

• he conked out on the rear seat.

3. ‹informal› die.

– origin World War I: of unknown origin.

conk^2 /käNGk kôNGk / ‹informal›

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. hit (someone) on the head

• the clown conked him and sent him to the hospital with a concussion.

II. noun

1. ‹dated› a person's head.

2. (Brit.) a person's nose.

– origin early 19th cent.: perhaps an alteration of conch.

conk^3 /käNGk kôNGk/

I. noun

a hairstyle in which curly or kinky hair is straightened.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. straighten curly or kinky hair.

conker /ˈkäNGkər/

I. noun

1. (Brit.) the hard shiny dark brown nut of a horse chestnut tree.

2. [treated as sing.] (conkers) — (Brit.) a children's game in which each child has a conker on the end of a string and takes turns trying to break another's with it.

– origin mid 19th cent. (a dialect word denoting a snail shell, with which the game, or a similar form of it, was originally played): perhaps from conch, but associated with (and frequently spelled) conquer in the 19th and early 20th centuries: an alternative name was conquerors.

conlang /ˈkänˌlaNG/

I. noun

a language that has been artificially created; a constructed language

• these conlangs help us understand the essential components of a successful language

• Klingon is a difficult conlang to master.

– origin 1990s: short for constructed language.

conlanger /ˈkänˌlaNGər/

I. noun

a person who creates an artificial language

• many conlangers strive to make their languages as different from European paradigms as possible.

– origin 1990s: from conlang.

con man con artist

noun

‹informal› a man who cheats or tricks someone by means of a confidence game.

con moto /kän ˈmōtō, kōn/

I. adverb

[Music] (especially as a direction) with movement

• andante con moto.

– origin Italian.

conn /kän / ‹Nautical› con

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. direct the steering of (a ship)

• he hadn't conned anything bigger than a Boston whaler.

II. noun — (the conn)

1. the action or post of conning a ship

• I quickly took the conn and restored the channel course.

– origin early 17th cent.: apparently a weakened form of obsolete cond ‘conduct, guide,’ from Old French conduire, from Latin conducere (see conduce).

Conn.

abbreviation

Connecticut.

Connacht /ˈkänôt, kəˈnôt / Connaught

a province in southwestern Republic of Ireland.

connate /ˈkänāt kəˈnāt/

I. adjective

1. (especially of ideas or principles) existing in a person or thing from birth; innate

• are our ethical values connate?

2. [Biology] (of parts) united so as to form a single part.

3. [Geology] (of water) trapped in sedimentary rock during its deposition.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from late Latin connatus, past participle of connasci, from con- ‘together’ + nasci ‘be born.’

connatural /kəˈnaCH(ə)rəl/

I. adjective

belonging naturally; innate

• religion is connatural with man.

II. derivatives

connaturally

adverb

– origin late 16th cent.: from late Latin connaturalis, from con- ‘together’ + Latin naturalis ‘natural.’

connect /kəˈnekt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. bring together or into contact so that a real or notional link is established

• the electrodes were connected to a recording device

• a modem connects computers over a telephone line.

2. join together so as to provide access and communication

• all the buildings are connected by underground passages

• [no obj.] the highway connects with major routes from all parts of the country.

3. link to a power or water supply

• your house is connected to the main cable TV network.

4. put (someone) into contact by telephone

• I was quickly connected to the police.

5. [no obj.] — (of a train, bus, aircraft, etc.) be timed to arrive at its destination before another train, aircraft, etc., departs so that passengers can transfer from one to the other

• the bus connects with trains from Union Station.

6. associate or relate in some respect

• employees are rewarded with bonuses connected to their firm's performance

• a variety of physical complaints connected with stress.

7. think of as being linked or related

• I didn't connect the two incidents at the time.

8. (of a thing) provide or have a link or relationship with (someone or something)

• there was no evidence to connect Jeff with the theft.

9. [no obj.] — form a relationship or feel an affinity

• I taught in a reading program and I connected with kids individually.

10. [no obj.] — ‹informal› (of a blow) hit the intended target

• the blow connected and he felt a burst of pain.

II. derivatives

1. connectable

adjective

2. connectedly /kəˈnektədlē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘be united physically’; rare before the 18th cent.): from Latin connectere, from con- ‘together’ + nectere ‘bind.’

connectedness /kəˈnektədnəs/

noun

1. the state of being joined or linked

• the connectedness of American business life and American sports

• the connectedness of local and national power.

2. a feeling of belonging to or having affinity with a particular person or group

• it's about partnering, trust, and connectedness

• individuals from these cultures value connectedness with family and friends.

Connecticut /kəˈnedəkət/

a state in the northeastern US, on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean's Long Island Sound, one of the six New England states; pop. 3,501,252 (est. 2008); capital, Hartford; statehood, Jan. 9, 1788 (5). One of the original thirteen states. The Fundamental Orders, adopted by the Connecticut Colony in 1639, is often considered the first democratic constitution in America.

Connecticut River

the longest river in New England, flows south for 407 miles (655 km), from northern New Hampshire on the Quebec border, between New Hampshire and Vermont, through western Massachusetts and central Connecticut to Long Island Sound.

connecting rod /kəˈnektiNG ˌräd/

noun

a rod connecting two moving parts in a mechanism, especially that between the piston and the crankpin (or equivalent parts) in an engine or pump.

connection /kəˈnekSH(ə)n / ‹Brit.› connexion

I. noun

1. a relationship in which a person, thing, or idea is linked or associated with something else

• the connections between social attitudes and productivity

• sufferers deny that their problems have any connection with drugs.

2. the action of linking one thing with another

• connection to the Internet.

3. the placing of parts of an electric circuit in contact so that a current may flow.

4. a link between pipes or electrical components

• it is important to ensure that all connections between the wires are properly made.

5. a link between two telephones

• she replaced the receiver before the connection was made.

6. an arrangement or opportunity for catching a connecting train, bus, aircraft, etc.

• ferry connections are sporadic in the off season.

7. a connecting train, bus, etc.

• we had to wait for our connection to Frankfurt.

8. (connections) — people with whom one has social or professional contact or to whom one is related, especially those with influence and able to offer one help

• he had connections with the music industry.

9. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) a supplier of narcotics

• she introduced Jean to a number of her male drug connections.

10. a narcotics sale or purchase.

11. ‹chiefly historical› an association of Methodist churches.

II. phrases

1. in connection with

with reference to; concerning

• detectives are questioning two men in connection with alleged criminal damage.

2. in this (or that) connection

with reference to this (or that)

• of value in this connection was the work done by the state police.

III. derivatives

connectional /-SHənl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin connexio(n-), from connectere (see connect). The spelling -ct (18th cent.) is from connect, on the pattern of pairs such as collect, collection.

connectionism /kəˈnekSHəˌnizəm/

noun

an artificial intelligence approach to cognition in which multiple connections between nodes (equivalent to brain cells) form a massive interactive network in which many processes take place simultaneously. Certain processes in this network, operating in parallel, are grouped together in hierarchies that bring about results such as thought or action.
Also called parallel distributed processing.

connective /kəˈnektiv/

I. adjective

connecting

• connective words and phrases.

II. noun

1. something that connects, in particular

2. [Grammar] a word or phrase whose function is to link linguistic units together.

3. [Zoology] a bundle of nerve fibers connecting two nerve centers or ganglia, especially in invertebrate animals.

connective tissue

noun

[Anatomy] tissue that connects, supports, binds, or separates other tissues or organs, typically having relatively few cells embedded in an amorphous matrix, often with collagen or other fibers, and including cartilaginous, fatty, and elastic tissues.

connectivity /käˌnekˈtivədē kəˌnekˈtivədē/

noun

1. the state or extent of being connected or interconnected.

2. [Computing] capacity for the interconnection of platforms, systems, and applications

• connectivity between Sun and Mac platforms.

connector /kəˈnektər/

noun

1. a thing that links two or more things together

• a pipe connector.

2. a device for keeping two parts of an electric circuit in contact.

3. a short road or highway that connects two longer roads or highways.

Connemara /ˌkänəˈmärə, -ˈmarə/

a mountainous coastal region in Galway, in western Republic of Ireland.

Connemara pony Connemara

noun

a pony of a hardy breed originally from Ireland, typically gray.

Conner, Dennis /ˈkänər/

(1942–), US yachtsman. Four-time winner of the America's Cup (1974, 1980, 1987, 1988), he is also the first US skipper to lose the cup (1983).

Connery, Sir Sean /ˈkänərē/

(1930–), Scottish movie actor; born Thomas Connery. He is best known for his portrayal of British agent James Bond in several movies. His other movies include Marnie (1964), The Untouchables (1987), and The Hunt for Red October (1990).

conning tower

noun

the superstructure of a submarine, from which it can be commanded when on the surface, and containing the periscope.

conniption /kəˈnipSH(ə)n/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a fit of rage or hysterics

• the casting choice gave the writers a conniption.

– origin mid 19th cent.: probably an invented word.

connivance /kəˈnīvəns/

I. noun

willingness to secretly allow or be involved in wrongdoing, especially an immoral or illegal act

• this infringement of the law had taken place with the connivance of officials.

– origin late 16th cent. (also in the Latin sense ‘winking’): from French connivence or Latin conniventia, from connivere ‘shut the eyes (to)’ (see connive).

connive /kəˈnīv/

I. verb — [no obj.] (connive at/in)

1. secretly allow (something considered immoral, illegal, wrong, or harmful) to occur

• you have it in your power to connive at my escape.

2. (usu. connive to do something) — conspire to do something considered immoral, illegal, or harmful

• the government had connived with security forces in permitting murder.

II. derivatives

conniver /kəˈnīvər /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from French conniver or Latin connivere ‘shut the eyes (to),’ from con- ‘together’ + an unrecorded word related to nictare ‘to wink.’

connivent /kəˈnīvənt/

adjective

[Botany] coming into contact; converging and touching but not fused together.

conniving /kəˈnīviNG/

adjective

given to or involved in conspiring to do something immoral, illegal, or harmful

• a heartless and conniving woman.

connoisseur /ˌkänəˈsər ˌkänəˈso͝or/

I. noun

an expert judge in matters of taste

• a connoisseur of music.

II. derivatives

connoisseurship /-ˌSHip /

noun

– origin early 18th cent.: from obsolete French, from conoistre ‘know.’

Connolly, Maureen /ˈkän(ə)lē/

(1934–69), US tennis player; known as Little Mo; full name Maureen Catherine Connolly. She was the first woman to win all four Grand Slam singles titles in the same year (1953).

Connors, Jimmy /ˈkänərz/

(1952–), US tennis player; full name James Scott Connors. Between 1974 and 1983, he won the men's singles title at two Wimbledon, one Australian Open, and five US Open tournaments.

connotation /ˌkänəˈtāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. an idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning

• the word “discipline” has unhappy connotations of punishment and repression

• the work functions both by analogy and by connotation.

2. [Philosophy] the abstract meaning or intension of a term, which forms a principle determining which objects or concepts it applies to.
Often contrasted with denotation.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from medieval Latin connotatio(n-), from connotare ‘mark in addition’ (see connote).

connote /kəˈnōt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a word) imply or suggest (an idea or feeling) in addition to the literal or primary meaning

• the term “modern science” usually connotes a complete openness to empirical testing.

2. (of a fact) imply as a consequence or condition

• in that period a log cabin connoted hard luck.

II. derivatives

connotative /ˈkänəˌtādiv /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin connotare ‘mark in addition,’ from con- ‘together with’ + notare ‘to note’ (from nota ‘a mark’). / usage: Connote does not mean the same as denote. Denote refers to the literal, primary meaning of something; connote refers to other characteristics suggested or implied by that thing. Thus, one might say that the word ‘mother’ denotes ‘a woman who is a parent’ but connotes qualities such as ‘protection’ and ‘affection’.

connubial /kəˈn(y)o͞obēəl/

I. adjective

‹literary› of or relating to marriage or the relationship of a married couple; conjugal

• their connubial bed.

II. derivatives

1. connubiality /kəˌn(y)o͞obēˈalitē /

noun

2. connubially

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin connubialis, from connubium ‘marriage,’ from con- ‘with’ + nubere ‘marry.’

conodont /ˈkōnəˌdänt/

I. noun

1. an extinct marine animal of the Cambrian to Triassic periods, having a long wormlike body, numerous small teeth, and a pair of eyes. It is now believed to be the earliest vertebrate.
[Class Conodonta, phylum Chordata: numerous families.]

2. (also conodont element) — a tooth of the conodont animal, often found as a fossil.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Conodonta (plural), from Greek kōnos ‘cone’ + odous, odont- ‘tooth.’

conoid /ˈkōnoid/

I. adjective

[chiefly Zoology] approximately conical in shape.

II. noun

a conoid object.

conquer /ˈkäNGkər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. overcome and take control of (a place or people) by use of military force

• the Magyars conquered Hungary in the Middle Ages.

2. successfully overcome (a problem or weakness)

• a fear she never managed to conquer.

3. climb (a mountain) successfully

• the second American to conquer Everest.

4. gain the love, admiration, or respect of (a person or group of people)

• the Beatles were to leave Liverpool and conquer the world.

II. derivatives

conquerable /ˈkäNGk(ə)rəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin Middle English (also in the general sense ‘acquire, attain’): from Old French conquerre, based on Latin conquirere ‘gain, win,’ from con- (expressing completion) + quaerere ‘seek.’

conqueror /ˈkäNGkərər/

noun

a person who conquers a place or people

• a people ruled over by a foreign conqueror

• ‹figurative› a chance for revenge against his Olympic conqueror.

conquest /ˈkänˌkwest/

I. noun

1. the subjugation and assumption of control of a place or people by use of military force

• the conquest of the Aztecs by the Spanish.

2. a territory that has been gained by the use of subjugation and military force

• colonial conquests.

3. (the Conquest) — the invasion and assumption of control of England by William of Normandy in 1066.
See also Norman Conquest.

4. the overcoming of a problem or weakness

• the conquest of inflation.

5. a person whose affection or favor has been won

• someone he could display before his friends as his latest conquest.

– origin Middle English: from Old French conquest(e), based on Latin conquirere (see conquer).

conquistador /kônˌkēstəˈdôr känˈkistəˌdôr/

I. noun

a conqueror, especially one of the Spanish conquerors of Mexico and Peru in the 16th century.

– origin mid 19th cent.: Spanish.

Conrad, Joseph

(1857–1924), British novelist; born in Poland; born Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski. Much of his work, including his novella Heart of Darkness (1902) and the novel Nostromo (1904), explores the darkness within human nature. Other notable works include Lord Jim (1900) and Chance (1913).

Conrad, Pete /ˈkänˌrad/

(1930–99), US astronaut 1962–73; born Charles Conrad, Jr.. He commanded the Apollo 12 lunar mission in 1969, becoming the third man to set foot on the Moon. He was one of a few astronauts who flew four space missions (Gemini V, 1965; Gemini XI, 1966; Apollo 12; and Skylab 2, 1973).

Conroe /ˈkänrō/

a city in eastern Texas, north of Houston; pop. 55,429 (est. 2008).

consanguine /känˈsaNGɡwən/

I. adjective

another term for consanguineous.

II. derivatives

consanguineal /ˌkänsaNGˈɡwinēəl /

adjective

consanguineous /ˌkänsaNGˈɡwinēəs/

I. adjective

relating to or denoting people descended from the same ancestor

• consanguineous marriages.

II. derivatives

consanguinity /ˌkänsaNGˈɡwinədē /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin consanguineus ‘of the same blood’ (from con- ‘together’ + sanguis ‘blood’) + -ous.

conscience /ˈkän(t)SHəns/

I. noun

an inner feeling or voice viewed as acting as a guide to the rightness or wrongness of one's behavior

• he had a guilty conscience about his desires

• Ben was suffering a pang of conscience.

II. phrases

1. in (good) conscience

by any reasonable standard; by all that is fair

• they have in conscience done all they could.

2. on one's conscience

weighing heavily and guiltily on one's mind

• an act of providence had prevented him from having a death on his conscience.

III. derivatives

conscienceless /ˈkänSH(ə)nsləs /

adjective

– origin Middle English (also in the sense ‘inner thoughts or knowledge’): via Old French from Latin conscientia, from conscient- ‘being privy to,’ from the verb conscire, from con- ‘with’ + scire ‘know.’

conscience clause /ˈkänSHəns klôz/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a clause that makes concessions to the consciences of those affected by a law

• Congress passed a “conscience clause” bill, which permitted any individual opposed to abortion to refuse to perform the procedure.

conscience money /ˈkänSHəns ˈmənē/

noun

money paid because of feelings of guilt, especially about a payment that one has evaded.

conscience-stricken /ˈkänSHəns ˈˌstrikən/

adjective

made uneasy by a guilty conscience

• she was still conscience-stricken over her outburst.

conscientious /ˌkän(t)SHēˈen(t)SHəs/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) wishing to do what is right, especially to do one's work or duty well and thoroughly

• a conscientious and hardworking clerk.

2. relating to a person's conscience

• the act does not provide exemption from service on the basis of personal conscientious beliefs.

II. derivatives

conscientiousness /ˌkänCHēˈen(t)SHəsnəs /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from French consciencieux, from medieval Latin conscientiosus, from Latin conscientia (see conscience).

conscientiously /ˌkänSHēˈenSHəslē/

adverb

1. in a thorough and responsible way

• he applied himself conscientiously to his profession

• a conscientiously detailed legislative history.

2. in a way that is motivated by one's moral sense of right and wrong

• he could not conscientiously take the oath

• people who are conscientiously opposed to killing.

conscientious objector /ˌkänCHēˈˌen(t)SHəs ˈäbjektər/

I. noun

a person who for reasons of conscience objects to serving in the armed forces.

II. derivatives

conscientious objection

noun

conscious /ˈkän(t)SHəs/

I. adjective

1. aware of and responding to one's surroundings; awake.

2. having knowledge of something; aware

• we are conscious of the extent of the problem.

3. (conscious of) — painfully aware of; sensitive to

• he was very conscious of his appearance.

4. concerned with or worried about a particular matter

• they were growing increasingly security-conscious.

5. (of an action or feeling) deliberate and intentional

• a conscious effort to walk properly.

6. (of the mind or a thought) directly perceptible to and under the control of the person concerned.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘being aware of wrongdoing’): from Latin conscius ‘knowing with others or in oneself’ (from conscire ‘be privy to’) + -ous.

consciously /ˈkänSHəslē/

adverb

1. in a deliberate and intentional way

• she consciously chose to ignore him

• a vicious and consciously dishonest hatchet job.

2. in a way that is directly perceptible to and under the control of the person concerned

• most players don't think consciously about a throw

• we don't consciously perceive everything that happens to us.

consciousness /ˈkän(t)SHəsnəs/

noun

1. the state of being awake and aware of one's surroundings

• she failed to regain consciousness and died two days later.

2. the awareness or perception of something by a person

• her acute consciousness of Mike's presence.

3. the fact of awareness by the mind of itself and the world

• consciousness emerges from the operations of the brain.

consciousness-raising /ˈkänSHəsnəs ˌrāziNG/

noun

the activity of seeking to make people more aware of personal, social, or political issues
[as modifier]

• a consciousness-raising group.

conscript

I. verb — /kənˈskript / [with obj.]

1. enlist (someone) compulsorily, typically into the armed services

• they were conscripted into the army.

II. noun — /ˈkänˌskript /

1. a person enlisted compulsorily.

– origin late 18th cent. (as a noun): from French conscrit, from Latin conscriptus, past participle of conscribere ‘enroll.’ The verb is a back-formation from conscription.

conscription /kənˈskripSH(ə)n/

I. noun

compulsory enlistment for state service, typically into the armed forces.

– origin early 19th cent.: via French (conscription was introduced in France in 1798), from late Latin conscriptio(n-) ‘levying of troops,’ from Latin conscribere ‘write down together, enroll,’ from con- ‘together’ + scribere ‘write.’

consecrate /ˈkänsəˌkrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu be consecrated)

1. make or declare (something, typically a church) sacred; dedicate formally to a religious or divine purpose

• the present Holy Trinity church was consecrated in 1845

• (as adj. consecrated) consecrated ground.

2. (in Christian belief) make (bread or wine) into the body or blood of Christ
(as adj. consecrated)

• they received the host but not the consecrated wine.

3. ordain (someone) to a sacred office, typically that of bishop
[with obj. and complement]

• in 1969 he was consecrated bishop of Northern Uganda.

4. ‹informal› devote (something) exclusively to a particular purpose

• they'd decided to consecrate all their energies to this purposeful act.

II. derivatives

1. consecrator /ˈkänsəˌkrādər /

noun

2. consecratory /-krəˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin consecrat- ‘dedicated, devoted as sacred,’ from the verb consecrare, from con- (expressing intensive force) + sacrare ‘dedicate,’ from sacer ‘sacred.’

consecration /ˌkänsəˈkrāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action of making or declaring something, typically a church, sacred

• the consecration of this cathedral was a magical event.

2. (in Christian belief) the action of declaring bread and wine to be or represent the body and blood of Christ

• the consecration of bread and wine in the Eucharist

• eucharistic consecration.

3. the action of ordaining someone to a sacred office, typically that of bishop

• he received consecration as bishop at Notre Dame.

consecutive /kənˈsekyədiv/

I. adjective

1. following continuously

• five consecutive months of serious decline.

2. in unbroken or logical sequence.

3. [Grammar] expressing consequence or result

• a consecutive clause.

4. [Music] denoting intervals of the same kind (especially fifths or octaves) occurring in succession between two parts or voices.

II. derivatives

consecutiveness /kənˈsekyədivnəs /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from French consécutif, -ive, from medieval Latin consecutivus, from Latin consecut- ‘followed closely,’ from the verb consequi.

consecutively /kənˈsekyo͝odivlē/

adverb

1. one after another without interruption

• Jeremy smoked four cigarettes consecutively.

2. in unbroken or logical sequence

• the drives are just numbered consecutively.

consensual /kənˈsen(t)SH(əw)əl/

I. adjective

1. relating to or involving consent, especially mutual consent

• he admitted to having consensual sex with two women.

2. relating to or involving consensus

• decision-making was consensual.

II. derivatives

consensually

adverb

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin consensus ‘agreement’ (from consens- ‘felt together, agreed,’ from the verb consentire) + -al.

consensus /kənˈsensəs/

I. noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. general agreement

• a consensus of opinion among judges

• [as modifier] a consensus view.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin,‘agreement,’ from consens- ‘agreed,’ from the verb consentire.

consensus sequence

noun

[Biochemistry] a sequence of DNA having similar structure and function in different organisms.

consent /kənˈsent/

I. noun

permission for something to happen or agreement to do something

• no change may be made without the consent of all the partners.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. give permission for something to happen

• he consented to a search by a detective.

2. agree to do something

• he had consented to serve on the panel.

III. phrases

1. by common consent

with the agreement of all

• it was, by common consent, our finest performance.

2. informed consent

permission granted in the knowledge of the possible consequences, typically that which is given by a patient to a doctor for treatment with full knowledge of the possible risks and benefits.

– origin Middle English: from Old French consente (noun), consentir (verb), from Latin consentire, from con- ‘together’ + sentire ‘feel.’

consentient /kənˈsen(t)SH(ə)nt/

I. adjective

‹archaic› of the same opinion in a matter; in agreement.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin consentient- ‘agreeing,’ from the verb consentire (see consent).

consenting adult

noun

an adult who willingly agrees to engage in an act, especially a sexual act.

consequence /ˈkänsikwəns/

I. noun

1. a result or effect of an action or condition

• many have been laid off from work as a consequence of the administration's policies.

2. [often with negative] — importance or relevance

• the past is of no consequence

• he didn't say anything of great consequence.

3. ‹dated› social distinction

• a woman of consequence.

II. phrases

1. in consequence

as a result.

2. take the consequences

accept responsibility for the negative results of one's action.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin consequentia, from consequent- ‘following closely,’ from the verb consequi.

consequent /ˈkänsəkwənt/

I. adjective

1. following as a result or effect

• labor shortages would be created with a consequent increase in wages.

2. [Geology] (of a stream or valley) having a direction or character determined by the original slope of the land before erosion.

3. ‹archaic› logically consistent.

II. noun

1. a thing that follows another.

2. [Logic] the second part of a conditional proposition, whose truth is stated to be conditional upon that of the antecedent.

3. [Mathematics] the second term of a ratio.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin consequent- ‘overtaking, following closely,’ from the verb consequi.

consequential /ˌkänsəˈkwen(t)SHəl/

I. adjective

1. following as a result or effect

• a loss of confidence and a consequential withdrawal of funds.

2. [Law] resulting from an act, but not immediately and directly

• consequential damages.

3. important; significant

• perhaps the most consequential discovery of the eighteenth century.

II. derivatives

1. consequentiality /ˌkänsəˌkwen(t)SHēˈalədē /

noun

2. consequentially /ˌkänsəˈkwen(t)SHəlē /

adverb

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin consequentia (see consequence) + -al.

consequentialism /ˌkänsəˈkwen(t)SHəlizəm/

I. noun

[Philosophy] the doctrine that the morality of an action is to be judged solely by its consequences.

II. derivatives

consequentialist

adjective, noun

consequently /ˈkänsəkwən(t)lē/

adverb

as a result

• flexible workers find themselves in great demand, and consequently earn high salaries.

conservancy /kənˈsərvənsē/

I. noun

1. [in names] — a body concerned with the preservation of nature, specific species, or natural resources

• the Nature Conservancy.

2. (Brit.) a commission or group of officials controlling a port, river, or drainage basin.

3. the conservation of something, especially wildlife and the environment.

– origin mid 18th cent.: alteration of obsolete conservacy, from Anglo-Norman French conservacie, via Anglo-Latin from Latin conservation- (see conservation).

conservation /ˌkänsərˈvāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action of conserving something, in particular

2. preservation, protection, or restoration of the natural environment, natural ecosystems, vegetation, and wildlife.

3. preservation, repair, and prevention of deterioration of archaeological, historical, and cultural sites and artifacts.

4. prevention of excessive or wasteful use of a resource.

5. [Physics] the principle by which the total value of a physical quantity (such as energy, mass, or linear or angular momentum) remains constant in a system.

II. derivatives

conservational /-SHənl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (in the general sense ‘conserving, preservation’): from Latin conservatio(n-), from the verb conservare (see conserve).

conservationist /ˌkänsərˈvāSHənəst/

noun

a person who advocates or acts for the protection and preservation of the environment and wildlife.

conservation of charge

noun

a principle stating that the total electric charge of an isolated system is fixed.

conservation of energy

noun

a principle stating that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but can be altered from one form to another.

conservation of mass

noun

a principle stating that mass cannot be created or destroyed.

conservatism /kənˈsərvədizəm/

noun

1. commitment to traditional values and ideas with opposition to change or innovation

• proponents of theological conservatism.

2. the holding of political views that favor free enterprise, private ownership, and socially conservative ideas

• a party that espoused conservatism.

3. (Conservativism) — the doctrines of the Conservative Party of Great Britain or a similar party elsewhere

• the thrust of post-war Conservatism.

conservative /kənˈsərvədiv/

I. adjective

1. holding to traditional attitudes and values and cautious about change or innovation, typically in relation to politics or religion.

2. (of dress or taste) sober and conventional

• a conservative suit.

3. (of an estimate) purposely low for the sake of caution

• the film was not cheap—$30,000 is a conservative estimate.

4. (of surgery or medical treatment) intended to control rather than eliminate a condition, with existing tissue preserved as far as possible.

5. (Conservative) — of or relating to the Conservative Party of Great Britain or a similar party in another country.

II. noun

1. a person who is averse to change and holds to traditional values and attitudes, typically in relation to politics.

2. (Conservative) — a supporter or member of the Conservative Party of Great Britain or a similar party in another country.

III. derivatives

conservativeness

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘aiming to preserve’): from late Latin conservativus, from conservat- ‘conserved,’ from the verb conservare (see conserve). Current senses date from the mid 19th century onward.

Conservative Judaism

noun

a form of Judaism, particularly prevalent in North America, that seeks to preserve Jewish tradition and ritual but has a more flexible approach to the interpretation of the law than Orthodox Judaism.

conservatively /kənˈsərvədivlē/

adverb

1. in a sober and conventional way

• they've been dressing more conservatively at the office

• an upscale living room, conservatively furnished.

2. in a cautious way that seeks to avoid potential risks

• she conservatively estimates a supply shortfall of $8 million this year.

3. [Medicine] in a way that is intended to control symptoms rather than eliminate a condition

• the frostbite injury was treated conservatively.

Conservative Party

a political party promoting free enterprise and private ownership, in particular a major British party that emerged from the old Tory Party in the 1830s and 1840s.

conservatoire /kənˈsərvəˌtwär/

I. noun

another term for conservatory (sense 1).

– origin late 18th cent.: French, from Italian conservatorio, from late Latin conservatorium, from conservare ‘to preserve’ (see conserve). Compare with conservatory.

conservator /kənˈsərvədər kənˈsərvəˌtôr ˈkänsərˌvādər/

I. noun

1. a person responsible for the repair and preservation of works of art, buildings, or other things of cultural or environmental interest.

2. a guardian or protector

• the court does not need to appoint a conservator to handle an incapacitated person's affairs.

II. derivatives

conservatorship

noun

conservatory /kənˈsərvəˌtôrē/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a college for the study of classical music or other arts.

2. a room with a glass roof and walls, attached to a house at one side and used as a greenhouse or a sun parlor.

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting something that preserves): from late Latin conservatorium, from conservare ‘to preserve’ (see conserve).

conserve

I. verb — /kənˈsərv / [with obj.]

1. protect (something, especially an environmentally or culturally important place or thing) from harm or destruction

• the funds raised will help conserve endangered meadowlands.

2. prevent the wasteful or harmful overuse of (a resource)

• industry should conserve more water.

3. [Physics] maintain (a quantity such as energy or mass) at a constant overall total.

4. (usu. be conserved) — [Biochemistry] retain (a particular amino acid, nucleotide, or sequence of these) unchanged in different protein or DNA molecules.

5. preserve (food, typically fruit) with sugar.

II. noun — /ˈkänˌsərv kənˈsərv /

1. a sweet food made by preserving fruit with sugar; jam.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French conserver (verb), conserve (noun), from Latin conservare ‘to preserve,’ from con- ‘together’ + servare ‘to keep.’

consider /kənˈsidər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. think carefully about (something), typically before making a decision

• each application is considered on its merits

• (as adj. considered) it is my considered opinion that we should await further developments.

2. think about and be drawn toward (a course of action)

• he had considered giving up his job.

3. regard (someone or something) as having a specified quality
[with obj. and complement]

• I consider him irresponsible.

4. believe; think

• at first women were considered to be at low risk from HIV

• I don't consider that I'm to blame.

5. take (something) into account when making an assessment or judgment

• one service area is not enough when you consider the number of cars using this highway.

6. look attentively at

• he considered the women around the table with wariness.

II. phrases

all things considered

taking everything into account.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French considerer, from Latin considerare ‘examine,’ perhaps based on sidus, sider- ‘star.’

considerable /kənˈsid(ə)rəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. notably large in size, amount, or extent

• a position of considerable influence.

2. (of a person) having merit or distinction

• he was a limited, but still considerable, novelist.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘capable of being considered’): from medieval Latin considerabilis ‘worthy of consideration,’ from Latin considerare (see consider).

considerably /kənˈsid(ə)rəblē/

adverb

by a notably large amount or to a notably large extent; greatly

• things have improved considerably over the last few years

• [as submodifier] a considerably higher density.

considerate /kənˈsidərət/

I. adjective

1. careful not to cause inconvenience or hurt to others

• the quietest and most considerate tenants possible.

2. ‹archaic› showing careful thought

• be considerate over your handwriting.

II. derivatives

1. considerately /kənˈsidərətlē /

adverb

2. considerateness /kənˈsid(ə)rətnəs /

noun

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘showing careful thought’): from Latin consideratus, past participle of considerare ‘examine’ (see consider).

consideration /kənˌsidərˈāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. careful thought, typically over a period of time

• a long process involving a great deal of careful consideration.

2. a fact or a motive taken into account in deciding or judging something

• the idea was motivated by political considerations.

3. thoughtfulness and sensitivity toward others

• companies should show more consideration for their employees.

4. a payment or reward

• you can buy the books for a small consideration.

5. [Law] (in a contractual agreement) anything given or promised or forborne by one party in exchange for the promise or undertaking of another.

6. ‹archaic› importance; consequence.

II. phrases

1. in consideration of

a. on account of; taking into account

• a nightlight burned in consideration of Ernie's phobia.

b. in return for

• he paid them in consideration of their services.

2. take into consideration

take into account.

3. under consideration

being thought about

• a bird under consideration for being listed as endangered.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin consideration-, from considerare ‘examine.’

considering /kənˈsid(ə)riNG/

I. preposition, conjunction

taking into consideration
[as prep.]

• considering the conditions, it's very good

• [as conjunction] considering that he was the youngest on the field, he played well.

II. adverb

‹informal› taking everything into account

• they weren't feeling too bad, considering.

consigliere /ˌkônsēˈlye-re, kənsiɡlēˈērē/

noun

an adviser, especially to a crime boss.

consign /kənˈsīn/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. deliver (something) to a person's custody, typically in order for it to be sold

• he consigned three paintings to Sotheby's.

2. send (goods) by a public carrier.

3. (consign someone/something to) — assign; commit decisively or permanently

• she consigned the letter to the wastebasket.

II. derivatives

1. consignee /ˌkänsīˈnē /

noun

2. consignor /kənˈsīnər /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘mark with the sign of the cross,’ especially at baptism or confirmation, as a sign of dedication to God): from French consigner or Latin consignare ‘mark with a seal.’

consignment /kənˈsīnmənt/

noun

1. a batch of goods destined for or delivered to someone

• a consignment of beef.

2. the action of consigning or delivering something.

3. agreement to pay a supplier of goods after the goods are sold

• new and used children's clothing on consignment.

consignment shop consignment store

noun

a store that sells secondhand items (typically clothing and accessories) on behalf of the original owner, who receives a percentage of the selling price.

consilience /kənˈsilēəns/

I. noun

agreement between the approaches to a topic of different academic subjects, especially science and the humanities.

II. derivatives

consilient /kənˈsilēənt /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from con(current) + Latin -silient-, -siliens ‘jumping’ (as in resilience).

consist

I. verb — /kənˈsist / [no obj.]

1. (consist of) — be composed or made up of

• the exhibition consists of 180 drawings.

2. (consist in) — have as an essential feature

• his duties consist in taking the condition of the barometer.

3. (consist with) — ‹archaic› be consistent with

• the information perfectly consists with our friend's account.

II. noun — /kənˈsist /

1. [Railroads] the set of vehicles forming a complete train.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘be located or inherent in’): from Latin consistere ‘stand firm or still, exist,’ from con- ‘together’ + sistere ‘stand (still).’

consistence /kənˈsistəns/

noun

another term for consistency.

consistency /kənˈsistənsē / consistence

I. noun

1. conformity in the application of something, typically that which is necessary for the sake of logic, accuracy, or fairness

• the grading system is to be streamlined to ensure greater consistency.

2. the achievement of a level of performance that does not vary greatly in quality over time

• his principal problem in tennis has been consistency.

3. the way in which a substance, typically a liquid, holds together; thickness or viscosity

• the sauce has the consistency of creamed butter.

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting permanence of form): from late Latin consistentia, from consistent- ‘standing firm’ (see consistent).

consistent /kənˈsistənt/

I. adjective

1. (of a person, behavior, or process) unchanging in achievement or effect over a period of time

• manufacturing processes require a consistent approach.

2. compatible or in agreement with something

• the injuries are consistent with falling from a great height.

3. (of an argument or set of ideas) not containing any logical contradictions

• a consistent explanation.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘consisting or composed of’): from Latin consistent- ‘standing firm or still, existing,’ from the verb consistere (see consist).

consistently /kənˈsistən(t)lē/

adverb

1. in every case or on every occasion; invariably

• the vehicle consistently outperforms some of the best competitors

• a team that consistently demonstrates a desire to win.

2. in a fair and impartial way

• students have to be treated consistently by all staff members.

consistory /kənˈsistərē/

I. noun

1. a church council or court, in particular

2. (in the Roman Catholic Church) the council of cardinals, with or without the pope.

3. (also consistory court) — (in the Church of England) a court presided over by a bishop, for the administration of ecclesiastical law in a diocese.

4. (in other churches) a local administrative body.

II. derivatives

consistorial /ˌkänsiˈstôrēəl /

adjective

– origin Middle English (originally denoting a nonecclesiastical council): from Anglo-Norman French consistorie, from late Latin consistorium, from consistere ‘stand firm’ (see consist).

consociation /ˌkänˌsōsēˈāSHən ˌkänˌsōSHēˈāSHən ˌkənˌsōsēˈāSHən ˌkənˌsōSHēˈāSHən/

I. noun

1. a group or association of a distinctive type, in particular

2. a political system formed by the cooperation of different, especially antagonistic, social groups on the basis of shared power.

3. [Zoology] a group of animals of the same species that interact more or less equally with each other.

4. ‹dated› (chiefly US) an association of Congregational Churches.

5. ‹dated› close association or fellowship.

II. derivatives

1. consociational /-SHənl /

adjective

2. consociationalism /-SHənlˌizəm /

noun

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘associating, combination’): from Latin consociatio(n-), from the verb consociare, from con- ‘together’ + sociare ‘to associate’ (from socius ‘fellow’).

consolation /ˌkänsəˈlāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. comfort received by a person after a loss or disappointment

• there was consolation in knowing that others were worse off.

2. a person or thing providing comfort to a person who has suffered

• the church was the main consolation in a short and hard life.

3. (US) [Sports] a round or contest for tournament entrants who have been eliminated before the finals, often to determine third and fourth place.

II. derivatives

consolatory /kənˈsōləˌtôrē kənˈsälətôrē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin consolatio(n-), from the verb consolari (see console^1).

consolation prize

noun

a prize given to a competitor who narrowly fails to win or who finishes last

• two hundred runners-up will get a consolation prize.

console^1 /kənˈsōl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. comfort (someone) at a time of grief or disappointment

• she tried to console him but he pushed her gently away

• you can console yourself with the thought that you did your best.

II. derivatives

1. consolable /kənˈsōləb(ə)l /

adjective

2. consoler /kənˈsōlər /

noun

3. consolingly

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent. (replacing earlier consolate): from French consoler, from Latin consolari, from con- ‘with’ + solari ‘soothe.’

console^2 /ˈkänˌsōl/

I. noun

1. a panel or unit accommodating a set of controls for electronic or mechanical equipment.

2. (also games console) — a small electronic device for playing computerized video games.

3. a cabinet for television or radio equipment.

4. the cabinet or enclosure containing the keyboards, stops, pedals, etc., of an organ.

5. a monitor and keyboard in a multiuser computer system.

6. an ornamented bracket with scrolls or corbel supporting a cornice, shelf, or tabletop.

7. a support between the seats of an automobile that has indentations for holding small items.

– origin mid 17th cent. (sense 2): from French, perhaps from consolider, from Latin consolidare (see consolidate).

console table /ˈkänˌsōl ˌtāb(ə)l/

noun

a table supported by ornamented brackets, either movable or fixed against a wall.

consolidate /kənˈsäləˌdāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (something) physically stronger or more solid

• the first phase of the project is to consolidate the outside walls.

2. reinforce or strengthen (one's position or power)

• the company consolidated its position in the international market.

3. combine (a number of things) into a single more effective or coherent whole

• all manufacturing activities have been consolidated in new premises.

4. combine (a number of financial accounts or funds) into a single overall account or set of accounts.

5. combine (two or more legal actions involving similar questions) into one for action by a court.

II. derivatives

consolidator /kənˈsälədādər /

noun

– origin early 16th cent. (in the sense ‘combine into a single whole’): from Latin consolidare, from con- ‘together’ + solidare ‘make firm’ (from solidus ‘solid’).

consolidation /kənˌsäləˈdāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action or process of making something stronger or more solid

• the permanent consolidation of peace.

2. the action or process of combining a number of things into a single more effective or coherent whole

• a consolidation of data within an enterprise.

3. the action or process of combining a number of financial accounts or funds into a single overall account or set of accounts

• a business selling debt consolidation services.

consommé /ˌkänsəˈmā/

I. noun

a clear soup made with concentrated stock.

– origin French, past participle of consommer ‘consume or consummate,’ from Latin consummare ‘make complete’ (see consummate).

consonance /ˌkänsənəns/

I. noun

1. agreement or compatibility between opinions or actions

• consonance between conservation measures and existing agricultural practice.

2. the recurrence of similar sounds, especially consonants, in close proximity (chiefly as used in prosody).

3. [Music] the combination of notes that are in harmony with each other due to the relationship between their frequencies.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin consonantia, from consonant- ‘sounding together,’ from the verb consonare (see consonant).

consonant /ˈkänsənənt/

I. noun

1. a basic speech sound in which the breath is at least partly obstructed and which can be combined with a vowel to form a syllable.
Contrasted with vowel.

2. a letter representing a consonant.

II. adjective

1. denoting or relating to a consonant sound or letter

• a consonant phoneme.

2. (consonant with) — in agreement or harmony with

• the findings are consonant with other research.

3. [Music] making a harmonious interval or chord

• the bass is consonant with all the upper notes.

III. derivatives

1. consonantal /ˌkänsəˈnan(t)l /

adjective

2. consonantly

adverb

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘letter representing a consonantal sound’): via Old French from Latin consonare ‘sound together,’ from con- ‘with’ + sonare ‘to sound’ (from sonus ‘sound’).

con sordino /kän ˌsôrˈdēnō, kōn/

I. adverb

[Music] (especially as a direction) with the use of a mute.

– origin Italian.

consort^1

I. noun — /ˈkänsôrt /

1. a wife, husband, or companion, in particular the spouse of a reigning monarch.

2. a ship sailing in company with another.

II. verb — /kənˈsôrt ˈkänˌsôrt / [no obj.] (consort with)

1. habitually associate with (someone), typically with the disapproval of others

• you chose to consort with the enemy.

2. (consort with/to) — ‹archaic› agree or be in harmony with.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a companion or colleague): via French from Latin consors ‘sharing, partner,’ from con- ‘together with’ + sors, sort- ‘lot, destiny.’ The verb senses are probably influenced by similar senses (now obsolete) of the verb sort.

consort^2 /ˈkänsôrt/

I. noun

a small group of musicians performing together, typically playing instrumental music of the Renaissance period

• a consort of viols.

– origin late 16th cent.: earlier form of concert.

consortium /kənˈsôrdēəm kənˈsôrSH(ē)əm/

I. noun

1. an association, typically of several business companies.

2. [Law] the right of association and companionship with one's husband or wife.

– origin early 19th cent. (in the sense ‘partnership’): from Latin, from consors ‘sharing, partner’ (see consort^1).

conspecific /ˌkänspəˈsifik / ‹Biology›

I. adjective

(of animals or plants) belonging to the same species.

II. noun — (usu. conspecifics)

1. a member of the same species

• the rabbit was isolated from male conspecifics.

III. derivatives

conspecificity /ˌkänˌspesəˈfisitē /

noun

conspectus /kənˈspektəs/

I. noun

a summary or overview of a subject

• five of his works give a rich conspectus of his art.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin, past participle (used as a noun) of conspicere ‘look at attentively.’

conspicuous /kənˈspikyo͞oəs/

I. adjective

1. standing out so as to be clearly visible

• he was very thin, with a conspicuous Adam's apple.

2. attracting notice or attention

• he showed conspicuous bravery.

II. phrases

conspicuous by one's absence

obviously not present in a place where one should be.
[from a speech made by Lord John Russell in an address to electors (1859): taken from Tacitus (Annals iii. 76).]

III. derivatives

1. conspicuity /känspiˈkyo͞oədē /

noun

2. conspicuousness /kənˈspikyo͞oəsnəs /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin conspicuus (from conspicere ‘look at attentively,’ from con- (expressing intensive force) + spicere ‘look at’) + -ous.

conspicuous consumption

noun

expenditure on or consumption of luxuries on a lavish scale in an attempt to enhance one's prestige

• an age of increasing conspicuous consumption

• these mansions were seen as monstrous monuments to conspicuous consumption.

conspicuously /kənˈspikyo͝oəslē/

adverb

1. in a clearly visible way

• the signs were conspicuously displayed inside the restaurant.

2. in a way that attracts notice or attention

• his arguments conspicuously lack rigor

• [as submodifier] one important voice has been conspicuously absent.

conspiracist /kənˈspirəsəst/

noun

a person who supports a conspiracy theory.

conspiracy /kənˈspirəsē/

I. noun

1. a secret plan by a group to do something unlawful or harmful

• a conspiracy to destroy the government.

2. the action of plotting or conspiring

• they were cleared of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

II. phrases

a conspiracy of silence

an agreement to say nothing about an issue that should be generally known.

– origin late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French conspiracie, alteration of Old French conspiration, based on Latin conspirare ‘agree, plot’ (see conspire).

conspiracy theory

I. noun

a belief that some covert but influential organization is responsible for a circumstance or event.

II. derivatives

conspiracy theorist

noun

conspirator /kənˈspirədər/

I. noun

a person who takes part in a conspiracy.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French conspirateur, from Latin conspirator, from conspirat- ‘agreed, plotted,’ from the verb conspirare (see conspire).

conspiratorial /kənˌspirəˈtôrēəl/

I. adjective

1. relating to or suggestive of a secret plan made by a group of people to do something unlawful or harmful

• there are several who think this is some sort of vast conspiratorial plot on the part of the press

• historians have rejected this thesis as conspiratorial and simplistic.

2. (of a person’s manner or behavior) suggesting that they share secret knowledge with another person

• he gave me a sly, conspiratorial wink.

II. derivatives

conspiratorially /kənˌspirəˈtôrēəlē /

adverb

conspire /kənˈspī(ə)r/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. make secret plans jointly to commit an unlawful or harmful act

• they conspired against him

• they deny conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service.

2. (of events or circumstances) seem to be working together to bring about a particular result, typically to someone's detriment

• everything conspires to exacerbate the situation.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French conspirer, from Latin conspirare ‘agree, plot,’ from con- ‘together with’ + spirare ‘breathe.’

con spirito /kän ˈspiriˌtō, ˈkōn-/

adverb

[Music] (as a direction) vigorously; in a spirited manner.

constable /ˈkänstəb(ə)l/

I. noun

1. a peace officer with limited policing authority, typically in a small town.

2. (Brit.) a police officer.

3. the governor of a royal castle.

4. ‹historical› the highest-ranking official in a royal household.

– origin Middle English (sense 2): from Old French conestable, from late Latin comes stabuli ‘count (head officer) of the stable.’

Constable, John /ˈkänstəbəl/

(1776–1837), English painter. His early paintings were inspired by the landscape of his native Suffolk.

constabulary /kənˈstabyəˌlerē/

I. noun

1. the constables of a district, collectively.

2. an armed police force organized as a military unit.

3. (Brit.) a police force covering a particular area or city.

II. adjective

of or relating to a constabulary.

– origin late 15th cent. (denoting the district under the charge of a constable): from medieval Latin constabularia (dignitas) ‘(rank) of constable,’ from constabulus, based on Latin comes stabuli (see constable).

Constance, Lake /ˈkänstəns/

a lake in southwestern Germany, on the northern side of the Swiss Alps where Germany, Switzerland, and Austria meet. It forms part of the course of the Rhine River.
German name Bodensee.

constancy /ˈkänstənsē/

I. noun

1. the quality of being faithful and dependable.

2. the quality of being enduring and unchanging

• the trade winds are noted for constancy in speed and direction.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Latin constantia, from constant- ‘standing firm’ (see constant).

constant /ˈkänstənt/

I. adjective

1. occurring continuously over a period of time

• the pain is constant.

2. remaining the same over a period of time

• the company has kept its prices fairly constant.

3. (of a person) unchangingly faithful and dependable.

II. noun

1. a situation or state of affairs that does not change

• the condition of struggle remained a constant.

2. [Mathematics] a quantity or parameter that does not change its value whatever the value of the variables, under a given set of conditions.

3. [Physics] a number expressing a relation or property that remains the same in all circumstances, or for the same substance under the same conditions.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘staying resolute or faithful’): from Old French, from Latin constant- ‘standing firm,’ from the verb constare, from con- ‘with’ + stare ‘stand.’ The noun senses date from the mid 19th cent.

Constanţa /kōnˈstäntsə, kôn- / Constanza

the chief port of Romania, in the southeastern part of the country, on the Black Sea; pop. 305,550 (2006). Formerly called Tomis, it was renamed for Constantine I in the 4th century.

constantan /ˈkänstəntən/

I. noun

a copper–nickel alloy used in electrical work for its high resistance.

– origin early 20th cent.: from constant + -an.

Constantine^1 /ˈkänstənˌtēn/

a city in northeastern Algeria; pop. 462,800 (est. 2009). Formerly called Cirta, it was the capital of the Roman province of Numidia. It was destroyed in 311 but was rebuilt by Constantine the Great and given his name.

Constantine^2 /ˈkänstənˌtēn/

(c. 274–337), Roman emperor 306–37; known as Constantine the Great. He was the first Roman emperor to be converted to Christianity and in 324 made Christianity the empire's state religion. In 330, he moved his capital from Rome to Byzantium, renaming it Constantinopolis (Constantinople). He is venerated as a saint in the Orthodox Church.

Constantinople /ˌkänˌstantəˈnōp(ə)l/

the former name of Istanbul from AD 330 (when it was given its name by Constantine the Great) until the early 20th century.

constantly /ˈkänst(ə)n(t)lē/

adverb

continuously over a period of time; always

• the world is constantly changing

• he was constantly on her mind.

constative /ˈkänstətiv, kənˈstātiv / ‹Linguistics›

I. adjective

denoting a speech act or sentence that is a statement declaring something to be the case.
Often contrasted with performative.

II. noun

a constative speech act or sentence.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Latin constat- ‘established’ (from the verb constare) + -ive.

constellate /ˈkänstəlāt/

I. verb

‹literary› form or cause to form into a cluster or group; gather together
[no obj.]

• the towns and valleys where people constellate

• [with obj.] their stories were never constellated.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from late Latin constellatus, from con- ‘together’ + stellatus ‘arranged like a star.’

constellation /ˌkänstəˈlāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a group of stars forming a recognizable pattern that is traditionally named after its apparent form or identified with a mythological figure. Modern astronomers divide the sky into eighty-eight constellations with defined boundaries.

2. a group or cluster of related things

• no two patients ever show exactly the same constellation of symptoms.

– origin Middle English (as an astrological term denoting the relative positions of the “stars” (planets), supposed to influence events): via Old French from late Latin constellatio(n-), based on Latin stella ‘star.’

consternate /ˈkänstərˌnāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. fill (someone) with anxiety
(as adj. consternated)

• you'll probably be consternated by all this talk.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin consternat- ‘terrified, prostrated,’ from the verb consternare.

consternation /ˌkänstərˈnāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

feelings of anxiety or dismay, typically at something unexpected

• I always welcomed clover, much to the consternation of the neighbors.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin consternatio(n-), from the verb consternare ‘lay prostrate, terrify’ (see consternate).

constipated /ˈkänstəˌpādəd/

I. adjective

1. (of a person or animal) affected with constipation.

2. slow-moving; restricted or inhibited in some way

• spontaneous girls like Ellen are never going to be intimate with constipated deadpan fellows like me.

II. derivatives

constipate /ˈkänstəˌpāt /

verb

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin constipat- ‘crowded or pressed together,’ from the verb constipare, from con- ‘together’ + stipare ‘press, cram.’

constipation /ˌkänstəˈpāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a condition in which there is difficulty in emptying the bowels, usually associated with hardened feces.

2. a high level of constraint or restriction; a pronounced lack of ease

• literary constipation.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘contraction of body tissues’): from late Latin constipatio(n-), from the verb constipare (see constipated).

constituency /kənˈstiCHo͞oənsē/

noun

1. a body of voters in a specified area who elect a representative to a legislative body

• the politician who wishes to remain in the good graces of his constituency.

2. (chiefly Brit.) an area whose voters elect a representative to a legislative body.

3. a body of customers or supporters

• a constituency of racing fans.

constituent /kənˈstiCHo͞oənt/

I. adjective

1. being a part of a whole

• the constituent minerals of the rock.

2. being a voting member of a community or organization and having the power to appoint or elect

• the constituent body has a right of veto.

3. able to make or change a political constitution

• a constituent assembly.

II. noun

1. a member of a constituency.

2. a component part of something

• the essential constituents of the human diet.

3. [Linguistics] the common part of two or several more complex forms, e.g., gentle in gentleman, gentlemanly, ungentlemanly.

4. [Linguistics] a word or construction that is part of a larger construction.

– origin late 15th cent. (in the legal sense of the noun): from Latin constituent- (partly via French constituant) ‘establishing, appointing,’ from the verb constituere (see constitute).

constitute /ˈkänstəˌt(y)o͞ot/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. be (a part) of a whole

• single parents constitute a great proportion of the poor.

2. (of people or things) combine to form (a whole)

• there were enough members present to constitute a quorum.

3. be or be equivalent to (something)

• his failure to act constituted a breach of duty.

4. (usu. be constituted) — give legal or constitutional form to (an institution); establish by law.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin constitut- ‘established, appointed,’ from the verb constituere, from con- ‘together’ + statuere ‘set up.’

constitution /ˌkänstəˈt(y)o͞oSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is acknowledged to be governed.

2. (the Constitution) — the basic written set of principles and precedents of federal government in the US, which came into operation in 1789 and has since been modified by twenty-seven amendments.

3. the composition of something

• the genetic constitution of a species.

4. the forming or establishing of something

• the constitution of a police authority.

5. a person's physical state with regard to vitality, health, and strength

• pregnancy had weakened her constitution.

6. a person's mental or psychological makeup.

– origin Middle English (denoting a law, or a body of laws or customs): from Latin constitutio(n-), from constituere ‘establish, appoint’ (see constitute).

constitutional /ˌkänstəˈt(y)o͞oSH(ə)n(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to an established set of principles governing a state

• a constitutional amendment.

2. in accordance with or allowed by an established set of principles governing a state

• a constitutional monarchy.

3. of or relating to someone's physical or mental condition

• a constitutional weakness.

II. noun

‹dated› a walk, typically one taken regularly to maintain or restore good health.

constitutionalism /ˌkänstəˈt(y)o͞oSH(ə)nəˌlizəm/

I. noun

1. constitutional government.

2. adherence to a system of constitutional government.

II. derivatives

constitutionalist /ˌkänstəˈt(y)o͞oSH(ə)n(ə)ləst /

noun

constitutionality /ˌkänstəˌt(y)o͞oSHəˈnalədē/

noun

the quality of being in accordance with a political constitution

• a court case upheld the constitutionality of such a law.

constitutionalize /ˌkänstəˈt(y)o͞oSH(ə)nəˌlīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) make subject to explicit provisions of a country's constitution

• divorce is not constitutionalized.

constitutionally /känstəˈto͞oSH(ə)nəlē/

adverb

1. in a way that is in accordance with a political constitution

• basic constitutionally mandated rights.

2. in a way that relates to someone's nature or physical condition

• a person constitutionally incapable of compromise

• I'm constitutionally pessimistic.

Constitution State

a nickname for the state of Connecticut.

constitutive /ˈkänstəˌt(y)o͞odiv kənˈstiCHədiv/

I. adjective

1. having the power to establish or give organized existence to something

• the state began to exercise a new and constitutive function.

2. forming a part or constituent of something; component

• poverty is a constitutive element of a particular form of economic growth.

3. forming an essential element of something

• language is constitutive of thought.

4. [Biochemistry] relating to an enzyme or enzyme system that is continuously produced in an organism, regardless of the needs of cells.

II. derivatives

constitutively

adverb

constrain /kənˈstrān/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. severely restrict the scope, extent, or activity of

• agricultural development is considerably constrained by climate

• we can constrain data access.

2. compel or force (someone) toward a particular course of action

• children are constrained to work in the way the book dictates.

3. (usu. as adj. constrained) — cause to appear unnaturally forced, typically because of embarrassment

• he was acting in a constrained manner.

4. ‹literary› confine forcibly; imprison.

5. ‹archaic› bring about (something) by compulsion

• Calypso in her caves constrained his stay.

II. derivatives

constrainedly /kənˈstrānədlē /

adverb

– origin Middle English: from Old French constraindre, from Latin constringere ‘bind tightly together.’

constraint /kənˈstrānt/

I. noun

1. a limitation or restriction

• the availability of water is the main constraint on food production

• time constraints make it impossible to do everything.

2. stiffness of manner and inhibition in relations between people

• they would be able to talk without constraint.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘coercion’): from Old French constreinte, feminine past participle of constraindre (see constrain).

constrict /kənˈstrikt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make narrower, especially by encircling pressure

• chemicals that constrict the blood vessels

• (as adj. constricted) constricted air passages.

2. [no obj.] — become narrower

• he felt his throat constrict.

3. (of a snake) coil around (prey) in order to asphyxiate it.

4. inhibit or restrict

• the fear and the reality of crime constrict many people's lives.

II. derivatives

constrictive /kənˈstriktiv /

adjective

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin constrict- ‘bound tightly together,’ from the verb constringere (see constrain).

constriction /kənˈstrikSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action of making something narrower by pressure or of becoming narrower; tightening

• asthma is a constriction of the airways.

2. a place where something has become tighter or narrower; an obstruction

• flow was impeded at bends and constrictions.

constrictor /kənˈstriktər/

I. noun

1. a snake that kills by coiling around its prey and asphyxiating it.
[Families Boidae and Pythonidae, and some members of other families (in particular Colubridae).]

2. (also constrictor muscle) — [Anatomy] a muscle whose contraction narrows a vessel or passage.

3. each of the muscles that constrict the pharynx.

– origin early 18th cent.: modern Latin, from constrict- ‘bound tightly together,’ from the verb constringere (see constrain).

construct

I. verb — /kənˈstrəkt / [with obj.]

1. build or erect (something, typically a building, road, or machine)

• a company that constructs oil rigs.

2. form (an idea or theory) by bringing together various conceptual elements, typically over a period of time

• Ptolemy combined his interests to construct a theory in support of Aristotle.

3. [Grammar] form (a sentence) according to grammatical rules.

4. [Geometry] draw or delineate (a geometric figure) accurately to given conditions.

II. noun — /ˈkänˌstrəkt /

1. an idea or theory containing various conceptual elements, typically one considered to be subjective and not based on empirical evidence

• history is largely an ideological construct.

2. [Linguistics] a group of words forming a phrase.

3. a physical thing that is deliberately built or formed.

III. derivatives

1. constructible /kənˈstrəktəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. constructor /kənˈstrəktər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin construct- ‘heaped together, built,’ from the verb construere, from con- ‘together’ + struere ‘pile, build.’

constructed language

noun

a language, such as Esperanto, that has been artificially created rather than having evolved naturally through use

• a scholar who has studied Tolkien's constructed languages.

construction /kənˈstrəkSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the building of something, typically a large structure

• there was a skyscraper under construction.

2. the building of large structures considered as an industry.

3. the style or method used in the building of something

• the mill is of brick construction.

4. a building or other structure.

5. the creation or formation of an abstract entity

• language plays a large part in our construction of reality.

6. an interpretation or explanation

• you could put an honest construction upon their conduct.

7. [Grammar] the arrangement of words according to syntactical rules

• sentence construction.

II. derivatives

1. constructional /kənˈstrəkSH(ə)n(ə)l /

adjective

2. constructionally /-SHənl-ē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin constructio(n-), from construere ‘heap together’ (see construct).

constructionism /kənˈstrəkSHəˌnizəm/

noun

another term for constructivism.

constructionist /kənˈstrəkSHənəst/

noun

1. another term for constructivist (see constructivism).

2. (US) a person who puts a particular construction upon a legal document, especially the US Constitution.

construction paper //

noun

(N. Amer.) a type of thick colored paper used for making models, designs, and other crafts.

constructive /kənˈstrəktiv/

I. adjective

1. serving a useful purpose; tending to build up

• constructive criticism.

2. [Law] derived by inference; implied by operation of law; not obvious or explicit

• constructive liability.

3. [Mathematics] relating to, based on, or denoting mathematical proofs that show how an entity may in principle be constructed or arrived at in a finite number of steps.

II. derivatives

constructiveness

noun

– origin mid 17th cent. (sense 2): from late Latin constructivus, from Latin construct- ‘heaped together,’ from the verb construere (see construct).

constructively /kənˈstrəktivlē/

adverb

1. in a way that has or is intended to have a useful or beneficial purpose

• the party has engaged constructively in this debate.

2. [Law] in a way that is not obvious or explicitly stated but may be inferred

• this non-disclosure was said to be constructively tantamount to fraud.

constructivism /kənˈstrəktəˌvizəm/

noun

1. [Art] a style or movement in which assorted mechanical objects are combined into abstract mobile structural forms. The movement originated in Russia in the 1920s and has influenced many aspects of modern architecture and design.
[transliterating Russian konstruktivizm.]

2. [Mathematics] a view which admits as valid only constructive proofs and entities demonstrable by them, implying that the latter have no independent existence.

constructivist /kənˈstrəktəvist/

I. noun

1. [Art] a practitioner of a style in which mechanical objects are combined into abstract mobile forms

• the Russian constructivists adopted these techniques for their large constructions.

2. [Mathematics] an adherent of a view that admits as valid only constructive proofs and entities demonstrable by them.

II. adjective

1. [Art] relating to or denoting a style in which mechanical objects are combined into abstract mobile forms

• the constructivist aesthetic of the building.

2. [Mathematics] consistent with or relating to a view that admits as valid only constructive proofs and entities demonstrable by them

• a constructivist conception of mathematics.

construe /kənˈstro͞o/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. interpret (a word or action) in a particular way

• his words could hardly be construed as an apology.

2. ‹dated› analyze the syntax of (a text, sentence, or word)

• both verbs can be construed with either infinitive.

3. ‹dated› translate (a passage or author) word for word, typically aloud.

II. derivatives

1. construable

adjective

2. construal /-ˈstro͞oəl /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin construere (see construct), in late Latin ‘analyze the construction of a sentence.’

consubstantial /ˌkänsəbˈstan(t)SH(ə)l/

I. adjective

of the same substance or essence (used especially of the three persons of the Trinity in Christian theology)

• Christ is consubstantial with the Father.

II. derivatives

consubstantiality /ˌkänsəbˌstanSHēˈalədē /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from ecclesiastical Latin consubstantialis (translating Greek homoousios ‘of one substance’), from con- ‘with’ + substantialis (see substantial).

consubstantiation /ˌkänsəbˌstanSHēˈāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

[Christian Theology] the doctrine, especially in Lutheran belief, that the substance of the bread and wine coexists with the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist.
Compare with transubstantiation.

– origin late 16th cent.: from modern Latin consubstantiatio(n-), from con- ‘together,’ on the pattern of transubstantiation- ‘transubstantiation.’

consuetude /ˈkänswəˌt(y)o͞od/

I. noun

an established custom, especially one having legal force.

II. derivatives

consuetudinary /ˌkänswəˈt(y)o͞od(ə)nerē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin consuetudo (see custom).

consul /ˈkänsəl/

I. noun

1. an official appointed by a government to live in a foreign city and protect and promote the government's citizens and interests there.

2. (in ancient Rome) one of the two annually elected chief magistrates who jointly ruled the republic.

3. any of the three chief magistrates of the first French republic (1799–1804).

II. derivatives

consulship /ˈkänsəlSHip /

noun

– origin late Middle English (denoting an ancient Roman magistrate): from Latin, related to consulere ‘take counsel.’

consular /ˈkänsələr/

adjective

1. relating to the consul or consulate in a foreign city

• a consular official must interview applicants.

2. relating to the ancient Roman consuls, two annually elected chief magistrates who jointly ruled the republic

• Rome once again held consular elections.

3. relating to the French consuls (three chief magistrates) of 1799–1804.

consulate /ˈkänsələt/

I. noun

1. the place or building in which a consul's duties are carried out.

2. the office or position of a consul.

3. ‹historical› the period of office of a Roman consul.

4. (the consulate) — the system of government by consuls in ancient Rome.

5. (the Consulate) — the government of the first French republic (1799–1804) by three consuls.

– origin late Middle English (denoting the government of Rome by consuls, or their office or dignity): from Latin consulatus, from consul (see consul).

consul general

noun

a consul of the highest status, stationed in a major city and supervising other consuls in the district.

consult /kənˈsəlt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. seek information or advice from (someone with expertise in a particular area)

• you should consult a financial advisor.

2. have discussions or confer with (someone), typically before undertaking a course of action

• patients are entitled to be consulted about their treatment

• [no obj.] they've got to consult with their board of directors.

3. refer for information to (a book, watch, etc.) in order to ascertain something

• consult the index at the back of the brochure.

II. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) an act of consulting a professional; a consultation

• after a consult with his attorneys, he retracted his previous statement.

– origin early 16th cent. (in the sense ‘deliberate together, confer’): from French consulter, from Latin consultare, frequentative of consulere ‘take counsel.’

consultancy /kənˈsəltnsē/

noun

1. a professional practice that gives expert advice within a particular field, especially business

• a management consultancy firm.

2. the work of giving professional advice within a particular field.

consultant /kənˈsəltnt/

I. noun

1. a person who provides expert advice professionally.

2. [usu. as modifier] — (Brit.) a hospital doctor of senior rank within a specific field

• a consultant pediatrician.

– origin late 17th cent. (in the sense ‘a person who consults’): probably from French, from Latin consultare (see consult).

consultation /ˌkänsəlˈtāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action or process of formally consulting or discussing

• they improved standards in consultation with consumer representatives

• consultations between the two governments.

2. a meeting with an expert or professional, such as a medical doctor, in order to seek advice.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin consultatio(n-), from the verb consultare (see consult).

consultative /kənˈsəltədiv/

adjective

intended to give professional advice or recommendations

• a process of consultative review.

consulting /kənˈsəltiNG/

I. adjective

engaged in the business of giving expert advice to people working in a professional or technical field

• a consulting engineer

• an environmental consulting company.

II. noun

the business of giving expert advice to other professionals, typically in financial and business matters.

consulting room

noun

a room in which a doctor or other therapeutic practitioner examines patients.

consumable /kənˈso͞oməb(ə)l/

I. adjective

(of an item for sale) intended to be used up and then replaced.

II. noun — (usu. consumables)

1. a commodity that is intended to be used up relatively quickly

• drugs and other medical consumables.

consume /kənˈso͞om/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. eat, drink, or ingest (food or drink)

• people consume a good deal of sugar in drinks.

2. buy (goods or services).

3. use up (a resource)

• these machines consume 5 percent of the natural gas in the U.S.

4. (especially of a fire) completely destroy

• the fire spread rapidly, consuming many homes.

5. (usu. be consumed) — (of a feeling) absorb all of the attention and energy of (someone)

• Carolyn was consumed with guilt.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin consumere, from con- ‘altogether’ + sumere ‘take up’; reinforced by French consumer.

consumer /kənˈso͞omər/

noun

1. a person who purchases goods and services for personal use
[as modifier]

• consumer demand.

2. a person or thing that eats or uses something

• Scandinavians are the largest consumers of rye.

consumer confidence

noun

a statistical measure of consumers' feelings about current and future economic conditions, used as an indicator of the overall state of the economy

• a survey of consumer confidence showed households had suddenly turned negative about buying “big ticket” items.

consumer credit

noun

credit advanced to consumers for the purchase of goods or services

• consumer credit as a percentage of disposable income stood at a near record high of 21.1%

• [as modifier] the consumer credit marketplace.

consumer electronics

plural noun

electronic devices such as televisions, computers, or smartphones, bought for personal rather than commercial use

• they are the leading manufacturer of consumer electronics

• [as modifier] the consumer electronics industry.

consumer goods /kənˈs(y)o͞omər ˌɡo͝odz/

plural noun

goods bought and used by consumers, rather than by manufacturers for producing other goods.
Often contrasted with capital goods.

consumerism /kənˈso͞oməˌrizəm/

noun

1. the protection or promotion of the interests of consumers.

2. ‹often derogatory› the preoccupation of society with the acquisition of consumer goods.

consumerist /kənˈso͞omərəst / ‹often derogatory›

I. adjective

characterized by a preoccupation with the acquisition of consumer goods

• a nation in the midst of a consumerist frenzy.

II. noun

a person who is preoccupied with the acquisition of consumer goods

• self-indulgent consumerists.

III. derivatives

consumeristic

adjective

consumer price index /kənˈs(y)o͞omər prīs ˈinˌdeks / CPI

noun

an index of the variation in prices paid by typical consumers for retail goods and other items.

consumer research /kənˈs(y)o͞omər rəˈsərCH rēˈsərCH ˈrēˌsərCH/

noun

the investigation of the needs and opinions of consumers, especially with regard to a particular product or service.

consumer society /kənˈs(y)o͞omər səˈsīədē/

noun

‹often derogatory› a society in which the buying and selling of goods and services is the most important social and economic activity.

consumer sovereignty

noun

[Economics] the situation in an economy where the desires and needs of consumers control the output of producers.

consuming /kənˈso͞omiNG/

I. adjective

(of a feeling) completely filling one's mind and attention; absorbing

• a consuming passion.

II. derivatives

consumingly

adverb

consummate

I. verb — /ˈkänsəˌmāt / [with obj.]

1. make (a marriage or relationship) complete by having sexual intercourse

• his first wife refused to consummate their marriage.

2. complete (a transaction or attempt); make perfect

• his scheme of colonization was consummated through bloodshed.

II. adjective — /ˈkänsəmət /

1. showing a high degree of skill and flair; complete or perfect

• she dressed with consummate elegance.

III. derivatives

1. consummately /ˈkänsəmətlē /

adverb

2. consummator /ˈkänsəˌmātər /

noun

– origin late Middle English (as an adjective in the sense ‘completed, accomplished’): from Latin consummat- ‘brought to completion,’ from the verb consummare, from con- ‘altogether’ + summa ‘sum total,’ feminine of summus ‘highest, supreme.’

consummation /ˌkänsəˈmāSHən/

I. noun

1. the point at which something is complete or finalized

• the consummation of a sale.

2. the action of making a marriage or relationship complete by having sexual intercourse

• the eager consummation that follows a long and passionate seduction.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin consummatio(n-), from the verb consummare (see consummate).

consumption /kənˈsəm(p)SH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the using up of a resource

• industrialized countries should reduce their energy consumption.

2. the eating, drinking, or ingesting of something

• liquor is sold for consumption off the premises.

3. an amount of something that is used up or ingested

• a daily consumption of 15 cigarettes.

4. the purchase and use of goods and services by the public

• an article for mass consumption.

5. the reception of information or entertainment, especially by a mass audience

• his confidential speech was not meant for public consumption.

6. ‹dated› a wasting disease, especially pulmonary tuberculosis.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin consumptio(n-), from the verb consumere (see consume).

consumptive /kənˈsəm(p)tiv/

I. adjective

1. ‹dated› affected with a wasting disease, especially pulmonary tuberculosis

• from birth he was sickly and consumptive.

2. ‹chiefly derogatory› of or relating to the using up of resources

• tourism represents an insidious form of consumptive activity.

II. noun

‹dated› a person with a wasting disease, especially pulmonary tuberculosis.

III. derivatives

consumptively /kənˈsəm(p)tivlē /

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin consumptivus, from Latin consumpt- ‘consumed,’ from the verb consumere (see consume).

cont.

abbreviation

1. contents.

2. continued.

contact

I. noun — /ˈkänˌtakt /

1. the state or condition of physical touching

• the tennis ball is in contact with the court surface for as little as 5 milliseconds.

2. the state or condition of communicating or meeting

• Lewis and Clark came into contact with numerous river tribes

• he had lost contact with his friends.

3. [as modifier] — activated by or operating through physical touch

• contact dermatitis.

4. a connection for the passage of an electric current from one thing to another, or a part or device by which such a connection is made

• a one-way electrical contact between a metal and a semiconductor.

5. (contacts) — contact lenses.

6. a meeting, communication, or relationship with someone

• they have forged contacts with key people in business.

7. a person who may be communicated with for information or assistance, especially with regard to one's job

• Francie had good contacts.

8. a person who has associated with a patient with a contagious disease (and so may carry the infection).

II. verb — /ˈkänˌtakt kənˈtakt / [with obj.]

1. communicate with (someone), typically in order to give or receive specific information.

III. derivatives

contactable /ˈkäntaktəbəl /ˈkänˌtaktəbəl, kənˈtaktəbəl/ /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin contactus, from contact- ‘touched, grasped, bordered on,’ from the verb contingere, from con- ‘together with’ + tangere ‘to touch.’

contact center

noun

an integrated and usually automated communications system that coordinates all telephone and electronic contacts between an organization and the public.

contactee /ˌkänˌtakˈtē, kən-/

noun

a person who claims to have been contacted by alien beings, especially through an abduction.

contact flight contact flying

noun

navigation of an aircraft by the observation of landmarks.

contact lens /ˈkäntak(t) ˌlenz/

noun

a thin plastic lens placed directly on the surface of the eye to correct visual defects.

contactless /ˈkänˌtaktləs/

adjective

denoting a smart card that uses radio signals to provide a wireless connection to a card reader, so that no physical contact is necessary.

contact metamorphism

noun

[Geology] metamorphism due to contact with or proximity to an igneous intrusion.

contactor /ˈkäntaktər kənˈtaktər/

noun

a device for making and breaking an electric circuit.

contact person

noun

a person who provides a link for information or representation between two parties.

contact print /ˈkäntakt print/

I. noun

a photographic print made by placing a negative directly onto sensitized paper, glass, or film and illuminating it.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make a contact print from (a negative).

contact process

noun

the major industrial process used to make sulfuric acid, by oxidizing sulfur dioxide in the presence of a solid catalyst and absorbing the resulting sulfur trioxide in water.

contact sheet

noun

a piece of photographic paper onto which several or all of the negatives on a roll of film have been contact printed.

contact sport /ˈkäntakt spôrt/

noun

a sport in which the participants necessarily come into bodily contact with one another.

contadina /ˌkän(t)əˈdēnə/

I. noun

an Italian peasant girl or peasant woman.

– origin Italian.

contadino /ˌkän(t)əˈdēnō/

I. noun

an Italian peasant or rustic.

– origin Italian, from contado, denoting the peasant population around a city.

Contagem /ˌkōn(t)əˈZHām/

a city in Minas Gerais state in southeastern Brazil, west of Belo Horizonte; pop. 608,700 (est. 2007).

contagion /kənˈtājən/

I. noun

1. the communication of disease from one person to another by close contact

• the rooms held no risk of contagion.

2. a disease spread by the close contact of one person to another.

3. the spreading of a harmful idea or practice

• the contagion of disgrace.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a contagious disease): from Latin contagio(n-), from con- ‘together with’ + the base of tangere ‘to touch.’

contagious /kənˈtājəs/

I. adjective

1. (of a disease) spread from one person or organism to another by direct or indirect contact

• a contagious infection.

2. (of a person or animal) likely to transmit a disease by contact with other people or animals.

3. (of an emotion, feeling, or attitude) likely to spread to and affect others

• her enthusiasm is contagious.

II. derivatives

1. contagiously /kənˈtājəslē /

adverb

2. contagiousness /kənˈtājəsnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin contagiosus, from contagio (see contagion). / usage: Strictly, a contagious disease is one transmitted by physical contact, whereas an infectious one is transmitted via microorganisms in the air or water. In practice, there is little or no difference in meaning between contagious and infectious when applied to disease or its spread. In figurative senses, contagious may describe the spread of good things such as laughter and enthusiasm or bad ones such as violence or panic, whereas infectious usually refers to the spread of positive things, such as good humor or optimism.

contagium /kənˈtājəm, -jēəm/

noun

a substance or agent, such as a virus, by which a contagious disease is transmitted.

contain /kənˈtān/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. have or hold (someone or something) within

• coffee cans that once contained a full pound of coffee.

2. be made up of (a number of things); consist of

• borscht can contain mainly beets or a number of vegetables.

3. (of a number) be divisible by (a factor) without a remainder.

4. control or restrain (oneself or a feeling)

• she was scarcely able to contain herself as she waited to spill the beans.

5. prevent (a severe problem) from increasing in extent or intensity

• a reassuring statement on efforts to contain the disaster.

II. derivatives

containable /kənˈtānəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French contenir, from Latin continere, from con- ‘altogether’ + tenere ‘to hold.’

container /kənˈtānər/

noun

1. an object that can be used to hold or transport something

• a microwaveable glass container.

2. a large metal box of a standard design and size used for the transportation of goods by road, rail, sea, or air

• a container ship.

containerize /kənˈtānəˌrīz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. containerized)

1. pack into or transport by container

• containerized cargo.

II. derivatives

containerization /kənˌtān(ə)rəˈzāSH(ə)n kənˌtānəˌrīˈzāSH(ə))n /

noun

container port /kənˈtānər pôrt/

noun

a port that specializes in handling goods transported in containers.

container ship /kənˈtānər SHip/

noun

a ship that is designed to carry goods stowed in containers.

containment /kənˈtānmənt/

noun

1. the action of keeping something harmful under control or within limits

• the containment of the AIDS epidemic.

2. the action or policy of preventing the expansion of a hostile country or influence

• a policy of containment.

contaminant /kənˈtamənənt/

noun

a polluting or poisonous substance that makes something impure

• people were exposed to airborne contaminants.

contaminate /kənˈtaməˌnāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (something) impure by exposure to or addition of a poisonous or polluting substance

• the site was found to be contaminated by radioactivity

• ‹figurative› celebrity has contaminated every aspect of public life

• (as adj. contaminated) contaminated blood products.

II. derivatives

contaminator /-ˌnātər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin contaminat- ‘made impure,’ from the verb contaminare, from contamen ‘contact, pollution,’ from con- ‘together with’ + the base of tangere ‘to touch.’

contamination /kənˌtaməˈnāSH(ə)n/

noun

the action or state of making or being made impure by polluting or poisoning

• the risk of contamination by dangerous bacteria

• ‹figurative› the contamination of his morals.

conte /kônt/

I. noun

1. a short story as a form of literary composition.

2. a medieval narrative tale.

– origin French, based on Latin computare ‘reckon, sum up.’

conté /kônˈtā / ‹trademark› Conté

I. noun

a kind of hard, grease-free crayon used as a medium for artwork

• powerful drawings in rough red conté.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after Nicolas J. Conté (1755–1805), the French inventor who developed it.

contemn /kənˈtem/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› treat or regard with contempt.

II. derivatives

contemner /kənˈtemnər kənˈtemər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin contemnere, from con- (expressing intensive force) + temnere ‘despise.’

contemplate /ˈkän(t)əmˌplāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. look thoughtfully for a long time at

• he sat on the carpet contemplating his image in the mirrors.

2. think about

• the results of a trade war are too horrifying to contemplate.

3. [no obj.] — think profoundly and at length; meditate

• he sat morosely contemplating.

4. have in mind as a probable though not certain intention

• she was contemplating a gold mining venture.

II. derivatives

contemplator /ˈkän(t)əmˌplādər /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin contemplat- ‘surveyed, observed, contemplated,’ from the verb contemplari, based on templum ‘place for observation.’

contemplation /ˌkän(t)əmˈplāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action of looking thoughtfully at something for a long time

• the road is too busy for leisurely contemplation of the scenery.

2. deep reflective thought

• he would retire to his room for study or contemplation.

3. the state of being thought about or planned.

4. religious meditation.

5. (in Christian spirituality) a form of prayer or meditation in which a person seeks to pass beyond mental images and concepts to a direct experience of the divine.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, from Latin contemplatio(n-), from the verb contemplari (see contemplate).

contemplative /kənˈtemplədiv/

I. adjective

1. expressing or involving prolonged thought

• she regarded me with a contemplative eye.

2. involving or given to deep silent prayer or religious meditation

• contemplative knowledge of God.

II. noun

a person whose life is devoted primarily to prayer, especially in a monastery or convent.

III. derivatives

contemplatively /kənˈtemplədivlē /

adverb

contemporaneous /kənˌtempəˈrānēəs/

I. adjective

existing or occurring in the same period of time

• Pythagoras was contemporaneous with Buddha.

II. derivatives

1. contemporaneity /kənˌtemp(ə)rəˈnēədē kənˌtemp(ə)rəˈnāədē /

noun

2. contemporaneously /kənˌtempəˈrānēəslē /

adverb

3. contemporaneousness

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin, from con- ‘together with’ + temporaneus (from tempus, tempor- ‘time’) + -ous.

contemporary /kənˈtempəˌrerē/

I. adjective

1. living or occurring at the same time

• the event was recorded by a contemporary historian.

2. dating from the same time

• this series of paintings is contemporary with other works in an early style.

3. belonging to or occurring in the present

• the tension and complexities of our contemporary society.

4. following modern ideas or fashion in style or design

• contemporary art.

II. noun

1. a person or thing living or existing at the same time as another

• he was a contemporary of Darwin.

2. a person of roughly the same age as another

• my contemporaries at school.

III. derivatives

1. contemporarily /kənˌtempəˈre(ə)rəlē /

adverb

2. contemporariness

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin contemporarius, from con- ‘together with’ + tempus, tempor- ‘time’ (on the pattern of Latin contemporaneus and late Latin contemporalis).

contempt /kənˈtem(p)t/

I. noun

1. the feeling that a person or a thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn

• he showed his contempt for his job by doing it very badly.

2. disregard for something that should be taken into account

• this action displays an arrogant contempt for the wishes of the majority.

3. (also contempt of court) — the offense of being disobedient to or disrespectful of a court of law and its officers.

4. the offense of being similarly disobedient to or disrespectful of the lawful operation of a legislative body (e.g., its investigations).

II. phrases

1. beneath contempt

utterly worthless or despicable.

2. hold someone in contempt

judge someone to have committed the offense of contempt of court.

3. hold someone/something in contempt

consider someone or something to be unworthy of respect or attention

• the speed limit is held in contempt by many drivers.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin contemptus, from contemnere (see contemn).

contemptible /kənˈtem(p)təb(ə)l/

I. adjective

deserving contempt; despicable

• a display of contemptible cowardice.

II. derivatives

contemptibly /kənˈtem(p)təblē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, or from late Latin contemptibilis, from Latin contemnere (see contemn).

contemptuous /kənˈtempCHo͞oəs/

I. adjective

showing contempt; scornful

• she was intolerant and contemptuous of the majority of the human race.

II. derivatives

contemptuousness /kənˈtem(p)CHo͞oəsnəs /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘despising law and order’): from medieval Latin contemptuosus, from Latin contemptus ‘contempt,’ from contemnere (see contemn).

contemptuously /kənˈtemptyo͝oəslē/

adverb

in a scornful way that shows disdain

• he contemptuously dismisses his son's work.

contend /kənˈtend/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] (contend with/against) — struggle to surmount (a difficulty or danger)

• she had to contend with his uncertain temper.

2. (contend for) — engage in a competition or campaign in order to win or achieve (something)

• the local team should contend for a division championship

• (as adj. contending) disputes continued between the contending parties.

3. assert something as a position in an argument

• he contends that the judge was wrong.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘compete for (something)’): from Old French contendre or Latin contendere, from con- ‘with’ + tendere ‘stretch, strive.’

contender /kənˈtendər/

noun

a person or group competing with others to achieve something

• a presidential contender

• the major contenders for the championship.

content^1 /kənˈtent/

I. adjective

1. in a state of peaceful happiness

• he seemed more content, less bitter.

2. satisfied with a certain level of achievement, good fortune, etc., and not wishing for more

• he had to be content with third place

• the duke was content to act as Regent.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. satisfy (someone)

• nothing would content her.

2. (content oneself with) — accept as adequate despite wanting more or better

• we contented ourselves with a few small purchases.

III. noun

1. a state of satisfaction

• the greater part of the century was a time of content.

2. a member of the British House of Lords who votes for a particular motion.

IV. phrases

to one's heart's content

to the full extent of one's desires

• the children could run and play to their heart's content.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin contentus ‘satisfied,’ past participle of continere (see contain).

content^2 /ˈkäntent/

I. noun

1. (usu. contents) — the things that are held or included in something

• he unscrewed the top of the flask and drank the contents

• he picked up the correspondence and scanned the contents.

2. [usu. in sing.] — the amount of a particular constituent occurring in a substance

• milk with a low-fat content.

3. (contents or table of contents) — a list of the titles of chapters or sections contained in a book or periodical

• the contents page.

4. information made available by a website or other electronic medium

• online content providers.

5. the substance or material dealt with in a speech, literary work, etc., as distinct from its form or style

• the outward form and precise content of the messages.

II. derivatives

contentless

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin contentum (plural contenta ‘things contained’), neuter past part. of continere (see contain).

contented /kənˈten(t)əd/

I. adjective

1. happy and at ease

• I felt warm and contented.

2. willing to accept something; satisfied

• I was never contented with half measures.

II. derivatives

contentedness /kənˈten(t)ədnəs /

noun

contentedly /kənˈten(t)idlē/

adverb

in a way that expresses happiness or satisfaction

• he sighed contentedly.

content farm

noun

a website that contains very large quantities of content, typically of low quality or aggregated from other sites, generated solely to ensure that it appears high on the list of results returned by a search engine.

• content farms dispense altogether with professional storytelling, in favor of search-engine-optimized information packaging.

contention /kənˈten(t)SH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. heated disagreement

• the captured territory was one of the main areas of contention between the two countries.

2. an assertion, especially one maintained in argument

• statistics bear out his contention that many runners are undertrained for this event.

II. phrases

in contention

having a good chance of success in a contest

• he was in contention for the batting title in September.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin contentio(n-), from contendere ‘strive with’ (see contend).

contentious /kənˈten(t)SHəs/

I. adjective

1. causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial

• a contentious issue.

2. involving heated argument

• the socioeconomic plan had been the subject of contentious debate.

3. (of a person) given to arguing or provoking argument

• a contentious amateur politician who has offended minority groups.

4. [Law] relating to or involving differences between contending parties.

II. derivatives

1. contentiously /kənˈten(t)SHəslē /

adverb

2. contentiousness /kənˈten(t)SHəsnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French contentieux, from Latin contentiosus, from content- ‘striven,’ from the verb contendere.

content marketing

noun

a type of marketing that involves the creation and sharing of online material (such as videos, blogs, and social media posts) that does not explicitly promote a brand but is intended to stimulate interest in its products or services

• social media is an integral part of content marketing

• [as modifier] an effective content marketing strategy.

contentment /kənˈtentmənt/

I. noun

a state of happiness and satisfaction

• he found contentment in living a simple life in the country.

– origin late Middle English (denoting the payment of a claim): from French contentement, from Latin contentus (see content^1).

content provider

noun

a person or organization who supplies information for use on a website

• the content provider for short law and practice news updates

• he worked for an Internet content provider.

conterminous /känˈtərmənəs/

I. adjective

1. sharing a common boundary

• the forty-eight conterminous United States.

2. having the same area, context, or meaning

• a genealogy conterminous with the history of the USA.

II. derivatives

conterminously

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin conterminus (from con- ‘with’ + terminus ‘boundary’) + -ous. Compare with coterminous.

contessa /kənˈtesə, kōn-/

I. noun

an Italian countess.

– origin Italian, from late Latin comitissa (see countess).

contest

I. noun — /ˈkänˌtest /

1. an event in which people compete for supremacy in a sport, activity, or particular quality

• a gigantic air rifle shooting contest

• a beauty contest.

2. a competition for a political position

• the presidential contest.

3. a dispute or conflict

• a contest between traditional and liberal views.

II. verb — /kənˈtest ˈkänˌtest / [with obj.]

1. engage in competition to attain (a position of power)

• she declared her intention to contest the presidency.

2. take part in (a competition or election)

• a coalition was formed to contest the presidential elections.

3. oppose (an action, decision, or theory) as mistaken or wrong

• the former chairman contests his dismissal.

4. engage in dispute about

• the issues have been hotly contested.

III. phrases

no contest

a. (chiefly US) another term for nolo contendere:

• he pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor counts.

b. a competition, comparison, or choice of which the outcome is a foregone conclusion

• when the two teams faced each other it was no contest.

c. a decision by the referee to declare a boxing match invalid on the grounds that one or both of the boxers are not making serious efforts.

IV. derivatives

1. contestable /kənˈtestəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. contester /kənˈtestər, ˈkänˌtes- /

noun

– origin late 16th cent. (as a verb in the sense ‘swear to, attest’): from Latin contestari ‘call upon to witness, initiate an action (by calling witnesses),’ from con- ‘together’ + testare ‘to witness.’ The senses ‘wrangle, strive, struggle for’ arose in the early 17th cent., whence the current noun and verb senses.

contestant /kənˈtestənt/

I. noun

a person who takes part in a contest or competition.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, present participle of contester, from Latin contestari ‘call upon to witness’ (see contest).

contestation /ˌkäntəˈstāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

‹formal› the action or process of disputing or arguing.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘solemn appeal or protest’): from Latin contestatio(n-), from contestari ‘call upon to witness’ (see contest); reinforced by French contestation.

context /ˈkäntekst/

I. noun

1. the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood and assessed

• the decision was taken within the context of planned cuts in spending.

2. the parts of something written or spoken that immediately precede and follow a word or passage and clarify its meaning

• word processing is affected by the context in which words appear.

II. phrases

1. in context

considered together with the surrounding words or circumstances

• it is difficult now to view these masterpieces in context.

2. out of context

without the surrounding words or circumstances and so not fully understandable

• comments that aides have long insisted were taken out of context.

III. derivatives

contextless

adjective

– origin late Middle English (denoting the construction of a text): from Latin contextus, from con- ‘together’ + texere ‘to weave.’

contextual /kənˈteksCHo͝oəl/

I. adjective

1. depending on or relating to the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea

• he included contextual information in footnotes.

2. depending on the preceding or following parts of a text to clarify meaning

• they have limited practice in working out the meaning of unfamiliar material from contextual clues.

II. derivatives

contextually /kənˈteksCHo͝oəl /

adverb

contextualism /kənˈteksCHo͞oəˌlizəm/

I. noun

[Philosophy] a doctrine that emphasizes the importance of the context of inquiry in a particular question.

II. derivatives

contextualist

noun

contextualize /kənˈteks(t)SH(o͞o)əˌlīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. place or study in context

• the book contextualizes Melville's short fiction and poetry.

II. derivatives

contextualization /kənˌteksCHo͞oələˈzāSHən /

noun

contexture /kənˈteksˌ(t)SHər/

noun

1. the fact or manner of being woven or linked together to form a connected whole.

2. a mass of things interwoven together; a fabric.

3. the putting together of words and sentences in connected composition; the construction of a text.

4. a connected literary structure; a continuous text.

contiguity /ˌkän(t)əˈɡyo͞oədē/

I. noun

1. the state of bordering or being in direct contact with something

• nations bound together by geographical contiguity.

2. [Psychology] the sequential occurrence or proximity of stimulus and response, causing their association in the mind.

– origin early 16th cent.: from late Latin contiguitas, from Latin contiguus ‘touching’ (see contiguous).

contiguous /kənˈtiɡyo͞oəs/

I. adjective

1. sharing a common border; touching

• the 48 contiguous states.

2. next or together in sequence

• five hundred contiguous dictionary entries.

II. derivatives

contiguously

adverb

– origin early 16th cent.: from Latin contiguus ‘touching,’ from the verb contingere ‘be in contact, befall’ (see contingent) + -ous.

continent^1 /ˈkänt(ə)nənt/

I. noun

1. any of the world's main continuous expanses of land (Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South America).

2. (also the Continent) — the mainland of Europe as distinct from the British Isles.

3. a mainland contrasted with islands

• the maritime zone is richer in varieties of plant than the continent.

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting a continuous tract of land): from Latin terra continens ‘continuous land.’

continent^2 /ˈkänt(ə)nənt/

I. adjective

1. able to control movements of the bowels and bladder.

2. exercising self-restraint, especially sexually.

II. derivatives

1. continence /ˈkänt(ə)nəns /

noun

2. continently

adverb

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘characterized by self-restraint’): from Latin continent- ‘holding together, restraining oneself,’ from continere (see contain).

continental /ˌkäntəˈnent(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. forming or belonging to a continent

• continental Antarctica.

2. coming from or characteristic of mainland Europe

• traditional continental cuisine.

3. (also Continental) — pertaining to the 13 original colonies of the US

• in 1783 the officers and men of the Continental forces had little to celebrate.

II. noun

1. an inhabitant of mainland Europe.

2. (Continental) — a member of the colonial army in the American Revolution

• 22 Continentals were killed and scalped.

3. (also Continental) — a piece of paper currency used at the time of the American Revolution

• the redemption of Continentals by the government.

III. derivatives

continentally

adverb

Continental Army

the army raised by the Continental Congress of 1775, with George Washington as commander.

continental breakfast /ˌkän(t)əˈnen(t)l ˈbrekfəst/

noun

a light breakfast, typically consisting of coffee and rolls with butter and jam.

continental climate

noun

a relatively dry climate with very hot summers and very cold winters, characteristic of the central parts of Asia and North America.

Continental Congress

each of the three congresses held by the American colonies (in 1774, 1775, and 1776, respectively) in revolt against British rule. The second Congress, convened in the wake of the battles at Lexington and Concord, created a Continental Army, which fought and eventually won the American Revolution.

continental crust

noun

[Geology] the relatively thick part of the earth's crust that forms the large landmasses. It is generally older and more complex than the oceanic crust.

Continental Divide /ˌkän(t)əˌnen(t)l dəˈvīd/

the main series of mountain ridges in North America, chiefly the crests of the Rocky Mountains that form a watershed that separates the rivers flowing east into the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico from those flowing west into the Pacific Ocean.

continental drift /ˌkän(t)əˈnen(t)l drift/

noun

the gradual movement of the continents across the earth's surface through geological time.
The theory of continental drift, proposed in 1912, suggested that continents and continental crust drifted over denser oceanic crust. The mechanisms by which the original theory explained the drift, however, could not be substantiated and were proven wrong. The theory of continental drift has been replaced by the theory of plate tectonics. It is believed that a single supercontinent called Pangaea broke up to form Gondwana and Laurasia, which further split to form the present-day continents. South America and Africa, for example, are moving apart at a rate of a few centimeters per year. See plate tectonics.

continental shelf /ˌkän(t)əˈnen(t)l SHelf/

noun

the area of seabed around a large landmass where the sea is relatively shallow compared with the open ocean. The continental shelf is geologically part of the continental crust.

continental slope

noun

the slope between the outer edge of the continental shelf and the deep ocean floor.

contingence /kənˈtinjəns/

noun

1. touching; contact.

2. connection; affinity.

contingency /kənˈtinjənsē/

I. noun

1. a future event or circumstance that is possible but cannot be predicted with certainty

• a detailed contract that attempts to provide for all possible contingencies.

2. a provision for an unforeseen event or circumstance

• a contingency reserve.

3. an incidental expense

• allow an extra fifteen percent in the budget for contingencies.

4. the absence of certainty in events

• the island's public affairs can be invaded by contingency.

5. [Philosophy] the absence of necessity; the fact of being so without having to be so.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the philosophical sense): from late Latin contingentia (in its medieval Latin sense ‘circumstance’), from contingere ‘befall’ (see contingent).

contingency fee

noun

a sum of money that a lawyer receives as a fee only if the case is won.

contingency fund /kənˈtinjənsē fənd/

noun

a reserve of money set aside to cover possible unforeseen future expenses.

contingency plan /kənˈtinjənsē plan/

noun

a plan designed to take a possible future event or circumstance into account

• contingency plans for dealing with oil spills.

contingency table

noun

[Statistics] a table showing the distribution of one variable in rows and another in columns, used to study the association between the two variables.

contingent /kənˈtinjənt/

I. adjective

1. subject to chance

• the contingent nature of the job.

2. (of losses, liabilities, etc.) that can be anticipated to arise if a particular event occurs

• businesses need to be aware of their liabilities, both actual and contingent.

3. [Philosophy] true by virtue of the way things in fact are and not by logical necessity

• that men are living creatures is a contingent fact.

4. (contingent on/upon) — occurring or existing only if (certain other circumstances) are the case; dependent on

• resolution of the conflict was contingent on the signing of a ceasefire agreement.

II. noun

1. a group of people united by some common feature, forming part of a larger group

• a contingent of Japanese businessmen attending a conference.

2. a body of troops or police sent to join a larger force in an operation

• a contingent of 2,000 marines.

III. derivatives

contingently /kənˈtinj(ə)ntlē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘of uncertain occurrence’): from Latin contingere ‘befall,’ from con- ‘together with’ + tangere ‘to touch.’ The noun sense was originally ‘something happening by chance,’ then ‘a person's share resulting from a division, a quota’; the current sense dates from the early 18th cent.

continual /kənˈtiny(o͞o)əl/

I. adjective

1. frequently recurring; always happening

• his plane went down after continual attacks.

2. having no interruptions

• some patients need continual safeguarding.

– origin Middle English: from Old French continuel, from continuer ‘continue,’ from Latin continuare, from continuus (see continuous). / usage: For an explanation of the difference between continual and continuous, see usage at continuous.

continually /kənˈtinyo͞oəlē/

adverb

1. repeated frequently in the same way; regularly

• this information is continually updated.

2. without interruption; constantly

• I was continually moving around.

continuance /kənˈtinyo͞oəns/

I. noun

1. ‹formal› the state of remaining in existence or operation

• his interests encouraged him to favor the continuance of war.

2. the time for which a situation or action lasts

• the trademarks shall be used only during the continuance of this agreement.

3. the state of remaining in a particular position or condition

• the king's ministers depended on his favor for their continuance in office.

4. [Law] a postponement or adjournment

• if this man's testimony is important, I will grant a continuance.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, from continuer ‘continue,’ from Latin continuare, from continuus (see continuous).

continuant /kənˈtinyo͞oənt/

I. noun

1. [Phonetics] a consonant that is sounded with the vocal tract only partly closed, allowing the breath to pass through and the sound to be prolonged (as with f, l, m, n, r, s, v).

2. [Philosophy] [Psychology] a thing that retains its identity even though its states and relations may change.

II. adjective

of, relating to, or denoting a continuant.

– origin early 17th cent. (as an adjective in the general sense ‘continuing’): from French, from continuer, reinforced by Latin continuant- ‘continuing,’ from the verb continuare, from continuus (see continuous). Current senses date from the 19th cent.

continuation /kənˌtinyo͞oˈāSH(ə)n/

I. noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. the action of carrying something on over a period of time or the process of being carried on

• the continuation of discussions about a permanent peace.

2. the state of remaining in a particular position or condition

• the administration's continuation in office.

3. a part that is attached to and an extension of something else

• once a separate village, it is now a continuation of the suburbs.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin continuatio(n-), from continuare ‘continue,’ from continuus (see continuous).

continuative /kənˈtinyo͝oədiv / ‹Linguistics›

I. adjective

(of a word or phrase) having the function of moving a discourse or conversation forward.

II. noun

a word or phrase that moves a conversation forward (e.g., yes, well, as I was saying).

– origin mid 16th cent. (as a noun denoting something that brings about continuity): from late Latin continuativus, from continuat- ‘continued,’ from the verb continuare (see continue).

continuator /kənˈtinyəˌwādər/

noun

1. a person or thing that continues something or maintains continuity.

2. a person who writes a continuation of another's work.

continue /kənˈtinyo͞o/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — persist in an activity or process

• he was unable to continue with his job

• prices continued to fall during April.

2. remain in existence or operation

• discussions continued throughout the year.

3. [with obj.] — carry on with (something that one has begun)

• I continued my stroll

• (as adj. continued) he asked for their continued support.

4. remain in a specified position or state

• they have indicated their willingness to continue in office

• the weather continued warm and pleasant.

5. carry on traveling in the same direction

• he hummed to himself as they continued northward.

6. (of a road, river, etc.) extend farther in the same direction

• the main path continued through a tunnel.

7. recommence or resume after interruption
[with obj.]

• we continue the story from the point reached in Chapter 1

• [no obj.] the trial continues tomorrow.

8. [no obj.] — carry on speaking after a pause or interruption

• I told him he was obstructing the inquiry and he let me continue.

9. [with obj.] — [Law] postpone or adjourn (a legal proceeding)

• the case was continued without a finding until August 2.

II. derivatives

continuer

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French continuer, from Latin continuare, from continuus (see continuous).

continued fraction

noun

[Mathematics] a fraction of infinite length whose denominator is a quantity plus a fraction, which latter fraction has a similar denominator, and so on.

continuing education /kənˈtinyo͞oiNG ˌejəˈkāSHən/

noun

education provided for adults after they have left the formal education system, consisting typically of short or part-time courses.

continuity /ˌkäntəˈn(y)o͞oədē/

I. noun

1. the unbroken and consistent existence or operation of something over a period of time

• pension rights accruing through continuity of employment.

2. a state of stability and the absence of disruption

• they have provided the country with a measure of continuity.

3. (often continuity between/with) — a connection or line of development with no sharp breaks

• they used the same style of masonry to provide continuity between new and old.

4. the maintenance of continuous action and self-consistent detail in the various scenes of a movie or broadcast
[as modifier]

• a continuity error.

5. the linking of broadcast items, especially by a spoken commentary.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French continuite, from Latin continuitas, from continuare ‘continue,’ from continuus (see continuous).

continuo /kənˈtinyəˌwō / basso continuo

I. noun

(in baroque music) an accompanying part that includes a bass line and harmonies, typically played on a keyboard instrument and with other instruments such as cello or bass viol.

– origin early 18th cent.: Italian basso continuo ‘continuous bass.’

continuous /kənˈtinyo͞oəs/

I. adjective

1. forming an unbroken whole; without interruption

• the whole performance is enacted in one continuous movement.

2. forming a series with no exceptions or reversals

• there are continuous advances in design and production.

3. [Mathematics] (of a function) of which the graph is a smooth unbroken curve, i.e., one such that as the value of x approaches any given value a, the value of f(x) approaches that of f(a) as a limit.

4. [Grammar] another term for progressive (sense 3 of the adjective).

II. derivatives

continuousness

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin continuus ‘uninterrupted,’ from continere ‘hang together’ (from con- ‘together with’ + tenere ‘hold’) + -ous. / usage: There is some overlap in meaning between continuous and continual, but the two words are not wholly synonymous. Both can mean roughly ‘without interruption’ (a long and continual war; five years of continuous warfare), but continuous is much more prominent in this sense and, unlike continual, can be used to refer to space as well as time, as in the development forms a continuous line along the coast. Continual, on the other hand, typically means ‘happening frequently, with intervals between,’ as in the bus service has been disrupted by continual breakdowns. Overall, continuous occurs much more frequently than continual (almost five times more often in the Oxford English Corpus).

continuous creation

noun

the creation of matter as a continuing process throughout time, especially as postulated in steady state theories of the universe.

continuously /kənˈtinyo͝oəslē/

adverb

1. without interruption or gaps

• these images loop continuously.

2. repeatedly without exceptions or reversals

• their performance has continuously improved.

continuous spectrum

noun

[Physics] an emission spectrum that consists of a continuum of wavelengths.

continuous wave

noun

an electromagnetic wave, especially a radio wave, having a constant amplitude.

continuum /kənˈtinyo͞oəm/

I. noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. a continuous sequence in which adjacent elements are not perceptibly different from each other, although the extremes are quite distinct

• at the fast end of the fast-slow continuum.

2. [Mathematics] the set of real numbers.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin, neuter of continuus (see continuous).

continuum hypothesis

noun

[Mathematics] the assertion that there is no transfinite cardinal between the cardinal of the set of positive integers and that of the set of real numbers.

contort /kənˈtôrt/

I. verb

twist or bend out of its normal shape
[with obj.]

• a spasm of pain contorted his face

• [no obj.] her face contorted with anger

• (as adj. contorted) contorted limbs

• ‹figurative› a contorted version of the truth.

II. derivatives

contortion /kənˈtôrSHən /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin contort- ‘twisted around, brandished,’ from the verb contorquere, from con- ‘together’ + torquere ‘twist.’

contortionist /kənˈtôrSHənəst/

noun

an entertainer who twists and bends their body into strange and unnatural positions.

contour /ˈkänˌto͝or/

I. noun — (usu. contours)

1. an outline, especially one representing or bounding the shape or form of something

• she traced the contours of his face with her finger

• ‹figurative› the contours of American life.

2. an outline of a natural feature such as a hill or valley

• cliffs with grassy rounded contours.

3. short for contour line.

4. a line joining points on a diagram at which some property has the same value

• the map shows contours of every 10-foot difference in elevation.

5. a way in which something varies, especially the pitch of music or the pattern of tones in an utterance

• the movement tends to place more emphasis on rhythm than melodic contour.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (usu. be contoured) — mold into a specific shape, typically one designed to fit into something else

• the compartment has been contoured with smooth rounded corners

• (as adj. contoured) the contoured leather seats.

2. mark (a map or diagram) with contour lines
(as adj. contoured)

• a huge contoured map.

3. (of a road or railroad) follow the outline of (a topographical feature), especially along a contour line

• the road contours the hillside.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, from Italian contorno, from contornare ‘draw in outline,’ from con- ‘together’ + tornare ‘to turn.’

contour feather

noun

any of the mainly small feathers that form the outline of an adult bird's plumage.

contour line /ˈkänto͝o(ə)r līn/

noun

a line on a map joining points of equal height above or below sea level.

contour map /ˈkänto͝o(ə)r map/

noun

a map marked with contour lines.

contour plowing

noun

plowing along the contours of the land in order to minimize soil erosion.

Contra /ˈkäntrə/

I. noun

a member of a guerrilla force in Nicaragua that opposed the left-wing Sandinista government 1979–90, and was supported by the US for much of that time. It was officially disbanded in 1990, after the Sandinistas' electoral defeat.

– origin abbreviation of Spanish contrarevolucionario ‘counterrevolutionary.’

contra-

I. prefix

1. against; opposite; contrasting

• contradict

• contraflow

• contralateral.

2. [Music] (of instruments or organ stops) pitched an octave below

• contralto

• contrabass.

– origin from Latin contra ‘against.’

contraband /ˈkäntrəˌband/

I. noun

1. goods that have been imported or exported illegally

• the police looked for drugs, guns, and other contraband.

2. trade in smuggled goods

• the government has declared a nationwide war on contraband.

3. (also contraband of war) — goods forbidden to be supplied by neutrals to those engaged in war.

4. (during the US Civil War) a black slave who escaped or was transported across Union lines.

II. adjective

1. imported or exported illegally, either in defiance of a total ban or without payment of duty

• contraband drug shipments.

2. relating to traffic in illegal goods

• the contraband market.

III. derivatives

contrabandist /ˈkäntrəˌbandəst /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from Spanish contrabanda, from Italian contrabando, from contra- ‘against’ + bando ‘proclamation, ban.’

contrabass /ˈkäntrəˌbās/

I. noun

another term for double bass.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. denoting a musical instrument with a range an octave lower than the normal bass range

• a contrabass clarinet.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Italian contrabasso, from contra- ‘pitched an octave below’ + basso (see bass^1).

contrabassoon /ˌˈkäntrəbəˌso͞on/

noun

a bassoon that is larger and longer than the normal type and sounds an octave lower in pitch.

contraception /ˌkäntrəˈsepSH(ə)n/

I. noun

the deliberate use of artificial methods or other techniques to prevent pregnancy as a consequence of sexual intercourse. The major forms of artificial contraception are barrier methods, of which the most common is the condom; the contraceptive pill, which contains synthetic sex hormones that prevent ovulation in the female; intrauterine devices, such as the coil, which prevent the fertilized ovum from implanting in the uterus; and male or female sterilization.

– origin late 19th cent.: from contra- ‘against’ + a shortened form of conception.

contraceptive /ˌkäntrəˈseptiv/

I. adjective

1. (of a method or device) serving to prevent pregnancy

• the contraceptive pill.

2. of or relating to contraception

• a book popularizing contraceptive knowledge.

II. noun

a device or drug serving to prevent pregnancy.

contract

I. noun — /ˈkäntrakt /

1. a written or spoken agreement, especially one concerning employment, sales, or tenancy, that is intended to be enforceable by law

• both parties must sign employment contracts

• a network of doctors and hospitals under contract to provide services.

2. the branch of law concerned with the making and observation of contracts.

3. ‹informal› an arrangement for someone to be killed by a hired assassin

• smuggling bosses routinely put out contracts on witnesses.

4. [Bridge] the declarer's undertaking to win the number of tricks bid with a stated suit as trump

• South can make the contract with correct play.

5. ‹dated› a formal agreement to marry.

II. verb

1. /kənˈtrakt / [no obj.] — decrease in size, number, or range

• glass contracts as it cools.

2. (of a muscle) become shorter or tighter in order to effect movement of part of the body

• the heart is a muscle that contracts about seventy times a minute

• [with obj.] then contract your lower abdominal muscles.

3. [with obj.] — shorten (a word or phrase) by combination or elision

• “quasistellar object” was soon contracted to “quasar.”

4. /ˈkänˌtrakt kənˈtrakt / [no obj.] — enter into a formal and legally binding agreement

• the local authority will contract with a wide range of agencies to provide services.

5. secure specified rights or undertake specified obligations in a formal and legally binding agreement

• a buyer may contract for the right to withhold payment

• the paper had contracted to publish extracts from the diaries.

6. impose an obligation on (someone) to do something by means of a formal agreement

• health authorities contract a hospital to treat a specific number of patients.

7. [with obj.] (contract something out) — arrange for work to be done by another organization

• local authorities will have to contract out waste management.

8. [with obj.] — formally enter into (a marriage)

• before Fanny met him, he had contracted a disastrous liaison and marriage.

9. [with obj.] — enter into (a friendship or other relationship)

• the patterns of social relationships contracted by men and women differ.

10. /kənˈtrakt / [with obj.] — catch or develop (a disease or infectious agent)

• three people contracted a killer virus.

11. /kənˈtrakt / [with obj.] — become liable to pay (a debt)

• he contracted a debt of $3,300.

III. derivatives

1. contractee /ˌkänˌtrakˈtē /

noun

2. contractive /kənˈtraktiv /

adjective

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin contractus, from contract- ‘drawn together, tightened,’ from the verb contrahere, from con- ‘together’ + trahere ‘draw.’

contractable /kənˈtraktəbəl/

adjective

(of a disease) able to be caught.

contract bridge /ˈkänˌtrakt ˌbrij/

noun

the standard form of the card game bridge, in which only tricks bid and won count toward the game, as opposed to auction bridge.

contractible /kənˈtraktəbəl/

adjective

able to be shrunk or capable of contracting.

contractile /kənˈtraktīl/

I. adjective

[Biology] [Physiology] capable of or producing contraction

• the contractile activity of the human colon.

II. derivatives

contractility /ˌkäntrakˈtilədē /

noun

contractile vacuole

noun

[Zoology] a vacuole in some protozoans that expels excess liquid on contraction.

contraction /kənˈtrakSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the process of becoming smaller

• the general contraction of the industry did further damage to morale.

2. the process in which a muscle becomes or is made shorter and tighter

• neurons control the contraction of muscles

• repeat the exercise, holding each contraction for one second.

3. (usu. contractions) — a shortening of the uterine muscles occurring at intervals before and during childbirth.

4. a word or group of words resulting from shortening an original form

• “goodbye” is a contraction of “God be with you.”

5. the process of shortening a word by combination or elision.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin contractio(n-), from contrahere ‘draw together’ (see contract).

contractionary /kənˈtrakSHəˌnerē/

adjective

causing or relating to the contraction of a country's economy

• he imposed a contractionary fiscal policy in the form of a tax surcharge.

• the contractionary effects of higher interest rates.

contractor /ˈkänˌtraktər ˌkənˈtraktər/

noun

a person or company that undertakes a contract to provide materials or labor to perform a service or do a job.

contractual /kənˈtrak(t)SH(o͞o)əl/

adjective

1. agreed in a contract

• a contractual obligation.

2. having similar characteristics to a contract

• the contractual nature of the shareholder's rights.

contractually /kənˈtrak(t)SH(o͞o)əlē/

adverb

in a way that is agreed in or enforced by a contract

• he was contractually entitled to a year's severance pay.

contracture /kənˈtrak(t)SHər/

I. noun

[Medicine] a condition of shortening and hardening of muscles, tendons, or other tissue, often leading to deformity and rigidity of joints.

II. derivatives

contractural /-CHərəl /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, or from Latin contractura, from Latin contract- ‘drawn together,’ from the verb contrahere.

contradance /ˈkäntrəˌdans/

I. noun

a country dance in which the couples form lines facing each other.

– origin early 19th cent.: variant of contredanse.

contradict /ˌkäntrəˈdikt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. deny the truth of (a statement), especially by asserting the opposite

• the survey appears to contradict the industry's claims

• he did not contradict what he said last week.

2. assert the opposite of a statement made by (someone)

• he did not contradict her but just said nothing

• within five minutes he had contradicted himself twice.

3. be in conflict with

• that evaporation seems to contradict one of the most fundamental principles of physics.

II. derivatives

contradictor /-ˈdiktər /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin contradict- ‘spoken against,’ from the verb contradicere, originally contra dicere ‘speak against.’

contradiction /ˌkäntrəˈdikSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a combination of statements, ideas, or features of a situation that are opposed to one another

• the proposed new system suffers from a set of internal contradictions.

2. a person, thing, or situation in which inconsistent elements are present

• the paradox of using force to overcome force is a real contradiction.

3. the statement of a position opposite to one already made

• the second sentence appears to be in flat contradiction of the first

• the experiment provides a contradiction of the hypothesis.

II. phrases

contradiction in terms

a statement or group of words associating objects or ideas that are incompatible

• “true fiction” is a contradiction in terms.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin contradictio(n-), from the verb contradicere (see contradict).

contradictory /ˌkäntrəˈdikt(ə)rē/

I. adjective

1. mutually opposed or inconsistent

• the two attitudes are contradictory.

2. containing elements which are inconsistent or in conflict

• the committee rejected the policy as too vague and internally contradictory.

3. [Logic] (of two propositions) so related that one and only one must be true.
Compare with contrary.

II. noun

[Logic] a contradictory proposition.

III. derivatives

1. contradictorily /ˌkäntrəˈdikt(ə)rəlē /

adverb

2. contradictoriness

noun

– origin late Middle English (as a term in logic denoting a proposition or principle that contradicts another): from late Latin contradictorius, from Latin contradict- ‘spoken against,’ from the verb contradicere (see contradict).

contradistinction /ˌkäntrədəˈstiNG(k)SH(ə)n/

noun

distinction made by contrasting the different qualities of two things

• the bacterium is termed “rough” in contradistinction to its ordinary smooth form.

contradistinguish /ˌkäntrədəˈstiNGɡwiSH/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› distinguish between (two things) by contrasting them.

contrafactive /ˌkäntrəˈfaktiv/

adjective

[Linguistics] denoting a verb that assigns to its object (normally a clausal object) the status of not being true, e.g., pretend and wish.
Contrasted with factive, nonfactive.

contrafactual /ˌkäntrəˈfak(t)SH(əw)əl/

adjective

another term for counterfactual.

contrail /ˈkäntrāl/

I. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a trail of condensed water from an aircraft or rocket at high altitude, seen as a white streak against the sky.

– origin 1940s: abbreviation of condensation trail.

contraindicate /ˌkäntrəˈindəˌkāt/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be contraindicated)

1. [Medicine] (of a condition or circumstance) suggest or indicate that (a particular technique or drug) should not be used in the case in question.

II. derivatives

contraindication /ˌkäntrəˌindiˈkāSHən /

noun

contralateral /ˌkäntrəˈladərəl/

adjective

[Medicine] relating to or denoting the side of the body opposite to that on which a particular structure or condition occurs

• the symptom develops in the hand contralateral to the lesion.

contralto /kənˈtraltō/

I. noun

1. the lowest female singing voice

• she sang in a high contralto.

2. a singer with a contralto voice.

3. a part written for a contralto.

– origin mid 18th cent.: Italian, from contra- (in the sense ‘counter to’) + alto. Compare with countertenor.

contra mundum /ˌkäntrə ˈmo͝ondəm, ˈməndəm/

I. adverb

defying or opposing everyone else.

– origin Latin, ‘against the world.’

contraposition /ˌkäntrəpəˈziSHən/

I. noun

[Logic] conversion of a proposition from all A is B to all not-B is not-A.

II. derivatives

contrapositive /ˌkäntrəˈpäzədiv /

adjective, noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from late Latin contrapositio(n-), from the verb contraponere, from contra- ‘against’ + ponere ‘to place.’

contrapposto /ˌkäntrəˈpästō/

I. noun

[Sculpture] an asymmetrical arrangement of the human figure in which the line of the arms and shoulders contrasts with while balancing those of the hips and legs.

– origin Italian, past participle of contrapporre, from Latin contraponere ‘place against.’

contraption /kənˈtrapSH(ə)n/

I. noun

a machine or device that appears strange or unnecessarily complicated, and often badly made or unsafe.

– origin early 19th cent.: perhaps from contrive (on the pattern of pairs such as conceive, conception), by association with trap^1.

contrapuntal /ˌkäntrəˈpən(t)l/

I. adjective

1. [Music] of or in counterpoint.

2. [Music] (of a piece of music) with two or more independent melodic lines.

II. derivatives

1. contrapuntally

adverb

2. contrapuntist /ˌkäntrəˈpən(t)əst /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Italian contrapunto (see counterpoint) + -al.

contrarian /kənˈtre(ə)rēən/

I. noun

a person who opposes or rejects popular opinion, especially in stock exchange dealing.

II. adjective

opposing or rejecting popular opinion; going against current practice

• the comment came more from a contrarian disposition than moral conviction.

III. derivatives

contrarianism /-ˌnizəm /

noun

contrariety /ˌkäntrəˈrīədē/

I. noun

1. opposition or inconsistency between two or more things

• questions that involved much contrariety of opinion.

2. [Logic] contrary opposition.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French contrariete, from late Latin contrarietas, from contrarius (see contrary).

contrarious /kənˈtrerēəs/

adjective

1. ‹archaic› perverse; refractory.

2. ‹archaic› opposed; unfavorable.

contrariwise /kənˈtrerēˌwīz/

adverb

1. in the opposite way or order.

2. in contrast to something that has just been stated or mentioned

• contrariwise, a registered person may vote, even if not entitled to be registered.

contrary

I. adjective — /ˈkäntrerē /

1. opposite in nature, direction, or meaning

• he ignored contrary advice and agreed on the deal.

2. (of two or more statements, beliefs, etc.) opposed to one another

• his mother had given him contrary messages.

3. (of a wind) blowing in the opposite direction to one's course; unfavorable.

4. [Logic] (of two propositions) so related that one or neither but not both must be true.
Compare with contradictory.

5. /kənˈtrerē / — perversely inclined to disagree or to do the opposite of what is expected or desired

• she is sulky and contrary where her work is concerned.

II. noun — /ˈkäntrerē /

1. (the contrary) — the opposite

• the magazine has proved that the contrary is true.

2. [Logic] a contrary proposition.

III. phrases

1. contrary to

conflicting with; counter to

• contrary to his expectations, he found the atmosphere exciting

• the restrictions were not contrary to the public interest.

2. on (or quite) the contrary

used to intensify a denial of what has just been implied or stated

• there was no malice in her; on the contrary, she was very kind.

3. to the contrary

with the opposite meaning or implication

• he continued to drink despite medical advice to the contrary.

IV. derivatives

1. contrarily /ˈkäntrerəlē kənˈtrerəlē /

adverb

2. contrariness /ˈkäntrerēnəs kənˈtrerēnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French contrarie, from Latin contrarius, from contra ‘against.’

contrast

I. noun — /ˈkänˌtrast /

1. the state of being strikingly different from something else, typically something in juxtaposition or close association

• the day began cold and blustery, in contrast to almost two weeks of uninterrupted sunshine

• a contrast between rural and urban trends.

2. the degree of difference between tones in a television picture, photograph, or other image.

3. enhancement of the apparent brightness or clarity of a design provided by the juxtaposition of different colors or textures.

4. the action of calling attention to notable differences

• use knowledge of other languages for contrast and comparison with English.

5. [in sing.] — a thing or person having qualities noticeably different from another

• the castle is quite a contrast to other places where the singer has performed.

II. verb — /ˈkänˌtrast kənˈtrast / [no obj.]

1. differ strikingly

• his friend's success contrasted with his own failure

• (as adj. contrasting) a contrasting view.

2. [with obj.] — compare in such a way as to emphasize differences

• people contrasted her with her sister.

III. derivatives

1. contrastingly /ˈkänˌtrastiNGlē, kənˈtras- /

adverb

2. contrastive /kənˈtrastiv ˈkänˌtrastiv /

adjective

– origin late 17th cent. (as a term in fine art, in the sense ‘juxtapose so as to bring out differences in form and color’): from French contraste (noun), contraster (verb), via Italian from medieval Latin contrastare, from Latin contra- ‘against’ + stare ‘stand.’ / usage: Contrast means ‘note the differences,’ whereas compare means ‘note the similarities’ (or, in some cases, inconsistencies). See also usage at compare.

contrast medium /ˈkäntrast ˌmēdēəm/

noun

[Medicine] a substance introduced into a part of the body in order to improve the visibility of internal structure during radiography.

contrasty /ˈkänˌtrastē/

adjective

‹informal› (of a photograph, movie, or television picture) showing a high degree of contrast.

contrasuggestible /ˌkäntrəsəˈjestəb(ə)l/

adjective

[Psychology] tending to respond to a suggestion by believing or doing the contrary.

contravene /ˌkäntrəˈvēn/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. violate the prohibition or order of (a law, treaty, or code of conduct)

• this would contravene the rule against hearsay.

2. conflict with (a right, principle, etc.), especially to its detriment

• this contravened Washington's commitment to its own proposal.

II. derivatives

contravener /ˌkäntrəˈvēnər /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from late Latin contravenire, from Latin contra- ‘against’ + venire ‘come.’

contravention /ˌkäntrəˈven(t)SH(ə)n/

I. noun

an action that violates a law, treaty, or other ruling

• young persons who commit offenses bear responsibility for their contraventions.

II. phrases

in contravention of

in a manner contrary and disobedient to (a law or other ruling).

– origin mid 16th cent.: via French from medieval Latin contraventio(n-), from late Latin contravenire (see contravene).

contrecoup /ˈkäntrəˌko͞o/

noun

a contusion resulting from the brain contacting the skull on the side opposite from where impact occurs.
Compare with coup.

contredanse /ˈkäntrəˌdans, ˌkôNtrəˈdäNs/

I. noun

1. a French form of country dance, originating in the 18th century and related to the quadrille.

2. a piece of music for a contredanse.

3. another term for contradance.

– origin French, alteration of English country dance, by association with contre ‘against, opposite.’

contre-jour /ˌkôntrəˈZHo͝or/

I. adjective, adverb

[Photography] having or involving the sun or other light source behind the subject
[as adj.]

• a glorious contre-jour effect

• [as adv.] it is recommended not to use the film contre-jour.

– origin early 20th cent.: French, from contre ‘against’ + jour ‘daylight.’

contretemps /ˈkäːntrətäːN/

I. noun

1. an unexpected and unfortunate occurrence

• the hotel had to deal with more than one contretemps before the end of the night.

2. a minor dispute or disagreement

• she had occasional contretemps with her staff.

– origin late 17th cent. (originally as a fencing term, denoting a thrust made at an inopportune moment): French, originally ‘motion out of time,’ from contre- ‘against’ + temps ‘time.’

contribute /kənˈtribyo͞ot/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. give (something, especially money) in order to help achieve or provide something

• he contributed more than $500,000 to the center

• [no obj.] she contributed to a private pension.

2. [no obj.] (contribute to) — help to cause or bring about

• gases that contribute to global warming.

3. supply (an article) for publication

• he contributed articles to the magazine

• [no obj.] the staff who contribute to your sports pages are doing a splendid job.

4. [no obj.] — give one's views in a discussion

• he did not contribute to the meetings.

II. derivatives

contributive /-yətiv /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin contribut- ‘brought together, added,’ from the verb contribuere, from con- ‘with’ + tribuere ‘bestow.’

contribution /ˌkäntrəˈbyo͞oSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a gift or payment to a common fund or collection

• charitable contributions.

2. the part played by a person or thing in bringing about a result or helping something to advance

• he made a lasting contribution by designing the modern radio telescope.

3. an article or other piece of writing submitted for publication in a collection.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a tax or levy): from late Latin contributio(n-), from Latin contribuere ‘bring together, add’ (see contribute).

contributor /kənˈtribyədər/

noun

1. a person or thing that contributes something, in particular

2. a person who writes articles for a magazine or newspaper.

3. a person who donates money to a cause.

4. a causal factor in the existence or occurrence of something

• stress is a major contributor to most diseases.

contributory /kənˈtribyəˌtôrē/

I. adjective

1. playing a part in bringing something about

• smoking may be a contributory cause of lung cancer.

2. (of or relating to a pension or insurance plan) operated by means of a fund into which people pay

• contributory benefits.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘contributing to a fund’): from medieval Latin contributorius, from Latin contribut- ‘added’ (see contribution).

contributory negligence

noun

[Law] failure of an injured plaintiff to act prudently, considered to be a contributory factor in the injury suffered, and sometimes reducing the amount recovered from the defendant.

contrite /kənˈtrīt ˈkäntrīt/

I. adjective

feeling or expressing remorse or penitence; affected by guilt

• a broken and a contrite heart.

II. derivatives

1. contritely /kənˈtrītlē /

adverb

2. contriteness

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French contrit, from Latin contritus, past participle of conterere ‘grind down, wear away,’ from con- ‘together’ + terere ‘rub.’

contrition /kənˈtriSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the state of feeling remorseful and penitent.

2. (in the Roman Catholic Church) the repentance of past sins during or after confession

• prayers of contrition.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from late Latin contritio(n-), from contrit- ‘ground down,’ from the verb conterere (see contrite).

contrivance /kənˈtrīvəns/

noun

1. a thing that is created skillfully and inventively to serve a particular purpose

• an assortment of electronic equipment and mechanical contrivances.

2. the use of skill to bring something about or create something

• the requirements of the system, by happy chance and some contrivance, can be summed up in an acronym.

3. a device, especially in literary or artistic composition, that gives a sense of artificiality.

contrive /kənˈtrīv/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. create or bring about (an object or a situation) by deliberate use of skill and artifice

• his opponents contrived a crisis

• you contrived to be alone with me despite the supervision.

2. manage to do something foolish or create an undesirable situation

• the poor guy in some way contrived to hang himself.

II. derivatives

contriver /kənˈtrīvər /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French contreuve-, stressed stem of controver ‘imagine, invent,’ from medieval Latin contropare ‘compare.’

contrived /kənˈtrīvd/

adjective

1. deliberately created rather than arising naturally or spontaneously.

2. created or arranged in a way that seems artificial and unrealistic

• the ending of the novel is too pat and contrived.

control /kənˈtrōl/

I. noun

1. the power to influence or direct people's behavior or the course of events

• the whole operation is under the control of a production manager

• the situation was slipping out of her control.

2. the ability to manage a machine, vehicle, or other moving object

• he lost control of his car

• improve your ball control.

3. the restriction of an activity, tendency, or phenomenon

• pest control.

4. the power to restrain something, especially one's own emotions or actions

• give children time to get control of their emotions.

5. (often controls) — a means of limiting or regulating something

• growing controls on local spending.

6. a switch or other device by which a machine is regulated

• the volume control.

7. the place where a particular item is verified

• passport control.

8. the base from which a system or activity is directed

• communications could be established with central control

• mission control.

9. [Bridge] a high card that will prevent opponents from establishing a particular suit.

10. [Computing] short for control key.

11. [Statistics] a group or individual used as a standard of comparison for checking the results of a survey or experiment

• they saw no difference between the cancer patients and the controls.

12. a member of an intelligence organization who personally directs the activities of a spy.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — determine the behavior or supervise the running of

• he was appointed to control the company's marketing strategy.

2. maintain influence or authority over

• you shouldn't have dogs if you can't control them.

3. limit the level, intensity, or numbers of

• he had to control his temper.

4. (control oneself) — remain calm and reasonable despite provocation

• he made an effort to control himself.

5. regulate (a mechanical or scientific process)

• the airflow is controlled by a fan.

6. (as adj. controlled) — (of a drug) restricted by law with respect to use and possession

• a sentence for possessing controlled substances.

7. [no obj.] (control for) — [Statistics] take into account (an extraneous factor that might affect results) when performing an experiment

• no attempt was made to control for variations

• (as adj. controlled) a controlled trial.

8. check; verify.

III. phrases

1. in control

able to direct a situation, person, or activity

• I felt calm and in control.

2. out of control

no longer possible to manage

• fires burning out of control.

3. under control

(of a danger or emergency) being dealt with successfully and competently

• it took two hours to bring the blaze under control.

– origin late Middle English (as a verb in the sense ‘check or verify accounts,’ especially by referring to a duplicate register): from Anglo-Norman French contreroller ‘keep a copy of a roll of accounts,’ from medieval Latin contrarotulare, from contrarotulus ‘copy of a roll,’ from contra- ‘against’ + rotulus ‘a roll.’ The noun is perhaps via French contrôle.

control account

noun

an account used to record the balances on a number of subsidiary accounts and to provide a cross-check on them.

control character /kənˈtrōl ˈker(ə)ktər/

noun

[Computing] a character that does not represent a printable character but serves to initiate a particular action.

control freak

noun

‹informal› a person who feels an obsessive need to exercise control over themselves and others and to take command of any situation.

control key /kənˈtrōl kē/

noun

[Computing] a key that alters the function of another key if both are pressed at the same time.

controllable /kənˈtrōləb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. capable of being directed or influenced

• the glider was fully controllable.

2. capable of being safely regulated or limited

• discontent began to give way to barely controllable rage.

II. derivatives

1. controllability /kənˌtrōləˈbilədē /

noun

2. controllably

adverb

controlled crying

noun

a technique for training young children to fall asleep on their own, in which the child is left to cry for gradually increasing periods of time before being comforted

• Dr. Green advocates a program of controlled crying.

controller /kənˈtrōlər/

I. noun

1. a person or thing that directs or regulates something

• the power controller on a subway train.

2. a person in charge of an organization's finances.

II. derivatives

controllership /-ˌSHip /

noun

– origin Middle English (denoting a person who kept a duplicate register of accounts): from Anglo-Norman contrerollour, from contreroller ‘keep a copy of a roll of accounts’ (see control). Compare with comptroller.

controlling interest /kənˈtrōliNG ˈint(ə)rəst/

noun

the holding by one person or group of a majority of the stock of a business, giving the holder a means of exercising control

• the purchase of a controlling interest in a company in California.

control rod

noun

a rod of a neutron-absorbing substance used to vary the output power of a nuclear reactor.

control tower /kənˈtrōl ˈtou(ə)r/

noun

a tall building at an airport from which the movements of air and runway traffic are controlled.

contronym /ˈkäntrəˌnim / contranym

I. noun

a word with two opposite meanings, e.g., sanction (which can mean both ‘a penalty for disobeying a law’ and ‘official permission or approval for an action’).

– origin 1960s: blend of contra- and -onym, on the pattern of synonym and antonym.

controversial /ˌkäntrəˈvərSHəl ˌkäntrəˈvərsēəl/

I. adjective

giving rise or likely to give rise to public disagreement

• years of wrangling over a controversial bypass.

II. derivatives

controversialist /ˌkäntrəˈvərSHələst ˌkäntrəˈvərsēələst /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from late Latin controversialis, from controversia (see controversy).

controversially /ˌkäntrəˈvərSHəlē/

adverb

in a way that gives rise to controversy or public disagreement

• the horse was controversially disqualified from first place.

controversy /ˈkäntrəˌvərsē/

I. noun

disagreement, typically when prolonged, public, and heated

• he sometimes caused controversy because of his forceful views

• the announcement ended a protracted controversy.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin controversia, from controversus ‘turned against, disputed,’ from contro- (variant of contra- ‘against’) + versus, past participle of vertere ‘to turn.’

controvert /ˈkäntrəˌvərt ˌkäntrəˈvərt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. deny the truth of (something)

• subsequent work from the same laboratory controverted these results.

2. argue about (something)

• the views in the article have been controverted.

II. derivatives

controvertible /ˌkäntrəˈvərdəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin controversus (see controversy), on the pattern of pairs such as adversus (see adverse), advertere (see advert^2).

contumacious /ˌkänt(y)o͝oˈmāSHəs/

I. adjective

‹archaic› [Law] (especially of a defendant's behavior) stubbornly or willfully disobedient to authority.

II. derivatives

contumaciously /ˌkänt(y)o͝oˈmāSHəslē /

adverb

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin contumax, contumac- (perhaps from con- ‘with’ + tumere ‘to swell’) + -ious.

contumacy /ˈkäntyo͝oməsē/

I. noun

‹archaic› [Law] stubborn refusal to obey or comply with authority, especially a court order or summons.

– origin Middle English: from Latin contumacia ‘inflexibility,’ from contumax (see contumacious).

contumelious /ˌkänt(y)o͝oˈmēlēəs/

I. adjective

‹archaic› (of behavior) scornful and insulting; insolent.

II. derivatives

contumeliously

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Old French contumelieus, from Latin contumeliosus, from contumelia ‘abuse, insult’ (see contumely).

contumely /ˈkäntyo͝oməlē ˈkäntyo͝omlē/

I. noun

insolent or insulting language or treatment

• the church should not be exposed to gossip and contumely.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French contumelie, from Latin contumelia, perhaps from con- ‘with’ + tumere ‘to swell.’

contuse /kənˈto͞oz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be contused)

1. injure (a part of the body) without breaking the skin, forming a bruise

• the whole region beneath the rib cage was contused.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin contus- ‘bruised, crushed,’ from the verb contundere, from con- ‘together’ + tundere ‘beat, thump.’

contusion /kənˈto͞oZHən/

I. noun

a region of injured tissue or skin in which blood capillaries have been ruptured; a bruise.

– origin late Middle English: from French, from Latin contusio(n-), from the verb contundere (see contuse).

conundrum /kəˈnəndrəm/

I. noun

1. a confusing and difficult problem or question

• one of the most difficult conundrums for the experts.

2. a question asked for amusement, typically one with a pun in its answer; a riddle.

– origin late 16th cent.: of unknown origin, but first recorded in a work by Thomas Nashe, as a term of abuse for a crank or pedant, later coming to denote a whim or fancy, also a pun. Current senses date from the late 17th cent.

conurbation /ˌkänərˈbāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

an extended urban area, typically consisting of several towns merging with the suburbs of one or more cities.

– origin early 20th cent.: from con- ‘together’ + Latin urbs, urb- ‘city’ + -ation.

conure /ˈkänyər, -ˌyo͝or/

I. noun

a Central and South American parakeet that typically has green plumage with patches of other colors.
[Aratinga, Pyrrhura, and other genera, family Psittacidae: numerous species.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin conurus (former genus name), from Greek kōnos ‘cone’ + oura ‘tail.’

conus /ˈkōnəs/

I. noun

1. (in full conus arteriosus ) — [Anatomy] the upper front part of the right ventricle of the heart.

2. (in full conus medullaris ) — [Anatomy] the conical lower extremity of the spinal cord.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘cone.’

CONUS /ˈkōnəs/

I. abbreviation

[chiefly Military] the 48 contiguous states in the United States (that is, all the states except Alaska and Hawaii).

– origin acronym, from con tiguous U nited S tates.

convalesce /ˌkänvəˈles/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. recover one's health and strength over a period of time after an illness or operation

• he spent eight months convalescing after the stroke.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Latin convalescere, from con- ‘altogether’ + valescere ‘grow strong’ (from valere ‘be well’).

convalescence /ˌkänvəˈlesəns/

noun

time spent recovering from an illness or medical treatment; recuperation

• a period of convalescence

• I had a long convalescence ahead.

convalescent /ˌkänvəˈles(ə)nt/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) recovering from an illness or operation.

2. relating to convalescence

• a convalescent home.

II. noun

a person who is recovering after an illness or operation.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin convalescent- ‘growing strong, recovering,’ from the verb convalescere (see convalesce).

convect /kənˈvekt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. transport (heat or material) by convection

• this wood stove convects heat efficiently

• (as adj. convected) convected warmth.

2. [no obj.] — (of a fluid or fluid body) undergo convection

• the fluid starts to convect

• (as adj. convecting) the convecting layer.

– origin late 19th cent.: back-formation from convection.

convection /kənˈvekSH(ə)n/

I. noun

the movement caused within a fluid by the tendency of hotter and therefore less dense material to rise, and colder, denser material to sink under the influence of gravity, which consequently results in transfer of heat.

II. derivatives

1. convectional /-SHənl /

adjective

2. convective /kənˈvektiv /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from late Latin convectio(n-), from Latin convehere, from con- ‘together’ + vehere ‘carry.’

convection cell

noun

a self-contained convective zone in a fluid in which upward motion of warmer fluid in the center is balanced by downward motion of cooler fluid at the periphery.

convection current

noun

a current in a fluid that results from convection.

convection oven

noun

a cooking device that heats food by the circulation of hot air.

convector /kənˈvektər/

noun

a heating appliance that circulates warm air by convection.

convenance /ˈkänvənəns/

I. noun — (also convenances)

1. ‹archaic› conventional propriety.

– origin French, from convenir ‘be fitting,’ from Latin convenire (see convene).

convene /kənˈvēn/

I. verb

come or bring together for a meeting or activity; assemble
[with obj.]

• he convened a group of well-known scientists and philosophers

• he had convened a secret meeting of military personnel

• [no obj.] the committee had convened for its final plenary session.

II. derivatives

convener /kənˈvēnər / convenor

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin convenire ‘assemble, agree, fit,’ from con- ‘together’ + venire ‘come.’

convenience /kənˈvēnyəns/

I. noun

1. the state of being able to proceed with something with little effort or difficulty

• the museum has a cafeteria for your convenience.

2. the quality of being useful, easy, or suitable for someone

• the convenience of a portable phone.

3. a thing that contributes to an easy and effortless way of life

• voice mail was seen as one of the desktop conveniences of the electronic office.

4. (Brit.) a public restroom.

II. phrases

1. at one's convenience

at a time or place that suits one.

2. at one's earliest convenience

as soon as one can without difficulty.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin convenientia, from convenient- ‘assembling, agreeing,’ from the verb convenire (see convene).

convenience food

noun

a food, typically a complete meal, that has been pre-prepared commercially and so requires little cooking by the consumer.

convenience store /kənˈvēnyəns stô(ə)r/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a store with extended opening hours and in a convenient location, stocking a limited range of household goods and groceries.

conveniency /kənˈvēnyənsē/

noun

archaic term for convenience (sense 1).

convenient /kənˈvēnyənt/

I. adjective

1. fitting in well with a person's needs, activities, and plans

• I phoned your office to confirm that this date is convenient.

2. involving little trouble or effort

• the new parking lot will make shopping much more convenient.

3. (convenient to) — situated so as to allow easy access to

• the 34-story building is convenient to downtown.

4. occurring in a place or at a time that is useful

• put the blame on a convenient scapegoat.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘befitting, becoming, suitable’): from Latin convenient- ‘assembling, agreeing, fitting,’ from the verb convenire (see convene).

conveniently /kənˈvēnēən(t)lē/

adverb

in a way that fits well with particular needs, activities, and plans

• this house is very conveniently located.

convent /ˈkänˌvent/

I. noun

1. a Christian community under monastic vows, especially one of nuns.

2. (also convent school) — a school, especially one for girls, attached to and run by convent.

3. the building or buildings occupied by a convent.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, from Latin conventus ‘assembly, company,’ from the verb convenire (see convene). The original spelling was covent (surviving in the place name Covent Garden); the modern form dates from the 16th cent.

conventicle /kənˈven(t)ək(ə)l/

I. noun

‹historical› a secret or unlawful religious meeting, typically of people with nonconformist views.

– origin late Middle English (in the general sense ‘assembly, meeting,’ particularly a clandestine or illegal one): from Latin conventiculum ‘(place of) assembly,’ diminutive of conventus ‘assembly, company,’ from the verb convenire (see convene).

convention /kənˈven(t)SH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a way in which something is usually done, especially within a particular area or activity

• the woman who overturned so many conventions of children's literature.

2. behavior that is considered acceptable or polite to most members of a society

• he was an upholder of convention and correct form

• social conventions.

3. [Bridge] an artificial bid by which a bidder tries to convey specific information about the hand to their partner.

4. an agreement between countries covering particular matters, especially one less formal than a treaty.

5. a large meeting or conference, especially of members of a political party or a particular profession

• a convention of retail merchants.

6. (N. Amer.) (in the US) an assembly of the delegates of a political party to select candidates for office.

7. an organized meeting of enthusiasts for a television program, movie, or literary genre

• a Star Trek convention.

8. a body set up by agreement to deal with a particular issue

• the convention is a UN body responsible for the regulation of sea dumping.

– origin late Middle English (sense 3): via Old French from Latin conventio(n-) ‘meeting, covenant,’ from the verb convenire (see convene). Sense 1 dates from the late 18th cent.

conventional /kənˈven(t)SH(ə)n(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. based on or in accordance with what is generally done or believed

• a conventional morality had dictated behavior.

2. (of a person) concerned with what is generally held to be acceptable at the expense of individuality and sincerity.

3. (of a work of art or literature) following traditional forms and genres

• conventional love poetry.

4. (of weapons or power) nonnuclear

• agreement on reducing conventional forces in Europe.

5. [Bridge] (of a bid) intended to convey a particular meaning according to an agreed upon convention.
Often contrasted with natural.

II. derivatives

1. conventionalism /kənˈven(t)SH(ə)n(ə)lˌizəm /

noun

2. conventionalist /kənˈven(t)SH(ə)n(ə)ləst /

noun

3. conventionality /kənˌven(t)SHəˈnalədē /

noun

4. conventionalize /kənˈven(t)SH(ə)n(ə)lˌīz /

verb

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘relating to a formal agreement or convention’): from French conventionnel or late Latin conventionalis, from Latin conventio(n-) ‘meeting, covenant,’ from the verb convenire (see convene).

conventionally /kənˈvenSH(ə)nəlē/

adverb

1. in a way that is based on what is traditionally done or believed

• careers conventionally followed by women

• the atlas is divided conventionally into six continents.

2. in a way that shows concern with what is held to be socially acceptable

• Elisabeth behaved quite conventionally

• he was dressed conventionally in a gray shirt and trousers.

conventional memory

noun

[Computing] (in a computer running DOS) the first 640k of memory where programs to be run must be loaded.

conventional wisdom

noun

a generally accepted theory or belief

• conventional wisdom has it that a book should never be judged by its cover

• many of your findings challenge conventional wisdom about entrepreneurial success.

conventioneer /kənˌven(t)SHəˈnir/

noun

(N. Amer.) a person attending a convention.

conventual /kənˈven(t)SH(əw)əl/

I. adjective

1. relating or belonging to a convent

• the conventual life.

2. relating to the less strict order of the Franciscans, living in large convents.

II. noun

a person who lives in or is a member of a convent.

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin conventualis, from Latin conventus ‘assembly, company’ (see convent).

converge /kənˈvərj/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of several people or things) come together from different directions so as eventually to meet

• convoys from America and the UK traversed thousands of miles to converge in the Atlantic

• ‹figurative› two separate people whose lives converge briefly from time to time.

2. (converge on/upon) — come from different directions and meet at (a place)

• half a million sports fans will converge on the capital.

3. (of a number of things) gradually change so as to become similar or develop something in common

• two cultures converged as the French settled Vermont.

4. (of lines) tend to meet at a point

• a pair of lines of longitude are parallel at the equator but converge toward the poles.

5. [Mathematics] (of a series) approximate in the sum of its terms toward a definite limit

• the powers of e therefore converge very slowly.

– origin late 17th cent.: from late Latin convergere, from con- ‘together’ + Latin vergere ‘incline.’

convergence /kənˈvərjəns / convergency

noun

1. the process or state of converging

• the convergence of lines in the distance.

2. [Biology] the tendency of unrelated animals and plants to evolve superficially similar characteristics under similar environmental conditions.

3. (also convergence zone) — a location where airflows or ocean currents meet, characteristically marked by upwelling (of air) or downwelling (of water).

convergent /kənˈvərjənt/

I. adjective

1. coming closer together, especially in characteristics or ideas

• convergent changes in languages.

2. relating to convergence

• a convergent boundary.

3. [Mathematics] (of a series) approaching a definite limit as more of its terms are added.

4. [Biology] relating to or denoting evolutionary convergence.

5. (of thought) tending to follow well-established patterns.

– origin early 18th cent.: from late Latin convergent- ‘inclining together,’ from the verb convergere (see converge).

conversant /kənˈvərsənt/

I. adjective

familiar with or knowledgeable about something

• many ladies are conversant with the merits of drill-eyed needles.

II. derivatives

1. conversance /kənˈvərs(ə)ns /

noun

2. conversancy /-sənsē /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French, present participle of converser (see converse^1). The original sense was ‘habitually spending time in a particular place or with a particular person.’

conversation /ˌkänvərˈsāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the informal exchange of ideas by spoken words

• the two men were deep in conversation.

2. an instance of this

• she picked up the phone and held a conversation in French.

II. phrases

make conversation

talk for the sake of politeness without having anything to say.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘living among, familiarity, intimacy’): via Old French from Latin conversatio(n-), from the verb conversari (see converse^1).

conversational /ˌkänvərˈsāSH(ə)n(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. appropriate to an informal conversation

• his tone was casual and conversational.

2. consisting of or relating to conversation

• conversational skills.

II. derivatives

conversationally /ˌkänvərˈsāSH(ə)nəlē /

adverb

conversationalist /ˌkänvərˈsāSHən(ə)ləst/

noun

a person who is good at or fond of engaging in conversation.

conversation piece /ˌkänvərˈsāSHən ˌpēs/

noun

1. a type of genre painting in which a group of figures are posed in a landscape or domestic setting, popular especially in the 18th century.

2. an object whose unusual quality makes it a topic of conversation.

conversation-stopper

noun

‹informal› an unexpected or outrageous remark that cannot easily be answered.

conversazione /ˌkänvərˌsätsēˈōnē, -ˈōˌnā/

I. noun

a scholarly social gathering held for discussion of literature and the arts.

– origin Italian, from Latin conversatio (see conversation).

converse^1

I. verb — /kənˈvərs / [no obj.]

1. engage in conversation

• he fell in beside her and they began to converse amicably.

II. noun — /ˈkänˌvərs /

1. ‹archaic› conversation.

III. derivatives

converser /kənˈvərsər /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘live among, be familiar with’): from Old French converser, from Latin conversari ‘keep company (with),’ from con- ‘with’ + versare, frequentative of vertere ‘to turn.’ The current sense of the verb dates from the early 17th cent.

converse^2 /ˈkänˌvərs/

I. noun

1. a situation, object, or statement that is the reverse of another, or that corresponds to it but with certain terms transposed

• if spirituality is properly political, the converse is also true: politics is properly spiritual.

2. [Mathematics] a theorem whose hypothesis and conclusion are the conclusion and hypothesis of another.

II. adjective — /ˈkänˌvərs kənˈvərs /

1. having characteristics that are the reverse of something else already mentioned

• the slow process of growth and the converse process of decay.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin conversus ‘turned around,’ past participle of convertere (see convert).

conversely /kənˈvərslē ˈkänˌvərslē/

adverb

introducing a statement or idea that reverses one that has just been made or referred to

• he would have preferred his wife not to work, although conversely he was also proud of what she did.

conversion /kənˈvərZHən/

I. noun

1. the act or an instance of converting or the process of being converted

• the conversion of food into body tissues.

2. the fact of changing one's religion or beliefs or the action of persuading someone else to change theirs

• my conversion to the Catholic faith.

3. [Christian Theology] repentance and change to a godly life.

4. the adaptation of a building for a new purpose

• the conversion of a house into apartments.

5. (Brit.) a building or part of a building that has been adapted in this way.

6. [Law] the changing of real into personal property, or of joint into separate property, or vice versa.

7. [Psychiatry] the manifestation of a mental disturbance as a physical disorder or disease
[as modifier]

• conversion disorders.

8. [Logic] the transposition of the subject and predicate of a proposition according to certain rules to form a new proposition by inference.

9. [Football] the act of scoring an extra point or points after having scored a touchdown.

10. the act of gaining a first down.

11. (also conversion rate) — (in the context of online marketing) the proportion of people viewing an advertisement and going on to buy the product, click on a link, etc.

• you'll see better conversion rates for your local advertising if you include your physical address on your website

• keeping things simple will improve conversion.

12. [Law] the action of wrongfully dealing with goods in a manner inconsistent with the owner's rights

• he was found guilty of the fraudulent conversion of clients' monies.

13. [Physics] the change in a quantity's numerical value as a result of using a different unit of measurement.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘turning of sinners to God’): via Old French from Latin conversio(n-), from convers- ‘turned around,’ from the verb convertere (see convert).

conversion factor

noun

1. an arithmetical multiplier for converting a quantity expressed in one set of units into an equivalent expressed in another.

2. [Economics] the manufacturing cost of a product relative to the cost of raw materials.

conversion van

noun

(N. Amer.) a van in which the cargo space has been converted to a special purpose, such as a living space.

convert

I. verb — /kənˈvərt /

1. [with obj.] — cause to change in form, character, or function

• production processes that converted raw material into useful forms.

2. [no obj.] — change or be able to change from one form to another

• the seating converts to a double or two single beds.

3. [no obj.] — change one's religious faith or other beliefs

• at sixteen he converted to Catholicism.

4. persuade (someone) to do this

• he was converted in his later years to the socialist cause.

5. change (money, stocks, or units in which a quantity is expressed) into others of a different kind

• the figures have been converted at $0.545 to the Dutch guilder.

6. adapt (a building) to make it suitable for a new purpose

• the space can be easily converted into a home office

• (as adj. converted) they lived in a converted chicken house.

7. [Logic] transpose the subject and predicate of (a proposition) according to certain rules to form a new proposition by inference.

8. [with obj.] — score from (a penalty kick, pass, or other opportunity) in a sport or game.

9. [no obj.] — [Football] score an extra point or points after having scored a touchdown by kicking a goal (one point) or running another play into the end zone (two points).

10. [no obj.] — [Football] advance the ball far enough during a down to earn a first down

• the Oilers converted on over half of their third downs.

II. noun — /ˈkänˌvərt /

1. a person who has been persuaded to change their religious faith or other beliefs

• he is a recent convert to the church.

III. phrases

convert something to one's own use

[Law] wrongfully make use of another's property.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘turn around, send in a different direction’): from Old French convertir, based on Latin convertere ‘turn around,’ from con- ‘altogether’ + vertere ‘turn.’

converted rice

noun — ( in the US)

1. (N. Amer.) ‹trademark› white rice prepared from brown rice that has been soaked, steamed under pressure, and then dried and milled.

converter /kənˈvərdər / convertor

noun

1. a person or thing that converts something

• the converter of a building to domestic use.

2. a device for altering the nature of an electric current or signal, especially from AC to DC or vice versa, or from analog to digital or vice versa.

3. a retort used in steelmaking.

4. short for catalytic converter.

5. [Computing] a program that converts data from one format to another.

6. a camera lens that changes the focal length of another lens by a set amount

• a camera fitted with a x2 converter.

convertible /kənˈvərdəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. able to be changed in form, function, or character

• a living room that is miraculously convertible into a bedroom.

2. (of a car) having a folding or detachable roof

• his white convertible Mercedes.

3. (of currency) able to be converted into other forms, especially into gold or US dollars.

4. (of a bond or stock) able to be converted into ordinary or preference shares.

5. [Logic] (of terms) synonymous.

II. noun

1. a car with a folding or detachable roof.

2. (usu. convertibles) — a convertible security.

III. derivatives

convertibility /kənˌvərdəˈbilədē /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘interchangeable’): from Old French, from Latin convertibilis, from convertere ‘turn around’ (see convert).

convex /ˌkänˈveks ˈkänveks/

I. adjective

1. having an outline or surface curved like the exterior of a circle or sphere.
Compare with concave.

2. (of a polygon) having only interior angles measuring less than 180°.

II. derivatives

1. convexity /känˈveksədē /

noun

2. convexly /ˌkänˈvekslē /

adverb

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin convexus ‘vaulted, arched.’

convexo-concave /kənˌveksō ˈkänkāv/

adjective

(of a lens) convex on one side and concave on the other and thickest in the center.

convexo-convex /kənˌveksōˈkänˌveks, -känˈveks/

adjective

another term for biconvex.

convey /kənˈvā/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. transport or carry to a place

• pipes were laid to convey water to the house.

2. make (an idea, impression, or feeling) known or understandable to someone

• the real virtues and diversity of America had never been conveyed in the movies

• it's impossible to convey how lost I felt.

3. communicate (a message or information)

• Mr. Harvey and his daughter have asked me to convey their very kind regards.

4. [Law] transfer the title to (property).

II. derivatives

conveyable /kənˈvāəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘escort’; compare with convoy): from Old French conveier, from medieval Latin conviare, from con- ‘together’ + Latin via ‘way.’

conveyance /kənˈvāəns/

noun

1. the action or process of transporting someone or something from one place to another

• he was building vessels for the conveyance of live cod.

2. a means of transportation; a vehicle

• adventurers attempt the trail using all manner of conveyances, including mountain bikes and motorcycles.

3. the action of making an idea, feeling, or impression known or understandable to someone

• art's conveyance of meaning is complicated.

4. [Law] the legal process of transferring property from one owner to another

• protective measures that might be taken before the conveyance is concluded.

5. a legal document effecting the process of transferring property.

conveyancing /kənˈvāənsiNG/

I. noun

1. the branch of law concerned with the preparation of documents for the transferring of property.

2. the action of preparing documents for the transfer of property.

II. derivatives

conveyancer /kənˈvāənsər /

noun

conveyor /kənˈvāər / conveyer

noun

1. a person or thing that transports or communicates something

• a conveyor of information.

2. a conveyor belt.

conveyor belt /kənˈvāər ˌbelt/

noun

a continuous moving band of fabric, rubber, or metal used for moving objects from one place to another.

convict

I. verb — /kənˈvikt / [with obj.]

1. declare (someone) to be guilty of a criminal offense by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge in a court of law

• her former boyfriend was convicted of assaulting her

• (as adj. convicted) a convicted murderer.

II. noun — /ˈkänˌvikt /

1. a person found guilty of a criminal offense and serving a sentence of imprisonment.

– origin Middle English: from Latin convict- ‘demonstrated, refuted, convicted,’ from the verb convincere (see convince). The noun is from obsolete convict ‘convicted.’

conviction /kənˈvikSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a formal declaration that someone is guilty of a criminal offense, made by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge in a court of law

• she had a previous conviction for a similar offense.

2. a firmly held belief or opinion

• his conviction that the death was no accident

• she takes pride in stating her political convictions.

3. the quality of showing that one is firmly convinced of what one believes or says

• his voice lacked conviction.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin convictio(n-), from the verb convincere (see convince).

convince /kənˈvins/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (someone) to believe firmly in the truth of something

• Robert's expression had obviously convinced her of his innocence

• [with obj. and clause] you couldn't convince him that a floppy disk was as good as a manuscript.

2. persuade (someone) to do something

• she convinced my father to branch out on his own.

II. derivatives

1. convincer

noun

2. convincible

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘overcome, defeat in argument’): from Latin convincere, from con- ‘with’ + vincere ‘conquer.’ Compare with convict. / usage: Although it is common to see convince and persuade used interchangeably, there are distinctions in meaning that careful writers and speakers try to preserve. Convince derives from a Latin word meaning ‘conquer, overcome.’ Persuade derives from a Latin word meaning ‘advise, make appealing, sweeten.’ One can convince or persuade someone with facts or arguments, but, in general, convincing is limited to the mind, while persuasion results in action (just as dissuasion results in nonaction): the prime minister convinced the council that delay was pointless; the senator persuaded her colleagues to pass the legislation.

convinced /kənˈvinst/

adjective

1. completely certain about something

• she was not entirely convinced of the soundness of his motives

• I am convinced the war will be over in a matter of months.

2. firm in one's belief, especially with regard to a particular cause or issue

• a convinced pacifist.

convincing /kənˈvinsiNG/

adjective

1. capable of causing someone to believe that something is true or real

• there is no convincing evidence that advertising influences total alcohol consumption

• to make the detective's character convincing, she did extensive research.

2. (of a victory or a winner) leaving no margin of doubt; clear

• the team cruised to a convincing win.

convincingly /kənˈvinsiNGlē/

adverb

1. in a way that causes someone to believe that something is true or real

• this chapter is not as convincingly argued.

2. [as submodifier] — in a way that leaves no margin of doubt as to who has won

• he convincingly defeated the current champion.

convivial /kənˈvivēəl/

I. adjective

1. (of an atmosphere or event) friendly, lively, and enjoyable.

2. (of a person) cheerful and friendly; jovial.

II. derivatives

convivially /kənˈvivēəlē /

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘fit for a feast, festive’): from Latin convivialis, from convivium ‘a feast,’ from con- ‘with’ + vivere ‘live.’

conviviality /kənˌvivēˈalədē/

noun

the quality of being friendly and lively; friendliness

• the conviviality of the evening.

convocation /ˌkänvəˈkāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a large formal assembly of people.

2. (N. Amer.) a formal ceremony at a college or university, as for the conferring of awards.

3. the action of calling people together for a large formal assembly.

II. derivatives

convocational /ˌkänvəˈkāSH(ə)n(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin convocatio(n-), from the verb convocare (see convoke).

convoke /kənˈvōk/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› call together or summon (an assembly or meeting)

• she sent messages convoking a Council of Ministers.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin convocare, from con- ‘together’ + vocare ‘call.’

convolute /ˈkänvəˌlo͞ot/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (an argument, story, etc.) complex and difficult to follow.

II. adjective

[Biology] rolled longitudinally upon itself, as a leaf in the bud.

convoluted /ˈkänvəˌlo͞odəd/

I. adjective

1. (especially of an argument, story, or sentence) extremely complex and difficult to follow

• its convoluted narrative encompasses all manner of digressions.

2. ‹chiefly technical› intricately folded, twisted, or coiled

• walnuts come in hard and convoluted shells.

II. derivatives

convolutedly

adverb

– origin late 18th cent.: past participle of convolute, from Latin convolutus, past participle of convolvere ‘roll together, intertwine’ (see convolve).

convolution /ˌkänvəˈlo͞oSHən/

I. noun

1. (often convolutions) — a coil or twist, especially one of many

• crosses adorned with elaborate convolutions.

2. a thing that is complex and difficult to follow

• the convolutions of farm policy.

3. a sinuous fold in the surface of the brain.

4. the state of being coiled or twisted, or the process of becoming so

• the flexibility of the polymer chain allows extensive convolution.

5. (also convolution integral) — [Mathematics] a function derived from two given functions by integration that expresses how the shape of one is modified by the other.

6. a method of determination of the sum of two random variables by integration or summation.

II. derivatives

convolutional /-SHənl /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from medieval Latin convolutio(n-), from convolvere ‘roll together’ (see convolve).

convolve /kənˈvälv/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹rare› roll or coil together; entwine.

2. ‹rare› [Mathematics] combine (one function or series) with another by forming their convolution.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘enclose in folds’): from Latin convolvere ‘roll together,’ from con- ‘together’ + volvere ‘roll.’

convolvulus /kənˈvälvyəˌləs/

I. noun

a twining plant with trumpet-shaped flowers, some kinds of which are invasive weeds (see also bindweed), while others, especially morning glories, are cultivated for their bright flowers.
[Genus Convolvulus, family Convolvulaceae.]

– origin mid 16th cent.: Latin, literally ‘bindweed,’ from convolvere ‘roll together’ (see convolve).

convoy

I. noun — /ˈkänˌvoi /

1. a group of ships or vehicles traveling together, typically accompanied by armed troops, warships, or other vehicles for protection.

II. verb — /ˈkänˌvoi kənˈvoi / [with obj.]

1. (of a warship or armed troops) accompany (a group of ships or vehicles) for protection.

III. phrases

in convoy

(of traveling vehicles) as a group; together

• the army trucks had passed through in convoy the previous evening.

– origin late Middle English (originally Scots, as a verb in the senses ‘convey,’ ‘conduct,’ and ‘act as escort’): from French convoyer, from medieval Latin conviare (see convey).

convulsant /kənˈvəlsənt/

I. adjective

(chiefly of drugs) producing sudden and involuntary muscle contractions.

II. noun

a convulsant drug.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French, from convulser, from Latin convuls- ‘pulled violently, wrenched,’ from the verb convellere (see convulse).

convulse /kənˈvəls/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — (of a person) suffer violent involuntary contraction of the muscles, producing contortion of the body or limbs

• she convulsed, collapsing to the floor with the pain.

2. [with obj.] — (of an emotion, laughter, or physical stimulus) cause (someone) to make sudden, violent, uncontrollable movements

• Carlos was convulsed by a second bout of sneezing

• she rocked backward and forward, convulsed with helpless mirth.

3. [with obj.] — throw (a country) into violent social or political upheaval

• a wave of mass strikes convulsed the Ruhr, Berlin, and central Germany.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin convuls- ‘pulled violently, wrenched,’ from the verb convellere, from con- ‘together’ + vellere ‘to pull.’

convulsion /kənˈvəlSHən/

I. noun — (often convulsions)

1. a sudden, violent, irregular movement of a limb or of the body, caused by involuntary contraction of muscles and associated especially with brain disorders such as epilepsy, the presence of certain toxins or other agents in the blood, or fever in children.

2. (convulsions) — uncontrollable laughter

• the audience collapsed in convulsions.

3. an earthquake or other violent or major movement of the earth's crust

• the violent convulsions of tectonic plates.

4. a violent social or political upheaval

• the convulsions of 1939–45.

– origin mid 16th cent. (originally in the sense ‘cramp, spasm’): from Latin convulsio(n-), from the verb convellere (see convulse).

convulsive /kənˈvəlsiv/

I. adjective

producing or consisting of convulsions

• a convulsive disease

• she gave a convulsive sob.

II. derivatives

convulsively /kənˈvəlsivlē /

adverb

Conway /ˈkänwā/

a city in central Arkansas; pop. 57,544 (est. 2008).

coo^1 /ko͞o/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a pigeon or dove) make a soft murmuring sound

• ringdoves cooed among the branches.

2. (of a person) speak in a soft gentle voice

• I cruised the room, cooing at toddlers

• “I knew I could count on you,” she cooed.

II. noun

a soft murmuring sound made by a dove or pigeon.

III. phrases

bill and coo

see bill^2.

– origin mid 17th cent.: imitative.

coo^2 /ko͞o/

I. exclamation

(Brit.) ‹informal› used to express surprise

• “Coo, ain't it high!” Mary squeaked.

– origin early 20th cent.: imitative.

COO /ˌsēˌōˈō/

noun

a chief operations (or operating) officer, a senior executive responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of a company or other institution.

co-occur /ˌkōəˈkər/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. occur together or simultaneously.

II. derivatives

co-occurrence /ˌkōəˈkərəns /

noun

cook /ko͝ok/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — prepare (food, a dish, or a meal) by combining and heating the ingredients in various ways

• shall I cook dinner tonight?

• [no obj.] I told you I could cook

• (as adj. cooked) a cooked breakfast.

2. [no obj.] — (of food) be heated so that the condition required for eating is reached

• while the rice is cooking, add the saffron to the stock.

3. (cook something down) — heat food and cause it to thicken and reduce in volume

• cooking down the chutney can take up to 45 minutes.

4. (be cooking) — ‹informal› be happening or planned

• what's cooking on the alternative fuels front?

5. [with obj.] — ‹informal› alter dishonestly; falsify

• a narcotics team who cooked the evidence.

6. (be cooked) — be in an inescapably bad situation

• if I can't talk to him, I'm cooked.

7. [no obj.] — (N. Amer.) ‹informal› perform or proceed vigorously or well

• the band used to get up on the bandstand and really cook.

II. noun

a person who prepares and cooks food, especially as a job or in a specified way

• a short order cook

• I'm a good cook.

III. phrases

1. cook the books

‹informal› alter facts or figures dishonestly or illegally.

2. cook someone's goose

‹informal› cause someone's downfall

• I've got enough on you to cook your goose.

3. too many cooks spoil the broth

‹proverb› if too many people are involved in a task, it will not be done well.

IV. phrasal verbs

cook something up

concoct a story, excuse, or plan, especially an ingenious or devious one.

V. derivatives

cookable

adjective

– origin Old English cōc (noun), from popular Latin cocus, from Latin coquus.

Cook, James /ko͝ok/

(1728–79), English explorer; known as Captain Cook. On his first expedition to the Pacific 1768–71, he charted the coasts of New Zealand and New Guinea and explored the east coast of Australia, claiming it for Britain. He made two more voyages to the Pacific before being killed in a skirmish with the Hawaiians.

Cook, Mount

the highest peak in New Zealand, in the Southern Alps on South Island, that rises to a height of 12,218 feet (3,724 m). It is named after Captain James Cook.
Official name Aoraki/Mount Cook.

Cook, Thomas

(1808–92), English founder of the travel agency Thomas Cook. In 1841, he organized the first publicly advertised excursion train in England; the success of this venture led him to organize further excursions both in Britain and abroad, laying the foundations for the tourist and travel-agent industry.

cookbook /ˈko͝okˌbo͝ok/

noun

a book containing recipes and other information about the preparation and cooking of food.

Cook County /ˌko͝ok ˈkoun(t)ē/

a county in northeastern Illinois that includes Chicago and most of its closer suburbs; pop. 5,294,664 (est. 2008).

Cooke, Alistair /ko͝ok/

(1908–2004), British journalist and broadcaster; in the US from 1937; full name Alfred Alistair Cooke. His BBC broadcasts of “Letter from America” began in 1946 and continued until shortly before his death. He hosted Omnibus on CBS 1952–60 and Masterpiece Theatre on PBS 1971–92.

Cooke, Jay /ko͝ok/

(1821–1905), US financier. He was the founder of Jay Cooke and Company, a leading Philadelphia bank, in 1861; his sale of bonds helped to finance the Civil War, and his financing of western railroads precipitated the Panic of 1873.

cooker /ˈko͝okər/

noun

(chiefly Brit.) an appliance used for cooking food.

cookery /ˈko͝ok(ə)rē/

noun

(chiefly Brit.) the practice or skill of preparing and cooking food

• European peasant cookery

• [as modifier] cookery writers.

cookhouse /ˈko͝okˌhous/

noun

1. a kitchen or dining hall in a military camp.

2. an outdoor kitchen in a warm country.

cookie /ˈko͝okē/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a small sweet cake, typically round, flat, and crisp.

2. ‹informal› a person of a specified kind

• a tough cookie with one eye on her bank account.

3. [Computing] a packet of data sent by an Internet server to a browser, which is returned by the browser each time it subsequently accesses the same server, used to identify the user or track their access to the server.

II. phrases

that's the way the cookie crumbles

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) that's how things turn out (often used of an undesirable but unalterable situation).

– origin early 18th cent.: from Dutch koekje ‘little cake,’ diminutive of koek.

cookie cutter /ˈko͝okē ˈkədər/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) a device with sharp edges for cutting cookie dough into a particular shape.

2. [as modifier] — (N. Amer.) denoting something mass-produced or lacking any distinguishing characteristics

• a cookie-cutter apartment in a high-rise building.

cookie jar

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a jar to hold cookies.

II. phrases

with one's hand in the cookie jar

(N. Amer.) engaged in surreptitious theft from one's employer

• they got caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

cookie sheet /ˈko͝okē SHēt/

noun

(N. Amer.) a flat metal tray on which cookies are baked.

cooking /ˈko͝okiNG/

noun

1. the practice or skill of preparing food by combining, mixing, and heating ingredients

• she first became interested in cooking at the age of 17.

2. food that has been prepared in a particular way

• authentic Italian cooking.

3. [as modifier] — suitable for or used in cooking

• cooking oil.

Cook Inlet

an inlet of the Gulf of Alaska, west of the Kenai Peninsula in southern Alaska. Anchorage lies at its northern end.

Cook Islands

I. a group of 15 islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean between Tonga and French Polynesia that have the status of a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand; pop. 11,900 (est. 2009); capital, Avarua, on Rarotonga.

– origin named after Captain J. Cook (see Cook, James), who visited them in 1773.

cookout /ˈko͝okˌout/

noun

(N. Amer.) a party or gathering where a meal is cooked and eaten outdoors.

Cookson, Dame Catherine /ˈko͝oksən/

(1906–98), English writer; full name Dame Catherine Anne Cookson. A prolific author of light romantic fiction, she is best known for the Mary Ann series (1956–67), the Mallen trilogy (1973–74), and the Tilly Trotter series (1980–82).

Cook's tour

I. noun

‹informal› a rapid tour of many places

• ‹figurative› he then took me on a Cook's tour of his neuroscientific theories.

– origin early 20th cent.: from the name of the travel agent Thomas Cook (see Cook, Thomas).

Cook Strait

the strait that separates North and South islands of New Zealand. It was named after Captain James Cook, who visited it in 1770.

cooktop /ˈko͝oktäp/

noun

(N. Amer.) a cooking unit, usually with hot plates or burners, built into or fixed on the top of a cabinet or other surface.

cookware /ˈko͝okˌwer/

noun

pots, pans, or dishes for cooking food

• cast-iron cookware.

cool /ko͞ol/

I. adjective

1. of or at a fairly low temperature

• it'll be a cool afternoon

• the wind kept them cool.

2. soothing or refreshing because of its low temperature

• a cool drink in the leafy shade

• ‹figurative› the bathroom was all glass and cool, muted blues.

3. (especially of clothing) keeping one from becoming too hot

• wear your cool, comfortable shirts.

4. showing no friendliness toward a person or enthusiasm for an idea or project

• he gave a cool reception to the suggestion for a research center.

5. free from excitement or anxiety

• he prided himself on keeping a cool head

• she seems cool, calm, and collected.

6. (of jazz, especially modern jazz) restrained and relaxed.

7. ‹informal› fashionably attractive or impressive

• I always wore sunglasses to look cool.

8. excellent
[as exclamation]

• a computer you didn't even have to plug in. Cool!

9. used to express acceptance or agreement

• if people want to freak out at our clubs, that's cool.

10. (a cool ——) — ‹informal› used to emphasize a specified quantity or amount, especially of money

• a cool $15,000 to buy the franchise.

II. noun

1. (the cool) — a fairly low temperature

• the cool of the night air.

2. a time or place at which the temperature is pleasantly low

• the cool of the evening.

3. calmness; composure

• he recovered his cool and then started laughing at us.

4. the quality of being fashionably attractive or impressive

• all the cool of high fashion.

III. verb

1. become or cause to become less hot
[no obj.]

• we dived into the river to cool off

• ‹figurative› his feelings for her took a long time to cool

• [with obj.] cool the pastry for five minutes.

2. become or cause to become calm or less excited
[no obj.]

• after I'd cooled off, I realized I was being irrational

• [with obj.] George was trying to cool him down.

3. (cool down) — recover from strenuous physical exertion by doing gentle stretches and exercises; warm down.

4. [usu. in imperative] (cool it) — ‹informal› behave in a less excitable manner

• “Cool it and tell me why you're so ecstatic.”

IV. phrases

1. cool one's heels

be kept waiting.

2. keep (or lose) one's cool

‹informal› maintain (or fail to maintain) a calm and controlled attitude.

3. play it cool

see play.

V. derivatives

coolish

adjective

– origin Old English cōl (noun), cōlian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch koel, also to cold.

coolant /ˈko͞olənt/

I. noun

a liquid or gas that is used to remove heat from something.

– origin 1930s: from cool, on the pattern of lubricant.

cool beans

exclamation

(US) ‹informal› used to express approval or delight

• Your favorite character is Sophie? Cool beans.

cooled /ko͞old/

adjective

made less hot

• we hold the cooled branding irons

• [in combination] an air-cooled engine.

cooler /ˈko͞olər/

noun

1. an insulated container for keeping food and drink cool.

2. (N. Amer.) a refrigerated room.

3. (chiefly N. Amer.) a tall drink, especially a mixture of wine, fruit juice, and soda water.

4. (the cooler) — ‹informal› prison or a prison cell.

Cooley's anemia /ˌko͞olēz əˈnēmēə/

I. noun

another term for thalassemia.

– origin 1930s: named after Thomas B. Cooley (1871–1945), American pediatrician.

coolheaded /ˌko͞olˈhedəd/

adjective

not easily worried or excited.

coolheadedness /ˈko͝olˌhedədnəs/

noun

the state of being calm and not easily worried or excited

• his coolheadedness in the face of danger.

cool-hunter

I. noun

‹informal› a person whose job is to make observations or predictions about new styles and trends.

II. derivatives

cool-hunting

noun

coolibah /ˈko͞oləˌbä / coolabah

I. noun

a northern Australian gum tree that typically grows near watercourses and yields strong, hard timber.
[Eucalyptus microtheca, family Myrtaceae.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from Kamilaroi (and related languages) gulubaa.

Coolidge, Calvin /ˈko͞olij/

(1872–1933), 30th president of the US 1923–29; full name John Calvin Coolidge. A Republican, he served as Massachusetts's lieutenant governor 1916–18 and governor 1919–20. He became the US vice president in 1921, succeeding to the presidency upon the death of President Harding in 1923. Elected in 1924 to serve a full term, Coolidge was committed to reducing income taxes and the national debt, and was noted for his policy of noninterference in foreign affairs, which culminated in the Kellogg Pact in 1928.

coolie /ˈko͞olē/

I. noun

‹dated or offensive› an unskilled native laborer in India, China, and some other Asian countries.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Hindi and Telugu kūlī ‘day-laborer,’ probably associated with Urdu ḳulī ‘slave.’

coolie hat

noun

a broad conical straw hat as worn by laborers in some Asian countries.

cooling center

noun

an air-conditioned public facility where people may go for relief during periods of extreme heat.

cooling-off period

noun

1. an interval during which two people or groups who are in disagreement can try to settle their differences before taking further action.

2. an interval after a sales contract is agreed upon during which the purchaser can decide to cancel without loss.

cooling tower /ˈko͞oliNG ˌtou(ə)r/

noun

a tall, open-topped, cylindrical concrete tower, used for cooling water or condensing steam from an industrial process.

coolly /ˈko͞ollē/

adverb

1. in a way that lacks friendliness or enthusiasm

• the representatives were greeted coolly.

2. in a way that shows a lack of any excitement, anxiety, or excessive emotion

• passengers were able to deal with the possible threat coolly and calmly

• [as submodifier] she was coolly detached.

3. ‹informal› in a way that is fashionably attractive or impressive

• she was coolly dressed down in cut-off jean shorts.

CoolMax /ˈko͞olmaks/

I. noun

‹trademark› a polyester fabric that draws perspiration along its fibers away from the skin, used chiefly in sportswear.

– origin 1980s: an invented name, probably from cool + max(imum).

coolness /ˈko͞olnəs/

noun

1. the quality or condition of being at a fairly low temperature

• the coolness of the breeze.

2. the quality of being soothing or refreshing because of its low temperature

• the refreshing coolness of the water.

3. (in reference to color) the quality of containing pale blue, green, or gray tones

• her art has an icy coolness.

4. the quality of lacking friendliness or enthusiasm

• the coolness towards the revolutionary cults.

5. freedom from excitement, anxiety, or excessive emotion

• his greatest strength is his coolness under pressure.

6. ‹informal› the quality of being fashionably attractive or impressive

• the coolness of this phone was worth the extra money.

coolth /ko͞olTH/

I. noun

1. ‹chiefly humorous› pleasantly low temperature

• the coolth of the evening.

2. ‹chiefly humorous› articles, activities, or people perceived as fashionable

• the pinnacle of 1960s coolth.

– origin mid 16th cent. (but rare before the 20th cent.): from cool + -th^2.

coon /ko͞on/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) short for raccoon.

2. ‹informal› ‹offensive› a black person.
[Sense 1, from an earlier sense ‘(sly) fellow.’]

II. phrases

a coon's age

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› ‹dated› a long time

• I haven't seen you in a coon's age!

cooncan /ˈko͞onkan/

I. noun

a card game for two players, originally from Mexico, similar to rummy.

– origin late 19th cent.: probably from Spanish con quién ‘with whom?’

coonhound /ˈko͞onhound/

noun

a dog of an American breed, used to hunt raccoons. There are several breeds, including the black and tan coonhound and the bluetick coonhound.

Coon Rapids

a city in southeastern Minnesota, on the Mississippi River, north of Minneapolis; pop. 61,832 (est. 2008).

coonskin /ˈko͞onskin/

noun

the pelt of a raccoon

• a coonskin hat.

coop /ko͞op ko͝op/

I. noun

a cage or pen for confining poultry

• a chicken coop.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be cooped up)

1. confine in a small space

• being cooped up indoors all day makes him fidgety.

2. put or keep (a fowl) in a cage or pen.

III. phrases

fly the coop

see fly^1.

– origin Middle English cowpe; related to Dutch kuip ‘vat’ and German Kufe ‘cask,’ based on Latin cupa. Compare with cooper.

co-op /ˈkōˌäp/

I. noun

‹informal› a cooperative society, business, or enterprise.

– origin mid 19th cent.: abbreviation.

cooper /ˈko͞opər ˈko͝opər/

I. noun

a maker or repairer of casks and barrels.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make or repair (a cask or barrel).

– origin Middle English cowper, from Middle Dutch, Middle Low German kūper, from kūpe ‘tub, vat,’ based on Latin cupa. Compare with coop.

Cooper, Gary /ˈko͞opər/

(1901–61), US actor; born Frank James Cooper. He is noted for his Academy-Award–winning performances in Sergeant York (1941) and High Noon (1952). Other notable movies: The Virginian (1929) and For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943).

Cooper, James Fenimore

(1789–1851), US novelist. He is renowned for his tales of Native Americans and frontier life, in particular the Leatherstocking tales—The Pioneers (1823), The Last of the Mohicans (1826), and The Prairie (1827).

Cooper, Leon N.

see Bardeen, John.

cooperage /ˈko͞opərij/

noun

1. a cooper's business or premises.

2. the making of barrels and casks.

cooperate /kōˈäpəˌrāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. act jointly; work toward the same end

• the leaders promised to cooperate in ending the civil war.

2. assist someone or comply with their requests

• I was the villain for not cooperating with the FBI.

II. derivatives

1. cooperant /kōˈäp(ə)rənt /

noun

2. cooperator /kōˈäpəˌrādər /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from ecclesiastical Latin cooperat- ‘worked together,’ from the verb cooperari, from co- ‘together’ + operari ‘to work.’

cooperation /kōˌäpəˈrāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the process of working together to the same end

• they worked in close cooperation with the AAA.

2. assistance, especially by ready compliance with requests

• we would like to ask for your cooperation in the survey.

3. [Economics] the formation and operation of cooperatives.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin cooperatio(n-), from the verb cooperari (see cooperate); later reinforced by French coopération.

cooperative /kōˈäp(ə)rədiv/

I. adjective

1. involving mutual assistance in working toward a common goal

• every member has clearly defined tasks in a cooperative enterprise.

2. willing to be of assistance

• they have been extremely considerate, polite, and cooperative.

3. (of a farm, business, etc.) owned and run jointly by its members, with profits or benefits shared among them.

II. noun

a farm, business, or other organization that is owned and run jointly by its members, who share the profits or benefits.

III. derivatives

cooperativeness

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from late Latin cooperativus, from Latin cooperat- ‘worked together,’ from the verb cooperari (see cooperate).

cooperatively /kōˈäpərədivlē/

adverb

1. in a way that involves mutual assistance in working towards a common goal

• the two publishers will work cooperatively on poster projects.

2. (in relation to the owning or running of a business) jointly by a group of people, with profits or benefits shared among them

• a cooperatively owned restaurant.

Cooperative Republic of Guyana

official name for Guyana.

Cooper pair /ˈko͞opər, ˈko͝opər/

I. noun

1. [Physics] a loosely bound pair of electrons with opposite spins and moving with the same speed in opposite directions, held to be responsible for the phenomenon of superconductivity.

2. [Physics] a loosely bound pair of atoms in a superfluid.

– origin 1960s: named after Leon N. Cooper (born 1930), American physicist.

Cooper's hawk

I. noun

a North American bird of prey resembling but smaller than the goshawk.
[Accipiter cooperii, family Accipitridae.]

– origin early 19th cent.: named after William Cooper (1798–1864), American naturalist.

Cooperstown /ˈko͞opərzˌtoun, ˈko͝op-/

a resort village in central New York, on Otsego Lake, site of the Baseball Hall of Fame; pop. 1,898 (est. 2008).

coopery /ˈko͞opərē/

noun

another term for cooperage.

coopetition /kōˌäpəˈtiSH(ə)n/

I. noun

collaboration between business competitors, in the hope of mutually beneficial results.

– origin 1980s: blend of cooperative and competition.

co-opt /kōˈäpt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. appoint to membership of a committee or other body by invitation of the existing members.

2. divert to or use in a role different from the usual or original one

• social scientists were co-opted to work with the development agencies.

3. adopt (an idea or policy) for one's own use

• the green parties have had most of their ideas co-opted by bigger parties.

II. derivatives

1. co-optation /kōˌäpˈtāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. co-option /ˌkōˈäpSH(ə)n /

noun

3. co-optive /-ˈäptiv /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin cooptare, from co- ‘together’ + optare ‘choose.’

coordinate

I. verb — /kōˈôrdəˌnāt / [with obj.]

1. bring the different elements of (a complex activity or organization) into a relationship that will ensure efficiency or harmony

• he had responsibility for coordinating Chicago's transportation services.

2. [no obj.] — negotiate with others in order to work together effectively

• you will coordinate with consultants and other departments on a variety of projects.

3. [no obj.] — match or harmonize attractively

• the stud fastenings are colored to coordinate with the shirt

• (as adj. coordinating) a variety of coordinating colors.

4. [Chemistry] form a coordinate bond to (an atom or molecule)

• the sodium atom is coordinated to two oxygen atoms.

II. adjective — /kōˈôrd(ə)nət /

1. equal in rank or importance

• cross references in the catalog link subjects that may be coordinate.

2. [Grammar] (of parts of a compound sentence) equal in rank and fulfilling identical functions.

3. [Chemistry] denoting a type of covalent bond in which one atom provides both the shared electrons.

III. noun — /kōˈôrd(ə)nət /

1. [Mathematics] each of a group of numbers used to indicate the position of a point, line, or plane.

2. (coordinates) — matching items of clothing.

IV. derivatives

coordinative /kōˈôrdəˌnādiv /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the senses ‘of the same rank’ and ‘place in the same rank’): from co- ‘together’ + Latin ordinare (from ordo ‘order’), on the pattern of subordinate.

Coordinated Universal Time UTC

another term for Greenwich Mean Time.

coordinating conjunction /kōˈôrdəˌnādiNG kənˈjəNG(k)SHən/

noun

a conjunction placed between words, phrases, clauses, or sentences of equal rank, e.g., and, but, or.
Contrasted with subordinating conjunction.

coordination /kōˌôrdnˈāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the organization of the different elements of a complex body or activity so as to enable them to work together effectively

• both countries agreed to intensify efforts at economic policy coordination.

2. cooperative effort resulting in an effective relationship

• action groups work in coordination with local groups to end rain forest destruction.

3. the ability to use different parts of the body together smoothly and efficiently

• changing from one foot position to another requires coordination and balance.

4. [Chemistry] the linking of atoms by coordinate bonds.

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘placing in the same rank’): from French or from late Latin coordinatio(n-), based on Latin ordo, ordin- ‘order.’

coordination number

noun

[Chemistry] the number of atoms or ions immediately surrounding a central atom in a complex or crystal.

coordinator /kōˈôrdənādər/

noun

1. a person whose job is to organize events or activities and to negotiate with others in order to ensure they work together effectively

• a full-time coordinator was appointed to oversee the referral process.

2. [Grammar] a word used to connect clauses, sentences, or words of equal syntactic importance (e.g. and, or, for)

• subordinate clauses can be connected with a coordinator.

coot /ko͞ot/

I. noun

1. (pl. same) — an aquatic bird of the rail family, with blackish plumage, lobed feet, and a bill that extends back onto the forehead as a horny shield.
[Genus Fulica, family Rallidae: several species, in particular the widespread F. atra, which has a white bill and frontal shield.]

2. ‹informal› a foolish or eccentric person, typically an old man.

– origin Middle English: probably of Dutch or Low German origin and related to Dutch koet.

cooter /ˈko͞odər/

I. noun

a North American river turtle with a dull brown shell and typically having yellow stripes on the head.
[Genus Pseudemys, family Emydidae: several species, in particular P. concinna, some races of which are known as sliders.]

– origin early 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

cootie /ˈko͞odē/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a body louse.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a children's term for an imaginary germ or repellent quality transmitted by obnoxious or slovenly people.

– origin World War I: perhaps from Malay kutu, denoting a parasitic biting insect.

co-own /kōˈōn/

verb — [with obj.]

1. own (something) jointly.

co-owner /ˌkōˈōnər/

I. noun

a person who owns something jointly with another or others

• she is co-owner of her own clothing label.

II. derivatives

co-ownership

noun

cooze /ko͞oz/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) ‹vulgar slang› a woman's genitals.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹vulgar slang› a woman, especially one regarded as sexually attractive or promiscuous.

– origin 1950s: origin uncertain.

cop^1 /käp / ‹informal›

I. noun

a police officer.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. catch or arrest (an offender)

• he was copped for speeding.

2. incur (something unwelcome)

• the team's captain copped most of the blame.

3. (US) obtain (an illegal drug)

• he copped some hash for me.

4. steal

• he watched her cop a pair of earrings and then nabbed her at the door.

5. receive or attain (something welcome)

• she copped an award for her role in the film.

6. (N. Amer.) strike (an attitude or pose)

• I copped an attitude—I acted real tough.

III. phrases

1. cop a feel

‹informal› fondle someone sexually, especially in a surreptitious way or without their permission.

2. cop hold of

[usu. in imperative] — (Brit.) ‹informal› take hold of

• cop hold of the suitcase, I'm off.

3. cop a plea

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› engage in plea bargaining.

4. good cop, bad cop

‹informal› used to refer to a police interrogation technique in which one officer feigns a sympathetic or protective attitude while another adopts an aggressive approach

• they'll bring you into the station and play good cop, bad cop with you

• ‹figurative› a Jekyll and Hyde CEO is good cop, bad cop rolled into one expensive suit.

5. it's a fair cop

(Brit.) ‹informal› see fair^1.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. cop out

‹informal› avoid doing something that one ought to do

• he copped out at the last moment.

2. cop to

(US) ‹informal› accept or admit to

• there are a lot of people who don't cop to their past.

– origin early 18th cent. (as a verb): perhaps from obsolete cap ‘arrest,’ from Old French caper ‘seize,’ from Latin capere. The noun is from copper^2.

cop^2 /käp/

I. noun

a conical or cylindrical roll of thread wound onto a spindle.

– origin late 18th cent.: possibly from Old English cop ‘summit, top.’

Copacabana Beach /ˌkōpəkəˌbanə ˈbēCH/

a resort on the Atlantic coast of Brazil near Rio de Janeiro.

copacetic /ˌkōpəˈsedik / copasetic

I. adjective

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› in excellent order.

– origin early 20th cent.: of unknown origin.

copal /ˈkōpəl/

I. noun

resin from any of a number of tropical trees, used to make varnish.
[The resin is obtained from trees in the families Leguminosae (genera Guibourtia, Copaifera, and Trachylobium) and Araucariaceae (genus Agathis).]

– origin late 16th cent.: via Spanish from Nahuatl copalli ‘incense.’

Copán /kōˈpän/

an ancient Mayan city, the ruins of which are in western Honduras near the Guatemalan frontier.

co-parent /kōˈperənt/

I. verb — [with obj.] (often as noun co-parenting)

1. (especially of a separated or unmarried couple) share the duties of parenting (a child).

II. noun

a person who co-parents a child.

copartner /ˈkōˌpärtnər/

I. noun

a partner or associate, especially an equal partner in a business.

II. derivatives

copartnership

noun

copayment /kōˈpāmənt / copay

noun

a payment made by a beneficiary (especially for health services) in addition to that made by an insurer.

COPD

abbreviation

[Medicine] chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, involving constriction of the airways and difficulty or discomfort in breathing.

cope^1 /kōp/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a person) deal effectively with something difficult

• his ability to cope with stress

• it all got too much for me and I couldn't cope.

2. (of a machine or system) have the capacity to deal successfully with

• the roads are barely adequate to cope with the present traffic.

II. derivatives

coper

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘meet in battle, come to blows’): from Old French coper, colper, from cop, colp ‘a blow,’ via Latin from Greek kolaphos ‘blow with the fist.’

cope^2 /kōp/

I. noun

1. a long, loose cloak worn by a priest or bishop on ceremonial occasions.

2. ‹technical› ‹literary› a thing resembling or likened to a cloak

• the bay and the square were a seamless cope.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. coped)

1. (in building) cover (a joint or structure) with a coping.

– origin Middle English (denoting a long outdoor cloak): from medieval Latin capa, variant of late Latin cappa (see cap^1 and cape^1).

Copenhagen /ˈkōpənˌhāɡən ˈkōpənˌhäɡən/

the capital and chief port of Denmark, a city that occupies the eastern part of Zealand and northern part of the island of Amager; pop. 518,574 (2009).
Danish name København.

copepod /ˈkōpəˌpäd/

noun

[Zoology] a small or microscopic aquatic crustacean of the large class Copepoda.

Copepoda /kōˈpepədə / ‹Zoology›

I. a large class of small aquatic crustaceans, many of which occur in plankton and some of which are parasitic on larger aquatic animals.

– origin modern Latin, from Greek kōpē ‘handle, oar’ + pous, pod- ‘foot’ (because of its paddlelike feet).

Copernican /kəˈpərnik(ə)n/

adjective

relating to or characteristic of the astronomical theories of Nicolaus Copernicus

• the Copernican heliocentric solar system.

Copernican system /kəˈpərnikən ˌsistəm / Copernican theory

I. noun

[Astronomy] the theory that the sun is the center of the solar system, with the planets (including the earth) orbiting around it.
Compare with Ptolemaic system.

– origin mid 17th cent.: named after Copernicus (see Copernicus, Nicolaus).

copernicium /kōpərˈnisēəm/

I. noun

(Symbol: Cn) — the chemical element of atomic number 112, a highly unstable substance that is produced artificially.

– origin early 21st cent.: from the name of Nicolaus Copernicus + -ium.

Copernicus, Nicolaus /kəˈpərnikəs/

(1473–1543), Polish astronomer; Latinized name of Mikołaj Kopernik. He proposed a model of the solar system in which the planets orbit in perfect circles around the sun; his work ultimately led to rejection of the established geocentric cosmology.

copestone /ˈkōpˌstōn/

I. noun

1. a flat stone forming part of the coping of a wall.

2. the highest stone in a building, wall, or structure.

3. a finishing touch or crowning achievement.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from cope^2 + stone.

copiable /ˈkäpēəbəl/

adjective

able to be copied, especially legitimately photocopied.

copier /ˈkäpēər/

noun

a machine that makes exact copies of something, especially documents, video or audio recordings, or software.

copilot /ˈkōˌpīlət/

I. noun

a second pilot in an aircraft.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. act as the copilot of (an aircraft).

coping /ˈkōpiNG/

I. noun

the top, typically sloping, course of a brick or stone wall.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from the verb cope^2, originally meaning ‘dress in a cope,’ hence ‘to cover.’

coping saw /ˈkōpiNG ˌsô/

I. noun

a saw with a very narrow blade stretched across a U-shaped frame, used for cutting curves in wood.

– origin 1920s: coping from cope^2, used to describe likeness to a vault, arch, canopy, etc., based on Latin cappa ‘cap or cape.’

coping stone /ˈkōpiNG ˈˌstōn/

noun

chiefly British term for copestone.

copious /ˈkōpēəs/

I. adjective

1. abundant in supply or quantity

• she took copious notes.

2. ‹archaic› profuse in speech or ideas

• I had been a little too copious in talking of my country.

II. derivatives

copiousness /ˈkōpēəsnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French copieux or Latin copiosus, from copia ‘plenty.’

copiously /ˈkōpēəslē/

adverb

1. in large quantities

• I was drinking copiously.

2. in an expansive or wide-ranging way

• his book is copiously annotated with references to the current debates.

coplanar /kōˈplānər/

I. adjective

[Geometry] in the same plane.

II. derivatives

coplanarity /ˌkōˌplāˈne(ə)ritē /

noun

Copland, Aaron /ˈkōplənd/

(1900–90), US composer, pianist, and conductor. He established a distinctive American style in his compositions, borrowing from jazz, folk, and other traditional music. Notable works: Music for the Theater (1925), Appalachian Spring (1944), and Fanfare for the Common Man (1942).

Copley, John Singleton /ˈkäplē/

(1738–1815), US painter. He is noted for his portraits and for paintings such as The Death of Chatham (1779–80), one of the first large-scale paintings of contemporary events.

copolymer /kōˈpäləmər/

noun

[Chemistry] a polymer made by reaction of two different monomers, with units of more than one kind.

copolymerize /ˌkōˈpäləmərīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Chemistry] polymerize together to form a copolymer.

II. derivatives

copolymerization /kōˌpäləmərəˈzāSHən /

noun

cop-out /ˈkäp ˌout/

noun

‹informal› an instance of avoiding a commitment or responsibility

• being ‘average’ is the lazy person's cop-out.

copper^1 /ˈkäpər/

I. noun

1. (Symbol: Cu) — a red-brown metal, the chemical element of atomic number 29.
Copper was the earliest metal to be used by humans, first by itself and then later alloyed with tin to form bronze. A ductile, easily worked metal, it is a very good conductor of heat and electricity and is used esp. for electrical wiring.

2. ‹dated› a copper coin, especially a penny

• you could hire a raft for a few coppers.

3. a reddish-brown color like that of copper.

4. [with modifier] — a small butterfly of North America and Eurasia. The upper surface of its wings is typically bright reddish-orange or purple.
[Genus Lycaena, family Lycaenidae: numerous species, including the American copper (L. phlaeas) of the eastern US and arctic North America.]

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. cover or coat (something) with copper.

– origin Old English copor, coper (related to Dutch koper and German Kupfer), based on late Latin cuprum, from Latin cyprium aes ‘Cyprus metal’ (so named because Cyprus was the chief source).

copper^2 /ˈkäpər/

I. noun

‹informal› a police officer.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from cop^1 + -er^1.

copperas /ˈkäpərəs/

I. noun

green crystals of hydrated ferrous sulfate, especially as an industrial product.

– origin late Middle English coperose, from Old French couperose, from medieval Latin cuperosa, literally ‘flower of copper,’ from late Latin cuprum (see copper^1) + rosa ‘rose,’ translating Greek khalkanthon.

copper beech /ˈkäpər bēCH/

noun

a variety of European beech tree with purplish-brown leaves.

Copperbelt /ˈkäpərˌbelt/

a mining region in central Zambia that has rich deposits of copper, cobalt, and uranium; chief town, Ndola.

copperhead /ˈkäpərˌhed/

noun

any of a number of stout-bodied venomous snakes with coppery-pink or reddish-brown coloration, in particular
[● a North American pit viper (Agkistrodon contortrix, family Viperidae). Also called highland moccasin ● an Australian snake of the cobra family (genus Austrelaps, family Elapidae, in particular A. superbus).]

copperplate /ˈkäpərˌplāt/

I. noun

1. a polished copper plate with a design engraved or etched into it.

2. a print made from a copperplate.

3. a style of neat, round handwriting, usually slanted and looped, the thick and thin strokes being made by pressure with a flexible metal nib.
[the copybooks for this round hand were originally printed from copperplates.]

II. adjective

of or in copperplate writing.

coppersmith /ˈkäpərˌsmiTH/

noun

1. a person who makes things out of copper.

2. (also coppersmith barbet) — the crimson-breasted barbet of Southeast Asia, which has a red breast band, a streaked belly, and a repetitive metallic call.
[Megalaima haemacephala, family Capitonidae.]

copper sulfate /ˈkäpər ˈsəlˌfāt/

noun

a blue crystalline solid used in electroplating and as a fungicide.
[Chem. formula: CuSO_4.5H_2O.]

coppery /ˈkäpərē/

adjective

like copper, especially in color

• his hair was fine and coppery.

coppice /ˈkäpəs / ‹chiefly Brit.›

I. noun

an area of woodland in which the trees or shrubs are, or formerly were, periodically cut back to ground level to stimulate growth and provide firewood or timber.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. cut back (a tree or shrub) to ground level periodically to stimulate growth
(as adj. coppiced)

• coppiced timber.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French copeiz, based on medieval Latin colpus ‘a blow’ (see cope^1). Compare with copse.

Coppola, Francis Ford /ˈkäpələ/

(1939–), US movie director, writer, and producer. He is known for The Godfather (1972) and its two sequels, which chart the fortunes of a New York Mafia family over several generations. Other notable movies include The Conversation (1974) and Apocalypse Now (1979).

copra /ˈkäprə/

I. noun

dried coconut kernels, from which oil is obtained.

– origin late 16th cent.: via Portuguese and Spanish from Malayalam koppara ‘coconut.’

copro-

I. combining form

of or relating to dung or feces

• coprophagia

• coprophilia.

– origin from Greek kopros ‘dung.’

coprocessor /kōˈpräsesər/

noun

[Computing] a microprocessor designed to supplement the capabilities of the primary processor.

coproduce /ˌkōprəˈd(y)o͞os/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. produce (a theatrical work or a radio or television program) jointly.

II. derivatives

1. coproducer

noun

2. coproduction /kōprəˈdəkSH(ə)n /

noun

co-producer

noun

a person who produces a recording, theatrical work, television program, etc. jointly with another or others

• the co-producer of the musical.

co-production /kōprəˈdəkSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the production of a recording, theatrical work, television program, etc., jointly with another or others

• the co-production of quality programming.

2. a recording, theatrical work, television program, etc., that is produced jointly with another or others

• half of the films have been co-productions with foreign partners.

coprolalia /ˌkäprəˈlālēə/

I. noun

[Psychiatry] the involuntary and repetitive use of obscene language, as a symptom of mental illness or organic brain disease.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek kopros ‘dung’ + lalia ‘speech, chatter.’

coprolite /ˈkäprəˌlīt/

noun

[Paleontology] a piece of fossilized dung.

coprology /kəˈpräləjē/

noun

another term for scatology.

coprophagy /kəˈpräfəjē / coprophagia

I. noun

[Zoology] the eating of feces or dung.

II. derivatives

1. coprophagic /ˌkäprəˈfajik /

adjective

2. coprophagous /-ˈpräfəɡəs /

adjective

[chiefly Zoology]

coprophilia /ˌkäprəˈfilēə/

noun

abnormal interest and pleasure in feces and defecation.

cops and robbers

plural noun

1. a children's game of hiding and chasing, in which the participants pretend to be police and criminals.

2. a simplistic polarization of the conflict between criminals and police, seen virtually as a game; a lifestyle centered around this

• to him this could be a lark, a bit of cops and robbers.

copse /käps/

I. noun

a small group of trees.

– origin late 16th cent.: shortened from coppice.

cop shop /ˈkäp ˌSHäp/

noun

‹informal› a police station.

Copt /käpt/

I. noun

1. a native Egyptian in the Hellenistic and Roman periods.

2. a member of the Coptic Church.

– origin from French Copte or modern Latin Coptus, from Arabic al-ḳibṭ, al-ḳubṭ ‘Copts,’ from Coptic Gyptios, from Greek Aiguptios ‘Egyptian.’

copter /ˈkäptər/

noun

informal term for helicopter.

Coptic /ˈkäptik/

I. noun

the language of the Copts, which represents the final stage of ancient Egyptian. It now survives only as the liturgical language of the Coptic Church.

II. adjective

relating to the Copts or their language.

Coptic Church

the native Christian Church in Egypt, traditionally founded by St. Mark, and adhering to the Monophysite doctrine rejected by the Council of Chalcedon. Long persecuted after the Muslim Arab conquest of Egypt in the 7th century, the Coptic community now make up about 5 percent of Egypt's population.

copula /ˈkäpyələ/

I. noun

[Logic] [Grammar] a connecting word, in particular a form of the verb be connecting a subject and complement.

II. derivatives

copular /ˈkäpyələr /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin,‘connection, linking of words,’ from co- ‘together’ + apere ‘fasten.’

copulate /ˈkäpyəˌlāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. have sexual intercourse.

II. derivatives

copulatory /-ləˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘join’): from Latin copulat- ‘fastened together,’ from the verb copulare, from copula (see copula).

copulation /ˌkäpyəˈlāSH(ə)n/

noun

sexual intercourse

• males may seek copulation with the breeding female.

copulative /ˈkäpyəlādiv ˈkäpyələdiv/

I. adjective

1. [Grammar] (of a word) connecting words or clauses linked in sense.
Compare with disjunctive.

2. connecting a subject and predicate.

3. of or relating to sexual intercourse.

II. derivatives

copulatively

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Old French copulatif, -ive or late Latin copulativus, from copulat- ‘coupled,’ from the verb copulare (see copulate).

copy /ˈkäpē/

I. noun

1. a thing made to be similar or identical to another

• the problem is telling which is the original document and which the copy.

2. a single specimen of a particular book, record, or other publication or issue

• the record has sold more than a million copies.

3. matter to be printed

• copy for the next issue must be submitted by the beginning of the month.

4. material for a newspaper or magazine article

• it is an unfortunate truth of today's media that bad news makes good copy.

5. the text of an advertisement

• “No more stubble—no more trouble,” trumpeted their ad copy.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make a similar or identical version of; reproduce

• each form had to be copied and sent to a different department.

2. [Computing] reproduce (data stored in one location) in another location

• the command will copy a file from one disc to another.

3. write out information that one has read or heard

• he copied the details into his notebook

• I began to copy out the addresses.

4. (copy something to) — send a copy of a letter to (a third party).

5. (copy someone in) — send someone a copy of an email that is addressed to a third party

• I attached the document and copied him in so he'd know it had been sent.

6. imitate the style or behaviour of

• lifestyles that were copied from Miami and Fifth Avenue

• she was such fun that everybody wanted to copy her

• [no obj.] art students copied from approved old masters.

7. [no obj.] — hear or understand someone speaking on a radio transmitter

• this is Edwards, do you copy, over.

– origin Middle English (denoting a transcript or copy of a document): from Old French copie (noun), copier (verb), from Latin copia ‘abundance’ (in medieval Latin ‘transcript,’ from such phrases as copiam describendi facere ‘give permission to transcribe’).

copybook /ˈkäpēˌbo͝ok/

I. noun

a book containing models of handwriting for learners to imitate.

II. adjective

1. exactly in accordance with established criteria; perfect.

2. tritely conventional

• out come the copybook maxims.

copycat /ˈkäpēˌkat/

noun

1. ‹informal› ‹derogatory› (especially in children's use) a person who copies another's behavior, dress, or ideas.

2. [as modifier] — ‹informal› ‹derogatory› denoting an action, typically a crime, carried out in imitation of another

• copycat killings.

copydesk /ˈkäpēˌdesk/

noun

(N. Amer.) a desk in a newspaper office at which copy is edited for printing.

copyedit /ˈkäpēˌedət/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. edit (text to be printed) by checking its consistency and accuracy.

II. derivatives

copyeditor /ˈkäpēˌedətər / copy editor

noun

copyhold /ˈkäpēˌhōld/

noun

(Brit.) ‹historical› tenure of land based on manorial records.

copyholder /ˈkäpēˌhōldər/

noun

1. (also copy holder) — a clasp or stand for holding sheets of text while it is keyed or typed.

2. (Brit.) ‹historical› a person who holds land in copyhold.

copyist /ˈkäpēist/

I. noun

1. a person who makes copies, especially of handwritten documents or music.

2. a person who imitates the styles of others, especially in art.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from copy + -ist; replacing earlier copist, from French copiste or medieval Latin copista, from copiare ‘to copy,’ from copia (see copy).

copyleft /ˈkäpēˌleft/

I. noun

an arrangement whereby software or artistic work may be used, modified, and distributed freely on condition that anything derived from it is bound by the same condition.

II. derivatives

copylefted

adjective

– origin 1980s: on the pattern of copyright.

copyright /ˈkäpēˌrīt/

I. noun

1. the exclusive legal right, given to an originator or an assignee to print, publish, perform, film, or record literary, artistic, or musical material, and to authorize others to do the same

• he issued a writ for breach of copyright

• works whose copyrights had lapsed.

2. a particular literary, artistic, or musical work that is covered by copyright.

II. adjective

protected by copyright

• permission to reproduce photographs and other copyright material.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. secure copyright for (material).

IV. derivatives

copyrightable

adjective

copyright library

noun

(Brit.) a library entitled to receive one free copy of each book, pamphlet, map, music sheet or score, and periodical published in the UK.
See also Bodleian Library.

copywriter /ˈkäpiˌrīdər/

I. noun

a person who writes the text of advertisements or publicity material.

II. derivatives

copywriting /-ˌrītiNG /

noun

coq au vin /ˌkōk ō ˈvaN, ˌkäk/

I. noun

a casserole of chicken pieces cooked in red wine.

– origin mid 20th cent.: French, literally ‘cock in wine.’

coquet /kōˈket/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹rare› behave flirtatiously; flirt.

II. noun

‹dated› a man who flirts.

– origin early 17th cent. (as adj. in sense ‘amorous’): from French coqueter (see coquetry).

coquetry /ˈkōkətrē kōˈketrē/

I. noun

flirtatious behavior or a flirtatious manner.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French coquetterie, from coqueter ‘to flirt,’ from coquet ‘wanton’ (see coquette).

coquette /kōˈket/

I. noun

1. a woman who flirts.

2. a crested Central and South American hummingbird, typically with green plumage, a reddish crest, and elongated cheek feathers.
[Lophornis and two other genera, family Trochilidae: several species.]

– origin mid 17th cent.: French, feminine of coquet ‘wanton,’ diminutive of coq ‘cock.’

coquettish /kōˈkediSH/

I. adjective

behaving in such a way as to suggest a playful sexual attraction; flirtatious

• a coquettish grin.

II. derivatives

1. coquettishly /kōˈkediSHlē /

adverb

2. coquettishness /kōˈkediSHnəs /

noun

coqui /ˈkōkē/

I. noun

a singing tree frog (Eleutherodactylus coqui), native to Puerto Rico, that has become an invasive pest in Hawaii.

– origin imitative of the male's call.

coquina /kōˈkēnə/

I. noun

1. a soft limestone of broken shells, used in road-making in the Caribbean and Florida.

2. (also coquina clam) — a small bivalve mollusk with a wedge-shaped shell that has a wide variety of colors and patterns.
[Genus Donax, family Donacidae: several species, including the edible American coquina (D. variabilis).]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Spanish, literally ‘cockle,’ based on Latin concha (see conch).

coquito /kōˈkēdō/

I. noun

a thick-trunked Chilean palm tree that yields large amounts of sweet sap (palm honey) and fiber.
Also called Chilean wine palm. [Jubaea chilensis, family Palmae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Spanish, diminutive of coco ‘coconut.’

cor /kôr/

I. exclamation

(Brit.) ‹informal› expressing surprise, excitement, admiration, or alarm

• “Cor! That's a beautiful black eye you've got!”

II. phrases

cor blimey

/ˌkôr ˈblīmē / — (Brit.) ‹informal› see blimey.

– origin 1930s: alteration of God.

Cor.

abbreviation

1. (US) coroner.

2. [Bible] Corinthians.

cor-

prefix

variant spelling of com- assimilated before r (as in corrode, corrugate).

Cora /ˈkôrə/

I. noun

1. a member of an American Indian people of western Mexico.

2. the Uto-Aztecan language of the Cora.

II. adjective

relating to the Cora or their language.

coracle /ˈkôrəkəl ˈkärəkəl/

I. noun

(especially in Wales and Ireland) a small, round boat made of wickerwork covered with a watertight material, propelled with a paddle.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Welsh corwgl, cwrwgl, related to Scottish Gaelic and Irish curach ‘small boat’; compare with currach.

coracoid /ˈkôrəˌkoid/

I. noun

[Anatomy] a short projection from the shoulder blade in mammals, to which part of the biceps is attached.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from modern Latin coracoides, from Greek korakoeidēs ‘ravenlike,’ from korax ‘raven’ (because of the resemblance to a raven's beak).

coral /ˈkôrəl ˈkärəl/

I. noun

1. a hard stony substance secreted by certain marine coelenterates as an external skeleton, typically forming large reefs in warm seas
[as modifier]

• a coral reef.

2. precious red coral, used in jewelry.

3. the pinkish-red color of red coral.

4. a sedentary coelenterate of warm and tropical seas, with a calcareous, horny, or soft skeleton. Most corals are colonial and many rely on the presence of green algae in their tissues to obtain energy from sunlight.
[Several orders in the class Anthozoa, including the ‘true’ or stony corals (order Scleractinia or Madreporaria), which form reefs, the soft corals (order Alcyonacea), and the horny corals (order Gorgonacea).]

5. the unfertilized roe of a lobster or scallop, which is used as food and becomes reddish when cooked.

II. derivatives

coralloid /-ˌloid /

adjective

[chiefly Biology] [Zoology]

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin corallum, from Greek korallion, kouralion.

coral bells

noun

a red-flowered heuchera (Heuchera sanguinea) native to the southwestern US, but established elsewhere with many ornamental cultivars.

coralberry /ˈkôrəlˌberē, ˈkär-/

noun

an evergreen North American shrub of the honeysuckle family, which has fragrant white flowers followed by deep red berries.
[Symphoricarpos orbiculatus, family Caprifoliaceae.]

coral fungus

noun

a widely distributed fungus that produces a fruiting body composed of upright branching fingerlike projections that resemble coral, found in both Eurasia and North America.
[Clavulina, Ramaria, and other genera, several families, class Basidiomycetes.]

Coral Gables

a resort and commercial city in southeastern Florida, just southwest of Miami, on Biscayne Bay; pop. 42,781 (est. 2008).

coralita /ˌkôrəˈlētə, ˌkärə-/

I. noun

a pink-flowered climbing vine native to Mexico and the Caribbean, grown as an ornamental.
[Antigonon leptopus, family Polygonaceae.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from American Spanish coralito, diminutive of Spanish coral ‘coral.’

coralline /ˈkôrələn/

I. noun

1. a branching reddish seaweed with a calcareous jointed stem.
[Family Corallinaceae, phylum Rhodophyta, in particular Corallina officinalis, which is common on the coasts of the North Atlantic.]

2. (in general use) a sedentary colonial marine animal, especially a bryozoan.

II. adjective

1. [chiefly Geology] derived or formed from coral

• the islands were volcanic rather than coralline in origin.

2. [chiefly Geology] of the pinkish-red color of precious red coral.

3. [chiefly Geology] resembling coral

• coralline sponges.

– origin mid 16th cent.: the noun from Italian corallina, diminutive of corallo ‘coral,’ the adjective (mid 17th cent.) from French corallin or late Latin corallinus, both based on Latin corallum ‘coral.’

corallite /ˈkôrəˌlīt, ˈkär-/

I. noun

1. [Paleontology] the cuplike calcareous skeleton of a single coral polyp.

2. [Paleontology] a fossil coral.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin corallum ‘coral’ + -ite^1.

coral reef

noun

a ridge of rock in the sea formed by the growth and deposit of coral

• the small island is enclosed in the middle of the coral reef.

coralroot /ˈkôrəlˌro͞ot/

noun

1. a leafless orchid that has inconspicuous flowers and lacks chlorophyll. It has a pale knobbly rhizome that obtains nourishment from decaying organic matter.
[Genus Corallorhiza, family Orchidaceae: several species, including the widespread C. trifida.]

2. another term for cockscomb (sense 3).

Coral Sea

a part of the western Pacific Ocean that is surrounded by Australia, New Guinea, and Vanuatu, the scene of a naval battle between US and Japanese carriers in 1942 during World War II.

coral snake /ˈkôrəl ˌsnāk/

noun

a brightly colored venomous snake of the cobra family, typically having conspicuous bands of red, yellow, white, and black.
Compare with false coral snake. [Micrurus and other genera in the family Elapidae: numerous species.]

coral spot coral spot disease

noun

a common fungal disease of trees and shrubs, appearing as numerous minute pink or dark red cushionlike bodies on the twigs and branches and causing dieback.
[Nectria cinnabarina, family Hypocreaceae, phylum Ascomycota.]

Coral Springs

a residential city in southeastern Florida; pop. 125,783 (est. 2008).

coral tree

noun

a tropical or subtropical thorny shrub or tree with showy red or orange flowers that are pollinated by birds.
[Genus Erythrina, family Leguminosae.]

corbeil /ˈkôrbəl, kôrˈbā/

I. noun

[Architecture] a representation in stone of a basket of flowers.

– origin early 18th cent.: from French corbeille ‘basket,’ from late Latin corbicula ‘small basket,’ diminutive of corbis.

corbeille /ˈkôrbəl, kôrˈbā/

I. noun

an elegant basket of flowers or fruit.

– origin early 19th cent.: French,‘basket’ (see also corbeil).

corbel /ˈkôrbəl/

I. noun

a projection jutting out from a wall to support a structure above it.

II. verb — [with obj.] (often be corbeled out)

1. support (a structure such as an arch or balcony) on corbels.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, diminutive of corp ‘crow,’ from Latin corvus ‘raven’ (perhaps because of the shape of a corbel, resembling a crow's beak).

corbel table

noun

a projecting course of bricks or stones resting on corbels.

Corbett, James John /ˈkôrbit/

(1866–1933), US boxer; known as Gentleman Jim. He was world heavyweight champion 1892–97.

corbicula /kôrˈbikyələ/

I. noun

[Entomology] another term for pollen basket.

– origin early 19th cent.: from late Latin.

corbie /ˈkôrbē/

I. noun

(Scottish) a raven, crow, or rook.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French corb, variant of corp ‘crow’ (see corbel).

corbiesteps /ˈkôrbēˌsteps / corbie steps

noun

the steplike projections on the sloping part of a gable, common in Flemish architecture and 16- and 17th-century Scottish buildings.
Also called crow steps.

Corbin, Margaret /ˈkôrbin/

(1751–1800), American Revolution heroine; born Margaret Cochran. After her husband's death in the attack on Fort Washington in New York in 1776, she took his place at his cannon until becoming severely wounded. She was the first woman to be pensioned by the US government.

Corcovado /ˌkôrkōˈvädō/

a peak that rises to 2,310 feet (711 m) on the south side of Rio de Janeiro. A statue of Jesus Christ (named “Christ the Redeemer”), 131 feet (40 m) high, stands on its summit.

Corcyra /kôrˈsīrə/

ancient Greek name for Corfu.

cord /kôrd/

I. noun

1. long thin flexible string or rope made from several twisted strands

• hang the picture from a rail on a length of cord.

2. a length of string or rope used to fasten or move a specified object

• a dressing-gown cord.

3. an anatomical structure resembling a length of cord (e.g., the spinal cord, the umbilical cord)

• the baby was still attached to its mother by the cord.

4. a flexible insulated cable used for carrying electric current to an appliance.

5. ribbed fabric, especially corduroy
[as modifier]

• cord jackets.

6. (cords) — ‹informal› corduroy pants

• he was dressed in faded black cords.

7. a cordlike rib on fabric.

8. a measure of cut wood, usually 128 cubic feet (3.62 cu m).

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. attach a cord to.

III. phrases

cut the (umbilical) cord

cease to rely on someone or something protective or supportive and begin to act independently.

IV. derivatives

cordlike /-ˌlīk /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French corde, from Latin chorda, from Greek khordē ‘gut, string of a musical instrument.’ / usage: See usage at chord^2.

cordage /ˈkôrdij/

I. noun

cords or ropes, especially in a ship's rigging.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Old French, from corde ‘rope’ (see cord).

cordate /ˈkôrdāt/

I. adjective

[Botany] [Zoology] heart-shaped.

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘wise, prudent’): from Latin cordatus ‘wise’ (in modern Latin ‘heart-shaped’), from cor, cord- ‘heart.’

Corday, Charlotte /kôrˈdā/

(1768–93), French political assassin; full name Marie Anne Charlotte Corday d'Armont. In 1793, she assassinated revolutionary leader Jean Paul Marat in his bath; she was found guilty of treason and guillotined four days later.

cord blood

noun

blood from the human umbilical cord, a source of stem cells.

cord cutter

noun

‹informal› a person who cancels or forgoes a cable television subscription or landline phone connection in favor of an alternative Internet-based or wireless service

• a popular way for cord cutters to view programming on their TV is with a streaming video box.

cord cutting

noun

‹informal› the practice of canceling or forgoing a cable television subscription or landline telephone connection in favor of an alternative Internet-based or wireless service

• the cable industry has seen a decline in television subscribers as customers engage in cord cutting.

corded /ˈkôrdəd/

adjective

1. (of cloth) ribbed.

2. (of a tensed muscle) standing out so as to resemble a piece of cord.

3. equipped with a cord

• a corded waistband

• corded and cordless phones.

cordgrass /ˈkôrdɡras/

noun

a coarse wiry coastal grass that is sometimes used to stabilize mudflats.
[Genus Spartina, family Gramineae.]

cordial /ˈkôrjəl/

I. adjective

1. warm and friendly

• the atmosphere was cordial and relaxed.

2. strongly felt

• I earned his cordial loathing.

II. noun

1. (N. Amer.) another term for liqueur.

2. a comforting or pleasant-tasting medicine.

III. derivatives

cordiality /ˌkôrjēˈalədē /

noun

– origin Middle English (also in the sense ‘belonging to the heart’): from medieval Latin cordialis, from Latin cor, cord- ‘heart.’

cordially /ˈkôrjəlē/

adverb

1. in a warm and friendly way

• he was greeted cordially by the archbishop.

2. with intense feeling

• he was cordially detested for his brutality and injustice.

cordierite /ˈkôrdēəˌrīt/

I. noun

a dark blue mineral occurring chiefly in metamorphic rocks. It consists of an aluminosilicate of magnesium, and also occurs as a dichroic gem variety.

– origin early 19th cent.: named after Pierre L. A. Cordier (1777–1861), French geologist, + -ite^1.

cordiform /ˈkôrdəˌfôrm/

adjective

heart-shaped.

cordillera /ˌkôrdlˈ(y)erə/

I. noun

a system or group of parallel mountain ranges together with the intervening plateaus and other features, especially in the Andes or the Rockies.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Spanish, from cordilla, diminutive of cuerda ‘cord,’ from Latin chorda (see cord).

cording /ˈkôrdiNG/

noun

cord or braid, especially that used as a decorative fabric trimming.

cordite /ˈkôrˌdīt/

I. noun

a smokeless explosive made from nitrocellulose, nitroglycerine, and petroleum jelly, used in ammunition.

– origin late 19th cent.: from cord (because of its stringlike appearance) + -ite^1.

cordless /ˈkôrdləs/

I. adjective

(of an electrical appliance or telephone) working without connection to a main supply or central unit.

II. noun — (usu. the cordless)

1. a cordless telephone

• I keep the cordless with me at all times.

cordoba /ˈkôrdəbə, -dəvə/

I. noun

the basic monetary unit of Nicaragua, equal to 100 centavos.

– origin named after F. Fernández de Córdoba, a 16th-cent. Spanish governor of Nicaragua.

Cordoba /kôrˈdəbə kôrˈdəvə / Cordova, Córdoba

I. a city in Andalusia, in southern Spain; pop. 325,453 (2008). Founded by the Carthaginians, it was under Moorish rule from 711 to 1236 and was renowned for its architecture, particularly the Great Mosque.

II. a city in central Argentina; pop. 1,319,000 (est. 2005).

cordon /ˈkôrdn/

I. noun

1. a line or circle of police, soldiers, or guards preventing access to or from an area or building

• troops threw a cordon around the headquarters.

2. an ornamental cord or braid.

3. [Architecture] another term for stringcourse.

II. verb — [with obj.] (cordon off)

1. prevent access to or from (an area or building) by surrounding it with police or other guards

• the city center was cordoned off after fires were discovered in two stores.

– origin late Middle English (denoting an ornamental braid worn on the person): from Italian cordone, augmentative of corda, and French cordon, diminutive of corde, both from Latin chorda ‘string, rope’ (see cord). Sense 3 of the noun, the earliest of the current noun senses, dates from the early 18th cent.

cordon bleu /ˌkôrdôn ˈblə/

I. adjective

1. [Cooking] of the highest class

• a cordon bleu chef.

2. [Cooking] denoting a dish consisting of an escalope of veal or chicken rolled, filled with cheese and ham, and then fried in breadcrumbs.

II. noun

a cook of the highest class.

– origin mid 18th cent. (as a noun, often specifically denoting a first-class cook): French, literally ‘blue ribbon.’ The blue ribbon once signified the highest order of chivalry in the reign of the Bourbon kings.

cordon sanitaire /ˌkôrdôn ˌsänēˈter/

I. noun

1. a guarded line preventing anyone from leaving an area infected by a disease and thus spreading it.

2. a measure designed to prevent communication or the spread of undesirable influences

• these rules help to reinforce the cordon sanitaire around the Pentagon.

3. a series or chain of small neutral buffer states around a larger, potentially dangerous or hostile state.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, from cordon ‘line, border’ (see cordon) + sanitaire ‘sanitary.’

cordovan /ˈkôrdəvən/

I. noun

a kind of soft leather made originally from goatskin and now from horsehide.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Spanish cordován, former spelling of cordobán ‘of Cordoba’ (see Cordoba (sense 1)), where it was originally made.

Cordura /kôrˈd(y)o͝orə/

noun

‹trademark› a durable synthetic fabric.

corduroy /ˈkôrdəˌroi/

I. noun

1. a thick cotton fabric with velvety ribs.

2. (corduroys) — pants made of corduroy.

– origin late 18th cent.: probably from cord ‘ribbed fabric’ + duroy, denoting a kind of lightweight worsted formerly made in the West of England; of unknown origin.

corduroy road /ˈkôrdəˌroi rōd/

noun

‹historical› a road made of tree trunks laid across a swamp.

cordwood /ˈkôrdwo͝od/

noun

wood that has been cut into uniform lengths, used especially as firewood.

core /kôr/

I. noun

1. the tough central part of various fruits, containing the seeds

• quarter the pears, remove the cores then slice again into wedges.

2. the central or most important part of something.

3. [often as modifier] — the part of something that is central to its existence or character

• managers can concentrate on their core activities

• the plan has the interests of children at its core.

4. an important or unchanging group of people forming the central part of a larger body.

5. the dense central region of a planet, especially the nickel–iron inner part of the earth.

6. the central part of a nuclear reactor, which contains the fissile material.

7. the muscles of the torso, especially the lower back and abdominal area, which assist in the maintenance of good posture, balance, etc.

• nothing will strengthen your core like balancing a heavy barbell on your back or lifting one off the floor

• [as modifier] the core muscles of the abdomen.

8. a tiny ring of magnetic material used in a computer memory to store one bit of data, now superseded by semiconductor memories.

9. the inner strand of an electrical cable or rope.

10. a piece of soft iron forming the center of an electromagnet or an induction coil.

11. an internal mold filling a space to be left hollow in a casting.

12. a cylindrical sample of rock, ice, or other material obtained by boring with a hollow drill.

13. [Archaeology] a piece of flint from which flakes or blades have been removed.

14. [as modifier] — [Economics] denoting or relating to a figure for inflation that excludes certain items, chiefly food and energy, that are subject to sudden and temporary price fluctuations

• core inflation was up 2.3 percent over the 12 month period.

Compare with headline (sense 2 of the noun).

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove the tough central part and seeds from (a fruit)

• peel and core the pears.

III. phrases

to the core

a. to the depths of one's being

• she was shaken to the core by his words.

b. used to indicate that someone possesses a characteristic to a very high degree

• he is a politician to the core.

IV. derivatives

corer /ˈkôrər /

noun

– origin Middle English: of unknown origin.

CORE /kôr/

abbreviation

Congress of Racial Equality.

-core

I. combining form

(used as the second element of various compounds) denoting types of rock or dance music that have an aggressive presentation

• queercore.

– origin from core, on the pattern of hard-core.

core asset

noun

an asset of an enterprise considered to be essential to its success.

core competency

noun

1. a defining capability or advantage that distinguishes an enterprise from its competitors.

2. a defined level of competence in a particular job or academic program.

core dump

noun

[Computing] a dump of the contents of main memory, carried out typically as an aid to debugging.

coreferential /ˌkōˌrefəˈren(t)SH(ə)l/

I. adjective

[Linguistics] (of two elements or units) having the same reference.

II. derivatives

coreference /kōˈref(ə)rəns, ˈkō- /

noun

core French

noun

(in Canada) a program of French instruction in English-speaking schools

• I spent three years teaching core French at the elementary level

• [as modifier] a former Core French teacher.

coreligionist /ˌkōrəˈlijənəst/

noun

an adherent of the same religion as another person.

corella /kəˈrelə/

I. noun

a white Australasian cockatoo with some pink feathers on the face, bare blue skin around the eye, and typically a long bill.
[Genus Cacatua, family Cacatuidae (or Psittacidae): three species, in particular the widespreadlittle corella (C. sanguinea).]

– origin late 19th cent.: from Wiradhuri.

Corelli, Arcangelo /kəˈrelē/

(1653–1713), Italian violinist and composer, known for his concerti grossi and sonatas for violin.

coreopsis /ˌkôrēˈäpsəs/

I. noun

a plant of the daisy family, cultivated for its rayed, typically yellow, flowers.
Also called tickseed. [Genus Coreopsis, family Compositae.]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek koris ‘bug’ + opsis ‘appearance’ (because of the shape of the seed).

co-respondent /ˈkōrəˌspänd(ə)nt / corespondent

noun

a person cited in a divorce case as having committed adultery with the respondent.

core stability

noun

the capacity of the muscles of the torso to assist in the maintenance of good posture, balance, etc., especially during movement.

core workout

noun

an exercise session that strengthens the muscles of the torso, especially the lower back and abdominal area.

Corfu /kôrˈfo͞o ˈkôrf(y)o͞o/

a Greek island, one of the largest of the Ionian Islands, off the west coast of mainland Greece. It was known in ancient times as Corcyra; pop. 127,900 (est. 2009).
Greek name Kérkira.

corgi /ˈkôrɡē/

noun

short for Welsh corgi.

coriaceous /ˌkôrēˈāSHəs/

I. adjective

‹technical› resembling or having the texture of leather

• coriaceous leaves.

– origin late 17th cent.: from late Latin coriaceus (from Latin corium ‘leather’) + -ous.

coriander /ˈkôrēˌandər ˌkôrēˈandər/

I. noun

an aromatic Mediterranean plant of the parsley family, the leaves and seeds of which are used as culinary herbs.
[Coriandrum sativum, family Umbelliferae.]

– origin Middle English: from Old French coriandre, from Latin coriandrum, from Greek koriannon.

Corinth /ˈkôrənTH/

a city on the northern coast of the Peloponnese, in Greece; pop. 27,600 (est. 2009). The modern city, built in 1858, is slightly northeast of the site of an ancient city of the same name that was a prominent city state in ancient Greece.
Greek name Kórinthos.

Corinth, Gulf of

an inlet of the Ionian Sea that extends between the Peloponnese and central Greece.
Also called Lepanto, Gulf of.

Corinth, Isthmus of

a narrow neck of land that links the Peloponnese with central Greece and separates the Gulf of Corinth from the Saronic Gulf.

Corinth Canal

a man-made shipping channel that crosses the narrowest part of the Isthmus of Corinth (a distance of 4 miles or 6.4 km). Opened in 1893, it links the Gulf of Corinth and the Saronic Gulf.

Corinthian /kəˈrinTHēən/

I. adjective

1. belonging or relating to Corinth, especially the ancient city.

2. relating to or denoting the lightest and most ornate of the classical orders of architecture (used especially by the Romans), characterized by flared capitals with rows of acanthus leaves.

3. involving or displaying the highest standards of sportsmanship

• a club embodying the Corinthian spirit.

II. noun

1. a native of Corinth.

2. ‹historical› a wealthy amateur of sport.

3. the Corinthian order of architecture.

Corinthians /kəˈrinTHēənz/

either of two books of the New Testament, epistles of St. Paul to the Church at Corinth.

Coriolanus, Gaius Marcius /ˌkôrēəˈlānəs/

(5th century BC), Roman general who acquired his name from the capture of the Volscian town of Corioli; full name Gaius or Gnaeus Marcius Coriolanus.

Coriolis effect /ˌkôrēˈōləs iˌfekt/

I. noun

[Physics] an effect whereby a mass moving in a rotating system experiences a force (the Coriolis force) acting perpendicular to the direction of motion and to the axis of rotation. On the earth, the effect tends to deflect moving objects to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern and is important in the formation of cyclonic weather systems.

– origin early 20th cent.: named after Gaspard Coriolis (1792–1843), French engineer.

corium /ˈkôrēəm/

I. noun

[chiefly Zoology] another term for dermis.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin,‘skin.’

cork /kôrk/

I. noun

1. the buoyant, light brown substance obtained from the outer layer of the bark of the cork oak
[as modifier]

• cork tiles.

2. a bottle stopper, especially one made of cork.

3. a piece of cork used as a float for a fishing line or net.

4. [Botany] a protective layer of dead cells immediately below the bark of woody plants.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. close or seal (a bottle) with a cork.

2. draw with burnt cork.

3. illicitly hollow out (a baseball bat) and fill it with cork to make it lighter.

III. derivatives

corklike /-ˌlīk /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Dutch and Low German kork, from Spanish alcorque ‘cork-soled sandal,’ from Arabic al- ‘the’ and (probably) Spanish Arabic qurq, qorq, based on Latin quercus ‘oak, cork oak.’

Cork /kôrk/

I. a county in the Republic of Ireland, in the province of Munster, on the Celtic Sea.

II. the county town of Cork, a port on the Lee River; pop. 190,384 (2006).

corkage /ˈkôrkij/

noun

a charge made by a restaurant or hotel for serving wine that has been brought in by a customer.

corkboard /ˈkôrkˌbôrd/

noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) a lightweight, fire-resistant material made of compressed cork

• the coasters from today's DIY project are made of corkboard.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) a bulletin board with a corkboard surface

• she keeps a corkboard on her wall decorated with pictures of women and children she has met

• a note posted on the corkboard caught my eye.

cork cambium

noun

[Botany] tissue in the stem of a plant that gives rise to cork on its outer surface and a layer of cells containing chlorophyll on its inner surface.

corked /kôrkt/

adjective

(of wine) spoiled by a musty taint arising from a fault in the cork.

corker /ˈkôrkər/

noun

1. an excellent or astonishing person or thing

• it was the season's first goal, and a corker.

2. a device that places a cork into a bottle

• it's a great wine corker.

cork oak /ˈkôrk ˌōk/

noun

an evergreen Mediterranean oak, the outer layer of the bark of which is the source of cork, which can be stripped without harming the tree.
[Quercus suber, family Fagaceae.]

corkscrew /ˈkôrkˌskro͞o/

I. noun

1. a device for pulling corks from bottles, consisting of a spiral metal rod that is inserted into the cork and a handle that extracts it.

2. [usu. as modifier] — a thing with a spiral shape or movement

• a girl with corkscrew curls.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. move or twist in a spiral motion

• the plane was corkscrewing toward the earth.

cork tree corktree

noun

1. another term for cork oak.

2. an Asian citrus tree with a corky bark.
[Genus Phellodendron, family Rutaceae: several species, including P. sachalinense, often cultivated as on ornamental.]

corkwood /ˈkôrkwo͝od/

noun

a shrub or tree that yields light porous timber, in particular
[● a small American tree that produces timber used for fishing floats (Leitneria floridana, family Leitneriaceae). ● a similar tree native to New Zealand (Entelea arborescens, family Tiliaceae).]

corky /ˈkôrkē/

adjective

1. corklike.

2. (of wine) corked.

corm /kôrm/

I. noun

a rounded underground storage organ present in plants such as crocuses, gladioli, and cyclamens, consisting of a swollen stem base covered with scale leaves.
Compare with bulb (sense 1), rhizome.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin cormus, from Greek kormos ‘trunk stripped of its boughs.’

cormel /ˈkôrməl, kôrˈmel/

noun

a small corm growing at the side of a mature corm.

cormlet /ˈkôrmlət/

noun

a small corm growing at the base of a mature corm.

cormorant /ˈkôrmərənt/

I. noun

a large diving bird with a long neck, long hooked bill, short legs, and mainly dark plumage. It typically breeds on coastal cliffs and is noted for its voracious appetite.
[Genus Phalacrocorax (and Nannopterum), family Phalacrocoracidae: numerous species, in particular the widespread great cormorant (P. carbo) and the North American double-crested cormorant (P. auritus).]

– origin Middle English: from Old French cormaran, from medieval Latin corvus marinus ‘sea raven.’ The final -t is on the pattern of words such as peasant.

corn^1 /kôrn/

I. noun

1. a North American cereal plant that yields large grains, or kernels, set in rows on a cob. Its many varieties yield numerous products, highly valued for both human and livestock consumption.
Also called Indian corn. [Zea mays, family Gramineae; it was domesticated before 5000 BC, although the wild ancestor is unidentified.]

2. the grains of this

• creamed corn

• two ears of corn.

3. (Brit.) the chief cereal crop of a district, especially (in England) wheat or (in Scotland) oats.

4. ‹informal› something banal or sentimental

• the movie is pure corn.

II. phrases

corn on the cob

corn when cooked and eaten straight from the cob; an ear of corn.

– origin Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch koren and German Korn.

corn^2 /kôrn/

I. noun

a small, painful area of thickened skin on the foot, especially on the toes, caused by pressure.

– origin late Middle English: via Anglo-Norman French from Latin cornu ‘horn.’

Cornaro Piscopia, Elena Lucrezia /kôrˈnärō pisˈkōpēə/

(1646–1684), Venetian philosopher and mathematician. The first woman to be awarded a college degree, she received the doctorate of philosophy from the University of Padua on June 25, 1678.

cornball /ˈkôrnbôl / ‹N. Amer. informal›

I. adjective

trite and sentimental

• a cornball movie.

II. noun

a person with trite or sentimental ideas.

corn beef

noun

corned beef.

Corn Belt //

name for parts of the US Midwest, especially Illinois and Iowa, where corn is a major crop.

corn boil

noun

(N. Amer.) a social gathering at which corn on the cob is boiled and eaten

• we are still in need of people to help serve corn at the corn boil.

corn borer

noun

a moth whose larvae feed upon and bore into corn.
[Several species in the family Pyralidae, in particular the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis), which was accidentally introduced into North America, and Diatraea grandiosella of the southern US.]

cornbread /ˈkôrnˌbred / corn bread

noun

a type of bread made from cornmeal and typically leavened without yeast.

corn cake corncake

noun

cornbread made in the form of flat cakes.

corn chip

noun

a salty chip made with ground corn and typically eaten as a snack

• the corn chips were good quality—thick, crunchy and flavorsome.

corncob pipe /ˈkôrnˌkäb pīp/

noun

(US) a tobacco pipe with a bowl made from a dried corncob.

corn cockle corncockle

I. noun

a Mediterranean plant with bright pink or purple flowers and poisonous seeds, introduced into Britain and North America. If unchecked, it can be a prolific weed in fields of grain. It is often cultivated as a showy annual.
[Agrostemma githago, family Caryophyllaceae.]

– origin early 18th cent.: from corn^1 + cockle (from Old English coccul ‘corn cockle,’ perhaps via Latin from Greek kokkos ‘berry’).

corncrake /ˈkôrnˌkrāk / corn crake

noun

a secretive Eurasian crake inhabiting coarse grasslands, with mainly brown streaked plumage and a distinctive double rasping call.
Also called land rail. [Crex crex, family Rallidae.]

corn crib /ˈkôrn ˌkrib / corncrib

noun

a bin or ventilated building for storing unhusked ears of corn.

corn dodger

noun

1. (US) a small, hard fried or baked cornmeal cake.

2. (US) a boiled cornmeal dumpling.

corn dog /ˈkôrnˌdäɡ/

noun

(N. Amer.) a hot dog covered in cornmeal batter, fried, and served on a stick.

cornea /ˈkôrnēə/

I. noun

the transparent layer forming the front of the eye.

II. derivatives

corneal /ˈkôrnēəl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin cornea tela ‘horny tissue,’ from Latin cornu ‘horn.’

corn earworm

noun

an American moth caterpillar that is a pest of corn, cotton, and tomatoes.
Also called bollworm, cotton bollworm, tomato fruitworm. [Heliothis zea, family Noctuidae.]

corned /kôrnd/

adjective

(of food) preserved in salt water

• corned beef.

corned beef /kôːrndˈbēːf / corn beef

I. noun

(N. Amer.) beef brisket cured in brine and boiled, served hot typically with cabbage, or cold, sliced for sandwiches.

– origin corned, in the sense ‘preserved in salt water.’

Corneille, Pierre /kôrˈnā(l)/

(1606–84), French playwright; regarded as the founder of classical French tragedy. Notable plays: Le Cid (1637), Cinna (1641), and Polyeucte (1643).

corneitis /ˌkôrnēˈīdəs/

noun

[Medicine] inflammation of the cornea.

cornel /ˈkôrnl/

I. noun

a dogwood, especially of a dwarf variety.
[Genus Cornus, family Cornaceae: several species, including the dwarf C. suecica.]

– origin late Middle English (denoting the wood of the cornelian cherry): from Old French corneille, from Latin cornus.

cornelian cherry

I. noun

1. a Eurasian flowering shrub or small tree of the dogwood family, cultivated as an ornamental.
[Cornus mas, family Cornaceae.]

2. the edible oval red berry of the cornelian cherry plant.

– origin early 17th cent.: cornelian from cornel + -ian.

corneous /ˈkôrnēəs/

I. adjective

‹formal› hornlike; horny

• the skeleton is formed of a corneous substance.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin corneus (from cornu ‘horn’) + -ous.

corner /ˈkôrnər/

I. noun

1. a place or angle where two or more sides or edges meet

• Jan sat at one corner of the table.

2. an area inside a room, box, or square-shaped space, near the place where two or more edges or surfaces meet

• he drove the ball into the corner of the net.

3. a place where two streets meet

• an apartment on the corner of 199th Street and Amsterdam Avenue

• [as modifier] the corner house.

4. a difficult or awkward situation

• he found himself backed into a corner.

5. first or third base on a baseball diamond

• two outs, with runners on the corners.

6. a sharp bend in a road

• serious racers want a car that is fast going into and out of the corners.

7. a part, region, or area, especially one regarded as secluded or remote

• they descended on the college from all corners of the world

• his wisdom was disseminated to the four corners of the earth

• ‹figurative› she couldn't bear journalists prying into every corner of her life.

8. a position in which one dominates the supply of a particular commodity.

9. short for corner kick.

10. [Boxing] [Wrestling] each of the diagonally opposite ends of the ring, where a contestant rests between rounds.

11. a contestant's supporters or seconds

• Hodkinson was encouraged by his corner.

12. [Baseball] each of the two parallel sides of home plate, which are perceived as defining the vertical edges of the strike zone.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. force (a person or animal) into a place or situation from which it is hard to escape

• the man was eventually cornered by police dogs.

2. detain (someone) in conversation, typically against their will

• I managed to corner Gary for fifteen minutes.

3. control (a market) by dominating the supply of a particular commodity

• whether they will corner the market in graphics software remains to be seen.

4. establish a corner in (a commodity)

• you cornered vanadium and made a killing.

5. [no obj.] — (of a vehicle or driver) go around a bend in a road

• no squeal is evident from the tires when cornering fast.

III. phrases

1. (just) around (or round) the corner

very near

• there's a pharmacy around the corner.

2. cut corners

see cut.

3. in someone's corner

a. acting as a second, to a boxer.

b. on someone's side; giving someone support and encouragement.

4. on (or at or in) every corner

everywhere

• there were saloons on every corner

• it's difficult to readjust when the past assaults you at every corner

• young executives sprouted in every corner.

5. see someone/something out of (or from) the corner of one's eye

see someone or something at the edge of one's field of vision.

6. turn the corner

see turn.

– origin Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French, based on Latin cornu ‘horn, tip, corner.’

cornerback /ˈkôrnərˌbak/

noun

[Football] a defensive back positioned to the outside of the linebackers.

cornered /ˈkôrnərd/

adjective

1. having a specified number of places or angles where the edges or sides meet

• young boys in six-cornered hats.

2. having a specified number of parties involved

• a three-cornered meeting was being arranged in Hong Kong.

3. (of a person or animal) forced into a place or situation from which it is hard to escape

• nothing is more dangerous than a cornered wild beast.

corner kick corner

noun

[Soccer] a place kick taken by the attacking side from a corner of the field after the ball has been sent over the end line outside the goal by a defender

• Kavanagh lofted a corner kick.

cornerman /ˈkôrnərˌman/

noun

a person whose job is to assist a boxer or wrestler at the corner between rounds.

cornerstone /ˈkôrnərˌstōn/

noun

1. a stone that forms the base of a corner of a building, joining two walls.

2. an important quality or feature on which a particular thing depends or is based

• a national minimum wage remained the cornerstone of policy.

corner store

noun

(N. Amer.) a small store selling groceries and a limited range of household goods in a mainly residential area

• I bought a carton of milk at the corner store.

cornerwise /ˈkôrnərˌwīz/

adverb

at an angle of approximately 45°; diagonally

• he laid the cloth cornerwise on the polished table.

cornet /ˈkôrnət/

I. noun

1. [Music] a brass instrument resembling a trumpet but shorter and wider, played chiefly in bands.

2. a compound organ stop with a powerful treble sound.

3. (Brit.) a cone-shaped wafer, especially one filled with ice cream.

II. derivatives

cornetist /ˌkôrˈnedəst / cornettist

noun

– origin late Middle English (originally denoting a wind instrument made of a horn): from Old French, diminutive of a variant of Latin cornu ‘horn.’

cornetfish /kôrˈnetˌfiSH, ˈkôrnət-/

noun

a large marine fish with a long, narrow, flutelike snout, an elongated body, and a whiplike extension to the tail. It is common in shallow tropical waters of the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific region.
[Family Fistularidae and genus Fistularia: several species.]

cornetto /kôrˈnedō / cornett

I. noun

a woodwind instrument of the 16th and 17th centuries, typically curved, with finger holes and a cup-shaped mouthpiece.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Italian, diminutive of corno ‘horn,’ from Latin cornu. Compare with cornet.

corn-fed /ˈkôrnˌfed / cornfed

adjective

1. fed on corn

• corn-fed chickens.

2. (US) ‹informal› plump; well fed.

3. (US) ‹informal› provincial; unsophisticated

• a backward, corn-fed Heartland city.

cornfield /ˈkôrnˌfēld/

noun

a field in which corn is grown.

cornflakes /ˈkôrnˌflāks/

plural noun

a breakfast cereal consisting of toasted flakes made from corn.

corn flour /ˈkôrn flouər/

noun

1. flour made from corn

• the fish were coated with corn flour and fried.

2. (usu. cornflour) — British term for cornstarch.

cornflower /ˈkôrnˌflou(ə)r/

noun

1. a slender Eurasian plant related to the knapweeds, with flowers that are typically a deep, vivid blue.
[Genus Centaurea, family Compositae: several species, including the annual Centaurea cyanus (also called bluebottle), formerly a common weed of cornfields, and the perennial C. montana, grown in gardens.]

2. (also cornflower blue) — a deep, vivid blue color.

cornhole /ˈkôrnˌhōl / ‹US›

I. noun

1. a game in which small bags filled with dried corn are tossed at a target consisting of an inclined wooden platform with a hole at one end

• many are introduced to cornhole at a tailgate or family outing.

2. ‹vulgar slang› the anus.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹vulgar slang› have anal intercourse with (someone).

Cornhusker State /ˈkôrnˌhəskər ˌstāt/

a nickname for the state of Nebraska.

cornhusking /ˈkôrnˌhəskiNG/

I. noun

1. the removal of husks from ears of corn.

2. the husking of corn by several people as a social event.
Also called husking bee.

II. derivatives

cornhusker

noun

cornice /ˈkôrnis/

I. noun

1. an ornamental molding around the wall of a room just below the ceiling.

2. a horizontal molded projection crowning a building or structure, especially the uppermost member of the entablature of an order, surmounting the frieze.

3. an overhanging mass of hardened snow at the edge of a mountain precipice.

II. derivatives

1. corniced

adjective

2. cornicing

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French corniche, from Italian cornice, perhaps from Latin cornix ‘crow’ (compare with corbel), but influenced by Greek korōnis ‘copestone.’

corniche /ˈkôrniSH, kôrˈnēSH/

I. noun

a road cut into the edge of a cliff, especially one running along a coast.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French (see cornice).

cornichon /ˈkôrnəˌSHän/

I. noun

a small pickled cucumber

• a duck terrine with lentil salad and cornichons.

– origin French, literally ‘little horn.’

Cornish /ˈkôrniSH/

I. adjective

of or relating to Cornwall, or its people or language.

II. noun

1. (as plural noun the Cornish) — the people of Cornwall collectively.

2. the extinct Brythonic language of Cornwall.

III. derivatives

1. Cornishman /-mən /

noun

2. Cornishwoman /-ˌwo͝omən /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from the first element of Cornwall + -ish^1.

Cornish hen Cornish game hen

noun

another term for Rock Cornish.

Corn Laws /ˈkôrn ˌlôz/

(in the UK) a series of 19th-century laws introduced to protect British farmers from foreign competition. They were repealed in 1846.

corn marigold

noun

a daisylike yellow-flowered Eurasian plant.
[Chrysanthemum segetum, family Compositae.]

cornmeal /ˈkôrnmēl/

noun

meal made from ground, dried corn.

corn oil /ˈkôrn ˌoil/

noun

an oil obtained from the germ of corn, used in cooking and salad dressings.

corn pone /ˈkôrn ˌpōn / ‹N. Amer.›

I. noun

see pone.

II. adjective

‹often derogatory› rustic; unsophisticated

• corn-pone humor.

corn roast

noun

(Canadian) an outdoor party at which fresh ears of sweet corn are roasted and eaten.

cornrows /ˈkôrnˌrōz/

plural noun

a style of braiding and plaiting the hair in narrow strips to form geometric patterns on the scalp.

corn salad /kôrn ˈsaləd/

noun

a small blue-flowered herbaceous plant of dry soils, native to Europe and the Mediterranean. Widely cultivated in North America, its narrow leaves are used in salad.
Also called lamb's lettuce, mache. [Valerianella locusta, family Valerianaceae.]

cornsilk /ˈkôrnsilk / ‹N. Amer.›

noun

the fine threadlike styles on an ear of corn.

corn snake

I. noun

a long North American rat snake with a spear-shaped mark between the eyes.
[Elaphe guttata, family Colubridae.]

– origin late 17th cent.: so named because often found in cornfields.

corn snow

I. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) snow with a rough granular surface resulting from alternate thawing and freezing.

– origin from corn in the dialect sense ‘granule.’

cornstalk /ˈkôrnstôk/

noun

the stem of a corn plant.

cornstarch /ˈkôrnˌstärCH/

noun

(N. Amer.) finely ground corn flour, used as a thickener in cooking.

Corn State

a nickname for the state of Iowa.

corn sugar

noun

dextrose, especially when made from cornstarch.

corn syrup /ˈkôrn ˌsirəp/

noun

(chiefly US) syrup made from cornstarch, consisting of dextrose, maltose, and dextrins.

cornu /ˈkôrn(y)o͞o/

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] a structure with a shape likened to a horn, in particular

2. [Anatomy] a horn-shaped projection of the thyroid cartilage or of certain bones (such as the hyoid and the coccyx).

3. [Anatomy] either of the two lateral cavities of the uterus, into which the Fallopian tubes pass.

4. [Anatomy] each of three elongated parts of the lateral ventricles of the brain.

II. derivatives

cornual /-n(y)o͞oəl /

adjective

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin, ‘horn.’

cornucopia /ˌkôrn(y)əˈkōpēə/

I. noun

1. a symbol of plenty consisting of a goat's horn overflowing with flowers, fruit, and corn.

2. an ornamental container shaped like a goat's horn.

3. an abundant supply of good things of a specified kind

• the festival offers a cornucopia of pleasures.

II. derivatives

cornucopian

adjective

– origin early 16th cent.: from late Latin, from Latin cornu copiae ‘horn of plenty’ (a mythical horn able to provide whatever is desired).

Cornwall /ˈkôrnˌwôl ˈkôrnˌwəl/

I. a county occupying the extreme southwestern peninsula of England; county town, Truro.

II. a city in eastern Ontario in Canada, a port on the St. Lawrence River, across from Massena, New York; pop. 45,965 (2006).

Cornwallis, Charles /kôrnˈwäləs/

1st Marquis (1738–1805), English military commander. He surrendered the British forces at Yorktown in 1781, ending the fighting in the American Revolution.

corny /ˈkôrnē/

I. adjective

‹informal› trite, banal, or mawkishly sentimental

• it sounds corny, but as soon as I saw her I knew she was the one.

II. derivatives

1. cornily /ˈkôrnl-ē /

adverb

2. corniness /ˈkôrnēnəs /

noun

– origin 1930s: from an earlier sense ‘rustic, appealing to country folk.’

corolla /kəˈrələ kəˈrōlə/

I. noun

[Botany] the petals of a flower, typically forming a whorl within the sepals and enclosing the reproductive organs.
Compare with calyx.

– origin late 17th cent. (in the sense ‘little crown’): from Latin, diminutive of corona ‘wreath, crown, chaplet.’

corollary /ˈkôrəˌlerē ˈkärəˌlerē/

I. noun

1. a proposition that follows from (and is often appended to) one already proved.

2. a direct or natural consequence or result

• the huge increases in unemployment were the corollary of expenditure cuts.

II. adjective

1. forming a proposition that follows from one already proved.

2. associated; supplementary.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin corollarium ‘money paid for a garland or chaplet; gratuity’ (in late Latin ‘deduction’), from corolla, diminutive of corona ‘wreath, crown, chaplet.’

coromandel /ˌkôrəˈmandəl, ˌkär-/

I. noun

1. (also coromandel wood or coromandel ebony) — a fine-grained, grayish-brown wood streaked with black, used in furniture.
Also called calamander.

2. the Sri Lankan tree that yields coromandel wood.
[Diospyros quaesita, family Ebenaceae.]

II. adjective

denoting a form of Asian lacquerware with intaglio designs.

– origin from Coromandel Coast, from which Asian lacquerware was originally transshipped.

Coromandel Coast /ˌkôrəmand(ə)l ˈkōst/

the southern part of the eastern coast of India, from Point Calimere to the mouth of the Krishna River.

corona^1 /kəˈrōnə/

I. noun

1. [Astronomy] the rarefied gaseous envelope of the sun and other stars. The sun's corona is normally visible only during a total solar eclipse when it is seen as an irregularly shaped pearly glow surrounding the darkened disk of the moon.

2. (also corona discharge) — [Physics] the glow around a conductor at high potential.

3. a small circle of light seen around the sun or moon, due to diffraction by water droplets.

4. [Anatomy] a crown or crownlike structure.

5. [Botany] the cup-shaped or trumpet-shaped outgrowth at the center of a daffodil or narcissus flower.

6. a circular chandelier in a church.

7. [Architecture] a part of a cornice having a broad vertical face.

– origin mid 16th cent. (sense 4): from Latin,‘wreath, crown.’

corona^2 /kəˈrōnə/

I. noun

a long, straight-sided cigar.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Spanish La Corona, literally ‘the crown,’ originally a proprietary name.

Corona /kəˈrōnə/

a city in southwestern California, southwest of Riverside; pop. 149,923 (est. 2008).

Corona Australis /kəˈrōnə ôˈstrāləs, äˈstrā- / ‹Astronomy›

I. a small southern constellation (the Southern Crown), with no bright stars.

II. (as genitive Coronae Australis ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation

• the star Theta Coronae Australis.

– origin Latin.

Corona Borealis /kəˌrōnə bôrēˈaləs / ‹Astronomy›

I. a northern constellation (the Northern Crown), in which the main stars form a small but prominent arc.

II. (as genitive Coronae Borealis ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation

• the star R Coronae Borealis.

– origin Latin.

coronach /ˈkôrənəKH, ˈkär-/

I. noun

(in Scotland or Ireland) a funeral song.

– origin early 16th cent. (originally Scots, denoting the outcry of a crowd): from Scottish Gaelic corranach (Irish coranach), from comh- ‘together’ + rànach ‘outcry.’

Coronado, Francisco Vásquez de /ˌkôrəˈnädō, ˌkär-/

(c. 1510–54), Spanish explorer. His expeditions into Arizona and New Mexico from Mexico opened the Southwest to Spanish colonization.

coronagraph /kəˈrōnəˌɡraf/

noun

an instrument that blocks out light emitted by the sun's actual surface so that the corona can be observed.

coronal^1 /ˈkôrənəl kəˈrōn(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to the crown or corona of something, in particular

2. [Astronomy] of or relating to the corona of the sun or another star.

3. [Anatomy] of or relating to the crown of the head.

4. [Anatomy] of or in the coronal plane

• coronal imaging.

5. [Phonetics] (of a consonant) formed by raising the tip or blade of the tongue toward the hard palate.

II. noun

[Phonetics] a coronal consonant.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘relating to the crown of the head’): from Latin coronalis, from corona ‘crown.’

coronal^2 /ˈkôrənəl/

I. noun

1. a garland or wreath for the head

• her eyes sparkled beneath a coronal of flowers.

2. ‹literary› a small crown; a coronet.

– origin Middle English: apparently from Anglo-Norman French, from corune ‘crown, wreath’ (see crown).

coronal plane

noun

[Anatomy] an imaginary plane dividing the body into dorsal and ventral parts.

coronal suture

noun

[Anatomy] the transverse suture in the skull separating the frontal bone from the parietal bones.

coronary /ˈkôrəˌnerē ˈkärəˌnerē/

I. adjective

1. [Anatomy] relating to or denoting the arteries that surround and supply the heart.

2. [Anatomy] relating to or denoting a structure that encircles a part of the body.

II. noun

short for coronary thrombosis.

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘resembling a crown’): from Latin coronarius, from corona ‘wreath, crown.’

coronary artery

noun

an artery supplying blood to the heart.

coronary care unit CCU

noun

a hospital department that provides special care and monitoring for heart patients.

coronary occlusion

noun

partial or total obstruction of a coronary artery, usually resulting in a myocardial infarction (heart attack).

coronary sinus

noun

a wide venous channel about 2.25 centimeters in length that receives blood from the coronary veins and empties into the right atrium of the heart.

coronary thrombosis /ˈkôrəˌnerē THrämˈbōsəs/

noun

a blockage of the flow of blood to the heart, caused by a blood clot in a coronary artery.

coronary vein

noun

any of several veins that drain blood from the heart wall and empty into the coronary sinus.

coronation /ˌkôrəˈnāSH(ə)n ˌkärəˈnāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

the ceremony of crowning a sovereign or a sovereign's consort.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin coronatio(n-), from coronare ‘to crown, adorn with a garland,’ from corona (see crown).

coronavirus /kəˈrōnəˌvīrəs/

noun

[Medicine] any of a group of RNA viruses that cause a variety of diseases in humans and other animals.

coroner /ˈkôrənər ˈkärənər/

I. noun

1. an official who investigates violent, sudden, or suspicious deaths.

2. ‹historical› in England, an official responsible for safeguarding the private property of the Crown.

II. derivatives

coronership /-ˌSHip /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French coruner, from corune ‘a crown’ (see crown); reflecting the Latin title custos placitorum coronae ‘guardian of the pleas of the crown.’

coronet /ˌkôrəˈnet ˌkärəˈnet/

I. noun

1. a small or relatively simple crown, especially as worn by lesser royalty and peers or peeresses.

2. a circular decoration for the head, especially one made of flowers.

3. the band of tissue on the lowest part of a horse's pastern, containing the horn-producing cells from which the hoof grows.

4. another term for burr (sense 7 of the noun).

II. derivatives

coroneted /ˌkôrəˈnedəd /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French coronete ‘small crown or garland,’ diminutive of corone (see crown).

coronial /kəˈrōnēəl/

adjective

(Austral.) relating to a coroner

• a coronial hearing.

coronoid /ˈkôrənoid/

I. adjective

[Anatomy] relating to or denoting a hooked projection of bone.
See coronoid process.

II. noun

[Zoology] a slender bone forming part of the lower jaw in primitive vertebrates.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Greek korōnē, denoting something hooked, + -oid.

coronoid process

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] a flattened triangular projection above the angle of the jaw where the temporalis muscle is attached.

2. [Anatomy] a projection from the front of the ulna forming part of the articulation of the elbow.

– origin mid 18th cent.: coronoid from Greek korōnē (denoting something hooked) + -oid.

Corp. /ˌkôrpəˈrāSH(ə)n/

abbreviation

1. (Corp) — ‹informal› corporal

• been abroad before, Corp?

2. (N. Amer.) corporation

• IBM Corp.

corpora /ˈkôrp(ə)rə/

plural form of corpus.

corporal^1 /ˈkôrp(ə)rəl/

I. noun

a low-ranking noncommissioned officer in the armed forces, in particular (in the US Army) an NCO ranking above private first class and below sergeant or (in the US Marine Corps) an NCO ranking above lance corporal and below sergeant.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French, obsolete variant of caporal, from Italian caporale, probably based on Latin corpus, corpor- ‘body (of troops),’ with a change of spelling in Italian due to association with capo ‘head.’

corporal^2 /ˈkôrp(ə)rəl/

I. adjective

of or relating to the human body.

II. derivatives

corporally

adverb

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin corporalis, from corpus, corpor- ‘body.’

corporal^3 /ˈkôrp(ə)rəl/

I. noun

a cloth on which the chalice and paten are placed during the celebration of the Eucharist.

– origin Middle English: from medieval Latin corporale (pallium) ‘body (cloth),’ from Latin corpus, corpor- ‘body.’

corporality /ˌkôrpəˈralədē/

I. noun

‹rare› material or corporeal existence.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin corporalitas, from Latin corporalis ‘relating to the body’ (see corporal^2).

corporal punishment /ˈkôrp(ə)rəl ˈpəniSHmənt/

noun

1. physical punishment, such as caning or flogging.

2. punishment under law that includes imprisonment and death.

corporate /ˈkôrp(ə)rət/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to a corporation, especially a large company or group

• airlines are very keen on their corporate identity.

2. [Law] (of a company or group of people) authorized to act as a single entity and recognized as such in law.

3. of or shared by all the members of a group

• the service emphasizes the corporate responsibility of the congregation.

II. noun

a corporate company or group.

III. derivatives

corporately /ˈkôrp(ə)rətlē /

adverb

– origin late 15th cent.: from Latin corporatus, past participle of corporare ‘form into a body,’ from corpus, corpor- ‘body.’

corporate raider //

noun

a financier who makes a practice of making hostile takeover bids for companies, either to control their policies or to resell them for a profit.

corporate welfare

noun

government support or subsidy of private business, such as by tax incentives.

corporate welfare bum

I. noun

(Canadian) ‹informal› a business or business executive perceived to be exploiting tax loopholes or benefiting unduly from government subsidies or tax breaks

• I'd like to see the corporate welfare bums pay their fair share of taxes.

– origin 1970s: popularized by Canadian politician David Lewis (1909–81) of the New Democratic Party during the 1972 federal election.

corporation /ˌkôrpəˈrāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a company or group of people authorized to act as a single entity (legally a person) and recognized as such in law.

2. (also municipal corporation) — a group of people elected to govern a city, town, or borough.

3. ‹dated› ‹humorous› a paunch.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin corporatio(n-), from Latin corporare ‘combine in one body’ (see corporate).

corporatism /ˈkôrp(ə)rəˌtizəm/

I. noun

the control of a state or organization by large interest groups.

II. derivatives

corporatist /ˈkôrp(ə)rədəst /

adjective, noun

corporatize /ˈkôrp(ə)rəˌtīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. convert (a state organization) into an independent commercial company.

corporatocracy /ˌkôrpərəˈtäkrəsē/

noun

a society or system that is governed or controlled by corporations

• in this age of corporatocracies, the money goes not to the inventor, but to the company.

corporeal /kôrˈpôrēəl/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to a person's body, especially as opposed to their spirit

• he was frank about his corporeal appetites.

2. having a body

• a corporeal God.

3. [Law] consisting of material objects; tangible

• corporeal property.

II. derivatives

1. corporeality /kôrˌpôrēˈalədē /

noun

2. corporeally

adverb

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘material’): from late Latin corporealis, from Latin corporeus ‘bodily, physical,’ from corpus, corpor- ‘body.’

corporeity /ˌkôrpəˈrēədē/

I. noun

‹rare› the quality of having a physical body or existence.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French corporéité or medieval Latin corporeitas, from Latin corporeus ‘composed of flesh,’ from corpus, corpor- ‘body.’

corposant /ˈkôrpəˌsant ˈkôrpəsənt/

I. noun

‹archaic› an appearance of St. Elmo's fire on a mast, rigging, or other structure.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Old Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian corpo santo ‘holy body.’

corps /kôr/

I. noun

1. a main subdivision of an armed force in the field, consisting of two or more divisions

• the 5th Army Corps.

2. a branch of a military organization assigned to a particular kind of work

• the U.S. Army Medical Corps.

3. a body of people engaged in a particular activity

• the press corps.

4. short for corps de ballet.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French, from Latin corpus ‘body.’

corps de ballet /ˌkôr də baˈlā/

I. noun — [treated as sing. or pl.]

1. the members of a ballet company who dance together as a group.

2. the members of the lowest rank of dancers in a ballet company.

– origin early 19th cent.: French.

corpse /kôrps/

I. noun

a dead body, especially of a human being rather than an animal.

– origin Middle English (denoting the living body of a person or animal): alteration of corse by association with Latin corpus, a change that also took place in French (Old French cors becoming corps). The p was originally silent, as in French; the final e was rare before the 19th cent., but now distinguishes corpse from corps.

corpselike /ˈkôrpsˌlīk/

adjective

resembling a corpse, especially in being completely still or having a pale, gaunt appearance

• junkies with corpselike complexions

• he manages to maintain a corpselike stillness that helps him to preserve oxygen.

corpse pose

noun

a resting pose in yoga, typically assumed at the end of a session, in which one lies flat on one's back with one's eyes closed and one's arms relaxed at one's sides

• after you've completed one or both routines, relax in corpse pose.

corpsman /ˈkôrzmən ˈkôrmən/

noun

1. an enlisted member of a military medical unit.

2. a member of a civilian corps, especially a paramedical corps.

corpulence /ˈkôrpyələns/

I. noun

the state of being fat; obesity

• her corpulence is the butt of every joke.

II. derivatives

corpulency

noun

corpulent /ˈkôrpyələnt/

I. adjective

(of a person) fat.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin corpulentus, from corpus ‘body.’

cor pulmonale /ˌkôr ˌpo͝olməˈnalē, -ˈnälē/

I. noun

[Medicine] abnormal enlargement of the right side of the heart as a result of disease of the lungs or the pulmonary blood vessels.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin cor ‘heart’ and modern Latin pulmonalis (from Latin pulmo(n-) ‘lung’).

corpus /ˈkôrpəs/

I. noun

1. a collection of written texts, especially the entire works of a particular author or a body of writing on a particular subject

• the Darwinian corpus.

2. a collection of written or spoken material in machine-readable form, assembled for the purpose of studying linguistic structures, frequencies, etc.

3. [Anatomy] the main body or mass of a structure.

4. the central part of the stomach, between the fundus and the antrum.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a human or animal body): from Latin, literally ‘body.’ Sense 1 dates from the early 18th cent.

corpus callosum /ˌkôrpəs kəˈlōsəm/

I. noun

[Anatomy] a broad band of nerve fibers joining the two hemispheres of the brain.

– origin early 18th cent.: from corpus and Latin callosum, neuter of callosus ‘tough.’

corpus cavernosum /ˌkôrpəs ˌkavərˈnōsəm/

I. noun

[Anatomy] either of two masses of erectile tissue forming the bulk of the penis and the clitoris.

– origin from corpus and Latin cavernosum, neuter of cavernosus ‘containing hollows.’

Corpus Christi^1 /ˌkôrpəs ˈkristē/

a city and port in southern Texas, on Corpus Christi Bay; pop. 286,462 (est. 2008).

Corpus Christi^2 /ˌkôrpəs ˈkristē/

I. a feast of the Western Christian Church commemorating the institution of the Eucharist, observed on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday.

– origin Latin, literally ‘body of Christ.’

corpuscle /ˈkôrˌpəsəl/

I. noun

1. [Biology] a minute body or cell in an organism, especially a red or white cell in the blood of vertebrates.

2. [Biology] ‹historical› a minute particle regarded as the basic constituent of matter or light.

II. derivatives

corpuscular /kôrˈpəskyələr /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin corpusculum ‘small body,’ diminutive of corpus.

corpus delicti /dəˈlikˌtī, -tē/

I. noun

1. [Law] the facts and circumstances constituting a breach of a law.

2. [Law] concrete evidence of a crime, such as a corpse.

– origin Latin, literally ‘body of offense.’

corpus luteum /ˌkôrpəs ˈlo͞otēəm/

I. noun

[Anatomy] a hormone-secreting structure that develops in an ovary after an ovum has been discharged but degenerates after a few days unless pregnancy has begun.

– origin late 18th cent.: from corpus and Latin luteum, neuter of luteus ‘yellow.’

corpus spongiosum /ˌkôrpəs ˌspənjēˈōsəm/

I. noun

[Anatomy] a mass of erectile tissue alongside the corpora cavernosa of the penis and terminating in the glans.

– origin from corpus and Latin spongiosum, neuter of spongiosus ‘porous.’

corpus striatum /ˌkôrpəs strīˈātəm/

I. noun

[Anatomy] part of the basal ganglia of the brain, comprising the caudate and lentiform nuclei.

– origin from corpus and Latin striatum, neuter of striatus ‘grooved.’

corr.

abbreviation

1. correction.

2. correspondence.

corral /kəˈral/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. gather together and confine (a group of people or things)

• the organizers were corralling the crowd into marching formation.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) put or keep (livestock) in a corral.

3. ‹historical› form (wagons) into a corral.

II. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a pen for livestock, especially cattle or horses, on a farm or ranch.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹historical› a defensive enclosure of wagons in an encampment.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Spanish and Old Portuguese (now curral), perhaps based on Latin currere ‘to run.’ Compare with kraal.

correct /kəˈrekt/

I. adjective

1. free from error; in accordance with fact or truth

• make sure you have been given the correct information.

2. not mistaken in one's opinion or judgment; right

• the government was correct to follow a course of defeating inflation.

3. (of a thing or course of action) meeting the requirements of or most appropriate for a particular situation or activity

• cut the top and bottom tracks to the correct length with a hacksaw.

4. (of a person or their appearance or behavior) conforming to accepted social standards; proper

• he was a polite man, invariably correct and pleasant with Mrs. Collins.

5. (chiefly N. Amer.) conforming to a particular political or ideological orthodoxy.
See also politically correct.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. put right (an error or fault)

• the council issued a statement correcting some points in the press reports.

2. mark the errors in (a written or printed text)

• he corrected Dixon's writing for publication.

3. tell (someone) that they are mistaken

• he had assumed she was married and she had not corrected him

• (as adj. corrected) sorry, I stand corrected.

4. counteract or rectify

• the problem of diminished sight can be reduced or corrected by wearing eyeglasses.

5. adjust (an instrument) to function accurately or in accord with a standard

• motorists can have their headlights tested and corrected at a reduced price on Saturday.

6. adjust (a numerical result or reading) to allow for departure from standard conditions

• data were corrected for radionuclide decay.

III. derivatives

correctable /kəˈrektəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin Middle English (as a verb): from Latin correct- ‘made straight, amended,’ from the verb corrigere, from cor- ‘together’ + regere ‘guide.’ The adjective is via French.

correction /kəˈrekSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action or process of correcting something

• I checked the typing for errors and sent it back for correction.

2. a change that rectifies an error or inaccuracy

• he made a few corrections to my homework.

3. used to introduce an amended version of something one has just said

• after today—correction, she thought grimly, after tonight—she'd never see him again.

4. a quantity adjusting a numerical result to allow for a departure from standard conditions.

5. a temporary reversal in an overall trend of stock market prices, especially a brief fall during an overall increase

• they're still looking for the market to go up and believe we are just going through a correction.

6. (N. Amer.) ‹dated› punishment, especially that of criminals in prison intended to rectify their behavior.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin correctio(n-), from corrigere ‘make straight, bring into order’ (see correct).

correctional /kəˈrekSH(ə)n(ə)l/

adjective

(chiefly N. Amer.) of or relating to the punishment of criminals in a way intended to rectify their behavior

• a correctional institution.

correction fluid /kəˈrekSHən ˈflo͞oid/

noun

an opaque liquid painted over a typed or written error so as to leave a blank space for the insertion of the correct character.

correctitude /kəˈrektəˌt(y)o͞od/

I. noun

correctness, especially conscious correctness in one's behavior.

– origin late 19th cent.: blend of correct and rectitude.

corrective /kəˈrektiv/

I. adjective

designed to correct or counteract something harmful or undesirable

• management was informed so that corrective action could be taken.

II. noun

a thing intended to correct or counteract something else

• the move might be a corrective to some inefficient practices within hospitals.

III. derivatives

correctively

adverb

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French correctif, -ive or late Latin correctivus, from Latin correct- ‘brought into order,’ from the verb corrigere (see correct).

correctly /kəˈrektlē/

adverb

1. in a way that is true, factual, or appropriate; accurately

• she correctly answered eight questions.

2. in a way that is socially acceptable; properly

• she had acted correctly.

correctness /kəˈrektnəs/

noun

1. the quality or state of being free from error; accuracy

• there was evidence to support the correctness of the identification.

2. the quality of being right in an opinion or judgment

• he is trying to challenge the correctness of his criminal conviction.

3. conformity to accepted social standards

• the character was played with stuffy correctness.

4. (chiefly N. Amer.) conformity to a particular political or ideological orthodoxy

• high-end environmental correctness has a price.

See also political correctness.

corrector /kəˈrektər/

noun

a person or thing that corrects something, especially a computer program or electronic device with a specified function

• a spelling corrector.

Correggio /kəˈrej(ē)ō/

(c. 1494–1534), Italian painter; full name Antonio Allegri da Corregio. The soft, sensual style of his devotional and mythological paintings influenced the rococo style of the 18th century.

Corregidor /kəˈreɡəˌdôr/

an island in the Philippines, just south of the Bataan Peninsula on Luzon Island, scene of World War II battles and now a national shrine.

correlate

I. verb — /ˈkôrəˌlāt / [no obj.]

1. have a mutual relationship or connection, in which one thing affects or depends on another

• the study found that success in the educational system correlates highly with class.

2. [with obj.] — establish a mutual relationship or connection between

• we should correlate general trends in public opinion with trends in the content of television news.

II. noun — /ˈkôrələt /

1. each of two or more related or complementary things

• strategies to promote health should pay greater attention to financial hardship and other correlates of poverty.

– origin mid 17th cent. (as a noun): back-formation from correlation and correlative.

correlation /ˌkôrəˈlāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a mutual relationship or connection between two or more things

• research showed a clear correlation between recession and levels of property crime.

2. [Statistics] interdependence of variable quantities.

3. [Statistics] a quantity measuring the extent of interdependence of variable quantities.

4. the process of establishing a relationship or connection between two or more measures.

II. derivatives

correlational /-SHənl /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from medieval Latin correlatio(n-), from cor- ‘together’ + relatio (see relation).

correlation coefficient

noun

(Symbol: r) — [Statistics] a number between −1 and +1 calculated so as to represent the linear dependence of two variables or sets of data.

correlative /kəˈrelədiv/

I. adjective

1. having a mutual relationship; corresponding

• rights, whether moral or legal, can involve correlative duties.

2. [Grammar] (of words such as neither and nor) corresponding to each other and regularly used together.

II. noun

a word or concept that has a mutual relationship with another word or concept

• the child's right to education is a correlative of the parent's duty to send the child to school.

III. derivatives

1. correlatively /kəˈrelədivlē /

adverb

2. correlativity /kəˌreləˈtivitē /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from medieval Latin correlativus, from cor- ‘together’ + late Latin relativus (see relative).

correspond /ˌkôrəˈspänd ˌkärəˈspänd/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. have a close similarity; match or agree almost exactly

• the carved heads described in the poem correspond to those in the drawing

• communication is successful when the ideas in the minds of the speaker and hearer correspond.

2. be analogous or equivalent in character, form, or function

• the Inuit month corresponding to December was called Aagjulirvik.

3. communicate by exchanging letters

• Margaret corresponded with him until his death

• the doctor and I corresponded for more than two decades.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French correspondre, from medieval Latin correspondere, from cor- ‘together’ + Latin respondere (see respond).

correspondence /ˌkôrəˈspändəns ˌkärəˈspändəns/

I. noun

1. a close similarity, connection, or equivalence

• there is a simple correspondence between the distance of a focused object from the eye and the size of its image on the retina.

2. communication by exchanging letters with someone

• the organization engaged in detailed correspondence with local congressmen.

3. letters sent or received

• his wife dealt with his private correspondence.

II. derivatives

correspondency /-dənsē /

noun

( — ‹rare›

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin correspondentia, from correspondent- ‘corresponding’ (see correspondent).

correspondence course /ˌkôrəˈspändəns kôrs/

noun

a course of study in which student and teachers communicate by mail.

correspondence principle

noun

[Physics] the principle that states that for very large quantum numbers the laws of quantum theory merge with those of classical physics.

correspondence school

noun

a school offering correspondence courses.

correspondence theory ‹Philosophy›

noun

the theory that states that the definition or criterion of truth is that true propositions correspond to the facts.

correspondent /ˌkôrəˈspändənt ˌkärəˈspändənt/

I. noun

1. a person who writes letters to a person or a newspaper, especially on a regular basis

• she wasn't much of a correspondent.

2. a person employed to report for a newspaper or broadcasting organization, typically on a particular subject or from a particular country

• a White House correspondent.

II. adjective

corresponding.

– origin late Middle English (as an adjective): from Old French correspondant or medieval Latin correspondent- ‘corresponding,’ from the verb correspondere (see correspond).

corresponding /ˌkôrəˈspändiNG ˌkärəˈspändiNG/

adjective

1. similar in character, form, or function

• we discussed our corresponding viewpoints.

2. able to be matched, joined, or interlocked

• he dovetailed the corresponding pieces.

3. dealing with written communication; having this responsibility

• the corresponding secretary.

4. having an honorary association with a group, especially at a distance (from the group's headquarters).

• at the last meeting, 255 academicians and lesser-ranking corresponding members were elected.

corresponding angles

plural noun

[Mathematics] the angles that occupy the same relative position at each intersection where a straight line crosses two others. If the two lines are parallel, the corresponding angles are equal.

correspondingly /ˌkärəˈspändiNGlē/

adverb

in an analogous or equivalent way

• it has fewer problems and correspondingly requires less maintenance.

corrida /kôˈrēdə/

I. noun

a bullfight.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Spanish corrida de toros ‘running of bulls.’

corrido /ˌkôˈrēdō/

I. noun

a ballad in a traditional Mexican style, typically having lyrics that narrate a historical event

• several corridos devoted to the tragedy were composed.

– origin Spanish.

corridor /ˈkôrədər ˈkôrəˌdôr/

I. noun

1. a long passage in a building from which doors lead into rooms.

2. (Brit.) a passage along the side of a railroad car, from which doors lead into compartments.

3. a belt of land linking two other areas or following a road or river

• the valley provides the principal wildlife corridor between the uplands and the central urban area

• the Boston-to-Washington corridor.

II. phrases

the corridors of power

the senior levels of government or administration, where covert influence is regarded as being exerted and significant decisions are made.
[from the name of C. P. Snow's novel The Corridors of Power (1964).]

– origin late 16th cent. (as a military term denoting a strip of land along the outer edge of a ditch, protected by a parapet): from French, from Italian corridore, alteration (by association with corridore ‘runner’) of corridoio ‘running place,’ from correre ‘to run,’ from Latin currere. The current sense dates from the early 19th cent.

corrie /ˈkôrē ˈkärē/

I. noun

a cirque, especially one in the mountains of Scotland.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Scottish Gaelic and Irish coire ‘cauldron, hollow.’

Corriedale /ˈkôrēˌdāl, ˈkär-/

I. noun

a sheep of a New Zealand breed kept for both wool and meat.

– origin early 20th cent.: named after an estate in New Zealand.

corrigendum /ˌkôrəˈjendəm/

I. noun

a thing to be corrected, typically an error in a printed book.

– origin early 19th cent.: Latin, neuter gerundive of corrigere ‘bring into order’ (see correct).

corrigible /ˈkôrəjəbəl/

I. adjective

capable of being corrected, rectified, or reformed.

II. derivatives

corrigibility /ˌkôrijəˈbilitē, ˌkär- /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘liable to or deserving punishment’): via French from medieval Latin corrigibilis, from Latin corrigere ‘to correct.’

corroborant /kəˈräb(ə)rənt/

I. adjective

1. corroborating; confirming.

2. ‹archaic› (of a medicine) invigorating; producing strength.

II. noun

1. something that corroborates.

2. ‹archaic› an invigorating medicine.

corroborate /kəˈräbəˌrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. confirm or give support to (a statement, theory, or finding)

• the witness had corroborated the boy's account of the attack.

II. derivatives

1. corroborative /kəˈräb(ə)rədiv kəˈräbərādiv /

adjective

2. corroborator /kəˈräbəˌrādər /

noun

3. corroboratory /kəˈräb(ə)rəˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘make physically stronger’): from Latin corroborat- ‘strengthened,’ from the verb corroborare, from cor- ‘together’ + roborare, from robur ‘strength.’

corroboration /kəˌräbəˈrāSH(ə)n/

noun

evidence that confirms or supports a statement, theory, or finding; confirmation

• there is no independent corroboration for this.

corroboree /kəˈräbərē kəˌräbəˈrē/

I. noun

1. an Australian Aboriginal dance ceremony that may take the form of a sacred ritual or an informal gathering.

2. (chiefly Austral.) a party or other social gathering, especially a lively one.

– origin from Dharuk garaabara, denoting a style of dancing.

corrode /kəˈrōd/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. destroy or damage (metal, stone, or other materials) slowly by chemical action

• acid rain poisons fish and corrodes buildings.

2. [no obj.] — (of metal or other materials) be destroyed or damaged in this way

• over the years copper tubing corrodes.

3. destroy or weaken (something) gradually

• the self-centered climate corrodes ideals and concerns about social justice.

II. derivatives

corrodible /kəˈrōdəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin corrodere, from cor- (expressing intensive force) + rodere ‘gnaw.’

corrosion /kəˈrōZHən/

I. noun

1. the process of corroding metal, stone, or other materials

• each aircraft part is sprayed with oil to prevent corrosion.

2. damage caused by corrosion

• engineers found the corrosion when checking the bridge.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, or from late Latin corrosio(n-), from Latin corrodere ‘gnaw through’ (see corrode).

corrosive /kəˈrōsiv kəˈrōziv/

I. adjective

tending to cause corrosion.

II. noun

a corrosive substance.

III. derivatives

1. corrosively /kəˈrōsivlē kəˈrōzivlē /

adverb

2. corrosiveness /kəˈrōsivnəs kəˈrōzivnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French corosif, -ive, from medieval Latin corrosivus, from Latin corros- ‘gnawed through,’ from the verb corrodere (see corrode).

corrosive sublimate

noun

‹rare› another term for mercuric chloride.

corrugate /ˈkôrəɡāt/

I. verb

contract or cause to contract into wrinkles or folds
[no obj.]

• Micky's brow corrugated in a simian frown.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin corrugat- ‘wrinkled,’ from the verb corrugare, from cor- (expressing intensive force) + rugare (from ruga ‘a wrinkle’).

corrugated /ˈkôrəˌɡādəd ˈkärəˌɡādəd/

I. adjective

(of a material, surface, or structure) shaped into alternate ridges and grooves

• the roof was made of corrugated iron.

II. derivatives

corrugation /ˌkôrəˈɡāSH(ə)n /

noun

corrugated iron

noun

a building material consisting of iron or steel sheeting bent into a corrugated form.

corrugated paper /ˈkôrəˌɡādid ˈpāpər/

noun

packaging material made from layers of thick paper, the top layer of which is alternately grooved and ridged for added strength and rigidity.

corrupt /kəˈrəpt/

I. adjective

1. having or showing a willingness to act dishonestly in return for money or personal gain

• unscrupulous logging companies assisted by corrupt officials.

2. evil or morally depraved

• the play can do no harm since its audience is already corrupt.

3. ‹archaic› (of organic or inorganic matter) in a state of decay; rotten or putrid

• a corrupt and rotting corpse.

4. (of a text or a computer database or program) made unreliable by errors or alterations.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause to act dishonestly in return for money or personal gain

• there is a continuing fear of firms corrupting politicians in the search for contracts.

2. cause to become morally depraved

• he has corrupted the boy.

3. ‹archaic› infect; contaminate
(as adj. corrupting)

• the corrupting smell of death.

4. change or debase by making errors or unintentional alterations

• Epicurus's teachings have since been much corrupted.

5. cause errors to appear in (a computer program or database)

• a program that has somehow corrupted your system files.

III. derivatives

1. corrupter /kəˈrəptər /

noun

2. corruptibility /kəˌrəptəˈbilədē /

noun

3. corruptible /kəˈrəptəb(ə)l /

adjective

4. corruptive /kəˈrəptiv /

adjective

5. corruptly

adverb

– origin Middle English: from Latin corruptus, past participle of corrumpere ‘mar, bribe, destroy,’ from cor- ‘altogether’ + rumpere ‘to break.’

corruption /kəˈrəpSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery

• the journalist who wants to expose corruption in high places.

2. the action of making someone or something morally depraved or the state of being so

• the word “addict” conjures up evil and corruption.

3. ‹archaic› decay; putrefaction

• the potato turned black and rotten with corruption.

4. the process by which something, typically a word or expression, is changed from its original use or meaning to one that is regarded as erroneous or debased.

5. the process of causing errors to appear in a computer program or database.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin corruptio(n-), from corrumpere ‘mar, bribe, destroy’ (see corrupt).

corruptionist /kəˈrəpSH(ə)nəst/

noun

one who practices or endorses corruption, especially in politics.

corrupt practice

noun — (often corrupt practices)

1. a fraudulent activity, especially an attempt to rig an election.

corsage /kôrˈsäZH/

I. noun

1. a spray of flowers worn pinned to a woman's clothes.

2. the upper part of a woman's dress.

– origin early 19th cent. (sense 2): French, from Old French cors ‘body,’ from Latin corpus.

corsair /ˌkôrˈser/

I. noun

1. ‹archaic› a pirate.

2. ‹archaic› a pirate ship.

3. ‹archaic› a privateer, especially one operating along the southern coast of the Mediterranean in the 16th–18th centuries.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French corsaire, from medieval Latin cursarius, from cursus ‘a raid, plunder,’ special use of Latin cursus ‘course,’ from currere ‘to run.’

corse /kôrs/

I. noun

‹archaic› a corpse.

– origin Middle English: from Old French cors ‘body,’ from Latin corpus. Compare with corpse.

Corse /kôrs/

French name for Corsica.

corselet /ˈkôrslət/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› a piece of armor covering the trunk.

2. variant spelling of corselette.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Old French corslet, diminutive of cors ‘body.’

corselette /ˈkôrslət / corselet

I. noun

a woman's foundation garment combining corset and bra.

– origin 1920s: from corselet (see corselet).

corset /ˈkôrsət/

I. noun

1. a woman's tightly fitting undergarment extending from below the chest to the hips, worn to shape the figure.

2. a fitted garment extending from below the chest to the hips, worn by men or women to support a weak or injured back.

3. ‹historical› a tightly fitting laced or stiffened outer bodice or dress.

II. derivatives

1. corseted

adjective

2. corsetry /-trē /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French, diminutive of cors ‘body,’ from Latin corpus. The sense ‘close-fitting undergarment’ dates from the late 18th cent., by which time the sense ‘bodice’ had mainly historical reference.

corsetière /ˌkôrsəˈti(ə)r, -ˈtyer/

I. noun

a woman who makes or fits corsets.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, feminine of corsetier, from corset (see corset).

Corsica /ˈkôrsəkə/

a mountainous island off the western coast of Italy that forms an administrative region of France; pop. 273,000 (est. 2004); chief towns, Bastia (northern department) and Ajaccio (southern department). It was the birthplace of Napoleon I.
French name Corse.

Corsican /ˈkôrsəkən/

I. noun

1. a native of Corsica.

2. the language of Corsica, which originated as a dialect of Italian.

II. adjective

relating to Corsica, its people, or their language.

Corsicana /ˌkôrsəˈkänə/

a city in east central Texas, an oil center; pop. 26,459 (est. 2008).

cortado /kôrˈtäˌdō/

I. noun

espresso with a small amount of steamed milk

• Harry paid for a double espresso and a cortado.

– origin from Spanish (café) cortado, literally ‘cut (coffee),’ from cortar ‘to cut.’

cortège /kôrˈteZH/

I. noun

1. a solemn procession, especially for a funeral.

2. a person's entourage or retinue.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, from Italian corteggio, from corteggiare ‘attend court,’ from corte ‘court,’ from Latin cohors, cohort- ‘retinue.’

Cortes /ˈkôrtez/

I. the legislative assembly of Spain and formerly of Portugal.

– origin Spanish and Portuguese, plural of corte ‘court,’ from Latin cohors, cohort- ‘yard, retinue.’

Cortés, Hernando /kôrˈtez / Cortez

(1485–1547), first of the Spanish conquistadors. He overthrew the Aztec empire by conquering its capital, Tenochtitlán, in 1519 and by deposing its emperor, Montezuma. In 1521, he destroyed Tenochtitlán completely, established Mexico City as the capital of New Spain (now Mexico), and served briefly as its governor.

cortex /ˈkôrˌteks/

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] the outer layer of the cerebrum (the cerebral cortex), composed of folded gray matter and playing an important role in consciousness.

2. [Anatomy] an outer layer of another organ or body part such as a kidney (the renal cortex), the cerebellum, or a hair.

3. [Anatomy] [Botany] an outer layer of tissue immediately below the epidermis of a stem or root.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin, literally ‘bark.’

cortical /ˈkôrdək(ə)l/

adjective

1. [Anatomy] relating to the outer layer of the cerebrum

• the imaging of the brain showed cortical atrophy.

2. relating to an outer layer of another organ or body part such as a kidney

• the outline of the kidney is irregular due to cortical scarring.

3. [Botany] relating to or forming an outer layer of tissue immediately below the epidermis of a stem or root

• a probe was inserted into cortical cells of cotton roots.

corticate /ˈkôrdəkāt ˈkôrdəkət/

I. adjective

[Botany] having a cortex, bark, or rind.

II. derivatives

cortication /ˌkôrtəˈkāSHən /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin corticatus, from cortex, cortic- ‘bark.’

cortico-

I. combining form

representing cortex, esp. with reference to the adrenal and cerebral cortices:

• corticosterone.

– origin from Latin cortex, cortic- ‘bark.’

corticofugal /ˌkôrdəkōˈfyo͞oɡəl / corticifugal

I. adjective

[Anatomy] (of a nerve fiber) originating in and running from the cerebral cortex.

– origin late 19th cent.: from cortico- ‘cortex’ + Latin fugere ‘run from.’

corticoid /ˈkôrtəˌkoid/

noun

another term for corticosteroid.

corticosteroid /ˌkôrdəkōˈsteroid ˌkôrdəkōˈstiroid/

noun

[Biochemistry] any of a group of steroid hormones produced in the adrenal cortex or made synthetically. There are two kinds: glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. They have various metabolic functions and some are used to treat inflammation.

corticosterone /ˌkôrdəˈkästərōn/

noun

[Biochemistry] a hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex, one of the glucocorticoids.

corticotropin /ˌkôrdəkōˈtrōpən / corticotrophin

noun

[Biochemistry] another term for adrenocorticotropic hormone.

cortile /ˌkôrtēˈlā/

I. noun

(in Italy) an enclosed area, typically roofless and arcaded, within or attached to a building.

– origin Italian, derivative of corte ‘court.’

cortina /kôrˈtīnə, -ˈtēnə/

I. noun

[Botany] (in some toadstools) a thin weblike veil extending from the edge of the cap to the stalk.

II. derivatives

cortinate /ˈkôrtnˌāt /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from late Latin, literally ‘curtain.’

cortisol /ˈkôrtəˌsôl, -ˌsōl/

noun

[Biochemistry] another term for hydrocortisone.

cortisone /ˈkôrdəˌsōn/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a hormone produced by the adrenal cortex. One of the glucocorticoids, it is also made synthetically for use as an anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy agent.

– origin 1940s: from elements of its chemical name 17-hydroxy-11-dehydrocorticosterone.

Cortland /ˈkôrtlənd/

I. noun

a dessert apple of a variety with red skin and sweet flesh, originating in the United States

• I prefer using Cortlands for baking, but they weren't available.

– origin early 20th cent.: named after Cortland County, New York, near which the apple was developed.

corundum /kəˈrəndəm/

I. noun

extremely hard aluminum oxide, used as an abrasive. Ruby and sapphire are varieties of corundum.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Tamil kuruntam and Telugu kuruvindam.

Corunna /kəˈrənə/

a port in northwestern Spain; pop. 245,164 (2008). It was the point of departure for the armada in 1588.
Spanish name La Coruña.

coruscant /kəˈrəskənt/

I. adjective

‹literary› glittering; sparkling.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Latin coruscant- ‘vibrating, glittering,’ from the verb coruscare.

coruscate /ˈkôrəˌskāt ˈkärəˌskāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹literary› (of light) flash or sparkle

• the light was coruscating from the walls.

II. derivatives

coruscation /kôrəˈskāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin early 18th cent.: from Latin coruscat- ‘glittered,’ from the verb coruscare.

coruscating /ˈkôrəˌskādiNG/

adjective

1. flashing; sparkling

• a coruscating kaleidoscope of colors.

2. brilliant or striking in content or style

• the play's coruscating wit.

Corvallis /kôrˈvaləs/

a city in western Oregon, on the Willamette River, home to Oregon State University; pop. 51,110 (est. 2008).

corvée /kôrˈvā/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› a day's unpaid labor owed by a vassal to his feudal lord.

2. ‹historical› forced labor exacted in lieu of taxes, in particular that on public roads.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, based on Latin corrogare ‘ask for, collect.’ Rare in English before the late 18th cent.

corvette /kôrˈvet/

I. noun

1. a small warship designed for convoy escort duty.

2. ‹historical› a sailing warship with one tier of guns.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, from Dutch korf, denoting a kind of ship, + the diminutive suffix -ette.

corvid /ˈkôrvid/

I. noun

[Ornithology] a bird of the crow family (Corvidae); a crow.

– origin mid 20th cent.: from modern Latin Corvidae (plural), from Latin corvus ‘raven.’

corvina^1 /kôrˈvēnə/

I. noun

a variety of wine grape native to the Veneto region of northeastern Italy, used to make Valpolicella and Bardolino.

– origin Italian (feminine adjective), literally ‘raven-black.’

corvina^2 /ˌkôrˈvēnə/

I. noun

a marine food and game fish of the drum family, found on the Pacific coasts of California and Mexico and sometimes living in fresh water.
[Genus Cynoscion, family Sciaenidae: two species, in particular the shortfin corvina (C. parvipennis).]

– origin late 18th cent.: from Spanish and Portuguese.

corvine /ˈkôrvīn/

I. adjective

of or like a raven or crow, especially in color.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin corvinus, from corvus ‘raven.’

Corvus /ˈkôrvəs / ‹Astronomy›

I. a small southern constellation (the Crow or Raven), south of Virgo.

II. (Corvi ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation

• the star Gamma Corvi.

– origin Latin.

corybantic /ˌkôrəˈban(t)ik/

I. adjective

wild; frenzied.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Corybantes, Latin name of the priests of Cybele, a Phrygian goddess of nature who performed wild dances, from Greek Korubantes + -ic.

corydalis /kəˈridələs/

I. noun

a herbaceous plant of the poppy family with spurred tubular flowers, closely related to bleeding heart and found in north temperate regions.
[Genus Corydalis, family Fumariaceae: many species, including yellow corydalis (C. flavula) of the eastern US.]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek korudallis ‘crested lark,’ alluding to a similarity between the flower and the bird's spur.

corymb /ˈkôrim(b) ˈkärim(b)/

I. noun

[Botany] a flower cluster whose lower stalks are proportionally longer so that the flowers form a flat or slightly convex head.

II. derivatives

corymbose /ˈkôrimˌbōs ˈkärimˌbōs ˈkôrimˌbōz ˈkärimˌbōz /

adjective

– origin early 18th cent.: from French corymbe or Latin corymbus, from Greek korumbos ‘cluster.’

corynebacterium /ˌkôrənēbakˈti(ə)rēəm, kəˌrinə-/

I. noun

a bacterium that sometimes causes disease in humans and other animals, including diphtheria.
[Genus Corynebacterium; Gram-positive nonmotile club-shaped rods.]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek korunē ‘club’ + bacterium.

coryphée /ˌkôrəˈfā/

I. noun

a leading dancer in a corps de ballet.

– origin French, via Latin from Greek koruphaios ‘leader of a chorus,’ from koruphē ‘head.’

coryza /kəˈrīzə/

I. noun

[Medicine] catarrhal inflammation of the mucous membrane in the nose, caused especially by a cold or by hay fever.

– origin early 16th cent.: from Latin, from Greek koruza ‘nasal mucus.’

cos^1 /käs / cos lettuce

I. noun

another term for romaine.

– origin late 17th cent.: named after the Aegean island of Cos, where it originated.

cos^2 /käs/

abbreviation

cosine.

cos^3 /käz kəz / 'cos

conjunction

(Brit.) ‹informal› because.

• I got quite upset, cos I'd worked so hard.

Cosa Nostra /ˌkōsə ˈnōstrə, ˌkōzə/

I. a US criminal organization resembling and related to the Mafia.

– origin Italian, literally ‘our affair.’

Cosby, Bill /ˈkôzbē, ˈkäz-/

(1937–), US comedian, actor, and writer; full name William Henry Cosby, Jr. He was the first African American to star in a weekly television drama (I Spy; 1965–68). His comedy series The Cosby Show 1984–92 was one of the most successful programs in television history. He wrote Fatherhood (1986) and Love and Marriage (1989).

coscoroba swan /ˌkäskəˈrōbə ˌswän/

I. noun

a small South American swan with white plumage and bright pink legs and feet.
[Coscoroba coscoroba, family Anatidae.]

– origin early 19th cent.: coscoroba from the modern Latin taxonomic name, of unknown origin.

cosec /ˈkōsek/

abbreviation

cosecant.

cosecant /kōˈsēkənt/

I. noun

[Mathematics] the ratio of the hypotenuse (in a right-angled triangle) to the side opposite an acute angle; the reciprocal of sine.

– origin early 18th cent.: from modern Latin cosecant-, from co- ‘mutually’ + Latin secant- ‘cutting’ (from the verb secare). Compare with secant.

coseismal /kōˈsīsməl/

I. adjective

relating to points on the earth's surface affected by an earthquake simultaneously.

II. noun

a line on a map connecting coseismal points.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from co- ‘jointly’ + seismal (from Greek seismos ‘earthquake,’ from seien ‘to shake’).

coset /ˈkōset/

noun

[Mathematics] a set composed of all the products obtained by multiplying each element of a subgroup in turn by one particular element of the group containing the subgroup.

cosh^1 /käSH / ‹Brit. informal›

I. noun

a thick heavy stick or bar used as a weapon; a bludgeon.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. hit (someone) on the head with a cosh.

– origin mid 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

cosh^2 /käSH/

I. abbreviation

[Mathematics] hyperbolic cosine.

– origin from cos^2 + -h for hyperbolic. Compare with coth.

co-sign /ˈkōsīn/

verb

1. sign (a document) in order to guarantee a loan or other obligation
[with obj.]

• co-sign a loan

• [no obj.] see if your parents will co-sign for you.

2. [with obj.] — designate with two different labels or signs

• original interchange numbers will be co-signed with new numbers for two years after the conversion

• U.S. 400 is co-signed with U.S. 166 for about 8 miles.

cosignatory /kōˈsiɡnəˌtôrē/

noun

a person or state signing a treaty or other document jointly with others.

Cosimo de' Medici /ˌkôzēˌmō də ˈmedəCHē/

(1389–1464), Italian statesman and banker; known as Cosimo the Elder. He laid the foundations for the Medici family's power in Florence, becoming the city's ruler in 1434 and using his considerable wealth to promote the arts and learning.

cosine /ˈkōˌsīn/

noun

[Mathematics] the trigonometric function that is equal to the ratio of the side adjacent to an acute angle (in a right-angled triangle) to the hypotenuse.

co-sleeping /ˌkōˈslēpiNG/

I. noun

the practice of sleeping in the same bed with one's infant or young child

• co-sleeping often facilitates a good breastfeeding relationship.

II. derivatives

co-sleep

verb

cosmeceutical /ˌkäzməˈso͞odik(ə)l/

I. noun

a cosmetic that has or is claimed to have medicinal properties, especially anti-aging ones.

– origin 1980s: blend of cosmetic and pharmaceutical.

cosmetic /käzˈmedik/

I. adjective

1. involving or relating to treatment intended to restore or improve a person's appearance

• cosmetic surgery.

2. designed or serving to improve the appearance of the body, especially the face

• lens designs can improve the cosmetic effect of your glasses.

3. affecting only the appearance of something rather than its substance

• the reform package was merely a cosmetic exercise.

II. noun — (usu. cosmetics)

1. a product applied to the body, especially the face, to improve its appearance.

III. derivatives

cosmetically /käzˈmedək(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin early 17th cent. (as a noun denoting the art of beautifying the body): from French cosmétique, from Greek kosmētikos, from kosmein ‘arrange or adorn,’ from kosmos ‘order or adornment.’

cosmetician /ˌkäzməˈtiSHən/

noun

(N. Amer.) a person who sells or applies cosmetics as an occupation.

cosmetology /ˌkäzməˈtäləjē/

I. noun

the professional skill or practice of beautifying the face, hair, and skin.

II. derivatives

1. cosmetological /-təˈläjikəl /

adjective

2. cosmetologist /ˌkäzməˈtäləjəst /

noun

cosmic /ˈkäzmik/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to the universe or cosmos, especially as distinct from the earth

• cosmic matter.

2. inconceivably vast

• the song is a masterpiece of cosmic proportions.

II. derivatives

1. cosmical

adjective

2. cosmically /ˈkäzmik(ə)lē /

adverb

cosmic dust /ˈkäzmik dəst/

noun

small particles of matter distributed throughout space.

cosmic radiation

noun

radiation consisting of cosmic rays.

cosmic ray

noun

a highly energetic atomic nucleus or other particle traveling through space at a speed approaching that of light.

cosmo-

I. combining form

of or relating to the world or the universe

• cosmodrome

• cosmography.

– origin from Greek kosmos ‘order, world.’

cosmodrome /ˈkäzməˌdrōm/

I. noun

(in the countries of the former Soviet Union) a launching site for spacecraft.

– origin 1950s: from cosmo- + -drome, on the pattern of aerodrome.

cosmogenesis /ˌkäzmōˈjenəsəs/

I. noun

the origin or evolution of the universe.

II. derivatives

1. cosmogenetic /-jəˈnetik /

adjective

2. cosmogenic /-ˈjenik /

adjective

cosmogony /käzˈmäɡənē/

I. noun

1. the branch of science that deals with the origin of the universe, especially the solar system.

2. a theory regarding this

• in their cosmogony, the world was thought to be a square, flat surface.

II. derivatives

1. cosmogonic /ˌkäzməˈɡänik /

adjective

2. cosmogonical /ˌkäzməˈɡänikəl /

adjective

3. cosmogonist /-nist /

noun

– origin late 17th cent.: from Greek kosmogonia, from kosmos ‘order or world’ + -gonia ‘-begetting.’

cosmography /käzˈmäɡrəfē/

I. noun

1. the science that deals with the general features of the universe, including the earth. The branches of cosmography include astronomy, geography, and geology.

2. a description or representation of the universe or the earth.

II. derivatives

1. cosmographer /käzˈmäɡrəfər /

noun

2. cosmographic /ˌkäzməˈɡrafik /

adjective

3. cosmographical /ˌkäzməˈɡrafikəl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from French cosmographie, or via late Latin from Greek kosmographia, from kosmos (see cosmos^1) + -graphia ‘writing.’

cosmological /käzməˈläjik(ə)l/

adjective

relating to the origin and development of the universe

• the general theory of relativity led to major developments in cosmological theory.

cosmological argument /ˌkäzməˌläjəkəl ˈärɡyəmənt/

noun

[Philosophy] an argument for the existence of God that claims that all things in nature depend on something else for their existence (i.e., are contingent), and that the whole cosmos must therefore itself depend on a being that exists independently or necessarily.
Compare with ontological argument and teleological argument.

cosmological constant

noun

[Physics] an arbitrary constant in the field equations of general relativity.

cosmology /käzˈmäləjē/

I. noun

1. the science of the origin and development of the universe. Modern astronomy is dominated by the Big Bang theory, which brings together observational astronomy and particle physics.

2. an account or theory of the origin of the universe.

II. derivatives

cosmologist /käzˈmäləjəst /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French cosmologie or modern Latin cosmologia, from Greek kosmos ‘order, world’ + -logia ‘discourse.’

cosmonaut /ˈkäzməˌnôt ˈkäzməˌnät/

I. noun

a Russian astronaut.

– origin 1950s: from cosmos^1, on the pattern of astronaut and Russian kosmonavt.

cosmopolis /käzˈmäpələs/

I. noun

a city inhabited by people from many different countries.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek kosmos ‘world’ + polis ‘city.’

cosmopolitan /ˌkäzməˈpälətn/

I. adjective

1. familiar with and at ease in many different countries and cultures

• his knowledge of French, Italian, and Spanish made him genuinely cosmopolitan.

2. including people from many different countries

• immigration transformed the city into a cosmopolitan metropolis.

3. having an exciting and glamorous character associated with travel and a mixture of cultures

• their designs became a byword for cosmopolitan chic.

4. (of a plant or animal) found all over the world.

II. noun

1. a cosmopolitan person.

2. a cosmopolitan organism or species.

3. a cocktail typically made with vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice, and lime juice.

III. derivatives

1. cosmopolitanism /ˌkäzməˈpälətnˌizəm /

noun

2. cosmopolitanize /-ˌīz /

verb

– origin mid 17th cent. (as a noun): from cosmopolite + -an.

cosmopolite /käzˈmäpəˌlīt/

I. noun

a cosmopolitan person.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French, from Greek kosmopolitēs, from kosmos ‘world’ + politēs ‘citizen.’

cosmos^1 /ˈkäzməs ˈkäzˌmōs ˈkäzˌmäs/

I. noun — (the cosmos)

1. the universe seen as a well-ordered whole

• he sat staring deep into the void, reminding himself of his place in the cosmos.

2. a system of thought

• the new gender-free intellectual cosmos.

– origin Middle English: from Greek kosmos ‘order or world.’

cosmos^2 /ˈkäzməs ˈkäzˌmōs ˈkäzˌmäs/

I. noun

an ornamental plant of the daisy family with single dahlialike flowers. Native to tropical America, it is widely grown as an ornamental.
[Genus Cosmos, family Compositae.]

– origin from Greek kosmos in the sense ‘ornament.’

COSPAR /ˈkōspär/

abbreviation

Committee on Space Research.

cosplay /ˈkäzˌplā, ˈkäsˌplā/

I. noun

the practice of dressing up as a character from a movie, book, or video game, especially one from the Japanese genres of manga and anime.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. engage in cosplay.

III. derivatives

cosplayer

a. noun

b. noun

– origin 1990s: blend of costume and play.

Cossack /ˈkäsˌak ˈkäsək/

I. noun

1. a member of a people of southern Russia and Ukraine, noted for their horsemanship and military skill.

2. a member of a Cossack military unit.

The Cossacks had their origins in the 14th century when refugees from religious persecution, outlaws, adventurers, and escaped serfs banded together in settlements for protection. Under the tsars they were allowed considerable autonomy in return for protecting the frontiers; with the collapse of Soviet rule, Cossack groups have reasserted their identity in both Russia and Ukraine.

II. adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of the Cossacks.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Russian kazak from Turkic,‘vagabond, nomad’; later influenced by French Cosaque (see also Kazakh).

cosset /ˈkäsət/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. care for and protect in an overindulgent way

• all her life she'd been cosseted by her family.

– origin mid 16th cent. (as a noun denoting a lamb brought up by hand, later a spoiled child): probably from Anglo-Norman French coscet ‘cottager,’ from Old English cotsǣta ‘cottar.’

cost /kôst/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of an object or an action) require the payment of (a specified sum of money) before it can be acquired or done

• each issue of the magazine costs $2.25.

2. cause the loss of

• driving at more than double the speed limit cost the woman her driving license.

3. ‹informal› be expensive for (someone)

• if you want to own an island, it'll cost you.

4. (past and past participle costed) — estimate the price of

• it is their job to plan and cost a media schedule for the campaign.

II. noun

1. an amount that has to be paid or spent to buy or obtain something

• we are able to cover the cost of the event

• health care costs

• the tunnel has been built at no cost to the state.

2. the effort, loss, or sacrifice necessary to achieve or obtain something

• she averted a train accident at the cost of her life.

III. phrases

1. at all costs (or at any cost)

regardless of the price to be paid or the effort needed

• he was anxious to avoid war at all costs.

2. at cost

at cost price; without profit to the seller.

3. cost an arm and a leg

see arm^1.

4. cost someone dearly (or dear)

involve someone in a serious loss or a heavy penalty

• they were really bad mistakes on my part and they cost us dearly.

– origin Middle English: from Old French coust (noun), couster (verb), based on Latin constare ‘stand firm, stand at a price.’

costa /ˈkästə/

I. noun

1. [Botany] [Zoology] a rib, midrib, or riblike structure.

2. [Botany] [Zoology] [Entomology] the main vein running along the leading edge of an insect's wing.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin.

Costa, Lúcio /ˈkôstə/

(1902–63), Brazilian architect, town planner, and architectural historian; born in France. He designed Brasilia, the capital of Brazil, in 1956.

Costa Blanca /ˌkästə ˈblaNGkə/

I. a resort region on the Mediterranean coast of southeastern Spain.

– origin Spanish, literally ‘white coast.’

Costa Brava /ˌkôstə ˈbrävə/

I. a resort region on the Mediterranean coast of northeastern Spain, north of Barcelona.

– origin Spanish, literally ‘wild coast.’

cost accounting

I. noun

the recording of all the costs incurred in a business in a way that can be used to improve its management.

II. derivatives

cost accountant

noun

Costa del Sol /ˌkôstə del ˈsôl/

I. a resort region on the Mediterranean coast of southern Spain.

– origin Spanish,‘coast of the sun.’

costal /ˈkästəl/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to the ribs.

2. [Anatomy] [Zoology] of or relating to a costa.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, from modern Latin costalis, from Latin costa ‘rib.’

Costa Mesa /ˌkōstə ˈmāsə, ˌkästə/

a city in southwestern California, on the Pacific Ocean, south of Los Angeles; pop. 110,080 (est. 2008).

costar /ˈkōˌstär/

I. noun

a leading actor or actress appearing in a movie, on stage, etc., with another or others of equal importance.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. appear in a production as a costar

• she costarred with Robert De Niro in the movie version.

2. [with obj.] — (of a production) include as a costar

• his latest movie costars Meryl Streep.

costard /ˈkästərd / Costard

I. noun

1. (Brit.) a cooking apple of a large ribbed variety.

2. (Brit.) ‹archaic› ‹humorous› a person's head.

– origin Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French, from coste ‘rib,’ from Latin costa.

Costa Rica /ˌkōstə ˈrikə/

I.
1. a republic in Central America on the Isthmus of Panama, with coastlines on the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea; pop. 4,253,900 (est. 2009); capital, San José; language, Spanish.

Colonized by Spain in the early 16th century, Costa Rica achieved independence in 1823 and emerged as a separate country in 1838.

– origin Spanish,‘rich coast.’

Costa Rican /ˌkōstə ˈrēk(ə)n/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of Costa Rica or its people

• a Costa Rican rainforest.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of Costa Rica

• the three-day race was won by a native Costa Rican.

costate /ˈkäsˌtāt, ˈkästət/

I. adjective

[Botany] [Zoology] ribbed; possessing a costa.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin costatus, from costa ‘rib.’

cost–benefit

adjective

relating to or denoting a process that assesses the relation between the cost of an undertaking and the value of the resulting benefits

• a cost–benefit analysis.

cost center

noun

a department or other unit within an organization to which costs may be charged for accounting purposes.

cost-effective

I. adjective

effective or productive in relation to its cost

• the most cost-effective way to invest in the stock market.

II. derivatives

cost-effectively

adverb

cost-effectiveness /ˈkôstəˌfektivnəs/

noun

the degree to which something is effective or productive in relation to its cost

• the college will be able to improve the cost-effectiveness of policing.

cost-efficient /ˈkôstəˌfiSHənt/

I. adjective

another term for cost-effective.

II. derivatives

cost-efficiency

noun

costermonger /ˈkästərˌməNGɡər/

I. noun

(Brit.) ‹dated› a person who sells goods, especially fruit and vegetables, from a handcart in the street.

– origin early 16th cent. (denoting an apple seller): from costard + -monger.

costive /ˈkästiv ˈkôstiv/

I. adjective

1. constipated.

2. slow or reluctant in speech or action; unforthcoming

• if he did ask her she would become costive.

II. derivatives

1. costively

adverb

2. costiveness /ˈkästivnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin constipatus ‘pressed together’ (see constipated).

costly /ˈkôs(t)lē/

I. adjective

1. costing a lot; expensive

• major problems requiring costly repairs.

2. causing suffering, loss, or disadvantage

• the government's biggest and most costly mistake.

II. derivatives

costliness /ˈkäs(t)lēnəs /

noun

costmary /ˈkôstmerē/

I. noun

an aromatic plant of the daisy family, formerly used in medicine and for flavoring ale prior to the use of hops.
[Balsamita major, family Compositae.]

– origin late Middle English: from obsolete cost (via Latin from Greek kostos, via Arabic from Sanskrit kuṣṭha, denoting an aromatic plant) + Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ (with whom it was associated in medieval times because of its medicinal qualities).

Costner, Kevin /ˈkästnər/

(1955–), US actor, director, and producer. As an actor, his movies include Field of Dreams (1989), Dances with Wolves (1990; also director), JFK (1991), and Message in a Bottle (1999).

cost of living

noun

the level of prices relating to a range of everyday items.

cost-of-living index /ˌkäst əv ˈliviNG inˌdeks / CLI

noun

former term for consumer price index.

cost-plus /ˈkôstˌpləs/

adjective

relating to or denoting a method of pricing a service or product in which a fixed profit factor is added to the costs.

cost saving

I. noun

a reduction in expenses, especially in business

• the consolidation of these manufacturing facilities will deliver significant cost savings.

II. adjective

serving to reduce expenses, especially in business

• research into cost-saving technologies

• cost-saving measures.

costume

I. noun — /ˈkäsˌt(y)o͞om /

1. a set of clothes in a style typical of a particular country or historical period

• authentic Elizabethan costumes

• children in national costume singing folk music.

2. a set of clothes worn by an actor or other performer for a particular role or by someone attending a masquerade

• a nun's costume.

3. a set of clothes, especially a woman's ensemble, for a particular occasion or purpose; an outfit.

II. verb — /käsˈt(y)o͞om ˈkäst(y)o͞om ˈkästəm / [with obj.]

1. dress (someone) in a particular set of clothes

• an all-woman troupe elaborately costumed in clinging silver lamé.

– origin early 18th cent.: from French, from Italian custume ‘custom, fashion, habit,’ from Latin consuetudo (see custom).

costume drama /ˈkäsˌt(y)o͞om ˈdrämə / costume play

noun

a television or film production set in a particular historical period, in which the actors wear costumes typical of that period.

costume jewelry

noun

jewelry made with inexpensive materials or imitation gems.

costumer /ˈkästyo͞omər käsˈtyo͞omər / ‹chiefly Brit.› costumier

I. noun

a person or company that makes or supplies theatrical or fancy-dress costumes.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French costumier, from costumer ‘dress in a costume’ (see costume).

cot^1 /kät/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a camp bed, particularly a portable, collapsible one.

2. a plain narrow bed.

3. (Brit.) a baby's crib.

– origin mid 17th cent. (originally Anglo-Indian, denoting a light bedstead): from Hindi khāṭ ‘bedstead, hammock.’

cot^2 /kät/

I. noun

1. a small shelter for livestock.

2. ‹archaic› a small, simple cottage.

– origin Old English, of Germanic origin; compare with Old Norse kytja ‘hovel’; related to cote.

cot^3 /kät/

abbreviation

[Mathematics] cotangent.

cotangent /kōˈtanjənt/

noun

[Mathematics] (in a right-angled triangle) the ratio of the side (other than the hypotenuse) adjacent to a particular acute angle to the side opposite the angle.

cotch /käCH / kotch

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (Brit.) ‹informal› spend time relaxing

• I'm still up—just been cotching on the sofa since I got in.

2. (Brit.) ‹informal› stay or sleep somewhere on a temporary basis

• looks like I'm cotching on the streets tonight.

– origin late 19th cent. (in Jamaican English, in sense ‘rest, lean on something for support’): apparently a variant of scotch^1.

cot death /ˈkät ˌdeTH/

noun

(Brit.) informal term for sudden infant death syndrome.

cote /kōt/

I. noun

a shelter for mammals or birds, especially pigeons.

– origin Old English (in the sense ‘cottage’), of Germanic origin; related to cot^2.

Côte d'Azur /ˌkōt däˈzYr, ˌkōt dəˈzo͝or/

a coastal area of southeastern France, along the Mediterranean Sea, roughly coterminous with the French Riviera. It includes the towns of Cannes, Saint Tropez, Juan-les-Pins, and Antibes and the city of Nice, as well as the principality of Monaco.

Côte d'Ivoire /ˌkōt dēvˈwär/

a country in West Africa, on the Gulf of Guinea; pop. 20,617,100 (est. 2009); capital, Yamoussoukro; languages, French (official) and West African languages.
Also called Ivory Coast. The area was explored by the Portuguese in the late 15th century. Subsequently, it was disputed over by traders from various European countries, who mainly sought ivory and slaves. Made a French protectorate in 1842, it became a fully independent republic in 1960.

cote-hardie /ˌkōtˈärdē, ˌkōtˈhärdē/

I. noun

‹historical› a medieval close-fitting tunic with sleeves, worn by both sexes.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, from cote ‘coat’ + hardie (feminine) ‘bold.’

coterie /ˈkōdərē ˌkōdəˈrē/

I. noun

a small group of people with shared interests or tastes, especially one that is exclusive of other people

• a coterie of friends and advisers.

– origin early 18th cent.: from French, earlier denoting an association of tenants, based on Middle Low German kote ‘cote.’

coterminous /kōˈtərmənəs/

I. adjective

having the same boundaries or extent in space, time, or meaning

• the southern frontier was coterminous with the French Congo colony.

II. derivatives

coterminously

adverb

– origin late 18th cent.: alteration of conterminous.

coth /käTH/

I. abbreviation

hyperbolic cotangent.

– origin from cot^3 + -h for hyperbolic.

cothurnus /kōˈTHərnəs/

noun

1. a thick-soled boot or buskin worn by actors in Greek tragedy.

2. an elevated style of acting in classical tragic drama.

cotidal line /kōˈtīdl ˌlīn/

noun

a line on a map connecting points at which a tidal level, especially high tide, occurs simultaneously.

cotillion /kəˈtilyən/

I. noun

1. an 18th-century French dance based on the contredanse.

2. (US) a quadrille.

3. (US) a formal ball, especially one at which debutantes are presented.

– origin early 18th cent.: from French cotillon, literally ‘petticoat dance,’ diminutive of cotte, from Old French cote.

cotinga /kōˈtiNGɡə, kə-/

I. noun

a perching bird found in the forests of Central and South America, the male of which is frequently brilliantly colored.
[Family Cotingidae (the cotinga family): several genera, esp. Cotinga, and numerous species. The cotinga family also includes the bellbirds, umbrellabirds, and cocks-of-the-rock, and is sometimes placed within the family Tyrannidae.]

– origin via French from Tupi cutinga.

cotoneaster /kəˌtōnēˈastər/

I. noun

a small-leaved shrub of the rose family, cultivated as a hedging plant or for its bright red berries, which often remain on the plant throughout the winter.
[Genus Cotoneaster, family Rosaceae.]

– origin mid 18th cent.: modern Latin, from Latin cotoneum (see quince) + -aster.

Cotonou /ˌkōtnˈo͞o/

the largest city, chief port, and commercial and political center of Benin, on the coast of West Africa; pop. 719,912 (2006).

Cotopaxi /ˌkōtəˈpäksē, -ˈpaksē/

the highest active volcano in the world, in the Andes in central Ecuador, that rises to 19,142 feet (5,896 m). Its name is Quechuan and means “shining peak.”

cotrimoxazole /ˌkōtrīˈmäksəzōl/

noun

[Medicine] a mixture of the drugs sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim, used to treat bacterial infections synergistically.

COTS

abbreviation

[Computing] commercial off-the-shelf.

Cotswold /ˈkätswōld/

I. noun

a sheep of a breed with fine wool, often used to produce crossbred lambs.

II. adjective

of or relating to the Cotswolds.

Cotswold Hills /ˈkätswəld, -ˌswōld / the Cotswolds

a range of limestone hills in southwestern England.

cotta /ˈkädə/

I. noun

a short garment resembling a surplice, worn typically by Catholic priests and servers.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Italian; ultimately related to coat.

cottage /ˈkädij/

I. noun

1. a small simple house, typically one near a lake or beach.

2. a dwelling forming part of a farm establishment, used by a worker

• farm cottages.

– origin late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French cotage and Anglo-Latin cotagium, from cot^2 or cote.

cottage cheese /ˈˌkädij ˈˌCHēz/

noun

soft, lumpy white cheese made from the curds of slightly soured milk.

cottage country

noun

(Canadian) a rural area in which there are many vacation homes

• she's grateful for some rest and relaxation in cottage country.

cottage industry /ˈˌkädij ˈindəstrē/

noun

a business or manufacturing activity carried on in a person's home.

cottager /ˈkädijər/

noun

1. a person living in a cottage.

2. (N. Amer.) a person vacationing in a cottage.

cottar /ˈkädər / cotter

I. noun

‹historical› (in Scotland and Ireland) a farm laborer or tenant occupying a cottage in return for labor.

– origin late Old English, from cot^2 + -ar^4.

Cottbus /ˈkätbo͝os/

an industrial city in southeastern Germany, in the state of Brandenburg, on the Spree River; pop. 103,800 (est. 2006).

Cotten, Joseph /ˈkätn/

(1905–94), US actor. A star of stage, film, and television. Notable movies: Citizen Kane (1941), Gaslight (1944), The Third Man (1949), and Heaven's Gate (1980).

cotter pin /ˈkädər ˌpin / cotter

I. noun

1. a metal pin used to fasten two parts of a mechanism together.

2. a split pin that is opened out after being passed through a hole.

– origin mid 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

cottier /ˈkädēər/

I. noun

1. (Brit.) ‹archaic› a rural laborer living in a cottage.

2. ‹historical› an Irish peasant holding land by cottier tenure.

– origin Middle English: from Old French cotier, ultimately of Germanic origin and related to cot^2.

cottier tenure

noun

‹historical› (in Ireland) the renting of land in small portions direct to the laborers, at a rent fixed by competition.

cottise /ˈkädəs / cotise

I. noun

[Heraldry] a narrow band adjacent and parallel to an ordinary such as a bend or chevron.

II. derivatives

cottised

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: from French cotice ‘leather thong.’

cotton /ˈkätn/

I. noun

1. a soft white fibrous substance that surrounds the seeds of a tropical and subtropical plant and is used as textile fiber and thread for sewing

• a cargo of cotton and wheat

• a white cotton blouse

• an Indian hammock woven in colored cottons.

2. a thread of cotton fiber.

3. (N. Amer.) absorbent cotton.

4. (also cotton plant) — the plant that is commercially grown for cotton products. Oil and a protein-rich flour are also obtained from the seeds.
[Genus Gossypium, family Malvaceae: many species and forms, including G. barbadense, which is grown in the southern US.]

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (cotton on) — ‹informal› begin to understand

• he cottoned on to what I was trying to say.

2. (cotton to) — ‹informal› (N. Amer.) have a liking for

• his rivals didn't cotton to all the attention he was getting.

III. derivatives

cottony /ˈkätnē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French coton, from Arabic ḳuṭn.

cotton batting /ˈkätn badiNG/

noun

(N. Amer.) light, soft cotton fibers formed into layers, used especially for filling quilts, cushions, etc.

Cotton Belt

noun — (the Cotton Belt)

1. ‹informal› a region of the US South where cotton is the historic main crop, especially in parts of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi.

cotton cake

noun

compressed cotton seed, used as food for cattle.

cotton candy /ˈˌkätn ˈˌkandē/

noun

(N. Amer.) a mass of fluffy spun sugar, usually pink or white, wrapped around a stick or a paper cone.

cotton gin /ˈkätn ˌjin/

noun

a machine for separating cotton from its seeds.

cotton grass /ˈkätn ˌɡras/

noun

a sedge that typically grows on swampy land in the northern hemisphere, producing tufts of long white silky hairs, which aid in the dispersal of the seeds.
[Genus Eriophorum, family Cyperaceae.]

cotton lavender

noun

chiefly British term for lavender cotton.

cotton-leaf worm

noun

the larva of a migratory tropical moth that feeds on the leaves of the cotton plant and was formerly a major pest in North America.
[Alabama argillacea, family Noctuidae.]

cottonmouth /ˈkätnˌmouTH/

noun

1. a large, dangerous semiaquatic pit viper that inhabits lowland swamps and waterways of the southeastern US. When threatening, it opens its mouth wide to display the white interior.
Also called water moccasin. [Agkistrodon piscivorus, family Viperidae.]

2. (also cotton mouth) — (US) ‹informal› dryness of the mouth

• I often have cotton mouth and a headache when I wake up.

cotton-picking /ˈkätnˌpikiNG / cotton-pickin'

adjective

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› used for emphasis, especially with disapproval or reproach

• just a cotton-picking minute!

• he's a cotton-pickin' liar!

cotton rat

noun

a short-tailed rat found in grassland and scrub from North America to Guyana.
[Genus Sigmodon, family Muridae: several species.]

cottonseed /ˈkätnˌsēd/

noun

the seed of the cotton plant, yielding cottonseed oil.

cotton stainer

noun

a North American bug that feeds on cotton bolls, causing reddish staining of the fibers.
[Genus Dysdercus, family Pyrrhocoridae, suborder Heteroptera: several species, in particular D. suturellus.]

Cotton State

a nickname for the state of Alabama.

cotton swab

noun

(N. Amer.) a small wad of absorbent cotton on a short thin stick, used for cosmetic or hygienic purposes.

cottontail /ˈkätnˌtāl/

noun

an American rabbit that has a speckled brownish coat and a white underside to the tail.
[Genus Sylvilagus, family Leporidae: several species.]

cottonwood /ˈkätnˌwo͝od/

noun

a North American poplar with seeds covered in white cottony hairs.
[Genus Populus, family Salicaceae: several species, including P. deltoides.]

cotton wool /ˌkätn ˈwo͝ol/

noun

1. (US) raw cotton.

2. British term for absorbent cotton.

cotyledon /ˌkädəˈlēdn/

I. noun

[Botany] an embryonic leaf in seed-bearing plants, one or more of which are the first leaves to appear from a germinating seed.

II. derivatives

cotyledonary /-ˈēdnˌerē /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting a patch of villi on the placenta of mammals): from Latin,‘navelwort’ (which has cup-shaped leaves), from Greek kotulēdōn ‘cup-shaped cavity,’ from kotulē ‘cup.’

coucal /ˈko͞okəl/

I. noun

an ungainly long-tailed Old World bird that is a large ground-dwelling member of the cuckoo family.
[Genus Centropus (and Coua), family Cuculidae: numerous species, including the Australasian pheasant coucal (Centropus phasianinus).]

– origin early 19th cent.: from French, perhaps a blend of coucou ‘cuckoo’ and alouette ‘lark.’

couch /kouCH/

I. noun

1. a long upholstered piece of furniture for several people to sit on.

2. a reclining seat with a headrest at one end on which a psychoanalyst's subject or doctor's patient lies while undergoing treatment.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (usu. be couched in) — express (something) in language of a specified style

• many false claims are couched in scientific jargon.

2. [no obj.] — ‹literary› lie down

• two creatures couched side by side in the deep grass.

3. ‹archaic› lower (a spear) to the position for attack.

4. (usu. as noun couching) — ‹chiefly historical› treat (a cataract) by pushing the lens of the eye downward and backward, out of line with the pupil.

5. (in embroidery) fix (a thread) to a fabric by stitching it down flat with another thread

• gold and silver threads couched by hand.

III. phrases

on the couch

undergoing psychoanalysis or psychiatric treatment.

– origin Middle English (as a noun denoting something to sleep on; as a verb in the sense ‘lay something down’): from Old French couche (noun), coucher (verb), from Latin collocare ‘place together’ (see collocate).

couchant /ˈkouCHənt/

I. adjective — [usu. postpositive]

1. [Heraldry] (of an animal) lying with the body resting on the legs and the head raised

• two lions couchant.

– origin late Middle English: French,‘lying,’ present participle of coucher (see couch).

couchette /ko͞oˈSHet/

I. noun

1. a European railroad car with seats convertible into sleeping berths.

2. a berth in a couchette.

– origin 1920s: French, literally ‘little bed,’ diminutive of couche ‘a couch.’

couch grass /ˈko͞oCH ˌɡras/

I. noun

a coarse grass with long creeping roots, which can be troublesome in lawns and gardens.
[Genera Elymus and Agropyron, family Gramineae: several species, in particular the common couch (A. repens).]

– origin late 16th cent.: variant of quitch.

couch potato /ˈkouCH pəˌtādō/

noun

‹informal› a person who spends little or no time exercising and a great deal of time watching television.

couch-surf /ˈkouCHsərf/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹informal› stay temporarily in a series of other people's homes, typically making use of improvised sleeping arrangements

• many people were left homeless last year and have been couch surfing ever since with parents or friends.

2. ‹informal› engage in sedentary activities such as watching television or browsing the Internet

• the bottom of this laptop does not get hot at all so you can put it in your lap and couch surf easily.

II. derivatives

couch surfer

noun

coudé /ko͞oˈdā/

I. adjective

relating to or denoting a telescope in which the rays are bent to a focus at a fixed point off the axis.

II. noun

a coudé telescope.

– origin late 19th cent.: French, literally ‘bent at right angles,’ past participle of couder, from coude ‘elbow,’ from Latin cubitum.

cougar /ˈko͞oɡər/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a large American wild cat with a plain tawny to grayish coat, found from Canada to Patagonia.
Also called mountain lion, puma, panther, painter^3, or catamount. [Felis concolor, family Felidae.]

2. ‹informal› an older woman seeking a sexual relationship with a younger man.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French couguar, abbreviation of modern Latin cuguarcarana, from Guarani guaçuarana.

cough /käf/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. expel air from the lungs with a sudden sharp sound.

2. (of an engine) make a sudden harsh noise, especially as a sign of malfunction.

3. [with obj.] — force (something, especially blood) out of the lungs or throat by coughing

• he coughed up bloodstained fluid.

4. [with obj.] (cough something out) — say something in a harsh, abrupt way

• he coughed out his orders.

II. noun

1. an act or sound of coughing

• she gave a discreet cough.

2. a condition of the respiratory organs causing coughing

• he looked feverish and had a bad cough.

III. phrasal verbs

cough something up (or cough up)

‹informal› give something reluctantly, especially money or information that is due or required.

– origin Middle English: of imitative origin; related to Dutch kuchen ‘to cough’ and German keuchen ‘to pant.’

cough drop /ˈkäf ˌdräp/

noun

a medicated lozenge sucked to relieve a cough or sore throat.

cough syrup

noun

liquid medicine taken either to suppress or expectorate a cough.

could /ko͝od kəd/

modal verb

1. past of can^1.

2. used to indicate possibility

• they could be right

• I would go if I could afford it.

3. used in making polite requests

• could I use the phone?

4. used to indicate annoyance because of something that has not been done

• they could have told me!

5. used to indicate a strong inclination to do something

• he irritates me so much that I could scream.

couldn't /ˈko͝odnt/

contraction

could not.

couldst /ko͝odst / couldest

verb

‹archaic› second person singular of could.

coulee /ˈko͞olē ko͞oˈlā/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a deep ravine.

2. a lava flow.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French coulée ‘(lava) flow,’ from couler ‘to flow,’ from Latin colare ‘to strain or flow,’ from colum ‘strainer.’

coulibiac /ko͞oˈlēbyäk/

I. noun

a Russian fish pie typically made with salmon or sturgeon, hard-boiled eggs, mushrooms, and herbs, in a puff pastry shell.

– origin from Russian kulebyaka.

coulis /ko͞oˈlē/

I. noun

a thin fruit or vegetable puree, used as a sauce.

– origin French, from couler ‘to flow.’

coulisse /ko͞oˈlēs/

I. noun

1. a flat piece of scenery at the side of the stage in a theater.

2. (the coulisses) — the spaces between pieces of flat scenery on a stage or in a theater; the wings.

– origin early 19th cent.: French, feminine of coulis ‘sliding,’ based on Latin colare ‘to flow.’

couloir /ko͞olˈwär/

I. noun

a steep, narrow gully on a mountainside.

– origin early 19th cent.: French, ‘gully or corridor,’ from couler ‘to flow.’

coulomb /ˈko͞oˌläm ˈko͞oˌlōm / C

I. noun

[Physics] the SI unit of electric charge, equal to the quantity of electricity conveyed in one second by a current of one ampere.

– origin late 19th cent.: named after Charles-Augustin de Coulomb (1736–1806), French military engineer.

Coulomb's law ‹Physics›

I. a law stating that like charges repel and opposite charges attract, with a force proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

– origin late 18th cent.: named after C.-A. de Coulomb (see coulomb).

coulter /ˈkōltər / colter

noun

1. a vertical cutting blade fixed in front of a plowshare.

2. the part of a seed drill that makes the furrow for the seed.

coumarin /ˈko͞om(ə)rən/

I. noun

1. [Chemistry] a vanilla-scented compound found in many plants, formerly used for flavoring food.
[A bicyclic lactone; chem. formula: C_9H_6O_2.]

2. [Chemistry] any derivative of this.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French coumarine, from coumarou, via Portuguese and Spanish from Tupi cumarú ‘tonka bean.’

coumarone /ˈko͞oməˌrōn/

I. noun

[Chemistry] an organic compound present in coal tar, used to make thermoplastic resins chiefly for paints and varnishes.
[A bicyclic compound with fused benzene and furan rings; chem. formula: C_8H_6O.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from coumarin + -one.

council /ˈkounsəl/

I. noun

1. an advisory, deliberative, or legislative body of people formally constituted and meeting regularly

• an official human rights council.

2. a body of people elected to manage the affairs of a city, county, or other municipal district.

3. an ecclesiastical assembly.

4. an assembly or meeting for consultation or advice

• that evening, she held a family council.

– origin Old English (in the sense ‘ecclesiastical assembly’): from Anglo-Norman French cuncile, from Latin concilium ‘convocation, assembly,’ from con- ‘together’ + calare ‘summon.’ Compare with counsel.

Council Bluffs

an industrial and commercial city in southwestern Iowa, on the Missouri River, opposite Omaha in Nebraska; pop. 59,536 (est. 2008).

Council for Mutual Economic Assistance ‹historical›

I. fuller form of Comecon.

– origin translating Russian Sovet ékonomicheskoĭ vzaimopomoshchi.

councilman /ˈkounsəlmən/

noun

(US) a member of a council, especially a municipal one.
[as title]

• Councilman Gerry Richardson.

council of ministers

noun

1. an administrative body that advises the chief executive or head of state.

2. (Council of Ministers) — the policymaking body of the European Economic Community.

council of war

noun

1. a gathering of military officers in wartime.

2. a meeting held to plan a response to an emergency.

councilor /ˈkouns(ə)lər / ‹chiefly Brit.› councillor

I. noun

a member of a council.

II. derivatives

councilorship /-ˌSHip /

noun

– origin late Middle English: alteration of counselor, by association with council. / usage: On the difference between councilor and counselor, see usage at counselor.

councilwoman /ˈkounsəlˌwo͝omən/

noun

a woman who is a member of a council, especially a municipal one.
[as title]

• Councilwoman Alberta Hipps.

counsel /ˈkounsəl/

I. noun

1. advice, especially that given formally.

2. consultation, especially to seek or give advice.

3. (pl. same) — the lawyer or lawyers conducting a case

• the counsel for the defense.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. give advice to (someone)

• he was counseled by his supporters to return to Germany.

2. give professional psychological help and advice to (someone)

• he was being counseled for depression.

3. recommend (a course of action)

• the athlete's coach counseled caution.

III. phrases

1. keep one's own counsel

say nothing about what one believes, knows, or plans

• she doubted what he said but kept her own counsel.

2. take counsel

discuss a problem

• the party leader and chairman took counsel together.

– origin Middle English: via Old French counseil (noun), conseiller (verb), from Latin consilium ‘consultation, advice,’ related to consulere (see consult). Compare with council.

counseling /ˈkouns(ə)liNG / ‹chiefly Brit.› counselling

noun

the provision of assistance and guidance in resolving personal, social, or psychological problems and difficulties, especially by a professional

• bereavement counseling.

counselor /ˈkouns(ə)lər / ‹chiefly Brit.› counsellor

I. noun

1. a person trained to give guidance on personal, social, or psychological problems

• a marriage counselor.

2. [often with adj.] — a person who gives advice on a specified subject

• a debt counselor.

3. (N. Amer.) a person who supervises children at a camp.

4. (US) (Irish) a trial lawyer.

5. a senior officer in the diplomatic service.

– origin Middle English (in the general sense ‘adviser’): from Old French conseiller, from Latin consiliarius, and Old French conseillour, from Latin consiliator, both from consilium ‘consultation or advice.’ / usage: A counselor is someone who gives advice or counsel, especially an attorney. A councilor is a member of a council, such as a town or city council. Confusion arises because many counselors sit on councils, and councilors are often called on to give counsel.

count^1 /kount/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — determine the total number of (a collection of items)

• I started to count the stars I could see

• they counted up their change.

2. [no obj.] — recite numbers in ascending order, usually starting at the number one

• hold the position as you count to five.

3. [no obj.] (count down) — recite or display numbers backward to zero to indicate the time remaining before the launch of a rocket or the start of an operation

• the floor manager pointed at the camera and counted down.

4. [no obj.] (count down) — prepare for a significant event in the short time remaining before it

• with more orders expected, the company is counting down to a bumper Christmas.

5. [with obj.] — take into account; include

• the staff has shrunk to four, or five if you count the summer intern.

6. (count someone in) — include someone in an activity or the plans for it

• if the project gets started, count me in.

7. consider (someone or something) to possess a specified quality or fulfill a specified role

• she met some rebuffs from people she had counted as her friends

• [with obj. and complement] I count myself fortunate to have known him.

8. [no obj.] — be regarded as possessing a specified quality or fulfilling a specified role

• the rebate counts as taxable income.

9. [no obj.] — be significant

• it did not matter what the audience thought—it was the critics that counted.

10. (of a factor) play a part in influencing opinion for or against someone or something

• he hopes his sportsmanlike attitude will count in his favor.

11. (count for) — be worth (a specified amount)

• he has no power base and his views count for little.

12. (count toward) — be included in an assessment of (a final result or amount)

• reduced rate contributions do not count toward your pension.

13. (count on/upon) — rely on

• whatever you're doing, you can count on me.

II. noun

1. an act of determining the total number of something

• at the last count, fifteen applications were still outstanding

• the party's only candidate was eliminated at the first count.

2. the total determined by counting

• there was a moderate increase in the white cell count in both patients.

3. an act of reciting numbers in ascending order, up to the specified number

• hold the position for five counts

• hold it for a count of seven.

4. [Boxing] an act of reciting numbers up to ten by the referee when a boxer is knocked down, the boxer being considered knocked out if still down when ten is reached.

5. [Baseball] the number of balls and strikes that have been charged to the batter, as recalculated with each pitch

• the count on Gwynn is 1 ball and 2 strikes.

6. a point for discussion or consideration

• the program remained vulnerable on a number of counts.

7. [Law] a separate charge in an indictment

• he pleaded guilty to five counts of murder.

8. the measure of the fineness of a yarn expressed as the weight of a given length or the length of a given weight.

9. a measure of the fineness of a woven fabric expressed as the number of warp or weft threads in a given length.

III. phrases

1. beat the count

(of a boxer who has been knocked down) get up before the referee counts to ten.

2. count one's blessings

be grateful for what one has.

3. count the cost

calculate the consequences of something, typically a careless or foolish action.

4. count the days (or hours)

be impatient for time to pass

• they counted the days until they came home on leave.

5. count (something) on the fingers of one hand

used to emphasize the small number of a particular thing

• I could count on the fingers of one hand the men I know who are desperate to experience fatherhood.

6. count (one's) pennies

see penny.

7. count sheep

see sheep.

8. don't count your chickens before they're hatched

‹proverb› don't be too confident in anticipating success or good fortune before it is certain

• I wouldn't count your chickens—I've agreed to sign the contract but that's all I've agreed to.

9. out) for the count ">down ( out) for the count

a. [Boxing] defeated by being knocked to the canvas and unable to rise within ten seconds.

b. unconscious or soundly asleep.

10. keep count (or a count)

take note of the number or amount of something

• you can protect yourself by keeping a count of what you drink.

11. lose count

forget how many of something there are, especially because the number is so high

• I've lost count of the hundreds of miles I've covered.

12. take the count

[Boxing] be knocked out.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. count someone out

a. complete a count of ten seconds over a fallen boxer to indicate defeat.

b. not include someone in an activity

• if this is a guessing game, you can count me out.

c. (in children's games) select a player for dismissal or a special role by using a counting rhyme.

2. count something out

take items one by one from a stock of something, especially money, keeping a note of how many one takes

• opening the wallet, I counted out 19 dollars.

– origin Middle English (as a noun): from Old French counte (noun), counter (verb), from the verb computare ‘calculate’ (see compute).

count^2 /kount/

I. noun

a European nobleman whose rank corresponds to that of an English earl.

II. derivatives

countship /-ˌSHip /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French conte, from Latin comes, comit- ‘companion, overseer, attendant’ (in late Latin ‘person holding a state office’), from com- ‘together with’ + it- ‘gone’ (from the verb ire ‘go’).

countable /ˈkoun(t)əb(ə)l/

adjective

able to be counted.

countdown /ˈkoun(t)doun/

noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. an act of counting numerals in reverse order to zero, especially to time the last seconds before the launching of a rocket or missile

• the launch crews would begin their final countdown.

2. (often countdown to) — the final moments before a significant event and the procedures carried out during this time

• it is hard to imagine the countdown to war continuing without an intensification of diplomacy.

3. a digital display that counts down.

countenance /ˈkount(ə)nəns/

I. noun

1. a person's face or facial expression

• his impenetrable eyes and inscrutable countenance give little away.

2. support

• she was giving her specific countenance to the occasion.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. admit as acceptable or possible

• he was reluctant to countenance the use of force.

III. phrases

1. keep one's countenance

maintain one's composure, especially by refraining from laughter.

2. keep someone in countenance

help someone to remain calm and confident

• to keep herself in countenance she opened her notebook.

3. out of countenance

disconcerted or unpleasantly surprised

• I put him clean out of countenance just by looking at him.

– origin Middle English: from Old French contenance ‘bearing, behavior,’ from contenir (see contain). The early sense was ‘bearing, demeanor,’ also ‘facial expression,’ hence ‘the face.’

counter^1 /ˈkoun(t)ər/

I. noun

1. a long flat-topped fixture in a store or bank across which business is conducted with customers.

2. a long flat-topped structure used for serving food and drinks in a cafeteria or bar.

3. (N. Amer.) a countertop.

4. an apparatus used for counting

• the counter tells you how many pictures you have taken.

5. a person who counts something, for example votes in an election.

6. [Physics] an apparatus used for counting individual ionizing particles or events.

7. a small disk used as a place marker or for keeping the score in board games.

8. a token representing a coin.

II. phrases

1. behind the counter

serving in a store or bank

• ask the young man behind the counter.

2. over the counter

a. by ordinary retail purchase, with no need for a prescription or license
[as adj.]

• over-the-counter medicines.

b. (of share transactions) taking place outside the stock exchange system.

3. under the counter (or table)

(with reference to goods bought or sold) surreptitiously and typically illegally

• certain labs have been peddling this drug under the counter

• [as adj.] an under-the-counter deal.

– origin Middle English (sense 3): from Old French conteor, from medieval Latin computatorium, from Latin computare (see compute).

counter^2 /ˈkoun(t)ər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. speak or act in opposition to

• the second argument is more difficult to counter.

2. [no obj.] — respond to hostile speech or action

• “What would you like me to do about it?” she countered.

3. [no obj.] — [Boxing] give a return blow while parrying

• he countered with a left hook.

II. adverb — (counter to)

1. in the opposite direction to or in conflict with

• some actions by the authorities ran counter to the call for leniency.

III. adjective

responding to something of the same kind, especially in opposition.
See also counter-.

IV. noun

1. [usu. in sing.] — a thing that opposes or prevents something else

• the stimulus to employers' organization was partly a counter to growing union power.

2. an answer to an argument or criticism

• he anticipates an objection and plans his counter.

3. [Boxing] a blow given while parrying; a counterpunch.

4. the curved part of the stern of a ship projecting aft above the waterline.

5. [Printing] the white space enclosed by a letter such as O or c.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French contre, from Latin contra ‘against,’ or directly from counter-.

counter^3 /ˈkoun(t)ər/

I. noun

the back part of a shoe or boot, enclosing the heel.

– origin mid 19th cent.: abbreviation of counterfort ‘buttress,’ from French contrefort.

counter- /ˈkountə/

I. prefix

1. denoting opposition, retaliation, or rivalry

• counterattack

• counterespionage.

2. denoting movement or effect in the opposite direction

• counterbalance

• counterpoise.

3. denoting correspondence, duplication, or substitution

• counterpart

• counterpoint.

– origin from Anglo-Norman French countre-, Old French contre, from Latin contra ‘against.’

counteract /ˌkoun(t)ərˈakt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. act against (something) in order to reduce its force or neutralize it

• should we deliberately intervene in the climate system to counteract global warming?

II. derivatives

1. counteraction /ˌkoun(t)ərˈakSH(ə)n /

noun

2. counteractive /ˈkoun(t)ərˌaktiv /

adjective

counterargument /ˈkoun(t)ərˌärɡyəmənt/

noun

an argument or set of reasons put forward to oppose an idea or theory developed in another argument

• the obvious counterargument to that dire prediction is that the recession has depressed earnings.

counterattack /ˈkoun(t)ərəˌtak/

I. noun

an attack made in response to one by an enemy or opponent.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. attack in response

• as deputies tried to dislodge him, he counterattacked by forcing through elections.

III. derivatives

counter-attacker

noun

counterbalance

I. noun — /ˈkoun(t)ərˌbaləns /

1. a weight that balances another weight.

2. a factor having the opposite effect to that of another and so preventing it from exercising a disproportionate influence

• his restoration to power was intended as a counterbalance to his rival's influence.

II. verb — /ˌkoun(t)ərˈbaləns / [with obj.]

1. (of a weight) balance (another weight).

2. neutralize or cancel by exerting an opposite influence

• the extra cost of mail order may be counterbalanced by its convenience.

counterblow /ˈkoun(t)ərˌblō/

noun

a blow given in return.

counterbore /ˈkoun(t)ərˌbôr/

I. noun

1. a drilled hole that has a flat-bottomed enlargement at its mouth.

2. a drill whose bit has a uniform smaller diameter near the tip, for drilling counterbores in one operation.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. drill a counterbore in (an object).

counterchange /ˈkoun(t)ərˌCHān(d)ZH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. change (places or parts); interchange.

2. ‹literary› checker with contrasting colors.

3. [Heraldry] interchange the tinctures of (a charge) with that of a divided field.

II. noun

change that is equivalent in degree but opposite in effect to a previous change.

– origin late Middle English (as a heraldic term): from French contrechanger, from contre (expressing substitution) + changer ‘to change.’

countercharge /ˈkoun(t)ərˌCHärj/

noun

1. an accusation made in turn by someone against their accuser

• charges and countercharges concerning producers, quotas, and affidavits.

2. a charge by police or an armed force in response to one made against them.

countercheck /ˈkoun(t)ərˌCHek/

I. noun

1. a second check for security or accuracy.

2. ‹archaic› a restraint.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› stop (something) by acting to cancel or counteract it

• the king with his own hand wrote to countercheck his former decree.

counterclaim /ˈkoun(t)ərˌklām/

I. noun

1. a claim made to rebut a previous claim.

2. [Law] a claim made by a defendant against the plaintiff.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. [chiefly Law] make a counterclaim for something.

counterclockwise /ˌkoun(t)ərˈkläkˌwīz / ‹N. Amer.›

adverb, adjective

in the opposite direction to the way in which the hands of a clock move around.

counterconditioning /ˌkoun(t)ərkənˈdēSH(ə)niNG/

noun

a technique employed in animal training, and in the treatment of phobias and similar conditions in humans, in which behavior incompatible with a habitual undesirable pattern is induced.
Compare with decondition (sense 2).

counterculture /ˈkoun(t)ərˌkəlCHər/

noun

a way of life and set of attitudes opposed to or at variance with the prevailing social norm

• the idealists of the 60s counterculture.

countercurrent /ˌkoun(t)ərˈkər(ə)nt ˈkoun(t)ərˌkər(ə)nt/

I. noun — /ˌkoun(t)ərˈkərənt /

1. a current flowing in an opposite direction to another.

II. adverb — /ˌkoun(t)ərˈkərənt /

1. in or with opposite directions of flow.

counterdemonstration /ˌkoun(t)ərˌdemənˈstrāSH(ə)n/

noun

a public demonstration organized in order to express opposition to the aims of another demonstration

• an effort by right-wing elements to organize a counterdemonstration failed.

counterespionage /ˌkoun(t)ərˈespēəˌnäZH ˌkoun(t)ərˈespēəˌnäj/

noun

activities designed to prevent or thwart spying by an enemy.

counterexample /ˈkoun(t)əriɡˌzampəl/

noun

an example that opposes or contradicts an idea or theory

• the media presented him as a counterexample to the common stereotypes.

counterfactual /ˌkoun(t)ərˈfak(t)SH(əw)əl / ‹Philosophy›

I. adjective

relating to or expressing what has not happened or is not the case.

II. noun

a counterfactual conditional statement (e.g., If kangaroos had no tails, they would topple over).

counterfeit /ˈkoun(t)ərˌfit/

I. adjective

1. made in exact imitation of something valuable or important with the intention to deceive or defraud

• two men were remanded on bail on a charge of passing counterfeit $10 bills.

2. pretended; sham

• a counterfeit image of reality.

II. noun

a fraudulent imitation of something else; a forgery

• he knew the tapes to be counterfeits.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. imitate fraudulently

• my signature is extremely hard to counterfeit.

2. pretend to feel or possess (an emotion or quality)

• no pretense could have counterfeited such terror.

3. ‹literary› resemble closely

• sleep counterfeited Death so well.

IV. derivatives

counterfeiter /ˈkoun(t)ərˌfidər /

noun

– origin Middle English (as a verb): from Anglo-Norman French countrefeter, from Old French contrefait, past participle of contrefaire, from Latin contra- ‘in opposition’ + facere ‘make.’

counterfoil /ˈkoun(t)ərˌfoil/

noun

(chiefly Brit.) the part of a check, receipt, ticket, or other document that is torn off and kept as a record by the person issuing it.

counterinsurgency /ˌkoun(t)ərinˈsərjənsē/

noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. military or political action taken against the activities of guerrillas or revolutionaries

• a counterinsurgency force.

counterintelligence /ˌkoun(t)ərinˈteləjəns/

noun

activities designed to prevent or thwart spying, intelligence gathering, and sabotage by an enemy or other foreign entity.

counterintuitive /ˌkoun(t)ərinˈt(y)o͞oədiv/

I. adjective

contrary to intuition or to common-sense expectation (but often nevertheless true).

II. derivatives

counterintuitively

adverb

counterirritant /ˌkoun(t)ərˈirəd(ə)nt/

I. noun

something such as heat or an ointment that is used to produce surface irritation of the skin, thereby counteracting underlying pain or discomfort.

II. derivatives

counterirritation /-ˌiriˈtāSHən /

noun

counterman /ˈkoun(t)ərmən/

noun

a person who works behind a counter serving customers, especially in a store or casual restaurant

• you tell one of several countermen your order, he makes the sundae.

countermand /ˈkoun(t)ərˌmand ˌkoun(t)ərˈmand/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. revoke (an order)

• an order to arrest the strike leaders had been countermanded.

2. revoke an order issued by (another person)

• he was already countermanding her.

3. declare (a vote or election) invalid.

• the election commission has countermanded voting on the grounds of intimidation.

II. noun

an order revoking a previous one.

• I forthwith mounted, and went off, lest I should receive a countermand.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French contremander (verb), contremand (noun), from medieval Latin contramandare, from contra- ‘against’ + mandare ‘to order.’

countermarch /ˈkoun(t)ərˌmärCH/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. march in the opposite direction or back along the same route.

II. noun

an act or instance of marching in the opposite direction or back along the same route.

countermark /ˈkoun(t)ərˌmärk/

noun

1. (chiefly Brit.) an additional mark placed on something already marked, typically for increased security.

2. (chiefly Brit.) a second watermark.

countermeasure /ˈkoun(t)ərˌmeZHər/

noun

an action taken to counteract a danger or threat.

countermelody /ˈkoun(t)ərˌmelədē/

noun

a subordinate melody accompanying a principal one.

countermine /ˈkoun(t)ərˌmīn / ‹Military›

I. noun

an excavation dug to intercept another dug by an enemy.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. dig a countermine against.

countermove /ˈkoun(t)ərˌmo͞ov/

I. noun

a move or other action made in opposition to another.

II. derivatives

countermovement

noun

counternarcotics /ˌkoun(t)ərnärˈkädiks/

noun

measures or activities designed to prevent the use or distribution of illegal narcotic drugs.

• the US is spending over $800m a year on counternarcotics.

• [as modifier] he was in charge of CIA counternarcotics operations in the Golden Triangle area.

counteroffensive /ˈkoun(t)ərəˌfensiv/

noun

an attack made in response to one from an enemy, typically on a large scale or for a prolonged period.

counteroffer /ˈkoun(t)ərˌôfər/

noun

an offer made in response to another.

counterpane /ˈkoun(t)ərˌpān/

I. noun

‹dated› a bedspread.

– origin early 17th cent.: alteration of counterpoint, from Old French contrepointe, based on medieval Latin culcitra puncta ‘quilted mattress’ (puncta, literally meaning ‘pricked,’ from the verb pungere). The change in the ending was due to association with pane in an obsolete sense ‘cloth.’

counterpart /ˈkoun(t)ərˌpärt/

noun

1. a person or thing holding a position or performing a function that corresponds to that of another person or thing in another place

• the minister held talks with his French counterpart.

2. [Law] one of two or more copies of a legal document.

counterplot /ˈkoun(t)ərˌplät/

I. noun

a plot intended to thwart another plot.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. devise a counterplot.

counterpoint /ˈkoun(t)ərˌpoint/

I. noun

1. [Music] the art or technique of setting, writing, or playing a melody or melodies in conjunction with another, according to fixed rules.

2. a melody played in conjunction with another.

3. an argument, idea, or theme used to create a contrast with the main element

• I have used my interviews with parents as a counterpoint to a professional judgment.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Music] add counterpoint to (a melody)

• the orchestra counterpoints the vocal part.

2. emphasize by contrast

• the cream walls and maple floors are counterpointed by black accents.

3. compensate for

• the story's fanciful excesses are counterpointed with some sharp and unsentimental dialogue.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French contrepoint, from medieval Latin contrapunctum ‘(song) pricked or marked over against (the original melody),’ from contra- ‘against’ + punctum, from pungere ‘to prick.’

counterpoise /ˈkoun(t)ərˌpoiz/

I. noun

1. a factor, force, or influence that balances or neutralizes another

• they see the power of Brussels as a counterpoise to that of London.

• money is a good counterpoise to beauty.

2. a counterbalancing weight.

3. a state of equilibrium.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. have an opposing and balancing effect on

• excess on one hand is counterpoised by fundamental lack on the other.

2. bring into contrast

• the stories counterpoise a young recruit with an old-timer.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French contrepois, from contre ‘against’ + pois from Latin pensum ‘weight.’ Compare with poise^1. The verb, originally counterpeise, from Old French contrepeser, was altered under the influence of the noun in the 16th cent.

counterpose /ˌkoun(t)ərˈpōz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. set against or in opposition to.

II. derivatives

counterposition /-pəˈziSHən /

noun

counterproductive /ˌkoun(t)ərprəˈdəktiv/

adjective

having the opposite of the desired effect

• the response to the disaster was unsuccessful and perhaps even counterproductive.

counterproliferation /ˌkoun(t)ərprəˌlifəˈrāSH(ə)n/

noun

action intended to prevent an increase or spread in the possession of nuclear weapons.

counterproposal /ˈkoun(t)ərprəˌpōzəl/

noun

an alternative proposal made in response to a previous proposal that is regarded as unacceptable or unsatisfactory

• the union rejected the airline's counterproposal.

counterpunch /ˈkoun(t)ərˌpən(t)SH / ‹Boxing›

I. noun

a punch thrown in return for one received.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. throw a counterpunch.

III. derivatives

counterpuncher

noun

Counter-Reformation /ˌkoun(t)ərˌrefərˈmāSH(ə)n/

I. the reform of the Church of Rome in the 16th and 17th centuries that was stimulated by the Protestant Reformation.

Measures to oppose the spread of the Reformation were decided on at the Council of Trent (1545–63), and the Jesuit order became the spearhead of the Counter-Reformation, both within Europe and abroad. Although most of northern Europe remained Protestant, southern Germany and Poland were brought back to the Roman Catholic Church.

counterrevolution /ˌkoun(t)ərˌrevəˈlo͞oSH(ə)n/

I. noun

a revolution opposing a former one or reversing its results.

II. derivatives

counterrevolutionary /ˌkoun(t)əˌrevəˈlo͞oSHənerē /

adjective, noun

counter-revolutionary /ˌkoun(t)əˌrevəˈlo͞oSHənerē/

I. adjective

engaged in or promoting a revolution that opposes a previous one or reverses its results

• there was almost no violent counter-revolutionary activity.

II. noun

a person who advocates or engages in a revolution that opposes a previous one or reverses its results

• counter-revolutionaries had blown up a freighter full of armaments.

counterrotate /ˌkoun(t)ərˈrōˌtāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. rotate in opposite directions, especially about the same axis.

II. derivatives

counterrotation /-rōˈtāSHən /

noun

counterscarp /ˈkoun(t)ərˌskärp/

I. noun

the outer wall of a ditch in a fortification.
Compare with scarp.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French contrescarpe, from Italian controscarpa; compare with scarp.

countershading /ˈkoun(t)ərˌSHādiNG/

I. noun

[Zoology] protective coloration of some animals in which parts normally in shadow are light and those exposed to the sky are dark.

II. derivatives

countershaded /-ˌSHādid /

adjective

countershaft /ˈkoun(t)ərˌSHaft/

noun

a machine driveshaft that transmits motion from the main shaft to where it is required, such as the drive axle in a vehicle.

countersign /ˈkoun(t)ərˌsīn/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. add a signature to (a document already signed by another person)

• each check had to be signed and countersigned.

II. noun

‹archaic› a signal or password given in reply to a soldier on guard.

III. derivatives

countersignature /ˌkoun(t)ərˈsiɡnəCHər /

noun

– origin late 16th cent. (as a noun): from French contresigner (verb), contresigne (noun), from Italian contrassegno, based on Latin signum ‘sign.’

countersink /ˈkoun(t)ərˌsiNGk/

verb — [with obj.]

1. enlarge and bevel the rim of (a drilled hole) so that a screw, nail, or bolt can be inserted flush with the surface.

2. drive (a screw, nail, or bolt) into a countersunk hole.

counterspy /ˈkoun(t)ərˌspī/

noun

a spy engaged in counterespionage.

counterstain /ˈkoun(t)ərˌstān / ‹Biology›

I. noun

an additional dye used in a microscopy specimen to produce a contrasting background or to make clearer the distinction between different kinds of tissue.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. treat (a specimen) with a counterstain.

counterstory /ˈkoun(t)ərˌstôrē/

noun

an alternative or opposing narrative or explanation.

countersubject /ˈkountərˌsəbjikt/

noun

[Music] a second or subsidiary subject, especially accompanying the subject or its answer in a fugue.

countertenor /ˈkoun(t)ərˌtenər/

I. noun

1. [Music] the highest male adult singing voice (sometimes distinguished from the male alto voice by its strong, pure tone).

2. [Music] a male singer with the highest adult singing voice.

– origin late Middle English: from French contre-teneur, from obsolete Italian contratenore, based on Latin tenor (see tenor^1). Compare with contralto.

counterterrorism /ˌkoun(t)ərˈterərizəm/

I. noun

political or military activities designed to prevent or thwart terrorism.

II. derivatives

counterterrorist /ˌkoun(t)ərˈterərist /

noun, adjective

countertop /ˈkoun(t)ərˌtäp/

noun

(N. Amer.) a flat surface for working on, especially in a kitchen.

countertrade /ˈkoun(t)ərˌtrād/

noun

international trade by exchange of goods rather than by currency purchase.

countertransference /ˌkountərˌtransˈfərəns, -ˌtranz-/

noun

[Psychoanalysis] the emotional reaction of the analyst to the subject's contribution.
Compare with transference.

countervail /ˌkoun(t)ərˈvāl/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. countervailing)

1. offset the effect of (something) by countering it with something of equal force

• the dominance of the party was mediated by a number of countervailing factors.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘be equivalent to in value, compensate for’): from Anglo-Norman French contrevaloir, from Latin contra valere ‘be of worth against.’

countervailing duty

noun

an import tax imposed on certain goods in order to prevent dumping or counter export subsidies.

counterweight /ˈkoun(t)ərˌwāt/

noun

another term for counterbalance.

countess /ˈkoun(t)əs/

I. noun

1. the wife or widow of a count or earl.

2. a woman holding the rank of count or earl in her own right.

– origin Middle English: from Old French contesse, from late Latin comitissa, feminine of comes (see count^2).

countian /ˈkoun(t)ēən/

noun

(chiefly US) an inhabitant of a particular county

• a Sussex Countian.

counting /ˈkoun(t)iNG/

preposition

taking account of when reaching a total; including

• there were three of us in the family, or four counting my pet rabbit

• the college had 139 employees, not counting those engaged in routine clerical work.

countinghouse /ˈkoun(t)iNGˌhous/

noun

‹historical› an office or building in which the accounts and money of a person or company were kept.

countless /ˈkoun(t)ləs/

adjective

too many to be counted; very many

• she'd apologized countless times before.

count noun /ˈkount ˌnoun/

noun

[Grammar] a noun that can form a plural and, in the singular, can be used with the indefinite article (e.g., books, a book).
Contrasted with mass noun.

count palatine

I. noun

1. ‹historical› a feudal lord having royal authority within a region of a kingdom.

2. ‹historical› a high official of the Holy Roman Empire with royal authority within his domain.

– origin see palatine^1.

countrified /ˈkəntrēˌfīd / countryfied

I. adjective

reminiscent or characteristic of the country, especially in being unsophisticated

• a countrified cottage garden

• her tweeds were far too countrified.

– origin mid 17th cent.: past participle of countrify ‘make rural.’

country /ˈkəntrē/

I. noun

1. a nation with its own government, occupying a particular territory

• the country's increasingly precarious economic position.

2. (the country) — the people of a nation

• the whole country took to the streets.

3. (often the country) — districts and small settlements outside large towns, cities, or the capital

• the airfield is right out in the country

• [as modifier] a country lane.

4. an area or region with regard to its physical features

• a tract of wild country.

5. a region associated with a particular person, especially a writer, or with a particular work

• Steinbeck country includes the Monterey Peninsula.

6. short for country music.

II. phrases

across country

not keeping to roads

• their route was across country, through fields of corn.

– origin Middle English: from Old French cuntree, from medieval Latin contrata (terra) ‘(land) lying opposite,’ from Latin contra ‘against, opposite.’

country and western /ˈˌkəntrē n ˈwestərn/

noun

another term for country music:
[as modifier]

• country-and-western singer.

country blues /ˈkəntrē blo͞oz/

noun

a simple form of blues in which the singer is accompanied by an acoustic guitar.

country club /ˈkəntrē ˌkləb/

noun

a club with sporting and social facilities, set in a suburban area.

country cousin /ˈkəntrē ˈkəzən/

noun

a person with an unsophisticated and provincial appearance or manners.

country dance /ˈkəntrē dans/

noun

a traditional type of social English dance, in particular one performed by couples facing each other in long lines.

country food

noun

(Canadian) food from wild animals and plants, especially in remote northern regions

• Nunavut sponsors community hunts to make more country food available

• people really want to know how store-bought foods compare to country foods.

country-fried

adjective

1. (N. Amer.) (of an item of food) covered in batter, flour, or breadcrumbs and fried

• country-fried steak.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› rural or unsophisticated

• country-fried tunes.

country gentleman /ˈkəntrē ˈjen(t)lmən/

noun

(chiefly Brit.) a rich man of good social standing who owns and lives in a large rural property.

country ham

noun

a ham that is dry-cured with salt before smoking.

country house /ˈkəntrē ˌhous/

noun

(chiefly Brit.) a large house in the country, typically the home of a wealthy or aristocratic family.

country kitchen

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a spacious kitchen furnished in a traditional style, typically with a table for serving casual meals

• we ate cheese sandwiches in their country kitchen.

countryman /ˈkəntrēmən/

noun

1. a person from the same country or region as someone else

• she followed in the tradition of her countrymen

• they trust a fellow countryman.

2. a man living or born in a rural area.

• he was a complete countryman, with a pronounced affinity with nature.

country mile

noun

‹informal› a very long way

• he hit the ball a country mile.

country music /ˌkəntrē ˈmyo͞ozik/

noun

a form of popular music originating in the rural southern US. It is traditionally a mixture of ballads and dance tunes played characteristically on fiddle, guitar, steel guitar, drums, and keyboard.
Also called country and western.

countrypolitan /ˌkəntrēˈpälətn/

I. noun

a type of country music that resembles pop music, usually characterized by orchestrated arrangements
[usu. as modifier]

• a slick countrypolitan ballad.

II. adjective

relating to or denoting an architectural style that combines country charm with sophistication.

– origin on the pattern of cosmopolitan.

country rock^1 /ˈkəntrē räk/

noun

[Geology] the rock that encloses a mineral deposit, igneous intrusion, or other feature.

country rock^2 /ˈkəntrē räk/

noun

a type of popular music that is a blend of rock and country music.

country seat /ˈkəntrē sēt/

noun

(Brit.) a large country house and estate belonging to an aristocratic family.

countryside /ˈkəntrēˌsīd/

noun

1. the land and scenery of a rural area

• they explored the surrounding countryside.

2. the inhabitants of a rural area

• the political influence of the countryside remains strong.

country store

noun

(N. Amer.) a store in a small town or rural area that sells a wide variety of goods; a general store

• they lived in a small town and ran a country store.

countrywide /ˌkəntrēˈwīd/

adjective, adverb

extending throughout a nation
[as adj.]

• a countrywide tour

• [as adv.] traveling countrywide.

countrywoman /ˈkəntrēˌwo͝omən/

noun

1. a woman from the same country or region as someone else

• thousands turned out to welcome home their countrywoman

• a fellow countrywoman from Ohio.

2. a woman living or born in a rural area.

• she was a countrywoman through and through.

county /ˈkoun(t)ē/

I. noun

1. (US) (in the US) a political and administrative division of a state, providing certain local governmental services.

2. a territorial division of some countries, forming the chief unit of local administration.

II. derivatives

countywide

adjective, adverb

– origin Middle English: from Old French conte, from Latin comitatus, from comes, comit- (see count^2). The word seems earliest to have denoted a meeting held periodically to transact the business of a shire.

county borough

noun

(in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland) a large town formerly having the administrative status of a county.

county clerk

noun

(in the US) an elected county official who is responsible for local elections and maintaining public records.

county court /ˈkoun(t)ē kôrt/

noun

(US) a court in some states with civil and criminal jurisdiction for a given county.

county cricket

noun

first-class cricket played in the UK between the eighteen professional teams contesting the County Championship.

County Palatine ‹historical›

I. (in England and Ireland) a county in which royal privileges and exclusive rights of jurisdiction were held by its earl or lord.

– origin see palatine^1.

county seat

noun

the town that is the governmental center of a county.

coup /ko͞o/

I. noun

1. (also coup d'état) — a sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government

• he was overthrown in an army coup.

2. a notable or successful stroke or move

• it was a major coup to get such a prestigious contract.

3. an unusual or unexpected but successful tactic in card play.

4. a contusion caused by contact of the brain with the skull at the point of trauma.
Compare with contrecoup.

5. ‹historical› (among North American Indians) an act of touching an armed enemy in battle as a deed of bravery, or an act of first touching an item of the enemy's in order to claim it.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French, from medieval Latin colpus ‘blow’ (see cope^1).

coup de foudre /ˌko͞o də ˈfo͞od(rə)/

I. noun

a sudden unforeseen event, in particular an instance of love at first sight.

– origin late 18th cent.: French, literally ‘stroke of lightning.’

coup de grâce /ˌko͞o də ˈɡräs/

I. noun

1. a final blow or shot given to kill a wounded person or animal

• he administered the coup de grâce with a knife.

2. an action or event that serves as the culmination of a bad or deteriorating situation

• the epidemic has been the coup de grâce for the airline crisis.

– origin late 17th cent.: French, literally ‘stroke of grace.’

coup de main /ˌko͞o də ˈman/

I. noun

a sudden surprise attack, especially one made by an army during war.

– origin mid 18th cent.: French, literally ‘stroke of hand.’

coup de maître /ˌko͞o də ˈmet(rə)/

I. noun

a master stroke.

– origin French.

coup d'état /ˌko͞o dāˈtä/

I. noun

another term for coup (sense 1).

– origin mid 17th cent.: French, literally ‘blow of state.’

coup de théâtre /ˌko͞o də tāˈät(rə)/

I. noun

a sensational or dramatically sudden action or turn of events, especially in a play.

– origin mid 18th cent.: French, literally ‘blow of theater.’

coup d'œil /ˌko͞o ˈdəē/

I. noun

a glance that takes in a comprehensive view.

– origin mid 18th cent.: French, literally ‘stroke of eye.’

coupe^1 /ko͞op / coupé

I. noun

1. a car with a fixed roof and two doors.

2. ‹historical› a four-wheeled enclosed carriage for two passengers and a driver.

3. ‹historical› an end compartment in a railroad car, with seats on only one side.

– origin mid 19th cent. (sense 2): from French carrosse coupé, literally ‘cut carriage.’ Sense 1 dates from the early 20th cent.

coupe^2 /ko͞op/

I. noun

1. a shallow glass or glass dish, typically with a stem, in which desserts or champagne are served.

2. a dessert served in a coupe.

– origin late 19th cent.: French, literally ‘goblet.’

coupla /ˈkəplə/

I. contraction

‹informal› couple of

• the burger is $9 (a coupla dollars more than the regular grass-fed fare)

• I won't be online much for the next coupla days.

– origin early 20th cent.: alteration.

couple /ˈkəpəl/

I. noun

1. two individuals of the same sort considered together

• a couple of girls were playing marbles.

2. ‹informal› an indefinite small number

• he hoped she'd be better in a couple of days

• [as pronoun] we got some eggs—would you like a couple?

• [as modifier] just a couple more questions

• clean the stains with a couple squirts of dishwashing liquid.

3. [treated as sing. or pl.] — two people who are married, engaged, or otherwise closely associated romantically or sexually.

4. a pair of partners in a dance or game.

5. [Mechanics] a pair of equal and parallel forces acting in opposite directions, and tending to cause rotation about an axis perpendicular to the plane containing them.

II. verb — [with obj.] (often be coupled to/with)

1. combine

• a sense of hope is coupled with a palpable sense of loss.

2. connect (a railroad vehicle or a piece of equipment) to another

• a cable is coupled up to one of the wheels.

3. [no obj.] (couple up) — join to form a pair.

4. [no obj.] — ‹dated› have sexual intercourse.

5. connect (two electrical components) using electromagnetic induction, electrostatic charge, or an optical link
(as adj. coupled)

• networks of coupled oscillators.

III. derivatives

coupledom /-dəm /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French cople (noun), copler (verb), from Latin copula (noun), copulare (verb), from co- ‘together’ + apere ‘fasten.’ Compare with copula and copulate.

coupler /ˈkəp(ə)lər/

noun

1. something that connects two things, especially mechanical components or systems

• a hydraulic coupler

• [as modifier] coupler rod.

2. [Music] a device in an organ for connecting two manuals, or a manual with pedals, so that they both sound when only one is played.

3. (also octave coupler) — [Music] a device in an organ for connecting notes with their octaves above or below.

4. [Photography] a compound in a developer or an emulsion that combines with the products of development to form an insoluble dye, part of the image.

5. (also acoustic coupler) — a modem that converts digital signals from a computer into audible sound signals and vice versa, so that the former can be transmitted and received over telephone lines.

couplet /ˈkəplət/

I. noun

two lines of verse, usually in the same meter and joined by rhyme, that form a unit.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French, diminutive of couple, from Old French cople (see couple).

coupling /ˈkəp(ə)liNG/

noun

1. a device for connecting parts of machinery.

2. a fitting on the end of a railroad vehicle for connecting it to another.

3. the pairing of two items

• the coupling of coaching and personal training

• this coupling of two of the greatest works of Haydn.

4. sexual intercourse.

5. an interaction between two electrical components by electromagnetic induction, electrostatic charge, or optical link.

coupling constant

noun

[Physics] a measure of the strength of interaction between two particles, or between a particle and a field.

coupon /ˈk(y)o͞oˌpän/

I. noun

1. a voucher entitling the holder to a discount for a particular product.

2. a detachable portion of a bond that is given up in return for a payment of interest.

3. a form in a newspaper or magazine that may be filled in and sent as an application for a purchase or information.

II. verb — [no obj.] (usu. as noun couponing)

1. (chiefly US) (of a business) issue or distribute coupons or vouchers offering discounts on particular goods or services

• the company announced plans to reduce its couponing and just cut prices instead.

2. (chiefly US) (of a consumer) collect and use coupons or vouchers offering discounts on goods or services

• couponing has dropped their monthly grocery budget by upwards of $1,100 per month.

• since she'd only been couponing for a few weeks, she didn't have much of a grocery stockpile built up.

III. derivatives

couponer

noun

– origin early 19th cent. (denoting a detachable portion of a bond to be given up in return for payment of interest): from French, literally ‘piece cut off,’ from couper ‘cut,’ from Old French colper (see cope^1).

coupon bond

noun

an investment bond on which interest is paid by presenting coupons.

coupon clipper

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a person with a large number of coupon bonds.

coup stick /ˈko͞o ˌstik/

noun

(among North American Indians) a decorated stick recording coups attained by the warrior.

courage /ˈkərij/

I. noun

1. the ability to do something that frightens one

• she called on all her courage to face the ordeal.

2. strength in the face of pain or grief

• he fought his illness with great courage.

II. phrases

1. have the courage of one's convictions

act on one's beliefs despite danger or disapproval.

2. pluck up (or screw up or take) courage

make an effort to do something that frightens one.

3. take one's courage in both hands

nerve oneself to do something that frightens one.

– origin Middle English (denoting the heart, as the seat of feelings): from Old French corage, from Latin cor ‘heart.’

courageous /kəˈrājəs/

I. adjective

not deterred by danger or pain; brave

• her courageous human rights work.

II. derivatives

courageousness /kəˈrājəsnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French corageus, from corage (see courage).

courageously /kəˈrājəslē/

adverb

without being deterred by danger or pain; bravely

• the soldiers were well trained and fought courageously.

courant /ko͝oˈränt, ko͝oˈrant/

I. adjective — [usu. postpositive]

1. [Heraldry] represented as running

• white horse courant.

– origin early 17th cent.: French,‘running,’ present participle of courir.

courante /ko͝oˈränt, -ˈrant/

I. noun

1. a 16th-century court dance consisting of short advances and retreats.

2. a piece of music written for or in the style of a courante, typically one forming a movement of a suite.

– origin late 16th cent.: French, literally ‘running,’ feminine present participle of courir.

Courbet, Gustave /ko͝orˈbā/

(1819–77), French painter. A leader of the 19th-century realist school of painting, his works include Burial at Ornans (1850) and Painter in His Studio (1855).

coureur de bois /kəˌrər də ˈbwä/

I. noun

‹historical› (in Canada and the northern US) a woodsman or trader of French origin.

– origin early 18th cent.: French, literally ‘wood runner.’

courgette /ko͝orˈZHet/

I. noun

(Brit.) a zucchini.

– origin 1930s: from French, diminutive of courge ‘gourd,’ from Latin cucurbita.

courier /ˈko͝orēər ˈkərēər/

I. noun

1. a messenger who transports goods or documents, in particular

2. a company or employee of a company that transports commercial packages and documents

• the check was dispatched by courier

• [as modifier] a courier service.

3. a messenger for an underground or espionage organization.

4. a person employed to guide and assist a group of tourists.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. send or transport (goods or documents) by courier.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a person sent to run with a message): originally from Old French coreor; later from French courier (now courrier), from Italian corriere; based on Latin currere ‘to run.’

Courrèges, André /ko͝orˈeZH/

(1923–), French fashion designer. He is noted for his futuristic and youth-oriented styles, in particular, the use of plastic and metal, and for unisex fashion such as trouser suits for women.

course /kôrs/

I. noun

1. [in sing.] — the route or direction followed by a ship, aircraft, road, or river

• the road adopts a tortuous course along the coast

• the new fleet changed course to join the other ships.

2. the way in which something progresses or develops

• the course of history.

3. a procedure adopted to deal with a situation.

4. an area of land set aside and prepared for racing, golf, or another sport.

5. a dish, or a set of dishes served together, forming one of the successive parts of a meal

• guests are offered a choice of main course

• [in combination] a four-course meal.

6. a series of lectures or lessons in a particular subject, typically leading to a qualification

• a business studies course.

7. [Medicine] a series of repeated treatments or doses of medication

• the doctor prescribed a course of antibiotics.

8. [Architecture] a continuous horizontal layer of brick, stone, or other material in a building.

9. a pursuit of game (especially hares) with greyhounds by sight rather than scent.

10. the lowest sail on a square-rigged mast.

11. a set of adjacent strings on a guitar, lute, etc., tuned to the same note.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — (of liquid) move without obstruction; flow

• tears were coursing down her cheeks

• ‹figurative› exultation coursed through him.

2. [with obj.] — pursue (game, especially hares) with greyhounds using sight rather than scent

• many of the hares coursed escaped unharmed

• [no obj.] she would course for hares with her greyhounds.

III. phrases

1. course of action

a procedure adopted to deal with a situation

• the wisest course of action is to tackle the problem at its source.

2. the course of nature

events or processes that are normal and to be expected

• each man would, in the course of nature, have his private opinions.

3. in the course of —

a. undergoing the specified process

• a new text book was in the course of preparation.

b. during the specified period

• he was a friend to many people in the course of his life.

c. during and as a part of the specified activity

• they became friends in the course of their long walks.

4. in the course of time

as time goes by.

5. in due course

see due.

6. a matter of course

see matter.

7. of course

a. used to introduce an idea or turn of events as being obvious or to be expected

• the point is, of course, that the puzzle itself is misleading.

b. used to give or emphasize agreement or permission

• “Can I see you for a minute?” “Of course.”

c. introducing a qualification or admission

• of course we've been in touch by phone, but I wanted to see things for myself.

8. off course

not following the intended route

• the car went careering off course.

9. on course

following the intended route

• he battled to keep the ship on course

• ‹figurative› we need to spend money to get the economy back on course.

10. run (or take) its course

complete its natural development without interference

• his illness had to run its course.

– origin Middle English: from Old French cours, from Latin cursus, from curs- ‘run,’ from the verb currere.

courser^1 /ˈkôrsər/

I. noun

‹dated› ‹literary› a swift horse.

– origin Middle English: from Old French corsier, based on Latin cursus (see course).

courser^2 /ˈkôrsər/

I. noun

a fast-running ploverlike bird related to the pratincoles, typically found in open country in Africa and Asia.
[Genera Cursorius and Rhinoptilus, family Glareolidae: several species, in particular the desert-dwelling cream-colored courser (C. cursor).]

– origin mid 18th cent.: from modern Latin Cursorius ‘adapted for running,’ from cursor ‘runner,’ from the verb currere (see course).

courser^3 /ˈkôrsər/

I. noun

a person who hunts animals such as hares with greyhounds using sight rather than scent.

– origin early 17th cent.: from courser^1.

courseware /ˈkôrsˌwer/

noun

computer programs or other material designed for use in an educational or training course.

coursework /ˈkôrsˌwərk / course work

noun

written or practical work done by a student during a course of study, usually assessed in order to count toward a final mark or grade

• the graduate program combines coursework and internship.

coursing /ˈkôrsiNG/

noun

the sport of hunting game animals such as hares with greyhounds using sight rather than scent.

court /kôrt/

I. noun

1. (also court of law) — a tribunal presided over by a judge, judges, or a magistrate in civil and criminal cases

• a settlement was reached during the first sitting of the court

• she will take the matter to court

• [as modifier] a court case.

2. the place where a court meets.

3. (the court) — the judge or judges presiding at a court.

4. a quadrangular area, either open or covered, marked out for ball games such as tennis or basketball

• I prefer an indoor court.

5. a quadrangular area surrounded by a building or group of buildings.

6. a subdivision of a building, usually a large hall extending to the ceiling with galleries and staircases.

7. the establishment, retinue, and courtiers of a sovereign

• the emperor is shown with his court.

8. a sovereign and his or her councilors, constituting a ruling power

• relations between the king and the imperial court.

9. a sovereign's residence.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹dated› be involved with romantically, typically with the intention of marrying

• he was courting a girl from the neighboring farm

• [no obj.] we went to the movies when we were courting.

2. ‹dated› (of a male bird or other animal) try to attract (a mate).

3. ‹dated› pay special attention to (someone) in an attempt to win their support or favor

• Western politicians courted the leaders of the newly independent states.

4. ‹dated› go to great lengths to win (favorable attention)

• he never had to court the approval of the political elite.

5. ‹dated› risk incurring (misfortune) because of the way one behaves

• he has often courted controversy.

III. phrases

1. go to court

take legal action.

2. hold court

see hold^1.

3. in court

appearing as a party or an attorney in a court of law.

4. out of court

a. before a legal hearing can take place

• they are trying to settle the squabble out of court

• [as adj.] an out-of-court settlement.

b. treated as impossible or not worthy of consideration

• the price would put it out of court for most private buyers.

5. pay court to

pay flattering attention to someone in order to win favor.

– origin Middle English: from Old French cort, from Latin cohors, cohort- ‘yard or retinue.’ The verb is influenced by Old Italian corteare, Old French courtoyer. Compare with cohort.

Court, Margaret Smith /kôrt/

(1942–), Australian tennis player. She won more Grand Slam events (62) than any other player.

court bouillon /ko͝or ˈbo͞o(l)ˌyän, ˌko͝or bēˈôn/

I. noun

a stock made from wine and vegetables, typically used in fish dishes.

– origin French, from court ‘short’ and bouillon.

court card /ˈkôrt ˌkärd/

I. noun

British term for face card.

– origin mid 17th cent.: alteration of 16th-cent. coat card, so named because of the decorative dress of the figures depicted.

court case

noun

a dispute between two parties that is decided in a court of law

• the victims read news reports of the pending court case.

court costs

plural noun

legal expenses, especially those allowed in favor of the winning party or against the losing party in a suit.

• a total of $6,000 in fines, court costs, restitution, and fees.

court dress /ˈkôrt ˌdres/

noun

‹historical› formal clothing worn at a royal court.

courteous /ˈkərdēəs/

I. adjective

polite, respectful, or considerate in manner.

II. derivatives

1. courteously /ˈkərdēəslē /

adverb

2. courteousness /ˈkərdēəsnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English (meaning ‘having manners fit for a royal court’): from Old French corteis, based on Latin cohors ‘yard, retinue’ (see court). The change in the ending in the 16th cent. was due to association with words ending in -eous.

courtesan /ˈkôrdəzən ˈkôrdəzan/

I. noun

a prostitute, especially one with wealthy or upper-class clients.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French courtisane, from obsolete Italian cortigiana, feminine of cortigiano ‘courtier,’ from corte (see court).

courtesy /ˈkərdəsē/

I. noun

1. the showing of politeness in one's attitude and behavior toward others

• he had been treated with a degree of courtesy not far short of deference.

2. (often courtesies) — a polite speech or action, especially one required by convention

• the superficial courtesies of diplomatic exchanges.

3. [as modifier] — (especially of transport) supplied free of charge to people who are already paying for another service

• he traveled from the hotel in a courtesy car.

4. ‹archaic› a curtsy.

II. phrases

1. by courtesy

as a favor rather than by right

• he was not at the conference only by courtesy.

2. (by) courtesy of

a. given or allowed by

• photograph courtesy of the Evening Star.

b. ‹informal› as a result of; thanks to.

– origin Middle English: from Old French cortesie, from corteis (see courteous).

courtesy light /ˈkərdəsē līt/

noun

a small light in a car, automatically switched on when one of the doors is opened.

courtesy title /ˈkərdəsē ˈtīdl/

noun

a title given to someone, especially the son or daughter of a peer, that has no legal validity.

court hand

noun

(Brit.) a notoriously illegible style of handwriting used in English courts of law until banned in 1731.

courthouse /ˈkôrtˌhous/

noun

1. a building in which a judicial court is held.

2. (US) a building containing the administrative offices of a county.

courtier /ˈkôrdēər ˈkôrCHər/

I. noun

a person who attends a royal court as a companion or adviser to the king or queen.

– origin Middle English: via Anglo-Norman French from Old French cortoyer ‘be present at court,’ from cort (see court).

courtly /ˈkôrtlē/

I. adjective

1. polished or refined, as befitting a royal court

• he gave a courtly bow.

2. given to flattery; obsequious.

II. derivatives

courtliness /ˈkôrtlēnəs /

noun

courtly love /ˈkôrtlē ləv/

noun

a highly conventionalized medieval tradition of love between a knight and a married noblewoman, first developed by the troubadours of Southern France and extensively employed in European literature of the time. The love of the knight for his lady was regarded as an ennobling passion and the relationship was typically unconsummated.

court-martial /ˌkôrtˈmärSH(ə)l/

I. noun

a judicial court for trying members of the armed services accused of offenses against military law

• they appeared before a court-martial

• he was found guilty by court-martial.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. try (someone) by a court-martial.

court of appeals

noun

(US) a court to which appeals are taken in a federal circuit or a state.

court of claims

noun

a court in which claims against the government are adjudicated.

court of inquiry

noun

in the armed forces, a tribunal appointed to investigate a complaint against a member of the military to decide whether a court-martial is called for.

court of record

noun

a court whose proceedings are recorded and available as evidence of fact.

Court of St. James's

the British sovereign's court.

court order /kôrt ˈôrdər/

noun

a direction issued by a court or a judge requiring a person to do or not do something.

court plaster

I. noun

‹historical› sticking plaster made of silk or other cloth with an adhesive such as isinglass.

– origin late 18th cent.: so named because it was formerly used by ladies at court for beauty spots.

court reporter

noun

1. (N. Amer.) a person employed to transcribe speech from legal proceedings, typically via stenography

• my lawyer's request to have the meeting taped or have a court reporter present was denied.

2. a journalist who attends court hearings and reports on the proceedings

• most court reporters have Twitter accounts and do a lot of tweeting inside court.

courtroom /ˈkôrtˌro͞om ˈkôrtˌro͝om/

noun

the place or room in which a court of law meets.

courtship /ˈkôrtˌSHip/

noun

1. a period during which a couple develop a romantic relationship, especially with a view to marriage.

2. behavior designed to persuade someone to marry or develop a romantic relationship with one

• he was eventually successful in his patient courtship of Dorothy.

3. the behavior of male birds and other animals aimed at attracting a mate.

4. the process of attempting to win a person's favor or support

• the country's courtship of foreign investors.

courtside /ˈkôrtsīd/

I. noun

the area adjacent to a tennis court, basketball court, etc.

• her family watched from courtside

• she was embraced by family and fans at courtside after her victory.

II. adjective, adverb

by the side of a tennis court, basketball court, etc.
[as adj.]

• the expensive courtside seats

• [as adv.] Vanessa and her two young daughters sat courtside.

court tennis

noun

(N. Amer.) the original form of tennis, played with a solid ball on an enclosed court divided into equal but dissimilar halves, the service side (from which service is always delivered) and the hazard side (on which service is received).

courtyard /ˈkôrtˌyärd/

noun

an unroofed area that is completely or mostly enclosed by the walls of a large building.

couscous /ˈko͞osˌko͞os/

I. noun

1. a type of North African semolina in granules made from crushed durum wheat.

2. a spicy dish made by steaming or soaking couscous and adding meat, vegetables, or fruit.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French, from Arabic kuskus, from kaskasa ‘to pound,’ probably of Berber origin.

cousin /ˈkəz(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a child of one's uncle or aunt.

2. a person belonging to the same extended family.

3. a thing related or analogous to another

• the new motorbikes are not proving as popular as their four-wheeled cousins.

4. (usu. cousins) — a person of a kindred culture, race, or nation

• the Russians and their Slavic cousins.

5. ‹historical› a title formerly used by a sovereign in addressing another sovereign or a noble of their own country.

II. phrases

1. first cousin once removed

a. a child of one's first cousin.

b. one's parent's first cousin.

2. first cousin twice removed

a. a grandchild of one's first cousin.

b. one's grandparent's first cousin.

3. second cousin

a child of one's parent's first cousin.

4. second cousin once removed

a. a child of one's second cousin.

b. one's parent's second cousin.

5. third cousin

a child of one's parent's second cousin.

III. derivatives

1. cousinhood /ˈkəz(ə)nˌho͝od /

noun

2. cousinly

adjective

3. cousinship /ˈkəz(ə)nˌSHip /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French cosin, from Latin consobrinus ‘mother's sister's child,’ from con- ‘with’ + sobrinus ‘second cousin’ (from soror ‘sister’).

cousin-german

I. noun

old-fashioned term for cousin.

– origin Middle English: from French cousin germain (see cousin, german).

Cousteau, Jacques /ko͞oˈstō/

(1910–97), French oceanographer and documentary movie director; full name Jacques-Yves Cousteau. He devised the scuba apparatus, but is known primarily for several documentaries and television series on marine life.

Cousy, Bob /ˈko͞ozē/

(1928–), US basketball player; full name Robert Joseph Cousy. He played for the Boston Celtics from 1950 until 1963. Basketball Hall of Fame (1970).

couth /ko͞oTH / ‹humorous›

I. adjective

cultured, refined, and well mannered

• it is more couth to hold your shrimp by the tail.

II. noun

good manners; refinement

• their hockey team had more talent but less couth.

– origin late 19th cent.: back-formation from uncouth.

couture /ko͞oˈto͝o(ə)r/

I. noun

1. the design and manufacture of fashionable clothes to a client's specific requirements and measurements.
See also haute couture.

2. fashionable made-to-measure clothes

• they were dressed in size eight printed-silk couture.

– origin 1920s: French,‘sewing, dressmaking.’

couturier /ko͞oˈto͝orēər ko͞oˈto͝orēˌā/

I. noun

a fashion designer who manufactures and sells clothes that have been tailored to a client's specific requirements and measurements.

– origin late 19th cent.: French, from couture.

couturière /ko͞oˈto͝orēər ko͞oˈto͝orēˌer/

noun

a female couturier.

couvade /ko͞oˈväd/

I. noun

the custom in some cultures in which a man takes to his bed and goes through certain rituals when his child is being born, as though he were physically affected by the birth.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, from couver ‘to hatch,’ from Latin cubare ‘lie down.’ The adoption of the term in French was due to a misunderstanding of the phrase faire la couvade ‘sit doing nothing,’ used by earlier writers.

couvert /ko͞oˈver/

I. noun

1. another term for cover (sense 4 of the noun).

2. another term for cover charge:

• there is a $1.50 couvert weekdays and $2.00 Saturdays and holidays.

– origin mid 18th cent.: French, past participle (used as a noun) of couvrir ‘to cover.’

couverture /ˌko͞ovərˈCHo͝oər/

I. noun

chocolate made with extra cocoa butter to give a high gloss, used for covering sweets and cakes.

– origin 1930s: French, literally ‘covering.’

covalent /ˌkōˈvālənt/

I. adjective

[Chemistry] of, relating to, or denoting chemical bonds formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms.
Often contrasted with ionic.

II. derivatives

1. covalence /ˌkōˈvāləns /

noun

2. covalently

adverb

covariance /ˌkōˈverēəns/

noun

1. [Mathematics] the property of a function of retaining its form when the variables are linearly transformed.

2. [Statistics] the mean value of the product of the deviations of two variates from their respective means.

covariant /ˌkōˈverēənt / ‹Mathematics›

I. noun

a function of the coefficients and variables of a given function that is invariant under a linear transformation except for a factor equal to a power of the determinant of the transformation.

II. adjective

1. changing in such a way that mathematical interrelations with another simultaneously changing quantity or set of quantities remain unchanged.

2. of, having the properties of, or relating to a covariant.

covariation /ˌkōverēˈāSH(ə)n/

noun

[Mathematics] correlated variation.

cove^1 /kōv/

I. noun

1. a small sheltered bay.

2. ‹dialect› a sheltered recess, especially in the side of a mountain.

3. [Architecture] a concave arched molding, especially one formed at the junction of a wall with a ceiling.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. coved)

1. [Architecture] provide (a room, ceiling, etc.) with a cove.

– origin Old English cofa ‘chamber, cave,’ of Germanic origin; related to German Koben ‘pigpen, pen.’ Sense 1 of the noun dates from the late 16th cent.

cove^2 /kōv/

I. noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› ‹dated› a man

• he is a perfectly amiable cove.

– origin mid 16th cent.: perhaps from Romany kova ‘thing or person.’

covellite /kōˈvelˌīt, ˈkōvəˌlīt/

I. noun

a blue mineral consisting of copper sulfide, typically occurring as a coating on other copper minerals.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after Nicolò Covelli (1790–1829), Italian chemist, + -ite^1.

coven /ˈkəvən/

I. noun

1. a group or gathering of witches who meet regularly.

2. ‹often derogatory› a secret or close-knit group of associates

• covens of militants within the party.

– origin mid 17th cent.: variant of covin.

covenant /ˈkəvənənt/

I. noun

1. an agreement.

2. [Law] a contract drawn up by deed.

3. [Law] a clause in a contract.

4. [Theology] an agreement that brings about a relationship of commitment between God and his people. The Jewish faith is based on the biblical covenants made with Abraham, Moses, and David.
See also Ark of the Covenant.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. agree, especially by lease, deed, or other legal contract

• the landlord covenants to repair the property.

III. phrases

1. Old Covenant

[Christian Theology] the covenant between God and Israel in the Old Testament.

2. New Covenant

[Christian Theology] the covenant between God and the followers of Jesus Christ.

IV. derivatives

1. covenantal /ˌkəvəˈnantl /

adjective

2. covenanter /ˈkəv(ə)nəntər / ‹chiefly Law› covenantor

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French, present participle of covenir ‘agree,’ from Latin convenire (see convene).

covenantee /ˌkəvənənˈtē, -nan-/

noun

[Law] the person to whom a promise by covenant is made.

Covenanter /ˈkəvənantər, -ənəntər/

noun

an adherent of the National Covenant (1638) or of the Solemn League and Covenant (1643), upholding the organization of the Scottish Presbyterian Church.

covenant of grace

noun

(in Calvinist theology) the covenant between God and humanity that was established by Jesus Christ at the Atonement.

covenant of works

noun

(in Calvinist theology) the covenant between God and humanity that was broken by Adam's sin at the Fall.

Covent Garden /ˌkəvənt ˈɡärdn/

a district in central London.

Coventry /ˈkəvəntrē ˈkävəntrē/

I. an industrial city in central England; pop. 271,100 (est. 2009).

II. a city in central Rhode Island, a southwestern suburb of Providence; pop. 34,660 (est. 2008).

cover /ˈkəvər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. put something such as a cloth or lid on top of or in front of (something) in order to protect or conceal it

• the table had been covered with a checked tablecloth

• she covered her face with a pillow.

2. envelop in a layer of something, especially dirt

• he was covered in mud

• ‹figurative› she was covered in confusion.

3. scatter a layer of loose material over (a surface, especially a floor), leaving it completely obscured

• the barn floor was covered in straw.

4. lie over or adhere to (a surface), as decoration or to conceal something

• masonry paint will cover hairline cracks.

5. extend over (an area)

• the grounds covered eight acres.

6. travel (a specified distance)

• it took them four days to cover 150 miles.

7. deal with (a subject) by describing or analyzing its most important aspects or events

• a sequence of novels that will cover the period from 1968 to the present.

8. investigate, report on, or publish or broadcast pictures of (an event)

• NBC is covering the Olympics.

9. work in, have responsibility for, or provide services to (a particular area)

• development officers whose work would cover a large area.

10. (of a rule or law) apply to (a person or situation).

11. (of a sum of money) be enough to pay (a bill or cost)

• there are grants to cover the cost of materials for loft insulation.

12. (of insurance) protect against a liability, loss, or accident involving financial consequences

• your contents are now covered against accidental loss or damage in transit.

13. (cover oneself) — take precautionary measures so as to protect oneself against future blame or liability

• one reason doctors take temperatures is to cover themselves against negligence claims.

14. disguise the sound or fact of (something) with another sound or action

• Louise laughed to cover her embarrassment.

15. [no obj.] (cover for) — disguise the illicit absence or wrongdoing of (someone) in order to spare them punishment

• if the sergeant wants to know where you are, I'll cover for you.

16. [no obj.] (cover for) — temporarily take over the job of (a colleague) in their absence

• during August ministers cover for other ministers.

17. aim a gun at (someone) in order to prevent them from moving or escaping.

18. protect (an exposed person) by shooting at an enemy
(as adj. covering)

• the jeeps retreated behind spurts of covering fire.

19. (of a fortress, gun, or cannon) have (an area) within range.

20. (in team games) take up a position ready to defend against (an opposing player).

21. [Baseball] be in position at (a base) ready to catch a thrown ball.

22. [Bridge] play a higher card on (a high card) in a trick

• the ploy will fail if the ten is covered

• [no obj.] East covered with his queen.

23. record or perform a new version of (a song) originally performed by someone else

• other artists who have covered the song include U2.

24. (of a male animal, especially a stallion) copulate with (a female animal), especially as part of a commercial transaction between the owners of the animals.

II. noun

1. a thing that lies on, over, or around something, especially in order to protect or conceal it

• a seat cover.

2. a thin solid object that seals a container or hole; a lid

• a manhole cover.

3. a thick protective outer part or page of a book or magazine

• her life was captured between hard covers in her 1986 autobiography.

4. [Philately] a card or envelope that has traveled through the mail or that contains postal markings.

5. (the covers) — bedclothes

• she burrowed down beneath the covers.

6. physical shelter or protection sought by people in danger

• the sirens wailed and people ran for cover

• store seats under cover before the bad weather sets in.

7. undergrowth, trees, or other vegetation used as a shelter by animals

• the standing crops of game cover

• a landscape bare of woodland except for neat little fox covers.

See also covert (sense 1 of the noun).

8. an activity or organization used as a means of concealing an illegal or secret activity

• a restaurant is run as a cover for a money-laundering operation.

9. [in sing.] — an identity or activity adopted by a person, typically a spy, to conceal their true activities

• he was worried that their cover was blown.

10. military support given when someone is in danger from or being attacked by an enemy

• they agreed to provide additional naval cover.

11. [Ecology] the amount of ground covered by a vertical projection of the vegetation, usually expressed as a percentage.

12. short for cover charge.

13. a place setting at a table in a restaurant.
[rendering French couvert.]

14. (also cover version) — a recording or performance of a previously recorded song made especially to take advantage of the original's success.

III. phrases

1. break cover

suddenly leave a place of shelter, especially vegetation, when being hunted or pursued.

2. cover one's ass (or back)

‹informal› foresee and avoid the possibility of attack or criticism.

3. cover all bases (or cover all the bases)

deal with something thoroughly

• for the prospective homebuilder, this book covers all bases

• if you meet these basic requirements, you 'll cover all bases.

4. cover a multitude of sins

conceal or gloss over many problems or defects

• stucco could cover a multitude of sins, including poor brickwork.

5. cover one's position

purchase securities in order to be able to fulfill a commitment to sell.

6. cover one's tracks

conceal evidence of what one has done.

7. cover the waterfront

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› include a wide range of things; cover every aspect of something

• while half the dishes are Italian, the kitchen covers the waterfront from Greece to Morocco.

8. from cover to cover

from beginning to end of a book or magazine.

9. take cover

protect oneself from attack by ducking down into or under a shelter

• if the bombing starts, take cover in the basement.

10. under cover of

a. concealed by

• the yacht made landfall under cover of darkness.

b. while pretending to do something

• Moran watched every move under cover of reading the newspaper.

11. under plain cover

in an envelope or parcel without any marks to identify the sender.

12. under separate cover

in a separate envelope.

IV. phrasal verbs

cover something up

a. put something on, over, or around something, especially in order to conceal or disguise it.

b. try to hide or deny the fact of an illegal or illicit action or activity.

V. derivatives

coverable

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French covrir, from Latin cooperire, from co- (expressing intensive force) + operire ‘to cover.’ The noun is partly a variant of covert.

coverage /ˈkəv(ə)rij/

noun

1. the extent to which something deals with or applies to something else

• the grammar did not offer total coverage of the language.

2. the treatment of an issue by the media

• the program won an award for its news coverage.

3. (US) the amount of protection given by an insurance policy.

4. the area reached by a particular broadcasting station or advertising medium

• a network of eighty transmitters would give nationwide coverage.

5. [Football] the manner in which a defender or a defensive team covers a player, an area, or a play.

coverall /ˈkəvərˌôl / ‹N. Amer.›

noun — (usu. coveralls)

1. a full-length protective outer garment often zipped up the front.

2. [as modifier] — inclusive

• a coverall term.

cover band ‹Brit.› covers band

noun

a band whose repertoire consists of versions of songs by other artists rather than original material

• a local cover band played hits by the Beach Boys

• a Led Zeppelin cover band.

cover charge /ˈkəvər CHärj/

noun

a flat fee paid for admission to a restaurant, bar, club, etc.

cover crop

noun

a crop grown for the protection and enrichment of the soil.

Coverdale, Miles /ˈkəvərˌdāl/

(1488–1568), English biblical scholar. He translated the first complete printed English Bible in 1535.

covered wagon //

noun

a horse- or mule-drawn wagon topped with a spacious. arched canvas-covered framework. Covered wagons were the common transport for the western-moving North American pioneers of the 19th century.
See also Conestoga wagon, prairie schooner.

cover girl /ˈkəvər ˌɡərl/

noun

a female model whose picture appears on magazine covers.

cover glass

noun

another term for coverslip.

covering /ˈkəv(ə)riNG/

noun

1. a thing used to cover something else, typically in order to protect or conceal it

• a vinyl floor covering.

2. [usu. in sing.] — a layer of something that covers something else

• the sky was obscured by a covering of cloud.

covering letter //

noun

British term for cover letter.

coverlet /ˈkəvərlət/

I. noun

a bedspread, typically less than floor-length.

– origin Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French covrelet, from Old French covrir ‘to cover’ + lit ‘bed.’

cover letter /ˈkəvər ˌledər/

noun

a letter sent with, and explaining the contents of, another document or a parcel of goods.

cover sheet

noun

1. a page sent as the first page of a fax transmission, identifying the sender, number of pages, etc.

2. a page placed before a manuscript or report, typically with the name of the author, title of the book or report, and date.

coverslip /ˈkəvərˌslip / cover slip

noun

a small, thin piece of glass used to cover and protect a specimen on a microscope slide.

cover story /ˈkəvər ˌstôrē/

noun

1. a magazine article that is illustrated or advertised on the front cover.

2. a fictitious account invented to conceal a person's identity or reasons for doing something.

covert

I. adjective — /ˈkōvərt kōˈvərt /

1. not openly acknowledged or displayed

• covert operations against the dictatorship.

2. [Law] (of a woman) married and under the authority and protection of her husband.

II. noun — /ˈkəvər(t) ˈkōvərt /

1. a thicket in which game can hide.

2. [Ornithology] any of the feathers covering the bases of the main flight or tail feathers of a bird.

III. derivatives

covertness

noun

– origin Middle English (in the general senses ‘covered’ and ‘a cover’): from Old French,‘covered,’ past participle of covrir (see cover).

covertly /ˈkōvərtlē/

adverb

without being openly acknowledged or displayed; secretly

• a transcript of a covertly taped meeting.

coverture /ˌkəvərCH(o͝o)ər/

I. noun

1. ‹literary› protective or concealing covering.

2. [Law] ‹historical› the legal status of a married woman, considered to be under her husband's protection and authority.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, from covrir ‘to cover.’ It originally denoted a coverlet or a garment, later various kinds of covering or shelter.

cover-up /ˈkəvər ˌəp / coverup

noun

1. an attempt to prevent people's discovering the truth about a serious mistake or crime.

2. a loose outer garment, as worn over a swimsuit or exercise outfit.

covet /ˈkəvət/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. yearn to possess or have (something)

• the president-elect covets time for exercise and fishing

• (as adj. coveted) he won the coveted Booker Prize for fiction.

II. derivatives

covetable /ˈkəvədəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French cuveitier, based on Latin cupiditas (see cupidity).

covetous /ˈkəvədəs/

I. adjective

having or showing a great desire to possess something, typically something belonging to someone else

• she fingered the linen with covetous hands.

II. derivatives

1. covetously /ˈkəvədəslē /

adverb

2. covetousness /ˈkəvədəsnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French coveitous, based on Latin cupiditas (see cupidity).

covey /ˈkəvē/

I. noun

1. a small party or flock of birds, especially partridge.

2. a small group of people or things

• coveys of actors rushed through the rooms.

– origin Middle English: from Old French covee, feminine past participle of cover, from Latin cubare ‘lie down.’

covin /ˈkəvən ˈkōvən / covine

I. noun

‹archaic› fraud; deception.

– origin Middle English (denoting a company or band): from Old French, from medieval Latin convenium, from Latin convenire (see convene). Compare with coven.

Covina /kōˈvēnə/

a city in southwestern California, east of Los Angeles; pop. 46,944 (est. 2008).

Covington

a city in northern Kentucky, where the Licking River flows into the Ohio River; pop. 43,235 (est. 2008).

cow^1 /kou/

I. noun

1. a fully grown female animal of a domesticated breed of ox, used as a source of milk or beef

• a dairy cow.

See cattle.

2. (loosely) a domestic bovine animal, regardless of sex or age.

3. (in farming) a female domestic bovine animal that has borne more than one calf.
Compare with heifer.

4. the female of certain other large animals, for example elephant, rhinoceros, whale, seal, or reindeer.

5. ‹informal› ‹derogatory› a woman, especially a fat or stupid one

• what does he see in that cow?

II. phrases

1. have a cow

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› become angry, excited, or agitated

• don't have a cow—it's no big deal.

2. till the cows come home

‹informal› for an indefinitely long time

• those two could talk till the cows came home.

– origin Old English cū, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch koe and German Kuh, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin bos and Greek bous.

cow^2 /kou/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be cowed)

1. cause (someone) to submit to one's wishes by intimidation

• the intellectuals had been cowed into silence.

– origin late 16th cent.: probably from Old Norse kúga ‘oppress.’

cowabunga /ˌkouəˈbəNGɡə/

I. exclamation

‹informal› used to express delight or satisfaction

• Cowabunga! It's an actor's dream.

– origin 1950s: originally cowabonga, an exclamation frequently used by the character Chief Thunderthud on the Howdy Doody Show.

cowage /ˈkouij / cowhage

I. noun

a leguminous climbing plant, Mucuna pruriens, with hairy pods that cause stinging and itching.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Hindi kāuñc.

coward /ˈkou(ə)rd/

I. noun

a person who lacks the courage to do or endure dangerous or unpleasant things.

II. adjective

1. ‹literary› excessively afraid of danger or pain.

2. [Heraldry] (of an animal) depicted with the tail between the hind legs.

– origin Middle English: from Old French couard, based on Latin cauda ‘tail,’ possibly with reference to a frightened animal with its tail between its legs, reflected in sense 2 of the adjective (early 16th cent).

Coward, Sir Noël /ˈkou-ərd/

(1899–1973), English playwright, actor, and composer; full name Sir Noël Pierce Coward. He is remembered for witty, satirical plays, such as Hay Fever (1925) and Private Lives (1930), as well as for revues and musicals featuring songs such as “Mad Dogs and Englishmen” (1932).

cowardice /ˈkou(ə)rdəs/

I. noun

lack of bravery.

– origin Middle English: from Old French couardise, from couard (see coward).

cowardly /ˈkouərdlē/

I. adjective

1. lacking courage.

2. (of an action) carried out against a person who is unable to retaliate

• a cowardly attack on a helpless victim.

II. adverb

‹archaic› in a way that shows a lack of courage.

III. derivatives

cowardliness /ˈkou(ə)rdlēnəs /

noun

cowbane /ˈkoubān/

I. noun

any of a number of tall poisonous plants of the parsley family, growing in swampy or wet habitats.
[● another term for water hemlock ● a North American plant (Oxypolis rigidior, family Umbelliferae).]

– origin late 18th cent.: from cow^1 + bane, because it is poisonous to grazing cattle.

cowbell /ˈkouˌbel/

noun

1. a bell hung around a cow's neck in order to help locate the animal by the noise it makes.

2. a bell similar to a cowbell used as a percussion instrument, typically without a clapper and struck with a stick.

cowberry /ˈkouˌberē/

noun

another term for mountain cranberry.

cowbird /ˈkoubərd/

noun

a New World songbird with dark plumage and a relatively short bill, typically laying its eggs in other birds' nests.
[Genus Molothrus (and Scaphidura), family Icteridae: several species, in particular the widespreadbrown-headed cowbird (M. ater).]

cowboy /ˈkouˌboi/

I. noun

1. a man, typically one on horseback, who herds and tends cattle, especially in the western US and as represented in westerns and novels

• they are always playing cowboys and Indians.

2. ‹informal› a person who is reckless or careless, especially when driving an automobile.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› work as a cowboy

• Sonora, Mexico, where he learned to cowboy.

III. phrasal verbs

cowboy up

(US) ‹informal› make a determined effort to overcome a formidable obstacle

• Millar cowboyed up, but couldn't he have flipped the Enrique grounder to Pedro?

cowboy boot

noun

a style of boot with a pointed toe and a moderately high heel, extending to mid-calf.

cowboy hat

noun

a hat with a broad, often curled brim and a high crown, typically made of felt

• they were sitting in their saddles, wearing brand-new cowboy hats and boots.

cowboy poetry

I. noun

a type of folk poetry associated with the lifestyle of cattle ranching in western North America

• he first started writing cowboy poetry in the late 1970s, inspired by the experiences he had on his job with cowboys at ranches and feedlots.

II. derivatives

cowboy poet

noun

Cowboy State

a nickname for the state of Wyoming.

cow-calf

adjective

(N. Amer.) denoting or relating to the method of producing cattle for beef by maintaining a breeding herd of cows

• a cow-calf operation

• successful cow-calf managers place the highest priority on herd nutrition.

cow camp

noun

(N. Amer.) a seasonal camp apart from the main buildings of a ranch, used during a cattle roundup.

cowcatcher /ˈkouˌkaCHər ˈkouˌkeCHər/

noun

(N. Amer.) a metal frame at the front of a locomotive for pushing aside cattle or other obstacles on the line.

cow chip

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a dried cowpat.

cower /ˈkou(ə)r/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. crouch down in fear

• children cowered in terror as the shoot-out erupted.

– origin Middle English: from Middle Low German kūren ‘lie in wait,’ of unknown ultimate origin.

cowfish /ˈkoufiSH/

noun

a boxfish with spines that resemble horns on the head, and typically with other spines on the back and sides.
[Several genera and species in the family Ostraciontidae, in particular Lactoria diaphana.]

cow flop cowflop, ‹or chiefly Canadian› cow flap, cowflap

noun

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) a cowpat.

cowgirl /ˈkouˌɡərl/

noun

a female equivalent of a cowboy, especially as represented in westerns and novels.

cowhand /ˈkouhand/

noun

a person employed to tend or ranch cattle; a cowboy or cowgirl.

cowherd /ˈkouhərd/

I. noun

a person who tends grazing cattle.

– origin Old English, from cow^1 + obsolete herd ‘herdsman.’

cowhide /ˈkouˌhīd/

noun

1. a cow's hide.

2. leather made from a cow's hide.

3. a whip made from cowhide.

cowl /koul/

I. noun

1. a large loose hood, especially one forming part of a monk's habit.

2. a monk's hooded, sleeveless habit.

3. a cloak with wide sleeves worn by members of Benedictine orders.

4. the hood-shaped covering of a chimney or ventilation shaft.

5. the part of a motor vehicle that supports the windshield and houses the dashboard.

6. another term for cowling.

II. derivatives

cowled

adjective

– origin Old English cugele, cūle, from ecclesiastical Latin cuculla, from Latin cucullus ‘hood of a cloak.’

cowlick /ˈkouˌlik/

noun

a lock of hair that grows in a direction different from the rest and that resists being combed flat

• a little sprig of a cowlick stood up on the back of her head.

cowling /ˈkouliNG/

noun

the removable cover of a vehicle or aircraft engine.

cowl neck /ˈkoul ˌnek/

noun

a neckline on a woman's garment that hangs in draped folds
[as modifier]

• a cowl-neck sweater.

cowman /ˈkoumən/

noun

1. a person who owns or is in charge of a cattle ranch.

2. (N. Amer.) a cowboy.

coworker /ˈkōˌwərkər/

noun

1. a person with whom one works, typically someone in a similar role or at a similar level within an organization

• her strong work ethic and high standards have garnered respect and support from coworkers and employees alike.

2. a person engaged in the practice of coworking

• the offices offer a home to about 550 coworkers.

coworking /ˌkōˈwərkiNG/

noun

the use of an office or other working environment by people who are self-employed or working for different employers, typically so as to share equipment, ideas, and knowledge

• the whole idea of coworking is to bring bright, creative people together and let the ideas collide

• [as modifier] the area's newest coworking space.

cow parsnip /kou ˈpärsnəp/

noun

a very large, bad-smelling hogweed. Cow parsnips prefer moist ground and can reach a height of 10 feet (3 m).
[Heracleum maximum, family Umbelliferae.]

cowpat /ˈkouˌpat/

noun

a flat, round piece of cow dung.

cowpea /ˈkouˌpē/

noun

1. a plant of the pea family native to the Old World tropics. It is an important pulse for animal feed and human consumption, both the pod and the seed being edible.
[Vigna unguiculata, family Leguminosae.]

2. the seed of the cowpea plant as food.

Cowper, William /ˈko͞opər, ˈko͝opər, ˈkoupər/

(1731–1800), English poet, noted for the poem The Task (1785) and for the comic ballad John Gilpin (1782).

Cowper's gland /ˈkoupərz, ˈko͞opərz, ˈko͝opərz/

I. noun

[Anatomy] either of a pair of small glands that open into the urethra at the base of the penis and secrete a constituent of seminal fluid.

– origin mid 18th cent.: named after William Cowper (1666–1709), English anatomist.

cow pie

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a cowpat.

cowpoke /ˈkouˌpōk/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a cowboy.

cow pony

noun

a small horse trained for use in cattle ranching.

cowpox /ˈkouˌpäks/

noun

a viral disease of cows' udders which, when contracted by humans through contact, resembles mild smallpox, and was the basis of the first smallpox vaccines.

cowpuncher /ˈkouˌpən(t)SHər/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a cowboy.

cowpunk /ˈkouˌpəNGk/

noun

1. a type of popular music combining elements of country and western with those of punk rock.

2. a singer or musician who performs cowpunk

• she burst on to the scene as a cowpunk.

cowrie /ˈkourē / cowry

I. noun

1. a marine mollusk that has a smooth, glossy, domed shell with a long narrow opening, typically brightly patterned and popular with collectors.
[Genus Cypraea, family Cypraeidae, class Gastropoda: numerous species, including the small money cowrie (C. moneta).]

2. the flattened yellowish shell of the money cowrie, formerly used as money in parts of Africa and the Indo-Pacific area.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Hindi kauṛī.

cowrite /kōˈrīt ˈkōˌrīt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. write (something) with another person

• the movie is based on a story he cowrote with his wife.

II. derivatives

cowriter /kōˈrīdər ˈkōˌrīdər /

noun

co-writer /ˈkōrīdər/

noun

a person who writes something together with another person

• Tim and I became co-writers on the script.

cow shark

noun

a dull gray or brown shark that lives mainly in deep water, especially in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean.
[Hexanchus griseus, family Hexanchidae.]

cowshed /ˈkouˌSHed/

noun

a farm building in which cattle are kept when not in a pasture, or in which they are milked.

cowslip /ˈkouˌslip/

I. noun

1. a European primula with clusters of drooping fragrant yellow flowers in spring, growing on dry grassy banks and in pasture.
[Primula veris, family Primulaceae.]

2. any of a number of herbaceous plants, in particular
[● another term for marsh marigold ● a North American plant with blue flowers (Mertensia virginica, family Boraginaceae).]

– origin Old English cūslyppe, from cū ‘cow’ + slipa, slyppe ‘slime,’ i.e., cow slobber or dung.

cowtown /ˈkoutoun / cow town

noun

1. (N. Amer.) a town or city in a cattle-raising area of western North America.

2. (N. Amer.) a small, isolated, or unsophisticated town.

cow wheat /ˈkou ˌ(h)wēt/

noun

a yellowish-flowered plant of the figwort family, partly parasitic on the roots of other plants and found in both Eurasia and North America.
[Genus Melampyrum, family Scrophulariaceae: several species, including M. lineare.]

cox /käks/

I. noun

a coxswain, especially of a racing boat.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. act as a coxswain for (a racing boat or crew)

• the winning eight was coxed by a woman

• (as adj. coxed) the coxed pairs

• [no obj.] he once coxed for Harvard.

III. derivatives

coxless /ˈkäksləs /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: abbreviation.

COX /käks/

noun

[Biochemistry] the enzyme cyclooxygenase, which is required for the formation of prostaglandins and is blocked by painkillers such as aspirin and ibuprofen.

COX-2 inhibitor

noun

a painkiller that works by inhibiting the enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which triggers the release of prostaglandins.

coxa /ˈkäksə/

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] the hipbone or hip joint.

2. [Anatomy] [Entomology] the first or basal segment of the leg of an insect.

II. derivatives

coxal /ˈkäks(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin,‘hip.’

coxalgia /käkˈsalj(ē)ə/

noun

pain in the hip joint.

coxcomb /ˈkäksˌkōm/

I. noun

1. ‹dated› a vain and conceited man; a dandy.

2. variant spelling of cockscomb (sense 2).

II. derivatives

1. coxcombry /ˈkäksˌkōmrē /

noun

coxcomb (sense 1)

2. coxcombery /-ˌkōm(ə)rē /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting a simpleton): variant of cockscomb, in the sense ‘jester's cap’ (resembling a cock's comb), hence ‘a jester, a fool.’

coxopodite /käkˈsäpəˌdīt/

I. noun

[Zoology] the segment nearest the body in the leg of an arthropod, especially a crustacean.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin coxa ‘hip’ + Greek pous, pod- ‘foot’ + -ite^1.

Coxsackie virus /käkˈsakē, ko͝ok- / coxsackie virus, coxsackievirus

I. noun

[Medicine] any of a group of enteroviruses that cause various respiratory, neurological, and muscular diseases in humans.

– origin 1940s: named after Coxsackie, New York, where the first cases were diagnosed.

coxswain /ˈkäks(ə)n/

I. noun

the steersman of a ship's boat, lifeboat, racing boat, or other boat.

– origin Middle English: from obsolete cock + swain. Compare with boatswain.

coy /koi/

I. adjective

1. (especially with reference to a woman) making a pretense of shyness or modesty that is intended to be alluring

• she treated him to a coy smile of invitation.

2. reluctant to give details, especially about something regarded as sensitive

• he is coy about his age.

3. ‹dated› quiet and reserved; shy.

– origin Middle English: from Old French coi, quei, from Latin quietus (see quiet). The original sense was ‘quiet, still’ (especially in behavior), later ‘modestly retiring,’ and hence (of a woman) ‘affecting to be unresponsive to advances.’

coydog /ˈkoidäɡ/

noun

(N. Amer.) the hybrid offspring of a coyote and a dog.

coyly /ˈkoilē/

adverb

1. in an outwardly shy or modest way intended to be alluring

• she smiles coyly for the camera.

2. in a way that shows reluctance to give details about something regarded as sensitive

• he coyly withheld his candidacy.

coyness /ˈkoinəs/

noun

1. (especially in a woman) the quality of feigning shyness or modesty in an attempt to seem alluring.

2. the quality of being reluctant to give details about something regarded as sensitive; reticence

• the company's coyness about their spring offering.

Coyoacán /ˌkoiōəˈkän/

a municipality within the Federal District of Mexico, a suburb of Mexico City; pop. 606,373 (2005).

coyote /ˈkīˌōt kīˈōdē/

I. noun

1. (pl. same or coyotes) — a wolflike wild dog native to North America.
Also called brush wolf or prairie wolf. [Canis latrans, family Canidae.]

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a person who smuggles Latin Americans across the US border, typically for a high fee

• at the bus station, there were coyotes offering to drive us to Los Angeles.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Mexican Spanish, from Nahuatl coyotl.

Coyote State

a nickname for the state of South Dakota.

coypu /ˈkoiˌpo͞o/

I. noun

another term for nutria.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Araucanian.

coz^1 /käz kəz / 'coz

conjunction

‹informal› because.

• I'm booking a couple of tickets tomorrow coz it'll sell out.

coz^2 /kəz/

I. noun

‹archaic› (N. Amer.) a person's cousin.

• goodbye, fair coz.

– origin mid 16th cent.: abbreviation.

cozen /ˈkəz(ə)n/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. trick or deceive

• do not think to cozen your contemporaries.

2. obtain by deception

• he was able to cozen a profit.

II. derivatives

1. cozenage /ˈkəz(ə)nəj /

noun

2. cozener

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: perhaps from obsolete Italian cozzonare ‘to cheat,’ from cozzone ‘middleman, broker,’ from Latin cocio ‘dealer.’

Cozumel /ˌkōzo͝oˈmel/

a resort island in the Caribbean Sea, off the northeastern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico.

cozy /ˈkōzē / ‹Brit.› cosy

I. adjective

1. giving a feeling of comfort, warmth, and relaxation

• a cozy cabin tucked away in the trees.

2. (of a relationship or conversation) intimate and relaxed.

3. avoiding or not offering challenge or difficulty; complacent

• a rather cozy assumption among automakers that they would never actually go bust.

4. (of a transaction or arrangement) working to the mutual advantage of those involved (used to convey a suspicion of corruption)

• a cozy deal.

II. noun

1. a soft covering to keep a teapot, boiled egg, etc., hot

• a photograph of Smith pouring tea from a pot with a knitted cozy

• mug cozies are simple to make.

2. a soft decorative cover for an object

• a handmade phone cozy

• crocheted tissue box cozies.

3. (N. Amer.) an insulating sleeve used to keep a canned or bottled drink cold

• guests received beer cozies.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› give (someone) a feeling of comfort or complacency

• she cozied him, pretending to find him irresistibly attractive.

2. [no obj.] (cozy up) — ‹informal› snuggle up to someone or something

• almost everyone loves to cozy up to a roaring fire

• I shall have a certain lovely lady to cozy up with.

3. [no obj.] (cozy up to) — ‹informal› ingratiate oneself with

• he decided to resign rather than cozy up to hard-liners in the party.

IV. derivatives

1. cozily /ˈkōzəlē /

adverb

2. coziness

noun

– origin early 18th cent. (originally Scots): of unknown origin.

CP

abbreviation

1. cerebral palsy.

2. Command Post.

3. [Finance] commercial paper.

4. Common Pleas.

5. Communist Party.

6. (also cp) — candlepower.

cp.

abbreviation

compare.

CPA /ˌsē ˌpē ˈā/

abbreviation

(US) certified public accountant.

cpd.

abbreviation

compound.

CPI

abbreviation

consumer price index.

Cpl.

abbreviation

corporal.

CPO

abbreviation

Chief Petty Officer.

CPR

noun

short for cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

cps /ˌsēˌpēˈes / c.p.s.

abbreviation

1. [Computing] characters per second.

2. cycles per second.

Cpt.

abbreviation

Captain.

CPU

abbreviation

[Computing] central processing unit.

CPUSA

abbreviation

Communist Party USA.

CPVC

abbreviation

chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, a plastic material used to make water pipes.

cr

abbreviation

1. credit.

2. creditor.

Cr

symbol

the chemical element chromium.

CR

abbreviation

1. Conditioned reflex.

2. Conditioned response.

crab^1 /krab/

I. noun

1. a crustacean with a broad carapace, stalked eyes, and five pairs of legs, the first pair of which are modified as pincers. Crabs are abundant on many shores, especially in the tropics, where some have become adapted to life on land.
[Many families in the order Decapoda, class Malacostraca.]

2. the flesh of a crab as food.

3. (the Crab) — the zodiacal sign or constellation Cancer.

4. (also crab louse) — a louse that infests human body hair, especially in the genital region, causing extreme irritation.
Also called pubic louse. [Phthirus pubis, family Pediculidae, order Anoplura.]

5. (crabs) — ‹informal› an infestation of crab lice.

6. a machine for picking up and lifting heavy weights.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — move sideways or obliquely

• he began crabbing sideways across the roof.

2. [with obj.] — steer (an aircraft or ship) slightly sideways to compensate for a crosswind or current.

3. [no obj.] — fish for crabs.

III. phrases

catch a crab

[Rowing] make a faulty stroke in which the oar is under water too long or misses the water altogether.

IV. derivatives

1. crabber

noun

2. crablike /-ˌlīk /

adjective, adverb

– origin Old English crabba, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch krabbe, and more distantly to Dutch kreeft and German Krebs; also to crab^3.

crab^2 /krab/

noun

short for crab apple.

crab^3 /krab/

I. noun

‹informal› an irritable person.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — ‹informal› grumble, typically about something petty

• on picnics, I would crab about sand in my food.

2. [with obj.] — ‹informal› act so as to spoil

• you're trying to crab my act.

– origin late 16th cent. (referring to hawks, meaning ‘claw or fight each other’): from Low German krabben; related to crab^1.

crab apple /ˈkrab ˌapəl / crabapple

I. noun

1. a small, sour apple.

2. (also crab tree, crab-apple tree, or crabapple tree) — the small tree that bears the crab apple.
[Genus Malus, family Rosaceae: several species and hybrids, in particular the wildEurasian crab apple (M. sylvestris), which is one of the possible ancestors of cultivated apples.]

– origin late Middle English: crab perhaps an alteration (influenced by crab^1 or crabbed) of Scots and northern English scrab, in the same sense, probably of Scandinavian origin.

crabbed /krabd/

I. adjective

1. (of handwriting) ill-formed and hard to decipher.

2. (of style) contorted and difficult to understand

• crabbed legal language.

3. ill-humored

• a crabbed, unhappy middle age.

II. derivatives

1. crabbedly

adverb

2. crabbedness

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘perverse, wayward’): from crab^1, because of the crab's sideways gait and habit of snapping, thought to suggest a perverse or irritable disposition.

crabby /ˈkrabē/

I. adjective

irritable.

II. derivatives

1. crabbily /ˈkrabəlē /

adverb

2. crabbiness

noun

crab cake

noun

a patty of flaked or minced crab meat, typically served fried.

• crab cakes with spicy tomato sauce.

crab canon

noun

another term for canon cancrizans.

crabeater seal /ˈkrabēdər ˌsēl/

noun

a slender, gray Antarctic seal that lives on the pack ice, feeding mainly on krill.
[Lobodon carcinophagus, family Phocidae.]

crabgrass /ˈkrabˌɡras/

noun

(N. Amer.) a creeping grass that can become a serious weed.
[Digitaria and other genera, family Gramineae: several species, in particular D. sanguinalis and D. ciliaris.]

crabmeat /ˈkrabmēt/

noun

the flesh of a crab as food.

Crab Nebula /ˈˌkrab ˈˌnebyələ / ‹Astronomy›

an irregular patch of luminous gas in the constellation Taurus, believed to be the remnant of a supernova explosion seen by Chinese astronomers in 1054. At its center is the first pulsar to be observed visually, and the nebula is a strong source of high-energy radiation.

crab pot

noun

a wicker trap for crabs.

crab spider

noun

a spider with long front legs, moving with a crablike sideways motion and typically lying in wait in vegetation and flowers for passing prey.
[Family Thomisidae: several genera.]

crab stick

noun

a rectangular stick of mixed, compressed fish pieces flavored with crab.

crabwise /ˈkrabˌwīz/

adverb, adjective

(of movement) sideways, typically in an awkward way
[as adv.]

• supermarket carts that only go crabwise

• [as adj.] crabwise steps.

crack /krak/

I. noun

1. a line on the surface of something along which it has split without breaking into separate parts

• a hairline crack down the middle of the glass.

2. a narrow space between two surfaces, especially ones that have broken or been moved apart

• he climbed into a crack between two rocks

• the door opened a tiny crack.

3. a vulnerable point; a flaw

• the company spotted a crack in their rival's defenses.

4. a sudden sharp or explosive noise

• a loud crack of thunder.

5. a sharp blow, especially one that makes a noise

• she gave the thief a crack over the head with her rolling pin.

6. a sudden harshness or change in pitch in a person's voice

• the boy's voice had an uncertain crack in it.

7. ‹informal› a joke, typically a critical or unkind one.

8. [in sing.] — ‹informal› an attempt to gain or achieve something

• I thought I had a crack at winning.

9. a chance to attack or compete with someone

• he wanted to have a crack at the enemy.

10. (also crack cocaine) — a hard, crystalline form of cocaine broken into small pieces and smoked.

II. verb

1. break or cause to break without a complete separation of the parts
[no obj.]

• the ice all over the lake had cracked

• [with obj.] a stone cracked the headlight glass on his car.

2. break or cause to break open or apart
[no obj.]

• you can see how the landmasses have cracked up and moved around

• ‹figurative› his face cracked into a smile

• [with obj.] she cracked an egg into the frying pan.

3. [with obj.] — break (wheat or corn) into coarse pieces.

4. [with obj.] — open slightly

• gingerly, he cracks open his door.

5. give way or cause to give way under torture, pressure, or strain
[no obj.]

• the witnesses cracked and the truth came out

• [with obj.] no one can crack them—they believe their story.

6. make or cause to make a sudden sharp or explosive sound
[no obj.]

• a shot cracked across the ridge

• [with obj.] he cracked his whip and galloped away.

7. [no obj.] — knock against something, making a noise on impact

• she winced as her knees cracked against metal.

8. [with obj.] — hit (someone or something) hard, making a sharp noise

• she cracked him across the forehead.

9. [no obj.] — (of a person's voice, especially that of an adolescent boy or a person under strain) suddenly change in pitch

• “I want to get away,” she said, her voice cracking.

10. [with obj.] — ‹informal› find a solution to; decipher or interpret

• a hacker cracked the codes used in Internet software.

11. break into (a safe).

12. [with obj.] — tell (a joke)

• he cracked jokes which she didn't find very funny.

13. [with obj.] — decompose (hydrocarbons) by heat and pressure with or without a catalyst to produce lighter hydrocarbons, especially in oil refining
(as noun cracking)

• catalytic cracking.

III. adjective — [attrib.]

1. very good, especially at a specified activity or in a specified role

• he is a crack shot

• crack troops.

IV. phrases

1. crack a book

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› open a book and read it; study.

2. crack of dawn

a time very early in the morning; daybreak.

3. crack of doom

a thunder peal announcing the Day of Judgment.

4. be cracked up to be

[with negative] — ‹informal› asserted to be (used to indicate that someone or something has been described too favorably)

• life on tour is not as glamorous as it's cracked up to be.

5. crack wise

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› make jokes; wisecrack.

6. fall (or slip) through the cracks

escape from or be missed by something organized to catch or deal with one

• fatherless kids were not allowed to fall through the cracks.

7. get cracking

‹informal› act quickly and energetically

• most tickets have been snapped up, so get cracking if you want one.

V. phrasal verbs

1. crack down on

‹informal› take severe measures against

• we need to crack down hard on workplaces that break safety regulations.

2. crack up ‹informal›

a. suffer an emotional breakdown under pressure.

b. (also crack someone up) — burst or cause to burst into laughter.

– origin Old English cracian ‘make an explosive noise’; of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kraken and German krachen.

crackajack /ˈkrakəˌjak/

adjective

variant spelling of crackerjack.

crackbrained /ˈkrakˌbrānd/

adjective

‹informal› extremely foolish; crazy

• a crackbrained idea.

crackdown /ˈkrakˌdoun/

noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. severe measures to restrict or discourage undesirable or illegal people or behavior

• a crackdown on crime and corruption.

cracked /krakt/

adjective

1. damaged and showing lines on the surface from having split without coming apart

• the old pipes were cracked and leaking.

2. (of a person's voice) having an unusual harshness or pitch, often due to distress.

3. [predic.] — ‹informal› crazy; insane

• you must think my family is cracked.

cracked wheat /ˈkrakt ˌ(h)wēt/

noun

grains of wheat that have been crushed into small pieces.

cracker /ˈkrakər/

noun

1. a thin, crisp wafer often eaten with cheese or other savory toppings.

2. a person or thing that cracks.

3. a person who breaks into a computer system, typically for an illegal purpose.

• computer crackers will push the outer limits of network security.

4. an installation for cracking hydrocarbons

• a catalytic cracker.

5. (US) ‹offensive› another term for poor white.

6. (Brit.) ‹informal› a fine example of something

• don't miss this cracker of a CD.

7. (chiefly Brit.) a paper cylinder that is pulled apart at Christmas or other celebrations, making a sharp noise and releasing a small toy or other novelty.

8. a firework that explodes with a sharp noise.

cracker-barrel /ˈkrakərˌberəl/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (N. Amer.) (especially of a philosophy) plain, simple, and unsophisticated

• his cracker-barrel fascism.

– origin late 19th cent.: with reference to the barrels of soda crackers once found in country stores, around which informal discussions would take place between customers.

crackerjack /ˈkrakərˌjak / ‹N. Amer. informal›

I. adjective

exceptionally good

• a crackerjack eye surgeon.

II. noun

an exceptionally good person or thing.

crackers /ˈkrakərz/

adjective

‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) insane

• if Luke wasn't here I'd go crackers.

crackhead /ˈkrakˌhed/

noun

‹informal› a person who habitually takes crack cocaine.

crack house /krak houz/

noun

a place where crack cocaine is traded.

cracking /ˈkrakiNG / ‹Brit. informal›

adjective

excellent

• he is in cracking form to win this race

• a cracking good war story.

crackle /ˈkrak(ə)l/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. make a rapid succession of slight cracking noises

• the fire suddenly crackled and spat sparks.

2. give a sense of great tension or animation

• attraction and antagonism were crackling between them.

II. noun

1. a sound made up of a rapid succession of slight cracking sounds

• there was a crackle and a whine from the microphone.

2. a pattern of minute surface cracks on painted or varnished surfaces, glazed ceramics, or glass.

III. derivatives

crackly /ˈkraklē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from crack + -le^4.

crackling /ˈkrakliNG / cracklings

noun

the crisp, fatty skin of roast pork.

cracknel /ˈkraknəl/

I. noun

1. a light, crisp, savory biscuit.

2. small pieces of crackling.

– origin late Middle English: alteration of Old French craquelin, from Middle Dutch krākelinc, from krāken ‘to crack.’

crackpot /ˈkrakˌpät / ‹informal›

I. noun

an eccentric or foolish person.

II. adjective

eccentric; impractical

• his head's full of crackpot ideas.

cracksman /ˈkraksmən/

noun

‹informal› ‹dated› a burglar, especially a safecracker.

crack-up /ˈkrakəp / crackup

noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. ‹informal› a collapse under strain

• he had a complete mental crack-up.

2. ‹informal› an act of breaking up or splitting apart

• the crack-up of a political system.

3. ‹informal› a car crash

• motorists were asked to report minor crack-ups later.

crack willow

noun

a large Eurasian willow with long, glossy leaves, growing typically in damp or riverside habitats. The brittle branches break off easily, often taking root and producing new growth.
[Salix fragilis, family Salicaceae.]

cracky /ˈkrakē/

noun — (in phrase by cracky)

1. ‹informal› ‹dated› an exclamation used for emphasis.

Cracow /ˈkräkou/

an industrial and college city in southern Poland, on the Vistula River; pop 754,624 (2008). It was the capital of Poland from 1320 until it was replaced by Warsaw in 1609.
Polish name Kraków.

-cracy

I. combining form

denoting a particular form of government, rule, or influence

• autocracy

• democracy.

– origin from French -cratie, via medieval Latin from Greek -kratia ‘power, rule.’

cradle /ˈkrādl/

I. noun

1. an infant's bed or crib, typically one mounted on rockers.

2. (the cradle) — infancy

• a society that would secure the welfare of its citizens from cradle to grave.

3. (the cradle of) — a place, process, or event in which something originates or flourishes

• he saw Greek art as the cradle of European civilization.

4. a framework resembling a cradle, in particular

5. a framework on which a ship or boat rests during construction or repairs.

6. the part of a telephone on which the receiver rests when not in use.

7. [Mining] a trough on rockers in which auriferous earth or sand is shaken in water to separate the gold.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. hold gently and protectively

• she cradled his head in her arms.

2. be the place of origin of

• the northeastern states cradled an American industrial revolution.

3. place (a telephone receiver) in its cradle.

– origin Old English cradol, of uncertain origin; perhaps related to German Kratte ‘basket.’

cradleboard /ˈkrādlˌbôrd/

noun

(among North American Indians) a board to which an infant is strapped.

cradle cap /ˈkrādl kap/

noun

a skin condition sometimes seen in babies caused by excessive production of sebum, characterized by areas of yellowish or brownish scales on the top of the head.

cradle-robber /ˈkrādlˌräbər/

noun

‹derogatory› a person who marries or has a sexual relationship with a much younger person.

cradle song /ˈkrādl sôNG/

noun

a lullaby.

cradling /ˈkrādliNG/

noun

[Architecture] a wooden or iron framework, typically one used as a structural support in a ceiling.

craft /kraft/

I. noun

1. an activity involving skill in making things by hand

• the craft of bookbinding

• pewter craft.

2. (crafts) — work or objects made by hand

• the shop sells local crafts

• (as modifier craft) a craft fair.

3. skill in carrying out one's work

• a player with plenty of craft.

4. [as modifier] — denoting or relating to food or drink made in a traditional or non-mechanized way by an individual or a small company

• craft brewing

• a craft baker.

5. skill used in deceiving others

• her cousin was not her equal in guile and evasive craft.

6. the members of a skilled profession.

7. (the Craft) — the brotherhood of Freemasons.

8. (pl. same) — a boat or ship

• sailing craft.

9. an airplane or spaceship.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. exercise skill in making (something)

• he crafted the chair lovingly

• (as adj. crafted) a beautifully crafted object.

III. derivatives

crafter

noun

– origin Old English cræft ‘strength, skill,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kracht, German Kraft, and Swedish kraft ‘strength’ (the change of sense to ‘skill’ occurring only in English). Sense 2 of the noun, originally in the expression small craft ‘small trading vessels or lighters,’ may be elliptical, referring to vessels requiring a small amount of “craft” or skill to handle, as opposed to large oceangoing ships.

craft beer craft brew

noun

a beer made in a traditional or non-mechanized way by a small brewery.

craft guild

noun

‹historical› an association of workers of the same trade for mutual benefit.

crafting /ˈkraftiNG/

noun

the activity or hobby of making decorative articles by hand

• crafting has emerged as a fashionable form of self-expression.

• [as modifier] mulberry paper has made a comeback as a very popular crafting medium.

craftsman /ˈkraf(t)smən/

noun

a person who is skilled in a particular craft.

craftsmanship /ˈkraf(t)smənˌSHip/

noun

1. skill in a particular craft

• I admire his engineering skills and craftsmanship.

2. the quality of design and work shown in something made by hand; artistry

• a piece of fine craftsmanship.

craftsperson /ˈkraf(t)sˌpərs(ə)n/

noun

a person who is skilled in a particular craft (used as a neutral alternative).

craftswoman /ˈkraf(t)sˌwo͝omən/

noun

a woman who is skilled in a particular craft.

craft union /kraft ˈyo͞onyən/

noun

a labor union of people of the same skilled craft.

craftwork /ˈkraf(t)ˌwərk/

I. noun

1. (chiefly Brit.) the making of things, especially decorative objects, by hand as a profession or leisure activity.

2. (chiefly Brit.) decorative or practical objects made by hand.

II. derivatives

craftworker

noun

crafty /ˈkraftē/

I. adjective

1. clever at achieving one's aims by indirect or deceitful methods

• a crafty crook faked an injury to escape from prison.

2. of, involving, or relating to indirect or deceitful methods

• a shameless and crafty trick to mislead public opinion.

3. ‹informal› of, involving, or relating to the making of decorative objects and other things by hand

• a market full of crafty pots and interesting earrings.

II. derivatives

1. craftily /ˈkraftəlē /

adverb

2. craftiness /ˈkraftēnəs /

noun

– origin Old English cræftig ‘strong, powerful,’ later ‘skillful’ (see craft, -y^1).

crag /kraɡ/

I. noun

a steep or rugged cliff or rock face.

– origin Middle English: of Celtic origin.

craggy /ˈkraɡē/

I. adjective

1. (of a landscape) having many crags

• a craggy coastline.

2. (of a cliff or rock face) rough and uneven.

3. (of a person's face, typically a man's) rugged and rough-textured in an attractive way.

II. derivatives

1. craggily /ˈkraɡəlē /

adverb

2. cragginess /ˈkraɡēnəs /

noun

cragsman /ˈkraɡzmən/

noun

a skilled rock climber.

Craiova /krīˈōvə/

a city in southwestern Romania; pop. 300,587 (2006).

crake /krāk/

I. noun

1. a bird of the rail family, especially one with a short bill like the corncrake.
[Family Rallidae: several genera, in particular Porzana, and numerous species.]

2. the rasping cry of the corn crake.

– origin Middle English (originally denoting a crow or raven): from Old Norse kráka, krákr, of imitative origin.

cram /kram/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — completely fill (a place or container) to the point that it appears to be overflowing

• the ashtray by the bed was crammed with cigarette butts.

2. force (people or things) into a place or container that is or appears to be too small to contain them

• it's amazing how you've managed to cram everyone in

• he crammed the sandwiches into his mouth

• ‹figurative› he had crammed so much into his short life.

3. [no obj.] — (of a number of people) enter a place or space that is or seems to be too small to accommodate all of them

• they all crammed into the car.

4. [no obj.] — study intensively over a short period of time just before an examination

• lectures were called off so students could cram for finals.

– origin Old English crammian, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch krammen ‘to cramp or clamp.’

crambo /ˈkrambō/

I. noun

a game in which a player gives a word or line of verse to which each of the other players must find a rhyme.

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting a particular fashion in drinking): from earlier crambe ‘cabbage,’ used figuratively to denote something distasteful that is repeated, apparently from Latin crambe repetita ‘cabbage served up again,’ applied by Juvenal to any distasteful repetition.

cramdown /ˈkramˌdoun/

noun

1. (US) a restructuring of debt that creditors are required to accept as part of a bankruptcy

• a judge would be empowered by federal law to execute a cramdown on them.

2. (US) legal authority for courts to impose a restructuring of debt in a bankruptcy despite objections from creditors

• cramdown is not available for a residential first mortgage.

crammer /ˈkramər/

noun

(Brit.) a person or institution that prepares pupils for an examination intensively over a short period of time.

cramming /ˈkramiNG/

noun

the fraudulent practice of adding unauthorized charges to a customer's phone bill.

cramp /kramp/

I. noun

1. a painful, involuntary contraction of a muscle or muscles, typically caused by fatigue or strain

• he suffered severe cramps in his foot.

2. (cramps) — (N. Amer.) abdominal pain caused by menstruation.

3. a tool, typically shaped like a capital G, for clamping two objects together for gluing or other work.

4. (also cramp-iron) — a metal bar with bent ends for holding masonry together.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — restrict or inhibit the development of

• tighter rules will cramp economic growth.

2. [with obj.] — fasten with a cramp or cramps

• cramp the gates to the posts.

3. [no obj.] — suffer from sudden and painful contractions of a muscle or muscles.

III. phrases

cramp someone's style

‹informal› prevent a person from acting freely or naturally.

– origin late Middle English: from Middle Low German and Middle Dutch krampe; sense 1 of the noun is via Old French crampe.

cramped /kram(p)t/

adjective

1. feeling or causing someone to feel uncomfortably confined or hemmed in by lack of space

• the staff had to work in cramped conditions.

2. restricting or inhibiting the development of someone or something

• he felt cramped in a large organization.

3. (of handwriting) small and difficult to read.

4. suffering from a cramp

• cramped muscles.

crampon /ˈkramˌpän/

I. noun — (usu. crampons)

1. a metal plate with spikes fixed to a boot for walking on ice or rock climbing.

2. archaic term for grappling hook.

– origin Middle English (sense 2): from Old French, of Germanic origin.

Cranach /ˈkränəKH, -äKH/

two German painters. Lucas (1472–1553), known as Cranach the Elder, was a member of the Danube School, noted for his early religious pictures. His son Lucas (1515–86), known as Cranach the Younger, continued working in the same tradition as his father.

cranachan /ˈkranəkən / crannachan

I. noun

a Scottish dessert made with whipped cream, whiskey, oatmeal, honey, and raspberries

• celebrate Burns' night with a traditional Scottish meal, including haggis, neeps and tatties, and cranachan.

– origin 1940s: from Scottish Gaelic crannachan.

cranberry /ˈkranˌberē ˈkranbərē/

I. noun

1. a small, red, acid berry used in cooking.

2. the evergreen dwarf shrub of the heath family that yields this fruit.
[Genus Vaccinium, family Ericaceae: several species, in particular the North American V. macrocarpon, which thrives in boggy places and from which most commercial varieties originate.]

– origin mid 17th cent. (originally North American): from German Kranbeere or Low German kranebeere ‘crane-berry.’

cranberry bog

noun

a bog where cranberries are grown and which is then flooded with water for the floating berries to be harvested

• we can buy cranberries that only days before were floating in a cranberry bog.

cranberry bush

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a shrub of the honeysuckle family, with round clusters of white flowers followed by red berries.
[Genus Viburnum, family Caprifoliaceae: the American cranberry bush (V. trilobum), with edible berries, and the guelder rose or European cranberry bush.]

cranberry sauce

noun

a jellied sauce made from cranberries, a traditional accompaniment to turkey.

crane^1 /krān/

I. noun

1. a large, tall machine used for moving heavy objects, typically by suspending them from a projecting arm or beam.

2. a moving platform supporting a television or movie camera.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — stretch out one's body or neck in order to see something

• she craned forward to look more clearly.

2. [with obj.] — stretch out (one's neck) so as to see something

• craning their necks to get a glimpse of the president.

3. [with obj.] — move (a heavy object) with a crane

• the wheelhouse module is craned into position on the hull.

– origin Middle English: figuratively from crane^2 (the same sense development occurred in the related German Kran and Dutch kraan (see crane^2), and in French grue). The verb dates from the late 16th cent.

crane^2 /krān/

I. noun

a tall, long-legged, long-necked bird, typically with white or gray plumage and often with tail plumes and patches of bare red skin on the head. Cranes are noted for their elaborate courtship dances.
[Family Gruidae: four genera, in particular Grus, and several species, including the Eurasian common crane (G. grus).]

– origin Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kraan and German Kran, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin grus and Greek geranos.

Crane, Hart /krān/

(1899–1932), US poet; full name Harold Hart Crane. He published only two books—White Buildings (1926), a collection, and The Bridge (1930), a mystical epic poem concerned with American life and consciousness—before committing suicide by jumping from a ship.

Crane, Stephen

(1871–1900), US writer. He is well known for the novel, The Red Badge of Courage (1895), a study of an inexperienced soldier during the Civil War. It was hailed as a masterpiece of psychological realism, even though Crane himself had no personal war experience.

crane fly /ˈkrān ˌflī/

noun

a slender, two-winged fly with very long legs. The larva of some kinds is the leatherjacket.
[Family Tipulidae: many genera and species, in particular the large and common Tipula maxima.]

cranesbill /ˈkrānzbil/

I. noun

a herbaceous plant that typically has lobed leaves and purple, violet, or pink five-petaled flowers.
[Genus Geranium, family Geraniaceae: several species, including the common meadow cranesbill (G. pratense), with deeply toothed leaves and bluish-purple flowers.]

– origin mid 16th cent.: so named because of the long spur on the fruit, thought to resemble a crane's beak.

cranial /ˈkrānēəl/

I. adjective

[Anatomy] of or relating to the skull or cranium.

– origin early 19th cent.: from cranium + -al.

cranial index /ˈkrānēəl ˈinˌdeks/

noun

another term for cephalic index.

cranial nerve /ˌkrānēəl ˈnərv/

noun

[Anatomy] each of twelve pairs of nerves that arise directly from the brain, not from the spinal cord, and pass through separate apertures in the skull.
They are (with conventional roman numbering) the olfactory (I), optic (II), oculomotor (III), trochlear (IV), trigeminal (V), abducens (VI), facial (VII), vestibulocochlear (VIII), glossopharyngeal (IX), vagus (X), accessory (XI), and hypoglossal (XII) nerves.

craniate /ˈkrānēˌāt, -nēət / ‹Zoology›

I. noun

an animal that possesses a skull.
Compare with vertebrate. [Subphylum Craniata, phylum Chordata; used instead of Vertebrata in some classification schemes.]

II. adjective

of or relating to the craniates.

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin craniatus, from medieval Latin cranium (see cranium).

cranio-

I. combining form

relating to the skull

• craniotomy.

– origin from Greek kranion ‘skull.’

craniocerebral /ˌkrānēōsəˈrēbrəl, -ˈserəbrəl/

adjective

relating to or involving both the cranium and the cerebrum.

craniofacial /ˌkrānēōˈfāSHəl/

adjective

[Anatomy] relating to the cranium and the face

• craniofacial surgery.

craniology /ˌkrānēˈäləjē/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› the scientific study of the shape and size of the skulls of different human races.

2. ‹historical› another term for phrenology.

II. derivatives

1. craniological /-nēəˈläjikəl /

adjective

2. craniologist /ˌkrānēˈäləjəst /

noun

craniometer /ˌkrānēˈämədər/

noun

a device for measuring the external dimensions of the skull.

craniometry /ˌkrānēˈämətrē/

I. noun

‹historical› the scientific measurement of skulls, especially in relation to craniology.

II. derivatives

craniometric /ˌkrānēəˈmetrik /

adjective

craniopagus /ˌkrānēˈäpəɡəs/

I. noun

(of conjoined twins) the condition of being joined at the head
[as modifier]

• the first time that surgeons had tried to separate adult craniopagus twins.

– origin based on cranio- ‘skull’ + Greek pagos ‘something that has become solid.’

craniosacral therapy /ˌkrānēōˈsakrəl, -ˈsākrəl/

noun

a system of alternative medicine intended to relieve pain and tension by gentle manipulations of the skull regarded as harmonizing with a natural rhythm in the central nervous system.

craniotomy /ˌkrānēˈädəmē/

noun

1. surgical opening into the skull.

2. surgical perforation of the skull of a dead fetus to ease delivery.

cranium /ˈkrānēəm/

I. noun

[Anatomy] the skull, especially the part enclosing the brain.

– origin late Middle English: via medieval Latin from Greek kranion ‘skull.’

crank^1 /kraNGk/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. turn the crankshaft of (an internal combustion engine), typically in order to start the engine.

2. turn (a handle), typically in order to start an engine.

3. (crank something up) — ‹informal› increase the intensity of something

• he cranked up the foghorn to full volume.

4. (crank something out) — ‹informal› produce something regularly and routinely

• an army of researchers cranked out worthy studies.

5. (usu. as adj. cranked) — give a bend to (a shaft, bar, etc.).

II. noun

1. a part of an axle or shaft bent out at right angles, for converting reciprocal to circular motion and vice versa.

2. ‹informal› the drug methamphetamine.

– origin Old English cranc (recorded in crancstæf, denoting a weaver's implement), related to crincan (see cringe).

crank^2 /kraNGk/

noun

1. an eccentric person, especially one who is obsessed by a particular subject or theory

• when he first started to air his views, they labeled him a crank

• [as modifier] I am used to getting crank calls from conspiracy theorists.

2. (N. Amer.) a bad-tempered person.
[mid 19th cent.: back-formation from cranky.]

3. ‹literary› a fanciful turn of speech.
[late 16th cent.: perhaps from a base meaning ‘bent together, curled up,’ shared by Old English cranc (see crank^1).]

crank^3 /kraNGk/

I. adjective

[Nautical] ‹archaic› (of a sailing ship) easily keeled over, especially by wind or sea through improper design or loading.

– origin early 17th cent.: perhaps from dialect crank ‘weak, shaky’ (compare with cranky or crank^1).

crankbait /ˈkraNGkˌbāt/

noun

[Fishing] (N. Amer.) a lure with a shape that enables it to dive and stay under water, typically via a flat lip on the front

• he is legendary for his ability to catch bass on a crankbait.

crank call

I. noun

a telephone call made to disturb, annoy, or trick someone, often anonymously

• she had been getting a lot of crank calls and so she wasn't answering her phone

• I don't know if it was a crank call or a real threat.

II. derivatives

crank caller

noun

crankcase /ˈkraNGkˌkās/

noun

a case or covering enclosing a crankshaft.

crankpin /ˈkraNGkpin/

noun

a pin by which a connecting rod is attached to a crank.

crankshaft /ˈkraNGkˌSHaft/

noun

a shaft driven by a crank.

cranky /ˈkraNGkē/

I. adjective

1. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) ill-tempered; irritable

• he was bored and cranky after eight hours of working.

2. ‹informal› eccentric or strange, typically because highly unorthodox

• a cranky scheme to pipe ground-level ozone into the stratosphere.

3. ‹informal› (of a machine) working badly; shaky

• the cranky elevator breaks down periodically.

II. derivatives

1. crankily /-kəlē /

adverb

2. crankiness /ˈkraNGkēnəs /

noun

– origin late 18th cent. (in the sense ‘sickly, in poor health’): perhaps from obsolete (counterfeit) crank ‘a rogue feigning sickness,’ from Dutch or German krank ‘sick.’

Cranmer, Thomas /ˈkranmər/

(1489–1556), English cleric and martyr. A leader in the English Reformation, he was appointed the first Protestant archbishop of Canterbury in 1532 and was responsible for liturgical reform and the compilation of the Book of Common Prayer (1549).He was convicted of treason and heresy under Mary Tudor and burned at the stake.

crannog /ˈkranˌôɡ, -əɡ/

I. noun

an ancient fortified dwelling constructed in a lake or marsh in Scotland or Ireland.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Irish crannóg, Scottish Gaelic crannag ‘timber structure,’ from crann ‘tree, beam.’

cranny /ˈkranē/

I. noun

a small, narrow space or opening.

II. phrases

every nook and cranny

see nook.

III. derivatives

crannied /ˈkranēd /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French crane ‘notched,’ from cran, from popular Latin crena ‘notch.’

Cranston /ˈkranstən/

an industrial city in central Rhode Island, south of Providence; pop. 79,980 (est. 2008).

Cranston, Alan /ˈkranstən/

(1914–2000), US politician. A Democrat from California, he was a member of the US Senate 1969–93. From 1993 he worked toward the abolition of nuclear weapons.

crap^1 /krap / ‹vulgar slang›

I. noun

1. something of extremely poor quality.

2. nonsense.

3. rubbish; junk.

4. excrement.

5. an act of defecation.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. defecate.

– origin Middle English: related to Dutch krappe, from krappen ‘pluck or cut off,’ and perhaps also to Old French crappe ‘siftings,’ Anglo-Latin crappa ‘chaff.’ The original sense was ‘chaff,’ later ‘residue from rendering fat,’ also ‘dregs of beer.’ Current senses date from the late 19th cent.

crap^2 /krap / ‹N. Amer.›

I. noun

a losing throw of 2, 3, or 12 in craps.

II. verb — [no obj.] (crap out)

1. ‹informal› make a losing throw at craps.

2. ‹informal› withdraw from or give up on a game or activity because of fear or fatigue

• when entrepreneurs get to $1 billion they crap out and turn their companies over to others.

3. ‹informal› fail in what one is attempting to do

• the Rams almost crapped out late in the game.

4. ‹informal› (of a machine) break down

• his TelePrompTer crapped out.

– origin early 20th cent.: from craps.

crape /krāp/

I. noun

archaic spelling of crepe.

II. derivatives

crapy

adjective

– origin early 16th cent.: from French crêpe (see crepe).

crape myrtle crepe myrtle

noun

an ornamental Asian shrub or small tree with pink, white, or purplish crinkled petals.
[Genus Lagerstroemia, family Lythraceae: several species, in particular common crape myrtle (L. indica) and queen's crape myrtle (L. speciosa).]

crap game

noun

(N. Amer.) a game of craps.

crapola /kraˈpōlə/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹vulgar slang› nonsense; rubbish.

– origin from crap^1 and -ola, a suffix used humorously to extend standard words.

crapper /ˈkrapər/

noun

‹vulgar slang› a toilet.

crappie /ˈkräpē, ˈkrapē/

I. noun

a North American freshwater fish of the sunfish family, the male of which builds a nest and guards the eggs and young.
[Genus Pomoxis, family Centrarchidae: several species, including theblack crappie (P. nigromaculatus) and thewhite crappie (P. annularis).]

– origin mid 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

crappy /ˈkrapē/

adjective

1. ‹vulgar slang› of extremely poor quality

• crappy wine.

2. ‹vulgar slang› ill; in poor physical condition.

craps /kraps/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. a gambling game played with two dice, chiefly in North America. A throw of 7 or 11 is a winning throw, 2, 3, or 12 is a losing throw; any other throw must be repeated.
See also crap^2.

– origin early 19th cent.: perhaps from crab^1 or crab's eyes, denoting the lowest throw (two ones) at dice.

crapshoot /ˈkrapˌSHo͞ot/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a crap game.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a risky or uncertain matter

• predicting any extreme weather event is a scientific crapshoot.

II. derivatives

crapshooter

noun

crapulent /ˈkrapyələnt/

I. adjective

‹literary› of or relating to the drinking of alcohol or drunkenness.

II. derivatives

1. crapulence /ˈkrapyələns /

noun

2. crapulous /-yələs /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from late Latin crapulentus ‘very drunk,’ from Latin crapula ‘inebriation,’ from Greek kraipalē ‘drunken headache.’

craquelure /kraˈklo͝or, ˈkrakˌlo͝or/

I. noun

a network of fine cracks in the paint or varnish of a painting.

– origin early 20th cent.: French, from craqueler ‘to crackle.’

crash^1 /kraSH/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — (of a vehicle) collide violently with an obstacle or another vehicle

• the stolen car she was riding in crashed into a tree.

2. [with obj.] — cause (a moving object) to collide with an obstacle or another vehicle.

3. (of an aircraft) fall from the sky and violently hit the land or sea

• a jet crashed 200 yards from the school.

4. [with obj.] — cause (an aircraft) to fall from the sky and land violently.

5. move or cause to move with force, speed, and sudden loud noise
[no obj.]

• huge waves crashed down on us

• [with obj.] she crashed down the telephone receiver.

6. [no obj.] — make a sudden loud, deep noise

• the thunder crashed.

7. [no obj.] — ‹informal› (of a business, a market, or a price) fall suddenly and disastrously in value

• silver prices crashed in early 1980.

8. [no obj.] — [Computing] (of a machine, system, or software) fail suddenly

• the project was postponed because the computer crashed.

9. (chiefly N. Amer.) (of a patient) suffer a cardiac arrest.

10. [with obj.] — ‹informal› enter (a party) without an invitation or permission.

11. [no obj.] — ‹informal› go to sleep, especially suddenly or in an improvised setting

• I'll crash in the back of the van for a couple of hours.

II. noun

1. a violent collision, typically of one vehicle with another or with an obstacle

• a car crash.

2. an instance of an aircraft falling from the sky to hit the land or sea.

3. a sudden loud noise as of something breaking or hitting another object

• he slammed the phone down with a crash.

4. a sudden disastrous drop in the value or price of something, especially shares of stock

• a stock market crash

• the crash of 1987.

5. the sudden collapse of a business.

6. [Computing] a sudden failure which puts a system out of action.

III. adjective

done rapidly or urgently and involving a concentrated effort

• a crash course in Italian.

IV. adverb

with a sudden loud sound

• crash went the bolt.

V. phrases

crash and burn

‹informal› come to grief or fail spectacularly.

– origin late Middle English: imitative, perhaps partly suggested by craze and dash.

crash^2 /kraSH/

I. noun

‹dated› a coarse plain linen, woolen, or cotton fabric, used for curtains and towels.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Russian krashenina ‘dyed coarse linen.’

crash cart

noun

(in a hospital) a wheeled container carrying medicine and equipment for use in emergency resuscitations.

crash diet

I. noun

a weight-loss diet undertaken with the aim of achieving very rapid results.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. embark on a crash diet.

• some climbers crash-diet for three days before major ascents.

crash-dive /ˈkraSH ˈˌdīv/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a submarine) dive rapidly and steeply to a deeper level in an emergency.

2. (of an aircraft) plunge steeply downward into a crash.

II. noun — (crash dive)

1. a steep dive by a submarine or aircraft.

crash helmet /ˈkraSH ˈˌhelmət/

noun

a helmet worn by a motorcyclist or a race car driver to protect the head in case of a crash.

crashing /ˈkraSHiNG/

I. adjective

‹informal› complete; total (used for emphasis)

• a crashing bore.

II. derivatives

crashingly

adverb

crash-land /ˈkraSH ˈˌland/

verb — [no obj.]

1. (of an aircraft) land roughly in an emergency, typically without lowering the landing gear
(as noun crash landing)

• a plane made a crash landing near the airport.

crash mat

noun

a thick padded mat used to cushion a landing or fall in sports or the performance of stunts

• we have crash mats and a harness, so it is safe.

crash pad /ˈkraSH ˈˌpad/

noun

1. ‹informal› a place to sleep, especially for a single night or in an emergency.

2. a thick piece of shock-absorbing material for the protection of the occupants of an aircraft cockpit or motor vehicle.

crash-test /ˈkraSHˌtest/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. deliberately crash (a new vehicle) under controlled conditions in order to evaluate and improve its ability to withstand impact.

II. noun

an instance of crash-testing a vehicle.

crashworthy /ˈkraSHˌwərT͟Hē/

I. adjective

(of a vehicle or an aircraft) relatively well able to withstand a crash.

II. derivatives

crashworthiness

noun

crass /kras/

I. adjective

lacking sensitivity, refinement, or intelligence

• the crass assumptions that men make about women.

II. derivatives

1. crassitude /ˈkrasəˌt(y)o͞od /

noun

2. crassly /ˈkraslē /

adverb

3. crassness /ˈkrasnəs /

noun

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘dense or coarse (in constitution or texture)’): from Latin crassus ‘solid, thick.’

Crassus, Marcus Licinius /ˈkrasəs/

(c. 115–53 BC), Roman politician. After defeating Spartacus in 71 BC, he joined Caesar and Pompey in the First Triumvirate in 60.

-crat

I. combining form

denoting a member or supporter of a particular form of government or rule

• plutocrat

• technocrat.

– origin from French -crate, from adjectives ending in -cratique (see -cratic).

crate /krāt/

I. noun

1. a slatted wooden case used for transporting or storing goods

• a crate of bananas.

2. a square metal or plastic container divided into small individual units, used for transporting or storing bottles

• a milk crate

• a crate of beer.

3. ‹informal› ‹dated› an old and dilapidated vehicle.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. pack (something) in a crate for transportation.

III. derivatives

crateful /ˈkrātˌfo͝ol /

noun

– origin late Middle English: perhaps related to Dutch krat ‘tailboard of a wagon,’ earlier ‘box of a coach,’ of unknown origin.

crater /ˈkrādər/

I. noun

1. a large, bowl-shaped cavity in the ground or on the surface of a planet or the moon, typically one caused by an explosion or the impact of a meteorite or other celestial body.

2. a large pit or hollow forming the mouth of a volcano.

3. a cavity or hole in any surface.

4. a large bowl used in ancient Greece for mixing wine.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. form a crater in (the ground or a planet)

• he has the offensive power to crater the enemy's runways

• (as adj. cratered) the heavily cratered areas of the moon.

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting the hollow forming the mouth of a volcano): via Latin from Greek kratēr ‘mixing bowl,’ from krasis ‘mixture.’

Crater /ˈkrādər / ‹Astronomy›

I. a small and faint southern constellation (the Cup), between Hydra and Leo, said to represent the goblet of Apollo.

II. (as genitive Crateris ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation

• the star Delta Crateris.

– origin Latin, from Greek,‘mixing bowl.’

Crater Lake

a lake that fills a volcanic crater in the Cascade Mountains in southwestern Oregon. With a depth of more than 1,968 feet (600 m), it is the deepest lake in the US.

-cratic

I. combining form

relating to a particular kind of government or rule

• bureaucratic

• democratic.

– origin from French -cratique, from -cratie (see -cracy).

-cratically

I. suffix

forming adverbs corresponding to adjectives ending in -cratic

• democratically.

– origin from -cratic + -ally. (See -cracy).

C rations

I. plural noun

(N. Amer.) a type of canned food formerly used by US soldiers.

– origin C for combat.

craton /ˈkrātän/

I. noun

[Geology] a large, stable block of the earth's crust forming the nucleus of a continent.

II. derivatives

cratonic /krāˈtänik, kra-, krə- /

adjective

– origin 1930s: alteration of kratogen in the same sense, from Greek kratos ‘strength.’

cravat /krəˈvat/

I. noun

1. a short, wide strip of fabric worn by men around the neck and tucked inside an open-necked shirt.

2. a necktie.

II. derivatives

cravatted /krəˈvadəd /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French cravate, from Cravate ‘Croat’ (from German Krabat, from Serbian and Croatian Hrvat), because of the scarf worn by Croatian mercenaries in France.

crave /krāv/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. feel a powerful desire for (something)

• a program to give the infants the human touch they crave.

2. ‹dated› beg for (something)

• I must crave your indulgence.

II. derivatives

craver

noun

– origin Old English crafian (in the sense ‘demand, claim as a right’), of Germanic origin; related to Swedish kräva, Danish kræve ‘demand.’ The current sense dates from late Middle English.

craven /ˈkrāvən/

I. adjective

contemptibly lacking in courage; cowardly

• a craven abdication of his moral duty.

II. noun

‹archaic› a cowardly person.

III. derivatives

1. cravenly /ˈkrāv(ə)nlē /

adverb

2. cravenness /ˈkrāv(ə)n(n)əs /

noun

– origin Middle English cravant ‘defeated,’ perhaps via Anglo-Norman French from Old French cravante, past participle of cravanter ‘crush, overwhelm,’ based on Latin crepare ‘burst.’ The change in the ending in the 17th cent. was due to association with past participles ending in -en (see -en^3).

craving /ˈkrāviNG/

noun

a powerful desire for something

• a craving for chocolate.

craw /krô/

I. noun

1. ‹dated› the crop of a bird or insect.

2. ‹dated› ‹chiefly humorous› the stomach of a person or animal.

II. phrases

stick in one's craw

see stick^2.

– origin late Middle English: from or related to Middle Dutch crāghe or Middle Low German krage ‘neck, throat.’

crawdad /ˈkrôdad/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a freshwater crayfish.

– origin early 20th cent.: fanciful alteration of crawfish.

crawfish /ˈkrôˌfiSH/

I. noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) a freshwater crayfish.

2. another term for spiny lobster.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (US) ‹informal› retreat from a position

• the three networks, intimidated by the public outcry, had begun to crawfish.

– origin early 17th cent.: variant of crayfish.

Crawford, Joan /ˈkrôfərd/

(c. 1904–77), US actress; born Lucille Le Sueur. Notable movies: The Women (1939), Mildred Pierce (1945), Johnny Guitar (1954), and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962).

crawl /krôl/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — (of a person) move forward on the hands and knees or by dragging the body close to the ground

• they crawled out from under the table.

2. (of an insect or small animal) move slowly along a surface

• the tiny spider was crawling up Nicky's arm.

3. (of a vehicle) move at an unusually slow pace

• the traffic was crawling along.

4. swim using the crawl.

5. ‹technical› (of paint or other liquid) move after application to form an uneven layer over the surface below

• glazes can crawl away from a crack in the piece.

6. [no obj.] — ‹informal› behave obsequiously or ingratiatingly in the hope of gaining someone's favor

• don't come crawling back to me later when you realize your mistake.

7. (be crawling with) — be covered or crowded with insects or people, to an extent that is disgusting or objectionable

• the place was crawling with soldiers.

8. [with obj.] — [Computing] (of a program) systematically visit (a number of web pages) in order to create an index of data

• its automated software robots crawl websites, grabbing copies of pages to index.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. an act of moving on one's hands and knees or dragging one's body along the ground

• they began the crawl back to their own lines.

2. a slow rate of movement, typically that of a vehicle

• he reduced his speed to a crawl.

3. a swimming stroke involving alternate overarm movements and rapid kicks of the legs.

4. a strip or band running across the bottom of a computer or television screen, within which news headlines, public service announcements, and advertisements are continuously scrolled.

III. phrases

make someone's skin crawl

see skin.

IV. derivatives

1. crawlingly

adverb

2. crawly /ˈkrôlē /

adjective

– origin Middle English: of unknown origin; possibly related to Swedish kravla and Danish kravle.

crawler /ˈkrôlər/

noun

1. a thing that crawls or moves at a slow pace, especially an insect.

2. (in full crawler tractor) — a tractor or other vehicle moving on an endless caterpillar track.

3. [Computing] a program that systematically browses the World Wide Web in order to create an index of data.

crawling peg

noun

a point on a scale of exchange rates in which a currency's value is allowed to go up or down frequently by small amounts within overall limits.

crawl space /ˈkrôl ˌspās/

noun

an area of limited height under a floor or roof, giving access to wiring and plumbing.

cray /krā / cray cray

I. adjective

(US) ‹informal› crazy

• I have a feeling this is gonna get cray

• she's cray cray.

– origin early 21st cent.: abbreviation.

crayfish /ˈkrāˌfiSH/

I. noun

1. a nocturnal freshwater crustacean that resembles a small lobster and inhabits streams and rivers.
[Several genera in the infraorder Astacidea, class Malacostraca, including Astacus of Europe and Cambarus of North America.]

2. (also marine crayfish) — another term for spiny lobster.

– origin Middle English: from Old French crevice, of Germanic origin and related to German Krebs (see crab^1). In the 16th cent. or earlier the second syllable was altered by association with fish^1.

crayon /ˈkrāˌän ˈkrāən/

I. noun

a pencil or stick of colored chalk or wax, used for drawing.

II. verb

[with obj.] — draw with a crayon or crayons

• Jeff crayoned a picture on a legal pad

• [no obj.] a child crayoning in a coloring book.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, from craie ‘chalk,’ from Latin creta.

craze /krāz/

I. noun

an enthusiasm for a particular activity or object that typically appears suddenly and achieves widespread but short-lived popularity

• the latest craze for bungee jumping.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (usu. as adj. crazed) — wildly insane or excited

• a crazed killer

• power-crazed tinpot dictators.

2. produce a network of fine cracks on (a surface)

• the lake was frozen over but crazed with cracks.

3. [no obj.] — develop fine cracks.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘break, shatter, produce cracks’): perhaps of Scandinavian origin and related to Swedish krasa ‘crunch.’

crazily /ˈkrāzəlē/

adverb

1. in a mad, wild, or erratic way

• an audience of boys laughed crazily.

2. in a foolish way

• the couple crazily hoped he would give his blessings.

3. in an extremely enthusiastic way

• they're soul mates and absolutely crazily in love.

4. [as submodifier] — to a great or absurd extent

• this year has gone crazily fast.

craziness /ˈkrāzēnəs/

noun

mad, wild, or erratic behavior or nature

• he loves me and all of my craziness

• the craziness of the parties.

crazy /ˈkrāzē / ‹informal›

I. adjective

1. mentally deranged, especially as manifested in a wild or aggressive way

• Stella went crazy and assaulted a visitor

• a crazy grin.

2. extremely annoyed or angry

• the noise they made was driving me crazy.

3. foolish

• it was crazy to hope that good might come out of this mess.

4. extremely enthusiastic

• I'm crazy about Cindy

• a football-crazy bunch of boys.

5. (of an angle) appearing absurdly out of place or in an unlikely position

• the monument leaned at a crazy angle.

6. ‹archaic› (of a ship or building) full of cracks or flaws; unsound or shaky.

II. adverb — [as submodifier]

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) extremely

• I've been crazy busy.

III. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a mentally deranged person.

IV. phrases

like crazy

‹informal› to a great degree

• I was laughing like crazy.

– origin late 16th cent. (in sense ‘full of cracks’): from craze + -y^1.

crazy bone /ˈkrāzē bōn/

noun

(US) another term for funny bone.

crazy eights

noun — [treated as sing.]

1. (N. Amer.) a card game in which players attempt to match a card in their hand by rank or suit to the previous card played, with eight being a wild card

• the three of us were playing crazy eights on a wobbly table in the library.

Crazy Horse

(c. 1849–77), Sioux chief; Sioux name Ta-Sunko-Witko. A leading figure in the resistance to white settlement on Native American land, he was at the center of the confederation that defeated General Custer at Little Bighorn in 1876. He surrendered in 1877 and was killed while in custody.

crazy quilt

noun

1. a patchwork quilt of a type traditionally made in North America, with patches of randomly varying sizes, shapes, colors, and fabrics.

2. a disorganized collection of things

• colonial America was a crazy quilt of laws.

CRC

abbreviation

1. [Printing] camera-ready copy.

2. Civil Rights Commission.

3. [Computing] cyclic redundancy check (or code).

creak /krēk/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of an object, typically a wooden one) make a harsh, high-pitched sound when being moved or when pressure or weight is applied

• the stairs creaked as she went up them

• the garden gate creaked open.

2. show weakness or frailty under strain

• stock prices creaked to a mixed finish today.

II. noun

a harsh scraping or squeaking sound

• the creak of a floorboard broke the silence.

III. derivatives

creakingly

adverb

– origin Middle English (as a verb in the sense ‘croak’): imitative.

creaky /ˈkrēkē/

I. adjective

1. (of an object, typically a wooden one) making or liable to make a harsh, high-pitched sound when being moved or when pressure or weight is applied

• I climbed the creaky stairs.

2. (of a voice) producing a harsh, high-pitched sound.

3. old-fashioned or decrepit

• the country's creaky legal system.

II. derivatives

1. creakily /-kəlē /

adverb

2. creakiness

noun

cream /krēm/

I. noun

1. the thick white or pale yellow fatty liquid that rises to the top when milk is left to stand and that can be eaten as an accompaniment to desserts or used as a cooking ingredient

• strawberries and cream

• [as modifier] a cream sauce.

2. the part of a liquid that gathers at the top.

3. a sauce, soup, dessert, or similar food containing cream or milk or having the consistency of cream

• a can of cream of mushroom soup.

4. a candy of a specified flavor that is creamy in texture, typically covered with chocolate

• a peppermint cream.

5. a thick liquid or semisolid cosmetic or medical preparation applied to the skin

• shaving cream

• moisturizing creams.

6. the very best of a group of people or things

• the paper's readership is the cream of American society.

7. a very pale yellow or off-white color

• the dress is available in white or cream

• [as modifier] a cream linen jacket.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. work (butter, typically with sugar) to form a smooth soft paste.

2. (usu. as adj. creamed) — mash (a cooked vegetable) and mix with milk or cream

• creamed turnips.

3. add cream to (coffee).

4. rub a cosmetic cream into (the skin)

• Madge was creaming her face in front of the mirror.

5. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) defeat (someone) heavily, especially in a sports contest.

6. hit or collide heavily and violently with (someone), especially in a car

• she got creamed by a speeding car.

7. [no obj.] — ‹vulgar slang› (of a person) be sexually aroused, especially to the point of producing sexual secretions.

8. [with obj.] — moisten (one's underpants) due to sexual arousal.

III. phrases

the cream of the crop

the very best of a particular group of people or things

• the researchers and institutions in this network are the cream of the crop.

IV. phrasal verbs

cream something off

a. take the best of a group of people or things, especially in a way that is considered unfair

• the schools cream off some of the better students.

b. make a disproportionate or excessive profit on a transaction.

– origin Middle English: from Old French cresme, from a blend of late Latin cramum (probably of Gaulish origin) and ecclesiastical Latin chrisma (see chrism).

cream cheese /krēm CHēz/

noun

soft, rich cheese made from unskimmed milk and cream.

cream-colored

adjective

of a very pale yellow or off-white color

• floors in cream-colored marble.

creamer /ˈkrēmər/

noun

1. a cream or milk substitute for adding to coffee or tea.

2. (N. Amer.) a small jug for cream.

3. ‹historical› a flat dish used for skimming the cream off milk.

4. a machine used for separating cream from milk.

creamery /ˈkrēm(ə)rē/

I. noun

1. a place where butter and cheese are produced.

2. ‹dated› a shop where dairy products are sold.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from cream, on the pattern of French crémerie.

cream of tartar /ˌkrēm əv ˈtärdər/

noun

a white, crystalline, acidic compound obtained as a byproduct of wine fermentation and used chiefly in baking powder.
[Alternative name:potassium hydrogen tartrate; chem. formula: HOOC(CHOH)2COOK.]

cream pie

noun

a pie with a sweet, custard-like filling, often topped with whipped cream

• a cream pie just tastes better when it's chilled

• a chocolate cream pie.

cream puff /ˈkrēm ˌpəf/

noun

1. a cake made of light pastry filled with cream.

2. ‹informal› a weak or ineffectual person.

3. [as modifier] — (US) denoting something of little consequence or difficulty

• a cream-puff assignment.

4. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a secondhand car or other item maintained in excellent condition.

cream soda /krēm ˈsōdə/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a carbonated, vanilla-flavored soft drink.

creamware /ˈkrēmwer/

noun

glazed earthenware pottery of a rich cream color, developed by Josiah Wedgwood in about 1760.

creamy /ˈkrēmē/

I. adjective

1. resembling cream in consistency or color

• beat the sugar and egg yolks together until thick and creamy

• creamy white flowers.

2. containing a lot of cream

• a thick, creamy dressing.

II. derivatives

1. creamily /-məlē /

adverb

2. creaminess /ˈkrēmēnəs /

noun

creance /ˈkrēəns/

I. noun

[Falconry] a long, fine cord attached to a hawk's leash to prevent escape during training.

– origin late 15th cent.: from French créance ‘faith,’ also denoting a cord to retain a bird of peu de créance (‘of little faith,’ i.e., which cannot yet be relied upon).

crease /krēs/

I. noun

1. a line or ridge produced on paper or cloth by folding, pressing, or crushing it

• khaki trousers with knife-edge creases.

2. a wrinkle or furrow in the skin, typically of the face, caused by age or a particular facial expression.

3. (usu. the crease) — an area around the goal in ice hockey or lacrosse that attacking players may not normally enter unless the puck or ball has already done so.

4. [Cricket] any of a number of lines marked on the pitch at specified places, especially the position of a batsman.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make a crease in (cloth or paper)

• he sank into the chair, careful not to crease his dinner jacket

• (as adj. creased) a creased piece of paper.

2. cause a crease to appear temporarily in (the face or its features), typically as a result of the expression of an emotion or feeling

• a small frown creased her forehead.

3. (of a bullet) graze (someone or something), causing little damage

• a bullet creased his thigh.

– origin late 16th cent.: probably a variant of crest.

crease-resistant /ˈkrēsrəˌzistənt/

adjective

denoting or made of a fabric that does not crease easily when washed or worn

• crease-resistant cotton blends.

create /krēˈāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. bring (something) into existence

• he created a thirty-acre lake

• over 170 jobs were created.

2. cause (something) to happen as a result of one's actions

• divorce only created problems for children.

3. (of an actor) originate (a role) by playing a character for the first time.

4. [with obj. and complement] — invest (someone) with a new rank or title

• he was created a baronet.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘form out of nothing,’ used of a divine or supernatural being): from Latin creat- ‘produced,’ from the verb creare.

creatine /ˈkrēətēn ˈkrēət(ə)n/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a compound formed in protein metabolism and present in much living tissue. It is involved in the supply of energy for muscular contraction.
[A guanidine derivative, usually present as a phosphate; chem. formula: C_4H_9N_3O_2.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: formed irregularly from Greek kreas ‘meat’ + -ine^4.

creatine phosphate

noun

another term for phosphocreatine.

creatinine /krēˈatnˌēn/

noun

[Biochemistry] a compound that is produced by metabolism of creatine and excreted in the urine.
[An anhydride of creatine; chem. formula: C_7H_4N_3O.]

creation /krēˈāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action or process of bringing something into existence

• the creation of a coalition government

• job creation.

2. a thing that has been made or invented, especially something showing artistic talent

• she treats fictional creations as if they were real people.

3. (the Creation) — the bringing into of existence of the universe, especially when regarded as an act of God.

4. everything so created; the universe

• our alienation from the rest of Creation.

5. the action or process of investing someone with a new rank or title.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin creatio(n-), from the verb creare (see create).

creationism /krēˈāSHəˌnizəm/

I. noun

1. the belief that the universe and living organisms originate from specific acts of divine creation, as in the biblical account, rather than by natural processes such as evolution.

2. another term for creation science.

II. derivatives

creationist /krēˈāSHənəst /

noun, adjective

creation science

noun

the interpretation of scientific knowledge in accord with belief in the literal truth of the Bible, especially regarding the creation of matter, life, and humankind in six days.

creative /krēˈādiv/

I. adjective

1. relating to or involving the imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work

• change unleashes people's creative energy

• creative writing.

2. (of a person) having good imagination or original ideas

• Homer, the creative genius of Greek epic.

II. noun

‹informal› a person who is creative, typically in a professional context.

III. derivatives

creativeness /krēˈādivnəs /

noun

creative accountancy /krēˈādiv əˈkoun(t)ənsē / creative accounting

noun

‹informal› the exploitation of loopholes in financial regulation in order to gain advantage or present figures in a misleadingly favorable light.

creatively /krēˈādivlē/

adverb

in an original or imaginative way

• this article inspires you to think creatively.

creative writing

noun

writing, typically fiction or poetry, which displays imagination or invention (often contrasted with academic or journalistic writing)

• universities are employing some of Britain's best-known authors to teach creative writing.

creativity /ˌkrēāˈtivədē/

noun

the use of the imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work.

creator /krēˈādər/

noun

1. a person or thing that brings something into existence.

2. (the Creator) — used as a name for God.

creature /ˈkrēCHər/

I. noun

1. an animal, as distinct from a human being

• night sounds of birds and other creatures.

2. an animal or person

• as fellow creatures on this planet, animals deserve respect.

3. a fictional or imaginary being, typically a frightening one

• a creature from outer space.

4. ‹archaic› anything living or existing

• dress, jewels, and other transitory creatures.

5. a person of a specified kind, typically one viewed with pity, contempt, or desire

• you heartless creature!

6. a person or organization considered to be under the complete control of another

• the village teacher was expected to be the creature of his employer.

II. phrases

creature of habit

a person who follows an unvarying routine.

III. derivatives

creaturely /ˈkrēCHərlē /

adjective

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘something created’): via Old French from late Latin creatura, from the verb creare (see create).

creature comforts /ˈkrēCHər ˈkəmfərts/

plural noun

material comforts that contribute to physical ease and well-being, such as good food and accommodations.

crèche /kreSH/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a model or tableau representing the scene of Jesus Christ's birth, displayed in homes or public places at Christmas.

2. (Brit.) a nursery where babies and young children are cared for during the working day.

– origin late 18th cent. (sense 1): French.

Crécy, Battle of /krāˈsē/

a battle between the English and the French in 1346 near the village of Crécy-en-Ponthieu in Picardy, at which the forces of Edward III defeated those of Philip VI. It was the first major English victory of the Hundred Years War.

cred /kred/

noun

informal term for street credibility.

credal /ˈkrēdl / creedal

adjective

of or relating to a statement of Christian or other religious belief.

credence /ˈkrēdəns/

I. noun

1. belief in or acceptance of something as true

• psychoanalysis finds little credence among laymen.

2. the likelihood of something being true; plausibility

• being called upon by the media as an expert lends credence to one's opinions.

3. [usu. as modifier] — a small side table, shelf, or niche in a church for holding the elements of the Eucharist before they are consecrated

• a credence table.

II. phrases

give credence to

accept as true.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin credentia, from Latin credent- ‘believing,’ from the verb credere.

credential /krəˈden(t)SHəl/

I. noun — (usu. credentials)

1. a qualification, achievement, personal quality, or aspect of a person's background, typically when used to indicate that they are suitable for something

• recruitment is based mainly on academic credentials.

2. a document or certificate proving a person's identity or qualifications.

3. a letter of introduction given by a government to an ambassador before a new posting.

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin credentialis, from credentia (see credence). The original use was as an adjective in the sense ‘giving credence to, recommending,’ frequently in credential letters or papers, hence credentials (mid 17th cent).

credentialed /krəˈdenSHəld/

adjective

awarded or in possession of credentials

• impeccably credentialed professionals.

credentialism /krəˈden(t)SHəˌlizəm/

noun

belief in or reliance on academic or other formal qualifications as the best measure of a person's intelligence or ability to do a particular job

• credentialism is to a large degree responsible for people assuming that they need a degree.

credenza /krəˈdenzə/

I. noun

a sideboard or cupboard.

– origin late 19th cent.: Italian, from medieval Latin credentia (see credence).

credibility /ˌkredəˈbilədē/

I. noun

1. the quality of being trusted and believed in

• the government's loss of credibility.

2. the quality of being convincing or believable

• the book's anecdotes have scant regard for credibility.

3. another term for street credibility.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from medieval Latin credibilitas, from Latin credibilis (see credible).

credibility gap /ˌkredəˈbilədē ɡap/

noun

an apparent difference between what is said or promised and what happens or is true.

credible /ˈkredəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. able to be believed; convincing

• few people found his story credible

• a credible witness.

2. capable of persuading people that something will happen or be successful

• a credible threat.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin credibilis, from credere ‘believe.’

credibly /ˈkredəblē/

adverb

in a believable and convincing way

• he can also talk credibly about the details.

credit /ˈkredət/

I. noun

1. the ability of a customer to obtain goods or services before payment, based on the trust that payment will be made in the future

• I've got unlimited credit.

2. the money lent or made available under a credit arrangement

• the bank refused to extend their credit

• [as modifier] he was exceeding his credit limit.

3. an entry recording a sum received, listed on the right-hand side or column of an account.
The opposite of debit.

4. a payment received

• you need to record debits or credits made to your account.

5. entitlement to a set amount of a particular company's goods or services, typically paid for in advance of use

• in the middle of our conversation his phone ran out of credit

• she had $15 credit on her account.

6. public acknowledgment or praise, typically that given or received when a person's responsibility for an action or idea becomes or is made apparent

• the president claims credit for each accomplishment.

7. [in sing.] — a source of pride, typically someone or something that reflects well on another person or organization

• he's a credit to his mother.

8. (usu. credits) — an acknowledgment of a contributor's services to a movie or a television program, typically one of a list that is scrolled down the screen at the beginning or end of a movie or program

• the closing credits finished rolling.

9. (chiefly N. Amer.) the acknowledgment of a student's completion of a course that counts toward a degree or diploma as maintained in a school's records

• a student can earn one unit of academic credit.

10. a unit of study counting toward a degree or diploma

• in his first semester he earned 17 credits.

11. acknowledgment of merit in an examination which is reflected in the grades awarded

• students will receive credit for accuracy and style.

12. ‹archaic› the quality of being believed or credited

• the abstract philosophy of Cicero has lost its credit.

13. favorable estimation; good reputation

• John Gilpin was a citizen of credit and renown.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. publicly acknowledge someone as a participant in the production of (something published or broadcast)

• the screenplay is credited to one American and two Japanese writers.

2. (credit someone with) — ascribe (an achievement or good quality) to someone

• he is credited with painting one hundred and twenty-five canvases.

3. add (an amount of money) to an account

• this deferred tax can be credited to the profit and loss account.

4. believe (something surprising or unlikely)

• you would hardly credit it—but it was true.

III. phrases

1. credit where credit is due

praise given when it is deserved, even if one is reluctant to give it.

2. do someone credit (or do credit to someone)

make someone worthy of praise or respect

• your concern does you credit.

3. give someone credit for

commend someone for (a quality or achievement), especially with reluctance or surprise

• please give me credit for some sense.

4. have something to one's credit

have achieved something notable

• he has 65 tournament wins to his credit.

5. on credit

with an arrangement to pay later.

6. on the credit side

as a good aspect of the situation

• on the credit side, the text is highly readable.

7. to one's credit

used to indicate that something praiseworthy has been achieved, especially despite difficulties

• to her credit, she had never betrayed a confidence.

– origin mid 16th cent. (originally in the senses ‘belief,’ ‘credibility’): from French crédit, probably via Italian credito from Latin creditum, neuter past participle of credere ‘believe, trust.’

creditable /ˈkredədəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

(of a performance, effort, or action) deserving public acknowledgment and praise but not necessarily outstanding or successful

• a very creditable 2–4 defeat.

II. derivatives

1. creditability /ˌkreditəˈbilitē /

noun

2. creditably /ˈkredədəblē /

adverb

credit analyst

noun

a person employed to assess the credit rating of people or companies.

credit bureau /ˈkredət ˈbyo͞orō/

noun

a company that collects information relating to the credit ratings of individuals and makes it available to credit card companies, financial institutions, etc.

credit card /ˈkredət ˌkärd/

noun

a small plastic card issued by a bank, business, etc., allowing the holder to purchase goods or services on credit.

credit course

noun

(N. Amer.) an educational course taken for credit towards a degree, diploma, etc.

• he taught over 800 students in a credit course called library research strategies.

credit crunch /ˈkredit ˌkrənCH/

noun

a sudden sharp reduction in the availability of money or credit from banks and other lenders

• the beleaguered company has become the latest victim of the credit crunch.

credit default swap

noun

[Finance] a financial contract whereby a buyer of corporate or sovereign debt in the form of bonds attempts to eliminate possible loss arising from default by the issuer of the bonds. This is achieved by the issuer of the bonds insuring the buyer’s potential losses as part of the agreement

• fears of so-called counterparty risk arising from credit default swaps were central to the investment bank's unraveling in March.

credit derivative

noun

[Finance] a type of derivative in which the risk that a loan will not be repaid is sold to a party other than the lender

• credit derivatives act as insurance for a company that invests in a corporate bond or loan.

credit event

noun

[Finance] a default, bankruptcy, or other situation which is recognized as affecting the creditworthiness of a country or organization and which may trigger insurance payments as defined in a credit default swap

• investors should keep in mind that this is a relatively small credit event relative to some of those we've seen in the banking sector before.

credit line

noun

another term for line of credit (see line^1).

creditor /ˈkredədər/

noun

a person or company to whom money is owed.

credit rating /ˈkredət ˌrādiNG/

noun

1. an estimate of the ability of a person or organization to fulfill their financial commitments, based on previous dealings.

2. the process of assessing this.

credit score

noun

[Finance] a number assigned to a person that indicates to lenders their capacity to repay a loan.

credit union /ˈkredət ˌyo͞onyən/

noun

a nonprofit-making money cooperative whose members can borrow from pooled deposits at low interest rates.

creditworthy /ˈkredətˌwərT͟Hē/

I. adjective

(of a person or company) considered suitable to receive credit, especially because of being reliable in paying money back in the past.

II. derivatives

creditworthiness /ˈkredətˌwərT͟Hēnis /

noun

credo /ˈkrēdō ˈkrādō/

I. noun

1. a statement of the beliefs or aims that guide someone's actions

• he announced his credo in his first editorial.

2. (Credo) — a creed of the Christian Church in Latin.

3. (Credo) — a musical setting of the Nicene Creed, typically as part of a mass.

– origin Middle English: Latin,‘I believe.’ Compare with creed.

credulity /krəˈd(y)o͞olədē/

noun

a tendency to be too ready to believe that something is real or true.

credulous /ˈkrejələs/

I. adjective

having or showing too great a readiness to believe things.

II. derivatives

1. credulously /ˈkrejələslē /

adverb

2. credulousness

noun

– origin late 16th cent. (in the general sense ‘inclined to believe’): from Latin credulus (from credere ‘believe’) + -ous.

Cree /krē/

I. noun

1. a member of a American Indian people living in a vast area of central Canada.

2. the Algonquian language of the Cree, closely related to Montagnais.

II. adjective

relating to the Cree or their language.

– origin from Canadian French Cris, abbreviation of Cristinaux, from Algonquian kiris̆tinō.

creed /krēd/

I. noun

1. a system of Christian or other religious belief; a faith

• people of many creeds and cultures.

2. (often the Creed) — a formal statement of Christian beliefs, especially the Apostles' Creed or the Nicene Creed.

3. a set of beliefs or aims that guide someone's actions

• liberalism was more than a political creed.

– origin Old English, from Latin credo.

creek /krēk/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) (Austral./NZ) a stream, brook, or minor tributary of a river.

2. an inlet in a shoreline, a channel in a marsh, or another narrow, sheltered waterway.

II. phrases

1. be up the creek (without a paddle)

‹informal› be in severe difficulty or trouble, especially with no means of extricating oneself from it.

2. be up shit creek

see shit.

– origin Middle English: from Old French crique or from Old Norse kriki ‘nook’; perhaps reinforced by Middle Dutch krēke; of unknown ultimate origin.

Creek /krēk/

I. noun

1. a member of a confederacy of American Indian peoples of the southeastern US in the 16th to 19th centuries whose descendants now live mainly in Oklahoma.

2. the Muskogean language of the Creek.

II. adjective

of, relating to, or denoting the Creek.

– origin from creek, because they lived beside the waterways of the flatlands of Georgia and Alabama.

creel /krēl/

I. noun

1. a wicker basket for carrying fish.

2. an angler's fishing basket.

3. a rack holding bobbins or spools for spinning.

– origin Middle English (sense 1; originally Scots and northern English): of unknown origin. Sense 2 (perhaps the same word) dates from the mid 19th cent.

creep /krēp/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. move slowly and carefully, especially in order to avoid being heard or noticed

• he crept downstairs, hardly making any noise

• they were taught how to creep up on an enemy.

2. (of a thing) move very slowly at an inexorably steady pace

• the fog was creeping up from the marsh.

3. (of a plant) grow along the ground or other surface by means of extending stems or branches
(as adj. creeping)

• tufts of fine leaves grow on creeping rhizomes.

4. (of a plastic solid) undergo gradual deformation under stress.

5. (creep in/into) — (of an unwanted and negative characteristic or fact) occur or develop gradually and almost imperceptibly

• errors crept into his game

• (as adj. creeping) the creeping centralization of power.

6. (creep up) — increase slowly but steadily in number or amount

• interest rates have been creeping up in the past few weeks.

II. noun

1. ‹informal› a detestable person.

2. a person who behaves in an obsequious way in the hope of advancement.

3. slow movement, especially at a steady but almost imperceptible pace

• an attempt to prevent this slow creep of costs.

4. the tendency of a car with automatic transmission to move when in gear without the accelerator being pressed.

5. the gradual downward movement of disintegrated rock or soil due to gravitational forces

• stones and earth slowly slip down the slopes by soil creep.

6. the gradual deformation of a plastic solid under stress.

7. gradual bulging of the floor of a mine owing to pressure on the pillars.

III. phrases

give someone the creeps

‹informal› induce a feeling of revulsion or fear in someone.

IV. phrasal verbs

creep someone out

‹informal› give someone an unpleasant feeling of fear or unease

• an anonymous note like that would creep me out.

– origin Old English crēopan ‘move with the body close to the ground,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kruipen. Sense 1 of the verb dates from Middle English.

creeper /ˈkrēpər/

noun

1. [Botany] any plant that grows along the ground, around another plant, or up a wall by means of extending stems or branches.

2. any of a number of small birds that creep around in trees, vegetation, etc.
[● the American treecreeper (Certhia americana, family Certhiidae). ● (NZ )a New Zealand songbird (Mohoua novaeseelandiae, family Pachycephalidae or Acanthizidae). ● a Philippine songbird (family Rhabdornithidae and genus Rhabdornis: two species). ● a Hawaiian honeycreeper (genus Paroreomyza, family Drepanididae: three species).]

3. a low, wheeled platform on which a mechanic lies while working on the underside of a motor vehicle.

4. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a person, typically a man, whose behavior toward or interest in someone is regarded as unwelcome and socially inappropriate

• I could dance there without a creeper walking up and accosting me.

5. (creepers) — ‹informal› short for brothel creepers.

creeping Charlie

noun

1. a creeping or trailing plant, in particular

2. another term for moneywort.

3. another term for ground ivy.

creeping Jenny

noun

another term for moneywort.

creepy /ˈkrēpē/

I. adjective

‹informal› causing an unpleasant feeling of fear or unease

• the creepy feelings one often gets in a strange house.

II. derivatives

1. creepily /-pəlē /

adverb

2. creepiness /ˈkrēpēnəs /

noun

creepy-crawly /ˌkrēpēˈkrôlē / ‹informal›

I. noun

a spider, worm, or other small, flightless creature, especially when considered unpleasant or frightening.

II. adjective

causing an unpleasant feeling of fear or unease

• creepy-crawly stories.

crema /ˈkrema/

I. noun

a brownish foam that forms on the top of freshly made espresso.

– origin Italian, literally ‘cream.’

cremains /kriˈmānz/

plural noun

a person's cremated remains.

cremaster /krəˈmastər/

I. noun

1. (also cremaster muscle) — [Anatomy] the muscle of the spermatic cord, by which the testicle can be partially raised.

2. [Entomology] the hooklike tip of a butterfly pupa, serving as an anchorage point.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Greek kremastēr, from krema- ‘hang.’

cremate /ˈkrēˌmāt krəˈmāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. dispose of (a dead person's body) by burning it to ashes, typically after a funeral ceremony.

2. ‹informal› burn (something), typically food.

II. derivatives

cremator /ˈkrēmādər /

noun

– origin late 19th cent. (as cremation): from Latin cremare ‘burn.’

cremation /krəˈmāSH(ə)n/

noun

the disposal of a dead person's body by burning it to ashes, typically after a funeral ceremony

• we chose cremation over burial

• advice on wills, costs, and cremations.

crematorium /ˌkrēməˈtôrēəm/

I. noun

another term for crematory.

– origin late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from cremare ‘burn.’

crematory /ˈkrēməˌtôrē ˈkreməˌtôrē/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a place where a dead person's body is cremated.

II. adjective

of or relating to cremation.

crème anglaise /ˌkrem äNGˈɡlez, -ˈɡlāz/

I. noun

a rich egg custard.

– origin French, literally ‘English cream.’

crème brûlée /ˌkrem bro͞oˈlā/

I. noun

a dessert of custard topped with caramelized sugar.

– origin late 19th cent.: French, literally ‘burned cream.’

crème caramel /ˌkrem kerəˈmel/

I. noun

a custard dessert made with whipped cream and eggs and topped with caramel.

– origin early 20th cent.: French, literally ‘caramel custard.’

crème de cacao /ˌkrem də kəˈkou, ˈkōkō/

I. noun

a chocolate-flavored liqueur.

– origin mid 20th cent.: French, literally ‘cream of cacao.’

crème de la crème /ˌkrem də lə ˈkrem/

I. noun

the best person or thing of a particular kind

• the crème de la crème of the dancers have left the country.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, literally ‘cream of the cream.’

crème de menthe /ˌkrem də ˈmenTH/

I. noun

a peppermint-flavored liqueur.

– origin early 20th cent.: French, literally ‘cream of mint.’

crème fraiche /ˌkrem ˈfreSH/

I. noun

a type of thick cream made from heavy cream with the addition of buttermilk, sour cream, or yogurt.

– origin from French crème fraîche, literally ‘fresh cream.’

cremini /krəˈmēni/

I. noun

an immature portobello mushroom, eaten before the cap has opened.

– origin Italian.

Cremona /krəˈmōnə/

a city in northern Italy, in Lombardy; pop. 72,267 (2008). Between the 16th and the 18th century the city was home to three renowned families of violin-makers: the Amati, the Guarneri, and the Stradivari.

crenate /ˈkrēnāt/

I. adjective

[Botany] [Zoology] (especially of a leaf or shell) having a round-toothed or scalloped edge.
Compare with crenulate.

II. derivatives

1. crenated

adjective

2. crenation /krēˈnāSHən kreˈnāSHən krəˈnāSHən /

noun

– origin late 18th cent. (earlier as crenated): from modern Latin crenatus, from popular Latin crena ‘notch.’

crenel /ˈkren(ə)l / crenelle

I. noun

an indentation in the battlements of a fort or castle, used for shooting or firing missiles through.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Old French, based on popular Latin crena ‘notch.’

crenellate /ˈkrenəˌlāt / crenelate

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. crenellated)

1. ‹chiefly historical› provide (a wall of a building) with battlements.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French créneler, from Old French crenel (see crenel).

crenellations /ˌkrenəˈlāSH(ə)nz/

plural noun

the battlements of a castle or other building.

crenulate /ˈkrenyəlit, -yəˌlāt/

I. adjective

‹technical› (especially of a leaf, shell, or shoreline) having a finely scalloped or notched outline or edge.
Compare with crenate.

II. derivatives

1. crenulated

adjective

2. crenulation /ˌkrenyəˈlāSHən /

noun

– origin late 18th cent.: from modern Latin crenulatus, from crenula, diminutive of crena ‘notch.’

creodont /ˈkrēəˌdänt/

I. noun

an extinct carnivorous mammal of the early Tertiary period, ancestral to modern carnivores.
[Order Creodonta: several families.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Creodonta (plural), from Greek kreas ‘flesh’ + odous, odont- ‘tooth.’

Creole /ˈkrēˌōl / creole

I. noun

1. a person of mixed European and black descent, especially in the Caribbean.

2. a descendant of Spanish or other European settlers in the Caribbean or Central or South America.

3. a white descendant of French settlers in Louisiana and other parts of the southern US.

4. a mother tongue formed from the contact of two languages through an earlier pidgin stage

• a Portuguese-based Creole.

II. adjective

of or relating to a Creole or Creoles.

– origin from French créole, criole, from Spanish criollo, probably from Portuguese crioulo ‘black person born in Brazil, home-born slave,’ from criar ‘to breed,’ from Latin creare ‘produce, create.’

creolize /ˈkrēəˌlīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. form (a Creole language) from the contact of two languages
(as adj. creolized)

• a creolized variety of French.

II. derivatives

creolization /ˌkrēələˈzāSHən /

noun

creophagous /krēˈäfəɡəs / kreophagous

I. adjective

‹rare› flesh-eating or carnivorous

• crocodiles are creophagous animals.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek kreophagus, from kreas ‘flesh’ + -phagos (see -phagous).

creosol /ˈkrēəsôl ˈkrēəˌsōl/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a colorless liquid that is the chief constituent of wood-tar creosote.
[Alternative name:2-methoxy-4-methylphenol; chem. formula: C_8H_10O_2.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from creosote + -ol.

creosote /ˈkrēəˌsōt/

I. noun

1. a dark brown oil distilled from coal tar and used as a wood preservative. It contains a number of phenols, cresols, and other organic compounds.

2. a colorless, pungent, oily liquid, containing creosol and other compounds, distilled from wood tar and used as an antiseptic.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. treat (wood) with creosote.

– origin mid 19th cent.: coined in German from Greek kreas ‘flesh’ + sōtēr ‘preserver,’ with reference to its antiseptic properties.

creosote bush

noun

a shrub native to arid parts of Mexico and the western US. Its leaves smell of creosote and when steeped in boiling water, they yield an antiseptic lotion.
[Larrea tridentata, family Zygophyllaceae.]

crepe /krāp / crêpe

I. noun

1. a light, thin fabric with a wrinkled surface
[as modifier]

• a silk crepe blouse.

2. (also crepe rubber) — hard-wearing wrinkled rubber, used especially for the soles of shoes.

3. black silk or imitation silk, formerly used for mourning clothes.

4. a band of black silk or imitation silk, formerly worn around a person's hat as a sign of mourning.

5. /krep / — a thin pancake.

II. derivatives

crepey

adjective

– origin late 18th cent.: French, from Old French crespe ‘curled, frizzed,’ from Latin crispus.

crepe de chine /ˌkrāp də ˈSHēn / crepe de Chine

I. noun

a fine crepe of silk or similar fiber.

– origin late 19th cent.: French, literally ‘crepe of China.’

crepe paper

noun

thin, crinkled paper resembling crepe, used especially for making decorations.

crêperie /ˌkrep(ə)ˈrē, ˈkrāpərē/

I. noun

a small restaurant, typically one in France, in which a variety of crepes are served.

– origin French.

crêpe suzette /ˌkrāp so͞oˈzet/

noun

a thin dessert pancake with a brandy and citrus sauce, usually set aflame when served.

crépinette /ˌkrāpəˈnet, ˌkrep-/

I. noun

a flat sausage consisting of minced meat and savory stuffing wrapped in pieces of pork caul.

– origin French, diminutive of crépine ‘caul.’

crepitate /ˈkrepəˌtāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. make a crackling sound

• the night crepitates with an airy, whistling cacophony

• (as adj. crepitating) spidery fingers of crepitating electricity.

II. derivatives

crepitant /ˈkrepəd(ə)nt /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘break wind’): from Latin crepitat- ‘crackled, rustled,’ from the verb crepitare, from crepare ‘to rattle.’

crepitation /ˌkrepəˈtāSHən/

I. noun

1. a crackling or rattling sound

• pistollike crepitations.

2. [Medicine] a crackling sound made in breathing by a person with an inflamed lung, detected using a stethoscope.

3. [Entomology] the explosive ejection of irritant fluid from the abdomen of a bombardier beetle.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French crépitation or Latin crepitatio(n-), from the verb crepitare (see crepitate).

crepitus /ˈkrepədəs/

I. noun

1. [Medicine] a grating sound or sensation produced by friction between bone and cartilage or the fractured parts of a bone.

2. [Medicine] the production of crepitations in the lungs; rale.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin, from crepare ‘rattle.’

crépon /ˈkrāˌpän/

I. noun

a fabric resembling crepe, but heavier and with a more pronounced crinkled effect.

– origin late 19th cent.: French.

crept /krept/

past and past participle of creep.

crepuscular /krəˈpəskyələr/

I. adjective

1. of, resembling, or relating to twilight.

2. [Zoology] (of an animal) appearing or active in twilight.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin crepusculum ‘twilight’ + -ar^1.

crepuscule /krəˈpəsˌkyo͞ol / crepuscle

I. noun

‹rare› twilight.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin crepusculum ‘twilight.’

cresc. cres.

abbreviation

[Music] crescendo.

crescendo /krəˈSHenˌdō/

I. noun

1. (pl. crescendos or crescendi ) — [Music] a gradual increase in loudness in a piece of music.

2. [Music] a passage of music marked to be performed with a gradual increase of loudness.

3. the loudest point reached in a gradually increasing sound

• Debra's voice was rising to a crescendo.

4. a progressive increase in force or intensity

• a crescendo of misery.

5. the most intense point reached in this; a climax

• the negative reviews reached a crescendo in mid-February.

II. adverb, adjective

[Music] with a gradual increase in loudness
[as adj.]

• a short crescendo kettledrum roll.

III. verb — [no obj.]

1. increase in loudness or intensity

• the reluctant cheers began to crescendo.

– origin late 18th cent.: Italian, present participle of crescere ‘to increase,’ from Latin crescere ‘grow.’

crescent /ˈkres(ə)nt/

I. noun

1. the curved sickle shape of the waxing or waning moon.

2. a representation of a crescent used as an emblem of Islam or of Turkey.

3. (the Crescent) — ‹chiefly historical› the political power of Islam or of the Ottoman Empire.

4. a thing that has has the shape of a single curve, especially one that is broad in the center and tapers to a point at each end

• a three-mile crescent of golden sand

• a crescent-shaped building.

5. a street or row of houses forming an arc

• we lived at Westway Crescent.

6. [Heraldry] a charge in the form of a crescent, typically with the points upward (also a mark of cadency for a second son).

7. a moth or butterfly that bears crescent-shaped markings on the wings, in particular
[● an orange or brown American butterfly with a silvery mark on the underside of the hind wing (genus Phyciodes, subfamily Melitaeinae, family Nymphalidae). ● a brownish European moth with a pale mark on the forewing (several species in the family Noctuidae, in particular Celaena leucostigma).]

II. adjective

1. having the shape of a crescent

• a crescent moon.

2. ‹literary› growing, increasing, or developing.

III. derivatives

crescentic /krəˈsentik /

adjective

– origin late Middle English cressant, from Old French creissant, from Latin crescere ‘grow.’ The spelling change in the 17th century was due to the influence of the Latin.

crescent wrench

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹trademark› an adjustable wrench designed to grip hexagonal nuts, with an adjusting screw fitted in the crescent-shaped head of the wrench.

cresol /ˈkrēsôl ˈkrēˌsōl/

I. noun

[Chemistry] each of three isomeric crystalline compounds present in coal-tar creosote, used as disinfectants.
[The ortho-, meta-, and para- methyl derivatives of phenol; chem. formula: CH_3C_6H_4OH.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from creosote + -ol.

cress /kres/

I. noun

a plant of the cabbage family, typically having small white flowers and pungent leaves. Some kinds are edible and are eaten raw as salad.
[Barbarea and other genera, family Brassicaceae: several species, includinggarden cress andwatercress.]

– origin Old English cresse, cærse; related to Dutch kers and German Kresse.

cresset /ˈkresət/

I. noun

‹historical› a metal container of oil, grease, wood, or coal burned as a torch and typically mounted on a pole.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, from craisse, variant of graisse ‘oil, grease.’

Cressida /ˈkresədə/

(in medieval legends of the Trojan War) the daughter of Calchas, a priest. She was unfaithful to her lover Troilus, a son of Priam.

crest /krest/

I. noun

1. a comb or tuft of feathers, fur, or skin on the head of a bird or other animal.

2. a thing resembling a tuft, especially a plume of feathers on a helmet.

3. the top of something, especially a mountain or hill

• she reached the crest of the hill.

4. the curling foamy top of a wave.

5. [Anatomy] a ridge along the surface of a bone.

6. the upper line of the neck of a horse or other mammal.

7. [Heraldry] a distinctive device borne above the shield of a coat of arms (originally as worn on a helmet), or separately reproduced, for example on writing paper or silverware, to represent a family or corporate body.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. reach the top of (something such as a hill or wave)

• she crested a hill and saw the valley spread out before her.

2. [no obj.] — (US) (of a river) rise to its highest level

• the river was expected to crest at eight feet above flood stage.

3. [no obj.] — (of a wave) form a curling foamy top.

4. (be crested) — have attached or affixed at the top

• his helmet was crested with a fan of spikes.

III. derivatives

crestless

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French creste, from Latin crista ‘tuft, plume.’

crested /ˈkrestəd/

adjective

1. (of a bird or other animal) having a comb or tuft of feathers, fur, or skin on the head

• the crested drake mandarin duck

• a plush-crested jay.

2. emblazoned with a coat of arms or other emblem

• crested notepaper.

crested tit

noun

a small European tit (songbird) with a short crest, living chiefly in coniferous woodland.
[Parus cristatus, family Paridae.]

crestfallen /ˈkres(t)ˌfôlən/

I. adjective

sad and disappointed

• he came back empty-handed and crestfallen.

– origin late 16th cent.: figuratively, from the original use referring to a mammal or bird having a fallen or drooping crest.

crestfish /ˈkrestfiSH/

noun

a very elongated silvery marine fish with a crimson dorsal fin running the full length of its body and a forehead that projects forward into a long filament.
[Lophotus lacepedei, family Lophotidae.]

cresting /ˈkrestiNG/

noun

an ornamental decoration at the ridge of a roof or top of a wall or screen.

cresyl /ˈkresəl, ˈkrēˌsil/

noun — [as modifier]

1. [Chemistry] of or denoting a radical —OC_6H_4CH_3, derived from a cresol.

Cretaceous /krəˈtāSHəs/

I. adjective

1. [Geology] of, relating to, or denoting the last period of the Mesozoic era, between the Jurassic and Tertiary periods.

2. (as noun the Cretaceous) — [Geology] the Cretaceous period or the system of rocks deposited during it.

The Cretaceous lasted from about 146 million to 65 million years ago. The climate was warm, and the sea level rose; the period is characterized esp. in northwestern Europe and parts of North America by the deposition of chalk. The first flowering plants emerged, and the domination of the dinosaurs continued although they died out quite abruptly toward the end of it.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin cretaceus (from creta ‘chalk’) + -ous.

Cretaceous–Tertiary boundary ‹Geology› K/T boundary

I. the division between the Cretaceous and Tertiary periods, about 65 million years ago.

A widespread layer of sediment dating from this time has been shown since 1980 to be enriched in iridium and other elements and carbon deposits indicative of extensive fires. This appears to indicate the catastrophic impact of one or more large meteorites, and geologists have identified a formation at Chicxulub in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico, as a probable impact site. A resulting drastic climate change has been suggested as the cause of the extinction of dinosaurs and many other organisms at this time, but this remains controversial.

Cretan /ˈkrētn/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of the Greek island of Crete or its inhabitants

• ancient Cretan pottery.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of the Greek island of Crete

• on the road he meets a Cretan.

Crete /krēt/

a Greek island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea; pop. 630,000 (est. 2005); capital, Heraklion. It is noted for the remains of the Minoan civilization that flourished here in the 2nd millennium BC. Crete played an important role in the Greek struggle for independence from the Turks in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that resulted in it becoming administratively part of an independent Greece in 1913.
Greek name Kríti.

cretic /ˈkrēdik/

I. noun

[Prosody] a metrical foot containing one short or unstressed syllable between two long or stressed ones.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin Creticus, from Greek Krētikos, from Krētē ‘Crete.’

cretin /ˈkrētn/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› ‹offensive› a stupid person (used as a general term of abuse).

2. [Medicine] ‹dated› a person who is deformed and mentally handicapped because of congenital thyroid deficiency.

II. derivatives

1. cretinism /ˈkrētnˌizəm /

noun

2. cretinous /ˈkrēt(ə)nəs /

adjective

– origin late 18th cent.: from French crétin, from Swiss French crestin ‘Christian’ (from Latin Christianus), here used to mean ‘human being,’ apparently as a reminder that, though deformed, cretins were human and not beasts.

cretonne /ˈkrētän krəˈtän/

I. noun

a heavy cotton fabric, typically with a floral pattern printed on one or both sides, used for upholstery.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French, of unknown origin.

cretons /ˌkreˈtän/

I. noun

(Canadian) a spread made of pork, onions, and spices, typically eaten cold on toast

• toast, mustard and a tub of cretons make for a hearty breakfast.

– origin French.

Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease /ˌkroitsfeltˈyäkōb dəˌzēz /

I. noun

a fatal degenerative disease affecting nerve cells in the brain, causing mental, physical, and sensory disturbances such as dementia and seizures. It is believed to be caused by prions and hence to be related to BSE and other spongiform encephalopathies such as kuru and scrapie.

– origin 1930s: named after H. G. Creutzfeldt (1885–1964) and A. Jakob (1882–1927), the German neurologists who first described cases of the disease in 1920–21. Creutzfeldt is credited with the first description of the disease in 1920, although the case is atypical by current diagnostic criteria; a year later Jakob described four cases, at least two of whom had clinical features suggestive of CJD as it is currently described.

crevasse /krəˈvas/

I. noun

1. a deep open crack, especially one in a glacier.

2. (N. Amer.) a breach in the embankment of a river or canal.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French, from Old French crevace (see crevice).

crevice /ˈkrevəs/

I. noun

a narrow opening or fissure, especially in a rock or wall.

– origin Middle English: from Old French crevace, from crever ‘to burst,’ from Latin crepare ‘to rattle, crack.’

crew^1 /kro͞o/

I. noun — [treated as sing. or pl.]

1. a group of people who work on and operate a ship, boat, aircraft, spacecraft, or train.

2. a group of people working on a ship, aircraft, etc., other than the officers

• the ship's captain and crew may be brought to trial.

3. (US) the sport of rowing a racing shell.

4. a group of people who work closely together

• an ambulance crew

• crews of firefighters from neighboring towns were called in.

5. ‹informal› ‹often derogatory› a group of people associated in some way

• a crew of assorted computer geeks.

6. ‹informal› (chiefly US) a group of rappers, breakdancers, or graffiti artists performing or operating together.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. provide (a craft or vehicle) with a group of people to operate it

• normally the boat is crewed by 5 people.

2. [no obj.] — act as a member of a crew, subordinate to a captain

• I've never crewed for a world-famous yachtsman before.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French creue ‘augmentation, increase,’ feminine past participle of croistre ‘grow,’ from Latin crescere. The original sense was ‘band of soldiers serving as reinforcements’; hence it came to denote any organized armed band or, generally, a company of people (late 16th cent).

crew^2 /kro͞o/

(chiefly Brit.) past of crow^2.

crew cut /ˈkro͞oˌkət/

I. noun

a very short haircut for men and boys.

– origin 1940s: apparently first adopted as a style by boat crews of Harvard and Yale universities.

crewel /ˈkro͞owəl/

I. noun

a thin, loosely twisted, worsted yarn used for tapestry and embroidery.

– origin late 15th cent.: of unknown origin.

crewel work /ˈkro͞owəl ˌwərk/

noun

embroidery or tapestry done with crewel yarn on linen cloth.

crewman /ˈkro͞omən/

noun

a member of a group of people who work on and operate a ship, aircraft, etc., particularly one who is not an officer

• the coast guard has rescued seven crewmen from a tugboat being battered by rough seas.

crew neck /ˈkro͞o ˌnek/

noun

1. a close-fitting, round neckline, especially on a sweater or T-shirt
[as modifier]

• a crew-neck sweater.

2. a sweater with a crew neck.

crew woman

noun

a female member of a group of people who work on and operate a ship, aircraft, etc., particularly one who is not an officer

• a crew woman was rescued when the ship was caught in a hurricane.

crib /krib/

I. noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) a young child's bed with barred or latticed sides.

2. a barred container or rack for animal fodder; a manger.

3. (Brit.) ‹informal› a translation of a text for use by students, especially in a surreptitious way

• an English crib of Caesar's Gallic Wars.

4. a thing that has been plagiarized

• is the song a crib from Mozart's “Don Giovanni?”

5. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) an apartment or house.

6. short for cribbage.

7. the cards discarded by the players at cribbage, counting to the dealer.

8. (also cribwork) — a heavy timber framework used in foundations for a building or to line a mine shaft.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› copy (another person's work) illicitly or without acknowledgment

• he was doing an exam and didn't want anybody to crib the answers from him

• [no obj.] he often cribbed from other researchers.

2. ‹archaic› steal.

3. ‹archaic› restrain

• he had been so cabined, cribbed, and confined by office.

III. derivatives

cribber /ˈkribər /

noun

– origin Old English (in the sense ‘manger’), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch krib, kribbe and German Krippe.

cribbage /ˈkribij/

I. noun

a card game for two to four players, in which the objective is to play so that the value of one's cards played reaches exactly 15 or 31.

– origin mid 17th cent.: related to crib; the game is said to have been invented by the English poet Sir John Suckling (1609–42); it seems to have been developed from an older game called Noddy.

cribbage board

noun

a board with pegs and holes, used for scoring at cribbage.

crib-biting /ˈkribˌbīdiNG/

noun

a repetitive habit of some horses that involves biting and chewing of wood, especially that of doors and mangers, in the stable, causing excessive wear to the front teeth.

crib death /ˈkrib ˌdeTH/

noun

(N. Amer.) informal term for sudden infant death syndrome.

cribellum /krəˈbeləm/

I. noun

[Zoology] (in some spiders) an additional spinning organ with numerous fine pores, situated in front of the spinnerets.

II. derivatives

cribellate /ˈkribələt, -ˌlāt /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from late Latin, diminutive of cribrum ‘sieve.’

cribo /ˈkrēbō/

I. noun

another term for indigo snake.

– origin late 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

cribriform /ˈkribrəˌfôrm/

I. adjective

[Anatomy] denoting an anatomical structure that is pierced by numerous small holes, in particular the plate of the ethmoid bone through which the olfactory nerves pass.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin cribrum ‘sieve’ + -iform.

Crichton, James /ˈkrītn/

(1560–c. 1585), Scottish adventurer; known as the Admirable Crichton. He was an accomplished swordsman, poet, and scholar and served in the French army.

Crichton, Michael /ˈkrītn/

(1942–2008), US novelist; full name John Michael Crichton. Notable works: The Andromeda Strain (1969), The Great Train Robbery (1975), Jurassic Park (1990), and Next (2006).

crick^1 /krik/

I. noun

a painful stiff feeling in the neck or back.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. twist or strain (one's neck or back), causing painful stiffness
(as adj. cricked)

• he suffered a cricked neck during tackling practice.

– origin late Middle English: of unknown origin.

crick^2 /krik/

noun

(US) ‹dialect› a creek.

Crick, Francis /krik/

(1916–2004), English biophysicist; full name Francis Harry Compton Crick. With James Watson, he proposed the double helix structure of the DNA molecule, thus broadly explaining how genetic information is carried in living organisms and how genes replicate. Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine (1962), shared with Watson and Maurice Wilkins.

cricket^1 /ˈkrikit/

I. noun

an insect related to the grasshoppers. The male produces a characteristic rhythmical chirping sound.
[Family Gryllidae: many genera and species, including the field cricket and the house cricket.]

– origin Middle English: from Old French criquet, from criquer ‘to crackle,’ of imitative origin.

cricket^2 /ˈkrikit/

I. noun

an open-air game played on a large grass field with ball, bats, and two wickets, between teams of eleven players, the object of the game being to score more runs than the opposition.
Cricket is played mainly in Britain and in territories formerly under British rule, including Australia, South Africa, the West Indies, New Zealand, and the Indian subcontinent. The full game with two innings per side can last several days; shorter matches are usual at the amateur level and have become popular at the professional level since the 1960s.

II. phrases

not cricket

(Brit.) ‹informal› a thing contrary to traditional standards of fairness or rectitude.

– origin late 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

cricket^3 /ˈkrikit/

noun

a low stool, typically with a rectangular or oval seat and four legs splayed out.

cricketer /ˈkrikidər/

noun

a person who plays cricket

• he is a very young and talented cricketer.

cricketing /ˈkrikədiNG/

adjective

relating to the playing of cricket

• a true cricketing legend.

cricoid /ˈkrīkoid/

I. noun

[Anatomy] the ring-shaped cartilage of the larynx.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from modern Latin cricoides ‘ring-shaped,’ from Greek krikoeidēs, from krikos ‘ring.’

cri de cœur /ˌkrē də ˈkər/

I. noun

a passionate appeal, complaint, or protest.

– origin early 20th cent.: French, literally ‘cry from the heart.’

cried /krīd/

past and past participle of cry.

crier /ˈkrī(ə)r/

I. noun

1. an officer who makes public announcements in a court of justice.

2. short for town crier.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French criere, from crier ‘to shout.’

crikey /ˈkrīkē/

I. exclamation

(Brit.) ‹informal› an expression of surprise

• Crikey! I never thought I'd see you again.

– origin mid 19th cent.: euphemism for Christ.

crime /krīm/

I. noun

1. an action or omission that constitutes an offense that may be prosecuted by the state and is punishable by law

• shoplifting was a serious crime.

2. illegal activities

• the victims of crime.

3. an action or activity that, although not illegal, is considered to be evil, shameful, or wrong

• they condemned apartheid as a crime against humanity

• it's a crime to keep a creature like Willy in a tank.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘wickedness, sin’): via Old French from Latin crimen ‘judgment, offense,’ based on cernere ‘to judge.’

Crimea /krīˈmēə/

(usu. the Crimea)

1. a peninsula in Ukraine that lies between the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. The Crimean War was fought here in the 1850s.

crime against humanity

I. noun

a deliberate act, typically as part of a systematic campaign, that causes human suffering or death on a large scale

• he was handed over to the International Criminal Court in The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity.

– origin late 17th cent.: originally in the sense ‘immoral or destructive act.’

Crimean /krīˈmēən/

I. adjective

relating to the Crimea or its people

• fine Crimean wines were passed around.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of the Crimea

• many Crimeans chose to boycott the poll.

Crimean War /krīˌmēən ˈwôr/

a war (1853–6) in the area of the Crimean peninsula, between Russia and an alliance of Great Britain, France, Sardinia, and Turkey. Russian aggression against Turkey led to war in 1853, with Turkey's European allies intervening to destroy Russian naval power in the Black Sea in 1854; eventually the allies captured the fortress city of Sebastopol in 1855 after a lengthy siege.

crime-fighting /ˈkrīmˌfīdiNG/

I. noun

the action of working to reduce the incidence of crime.

II. derivatives

crime-fighter /ˈkrīmˌfīdər /

noun

crime-free

adjective

not affected by or involvng illegal activities

• the streets here are safe and crime-free

• we want young people to lead healthy and crime-free lives.

crime passionnel /ˌkrēm ˌpasyəˈnel/

I. noun

a crime, typically a murder, committed in a fit of sexual jealousy.

– origin early 20th cent.: French, literally ‘crime of passion.’

crime-ridden

adjective

(of a place) having a high incidence of criminal activity

• a crime-ridden neighborhood.

crime scene

noun

the place where an offense has been committed and forensic evidence may be gathered

• fingerprints left at a crime scene.

crimeware /ˈkrīmˌwer/

noun

a type of malicious software designed to carry out or facilitate illegal online activity

• old-school malware written for glory has given way to a new era of ‘crimeware’ designed for spamming, data theft, or extortion.

crime wave

noun

a sudden increase in the number of crimes committed in a country or area.

crime writer /ˈkrīm ˌrīdər/

noun

a writer of detective stories or thrillers.

criminal /ˈkrimənl/

I. noun

a person who has committed a crime

• these men are dangerous criminals.

II. adjective

1. of or relating to a crime

• he is charged with conspiracy to commit criminal damage.

2. [Law] of or relating to crime as opposed to civil matters

• a criminal court.

3. ‹informal› (of an action or situation) deplorable and shocking

• he may never fulfill his potential, and that would be a criminal waste.

– origin late Middle English (as an adjective): from late Latin criminalis, from Latin crimen, crimin- (see crime).

criminal conversation /ˈkrimənl ˈkrimnəl ˌkänvərˈsāSHən/

noun

‹historical› adultery, especially as formerly constituting grounds for the recovery of legal damages by a husband from his adulterous wife's partner.

criminalistics /ˌkrimənəˈlistiks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. another term for forensics (see forensic).

II. derivatives

criminalist

noun

criminality /kriməˈnalədē/

noun

behavior that is contrary to or forbidden by criminal law

• a regime that sanctions organized criminality.

criminalization /ˌkriminəlīˈzāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action of turning an activity into a criminal offense by making it illegal

• the criminalization of gang membership.

2. the action of turning someone into a criminal by making their activities illegal

• the increasing criminalization of youths.

criminalize /ˈkrim(ə)nəˌlīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. turn (an activity) into a criminal offense by making it illegal

• his view is that the state should not criminalize drug use but discourage it.

2. turn (someone) into a criminal by making their activities illegal

• these punitive measures would further criminalize travelers for their way of life.

criminal justice system

noun

the system of law enforcement that is directly involved in apprehending, prosecuting, defending, sentencing, and punishing those who are suspected or convicted of criminal offenses.

criminal law /ˈkrimənl ˈkrimnəl lô/

noun

a system of law concerned with the punishment of those who commit crimes.
Contrasted with civil law.

criminal libel /ˈkrimənl ˈkrimnəl ˈlībəl/

noun

[Law] a malicious, defamatory statement in a permanent form, rendering the maker liable to criminal prosecution.

criminally /ˈkrimən(ə)lē/

adverb

1. in a manner that is contrary to or forbidden by criminal law

• there was no evidence the firms had acted criminally.

2. [Law] in a way that relates to crime as opposed to civil matters

• these offenses may be prosecuted criminally under state law.

3. [as submodifier] — ‹informal› to a shocking degree

• one of his most criminally underappreciated films.

criminal record

noun

1. a history of being convicted for crime

• he admits he has a criminal record.

2. a list of a person's previous criminal convictions

• the court said his criminal record would be expunged at the end of the year.

criminogenic /ˌkrimənəˈjenik/

adjective

(of a system, situation, or place) causing or likely to cause criminal behavior

• the criminogenic nature of homelessness.

criminologist /ˌkrimiˈnäləjəst/

noun

an expert in the scientific study of crime and criminals

• the pioneering criminologist proposed a method for identifying criminals.

criminology /ˌkriməˈnäləjē/

I. noun

the scientific study of crime and criminals.

II. derivatives

criminological /ˌkrimənlˈäjikəl /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin crimen, crimin- ‘crime’ + -logy.

criminy /ˈkrīmənē/

I. exclamation

(US) ‹informal› used to express surprise or disbelief

• criminy, what is this world coming to?

– origin late 17th cent. (as crimine): origin uncertain; perhaps an alteration ofChrist, perhaps from Italiancrimine‘crime.’

crimp /krimp/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. compress (something) into small folds or ridges

• she crimped the edge of the pie.

2. connect (a wire or cable) by squeezing the end or ends.

3. (often as adj. crimped) — make waves in (someone's hair) with a curling iron

• crimped blond hair.

4. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› have a limiting or adverse effect on (something)

• farmers complain that the drought could crimp their income potential.

II. noun

1. a curl, wave, or folded or compressed edge

• this cascade of delicate crimps depends on a perm

• the wool had too much crimp to be used in weaving.

2. a small connecting piece for crimping wires or lines together.

3. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a restriction or limitation

• the crimp on take-home pay has been even tighter since taxes were raised.

III. phrases

put a crimp in

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› have an adverse effect on

• well, that puts a crimp in my theory.

IV. derivatives

1. crimper

noun

2. crimpy /ˈkrimpē /

adjective

– origin Old English gecrympan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch krimpen ‘shrink, wrinkle.’ Of rare occurrence before the 18th cent., the word was perhaps reintroduced from Low German or Dutch.

crimson /ˈkrimzən/

I. adjective

of a rich deep red color inclining to purple

• she blushed crimson with embarrassment.

II. noun

a rich deep red color inclining to purple.

III. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a person's face) become flushed, especially through embarrassment

• my face crimsoned and my hands began to shake.

– origin late Middle English: from obsolete French cramoisin or Old Spanish cremesin, based on Arabic ḳirmizī, from ḳirmiz (see kermes). Compare with carmine.

cringe /krinj/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. bend one's head and body in fear or in a servile manner

• he cringed away from the blow

• (as adj. cringing) we are surrounded by cringing yes-men and sycophants.

2. experience an inward shiver of embarrassment or disgust

• I cringed at the fellow's stupidity.

II. noun

an act of cringing.

III. derivatives

cringer

noun

– origin Middle English crenge, crenche, related to Old English cringan, crincan ‘bend, yield, fall in battle,’ of Germanic origin and related to Dutch krengen ‘heel over’ and German krank ‘sick,’ also to crank^1.

cringe-making /ˈkrinjˌmākiNG/

adjective

another term for cringeworthy.

cringeworthy /ˈkrin(d)ZHˌwərT͟Hē/

adjective

‹informal› causing feelings of embarrassment or awkwardness

• the play's cast was excellent, but the dialogue was unforgivably cringeworthy.

cringingly /ˈkrinjiNGlē/

adverb

1. in a servile or sycophantic way

• he shrank cringingly to one side.

2. so as to make one feel embarrassed or disgusted

• their early performances were cringingly awkward.

cringle /ˈkriNGɡəl/

I. noun

[Sailing] a ring of rope formed in the edge of a sail and containing a thimble, for another rope to pass through.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Low German kringel, diminutive of kring ‘ring.’

crinite /ˈkrīnīt/

I. adjective

‹technical› having hairlike tufts; hairy.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin crinitus, past participle of crinire ‘cover or provide with hair’: see -ite^1.

crinkle /ˈkriNGk(ə)l/

I. verb

1. form small creases or wrinkles in the surface of something, especially the skin of the face as the result of a facial expression
[no obj.]

• Rose's face crinkled in bewilderment

• his face crinkled up in a smile

• [with obj.] Burney crinkled his eyes in a smile

• (as adj. crinkled) plants with crinkled foliage.

2. [with obj.] — cause (something) to make a crackling or rustling sound

• we tried hard not to crinkle the plastic as we unwrapped the pies.

II. noun

a wrinkle or crease on the surface of something

• there was a crinkle of suspicion on her forehead.

– origin late Middle English: related to Old English crincan (see cringe).

crinkle-cut /ˈkriNGkəlˌkət/

adjective

(especially of French fries) cut with wavy edges.

crinkly /ˈkriNGk(ə)lē/

adjective

full of creases or wrinkles; wrinkled

• brown crinkly paper.

crinkum-crankum /ˌkriNGkəmˈkraNGkəm/

I. noun

‹archaic› elaborate decoration or detail.

– origin mid 17th cent.: fanciful reduplication of the nouns crank^1 and crank^2.

crinoid /ˈkrīˌnoid / ‹Zoology›

I. noun

an echinoderm of the class Crinoidea, which comprises the sea lilies and feather stars.

II. adjective

relating to or denoting crinoids.

III. derivatives

crinoidal /ˈkrīˌnoidl /

adjective

Crinoidea /krīˈnoidēə / ‹Zoology›

I. a class of echinoderms that comprises the sea lilies and feather stars. They have slender, feathery arms and (in some kinds) a stalk for attachment, and were abundant in the Paleozoic era.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek krinoeidēs ‘lilylike,’ from krinon ‘lily.’

crinoline /ˈkrin(ə)lən/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› a stiffened or hooped petticoat worn to make a long skirt stand out.

2. a stiff fabric made of horsehair and cotton or linen thread, typically used for stiffening petticoats or as a lining.

– origin mid 19th cent. (sense 2, early crinolines being made of such material): from French, formed irregularly from Latin crinis ‘hair’ + linum ‘thread.’

criollo /krēˈōlō / Criollo

I. noun

1. a person from Spanish South or Central America, especially one of pure Spanish descent.

2. a horse or other domestic animal of a South or Central American breed.

3. (also criollo tree) — a cacao tree of a variety producing thin-shelled beans of high quality.

– origin late 19th cent.: Spanish, literally ‘native to the locality’ (see Creole).

crip /krip/

noun

1. ‹offensive› (chiefly N. Amer.) a disabled person.
[early 20th cent.: abbreviation of cripple.]

2. (usu. Crip) — a member of a Los Angeles street gang.

cripes /krīps/

I. exclamation

‹informal› used as a euphemism for Christ.

– origin early 20th cent.: alteration of Christ.

cripple /ˈkripəl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (someone) to become unable to move or walk properly
(as adj. crippling)

• a crippling disease.

2. cause severe and disabling damage to (a machine)

• over-lubrication might well lead to piston seizure, crippling the engine.

3. cause a severe and almost insuperable problem for

• developing countries are crippled by their debts.

II. noun

1. ‹dated› ‹offensive› a person who is unable to walk or move properly because of disability or injury to their back or legs.

2. a person with a severe limitation of a specified kind

• an emotional cripple.

III. derivatives

1. crippler /ˈkrip(ə)lər /

noun

2. cripplingly

adverb

– origin Old English: from two words, crypel and crēopel, both of Germanic origin and related to creep. / usage: The word cripple has long been in use to refer to ‘a person unable to walk due to illness or disability’ and is recorded as early as AD 950. In the 20th century, the term acquired offensive connotations and has now been largely replaced by broader terms such as ‘disabled person.’

crippled /ˈkrip(ə)ld/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) unable to walk or move properly; disabled

• a crippled old man.

2. (of a machine) severely damaged

• the pilot displayed skill and nerve in landing the crippled plane.

usage: See usage at cripple.

crippleware /ˈkripəlwer/

noun

[Computing] ‹informal› software distributed with reduced functionality with a view to attracting payment for a fully functional version.

crisis /ˈkrīsis/

I. noun

1. a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger

• the current economic crisis

• a family in crisis

• a crisis of semiliteracy among high school graduates.

2. a time when a difficult or important decision must be made
[as modifier]

• a crisis point of history.

3. the turning point of a disease when an important change takes place, indicating either recovery or death.

– origin late Middle English (denoting the turning point of a disease): medical Latin, from Greek krisis ‘decision,’ from krinein ‘decide.’ The general sense ‘decisive point’ dates from the early 17th cent.

crisis center

noun

1. a facility, telephone answering system, etc., where individuals going through personal crises can obtain help or advice.

2. an office or agency that serves as a clearinghouse for information and coordinates action during an emergency or disaster.

crisis management /ˈkrīsis ˈˌmanijmənt/

noun

the process by which a business or other organization deals with a sudden emergency situation.

crisp /krisp/

I. adjective

1. (of a substance) firm, dry, and brittle, especially in a way considered pleasing or attractive

• crisp bacon

• the snow is lovely and crisp.

2. (of a fruit or vegetable) firm, indicating freshness

• crisp lettuce.

3. (of the weather) cool, fresh, and invigorating

• a crisp autumn day.

4. (of paper or cloth) smoothly and attractively stiff and uncreased

• a crisp $5 bill.

5. (of hair) having tight curls, giving an impression of rigidity.

6. (of a way of speaking or writing) briskly decisive and matter-of-fact, without hesitation or unnecessary detail

• they were cut off with a crisp “Thank you.”

II. noun

1. a dessert of fruit baked with a crunchy topping of brown sugar, butter, and flour

• rhubarb crisp.

2. (also potato crisp) — British term for potato chip.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. give (something, especially food) a crisp surface by placing it in an oven or grill

• crisp the pita rounds in the oven.

2. [no obj.] — (of food) acquire a crisp surface by being placed in an oven or grill

• open the foil so that the bread browns and crisps.

3. ‹archaic› curl into short, stiff, wavy folds or crinkles.

IV. phrases

burn something to a crisp

burn something completely, leaving only a charred remnant.

V. derivatives

crispness /ˈkrispnəs /

noun

– origin Old English (referring to hair in the sense ‘curly’): from Latin crispus ‘curled.’ Other senses may result from symbolic interpretation of the sound of the word.

crispate /ˈkrispāt/

I. adjective

[Botany] (especially of a leaf) having a wavy or curly edge.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin crispatus, past participle of crispare ‘to curl.’

crisper /ˈkrispər/

noun

a compartment at the bottom of a refrigerator for storing fruit and vegetables.

crisply /ˈkrisplē/

adverb

1. in a way that is distinct in outline or detail

• crisply focused details.

2. in a brisk and concise way

• she replied crisply that there would be little demand for GM crops.

3. so as to have a firm, dry, brittle texture

• crisply fried brown onions.

4. (in relation to dress) formally and neatly

• he was crisply dressed in a gray suit and white shirt.

crispy /ˈkrispē/

I. adjective

(of food, typically cooked food) having a pleasingly firm, dry, and brittle surface or texture

• crispy fried bacon.

II. derivatives

crispiness

noun

crissal thrasher /ˈkrisəl ˌTHraSHər/

I. noun

a large gray thrasher (songbird) with a red patch under the tail, found in the southwestern US and Mexico.
[Toxostoma dorsale , family Mimidae.]

– origin late 19th cent.: crissal from modern Latin crissum (denoting the vent region of a bird) + -al.

crisscross /ˈkriskrôs/

I. noun

a pattern of intersecting straight lines or paths

• the crisscross of wrinkles on his face.

II. adjective

(of a pattern) containing a number of straight lines or paths that intersect each other

• the streets ran in a regular crisscross pattern.

III. adverb

in a pattern of intersecting straight lines

• the swords were strung crisscross on his back.

IV. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be crisscrossed)

1. form a pattern of intersecting lines or paths on (a place)

• the green hill was crisscrossed with a network of sheep tracks.

2. [no obj.] — (of straight lines or paths) intersect repeatedly

• the smaller streets crisscrossed in a grid pattern.

3. move or travel around (a place) by going back and forth repeatedly

• the President crisscrossed America.

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting a figure of a cross preceding the alphabet in a hornbook): from Christ-cross (in the same sense in late Middle English), from Christ's cross. The form was later treated as a reduplication of cross.

crista /ˈkristə/

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] [Zoology] a ridge or crest.

2. [Biology] each of the partial partitions in a mitochondrion formed by infolding of the inner membrane.

II. derivatives

cristate /ˈkriˌstāt /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin,‘tuft, plume, crest.’

cristobalite /krəˈstōbəˌlīt/

I. noun

a form of silica that is the main component of opal and also occurs as small octahedral crystals.

– origin late 19th cent.: named after Cerro San Cristóbal in Mexico, where it was discovered, + -ite^1.

crit /krit/

noun

‹informal› short for criticism or critic.

criterion /ˌkrīˈtirēən/

I. noun

a principle or standard by which something may be judged or decided

• the launch came too close to violating safety criteria.

II. derivatives

criterial /-ˈti(ə)rēəl /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: from Greek kritērion ‘means of judging,’ from kritēs (see critic). / usage: Strictly speaking, the singular form (following the original Greek) is criterion and the plural form is criteria. It is a common mistake, however, to use criteria as if it were a singular, as in a further criteria needs to be considered.

criterium /ˌkrīˈtirēəm/

noun

a one-day bicycle race on a circuit road course.

critic /ˈkridik/

I. noun

1. a person who expresses an unfavorable opinion of something

• critics say many schools are not prepared to handle the influx of foreign students.

2. a person who judges the merits of literary, artistic, or musical works, especially one who does so professionally

• a film critic.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin criticus, from Greek kritikos, from kritēs ‘a judge,’ from krinein ‘judge, decide.’

critical /ˈkridək(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. expressing adverse or disapproving comments or judgments

• he was critical of many U.S. welfare programs.

2. expressing or involving an analysis of the merits and faults of a work of literature, music, or art

• she never won the critical acclaim she sought.

3. (of a published literary or musical text) incorporating a detailed and scholarly analysis and commentary

• a critical edition of a Bach sonata.

4. involving the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgement

• professors often find it difficult to encourage critical thinking in their students.

5. (of a situation or problem) having the potential to become disastrous; at a point of crisis

• the flood waters had not receded, and the situation was still critical.

6. (of a person) extremely ill and at risk of death

• he had been in critical condition since undergoing surgery.

7. having a decisive or crucial importance in the success, failure, or existence of something

• temperature is a critical factor in successful fruit storage

• getting banks lending again was critical to any recovery.

8. [Mathematics] [Physics] relating to or denoting a point of transition from one state to another.

9. (of a nuclear reactor or fuel) maintaining a self-sustaining chain reaction

• the reactor is due to go critical in October.

II. derivatives

1. criticality /ˌkridəˈkalədē /

noun

critical (sense 3, sense 4)

2. criticalness

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘relating to the crisis of a disease’): from late Latin criticus (see critic).

critical angle

noun

[Optics] the angle of incidence beyond which rays of light passing through a denser medium to the surface of a less dense medium are no longer refracted but totally reflected.

critical damping

noun

[Physics] damping just sufficient to prevent oscillations.

critical list /ˈkridəkəl list/

noun — [in sing.]

1. a list of those who are critically ill in the hospital.

critically /ˈkridiklē/

adverb

1. in a way that expresses disapproval

• a designer spoke critically of capitalism.

2. in a way that expresses or involves an analysis of the merits and faults of a work of literature, music, or art

• a critically acclaimed novel.

3. in a way that involves the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment

• the reader must evaluate critically every article he or she reviews.

4. [as submodifier] — to a potentially disastrous degree

• the critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal.

5. [as submodifier] — to an extreme degree with a risk of death

• two critically wounded people died in the hospital

• critically ill patients who were awaiting surgery.

6. with decisive or crucial importance in the success, failure, or existence of something

• the livelihood of rural people critically depends on the use of natural resources.

critical mass

noun

1. [Physics] the minimum amount of fissile material needed to maintain a nuclear chain reaction.

2. the minimum size or amount of something required to start or maintain a venture

• a communication system is of no value unless there is a critical mass of users.

critical path /ˈkridəkəl paTH/

noun

the sequence of stages determining the minimum time needed for an operation, especially when analyzed on a computer for a large organization.

critical path analysis /ˈkridəkəl paTH əˈnaləsəs/

noun

the mathematical network analysis technique of planning complex working procedures with reference to the critical path of each alternative system.

critical period

noun

[Psychology] a period during someone's development in which a particular skill or characteristic is believed to be most readily acquired.

critical point

noun

1. [Chemistry] a point on a phase diagram at which both the liquid and gas phases of a substance have the same density, and are therefore indistinguishable.

2. [Mathematics] (US) a point on a curve where the gradient is zero.

critical pressure

noun

[Chemistry] the pressure of a gas or vapor in its critical state.

critical state

noun

[Chemistry] the state of a substance when it is at the critical point, i.e., at critical temperature and pressure.

critical temperature

noun

[Chemistry] the temperature of a gas or vapor in its critical state. Above this temperature, a gas cannot be liquefied by pressure alone.

critical theory

noun

a philosophical approach to culture, and especially to literature, that seeks to confront the social, historical, and ideological forces and structures that produce and constrain it. The term is applied particularly to the work of the Frankfurt School.

critical thinking

noun

the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment

• professors often find it difficult to encourage critical thinking amongst their students.

critical volume

noun

[Chemistry] the volume occupied by a unit mass of a gas or vapor in its critical state.

criticaster /ˈkridəˌkastər/

I. noun

‹rare› a minor or inferior critic.

– origin late 17th cent.: from critic + -aster.

criticism /ˈkridəˌsizəm/

I. noun

1. the expression of disapproval of someone or something based on perceived faults or mistakes

• he received a lot of criticism

• he ignored the criticisms of his friends.

2. the analysis and judgment of the merits and faults of a literary or artistic work

• alternative methods of criticism supported by well-developed literary theories.

3. the scholarly investigation of literary or historical texts to determine their origin or intended form.

– origin early 17th cent.: from critic or Latin criticus + -ism.

criticize /ˈkridəˌsīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. indicate the faults of (someone or something) in a disapproving way

• states criticized the failure to provide an adequate and permanent compensation

• technicians were criticized for defective workmanship.

2. form and express a sophisticated judgment of (a literary or artistic work)

• a literary text may be criticized on two grounds: the semantic and the expressive.

II. derivatives

1. criticizable /ˈkridəˌsīzəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. criticizer

noun

critique /kriˈtēk/

I. noun

a detailed analysis and assessment of something, especially a literary, philosophical, or political theory.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. evaluate (a theory or practice) in a detailed and analytical way

• the authors critique the methods and practices used in the research.

– origin mid 17th cent. (as a noun): from French, based on Greek kritikē tekhnē ‘critical art.’

critter /ˈkridər/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› ‹dialect› (chiefly N. Amer.) a living creature; an animal.

2. ‹informal› ‹dialect› (chiefly N. Amer.) a person of a particular kind

• the old critter used to live in a shack.

– origin early 19th cent.: variant of creature.

CRM

abbreviation

customer relationship management, denoting strategies and software that enable a company to organize and optimize its customer relations.

croak /krōk/

I. noun

1. a deep hoarse sound made by a frog or a crow.

2. a deep hoarse sound resembling that of a frog or crow, especially one made by a person

• Lorton tried to laugh—it came out as a croak.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a frog or crow) make a characteristic deep hoarse sound.

2. (of a person) make a deep hoarse sound when speaking or laughing

• “Thank you,” I croaked.

3. ‹archaic› prophesy evil or misfortune, especially unjustifiably and to the irritation of others

• without croaking, it may be observed that our government is upon a dangerous experiment.

4. ‹informal› die

• the dog finally croaked in 1987.

5. [with obj.] — kill (someone)

• Scissors Haggerty's mob croaked two messengers.

– origin Middle English (as a verb): imitative.

croaker /ˈkrōkər/

noun

1. a person or animal that croaks.

2. another term for drum^3.

croaky /ˈkrōkē/

I. adjective

(of a person's voice) deep and hoarse.

II. derivatives

croakily /-kəlē /

adverb

Croat /ˈkrōat/

I. noun, adjective

another term for Croatian.

– origin from modern Latin Croatae (plural), from Serbian and Croatian Hrvat.

Croatia /krōˈāSHə/

I. a country in southeastern Europe, formerly a constituent republic of Yugoslavia; pop. 4,489,400 (est. 2009); capital, Zagreb; language, Croatian.
Croatian name Hrvatska.

Apart from a period of Turkish rule in the 16th–17th centuries, Croatia largely remained linked with Hungary until 1918, when it joined the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia). After a period during World War II as a Nazi puppet state (1941–45), it became part of Yugoslavia once more and remained a constituent republic until it declared itself independent in 1991. The secession of Croatia led to war between Croats and the Serb minority, and with Serbia; a ceasefire was called in 1992. Croatia joined the EU in 2013.

Croatian /krōˈāSHən/

I. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Croatia, or a person of Croatian descent.

2. the South Slavic language of the Croats, almost identical to Serbian but written in the Roman alphabet.
See Serbo-Croat.

II. adjective

relating to the Croats or their language.

croc /kräk/

I. noun

‹informal› a crocodile.

– origin late 19th cent.: abbreviation.

Croce, Benedetto /ˈkrōCHā/

(1866–1952), Italian philosopher and politician. In his “Philosophy of Spirit,” he denied the physical reality of a work of art and identified philosophical endeavor with a methodological approach to history.

crochet /krōˈSHā/

I. noun

1. a handicraft in which yarn is made up into a patterned fabric by looping yarn with a hooked needle
[as modifier]

• a crochet hook.

2. crocheted fabric or items

• the bikini is tiny, three triangles of cotton crochet.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (a garment or piece of fabric) using crochet

• she had crocheted the shawl herself

• [no obj.] her mother had stopped crocheting.

III. derivatives

crocheter /-ˈSHāər /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, diminutive of croc ‘hook,’ from Old Norse krókr.

croci /ˈkrōˌkī ˈkrōsī ˈkrōkē ˈkrōˌsē/

plural form of crocus.

crocidolite /krōˈsidəˌlīt/

I. noun

a fibrous blue or green mineral consisting of a silicate of iron and sodium.
Also called blue asbestos (see asbestos).

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek krokis, krokid- ‘nap of cloth’ + -lite.

crock^1 /kräk/

I. noun

1. an earthenware pot or jar.

2. a broken piece of earthenware.

3. a thing that is considered to be complete nonsense.

• ‹vulgar slang› crock of shit.

– origin Old English croc, crocca, of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse krukka and probably to Dutch kruik and German Krug.

crock^2 /kräk / ‹informal›

I. noun

an old person who is feeble and useless.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (Brit.) cause an injury to (a person or part of the body)

• he crocked a shoulder.

– origin late Middle English: perhaps from Flemish, and probably related to crack. Originally a Scots term for an old ewe, it came in the late 19th cent. to denote an old or broken-down horse.

crocked /kräkt/

adjective

‹informal› (N. Amer.) drunk

• his party guests were pretty crocked.

crockery /ˈkräk(ə)rē/

I. noun

plates, dishes, cups, and other similar items, especially ones made of earthenware or china.

– origin early 18th cent.: from obsolete crocker ‘potter,’ from crock^1.

crocket /ˈkräkət/

I. noun

(in Gothic architecture) a small carved ornament, typically a bud or curled leaf, on the inclined side of a pinnacle or gable.

– origin Middle English (denoting a curl or roll of hair): from Old Northern French, variant of Old French crochet (see crotchet). The current sense dates from the late 17th cent., but crotchet was used in the same sense from late Middle English until the 19th cent.

Crockett, Davy /ˈkräkit/

(1786–1836), US frontiersman, soldier, and politician; full name David Crockett. While a member of the House of Representatives 1827–35, he cultivated the image of a rough backwoods legislator. When he left politics, he returned to the frontier, where he fought for the cause of Texan independence. He was killed at the siege of the Alamo.

Crockpot /ˈkräkpät/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹trademark› a large electric cooking pot used to cook stews and other dishes slowly.

crocodile /ˈkräkəˌdīl/

I. noun

1. a large predatory semiaquatic reptile with long jaws, long tail, short legs, and a horny textured skin, using submersion and stealth to approach prey unseen. The crocodile has been extensively hunted for its valuable skin.
[Family Crocodylidae: three genera, in particular Crocodylus, and several species.]

2. leather made from crocodile skin, used especially to make bags and shoes.

3. (Brit.) ‹informal› a line of schoolchildren walking in pairs.

– origin Middle English cocodrille, cokadrill, from Old French cocodrille, via medieval Latin from Latin crocodilus, from Greek krokodilos ‘worm of the stones,’ from krokē ‘pebble’ + drilos ‘worm.’ The spelling was changed in the 16th cent. to conform with the Latin and Greek forms.

crocodile bird

noun

the Egyptian plover, which is said to feed on insects parasitic on crocodiles.

crocodile clip

noun

British term for alligator clip.

crocodile tears

I. plural noun

tears or expressions of sorrow that are insincere.

– origin mid 16th cent.: said to be so named from a belief that crocodiles wept while devouring or luring their prey.

crocodilian /ˌkräkəˈdilēən/

I. noun

[Zoology] a large, predatory, semiaquatic reptile of an order that comprises the crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and gharial. Crocodilians are distinguished by long jaws, short legs, and a powerful tail.
[Order Crocodylia: three families.]

II. adjective

of or relating to crocodilians.

crocoite /ˈkräkəˌwīt/

I. noun

a rare, bright orange mineral consisting of lead chromate.

– origin mid 19th cent.: originally as French crocoise, from Greek krokoeis ‘saffron-colored,’ from krokos ‘crocus.’ The spelling was altered to crocoisite, then crocoite.

crocus /ˈkrōkəs/

I. noun

a small, spring-flowering plant of the iris family, which grows from a corm and bears bright yellow, purple, or white flowers.
See also autumn crocus. [Genus Crocus, family Iridaceae.]

– origin late Middle English (also denoting saffron, obtained from a species of crocus): via Latin from Greek krokos, of Semitic origin and related to Hebrew karkōm and Arabic kurkum.

Croesus /ˈkrēsəs/

(6th century BC), last king of Lydia c. 560–546 BC. Renowned for his great wealth, he subjugated the Greek cities on the coast of Asia Minor before being overthrown by Cyrus the Great of Persia.

croft /krôft / ‹Brit.›

I. noun

1. a small rented farm, especially one in Scotland, comprising a plot of arable land attached to a house and with a right of pasturage held in common with other such farms.

2. an enclosed field used for tillage or pasture, typically attached to a house and worked by the occupier.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. farm (land) as a croft or crofts.

III. derivatives

crofter /ˈkrôftər /

noun

– origin Old English: of unknown origin.

Crohn's disease /ˈkrōnz dəˌzēz/

I. noun

a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines, especially the colon and ileum, associated with ulcers and fistulae.

– origin 1930s: named after Burrill B. Crohn (1884–1983), American pathologist, who was among the first to describe it.

croissant /k(r)wäˈsänt k(r)wäˈsäN/

I. noun

a French crescent-shaped roll made of sweet flaky pastry, often eaten for breakfast.

– origin late 19th cent.: French (see crescent). The term had occasionally been recorded earlier as a variant of crescent.

Cro-Magnon man /krō ˈmaɡnən, ˈmanyən/

I. noun

the earliest form of modern human in Europe, associated with the Aurignacian flint industry. Their appearance c. 35,000 years ago marked the beginning of the Upper Paleolithic and the apparent decline and disappearance of Neanderthal man; the group persisted at least into the Neolithic period.

– origin Cro-Magnon, the name of a hill in the Dordogne, France, where remains were found in 1868.

crombec /ˈkrämbek/

I. noun

a small African warbler with a very short tail, and gray or green upper parts with rufous or white underparts.
[Genus Sylvietta, family Sylviidae: several species, in particular the crombec (S. brachyura).]

– origin early 20th cent.: from French, from Dutch krom ‘crooked’ + bek ‘beak.’

Crome, John /krōm/

(1768–1821), English painter; founder and leading member of the Norwich School.

cromlech /ˈkrämˌlek/

noun

1. (in Wales) a megalithic tomb consisting of a large flat stone laid on upright ones.
[Welsh, from crom, feminine of crwm ‘arched’ + llech ‘flat stone.’]

2. (in Brittany) a circle of standing stones.
[via French from Breton krommlec'h.]

Cromwell, Oliver /ˈkrämwəl, ˈkrämˌwel/

(1599–1658), English general and statesman; lord protector of the Commonwealth 1653–58. He was the leader of the victorious Parliamentary forces (or Roundheads) in the English Civil War. As head of state, he instituted many puritan reforms in the Church of England. He was briefly succeeded by his son Richard (1626–1712), who was forced into exile in 1659.

Cromwell, Thomas

(c. 1485–1540), English statesman, chief minister to Henry VIII 1531–40. He presided over the king's divorce from Catherine of Aragon (1533) and his break with the Roman Catholic Church. He fell from favor over Henry's marriage to Anne of Cleves and was executed on a charge of treason.

Cromwellian /ˌkrämˈwelēən/

adjective

relating to or characteristic of Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth 1653–8, in particular with reference to his puritanism

• critics of the Cromwellian regime.

crone /krōn/

I. noun

an old woman who is thin and ugly.

– origin late Middle English: via Middle Dutch croonje, caroonje ‘carcass, old ewe’ from Old Northern French caroigne ‘carrion, cantankerous woman’ (see carrion).

Cronin, A. J. /ˈkrōnən/

(1896–1981), Scottish novelist; full name Archibald Joseph Cronin. His novels, including The Citadel (1937), often reflect his early experiences as a doctor.

croning /ˈkrōniNG/

I. noun

(especially among feminists in the US and Australasia) a celebration or ceremony to honor older women.

– origin 1990s: blend of crone + crowning.

Cronkite, Walter /ˈkräNGˌkīt, ˈkrän-/

(1916–2009), US television journalist; full name Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr. He anchored the CBS Evening News 1962–81, ending each broadcast with “And that's the way it is.”

Cronus /ˈkrōnəs / ‹Greek Mythology› Kronos

the supreme god until dethroned by Zeus. The youngest son of Uranus (Heaven) and Gaia (Earth), Cronus overthrew and castrated his father and then married his sister Rhea. Because he was fated to be overcome by one of his male children, Cronus swallowed all of them as soon as they were born, but when Zeus was born, Rhea deceived him and hid the baby away.
Roman equivalent Saturn.

crony /ˈkrōnē/

I. noun

‹informal› ‹often derogatory› a close friend or companion

• he went gambling with his cronies.

– origin mid 17th cent. (originally Cambridge University slang): from Greek khronios ‘long-lasting’ (here used to mean ‘contemporary’), from khronos ‘time.’ Compare with chum^1.

crony capitalism

noun

‹derogatory› an economic system characterized by close, mutually advantageous relationships between business leaders and government officials

• allegations of crony capitalism have plagued the government.

cronyism /ˈkrōnēˌizəm/

noun

‹derogatory› the appointment of friends and associates to positions of authority, without proper regard to their qualifications.

Cronyn, Hume /ˈkrōnin/

(1911–2003), Canadian actor; full name Hume Blake Cronyn. He often teamed with his wife, Jessica Tandy, on the stage and also appeared in movies such as Sunrise at Campobello (1960), Cocoon (1985), and Batteries Not Included (1987).

crook /kro͝ok/

I. noun

1. the hooked staff of a shepherd.

2. a bishop's crozier.

3. a bend in something, especially at the elbow in a person's arm

• her head was cradled in the crook of Luke's left arm.

4. a piece of extra tubing that can be fitted to a brass instrument to lower the pitch by a set interval.

5. a metal tube on which the reed of some wind instruments (such as the bassoon) is set.

6. ‹informal› a person who is dishonest or a criminal.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. bend (something, especially a finger as a signal)

• he crooked a finger for the waitress.

III. adjective

1. (Austral./NZ) ‹informal› (especially of a situation) bad, unpleasant, or unsatisfactory

• it was pretty crook on the land in the early 1970s.

2. (Austral./NZ) ‹informal› (of a person or a part of the body) unwell or injured

• a crook knee.

3. (Austral./NZ) ‹informal› dishonest; illegal

• some pretty crook things went on there.

IV. derivatives

crookery /ˈkro͝okərē /

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘hooked tool or weapon’): from Old Norse krókr ‘hook.’ A noun sense ‘deceit, guile, trickery’ (compare with crooked) was recorded in Middle English but was obsolete by the 17th cent.

Crook, George /kro͝ok/

(1829–90), US army officer. He served during the Civil War and then fought against Indians in the northwest. He was defeated by Crazy Horse in 1876 but went on to fight against the Apaches under Geronimo 1882–85.

crookback /ˈkro͝okbak/

I. noun

‹archaic› a person with a hunchback.

II. derivatives

crookbacked /ˈkro͝okbakt /

adjective

crooked /ˈkro͝okəd/

I. adjective

1. bent or twisted out of shape or out of place

• his teeth were yellow and crooked.

2. ‹informal› dishonest or illegal

• a crooked business deal.

II. derivatives

1. crookedly /ˈkro͝okədlē /

adverb

2. crookedness /ˈkro͝okədnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English: from crook, probably modeled on Old Norse krókóttr ‘crooked, cunning.’

crookneck /ˈkro͝oknek / crookneck squash

noun

(N. Amer.) a squash of a club-shaped variety with a curved neck and warty skin.

croon /kro͞on/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. hum or sing in a soft, low voice, especially in a sentimental manner

• she was crooning to the child

• [with obj.] the female vocalist crooned smoky blues into the microphone.

2. say in a soft, low voice

• “Goodbye, you lovely darling,” she crooned.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. a soft, low voice or tone

• he sang in a gentle, highly expressive croon.

– origin late 15th cent. (originally Scots and northern English): from Middle Low German and Middle Dutch krōnen ‘groan, lament.’ The use of croon in standard English was probably popularized by Robert Burns.

crooner /ˈkro͞onər/

noun

a singer, typically a male one, who sings sentimental songs in a soft, low voice.

crop /kräp/

I. noun

1. a cultivated plant that is grown as food, especially a grain, fruit, or vegetable

• the main crops were oats and barley.

2. an amount of produce harvested at one time

• a heavy crop of fruit.

3. an abundance of something, especially a person's hair

• he had a thick crop of wiry hair.

4. the total number of young farm animals born in a particular year on one farm.

5. a group or amount of related people or things appearing or occurring at one time

• the current crop of politicians.

6. the entire tanned hide of an animal.

7. a hairstyle in which the hair is cut very short.

8. short for riding crop.

9. a pouch in a bird's gullet where food is stored or prepared for digestion.

10. an organ resembling a bird's crop in an insect or earthworm.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. cut (something, especially a person's hair) very short
(as adj. cropped)

• cropped blond hair.

2. (of an animal) bite off and eat the tops of (plants)

• the horse was gratefully cropping the grass.

3. cut the edges of (a photograph) in order to produce a better picture or to fit a given space.

4. harvest (plants or their produce) from a particular area

• hay would have been cropped several times through the summer.

5. sow or plant (land) with plants that will produce food or fodder, especially on a large commercial scale

• the southern areas are cropped in cotton

• (as adj. cropped) intensively cropped areas.

III. phrasal verbs

1. crop out

(of rock) appear or be exposed at the surface of the earth.

2. crop up

appear, occur, or come to one's notice unexpectedly

• some urgent business had cropped up.

– origin Old English, of Germanic origin; related to German Kropf. From Old English to the late 18th cent. there existed a sense ‘flower head, ear of corn,’ giving rise to sense 1 of the noun and senses referring to the top of something, whence sense 3 of the noun.

crop circle /kräp ˈsərkəl/

noun

an area of standing crops that has been flattened in the form of a circle or more complex pattern. No general cause of crop circles has been identified although various natural and unorthodox explanations have been put forward; many of the circles are known to have been hoaxes.

crop dusting /ˈkräp ˌdəstiNG/

noun

the spraying of powdered or liquid insecticide or fertilizer on crops, especially from the air.

crop-eared /ˈkräpˌird/

adjective

1. ‹historical› (especially of an animal) having the tops of the ears cut off.

2. ‹historical› (especially of a Roundhead in the English Civil War) having the hair cut very short.

cropper /ˈkräpər/

I. noun

1. a plant that yields a crop of a specified kind or in a specified way

• the white-fleshed varieties are the heaviest croppers.

2. a machine or person that cuts or trims something, such as wool off a sheep or the pile of a carpet during manufacture.

3. (chiefly US) a person who raises a crop, especially as a sharecropper.

II. phrases

come a cropper

a. ‹informal› fall heavily.

b. suffer a defeat or disaster

• the club's challenge for the championship has come a cropper.

crop top /ˈkräp ˌtäp/

noun

a woman's casual garment or undergarment for the upper body, cut short so that it reveals the stomach.

croquembouche /ˌkräkəmˈbo͞oSH/

I. noun

a decorative dessert consisting of cream puff pastry and crystallized fruit or other confectionery items arranged in a cone and held together by a caramel sauce.

– origin French, literally ‘crunch in the mouth.’

croque-monsieur /ˌkrōkməˈsyœr, ˌkrōkməˈsyər/

I. noun

a fried or grilled cheese and ham sandwich.

– origin French, literally ‘bite (a) man.’

croquet /krōˈkā/

I. noun

1. a game played on a lawn, in which colored wooden balls are driven through a series of wickets by means of mallets
[as modifier]

• a croquet lawn.

2. an act of croqueting a ball.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. drive away (an opponent's ball) by holding one's own ball against it and striking this with the mallet. A player is entitled to do this after their ball has struck an opponent's ball.

– origin mid 19th cent.: perhaps a dialect form of French crochet ‘hook.’

croqueta /krōˈkedə/

I. noun

(in Spanish cooking) a small ball or roll of minced meat or fish, fried in breadcrumbs

• you have to try the chicken and ham croquetas.

– origin Spanish, ‘croquette.’

croquette /krōˈket/

I. noun

a small roll of chopped vegetables, meat, or fish, fried in breadcrumbs

• a potato croquette.

– origin French, from croquer ‘to crunch.’

crore /krôr/

I. noun

(Indian) ten million; one hundred lakhs, especially of rupees, units of measurement, or people.

– origin from Hindi karoṛ, based on Sanskrit koṭi ‘ten million.’

Crosby, Bing /ˈkrôzbē/

(1903–77), US singer and actor; born Harry Lillis Crosby. His songs include “Pennies from Heaven,” “Blue Skies,” and, in particular, “White Christmas” (introduced in the movie Holiday Inn, 1942), one of the best-selling songs of all time. He also starred in the series of Road movies from 1940 to 1962 with Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour.

cross /krôs/

I. noun

1. a mark, object, or figure formed by two short intersecting lines or pieces (+ or ×)

• cut a cross in the bark with a sharp knife.

2. a cross (×) used to show that something is incorrect or unsatisfactory.

3. an upright post with a transverse bar, as used in antiquity for crucifixion.

4. (the Cross) — the cross on which Jesus was crucified.

5. this, or a representation of it, as an emblem of Christianity

• she wore a cross around her neck.

6. a thing that is unavoidable and has to be endured

• she's just a cross we have to bear.

7. short for sign of the cross (see sign).

8. a staff surmounted by a cross carried in religious processions.

9. a cross-shaped decoration awarded for personal valor or indicating rank in some orders of knighthood

• the Military Cross.

10. (the Cross) — the constellation Southern Cross.
Also called crux.

11. an animal or plant resulting from crossbreeding; a hybrid

• a Devon and Holstein cross.

12. (a cross between) — a mixture or compromise of two things

• the system is a cross between a monorail and a conventional railroad.

13. a sideways or transverse movement or pass, in particular

14. [Soccer] a pass of the ball across the field toward the center close to one's opponents' goal.

15. [Boxing] a blow delivered across and over the opponent's lead

• a right cross.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. go or extend across or to the other side of (a path, road, stretch of water, or area)

• he has crossed the Atlantic twice

• two paths crossed the field

• ‹figurative› a shadow of apprehension crossed her face

• [no obj.] we crossed over the bridge.

2. go across or climb over (an obstacle or boundary)

• he attempted to cross the border into Jordan

• [no obj.] we crossed over a fence.

3. [no obj.] (cross over) — (especially of an artist or an artistic style or work) begin to appeal to a different audience, especially a wider one

• a talented animator who crossed over to live action.

4. [no obj.] — pass in an opposite or different direction; intersect

• the two lines cross at 90°.

5. [with obj.] — cause (two things) to intersect

• cross the cables in opposing directions.

6. [with obj.] — place (something) crosswise

• Michele sat back and crossed her arms.

7. (of a letter) be sent before receipt of another from the person being written to

• our letters crossed.

8. draw a line or lines across; mark with a cross

• cross the t's.

9. (Brit.) mark or annotate (a check), typically by drawing a pair of parallel lines across it, to indicate that it must be paid into a named bank account.

10. (cross someone/something off) — delete a name or item on a list as being no longer required or involved

• Liz crossed off the days on the calendar.

11. (cross something out) — delete an incorrect or inapplicable word or phrase by drawing a line through it.

12. (cross oneself) — (of a person) make the sign of the cross in front of one's chest as a sign of Christian reverence or to invoke divine protection.

13. [Soccer] pass (the ball) across the field toward the center when attacking.

14. cause (an animal of one species, breed, or variety) to interbreed with one of another species, breed, or variety

• many animals of the breed were crossed with the closely related Guernsey

• ‹figurative› he behaved like an old regular officer crossed with a mathematician.

15. cross-fertilize (a plant)

• a hybrid tea was crossed with a polyantha rose.

16. oppose or stand in the way of (someone)

• no one dared cross him.

III. adjective

annoyed

• he seemed to be very cross about something.

IV. phrases

1. at cross purposes

misunderstanding or having different aims from one another

• we had been talking at cross purposes.

2. cross one's fingers (or keep one's fingers crossed)

a. put one finger across another as a sign of hoping for good luck.

b. hope that someone or something will be successful.

3. cross the floor

(Brit.) join the opposing side in Parliament.

4. cross my heart (and hope to die)

used to emphasize the truthfulness and sincerity of what one is saying, and sometimes reinforced by making a sign of the cross over one's chest.

5. cross one's mind

(of a thought) occur to one, especially transiently

• it never crossed my mind to leave the tent and live in a house.

6. cross someone's palm with silver

‹often humorous› pay someone for a favor or service, especially before having one's fortune told.

7. cross someone's path

meet or encounter someone.

8. cross swords

have an argument or dispute.

9. get one's wires (or lines) crossed

a. become wrongly connected by telephone.

b. have a misunderstanding.

10. the way of the Cross

see way.

V. derivatives

1. crosser

noun

2. crossly /ˈkrôslē ˈkräslē /

adverb

3. crossness /ˈkrôsnəs /

noun

– origin late Old English (in the sense ‘monument in the form of a cross’): from Old Norse kross, from Old Irish cros, from Latin crux.

cross-

I. combining form

1. denoting movement or position across something

• cross-channel.

2. denoting interaction

• cross-pollinate.

3. passing from side to side; transverse

• crosspiece.

4. describing the form or figure of a cross

• crossbones.

– origin from cross.

crossable /ˈkrôsəbəl/

adjective

(of a river or road) allowing safe, easy, or unobstructed access from one side to the other

• in places the usually crossable river had become five feet deep.

cross-assembler /krôsəˈsemblər/

noun

[Computing] an assembler that can convert instructions into machine code for a computer other than that on which it is run.

crossbar /ˈkrôsˌbär/

noun

1. a horizontal bar fixed across another bar or between two upright bars, in particular

2. (in sports) the bar between the two upright posts of a goal.

3. the horizontal metal bar between the handlebars and saddle on a man's or boy's bicycle.

crossbeam /ˈkrôsbēm/

noun

a transverse beam.

cross-bedding /ˈkrôsˌbediNG/

noun

[Geology] layering within a stratum and at an angle to the main bedding plane.

crossbill /ˈkrôsbil/

noun

a thickset finch with a crossed bill adapted for extracting seeds from the cones of conifers. The plumage is typically red in the male and olive green in the female.
[Genus Loxia, family Fringillidae: four species, in particular the widespread red crossbill (L. curvirostra).]

crossbones /ˈkrôsˌbōnz ˈkräsˌbōnz/

noun

see skull and crossbones at skull.

cross-border

adjective

passing, occurring, or performed across a border between two countries

• cross-border trade.

crossbow /ˈkrôsˌbō/

I. noun

a medieval bow of a kind that is fixed across a wooden support and has a groove for the bolt and a mechanism for drawing and releasing the string.

II. derivatives

crossbowman /-ˌbōmən /

noun

crossbreed /ˈkrôsbrēd/

I. noun

an animal or plant produced by mating or hybridizing two different species, breeds, or varieties
[as modifier]

• a crossbreed Labrador.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. produce (an animal or plant) by crossbreeding
(as adj. crossbred)

• a crossbred puppy.

2. hybridize (a breed, species, or variety) with another.

3. [no obj.] — (of an animal or plant) breed with a different breed, species, or variety.

cross-check

I. verb — /kräsˈCHek / [with obj.]

1. verify (figures or information) by using an alternative source or method

• always try to cross-check your bearings

• (as noun cross-checking) no cross-checking has been done.

2. [Ice Hockey] obstruct (an opponent) illegally with the stick held horizontally in both hands.

II. noun — /ˈkräsCHek /

1. an instance of verifying something by using an alternative source or method

• as a cross-check, they were also asked to give their date of birth.

2. [Ice Hockey] an illegal obstruction using the stick held horizontally in both hands.

cross-claim

noun

[Law] a claim brought by one defendant against another in the same proceeding.

cross-color /ˌkrôsˈkələr/

noun

colored flashes of interference in a color television receiver caused by the misinterpretation of high-frequency luminance detail as color information.

cross-compiler /ˌkrôskəmˈpīlər/

noun

[Computing] a compiler that can convert instructions into machine code or low level code for a computer other than that on which it is run.

cross-connection /ˌkrôskəˈnekSH(ə)n/

noun

a connection made between two or more distinct things, typically parts of different networks or circuits.

cross-contamination //

I. noun

the process by which bacteria or other microorganisms are unintentionally transferred from one substance or object to another, with harmful effect.

II. derivatives

cross-contaminate

verb

cross-correlate /ˌkrôsˈkôrəˌlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. compare (a sequence of data) against another.

II. derivatives

cross-correlation /ˌkrôsˌkôrəˈlāSH(ə)n /

noun

cross-country

I. adjective

1. across fields or countryside, as opposed to on roads or tracks

• cross-country walking.

2. of, relating to, or denoting the sport of running, riding, or driving along a course in the countryside, as opposed to around a track.

3. of, relating to, or denoting skiing over relatively flat or mountainous terrain, as opposed to skiing only downhill.

4. across a region or country, in particular

5. not keeping to main or direct roads, routes, or railroad lines

• mine shafts camouflaged by vegetation have swallowed up more than one cross-country hiker

• [as adv.] if you are traveling cross-country, choose where you walk with care.

6. (chiefly US) traveling to many different parts of a country

• a whirlwind cross-country tour.

II. noun

1. a cross-country race or competition.

2. the sport of cross-country running, riding, skiing, or driving

• skiing in the Rockies is a pleasant mix of downhill and cross-country.

crosscourt /ˈkrôskôrt/

I. adverb, adjective

(of a stroke in tennis and other racket sports) hit diagonally across the court
[as adj.]

• a crosscourt volley.

II. noun

a crosscourt stroke in tennis and other racket sports.

cross cousins

plural noun

first cousins who are children of a brother and sister.
Compare with parallel cousins.

cross-cultural

adjective

of or relating to different cultures or comparison between them

• cross-cultural understanding.

crosscurrent /ˈkrôsˌkərənt/

noun

1. a current in a river or sea that flows across another.

2. a process or tendency that is in conflict with another

• strong crosscurrents of debate.

crosscut /ˈkrôsˌkət/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cut (wood or stone) across its main grain or axis.

2. alternate (one sequence) with another when editing a movie.

II. noun

1. a diagonal cut, especially one across the main grain or axis of wood or stone.

2. short for crosscut saw.

3. [Mining] a cutting made across the course of a vein or the general direction of the workings.

4. an instance of alternating between two or more sequences when editing a movie.

crosscut saw /ˈkrôsˌkət ˈkräsˌkət sô/

noun

a saw with a handle at each end, used by two people for cutting across the grain of timber.

cross-disciplinary /krôsˈdisəpləˌnerē/

adjective

relating to or representing more than one branch of knowledge; interdisciplinary

• a strong cross-disciplinary approach to research

• a cross-disciplinary panel of scholars.

cross-dress /ˌkrôsˈdres/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. wear clothing typical of the opposite sex.

II. derivatives

cross-dresser /ˌkrôsˈdresər /

noun

crosse /krôs kräs/

I. noun

the stick used in lacrosse.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, from Old French croce ‘bishop's crook,’ ultimately of Germanic origin and related to crutch.

cross-examination /ˌkrôsəɡˌzaməˈnāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the formal interrogation of a witness called by the other party in a court of law to challenge or extend testimony already given

• he testified consistently under vigorous cross-examination

• further cross-examinations on these questions would be required.

2. aggressive or detailed questioning of someone

• she is capable of facing tougher cross-examination in the political debates.

cross-examine

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. question (a witness called by the other party) in a court of law to discredit or undercut testimony already given.
Compare with direct examination.

2. question (someone) aggressively or in great detail

• I was cross-examined over the breakfast table.

II. derivatives

cross-examiner

noun

cross-eyed

adjective

having one or both eyes turned inward toward the nose, either from focusing on something very close, through temporary loss of control of focus, or as a permanent condition (convergent strabismus).

cross-fade /ˌkrôsˈfād/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (in sound or movie editing) make a picture or sound appear or be heard gradually as another disappears or becomes silent.

II. noun

an act or instance of cross-fading.

cross-fertilize

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. fertilize (a plant) using pollen from another plant of the same species.

2. [no obj.] — (of two plants) fertilize each other.

3. stimulate the development of (something) with an exchange of ideas or information

• sessions between the two groups cross-fertilize ideas and provide insights.

II. derivatives

cross-fertilization /ˈkrôs ˈˌfərdələˈzāSHən ˈkrôs ˈˌfərdəˌlīˈzāSHən ˈkräs ˈˌfərdələˈzāSHən ˈkräs ˈˌfərdəˌlīˈzāSHən /

noun

crossfire /ˈkrôsˌfī(ə)r/

noun

gunfire from two or more directions passing through the same area

• a photographer was killed in the crossfire

• ‹figurative› grape growers have been caught in the crossfire of the boycott.

crossflow /ˈkrôsflō/

noun

a type of engine cylinder head where the intake ports are on the opposite side of the engine from the exhaust ports.

cross-functional

adjective

denoting or relating to a system whereby people from different areas of an organization work together as a team

• the need for a cross-functional approach to problem solving.

cross-grain /ˈkrôsˌɡrān/

adjective

running across the regular grain in timber

• cross-grain swelling.

cross-grained /ˈkrôsˌɡrānd/

adjective

1. (of timber) having a grain that runs across the regular grain.

2. stubbornly contrary or bad-tempered

• Bruce was a cross-grained and boastful individual.

crosshairs /ˈkrôsherz/

plural noun

1. a pair of fine wires or lines crossing at right angles at the focus of an optical instrument or gun sight, for use in positioning, aiming, or measuring.

2. a representation of crosshairs on a computer screen.

crosshatch /ˈkrôsˌhaCH ˈkräsˌhaCH/

verb — [with obj.] (often as noun crosshatching)

1. (in drawing or graphics) shade (an area) with intersecting sets of parallel lines.

crosshead /ˈkrôsˌhed/

noun

a bar or block between the piston rod and connecting rod in a steam engine.

cross-ice

adjective, adverb

(especially in ice hockey) across the ice
[as adj.]

• he made a great cross-ice pass to Sharp for a power-play goal

• I didn’t stay long enough to make the popular cross-ice trek from Meyers Beach

• [as adv.] he'll go cross-ice and get picked off inside the blue line.

cross index

I. noun

a note or cross reference in a book or list that refers the reader to other material.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. index (something) under another heading as a cross reference
[as adj.]

• a cross-indexed file.

cross infection

noun

the transfer of infection, especially to a hospital patient with a different infection or between different species of animal or plant.

crossing /ˈkrôsiNG/

noun

1. a place where two roads, two railroad lines, or a road and a railroad line cross.

2. the action of moving across or over something

• the crossing of the Pyrenees.

3. a journey across water in a ship

• a short ferry crossing.

4. a place at which one may safely cross something, especially a street.

5. a place at which one can cross a border between countries.

6. [Architecture] the intersection of a church nave and the transepts.

7. crossbreeding.

crossing guard

noun

a person whose job it is to help pedestrians, especially schoolchildren, to cross intersections safely.

crossing over /ˈkrôsiNG ˈkräsiNG ˈōvər/

noun

[Genetics] the exchange of genes between homologous chromosomes, resulting in a mixture of parental characteristics in offspring.

cross-legged /ˈkrôsˌleɡ(ə)d/

adjective, adverb

(of a seated person) with the legs crossed at the ankles and the knees bent outward
[as adv.]

• John sat cross-legged on the floor.

cross-license

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. give one party a license to use (patented or copyright material) in return for a similar license

• the two companies have agreed to cross-license their intellectual property.

II. adjective

involving or effected by cross-licensing

• a ten-year patent cross-license agreement.

crosslight /ˈkrôslīt/

noun

a light positioned to illuminate the parts of a photographic subject that the main lighting leaves in shade.

cross-link /ˈkrôsˌliNGk/

I. noun

a chemical bond between different chains of atoms in a polymer or other complex molecule.

II. verb

1. make or become linked with a chemical cross-link.

2. [with obj.] — connect (something) by a series of transverse links.

III. derivatives

cross-linkage /ˈkrôsˌliNGkij /

noun

crossmatch /ˈkrôsˌmaCH / ‹Medicine›

I. verb — [with obj.] (often as noun crossmatching)

1. test the compatibility of (a donor's and a recipient's blood or tissue).

II. noun

an instance of crossmatching.

crossmember /ˈkrôsˌmembər/

noun

a transverse structural piece that adds support to a motor-vehicle chassis or other construction.

cross of Lorraine

noun

another term for Lorraine cross.

crossopterygian /ˌkrôˌsäptəˈrijēən / ‹Zoology›

I. noun

a lobe-finned fish, such as the coelacanth.

II. adjective

of or relating to crossopterygian fishes.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Crossopterygii, from Greek krossos ‘tassel’ + pterux, pterug- ‘fin.’

crossover /ˈkrôsˌōvər/

noun

1. a point or place of crossing from one side to the other.

2. a short length of track joining two adjacent railroad lines.

3. the process of achieving success in a different field or style, especially in popular music
[as modifier]

• a jazz-classical crossover album.

4. a person who votes for a candidate in a different political party than the one they usually support
[as modifier]

• crossover votes.

5. [as modifier] — relating to or denoting trials of medical treatment in which experimental subjects and control groups are exchanged after a set period

• a crossover study.

crossover distortion

noun

[Electronics] distortion occurring where a signal changes from positive to negative or vice versa.

crossover network /ˈkrôsˌōvər ˈkräsˌōvər ˈnetˌwərk/

noun

a filter in a loudspeaker unit that divides the signal and delivers different parts to bass and treble speakers.

cross-ownership /ˌkrôsˈōnərˌSHip/

noun

the ownership by one corporation of different companies with related interests or commercial aims.

cross-party /krôsˈpärdē/

I. adjective

involving or relating to two or more political parties.

usage: Although it appears occasionally in American writing to denote cooperation between the two main political parties, the term cross-party does not compete very effectively with the default term bipartisan. Cross-party is far more common in other English dialects, and in American English to describe political cooperation in other countries.

crosspatch /ˈkrôsˌpaCH/

I. noun

‹informal› a bad-tempered person.

– origin early 18th cent.: from the adjective cross + obsolete patch ‘fool, clown,’ perhaps from Italian pazzo ‘madman.’

cross peen cross pein

noun

a hammer having a peen that lies crossways to the length of the shaft.

crosspiece /ˈkrôsˌpēs ˈkräsˌpēs/

noun

a beam or bar fixed or placed across something else.

cross-platform

adjective

[Computing] able to be used on different types of computers or with different software packages

• a cross-platform game.

cross-pollinate

verb — [with obj.]

1. pollinate (a flower or plant) with pollen from another flower or plant.

cross-pollination /ˌkrôsˌpôləˈnāSH(ə)n/

noun

pollination of a flower or plant with pollen from another flower or plant

• contamination could happen from cross-pollination during harvest.

cross-post ‹Computing›

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. post (a message, link, image, etc.) to more than one online location such as a blog, social media website, or forum

• the app is set up so that you can easily cross-post your item on Craigslist.

II. noun

a message, link, image, etc., that has been posted to more than one online location

• this is a cross post from my personal blog.

cross-posting /ˌkrôsˈpōstiNG/

noun

the postinɡ of a message, link, image, etc., to more than one online location

• I'm a fan of cross-posting, and consider it just another way in which people can reach a broad audience

• abusive cross-postings have become a serious problem.

cross-pressure /ˌkrôsˈpreSHər/

verb — [with obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) expose (someone) to different, incompatible opinions

• the executive has been cross-pressured by the interests of the states and the electorate.

cross product

noun

another term for vector product.

cross promotion

I. noun

the cooperative marketing by two or more companies of one another's products.

II. derivatives

cross-promote

verb

cross-question

verb — [with obj.]

1. question (someone) in great detail; cross-examine

• it seemed ungrateful to cross-question him

• (as noun cross-questioning) the cross-questioning of Lopez.

cross-rate

noun

[Finance] an exchange rate between two currencies computed by reference to a third currency, usually the US dollar.

cross-reaction /ˌkrôsrēˈakSH(ə)n/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] the reaction of an antibody with an antigen other than the one that gave rise to it.

II. derivatives

1. cross-react

verb

2. cross-reactive

adjective

3. cross-reactivity

noun

cross-refer

verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a text) refer to another text or part of a text, typically in order to elaborate on a point

• the database cross-refers to the printed book.

2. [with obj.] — refer (someone) to another text

• the entry cross-refers readers to “Style.”

3. (of a person) follow a cross reference from one part of a text to another, or one text to another

• students should be shown how to cross-refer between texts.

cross reference

I. noun

a reference to another text or part of a text, typically given in order to elaborate on a point.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be cross-referenced)

1. provide with cross references to another text or part of a text

• entries are fully cross-referenced.

cross-rhythm /ˈkrôsˌriT͟Həm/

noun

1. [Music] a rhythm used simultaneously with another rhythm or rhythms.

2. [Music] the use of two or more rhythms simultaneously.

crossroads /ˈkrôsˌrōdz/

noun

1. an intersection of two or more roads.

2. a point at which a crucial decision must be made that will have far-reaching consequences

• we stand again at a historic crossroads.

3. (crossroad) — (N. Amer.) a road that crosses a main road or joins two main roads.

crossruff /ˈkrôsˌrəf, -ˈrəf/

I. noun

a sequence of play in bridge or whist in which partners alternately trump each other's leads.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. alternately trump particular suits in bridge or whist.

cross section

I. noun

1. a surface or shape that is or would be exposed by making a straight cut through something, especially at right angles to an axis

• the cross section of an octahedron is a square

• in cross section the sailfish's body looks like a tapering spear.

2. a thin strip of organic tissue or other material removed by making two straight parallel cuts through it.

3. a diagram representing what a cross section would reveal.

4. a typical or representative sample of a larger group, especially of people

• a cross section of our senior managers.

5. [Physics] a quantity having the dimensions of an area which expresses the probability of a given interaction between particles.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make a cross section of (something)
(as noun cross-sectioning)

• complex triangular terrain models for contour cross-sectioning.

cross-sectional /ˌkrôsˈsekSH(ə)n(ə)l/

adjective

1. exposed by making a straight cut through a solid form, especially at right angles to an axis

• the cross-sectional area of the wood.

2. constituting a typical or representative sample of a larger group

• a cross-sectional survey of high school students.

cross-sell /ˈkrôsˌsel/

verb — [with obj.]

1. sell (a different product or service) to an existing customer

• their database is used to cross-sell financial services.

cross-slide /ˈkrôsˌslīd/

noun

a sliding part on a lathe or planing machine that is supported by the saddle and carries the tool in a direction at right angles to the bed of the machine.

cross-stitch ‹Needlework›

I. noun

1. a stitch formed of two stitches crossing each other.

2. needlework done using cross-stitches.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. sew or embroider using cross-stitches
(as adj. cross-stitched)

• a cross-stitched pillow.

cross street

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a street crossing another or connecting two streets.

cross-subsidize /ˌkrôsˈsəbsəˌdīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. subsidize (a business or activity) out of the profits of another business or activity.

II. derivatives

1. cross-subsidization

noun

2. cross-subsidy /ˌkrôsˈsəbsədē /

noun

crosstalk /ˈkrôsˌtôk ˈkräsˌtôk/

noun

1. unwanted transfer of signals between communication channels.

2. casual conversation.

crosstie /ˈkrôstī/

noun

(US) a wooden or concrete beam laid transversely under the rails of a railroad track to support it.

cross-tolerance

noun

resistance to the effects of a substance because of exposure to a pharmacologically similar substance

• cross-tolerance of barbiturates with alcohol was observed.

crosstown /ˈkrôsˌtoun/

adjective, adverb

running or leading across a town
[as adj.]

• the crosstown traffic

• [as adv.] she drove us crosstown.

cross-train /ˌkrôsˈtrān/

verb — [no obj.]

1. learn another skill, especially one related to one's current job.

cross-training

noun

training in two or more sports in order to improve fitness and performance, especially in a main sport.

crosstrees /ˈkrôstrēz/

plural noun

a pair of horizontal struts attached to a sailing ship's mast to spread the rigging, especially at the head of a topmast.

cross vault

noun

a vault formed by the intersection of two or more vaults.

crosswalk /ˈkrôsˌwôk/

noun

a marked part of a road where pedestrians have right of way to cross.

crossways /ˈkrôswāz/

adverb

another term for crosswise.

crosswind /ˈkrôsˌwind/

noun

a wind blowing across one's direction of travel.

crosswise /ˈkrôsˌwīz/

adverb

1. in the form of a cross

• their arms were held out crosswise.

2. diagonally; transversely

• wash the potatoes and halve them crosswise.

crossword /ˈkrôswərd / crossword puzzle

I. noun

a puzzle consisting of a grid of squares and blanks into which words crossing vertically and horizontally are written according to clues.

– origin said to have been invented by the journalist Arthur Wynne, whose puzzle (called a “word-cross”) appeared in a Sunday newspaper, the New York World, on December 21, 1913.

crostata /krəˈstädə/

I. noun

an open-faced fruit tart, often with a decorative lattice top

• an apple crostata was served warm with a scoop of vanilla gelato.

– origin Italian.

crostini /krəˈstēnē/

I. plural noun

small pieces of toasted or fried bread served with a topping as an appetizer or canapé.

– origin Italian, plural of crostino ‘little crust.’

crotale /ˈkrōˌtäl, ˈkrōtl/

I. noun — (usu. crotales)

1. a small tuned cymbal.

– origin 1930s: French, from Latin crotalum, denoting an ancient type of castanet, from Greek krotalon.

crotch /kräCH/

I. noun

1. the part of the human body between the legs where they join the torso.

2. the part of a garment that passes between the legs.

3. a fork in a tree, road, or river.

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting an agricultural or garden fork, also a crutch): perhaps related to Old French croche ‘crozier, shepherd's crook,’ based on Old Norse krókr ‘hook’; partly also a variant of crutch.

crotchet /ˈkräCHət/

I. noun

1. [Music] (chiefly Brit.) a quarter note.

2. a perverse or unfounded belief or notion

• the natural crotchets of inveterate bachelors.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘hook’): from Old French crochet, diminutive of croc ‘hook,’ from Old Norse krókr.

crotchety /ˈkräCHədē/

I. adjective

irritable

• he was tired and crotchety.

II. derivatives

crotchetiness

noun

– origin early 19th cent.: from of crotchet + -y^1.

crotchless /ˈkräCHləs/

adjective

(of a garment) having a hole cut so as to leave the genitals uncovered.

croton /ˈkrōtn/

I. noun

1. a strong-scented tree, shrub, or herbaceous plant of the spurge family, native to tropical and warm regions. Several kinds yield timber and other commercially important products.
[Genus Croton, family Euphorbiaceae: numerous species, including C. laccifer, the host plant for the lac insect.]

2. a small evergreen tree or shrub of the Indo-Pacific region, which is grown for its colorful ornamental foliage.
[Genus Codiaeum, family Euphorbiaceae: several species, in particular C. variegatum, many varieties of which are popular houseplants.]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek krotōn ‘sheep tick’ (from the shape of the seeds of the croton sense 1).

croton oil

noun

a foul-smelling oil, formerly used as a purgative, obtained from the seeds of a tropical Asian croton tree.
[The tree is Croton tiglium (family Euphorbiaceae).]

Croton River /ˌkrōtn ˈrivər/

a short river in eastern New York that flows into the Hudson River. It was dammed to form part of New York City's water system.

crottin /ˈkrätäN/

I. noun

a small, round cheese made from goat's milk.

– origin French, literally ‘piece of horse dung.’

crottle /ˈkrädl / crotal

I. noun

a common lichen found on rocks, used in Scotland to make a golden-brown or reddish-brown dye for staining wool for making tweed.
[Parmelia saxatilis (order Parmeliales) and other species.]

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Scottish Gaelic and Irish crotal, crotan.

crouch /krouCH/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. adopt a position where the knees are bent and the upper body is brought forward and down, sometimes to avoid detection or to defend oneself

• we crouched down in the trench

• (be crouched) Leo was crouched before the fire.

2. (crouch over) — bend over and forward with knees bent so as to be close to (someone or something)

• she was crouching over some flower bed.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. a crouching stance or posture.

– origin late Middle English: perhaps from Old French crochir ‘be bent,’ from croche (see crotch).

croup^1 /kro͞op/

I. noun

inflammation of the larynx and trachea in children, associated with infection and causing breathing difficulties.

II. derivatives

croupy

adjective

– origin mid 18th cent.: from dialect croup ‘to croak,’ of imitative origin.

croup^2 /kro͞op/

I. noun

the rump or hindquarters, especially of a horse.

– origin Middle English: from Old French croupe, ultimately of Germanic origin and related to crop.

croupier /ˈkro͞opēˌā ˈkro͞opēər/

I. noun

1. the person in charge of a gaming table, gathering in and paying out money or tokens.

2. ‹historical› the assistant chairman at a public dinner, seated at the lower end of the table.

– origin early 18th cent. (denoting a person standing behind a gambler to give advice): French, from Old French cropier ‘pillion rider, rider on the croup,’ related to Old French croupe (see croup^2). Compare with crupper.

croustade /kro͞oˈstäd/

I. noun

a crisp piece of bread or pastry hollowed to receive a savory filling.

– origin French, from Old French crouste or Italian crostata ‘tart’ (from crosta ‘crust’).

croute /kro͞ot/

I. noun

a piece of toasted bread on which savory snacks can be served.
See also en croute.

– origin French croûte (see crust).

crouton /ˈkro͞oˌtän kro͞oˈtän/

I. noun

a small piece of fried or toasted bread served with soup or used as a garnish.

– origin from French croûton, from croûte (see crust).

crow^1 /krō/

I. noun

1. a large perching bird with mostly glossy black plumage, a heavy bill, and a raucous voice.
[Genus Corvus, family Corvidae (thecrow family): several species, including theAmerican crow (C. brachyrhynchos) and thecarrion crow (C. corone). The crow family also includes the ravens, jays, magpies, choughs, and nutcrackers.]

2. ‹derogatory› a woman, especially an old or ugly one.

3. (the Crow) — the constellation Corvus.

II. phrases

1. as the crow flies

in a straight line

• Easingwold was 22 miles away as the crow flies.

2. eat crow

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› be humiliated by having to admit one's defeats or mistakes.

– origin Old English crāwe; related to Dutch kraai and German Krähe, also to crow^2.

crow^2 /krō/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a cock) utter its characteristic loud cry.

2. (of a person) make a sound expressing a feeling of happiness or triumph

• Ruby crowed with delight.

3. say something in a tone of gloating satisfaction

• avoid crowing about your success

• “I knew you'd be back,” she crowed.

II. noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. the cry of a cock.

2. a sound made by a person expressing triumph or happiness

• she gave a little crow of triumph.

– origin Old English crāwan; related to German krähen, also to crow^1; ultimately imitative.

Crow /krō/

I. noun

1. a member of an American Indian people inhabiting eastern Montana.

2. the Siouan language of the Crow.

II. adjective

relating to the Crow or their language.

– origin suggested by French (gens des) corbeaux ‘(people of the) crows,’ translating Siouan apsáaloke ‘crow people.’

crowbait /ˈkrōˌbāt/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› ‹derogatory› an old horse.

crowbar /ˈkrōˌbär/

I. noun

an iron bar with a flattened end, used as a lever.

II. verb — [with obj. and complement]

1. use a crowbar to open (something)

• he crowbarred the box open.

crowberry /ˈkrōˌberē/

noun

1. a creeping heatherlike dwarf shrub with small, needle-shaped leaves and black or reddish berries.
[Genus Empetrum, family Empetraceae: several species, in particular theblack crowberry (E. nigrum), with pea-sized black berries.]

2. the edible but flavorless berry of the crowberry plant.

crowd /kroud/

I. noun

1. a large number of people gathered together, typically in a disorganized or unruly way

• a huge crowd gathered in the street outside.

2. an audience

• a crowd of 500 filled the synagogue.

3. ‹informal› ‹often derogatory› a group of people who are linked by a common interest or activity

• I've broken away from that whole junkie crowd.

4. (the crowd) — the mass or multitude of people, especially those considered to be drearily ordinary or anonymous

• make yourself stand out from the crowd.

5. a large number of things regarded collectively

• the crowd of tall buildings.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a number of people) fill (a space) almost completely, leaving little or no room for movement

• the dance floor was crowded with revelers.

2. [no obj.] (crowd into) — (of a number of people) move into (a space, especially one that seems too small)

• they crowded into the cockpit.

3. [no obj.] (crowd around) — (of a group of people) form a tightly packed mass around (someone or something)

• photographers crowded around him.

4. move too close to (someone)

• don't crowd her, she needs air.

5. [Baseball] (of a batter) stand very close to (the plate) when batting.

6. [no obj.] (crowd in on) — overwhelm and preoccupy (someone)

• as demands crowd in on you it becomes difficult to keep things in perspective.

7. (crowd someone/something out) — exclude someone or something by taking their place

• grass invading the canyon has crowded out native plants.

– origin Old English crūdan ‘press, hasten,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kruien ‘push in a wheelbarrow.’ In Middle English the senses ‘move by pushing’ and ‘push one's way’ arose, leading to the sense ‘congregate,’ and hence (mid 16th cent.) to the noun.

crowded /ˈkroudəd/

I. adjective

(of a space) full of people, leaving little or no room for movement; packed

• a very crowded room

• the crowded streets of Manhattan.

II. derivatives

crowdedness

noun

crowdfund /ˈkroudˌfənd/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. fund (a project or venture) by raising money from a large number of people who each contribute a relatively small amount, typically via the Internet

• he's launched a campaign to crowdfund the first album he'll record under his own name

• (as adj. crowdfunded) a crowdfunded movie.

– origin early 21st cent.: from crowd + fund, on the pattern of crowdsource.

crowdfunding /ˈkroudˌfəndiNG/

noun

the practice of funding a project or venture by raising many small amounts of money from a large number of people, typically via the Internet.

• musicians, filmmakers, and artists have successfully raised funds and fostered awareness through crowdfunding.

crowdie /ˈkroudē / crowdy

I. noun

a soft Scottish cheese made from buttermilk or sour milk.

– origin early 19th cent.: from crud + -ie.

crowd-pleaser //

noun

a person or thing with great popular appeal.

crowd-pleasing /ˈkroudˌplēzər/

adjective

very popular and appealing

• a string of crowd-pleasing movies.

crowd-puller /ˈkroud ˌpo͝olər/

noun

‹informal› an event, person, or thing that attracts a large audience.

crowdsource /ˈkroudˌsôrs/

verb — [with obj.]

1. obtain (information or input into a particular task or project) by enlisting the services of a large number of people, either paid or unpaid, typically via the Internet

• she crowdsourced advice on album art.

crowdsourcing /ˈkroudˌsôrsiNG/

noun

the practice of obtaining information or input into a task or project by enlisting the services of a large number of people, either paid or unpaid, typically via the Internet

• crowdsourcing is less expensive than hiring a professional translator

• [as modifier] data scientists were among the earliest and most enthusiastic users of crowdsourcing services.

crowd-surfing

I. noun

the activity of being passed in a prone position over the heads of the audience at a rock concert, typically after having jumped from the stage.

II. derivatives

crowd-surf

verb

crowfoot /ˈkrōfo͝ot/

noun

a herbaceous plant related to the buttercups, typically having lobed or divided leaves and white or yellow flowers. Many kinds are aquatic with flowers held above the water.
[Genus Ranunculus, family Ranunculaceae: many species, in particular the Europeanwater crowfoot (R. aquatilis).]

crow hop

noun

1. a short jump with both feet together.

2. a jump by a horse with its back arched and its legs stiffened.

3. in diving, a generally unlawful movement in which the diver's feet leave the springboard before the execution of the dive.

4. [Baseball] a movement in which the fielder's momentum is enhanced through a quick pivot and step.

crown /kroun/

I. noun

1. a circular ornamental headdress worn by a monarch as a symbol of authority, usually made of or decorated with precious metals and jewels.

2. (the Crown) — the reigning monarch, representing a country's government

• their loyalty to the Church came before their loyalty to the Crown.

3. (usu. the Crown) — the power or authority residing in the monarchy

• they claimed immunity on behalf of the Crown.

4. an ornament, emblem, or badge shaped like a crown.

5. a wreath of leaves or flowers, especially that worn as an emblem of victory in ancient Greece or Rome.

6. an award or distinction gained by a victory or achievement, especially in sports

• the world heavyweight crown.

7. the top or highest part of something

• the crown of the hill.

8. the top part of a person's head or a hat.

9. the part of a plant just above and below the ground from which the roots and shoots branch out.

10. the upper branching or spreading part of a tree or other plant.

11. the upper part of a cut gem, above the girdle.

12. the part of a tooth projecting from the gum.

13. an artificial replacement or covering for the upper part of a tooth.

14. the point of an anchor at which the arms reach the shaft.

15. (also crown piece) — a British coin with a face value of five shillings or 25 pence, now minted only for commemorative purposes.

16. a foreign coin with a name meaning ‘crown,’ especially the krona or krone.

17. (in full metric crown) — a paper size, now standardized at 384 × 504 mm.

18. (in full crown octavo) — a book size, now standardized at 186 × 123 mm.

19. (in full crown quarto) — a book size, now standardized at 246 × 189 mm.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (usu. be crowned) — ceremonially place a crown on the head of (someone) in order to invest them as a monarch

• he went to Rome to be crowned

• [with complement] she was crowned queen in 1953.

2. [with obj and complement] — declare or acknowledge (someone) as the best, especially at a sport

• he was crowned world champion last September.

3. (in checkers) promote (a piece) to king by placing another on top of it.

4. rest on or form the top of

• the distant knoll was crowned with trees.

5. fit a crown to (a tooth).

6. ‹informal› hit on the head

• she contained the urge to crown him.

7. be the triumphant culmination of (an effort or endeavor, especially a prolonged one)

• years of struggle were crowned by a state visit to Paris

• (as adj. crowning) the crowning moment of a worthy career.

8. [no obj.] — (of a baby's head during labor) fully appear in the vaginal opening prior to emerging.

III. phrases

1. crowning glory

a. the best and most notable aspect of something

• the scene is the crowning glory of this marvelously entertaining show.

b. ‹chiefly humorous› a person's hair.

2. to crown it all

as the final event in a series of particularly fortunate or unfortunate events

• it was cold and raining, and, to crown it all, we had to walk home.

– origin Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French corune (noun), coruner (verb), Old French corone (noun), coroner (verb), from Latin corona ‘wreath, chaplet.’

Crown attorney

noun

In Canada, a government prosecutor in criminal cases.

Crown Colony /kroun ˈkälənē/

a British colony whose legislature and administration is controlled by the Crown, represented by a governor.

Crown corporation

noun

(in Canada) a corporation owned by the federal or provincial government

• questions were raised about accountability, financial management, and transparency at Crown corporations.

Crown Derby

noun

a kind of soft-paste porcelain made at Derby, England, and often marked with a crown above the letter “D.”

crowned crane

noun

an African crane with a yellowish bristly crest, a mainly black or dark gray body, much white on the wings, and pink and white cheeks.
[Genus Balearica, family Gruidae: two species, in particular the crowned crane (B. pavonina).]

crowned head /ˌkround ˈhed/

noun — (usu. crowned heads)

1. a king or queen.

crowned pigeon

noun

the largest known pigeon, which has mainly bluish plumage and a tall, erect crest, and is found in New Guinea.
[Genus Goura, family Columbidae: three species, including theVictoria crowned pigeon (G. victoria).]

crown ether

noun

[Chemistry] any of a class of organic compounds whose molecules are large rings containing a number of ether linkages.

crown fire

noun

a forest fire that spreads from treetop to treetop.

crown gall

noun

1. a bacterial disease of plants, especially fruit bushes and trees, that is characterized by large tumorlike galls on the roots and lower trunk.
[This disease is caused by the soil bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens.]

2. a large tumorlike gall caused by crown gall disease.

crown glass

noun

glass made without lead or iron, originally in a circular sheet. Formerly used in windows, it is now used as optical glass of low refractive index.

Crown Heights

a neighborhood in northern Brooklyn in New York City, noted for its West Indian and Orthodox Jewish communities.

crown imperial

noun

an Asian fritillary (plant) with a cluster of bell-like flowers at the top of a tall, largely bare stem.
[Fritillaria imperialis, family Liliaceae.]

crown jewel

noun

1. (Crown Jewels) — the crown and other ornaments and jewelry worn or carried by the sovereign on certain state occasions

• the Crown Jewels of the British monarchy.

2. a particularly valuable or prized possession or asset

• one of Istanbul's architectural crown jewels

• he is under pressure to sell the crown jewel of his retail empire.

3. (crown jewels) — ‹humorous› a man's genitals.

Crown land /kroun land/

noun — (also Crown lands)

1. land belonging to the British Crown.

2. land belonging to the state in some parts of the Commonwealth.

crown lens

noun

a lens made of crown glass and usu. forming one component of an achromatic lens.

crown molding

noun

(US) another term for cornice (sense 1).

crown of thorns

I. noun

1. (also crown-of-thorns-starfish) — a large spiky starfish of the tropical Indo-Pacific, feeding on coral and sometimes causing great damage to reefs.
[Acanthaster planci, class Asteroidea.]

2. a Madagascan shrub of the spurge family, with bright red flowers and many slender thorns. It is a popular houseplant and is sometimes used for hedges in the tropics.
[Euphorbia milii, family Euphorbiaceae.]

3. any of a number of other thorny plants, especially Christ's thorn.

– origin by association with Christ's crown of thorns.

Crown Point

a resort town in northeastern New York, on Lake Champlain, scene of much military action during the 18th century.

crown prince

noun

(in some countries) a male heir to a throne.

crown princess

noun

1. the wife of a crown prince.

2. (in some countries) a female heir to a throne.

crown roast /ˌkroun ˈrōst/

noun

a roast of rib pieces of pork or lamb arranged like a crown in a circle with the bones pointing upward.

crown saw

noun

another term for hole saw.

crown wheel /ˈkroun ˌ(h)wēl/

noun

a gearwheel or cogwheel with teeth that project from the face of the wheel at right angles, used especially in the gears of motor vehicles.

crow-pheasant /ˈkrōˌfez(ə)nt/

noun

a coucal, especially the greater coucal, which has black plumage with chestnut wings and back and is found in southern Asia.
[Genus Centropus, family Cuculidae, esp. C. sinensis.]

crow's foot

noun

1. (usu. crow's feet) — a branching wrinkle at the outer corner of a person's eye.

2. a mark, symbol, or design formed of lines diverging from a point, resembling a bird's footprint.

3. ‹historical› a caltrop.

crow's nest

noun

a shelter or platform fixed near the top of the mast of a vessel as a place for a lookout to stand.

crow steps

I. plural noun

another term for corbiesteps.

II. derivatives

crow-stepped

adjective

croze /krōz/

I. noun

1. a groove at the end of a cask or barrel to receive the edge of the head.

2. a cooper's tool for making croze grooves.

– origin early 17th cent.: perhaps from French creux, creuse ‘hollow.’

Crozet Islands /krōˈzā ˌīləndz/

a group of five small islands in the southern Indian Ocean, under French administration.

crozier /ˈkrōZHər / crosier

I. noun

1. a hooked staff carried by a bishop as a symbol of pastoral office.

2. the curled top of a young fern.

– origin Middle English (originally denoting the person who carried a processional cross in front of an archbishop): partly from Old French croisier ‘cross bearer,’ from crois ‘cross,’ based on Latin crux; reinforced by Old French crocier ‘bearer of a bishop's crook,’ from croce (see crosse).

CRT

abbreviation

cathode ray tube.

cru /kro͞o, krY/

I. noun

(in France) a vineyard or group of vineyards, especially one of recognized quality.
See also grand cru, premier cru.

– origin French, from crû, literally ‘growth,’ past participle of croître.

cruces /ˈkro͞osēz/

plural form of crux.

crucial /ˈkro͞oSHəl/

I. adjective

1. decisive or critical, especially in the success or failure of something

• negotiations were at a crucial stage.

2. of great importance

• this game is crucial to our survival.

II. derivatives

cruciality /ˌkro͞oSHēˈalitē /

noun

– origin early 18th cent. (in the sense ‘cross-shaped’): from French, from Latin crux, cruc- ‘cross.’ The sense ‘decisive’ is from Francis Bacon's Latin phrase instantia crucis ‘crucial instance,’ which he explained as a metaphor from a crux or fingerpost marking a fork at a crossroad; Newton and Boyle took up the metaphor in experimentum crucis ‘crucial experiment.’ / usage: Crucial is used in formal contexts to mean ‘decisive, critical’: the testimony of the only eyewitness was crucial to the case. Its broader use to mean ‘very important’ should be restricted to informal contexts: it is crucial to get good light for your photographs.

crucially /ˈkro͞oSHəlē/

adverb

with decisive or vital importance

• a question that may have crucially influenced the decision

• [sentence adverb] crucially, recipients of these funds would be required to place their work in the public domain

• [as submodifier] both movies are crucially dependent on the performance of the male lead.

crucian /ˈkro͞oSHən / crucian carp

I. noun

a small olive-green to reddish-brown European carp of still or slow-moving waters, important as a farmed fish in eastern Europe.
[Carassius carassius, family Cyprinidae.]

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Low German karusse, karutze, perhaps based on Latin coracinus, from Greek korax ‘raven,’ also denoting a black fish found in the Nile.

cruciate /ˈkro͞oSH(ē)ət ˈkro͞oSHēāt/

I. adjective

[Anatomy] [Botany] cross-shaped.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin cruciatus, from crux, cruc- ‘cross.’

cruciate ligament

noun

[Anatomy] either of a pair of ligaments in the knee that cross each other and connect the femur to the tibia.

crucible /ˈkro͞osəb(ə)l/

I. noun

1. a ceramic or metal container in which metals or other substances may be melted or subjected to very high temperatures.

2. a place or occasion of severe test or trial

• the crucible of combat.

3. a place or situation in which different elements interact to produce something new

• the crucible of the new Romantic movement.

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin crucibulum ‘night lamp, crucible’ (perhaps originally a lamp hanging in front of a crucifix), from Latin crux, cruc- ‘cross.’

crucifer /ˈkro͞osəfər/

I. noun

1. [Botany] a cruciferous plant, with four petals arranged in a cross.

2. a person carrying a cross or crucifix in a procession.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Christian Latin, from Latin crux, cruc- ‘cross.’

cruciferous /kro͞oˈsifərəs/

I. adjective

[Botany] of, relating to, or denoting plants of the cabbage family (Brassicaceae, formerly Cruciferae).

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Cruciferae (plural), from Latin crux, cruc- ‘cross’ + -fer ‘bearing’ (because the flowers have four equal petals arranged crosswise), + -ous.

crucifix /ˈkro͞osəˌfiks/

I. noun

a representation of a cross with a figure of Jesus Christ on it.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from ecclesiastical Latin crucifixus, from Latin cruci fixus ‘fixed to a cross.’ Compare with crucify.

crucifixion /ˌkro͞osəˈfikSHən/

I. noun

1. ‹chiefly historical› the execution of a person by nailing or binding them to a cross.

2. (the Crucifixion) — ‹chiefly historical› the killing of Jesus Christ by crucifixion.

3. (Crucifixion) [in sing.] — ‹chiefly historical› an artistic representation or musical composition based on the Crucifixion.

– origin late Middle English: from ecclesiastical Latin crucifixio(n-), from the verb crucifigere (see crucify).

cruciform /ˈkro͞osəˌfôrm/

I. adjective

1. having the shape of a cross

• a cruciform sword.

2. of or denoting a church having a cross-shaped plan with a nave and transepts.

II. noun

a thing shaped like a cross.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin crux, cruc- ‘cross’ + -iform.

crucify /ˈkro͞osəˌfī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. put (someone) to death by nailing or binding them to a cross, especially as an ancient punishment

• two thieves were crucified with Jesus.

2. cause anguish to (someone)

• she'd been crucified by his departure.

3. ‹informal› criticize (someone) severely and unrelentingly

• our fans would crucify us if we lost.

II. derivatives

crucifier /ˈkro͞osəˌfīər /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French crucifier, from late Latin crucifigere, from Latin crux, cruc- ‘cross’ + figere ‘fix.’ Compare with crucifix.

cruck /krək/

I. noun

(Brit.) either of a pair of curved timbers extending to the ground in the roof framework of a type of medieval house
[as modifier]

• a cruck barn.

– origin late 16th cent.: variant of crook.

crud /krəd/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› a substance that is disgusting or unpleasant, typically because of its dirtiness.

2. ‹informal› snow that is not packed down or groomed, on which it is difficult to ski.

3. ‹informal› nonsense

• they just want the simple truth without any religious crud.

4. ‹informal› a contemptible person.

II. derivatives

cruddy /ˈkrədē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: variant of curd (the original sense). The earliest modern senses, ‘filth’ and ‘nonsense’ (originally US), date from the 1940s.

crude /kro͞od/

I. adjective

1. in a natural or raw state; not yet processed or refined

• crude protein.

2. [Statistics] (of figures) not adjusted or corrected

• the crude mortality rate.

3. (of an estimate or guess) likely to be only approximately accurate.

4. constructed in a rudimentary or makeshift way

• a relatively crude nuclear weapon.

5. (of an action) showing little finesse or subtlety and as a result unlikely to succeed

• the measure was condemned by economists as crude and ill-conceived.

6. (of language, behavior, or a person) offensively coarse or rude, especially in relation to sexual matters

• a crude joke.

II. noun

natural petroleum

• the ship was carrying 80,000 tons of crude.

III. derivatives

crudeness /ˈkro͞odnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin crudus ‘raw, rough.’

crudely /ˈkro͞odlē/

adverb

1. in a rudimentary or makeshift way

• the crudely stitched flag.

2. in a way that lacks finesse or subtlety

• his minor works are sometimes crudely handled.

3. in an offensively coarse or rude way, especially in relation to sexual matters

• talking bluntly and crudely about sex.

crude oil

noun

unrefined petroleum

• a shortage of crude oil.

crudités /ˌkro͞odəˈtā/

I. plural noun

assorted raw vegetables served as an hors d'oeuvre, typically with a sauce into which they may be dipped.

– origin plural of French crudité ‘rawness, crudity,’ from Latin crudus ‘raw, rough.’

crudity /ˈkro͞odədē/

noun

1. the quality of being rudimentary or makeshift; primitiveness

• he criticizes the crudity of design.

2. the quality of being offensively coarse or rude; vulgarity

• the crudity of the language.

crudo /ˈkro͞odō/

I. noun

a dish of raw fish or seafood, typically dressed with oil, citrus juice, and seasonings

• we started with the yellowtail crudo, which was delicious

• [as modifier] seafood is the menu's thrust, from delicate crudo plates to hearty Neapolitan ragu.

– origin Italian, literally ‘raw.’

cruel /ˈkro͞o(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. willfully causing pain or suffering to others, or feeling no concern about it

• people who are cruel to animals

• a cruel remark.

2. causing pain or suffering

• the winters are long, hard, and cruel.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin crudelis, related to crudus (see crude).

cruelly /ˈkro͞oəlē/

adverb

1. (with reference to a person) in a way that willfully causes pain or suffering to others

• he marries Edgar's sister Isabella and cruelly ill-treats her.

2. (with reference to an event) in a way that causes pain or suffering

• their hopes were cruelly dashed.

cruelty /ˈkro͞o(ə)ltē/

I. noun

1. callous indifference to or pleasure in causing pain and suffering

• he has treated her with extreme cruelty.

2. behavior that causes pain or suffering to a person or animal

• we can't stand cruelty to animals

• the cruelties of forced assimilation and genocide.

3. [Law] behavior that causes physical or mental harm to another, especially a spouse, whether intentionally or not.

– origin Middle English: from Old French crualte, based on Latin crudelitas, from crudelis (see cruel).

cruelty-free /ˈkro͞oəltēˌfrē/

adjective

(of cosmetics or other commercial products) manufactured or developed by methods that do not involve experimentation on animals.

cruet /ˈkro͞oət/

I. noun

1. a small container for salt, pepper, oil, or vinegar for use at a dining table.

2. (in church use) a small container for the wine or water to be used in the celebration of the Eucharist.

– origin Middle English (sense 2): from Anglo-Norman French, diminutive of Old French crue ‘pot,’ from Old Saxon krūka; related to crock^2.

cruft /krəft/

I. noun

[Computing] ‹informal› badly designed, unnecessarily complicated, or unwanted code or software

• this removes all unnecessary cruft from Word documents saved as HTML.

– origin 1950s (in the sense ‘trash, detritus’): origin unknown.

Cruikshank, George /ˈkro͝okˌSHaNGk/

(1792–1878), English painter, illustrator, and caricaturist.

cruise /kro͞oz/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. sail about in an area without a precise destination, especially for pleasure

• they were cruising off the California coast

• [with obj.] she cruised the canals of France in a barge.

2. take a vacation on a ship or boat following a predetermined course, usually calling in at several ports.

3. (of a vehicle or person) travel or move slowly around without a specific destination in mind

• a police van cruised past us

• [with obj.] teenagers were aimlessly cruising the mall.

4. ‹informal› wander about a place in search of a casual sexual partner

• he spends his time cruising and just hanging out in New Orleans

• [with obj.] he cruised the gay bars of Los Angeles.

5. [with obj.] — ‹informal› walk past and assess (a potential sexual partner)

• he was cruising a pair of sailors.

6. (of a motor vehicle or aircraft) travel smoothly at a moderate or economical speed

• we sit in a jet, cruising at some 30,000 ft.

7. achieve an objective with ease, especially in sports

• he cruised to an easy victory in Tuesday's primary.

8. (of a young child) walk while holding onto furniture or other structures, prior to learning to walk without support

• my daughter cruised at seven months and didn't walk until just after her first birthday

• (as noun cruising) it can take ages to go from cruising to proper walking

• [with obj.] about a week ago she started crawling forwards, cruising furniture, and standing by herself.

II. noun

a voyage on a ship or boat taken for pleasure or as a vacation and usually calling in at several places

• a cruise down the Nile

• [as modifier] a cruise liner.

III. phrases

cruising for a bruising

‹informal› heading or looking for trouble.

– origin mid 17th cent. (as a verb): probably from Dutch kruisen ‘to cross,’ from kruis ‘cross,’ from Latin crux.

Cruise, Tom /kro͞oz/

(1962–), US actor; full name Thomas Cruise Mapother IV. Notable movies: Risky Business (1983), Top Gun (1986), Born on the Fourth of July (1989), Jerry McGuire (1996), and the Mission Impossible series (1996–).

cruise control /ˈkro͞oz kənˌtrōl/

noun

1. an electronic device in a motor vehicle that can be switched on to maintain a selected constant speed without the use of the accelerator.

2. used in reference to actions performed with little effort

• the team went on cruise control during the second half.

• United finished the game in cruise control.

cruise missile /ˈˌkro͞oz ˈmisəl/

noun

a low-flying missile that is guided to its target by an on-board computer.

cruiser /ˈkro͞ozər/

I. noun

1. a relatively fast warship larger than a destroyer and less heavily armed than a battleship.

2. a yacht or motorboat with passenger accommodations, designed for leisure use.

3. a person who goes on a pleasure cruise.

4. an automobile that can be driven smoothly at high speed.

5. (N. Amer.) a police patrol car.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Dutch kruiser, from kruisen (see cruise).

cruiserweight /ˈkro͞ozərˌwāt/

noun

1. (chiefly Brit.) another term for light heavyweight.

2. (chiefly Brit.) in professional boxing, a weight between light heavyweight and heavyweight, ranging from 175 to 190 pounds (79 to 85 kg).

cruising range /kro͞oziNG rānj/

noun

the maximum distance a ship or aircraft can travel at a given speed without refueling.

cruising speed /ˈkro͞oziNG ˌspēd/

noun

a speed for a particular vehicle, ship, or aircraft, usually somewhat below maximum, that is comfortable and economical.

cruller /ˈkrələr/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a small cake made of rich, sweetened dough twisted or curled and fried in deep fat.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Dutch kruller, from krullen ‘to curl.’

crumb /krəm/

I. noun

1. a small fragment of bread, cake, or cracker.

2. a very small amount of something

• the budget provided few crumbs of comfort.

3. the soft inner part of a loaf of bread.

4. a dessert topping made of brown sugar, butter, flour, and spices and crumbled over a pie or cake
[as modifier]

• apple crumb pie.

5. (usu. crumb rubber) — granulated rubber, made from recycled tires.

6. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) an objectionable or contemptible person

• he's an absolute crumb.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. cover (food) with breadcrumbs
(as adj. crumbed)

• crispy crumbed mushrooms with garlic dip.

III. phrases

crumbs from someone's (or a rich man's) table

an unfair and inadequate or unsatisfactory share of something.

– origin Old English cruma, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kruim and German Krume. The final -b was added in the 16th cent., perhaps from crumble but also influenced by words such as dumb, where the original final -b is retained although no longer pronounced.

crumble /ˈkrəmbəl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. break or fall apart into small fragments, especially over a period of time as part of a process of deterioration

• the plaster started to crumble

• (as adj. crumbling) their crumbling ancestral home.

2. [with obj.] — cause (something) to break apart into small fragments

• the easiest way to crumble blue cheese.

3. (of an organization, relationship, or structure) disintegrate gradually over a period of time

• the party's fragile unity began to crumble.

II. noun

1. (Brit.) a mixture of flour and butter that is rubbed to the texture of breadcrumbs and cooked as a topping for fruit.

2. (Brit.) a dessert made with crumble and a particular fruit

• rhubarb crumble.

– origin late Middle English: probably from an Old English word related to crumb.

crumbly /ˈkrəmblē/

I. adjective

consisting of or easily breaking into small fragments

• the cheese is crumbly and moist.

II. derivatives

crumbliness

noun

crumb structure

noun

the porous structure or condition of soil when its particles are moderately aggregated.

crumby /ˈkrəmē/

adjective

1. like or covered in crumbs.

2. variant spelling of crummy.

crummy /ˈkrəmē / ‹informal› crumby

I. adjective

1. dirty, unpleasant, or of poor quality

• a crummy little room.

2. unwell; ill

• I'm feeling crummy and want to get better.

II. noun

1. (N. Amer.) an old or converted truck used to transport loggers to and from work.

2. (N. Amer.) another term for caboose (sense 1).

III. derivatives

1. crummily /ˈkrəməlē /

adverb

2. crumminess

noun

– origin mid 19th cent. (earlier in the literal senses ‘crumbly’ and ‘like or covered with crumbs’): variant of crumby.

crump /krəmp/

I. noun

a loud thudding sound, especially one made by an exploding bomb or shell.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. make a loud, thudding sound.

– origin mid 17th cent.: imitative. The original sense (as a verb) was ‘munch, crunch,’ later ‘hit hard’ (used initially as a term in the game of cricket), hence the military sense ‘bombard’ (World War I).

crumpet /ˈkrəmpət/

I. noun

a thick, flat, savory cake with a soft, porous texture, made from a yeast mixture cooked on a griddle and eaten toasted and buttered.

– origin late 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

crumple /ˈkrəmpəl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. crush (something, typically paper or cloth) so that it becomes creased and wrinkled

• he crumpled up the paper bag

• (as adj. crumpled) a crumpled sheet.

2. [no obj.] — become bent, crooked, or creased

• they heard the jetliner crumple moments before it crashed.

3. [no obj.] — (of a person) suddenly flop down to the ground

• she crumpled to the floor in a dead faint.

4. [no obj.] — (of a person's face) suddenly sag and show an expression of desolation

• the child's face crumpled and he began to howl.

II. noun

a crushed fold, crease, or wrinkle.

III. derivatives

crumply /ˈkrəmp(ə)lē /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from obsolete crump ‘make or become curved,’ from Old English crump ‘bent, crooked’; related to German krumm.

crumple zone

noun

a part of a motor vehicle, especially the extreme front and rear, designed to crumple easily in a crash and absorb the main force of an impact.

crunch /krən(t)SH/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — crush (a hard or brittle foodstuff) with the teeth, making a loud but muffled grinding sound

• she paused to crunch a ginger snap.

2. [no obj.] — make a crunching sound, especially when walking or driving over gravel or an icy surface.

3. strike or crush noisily

• two cab drivers who had just crunched fenders.

4. process large amounts of information or perform operations of great complexity, especially by computer

• computers crunch data from real-world observations.

II. noun

1. [usu. in sing.] — a loud muffled grinding sound made when crushing, moving over, or hitting something

• Marco's fist struck Brian's nose with a crunch.

2. (the crunch) — ‹informal› a crucial point or situation, typically one at which a decision with important consequences must be made

• when it comes to the crunch, you chicken out.

3. a severe shortage of money or credit

• the Fed would do what it could to ease America's credit crunch.

4. a physical exercise designed to strengthen the abdominal muscles; a sit-up.

– origin early 19th cent. (as a verb): variant of 17th-cent. cranch (probably imitative), by association with crush and munch.

cruncher /ˈkrən(t)SHər/

noun

1. ‹informal› a critical or vital point; a crucial or difficult question.

2. ‹informal› a computer, system, or person able to perform operations of great complexity or to process large amounts of information

• a global information cruncher.

See also number cruncher.

crunchy /ˈkrən(t)SHē/

I. adjective

1. making a sharp noise when bitten or crushed and (of food) pleasantly crisp

• bake until the topping is crunchy.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› politically and environmentally liberal

• a song that incorporates whale-singing seems pretty crunchy.

II. derivatives

1. crunchily /-CHəlē /

adverb

2. crunchiness

noun

crunk /krəNGk/

I. noun

a type of hip-hop music characterized by repeated shouted catchphrases and elements typical of electronic dance music, such as prominent bass.

II. adjective

(US) ‹informal› very excited or full of energy

• get crunk with some raw hip hop.

– origin 1990s: perhaps an altered past participle of crank^1 or a blend of crazy and drunk.

crupper /ˈkrəpər/

I. noun

a strap buckled to the back of a saddle and looped under the horse's tail to prevent the saddle or harness from slipping forward.

– origin Middle English: from Old French cropiere, related to croupe (see croup^2). Compare with croupier.

crural /ˈkro͝o(ə)rəl/

I. adjective

1. [Anatomy] [Zoology] of or relating to the leg or the thigh.

2. [Anatomy] [Zoology] of or relating to any part called “crus,” for example, the crura cerebri.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin cruralis, from crus, crur- ‘leg.’

crus /kro͞os, krəs/

I. noun

[Anatomy] an elongated part of an anatomical structure, especially one that occurs in the body as a pair.
See crus cerebri.

– origin early 18th cent.: Latin, literally ‘leg.’

crusade /kro͞oˈsād/

I. noun

1. a medieval military expedition, one of a series made by Europeans to recover the Holy Land from the Muslims in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries.

2. a war instigated by the Church for alleged religious ends.

3. an organized campaign concerning a political, social, or religious issue, typically motivated by a fervent desire for change

• a crusade against crime.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. lead or take part in an energetic and organized campaign concerning a social, political, or religious issue

• he crusaded against gambling in the 1950s.

– origin late 16th cent. (originally as croisade): from French croisade, an alteration (influenced by Spanish cruzado) of earlier croisée, literally ‘the state of being marked with the cross,’ based on Latin crux, cruc- ‘cross’; in the 17th cent. the form crusado, from Spanish cruzado, was introduced; the blending of these two forms led to the current spelling, first recorded in the early 18th cent.

crusader /kro͞oˈsādər/

noun

1. (Crusader) — a fighter in the medieval Crusades.

2. a person who campaigns vigorously for political, social, or religious change; a campaigner

• crusaders for early detection and treatment of mental illness.

crus cerebri /ˈserəˌbrī, ˈkerəˌbrē/

I. noun

[Anatomy] either of two symmetrical tracts of nerve fibers at the base of the midbrain, linking the pons and the cerebral hemispheres.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘leg of the brain.’

cruse /kro͞oz/

I. noun

‹archaic› an earthenware pot or jar.

– origin Old English crūse, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kroes and German Krause; reinforced in Middle English by Low German krūs.

crush /krəSH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. deform, pulverize, or force inwards by compressing forcefully

• you can crush a pill between two spoons

• he was crushed to death by a subway train

• (as adj. crushed) the crushed remains of a Ford Bronco.

2. crease or crumple (cloth or paper)
(as adj. crushed)

• crushed trousers and a crumpled jacket.

3. (of a government or state) violently subdue (opposition or a rebellion)

• the government had taken elaborate precautions to crush any resistance.

4. bring about a feeling of overwhelming disappointment or embarrassment in (someone)

• his defeat crushed a lot of left-wing supporters

• (as adj. crushing) the news came as a crushing blow.

5. (crush on) — (US) ‹informal› have a brief but intense infatuation for (someone)

• the girl I had been crushing on sat next to me.

II. noun

1. [usu. in sing.] — a crowd of people pressed closely together, especially in an enclosed space

• a number of youngsters fainted in the crush.

2. ‹informal› a brief but intense infatuation for someone, especially someone unattainable or inappropriate

• she did have a crush on Dr. Russell.

3. a person with whom someone is infatuated

• it turns out she thought you were flirting with her crush.

4. a drink made from the juice of pressed fruit

• lemon crush.

III. derivatives

1. crushable

adjective

2. crusher /ˈkrəSHər /

noun

3. crushingly /ˈkrəSHiNGlē /

adverb

– origin Middle English: from Old French cruissir ‘gnash (teeth) or crack,’ of unknown origin.

crushed velvet /ˌkrəSHt ˈvelvət/

noun

velvet that has its nap pointing in different directions in irregular patches.

crush space

noun

1. space in a motor vehicle between occupants and a point of impact that can absorb some of the shock of collision.

2. space in the common area of a performance venue that can accommodate the largest crowd expected.

crush zone

noun

another term for crumple zone.

crust /krəst/

I. noun

1. the tough outer part of a loaf of bread

• a sandwich with the crusts cut off

• I tore off several pieces of crust from the loaf.

2. a hard, dry scrap of bread

• a kindly old woman might give her a crust.

3. a layer of pastry covering a pie.

4. a hardened layer, coating, or deposit on the surface of something, especially something soft

• a crust of snow.

5. the outermost layer of rock of which a planet consists, especially the part of the earth above the mantle

• the earth's crust

• at the midocean ridge new crust is formed.

6. a deposit of tartrates and other substances formed in wine aged in the bottle, especially port.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. form into a hard outer layer

• the blisters eventually crust over.

2. [with obj.] — cover with a hard outer layer

• the burns crusted his cheek.

III. derivatives

crustal /ˈkrəst(ə)l /

adjective

[Geology]

– origin Middle English: from Old French crouste, from Latin crusta ‘rind, shell, crust.’

Crustacea /krəˈstāSHə / ‹Zoology›

I. a large group of mainly aquatic arthropods that include crabs, lobsters, shrimps, wood lice, barnacles, and many minute forms. They are very diverse, but most have four or more pairs of limbs and several other appendages.
[Subphylum (or phylum) Crustacea.]

II. (as plural noun crustacea) — arthropods of the group Crustacea.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from crusta (see crust).

crustacean /krəˈstāSH(ə)n / ‹Zoology›

I. noun

an arthropod of the large, mainly aquatic group Crustacea, such as a crab, lobster, shrimp, or barnacle.

II. adjective

relating to or denoting crustaceans.

III. derivatives

crustaceous /krəˈstāSHəs /

adjective

crusted /ˈkrəstəd/

adjective

1. having or forming a hard top layer or covering

• she washed away the crusted blood.

2. denoting a style of unfiltered, blended port that deposits a sediment in the bottle.

3. old-fashioned; venerable

• a crusted establishment figure.

crustose /ˈkrəstōs/

I. adjective

[Botany] (of a lichen or alga) forming or resembling a crust.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin crustosus, from crusta (see crust).

crusty /ˈkrəstē/

I. adjective

1. having a crisp or hard outer layer or covering

• crusty bread.

2. (of a substance) acting as a hard outer layer or covering

• Lake Manyara was ringed by crusty salt deposits.

3. (especially of an old person) outspoken and irritable

• a crusty old grandfather.

II. derivatives

1. crustily /ˈkrəstəlē /

adverb

2. crustiness /ˈkrəstēnəs /

noun

crutch /krəCH/

I. noun

1. a long stick with a crosspiece at the top, used as a support under the armpit by a lame person.

2. [in sing.] — a thing used for support or reassurance

• they use the Internet as a crutch for their loneliness.

3. ‹archaic› another term for crotch (of the body or a garment).

– origin Old English crycc, cryc, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kruk and German Krücke.

crux /krəks kro͝oks/

I. noun — (the crux)

1. the decisive or most important point at issue

• the crux of the matter is that attitudes have changed.

2. a particular point of difficulty

• both cruces can be resolved by a consideration of the manuscripts.

– origin mid 17th cent. (denoting a representation of a cross, chiefly in crux ansata ‘ankh,’ literally ‘cross with a handle’): from Latin, literally‘cross.’

Crux /krəks / ‹Astronomy›

I. another term for the Southern Cross.

II. (as genitive Crucis ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation

• the star Beta Crucis.

– origin Latin.

cruzado /krəˈzädō/

I. noun

the basic monetary unit of Brazil from 1988 to 1990, equal to 100 centavos.

– origin from Portuguese cruzado, crusado ‘marked with the cross.’

cruzeiro /krəˈzerō/

I. noun

the basic monetary unit of Brazil from 1990 to 1993, equal to 100 centavos.

– origin Portuguese, literally ‘large cross.’

cry /krī/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. shed tears, especially as an expression of distress or pain

• don't cry—it'll be all right

• [with obj.] you'll cry tears of joy.

2. shout or scream, especially to express one's fear, pain, or grief

• the little girl fell down and cried for her mommy.

3. say something in an excited or anguished tone of voice

• “Where will it end?” he cried out.

4. [with obj.] — (of a street trader) shout out the name of (goods for sale)

• there was a bustle of activity as vendors cried their wares, offering shellfish to potential buyers.

5. (of a bird or other animal) make a loud characteristic call

• the wild birds cried out over the water.

II. noun

1. a loud inarticulate shout or scream expressing a powerful feeling or emotion

• a cry of despair.

2. a loud excited utterance of a word or words

• there was a cry of “Silence!”

3. the call of a street trader selling goods

• the city comes to life after 10 p.m., with the din of car horns, and the cries of street hawkers.

4. an urgent appeal or entreaty

• fund-raisers have issued a cry for help.

5. a demand or opinion expressed by many people

• peace became the popular cry.

6. a distinctive call of a bird or other animal.

7. a spell of weeping

• I still have a cry, sometimes, when I realize that my mother is dead.

III. phrases

1. cry one's eyes (or heart) out

weep bitterly and at length.

2. cry for the moon

ask for what is unattainable or impossible.

3. cry foul

protest strongly about a real or imagined wrong or injustice.

4. cry from the heart

a passionate and honest appeal or protest.

5. cry it out

a. weep until one is soothed or exhausted

• he broke your heart—cry it out, girl

• at 18–24 months, we did have to let our son cry it out a little.

b. (cry-it-out) — denoting a method of sleep training in which a young child is left to fall asleep on their own and not immediately comforted when they cry

• she created developmentally appropriate strategies to help parents thrive without resorting to cry-it-out sleep training.

6. cry wolf

see wolf.

7. for crying out loud

‹informal› used to express one's irritation or impatience

• why do you have to take everything so personally, for crying out loud?

8. in full cry

used to describe hounds baying in keen pursuit.

9. it's no use crying over spilt (or spilled) milk

see milk.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. cry someone/something down

‹dated› disparage or belittle someone or something.

2. cry off

‹informal› go back on a promise or fail to keep to an arrangement

• we were going to Spain together and he cried off at the last moment.

3. cry out for

demand as a self-evident requirement or solution

• the present system cries out for reform.

4. cry someone/something up

‹dated› praise or extol someone or something.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘ask for earnestly or loudly’): from Old French crier (verb), cri (noun), from Latin quiritare ‘raise a public outcry,’ literally ‘call on the Quirites (Roman citizens) for help.’

crybaby /ˈkrīˌbābē/

noun

a person, especially a child, who sheds tears frequently or readily.

cryer /ˈkrīər/

noun

archaic spelling of crier.

crying /ˈkrīiNG/

adjective

very great

• it would be a crying shame to let some other woman have it.

cryo- /ˈkrīō/

I. combining form

involving or producing cold, especially extreme cold

• cryostat

• cryosurgery.

– origin from Greek kruos ‘frost.’

cryobiology /ˌkrīōˌbīˈäləjē/

I. noun

the branch of biology that deals with the properties of organisms and tissues at low temperatures.

II. derivatives

1. cryobiological /-ˌbīəˈläjəkəl /

adjective

2. cryobiologist /-jist /

noun

cryogen /ˈkrīəjən/

noun

a substance used to produce very low temperatures.

cryogenic /krīəˈjenik/

I. adjective

1. relating to or involving the branch of physics that deals with the production and effects of very low temperatures

• a powerful cryogenic engine.

2. relating to the deep-freezing of the bodies of people who have just died, in the hope that scientific advances may allow them to be revived in the future

• a body being prepared for cryogenic preservation.

II. derivatives

cryogenically

adverb

cryogenics /ˌkrīəˈjeniks/

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the branch of physics dealing with the production and effects of very low temperatures.

2. another term for cryonics.

cryogeny /krīˈäjənē/

noun

another term for cryogenics.

cryoglobulin /ˌkrīəˈɡläbyələn/

noun

[Biochemistry] a protein that occurs in the blood in certain disorders. It can be precipitated out of solution below 10°C, causing obstruction in the fingers and toes.

cryolite /ˈkrīəˌlīt/

I. noun

a white or colorless mineral consisting of a fluoride of sodium and aluminum. It is added to bauxite as a flux in aluminum smelting.

– origin early 19th cent.: from cryo- ‘cold, frost’ (because the main deposits are found in Greenland) + -lite.

cryometer /krīˈämədər/

noun

a thermometer for measuring very low temperatures.

cryonics /krīˈäniks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the practice or technique of deep-freezing the bodies of people who have just died, in the hope that scientific advances may allow them to be revived in the future.

II. derivatives

1. cryonic

adjective

2. cryonically

adverb

– origin 1960s: contraction of cryogenics.

cryoprecipitate /ˌkrīōpriˈsipətət, -ˈsipəˌtāt/

noun

1. [chiefly Biochemistry] a substance precipitated from a solution, especially from the blood, at low temperatures.

2. [chiefly Biochemistry] [Medicine] an extract rich in a blood-clotting factor obtained as a residue when frozen blood plasma is thawed.

cryopreserve /ˌkrīōprəˈzərv/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Biology] [Medicine] preserve (cells or tissues) by cooling them below the freezing point of water.

II. derivatives

cryopreservation /-ˌprezərˈvāSHən /

noun

cryoprotectant /ˌkrīōprəˈtektənt/

noun

[Physiology] a substance that prevents the freezing of tissues, or prevents damage to cells during freezing.

cryoscope /ˈkrīəˌskōp/

noun

an instrument used to determine the freezing point of a liquid or a solution.

cryostat /ˈkrīəˌstat/

noun

1. an apparatus for maintaining a very low temperature.

2. an apparatus for taking very fine slices of tissue while it is kept very cold.

cryosurgery /ˌkrīōˈsərjərē/

noun

surgery using the local application of intense cold to destroy unwanted tissue.

cryotherapy /ˌkrīōˈTHerəpē/

noun

the use of extreme cold in surgery or other medical treatment.

crypt /kript/

I. noun

1. an underground room or vault beneath a church, used as a chapel or burial place.

2. [Anatomy] a small tubular gland, pit, or recess.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘cavern’): from Latin crypta, from Greek kruptē ‘a vault,’ from kruptos ‘hidden.’

cryptanalysis /ˌkriptəˈnaləsəs/

I. noun

the art or process of deciphering coded messages without being told the key.

II. derivatives

1. cryptanalyst /ˌkripˈtanl-əst /

noun

2. cryptanalytic /-ˌtanlˈitik /

adjective

3. cryptanalytical /-ˌtanlˈitikəl /

adjective

– origin 1920s: from crypto- + analysis.

cryptic /ˈkriptik/

I. adjective

1. having a meaning that is mysterious or obscure

• he found his boss's utterances too cryptic.

2. (of a crossword) having difficult clues that indicate the solutions indirectly.

3. [Zoology] (of coloration or markings) serving to camouflage an animal in its natural environment.

II. derivatives

cryptically /ˈkriptək(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin early 17th cent.: from late Latin crypticus, from Greek kruptikos, from kruptos ‘hidden.’ Sense 2 dates from the late 19th cent.

crypto /ˈkriptō/

noun

1. short for cryptography.

2. (pl. cryptos) — ‹informal› a person having a secret allegiance to a political creed, especially communism.

crypto-

I. combining form

concealed; secret

• cryptogram.

– origin from Greek kruptos ‘hidden.’

cryptobiont /ˌkriptōˈbīänt/

noun

[Biology] an organism capable of cryptobiosis.

cryptobiosis /ˌkriptəˌbīˈōsis/

noun

[Biology] a physiological state in which metabolic activity is reduced to an undetectable level without disappearing altogether. It is known in certain plant and animal groups adapted to survive periods of extremely dry conditions.

cryptobiotic /ˌkriptəˌbīˈädik/

adjective

1. [Biology] of, relating to, or capable of cryptobiosis.

2. [Biology] of or denoting primitive organisms of the kind presumed to have existed in earlier geological periods but to have left no trace of their existence.

cryptoclastic /ˌkriptōˈklastik/

adjective

[Geology] composed of microscopic fragments.

cryptococcosis /ˌkriptəkəˈkōsəs/

I. noun

[Medicine] infestation with a yeastlike fungus, resulting in tumors in the lungs and sometimes spreading to the brain.
[The fungus is Cryptococcus neoformans, phylum Basidiomycota, class Basidiomycetes.]

II. derivatives

cryptococcal /-ˈkäkəl /

adjective

– origin 1930s: from modern Latin Cryptococcus (part of the binomial of the fungus) + -osis.

cryptocrystalline /ˌkriptōˈkristələn, ˌkriptōˈkristəˌlīn, ˌkriptōˈkristəˌlēn/

adjective

having a crystalline structure visible only when magnified.

cryptocurrency /ˈkriptōˌkərənsē/

I. noun

a digital currency in which encryption techniques are used to regulate the generation of units of currency and verify the transfer of funds, operating independently of a central bank

• decentralized cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin now provide an outlet for personal wealth that is beyond restriction and confiscation.

• as bitcoin gains ground, more companies have started accepting the cryptocurrency.

– origin early 21st cent.: from crypto- and currency.

cryptogam /ˈkriptəˌɡam/

I. noun

[Botany] ‹dated› a plant that has no true flowers or seeds, including ferns, mosses, liverworts, lichens, algae, and fungi.

II. derivatives

cryptogamous /kripˈtäɡəməs /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French cryptogame, from modern Latin cryptogamae (plantae), denoting nonflowering plants, from Greek kruptos ‘hidden’ + gamos ‘marriage’ (because the means of reproduction was not apparent).

cryptogamic /ˌkriptəˈɡamik/

adjective

1. [Botany] of, relating to, or denoting cryptogams.

2. [Botany] [Ecology] (of a desert soil or surface crust) covered with or consisting of a fragile black layer of cyanobacteria, mosses, and lichens, which is often important in preventing erosion.

cryptogenic /ˌkriptəˈjenik/

adjective

(of a disease) of obscure or uncertain origin.

cryptogram /ˈkriptəˌɡram/

noun

1. a text written in code.

2. a symbol or figure with secret or occult significance.

cryptograph /ˈkriptəˌɡraf/

noun

1. a coded message

• you must solve the cryptograph to find the correct coordinates.

2. a device for encoding or decoding messages

• in 1867 he unveiled his cryptograph, which used two clock-like hands, connected by gears.

cryptography /kripˈtäɡrəfē/

I. noun

the art of writing or solving codes.

II. derivatives

1. cryptographer /kripˈtäɡrəfər /

noun

2. cryptographic /ˌkriptəˈɡrafik /

adjective

3. cryptographically /ˌkriptəˈɡrafik(ə)lē /

adverb

cryptology /kripˈtäləjē/

I. noun

the study of codes, or the art of writing and solving them.

II. derivatives

1. cryptological /ˌkriptəˈläjikəl /

adjective

2. cryptologist /-jist /

noun

cryptomeria /ˌkriptəˈmirēə/

I. noun

a tall, conical, coniferous tree with long, curved, spirally arranged leaves and short cones. Native to China and Japan, it is grown for timber in Japan.
Also called Japanese cedar. [Cryptomeria japonica, family Taxodiaceae.]

– origin modern Latin, from crypto- ‘hidden’ + Greek meros ‘part’ (because the seeds are concealed by scales).

cryptonym /ˈkriptəˌnim/

I. noun

a code name.

II. derivatives

cryptonymous /kripˈtänəməs /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from crypto- ‘hidden’ + Greek onuma ‘name.’

cryptorchid /kripˈtôrkid/

noun

[Medicine] a person suffering from cryptorchidism.

cryptorchidism /kripˈtôrkəˌdizəm/

I. noun

[Medicine] a condition in which one or both of the testes fail to descend from the abdomen into the scrotum.

– origin late 19th cent.: from crypto- ‘hidden’ + Greek orkhis, orkhid- ‘testicle’ + -ism.

cryptosporidium /ˌkriptəspəˈridēəm/

I. noun

a parasitic coccidian protozoan found in the intestinal tract of many vertebrates, where it sometimes causes disease.
[Genus Cryptosporidium, phylum Sporozoa.]

– origin early 20th cent.: from crypto- ‘concealed’ + modern Latin sporidium ‘small spore.’

cryptozoic /ˌkriptəˈzōik/

I. adjective

[Ecology] (of small invertebrates) living on the ground but hidden in the leaf litter, under stones or pieces of wood.

II. derivatives

cryptozoa /-ˈzōə /

plural noun

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek kruptos ‘hidden’ + zōē ‘life’ + -ic.

Cryptozoic /ˌkriptəˈzōik/

I. adjective

[Geology] of, relating to, or denoting the period (the Precambrian) in which rocks contain no, or only slight, traces of living organisms.
Compare with Phanerozoic.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Greek kruptos ‘hidden’ + zōē ‘life’ + -ic.

cryptozoology /ˌkriptəzōˈäləjē, -zo͞o-/

I. noun

the search for and study of animals whose existence or survival is disputed or unsubstantiated, such as the Loch Ness monster and the yeti.

II. derivatives

1. cryptozoological /-ˌzōəˈläjikəl, -ˌzo͞oə- /

adjective

2. cryptozoologist /-jist /

noun

crystal /ˈkristl/

I. noun

1. a piece of a homogeneous solid substance having a natural geometrically regular form with symmetrically arranged plane faces.

2. [Chemistry] any solid consisting of a symmetrical, ordered, three-dimensional aggregation of atoms or molecules.

3. [Electronics] a crystalline piece of semiconductor used as an oscillator or transducer.

4. a clear transparent mineral, especially quartz.

5. a piece of crystalline substance believed to have healing powers.

6. (also crystal glass) — highly transparent glass with a high refractive index
[as modifier]

• a crystal chandelier.

7. articles made of crystal glass

• a collection of crystal.

8. the glass over a watch face.

9. ‹informal› short for crystal meth (methamphetamine).

II. adjective

clear and transparent like crystal

• the clean crystal waters of the lake.

III. phrases

crystal clear

a. /ˈkristl ˌklir / — completely transparent and unclouded.

b. unambiguous; easily understood

• the house rules are crystal clear.

– origin late Old English (denoting ice or a mineral resembling it), from Old French cristal, from Latin crystallum, from Greek krustallos ‘ice, crystal.’ The chemistry sense dates from the early 17th cent.

crystal axis

noun

each of three axes used to define the edges of the unit cell of a crystal.

crystal ball /ˈˌkristl ˈbôl/

noun

a solid globe of glass or rock crystal, used by fortune-tellers and clairvoyants for crystal-gazing.

crystal form

noun

a set of crystal faces defined according to their relationship to the crystal axes.

crystal gazer

noun

1. a person who looks intently into a crystal ball with the aim of seeing images relating to future or distant events

• fortune tellers of all stripes, including crystal gazers.

2. a person who attempts to forecast the future

• for France, most crystal gazers see around 4% economic growth.

crystal-gazing /ˈkristl ˌɡāziNG/

noun

1. looking intently into a crystal ball with the aim of seeing images relating to future or distant events.

2. attempting to forecast the future.

crystal healing crystal therapy

noun

the use of the healing powers of crystals in alternative medicine.

crystal lattice /ˈkristl ˈladəs/

noun

the symmetrical three-dimensional arrangement of atoms inside a crystal.

crystalliferous /ˌkristəˈlifərəs / crystalligerous

adjective

bearing, containing, or producing crystals.

crystallin /ˈkristələn/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a protein of the globulin class present in the lens of the eye.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin crystallum ‘crystal’ + -in^1.

crystalline /ˈkristələn ˈkristəˌlīn ˈkristəˌlēn/

I. adjective

1. having the structure and form of a crystal; composed of crystals

• a crystalline rock.

2. ‹literary› very clear

• he writes a crystalline prose.

II. derivatives

crystallinity /ˌkristlˈinitē /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French cristallin, via Latin from Greek krustallinos, from krustallos (see crystal).

crystalline lens /ˈkristələn ˈkristəˌlīn lenz/

noun

the transparent elastic structure behind the iris by which light is focused onto the retina of the eye.

crystalline sphere

noun

‹historical› (in ancient and medieval astronomy) a transparent sphere of the heavens postulated to lie between the fixed stars and the primum mobile and to account for the precession of the equinox and other motions.

crystallite /ˈkristəˌlīt/

noun

1. an individual perfect crystal or region of regular crystalline structure in the substance of a material, typically of a metal or a partly crystalline polymer.

2. a very small crystal.

crystallize /ˈkristəˌlīz/

I. verb

1. form or cause to form crystals
[no obj.]

• when most liquids freeze they crystallize.

2. [no obj.] — make or become definite and clear

• vague feelings of unrest crystallized into something more concrete

• [with obj.] writing can help to crystallize your thoughts.

3. (usu. as adj. crystallized) — coat and impregnate (fruit or petals) with sugar as a means of preserving them

• a box of crystallized fruits.

II. derivatives

1. crystallizable /ˈkristəˌlīzəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. crystallization /ˌkristələˈzāSH(ə)n ˌkristəˌlīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

crystallography /ˌkristəˈläɡrəfē/

I. noun

the branch of science concerned with the structure and properties of crystals.

II. derivatives

1. crystallographer /ˌkristəˈläɡrəfər /

noun

2. crystallographic /ˌkristələˈɡrafik /

adjective

3. crystallographically /-ləˈɡrafik(ə)lē /

adverb

crystalloid /ˈkristəˌloid/

I. adjective

resembling a crystal in shape or structure.

II. noun

1. [Botany] a small, crystallike mass of protein in a plant cell.

2. [Chemistry] a substance that, when dissolved, forms a true solution rather than a colloid and is able to pass through a semipermeable membrane.

crystal meth

noun

‹informal› crystal methamphetamine (the drug methamphetamine in a powdered crystalline form)

• she has been in custody since October after allegedly being found with 1.73 grams of crystal meth.

crystal methamphetamine

noun

the drug methamphetamine in a powdered crystalline form, used illegally as a stimulant

• federal authorities have seized an estimated $4.2 million worth of crystal methamphetamine.

Crystal Palace

a large building of prefabricated iron and glass resembling a giant greenhouse, designed by Joseph Paxton for the Great Exhibition of 1851 in Hyde Park, London, and re-erected at Sydenham near Croydon; it was accidentally burned down in 1936.

crystal set /ˈkristl set / crystal radio

noun

a simple early form of radio receiver with a crystal touching a metal wire as the rectifier (instead of a tube or transistor), and no amplifier or loudspeaker, necessitating headphones or an earphone.

crystal system

noun

each of seven categories of crystals (cubic, tetragonal, orthorhombic, trigonal, hexagonal, monoclinic, and triclinic) classified according to the possible relations of the crystal axes.

crystal violet

noun

a synthetic violet dye, related to rosaniline, used as a stain in microscopy and as an antiseptic in the treatment of skin infections.

crystalware /ˈkristlˌwer/

noun

ornaments and articles made from crystal glass

• the finalists all received bouquets and crystalware.

Cs

symbol

the chemical element cesium.

c/s

abbreviation

cycles per second.

CSA

abbreviation

1. Confederate States of America.

2. community-supported agriculture.

3. (chiefly Canadian) community-shared agriculture.

csardas /ˈCHärdäSH / czardas

I. noun

a Hungarian dance with a slow introduction and a fast, wild finish.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Hungarian csárdás, from csárda ‘inn.’

CSC

abbreviation

Civil Service Commission.

C-section

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a caesarean section.

CSF

abbreviation

cerebrospinal fluid.

CS gas

I. noun

a powerful form of tear gas used particularly in the control of riots.

– origin 1960s: from the initials of Ben B. Corson (born 1896) and Roger W. Stoughton (1906–57), the American chemists who discovered the properties of the chemical in 1928.

CSM

abbreviation

1. command and service modules (see command module).

2. command sergeant major.

CSR

abbreviation

corporate social responsibility.

CST /ˈˌsē ˈˌes ˈtē/

abbreviation

Central Standard Time (see Central time).

CT /ˈˌsē ˈtē/

abbreviation

1. computerized (or computed) tomography.

2. Connecticut (in official postal use).

ct.

abbreviation

1. carat

• 18 ct. gold.

2. cent.

3. county.

4. court.

ctenidium /təˈnidēəm/

I. noun

[Zoology] a comblike structure, especially a respiratory organ or gill in a mollusk, consisting of an axis with a row of projecting filaments.

– origin late 19th cent.; modern Latin, from Greek ktenidion, diminutive of kteis, kten- ‘comb.’

ctenoid /ˈtēˌnoid ˈteˌnoid/

I. adjective

[Zoology] (of fish scales) having many tiny projections on the edge like the teeth of a comb, as in many bony fishes.
Compare with ganoid and placoid.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek kteis, kten- ‘comb’ + -oid.

Ctenophora /tiˈnäfərə / ‹Zoology›

I. a small phylum of aquatic invertebrates that comprises the comb jellies.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek kteis, kten- ‘comb’ + pherein ‘to bear.’

ctenophore /ˈtenəˌfôr/

noun

[Zoology] an aquatic invertebrate of the phylum Ctenophora, which comprises the comb jellies.

ctn.

abbreviation

1. carton.

2. [Mathematics] cotangent.

CTO /ˌsēˌtēˈō/

abbreviation

a chief technology (or technical) officer, a senior executive with responsibility for managing the technological requirements of a company or other institution.

C2C

abbreviation

consumer-to-consumer, denoting transactions conducted via the Internet between consumers.

CTS

abbreviation

carpal tunnel syndrome.

CT scan /sēːˈtēːskan/

I. noun

another term for CAT scan.

II. derivatives

CT scanner

noun

CTT

abbreviation

capital transfer tax.

Cu

I. symbol

the chemical element copper.

– origin from late Latin cuprum.

cu.

abbreviation

cubic (in units of measurement: for example, cu. ft. = cubic feet).

cuadrilla /kwäˈdrēyə/

I. noun

a matador's team of assistants, including picadors and banderilleros.

– origin mid 19th cent.: Spanish.

cuatro /ˈkwätrō/

I. noun

a small guitar, typically with four (or five) single or paired strings, used in Latin American and Caribbean folk music, especially in Puerto Rico.

– origin Latin American Spanish, literally ‘four.’

cub /kəb/

I. noun

1. the young of a fox, bear, lion, or other carnivorous mammal.

2. ‹archaic› a young man, especially one who is awkward or ill-mannered.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. give birth to cubs

• both share the same earth during the first ten days after cubbing.

– origin mid 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

Cuba /ˈkyo͞obə/

1. a country in the western West Indies, the largest and furthest west of the islands, in the Caribbean Sea at the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico; pop. 11,451,700 (est. 2009); capital, Havana; official language, Spanish.

A Spanish colony, Cuba became nominally independent after the Spanish–American War of 1898 and achieved full autonomy in 1934. Fidel Castro led a communist revolution in 1959, and held the presidency until replaced by his brother Raúl Castro in 2008. The country suffered under a US trade embargo and, after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Eastern bloc in 1991, lost much of its trade.

cubage /ˈkyo͞obij/

noun

cubic content or capacity.

Cuba libre /ˌk(y)o͞obə ˈlēbrā/

I. noun

a cocktail typically containing cola, lime juice, rum, and a garnish of lime.

– origin late 19th cent.: American Spanish, literally ‘free Cuba.’

Cuban /ˈkyo͞ob(ə)n/

I. adjective

relating to Cuba or its people

• a box of Cuban cigars

• the Cuban national team.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of Cuba, or a person of Cuban descent

• the language spoken by nearly all Cubans is Spanish.

Cubango /kyo͞oˈbaNGɡō/

another name for Okavango.

Cuban heel /ˌkyo͞obən ˈhēl/

noun

a moderately high, straight-sided heel on a shoe or boot.

Cuban Missile Crisis

an international crisis in October 1962, the closest approach to nuclear war at any time between the US and the Soviet Union. When the US discovered Soviet nuclear missiles on Cuba, President John F. Kennedy demanded their removal and announced a naval blockade of the island; the Soviet leader Khrushchev acceded to the US demands a week later.

Cuban sandwich

noun

a type of submarine sandwich, typically grilled, especially with ham, roast pork, Swiss cheese, mustard, and pickles.

cubature /ˈkyo͞obəˌCHər/

I. noun

the determination of the volume of a solid.

– origin late 17th cent.: from the verb cube, on the pattern of quadrature.

cubby /ˈkəbē/

I. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a cubbyhole.

– origin mid 17th cent. (originally Scots, denoting a straw basket): related to dialect cub ‘stall, pen, hutch,’ of Low German origin.

cubbyhole /ˈkəbēˌhōl/

noun

a small, enclosed compartment or room.

cube /kyo͞ob/

I. noun

1. a symmetrical three-dimensional shape, either solid or hollow, contained by six equal squares.

2. short for cubicle.

3. a block of something with six sides

• a sugar cube.

4. [Mathematics] the product of a number multiplied by its square, represented by a superscript figure 3

• a body increasing in weight by the cube of its length.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Mathematics] raise (a number or value) to its cube.

2. cut (food) into small cubes

• I bought sirloin from the butcher and cubed it myself.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Old French, or via Latin from Greek kubos.

cubeb /ˈkyo͞obeb/

I. noun

1. a tropical shrub of the pepper family that bears pungent berries.
[Genus Piper, family Piperaceae: several species, including the Asian P. cubeba.]

2. the dried unripe berries of the cubeb, used medicinally and to flavor cigarettes.

– origin Middle English: from Old French cubebe, from Spanish Arabic kubēba, from Arabic kubāba.

cube farm

noun

(chiefly US) a large open-plan office divided into cubicles for individual workers.

cube root /ˈkyo͞ob ˌro͞ot/

noun

the number that produces a given number when cubed.

cube steak cubed steak

noun

(US) steak that has been mechanically tenderized, a process that leaves a characteristic pattern of small indentations on the flattened surface of the meat

• the recipe calls for a family pack of cube steak

• when you buy the cubed steak ask the butcher to run it through the tenderizer a couple more times.

cube van

noun

(Canadian) a truck or van with a large rectangular rear compartment for cargo

• a cube van full of bikes arrived

• our friends arrived with their cube van to help us move.

cubic /ˈkyo͞obik/

I. adjective

1. having the shape of a cube

• a cubic room.

2. denoting a unit of measurement equal to the volume of a cube whose side is one of the linear unit specified

• 15 billion cubic meters of water.

3. measured or expressed in cubic units.

4. involving the cube (and no higher power) of a quantity or variable

• a cubic equation.

5. of or denoting a crystal system or three-dimensional geometric arrangement having three equal axes at right angles.

II. noun

[Mathematics] a cubic equation, or a curve described by one.

III. derivatives

1. cubical /ˈkyo͞obək(ə)l /

adjective

2. cubically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘involving the cube (and no higher power)’): from Old French cubique, or via Latin from Greek kubikos, from kubos ‘cube.’

cubic capacity /ˈkyo͞obik kəˈpasədē/

noun

the volume contained by a hollow structure, expressed in liters, cubic centimeters, or other cubic units.

cubic content

noun

the volume of a solid, often expressed in cubic meters.

cubicle /ˈkyo͞obək(ə)l/

I. noun

a small partitioned-off area of a room, for example one containing a bed in a dwelling or one containing a desk in an office

• each cubicle is equipped with a PC and printer, and there are two fax machines in the east alcove.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘bedroom’): from Latin cubiculum, from cubare ‘lie down.’

cubic zirconia

noun

a colorless form of zirconia that is very similar to diamond in refractivity and appearance.

cubiform /ˈkyo͞obəˌfôrm/

adjective

‹technical› cube-shaped

• the columns are thick and have cubiform capitals.

cubism /ˈkyo͞oˌbizəm/

I. noun

an early 20th-century style and movement in art, especially painting, in which perspective with a single viewpoint was abandoned and use was made of simple geometric shapes, interlocking planes, and, later, collage.
Cubism was a reaction against traditional modes of representation and impressionist concerns with light and color. The style, created by Picasso and Braque and first named by the French critic Louis Vauxcelles in 1908, was inspired by the later work of Cézanne and by African sculpture.

II. derivatives

1. cubist /ˈkyo͞obəst /

noun, adjective

2. cubistic /kyo͞oˈbistik /

adjective

– origin early 20th cent.: from French cubisme, from cube (see cube).

cubit /ˈkyo͞obət/

I. noun

an ancient measure of length, approximately equal to the length of a forearm. It was typically about 18 inches or 44 cm, though there was a long cubit of about 21 inches or 52 cm.

– origin Middle English: from Latin cubitum ‘elbow, forearm, cubit.’

cubital /ˈkyo͞obədl/

I. adjective

1. [Anatomy] of the forearm or the elbow

• the cubital vein.

2. [Entomology] of the cubitus.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin cubitalis, from cubitus ‘cubit.’

cubitus /ˈkyo͞obədəs/

I. noun

[Entomology] the fifth longitudinal vein from the anterior edge of an insect's wing.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin.

cuboid /ˈkyo͞oboid/

I. adjective

more or less cubic in shape

• the school was a hideous cuboid erection of brick and glass.

II. noun

1. [Geometry] a solid that has six rectangular faces at right angles to each other.

2. (also cuboid bone) — [Anatomy] a squat tarsal bone on the outer side of the foot, articulating with the heel bone and the fourth and fifth metatarsals.

III. derivatives

cuboidal /-ˌboidl /

adjective

– origin early 19th cent.: from modern Latin cuboides, from Greek kuboeidēs, from kubos (see cube).

cub reporter

noun

‹informal› a young or inexperienced newspaper reporter.

Cub Scout

noun

a member of the junior branch of the Boy Scouts, for boys aged about 8 to 10.

cucking stool /ˈkəkiNG ˌsto͞ol/

I. noun

‹historical› a chair to which a disorderly person was tied and then ducked into water or subjected to public ridicule as a punishment.

– origin Middle English: from obsolete cuck ‘defecate,’ of Scandinavian origin; so named because a stool containing a chamber pot was often used for the purpose.

cuckold /ˈkəkəld ˈkəkōld/

I. noun

‹archaic› the husband of an adulteress, often regarded as an object of derision.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a man) make (another man) a cuckold by having a sexual relationship with his wife.

2. (of a man's wife) make (her husband) a cuckold.

III. derivatives

cuckoldry /-drē /

noun

– origin late Old English, from Old French cucuault, from cucu ‘cuckoo’ (from the cuckoo's habit of laying its egg in another bird's nest). The equivalent words in French and other languages applied to both the bird and the adulterer; cuckold has never been applied to the bird in English.

cuckoo /ˈko͞oko͞o ˈko͝oko͞o/

I. noun

1. a medium-sized long-tailed bird, typically with a gray or brown back and barred or pale underparts. Many cuckoos lay their eggs in the nests of small songbirds.
[Family Cuculidae (the cuckoo family): numerous genera and species, esp. the cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), the male of which has a well-known two-note call. The cuckoo family also includes the coucals, roadrunners, and anis.]

2. ‹informal› a mad person.

II. adjective

‹informal› mad; crazy

• people think you're cuckoo.

III. phrases

cuckoo in the nest

an unwelcome intruder in a place or situation.

– origin Middle English: from Old French cucu, imitative of its call.

cuckoo bee

noun

a bee that lays its eggs in the nest of another species of bee, the young being raised and fed by the host.
[Nomada and related genera (which parasitize solitary bees), and Psithyrus (which parasitize bumblebees), family Apidae.]

cuckoo clock

noun

a clock that strikes the hour with a sound like a cuckoo's call and typically has a mechanical cuckoo that emerges with each note.

cuckooflower /ˈko͞oko͞oˌflouər/

I. noun

a spring-flowering, herbaceous plant with pale lilac flowers, growing in damp meadows and by streams.
[Cardamine pratensis, family Brassicaceae.]

– origin late 16th cent.: so named because it flowers at the time of year when the cuckoo is first heard calling.

cuckoopint /ˈko͞oko͞opīnt/

I. noun

the common European wild arum of woodland and hedgerows, with a pale spathe and a purple or green spadix followed by bright red berries.
Also called lords-and-ladies or jack-in-the-pulpit. [Arum maculatum, family Araceae.]

– origin late Middle English: from earlier cuckoo-pintle, from pintle in the obsolete sense ‘penis’ (because of the shape of the spadix).

cuckoo spit

noun

whitish froth found in compact masses on leaves and plant stems, exuded by the nymphs of froghoppers.

cuckoo wasp

noun

a wasp that lays its eggs in the nest of a bee or another species of wasp, in particular
[● a true wasp lacking a worker caste, whose larvae are fed by the social wasp host (several species in the family Vespidae, including Vespula austriaca).]

cucumber /ˈkyo͞oˌkəmbər/

I. noun

1. a long, green-skinned fruit with watery flesh, usually eaten raw in salads or pickled.

2. the climbing plant of the gourd family that yields this fruit, native to the Chinese Himalayan region. It is widely cultivated but very rare in the wild.
[Cucumis sativus, family Cucurbitaceae.]

II. phrases

(as) cool as a cucumber

a. untroubled by heat, stress, or exertion.

b. calm and relaxed.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French cocombre, coucombre, from Latin cucumis, cucumer-.

cucumber mosaic

noun

a viral disease affecting plants of the gourd family, spread by beetles and aphids and causing mottling and stunting.

cucurbit /kyo͞oˈkərbət/

I. noun

(chiefly US) a plant of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), which includes melon, pumpkin, squash, and cucumber.

II. derivatives

cucurbitaceous /kyo͞oˌkərbəˈtāSHəs /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French cucurbite, from Latin cucurbita.

Cúcuta /ˈko͞oko͝oˌtä/

an industrial and commercial city in northern Colombia, near the Venezuelan border, in the Andes; pop. 603,800 (est. 2009).

cud /kəd/

I. noun

partly digested food returned from the first stomach of ruminants to the mouth for further chewing.

II. phrases

chew the cud

a. (of a ruminant animal) further chew partly digested food.

b. (Brit.) think or talk reflectively.

– origin Old English cwidu, cudu, of Germanic origin; related to German Kitt ‘cement, putty’ and Swedish kåda ‘resin.’

cuddle /ˈkədl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. hold close in one's arms as a way of showing love or affection

• he cuddles the baby close

• they were cuddling each other in the back seat

• [no obj.] the pair have been spotted kissing and cuddling.

2. [no obj.] — lie or sit close and snug

• I love cuddling up in front of a fire

• they cuddled together to keep out the cold.

II. noun

a prolonged and affectionate hug.

III. derivatives

cuddlesome /ˈkədlsəm /

adjective

– origin early 16th cent. (rare before the 18th cent.): of unknown origin.

cuddly /ˈkədlē/

adjective

endearing and pleasant to cuddle, especially as a result of being soft or plump

• she was short and cuddly.

cuddy^1 /ˈkədē/

noun

a small room or compartment , especially on a boat.

cuddy^2 /ˈkədē/

I. noun

1. ‹dialect› (chiefly Scottish) a donkey.

2. ‹dialect› (chiefly Scottish) a stupid person

• you great soft cuddy!

– origin early 18th cent.: perhaps a nickname for the given name Cuthbert, once popular in Scotland and northern England.

cudgel /ˈkəjəl/

I. noun

a short thick stick used as a weapon.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. beat with a cudgel.

III. phrases

1. cudgel one's brain (or brains)

think hard about a problem.

2. take up the cudgels

start to defend or support someone or something strongly

• there was no one else to take up the cudgels on their behalf.

– origin Old English cycgel, of unknown origin.

cue^1 /kyo͞o/

I. noun

1. a thing said or done that serves as a signal to an actor or other performer to enter or to begin their speech or performance.

2. a signal for action

• any conversational lull was my cue for asking a question.

3. a piece of information or circumstance that aids the memory in retrieving details not recalled spontaneously.

4. [Psychology] a feature of something perceived that is used in the brain's interpretation of the perception

• expectancy is communicated both by auditory and visual cues.

5. a hint or indication about how to behave in particular circumstances

• my teacher joked about such attitudes and I followed her cue.

6. a facility for playing through an audio or video recording very rapidly until a desired starting point is reached.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. give a cue to or for

• curious pedestrians are cued by the arrival of stretch limousines.

2. act as a prompt or reminder

• have a list of needs and questions on paper to cue you.

3. set a piece of audio or video equipment in readiness to play (a particular part of the recorded material)

• features make it easier to cue up a tape for editing.

III. phrases

1. on cue

at the correct moment

• right on cue the door opened.

2. take one's cue from

follow the example or advice of

• McGee did not move and Julia took her cue from him.

– origin mid 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

cue^2 /kyo͞o/

I. noun

a long, straight, tapering wooden rod for striking the ball in pool, billiards, snooker, etc.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. use a cue to strike a ball in pool, billiards, snooker, etc.

– origin mid 18th cent. (denoting a long plait or pigtail): variant of queue.

cue ball /ˈkyo͞o ˌbôl/

noun

the ball, usually a white one, that is to be struck with the cue in pool, billiards, snooker, etc.

cue bid

noun

[Bridge] a bid intended to give specific information about the content of the hand to the bidder's partner, for example, possession of a control in the opponents' suit.

cueca /ˈkwākə/

I. noun

a lively South American dance.

– origin early 20th cent.: American Spanish, from zamacueca, also denoting a dance performed especially in Chile.

cue card /ˈkyo͞o ˌkärd/

noun

a card held beside a camera for a television broadcaster to read from while appearing to look into the camera.

cued speech /ˌkyo͞od ˈspēCH/

noun

a method of communication in which the mouth movements of speech are combined with a system of hand movements to facilitate understanding and use by people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Cuenca /ˈkweNGkə/

a city in the Andes in southern Ecuador; pop. 374,200 (est. 2008). Founded in 1557, it is known as the “marble city” because of its many fine buildings.

Cuernavaca /ˌkwernəˈväkə/

a resort town in central Mexico, at an altitude of 5,060 feet (1,542 m), capital of the state of Morelos; pop. 332,197 (2005).

cuesta /ˈkwestə/

I. noun

[Geology] a ridge with a gentle slope (dip) on one side and a steep slope (scarp) on the other.

– origin early 19th cent. (originally a US term for a steep slope at the edge of a plain): from Spanish,‘slope,’ from Latin costa ‘rib, flank.’

cuff^1 /kəf/

I. noun

1. the end part of a sleeve, where the material of the sleeve is turned back or a separate band is sewn on.

2. the part of a glove covering the wrist.

3. (N. Amer.) the turned-up end of a trouser leg.

4. the top part of a boot, typically padded or turned down.

5. an inflatable bag wrapped around the arm when blood pressure is measured.

6. (cuffs) — ‹informal› handcuffs.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› secure with handcuffs

• the man's hands were cuffed behind his back.

III. phrases

off the cuff

‹informal› without preparation

• they posed some difficult questions to answer off the cuff

• [as adj.] an off-the-cuff remark.

[as if from impromptu notes made on one's shirt cuffs.]

– origin late Middle English (denoting a glove or mitten): of unknown origin.

cuff^2 /kəf/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. strike (someone) with an open hand, especially on the head

• he cuffed him playfully on the ear.

II. noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. a blow given with an open hand.

– origin mid 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

cuffed /kəft/

adjective

(of an item of clothing) having a section of the material at the end turned back, or a separate band sewn on

• laboratory coats with cuffed sleeves

• [in combination] a double-cuffed striped shirt.

cufflink /ˈkəfˌliNGk/

noun — (usu. cufflinks)

1. a device for fastening together the sides of a shirt cuff, often decorative.

Cuiabá /ˌko͞oyəˈbä/

I. a river port in west central Brazil, on the Cuiabá River; pop. 526,831 (2007).

II. a river in western Brazil that rises in the Mato Grosso plateau and flows for 300 miles (483 km) to join the São Lourenço River near the border with Bolivia.

cui bono? /kwē ˈbōnō/

I. exclamation

who stands, or stood, to gain (from a crime, and so might have been responsible for it)?

– origin early 17th cent.: Latin, literally ‘to whom (is it) a benefit?’

cuirass /kwiˈras kyo͝oˈras/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› a piece of armor consisting of breastplate and backplate fastened together.

2. a hard protective cover on an animal.

3. [Medicine] an artificial ventilator that encloses the body, leaving the limbs free, and forces air in and out of the lungs by changes in pressure.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French cuirace, based on late Latin coriaceus (adjective), from corium ‘leather’ (of which a cuirass was originally made).

cuirassier /ˈkwirəˌsir ˈkyo͝orəˌsir ˌkwirəˈsir/

I. noun

‹historical› a cavalry soldier wearing a cuirass.

– origin mid 16th cent.: French, from cuirasse, from Old French cuirace (see cuirass).

cuisine /kwəˈzēn/

I. noun

1. a style or method of cooking, especially as characteristic of a particular country, region, or establishment

• much Venetian cuisine is based on seafood.

2. food cooked in a certain way

• we spent the evening sampling the local cuisine.

– origin late 18th cent.: French, literally ‘kitchen.’

cuisse /kwis / cuish

I. noun — (usu. cuisses or cuishes)

1. ‹historical› a piece of armor for the thigh.

– origin Middle English (originally in the plural): from Old French cuisseaux, plural of cuissel, from late Latin coxale, from coxa ‘hip.’

cuke /kyo͞ok/

noun

informal term for cucumber.

Culbertson, Ely /ˈkəlbərtsən/

(1891–1955), US bridge player. He revolutionized the game of contract bridge by formalizing a system of bidding.

Culdee /ˌkəlˈdē ˈkəlˌdē/

I. noun

an Irish or Scottish monk of the 8th to 12th centuries, living as a recluse usually in a group of thirteen (on the analogy of Jesus Christ and his Apostles). The tradition ceased as the Celtic Church was brought under Roman Catholic rule.

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin culdeus, alteration, influenced by Latin cultores Dei ‘worshipers of God,’ of kelledei (plural, found in early Scottish records), from Old Irish céle dé, literally ‘companion of God.’

cul-de-sac /ˈkəldəˌsak/

I. noun

1. a street or passage closed at one end.

2. a route or course leading nowhere

• the pro-democracy forces found themselves in a political cul-de-sac.

3. [Anatomy] a vessel, tube, or sac, e.g., the cecum, open at only one end.

– origin mid 18th cent. (originally in anatomy): French, literally ‘bottom of a sack.’

-cule

I. suffix

forming nouns such as molecule, reticule, which were originally diminutives.

– origin from French -cule or Latin -culus, -cula, -culum.

culex /ˈkyo͞oˌleks / culex mosquito

I. noun

a mosquito of a genus that includes a number of kinds commonly found in cooler regions. They do not transmit malaria, but can pass on a variety of other parasites including those causing filariasis.
Compare with anopheles. [Genus Culex, subfamily Culicinae, family Culicidae.]

II. derivatives

culicine /ˈkyo͞oləˌsīn /

adjective, noun

– origin late 19th cent.: Latin, literally ‘gnat.’

Culiacán Rosales /ˌko͞olyəˈkän rōˈsäləs, rōˈzäləs/

a city in northwestern Mexico, capital of the state of Sinaloa; pop. 605,304 (2005).

culinary /ˈkələˌnerē ˈkyo͞oləˌnerē/

I. adjective

of or for cooking

• culinary skills

• savor the culinary delights of the region.

II. derivatives

culinarily

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin culinarius, from culina ‘kitchen.’

cull /kəl/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be culled)

1. select from a large quantity; obtain from a variety of sources

• anecdotes culled from Greek and Roman history.

2. reduce the population of (a wild animal) by selective slaughter

• he sees culling deer as a necessity

• (as noun culling) kangaroo culling.

3. send (an inferior or surplus animal on a farm) to be slaughtered.

4. ‹literary› pick (flowers or fruit)
(as adj. culled)

• fresh culled daffodils.

II. noun

1. a selective slaughter of wild animals.

2. [usu. as modifier] — an inferior or surplus livestock animal selected for killing

• a cull cow.

III. derivatives

culler

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French coillier, based on Latin colligere (see collect^1).

Cullen, Countee /ˈkələn/

(1903–46), US poet and prominent figure of the Harlem Renaissance. His works include Color (1925), The Black Christ (1929), and The Medea and Some Poems (1935).

cullet /ˈkələt/

I. noun

recycled broken or waste glass used in glassmaking.

– origin early 19th cent.: variant of collet, in the obsolete sense ‘glass left on the blowing iron when the finished article is removed.’

Culloden, Battle of /kəˈlädn/

the final engagement of the Jacobite uprising of 1745–46, fought April 16 on a moor near Inverness, the last pitched battle on British soil. The Hanoverian army under the Duke of Cumberland crushed the small and poorly supplied Jacobite army of Charles Edward Stuart, and a ruthless pursuit after the battle effectively prevented any chance of saving the Jacobite cause.

cully /ˈkəlē/

I. noun

(Brit.) ‹archaic› ‹informal› (often as a form of address) a man; a friend.

– origin mid 17th cent. (denoting a person who is imposed upon): of unknown origin.

culm /kəlm/

I. noun

the hollow stem of a grass or cereal plant, especially that bearing the flower.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin culmus ‘stalk.’

Culm /kəlm/

I. noun

1. [Geology] a series of Carboniferous strata in southwestern England, mainly shale and limestone with some thin coal seams.

2. (culm) — [Geology] ‹archaic› coal dust or slack.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘soot, smut,’ now only Scots): probably related to coal.

culmen /ˈkəlmən/

I. noun

1. [Ornithology] the upper ridge of a bird's bill.

2. [Anatomy] a small region in the brain on the anterior surface of the cerebellum.

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘top, summit’): from Latin, contraction of columen ‘top, summit.’

culminant /ˈkəlmənənt/

adjective

at or forming the top or highest point.

culminate /ˈkəlməˌnāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. reach a climax or point of highest development

• the tensions and disorders which culminated in World War II.

2. [with obj.] — be the climax or point of highest development of

• her book culminated a research project on the symmetry studies of Escher.

3. [Astronomy] [Astrology] (of a celestial body) reach the highest point at the meridian.

– origin mid 17th cent. (in astronomy and astrology): from late Latin culminat- ‘exalted,’ from the verb culminare, from culmen ‘summit.’

culmination /ˌkəlməˈnāSH(ə)n/

noun — [in sing.]

1. the highest or climactic point of something, especially as attained after a long time

• the product was the culmination of 13 years of research.

2. [Astronomy] [Astrology] the reaching of the meridian by a celestial body.

culottes /ˈk(y)o͝oˌläts k(y)o͞oˈläts/

I. plural noun

women's knee-length trousers, cut with very full legs to resemble a skirt.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French,‘breeches,’ diminutive of cul ‘rump,’ from Latin culus.

culpability /ˌkəlpəˈbilədē/

noun

responsibility for a fault or wrong; blame

• a level of moral culpability.

culpable /ˈkəlpəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

deserving blame

• sometimes you're just as culpable when you watch something as when you actually participate.

II. derivatives

culpably /ˈkəlpəblē /

adverb

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘deserving punishment’): from Old French coupable, culpable, from Latin culpabilis, from culpare ‘to blame,’ from culpa ‘fault, blame.’

culprit /ˈkəlprət ˈkəlˌprit/

I. noun

1. a person who is responsible for a crime or other misdeed.

2. the cause of a problem or defect

• viruses could turn out to be the culprit.

– origin late 17th cent. (originally in the formula Culprit, how will you be tried?, said by the Clerk of the Crown in England to a prisoner pleading not guilty): perhaps from a misinterpretation of the written abbreviation cul. prist, for Anglo-Norman French Culpable: prest d'averrer notre bille ‘(You are) guilty: (We are) ready to prove our indictment’; in later use influenced by Latin culpa ‘fault, blame.’

cult /kəlt/

I. noun

1. a system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object

• the cult of St. Olaf.

2. a relatively small group of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or sinister

• a network of Satan-worshiping cults.

3. a misplaced or excessive admiration for a particular person or thing

• a cult of personality surrounding the leaders.

4. [usu. as modifier] — a person or thing that is popular or fashionable, especially among a particular section of society

• a cult film.

II. derivatives

1. cultic /-tik /

adjective

2. cultish

adjective

3. cultishness

noun

4. cultism /-ˌtizəm /

noun

5. cultist /-tist /

noun

– origin early 17th cent. (originally denoting homage paid to a divinity): from French culte or Latin cultus ‘worship,’ from cult- ‘inhabited, cultivated, worshiped,’ from the verb colere.

cultch /kəlCH / culch

I. noun

the mass of stones, broken shells, and grit of which an oyster bed is formed.

– origin mid 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

cult classic

noun

something, typically a movie or book, that is popular or fashionable among a particular group or section of society

• fans of this cult classic will be thrilled to see it in its original widescreen version

• his legacy is a spoof documentary which became a cult classic.

cult figure

noun

a writer, musician, artist, or other public figure who is greatly admired by a relatively small audience or is influential despite limited commercial success

• at the time he was pretty much a cult figure, known only to a handful of art-movie buffs.

cult hero

noun

a writer, musician, artist, or other public figure who is greatly admired by a relatively small audience or is influential despite limited commercial success

• the group were cult heroes on the US college rock circuit before finding worldwide fame in the 90s.

cult heroine

noun

a female writer, musician, artist, or other public figure who is greatly admired by a relatively small audience or is influential despite limited commercial success

• she can still generate the kind of energy that made her a cult heroine over 17 years ago.

cultigen /ˈkəltəjən/

I. noun

[Botany] a plant species or variety known only in cultivation, especially one with no known wild ancestor.

– origin early 20th cent.: from cultivated (past participle of cultivate) + -gen.

cultivar /ˈkəltəˌvär/

I. noun

[Botany] a plant variety that has been produced in cultivation by selective breeding. Cultivars are usually designated in the style Taxus baccata “Variegata.”
See also variety (sense 2).

– origin 1920s: blend of cultivate and variety.

cultivate /ˈkəltəˌvāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. prepare and use (land) for crops or gardening.

2. break up (soil) in preparation for sowing or planting.

3. raise or grow (plants), especially on a large scale for commercial purposes.

4. [Biology] grow or maintain (living cells or tissue) in culture.

5. try to acquire or develop (a quality, sentiment, or skill)

• he cultivated an air of indifference.

6. try to win the friendship or favor of (someone)

• it helps if you go out of your way to cultivate the local people.

7. apply oneself to improving or developing (one's mind or manners).

II. derivatives

1. cultivable /ˈkəltəvəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. cultivatable /-ˌvātəbəl /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin cultivat- ‘prepared for crops,’ from the verb cultivare, from cultiva (terra) ‘arable (land),’ from colere ‘cultivate, inhabit.’

cultivated /ˈkəltəˌvādəd/

adjective

refined and well educated

• he was a remarkably cultivated and educated man.

cultivation /ˌkəltəˈvāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action of cultivating land, or the state of being cultivated

• the cultivation of crops

• the economy was based largely on rice cultivation.

2. the process of trying to acquire or develop a quality or skill

• the cultivation of good staff–management relations.

3. refinement and good education

• a man of cultivation and taste.

cultivator /ˈkəltəˌvādər/

noun

1. a person or thing that cultivates something

• they were herders of cattle and cultivators of corn.

2. a mechanical implement for breaking up the soil and uprooting weeds.

cultural /ˈkəlCH(ə)rəl/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to the ideas, customs, and social behavior of a society

• the cultural diversity of the world's peoples.

2. of or relating to the arts and to intellectual achievements

• a cultural festival.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin cultura ‘tillage’ + -al.

cultural attaché /ˈkəlCH(ə)rəl ˈˌadəˈSHā aˌtaˈSHā/

noun

an embassy official whose function is to promote cultural relations between the home country and the foreign country.

cultural diversity

noun

the existence of a variety of cultural or ethnic groups within a society

• cultural diversity has increased, exposing kids to new tastes and experiences.

culturally /ˈkəlCHərəlē/

adverb

1. in a way that relates to the ideas, customs, and social behavior of different societies

• the story is culturally insensitive

• [sentence adverb] culturally, talking about class has become boring, unfashionable.

2. in a way that relates to the arts and to intellectual achievements

• a culturally vibrant city.

Cultural Revolution /ˈˌkəlCH(ə)rəl ˌrevəˈl(y)o͞oSHən/

a political upheaval in China 1966–76 intended to bring about a return to revolutionary Maoist beliefs. Largely carried forward by the Red Guard, it resulted in attacks on intellectuals, a large-scale purge in party posts, and the appearance of a personality cult around Mao Zedong. It led to considerable economic dislocation and was gradually brought to a halt by premier Zhou Enlai.

culturati /ˌkəlCHəˈrädē/

I. plural noun

well-educated people who appreciate the arts.

– origin 1980s: blend of culture and literati.

culture /ˈkəlCHər/

I. noun

1. the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively

• 20th century popular culture.

2. a refined understanding or appreciation of this

• men of culture.

3. the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group

• Caribbean culture

• people from many different cultures.

4. [with modifier] — the attitudes and behavior characteristic of a particular social group

• the emerging drug culture.

5. [Biology] the cultivation of bacteria, tissue cells, etc., in an artificial medium containing nutrients

• the cells proliferate readily in culture.

6. a preparation of cells obtained from a culture

• the bacterium was isolated in two blood cultures.

7. the cultivation of plants

• this variety of lettuce is popular for its ease of culture.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Biology] maintain (tissue cells, bacteria, etc.) in conditions suitable for growth.

– origin Middle English (denoting a cultivated piece of land): the noun from French culture or directly from Latin cultura ‘growing, cultivation’; the verb from obsolete French culturer or medieval Latin culturare, both based on Latin colere ‘tend, cultivate’ (see cultivate). In late Middle English the sense was ‘cultivation of the soil’ and from this (early 16th cent.) arose ‘cultivation (of the mind, faculties, or manners)’; sense 1 of the noun dates from the early 19th cent.

culture-bound /ˈkəlCHərˌbound/

adjective

restricted in character or outlook by belonging or referring to a particular culture.

cultured /ˈkəlCHərd/

adjective

1. characterized by refined taste and manners and good education

• the development of a modern, cultured society.

2. [Biology] (of tissue cells, bacteria, etc.) grown or propagated in an artificial medium.

3. (of a pearl) formed around a foreign body inserted into an oyster

• her only jewelry was a string of cultured pearls.

culture shock /ˈkəlCHər ˌSHäk/

noun

the feeling of disorientation experienced by someone who is suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes.

culture vulture /ˈkəlCHər ˈvəlCHər/

noun

‹informal› a person who is very interested in the arts, especially to an obsessive degree.

culture war

noun

a conflict between groups with different ideals, beliefs, and philosophies

• a culture war between secular and religious activism.

cultus /ˈkəltəs/

I. noun

‹technical› a system or variety of religious worship.

– origin mid 19th cent.: Latin (see cult).

Culver City /ˌkəlvər ˈsidē/

a city in southwestern California, west of Los Angeles, an industrial and filmmaking center; pop. 38,580 (est. 2008).

culverin /ˈkəlvərən/

I. noun

1. a 16th- or 17th- century cannon with a relatively long barrel for its bore, typically about 10 to 13 feet long.

2. a kind of handgun of the 15th and 16th centuries.

– origin late 15th cent. (sense 2): from Old French coulevrine, from couleuvre ‘snake,’ based on Latin colubra.

culvert /ˈkəlvərt/

I. noun

a tunnel carrying a stream or open drain under a road or railroad.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be culverted)

1. channel (a stream or drain) through a culvert.

– origin late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

cum^1 /ko͝om kəm/

I. preposition — [usu. in combination]

1. combined with; also used as (used to describe things with a dual nature or function)

• a study-cum-bedroom.

– origin late 19th cent.: Latin.

cum^2 /kəm/

noun

‹informal› variant spelling of come.

cum.

abbreviation

cumulative.

Cumaná /ˌko͞omäˈnä/

a historic port city in northeastern Venezuela, capital of Sucre state, on the Manzanares River; pop. 322,000 (est. 2009). It is said to be the oldest European settlement in South America.

cumber /ˈkəmbər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹dated› hamper or hinder (someone or something)

• they were cumbered with greatcoats and swords.

2. ‹dated› obstruct (a path or space)

• the road was clean and dry and not still cumbered by slush.

II. noun

‹archaic› a hindrance, obstruction, or burden

• a cumber of limestone rocks.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘overthrow, destroy’): probably from encumber.

Cumberland /ˈkəmbərlənd/

I. a city in northwestern Maryland, on the northern banks of the Potomac River; pop. 20,495 (est. 2008).

II. a city in northeastern Rhode Island, north of Providence; pop. 34,209 (est. 2008).

Cumberland Gap /ˌkəmbərlənd ˈɡap/

a historic pass through the Appalachian Mountains, from southwestern Virginia into southeastern Kentucky.

Cumberland River

a river that flows for 690 miles (1,110 km) from the Cumberland Plateau in southeastern Kentucky across northern Tennessee and back into Kentucky, where it joins the Ohio River near Paducah.

Cumberland sauce

noun

a piquant sauce served as a relish with game and cold meats. It is typically made from red currant jelly flavored with orange, mustard, and port.

cumbersome /ˈkəmbərsəm/

I. adjective

1. large or heavy and therefore difficult to carry or use; unwieldy

• cumbersome diving suits.

2. slow or complicated and therefore inefficient

• organizations with cumbersome hierarchical structures.

II. derivatives

1. cumbersomely

adverb

2. cumbersomeness

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘difficult to get through’): from cumber + -some^1.

cumbia /ˈkəmbēə/

I. noun

1. a kind of dance music of Colombian origin, similar to salsa.

2. a dance performed to cumbia music.

– origin 1940s: from Colombian Spanish, perhaps from Spanish cumbé.

Cumbria /ˈkəmbrēə/

I. a county in northwestern England; county town, Carlisle. Cumbria was an ancient British kingdom, and the name continued to be used for the hilly northwestern region of England that contains the Lake District and much of the northern Pennines. The county of Cumbria was formed in 1974.

– origin from medieval Latin, from Welsh Cymry ‘Welshman.’

Cumbrian /ˈkəmbrēən/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of the English county of Cumbria

• the fells and lakes that make up the Cumbrian landscape.

II. noun

an inhabitant of the English county of Cumbria

• the Cumbrians knocked them out of the competition.

cumbrous /ˈkəmbrəs/

I. adjective

literary term for cumbersome.

II. derivatives

1. cumbrously

adverb

2. cumbrousness

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘difficult to get through’): from cumber + -ous.

cum dividend

adverb

(of stocks) with a dividend.

cumec /ˈkyo͞oˌmek/

I. noun

a unit of flow equal to one cubic meter of water per second

• minimum flows proposed would vary seasonally between 80 cumecs in winter and 140 cumecs in summer.

– origin on the model of cusec.

cumene /ˈkyo͞omēn/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a liquid hydrocarbon made catalytically from benzene, chiefly as an intermediate in phenol synthesis.
[Alternative name: isopropyl benzene; chem. formula: C_6H_5CH(CH_3)2.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin cuminum ‘cumin’ + -ene.

cum grano salis /ˌkəm ˌɡränō ˈsāləs/

I. adverb — (in phrase take something cum grano salis)

1. another way of saying take something with a grain of salt (see salt).

– origin Latin, literally ‘with a grain of salt.’

cumin /ˈkəmin ˈk(y)o͞omin / cummin

I. noun

1. the aromatic seeds of a plant of the parsley family, used as a spice, especially ground and used in curry powder.

2. the small, slender plant that bears cumin and grows from the Mediterranean to central Asia.
[Cuminum cyminum, family Umbelliferae.]

– origin Old English cymen, from Latin cuminum, from Greek kuminon, probably of Semitic origin and related to Hebrew kammōn and Arabic kammūn; superseded in Middle English by forms from Old French cumon, comin, also from Latin.

cum laude /ko͝omˈlôːdē/

I. adverb, adjective

(chiefly N. Amer.) with distinction (with reference to college degrees and diplomas).

– origin Latin, literally ‘with praise.’

cummerbund /ˈkəmərˌbənd/

I. noun

a sash worn around the waist, especially as part of a man's evening clothes.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Urdu and Persian kamar-band, from kamar ‘waist, loins’ and -bandi ‘band.’ The sash was formerly worn in the Indian subcontinent by domestic workers and low-status office workers.

cummings, E. E. /ˈkəmiNGz/

(1894–1962), US poet and novelist; full name Edward Estlin Cummings. His poems are characterized by their experimental typography (most notably by the avoidance of capital letters), technical skill, frank vocabulary, and sharp satire. Notable works: The Enormous Room (1922) and 95 Poems (1956).

cummingtonite /ˈkəmiNGtəˌnīt/

I. noun

a mineral occurring typically as brownish fibrous crystals in some metamorphic rocks. It is a magnesium-rich iron silicate of the amphibole group.

– origin early 19th cent.: named after Cummington, a town in Massachusetts, + -ite^1.

cumulate

I. verb — /ˈkyo͞omyəˌlāt / [with obj.]

1. gather together and combine

• the systems cumulate data over a period of years.

2. [no obj.] — be gathered together and combined

• all unpaid dividend payments cumulate and are paid when earnings are sufficient.

3. (as adj. cumulated) — [Chemistry] denoting two double bonds attached to the same carbon atom.

II. noun — /ˈkyo͞omyələt /

1. [Geology] an igneous rock formed by gravitational settling of particles in a magma.

III. derivatives

cumulation /ˌkyo͞omyəˈlāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (as a verb in the sense ‘gather in a heap’): from Latin cumulat- ‘heaped,’ from the verb cumulare, from cumulus ‘a heap.’ Current senses date from the early 20th cent.

cumulative /ˈkyo͞omyələdiv ˈkyo͞omyəˌlādiv/

I. adjective

increasing or increased in quantity, degree, or force by successive additions

• the cumulative effect of two years of drought.

II. derivatives

cumulativeness

noun

cumulative distribution function

noun

[Statistics] a function whose value is the probability that a corresponding continuous random variable has a value less than or equal to the argument of the function.

cumulative error

noun

[Statistics] an error consistently in the same direction for all observations.

cumulatively /ˈkyo͞omyələdivlē ˈkyo͞omyəˌlādivlē/

adverb

1. in a way that increases in quantity, degree, or force by successive additions

• success must be measured cumulatively.

2. taken as a whole; in combination

• the artworks cumulatively covered 500 years.

cumulative preferred stock

noun

a preferred stock whose annual fixed-rate dividend, if it cannot be paid in any year, accrues until it can and is paid before common dividends.

cumulative voting /ˈkyo͞omyəˌlādiv ˈkyo͞omyələdiv vōdiNG/

noun

a system of voting in an election in which each voter is allowed as many votes as there are candidates and may give all to one candidate or varying numbers to several.

cumuliform /ˈkyo͞omyələˌfôrm/

adjective

(of a cloud) developed in a predominantly vertical direction.

cumulonimbus /ˌkyo͞omyəlōˈnimbəs/

noun

[Meteorology] a cloud forming a towering mass with a flat base at fairly low altitude and often a flat top, as in thunderstorms.

cumulus /ˈkyo͞omyələs/

I. noun

[Meteorology] a cloud forming rounded masses heaped on each other above a flat base at fairly low altitude.

II. derivatives

cumulous /-ləs /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent. (denoting a heap or an accumulation): from Latin,‘heap.’

Cunard, Sir Samuel /k(y)o͞oˈnärd/

(1787–1865), British shipowner; born in Canada. He founded the steamship company that still bears his name with the aid of a contract that began in 1840 to carry the mail between Britain and Canada.

cunctation /kəNGkˈtāSHən/

noun

the action or an instance of delaying; tardy action.

cuneate /ˈkyo͞onēāt ˈkyo͞onēət/

I. adjective

[chiefly Anatomy] [Botany] wedge-shaped.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin cuneus ‘wedge’ + -ate^2.

cuneiform /kyo͞oˈnēəˌfôrm ˈkyo͞onəˌfôrm ˈkyo͞onēəˌfôrm/

I. adjective

1. denoting or relating to the wedge-shaped characters used in the ancient writing systems of Mesopotamia, Persia, and Ugarit, surviving mainly impressed on clay tablets

• a cuneiform inscription.

2. [Anatomy] denoting three bones of the tarsus (ankle) between the navicular bone and the metatarsals.

3. [chiefly Biology] wedge-shaped

• the eggs are cuneiform.

II. noun

cuneiform writing.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French cunéiforme or modern Latin cuneiformis, from Latin cuneus ‘wedge.’

Cunene /ko͞oˈnānə/

a river in Angola that rises near the city of Huambo and flows south and then west for 156 miles (250 km) to the Atlantic Ocean.

cunner /ˈkənər/

I. noun

an edible greenish-gray wrasse (fish) that lives along the Atlantic coast of North America.
[Tautogolabrus adspersus, family Labridae.]

– origin early 17th cent.: perhaps associated with archaic conder, denoting a lookout who alerts the crew of fishing boats to the direction taken by shoals of herring.

cunnilingus /ˌkənəˈliNGɡəs/

I. noun

stimulation of the female genitals using the tongue or lips.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin, from cunnus ‘vulva’ + lingere ‘lick.’

cunning /ˈkəniNG/

I. adjective

1. having or showing skill in achieving one's ends by deceit or evasion

• a cunning look came into his eyes.

2. ingenious

• plants have evolved cunning defenses.

3. (N. Amer.) attractive; quaint

• the baby will look cunning in that pink print.

II. noun

1. skill in achieving one's ends by deceit

• a statesman to whom cunning had come as second nature.

2. ingenuity

• what resources of energy and cunning it took just to survive.

III. derivatives

cunningness

noun

– origin Middle English: perhaps from Old Norse kunnandi ‘knowledge,’ from kunna ‘know’ (related to can^1), or perhaps from Middle English cunne, an obsolete variant of can^1. The original sense was ‘(possessing) erudition or skill’ and had no implication of deceit; the sense ‘deceitfulness’ dates from late Middle English.

Cunningham, Merce /ˈkəniNGˌham/

(1919–2009), US dancer and choreographer. As a dancer with the Martha Graham dance company 1939–45, he experimented with choreography and collaborated with composer John Cage in solo performances in 1944. He formed his own company in 1953.

cunningly /ˈkəniNGlē/

adverb

1. in a clever and deceitful way

• an important document was cunningly hidden under the noses of the police.

2. in an ingenious way

• the tracks are arranged in cunningly interwoven layers.

Cunobelinus /ˌk(y)o͞onōbəˈlīnəs, -ˈlē-/

variant of Cymbeline.

cunt /kənt/

I. noun

‹vulgar slang› a woman's genitals.

– origin Middle English: of Germanic origin; related to Norwegian and Swedish dialect kunta, and Middle Low German, Middle Dutch, and Danish dialect kunte.

cup /kəp/

I. noun

1. a small, bowl-shaped container for drinking from, typically having a handle.

2. the contents of a cup

• a strong cup of tea.

3. (chiefly N. Amer.) a measure of capacity used in cooking, equal to half a pint—that is, 8 ounces (0.237 l)

• one cup of butter.

4. (in church use) a chalice used at the Eucharist.

5. an ornamental trophy in the form of a cup, usually made of gold or silver and having a stem and two handles, awarded as a prize in a contest.

6. (Cup) — a contest in which an ornamental trophy in the form of a cup is awarded

• playing in the Cup is the best thing ever.

7. (cups) — one of the suits in a tarot pack.

8. a cup-shaped thing.

9. either of the two parts of a bra shaped to contain or support one breast.

10. a jockstrap having a protective reinforcement of rigid plastic or metal.

11. [Golf] the hole on a putting green or the metal container in it.

12. (Canadian) a receptacle forming part of a liquidizer.

13. a mixed drink served at parties, typically flavored with fruit juices and containing wine or cider.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. form (one's hand or hands) into the curved shape of a cup

• “Hey!” Dad shouted, with his hands cupped around his mouth.

2. place the curved hand or hands around

• he cupped her face in his hands.

3. [Medicine] ‹historical› bleed (someone) by using a glass in which a partial vacuum is formed by heating

• Dr. Ross ordered me to be cupped.

III. phrases

1. in one's cups

‹informal› drunk.

2. not one's cup of tea

‹informal› not what one likes or is interested in

• cats were not her cup of tea.

– origin Old English: from popular Latin cuppa, probably from Latin cupa ‘tub.’

cup-and-ring /ˌkəpənˈriNG/

adjective

denoting marks cut in megalithic monuments consisting of a circular depression surrounded by concentric rings.

cupbearer /ˈkəpˌberər/

noun

‹chiefly historical› ‹literary› a person who serves wine, especially in a royal or noble household.

cupboard /ˈkəbərd/

I. noun

a cabinet or closet, usually with a door and shelves, used for storage

• a kitchen cupboard.

II. phrases

the cupboard is bare

there are no resources or money available for a particular purpose.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a table or sideboard on which cups, plates, etc., were displayed): from cup + board.

cupcake /ˈkəpˌkāk/

noun

1. a small cake baked in a cup-shaped container and typically iced.

2. (US) ‹informal› an attractive woman (often as a term of address).

3. a weak or effeminate man.

cupcakery /ˈkəpˌkākərē/

noun

a bakery that specializes in cupcakes

• we both have a sweet tooth so we make a habit of stopping in local cupcakeries to check them out.

cup coral

noun

a small, brightly colored, solitary coral with tentacles that end in small knobs, sometimes found in colder seas.
[Genus Caryophyllia, order Scleractinia (or Madreporaria): several species, including the Devonshire cup coral (C. smithi), of European waters.]

cupel /kyo͞oˈpel ˈkyo͞opəl/

I. noun

a shallow, porous container in which gold or silver can be refined or assayed by melting with a blast of hot air, which oxidizes lead or other base metals.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. assay or refine (a metal) in a cupel.

III. derivatives

cupellation /ˌkyo͞opəˈlāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin early 17th cent. (as a noun): from French coupelle, diminutive of coupe ‘goblet.’

Cupertino /ˌko͞opərˈtēnō/

a city in north central California, west of San Jose, part of the Silicon Valley complex; pop. 53,637 (est. 2008).

Cup Final

noun

the final match in a sports competition in which the winners are awarded a cup.

cupful /ˈkəpˌfo͝ol/

noun

1. the amount held by a cup

• a cupful of water.

2. another term for cup as a measure in cooking:

• add 1 cupful of flour.

cup fungus

noun

a fungus in which the spore-producing layer forms the lining of a shallow cup.
[Several families in the orders Helotiales and Pezizales, phylum Ascomycota.]

cupholder /ˈkəpˌhōldər/

noun

a device for holding a plastic cup or other drinking container, as in the console of a motor vehicle.

Cupid /ˈkyo͞opəd / ‹Roman Mythology›

I. the god of love. He is represented as a naked, winged boy with a bow and arrows, with which he wounds his victims.
Greek equivalent Eros.

II. [as noun] (also cupid) — a representation of a naked winged child, typically carrying a bow.

– origin from Latin Cupido, personification of cupido ‘love, desire,’ from cupere ‘to desire.’

cupidity /kyo͞oˈpidədē/

I. noun

greed for money or possessions.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French cupidite or Latin cupiditas, from cupidus ‘desirous,’ from cupere ‘to desire.’ Compare with covet.

Cupid's bow

noun

a shape like that of the double-curved bow often shown carried by Cupid, especially at the top edge of a person's upper lip.

cup lichen

noun

a greenish-gray lichen that has small, cuplike structures arising from its spreading lobes and is found typically on heathland and moorland.
[Genus Cladonia, order Cladoniales: many species.]

cupola /ˈkyo͞opələ/

I. noun

1. a small dome, especially a small dome on a drum on top of a larger dome, adorning a roof or ceiling.

2. a gun turret; a small domed hatch above a gun turret on some tanks.

3. (also cupola furnace) — a cylindrical furnace for refining metals, with openings at the bottom for blowing in air and originally with a dome leading to a chimney above.

II. derivatives

cupolaed

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: Italian, from late Latin cupula ‘small cask or burying vault,’ diminutive of cupa ‘cask.’

cuppa /ˈkəpə / ‹Brit. informal›

I. noun

a cup of tea

• a good strong cuppa.

II. contraction

cup of

• let's have another cuppa coffee.

– origin 1920s: alteration.

cupping /ˈkəpiNG/

noun

(in Chinese medicine) a therapy in which heated glass cups are applied to the skin along the meridians of the body, creating suction as a way of stimulating the flow of energy.

cuppy /ˈkəpē/

adjective

(of ground) full of shallow depressions.

cupr-

combining form

variant spelling of cupro- shortened before a vowel (as in cuprammonium).

cuprammonium /ˌkyo͞oprəˈmōnēəm/

noun — [as modifier]

1. [Chemistry] a complex ion, Cu(NH_3)42+, formed in solution when ammonia is added to copper salts. The solution is deep blue and is used to dissolve cellulose.

cupreous /ˈkyo͞oprēəs/

I. adjective

of or like copper.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from late Latin cupreus (from cuprum ‘copper’) + -ous.

cupric /ˈkyo͞oprik/

I. adjective

[Chemistry] of copper with a valence of two; of copper(II).
Compare with cuprous.

– origin late 18th cent.: from late Latin cuprum ‘copper’ + -ic.

cuprite /ˈk(y)o͞oprīt/

noun

a dark red or brownish black mineral consisting of cuprous oxide.

cupro /ˈkyo͞oprō/

I. noun

a type of rayon made by dissolving cotton cellulose with cuprammonium salts and spinning the resulting solution into filaments.

– origin 1980s: an invented word, probably from cuprammonium.

cupro- cupr-

I. combining form

of or relating to copper

• cupronickel.

– origin from late Latin cuprum.

cupronickel /ˌk(y)o͞oprōˈnik(ə)l/

noun

an alloy of copper and nickel, especially in the proportions 3:1 as used in “silver” coins.

cuprous /ˈkyo͞oprəs/

I. adjective

[Chemistry] of copper with a valence of one; of copper(I).

– origin mid 17th cent.: partly directly from late Latin cuprum ‘copper’ (reinforced by cupric) + -ous.

cupule /ˈkyo͞opyo͞ol/

I. noun

[Botany] [Zoology] a cup-shaped organ, structure, or receptacle in a plant or animal.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin cupula (see cupola).

cur /kər/

I. noun

1. an aggressive dog or one that is in poor condition, especially a mongrel.

2. ‹informal› a contemptible man.

– origin Middle English (in the general sense ‘dog’): probably originally in cur-dog, perhaps from Old Norse kurr ‘grumbling.’

cur.

abbreviation

1. currency.

2. current.

curable /ˈkyo͝orəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. (of a disease or condition) able to be cured

• most skin cancers are completely curable.

2. (of plastic, varnish, etc.) able to be hardened by some additive or other agent

• a radiation-curable coating.

II. derivatives

curability /ˌkyo͝orəˈbilədē /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, or from late Latin curabilis, from Latin curare (see cure).

curaçao /ˈk(y)o͝orəˌsou ˈk(y)o͝orəˌsō/

I. noun

a liqueur flavored with the peel of bitter oranges.

– origin early 19th cent.: named after Curaçao, where the oranges are grown.

Curaçao /ˈk(y)o͝orəˌsou, ˈk(y)o͝orəˌsō/

a self-governing territory of the Netherlands in the Caribbean Sea, 37 miles (60 km) north of the Venezuelan coast, formerly the largest island in the Netherlands Antilles; pop. 141,766 (2009); chief town, Willemstad.

curacy /ˈkyo͝orəsē/

noun

the office, position, or work of a curate

• I was in England serving my curacy.

curandero /ˌkyo͝orənˈderō/

I. noun

(in Spain and Latin America) a healer who uses folk remedies.

– origin Spanish, from curar ‘to cure,’ from Latin curare.

curare /kyo͝oˈrärē/

I. noun

a bitter, resinous substance obtained from the bark and stems of some South American plants. It paralyzes the motor nerves and is traditionally used by some Indian peoples to poison their arrows and blowpipe darts.
[Curare is obtained from Curarea species and Chondodendron tomentosum (family Menispermaceae), and Strychnos toxifera (family Loganiaceae).]

– origin late 18th cent.: from a Carib word, partly via Spanish and Portuguese.

curassow /ˈk(y)o͝orəˌsou, -ˌsō/

I. noun

a large, crested, pheasantlike bird of the guan family, found in tropical American forests. The male is typically black in color.
[Genus Crax (and Nothocrax), family Cracidae: several species.]

– origin late 17th cent.: anglicized form of Curaçao.

curate^1 /ˈkyo͝orət ˈkyo͝oˌrāt/

I. noun

1. a member of the clergy engaged as assistant to a vicar, rector, or parish priest.

2. ‹archaic› a minister with pastoral responsibility.

– origin Middle English: from medieval Latin curatus, from Latin cura ‘care.’

curate^2 /ˌkyo͝oˈrāt ˈkyo͝oˌrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. select, organize, and look after the items in (a collection or exhibition)

• both exhibitions are curated by the museum's director.

2. select the performers or performances that will feature in (an arts event or program)

• in past years the festival has been curated by the likes of David Bowie.

3. select, organize, and present (online content, merchandise, information, etc.), typically using professional or expert knowledge

• nearly every major news organization is using Twitter’s new lists feature to curate tweets about the earthquake

• (as adj. curated) a curated alternative to the world's most popular video portal.

II. derivatives

curation /kyəˈrāSHən /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: back-formation from curator.

curate's egg

I. noun

(Brit.) a thing that is partly good and partly bad

• this book is a bit of a curate's egg.

– origin early 20th cent.: from a cartoon in Punch (1895) depicting a meek curate who, given a stale egg at the bishop's table, assures his host that “parts of it are excellent.”

curative /ˈkyo͝orədiv/

I. adjective

able to cure something, typically disease

• the curative properties of herbs.

II. noun

a medicine or remedy.

III. derivatives

curatively

adverb

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘relating to cures’): from French curatif, -ive, from medieval Latin curativus, from Latin curare (see cure).

curator /ˈkyo͝orˌādər kyo͝oˈrādər ˈkyo͝orədər/

I. noun

1. a keeper or custodian of a museum or other collection.

2. a person who selects acts to perform at a music festival.

II. derivatives

curatorship /kyəˈrādərˌSHip ˈkyo͝oˌrādərˌSHip /

noun

– origin late Middle English (denoting an ecclesiastical pastor, also (still a Scots legal term) the guardian of a minor): from Old French curateur or, in later use, directly from Latin curator, from curare (see cure). The current sense dates from the mid 17th cent.

curatorial /ˌkyo͞orəˈtôrēəl/

adjective

relating to the selection and organization of a museum or other collection

• the curatorial team has managed to balance the cutting edge with more accessible works.

curb /kərb/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a stone or concrete edging to a street or path.

2. a check or restraint on something

• curbs on the powers of labor unions.

3. (also curb bit) — a type of bit that is widely used in western riding. In English riding it is usually only used with a snaffle as part of a double bridle.

4. a swelling on the back of a horse's hock, caused by spraining a ligament.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. restrain or keep in check

• she promised she would curb her temper.

2. restrain (a horse) by means of a curb.

3. lead (a dog being walked) near the curb to urinate or defecate.

– origin late 15th cent. (denoting a strap fastened to the bit): from Old French courber ‘bend, bow,’ from Latin curvare (see curve).

curb appeal ‹Brit.› kerb appeal

noun

the attractiveness of a property for sale and its surroundings when viewed from the street

• landscaping, the front entrance, and the condition of the paint or siding are the biggest factors in curb appeal.

curb chain

noun

a small chain which is attached to a curb bit and lies in the groove on a horse's chin.

curbing /ˈkərbiNG/

noun

the concrete or stones collectively forming a curb.

curb market

noun

a market for selling shares not dealt with on the normal stock exchange.

curb roof

noun

another term for gambrel.

curb service

noun

service, especially at a restaurant, extended to customers remaining in their parked vehicles.

curbside /ˈkərbsīd/

noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. the side of a road or sidewalk that is nearer to the curb

• curbside collection of trash.

curbstone /ˈkərbˌstōn/

noun

1. a long, narrow stone or concrete block, laid end to end with others to form a curb.

2. [as modifier] — ‹informal› unqualified; amateur

• curbstone commentators.

curb weight

noun

the weight of an automobile without occupants or baggage.

curculio /kərˈkyo͞olēˌō/

I. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a beetle of the weevil family, especially one that is a pest of fruit trees.
[Several genera and species in the family Curculionidae, including theplum curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar).]

– origin modern Latin, used as the genus name for weevils in the 18th cent., now restricted to the nut weevils.

curcuma /ˈkərkyəmə/

I. noun

a tropical Asian plant of a genus that includes turmeric, zedoary, and other species that yield spices, dyes, and medicinal products.
[Genus Curcuma, family Zingiberaceae.]

– origin modern Latin, from Arabic kurkum ‘saffron,’ from Sanskrit kuṅkuma (so named because the color of turmeric resembles that of saffron).

curd /kərd/

I. noun

1. (also curds) — a soft, white substance formed when milk sours, used as the basis for cheese.

2. a fatty substance found between the flakes of poached salmon.

3. the edible head of a cauliflower or similar plant.

II. derivatives

curdy /ˈkərdē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: of unknown origin.

curd cheese /kərd CHēz/

noun

(chiefly Brit.) a mild, soft, smooth cheese made from skimmed milk curd.

curdle /ˈkərdl/

I. verb

separate or cause to separate into curds or lumps
[no obj.]

• take care not to let the soup boil or it will curdle

• [with obj.] making cheese by curdling milk.

II. phrases

make one's blood curdle

fill one with horror.

III. derivatives

curdler /ˈkərdlər, ˈkərdl-ər /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: frequentative of obsolete curd ‘congeal.’

cure /kyo͝or/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. relieve (a person or animal) of the symptoms of a disease or condition

• he was cured of the disease

• ‹figurative› centuries of science have not cured us of our superstitions.

2. eliminate (a disease, condition, or injury) with medical treatment

• this technology could be used to cure diabetes.

3. solve (a problem)

• stopping foreign investment is no way to cure the fundamental problem.

4. preserve (meat, fish, tobacco, or an animal skin) by various methods such as salting, drying, or smoking

• some farmers cured their own bacon

• (as adj. cured) home-cured ham.

5. harden (rubber, plastic, concrete, etc.) after manufacture by a chemical process such as vulcanization.

6. [no obj.] — undergo curing by a chemical process.

II. noun

1. a substance or treatment that cures a disease or condition

• the search for a cure for the common cold.

2. restoration to health

• he was beyond cure.

3. a solution to a problem

• the cure is to improve the clutch operation.

4. the process of curing rubber, plastic, or other material.

5. a Christian minister's pastoral charge or area of responsibility for spiritual ministry

• a benefice involving the cure of souls.

6. a parish.

III. derivatives

curer /ˈkyo͝orər /

noun

– origin Middle English (as a noun): from Old French curer (verb), cure (noun), both from Latin curare ‘take care of,’ from cura ‘care.’ The original noun senses were ‘care, concern, responsibility,’ in particular spiritual care (hence sense 3 of the noun). In late Middle English the senses ‘medical care’ and ‘successful medical treatment’ arose, and hence ‘remedy.’

curé /kyo͝oˈrā, ˈkyo͝orˌā/

I. noun

a parish priest in a French-speaking country or region.

– origin French, from medieval Latin curatus (see curate^1).

cure-all /ˈkyo͝or ôl/

noun

1. a medicine or other remedy that will supposedly cure any ailment.

2. a solution to any problem

• unfortunately, the new output circuitry is not a cure-all.

curettage /ˌkyo͝orəˈtäZH/

I. noun

[Surgery] the use of a curette, especially on the lining of the uterus.
See dilation and curettage.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French, from curette.

curette /kyo͝oˈret/

I. noun

a surgical instrument used to remove material by a scraping action, especially from the uterus.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. clean or scrape with a curette.

– origin mid 18th cent. (as a noun): from French, from curer ‘cleanse,’ from Latin curare (see cure).

curfew /ˈkərˌfyo͞o/

I. noun

1. a regulation requiring people to remain indoors between specified hours, typically at night

• a dusk-to-dawn curfew

• the whole area was immediately placed under curfew.

2. the hour designated as the beginning of a curfew

• to be out after curfew without permission was to risk punishment.

3. a daily signal indicating the start of curfew.

– origin Middle English (denoting a regulation requiring people to extinguish fires at a fixed hour in the evening, or a bell rung at that hour): from Old French cuevrefeu, from cuvrir ‘to cover’ + feu ‘fire.’ The current sense dates from the late 19th cent.

Curia /ˈkyo͝orēə/

I. the papal court at the Vatican, by which the Roman Catholic Church is governed. It comprises various Congregations, Tribunals, and other commissions and departments.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin curia, denoting a division of an ancient Roman tribe, also (by extension) the senate of cities other than Rome; later the term came to denote a feudal or Roman Catholic court of justice, whence the current sense.

Curial /ˈkyo͝orēəl/

adjective

relating to the Curia, the papal court at the Vatican

• cardinals who hold Curial offices.

curie /ˈkyo͝orē / Ci

I. noun

1. a unit of radioactivity, corresponding to 3.7 × 10^10 disintegrations per second.

2. the quantity of radioactive substance that emits one curie of activity.

– origin early 20th cent.: named after Pierre and Marie Curie.

Curie /kyo͝oˈrē, ˈkyo͝orē/

name of French physicists Marie (1867–1934), born Maria Sklodowska in Poland, and her husband Pierre (1859–1906); pioneers in radioactivity. Working together on the mineral pitchblende, they discovered the elements polonium and radium. After her husband's accidental death, Marie isolated radium. She died of leukemia, caused by prolonged exposure to radioactive materials. She shared the 1903 Nobel Prize for Physics and the 1911 Nobel Prize for Chemistry with Becquerel.

curio /ˈkyo͝orēˌō/

I. noun

a rare, unusual, or intriguing object.

– origin mid 19th cent.: abbreviation of curiosity.

curiosa /ˌkyo͝orēˈōsə, -ˈōzə/

I. plural noun

curiosities, especially erotic or pornographic books or articles.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin, neuter plural of curiosus (see curious).

curiosity /ˌkyo͝orēˈäsədē/

I. noun

1. a strong desire to know or learn something

• filled with curiosity, she peered through the window

• curiosity got the better of me, so I called him.

2. a strange or unusual object or fact

• he showed them some of the curiosities of the house.

II. phrases

curiosity killed the cat

‹proverb› being inquisitive about other people's affairs may get you into trouble.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French curiousete, from Latin curiositas, from curiosus (see curious).

curious /ˈkyo͝orēəs/

I. adjective

1. eager to know or learn something

• I began to be curious about the whereabouts of the bride and groom

• she was curious to know what had happened.

2. expressing curiosity

• a curious stare.

3. strange; unusual

• a curious sensation overwhelmed her.

II. derivatives

curiousness /ˈkyo͝orēəsnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French curios, from Latin curiosus ‘careful,’ from cura ‘care.’ Sense 2 dates from the early 18th cent.

curiously /ˈkyo͝orēəslē/

adverb

1. in a way that shows eagerness to know or learn something

• neighbors peered curiously through windows at me.

2. in a strange and unusual way

• the sentence is curiously worded

• [sentence adverb] curiously, I find snooker riveting.

Curitiba /ˌk(y)o͝orəˈtēbə/

a city in southern Brazil, capital of the state of Paraná; pop. 1,797,408 (2007).

curium /ˈkyo͝orēəm/

I. noun

(Symbol: Cm) — the chemical element of atomic number 96, a radioactive metal of the actinide series. Curium does not occur naturally and was first made by bombarding plutonium with helium ions.

– origin 1940s: modern Latin, from the name of Marie and Pierre Curie.

curl /kərl/

I. verb

1. form or cause to form into a curved or spiral shape
[no obj.]

• her fingers curled around the microphone

• a slice of ham had begun to curl up at the edges

• [with obj.] she used to curl her hair with rags.

2. [no obj.] (curl up) — sit or lie with the knees drawn up

• she curled up and went to sleep.

3. move or cause to move in a spiral or curved course
[no obj.]

• a wisp of smoke curling across the sky.

4. (with reference to one's mouth or upper lip) raise or cause to raise slightly on one side as an expression of contempt or disapproval
[no obj.]

• Maria saw his lip curl sardonically.

5. (in weight training) lift (a weight) using only the hands, wrists, and forearms.

6. [no obj.] — play at the game of curling.

II. noun

1. something having a spiral or inwardly curved form, especially a lock of hair

• her blond hair was a mass of tangled curls

• a curl of blue smoke.

2. (with reference to a person's hair) a state or condition of being curled

• your hair has a natural curl

• large perm rods give volume and control rather than lots of curl.

3. a curling movement

• the sneering curl of his lip.

4. see leaf curl.

5. a weightlifting exercise involving movement of only the hands, wrists, and forearms

• a dumbbell curl.

6. [Mathematics] the vector product of the operator del and a given vector.

III. phrases

make someone's hair curl

‹informal› shock or horrify someone.

– origin late Middle English: from obsolete crulle ‘curly,’ from Middle Dutch krul.

curler /ˈkərlər/

noun

1. (usu. curlers) — a roller or clasp around which a lock of hair is wrapped to curl it.

2. a player in the game of curling.

curlew /ˈkərˌlo͞o ˈkərlˌyo͞o/

I. noun

a large wading bird of the sandpiper family, with a long down-curved bill, brown streaked plumage, and frequently a distinctive ascending two-note call.
See also stone curlew. [Genus Numenius, family Scolopacidae: several species, including the common Eurasian N. arquata and the North American long-billed curlew (N. americanus).]

– origin Middle English: from Old French courlieu, alteration (by association with courliu ‘courier,’ from courre ‘run’ + lieu ‘place’) of imitative courlis.

Curley, James Michael /ˈkərlē/

(1874–1958), US politician. An urban political boss, he was a member of the US House of Representatives 1911–14 and 1943–47, mayor of Boston for four terms between 1914 and 1950, and governor of Massachusetts 1935–37.

curlicue /ˈkərlēˌkyo͞o / curlycue

I. noun

a decorative curl or twist in calligraphy or in the design of an object.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from curly + cue^2 (in the sense ‘pigtail’), or -cue representing the letter q.

curlicued /ˈkərlēˌkyo͞od/

adjective

having decorative curls or twists

• a page of elaborately curlicued and unintelligible script

• curlicued cornices and portals.

curling /ˈkərliNG/

noun

a game played on ice, especially in Scotland and Canada, in which large, round, flat stones are slid across the surface toward a mark. Members of a team use brooms to sweep the surface of the ice in the path of the stone to control its speed and direction.

curling iron /kərliNG ˈī(ə)rn/

noun

a heated rod used for rolling a person's hair into curls.

curling stone /kərliNG stōn/

noun

a large, polished, circular stone with an iron handle on top, used in the game of curling.

curly /ˈkərlē/

I. adjective

made, growing, or arranged in curls or curves

• my hair is just naturally thick and curly.

II. derivatives

curliness /ˈkərlēnəs /

noun

curly-haired /ˌkərlēˈherd/

adjective

having hair that forms curls or ringlets

• a curly-haired young man.

curly kale /ˈkərlē kāl/

noun

kale of a variety with dark green, tightly curled leaves.

curly top curly top disease

noun

a viral disease affecting plants, especially beets and members of the gourd family, spread by beetles, particularly the beet leafhopper. Infected plants become dwarfed and have puckered, distorted foliage.

curly-wurly

I. adjective

‹informal› twisting and curling.

– origin late 18th cent.: reduplication of curly.

curmudgeon /kərˈməjən/

I. noun

a bad-tempered or surly person.

II. derivatives

1. curmudgeonliness

noun

2. curmudgeonly /kərˈməj(ə)nlē /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

currach /ˈkərə(KH) ˈkərək / curragh

I. noun

Irish and Scottish term for coracle.

– origin late Middle English: from Irish and Scottish Gaelic curach ‘small boat.’ Compare with coracle.

currant /ˈkərənt/

I. noun

1. a small dried fruit made from a seedless variety of grape originally grown in the eastern Mediterranean region, now widely produced in California, and much used in cooking
[as modifier]

• a currant bun.

2. a Eurasian shrub that produces small edible black, red, or white berries.
[Genus Ribes, family Grossulariaceae: numerous species, includingblack currant and red currant.]

3. a berry from a currant shrub.

– origin Middle English raisons of Corauntz, translating Anglo-Norman French raisins de Corauntz ‘grapes of Corinth’ (the original source).

currant gall

noun

a spherical red or purple gall that forms on the leaves or male catkins of oak trees in response to the developing larva of a gall wasp. It results from eggs laid in the spring and alternates with the spangle gall.
[The wasp is Neuroterus quercusbaccarum, family Cynipidae.]

currant tomato

noun

a kind of tomato with tiny fruits, native to the Andes.
[Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium, family Solanaceae.]

currency /ˈkərənsē/

noun

1. a system of money in general use in a particular country

• the dollar was a strong currency

• travelers checks in foreign currency

• ‹figurative› he was rich in the currency of love.

2. the fact or quality of being generally accepted or in use

• the term gained currency during the second half of the 20th century.

3. the time during which something is in use or operation

• no claim had been made during the currency of the policy.

current /ˈkərənt/

I. adjective

1. belonging to the present time; happening or being used or done now

• keep abreast of current events

• I started my current job last year.

2. in common or general use

• the other meaning of the word is still current.

II. noun

1. a body of water or air moving in a definite direction, especially through a surrounding body of water or air in which there is less movement

• ocean currents.

2. a flow of electricity which results from the ordered directional movement of electrically charged particles.

3. a quantity representing the rate of flow of electric charge, usually measured in amperes.

4. the general tendency or course of events or opinion

• the student movement formed a distinct current of protest.

– origin Middle English (in the adjective sense ‘running, flowing’): from Old French corant ‘running,’ from courre ‘run,’ from Latin currere ‘run.’

current affairs /ˈkərənt əˈfe(ə)rz/

plural noun

events of political or social interest and importance happening in the world at the present time.

current assets /ˈkərənt ˈaˌsets/

plural noun

cash and other assets that are expected to be converted to cash within a year.
Compare with fixed assets.

current cost accounting

noun

a method of accounting in which assets are valued on the basis of their current replacement cost, and increases in their value as a result of inflation are excluded from calculations of profit.

current density

noun

[Physics] the amount of electric current flowing per unit cross-sectional area of a material.

current liabilities /ˈkərənt ˌlīəˈbilədēz/

plural noun

amounts due to be paid to creditors within twelve months.

currently /ˈkərən(t)lē/

adverb

at the present time

• the price is currently at a premium.

curricle /ˈkərək(ə)l/

I. noun

‹historical› a light, open, two-wheeled carriage pulled by two horses side by side.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin curriculum ‘course, racing chariot,’ from currere ‘to run.’

curricular /kəˈrikyələr/

adjective

relating to the subjects comprising a course of study in a school or college

• a curricular revision is introducing new courses.

curriculum /kəˈrikyələm/

I. noun

the subjects comprising a course of study in a school or college.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin (see curricle).

curriculum vitae /kəˌrik(y)ələm ˈvēˌtī/

I. noun

a brief account of a person's education, qualifications, and previous experience, typically sent with a job application.

– origin early 20th cent.: Latin, literally ‘course of life.’

currier /ˈkərēər/

I. noun

a person who curries leather.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French corier, from Latin coriarius, from corium ‘leather.’

Currier, Nathaniel /ˈkərēər, ˈkə-rēər/

(1813–88), US lithographer. He partnered with James Ives in 1857 to establish the company of Currier & Ives, which produced hand-colored prints of American scenes.

currish /ˈkəriSH/

I. adjective

1. like a cur; snappish.

2. ignoble.

II. derivatives

1. currishly

adverb

2. currishness

noun

curry^1 /ˈkərē/

I. noun

a dish of meat, vegetables, etc., cooked in an Indian-style sauce of strong spices and turmeric and typically served with rice.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. curried)

1. prepare or flavor with a sauce of hot-tasting spices

• curried chicken.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Tamil kaṛi.

curry^2 /ˈkərē/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) groom (a horse) with a rubber or plastic curry comb.

2. ‹historical› treat (tanned leather) to improve its properties.

3. ‹archaic› thrash; beat.

II. phrases

curry favor

ingratiate oneself with someone through obsequious behavior

• a wimpish attempt to curry favor with the new bosses.

[alteration of Middle English curry favel, from the name (Favel or Fauvel) of a chestnut horse in a 14th-cent. French romance who became a symbol of cunning and duplicity; hence ‘to rub down Favel’ meant to use the cunning that he personified.]

– origin Middle English: from Old French correier, ultimately of Germanic origin.

curry comb /ˈkərē ˌkōm/

noun

1. a handheld metal device with serrated ridges, used for removing dirt out of a horse's coat or for cleaning brushes with which a horse is being groomed.

2. (also rubber curry comb) — a handheld comb of flexible rubber, used for grooming horses.

curry leaf

noun

a shrub or small tree native to India and Sri Lanka, the leaves of which are widely used in Indian cooking.
[Murraya koenigii, family Rutaceae.]

curry plant

noun

a small, shrubby plant of the daisy family, which has narrow, silver-gray leaves and small yellow flowers and emits a strong smell of curry.
[Helichrysum angustifolium, family Compositae.]

curry powder /ˈkərē ˌpoudər/

noun

a mixture of finely ground spices, such as turmeric, ginger, and coriander, used for making curry.

curse /kərs/

I. noun

1. a solemn utterance intended to invoke a supernatural power to inflict harm or punishment on someone or something

• she'd put a curse on him.

2. [usu. in sing.] — a cause of harm or misery

• impatience is the curse of our day and age.

3. (the curse) — ‹informal› menstruation.

4. an offensive word or phrase used to express anger or annoyance

• his mouth was spitting vile oaths and curses.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — invoke or use a curse against

• it often seemed as if the family had been cursed.

2. (be cursed with) — be afflicted with

• many owners have been cursed with a series of bankruptcies.

3. [no obj.] — utter offensive words in anger or annoyance

• drivers were cursing and sounding their horns.

4. [with obj.] — address with offensive words

• I cursed myself for my carelessness.

III. derivatives

curser

noun

– origin Old English, of unknown origin.

cursed /ˈkərsəd kərst/

I. adjective

‹informal› ‹dated› used to express annoyance or irritation

• he didn't whine about his cursed fate.

II. derivatives

1. cursedly /ˈkərsidlē /

adverb

2. cursedness /ˈkərsidnəs /

noun

cursillo /kərˈsē(l)yō/

I. noun

a short informal spiritual retreat by a group of Roman Catholics, organized mainly by lay people and originally developed in Spain.

– origin 1950s: Spanish, literally ‘little course.’

cursive /ˈkərsiv/

I. adjective

written with the characters joined

• cursive script.

II. noun

cursive writing.

III. derivatives

cursively

adverb

– origin late 18th cent.: from medieval Latin cursivus, from Latin curs- ‘run,’ from the verb currere.

cursor /ˈkərsər/

I. noun

1. a movable indicator on a computer screen identifying the point that will be affected by input from the user, for example showing where typed text will be inserted.

2. ‹chiefly historical› the transparent slide engraved with a hairline that is part of a slide rule and is used for marking a point on the rule while bringing a point on the central sliding portion up to it.

– origin Middle English (denoting a runner or running messenger): from Latin,‘runner,’ from curs- (see cursive). The sense ‘sliding part of an instrument’ dates from the late 16th cent.

cursorial /kərˈsôrēəl/

I. adjective

[Zoology] having limbs adapted for running.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin cursor (see cursor) + -ial.

cursory /ˈkərs(ə)rē/

I. adjective

hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed

• a cursory glance at the figures.

II. derivatives

1. cursorily /ˈkərs(ə)rəlē /

adverb

2. cursoriness /ˈkərs(ə)rēnəs /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin cursorius ‘of a runner,’ from cursor (see cursor).

curst /kərst/

adjective

archaic spelling of cursed.

curt /kərt/

I. adjective

rudely brief

• his reply was curt.

II. derivatives

1. curtly /ˈkərtlē /

adverb

2. curtness /ˈkərtnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘short, shortened’): from Latin curtus ‘cut short, abridged.’

curtail /kərˈtāl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. reduce in extent or quantity; impose a restriction on

• civil liberties were further curtailed.

2. (curtail someone of) — ‹archaic› deprive someone of (something)

• I that am curtailed of this fair proportion.

– origin late 15th cent.: from obsolete curtal ‘horse with a docked tail,’ from French courtault, from court ‘short,’ from Latin curtus. The change in the ending was due to association with tail^1 and perhaps also with French tailler ‘to cut.’

curtailment /kərˈtālmənt/

noun

the action or fact of reducing or restricting something

• the curtailment of human rights.

curtain /ˈkərtn/

I. noun

1. a piece of material suspended at the top to form a covering or screen, typically one of a pair at a window

• she drew the curtains and lit the fire

• ‹figurative› through the curtain of falling snow, she could just make out gravestones.

2. (the curtain) — a screen of heavy cloth or other material that can be raised or lowered at the front of a stage.

3. a raising or lowering of the curtain at the beginning or end of an act or scene on a stage

• the art is to hold your audience right from the opening curtain.

4. (curtains) — ‹informal› a disastrous outcome

• it looked like curtains for me.

II. verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. curtained)

1. provide with a curtain or curtains

• a curtained window.

2. conceal or screen with a curtain

• a curtained-off side room

• ‹figurative› her unbound hair curtaining her face.

III. phrases

1. bring down the curtain on

bring to an end

• her decision brought down the curtain on a glittering 30-year career.

2. curtain of fire

(chiefly US) rapid, continuous artillery or machine-gun fire on a designated line or area.

– origin Middle English: from Old French cortine, from late Latin cortina, translation of Greek aulaia, from aulē ‘court.’

curtain call /ˈkərtn ˌkôl/

noun

the appearance of one or more performers on stage after a performance to acknowledge the audience's applause.

curtain lecture

I. noun

‹dated› an instance of a wife reprimanding her husband in private.

– origin mid 17th cent.: originally a reprimand given behind bed curtains.

curtain raiser /ˈkərt(ə)n ˌrāzər/

I. noun

an entertainment or other arts event happening just before a longer or more important one

• Bach's Sinfonia in B flat was an ideal curtain-raiser to Mozart's last piano concerto.

– origin late 19th cent.: originally used in the theater to denote a short opening piece performed before a play.

curtain speech

noun

a speech of thanks or appreciation to an audience, made after a performance by an actor playing a leading role, typically from the front of the stage with the curtains closed.

curtain time

noun — [in sing.]

1. the beginning of a stage performance

• curtain time is at 8 p.m.

curtain wall /ˈkərtn ˌwôl/

noun

1. a fortified wall around a medieval castle, typically one linking towers together.

2. a wall that encloses the space within a building but does not support the roof, typically on a modern high-rise.

curtal /ˈkərd(ə)l/

I. adjective

‹archaic› shortened, abridged, or curtailed.

II. noun

‹historical› a dulcian or bassoon of the late 16th to early 18th century.

– origin late 15th cent. (denoting a short-barreled cannon): from French courtault, from court ‘short’ + the pejorative suffix -ault. In both English and French the noun denoted various items characterized by something short, especially an animal with a docked tail, which probably gave rise to the adjective sense.

curtana /kərˈtänə, -ˈtānə/

I. noun

(Brit.) the unpointed sword carried in front of English sovereigns at their coronation to represent mercy.

– origin Middle English: from Anglo-Latin curtana (spatha) ‘shortened (sword),’ from Old French cortain, the name of the sword belonging to Roland (the point of which was damaged when it was thrust into a block of steel), from cort ‘short,’ from Latin curtus ‘cut short.’

curtesy /ˈkərdəsē/

noun

[Law] ‹historical› a tenure by which a husband, after his wife's death, held certain kinds of property that she had inherited.

curtilage /ˈkərd(ə)lij/

I. noun

[Law] an area of land attached to a house and forming one enclosure with it

• the roads within the curtilage of the development site.

– origin Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French, variant of Old French courtillage, from courtil ‘small court,’ from cort ‘court.’

Curtis, Benjamin Robbins /ˈkərtis/

(1809–74), US Supreme Court associate justice 1851–57. He resigned in protest over the Court's handling of the Dred Scott case 1857. He served as chief counsel to Andrew Johnson during Johnson's impeachment in 1868. His brother, George Ticknor Curtis (1812–94), a lawyer and writer, argued for the plaintiff before the US Supreme Court in the Dred Scott case.

Curtiss, Glenn /ˈkərtəs/

(1878–1930), US air pioneer and aircraft designer; full name Glenn Hammond Curtiss. In 1908, Curtiss made the first public US flight, traversing 0.6 miles (1.0 km). He built his first airplane in 1909 and invented the aileron and then demonstrated the first practical seaplane two years later.

curtsy /ˈkərtsē / curtsey

I. noun

a woman's or girl's formal greeting made by bending the knees with one foot in front of the other

• she bobbed a curtsy to him.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. perform a curtsy

• she curtsied onto the stage.

– origin early 16th cent.: variant of courtesy. Both forms were used to denote the expression of respect or courtesy by a gesture, especially in phrases such as do courtesy, make courtesy, and from this arose the current use (late 16th cent).

curule /ˈkyo͞oro͞ol/

I. adjective

‹historical› denoting or relating to the authority exercised by the senior magistrates in ancient Rome, chiefly the consul and praetor, who were entitled to use the sella curulis (‘curule seat,’ a kind of folding chair).

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin curulis, from currus ‘chariot’ (in which the chief magistrate was conveyed to the seat of office), from currere ‘to run.’

curvaceous /kərˈvāSHəs/

I. adjective

(especially of a woman or a woman's figure) having an attractively curved shape.

II. derivatives

curvaceousness

noun

curvature /ˈkərvəCHər ˈkərvəˌCHo͝or/

I. noun

1. the fact of being curved or the degree to which something is curved

• spinal curvature

• the curvature of the earth

• it has a distinct curvature near the middle.

2. [Geometry] the degree to which a curve deviates from a straight line, or a curved surface deviates from a plane.

3. a numerical quantity expressing this.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin curvatura, from curvare (see curve).

curve /kərv/

I. noun

1. a line or outline that gradually deviates from being straight for some or all of its length

• the parapet wall sweeps down in a bold curve.

2. (N. Amer.) a place where a road deviates from a straight path

• the vehicle rounded a curve.

3. (curves) — a curving contour of a woman's figure.

4. a line on a graph (whether straight or curved) showing how one quantity varies with respect to another

• the population curve.

5. a system in which grades are assigned to students based on their performance relative to other students, regardless of their actual knowledge of the subject

• grades were marked on a curve.

6. [Baseball] another term for curveball.

II. verb

form or cause to form a curve
[no obj.]

• her mouth curved in a smile

• [with obj.] starting with arms outstretched, curve the body sideways.

III. phrases

1. ahead of (or behind) the curve

(especially of a business or politician) ahead of (or lagging behind) current thinking or trends.

2. throw someone a curve

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› another way of saying throw someone a curveball:

• just when you think you have this parenting thing down pat, they throw you a curve.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin curvare ‘to bend,’ from curvus ‘bent.’ The noun dates from the late 17th cent.

curveball /ˈkərvbôl/

I. noun

1. [Baseball] a pitch thrown with a strong downward spin, causing the ball to drop suddenly and veer to the side as it approaches home plate.

2. [Baseball] (N. Amer.) ‹informal› something which is unexpected, surprising, or disruptive

• there's always a curveball on every mission.

II. phrases

throw someone a curveball

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› unexpectedly present someone with a challenge or disruption

• just when you think things are working out, life throws you a curveball.

curved /kərvd/

adjective

having the form of a curve; bent

• birds with long curved bills.

curvet /kərˈvet/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a horse) leap gracefully or energetically.

II. noun

a graceful or energetic leap.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Italian corvetta, diminutive of corva, earlier form of curva ‘a curve,’ from Latin curvus ‘bent.’

curvilinear /ˌkərvəˈlinēər/

I. adjective

contained by or consisting of a curved line or lines

• these designs employ flowing, curvilinear forms.

II. derivatives

curvilinearly

adverb

– origin early 18th cent.: from curvi- ‘curved,’ from Latin curvus, on the pattern of rectilinear.

curvirostral /ˌkərvəˈrästrəl/

adjective

with a curved beak.

curvy /ˈkərvē/

I. adjective

1. having many curves

• a curvy stretch of road.

2. ‹informal› (especially of a woman's figure) shapely and voluptuous.

II. derivatives

curviness

noun

cuscus /ˈko͝osko͝os ˈkəskəs/

I. noun

a tree-dwelling marsupial with a rounded head and prehensile tail, native to New Guinea and northern Australia.
[Four genera in the family Phalangeridae: several species, including thespotted cuscus (Spilocuscus maculatus) and thegrey cuscus (Phalanger orientalis). See also phalanger.]

– origin mid 17th cent.: via French and Dutch from a local name in the Molucca Islands.

cusec /ˈkyo͞osek/

I. noun

a unit of flow (especially of water) equal to one cubic foot per second.

– origin early 20th cent.: abbreviation of cubic foot per second.

cush /ko͝oSH/

I. adjective

(US) ‹informal› another term for cushy:

• a cush job

• cush leather seats.

– origin 1920s: abbreviation.

Cush /ko͝oSH/

I. (in the Bible) the eldest son of Ham and grandson of Noah (Gen. 10:6).

II. the southern part of ancient Nubia, first mentioned in Egyptian records of the Middle Kingdom. In the Bible it is the country of the descendants of Cush.

cushat /ˈko͝oSHət/

I. noun

‹dialect› (chiefly Scottish) a wood pigeon.

– origin Old English, of unknown origin.

cushaw /ko͝oˈSHô, ˈko͞oˌSHô / cushaw squash

I. noun

(US) a large winter squash of a variety with a curved neck.

– origin late 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

cush-cush /ˈko͝oSH ˌko͝oSH / cush-cush yam

I. noun

1. a tropical American yam that produces a number of tubers on each plant.
Also called yampee. [Dioscorea trifida, family Dioscoreaceae.]

2. the edible tuber of the cush-cush plant, eaten as a vegetable.

– origin late 19th cent.: perhaps ultimately of African origin.

Cushing, William /ˈko͝oSHiNG/

(1732–1810), US Supreme Court associate justice 1789–1810. After serving as chief justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Court 1780–89, he became one of the original members of the US Supreme Court.

Cushing's disease /ˈko͝oSHiNGz dəˌzēz/

noun

Cushing's syndrome as caused by a tumor of the pituitary gland.

Cushing's syndrome

I. noun

[Medicine] a metabolic disorder caused by overproduction of corticosteroid hormones by the adrenal cortex and often involving obesity and high blood pressure.

– origin 1930s: named after Harvey W. Cushing (1869–1939), American surgeon.

cushion /ˈko͝oSHən/

I. noun

1. a pillow or pad stuffed with a mass of soft material, used as a comfortable support for sitting or leaning on.

2. something providing support or protection against impact

• the pad forms a cushion between carpet and floor

• ‹figurative› a poll showed the candidate with a 14-point cushion.

3. the elastic lining of the sides of a billiard table, from which the ball rebounds.

4. the layer of air supporting a hovercraft or similar vehicle.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. soften the effect of an impact on

• the bag cushions equipment from inevitable knocks.

2. mitigate the adverse effects of

• he called for federal assistance to cushion the blow for farmers.

III. derivatives

cushiony /ˈko͝oSH(ə)nē /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French cuissin, based on a Latin word meaning ‘cushion for the hip,’ from coxa ‘hip, thigh.’

cushion capital

noun

[Architecture] a capital resembling a cushion pressed down by a weight, seen particularly in Romanesque churches.

cushioned /ˈko͝oSH(ə)nd/

adjective

covered by soft padding that provides comfortable support, especially for sitting or leaning on

• she is sitting on a cushioned stool.

Cushitic /ko͝oSHˈitik, ˌkəSH-/

I. adjective

relating to or denoting a group of East African languages of the Afro-Asiatic family spoken mainly in Ethiopia and Somalia, including Somali and Oromo.

II. noun

the Cushitic group of languages.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Cush + -itic.

cushy /ˈko͝oSHē/

I. adjective

1. ‹informal› (of a job, task, or situation) undemanding, easy, or secure

• cushy jobs that pay you to ski.

2. ‹informal› (N. Amer.) (of furniture) comfortable.

II. derivatives

cushiness

noun

– origin late 19th cent. (originally Anglo-Indian): from Urdu ḵushī ‘pleasure,’ from Persian ḵuš.

cusk /kəsk/

I. noun

another term for torsk.

– origin early 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

cusk-eel

noun

a small, eellike fish with a tapering body and fins that form a pointed tail, typically found in deep water.
[Family Ophidiidae: numerous genera.]

cusp /kəsp/

I. noun

1. a pointed end where two curves meet, in particular

2. [Architecture] a projecting point between small arcs in Gothic tracery.

3. a cone-shaped prominence on the surface of a tooth, especially of a molar or premolar.

4. [Anatomy] a pocket or fold in the wall of the heart or a major blood vessel that fills and distends if the blood flows backward, so forming part of a valve.

5. [Mathematics] a point at which the direction of a curve is abruptly reversed.

6. each of the pointed ends of a crescent, especially of the moon.

7. [Astrology] the initial point of an astrological sign or house

• he was Aries on the cusp with Taurus.

8. a point of transition between two different states

• those on the cusp of adulthood.

II. derivatives

1. cuspate /ˈkəspət, -ˌpāt /

adjective

2. cusped

adjective

3. cuspidate /ˈkəspəˌdāt /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent. (sense 2): from Latin cuspis ‘point or apex.’

cuspid /ˈkəspəd/

I. noun

a tooth with a single cusp or point; a canine tooth.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin cuspis, cuspid- ‘point or apex.’

cuspidor /ˈkəspəˌdôr/

I. noun

(US) a spittoon.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Portuguese, literally ‘spitter.’

cusping /ˈkəspiNG/

noun

1. formation of a cusp or cusps

• if you use the incorrect pressure there will be serious cusping and uneven wear on the tire.

2. [Architecture] a decorative feature consisting of cusps.

cuss /kəs / ‹informal›

I. noun

1. an annoying or stubborn person or animal

• he was certainly an unsociable cuss.

2. another term for curse (sense 2 of the noun).

II. verb

another term for curse (sense 2 of the verb).

cussed /ˈkəsəd/

I. adjective

‹informal› stubborn; annoying

• why do you have to be so cussed?

II. derivatives

1. cussedly

adverb

2. cussedness /ˈkəsədnəs /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent. (originally US): variant of cursed.

cuss word /ˈkəs ˌwərd/

noun

‹informal› a swear word.

custard /ˈkəstərd/

I. noun

a dessert or sweet sauce made with milk, eggs, and sugar.

– origin late Middle English crustarde, custarde (denoting an open pie containing meat or fruit in a spiced or sweetened sauce thickened with eggs), from Old French crouste (see crust).

custard apple /ˈkəstərd ˌapəl/

noun

1. a large, fleshy, tropical fruit with a sweet yellow pulp.
See also cherimoya and sweetsop.

2. the tree that bears the custard apple, native to Central and South America.
[Genus Annona, family Annonaceae: several species.]

custard tart

noun

a sweet pastry crust with a custard filling, typically eaten cold

• the custard tart is paired with candied ginger.

Custer, George Armstrong /ˈkəstər/

(1839–76), US cavalry officer. He served with distinction during the Civil War. In 1876, he was killed, along with all of his men (266) in a clash (popularly known as Custer's Last Stand) with the Sioux Indians at Little Bighorn in Montana.

custodial /kəˈstōdēəl/

adjective

1. relating to or requiring imprisonment

• a light custodial sentence.

2. [Law] relating to or having parental responsibility, especially as allocated as part of a divorce

• the request by a custodial parent to relocate.

custodian /kəsˈtōdēən/

I. noun

1. a person who has responsibility for or looks after something

• the custodians of pension and insurance funds.

2. (US) a person employed to clean and maintain a building.

II. derivatives

custodianship /-ˌSHip /

noun

– origin late 18th cent.: from custody, on the pattern of guardian.

custody /ˈkəstədē/

I. noun

1. the protective care or guardianship of someone or something

• the property was placed in the custody of a trustee.

2. imprisonment

• my father was being taken into custody.

3. [Law] parental responsibility, especially as allocated to one of two divorcing parents

• he was trying to get custody of their child.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin custodia, from custos ‘guardian.’

custom /ˈkəstəm/

I. noun

1. a traditional and widely accepted way of behaving or doing something that is specific to a particular society, place, or time

• the old English custom of dancing around the maypole

• custom demanded that a person should have gifts for the child.

2. [in sing.] — a thing that one does habitually

• it was my custom to nap for an hour every day.

3. [Law] established practice or usage having the force of law or right.

4. (chiefly Brit.) regular dealings with a shop or business by customers

• if you keep me waiting, I will take my custom elsewhere.

II. adjective

(N. Amer.) made or done to order for a particular customer

• a custom guitar.

– origin Middle English: from Old French coustume, based on Latin consuetudo, from consuetus, past participle of consuescere ‘accustom,’ from con- (expressing intensive force) + suescere ‘become accustomed.’

customarily /ˌkəstəˈmerəlē/

adverb

in a way that follows customs or usual practices; usually

• the leaves are customarily used for animal fodder.

customary /ˈkəstəˌmerē/

I. adjective

1. according to the customs or usual practices associated with a particular society, place, or set of circumstances

• it is customary to mark an occasion like this with a toast.

2. according to a person's habitual practice

• I put the kettle on for our customary cup of tea.

3. [Law] established by or based on custom rather than common law or statute.

II. noun

‹historical› another term for custumal.

– origin late Middle English (as a noun): from medieval Latin custumarius, from custuma, from Anglo-Norman French custume (see custom).

custom-built /ˈkəstəm ˈbilt/

adjective

another term for custom-made.

customer /ˈkəstəmər/

noun

1. a person or organization that buys goods or services from a store or business

• Mr. Harrison was a regular customer at the Golden Lion

• [as modifier] customer service.

2. a person or thing of a specified kind that one has to deal with

• the fish is a slippery customer and very hard to catch

• Jon won over Lucie's father, but her mother is a tough customer.

customer-facing //

adjective

dealing directly with customers

• the programs are particularly valuable in customer-facing environments such as call centers.

customer service

noun

the assistance and advice provided by a company to those people who buy or use its products or services.

custom house customs house

noun

‹chiefly historical› the office at a port or frontier where customs duty is collected.

customizable

adjective

able to be modified to suit a particular individual or task

• a customizable keyboard designed with the gamer in mind.

customization

noun

1. the action of modifying something to suit a particular individual or task

• the new software allows customization.

2. a modification made to something to suit a particular individual or task

• users can save these customizations.

customize /ˈkəstəˌmīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. modify (something) to suit a particular individual or task

• the suit can be customized for every skydiving need

• (as adj. customized) many caterers offer private tastings and customized menus.

custom-made /ˈˌkəstə ˈmād/

adjective

made to a particular customer's order.

customs /ˈkəstəmz/

I. plural noun

1. the official department that administers and collects the duties levied by a government on imported goods

• cocaine seizures by customs have risen this year

• [as modifier] a customs officer.

2. the place at a port, airport, or frontier where officials check incoming goods, travelers, or luggage

• arriving refugees were whisked through customs.

3. (usu. customs duties) — the duties levied by a government on imported goods.

– origin late Middle English: originally in the singular, denoting a customary due paid to a ruler, later duty levied on goods on their way to market.

customs union /ˈkəstəmz ˈyo͞onyən/

noun

a group of countries that have agreed to charge the same import duties as each other and usually to allow free trade between themselves.

custumal /ˈkəstəməl, ˈkəsCHə- / customal

I. noun

‹historical› a written account of the customs of a manor or other local community or large establishment.

– origin late 16th cent.: from medieval Latin custumale ‘customs book,’ neuter of custumalis, from custuma ‘custom.’

cut /kət/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make an opening, incision, or wound in (something) with a sharp-edged tool or object

• he cut his big toe on a sharp stone

• he cut open MacKay's face with the end of his hockey stick

• ‹figurative› his scorn cut deeper than knives.

2. [no obj.] — make an incision in one's own flesh, as a symptom of emotional distress

• she's been cutting every day after school for months

• [with obj.] they cut themselves in a sad attempt to release the pain.

3. remove (something) from something larger by using a sharp implement

• I cut his photograph out of the paper

• some prisoners had their right hands cut off.

4. ‹informal› castrate (an animal, especially a horse).

5. remove the foreskin of a penis; circumcise.

6. (cut something out) — make something by cutting

• I cut out some squares of paper.

7. (cut something out) — remove, exclude, or stop eating or doing something undesirable

• start today by cutting out fatty foods.

8. (cut something out) — (N. Amer.) separate an animal from the main herd.

9. divide into pieces with a knife or other sharp implement

• cut the beef into thin slices

• he cut his food up into teeny pieces.

10. make divisions in (something)

• land that has been cut up by streams into forested areas.

11. separate (something) into two; sever

• they cut the rope before he choked.

12. (cut something down) — make something, especially a tree, fall by cutting it through at the base.

13. (cut someone down) — (of a weapon, bullet, or disease) kill or injure someone

• Barker had been cut down by a sniper's bullet.

14. make or form (something) by using a sharp tool to remove material

• workmen cut a hole in the pipe.

15. make or design (a garment) in a particular way
(as adj. cut)

• an impeccably cut chalk-stripe suit.

16. make (a path, tunnel, or other route) by excavation, digging, or chopping

• plans to cut a road through a rain forest

• [no obj.] investigators called for a machete to cut through the bush

• ‹figurative› a large woman with a voice that cut through crowds.

17. trim or reduce the length of (something, especially grass or a person's hair or fingernails) by using a sharp implement

• cutting the lawn

• cut back all the year's growth to about four leaves.

18. reduce the amount or quantity of

• buyers will bargain hard to cut the cost of the house they want

• I should cut down my sugar intake

• [no obj.] they've cut back on costs

• the state passed a law to cut down on drunk-driving

• the paper glut cuts into profits.

19. abridge (a text, movie, or performance) by removing material

• he had to cut unnecessary additions made to the opening scene.

20. [Computing] delete (part of a text or other display) completely or so as to insert a copy of it elsewhere.
See also cut and paste.

21. (in sports) remove (a player) from a team's roster.

22. end or interrupt the provision of (something, especially power or food supplies)

• we resolved to cut oil supplies to territories controlled by the rebels

• if the pump develops a fault, the electrical supply is immediately cut off.

23. (cut something off) — block the usual means of access to a place

• the caves were cut off from the outside world by a landslide.

24. (N. Amer.) absent oneself deliberately from (something one should normally attend, especially school)

• Robert was cutting class.

25. switch off (an engine or a light).

26. (of a line) cross or intersect (another line)

• the point where the line cuts the vertical axis.

27. [no obj.] (cut across) — pass or traverse, especially so as to shorten one's route

• the following aircraft cut across to join him.

28. [no obj.] (cut across) — have an effect regardless of (divisions or boundaries between groups)

• subcultures that cut across national and political boundaries.

29. [no obj.] (cut along) — ‹informal› ‹dated› leave or move hurriedly

• you can cut along now.

30. ‹dated› ignore or refuse to recognize (someone).

31. [no obj., often in imperative] — stop filming or recording.

32. move to another shot in a movie

• cut to a dentist's surgery.

33. [with obj.] — make (a movie) into a coherent whole by removing parts or placing them in a different order.

34. make (a sound recording).

35. divide (a pack of playing cards) by lifting a portion from the top, either to reveal or draw a card at random or to place the top portion under the bottom portion.

36. [Golf] slice (the ball).

37. adulterate (a drug) or dilute (alcohol) by mixing it with another substance

• speed cut with rat poison.

38. (cut it) — (N. Amer.) ‹informal› come up to expectations; meet requirements

• this CD player doesn't quite cut it.

[shortened form of the idiom cut the mustard.]

II. noun

1. an act of cutting, in particular

2. [in sing.] — a haircut

• his hair was in need of a cut.

3. a stroke or blow given by a sharp-edged implement or by a whip or cane

• he could skin an animal with a single cut of the knife.

4. a wounding remark or act

• his unkindest cut at Elizabeth was to call her heartless.

5. a reduction in amount or size

• she took a 20% pay cut

• a cut in interest rates.

6. (in sports) a removal of a player from a team's roster.

7. an act of removing part of a play, movie, or book, especially to shorten the work or to delete offensive material

• they would not publish the book unless the author was willing to make cuts.

8. an immediate transition from one scene to another in a movie.

9. [Golf] the halfway point of a golf tournament, where half of the players are eliminated.

10. [Tennis] a stroke made with a sharp horizontal or downward action of the racket, imparting spin.

11. a result of cutting something, in particular

12. a long narrow incision in the skin made by something sharp.

13. a long narrow opening or incision made in a surface or piece of material

• make a single cut along the top of each potato.

14. a piece of meat cut from a carcass

• a good lean cut of beef.

15. [in sing.] — ‹informal› a share of the profits from something

• the directors are demanding their cut.

16. a recording of a piece of music

• a cut from his forthcoming album.

17. a version of a movie after editing

• the director's cut.

18. a passage cut or dug out, as a railroad cutting or a new channel made for a river or other waterway.

19. a woodcut.

20. [in sing.] — the way or style in which something, especially a garment or someone's hair, is cut

• the elegant cut of his dinner jacket.

III. phrases

1. be cut out for (or to be)

[usu. with negative] — ‹informal› have exactly the right qualities for a particular role, task, or job

• I'm just not cut out to be a policeman.

2. a cut above

‹informal› noticeably superior to

• she's a cut above the rest.

3. cut and dried /ˌkət ən ˈdrīd /

[often with negative] — (of a situation) completely settled or decided

• the championship is not as cut and dried as everyone thinks.

[early 18th cent.: originally used to distinguish the herbs of herbalists' shops from growing herbs.]

4. cut and run

‹informal› make a speedy or sudden departure from an awkward or hazardous situation rather than deal with it.
[originally a nautical phrase, meaning ‘cut the anchor cable because of some emergency and make sail immediately.’]

5. cut and thrust /ˌkəd ən ˈTHrəst /

a. [Fencing] the use of both the edge and the point of one's sword while fighting.

b. a spirited and rapid interchange of views

• the cut and thrust of political debate.

c. a situation or sphere of activity regarded as carried out under adversarial conditions

• the ruthless cut and thrust of the business world.

6. cut both ways

a. (of a point or statement) serve both sides of an argument.

b. (of an action or process) have both good and bad effects

• the triumphs of civilization cut both ways.

7. cut the corner

take the shortest course by going across and not around a corner.

8. cut corners

undertake something in what appears to be the easiest, quickest, or cheapest way, especially by omitting to do something important or ignoring rules.

9. cut the crap

[often in imperative] — ‹vulgar slang› get to the point; state the real situation.

10. cut someone dead

completely ignore someone.

11. cut a deal

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› come to an arrangement, especially in business; make a deal.

12. cut someone down to size

‹informal› deflate someone's exaggerated sense of self-worth.

13. cut something down to size

reduce the size or power of something, for example an organization, that is regarded as having become too large or powerful.

14. cut a —— figure

present oneself or appear in a particular way

• David has cut a dashing figure on the international social scene.

15. cut from the same cloth

of the same nature; similar

• don't assume all women are cut from the same cloth.

16. cut in line

(N. Amer.) push into a line of people in order to be served or dealt with before one's turn.

17. cut it fine

see fine^1.

18. cut it out

[usu. in imperative] — ‹informal› used to ask someone to stop doing or saying something that is annoying or offensive

• I'm sick of that joke; cut it out, can't you?

19. cut loose

a. distance oneself from a person, group, or system by which one is unduly influenced or on which one is overdependent

• they cut loose from from the factory and started their own.

b. act without restraint

• consumers want to cut loose and have secret bacchanals.

20. cut someone/something loose (or free)

free someone or something from something that holds or restricts them

• he'd cut loose the horses.

21. cut one's losses

abandon an enterprise or course of action that is clearly going to be unprofitable or unsuccessful before one suffers too much loss or harm.

22. cut the mustard

‹informal› come up to expectations; reach the required standard

• I didn't cut the mustard as a hockey player.

23. cut no ice

‹informal› have no influence or effect

• your holier-than-thou attitude cuts no ice with me.

24. cut someone off (or down) in their prime

bring someone's life or career to an abrupt end while they are at the peak of their abilities.

25. cut someone/something short

interrupt someone or something; bring an abrupt or premature end to something said or done

• Peter cut him short rudely.

26. cut someone to pieces

a. kill or severely injure someone.

b. totally defeat someone.

27. cut a (or the) rug

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› dance, typically in an energetic or accomplished way

• you can cut a rug when dance bands and singers take to the stage.

28. cut one's teeth

acquire initial practice or experience of a particular sphere of activity or with a particular organization

• the brothers cut their professional teeth at Lusardi's before starting their own restaurant.

29. cut a tooth

(usu. of a baby or child) have a tooth appear through the gum.

30. cut to the chase

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› come to the point

• cut to the chase—what is it you want us to do?

[cut in the sense ‘move to another part of the movie,’ expressing the notion of ignoring any preliminaries.]

31. cut your coat according to your cloth

‹proverb› undertake only what you have the money or ability to do and no more.

32. have one's work cut out

see work.

33. make the cut

[Golf] equal or better a required score, thus avoiding elimination from the last two rounds of a four-round tournament.

34. miss the cut

[Golf] fail to equal or better a required score, thus being eliminated from the last two rounds of a four-round tournament.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. cut in

a. interrupt someone while they are speaking

• “It's urgent,” Raoul cut in.

b. ‹dated› interrupt a dancing couple to take over from one partner.

c. pull in too closely in front of another vehicle after having overtaken it

• she cut in on a station wagon, forcing the driver to brake.

d. (of a motor or other mechanical device) begin operating, especially when triggered automatically by an electrical signal

• emergency generators cut in.

2. cut someone in

‹informal› include someone in a deal and give them a share of the profits.

3. cut into

interrupt the course of

• Victoria's words cut into her thoughts.

4. cut someone off

a. interrupt someone while they are speaking.

b. interrupt someone during a telephone call by breaking the connection

• I listened to prerecorded messages for twenty-three minutes before being cut off.

c. prevent someone from receiving or being provided with something, especially power or water

• consumers were cut off for nonpayment.

d. reject someone as one's heir; disinherit someone

• Gabrielle's family cut her off without a penny.

e. prevent someone from having access to somewhere or someone; isolate someone from something they previously had connections with

• we were cut off from reality.

f. ‹informal› (of a driver) overtake someone and pull in too closely in front of them.

5. cut out

a. (of a motor or engine) suddenly stop operating.

b. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› (of a person) leave quickly, especially so as to avoid a boring or awkward situation.

6. cut someone out

exclude someone

• his mother cut him out of her will.

7. cut up

a. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› behave in a mischievous or unruly manner

• kids cutting up in a classroom.

b. ‹informal› (of a horse race) have a particular selection of runners

• the race has cut up badly with no other opposition from England.

8. cut someone up

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› criticize someone severely

• my kids cut him up about his appetite all the time.

– origin Middle English (probably existing, although not recorded, in Old English); probably of Germanic origin and related to Norwegian kutte and Icelandic kuta ‘cut with a small knife,’ kuti ‘small blunt knife.’

cut-and-come-again

noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. a garden plant, especially a green vegetable or a flower, that can be repeatedly cut or harvested

• cut-and-come-again spinach.

cut-and-cover /ˌkədənˈkəvər/

noun

a method of building a tunnel by making a cutting, which is then lined and covered over.

cut and paste /kət and (ə)n(d) pāst/

I. noun

[Computing] a process in which text or other data is moved from one part of a document and inserted elsewhere.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. move (text or other data) using cut and paste.

cutaneous /kyo͞oˈtānēəs/

I. adjective

of, relating to, or affecting the skin

• cutaneous pigmentation.

– origin late 16th cent.: from modern Latin cutaneus (from Latin cutis ‘skin’) + -ous.

cutaway /ˈkədəˌwā/

noun — [often as modifier]

1. a coat or jacket with the front cut away below the waist so as to curve back to the tails.

2. a diagram or drawing with some external parts left out to reveal the interior.

3. a shot in a movie that is of a different subject from those to which it is joined in editing.

cutback /ˈkətˌbak/

noun

an act or instance of reducing something, typically expenditures

• cutbacks in defense spending.

cutch /kəCH/

noun

see catechu.

cutdown /ˈkətdoun/

noun

1. a decrease or reduction
[as modifier]

• left with a cutdown staff.

2. [Surgery] a procedure of cutting into a vein in order to insert a needle or cannula.

cute /kyo͞ot/

I. adjective

1. attractive in a pretty or endearing way

• a cute kitten.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› sexually attractive.

3. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› clever or cunning, especially in a self-seeking or superficial way

• I don't want to be cute with you.

II. derivatives

cutely /ˈkyo͞otlē /

adverb

– origin early 18th cent. (in the sense ‘clever, shrewd’): shortening of acute.

cuteness /ˈkyo͞otnəs/

noun

1. the quality of being attractive in a pretty or endearing way

• the innocence, exuberance, and overall cuteness of all these children.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› the quality of being sexually attractive

• this actress has cuteness written all over her face.

cutesy /ˈkyo͞otsē/

I. adjective

‹informal› cute to a sentimental or mawkish extent

• hair pulled back in cutesy little bows.

II. derivatives

cutesiness

noun

cut glass /ˈˌkət ˈˌɡlas/

noun

glass that has been ornamented by having patterns cut into it by grinding and polishing
[as modifier]

• a cut-glass vase.

Cuthbert, St. /ˈkəTHbərt/

(died 687), English monk. Feast day, March 20.

cuticle /ˈkyo͞odək(ə)l/

I. noun

1. the outer layer of living tissue, in particular

2. [Botany] [Zoology] a protective and waxy or hard layer covering the epidermis of a plant, invertebrate, or shell.

3. the outer cellular layer of a hair.

4. [Zoology] another term for epidermis.

5. the dead skin at the base of a fingernail or toenail.

II. derivatives

cuticular /kyo͞oˈtikyələr /

adjective

– origin late 15th cent. (denoting a membrane of the body): from Latin cuticula, diminutive of cutis ‘skin.’

cutie /ˈkyo͞odē / cutey , cutie pie

noun

‹informal› an attractive or endearing person.

cutin /ˈkyo͞otn/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a waxy, water-repellent substance occurring in the cuticle of plants and consisting of highly polymerized esters of fatty acids.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from cutis + -in^1.

cut-in /ˈkəd ˌin/

noun

a shot in a movie that is edited into another shot or scene.

cutis /ˈkyo͞odəs/

I. noun

[Anatomy] the true skin or dermis.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin,‘skin.’

cutlass /ˈkətləs/

I. noun

a short sword with a slightly curved blade, formerly used by sailors.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French coutelas, based on Latin cultellus ‘small knife’ (see cutler).

cutlassfish /ˈkətləsˌfiSH/

noun

a long, slender marine fish with sharp teeth and a dorsal fin running the length of the back.
[Family Trichiuridae: several species, including the Atlantic Trichiurus lepturus (also called snakefish), an important food fish in the tropics.]

cutler /ˈkətlər/

I. noun

a person who makes or sells cutlery.

– origin Middle English: from Old French coutelier, from coutel ‘knife,’ from Latin cultellus, diminutive of culter ‘knife, plowshare.’ Compare with coulter.

cutlery /ˈkətlərē/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) cutting utensils, especially knives for cutting food.

2. knives, forks, and spoons used for eating or serving food.

– origin Middle English: from Old French coutellerie, from coutelier (see cutler).

cutlet /ˈkətlət/

I. noun

1. a portion of sliced meat breaded and served either grilled or fried.

2. a flat croquette of minced meat, nuts, or pulses, typically covered in breadcrumbs and fried.

– origin early 18th cent.: from French côtelette, earlier costelette, diminutive of coste ‘rib,’ from Latin costa.

cutline /ˈkətlīn/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) the caption to a photograph or other illustration.

2. (in squash) the line above which a served ball must strike the front wall.

cutoff /ˈkədäf/

I. adjective

1. of or constituting a limit

• the cutoff date to register is July 2.

2. (of a device) producing an interruption or cessation of a power or fuel supply

• a cutoff valve.

3. (of an item of clothing) having been cut short

• a cutoff T-shirt.

4. (of a person) isolated from or no longer having access to someone or something

• aid to the cutoff troops in the north.

II. noun

1. a point or level that is a designated limit of something

• 1 p.m. is the cutoff for being out of the woods.

2. an act of stopping or interrupting the supply or provision of something

• a cutoff of aid would be a disaster.

3. a device for producing an interruption or cessation of a power or fuel supply.

4. a sudden drop in amplification or responsiveness of an electric device at a certain frequency
[as modifier]

• a cutoff frequency of 8 Hz.

5. the stopping of the supply of steam to the cylinders of a steam engine when the piston has traveled a set percentage of its stroke.

6. (cutoffs) — shorts made by cutting off the legs of a pair of jeans or other trousers above or at the knee and leaving the edges unhemmed.

7. (N. Amer.) a shortcut.

8. [Geology] a pattern of a meandering stream in which a channel cuts a new course to bypass a meander bend.

cutout /ˈkədˌout/

noun

1. a shape of a person or thing cut out of cardboard or another material.

2. a person perceived as characterless or as lacking in individuality

• this film's protagonists are cardboard cutouts.

3. a hole cut in something for decoration or to allow the insertion of something else.

4. a device that automatically breaks an electric circuit for safety and either resets itself or can be reset.

cutover /ˈkədˌōvər/

I. noun

a rapid transition from one phase of a business enterprise or project to another.

II. adjective

(of land) having had its saleable timber felled and removed.

cutpurse /ˈkətpərs/

I. noun

‹archaic› a pickpocket or thief.

– origin late Middle English: with reference to stealing by cutting purses suspended from a waistband.

cut-rate /ˈkʌtˌrāt / cut-price

adjective

1. for sale at a reduced or unusually low price

• cut-rate tickets.

2. offering goods at reduced prices

• a cut-rate furniture store.

cutscene /ˈkətsēn/

noun

(in computer games) a scene that develops the story line and is often shown on completion of a certain level, or when the player's character dies.

cutter /ˈkədər/

noun

1. a person or thing that cuts something, in particular

2. [often with adj. or modifier] — a tool for cutting something, especially one intended for cutting a particular thing or for producing a particular shape

• a glass cutter

• (cutters) a pair of bolt cutters.

3. a person who cuts or edits movies.

4. a person in a tailoring establishment who takes measurements and cuts the cloth.

5. a person who reduces or cuts down on something, especially expenditures

• a determined cutter of costs.

6. a person who cuts into their own flesh, especially habitually as a symptom of emotional distress

• a support group for recovering cutters.

7. a light, fast coastal patrol boat.

8. a ship's boat used for carrying light stores or passengers.

9. ‹historical› a small fore-and-aft-rigged sailing ship with one mast, more than one headsail, and a running bowsprit, used as a fast auxiliary.

10. a yacht with a gaff-rigged mainsail and two foresails.

11. (also cut fastball) — [Baseball] a fastball that breaks somewhat on being pitched.

12. (N. Amer.) a light horse-drawn sleigh.

cutthroat /ˈkətTHrōt/

I. noun

1. ‹dated› a murderer or other violent criminal.

2. (also cutthroat trout) — a trout of western North America, with red or orange markings under the jaw.
[Salmo clarki, family Salmonidae.]

II. adjective

1. (of a competitive situation or activity) fierce and intense; involving the use of ruthless measures

• cutthroat competition led to a lot of bankruptcies

• the cutthroat world of fashion.

2. (of a person) using ruthless methods in a competitive situation

• the greedy cutthroat manufacturers he worked for.

3. [Sports] relating to or being a game or contest in which each of three players scores individually against the other two.

4. denoting a form of whist (or other card game normally for four) played by three players.

cutthroat razor

noun

British term for straight razor.

cutthroat weaver cutthroat, cutthroat finch

noun

a small, finchlike African bird of the waxbill family, with speckled brown plumage, a conspicuous crimson throat band, and a rufous belly.
[Amadina fasciata, family Estrildidae.]

cut time

noun

[Music] (N. Amer.) a time signature indicating 2 or 4 half-note beats in a bar; alla breve

• many fast songs are written in cut time so that instead of reading sixteenth notes, you are dealing with eighth notes.

cutting /ˈkədiNG/

I. noun

1. the action of someone or something that cuts

• the cutting of the cake

• tax-cutting.

2. (often cuttings) — a piece cut off from something, especially what remains when something is being trimmed or prepared

• grass cuttings.

3. a piece cut from a plant for propagation.

4. (Brit.) a clipping from a newspaper or periodical.

5. an open passage excavated through higher ground for a railroad, road, or canal.

II. adjective

1. capable of cutting something

• the cutting blades of the hedge trimmer.

2. (especially of a comment) causing emotional pain; hurtful

• a cutting remark.

3. (of the wind) bitterly cold.

III. derivatives

cuttingly /ˈkədiNGlē /

adverb

cutting edge /ˈˌkədiNG ˈˌej/

I. noun

1. the edge of a tool's blade.

2. [in sing.] — the latest or most advanced stage in the development of something

• researchers at the cutting edge of molecular biology.

3. [in sing.] — a dynamic or invigorating quality

• the campaign began to lose its cutting edge.

4. incisiveness and directness of expression

• his wit retains its cutting edge.

II. adjective

at the latest or most advanced stage of development; innovative or pioneering

• cutting-edge technology.

cutting horse

noun

(N. Amer.) a horse trained in separating cattle from a herd.

cutting room

noun

a room in a production studio where film or videotape is cut and edited
[as modifier]

• such a scene would end up on the cutting-room floor.

cuttle /ˈkədl/

I. noun

a cuttlefish.

– origin Old English cudele ‘cuttlefish,’ of Germanic origin; related to codd ‘bag,’ with reference to its ink bag.

cuttlebone /ˈkədlˌbōn/

noun

the flattened oval internal skeleton of the cuttlefish, which is made of white, lightweight, chalky material. It is used as a dietary supplement for caged birds and for making casts for precious metal items.

cuttlefish /ˈkədlˌfiSH/

I. noun

a swimming marine mollusk that resembles a broad squid, having eight arms and two long tentacles that are used for grabbing prey. Its internal skeleton is cuttlebone, which it uses for adjusting buoyancy.
[Order Sepioidea, class Cephalopoda: Sepia and other genera.]

– origin late 16th cent.: from cuttle + fish^1.

Cutty Sark /ˌkəti ˈsärk/

I. the only survivor of the British tea clippers, launched in 1869 and now preserved as a museum ship at Greenwich, London.

– origin from Robert Burns's Tam o' Shanter, a poem about a Scottish farmer chased by a young witch who wore only her “cutty sark” (= short shift).

cutty-stool /ˈkədēˌsto͞ol/

noun

(Scottish) ‹historical› a stool on which an offender was publicly rebuked during a church service.

cut-up cut up

I. adjective

1. divided into pieces by cutting

• cut-up vegetables.

2. (of a soft piece of ground) having an uneven surface after the passage of heavy vehicles or animals

• the ground was deeply cut up where the cattle had strayed.

3. ‹informal› (of a person) very distressed

• his girlfriend is dying and he's really cut up about it.

II. noun

1. a film or sound recording made by cutting and editing material from preexisting recordings.

2. (cutup) — (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a person who is fond of making jokes or playing pranks.

cutwater /ˈkətwôdər ˈkətˌwädər/

noun

1. the forward edge of a ship's prow.

2. a wedge-shaped projection on the pier of a bridge, which divides the flow of water and prevents debris from becoming trapped against the pier.

cutwork /ˈkətwərk/

noun

1. embroidery or lace with parts cut out and the edges oversewn or filled with needlework designs.

2. appliqué work in which the pattern is cut out and sewn on.

cutworm /ˈkətwərm/

noun

a moth caterpillar that lives in the upper layers of the soil and eats through the stems of young plants at ground level.
[Several species in the family Noctuidae.]

cuvée /k(y)o͞oˈvā/

I. noun

a type, blend, or batch of wine, especially champagne.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French,‘vatful,’ from cuve ‘cask,’ from Latin cupa.

cuvette /kyo͞oˈvet/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a straight-sided, optically clear container for holding liquid samples in a spectrophotometer or other instrument.

– origin early 18th cent.: from French, diminutive of cuve ‘cask,’ from Latin cupa.

Cuvier, Georges /ko͞oˈvyā/

Baron (1769–1832), French naturalist; full name Georges Léopold Chrétien Frédéric Dagobert Cuvier. Cuvier founded the science of paleontology.

cuz^1 /kəz / 'cuz

conjunction

‹informal› because.

• I don't have much money to buy games cuz I'm a student.

cuz^2 /kəz/

noun

1. a person's cousin.

• did you know that Claire's my cuz?

2. (chiefly US) a friend or acquaintance (typically used as a form of address between men)

• he always greeted people with a smile and "Whassup, cuz?".

Cuzco /ˈko͞oskō/

a city in the Andes in southern Peru; pop. 348,900 (est. 2007). It was the capital of the Inca empire until the Spanish conquest in 1533.

CV^1 /ˌsē ˈvē/

I. noun

a brief account of a person's education, qualifications, and previous occupations, typically sent with a job application

• if you feel that you have these skills then please send us your CV.

– origin 1970s: abbreviation of curriculum vitae.

CV^2 /ˌsē ˈvē/

abbreviation

cardiovascular.

cv.

abbreviation

cultivated variety.

CVS

abbreviation

chorionic villus sampling.

CVT

abbreviation

continuously variable transmission.

cwm /ko͝om, ko͞om/

I. noun

a cirque, especially one in the mountains of Wales.

– origin mid 19th cent.: Welsh; related to combe.

CWO

abbreviation

Chief Warrant Officer.

c.w.o.

abbreviation

cash with order.

cwr

abbreviation

continuous welded rail; railroad track laid in long unbroken strips rather than as short fixed lengths with gaps.

cwt.

abbreviation

hundredweight.

CY

abbreviation

calendar year.

-cy

I. suffix

1. denoting state or condition

• bankruptcy.

2. denoting rank or status

• baronetcy.

– origin from Latin -cia, -tia and Greek -k(e)ia, -t(e)ia.

cyan /ˈsīən/

I. noun

a greenish-blue color, which is one of the primary subtractive colors, complementary to red.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek kuaneos ‘dark blue.’

cyanamide /sīˈanəməd sīˈanəˌmīd/

I. noun

1. [Chemistry] a weakly acidic crystalline compound made as an intermediate in the industrial production of ammonia.
[Alternative name: cyanogen amide; chem. formula: CH_2N_2.]

2. [Chemistry] a salt of cyanamide containing the anion CN_22− especially the calcium salt (calcium cyanamide) used as a fertilizer.

– origin mid 19th cent.: blend of cyanogen and amide.

cyanic /sīˈanik/

I. adjective

‹rare› blue; azure.

– origin early 19th cent.: from cyan + -ic.

cyanic acid

I. noun

[Chemistry] a colorless, poisonous, volatile, strongly acidic liquid.
[Chem. formula: HOCN. See also fulminic acid.]

II. derivatives

cyanate /ˈsīəˌnāt /

noun

– origin early 19th cent.: from cyanogen.

cyanide /ˈsīəˌnīd/

I. noun

1. [Chemistry] a salt or ester of hydrocyanic acid, containing the anion CN− or the group —CN. The salts are generally extremely toxic.
Compare with nitrile.

2. [Chemistry] sodium or potassium cyanide used as a poison or in the extraction of gold and silver.

– origin early 19th cent.: from cyanogen + -ide.

cyanine /ˈsīənēn ˈsīənin/

noun

a blue pigment that is a mixture of cobalt blue and Prussian blue.

cyanite /ˈsīəˌnīt/

noun

variant of kyanite.

cyano-

I. combining form

1. relating to the color blue, especially dark blue

• cyanosis.

2. representing cyanide.

– origin from Greek kuan(e)os ‘dark blue.’

cyanoacrylate /ˌsīənōˈakrəˌlāt, sīˈanō-/

noun

[Chemistry] any of a class of compounds that are cyanide derivatives of acrylates. They are easily polymerized and are used to make quick-setting adhesives.

Cyanobacteria /ˌsīənōbakˈtirēə, sīˌanō- / ‹Biology›

I. a division of microorganisms that are related to the bacteria but are capable of photosynthesis. They are prokaryotic and represent the earliest known form of life on the earth.
[Class Cyanophyceae, kingdom Eubacteria.]

II. (as plural noun cyanobacteria) — microorganisms of the Cyanobacteria division.
Also called blue-green algae.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek kuaneos ‘dark blue’ + plural of bacterium.

cyanocobalamin /ˌsīənōˌkōˈbaləmin, sīˌanō-/

I. noun

a vitamin found in foods of animal origin such as liver, fish, and eggs, a deficiency of which can cause pernicious anemia. It contains a cyanide group bonded to the central cobalt atom of a cobalamin molecule.
Also called vitamin B12 (see vitamin B).

– origin 1950s: from cyanogen and cobalamin (blend of cobalt and vitamin).

cyanogen /sīˈanəjən/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a colorless, flammable, highly poisonous gas made by oxidizing hydrogen cyanide. One of the pseudohalogens, cyanogen is an intermediate in fertilizer manufacture.
[Chem. formula: C_2N_2.]

– origin early 19th cent.: from French cyanogène, from Greek kuanos ‘dark blue mineral’ + -gène (see -gen), so named because it is a constituent of Prussian blue.

cyanogenesis /ˌsīənōˈjenəsis, sīˌanō-/

noun

[Botany] the production of hydrogen cyanide by certain plants, such as cherry laurel, bracken, and some legumes, as a response to wounding or a deterrent to herbivores.

cyanogenic /ˌsīənōˈjenik, sīˌanō-/

adjective

1. [Botany] (of a plant) capable of cyanogenesis

• cyanogenic forms.

2. [Botany] [Biochemistry] containing a cyanide group in the molecule.

cyanohydrin /ˌsīənōˈhīdrin, sīˌanō-/

noun

[Chemistry] an organic compound containing a carbon atom linked to both a cyanide group and a hydroxyl group.

cyanophyte /ˈsīənəˌfīt, sīˈanə-/

noun

[Biology] a microorganism of the division Cyanobacteria.

cyanosis /ˌsīəˈnōsəs/

I. noun

[Medicine] a bluish discoloration of the skin resulting from poor circulation or inadequate oxygenation of the blood.

II. derivatives

cyanotic /ˌsīəˈnädik /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek kuanōsis ‘blueness,’ from kuaneos ‘dark blue.’

cyanotype /ˈsīənəˌtīp, sīˈanə-/

noun

a photographic blueprint.

cyathium /sīˈaTHēəm/

I. noun

[Botany] the characteristic inflorescence of the spurges, resembling a single flower. It consists of a cup-shaped involucre of fused bracts enclosing several greatly reduced male flowers and a single female flower.

– origin late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek kuathion, diminutive of kuathos ‘cup.’

Cybele /ˈsibəlē / ‹Mythology›

a mother goddess worshiped especially in Phrygia and later in Greece (where she was associated with Demeter), Rome, and the Roman provinces, with her consort Attis.

cyber /ˈsībər/

I. adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of the culture of computers, information technology, and virtual reality

• the cyber age.

– origin 1980s: abbreviation of cybernetics.

cyber-

I. combining form

relating to electronic communication networks and virtual reality

• cyberpunk

• cyberspace.

– origin back-formation from cybernetics.

cyberattack /ˈsībərəˌtak/

noun

an attempt by hackers to damage or destroy a computer network or system.

cyberbullying /ˌsībərˈbo͝olēiNG/

I. noun

the use of electronic communication to bully a person, typically by sending messages of an intimidating or threatening nature

• children may be reluctant to admit to being the victims of cyberbullying.

II. derivatives

cyberbully

noun

cybercafe /ˈsībərkaˌfā / cybercafé

noun

a cafe that offers Internet access on computers that it owns, or via Wi-Fi on patrons' computers.

cybercast /ˈsībərˌkast/

noun, verb

another term for webcast:

• over 200,000 subscribers worldwide followed the contest via a special cybercast

• the show will be cybercast on the band's website.

cyberchondriac /ˌsībərˈkändrēak/

I. noun

a person who compulsively searches the Internet for information on real or imagined symptoms of illness

• everybody is terribly health-conscious these days—it's no surprise that many people are becoming cyberchondriacs.

II. derivatives

cyberchondria

noun

– origin 1990s: blend of cyber- and hypochondriac.

cybercrime /ˈsībərˌkrīm/

I. noun

criminal activities carried out by means of computers or the Internet.

II. derivatives

cybercriminal

noun

cybercrook /ˈsībərˌkro͝ok/

noun

‹informal› a person who commits criminal activities by means of computers or the Internet; a cybercriminal.

• a wireless network set up by cybercrooks to capture any personal and financial information you send over it.

cyberculture /ˈsībərˌkəlCHər/

noun

the social conditions brought about by the widespread use of computer networks for communication, entertainment, and business

• our lives are influenced by cyberculture.

cyberespionage /ˌsībərˈespēəˌnäZH/

noun

the use of computer networks to gain illicit access to confidential information, typically that held by a government or other organization

• improving cybersecurity across government agencies is crucial given the increase in cyberespionage.

cyberlaw /ˈsībərˌlô/

noun

laws, or a specific law, relating to Internet and computer offenses, especially fraud or copyright infringement.

cybermall /ˈsībərˌmôl/

noun

a commercial website through which a range of goods may be purchased; a virtual shopping mall on the Internet.

Cyber Monday

I. noun

the Monday following Thanksgiving, promoted by online retailers as a day for exceptional bargains.

– origin early 21st cent.: on the pattern of Black Friday.

cybernaut /ˈsībərˌnôt ˈsībərˌnät/

I. noun

1. [Computing] a person who wears sensory devices in order to experience virtual reality.

2. [Computing] a person who uses the Internet.

– origin 1960s (in the senses ‘robot’ and ‘cyborg’): from cyber-, on the pattern of astronaut and aeronaut.

cybernetics /ˌsībərˈnediks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the science of communications and automatic control systems in both machines and living things.

II. derivatives

1. cybernetic /ˌsībərˈnedik /

adjective

2. cybernetician /-nəˈtiSHən /

noun

3. cyberneticist /-ˈnetəsəst /

noun

– origin 1940s: from Greek kubernētēs ‘steersman,’ from kubernan ‘to steer.’

cyberpet /ˈsībərˌpet/

noun

an electronic toy that simulates a real pet and with which human interaction is possible.
Also called digipet or virtual pet.

cyberphobia /ˌsībərˈfōbēə/

I. noun

extreme or irrational fear of computers or technology.

II. derivatives

1. cyberphobe /ˈsībərˌfōb /

noun

2. cyberphobic /-ˈfōbik /

adjective, noun

cyberporn /ˈsībərˌpôrn/

noun

pornography accessed via the Internet.

cyberpunk /ˈsībərˌpəNGk/

noun

a genre of science fiction set in a lawless subculture of an oppressive society dominated by computer technology.

cybersecurity /ˌsībərsiˈkyo͝orədē/

noun

the state of being protected against the criminal or unauthorized use of electronic data, or the measures taken to achieve this

• some people have argued that the threat to cybersecurity has been somewhat inflated.

• [as modifier] IT security professionals said that outsourcing would be the biggest cybersecurity threat.

cybersex /ˈsībərˌseks/

noun

sexual arousal using computer technology, especially by wearing virtual reality equipment or by exchanging messages with another person via the Internet.

cybershop /ˈsībərˌSHäp/

I. verb — [no obj.] (often as noun cybershopping)

1. purchase or shop for goods and services on a website.

II. noun

a website that sells or provides information about retail goods or services.

cyberslacker /ˈsībərˌslakər/

I. noun

‹informal› a person who uses their employer's Internet and email facilities for personal activities during working hours.

II. derivatives

cyberslacking

noun

cyberspace /ˈsībərˌspās/

noun

the notional environment in which communication over computer networks occurs.

cybersphere /ˈsībərˌsfir/

noun

the sphere or realm of information technology, as typified by the Internet.

• a good chunk of the incriminating material whirling around the cybersphere will somehow have to be expunged.

cyberspying /ˈsībərˌspīiNG/

noun

another term for cyberespionage:

• the government denied any involvement in cyberspying.

cybersquatting /ˈsībərˌskwädiNG/

I. noun

the practice of registering names, especially well-known company or brand names, as Internet domains, in the hope of reselling them at a profit.

II. derivatives

cybersquatter /ˈsībərˌskwädər /

noun

cyberstalking /ˈsībərˌstôkiNG/

I. noun

the repeated use of electronic communications to harass or frighten someone, for example by sending threatening emails.

II. derivatives

cyberstalker /ˈsībərˌstôkər /

noun

cyberstore /-ˌstôr/

noun

another term for cybershop.

cybersurfing /ˈsībərˌsərfiNG/

I. noun

the practice of using and browsing the Internet, especially as a habitual pastime.

II. derivatives

cybersurfer

noun

cyberterrorism /ˌsībərˈterərizəm/

I. noun

the politically motivated use of computers and information technology to cause severe disruption or widespread fear in society

• a bill that would make it easier for law enforcement to wiretap computers and combat cyberterrorism.

II. derivatives

cyberterrorist /ˌsībərˈterərist /

noun

cybertheft /ˈsībərˌTHeft/

noun

theft carried out by means of computers or the Internet

• online fraud and cybertheft cost financial institutions an estimated $3.5 billion last year

• a cybertheft in which criminals infiltrated the computer system of a bank and stole £1.3 million.

cyberthreat /ˈsībərˌTHret/

noun

the possibility of a malicious attempt to damage or disrupt a computer network or system

• the FBI has opened an investigation to address the potential cyberthreat.

cyberwar /ˈsībərˌwôr/

noun

the use of computer technology to disrupt the activities of a state or organization, especially the deliberate attacking of information systems for strategic or military purposes

• cyberwar is asymmetric, which means it benefits lesser military powers as much as military goliaths

• the same strategies that averted nuclear armageddon may also work to stave off a cyberwar.

cyberwarfare /ˌsībərˈwôrfer/

noun

the use of computer technology to disrupt the activities of a state or organization, especially the deliberate attacking of information systems for strategic or military purposes

• professional programmers are being hired by governments intent on waging cyberwarfare.

cyberwarrior /ˈsībərˌwôrēər/

noun

a computer expert engaged in the infiltration or sabotage of information systems, or in the defense of information systems against outside attack, typically for strategic or military purposes

• for the governments facing increasing computer attacks, the biggest challenge is finding the right cyberwarriors to fight back.

cyborg /ˈsīˌbôrɡ/

I. noun

a fictional or hypothetical person whose physical abilities are extended beyond normal human limitations by mechanical elements built into the body.

– origin 1960s: blend of cyber- and organism.

cybrarian /ˌsīˈbrerēən/

I. noun

a librarian or researcher who uses the Internet as an information resource.

– origin 1990s: blend of cyber- and librarian.

cycad /ˈsīkəd ˈsīˌkad/

I. noun

a palmlike plant of tropical and subtropical regions, bearing large male or female cones. Cycads were abundant during the Triassic and Jurassic eras, but have since been in decline.
[Class Cycadopsida, subdivision Gymnospermae: twenty species in the genus Cycas and family Cycadaceae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Cycas, Cycad- (order name), from supposed Greek kukas, scribal error for koikas, plural of koix ‘Egyptian palm.’

Cyclades /ˈsikləˌdēz/

I. a large group of islands in the southern Aegean Sea, regarded in antiquity as circling around the sacred island of Delos.
Greek name Kikládhes.

– origin Latin, based on Greek kuklos ‘circle.’

Cycladic /sīˈkladik, sə-/

adjective

1. of or relating to the Cyclades.

2. [Archaeology] of, relating to, or denoting a Bronze Age civilization that flourished in the Cyclades, dated to c. 3000–1050 BC.

3. (as noun the Cycladic) — the Cycladic culture or period.

cyclamate /ˈsīkləmāt/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a salt of a synthetic acid which is a cyclohexyl derivative of sulfamic acid. Sodium and calcium cyclamates were formerly used as artificial sweeteners.

– origin 1950s: contraction of cyclohexylsulphamate.

cyclamen /ˈsīkləmən ˈsikləmən/

I. noun

1. a European plant of the primrose family, having pink, red, or white flowers with backward-curving petals and widely grown as a winter-flowering houseplant.
[Genus Cyclamen, family Primulaceae: several species.]

2. a pinkish-purple color.

– origin modern Latin, from Latin cyclaminos, from Greek kuklaminos, perhaps from kuklos ‘circle,’ with reference to its bulbous roots.

cycle /ˈsīk(ə)l/

I. noun

1. [often with adj. or noun modifier] — a series of events that are regularly repeated in the same order

• the boom and slump periods of a trade cycle.

2. the period of time taken to complete a single sequence of events

• the cells are shed over a cycle of twenty-eight days.

3. ‹technical› a recurring series of successive operations or states, as in the working of an internal combustion engine, or in the alternation of an electric current or a wave

• the familiar four cycles of intake, combustion, ignition, and exhaust.

4. [Biology] a recurring series of events or metabolic processes in the lifetime of a plant or animal

• the storks' breeding cycle.

5. [Biochemistry] a series of successive metabolic reactions in which one of the products is regenerated and reused.

6. [Ecology] the movement of a simple substance through the soil, rocks, water, atmosphere, and living organisms of the earth.
See carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle.

7. [Computing] a single set of hardware operations, especially that by which memory is accessed and an item is transferred to or from it, to the point at which the memory may be accessed again.

8. [Physics] a cycle per second; one hertz.

9. a complete set or series

• the painting is one of a cycle of seven.

10. a series of songs, stories, plays, or poems composed around a particular theme and usually intended to be performed or read in sequence

• Wagner's Ring Cycle.

11. a bicycle or tricycle.

12. [in sing.] — a ride on a bicycle

• a 112-mile cycle.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. ride a bicycle

• she cycled to work every day.

2. move in or follow a regularly repeated sequence of events

• economies cycle regularly between boom and slump.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, from late Latin cyclus, from Greek kuklos ‘circle.’

cycle of erosion

noun

[Geology] ‹dated› an idealized course of landscape evolution, passing from youthful stages, which are marked by steep gradients, to old age, when the landscape is reduced to a peneplain.

cyclic /ˈsīklik ˈsiklik/

I. adjective

1. occurring in cycles; regularly repeated

• the cyclic pattern of the last two decades.

2. [Mathematics] (of a group) having the property that each element of the group can be expressed as a power of one particular element.

3. relating to or denoting a musical or literary composition with a recurrent theme or structural device.

4. [Mathematics] of or relating to a circle or other closed curve.

5. [Geometry] (of a polygon) having all its vertices lying on a circle.

6. [Chemistry] (of a compound) having a molecular structure containing one or more closed rings of atoms.

7. [Botany] (of a flower) having its parts arranged in whorls.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French cyclique or Latin cyclicus, from Greek kuklikos, from kuklos ‘circle.’

cyclical /ˈsiklək(ə)l ˈsīklək(ə)l/

I. adjective

occurring in cycles; recurrent

• the cyclical nature of the cement industry.

II. derivatives

cyclically /ˈsiklək(ə)lē ˈsīklək(ə)lē /

adverb

cyclicals /ˈsīklikəlz, ˈsik-/

plural noun

stocks in cyclical companies (those whose success varies with the seasonal or economic cycle).

cyclic AMP cAMP

noun

[Biochemistry] a cyclic form of adenosine monophosphate (adenylic acid) that plays a major role in controlling many enzyme-catalyzed processes in living cells.

cyclic GMP cGMP

noun

a cyclic version of the nucleotide guanosine monophosphate. In cellular metabolism, it is a secondary messenger affecting cell growth and division.

cyclic redundancy check cyclic redundancy code, CRC

noun

[Computing] a code added to data that is used to detect errors occurring during transmission, storage, or retrieval.

cyclin /ˈsīklən/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] any of a number of proteins associated with the cycle of cell division that are thought to initiate certain processes of mitosis.

– origin 1980s: from cycle + -in^1.

cycling /ˈsīk(ə)liNG/

noun

the sport or activity of riding a bicycle. Bicycle racing has three main forms: road racing (typically over long distances), track racing (on an oval track), and cyclocross (over rough, open country).

cycling shorts

plural noun

another term for bike shorts.

Cycliophora /ˌsiklēˈäfərə, ˌsī- / ‹Zoology›

I. a phylum established for a minute marine invertebrate (Symbion pandora) discovered in the 1990s attached to the mouthparts of lobsters. It is related to the phyla Bryozoa and Entoprocta.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek kuklios ‘circular’ + pherein ‘to bear.’

cyclist /ˈsīkləst/

noun

a person who rides a bicycle.

cyclize /ˈsīk(ə)ˌlīz/

I. verb

[Chemistry] undergo or cause to undergo a reaction in which one part of a molecule becomes linked to another to form a closed ring.

II. derivatives

cyclization /ˌsīk(ə)ˌlīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

cyclo-

I. combining form

1. circular

• cyclorama.

2. relating to a cycle or cycling

• cyclocross.

3. cyclic

• cycloparaffin.

– origin from Greek kuklos ‘circle,’ or directly from cycle or cyclic.

cycloaddition /ˌsīklōəˈdiSHən/

noun

[Chemistry] an addition reaction in which a cyclic molecule is formed.

cycloalkane /ˌsīklōˈalkān/

noun

[Chemistry] another term for cycloparaffin.

cyclocross /ˈsīklōkrôs/

noun

cross-country racing on bicycles.

cyclogenesis /ˌsīklōˈjenəsəs/

I. noun

[Meteorology] the development or strengthening of an area of low pressure in the atmosphere, resulting in the formation of a cyclone

• cyclogenesis is common on the lee side of the mountains at the locations of the Alberta and Colorado storm track.

– origin 1920s: from cyclo- + genesis.

cyclohexane /ˌsīklōˈheksān/

noun

[Chemistry] a colorless, flammable liquid cycloparaffin obtained from petroleum or by hydrogenating benzene, and used as a solvent and paint remover.
[Chem. formula: C_6H_12.]

cyclohexyl /ˌsīklōˈheksəl/

noun — [as modifier]

1. [Chemistry] of or denoting the cyclic hydrocarbon radical —C_6H_11, derived from cyclohexane.

cycloid /ˈsīkloid/

I. noun

[Mathematics] a curve (resembling a series of arches) traced by a point on a circle being rolled along a straight line.

II. derivatives

cycloidal /sīˈkloidl /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Greek kukloeidēs ‘circular,’ from kuklos ‘circle.’

cyclometer /sīˈklämədər/

noun

1. an instrument for measuring circular arcs.

2. an instrument attached to a bicycle for measuring the distance it travels.

cyclone /ˈsīˌklōn/

I. noun

1. [Meteorology] a system of winds rotating inward to an area of low atmospheric pressure, with a counterclockwise (northern hemisphere) or clockwise (southern hemisphere) circulation; a depression.

2. [Meteorology] another term for tropical storm.

II. derivatives

1. cyclonic /sīˈklänik /

adjective

2. cyclonically /sīˈklänik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin mid 19th cent.: probably from Greek kuklōma ‘wheel, coil of a snake,’ from kuklos ‘circle.’ The change of spelling from -m to -n is unexplained.

cycloparaffin /ˌsīklōˈperəfən/

noun

[Chemistry] a hydrocarbon with a molecule containing a ring of carbon atoms joined by single bonds.

cyclopean /ˌsīkləˈpēən sīˈklōpēən / cyclopian

adjective

1. denoting a type of ancient masonry made with massive irregular blocks

• cyclopean stone walls.

[by association with the great size of the Cyclops.]

2. of or resembling a Cyclops

• a cyclopean eye.

cyclopedia /ˌsīkləˈpēdēə / cyclopaedia

I. noun — (except in book titles)

1. ‹archaic› an encyclopedia

• Bailey's Cyclopedia of Horticulture.

II. derivatives

cyclopedic /-ˈpēdik /

adjective

– origin late 17th cent.: shortening of encyclopedia.

cyclopentadiene /ˌsīkləˌpentəˈdīēn, ˌsiklə-/

noun

a colorless toxic liquid derived from the distillation of coal tar, insoluble in water, soluble in alcohol, and used in the manufacture of insecticides and resins.

cyclophosphamide /ˌsīklōˈfäsfəmīd/

noun

[Medicine] a synthetic cytotoxic drug used in treating leukemia and lymphoma and as an immunosuppressive agent.

cycloplegia /ˌsīkləˈplēj(ē)ə/

noun

paralysis of the ciliary muscle of the eye.

cyclopropane /ˌsīklōˈprōpān/

noun

[Chemistry] a flammable, gaseous synthetic compound whose molecule contains a ring of three carbon atoms. It has some use as a general anesthetic.
[Chem. formula: C_3H_6.]

Cyclops /ˈsīˌkläps/

I. noun

1. (pl. Cyclops or Cyclopes ) — [Greek Mythology] a member of a race of savage one-eyed giants. In the Odyssey, Odysseus escaped death by blinding the Cyclops Polyphemus.

2. (cyclops) — a minute predatory freshwater crustacean which has a cylindrical body with a single central eye.
[Genus Cyclops and other genera, order Cyclopoida.]

– origin via Latin from Greek Kuklōps, literally ‘round-eyed,’ from kuklos ‘circle’ + ōps ‘eye.’

cyclorama /ˌsīkləˈramə/

I. noun

1. a circular picture of a 360° scene, viewed from inside.

2. a cloth stretched tight in an arc around the back of a stage set, often used to depict the sky.

II. derivatives

cycloramic /-ˈramik /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from cyclo-, on the pattern of words such as panorama.

cyclosporine /ˌsīklōˈspôrən / cyclosporin A, cyclosporin

I. noun

[Medicine] a drug with immunosuppressive properties used to prevent the rejection of grafts and transplants. A cyclic peptide, it is obtained from a fungus.
[This drug is obtained from the fungus Trichoderma polysporum.]

– origin 1970s: from cyclo- + -sporin (from Latin spora ‘spore’) + -in^1.

cyclosportive /ˌsīklōspôrˈtēv/

I. noun

another term for sportive^2:

• the 69-mile cyclosportive will take place on a closed road course.

– origin 1990s: French (short for randonnée cyclosportive), noun use of the feminine of the adjective cyclosportif, from cyclo- (see cyclo-) + sportif ‘relating to sport.’

cyclostome /ˈsīkləˌstōm/

I. noun

[Zoology] an eellike, jawless vertebrate with a round sucking mouth, formerly included in a group with the lampreys and hagfishes.
[Subclass Cyclostomata, now incorporated in the superclass Agnatha.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from cyclo- + Greek stoma ‘mouth.’

cyclostyle /ˈsīkləˌstīl/

I. noun

an early device for duplicating handwriting, in which a pen with a small toothed wheel pricks holes in a sheet of waxed paper, which is then used as a stencil.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. cyclostyled)

1. duplicate with a cyclostyle

• a cyclostyled leaflet.

– origin late 19th cent.: from cyclo- ‘circular’ + the noun style.

cyclothymia /ˌsīkləˈTHīmēə/

I. noun

[Psychiatry] ‹dated› a mental state characterized by marked swings of mood between depression and elation; bipolar disorder.

II. derivatives

cyclothymic /-ˈTHīmik /

adjective

– origin 1920s: from cyclo- + Greek thumos ‘temper.’

cyclotron /ˈsīkləˌträn/

noun

[Physics] an apparatus in which charged atomic and subatomic particles are accelerated by an alternating electric field while following an outward spiral or circular path in a magnetic field.

cyder

noun

archaic spelling of cider.

cygnet /ˈsiɡnət/

I. noun

a young swan.

– origin late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French cignet, diminutive of Old French cigne ‘swan,’ based on Latin cycnus, from Greek kuknos.

Cygnus /ˈsiɡnəs / ‹Astronomy›

I. a prominent northern constellation (the Swan), said to represent a flying swan that was the form adopted by Zeus on one occasion. It contains the bright star Deneb.

II. (as genitive Cygni ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation

• the star Delta Cygni.

– origin Latin.

cyl.

abbreviation

cylinder.

cylinder /ˈsiləndər/

I. noun

1. a solid geometric figure with straight parallel sides and a circular or oval cross section.

2. a solid or hollow body, object, or part having the shape of a cylinder.

3. a piston chamber in a steam or internal combustion engine.

4. a cylindrical container for liquefied gas under pressure.

5. a rotating metal roller in a printing press.

6. [Archaeology] a cylinder seal.

II. derivatives

cylindric /səˈlindrik /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin cylindrus, from Greek kulindros ‘roller,’ from kulindein ‘to roll.’

cylinder head /ˈsiləndər hed/

noun

the end cover of a cylinder in an internal combustion engine, against which the piston compresses the cylinder's contents.

cylinder lock

noun

a lock with the keyhole and tumbler mechanism contained in a cylinder.

cylinder seal

noun

[Archaeology] a small, barrel-shaped stone object with a hole down the center and an incised design or cuneiform inscription. It was originally rolled on clay when soft to indicate ownership or to authenticate a document and was used chiefly in Mesopotamia from the late 4th to the 1st millennium BC.

cylindrical /səˈlindrik(ə)l / cylindric

I. adjective

having straight parallel sides and a circular or oval cross-section; in the shape or form of a cylinder

• a cylindrical plastic container

• the cavity is roughly cylindrical.

II. derivatives

cylindrically /səˈlindrik(ə)l /

adverb

cylindroid /ˈsilənˌdroid/

I. noun

a figure or body resembling a cylinder.

II. adjective

resembling a cylinder in shape.

cyma /ˈsīmə/

I. noun

1. [Architecture] a cornice molding with an S-shaped cross section.
Compare with ogee.

2. [Botany] variant spelling of cyme.

– origin mid 16th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek kuma ‘wave or wavy molding.’

cymbal /ˈsimbəl/

I. noun

a musical instrument consisting of a slightly concave round brass plate that is either struck against another one or struck with a stick to make a ringing or clashing sound.

II. derivatives

cymbalist /ˈsimbələst /

noun

– origin Old English, from Latin cymbalum, from Greek kumbalon, from kumbē ‘cup’; readopted in Middle English from Old French cymbale.

cymbalom /ˈsimbələm / cimbalom

I. noun

a large Hungarian dulcimer.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Hungarian, from Italian cembalo, cimbalo, from Latin cymbalum (see cymbal).

Cymbeline /ˈsimbəˌlēn / Cunobelinus

(died c. AD 42), English chieftain. A powerful ruler, he made the town of Camulodunum (Colchester) his capital and established a mint.

cymbidium /ˌsimˈbidēəm/

I. noun

a tropical orchid with long, narrow leaves and arching stems bearing several flowers, growing chiefly as an epiphyte from Asia to Australasia and widely cultivated for boutonnières.
[Genus Cymbidium, family Orchidaceae.]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek kumbē ‘cup.’

cyme /sīm/

I. noun

[Botany] a flower cluster with a central stem bearing a single terminal flower that develops first, the other flowers in the cluster developing as terminal buds of lateral stems.
Compare with raceme.

II. derivatives

cymose /ˈsīˌmōs ˈsīˌmōz /

adjective

– origin early 18th cent. (denoting the unopened head of a plant): from French, literally ‘summit,’ from a popular variant of Latin cyma.

cymoid /ˈsīmoid/

adjective

resembling a cyma or a cyme.

Cymraeg /ˈkəmrīɡ/

I. noun

the Welsh language.

– origin Welsh.

Cymric /ˈkəmrik/

I. adjective

Welsh in language or culture.

II. noun

the Welsh language.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Welsh Cymru ‘Wales,’ Cymry ‘the Welsh,’ + -ic.

Cymru /ˈkəmrē/

Welsh name for Wales.

Cynewulf /ˈkinəwo͝olf/

(late 8th–9th centuries), Anglo-Saxon poet. Four poems are attributed to him: Juliana, Elene, The Fates of the Apostles, and Christ II.

cynic /ˈsinik/

I. noun

1. a person who believes that people are motivated purely by self-interest rather than acting for honorable or unselfish reasons

• some cynics thought that the controversy was all a publicity stunt.

2. a person who questions whether something will happen or whether it is worthwhile

• the cynics were silenced when the factory opened.

3. (Cynic) — a member of a school of ancient Greek philosophers founded by Antisthenes, marked by an ostentatious contempt for ease and pleasure. The movement flourished in the 3rd century BC and revived in the 1st century AD.

– origin mid 16th cent. (sense 2): from Latin cynicus, from Greek kunikos; probably originally from Kunosarges, the name of a gymnasium where Antisthenes taught, but popularly taken to mean ‘doglike, churlish,’ kuōn, kun- ‘dog’ becoming a nickname for a Cynic.

cynical /ˈsinək(ə)l/

adjective

1. believing that people are motivated by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity

• her cynical attitude.

2. doubtful as to whether something will happen or whether it is worthwhile

• most residents are cynical about efforts to clean mobsters out of their city.

3. contemptuous; mocking

• he gave a cynical laugh.

4. concerned only with one's own interests and typically disregarding accepted or appropriate standards in order to achieve them

• a cynical manipulation of public opinion.

cynically /ˈsinək(ə)lē/

adverb

1. in a distrustful way that expresses a belief that people are motivated purely by self-interest

• many cynically dismiss the way of peace as naive and impossible.

2. in a way that expresses doubt as to whether something will happen or whether it is worthwhile

• the public has cynically disregarded the good news.

3. in a way that is concerned only with one's own interests and disregards accepted standards in order to achieve them

• he was accused of cynically exploiting a terrible tragedy.

cynicism /ˈsinəˌsizəm/

noun

1. an inclination to believe that people are motivated purely by self-interest; skepticism

• public cynicism about politics.

2. an inclination to question whether something will happen or whether it is worthwhile; pessimism

• cynicism about the future.

3. (Cynicism) — a school of ancient Greek philosophers, the Cynics.

cyno-

I. combining form

of or relating to dogs

• cynodont.

– origin from Greek kuōn, kun- ‘dog.’

cynodont /ˈsīnəˌdänt/

I. noun

a carnivorous, mammallike fossil reptile of the late Permian and Triassic periods, with well-developed, specialized teeth.
[Suborder Cynodontia, order Therapsida: several families.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek kuōn, kun- ‘dog’ + odous, odont- ‘tooth.’

cynosure /ˈsīnəˌSHo͝o(ə)r/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. a person or thing that is the center of attention or admiration

• the Queen was the cynosure of all eyes.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French, or from Latin cynosura, from Greek kunosoura ‘dog's tail’ (also ‘Ursa Minor’), from kuōn, kun- ‘dog’ + oura ‘tail.’ The term originally denoted the constellation Ursa Minor, or the star Polaris that it contains, long used as a guide by navigators.

cypherpunk /ˈsīfərˌpəNGk/

I. noun

a person who uses encryption when accessing a computer network in order to ensure privacy, especially from government authorities.

– origin 1990s: on the pattern of cyberpunk.

cy-pres /sēˈprā/

I. adverb, adjective

[Law] as near as possible to the testator's or donor's intentions when these cannot be precisely followed.

– origin early 19th cent.: from a late Anglo-Norman French variant of French si près ‘so near.’

cypress /ˈsīprəs/

I. noun

1. an evergreen coniferous tree with small, rounded, woody cones and flattened shoots bearing small, scalelike leaves.
[Cupressus, Chamaecyparis, and other genera, family Cupressaceae: many species, including the columnar Italian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), common throughout southern Europe. See also Lawson cypress.]

2. a cypress tree, or branches from it, as a symbol of mourning.

3. used in names of coniferous trees of other families that resemble the cypress, e.g., bald cypress.

– origin Middle English: from Old French cipres, from late Latin cypressus, from Greek kuparissos.

Cypress /ˈsīprəs/

a city in south central California, southeast of Los Angeles; pop. 47,123 (est. 2008).

cypress knees

plural noun

the cone-shaped exposed growths on the buttress roots of a bald cypress.

Cyprian, St. /ˈsiprēən/

(died 258), Carthaginian bishop and martyr. Feast day, September 16 or 26.

cyprinid /ˈsiprəˌnid/

I. noun

[Zoology] a fish of the minnow (or carp) family (Cyprinidae).

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Cyprinidae (plural), based on Greek kuprinos ‘carp.’

cyprinoid /ˈsiprəˌnoid / ‹Zoology›

I. noun

a fish of a large group that includes the carps, suckers, and loaches, and (in some classification schemes) the characins.
[Order Cypriniformes or superfamily Cyprinoidea.]

II. adjective

of or relating to cyprinoid fish.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Cyprinoidea, based on Latin cyprinus ‘carp’ (from Greek kuprinos).

Cypriot /ˈsiprēət/

I. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Cyprus.

2. the dialect of Greek used in Cyprus.

II. adjective

of or relating to Cyprus or its people or the Greek dialect used there.

– origin from Greek Kupriōtes, from Kupros ‘Cyprus.’

cypripedium /ˌsiprəˈpēdēəm/

I. noun

an orchid of a genus that comprises the lady's slippers.
[Genus Cypripedium, family Orchidaceae.]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek Kupris ‘Aphrodite’ + pedilon ‘slipper.’

Cyprus /ˈsīprəs/

I. an island country in southeastern Europe, in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, about 50 miles (80 km) south of the Turkish coast; pop. 1,084,700 (est. 2009); capital, Nicosia; official languages, Greek and Turkish.

A Greek colony in ancient times, Cyprus was held by the Turks from 1571 until 1878, when it was placed under British administration. After virtual civil war between the Greek Cypriots (some of whom favor enosis or union with Greece) and the Turkish Cypriots, Cyprus became an independent Commonwealth of Nations republic in 1960. In 1974, Turkish forces took over the northern part of the island, which proclaimed itself the independent Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1983 and effectively divided the island between the Greek and Turkish communities. The Greek Cypriot-controlled Republic of Cyprus joined the EU in May 2004.

cypsela /ˈsipsələ/

I. noun

[Botany] a dry, single-seeded fruit formed from a double ovary, of which only one develops into a seed, as in the daisy family.

– origin late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek kupselē ‘hollow vessel.’

Cyrano de Bergerac, Savinien /ˈsirənō də ˈbərZHəˌrak, ˈberZHˌrak/

(1619–55), French soldier, duelist, and writer. He is chiefly remembered for the large number of duels that he fought (many because of his proverbially large nose) as immortalized in Cyrano de Bergerac (1897), a play by Edmond Rostand.

Cyrenaic /ˌsirəˈnāik/

I. adjective

of or denoting the hedonistic school of philosophy, which was founded c. 400 BC by Aristippus the Elder of Cyrene and which holds that pleasure is the highest good and that virtue is to be equated with the ability to enjoy.

II. noun

a follower of the Cyrenaic school of philosophy.

III. derivatives

Cyrenaicism /-ˈnāəˌsizəm /

noun

Cyrenaica /ˌsirəˈnāəkə/

a region in northeastern Libya that borders on the Mediterranean Sea and was settled by the Greeks c. 640 BC.

Cyrene /sīˈrēnē kīˈrēnē/

an ancient Greek city in North Africa, near the coast in Cyrenaica.

Cyril, St. /ˈsirəl/

(826–869), Greek missionary. The invention of the Cyrillic alphabet is named for him. Feast day (in the Eastern Church) May 11; (in the Western Church) February 14.

Cyrillic /səˈrilik/

I. adjective

denoting the alphabet used by many Slavic peoples, chiefly those with a historical allegiance to the Orthodox Church. Ultimately derived from Greek uncials, it is now used for Russian, Bulgarian, Serbian, Ukrainian, and some other Slavic languages.

II. noun

the Cyrillic alphabet.

– origin early 19th cent.: named after St. Cyril (see Cyril, St.).

Cyril of Alexandria, St.

(died 444), doctor of the Church and patriarch of Alexandria. He is best known for his vehement opposition to the views of Nestorius, the patriarch of Constantinople. Feast day, February 9.

Cyrus^1 /ˈsīrəs/

(died c. 530 BC), king of Persia 559–530 BC; founder of the Achaemenid dynasty; father of Cambyses; known as Cyrus the Great. He defeated the Median empire in 550 BC and went on to conquer Asia Minor, Babylonia, Syria, Palestine, and most of the Iranian plateau. He is said to have ruled with wisdom and moderation, maintaining good relations with the Jews (whom he freed from the Babylonian Captivity) and the Phoenicians.

Cyrus^2 /ˈsīrəs/

(died 401 BC), Persian prince; known as Cyrus the Younger. On the death of his father, Darius II, in 405 BC, Cyrus led an army of mercenaries against his elder brother, who had succeeded to the throne as Artaxerxes II.

cyst /sist/

I. noun

1. [Biology] in an animal or plant, a thin-walled, hollow organ or cavity containing a liquid secretion; a sac, vesicle, or bladder.

2. [Biology] [Medicine] in the body, a membranous sac or cavity of abnormal character containing fluid.

3. [Biology] a tough protective capsule enclosing the larva of a parasitic worm or the resting stage of an organism.

– origin early 18th cent.: from late Latin cystis, from Greek kustis ‘bladder.’

cystectomy /sisˈtektəmē/

noun

1. (pl. cystectomies) — a surgical operation to remove the urinary bladder.

2. a surgical operation to remove an abnormal cyst

• an ovarian cystectomy.

cysteine /ˈsistəˌēn, ˈsisˌtēn/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a sulfur-containing amino acid that occurs in keratins and other proteins, often in the form of cystine, and is a constituent of many enzymes.
[Chem. formula: HSCH_2CH(NH_2)COOH.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from cystine + -eine (variant of -ine^4).

cystic /ˈsistik/

I. adjective

1. [Medicine] relating to or characterized by cysts

• the ultrasound scan showed a cystic nodule

• masses in the ovary may be cystic or solid.

2. [Zoology] (of a parasite or other organism) enclosed in a cyst

• the cystic stage.

3. of or relating to the urinary bladder or the gallbladder

• the cystic artery.

– origin mid 17th cent. (originally referring to the gallbladder): from French cystique or modern Latin cysticus, from late Latin cystis (see cyst).

cysticercus /ˌsistəˈsərkəs ˌsistəˈkərkəs/

I. noun

[Zoology] a larval tapeworm that is at a stage in which the scolex is inverted in a sac, and that is typically found encysted in the muscle tissue of the host.

II. derivatives

cysticercoid /-ˈsərˌkoid /

adjective, noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: modern Latin (originally the name of a supposed genus), from Greek kustis ‘bladder’ + kerkos ‘tail.’

cystic fibrosis /ˌsistik fīˈbrōsəs/

noun

a hereditary disorder affecting the exocrine glands. It causes the production of abnormally thick mucus, leading to the blockage of the pancreatic ducts, intestines, and bronchi and often resulting in respiratory infection.

cystine /ˈsistēn/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a compound that is an oxidized dimer of cysteine and is the form in which cysteine often occurs in organic tissue.
[Chem. formula: C_6H_12N_2O_4S_2.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek kustis ‘bladder’ (because it was first isolated from urinary calculi) + -ine^4.

cystitis /siˈstīdəs/

noun

[Medicine] inflammation of the urinary bladder. It is often caused by infection and is usually accompanied by frequent, painful urination.

cysto-

I. combining form

of or relating to the urinary bladder

• cystotomy.

– origin from Greek kustis ‘bladder.’

cystoid /ˈsistoid/

I. adjective

of the nature of a cyst.

II. noun

a cystoid formation.

cystoscope /ˈsistəˌskōp/

I. noun

[Medicine] an instrument inserted into the urethra for examining the urinary bladder.

II. derivatives

1. cystoscopic /ˌsistəˈskäpik /

adjective

2. cystoscopy /sisˈtäskəpē /

noun

cystotomy /siˈstädəmē/

noun

a surgical incision into the urinary bladder.

-cyte

I. combining form

[Biology] denoting a mature cell

• lymphocyte.

Compare with -blast.

– origin from Greek kutos ‘vessel.’

Cytherea /ˌsiTHəˈrēə/

I. noun

another name for Aphrodite.

– origin from Latin Cythera ‘Kithira,’ the name of an Ionian island.

Cytherean /ˌsiTHəˈrēən/

adjective

1. [Astronomy] of or relating to the planet Venus

• the Cytherean atmosphere.

2. [Astronomy] [Mythology] of or relating to the goddess Cytherea.

cytidine /ˈsitəˌdēn, ˈsīt-/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a nucleoside composed of cytosine linked to ribose, obtained from RNA by hydrolysis.

– origin early 20th cent.: from cyto- + -ide + -ine^4.

cyto-

I. combining form

[Biology] of a cell or cells

• cytology

• cytoplasm.

– origin from Greek kutos ‘vessel.’

cytoarchitectonics /ˌsīdōˌärkətekˈtäniks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing. or pl.]

1. another term for cytoarchitecture.

II. derivatives

cytoarchitectonic

adjective

cytoarchitecture /ˌsīdōˈärkəˌtek(t)SHər/

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] the arrangement of cells in a tissue, especially in specific areas of the cerebral cortex characterized by the arrangement of their cells and each associated with particular functions.
Also called cytoarchitectonics.

2. [Anatomy] the study of this.

II. derivatives

cytoarchitectural /-ˌärkiˈtekCHərəl /

adjective

cytocentrifuge /ˌsīdəˈsentrəfyo͞oj / ‹Biology›

I. noun

a centrifuge used for depositing cells suspended in a liquid onto a slide for microscopic examination.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. deposit (cells) on a slide using a cytocentrifuge.

cytochalasin /ˌsīdəkəˈlās(ə)n/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] any of a group of polycyclic compounds produced by fungi and used experimentally in research for their property of interfering with cell processes.

– origin 1960s: from cyto- ‘cell’ + Greek khalasis ‘dislocation.’

cytochemistry /ˌsīdōˈkeməstrē/

I. noun

the chemistry of living cells, especially as studied microscopically.

II. derivatives

cytochemical /-ˈkemikəl /

adjective

cytochrome /ˈsīdəˌkrōm/

noun

[Biochemistry] any of a number of compounds consisting of heme bonded to a protein. Cytochromes function as electron transfer agents in many metabolic pathways, especially cellular respiration.

cytogenesis /ˌsīdəˈjenəsəs / cytogeny

noun

the formation and development of cells.

cytogenetics /ˌsīdōjəˈnediks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. [Biology] the study of inheritance in relation to the structure and function of chromosomes.

II. derivatives

1. cytogenetic /ˌsīdōjəˈnedik /

adjective

2. cytogenetical /-ikəl /

adjective

3. cytogenetically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

4. cytogeneticist /-jəˈnetəsist /

noun

cytokine /ˈsīdəˌkīn/

noun

[Physiology] any of a number of substances, such as interferon, interleukin, and growth factors, that are secreted by certain cells of the immune system and have an effect on other cells.

cytokinesis /ˌsītōkəˈnēsis, -kī-/

noun

[Biology] the cytoplasmic division of a cell at the end of mitosis or meiosis, bringing about the separation into two daughter cells.

cytokinin /ˌsīdəˈkīnin/

noun

another term for kinin (sense 2).

cytology /sīˈtäləjē/

I. noun

the branch of biology concerned with the structure and function of plant and animal cells.

II. derivatives

1. cytological /ˌsīdəˈläjək(ə)l /

adjective

2. cytologically /ˌsītlˈäjik(ə)lē /

adverb

3. cytologist /sīˈtäləjəst /

noun

cytolysis /sīˈtäləsəs/

I. noun

[Biology] the dissolution or disruption of cells, especially by an external agent.

II. derivatives

cytolytic /ˌsītlˈlitik /

adjective

cytomegalic /ˌsīdəmiˈɡalik/

adjective

[Medicine] characterized by enlarged cells, especially with reference to a disease caused by a cytomegalovirus.

cytomegalovirus /ˌsīdəˈmeɡəlōˌvīrəs / CMV

noun

[Medicine] a kind of herpesvirus that usually produces very mild symptoms in an infected person but may cause severe neurological damage in people with weakened immune systems and in the newborn.

cytomembrane /ˌsīdəˈmembrān/

noun

another term for cell membrane.

cytopathic /ˌsīdəˈpaTHik / cytopathogenic

adjective

of, pertaining to, or producing damage to living cells.

cytophilic /ˌsīdəˈfilik/

adjective

having an affinity for living cells.

cytophotometry /ˌsīdəfōˈtämətrē/

I. noun

[Biology] the investigation of the contents of cells by measuring the light they allow through after staining.

II. derivatives

1. cytophotometer /-ˈtämətər /

noun

2. cytophotometric /-ˌfōtəˈmetrik /

adjective

cytoplasm /ˈsīdəˌplazəm/

I. noun

[Biology] the material or protoplasm within a living cell, excluding the nucleus.

II. derivatives

cytoplasmic /ˌsītəˈplazmik /

adjective

cytoplast /ˈsīdəˌplast/

noun

the intact cytoplasmic content of a single cell.

cytosine /ˈsīdəˌsēn/

noun

[Biochemistry] a compound found in living tissue as a constituent base of nucleic acids. It is paired with guanine in double-stranded DNA.
[A pyrimidine derivative; chem. formula: C_4H_5N_3O.]

cytoskeleton /ˌsīdəˈskelətn/

I. noun

[Biology] a microscopic network of protein filaments and tubules in the cytoplasm of many living cells, giving them shape and coherence.

II. derivatives

cytoskeletal /-ˈskelitl /

adjective

cytosol /ˈsītəˌsäl, -ˌsôl/

I. noun

[Biology] the aqueous component of the cytoplasm of a cell, within which various organelles and particles are suspended.

II. derivatives

cytosolic /ˌsītəˈsälik, -ˈsôlik /

adjective

cytostatic /ˌsīdəˈstadik/

I. adjective

inhibiting cell growth and division.

II. noun

any substance that inhibits cell growth and division.

cytotaxonomy /ˌsīdətakˈsänəmē/

noun

taxonomy based on cytological (and especially cytogenetic) study.

cytotoxic /ˌsīdəˈtäksik/

I. adjective

toxic to living cells.

II. derivatives

cytotoxicity /-täkˈsisətē /

noun

cytotoxic T cell

noun

another term for killer cell.

cytotoxin /ˌsīdəˈtäksən/

noun

a substance toxic to cells.

Cy Young Award

I. noun

[Baseball] an annual award to the outstanding pitcher in each of the major leagues.

– origin named in honor of Cy Young.

czarevna /zäˈrevnə, (t)sä-/

variant spelling of tsarevna.

Czech /CHek/

I. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of the Czech Republic or (formerly) Czechoslovakia, or a person of Czech descent.

2. the West Slavic language spoken in the Czech Republic, closely related to Slovak.

II. adjective

relating to the Czechs or their language.

– origin Polish spelling of Czech Čech.

Czechoslovakia /ˌCHekəsləˈväkēə ˌCHekəsləˈvakēə/

I. a former country in central Europe, now divided between the Czech Republic and Slovakia; capital, Prague. Created out of the northern part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the end of World War I, it was crushed by the Nazi takeover of the Sudetenland in 1938 and the rest of the country in 1939. After World War II, it fell under Soviet domination. The two parts separated on January 1, 1993.

II. derivatives

Czechoslovak /ˈˌCHekəˈˌslōˌvak ˈˌCHekōˈˌslōˌvak ˈˌCHekəˈˌslōˌväk ˈˌCHekōˈˌslōˌväk /

noun, adjective

Czechoslovakian /ˌCHekəsləˈväkēən ˌCHekəsləˈvakēən / Czechoslovak

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of the former country Czechoslovakia or its inhabitants

• a Czechoslovakian film and a television series.

II. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of the former country Czechoslovakia

• a trio of merry Czechoslovakians.

2. the language of the former country Czechoslovakia

• he speaks English a lot better than I speak Czechoslovakian.

Czech Republic /ˌCHek rəˈpəblik/

I. a country in central Europe; pop. 10,211,900 (est. 2009); capital, Prague; official language, Czech.

The Czech Republic was formerly one of the two constituent republics of Czechoslovakia. When Czechoslovakia was partitioned on January 1, 1993, the Czech Republic became independent. It includes the former provinces of Bohemia, Silesia, and Moravia. In 2004 the Czech Republic joined both NATO and the EU.

Częstochowa /ˌCHestəˈKHōvə/

an industrial city in south central Poland; pop. 244,137 (2007). It is known for the statue of the black Madonna in its church.

d

I. abbreviation

1. date.

2. (in genealogies) daughter.

3. day(s)

• orbital period (Mars): 687.0d.

4. deceased.

5. deep.

6. [in combination] — (in units of measurement) deci-.

7. (in travel timetables) departs.

8. (d.) — died (used to indicate a date of death)

• Barents, Willem (d.1597).

9. divorced.

10. (Brit.) penny or pence (of predecimal currency)

• £20 10s 6d.

[from Latin denarius ‘penny.’]

11. [Chemistry] denoting electrons and orbitals possessing two units of angular momentum

• d-electrons.

[d from diffuse, originally applied to lines in atomic spectra.]

II. symbol

1. [Mathematics] diameter.

2. [Mathematics] denoting a small increment in a given variable

• dy/dx.

D^1 /dē / d

noun

1. the fourth letter of the alphabet.

2. denoting the fourth in a set of items, categories, sizes, etc.

3. the fourth highest category of academic mark.

4. (d) — [Chess] denoting the fourth file from the left, as viewed from White's side of the board.

5. denoting the second-lowest-earning socioeconomic category for marketing purposes, including semiskilled and unskilled personnel.

6. (D) — a shape like that of a capital D
[in combination]

• the D-shaped handle.

7. a loop or ring shaped like that of a capital D.

8. (usu. D) — [Music] the second note of the diatonic scale of C major.

9. a key based on a scale with D as its keynote.

10. the Roman numeral for 500.
[understood as half of CIɔ, an earlier form of M (= 1,000).]

D^2 /dē/

I. abbreviation

1. Democrat or Democratic.

2. depth (in the sense of the dimension of an object from front to back).

3. [Chemistry] dextrorotatory

• D-glucose.

4. (with a numeral) dimension(s) or dimensional

• a 3-D model.

5. (in tables of sports results) drawn.

6. (on an automatic gearshift) drive.

7. (in personal ads) divorced.

II. symbol

1. [Physics] electric flux density.

2. [Chemistry] the hydrogen isotope deuterium.

'd /d/

contraction

1. had

• they'd already gone.

2. would

• I'd expect that.

da^1

abbreviation — [in combination]

1. (in units of measurement) deca-.

da^2 /də/

determiner

nonstandard spelling of the, used in representing informal speech.

DA

abbreviation

1. (US) district attorney.

2. Doctor of Arts.

3. ‹informal› duck's ass (a man's hairstyle of the 1950s).

D/A

abbreviation

[Electronics] digital to analog.

dab^1 /dab/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. press against (something) lightly with a piece of absorbent material in order to clean or dry it

• he dabbed his mouth with his napkin

• [no obj.] she dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief.

2. apply (a substance) with light quick strokes

• she dabbed disinfectant on the cut.

3. aim at or strike with a light blow.

II. noun

1. a small amount of something

• she licked a dab of chocolate from her finger.

2. a brief application of cosmetic, paint, or the like to a surface

• apply concealer with light dabs.

– origin Middle English: symbolic of a light striking movement; compare with dabble and dib.

dab^2 /dab/

I. noun

a small, commercially important flatfish that is found chiefly in the North Atlantic.
[Limanda and other genera, family Pleuronectidae (several species, in particular the European L. limanda), and genus Citharichthys, family Bothidae (see also sand dab).]

– origin late Middle English: of unknown origin.

DAB

abbreviation

digital audio broadcasting.

dabber /ˈdabər/

noun

a rounded pad used in printing to apply ink to a surface.

dabble /ˈdabəl/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — immerse (one's hands or feet) partially in water and move them around gently

• they dabbled their feet in the rock pools.

2. [no obj.] — (of a duck or other waterbird) move the bill around in shallow water while feeding

• teal dabble in the shallows.

3. [no obj.] — take part in an activity in a casual or superficial way

• he dabbled in writing as a young man.

II. derivatives

dabbler /ˈdab(ə)lər /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from obsolete Dutch dabbelen, or a frequentative of the verb dab^1.

dabbling duck /ˌdabəliNG ˈdək/

noun

a freshwater duck that typically feeds in shallow water by dabbling and upending, such as the mallard, teal, shoveler, and pintail.
Compare with diving duck. [Tribe Anatini, family Anatidae: genus Anas (numerous species), and perhaps some other genera.]

dabchick /ˈdabˌCHik/

I. noun

a small grebe, especially the little grebe.
[Genera Tachybaptus and Podilymbus, family Podicipedidae: several species.]

– origin mid 16th cent. (as dapchick or dopchick): the first element is perhaps related to dip and deep.

dab hand /ˈdab ˌhand/

I. noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› a person who is an expert at a particular activity

• Tony is a dab hand at golf.

– origin early 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

DAC

abbreviation

[Electronics] digital to analog converter.

da capo /dä ˈkäpō də ˈkäpō / ‹Music›

I. adverb

(especially as a direction) repeat from the beginning.
Compare with dal segno.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. including the repetition of a passage at the beginning

• da capo arias.

– origin Italian, literally ‘from the head.’

dace /dās/

I. noun

a small freshwater fish of the minnow family, typically living in running water.
[Leuciscus and numerous other genera, family Cyprinidae: several species, including the longfin dace (Agosia chrysogaster) of western North America and the widely distributed L. leuciscus of northern Eurasia.]

– origin late Middle English: from Old French dars (see dart).

dacha /ˈdäCHə/

I. noun

a country house or cottage in Russia, typically used as a second or vacation home.

– origin mid 19th cent.: Russian, originally ‘grant (of land).’

Dachau /ˈdäˌKHou ˈdäˌkou/

a city in Bavaria in southwestern Germany, on the Amper River, near Munich, site of a Nazi concentration camp from 1933 until 1945; pop. 41,200 (est. 2007).

dachshund /ˈdäksˌho͝ond ˈdäksənd/

I. noun

a dog of a short-legged, long-bodied breed.

– origin late 19th cent.: from German, literally ‘badger dog’ (the breed being originally used to dig badgers out of their setts).

Dacia /ˈdāSH(ē)ə/

I. an ancient country in southeastern Europe in what is now northwestern Romania. It was annexed by Trajan in AD 106 as a province of the Roman Empire.

II. derivatives

Dacian /ˈdāSH(ē)ən /

adjective, noun

dacite /ˈdāsīt/

I. noun

[Geology] a volcanic rock resembling andesite but containing free quartz.

II. derivatives

dacitic /dāˈsitik /

adjective

– origin late 18th cent.: from the name of the Roman province of Dacia (as it was first found in the Carpathian Mountains) + -ite^1.

dacoit /dəˈkoit/

I. noun

a member of a band of armed robbers in India or Burma (Myanmar).

– origin from Hindi ḍakait, from ḍakaitī ‘robbery by a gang.’

dacoity /dəˈkôədē/

I. noun

an act of armed robbery committed by a gang in India or Burma (Myanmar).

– origin from Hindi ḍakaitī.

Dacron /ˈdākrän ˈdaˌkrän/

I. noun

‹trademark› a synthetic polyester (polyethylene terephthalate) with tough, elastic properties, used as a textile fabric.

– origin 1950s: an invented name.

dactyl /ˈdaktl/

I. noun

[Prosody] a metrical foot consisting of one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables or (in Greek and Latin) one long syllable followed by two short syllables.

– origin late Middle English: via Latin from Greek daktulos, literally ‘finger’ (the three bones of the finger corresponding to the three syllables).

dactylic /dakˈtilik / ‹Prosody›

I. adjective

of or using dactyls

• dactylic rhythm.

II. noun — (usu. dactylics)

1. dactylic verse.

– origin late 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek daktulikos, from daktulos, literally ‘finger’ (see dactyl).

dad /dad/

I. noun

‹informal› one's father

• his dad was with him

• what are you making, Dad?

– origin mid 16th cent.: perhaps imitative of a young child's first syllables da, da.

dada /ˈdada, -də/

I. noun

‹informal› one's father.

– origin late 17th cent.: perhaps imitative of a young child's first syllables (see dad).

Dada /ˈdädä/

I. noun

an early-20th-century international movement in art, literature, music, and film, repudiating and mocking artistic and social conventions and emphasizing the illogical and absurd.
Dada was launched in Zurich in 1916 by Tristan Tzara and others, soon merging with a similar group in New York. It favored montage, collage, and the ready-made. Leading figures: Jean Arp, André Breton, Max Ernst, Man Ray, and Marcel Duchamp.

II. derivatives

1. Dadaism /ˈdädäˌizəm /

noun

2. Dadaist /ˈdädäəst /

noun, adjective

3. Dadaistic /ˌdädäˈistik /

adjective

– origin French, literally ‘hobbyhorse,’ the title of a review that appeared in Zurich in 1916.

dad dancing

noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› awkward or unfashionable dancing to pop music, as characteristically performed by middle-aged or older men

• for optimum embarrassment of offspring, dad dancing is best performed to REM's Shiny Happy People.

daddy /ˈdadē/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› one's father.

2. ‹informal› the oldest, best, or biggest example of something

• the daddy of all potholes.

– origin early 16th cent.: from dad + -y^2.

daddy longlegs

noun

1. (N. Amer.) an arachnid with a globular body and long thin legs, typically living in leaf litter and on tree trunks.
Also called harvestman. [Order Phalangida: numerous genera and species, including the common Phalangium opilio.]

2. (Brit.) a crane fly.

daddy's girl

noun

‹informal› a girl or woman who is particularly attached to, and indulged by, her father.

Dade County /ˌdād ˈkoun(t)ē/

a county in southeastern Florida, on the Atlantic coast, that includes Miami and many suburbs as well as much of the Everglades; pop. 2,398,245 (est. 2008). Formally called Miami-Dade County.

dado /ˈdādō/

I. noun

1. the lower part of the wall of a room, below about waist height, if it is a different color or has a different covering than the upper part.

2. (N. Amer.) a groove cut in the face of a board, into which the edge of another board is fixed.

3. [Architecture] the part of a pedestal between the base and the cornice.

– origin mid 17th cent. (denoting the main part of a pedestal, above the base): from Italian, literally ‘dice or cube,’ from Latin datum ‘something given, starting point’ (see datum).

Dadra and Nagar Haveli /dəˌdrä ən ˌnəɡər əˈvelē/

a union territory in western India, on the Arabian Sea; pop. 303,200 (est. 2009); capital, Silvassa.

dadrock /ˈdadräk/

noun

‹informal› rock music that appeals to an older generation, or that is heavily influenced by that of an earlier era

• some reviewers deride his current style as dadrock—music that shouldn't appeal to self-respecting teenagers.

Daedalus /ˈdedələs / ‹Greek Mythology›

a craftsman, considered the inventor of carpentry, who is said to have built the labyrinth for Minos, king of Crete. Minos imprisoned him and his son Icarus, but they escaped using wings that Daedalus made and fastened with wax. Icarus, however, flew too near the sun and was killed.

daemon^1 /ˈdēmən / daimon

I. noun

1. (in ancient Greek belief) a divinity or supernatural being of a nature between gods and humans.

2. an inner or attendant spirit or inspiring force.

3. archaic spelling of demon^1.

II. derivatives

daemonic /dəˈmänik /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: common spelling of demon^1 until the 19th cent.

daemon^2 /ˈdēmən / demon

I. noun

[Computing] a background process that handles requests for services such as print spooling and file transfers, and is dormant when not required.

– origin 1980s: perhaps from d(isk) a(nd) e(xecution) mon(itor) or from de(vice) mon(itor), or merely a transferred use of demon^1.

daffodil /ˈdafəˌdil/

I. noun

a bulbous plant that typically bears bright yellow flowers with a long trumpet-shaped center (corona).
[Genus Narcissus, family Liliaceae (or Amaryllidaceae): several species, in particular the common N. pseudonarcissus and its varieties. See also narcissus.]

– origin mid 16th cent.: from late Middle English affodill, from medieval Latin affodilus, variant of Latin asphodilus (see asphodel). The initial d- is unexplained.

daffy /ˈdafē/

I. adjective

‹informal› silly; mildly eccentric

• daffy anecdotes.

II. derivatives

daffiness

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: from northern English dialect daff ‘simpleton’ + -y^1; perhaps related to daft.

daft /daft/

I. adjective

1. ‹informal› silly; foolish

• don't ask such daft questions.

2. (daft about) — ‹informal› infatuated with

• we were all daft about him.

II. derivatives

daftness

noun

– origin Old English gedæfte ‘mild, meek,’ of Germanic origin; related to Gothic gadaban ‘become or be fitting.’

dag /daɡ/

I. noun

(Austral./NZ) ‹informal› an unfashionable or socially conservative person.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘a hanging part of something’): of unknown origin.

da Gama, Vasco /də ˈɡämə/

(c. 1469–1524), Portuguese explorer. He led the first European expedition around the Cape of Good Hope in 1497, sighting and naming Natal on Christmas Day before crossing the Indian Ocean and arriving in Calicut (Kozhikode, in India) in 1498.

Dagestan /ˌdäɡəˈstän ˌdaɡəˈstan/

I. an autonomous republic in southwestern Russia, on the western shore of the Caspian Sea; pop. 2,707,900 (est. 2009); capital, Makhachkala.

II. derivatives

Dagestanian /ˌdäɡəˈstänē ˌdaɡəˈstanē /

noun, adjective

Dagestani /ˌdäɡəˈstänē ˌdaɡəˈstanē/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of the autonomous republic of Dagestan in SW Russia or its inhabitants

• a hotel in the Dagestani capital.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of the autonomous republic of Dagestan in SW Russia

• the foundation says it can help Dagestanis living outside the republic.

dagga /ˈdaKHə ˈdaɡə/

I. noun

(chiefly S. African) marijuana.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Afrikaans, from Khoikhoi dachab.

dagger /ˈdaɡər/

I. noun

1. a short knife with a pointed and edged blade, used as a weapon.

2. [Printing] another term for obelus.

3. a moth with a dark dagger-shaped marking on the forewing.
[Genus Acronicta, family Noctuidae: several species.]

II. phrases

1. at daggers drawn

in bitter enmity.

2. look daggers at

glare angrily or venomously at.

– origin late Middle English: perhaps from obsolete dag ‘pierce, stab,’ influenced by Old French dague ‘long dagger.’

daggerboard /ˈdaɡərˌbôrd/

noun

a board that slides vertically through the keel of a sailboat to reduce sideways movement.
Compare with centerboard.

dago /ˈdāɡō/

I. noun

‹informal› ‹offensive› an Italian, Spanish, or Portuguese-speaking person.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from the Spanish given name Diego (equivalent to James).

Dagon /ˈdāɡän/

I. (in the Bible) a national deity of the ancient Philistines, represented as a fish-tailed man.

– origin via Latin and Greek from Hebrew dāḡōn, perhaps from dāḡān ‘corn,’ but said (according to folk etymology) to be from dāḡ ‘fish.’

dago red

noun

‹offensive› cheap red wine, typically from Italy.

Daguerre, Louis /dəˈɡe(ə)r, däˈɡer/

(1789–1851), French physicist; full name Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre. He invented the first practical photographic process, which became known as the daguerreotype process.

daguerreotype /dəˈɡerəˌtīp / daguerrotype

I. noun

a photograph taken by an early photographic process employing an iodine-sensitized silvered plate and mercury vapor.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French daguerréotype, named after L.-J.-M. Daguerre (see Daguerre, Louis), its French inventor.

Dagwood sandwich /ˌdaɡwo͝od ˈsandwiCH / Dagwood

I. noun

(US) a thick sandwich with a variety of different fillings.

– origin 1970s: named after Dagwood Bumstead, a comic-strip character who makes and eats this type of sandwich.

dah /dä/

I. noun

(in Morse code) another term for dash.

– origin World War II: imitative.

dahabeah /ˌdähəˈbēə / dahabeeyah

I. noun

a passenger boat used on the Nile, typically with lateen sails.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Arabic, literally ‘golden,’ denoting the gilded state barge formerly used by the Muslim rulers of Egypt.

dahl

noun

variant spelling of dal^1.

Dahl, Roald /däl/

(1916–90), British writer. His fiction and drama, such as the short-story collection Tales of the Unexpected (1979), typically include macabre plots and unexpected outcomes. Notable works for children include James and the Giant Peach (1961) and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964).

dahlia /ˈdalyə ˈdälyə/

I. noun

a tuberous-rooted Mexican plant of the daisy family, cultivated for its brightly colored single or double flowers.
[Genus Dahlia, family Compositae.]

– origin modern Latin, named in honor of Andreas Dahl (1751–89), Swedish botanist.

Dahomey /dəˈhōmē/

former name (until 1975) of Benin.

daikon /ˈdīˌkän, -kən/

I. noun

a radish of a variety with a large slender white root that is typically eaten cooked, especially in Eastern cuisine, and is also used for fodder.

– origin Japanese, from dai ‘large’ + kon ‘root.’

daily /ˈdālē/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. done, produced, or occurring every day or every weekday

• a daily newspaper

• daily flights to Prague.

2. relating to the period of a single day

• boats can be rented for a daily rate.

II. adverb

every day

• the museum is open daily.

III. noun

1. ‹informal› a newspaper published every day except Sunday.

2. (dailies) — ‹informal› the first prints from cinematographic takes, made rapidly for movie producers or editors; the rushes.

3. (also daily help) — ‹informal› (Brit.) ‹dated› a woman who is employed to clean someone's house each day.

IV. phrases

daily life

the activities and experiences that constitute a person's normal existence.

– origin late Middle English: from day + -ly^1, -ly^2.

daily double

noun

[Horse Racing] a single bet on the winners of two named races in a day.

daily dozen

noun — [in sing.]

1. ‹informal› ‹dated› regular exercises, especially those done first thing in the morning.

Daimler, Gottlieb /ˈdīmlər/

(1834–1900), German engineer and engine manufacturer. In 1884 he produced a small internal combustion engine using gasoline as a fuel and made it propel a bicycle. In 1890 he formed a company to produce these engines.

daimon /ˈdīˌmōn/

I. noun

variant spelling of daemon^1.

II. derivatives

daimonic /dīˈmänik /

adjective

daimyo /ˈdīmyō / daimio

I. noun

‹historical› (in feudal Japan) one of the great lords who were vassals of the shogun.

– origin Japanese, from dai ‘great’ + myō ‘name.’

dainty /ˈdān(t)ē/

I. adjective

1. delicately small and pretty

• a dainty lace handkerchief.

2. (of a person) delicate and graceful in build or movement.

3. (of food) particularly good to eat

• a dainty morsel.

4. fastidious or difficult to please, typically concerning food

• a dainty appetite.

II. noun — (usu. dainties)

1. something good to eat; a delicacy.

III. derivatives

1. daintily /ˈdān(t)əlē /

adverb

2. daintiness /ˈdān(t)ēnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘tidbit, [something] pleasing to the palate’): from Old French daintie, deintie ‘choice morsel, pleasure,’ from Latin dignitas ‘worthiness or beauty,’ from dignus ‘worthy.’

daiquiri /ˈdakərē/

I. noun

a cocktail containing rum and lime juice.

– origin named after Daiquirí, a rum-producing district in Cuba.

Dairen /ˈdīrən, dīˈren/

former name of Dalian.

dairy /ˈderē/

I. noun

1. a building, room, or establishment for the storage, processing, and distribution of milk and milk products.

2. a store where milk and milk products are sold.

3. food made from or containing milk.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. containing or made from milk

• local dairy foods.

2. concerned with or involved in the production of milk

• a dairy farmer.

– origin Middle English deierie, from deie ‘dairymaid’ (in Old English dǣge ‘female servant’), of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse deigja, also to dough and to the second element of Old English hlǣfdige (see lady).

dairying /ˈderēiNG/

noun

the business of producing, storing, and distributing milk and its products.

dairymaid /ˈderēˌmād/

noun

‹archaic› a woman employed in a dairy.

dairyman /ˈderēmən ˈderēˌman/

noun

a man who is employed in a dairy or sells dairy products.

dais /ˈdāəs ˈdīəs/

I. noun

a low platform for a lectern, seats of honor, or a throne.

– origin Middle English (originally denoting a raised table for distinguished guests): from Old French deis, from Latin discus ‘disk or dish’ (later ‘table’). Little used after the Middle English period, the word was revived by antiquarians in the early 19th cent. with the disyllabic pronunciation.

daisy /ˈdāzē/

I. noun

1. a small grassland plant that has flowers with a yellow disk and white rays. It has given rise to many ornamental garden varieties.
[Bellis perennis, family Compositae (or Asteraceae; the daisy family). The plants of this large family (known as composites) are distinguished by having composite flower heads consisting of numerous disk florets, ray florets, or both; they include many weeds (dandelions, thistles, ragworts) and garden flowers (asters, chrysanthemums, dahlias, marigolds).]

2. used in names of other plants with flowers similar to the daisy, e.g., Michaelmas daisy, Shasta daisy.

II. phrases

1. (as) fresh as a daisy

healthy and full of energy.

2. pushing up (the) daisies

‹informal› dead and buried.

– origin Old English dæges ēage ‘day's eye’ (because the flower opens in the morning and closes at night).

daisy chain /ˈdāzē ˈˌCHān/

I. noun

1. a string of daisies threaded together by their stems.

2. a string of associated people or things

• we can all make daisy chains of blame.

3. ‹informal› a sexual activity in which participants serve as partners to different people simultaneously.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Computing] connect (several devices) together in a linear series.

III. derivatives

daisy-chainable

adjective

daisy-cutter

I. noun

‹informal› an immensely powerful aerial bomb that derives its destructive power from the mixture of ammonium nitrate and aluminum powder with air.

– origin early 20th cent.: so named because the bomb explodes just above ground level.

Daisy Dukes /ˌdāzē ˈd(y)o͞oks/

I. plural noun

brief, tight-fitting denim shorts for women, typically made from a pair of cutoff jeans.

– origin 1990s: from Daisy Duke, the name of a character in the 1970s television series The Dukes of Hazzard, who often wore shorts of this type.

daisy wheel /ˈdāzē ˈˌ(h)wēl/

noun

a device used as a printer in some word processors, consisting of a disc of spokes each terminating in a printing character.

Dak.

abbreviation

Dakota.

Dakar /däˈkär/

the capital of Senegal, a port on the Atlantic coast of West Africa; pop. 2,604,000 (est. 2007).

Dakota^1 /dəˈkōdə/

I. a former territory of the US that was organized in 1889 into the states of North Dakota and South Dakota.

II. derivatives

Dakotan

noun, adjective

Dakota^2 /dəˈkōdə/

I. noun

1. a member of a North American Indian people of the upper Mississippi valley and the surrounding plains.

2. the Siouan language of the Dakota.
Also called Sioux.

II. adjective

relating to the Dakota or their language.

– origin early 19th cent.: the name in Dakota, literally ‘allies.’

Dakota River

another name for James River (sense 1).

dal^1 /däl / dhal

I. noun

1. (in Indian cooking) split pulses, in particular lentils.

2. a dish made with these.

– origin from Hindi dāl.

dal^2

abbreviation

decaliter(s).

Dalai Lama /ˌdalī ˈlämə/

I. noun

the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism and, until the establishment of Chinese communist rule, the spiritual and temporal ruler of Tibet.
Each Dalai Lama is believed to be the reincarnation of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, reappearing in a child when the incumbent Dalai Lama dies. The present Dalai Lama, the fourteenth incarnation, escaped to India in 1959 following the invasion of Tibet by the Chinese and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Tibetan, literally ‘ocean guru,’ so named because he is regarded as “the ocean of compassion” (see lama).

dalasi /dəˈläsē/

I. noun

the basic monetary unit of Gambia, equal to 100 butut.

– origin a local word.

dale /dāl/

I. noun

a valley, especially a broad one.

– origin Old English dæl, of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse dalr, Dutch dal, and German Tal, also to dell.

Dale, Sir Henry Hallett /dāl/

(1875–1968), English physiologist and pharmacologist. He investigated the role of histamine in anaphylactic shock and allergy and the role of acetylcholine as a natural neurotransmitter. Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine (1936), shared with Otto Loewi.

Daley, Richard Joseph /ˈdālē/

(1902–76), US politician. As mayor of Chicago 1955–76, he was known as a big-city boss. He also was prominent in the national Democratic Party.

Dalí, Salvador /ˈdälē, däˈlē/

(1904–89), Spanish painter. A surrealist, he portrayed dream images with almost photographic realism against backgrounds of arid Catalan landscapes. Notable works: The Persistence of Memory (1931) and Christ of St. John of the Cross (1951).

Dalian /ˌdälēˈan/

a port and shipbuilding center on the Liaodong Peninsula in northeastern China, now part of the urban complex of Luda.
Former name Dairen.

Dalit /ˈdälit/

I. noun

(in the traditional Indian caste system) a member of the lowest caste.
See also untouchable, scheduled caste.

– origin via Hindi from Sanskrit dalita ‘oppressed.’

Dallas /ˈdaləs/

a city in northeastern Texas, noted as a center of the oil industry; pop. 1,279,910 (est. 2008). Pres. John F. Kennedy was assassinated here in November 1963.

dalliance /ˈdalēəns/

I. noun

1. a casual romantic or sexual relationship.

2. brief or casual involvement with something

• Berkeley was my last dalliance with the education system.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘conversation’): from dally + -ance.

Dall sheep /ˈdôl ˌSHēp / Dall's sheep

I. noun

a wild North American sheep found in mountainous country from Alaska to British Columbia.
[Ovis dalli, family Bovidae.]

– origin early 20th cent.: named after William H. Dall (1845–1927), US naturalist.

dally /ˈdalē/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. act or move slowly

• workers were loafing, dallying, or goofing off.

2. have a casual romantic or sexual liaison with someone

• he should stop dallying with movie stars.

3. show a casual interest in something, without committing oneself seriously

• the company has been dallying with the idea of opening a new office.

– origin Middle English: from Old French dalier ‘to chat’ (commonly used in Anglo-Norman French), of unknown origin.

Dalmatia /ˌdalˈmāSH(ē)ə/

an ancient region in what is now southwestern Croatia that is composed of mountains and a narrow coastal plain along the Adriatic Sea, together with offshore islands. It once formed part of the Roman province of Illyricum.

Dalmatian /dalˈmāSHən dälˈmāSHən/

I. noun

1. a dog of a white, short-haired breed with dark spots.

2. a native or inhabitant of Dalmatia.

– origin late 16th cent. (sense 2): the dog is believed to have originated in Dalmatia in the 18th cent.

dalmatic /dalˈmadik/

I. noun

a wide-sleeved, long, loose vestment open at the sides, worn by deacons and bishops, and by some monarchs at their coronation.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French dalmatique or late Latin dalmatica, from dalmatica (vestis) ‘(robe) of (white) Dalmatian wool,’ from Dalmaticus ‘of Dalmatia.’

dal segno /ˌdäl ˈsānyō/

I. adverb

[Music] (especially as a direction) repeat from the point marked by a sign.
Compare with da capo.

– origin Italian, ‘from the sign.’

dalton /ˈdôltn/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a unit used in expressing the molecular weight of proteins, equivalent to atomic mass unit.

– origin 1930s: named after John Dalton (see Dalton, John).

Dalton /ˈdôltn/

a city in northwestern Georgia; pop. 33,648 (est. 2008).

Dalton, John

(1766–1844), English chemist; father of the modern atomic theory. He defined an atom as the smallest part of a substance that could participate in a chemical reaction and argued that elements are composed of atoms. He produced the first table of comparative atomic weights.

daltonism /ˈdôlt(ə)nˌizəm/

I. noun

another term for protanopia, a form of color-blindness.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from the name of John Dalton (see Dalton, John) + -ism.

Dalton's law /ˈdôltnz ˌlô / ‹Chemistry›

a law stating that the pressure exerted by a mixture of gases in a fixed volume is equal to the sum of the pressures that would be exerted by each gas alone in the same volume.

Daly City /ˌdālē ˈsidē/

a city in north central California, southwest of San Francisco; pop. 101,514 (est. 2008).

dam^1 /dam/

I. noun

1. a barrier constructed to hold back water and raise its level, the resulting reservoir being used in the generation of electricity or as a water supply.

2. a barrier of branches in a stream, constructed by a beaver to provide a deep pool and a lodge.

3. a rubber sheet used to keep saliva from the teeth during dental operations, or as a prophylactic device during cunnilingus and anilingus.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. build a dam across (a river or lake).

2. hold back or obstruct (something)

• the closed lock gates dammed up the canal.

– origin Middle English: from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch; related to Dutch dam and German Damm, also to Old English fordemman ‘close up.’

dam^2 /dam/

I. noun

the female parent of an animal, especially a domestic mammal.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a human mother): alteration of dame.

dam^3 /dam/

abbreviation

decameter(s).

damage /ˈdamij/

I. noun

1. physical harm caused to something in such a way as to impair its value, usefulness, or normal function.

2. unwelcome and detrimental effects

• the damage to his reputation was considerable.

3. (damages) — a sum of money claimed or awarded in compensation for a loss or an injury

• she was awarded $284,000 in damages.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. inflict physical harm on (something) so as to impair its value, usefulness, or normal function

• the car was badly damaged in the accident

• (as adj. damaged) damaged ligaments.

2. have a detrimental effect on

• the scandal could seriously damage his career.

III. phrases

what's the damage?

‹informal› ‹humorous› used to ask the cost of something.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, from dam, damne ‘loss or damage,’ from Latin damnum ‘loss or hurt’; compare with damn.

damage control ‹Brit.› damage limitation

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) action taken to limit the damaging effects of an accident or error

• the cost of doing damage control after problems reach the crisis stage.

damaged goods

plural noun

a person regarded as inadequate or impaired in some way

• I was just damaged goods, another misfit.

damaging /ˈdamijiNG/

I. adjective

1. causing physical damage

• new cars are less damaging to the environment.

2. having a detrimental effect on someone or something

• damaging allegations of corruption.

II. derivatives

damagingly /ˈdaməjiNGlē /

adverb

Daman and Diu /dəˌmän ən ˈdēo͞o/

a union territory in India, on the western coast, north of Mumbai (Bombay); pop. 217,500 (est. 2009); capital, Daman.

Damascene /ˈdaməˌsēn ˌdaməˈsēn/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to the city of Damascus.

• a Damascene geographer.

2. used in reference to an important moment of insight, typically one that leads to a dramatic transformation of attitude or belief

• in light of his recent statements, it would appear that Fisher has undergone something of a Damascene conversion

• was there a Damascene moment, when he knew he had to turn his attention to politics?

[from the account of St. Paul's conversion to Christianity while traveling to Damascus (Acts 9). See also road to Damascus.]

3. ‹historical› of or relating to Damascus steel or its manufacture.

• a fine Damascene blade.

4. (often damascene) — relating to or denoting a process of inlaying a metal object with gold or silver decoration.

• elaborate Damascene dishes.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of Damascus.

– origin late Middle English (as a noun): via Latin from Greek Damaskēnos ‘of Damascus.’

damascened /ˈdaməˌsēnd, ˌdaməˈsēnd/

adjective

1. (of iron or steel) given a wavy pattern by hammer-welding and repeated heating and forging.

2. (of a metal object) inlaid with gold or silver decoration.

Damascus /dəˈmaskəs/

the capital of Syria since the country's independence in 1946; pop. 1,614,300 (est. 2009). It has existed as a city for over 4,000 years.

Damascus steel

noun

‹historical› steel made with a wavy surface pattern produced by hammer-welding strips of steel and iron followed by repeated heating and forging, used chiefly for knife and sword blades. Such items were often marketed, but not necessarily made, in Damascus during the medieval period.

damask /ˈdaməsk/

I. noun

1. a figured woven fabric with a pattern visible on both sides, typically used for table linen and upholstery.

2. short for damask rose.

3. (also damask steel) — ‹historical› another term for Damascus steel.

II. adjective

1. made of or resembling damask

• the satinlike finish of these damask napkins.

2. ‹literary› having the velvety pink or light red color of a damask rose.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› decorate with or as if with a variegated pattern.

– origin late Middle English: from Damaske, early form of the name of Damascus, where the fabric was first produced.

damask rose /ˈdaməsk rōz/

noun

a sweet-scented rose of an old variety (or hybrid) that is typically pink or light red in color. The petals are soft and velvety and are used to make attar.
[Rosa damascena, family Rosaceae.]

dame /dām/

I. noun

1. (Dame) — (in the UK) the title given to a woman equivalent to the rank of knight.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a woman.

3. ‹archaic› ‹humorous› an elderly or mature woman.

– origin Middle English (denoting a female ruler): via Old French from Latin domina ‘mistress.’

damfool /ˌdamˈfo͞ol / ‹informal, dated›

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of a person) thoroughly foolish and stupid.

II. noun

a stupid or foolish person.

damiana /ˌdamēˈanə/

I. noun

a small shrub native to Mexico whose leaves are used in herbal medicine and in the production of a liqueur. It is reputed to possess aphrodisiac qualities.
[Turnera diffusa, family Turneraceae.]

– origin American Spanish.

Damietta /ˌdamēˈedə/

I. the eastern branch of the Nile delta.
Arabic name Dumyat.

II. a port at the mouth of the Damietta; pop. 206,700 (2006).

daminozide /dəˈminəˌzīd/

noun

a growth retardant sprayed on vegetables and fruit, especially apples, to enhance the quality of the crop. In the US, the application of daminozide is now restricted to ornamental plants owing to the potential health risks of consuming the chemical.
[Chem. formula: C_6H_12N_2O_3.]

dammar /ˈdamər / damar

I. noun

resin obtained from any of a number of tropical and mainly Indo-Malaysian trees, used to make varnish.
[The resin is obtained from trees in the families Araucariaceae (genus Agathis), Dipterocarpaceae (genera Hopea, Shorea, and Vatica), and Burseraceae (genus Canarium).]

– origin late 17th cent.: from Malay damar ‘resin.’

dammit /ˈdamət/

I. exclamation

‹informal› used to express anger and frustration.

– origin mid 19th cent.: alteration of damn it.

damn /dam/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (be damned) — (in Christian belief) be condemned by God to suffer eternal punishment in hell

• be forever damned with Lucifer.

2. be doomed to misfortune or failure

• the enterprise was damned.

3. condemn, especially by the public expression of disapproval

• intellectuals whom he damns as rigid doctrinaire idealists.

4. curse (someone or something)

• she cleared her throat, damning it for its huskiness

• damn him for making this sound trivial.

II. exclamation

‹informal› expressing anger, surprise, or frustration

• Damn! I completely forgot!

III. adjective — [attrib.]

1. ‹informal› used for emphasis, especially to express anger or frustration

• turn that damn thing off!

• [as submodifier] don't be so damn silly!

IV. phrases

1. —— be damned

used to express rejection of someone or something previously mentioned

• “Glory be damned!”

2. damn all

(Brit.) ‹informal› nothing at all.

3. damn well

‹informal› used to emphasize a statement, especially when the speaker is angry

• this is your mess and you can damn well clear it up!

4. damn someone/something with faint praise

praise someone or something so unenthusiastically as to imply condemnation.

5. I'll be (or I'm) damned if

‹informal› used to express a strong negative

• I'll be damned if I'll call her.

6. not be worth a damn

‹informal› have no value or validity at all.

7. not give (or care) a damn

‹informal› not care at all

• people who don't give a damn about the environment.

8. well I'll be (or I'm) damned

‹informal› used as an expression of surprise.

– origin Middle English: from Old French dam(p)ner, from Latin dam(p)nare ‘inflict loss on,’ from damnum ‘loss, damage.’

damnable /ˈdamnəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. extremely bad or unpleasant

• leave this damnable place behind.

2. subject to or worthy of divine condemnation

• suicide was thought damnable in the Middle Ages.

II. derivatives

damnably /ˈdam(n)əblē /

adverb

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘worthy of condemnation’): from Old French dam(p)nable, from Latin dam(p)nabilis, from dam(p)nare ‘inflict loss on’ (see damn).

damnation /damˈnāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

(in Christian belief) condemnation to eternal punishment in hell.

II. exclamation

expressing anger or frustration.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin dam(p)natio(n-), from the verb dam(p)nare ‘inflict loss on’ (see damn).

damnatory /ˈdamnəˌtôrē/

I. adjective

conveying or causing censure or damnation

• the case against you was most damnatory.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin damnatorius, from dam(p)nat- ‘caused to suffer loss,’ from the verb dam(p)nare (see damn).

damned /damd/

I. adjective

1. (in Christian belief) condemned by God to suffer eternal punishment in hell
(as plural noun the damned)

• the spirits of the damned.

2. [attrib.] — ‹informal› used for emphasis, especially to express anger or frustration

• it's none of your damned business

• [as submodifier] she's too damned arrogant

• you can damned well tell him yourself!

3. (damnedest) — (N. Amer.) used to emphasize the surprising nature of something

• the damnedest thing I ever saw.

II. phrases

do (or try) one's damnedest

do or try one's utmost.

damnify /ˈdamnəˌfī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Law] ‹rare› cause injury to.

II. derivatives

damnification /ˌdam(n)əfəˈkāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin early 16th cent.: from Old French damnefier, dam(p)nifier, from late Latin damnificare ‘injure, condemn,’ from Latin damnificus ‘hurtful,’ from damnus ‘loss, damage.’

damning /ˈdamiNG/

I. adjective

1. (of a circumstance or piece of evidence) strongly suggesting guilt or error

• presented with damning affidavits.

2. extremely critical

• last year's damning report on the industry.

II. derivatives

damningly

adverb

Damoclean /ˌdaməˈklēən/

I. adjective

threatening and precarious

• the parties charged are left in the Damoclean situation of never knowing when an old charge may spring back to life.

II. phrases

Damoclean sword

used to refer to an extremely precarious and threatening situation

• we forget that just above our heads hangs the Damoclean sword of our own design.

[late 19th cent.: from the legendary courtier Damocles, who was seated at a banquet with a sword hung by a single hair over his head.]

Damocles /ˈdaməˌklēz/

I. a legendary courtier who extravagantly praised the happiness of Dionysius I, ruler of Syracuse. To show him how precarious this happiness was, Dionysius seated him at a banquet with a sword hung by a single hair over his head.

II. phrases

sword of Damocles

used to refer to a precarious situation.

Damon /ˈdāmən/

a legendary Syracusan of the 4th century BC whose friend Pythias was sentenced to death by Dionysius I. Damon stood bail for Pythias, who returned just in time to save him, and was himself reprieved.

damp /damp/

I. adjective

slightly wet

• her hair was still damp from the shower.

II. noun

1. moisture diffused through the air or a solid substance or condensed on a surface, typically with detrimental or unpleasant effects.

2. foul, stifling, or poisonous gas, especially in a mine.

3. (damps) — ‹archaic› damp air or atmosphere.

4. ‹archaic› a check or discouragement

• shame gave a damp to her triumph.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (something) slightly wet

• damp a small area with water.

2. control or restrain (a feeling or a state of affairs)

• she tried to damp down her feelings of despair.

3. make (a fire) burn less strongly by reducing the flow of air to it.

4. restrict the amplitude of vibrations on (a piano or other musical instrument) so as to reduce the volume of sound

• rapidly damping the cymbals after repeatedly clashing them together.

5. [Physics] progressively reduce the amplitude of (an oscillation or vibration)

• concrete structures damp out any vibrations.

IV. derivatives

1. dampish /ˈdampiSH /

adjective

2. damply /ˈdamplē /

adverb

– origin Middle English (in the noun sense ‘noxious inhalation’); related to a Middle Low German word meaning ‘vapor, steam, smoke.’

damp-dry /ˈdampˌdrī/

verb — [no obj.]

1. dry (something) until it is only damp

• the machine automatically washes, rinses, and damp-dries.

dampen /ˈdampən/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make slightly wet

• the fine rain dampened her face.

2. make less strong or intense

• nothing could dampen her enthusiasm.

3. reduce the amplitude of (a sound source)

• slider switches on the mixers can dampen the drums.

II. derivatives

dampener /ˈdamp(ə)nər /

noun

damper /ˈdampər/

I. noun

1. a person or thing that has a depressing, subduing, or inhibiting effect

• another damper on reactor development was the problem of safeguards.

2. [Music] a pad that silences a piano string except when removed by means of a pedal or by the note being struck.

3. a device for reducing mechanical vibration, in particular a shock absorber on a motor vehicle.

4. a conductor used to reduce hunting in an electric motor or generator.

5. a movable metal plate in a flue or chimney, used to regulate the draft and so control the rate of combustion.

II. phrases

put a damper on

have a depressing, subduing, or inhibiting effect on

• he put a damper on her youthful excitement.

damping /ˈdampiNG/

noun

1. ‹technical› a decrease in the amplitude of an oscillation as a result of energy being drained from the system to overcome frictional or other resistive forces.

2. a mechanism or system for bringing about damping.

3. a method of bringing about a decrease in oscillatory peaks in an electric current or voltage using an energy-absorbing or resistance circuit.

4. short for damping-off.

damping-off

noun

a plant disease occurring in excessively damp conditions, in particular the collapse and death of young seedlings as a result of a fungal infection.
[The disease is commonly caused by fungi of the genera Pythium (phylum Oomycota) or Fusarium (phylum Ascomycota).]

dampness /ˈdampnəs/

noun

the state or condition of being slightly wet

• the dampness in the air.

damsel /ˈdamzəl/

I. noun

‹archaic› ‹literary› a young unmarried woman.

II. phrases

damsel in distress

‹often humorous› a young woman in trouble (with the implication that the woman needs to be rescued, as by a prince in a fairy tale).

– origin Middle English: from Old French dameisele, damisele, based on Latin domina ‘mistress.’

damsel bug

noun

a slender long-legged bug that is a predator of other insects.
[Family Nabidae, suborder Heteroptera: several genera.]

damselfish /ˈdamzəlˌfiSH/

noun

a small brightly colored tropical fish that lives in or near coral reefs.
[Chromis and other genera, family Pomacentridae: numerous species, in particular C. chromis.]

damselfly /ˈdamzəlˌflī/

noun

a slender insect related to the dragonflies, having weak flight and typically resting with the wings folded back along the body.
[Suborder Zygoptera, order Odonata: several families.]

damson /ˈdamzən ˈdamsən/

I. noun

1. a small purple-black plumlike fruit.

2. a dark purple color.

3. (also damson tree) — the small deciduous tree that bears the damson fruit, probably derived from the bullace.
[Prunus domestica subsp. insititia (or P. damascena), family Rosaceae.]

– origin late Middle English damascene, from Latin damascenum (prunum) ‘(plum) of Damascus.’ Compare with Damascene and damask.

dan^1 /dan/

I. noun

1. any of ten degrees of advanced proficiency in judo or karate.

2. a person who has achieved a dan in judo or karate.

– origin 1940s: from Japanese.

dan^2 /dan / dan buoy

I. noun

a small marker buoy with a lightweight flagpole.

– origin late 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

Dan /dan/

I. (in the Bible) a Hebrew patriarch, son of Jacob and Bilhah.

II. the tribe of Israel traditionally descended from him.

III. an ancient town in the north of Canaan, where the tribe of Dan settled. It marked the northern limit of the ancient Hebrew kingdom of Israel.

Dan.

abbreviation

[Bible] Daniel.

Dana, Charles Anderson /ˈdānə/

(1819–97), US newspaper editor. He was a resident of the experimental Brook Farm commune near Boston 1841–46 and the owner and editor of the New York Sun 1868–97.

Dana, James Dwight

(1813–95), US naturalist, geologist, and mineralogist. He founded a classification of minerals based on chemistry and physics and viewed the earth as a unit.

Dana, Richard Henry

(1815–82), US adventurer, lawyer, and writer. An expert in maritime law and an editor of an international law journal, he is most noted for the account of his voyage from Boston around Cape Horn to California in Two Years before the Mast (1840).

Danae /ˈdanəˌē / ‹Greek Mythology›

the daughter of Acrisius, king of Argos. An oracle foretold that she would bear a son who would kill her father. Attempting to evade this, Acrisius imprisoned her, but Zeus visited her in the form of a shower of gold and she conceived Perseus, who killed Acrisius by accident.

danaid /ˈdanē-id, ˈdanā-/

I. noun

a large strikingly marked butterfly of a group that includes the monarch, found chiefly in the tropics of Africa and East Asia.
[Subfamily Danainae, family Nymphalidae (formerly family Danaidae).]

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Danaidae, arbitrary use of the Latin name of the daughters of Danaus.

Danaids /dəˈnā-idz, ˈdanē-idz / ‹Greek Mythology›

the daughters of Danaus, king of Argos, who were compelled to marry the sons of his brother Aegyptus but murdered their husbands on the wedding night, except for one, Hypermnestra, who helped her husband to escape. The remaining Danaids were punished in Hades by being sent to fill a leaky jar with water.

Da Nang /ˈdä ˈnäNG, də ˈnaNG/

a port and city in central Vietnam, on the South China Sea; pop. 770,500 (est. 2009). It served as a US military base during the Vietnam War.
Former name Tourane.

Dana Point

a city in southwestern California, on the Pacific coast; pop. 35,700 (est. 2008).

Danbury /ˈdanˌberē, -b(ə)rē/

a city in west central Connecticut, formerly noted for its hat industry; pop. 79,256 (est. 2008).

dance /dans/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. move rhythmically to music, typically following a set sequence of steps

• their cheeks were pressed together as they danced.

2. [with obj.] — perform (a particular dance or a role in a ballet)

• they danced a tango.

3. [with obj.] — lead (someone) in a particular direction while dancing

• I danced her out of the room.

4. [with adverbial of direction] — (of a person) move in a quick and lively way

• Sheila danced in gaily.

5. [with adverbial of place] — move up and down lightly and quickly

• midges danced over the stream.

6. (of someone's eyes) sparkle brightly with pleasure or excitement.

II. noun

1. a series of movements that match the speed and rhythm of a piece of music.

2. a particular sequence of steps and movements constituting a particular form of dancing.

3. dance steps and movements considered as an activity or art form

• she has studied dance with Martha Graham.

4. a social gathering at which people dance

• she met her husband at a dance.

5. a set of lively movements resembling a dance

• he gesticulated comically and did a little dance.

6. a piece of music for dancing to

• the last dance had been played.

7. (also dance music) — music for dancing to, especially in a nightclub.

III. phrases

1. dance attendance on

do one's utmost to please someone by attending to all possible needs or requests.

2. dance to someone's tune

comply completely with someone's demands and wishes.

3. lead someone a dance (or a merry dance)

(Brit.) cause someone a great deal of trouble or worry.

IV. derivatives

1. danceability

noun

2. danceable /ˈdansəb(ə)l /

adjective

3. dancey dancy

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French dancer (verb), dance (noun), of unknown origin.

dance band

noun

a band that plays music suitable for dancing, especially swing.

dance card /ˈdans ˌkärd/

noun

‹dated› a card bearing the names of a woman's prospective partners at a formal dance.

dance floor /ˈdans ˌflô(ə)r/

noun

1. an area of floor in a nightclub, disco, or restaurant that is reserved for dancing.

2. [as modifier] — denoting a recording or type of music particularly popular as an accompaniment to dancing

• a current dance-floor hit.

dance hall /ˈdans ˌhôl/

noun

1. a large public hall or building where people pay to enter and dance.

2. (dancehall) — an uptempo style of dance music originating in Jamaica and derived from reggae, in which a DJ improvises lyrics over a recorded instrumental backing track or to the accompaniment of live musicians.

dance of death

noun

a medieval allegorical representation in which a personified Death leads people to the grave, designed to emphasize the equality of all before death.
Also called danse macabre.

dance-off /ˈdansôf/

noun

a competition, or a round in a competition, in which a number of dancers compete against each other until a winner is declared

• the dance-off will feature each couple performing Latin, ballroom, and freestyle.

dancer /ˈdansər/

noun

a person who dances or whose profession is dancing.

dancercise /ˈdansərˌsīz / dancercize

I. noun

a system of aerobic exercise using dance movements.

– origin 1960s: blend of dance and exercise.

dancing /ˈdansiNG/

noun

the activity of dancing for pleasure or in order to entertain others.

• there will be folk music, singing, and dancing.

• [as modifier] a dancing class.

dancing girl /ˈdansiNG ˌɡərl/

noun

a female professional dancer, especially an erotic dancer or a member of the chorus in a musical.

D and C

abbreviation

dilation and curettage.

dandelion /ˈdandlˌīən/

I. noun

a widely distributed weed of the daisy family, with a rosette of leaves, bright yellow flowers followed by globular heads of seeds with downy tufts, and stems containing a milky latex.
[Genus Taraxacum, family Compositae: several species, in particular the common T. officinale, which has edible leaves.]

– origin late Middle English: from French dent-de-lion, translation of medieval Latin dens leonis ‘lion's tooth’ (because of the jagged shape of the leaves).

dandelion greens

plural noun

(N. Amer.) fresh dandelion leaves used as a salad vegetable or herb.

dander^1 /ˈdandər/

I. noun — (in phrase get/have one's dander up)

1. ‹informal› lose one's temper.

– origin mid 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

dander^2 /ˈdandər/

I. noun

skin flakes in an animal's fur or hair.

– origin late 18th cent.: related to dandruff.

dandiacal /danˈdīəkəl/

I. adjective

‹dated› ‹humorous› relating to or characteristic of a dandy.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from dandy, on the pattern of words such as hypochondriacal.

Dandie Dinmont /ˌdandē ˈdinˌmänt/

I. noun

a terrier of a breed with short legs, a long body, and a rough coat.

– origin early 19th cent.: named after a farmer who owned a special breed of terriers, portrayed in Sir Walter Scott's Guy Mannering.

dandified /ˈdandəˌfīd/

adjective

1. (of a man) showing excessive concern about his clothes or appearance.

2. self-consciously sophisticated or elaborate

• he writes a dandified prose.

dandiprat /ˈdandēˌprat/

I. noun

‹archaic› ‹informal› a young or insignificant person.

– origin early 16th cent. (denoting a coin worth three halfpence): of unknown origin.

dandle /ˈdandl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. move (a baby or young child) up and down in a playful or affectionate way.

2. move (something) lightly up and down

• dandling the halter rope, he gently urged the pony's head up.

– origin mid 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

Dandong /ˈdänˈdo͝oNG/

a port in Liaoning province, in northeastern China, near the mouth of the Yalu River, on the border with North Korea; pop. 597,900 (est. 2006).
Former name Antung.

dandruff /ˈdandrəf/

I. noun

small pieces of dead skin in a person's hair.

II. derivatives

dandruffy

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: the first element is unknown; the second (-ruff) is perhaps related to Middle English rove ‘scurfiness.’

D & X

abbreviation

dilation and extraction.
See partial-birth abortion.

dandy /ˈdandē/

I. noun

1. a man unduly devoted to style, neatness, and fashion in dress and appearance.

2. ‹informal› ‹dated› an excellent thing of its kind

• this umbrella is a dandy.

II. adjective

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› excellent

• upgrading seemed a dandy idea

• things are all fine and dandy.

2. relating to or characteristic of a dandy.

III. derivatives

1. dandyish /ˈdandēiSH /

adjective

2. dandyism /ˈdandēˌizəm /

noun

– origin late 18th cent.: perhaps a shortened form of 17th-cent. Jack-a-dandy ‘conceited fellow’ (the last element representing Dandy, a nickname for the given name Andrew).

dandy brush /ˈdandē ˌbrəSH/

noun

a coarse brush used for grooming a horse.

dandy roll /ˈdandē rōl / dandy roller

noun

a roller that is used to solidify partly formed paper during its manufacture, and to impress the water mark.

Dane /dān/

I. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Denmark, or a person of Danish descent.

2. ‹historical› one of the Viking invaders of the British Isles in the 9th–11th centuries.

– origin Old English Dene; superseded in Middle English by forms influenced by Old Norse Danir and late Latin Dani (both plural).

Danegeld /ˈdānɡeld/

I. noun

‹historical› a land tax levied in medieval England, originally to raise funds for protection against Danish invaders.

– origin late Old English, from Old Norse Danir ‘Danes’ + gjald ‘payment.’

Danforth anchor /ˈdanˌfôrTH ˌaNGkər/

noun

a type of stockless lightweight anchor with flat flukes.

dang /daNG/

adjective, exclamation, verb

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› euphemism for damn:
[as adj.]

• just get the dang car started!

• [as exclamation] dang it, Phil, stop snoring!

• [as verb] I'll be danged.

danger /ˈdānjər/

I. noun

1. the possibility of suffering harm or injury

• his life was in danger.

2. a person or thing that is likely to cause harm or injury

• infertile soils where drought is a danger.

3. the possibility of something unwelcome or unpleasant

• there was no danger of the champagne running out.

4. (Brit.) the status of a railroad signal indicating that the line is not clear and that a train should not proceed.

II. phrases

1. in danger of

likely to incur or to suffer from

• the animal is in danger of extinction.

2. out of danger

(of a person who has suffered a serious injury or illness) not expected to die.

– origin Middle English: from Old French dangier, based on Latin dominus ‘lord.’ The original sense was ‘jurisdiction or power,’ specifically ‘power to harm,’ hence the current meaning ‘liability to be harmed.’

danger area

noun

1. an area in which there is a high risk of harm

• plans were already being made for schools to be evacuated from the danger area

• if you live in a hurricane danger area, gather your storm supplies.

2. something that is controversial or needs to be treated with care

• housing is another danger area

• the one danger area for him is a health care disaster.

dangerous /ˈdānj(ə)rəs/

I. adjective

1. able or likely to cause harm or injury

• a dangerous animal

• ice was making the roads dangerous.

2.

• it is dangerous to underestimate an enemy.

3. likely to cause problems or to have adverse consequences

• our most dangerous opponents in the playoffs

• it is dangerous to underestimate an enemy.

II. derivatives

dangerousness /ˈdānj(ə)rəsnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English (in the senses ‘arrogant,’ ‘fastidious,’ and ‘difficult to please’): from Old French dangereus, from dangier (see danger).

dangerously /ˈdānj(ə)rəslē/

adverb

1. in a way that is able or likely to cause harm or injury

• he admitted driving dangerously

• [as submodifier] during the night Mary was taken dangerously ill.

2. in a way that is likely to cause problems or to have adverse consequences
[as submodifier]

• stocks have been depleted to dangerously low levels.

danger pay

noun

(N. Amer.) extra payment for working under dangerous conditions.

danger sign

noun

an indication that a bad or dangerous situation is likely to develop

• parents of young addicts often miss the early danger signs.

danger zone

noun

1. an area in which there is a high risk of harm, especially where this risk has been officially identified

• this is a danger zone where any one of us can step on a landmine

• nuclear reactors in Europe have danger zones of 800 meters in radius.

2. a situation that is hazardous or controversial

• he's moving and he's conscious—at least for now he's out of the danger zone

• remuneration levels for individual shareholders is another potential danger zone.

dangle /ˈdaNGɡəl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. hang or swing loosely

• saucepans dangled from a rail

• [with obj.] they were dangling their legs over the water.

2. [with obj.] — offer (an enticing incentive) to someone

• two rich commissions that had been dangling so sweetly in front of me.

II. phrases

keep someone dangling

keep someone in an uncertain position.

III. derivatives

1. dangler /ˈdaNGɡlər /

noun

2. dangly /-ɡlē /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: symbolic of something loose and pendulous, corresponding to Danish dangle, Swedish dangla, but the origin is not clear.

dangling /ˈdaNGɡliNG/

adjective

hanging or swinging loosely

• a pair of dangling earrings.

dangling participle /ˌdaNGɡ(ə)liNG ˈpärdəsip(ə)l/

I. noun

[Grammar] a participle intended to modify a noun that is not actually present in the text.

usage: A participle is a word formed as an inflection of the verb, such as arriving or arrived. A dangling participle is one left “hanging” because, in the grammar of the clause, it does not relate to the noun it should. In the sentence arriving at the station, she picked up her case, the construction is correct because the participle arriving and the subject she relate to each other (she is the one doing the arriving). But in the following sentence, a dangling participle has been created: arriving at the station, the sun came out. We know, logically, that it is not the sun that is arriving, but grammatically that is exactly the link that has been created. Such errors are frequent in written English and can give rise to confusion.

Daniel /ˈdanyəl/

I. a Hebrew prophet (6th century BC), who spent his life as a captive at the court of Babylon. In the biblical account, he interpreted the dreams of Nebuchadnezzar and was delivered by God from the lions' den into which he had been thrown as the result of a trick; in the apocryphal book of Susanna he is portrayed as a wise judge.

II. a book of the Bible containing Daniel's prophecies. It was probably written at the outbreak of the persecution of the Jews under Seleucid rule c. 167 BC.

Daniel, Peter Vivian

(1784–1860), US Supreme Court associate justice 1841–60. Appointed to the Court by President Van Buren, he advocated states' rights.

danio /ˈdanēˌō/

I. noun

a small, typically brightly colored freshwater fish native to South and Southeast Asia.
[Genera Danio and Brachydanio, family Cyprinidae: several species.]

– origin modern Latin (genus name).

Danish /ˈdāniSH/

I. adjective

of or relating to Denmark or its people or language.

II. noun

1. the North Germanic language of Denmark, which is also the official language of Greenland and the Faroe Islands.

2. (as plural noun the Danish) — the people of Denmark.

3. ‹informal› short for Danish pastry.

– origin Old English Denisc, of Germanic origin; superseded in Middle English by forms influenced by Old French daneis and medieval Latin Danensis (from late Latin Dani ‘Danes’).

Danish blue

noun

a soft, salty, strong-flavored white cheese with blue veins.

Danish pastry /ˈdāniSH ˈpāstrē/

noun

a pastry made of sweetened yeast dough with toppings or fillings such as fruit, nuts, or cheese.

dank /daNGk/

I. adjective

disagreeably damp, musty, and typically cold.

II. derivatives

1. dankly

adverb

2. dankness /ˈdaNGknəs /

noun

– origin Middle English: probably of Scandinavian origin and related to Swedish dank ‘marshy spot.’

Danmark /ˈdänmärk/

Danish name for Denmark.

Dannebrog /ˈdanəˌbräɡ/

I. noun

the Danish national flag.

– origin early 18th cent.: Danish, literally ‘Danish cloth.’

Dano-Norwegian /ˌdānōnôrˈwējən/

noun

another term for Bokmål.

Dan River /ˌdan ˈrivər/

a river that flows for 180 miles (290 km) from southwestern Virginia into North Carolina to the Roanoke River.

danse macabre /ˌdäns məˈkäbrə/

I. noun

another term for dance of death.

– origin French, recorded from late Middle English in anglicized forms such as dance of Machabray, dance of Macaber (see also macabre).

danseur /danˈsər/

I. noun

a male ballet dancer.

– origin French, from danser ‘to dance.’

danseuse /danˈso͞oz/

I. noun

a female ballet dancer.

– origin early 19th cent.: French, literally ‘female dancer.’

Dante /ˈdäntā/

(1265–1321), Italian poet; full name Dante Alighieri. He wrote The Divine Comedy (c. 1309–20), an epic poem that describes his spiritual journey through Hell and Purgatory and finally to Paradise. His love for Beatrice Portinari is described in Vita nuova (c. 1290–94).

Dantean /ˈdäntēən ˈdantēən/

I. adjective

of or reminiscent of the poetry of Dante, especially in invoking his vision of hell in The Divine Comedy.

II. noun

an admirer or student of Dante or his writing.

Dantesque /dänˈtesk / Dante-esque

adjective

another term for Dantean.

Danton, Georges /däNˈtôN/

(1759–94), French revolutionary; full name Georges Jacques Danton. Initially an ally of Robespierre, he later revolted against the severity of the Revolutionary Tribunal and was executed on Robespierre's orders.

Danube /ˈdanyo͞ob/

I. a river that rises in the Black Forest in southwestern Germany and flows for about 1,770 miles (2,850 km) into the Black Sea. It is the second longest river in Europe (after the Volga); the cities of Vienna, Budapest, and Belgrade are situated on its banks.
German name Donau.

II. derivatives

Danubian /danˈyo͞obēən /

adjective

Danube School

a group of landscape painters working in the Danube region in the early 16th century. Its members included Altdorfer and Cranach the Elder.

Danvers /ˈdanvərz/

a town in northeastern Massachusetts, northeast of Boston; pop. 26,762 (est. 2008).

Danville /ˈdanvil/

I. a city in north central California, northeast of Oakland; pop. 41,182 (est. 2008).

II. a city in east central Illinois; pop. 32,248 (est. 2008).

III. a city in southern Virginia, on the Dan River; pop. 44,660 (est. 2008).

Danzig /ˈdantziɡ/

German name for Gdańsk.

dap /dap/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. fish by letting the fly bob lightly on the water without letting the line touch the water.

– origin mid 17th cent. (as a verb): symbolic of a flicking movement, similar to dab^1.

daphne /ˈdafnē/

I. noun

a small Eurasian shrub with sweet-scented flowers and, typically, evergreen leaves.
[Genus Daphne, family Thymelaeaceae: several species, including mezereon and spurge laurel.]

– origin late Middle English (denoting the laurel or bay tree): from Greek daphnē, from the name of the nymph Daphne.

Daphne /ˈdafnē / ‹Greek Mythology›

a nymph who was turned into a laurel bush to save her from the amorous pursuit of Apollo.

daphnia /ˈdafnēə/

I. noun

a tiny and semitransparent freshwater crustacean with long antennae and prominent eyes, often used as food for aquarium fish.
Also called water flea. [Genus Daphnia, order Cladocera.]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek Daphnē, from the name of the nymph Daphne.

Daphnis /ˈdafnəs / ‹Greek Mythology›

a Sicilian shepherd who, according to one version of the legend, was struck with blindness for his infidelity to the nymph Echenaïs. He consoled himself with pastoral poetry, of which he was the inventor.

dapper /ˈdapər/

I. adjective

(typically of a man) neat and trim in dress, appearance, or bearing.

II. derivatives

1. dapperly

adverb

2. dapperness

noun

– origin late Middle English: probably from a Middle Low German or Middle Dutch word meaning ‘strong, stout.’

dapple /ˈdapəl/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be dappled)

1. mark with spots or rounded patches

• the floor was dappled with pale moonlight.

II. noun

1. a patch or spot of color or light.

2. an animal whose coat is marked with patches or spots.

– origin late 16th cent. (earlier as an adjective): perhaps related to Old Norse depill ‘spot.’

dappled /ˈdap(ə)ld/

adjective

marked with spots or rounded patches

• the horse's dappled flank.

dapple gray /ˌdapəl ˈɡrā/

I. adjective

(of a horse) gray or white with darker ringlike markings.

II. noun

a dapple gray horse.

dappy /ˈdapē/

I. adjective

(Brit.) ‹informal› silly, disorganized, or lacking concentration

• a dappy lass

• he seemed very genuine—and slightly dappy.

– origin 1990s: probably a variant of dippy.

Dapsang /däpˈsäNG/

another name for K2.

dapsone /ˈdapsōn/

I. noun

[Medicine] a sulfur compound with bacteriostatic action, used chiefly in the treatment of leprosy.
[Alternative name: bis(4-aminophenyl)sulfone; chem. formula: (H_2NC_6H_4)2SO_2.]

– origin 1950s: from elements of its alternative systematic name dipara-aminophenyl sulfone.

Daqing /ˈdäˈCHiNG / Taching

a major industrial city in northeastern China, in Heilongjiang province; pop. 976,200 (est. 2006).

DAR

abbreviation

Daughters of the American Revolution.

Dard /därd/

I. noun

1. a member of a group of peoples inhabiting eastern Afghanistan, northern Pakistan, and Kashmir.

2. a group of languages, including Kashmiri, usually classified as Indic but showing strong Iranian influence.

II. adjective

of or relating to the Dards or their languages.

III. derivatives

Dardic /ˈdärdik /

noun, adjective

– origin the name in Dard.

Dardanelles /ˌdärdnˈelz/

a narrow strait between Europe and Asiatic Turkey (called the Hellespont in classical times) that links the Sea of Marmara with the Aegean Sea. It is 38 miles (60 km) long. In 1915, it was the scene of an unsuccessful attack on Turkey by Allied troops (see Gallipoli).

dare /der/

I. verb — (3rd sing. present usu. dare before an expressed or implied infinitive without to)

1. (usu. with infinitive with or without to often with negative) — have the courage to do something

• a story he dare not write down

• she leaned forward as far as she dared.

2. [with obj. and infinitive] — defy or challenge (someone) to do something

• she was daring him to disagree

• [with obj.] swap with me, I dare you.

3. [with obj.] — ‹literary› take the risk of; brave

• few dared his wrath.

II. noun

a challenge, especially to prove courage

• athletes who eat ground glass on a dare.

III. phrases

1. don't you dare

used to order someone threateningly not to do something

• don't you dare touch me!

2. how dare you

used to express indignation

• how dare you talk to me like that!

3. I dare say (or daresay)

used to indicate that one believes something is probable

• I dare say you've heard about her.

IV. derivatives

darer

noun

– origin Old English durran, of Germanic origin; related to Gothic gadaursan, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek tharsein and Sanskrit dhṛṣ- ‘be bold.’

Dare, Virginia /de(ə)r/

(1587–?), first English child born in North America. Born on Roanoke Island, Virginia, to Ananias Dare and Elinor White, she disappeared with the other 117 Roanoke colonists, as was discovered in 1591.

daredevil /ˈderˌdevəl/

I. noun

a reckless person who enjoys doing dangerous things.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. reckless and daring.

III. derivatives

daredevilry /-rē /

noun

daresay /ˈderˌsā/

verb

see dare.

Dar es Salaam /ˌdär ˌes səˈläm/

the chief port and former capital of Tanzania; pop. 2,930,000 (est. 2007). Its Arabic name means “haven of peace.”

Darfur /därˈfo͝or/

a region in the west of Sudan, an independent kingdom until 1874. In 2003, a rebellion against the Sudanese government began, and many thousands died or were displaced in the subsequent conflict.

Dari /ˈdärē/

noun

the form of Persian spoken in Afghanistan.

Darien /ˌderēˈen/

a sparsely populated province in eastern Panama. The name was formerly applied to the whole of the Isthmus of Panama.

Darien, Gulf of

part of the Caribbean Sea between Panama and Colombia.

daring /ˈderiNG/

I. adjective

1. (of a person or action) adventurous or audaciously bold

• a daring crime.

2. boldly unconventional

• a pretty girl in daring clothes.

II. noun

adventurous courage

• the zeal and daring of climbers.

III. derivatives

daringly /ˈderiNGlē /

adverb

dariole /ˈderēˌōl / dariole mold

I. noun

(in French cooking) a small, round metal mold in which an individual sweet or savory dish is cooked and served.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French.

Darius I /ˈde(ə)rēəs, dəˈrīəs/

(c. 550–486 BC), king of Persia 521–486 BC; known as Darius the Great. After a revolt by the Greek cities in Ionia (499–494 BC), he invaded Greece but was defeated at Marathon (490 BC).

Darjeeling /därˈjēliNG/

noun

a high-quality tea grown in the mountainous regions of northern India.

dark /därk/

I. adjective

1. with little or no light

• it's too dark to see much.

2. hidden from knowledge; mysterious

• a dark secret.

3. ‹archaic› ignorant; unenlightened

• he is dark on certain points of scripture.

4. (of a theater) closed; not in use

• on Tuesdays he'd wait tables because the theater was dark.

5. (of a color or object) not reflecting much light; approaching black in shade

• dark green.

6. (of someone's skin, hair, or eyes) brown or black in color.

7. (of a person) having dark skin, hair, or eyes

• both my father and I are very dark.

8. served or drunk with only a little or no milk or cream.

9. (of a period of time or situation) characterized by tragedy, unhappiness, or unpleasantness

• the dark days of the war.

10. gloomily pessimistic

• a dark vision of the future.

11. (of an expression) angry; threatening

• Matthew flashed a dark look at her.

12. suggestive of or arising from evil characteristics or forces; sinister

• so many dark deeds had been committed.

13. [Phonetics] denoting a velarized form of the sound of the letter l (as in pull).

II. noun

1. (the dark) — the absence of light in a place

• Carolyn was sitting in the dark

• he's scared of the dark.

2. nightfall

• I'll be home before dark.

3. a dark color or shade, especially in a painting.

III. phrases

1. the darkest hour is just before the dawn

‹proverb› when things seem to be at their worst, they are about to start improving.

2. in the dark

in a state of ignorance about something

• we're clearly being kept in the dark about what's happening.

3. keep something dark

keep something secret from other people

• I asked Ann to keep my identity dark.

4. a shot (or stab) in the dark

an act whose outcome cannot be foreseen; a mere guess.

IV. derivatives

1. darkish /ˈdärkiSH /

adjective

2. darksome /ˈdärksəm /

adjective

( — ‹literary›

– origin Old English deorc, of Germanic origin, probably distantly related to German tarnen ‘conceal.’

dark adaptation

I. noun

the adjustment of the eye to low light intensities, involving reflex dilation of the pupil and activation of the rod cells in preference to the cone cells.

II. derivatives

dark-adapted

adjective

Dark Ages /ˈdärk ˈˌājiz/

I. the period in western Europe between the fall of the Roman Empire and the high Middle Ages, c. AD 500–1100, during which Germanic tribes swept through Europe and North Africa, often attacking and destroying towns and settlements.

II. a period of supposed unenlightenment

• the dark ages of racism.

III. (the dark ages) — ‹humorous› ‹derogatory› an obscure or little-regarded period in the past, especially as characterizing an outdated attitude or practice

• the judge is living in the dark ages.

IV. [Archaeology] a period in Greece and the Aegean from the end of the Bronze Age until the beginning of the archaic period. There was no building of palaces and fortresses, and the art of writing was apparently lost.

Dark and Bloody Ground

a nickname for the state of Kentucky.

dark chocolate

noun

slightly bitter chocolate, of a deep brown color, without added milk.

dark-complexioned

adjective

(of a person) having brown or black skin

• a black-haired, dark-complexioned man.

Dark Continent /ˈˌdärk ˈkänt(ə)nənt/

a name given to Africa at a time when it was little known to Europeans.

dark current

noun

the residual electric current flowing in a photoelectric device when there is no incident illumination.

darken /ˈdärkən/

I. verb

1. make or become dark or darker
[no obj.]

• the sky was darkening rapidly

• [with obj.] darken the eyebrows with black powder

• (as adj. darkened) a darkened room.

2. [with obj.] — (of an unpleasant event or state of affairs) cast a shadow over something; spoil

• the abuse darkened the rest of their lives.

3. make or become gloomy, angry, or unhappy
[no obj.]

• his mood darkened

• [with obj.] the abuse darkened the rest of their lives.

4. [no obj.] — (of someone's eyes or expression) show anger or another strong negative emotion

• his face darkened and he lunged away.

5. [with obj.] — (of anger or another strong negative emotion) show in (someone's eyes or expression)

• misery darkened her gaze.

II. phrases

darken someone's door

visit someone's home

• never darken my door again!

III. derivatives

darkener

noun

dark energy

noun

[Physics] a theoretical repulsive force that counteracts gravity and causes the universe to expand at an accelerating rate.

• Einstein's theories allow for the possible existence of dark energy.

dark-field microscopy

noun

a type of light microscopy that produces brightly illuminated objects on a dark background.

dark glasses /ˈdärk ˈˌɡlasəz/

plural noun

glasses with tinted lenses, worn to protect or conceal a person's eyes.

dark-haired

adjective

having dark-colored hair

• a dark-haired young woman.

dark horse /ˈdärk ˈˌhôrs/

I. noun

a candidate or competitor about whom little is known but who unexpectedly wins or succeeds
[as modifier]

• a dark-horse candidate.

– origin early 19th cent.: originally racing slang.

dark lantern

noun

a lantern with a movable panel that can be used to hide the light.

dark line

noun

[Physics] a line in an absorption spectrum, appearing as a black line at visible wavelengths.

darkling /ˈdärkliNG/

I. adjective

‹literary› of or relating to growing darkness

• the darkling sky.

– origin Middle English: from dark + -ling, a suffix denoting condition or situation. The verb darkle is a back-formation dating from the 15th century.

darkling beetle

noun

a dark-colored nocturnal beetle, typically with reduced or absent wings.
[Family Tenebrionidae: numerous genera and species.]

darkly /ˈdärklē/

adverb

1. in a threatening, mysterious, or ominous way

• “You can't trust him,” said Jacob darkly.

2. in a depressing or pessimistic way

• I wondered darkly if I was wasting my time.

3. with a dark color

• a figure silhouetted darkly against the trees.

dark matter

noun

[Astronomy] (in some cosmological theories) nonluminous material that is postulated to exist in space and that could take any of several forms including weakly interacting particles (cold dark matter) or high-energy randomly moving particles created soon after the Big Bang (hot dark matter).

dark nebula

noun

[Astronomy] a nonluminous nebula of dust and gas that is observable because it obscures light from other sources.

darkness /ˈdärknəs/

noun

1. the partial or total absence of light

• the office was in darkness.

2. night

• they began to make camp before darkness fell.

3. the quality of being dark in color

• the darkness of his jacket.

4. wickedness or evil

• the forces of darkness.

5. unhappiness, distress, or gloom

• moments of darkness were rare.

6. secrecy or mystery

• they drew a veil of darkness across the proceedings.

7. lack of spiritual or intellectual enlightenment; ignorance

• his accomplishments shone in a world of darkness.

darknet /ˈdärkˌnet/

noun

[Computing] a computer network with restricted access that is used chiefly for illegal peer-to-peer file sharing.

dark night of the soul

I. noun

[Christian Theology] a period of spiritual desolation suffered by a mystic in which all sense of consolation is removed.

– origin mid 19th cent.: used to translate Spanish Noche oscura, the title of a poem by the mystic St. John of the Cross.

dark pool

noun

[Stock Market] a private securities exchange in which investors, typically large financial institutions, are able to make trades anonymously

• the dark pool's volume has grown from a million shares to 43 million shares.

dark reaction

noun

[Biochemistry] the cycle of reactions (the Calvin cycle) that occurs in the second phase of photosynthesis and does not require the presence of light. It involves the fixation of carbon dioxide and its reduction to carbohydrate and the dissociation of water, using chemical energy stored in ATP.

darkroom /ˈdärkˌro͞om ˈdärkˌro͝om/

noun

a room from which normal light is excluded, used for developing photographs.

dark-skinned

adjective

(of a person) having brown or black skin

• Australia's first inhabitants were dark-skinned nomadic hunters.

dark-sky

adjective

denoting or located in a place where the darkness of the night sky is relatively free of interference from artificial light

• we packed up the telescope and headed for a dark-sky site.

dark star

noun

[Astronomy] a starlike object that emits little or no visible light. Its existence is inferred from other evidence, such as the eclipsing of other stars.

dark store

noun

(Brit.) a large retail facility that resembles a conventional supermarket or store but is not open to the public, housing goods used to fulfill orders placed online

• opposition councillors claimed that shopping needs in the area would be better served by a dark store than a superstore.

dark tourism

I. noun

tourism directed to places that are identified with death and suffering.

• next time we shall be investigating dark tourism at Chernobyl, the site of the world's worst nuclear reactor disaster.

II. derivatives

dark tourist

noun

darky /ˈdärkē / darkie

noun

‹informal› ‹offensive› a person with black or dark skin.

darling /ˈdärliNG/

I. noun

1. used as an affectionate form of address to a beloved person

• good night, my darling.

2. a lovable or endearing person

• he's such a darling.

3. a person who is particularly popular with a certain group

• she is the darling of the media.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. beloved

• his darling wife.

2. (especially in affected use) pretty; charming

• a darling little pillbox hat.

– origin Old English dēorling (see dear, -ling).

Darling River /ˌdärliNG ˈrivər/

a river in southeastern Australia that flows southwest for 1,712 miles (2,757 km) to join the Murray River.

Darmstadt /ˈdärmˌstat, -ˌSHtät/

an industrial town in western Germany, in the state of Hesse; pop. 141,300 (est. 2006).

darmstadtium /därmˈstatēəm, -ˈSHtät-/

I. noun

(Symbol: Ds) — the synthetic chemical element of atomic number 110. It is a superheavy metal that decays in thousandths of a second.

– origin early 21st cent.: after a laboratory in Darmstadt, Germany, where the element was first created.

darn^1 /därn/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. mend (knitted material or a hole in this) by weaving yarn across the hole with a needle

• I don't expect you to darn my socks.

2. embroider (material) with a large running stitch.

II. noun

a place in a garment that has been darned.

– origin early 17th cent.: perhaps from dialect dern ‘to hide,’ which is from Old English diernan; compare with Middle Dutch dernen ‘stop holes in (a dike).’

darn^2 /därn / durn

verb, adjective, exclamation

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) euphemism for damn:
[as verb]

• darn it all, Poppa

• [as adj.] the darn things were expensive.

darned /därnd / durned

I. adjective

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) euphemism for damned:

• you have to work a darned sight harder

• [as submodifier] they're darned good songwriters.

II. derivatives

darnedest /ˈdärndəst /

adjective

darnel /ˈdärn(ə)l/

I. noun

a Eurasian ryegrass.
[Genus Lolium, family Gramineae: several species, in particular the widespread L. temulentum.]

– origin Middle English: of unknown origin; apparently related to French (Walloon dialect) darnelle.

darner /ˈdärnər/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) a darning needle.

2. (N. Amer.) a large slender-bodied dragonfly.
[said to be so named because of the popular belief that the dragonfly sews up the lips and eyelids of people sleeping.] [Family Aeshnidae: several genera.]

darning /ˈdärniNG/

noun

1. the skill or activity of one who darns

• long hours of tedious darning.

2. articles being darned or needing to be darned

• Aunt Edie bent her head to her darning.

darning egg

noun

an egg-shaped piece of wood or other smooth hard material used to stretch and support material being darned.

darning needle

noun

1. a long sewing needle with a large eye, used in darning.

2. (N. Amer.) another term for darner (sense 2).

Darnley, Henry Stewart /ˈdärnlē/

Lord (1545–67), Scottish nobleman; second husband of Mary, Queen of Scots; father of James I of England; full name Henry Stewart Darnley.

DARPA /ˈdärpə/

abbreviation

(US) Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the central research and development organization for the US Department of Defense.

Darrow, Clarence /ˈdarō/

(1857–1938), US lawyer; full name Clarence Seward Darrow. He served as defense counsel in several well-publicized trials, including that of John T. Scopes, a teacher in Dayton, Tennessee, who was charged with violating state law for teaching evolution in a public school in 1925.

darshan /ˈdärˌSHän, -SHən/

I. noun

[Hinduism] an opportunity or occasion of seeing a holy person or the image of a deity.

– origin via Hindi from Sanskrit darśana ‘sight or seeing.’

dart /därt/

I. noun

1. a small pointed missile that can be thrown or fired.

2. a small pointed missile with a feather or plastic tail, used in the game of darts.

3. [Zoology] a dartlike calcareous organ of a snail forming part of the reproductive system, exchanged during copulation.

4. an act of running somewhere suddenly and rapidly

• the cat made a dart for the door.

5. a sudden, intense pang of a particular emotion

• a dart of panic.

6. a tapered tuck stitched into a garment in order to shape it.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. move or run somewhere suddenly or rapidly

• she darted across the street.

2. [with obj.] — cast (a look or one's eyes) suddenly and rapidly in a particular direction

• she darted a glance across the table.

3. [with obj.] — ‹archaic› throw (a missile).

4. [with obj.] — shoot (an animal) with a dart, typically in order to administer a drug.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, accusative of darz, dars, from a West Germanic word meaning ‘spear, lance.’

Dart, Raymond Arthur /därt/

(1893–1988), South African anthropologist and anatomist; born in Australia. In 1925, he found the first specimen of the hominid species Australopithecus africanus, for which he coined the genus name.

dartboard /ˈdärtbôrd/

noun

a circular board marked with numbered segments, used as a target in the game of darts.

darter /ˈdärdər/

noun

1. another term for anhinga.

2. a small North American freshwater fish, the male of which may develop bright coloration during the breeding season.
[Genera Etheostoma and Percina, family Percidae: numerous species.]

darts /därts/

plural noun — [usu. treated as sing.]

1. an indoor game in which small pointed missiles with feather or plastic flights are thrown at a circular target marked with numbers in order to score points.

Darwin, Charles /ˈdärwin/

(1809–82), English natural historian and geologist; a proponent of the theory of evolution by natural selection; full name Charles Robert Darwin. While the naturalist on HMS Beagle for her voyage around the Southern Hemisphere 1831–36, he collected the material that became the basis for his ideas on natural selection. Notable works: On the Origin of Species (1859) and The Descent of Man (1871).

Darwinian /därˈwinēən/

I. adjective

of or relating to Darwinism.

II. noun

an adherent of Darwinism.

Darwinism /ˈdärwəˌnizəm/

I. noun

the theory of the evolution of species by natural selection advanced by Charles Darwin.
Darwin argued that since offspring tend to vary slightly from their parents, mutations that make an organism better adapted to its environment will be encouraged and developed by the pressures of natural selection, leading to the evolution of new species differing widely from one another and from their common ancestors. Darwinism was later developed by the findings of Mendelian genetics (see neo-Darwinian).

II. derivatives

Darwinist /ˈdärwənəst /

noun, adjective

Darwin's finches

plural noun

a group of songbirds related to the buntings and found on the Galapagos Islands, discovered by Charles Darwin and used by him to illustrate his theory of natural selection. They are believed to have evolved from a common ancestor and have developed a variety of bills to suit various modes of life.
[Family Emberizidae (subfamily Emberizinae): four to six genera, esp. Geospiza (the ground finches) and Camarhynchus (the tree finches).]

Dasein /ˈdäzīn/

I. noun

[Philosophy] (in Hegelianism) existence or determinate being; (in existentialism) human existence.

– origin mid 19th cent.: German, from dasein ‘exist,’ from da ‘there’ + sein ‘be.’

dash /daSH/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — run or travel somewhere in a great hurry

• I dashed into the garden

• I must dash, I'm late.

2. (often dash about/around) — move about in a great hurry, especially in the attempt to do several things in a short period of time

• I dash about for four days in a manic fit to straighten things up.

3. [with obj.] — strike or fling (something) somewhere with great force, especially so as to have a destructive effect; hurl

• the ship was dashed upon the rocks.

4. [no obj.] — strike forcefully against something

• a gust of rain dashed against the bricks.

5. destroy or frustrate (a person's hopes or expectations)

• the budget dashed hopes of an increase in funding.

6. cause (someone) to lose confidence; dispirit

• I won't tell Stuart—I think he'd be dashed.

II. exclamation

(Brit.) ‹informal› ‹dated› used to express mild annoyance

• “Dash it all, I am in charge.”

III. noun

1. [in sing.] — an act of running somewhere suddenly and hastily

• she made a dash for the door.

2. a journey or period of time characterized by urgency or eager haste

• a 20-mile dash to the airport.

3. (N. Amer.) a short fast race run in one heat; a sprint

• the 100-yard dash.

4. a small quantity of a substance, especially a liquid, added to something else

• whiskey with a dash of soda.

5. a small amount of a particular quality adding piquancy or distinctiveness to something else

• a casual atmosphere with a dash of sophistication.

6. a horizontal stroke in writing or printing to mark a pause or break in sense, or to represent omitted letters or words.

7. the longer signal of the two used in Morse code.
Compare with dot^1.

8. [Music] a short vertical mark placed above or beneath a note to indicate that it is to be performed in a very staccato manner.

9. impetuous or flamboyant vigor and confidence; panache

• he has youthful energy, dash, and charisma.

10. short for dashboard.

IV. phrasal verbs

dash something off

write something hurriedly and without much premeditation.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘strike forcibly against’): probably symbolic of forceful movement and related to Swedish daska and Danish daske.

dashboard /ˈdaSHbôrd/

noun

1. the panel facing the driver of a vehicle or the pilot of an aircraft, containing instruments and controls.

2. [Computing] a graphical summary of various pieces of important information, typically used to give an overview of a business

• an executive dashboard enables a CEO to see bank balances, the top five customers, accounts receivable, and accounts payable.

3. a home page on a website giving access to different elements of the site's functionality

• the main line graph in the dashboard shows daily traffic to our side over the past 30 days.

4. ‹historical› a board of wood or leather in front of a carriage, to keep out mud.

dashed /daSHt/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (Brit.) ‹informal› ‹dated› used for emphasis

• it's a dashed shame

• [as submodifier] she was dashed rude.

2. (of a line on a piece of paper) composed of dashes.

dasheen /daˈSHēn/

I. noun

another term for taro.

– origin late 19th cent. (originally West Indian): of unknown origin.

dasher /ˈdaSHər/

noun

1. ‹informal› a person who dresses or acts flamboyantly or stylishly.

2. a plunger for agitating cream in a churn.

3. [Hockey] the ledge along the top of the boards of a rink.

dashi /ˈdäSHē/

noun

stock made from fish and kelp, used in Japanese cooking.

dashiki /dəˈSHēkē/

I. noun

a loose, brightly colored shirt or tunic, originally from West Africa.

– origin from Yoruba or Hausa.

dashing /ˈdaSHiNG/

I. adjective

1. (of a man) attractive in a romantic, adventurous way

• a dashing pirate on the high seas.

2. stylish or fashionable

• a dashing S-type Jaguar.

II. derivatives

dashingly

adverb

dashpot /ˈdaSHˌpät/

noun

a device for damping shock or vibration.

dassie /ˈdasē/

I. noun

a hyrax, especially the rock hyrax of southern Africa.
[Family Procaviidae, in particular Procavia capensis.]

– origin late 18th cent.: from Afrikaans, from South African Dutch dasje, diminutive of Dutch das ‘badger.’

dastard /ˈdastərd/

I. noun

‹dated› ‹humorous› a dishonorable or despicable person.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘stupid person’): probably from dazed, influenced by dotard and bastard.

dastardly /ˈdastərdlē/

I. adjective

‹dated› ‹humorous› wicked and cruel

• pirates and their dastardly deeds.

II. derivatives

dastardliness

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘dull or stupid’): from dastard in the obsolete sense ‘base coward.’

dasyure /ˈdasēˌyo͝or/

I. noun

another term for quoll.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, from modern Latin dasyurus, from Greek dasus ‘rough, hairy’ + oura ‘tail.’

DAT /dat/

abbreviation

digital audiotape.

data /ˈdadə ˈdādə/

I. noun — [treated as sing. or pl.]

1. facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis.
See also datum.

2. [Computing] the quantities, characters, or symbols on which operations are performed by a computer, being stored and transmitted in the form of electrical signals and recorded on magnetic, optical, or mechanical recording media.

3. [Philosophy] things known or assumed as facts, making the basis of reasoning or calculation.

– origin mid 17th cent. (as a term in philosophy): from Latin, plural of datum. / usage: In Latin, data is the plural of datum and, historically and in specialized scientific fields, it is also treated as a plural in English, taking a plural verb, as in the data were collected and classified. In modern nonscientific use, however, it is generally not treated as a plural. Instead, it is treated as a mass noun, similar to a word like information, which takes a singular verb. Sentences such as data was collected over a number of years are now widely accepted in standard English.

databank /ˈdadəˌbaNGk ˈdādəˌbaNGk / data bank

noun

[Computing] a large repository of data on a particular topic, sometimes formed from more than one database, and accessible by many users.

database /ˈdadəˌbās ˈdādəˌbās/

noun

a structured set of data held in a computer, especially one that is accessible in various ways.

database management system DBMS

noun

[Computing] software that handles the storage, retrieval, and updating of data in a computer system.

datable /ˈdādəb(ə)l / dateable

adjective

able to be dated to a particular time.

data center

noun

a large group of networked computer servers typically used by organizations for the remote storage, processing, or distribution of large amounts of data.

data communications

noun

the electronic transmission of encoded information to, from, or between computers.

data dictionary /ˈdadə ˈdādə ˈdikSHəˌnerē/

noun

[Computing] a set of information describing the contents, format, and structure of a database and the relationship between its elements, used to control access to and manipulation of the database.

data-driven

adjective

determined by or dependent on the collection or analysis of data

• decisions are data-driven and made by committee

• Silicon Valley is bringing a host of new, data-driven technologies to healthcare.

data dump

noun

1. [Computing] a large amount of data transferred from one system or location to another

• the data dump needs to be converted into Excel so as to be analyzed more easily.

2. [Computing] another term for info dump:

• his attention to detail leads to unneeded flashbacks and data dumps.

dataglove /ˈdādəɡləv ˈdadəˌɡləv/

noun

[Computing] a device, worn like a glove, that allows the manual manipulation of images in virtual reality.

datalink /ˈdadəˌliNGk ˈdādəˌliNGk/

noun

an electronic connection for the exchange of information

• a datalink system that would allow aircraft controllers and pilots to exchange electronic messages.

data mining

noun

[Computing] the practice of examining large databases in order to generate new information.

datapoint /ˈdatəˌpoint, ˈdātə-/

noun

an identifiable element in a data set

• software that can quickly process tens of thousands of datapoints.

data processing

I. noun

a series of operations on data, especially by a computer, to retrieve, transform, or classify information.

II. derivatives

data processor /ˈˌdadə ˈpräsesər ˈˌdadə ˈpräsəsər ˈˌdādə ˈpräsesər ˈˌdādə ˈpräsəsər /

noun

data scientist

noun

a person employed to analyze and interpret complex digital data, such as the usage statistics of a website, especially in order to assist a business in its decision-making

• Silicon Valley technology companies are hiring data scientists to help them glean insights from the terabytes of data that they collect everyday.

data set

noun

[Computing] a collection of related sets of information that is composed of separate elements but can be manipulated as a unit by a computer.

data smog

noun

‹informal› an overwhelming excess of information, especially from the Internet

• nowadays, people need help getting their intellectual bearings because cable has become a torrent of ideology, dueling experts and data smog.

data terminal

noun

[Computing] a terminal at which a person can enter data into a computer-based system or receive data from one.

data type

noun

[Computing] a particular kind of data item, as defined by the values it can take, the programming language used, or the operations that can be performed on it.

dataveillance /ˌdatəˈvāləns, ˌdātə-/

I. noun

the practice of monitoring digital data relating to personal details or online activities.

– origin 1970s (originally denoting the monitoring of digital data): blend of data and surveillance.

data warehouse

I. noun

[Computing] a large store of data accumulated from a wide range of sources within a company and used to guide management decisions.

II. derivatives

data warehousing

noun

date^1 /dāt/

I. noun

1. the day of the month or year as specified by a number

• what's the date today?

• please give your name, address, and date of birth.

2. a particular day or year when a given event occurred or will occur

• significant dates like 1776 and 1789

• they've set a date for the wedding.

3. (dates) — the years of a person's birth and death or of the beginning and end of a period or event

• giving the dates of kings and queens.

4. the period of time to which an artifact or structure belongs

• the church is the largest of its date.

5. a social or romantic appointment or engagement

• a college student on a date with someone he met in class.

6. a person with whom one has a social or romantic engagement

• my date isn't going to show, it seems.

7. a musical or theatrical engagement or performance, especially as part of a tour

• possible live dates in the near future.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. establish or ascertain the date of (an object or event)

• they date the paintings to 1460–70.

2. mark with a date

• sign and date the document.

3. [no obj.] — have its origin at a particular time; have existed since

• the controversy dates back to 1986.

4. indicate or expose as being old-fashioned

• disco—that word alone dates me.

5. [no obj.] — seem old-fashioned

• a movie that will date quickly.

6. go out with (someone in whom one is romantically or sexually interested)

• my sister's pretty judgmental about the girls I date

• [no obj.] they have been dating for more than a year.

III. phrases

to date

until now

• their finest work to date.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin data, feminine past participle of dare ‘give’; from the Latin formula used in dating letters, data (epistola) ‘(letter) given or delivered,’ to record a particular time or place.

date^2 /dāt/

I. noun

1. a sweet, dark brown, oval fruit containing a hard stone, often eaten dried.

2. (also date palm) — the tall palm tree that bears clusters of dates, native to western Asia and North Africa.
[Phoenix dactylifera, family Palmae.]

– origin Middle English: from Old French, via Latin from Greek daktulos ‘finger’ (because of the fingerlike shape of its leaves).

datebook /ˈdātbo͝ok/

noun

(N. Amer.) a book with spaces for each day of the year in which one notes appointments or important information for each day.

dated /ˈdādəd/

adjective

1. marked with a date

• a signed and dated painting.

2. old-fashioned

• a dated expression.

dateless /ˈdātlis/

adjective

1. not clearly belonging to any particular period, therefore not likely to go out of date

• dateless dresses.

2. (of a document or stamp) having no date mark.

3. not having, or incapable of having, social or romantic appointments or engagements

• dateless men reduce women to sex objects and dateless women become space-age scanners.

dateline /ˈdātlīn/

I. noun

a line at the head of a dispatch or special article in a newspaper showing the date and place of writing.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. mark (a dispatch or article) with a dateline.

Date Line International Date Line

an imaginary north–south line through the Pacific Ocean, adopted in 1884, to the east of which the date is a day earlier than it is to the west. It lies chiefly along the meridian furthest from Greenwich, England (i.e., longitude 180°), with diversions to pass around some island groups.

date night

noun

‹informal› a prearranged occasion on which an established couple, especially one with children, go for a night out together

• they make sure they have a date night every week.

• she's planning date nights with her husband.

dater /ˈdādər/

noun

a person who goes out on dates, typically on a regular basis

• successful daters look on the dating game as fun—it doesn't make them anxious or unhappy.

date rape /ˈdāt ˌrāp/

I. noun

rape committed by someone with whom the victim has gone on a date.

II. derivatives

date-rape

verb

date-rape drug

noun

a drug that causes temporary loss of memory or inhibition, surreptitiously given to someone in order to facilitate rape or sexual abuse.

date stamp /ˈdāt ˌstamp/

I. noun

1. a stamped mark indicating a date, typically used on food packaging or mailed envelopes.

2. an adjustable stamp used to mark a date.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. mark (something) with a date stamp.

dating service

noun

an agency that arranges introductions for people seeking romantic partners or friends with similar interests.

dative /ˈdādiv / ‹Grammar›

I. adjective

(in Latin, Greek, German, and other languages) denoting a case of nouns and pronouns, and words in grammatical agreement with them, indicating an indirect object or recipient.

II. noun

1. a noun or other word of the dative case.

2. (the dative) — the dative case.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin (casus) dativus ‘(case) of giving,’ from dat- ‘given,’ from the verb dare.

Datong /ˈdäˈto͝oNG/

a city in northern China, in Shanxi province; pop. 1,105,100 (est. 2006).

datum /ˈdādəm ˈdadəm/

I. noun

1. a piece of information.
See also data.

2. an assumption or premise from which inferences may be drawn.
See sense datum.

3. a fixed starting point of a scale or operation.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘something given,’ neuter past participle of dare ‘give.’

datum line datum level

noun

1. a standard of comparison or point of reference.

2. [Surveying] an assumed surface used as a reference for the measurement of heights and depths.

3. a line to which dimensions are referred on engineering drawings, and from which measurements are calculated.

datura /dəˈt(y)o͝orə/

I. noun

a shrubby annual plant with large trumpet-shaped flowers, native to southern North America. Daturas contain toxic or narcotic alkaloids and are used as hallucinogens by some American Indian peoples.
See also angel's trumpet. [Genus Datura, family Solanaceae: several species, including the jimson weed.]

– origin modern Latin, from Hindi dhatūrā.

daub /dôb/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. coat or smear (a surface) with a thick or sticky substance in a carelessly rough or liberal way

• she daubed her face with night cream.

2. spread (a thick or sticky substance) on a surface in a rough or liberal way

• a canvas with paint daubed on it.

3. paint (words or drawings) on a surface by daubing

• they daubed graffiti on the walls.

II. noun

1. plaster, clay, or another substance used for coating a surface, especially when mixed with straw and applied to laths or wattles to form a wall

• square huts, mostly daub and wattle.

2. a patch or smear of a thick or sticky substance

• a daub of paint.

3. a painting executed without much skill.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French dauber, from Latin dealbare ‘whiten, whitewash,’ based on albus ‘white.’

daube /dōb/

I. noun

a stew of meat, typically beef, braised slowly in wine.

II. phrases

en daube

(of meat) braised slowly in wine.

– origin French; compare with Italian addobbo ‘seasoning.’

dauber /ˈdôbər/

noun

1. a crude or inartistic painter.

2. an implement used for daubing.

Daubigny, Charles François /ˌdôbēˈnyē/

(1817–78), French landscape painter. A member of the Barbizon School, he is often regarded as a linking figure between this group and the impressionists.

daughter /ˈdôdər ˈdädər/

I. noun

1. a girl or woman in relation to her parents.

2. a female offspring of an animal.

3. a female descendant

• we are the sons and daughters of Adam.

4. a woman considered as the product of a particular person, influence, or environment

• a daughter of the dry savannas of Africa.

5. ‹archaic› used as a term of affectionate address to a woman or girl, typically by an older person.

6. ‹literary› a thing personified as a daughter in relation to its origin or source

• Italian, the eldest daughter of ancient Latin.

7. [Physics] a nuclide formed by the radioactive decay of another.

II. adjective

[Biology] originating through division or replication

• daughter cells.

III. derivatives

1. daughterhood /-ˌho͝od /

noun

2. daughterly /ˈdôdərlē ˈdädərlē /

adjective

– origin Old English dohtor, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dochter and German Tochter, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek thugatēr.

daughterboard /ˈdôːtərbôːrd / daughtercard

noun

[Electronics] an expansion circuit card affixed to a motherboard that accesses memory and the CPU directly rather than through a bus.

daughter-in-law

noun

the wife of one's son.

Daughters of the American Revolution DAR

a patriotic society whose aims include encouraging education and the study of US history and that tends to be politically conservative. Membership is limited to female descendants of those who aided the cause of independence.

Daumier, Honoré /dōˈmyā/

(1808–78), French painter and lithographer. Working as a cartoonist, he produced lithographs satirizing French society and politics.

daunt /dônt dänt/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be daunted)

1. make (someone) feel intimidated or apprehensive

• some people are daunted by technology.

II. phrases

nothing daunted

without having been made fearful or apprehensive

• nothing daunted, the committee set to work.

– origin Middle English: from Old French danter, from Latin domitare, frequentative of domare ‘to tame.’

daunting /ˈdôn(t)iNG ˈdän(t)iNG/

I. adjective

seeming difficult to deal with in anticipation; intimidating

• a daunting task.

II. derivatives

dauntingly

adverb

dauntless /ˈdôntləs ˈdäntləs/

I. adjective

showing fearlessness and determination

• dauntless bravery.

II. derivatives

1. dauntlessly /ˈdôntləslē ˈdäntləslē /

adverb

2. dauntlessness

noun

dauphin /ˈdôfən dōˈfan/

I. noun

‹historical› the eldest son of the king of France.

– origin French, from the family name of the lords of the Dauphiné (first used in this way in the 14th cent.), ultimately a nickname meaning ‘dolphin.’

dauphinois /ˌdôfinˈwä / dauphinoise

I. adjective

(of potatoes or other vegetables) sliced and cooked in milk, typically with a topping of cheese.

– origin French, ‘from the province of Dauphiné.’

Davao /ˈdäˌvou, däˈvou/

a seaport in the southern Philippines, on the island of Mindanao; pop. 785,700 (est. 2007).

daven /ˈdävən/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (in Judaism) recite the prescribed liturgical prayers.

– origin Yiddish.

davenport /ˈdavənˌpôrt/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) a large upholstered sofa, typically able to be converted into a bed.
[perhaps from a manufacturer's name.]

2. (Brit.) an ornamental writing desk with drawers and a sloping surface for writing.
[probably named after Captain Davenport, for whom early examples of this type of desk were made in the late 18th cent.]

Davenport /ˈdavənˌpôrt/

an industrial city in southeastern Iowa, on the Mississippi River, one of the Quad Cities; pop. 100,827 (est. 2008).

David^1 /ˈdāvid/

(died c. 962 BC), king of Judah and Israel c. 1000–c. 962 BC. In the biblical account, he killed the Philistine Goliath and, on Saul's death, became king, making Jerusalem his capital. He is traditionally regarded as the author of the Psalms, although this has been disputed.

David^2 /ˈdāvid/

I. the name of two kings of Scotland.

II. David I (c. 1084–1153), sixth son of Malcolm III; reigned 1124–53. In 1136, he invaded England in support of his niece Matilda's claim to the throne, but he was defeated at the Battle of the Standard in 1138.

III. David II (1324–71), son of Robert the Bruce; reigned 1329–71.

David, Jacques-Louis /däˈvēd/

(1748–1825), French painter. He is noted for neoclassical paintings such as The Oath of the Horatii (1784) and The Intervention of the Sabine Women (1799).

David, St. /ˈdāvid/

(6th century), Welsh monk; Welsh name De·wi . Since the 12th century he has been regarded as the patron saint of Wales. Feast day, March 1.

Davie /ˈdāvē/

a city in south Florida; pop. 90,238 (est. 2008).

da Vinci, Leonardo /də ˈvinCHē/

see Leonardo da Vinci.

Davis /ˈdāvis/

an academic and agricultural city in north central California, west of Sacramento; pop. 62,593 (est. 2008).

Davis, Angela Yvonne

(1944–), US political activist and writer. She wrote Women, Race and Class (1981).

Davis, Benjamin Oliver

(1877–1970), US military leader. In 1940, he became the first African-American general in the US Army. His son, Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. (1912–2002), an aviator, became the first African-American Air Force general in 1954.

Davis, Bette

(1908–89), US actress; born Ruth Elizabeth Davis. She established her Hollywood career playing a number of strong, independent female characters in such movies as Dangerous (1935) and Jezebel (1938). Her flair for suggesting the macabre and menacing emerged in later movies, such as What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962).

Davis, David

(1815–86), US Supreme Court associate justice 1862–77 and a US senator from Illinois 1877–83.

Davis, Jefferson

(1808–89), US politician and president of the Confederate States of America (CSA). As a US senator from Mississippi 1847–51 and a defender of slavery, he withdrew from the Senate when Mississippi seceded from the Union and was elected president of the CSA in 1861. He wrote The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government (1881).

Davis, Miles

(1926–91), US jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader; full name Miles Dewey Davis. His influence on "cool jazz" is heard in his Birth of the Cool recordings (1948–49). His album Kind of Blue (1959) introduced "modal jazz." In the 1960s, he pioneered the fusion of jazz and rock.

Davis, Sammy

Jr. (1925–90), US actor, singer, and dancer. He appeared in Ocean's Eleven (1960) along with Frank Sinatra and other members of the “Rat Pack.” His recording of “The Candy Man” (1972) became his theme song.

Davis Cup

I. an annual tennis championship for men, first held in 1900, between teams from different countries.

– origin named after Dwight F. Davis (1879–1945), the US doubles champion who donated the trophy.

Davis Mountains

a range in southwestern Texas, site of the Mount Locke observatory and several resorts.

Davisson, Clinton /ˈdāvəsən/

(1881–1958), US physicist; full name Clinton Joseph Davisson. With L. H. Germer (1896–1971), he discovered electron diffraction, thus confirming de Broglie's theory of the wave nature of electrons. He shared the 1937 Nobel Prize for Physics with George P. Thomson (1892–1975).

Davis Strait

I. a sea passage 400 miles (645 km) long that separates Greenland from Baffin Island and connects Baffin Bay with the Atlantic Ocean.

– origin named after John Davis (c. 1550–1605), the English explorer who sailed through it in 1587.

davit /ˈdāvit ˈdavət/

I. noun

a small crane on board a ship, especially one of a pair for suspending or lowering a lifeboat.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Old French daviot, diminutive of david, denoting a kind of carpenter's tool.

Davy, Sir Humphry /ˈdāvē/

(1778–1829), English chemist; a pioneer of electrochemistry. He discovered nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and the elements sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, and barium. He also identified and named the element chlorine, determined the properties of iodine, and demonstrated that diamond was a form of carbon.

Davy Jones's locker /ˌdāvē ˌjōnz(əz) ˈläkər/

I. noun

‹informal› the bottom of the sea, especially regarded as the grave of those drowned at sea.

– origin extension of early 18th-cent. nautical slang Davy Jones, denoting the evil spirit of the sea.

Davy lamp /ˈdāvē lamp/

noun

‹historical› a miner's portable safety lamp with the flame enclosed by wire gauze to reduce the risk of an explosion of gas.

daw /dô/

I. noun

another term for jackdaw.

– origin late Middle English: of Germanic origin; related to German Dohle.

dawdle /ˈdôdl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. waste time; be slow

• I couldn't dawdle over my coffee any longer.

2. [with adverbial of direction] — move slowly and idly

• Ruth dawdled back through the woods.

II. derivatives

dawdler /ˈdôdlər /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: related to dialect daddle, doddle ‘dally.’

Dawes, Charles Gates /dôz/

(1865–1951), US politician, lawyer, and financier; US vice president 1925–29. He was instrumental in formulating the 1923 plan for restructuring post–World War I Germany's economy. Nobel Peace Prize (1925).

Dawes, William

(1745–99), US patriot. With Paul Revere he rode from Lexington to Concord, Massachusetts, to warn of approaching British soldiers on April 18, 1775.

dawg /dôɡ/

noun

nonstandard spelling of dog, used esp. to represent American speech.

dawn /dôn dän/

I. noun

1. the first appearance of light in the sky before sunrise

• the rose-pink light of dawn.

2. the beginning of a phenomenon or period of time, especially one considered favorable

• the dawn of civilization.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a day) begin
[with complement]

• Thursday dawned bright and sunny.

2. come into existence

• a new era of land-use policy was dawning.

3. become evident to the mind; be perceived or understood

• the awful truth was beginning to dawn on him

• (as adj. dawning) he smiled with dawning recognition.

III. phrases

from dawn to dusk

all day; ceaselessly

• day after day from dawn to dusk, they drove those loaded canoes.

– origin late 15th cent. (as a verb): back-formation from Middle English dawning.

dawn chorus /dôn ˈkôrəs/

noun — [in sing.]

1. the singing of a large number of birds before dawn each day, particularly during the breeding season.

dawning /ˈdôniNG/

I. noun

1. ‹literary› dawn.

2. ‹literary› the beginning or first appearance of something

• the dawning of civilization.

– origin Middle English: alteration of earlier dawing, from Old English dagian ‘to dawn,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dagen and German tagen, also to day.

dawn redwood

noun

a coniferous tree with deciduous needles, known only as a fossil until it was found growing in southwestern China in 1941.
Also called metasequoia. [Metasequoia glyptostroboides, family Taxodiaceae.]

Dawson /ˈdôsən/

a town in the west central Yukon Territory, on the Klondike and Yukon rivers, center of a gold rush after 1896.

DAX

abbreviation

Deutscher Aktien IndeX, the German stock exchange index.

day /dā/

I. noun

1. a period of twenty-four hours as a unit of time, reckoned from one midnight to the next, corresponding to a rotation of the earth on its axis.

2. the part of a day when it is light; the time between sunrise and sunset

• she sleeps all day and goes out at night

• the animals hunt by day.

3. the part of a day spent working

• he works an eight-hour day.

4. [Astronomy] a single rotation of a planet in relation to its primary.

5. [Astronomy] the period on a planet when its primary star is above the horizon.

6. ‹archaic› daylight

• by the time they had all gone it was broad day.

7. (usu. days) — a particular period of the past; an era

• the laws were very strict in those days.

8. (the day) — the present time

• the political issues of the day.

9. [with adj.] — a day associated with a particular event or purpose

• graduation day

• Christmas Day.

10. a day's endeavor, or the period of an endeavor, especially as bringing success

• speed and surprise would win the day.

11. [usu. with modifier] (days) — a particular period in a person's life or career

• my student days.

12. (one's day) — the successful, fortunate, or influential period of a person's life or career

• he had been a matinée idol in his day.

13. (one's days) — the span of someone's life

• she cared for him for the rest of his days.

II. phrases

1. all in a (or the) day's work

(of something unusual or difficult) accepted as part of someone's normal routine or as a matter of course

• dodging sharks is all in a day's work for these scientists.

2. any day

a. ‹informal› at any time or under any circumstances (used to express a strong opinion or preference)

• I'd rather live in a shack in the woods than a penthouse in the city, any day

• you can take me dancing any day of the week.

b. very soon

• she's expected to give birth any day.

3. at the end of the day

see end.

4. by the day

gradually and steadily

• the campaign is growing by the day.

5. call it a day

end a period of activity, especially resting content that enough has been done

• we were prepared to do another long march before calling it a day.

6. day after day

on each successive day, especially over a long period

• the rain poured down day after day.

7. day and night

all the time

• they kept working, day and night.

8. day by day

gradually and steadily

• day by day I grew worse.

9. day in, day out

continuously or repeatedly over a long period of time.

10. day of reckoning

the time when past mistakes or misdeeds must be punished or paid for; a testing time when the degree of one's success or failure will be revealed.
[with allusion to Judgment Day, on which (in some beliefs) the judgment of humankind is expected to take place.]

11. from day one

from the very beginning

• children need a firm hand from day one.

12. have had one's (or its) day

be no longer popular, successful, or influential

• power dressing has had its day.

13. if someone is a day

at least (added to a statement about a person's age)

• he must be seventy if he's a day.

14. in this day and age

at the present time; in the modern era

• it simplifies housekeeping, which is essential in this day and age.

15. not someone's day

used to convey that someone has had a bad day.

16. —— of the day

a thing currently considered to be particularly interesting or important

• the big news story of the day.

17. one day

a. at a particular but unspecified time in the past

• one day a boy started teasing Grady.

b. (also one of these days) — at a particular but unspecified time in the future

• he would one day be a great president.

18. one of those days

a day when several things go wrong.

19. that will (or that'll) be the day

‹informal› that will never happen.

20. these days

at present

• he is drinking far too much these days.

21. those were the days

used to assert that a particular past time was better than the present.

22. to the day

exactly

• it's four years to the day since we won the lottery.

23. to this day

up to the present time; still

• the tradition continues to this day.

– origin Old English dæg, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dag and German Tag.

Day, Doris /dā/

(1924–), US actress and singer; born Doris Kappelhoff. She became a movie star in the 1950s with roles in lighthearted musicals, comedies, and romances, such as Calamity Jane (1953) and Pillow Talk (1959).

Day, Dorothy

(1897–1980), US journalist and reformer. She founded the Catholic Worker newspaper with social activist Peter Maurin (1877–1949) in 1933.

Day, William Rufus

(1849–1923), US Supreme Court associate justice 1903–22. He was appointed to the Court by President Theodore Roosevelt.

Dayak /ˈdīak / Dyak

I. noun

1. a member of a group of indigenous peoples inhabiting parts of Borneo.

2. the group of Austronesian languages spoken by the Dayak.

II. adjective

of or relating to the Dayak or their languages.

– origin mid 19th cent.: Malay, literally ‘up-country.’

Dayan, Moshe /däˈyän/

(1915–81), Israeli statesman and general. As minister of defense he oversaw Israel's victory in the Six Day War, and as foreign minister he played a prominent role in negotiations that led to the Camp David Accords of 1978.

daybed /ˈdāˌbed/

noun

(N. Amer.) a couch that can be made up into a bed.

daybook /ˈdābo͝ok/

noun

1. an account book in which a day's transactions are entered for later transfer to a ledger.

2. (N. Amer.) a diary.

daybreak /ˈdāˌbrāk/

noun

the time in the morning when daylight first appears; dawn

• she set off at daybreak.

day care /ˈdā ˌke(ə)r/

noun

daytime care for the needs of people who cannot be fully independent, such as children or elderly people

• family issues such as day care

• [as modifier] a day-care center for employees' children.

daydream /ˈdāˌdrēm/

I. noun

a series of pleasant thoughts that distract one's attention from the present.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. indulge in daydreams

• stop daydreaming and pay attention.

III. derivatives

1. daydreamer /ˈdāˌdrēmər /

noun

2. daydreamy

adjective

dayflower /ˈdāˌflou(ə)r/

noun

a plant related to the spiderwort, with short-lived flowers that are typically blue.
[Genus Commelina, family Commelinaceae.]

Day-Glo /ˈdāɡlō/

I. noun

‹trademark› a fluorescent paint or other coloring.

II. adjective

of or denoting very bright or fluorescent coloring

• wearing Day-Glo pink T-shirts.

– origin 1950s: blend of day and glow.

day job

I. noun

a person's regular job and main source of income, typically as contrasted with a more enjoyable occupation or hobby

• he funds his films with money earned from his day job as a manager.

II. phrases

don't give up the (or your) day job

‹informal› used as a humorous way of advising someone not to pursue something at which they are unlikely to be successful.

day labor

I. noun

unskilled labor paid by the day.

II. derivatives

day laborer

noun

Day-Lewis, C. /dā ˈlo͞oəs/

(1904–72), English poet, novelist, and critic; full name Cecil Day-Lewis. He served as Britain's poet laureate 1968–72 and also wrote detective novels under the name Nicholas Blake.

Day-Lewis, Sir Daniel /dā ˈlo͞oəs/

(1957–), English actor; full name Sir Daniel Michael Blake Day-Lewis. His films include The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988), My Left Foot (1989), Gangs of New York (2002), and Lincoln (2012).

daylight /ˈdāˌlīt/

I. noun

1. the natural light of the day

• there were two hours of daylight left

• [as modifier] the daylight hours.

2. the first appearance of light in the morning; dawn

• I returned at daylight.

3. visible distance between one person or thing and another

• ‹figurative› their views on education are so close that it's difficult to see daylight between them.

• ‹figurative› the growing daylight between himself and the leading jockey.

4. (daylights) — used to emphasize the severity or thoroughness of an action

• my father beat the living daylights out of them.

• he can scare the living daylights out of a cinema audience.

[from daylights meaning ‘eyes,’ hence ‘any vital organ.’]

II. phrases

see daylight

begin to understand what was previously puzzling or unclear.

daylighting /ˈdāˌlīdiNG/

noun

the illumination of buildings by natural light

• daylighting is achieved by using properly designed windows and skylights.

daylight saving time /ˈˌdālīt ˈsāviNG ˌtīm / daylight savings time

noun

(N. Amer.) time as adjusted to achieve longer evening daylight, especially in summer, by setting the clocks an hour ahead of the standard time.

daylily /ˈdāˌləlē / day lily

noun

a lily that bears large yellow, red, or orange flowers, each flower lasting only one day.
[Genus Hemerocallis, family Liliaceae.]

daylong /ˈdāˌlôNG/

adjective

of a day's duration; lasting all day

• a daylong deluge.

daymare /ˈdāmer/

I. noun

a frightening or oppressive trance or hallucinatory condition experienced while awake.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from day, on the pattern of nightmare.

Day of Atonement

another term for Yom Kippur.

day off

noun

a day's vacation from work or school on what would normally be a working day.

Day of Judgment

another term for Judgment Day.

Day of the Dead

noun

1. All Souls' Day, as celebrated on November 2 in various European and Latin American countries, especially the Mexican observance of this day.

2. (in Mexico) the period of All Souls' Day festivities, held for several days, including All Saints' Day on November 1.

daypack /ˈdāpak/

noun

a small backpack, used for day hikes or for carrying books, etc.

day room dayroom

noun

a room used for daytime recreation, especially a communal room in an institution.

daysail /ˈdāsāl/

verb — [no obj.]

1. sail a yacht for a single day
(as noun daysailing)

• an outstanding boat for daysailing.

daysailer /ˈdāˌsālər/

noun

a sailboat without a cabin, designed for day trips.

day school /ˈdā ˌsko͞ol/

noun

a nonresidential school, typically a private one.

day shift /ˈdā ˌSHift/

noun

1. a period of time worked during the daylight hours in a hospital, factory, etc., as opposed to the night shift.

2. [treated as sing. or pl.] — the employees who work during the day shift.

dayside /ˈdāsīd/

noun

[Astronomy] the side of a planet that is facing its primary star.

Days of Awe

plural noun

another term for High Holidays.

dayspring /ˈdāˌspriNG/

noun

‹literary› dawn.

day student

noun

a student who attends classes at a boarding school or college but who does not live at the school.

daytime /ˈdāˌtīm/

noun

the time of the day between sunrise and sunset

• she was alone in the daytime

• [as modifier] a daytime telephone number.

daytimer /ˈdāˌtīmər/

noun

‹trademark› (chiefly N. Amer.) an appointment diary or electronic organizer.

day-to-day /ˌdādəˈdā/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. happening regularly every day

• the day-to-day management of the classroom.

2. ordinary; everyday

• our day-to-day domestic life.

3. short-term; without consideration for the future

• the struggle for day-to-day survival.

4. [Sports] [Sports] (of an injured player) not playing owing to a minor injury that is being treated and evaluated on a daily basis.

• their shortstop has an ankle sprain and is listed as day-to-day.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. an ordinary, everyday routine

• they have come to escape the day-to-day.

III. adverb

on a daily basis

• the information to be traded is determined day-to-day.

Dayton /ˈdātn/

a city in western Ohio; pop. 154,200 (est. 2008). It was the home of aviation pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright and is still a center of aerospace research.

Daytona Beach /dāˌtōnə ˈbēCH/

a resort city in northeastern Florida, on the Atlantic coast; pop. 64,211 (est. 2008).

day trading /ˈdātrādiNG/

I. noun

the buying and selling of securities on the same day, often online, on the basis of small, short-term price fluctuations.

II. derivatives

1. day-trade

verb

2. day trader

noun

day trip /ˈdā ˌtrip/

I. noun

a journey or excursion completed in one day.

II. derivatives

day-tripper /ˈdāˌtripər / day tripper

noun

daywear /ˈdāˌwer/

noun

articles of casual clothing suitable for informal or everyday occasions.

daywork /ˈdāwərk/

I. noun

casual work paid for on a daily basis.

II. derivatives

dayworker

noun

daze /dāz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be dazed)

1. make (someone) unable to think or react properly; stupefy; bewilder

• she was dazed by his revelations

• (as adj. dazed) he staggered home dazed and confused.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. a state of stunned confusion or bewilderment

• he was walking around in a daze.

III. derivatives

dazedly /ˈdāzidlē /

adverb

– origin Middle English: back-formation from dazed (adjective), from Old Norse dasathr ‘weary’; compare with Swedish dasa ‘lie idle.’

dazibao /ˌdädzēˈbou/

I. noun

(in the People's Republic of China) a wall poster written in large characters.

– origin Chinese, from dà ‘big’ + zi ‘character’ + bào ‘newspaper or poster.’

dazzle /ˈdazəl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a bright light) blind (a person) temporarily

• she was dazzled by the headlights.

2. amaze or overwhelm (someone) with a particular impressive quality

• I was dazzled by the beauty and breadth of the exhibition.

3. [no obj.] — ‹archaic› (of the eyes) be affected by a bright light

• my eyes dazzled and I could not move.

II. noun

brightness that confuses someone's vision temporarily
[in sing.]

• a dazzle of green and red spotlights.

III. derivatives

dazzlement /ˈdazəlmənt /

noun

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘be dazzled’): frequentative of the verb daze.

dazzler /ˈdaz(ə)lər/

noun

a person or thing that dazzles, in particular a person who is overwhelmingly impressive or skillful.

dazzling /ˈdaz(ə)liNG/

I. adjective

1. extremely bright, especially so as to blind the eyes temporarily

• the sunlight was dazzling

• ‹figurative› a dazzling smile.

2. extremely impressive, beautiful, or skillful

• a dazzling display of football.

II. derivatives

dazzlingly /ˈdaz(ə)liNGlē /

adverb

dB

abbreviation

decibel(s).

Db

symbol

the chemical element dubnium.

dba d/b/a

abbreviation

doing business as.

DBMS

abbreviation

database management system.

DBS

abbreviation

1. direct broadcasting by satellite.

2. direct-broadcast satellite.

dbx

I. noun

‹trademark› electronic circuitry designed to increase the dynamic range of reproduced sound and reduce noise in the system.

– origin 1970s: from dB ‘decibel’ + x (representing expander).

DC^1

abbreviation

1. [Music] da capo.

2. direct current.

3. District of Columbia

• Washington, DC.

4. Doctor of Chiropractic.

DC^2

I. noun

‹informal› a person's child (used in electronic communication)

• my eldest DC is starting kindergarten tomorrow.

– origin early 21st cent.: abbreviation of darling child or dear child.

DCC /ˌdē ˌsē ˈsē/

abbreviation

digital compact cassette.

DCL

abbreviation

Doctor of Civil Law.

DCM

abbreviation

(in the UK) Distinguished Conduct Medal, awarded for bravery.

DD^1

abbreviation

1. Department of Defense (on forms and documents): a DD 214.

2. designated driver

• I'm the DD tonight.

3. [Military] dishonorable discharge.

4. Doctor of Divinity.

DD^2

I. noun

‹informal› a person's daughter (used in electronic communication)

• my DD is having three girls sleep over for her sixth birthday.

– origin 1990s: abbreviation of darling daughter or dear daughter.

D-Day /ˈdē ˌdā/

I. noun

1. the day (June 6, 1944) in World War II on which Allied forces invaded northern France by means of beach landings in Normandy.

2. the day on which an important operation is to begin or a change to take effect

• it's D-day at the Websters', as Sally gives Kevin an ultimatum.

– origin from D for day + day. Compare with H-hour.

DDC ddC

abbreviation

dideoxycytidine.

DDE

I. noun

[Computing] a standard allowing data to be shared between different programs.

– origin 1980s: abbreviation of Dynamic Data Exchange.

DDI ddI

abbreviation

dideoxyinosine.

DDoS DDOS

abbreviation

distributed denial of service, the intentional paralyzing of a computer network by flooding it with data sent simultaneously from many individual computers
[as modifier]

• so-called zombies which are used to stage DDOS attacks.

DDR

I. abbreviation

German Democratic Republic.

– origin abbreviation of German Deutsche Demokratische Republik.

DDS

abbreviation

1. Doctor of Dental Science.

2. Doctor of Dental Surgery.

DDT /ˌdē ˌdē ˈtē/

I. noun

a synthetic organic compound used as an insecticide. Like other chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons, DDT tends to persist in the environment and become concentrated in animals at the head of the food chain. Its use is now banned in many countries.
[Chem. formula: CCl_3CH(C_6H_4Cl)2.]

– origin 1940s: abbreviation of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane.

DE

abbreviation

1. [Football] defensive end.

2. Delaware (in official postal use).

de-

I. prefix

1. (forming verbs and their derivatives) down; away

• descend

• deduct.

2. completely

• denude

• derelict.

3. (added to verbs and their derivatives) denoting removal or reversal

• deaerate

• de-ice.

4. denoting formation from

• deverbal.

– origin from Latin de ‘off, from’; sense 2 via Old French des- from Latin dis-.

DEA /dēːēːˈā/

abbreviation

(US) Drug Enforcement Administration, an agency of the US Department of Justice.

deaccession /ˌdēakˈseSHən/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. officially remove (an item) from the listed holdings of a library, museum, or art gallery, typically in order to sell it to raise funds.

II. noun

the disposal of books, works of art, or other items in this way.

deacon /ˈdēkən/

I. noun

1. (in Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox churches) an ordained minister of an order ranking below that of priest.

2. (in some Protestant churches) a lay officer appointed to assist a minister, especially in secular affairs.

3. ‹historical› (in the early church) an appointed minister of charity.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. appoint or ordain as a deacon.

III. derivatives

deaconship /-ˌSHip /

noun

– origin Old English diacon, via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek diakonos ‘servant’ (in ecclesiastical Greek ‘Christian minister’).

deaconess /ˈdēkənəs/

noun

(in the early church and some modern churches) a woman with duties similar to those of a deacon.

deactivate /dēˈaktəvāt/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — make (something, typically technical equipment or a virus) inactive by disconnecting or destroying it

• the switch deactivates the alarm.

2. [Military] remove from active duty.

II. derivatives

1. deactivation /dēˌaktəˈvāSHən /

noun

2. deactivator /-vātər /

noun

dead /ded/

I. adjective

1. no longer alive

• a dead body

• [as complement] he was shot dead.

2. (of a part of the body) having lost sensation; numb.

3. having or displaying no emotion, sympathy, or sensitivity

• a cold, dead voice.

4. no longer current, relevant, or important

• pollution had become a dead issue.

5. devoid of living things

• a dead planet.

6. resembling death

• a dead faint.

7. (of a place or time) characterized by a lack of activity or excitement

• Brussels isn't dead after dark, if you know where to look.

8. (of money) not financially productive.

9. (of sound) without resonance; dull.

10. (of a color) not glossy or bright.

11. (of a piece of equipment) no longer functioning, especially because of a fault

• the phone had gone dead.

12. (of an electric circuit or conductor) carrying or transmitting no current

• the batteries are dead.

13. no longer burning

• the fire had been dead for some days.

14. (of air or water) not circulating; stagnant.

15. (of a glass or bottle) empty or no longer being used.

16. (of the ball in a game) out of play.
See also dead ball.

17. (of a playing field, ball, or other surface) lacking springiness or bounce.

18. [attrib.] — complete; absolute

• we sat in dead silence.

II. adverb — [often as submodifier]

1. absolutely; completely

• you're dead right

• he was dead against the idea.

2. exactly

• they arrived dead on time.

3. straight; directly

• red flares were seen dead ahead.

4. (Brit.) ‹informal› very

• omelets are dead easy to prepare.

III. noun — (as plural noun the dead)

1. those who have died.

IV. phrases

1. dead and buried

over; finished

• the incident is dead and buried.

2. (as) dead as a (or the) dodo

see dodo.

3. (as) dead as a doornail

see doornail.

4. dead from the neck up

‹informal› stupid.

5. dead in the water

a. (of a ship) unable to move.

b. unable to function effectively

• the economy is dead in the water.

6. dead meat

‹informal› in serious trouble

• if anyone finds out, you're dead meat.

7. the dead of night

the quietest, darkest part of the night.

8. the dead of winter

the coldest part of winter.

9. dead on

exactly right

• her judgment was dead on.

10. dead on arrival

a. used to describe a person who is declared dead immediately upon arrival at a hospital.

b. (of an idea, etc.) declared ineffective without ever having been put into effect

• why are people pronouncing the plan dead on arrival in the legislature?

11. dead on one's feet

‹informal› extremely tired.

12. dead set against

‹informal› strongly opposed to

• they were dead set against seeing any more open spaces divided up.

13. dead to rights

‹informal› in the act of doing something wrong; red-handed

• he had me dead to rights, so I meekly suffered the rebuke.

14. dead to the world

‹informal› fast asleep.

15. from the dead

a. from a state of death

• Christ rose from the dead.

b. from a period of obscurity or inactivity

• the cartoon brought animation back from the dead.

16. make a dead set at

see set^2.

17. over my dead body

see body.

18. stop dead stop someone dead

stop (or cause to stop) suddenly or abruptly

• Rob stopped dead and turned to face me

• the sight stopped him dead in his tracks.

19. wouldn't be seen (or caught) dead

‹informal› used to express strong dislike for a particular thing

• James Bond wouldn't be caught dead wearing a paper napkin bib.

V. derivatives

deadness /ˈdednəs /

noun

– origin Old English dēad, of Germanic origin: related to Dutch dood and German tot, also to die^1.

dead air

noun

an unintended interruption of the video or audio signal during a television or radio broadcast.

dead ball /ˈded ˌbôl/

noun

[Sports] a ball that has gone out of play or is declared to be out of play.

dead-ball line

noun

[Soccer] the part of the goal line to either side of the goal.

deadbeat /ˈdedˌbēt/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› (N. Amer.) a person who tries to evade paying debts.

2. ‹informal› an idle, feckless, or disreputable person.

II. adjective

(of a clock escapement or other mechanism) without recoil.

deadbolt /ˈdedˌbōlt/

noun

a bolt engaged by turning a knob or key, rather than by spring action.

dead cat bounce /ˈded ˈkat ˌbouns/

noun

[Stock Market] a temporary recovery in share prices after a substantial fall, caused by speculators buying in order to cover their positions.

dead center /ded ˈsen(t)ər/

noun

the position of a crank when it is in line with the connecting rod and not exerting torque.

dead duck /ˈded ˌdək/

I. noun

‹informal› a person or thing that is useless, unsuccessful, defunct, etc.

• totalitarianism is a dead duck, he says.

– origin from the old saying “never waste powder on a dead duck.”

deaden /ˈdedn/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (a noise or sensation) less intense

• ether was used to deaden the pain.

2. deprive of the power of sensation

• diabetes can deaden the nerve endings.

3. deprive of force or vitality; stultify

• the syllabus has deadened the teaching process

• (as adj. deadening) a deadening routine.

4. make (someone) insensitive to something

• laughter might deaden us to the moral issue.

II. derivatives

deadener /ˈded(ə)nər /

noun

dead end /ˈded ˈend/

I. noun

1. an end of a road or passage from which no exit is possible; a cul-de-sac

• the path came to a dead end.

2. a road or passage having a dead end.

3. a situation offering no prospects of progress or development
[as modifier]

• a dead-end job.

II. verb — [no obj.] (dead-end)

1. (N. Amer.) (of a road or passage) come to a dead end

• he kept walking, until the corridor dead-ended.

deadeye /ˈdedī/

noun

1. [Sailing] a circular wooden block with a groove around the circumference to take a lanyard, used singly or in pairs to tighten a shroud.

2. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) an expert marksman.

deadfall /ˈdedfôl/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) a trap consisting of a heavy weight positioned to fall on an animal.

2. (N. Amer.) a tangled mass of fallen trees and brush.

3. (N. Amer.) a fallen tree.

dead hand /ˌded ˈhand/

noun

an undesirable persisting influence

• the dead hand of government control.

deadhead /ˈdedhed/

I. noun

1. (Deadhead) — a fan and follower of the rock group the Grateful Dead.
[as modifier]

• the Deadhead hard core shadows the band, selling tie-dyes and beads.

2. ‹informal› a boring or unenterprising person.

3. (chiefly N. Amer.) a passenger or member of an audience with a free ticket.

4. (US) ‹informal› a commercial carrier with no paying passengers or freight on a trip.

5. a sunken or partially submerged log.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — (N. Amer.) ‹informal› (of a commercial driver, etc.) complete a trip without paying passengers or freight

• trucks deadheading into California to pick up outbound loads.

2. ride (in a plane or other vehicle) without paying for a ticket

• he calls his airline and gets a seat on the red-eye to deadhead to Boston.

3. [with obj.] — remove dead flower heads from (a plant) to encourage further blooming.

dead heat /ˈded ˈhēt/

I. noun

a situation in or result of a race in which two or more competitors are exactly even.

II. verb — [no obj.] (dead-heat)

1. run or finish a race exactly even.

dead language

noun

a language no longer in everyday spoken use, such as Latin.

dead letter /ˈded ˈledər/

noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) a letter that is undeliverable and unreturnable, typically one with an incorrect address.

2. a law or treaty that has not been repealed but is ineffectual or defunct in practice.

3. a thing that is impractical or obsolete

• theoretical reasoning is a dead letter to a child.

dead lift

noun

[Weightlifting] a lift made from a standing position, without the use of a bench or other equipment.

deadlight /ˈdedlīt/

noun

1. a protective cover or shutter fitted over a porthole or window on a ship.

2. (US) a skylight designed not to be opened.

deadline /ˈdedˌlīn/

noun

1. the latest time or date by which something should be completed

• the deadline for submissions is February 5th.

2. ‹historical› a line drawn around a prison beyond which prisoners were liable to be shot.

dead load /ˌded ˈlōd/

noun

the intrinsic weight of a structure or vehicle, excluding the weight of passengers or goods.
Often contrasted with live load.

deadlock /ˈdedˌläk/

I. noun

1. [in sing.] — a situation, typically one involving opposing parties, in which no progress can be made

• an attempt to break the deadlock.

2. a situation in a contest or game where the scores are equal

• Ashton broke the deadlock with a penalty after 15 minutes.

3. British term for deadbolt.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. [no obj.] — cause (a situation or opposing parties) to come to a point where no progress can be made because of fundamental disagreement

• the jurors were deadlocked on six charges.

2. (be deadlocked) — (of a contest or game) be in a tie

• with the score still deadlocked at three-three.

3. (Brit.) secure (a door) with a deadlock.

dead loss /ˈded ˈlôs/

noun

1. a venture or situation that produces no profit whatsoever.

2. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) a person or thing that is completely useless.

deadly /ˈdedlē/

I. adjective

1. causing or able to cause death

• a deadly weapon.

2. filled with hate

• his voice was cold and deadly.

3. (typically in the context of shooting or sports) extremely accurate, effective, or skillful

• his aim is deadly.

4. ‹informal› extremely boring

• he's well meaning, but so utterly deadly.

5. [attrib.] — complete; total

• she was in deadly earnest.

II. adverb — [as submodifier]

1. in a way resembling or suggesting death; as if dead

• her skin was deadly pale.

2. extremely

• a deadly serious remark.

III. derivatives

deadliness /ˈdedlēnəs /

noun

– origin Old English dēadlīc ‘mortal, in danger of death’ (see dead, -ly^1).

deadly nightshade

noun

a poisonous bushy Eurasian plant with drooping purple flowers and black cherrylike fruit.
Also called belladonna. [Atropa belladonna, family Solanaceae.]

deadly sin /ˈdedlē sin/

noun

(in Christian tradition) a sin regarded as leading to damnation, especially one of a traditional list of seven.
See seven deadly sins.

deadman /ˈdedman/

noun

an object buried in or secured to the ground for the purpose of providing anchorage or leverage.

dead man's fingers

plural noun

1. a soft coral that has spongy lobes stiffened by calcareous spines. When found washed up on the beach it is said to resemble the fingers of a corpse.
[Alcyonium digitatum, order Alcyonacea.]

2. a fungus that produces clumps of dull black, irregular, fingerlike fruiting bodies at the bases of dead tree stumps in both Eurasia and North America.
[Xylaria polymorpha, family Xylariaceae, phylum Ascomycota.]

3. ‹informal› the fingerlike divisions of a lobster's or crab's gills.

dead-man's float

noun

a floating position, often used by beginning swimmers, in which a person lies face down in the water with arms outstretched or extended forward and legs extended backward.

dead man's handle /ˌded ˌmanz ˈhandl / dead man's pedal

noun

(especially in a diesel or electric train) a lever that acts as a safety device by shutting off power when not held in place by the driver.

dead march

noun

a slow, solemn piece of music suitable to accompany a funeral procession.

dead-nettle /ˈdedˌnedl/

noun

an Old World plant of the mint family, with leaves that resemble those of a nettle but lack stinging hairs.
[Lamium and related genera, family Labiatae: several species, including the common white dead-nettle (L. album).]

deadpan /ˈdedˌpan/

I. adjective

deliberately impassive or expressionless

• answers his phone in a deadpan tone

• deadpan humor.

II. adverb

in a deadpan manner.

III. verb — [with direct speech]

1. say something amusing while affecting a serious manner

• “I'm an undercover dentist,” he deadpanned.

dead reckoning /ˈded ˈrek(ə)niNG/

noun

the process of calculating one's position, especially at sea, by estimating the direction and distance traveled rather than by using landmarks, astronomical observations, or electronic navigation methods.

dead ringer /ˈded ˈriNGər/

noun

a person or thing that seems exactly like someone or something else

• he is a dead ringer for his late papa.

deadrise /ˈdedrīz/

noun

the vertical distance between a line horizontal to the keel of a vessel and its chine.

Dead Sea /ˈˌded ˈsē/

a salt lake or inland sea in the Jordan valley, on the Israel–Jordan border. Its surface is 1,300 feet (400 m) below sea level.

Dead Sea scrolls

a collection of Hebrew and Aramaic manuscripts discovered in pottery storage jars in caves near Qumran between 1947 and 1956. Thought to have been hidden by the Essenes or a similar Jewish sect shortly before the revolt against Roman rule AD 66–70, the scrolls include texts of many books of the Bible; they are some 1,000 years older than previously known versions.

deadstick landing /ˌdedstik ˈlandiNG/

noun

an unpowered landing of an aircraft.

dead time

noun

1. time in which someone or something is inactive or unable to act productively.

2. [Physics] the period after the recording of a particle or pulse when a detector is unable to record another.

dead water

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) still water without any current.

dead weight /ˈded ˈˌwāt / deadweight

noun

1. the weight of an inert person or thing

• the net was a dead weight on his shoulders.

2. a heavy or oppressive burden

• the past was just so much dead weight, excess baggage.

3. the total weight of cargo, stores, etc., that a ship carries or can carry at a particular draft.

4. another term for dead load.

5. [Farming] animals sold by the estimated weight of salable meat that they will yield.

6. [usu. as modifier] — [Economics] losses incurred because of the inefficient allocation of resources, especially through taxation or restriction

• a dead-weight burden.

dead white European male dead white male

noun

‹informal› a writer, philosopher, or other significant figure whose importance and talents may have been exaggerated by virtue of his belonging to a historically dominant gender and ethnic group.

deadwood /ˈdedwo͝od/

noun

1. a branch or part of a tree that is dead.

2. people or things that are no longer useful or productive.

Deadwood /ˈdedwo͝od/

a city in western South Dakota, in the Black Hills, known for its 1870s gold rush and Boot Hill cemetery; pop. 1,283 (est. 2008).

dead zone

noun

1. a place or period in which nothing happens or in which no life exists.

2. an area of the ocean that is depleted of oxygen, frequently due to pollution.

3. a place where it is not possible to receive a mobile-phone or radio signal.

deaerate /ˌdēˈerāt/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be deaerated)

1. partially or completely remove dissolved air from (something)

• the electrolyte was deaerated by purging it with argon.

II. derivatives

deaeration /ˌdē-erˈāSHən /

noun

deaf /def/

I. adjective

1. lacking the power of hearing or having impaired hearing

• I'm a bit deaf

• deaf children.

2. unwilling or unable to hear or pay attention to something

• she is deaf to all advice.

II. phrases

1. (as) deaf as a post

completely or extremely deaf.

2. fall on deaf ears

(of a statement or request) be ignored.

3. turn a deaf ear

refuse to listen or respond to a statement or request.

– origin Old English dēaf, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch doof and German taub, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek tuphlos ‘blind.’

deaf aid /ˈdef ˌād/

noun

(Brit.) a hearing aid.

deaf and dumb

adjective

‹dated› ‹offensive› (of a person) both deaf and unable to speak

• he has been deaf and dumb since birth.

deaf-blind /ˌdefˈblīnd/

adjective

having a severe impairment of both hearing and vision.

deafen /ˈdefən/

verb — [with obj.] (usu. be deafened)

1. cause (someone) to lose the power of hearing permanently or temporarily

• we were deafened by the explosion.

2. (of a loud noise) overwhelm (someone) with sound

• the roar of the water deafened them.

3. (deafen someone to) — (of a sound) cause someone to be unaware of (other sounds)

• the noise deafened him to Ron's approach.

deafening /ˈdef(ə)niNG/

I. adjective

(of a noise) so loud as to make it impossible to hear anything else

• the music reached a deafening crescendo.

II. derivatives

deafeningly /ˈdef(ə)niNGlē /

adverb

deafferentation /dēˌafərenˈtāSHən/

I. noun

[Biology] the interruption or destruction of the afferent connections of nerve cells, performed especially in animal experiments to demonstrate the spontaneity of locomotor movement.

II. derivatives

deafferented /dēˈafəˌrentid /

adjective

deaf mute ‹dated offensive›

I. noun

a person who is both deaf and unable to speak.

II. adjective

(of a person) both deaf and unable to speak.

usage: In modern use, deaf mute has acquired offensive connotations (implying, wrongly, that such people are without the capacity for communication). It should be avoided in favor of other terms such as profoundly deaf. See also usage at mute.

deafness /ˈdefnəs/

noun

1. the condition of lacking the power of hearing or having impaired hearing

• the baby is at risk of being born with profound deafness

• loud music is a cause of deafness.

2. the state of being unwilling or unable to hear or pay attention to something

• the deafness shown by political leaders

• a worrying example of deafness to human rights concerns.

deal^1 /dēl/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — distribute (cards) in an orderly rotation to the players for a game or round

• the cards were dealt for the last hand

• ‹figurative› fate dealt her a different hand.

2. (deal someone in) — include a new player in a card game by giving them cards.

3. distribute or mete out (something) to a person or group

• the funds raised were dealt out to the needy.

4. [no obj.] — take part in commercial trading of a particular commodity

• directors were prohibited from dealing in the company's shares.

5. be concerned with

• a movie that deals in ideas and issues.

6. ‹informal› buy and sell illegal drugs
[with obj.]

• Frankie started dealing cocaine.

7. [no obj.] (deal with) — take measures concerning (someone or something), especially with the intention of putting something right

• the government had been unable to deal with the economic crisis.

8. cope with (a difficult person or situation)

• you'll have to find a way of dealing with those feelings.

9. [with adverbial] — treat (someone) in a particular way

• life had dealt harshly with her.

10. have relations with (a person or organization), especially in a commercial context

• the bank deals directly with the private sector.

11. take or have as a subject; discuss

• the novel deals with several different topics.

12. [with two objs.] — inflict (a blow) on (someone or something)

• hopes of an economic recovery were dealt another blow.

II. noun

1. an agreement entered into by two or more parties for their mutual benefit, especially in a business or political context

• the band signed a major recording deal.

2. an attractive price on a commodity for a purchaser; a bargain

• we've got great deals on the latest camcorders.

3. [with adj.] — a particular form of treatment given or received

• working mothers get a raw deal.

4. a significant but unspecified amount of something

• he lost a great deal of blood.

5. [in sing.] — the process of distributing the cards to players in a card game.

6. a player's turn to distribute cards.

7. the round of play following this.

8. the set of hands dealt to the players.

III. phrases

1. a big deal

a. [usu. with negative] — ‹informal› a thing considered important

• they don't make a big deal out of minor irritations.

b. an important person

• Sam Kinison became a big deal.

c. (big deal) — used to express one's contempt for something regarded as impressive or important by another person.

2. a good (or great) deal

a. a large amount

• I don't know a great deal about politics.

b. to a considerable extent

• she had gotten to know him a good deal better.

3. cut a deal

‹informal› make an agreement

• he had gone to the board of directors with his new robot design and cut a deal.

4. it's a deal

‹informal› used to express one's assent to an agreement.

5. no big deal

‹informal› used to indicate that something is of little consequence

• We had a casual conversation about it. No big deal.

6. the deal

‹informal› the situation or state of affairs

• what's the deal with you and that guy?

• big double standards exist, but he knows the deal.

7. the real deal

‹informal› a person or thing considered to be a genuine or supremely good example of their kind

• their love affair seems pretty close to the real deal

• Craig is the real deal, an American running legend.

– origin Old English dǣlan ‘divide,’ ‘participate,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch deel and German Teil ‘part’ (noun), also to dole^1. The sense ‘divide’ gave rise to ‘distribute,’ hence sense 1 of the verb and sense 4 of the verb ; the sense ‘participate’ gave rise to ‘have dealings with,’ hence sense 2 of the verb and sense 3 of the verb.

deal^2 /dēl/

I. noun

1. fir or pine wood, especially when sawn into planks of a standard size.

2. a plank of fir or pine sawn into a standard size.

– origin Middle English: from Middle Low German and Middle Dutch dele ‘plank.’

deal-breaker

noun

(in business and politics) a factor or issue that, if unresolved during negotiations, would cause one party to withdraw from a deal.

de-alcoholize /dēˈalkəhôˌlīz/

verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. de-alcoholized)

1. remove the alcohol from (a normally alcoholic drink)

• de-alcoholized beer.

dealer /ˈdēlər/

noun

1. a person or business that buys and sells goods

• a car dealer.

2. a person who buys and sells shares, securities, or other financial assets as a principal (rather than as a broker or agent).
See also broker-dealer.

3. ‹informal› a person who buys and sells drugs

• he posed as a dealer willing to buy heroin.

4. the player who distributes the cards at the start of a game or hand.

dealership /ˈdēlərˌSHip/

noun

an establishment authorized to buy and sell specific goods, especially motor vehicles
[with modifier]

• his family owns a car dealership.

dealfish /ˈdēlˌfiSH/

I. noun

a slender silvery fish with a dorsal fin running the length of the body, living in the northeastern Atlantic.
[Trachipterus arcticus, family Trachipteridae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from deal^2 in the sense ‘board’ (with reference to its shape) + fish^1.

deal flow

noun

the quantity of investment opportunities available at a given time to a particular company or investor or within a particular region or market sector

• the firm started to get much more deal flow

• low deal flow has put pressure on loan pricing as banks bid aggressively to win business.

dealign /ˌdēəˈlīn/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a voter) withdraw allegiance to a political party.

II. derivatives

dealignment

noun

dealing /ˈdēliNG/

noun

1. (usu. dealings) — a business relation or transaction

• they had dealings with an insurance company.

2. a personal connection or association with someone

• my dealings with David consisted of giving him his late-night formula.

3. the activity of buying and selling a particular commodity

• car dealing

• drug dealing.

4. the particular way in which someone behaves toward others

• fair dealing came naturally to him.

deallocate /dēˈaləˌkāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Computing] return (allocated memory) to the store of available RAM.

II. derivatives

deallocation /dēˌaləˈkāSHən /

noun

dealmaker /ˈdēlˌmākər/

I. noun

a person who is skilled at bringing commercial or political deals to a satisfactory conclusion.

II. derivatives

dealmaking

noun

dealt /delt/

past participle of deal^1.

deamination /dēˌamiˈnāSHən/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] the removal of an amino group from an amino acid or other compound.

II. derivatives

deaminated /dēˈaməˌnātid /

adjective

dean^1 /dēn/

I. noun

1. the head of a college or university faculty or department

• the dean of the law school.

2. a college or university official, especially one with disciplinary and advisory functions

• the dean of students.

3. the leader or senior member of a group

• the dean of California winemakers.

4. the head of the chapter of a cathedral or collegiate church.

– origin Middle English: from Old French deien, from late Latin decanus ‘chief of a group of ten,’ from decem ‘ten.’ Compare with doyen.

dean^2 /dēn/

noun

variant spelling of dene^1.

Dean, Dizzy /dēn/

(1911–74), US baseball player and broadcaster; born Jay Hanna Dean. He pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals 1930–37 and the Chicago Cubs 1938–41. Baseball Hall of Fame (1953).

Dean, Howard Brush III

(1948–), US politician and physician. After being a six-term governor of Vermont 1981–2003 and running unsuccessfully for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination, he served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee 2005–09.

Dean, James

(1931–55), US actor; full name James Byron Dean. Although he starred in only three movies before dying in a car accident, he became a cult figure closely identified with the title role of Rebel Without a Cause (1955), symbolizing for many the disaffected youth of the postwar era. Other movies: East of Eden (1955) and Giant (1956).

Dean, John

(1938–), US political adviser; full name John Wesley III Dean. After serving as presidential counsel to Richard Nixon, he became the chief witness in the Watergate hearings 1973–74, was convicted of conspiracy, and served four months in prison. He wrote Blind Ambition (1976).

deanery /ˈdēnərē/

noun

1. (Brit.) the group of parishes presided over by a rural dean.

2. the official residence of a dean.

3. the position or office of a dean.

dean's list

noun

(N. Amer.) a list of students recognized for academic achievement during a semester by the dean of the college they attend.

dear /dir/

I. adjective

1. regarded with deep affection; cherished by someone

• a dear friend

• he is very dear to me.

2. used in speech as a way of addressing a person in a polite way

• Martin, my dear fellow.

3. used as part of the polite introduction to a letter, especially in a formula denoting the degree of formality involved

• Dear Sir or Madam.

4. endearing; sweet

• a dear little puppy.

5. expensive.

6. (of money) available as a loan only at a high rate of interest.

II. noun

1. used as an affectionate or friendly form of address

• don't you worry, dear.

2. a sweet or endearing person.

III. adverb

at a high cost

• they buy property cheaply and sell dear.

IV. exclamation

used in expressions of surprise, dismay, or sympathy

• oh dear, I've upset you.

V. phrases

for dear life

see life.

VI. derivatives

dearness /ˈdirnəs /

noun

– origin Old English dēore, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dier ‘beloved,’ also to Dutch duur and German teuer ‘expensive.’

Dearborn /ˈdi(ə)rˌbôrn, -bərn/

a city in southeastern Michigan, southwest of Detroit, home to the Ford Motor Company and to the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village; pop. 86,477 (est. 2008).

dearest /dirist/

I. adjective

1. most loved or cherished

• one of my dearest friends.

2. (Brit.) most expensive

• beer is dearest in Germany.

II. noun

1. used as an affectionate form of address to a much-loved person

• you make me so happy, dearest.

2.

• I was going to miss my dearest.

dearie /ˈdērē/

noun

‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) used as a friendly or condescending form of address.

Dear John letter Dear John

noun

‹informal› a letter from a woman to a man, especially a serviceman, terminating a personal relationship

• a young officer gets his Dear John letter.

dearly /ˈdirlē/

adverb

1. very much

• he loved his parents dearly.

2. with much loss or suffering; at great cost

• freedom to worship our religion has been bought dearly.

dearth /dərTH/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. a scarcity or lack of something

• there is a dearth of evidence.

– origin Middle English derthe (originally in the sense ‘shortage and dearness of food’) (see dear, -th^2).

death /deTH/

I. noun

1. the action or fact of dying or being killed; the end of the life of a person or organism

• I don't believe in life after death

• an increase in deaths from skin cancer

• [as modifier] a death sentence.

2. the state of being dead

• even in death, she was beautiful.

3. the permanent ending of vital processes in a cell or tissue.

4. (Death) [in sing.] — the personification of the power that destroys life, often represented in art and literature as a skeleton or an old man holding a scythe.

5. [in sing.] — the destruction or permanent end of something

• the death of her hopes.

6. ‹informal› a damaging or destructive state of affairs

• to be driven to a dance by one's father would be social death.

II. phrases

1. at death's door

(especially in hyperbolic use) so ill that one might die.

2. be the death of

(often used hyperbolically or humorously) cause someone's death

• you'll be the death of me with all your questions.

3. be in at the death

a. be present when a hunted animal is caught and killed.

b. be present when something fails or comes to an end.

4. catch one's death (of cold)

‹informal› catch a severe cold or chill.

5. do someone to death

kill someone.

6. do something to death

perform or repeat something so frequently that it becomes tediously familiar

• a subject that has been done to death by generations of painters.

7. a fate worse than death

a terrible experience, especially that of seduction or rape.

8. like death warmed over (or up)

‹informal› extremely tired or ill.

9. a matter of life and death

see life.

10. put someone to death

kill someone, especially with official sanction.

11. till (or until) death us do part

for as long as both people in a couple live.
[from the marriage service in the Book of Common Prayer.]

12. to death

a. used of a particular action or process that results in someone's death

• he was stabbed to death.

b. used to emphasize the extreme nature of a specific action, feeling, or state of mind

• I'm sick to death of you

• the story scared me to death.

13. to the death

until dead

• a fight to the death.

III. derivatives

deathlike /ˈdeTHˌlīk /

adjective

– origin Old English dēath, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dood and German Tod, also to die^1.

death adder

noun

a venomous Australian snake that has a thin wormlike tail, which it uses to lure birds and other prey.
[Genus Acanthophis, family Elapidae: three species, in particular A. antarcticus.]

deathbed /ˈdeTHbed/

noun

1. the bed where someone is dying or has died.

2. used in reference to the time when someone is dying

• she visited him on his deathbed

• [as modifier] a deathbed confession.

death benefit

noun

the amount paid to a beneficiary upon the death of an insured person.
Also called face amount.

death blow /ˈdeTH ˈˌblō/

noun

1. an impact or stroke that causes death.

2. an event, circumstance, or action that ends something abruptly

• it was Galileo Galilei who dealt the death blow to the geocentric theory.

death camp /ˈdeTH ˈˌkamp/

noun

a prison camp, especially one for political prisoners or prisoners of war, in which many die from poor conditions and treatment or from mass execution.

death cap

noun

a deadly poisonous toadstool with a pale olive-green cap and white gills, growing in broadleaved woodland in both Eurasia and North America.
[Amanita phalloides, family Amanitaceae, class Hymenomycetes.]

death certificate /deTH ˌsərˈtifəkāt/

noun

an official statement, signed by a physician, of the cause, date, and place of a person's death.

death-dealing /ˈdeTHˌdēliNG/

adjective

capable of causing death

• death-dealing drugs.

death futures

plural noun

(US) ‹informal› life insurance policies of terminally ill people, purchased by a third party at less than their mature value as a form of short-term investment.
See also viatical settlement.

death house /deTH houz/

noun

(US) ‹informal› the building in which prisoners are kept in preparation for execution.

death instinct

noun

[Psychoanalysis] an innate desire for self-annihilation, thought to be manifest in the conservative and regressive tendency of the psyche to reduce tension.
Compare with life instinct.

death knell /ˈdeTH ˌnel/

noun — [in sing.]

1. the tolling of a bell to mark someone's death.

2. used to refer to the imminent destruction or failure of something

• the chaos may sound the death knell for the peace plan.

deathless /ˈdeTHləs/

I. adjective

‹chiefly literary› ‹humorous› immortal

• deathless beauty

• he died before his song could be recorded, but his compositions are deathless.

II. derivatives

deathlessness

noun

deathly /ˈdeTHlē/

adjective

1. resembling or suggestive of death

• a deathly hush fell over the breakfast table

• [as submodifier] she felt deathly cold.

2. ‹archaic› ‹literary› of, relating to, or causing death

• an eagle carrying a snake in its deathly grasp.

death mask /ˈdeTH ˈˌmask/

noun

a plaster cast taken of a dead person's face, used to make a mask or model.

deathmatch /ˈdeTHˌmaCH/

noun

1. (in wrestling) a match in which many of the normal rules do not apply, typically leading to a more violent contest.

2. (in computer gaming) a mode of play in which the aim is to kill the characters controlled by other players.

death metal

noun

a form of heavy metal music using lyrics preoccupied with death, suffering, and destruction.

death penalty /ˈdeTH ˌpenəltē/

noun

the punishment of execution, administered to someone legally convicted of a capital crime.

death rate /ˈdeTH ˈˌrāt/

noun

the ratio of deaths to the population of a particular area during a particular period of time, usually calculated as the number of deaths per one thousand people per year.

death rattle /ˈdeTH ˈˌradl/

noun

a gurgling sound heard in a dying person's throat.

death row /ˌdeTH ˈrō/

noun

a prison block or section for prisoners sentenced to death

• a convicted killer on death row.

death sentence //

noun

1. [Law] a sentence to be put to death for a capital crime.

2. a disastrous result or outcome

• the market crash was a death sentence for many dot-coms.

death's head /ˈde(TH)s ˈˌhed/

noun

a human skull as a symbol of mortality.

death's-head hawk moth

noun

a large dark European hawk moth with a skull-like marking on the thorax and a very large caterpillar.
[Acherontia atropos, family Sphingidae.]

death song

noun

a song sung before or after someone's death or to commemorate the dead.

death spiral

noun

1. a spiraling downward path taken by an aircraft that is out of control

• the plane went into a death spiral and then a nose dive.

2. used in reference to a rapidly worsening situation, typically one that ends in disaster

• when demand dipped, it sent a lot of vineyards into a death spiral

• his career is in a death spiral.

3. (in pairs skating) a move in which the man pivots on one foot while the woman, stretched out almost parallel to the ice and holding on to his outstretched hand, circles around him with one skate on the ice

• the death spiral is performed by almost every skating pair.

death squad /ˈdeTH ˌskwäd/

noun

an armed paramilitary group formed to kill particular people, especially political opponents.

death stare death glare

noun

‹informal› a hostile or contemptuous look directed at a particular person

• Bruce gave her a death stare that was even detectable through his sunglasses.

death tax

noun

(US) ‹informal› another term for estate tax, inheritance tax.

death toll /ˈdeTH ˈˌtōl/

noun

the number of deaths resulting from a particular cause, especially an accident, battle, or natural disaster.

death trap deathtrap

noun

a place, structure, or vehicle that is potentially dangerous

• the theaters were often death traps.

Death Valley

a deep arid desert basin below sea level in southeastern California and southwestern Nevada, the hottest and driest part of North America. It contains the lowest point in the US at Badwater, which is 282 feet (86 m) below sea level.

death warrant

noun

an official order for the execution of a condemned person

• ‹figurative› in making his announcement he has signed his political death warrant.

deathwatch /ˈdeTHwäCH/

noun

1. a vigil kept beside a dead or dying individual.

2. a guard set over a person due for execution.

3. (also deathwatch beetle) — a small beetle with larvae that bore into dead wood and structural timbers, causing considerable damage. The adult makes a sound like a watch ticking that was formerly believed to portend death.
[Xestobium rufovillosum, family Anobiidae.]

death wish /ˈdeTH ˌwiSH/

noun

a desire for someone's death, especially an unconscious desire for one's own death.
Compare with death instinct.

deattribute /ˌdēəˈtribyo͞ot/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cease to attribute (a work of art) to a particular artist.

II. derivatives

deattribution /dēˌatrəˈbyo͞oSHən /

noun

deb /deb/

noun

‹informal› short for debutante.

debacle /dāˈbäk(ə)l dəˈbäk(ə)l/

I. noun

a sudden and ignominious failure; a fiasco

• the economic debacle that became known as the Great Depression.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French débâcle, from débâcler ‘unleash,’ from dé- ‘un-’ + bâcler ‘to bar’ (from Latin baculum ‘staff’).

debag /dēˈbaɡ/

verb — [with obj.]

1. (Brit.) ‹informal› remove the pants of (someone) as a joke or punishment.

deballast /dēˈbaləst/

verb — [with obj.]

1. remove ballast from (a ship) in order to increase its buoyancy.

debar /dēˈbär/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be debarred)

1. exclude or prohibit (someone) officially from doing something

• people declaring that they were HIV-positive could be debarred entry.

II. derivatives

debarment /dēˈbärmənt/

noun

– origin late Middle English: from French débarrer, from Old French desbarrer ‘unbar,’ from des- (expressing reversal) + barrer ‘to bar.’

debark^1 /dēˈbärk/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. leave a ship or aircraft.

2. [with obj.] — unload (cargo or troops) from a ship or aircraft.

II. derivatives

debarkation /ˌdēbärˈkāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French débarquer.

debark^2 /dēˈbärk/

verb — [with obj.]

1. remove (the bark) from a tree.

debase /dəˈbās/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. reduce (something) in quality or value; degrade

• the love episodes debase the dignity of the drama.

2. lower the moral character of (someone)

• war debases people.

3. ‹historical› lower the value of (coinage) by reducing the content of precious metal.

II. derivatives

1. debasement /dəˈbāsmənt /

noun

2. debaser /dəˈbāsər /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘humiliate, belittle’): from de- ‘down’ + the obsolete verb base (compare with abase), expressing the notion ‘bring down completely.’

debased /diˈbāst dēˈbāst/

adjective

reduced in quality or value

• the debased traditions of sportsmanship.

debatable /dəˈbādəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. open to discussion or argument

• it is debatable whether the country is coming out of recession.

2. ‹historical› (of land) on the border between two countries and claimed by each.

II. derivatives

debatably /-blē /

adverb

debate /dəˈbāt/

I. noun

1. a formal discussion on a particular topic in a public meeting or legislative assembly, in which opposing arguments are put forward.

2. an argument about a particular subject, especially one in which many people are involved

• the national debate on abortion

• there has been much debate about prices.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. argue about (a subject), especially in a formal manner

• the board debated his proposal

• the date when people first entered America is hotly debated.

2. [with clause] — consider a possible course of action in one's mind before reaching a decision

• he debated whether he should leave the matter alone or speak to her.

III. phrases

1. be open to debate

be unproven; require further discussion.

2. under debate

being discussed or disputed.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin dis- (expressing reversal) + battere ‘to fight.’

debater /dəˈbādər/

noun

a person who argues about a subject, especially in a formal manner

• he is a skilled debater and has a deep command of the issues.

debating point /dəˈbādiNG dēˈbādiNG point/

noun

an extraneous proposition or inessential piece of information used to gain advantage in a debate.

debauch /dəˈbôCH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. destroy or debase the moral purity of; corrupt.

2. ‹dated› seduce (a woman)

• he debauched sixteen schoolgirls.

II. noun

1. a bout of excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures, especially eating and drinking.

2. the habit or practice of indulgence in sensual pleasures; debauchery

• his life had been spent in debauch.

III. derivatives

debaucher

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from French débaucher (verb) ‘turn away from one's duty,’ from Old French desbaucher, of uncertain ultimate origin.

debauched /dəˈbôCHt/

adjective

indulging in or characterized by sensual pleasures to a degree perceived to be morally harmful; dissolute

• a debauched lifestyle.

debauchee /dəˌbôˈCHē/

I. noun

a person given to excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French débauché ‘turned away from duty,’ past participle of débaucher (see debauch).

debauchery /dəˈbôCHərē/

noun

excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures.

debeak /dēˈbēk/

verb — [with obj.]

1. remove the upper part of the beak of (a bird) to prevent it from injuring other birds
(as noun debeaking)

• debeaking is thought to cause chickens chronic pain.

de Beauvoir, Simone /də bōˈvwär, də ˈbōˌvwär/

(1908–86), French existentialist philosopher, novelist, and feminist. Her best-known work is The Second Sex (1949), a central book of the “second wave” of feminism. She was closely associated with Jean-Paul Sartre.

debenture /dəˈben(t)SHər/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) an unsecured loan certificate issued by a company, backed by general credit rather than by specified assets.

2. (Brit.) a long-term security yielding a fixed rate of interest, issued by a company and secured against assets.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a voucher issued by a royal household, giving the right to claim payment for goods or services): from Latin debentur ‘are owing’ (from debere ‘owe’), used as the first word of a certificate recording a debt. The current sense dates from the mid 19th cent.

debilitate /dəˈbiləˌtāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (someone) weak and infirm

• a weakness that debilitates him despite his overwhelming physical might

• (as adj. debilitated) a debilitated patient.

2. hinder, delay, or weaken

• hard drugs destroy families and debilitate communities.

II. derivatives

1. debilitation /dəˌbiləˈtāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. debilitative /diˈbiliˌtātiv /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin debilitat- ‘weakened,’ from the verb debilitare, from debilitas (see debility).

debilitating /dəˈbiləˌtādiNG/

I. adjective

1. (of a disease or condition) making someone very weak and infirm

• debilitating back pain.

2. tending to weaken something

• the debilitating effects of underinvestment.

II. derivatives

debilitatingly

adverb

debility /dəˈbilədē/

I. noun

physical weakness, especially as a result of illness.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French debilite, from Latin debilitas, from debilis ‘weak.’

debit /ˈdebit/

I. noun

1. an entry recording an amount owed, listed on the left-hand side or column of an account.
The opposite of credit.

2. a payment made or owed.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be debited)

1. (of a bank or other financial organization) remove (an amount of money) from a customer's account, typically as payment for services or goods

• $10,000 was debited from their account.

2. remove an amount of money from (a bank account)

• the tag on the rear window automatically activates the pump and debits any major credit card.

III. phrases

on the debit side

as an unsatisfactory aspect of the situation

• on the debit side, they predict a rise in book prices.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘debt’): from French débit, from Latin debitum ‘something owed’ (see debt). The verb sense dates from the 17th cent.; the current noun sense from the late 18th cent.

debit card /ˈdebit ˌkärd/

noun

a card issued by a bank allowing the holder to transfer money electronically to another bank account when making a purchase.

debonair /ˌdebəˈner/

I. adjective

(of a man) confident, stylish, and charming.

II. derivatives

debonairly

adverb

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘meek or courteous’): from Old French debonaire, from de bon aire ‘of good disposition.’

debone /dēˈbōn/

verb

remove the bones from (meat, poultry, or fish), especially before cooking.

Deborah /ˈdeb(ə)rə/

a biblical prophet and leader who inspired the Israelite army to defeat the Canaanites. The “Song of Deborah,” a song of victory attributed to her, is thought to be one of the oldest sections of the Bible.

deboss /dēˈbäs/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. debossed)

1. stamp (a design) into the surface of an object so that it is indented

• debossed awareness bracelets.

2. stamp a design into the surface of (an object)

• the shoulders of the lemon-yellow bottle are debossed with lemons.

II. derivatives

debosser

noun

– origin 1930s: from de- and emboss.

debouch /dəˈbouCH dəˈbo͞oSH/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. emerge from a narrow or confined space into a wide, open area

• the soldiers debouched from their jeeps and dispersed among the trees

• the stream finally debouches into a silent pool.

II. derivatives

debouchment /dəˈbo͞oSHmənt dēˈbo͞oSHmənt dəˈbouCHmənt dēˈbouCHmənt /

noun

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French déboucher, from dé- (expressing removal) + bouche ‘mouth’ (from Latin bucca ‘cheek’).

debouchure /dibo͞oˈSHo͝or/

I. noun

the mouth of a river or valley.

– origin mid 19th cent.: alteration of embouchure, on the pattern of debouch.

Debrecen /ˌdebrətˈsen/

an industrial and commercial city in eastern Hungary; pop. 206,225 (2009).

debridement /dəˈbrēdmənt/

I. noun

[Medicine] the removal of damaged tissue or foreign objects from a wound.

II. derivatives

debride

verb

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, from débrider, literally ‘unbridle,’ based on bride ‘bridle’ (of Germanic origin).

debrief /dēˈbrēf/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. question (someone, typically a soldier or spy) about a completed mission or undertaking

• together they debriefed their two colleagues

• (as noun debriefing) during his debriefing, he exposed two Russian spies.

II. noun

a series of questions about a completed mission or undertaking.

III. derivatives

debriefer

noun

debris /dəˈbrē ˌdāˈbrē/

I. noun

1. scattered fragments, typically of something wrecked or destroyed

• the bomb hits it, showering debris from all sides.

2. loose natural material consisting especially of broken pieces of rock

• a stable arrangement of planets, comets, and debris orbiting the sun.

3. dirt or refuse

• clean away any collected dust or debris.

– origin early 18th cent.: from French débris, from obsolete débriser ‘break down.’

de Broglie, Louis-Victor /də ˈbrôyə, də ˈbroi/

Prince (1892–1987), French physicist. He was the first to suggest that subatomic particles can also have the properties of waves, and his name is now applied to such a wave. Nobel Prize for Physics (1929).

Debs, Eugene V. /debz/

(1855–1926), US labor union leader; full name Eugene Victor Debs. A founding member of the International Labor Union and the Industrial Workers of the World, he ran for the US presidency five times as the Socialist Party candidate.

debt /det/

I. noun

1. something, typically money, that is owed or due

• I paid off my debts

• a way to reduce Third World debt.

2. the state of owing money

• the firm is heavily in debt.

3. [usu. in sing.] — a feeling of gratitude for a service or favor

• we owe them a debt of thanks.

II. phrases

be in someone's debt

owe gratitude to someone for a service or favor.

– origin Middle English dette: from Old French, based on Latin debitum ‘something owed,’ past participle of debere ‘owe.’ The spelling change in French and English was by association with the Latin word.

debt ceiling

noun

an upper limit set on the amount of money that a government may borrow

• on Friday, Congress raised the debt ceiling by $800 million.

debt counselor

noun

a person who offers professional advice on methods of debt repayment.

debt-free

adjective

not owing any money

• the family business is healthy and completely debt-free.

debt of honor

noun

a debt that is not legally recoverable, especially one incurred in gambling.

debtor /ˈdedər/

noun

a person or institution that owes a sum of money.

debt relief

noun

the partial or total remission of debts, especially those owed by developing countries to external creditors.

debt security

noun

a negotiable or tradable liability or loan.

debt swap debt-for-nature swap

noun

a transaction in which a foreign exchange debt owed by a developing country is transferred to another organization on the condition that the country use local currency for a designated purpose, usually environmental protection.

debt trap

noun

a situation in which a debt is difficult or impossible to repay, typically because high interest payments prevent repayment of the principal

• a new personal bankruptcy law aims to help individuals free themselves from the debt trap

• countries like Greece and Portugal are already caught in a debt trap.

debug /dēˈbəɡ/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. identify and remove errors from (computer hardware or software)

• games are the worst to debug

• (as noun debugging) software debugging.

2. detect and remove concealed microphones from (an area).

3. (N. Amer.) remove insects from (something), especially with a pesticide.

II. noun

the process of identifying and removing errors from computer hardware or software.

debugger /dēˈbəɡər/

noun

a computer program that assists in the detection and correction of errors in computer programs.

debunk /dēˈbəNGk/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. expose the falseness or hollowness of (a myth, idea, or belief)

• the magazine that debunks claims of the paranormal.

2. reduce the inflated reputation of (someone), especially by ridicule

• comedy takes delight in debunking heroes.

II. derivatives

1. debunker /ˌdēˈbəNGkər /

noun

2. debunkery

noun

deburr /dēˈbər / debur

verb — [with obj.]

1. neaten and smooth the rough edges or ridges of (an object, typically one made of metal)

• hand tools for deburring holes in metal.

Debussy, Claude /ˌdebyo͝oˈsē, ˌdā-/

(1862–1918), French composer and critic; full name Achille Claude Debussy. He incorporated the ideas of impressionist art and symbolist poetry into music, using melodies based on the whole-tone scale and delicate harmonies that exploit overtones.

debut /dāˈbyo͞o/

I. noun

1. a person's first appearance or performance in a particular capacity or role

• the film marked his debut as a director.

2. the first public appearance of a new product or presentation of a theatrical show

• the car makes its world debut.

3. [as modifier] — denoting the first recording or publication of a group, singer, or writer

• a debut album.

4. ‹dated› the first appearance of a debutante in society.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. perform in public for the first time

• the Rolling Stones debuted at the Marquee.

2. (of a new product) be launched

• the model is expected to debut at $19,000.

3. [with obj.] — (of a company) launch (a new product)

• the company is to debut new software.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French début, from débuter ‘lead off.’

debutant /ˈdebyəˌtänt/

I. noun

a person making a first appearance in a career or in fashionable society.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French débutant ‘leading off,’ from the verb débuter.

debutante /ˈdebyəˌtänt/

I. noun

an upper-class young woman making her first appearance in fashionable society.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French débutante (feminine) ‘leading off,’ from the verb débuter.

debye /dəˈbī / debye unit

I. noun

[Chemistry] a unit used to express electric dipole moments of molecules. One debye is equal to 3.336 × 1030 coulomb meter.

– origin early 20th cent.: named after Debye, Peter.

Debye, Peter /dəˈbī/

(1884–1966), US chemical physicist; born in the Netherlands; full name Peter Joseph William Debye. He is noted for establishing the existence of permanent electric dipole moments in many molecules, for demonstrating the use of these to determine molecular size and shape, and for modifying Einstein's theory of specific heats as applied to solids. Nobel Prize for Chemistry (1936).

dec.

abbreviation

deceased.

Dec.

abbreviation

December.

deca- /ˈdekə / dec-

I. combining form

(used commonly in units of measurement) ten; having ten

• decahedron

• decane.

– origin from Greek deka ‘ten.’

decad /ˈdekad/

I. noun

‹technical› a group or set of ten.

– origin early 17th cent.: via late Latin from Greek dekas, decad-, from deka ‘ten.’

decade /ˈdekād/

I. noun

1. a period of ten years

• he taught at the university for nearly a decade.

2. a period of ten years beginning with a year ending in 0 (or, by another reckoning, 1)

• the fourth decade of the nineteenth century.

3. a set, series, or group of ten, in particular

4. /ˈdekid / — each of the five divisions of each chapter of the rosary.

II. derivatives

decadal /ˈdekədl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (denoting each of ten parts of a literary work): via Old French and late Latin from Greek deka ‘ten.’ Sense 1 dates from the early 17th cent. / usage: Note that when decade means ‘a division of the rosary,’ the pronunciation is distinct: the stress is on dec-, but the second syllable sounds like id, not ade.

decadence /ˈdekədəns/

I. noun

1. moral or cultural decline as characterized by excessive indulgence in pleasure or luxury

• he denounced Western decadence.

2. luxurious self-indulgence

• “French” connotes richness and decadence, and that's the idea of this ice cream.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French décadence, from medieval Latin decadentia; related to decay.

decadent /ˈdekəd(ə)nt/

I. adjective

1. characterized by or reflecting a state of moral or cultural decline.

2. luxuriously self-indulgent

• a decadent soak in a scented bath.

II. noun

1. a person who is luxuriously self-indulgent.

2. (often Decadent) — a member of a group of late-19th-cent. French and English poets associated with the Aesthetic Movement.

III. derivatives

decadently

adverb

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French décadent, from medieval Latin decadentia (see decadence).

decaf /ˈdēkaf / ‹informal› decaff

I. adjective

decaffeinated

• a decaf cappuccino

• decaf iced tea.

II. noun — ( in the UK)

1. ‹trademark› decaffeinated coffee

• I've switched to decaf in the evenings.

– origin 1950s: abbreviation.

decaffeinate /dēˈkafəˌnāt/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. decaffeinated)

1. remove most or all of the caffeine from (coffee or tea)

• decaffeinated coffee.

II. derivatives

decaffeination /dēˌkafəˈnāSHən /

noun

decagon /ˈdekəˌɡän/

I. noun

a plane figure with ten straight sides and angles.

II. derivatives

decagonal /dekˈaɡ(ə)n(ə)l /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: via medieval Latin from Greek dekagōnon, neuter (used as a noun) of dekagōnos ‘ten-angled.’

decagram /ˈdekəˌɡram / dekagram

noun

a metric unit of mass or weight, equal to 10 grams.

decahedron /ˌdekəˈhēdrən/

I. noun

a solid figure with ten plane faces.

II. derivatives

decahedral /-drəl /

adjective

– origin early 19th cent.: from deca- ‘ten’ + -hedron, on the pattern of words such as polyhedron.

decal /ˈdēkal/

I. noun

a design prepared on special paper for transfer onto another surface such as glass, porcelain, or metal.

– origin 1950s: abbreviation of decalcomania.

decalcified /dēˈkalsəˌfīd/

I. adjective

(of rock or bone) containing a reduced quantity of calcium salts

• decalcified chalk.

II. derivatives

1. decalcification /ˌdēˌkalsəfəˈkāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. decalcifier /-ˌfīər /

noun

decalcomania /dēˌkalkəˈmānēə/

I. noun

1. the process of transferring designs from prepared paper onto glass or porcelain.

2. a technique used by some surrealist artists that involves pressing paint between sheets of paper.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French décalcomanie, from décalquer ‘transfer a tracing’ + -manie ‘-mania’ (with reference to the enthusiasm for the process in the 1860s).

decaliter /ˈdekəˌlēdər / dekaliter, dal, dkl

noun

a metric unit of capacity, equal to 10 liters.

Decalogue /ˈdekəˌlôɡ ˈdekəˌläɡ/

I. noun — (usu. the Decalogue)

1. the Ten Commandments.

– origin late Middle English: via French and ecclesiastical Latin from Greek dekalogos (biblos) ‘(book of) the Ten Commandments,’ from hoi deka logoi ‘the Ten Commandments’ (literally ‘the ten sayings’).

Decameron /diˈkamərən, -ˌrän/

a work by Boccaccio, written between 1348 and 1358, containing a hundred tales supposedly told in ten days by a party of ten young people who had fled from the Black Death in Florence. The work was influential on later writers such as Chaucer and Shakespeare.

decameter /ˈdekəˌmēdər / dekameter, dam, dkm

I. noun

a metric unit of length, equal to 10 meters.

II. derivatives

decametric /ˌdekəˈmetrik /

adjective

decamp /dəˈkamp/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. depart suddenly or secretly, especially to relocate one's business or household in another area

• now he has decamped to Hollywood.

2. ‹archaic› break up or leave a military camp

• the armies of both chiefs had decamped.

II. derivatives

decampment /dəˈkampmənt /

noun

– origin late 17th cent.: from French décamper, from dé- (expressing removal) + camp ‘camp.’

decan /ˈdekən/

I. noun

[Astrology] each of three equal ten-degree divisions of a sign of the zodiac.

– origin late 16th cent.: from late Latin decanus ‘chief of a group of ten’ (see dean^1).

decanal /ˈdekənl, diˈkānl/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to a dean or deanery.

2. relating to or denoting the south side of the choir of a church, the side on which the dean sits.
The opposite of cantorial.

– origin early 18th cent.: from medieval Latin decanalis, from late Latin decanus (see dean^1).

decane /ˈdekān/

noun

[Chemistry] a colorless liquid hydrocarbon of the alkane series, present in petroleum products such as kerosene.
[Chem. formula: C_10H_22; many isomers, esp. the straight-chain isomer (n -decane), which is used as a solvent and in jet fuel research.]

decant /dəˈkant/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. gradually pour (liquid, typically wine or a solution) from one container into another, especially without disturbing the sediment

• the wine was decanted about 40 minutes before being served.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin decanthare, from Latin de- ‘away from’ + canthus ‘edge, rim’ (used to denote the angular lip of a beaker), from Greek kanthos ‘corner of the eye.’

decanter /dəˈkan(t)ər/

noun

a stoppered glass container into which wine is decanted.

decapitate /dəˈkapəˌtāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cut off the head of (a person or animal)
(as adj. decapitated)

• a decapitated body.

2. attempt to undermine (a group or organization) by removing its leaders

• Italy's organized-crime network was decapitated when the godfather of the Sicilian Mafia was arrested.

II. derivatives

decapitator /-ˌtātər /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from late Latin decapitat- ‘decapitated,’ from the verb decapitare, from de- (expressing removal) + caput, capit- ‘head.’

decapitation /dəˌkapəˈtāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action of cutting off the head of a person or animal

• England's last public decapitation

• shocking scenes of decapitation and murder.

2. an attempt to undermine a group or organization by removing its leaders
[as modifier]

• the decapitation strategy has sharply limited Al Qaeda's ability to slaughter people indiscriminately.

decapitation strike

noun

a debilitating military attack, especially one aimed at the enemy's leadership.

decapod /ˈdekəˌpäd / ‹Zoology›

I. noun

a crustacean of the order Decapoda, such as a shrimp, crab, or lobster.

II. adjective

relating to or denoting decapods.

Decapoda /diˈkapədə / ‹Zoology›

I. an order of crustaceans that includes shrimps, crabs, and lobsters. They have five pairs of walking legs and are typically marine.

II. a former order of cephalopod mollusks that includes squids and cuttlefishes, having eight arms and two long tentacles.
Compare with Octopoda.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from deca- ‘ten’ + Greek pous, pod- ‘foot.’

decapsulate /dēˈkapsəlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Surgery] remove the capsule or covering from (a kidney or other encapsulated organ).

II. derivatives

decapsulation /dēˌkapso͝oˈlāSHən /

noun

decarbonize /dēˈkärbəˌnīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove carbon or carbonaceous deposits from (an engine or other metal object).

II. derivatives

1. decarbonization /ˌdēˌkärb(ə)nəˈzāSH(ə)n ˌdēˌkärbəˌnīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. decarbonizer

noun

decarboxylase /ˌdēkärˈbäksəˌlās, -ˌlāz/

noun

[Biochemistry] an enzyme that catalyzes the decarboxylation of a particular organic molecule.

decarboxylate /ˌdēkärˈbäksəlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Chemistry] eliminate a carboxylic acid group from (an organic compound).

2. [no obj.] — [Chemistry] undergo the process of decarboxylation.

II. derivatives

decarboxylation /ˌdēˌkärbäksəˈlāSH(ə)n /

noun

decarburize /dēˈkärb(y)əˌrīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Metallurgy] remove carbon from (iron or steel); decarbonize.

II. derivatives

decarburization /ˌdēˌkärb(y)əˌrīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from de- (expressing removal) + carburize, on the pattern of French décarburer.

decasyllabic /ˌdekəsiˈlabik / ‹Prosody›

I. adjective

(of a metrical line) consisting of ten syllables.

II. noun

(also decasyllable) — a metrical line of ten syllables.

decathlon /dəˈkaTHlən dəˈkaTH(ə)ˌlän/

I. noun

an athletic event taking place over two days, in which each competitor takes part in the same prescribed ten events (100-meter dash, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400-meter dash, 110-meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, and 1,500-meter run).

II. derivatives

decathlete /dəˈkaTHlēt /

noun

– origin early 20th cent.: from deca- ‘ten’ + Greek athlon ‘contest.’

Decatur /dəˈkādər/

I. an industrial city in northern Alabama, on the Tennessee River; pop. 56,068 (est. 2008).

II. an industrial and commercial city in central Illinois; pop. 76,256 (est. 2008).

Decatur, Stephen

(1779–1820), US naval officer. He was a daring commander in the Barbary Wars (1803–04 and 1815), and the War of 1812. He is noted for his well-known toast, “Our country! In her intercourse with foreign nations may she always be in the right; but our country, right or wrong!”

decay /dəˈkā/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of organic matter) rot or decompose through the action of bacteria and fungi
(as adj. decayed)

• a decayed cabbage leaf

• (as adj. decaying) the odor of decaying fish.

2. [with obj.] — cause to rot or decompose

• the fungus will decay soft timber.

3. (of a building or area) fall into disrepair; deteriorate

• urban neighborhoods decay when elevated freeways replace surface roads.

4. decline in quality, power, or vigor

• the moral authority of the party was decaying.

5. [Physics] (of a radioactive substance, particle, etc.) undergo change to a different form by emitting radiation

• the trapped radiocarbon begins to decay at a known rate.

6. ‹technical› (of a physical quantity) undergo a gradual decrease

• the time taken for the current to decay to zero.

II. noun

1. the state or process of rotting or decomposition

• hardwood is more resistant to decay than softwood

• bacterial decay.

2. structural or physical deterioration

• the old barn rapidly fell into decay.

3. rotten matter or tissue

• fluoride heals small spots of decay.

4. the process of declining in quality, power, or vigor

• preachers warning of moral decay.

5. [Physics] the change of a radioactive substance, particle, etc., into another by the emission of radiation

• the gas radon is produced by the decay of uranium in rocks and soil.

6. ‹technical› gradual decrease in the magnitude of a physical quantity

• the decay of electrical fields in the electromagnets.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French decair, based on Latin decidere ‘fall down or off,’ from de- ‘from’ + cadere ‘fall.’

Deccan /ˈdekən, ˈdekˌan/

a triangular plateau in southern India, bounded by the Malabar Coast in the west, the Coromandel Coast in the east, and the Vindhaya mountains in the north.

decease /dəˈsēs/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. ‹formal› [Law] death

• a doctor's sudden decease.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹archaic› die.

– origin Middle English: from Old French deces, from Latin decessus ‘death,’ past participle (used as a noun) of decedere ‘to die.’

deceased /dəˈsēst / ‹Law formal›

I. noun — (the deceased)

1. a person who has died

• in memory of the deceased.

II. adjective

dead; no longer living

• the cremation of a deceased person.

decedent /dəˈsēdnt/

I. noun

[Law] a person who has died

• to make sure the decedent's property passes to his children.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin decedent- ‘dying,’ from the verb decedere (see decease).

deceit /dəˈsēt/

I. noun

the action or practice of deceiving someone by concealing or misrepresenting the truth

• a web of deceit

• a series of lies and deceits.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, past participle (used as a noun) of deceveir ‘deceive.’

deceitful /dəˈsētfəl/

I. adjective

guilty of or involving deceit; deceiving or misleading others

• such an act would have been deceitful and irresponsible.

II. derivatives

1. deceitfully /dəˈsētfəlē /

adverb

2. deceitfulness /dəˈsētfəlnəs /

noun

deceive /dəˈsēv/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a person) cause (someone) to believe something that is not true, typically in order to gain some personal advantage

• I didn't intend to deceive people into thinking it was French champagne.

2. (of a thing) give a mistaken impression

• the area may seem to offer nothing of interest, but don't be deceived

• [no obj.] everything about him was intended to deceive.

3. (deceive oneself) — fail to admit to oneself that something is true

• enabling the rulers to deceive themselves about the nature of their own rule.

4. be sexually unfaithful to (one's regular partner).

II. derivatives

1. deceivable /dəˈsēvəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. deceiver /dəˈsēvər /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French deceivre, from Latin decipere ‘catch, ensnare, cheat.’

decelerate /dēˈseləˌrāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a vehicle, machine, or process) reduce speed; slow down

• international growth rates decelerated in the early 1970s.

2. [with obj.] — cause to move more slowly

• gravity decelerates the cosmic expansion.

II. derivatives

1. decelerator /-ˌrātər /

noun

2. decelerometer /-ˌseləˈrämitər /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: from de- (expressing removal) + a shortened form of accelerate.

deceleration /dēˌseləˈrāSH(ə)n/

noun

reduction in speed or rate

• speed brakes enable the aircraft to carry out rapid deceleration

• a deceleration in economic growth.

December /dəˈsembər/

I. noun

the twelfth month of the year, in the northern hemisphere usually considered the first month of winter

• the fuel shortage worsened during December

• [as modifier] a December day.

– origin Middle English: from Latin, from decem ‘ten’ (being originally the tenth month of the Roman year).

Decembrist /dəˈsembrəst/

noun

a member of a group of Russian revolutionaries who in December 1825 led an unsuccessful revolt against Tsar Nicholas I. The leaders were executed and later came to be regarded as martyrs by the Left.

decency /ˈdēsənsē/

noun

1. behavior that conforms to accepted standards of morality or respectability

• she had the decency to come and confess.

2. modesty and propriety

• a loose dress, rather too low-cut for decency.

3. (decencies) — the requirements of accepted or respectable behavior

• an appeal to common decencies.

4. (decencies) — things required for a reasonable standard of life

• I can't afford any of the decencies of life.

decennial /dəˈsenēəl/

I. adjective

1. recurring every ten years

• the decennial census.

2. lasting for or relating to a period of ten years

• decennial insurance.

II. derivatives

decennially /dəˈsenēəlē /

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin decennium ‘a decade,’ from decennis ‘of ten years’ (from decem ‘ten’ + annus ‘year’), + -al.

decennium /dəˈsenēəm/

I. noun

a decade.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin, from decem ‘ten’ + annus ‘year.’

decent /ˈdēs(ə)nt/

I. adjective

1. conforming with generally accepted standards of respectable or moral behavior

• the good name of such a decent and innocent person.

2. appropriate; fitting

• they would meet again after a decent interval.

3. not likely to shock or embarrass others

• a decent high-necked dress.

4. ‹informal› sufficiently clothed to see visitors

• make yourself decent.

5. [attrib.] — of an acceptable standard; satisfactory

• find me a decent cup of coffee

• people need decent homes.

6. good

• the deer are small: a 14-inch spread is a pretty decent buck.

7. kind, obliging, or generous

• that was pretty awfully decent of him.

II. phrases

do the decent thing

take the most honorable or appropriate course of action, even if is not necessarily in one's own interests

• after his defeat, he should do the decent thing and step down.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘suitable, appropriate’): from Latin decent- ‘being fitting,’ from the verb decere.

decenter /ˌdēˈsen(t)ər / ‹Brit.› decentre

verb — [with obj.]

1. displace from the center or from a central position.

2. remove or displace (the individual human subject, such as the author of a text) from a primary place or central role
(as noun decentering)

• the egocentric infant develops by a progressive decentering.

decently /ˈdēsən(t)lē/

adverb

1. in a way that conforms with generally accepted standards of respectable or moral behavior

• parents can teach their children how to behave decently

• customers were treated decently.

2. to a fair and appropriate degree; fittingly

• they would like to be decently paid for the work they do

• a decently priced restaurant.

3. in a manner that is not likely to shock or embarrass others

• she must dress decently and not flash too much flesh.

4. to an acceptable or comfortable standard; satisfactorily

• the chances of getting enough cash to live decently are poor

• the interior is decently furnished.

5. fairly well

• he batted decently but not spectacularly

• the thriller was decently received by reviewers.

decentralization /ˌdēˌsentrələˈzāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the transfer of authority from central to local government

• efforts to promote decentralization and reform of the national political party

• [as modifier] the government's decentralization program.

2. the movement of departments of a large organization away from a single administrative center to other locations

• the decentralization of business services.

decentralize /dēˈsentrəˌlīz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. decentralized)

1. transfer (authority) from central to local government

• Canada has one of the most decentralized governments in the world

• [no obj.] European countries were trying to decentralize.

2. move departments of (a large organization) away from a single administrative center to other locations, usually granting them some degree of autonomy.

II. derivatives

decentralist /-list /

noun, adjective

deception /dəˈsepSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action of deceiving someone

• obtaining property by deception.

2. a thing that deceives

• a range of elaborate deceptions.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin deceptio(n-), from decipere ‘deceive.’

deceptive /dəˈseptiv/

I. adjective

giving an appearance or impression different from the true one; misleading

• he put the question with deceptive casualness.

II. derivatives

deceptiveness /dəˈseptivnəs /

noun

deceptively /dəˈseptəvlē/

I. adverb — [usu. as submodifier]

1. in a way or to an extent that gives a misleading impression.

2. to a lesser extent than appears the case

• the idea was deceptively simple.

3. to a greater extent than appears the case

• the airy and deceptively spacious lounge.

usage: Deceptively belongs to a very small set of words whose meaning is genuinely ambiguous in that it can be used in similar contexts to mean both one thing and also its complete opposite. A deceptively smooth surface is one that appears smooth but in fact is not smooth at all, while a deceptively spacious room is one that does not look spacious but is in fact more spacious than it appears. But what is a deceptively steep gradient? Or a person who is described as deceptively strong? To avoid confusion, use with caution (or not at all), unless the context makes clear in what way the thing modified is not what it first appears to be.

decerebrate /dēˈserəˌbrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. decerebrated)

1. [Biology] remove the cerebrum from (a laboratory animal).

II. derivatives

decerebration /-ˌserəˈbrāSHən /

noun

decertify /dēˈsərdəˌfī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove a certificate or certification from (someone or something), typically for failure to comply with a regulating authority's rules or standards.

II. derivatives

decertification /-ˌsərtəfiˈkāSHən /

noun

dechristianization /dēˌkrisCHənəˈzāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

the action or process or removing Christian influences or characteristics from something

• the dechristianization of modern society.

II. derivatives

dechristianize /-ˈkrisCHəˌnīz /

verb

deci- /ˈdesi-/

I. combining form

(used commonly in units of measurement) one tenth

• deciliter.

– origin from Latin decimus ‘tenth.’

decibel /ˈdesəˌbel ˈdesəˌbəl / dB

I. noun

1. a unit used to measure the intensity of a sound or the power level of an electrical signal by comparing it with a given level on a logarithmic scale.

2. (in general use) a degree of loudness

• his voice went up several decibels.

– origin early 20th cent.: from deci- ‘ten’ + bel (the unit being one tenth of a bel).

decide /dəˈsīd/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. come to a resolution in the mind as a result of consideration
[with infinitive]

• they decided to appoint someone else

• [with clause] you've decided that a hedge is what you want.

2. [with obj.] — cause to come to a resolution

• this business about the letter decided me.

3. make a choice from a number of alternatives

• she had decided on her plan of action

• I've decided against having children.

4. give a judgment concerning a matter or legal case

• the courts decided in favor of the New York claimants

• [with obj.] the judge will decide the case.

5. [with obj.] — come to a decision about (something)

• we must decide the fates of the people who headed the coup.

6. [with obj.] — resolve or settle (a question or contest)

• an exciting game was decided in a sudden-death overtime.

II. derivatives

1. decidable /dəˈsīdəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. decider /dəˈsīdər dēˈsīdər /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘bring to a settlement’): from French décider, from Latin decidere ‘determine,’ from de- ‘off’ + caedere ‘cut.’

decided /dəˈsīdəd/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of a quality) definite; unquestionable

• the sunshine is a decided improvement.

2. (of a person) having clear opinions; resolute.

3. [attrib.] — (of a legal case) that has been resolved.

II. derivatives

decidedness

noun

decidedly /dəˈsīdədlē/

adverb

1. [usu. as submodifier] — undoubtedly; undeniably

• he looked decidedly uncomfortable.

2. in a decisive and confident way

• “No,” Donna said decidedly.

deciding /diˈsīdiNG/

adjective

serving to resolve or settle something

• quality service is often the deciding factor for customers.

decidua /dəˈsijəwə/

I. noun

[Physiology] the thick layer of modified mucous membrane that lines the uterus during pregnancy and is shed with the afterbirth.

II. derivatives

decidual /dəˈsijo͞oəl /

adjective

– origin late 18th cent.: from modern Latin decidua (membrana), literally ‘falling off (membrane).’

deciduous /diˈsijo͞oəs/

I. adjective

1. (of a tree or shrub) shedding its leaves annually.
Often contrasted with evergreen.

2. ‹informal› (of a tree or shrub) broadleaved.

3. denoting the milk teeth of a mammal, which are shed after a time.

II. derivatives

1. deciduously

adverb

2. deciduousness

noun

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin deciduus (from decidere ‘fall down or off’) + -ous.

decile /ˈdeˌsīl/

I. noun

1. [Statistics] each of ten equal groups into which a population can be divided according to the distribution of values of a particular variable

• the lowest income decile of the population.

2. [Statistics] each of the nine values of the random variable that divide a population into ten such groups.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French décile, from a medieval Latin derivative of Latin decem ‘ten.’

deciliter /ˈdesəˌlēdər / ‹Brit.› decilitre, dl

noun

a metric unit of capacity, equal to one tenth of a liter.

decimal /ˈdes(ə)məl/

I. adjective

1. relating to or denoting a system of numbers and arithmetic based on the number ten, tenth parts, and powers of ten

• decimal arithmetic.

2. relating to or denoting a system of currency, weights and measures, or other units in which the smaller units are related to the principal units as powers of ten

• decimal coinage.

II. noun

1. a fraction whose denominator is a power of ten and whose numerator is expressed by figures placed to the right of a decimal point.

2. the system of decimal numerical notation.

III. derivatives

decimally

adverb

– origin early 17th cent.: from modern Latin decimalis (adjective), from Latin decimus ‘tenth.’

decimalize /ˈdesəməˌlīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. convert (a system of coinage or weights and measures) to a decimal system.

II. derivatives

decimalization /ˌdes(ə)mələˈzāSHən ˌdes(ə)məlˌīˈzāSHən /

noun

decimal place

noun

the position of a digit to the right of a decimal point.

decimal point

noun

a dot placed after the figure representing units in a decimal fraction.

decimate /ˈdesəˌmāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. kill, destroy, or remove a large percentage or part of

• the project would decimate the fragile wetland wilderness

• the American chestnut, a species decimated by blight.

2. drastically reduce the strength or effectiveness of (something)

• plant viruses that can decimate yields.

3. ‹historical› kill one in every ten of (a group of soldiers or others) as a punishment for the whole group.

II. derivatives

decimator /-ˌmātər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin decimat- ‘taken as a tenth,’ from the verb decimare, from decimus ‘tenth.’ In Middle English the term decimation denoted the levying of a tithe, and later the tax imposed in England by Cromwell on the Royalists (1655). The verb decimate originally alluded to the Roman punishment of executing one man in ten of a mutinous legion. / usage: Historically, the meaning of the word decimate is ‘kill one in every ten of (a group of people).’ This sense has been superseded by the later, more general sense ‘kill or destroy a large percentage or part of,’ as in the virus has decimated the population. Some traditionalists argue that this and other later senses are incorrect, but it is clear that these extended senses are now part of standard English. It is sometimes also argued that decimate should refer to people and not to things or animals such as weeds or insects. It is generally agreed that decimate should not be used to mean ‘defeat utterly.’

decimation /ˌdesəˈmāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the killing or destruction of a large proportion of a group or species

• our growing hunger for fish has resulted in the decimation of fish stocks

• the decimation of our rainforests.

2. a drastic reduction in the strength or effectiveness of something

• we need to halt the decimation of this country's manufacturing base

• economic and financial decimation from two world wars.

3. ‹historical› the killing of one in every ten of a group of people as a punishment for the whole group (originally with reference to a mutinous Roman legion).

decimeter /ˈdesəˌmēdər / ‹Brit.› decimetre, dm

I. noun

a metric unit of length, equal to one tenth of a meter.

II. derivatives

decimetric /ˌdesəˈmetrik /

adjective

decipher /dəˈsīfər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. convert (a text written in code, or a coded signal) into normal language

• enable the government to decipher coded computer transmissions.

2. succeed in understanding, interpreting, or identifying (something)

• an expression she could not decipher came and went upon his face.

II. derivatives

1. decipherable /dəˈsīf(ə)rəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. decipherment /dəˈsīfərmənt /

noun

– origin early 16th cent.: from de- (expressing reversal) + cipher, on the pattern of French déchiffrer.

decision /dəˈsiZHən/

I. noun

1. a conclusion or resolution reached after consideration

• I'll make the decision on my own

• the editor's decision is final.

2. the action or process of deciding something or of resolving a question

• the information was used as the basis for decision.

3. a formal judgment

• last year's Supreme Court decision.

4. the ability or tendency to make decisions quickly; decisiveness

• she was a woman of decision.

5. [Boxing] the awarding of a fight, in the absence of a knockout or technical knockout, to the boxer with the most rounds won or with the most points.

6. [Baseball] a win or a loss assigned to a pitcher.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin decisio(n-), from decidere ‘determine’ (see decide).

decision-maker

noun

a person who makes important decisions

• she is one of the key decision-makers within the department on energy issues.

decision-making /dəˈsiZHənˌmākiNG/

noun

the action or process of making decisions, especially important ones

• the system encourages workers' participation in corporate decision-making.

decision problem

I. noun

[Logic] the problem of finding a way to decide whether a formula or class of formulas is true or provable within a given system of axioms.

– origin 1930s: translating German Entscheidungsproblem.

decision support system DSS

noun

[Computing] a set of related computer programs and the data required to assist with analysis and decision-making within an organization.

decision theory

noun

the mathematical study of strategies for optimal decision-making between options involving different risks or expectations of gain or loss depending on the outcome.
Compare with game theory.

decisive /dəˈsīsiv/

I. adjective

1. settling an issue; producing a definite result

• the Supreme Court voided the statute by a decisive 7–2 vote

• decisive evidence.

2. (of a person) having or showing the ability to make decisions quickly and effectively.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French décisif, -ive, from medieval Latin decisivus, from decis- ‘determined,’ from the verb decidere (see decide).

decisively /dəˈsīsəvlē/

adverb

1. in a manner that settles an issue convincingly or produces a definite result

• I want the person who wins the election to win decisively

• samples from his body proved decisively that he was poisoned.

2. in a way that shows the ability to make decisions quickly and effectively

• the government will act decisively against all extremist activities

• we must respond decisively to protect our national interests.

decisiveness /dəˈsīsəvnəs/

noun

1. the ability to make decisions quickly and effectively

• the crisis will require leadership and decisiveness to resolve it

• he criticized the government for its lack of decisiveness.

2. the conclusive nature of an issue that has been settled or a result that has been produced

• there was no doubting the decisiveness of his victory

• the decisiveness of the policy.

Decius /ˈdēSH(ē)əs/

(c. 201–251), Roman emperor 249–251; full name Gaius Messius Quintus Trajanus Decius. He was the first Roman emperor to promote systematic persecution of the Christians.

deck /dek/

I. noun

1. a structure of planks or plates, approximately horizontal, extending across a ship or boat at any of various levels, especially one of those at the highest level and open to the weather

• he stood on the deck of his flagship.

2. a floor or platform resembling or compared to a ship's deck, especially the floor of a pier or a platform for sunbathing.

3. a platformlike structure, typically made of lumber and unroofed, attached to a house or other building

• they cooked hamburgers on the deck adjoining the living room.

4. a level of a large, open building, especially a sports stadium

• Jeter hit an enormous home run into the upper deck.

5. (the deck) — ‹informal› the ground or floor

• there was a big thud when I hit the deck.

6. the flat part of a skateboard or snowboard.

7. a component or unit in sound-reproduction equipment that incorporates a playing or recording mechanism for discs or tapes

• the car has cruise control and a tape deck.

8. (decks) — another term for turntables:

• every serious DJ needs a set of decks.

9. (chiefly N. Amer.) a pack of cards

• shuffle the deck.

10. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a packet of narcotics.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (usu. be decked) — decorate or adorn brightly or festively

• Ingrid was decked out in her Sunday best.

2. ‹informal› knock (someone) to the ground with a punch.

III. phrases

1. clear the decks

see clear.

2. not playing with a full deck

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› mentally deficient.

3. on deck

a. on or onto a ship's main deck

• she stood on deck for hours.

b. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› ready for action or work.

c. [Baseball] next to hit in the batting order.

– origin late Middle English: from Middle Dutch dec ‘covering, roof, cloak,’ dekken ‘to cover.’ Originally denoting canvas used to make a covering (especially on a ship), the term came to mean the covering itself, later denoting a solid surface serving as roof and floor.

deck chair /ˈdek CHer/

noun

a folding chair of wood and canvas, typically used near the sea or on the deck of passenger ships.

decked /dekt/

adjective

1. (of a vessel, vehicle, or other structure) having a number of floors or decks

• a decked parking garage

• [in combination] a two-decked ship.

2. (of a garden or other area attached to a house) having a lumber platform or terrace

• the master bedroom leads on to a decked balcony

• a decked patio.

-decker

combining form

having a specified number of decks or layers

• double-decker.

deckhand /ˈdekˌhand/

noun

a member of a ship's crew whose duties include maintenance of hull, decks, and superstructure and mooring and cargo handling.

deckhouse /ˈdekˌhous/

noun

a superstructure on the deck of a ship or boat, used primarily to house equipment or for storage, or (formerly) for accommodations.

decking /ˈdekiNG/

noun

1. the material of the deck of a ship.

2. the material of a lumber platform or terrace attached to a house or other building.

deckle /ˈdekəl/

I. noun

1. a device in a papermaking machine for limiting the size of the sheet, consisting of a continuous belt on either side of the wire.

2. a frame on the mold used to shape the pulp when making paper by hand.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from German Deckel, diminutive of Decke ‘covering.’

deckle edge

I. noun

the rough uncut edge of a sheet of paper, formed by a deckle.

II. derivatives

deckle-edged /ˈdekəl ˈˌejd /

adjective

deck officer

noun

an officer in charge of the above-deck workings and maneuvers at sea of a ship or boat.

deck passenger

noun

a passenger on a ship who does not have a cabin.

deck shoe

noun

another term for boat shoe.

declaim /dəˈklām/

I. verb — [reporting verb]

1. utter or deliver words or a speech in a rhetorical or impassioned way, as if to an audience
[with obj.]

• she declaimed her views

• [no obj.] a preacher declaiming from the pulpit.

2. [no obj.] (declaim against) — forcefully protest against or criticize (something).

II. derivatives

1. declaimer

noun

2. declamatory /dəˈklaməˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from French déclamer or Latin declamare, from de- (expressing thoroughness) + clamare ‘to shout.’

declamation /ˌdekləˈmāSHən/

I. noun

1. the action or art of declaiming

• Shakespearean declamation

• declamations of patriotism.

2. a rhetorical exercise or set speech.

3. forthright or distinct projection of words set to music

• a soprano soloist with wonderfully clear declamation.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘a set speech’): from Latin declamatio(n-), from the verb declamare (see declaim).

declarant /dəˈklerənt / ‹chiefly Law›

I. noun

1. a person or party who makes a formal declaration.

2. an alien who has signed a declaration of intent to become a US citizen.

II. adjective

making or having made a formal declaration.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French déclarant, present participle of déclarer, from Latin declarare ‘make quite clear’ (see declare).

declaration /ˌdekləˈrāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a formal or explicit statement or announcement

• they issued a declaration at the close of the talks

• declarations of love.

2. the formal announcement of the beginning of a state or condition

• the declaration of war

• a declaration of independence.

3. a listing of goods, property, income, etc., subject to duty or tax.

4. a written public announcement of intentions or of the terms of an agreement.

5. [Law] a plaintiff's statement of claims in proceedings.

6. [Law] an affirmation made instead of taking an oath.

7. the naming of trump in bridge, whist, or a similar card game.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin declaratio(n-), from declarare ‘make quite clear’ (see declare).

Declaration of Independence

a document declaring the US to be independent of the British Crown, signed by the congressional representatives of the Thirteen Colonies, including Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams, and ratified on July 4, 1776.

declarative /dəˈklerədiv/

I. adjective

1. of the nature of or making a declaration

• declarative statements.

2. [Grammar] (of a sentence or phrase) taking the form of a simple statement.

3. [Computing] denoting high-level programming languages that can be used to solve problems without requiring the programmer to specify an exact procedure to be followed.

II. noun

1. a statement in the form of a declaration.

2. [Grammar] a declarative sentence or phrase.

III. derivatives

declaratively

adverb

declare /diˈkler/

I. verb

1. [reporting verb] — say something in a solemn and emphatic manner
[with clause]

• he declared that he never revises his prose

• [with direct speech] “I was under too much pressure,” he declared.

2. [with obj.] — formally announce the beginning of (a state or condition)

• Spain declared war on Britain in 1796.

3. [with obj. and complement] — pronounce or assert (a person or thing) to be something specified

• the mansion was declared a fire hazard.

4. [no obj.] (declare for/against) — openly align oneself for or against (a party or position) in a dispute

• Mr. Roosevelt had declared for “a new deal.”

5. [no obj.] — announce oneself as a candidate for an election

• he declared last April.

6. (declare oneself) — reveal one's intentions or identity.

7. (declare oneself) — ‹archaic› express feelings of love to someone

• she waited in vain for him to declare himself.

8. [with obj.] — acknowledge possession of (taxable income or dutiable goods).

9. [with obj.] — announce that one holds (certain combinations of cards) in a card game.

II. phrases

well, I declare (or I do declare)

an exclamation of incredulity, surprise, or vexation.

III. derivatives

1. declarable /dəˈklerəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. declaratory /dəˈklerəˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Latin declarare, from de- ‘thoroughly’ + clarare ‘make clear’ (from clarus ‘clear’).

declared /dəˈklerd/

I. adjective

1. openly or formally asserted or announced

• despite the company's declared good intentions, some remained skeptical

• he has no declared conflict of interest

• there is only one declared winner

• they are both declared atheists.

2. (of taxable income or dutiable goods) acknowledged as being in one's possession

• his declared income is $60,000

• declared goods are free from VAT.

II. derivatives

declaredly /dəˈklerədlē /

adverb

declarer /dəˈklerər/

noun

[Bridge] the player whose bid establishes the suit of the contract and who must therefore play both their own hand and the exposed hand of the dummy.

declass /dēˈklas/

verb — [with obj.] (usu. be declassed)

1. demote (someone) from their original social class to a lower one.

déclassé /ˌdākläˈsā / déclassée

I. adjective

having fallen in social status

• his parents were poor and déclassé.

– origin late 19th cent.: French, ‘removed from one's class, degraded,’ past participle of déclasser.

declassify /dēˈklasəˌfī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. officially declare (information or documents) to be no longer secret

• government documents were declassified.

II. derivatives

declassification /ˌdēˌklasəfəˈkāSH(ə)n /

noun

declaw /dēˈklô/

verb — [with obj.]

1. remove the claws from.

2. make harmless or less threatening

• the Grimms' fairy tales were declawed beyond recognition.

declension /dəˈklen(t)SH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. (in the grammar of Latin, Greek, and other languages) the variation of the form of a noun, pronoun, or adjective, by which its grammatical case, number, and gender are identified.

2. the class to which a noun or adjective is assigned according to the manner of this variation.

3. ‹literary› a condition of decline or moral deterioration

• the declension of the new generation.

II. derivatives

declensional /-SHənl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English declinson, from Old French declinaison, from decliner ‘to decline.’ The change in the ending was probably due to association with words such as ascension.

de Clerambault's syndrome /də ˌklerəmˈbōz ˌsindrōm/

I. noun

[Psychiatry] another term for erotomania.

– origin from the name of French psychiatrist Gatin de Clérambault (1872–1934), who first described it.

declination /ˌdekləˈnāSHən/

I. noun

1. [Astronomy] the angular distance of a point north or south of the celestial equator.
Compare with right ascension and celestial latitude.

2. the angular deviation of a compass needle from true north (because the magnetic north pole and the geographic north pole do not coincide).

3. (US) formal refusal

• in the face of this declination of the proposition.

II. derivatives

declinational /-SHənl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin declinatio(n-), from the verb declinare (see decline).

declination axis

noun

[Astronomy] the axis of an equatorially mounted telescope that is at right angles to the polar axis, about which the telescope is turned in order to view points at different declinations but at a constant right ascension.

decline /dəˈklīn/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — (typically of something regarded as good) become smaller, fewer, or less; decrease

• the birth rate continued to decline.

2. diminish in strength or quality; deteriorate

• her health began to decline

• (as adj. declining) the victims of declining educational standards.

3. [with obj.] — politely refuse (an invitation or offer)

• Caroline declined the coffee.

4. [with infinitive] — politely refuse to do something

• the company declined to comment.

5. [no obj.] — (especially of the sun) move downward.

6. ‹archaic› bend down; droop.

7. [with obj.] — (in the grammar of Latin, Greek, and certain other languages) state the forms of (a noun, pronoun, or adjective) corresponding to cases, number, and gender.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. a gradual and continuous loss of strength, numbers, quality, or value

• a serious decline in bird numbers

• a civilization in decline.

2. ‹archaic› the gradual setting of the sun.

3. ‹archaic› any disease in which bodily strength gradually fails, especially tuberculosis.

III. derivatives

1. declinable /dəˈklīnəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. decliner

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French decliner, from Latin declinare ‘bend down, turn aside,’ from de- ‘down’ + clinare ‘to bend.’

declining years

plural noun

1. a person's old age, especially when regarded as the time when health, vigor, and mental faculties deteriorate.

2. the period leading up to the end of an enterprise or institution

• the declining years of the Austro-Hungarian empire.

declinism /dəˈklīˌnizəm/

noun

the belief that a particular country, society, or institution is in a state of significant and possibly irreversible decline

• polls showed a rise in declinism after Nixon's devaluation of the dollar.

declinist /dəˈklīnəst/

I. noun

a person who believes that a particular country, society, or institution is in a state of significant and possibly irreversible decline

• declinists tend to emphasize a more pessimistic view of the future of American power.

II. adjective

characterized by or holding the belief that a country, society, or institution is in decline

• the declinist point of view

• declinist authors.

declivity /dəˈklivədē/

I. noun

a downward slope

• a thickly wooded declivity.

II. derivatives

declivitous /dəˈklivədəs /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin declivitas, from declivis ‘sloping down,’ from de- ‘down’ + clivus ‘a slope.’

declutter /ˈdēklətər/

verb — [with obj.]

1. remove unnecessary items from (an untidy or overcrowded place)

• there's no better time to declutter your home.

deco /ˈdekō/

noun

1. short for art deco.

2. (in scuba diving) short for decompression.

decoct /dəˈkäkt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› extract the essence from (something) by heating or boiling it.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘cook, heat up’): from Latin decoct- ‘boiled down,’ from the verb decoquere, from de- ‘down’ + coquere ‘cook.’

decoction /dəˈkäkSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the liquor resulting from concentrating the essence of a substance by heating or boiling, especially a medicinal preparation made from a plant

• a decoction of a root.

2. the action or process of extracting the essence of something.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin decoctio(n-), from decoquere ‘boil down’ (see decoct).

decode /dēˈkōd/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. convert (a coded message) into intelligible language.

2. analyze and interpret (a verbal or nonverbal communication or image)

• a handbook to help parents decode street language.

3. convert (audio or video signals) into another form, e.g., to analog from digital in sound reproduction

• processors used to decode CD-quality digital audio signals.

II. noun

‹informal› a translation of a coded message.

III. derivatives

decodable

adjective

decoder /ˌdēˈkōdər diˈkōdər/

noun

a device capable of converting audio or video signals into a different form, for example from digital to analog

• a phone with an integrated digital TV decoder.

decollate^1 /dəˈkäˌlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› behead (someone).

II. derivatives

decollation /ˌdekəˈlāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin decollat- ‘beheaded,’ from the verb decollare, from de- (expressing removal) + collum ‘neck.’

decollate^2 /ˈdekəˌlāt ˈdēkəˌlāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. separate sheets of paper, such as multi-ply computer paper, into different piles.

II. derivatives

1. decollation /ˌdekəˈlāSH(ə)n ˌdēkəˈlāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. decollator /-ˌlātər /

noun

– origin 1960s: from de- ‘away from’ + collate.

décolletage /dāˌkäləˈtäZH deˌkäləˈtäZH/

I. noun

1. a low neckline on a woman's dress or top.

2. a woman's cleavage as revealed by a low neckline.

– origin late 19th cent.: French, from décolleter ‘expose the neck,’ from dé- (expressing removal) + collet ‘collar of a dress.’

décolleté /dāˌkäləˈtā/

I. adjective

(of a woman's dress or top) having a low neckline.

II. noun

a low neckline on a woman's dress or top.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, past participle of décolleter ‘expose the neck.’

decolonize /dēˈkäləˌnīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a country) withdraw from (a colony), leaving it independent

• they must decolonize French Polynesia.

II. derivatives

decolonization /dēˌkälənəˈzāSH(ə)n dēˌkäləˌnīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

decolorize /dēˈkələˌrīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove the color from

• ethane decolorizes bromine water.

II. derivatives

decolorization /ˌdēˌkələrəˈzāSH(ə)n ˌdēˌkələˌrīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

decommission /ˌdēkəˈmiSHən/

verb — [with obj.]

1. withdraw (someone or something) from service, in particular

2. make (a nuclear reactor or weapon) inoperative, and dismantle and decontaminate it to make it safe.

3. take (a ship) out of service.

decommunize /dēˈkämyəˌnīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove the features or influence of communism from.

II. derivatives

decommunization /-ˌkämyəˌnəˈzāSHən /

noun

decompensation /dēˌkämpənˈsāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. [Medicine] the failure of an organ (especially the liver or heart) to compensate for the functional overload resulting from disease.

2. [Medicine] [Psychiatry] the failure to generate effective psychological coping mechanisms in response to stress, resulting in personality disturbance or disintegration, especially that which causes relapse in schizophrenia.

II. derivatives

decompensated /-ˈkämpənˌsātid /

adjective

decompile /ˌdēkəmˈpīl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Computing] produce source code from (compiled code).

II. derivatives

1. decompilation /dēˌkämpəˈlāSHən, ˌdēkäm- /

noun

2. decompiler

noun

decompose /ˌdēkəmˈpōz/

I. verb

1. (with reference to a dead body or other organic matter) make or become rotten; decay or cause to decay
[no obj.]

• leaves stuffed in plastic bags do not decompose

• (as adj. decomposed) the body was badly decomposed

• [with obj.] dead plant matter can be completely decomposed by microorganisms.

2. (with reference to a chemical compound) break down or cause to break down into component elements or simpler constituents
[no obj.]

• many chemicals decompose rapidly under high temperature.

II. derivatives

decomposable /ˌdēkəmˈpōzəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin mid 18th cent. (in the sense ‘separate into simpler constituents’): from French décomposer, from de- (expressing reversal) + composer.

decomposer /ˌdēkəmˈpōzər/

noun

1. an organism, especially a soil bacterium, fungus, or invertebrate, that decomposes organic material.

2. a device or installation that is used to break down a chemical substance.

decomposition /dēˌkämpəˈziSH(ə)n/

noun

the state or process of rotting; decay

• the decomposition of organic waste.

decompress /ˌdēkəmˈpres/

verb

1. [with obj.] — relieve of compressing forces, in particular

2. expand (compressed data) to its normal size so that it can be read and processed by a computer.

3. subject (a diver) to decompression.

4. [no obj.] — (N. Amer.) ‹informal› calm down and relax

• Michael sits for a minute to decompress before walking home.

decompression /ˌdēkəmˈpreSH(ə)n/

noun

1. a release of compressing forces, in particular

2. reduction in air pressure

• decompression of the aircraft cabin.

3. a gradual reduction of air pressure on a person who has been experiencing high pressure while diving, in order to prevent decompression sickness.

4. the process of expanding computer data to its normal size so that it can be read by a computer.

5. a surgical procedure that relieves excessive pressure on an internal part of the body such as the cranium or spinal cord.

decompression chamber /ˈˌdēkəmˈpreSHən ˈCHāmbər/

noun

a small room in which the air pressure can be varied, used chiefly to allow deep-sea divers to adjust gradually to normal air pressure.

decompression sickness /ˈˌdēkəmˈpreSHən ˈsiknis/

noun

a condition that results when sudden decompression causes nitrogen bubbles to form in the tissues of the body. It is suffered particularly by divers (who often call it the bends), and can cause pain in the muscles and joints, cramps, numbness, nausea, and paralysis.
Also called caisson disease.

decompressor /ˌdēkəmˈpresər/

noun

1. an instrument or device for decompressing something.

2. a computer program that decompresses data by digitally expanding it to its original size and form.

decondition /ˌdēkənˈdiSHən/

verb — [with obj.]

1. (usu. as adj. deconditioned) — cause to lose fitness or muscle tone, especially through lack of exercise

• deconditioned muscles.

2. (usu. as noun deconditioning) — [Psychiatry] reform or reverse (previously conditioned behavior), especially in the treatment of phobia and other anxiety disorders in which the fear response to certain stimuli is brought under control.
Compare with counterconditioning.

3. ‹informal› persuade (someone) to abandon a habitual mode of thinking.

deconflict /ˌdēkənˈflikt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Military] reduce the risk of collision between (aircraft, airborne weaponry, etc.) in an area by coordinating their movements.

II. derivatives

deconfliction

noun

decongest /ˌdēkənˈjest/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. relieve the congestion of (something).

II. derivatives

decongestion /ˌdēk(ə)nˈjesCH(ə)n /

noun

decongestant /ˌdēkənˈjestənt/

I. adjective

(chiefly of a medicine) used to relieve nasal congestion.

II. noun

a decongestant medicine.

deconsecrate /dēˈkänsəˌkrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be deconsecrated)

1. transfer (a building) from sacred to secular use

• the church was deconsecrated in the early nineteenth century.

II. derivatives

deconsecration /ˌdēkänsəˈkrāSH(ə)n /

noun

deconstruct /ˌdēkənˈstrəkt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. analyze (a text or a linguistic or conceptual system) by deconstruction, typically in order to expose its hidden internal assumptions and contradictions and subvert its apparent significance or unity.

2. reduce (something) to its constituent parts in order to reinterpret it

• do we need to deconstruct all the institutions that we've created in order to improve them?

II. derivatives

deconstructive /-tiv /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: back-formation from deconstruction.

deconstruction /ˌdēkənˈstrəkSHən/

I. noun

a method of critical analysis of philosophical and literary language that emphasizes the internal workings of language and conceptual systems, the relational quality of meaning, and the assumptions implicit in forms of expression.
Deconstruction focuses on a text as such rather than as an expression of the author's intention, stressing the limitlessness (or impossibility) of interpretation and rejecting the Western philosophical tradition of seeking certainty through reasoning by privileging certain types of interpretation and repressing others. It was effectively named and popularized by the French philosopher Jacques Derrida from the late 1960s and taken up particularly by US literary critics.

II. derivatives

1. deconstructionism /-ˌnizəm /

noun

2. deconstructionist /ˌdēk(ə)nˈstrəkSH(ə)nəst /

adjective, noun

– origin late 19th cent. (originally in the general sense ‘taking to pieces’): from de- (expressing reversal) + construction.

decontaminate /ˌdēkənˈtaməˌnāt/

verb — [with obj.]

1. neutralize or remove dangerous substances, radioactivity, or germs from (an area, object, or person)

• they tried to decontaminate nearby villages.

decontamination /ˌdēkənˌtaməˈnāSH(ə)n/

noun

the neutralization or removal of dangerous substances, radioactivity, or germs from an area, object, or person

• procedures to ensure decontamination of medical equipment

• [as modifier] a decontamination chamber.

decontextualized /ˌdēkənˈteksCH(əw)əˌlīzd/

I. adjective

considered in isolation from its context

• coffee-table photo books with their beautiful but decontextualized photographs.

II. derivatives

1. decontextualization /-ˌteksCHo͞oələˈzāSHən /

noun

2. decontextualize

verb

decontrol /ˌdēkənˈtrōl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. release (a commodity, market, etc.) from controls or restrictions

• whether gas prices should be totally decontrolled.

II. noun

the action of decontrolling something.

deconvolution /dēˌkänvəˈlo͞oSHən/

noun

1. a process of resolving something into its constituent elements or removing complication in order to clarify it

• the editor helped in the deconvolution of phrase and thought.

2. [Mathematics] the resolution of a convolution function into the functions from which it was formed in order to separate their effects.

3. (also deconvolution analysis) — the improvement of resolution of images or other data by a mathematical algorithm designed to separate the information from artifacts that result from the method of collecting it.

decor /dāˈkôr/

I. noun

1. the furnishing and decoration of a room.

2. the decoration and scenery of a stage.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French décor, from the verb décorer, from Latin decorare ‘embellish’ (see decorate).

decorate /ˈdekəˌrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (something) look more attractive by adding extra items or images to it.

2. provide (a room or building) with a color scheme, paint, wallpaper, etc.

• the five bedrooms are individually decorated.

3. confer an award or medal on (a member of the armed forces)

• he was decorated for outstanding bravery.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘to grace or honor’): from Latin decoratus ‘embellished’ (past participle of decorare), from decus, decor- ‘beauty, honor, or embellishment.’

Decorated /ˈdekəˌrādəd/

adjective

denoting a stage of English Gothic church architecture typical of the 14th century (between Early English and Perpendicular), with increasing use of decoration and geometric, curvilinear, and reticulated tracery.

decoration /ˌdekəˈrāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the process or art of decorating or adorning something

• the lavish decoration of cloth with gilt.

2. ornamentation

• pearwood inlaid with floral decoration of stained woods.

3. a thing that serves as an ornament

• Christmas tree decorations.

4. paint or wallpaper applied when decorating a room

• an authority on English furniture and decoration.

5. a medal or award conferred as an honor.

Decoration Day

noun

(US) another term for Memorial Day.

decorative /ˈdek(ə)rədiv ˈdekəˌrādiv/

I. adjective

1. serving to make something look more attractive; ornamental

• the outside of the building is functional rather than decorative.

2. relating to decoration

• a decorative artist.

II. derivatives

1. decoratively /ˈdek(ə)rədivlē ˈdekəˌrādivlē /

adverb

2. decorativeness

noun

decorative arts

plural noun

the arts concerned with the production of high-quality objects that are both useful and beautiful.

decorator /ˈdekəˌrādər/

noun

1. a person who decorates, in particular

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) a person whose job is to design the interior of someone's home, by choosing colors, carpets, materials, and furnishings.

3. (chiefly Brit.) a person whose job is to decorate the interior of buildings by painting the walls and hanging wallpaper

• she became a painter and decorator.

decorous /ˈdekərəs/

I. adjective

in keeping with good taste and propriety; polite and restrained

• dancing with decorous space between partners.

II. derivatives

1. decorously /ˈdek(ə)rəslē /

adverb

2. decorousness /ˈdek(ə)rəsnəs /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘appropriate, seemly’): from Latin decorus ‘seemly’ + -ous.

decorticate /dēˈkôrdəˌkāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (often as adj. decorticated) — ‹technical› remove the bark, rind, or husk from

• decorticated peanuts.

2. subject to surgical decortication.

II. adjective

[Biology] [Psychology] of or relating to an animal that has had the cortex of the brain removed or separated.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin decorticat- ‘stripped of its bark,’ from the verb decorticare, from de- (expressing removal) + cortex, cortic- ‘bark.’

decortication /dēˌkôrdəˈkāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the removal of the outer layer or cortex from a structure, especially the lung, brain, or other organ.

2. [Medicine] the operation of removing fibrous scar tissue that prevents expansion of the lung.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin decorticatio(n-), from decorticare ‘strip of bark’ (see decorticate).

decorum /dəˈkôrəm/

I. noun

1. behavior in keeping with good taste and propriety

• you exhibit remarkable modesty and decorum.

2. etiquette

• he had no idea of funeral decorum.

3. (usu. decorums) — ‹archaic› a particular requirement of good taste and propriety.

4. ‹archaic› suitability to the requirements of a person, rank, or occasion.

– origin mid 16th cent. (as a literary term, denoting suitability of style): from Latin, neuter of the adjective decorus ‘seemly.’

decoupage /ˌdāko͞oˈpäZH/

I. noun

the art or craft of decorating objects with paper cut-outs.

– origin 1960s: French, from découper ‘cut out.’

decouple /dēˈkəpəl/

verb — [with obj.]

1. separate, disengage, or dissociate (something) from something else

• the mountings effectively decouple movements of the engine from those of the wheels.

2. make the interaction between (electrical components) so weak that there is little transfer of energy between them, especially to remove unwanted AC distortion or oscillations in circuits with a common power supply.

3. muffle the sound or shock of (a nuclear explosion) by causing it to take place in an underground cavity.

decoy

I. noun — /ˈdēˌkoi /

1. a bird or mammal, or an imitation of one, used by hunters to attract other birds or mammals
[as modifier]

• a decoy duck.

2. a person or thing used to mislead or lure an animal or person into a trap.

4. a pond from which narrow netted channels lead, into which wild ducks may be enticed for capture.

II. verb — /dəˈkoi / [with obj.]

1. lure or entice (a person or animal) away from an intended course, typically into a trap

• they would try to decoy the enemy toward the hidden group.

– origin mid 16th cent. (earlier as coy): from Dutch de kooi ‘the decoy,’ from Middle Dutch de kouw ‘the cage,’ from Latin cavea ‘cage.’ Sense 2 of the noun is from the practice of using tamed ducks to lead wild ones along channels into captivity.

decrease

I. verb — /dəˈkrēs /

1. make or become smaller or fewer in size, amount, intensity, or degree
[no obj]

• the population of the area has decreased radically

• [with obj] in some cases vitamin E has decreased cholesterol levels.

II. noun — /ˈdēˌkrēs dəˈkrēs /

1. an instance or example of becoming smaller or fewer

• a decrease in births

• the rate of decrease became greater.

III. phrases

on the decrease

becoming less common or widespread; decreasing.

IV. derivatives

decreasingly /dəˈkrēsiNGlē dēˈkrēsiNGlē /

adverb

[as submodifier]

• voters have proved decreasingly willing to support the party

– origin late Middle English: from Old French decreis (noun), decreistre (verb), based on Latin decrescere, from de- ‘down’ + crescere ‘grow.’

decree /dəˈkrē/

I. noun

1. an official order issued by a legal authority.

2. the issuing of a decree

• the king ruled by decree.

3. a judgment or decision of certain law courts.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. order (something) by decree

• the government decreed a ban on any contact with the guerrillas

• [with clause] the president decreed that the military was to be streamlined.

– origin Middle English (denoting an edict issued by an ecclesiastical council to settle a point of doctrine or discipline): from Old French decre, decret, from Latin decretum ‘something decided,’ from decernere ‘decide.’

decrement /ˈdekrəmənt/

I. noun

1. a reduction or diminution

• relaxation produces a decrement in sympathetic nervous activity.

2. an amount by which something is reduced or diminished

• the dose was reduced by 10 mg weekly decrements.

3. [Physics] the ratio of the amplitudes in successive cycles of a damped oscillation.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. [chiefly Computing] cause a discrete reduction in (a numerical quantity)

• the instruction decrements the accumulator by one.

– origin early 17th cent. (as a noun): from Latin decrementum ‘diminution,’ from the stem of decrescere ‘to decrease.’

decreolize /dēˈkrēəˌlīz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. decreolized)

1. modify (a Creole language) toward the local standard language.

II. derivatives

decreolization /-ˌkrēələˈzāSHən /

noun

decrepit /dəˈkrepət/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) elderly and infirm

• a decrepit old drunk.

2. worn out or ruined because of age or neglect

• centuries-old buildings, now decrepit and black with soot.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin decrepitus, from de- ‘down’ + crepitus, past participle of crepare ‘rattle, creak.’

decrepitate /dēˈkrəpəˌtāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹technical› (of a crystal or an inclusion of something within a crystal) disintegrate audibly when heated.

II. derivatives

decrepitation /dəˌkrepəˈtāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from de- ‘away’ + Latin crepitat- ‘crackled,’ from the verb crepitare, frequentative of crepare ‘rattle’ (see decrepit).

decrepitude /dəˈkrepəˌt(y)o͞od/

noun

the state of being decrepit

• he had passed directly from middle age into decrepitude.

decrescendo /ˌdēkrəˈSHendō/

I. noun, adverb, adjective

another term for diminuendo:
[as noun]

• the decrescendo of distant thunder

• [as adj.] a decrescendo heart murmur.

– origin early 19th cent.: Italian, literally ‘decreasing.’

decrescent /dəˈkres(ə)nt/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of the moon) waning.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin decrescent- ‘growing less,’ from the verb decrescere (see decrease).

decretal /dəˈkrēdl/

I. noun

a papal decree concerning a point of canon law.

II. adjective

of the nature of a decree.

– origin Middle English: from late Latin decretale, neuter of decretalis (adjective), from Latin decret- ‘decided,’ from the verb decernere.

Decretum /diˈkrēdəm/

I. noun

a collection of decisions and judgments in canon law.

– origin Latin, literally ‘something decreed.’

decriminalize /dēˈkrimənəlīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cease by legislation to treat (something) as illegal

• a battle to decriminalize drugs.

II. derivatives

decriminalization /ˌdēˌkrim(ə)nələˈzāSH(ə)n ˌdēˌkrim(ə)nəˌlīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

decry /dəˈkrī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. publicly denounce

• they decried human rights abuses.

II. derivatives

decrier

noun

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘decrease the value of coins by royal proclamation’): from de- ‘down’ + cry, on the pattern of French décrier ‘cry down.’

decrypt /dēˈkript/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (a coded or unclear message) intelligible

• the computer can be used to encrypt and decrypt sensitive transmissions.

II. noun

a text that has been decoded.

III. derivatives

decryption /dəˈkripSHən dēˈkripSHən /

noun

– origin 1930s: from de- (expressing reversal) + crypt as in encrypt.

decubitus /dəˈkyo͞obədəs/

I. noun

[chiefly Medicine] the posture adopted by a person who is lying down
[as modifier]

• lumbar puncture with the patient in the lateral decubitus position.

– origin late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Latin decumbere ‘lie down,’ on the pattern of words such as accubitus ‘reclining at table.’

decubitus ulcer

noun

technical term for bedsore.

decumbent /dəˈkəmbənt/

I. adjective

[Botany] (of a plant or part of a plant) lying along the ground or along a surface, with the extremity curving upward.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Latin decumbent- ‘lying down,’ from the verb decumbere, based on de- ‘down’ + a verb related to cubare ‘to lie.’

decurrent /dəˈkərənt/

I. adjective

1. [Botany] (of a fungus gill, leaf, etc.) extending down the stem below the point of attachment.

2. [Botany] (of a shrub or the crown of a tree) having several roughly equal branches.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin decurrent- ‘running down,’ from the verb decurrere.

decurved /dēˈkərvd/

adjective

[Biology] (especially of a bird's bill) curved downward.

decussate /diˈkəsāt / ‹technical›

I. verb — [reciprocal]

1. (of two or more things) cross or intersect each other to form an X

• the fibers decussate in the collar.

II. adjective

1. shaped like an X.

2. [Botany] (of leaves) arranged in opposite pairs, each pair being at right angles to the pair below.

III. derivatives

decussation /ˌdekəˈsāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent. (as a verb): from Latin decussatus, past participle of decussare ‘divide crosswise,’ from decussis (describing the figure X, i.e., the Roman numeral for the number 10), from decem ‘ten.’

dedans /dəˈdän/

I. noun

(in court tennis) an open gallery for spectators at the service side of a court.

– origin early 18th cent.: French, literally ‘inside.’

dedendum /diˈdendəm/

I. noun

[Engineering] the radial distance from the pitch circle of a cogwheel or worm wheel to the bottom of the tooth space or groove.
Compare with addendum.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Latin, ‘to be given up, surrendered.’

Dedham /ˈdedəm/

a town in eastern Massachusetts, southwest of Boston; pop. 24,630 (est. 2008).

dedicate /ˈdedəˌkāt/

I. verb — [with obj.] (often dedicate something to)

1. devote (time, effort, or oneself) to a particular task or purpose

• Joan has dedicated her life to animals.

2. devote (something) to a particular subject or purpose

• you should dedicate a telephone line to each modem you plan to install.

3. cite (a book or other artistic work) as being issued or performed in someone's honor

• the novel is dedicated to the memory of my mother.

4. formally open or unveil (a building or memorial)

• the ex-president came to dedicate a $2.6 million recreation center.

5. ceremonially assign (a church or other building) to a deity or saint

• the parish church is dedicated to St. Paul.

II. derivatives

1. dedicatee /ˌdedəkāˈtē /

noun

2. dedicator /ˈdedəˌkādər /

noun

3. dedicatory /ˈdedəkəˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘devote to sacred use by solemn rites’): from Latin dedicat- ‘devoted, consecrated,’ from the verb dedicare.

dedicated /ˈdedəˌkādəd/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) devoted to a task or purpose; having single-minded loyalty or integrity

• a team of dedicated doctors.

2. (of a thing) exclusively allocated to or intended for a particular service or purpose

• investing in dedicated bike lanes will encourage more bicycle commuters.

II. derivatives

dedicatedly

adverb

dedication /ˌdedəˈkāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the quality of being dedicated or committed to a task or purpose

• his dedication to his duties.

2. the action of dedicating a church or other building

• the dedication and unveiling was attended by some 5,000 people.

3. the words with which a book or other artistic work is dedicated

• the hardback edition contained a warm dedication to his wife.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin dedicatio(n-), from dedicare ‘devote, consecrate’ (see dedicate).

de dicto /dā ˈdiktō/

I. adjective

[Philosophy] relating to the form of an assertion or expression itself, rather than any property of a thing it refers to.
Compare with de re.

– origin Latin, ‘from what is said.’

dedifferentiate /dēˌdifəˈren(t)SHēˌāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. [Biology] (of a cell or tissue) undergo a reversal of differentiation and lose specialized characteristics.

II. derivatives

dedifferentiation /-ˌrenSHēˈāSHən /

noun

deduce /dəˈd(y)o͞os/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. arrive at (a fact or a conclusion) by reasoning; draw as a logical conclusion

• little can be safely deduced from these figures

• [with clause] they deduced that the fish died because of water pollution.

2. ‹archaic› trace the course or derivation of

• he cannot deduce his descent wholly by heirs male.

II. derivatives

deducible /dəˈd(y)o͞osəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘lead or convey’): from Latin deducere, from de- ‘down’ + ducere ‘lead.’

deduct /dəˈdəkt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. subtract or take away (an amount or part) from a total

• tax has been deducted from the payments.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin deduct- ‘taken or led away,’ from the verb deducere. Deduct and deduce were not distinguished in sense until the mid 17th cent.

deductible /dəˈdəktəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

able to be deducted, especially from taxable income or tax to be paid

• child-care vouchers will be deductible expenses for employers.

See also tax-deductible.

II. noun

(N. Amer.) (in an insurance policy) a specified amount of money that the insured must pay before an insurance company will pay a claim

• a traditional insurance policy with a low deductible.

III. derivatives

deductibility /-ˌdəktəˈbilitē /

noun

deduction /dəˈdəkSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action of deducting or subtracting something

• the dividend will be paid without deduction of tax.

2. an amount that is or may be deducted from something, especially from taxable income or tax to be paid

• tax deductions.

3. the inference of particular instances by reference to a general law or principle

• the detective must uncover the murderer by deduction from facts

• we do not yet know if these deductions are correct.

Often contrasted with induction.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin deductio(n-), from the verb deducere (see deduce).

deductive /dəˈdəktiv/

I. adjective

1. characterized by the inference of particular instances from a general law

• deductive reasoning.

2. based on reason and logical analysis of available facts

• I used my deductive powers.

II. derivatives

deductively /dəˈdəktivlē /

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin deductivus, from deduct- ‘deduced,’ from the verb deducere (see deduce).

de Duve, Christian René /də ˈdo͞ov, də ˈdYv/

(1917–2013), Belgian biochemist; born in Britain. A pioneer in the study of cell biology, he shared the 1974 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine with Albert Claude (1899–1983) and George Palade (1912–2008).

Dee /dē/

I. a river in northeastern Scotland that rises in the Grampian Mountains and flows east to the North Sea at Aberdeen.

II. a river that rises in North Wales and flows into England, past Chester and on into the Irish Sea.

deed /dēd/

I. noun

1. ‹chiefly literary› an action that is performed intentionally or consciously

• doing good deeds.

2. a brave or noble act

• their deeds will live on in song.

3. action or performance

• she had erred in both deed and manner.

4. a legal document that is signed and delivered, especially one regarding the ownership of property or legal rights.
See also title deed.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) convey or transfer (property or rights) by legal deed

• they deeded their property to their children.

– origin Old English dēd, dǣd, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch daad and German Tat, from an Indo-European root shared by do^1.

deejay /ˈdējā / ‹informal›

I. noun

a disc jockey.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. act as, or hold a job as, a disc jockey.

– origin 1950s: representing the pronunciation of DJ.

deem /dēm/

I. verb — [with obj. and complement]

1. regard or consider in a specified way

• the event was deemed a great success

• [with obj. and infinitive] the strike was deemed to be illegal.

– origin Old English dēman (also in the sense ‘act as judge’), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch doeman, also to doom.

de-emphasize /ˌdēˈemfəsīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. reduce the importance or prominence given to (something)

• the reform de-emphasized central planning and placed more power in the association of socialized industries.

II. derivatives

de-emphasis /-fəˌsis /

noun

de-energize /ˌdēˈenərjīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. disconnect (an electric circuit) from a power supply.

2. [no obj.] — undergo loss of electrical power

• the starter relay automatically de-energizes.

deep /dēp/

I. adjective

1. extending far down from the top or surface

• a deep gorge

• the lake was deep and cold.

2. extending or situated far in or down from the outer edge or surface

• a deep alcove

• deep in the woods.

3. [predic.] — (after a measurement and in questions) extending a specified distance from the top, surface, or outer edge

• the well was 200 feet deep.

4. [in combination] — as far up or down as a specified point

• standing waist-deep in the river.

5. [predic.] — in a specified number of ranks one behind another
[in combination]

• they were standing three-deep at the bar.

6. taking in or giving out a lot of air

• she took a deep breath.

7. [Baseball] far back in the outfield

• his first pitch was hit into deep left field.

8. very intense or extreme

• she was in deep trouble

• a deep sleep

• a deep economic recession.

9. (of an emotion or feeling) intensely felt

• deep disappointment.

10. profound or penetrating in awareness or understanding

• a deep analysis.

11. difficult to understand

• this is all getting too deep for me.

12. [predic.] (deep in) — fully absorbed or involved in (a state or activity)

• they were deep in their own thoughts.

13. (of a person) unpredictable and secretive

• that Thomas is a deep one.

14. (of sound) low in pitch and full in tone; not shrill

• a deep, resonant voice.

15. (of color) dark and intense

• a deep pink.

II. noun — (the deep)

1. ‹literary› the sea

• denizens of the deep.

2. (usu. deeps) — ‹literary› a deep part of the sea

• the dark and menacing deeps

• ‹figurative› the deeps of her imagination.

III. adverb

1. far down or in; deeply

• traveling deep into the countryside.

2. (in sports) distant from the start of a play or the forward line of one's team

• the defense played deep.

IV. phrases

1. the deep end

the end of a swimming pool where the water is deepest.

2. go off (or go in off) the deep end

a. ‹informal› give way immediately to an emotional outburst, especially of anger.

b. (chiefly US) go mad; behave extremely strangely

• they looked at me as if I had gone off the deep end.

3. go (or run) deep

(of emotions, beliefs, etc.) be strongly and wholeheartedly felt or held

• his passion runs deep.

4. in deep

‹informal› inextricably involved in or committed to a situation

• he knew that he was in deep when his things began to proliferate in her apartment.

5. in deep water (or waters)

‹informal› in trouble or difficulty

• he landed in deep water when he began the affair.

6. jump (or be thrown) in at the deep end

‹informal› face a difficult problem or undertaking with little experience of it.

V. derivatives

deepness /ˈdēpnəs /

noun

– origin Old English dēop (adjective), dīope, dēope (adverb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch diep and German tief, also to dip.

deep brain stimulation

noun

a nonsurgical treatment to reduce tremor and to block involuntary movements in patients with motion disorders. Small electric shocks are delivered to the thalamus (especially in the treatment of multiple sclerosis) or the globus pallidus (especially in the treatment of Parkinson's disease), rendering these parts of the brain inactive without surgically destroying them.

deep breathing

noun

breathing with long breaths, especially as exercise or a method of relaxation.

deep-cycle /ˈdēpˌsīk(ə)l/

adjective

(N. Amer.) denoting a type of electric battery that can be totally discharged and recharged several times.

deep-discount /ˌdēpˈdisˌkount/

adjective

1. denoting financial securities carrying a low rate of interest relative to prevailing market rates and issued at a discount to their redemption value, thus mainly providing capital gain rather than income.

2. (N. Amer.) heavily discounted; greatly reduced in price

• deep-discount pricing has kept airfares affordable.

deep-dish /ˈdēpdiSH/

adjective

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) (of a pie) baked in a deep dish to allow for a large filling

• deep-dish apple pie.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) (of a pizza) baked in a deep dish and having a thick dough base.

3. (chiefly N. Amer.) ‹informal› extreme or thoroughgoing

• a deep-dish Catholic.

deep-dyed /ˈdēpˌdīd/

adjective

‹informal› thoroughgoing; complete

• a deep-dyed Beatles fan.

deep ecology

noun

an environmental movement and philosophy that regards human life as just one of many equal components of a global ecosystem.

deepen /ˈdēpən/

verb

1. make or become deep or deeper
[no obj.]

• the crisis deepened.

2. (of a weather system) decrease in barometric pressure.
(as adj. deepening)

• a deepening depression.

deep freeze /ˈdēp ˈˌfrēz/

I. noun

1. a refrigerated cabinet or room in which food can be quickly frozen and kept for long periods at a low temperature

• plenty of garden space to keep our deep freezes supplied with fruit and vegetables.

2. a place or situation in which progress or activity is suspended

• the nation is now beginning to resume its history after twenty years in the deep freeze.

II. verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. deep-frozen)

1. store (something) in a deep freeze.

deep-fry /ˈdēp ˈˌfrī/

verb — [with obj.] (as adj. deep-fried)

1. fry (food) in an amount of fat or oil sufficient to cover it completely

• deep-fried onion rings.

deep kiss

noun

‹dated› a kiss involving insertion of the tongue into the partner's mouth.

deep-laid /ˈdēpˌlād/

adjective

(of a scheme) secret and elaborate

• a deep-laid plot.

deeply /ˈdēplē/

adverb

1. far down or in

• he breathed deeply

• fragments of rock were deeply embedded within the wood.

2. intensely
[as submodifier]

• she was deeply hurt.

deep mourning

noun

1. a state of mourning, conventionally expressed by wearing only black clothing.

2. the black clothing worn by someone in deep mourning.

deep pockets

plural noun

‹informal› abundant financial resources

• these companies have deep pockets and don't mind spending to get their projects off the ground.

deep-rooted /ˈdēp ˈro͞odəd/

I. adjective

1. (of a plant) deeply implanted.

2. firmly embedded in thought, behavior, or culture, and so having a persistent influence

• deep-rooted concern about declining values.

II. derivatives

deep-rootedness

noun

deep sea /ˌdēp ˈsē/

noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. the deeper parts of the ocean, especially those beyond the edge of the continental shelf

• deep-sea diving.

deep-seated /ˌdēpˈsēdəd/

adjective

firmly established at a deep or profound level

• deep-seated anxiety.

deep-set /ˌdēpˈset/

adjective

1. (of a person's eyes) positioned deeply in the head

• his deep-set black eyes are powerful, still, and unrelenting.

2. embedded firmly

• the bees found only a few deep-set plants.

3. long-established, ingrained, or profound

• a deep-set enmity.

deep-six /ˈdēp ˈˌsiks/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› destroy or dispose of (something) irretrievably

• someone had deliberately deep-sixed evidence.

– origin 1920s (as the deep six ‘the grave’): perhaps from the custom of burial at a depth of six feet.

Deep South /ˈdēp ˈˌsouTH / the Deep South

the southeastern region of the US that is regarded as embodying traditional Southern culture and traditions.

deep space /ˈdēp ˈspās/

noun

another term for outer space.

deep structure /ˈdēp ˌstrək(t)SHər/

noun

(in generative grammar) the abstract representation of the syntactic structure of a sentence.
Contrasted with surface structure.

deep throat

I. noun

‹informal› a person who anonymously supplies information about covert or illegal action in the organization where they work.

– origin 1970s: from the pseudonym used by a Watergate informant, the name having been taken from the title of a pornographic movie (1972).

deep time

noun

[Geology] the multimillion year time frame within which scientists believe the earth has existed, and which is supported by the observation of natural, mostly geological, phenomena.

deep-toned

adjective

1. (of sound) having a low-pitched, deep tone

• the rhythmic clanging of deep-toned bells.

2. (of color) having a dark, intense tone

• a deep-toned blood-red.

deep-vein thrombosis /ˌdēpˌvān THrämˈbōsəs/

noun

thrombosis in a vein lying deep below the skin, especially in the legs. It is a particular hazard of long-haul flying.

Deep Web

noun

the part of the World Wide Web that is not discoverable by means of standard search engines, including password-protected or dynamic pages and encrypted networks

• the biggest weakness of the Deep Web is also its greatest strength: it's really hard to find anything.

deer /dir/

I. noun

a hoofed grazing or browsing animal, with branched bony antlers that are shed annually and typically borne only by the male.
See also mouse deer, musk deer. [Family Cervidae: several genera and many species.]

– origin Old English dēor, also originally denoting any quadruped, used in the (now archaic) phrase small deer meaning ‘small creatures collectively’; of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dier, German Tier.

Deere, John /di(ə)r/

(1804–86), US manufacturer. He founded John Deere & Co. in 1868, originally manufacturing steel plows.

Deerfield /ˈdirfēld/

a historic town in northwestern Massachusetts, on the Connecticut River; pop. 4,694 (est. 2008). It suffered major Indian attacks in 1675 and 1704.

Deerfield Beach

a resort city in southeastern Florida, north of Fort Lauderdale; pop. 74,584 (est. 2008).

deerfly /ˈdirflī/

noun

1. a bloodsucking horsefly that attacks humans and other large mammals. It can transmit various diseases, including tularemia.
[Genus Chrysops, family Tabanidae: several species, including C. callidus, widespread throughout North America.]

2. a bloodsucking louse fly that is a parasite of deer. It loses its wings on finding a host, and the female gives birth to fully grown larvae.
[Lipoptena cervi, family Hippoboscidae.]

deer hair

noun

hair from a deer, particularly as used in making artificial fishing flies.

deerhound /ˈdirˌhound/

noun

a large dog of a rough-haired breed resembling the greyhound.

deer lick

noun

(N. Amer.) a place where deer come to lick salt, either from a block of salt placed there or from a natural source.

deer mouse

noun

a mainly nocturnal mouse found in a wide range of habitats in North and Central America.
[Genus Peromyscus, family Muridae: numerous species, in particular P. maniculatus.]

deerskin /ˈdirskin/

noun

leather made from a deer's skin.

deerstalker /ˈdirˌstôkər/

noun

1. a soft cloth cap, originally worn for hunting, with bills in front and behind, and ear flaps that can be tied together over the top.

2. a person who stalks deer.

de-escalate /ˌdēˈeskəlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. reduce the intensity of (a conflict or potentially violent situation).

II. derivatives

de-escalation /ˌdēˌeskəˈlāSH(ə)n /

noun

Deet /dēt/

noun

‹trademark› a brand of diethyltoluamide, a colorless oily liquid with a mild odor, used as an insect repellent.

deets /dēts/

I. plural noun

‹informal› details

• stay tuned for more deets.

– origin 1980s: representing a pronunciation of an abbreviated form of details.

def /def/

I. adjective

‹informal› excellent

• a truly def tattoo.

– origin 1980s: probably an alteration of death (used in Jamaican English as an intensifier), or shortened from definitive or definite.

deface /dəˈfās/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. spoil the surface or appearance of (something), e.g., by drawing or writing on it; mar or disfigure

• he defaced library books

• the canyon's spectacular limestone walls have been defaced by the reservoir.

II. derivatives

1. defacement /dəˈfāsmənt /

noun

2. defacer

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French desfacier, from des- (expressing removal) + face ‘face.’

de facto /ˌdā ˈfaktō/

I. adverb

in fact, or in effect, whether by right or not

• the island has been de facto divided into two countries.

Often contrasted with de jure.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. denoting someone or something that is such in fact

• a de facto one-party system.

– origin early 17th cent.: Latin, literally ‘of fact.’

defalcate /dəˈfalkāt dəˈfôlkāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› embezzle (funds with which one has been entrusted)

• the officials were charged with defalcating government money.

II. derivatives

1. defalcation /dēˌfalˈkāSHən dəˌfalˈkāSHən dēˌfôlˈkāSHən dəˌfôlˈkāSHən /

noun

2. defalcator /-kātər /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘deduct, subtract’): from medieval Latin defalcat- ‘lopped,’ from the verb defalcare, from de- ‘away from, off’ + Latin falx, falc- ‘sickle.’

defamation /ˌdefəˈmāSH(ə)n/

noun

the action of damaging the good reputation of someone; slander or libel

• she sued him for defamation.

defamatory /dəˈfaməˌtôrē/

adjective

(of remarks, writing, etc.) damaging the good reputation of someone; slanderous or libelous

• a defamatory allegation.

defame /dəˈfām/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. damage the good reputation of (someone); slander or libel

• he claimed that the article defamed his family.

II. derivatives

defamer /dəˈfāmər /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French diffamer, from Latin diffamare ‘spread evil report,’ from dis- (expressing removal) + fama ‘report.’

defamiliarize /ˌdēfəˈmilyərīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. render unfamiliar or strange (used especially in the context of art and literature)

• art serves to defamiliarize our experience of our own present.

defang /dēˈfaNG/

verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. defanged)

1. render harmless or ineffectual

• the military, demoralized and defanged, gave up their campaign.

defat /dēˈfat/

verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. defatted)

1. remove fat from (food)

• soup made with defatted chicken stock.

default /dəˈfôlt/

I. noun

1. failure to fulfill an obligation, especially to repay a loan or appear in a court of law

• it will have to restructure its debts to avoid default

• the deteriorating economy pushed defaults to almost $20 billion.

2. a preselected option adopted by a computer program or other mechanism when no alternative is specified by the user or programmer

• the default is fifty lines

• [as modifier] default settings.

3. [usu. as modifier] — something that is usual or standard

• all my life, envy has been my default emotion

• SSRIs have become the default for adults with depression.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. fail to fulfill an obligation, especially to repay a loan or to appear in a court of law

• some had defaulted on student loans.

2. [with obj.] — declare (a party) in default and give judgment against that party

• the possibility that cases would be defaulted and defendants released.

3. (default to) — (of a computer program or other mechanism) revert automatically to (a preselected option)

• when you start a fresh letter, the system will default to its own style.

III. phrases

1. by default

a. because of a lack of opposition

• they won the last election by default.

b. through lack of positive action rather than conscious choice

• legislation dies by default if the governor fails to act on it.

2. in default

guilty of failing to repay a loan or appear in a court of law

• the company is already in default on its loans.

3. in default of

in the absence of

• in default of agreement, the rent was to be determined by a surveyor.

– origin Middle English: from Old French defaut, from defaillir ‘to fail,’ based on Latin fallere ‘disappoint, deceive.’

defaulter /dəˈfôltər/

noun

1. a person who fails to fulfill a duty, obligation, or undertaking, especially to pay a debt.

2. a person who fails to complete a course of medical treatment.

DEFCON /ˈdefˌkän / defcon

I. noun

each of a series of five progressive levels of alert used by the US armed forces

• conventional and nuclear forces were moved to DEFCON 2

• ‹figurative› my stress levels have finally reached defcon 1.

– origin 1950s: acronym from defense readiness condition.

defeasance /dəˈfēzəns/

I. noun

1. [Law] the action or process of rendering something null and void.

2. [Law] a clause or condition which, if fulfilled, renders a deed or contract null and void.

– origin late Middle English (as a legal term): from Old French defesance, from defaire, desfaire ‘undo’ (see defeat).

defeasible /dəˈfēzəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

[chiefly Law] [Philosophy] open in principle to revision, valid objection, forfeiture, or annulment.

II. derivatives

1. defeasibility /-ˌfēzəˈbilitē /

noun

2. defeasibly /-blē /

adverb

– origin Middle English: via Anglo-Norman French from the stem of Old French desfesant ‘undoing’ (see also defeasance).

defeat /dəˈfēt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. win a victory over (someone) in a battle or other contest; overcome or beat

• Arab armies defeated the Byzantine garrison.

2. prevent (someone) from achieving an aim

• she was defeated by the last steep hill.

3. prevent (an aim) from being achieved

• don't cheat by allowing your body to droop—this defeats the object of the exercise.

4. reject or block (a motion or proposal)

• the amendment was defeated.

5. be impossible for (someone) to understand

• this line of reasoning defeats me, I must confess.

6. [Law] render null and void; annul.

II. noun

an instance of defeating or being defeated

• the defeat of the Armada in 1588

• she had still not quite admitted defeat.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘undo, destroy, annul’): from Old French desfait ‘undone,’ past participle of desfaire, from medieval Latin disfacere ‘undo.’

defeated /dəˈfēdəd/

I. adjective

1. having been beaten in a battle or other contest

• the defeated army.

2. demoralized and overcome by adversity.

II. derivatives

defeatedly

adverb

defeatist /dəˈfēdəst/

I. noun

a person who expects or is excessively ready to accept failure.

II. adjective

demonstrating expectation or acceptance of failure

• we have a duty not to be so defeatist.

III. derivatives

defeatism /dəˈfēdizəm /

noun

– origin early 20th cent.: from French défaitiste, from défaite ‘defeat.’

defecate /ˈdefəˌkāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. discharge feces from the body.

II. derivatives

1. defecator /-ˌkātər /

noun

2. defecatory /-kəˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘clear of dregs, purify’): from Latin defaecat- ‘cleared of dregs,’ from the verb defaecare, from de- (expressing removal) + faex, faec- ‘dregs.’ The current sense dates from the mid 19th cent.

defecation /ˌdefəˈkāSHən/

noun

the discharge of feces from the body.

defect^1 /ˈdēfekt/

I. noun

a shortcoming, imperfection, or lack

• genetic defects

• the property is free from defect.

– origin late Middle English (as a noun, influenced by Old French defect ‘deficiency’): from Latin defectus, past participle of deficere ‘desert or fail,’ from de- (expressing reversal) + facere ‘do.’

defect^2 /dəˈfekt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. abandon one's country or cause in favor of an opposing one

• he defected to the Soviet Union after the war.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin defect- ‘failed,’ from the verb deficere (see defect^1).

defection /dəˈfekSH(ə)n/

noun

the desertion of one's country or cause in favor of an opposing one

• his defection from the Republican Party

• a number of defections by leading ballet dancers.

defective /dəˈfektiv/

I. adjective

1. imperfect or faulty

• complaints over defective goods.

2. lacking or deficient

• dystrophin is commonly defective in muscle tissue.

3. [Grammar] (of a word) not having all the inflections normal for the part of speech.

4. (also mentally defective) — ‹dated› ‹offensive› having mental disabilities.

II. noun

‹dated› ‹offensive› a person with mental disabilities.

III. derivatives

1. defectively /dəˈfektivlē /

adverb

2. defectiveness /dəˈfektivnəs /

noun

defector /dəˈfektər/

noun

a person who has abandoned their country or cause in favor of an opposing one

• staff interviewed escapees and defectors to the West.

defeminize /dēˈfeməˌnīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. deprive of feminine characteristics.

defend /dəˈfend/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. resist an attack made on (someone or something); protect from harm or danger

• we shall defend our country, whatever the cost.

2. speak or write in favor of (an action or person); attempt to justify

• he defended his policy of imposing high taxes.

3. conduct the case for (the party being accused or sued) in a lawsuit

• the lawyer had defended the dissidents.

4. compete to retain (a title or seat) in a contest or election

• he successfully defended his congressional seat in new elections

• (as adj. defending) the defending champion.

5. [no obj.] — (in sports) protect one's goal rather than attempt to score against one's opponents.

II. derivatives

defendable

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French defendre, from Latin defendere, from de- ‘off’ + -fendere ‘to strike.’ Compare with offend.

defendant /dəˈfendənt/

I. noun

an individual, company, or institution sued or accused in a court of law.
Compare with plaintiff.

– origin Middle English (as an adjective in the sense ‘defending’): from Old French, ‘warding off,’ present participle of defendre (see defend).

defender /dəˈfendər/

I. noun

1. a person who defends someone or something

• a defender of family values.

2. (in soccer, hockey, and other games) a player whose task it is to protect the team's goal.

3. [Bridge] either member of the partnership that did not win the auction.
Compare with declarer.

– origin Middle English: from Old French defendeor.

Defender of the Faith

I. noun

a title conferred on Henry VIII by Pope Leo X in 1521. It was recognized by Parliament as an official title of the English monarch in 1544 and has been borne by all subsequent sovereigns.

– origin translation of Latin Fidei Defensor.

defenestrate /dēˈfenəˌstrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹rare› throw (someone) out of a window

• she had made up her mind that the woman had been defenestrated, although the official verdict had been suicide.

2. ‹informal› remove or dismiss (someone) from a position of power or authority

• the overwhelming view is that he should be defenestrated before the next election.

– origin early 17th cent. (as defenestrated): see defenestration.

defenestration /dēˌfenəˈstrāSHən/

I. noun

1. ‹formal› ‹humorous› the action of throwing someone or something out of a window

• death by defenestration has a venerable history.

2. ‹informal› the action of dismissing someone from a position of power or authority

• that victory resulted in Churchill's own defenestration by the war-weary British electorate.

– origin early 17th cent.: from modern Latin defenestratio(n-), from de- ‘down from’ + Latin fenestra ‘window.’

defense /dəˈfens ˈdēˌfens / ‹Brit.› defence

I. noun

1. the action of defending from or resisting attack

• they relied on missiles for the country's defense

• she came to the defense of the eccentric professor.

2. attempted justification or vindication of something

• he spoke in defense of a disciplined approach.

3. an instance of defending a title or seat in a contest or election

• his first title defense against Jones.

4. military measures or resources for protecting a country

• the minister of defense

• [as modifier] defense policy.

5. a means of protecting something from attack

• education is the best defense against tyranny.

6. (defenses) — fortifications or barriers against attack

• coastal defenses.

7. (in sports) the action or role of defending one's goal against the opposition

• we played solid defense.

8. (the defense) — the players in a team who defend the goal.

9. the case presented by or on behalf of the party being accused or sued in a lawsuit.

11. [treated as sing. or pl.] (usu. the defense) — one or more defendants and the counsel in a trial

• the defense requested more time to prepare their case.

II. phrases

defense in depth

the practice of arranging defensive lines or fortifications so that they can defend each other, especially in case of an enemy incursion.

– origin Middle English: from Old French defens, from late Latin defensum (neuter), defensa (feminine), past participles of defendere ‘defend.’

defenseless /dəˈfensləs/

I. adjective

without defense or protection; totally vulnerable

• attacks on defenseless civilians.

II. derivatives

defenselessness /dəˈfensləsnəs /

noun

defenseman /diˈfensmən/

noun

(in ice hockey and lacrosse) a player, other than the goaltender, in a defensive position.

defense mechanism /dəˈfens dēˈfens ˈdēˌfens ˈmekəˌnizəm/

noun

1. an automatic reaction of the body against disease-causing organisms.

2. a mental process (e.g., repression or projection) initiated, typically unconsciously, to avoid conscious conflict or anxiety.

defensible /dəˈfensəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. justifiable by argument

• a morally defensible penal system.

2. able to be protected

• a fort with a defensible yard at its feet.

II. derivatives

1. defensibility /dəˌfensəˈbilədē /

noun

2. defensibly /dəˈfensəblē /

adverb

– origin Middle English (used of a weapon, a fortified place, etc., in the sense ‘capable of giving protective defense’): from late Latin defensibilis, from Latin defendere (see defend).

defensive /dəˈfensiv/

I. adjective

1. used or intended to defend or protect

• troops in defensive positions.

2. [attrib.] — (in sports) relating to or intended as defense.

3. very anxious to challenge or avoid criticism

• he was very defensive about that side of his life.

II. phrases

on the defensive

expecting or resisting criticism or attack

• the forces have remained on the defensive.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French défensif, -ive, from medieval Latin defensivus, from Latin defens- ‘warded off,’ from the verb defendere (see defend).

defensive end

noun

[Football] either of the two defensive players positioned at the end of the players who are linemen.

defensively /dəˈfensivlē/

adverb

1. in a manner intended to defend or protect

• both countries say they acted defensively when they sent troops in.

2. in a way that relates to the defending of a goal against the opposition in sports

• the team is struggling defensively

• a complete player both offensively and defensively.

3. in a way intended to challenge or avoid criticism

• he reacted defensively to attacks from fellow critics

• CEOs have responded defensively to the onslaught on their profession.

defensiveness /dəˈfensivnəs/

noun

1. the quality of being anxious to challenge or avoid criticism

• the police reacted with defensiveness and hostility to the disclosure

• Jane had a note of defensiveness in her voice.

2. behavior intended to defend or protect

• defensiveness of the hive was related to the size of the colony.

defer^1 /dəˈfər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. put off (an action or event) to a later time; postpone

• they deferred the decision until February.

2. (US) ‹historical› postpone the conscription of (someone)

• he was no longer deferred from the draft.

II. derivatives

deferrable

adjective

– origin late Middle English (also in the sense ‘put on one side’): from Old French differer ‘defer or differ,’ from Latin differre, from dis- ‘apart’ + ferre ‘bring, carry.’ Compare with defer^2 and differ.

defer^2 /dəˈfər/

I. verb — [no obj.] (defer to)

1. submit humbly to (a person or a person's wishes or qualities)

• he deferred to Tim's superior knowledge.

II. derivatives

deferrer

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French deferer, from Latin deferre ‘carry away, refer (a matter),’ from de- ‘away from’ + ferre ‘bring, carry.’ Compare with defer^1.

deference /ˈdef(ə)rəns/

I. noun

humble submission and respect

• he addressed her with the deference due to age.

II. phrases

in deference to

out of respect for; in consideration of.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French déférence, from déférer ‘refer’ (see defer^2).

deferent^1 /ˈdefərənt/

I. adjective

another term for deferential.

– origin early 19th cent.: from defer^2 and deference.

deferent^2 /ˈdefərənt/

I. noun

(in the Ptolemaic system of astronomy) the large circular orbit followed by the center of the small epicycle in which a planet was thought to move.

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin deferent- ‘carrying away,’ from the verb deferre.

deferential /ˌdefəˈren(t)SH(ə)l/

I. adjective

showing deference; respectful

• people were always deferential to him.

II. derivatives

deferentially /ˌdefəˈren(t)SH(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin early 19th cent.: from deference, on the pattern of pairs such as prudence, prudential.

deferment /dəˈfərmənt/

noun

1. the action or fact of putting something off to a later time; postponement

• deferment of the decision.

2. (US) ‹historical› the postponement of a person's conscription

• he was granted five deferments from the draft.

deferral /dəˈfərəl/

noun

a postponement of an action or event

• they agreed to a deferral of industrial action

• they can offer deferrals on loan repayments

• it is unclear whether deferral of feeding is beneficial.

deferred annuity

noun

an annuity that commences only after a lapse of some specified time after the final purchase premium has been paid.

defervescence /ˌdēfərˈvesəns, ˌdefər-/

I. noun

[Medicine] the abatement of a fever as indicated by a decrease in bodily temperature.

II. derivatives

defervesce /-ˈves /

verb

– origin early 18th cent.: from Latin defervescent- ‘ceasing to boil,’ from the verb defervescere.

defiance /dəˈfīəns/

I. noun

open resistance; bold disobedience

• the demonstration was held in defiance of official warnings.

– origin Middle English (denoting the renunciation of an allegiance or friendship): from Old French, from defier ‘defy.’

defiant /dəˈfīənt/

I. adjective

showing defiance

• she was in a defiant mood.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French défiant or directly from defiance.

defiantly /dəˈfīən(t)lē/

adverb

in a manner that shows open resistance or bold disobedience

• he defiantly refused to accept any government money

• folding her arms, she stood defiantly.

defibrillation /dēˌfibrəˈlāSHən dəˌfibrəˈlāSHən/

I. noun

[Medicine] the stopping of fibrillation of the heart by administering a controlled electric shock in order to allow restoration of the normal rhythm.

II. derivatives

defibrillate /dēˈfibrəˌlāt /

verb

defibrillator /dēˈfibrəˌlādər/

noun

[Medicine] an apparatus used to control heart fibrillation by application of an electric current to the chest wall or heart.

deficiency /dəˈfiSHənsē/

noun

1. a lack or shortage

• vitamin A deficiency in children.

2. a failing or shortcoming

• they did not like having the deficiencies of their city pointed out to them.

deficiency disease

noun

a disease caused by the lack of some essential or important element in the diet, usually a particular vitamin or mineral.
See also immunodeficiency.

deficiency payment

noun

a payment made, typically by a government body, to cover a financial deficit incurred in the course of an activity such as farming or education.

deficient /dəˈfiSHənt/

I. adjective

1. not having enough of a specified quality or ingredient

• this diet is deficient in vitamin B.

2. insufficient or inadequate

• they trashed the legislation as deficient.

3. (also mentally deficient) — ‹dated› ‹offensive› having mental disabilities.

– origin late 16th cent. (originally in the theological phrase deficient cause, denoting a failure or deficiency that has a particular consequence): from Latin deficient- ‘failing,’ from the verb deficere (see defect^1).

deficit /ˈdefəsət/

I. noun

1. the amount by which something, especially a sum of money, is too small.

2. an excess of expenditure or liabilities over income or assets in a given period

• an annual operating deficit

• the budget will remain in deficit.

3. (in sports) the amount or score by which a team or individual is losing

• came back from a 3–0 deficit.

4. ‹technical› a deficiency or failing, especially in a neurological or psychological function

• deficits in speech comprehension.

– origin late 18th cent.: via French from Latin deficit ‘it is lacking,’ from the verb deficere (see defect^1).

deficit financing

noun

government funding of spending by borrowing.

deficit spending /ˈdefəsət spendiNG/

noun

government spending, in excess of revenue, of funds raised by borrowing rather than from taxation.

defilade /ˈdefəˌlād ˌdefəˈlād / ‹Military›

I. noun

the protection of a position, vehicle, or troops against enemy observation or gunfire.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. protect (a position, vehicle, or troops) against enemy observation or gunfire
(as adj. defiladed)

• a defiladed tank.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French défiler ‘protect from the enemy’ + -ade^1.

defile^1 /dəˈfīl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. sully, mar, or spoil

• the land was defiled by a previous owner.

2. desecrate or profane (something sacred)

• the tomb had been defiled and looted.

3. ‹archaic› violate the chastity of (a woman).

II. derivatives

defiler /dəˈfīlər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: alteration of obsolete defoul, from Old French defouler ‘trample down,’ influenced by obsolete befile ‘befoul, defile.’

defile^2 /dəˈfīl ˈdēˌfīl/

I. noun

a steep-sided, narrow gorge or passage (originally one requiring troops to march in single file).

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹archaic› (of troops) march in single file

• we emerged after defiling through the mountainsides.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French défilé (noun), défiler (verb), from dé ‘away from’ + file ‘column, file.’

defilement /dəˈfīlmənt/

noun

the action of defiling or the state of being defiled

• the heinous defilement of their most sacred site.

• the purification of all defilements.

definable /dəˈfīnəbl/

adjective

able to be defined

• it may not serve a definable purpose.

define /dəˈfīn/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. state or describe exactly the nature, scope, or meaning of

• the contract will seek to define the client's obligations.

2. give the meaning of (a word or phrase), especially in a dictionary.

3. make up or establish the character of

• for some, the football team defines their identity.

4. mark out the boundary or limits of
(as adj. defined)

• clearly defined boundaries.

5. make clear the outline of; delineate

• she defined her eyes by applying eyeshadow.

II. derivatives

definer

noun

– origin late Middle English (also in the sense ‘bring to an end’): from Old French definer, from a variant of Latin definire, from de- (expressing completion) + finire ‘finish’ (from finis ‘end’).

defined benefit plan defined benefit pension plan

noun

a company pension plan in which an employee's pension payments are calculated according to length of service and the salary they earned at the time of retirement.

definiendum /diˌfinēˈendəm/

I. noun

a word, phrase, or symbol that is the subject of a definition, especially in a dictionary entry, or that is introduced into a logical system by being defined.
Contrasted with definiens.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin, ‘that which is to be defined,’ from the verb definire (see define).

definiens /diˈfinēənz/

I. noun

a word, phrase, or symbolic expression used to define something, especially in a dictionary entry, or introducing a word or symbol into a logical system by providing a statement of its meaning.
Contrasted with definiendum.

– origin late 19th cent.: from medieval Latin, ‘defining,’ present participle of definire (see define).

defining moment

noun

an event that typifies or determines all subsequent related occurrences.

definite /ˈdef(ə)nət/

I. adjective

1. clearly stated or decided; not vague or doubtful

• we had no definite plans.

2. clearly true or real; unambiguous

• no definite proof has emerged.

3. [predic.] — (of a person) certain or sure about something

• you're very definite about that!

4. clear or undeniable (used for emphasis)

• video is a definite asset in the classroom.

5. having exact and discernible physical limits or form.

II. derivatives

definiteness /ˈdef(ə)nətnəs /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin definitus ‘defined, set within limits,’ past participle of definire (see define). / usage: For an explanation of the difference between definite and definitive, see usage at definitive.

definite article /ˈdef(ə)nət ˈärdəkəl/

noun

[Grammar] a determiner (the in English) that introduces a noun phrase and implies that the thing mentioned has already been mentioned, or is common knowledge, or is about to be defined (as in the book on the table; the art of government; the famous poet and short story writer).
Compare with indefinite article.

definite description

noun

[chiefly Philosophy] a noun phrase introduced by the definite article or its equivalent, and purporting to denote a particular entity or phenomenon.

definite integral /ˈdef(ə)nət ˈin(t)əɡrəl ˈintəɡrəl/

noun

[Mathematics] an integral expressed as the difference between the values of the integral at specified upper and lower limits of the independent variable.

definitely /ˈdef(ə)nətlē/

adverb

1. without doubt (used for emphasis)

• I will definitely be at the airport to meet you.

2. in a definite manner; clearly

• we couldn't plan to go elsewhere until we had heard from you more definitely.

definition /ˌdefəˈniSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a statement of the exact meaning of a word, especially in a dictionary.

2. an exact statement or description of the nature, scope, or meaning of something

• our definition of what constitutes poetry.

3. the action or process of defining something.

4. the degree of distinctness in outline of an object, image, or sound, especially of an image in a photograph or on a screen.

5. the capacity of an instrument or device for making images distinct in outline

• we've been pleased with the definition of this TV.

II. phrases

by definition

by its very nature; intrinsically

• underachievement, by definition, is not due to lack of talent.

III. derivatives

1. definitional /-SHənl /

adjective

2. definitionally /-SHənl-ē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Latin definitio(n-), from the verb definire ‘set bounds to’ (see define).

definitive /dəˈfinədiv/

I. adjective

1. (of a conclusion or agreement) done or reached decisively and with authority

• a definitive diagnosis.

2. (of a book or other text) the most authoritative of its kind

• the definitive biography of Harry Truman.

3. (of a postage stamp) for general use and typically of standard design, not special or commemorative.

II. noun

a definitive postage stamp.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French definitif, -ive, from Latin definitivus, from definit- ‘set within limits,’ from the verb definire (see define). / usage: Definitive in the sense ‘decisive, unconditional, final’ is sometimes confused with definite. Definite means ‘clearly defined, precise, having fixed limits,’ but definitive goes further, meaning ‘most complete, satisfying all criteria, most authoritative’: although some critics found a few definite weak spots in the author's interpretations, his book was nonetheless widely regarded as the definitive history of the war. A definite decision is simply one that has been made clearly and is without doubt, whereas a definitive decision is one that is not only conclusive but also carries the stamp of authority or is a benchmark for the future, as in a Supreme Court ruling. It is a common error to use definitive as though it were a more elegant way of saying definite.

definitive host

noun

[Biology] an organism that supports the adult or sexually reproductive form of a parasite.
Compare with intermediate host.

definitively /dəˈfinədivlē/

adverb

decisively and with authority; conclusively

• the benefits of this therapy have never been definitively proven

• only a large clinical trial can definitively answer the question.

deflagrate /ˈdefləˌɡrāt/

I. verb

[Chemistry] ‹dated› burn away or cause (a substance) to burn away with a sudden flame and rapid, sharp combustion
[with obj.]

• the current will deflagrate some of the particles.

II. derivatives

deflagrator /ˈdefləˌɡrādər /

noun

– origin early 18th cent.: from Latin deflagrat- ‘burned up,’ from the verb deflagrare, from de- ‘away, thoroughly’ + flagrare ‘to burn.’

deflagration /ˌdefləˈɡrāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action of heating a substance until it burns away rapidly.

2. ‹technical› combustion that propagates through a gas or across the surface of an explosive at subsonic speeds, driven by the transfer of heat.
Compare with detonation.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin deflagratio(n-), from the verb deflagrare (see deflagrate).

deflate /dəˈflāt/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — let air or gas out of (a tire, balloon, or similar object)

• he deflated one of the tires.

2. [no obj.] — be emptied of air or gas

• the balloon deflated.

3. cause (someone) to suddenly lose confidence or feel less important
(as adj. deflated)

• the news left him feeling utterly deflated.

4. reduce the level of (an emotion or feeling)

• her anger was deflated.

5. [Economics] bring about a general reduction of price levels in (an economy).

II. derivatives

deflator /dəˈflādər /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: from de- (expressing reversal) + -flate (as in inflate).

deflation /dəˈflāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action or process of deflating or being deflated

• deflation of the illusion that the 1960s were a perpetual party.

2. [Economics] reduction of the general level of prices in an economy.

3. [Geology] the removal of particles of rock, sand, etc., by the wind.

II. derivatives

deflationist /dəˈflāSH(ə)nəst /

noun, adjective

– origin late 19th cent. (in the sense ‘release of air from something inflated’): from deflate; sense 3 via German from Latin deflat- ‘blown away,’ from the verb deflare.

deflationary /dəˈflāSHəˌnerē/

adjective

of, characterized by, or tending to cause economic deflation.

deflect /dəˈflekt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (something) to change direction by interposing something; turn aside from a straight course

• the bullet was deflected harmlessly into the ceiling

• ‹figurative› he attempted to deflect attention away from his private life.

2. [no obj.] — (of an object) change direction after hitting something

• the ball deflected off his body.

3. cause (someone) to deviate from an intended purpose

• she refused to be deflected from anything she had set her mind on.

4. cause (something) to change orientation

• the compass needle is deflected from magnetic north by metal in the aircraft.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin deflectere, from de- ‘away from’ + flectere ‘to bend.’

deflection /dəˈflekSH(ə)n / deflexion

I. noun

1. the action or process of deflecting or being deflected

• the deflection of the light beam.

2. the amount by which something is deflected

• an 11-mile deflection of the river.

– origin early 17th cent.: from late Latin deflexio(n-), from deflectere ‘bend away’ (see deflect).

deflector /dəˈflektər/

noun

1. a device that deflects something, in particular

2. a plate or other attachment for deflecting a flow of air, water, heat, etc.

3. an electrode in a cathode ray tube whose magnetic field is used to deflect a beam of electrons onto a phosphor screen to form an image.

deflexed /dəˈflekst/

I. adjective

‹technical› (typically of plant or animal structures) bent or curving downward or backward

• a deflexed beak.

– origin early 19th cent. (earlier as deflex): from Latin deflexus ‘bent away’ (past participle of deflectere) + -ed^1.

deflocculate /dēˈfläkyəˌlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Chemistry] break up the floccules (of a substance suspended in a liquid) into fine particles, producing a dispersion.

II. derivatives

deflocculation /deˌfläkyəˈlāSHən /

noun

defloration /ˌdefləˈrāSHən/

I. noun

‹literary› the taking of a woman's virginity.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin defloratio(n-), from the verb deflorare (see deflower).

deflower /dēˈflou(ə)r/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹dated› ‹literary› deprive (a woman) of her virginity.

2. (usu. as adj. deflowered) — strip (a plant or garden) of flowers

• deflowered rose bushes.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French desflourer, from a variant of late Latin deflorare, from de- (expressing removal) + Latin flos, flor- ‘a flower.’

defocus /dēˈfōkəs/

verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (an image, lens, or beam) to go out of focus

• the filter lets you defocus all or part of an image.

2. [no obj.] — go out of focus

• the view defocused, then resolved.

3. take the focus of interest or activity away from (something)

• defocusing the traditional contract approach in business.

Defoe, Daniel /dəˈfō/

(1660–1731), English novelist and journalist. His novel Robinson Crusoe (1719) is loosely based on the true story of shipwrecked sailor Alexander Selkirk and has a claim to being the first British novel. Other notable works: Moll Flanders (1722) and A Journal of the Plague Year (1722).

defogger /dəˈfôɡər dəˈfäɡər/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a device on a vehicle that removes condensation from the windshield by directing a jet of air onto it.

II. derivatives

defog /dēˈfôɡ /

verb

defoliant /dēˈfōlēənt/

noun

a chemical that removes the leaves from trees and plants and is often used in warfare.

defoliate /dēˈfōlēˌāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove leaves from (a tree, plant, or area of land), for agricultural purposes or as a military tactic

• the area was defoliated and napalmed many times.

II. derivatives

defoliation /dēˌfōlēˈāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin late 18th cent.: from late Latin defoliat- ‘stripped of leaves,’ from the verb defoliare, from de- (expressing removal) + folium ‘leaf.’

defoliator /dēˈfōlēˌādər/

noun

1. an adult or larval insect that strips all the leaves from a tree or shrub.

2. a machine that removes the leaves from a root crop.

deforce /dēˈfôrs/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Law] withhold (land or other property) wrongfully or forcibly from the rightful owner.

2. [Law] deprive (someone) wrongfully or forcibly of rightful property.

– origin late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French deforcer, from de- (expressing removal) + forcer ‘to force.’

deforest /dēˈfôrist dēˈfärist/

verb — [with obj.]

1. clear (an area) of forests or trees.

De Forest, Lee /də ˈfôrəst, ˈfär-/

(1873–1961), US physicist and electrical engineer. He designed a triode valve that was crucial to the development of radio communication, television, and computers. De Forest successfully transmitted a live broadcast in 1910.

deforestation /dēˌfôrəˈstāSHən dēˌfärəˈstāSHən/

noun

the action of clearing a wide area of trees

• a key aim is to try to halt widespread deforestation in the Amazon

• deforestation caused by foreign logging companies.

deform /dəˈfôrm/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. distort the shape or form of; make misshapen

• he was physically deformed by a rare bone disease.

2. [no obj.] — become distorted or misshapen; undergo deformation

• the suspension deforms slightly on corners.

II. derivatives

deformable

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French desformer, via medieval Latin from Latin deformare, from de- (expressing reversal) + forma ‘a shape.’

deformation /ˌdēfôrˈmāSH(ə)n ˌdefərˈmāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action or process of changing in shape or distorting, especially through the application of pressure

• solid rock undergoing slow deformation.

2. the result of a distorting process

• the deformation will be temporary.

3. an altered form of a word, especially one used to avoid overt profanity (e.g., dang for damn).

II. derivatives

deformational /-SHənl /

adjective

deformed /diˈfôrmd/

adjective

(of a person or part of the body) not having the normal or natural shape or form; misshapen

• his deformed hands.

deformity /dəˈfôrmədē/

I. noun

1. a deformed part, especially of the body; a malformation

• children born with deformities.

2. the state of being deformed or misshapen

• respiratory problems caused by spinal deformity.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French desformite, from Latin deformitas, from deformis ‘misshapen.’

defrag /dēˈfraɡ/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Computing] short for defragment.

II. noun

an instance of defragging a disk, or the utility that does this.

defragment /ˌdēfraɡˈment/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Computing] (of software) reduce the fragmentation of (a file) by concatenating parts stored in separate locations on a disk

• the safe way to defragment your files.

II. derivatives

1. defragmentation /ˌdēfraɡmənˈtāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. defragmenter

noun

defraud /dəˈfrôd/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. illegally obtain money from (someone) by deception

• he used a false identity to defraud the bank of thousands of dollars

• [no obj.] conspiracy to defraud.

II. derivatives

defrauder /dəˈfrôdər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French defrauder or Latin defraudare, from de- ‘from’ + fraudare ‘to cheat’ (from fraus, fraud- ‘fraud’).

defray /dəˈfrā/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. provide money to pay (a cost or expense)

• the proceeds from the raffle help to defray the expenses of the evening.

II. derivatives

1. defrayable /dəˈfrāəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. defrayal /dəˈfrā(ə)l /

noun

3. defrayment /dəˈfrāmənt /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the general sense ‘spend money’): from French défrayer, from dé- (expressing removal) + obsolete frai ‘cost, expenses’ (from medieval Latin fredum ‘a fine for breach of the peace’).

defriend /ˌdiˈfrend/

verb

another term for unfriend.

defrock /dēˈfräk/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. deprive (a person in holy orders) of ecclesiastical status.

2. (usu. as adj. defrocked) — deprive (someone) of professional status or membership in a prestigious group

• a defrocked psychiatrist.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French défroquer, from dé- (expressing removal) + froc ‘frock.’

defrost /dēˈfrôst/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) remove frost or ice from (the windshield of a motor vehicle).

2. thaw (frozen food) before cooking it

• defrost the turkey slowly.

3. free (the interior of a refrigerator) of accumulated ice, usually by turning it off for a period.

4. [no obj.] — (of a refrigerator) become free of accumulated ice in this way

• she opened the door to let the fridge defrost.

II. derivatives

defroster /dəˈfrôstər /

noun

deft /deft/

I. adjective

1. neatly skillful and quick in one's movements

• a deft piece of footwork.

2. demonstrating skill and cleverness

• the script was both deft and literate.

II. derivatives

deftness /ˈdef(t)nəs /

noun

– origin Middle English: variant of daft, in the obsolete sense ‘meek.’

deftly /ˈdef(t)lē/

adverb

1. in a way that is neatly skillful and quick in movement

• her fingers moved deftly, quickly parting the grass

• Lizzy deftly weaves her way through the crowd.

2. in a clever way

• he has deftly handled the flak he's received

• the show's writers deftly balance humor and grief.

defunct /dəˈfəNGkt/

I. adjective

no longer existing or functioning

• a now defunct technology that only people over a certain age remember.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘deceased’): from Latin defunctus ‘dead,’ past participle of defungi ‘carry out, finish,’ from de- (expressing reversal) + fungi ‘perform.’

defund /dēˈfənd/

verb — [with obj.]

1. (US) prevent from continuing to receive funds

• the California legislature has defunded the Industrial Welfare Commission.

defuse /dēˈfyo͞oz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove the fuse from (an explosive device) in order to prevent it from exploding

• explosives specialists tried to defuse the grenade.

2. reduce the danger or tension in (a difficult situation)

• he had the ability to defuse tense moments with humor.

usage: On the difference between defuse and diffuse, see usage at diffuse.

defy /dəˈfī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. openly resist or refuse to obey

• a woman who defies convention.

2. (of a thing) make (an action or quality) almost impossible

• his actions defy belief.

3. [with obj. and infinitive] — appear to be challenging (someone) to do or prove something

• he glowered at her, defying her to mock him.

4. ‹archaic› challenge to combat

• go now, defy him to the combat.

II. derivatives

defier /dəˈfī(ə)r /

noun

– origin Middle English (in the senses ‘renounce an allegiance’ and ‘challenge to combat’): from Old French desfier, based on Latin dis- (expressing reversal) + fidus ‘faithful.’

deg.

abbreviation

degree(s).

dégagé /ˌdāɡäˈZHā/

I. adjective

unconcerned or unconstrained; relaxed.

II. noun

[Ballet] pointing of the foot to an open position with an arched instep slightly off the floor.

– origin late 17th cent.: French, past participle of dégager ‘set free.’

degas /dēˈɡas/

verb

make or become free of unwanted or excess gas
[with obj.]

• the column has not been degassed

• [no obj.] the summit craters were degassing freely.

Degas, Edgar /dāˈɡä/

(1834–1917), French painter and sculptor. Full name Hilaire Germain Edgar Degas. An impressionist painter, he is known for his paintings of ballet dancers, such as Dancer Lacing Her Shoe (c. 1878).

de Gaulle, Charles /də ˈɡôl/

(1890–1970), French general and statesman; head of government 1944–46; president 1959–69; full name Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle. A wartime organizer of the Free French movement, he is remembered particularly for his assertive foreign policy and for quelling the student uprisings and strikes of May 1968.

degauss /dēˈɡous/

I. verb — [with obj.] (often as noun degaussing)

1. [Electronics] remove unwanted magnetism from (a television or monitor) in order to correct color disturbance.

2. [Electronics] ‹historical› neutralize the magnetic field of (a ship) by encircling it with a conductor carrying electric currents.

II. derivatives

degausser

noun

degeneracy /dəˈjen(ə)rəsē/

noun

the state or property of being degenerate

• the ills of society, from sexual degeneracy to political corruption.

degenerate

I. adjective — /dəˈjen(ə)rət /

1. having lost the physical, mental, or moral qualities considered normal and desirable; showing evidence of decline

• a degenerate form of a higher civilization.

2. ‹technical› lacking some property, order, or distinctness of structure previously or usually present, in particular

3. [Mathematics] relating to or denoting an example of a particular type of equation, curve, or other entity that is equivalent to a simpler type, often occurring when a variable or parameter is set to zero.

4. [Physics] relating to or denoting an energy level that corresponds to more than one quantum state.

5. [Physics] relating to or denoting matter at densities so high that gravitational contraction is counteracted either by the Pauli exclusion principle or by an analogous quantum effect between closely packed neutrons.

6. [Biology] having reverted to a simpler form as a result of losing a complex or adaptive structure present in the ancestral form.

II. noun — /dəˈjen(ə)rət /

1. an immoral or corrupt person.

III. verb — /dəˈjenəˌrāt / [no obj.]

1. decline or deteriorate physically, mentally, or morally

• the quality of life had degenerated

• the debate degenerated into a brawl.

IV. derivatives

degenerately /-ritlē /

adverb

– origin late 15th cent.: from Latin degeneratus ‘no longer of its kind,’ from the verb degenerare, from degener ‘debased,’ from de- ‘away from’ + genus, gener- ‘race, kind.’

degeneration /dəˌjenəˈrāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the state or process of being or becoming degenerate; decline or deterioration

• overgrazing has caused serious degeneration of grassland.

2. [Medicine] deterioration and loss of function in the cells of a tissue or organ

• degeneration of the muscle fibers.

degenerative /dəˈjenərədiv/

adjective

1. (of a disease or symptom) characterized by progressive, often irreversible deterioration, and loss of function in the organs or tissues

• degenerative diseases.

2. of or tending to decline and deterioration

• the young generation had fallen into a degenerative backslide.

degenerative joint disease

noun

another term for osteoarthritis.

degenerescence /diˌjenəˈresəns/

I. noun

another term for degeneration.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French dégénérescence, from dégénérer ‘to degenerate.’

deglaciation /dēˌɡlāSHēˈāSHən, -ˌɡlāsē-/

noun

1. [Geology] the disappearance of ice from a previously glaciated region.

2. [Geology] a period of geological time during which deglaciation takes place

• the last deglaciation.

deglamorize /dēˈɡlaməˌrīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (someone or something) less glamorous or attractive.

II. derivatives

deglamorization /dēˌɡlamərəˈzāSHən /

noun

deglaze /dēˈɡlāz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. dilute meat sediments in (a pan) in order to make a gravy or sauce, typically using wine

• deglaze the pan with the white wine.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French déglacer.

deglutition /ˌdēɡlo͞oˈtiSH(ə)n/

I. noun

‹technical› the action or process of swallowing.

II. derivatives

deglutitive /dēˈɡlo͞otətiv /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French déglutition or modern Latin deglutitio(n-), from deglutire ‘swallow down.’

degradation /ˌdeɡrəˈdāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the condition or process of degrading or being degraded

• a trail of human misery and degradation.

2. [Geology] the wearing down of rock by disintegration.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘deposition from an office or rank as a punishment’): from Old French, or from ecclesiastical Latin degradatio(n-), from the verb degradare (see degrade).

degrade /dəˈɡrād/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — treat or regard (someone) with contempt or disrespect

• she thought that many supposedly erotic pictures degraded women.

2. lower the character or quality of

• repeaters clean up and amplify the degraded signal.

3. ‹archaic› reduce (someone) to a lower rank, especially as a punishment

• he was degraded from his high estate.

4. break down or deteriorate chemically
[no obj.]

• when exposed to light, the materials will degrade

• [with obj.] the bacteria will degrade hydrocarbons.

5. [with obj.] — [Physics] reduce (energy) to a less readily convertible form.

6. [with obj.] — [Geology] wear down (rock) and cause it to disintegrate.

II. derivatives

1. degradability /diˌɡrādəˈbilitē /

noun

2. degradable /dəˈɡrādəb(ə)l /

adjective

3. degradative /ˈdeɡrəˌdātiv /

adjective

4. degrader

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French degrader, from ecclesiastical Latin degradare, from de- ‘down, away from’ + Latin gradus ‘step or grade.’

degraded /diˈɡrādid/

adjective

1. treated or regarded with contempt or disrespect

• she had felt cheap and degraded.

2. reduced in quality; inferior

• it will grow successfully even on degraded land.

degrading /dəˈɡrādiNG/

I. adjective

causing a loss of self-respect; humiliating

• cruel or degrading treatment.

II. derivatives

degradingly

adverb

degranulate /dēˈɡranyəˌlāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. [Physiology] (of a cell) lose or release granules of a substance, typically as part of an immune reaction

• the eosinophils degranulate, releasing the toxic contents of the granules.

II. derivatives

degranulation /dēˌɡranyəˈlāSHən /

noun

degrease /dēˈɡrēs/

I. verb — [with obj.] (often as noun degreasing)

1. remove excess grease or fat from (something).

II. derivatives

1. degreasant /-sənt /

noun

2. degreaser

noun

degree /dəˈɡrē/

I. noun

1. [in sing.] — the amount, level, or extent to which something happens or is present

• a degree of caution is probably wise

• a question of degree.

2. (Symbol: °) — a unit of measurement of angles, one three-hundred-and-sixtieth of the circumference of a circle

• set at an angle of 45 degrees.

3. a stage in a scale or series, in particular

4. (Symbol: °) — a unit in any of various scales of temperature, intensity, or hardness

• water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

5. [in combination] — each of a set of grades (usually three) used to classify burns according to their severity.
See first-degree, second-degree, third-degree.

6. [in combination] — a legal grade of crime or offense, especially murder

• second-degree murder

• criminal conduct in the first degree.

7. [often in combination] — a step in direct genealogical descent

• second-degree relatives.

8. [Music] a position in a musical scale, counting upward from the tonic or fundamental note

• the lowered third degree of the scale.

9. [Mathematics] the class into which an equation falls according to the highest power of unknowns or variables present

• an equation of the second degree.

10. [Grammar] any of the three steps on the scale of comparison of gradable adjectives and adverbs, namely positive, comparative, and superlative.

11. ‹archaic› a thing placed like a step in a series; a tier or row.

12. an academic rank conferred by a college or university after examination or after completion of a course of study, or conferred as an honor on a distinguished person

• a degree in zoology.

13. ‹archaic› social or official rank

• persons of unequal degree.

14. a rank in an order of Freemasonry.

II. phrases

1. by degrees

a little at a time; gradually

• rivalries and prejudice were by degrees fading out.

2. to a degree

a. to some extent

• to a degree, it is possible to educate oneself.

b. ‹dated› to a considerable extent

• the pressure you were put under must have been frustrating to a degree.

– origin Middle English (in the senses ‘step,’ ‘tier,’ ‘rank,’ or ‘relative state’): from Old French, based on Latin de- ‘down’ + gradus ‘step or grade.’

degree day

noun

a unit used to determine the heating requirements of buildings, representing a fall of one degree below a specified average outdoor temperature (usually 18°C or 65°F) for one day.

degree of freedom

noun

1. each of a number of independently variable factors affecting the range of states in which a system may exist, in particular

2. [Physics] a direction in which independent motion can occur.

3. [Chemistry] each of a number of independent factors required to specify a system at equilibrium.

4. [Statistics] the number of independent values or quantities that can be assigned to a statistical distribution.

degressive /dəˈɡresiv/

I. adjective

1. reducing by gradual amounts.

2. (of taxation) at successively lower rates on lower amounts.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin degress- ‘descended’ (from the verb degredi, from de- ‘down’ + gradi ‘walk’) + -ive.

degu /ˈdāɡo͞o/

I. noun

a ratlike rodent with a long silky coat, found in southern South America.
[Genus Octodon, family Octodontidae: three species.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from American Spanish, from South American Indian deuñ.

degust /diˈɡəst/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹rare› taste (something) carefully, so as to appreciate it fully.

II. derivatives

degustation /ˌdēɡəˈstāSHən /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin degustare, from de- ‘completely’ + gustare ‘to taste.’

de haut en bas /də ˌōt än ˈbä, də ˌō täN ˈbä/

I. adverb, adjective

in a condescending or superior manner
[as adv.]

• he never addressed his students de haut en bas

• [as adj.] he has a certain de haut en bas style.

– origin late 17th cent.: French, literally ‘from above to below.’

de Havilland, Olivia

(1916–), US actress; born in Japan; sister of Joan Fontaine. Notable movies: Gone with the Wind (1939), Hold Back the Dawn (1941), To Each His Own (1946), and The Heiress (1949).

de Havilland, Sir Geoffrey /də ˈhavələnd/

(1882–1965), English aircraft designer and manufacturer. He designed and built many aircraft, including the Mosquito used in World War II.

dehisce /dəˈhis/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹technical› (of a pod or seed vessel, or of a cut or wound) gape or burst open

• after the anther lobes dehisce, the pollen is set free.

II. derivatives

1. dehiscence /dəˈhisns /

noun

2. dehiscent /dəˈhisnt /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin dehiscere, from de- ‘away’ + hiscere ‘begin to gape’ (from hiare ‘gape’).

de Hooch, Pieter /də ˈhōKH / de Hoogh

(c. 1629–c. 1684), Dutch genre painter. He is noted for his depictions of domestic interior and courtyard scenes.

dehorn /dēˈhôrn/

verb — [with obj.]

1. remove the horns from (an animal).

dehors /dəˈhôr/

I. preposition

[Law] other than, not including, or outside the scope of

• the plea shows that no request, dehors the letter, existed.

– origin early 18th cent.: from an Old French usage as a preposition (in modern French functioning as an adverb and noun).

Dehra Dun /ˌdārə ˈdo͞on / Dehradun

a city in northern India, the capital of Uttarakhand state; pop. 551,300 (est. 2009).

dehumanization /ˌdēˌ(h)yo͞omənəˈzāSH(ə)n/

noun

the process of depriving a person or group of positive human qualities

• the consequences of systematic dehumanization of one racial group in a society can be horrific.

dehumanize /dēˈ(h)yo͞oməˌnīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. deprive of positive human qualities
(as adj. dehumanizing)

• the dehumanizing effects of war.

dehumidifier /ˌdēhyo͞oˈmidəˌfī(ə)r/

noun

a device that removes excess moisture from the air.

dehumidify /ˌdēhyo͞oˈmidəˌfī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove moisture from (the air or a gas).

II. derivatives

dehumidification /ˌdē(h)yo͞omidəfəˈkāSH(ə)n /

noun

dehydrate /dēˈhīˌdrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. dehydrated)

1. cause (a person or a person's body) to lose a large amount of water

• his body temperature was high, and he had become dehydrated.

2. [no obj.] — lose a large amount of water from the body.

3. remove water from (food) in order to preserve and store it

• dehydrated mashed potatoes.

II. derivatives

dehydrator /dēˈhīˌdrādər /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: from de- (expressing removal) + Greek hudōr, hudr- ‘water.’

dehydration /ˌdēˌhīˈdrāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the loss or removal of water from something

• from an inspection of plants undergoing dehydration there was no evidence of root damage

• [as modifier] a vegetable dehydration factory.

2. a harmful reduction in the amount of water in the body

• the patient was suffering from severe dehydration and malnutrition

• flying at high altitudes causes dehydration.

dehydrocholesterol /dēˌhīdrōkəˈləstərôl/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a derivative of cholesterol present in the skin. It can be converted to cholecalciferol (vitamin D_3) by the action of ultraviolet radiation.
[Chem. formula: C_27H_44O. The particular isomer involved in vitamin D_3 formation is 7-dehydrocholesterol.]

– origin 1930s: from dehydro- ‘that has lost hydrogen’ + cholesterol.

dehydroepiandrosterone /dēˌhīdrōˌepēˌandrōˌteˈstästərōn / DHEA

noun

a naturally occurring weak androgenic steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands with benefits such as the prevention of aging, the improvement of sexual function, the enhancement of athletic performance, and the treatment of osteoporosis.

dehydrogenase /ˌdēˈhīdrəjənāz ˌdēhīˈdräjəˌnāz/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] an enzyme that catalyzes the removal of hydrogen atoms from a particular molecule, particularly in the electron transport chain reactions of cell respiration in conjunction with the coenzymes NAD and FAD.

• glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.

– origin early 20th cent.: from de- (expressing removal) + hydrogen + -ase.

dehydrogenate /dēˌhīˈdräjənāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Chemistry] remove a hydrogen atom or atoms from (a compound).

II. derivatives

dehydrogenation /ˌdēhīˌdräjəˈnāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from de- (expressing removal) + hydrogen + -ate^3.

Deianira /ˌdēəˈnīrə / ‹Greek Mythology›

the wife of Hercules, who was tricked into smearing poison on a garment that caused his death.

de-ice /dēˈīs/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove ice from

• airplanes are de-iced before takeoff.

II. derivatives

de-icer /ˌdē ˈīsər /

noun

deicide /ˈdēəˌsīd/

I. noun

1. the killer of a god.

2. the killing of a god.

II. derivatives

deicidal /ˌdēəˈsīdl /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: from ecclesiastical Latin deicida ‘killer of a god,’ or directly from Latin deus ‘god’ + -cide.

deictic /ˈdīktik / ‹Linguistics›

I. adjective

of, relating to, or denoting a word or expression whose meaning is dependent on the context in which it is used, e.g., here, you, me, that one there, or next Tuesday.
Also called indexical.

II. noun

a deictic word or expression.

III. derivatives

deictically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin early 19th cent.: from Greek deiktikos, deiktos ‘demonstrative.’

deify /ˈdēəˌfī/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be deified)

1. worship, regard, or treat (someone or something) as a god

• she was deified by the early Romans as a fertility goddess.

II. derivatives

deification /ˌdēəfəˈkāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘make godlike in character’): from Old French deifier, from ecclesiastical Latin deificare, from deus ‘god.’

Deighton, Len /ˈdātn/

(1929–), English writer; full name Leonard Cyril Deighton. Several of his spy thrillers have been adapted as movies and for television. Notable works: The Ipcress File (1962) and the trilogy Berlin Game, Mexico Set, and London Match (1983–85).

deign /dān/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. do something that one considers to be beneath one's dignity

• she did not deign to answer the maid's question.

2. [with obj.] — ‹archaic› condescend to give (something)

• he had deigned an apology.

– origin Middle English: from Old French degnier, from Latin dignare, dignari ‘deem worthy,’ from dignus ‘worthy.’

Dei gratia /ˌdāē ˈɡrätēə/

I. adverb

by the grace of God.

– origin early 17th cent.: Latin.

deil /dēl/

noun

Scottish form of devil.

Deimos /ˈdīmäs / ‹Astronomy›

I. the outer, and smaller, of the two satellites of Mars, discovered in 1877. It is football-shaped and 10 miles (16 km) long.
Compare with Phobos.

– origin named after one of the sons of Ares in Greek mythology, the name means literally ‘fear, terror.’

de-index /dēˈinˌdeks/

verb — [with obj.]

1. end the indexation to inflation of (pensions or other benefits).

deindustrialization /ˌdēinˌdəstrēələˈzāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

decline in industrial activity in a region or economy

• severe deindustrialization with substantial job losses.

II. derivatives

deindustrialize /ˌdēinˈdəstrēəlīz /

verb

de-ink /dēˈiNGk/

verb — [with obj.]

1. remove ink from (paper being recycled).

deinonychus /dīˈnänikəs/

I. noun

a dromaeosaurid dinosaur of the mid Cretaceous period, growing up to 11 feet (3.3 m) in length.
[Genus Deinonychus, family Dromaeosauridae, suborder Theropoda.]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek deinos ‘terrible’ + onux, onukh- ‘claw.’

deinotherium /ˌdīnəˈTHirēəm / deinothere

I. noun

an elephantlike fossil mammal found mainly in the Pliocene epoch, the lower jaw having tusks that curve downward and backward.
[Genus Deinotherium, suborder Deinotherioidea, order Proboscidea.]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek deinos ‘terrible’ + thērion ‘wild beast.’

deinstall /ˌdēinˈstôl / ‹Brit.› deinstal

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. uninstall.

2. ‹humorous› dismiss from employment

• the company lost funding and I was deinstalled.

II. derivatives

1. deinstallation /ˌdē-instəˈlāSHən /

noun

2. deinstaller

noun

deinstitutionalize /dēˌinstəˈt(y)o͞oSH(ə)nlˌīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. discharge (a long-term inmate) from an institution such as a mental hospital or prison

• the changes aim to deinstitutionalize mentally ill people.

II. derivatives

deinstitutionalization /-ˌt(y)o͞oSHənl-əˈzāSHən /

noun

deionize /dēˈīəˌnīz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. deionized)

1. remove the ions or ionic constituents from (a substance, especially water).

II. derivatives

1. deionization /dēˌīənəˈzāSH(ə)n dēˌīəˌnīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. deionizer

noun

Deirdre /ˈdirdrə / ‹Irish Mythology›

a tragic heroine of whom it was prophesied that her beauty would bring banishment and death to heroes. King Conchobar of Ulster wanted to marry her, but she fell in love with Naoise, son of Usnach, who with his brothers carried her off to Scotland. They were lured back by Conchobar and treacherously slain, and Deirdre took her own life.

deism /ˈdēˌizəm ˈdāˌizəm/

I. noun

belief in the existence of a supreme being, specifically of a creator who does not intervene in the universe. The term is used chiefly of an intellectual movement of the 17th and 18th centuries that accepted the existence of a creator on the basis of reason but rejected belief in a supernatural deity who interacts with humankind.
Compare with theism.

II. derivatives

1. deist /ˈdēist ˈdāist /

noun

2. deistic /dēˈistik dāˈistik /

adjective

3. deistical /dēˈistikəl /

adjective

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin deus ‘god’ + -ism.

deity /ˈdēədē ˈdāədē/

I. noun

1. a god or goddess (in a polytheistic religion)

• a deity of ancient Greece.

2. divine status, quality, or nature

• a ruler driven by delusions of deity.

3. (usu. the Deity) — the creator and supreme being (in a monotheistic religion such as Christianity).

4. a representation of a god or goddess, such as a statue or carving.

– origin Middle English (denoting the divine nature of God): from Old French deite, from ecclesiastical Latin deitas (translating Greek theotēs), from deus ‘god.’

deixis /ˈdīksəs/

I. noun

[Linguistics] the function or use of deictic words, forms, or expressions.

– origin 1940s: from Greek, literally ‘demonstrative force, reference.’

déjà vu /ˌdāZHä ˈvo͞o/

I. noun

1. a feeling of having already experienced the present situation.

2. tedious familiarity

• to list the opponents of his policies is to invite boredom and a sense of déjà vu.

– origin early 20th cent.: French, literally ‘already seen.’

deject /dəˈjekt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› make sad or dispirited; depress

• nothing dejects a trader like the interruption of his profits.

– origin late Middle English (also in the sense ‘overthrow, abase, degrade’): from Latin deject- ‘thrown down,’ from the verb deicere, from de- ‘down’ + jacere ‘to throw.’

dejected /dəˈjektəd/

I. adjective

sad and depressed; dispirited

• he stood in the street looking dejected.

II. derivatives

dejectedly /dəˈjektədlē /

adverb

dejection /dəˈjekSH(ə)n/

I. noun

a sad and depressed state; low spirits

• he was slumped in deep dejection.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin dejectio(n-), from deicere ‘throw down’ (see deject).

dejunk /dēˈjəNGk/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› clear (a room or other space) by disposing of clutter and unwanted possessions

• dejunk the house before you move.

de jure /di ˈjo͝orē dā ˈjo͝oˌrā/

I. adverb

according to rightful entitlement or claim; by right.
Often contrasted with de facto.

II. adjective

denoting something or someone that is rightfully such

• he had been de jure king since his father's death.

– origin mid 16th cent.: Latin, literally ‘of law.’

De Kalb /də ˈkalb/

an industrial city in north central Illinois; pop. 45,497 (est. 2008).

deke /dēk / ‹Ice Hockey›

I. noun

a deceptive movement or feint that induces an opponent to move out of position.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. draw (a player) out of position by performing a deke.

– origin 1960s: shortened form of decoy.

dekko /ˈdekō/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. (Brit.) ‹informal› a quick look or glance

• come and have a dekko at this.

– origin late 19th cent. (originally used by the British army in India): from Hindi dekho ‘look!,’ imperative of dekhnā.

de Klerk, F. W. /də ˈklerk/

(1936–), South African statesman; state president 1989–94; full name Frederik Willem de Klerk. As president, he freed Nelson Mandela in 1990, lifted the ban on membership in the African National Congress (ANC), and opened the negotiations that led to the first democratic elections in 1994. Nobel Peace Prize (1993), shared with Mandela.

de Kooning, Willem /də ˈko͞oniNG/

(1904–97), US painter; born in the Netherlands; a leading exponent of abstract expressionism. He usually retained figurative elements in his work, either represented or merely hinted at, as in Painting (1948). The female form became a central theme in his later work, notably in the Women series (1950–53).

del /del/

I. noun

[Mathematics] an operator used in vector analysis. .
[del is defined as i∂/∂x + j∂/∂y + k∂/∂z, where i, j, and k are vectors directed respectively along the Cartesian axes x, y, and z.]

– origin early 20th cent.: abbreviation of delta^1, from the representation of the operator as an inverted capital delta.

Del.

abbreviation

Delaware.

Delacroix, Eugène /ˌdeləˈkrwä/

(1798–1863), French painter; full name Ferdinand Victor Eugène Delacroix. The chief painter of the French romantic school, he is known for his use of vivid color, free drawing, and sometimes violent subject matter.

de la Mare, Walter /ˌdel ə ˈme(ə)r/

(1873–1956), English poet; full name Walter John de la Mare. He is known for his children's poetry.

delaminate /dēˈlaməˌnāt/

I. verb

divide or become divided into layers
[with obj.]

• delaminating the horn into thin sheets

• [no obj.] the plywood was starting to delaminate.

– origin late 19th cent.: from de- ‘away’ + Latin lamina ‘thin plate’ + -ate^3.

Delano /dəˈlānō/

an agricultural city in south central California; pop. 53,051 (est. 2008).

delate /dəˈlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› report (an offense or crime)

• they may delate my slackness to my patron.

2. ‹archaic› inform against or denounce (someone)

• they deliberated together on delating her as a witch.

II. derivatives

1. delation /dəˈlāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. delator /dəˈlādər /

noun

– origin late 15th cent.: from Latin delat- ‘referred, carried away,’ from the verb deferre (see defer^2).

Delaunay, Robert /dəlôˈnā/

(1885–1941), French painter. He painted some of the first purely abstract pictures and was one of the founding members of Orphism, together with his wife Sonia Delaunay-Terk.

Delaunay-Terk, Sonia /dəlˌônā ˈterk/

(1885–1979), French painter and textile designer; born in Russia; wife of Robert Delaunay. She created abstract paintings based on harmonies of form and color.

Delaware^1 /ˈdeləwer/

I. a river in the northeastern US that rises in the Catskill Mountains in New York and flows south for about 280 miles (450 km) to northern Delaware, where it meets the Atlantic Ocean at Delaware Bay. For much of its length it forms the eastern border of Pennsylvania.

II. a state in the eastern US, on the Atlantic coast;; pop. 873,092 (est. 2008); capital, Dover; statehood, Dec. 7, 1787 (1). One of the original thirteen states, it was the first to ratify the US Constitution.

Delaware^2 /ˈdeləwer/

I. noun

1. a member of an American Indian people formerly inhabiting the Delaware River valley of New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania.

2. either of two Algonquian languages (Munsi and Unami) spoken by this people.

II. adjective

of or relating to the Delaware or their languages.

– origin named after the Delaware River (see Delaware^1).

Delawarean /ˌdeləˈwerēən/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of the US state of Delaware or its inhabitants

• farming is still a bedrock of rural Delawarean identity.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of the US state of Delaware

• we want every Delawarean to be ready and safe.

delay /dəˈlā/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (someone or something) late or slow

• the train was delayed.

2. [no obj.] — be late or slow; loiter

• time being of the essence, they delayed no longer.

3. postpone or defer (an action)

• he may decide to delay the next cut in interest rates.

II. noun

1. a period of time by which something is late or postponed

• a two-hour delay

• long delays in obtaining passports.

2. the action of delaying or being delayed

• I set off without delay.

3. [Electronics] the time interval between the propagation of an electrical signal and its reception.

4. an electronic device that introduces a time interval, especially in an audio signal.

III. derivatives

delayer

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French delayer (verb).

delayed-action /dəˈlādˌakSH(ə)n/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. operating or effective after a predetermined length of time

• delayed-action bombs.

II. noun

the operation of something after a predetermined length of time.

delaying action

noun

action taken to gain time, especially a military engagement that delays the advance of an enemy.

delaying tactic

noun

an action or strategy designed to defer or postpone something in order to gain an advantage for oneself

• he accused them of adopting delaying tactics.

delay line

noun

1. a device producing a specific desired delay in the transmission of a signal.

2. a set of mirrors controlling the path lengths between outlying telescopes and a central receiver.

dele /ˈdēlē/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. delete or mark (a part of a text) for deletion.

II. noun

a proofreader's sign indicating matter to be deleted.

– origin early 18th cent.: Latin, ‘blot out! efface!,’ imperative of delere.

delectable /dəˈlektəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. (of food or drink) delicious

• delectable handmade chocolates.

2. ‹chiefly humorous› extremely beautiful or attractive

• the delectable Ms. Davis.

II. derivatives

1. delectability /-ˌlektəˈbilitē /

noun

2. delectably /dəˈlektəblē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin delectabilis, from delectare ‘to charm’ (see delight).

delectation /ˌdēlekˈtāSHən ˌdelekˈtāSHən/

I. noun

‹formal› ‹humorous› pleasure and delight

• a box of chocolates for their delectation.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin delectatio(n-), from delectare ‘to charm’ (see delight).

delegacy /ˈdeləɡəsē/

I. noun — [treated as sing. or pl.]

1. a body of delegates; a committee or delegation.

2. an appointment as a delegate.

– origin late Middle English: from delegate, on the pattern of the pair prelate, prelacy.

delegate

I. noun — /ˈdeləɡət /

1. a person sent or authorized to represent others, in particular an elected representative sent to a conference.

2. a member of a committee.

II. verb — /ˈdeləˌɡāt / [with obj.]

1. entrust (a task or responsibility) to another person, typically one who is less senior than oneself

• he delegates routine tasks

• the power delegated to him must never be misused.

2. [with obj. and infinitive] — send or authorize (someone) to do something as a representative

• Edward was delegated to meet new arrivals.

III. derivatives

1. delegable /-ɡəbəl /

adjective

2. delegator /-ˌɡātər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin delegatus ‘sent on a commission,’ from the verb delegare, from de- ‘down’ + legare ‘depute.’

delegation /ˌdeləˈɡāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. [treated as sing. or pl.] — a body of delegates or representatives; a deputation

• a delegation of teachers.

2. the act or process of delegating or being delegated

• prioritizing tasks for delegation.

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting the act or process of delegating; also in the sense ‘delegated power’): from Latin delegatio(n-), from delegare ‘send on a commission’ (see delegate).

delegitimate /ˌdēləˈjidəˌmāt/

verb

another term for delegitimize.

delegitimatize /ˌdēləˈjidəməˌtīz/

verb

another term for delegitimize.

delegitimize /ˌdēləˈjidəˌmīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. withdraw legitimate status or authority from (someone or something)

• political efforts to delegitimize nuclear weapons.

II. derivatives

delegitimization /-ˌjitəməˈzāSHən /

noun

delete /dəˈlēt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove or obliterate (written or printed matter), especially by drawing a line through it or marking it with a delete sign

• the passage was deleted.

2. (usu. be deleted) — remove (data) from a computer's memory.

3. (be deleted) — [Genetics] (of a section of genetic code, or its product) be lost or excised from a nucleic acid or protein sequence

• if one important gene is deleted from an animal's DNA, other genes can stand in.

4. remove (a product, especially a recording) from the catalog of those available for purchase

• their EMI release has already been deleted.

II. noun

a command or key on a computer that erases text.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘destroy’): from Latin delet- ‘blotted out, effaced,’ from the verb delere.

deleterious /ˌdeləˈtirēəs/

I. adjective

causing harm or damage

• divorce is assumed to have deleterious effects on children.

II. derivatives

deleteriously

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: via medieval Latin from Greek dēlētērios ‘noxious’ + -ous.

deletion /dəˈlēSHən/

noun

1. the removal or obliteration of written or printed matter, especially by drawing a line through it

• we can agree on the deletion of the second paragraph

• deletions from the list could only be made after debate.

2. the removal of data from a computer's memory

• a bug is responsible for the unexplained deletion of emails

• it pays to ensure deletion of unnecessary files.

3. the removal of a product, especially a recording, from the catalog of those available for purchase.

4. [Genetics] the loss or excision of a section of genetic code, or its product, from a nucleic acid or protein sequence

• deletion of the gene in mice results in a very reduced tail

• his team has identified several types of deletions of chromosome 1.

deleveraging /dēˈlevərijiNG, dēˈlēv-/

I. noun

[Finance] the process or practice of reducing the level of one's debt by rapidly selling one's assets.

II. derivatives

deleverage

noun, verb

delexical /dēˈleksikəl/

adjective

[Linguistics] (of a verb) having little or no meaning in its own right, for example take in take a photograph.

delft /delft/

I. noun

English or Dutch tin-glazed earthenware, typically decorated by hand in blue on a white background.

II. derivatives

delftware /-ˌwe(ə)r /

noun

– origin late 17th cent. (originally Delf ware): see Delft, where the pottery originated.

Delft /delft/

I. a town in the Netherlands, in the province of South Holland; pop. 96,168 (2008). The home of painters Pieter de Hooch and Jan Vermeer, it also is noted for its pottery.

– origin originally Delf, from Dutch delf ‘ditch,’ still the name of the town's main canal.

Delhi /ˈdelē / Old Delhi

a walled city on the River Jumna in north central India, which was made the capital of the Mogul empire in 1638 by Shah Jahan (1592–1666).
See also New Delhi.

deli /ˈdelē/

noun

‹informal› short for delicatessen.

Delian /ˈdēlēən/

I. adjective

of or relating to Delos.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of Delos.

Delian League

an alliance of ancient Greek city states, dominated by Athens, that joined in 478–447 BC against the Persians. The league was disbanded on the defeat of Athens in the Peloponnesian War (404 BC), but again united under Athens' leadership against Spartan aggression in 377–338 BC.
Also called Athenian empire.

deliberate

I. adjective — /dəˈlib(ə)rət /

1. done consciously and intentionally

• a deliberate attempt to provoke conflict.

2. fully considered; not impulsive

• a deliberate decision.

3. done or acting in a careful and unhurried way

• a careful and deliberate worker.

II. verb — /diˈlibəˌrāt / [no obj.]

1. engage in long and careful consideration

• she deliberated over the menu.

2. [with obj.] — consider (a question) carefully

• jurors deliberated the fate of those charged

• [with clause] deliberating what she should do.

III. derivatives

1. deliberateness /dəˈlib(ə)rətnəs /

noun

2. deliberator /-ˌrātər /

noun

– origin late Middle English (as an adjective): from Latin deliberatus, ‘considered carefully,’ past participle of deliberare, from de- ‘down’ + librare ‘weigh’ (from libra ‘scales’).

deliberately /dəˈlib(ə)rətlē/

adverb

1. consciously and intentionally; on purpose

• the fire was started deliberately.

2. in a careful and unhurried way

• slowly and deliberately he rose from the armchair.

deliberation /dəˌlibəˈrāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. long and careful consideration or discussion

• after much deliberation, we arrived at a compromise

• the commission's deliberations.

2. slow and careful movement or thought

• he replaced the glass on the table with deliberation.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin deliberatio(n-), from deliberare ‘consider carefully’ (see deliberate).

deliberative /dəˈlibərādiv dəˈlib(ə)rədiv/

I. adjective

relating to or intended for consideration or discussion

• a deliberative assembly.

II. derivatives

deliberatively

adverb

delicacy /ˈdeləkəsē/

I. noun

1. the quality of being delicate, in particular

2. fineness or intricacy of texture or structure

• miniature pearls of exquisite delicacy.

3. susceptibility to illness or adverse conditions; fragility.

4. the quality of requiring discretion or sensitivity

• the delicacy of the situation.

5. tact and consideration

• I have to treat this matter with the utmost delicacy.

6. accuracy of perception; sensitiveness.

7. a choice or expensive food

• asparagus was considered a delicacy by the ancient Greeks.

– origin late Middle English (in the senses ‘voluptuousness’ and ‘luxuriousness’): from delicate + -acy.

delicate /ˈdelikət/

I. adjective

1. very fine in texture or structure; of intricate workmanship or quality

• a spider's web, strong yet delicate.

2. (of a color or a scent) subtle and subdued

• delicate pastel shades

• a delicate fragrance.

3. (of food or drink) subtly and pleasantly flavored

• a delicate cream sauce.

4. easily broken or damaged; fragile

• delicate china.

5. (of a person, animal, or plant) susceptible to illness or adverse conditions

• his delicate health.

6. (of a state or condition) easily upset or damaged

• owls have a delicate balance with their habitat.

7. requiring sensitive or careful handling

• delicate negotiations.

8. (of a person or an action) tactful and considerate

• the most delicate tact was called for.

9. skillful and finely judged; deft

• his delicate ball-playing skills.

10. (of an instrument) highly sensitive.

II. noun

‹informal› a delicate fabric or garment made of such fabric.

III. phrases

in a delicate condition

‹archaic› pregnant.

IV. derivatives

delicateness

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘delightful, charming’): from French délicat or Latin delicatus, of unknown origin. Senses also expressed in Middle English (now obsolete) include ‘voluptuous,’ ‘self-indulgent,’ ‘fastidious,’ and ‘effeminate.’

delicately /ˈdelikətlē/

adverb

1. in a manner displaying fineness of texture or structure and intricate workmanship

• a silk dress delicately embroidered in gold

• delicately carved wooden sculptures

• his book is complex and delicately layered.

2. in a pleasantly subtle and subdued manner; lightly

• delicately scented leaves

• a delicately flavored tea

• delicately tinted wallpaper.

3. in a very careful or finely judged manner; gently

• she took the jewel in her hands, holding it delicately.

4. in a highly sensitive or thoughtful way; tactfully

• that's a sensitive issue that has to be approached delicately

• both players were handled delicately.

5. in a way that is easily upset or affected

• the game was delicately balanced approaching half-time.

delicatessen /ˌdeləkəˈtes(ə)n/

I. noun

a store selling cold cuts, cheeses, and a variety of salads, as well as a selection of unusual or foreign prepared foods.

– origin late 19th cent. (originally denoting prepared foods for sale): from German Delikatessen or Dutch delicatessen, from French délicatesse ‘delicateness,’ from délicat (see delicate).

delicense /dēˈlīsəns/

verb — [with obj.]

1. deprive of a license or authority to operate

• physicians are being threatened, impoverished, delicensed, and imprisoned for prescribing in good faith with the intention of relieving pain.

delicious /dəˈliSHəs/

I. adjective

1. highly pleasant to the taste

• delicious home-baked brown bread.

2. delightful

• a delicious irony.

II. derivatives

deliciousness /dəˈliSHəsnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English (also in the sense ‘characterized by sensuous indulgence’): via Old French from late Latin deliciosus, from Latin deliciae (plural) ‘delight, pleasure.’

Delicious /dəˈliSHəs/

noun

a red or yellow variety of eating apple with a sweet flavor and a slightly elongated shape, originally cultivated in the US.

deliciously /dəˈliSHəslē/

adverb

1. in a way that is highly pleasant to the senses, especially taste

• the trout was light and crisp, deliciously cooked

• the cake smelled deliciously of lemon

• an orange-fleshed honeydew that tasted deliciously sweet.

2. [as submodifier] — in a way that is very pleasing; delightfully

• it's smart satire and deliciously silly

• a deliciously dark comedy.

delict /dəˈlikt/

I. noun

[Law] a violation of the law; a tort

• an international delict.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin delictum ‘something showing fault,’ neuter past participle of delinquere (see delinquent).

delight /dəˈlīt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. please (someone) greatly

• an experience guaranteed to delight both young and old.

2. [no obj.] (delight in) — take great pleasure in

• they delight in playing tricks.

II. noun

1. great pleasure

• the little girls squealed with delight

• we broke into an impromptu dance, to the delight of the crowd

• she took great delight in telling your story.

2. a cause or source of great pleasure

• the trees here are a delight.

– origin Middle English: from Old French delitier (verb), delit (noun), from Latin delectare ‘to charm,’ frequentative of delicere. The -gh- was added in the 16th cent. by association with light^1.

delighted /dəˈlīdəd/

I. adjective

feeling or showing great pleasure

• a delighted smile

• [with infinitive] we were delighted to see her.

II. derivatives

delightedly /dəˈlīdidlē dēˈlītidlē /

adverb

delightful /dəˈlītfəl/

I. adjective

causing delight; charming

• a delightful secluded garden.

II. derivatives

delightfulness

noun

delightfully /dəˈlītfəlē/

adverb

in a manner that causes great pleasure; charmingly

• a delightfully illustrated account

• [as submodifier] delightfully eccentric characters.

Delilah /dəˈlīlə/

I. (in the Bible) a woman who betrayed Samson to the Philistines by revealing to them that the secret of his strength lay in his long hair.

II. (as noun a Delilah) — a seductive and wily temptress.

delimit /dēˈlimit/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. determine the limits or boundaries of

• agreements delimiting fishing zones.

II. derivatives

1. delimitation /dəˌliməˈtāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. delimiter

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French délimiter, from Latin delimitare, from de- ‘down, completely’ + limitare (from limes, limit- ‘boundary, limit’).

delineate /dəˈlinēˌāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. describe or portray (something) precisely

• the law should delineate and prohibit behavior that is socially abhorrent.

2. indicate the exact position of (a border or boundary).

II. derivatives

delineator /dəˈlinēˌādər /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘trace the outline of something’): from Latin delineat- ‘outlined,’ from the verb delineare, from de- ‘out, completely’ + lineare (from linea ‘line’).

delineation /diˌlinēˈāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action of describing or portraying something precisely

• the artist's exquisite delineation of costume and jewelry.

2. the action of indicating the exact position of a border or boundary.

• the eventual delineation of the border between the two states.

delink /dēˈliNGk/

verb — [with obj.]

1. break the connection between (something) and something else

• the country delinked its trade policy from international policy.

delinquency /dəˈliNGkwənsē/

I. noun

1. minor crime, especially that committed by young people

• social causes of crime and delinquency.

2. ‹formal› neglect of one's duty

• he relayed this in such a manner as to imply grave delinquency on the host's part.

3. (chiefly US) a failure to pay an outstanding debt.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from ecclesiastical Latin delinquentia, from Latin delinquent- ‘offending’ (see delinquent).

delinquent /dəˈliNGkwənt/

I. adjective

1. (typically of a young person or that person's behavior) showing or characterized by a tendency to commit crime, particularly minor crime

• delinquent children.

2. (N. Amer.) in arrears

• delinquent accounts.

3. ‹formal› failing in one's duty.

II. noun

a delinquent person

• young delinquents.

III. derivatives

delinquently

adverb

– origin late 15th cent.: from Latin delinquent- ‘offending,’ from the verb delinquere, from de- ‘away’ + linquere ‘to leave.’

deliquesce /ˌdeləˈkwes/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of organic matter) become liquid, typically during decomposition.

2. [Chemistry] (of a solid) become liquid by absorbing moisture from the air.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin deliquescere ‘dissolve,’ from de- ‘down’ + liquescere ‘become liquid’ (from liquere ‘be liquid’).

deliquescent /ˌdeləˈkwes(ə)nt/

I. adjective

1. becoming liquid or having a tendency to become liquid.

2. [Chemistry] (of a solid) tending to absorb moisture from the air and dissolve in it.

II. derivatives

deliquescence /ˌdeləˈkwesns /

noun

– origin late 18th cent.: from Latin deliquescent- ‘dissolving,’ from the verb deliquescere (see deliquesce).

delirious /dəˈlirēəs/

I. adjective

1. in an acutely disturbed state of mind resulting from illness or intoxication and characterized by restlessness, illusions, and incoherence of thought and speech.

2. in a state of wild excitement or ecstasy

• there was a great roar from the delirious crowd.

II. derivatives

1. deliriant /-ənt /

adjective

2. deliriously /dəˈlirēəslē /

adverb

delirium /dəˈlirēəm/

I. noun

1. an acutely disturbed state of mind that occurs in fever, intoxication, and other disorders and is characterized by restlessness, illusions, and incoherence of thought and speech.

2. wild excitement or ecstasy.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin, from delirare ‘deviate, be deranged’ (literally ‘deviate from the furrow’), from de- ‘away’ + lira ‘ridge between furrows.’

delirium tremens /dəˌlirēəm ˈtremənz/

I. noun

a psychotic condition typical of withdrawal in chronic alcoholics, involving tremors, hallucinations, anxiety, and disorientation.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin, ‘trembling delirium.’

delish /diˈliSH/

adjective

‹informal› delicious.

delist /dēˈlist/

verb — [with obj.]

1. remove (something) from a list, in particular

2. remove (a security) from the official register of a stock exchange

• the stock collapsed and was delisted.

3. remove (a product) from the list of those sold by a particular retailer.

deliver /dəˈlivər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. bring and hand over (a letter, parcel, or ordered goods) to the proper recipient or address

• the products should be delivered on time

• [no obj.] we'll deliver direct to your door.

2. formally hand over (someone)

• they would have delivered him to the Germans for vengeance.

4. launch or aim (a blow, a ball, or an attack)

• the pitcher winds up to deliver the ball.

5. provide (something promised or expected)

• he had been able to deliver votes in huge numbers

• she's waiting for him to deliver on his promise.

6. (deliver someone/something from) — save, rescue, or set free from

• deliver us from misery.

7. (deliver someone/something up) — surrender someone or something

• to deliver up to justice a member of his own family.

8. [Law] acknowledge that one intends to be bound by (a deed), either explicitly by declaration or implicitly by formal handover.

9. state in a formal manner

• the President will deliver a speech

• he delivered himself of a sermon.

10. (of a judge or court) give (a judgment or verdict)

• the judge delivered his verdict.

11. assist in the birth of

• the village midwife delivered the baby.

12. give birth to

• the number of women delivering their babies in hospitals increased.

13. ‹archaic› ‹formal› assist (a woman) in giving birth

• she was delivered of her second child.

II. phrases

deliver the goods

‹informal› provide what is promised or expected.

III. derivatives

1. deliveree /dəˌlivərˈē /

noun

2. deliverer /dəˈliv(ə)rər /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French delivrer, based on Latin de- ‘away’ + liberare ‘set free.’

deliverable /dəˈliv(ə)rəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

able to be delivered

• goods in a deliverable state.

II. noun — (usu. deliverables)

1. a thing able to be provided, especially as a product of a development process.

III. derivatives

deliverability

noun

deliverance /dəˈliv(ə)rəns/

I. noun

1. the action of being rescued or set free

• prayers for deliverance.

2. a formal or authoritative utterance.

– origin Middle English: from Old French delivrance, from the verb delivrer (see deliver).

delivery /dəˈliv(ə)rē/

I. noun

1. the action of delivering letters, packages, or ordered goods

• allow up to 28 days for delivery.

2. a regular or scheduled occasion for this

• there will be around 15 deliveries a week.

3. an item or items delivered on a particular occasion

• they are getting smaller deliveries.

4. [Law] the formal or symbolic handing over of property, especially a sealed deed, to a grantee or third party.

5. the process of giving birth

• injuries sustained during delivery

• practically all deliveries take place in a hospital

• [as modifier] the delivery room.

6. an act of throwing or bowling a ball or striking a blow

• a quick, compact delivery that sent the ball zinging.

7. the manner or style of giving a speech

• her delivery was stilted.

8. the supply or provision of something

• delivery of electricity at a specified price.

II. phrases

take delivery of

receive (something purchased)

• we took delivery of the software in February.

– origin late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French delivree, feminine past participle of delivrer (see deliver).

dell /del/

I. noun

‹literary› a small valley, usually among trees

• lush green valleys and wooded dells.

– origin Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch del and German dialect Telle, also to dale.

Della Cruscan /ˌdelə ˈkro͞oskən/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to the Academy della Crusca in Florence, an institution established in 1582, with the purity of the Italian language as its chief interest.

2. of or relating to a late-18th-century school of English poets with an artificial style modeled on that of purist Italian writers.

II. noun

1. a member of the Academy della Crusca.

2. a Della Cruscan poet.

– origin from Italian (Accademia) della Crusca ‘(Academy) of the bran’ (with reference to “sifting” of the language).

della Quercia, Jacopo /ˌdelə ˈkwerCHə/

(c. 1374–1438), Italian sculptor. He is noted for the biblical reliefs on the portal of San Petronio in Bologna (1425–35).

della Robbia, Luca /ˌdelə ˈrōbēə, ˈräb-/

(1400–82), Italian sculptor and ceramicist. He is best known for his relief panels in Florence Cathedral and his color-glazed terra-cotta figures.

Delmarva /delˈmärvə / Delmarva Peninsula

I. a peninsular region 180 miles (290 km) long in the eastern US that includes Delaware, the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and a small strip of Virginia; it separates Chesapeake Bay from the Atlantic Ocean.

– origin acronym from Del aware, Mar yland, and V irginia.

Delmonico steak /delˈmäniˌkō ˌstāk/

I. noun

a small steak cut from the front section of the short loin of beef.
Also called club steak.

– origin named for Lorenzo Delmonico (1813–81), Swiss-born US restaurateur.

delocalize /dēˈlōkəˌlīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. detach or remove (something) from a particular place or location, or from local limitations
(as adj. delocalized)

• delocalized cortical activity

• (as noun delocalizing) delocalizing of finance capital.

2. (be delocalized) — [Chemistry] (of electrons) be shared among more than two atoms in a molecule.

• the pi electrons are delocalized and energetically stable.

II. derivatives

delocalization /dēˌlōkələˈzāSH(ə)n dēˌlōkəˌlīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

Delors, Jacques /dəˈlôr/

(1925–), French socialist politician; president of the European Commission 1985–94; full name Jacques Lucien Jean Delors. During his presidency, he pressed for closer European union and oversaw the introduction of a single market within the European Community, which came into effect on January 1, 1993.

Delos /ˈdēläs, ˈdelōs/

a small Greek island in the Aegean Sea, regarded as the center of the Cyclades. Although it is now virtually uninhabited, it was considered to be sacred to Apollo in classical times and, according to legend, was the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis.

delouse /dēˈlous/

verb — [with obj.]

1. rid (a person or animal) of lice and other parasitic insects.

Delphi /ˈdelfī/

one of the most important religious sanctuaries of the ancient Greek world, dedicated to Apollo, situated on the lower southern slopes of Mount Parnassus above the Gulf of Corinth. Thought of as the navel of the earth, it was the seat of the Delphic Oracle, whose riddling responses to a wide range of questions were delivered by the Pythia.

Delphic /ˈdelfik / Delphian

adjective

1. of or relating to the ancient Greek oracle at Delphi.

2. (typically of a pronouncement) deliberately obscure or ambiguous.

delphinium /delˈfinēəm/

I. noun

a popular garden plant of the buttercup family that bears tall spikes of blue flowers.
[Genus Delphinium, family Ranunculaceae.]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek delphinion ‘larkspur,’ from delphin ‘dolphin’ (because of the shape of the spur, thought to resemble a dolphin's back).

Delphinus /delˈfīnəs / ‹Astronomy›

I. a small constellation (the Dolphin), just north of the celestial equator near Cygnus.

II. (as genitive Delphini ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation

• the star Alpha Delphini.

– origin Latin.

Delphi technique

I. noun

a method of group decision-making and forecasting that involves successively collating the judgments of experts.

– origin in allusion to the ancient Greek oracle at Delphi.

Delray Beach /ˌdelrā ˈbēCH/

a resort city in southeastern Florida, north of Fort Lauderdale; pop. 64,092 (est. 2008).

Del Rio /ˌdel ˈrēō/

a city in southwestern Texas, on the Rio Grande; pop. 36,682 (est. 2008).

del Sarto, Andrea /del ˈsärtō/

see Sarto, Andrea del.

delta^1 /ˈdeltə/

I. noun

1. the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet (Δ, δ), transliterated as ‘d.’

2. [as modifier] — the fourth in a series of items, categories, etc.

• delta hepatitis.

3. [followed by Latin genitive] (Delta) — [Astronomy] the fourth (usually fourth-brightest) star in a constellation

• Delta Cephei.

4. a code word representing the letter D, used in radio communication.

II. symbol

1. (δ) — [Mathematics] variation of a variable or function.

2. (Δ) — [Mathematics] a finite increment.

3. (δ) — [Astronomy] declination.

delta^2 /ˈdeltə/

I. noun

1. a triangular tract of sediment deposited at the mouth of a river, typically where it diverges into several outlets.

2. (the Delta) — a region in northern Mississippi that lies between the Yazoo and Mississippi rivers and is known for its cotton and for blues music. Also called Yazoo Delta or Mississippi Delta.

II. derivatives

deltaic /delˈtāik /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: originally specifically as the Delta (of the Nile River), from the shape of the Greek letter (see delta^1).

delta connection

noun

a triangular arrangement of electrical three-phase windings in series, each of the three wires of the circuit being connected to a junction of two windings.

Delta Force

an elite US Army unit whose main responsibilities are rescue operations and special forces work.

delta rays

plural noun

[Physics] rays of low penetrative power consisting of slow electrons or other particles ejected from atoms by the impact of ionizing radiation.

delta rhythm

noun

electrical activity of the brain at a frequency of around 1–8 Hz, typical of sleep. The resulting oscillations, detected using an electroencephalograph, are called delta waves.

delta-v /ˈdeltəˌvē / delta-vee

I. noun

‹informal› acceleration

• four hundred knots of delta-v.

– origin late 20th cent.: from delta^1 (as a mathematical symbol denoting variation) + v for velocity.

delta wing /ˈdeltə wiNG/

I. noun

a single triangular swept-back wing on some aircraft, typically military aircraft.

II. derivatives

delta-winged

adjective

deltiologist /ˌdeltēˈäləjəst/

I. noun

a person who collects postcards as a hobby.

II. derivatives

deltiology /-jē /

noun

– origin 1940s: from Greek deltion (diminutive of deltos ‘writing tablet’) + -logist.

deltoid /ˈdeltoid/

I. adjective

1. ‹technical› triangular

• a tree with large deltoid leaves.

2. ‹technical› denoting a thick triangular muscle covering the shoulder joint and used for raising the arm away from the body.

II. noun

1. a deltoid muscle.

2. each of the three parts of a deltoid muscle, attached at the front, side, and rear of the shoulder

• the anterior deltoid.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French deltoïde, or via modern Latin from Greek deltoeidēs.

delude /dəˈlo͞od/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. impose a misleading belief upon (someone); deceive; fool

• too many theorists have deluded the public

• (as adj. deluded) the poor deluded creature.

II. derivatives

1. deludedly

adverb

2. deluder

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin deludere ‘to mock,’ from de- (with pejorative force) + ludere ‘to play.’

deluge /ˈdelyo͞o(d)ZH/

I. noun

1. a severe flood.

2. (the Deluge) — the biblical Flood (recorded in Genesis 6–8).

3. a heavy fall of rain

• a deluge of rain hit the plains.

4. a great quantity of something arriving at the same time

• a deluge of complaints.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be deluged)

1. inundate with a great quantity of something

• he has been deluged with offers of work.

2. flood

• the country was deluged with rain.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, variant of diluve, from Latin diluvium, from diluere ‘wash away.’

delusion /dəˈlo͞oZHən/

I. noun

1. an idiosyncratic belief or impression that is firmly maintained despite being contradicted by what is generally accepted as reality or rational argument, typically a symptom of mental disorder

• the delusion of being watched.

2. the action of deluding someone or the state of being deluded

• what a capacity television has for delusion.

II. phrases

delusions of grandeur

a false impression of one's own importance.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘act of deluding or of being deluded’): from late Latin delusio(n-), from the verb deludere (see delude).

delusional /dəˈlo͞oZH(ə)nəl/

adjective

1. characterized by or holding idiosyncratic beliefs or impressions that are contradicted by reality or rational argument, typically as a symptom of mental disorder

• hospitalization for schizophrenia and delusional paranoia

• he was diagnosed with a delusional disorder.

2. based on or having faulty judgment; mistaken

• their delusional belief in the project's merits never wavers

• I think the guy is being a bit delusional here.

delusive /dəˈlo͞osiv/

I. adjective

giving a false or misleading impression

• the delusive light of Venice.

II. derivatives

delusively /dəˈlo͞osəvlē /

adverb

delusory /diˈlo͞osərē, -zərē/

I. adjective

another term for delusive.

– origin late 15th cent.: from late Latin delusorius, from delus- ‘mocked,’ from the verb deludere (see delude).

deluster /dəˈləstər dēˈləstər / ‹Brit.› delustre

verb — [with obj.]

1. remove the luster from (a textile), typically by chemical treatment.

deluxe /dəˈləks/

I. adjective

luxurious or sumptuous; of a superior kind

• a deluxe hotel.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French de luxe, literally ‘of luxury.’

delve /delv/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. reach inside a receptacle and search for something

• she delved in her pocket.

2. research or make painstaking inquiries into something

• as we delve further into the atom's secrets.

3. [with obj.] — ‹literary› dig; excavate
(as adj. delved)

• the approach from the surface above had awed her, so hugely delved were the tunnels.

II. derivatives

delver

noun

– origin Old English delfan ‘dig’; related to Dutch delven.

Dem.

abbreviation

(US) Democrat.

demagnetize /dēˈmaɡnəˌtīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove magnetic properties from.

II. derivatives

1. demagnetization /ˌdēˌmaɡnədəˈzāSH(ə)n ˌdēˌmaɡnəˌtīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. demagnetizer

noun

demagogue /ˈdeməˌɡäɡ/

I. noun

1. a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument.

2. (in ancient Greece and Rome) a leader or orator who espoused the cause of the common people.

II. derivatives

1. demagogic /ˌdeməˈɡäjik ˌdeməˈɡäɡik /

adjective

2. demagoguery /ˈdeməˌɡäɡ(ə)rē /

noun

3. demagogy /ˈdeməˌɡäjē ˈdeməˌɡäɡē /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Greek dēmagōgos, from dēmos ‘the people’ + agōgos ‘leading’ (from agein ‘to lead’).

demand /dəˈmand/

I. noun

1. an insistent and peremptory request, made as if by right

• a series of demands for far-reaching reforms.

2. (demands) — pressing requirements

• he's got enough demands on his time already.

3. [Economics] the desire of purchasers, consumers, clients, employers, etc., for a particular commodity, service, or other item

• a recent slump in demand

• a demand for specialists.

II. verb — [reporting verb]

1. ask authoritatively or brusquely
[with direct speech]

• “Where is she?” he demanded

• [with clause] the police demanded that he give them the names.

2. [with obj.] — insist on having

• an outraged public demanded retribution

• too much was being demanded of the top players.

3. require; need

• a complex activity demanding detailed knowledge.

4. [Law] call into court; summon.

III. phrases

1. in demand

sought after

• all these skills are much in demand.

2. on demand

as soon as or whenever required

• he promised us endless coffee on demand

• [as modifier] an on-demand movie service on broadband.

IV. derivatives

demander

noun

– origin Middle English (as a noun): from Old French demande (noun), demander (verb), from Latin demandare ‘hand over, entrust’ (in medieval Latin ‘demand’), from de- ‘formally’ + mandare ‘to order.’

demand curve

noun

a graph showing how the demand for a commodity or service varies with changes in its price.

demand deposit /dəˈmand dēˈmand dəˈpäzət dēˈpäzət/

noun

a deposit of money that can be withdrawn without prior notice.

demand draft

noun

a financial draft payable on demand.

demand-driven

adjective

[Economics] motivated or caused by economic demand

• releasing this amount of money into the market could lead to demand-driven price inflation.

demand feeding /dəˈmand dēˈmand ˈfēdiNG/

noun

the practice of feeding a baby when it cries to be fed rather than at set times.

demanding /dəˈmandiNG/

I. adjective

1. (of a task) requiring much skill or effort

• she has a busy and demanding job.

2. (of a person) making others work hard or meet high standards.

II. derivatives

demandingly

adverb

demand-led /dəˈmandˌled / demand-driven

adjective

[Economics] caused or determined by demand from consumers or clients.

demand note /dəˈmand dēˈmand nōt/

noun

1. a formal request for payment.

2. another term for demand draft.

demand pull

adjective

relating to or denoting inflation caused by an excess of demand over supply.

demantoid /dəˈmantoid/

I. noun

a lustrous green variety of andradite (garnet).

– origin late 19th cent.: from German, from Demant ‘diamond.’

demarcate /dēˈmärˌkāt ˈdēmärˌkāt / demarkate

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. set the boundaries or limits of

• plots of land demarcated by barbed wire.

2. separate or distinguish from

• art was being demarcated from the more objective science.

– origin early 19th cent.: back-formation from demarcation.

demarcation /ˌdēmärˈkāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action of fixing the boundary or limits of something

• the demarcation of the maritime border.

2. a dividing line

• a horizontal band that produces a distinct demarcation two inches from the top.

II. derivatives

demarcator /diˈmärˌkātər /

noun

– origin early 18th cent.: from Spanish demarcación, from demarcar ‘mark the bounds of,’ ultimately of Germanic origin and related to mark^1. Originally used in the phrase line of demarcation (Spanish linea de demarcación, Portuguese linha de demarcação), the word denoted a line dividing the New World between the Spanish and Portuguese, laid down by the pope in 1493.

démarche /dāˈmärSH/

I. noun

a political step or initiative

• foreign policy démarches.

– origin mid 17th cent.: French, from démarcher ‘take steps.’

demassify /dēˈmasəˌfī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. divide or break up (a social or political unit) into its component parts.

II. derivatives

demassification /-ˌmasifiˈkāSHən /

noun

dematerialize /ˌdēməˈtirēəˌlīz/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. become free of physical substance; cease to have material character or qualities

• the kiss dematerializes into a kind of spiritual rebirth.

2. (in science fiction) disappear or cease to be physically present through some imagined technological process

• he watched the time machine dematerialize.

3. [with obj.] (usu. as adj. dematerialized) — replace (physical records or certificates) with a paperless computerized system

• a dematerialized stock lending service.

II. derivatives

dematerialization /-ˌti(ə)rēələˈzāSHən /

noun

de Maupassant, Guy /də ˌmōpəˈsänt, də mōpaˈsäN/

see Maupassant, Guy de.

deme /dēm/

I. noun

1. a political division of Attica in ancient Greece.

2. an administrative division in modern Greece.

3. [Biology] a subdivision of a population consisting of closely related plants, animals, or people, typically breeding mainly within the group.

– origin from Greek dēmos ‘township’; sense 2 is an extended use dating from the 1930s.

demean^1 /dəˈmēn/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause a severe loss in the dignity of and respect for (someone or something)

• I had demeaned the profession.

2. (demean oneself) — do something that is beneath one's dignity.

– origin early 17th cent.: from de- ‘away, down’ + the adjective mean^2, on the pattern of debase.

demean^2 /dəˈmēn/

I. verb — (demean oneself)

1. ‹archaic› conduct oneself in a particular way

• no man demeaned himself so honorably.

– origin Middle English (also in the sense ‘manage, control’): from Old French demener ‘to lead,’ based on Latin de- ‘away’ + minare ‘drive (animals), drive on with threats’ (from minari ‘threaten’).

demeaning /diˈmēniNG/

I. adjective

causing someone to lose their dignity and the respect of others

• the poster was not demeaning to women.

II. derivatives

demeaningly

adverb

demeanor /dəˈmēnər / ‹Brit.› demeanour

I. noun

outward behavior or bearing

• a quiet, somber demeanor.

– origin late 15th cent.: from demean^2, probably influenced by obsolete havour ‘behavior.’

de' Medici, Catherine

see Catherine de Médicis.

de' Medici, Cosimo

see Cosimo de' Medici.

de' Medici, Giovanni

see Leo^1.

de' Medici, Lorenzo

see Lorenzo de' Medici.

de Médicis, Marie

see Marie de Médicis.

dement /dəˈment/

I. noun

‹archaic› a person suffering from dementia.

– origin late 15th cent. (as an adjective in the sense ‘demented’): from French dément or Latin demens, dement- ‘insane.’ The noun use dates from the late 19th cent.

demented /dəˈmen(t)əd/

I. adjective

1. suffering from dementia.

2. ‹informal› driven to behave irrationally due to anger, distress, or excitement

• a demented, dangerous, and sadistic Mafioso.

II. derivatives

1. dementedly /dəˈmen(t)ədlē /

adverb

2. dementedness

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: past participle of earlier dement ‘drive mad,’ from Old French dementer or late Latin dementare, from demens ‘out of one's mind.’

démenti /ˌdāmänˈtē/

I. noun

an official denial of a published statement.

– origin French, from démentir ‘contradict or accuse of lying.’

dementia /dəˈmen(t)SH(ē)ə/

I. noun

[Medicine] a chronic or persistent disorder of the mental processes caused by brain disease or injury and marked by memory disorders, personality changes, and impaired reasoning.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Latin, from demens, dement- ‘out of one's mind.’

dementia praecox /dəˌmen(t)SHə ˈprēˌkäks/

I. noun

dated term for schizophrenia.

– origin late 18th cent. Latin, literally ‘early insanity.’

demerara /ˌdeməˈrerə ˌdeməˈrärə/

I. noun

1. (also demerara sugar) — partially refined light brown cane sugar coming originally from Guyana.
Compare with turbinado sugar.

2. (also demerara rum) — a dark rum fermented from molasses, made in Guyana.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after the region of Demerara.

Demerara /ˌdeməˈre(ə)rə, -ˈrärə/

a river in northern Guyana. Rising in the Guiana Highlands, it flows north for about 200 miles (320 km) to the Atlantic Ocean.

demerit /dēˈmerət/

I. noun

1. a feature or fact deserving censure

• the merits and demerits of these proposals.

2. (N. Amer.) a mark awarded against someone for a fault or offense.

II. derivatives

demeritorious /-ˌmeriˈtôrēəs /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (also in the sense ‘merit’): from Old French desmerite or Latin demeritum ‘something deserved,’ neuter past participle of demereri, from de- ‘thoroughly’ (also understood in medieval Latin as denoting reversal) + mereri ‘to merit.’

Demerol /ˈdeməˌrôl, -ˌräl/

I. noun

trademark for meperidine.

– origin 1940s: of unknown origin.

demersal /dəˈmərsəl/

I. adjective

(typically of fish) living close to the floor of the sea or a lake.
Often contrasted with pelagic.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin demersus (past participle of demergere ‘submerge, sink,’ from de- ‘down’ + mergere ‘plunge’) + -al.

demesne /dəˈmān/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› land attached to a manor and retained for the owner's own use.

2. ‹historical› the lands of an estate.

3. ‹historical› ‹archaic› a region or domain

• she may one day queen it over that fair demesne.

4. ‹historical› [Law] possession of real property in one's own right.

II. phrases

held in demesne

[Law] ‹historical› (of an estate) occupied by the owner, not by tenants.

– origin Middle English: from Old French demeine (later Anglo-Norman French demesne) ‘belonging to a lord,’ from Latin dominicus, from dominus ‘lord, master.’ Compare with domain.

Demeter /dəˈmēdər / ‹Greek Mythology›

the goddess of cereal grains, daughter of Cronus and Rhea and mother of Persephone. She is associated with Cybele; her symbol is typically an ear of wheat. The Eleusinian mysteries were held in honor of her.

demi- /ˈdemē/

I. prefix

1. half; half-size

• demisemiquaver

• demitasse.

2. partially; in an inferior degree

• demigod

• demimonde.

– origin via French from medieval Latin dimedius ‘half,’ from earlier dimidius.

demi-caractère /ˌdemēkerəkˈter/

I. noun

1. a style of ballet having elements of character dance but executed with steps based on the classical technique.

2. a dancer specializing in demi-caractère.

– origin late 18th cent.: French, literally ‘half character.’

demi-glace /ˈdemēˌɡlas / demi-glaze

I. noun

a rich, glossy brown sauce from which the liquid has been partly evaporated, typically flavored with wine and served with meat.

– origin early 20th cent.: French, literally ‘half glaze.’

demigod /ˈdemēˌɡäd/

I. noun

1. a being with partial or lesser divine status, such as a minor deity, the offspring of a god and a mortal, or a mortal raised to divine rank.

• some Roman emperors claimed descent from demigods such as Hercules.

2. a man who is greatly admired or respected

• a former juvenile delinquent who would become a counterculture demigod.

• Roth even mocked the demigod James Joyce.

– origin mid 16th cent.: translating Latin semideus.

demigoddess /ˈdemēˌɡädəs/

noun

1. a female being with partial or lesser divine status, such as a minor deity, the offspring of a god and a mortal, or a mortal raised to divine rank

• the Greek demigoddess Clio.

2. a woman who is greatly admired or respected

• to anyone who studied theater in the 70s or 80s, she is a demigoddess.

• pop culture demigoddess Beyonce.

demijohn /ˈdemēˌjän/

I. noun

a bulbous, narrow-necked bottle holding from 3 to 10 gallons of liquid, typically enclosed in a wicker cover.

– origin mid 18th cent.: probably an alteration of French dame-jeanne ‘Lady Jane,’ by association with demi- ‘half-sized’ and the given name John.

demilitarize /dēˈmilədəˌrīz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. demilitarized)

1. remove all military forces from (an area)

• a demilitarized zone.

II. derivatives

demilitarization /ˈˌdēˌmilədərəˈzāSHən dəˌmilədərəˈzāSHən ˈˌdēˌmilədəˌrīˈzāSHən dəˌmilədəˌrīˈzāSHən /

noun

de Mille, Agnes George /də ˈmil/

(1905–93), US dancer and choreographer; the niece of movie director Cecil B. De Mille. Her style of dancing mixed classical ballet with folk dance. She choreographed the ballet Rodeo (1942) and the Broadway musicals Oklahoma! (1943), Brigadoon (1947), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1949), and Paint Your Wagon (1951), among others.

De Mille, Cecil B. /də ˈmil/

(1881–1959), US movie producer and director, noted for his spectacular epics; full name Cecil Blount De Mille. He founded the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company (later Paramount) with Samuel Goldwyn in 1913 and chose the then little-known Los Angeles suburb of Hollywood as a location for their first movie, The Squaw Man (1914). Other notable movies: The Ten Commandments (1923; remade 1956) and Samson and Delilah (1949).

demimondaine /ˌdemēmänˈdān/

I. noun

a woman considered to belong to the demimonde.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French demi-mondaine, literally ‘woman of the demimonde.’

demimonde /ˈdemēˌmänd/

I. noun

1. (in 19th-century France) the class of women considered to be of doubtful morality and social standing.

2. a group of people considered to be on the fringes of respectable society

• the demimonde of arms deals.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French demi-monde, literally ‘half-world.’

demine /dēˈmīn/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove explosive mines from

• the country would now move to demine the 41 sites.

II. derivatives

deminer

noun

demineralize /dēˈminərəˌlīz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. demineralized)

1. remove salts from (water).

2. deprive (teeth or bones) of minerals, causing loss of tooth enamel or softening of the skeleton.

II. derivatives

demineralization /-ˌminərələˈzāSHən /

noun

de minimis /dā ˈminiˌmēs/

I. adjective

too trivial or minor to merit consideration, especially in law

• de minimis fringe benefit rules.

– origin from Latin de minimis non curat lex ‘the law is not concerned with trivial matters.’

demi-pension /ˌdemēˌpänˈsyôn/

I. noun

hotel accommodations with bed, breakfast, and one main meal per day.

– origin French, literally ‘half board.’

demirep /ˈdemēˌrep/

I. noun

‹archaic› a woman whose chastity is considered doubtful.

– origin mid 18th cent.: abbreviation of demi-reputable.

demise /dəˈmīz/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. a person's death

• Mr. Grisenthwaite's tragic demise.

2. the end or failure of an enterprise or institution

• the demise of industry.

3. [Law] conveyance or transfer of property or a title by demising.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Law] convey or grant (an estate) by will or lease.

2. [Law] transmit (a sovereign's title) by death or abdication.

– origin late Middle English (as a legal term): from Anglo-Norman French, past participle (used as a noun) of Old French desmettre ‘dismiss,’ (in reflexive) ‘abdicate,’ based on Latin dimittere (see dismiss).

demi-sec /ˈdemēˌsek/

I. adjective

(of wine) medium dry.

– origin mid 20th cent.: French, literally ‘half-dry.’

demisemiquaver /ˌdemēˈsemīˌkwāvər/

noun

(chiefly Brit.) [Music] a thirty-second note.

demit /dēˈmit/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› resign from (an office or position)

• arguments within his congregation led to his demitting his post.

II. derivatives

demission /dəˈmiSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin early 16th cent. (in the sense ‘dismiss’): from French démettre, from dé- ‘away from’ + mettre ‘put.’

demitasse /ˈdemētäs/

I. noun

a small coffee cup.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, literally ‘half-cup.’

demiurge /ˈdemēˌərj/

I. noun

1. a being responsible for the creation of the universe, in particular

2. (in Platonic philosophy) the Maker or Creator of the world.

3. (in Gnosticism and other theological systems) a heavenly being, subordinate to the Supreme Being, that is considered to be the controller of the material world and antagonistic to all that is purely spiritual.

II. derivatives

1. demiurgic /ˌdemēˈərjik /

adjective

2. demiurgical /ˌdemēˈərjikəl /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting a magistrate in certain ancient Greek states): via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek dēmiourgos ‘craftsman,’ from dēmios ‘public’ (from dēmos ‘people’) + -ergos ‘working.’

demo^1 /ˈdemō / ‹informal›

I. noun

1. a demonstration of a product or technique

• staff members gave a demo of the technology.

2. a version of something such as computer software produced to demonstrate its capabilities or for use as a trial

• there is a demo to try before you buy.

3. a recording made to demonstrate the capabilities of a musical group or performer or as preparation for a full recording

• we recorded a three-song demo

• [as modifier] a demo track.

4. (chiefly Brit.) a public meeting or march protesting against something or expressing views on a political issue

• a peace demo.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. record (a song or piece of music) to demonstrate the capabilities of a musical group or performer or as preparation for a full recording

• they've already demoed twelve new songs.

2. demonstrate the capabilities of (software or equipment)

• Apple is expected to demo the newest version of its mobile operating system at the conference.

3. test (software or another product) as a trial while considering purchase

• if you want to demo the app first, a free download is also available for you to test out.

demo^2 /ˈdemō/

noun

(US) ‹informal› short for demographic:

• both channels managed to maintain ratings among young male demos.

demob /dēˈmäb / ‹Brit. informal›

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. demobilize.

II. noun

demobilization

• we were waiting for our demob.

– origin 1920s (following World War I): abbreviation.

demobilize /dēˈmōbəˌlīz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be demobilized)

1. take (troops) out of active service, typically at the end of a war

• he was demobilized in February 1946.

2. [no obj.] — cease military operations

• Germany demanded that they demobilize within twelve hours.

II. derivatives

demobilization /dēˌmōbələˈzāSHən dəˌmōbələˈzāSHən dēˌmōbəˌlīˈzāSHən dəˌmōbəˌlīˈzāSHən /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: from French démobiliser, from dé- (expressing reversal) + mobiliser ‘mobilize.’

democracy /dəˈmäkrəsē/

I. noun

1. a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives

• capitalism and democracy are ascendant in the third world.

2. a state governed by a democracy

• a multiparty democracy.

3. control of an organization or group by the majority of its members

• the intended extension of industrial democracy.

4. the practice or principles of social equality

• demands for greater democracy.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French démocratie, via late Latin from Greek dēmokratia, from dēmos ‘the people’ + -kratia ‘power, rule.’

democrat /ˈdeməˌkrat/

I. noun

1. an advocate or supporter of democracy.

2. (Democrat) — a member of the Democratic Party.

– origin late 18th cent. (originally denoting an opponent of the aristocrats in the French Revolution of 1790): from French démocrate, on the pattern of aristocrate ‘aristocrat.’

democratic /ˌdeməˈkradik/

I. adjective

1. of, relating to, or supporting democracy or its principles

• democratic reforms

• democratic government.

2. favoring or characterized by social equality; egalitarian

• cycling is a democratic activity that can be enjoyed by anyone.

3. (Democratic) — of or relating to the Democratic Party.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French démocratique, via medieval Latin from Greek dēmokratikos, from dēmokratia (see democracy).

democratically /ˌdeməˈkradəklē/

adverb

in accordance with the principles of democracy

• a democratically elected government

• wage scales should be decided democratically.

democratic centralism

noun

the Leninist organizational system in which policy is decided centrally and is binding on all members.

Democratic Party

one of the two main US political parties (the other being the Republican Party), which follows a liberal program, tending to promote a strong central government and expansive social programs.

Democratic-Republican Party

a US political party that was founded in 1792 by Thomas Jefferson and was a forerunner of the modern Democratic Party.

Democratic Republic of Congo

see Congo, Democratic Republic of.

democratization /dəˌmäkrədəˈzāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the introduction of a democratic system or democratic principles

• he has funded efforts to promote democratization in Europe

• the Reform Bill was the first step towards democratization of Parliament.

2. the action of making something accessible to everyone

• the democratization of information through technology.

democratize /dəˈmäkrəˌtīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. introduce a democratic system or democratic principles to

• public institutions need to be democratized.

2. make (something) accessible to everyone

• mass production has not democratized fashion.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French démocratiser.

Democritus /dəˈmäkritəs, dē-/

(c. 460–c. 370 BC), Greek philosopher. He developed the atomic theory originated by his teacher Leucippus that explained natural phenomena in terms of the arrangement and rearrangement of atoms moving in a void.

démodé /ˌdāmōˈdā/

I. adjective

out of fashion.

– origin French, past participle of démoder ‘go out of fashion.’

demodectic mange /ˌdeməˌdektik ˈmān(d)ZH/

I. noun

a form of mange caused by follicle mites and tending to affect chiefly the head and foreparts.
Compare with sarcoptic mange.

– origin late 19th cent.: demodectic from modern Latin Demodex (from Greek dēmos ‘fat’ + dēx ‘woodworm’) + -ic.

demodulate /dēˈmäjəˌlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Electronics] extract (a modulating signal) from its carrier.

2. [Electronics] separate a modulating signal from (its carrier).

II. derivatives

1. demodulation /dēˌmäjəˈlāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. demodulator /-ˌlātər /

noun

demographic /ˌdeməˈɡrafik/

I. adjective

relating to the structure of populations

• the demographic trend is toward an older population.

II. noun

a particular sector of a population

• the drink is popular with a young demographic.

III. derivatives

demographical

adjective

demographically /ˌdeməˈɡrafəklē/

adverb

in a way that relates to the structure of populations

• the state is geographically and demographically diverse.

demographics /ˌdeməˈɡrafiks/

plural noun

statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it

• the demographics of book buyers.

demography /dəˈmäɡrəfē/

I. noun

1. the study of statistics such as births, deaths, income, or the incidence of disease, which illustrate the changing structure of human populations.

2. the composition of a particular human population

• Europe's demography is changing.

II. derivatives

demographer /dəˈmäɡrəfər /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek dēmos ‘the people’ + -graphy.

demoi /ˈdēmoi/

plural form of demos.

demoiselle /ˌdemwäˈzel/

I. noun

1. (also demoiselle crane) — a small, graceful Old World crane with a black head and breast and white ear tufts, breeding in southeastern Europe and central Asia.
[Anthropoides virgo, family Gruidae.]

2. a damselfly, especially of the genus Agrion.

3. a damselfish.

4. ‹archaic› ‹literary› a young woman.

– origin early 16th cent. (sense 4): from French, from Old French dameisele ‘damsel.’

de Moivre's theorem /də ˈmwävrəz ˌTHirəm / ‹Mathematics›

I. a theorem that states that (cos θ + i sin θ)n = cos n θ + i sin n θ, where i is the square root of 1.

– origin early 18th cent.: named after Abraham de Moivre (1667–1754) French-born English mathematician, fellow of the Royal Society.

demolish /dəˈmäliSH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. pull or knock down (a building).

2. comprehensively refute (an argument or its proponent)

• I looked forward keenly to demolishing my opponent.

3. ‹informal› overwhelmingly defeat (a player or team)

• they demolished the Denver Broncos, 55-10.

4. ‹humorous› eat up (food) quickly

• we demolished the potato pancakes.

II. derivatives

demolisher

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French démoliss-, lengthened stem of démolir, from Latin demoliri, from de- (expressing reversal) + moliri ‘construct’ (from moles ‘mass’).

demolition /ˌdeməˈliSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action or process of demolishing or being demolished

• the monument was saved from demolition.

2. ‹informal› an overwhelming defeat.

– origin mid 16th cent.: via French from Latin demolitio(n-), from the verb demoliri (see demolish).

demolition derby

noun

(N. Amer.) a competition in which typically older cars are driven into each other until only one is left running.

demon^1 /ˈdēmən/

I. noun

1. an evil spirit or devil, especially one thought to possess a person or act as a tormentor in hell.

2. a cruel, evil, or destructive person or thing

• I was a little demon, I can tell you.

3. [often as modifier] — a forceful, fierce, or skillful performer of a specified activity

• a friend of mine is a demon cook

• a demon for work.

4. reckless mischief; devilry

• his eyes are bursting with pure demon.

5. another term for daemon^1 (sense 1).

II. phrases

like a demon

in a very forceful, fierce, or skillful way

• he worked like a demon.

– origin Middle English: from medieval Latin, from Latin daemon, from Greek daimōn ‘deity, genius’; sense 1 also from Latin daemonium ‘lesser or evil spirit,’ from Greek daemonion, diminutive of daimōn.

demon^2 /ˈdēmən/

noun

variant spelling of daemon^2.

demonetize /dēˈmänəˌtīz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be demonetized)

1. deprive (a coin or precious metal) of its status as money.

II. derivatives

demonetization /dēˌmänədəˈzāSH(ə)n dēˌmänəˌtīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French démonétiser, from dé- (expressing reversal) + Latin moneta ‘money.’

demoniac /dəˈmōnēˌak/

I. adjective

of, like, or characteristic of a demon or demons

• a goddess with both divine and demoniac qualities

• demoniac rage.

II. noun

a person believed to be possessed by an evil spirit.

III. derivatives

1. demoniacal /ˌdēməˈnīək(ə)l /

adjective

2. demoniacally /ˌdēməˈnīək(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Old French demoniaque, from ecclesiastical Latin daemoniacus, from daemonium ‘lesser or evil spirit’ (see demon^1).

demonic /dēˈmänik/

I. adjective

1. of, resembling, or characteristic of demons or evil spirits

• demonic possession

• her laughter was demonic.

2. fiercely energetic or frenzied

• in a demonic hurry.

II. derivatives

demonically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: via late Latin from Greek daimonikos, from daimōn (see demon^1).

demonism /ˈdēməˌnizəm/

noun

1. belief in the power of demons.

2. action or behavior that seems too cruel or wicked to be human

• the demonism of warfare.

demonize /ˈdēməˌnīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. portray as wicked and threatening

• seeking to demonize one side in the conflict.

II. derivatives

demonization /ˌdēmənəˈzāSH(ə)n ˌdēməˌnīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

demono-

I. combining form

of or relating to demons

• demonolatry.

– origin from Greek daimōn ‘demon.’

demonolatry /ˌdēməˈnälətrē/

noun

the worship of demons.

demonology /ˌdēməˈnäləjē/

I. noun

the study of demons or of demonic belief.

II. derivatives

1. demonological /-nəˈläjikəl /

adjective

2. demonologist /-jist /

noun

demonopolize /ˌdēməˈnäpəlīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. introduce competition into (a market or economy) by privatizing previously nationalized assets.

II. derivatives

demonopolization /-ˌnäpələˈzāSHən /

noun

demonstrable /dəˈmänstrəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

clearly apparent or capable of being logically proved

• the demonstrable injustices of racism.

II. derivatives

demonstrability /dəˌmänstrəˈbilədē /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin demonstrabilis, from demonstrare ‘point out.’

demonstrably /dəˈmänstrəblē/

adverb

in a way that is clearly apparent or capable of being logically proved

• the policies followed so far have demonstrably failed

• the claim is demonstrably false.

demonstrate /ˈdemənˌstrāt/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — clearly show the existence or truth of (something) by giving proof or evidence

• their shameful silence demonstrates their ineptitude.

2. give a practical exhibition and explanation of (how a machine, skill, or craft works or is performed)

• computerized design methods will be demonstrated

• [with clause] he demonstrated how to make his favorite hotdog.

3. show or express (a feeling or quality) by one's actions

• she began to demonstrate a new-found confidence.

4. [no obj.] — take part in a public demonstration

• thousands demonstrated in favor of the government.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘point out’): from Latin demonstrat- ‘pointed out,’ from the verb demonstrare.

demonstration /ˌdemənˈstrāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action or process of showing the existence or truth of something by giving proof or evidence

• it is not capable of mathematical demonstration

• Lind's demonstration that citrus fruits cure scurvy.

2. the outward showing of feeling

• physical demonstrations of affection.

3. a practical exhibition and explanation of how something works or is performed

• a microwave cooking demonstration.

4. a public meeting or march protesting against something or expressing views on a political issue.

– origin late Middle English (also in the senses ‘proof provided by logic’ and ‘sign, indication’): from Latin demonstratio(n-), from demonstrare ‘point out’ (see demonstrate). Sense 2 dates from the mid 19th cent.

demonstrative /dəˈmänstrədiv/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) tending to show feelings, especially of affection, openly.

2. serving as conclusive evidence of something; giving proof

• demonstrative evidence.

3. involving demonstration, especially by scientific means

• the possibility of a demonstrative science of ethics.

4. [Grammar] (of a determiner or pronoun) indicating the person or thing referred to (e.g., this, that, those).

II. noun

[Grammar] a demonstrative determiner or pronoun.

III. derivatives

1. demonstratively /dəˈmänstrədivlē /

adverb

2. demonstrativeness /dəˈmänstrədivnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the senses ‘serving as conclusive evidence of’ and ‘making manifest’): from Old French demonstratif, -ive, from Latin demonstrativus, from demonstrare ‘point out’ (see demonstrate).

demonstrative legacy

noun

[Law] a legacy that is directed to be paid from a specified fund or pool.

demonstrator /ˈdemənˌstrādər/

noun

1. a person who takes part in a public protest meeting or march.

2. a person who shows how a particular piece of equipment works or how a skill or craft is performed.

3. a person who teaches by demonstrating, especially in a laboratory.

4. a piece of merchandise that can be tested by potential buyers.

de Montespan, Marquise /də ˌmôNtəˈspäN/

see Montespan, Marquise de.

de Montfort, Simon /də ˈmäntfərt, -ˌfôrt/

see Montfort, Simon de^1, Montfort, Simon de^2.

demoralize /dəˈmôrəˌlīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (someone) to lose confidence or hope; dispirit

• their rejection of the treaty has demoralized the diplomatic community.

2. ‹archaic› corrupt the morals of (someone).

II. derivatives

1. demoralization /dəˌmôrələˈzāSH(ə)n dəˌmôrəˌlīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. demoralizing /dəˈmôrəˌlīziNG dēˈmôrəˌlīziNG /

adjective

3. demoralizingly

adverb

– origin late 18th cent.: from French démoraliser (a word of the French Revolution), from dé- (expressing reversal) + moral ‘moral,’ from Latin moralis.

demoralized /dəˈmôrəˌlīzd/

adjective

having lost confidence or hope; disheartened

• a weak and demoralized president.

de Morgan's laws /də ˈmôrɡənz ˌlôz / ‹Mathematics›

I. two laws in Boolean algebra and set theory that state that AND and OR, or union and intersection, are dual. They are used to simplify the design of electronic circuits.
[The laws can be expressed in Boolean logic as: NOT (a AND b) = NOT a OR NOT b; NOT (a OR b) = NOT a AND NOT b.]

– origin early 20th cent.: named after Augustus de Morgan (1806–71), English mathematician, but already known (by logicians) as principles in the Middle Ages.

demos /ˈdēmäs/

I. noun

1. the common people of an ancient Greek state.

2. the populace as a political unit, especially in a democracy.

– origin from Greek dēmos.

Demosthenes /dəˈmäsTHəˌnēz/

I. (384–322 BC), Athenian orator and statesman. He is known for his political speeches on the need to resist the aggressive tendencies of Philip II of Macedon (the Philippics).

II. derivatives

Demosthenic /dəˈmäsTHəˌnik /

adjective

demo tape

noun

a recording (originally one presented on a cassette tape) made to demonstrate the capabilities of a musical group or performer.

• he encouraged bands to send him their demo tapes.

demote /dēˈmōt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. give (someone) a lower rank or less senior position, usually as a punishment

• the head of the army was demoted to deputy defense secretary.

– origin late 19th cent.: from de- ‘down’ + a shortened form of promote.

demotic /dəˈmädik/

I. adjective

1. denoting or relating to the kind of language used by ordinary people; popular or colloquial

• a demotic idiom.

2. relating to or denoting the form of modern Greek used in everyday speech and writing.
Compare with katharevousa.

3. relating to or denoting a simplified, cursive form of ancient Egyptian script, dating from c. 650 BC and replaced by Greek in the Ptolemaic period.
Compare with hieratic.

II. noun

1. ordinary colloquial speech.

2. demotic Greek.

3. demotic Egyptian script.

– origin early 19th cent. (in the sense ‘relating to the Egyptian demotic’): from Greek dēmotikos ‘popular,’ from dēmotēs ‘one of the people,’ from dēmos ‘the people.’

demotion /dēˈmōSH(ə)n/

I. noun

reduction in rank or status

• too many demotions would weaken morale.

– origin early 20th cent.: from demote, on the pattern of promotion.

demotivate /dēˈmôo͝odəvāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (someone) less eager to work or study

• some children disrupt classes and demotivate pupils.

II. derivatives

demotivation

noun

demountable /dəˈmoun(t)əb(ə)l dēˈmoun(t)əb(ə)l/

I. adjective

able to be dismantled or removed from its setting and readily reassembled or repositioned.

II. derivatives

demount /dəˈmount dēˈmount /

verb

Dempsey, Jack /ˈdem(p)sē/

(1895–1983), US boxer; full name William Harrison Dempsey. He was world heavyweight champion 1919–26.

demulcent /dəˈməlsənt / ‹Medicine›

I. adjective

(of a substance) relieving inflammation or irritation.

II. noun

a substance that relieves irritation of the mucous membranes in the mouth by forming a protective film.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin demulcent- ‘stroking caressingly,’ from the verb demulcere, from de- ‘away’ + mulcere ‘soothe.’

demur /dəˈmər/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. raise doubts or objections or show reluctance

• normally she would have accepted the challenge, but she demurred.

2. [Law] ‹dated› put forward a demurrer.

II. noun — [usu. with negative]

1. the action or process of objecting to or hesitating over something

• they accepted this ruling without demur.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘linger, delay’): from Old French demourer (verb), demeure (noun), based on Latin de- ‘away, completely’ + morari ‘delay.’

demure /dəˈmyo͝or/

I. adjective

1. (of a woman or her behavior) reserved, modest, and shy

• a demure little wife who sits at home minding the house.

2. (of clothing) lending a modest appearance.

II. derivatives

1. demurely /dəˈmyo͝orlē /

adverb

2. demureness /dəˈmyo͝ornəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘sober, serious, reserved’): perhaps from Old French demoure, past participle of demourer ‘remain, stay’ (see demur); influenced by Old French mur ‘grave,’ from Latin maturus ‘ripe or mature.’ The sense ‘reserved, shy’ dates from the late 17th cent.

demurrable /diˈmyo͝orəbəl/

adjective

‹dated› [chiefly Law] open to demurrer.

demurrage /dəˈmərij/

I. noun

[Law] a charge payable to the owner of a chartered ship in respect of failure to load or discharge the ship within the time agreed.

– origin mid 17th cent. (also in the general sense ‘procrastination, delay’): from Old French demourage, from the verb demourer (see demur).

demurral /dəˈmərəl/

noun

the action of demurring

• words of demurral.

demurrer /dəˈmərər/

I. noun

1. an objection.

2. [Law] ‹dated› an objection that an opponent's point is irrelevant or invalid, while granting the factual basis of the point

• on demurrer it was held that the plaintiff's claim succeeded.

– origin early 16th cent.: from Anglo-Norman French (infinitive used as a noun), from Old French demourer ‘remain, stay’ (see demur).

demutualize /dēˈmyo͞oCHo͞owəˌlīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. change (a mutual organization such as a savings and loan association) to one of a different kind.

II. derivatives

demutualization /dēˌmyo͞oCH(o͞o)ələˈzāSH(ə)n dēˌmyo͞oCH(o͞o)əˌlīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

demy /dəˈmī / metric demy

I. noun

1. a paper size, now standardized at 564 × 444 mm.

2. (in full demy octavo) — a book size, now standardized at 216 × 138 mm.

3. (in full demy quarto) — a book size, now standardized at 276 × 219 mm.

– origin late Middle English (as an adjective in the sense ‘half-sized’): from demi-, or from its source, French demi ‘half.’

demyelinate /dēˈmīələˌnāt/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. demyelinating)

1. [Medicine] cause the loss or destruction of myelin in (nerve tissue)

• a chronic demyelinating disease.

II. derivatives

demyelination /-ˌmīəliˈnāSHən /

noun

demystify /dēˈmistəˌfī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (a difficult or esoteric subject) clearer and easier to understand

• this book attempts to demystify technology.

II. derivatives

demystification /ˌdēˌmistəfəˈkāSH(ə)n /

noun

demythologize /ˌdēməˈTHäləjīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. reinterpret (a subject or text) so that it is free of mythical or heroic elements

• he undertakes to demythologize the man who has been for many the modern counterpart of St. Augustine.

2. reinterpret what are considered to be mythological elements of (the Bible).

den /den/

I. noun

1. a wild animal's lair or habitation.

2. ‹informal› a small, comfortable room in a house where a person can pursue an activity in private.

3. a place where people meet in secret, typically to engage in some illicit activity

• an opium den

• a den of iniquity.

4. (chiefly US) a small subdivision of a Cub Scout pack.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a wild animal) live in or retreat to a den

• the cubs denned in the late autumn.

– origin Old English denn, of Germanic origin; related to German Tenne ‘threshing floor,’ also to dene^1.

Denali /dəˈnälē/

another name for Mount McKinley (see McKinley, Mount).

denar /diˈnär/

I. noun

the basic monetary unit of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

– origin based on Latin denarius; compare with dinar.

denarius /dəˈnerēəs/

I. noun

1. an ancient Roman silver coin, originally worth ten asses.

2. a unit of weight equal to that of a silver denarius.

3. an ancient Roman gold coin worth 25 silver denarii.

– origin late Middle English: Latin, literally ‘containing ten,’ from the phrase denarius nummus ‘coin worth ten asses’ (see as^2), from deni ‘in tens,’ from decem ‘ten.’

denary /ˈden(ə)rē ˈdēn(ə)rē/

I. adjective

relating to or based on the number ten; less common term for decimal

• denary numbers.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin denarius ‘containing ten’ (see denarius).

denationalize /dēˈnaSH(ə)n(ə)lˌīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. transfer (a nationalized industry or institution) from public to private ownership.

2. deprive (a country or person) of nationality or national characteristics.

II. derivatives

denationalization /ˌdēnaSH(ə)nələˈzāSHən ˌdēnaSH(ə)nəˌlīˈzāSHən dəˌnaSH(ə)nəˌlīˈzāSHən dəˌnaSH(ə)nələˈzāSHən /

noun

– origin early 19th cent. (sense 2): from French dénationaliser (a word of the French Revolution), from dé- (expressing reversal) + nationaliser ‘nationalize.’

denaturalize /dēˈnaCH(ə)rəˌlīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (something) unnatural.

2. deprive (someone) of citizenship of a country.

II. derivatives

denaturalization /dēˌnaCH(ə)rələˈzāSH(ə)n dēˌnaCH(ə)rəlīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

denaturant /dēˈnāCH(ə)rənt/

noun

1. a substance added to alcohol to make it unfit for drinking.

2. [Biochemistry] a substance that causes denaturation of proteins or other biological compounds.

denature /dēˈnāCHər/

I. verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. denatured)

1. take away or alter the natural qualities of

• empty verbalisms and denatured ceremonies.

2. make (alcohol) unfit for drinking by the addition of toxic or foul-tasting substances.

3. [Biochemistry] destroy the characteristic properties of (a protein or other biological macromolecule) by heat, acidity, or other effects that disrupt its molecular conformation.

II. derivatives

denaturation /dēˌnāCHəˈrāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin late 17th cent. (in the sense ‘make unnatural’): from French dénaturer, from dé- (expressing reversal) + nature ‘nature.’

denazification /dēˌnätsəfəˈkāSH(ə)n/

noun

the process of bringing the leaders of the National Socialist regime in Germany to justice and of purging all elements of Nazism from public life, carried out especially between 1945 and 1948.

denazify /dēˈnätsəˌfī/

verb — [with obj.]

1. remove the Nazi (or figuratively, the fascist or repressive) influence from.

Dench, Dame Judi /denCH/

(1934–), English actress; full name Judith Olivia Dench. She has appeared in numerous theatrical, movie, and television productions. Her movies include A Handful of Dust (1987), Mrs. Brown (1997), Shakespeare in Love (1998), and Iris (2001).

dendriform /ˈdendrəˌfôrm/

adjective

having the shape or form of a tree.

dendrimer /ˈdendrəmər/

I. noun

a synthetic polymer with a branching, treelike structure.

– origin 1990s: from Greek dendron ‘tree’ + -i- + -mer.

dendrite /ˈdendrīt/

I. noun

1. [Physiology] a short branched extension of a nerve cell, along which impulses received from other cells at synapses are transmitted to the cell body.
Compare with axon.

2. a crystal or crystalline mass with a branching, treelike structure.

3. a natural treelike or mosslike marking on a piece of rock or mineral.

– origin early 18th cent.: from French, from Greek dendritēs ‘treelike,’ from dendron ‘tree.’

dendritic /denˈdridik/

I. adjective

1. ‹technical› having a branched form resembling a tree.

2. ‹technical› [Physiology] of or relating to a dendrite or dendrites.

3. ‹technical› (of a solid) consisting of crystalline dendrites

• dendritic salt.

II. derivatives

dendritically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

dendro-

I. combining form

of or relating to a tree or trees

• dendrology.

– origin from Greek dendron ‘tree.’

dendrochronology /ˌdendrōkrəˈnäləjē/

I. noun

the science or technique of dating events, environmental change, and archaeological artifacts by using the characteristic patterns of annual growth rings in timber and tree trunks.

II. derivatives

1. dendrochronological /-ˌkränlˈäjikəl /

adjective

2. dendrochronologist /-jist /

noun

dendrogram /ˈdendrəˌɡram/

noun

a tree diagram, especially one showing taxonomic relationships.

dendroid /ˈdendroid/

I. adjective

[Biology] (of a plant, marine invertebrate, or structure) tree-shaped; arborescent; branching.

II. noun

[Paleontology] a graptolite of a type that formed much-branched colonies, found chiefly in the Ordovician and Silurian periods.
[Order Dendroidea, class Graptolithina.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from dendro- ‘tree’ + -oid.

dendrology /denˈdräləjē/

I. noun

the scientific study of trees.

II. derivatives

1. dendrological /ˌdendrəˈläjikəl /

adjective

2. dendrologist /-jist /

noun

dendron /ˈdendrən/

I. noun

another term for dendrite (sense 1).

– origin late 19th cent.: from dendrite, on the pattern of words such as axon.

dene^1 /dēn / dean

I. noun

(Brit.) (usu. in place names) a vale, especially the deep, narrow, wooded valley of a small river

• Rottingdean

• Deepdene.

– origin Old English denu, of Germanic origin; related to den.

dene^2 /dēn/

I. noun

‹dialect› a bare, sandy tract or low dune by the sea.

– origin Middle English: perhaps of Germanic origin and related to dune.

Dene /diˈnā/

I. noun

1. a member of a group of American Indian peoples of the Canadian Northwest and Alaska, traditionally speaking Athabaskan languages, and having collective representation in Canadian political life.

2. any of the languages of the Dene.

II. adjective

of or relating to the Dene or their languages.

– origin from French Déné, from an Athabaskan word meaning ‘people.’

Deneb /ˈdeneb / ‹Astronomy›

I. the brightest star in the constellation Cygnus, a yellow supergiant.

– origin from Arabic, literally ‘tail’ (i.e., of the “swan”).

Denebola /dəˈnebələ / ‹Astronomy›

I. the second brightest star in the constellation Leo.

– origin from Arabic dhanab al(-asad) ‘(lion's) tail.’

denervate /dēˈnərvāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Medicine] remove or cut off the nerve supply from (an organ or other body part)
(as adj. denervated)

• the denervated muscle fibers.

II. derivatives

denervation /ˌdēnərˈvāSHən /

noun

Deneuve, Catherine /dəˈno͝ov, dəˈnœv/

(1943–), French actress; born Catherine Dorléac. Notable movies: Repulsion (1965), Belle de jour (1967), and Indochine (1992).

dengue /ˈdeNGɡē ˈdeNGɡā / dengue fever

I. noun

a debilitating viral disease of the tropics, transmitted by mosquitoes, and causing sudden fever and acute pains in the joints.

– origin early 19th cent.: from West Indian Spanish, from Kiswahili dinga (in full kidingapopo), influenced by Spanish dengue ‘fastidiousness’ (with reference to the dislike of movement by affected patients).

Deng Xiaoping /ˈdəNG ˈSHouˈpiNG / Teng Hsiao-p'ing

(1904–97), Chinese communist statesman; vice-premier 1973–76 and 1977–80; vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party 1977–80. Discredited during the Cultural Revolution, he was reinstated in 1977 and became the leader of China.

Den Haag /den ˈhäɡ/

Dutch name for The Hague (see Hague).

deniable /dəˈnīəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

able to be denied

• the government did agree to play a limited and deniable role in the rebellion.

II. derivatives

1. deniability /-ˌnīəˈbilitē /

noun

2. deniably /-blē /

adverb

denial /dəˈnīəl/

noun

1. the action of declaring something to be untrue

• she shook her head in denial.

2. the refusal of something requested or desired

• the denial of insurance to people with certain medical conditions.

3. a statement that something is not true

• official denials

• his denial that he was having an affair.

4. [Psychology] failure to acknowledge an unacceptable truth or emotion or to admit it into consciousness, used as a defense mechanism

• you're living in denial.

5. short for self-denial.

6. disavowal of a person as one's leader.

denialist /dəˈnīələst/

I. noun

a person who does not acknowledge the truth of a concept or proposition that is supported by the majority of scientific or historical evidence; a denier

• the small minority of very vocal climate change denialists.

• [as modifier] the denialist view.

II. derivatives

denialism /dəˈnīəlizm /

noun

denial of service

noun

[Computing] an interruption in an authorized user's access to a computer network, typically one caused with malicious intent.

denier^1 /dəˈnīər/

noun

a person who denies something

• a prominent denier of global warming.

denier^2 /ˈdenyər/

I. noun

1. a unit of weight by which the fineness of silk, rayon, or nylon yarn is measured, equal to the weight in grams of 9,000 meters of the yarn and often used to describe the thickness of hosiery

• 840 denier nylon.

2. ‹historical› a French coin, equal to one twelfth of a sou, which was withdrawn from use in the 19th century.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin denarius (see denarius). Sense 1 dates from the mid 19th cent.

denigrate /ˈdenəˌɡrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. criticize unfairly; disparage

• there is a tendency to denigrate the poor.

II. derivatives

1. denigrator /ˈdenəˌɡrādər /

noun

2. denigratory /ˈdenəɡrəˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘blacken, make dark’): from Latin denigrat- ‘blackened,’ from the verb denigrare, from de- ‘away, completely’ + nigrare (from niger ‘black’).

denigration /ˌdenəˈɡrāSH(ə)n/

noun

the action of unfairly criticizing someone or something

• I witnessed the denigration of anyone who failed to toe the line

• their constant denigration by a hostile media.

denim /ˈdenəm/

I. noun

1. a sturdy cotton twill fabric, typically blue, used for jeans, overalls, and other clothing.

2. (denims) — clothing made from denim fabric

• a pair of denims.

– origin late 17th cent. (as serge denim): from French serge de Nimes, denoting a kind of serge from the manufacturing town of Nîmes.

De Niro, Robert /də ˈni(ə)rō/

(1943–), US actor. Notable movies: Bang the Drum Slowly (1973), The Godfather Part II (1974), Taxi Driver (1976), Raging Bull (1980), A Bronx Tale (1993; also directed), and Meet the Fockers (2004).

Denis, St. /ˈdenis, dəˈnē / Denys

(died c. 250), French bishop; born in Italy; patron saint of France; Roman name Dionysius. According to tradition, he was one of a group of seven missionaries sent from Rome to convert Gaul; he became bishop of Paris and was martyred in the reign of the emperor Valerian. Feast day, October 9.

Denison /ˈdenəsən/

a city in northern Texas, on the Red River; pop. 24,001 (est. 2008).

denitrify /dēˈnītrəˌfī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (chiefly of bacteria) remove the nitrates or nitrites from (soil, air, or water) by chemical reduction.

II. derivatives

denitrification /-ˌnītrəfiˈkāSHən /

noun

denizen /ˈdenəzən/

I. noun

1. ‹formal› ‹humorous› an inhabitant or occupant of a particular place

• denizens of field and forest.

2. ‹formal› ‹humorous› (Brit.) ‹historical› a foreigner allowed certain rights in the adopted country.

II. derivatives

denizenship /-ˌSHip /

noun

– origin late Middle English deynseyn, via Anglo-Norman French from Old French deinz ‘within’ (from Latin de ‘from’ + intus ‘within’) + -ein (from Latin -aneus ‘-aneous’). The change in the form of the word was due to association with citizen.

Denizli /ˈdenizlē/

a commercial city in southwestern Turkey, the site of ancient ruins; pop. 323,200 (est. 2007).

Denmark /ˈdenmärk/

I. a country in northwestern Europe, on the Jutland peninsula and many islands, between the North and the Baltic seas; pop. 5,500,500 (est. 2009); capital, Copenhagen; official language, Danish.
Danish name Danmark.

Denmark emerged as a separate country during the Viking period of the 10th and 11th centuries. In the 14th century Denmark and Norway were united under a Danish king; the union was joined between the late 1300s and 1523 by Sweden, and Norway was ceded to Sweden in 1814. Although neutral, Denmark was occupied by Germany for much of World War II. It joined the EC (now the EU) in 1973.

den mother

noun

1. (US) the female leader of a den of Cub Scouts.

2. (US) a woman who plays a supportive or protective role for a particular group of people

• the band's business manager, cook, and de facto den mother.

denominal /dēˈnämənl/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of a word) derived from a noun.

II. noun

a verb or other word that is derived from a noun.

– origin 1930s: from de- + nominal.

denominate /dəˈnäməˌnāt/

I. verb

1. (be denominated) — (of sums of money) be expressed in a specified monetary unit

• the borrowings were denominated in U.S. dollars.

2. [with obj. and complement] — ‹formal› call; name

• the whole train was denominated a “bull-outfit.”

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘give a name to’): from Latin denominat- ‘named,’ from the verb denominare, from de- ‘away, formally’ + nominare ‘to name’ (from nomen, nomin- ‘name’). Sense 1 dates from the mid 20th cent.

denomination /dəˌnäməˈnāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a recognized autonomous branch of the Christian Church.

2. a group or branch of any religion

• Jewish clergy of all denominations.

3. the face value of a banknote, coin, or postage stamp

• a hundred dollars or so, in small denominations.

4. the rank of a playing card within a suit, or of a suit relative to others

• two cards of the same denomination.

5. ‹formal› a name or designation, especially one serving to classify a set of things.

6. the action of naming or classifying something

• denomination of oneself as a fat woman.

– origin late Middle English (sense 3): from Latin denominatio(n-), from the verb denominare (see denominate). Sense 1 dates from the mid 17th cent.

denominational /dəˌnäməˈnāSH(ə)n(ə)l/

I. adjective

relating to or according to the principles of a particular religious denomination

• denominational relief agencies.

II. derivatives

denominationalism /-ˌizəm /

noun

denominative /dēˈnäməˌnādiv dēˈnämənədiv dəˈnäməˌnādiv/

I. adjective

old-fashioned term for denominal.

– origin late 16th cent. (as a noun in the grammatical sense): from late Latin denominativus, from denominat- ‘named,’ from the verb denominare (see denominate).

denominator /dəˈnäməˌnādər/

I. noun

1. [Mathematics] the number below the line in a common fraction; a divisor.

2. [Mathematics] a figure representing the total population in terms of which statistical values are expressed.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French dénominateur or medieval Latin denominator, from denominare ‘to name’ (see denominate).

denotation /ˌdēnōˈtāSHən/

I. noun

1. the literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests

• beyond their immediate denotation, the words have a connotative power.

2. the action or process of indicating or referring to something by means of a word, symbol, etc.

3. [Philosophy] the object or concept to which a term refers, or the set of objects of which a predicate is true.
Often contrasted with connotation.

II. derivatives

denotational /-SHənl /

adjective

denote /dəˈnōt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. be a sign of; indicate

• this mark denotes purity and quality.

2. stand as a name or symbol for

• the level of output per firm, denoted by X.

II. derivatives

denotative /ˈdēnōˌtādiv dəˈnōdədiv dēˈnōdədiv /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘be a sign of, mark out’): from French dénoter or Latin denotare, from de- ‘away, thoroughly’ + notare ‘observe, note’ (from nota ‘a mark’). / usage: For an explanation of the difference between denote and connote, see usage at connote.

denouement /ˌdāno͞oˈmäN/

I. noun

1. the final part of a play, movie, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved.

2. the climax of a chain of events, usually when something is decided or made clear

• I waited by the eighteenth green to see the denouement.

– origin mid 18th cent.: French dénouement, from dénouer ‘unknot.’

denounce /dəˈnouns/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. publicly declare to be wrong or evil

• the Assembly denounced the use of violence

• he was widely denounced as a traitor.

2. inform against

• some of his own priests denounced him to the King for heresy.

II. derivatives

1. denouncement /dəˈnounsmənt /

noun

2. denouncer /dəˈnounsər /

noun

– origin Middle English (originally in the sense ‘proclaim, announce,’ also ‘proclaim someone to be wicked, cursed, a rebel, etc’): from Old French denoncier, from Latin denuntiare ‘give official information,’ based on nuntius ‘messenger.’

de nouveau /ˌdə no͞oˈvō/

I. adverb

‹archaic› starting again from the beginning; anew.

– origin late 18th cent.: French, literally ‘from new.’

de novo /dā ˈnōvō, di/

I. adverb, adjective

starting from the beginning; anew
[as adv.]

• in a pure meritocracy, everyone must begin de novo

• [as adj.] a general strategy for de novo protein design.

– origin early 17th cent.: Latin, literally ‘from new.’

Denpasar /denˈpäˌsär/

the chief city of the island of Bali in Indonesia, a seaport on the southern coast; pop. 424,300 (est. 2009).

dense /dens/

I. adjective

1. closely compacted in substance

• dense volcanic rock

• swirling, dense smoke.

2. having the constituent parts crowded closely together

• an estuary dense with marine life.

3. ‹informal› (of a person) stupid.

4. (of a text) hard to understand because of complexity of ideas.

II. derivatives

denseness /ˈdensnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin densus.

densely /ˈdenslē/

adverb

1. in a closely compacted or crowded manner; thickly

• a densely populated country

• densely packed layers

• the best way to keep weeds at bay is to plant densely.

2. in a manner that is hard to understand because of its complexity

• densely plotted historical fiction.

3. ‹informal› in a stupid manner

• staff can be surly should they decide a customer is behaving densely

• [as submodifier] he is densely ignorant and primitive.

densify /ˈdensəˌfī/

I. verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. densified)

1. make (something) more dense

• densified hardboard.

II. derivatives

densification /ˌdensəfiˈkāSHən /

noun

densimeter /denˈsimədər/

I. noun

an instrument for measuring density, especially of liquids.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin densus ‘dense’ + -meter.

densitometer /ˌdensəˈtämədər/

I. noun

1. a device for measuring the density of a material.

2. an instrument for measuring the photographic density of an image on a film or photographic print.

II. derivatives

1. densitometric /-sitəˈmetrik /

adjective

2. densitometrically /-sitəˈmetrik(ə)lē /

adverb

3. densitometry /-ˈtämətrē /

noun

density /ˈdensədē/

I. noun

1. the degree of compactness of a substance

• a reduction in bone density.

2. (also packing density) — [Computing] a measure of the amount of information on a storage medium (tape or disk). For magnetic tape it is the amount of information recorded per unit length of tape (bits per inch or millimeter); for a disk, a fixed number of bits per sector, sectors per track, and tracks per disk

• chip density doubles every eighteen months

• [as modifier, in combination] a low-density 5.25-inch floppy disk

• a drive capable of handling high-density 1.44 megabyte disks.

3. [Physics] degree of consistency measured by the quantity of mass per unit volume.

4. the opacity of a photographic image.

5. the quantity of people or things in a given area or space

• areas of low population density

• a density of 10,000 per square mile.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French densité or Latin densitas, from densus ‘dense.’

density function

noun

short for probability density function.

dent /dent/

I. noun

1. a slight hollow in a hard, even surface made by a blow or by the exertion of pressure.

2. a diminishing effect; a reduction

• a dent in profits.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. mark with a dent

• the moose dropped a hind foot and dented the hood of the car.

2. have an adverse effect on; diminish

• this neither deterred him nor dented his enthusiasm.

– origin Middle English (as a noun designating a blow with a weapon): variant of dint.

dent.

abbreviation

1. dental.

2. dentist.

3. dentistry.

dental /ˈden(t)l/

I. adjective

1. [attrib.] — of or relating to the teeth

• dental health.

2. (abbr.: dent.) — of or relating to dentistry

• dental councils.

3. [Phonetics] (of a consonant) pronounced with the tip of the tongue against the upper front teeth (as th) or the alveolar ridge (as n, d, t).

II. noun

[Phonetics] a dental consonant.

III. derivatives

1. dentalize /ˈdentlˌīz /

verb

( — [Phonetics]

2. dentally

adverb

– origin late 16th cent.: from late Latin dentalis, from Latin dens, dent- ‘tooth.’

dental dam

noun

a thin sheet of latex used by dentists to isolate a tooth being worked on, or as a prophylactic device during cunnilingus and anilingus.

dental floss

noun

a soft thread of floss silk or similar material used to clean between the teeth.

dental formula

noun

[Zoology] a formula expressing the number and kinds of teeth possessed by a mammal. A dental formula is usually written in the form of four “fractions,” one for each type of tooth, with the upper and lower lines describing the upper and lower jaws respectively.

dental hygienist

I. noun

an ancillary dental worker specializing in scaling and polishing teeth and in giving advice on cleaning the teeth.

II. derivatives

dental hygiene

noun

dentalium /denˈtālēəm/

I. noun

1. another term for tooth shell:
[as modifier]

• dentalium shells are ideal for use with beadwork.

[Genus Dentalium, class Scaphopoda.]

2. (usu. dentalia) — ‹historical› tooth shells used as currency, especially by some American Indian peoples

• he gave them handfuls of dentalia, for which his father-in-law and his brothers-in-law gave him slaves and valuable furs

• a white mare purchased with dentalium.

– origin modern Latin, from late Latin dentalis (see dental).

dental nurse /ˈden(t)l nərs/

noun

a nurse who assists a dentist.

dental surgeon /ˈden(t)l ˈsərjən/

noun

a dentist.

dental technician /ˈden(t)l tekˈniSHən/

noun

a person who makes and repairs artificial teeth.

dentary /ˈden(t)ərē/

I. noun

[Zoology] the anterior bone of the lower jaw, which bears the teeth. In mammals it forms the whole of the lower jaw (or mandible).

– origin mid 19th cent.: from late Latin dentarius, from Latin dens, dent- ‘tooth.’

dentate /ˈdentāt/

I. adjective

[Botany] [Zoology] having a toothlike or serrated edge.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin dentatus, from dens, dent- ‘tooth.’

dentelle /denˈtel/

I. noun

ornamental tooling used in bookbinding, resembling lace edging.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, ‘lace,’ from dent ‘tooth’ + the diminutive suffix -elle.

dentex /ˈdenteks/

I. noun

any of various sea breams of the genus Dentex, especially D. dentex of the Mediterranean and the North African Atlantic coast. Many are important food fishes.

– origin modern Latin (genus name), from Latin.

denticle /ˈden(t)ək(ə)l/

I. noun

[Zoology] a small tooth or toothlike projection.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a pointer on an astrolabe): from Latin denticulus, diminutive of dens, dent- ‘tooth.’

denticulate /denˈtikyələt/

I. adjective

having small teeth or toothlike projections; finely toothed.

II. derivatives

denticulated /-ˌlātid /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin denticulatus, from denticulus ‘small tooth’ (see denticle).

dentifrice /ˈden(t)əfrəs/

I. noun

a paste or powder for cleaning the teeth.

– origin late Middle English: from French, from Latin dentifricium, from dens, dent- ‘tooth’ + fricare ‘to rub.’

dentil /ˈdentl ˈdenˌtil/

I. noun — [often as modifier]

1. (in classical architecture) one of a number of small, rectangular blocks resembling teeth and used as a decoration under the soffit of a cornice

• a dentil frieze.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Italian dentello or obsolete French dentille, diminutive of dent ‘tooth,’ from Latin dens, dent-.

dentilingual /ˌden(t)əˈliNGɡwəl/

I. adjective

[Phonetics] (of a consonant) pronounced with the teeth and the tongue; dental.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin dens, dent- ‘tooth’ + lingual.

dentin /ˈdentēn denˈtēn / dentine

I. noun

hard, dense, bony tissue forming the bulk of a tooth beneath the enamel.

II. derivatives

dentinal /ˈdentn-əl /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin dens, dent- ‘tooth’ + -in^1.

dentist /ˈden(t)əst/

I. noun

a person qualified to treat the diseases and conditions that affect the teeth and gums, especially the repair and extraction of teeth and the insertion of artificial ones.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French dentiste, from dent ‘tooth,’ from Latin dens, dent-.

dentistry /ˈden(t)əstrē/

noun

the treatment of diseases and other conditions that affect the teeth and gums, especially the repair and extraction of teeth and the insertion of artificial ones

• advances in modern dentistry

• [as modifier] dentistry students.

dentition /denˈtiSHən/

I. noun

the arrangement or condition of the teeth in a particular species or individual.

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting the process of developing of teeth): from Latin dentitio(n-), from dentire ‘teethe,’ from dens, dent- ‘tooth.’

Denton /ˈdent(ə)n/

a commercial city in northeastern Texas; pop. 119,454 (est. 2008).

denture /ˈden(t)SHər/

I. noun — (usu. dentures)

1. a removable plate or frame holding one or more artificial teeth.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French, from dent ‘tooth,’ from Latin dens, dent-.

denturist /ˈden(t)SHərəst/

noun

a person who makes dentures.

denuclearize /dēˈn(y)o͞oklēəˌrīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove nuclear weapons from.

II. derivatives

denuclearization /-ˌn(y)o͞oklēərəˈzāSHən /

noun

denude /dəˈn(y)o͞od/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. strip (something) of its covering, possessions, or assets; make bare

• almost overnight the Arctic was denuded of animals.

II. derivatives

denudation /ˌdēn(y)o͞oˈdāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin denudare, from de- ‘completely’ + nudare ‘to bare’ (from nudus ‘naked’).

denumerable /dēˈn(y)o͞omərəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

[Mathematics] able to be counted by a one-to-one correspondence with the infinite set of integers.

II. derivatives

1. denumerability /-ˌn(y)o͞omərəˈbilitē /

noun

2. denumerably /-blē /

adverb

– origin early 20th cent.: from late Latin denumerare ‘count out’ + -able.

denunciation /dəˌnənsēˈāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. public condemnation of someone or something.

2. the action of informing against someone.

II. derivatives

1. denunciator /dəˈnənsēˌādər /

noun

2. denunciatory /dəˈnənsēəˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin denuntiatio(n-), from the verb denuntiare (see denounce). The original sense was ‘public announcement,’ also ‘formal accusation or charge’; the main sense dates from the mid 19th cent.

Denver /ˈdenvər/

the capital of Colorado, in the central part of the state, on the South Platte River; pop. 598,707 (est. 2008). It is situated at an altitude of 5,280 feet (1,608 m) on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains.

Denver, John

(1943–97), US country and pop singer and songwriter and actor; born Henry John Deutschendorf. He celebrated the simple life and his love of Colorado in his songs such as “Take Me Home, Country Roads” (1971), “Rocky Mountain High” (1972), and “Sunshine on My Shoulders” (1974). He also acted in movies, most notably Oh, God! (1977).

Denver boot

I. noun

(N. Amer.) see boot^1 (sense 1 of the noun).

– origin mid 20th cent.: named after Denver, Colorado, where the boot was introduced in 1949.

deny /dəˈnī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. state that one refuses to admit the truth or existence of

• they deny any responsibility for the tragedy.

2. refuse to admit the truth of (a concept or proposition that is supported by the majority of scientific or historical evidence)

• an anti-environmentalist campaign group that denies climate change.

3. [with two objs.] — refuse to give or grant (something requested or desired) to (someone)

• the inquiry was denied access to intelligence sources.

4. (deny oneself) — refrain from satisfying oneself

• he had denied himself sexually for years.

5. ‹archaic› refuse access to (someone)

• the servants are ordered to deny him.

– origin Middle English: from Old French deni-, stressed stem of deneier, from Latin denegare, from de- ‘formally’ + negare ‘say no.’

Denys, St.

see Denis, St.

deodar /ˈdēəˌdär/

I. noun

a tall, broadly conical cedar that is native to the Himalayas and has drooping branches and large barrel-shaped cones.
[Cedrus deodara, family Pinaceae.]

– origin early 19th cent.: from Hindi deodār, from Sanskrit devadāru ‘divine tree.’

deodorant /dēˈōdərənt/

I. noun

a substance that removes or conceals unpleasant smells, especially bodily odors.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from de- (expressing removal) + Latin odor ‘smell’ + -ant.

deodorize /dēˈōdəˌrīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove or conceal an unpleasant smell in

• people used dried flowers to deodorize their homes.

II. derivatives

1. deodorization /dēˌōd(ə)rəˈzāSH(ə)n dēˌōdəˌrīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. deodorizer /dēˈōdəˌrīzər /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from de- (expressing removal) + Latin odor ‘smell’ + -ize.

Deo gratias /ˌdāō ˈɡrätsēəs/

I. exclamation

thanks be to God.

– origin late 16th cent.: Latin.

deontic /dēˈän(t)ik/

I. adjective

1. [Philosophy] of or relating to duty and obligation as ethical concepts.

2. [Philosophy] [Linguistics] expressing duty or obligation.

– origin mid 19th cent. (as noun deontics): from Greek deont- ‘being needed or necessary’ (from dei ‘it is necessary’) + -ic.

deontology /ˌdēänˈtäləjē/

I. noun

[Philosophy] the study of the nature of duty and obligation.

II. derivatives

1. deontological /dēˌäntˈäjikəl /

adjective

2. deontologist /-jist /

noun

– origin early 19th cent.: from Greek deont- ‘being necessary’ (from dei ‘it is necessary’) + -logy.

Deo volente /ˌdāō vəˈlentē/

I. adverb

God willing; if nothing prevents it.

– origin mid 18th cent.: Latin.

deoxidize /dēˈäksəˌdīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove combined oxygen from (a substance, usually a metal).

II. derivatives

1. deoxidation /dēˌäksəˈdāSHən /

noun

2. deoxidizer

noun

deoxycorticosterone /dēˌäksēˌkôrdiˈkästəˌrōn/

noun

[Biochemistry] a corticosteroid hormone involved in regulating the salt and water balance in the human body.

deoxygenate /dēˈäksəjəˌnāt/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. deoxygenated)

1. remove oxygen from

• deoxygenated air.

II. derivatives

deoxygenation /-ˌäksijəˈnāSHən /

noun

deoxyribonuclease /dēˌäksēˌrībōˈn(y)o͞oklēˌās, -ˌāz/

noun

[Biochemistry] another term for DNase.

deoxyribonucleic acid /dēˌäksēˌrībōn(y)o͞oˈklēik ˈasid/

I. noun

see DNA.

– origin 1930s: deoxyribonucleic from a blend of deoxyribose and nucleic acid.

deoxyribose /dēˌäksēˈrībōs, -bōz/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a sugar derived from ribose by replacing a hydroxyl group with hydrogen.
[Chem. formula; C_5H_10O_4. There are several isomers; the isomer 2-deoxyribose is a constituent of DNA.]

– origin 1930s: from de- (expressing reduction) + oxy-2 + ribose.

dep.

abbreviation

1. departs.

2. deputy.

depanneur /ˌdepəˈnər / dépanneur

I. noun

(Canadian) (especially in Quebec) a convenience store

• you can buy beer at the depanneur along with your smokes and lotto tickets.

– origin Canadian French dépanneur, from French (in the sense ‘mechanic, repairman’) (the Canadian French sense apparently deriving from the idea that last-minute or emergency purchases can be made from such a store).

Depardieu, Gérard /ˌdāpärˈd(y)o͞o, -ˈdyœ/

1948–, French actor. Notable movies: Jean de Florette (1986), Green Card (1990), Tous les matins du monde (1991), and In the Beginning (1991).

depart /dəˈpärt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. leave, typically in order to start a journey

• they departed for Germany

• a contingent was departing from Cairo.

2. (depart from) — deviate from (an accepted, prescribed, or traditional course of action)

• he departed from the precedent set by many.

II. phrases

depart this life

‹archaic› die.

– origin Middle English: from Old French departir, based on Latin dispertire ‘to divide.’ The original sense was ‘separate,’ also ‘take leave of each other,’ hence ‘go away.’

departed /dəˈpärdəd/

I. adjective

deceased

• a dear departed relative.

II. noun — (the departed)

1. a particular dead person or dead people

• the prayer for the departed.

department /dəˈpärtmənt/

I. noun

1. a division of a large organization such as a government, university, business, or shop, dealing with a specific subject, commodity, or area of activity

• the English department.

2. an administrative district in France and other countries.

3. (one's department) — ‹informal› an area of special expertise or responsibility

• that's not my department.

4. [with modifier] — ‹informal› a specified aspect or quality

• I never thought of myself as above average in the looks department.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French departement, from departir (see depart). The original sense was ‘division or distribution,’ later ‘separation,’ hence ‘a separate part’ (core sense, mid 18th cent).

departmental /dēˌpärtˈmen(t)l/

I. adjective

concerned with or belonging to a department of an organization

• a departmental meeting.

II. derivatives

departmentally /dəˌpärtˈmen(t)lē /

adverb

departmentalism /dipärtˈmentlˌizəm, ˌdēpärt-/

noun

adherence to departmental methods or structure.

departmentalize /dəˌpärtˈmen(t)lˌīz dēˌpärtˈmen(t)lˌīz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be departmentalized)

1. divide (an organization or its work) into departments.

II. derivatives

departmentalization /dəˌpärtˌmen(t)ləˈzāSHən dēˌpärtˌmen(t)ləˈzāSHən dəˌpärtˌmen(t)līˈzāSHən dēˌpärtˌmen(t)līˈzāSHən /

noun

Department of Agriculture

noun

the department of the US government that administers federal programs related to food production and rural life. The department's principal duty is to aid farmers, but it also serves consumers through its food-assistance and food-inspection programs.

department store

noun

a large store stocking many varieties of goods in different departments.

departure /dəˈpärCHər/

I. noun

1. the action of leaving, typically to start a journey

• the day of departure

• she made a hasty departure.

2. a deviation from an accepted, prescribed, or traditional course of action or thought

• a departure from their usual style.

3. [Nautical] the east–west distance between two points, especially as traveled by a ship or aircraft and expressed in miles.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French departeure, from the verb departir (see depart).

departure lounge

noun

a seating area in an airport where passengers wait immediately prior to boarding.

depauperate /dəˈpôpərət/

I. adjective

1. [Biology] (of a flora, fauna, or ecosystem) lacking in numbers or variety of species

• oceanic islands are generally depauperate in mayflies.

2. [Biology] (of a plant or animal) imperfectly developed.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘impoverished’): from medieval Latin depauperatus, past participle of depauperare, from de- ‘completely’ + pauperare ‘make poor’ (from pauper ‘poor’).

dépaysé /ˌdāpāˈzā / dépaysée

I. adjective

removed from one's habitual surroundings.

– origin early 20th cent.: French, literally ‘(removed) from one's own country.’

depend /dəˈpend/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (depend on/upon) — be controlled or determined by

• differences in earnings depended on a wide variety of factors.

2. (depend on/upon) — rely on

• the kind of person you could depend on.

3. need or require for financial or other support

• a town that had depended heavily upon the wool industry.

4. be grammatically dependent on.

5. ‹archaic› ‹literary› hang down

• his tongue dependedfrom open jaws.

II. phrases

1. depending on

being conditioned by; contingent on

• makes 8–10 burgers (depending on size)

• [with clause] the article sneered or just condescended, depending on how you read it.

2. it (or that) (all) depends

used to express uncertainty or qualification in answering a question

• How many people use each screen? It all depends.

– origin late Middle English (sense 3; also in the sense ‘wait or be in suspense’): from Old French dependre, from Latin dependere, from de- ‘down’ + pendere ‘hang.’ / usage: In informal use, it is quite common for the on to be dropped in sentences such as it all depends how you look at it (rather than it all depends on how you look at it), but in well-formed written English, the on should be retained. In more formal writing, and sometimes for sound, rhythm, or other rhetorical effect, upon is the preferred preposition: You may depend upon it.

dependable /dəˈpendəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

trustworthy and reliable.

II. derivatives

1. dependability /dəˌpendəˈbilədē dēˌpendəˈbilədē /

noun

2. dependably /dəˈpendəblē /

adverb

dependence /dəˈpendəns/

I. noun

1. the state of relying on or being controlled by someone or something else

• Japan's dependence on imported oil.

2. reliance on someone or something for financial support

• the dependence of our medical schools on grant funds.

3. addiction to drink or drugs

• alcohol dependence.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘hanging down or something that hangs down’): from Old French dependance, from the verb dependre (see depend).

dependency /dəˈpendənsē/

noun

1. a dependent or subordinate thing, especially a country or province controlled by another.

2. dependence

• the country's dependency on the oil industry.

dependent /dəˈpendənt/

I. adjective

1. [predic.] (dependent on/upon) — contingent on or determined by

• the various benefits will be dependent on length of service.

2. requiring someone or something for financial, emotional, or other support

• an economy heavily dependent on oil exports

• households with dependent children.

3. unable to do without

• people dependent on drugs

• [in combination] welfare-dependent families.

4. [Grammar] (of a clause, phrase, or word) subordinate to another clause, phrase, or word.

II. noun

a person who relies on another, especially a family member, for financial support

• a single man with no dependents.

III. derivatives

dependently

adverb

– origin late Middle English dependant ‘hanging down,’ from Old French, present participle of dependre (see depend). The spelling change in the 16th cent. was due to association with the Latin participial stem dependent-.

dependent variable

noun

[Mathematics] a variable (often denoted by y) whose value depends on that of another.

depersonalization /dēˌpərsənələˈzāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action of divesting someone or something of human characteristics or individuality.

2. [Psychiatry] a state in which one's thoughts and feelings seem unreal or not to belong to oneself, or in which one loses all sense of identity.

depersonalize /dēˈpərs(ə)nəˌlīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. divest of human characteristics or individuality

• medical technology depersonalizes treatment.

dephlogisticated /ˌdēfləˈjistəkādəd/

adjective

[Chemistry] ‹historical› deprived of “phlogiston.” Oxygen was originally called dephlogisticated air by Joseph Priestley.

depict /dəˈpikt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. show or represent by a drawing, painting, or other art form.

2. portray in words; describe

• youth is depicted as a time of vitality and good health.

II. derivatives

depicter /dəˈpiktər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin depict- ‘portrayed,’ from the verb depingere, from de- ‘completely’ + pingere ‘to paint.’

depiction /diˈpikSH(ə)n/

noun

the action or result of depicting something, especially in art

• the painting's horrific depiction of war

• Michelangelo's depictions of the male nude.

depigment /dēˈpiɡmənt/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. depigmented)

1. reduce or remove the pigmentation of (the skin).

II. derivatives

depigmentation /-ˌpiɡmənˈtāSHən /

noun

depilate /ˈdepəˌlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove the hair from

• they scrubbed and depilated her

• (as adj. depilated) his permanently depilated and tattooed skull.

II. derivatives

depilation /ˌdepəˈlāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (earlier (late Middle English) as depilation): from Latin depilat- ‘stripped of hair,’ from the verb depilare, from de- (expressing removal) + pilare (from pilus ‘hair’).

depilator /ˈdepəˌlādər/

noun

an instrument that removes unwanted bodily hair, typically by plucking it from the root.

depilatory /dəˈpiləˌtôrē/

I. adjective

used to remove unwanted hair.

II. noun

a cream or lotion for removing unwanted hair.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin depilatorius, from depilat- ‘stripped of hair,’ from the verb depilare (see depilate).

deplane /dēˈplān/

verb — [no obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) disembark from an aircraft

• we landed and deplaned.

deplete /dəˈplēt/

I. verb — (often as adj. depleted)

1. use up the supply or resources of

• fish stocks are severely depleted.

2. [no obj.] — diminish in number or quantity

• supplies are depleting fast.

– origin early 19th cent. (earlier (mid. 17th cent.) as depletion): from Latin deplet- ‘emptied out,’ from the verb deplere, from de- (expressing reversal) + plere ‘fill’ (from plenus ‘full’).

depleted uranium /dəˈplēdid dēˈplēdid yəˈrānēəm yo͞oˈrānēəm / DU

noun

uranium from which most of the fissile isotope uranium-235 has been removed.

depletion /dəˈplēSH(ə)n/

noun

reduction in the number or quantity of something

• the depletion of the ozone layer.

depletion allowance /dəˈplēSH(ə)n əˌlouəns/

noun

(N. Amer.) a tax concession allowable to a company whose normal business activities (in particular oil extraction) reduce the value of its own assets.

deplorable /dəˈplôrəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. deserving strong condemnation

• the deplorable conditions in which most prisoners are held.

2. shockingly bad in quality

• her spelling was deplorable.

II. derivatives

deplorably /dəˈplôrəblē /

adverb

– origin early 17th cent.: from French déplorable or late Latin deplorabilis, from the verb deplorare (see deplore).

deplore /dəˈplôr/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. feel or express strong disapproval of (something)

• we deplore this act of violence.

II. derivatives

deploringly

adverb

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘weep for, regret deeply’): from French déplorer or Italian deplorare, from Latin deplorare, from de- ‘away, thoroughly’ + plorare ‘bewail.’

deploy /dəˈploi/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. move (troops or equipment) into position for military action

• forces were deployed at strategic locations.

2. [no obj.] — (of troops) move into position for military action

• the air force began to deploy forward.

3. bring into effective action; utilize

• they are not always able to deploy this skill.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French déployer, from Latin displicare and late Latin deplicare ‘unfold or explain,’ from dis-, de- ‘un-’ + plicare ‘to fold.’ Compare with display.

deployment /dəˈploimənt/

noun

1. the movement of troops or equipment to a place or position for military action

• the authorities announced deployment of extra security forces in towns and cities to prevent violence

• they agreed to round up their troops for immediate deployment

• a six-month deployment in the Gulf with the U.S. Navy.

2. the action of bringing resources into effective action

• the rapid deployment of high-speed cable Internet services to consumers

• a world leader in the development and deployment of wave and tidal power.

deplume /dēˈplo͞om/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. deprive (a bird) of feathers.

2. ‹archaic› strip or deprive of honor, status, or wealth.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French desplumer or medieval Latin deplumare, from des-, de- (expressing reversal) + Latin pluma ‘feather.’

depolarize /dēˈpōləˌrīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Physics] reduce or remove the polarization of

• the threshold necessary to depolarize the membrane.

II. derivatives

depolarization /dēˌpōlərəˈzāSHən dēˌpōləˌrīˈzāSHən dəˌpōləˌrīˈzāSHən dəˌpōlərəˈzāSHən /

noun

depoliticize /dēpəˈlidəˌsīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove from political activity or influence

• we have to depoliticize sex education.

II. derivatives

depoliticization /-ˌlitisəˈzāSHən /

noun

depolymerize /dēˈpäləməˌrīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Chemistry] break (a polymer) down into monomers or other smaller units.

2. [no obj.] — [Chemistry] undergo the process of depolymerization

• the ideal disposable polymer would depolymerize naturally.

II. derivatives

depolymerization /-ˌpäləmerəˈzāSHən /

noun

deponent /dəˈpōnənt/

I. adjective

[Grammar] (of a verb, especially in Latin or Greek) passive or middle in form but active in meaning.

II. noun

1. [Grammar] a deponent verb.

2. [Law] a person who makes a deposition or affidavit under oath.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin deponent- ‘laying aside, putting down’ (in medieval Latin ‘testifying’), from the verb deponere, from de- ‘down’ + ponere ‘place.’ The use in grammar arose from the notion that the verb had “laid aside” the passive sense (although in fact these verbs were originally reflexive).

depopulate /dēˈpäpyəˌlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. substantially reduce the population of (an area)

• the disease could depopulate a city the size of New Haven.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘ravage, lay waste’): from Latin depopulat- ‘ravaged,’ from the verb depopulari, from de- ‘completely’ + populari ‘lay waste’ (from populus ‘people’).

depopulation /ˌdēˌpäpyəˈlāSH(ə)n/

noun

substantial reduction in the population of an area

• rural districts experience depopulation and economic decline.

deport /dəˈpôrt/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — expel (a foreigner) from a country, typically on the grounds of illegal status or for having committed a crime

• he was deported for violation of immigration laws.

2. exile (a native) to another country.

3. (deport oneself) — ‹archaic› conduct oneself in a specified manner

• he has deported himself with great dignity.

II. derivatives

deportable

adjective

– origin late 16th cent. (sense 2): from French déporter, from Latin deportare, from de- ‘away’ + portare ‘carry.’

deportation /ˌdēpôrˈtāSH(ə)n/

noun

the action of deporting a foreigner from a country

• asylum seekers facing deportation

• [as modifier] a deportation order.

• mass deportations took place over many months.

deportee /ˌdēpôrˈtē/

noun

a person who has been or is being expelled from a country.

deportment /dəˈpôrtmənt/

I. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a person's behavior or manners

• there are team rules governing deportment on and off the field.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French déportement, from the verb déporter (see deport).

depose /dəˈpōz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove from office suddenly and forcefully

• he had been deposed by a military coup.

2. [Law] testify to or give (evidence) on oath, typically in a written statement

• every affidavit shall state which of the facts deposed to are within the deponent's knowledge.

3. [Law] question (a witness) in deposition.

– origin Middle English: from Old French deposer, from Latin deponere (see deponent), but influenced by Latin depositus and Old French poser ‘to place.’

deposit /dəˈpäzət/

I. noun

1. a sum of money placed or kept in a bank account, usually to gain interest.

2. an act of placing money in a bank account

• I'd like to make a deposit.

3. a sum payable as a first installment on the purchase of something or as a pledge for a contract, the balance being payable later

• we've saved enough for a deposit on a house.

4. a returnable sum payable on the rental of something, to cover any possible loss or damage.

5. a layer or body of accumulated matter

• the deposits of salt on the chrome.

6. a natural layer of sand, rock, coal, or other material.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — put or set down (something or someone) in a specific place, typically unceremoniously

• he deposited a pile of schoolbooks on the kitchen table.

2. (usu. be deposited) — (of water, the wind, or other natural agency) lay down (matter) gradually as a layer or covering

• beds where salt is deposited by the tide.

3. lay (an egg)

• the female deposits a line of eggs.

4. [with obj.] — store or entrust with someone for safekeeping.

5. pay (a sum of money) into a bank account

• the money is deposited with a bank.

6. pay (a sum) as a first installment or as a pledge for a contract

• I had to deposit 10% of the price of the house.

– origin late 16th cent. (especially in the phrases in deposit or on deposit): from Latin depositum (noun), medieval Latin depositare (verb), both from Latin deposit- ‘laid aside,’ from the verb deponere.

depositary /dəˈpäzəˌterē / depository

I. noun

a person to whom something is lodged in trust.

II. adjective

(of a share or receipt) representing a share in a foreign company. The depositary share or receipt is traded on the stock exchange of the investor's country rather than the actual share, which is deposited in a foreign bank.

– origin early 17th cent.: from late Latin depositarius, from the verb deponere (see deposit).

deposition /ˌdepəˈziSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action of deposing someone, especially a monarch

• Edward V's deposition.

2. [Law] the process of giving sworn evidence

• the deposition of four expert witnesses.

3. [Law] a formal, usually written, statement to be used as evidence.

4. the action of depositing something

• pebbles formed by the deposition of calcium in solution.

5. (the Deposition) — the taking down of the body of Jesus Christ from the Cross.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin depositio(n-), from the verb deponere (see deposit).

depositor /dəˈpäzədər/

noun

a person who keeps money in a bank account.

depository /dəˈpäzəˌtôrē/

I. noun

1. a place where things are stored.

2. variant spelling of depositary.

– origin mid 17th cent. (denoting a depositary): from late Latin depositorium, from deposit- ‘laid aside,’ from the verb deponere (see deposit).

depot /ˈdēpō ˈdepō/

I. noun

1. a place for the storage of large quantities of equipment, food, or some other commodity

• an arms depot.

2. (N. Amer.) a railroad or bus station.

3. a place where buses, trains, or other vehicles are housed and maintained and from which they are dispatched for service.

4. the headquarters of a regiment; a place where recruits or other troops are assembled.

– origin late 18th cent. (in the sense ‘act of depositing’): from French dépôt, from Latin depositum ‘something deposited’ (see deposit).

deprave /dəˈprāv/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (someone) immoral or wicked

• this book would deprave and corrupt young children.

II. derivatives

depravation /ˌdeprəˈvāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘pervert the meaning or intention of something’): from Old French depraver or Latin depravare, from de- ‘down, thoroughly’ + pravus ‘crooked, perverse.’

depraved /dəˈprāvd/

adjective

morally corrupt; wicked

• a depraved indifference to human life.

depravity /dəˈpravədē/

I. noun

1. moral corruption; wickedness

• a tale of wickedness and depravity.

2. a wicked or morally corrupt act.

3. [Christian Theology] the innate corruption of human nature, due to original sin.

– origin mid 17th cent.: alteration (influenced by deprave) of obsolete pravity, from Latin pravitas, from pravus ‘crooked, perverse.’

deprecate /ˈdeprəˌkāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. express disapproval of
(as adj. deprecating)

• he sniffed in a deprecating way.

2. (be deprecated) — (chiefly of a software feature) be usable but regarded as obsolete and best avoided, typically due to having been superseded

• this feature is deprecated and will be removed in later versions

• (as adj. deprecated) avoid the deprecated element that causes text to flash on and off.

3. another term for depreciate (sense 2):

• he deprecates the value of children's television.

II. derivatives

1. deprecatingly /ˈdeprəˌkādiNGlē /

adverb

2. deprecation /ˌdeprəˈkāSH(ə)n /

noun

3. deprecative /ˈdeprəˌkādiv /

adjective

4. deprecator /-ˌkātər /

noun

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘pray against’): from Latin deprecat- ‘prayed against (as being evil),’ from the verb deprecari, from de- (expressing reversal) + precari ‘pray.’

deprecatory /ˈdeprikəˌtôrē/

adjective

1. expressing disapproval; disapproving.

2. apologetic or appeasing

• a deprecatory smile.

depreciate /dəˈprēSHēˌāt/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — diminish in value over a period of time

• the pound is expected to depreciate against the dollar.

2. reduce the recorded value in a company's books of (an asset) each year over a predetermined period

• the computers would be depreciated at 50 percent per annum.

3. [with obj.] — disparage or belittle (something)

• she was already depreciating her own aesthetic taste.

II. derivatives

depreciatory /dəˈprēSH(ē)əˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (sense 2): from late Latin depreciat- ‘lowered in price, undervalued,’ from the verb depreciare, from Latin de- ‘down’ + pretium ‘price.’

depreciation /dəˌprēSHēˈāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. a reduction in the value of an asset with the passage of time, due in particular to wear and tear.

2. decrease in the value of a currency relative to other currencies

• depreciation leads to losses for non-dollar-based investors

• a currency depreciation.

depredation /ˌdeprəˈdāSHən/

I. noun — (usu. depredations)

1. an act of attacking or plundering

• protecting grain from the depredations of rats and mice.

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘plundering, robbery,’ (plural) ‘ravages’): from French déprédation, from late Latin depraedatio(n-), from depraedari ‘plunder.’

depredator /ˈdeprəˌdādər/

I. noun

‹archaic› a person or thing that makes depredations, especially a predatory animal.

II. derivatives

depredatory /dəˈpredəˌtôrē /

adjective

depress /dəˈpres/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (someone) feel utterly dispirited or dejected

• that first day at school depressed me.

2. reduce the level or strength of activity in (something, especially an economic or biological system)

• fear of inflation in America depressed bond markets

• alcohol depresses the nervous system.

3. push or pull (something) down into a lower position

• depress the lever.

II. derivatives

depressible

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French depresser, from late Latin depressare, frequentative of deprimere ‘press down.’

depressant /dəˈpres(ə)nt/

I. adjective

(chiefly of a drug) reducing functional or nervous activity.

II. noun

1. a depressant drug.

2. an influence that depresses economic or other activity

• higher taxation is a depressant.

depressed /dəˈprest/

adjective

1. (of a person) in a state of general unhappiness or despondency.

2. (of a person) suffering from clinical depression.

3. (of a place or economic activity) suffering the damaging effects of a lack of demand or employment

• depressed urban areas.

4. (of an object or part of an object) in a physically lower position, having been pushed or forced down

• a depressed fracture of the skull.

depressing /dəˈpresiNG/

adjective

1. causing or resulting in a feeling of miserable dejection

• that thought is too depressing for words.

2. causing a damaging reduction in economic activity

• the mortgage rate increase will have a depressing effect on the housing market.

depressingly /dəˈpresiNGlē/

adverb

in a manner that causes sadness

• Mrs. Lynde spoke depressingly

• [as submodifier] the story is becoming depressingly familiar

• [as sentence adverb] depressingly, I have to agree with Eric on the likely political reaction to this problem.

depression /dəˈpreSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. feelings of severe despondency and dejection.

• self-doubt creeps in and that swiftly turns to depression.

2. [Psychiatry] a mental condition characterized by feelings of severe despondency and dejection, typically also with feelings of inadequacy and guilt, often accompanied by lack of energy and disturbance of appetite and sleep

• she was referred by a psychiatrist treating her for depression.

3. a long and severe recession in an economy or market

• the depression in the housing market.

4. (the Depression or the Great Depression) — the financial and industrial slump of 1929 and subsequent years.

5. the action of lowering something or pressing something down

• depression of the plunger delivers two units of insulin.

6. a sunken place or hollow on a surface

• the original shallow depressions were slowly converted to creeks.

7. [Meteorology] a region of lower atmospheric pressure, especially a cyclonic weather system.

• hurricanes start off as loose regions of bad weather known as tropical depressions.

8. [Astronomy] [Geography] the angular distance of an object below the horizon or a horizontal plane.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin depressio(n-), from deprimere ‘press down’ (see depress).

Depression glass

noun

machine-pressed, tinted glassware that was mass-produced in the US from the late 1920s to the 1940s and often used as giveaways to persuade customers to purchase goods.

depressive /dəˈpresiv/

I. adjective

1. causing feelings of hopelessness, despondency, and dejection.

2. [Medicine] relating to or tending to suffer from clinical depression

• a depressive illness.

3. causing a reduction in strength, effectiveness, or value

• steroids have a depressive effect on the immune system.

II. noun

[Medicine] a person suffering from or with a tendency to suffer from depression.

depressor /dəˈpresər/

I. noun

1. (also depressor muscle) — [Anatomy] a muscle whose contraction pulls down the part of the body to which it is attached.

2. any of several specific muscles in the face
[followed by Latin genitive]

• depressor anguli oris.

3. [Physiology] a nerve whose stimulation results in a lowering of blood pressure.

4. an instrument for pressing something down.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the general sense ‘someone or something that depresses’): from Latin, from depress- ‘pressed down,’ from the verb deprimere (see depress).

depressurize /dēˈpreSHəˌrīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. release the pressure of the gas inside (a pressurized vehicle or container).

2. [no obj.] — (of a pressurized vehicle or container) lose pressure.

II. derivatives

depressurization /dēˌpreSH(ə)rəˈzāSH(ə)n dēˌpreSHəˌrīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

deprivation /ˌdeprəˈvāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the damaging lack of material benefits considered to be basic necessities in a society

• low wages mean that 3.75 million people suffer serious deprivation

• rural households could escape the worst deprivations of the towns.

2. the lack or denial of something considered to be a necessity

• sleep deprivation.

3. ‹archaic› the action of depriving someone of office, especially an ecclesiastical office.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘removal from office’): from medieval Latin deprivatio(n-), from the verb deprivare (see deprive).

deprive /dəˈprīv/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. deny (a person or place) the possession or use of something

• the city was deprived of its water supplies.

2. ‹archaic› depose (someone, especially a member of the clergy) from office

• Archbishop Bancroft deprived a considerable number of puritan clergymen.

II. derivatives

deprival /dəˈprīv(ə)l /

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘depose from office’): from Old French depriver, from medieval Latin deprivare, from de- ‘away, completely’ + privare (see private).

deprived /dəˈprīvd/

adjective

1. suffering a severe and damaging lack of basic material and cultural benefits

• the charity cares for destitute and deprived children.

2. (of a person) suffering a lack of a specified benefit that is considered important

• the men felt sexually deprived.

de profundis /ˌdā prəˈfo͝ondis/

I. noun

a heartfelt cry of appeal expressing one's deepest feelings of sorrow or anguish.

– origin late Middle English: Latin, literally ‘from the depths,’ the opening words of Psalm 130.

deprogram /dēˈprōˌɡram, -ɡrəm/

verb — [with obj.]

1. release (someone) from apparent brainwashing, typically that of a religious cult, by the systematic reindoctrination of conventional values.

deproteinize /dēˈprōtēəˌnīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove the protein from (a substance), usually as a stage in chemical purification.

II. derivatives

deproteinization /-ˌprōtē(ə)nəˈzāSHən /

noun

Dept.

abbreviation

Department.

depth /depTH/

I. noun

1. the distance from the top or surface of something to its bottom

• shallow water of no more than 12 feet in depth.

2. distance from the nearest to the farthest point of something or from the front to the back

• the depth of the wardrobe.

3. used to specify the distance below the top or surface of something to which someone or something percolates or at which something happens
[in sing.]

• loosen the soil to a depth of 8 inches.

4. the apparent existence of three dimensions in a picture, photograph, or other two-dimensional representation; perspective

• texture in a picture gives it depth.

5. lowness of pitch

• my voice had not yet acquired husky depths.

6. complexity and profundity of thought

• the book has unexpected depth.

7. extensive and detailed study or knowledge

• third-year courses typically go into more depth.

8. intensity of emotion, usually considered as a laudable quality

• a man of compassion and depth of feeling.

9. intensity of color

• the wine shows good depth of color.

10. (the depths) — a point far below the surface

• he lifted the manhole cover and peered into the depths beneath.

11. (also the depth) — the worst or lowest part or state

• 4 a.m. in the depths of winter

• the putrid depths to which morality has sunk.

12. a time when one's negative feelings are at their most intense

• she was in the depths of despair.

13. a place that is remote and inaccessible

• a remote little village somewhere in the depths of Russia.

14. [Sports] the strength of a team in its reserve of substitute players

• they have so much depth that they could afford the luxury of breaking in their players slowly.

II. phrases

1. hidden depths

usually admirable but previously unnoticed qualities of a person

• hidden depths and insights within children.

2. in depth

in great detail; comprehensively and thoroughly

• research students pursue a specific aspect of a subject in depth.

See also in-depth.

3. out of one's depth

a. in water too deep to stand in.

b. beyond one's knowledge or ability to cope

• the governor is out of his depth, politically adrift.

– origin late Middle English: from deep + -th^2, on the pattern of pairs such as long, length.

depth charge /ˈdep(TH) ˌCHärj/

noun

an explosive charge designed to be dropped from a ship or aircraft and to explode under water at a preset depth, used for attacking submarines.

depth finder

noun

an echo sounder or other device for measuring water depth, especially for navigation and fishing.

depth gauge /depTH ɡāj/

noun

a device fitted to a drill bit to ensure that the hole drilled does not exceed the required depth.

depthless /ˈdepTHləs/

I. adjective

1. unfathomably deep

• a depthless gorge.

2. shallow and superficial.

II. derivatives

depthlessly

adverb

depth of field

noun

the distance between the nearest and the furthest objects that give an image judged to be in focus in a camera.

depth of focus

noun

the distance between the two extreme axial points behind a lens at which an image is judged to be in focus.

depth perception

noun

the ability to perceive the relative distance of objects in one's visual field.

depth psychology

noun

the study of unconscious mental processes and motives, especially in psychoanalytic theory and practice.

depth sounder /depTH ˈsoundər/

noun

another term for echo sounder.

depublication /dēˌpəbliˈkāSHən/

noun

the act of depublishing

• the League of California cities had requested depublication of the Div. Seven ruling.

depublish /dēˈpəbliSH/

verb — [with obj.]

1. [chiefly Law] remove from an official record or publication

• the Supreme Court may also elect to depublish a case on its own motion.

depuration /ˌdepyəˈrāSHən/

I. noun

‹technical› the action or process of freeing something of impurities.

II. derivatives

1. depurate /ˈdepyərāt /

verb

2. depurative /ˈdepyəˌrādiv /

adjective, noun

3. depurator /-ˌrātər /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin depuratio(n-), from the verb depurare, from de- ‘completely’ + purare ‘purify’ (from purus ‘pure’).

deputation /ˌdepyəˈtāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

a group of people appointed to undertake a mission or take part in a formal process on behalf of a larger group

• he had been a member of a deputation to Napoleon III.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘appointment to an office or function’): from late Latin deputatio(n-), from the verb deputare (see depute).

depute /dəˈpyo͞ot/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. appoint or instruct (someone) to perform a task for which one is responsible

• she had been deputed to look after him while Clarissa was away.

2. delegate (authority or a task).

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin deputare ‘consider to be, assign,’ from de- ‘away’ + putare ‘think over, consider.’

deputize /ˈdepyəˌtīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) make (someone) a deputy

• some officers will be deputized as federal marshals.

2. [no obj.] — temporarily act or speak as a deputy.

deputy /ˈdepyədē/

I. noun

1. a person whose immediate superior is a senior figure within an organization and who is empowered to act as a substitute for this superior.

2. a parliamentary representative in certain countries.

II. phrases

by deputy

‹historical› instructing another person to act in one's stead; by proxy

• the wardens of the forests performed important duties by deputy.

III. derivatives

deputyship /-ˌSHip /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French depute, from late Latin deputatus, past participle of deputare (see depute).

dequeue /dēˈkyo͞o/

verb — [with obj.]

1. [Computing] remove (an item of data awaiting processing) from a queue of such items.

De Quincey, Thomas /də ˈkwinsē/

(1785–1859), English essayist and critic. He was known for his Confessions of an English Opium Eater (1822), a study of his addiction to opium and its psychological effects.

deracinate /dēˈrasəˌnāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› tear (something) up by the roots.

II. derivatives

deracination /-ˌrasəˈnāSHən /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from French déraciner, from dé- (expressing removal) + racine ‘root’ (based on Latin radix).

deracinated /dēˈrasəˌnādəd/

adjective

another term for déraciné.

déraciné /dāˌräsiˈnā/

I. adjective

uprooted or displaced from one's geographical or social environment

• the self-consciousness of déraciné Americans.

II. noun

a person who has been or feels displaced.

– origin early 20th cent.: French, literally ‘uprooted.’

deradicalization /ˌdēˌradəkələˈzāSH(ə)n ˌdēˌradəkəˌlīˈzāSH(ə)n/

noun

the action or process of causing a person with extreme views to adopt more moderate positions on political or social issues

• a forensic psychologist who has written extensively on terrorism and deradicalization

• [as modifier] a government-run deradicalization program.

deradicalize /dēˈradəkəˌlīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (a person with extreme views) to adopt more moderate positions on political or social issues

• unless extremists are deradicalized, there will be no end to this protracted conflict.

derail /dēˈrāl/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be derailed)

1. cause (a train or trolley car) to leave its tracks accidentally

• a train was derailed after it collided with a herd of cattle.

2. [no obj.] — (of a train or trolley car) accidentally leave the tracks

• the trolley cars had a tendency to derail on sharp corners.

3. [with obj.] — obstruct (a process) by diverting it from its intended course

• the plot is seen by some as an attempt to derail the negotiations.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French dérailler, from dé- (expressing removal) + rail ‘rail.’

derailleur /dəˈrāl(y)ər/

I. noun

a bicycle mechanism that moves the chain out and up, allowing it to shift to different cogs.

– origin 1930s: from French, from dérailler ‘derail.’

derailment /dəˈrālmənt/

noun

1. the action of a train or trolley car leaving its tracks accidentally

• an investigation into the derailment of a freight train

• track defects are being cited as the cause of the derailment.

2. the obstruction of a process by diverting it from its intended course

• the derailment of the peace process.

Derain, André /dəˈraN/

(1880–1954), French painter; an exponent of Fauvism.

derange /dəˈrānj/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (someone) to become insane

• that business last month must have deranged him a bit.

2. throw (something) into confusion; cause to act irregularly

• stress deranges the immune system.

3. ‹archaic› intrude on; interrupt

• I am sorry to have deranged you for so small a matter.

II. derivatives

derangement /dəˈrānjmənt /

noun

– origin late 18th cent.: from French déranger, from Old French desrengier, literally ‘move from orderly rows.’

deranged /dēˈrānjd dəˈrānjd/

adjective

mad; insane

• a deranged gunman.

derate /dēˈrāt/

verb — [with obj.]

1. reduce the power rating of (a component or device)

• the engines were derated to 90 horse power.

Derby^1 /ˈdärbē/

a city in north central England, on the Derwent River; pop. 244,700 (est. 2009).

Derby^2 /ˈdərbē/

noun

1. an annual horse race for three-year-olds, founded in 1780 by the 12th Earl of Derby. The race is run on Epsom Downs in England in late May or early June.

2. a race similar to the Derby elsewhere

• the Kentucky Derby.

3. (derby) — a sporting contest open to the general public

• sign up for the fishing derby.

4. (derby or derby hat) — (N. Amer.) a bowler hat.
[said to be from American demand for a hat of the type worn at the Epsom Derby.]

5. a boot or shoe having the eyelet tabs stitched on top of the vamp.
[so named because originally a sports boot.]

Derby^3 /ˈdärbē/

noun

a hard pressed cheese made from skimmed milk, chiefly in Derbyshire.

Derby, 14th Earl of /ˈdärbē/

(1799–1869), British statesman; prime minister 1852, 1858–59, and 1866–68; born Edward George Geoffrey Smith Stanley.

Derby Day

noun

1. the day on which the Epsom Derby is run.

2. the day on which the Kentucky Derby is run.

Derbyshire /ˈdärbēSHər ˈdärbēˌSHir ˈdərbēSHər ˈdərbēˌSHir/

a county in north central England; county town, Matlock.

de re /ˌdā ˈrā/

I. adjective

[Philosophy] relating to the properties of things mentioned in an assertion or expression, rather than to the assertion or expression itself.
Compare with de dicto.

– origin Latin, literally ‘about the thing.’

derealization /dēˌrē(ə)ləˈzāSHən/

I. noun

a feeling that one's surroundings are not real, especially as a symptom of mental disturbance.

II. derivatives

derealized /dēˈrē(ə)ˌlīzd /

adjective

derecho /dāˈrāˌCHō/

I. noun

(US) a line of intense, widespread, and fast-moving windstorms and sometimes thunderstorms that moves across a great distance and is characterized by damaging winds.

– origin late 19th cent.: Spanish, literally ‘straight.’

dereference /dēˈrefərəns/

verb — [with obj.]

1. [Computing] obtain from (a pointer) the address of a data item held in another location.

deregulate /dēˈreɡyo͝oˌlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove regulations or restrictions from

• a law that would deregulate cable TV prices.

II. derivatives

deregulatory /-ləˌtôrē /

adjective

deregulation /dēˌreɡyəˈlāSH(ə)n/

noun

the removal of regulations or restrictions, especially in a particular industry

• he fought for deregulation of the telecom industry

• banks were allowed to grant mortgages following financial deregulation.

derelict /ˈderəˌlikt/

I. adjective

1. in a very poor condition as a result of disuse and neglect

• the cities were derelict and dying.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) (of a person) shamefully negligent in not having done what one should have done

• he was derelict in his duty to his country.

II. noun

1. a person without a home, job, or property

• derelicts who could fit all their possessions in a paper bag.

2. a piece of property, especially a ship, abandoned by the owner and in poor condition.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin derelictus ‘abandoned,’ past participle of derelinquere, from de- ‘completely’ + relinquere ‘forsake.’

dereliction /ˌderəˈlikSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the state of having been abandoned and become dilapidated

• every year valuable gardens start the slow slide to dereliction.

2. (usu. dereliction of duty) — the shameful failure to fulfill one's obligations.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin derelictio(n-), from the verb derelinquere (see derelict).

derepress /ˌdēriˈpres/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Biochemistry] [Genetics] activate (enzymes, genes, etc.) from an inoperative or latent state.

II. derivatives

derepression /-ˈpreSHən /

noun

derequisition /dēˌrekwəˈziSHən/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹dated› return (requisitioned property) to its former owner.

derestrict /ˌdērəˈstrikt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove restrictions from.

II. derivatives

derestriction /ˌdērəˈstrikSH(ə)n /

noun

deride /dəˈrīd/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. express contempt for; ridicule

• critics derided the proposals as clumsy attempts to find a solution.

II. derivatives

derider /dəˈrīdər /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin deridere ‘scoff at.’

de rigueur /ˌdə riˈɡər də rēˈɡər/

I. adjective

required by etiquette or current fashion

• it was de rigueur for bands to grow their hair long.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, literally ‘in strictness.’

derision /dəˈriZHən/

I. noun

contemptuous ridicule or mockery

• my stories were greeted with derision and disbelief.

II. phrases

hold (or have) in derision

‹archaic› regard with mockery.

III. derivatives

derisible /-ˈrizəbəl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from late Latin derisio(n-), from deridere ‘scoff at.’

derisive /dəˈrīsiv/

I. adjective

expressing contempt or ridicule

• a harsh, derisive laugh.

II. derivatives

derisiveness

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from derision, on the pattern of the pair decision, decisive. / usage: On the difference between derisive and derisory, see usage at derisory.

derisively /dəˈrīsivlē/

adverb

in a manner expressing contempt or ridicule

• she snorted derisively at him

• they derisively referred to clients as muppets.

derisk /dēˈrısk/

verb — [with obj.]

1. (especially in a business context) take steps to make (something) less risky or less likely to involve a financial loss

• as the eurozone crisis deteriorated, we accelerated our efforts to derisk the investment portfolio.

derisory /dəˈrīs(ə)rē dəˈrīz(ə)rē/

I. adjective

1. ridiculously small or inadequate

• they were given a derisory pay rise.

2. another term for derisive:

• his derisory gaze swept over her.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘derisive’): from late Latin derisorius, from deris- ‘scoffed at,’ from the verb deridere (see derision). / usage: Although the words derisory and derisive share similar roots, they have different core meanings. Derisory usually means ‘ridiculously small or inadequate,’ as in a derisory pay offer or the security arrangements were derisory. Derisive, on the other hand, is used to mean ‘showing contempt,’ as in he gave a derisive laugh.

derivate /ˈderəvit/

I. noun

something derived, especially a product obtained chemically from a raw material.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin derivat- ‘derived,’ from the verb derivare (see derive).

derivation /ˌderəˈvāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the obtaining or developing of something from a source or origin

• the derivation of scientific laws from observation.

2. the formation of a word from another word or from a root in the same or another language.

3. origin; extraction

• music of primarily Turkish derivation.

4. something derived; a derivative.

• the derivation “sheepish” has six definitions.

5. [Linguistics] in generative grammar, the set of stages that link the abstract underlying structure of an expression to its surface form.

6. [Mathematics] the process of deducing a new formula, theorem, etc., from previously accepted statements.

7. a sequence of statements showing that a formula, theorem, etc., is a consequence of previously accepted statements.

II. derivatives

derivational /-SHənl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (denoting the drawing of a fluid, specifically the drawing of pus or blood; also in the sense ‘formation of a word from another word’): from Latin derivatio(n-), from the verb derivare (see derive).

derivative /dəˈrivədiv/

I. adjective

1. (typically of an artist or work of art) imitative of the work of another person, and usually disapproved of for that reason

• an artist who is not in the slightest bit derivative.

2. originating from, based on, or influenced by

• Darwin's work is derivative of the moral philosophers.

3. [attrib.] — (of a financial product) having a value deriving from an underlying variable asset

• equity-based derivative products.

II. noun

1. something that is based on another source

• a derivative of the system was chosen for the Marine Corps’ V-22 tilt rotor aircraft.

2. (often derivatives) — an arrangement or instrument (such as a future, option, or warrant) whose value derives from and is dependent on the value of an underlying asset
[as modifier]

• the derivatives market.

3. a word derived from another or from a root in the same or another language.

4. a substance that is derived chemically from a specified compound

• crack is a highly addictive cocaine derivative.

5. [Mathematics] an expression representing the rate of change of a function with respect to an independent variable.

III. derivatives

derivatively

adverb

– origin late Middle English (in the adjective sense ‘having the power to draw off,’ and in the noun sense ‘a word derived from another’): from French dérivatif, -ive, from Latin derivativus, from derivare (see derive).

derive /dəˈrīv/

I. verb — [with obj.] (derive something from)

1. obtain something from (a specified source)

• they derived great comfort from this assurance.

2. (derive something from) — base a concept on a logical extension or modification of (another concept)

• Eliot derived his poetics from the French Symbolists.

3. [no obj.] (derive from) — (of a word) have (a specified word, usually of another language) as a root or origin

• the word “punch” derives from the Hindustani “pancha”

• (be derived from) the word “man” is derived from the Sanskrit “manu.”

4. [no obj.] (derive from) — arise from or originate in (a specified source)

• words whose spelling derives from Dr. Johnson's incorrect etymology.

5. (be derived from) — [Linguistics] (of an expression in a natural language) be linked by a set of stages to (its underlying abstract form).

6. (be derived from) — (of a substance) be formed or prepared by (a chemical or physical process affecting another substance)

• strong acids are derived from the combustion of fossil fuels.

7. [Mathematics] obtain (a function or equation) from another by a sequence of logical steps, for example by differentiation.

II. derivatives

derivable /dəˈrīvəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘draw a fluid through or into a channel’): from Old French deriver or Latin derivare, from de- ‘down, away’ + rivus ‘brook, stream.’

derived demand

noun

[Economics] a demand for a commodity, service, etc., that is a consequence of the demand for something else.

derived fossil

noun

a fossil redeposited in a sediment that is younger than the one in which it first occurred.

derm /dərm/

noun

another term for dermis.

derma^1 /ˈdərmə/

I. noun

another term for dermis.

– origin early 18th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek ‘skin.’

derma^2

I. noun

beef or chicken intestine, stuffed and cooked in dishes such as kishke.

– origin from Yiddish derme, plural of darm ‘intestine’; related to Old English tharm ‘intestine.’

derma- dermo-

I. combining form

skin

• dermabrasion.

– origin from Greek, derma ‘skin.’

dermabrasion /ˌdərməˈbrāZHən/

I. noun

the removal of superficial layers of skin with a rapidly revolving abrasive tool, as a technique in cosmetic surgery.

– origin 1950s: from Greek derma ‘skin’ + abrasion.

Dermaptera /dərˈmaptərə / ‹Entomology›

I. an order of insects that comprises the earwigs.

II. derivatives

dermapteran

noun, adjective

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek derma ‘skin’ + pteron ‘wing.’

dermatitis /ˌdərməˈtīdəs/

I. noun

a condition of the skin in which it becomes red, swollen, and sore, sometimes with small blisters, resulting from direct irritation of the skin by an external agent or an allergic reaction to it.
Compare with eczema.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek derma, dermat- ‘skin’ + -itis.

dermato-

I. combining form

of or relating to the skin

• dermatomycosis.

– origin from Greek derma, dermat- ‘skin, hide.’

dermatoglyphics /ˌdərmətəˈɡlifiks, dərˌmatə-/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the study of skin markings or patterns on fingers, hands, and feet, and its application, especially in criminology.

II. derivatives

1. dermatoglyph /dərˈmatəˌɡlif /

noun

2. dermatoglyphic

adjective

3. dermatoglyphically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin 1920s: from dermato- ‘skin’ + Greek gluphikos ‘carved’ (from gluphē ‘carving’).

dermatologist /ˌdərməˈtäləjəst/

noun

a medical practitioner qualified to diagnose and treat skin disorders

• visit your dermatologist yearly for a full-body skin check.

dermatology /ˌdərməˈtäləjē/

I. noun

the branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of skin disorders.

II. derivatives

1. dermatological /-mətlˈäjikəl /

adjective

2. dermatologically /-mətlˈäjik(ə)lē /

adverb

dermatome /ˈdərməˌtōm/

noun

1. [Embryology] the lateral wall of each somite in a vertebrate embryo, giving rise to the connective tissue of the skin.
Compare with myotome, sclerotome.

2. [Embryology] [Physiology] an area of the skin supplied by nerves from a single spinal root.

dermatomycosis /dərˌmatəˌmīˈkōsis, ˈdərmətō-/

noun

a fungal infection of the skin, especially by a dermatophyte.

dermatomyositis /dərˌmatəˌmīəˈsītis, ˈdərmətō-/

noun

[Medicine] inflammation of the skin and underlying muscle tissue, involving degeneration of collagen, discoloration, and swelling, typically occurring as an autoimmune condition or associated with internal cancer.

dermatophyte /dərˈmatəˌfīt, ˈdərmətə-/

I. noun

a pathogenic fungus that grows on skin, mucous membranes, hair, nails, feathers, and other body surfaces, causing ringworm and related diseases.
[Trichophyton and other genera, subdivision Deuteromycotina.]

II. derivatives

dermatophytic /dərˌmatəˈfitik, ˌdərmətə- /

adjective

dermatophytosis /dərˌmadəfīˈtōsəs/

noun

another term for dermatomycosis.

dermatosis /ˌdərməˈtōsəs/

noun

a disease of the skin, especially one that does not cause inflammation.

dermestid /dərˈmestəd/

I. noun

[Entomology] a small beetle of a family (Dermestidae) that includes many kinds that are destructive (especially as larvae) to hides, skin, fur, wool, and other animal substances.

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Dermestidae (plural), from the genus name Dermestes, formed irregularly from Greek derma ‘skin’ + esthiein ‘eat.’

dermis /ˈdərməs/

I. noun

1. ‹technical› the skin.

2. ‹technical› [Anatomy] the thick layer of living tissue below the epidermis that forms the true skin, containing blood capillaries, nerve endings, sweat glands, hair follicles, and other structures.

II. derivatives

1. dermal /ˈdərm(ə)l /

adjective

2. dermic /ˈdərmik /

adjective

( — ‹rare›

– origin mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, suggested by epidermis.

dermoid /ˈdərmoid/

noun

short for dermoid cyst.

dermoid cyst

noun

[Medicine] an abnormal growth (teratoma) containing epidermis, hair follicles, and sebaceous glands, derived from residual embryonic cells.

Dermoptera /dərˈmäptərə / ‹Zoology›

I. a small order of mammals that comprises the flying lemurs or colugos.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek derma ‘skin’ + pteron ‘wing.’

dernier cri /dərnˌyā ˈkrē ˌdernˌyā ˈkrē/

I. noun — (the/le dernier cri)

1. the very latest fashion

• as soon as he was passé on the European scene, he became the dernier cri here.

– origin late 19th cent.: French, literally ‘last cry.’

derogate /ˈderəˌɡāt/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — ‹formal› disparage (someone or something)

• it is typical of Pirandello to derogate the powers of reason.

2. [no obj.] (derogate from) — ‹formal› detract from

• this does not derogate from his duty to act honestly and faithfully.

3. [no obj.] (derogate from) — ‹formal› deviate from (a set of rules or agreed form of behavior)

• one country has derogated from the Rome Convention.

II. derivatives

derogative /diˈräɡətiv /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin derogat- ‘abrogated,’ from the verb derogare, from de- ‘aside, away’ + rogare ‘ask.’

derogation /ˌderəˈɡāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. an exemption from or relaxation of a rule or law

• the massive derogation of human rights.

2. the perception or treatment of someone as being of little worth

• the derogation of women.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘impairment of the force of’): from Latin derogatio(n-), from the verb derogare (see derogate).

derogatory /dəˈräɡəˌtôrē/

I. adjective

showing a critical or disrespectful attitude

• she tells me I'm fat and is always making derogatory remarks.

II. derivatives

derogatorily /-ˌtôrəlē /

adverb

– origin early 16th cent. (in the sense ‘impairing in force or effect’): from late Latin derogatorius, from derogat- ‘abrogated,’ from the verb derogare (see derogate).

derp /dərp / ‹informal›

I. exclamation

used as a substitute for speech regarded as meaningless or stupid, or to comment on a foolish or stupid action

• Lower tax rates and far lower job creation. Derp

• they will probably go “herp derp downloading ROMs is bad”

II. noun

foolishness or stupidity

• the derp heard outside apparently was only the tip of the iceberg.

– origin 1990s: probably an alteration of dur or duh.

derrick /ˈderik/

I. noun

1. a kind of crane with a movable pivoted arm for moving or lifting heavy weights, especially on a ship.

2. the framework over an oil well or similar boring that holds the drilling machinery.

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting a hangman, also the gallows): from Derrick, the surname of a hangman in London, England.

Derrida, Jacques /dəriˈdä, ˌderi-/

(1930–2004), French philosopher and literary critic. He was an important figure in the theory of deconstructionism.

derrière /ˌderēˈer/

I. noun

‹informal› euphemistic term for a person's buttocks.

– origin late 18th cent.: French, literally ‘behind.’

derring-do /ˌderiNGˈdo͞o/

I. noun

‹dated› ‹humorous› action displaying heroic courage

• tales of derring-do.

– origin late 16th cent.: from late Middle English dorryng do ‘daring to do,’ used by Chaucer, and, in a passage by Lydgate based on Chaucer's work, misprinted in 16th-cent. editions as derrynge do; this was misinterpreted by Spenser to mean ‘manhood, chivalry,’ and subsequently taken up and popularized by Sir Walter Scott.

derringer /ˈderənjər/

I. noun

a small pistol that has a large bore and is very effective at close range.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after Henry Deringer (1786–1868), the American gunsmith who invented it.

derris /ˈderəs/

I. noun

1. an insecticide made from the powdered roots of certain tropical plants containing rotenone.

2. a woody, climbing plant of the pea family that bears leathery pods and has tuberous roots from which this insecticide is obtained.
[Genus Derris, family Leguminosae.]

– origin mid 19th cent. (in sense 2): modern Latin (genus name), from Greek, ‘leather covering’ (referring to the plant's leathery pods). Sense 1 dates to the 19th cent.

Derry /ˈderē/

I. see Londonderry.

II. a town in southeastern New Hampshire, southeast of Manchester; pop. 34,242 (est. 2008).

dervish /ˈdərviSH/

I. noun

a member of a Muslim (specifically Sufi) religious order who has taken vows of poverty and austerity. Dervishes first appeared in the 12th century; they were noted for their wild or ecstatic rituals and were known as dancing, whirling, or howling dervishes according to the practice of their order.

– origin from Turkish derviş, from Persian darvīš ‘poor,’ (as a noun) ‘religious mendicant.’

DES

abbreviation

1. diethylstilbestrol.

2. [Computing] data encryption standard.

desacralize /dēˈsākrəˌlīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove the religious or sacred status or significance from

• we have chosen to desacralize the world through modern science.

II. derivatives

desacralization /-ˌsākrələˈzāSHən /

noun

de Sade, Marquis /də ˈsäd/

see Sade, Comte de.

desalinate /dēˈsaləˌnāt/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. desalinated)

1. remove salt from (seawater).

II. derivatives

desalinator /dēˈsaləˌnādər /

noun

desalination /dēˌsaləˈnāSH(ə)n/

noun

the process of removing salt from seawater

• the newly constructed plant for the desalination of seawater remains inoperative

• [as modifier] the water supply comes from desalination plants.

desalinize /dēˈsaləˌnīz/

I. verb

(N. Amer.) another term for desalinate.

II. derivatives

desalinization /-ˌsalənəˈzāSHən /

noun

desalt /dēˈsôlt/

verb

another term for desalinate.

desaparecido /ˌdesəˌpärəˈsēdō/

I. noun

(especially in South America), a person who has disappeared, presumed killed by members of the armed services or the police.

– origin late 20th cent.: Spanish, literally ‘disappeared.’

desaturate /dēˈsaCHəˌrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make less saturated; cause to become unsaturated.

II. derivatives

desaturation /-ˌsaCHəˈrāSHən /

noun

descamisado /desˌkamiˈsädō/

I. noun

(in Latin America) a very poor person.

– origin mid 19th cent.: Spanish, literally ‘shirtless.’

descant

I. noun — /ˈdeskant /

1. [Music] an independent treble melody usually sung or played above a basic melody.

2. [Music] ‹archaic› ‹literary› a melodious song.

3. [Music] a discourse on a theme or subject

• his descant of deprivation.

II. verb — /diˈskant / [no obj.]

1. ‹literary› talk tediously or at length

• I have descanted on this subject before.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French deschant, from medieval Latin discantus ‘part-song, refrain.’

descant recorder

noun

British term for soprano recorder.

Descartes, René /dāˈkärt/

(1596–1650), French philosopher, mathematician, and man of science. He concluded that everything was open to doubt except conscious experience and existence as a necessary condition of this: “Cogito, ergo sum” (I think, therefore I am). In mathematics, he developed the use of coordinates to locate a point in two or three dimensions.

descend /dəˈsend/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. move or fall downward

• the aircraft began to descend.

2. [with obj.] — move down (a slope or stairs)

• the vehicle descended a ramp.

3. (of stairs, a road or path, or a piece of land) be on a slope or incline and extend downward

• a side road descended into the forest

• [with obj.] a narrow flight of stairs descended a steep slope.

4. come or go down a scale, especially from the superior to the inferior
(as adj. descending)

• the categories are listed in descending order of usefulness.

5. [Music] (of sound) become lower in pitch
(as adj. descending)

• a passage of descending chords.

6. (descend to) — act in a specified shameful way that is far below one's usual standards

• she descended to self-pity.

7. (descend into) — (of a situation or group of people) reach (a state considered undesirable or shameful)

• the army had descended into chaos.

8. (descend on/upon) — make a sudden attack on

• the militia descended on Rye.

9. make an unexpected and typically unwelcome visit to

• treasure-seekers descended upon the site.

10. (of a feeling or atmosphere) develop suddenly and be felt throughout a place or by a person or group of people

• an air of gloom descended on the Democratic Party headquarters.

11. (of night or darkness) begin to occur

• as the winter darkness descended, the fighting ceased.

12. (be descended from) — be a direct blood relative of (a specified, typically illustrious ancestor)

• she is descended from Charles II.

13. (of an asset) pass by inheritance, typically from parent to child

• his lands descended to his eldest son.

– origin Middle English: from Old French descendre, from Latin descendere, from de- ‘down’ + scandere ‘to climb.’

descendant /dəˈsendənt/

I. noun

1. a person, plant, or animal that is descended from a particular ancestor

• Shakespeare's last direct descendant.

2. a machine, artifact, system, etc., that has developed from an earlier, more rudimentary version.

– origin late Middle English (as an adjective in the sense ‘descending’): from French, present participle of descendre ‘to descend’ (see descend). The noun dates from the early 17th cent. / usage: The correct spelling for the noun meaning ‘person descended from a particular ancestor’ is descendant, ending with the suffix -ant, not -ent (as in she claims to be a descendant of Paul Revere). The word descendent is an adjective, now used almost exclusively in scientific contexts, meaning ‘descending from an ancestor’ (as in extinct species are replaced by descendent species). Almost 15 percent of the citations for the noun in the Oxford English Corpus use the wrong spelling.

descendent /dəˈsendənt/

I. adjective

descending from an ancestor

• a peculiar genealogy that buds off numerous descendent species

• descendent groups.

usage: On the difference between descendent and descendant, see usage at descendant.

descender /dəˈsendər/

noun

1. a part of a letter that extends below the level of the base of a letter such as x (as in g and p).

2. a letter having a descender.

descendeur /diˈsendər/

I. noun

[Climbing] a piece of metal around which a rope is passed and which makes use of friction to slow descent during rappelling.

– origin late 20th cent.: French, literally ‘descender.’

descendible /dəˈsendəb(ə)l/

adjective

[Law] (of property) able to be inherited by a descendant.

descending colon

noun

[Anatomy] the part of the large intestine that passes downward on the left side of the abdomen toward the rectum.

descent /dəˈsent/

I. noun

1. [usu. in sing.] — an action of moving downward, dropping, or falling

• the plane had gone into a steep descent.

2. a downward slope, especially a path or track

• a steep, badly eroded descent.

3. a moral, social, or psychological decline into a specified undesirable state

• the ancient empire's slow descent into barbarism.

4. the origin or background of a person in terms of family or nationality

• American families of Hungarian descent.

5. the transmission of qualities, property, or privileges by inheritance.

6. (descent on) — a sudden, violent attack

• a descent on the enemy airstrip.

– origin Middle English: from Old French descente, from descendre ‘to descend’ (see descend).

descramble /dēˈskrambəl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. convert or restore (a signal) to intelligible form.

II. derivatives

descrambler /dēˈskramb(ə)lər /

noun

describe /dəˈskrīb/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. give an account in words of (someone or something), including all the relevant characteristics, qualities, or events

• the police said the man was described as white, 6 ft. tall, with mousy, cropped hair.

2. mark out or draw (a geometric figure)

• on the diameter of a circle an equilateral triangle is described.

II. derivatives

1. describable /dəˈskrībəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. describer /dəˈskrībər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin describere, from de- ‘down’ + scribere ‘write.’

description /dəˈskripSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a spoken or written representation or account of a person, object, or event

• people who had seen him were able to give a description.

2. the action of giving a spoken or written representation or account

• teaching by demonstration and description.

3. a sort, kind, or class of people or things

• ships of every description.

II. phrases

1. beyond description

to a great and astonishing extent

• his face was swollen beyond description.

2. defy description

be so unusual or remarkable as to be impossible to describe

• the sheer scale of the Requiem defies description.

3. answer (to) (or fit) the description

have the qualities specified.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin descriptio(n-), from describere ‘write down.’

descriptive /dəˈskriptiv/

I. adjective

1. serving or seeking to describe.

2. [Grammar] (of an adjective) assigning a quality rather than restricting the application of the expression modified, e.g., blue as distinct from few.

3. describing or classifying without expressing feelings or judging.

4. [Linguistics] denoting or relating to an approach to language analysis that describes accents, forms, structures, and usage without making value judgments.
Often contrasted with prescriptive.

II. derivatives

1. descriptively /dəˈskriptivlē /

adverb

2. descriptiveness

noun

– origin mid 18th cent.: from late Latin descriptivus, from descript- ‘written down,’ from the verb describere (see describe).

descriptivism /dəˈskriptəˌvizəm/

I. noun

[Philosophy] the doctrine that the meanings of ethical or aesthetic terms and statements are purely descriptive rather than prescriptive, evaluative, or emotive.

II. derivatives

descriptivist

noun, adjective

descriptor /dəˈskriptər/

noun

1. an element or term that has the function of describing, identifying, or indexing, in particular

2. [Linguistics] a word or expression used to describe or identify something.

3. [Computing] a piece of stored data that indicates how other data is stored.

descry /dəˈskrī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› catch sight of

• she descried two figures.

– origin Middle English: perhaps confused with obsolete descry ‘describe,’ variant of obsolete descrive (via Old French from Latin describere ‘write down’), which also had the meaning ‘perceive.’

desecrate /ˈdesəˌkrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. treat (a sacred place or thing) with violent disrespect; violate

• more than 300 graves were desecrated.

II. derivatives

desecrator /ˈdesəˌkrādər /

noun

– origin late 17th cent.: from de- (expressing reversal) + a shortened form of consecrate.

desecration /ˌdesəˈkrāSH(ə)n/

noun

the action of desecrating something

• the desecration of a grave.

• the desecration of swathes of Scotland's landscape.

deseed /dēˈsēd/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. deseeded)

1. remove the seeds from (a plant, vegetable, or fruit).

II. derivatives

deseeder

noun

desegregate /dēˈseɡrəˌɡāt/

verb — [with obj.]

1. end a policy of racial segregation in

• actions to desegregate schools.

desegregation /ˌdēˌseɡrəˈɡāSH(ə)n/

noun

the ending of a policy of racial segregation

• he wrote editorials calling for the desegregation of schools.

deselect /ˌdēsəˈlekt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. turn off (a selected feature) on a list of options on a computer menu.

II. derivatives

deselection /ˌdēsəˈlekSH(ə)n /

noun

desensitize /dēˈsensəˌtīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make less sensitive

• creams to desensitize the skin at the site of the injection.

2. make (someone) less likely to feel shock or distress at scenes of cruelty, violence, or suffering by overexposure to such images
(as adj. desensitized)

• people who view such movies become desensitized to violence.

3. free (someone) from a phobia or neurosis by gradually exposing the person to the thing that is feared.
See systematic desensitization.

II. derivatives

1. desensitization /ˌdēˌsensədəˈzāSHən ˌdēˌsensəˌtīˈzāSHən dəˌsensədəˈzāSHən dəˌsensəˌtīˈzāSHən /

noun

2. desensitizer /dēˈsensəˌtīzər /

noun

Deseret /ˌdezəˈret/

the name proposed in the 1840s by Mormon settlers for what became Utah.

desert^1 /dəˈzərt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. abandon (a person, cause, or organization) in a way considered disloyal or treacherous

• he deserted his wife and daughter and went back to England.

2. (of a number of people) leave (a place), causing it to appear empty

• good weather came after the summer hordes had deserted the beaches.

3. (of a quality or ability) fail (someone), especially at a crucial moment when most needed

• her luck deserted her.

4. [no obj.] — [Military] (of a soldier) illegally run away from military service.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French deserter, from late Latin desertare, from Latin desertus ‘left waste’ (see desert^2).

desert^2 /ˈdezərt/

I. noun

1. a dry, barren area of land, especially one covered with sand, that is characteristically desolate, waterless, and without vegetation.

2. a situation or area considered dull and uninteresting

• a cultural desert.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. like a desert

• overgrazing has created desert conditions.

2. uninhabited and desolate

• desert wastes.

III. derivatives

desertic

adjective

– origin Middle English: via Old French from late Latin desertum ‘something left waste,’ neuter past participle of deserere ‘leave, forsake.’

desert^3 /dəˈzərt/

I. noun — (usu. deserts)

1. a person's worthiness or entitlement to reward or punishment

• the penal system fails to punish offenders in accordance with their deserts.

II. phrases

get (or receive) one's just deserts

receive the appropriate reward or (more usually) punishment for one's actions

• those who caused great torment to others rarely got their just deserts.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from deservir ‘serve well’ (see deserve). / usage: People who get their just deserts get what they deserve. Deserts here is related to deserve, and is spelled with one -s- in the middle. This usage has no relation to the dessert course of a meal, yet the -ss- spelling (just desserts) is found in the Oxford English Corpus nearly as often as the correct spelling.

desert boot /ˈdezərt ˌbo͞ot/

noun

a lightweight boot with the upper made from suede.

deserted /dəˈzərdəd/

adjective

(of a place) empty of people

• deserted beaches of soft sand.

deserter /dəˈzərdər/

I. noun

a member of the armed forces who deserts

• deserters from the army.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from desert^1, on the pattern of French déserteur.

desertification /dəˌzərdəfəˈkāSH(ə)n/

noun

the process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture.

desertion /dəˈzərSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action of deserting a person, cause, or organization

• her mother 's desertion of her family.

2. [Military] the action of illegally leaving the armed forces

• three officers were shot for desertion

• the number of desertions was rising.

desert island /ˌdezərt ˈīlənd/

noun

a remote uninhabited tropical island.

desert pavement /ˌdezərt ˈpāvmənt/

noun

[Geology] a surface layer of closely packed or cemented pebbles, rock fragments, etc., from which fine material has been removed by the wind in arid regions.

desert rat /ˈdezərt ˌrat/

noun

1. ‹informal› a jerboa.

2. ‹informal› a soldier of the 7th British armored division (with the jerboa as a badge) in the North African desert campaign of 1941–42.

desert rose /ˌdezərt ˈrōz/

noun

1. a flowerlike aggregate of crystals of a mineral occurring in arid areas.

2. a succulent plant with pink, tubular flowers and a swollen, woody stem containing toxic, milky sap that is sometimes used for arrow poison. It is native to East Africa and Arabia.
[Adenium obesum, family Apocynaceae.]

3. (also Sturt's desert rose) — a dense shrub with pinkish-lilac flowers and black spotted leaves and fruit. Native to arid regions of Australia, it is the floral emblem of the Northern Territory of Australia.
[Gossypium sturtianum, family Malvaceae.]

desert varnish /ˌdezərt ˈvärniSH/

noun

[Geology] a dark, hard film of oxides formed on exposed rock surfaces in arid regions.

deserve /dəˈzərv/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. do something or have or show qualities worthy of (reward or punishment)

• the referee deserves a pat on the back for his bravery

• [with infinitive] people who park like that deserve to be towed away.

– origin Middle English: from Old French deservir, from Latin deservire ‘serve well or zealously.’

deserved /dəˈzərvd/

adjective

rightfully earned because of something done or qualities shown; merited

• a deserved standing ovation.

• a deserved victory.

deservedly /dəˈzərvədlē/

adverb

in the way that is deserved; rightfully

• a deservedly popular sitcom

• they are top of the division, and deservedly so.

deserving /dəˈzərviNG/

I. adjective

worthy of being treated in a particular way, typically of being given assistance

• the deserving poor.

II. derivatives

1. deservingly

adverb

2. deservingness

noun

desex /dēˈseks/

verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. desexed)

1. deprive (someone) of sexual qualities or attraction

• Lawrence portrays feminists as shrill, humorless, and desexed.

2. castrate or spay (an animal).

desexualize /dēˈsekSH(əw)əˌlīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. deprive of sexual character or the distinctive qualities of a sex.

II. derivatives

desexualization /-ˌsekSHo͞oələˈzāSHən /

noun

deshabille /ˌdāzəˈbēl ˌdezəˈbēl/

noun

variant spelling of dishabille.

desi /ˈdāsē / ‹Indian› deshi /ˈdāSHē/

I. adjective

1. local; indigenous.

2. ‹derogatory› rustic; unsophisticated.

3. unadulterated or pure

• desi ghee.

II. noun

a person of Indian, Pakistani, or Bangladeshi birth or descent who lives abroad.

– origin via Hindi from Sanskrit deśa ‘country, land.’

De Sica, Vittorio /də ˈsēkə/

(1901–74), Italian movie director and actor; a key figure in Italian neorealist cinema. His directorial work includes The Bicycle Thief (1948) and Two Women (1960).

desiccant /ˈdesəkənt/

I. noun

a hygroscopic substance used as a drying agent.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin desiccant- ‘making thoroughly dry,’ from the verb desiccare.

desiccate /ˈdesəˌkāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (usu. as adj. desiccated) — remove the moisture from (something, especially food), typically in order to preserve it

• desiccated coconut.

2. (as adj. desiccated) — lacking interest, passion, or energy

• a desiccated history of ideas.

II. derivatives

1. desiccation /ˌdesəˈkāSHən /

noun

2. desiccative /ˈdesəˌkādiv /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin desiccat- ‘made thoroughly dry,’ from the verb desiccare.

desiccator /ˈdesəˌkādər/

noun

a glass container or other apparatus holding a drying agent for removing moisture from specimens and protecting them from water vapor in the air.

desiderate /dəˈsidəˌrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› feel a keen desire for (something lacking or absent)

• I desiderate the resources of a family.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin desiderat- ‘desired,’ from the verb desiderare, perhaps from de- ‘down’ + sidus, sider- ‘star.’ Compare with consider.

desiderative /diˈsidərətiv, -ˌrātiv/

I. adjective

1. [Grammar] (in Latin and other inflected languages) denoting a verb formed from another and expressing a desire to do the act denoted by the root verb (such as Latin esurire ‘want to eat,’ from edere ‘eat’).

2. [Grammar] having, expressing, or relating to desire.

II. noun

[Grammar] a desiderative verb.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from late Latin desiderativus, from Latin desiderat- ‘desired,’ from the verb desiderare (see desiderate).

desideratum /dəˌzidəˈrädəm/

I. noun

something that is needed or wanted

• integrity was a desideratum.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin, ‘something desired,’ neuter past participle of desiderare (see desiderate).

design /dəˈzīn/

I. noun

1. a plan or drawing produced to show the look and function or workings of a building, garment, or other object before it is built or made

• he has just unveiled his design for the new museum.

2. the art or action of conceiving of and producing a plan or drawing

• good design can help the reader understand complicated information

• the cloister is of late-twelfth-century design.

3. an arrangement of lines or shapes created to form a pattern or decoration

• pottery with a lovely blue and white design.

4. purpose, planning, or intention that exists or is thought to exist behind an action, fact, or material object

• the appearance of design in the universe.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. decide upon the look and functioning of (a building, garment, or other object), typically by making a detailed drawing of it

• a number of architectural students were designing a factory

• (designed) specially designed buildings.

2. do or plan (something) with a specific purpose or intention in mind
[with obj. and infinitive]

• the tax changes were designed to stimulate economic growth.

III. phrases

1. by design

as a result of a plan; intentionally

• I became a presenter by default rather than by design.

2. have designs on

aim to obtain (something desired), typically in a secret and dishonest way

• he suspected her of having designs on the family fortune.

– origin late Middle English (as a verb in the sense ‘to designate’): from Latin designare ‘to designate,’ reinforced by French désigner. The noun is via French from Italian.

designate

I. verb — /ˈdeziɡˌnāt / [with obj.]

1. appoint (someone) to a specified position

• he was designated as prime minister.

2. officially assign a specified status or ascribe a specified name or quality to
[with obj. and complement]

• certain schools are designated “science schools”

• a personality disorder that Adler designates the Ruling Type.

3. signify; indicate

• the term “brainstem” designates the medulla, pons, and mesencephalon.

II. adjective — /ˈdeziɡnət ˈdeziɡˌnāt / [postpositive]

1. appointed to an office or position but not yet installed

• the Director designate.

III. derivatives

designator /-ˌnātər /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent. (as an adjective): from Latin designatus ‘designated,’ past participle of designare, based on signum ‘a mark.’ The verb dates from the late 18th cent.

designated driver /ˌdeziɡnādəd ˈdrīvər/

noun

a member of a group who abstains from alcohol in order to drive the others safely.

designated hitter /ˈdeziɡˌnādid ˈhidər/

noun

[Baseball] a nonfielding player named before the start of a game to be in the batting order, typically in place of the pitcher.

designation /ˌdeziɡˈnāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the choosing and naming of someone to be the holder of an official position

• a leader's designation of his own successor.

2. the action of choosing a place for a special purpose or giving it a special status

• the designation of parts of Santa Ana as an enterprise zone.

3. a name, description, or title, typically one that is officially bestowed

• a group of tribes banded together under the designation “Sheepeaters.”

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘the action of marking’): from Latin designatio(n-), from the verb designare (see designate).

designedly /dəˈzīnədlē/

adverb

deliberately in order to produce a specific effect
[as submodifier]

• let me propose a designedly vague criterion.

designee /ˌdeziɡˈnē/

noun

a person who has been designated.

designer /dəˈzīnər/

noun

1. a person who plans the form, look, or workings of something before its being made or built, typically by drawing it in detail

• he's one of the world's leading car designers.

2. [as modifier] — made by or having the expensive sophistication of a famous and prestigious fashion designer

• a designer label.

3. [as modifier] — upscale and fashionable

• designer food.

designer baby

noun

a baby whose genetic makeup has been selected in order to eradicate a particular defect, or to ensure that a particular gene is present.

designer drug

noun

a synthetic analog of a legally restricted or prohibited drug, devised to circumvent drug laws.

designer stubble

noun

stubble that a man deliberately allows to grow on his face in order to look fashionable.

designing /dəˈzīniNG/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. acting in a calculating, deceitful way

• she was a designing little minx.

desirability /dəˌzī(ə)rəˈbilədē/

noun

the quality of being desirable

• we agree on the desirability of a negotiated settlement.

desirable /dəˈzīrəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. wanted or wished for as being an attractive, useful, or necessary course of action
[with infinitive]

• it is desirable to exercise some social control over technology.

2. (of a person) arousing sexual desire

• she had never looked more desirable.

II. noun

a desirable person, thing, or quality.

III. derivatives

1. desirableness /dəˈzīrəbəlnəs /

noun

2. desirably /dəˈzīrəblē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, suggested by Latin desiderabilis, from desiderare ‘to desire’ (see desiderate).

desire /dəˈzī(ə)r/

I. noun

1. a strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen
[with infinitive]

• a desire to work in the dirt with your bare hands.

2. strong sexual feeling or appetite

• they were clinging together in fierce mutual desire.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. strongly wish for or want (something)

• he never achieved the status he so desired

• (as adj. desired) it failed to create the desired effect.

2. want (someone) sexually

• there had been a time, years ago, when he had desired her.

3. ‹archaic› express a wish to (someone); request or entreat.

– origin Middle English: from Old French desir (noun), desirer (verb), from Latin desiderare (see desiderate).

Desiree /ˈdezəˌrā/

noun

a potato of a pink-skinned variety with yellow, waxy flesh.

desirous /dəˈzīrəs/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. having or characterized by desire

• the pope was desirous of peace in Europe.

– origin Middle English: from Old French desireus, based on Latin desiderare ‘to desire’ (see desiderate).

desist /dəˈzist dəˈsist/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. cease; abstain

• each pledged to desist from acts of sabotage.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French desister, from Latin desistere, from de- ‘down from’ + sistere ‘to stop’ (reduplication of stare ‘to stand’).

desk /desk/

I. noun

1. a piece of furniture with a flat or sloped surface and typically with drawers, at which one can read, write, or do other work.

2. [Music] a position in an orchestra at which two players share a music stand

• an extra desk of first and second violins.

3. a counter in a hotel, bank, or airport at which a customer may check in or obtain information

• the reception desk.

4. [with modifier] — a specified section of a news organization, especially a newspaper

• he landed a job on the sports desk.

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin desca, probably based on Provençal desca ‘basket’ or Italian desco ‘table, butcher's block,’ both based on Latin discus (see discus).

desk-bound /ˈdeskˌbound/

adjective

restricted to working in an office, rather than in an active, physical capacity

• he is no desk-bound theoretician.

desk dictionary

noun

(N. Amer.) a one-volume dictionary of medium size.

deskill /dēˈskil/

verb — [with obj.]

1. reduce the level of skill required to carry out (a job)

• advances in technology had deskilled numerous working-class jobs.

2. make the skills of (a worker) obsolete.

desk job

noun

a job based at a desk, especially as opposed to one in active military or police service.

desk jockey

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› ‹chiefly derogatory› a person who works at a desk; an office worker.

– origin on the pattern of disc jockey.

desk organizer ‹Brit.› desk tidy

noun

a container kept on a desk and used to store stationery and other small items

• this desk organizer may just be what you need to get the clutter off your desk.

desk sergeant

noun

a sergeant in administrative charge of a police station.

desktop /ˈdeskˌtäp/

noun

1. the working surface of a desk.

2. [as modifier] — denoting a piece of equipment such as a computer that is suitable for use at an ordinary desk

• a desktop machine.

3. a desktop computer.

4. the working area of a computer screen regarded as a representation of a notional desktop and containing icons representing items such as files and a wastebasket.

desktop publishing /ˈdes(k)ˌtäp ˈpəbliSHiNG / DTP

noun

the production of printed matter by means of a printer linked to a desktop computer, with special software. The system enables reports, advertising matter, company magazines, etc., to be produced cheaply with a layout and print quality similar to that of typeset books, for xerographic or other reproduction.

desman /ˈdezmən/

I. noun

a small, semiaquatic European mammal related to the mole, with a long, tubular muzzle and webbed toes.
[Family Talpidae: the Russian desman (Desmana moschata) and the Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus).]

– origin late 18th cent.: via French and German from Swedish desman-råtta ‘muskrat,’ from desman ‘musk.’

desmid /ˈdezmid/

I. noun

[Biology] a single-celled, freshwater alga that appears to be composed of two rigid cells with a shared nucleus. The presence of desmids is usually an indicator of unpolluted water.
[Family Desmidiaceae, division Chlorophyta (or phylum Gamophyta, kingdom Protista).]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Desmidium (genus name), from Greek desmos ‘band, chain’ (because the algae are often found united in chains or masses).

desmoid /ˈdezmoid/

I. adjective

[Medicine] denoting a type of fibrous tumor of muscle and connective tissue, typically in the abdomen.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek desmos ‘bond’ or desmē ‘bundle’ + -oid.

Des Moines /də ˈmoin/

the capital of and the largest city in Iowa, in the southern central part of the state; pop. 197,052 (est. 2008).

desmosome /ˈdezməˌsōm/

I. noun

[Biology] a structure by which two adjacent cells are attached, formed from protein plaques in the cell membranes linked by filaments.

II. derivatives

desmosomal /ˌdezməˈsōməl /

adjective

– origin 1930s: from Greek desmos ‘bond, chain’ + -some^3.

Desna River /dyisˈnä, dəˈsnä/

a river in western Russia and Ukraine that rises east of Smolensk and flows for 550 miles (885 km) to enter the Dnieper River near Kiev.

desolate

I. adjective — /ˈdesələt /

1. (of a place) deserted of people and in a state of bleak and dismal emptiness

• a desolate moor.

2. feeling or showing misery, unhappiness, or loneliness

• I suddenly felt desolate and bereft.

II. verb — /ˈdesəˌlāt / [with obj.]

1. make (a place) bleakly and depressingly empty or bare

• the droughts that desolated the dry plains.

2. (usu. be desolated) — make (someone) feel utterly wretched and unhappy

• he was desolated by the deaths of his treasured friends.

III. derivatives

1. desolately /ˈdesələtlē /

adverb

2. desolateness /-litnis /

noun

3. desolator /-ˌlātər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin desolatus ‘abandoned,’ past participle of desolare, from de- ‘thoroughly’ + solus ‘alone.’

desolation /ˌdesəˈlāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a state of complete emptiness or destruction

• the stony desolation of the desert.

2. anguished misery or loneliness

• in choked desolation, she watched him leave.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin desolatio(n-), from Latin desolare ‘to abandon’ (see desolate).

desolder /dēˈsädər/

verb — [with obj.]

1. remove the solder from (electrical components), usually to effect separation

• cut the pins one by one on the component side, desolder the halves, then throw the chip out.

desorb /dēˈzôrb dēˈsôrb/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Chemistry] cause the release of (an adsorbed substance) from a surface.

2. [no obj.] — [Chemistry] (of an adsorbed substance) become released.

II. derivatives

1. desorbent /-bənt /

adjective, noun

2. desorber

noun

3. desorption /dēˈzôrpSH(ə)n dēˈsôrpSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin 1920s: originally as desorption (from de- ‘away’ + adsorption), from which desorb is a back-formation.

De Soto /də ˈsōdō/

a city in northeastern Texas, south of Dallas; pop. 47,568 (est. 2008).

de Soto, Hernando /də ˈsōtō/

(c.1496–1542), Spanish soldier and explorer. After serving as military commander of Nicaragua and of Peru, he landed in Florida in 1539 and explored much of what is now the southeastern US, as far west as Oklahoma. He died of a fever on the banks of the Mississippi River.

despair /dəˈsper/

I. noun

the complete loss or absence of hope

• driven to despair, he throws himself under a train

• in despair, I hit the bottle.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. lose or be without hope

• we should not despair

• he was beginning to despair of ever knowing.

III. phrases

be the despair of

be the cause of a feeling of hopelessness in (someone else)

• my handwriting was the despair of my teachers.

– origin Middle English: the noun via Anglo-Norman French from Old French desespeir; the verb from Old French desperer, from Latin desperare, from de- ‘down from’ + sperare ‘to hope.’

despairing /dəˈsperiNG/

I. adjective

showing the loss of all hope

• he gave a despairing little shrug.

II. derivatives

despairingly /dəˈsperiNGlē /

adverb

desperado /ˌdespəˈrädō/

I. noun

a desperate or reckless person, especially a criminal.

II. derivatives

desperadoism /-ˌizəm /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: pseudo-Spanish alteration of the obsolete noun desperate. Both desperate and desperado originally denoted a person in despair or in a desperate situation, hence someone made reckless by despair.

desperate /ˈdesp(ə)rət/

I. adjective

1. feeling, showing, or involving a hopeless sense that a situation is so bad as to be impossible to deal with

• a desperate sadness enveloped Ruth.

2. (of an act or attempt) tried in despair or when everything else has failed; having little hope of success

• drugs used in a desperate attempt to save his life.

3. (of a situation) extremely bad, serious, or dangerous

• there is a desperate shortage of teachers.

4. [predic.] — (of a person) having a great need or desire for something

• I am desperate for a cigarette

• [with infinitive] the government is desperate to clean up Rio's streets.

5. (of a person or fight) violent or dangerous

• a desperate criminal

• a desperate struggle.

II. phrases

desperate diseases must have desperate remedies

‹proverb› extreme measures are justified as a response to a difficult or dangerous situation.

III. derivatives

desperateness /ˈdesp(ə)rətnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘in despair’): from Latin desperatus ‘deprived of hope,’ past participle of desperare (see despair).

desperately /ˈdesp(ə)rətlē/

adverb

1. in a way that shows despair

• he looked around desperately.

2. used to emphasize the extreme degree of something

• he desperately needed a drink

• [as submodifier] I am desperately disappointed.

desperation /ˌdespəˈrāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

a state of despair, typically one that results in rash or extreme behavior

• she wrote to him in desperation.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, from Latin desperatio(n-), from the verb desperare (see despair).

desperation pass

noun

[Football] another term for Hail Mary (sense 2).

despicable /dəˈspikəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

deserving hatred and contempt

• a despicable crime.

II. derivatives

despicably /dəˈspikəblē ˈdespəkəblē /

adverb

– origin mid 16th cent.: from late Latin despicabilis, from despicari ‘look down on.’

de Spinoza, Baruch /də spiˈnōzə/

see Spinoza, Baruch de.

despise /dəˈspīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. feel contempt or a deep repugnance for

• he despised himself for being selfish.

II. derivatives

despiser

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French despire, from Latin despicere, from de- ‘down’ + specere ‘look at.’

despite /dəˈspīt/

I. preposition

without being affected by; in spite of

• he remains a great leader despite age and infirmity.

II. noun

1. ‹archaic› ‹literary› outrage; injury

• the despite done by him to the holy relics.

2. ‹archaic› ‹literary› contempt; disdain

• the theater only earns my despite.

III. phrases

1. despite (or in despite) of

‹archaic› in spite of.

2. despite oneself

used to indicate that one did not intend or expect to do the thing mentioned

• despite herself Fran felt a ripple of appreciation for his beauty.

IV. derivatives

despiteful /dəˈspītf(ə)l /

adjective

( — ‹archaic› ‹literary›

– origin Middle English (originally used as a noun meaning ‘contempt, scorn’ in the phrase in despite of): from Old French despit, from Latin despectus ‘looking down on,’ past participle (used as a noun) of despicere (see despise).

Des Plaines /ˌdes ˈplānz/

a city in northeastern Illinois, northwest of Chicago; pop. 57,062 (est. 2008).

despoil /dəˈspoil/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. steal or violently remove valuable or attractive possessions from; plunder

• the church was despoiled of its marble wall covering.

II. derivatives

1. despoiler /dəˈspoilər /

noun

2. despoilment

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French despoillier, from Latin despoliare ‘rob, plunder’ (from spolia ‘spoil’).

despoliation /diˌspōlēˈāSHən/

noun

the action of despoiling or the condition of being despoiled; plunder

• the despoliation of the resources of the natural world.

despond /dəˈspänd/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹archaic› become dejected and lose confidence.

II. noun

a state of unhappiness and low spirits.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin despondere ‘give up, abandon,’ from de- ‘away’ + spondere ‘to promise.’ The word was originally used as a noun in Slough of Despond.

despondency /dəˈspändənsē/

I. noun

a state of low spirits caused by loss of hope or courage

• he hinted at his own deep despondency.

II. derivatives

despondence /-dəns /

noun

despondent /dəˈspändənt/

I. adjective

in low spirits from loss of hope or courage.

II. derivatives

despondently /dəˈspänd(ə)ntlē /

adverb

despot /ˈdespət/

I. noun

a ruler or other person who holds absolute power, typically one who exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French despote, via medieval Latin from Greek despotēs ‘master, absolute ruler.’ Originally (after the Turkish conquest of Constantinople) the term denoted a petty Christian ruler under the Turkish empire. The current sense dates from the late 18th cent.

despotic /dəˈspädik/

I. adjective

of or typical of a despot; tyrannical

• a despotic regime.

II. derivatives

despotically /dəˈspädək(ə)lē /

adverb

despotism /ˈdespəˌtizəm/

I. noun

1. the exercise of absolute power, especially in a cruel and oppressive way

• the King's arbitrary despotism.

2. a country or political system where the ruler holds absolute power.

– origin early 18th cent.: from French despotisme, from despote (see despot).

desquamate /ˈdeskwəˌmāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a layer of cells, e.g., of the skin) come off in scales or flakes
(as adj. desquamated)

• desquamated cells.

II. derivatives

1. desquamation /ˌdeskwəˈmāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. desquamative /-ˌmātiv /

adjective

– origin early 18th cent. (in the sense ‘remove the scales from’): from Latin desquamat- ‘scaled,’ from the verb desquamare, from de- ‘away from’ + squama ‘a scale.’

dessert /dəˈzərt/

I. noun

the sweet course eaten at the end of a meal

• a dessert of chocolate mousse.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French, past participle of desservir ‘clear the table,’ from des- (expressing removal) + servir ‘to serve.’

dessertspoon /dəˈzərtˌspo͞on/

I. noun

1. a spoon used for dessert, smaller than a tablespoon and larger than a teaspoon.

2. the amount held by a dessertspoon.

II. derivatives

dessertspoonful /dəˈzərtˌspo͞onˌfo͝ol /

noun

dessert wine /dəˈzərt wīn/

noun

a sweet wine drunk with or following dessert.

destabilization /dēˌstābələˈzāSH(ə)n/

noun

the process of upsetting the stability of a region or system, especially of government

• economic and political destabilization was crippling the country

• [as modifier] a well-funded, orchestrated destabilization campaign.

destabilize /dēˈstābəˌlīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. upset the stability of; cause unrest in

• the discovery of an affair can destabilize a relationship.

de Staël, Madame /də ˈstäl/

(1766–1817), French novelist and critic; a precursor of the French romantics; born Anne Louise Germaine Necker. Her critical work, De l'Allemagne (1810), introduced late-18th-century German writers and thinkers to France.

destain /dēˈstān/

verb — [with obj.]

1. [Biology] selectively remove stain from (a specimen for microscopy, a chromatography gel, etc.) after it has previously been stained.

de-Stalinization /dēˌstälənəˈzāSHən/

noun

(in communist countries) the policy of eradicating the memory or influence of Joseph Stalin and Stalinism, especially after 1956.

De Stijl /də ˈstīl/

I. a 20th-century Dutch art movement founded in 1917 by Theo van Doesburg (1883–1931) and Piet Mondrian. The movement favored an abstract, economical style. It was influential on the Bauhaus and constructivist movements.

– origin Dutch, literally ‘the style,’ originally the name of the movement's periodical.

destination /ˌdestəˈnāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

the place to which someone or something is going or being sent

• a popular destination for golfers.

II. adjective

being a place that people will make a special trip to visit

• a destination restaurant.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin destinatio(n-), from destinare ‘make firm, establish.’ The original sense was ‘the action of intending someone or something for a particular purpose,’ later ‘being destined for a particular place,’ hence (from the early 19th cent.) the place itself.

destination charge

noun

a fee added to the price of a new car to cover the cost of shipping the vehicle from the manufacturer to the dealer.

destine /ˈdestin/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. intend or choose (someone or something) for a particular purpose or end.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘predetermine, decree’): from Old French destiner, from Latin destinare ‘make firm, establish.’

destined /ˈdestind/

adjective — [predic.]

1. (of a person's future) developing as though according to a plan

• she could see that he was destined for great things

• [with infinitive] they were destined to become diplomats.

2. (destined to) — certain to meet (a particular fate)

• she was destined to become a life-long friend.

3. (destined for) — intended for or traveling toward (a particular place)

• agricultural exports destined for the United States.

4. [attrib.] — preordained

• your heroine will be united with her destined mate.

destiny /ˈdestinē/

I. noun

1. the events that will necessarily happen to a particular person or thing in the future

• she was unable to control her own destiny.

2. the hidden power believed to control what will happen in the future; fate

• he believes in destiny.

– origin Middle English: from Old French destinee, from Latin destinata, feminine past participle of destinare ‘make firm, establish.’

destitute /ˈdestəˌt(y)o͞ot/

I. adjective

1. without the basic necessities of life

• the charity cares for destitute children.

2. [predic.] (destitute of) — not having

• towns destitute of commerce.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘deserted, abandoned, empty’): from Latin destitutus, past participle of destituere ‘forsake,’ from de- ‘away from’ + statuere ‘to place.’

destitution /ˌdestəˈt(y)o͞oSH(ə)n/

noun

poverty so extreme that one lacks the means to provide for oneself

• the family faced eviction and destitution.

de-stress /dēˈstres/

verb — [no obj.]

1. relax after a period of work or tension.

destrier /ˈdestrēər/

I. noun

a medieval knight's warhorse.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, based on Latin dextera ‘the right hand,’ from dexter ‘on the right’ (because the squire led the knight's horse with his right hand).

destroy /dəˈstroi/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. put an end to the existence of (something) by damaging or attacking it

• the room had been destroyed by fire.

2. ruin (someone) emotionally or spiritually

• he has been determined to destroy her.

3. defeat (someone) utterly

• the Tigers destroyed the Padres in five games.

4. (usu. be destroyed) — kill (a sick, savage, or unwanted animal) by humane means

• their terrier was destroyed after the attack.

– origin Middle English: from Old French destruire, based on Latin destruere, from de- (expressing reversal) + struere ‘build.’

destroyer /dəˈstroiər/

noun

1. a small, fast warship, especially one equipped for a defensive role against submarines and aircraft.

2. someone or something that destroys

• the greatest destroyer of love and peace.

destroying angel

noun

a deadly poisonous white toadstool that grows in woodlands and is native to both Eurasia and North America.
[Genus Amanita, family Amanitaceae, class Hymenomycetes: several species, including the North American A. bisporigera and the European A. virosa.]

destruct /dəˈstrəkt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause deliberate, irreparable damage to (something, typically a rocket or missile).

II. noun — [in sing., usu. as modifier]

1. the deliberate causing of terminal damage

• he had ordered him to go for the destruct button.

– origin 1950s: back-formation from destruction.

destructible /dəˈstrəktəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

able to be destroyed.

II. derivatives

destructibility /-ˌstrəktəˈbilitē /

noun

– origin mid 18th cent. (earlier in indestructible): from French, from late Latin destructibilis, from Latin destruct- ‘destroyed,’ from the verb destruere (see destroy).

destruction /dəˈstrəkSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action or process of causing so much damage to something that it no longer exists or cannot be repaired

• the destruction of the library in Alexandria

• the avalanche left a trail of destruction.

2. the action or process of killing or being killed

• the wanton destruction of human life.

3. [in sing.] — a cause of someone's ruin

• gambling was his destruction.

– origin Middle English: from Latin destructio(n-), from the verb destruere (see destroy).

destructive /dəˈstrəktiv/

I. adjective

1. causing great and irreparable harm or damage

• the destructive power of weapons.

2. tending to refute or disparage; negative and unhelpful

• destructive criticism.

II. derivatives

1. destructively /dəˈstrəktivlē /

adverb

2. destructiveness /dəˈstrəktivnəs /

noun

destructive distillation

noun

[Chemistry] decomposition of a solid by heating it in a closed container and collecting the volatile constituents given off.

desuetude /ˈdeswəˌt(y)o͞od/

I. noun

‹formal› a state of disuse

• the docks fell into desuetude.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘cessation’): from French, from Latin desuetudo, from desuet- ‘made unaccustomed,’ from the verb desuescere, from de- (expressing reversal) + suescere ‘be accustomed.’

desulfurize /dēˈsəlf(y)əˌrīz / ‹chiefly Brit.› desulphurize

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove sulfur or sulfur compounds from (a substance).

II. derivatives

1. desulfurization /dēˌsəlfərəˈzāSHən dēˌsəlfəˌrīˈzāSHən /

noun

2. desulfurizer

noun

desultory /ˈdesəlˌtôrē/

I. adjective

1. lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm

• a few people were left, dancing in a desultory fashion.

2. (of conversation or speech) going constantly from one subject to another in a halfhearted way; unfocused

• the desultory conversation faded.

3. occurring randomly or occasionally

• desultory passengers were appearing.

II. derivatives

1. desultorily /ˈdesəlˌtôrəlē /

adverb

2. desultoriness /ˈdesəlˌtôrēnəs /

noun

– origin late 16th cent. (also in the literal sense ‘skipping around’): from Latin desultorius ‘superficial’ (literally ‘relating to a vaulter’), from desultor ‘vaulter,’ from the verb desilire.

desuperheater /dēˈso͞opərˌhēdər/

noun

a container for reducing the temperature of steam to make it less superheated.

desynchronize /dēˈsiNGkrəˌnīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. disturb the synchronization of; put out of step or phase.

II. derivatives

desynchronization /-ˌsiNGkrənəˈzāSHən /

noun

Det.

abbreviation

detective

• Det. Sgt. Eric Atkinson.

detach /dəˈtaCH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. disengage (something or part of something) and remove it

• he detached the front lamp from its bracket

• ‹figurative› federal strings need to be detached to restore parental authority.

2. [no obj.] — be easily removable

• the screen detaches from the keyboard.

3. (detach oneself from) — leave or separate oneself from (a group or place)

• a figure in brown detached itself from the shadows.

4. (detach oneself from) — avoid or put an end to any connection or association with

• the newspaper detached itself from the political parties.

5. (usu. be detached) — [Military] send (a group of soldiers or ships) on a separate mission

• our crew was detached to Puerto Rico for the exercise.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘discharge a gun’): from French détacher, earlier destacher, from des- (expressing reversal) + attacher ‘attach.’

detachable /dəˈtaCHəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

able to be removed or separated from something

• a shirt with a detachable collar

• the detachable handles click on and off.

II. derivatives

detachability /dəˌtaCHəˈbilədē /

noun

detached /dəˈtaCHt/

I. adjective

1. separate or disconnected, in particular

2. (of a house or other building) not joined to another on either side

• a four-bedroom detached house.

3. aloof and objective

• he managed to remain detached from petty politics.

II. derivatives

detachedly /dəˈtaCH(ə)dlē /

adverb

detached retina /dəˈtaCHt dēˈtaCHt ˈretnə/

noun

a retina that has become separated from the underlying choroid tissue at the back of the eye, causing loss of vision in the affected area.

detachment /dəˈtaCHmənt/

I. noun

1. the state of being objective or aloof

• he felt a sense of detachment from what was going on.

2. [Military] a group of troops, aircraft, or ships sent away on a separate mission

• a detachment of Marines

• the battalion went on detachment to Florida.

3. a party of people similarly separated from a larger group

• a truck containing a detachment of villagers.

4. the action or process of detaching; separation

• structural problems resulted in cracking and detachment of the wall.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French détachement, from détacher ‘to detach’ (see detach).

detail /dəˈtāl ˈdētāl/

I. noun

1. an individual feature, fact, or item

• we shall consider every detail of the bill

• her meticulous attention to detail.

2. a minor or less significant item or feature

• he didn't want them to get sidetracked on a detail of policy.

3. a minor decorative feature of a building or work of art

• a detail on Charlemagne's tomb.

4. the style or treatment of minor decorative features

• the classical French detail of the building's facade.

5. a small part of a picture or other work of art reproduced separately for close study

• detail of right eye showing marks on the lids.

6. (details) — (Brit.) itemized facts or information about someone; personal particulars

• the official asked for my father's details.

7. a small detachment of troops or police officers given a special duty

• the candidate's security detail.

8. [often with modifier] — a special duty assigned to a detachment of troops or police officers.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. describe item by item; give the full particulars of

• the report details the environmental and health costs of the car.

2. [with obj. and infinitive] — assign (someone) to undertake a particular task

• the ships were detailed to keep watch.

3. (US) clean (a motor vehicle) intensively and minutely

• the Buick dealer gave him a job washing and detailing cars.

III. phrases

1. go into detail

give a full account of something.

2. in detail

as regards every feature or aspect; fully

• we will have to examine the proposals in detail.

IV. derivatives

detailer

noun

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘minor items or events regarded collectively’): from French détail (noun), détailler (verb), from dé- (expressing separation) + tailler ‘to cut’ (based on Latin talea ‘twig, cutting’).

detailed /dəˈtāld ˈdēˌtāld/

adjective

1. having many details or facts; showing attention to detail

• more detailed information was needed.

2. (of a work of art) executed with many minor decorative features

• an exquisitely detailed carving.

detailing /ˈdētāliNG, dəˈtāliNG/

noun

small, decorative features on a building, garment, or work of art.

detain /dəˈtān/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. keep (someone) in official custody, typically for questioning about a crime or in politically sensitive situations

• she was detained without trial for two years.

2. keep (someone) from proceeding; hold back

• she made to open the door, but he detained her.

II. derivatives

detainment /dəˈtānmənt /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘be afflicted with sickness or infirmity’): from Old French detenir, from a variant of Latin detinere, from de- ‘away, aside’ + tenere ‘to hold.’

detainee /dēˌtāˈnē diˌtāˈnē/

noun

a person held in custody, especially for political reasons.

detainer /dəˈtānər dēˈtānər/

I. noun

1. [Law] the action of detaining or withholding property.

2. the detention of a person in custody.

3. an order authorizing the continued detention of a person in custody.

4. [chiefly Law] a person who detains someone or something.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Anglo-Norman French detener ‘detain’ (used as a noun), variant of Old French detenir (see detain).

detangle /dēˈtaNGɡəl/

verb — [with obj.]

1. remove tangles from (hair).

detect /dəˈtekt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. discover or identify the presence or existence of

• cancer may soon be detected in its earliest stages.

2. discover or investigate (a crime or its perpetrators)

• the public can help the police to detect crime.

3. discern (something intangible or barely perceptible)

• Paul detected a faint note of weariness in his father's voice.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin detect- ‘uncovered,’ from the verb detegere, from de- (expressing reversal) + tegere ‘to cover.’ The original senses were ‘uncover, expose’ and ‘give someone away,’ later ‘expose the real or hidden nature of something or someone’; hence the current senses (partly influenced by detective).

detectable /dəˈtektəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. able to be discovered or identified

• an easily detectable and treatable disorder

• the virus is not yet detectable in the blood.

2. able to be perceived or noticed; discernible

• there is a detectable note of bitterness when he talks of his father

• Yvette responded finally, her French accent barely detectable.

II. derivatives

detectably /dəˈtektəblē /

adverb

detection /dəˈtekSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action or process of identifying the presence of something concealed

• the early detection of fetal abnormalities.

2. the work of a detective in investigating a crime
[as modifier]

• the detection rate for murder is over 90 percent.

3. another term for demodulation (see demodulate).

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘revelation of what is concealed’): from late Latin detectio(n-), from Latin detegere ‘uncover’ (see detect).

detective /dəˈtektiv/

I. noun

1. a person, especially a police officer, whose occupation is to investigate and solve crimes.

2. [as modifier] — denoting a particular rank of police officer

• Detective Sergeant Fox.

3. [as modifier] — concerning crime and its investigation

• detective work.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from detect, on the pattern of pairs such as elect, elective. The noun was originally short for detective policeman, from an adjectival use of the word in the sense ‘serving to detect.’

detective story detective novel

noun

a story whose plot revolves around the investigation and solving of a crime.

detector /dəˈtektər/

noun — [often with modifier]

1. a device or instrument designed to detect the presence of a particular object or substance and to emit a signal in response

• methane detectors.

2. another term for demodulator (see demodulate).

detent /dəˈtent/

I. noun

1. a catch in a machine that prevents motion until released.

2. (in a clock) a catch that regulates striking.

– origin late 17th cent. (denoting a catch in clocks and watches): from French détente, from Old French destente, from destendre ‘slacken,’ from des- (expressing reversal) + Latin tendere ‘to stretch.’

detente /dāˈtänt / détente

I. noun

the easing of hostility or strained relations, especially between countries

• a serious effort at detente with the eastern bloc.

– origin early 20th cent.: from French détente, literally ‘loosening, relaxation.’

detention /dəˈten(t)SH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action of detaining someone or the state of being detained in official custody, especially as a political prisoner

• one of the effects of police detention is isolation from friends and family.

2. the punishment of being kept in school after hours

• he has made students fear after-school detention

• arbitrary after-school detentions.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘withholding of what is claimed or due’): from late Latin detentio(n-), from Latin detinere ‘hold back’ (see detain).

detention center /dəˈten(t)SHən dēˈten(t)SHən ˈsen(t)ər/

noun

an institution where people are held in detention for short periods, in particular illegal immigrants, refugees, people awaiting trial or sentence, or youthful offenders.

deter /dəˈtər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. discourage (someone) from doing something, typically by instilling doubt or fear of the consequences

• only a health problem would deter him from seeking re-election.

2. prevent the occurrence of

• strategists think not only about how to deter war, but about how war might occur.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin deterrere, from de- ‘away from’ + terrere ‘frighten.’

deterge /dəˈtərj/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹rare› cleanse thoroughly.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French déterger or Latin detergere ‘wipe away.’

detergent /dəˈtərjənt/

I. noun

1. a water-soluble cleansing agent that combines with impurities and dirt to make them more soluble and differs from soap in not forming a scum with the salts in hard water.

2. any additive with an action similar to a detergent, e.g., an oil-soluble substance that holds dirt in suspension in lubricating oil.

II. adjective

of or relating to detergent compounds or their action

• staining that resists detergent action.

III. derivatives

1. detergence

noun

2. detergency

noun

– origin early 17th cent. (as an adjective): from Latin detergent- ‘wiping away,’ from the verb detergere, from de- ‘away from’ + tergere ‘to wipe.’

deteriorate /dəˈtirēəˌrāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. become progressively worse

• relations between the countries had deteriorated sharply

• (as adj. deteriorating) deteriorating economic conditions.

II. derivatives

deteriorative /-ˌrātiv /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent. (used transitively in the sense ‘make worse’): from late Latin deteriorat- ‘worsened,’ from the verb deteriorare, from Latin deterior ‘worse.’

deterioration /dəˌtirēəˈrāSH(ə)n/

noun

the process of becoming progressively worse

• a deterioration in the condition of the patient.

determinable /dəˈtərmənəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. able to be firmly decided or definitely ascertained

• a readily determinable market value.

2. [Law] capable of being brought to an end under given conditions; terminable.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from late Latin determinabilis ‘finite,’ from the verb determinare (see determine).

determinant /dəˈtərmənənt/

I. noun

1. a factor that decisively affects the nature or outcome of something

• pure force of will was the main determinant of his success.

2. [Biology] a gene or other factor that determines the character and development of a cell or group of cells in an organism, a set of which forms an individual's idiotype.

3. [Mathematics] a quantity obtained by the addition of products of the elements of a square matrix according to a given rule.

II. adjective

serving to determine or decide something.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin determinant- ‘determining,’ from the verb determinare (see determine).

determinate /dəˈtərmənət/

I. adjective

1. having exact and discernible limits or form

• the phrase has lost any determinate meaning.

2. [Botany] (of a flowering shoot) having the main axis ending in a flower bud and therefore no longer extending in length, as in a cyme.

II. derivatives

1. determinacy /-minəsē /

noun

2. determinately

adverb

3. determinateness

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin determinatus ‘limited, determined,’ past participle of determinare (see determine).

determination /dəˌtərməˈnāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. firmness of purpose; resoluteness

• he advanced with an unflinching determination.

2. the process of establishing something exactly, typically by calculation or research

• determination of molecular structures.

3. [Law] the settlement of a dispute by the authoritative decision of a judge or arbitrator.

4. [Law] a judicial decision or sentence.

5. the controlling or deciding of something's nature or outcome

• genetic sex determination.

6. [Law] the cessation of an estate or interest.

7. ‹archaic› a tendency to move in a fixed direction.

– origin late Middle English (in the senses ‘settlement of a controversy by a judge or by reasoning’ and ‘authoritative opinion’): via Old French from Latin determinatio(n-), from the verb determinare (see determine).

determinative /dəˈtərməˌnādiv dəˈtərmənədiv/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. [chiefly Law] serving to define, qualify, or direct

• the employer's view is not determinative of the issue.

II. noun

[Grammar] another term for determiner.

determine /dəˈtərmən/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (something) to occur in a particular way; be the decisive factor in

• it will be her mental attitude that determines her future.

2. ascertain or establish exactly, typically as a result of research or calculation

• officials are working with state police to determine the cause of a deadly bus crash

• [with clause] the point of our study was to determine what is true, not what is practicable.

3. [Mathematics] specify the value, position, or form of (a mathematical or geometric object) uniquely.

4. [no obj.] — firmly decide

• he determined on a withdrawal of his forces

• [with infinitive] she determined to tackle Stephen the next day.

5. [Law] ‹archaic› bring or come to an end.

II. derivatives

determining /diˈtərminiNG /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French determiner, from Latin determinare ‘limit, fix,’ from de- ‘completely’ + terminare ‘terminate.’

determined /dəˈtərmənd/

I. adjective

1. having made a firm decision and being resolved not to change it
[with infinitive]

• Alice was determined to be heard.

2. processing or displaying resolve

• Helen was a determined little girl

• a determined effort to reduce inflation.

II. derivatives

determinedness

noun

determinedly /dəˈtərməndlē/

adverb

in a manner displaying resolve and determination

• he marched determinedly into the house

• [as submodifier] he is determinedly upbeat about the situation.

determiner /dəˈtərmənər/

noun

1. a person or thing that determines or decides something.

2. [Grammar] a modifying word that determines the kind of reference a noun or noun group has, for example a, the, every.
See also definite article, indefinite article.

determinism /dəˈtərməˌnizəm/

I. noun

[Philosophy] the doctrine that all events, including human action, are ultimately determined by causes external to the will. Some philosophers have taken determinism to imply that individual human beings have no free will and cannot be held morally responsible for their actions.

II. derivatives

determinist /dəˈtərminəst /

noun, adjective

deterministic /dəˌtərməˈnistik/

I. adjective

relating to the philosophical doctrine that all events, including human action, are ultimately determined by causes regarded as external to the will

• a deterministic theory.

II. derivatives

deterministically /dəˌtərməˈnistəklē /

adverb

deterrence /dəˈtərəns/

noun

the action of discouraging an action or event through instilling doubt or fear of the consequences

• nuclear missiles remain the main deterrence against possible aggression

• they contend that a death penalty is necessary as a form of deterrence.

deterrent /dəˈtərənt/

I. noun

1. a thing that discourages or is intended to discourage someone from doing something.

2. a nuclear weapon or weapons system regarded as deterring an enemy from attack.

II. adjective

able or intended to deter

• the deterrent effect of heavy prison sentences.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin deterrent- ‘deterring,’ from the verb deterrere (see deter).

deterritorialization /dēˌteriˌtôrēələˈzāSHən/

I. noun

the severance of social, political, or cultural practices from their native places and populations.

II. derivatives

deterritorialize

verb

detest /dəˈtest/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. dislike intensely

• of all birds the carrion crow is the most detested by gamekeepers.

II. derivatives

detester

noun

– origin late 15th cent.: from Latin detestari, from de- ‘down’ + testari ‘witness, call upon to witness’ (from testis ‘a witness’).

detestable /dəˈtestəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

deserving intense dislike

• I found the film's violence detestable.

II. derivatives

detestably /dəˈtestəblē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin detestabilis, from the verb detestari (see detest).

detestation /ˌdēteˈstāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. intense dislike

• Wordsworth's detestation of aristocracy.

2. ‹archaic› a detested person or thing

• he is the detestation of the neighborhood.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin detestatio(n-), from the verb detestari (see detest).

dethrone /dēˈTHrōn/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove (a ruler, especially a monarch) from power.

2. remove from a position of authority or dominance

• he dethroned the defending titleholder.

II. derivatives

dethronement /dəˈTHrōnmənt /

noun

detinue /ˈdetənyo͞o/

I. noun

[Law] a legal claim to recover wrongfully detained goods or possessions.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French detenue, past participle (used as a noun) of detenir ‘detain.’

detonate /ˈdetnˌāt/

I. verb

explode or cause to explode
[no obj.]

• two other bombs failed to detonate

• [with obj.] a trigger that can detonate nuclear weapons.

II. derivatives

detonative /-ˌātiv /

adjective

– origin early 18th cent.: from Latin detonat- ‘thundered down or forth,’ from the verb detonare, from de- ‘down’ + tonare ‘to thunder.’

detonation /ˌdetnˈāSH(ə)n ˌdedəˈnāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action of causing a bomb or explosive device to explode.

2. a loud explosion

• a series of deafening detonations was heard.

3. ‹technical› combustion of a substance that is initiated suddenly and propagates extremely rapidly, giving rise to a shock wave.
Compare with deflagration.

4. the premature combustion of fuel in an internal combustion engine, causing knocking.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French détonation, from the verb détoner, from Latin detonare ‘thunder down’ (see detonate).

detonator /ˈdetnˌādər/

noun

1. a device or a small, sensitive charge used to detonate an explosive.

2. another term for torpedo (sense 1 of the noun).

detorsion /dēˈtôrSHən/

noun

[Zoology] (in gastropod mollusks) the evolutionary reversion of a group to a primitive linear body plan.
Compare with torsion.

detour /ˈdēto͝or/

I. noun

1. a long or roundabout route taken to avoid something or to visit somewhere along the way

• he had made a detour to a cafe.

2. an alternative route for use by traffic when the usual road is temporarily closed.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) take a long or roundabout route

• he detoured around the walls.

2. [with obj.] — (chiefly N. Amer.) avoid or bypass (something) by taking a roundabout route

• I would detour the endless stream of motor homes.

– origin mid 18th cent. (as a noun): from French détour ‘change of direction,’ from détourner ‘turn away.’

detox ‹informal›

I. noun — /ˈdētäks /

1. a process or period of time in which one abstains from or rids the body of toxic or unhealthy substances; detoxification

• he ended up in detox for three months.

• [as modifier] a detox program.

II. verb — /dēˈtäks / [no obj.]

1. abstain from or rid the body of toxic or unhealthy substances

• he checked into a hospital to detox.

• [with obj.] both my mind and my body were detoxed.

detoxicate /dēˈtäksəˌkāt/

I. verb

another term for detoxify.

II. derivatives

detoxication /dəˌtäksəˈkāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from de- (expressing removal) + Latin toxicum ‘poison,’ on the pattern of intoxicate.

detoxification /dēˌtäksəfəˈkāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the process of removing toxic substances or qualities.

2. medical treatment of an alcoholic or drug addict involving abstention from drink or drugs until the bloodstream is free of toxins.

detoxify /dēˈtäksəˌfī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove toxic substances or qualities from

• the process uses chemical reagents to detoxify the oil.

2. (usu. be detoxified) — treat (an alcoholic or drug addict) to remove the effects of drink or drugs in order to help them overcome addiction

• he was twice detoxified from heroin.

3. [no obj.] — abstain from drink and drugs until the bloodstream is free of toxins in order to overcome alcoholism or drug addiction.

4. [no obj.] — become free of poisonous substances or qualities

• you can help your body detoxify by cutting down on coffee.

II. derivatives

detoxifier

noun

– origin early 20th cent.: from de- (expressing removal) + Latin toxicum ‘poison’ + -fy.

detract /dəˈtrakt/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] (detract from) — reduce or take away the worth or value of

• these quibbles in no way detract from her achievement.

2. [with obj.] — deny or take away (a quality or achievement) so as to make its subject seem less impressive

• it detracts not one iota from the credit due to them.

3. [with obj.] (detract someone/something from) — divert or distract (someone or something) away from

• the complaint was timed to detract attention from the ethics issue.

II. derivatives

1. detraction /dəˈtrakSH(ə)n /

noun

2. detractive /dəˈtraktiv /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin detract- ‘drawn away,’ from the verb detrahere, from de- ‘away from’ + trahere ‘draw.’

detractor /dəˈtraktər/

noun

a person who disparages someone or something.

detrain /dēˈtrān/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. leave a train.

2. [with obj.] — cause or assist to leave a train

• passengers were detrained because the train was on fire.

II. derivatives

detrainment

noun

detribalize /dēˈtrībəˌlīz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. detribalized)

1. remove (someone) from a traditional tribal social structure

• the 250,000 Australian Aborigines include many detribalized urban people.

2. remove a traditional tribal social structure from (a culture).

II. derivatives

detribalization /-ˌtrībələˈzāSHən /

noun

detriment /ˈdetrəmənt/

I. noun

1. the state of being harmed or damaged

• he is engrossed in his work to the detriment of his married life.

2. a cause of harm or damage

• such tests are a detriment to good education.

– origin late Middle English in the sense ‘loss sustained by damage’: from Old French, from Latin detrimentum, from detri-, stem of deterere ‘wear away.’

detrimental /ˌdetrəˈmen(t)l/

I. adjective

tending to cause harm

• releasing the documents would be detrimental to national security

• moving her could have a detrimental effect on her health.

II. derivatives

detrimentally /ˌdetrəˈmen(t)lē /

adverb

detrition /dəˈtriSH(ə)n/

I. noun

‹rare› the action of wearing away by friction.

– origin late 17th cent.: from medieval Latin detritio(n-), from detri-, stem of deterere ‘wear away.’

detritivore /dəˈtridəˌvôr/

I. noun

[Zoology] an animal that feeds on dead organic material, especially plant detritus.

II. derivatives

detritivorous /ˌdetrəˈtivərəs /

adjective

– origin 1960s: from detritus + -vore ‘eating’ (see -vorous).

detritus /dəˈtrīdəs/

I. noun

1. waste or debris of any kind

• streets filled with rubble and detritus.

2. gravel, sand, silt, or other material produced by erosion.

3. organic matter produced by the decomposition of organisms.

II. derivatives

detrital /dəˈtrīdl /

adjective

– origin late 18th cent. (in the sense ‘detrition’): from French détritus, from Latin detritus, from deterere ‘wear away.’

Detroit /dəˈtroit/

a major industrial city and Great Lakes shipping center in southeastern Michigan; pop. 912,062 (est. 2008). It is the center of the US automobile industry. In the 1960s, it was also an important center for rock and soul music.

de trop /də ˈtrō/

I. adjective

not wanted; unwelcome

• she had no grasp of the conversation and felt herself de trop.

– origin mid 18th cent.: French, literally ‘excessive.’

de Troyes, Chrétien /də ˈtrwä/

see Chrétien de Troyes.

detrusor /dəˈtro͞ozər / detrusor muscle

I. noun

[Anatomy] a muscle that forms a layer of the wall of the bladder.

– origin mid 18th cent.: modern Latin, from Latin detrus- ‘thrust down,’ from the verb detrudere.

detumescence /ˌdēt(y)o͞oˈmesəns/

I. noun

the process of subsiding from a state of tension, swelling, or (especially) sexual arousal.

II. derivatives

1. detumesce /-ˈmes /

verb

2. detumescent

adjective

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin detumescere, from de- ‘down, away’ + tumescere ‘to swell.’

detune /dəˈt(y)o͞on dēˈt(y)o͞on/

verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (a musical instrument) to become out of tune.

2. (usu. as adj. detuned) — reduce the performance or efficiency of (a motor vehicle or engine) by adjustment.

3. change the frequency of (an oscillatory system such as a laser) away from a state of resonance.

Deucalion /ˌd(y)o͞oˈkālēən / ‹Greek Mythology›

the son of Prometheus. With his wife Pyrrha he survived a flood sent by Zeus to punish human wickedness; they were then instructed to throw stones over their shoulders, and these turned into humans to repopulate the world.

deuce^1 /d(y)o͞os/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a thing representing, or represented by, the number two, in particular

2. the two on dice or playing cards.

3. a throw of two at dice.

4. ‹informal› ‹dated› a two-dollar bill.

5. [Tennis] the tie score of 40-all in a game, at which a player needs two consecutive points to win the game.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Old French deus ‘two,’ from Latin duos.

deuce^2 /d(y)o͞os/

I. noun — (the deuce)

1. ‹informal› used as a euphemism for “devil” in expressions of annoyance, impatience, or surprise or for emphasis

• how the deuce are we to make a profit?

• what the deuce are you trying to do?

II. phrases

a (or the) deuce of a ——

used to emphasize how bad, difficult, or serious something is.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Low German duus, probably of the same origin as deuce^1 (two aces at dice being the worst throw).

deuced /d(y)o͞ost ˈd(y)o͞osəd / ‹informal, dated›

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. used for emphasis, especially to express disapproval or frustration

• I know it's deuced awkward for you

• [as submodifier] I'm so deuced fond of you.

II. derivatives

deucedly

adverb

[as submodifier]

• they're deucedly hard to find

deus ex machina /ˌdāəs ˌeks ˈmäkənə ˌdāəs ˌeks ˈmäakənə/

I. noun

an unexpected power or event saving a seemingly hopeless situation, especially as a contrived plot device in a play or novel.

– origin late 17th cent.: modern Latin, translation of Greek theos ek mēkhanēs, ‘god from the machinery.’ In Greek theater, actors representing gods were suspended above the stage, the denouement of the play being brought about by their intervention.

Deut.

abbreviation

[Bible] Deuteronomy.

deuteragonist /ˌd(y)o͞odəˈraɡənəst/

I. noun

the person second in importance to the protagonist in a drama.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek deuteragōnistēs, from deuteros ‘second’ + agōnistēs ‘actor.’

deuteranope /ˈd(y)o͞odərəˌnōp/

noun

a person suffering from deuteranopia.

deuteranopia /ˌd(y)o͞odərəˈnōpēə/

I. noun

color-blindness resulting from insensitivity to green light, causing confusion of greens, reds, and yellows.
Compare with protanopia.

– origin early 20th cent.: from deutero- ‘second’ (the color green being regarded as the second component of color vision) + an-1 + -opia.

deuterated /ˈd(y)o͞odəˌrādəd / deuteriated

I. adjective

[Chemistry] (of a compound) in which the ordinary isotope of hydrogen has been replaced with deuterium.

II. derivatives

deuteration /ˌd(y)o͞otəˈrāSHən /

noun

deuteric /ˌd(y)o͞oˈterik/

I. adjective

[Geology] relating to or denoting alteration of the minerals of an igneous rock during the later stages of consolidation.

– origin early 20th cent.: from deutero- ‘secondary’ + -ic.

deuterium /ˌdyo͞oˈtirēəm/

I. noun

(Symbol: D) — [Chemistry] a stable isotope of hydrogen with a mass approximately twice that of the usual isotope.
Deuterium atoms have a neutron as well as a proton in the nucleus, and the isotope is present to about 1 part in 6,000 in naturally occurring hydrogen. It is used as a fuel in thermonuclear bombs, and heavy water (D_2O) is used as a moderator in nuclear reactors.

– origin 1930s: modern Latin, from Greek deuteros ‘second.’

deutero-

I. combining form

1. second

• Deutero-Isaiah.

2. secondary

• deuterocanonical.

– origin from Greek deuteros ‘second.’

deuterocanonical /ˌd(y)o͞odəˌrōkəˈnänik(ə)l/

adjective

(of sacred books or literary works) forming a secondary canon.

Deutero-Isaiah /ˌdyo͞odərōīˈzāə/

the supposed later author of Isaiah 40–55.

deuteron /ˈd(y)o͞odəˌrän/

I. noun

the nucleus of a deuterium atom, consisting of a proton and a neutron.

– origin 1930s: from Greek deuteros ‘second,’ on the pattern of proton.

Deuteronomy /ˌd(y)o͞odəˈränəmē/

the fifth book of the Bible, containing a recapitulation of the Ten Commandments and much of the Mosaic law.

Deutschland /ˈdoiCHˌlänt/

German name for Germany.

Deutschmark /ˈdoiCHˌmärk / Deutsche Mark

I. noun

the basic monetary unit of Germany (until the introduction of the euro), equal to 100 pfennigs.

– origin mid 20th cent.: from German deutsche Mark ‘German mark.’

deutzia /ˈd(y)o͞otsēə/

I. noun

an ornamental shrub with white or pinkish flowers native to Asia and Central America.
[Genus Deutzia, family Hydrangeaceae.]

– origin modern Latin, named after Johann van der Deutz, 18th-cent. Dutch patron of botany.

deva /ˈdāvə/

I. noun

1. a member of a class of divine beings in the Vedic period, which in Indian religion are benevolent and in Zoroastrianism are evil.
Compare with asura.

2. (Indian) (in general use) a god.

– origin early 19th cent.: Sanskrit, literally ‘shining one,’ later ‘god.’

devadasi /ˌdāvəˈdäsē/

I. noun

a hereditary female dancer and courtesan in a Hindu temple.

– origin from Sanskrit devadāsī, literally ‘female servant of a god.’

de Valera, Eamon /ˌdevəˈlerə, ˌdā-/

(1882–1975), Irish statesman; born in the US, taoiseach (prime minister) 1937–48, 1951–54, and 1957–59 and president of the Republic of Ireland 1959–73. He was the leader of Sinn Fein 1917–26 and the founder of the Fianna Fáil Party in 1926. As president of the Irish Free State from 1932, de Valera was largely responsible for the new constitution of 1937 that created the state of Éire.

devalorize /dēˈvaləˌrīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹rare› devalue.

II. derivatives

devalorization /-ˌvalərəˈzāSHən /

noun

– origin early 20th cent.: from French dévaloriser.

devaluation /ˌdēˌvalyəˈwāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the reduction or underestimation of the worth or importance of something

• the general devaluation of expertise in our culture

• his philosophical views led to a devaluation of the individual.

2. [Economics] the reduction in the official value of a currency in relation to other currencies

• a financial crisis will result in severe devaluation of the country's currency

• the pound has suffered a devaluation.

devalue /dēˈvalyo͞o/

verb — [with obj.]

1. reduce or underestimate the worth or importance of

• I resent the way people seem to devalue my achievement.

2. [Economics] reduce the official value of (a currency) in relation to other currencies

• the dinar was devalued by 20 percent.

Devanagari /ˌdāvəˈnäɡərē/

I. noun

the alphabet used for Sanskrit, Hindi, and other Indian languages.

– origin late 18th cent.: Sanskrit, literally ‘divine town script,’ from deva ‘god’ + nāgarī (from nagara ‘town’), an earlier name of the script.

devastate /ˈdevəˌstāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. destroy or ruin (something)

• the city was devastated by a huge earthquake

• bad weather has devastated the tourist industry.

2. cause (someone) severe and overwhelming shock or grief

• she was devastated by the loss of Damian.

II. derivatives

devastator /ˈdevəˌstādər /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin devastat- ‘laid waste,’ from the verb devastare, from de- ‘thoroughly’ + vastare ‘lay waste.’

devastating /ˈdevəˌstādiNG/

adjective

1. highly destructive or damaging

• a devastating cyclone struck Bangladesh.

2. causing severe shock, distress, or grief

• the news came as a devastating blow.

3. ‹informal› extremely impressive or effective

• she had a devastating wit.

devastatingly /ˈdevəˌstādiNGlē/

adverb

1. in a highly destructive or damaging way

• those countries were devastatingly affected by the tsunami.

2. in a manner causing severe shock, distress, or grief

• the council's figures devastatingly confirm my own shocking findings

• [as submodifier] devastatingly bad news.

3. to an extremely impressive degree

• no artist has more devastatingly exposed the folly of his fellow men

• [as submodifier] a devastatingly attractive man.

devastation /ˌdevəˈstāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. great destruction or damage

• the floods caused widespread devastation.

2. severe and overwhelming shock or grief

• she spoke of her devastation at his death.

devein /dēˈvān/

verb — [with obj.]

1. remove the main central vein from (a shrimp or prawn).

develop /dəˈveləp/

I. verb

1. grow or cause to grow and become more mature, advanced, or elaborate
[no obj.]

• motion pictures developed into mass entertainment

• (as adj. developing) this is a rapidly developing field

• [with obj.] entrepreneurs develop their skills through trial and error.

2. [no obj.] (often as adj. developing) — (of a poor agricultural country) become more economically and socially advanced

• the developing world.

3. [with obj.] — convert (land) to a new purpose by constructing buildings or making other use of its resources.

4. construct or convert (a building) so as to improve existing resources.

5. [with obj.] — elaborate (a musical theme) by modification of the melody, harmony, or rhythm.

6. [with obj.] — [Chess] bring (a piece) into play from its initial position on a player's back rank.

7. [with obj.] — [Geometry] convert (a curved surface) conceptually into a plane figure as if by unrolling.

8. [with obj.] — [Mathematics] expand (a function, etc.) in the form of a series.

9. start to exist, experience, or possess
[no obj.]

• a strange closeness developed

• [with obj.] I developed an interest in law

• [with obj.] AIDS patients often develop a rare type of cancer.

10. [with obj.] — treat (a photographic film) with chemicals to make a visible image.

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘unfold, unfurl’): from French développer, based on Latin dis- ‘un-’ + a second element of unknown origin found also in envelop.

developable /dəˈveləpəb(ə)l/

adjective

1. able to be developed, in particular

2. (of land or property) able to be adapted or improved so as to become productive or profitable.

3. [Geometry] (of a curved surface) capable of being flattened into a plane without overlap or separation, as with a cylinder.

4. [Mathematics] (of a function or expression) capable of being expanded as a series.

developed /dəˈveləpt/

adjective

1. advanced or elaborated to a specified degree

• a fully developed system of public law.

2. (of a person or part of the body) having specified physical proportions

• a strongman with well-developed muscles.

3. (of a country or region) advanced economically and socially

• economic assistance to the less-developed countries

• the developed world.

developer /dəˈveləpər/

noun

1. a person or thing that develops something

• a property developer

• software developers.

2. [with adj.] — a person who grows or matures at a specified time or rate

• I was a slow developer.

3. a chemical agent used for treating photographic film to make a visible image.

developing country /dəˈveləpiNG ˌkəntrē/

noun

a poor agricultural country that is seeking to become more advanced economically and socially.

development /dəˈveləpmənt/

noun

1. the process of developing or being developed

• she traces the development of the novel

• the development of less invasive treatment.

2. a specified state of growth or advancement

• the wings attain their full development several hours after birth.

3. a new and refined product or idea

• the latest developments in information technology.

4. an event constituting a new stage in a changing situation

• I don't think there have been any new developments since yesterday.

5. the process of converting land to a new purpose by constructing buildings or making use of its resources

• land suitable for development.

6. an area of land with new buildings on it

• a major housing development in Chicago.

7. [Chess] the process of bringing one's pieces into play in the opening phase of a game.

8. the process of starting to experience or suffer from an ailment or feeling

• the development of brittle bones.

9. the process of treating photographic film with chemicals to make a visible image.

developmental /dəˌveləpˈmen(t)l/

adjective

1. concerned with the development of someone or something

• developmental problems

• developmental psychology.

2. concerned with the evolution of animals and plants

• developmental biology.

developmental delay

noun

the condition of a child being less developed mentally or physically than is normal for its age

• mercury contributes to many known health problems, including neurological injury, developmental delay, and cerebral palsy.

developmentally /dəˌveləpˈmen(t)əlē/

adverb

in a way that relates to the development of someone or something

• hunger is leaving millions of children developmentally delayed

• [sentence adverb] culturally, developmentally, and economically, the places we come from are very different.

development system

noun

[Computing] a system of software and hardware designed to assist in the development of new software or products.

développé /dəˌveləˈpā/

noun

[Ballet] a movement in which one leg is raised to the knee of the supporting leg, then unfolded and kept in a fully extended position.

deverbal /ˌdēˈvərb(ə)l/

I. adjective

(of a noun or adjective) derived from a verb.

II. noun

a deverbal noun or adjective.

Devi /ˈdāvē / ‹Hinduism›

I. the supreme goddess, often identified with Parvati and Shakti.

II. (devi) — (Indian) (in general use) a goddess.

III. (Indian) used after the first name of a Hindu woman as a form of respect

• Deval Devi.

deviance /ˈdēvēəns/

I. noun

the fact or state of departing from usual or accepted standards, especially in social or sexual behavior.

II. derivatives

deviancy /ˈdēvēənsē /

noun

deviant /ˈdēvēənt/

I. adjective

1. departing from usual or accepted standards, especially in social or sexual behavior

• deviant behavior

• a deviant ideology.

2. ‹offensive› homosexual.

II. noun

a deviant person or thing.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin deviant- ‘turning out of the way,’ from the verb deviare (see deviate).

deviate

I. verb — /ˈdēvēˌāt / [no obj.]

1. depart from an established course

• you must not deviate from the agreed route.

2. depart from usual or accepted standards

• those who deviate from society's values.

II. noun, adjective — /ˈdēvēət /

1. old-fashioned term for deviant.

III. derivatives

deviator /ˈdēvēˌādər /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (as an adjective in the sense ‘remote’): from late Latin deviat- ‘turned out of the way,’ from the verb deviare, from de- ‘away from’ + via ‘way.’ The verb dates from the mid 17th cent.

deviation /ˌdēvēˈāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action of departing from an established course or accepted standard

• deviation from a norm

• sexual deviation

• deviations from standard English.

2. [Statistics] the amount by which a single measurement differs from a fixed value such as the mean.

3. the deflection of a vessel's compass needle caused by iron in the vessel, which varies with the vessel's heading.

II. derivatives

1. deviationism /ˌdēvēˈāSHəˌnizəm /

noun

2. deviationist /ˌdēvēˈāSH(ə)nəst /

noun

– origin late Middle English: via French from medieval Latin deviatio(n-), from Latin deviare (see deviate).

device /dəˈvīs/

I. noun

1. a thing made or adapted for a particular purpose, especially a piece of mechanical or electronic equipment

• a measuring device.

2. a bomb or other explosive weapon

• an incendiary device.

3. ‹archaic› the design or look of something

• works of strange device.

4. a plan, scheme, or trick with a particular aim

• writing a public letter is a traditional device for signaling dissent.

5. a turn of phrase intended to produce a particular effect in speech or a literary work

• a rhetorical device.

6. a drawing or design

• the decorative device on the invitations.

7. an emblematic or heraldic design

• their shields bear the device of the Blazing Sun.

II. phrases

leave someone to their own devices

leave someone to do as they wish without supervision.

– origin Middle English: from Old French devis, based on Latin divis- ‘divided,’ from the verb dividere. The original sense was ‘desire or intention,’ found now only in leave a person to his or her own devices (which has become associated with sense 2).

devil /ˈdevəl/

I. noun

1. (usu. the Devil) — (in Christian and Jewish belief) the chief evil spirit; Satan.

2. an evil spirit; a demon.

3. a very wicked or cruel person

• they prefer voting for devils rather than for decent men.

4. a mischievously clever or self-willed person

• the cunning old devil is up to something.

5. [with adj.] — ‹informal› a person with specified characteristics

• the poor devil

• a lucky devil.

6. (the devil) — fighting spirit; wildness

• he was dangerous when the devil was in him.

7. (the devil) — a thing that is very difficult or awkward to do or deal with

• it's going to be the very devil to disentangle.

8. (the devil) — expressing surprise or annoyance in various questions or exclamations

• “Where the devil is he?”

9. an instrument or machine, especially one fitted with sharp teeth or spikes, used for tearing or other destructive work.

10. ‹informal› ‹dated› a junior assistant of a lawyer or other professional.
See also printer's devil.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — ‹informal› ‹dated› act as a junior assistant for a lawyer or other professional.

2. [with obj.] — (N. Amer.) harass or worry (someone)

• he was deviled by a new-found fear.

III. phrases

1. between the devil and the deep (blue) sea

caught in a dilemma.
[alluding to two equally dangerous alternatives.]

2. devil a ——

‹archaic› not even one or any

• the devil a man of you stirred himself over it.

3. the devil can quote scripture for his purpose

‹proverb› people may conceal unworthy motives by reciting words that sound morally authoritative.
[with allusion to Jesus' Temptation in Matt. 4.]

4. the devil finds work for idle hands to do

‹proverb› someone who doesn't have enough work to do is liable to cause or get into trouble.

5. the devil looks after his own

‹proverb› success or good fortune often seem to come to those who least deserve it.

6. a devil of a ——

‹informal› used to emphasize great size or degree

• we are in a devil of a mess here.

7. the devil is in the details

the details of a matter are its most problematic aspect.

8. the devil's own ——

‹informal› used to emphasize the difficulty or seriousness of something

• he was in the devil's own hurry.

9. (the) devil take the hindmost

‹proverb› everyone should (or does) look after their own interests rather than considering those of others

• full speed ahead and the devil take the hindmost.

[with allusion to a chase by the Devil, in which the slowest will be caught.]

10. the devil to pay

serious trouble to be dealt with

• there was the devil to pay when we got home.

11. give the devil his due

‹proverb› acknowledge the good qualities of even a bad or undeserving person.

12. go to the devil

a. said in angry rejection or condemnation of someone.

b. fall into moral depravity

• he must go to the devil in his own way.

13. like the devil

with great speed or energy

• he drove like the devil.

14. play the devil with

have a damaging or disruptive effect on

• this brandy plays the devil with one's emotions!

15. speak (or talk) of the devil

said when a person appears just after being mentioned.
[from the superstition that the devil will appear if his name is spoken.]

– origin Old English dēofol (related to Dutch duivel and German Teufel), via late Latin from Greek diabolos ‘accuser, slanderer’ (used in the Septuagint to translate Hebrew śāṭān ‘Satan’), from diaballein ‘to slander,’ from dia ‘across’ + ballein ‘to throw.’

deviled /ˈdevəld/

adjective

(of food) cooked with hot seasoning

• deviled eggs.

devilfish /ˈdevəlˌfiSH/

noun

any of a number of marine creatures that are perceived as having a sinister appearance, in particular a devil ray, a stonefish, or an octopus or squid.

devilish /ˈdev(ə)liSH/

I. adjective

1. of, like, or appropriate to a devil in evil and cruelty

• devilish tortures.

2. mischievous and rakish

• a wide, devilish grin.

3. very difficult to deal with or use

• it turned out to be a devilish job.

II. adverb — [as submodifier]

1. ‹informal› ‹dated› very; extremely

• a devilish clever chap.

III. derivatives

devilishness /ˈdev(ə)liSHnəs /

noun

devilishly /ˈdevəliSHlē/

adverb

1. in a devilish manner.

2. [as submodifier] — ‹informal› very; extremely

• their music is devilishly difficult.

devil-may-care /ˌdevəlmāˈker/

adjective

cheerful and reckless

• lighthearted, devil-may-care young pilots.

devilment /ˈdevəlmənt/

noun

reckless mischief; wild spirits

• his eyes were blazing with devilment.

devil ray

noun

a large, long-tailed ray that has a fleshy, hornlike projection on each side of the mouth. It occurs on or near the surface of warm seas and feeds on plankton.
[Family Mobulidae: two genera and several species, including the manta.]

devilry /ˈdevəlrē/

noun

1. wicked activity

• some devilry was afoot.

2. reckless mischief

• a perverse sense of devilry urged her to lead him on.

3. black magic; dealings with the devil.

devil's advocate /ˈˌdevəlz ˈadvəkət/

noun

1. a person who expresses a contentious opinion in order to provoke debate or test the strength of the opposing arguments

• the interviewer will need to play devil's advocate to put the other side's case forward.

2. ‹historical› the popular title of the person appointed by the Roman Catholic Church to challenge a proposed beatification or canonization, or the verification of a miracle.

devil's bit /ˈdevəlz ˌbit/

noun

a North American plant of the lily family bearing tightly packed spikes of white flowers.
[Chamaelirium luteum, family Liliaceae.]

devil's claw

noun

a plant whose seedpods bear clawlike hooks that can harm livestock.
[Two genera in the family Pedaliaceae: genus Proboscidea of warm regions of America, used in basketry or grown for their fruit, and Harpagophytum procumbens of southern Africa and Madagascar, used in herbal medicine.]

devil's club

noun

a very spiny, straggling shrub of western North America.
[Oplopanax horridus, family Araliaceae.]

devil's darning needle

noun

(N. Amer.) another term for darner (sense 2).

devil's food cake /devlsˈfo͞oːdkāk/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a rich chocolate cake.

devil's grip

noun

informal term for Bornholm disease.

Devil's Island

a rocky island off the coast of French Guiana that was used from 1852 as a penal settlement, especially for political prisoners. The last prisoner was released in 1953.

devil's paintbrush

noun

(N. Amer.) a deep orange European hawkweed, which has become naturalized in North America.
[Hieracium aurantiacum, family Compositae.]

Devil's Tower /ˌdevəlz ˈtou(ə)r/

a rock column that is 865 feet (264 m) high in northeastern Wyoming, a national monument on the Belle Fourche River.

devil's walking stick

noun

See Hercules-club.

deviltry /ˈdevəltrē/

noun

archaic variant of devilry.

devious /ˈdēvēəs/

I. adjective

1. showing a skillful use of underhanded tactics to achieve goals

• he's as devious as a politician needs to be

• they have devious ways of making money.

2. (of a route or journey) longer and less direct than the most straightforward way

• they arrived at the town by a devious route.

II. derivatives

1. deviously /ˈdēvēəslē ˈdēvyəslē /

adverb

2. deviousness /ˈdēvēəsnəs /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin devius (from de- ‘away from’ + via ‘way’) + -ous. The original sense was ‘remote or sequestered’; the later sense ‘departing from the direct route’ gave rise to the figurative sense ‘deviating from the straight way’ and hence ‘skilled in underhanded tactics.’

devise /dəˈvīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. plan or invent (a complex procedure, system, or mechanism) by careful thought

• a training program should be devised

• a complicated game of his own devising.

2. [Law] leave (real estate) to someone by the terms of a will.

II. noun

[Law] a clause in a will leaving real estate to someone.

III. derivatives

1. devisable /dəˈvīzəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. devisee /dəˌvīˈzē /

noun

devise (sense 2 of the verb)

3. deviser /dəˈvīzər dēˈvīzər /

noun

4. devisor /dəˈvīzər /

noun

devise (sense 2 of the verb)

– origin Middle English: the verb from Old French deviser, from Latin divis- ‘divided,’ from the verb dividere (this sense being reflected in the original English sense of the verb); the noun is a variant of device (in the early sense ‘will, desire’).

devitalize /dēˈvīdlˌīz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. devitalized)

1. deprive of strength and vigor

• an effective product to treat devitalized skin.

II. derivatives

devitalization /ˌdēˌvīdləˈzāSH(ə)n ˌdēˌvīdlˌīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

devitrify /dēˈvitrəˌfī/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of glass or vitreous rock) become hard, opaque, and crystalline.

2. [with obj.] — make hard, opaque, and crystalline.

II. derivatives

devitrification /-ˌvitrəfiˈkāSHən /

noun

devoice /dēˈvois/

verb — [with obj.]

1. [Phonetics] make (a vowel or voiced consonant) voiceless.

devoid /dəˈvoid/

I. adjective — [predic.] (devoid of)

1. entirely lacking or free from

• Lisa kept her voice devoid of emotion.

– origin late Middle English: past participle of obsolete devoid ‘cast out,’ from Old French devoidier.

devoir /dəˈvwär/

I. noun

‹archaic› a person's duty

• you have done your devoir right well.

II. phrases

pay one's devoirs

‹archaic› pay one's respects formally.

• I paid my devoirs to both.

– origin Middle English: from Old French deveir, from Latin debere ‘owe.’ The spelling, and subsequently the pronunciation, was changed under the influence of modern French devoir.

devolution /ˌdevəˈl(y)o͞oSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the transfer or delegation of power to a lower level, especially by central government to local or regional administration.

2. ‹formal› descent or degeneration to a lower or worse state

• the devolution of the gentlemanly ideal into a glorification of drunkenness.

3. [Law] the legal transfer of property from one owner to another.

4. [Biology] evolutionary degeneration.

II. derivatives

1. devolutionary /-ˌnerē /

adjective

2. devolutionist /ˌdevəˈl(y)o͞oSH(ə)nəst /

noun

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘transference by default’): from late Latin devolutio(n-), from Latin devolvere ‘roll down’ (see devolve).

devolve /dəˈvälv/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. transfer or delegate (power) to a lower level, especially from central government to local or regional administration

• measures to devolve power to the provinces

• (as adj. devolved) devolved and decentralized government.

2. [no obj.] (devolve on/upon/to) — (of duties or responsibility) pass to (a body or person at a lower level)

• his duties devolved on a comrade.

3. [no obj.] (devolve into) — ‹formal› degenerate or be split into

• the Empire devolved into separate warring states.

II. derivatives

devolvement

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘roll down’): from Latin devolvere, from de- ‘down’ + volvere ‘to roll.’

Devon^1 /ˈdevən / Devonshire

a county in southwestern England; county town, Exeter.

Devon^2 /ˈdevən/

I. noun

an animal of a breed of red beef cattle.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after the county of Devon (see Devon^1).

Devonian /dəˈvōnēən/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to Devon.

2. [Geology] of, relating to, or denoting the fourth period of the Paleozoic era, between the Silurian and Carboniferous periods.
The Devonian period lasted from about 409 million to 363 million years ago. During this period fish became abundant; the first amphibians evolved, and the first forests appeared.

II. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Devon.

2. (the Devonian) — [Geology] the Devonian period or the system of rocks deposited during it.

Devonshire cream /ˌdevənSHər ˈkrēm/

noun

clotted cream.

devoré /dəˈvôrā / devore

I. noun

a velvet fabric with a pattern formed by burning the pile away with acid
[as modifier]

• a devoré top.

– origin 1990s: from French dévoré, lit. ‘devoured,’ past part. of dévorer.

devote /dəˈvōt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (devote something to) — give all or a large part of one's time or resources to (a person, activity, or cause)

• I wanted to devote more time to my family

• she devoted herself to fundraising.

2. ‹archaic› invoke or pronounce a curse upon.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘dedicate formally, consecrate’): from Latin devot- ‘consecrated,’ from the verb devovere, from de- ‘formally’ + vovere ‘to vow.’

devoted /dəˈvōdəd/

I. adjective

1. very loving or loyal

• he was a devoted husband

• Leo was devoted to his job.

2. [predic.] (devoted to) — given over to the display, study, or discussion of

• there is a museum devoted to her work.

II. derivatives

1. devotedly /dəˈvōdədlē /

adverb

devoted (sense 1)

2. devotedness

noun

devoted (sense 1)

devotee /ˌdevəˈtē ˌdevəˈtā/

noun

1. a person who is very interested in and enthusiastic about someone or something

• a devotee of classical music.

2. a strong believer in a particular religion or god

• devotees of Krishna

• devotees thronged the temple.

devotion /dəˈvōSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person, activity, or cause

• Eleanor's devotion to her husband

• his courage and devotion to duty never wavered.

2. religious worship or observance

• the order's aim was to live a life of devotion.

3. (devotions) — prayers or religious observances.

– origin Middle English: from Latin devotio(n-), from devovere ‘consecrate’ (see devote).

devotional /dəˈvōSH(ə)n(ə)l/

adjective

of or used in religious worship

• devotional books.

devour /dəˈvou(ə)r/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. eat (food or prey) hungrily or quickly

• he devoured half of his burger in one bite.

2. (of fire, disease, or other forces) consume (someone or something) destructively

• the hungry flames devoured the old house.

3. read (something) quickly and eagerly

• she spent her evenings devouring the classics.

4. (be devoured) — (of a person) be totally absorbed by an unpleasant feeling

• she was devoured by need.

II. derivatives

devourer /dəˈvou(ə)rər /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French devorer, from Latin devorare, from de- ‘down’ + vorare ‘to swallow.’

devout /dəˈvout/

I. adjective

1. having or showing deep religious feeling or commitment

• she was a devout Catholic

• a rabbi's devout prayers.

2. totally committed to a cause or belief

• the most devout environmentalist.

II. derivatives

devoutness /dəˈvoutnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French devot, from Latin devotus ‘devoted,’ past participle of devovere (see devote).

devoutly /dəˈvoutlē/

adverb

1. in a manner that shows deep religious feeling or commitment

• they passed a man praying devoutly beside a roadside shrine.

2. [usu. as submodifier] — in a totally committed and sincere way; earnestly

• let us devoutly hope that Morris is correct

• he devoutly believes that he is rescuing these children from savagery.

de Vries, Hugo /də ˈvrēz/

(1848–1935), Dutch plant physiologist and geneticist. He did much work on osmosis and water relations in plants, coining the term plasmolysis. His subsequent work on heredity contributed substantially to the chromosome theory of heredity.

dew /d(y)o͞o/

I. noun

1. tiny drops of water that form on cool surfaces at night, when atmospheric vapor condenses

• the grass was wet with dew

• [in sing.] a cold, heavy dew dripped from the leaves.

2. [in sing.] — a beaded or glistening liquid resembling dew

• her body had broken out in a fine dew of perspiration.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. wet (a part of someone's body) with a beaded or glistening liquid

• sweat dewed her lashes.

– origin Old English dēaw, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dauw and German Tau (noun), tauen (verb).

DEW

abbreviation

distant early warning.

dewar /ˈd(y)o͞owər/

I. noun

a double-walled flask of metal or silvered glass with a vacuum between the walls, used to hold liquids at well below ambient temperature.

– origin late 19th cent.: named after Sir James Dewar (see Dewar, Sir James).

Dewar, Sir James /ˈd(y)o͞oər/

(1842–1923), Scottish chemist and physicist. He devised the vacuum flask, achieved temperatures close to absolute zero, and was the first to produce liquid oxygen and hydrogen in quantity.

dewater /dēˈwätər, -ˈwô-/

verb — [with obj.]

1. drain (a waterlogged or flooded area).

2. remove water from (sediment or waste materials).

dewberry /ˈd(y)o͞oˌberē/

noun

1. a trailing European bramble with soft prickles and edible fruit which has a dewy white bloom on the skin.
[Rubus caesius, family Rosaceae.]

2. (N. Amer.) any of a number of trailing brambles.

3. the blue-black fruit of any of a number of trailing brambles.

dewclaw /ˈd(y)o͞oklô/

I. noun

1. a rudimentary inner toe present in some dogs.

2. a false hoof on an animal such as a deer, which is formed by its rudimentary side toes.

– origin late 16th cent.: apparently from the nouns dew and claw.

dewdrop /ˈd(y)o͞oˌdräp/

noun

a drop of dew.

Dewey, George /ˈd(y)o͞o-ē/

(1837–1917), US naval officer. Appointed commodore of the navy in 1896, he was the hero of the battle of Manila Bay in the Philippines in 1898 during the Spanish-American War.

Dewey, John

(1859–1952), US philosopher and educational theorist. He defined knowledge as successful practice and espoused the educational theory that children learn best by doing.

Dewey, Melvil

(1851–1931), US librarian. He devised a decimal system of classifying books that used ten main subject categories.

Dewey, Thomas Edmund

(1902–71), US lawyer and politician. He served as governor of New York 1943–55 and was the Republican presidential candidate in 1944 and 1948.

Dewey Decimal Classification /dyo͞oːē ˈdesiml klasifikāSHn / Dewey system

I. noun

‹trademark› an internationally applied decimal system of library classification that uses a three-figure code from 000 to 999 to represent the major branches of knowledge, and allows finer classification to be made by the addition of further figures after a decimal point.

– origin late 19th cent.: named after Dewey, Melvil.

dewfall /ˈd(y)o͞ofôl/

noun

1. ‹literary› the formation of dew, or the time of the evening when dew begins to form.

2. ‹literary› the film of dew covering an area.

Dewi /ˈdewē/

Welsh name for St. David (see David, St.).

dewlap /ˈd(y)o͞olap/

I. noun

a fold of loose skin hanging from the neck or throat of an animal, especially that present in many cattle.

– origin Middle English: from dew and lap^1, perhaps influenced by a Scandinavian word (compare with Danish doglæp).

deworm /dēˈwərm/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. treat (an animal) to free it of worms.

II. derivatives

dewormer

noun

dew point /ˈd(y)o͞o ˌpoint/

noun

the atmospheric temperature (varying according to pressure and humidity) below which water droplets begin to condense and dew can form.

dew worm /ˈd(y)o͞o ˌwərm/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) an earthworm, in particular one used as fishing bait.

– origin Old English deaw-wyrm ‘ringworm’; compare with East Frisian dauworm, denoting both ringworm and the earthworm.

dewy /ˈd(y)o͞oē/

I. adjective

1. wet with dew.

2. (of a person's skin) appearing soft and lustrous

• your skin will begin to feel revitalized and dewy.

3. youthful and fresh

• the girls have yet to lose their dewy charm.

II. derivatives

1. dewily /ˈd(y)o͞oəlē /

adverb

2. dewiness /ˈd(y)o͞oēnəs /

noun

– origin Old English dēawig (see dew, -y^1).

dewy-eyed /ˈd(y)o͞oē ˌīd/

adjective

having eyes that are moist with tears (used typically to indicate that a person is nostalgic, naive, or sentimental)

• she gets slightly dewy-eyed as she talks about her family.

dex /deks/

noun

‹informal› short for Dexedrine.

dexamethasone /ˌdeksəˈmeTHəˌzōn/

I. noun

[Medicine] a synthetic drug of the corticosteroid type, used especially as an anti-inflammatory agent.

– origin 1950s: from dexa- (blend of deca- and hexa-) + meth(yl) + -a- + (cortis)one.

Dexedrine /ˈdeksədrən ˈdeksəˌdrēn/

I. noun

trademark for amphetamine sulfate (see amphetamine).

– origin 1940s: probably from dextro-, on the pattern of Benzedrine.

dexter^1 /ˈdekstər/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. ‹archaic› [Heraldry] of, on, or toward the right-hand side (in a coat of arms, from the bearer's point of view, i.e., the left as it is depicted).
The opposite of sinister.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin, ‘on the right.’

dexter^2 /ˈdekstər/

I. noun

an animal of a small, hardy breed of Irish cattle.

– origin late 19th cent.: said to have been named after the breeder.

dexterity /dekˈsterədē/

I. noun

skill in performing tasks, especially with the hands

• her dexterity with chopsticks

• his record testifies to a certain dexterity in politics.

– origin early 16th cent. (in the sense ‘mental adroitness’): from French dextérité, from Latin dexteritas, from dexter ‘on the right.’

dexterous /ˈdekst(ə)rəs / dextrous

I. adjective

1. demonstrating neat skill, especially with the hands

• dexterous accordion playing.

2. mentally adroit; clever

• power users are dexterous at using software, rather than creating it.

II. derivatives

1. dexterously /ˈdekst(ə)rəslē /

adverb

2. dexterousness /ˈdekst(ə)rəsnəs /

noun

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘mentally adroit, clever’): from Latin dexter ‘on the right’ + -ous.

dextral /ˈdekstrəl/

I. adjective

1. of or on the right side or the right hand (the opposite of sinistral), in particular

2. right-handed.

3. [Geology] relating to or denoting a strike-slip fault in which the motion of the block on the further side of the fault from an observer is toward the right.

4. [Zoology] (of a spiral mollusk shell) with whorls rising to the right and coiling in a counterclockwise direction.

II. noun

a right-handed person.

III. derivatives

1. dextrality /dekˈstralədē /

noun

2. dextrally

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin dextralis, from Latin dextra ‘the right hand,’ from dexter ‘on the right.’

dextran /ˈdekˌstran, -strən/

I. noun

1. [Chemistry] a carbohydrate gum formed by the fermentation of sugars and consisting of polymers of glucose.

2. [Chemistry] [Medicine] a solution containing a hydrolyzed form of this, used as a substitute for blood plasma.

– origin late 19th cent.: from dextro- + -an.

dextrin /ˈdekstrən/

I. noun

a soluble gummy substance obtained by hydrolysis of starch, used as a thickening agent and in adhesives and dietary supplements.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from dextro- + -in^1.

dextro-

I. combining form

on or to the right

• dextrorotatory.

– origin from Latin dexter, dextr- ‘right.’

dextrorotatory /ˌdekstrəˈrōdəˌtôrē/

I. adjective

[Chemistry] (of a compound) having the property of rotating the plane of a polarized light ray to the right, i.e., clockwise facing the oncoming radiation.
The opposite of levorotatory.

II. derivatives

dextrorotation /-ˌrōˈtāSHən /

noun

dextrose /ˈdekstrōs ˈdekstrōz/

I. noun

[Chemistry] the dextrorotatory form of glucose (and the predominant naturally occurring form).

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin dexter, dextr- ‘on the right’ + -ose^2.

dexy /ˈdeksē/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› Dexedrine.

2. ‹informal› a tablet of Dexedrine.

– origin 1950s: abbreviation.

dezincification /dēˌziNGkifiˈkāSHən/

noun

a form of corrosion and weakening of brass objects in which zinc is dissolved out of the brass alloy.

DF

abbreviation

1. Defender of the Faith.
[from Latin Defensor Fidei.]

2. direction finder.

DFC

abbreviation

Distinguished Flying Cross.

Dfl

abbreviation

Dutch florins.

DFM

abbreviation

(in the UK) Distinguished Flying Medal, a decoration awarded to RAF personnel for acts of courage or devotion to duty when not in action against an enemy, instituted in 1918.

DG

abbreviation

1. Dei gratia, by the grace of God.

2. Deo gratias, thanks be to God.

3. (in the UK) director general.

DH^1

I. abbreviation

1. Doctor of Humanities.

2. [Baseball] designated hitter.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. act as a designated hitter.

DH^2

I. noun

‹informal› a person's husband (used in electronic communication)

• my DH would be glad to retire and spend his days fishing.

– origin 1990s: abbreviation of darling husband or dear husband.

Dhahran /däˈrän, ˌdähəˈrän/

an oil town in eastern Saudi Arabia that was an Allied forces port and military base during the Persian Gulf War; pop. 110,800 (est. 2009).

Dhaka /ˈdäkə ˈdakə / Dacca

I. the capital of Bangladesh, in the central part of the country, on the Ganges delta; pop. 7,000,940 (2008).

II. derivatives

Dhakai /ˈdäkˌī, ˈdakˌī /

adjective

dhamma /ˈdämə/

I. noun

another term for dharma, esp. among Theravada Buddhists.

– origin Pali, from Sanskrit dharma ‘decree or custom.’

Dhanbad /ˈdänbäd/

a city in northeastern India, in Jharkand; pop. 241,800 (est. 2009).

dhansak /ˈdənˌsäk/

I. noun

an Indian dish of meat or vegetables cooked with lentils and cilantro

• chicken dhansak.

– origin Gujarati.

dharma /ˈdärmə/

I. noun

1. [Hinduism] the principle of cosmic order.

2. virtue, righteousness, and duty, especially social and caste duty in accord with the cosmic order.

3. [Buddhism] the teaching or religion of the Buddha.

4. one of the fundamental elements of which the world is composed.

– origin late 18th cent.: Sanskrit, literally ‘decree or custom.’

dharmashala /ˌdärməˈSHälə / dharmasala

I. noun

(in South Asia) a building devoted to religious or charitable purposes, especially a rest house for travelers.

– origin from Sanskrit dharmaśālā, from dharma ‘virtue’ + śālā ‘house.’

dharna /ˈdärnə/

I. noun

1. (Indian) a mode of compelling payment or compliance, by sitting at the debtor's or offender's door without eating until the demand is complied with.

2. (Indian) a peaceful demonstration.

– origin from Hindi dharnā ‘sitting in restraint, placing.’

Dharuk /ˈdəˌro͝ok/

noun

an Aboriginal language of the area around Sydney, Australia, now extinct.

Dharwar /därˈwär/

a city in southern India, twinned with Hubli, in Karnataka state, noted for manufacturing textiles; pop. 905,000 (2009).

Dhaulagiri /ˌdouləˈɡirē/

a mountain massif in Nepal, in the Himalayas, that has six peaks and rises to 26,810 feet (8,172 m) at its highest point.

DHEA

abbreviation

dihydroepiandrosterone.

dhikr /ˈT͟Hikər / zikr

noun

1. [Islam] a form of devotion, associated chiefly with Sufism, in which the worshiper is absorbed in the rhythmic repetition of the name of God or his attributes.

2. [Islam] a Sufi ceremony in which dhikr is practiced.

dhobi /ˈdōbē/

I. noun

(in South Asia) a washerman or washerwoman.

– origin from Hindi dhobī, from dhob ‘washing.’

dhobi itch

noun

‹informal› itching inflammation of the skin, especially in the groin region, suffered particularly in the tropics and typically caused by certain types of ringworm infection or by allergic dermatitis.

Dhofar /dōˈfär/

the fertile southern province of Oman.

dhol /dōl/

I. noun

a large, barrel-shaped or cylindrical wooden drum, typically two-headed, used in South Asia.

– origin from Hindi ḍhol.

dholak /ˈdōlək/

I. noun

a dhol, especially a relatively small one.

– origin Hindi, from ḍhol (see dhol) + the diminutive suffix -ak.

dhole /dōl/

I. noun

an Asian wild dog that has a sandy coat and a black, bushy tail and lives in packs.
[Cuon alpinus, family Canidae.]

– origin early 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

dhoti /ˈdōdē/

I. noun

a garment worn by male Hindus, consisting of a piece of material tied around the waist and extending to cover most of the legs.

– origin Hindi dhotī.

dhow /dou/

I. noun

a lateen-rigged ship with one or two masts, used in the Indian Ocean.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Arabic dāwa, probably related to Marathi dāw.

DHT

abbreviation

dihydrotestosterone.

DHTML

abbreviation

[Computing] dynamic HTML, a collection of browser enhancements that enable dynamic and interactive features on web pages.

dhurrie /ˈdərē / durrie

I. noun

a heavy cotton rug of Indian origin.

– origin from Hindi darī.

dhyana /diˈyänə/

I. noun

(in Hindu and Buddhist practice) profound meditation that is the penultimate stage of yoga.

– origin from Sanskrit dhyāna.

DI

abbreviation

drill instructor.

di-1

I. combining form

1. twice; two-; double

• dichromatic.

2. [Chemistry] containing two atoms, molecules, or groups of a specified kind

• dioxide.

– origin from Greek dis ‘twice.’

di-2

I. prefix

variant spelling of dis- before l, m, n, r, s (followed by a consonant), and v; also often before g, and sometimes before j.

– origin from Latin.

di-3

prefix

variant spelling of dia- before a vowel (as in dielectric).

dia.

abbreviation

diameter.

dia- di-

I. prefix

1. through; across

• diameter

• diaphanous

• diuretic.

2. apart

• diakinesis.

– origin from Greek dia ‘through.’

diabase /ˈdīəˌbās/

I. noun

[Geology] another term for dolerite.

– origin mid 19th cent. (originally denoting diorite): from French, formed irregularly as if from di- ‘two’ + base ‘base’ (thus ‘rock with two bases,’ referring to the base minerals of diorite), but associated later perhaps with Greek diabasis ‘transition.’

diabesity /ˌdīəˈbēsədē/

I. noun

‹informal› used to refer to a form of diabetes that typically develops in later life and is associated with being obese.

• regular exercise helps prevent diabesity.

– origin 1980s: blend of diabetes and obesity.

diabetes /ˌdīəˈbēdēz ˌdīəˈbēdis / diabetes mellitus

I. noun

a disease in which the body’s ability to produce or respond to the hormone insulin is impaired, resulting in abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates and elevated levels of glucose in the blood and urine.
[There are two main types of diabetes. In Type 1 diabetes, the body lacks the cells which produce insulin in the pancreas. In Type 2 diabetes (which is more common, and often develops later in life) the cells of the body fail to respond to insulin normally and the pancreas does not produce enough insulin. See also diabetes insipidus.]

– origin mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek, literally ‘siphon,’ from diabainein ‘go through’; mellitus is from Latin mellitus ‘sweet.’

diabetes insipidus /ˌdīəˌbēdēz inˈsipidəs/

I. noun

a disease in which the secretion of or response to the pituitary hormone vasopressin is impaired, resulting in the production of very large quantities of dilute urine, often with dehydration and insatiable thirst.

– origin late 19th cent.: from diabetes + Latin insipidus ‘insipid.’

diabetic /ˌdīəˈbedik/

I. adjective

1. having diabetes.

2. relating to or designed to relieve diabetes

• a diabetic clinic

• a diabetic diet.

II. noun

a person suffering from diabetes.

diablerie /dēˈäblərē/

I. noun

1. reckless mischief; charismatic wildness

• the beauty and diablerie of the great actor.

2. ‹archaic› sorcery supposedly assisted by the devil.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French, from diable, from ecclesiastical Latin diabolus ‘devil.’

diabolical /ˌdīəˈbälək(ə)l / diabolic

I. adjective

belonging to or so evil as to recall the Devil

• his diabolical cunning.

II. derivatives

diabolically /ˈˌdīəˈbälək(ə)lē /

adverb

[as submodifier]

• I am going to get diabolically drunk

diabolism /dīˈabəˌlizəm/

I. noun

1. worship of the Devil.

2. devilish or atrociously wicked conduct.

II. derivatives

diabolist

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from ecclesiastical Latin diabolus or Greek diabolos ‘devil’ + -ism.

diabolize /dīˈabəˌlīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› represent as diabolical.

diabolo /dēˈabəˌlō dīˈabəˌlō/

I. noun

1. a game in which a two-headed top is thrown up and caught with a string stretched between two sticks.

2. the wooden top used in the game of diabolo.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Italian, from ecclesiastical Latin diabolus ‘devil’; the game was formerly called devil on two sticks.

diabulimia /ˌdīəbo͝oˈlimēə, -ˈlē-/

I. noun

the manipulation by diabetic patients of insulin treatments in order to lose weight.

– origin from diabetes + bulimia.

diacetylmorphine /ˌdīəˌsēdlˈmôrfēn/

noun

technical term for heroin.

diachronic /ˌdīəˈkränik/

I. adjective

concerned with the way in which something, especially language, has developed and evolved through time.
Often contrasted with synchronic.

II. derivatives

1. diachroneity /-krəˈnāitē /

noun

2. diachronically /ˌdīəˈkränək(ə)lē /

adverb

3. diachronistic /-ˌkrəˈnistik /

adjective

4. diachrony /dīˈakrənē /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from dia- ‘through’ + Greek khronos ‘time’ + -ic.

diachronism /dīˈakrəˌnizəm/

I. noun

[Geology] the occurrence of a feature or phenomenon in different geological periods.

II. derivatives

1. diachronous /-nəs /

adjective

2. diachronously /-nəslē /

adverb

diaconal /dīˈakənl dēˈakənl/

I. adjective

relating to a deacon, or to the role of a deacon.

– origin early 17th cent.: from ecclesiastical Latin diaconalis, from diaconus (see deacon).

diaconate /dīˈakənət dēˈakənət dīˈakəˌnāt/

I. noun

1. the office of deacon, or a person's tenure in it.

2. a body of deacons collectively.

– origin early 18th cent.: from ecclesiastical Latin diaconatus, from diaconus (see deacon).

diacritic /ˌdīəˈkridik/

I. noun

a sign, such as an accent or cedilla, which when written above or below a letter indicates a difference in pronunciation from the same letter when unmarked or differently marked.

II. adjective

(of a mark or sign) indicating a difference in pronunciation.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Greek diakritikos, from diakrinein ‘distinguish,’ from dia- ‘through’ + krinein ‘to separate.’

diacritical /ˌdīəˈkridək(ə)l/

I. adjective

(of a mark or sign) serving to indicate different pronunciations of a letter above or below which it is written.

II. derivatives

diacritically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

diadelphous /ˌdīəˈdelfəs/

I. adjective

[Botany] (of stamens) united by their filaments so as to form two groups.

– origin early 19th cent.: from di-1 ‘two’ + Greek adelphos ‘brother’ + -ous.

diadem /ˈdīəˌdem/

I. noun

1. a jeweled crown or headband worn as a symbol of sovereignty.

2. (the diadem) — ‹archaic› the authority or dignity symbolized by a diadem

• the princely diadem.

II. derivatives

diademed /ˈdīəˌdemd /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French diademe, via Latin from Greek diadēma ‘the regal headband of the Persian kings,’ from diadein ‘bind around.’

diag.

abbreviation

1. diagonal.

2. diagram.

diagenesis /ˌdīəˈjenəsəs/

I. noun

[Geology] the physical and chemical changes occurring during the conversion of sediment to sedimentary rock.

II. derivatives

1. diagenetic /-jəˈnetik /

adjective

2. diagenetically /-jəˈnetik(ə)lē /

adverb

Diaghilev, Sergei /dēˈäɡəˌlef/

(1872–1929), Russian ballet impresario; full name Sergei Pavlovich Diaghilev. In 1909, he formed the Ballets Russes, which he directed until his death.

diagnose /ˌdīəɡˈnōs/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. identify the nature of (an illness or other problem) by examination of the symptoms

• doctors diagnosed a rare and fatal liver disease.

2. (usu. be diagnosed) — identify the nature of the medical condition of (someone)

• she was finally diagnosed as having epilepsy

• 20,000 men are diagnosed with skin cancer every year.

II. derivatives

diagnosable

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: back-formation from diagnosis.

diagnosis /ˌdīəɡˈnōsəs/

I. noun

1. the identification of the nature of an illness or other problem by examination of the symptoms

• early diagnosis and treatment are essential

• a diagnosis of Crohn's disease was made.

2. the distinctive characterization in precise terms of a genus, species, or phenomenon.

– origin late 17th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek, from diagignōskein ‘distinguish, discern,’ from dia ‘apart’ + gignōskein ‘recognize, know.’

diagnostic /ˌdīəɡˈnästik/

I. adjective

1. concerned with the diagnosis of illness or other problems

• a diagnostic tool.

2. (of a symptom) distinctive, and so indicating the nature of an illness

• there are fifteen infections that are diagnostic of AIDS.

3. characteristic of a particular species, genus, or phenomenon

• the diagnostic character of having not one but two pairs of antennae.

II. noun

1. a distinctive symptom or characteristic.

2. [Computing] a program or routine that helps a user to identify errors.

3. (diagnostics) — the practice or techniques of diagnosis

• advanced medical diagnostics.

III. derivatives

1. diagnostically /ˌdīəɡˈnästək(ə)lē /

adverb

2. diagnostician /ˌdīəɡˌnäsˈtiSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from Greek diagnōstikos ‘able to distinguish,’ from diagignōskein ‘distinguish’; the noun from hē diagnōstikē tekhnē ‘the art of distinguishing (disease).’

diagonal /dīˈaɡənl / diag.

I. adjective

1. (of a straight line) joining two opposite corners of a square, rectangle, or other straight-sided shape.

2. (of a line) straight and at an angle; slanting

• a tie with diagonal stripes.

II. noun

1. a straight line joining two opposite corners of a square, rectangle, or other straight-sided shape.

2. [Mathematics] the set of elements of a matrix that lie on a line joining two opposite corners.

3. a slanting straight pattern or line

• the bars of light made diagonals across the entrance

• tiles can be laid on the diagonal.

4. [Chess] a slanting row of squares whose color is the same.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin diagonalis, from Greek diagōnios ‘from angle to angle,’ from dia ‘through’ + gōnia ‘angle.’

diagonally /ˌdīˈaɡənlē/

adverb

in a diagonal direction

• now walk diagonally across the field toward a farmhouse.

diagonal matrix

noun

[Mathematics] a matrix having nonzero elements only in the diagonal running from the upper left to the lower right.

diagram /ˈdīəˌɡram/

I. noun

1. a simplified drawing showing the appearance, structure, or workings of something; a schematic representation

• a diagram of the living room.

2. [Geometry] a figure composed of lines that is used to illustrate a definition or statement or to aid in the proof of a proposition.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. represent (something) in graphic form

• the experiment is diagramed on page fourteen.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin diagramma, from Greek, from diagraphein ‘mark out by lines,’ from dia ‘through’ + graphein ‘write.’

diagrammatic /ˌdīəɡrəˈmadik/

I. adjective

of or in the form of a diagram

• a diagrammatic representation of the system.

II. derivatives

diagrammatically /ˌdīəɡrəˈmadək(ə)lē /

adverb

diakinesis /ˌdīəkəˈnēsis/

I. noun

[Biology] the fifth and last stage of the prophase of meiosis, following diplotene, when the separation of homologous chromosomes is complete and crossing over has occurred.

– origin early 20th cent.: from dia- ‘through, across’ + Greek kinēsis ‘motion.’

dial /ˈdī(ə)l/

I. noun

1. a face of a clock, watch, or sundial that is marked to show units of time.

2. a face or flat plate with a scale and pointer for showing measurements of weight, volume, pressure, compass direction, etc.

3. a disk with numbered holes on a telephone, enabling someone to make a call by inserting a finger in each of the holes corresponding to the number to be called and turning the disk.

4. a plate or disk on a radio, stove, washing machine, or other piece of equipment that is tuned to select a wavelength or setting.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. call (a telephone number) by turning a disk with numbered holes or pressing a set of buttons

• he dialed room service

• it took only a moment to dial in the numbers

• [no obj.] company employees dial out from their office.

III. phrasal verbs

1. dial something down

a. adjust the control on an electrical device so as to reduce the level of sound, light, heat, etc., produced

• after 15 minutes of frustration, someone on the stand took the hint and dialed down the music.

b. ‹informal› lessen the amount, intensity, or degree of a quality, factor, etc.

• he's dialed down the rage that seems to permeate his other novels

• having read this review I think I will dial down my expectations a little.

2. dial in (or into)

access a computer system or service remotely via a telephone line

• there's no need to dial in to see if you have mail

• remote workers or traveling employees can dial into the data network.

3. dial something in (or into)

a. indicate or regulate by means of a dial

• you're expected to dial in volume and tone settings.

b. include or add

• the car has a lot of understeer dialed into the suspension.

4. dial up (or dial something up)

access a computer system or service remotely via a telephone line

• dialing up each time we want to use the Internet will become a thing of the past

• people do not have to pay for phone line calls every time they dial up to the internet

• plans to enable customers to dial up videos from their living room.

5. dial something up

a. adjust the control on an electrical device so as to increase the level of sound, light, heat, etc., produced

• even with everything dialed up to full, the audio output level was only moderate at best.

b. ‹informal› increase the amount, intensity, or degree of a quality, factor, etc.

• the Raiders really dialed up the pressure in the second half.

– origin Middle English (denoting a mariner's compass): from medieval Latin diale ‘clock dial,’ based on Latin dies ‘day.’

dial-a-

combining form

denoting a service available for booking by telephone

• dial-a-ride.

dial-around

adjective

used to describe a telephone service that requires callers to dial a special access code that enables them to bypass (or ‘dial around’) their chosen long-distance carrier in order to obtain a better rate.

dialect /ˈdīəˌlekt/

I. noun

1. a particular form of a language that is peculiar to a specific region or social group

• this novel is written in the dialect of Trinidad.

2. [Computing] a particular version of a programming language.

II. derivatives

dialectal /dīəˈlektəl /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting the art of investigating the truth of opinions): from French dialecte, or via Latin from Greek dialektos ‘discourse, way of speaking,’ from dialegesthai ‘converse with’ (see dialogue).

dialectic /ˌdīəˈlektik / ‹Philosophy›

I. noun — [usu. treated as sing.]

1. the art of investigating or discussing the truth of opinions.

2.
a. inquiry into metaphysical contradictions and their solutions.

b. the existence or action of opposing social forces, concepts, etc.

The ancient Greeks used the term dialectic to refer to various methods of reasoning and discussion in order to discover the truth. More recently, Kant applied the term to the criticism of the contradictions that arise from supposing knowledge of objects beyond the limits of experience, e.g., the soul. Hegel applied the term to the process of thought by which apparent contradictions (which he termed thesis and antithesis) are seen to be part of a higher truth (synthesis).

II. adjective

of or relating to dialectic or dialectics; dialectical.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French dialectique or Latin dialectica, from Greek dialektikē (tekhnē) ‘(art) of debate,’ from dialegesthai ‘converse with’ (see dialogue).

dialectical /ˌdīəˈlektək(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. relating to the logical discussion of ideas and opinions

• dialectical ingenuity.

2. concerned with or acting through opposing forces

• a dialectical opposition between social convention and individual libertarianism.

II. derivatives

dialectically /ˌdīəˈlektək(ə)lē /

adverb

dialectical materialism /ˌdīəˈlektəkəl məˈtirēəˌlizəm/

I. noun

the Marxist theory (adopted as the official philosophy of the Soviet communists) that political and historical events result from the conflict of social forces and are interpretable as a series of contradictions and their solutions. The conflict is believed to be caused by material needs.

II. derivatives

dialectical materialist

noun, adjective

dialectician /ˌdīlekˈtiSHən/

I. noun

a person skilled in philosophical debate.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French dialecticien, from Latin dialecticus, based on Greek dialegesthai ‘converse with.’

dialectology /ˌdīəlekˈtäləjē/

I. noun

the branch of linguistics concerned with the study of dialects.

II. derivatives

1. dialectological /-təˈläjikəl /

adjective

2. dialectologist /ˌdīəlekˈtäləjəst /

noun

dialer /ˈdī(ə)lər/

noun

a device or piece of software for calling telephone numbers automatically

• hackers can break in with speed dialers.

dial-in /ˈdī(ə)lin/

adjective

another term for dial-up.

dialog box /ˈdīəlôɡ bäks/

noun

[Computing] a small area on screen, in which the user is prompted to provide information or select commands.

dialogic /ˌdīəˈläjik/

I. adjective

relating to or in the form of dialogue.

II. derivatives

dialogical

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: via late Latin from Greek dialogikos, from dialogos (see dialogue).

dialogism /dīˈaləˌjizəm/

I. noun

the use in a text of different tones or viewpoints, whose interaction or contradiction is important to the text's interpretation.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from late Latin dialogismos, from Greek dialogizesthai ‘to converse,’ from dialogos ‘discourse’ (see dialogue).

dialogue /ˈdīəˌläɡ ˈdīəˌlôɡ / dialog

I. noun

1. conversation between two or more people as a feature of a book, play, or movie

• the book consisted of a series of dialogues

• passages of dialogue.

2. a discussion between two or more people or groups, especially one directed toward exploration of a particular subject or resolution of a problem

• the U.S. would enter into a direct dialogue with Vietnam

• interfaith dialogue.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) take part in a conversation or discussion to resolve a problem

• he stated that he wasn't going to dialogue with the guerrillas.

2. [with obj.] — (chiefly N. Amer.) provide (a movie or play) with a dialogue.

III. phrases

dialogue of the deaf

a discussion in which each party is unresponsive to what the other says.

– origin Middle English: from Old French dialoge, via Latin from Greek dialogos, from dialegesthai ‘converse with,’ from dia ‘through’ + legein ‘speak.’

dial tone /ˈdī(ə)l ˌtōn/

noun

(N. Amer.) a sound that a telephone produces indicating that a caller may start to dial.

dial-up /ˈdī(ə)l əp/

adjective

(of a computer system or service) used remotely via a telephone line.

dialysis /dīˈaləsəs/

I. noun

1. [Chemistry] the separation of particles in a liquid on the basis of differences in their ability to pass through a membrane.

2. [Chemistry] [Medicine] the clinical purification of blood by dialysis, as a substitute for the normal function of the kidney.

II. derivatives

dialytic /ˌdīəˈlidik /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: via Latin from Greek dialusis, from dialuein ‘split, separate,’ from dia ‘apart’ + luein ‘set free.’

dialyzate /dīˈaləˌzāt / dialysate

I. noun

1. the part of a mixture that passes through the membrane in dialysis.

2. the solution dialyzate forms with the fluid on the other side of the membrane in dialysis.

3. the fluid used on the other side of the membrane during dialysis to remove impurities.

– origin late 19th cent.: from dialysis + -ate^1; the term originally denoted the part of the mixture that does not pass through the membrane.

dialyze /ˈdīəˌlīz / ‹Brit.› dialyse

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. purify (a mixture) by means of dialysis.

2. treat (a patient) by means of dialysis.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from dialysis, on the pattern of analyze.

diam.

abbreviation

diameter.

diamagnetic /ˌdīəmaɡˈnedik/

I. adjective

[Physics] (of a substance or body) tending to become magnetized in a direction at 180° to the applied magnetic field.

II. derivatives

1. diamagnet /ˈdīəˌmaɡnit /

noun

2. diamagnetically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

3. diamagnetism /ˌdīəˈmaɡnəˌtizəm /

noun

– origin 1846: coined by Faraday, from Greek dia ‘through, across’ + magnetic.

diamanté /ˌdēəmänˈtā/

I. adjective

decorated with artificial jewels

• a diamanté brooch.

II. noun

1. artificial jewels.

2. fabric or costume jewelry decorated with artificial jewels.

– origin early 20th cent.: French, literally ‘set with diamonds,’ past participle of diamanter, from diamant ‘diamond.’

diamantiferous /ˌdīəmənˈtifərəs/

I. adjective

(of a rock formation, region, etc.) producing or yielding diamonds.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French diamantifère, from diamant ‘diamond’ + -fère ‘producing.’

diamantine /ˌdīəˈmanˌtīn, ˈdīəˌman-, -ˌtēn/

I. adjective

made from or reminiscent of diamonds.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘hard as diamond’): from French diamantin, from diamant ‘diamond.’

diameter /dīˈamədər / diam.

I. noun

1. a straight line passing from side to side through the center of a body or figure, especially a circle or sphere.

2. the length of the diameter of a figure, especially a circle or sphere.

3. a transverse measurement of something; width or thickness.

4. a unit of linear measurement of magnifying power.

II. derivatives

diametral /dīˈamətrəl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French diametre, via Latin from Greek diametros (grammē) ‘(line) measuring across,’ from dia ‘across’ + metron ‘measure.’

diametrical /ˌdīəˈmetrək(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. used to emphasize how completely different two or more things are

• he's the diametrical opposite of Gabriel.

2. of or along a diameter.

II. derivatives

diametric /ˌdīəˈmetrik /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent. (sense 2): from Greek diametrikos (from diametros ‘measuring across’: see diameter) + -al.

diametrically /ˌdīəˈmetrək(ə)lē/

adverb

(with reference to opposition) completely; directly
[as submodifier]

• two diametrically opposed viewpoints.

diamine /ˈdīəmēn dīˈamən/

noun

[Chemistry] a compound whose molecule contains two amino groups, especially when not part of amide groups.

diamond /ˈdī(ə)mənd/

I. noun

1.
a. a precious stone consisting of a clear and typically colorless crystalline form of pure carbon, the hardest naturally occurring substance.

b. a tool with a small diamond for cutting glass.

Diamonds occur in some igneous rock formations (kimberlite) and alluvial deposits. They are typically octahedral in shape but can be cut in many ways to enhance the internal reflection and refraction of light, producing jewels of sparkling brilliance. Diamonds are also used in cutting tools and abrasives.

2. [often as modifier] — a figure with four straight sides of equal length forming two opposite acute angles and two opposite obtuse angles; a rhombus

• decorative diamond shapes.

3. (diamonds) — one of the four suits in a conventional deck of playing cards, denoted by a red diamond.

4. a playing card of the suit of diamonds

• she led a losing diamond.

5. the area delimited by the four bases of a baseball field, forming a square shape.

6. a baseball field.

II. phrases

diamond in the rough

(N. Amer.) a person who is generally of good character but lacks manners, education, or style.

III. derivatives

diamondiferous /ˌdīmənˈdif(ə)rəs /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French diamant, from medieval Latin diamas, diamant-, variant of Latin adamans (see adamant).

Diamond, Neil /ˈdī(ə)mənd/

(1941–), US pop songwriter and singer. Among his many hits are “Cherry, Cherry” (1966), “Sweet Caroline” (1969) “You Don't Bring Me Flowers” (1978, a duet with Barbra Streisand), and “Hello Again” (1980).

diamondback /ˈdī(ə)məndˌbak/

noun

1. (also diamondback rattlesnake) — (N. Amer.) a large, common North American rattlesnake with diamond-shaped markings.
Also called diamond rattlesnake. [Genus Crotalus, family Viperidae: two species.]

2. (N. Amer.) another term for terrapin (sense 1).

diamondback moth

noun

a small, grayish moth that displays a pattern of diamonds along its back when the wings are folded. The caterpillar can be a pest of brassicas and other cultivated vegetables.
[Plutella xylostella, family Yponomeutidae.]

diamond-cut /ˈdīməndˌkət/

adjective

1. cut with facets like a diamond.

2. cut into the shape of a diamond.

Diamond Head

a volcanic crater that overlooks the port of Honolulu on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

diamond jubilee

noun

the sixtieth anniversary of a notable event, especially a sovereign's accession or the foundation of an organization.

diamond plate

noun

a diamond-shaped design that is stamped into metal to give it industrial strength.

diamond python

noun

a carpet python of a race occurring in the coastal areas of New South Wales.
[Morelia spilota spilota, family Pythonidae.]

diamond rattlesnake

noun

another term for diamondback (sense 1).

Diamond State

a nickname for the state of Delaware^1.

diamond wedding /ˈdī(ə)mənd ˈwediNG / diamond wedding anniversary

noun

the sixtieth (or seventy-fifth) anniversary of a wedding.

diamond willow

noun

(N. Amer.) a willow with diamond-shaped depressions on the trunk as a result of fungal attack, resulting in timber with a diamond-shaped pattern of pale sapwood and darker heartwood.
[Several species in the genus Salix are affected, in particular S. bebbiana.]

diamorphine /ˌdīəˈmôrfēn/

noun

short for diacetylmorphine (heroin).

diana /dīˈanə/

I. noun

a North American fritillary (butterfly), the male of which is orange and black and the female blue and black.
[Speyeria diana, subfamily Argynninae, family Nymphalidae.]

– origin modern Latin; associated with the goddess of the moon, because of the silvery crescents on the wings.

Diana /dīˈanə / ‹Roman Mythology›

an early Italian goddess associated with hunting, virginity, and, in later literature, with the moon.
Greek equivalent Artemis.

Diana, Princess of Wales

(1961–97), former wife of Prince Charles; title before marriage Lady Diana Frances Spencer. The daughter of the 8th Earl Spencer, she married Prince Charles in 1981; the couple were divorced in 1996. She became a popular figure through her charity work and glamorous media appearances, and her death in an automobile accident in Paris gave rise to intense international mourning.

Diana monkey

I. noun

a West African monkey that has a black face with a white crescent on the forehead.
[Cercopithecus diana, family Cercopithecidae.]

– origin early 19th cent.: named after the Roman moon goddess Diana.

Dianetics /ˌdīəˈnediks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. a system developed by the founder of the Church of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard, that aims to relieve psychosomatic disorder by cleansing the mind of harmful mental images.

– origin 1950s: from Greek dianoētikos ‘relating to thought’ + -ics.

dianthus /dīˈanTHəs/

I. noun

a flowering plant of a genus that includes the pinks and carnations.
[Genus Dianthus, family Caryophyllaceae.]

– origin from Greek Dios ‘of Zeus’ + anthos ‘a flower.’

diapason /ˌdīəˈpāzən ˌdīəˈpāsən/

I. noun

1. (also open diapason or stopped diapason) — an organ stop sounding a main register of flue pipes, typically of eight-foot pitch.

2. a grand swelling burst of harmony.

3. ‹literary› the entire compass, range, or scope of something.

– origin late Middle English (denoting the interval of an octave): via Latin from Greek dia pasōn (khordōn) ‘through all (notes).’

diapause /ˈdīəˌpôz / ‹Zoology›

I. noun

a period of suspended development in an insect, other invertebrate, or mammal embryo, especially during unfavorable environmental conditions.

II. verb — [no obj.] (usu. as adj. diapausing)

1. (of an insect or other animal) undergo a period of suspended development.

– origin late 19th cent.: from dia- ‘through’ + the noun pause.

diapedesis /ˌdīəpəˈdēsis/

I. noun

[Medicine] the passage of blood cells through the intact walls of the capillaries, typically accompanying inflammation.

– origin early 17th cent.: modern Latin, based on Greek dia ‘through’ + pēdan ‘throb or leap.’

diaper /ˈdī(ə)pər/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a piece of absorbent material wrapped around a baby's bottom and between its legs to absorb and retain urine and feces.

2. a linen or cotton fabric woven in a repeating pattern of small diamonds.

3. a repeating geometric or floral pattern used to decorate a surface.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) put a diaper on (a baby).

2. decorate (a surface) with a repeating geometric or floral pattern.

– origin Middle English: from Old French diapre, from medieval Latin diasprum, from medieval Greek diaspros (adjective), from dia ‘across’ + aspros ‘white.’ The term seems originally to have denoted a costly fabric, but after the 15th cent. it was used in sense 2 of the noun; babies' diapers were originally made from pieces of this fabric, hence sense 1 of the noun (late 16th cent).

diaper rash

noun

inflammation of a baby's skin caused by prolonged contact with a damp diaper.

diaphanous /dīˈafənəs/

I. adjective

(especially of fabric) light, delicate, and translucent

• a diaphanous dress of pale gold.

– origin early 17th cent.: from medieval Latin diaphanus, from Greek diaphanēs, from dia ‘through’ + phainein ‘to show.’

diaphone /ˈdīəˌfōn/

I. noun

a low-pitched fog signal operated by compressed air, characterized by the “grunt” that ends each note.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Greek dia ‘through’ + phōnē ‘sound.’

diaphorase /dīˈafəˌrās, -ˌrāz/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] an enzyme of the flavoprotein type, able to oxidize a reduced form of the coenzyme NAD.

– origin 1930s: from Greek diaphoros ‘different’ + -ase.

diaphoresis /ˌdīəfəˈrēsis/

I. noun

‹technical› sweating, especially to an unusual degree as a symptom of disease or a side effect of a drug.

– origin late 17th cent.: via late Latin from Greek, from diaphorein ‘carry off, sweat out,’ from dia ‘through’ + phorein ‘carry.’

diaphoretic /ˌdīəfəˈredik/

I. adjective

1. [Medicine] (chiefly of a drug) inducing perspiration.

2. [Medicine] (of a person) sweating heavily.

– origin late Middle English: via late Latin from Greek diaphorētikos, from diaphorein ‘sweat out.’

diaphragm /ˈdīəˌfram/

I. noun

1. a dome-shaped, muscular partition separating the thorax from the abdomen in mammals. It plays a major role in breathing, as its contraction increases the volume of the thorax and so inflates the lungs.

2. a thin sheet of material forming a partition.

3. a taut, flexible membrane in mechanical or acoustic systems.

4. a thin contraceptive cap fitting over the cervix.

5. a device for varying the effective aperture of the lens in a camera or other optical system.

II. derivatives

diaphragmatic /ˌdīəfrəɡˈmadik /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin diaphragma, from Greek, from dia ‘through, apart’ + phragma ‘a fence.’

diaphragm pump

noun

a pump using a flexible diaphragm in place of a piston.

diaphysis /dīˈafəsəs/

I. noun

[Anatomy] the shaft or central part of a long bone.
Compare with epiphysis.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek diaphusis ‘growing through,’ from dia ‘through’ + phusis ‘growth.’

diapir /ˈdīəˌpir/

I. noun

[Geology] a domed rock formation in which a core of rock has moved upward to pierce the overlying strata.

II. derivatives

1. diapiric /ˌdīəˈpirik /

adjective

2. diapirism /-ˌizəm /

noun

– origin early 20th cent.: from Greek diapeirainein ‘pierce through,’ from dia ‘through’ + peirainein (from peran ‘pierce’).

diapositive /ˌdīəˈpäzədiv/

noun

a positive photographic slide or transparency.

diapsid /dīˈapsəd/

I. noun

[Zoology] a reptile of a large group characterized by the presence of two temporal openings in the skull, including the lizards, snakes, crocodiles, dinosaurs, and pterosaurs.
[Subclass Anapsida.]

– origin early 20th cent.: from modern Latin Diapsida, from di-1 ‘two’ + Greek apsis, apsid- ‘arch.’

diarchy /ˈdīˌärkē / dyarchy

I. noun

government by two independent authorities (especially in India 1919–35).

II. derivatives

1. diarchal /dīˈärkəl /

adjective

2. diarchic /dīˈärkik /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from di-1 ‘two’ + Greek arkhia ‘rule,’ on the pattern of monarchy.

diarist /ˈdīərəst/

I. noun

a person who writes a diary.

II. derivatives

diaristic /ˌdīəˈristik /

adjective

diarize /ˈdīəˌrīz/

verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹archaic› keep a record of events in a diary.

diarrhea /ˌdīəˈrēə / ‹Brit.› diarrhoea

I. noun

a condition in which feces are discharged from the bowels frequently and in a liquid form.

II. derivatives

1. diarrheal /ˌdīəˈrēəl /

adjective

2. diarrheic /-ˈrēik /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: via late Latin diarrhoea from Greek diarrhoia, from diarrhein ‘flow through,’ from dia ‘through’ + rhein ‘to flow.’

diary /ˈdī(ə)rē/

I. noun

1. a book in which one keeps a daily record of events and experiences

• I resolved to keep a diary of events during the war.

2. a datebook.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin diarium, from dies ‘day.’

Dias, Bartolomeu /ˈdēəs, ˈdēˌäSH / Diaz

(c. 1450–1500), Portuguese navigator and explorer. He was the first European to sail around the Cape of Good Hope 1488, thereby establishing a sea route from the Atlantic Ocean to Asia.

diaspora /dīˈaspərə/

I. noun — (often the Diaspora)

1. Jews living outside Israel.

2. the dispersion of the Jews beyond Israel.

3. the dispersion of any people from their original homeland

• the diaspora of boat people from Asia.

4. the people so dispersed

• the Ukrainian diaspora flocked back to Kiev.

The main diaspora began in the 8th–6th centuries BC, and even before the sack of Jerusalem in AD 70, the number of Jews dispersed by the diaspora was greater than that living in Israel. Thereafter Jews were dispersed even more widely throughout the Roman world and beyond.

– origin Greek, from diaspeirein ‘disperse,’ from dia ‘across’ + speirein ‘scatter.’ The term originated in the Septuagint (Deuteronomy 28:25) in the phrase esē diaspora en pasais basileias tēs gēs ‘thou shalt be a dispersion in all kingdoms of the earth.’

diaspore /ˈdīəˌspôr/

noun

[Botany] a spore, seed, or other structure that functions in plant dispersal; a propagule.

diastase /ˈdīəˌstās ˈdīəˌstāz/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] another term for amylase.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek diastasis ‘separation,’ from dia ‘apart’ + stasis ‘placing.’

diastema /ˌdīəˈstēmə/

I. noun

1. a gap between the teeth, in particular

2. [Zoology] a space separating teeth of different functions, especially that between the biting teeth (incisors and canines) and grinding teeth (premolars and molars) in rodents and ungulates.

3. a gap between a person's two upper front teeth.

– origin mid 19th cent.: via late Latin from Greek diastēma ‘space between.’

diastereoisomer /ˌdīəˌsterēōˈīsəmər/

I. noun

[Chemistry] each of a pair of stereoisomeric compounds that are not mirror images of one another.

II. derivatives

diastereoisomeric /-ˌīsəˈmerik /

adjective

diastole /ˌdīˈastlē/

I. noun

[Physiology] the phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle relaxes and allows the chambers to fill with blood.
Often contrasted with systole.

II. derivatives

diastolic /dīəˈstälik /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: via late Latin from Greek, ‘separation, expansion,’ from diastellein, from dia ‘apart’ + stellein ‘to place.’

diatessaron /ˌdīəˈtesərən/

noun

the four Gospels combined into a single narrative.

diathermy /ˈdīəˌTHərmē/

I. noun

a medical and surgical technique involving the production of heat in a part of the body by high-frequency electric currents, to stimulate the circulation, relieve pain, destroy unhealthy tissue, or cause bleeding vessels to clot.

– origin early 20th cent.: from dia- ‘through’ + thermon ‘heat.’

diathesis /dīˈaTHəsəs/

I. noun

1. [usu. with modifier] — [Medicine] a tendency to suffer from a particular medical condition

• a bleeding diathesis.

2. [Linguistics] another term for voice (sense 4 of the noun).

– origin mid 17th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek, ‘disposition,’ from diatithenai ‘arrange.’ Sense 2 dates from the mid 20th cent.

diatom /ˈdīəˌtäm/

I. noun

[Biology] a single-celled alga that has a cell wall of silica. Many kinds are planktonic, and extensive fossil deposits have been found.
[Class Bacillariophyceae, division Chromophycota or Heterokontophyta (or phylum Bacillariophyta, kingdom Protista).]

II. derivatives

diatomaceous /ˌdīədəˈmāSHəs /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Diatoma (genus name), from Greek diatomos ‘cut in two,’ from diatemnein ‘to cut through.’

diatomaceous earth

noun

a soft, crumbly, porous sedimentary deposit formed from the fossil remains of diatoms.

diatomic /ˌdīəˈtämik/

adjective

[Chemistry] consisting of two atoms.

diatomite /dīˈadəˌmīt/

I. noun

[Geology] a fine-grained sedimentary rock formed from consolidated diatomaceous earth.

– origin late 19th cent.: from diatom + -ite^1.

diatonic /ˌdīəˈtänik/

I. adjective

1. [Music] (of a scale, interval, etc.) involving only notes proper to the prevailing key without chromatic alteration.

2. [Music] (of a melody or harmony) constructed from a diatonic scale.

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting a tetrachord divided into two tones and a lower semitone, or ancient Greek music based on this): from French diatonique, or via late Latin from Greek diatonikos ‘at intervals of a tone,’ from dia ‘through’ + tonos ‘tone.’

diatreme /ˈdīəˌtrēm/

I. noun

[Geology] a long, vertical pipe or plug formed when gas-filled magma forced its way up through overlying strata.

– origin early 20th cent.: from dia- ‘through’ + Greek trēma ‘perforation.’

diatribe /ˈdīəˌtrīb/

I. noun

a forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something

• a diatribe against the Roman Catholic Church.

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting a disquisition): from French, via Latin from Greek diatribē ‘spending of time, discourse,’ from dia ‘through’ + tribein ‘rub.’

Díaz, Porfirio /ˈdē-äs/

(1830–1915), Mexican general and statesman; president 1877–80 and 1884–1911.

diazepam /dīˈazəˌpam/

I. noun

a tranquilizing muscle-relaxant drug used chiefly to relieve anxiety.
Also called Valium . [A member of the benzodiazepine group; chem. formula: C_16H_13N_2OCl.]

– origin 1960s: blend of benzodiazepine and amide.

diazinon /dīˈazəˌnän/

I. noun

an organophosphorus insecticide derived from pyrimidine.

– origin mid 20th cent.: from diazine (see di-1, azine) + -on (suffix of unknown origin).

diazo /dīˈazō / diazotype

noun

a copying or coloring process using a diazo compound decomposed by ultraviolet light
[as modifier]

• diazo printers.

diazo compound

I. noun

[Chemistry] an organic compound containing two nitrogen atoms bonded together, especially a diazonium compound.

– origin late 19th cent.: diazo from diazonium.

diazomethane /dīˌazōˈmeTHān/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a poisonous, reactive yellow gas used as a methylating agent in chemical synthesis.
[Chem. formula: CH_2N_2.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from diazo- (indicating the presence of two nitrogen atoms) + methane.

diazonium /ˌdīəˈzōnēəm/

I. noun — [as modifier]

1. [Chemistry] an organic cation containing the group —2+ bonded to an organic group. Aromatic diazonium compounds are typically intensely colored and include many synthetic dyes.

– origin late 19th cent.: coined in German from diazo- (indicating the presence of two nitrogen atoms) + the suffix -onium (from ammonium).

dib /dib/

I. verb

[Fishing] another term for dap.

– origin late 17th cent.: related to dab^1.

dibasic /dīˈbāsik/

I. adjective

[Chemistry] (of an acid) having two replaceable hydrogen atoms.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from di-1 ‘two’ + basic.

dibble /ˈdibəl/

I. noun

a pointed hand tool for making holes in the ground for seeds or young plants.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (a hole) in soil with a dibble.

2. sow (a seed or plant) with a dibble.

– origin late Middle English: apparently related to dib (also used in this sense in dialect).

diborane /dīˈbôrˌān/

noun

[Chemistry] a poisonous, reactive gas made by the action of acids on some borides. It is the simplest of the boranes and is an example of electron-deficient bonding.
[Chem. formula: B_2H_6.]

dibs /dibz/

I. plural noun

‹informal› money.

II. phrases

have first dibs on

‹informal› have the first right to or choice of

• they never got first dibs on great prospects.

– origin mid 18th cent. (denoting pebbles used in a children's game): from earlier dib-stones, perhaps from dib.

dice /dīs/

I. noun

1. a small cube with each side having a different number of spots on it, ranging from one to six, thrown and used in gambling and other games involving chance.
See also die^2.

2. a game played with dice.

3. small cubes of food.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — play or gamble with dice
(as noun dicing)

• prohibitions on all dancing and dicing.

2. [with obj.] — cut (food or other matter) into small cubes

• dice the peppers

• (as adj. diced) add the diced onions.

III. phrases

1. dice with death

take serious risks.

2. no dice

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) used to refuse a request or indicate no chance of success.

3. roll (or throw) of the dice

a risky attempt to do or achieve something

• the merger was their last roll of the dice, and it failed miserably.

IV. derivatives

dicer /ˈdīsər /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French des, plural of de (see die^2). / usage: Historically, dice is the plural of die, but in modern standard English, dice is both the singular and the plural: throw the dice could mean a reference to two or more dice, or to just one. In fact, the singular die (rather than dice) is increasingly uncommon.

dicentra /dīˈsentrə/

I. noun

a plant of the genus Dicentra (family Fumariaceae), especially (in gardening) a bleeding heart.

– origin modern Latin, from Greek dikentros, from di- ‘two’ + kentron ‘spur, sharp point.’

dicentric /dīˈsentrik / ‹Genetics›

I. adjective

(of a chromosome) having two centromeres.

II. noun

a chromosome having two centromeres.

dicey /ˈdīsē/

adjective

‹informal› unpredictable and potentially dangerous

• the lot of a wanderer is always dicey.

dichasium /dīˈkāZH(ē)əm, -zēəm/

I. noun

[Botany] a cyme in which each flowering branch gives rise to two or more branches symmetrically placed.

– origin late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from di-1 ‘two’ + Greek khasis ‘separation.’

dichlorvos /dīˈklôrvəs/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a pale yellow liquid used as an insecticide and veterinary anthelmintic.
[An organophosphorus compound; alternative name: 2,2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate; chem. formula: (CH_3O)2PO_2CHCCl_2.]

– origin mid 20th cent.: from elements of the systematic name (see above).

dichogamy /dīˈkäɡəmē/

I. noun

[Botany] the ripening of the stamens and pistils of a flower at different times, so that self-fertilization is prevented.
Compare with homogamy (sense 3).

II. derivatives

dichogamous /-məs /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek dikho- ‘apart, in two’ + gamos ‘marriage.’

dichotic /dīˈkädik/

I. adjective

involving or relating to the simultaneous stimulation of the right and left ear by different sounds.

– origin mid 20th cent.: from Greek dikho- ‘apart’ + ous, ōt- ‘ear’ + -ic.

dichotomize /dīˈkädəˌmīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. regard or represent as divided or opposed

• these rules dichotomize love and sex.

dichotomous /dīˈkädəməs/

I. adjective

1. exhibiting or characterized by dichotomy

• a dichotomous view of the world.

2. [Botany] (of branching) in which the axis is divided into two branches.

II. derivatives

dichotomously

adverb

– origin late 17th cent.: via late Latin from Greek dikhotomos (from dikho- ‘in two’ + temnein ‘to cut’) + -ous.

dichotomy /dīˈkädəmē/

I. noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different

• a rigid dichotomy between science and mysticism.

2. [Botany] repeated branching into two equal parts.

– origin late 16th cent.: via modern Latin from Greek dikhotomia, from dikho- ‘in two, apart’ + -tomia (see -tomy).

dichroic /dīˈkrōik/

I. adjective

(of a crystal) showing different colors when viewed from different directions, or (more generally) having different absorption coefficients for light polarized in different directions.

II. derivatives

dichroism /dīˈkrōˌizəm /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek dikhroos (from di- ‘twice’ + khrōs ‘color’) + -ic.

dichromate /dīˈkrōmāt/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a salt, typically red or orange, containing the anion Cr_2O_72−.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from di-1 ‘two’ + chromate.

dichromatism /dīˈkrōməˌtizəm/

I. noun

1. (typically in an animal species) the occurrence of two different kinds of coloring.

2. color-blindness in which only two of the three primary colors can be discerned.

II. derivatives

dichromatic /ˌdīkrəˈmadik ˌdīkrōˈmadik /

adjective

dick^1 /dik / ‹vulgar slang›

I. noun

1. a penis.

2. [with negative] — (N. Amer.) anything at all

• you don't know dick about this—you haven't a clue!

3. short for dickhead.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — (chiefly N. Amer.) handle something inexpertly; meddle

• he started dicking around with the controls.

2. [with obj.] — (chiefly N. Amer.) (of a man) have sexual intercourse with (someone).

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the general sense ‘fellow’): nickname for the given name Richard. Sense 1 of the noun dates from the late 18th cent.

dick^2 /dik/

I. noun

‹informal› ‹dated› (chiefly N. Amer.) a detective.

– origin early 20th cent.: perhaps an arbitrary shortening of detective, or from obsolete slang dick ‘look,’ from Romany.

dickcissel /dikˈsisəl, ˈdikˌsisəl/

I. noun

a sparrowlike North American songbird related to the cardinals, with a black-and-white throat and bright yellow breast.
[Spiza americana, family Emberizidae (subfamily Cardinalinae).]

– origin late 19th cent.: imitative of its call.

dickens /ˈdikənz/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. ‹informal› ‹dated› used for emphasis, euphemistically invoking the Devil

• they work like the dickens

• she was in a dickens of a rush.

2. (the dickens) — ‹informal› ‹dated› used when asking questions to express annoyance or surprise

• what the dickens is going on?

– origin late 16th cent.: probably a use of the surname Dickens.

Dickens, Charles /ˈdikənz/

(1812–70), English novelist; full name Charles John Huffam Dickens. His novels are notable for their satirical humor and treatment of contemporary social problems, including the plight of the urban poor and the corruption and inefficiency of the legal system. Notable works include Oliver Twist (1837–38), A Christmas Carol (1843), David Copperfield (1850), and Great Expectations (1860–61).

Dickensian /dəˈkenzēən/

adjective

of or reminiscent of the novels of Charles Dickens, especially in suggesting the poor social conditions or comically repulsive characters that they portray

• the back streets of Dickensian London.

dicker /ˈdikər/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) engage in petty argument or bargaining

• she advised him not to dicker over the extra fee.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) treat something casually or irresponsibly; toy with something
(as noun dickering)

• there was no dickering with the lyrics.

II. derivatives

dickerer

noun

– origin early 19th cent.: perhaps from obsolete dicker ‘set of ten (hides),’ used as a unit of trade, based on Latin decem ‘ten.’

Dickerson, Eric /ˈdikərsən/

(1960–), US football player. He set the National Football League's single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards in 1984. He played for the Los Angeles Rams 1983–87, the Indianapolis Colts 1987–91, the Los Angeles Raiders 1992, and the Atlanta Falcons 1993.

dickey /ˈdikē / dicky

I. noun

1. ‹informal› a false shirtfront.

2. ‹informal› ‹dated› (chiefly Brit.) a folding outside seat at the back of a vehicle; a rumble seat.

3. ‹informal› ‹historical› (chiefly Brit.) a driver's seat in a carriage.

– origin mid 18th cent. (denoting a petticoat): each sense probably having different origins; perhaps partly from Dicky, nickname for the given name Richard.

Dickey, James /ˈdikē/

(1923–97), US poet and writer; full name James Lafayette Dickey. His works include the poetry in Buckdancer's Choice (1965) and the novel Deliverance (1970).

dickey bird

noun

‹informal› used by children to refer to a little bird.
[late 18th cent.: probably from Dicky, nickname for the given name Richard.]

dickhead /ˈdikˌhed/

I. noun

‹vulgar slang› a stupid, irritating, or ridiculous person, particularly a man.

– origin 1960s: from dick^1 + head.

Dickin medal /ˌdikin ˈmedl/

I. noun

‹trademark› (in the UK) a medal awarded to an animal in recognition of an act of great bravery, typically one performed during a time of military conflict by an animal attached to the armed forces

• the six-year-old English springer spaniel received the Dickin Medal for ‘outstanding gallantry’ last year.

– origin 1940s: named after Maria Dickin, the founder of the veterinary charity PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals), who instituted the award.

Dickinson, Emily /ˈdikənsən/

(1830–86), US poet; full name Emily Elizabeth Dickinson. Her poems use an elliptical language and emphasize assonance and alliteration rather than rhyme. They reflect the struggles of her reclusive life. Although she wrote nearly 2,000 poems, only 7 were published during her lifetime.

dickwad /ˈdikwäd/

I. noun

‹vulgar slang› a contemptible person.

– origin 1980s: from dick in the sense ‘penis’ + wad.

dicky /ˈdikē/

I. adjective

(Brit.) ‹informal› (of a part of the body, a structure, or a device) not strong, healthy, or functioning reliably

• a man with a dicky leg.

– origin late 18th cent. (in the sense ‘almost over’): perhaps from the given name Dick, in the old saying as queer as Dick's hatband.

dicot /ˈdīkät/

noun

short for dicotyledon.

dicotyledon /dīˌkädlˈēdn/

I. noun

[Botany] a flowering plant with an embryo that bears two cotyledons (seed leaves). Dicotyledons constitute the larger of the two great divisions of flowering plants, and typically have broad, stalked leaves with netlike veins (e.g., daisies, hawthorns, oaks).
Compare with monocotyledon. [Class Dicotyledoneae (or -donae, -dones; sometimes Magnoliopsida), subdivision Angiospermae.]

II. derivatives

dicotyledonous /ˌdīˌkädəˈlēd(ə)nəs /

adjective

– origin early 18th cent.: from modern Latin dicotyledones (plural), from di- ‘two’ + cotyledon (see cotyledon).

dicrotic /dīˈkrädik/

I. adjective

[Medicine] denoting a pulse in which a double beat is detectable for each beat of the heart.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Greek dikrotos ‘beating twice’ + -ic.

dict.

abbreviation

1. dictation.

2. dictionary.

dicta /ˈdiktə/

plural form of dictum.

dictamnus /dikˈtamnəs/

I. noun

1. another term for dittany of Crete (see dittany).

2. another term for gas plant.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin.

Dictaphone /ˈdiktəˌfōn / dictaphone

I. noun

‹trademark› a small cassette recorder used to record speech for transcription at a later time.

– origin early 20th cent.: from dictate or dictation + -phone.

dictate

I. verb — /ˈdikˌtāt ˌdikˈtāt / [with obj.]

1. lay down authoritatively; prescribe

• the tsar's attempts to dictate policy

• [no obj.] that doesn't give you the right to dictate to me.

2. control or decisively affect; determine

• choice is often dictated by availability

• [no obj.] a review process can be changed as circumstances dictate.

3. say or read aloud (words to be typed, written down, or recorded on tape)

• I have four letters to dictate.

II. noun — (usu. dictates)

1. an order or principle that must be obeyed

• the dictates of fashion.

– origin late 16th cent. (sense 2 of the verb): from Latin dictat- ‘dictated,’ from the verb dictare.

dictation /dikˈtāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. (abbr.: dict.) — the action of saying words aloud to be typed, written down, or recorded on tape

• the dictation of letters.

2. the activity of taking down a passage that is read aloud by a teacher as a test of spelling, writing, or language skills

• passages for dictation.

3. an utterance that is typed, written down, or recorded

• the person who writes the dictation down is his agent.

4. the action of giving orders authoritatively or categorically.

– origin mid 17th cent. (sense 2): from late Latin dictatio(n-), from the verb dictare (see dictate).

dictator /ˈdikˌtādər/

I. noun

1. a ruler with total power over a country, typically one who has obtained power by force.

2. a person who tells people what to do in an autocratic way or who determines behavior in a particular sphere

• the prewar era was a period whose apple-cheeked dictator was Doris Day.

3. (in ancient Rome) a chief magistrate with absolute power, appointed in an emergency.

4. a machine that records words spoken into it, used for personal or administrative purposes.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin, from dictat- ‘dictated,’ from the verb dictare (see dictate).

dictatorial /ˌdiktəˈtôrēəl/

I. adjective

1. of or typical of a ruler with total power

• a dictatorial regime.

2. having or showing a tendency to tell people what to do in an autocratic way

• his dictatorial manner.

II. derivatives

dictatorially /ˌdiktəˈtôrēəlē /

adverb

dictatorship /dikˈtādərˌSHip ˈdiktādərˌSHip/

noun

1. government by a dictator

• forty years of dictatorship.

2. a country governed by a dictator.

3. absolute authority in any sphere.

diction /ˈdikSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing

• Wordsworth campaigned against exaggerated poetic diction.

2. the style of enunciation in speaking or singing

• she began imitating his careful diction.

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting a word or phrase): from Latin dictio(n-), from dicere ‘to say.’

dictionary /ˈdikSHəˌnerē/

I. noun

1. a book or electronic resource that lists the words of a language (typically in alphabetical order) and gives their meaning, or gives the equivalent words in a different language, often also providing information about pronunciation, origin, and usage

• I'll look up ‘love’ in the dictionary

• the website gives access to an online dictionary

• [as modifier] the dictionary definition of ‘smile’

2. a reference work on a particular subject, the items of which are typically arranged in alphabetical order

• a dictionary of quotations.

3. [Computing] a set of words or other text strings made for use in applications such as spelling checkers

• the worm attempts to crack account passwords using a built-in dictionary.

II. phrases

have swallowed a dictionary

‹informal› use long and obscure words when speaking.

– origin early 16th cent.: from medieval Latin dictionarium (manuale) or dictionarius (liber) ‘manual or book of words,’ from Latin dictio (see diction).

dictionary attack

noun

an attempted illegal entry to a computer system that uses a dictionary headword list to generate possible passwords.

dictum /ˈdiktəm/

I. noun

1. a formal pronouncement from an authoritative source

• the First Amendment dictum that “Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech”

2. a short statement that expresses a general truth or principle

• the old dictum “might makes right.”

3. [Law] short for obiter dictum.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘something said,’ neuter past participle of dicere.

dicty /ˈdiktē/

I. adjective

(US) ‹informal› (chiefly in African-American usage) ostentatiously stylish; pretentious

• up there in their dicty Detroit suburb living the so-called good life.

– origin early 20th cent.: of unknown origin.

Dictyoptera /ˌdiktēˈäptərə / ‹Entomology›

I. an order of insects that comprises the cockroaches and mantises. They have a somewhat flattened form, two pairs of wings, and long spiky legs.

II. derivatives

dictyopteran

noun, adjective

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek diktuon ‘net’ + pteron ‘wing.’

dicynodont /dīˈsinəˌdänt/

I. noun

a herbivorous, mammallike fossil reptile of the late Permian and Triassic periods, with beaked jaws and no teeth apart from two tusks in the upper jaw of the male.
[Dicynodon and other genera, infra-order Dicynodontia, order Therapsida.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Dicynodontia (plural), from Greek di- ‘two’ + kuōn ‘dog’ + odous, odont- ‘tooth.’

did /did/

past of do^1.

didactic /dīˈdaktik/

I. adjective

1. intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive

• a didactic novel that set out to expose social injustice.

2. in the manner of a teacher, particularly so as to treat someone in a patronizing way

• slow-paced, didactic lecturing.

II. derivatives

1. didactically /dəˈdaktək(ə)lē dīˈdaktək(ə)lē /

adverb

2. didacticism /dəˈdaktəˌsizəm dīˈdaktəˌsizəm /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Greek didaktikos, from didaskein ‘teach.’

didanosine /dīˈdanəˌsēn/

noun

[Medicine] another term for dideoxyinosine.

diddle /ˈdidl/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] (usu. be diddled) — ‹informal› cheat or swindle (someone) so as to deprive them of something

• he thought he'd been diddled out of his change.

2. ‹informal› deliberately falsify (something)

• he diddled his income tax returns.

3. [no obj.] — ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) pass time aimlessly or unproductively

• why diddle around with slow costly tests?

4. (diddle with) — ‹informal› play or mess with

• he diddled with the graphics on his computer.

5. [with obj.] — ‹informal› ‹vulgar slang› (chiefly N. Amer.) have sexual intercourse with (someone).
[originally in Scots dialect use in the sense ‘jerk from side to side,’ apparently corresponding to dialect didder ‘tremble.’]

II. derivatives

diddler

noun

– origin early 19th cent.: probably from the name of Jeremy Diddler, a character in the farce Raising the Wind (1803) by the Irish dramatist James Kenney (1780–1849). Diddler constantly borrowed and failed to repay small sums of money: the name may have been based on an earlier verb diddle ‘walk unsteadily, swerve.’

diddly-squat /ˈdidlē ˌskwät / diddly

I. pronoun — [usu. with negative]

1. ‹informal› anything

• she didn't care diddly-squat about what Darryl thought

• they don't know diddly about softball.

– origin 1960s: probably from slang doodle ‘excrement’ + squat in the sense ‘defecate.’

dideoxycytidine /ˌdīdēˌäksiˈsīdəˌdēn / DDC, ddC

noun

[Medicine] a drug that inhibits the replication of HIV and is used in the treatment of AIDS, especially in combination with zidovudine. It is a synthetic analog of a pyrimidine nucleoside.

dideoxyinosine /ˌdīdēˌäksēˈinəsēn / DDI, ddI

I. noun

[Medicine] a drug that inhibits the replication of HIV and is used in the treatment of AIDS, especially in combination with zidovudine. It is a synthetic analog of a purine nucleoside.

– origin 1970s: from di-1 ‘two’ + deoxy- (in the sense ‘that has lost oxygen’ ') + inosine.

Diderot, Denis /ˈdēdəˌrō/

(1713–84), French philosopher, writer, and critic. A leading figure of the Enlightenment in France, he was principal editor of the Encyclopédie (1751–76). Other notable works: Le Rêve de D'Alembert (1782) and Le Neveu de Rameau (1805).

didgeridoo /ˌdijərēˈdo͞o / didjeridoo, didjeridu

I. noun

an Australian Aboriginal wind instrument in the form of a long wooden tube, traditionally made from a hollow branch, which is blown to produce a deep, resonant sound, varied by rhythmic accents of timbre and volume.

– origin 1920s: imitative; from an Aboriginal language of Arnhem Land, Northern Territory.

didicoi /ˈdidēˌkoi/

I. noun

‹dialect› a Gypsy or other nomadic person.

– origin mid 19th cent.: perhaps an alteration of Romany dik akei ‘look here.’

didn't /ˈdidnt/

contraction

did not.

dido /ˈdīdō/

I. noun — (in phrase cut/cut up didoes)

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› perform mischievous tricks or deeds.

– origin early 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

Dido /ˈdīdō/

(in the Aeneid) the queen and founder of Carthage, who fell in love with the shipwrecked Aeneas and killed herself when he deserted her.

didst /didst/

archaic second person singular past of do^1.

Didyma /ˈdidimə/

an ancient sanctuary of Apollo, site of one of the most famous oracles of the Aegean region, close to the west coast of Asia Minor.

didymium /dīˈdimēəm/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a mixture containing the rare earth elements praseodymium and neodymium, used to color glass for optical filters. It was originally regarded as a single element.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek didumos ‘twin’ (because it was closely associated with lanthanum) + -ium (used as a suffix for new metals).

die^1 /dī/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a person, animal, or plant) stop living

• she died of cancer

• the sheep died from the heat

• [with obj.] the king died a violent death.

2. (die for) — be killed for (a cause)

• they were prepared to die for their country.

3. [with complement] — have a specified status at the time of one's death

• the inventor died a pauper.

4. (die out) — become extinct

• many species died out.

5. be forgotten

• her genius has assured her name will never die.

6. [with adverbial] — become less loud or strong

• after a while, the noise died down

• at last the storm died away.

7. (die back) — (of a plant) decay from the tip toward the root

• rhubarb dies back to a crown of buds each winter.

8. (die off) — die one after another until few or none are left

• the original founders died off or retired.

9. (of a fire or light) stop burning or gleaming.

10. ‹informal› (of a machine) stop functioning or run out of electric charge

• three toasters have died on me

• my cell phone died while I was trying to contact him.

11. ‹informal› used to emphasize that one wants to do or have something very much

• they must be dying for a drink

• [with infinitive] he's dying to meet you.

12. ‹informal› used to emphasize feelings of shock, embarrassment, amusement, or misery

• I nearly died when I saw them

• we nearly died laughing when he told us

• I'm simply dying of thirst.

13. ‹archaic› have an orgasm.

II. phrases

1. die hard

disappear or change very slowly

• old habits die hard.

2. die on the vine

be unsuccessful at an early stage.

3. never say die

used to encourage someone in a difficult situation.

4. to die for

‹informal› extremely good or desirable

• the ice cream is to die for.

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse deyja, of Germanic origin; related to dead.

die^2 /dī/

I. noun

1. singular form of dice.

2. [Architecture] the cubical part of a pedestal between the base and the cornice; a dado or plinth.

3. (pl. dies) — a device for cutting or molding metal into a particular shape.

4. an engraved device for stamping a design on coins or medals.

II. phrases

1. the die is cast

an event has happened or a decision has been made that cannot be changed.

2. (as) straight as a die

absolutely straight.

– origin Middle English: from Old French de, from Latin datum ‘something given or played,’ neuter past participle of dare. / usage: See usage at dice.

dieback /ˈdībak/

noun

a condition in which a tree or shrub begins to die from the tip of its leaves or roots backward, owing to disease or an unfavorable environment.

die-cast /ˈdī ˌkast/

I. adjective

(of a metal object) formed by pouring molten metal into a reusable mold

• a die-cast aluminum loudspeaker chassis.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as noun die-casting)

1. make (a metal object) by pouring molten metal into a mold.

Diefenbaker, John George /ˈdēfənˌbākər/

(1895–1979), Canadian Progressive Conservative statesman; prime minister 1957–63.

dieffenbachia /ˌdēfənˈbäkēə/

I. noun

a plant of a genus that includes dumb cane and its relatives.
[Genus Dieffenbachia, family Araceae.]

– origin modern Latin, named after Ernst Dieffenbach (1811–55), German horticulturalist.

diegesis /ˌdīəˈjēsis/

I. noun

a narrative or plot, typically in a movie.

II. derivatives

diegetic /-ˈjetik /

adjective

– origin early 19th cent.: from Greek diēgēsis ‘narrative.’

diehard /ˈdīˌhärd/

I. noun — [often as modifier]

1. a person who strongly opposes change or who continues to support something in spite of opposition

• diehard traditionalists

• she was a diehard Yankees fan.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from die hard (see die^1).

die-in /ˈdīin/

noun

‹informal› a demonstration in which people lie down as if dead

• should it be a mass die-in on the campus main lawn?

diel /ˈdī(ə)l, ˈdē(ə)l/

I. adjective

[Biology] denoting or involving a period of 24 hours

• tidal and diel cycles.

– origin 1930s: from Latin dies ‘day’ + -(a)l (see -al).

dieldrin /ˈdēldrən/

I. noun

a toxic insecticide produced by the oxidation of aldrin, now largely banned because of its persistence in the environment.
[A chlorinated epoxide; chem. formula: C_12H_8Cl_6O.]

– origin 1940s: blend of the name Diels (see Diels–Alder reaction) + aldrin.

dielectric /ˌdīəˈlektrik / ‹Physics›

I. adjective

having the property of transmitting electric force without conduction; insulating.

II. noun

a medium or substance that transmits electric force without conduction; an insulator.

III. derivatives

dielectrically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin mid 19th cent.: from di-3 + electric, literally ‘across which electricity is transmitted (without conduction).’

dielectric constant

noun

[Physics] a quantity measuring the ability of a substance to store electrical energy in an electric field.

dielectrophoresis /ˌdīəˌlektrəfəˈrēsis/

I. noun

[Physics] the migration of uncharged particles toward the position of maximum field strength in a nonuniform electric field.

– origin mid 20th cent.: blend of dielectric and electrophoresis.

die link

I. noun

an established connection between coins struck from the same die.

II. verb — [with obj.] (die-link)

1. establish a connection between (coins).

Diels–Alder reaction /ˌdēlzˈôldər rēˌakSH(ə)n/

I. noun

[Chemistry] an addition reaction in which a conjugated diene reacts with a compound with a double or triple bond so as to form a six-membered ring.

– origin 1940s: named after Otto Diels (1876–1954), and Kurt Alder (1902–58), German chemists.

Dien Bien Phu /ˌdyen ˌbyen ˈfo͞o/

a village in northwestern Vietnam. It was the site of a French military post that was captured by the Vietminh after a 55-day siege in 1954.

diencephalon /ˌdīənˈsefəlän/

I. noun

[Anatomy] the caudal (posterior) part of the forebrain, containing the epithalamus, thalamus, hypothalamus, and ventral thalamus and the third ventricle.
Compare with telencephalon.

II. derivatives

diencephalic /-səˈfalik /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from di-3 ‘across’ + Greek enkephalos ‘brain.’

diene /ˈdīēn/

I. noun

[Chemistry] an unsaturated hydrocarbon containing two double bonds between carbon atoms.

– origin early 20th cent.: from di-1 ‘two’ + -ene.

die-off

noun

1. a period in which a significant proportion of a population dies naturally, usually within a short time.

2. a process causing this.

3. the death of a significant proportion of a population in this way.

dieresis /dīˈerəsəs / diaeresis

I. noun

1. a mark (¨) placed over a vowel to indicate that it is sounded in a separate syllable, as in naïve, Brontë.

2. the division of a sound into two syllables, especially by sounding a diphthong as two vowels.

3. [Prosody] a natural rhythmic break in a line of verse where the end of a metrical foot coincides with the end of a word.

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting the division of one syllable into two): via Latin from Greek diairesis ‘separation,’ from diairein ‘take apart,’ from dia ‘apart’ + hairein ‘take.’

diesel /ˈdēzəl ˈdēsəl/

I. noun

1. an internal combustion engine in which heat produced by the compression of air in the cylinder is used to ignite the fuel
[as modifier]

• a diesel locomotive.

2. a heavy petroleum fraction used as fuel in diesel engines

• eleven gallons of diesel.

II. derivatives

dieselize /-ˌlīz /

verb

– origin late 19th cent.: named after R. Diesel (see Diesel, Rudolf).

Diesel, Rudolf /ˈdēzəl/

(1858–1913), German engineer; born in France; full name Rudolf Christian Karl Diesel. He invented the diesel engine in the late 19th century.

diesel-electric /ˌdēzələˈlektrik/

I. adjective

denoting or relating to a locomotive driven by the electric current produced by a diesel-engined generator.

II. noun

a diesel-electric locomotive.

diesel-hydraulic /ˌdēzəlhīˈdrôlik/

I. adjective

denoting or relating to a locomotive driven by a hydraulic transmission system powered by a diesel engine.

II. noun

a diesel-hydraulic locomotive.

die-sinker /ˈdīˌsiNGkər/

noun

a person who engraves dies used to stamp designs on coins or medals.

Dies Irae /ˌdēās ˈirā/

I. noun

a Latin hymn formerly sung in a Mass for the dead.

– origin Latin, literally ‘day of wrath’ (the opening words of the hymn).

diesis /ˈdīəsəs/

I. noun

[Printing] the double dagger symbol ‡.

– origin late Middle English: Latin, from Greek diēsis, from diienai ‘send through,’ from dia ‘through’ + ienai ‘send.’

dies non /ˌdēāz ˈnän/

I. noun

a day on which no legal business can be done, or which does not count for legal or other purposes.

– origin Latin, short for dies non juridicus ‘nonjudicial day.’

die-stamping /ˈdīˌstampiNG/

noun

1. a method of embossing paper or another surface using a die.

2. a method of printing using an inked die to produce raised print.

diestock /ˈdīstäk/

noun

a hand tool used in the cutting of external screw threads, consisting of a holder for the die that is turned using long handles.

diestrus /dīˈestrəs/

noun

[Zoology] (in most female mammals) a period of sexual inactivity between recurrent periods of estrus.

diet^1 /ˈdīət/

I. noun

1. the kinds of food that a person, animal, or community habitually eats

• a vegetarian diet

• a specialist in diet.

2. a regular occupation or series of activities in which one participates

• a healthy diet of classical music.

3. a special course of food to which one restricts oneself, either to lose weight or for medical reasons

• I'm going on a diet.

4. [as modifier] — (of food or drink) with reduced fat or sugar content

• diet soft drinks.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. restrict oneself to small amounts or special kinds of food in order to lose weight

• it's difficult to diet.

III. derivatives

dieter /ˈdīədər /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French diete (noun), dieter (verb), via Latin from Greek diaita ‘a way of life.’

diet^2 /ˈdīət/

I. noun

1. a legislative assembly in certain countries.

2. ‹historical› a regular meeting of the states of a confederation.

3. [Scots Law] a meeting or session of a court.

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin dieta ‘day's work, wages, etc.,’ also ‘meeting of councilors.’

dietary /ˈdīəˌterē/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to diets or dieting

• dietary advice for healthy skin and hair.

2. provided by one's diet

• the average dietary calcium intake was 140 milligrams per day.

II. noun

‹dated› a regulated or restricted diet.

– origin late Middle English (as a noun): from medieval Latin dietarium, from Latin diaeta (see diet^1).

diet-busting

adjective

‹informal› (of food) high in calories; fattening

• a diet-busting chocolate sandwich

• diet-busting recipes.

dietetic /ˌdīəˈtedik/

I. adjective

concerned with diet and nutrition

• experienced dietetic advice.

II. derivatives

dietetically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin mid 16th cent. (as a noun in the sense ‘dietetics’): via Latin from Greek diaitētikos, from diaita ‘a way of life.’

dietetics /ˌdīəˈtediks/

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the branch of knowledge concerned with the diet and its effects on health, especially with the practical application of a scientific understanding of nutrition.

diethylene glycol /dīˌeTHəlēn ˈɡlīkôl/

noun

[Chemistry] a colorless, soluble liquid used as a solvent and antifreeze.
[Chem. formula: (C_2H_4OH)2O.]

diethylstilbestrol /dīˌeTHəlstilˈbestrôl/

noun

another term for stilbestrol.

dietitian /ˌdīəˈtiSH(ə)n / dietician

noun

an expert on diet and nutrition.

Diet of Worms

a meeting of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V's imperial diet at Worms in 1521, at which Martin Luther was summoned to appear. Luther committed himself there to the cause of Protestant reform, and his teaching was formally condemned in the Edict of Worms.

Dietrich, Marlene /ˈdētrik/

(1901–92), US actress and singer; born in Germany; born Maria Magdelene Dietrich. She became known for her part as Lola in The Blue Angel (1930), one of many movies that she made with Josef von Sternberg. From the 1950s, she was also successful as a cabaret performer.

Dieu et mon droit /ˈdyo͝o ā môN ˈdwä/

I. noun

God and my right (the motto of the British monarch).

– origin French.

dif-

I. prefix

1. variant spelling of dis-.

2. assimilated before f (as in diffraction, diffuse.).

– origin from Latin, variant of dis-.

diff /dif/

I. noun

‹informal› short for difference.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Computing] compare (files) in order to determine how or whether they differ.

differ /ˈdifər/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. be unlike or dissimilar

• the second set of data differed from the first

• tastes differ

• (as adj. differing) widely differing circumstances.

2. disagree

• he differed from his contemporaries in ethical matters.

II. phrases

1. agree to differ

cease to argue about something because neither party will compromise or be persuaded.

2. beg to differ

politely disagree

• that's your opinion—I beg to differ.

– origin late Middle English (also in the sense ‘put off, defer’): from Old French differer ‘differ, defer,’ from Latin differre, from dis- ‘from, away’ + ferre ‘bring, carry.’ Compare with defer^1.

difference /ˈdif(ə)rəns/

I. noun

1. a point or way in which people or things are not the same

• the differences between men and women.

2. the state or condition of being dissimilar or unlike

• their difference from one another.

3. a disagreement, quarrel, or dispute

• the couple are patching up their differences.

4. a quantity by which amounts differ; the remainder left after subtraction of one value from another

• the gross margin is the difference between the total cost of the goods and the final selling price.

5. [Heraldry] an alteration in a coat of arms to distinguish members or branches of a family.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Heraldry] alter (a coat of arms) to distinguish members or branches of a family.

III. phrases

1. make a (or no) difference

have a significant effect (or no effect) on a person or situation

• the law will make no difference to my business.

2. with a difference

having a new or unusual feature or treatment

• a fashion show with a difference.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin differentia (see differentia).

difference threshold

noun

the smallest amount by which two sensory stimuli can differ in order for an individual to perceive them as different.

different /ˈdif(ə)rənt/

I. adjective

1. not the same as another or each other; unlike in nature, form, or quality

• you can play this game in different ways

• (different from/than) the car is different from anything else on the market.

2. ‹informal› novel and unusual

• try something deliciously different.

3. distinct; separate

• on two different occasions.

II. phrases

different strokes for different folks

‹proverb› different things appeal to different people.

III. derivatives

differentness

noun

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin different- ‘carrying away, differing,’ from the verb differre (see differ). / usage: Different from, different than, and different to: what are the distinctions between these three constructions, and is one more correct than the others? In practice, different from is both the most common structure and the most accepted. Different than is used chiefly in North America, although its use is increasing in British English. Because it can be followed by a clause, it is sometimes more concise than different from (compare "things are different than they were a year ago" with "things are different from the way they were a year ago"). Different to, although common in Britain, is disliked by traditionalists and sounds peculiar to American ears.

differentia /ˌdifəˈrenSH(ē)ə/

I. noun

1. a distinguishing mark or characteristic.

2. [chiefly Philosophy] an attribute that distinguishes a species of thing from other species of the same genus.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘difference,’ from different- ‘carrying away’ (see different).

differentiable /ˌdifəˈrenSHəbəl/

I. adjective

able to be differentiated.

II. derivatives

differentiability /-ˌrenSHəˈbilitē /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from differentiate, on the pattern of pairs such as depreciate, depreciable.

differential /ˌdifəˈren(t)SH(ə)l / ‹chiefly technical›

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of, showing, or depending on a difference; differing or varying according to circumstances or relevant factors

• the differential achievements of boys and girls.

2. constituting a specific difference; distinctive

• the differential features between benign and malignant tumors.

3. [Mathematics] relating to infinitesimal differences or to the derivatives of functions.

4. of or relating to a difference in a physical quantity

• a differential amplifier.

II. noun

1. a difference between amounts of things

• the differential between gasoline and diesel prices.

2. [Mathematics] an infinitesimal difference between successive values of a variable.

3. (also differential gear) — a set of gears allowing a vehicle's driven wheels to revolve at different speeds when going around corners.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin differentialis, from Latin differentia ‘difference’ (see differentia).

differential calculus /ˈˌdifəˈren(t)SHəl ˈkalkyələs/

noun

a branch of mathematics concerned with the determination, properties, and application of derivatives and differentials.
Compare with integral calculus.

differential coefficient

noun

[Mathematics] another term for derivative.

differential diagnosis

noun

[Medicine] the process of differentiating between two or more conditions that share similar signs or symptoms.

differential equation

noun

an equation involving derivatives of a function or functions.

differential lock

noun

a device that disables the differential of a motor vehicle in slippery conditions to improve grip.

differentially /ˌdifəˈren(t)SHəlē/

adverb

1. in a way that varies according to circumstances or relevant factors

• separation anxiety might differentially affect male and female infants

• people respond differentially to positive and negative stimuli.

2. in different directions or ways; distinctively

• differentially positioned religious systems.

differential operator /ˈˌdifəˈren(t)SHəl ˈäpəˌrādər/

noun

[Mathematics] another term for del.

differential windlass

noun

a hoisting device consisting of two drums of different diameters on the same axis and turning at the same rate, so that a line wound on the larger drum and unwound from the smaller drum provides a mechanical advantage in lifting. Also called Chinese windlass.

differentiate /ˌdifəˈren(t)SHēˌāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. recognize or ascertain what makes (someone or something) different

• children can differentiate the past from the present.

2. [no obj.] (differentiate between) — identify differences between (two or more things or people)

• he is unable to differentiate between fantasy and reality.

3. make (someone or something) appear different or distinct

• Twain was careful to differentiate Huck's speech from that of other white people.

4. ‹technical› make or become different in the process of growth or development
[with obj.]

• the receptors are developed and differentiated into sense organs

• [no obj.] the cells differentiate into a wide variety of cell types.

5. [Mathematics] transform (a function) into its derivative.

II. derivatives

differentiator /-ˌātər /

noun

– origin early 19th cent.: from medieval Latin differentiat- ‘carried away from,’ from the verb differentiare, from differentia (see differentia).

differentiation /ˌdifəˌren(t)SHēˈāSH(ə)n/

noun

the action or process of differentiating

• packaging can be a source of product differentiation.

differently /ˈdif(ə)rən(t)lē/

adverb

1. in a way that is not the same as another or as before

• we work differently from other developers

• I think you will feel differently after you've met her.

2. ‹informal› in a novel and unusual way

• he likes to do things a bit differently.

3. in varied ways; diversely

• differently colored pens

• a large group of differently aged chicks.

differently abled /ˈdif(ə)rəntlē ˈˌābld ˈdifərntlē ˈˌābld/

I. adjective

(chiefly N. Amer.) disabled.

usage: Differently abled was first proposed (in the 1980s) as an alternative to disabled, handicapped, etc., on the grounds that it gave a more positive message and so avoided discrimination toward people with disabilities. The term has gained little currency, however, and can seem overeuphemistic and condescending. The accepted term in general use is still disabled.

difficult /ˈdifəkəlt/

I. adjective

1. needing much effort or skill to accomplish, deal with, or understand

• she had a difficult decision to make

• the questions are too difficult for the children.

2. characterized by or causing hardships or problems

• a difficult economic climate.

3. (of a person) not easy to please or satisfy

• Lily could be difficult.

II. derivatives

1. difficultly

adverb

( — ‹rare›

2. difficultness

noun

– origin late Middle English: back-formation from difficulty.

difficulty /ˈdifəkəltē/

I. noun

1. the state or condition of being difficult

• Guy had no difficulty in making friends

• she walks with difficulty.

2. a thing that is hard to accomplish, deal with, or understand

• there is a practical difficulty

• a club with financial difficulties.

3. (often difficulties) — a situation that is difficult or dangerous

• they went for a swim but got into difficulties.

– origin late Middle English (in the senses ‘requiring effort or skill’ and ‘something difficult’): from Latin difficultas, from dis- (expressing reversal) + facultas ‘ability, opportunity.’

diffidence /ˈdifidəns/

noun

modesty or shyness resulting from a lack of self-confidence

• I say this with some diffidence.

diffident /ˈdifəd(ə)nt/

I. adjective

modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence

• a diffident youth.

II. derivatives

diffidently /ˈdifəd(ə)ntlē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘lacking confidence or trust in someone or something’): from Latin diffident- ‘failing in trust,’ from the verb diffidere, from dis- (expressing reversal) + fidere ‘to trust.’

diffract /dəˈfrakt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Physics] cause to undergo diffraction.

II. derivatives

1. diffractive /-tiv /

adjective

2. diffractively /-tivlē /

adverb

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin diffract- ‘broken in pieces,’ from the verb diffringere, from dis- ‘away, from’ + frangere ‘to break.’

diffraction /dəˈfrakSH(ə)n/

noun

the process by which a beam of light or other system of waves is spread out as a result of passing through a narrow aperture or across an edge, typically accompanied by interference between the wave forms produced.

diffraction grating /dəˈfrakSHən ˈɡrādiNG/

noun

a plate of glass or metal ruled with very close parallel lines, producing a spectrum by diffraction and interference of light.

diffractometer /ˌdifrakˈtämədər/

noun

an instrument for measuring diffraction, chiefly used to determine the structure of a crystal by analysis of the diffraction of X-rays.

diffuse

I. verb — /dəˈfyo͞oz /

1. spread or cause to spread over a wide area or among a large number of people
[no obj.]

• technologies diffuse rapidly

• [with obj.] the problem is how to diffuse power without creating anarchy.

2. become or cause (a fluid, gas, individual atom, etc.) to become intermingled with a substance by movement, typically in a specified direction or at specified speed
[no obj.]

• oxygen molecules diffuse across the membrane

• [with obj.] gas is diffused into the bladder.

3. [with obj.] — cause (light) to glow faintly by dispersing it in many directions.

II. adjective — /dəˈfyo͞os /

1. spread out over a large area; not concentrated

• the diffuse community centered on the church

• the light is more diffuse.

2. (of disease) not localized in the body

• diffuse hyperplasia.

3. lacking clarity or conciseness

• the second argument is more diffuse.

III. derivatives

1. diffusely /dəˈfyo͞oslē /

adverb

2. diffuseness /dəˈfyo͞osnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin diffus- ‘poured out,’ from the verb diffundere, from dis- ‘away’ + fundere ‘pour’; the adjective via French diffus or Latin diffusus ‘extensive,’ from diffundere. / usage: The verbs diffuse and defuse sound similar but have different meanings. Diffuse means, broadly, ‘disperse,’ while the nonliteral meaning of defuse is ‘reduce the danger or tension in.’ Thus sentences such as Cooper successfully diffused the situation are regarded as incorrect, while Cooper successfully defused the situation would be correct. However, such uses of diffuse are widespread, and can make sense: the image in, for example, only peaceful dialogue between the two countries could diffuse tension is not of making a bomb safe but of reducing something dangerous to particles and dispersing them harmlessly.

diffuser /dəˈfyo͞ozər / diffusor

noun

1. a thing that diffuses something, in particular

2. an attachment or duct for broadening an airflow and reducing its speed.

3. [Photography] a device that spreads the light from a light source evenly and reduces harsh shadows.

diffusible /dəˈfyo͞ozəb(ə)l/

adjective

able to intermingle by diffusion

• diffusible factors in the cytoplasm.

diffusion /dəˈfyo͞oZHən/

I. noun

1. the spreading of something more widely

• the diffusion of Duchamp’s thought and art.

2. the action of spreading the light from a light source evenly so as to reduce glare and harsh shadows.

3. [Chemistry] the intermingling of substances by the natural movement of their particles

• the rate of diffusion of a gas.

4. [Anthropology] the dissemination of elements of culture to another region or people.

II. derivatives

diffusive /dəˈfyo͞osiv /

adjective

( — [Chemistry]

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘pouring out, effusion’): from Latin diffusion-, from diffundere ‘pour out.’

diffusionist /dəˈfyo͞oZHənəst / ‹Anthropology›

I. adjective

advocating the theory of the dissemination of elements of culture to another region or people

• the rural sociological literature of the diffusionist school.

II. noun

an advocate of diffusionism.

III. derivatives

diffusionism /-ˌnizəm /

noun

diffusivity /ˌdifyo͞oˈsivədē/

noun

[Physics] a measure of the capability of a substance or energy to be diffused or to allow something to pass by diffusion.

dig /diɡ/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — break up and move earth with a tool or machine, or with hands, paws, snout, etc.

• the boar had been digging for roots

• [with obj.] she had to dig the garden

• authorities cause chaos by digging up roads.

2. [with obj.] — make (a hole, grave, etc.) by breaking up and moving earth

• he took a spade and dug a hole

• (as adj. dug) the newly dug grave.

3. [with obj.] — extract from the ground by breaking up and moving earth

• they dug up fossils of an animal about the size of a turkey.

4. (dig in) — (of a soldier) protect oneself by making a trench or similar ground defense.

5. [in imperative] (dig in) — ‹informal› used to encourage someone to start eating with gusto and have as much as they want

• put the sausage on top of the polenta; then dig in.

6. [with obj.] (dig something in/into) — push or poke something in or into

• he dug his hands into his pockets.

7. [with obj.] — excavate (an archaeological site)

• apart from digging a site, recording evidence is important.

8. [with obj.] (dig something out) — bring out something that is hidden or has been stored for a long time

• they dug out last year's notes.

9. (dig into) — ‹informal› find money from (somewhere)

• members have to dig deep into their pockets.

10. search or rummage in a specified place

• Catherine dug into her handbag and produced her card.

11. engage in research; conduct an investigation

• a professional digging for information

• he had no compunction about digging into her private affairs.

12. [with obj.] (dig something up/out) — discover information after a search or investigation

• have you dug up any information on the captain?

13. [with obj.] — ‹informal› like, appreciate, or understand

• I really dig heavy rock.

II. noun

1. [in sing.] — an act or spell of digging

• a thorough dig of the whole plot.

2. an archaeological excavation.

3. a push or poke with one's elbow, finger, etc.

• Ginnie gave her sister a dig in the ribs.

4. ‹informal› a remark intended to mock or criticize

• this was a cruel dig at Jenny.

III. phrases

1. dig up dirt

‹informal› discover and reveal damaging information about someone.

2. dig oneself into a hole (or dig a hole for oneself)

get oneself into an awkward or restrictive situation.

3. dig in one's heels

resist stubbornly; refuse to give in

• he has dug in his heels and refuses to leave.

4. dig's one's own grave

see grave^1.

– origin Middle English: perhaps from Old English dīc ‘ditch.’

Digambara /dəˈɡämbərə/

I. noun

a member of one of two principal sects of Jainism, which was formed as a result of doctrinal schism in about AD 80 and continues today in parts of southern India. Male ascetic members of the sect traditionally reject property ownership and do not wear clothes.
See also Svetambara.

– origin from Sanskrit Digāmbara, literally ‘sky-clad.’

digamma /dīˈɡamə/

I. noun

the sixth letter of the early Greek alphabet (Ϝ, ϝ), pronounced as “w.” It became obsolete in many Greek dialects before the Classical period.

– origin late 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek, from di- ‘twice’ + gamma (because of the shape of the letter, resembling gamma (Γ) with an extra stroke).

digastric /dīˈɡastrik / digastric muscle

I. noun

[Anatomy] each of a pair of muscles that run under the jaw and act to open it.

– origin late 17th cent.: from modern Latin digastricus, from di- ‘twice’ + Greek gastēr ‘belly’ (because the muscle has two fleshy parts or “bellies” at an angle, connected by a tendon).

digenean /dīˈjēnēən / ‹Zoology›

I. adjective

of or relating to a group of flukes that are internal parasites needing two to four hosts to complete their life cycle.
Compare with monogenean.

II. noun

a digenean fluke; a trematode.
[Subclass Digenea, class Trematoda.]

– origin 1960s: from modern Latin Digenea (from Greek di- ‘twice’ + genea ‘generation, race’) + -an.

digerati /dijəˈrädē/

I. plural noun

people with expertise or professional involvement in information technology.

– origin 1990s: blend of digital and literati.

digest

I. verb — /dəˈjest dīˈjest / [with obj.]

1. break down (food) in the alimentary canal into substances that can be absorbed and used by the body.

2. understand or assimilate (new information or the significance of something) by a period of reflection.

3. arrange (something) in a systematic or convenient order, especially by reduction

• the computer digested your labors into a form understandable by a program.

4. [Chemistry] treat (a substance) with heat, enzymes, or a solvent in order to decompose it or extract essential components.

II. noun — /ˈdīˌjest /

1. a compilation or summary of material or information

• a digest of their findings.

2. a periodical consisting of condensed versions of pieces of writing or news published elsewhere.

3. a methodical summary of a body of laws.

4. (the Digest) — the compendium of Roman law compiled in the reign of Justinian.

5. [Chemistry] a substance or mixture obtained by digestion

• a digest of cloned DNA.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin digest- ‘distributed, dissolved, digested,’ from the verb digerere, from di- ‘apart’ + gerere ‘carry’; the noun from Latin digesta ‘matters methodically arranged,’ from digestus ‘divided,’ from digerere.

digester /dīˈjestər dəˈjestər/

noun

[Chemistry] a container in which substances are treated with heat, enzymes, or a solvent in order to promote decomposition or extract essential components.

digestible /dəˈjestəb(ə)l dīˈjestəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. (of food) able to be digested.

2. (of information) easy to understand or follow

• her books convey philosophical issues in digestible form.

II. derivatives

digestibility /dəˌjestəˈbilədē dīˌjestəˈbilədē /

noun

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin digestibilis, from digest- ‘digested,’ from the verb digerere (see digest).

digestif /ˌdēZHeˈstēf/

I. noun

a drink or portion of food drunk or eaten in order to aid the digestion.

– origin early 20th cent.: French, literally ‘digestive.’

digestion /dəˈjesCH(ə)n dīˈjesCH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the process of breaking down food by mechanical and enzymatic action in the alimentary canal into substances that can be used by the body.

2. a person's capacity to break down food into substances that can be used by the body

• bouts of dysentery impaired his digestion.

3. [Chemistry] the process of treating a substance by means of heat, enzymes, or a solvent to promote decomposition or extract essential components.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin digestio(n-), from the verb digerere (see digest).

digestive /dəˈjestiv dīˈjestiv/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to the process of digesting food

• stomach ulcers and other digestive disorders.

2. (of food or medicine) aiding or promoting the process of digestion

• digestive mints.

II. noun

1. a food or medicine that aids or promotes the digestion of food.

2. (also digestive biscuit) — (Brit.) a round, semisweet cookie made of wholewheat flour.

III. derivatives

digestively

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Old French digestif, -ive or Latin digestivus, from digest- ‘digested,’ from the verb digerere (see digest).

digestive gland

noun

[Zoology] a glandular organ of digestion present in crustaceans, mollusks, and certain other invertebrates.

digger /ˈdiɡər/

noun

1. a person, animal, or large machine that digs earth
[in combination]

• a grave-digger.

2. (Digger, in full Digger Indian) — ‹offensive› (US) a North American Indian of any of several tribes that subsisted on roots dug from the ground.

3. (Austral./NZ) ‹informal› a man, especially a private soldier (often used as a friendly form of address)

• how are you, Digger?

[early 20th cent.: from digger ‘miner,’ reinforced by association with the digging of trenches on the battlefields.]

digger wasp

noun

a solitary wasp that typically excavates a burrow in sandy soil, filling it with one or more paralyzed insects or spiders for its larvae to feed on.
[Families Sphecidae (which includes sand wasps) and Pompilidae (which includes spider-hunting wasps).]

diggings /ˈdiɡiNGz/

plural noun

1. a site such as a mine or goldfield that has been excavated

• hills scarred with peat diggings.

2. material that has been dug from the ground.

3. (Brit.) ‹informal› ‹dated› lodgings.

digging stick

noun

a primitive digging implement consisting of a pointed stick, sometimes weighted with a stone.

dight /dīt/

I. adjective

‹archaic› clothed or equipped.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› make ready for a use or purpose; prepare

• let the meal be dighted.

– origin Middle English: past participle of archaic dight ‘order, deal with,’ based on Latin dictare ‘compose (in language), order.’ The wide and varied use of the word in Middle English is reflected dialectally.

digicam /ˈdijəˌkam/

I. noun — ( in the UK)

1. ‹trademark› a digital camera.

– origin blend.

digipak /ˈdijipak/

I. noun

‹trademark› a type of packaging for CDs or DVDs, typically made from cardboard with an internal plastic holder for one or more discs.

– origin 1980s: from digital and pack^1.

digipet /ˈdijəˌpet/

I. noun

another term for cyberpet.

– origin blend of digital and pet.

digit /ˈdijit/

I. noun

1. any of the numerals from 0 to 9, especially when forming part of a number.

2. a finger (including the thumb) or toe.

3. [Zoology] an equivalent structure at the end of the limbs of many higher vertebrates.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin digitus ‘finger, toe’; sense 1 arose from the practice of counting on the fingers.

digital /ˈdijidl/

I. adjective

1. (of signals or data) expressed as series of the digits 0 and 1, typically represented by values of a physical quantity such as voltage or magnetic polarization.
Often contrasted with analog.

2. relating to, using, or storing data or information in the form of digital signals

• digital TV

• a digital recording.

3. involving or relating to the use of computer technology

• the digital revolution.

4. (of a clock or watch) showing the time by means of displayed digits rather than hands or a pointer.

5. of or relating to a finger or fingers.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Latin digitalis, from digitus ‘finger, toe.’

digital audiotape /ˈdijidl ˈôdēōˌtāp / DAT

noun

magnetic tape used to make digital sound recordings of very high quality.

digital camera /ˌdijitlˈkamərə/

noun

a camera that records and stores digital images.

digital cash digital money

noun

money that may be transferred electronically from one party to another during a transaction.

digital compact cassette DCC

noun

a format for tape cassettes similar to ordinary audiocassettes but with digital rather than analog recording.

digital compression

noun

a method of reducing the number of bits (zeros and ones) in a digital signal by using mathematical algorithms to eliminate redundant information.

digital detox

noun

‹informal› a period of time during which a person refrains from using electronic devices such as smartphones or computers, regarded as an opportunity to reduce stress or focus on social interaction in the physical world

• break free of your devices and go on a digital detox.

digital divide

noun

the gulf between those who have ready access to computers and the Internet, and those who do not

• a worrying “digital divide” based on race, gender, educational attainment, and income.

digital footprint

noun

the information about a particular person that exists on the Internet as a result of their online activity

• there are several ways to ensure your digital footprint doesn't damage your reputation.

digital frame

noun

a device for displaying a revolving selection of digital photographs, which can be uploaded directly from a digital camera or memory card.

digital humanities

plural noun — [treated as sing. or pl.]

1. an academic field concerned with the application of computational tools and methods to traditional humanities disciplines such as literature, history, and philosophy

• I'm teaching a graduate seminar in the digital humanities.

digital immigrant

noun

a person born or brought up before the widespread use of digital technology.

• chances are many digital immigrants will find managing online privacy a daunting prospect.

digitalin /ˌdijiˈtalən/

I. noun

a drug containing the active constituents of digitalis.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from digitalis + -in^1.

digitalis /ˌdijiˈtaləs/

I. noun

a drug prepared from the dried leaves of foxglove and containing substances (notably digoxin and digitoxin) that stimulate the heart muscle.

– origin late 18th cent.: from the modern Latin genus name of the foxglove, from digitalis (herba) ‘(plant) relating to the finger,’ from digitus ‘finger, toe’; suggested by German Fingerhut ‘thimble or foxglove.’

digitalize^1 /ˈdijədlˌīz/

I. verb

another term for digitize.

II. derivatives

digitalization /ˌdijidəlīˈzāSH(ə)n ˌdijidələˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

digitalize^2 /ˈdijədlˌīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Medicine] administer digitalis or digoxin to (a patient with a heart complaint).

II. derivatives

digitalization /ˌdijidəlīˈzāSH(ə)n ˌdijidələˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

digital locker

noun

[Computing] an Internet service that allows registered users to access music, movies, videos, photographs, games, and other multimedia files.

digitally /ˈdijidəlē/

adverb

1. by means of digital or computer technology

• all our TV shows are recorded digitally

• digitally enhanced images.

2. with reference to the fingers

• he was the nimble soloist in the violin concerto, digitally dexterous in the final movement.

Digital Millennium Copyright Act DMCA

noun

a 1998 US law intended to update copyright law for electronic commerce and electronic content providers. It criminalizes the circumvention of electronic and digital copyright protection systems.

digital native

noun

a person born or brought up during the age of digital technology and therefore familiar with computers and the Internet from an early age.

• the digital tools that are reshaping our economy make more sense to young digital natives than to members of older generations.

digital object identifier DOI

noun

[Computing] a unique and persistent string of characters used to identify a journal article, website, or other item of intellectual property, typically one in digital form.

digital signature //

noun

[Computing] a type of electronic signature that encrypts documents with digital codes that are particularly difficult to duplicate.

digital subscriber line

noun

[Computing] see DSL.

digital television / / DTV

noun

television broadcasting in which the pictures are transmitted as digital signals that are decoded by a device in or attached to the receiving television set.

digital-to-analog converter

noun

an electronic device for converting digital signals to analog form.

digital versatile disc

noun

[Computing] see DVD.

digital video recorder

noun

a device that records audio and video input, typically from a television signal, on to a hard disk.

digitate /ˈdijiˌtāt/

I. adjective

‹technical› shaped like a spread hand

• digitate leaves

• a digitate delta.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin digitatus, from digitus ‘finger, toe.’

digitation /ˌdijiˈtāSHən/

noun

[Zoology] [Botany] a fingerlike protuberance or division.

digitigrade /ˈdijədəɡrād/

I. adjective

[Zoology] (of a mammal) walking on its toes and not touching the ground with its heels, as a dog, cat, or rodent.
Compare with plantigrade.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin digitus ‘finger, toe’ + -gradus ‘-walking.’

digitization /ˌdijədəˈzāSH(ə)n/

noun

the conversion of text, pictures, or sound into a digital form that can be processed by a computer

• the digitization of the rare map collection at the library

• [as modifier] digitization projects of archival material.

digitize /ˈdijəˌtīz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. digitized)

1. convert (pictures or sound) into a digital form that can be processed by a computer.

II. derivatives

digitizer /ˈdijəˌtīzər /

noun

digitoxin /ˌdijiˈtäksin/

noun

[Chemistry] a compound with similar properties to digoxin and found with it in the foxglove and similar plants.

diglossia /dīˈɡlôsēə dīˈɡläsēə/

I. noun

[Linguistics] a situation in which two languages (or two varieties of the same language) are used under different conditions within a community, often by the same speakers. The term is usually applied to languages with distinct “high” and “low” (colloquial) varieties, such as Arabic.

II. derivatives

diglossic /-sik /

adjective

– origin 1950s: from Greek diglōssos ‘bilingual,’ on the pattern of French diglossie.

dignified /ˈdiɡnəˌfīd/

I. adjective

having or showing a composed or serious manner that is worthy of respect

• she maintained a dignified silence

• a dignified old lady.

II. derivatives

dignifiedly /-ˌfī(ə)dlē /

adverb

dignify /ˈdiɡnəˌfī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (something) seem worthy and impressive

• the Americans had dignified their departure with a ceremony.

2. give an impressive name to (someone or something that one considers worthless)

• dumps are increasingly dignified as landfills.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French dignefier, from late Latin dignificare, from Latin dignus ‘worthy.’

dignitary /ˈdiɡnəˌterē/

I. noun

a person considered to be important because of high rank or office.

– origin late 17th cent.: from dignity, on the pattern of the pairs propriety, proprietary.

dignity /ˈdiɡnədē/

I. noun

1. the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect

• a man of dignity and unbending principle

• the dignity of labor.

2. a composed or serious manner or style

• he bowed with great dignity.

3. a sense of pride in oneself; self-respect

• it was beneath his dignity to shout.

4. a high or honorable rank or position

• he promised dignities to the nobles in return for his rival's murder.

II. phrases

stand on one's dignity

insist on being treated with due respect.

– origin Middle English: from Old French dignete, from Latin dignitas, from dignus ‘worthy.’

digoxin /dəˈjäksən/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a poisonous compound present in the foxglove and other plants. It is a steroid glycoside and is used in small doses as a cardiac stimulant.

– origin 1930s: contraction of digitoxin.

digraph /ˈdīˌɡraf/

I. noun

1. a combination of two letters representing one sound, as in ph and ey.

2. [Printing] a character consisting of two joined letters; a ligature.

II. derivatives

digraphic /dīˈɡrafik /

adjective

digress /dīˈɡres/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. leave the main subject temporarily in speech or writing

• I have digressed a little from my original plan.

II. derivatives

1. digresser

noun

2. digressive /dīˈɡresiv /

adjective

3. digressively /-ˈɡresivlē /

adverb

4. digressiveness /-ˈɡresivnis /

noun

– origin early 16th cent.: from Latin digress- ‘stepped away,’ from the verb digredi, from di- ‘aside’ + gradi ‘to walk.’

digression /ˌdīˈɡreSH(ə)n/

noun

a temporary departure from the main subject in speech or writing

• let's return to the main topic after that brief digression.

digs /diɡz/

I. plural noun

‹informal› living quarters

• settled into new digs in Los Angeles.

– origin late 19th cent.: short for diggings, used in the same sense, probably referring to the land where a farmer digs, i.e., works and, by extension, lives.

dihedral /dīˈhēdrəl/

I. adjective

having or contained by two plane faces

• a dihedral angle.

II. noun

1. an angle formed by two plane faces.

2. [Aeronautics] inclination of an aircraft's wing from the horizontal, especially upward away from the fuselage.
Compare with anhedral.

3. (N. Amer.) [Climbing] a place where two planes of rock meet at an angle of between 60° and 120°.

– origin late 18th cent.: from di-1 ‘two’ + -hedral (see -hedron).

dihybrid /dīˈhībrid/

noun

[Genetics] a hybrid that is heterozygous for alleles of two different genes
[as modifier]

• a dihybrid cross.

dihydric /dīˈhīdrik/

I. adjective

[Chemistry] (of an alcohol) containing two hydroxyl groups.

– origin late 19th cent.: from di-1 ‘two’ + hydrogen + -ic.

dihydrotestosterone /dīˌhīdrōtesˈtästəˌrōn/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a male sex hormone that is the active form of testosterone, formed from testosterone in bodily tissue.

– origin 1950s: from dihydro- (in the sense ‘containing two hydrogen atoms in the molecule’) + testosterone.

dihydroxyacetone /ˌdīhīˌdräksēˈasətōn/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a synthetic compound with strong reducing properties, used in lotions for coloring the skin in sunlight.
[Chem. formula: (CH_2OH)CO.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from dihydroxy- (in the sense ‘containing two hydroxyl groups in the molecule’) + acetone.

Dijon /dēˈZHôN, dēˈZHän/

an industrial city in eastern central France, the capital of Burgundy; pop. 155,340 (2006).

Dijon mustard

noun

a medium-hot mustard, typically prepared with white wine and originally made in Dijon, France.

dik-dik /ˈdikdik/

I. noun

a dwarf antelope found on the dry savanna of Africa, the female of which is larger than the male.
[Genus Madoqua, family Bovidae: several species.]

– origin late 19th cent.: a local word in East Africa, imitative of its call.

dike^1 /dīk / dyke

I. noun

1. a long wall or embankment built to prevent flooding from the sea.

2. (often in place names) a low wall or earthwork serving as a boundary or defense

• Offa's Dike.

3. a causeway.

4. [Geology] an intrusion of igneous rock cutting across existing strata.
Compare with sill.

5. a ditch or watercourse.

II. verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. diked)

1. provide (land) with a wall or embankment to prevent flooding.

III. phrases

put one's finger in the dike

attempt to stem the advance of something undesirable.
[from a story of a small Dutch boy who saved his community from a flood by placing his finger in a hole in a dike.]

– origin Middle English (denoting a trench or ditch): from Old Norse dík, related to ditch. Sense 1 of the noun has been influenced by Middle Low German dīk ‘dam’ and Middle Dutch dijc ‘ditch, dam.’

dike^2 /dīk/

noun

variant spelling of dyke^1.

diktat /dikˈtät/

I. noun

an order or decree imposed by someone in power without popular consent

• a diktat from the Bundestag

• he can disband the legislature and rule by diktat.

– origin 1930s: from German, from Latin dictatum ‘something dictated,’ neuter past participle of dictare.

DIL^1

abbreviation

[Electronics] dual in-line (package).
See DIP.

DIL^2

I. noun

‹informal› a person's daughter-in-law

• my son and DIL are both elementary school teachers.

– origin 1960s: abbreviation.

Dilantin /ˌdīˈlantin/

I. noun

[Medicine] trademark for phenytoin.

– origin 1930s: from di-1 ‘two’ + -l- + (hyd)ant(o)in.

dilapidate /dəˈlapəˌdāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› cause (something) to fall into disrepair or ruin.

II. derivatives

dilapidation

noun

– origin early 16th cent. (in the sense ‘waste, squander’): from Latin dilapidat- ‘demolished, squandered,’ from the verb dilapidare, literally ‘scatter as if throwing stones,’ from di- ‘apart, abroad’ + lapis, lapid- ‘stone.’

dilapidated /dəˈlapəˌdādəd/

adjective

(of a building or object) in a state of disrepair or ruin as a result of age or neglect.

dilatancy /dīˈlātnsē/

noun

[Chemistry] the phenomenon exhibited by some fluids, sols, and gels in which they become more viscous or solid under pressure.

dilatation /ˌdiləˈtāSHən ˌdīləˈtāSHən/

I. noun

1. [chiefly Medicine] [Physiology] the action of dilating a vessel or opening or the process of becoming dilated.

2. [chiefly Medicine] [Physiology] a dilated part of a hollow organ or vessel.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from late Latin dilatatio(n-), from the verb dilatare (see dilate).

dilate /dīˈlāt ˈdīˌlāt/

I. verb

1. make or become wider, larger, or more open
[no obj.]

• her eyes dilated with horror

• [with obj.] the woman dilated her nostrils.

2. [no obj.] (dilate on) — speak or write at length on (a subject).

II. derivatives

dilatable /dīˈlādəbəl dəˈlādəbəl ˈdīˌlādəbəl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French dilater, from Latin dilatare ‘spread out,’ from di- ‘apart’ + latus ‘wide.’

dilation /dīˈlāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. [chiefly Physiology] the action or condition of becoming or being made wider, larger, or more open

• nitric oxide causes dilation of the blood vessels

• dilation of the pupils of the eye.

2. (dilation on) — the action of speaking or writing at length on (a subject)

• the main editorial involved no dilation on the privileges or responsibilities of citizenship

• dilations on Alpha Male psychology aren't overdone.

dilation and curettage dilatation and curettage, D and C

noun

[Medicine] a surgical procedure involving dilatation of the cervix and curettage of the uterus, performed after a miscarriage or for the removal of cysts or tumors.

dilator /ˈdīlādər dīˈlādər dəˈlādər/

noun

1. a thing that dilates something, in particular

2. (also dilator muscle) — [Anatomy] a muscle whose contraction dilates an organ or aperture, such as the pupil of the eye.

3. a surgical instrument for dilating a tube or cavity in the body.

4. a vasodilatory drug.

dilatory /ˈdiləˌtôrē/

I. adjective

1. slow to act

• he had been dilatory in appointing a solicitor.

2. intended to cause delay

• they resorted to dilatory procedural tactics, forcing a postponement of peace talks.

II. derivatives

1. dilatorily /ˌdiləˈtôrəlē /

adverb

2. dilatoriness /ˈdiləˌtôrēnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin dilatorius ‘delaying,’ from Latin dilator ‘delayer,’ from dilat- ‘deferred,’ from the verb differre.

dildo /ˈdildō/

I. noun

1. an object shaped like an erect penis used for sexual stimulation.

2. ‹vulgar slang› a stupid or ridiculous person.

– origin late 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

dilemma /diˈlemə dīˈlemə/

I. noun

1. a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, especially equally undesirable ones

• the people often face the dilemma of feeding themselves or their cattle.

2. a difficult situation or problem

• the insoluble dilemma of adolescence.

3. [Logic] an argument forcing an opponent to choose either of two unfavorable alternatives.

– origin early 16th cent. (denoting a form of argument involving a choice between equally unfavorable alternatives): via Latin from Greek dilēmma, from di- ‘twice’ + lēmma ‘premise.’ / usage: At its core, a dilemma is a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives (this is my dilemma: do I stay here for the job security, or do I risk it all for the chance of a better career?). More informally, dilemma can mean ‘a difficult situation or problem’ (as in the insoluble dilemma of adolescence). Some traditionalists object to this weakened use, but it is recorded as early as the first part of the 17th century, and is now widespread and generally acceptable.Note that dilemma is spelled with a double m in the middle, not as -mn-.

dilettante /ˌdiləˈtänt diləˈtäntē/

I. noun

1. a person who cultivates an area of interest, such as the arts, without real commitment or knowledge
[as modifier]

• a dilettante approach to science.

2. ‹archaic› a person with an amateur interest in the arts.

II. derivatives

1. dilettantish /ˌdiləˈtäntiSH /

adjective

2. dilettantism /ˌdiləˈtänˌtizəm /

noun

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Italian, ‘person loving the arts,’ from dilettare ‘to delight,’ from Latin delectare.

Dili /ˈdilē/

the capital and chief port of East Timor, on the northern coast of the island; pop. 171,400 (2009).

diligence^1 /ˈdiləjəns/

I. noun

careful and persistent work or effort.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘close attention, caution’): via Old French from Latin diligentia, from diligent- ‘assiduous’ (see diligent).

diligence^2 /ˈdiləjəns/

I. noun

‹historical› a public stagecoach.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French, shortened from carrosse de diligence ‘coach of speed.’

diligent /ˈdiləjənt/

I. adjective

having or showing care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties

• many caves are located only after a diligent search.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin diligens, diligent- ‘assiduous,’ from diligere ‘love, take delight in.’

diligently /ˈdiləjən(t)lē/

adverb

in a way that shows care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties

• he spends his nights diligently working on his dissertation

• I searched diligently for a remedy.

dill /dil/

I. noun

1. an aromatic annual herb of the parsley family, with fine blue-green leaves and yellow flowers. The leaves and seeds of dill are used for flavoring and for medicinal purposes.
[Anethum graveolens, family Umbelliferae.]

2. (also dillweed or dill weed) — the fresh or dried leaves of the dill plant used to flavor food.

– origin Old English dile, dyle; related to Dutch dille and German Dill; of unknown ultimate origin.

Dillinger, John /ˈdilinjər/

(1903–34), US criminal. He was a bank robber who made daring escapes from jail and was named “Public Enemy Number 1” by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He was eventually betrayed by the “lady in red” in an ambush set up by the FBI.

dill pickle /dil ˈpikəl/

noun

pickled cucumber flavored with dill.

dill water

noun

an extract distilled from dill, used to relieve flatulence.

dilly /ˈdilē/

I. noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› an excellent example of a particular type of person or thing

• that's a dilly of a breakfast recipe.

– origin late 19th cent. (as an adjective in the sense ‘delightful’): alteration of the first syllable of delightful or delicious.

dilly-dally /ˈdilēˌdalē/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹informal› waste time through aimless wandering or indecision

• don't dilly-dally for too long.

– origin early 17th cent.: reduplication of dally.

dilophosaur /dīˈläfəsôr / dilophosaurus

I. noun

one of the earliest of the large bipedal dinosaurs, which had two long crests on the head and occurred in the early Jurassic period.
[Genus Dilophosaurus, infraorder Carnosauria, suborder Theropoda.]

II. derivatives

dilophosaurian

adjective

– origin modern Latin, from Greek dilophos ‘two-crested’ + sauros ‘lizard.’

diluent /ˈdilyəwənt / ‹technical›

I. noun

a substance used to dilute something.

II. adjective

acting to cause dilution.

– origin early 18th cent. (denoting a medicine used to increase the proportion of water in the blood): from Latin diluent- ‘dissolving,’ from the verb diluere.

dilute /dīˈlo͞ot dəˈlo͞ot/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (a liquid) thinner or weaker by adding water or another solvent to it

• bleach can be diluted with cold water.

2. make (something) weaker in force, content, or value by modifying it or adding other elements to it

• the reforms have been diluted.

3. reduce the value of (a shareholding) by issuing more shares in a company without increasing the values of its assets.

II. adjective

1. (of a liquid) made thinner or weaker by having had water or another solvent added to it.

2. [Chemistry] (of a solution) having a relatively low concentration of solute

• a dilute solution of potassium permanganate.

3. (of color or light) weak or low in concentration

• a short measure of dilute sun.

III. derivatives

diluter /dəˈlo͞odər dīˈlo͞odər /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin dilut- ‘washed away, dissolved,’ from the verb diluere.

dilution /dīˈlo͞oSHn diˈlo͞oSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action of making a liquid more dilute.

2. the action of making something weaker in force, content, or value

• he is resisting any dilution of dogma.

3. a liquid that has been diluted.

4. the degree to which a solution has been diluted

• the antibody was applied at a dilution of 1:50.

5. a reduction in the value of a shareholding due to the issue of additional shares in a company without an increase in assets.

II. derivatives

dilutive /-ˈlo͞otiv /

adjective

[chiefly Finance]

diluvial /dəˈlo͞ovēəl/

I. adjective

of or relating to a flood or floods, especially the biblical Flood.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from late Latin diluvialis, from diluvium ‘deluge,’ from diluere ‘wash away.’

diluvian /dəˈlo͞ovēən/

adjective

another term for diluvial.

dim /dim/

I. adjective

1. (of a light, color, or illuminated object) not shining brightly or clearly

• her face was softened by the dim light.

2. (of an object or shape) made difficult to see by darkness, shade, or distance

• a dim figure in the dark kitchen.

3. (of a room or space) made difficult to see in by darkness

• long dim corridors.

4. (of the eyes) not able to see clearly

• his eyes became dim.

5. (of a sound) indistinct or muffled

• the dim drone of their voices.

6. (of prospects) not giving cause for hope or optimism

• their prospects for the future looked pretty dim.

7. not clearly recalled or formulated in the mind

• she had dim memories of that time

• the matter was in the dim and distant past.

8. ‹informal› stupid or slow to understand

• you're just incredibly dim.

II. verb

1. make or become less bright or distinct
[with obj.]

• a smoky inferno that dimmed the sun

• [no obj.] the lights dimmed and the curtains parted.

2. [with obj.] — lower (a vehicle's headlights) from high to low beam
(as adj. dimmed)

• the car moved slowly, its headlights dimmed.

3. make or become less intense or favorable
[with obj.]

• the difficulty in sleeping couldn't dim her happiness

• [no obj.] the company's prospects have dimmed.

4. make or become less able to see clearly
[with obj.]

• your sight is dimmed

• [no obj.] his eyes dimmed.

III. phrases

take a dim view of

regard with disapproval.

IV. derivatives

1. dimmish

adjective

2. dimness /ˈdimnəs /

noun

– origin Old English dim, dimm, of Germanic origin; related to German dialect timmer.

dim.

abbreviation

1. dimension.

2. diminuendo.

3. diminutive.

DiMaggio, Joe /dəˈmajēˌō/

(1914–99), US baseball player; full name Joseph Paul DiMaggio; called Joltin’ Joe and the Yankee Clipper. Star of the New York Yankees 1936–51, he was renowned for his outstanding batting ability and for his outfield play. In 1941, he achieved a 56-game hitting streak, a record that has not been challenged. He was briefly married to Marilyn Monroe in 1954. Baseball Hall of Fame (1955).

dime /dīm/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a ten-cent coin.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a small amount of money

• he didn't have a dime.

3. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› short for dime bag.

II. phrases

1. a dime a dozen

‹informal› very common and of no particular value

• experts in this field are a dime a dozen.

2. drop a (or the) dime on someone

‹informal› inform on someone.

3. get off the dime

‹informal› be decisive and show initiative

• at some point you have to get off the dime and do something.

4. on a dime

‹informal› used to refer to a maneuver that can be performed by a moving vehicle or person within a small area or short distance

• boats that can turn on a dime.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French disme, from Latin decima pars ‘tenth part.’ The word originally denoted a tithe or tenth part; the modern sense ‘ten-cent coin’ dates from the late 18th cent.

dime bag /ˈdīm ˌbaɡ/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a specified amount of an illegal drug, packaged and sold for a fixed price.

dime novel /dīm ˈnävəl/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹dated› a cheap, popular novel, typically a melodramatic romance or adventure story.

dimension /dəˈmen(t)SH(ə)n dīˈmen(t)SH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. an aspect or feature of a situation, problem, or thing

• sun-dried tomatoes add a new dimension to this sauce.

2. (usu. dimensions) — a measurable extent of some kind, such as length, breadth, depth, or height

• the final dimensions of the pond were 14 ft. x 8 ft

• the drawing must be precise in dimension.

3. a mode of linear extension of which there are three in space and two on a flat surface, which corresponds to one of a set of coordinates specifying the position of a point.

4. [Physics] an expression for a derived physical quantity in terms of fundamental quantities such as mass, length, or time, raised to the appropriate power (acceleration, for example, having the dimension of length × time 2).

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. cut or shape (something) to particular measurements.

2. mark (a diagram) with measurements
(as adj. dimensioned)

• draw a dimensioned front elevation.

III. derivatives

1. dimensionality /diˌmenCHəˈnalətē /

noun

2. dimensionally /-CHənl-ē /

adjective

3. dimensionless /dəˈmen(t)SH(ə)nləs /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (sense 2 of the noun): via Old French from Latin dimensio(n-), from dimetiri ‘measure out.’ Sense 1 of the noun dates from the 1920s.

dimensional /dəˈmen(t)SH(ə)nəl/

adjective

1. relating to measurements or dimensions

• technicians check dimensional accuracy using coordinate measuring machines.

2. having sufficient depth and substance to be believable

• well-rounded, fully dimensional characters.

dimensional analysis /dəˌmen(t)SHənl əˈnaləsəs/

noun

[Mathematics] analysis using the fact that physical quantities added to or equated with each other must be expressed in terms of the same fundamental quantities (such as mass, length, or time) for inferences to be made about the relations between them.

dimer /ˈdīmər/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a molecule or molecular complex consisting of two identical molecules linked together.

II. derivatives

dimeric /dīˈmerik /

adjective

– origin 1930s: from di-1 ‘two,’ on the pattern of polymer.

dimercaprol /ˌdīmərˈkaprôl/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a colorless, oily liquid with an unpleasant smell, used as an antidote for poisoning by mercury, arsenic, lead, and other heavy metals.
[Alternative name: 2,3,-dimercapto-1-propanol; chem. formula: CH_2(SH)CH(SH)CH_2OH.]

– origin 1940s: from elements of the systematic name (see above).

dimerize /ˈdīməˌrīz/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. [Chemistry] combine with a similar molecule to form a dimer

• ClO dimerizes to form Cl_2O_2.

II. derivatives

dimerization /ˌdīmərəˈzāSHən /

noun

dimerous /ˈdimərəs/

I. adjective

1. [Botany] [Zoology] having parts arranged in groups of two.

2. [Botany] [Zoology] consisting of two joints or parts.

– origin early 19th cent.: from modern Latin dimerus (from Greek dimerēs ‘bipartite’) + -ous.

dime store /ˈdīm ˌstô(ə)r/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) a shop selling cheap merchandise (originally one where the maximum price was a dime).

2. [as modifier] — (N. Amer.) cheap and inferior

• plastic dime-store toys.

dimeter /ˈdimidər/

I. noun

[Prosody] a line of verse consisting of two metrical feet.

– origin late 16th cent.: via late Latin from Greek dimetros ‘of two measures,’ from di- ‘twice’ + metron ‘a measure.’

dimethoate /dīˈmeTHōˌāt/

I. noun

a crystalline, synthetic, organophosphorus compound used in solution as an insecticide.

– origin 1960s: from di-1 ‘two’ + methyl + thio- + -ate^1.

dimethyl sulfoxide /dīˌmeTHəl səlˈfäksīd / ‹chiefly Brit.› dimethyl sulphoxide, DMSO

noun

[Chemistry] a colorless liquid used as a solvent and synthetic reagent. It is readily able to penetrate the skin and is used in medicinal preparations for skin application.
[Chem. formula: (CH_3)2SO.]

dimetric /dīˈmetrik/

I. adjective

(in technical drawing) denoting or incorporating a method of showing projection or perspective using a set of three geometric axes, of which two are of the same scale or dimension but the third is of another.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from di-1 ‘two’ + Greek metron ‘measure’ + -ic.

dimetrodon /dīˈmetrəˌdän/

I. noun

a large, carnivorous, synapsid fossil reptile of the Permian period, with long spines on its back supporting a sail-like crest.
[Genus Dimetrodon, order Pelycosauria, subclass Synapsida.]

– origin modern Latin, from di- ‘twice’ + Greek metron ‘measure’ + odous, odont- ‘tooth’ (taken in the sense ‘two long teeth’).

dimidiate /dəˈmidēˌāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Heraldry] (of a coat of arms or charge) adjoin (another) so that only half of each is visible.

2. (as adj. dimidiated) — [Heraldry] (of a charge) having only one half depicted.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin dimidiat- ‘halved,’ from the verb dimidiare, from dimidium ‘half.’

dimidiation /diˌmidēˈāSHən/

noun

[Heraldry] the combination of two coats of arms by juxtaposing the dexter half of one and the sinister half of the other on a single shield (a practice largely superseded by impalement).

diminish /dəˈminiSH/

I. verb

1. make or become less
[with obj.]

• a tax whose purpose is to diminish spending

• [no obj.] the pain will gradually diminish.

2. [with obj.] — make (someone or something) seem less impressive or valuable

• the trial has aged and diminished him.

II. phrases

(the law of) diminishing returns

used to refer to a point at which the level of profits or benefits gained is less than the amount of money or energy invested.

III. derivatives

diminishable /dəˈminəSHəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: blend of archaic minish ‘diminish’ (based on Latin minutia ‘smallness’) and obsolete diminue ‘speak disparagingly’ (based on Latin deminuere ‘lessen’ (in late Latin diminuere), from minuere ‘make small’).

diminished /dəˈminiSHt/

adjective

1. made smaller or less

• a diminished role for local government.

2. [predic.] — made to seem less impressive or valuable

• she felt diminished by the report.

3. [attrib.] — [Music] denoting or containing an interval that is one semitone less than the corresponding minor or perfect interval

• a diminished fifth.

diminished capacity

noun

[Law] an unbalanced mental state that is considered to make a person less answerable for a crime and is recognized as grounds to reduce the charge.

diminished seventh

noun

1. [Music] the interval that is a semitone less than a minor seventh, e.g., from A to G flat (which in equal tuning sounds the same as a major sixth).

2. (also diminished seventh chord) — [Music] a chord formed by a note together with those above it at intervals of a minor third, a diminished fifth, and a diminished seventh. The resulting chord consists entirely of superimposed minor thirds, and is much used in modern music in modulating between keys.

diminuendo /dəˌmin(y)əˈwendō / ‹Music›

I. noun

1. a decrease in loudness

• the sudden diminuendos are brilliantly effective.

2. a musical passage to be performed with a decrease in loudness.

II. adverb, adjective

(especially as a direction) with a decrease in loudness
[as adj.]

• the diminuendo chorus before the final tumult.

III. verb — [no obj.]

1. decrease in loudness or intensity

• the singers left and the buzz diminuendoed.

– origin Italian, literally ‘diminishing,’ from diminuire, from Latin deminuere ‘lessen’ (see diminish).

diminution /ˌdiməˈn(y)o͞oSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a reduction in the size, extent, or importance of something

• a permanent diminution in value

• the disease shows no signs of diminution.

2. [Music] the shortening of the time values of notes in a melodic part.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin deminutio(n-), from the verb deminuere (see diminish).

diminutive /dəˈminyədiv/

I. adjective

1. extremely or unusually small

• a diminutive figure dressed in black.

2. (of a word, name, or suffix) implying smallness, either actual or imputed in token of affection, scorn, etc., (e.g., teeny, -let, -kins).

II. noun

1. a smaller or shorter thing, in particular

2. a diminutive word or suffix.

3. a shortened form of a name, typically used informally

• “Nick” is a diminutive of “Nicholas.”

4. [Heraldry] a charge of the same form as an ordinary but of lesser size or width.

III. derivatives

1. diminutively

adverb

2. diminutiveness /dəˈminyədivnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English (as a grammatical term): from Old French diminutif, -ive, from late Latin diminutivus, from Latin deminut- ‘diminished,’ from the verb deminuere (see diminish).

dimity /ˈdimədē/

I. noun

a hard-wearing, sheer cotton fabric woven with raised stripes or checks.

– origin late Middle English: from Italian dimito or medieval Latin dimitum, from Greek dimitos, from di- ‘twice’ + mitos ‘warp thread’; the origin of the final -y is unknown.

dimly /ˈdimlē/

adverb

1. with a faint light; not brightly

• a single lamp glowed dimly in the gloom

• a dimly lit corridor.

2. in a faint or indistinct way; not clearly

• the desert is dimly visible in the light of the moon

• the dimly outlined figure of a young boy.

3. in a way that is not clearly perceived or recalled

• we became dimly aware of voices

• I can only dimly remember the 1960s.

4. used to express disapproval

• he would look dimly upon any attempt to change her team

• the organizers view such enterprise very dimly.

dimmer /ˈdimər/

noun

1. (also dimmer switch) — a device for varying the brightness of an electric light.

2. (US) a headlight with a low beam.

3. (dimmers) — small parking lights on a motor vehicle.

dimorphic /dīˈmôrfik/

I. adjective

[chiefly Biology] occurring in or representing two distinct forms

• in this sexually dimorphic species only the males have wings.

II. derivatives

dimorphism /dīˈmôrfizəm /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek dimorphos (from di- ‘twice’ + morphē ‘form’) + -ic.

dimple /ˈdimpəl/

I. noun

1. a small depression in the flesh, either one that exists permanently or one that forms in the cheeks when one smiles.

2. [often as modifier] — a slight depression in the surface of something

• a sheet of dimple foam.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. produce a dimple or dimples in the surface of (something)

• a sucking swirl dimpled the water.

2. [no obj.] — form or show a dimple or dimples

• the water ruffled and dimpled

• (as adj. dimpled) a dimpled smile.

III. derivatives

dimply /ˈdimp(ə)lē /

adjective

– origin Middle English: of Germanic origin; related to German Tümpel ‘pond.’

dim sum /ˌdim ˈsəm/

I. noun

a Chinese dish of small steamed or fried savory dumplings containing various fillings, served as a snack or main course.

– origin from Chinese (Cantonese dialect) tim sam, from tim ‘dot’ and sam ‘heart.’

dimwit /ˈdimwit/

noun

‹informal› a stupid or silly person.

dimwitted /ˌdimˈwidəd/

I. adjective

‹informal› stupid or silly

• a dimwitted waiter.

II. derivatives

1. dimwittedly

adverb

2. dimwittedness

noun

din /din/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. a loud, unpleasant, and prolonged noise

• the fans made an awful din.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] (din something into) — make (someone) learn or remember something by constant repetition

• the doctrine that has been dinned into all our heads.

2. [no obj.] — make a loud, unpleasant, and prolonged noise

• the sound dinning in my ears was the telephone ringing.

– origin Old English dyne, dynn (noun), dynian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Old High German tuni (noun) and Old Norse dynr (noun), dynja ‘come rumbling down.’

DIN /din/

I. noun

any of a series of technical standards originating in Germany and used internationally, especially to designate electrical connections, film speeds, and paper sizes
[as modifier]

• a DIN socket.

– origin early 20th cent.: acronym from Deutsche Industrie-Norm ‘German Industrial Standard’ (as laid down by the Deutsches Institut für Normung ‘German Institute for Standards’).

dinar /ˈdēnär/

I. noun

1. the basic monetary unit of Serbia, equal to 100 paras.

2. the basic monetary unit of certain countries of the Middle East and North Africa, equal to 1000 fils in Jordan, Bahrain, and Iraq, 1000 dirhams in Libya, and 100 centimes in Algeria.

3. a monetary unit of Iran, equal to one hundredth of a rial.

– origin from Arabic and Persian dīnār, Turkish and Serbian dinar, via late Greek from Latin denarius (see denarius).

Dinaric Alps /diˌnarik ˈalps/

a mountain range in the Balkans that runs parallel to the Adriatic coast from Slovenia in the northwest, through Croatia, Bosnia, and Montenegro, to Albania in the southeast.

din-din /ˈdindin/

noun

a child's word for dinner.

dine /dīn/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. eat dinner

• we dined at a restaurant

• (as noun dining) a dining area.

2. (dine out) — eat dinner in a restaurant or the home of friends.

3. (dine on) — eat (something) for dinner.

4. (dine out on) — regularly entertain friends with (a humorous story or interesting piece of information)

• it should have been one of those stories one dines out on afterward.

5. [with obj.] — take (someone) to dinner

• I'll dine you soon.

II. phrases

wine and dine

see wine.

– origin Middle English: from Old French disner, probably from desjëuner ‘to break fast,’ from des- (expressing reversal) + jëun ‘fasting’ (from Latin jejunus).

diner /ˈdīnər/

noun

1. a person who is eating, typically a customer in a restaurant.

2. a dining car on a train.

3. (N. Amer.) a small roadside restaurant with a long counter and booths, originally one designed to resemble a dining car on a train.

dinero /dəˈnerˌō/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› money

• their pockets full of dinero.

– origin mid 19th cent.: Spanish, ‘coin, money.’

Dinesen, Isak /ˈdinəsən/

see Blixen, Karen.

dinette /dīˈnet/

I. noun

1. a small room or part of a room used for eating meals.

2. (N. Amer.) a set of table and chairs for a dinette.

– origin 1930s: formed irregularly from dine + -ette.

ding^1 /diNG/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. make a ringing sound

• cash registers were dinging softly.

II. exclamation

used to imitate a metallic ringing sound resembling a bell.

– origin early 17th cent.: imitative.

ding^2 /diNG / ‹informal›

I. noun

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) a deliberate or accidental blow, especially a mark or dent on the bodywork of a car, boat, or other vehicle.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. dent (something).

2. hit (someone), especially on the head

• I dinged him one.

3. criticize, injure, or penalize (someone)

• agents who stayed on a call too long got dinged.

– origin Middle English: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare with Danish dænge ‘beat, bang.’

ding-a-ling /ˈdiNGəˌliNG/

I. noun

1. [in sing.] — the ringing sound of a bell.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› an eccentric or stupid person.

– origin late 19th cent.: imitative.

Ding an sich /ˌdiNG än ˈzik/

I. noun

(in Kant's philosophy) a thing as it is in itself, not mediated through perception by the senses or conceptualization, and therefore unknowable.

– origin mid 19th cent.: German, literally ‘thing in itself.’

dingbat /ˈdiNGˌbat / ‹informal›

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) (Austral./NZ) a stupid or eccentric person.

2. a typographical device other than a letter or numeral (such as an asterisk), used to signal divisions in text or to replace letters in a euphemistically presented vulgar word.

– origin mid 19th cent. (in early use applied to various vaguely specified objects): origin uncertain; perhaps based on obsolete ding ‘to beat, deal heavy blows.’ Sense 1 dates from the early 20th cent.

ding-dong /ˈdiNGdôNG/

I. noun

‹informal› (N. Amer.) a silly or foolish person.

II. adverb, adjective

1. with the simple alternate chimes of or as of a bell
[as adv.]

• the church bells go ding-dong

• [as adj.] he heard the ding-dong tones.

2. [as adj.] — (Brit.) ‹informal› (of a contest) evenly matched and intensely waged

• the game was an exciting ding-dong battle.

– origin mid 16th cent.: imitative.

dinger /ˈdiNGər/

I. noun

1. (US) ‹informal› ‹dated› a thing outstanding of its kind

• by God, ain't that a dinger!

2. [Baseball] ‹informal› a home run

• he beat the Braves twice with extra-inning dingers.

– origin late 19th cent.: shortening of humdinger.

dinghy /ˈdiNGē/

I. noun

1. a small boat for recreation or racing, especially an open boat with a mast and sails.

2. a small, inflatable rubber boat.

3. the smallest of a ship's boats.

– origin early 19th cent. (denoting a rowboat used on rivers in India): from Hindi ḍiṅgī.

dingle /ˈdiNGɡəl/

I. noun

‹literary› ‹dialect› a deep wooded valley or dell.

– origin Middle English (denoting a deep abyss): of unknown origin. The current sense dates from the mid 17th cent.

dingleberry /ˈdiNGəlˌberē/

I. noun

1. ‹vulgar slang› a particle of fecal matter attached to the anal hair of an animal.

2. ‹vulgar slang› (US) ‹informal› a foolish or inept person.

– origin 1950s: from dingle of unknown origin + berry.

dingo /ˈdiNGɡō/

I. noun

a wild or half-domesticated dog with a sandy-colored coat, found in Australia. It is believed to have been introduced by early Aboriginal immigrants.
[Canis dingo, family Canidae.]

– origin late 18th cent.: from Dharuk din-gu ‘domesticated dingo.’

dingus /ˈdiNGɡəs/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) (S. African) ‹informal› used to refer to something whose name the speaker cannot remember, is unsure of, or is humorously or euphemistically omitting

• here's a doohickey—and there's the dingus.

– origin late 19th cent.: via Afrikaans from Dutch ding ‘thing.’

dingy /ˈdinjē/

I. adjective

gloomy and drab

• a dingy room.

II. derivatives

1. dingily /-əlē /

adverb

2. dinginess /ˈdinjēnəs /

noun

– origin mid 18th cent.: perhaps based on Old English dynge ‘dung.’

dining car /ˈdīniNG ˌkär/

noun

a railroad car equipped as a restaurant.

dining hall /ˈdīniNG ˌhôl/

noun

a large room, typically in a school or other institution, in which people eat meals together.

dining room

noun

a room in a house or hotel in which meals are eaten.

dining table /ˈdīniNG ˌtābəl/

noun

a table on which meals are served in a dining room.

dink^1 /diNGk/

I. noun

‹informal› a partner in a well-off working couple with no children.

– origin 1980s: acronym from double income, no kids.

dink^2 /diNGk / ‹chiefly Tennis›

I. noun

a drop shot

• a brilliantly controlled backhand dink over the net.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. hit (the ball) with a drop shot

• he dinked a shot over the net to take the second set 7–5.

– origin 1930s: symbolic of the light action.

Dinka /ˈdiNGkə/

I. noun

1. a member of a Sudanese people of the Nile basin.

2. the Nilotic language of the Dinka, with about 1.4 million speakers.

II. adjective

relating to the Dinka or their language.

– origin from the local word Jieng ‘people.’

dinkum /ˈdiNGkəm/

I. adjective

(Austral./NZ) ‹informal› (of an article or person) genuine, honest, true

• Andy's dinkum hat from Australia.

II. phrases

fair (or square or straight) dinkum ‹Austral./NZ informal›

a. used to emphasize or seek confirmation of the genuineness or truth of something

• it's a fair dinkum Aussie wedding.

b. used to emphasize that behavior complies with accepted standards

• they were asking a lot for the car, but fair dinkum considering its list price.

– origin late 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

dinky /ˈdiNGkē/

I. adjective

‹informal› (N. Amer.) small; insignificant

• I can't believe the dinky salaries they pay here.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Scots and northern English dialect dink ‘neat, trim,’ of unknown origin.

dinner /ˈdinər/

I. noun

1. the main meal of the day, taken either around midday or in the evening.

2. a formal evening meal, typically one in honor of a person or event.

– origin Middle English: from Old French disner (infinitive used as a noun: see dine).

dinner dance /ˈdinər ˌdans/

noun

a formal social event in which guests have dinner, followed by dancing.

dinner jacket /ˈdinər ˌjakət/

noun

a man's short jacket without tails, typically a black one, worn with a bow tie for formal occasions in the evening.

dinner pail

I. noun

‹dated› (chiefly US) a pail in which a laborer's or schoolchild's dinner is carried and kept warm.

II. phrases

hand in one's dinner pail

‹informal› die.

dinner party /ˈdinər ˌpärdē/

noun

a social occasion at which guests eat dinner together.

dinner ring

noun

a woman's dress ring, usually with a large stone or an ornate setting, often worn on special occasions.

dinner service /ˈdinər ˌsərvəs / dinner set

noun

a set of matching dishes for serving a meal.

dinner theater /ˈdinər ˈTHēədər/

noun

a theater in which a meal is included in the price of a ticket.

dinnerware /ˈdinərˌwer/

noun

(N. Amer.) tableware, including plates, glassware, and cutlery.

dino /ˈdīnō/

noun

‹informal› a dinosaur.
[as modifier]

• the palaeontologist hopes future digs will uncover new dino species previously unknown to science.

DINO /ˈdīnō/

abbreviation

Democrat in name only, referring to a member of the Democratic Party considered too conservative by more liberal members.

dinoflagellate /ˌdīnōˈflajəlit, -ˌlāt/

I. noun

[Biology] a single-celled organism with two flagella, occurring in large numbers in marine plankton and also found in fresh water. Some produce toxins that can accumulate in shellfish, resulting in poisoning when eaten.
[Division Dinophyta or class Dinophyceae, division Chromophycota (or phylum Dinophyta, kingdom Protista).]

– origin late 19th cent. (as an adjective): from modern Latin Dinoflagellata (plural), from Greek dinos ‘whirling’ + Latin flagellum ‘small whip’ (see flagellum).

dinosaur /ˈdīnəˌsôr/

I. noun

1. a fossil reptile of the Mesozoic era, often reaching an enormous size.
The dinosaurs are placed, according to their hip structure, in two distantly related orders (see ornithischian and saurischian). Some of them may have been warm-blooded, and their closest living relatives are the birds. Dinosaurs were all extinct by the end of the Cretaceous period (65 million years ago), a popular theory being that the extinctions were the result of the impact of a large meteorite.

2. a person or thing that is outdated or has become obsolete because of failure to adapt to changing circumstances.

II. derivatives

dinosaurian /ˌdīnəˈsôrēən /

adjective, noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin dinosaurus, from Greek deinos ‘terrible’ + sauros ‘lizard.’

dint /dint/

I. noun

1. an impression or hollow in a surface

• the soft dints at the top of a coconut.

2. ‹archaic› a blow or stroke, typically one made with a weapon in fighting.

3. force of attack; impact

• I perceive you feel the dint of pity.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. mark (a surface) with impressions or hollows
(as adj. dinted)

• the metal was dull and dinted.

III. phrases

by dint of

by means of

• he had gotten to where he was today by dint of sheer hard work.

– origin Old English dynt ‘stroke with a weapon,’ reinforced in Middle English by the related Old Norse word dyntr; of unknown ultimate origin. Compare with dent.

diocesan /dīˈäsəsən/

I. adjective

of or concerning a diocese.

II. noun

the bishop of a diocese.

– origin late Middle English: from French diocésain, from medieval Latin diocesanus, from Latin dioecesis (see diocese).

diocese /ˈdīəsəs ˈdīəˌsēz/

I. noun

a district under the pastoral care of a bishop in the Christian Church.

– origin Middle English: from Old French diocise, from late Latin diocesis, from Latin dioecesis ‘governor's jurisdiction, diocese,’ from Greek dioikēsis ‘administration, diocese,’ from dioikein ‘keep house, administer.’

Diocletian /ˌdīəˈklēSHən/

(245–313), Roman emperor 284–305; full name Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus. Faced with mounting military problems, in 286 he divided the empire between himself in the east and Maximian in the west. He launched the final persecution of the Christians 303.

diode /ˈdīˌōd/

I. noun

1. [Electronics] a semiconductor device with two terminals, typically allowing the flow of current in one direction only.

2. [Electronics] a thermionic tube having two electrodes (an anode and a cathode).

– origin early 20th cent.: from di-1 ‘two’ + a shortened form of electrode.

dioecious /dīˈēSHəs/

I. adjective

[Biology] (of a plant or invertebrate animal) having the male and female reproductive organs in separate individuals.
Compare with monoecious.

II. derivatives

dioecy /ˈdīˌēsē /

noun

– origin mid 18th cent.: from modern Latin Dioecia (a class in Linnaeus's sexual system), from di-1 ‘two’ + Greek -oikos ‘house.’

Diogenes /dīˈäjəˌnēz/

(c. 400–c. 325 BC), Greek philosopher. The most noted of the Cynics, he emphasized self-sufficiency and the need for natural, uninhibited behavior, regardless of social conventions.

diogenite /dīˈäjəˌnīt/

I. noun

a stony meteorite of a kind consisting largely of pyroxenes and plagioclase.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek Diogenēs ‘descended from Zeus’ + -ite^1.

diol /ˈdīôl/

I. noun

[Chemistry] an alcohol containing two hydroxyl groups in its molecule.

– origin 1920s: from di-1 ‘two’ + -ol.

Diomede Islands /ˈdīəmēd ˌīləndz/

two islands in the Bering Strait, separated by the International Date Line. Big Diomede belongs to Russia, and Little Diomede belongs to the US.

Dione /dīˈōnē / ‹Astronomy›

I. a satellite of Saturn, the twelfth closest to the planet, discovered by Cassini in 1684. Icy with a partly cratered and partly smooth surface, it has a diameter of 696 miles (1,120 km).

– origin named after a Titan, the mother of Aphrodite, in Greek mythology.

Dionysian /ˌdīəˈnisēən ˌdīəˈnēzēən ˌdīəˈniZHən ˌdīəˈniSHən / Dionysiac

adjective

1. [Greek Mythology] of or relating to the god Dionysus.

2. of or relating to the sensual, spontaneous, and emotional aspects of human nature

• dark, grand Dionysian music.

Compare with Apollonian.

Dionysius /ˌdīəˈnisēəs, -ˈniSHəs/

I. the name of two rulers of Syracuse.

II. Dionysius I (c. 430–367 BC), ruled 405–367; known as Dionysius the Elder. A tyrannical ruler, he waged three wars against the Carthaginians for control of Sicily, the third of which resulted in his defeat at Cronium in 375.

III. Dionysius II (c. 397–c. 344 BC), son of Dionysius I; ruled 367–357 and 346–344; known as Dionysius the Younger. He lacked his father's military ambitions and signed a peace treaty with Carthage in 367.

Dionysius Exiguus /ˌdīəˌnisēəs eɡˈziɡyo͞oəs/

(died c. 556), Scythian-born monk and scholar. He is noted for developing in 505 the system of dates BC and AD that is still in use today. His calculation of Jesus Christ's incarnation being 753 years after the founding of Rome has since been shown to be mistaken by several years. He is said to have taken the nickname Exiguus (“little”) as a sign of humility.

Dionysius of Halicarnassus /ˌdīəˌnisēəs əv ˌhalēkärˈnasəs/

(1st century BC), Greek historian, literary critic, and rhetorician. He lived in Rome from 30 BC and is best known for his detailed history of the city, written in Greek.

Dionysius the Areopagite /ˌarēˈäpəˌɡīt, -ˌjīt/

(1st century AD), Greek churchman. His conversion by St. Paul is recorded in Acts 17:34, and according to tradition he went on to become the first bishop of Athens.

Dionysus /ˌdīəˈnisəs / ‹Greek Mythology›

a Greek god, son of Zeus and Semele. He was originally a god of the fertility of nature, associated with wild and ecstatic religious rites; in later traditions he is a god of wine who loosens inhibitions and inspires creativity in music and poetry.
Also called Bacchus.

Diophantine equation /ˌdīəˈfanˌtin, -tīn/

I. noun

[Mathematics] a polynomial equation with integral coefficients for which integral solutions are required.

– origin early 18th cent.: named after Diophantus.

Diophantus /ˌdīəˈfan(t)əs/

(fl. c. AD 250), Greek mathematician. He was the first to attempt an algebraical notation, showing in Arithmetica how to solve simple and quadratic equations.

diopside /dīˈäpˌsīd/

I. noun

a mineral occurring as white to pale green crystals in metamorphic and basic igneous rocks. It consists of a calcium and magnesium silicate of the pyroxene group, often also containing iron and chromium.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French, formed irregularly from di-3 ‘through’ + Greek opsis ‘aspect,’ later interpreted as derived from Greek diopsis ‘a view through.’

dioptase /dīˈäptās, -tāz/

I. noun

a rare mineral occurring as emerald green or blue-green crystals. It consists of a hydrated silicate of copper.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French, formed irregularly from Greek dioptos ‘transparent.’

diopter /dīˈäptər/

I. noun

a unit of refractive power that is equal to the reciprocal of the focal length (in meters) of a given lens.

– origin late 16th cent. (originally denoting an alidade): from French, from Latin dioptra, from Greek, from di- ‘through’ + optos ‘visible.’ The term was used in the early 17th cent. to denote an ancient form of theodolite; the current sense dates from the late 19th cent.

dioptric /dīˈäptrik/

I. adjective

of or relating to the refraction of light, especially in the organs of sight or in devices that aid or improve the vision.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Greek dioptrikos, from dioptra, a kind of theodolite (see diopter).

dioptrics /dīˈäptriks/

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the branch of optics that deals with refraction.

Dior, Christian /dēˈôr/

(1905–57), French couturier. His first collection 1947 featured the narrow-waisted New Look, with tightly fitted bodices and full pleated skirts. He later created the A-line style.

diorama /ˌdīəˈramə ˌdīəˈrämə/

I. noun

1. a model representing a scene with three-dimensional figures, either in miniature or as a large-scale museum exhibit.

2. ‹chiefly historical› a scenic painting, viewed through a peephole, in which changes in color and direction of illumination simulate changes in the weather, time of day, etc.

3. a miniature movie set used for special effects or animation.

– origin early 19th cent.: coined in French from dia- ‘through,’ on the pattern of panorama.

diorite /ˈdīəˌrīt/

I. noun

[Geology] a speckled, coarse-grained igneous rock consisting essentially of plagioclase, feldspar, and hornblende or other mafic minerals.

II. derivatives

dioritic /ˌdīəˈritik /

adjective

– origin early 19th cent.: coined in French, formed irregularly from Greek diorizein ‘distinguish’ + -ite^1.

Dioscuri /ˌdīəˈskyo͞orē / ‹Greek & Roman Mythology›

I. the twins Castor and Pollux, born to Leda after her seduction by Zeus. Castor was mortal, but Pollux was immortal; at Pollux's request they shared his immortality between them, spending half their time below the earth in Hades and the other half on Olympus. They are often identified with the constellation Gemini.

– origin from Greek Dioskouroi ‘sons of Zeus.’

diosgenin /ˌdī-äzˈjenin, dīˈäzjənin/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a steroid compound obtained from Mexican yams and used in the synthesis of steroid hormones.

– origin 1930s: from dios- (from the modern Latin genus name Dioscorea) + genin, denoting steroids that occur as the nonsugar part of certain glycosides.

dioxane /dīˈäkˌsān / dioxan

I. noun

[Chemistry] a colorless, toxic liquid used as an organic solvent.
[A heterocyclic compound with a ring of four carbon and two oxygen atoms; chem. formula: C_4H_8O_2.]

– origin early 20th cent.: from di-1 ‘two’ + ox- ‘oxygen’ + -an (or -ane^2).

dioxide /dīˈäkˌsīd/

noun

[Chemistry] an oxide containing two atoms of oxygen in its molecule or empirical formula.

dioxin /dīˈäksən/

I. noun

1. a highly toxic compound produced as a byproduct in some manufacturing processes, notably herbicide production and paper bleaching. It is a serious and persistent environmental pollutant.
[A heterocyclic organochlorine compound; alternative name: 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzoparadioxin ; chem. formula: C_12H_4O_2Cl_4.]

2. any of the class of compounds to which dioxin belongs.

– origin early 20th cent.: from di-1 ‘two’ + ox- ‘oxygen’ + -in^1.

dip /dip/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] (dip something in/into) — put or let something down quickly or briefly in or into (liquid)

• he dipped a brush in the paint.

2. [no obj.] (dip into) — put a hand or tool into (a bag or container) in order to take something out

• Ian dipped into his briefcase and pulled out a photograph.

3. [no obj.] (dip into) — spend from or make use of (one's financial resources)

• you won't have to dip into your savings.

4. [no obj.] (dip into) — read only parts of (a publication) or explore (a subject) in a desultory manner.

5. take (snuff).

6. immerse (sheep) in a chemical solution that kills parasites.

7. make (a candle) by immersing a wick repeatedly in hot wax
(as adj. dipped)

• dipped candles are made using simple equipment.

8. ‹informal› ‹dated› baptize (someone) by immersion in water.

9. [no obj.] — sink, drop, or slope downward

• swallows dipped and soared

• the sun had dipped below the horizon.

10. (of a level or amount) become lower or smaller, typically temporarily

• the president's popularity has dipped

• audiences dipped below 600,000 for the series.

11. [with obj.] — lower or move (something) downward

• the plane dipped its wings.

II. noun

1. a brief swim

• she went for a dip in a pool.

2. a brief immersion in liquid

• a dip in hot water is prescribed to destroy fruit flies.

3. short for sheep dip.

4. a cursory read of a publication or a superficial exploration of a subject

• a quick dip into this document.

5. a thick sauce in which pieces of food are dunked before eating

• tasty garlic dip.

6. a brief downward slope followed by an upward one

• the road's precipitous dips and turns.

7. an act of sinking or dropping briefly before rising again

• a dip in the share price.

8. ‹technical› the extent to which something is angled downward from the horizontal, in particular

9. (also magnetic dip) — the angle made with the horizontal at any point by the earth's magnetic field, or by a magnetic needle in response to this.

10. [Geology] the angle a stratum makes with the horizontal

• the cliff profile tends to be dominated by the dip of the beds.

11. [Astronomy] [Surveying] the apparent depression of the horizon from the line of observation, due to the curvature of the earth.

12. ‹informal› ‹dated› a pickpocket.

13. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a stupid or foolish person.

14. ‹archaic› a candle made by immersing a wick repeatedly in hot wax.

III. phrases

dip one's toe into (or in)

a. put one's toe briefly in (water), typically to check the temperature.

b. begin to do or test (something) cautiously

• the company has already dipped its toe into the market.

– origin Old English dyppan, of Germanic origin; related to deep.

DIP /ˌdēˌīˈpē/

abbreviation

1. [Computing] document image processing, a system for the digital storage and retrieval of documents as scanned images.

2. [Electronics] dual in-line package, a package for an integrated circuit consisting of a rectangular sealed unit with two parallel rows of downward-pointing pins.

Dip.

abbreviation

diploma.

dip-dye /ˈdipdī/

verb — [with obj.]

1. immerse (a yarn or fabric) in a special solution in order to color it.

dipeptide /dīˈpepˌtīd/

noun

[Biochemistry] a peptide composed of two amino-acid residues.

diphenhydramine /ˌdīfenˈhīdrəmēn/

I. noun

[Medicine] an antihistamine compound used for the symptomatic relief of allergies.
[A synthetic amine, usually used as a hydrochloride salt; chem. formula: C_17H_21NO.]

– origin 1940s: from diphen- (denoting the presence of two phenyl groups) + hydr- + amine.

diphenylamine /dīˈfenl-əˌmēn, -ˈfē-/

noun

[Chemistry] a synthetic crystalline compound with basic properties, used in making azo dyes and as an insecticide and larvicide.
[Chem. formula: (C_6H_5)2NH.]

diphtheria /difˈTHirēə dipˈTHirēə/

I. noun

an acute, highly contagious bacterial disease causing inflammation of the mucous membranes, formation of a false membrane in the throat that hinders breathing and swallowing, and potentially fatal heart and nerve damage by a bacterial toxin in the blood. It is now rare in developed countries because of immunization.
[The disease is caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae.]

II. derivatives

1. diphtherial /difˈTHirēəl dipˈTHirēəl /

adjective

2. diphtheritic /ˌdifTHəˈritik, ˌdip- /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from French diphthérie (earlier diphthérite), from Greek diphthera ‘skin, hide.’ / usage: In the past, diphtheria was correctly pronounced with an f sound representing the two letters ph (as in telephone, phantom, and other ph words derived from Greek). In recent years, the pronunciation has shifted and today the more common pronunciation, no longer incorrect in standard English, is with a p sound. Nevertheless, the f sound remains the primary pronunciation.

diphtheroid /ˈdipTHəroid ˈdifTHəˌroid/

I. noun

[Microbiology] any bacterium of a genus that includes the diphtheria bacillus, especially one that does not cause disease.
See corynebacterium.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. [Medicine] similar to diphtheria.

diphthong /ˈdifˌTHäNG ˈdipˌTHäNG/

I. noun

1. a sound formed by the combination of two vowels in a single syllable, in which the sound begins as one vowel and moves toward another (as in coin, loud, and side).
Often contrasted with monophthong, triphthong.

2. a digraph representing the sound of a diphthong or single vowel (as in feat).

3. a compound vowel character; a ligature (such as æ).

II. derivatives

diphthongal /difˈTHôNG(ɡ)əl dipˈTHôNG(ɡ)əl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from French diphtongue, via late Latin from Greek diphthongos, from di- ‘twice’ + phthongos ‘voice, sound.’

diphthongize /ˈdifTHôNGˌīz ˈdipTHôNGˌīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. change (a vowel) into a diphthong.

II. derivatives

diphthongization /ˌdipTHôNG(ɡ)əˈzāSHən ˌdipTHôNG(ɡ)īˈzāSHən ˌdifTHôNG(ɡ)əˈzāSHən ˌdifTHôNG(ɡ)īˈzāSHən /

noun

diphycercal /ˌdifəˈsərk(ə)l/

I. adjective

[Zoology] (of a fish's tail) approximately symmetrical and with the vertebral column continuing to the tip, as in lampreys.
Contrasted with heterocercal, homocercal.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek diphu- ‘of double form’ + kerkos ‘tail’ + -al.

diplegia /ˌdīˈplēj(ē)ə/

I. noun

[Medicine] paralysis of corresponding parts on both sides of the body, typically affecting the legs more severely than the arms.

– origin late 19th cent.: from di-1 ‘two,’ on the pattern of hemiplegia and paraplegia.

diplo-

I. combining form

1. double

• diplococcus.

2. diploid

• diplohaplontic.

– origin from Greek diplous ‘double.’

diploblastic /ˌdiplōˈblastik/

adjective

[Zoology] having a body derived from only two embryonic cell layers (ectoderm and endoderm, but no mesoderm), as in sponges and coelenterates.

diplococcus /ˌdiplōˈkäkəs/

noun

a bacterium that occurs as pairs of cocci, e.g., pneumococcus.

diplodocus /dəˈplädəkəs/

I. noun

a huge, herbivorous dinosaur of the late Jurassic period, with a long, slender neck and tail.
[Genus Diplodocus, infraorder Sauropoda, order Saurischia.]

– origin modern Latin, from diplo- ‘double’ + Greek dokos ‘wooden beam.’

diplohaplontic /ˌdiplōhapˈlän(t)ik/

adjective

[Genetics] (of an alga or other lower plant) having a life cycle in which full-grown haploid and diploid forms alternate.
Compare with diplontic and haplontic.

diploid /ˈdipˌloid / ‹Genetics›

I. adjective

1. (of a cell or nucleus) containing two complete sets of chromosomes, one from each parent.
Compare with haploid.

2. (of an organism or part) composed of diploid cells.

II. noun

a diploid cell, organism, or species.

III. derivatives

diploidy /-ˌloidē /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek diplous ‘double’ + -oid.

diploid number

noun

[Genetics] the number of chromosomes present in the body cells of a diploid organism.

diploma /dəˈplōmə/

I. noun

1. a certificate awarded by an educational establishment to show that someone has successfully completed a course of study.

2. an official document or charter.

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘state paper’): via Latin from Greek diplōma ‘folded paper,’ from diploun ‘to fold,’ from diplous ‘double.’

diplomacy /dəˈplōməsē/

I. noun

1. the profession, activity, or skill of managing international relations, typically by a country's representatives abroad

• the government should assign an ambassador-at-large to oversee diplomacy in the region.

2. the art of dealing with people in a sensitive and effective way

• his genius for tact and diplomacy.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French diplomatie, from diplomatique ‘diplomatic,’ on the pattern of aristocratie ‘aristocracy.’

diploma mill

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› an institution or organization that grants large numbers of educational degrees based on inadequate or inferior education and assessment of the recipients

• the best online schools have to amass enough alumni performance data to distinguish themselves from diploma mills.

diplomat /ˈdipləˌmat/

I. noun

1. an official representing a country abroad.

2. a person who can deal with people in a sensitive and effective way.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French diplomate, back-formation from diplomatique ‘diplomatic,’ from Latin diploma (see diploma).

diplomate /ˈdipləˌmāt/

noun

(chiefly US) a person who holds a diploma, especially a doctor certified as a specialist by a board of examiners.

diplomatic /ˌdipləˈmadik/

I. adjective

1. of or concerning the profession, activity, or skill of managing international relations

• diplomatic relations between the United States and Britain.

2. having or showing an ability to deal with people in a sensitive and effective way

• that was a very diplomatic way of putting it.

3. (of an edition or copy) exactly reproducing an original version

• a diplomatic transcription.

– origin early 18th cent. (in the sense ‘relating to official documents’): from modern Latin diplomaticus and French diplomatique, from Latin diploma (see diploma). Sense 1 (late 18th cent.) is probably due to the publication of the Codex Juris Gentium Diplomaticus (1695), a collection of public documents, many of which dealt with international affairs.

diplomatically /ˌdipləˈmadiklē/

adverb

1. in a way that relates to diplomacy or international relations

• the country has been left rather isolated politically and diplomatically

• they're trying to find ways to work diplomatically with our allies.

2. in a sensitive and tactful way

• they have to deal diplomatically with awkward patients

• a difficult question to answer diplomatically.

diplomatic corps /ˈˌdipləˈmadik kô(ə)rz/

noun

the body of diplomats residing in a particular country.

diplomatic immunity /ˈˌdipləˈmadik iˈmyo͞onədē/

noun

the privilege of exemption from certain laws and taxes granted to diplomats by the country in which they are working.

diplomatic pouch /ˈˌdipləˈmadik pouCH/

noun

(N. Amer.) a container in which official mail is sent to or from an embassy without being subject to customs inspection.

diplomatic service

noun

another term for foreign service.

diplomatist /dəˈplōmədəst/

noun

old-fashioned term for diplomat.

diplontic /ˌdipˈlän(t)ik/

I. adjective

[Genetics] (of an alga or other lower plant) having a life cycle in which the main form, except for the gametes, is diploid.
Compare with haplontic and diplohaplontic.

II. derivatives

diplont /ˈdipˌlänt /

noun

– origin 1920s: from diplo- ‘double’ + Greek ōn, ont- ‘being’ (from einai ‘be, exist’) + -ic.

diplopia /dəˈplōpēə/

noun

technical term for double vision.

Diplopoda /dipləˈpōdə / ‹Zoology›

I. a class of myriapod arthropods that comprises the millipedes.

II. derivatives

diplopod /ˈdipləˌpäd /

noun

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek diploos ‘double’ + pous, pod- ‘foot.’

diplotene /ˈdipləˌtēn/

I. noun

[Biology] the fourth stage of the prophase of meiosis, following pachytene, during which the paired chromosomes begin to separate into two pairs of chromatids.

– origin 1920s: from diplo- ‘double’ + Greek tainia ‘band.’

Diplura /dīˈplo͝orə / ‹Entomology›

I. an order of small, primitive, wingless insects that resemble the true bristletails but have two bristles at the end of the abdomen.
[Order Diplura, subclass Apterygota, class Insecta (or Hexapoda).]

II. derivatives

dipluran

noun, adjective

– origin modern Latin (plural), from di-1 ‘two’ + Greek pleura ‘side of the body.’

dip net ‹chiefly N. Amer.›

I. noun

a small fishing net with a long handle.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. catch (fish) using a dip net.

dipole /ˈdīˌpōl/

I. noun

1. [Physics] a pair of equal and oppositely charged or magnetized poles separated by a distance.

2. [Physics] an antenna consisting of a horizontal metal rod with a connecting wire at its center.

3. [Physics] [Chemistry] a molecule in which a concentration of positive electric charge is separated from a concentration of negative charge.

II. derivatives

dipolar /dīˈpōlər /

adjective

dipole moment

noun

[Physics] [Chemistry] the mathematical product of the separation of the ends of a dipole and the magnitude of the charges.

dipper /ˈdipər/

noun

1. a short-tailed songbird related to the wrens, frequenting fast-flowing streams and able to swim, dive, and walk under water to feed.
[Family Cinclidae and genus Cinclus: five species, in particular the Eurasian dipper (C. cinclus).]

2. a ladle or scoop.

3. a person who immerses something in liquid.

4. ‹archaic› an informal term for a Baptist or Anabaptist.

dippy /ˈdipē/

I. adjective

‹informal› stupid; foolish.

– origin early 20th cent.: of unknown origin.

dipshit /ˈdipˌSHit/

I. noun

‹vulgar slang› (chiefly N. Amer.) a contemptible or inept person.

– origin 1970s: perhaps a blend of dippy and shit.

dipso /ˈdipsō/

noun

‹informal› a person suffering from dipsomania; an alcoholic.

dipsomania /ˌdipsəˈmānēə/

I. noun

alcoholism, specifically in a form characterized by intermittent bouts of craving for alcohol.

II. derivatives

1. dipsomaniac /ˌdipsəˈmānēˌak ˌdipsōˈmānēˌak /

noun

2. dipsomaniacal /-məˈnīəkəl /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek dipso- (from dipsa ‘thirst’) + -mania.

dipstick /ˈdipˌstik/

noun

1. a graduated rod for measuring the depth of a liquid, especially oil in a vehicle's engine.

2. ‹informal› a stupid or inept person.

DIP switch

noun

[Computing] an arrangement of switches in a dual in-line package used to select the operating mode of a device such as a printer.

dipsy-doodle /ˈdipsē ˌdo͞odl/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› a quick dipping motion, such as that made by football players to avoid a tackle.

2. ‹informal› an act or movement designed to evade, confuse, or distract an opponent or competitor.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. follow a zigzag course.

Diptera /ˈdiptərə / ‹Entomology›

I. a large order of insects that comprises the two-winged or true flies, which have the hind wings reduced to form balancing organs (halteres). It includes many biting forms, such as mosquitoes and tsetse flies, that are vectors of disease.

II. (as plural noun diptera) — insects of the order Diptera; flies.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek diptera, neuter plural of dipteros ‘two-winged,’ from di- ‘two’ + pteron ‘wing.’

dipteral /ˈdiptərəl/

I. adjective

[Architecture] having a double peristyle.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin dipteros (from Greek, from di- ‘twice’ + pteron ‘wing’) + -al.

dipteran /ˈdiptərən / ‹Entomology›

I. noun

an insect of the large order Diptera; a fly.

II. adjective

relating to or denoting dipterans.

dipterist /ˈdiptərəst/

I. noun

a person who studies or collects flies.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Diptera + -ist.

dipterocarp /ˈdiptərəˌkärp/

I. noun

a tall forest tree from which are obtained resins and timber for the export trade, occurring mainly in Southeast Asia.
[Family Dipterocarpaceae: numerous species.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Dipterocarpus, from Greek dipteros ‘two-winged’ + karpos ‘fruit.’

dipterous /ˈdiptərəs/

I. adjective

1. [Entomology] of or relating to flies of the order Diptera.

2. [Botany] having two winglike appendages.

– origin late 18th cent.: from modern Latin dipterus (from Greek dipteros ‘two-winged’) + -ous.

diptych /ˈdiptik/

I. noun

1. a painting, especially an altarpiece, on two hinged wooden panels that may be closed like a book.

2. an ancient writing tablet consisting of two hinged leaves with waxed inner sides.

– origin early 17th cent.: via late Latin from late Greek diptukha ‘pair of writing tablets,’ neuter plural of Greek diptukhos ‘folded in two,’ from di- ‘twice’ + ptukhē ‘a fold.’

dipyridamole /dīˈpiridəˌmōl ˌdīpiˈridəmōl/

I. noun

[Medicine] a synthetic drug used as a coronary vasodilator to treat angina and to reduce platelet aggregation and hence the chance of thrombosis.

– origin mid 20th cent.: from di-1 ‘two’ + pyr(imidine) + (piper)id(ine) + am(ino-) + -ol.

diquat /ˈdīkwät/

I. noun

a synthetic compound used in controlling plant growth, often as a nonpersistent contact herbicide.
[A bromide of a quaternary amine; chem. formula: (C_5H_4NCH_2)2Br_2.]

– origin 1960s: from di-1 ‘two’ + quaternary.

dir.

abbreviation

director.

Dirac, Paul /dəˈräk/

(1902–84), English theoretical physicist; full name Paul Adrian Maurice Dirac. He described the behavior of the electron, including its spin, and predicted the existence of the positron by applying Albert Einstein's theory of relativity to quantum mechanics. Nobel Prize for Physics (1933), shared with Erwin Schrödinger.

dire /ˈdī(ə)r/

I. adjective

1. (of a situation or event) extremely serious or urgent

• dire consequences.

2. (of a warning or threat) presaging disaster

• dire warnings about breathing the fumes.

II. derivatives

1. direly /ˈdīrlē /

adverb

2. direness /ˈdīrnəs /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin dirus ‘fearful, threatening.’

direct /dəˈrekt dīˈrekt/

I. adjective

1. extending or moving from one place to another by the shortest way without changing direction or stopping

• there was no direct flight that day.

2. [Astronomy] [Astrology] (of apparent planetary motion) proceeding from west to east in accord with actual motion.

3. without intervening factors or intermediaries

• the complications are a direct result of bacteria spreading.

4. (of light or heat) proceeding from a source without being reflected or blocked

• ferns like a bright position out of direct sunlight.

5. (of genealogy) proceeding in continuous succession from parent to child.

6. (of a quotation) taken from someone's words without being changed.

7. (of taxation) levied on income or profits rather than on goods or services.

8. complete (used for emphasis)

• nonviolence is the direct opposite of compulsion.

9. (of a person or their behavior) going straight to the point; frank.

10. (of evidence or proof) bearing immediately and unambiguously upon the facts at issue

• there is no direct evidence that officials accepted bribes.

11. perpendicular to a surface; not oblique

• a direct butt joint between surfaces of steel.

II. adverb

1. with no one or nothing in between

• buy direct and save.

2. by a straight route or without breaking a journey

• Austrian Airlines is flying direct to Innsbruck again.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. control the operations of; manage or govern

• an economic elite directed the nation's affairs.

2. supervise and control (a movie, play, or other production, or the actors in it).

3. (usu. be directed) — train and conduct (a group of musicians).

4. aim (something) in a particular direction or at a particular person

• heating ducts to direct warm air to rear-seat passengers

• his smile was directed at Laura.

5. tell or show (someone) how to get somewhere

• can you direct me to the railroad station, please?

6. address or give instructions for the delivery of (a letter or parcel).

7. focus or concentrate (one's attention, efforts, or feelings) on

• we direct our anger and frustration at family.

8. (direct something at/to) — address a comment to or aim a criticism at

• he directed his criticism at media coverage of the Catholic Church

• I suggest that he direct his remarks to the council.

9. (direct something at) — target a product specifically at (someone)

• the book is directed at the younger reader.

10. ‹archaic› guide or advise (someone or their judgment) in a course or decision

• the conscience of the credulous prince was directed by saints and bishops.

11. [with obj. and infinitive] — give (someone) an official order or authoritative instruction

• the judge directed him to perform community service

• [with clause] he directed that no picture from his collection could be sold.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin directus, past participle of dirigere, from di- ‘distinctly’ or de- ‘down’ + regere ‘put straight.’

direct access

noun

the facility of retrieving data immediately from any part of a computer file, without having to read the file from the beginning.
Compare with random access and sequential access.

direct action

noun

the use of strikes, demonstrations, or other public forms of protest rather than negotiation to achieve one's demands.

direct current DC

noun

an electric current flowing in one direction only.
Compare with alternating current.

direct debit //

noun

a payment system whereby creditors are authorized to debit a customer's bank account directly at regular intervals.

direct deposit

noun

(N. Amer.) the electronic transfer of a payment directly from the account of the payer to the recipient's account.

direct dialing /dəˈrek(t) ˈˌdī(ə)liNG dīˈrek(t) ˈˌdī(ə)liNG/

I. noun

the facility of making a telephone call without connection by the operator.

II. derivatives

direct dial

adjective

direct discourse /dəˈrekt dīˈrekt disˈkôrs/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) another term for direct speech.

direct-drive /dəˈrektˌdrīv dīˈrektˌdrīv/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. denoting or relating to mechanical parts driven directly by a motor, without a belt or other device to transmit power.

direct examination

noun

[Law] the questioning of a witness by the party that has called that witness to give evidence, in order to support the case that is being made.

direct injection

noun

(in diesel engines) the use of a pump to spray fuel into the cylinder at high pressure, without the use of compressed air.

direction /dəˈrekSH(ə)n dīˈrekSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a course along which someone or something moves

• she set off in the opposite direction

• the storm was expected to take a more northwesterly direction.

2. the course that must be taken in order to reach a destination

• he had a terrible sense of direction.

3. a point to or from which a person or thing moves or faces

• a house with views in all directions

• ‹figurative› support came from an unexpected direction.

4. a general way in which someone or something is developing

• new directions in painting and architecture

• any dialogue between them is a step in the right direction

• it is time to change direction and find a new job.

5. general aim or purpose

• the campaign's lack of direction.

6. the management or guidance of someone or something

• under his direction, the college has developed an international reputation.

7. the work of supervising and controlling the actors and other staff in a movie, play, or other production.

8. (directions) — instructions on how to reach a destination or about how to do something

• Preston gave him directions to a restaurant

• directions for making puff pastry.

9. an authoritative order or command

• to suggest that members of Congress would take direction on how to vote is an affront.

II. phrases

sense of direction

a person's ability to know without explicit guidance the direction in which they are or should be moving.

– origin late Middle English (sense 2): from Latin directio(n-), from the verb dirigere (see direct).

directional /diˈrekSH(ə)n(ə)l dīˈrekSH(ə)n(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. relating to or indicating the direction in which someone or something is situated, moving, or developing

• directional signs wherever two paths joined.

2. having a particular direction of motion, progression, or orientation

• coiling the wire permits directional flow of the magnetic flux.

3. relating to, denoting, or designed for the projection, transmission, or reception of light, radio, or sound waves in or from a particular direction or directions

• a directional microphone.

II. derivatives

1. directionality /diˌrekSHəˈnalitē /

noun

2. directionally

adverb

direction finder /dəˈrekSHən dīˈrekSHən ˈfīndər/

noun

a special radio receiver with a system of antennas for locating the source of radio signals, used as an aid to navigation.

directionless /dəˈrekSHənləs dīˈrekSHənləs/

adjective

lacking in general aim or purpose

• I feel directionless and miserable.

directive /dəˈrektiv/

I. noun

an official or authoritative instruction

• moral and ethical directives.

II. adjective

involving the management or guidance of operations

• he is seeking a directive role in energy policy.

– origin late Middle English (as an adjective): from medieval Latin directivus, from direct- ‘guided, put straight,’ from the verb dirigere (see direct).

direct labor /dəˈrekt dīˈrekt ˈlābər/

noun

1. labor involved in production rather than administration, maintenance, and other support services.

2. labor employed by the authority commissioning the work, not by a contractor.

directly /diˈrektlē dīˈrektlē/

I. adverb

1. without changing direction or stopping

• they went directly to the restaurant.

2. at once; immediately

• I went directly after breakfast.

3. ‹dated› in a little while; soon

• I'll be back directly.

4. with nothing or no one in between

• the decisions directly affect people's health

• the security forces were directly responsible for the massacre.

5. exactly in a specified position

• the ceiling directly above the door

• the houses directly opposite.

6. in a frank way

• she spoke simply and directly.

II. conjunction

(Brit.) as soon as

• she fell asleep directly she got into bed.

direct mail

I. noun

unsolicited advertising sent to prospective customers through the mail.

II. derivatives

direct mailing

noun

direct marketing

noun

the business of selling products or services directly to the public, e.g., by mail order or telephone selling, rather than through retailers.

directness /dəˈrek(t)nəs/

noun

1. the quality of being plain and straightforward

• he was renowned for the clarity and directness of his sermons

• I like the simplicity and directness of the image.

2. the quality of proceeding in a straight line without deflection

• despite the directness of the route, the old road was terribly difficult

• she had a directness of aim.

direct object

noun

a noun phrase denoting a person or thing that is the recipient of the action of a transitive verb, for example the dog in Jimmy fed the dog.
Compare with indirect object.

Directoire /dəˌrekˈtwär/

I. adjective

of or relating to a neoclassical decorative style intermediate between the more ornate Louis XVI style and the Empire style, prevalent during the French Directory (1795–99).

– origin late 18th cent.: French, from Late Latin directorius, from director ‘one who directs, director.’

Directoire drawers Directoire knickers

plural noun

(Brit.) ‹historical› underpants that are straight, full, and knee-length.

director /diˈrektər dīˈrektər / dir.

I. noun

1. a person who is in charge of an activity, department, or organization

• he has been appointed finance director.

2. a member of the board of people that manages or oversees the affairs of a business.

3. a person who supervises the actors, camera crew, and other staff for a movie, play, television program, or similar production.

4. short for musical director.

– origin late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French directour, from late Latin director ‘governor,’ from dirigere ‘to guide.’

directorate /dəˈrekt(ə)rət/

noun — [treated as sing. or pl.]

1. the board of directors of a company.

2. a section of a government department in charge of a particular activity

• the Directorate of Intelligence.

director general

noun

(chiefly Brit.) the chief executive of a large organization.

directorial /dəˌrekˈtôrēəl ˌdīrekˈtôrēəl/

adjective

1. relating to a person who supervises the actors and other staff in a movie, play, or similar production

• his big-screen directorial debut

• his directorial style is casual and unhurried.

2. relating to a person who is in charge of a department or organization

• Matthews served in a variety of directorial positions

• directorial duties.

director's chair

noun

a folding armchair with crossed legs and a canvas seat and back piece.

director's cut

noun

a version of a movie that reflects the director's original intentions, released after the first studio version.

directorship /dəˈrektərˌSHip/

noun

1. the office or position of being in charge of an activity, department, or organization

• the Federal Bureau of Investigation rose to prominence under the directorship of J. Edgar Hoover

• I was offered the directorship of the Museum of Fine Arts.

2. membership on the board of people that manages the affairs of a business

• she has held a number of directorships, including seats on local radio stations

• he collected a couple of part-time jobs, including a directorship of Guardian Media Group.

directory /diˈrektərē dīˈrektərē/

I. noun

1. a book listing individuals or organizations alphabetically or thematically with details such as names, addresses, and telephone numbers.

2. [Computing] a file that consists solely of a set of other files (which may themselves be directories).

3. ‹chiefly historical› a book of directions for the conduct of Christian worship, especially in Presbyterian and Roman Catholic churches.

4. (the Directory) — the revolutionary government in France 1795–99, comprising two councils and a five-member executive. It maintained an aggressive foreign policy but could not control events at home and was overthrown by Napoleon Bonaparte.

– origin late Middle English (in the general sense ‘something that directs’): from late Latin directorium, from director ‘governor,’ from dirigere ‘to guide.’

directory assistance /dəˈrektərē dīˈrektərē əˈsistəns/

plural noun

a telephone service used to find out someone's telephone number.

direct payment

noun

another term for direct debit.

direct proportion direct ratio

noun

the relation between quantities whose ratio is constant

• sensors emit an electronic signal in direct proportion to the amount of light detected.

directress /dəˈrektrəs / directrice

I. noun

a female director.

– origin early 17th cent.: from director + -ess^1; the variant directrice is an adopted French form.

directrix /dəˈrektriks/

I. noun

[Geometry] a fixed line used in describing a curve or surface.

– origin early 18th cent.: from medieval Latin, literally ‘directress,’ based on Latin dirigere ‘to guide.’

direct rule

noun

a system of government in which a province is controlled by a central government.

direct speech

noun

the reporting of speech by repeating the actual words of a speaker, for example “I'm going,” she said.
Contrasted with reported speech.

direct tax

noun

a tax, such as income tax, that is levied on the income or profits of the person who pays it, rather than on goods or services.

direful /ˈdī(ə)rfəl/

I. adjective

‹archaic› ‹literary› extremely bad; dreadful.

II. derivatives

direfully

adverb

– origin late 16th cent.: from dire + -ful.

dire wolf

I. noun

a large extinct wolf of the Pleistocene epoch that preyed on large mammals.
[Canis dirus, family Canidae.]

– origin dire in the sense ‘threatening,’ translating the modern Latin taxonomic name.

dirge /dərj/

I. noun

1. a lament for the dead, especially one forming part of a funeral rite.

2. a mournful song, piece of music, or poem

• singers chanted dirges

• ‹figurative› the wind howled dirges around the chimney.

II. derivatives

dirgeful /-fəl /

adjective

– origin Middle English (denoting the Office for the Dead): from Latin dirige! (imperative) ‘direct!,’ the first word of an antiphon (Psalm 5:8) used in the Latin Office for the Dead.

dirgelike /ˈdərjˌlīk ˈdərdʒˌlaɪk/

adjective

(of music) having the slow, mournful character of a dirge

• a dirgelike rendition of ‘The Internationale’

dirham /dəˈram/

I. noun

1. the basic monetary unit of Morocco and the United Arab Emirates, equal to 100 centimes in Morocco and 100 fils in the United Arab Emirates.

2. a monetary unit of Libya and Qatar, equal to one thousandth of a dinar in Libya and one hundredth of a riyal in Qatar.

– origin from Arabic, from Greek drakhmē, denoting an Attic weight or coin. Compare with drachma.

dirigible /ˈdirəjəb(ə)l dəˈrijəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

capable of being steered, guided, or directed

• a dirigible spotlight.

II. noun

a dirigible airship, especially one with a rigid structure.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin dirigere ‘to direct’ + -ible.

dirigisme /ˈdiriˌZHizəm, ˌdiriˈZHizəm, ˌdērēˈZHēsm(ə) /

I. noun

state control of economic and social matters.

II. derivatives

dirigiste /ˌdiriˈZHēst, ˌdirē- /

adjective

– origin 1950s: from French, from the verb diriger, from Latin dirigere ‘to direct.’

diriment impediment /ˌdirəmənt imˈpedəmənt/

I. noun

(in ecclesiastical law) a factor that invalidates a marriage, such as the existence of a prior marriage.

– origin mid 19th cent.: diriment from Latin diriment- ‘interrupting,’ from the verb dirimere.

dirk /dərk/

I. noun

a short dagger of a kind formerly carried by Scottish Highlanders.

– origin mid 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

Dirksen, Everett M. /ˈdərksən/

(1896–1969), US politician; full name Everett McKinley Dirksen. An Illinois Republican, he was a member of the US House of Representatives 1933–49 and a US senator 1951–69.

dirndl /ˈdərndl/

I. noun

1. (also dirndl skirt) — a full, wide skirt with a tight waistband.

2. a woman's dress in the style of Alpine peasant costume, with a full skirt and a close-fitting bodice.

– origin 1930s: from south German dialect, diminutive of Dirne ‘girl.’

dirt /dərt/

I. noun

1. a substance, such as mud or dust, that soils someone or something

• his face was covered in dirt.

2. loose soil or earth; the ground

• the soldier sagged to the dirt.

3. [usu. as modifier] — earth used to make a surface for a road, floor, or other area of ground

• a dirt road.

4. short for dirt track.

5. ‹informal› excrement

• a lawn covered in dog dirt.

6. a state or quality of uncleanliness

• Pittsburgh used to be renowned for the sweat and dirt of industry.

7. ‹informal› gossip, especially information about someone's activities or private life that could prove damaging if revealed

• is there any dirt on Desmond?

8. ‹informal› a worthless or contemptible person or thing

• she treats him like dirt.

II. phrases

1. do someone dirt (also do dirt to someone)

‹informal› harm someone's reputation maliciously.

2. drag the name of someone (or something) through the dirt

‹informal› give someone or something a bad reputation through bad behavior or damaging revelations

• he condemned players for dragging the name of football through the dirt.

3. eat dirt

‹informal› suffer insults or humiliation

• the film bombed at the box office and the critics made it eat dirt.

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse drit ‘excrement,’ an early sense in English.

dirtbag /ˈdərtbaɡ/

noun

(US) ‹informal› a very unkempt or unpleasant person.

dirt bike /dərt bīk/

noun

a motorcycle designed for use on rough terrain, such as unsurfaced roads or tracks, and used especially in scrambling.

dirtboard /ˈdərtbôrd/

I. noun

a long skateboard with larger-than-average wheels, designed for off-road use.

II. derivatives

dirtboarding

noun

dirt cheap /ˈˌdərt ˈCHēp/

adverb, adjective

‹informal› extremely cheap
[as adv.]

• the auctioneers let us have the stuff dirt cheap

• [as adj.] a dirt-cheap price.

dirt farmer /ˈdərt ˈˌfärmər/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a farmer who ekes out a living from a farm or poor land, typically without the help of hired labor.

II. derivatives

dirt farm

noun

dirt-free

adjective

free from dirt; perfectly clean

• pristine, dirt-free streets.

dirt poor

adjective

extremely poor

• dirt-poor villages.

dirt track /ˈdərt ˈˌtrak/

I. noun

a course made of rolled cinders for motorcycle racing or of earth for flat racing.

II. derivatives

dirt tracker

noun

dirty /ˈdərdē/

I. adjective

1. covered or marked with an unclean substance

• a tray of dirty cups and saucers

• her boots were dirty.

2. causing a person or environment to become unclean

• farming is a hard, dirty job.

3. (of a nuclear weapon) producing considerable radioactive fallout.

4. (of a color) not bright, clear, or pure

• the sea was a waste of dirty gray.

5. concerned with sex in an unpleasant or obscene way

• he told a stream of dirty jokes.

6. [attrib.] — ‹informal› used to emphasize one's disgust for someone or something

• you dirty rat!

7. (of an activity) dishonest; dishonorable

• he had a reputation for dirty dealing.

8. (of weather) rough, stormy, and unpleasant

• the yacht was ready for dirty weather.

9. (of popular music) having a distorted or rasping tone

• Nirvana's dirty guitar sound.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make dirty

• she didn't like him dirtying her nice clean towels.

III. phrases

1. the dirty end of the stick

‹informal› the difficult or unpleasant part of a task or situation.

2. get one's hands dirty (or dirty one's hands)

a. do manual, menial, or other hard work

• unlike most chairmen, he gets his hands dirty working alongside the other managers.

b. ‹informal› become involved in dishonest or dishonorable activity

• they can make a lot of money, but fat cats don't get their hands dirty.

3. play dirty

‹informal› act in a dishonest or unfair way.

4. talk dirty

‹informal› speak about sex in a coarse or obscene way.

5. wash one's dirty laundry in public

see wash.

IV. derivatives

1. dirtily /ˈdərdəlē /

adverb

2. dirtiness /ˈdərdēnis /

noun

dirty bomb //

noun

a nuclear weapon improvised from radioactive nuclear waste material and conventional explosives.

dirty look

noun

‹informal› a facial expression of disapproval, disgust, or anger

• they were giving me dirty looks for taking up so much room at the bar.

dirty martini

noun

(US) a cocktail made with gin (or vodka), dry vermouth, and a small amount of olive brine, typically garnished with a green olive

• the only accessory a dirty martini needs is an olive.

dirty money

noun

money obtained unlawfully or immorally

• the bank was found to have been laundering dirty money.

dirty old man /ˈdərdē ōld man/

noun

‹informal› an older man who is sexually interested in younger women or girls.

dirty pool

noun

‹informal› dishonest, unfair, or unsportsmanlike conduct.

dirty rice

noun

a Cajun dish consisting of white rice cooked with onions, peppers, chicken livers, and herbs.

dirty trick

noun

1. a dishonest or unkind act.

2. (dirty tricks) — underhanded political or commercial activity designed to discredit an opponent or competitor.

dirty weekend

noun

‹informal› a weekend spent away, especially in secret, with a lover.

dirty word

noun

1. an offensive or indecent word.

2. a thing regarded with dislike or disapproval

• people can talk about profit without it being a dirty word.

dirty work

noun

activities or tasks that are unpleasant or dishonest and given to someone else to undertake.

dis /dis / ‹informal›

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. speak disrespectfully to or criticize

• I don't like her dissing my friends

• a campaign of forum postings and emails dissing the company.

• maybe you should stop dissing psychics and discover that part of yourself.

II. noun

disrespectful talk

• the airwaves bristle with the sexual dis of shock jocks.

– origin 1980s: abbreviation of disrespect.

dis-

I. prefix

1. expressing negation

• dislike

• disquiet.

2. denoting reversal or absence of an action or state

• dishonor

• disintegrate.

3. denoting separation

• discharge

• disengage.

4. denoting expulsion

• disbar

• disinherit.

5. denoting removal of the thing specified

• disbud

• dismember.

6. expressing completeness or intensification of an unpleasant or unattractive action

• discombobulate

• disgruntled.

– origin from Latin, sometimes via Old French des-.

disability /ˌdisəˈbilədē/

noun

1. a physical or mental condition that limits a person's movements, senses, or activities.

2. a disadvantage or handicap, especially one imposed or recognized by the law

• he had to quit his job and go on disability.

disable /ˌdisˈāb(ə)l/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a disease, injury, or accident) limit (someone) in their movements, senses, or activities

• it's an injury that could disable somebody for life

• (as adj. disabling) a progressively disabling disease

• [no obj.] anxiety can disrupt and disable.

2. put out of action

• the raiders tried to disable the alarm system.

II. derivatives

disablement /diˈsābəlmənt /

noun

disabled /ˌdisˈāb(ə)ld/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) having a physical or mental condition that limits movements, senses, or activities

• facilities for disabled people

• (as plural noun the disabled) the needs of the disabled.

2. (of an activity, organization, or facility) specifically designed for or relating to people with a physical or mental disability.

usage: See usage at handicapped and learning disability.

disabled list DL

noun

[Sports] a list of players who are not available for play, owing to injury.

disabuse /ˌdisəˈbyo͞oz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. persuade (someone) that an idea or belief is mistaken

• he quickly disabused me of my fanciful notions.

disaccharide /dīˈsakəˌrīd/

noun

[Chemistry] any of a class of sugars whose molecules contain two monosaccharide residues.

disaccord /ˌdisəˈkôrd/

I. noun

‹rare› lack of agreement or harmony

• the disaccord remains in effect.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹archaic› disagree; be at variance

• this disaccords with the precise date.

disadvantage /ˌdisədˈvan(t)ij/

I. noun

an unfavorable circumstance or condition that reduces the chances of success or effectiveness

• a major disadvantage is the limited nature of the data

• the impact of poverty and disadvantage on children.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. place in an unfavorable position in relation to someone or something else

• we are disadvantaging the next generation.

III. phrases

1. at a disadvantage

in an unfavorable position relative to someone or someone else

• stringent regulations have put farmers at a disadvantage.

2. to one's disadvantage

so as to cause harm to one's interests or standing

• his poor record inevitably worked to his disadvantage.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French desavantage, from des- (expressing reversal) + avantage ‘advantage.’

disadvantaged /ˌdisədˈvan(t)ijd/

adjective

(of a person or area) in unfavorable circumstances, especially with regard to financial or social opportunities

• disadvantaged groups such as the elderly and unemployed

• (as plural noun the disadvantaged) we began to help the disadvantaged.

disadvantageous /ˌdisadvənˈtājəs/

I. adjective

involving or creating unfavorable circumstances that reduce the chances of success or effectiveness

• the system was disadvantageous to the Connecticut merchants

• the disadvantageous position in which some people are placed.

II. derivatives

disadvantageously

adverb

disaffected /ˌdisəˈfektəd/

I. adjective

dissatisfied with the people in authority and no longer willing to support them

• a military plot by disaffected elements in the army.

II. derivatives

disaffectedly

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: past participle of disaffect, originally in the sense ‘dislike or disorder,’ from dis- (expressing reversal) + affect^2.

disaffection /ˌdisəˈfekSH(ə)n/

noun

a state or feeling of being dissatisfied with the people in authority and no longer willing to support them

• there is growing disaffection with large corporations.

disaffiliate /ˌdisəˈfilēˌāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a group or organization) end its official connection with (a subsidiary group)

• the executive disaffiliated the league.

2. [no obj.] — (of a subsidiary group) end an official connection

• a region may elect to disaffiliate from a dominant state.

II. derivatives

disaffiliation /ˌdisəˌfilēˈāSHən /

noun

disaffirm /ˌdisəˈfərm/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Law] repudiate; declare void

• to disaffirm a contract is to say it never existed.

II. derivatives

disaffirmation /disˌafərˈmāSHən /

noun

disaggregate /disˈaɡrəɡāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. separate (something) into its component parts

• a method for disaggregating cells.

II. derivatives

disaggregation /-ˌaɡriˈɡāSHən /

noun

disagree /ˌdisəˈɡrē/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. have or express a different opinion

• no one was willing to disagree with him

• historians often disagree.

2. (disagree with) — disapprove of

• she disagreed with the system of apartheid.

3. (of statements or accounts) be inconsistent or fail to correspond

• results that disagree with the findings reported so far.

4. (disagree with) — (of food, climate, or an experience) have an adverse effect on (someone)

• the North Sea crossing seemed to have disagreed with her.

– origin late 15th cent. (sense 2, also in the sense ‘refuse to agree to’): from Old French desagreer.

disagreeable /ˌdisəˈɡrēəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. not pleasant or enjoyable

• another disagreeable thought came to him

• some aspects of his work are disagreeable to him.

2. unfriendly and bad-tempered

• Henry was always a very disagreeable boy.

II. derivatives

1. disagreeableness /ˌdisəˈɡrēəbəlnəs /

noun

2. disagreeably /ˈˌdisəˈɡrēəblē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘discordant, incongruous’): from Old French desagreable, based on agreer ‘agree.’

disagreement /ˌdisəˈɡrēmənt/

noun

1. lack of consensus or approval

• there was some disagreement about the details

• the meeting ended in disagreement

• disagreements between parents and adolescents.

2. lack of consistency or correspondence

• disagreement between the results of the two assessments.

disallow /ˌdisəˈlou/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be disallowed)

1. refuse to declare valid

• the judge disallowed his evidence.

II. derivatives

disallowance /ˌdisəˈlouəns /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘disown, refuse to accept’): from Old French desalouer.

disambiguate /ˌdisamˈbiɡyəˌwāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove uncertainty of meaning from (an ambiguous sentence, phrase, or other linguistic unit).

II. derivatives

disambiguation /-ˌbiɡyo͞oˈāSHən /

noun

disappear /ˌdisəˈpir/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — cease to be visible

• he disappeared into the trees

• the sun had disappeared.

2. cease to exist or be in use

• the tension had completely disappeared.

3. (of a thing) be lost or impossible to find

• my wallet seems to have disappeared.

4. (of a person) go missing or (in coded political language) be killed

• the family disappeared after being taken into custody.

5. [with obj.] — cause to disappear, as by consumption

• statistics show that the community disappears about 200 pounds of cabbage a year.

– origin late Middle English: from dis- (expressing reversal) + appear, on the pattern of French disparaître.

disappearance /ˌdisəˈpirəns/

noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. an instance or fact of someone or something ceasing to be visible.

2. an instance or fact of someone going missing or (in coded political language) being killed

• the police were investigating her disappearance.

3. the process or fact of something ceasing to exist or be in use

• the disappearance of grammar schools.

disappearing act

noun

‹informal› an instance of someone being impossible to find, especially when they are required to face something unpleasant.

disappoint /ˌdisəˈpoint/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. fail to fulfill the hopes or expectations of (someone)

• I have no wish to disappoint everyone by postponing the visit.

2. prevent (hopes or expectations) from being realized

• to disappoint the hopes that are now awakened could be very dangerous.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘deprive of an office or position’): from Old French desappointer.

disappointed /ˌdisəˈpoin(t)əd/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) sad or displeased because someone or something has failed to fulfill one's hopes or expectations

• I'm disappointed in you, Mary

• thousands of disappointed customers were kept waiting.

2. (of hopes or expectations) prevented from being realized.

II. derivatives

disappointedly /ˌdisəˈpoin(t)ədlē /

adverb

disappointing /ˌdisəˈpoin(t)iNG/

adjective

failing to fulfill someone's hopes or expectations

• the team made a disappointing start

• [with clause] it's disappointing that the market hasn't gone higher.

disappointingly /ˌdisəˈpoin(t)iNGlē/

adverb

1. in a manner that fails to fulfill someone's hopes or expectations

• the concert ended disappointingly

• [as submodifier] the audience was disappointingly small.

2. [sentence adverb] — used to express disappointment at an event or situation

• disappointingly, bad weather forced the cancellation of my trip.

disappointment /ˌdisəˈpointmənt/

noun

1. the feeling of sadness or displeasure caused by the nonfulfillment of one's hopes or expectations

• to her disappointment, there was no chance to talk privately with Luke.

2. a person, event, or thing that causes disappointment

• the job proved a disappointment

• I was a big disappointment to her.

disapprobation /disˌaprəˈbāSHən/

noun

strong disapproval, typically on moral grounds

• she braved her mother's disapprobation and slipped out to enjoy herself.

disapproval /ˌdisəˈpro͞ov(ə)l/

noun

possession or expression of an unfavorable opinion

• Jill replied with a hint of disapproval in her voice.

disapprove /ˌdisəˈpro͞ov/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. have or express an unfavorable opinion about something

• Bob strongly disapproved of drinking and driving.

2. [with obj.] — officially refuse to agree to

• a company may take power to disapprove the transfer of shares.

II. derivatives

disapprover

noun

disapproving /ˌdisəˈpro͞oviNG/

I. adjective

expressing an unfavorable opinion

• he shot a disapproving glance at her.

II. derivatives

disapprovingly /ˌdisəˈpro͞oviNGlē /

adverb

disarm /disˈärm/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. take a weapon or weapons away from (a person, force, or country)

• guerrillas had completely disarmed and demobilized their forces.

2. [no obj.] — (of a country or force) give up or reduce its armed forces or weapons

• the other militias had disarmed by the agreed deadline.

3. remove the fuse from (a bomb), making it safe.

4. allay the hostility or suspicions of

• his tact and political skills will disarm critics.

5. deprive of the power to injure or hurt

• camp humor acts to provoke rather than disarm moral indignation.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French desarmer.

disarmament /disˈärməmənt/

noun

the reduction or withdrawal of military forces and weapons

• the public wanted peace and disarmament

• [as modifier] disarmament treaties between America and the former Soviet Union.

disarmer /disˈärmər/

noun

a person who advocates or campaigns for the withdrawal of nuclear weapons.

disarming /disˈärmiNG/

adjective

(of manner or behavior) having the effect of allaying suspicion or hostility, especially through charm

• he gave her a disarming smile.

disarmingly /disˈärmiNGlē/

adverb

in a manner that allays suspicion or hostility, especially through charm

• she smiled disarmingly

• [as submodifier] Daniel is suave and disarmingly honest

• the plan was disarmingly simple.

disarrange /ˌdisəˈrān(d)ZH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (something) untidy or disordered

• her hair was disarranged all around her face.

II. derivatives

disarrangement /ˌdisəˈrānjmənt /

noun

disarray /ˌdisəˈrā/

I. noun

a state of disorganization or untidiness

• her gray hair was in disarray

• his plans have been thrown into disarray.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. throw (someone or something) into a state of disorganization or untidiness

• the inspection disarrayed the usual schedule.

2. ‹literary› strip (someone) of clothing

• attendant damsels to help to disarray her.

– origin late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French dissairay.

disarticulate /ˌdisärˈtikyəlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. separate (bones) at the joints

• the African egg-eating snake can disarticulate its lower jaw from its upper.

2. break up and disrupt the logic of (an argument or opinion)

• novels disarticulate theories.

II. derivatives

disarticulation /ˌdisärˌtikyəˈlāSH(ə)n /

noun

disassemble /ˌdisəˈsembəl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. take (something) apart

• the piston can be disassembled for transport.

2. [Computing] translate (a program) from machine code into a symbolic language.

II. derivatives

disassembly /ˌdisəˈsemblē /

noun

disassembler /ˌdisəˈsemb(ə)lər/

noun

[Computing] a program for converting machine code into a low-level symbolic language.

disassociate /ˌdisəˈsōsēˌāt ˌdisəˈsōSHēˌāt/

I. verb

another term for dissociate.

II. derivatives

disassociation /ˌdisəˌsōsēˈāSH(ə)n ˌdisəˌsōSHēˈāSH(ə)n /

noun

disaster /dəˈzastər/

I. noun

1. a sudden event, such as an accident or a natural catastrophe, that causes great damage or loss of life

• 159 people died in the disaster

• disaster struck within minutes of takeoff.

2. [as modifier] — denoting a genre of films that use natural or accidental catastrophe as the mainspring of plot and setting

• a disaster movie.

3. an event or fact that has unfortunate consequences

• a string of personal disasters

• reduced legal aid could spell financial disaster.

4. ‹informal› a person, act, or thing that is a failure

• my perm is a total disaster.

II. phrases

be a recipe for disaster

be extremely likely to have unfortunate consequences

• sky-high interest rates are a recipe for disaster.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Italian disastro ‘ill-starred event,’ from dis- (expressing negation) + astro ‘star’ (from Latin astrum).

disaster area /dəˈzastər ˈerēə/

noun

1. an area in which a major disaster has recently occurred

• the vicinity of the explosion was declared a disaster area.

2. [in sing.] — ‹informal› a place, situation, person, or activity regarded as chaotic, ineffectual, or failing in some fundamental respect

• the room was a disaster area, stuff piled everywhere

• she was a disaster area in fake leopard skin and stacked heels.

disastrous /dəˈzastrəs/

I. adjective

1. causing great damage

• a disastrous fire swept through the museum.

2. ‹informal› highly unsuccessful

• the team made a disastrous start to the season.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘ill-fated’): from French désastreux, from Italian disastroso, from disastro ‘disaster.’

disastrously /dəˈzastrəslē/

adverb

1. in a way that causes great damage

• the economy has been disastrously mismanaged.

2. in an extremely unsuccessful way

• anti-war candidates have fared disastrously when running for the White House

• [as submodifier] the mission went disastrously wrong.

disavow /ˌdisəˈvou/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. deny any responsibility or support for

• he appears to be in denial of his own past, which he continually disavows.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French desavouer.

disavowal /ˌdisəˈvou(ə)l/

noun

denial of any responsibility or support for something; repudiation

• his disavowal of his previous writings

• they know this, despite their disavowals.

disband /disˈband/

I. verb

(of an organized group) break up or cause to break up and stop functioning.

– origin late 16th cent.: from obsolete French desbander.

disbandment /disˈban(d)mənt/

noun

the breaking up of an organized group

• the disbandment of the old army meant that they could start afresh.

disbar /disˈbär/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (usu. be disbarred) — expel (a lawyer) from the Bar, so that they no longer have the right to practice law.

2. exclude (someone) from something

• competitors wearing rings will be disbarred from competition.

II. derivatives

disbarment /disˈbärmənt /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (sense 2): from dis- ‘away’ + bar^1.

disbelief /ˌdisbəˈlēf/

noun

1. inability or refusal to accept that something is true or real

• Laura shook her head in disbelief.

2. lack of faith in something

• I'll burn in hell for disbelief.

disbelieve /ˌdisbəˈlēv/

verb — [with obj.]

1. be unable to believe (someone or something)

• he seemed to disbelieve her.

2. [no obj.] — have no faith in God, spiritual beings, or a religious system

• to disbelieve is as much an act of faith as belief.

disbeliever /ˌdisbəˈlēvər/

noun

a person who refuses to believe something or who lacks religious faith

• she intends to prove the disbelievers wrong.

disbelieving /ˌdisbəˈlēviNG/

I. adjective

feeling or expressing disbelief

• the disbelieving look in her eyes.

II. derivatives

disbelievingly

adverb

disbound /disˈbound/

adjective

(of a portion of a book) removed from a bound volume.

disbud /disˈbəd/

verb — [with obj.]

1. remove superfluous or unwanted buds from (a plant).

2. [Farming] remove the horn buds from (a young animal).

disburden /disˈbərdn/

verb — [with obj.]

1. relieve (someone or something) of a burden or responsibility

• I decided to disburden myself of the task.

2. ‹archaic› relieve (someone's mind) of worries and anxieties.

disburse /disˈbərs/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. pay out (money from a fund)

• $67 million of the pledged aid had already been disbursed.

II. derivatives

1. disbursal /-səl /

noun

2. disbursement /disˈbərsmənt /

noun

3. disburser

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Old French desbourser, from des- (expressing removal) + bourse ‘purse.’

discalced /dəˈskalst/

I. adjective

denoting or belonging to one of several strict orders of Catholic friars or nuns who go barefoot or wear only sandals.

– origin mid 17th cent.: variant, influenced by French déchaux, of earlier discalceated, from Latin discalceatus, from dis- (expressing removal) + calceatus (from calceus ‘shoe’).

discard

I. verb — /diˈskärd / [with obj.]

1. get rid of (someone or something) as no longer useful or desirable

• Hilary bundled up the clothes she had discarded.

2. (in bridge, whist, and similar card games) play (a card that is neither of the suit led nor a trump), when one is unable to follow suit.

II. noun — /ˈdisˌkärd /

1. a person or thing rejected as no longer useful or desirable.

2. (in bridge, whist, and similar card games) a card played which is neither of the suit led nor a trump, when one is unable to follow suit.

III. derivatives

discardable /disˈkärdəbəl /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent. (originally in the sense ‘reject (a playing card)’): from dis- (expressing removal) + the noun card^1.

discarnate /disˈkärnət disˈkärˌnāt/

I. adjective

(of a person or being) not having a physical body.

– origin late 19th cent.: from dis- ‘without’ + Latin caro, carn- ‘flesh’ or late Latin carnatus ‘fleshy.’

disc brake

noun

a type of vehicle brake employing the friction of pads against a disc that is attached to the wheel.

disc camera

noun

a camera in which the frames of film are formed on a disc, rather than on a long strip.

discectomy /disˈkektəmē/

noun

surgical removal of the whole or a part of an intervertebral disc.

discern /dəˈsərn/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. perceive or recognize (something)

• I can discern no difference between the two policies

• [with clause] students quickly discern what is acceptable to the teacher.

2. distinguish (someone or something) with difficulty by sight or with the other senses

• she could faintly discern the shape of a skull.

II. derivatives

discerner

noun

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin discernere, from dis- ‘apart’ + cernere ‘to separate.’

discernible /diˈsərnəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

able to be discerned; perceptible

• the scandal had no discernible effect on his career.

• the inscription was barely discernible.

II. derivatives

discernibly /dəˈsərnəblē /

adverb

discerning /dəˈsərniNG/

I. adjective

having or showing good judgment

• the restaurant attracts discerning customers.

II. derivatives

discerningly

adverb

discernment /dəˈsərnmənt/

noun

1. the ability to judge well

• an astonishing lack of discernment.

2. (in Christian contexts) perception in the absence of judgment with a view to obtaining spiritual direction and understanding

• without providing for a time of healing and discernment, there will be no hope of living through this present moment without a shattering of our common life.

discerption /dəˈsərpSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. ‹archaic› the action of pulling something apart.

2. ‹archaic› a piece severed from something.

II. derivatives

1. discerptibility /-ˌsərptəˈbilitē /

noun

2. discerptible /-təbəl /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from late Latin discerptio(n-), from Latin discerpere ‘pluck to pieces.’

disc golf disk golf

noun

a game in which a concave plastic disc is thrown into each of a series of metal baskets situated on an outdoor course, the object being to complete the course using the fewest possible throws

• I got to play a round of disc golf with him.

discharge

I. verb — /disˈCHärj / [with obj.]

1. tell (someone) officially that they can or must leave, in particular

2. send (a patient) out of the hospital because they are judged fit to go home.

3. dismiss or release (someone) from a job, especially from service in the armed forces or police.

4. release (someone) from the custody or restraint of the law

• he ordered that 1,671 prisoners of war be discharged from prison.

5. relieve (a juror or jury) from serving in a case.

6. [Law] relieve (a bankrupt) of liability.

7. release (a party) from a contract or obligation

• the insurer is discharged from liability from the day of breach.

8. allow (a liquid, gas, or other substance) to flow out from where it has been confined

• industrial plants discharge highly toxic materials into rivers

• [no obj.] the overflow should discharge in an obvious place.

9. (of an orifice or diseased tissue) emit (pus, mucus, or other liquid)

• the swelling will eventually break down and discharge pus

• [no obj.] the eyes and nose began to discharge.

10. [Physics] release or neutralize the electric charge of (an electric field, battery, or other object)

• the electrostatic field that builds up on a monitor screen can be discharged

• [no obj.] batteries have a tendency to discharge slowly.

11. (of a person) fire (a gun or missile)

• when you shoot you can discharge as many barrels as you wish.

12. [no obj.] — (of a firearm) be fired

• there was a dull thud as the gun discharged.

13. (of a person) allow (an emotion) to be released

• he discharged his resentment in the harmless form of memoirs.

14. unload (cargo or passengers) from a ship

• the ferry was discharging passengers

• [no obj.] ninety ships were waiting to discharge.

15. do all that is required to fulfill (a responsibility) or perform (a duty).

16. pay off (a debt or other financial claim).

17. [Law] (of a judge or court) cancel (an order of a court).

18. cancel (a contract) because of completion or breach

• an existing mortgage to be discharged on completion.

II. noun — /ˈdisˌCHärj /

1. the action of discharging someone from a hospital or from a job

• his discharge from the hospital

• offending policemen receive a dishonorable discharge.

2. (Brit.) an act of releasing someone from the custody or restraint of the law

• four days in jail and one year conditional discharge.

3. [Law] the action of relieving a bankrupt from residual liability.

4. the action of discharging a liquid, gas, or other substance

• those germs might lead to vaginal discharge.

5. a substance that has been discharged

• large volumes of sewage discharge

• environmental damage from toxic chemical discharges.

6. [Physics] the release of electricity from a charged object

• slow discharge of a condenser is fundamental to oscillatory circuits.

7. a flow of electricity through air or other gas, especially when accompanied by emission of light

• a sizzling discharge between sky and turret.

8. the action of firing a gun or missile

• a police permit for discharge of an air gun

• sounds like discharges of artillery.

9. the action of unloading a ship of its cargo or passengers.

10. the action of doing all that is required to fulfill a responsibility or perform a duty

• directors must use skill in the discharge of their duties.

11. the payment of a debt or other financial claim

• money paid in discharge of a claim.

12. [Law] the action of canceling an order of a court.

III. derivatives

1. dischargeable /disˈCHärjəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. discharger /disˈCHärjər /

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘relieve of an obligation’): from Old French descharger, from late Latin discarricare ‘unload,’ from dis- (expressing reversal) + carricare ‘to load’ (see charge).

discharge lamp /ˈdisˌCHärj ˌlamp/

noun

a lamp in which the light is produced by a discharge tube.

discharge tube /ˈdisˌCHärj ˌt(y)o͞ob/

noun

a tube containing charged electrodes and filled with a gas in which ionization is induced by an electric field. The gas molecules emit light as they return to the ground state.

disciple /dəˈsīpəl/

I. noun

1. a personal follower of Jesus during his life, especially one of the twelve Apostles.

2. a follower or student of a teacher, leader, or philosopher

• a disciple of Rousseau.

II. derivatives

1. discipleship /dəˈsīpəlˌSHip /

noun

2. discipular /-ˈsipyələr /

adjective

– origin Old English, from Latin discipulus ‘learner,’ from discere ‘learn’; reinforced by Old French deciple.

Disciples of Christ

a Protestant denomination, originating among American Presbyterians in the early 19th century and found chiefly in the US, which rejects creeds and regards the Bible as the only basis of faith.

disciplinarian /ˌdisəpləˈnerēən/

noun

a person who believes in or practices firm discipline.

disciplinary /ˈdisəpləˌnerē/

I. adjective

concerning or enforcing discipline

• a soldier will face disciplinary action after going absent without leave.

– origin late 15th cent. (originally with reference to ecclesiastical order): from medieval Latin disciplinarius, from Latin disciplina, from discipulus ‘learner’ (see disciple).

discipline /ˈdisəplən/

I. noun

1. the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience

• a lack of proper parental and school discipline.

2. the controlled behavior resulting from discipline

• he was able to maintain discipline among his men.

3. activity or experience that provides mental or physical training

• the tariqa offered spiritual discipline

• Kung fu is a discipline open to old and young.

4. a system of rules of conduct

• he doesn't have to submit to normal disciplines.

5. a branch of knowledge, typically one studied in higher education

• sociology is a fairly new discipline.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. train (someone) to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience

• many parents have been afraid to discipline their children.

2. punish or rebuke (someone) formally for an offense

• a member of the staff was to be disciplined by management.

3. (discipline oneself to do something) — train oneself to do something in a controlled and habitual way

• every month discipline yourself to go through the file.

III. derivatives

1. disciplinable /ˈdisiˌplinəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. disciplinal /ˈdisiplin(ə)l /

adjective

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘mortification by scourging oneself’): via Old French from Latin disciplina ‘instruction, knowledge,’ from discipulus (see disciple).

disciplined /ˈdisəˌplind/

adjective

showing a controlled form of behavior or way of working

• a disciplined approach to management.

disc jockey /ˈdis(k) ˌjäkē / disk jockey

noun

a person who introduces and plays recorded popular music, especially on radio or at a disco.

disclaim /disˈklām/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. refuse to acknowledge; deny

• the school disclaimed any responsibility for his death.

2. [Law] renounce a legal claim to (a property or title).

– origin late Middle English (in legal contexts): from Anglo-Norman French desclamer, from des- (expressing reversal) + clamer ‘to claim’ (see claim).

disclaimer /disˈklāmər/

I. noun

1. a statement that denies something, especially responsibility

• the novel carries the usual disclaimer about the characters bearing no relation to living persons.

2. [Law] an act of repudiating another's claim or renouncing one's own.

– origin late Middle English (as a legal term): from Anglo-Norman French desclamer (infinitive used as noun: see disclaim).

disclose /disˈklōz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (secret or new information) known

• they disclosed her name to the press

• [with clause] the magazine disclosed that he had served a prison sentence for fraud.

2. allow (something) to be seen, especially by uncovering it

• he cleared away the grass and disclosed a narrow opening descending into the darkness.

II. derivatives

1. disclosable

adjective

2. discloser

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French desclos-, stem of desclore, based on Latin claudere ‘to close.’

disclosure /disˈklōZHər/

I. noun

1. the action of making new or secret information known

• a judge ordered the disclosure of the government documents.

2. a fact, especially a secret, that is made known

• the government's disclosures about missile programs.

– origin late 16th cent.: from disclose, on the pattern of closure.

disco /ˈdiskō / ‹informal›

I. noun

1. a club or party at which people dance to pop music.

2. pop music intended mainly for dancing to at discos, typically soul-influenced and melodic with a regular bass beat and popular particularly in the late 1970s.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. attend or dance at a disco

• for the next three hours he discoed nonstop.

– origin 1960s (originally US): abbreviation of discotheque.

disco biscuit

I. noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› a tablet of the drug Ecstasy.

– origin 1980s (in the US sense ‘Quaalude’): from disco + biscuit.

disco-dance

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. dance to pop music

• girls disco-dancing in slow motion around their handbags.

II. derivatives

disco dancer

noun

discography /disˈkäɡrəfē/

I. noun

1. a descriptive catalog of musical recordings, particularly those of a particular performer or composer.

2. all of a performer's or composer's recordings considered as a body of work

• his discography is overwhelmingly classical.

3. the study of musical recordings and compilation of descriptive catalogs.

II. derivatives

discographer /-fər /

noun

– origin 1930s: from disc + -graphy, on the pattern of biography.

discoid /ˈdiskoid/

I. adjective

‹technical› shaped like a disc.

II. noun

a thing that is shaped like a disc, particularly a type of ancient stone tool.

III. derivatives

discoidal /diˈskoidl /

adjective

– origin late 18th cent.: from Greek diskoeidēs, from diskos (see discus).

discolor /disˈkələr/

I. verb

change or cause to change to a different, less attractive color
[no obj.]

• do not overknead the dough while adding the fruit or it will discolor

• [with obj.] too much aluminum can discolor water.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French descolorer or medieval Latin discolorare, from des-, dis- (expressing reversal) + Latin colorare ‘to color.’

discoloration /disˌkələˈrāSH(ə)n/

noun

the process of changing to a different, less attractive color

• a bluish discoloration of the skin.

discolored /disˈkələrd/

adjective

changed in color in a way that is less attractive

• her beauty was marred by discolored teeth.

discombobulate /ˌdiskəmˈbäbyəlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹humorous› (chiefly N. Amer.) disconcert or confuse (someone)

• this attitude totally discombobulated Bruce

• (as adj. discombobulated) he is looking a little pained and discombobulated.

II. derivatives

discombobulation

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: probably based on discompose or discomfit.

discomfit /disˈkəmfət/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (someone) feel uneasy or embarrassed

• he was not noticeably discomfited by her tone.

II. derivatives

discomfiture /disˈkəmfəˌCHər /

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘defeat in battle’): from Old French desconfit, past participle of desconfire, based on Latin dis- (expressing reversal) + conficere ‘put together’ (see confection). / usage: The words discomfit and discomfort are etymologically unrelated. Further, discomfit is a verb and discomfort is primarily a noun. But in modern use, their principal meanings as a verb have collapsed into one: ‘make (someone) feel uneasy.’

discomfort /disˈkəmfərt/

I. noun

1. lack of physical comfort

• the discomforts of too much sun in summer.

2. slight pain

• the patient complained of discomfort in the left calf.

3. a state of mental unease; worry or embarrassment

• his remarks caused her discomfort.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (someone) feel uneasy, anxious, or embarrassed

• she liked to discomfort my mother by her remarks.

2. (often as adj. discomforting) — cause (someone) slight pain

• the patient's condition has discomforting symptoms.

– origin Middle English (as a verb in the sense ‘dishearten, distress’): from Old French desconforter (verb), desconfort (noun), from des- (expressing reversal) + conforter ‘to comfort’ (see comfort). / usage: On the difference between discomfort and discomfit, see usage at discomfit.

discommode /ˌdiskəˈmōd/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› cause (someone) trouble or inconvenience

• I am sorry to have discommoded you.

II. derivatives

1. discommodious /-ˈmōdēəs /

adjective

2. discommodity /-ˈmäditē /

noun

– origin early 18th cent.: from obsolete French discommoder, variant of incommoder (see incommode).

discompose /ˌdiskəmˈpōz/

verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. discomposed)

1. disturb or agitate (someone)

• she looked a little discomposed as she spoke.

discomposure /ˌdiskəmˈpōZHər/

noun

the state or feeling of being disturbed or agitated; agitation

• he made the admission without the slightest discomposure.

disconcert /ˌdiskənˈsərt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. disturb the composure of; unsettle

• the abrupt change of subject disconcerted her

• (as adj. disconcerted) she was amused to see a disconcerted expression on his face.

II. derivatives

1. disconcertedly

adverb

2. disconcertion /-ˈsərSHən /

noun

– origin late 17th cent. (in the sense ‘upset the progress of’): from obsolete French desconcerter, from des- (expressing reversal) + concerter ‘bring together.’

disconcerting /ˌdiskənˈsərdiNG/

I. adjective

causing one to feel unsettled

• he had a disconcerting habit of offering jobs to people he met at dinner parties.

II. derivatives

disconcertingly /ˌdiskənˈsərdiNGlē /

adverb

disconfirm /ˌdiskənˈfərm/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. show that (a belief or hypothesis) is not or may not be true.

II. derivatives

1. disconfirmation /disˌkänfərˈmāSHən /

noun

2. disconfirmatory /-məˌtôrē /

adjective

disconformity /ˌdiskənˈfôrmədē/

noun

1. lack of conformity.

2. [Geology] a break in a sedimentary sequence that does not involve a difference of inclination between the strata on each side of the break.
Compare with unconformity.

disconnect /ˌdiskəˈnekt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. break the connection of or between

• take all violence out of television drama and you disconnect it from reality.

2. take (an electrical device) out of action by detaching it from a power supply.

3. interrupt or terminate (a telephone conversation) by breaking the connection

• that might explain why her call got disconnected mid-expletive.

4. terminate the connection of (a household) to water, electricity, gas, or telephone, typically because of nonpayment of bills.

II. noun

a discrepancy or lack of connection

• there can be a disconnect between boardrooms and IT departments when it comes to technology.

disconnected /ˌdiskəˈnektəd/

I. adjective

1. having a connection broken

• he expected the disconnected phone to start ringing.

2. [predic.] — (of a person) lacking contact with reality

• I drove away, feeling disconnected from the real world.

3. (of speech, writing, or thought) lacking a logical sequence; incoherent

• a disconnected narrative.

II. derivatives

1. disconnectedly /ˌdiskəˈnektədlē /

adverb

2. disconnectedness /ˌdiskəˈnektədnəs /

noun

disconnection /ˌdiskəˈnekSHən / ‹Brit.› disconnexion

noun

1. the state of being isolated or detached

• an ever-deepening disconnection between people and the natural world

• I felt a sense of disconnection from the city environment.

2. the act of detaching one thing from another

• disconnection from the Internet

• the player takes 15 seconds to reboot after disconnection from the PC.

3. termination of the connection of a household to water, electricity, gas, or telephone

• protests over the disconnection of the water supply

• threats of disconnection will follow unless the debt is settled.

disconsolate /ˌdisˈkäns(ə)lət/

I. adjective

1. without consolation or comfort; unhappy

• he'd met the man's disconsolate widow.

2. (of a place or thing) causing or showing a complete lack of comfort; cheerless

• solitary, disconsolate clumps of cattails.

II. derivatives

1. disconsolately /disˈkäns(ə)lətlē /

adverb

2. disconsolateness

noun

3. disconsolation /-ˌkänsəˈlāSHən /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin disconsolatus, from dis- (expressing reversal) + Latin consolatus (past participle of consolari ‘to console’).

discontent /ˌdiskənˈtent/

I. noun

1. lack of contentment; dissatisfaction with one's circumstances

• popular discontent with the system had been general for several years

• the discontents and anxieties of the working class.

2. a person who is dissatisfied, typically with the prevailing social or political situation

• the cause attracted a motley crew of discontents and zealots.

II. derivatives

discontentment /ˌdiskənˈtentmənt /

noun

discontented /ˌdiskənˈten(t)əd/

I. adjective

dissatisfied, especially with one's circumstances

• I am so discontented with my work

• a discontented housewife

• (as plural noun the discontented) the ranks of the discontented were swelled by returning soldiers.

II. derivatives

1. discontentedly /ˌdiskənˈten(t)ədlē /

adverb

2. discontentedness /ˌdiskənˈten(t)ədnəs /

noun

discontinue /ˌdiskənˈtinyo͞o/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cease doing or providing (something), typically something provided on a regular basis

• he discontinued his visits

• the ferry service was discontinued by the proprietors.

2. (usu. be discontinued) — stop making (a particular product)

• their current top-of-the-range running shoe is being discontinued.

3. cease taking (a newspaper or periodical) or paying (a subscription).

II. derivatives

1. discontinuance /ˌdiskənˈtinyo͞oəns /

noun

2. discontinuation /ˈˌdiskənˌtinyəˈwāSHən /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘interrupt, disrupt’): via Old French from medieval Latin discontinuare, from Latin dis- ‘not’ + continuare (see continue).

discontinued /ˌdiskənˈtinyo͞od/

adjective

(of a product) no longer available or produced

• discontinued fabrics.

discontinuity /ˌdisˌkäntəˈn(y)o͞oədē/

I. noun

1. a distinct break in physical continuity or sequence in time

• there is no significant discontinuity between modern and primitive societies.

2. a sharp difference of characteristics between parts of something

• changes in government have resulted in discontinuities in policy.

3. [Mathematics] a point at which a function is discontinuous or undefined.

– origin late 16th cent.: from medieval Latin discontinuitas, from discontinuus (see discontinuous).

discontinuous /ˌdiskənˈtinyo͞oəs/

I. adjective

1. having intervals or gaps

• a person with a discontinuous employment record.

2. [Mathematics] (of a function) having at least one discontinuity, and whose differential coefficient may become infinite.

II. derivatives

discontinuously /ˌdiskənˈtinyo͞oəslē /

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘producing discontinuity’): from medieval Latin discontinuus, from dis- ‘not’ + continuus (see continuous).

discord /ˈdiskôrd/

I. noun

1. disagreement between people

• a prosperous family who showed no signs of discord.

2. lack of agreement or harmony between things

• the discord between indigenous and Western cultures.

3. [Music] lack of harmony between notes sounding together

• the music faded in discord.

4. a chord that (in conventional harmonic terms) is regarded as unpleasing or requiring resolution by another.

5. any interval except a unison, an octave, a perfect fifth or fourth, a major or minor third and sixth, or their octaves.

6. a single note dissonant with another.

II. verb — /disˈkôrd / [no obj.]

1. ‹archaic› (of people) disagree

• we discorded commonly on two points.

2. ‹archaic› (of things) be different or in disharmony

• the party's views were apt to discord with those of the leading members of the administration.

– origin Middle English: from Old French descord (noun), descorder (verb), from Latin discordare, from discors ‘discordant,’ from dis- (expressing negation, reversal) + cor, cord- ‘heart.’

discordant /ˌdisˈkôrd(ə)nt/

I. adjective

1. disagreeing or incongruous

• the principle of meritocracy is discordant with claims of inherited worth.

2. characterized by quarreling and conflict

• a study of children in discordant homes.

3. (of sounds) harsh and jarring because of a lack of harmony

• bombs, guns, and engines mingled in discordant sound.

II. phrases

strike a discordant note

appear strange and out of place

• the chair's modernity struck a discordant note in a room full of eighteenth-century furniture.

III. derivatives

1. discordance /ˌdisˈkôrd(ə)ns /

noun

2. discordancy /-dnsē /

noun

3. discordantly /ˌdisˈkôrd(ə)n(t)lē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Old French descordant, present participle of descorder (see discord).

discotheque /ˈdiskəˌtek/

I. noun

another term for disco (sense 1 of the noun).

– origin 1950s: from French discothèque, originally ‘record library,’ on the pattern of bibliothèque ‘library.’

discount /ˈdiskount/

I. noun

1. a deduction from the usual cost of something, typically given for prompt or advance payment or to a special category of buyers

• many stores will offer a discount on bulk purchases.

2. [Finance] a percentage deducted from the face value of a bill of exchange or promissory note when it changes hands before the due date.

II. verb — /ˌdisˈkount / [with obj.]

1. deduct an amount from (the usual price of something)
(as adj. discounted)

• current users qualify for a discounted price.

2. reduce (a product or service) in price

• merchandise that was deeply discounted—up to 50 percent

• (as adj. discounted) discounted books.

3. buy or sell (a bill of exchange) before its due date at less than its maturity value.

4. regard (a possibility, fact, or person) as being unworthy of consideration because it lacks credibility

• I'd heard rumors, but discounted them.

III. adjective

1. (of a store or business) offering goods for sale at discounted prices

• a discount drugstore chain.

2. at a price lower than the usual one

• a discount flight.

IV. phrases

at a discount

below the nominal or usual price

• a plan that allows tenants to buy their homes at a discount.

Compare with at a premium (see premium).

V. derivatives

discountable /ˌdisˈkoun(t)əb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting a reduction in the amount or value of something): from obsolete French descompte (noun), descompter (verb), or (in commercial contexts) from Italian (di)scontare, both from medieval Latin discomputare, from Latin dis- (expressing reversal) + computare (see compute).

discount broker

I. noun

a stockbroker or brokerage firm that charges a reduced commission on transactions but typically does not provide investment advice or other services

• whether you decide to deal with a full-service or discount broker, there are many options out there.

Compare with full-service broker.

II. derivatives

discount brokerage

noun

discounted cash flow

noun

[Finance] a method of assessing investments taking into account the expected accumulation of interest.

discountenance /ˌdisˈkount(ə)nəns/

verb — [with obj.] (usu. be discountenanced)

1. refuse to approve of (something)

• a family in which alcohol consumption is discountenanced.

2. disturb the composure of

• Amanda was not discountenanced by the accusation.

discounter /ˈdiskountər/

noun

a large business that sells goods or services at less than the usual price

• the company has been hit by fierce competition from discounters at the lower end of the market

• the German discounter has 600 stores in the UK.

discount factor

noun

[Finance] a factor which, when multiplied by a predicted future cash flow from a loan or some other form of debt, gives its present value

• the further out the payday is, the greater the discount factor that will be used.

discount house /ˈdisˌkount ˌdisˈkount houz/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) another term for discount store.

2. (Brit.) a company that buys and sells bills of exchange.

discount rate //

noun

1. [Finance] the minimum interest rate set by the Federal Reserve for lending to other banks.

2. [Finance] a rate used for discounting bills of exchange.

discount store /ˈdisˌkount ˌdisˈkount stô(ə)r/

noun

a store that sells goods at less than the normal retail price.

discourage /disˈkərij/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (someone) to lose confidence or enthusiasm

• I don't want to discourage you, but I don't think it's such a good idea.

2. prevent or seek to prevent (something) by showing disapproval or creating difficulties

• the plan is designed to discourage the use of private cars.

3. persuade (someone) against an action

• we want to discourage children from smoking.

II. derivatives

discourager

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French descouragier, from des- (expressing reversal) + corage ‘courage.’

discouraged /dəˈskərijd/

adjective

having lost confidence or enthusiasm; disheartened

• he must be feeling pretty discouraged.

discouragement /ˌdisˈkərijmənt/

noun

1. a loss of confidence or enthusiasm; dispiritedness

• do not give in to discouragement.

2. an attempt to prevent something by showing disapproval or creating difficulties; deterrent

• the discouragement of crime.

discouraging /disˈkərijiNG/

I. adjective

causing someone to lose confidence or enthusiasm; depressing

• a discouraging experience.

II. derivatives

discouragingly /diˈskərijiNGlē /

adverb

discourse

I. noun — /ˈdisˌkôrs /

1. written or spoken communication or debate

• the language of political discourse

• an imagined discourse between two people traveling in France.

2. a formal discussion of a topic in speech or writing

• a discourse on critical theory.

3. [Linguistics] a connected series of utterances; a text or conversation.

II. verb — /disˈkôrs / [no obj.]

1. speak or write authoritatively about a topic

• she could discourse at great length on the history of Europe.

2. engage in conversation

• he spent an hour discoursing with his supporters in the courtroom.

– origin late Middle English (denoting the process of reasoning, also in the phrase discourse of reason): from Old French discours, from Latin discursus ‘running to and fro’ (in medieval Latin ‘argument’), from the verb discurrere, from dis- ‘away’ + currere ‘to run’; the verb influenced by French discourir.

discourse marker /ˈdiskôrs ˌmärkər/

noun

[Grammar] a word or phrase whose function is to organize discourse into segments, for example well or I mean.

discourteous /disˈkərdēəs/

I. adjective

showing rudeness and a lack of consideration for other people

• it would be unkind and discourteous to decline a visit.

II. derivatives

1. discourteously /disˈkərdēəslē /

adverb

2. discourteousness

noun

discourtesy /disˈkərdəsē/

noun

1. rude and inconsiderate behavior

• he was able to discourage visitors without obvious discourtesy.

2. an impolite act or remark

• the fact that senators were not kept informed was an extraordinary discourtesy.

discover /dəˈskəvər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. find (something or someone) unexpectedly or in the course of a search

• firemen discovered a body in the debris

• she discovered her lover in the arms of another woman.

2. become aware of (a fact or situation)

• the courage to discover the truth and possibly be disappointed

• [with clause] it was a relief to discover that he wasn't in.

3. be the first to find or observe (a place, substance, or scientific phenomenon)

• Fleming discovered penicillin early in the twentieth century.

4. perceive the attractions of (an activity or subject) for the first time

• a teenager who has recently discovered fashion.

5. be the first to recognize the potential of (an actor, singer, or musician)

• I discovered the band back in the mid 70s.

6. ‹archaic› divulge (a secret)

• they contain some secrets which Time will discover.

7. disclose the identity of (someone)

• she at last discovered herself to me.

8. display (a quality or feeling)

• with what agility did these military men discover their skill in feats of war.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘make known’): from Old French descovrir, from late Latin discooperire, from Latin dis- (expressing reversal) + cooperire ‘cover completely’ (see cover).

discoverability /dəˌskəvərəˈbilədē/

noun

1. the quality of beinɡ able to be discovered or found

• the legal discoverability of information.

2. [Computing] (in relation to online content) the quality of beinɡ easy to find via a search engine, within an application, or on a website

• a good way to gauge your discoverability is to type your name into Google

• [as modifier] the usability studies did not highlight any discoverability issues with the feature.

discoverable /dəˈskəv(ə)rəb(ə)l/

adjective

1. able to be discovered or found; findable

• the traces of his pen are readily discoverable on every page

• there must be some discoverable patterns.

2. [Computing] (of online content) tending or designed to be easily found by users via a search engine, within an application, or on a website

• the keywords appearing in the content are discoverable through search engines

• your content needs to be easily discoverable and accessible to the tablet user.

discovered check

noun

[Chess] a check that results when a player moves a piece or pawn so as to put the opponent's king in check from another piece.

discoverer /disˈkəvərər/

noun

1. the first person to find or explore a place.

2. the first person to find or observe a substance or scientific phenomenon

• many chemical processes are named after their discoverers.

discovery /dəˈskəv(ə)rē/

I. noun

1. the action or process of discovering or being discovered

• the discovery of the body

• he made some startling discoveries.

2. a person or thing discovered

• the drug is not a new discovery.

3. [Law] the compulsory disclosure, by a party to an action, of relevant documents referred to by the other party.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from discover, on the pattern of the pair recover, recovery.

discovery well

noun

the first successful oil well in a new field.

discredit /disˈkredət/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. harm the good reputation of (someone or something)

• his remarks were taken out of context in an effort to discredit him

• (as adj. discredited) a discredited former governor.

2. cause (an idea or piece of evidence) to seem false or unreliable

• recent attempts to discredit evolution.

II. noun

1. loss or lack of reputation or respect

• they committed crimes that brought discredit upon the administration.

2. a person or thing that is a source of disgrace

• the ships were a discredit to the country.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from dis- (expressing reversal) + credit, on the pattern of Italian di)scredito (noun), ((di)screditare (verb), and French discrédit (noun), discréditer (verb).

discreditable /disˈkredədəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

tending to bring harm to a reputation

• allegations of discreditable conduct.

II. derivatives

discreditably /disˈkredədəblē /

adverb

discreet /diˈskrēt/

I. adjective

1. careful and circumspect in one's speech or actions, especially in order to avoid causing offense or to gain an advantage

• we made some discreet inquiries.

2. intentionally unobtrusive

• a discreet cough.

II. derivatives

discreetness /dəˈskrētnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French discret, from Latin discretus ‘separate,’ past participle of discernere ‘discern,’ the sense arising from late Latin discretio (see discretion). Compare with discrete. / usage: The words discrete and discreet are pronounced in the same way and share the same origin but they do not mean the same thing. Discrete means ‘separate,’ as in a finite number of discrete categories, while discreet means ‘careful and circumspect,’ as in you can rely on him to be discreet.

discreetly /dəˈskrētlē/

I. adverb

1. in a careful and prudent manner, especially in order to keep something confidential or to avoid embarrassment

• he discreetly inquired whether the position was still available.

2. in an intentionally unobtrusive manner

• she coughed discreetly.

usage: The words discretely and discreetly are pronounced in the same way and share the same origin but they do not mean the same thing. Discretely means ‘separately and individually’, as in they are counted, then discretely marked, while discreetly means ‘in a careful and prudent manner’, as in he wanted the affair handled discreetly.

discrepancy /ˌdisˈkrepənsē/

I. noun

a lack of compatibility or similarity between two or more facts

• there's a discrepancy between your account and his.

II. derivatives

discrepant /disˈkrep(ə)nt /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin discrepantia, from discrepare ‘be discordant,’ from dis- ‘apart, away’ + crepare ‘to creak.’

discrete /diˈskrēt/

I. adjective

individually separate and distinct

• speech sounds are produced as a continuous sound signal rather than discrete units.

II. derivatives

discreteness /diˈskrētnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin discretus ‘separate’; compare with discreet. / usage: On the difference between discrete and discreet, see usage at discreet.

discretely /dəˈskrētlē/

I. adverb

separately and individually

• the regions are discretely labeled with individual introductory texts.

usage: See discreetly.

discretion /dəˈskreSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the quality of behaving or speaking in such a way as to avoid causing offense or revealing private information

• she knew she could rely on his discretion.

2. the freedom to decide what should be done in a particular situation

• it is up to local authorities to use their discretion in setting the charges

• a pass-fail grading system may be used at the discretion of the department.

II. phrases

discretion is the better part of valor

‹proverb› it is better to avoid a dangerous situation than to confront it.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘discernment’): via Old French from Latin discretio(n-) ‘separation’ (in late Latin ‘discernment’), from discernere (see discern).

discretional /dəˈskreSHənl/

adjective

available for use at the discretion of the user; discretionary

• the Court has some discretional powers to assess the statements presented to it.

discretionary /dəˈskreSHəˌnerē/

adjective

1. available for use at the discretion of the user

• rules are inevitably less flexible than a discretionary policy.

2. denoting or relating to investment funds placed with a broker or manager who has discretion to invest them on the client's behalf

• discretionary portfolios.

discretionary income

noun

income remaining after deduction of taxes, other mandatory charges, and expenditure on necessary items.
Compare with disposable income.

discretize /disˈkrēˌtīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Mathematics] represent or approximate (a quantity or series) using a discrete quantity or quantities.

II. derivatives

discretization /disˌkrētəˈzāSHən /

noun

discriminable /dəˈskrimənəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

able to be discriminated; distinguishable

• the target contours will not be discriminable from their background.

II. derivatives

1. discriminability /disˌkrimənəˈbilitē /

noun

2. discriminably /-blē /

adverb

– origin mid 18th cent.: from discriminate, on the pattern of the pair separate, separable.

discriminant /dəˈskrimənənt/

I. noun

1. an agent or characteristic that enables things, people, or classes to be distinguished from one another

• anemia is commonly present in patients with both conditions, and is therefore not a helpful discriminant.

2. [Mathematics] a function of the coefficients of a polynomial equation whose value gives information about the roots of the polynomial.
See also discriminant function.

– origin mid 19th cent. (in the sense ‘showing discernment’): from Latin discriminant- ‘distinguishing between,’ from the verb discriminare (see discriminate).

discriminant analysis

noun

statistical analysis using a discriminant function to assign data to one of two or more groups.

discriminant function

noun

[Statistics] a function of several variates used to assign items into one of two or more groups. The function for a particular set of items is obtained from measurements of the variates of items that belong to a known group.

discriminate /dəˈskriməˌnāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. recognize a distinction; differentiate

• babies can discriminate between different facial expressions of emotion.

2. [with obj.] — perceive or constitute the difference in or between

• bats can discriminate a difference in echo delay of between 69 and 98 millionths of a second

• features that discriminate this species from other gastropods.

3. make an unjust or prejudicial distinction in the treatment of different categories of people or things, especially on the grounds of race, sex, or age

• existing employment policies discriminate against women.

II. derivatives

1. discriminately /-nitlē /

adverb

2. discriminative /dəˈskriməˌnādiv dəˈskrimənədiv /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin discriminat- ‘distinguished between,’ from the verb discriminare, from discrimen ‘distinction,’ from the verb discernere (see discern).

discriminating /dəˈskriməˌnādiNG/

I. adjective

(of a person) having or showing refined taste or good judgment

• he became a discriminating collector and patron of the arts.

II. derivatives

discriminatingly /dəˈskriməˌnādiNGlē /

adverb

discrimination /dəˌskriməˈnāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex

• victims of racial discrimination

• discrimination against homosexuals.

2. recognition and understanding of the difference between one thing and another

• discrimination between right and wrong

• young children have difficulties in making fine discriminations.

3. the ability to discern what is of high quality; good judgment or taste

• those who could afford to buy showed little taste or discrimination.

4. [Psychology] the ability to distinguish between different stimuli
[as modifier]

• discrimination learning.

5. [Electronics] the selection of a signal having a required characteristic, such as frequency or amplitude, by means of a discriminator that rejects all unwanted signals.

discriminator /dəˈskriməˌnādər/

noun

1. a characteristic that enables things, people, or classes to be distinguished from one another

• age should not be used as a primary discriminator in recruitment.

2. [Electronics] a circuit or device that only produces an output when the input exceeds a fixed value.

3. a circuit that converts a frequency-modulated signal into an amplitude-modulated one.

discriminatory /dəˈskrimənəˌtôrē/

adjective

making or showing an unfair or prejudicial distinction between different categories of people or things, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex

• discriminatory employment practices.

discursive /dəˈskərsiv/

I. adjective

1. digressing from subject to subject

• students often write dull, secondhand, discursive prose.

2. (of a style of speech or writing) fluent and expansive rather than formulaic or abbreviated

• the short story is concentrated, whereas the novel is discursive.

3. of or relating to discourse or modes of discourse

• the attempt to transform utterances from one discursive context to another.

4. [Philosophy] ‹archaic› proceeding by argument or reasoning rather than by intuition.

II. derivatives

1. discursively /dəˈskərsivlē /

adverb

2. discursiveness /dəˈskərsivnəs /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from medieval Latin discursivus, from Latin discurs-, literally ‘gone hastily to and fro,’ from the verb discurrere (see discourse).

discus /ˈdiskəs/

I. noun

1. a heavy thick-centered disk thrown by an athlete, in ancient Greek games or in modern field events.

2. the athletic event or sport of throwing the discus

• she had placed first in the discus.

– origin via Latin from Greek diskos.

discuss /dəˈskəs/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. talk about (something) with another person or group of people

• I discussed the matter with my wife

• [with clause] they were discussing where to go for a drink.

2. talk or write about (a topic) in detail, taking into account different ideas and opinions

• in Chapter Six I discuss problems that arise in applying Darwin's ideas.

II. derivatives

1. discussable

adjective

2. discusser

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘dispel, disperse,’ also ‘examine by argument’): from Latin discuss- ‘dashed to pieces,’ later ‘investigated,’ from the verb discutere, from dis- ‘apart’ + quatere ‘shake.’

discussant /dəˈskəsənt/

noun

a person who takes part in a discussion, especially an arranged one.

discussion /dəˈskəSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action or process of talking about something, typically in order to reach a decision or to exchange ideas

• the proposals are not a blueprint but ideas for discussion

• the specific content of the legislation was under discussion.

2. a conversation or debate about a certain topic

• discussions about environmental improvement programs.

3. a detailed treatment of a particular topic in speech or writing.

– origin Middle English (denoting judicial examination): via Old French from late Latin discussio(n-), from discutere ‘investigate’ (see discuss).

discussion board

noun

another term for message board.

disdain /disˈdān/

I. noun

the feeling that someone or something is unworthy of one's consideration or respect; contempt

• her upper lip curled in disdain

• an aristocratic disdain for manual labor.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. consider to be unworthy of one's consideration

• gamblers disdain four-horse races.

2. refuse or reject (something) out of feelings of pride or superiority

• she remained standing, pointedly disdaining his invitation to sit down

• [with infinitive] he disdained to discuss the matter further.

– origin Middle English: from Old French desdeign (noun), desdeignier (verb), based on Latin dedignari, from de- (expressing reversal) + dignari ‘consider worthy’ (from dignus ‘worthy’).

disdainful /disˈdānfəl/

I. adjective

showing contempt or lack of respect

• with a last disdainful look, she turned toward the door.

II. derivatives

1. disdainfully /disˈdānfəlē /

adverb

2. disdainfulness

noun

disease /dəˈzēz/

I. noun

1. a disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific signs or symptoms or that affects a specific location and is not simply a direct result of physical injury

• bacterial meningitis is a rare disease

• a possible cause of heart disease.

2. a particular quality, habit, or disposition regarded as adversely affecting a person or group of people

• departmental administration has often led to the dread disease of departmentalitis.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘lack of ease; inconvenience’): from Old French desaise ‘lack of ease,’ from des- (expressing reversal) + aise ‘ease.’

diseased /dəˈzēzd/

adjective

1. suffering from disease

• all the diseased cattle have been removed.

2. abnormal and corrupt

• I cannot bear your diseased view of mankind.

disease management

noun

a system that seeks to manage the chronic conditions of high-risk, high-cost patients as a group.

disease-ridden

adjective

full of or causing disease

• disease-ridden vermin

• crowded, disease-ridden conditions.

diseconomy /ˌdisiˈkänəmē/

noun

an economic disadvantage such as an increase in cost arising from an increase in the size of an organization

• in an ideal world, these diseconomies of scale would be minimized.

disembark /ˌdisimˈbärk/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. leave a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle

• the passengers began to disembark.

II. derivatives

disembarkation /disˌembärˈkāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from French désembarquer, Spanish desembarcar, or Italian disimbarcare, based on Latin barca ‘ship's boat.’

disembarrass /ˌdisəmˈberəs/

I. verb — (disembarrass oneself of/from)

1. free oneself of (a burden or nuisance)

• he would do well to disembarrass himself of his too officious advisers.

2. [with obj.] — ‹rare› make (someone or something) free from embarrassment.

II. derivatives

disembarrassment

noun

disembodied /ˌdisəmˈbädēd/

adjective

1. separated from or existing without the body

• a disembodied ghost.

2. (of a sound) lacking any obvious physical source

• a disembodied voice at the end of the phone.

disembody /ˌdisəmˈbädē/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. separate or free (something) from its concrete form.

II. derivatives

disembodiment /ˌdisəmˈbädēmənt /

noun

disembogue /ˌdisəmˈbōɡ/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹literary› (of a river or stream) emerge or be discharged in quantity; pour out.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Spanish desembocar, from des- (expressing reversal) + embocar ‘run into a creek or strait’ (based on boca ‘mouth’).

disembowel /ˌdisəmˈbou(ə)l/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cut open and remove the internal organs of.

II. derivatives

disembowelment /ˌdisəmˈbou(ə)lmənt /

noun

disembroil /ˌdisəmˈbroil/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› free (someone or something) from confusion

• to disembroil a subject that seems to have perplexed even Antiquity.

disempower /ˌdisəmˈpouər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (a person or group) less powerful or confident

• leaving the decision in a government agent's hands disempowers and disrespects women.

II. derivatives

disempowerment

noun

disenchant /ˌdisənˈCHant/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. free (someone) from illusion; disappoint

• he may have been disenchanted by the loss of his huge following.

II. derivatives

disenchantingly

adverb

– origin late 16th cent.: from French désenchanter, from dés- (expressing reversal) + enchanter (see enchant).

disenchanted /ˌdisinˈCHan(t)əd/

adjective

disappointed by someone or something previously respected or admired; disillusioned

• he became disenchanted with his erstwhile ally

• there are a lot of disenchanted music fans out there.

disenchantment /ˌdisenˈCHantmənt/

noun

a feeling of disappointment about someone or something you previously respected or admired; disillusionment

• growing disenchantment with the leadership.

disencumber /ˌdisənˈkəmbər/

verb — [with obj.]

1. free from or relieve of an encumbrance

• it would disencumber the world of a plague.

disendow /ˌdisənˈdou/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. deprive (someone or something) of an endowment.

II. derivatives

disendowment /ˌdis(ə)nˈdoumənt /

noun

disenfranchise /ˌdisənˈfran(t)SHīz / disfranchise

verb — [with obj.]

1. deprive (someone) of the right to vote

• the law disenfranchised some 3,000 voters on the basis of a residence qualification.

2. (as adj. disenfranchised) — deprived of power; marginalized

• a hard core of kids who are disenfranchised and don't feel connected to the school.

3. deprive (someone) of a right or privilege

• a measure that would disenfranchise people from access to legal advice.

4. ‹archaic› deprive (someone) of the rights and privileges of a free inhabitant of a borough, city, or country.

disenfranchisement /ˌdisənˈfran(t)SHīzmənt / disfranchisement

noun

the state of being deprived of a right or privilege, especially the right to vote

• the widespread disenfranchisement of minority voters

• the decision fueled a sense of disenfranchisement.

disengage /ˌdisənˈɡāj/

verb

1. [with obj.] — separate or release (someone or something) from something to which they are attached or connected

• I disengaged his hand from mine

• they clung together for a moment, then she disengaged herself.

2. [no obj.] — become released

• the clutch will not disengage.

3. remove (troops) from an area of conflict

• the ceasefire gave the commanders a chance to disengage their forces

• [no obj.] his true intent is to disengage from the messy conflict.

4. [no obj.] — [Fencing] pass the point of one's sword over or under the opponent's sword to change the line of attack.

disengaged /ˌdisənˈɡājd/

adjective

emotionally detached

• the students were oddly disengaged, as if they didn't believe they could control their lives.

disengagement /ˌdisənˈɡājmənt/

noun

1. the action or process of withdrawing from involvement in a particular activity, situation, or group

• their steady disengagement from politics and politicians.

2. the withdrawal of military forces or the renunciation of military or political influence in a particular area.

3. the process of separating or releasing something or of becoming separated or released

• the mechanism prevents accidental disengagement.

4. ‹archaic› the breaking off of an engagement to be married.

5. emotional detachment; objectivity

• contemporary criticism can afford neutral disengagement.

disentailment /ˌdisenˈtālmənt/

I. noun

[Law] the action of freeing property from entail

• the disentailment of the church's landed property.

II. derivatives

disentail /ˌdis(ə)nˈtāl /

verb

disentangle /ˌdisənˈtaNGɡ(ə)l/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. free (something or someone) from an entanglement; extricate

• “I must go,” she said, disentangling her fingers from Gabriel's

• ‹figurative› it was often difficult to disentangle fact from fiction.

2. remove knots or tangles from (wool, rope, or hair)

• Allen was on his knees disentangling a coil of rope.

II. derivatives

disentanglement /ˌdis(ə)nˈtaNGɡəlmənt /

noun

disenthrall /ˌdisənˈTHrôl / ‹Brit.› disenthral

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› set free

• I disenthrall my mind from theories.

II. derivatives

disenthrallment

noun

disentitle /ˌdisənˈtīdl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. deprive (someone) of a right

• he was disentitled to gain damages for the injuries.

II. derivatives

disentitlement

noun

disentomb /ˌdisənˈto͞om/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove (something) from a tomb

• a mummy that we saw disentombed.

II. derivatives

disentombment

noun

disequilibrium /disˌekwəˈlibrēəm disˌēkwəˈlibrēəm/

noun

a loss or lack of equilibrium or stability, especially in relation to supply, demand, and prices.

disestablish /ˌdisəˈstabliSH/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be disestablished)

1. deprive (an organization, especially a country's national church) of its official status.

II. derivatives

disestablishment /ˌdisəˈstabliSHmənt /

noun

disesteem /ˌdisəˈstēm / ‹dated›

I. noun

low esteem or regard

• language is not insulting unless it is intended to show contempt or disesteem.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. have a low opinion of.

diseuse /dēˈzo͝oz/

I. noun

a female entertainer who performs monologues.

– origin late 19th cent.: French, literally ‘talker,’ feminine of diseur, from dire ‘to say.’

disfavor /disˈfāvər / ‹Brit.› disfavour

I. noun

1. disapproval or dislike

• the headmaster regarded her with disfavor.

2. the state of being disliked

• raises could be taken away if an employee fell into disfavor.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. regard or treat (someone or something) with disfavor

• the hypothesis was favored and disfavored by approximately equal numbers of scientists.

disfellowship /disˈfelōˌSHip/

I. noun

exclusion from fellowship, especially as a form of discipline in some Protestant and Mormon churches.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. exclude (someone) from fellowship.

disfigure /disˈfiɡyər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. spoil the attractiveness of

• litter disfigures the countryside

• (as adj. disfiguring) a disfiguring birthmark.

II. derivatives

disfiguration /disˌfiɡyəˈrāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French desfigurer, based on Latin figura ‘figure.’

disfigurement /disˈfiɡyərmənt/

noun

1. the action of spoiling the appearance of something or someone; defacement

• the disfigurement of this very pleasant area.

2. something that spoils the appearance of someone or something; a blemish

• a severe facial disfigurement.

disfranchise /disˈfran(t)SHīz/

verb

another term for disenfranchise.

disgorge /disˈɡôrj/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause to pour out

• the combine disgorged a steady stream of grain.

2. (of a building or vehicle) discharge (the occupants)

• an aircraft disgorging paratroopers.

3. yield or give up (funds, especially funds that have been dishonestly acquired)

• they were made to disgorge all the profits made from the record.

4. eject (food) from the throat or mouth.

5. [no obj.] — (of a river) empty into a sea

• the Nile disgorges into the sea at Rashid.

6. (usu. be disgorged) — remove the sediment from (a sparkling wine) after fermentation

• the wine is aged in the bottle before it is disgorged.

II. derivatives

disgorgement

noun

– origin late 15th cent.: from Old French desgorger, from des- (expressing removal) + gorge ‘throat.’

disgorger /disˈɡôrjər/

noun

[Fishing] a device for extracting a hook from a fish's throat.

disgrace /disˈɡrās/

I. noun

1. loss of reputation or respect, especially as the result of a dishonorable action

• he left the army in disgrace

• if he'd gone back, it would have brought disgrace on the family.

2. [in sing.] — a person or thing regarded as shameful and unacceptable

• he's a disgrace to the legal profession.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. bring shame or discredit on (someone or something)

• you have disgraced the family name

• John stiffened his jaw so he wouldn't disgrace himself by crying.

2. (be disgraced) — fall from favor or lose a position of power or honor

• he has been publicly disgraced for offenses of which he was not guilty.

– origin mid 16th cent. (as a verb): via French from Italian disgrazia (noun), disgraziare (verb), from dis- (expressing reversal) + Latin gratia ‘grace.’

disgraced /disˈɡrāst/

adjective

having fallen from favor or a position of power or honor; discredited

• the disgraced Wall Street financier.

disgraceful /disˈɡrāsfəl/

I. adjective

shockingly unacceptable

• a disgraceful waste of money

• [with clause] it is disgraceful that they should be denied unemployment benefits.

II. derivatives

disgracefully /disˈɡrāsfəlē /

adverb

disgruntled /ˌdisˈɡrən(t)ld/

I. adjective

angry or dissatisfied

• judges receive letters from disgruntled members of the public.

II. derivatives

disgruntlement /disˈɡrən(t)lmənt /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from dis- (as an intensifier) + dialect gruntle ‘utter little grunts,’ from grunt.

disguise /disˈɡīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. give (someone or oneself) a different appearance in order to conceal one's identity

• he disguised himself as a girl

• Brian was disguised as a priest.

2. make (something) unrecognizable by altering its appearance, sound, taste, or smell

• does holding a handkerchief over the mouthpiece really disguise your voice?

3. conceal the nature or existence of (a feeling or situation)

• he made no effort to disguise his contempt.

II. noun

1. a means of altering one's appearance or concealing one's identity

• his bizarre disguise drew stares from fellow shoppers.

2. the state of having altered one's appearance in order to conceal one's identity

• I told them you were a policewoman in disguise.

3. the concealing of one's true intentions or feelings

• rows of small children looked at her without disguise.

III. derivatives

disguisement /disˈɡīzmənt /

noun

( — ‹archaic›

– origin Middle English (meaning ‘change one's usual style of dress,’ with no implication of concealing one's identity): from Old French desguisier.

disgust /disˈɡəst/

I. noun

a feeling of revulsion or profound disapproval aroused by something unpleasant or offensive

• the sight filled her with disgust

• some of the audience walked out in disgust.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (someone) to feel revulsion or profound disapproval

• I was disgusted with myself for causing so much misery

• (as adj. disgusted) a disgusted look.

III. derivatives

disgustedly /disˈɡəstədlē /

adverb

– origin late 16th cent.: from early modern French desgoust or Italian disgusto, from Latin dis- (expressing reversal) + gustus ‘taste.’

disgustful /dəˈskəstfəl/

adjective

old-fashioned term for disgusting.

disgusting /disˈɡəstiNG/

I. adjective

arousing revulsion or strong indignation

• he had the most disgusting rotten teeth

• I think the decision is disgusting.

II. derivatives

1. disgustingly /dəˈskəstiNGlē disˈɡəstiNGlē /

adverb

2. disgustingness

noun

dish /diSH/

I. noun

1. a shallow, typically flat-bottomed container for cooking or serving food

• an ovenproof dish.

2. the food contained or served in a dish

• a dish of oysters.

3. a particular variety or preparation of food served as part of a meal

• fresh fish dishes

• pasta was served as a main dish.

4. (the dishes) — all the items that have been used in the preparation, serving, and eating of a meal

• it was our turn to wash the dishes.

5. [usu. with modifier] — a shallow, concave receptacle, especially one intended to hold a particular substance

• a water dish.

6. (also dish aerial) — a bowl-shaped radio antenna.
See also satellite dish.

7. ‹informal› a sexually attractive person

• I gather she's quite a dish.

8. (one's dish) — ‹dated› a thing that one particularly enjoys or does well

• as a public relations man this was my dish and the campaign was right up my street.

9. (the dish) — ‹informal› information that is not generally known or available

• if he has the real dish I wish he'd tell us.

10. concavity of a spoked wheel resulting from a difference in spoke tension on each side and consequent sideways displacement of the rim in relation to the hub.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (dish something out/up) — put (food) onto a plate or plates before a meal

• Steve was dishing up vegetables.

2. (dish something out) — dispense something in a casual or indiscriminate way

• the banks dished out loans to all and sundry.

3. (dish something up) — offer or present something, especially something regarded as substandard

• is your ISP short-changing you by dishing up outdated and perhaps incorrect information?

4. (dish it out) — ‹informal› subject others to criticism or punishment

• you can dish it out but you can't take it.

5. [no obj.] — (N. Amer.) ‹informal› gossip or share information, especially information of an intimate or scandalous nature

• groups gather to brag about babies and dish about romances.

6. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) utterly destroy, confound, or defeat (someone or something).

7. give concavity to (a wheel) by tensioning the spokes.
See sense 4 of the noun.

III. phrases

dish the dirt

‹informal› reveal or spread scandalous information or gossip.

IV. phrasal verbs

dish something off

pass the ball to a teammate, especially in basketball.

V. derivatives

dishful /ˈdiSHˌfo͝ol /

noun

– origin Old English disc ‘plate, bowl’ (related to Dutch dis, German Tisch ‘table’), based on Latin discus(see discus).

dishabille /ˌdisəˈbē(ə)l / deshabille

I. noun

the state of being only partly or scantily clothed

• the relaxed dishabille of Lely's portraits.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French déshabillé, ‘undressed.’

dish antenna

noun

a receiver or transmitter of electromagnetic energy, especially microwaves or radio waves, that consists of a reflector shaped like a shallow dish.

disharmony /ˌdisˈhärmənē/

I. noun

lack of harmony or agreement.

II. derivatives

1. disharmonious /ˌdisˌhärˈmōnēəs /

adjective

2. disharmoniously /-ˌhärˈmōnēəslē /

adverb

dishcloth /ˈdiSHˌklôTH/

noun

a cloth for washing or drying dishes.

dishcloth gourd

noun

(N. Amer.) another term for loofah.

dishearten /disˈhärtn/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (someone) to lose determination or confidence

• the farmer was disheartened by the damage to his crops.

II. derivatives

1. dishearteningly /disˈhärtniNGlē /

adverb

2. disheartenment /disˈhärtnmənt /

noun

dished /diSHt/

adjective

having the shape of a dish; concave

• overloaded timber floors are likely to sag, producing a dished or sloping floor surface.

disheveled /dəˈSHevəld / ‹Brit.› dishevelled

I. adjective

(of a person's hair, clothes, or appearance) untidy; disordered

• a man with long, disheveled hair.

II. derivatives

1. dishevel /dəˈSHev(ə)l /

verb

2. dishevelment /dəˈSHevəlmənt /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from obsolete dishevely, from Old French deschevele, past participle of descheveler (based on chevel ‘hair,’ from Latin capillus). The original sense was ‘having the hair uncovered’; later, referring to the hair itself, ‘hanging loose,’ hence ‘disordered, untidy’ Compare with unkempt.

dishonest /disˈänəst/

I. adjective

1. behaving or prone to behave in an untrustworthy or fraudulent way

• he was a dishonest hypocrite prepared to exploit his family.

2. intended to mislead or cheat

• he gave the editor a dishonest account of events.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘dishonorable, unchaste’): from Old French deshoneste, Latin dehonestus.

dishonestly /disˈänəs(t)lē/

adverb

in an untrustworthy, deceitful, or insincere way

• he admitted six offenses of dishonestly obtaining money

• they acted dishonestly for their own selfish gains.

dishonesty /disˈänəstē/

I. noun

1. deceitfulness shown in someone's character or behavior

• the dismissal of thirty civil servants for dishonesty and misconduct.

2. a fraudulent or deceitful act.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘dishonor, sexual misconduct’): from Old French deshoneste ‘indecency’ (see dishonest).

dishonor /disˈänər / ‹Brit.› dishonour

I. noun

a state of shame or disgrace

• the incident brought dishonor upon the police.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. bring shame or disgrace on

• the mayor dishonors his good battle by resorting to sniping.

2. ‹archaic› violate the chastity of (a woman); rape.

3. fail to observe or respect (an agreement or principle)

• the community has its own principles it can itself honor or dishonor.

4. refuse to accept or pay (a check or a promissory note).

– origin Middle English: from Old French deshonor (noun), deshonorer (verb), based on Latin honor ‘honor.’

dishonorable /disˈänərəb(ə)l / ‹Brit.› dishonourable

I. adjective

bringing shame or disgrace on someone or something

• his crimes are petty and dishonorable.

II. derivatives

1. dishonorableness

noun

2. dishonorably /disˈän(ə)rəblē /

adverb

dishonorable discharge

noun

the dismissal of someone from the armed forces as a result of criminal or morally unacceptable actions.

dishpan /ˈdiSHˌpan/

noun

(N. Amer.) a large basin in which dishes are washed.

dishpan hands

plural noun

red, rough, or chapped hands caused by sensitivity to or excessive use of household detergents or other cleaning agents.

dishrag /ˈdiSHˌraɡ/

noun

(N. Amer.) a dishcloth.

dish towel /ˈdiSHˌtou(ə)l/

noun

(N. Amer.) a cloth for drying washed dishes, utensils, and glasses

• I asked where the dish towel was so I could dry.

dishwasher /ˈdiSHˌwôSHər ˈdiSHˌwäSHər/

noun

1. a machine for washing dishes automatically.

2. a person employed to wash dishes.

dishwater /ˈdiSHˌwôdər/

I. noun

dirty water in which dishes have been washed

• as for the coffee, dishwater would probably have tasted better.

II. phrases

dull as dishwater

see dull.

dishy /ˈdiSHē/

adjective

1. ‹informal› sexually attractive.

2. ‹informal› (N. Amer.) scandalous or gossipy

• she's the perfect candidate for a dishy biography.

disillusion /ˌdisəˈlo͞oZHən/

I. noun

disappointment resulting from the discovery that something is not as good as one believed it to be

• enthusiasm for the government evaporated into a more cynical disillusion.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (someone) to realize that a belief or an ideal is false

• if they think we have a magic formula to solve the problem, don't disillusion them.

disillusioned /ˌdisəˈlo͞oZHənd/

adjective

disappointed in someone or something that one discovers to be less good than one had believed

• the minority groups were completely disillusioned with the party.

disillusionment /ˌdisəˈlo͞oZHənmənt/

noun

a feeling of disappointment resulting from the discovery that something is not as good as one believed it to be

• the high abstention rate at the election reflected the voters' growing disillusionment with politics.

disincarnate /ˌdisinˈkärnit, -nāt/

adjective

another term for discarnate.

disincentive /ˌdisənˈsen(t)iv/

noun

a factor, especially a financial disadvantage, that tends to discourage people from doing something

• spiraling house prices are beginning to act as a disincentive to development.

disincentivize /ˌdisinˈsen(t)ivīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. discourage (a person or course of action) by removing an incentive

• would such legislation disincentivize marriage?

disinclination /disˌinkliˈnāSHən/

noun — [in sing.]

1. a reluctance or lack of enthusiasm

• Lucy felt a strong disinclination to talk about her engagement.

disinclined /ˌdisənˈklīnd/

adjective — [predic., with infinitive]

1. unwilling; reluctant

• the rural community was disinclined to abandon the old ways.

disincorporate /ˌdisənˈkôrpərāt/

verb — [with obj.]

1. dissolve (a corporate body).

disinfect /ˌdisənˈfekt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. clean (something), especially with a chemical, in order to destroy bacteria

• he disinfected and dressed the cut on his forehead.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘rid of infection’): from French désinfecter, from dés- (expressing reversal) + infecter ‘to infect.’

disinfectant /ˌdisənˈfektənt/

I. noun

a chemical liquid that destroys bacteria.

II. adjective

causing the destruction of bacteria

• cleansing and disinfectant products.

disinfection /ˌdisənˈfekSHən/

noun

the process of cleaning something, especially with a chemical, in order to destroy bacteria

• instruments must undergo high-level disinfection before reuse.

disinfest /ˌdisənˈfest/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. rid (someone or something) of infesting vermin.

II. derivatives

disinfestation /ˌdis(ə)nˌfesˈtāSH(ə)n /

noun

disinflation /ˌdisənˈflāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

reduction in the rate of inflation.

II. derivatives

disinflationary /ˌdis(ə)nˈflāSHəˌnerē /

adjective

disinformation /ˌdisənfərˈmāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

false information that is intended to mislead, especially propaganda issued by a government organization to a rival power or the media.

– origin 1950s: formed on the pattern of Russian dezinformatsiya.

disingenuous /ˌdisənˈjenyo͞oəs/

I. adjective

not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows less about something than one really does.

II. derivatives

1. disingenuously /ˌdis(ə)nˈjenyo͞oəslē /

adverb

2. disingenuousness /ˌdis(ə)nˈjenyo͞oəsnəs /

noun

disinherit /ˌdisənˈherit/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. change one's will or take other steps to prevent (someone) from inheriting one's property.

II. derivatives

disinheritance /ˌdis(ə)nˈherəd(ə)ns /

noun

– origin late Middle English (superseding earlier disherit): from dis- (expressing removal) + inherit in the obsolete sense ‘make someone an heir.’

disinhibit /ˌdisinˈhibit/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (someone or something) less inhibited

• as well as disinhibiting me, he educated me.

II. derivatives

disinhibition /ˌdisinəˈbiSHn ˌdisinhiˈbiSHn /

noun

disintegrate /disˈin(t)əˌɡrāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. break up into small parts, typically as the result of impact or decay

• when the missile struck, the car disintegrated in a sheet of searing flame.

2. (of a society, family, or other social group) weaken or break apart

• the marriage disintegrated amid allegations that she was having an affair.

3. [Physics] undergo or cause to undergo disintegration at a subatomic level
[no obj.]

• a meson can spontaneously disintegrate

• [with obj.] it has become a relatively easy matter to disintegrate almost any atom.

II. derivatives

1. disintegrative /-ˌɡrātiv /

adjective

2. disintegrator /disˈin(t)əˌɡrādər /

noun

disintegration /disˌin(t)əˈɡrāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the process of losing cohesion or strength

• the twin problems of economic failure and social disintegration.

2. the process of coming to pieces

• the disintegration of infected cells.

3. [Physics] a process in which a nucleus or other subatomic particle emits a smaller particle or divides into smaller particles.

disinter /ˌdisənˈtər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. dig up (something that has been buried, especially a corpse).

2. discover (something that is well hidden)

• he has disinterred and translated an important collection of writings.

II. derivatives

disinterment /ˌdis(ə)nˈtərmənt /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from French désenterrer, from dis- (expressing reversal) + enterrer ‘to inter.’

disinterest /disˈint(ə)rəst/

noun

1. the state of not being influenced by personal involvement in something; impartiality

• I do not claim any scholarly disinterest with this book.

2. lack of interest in something

• he chided Dennis for his disinterest in anything that is not his own idea.

disinterested /disˈintrəstəd disˈin(t)əˌrestəd/

I. adjective

1. not influenced by considerations of personal advantage

• a banker is under an obligation to give disinterested advice.

2. having or feeling no interest in something

• her father was so disinterested in her progress that he only visited the school once.

II. derivatives

1. disinterestedly /disˈintrəstədlē disˈin(t)əˌrestədlē /

adverb

2. disinterestedness /disˈintrəstədnəs disˈin(t)əˌrestədnəs /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: past participle of the rare verb disinterest ‘rid of interest or concern,’ from dis- (expressing removal) + the verb interest. / usage: One of the most contended questions of usage is the difference between disinterested and uninterested. According to traditional guidelines, disinterested should never be used to mean ‘not interested’ (i.e., it is not a synonym for uninterested) but only to mean ‘impartial,’ as in the judgments of disinterested outsiders are likely to be more useful. Ironically, the earliest recorded sense of disinterested is for the disputed sense. Today, the ‘incorrect’ use of disinterested is widespread: around a quarter of citations in the Oxford English Corpus for disinterested are for this sense.

disintermediation /disˌin(t)ərmēdēˈāSH(ə)n/

noun

reduction in the use of intermediaries between producers and consumers, for example by investing directly in the securities market rather than through a bank.

disinvent /ˌdisinˈvent/

verb — [with obj.]

1. undo the invention of (something)

• you can't disinvent nuclear power.

disinvest /ˌdisənˈvest/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. withdraw or reduce an investment

• the oil industry began to disinvest, and oil share prices have fallen

• [with obj.] they opposed the move to disinvest shares.

II. derivatives

disinvestment /ˌdis(ə)nˈvestmənt /

noun

disinvite /ˌdisinˈvīt/

verb — [with obj.]

1. withdraw or cancel an invitation to (someone)

• the White House called to disinvite him from the president's party.

disinvoltura /disˌinvälˈtyo͝orə, -vôl-/

I. noun

self-assurance; lack of constraint.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Italian, from disinvolto ‘unembarrassed,’ from disinvolgere ‘unwind.’

disjecta membra /dəsˌjektə ˈmembrə/

I. plural noun

scattered fragments, especially of written work.

– origin Latin, alteration of disjecti membra poetae (used by Horace) ‘limbs of a dismembered poet.’

disjoin /disˈjoin/

I. verb

separate; take or come apart
[no obj.]

• the paired chromosomes fail to separate or disjoin during cell division.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French desjoindre, from Latin disjungere, from dis- (expressing reversal) + jungere ‘to join.’

disjoint /disˈjoint/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. disturb the cohesion or organization of

• the loss of the area disjointed military plans.

2. ‹dated› take apart at the joints

• disjoint a four-pound chicken, put in a pot, and simmer until tender.

II. adjective

[Mathematics] (of two or more sets) having no elements in common.

– origin late Middle English (as an adjective in the sense ‘disjointed’): from Old French desjoint ‘separated,’ from the verb desjoindre (see disjoin).

disjointed /disˈjoin(t)əd/

I. adjective

lacking a coherent sequence or connection

• piecing together disjointed fragments of information.

II. derivatives

1. disjointedly /disˈjoin(t)ədlē /

adverb

2. disjointedness /disˈjoin(t)ədnəs /

noun

disjunct

I. adjective — /disˈjəNGkt /

1. disjoined and distinct from one another

• these items of evidence are just phrases and clauses, often wildly disjunct.

2. of or relating to the movement of a melody from one note to another by a leap.

II. noun — /ˈdisjəNGkt /

1. [Logic] each of the terms of a disjunctive proposition.

2. [Grammar] another term for sentence adverb.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin disjunctus ‘disjoined, separated,’ from the verb disjungere.

disjunction /ˌdisˈjəNG(k)SH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a lack of correspondence or consistency

• there is a disjunction between the skills taught in education and those demanded in the labor market.

2. [Logic] the relationship between two distinct alternatives.

3. a statement expressing the relationship between two distinct alternatives (especially one using the word “or”).

– origin late Middle English: from Latin disjunctio(n-), from disjungere ‘disjoin’ (see disjunct).

disjunctive /disˈjəNGktiv/

I. adjective

1. lacking connection

• the novel's disjunctive detail.

2. [Grammar] (of a conjunction) expressing a choice between two mutually exclusive possibilities, for example or in she asked if he was going or staying.
Compare with copulative.

3. [Logic] (of a proposition) expressing alternatives.

II. noun

1. [Grammar] a disjunctive conjunction or other word.

2. [Grammar] [Logic] a disjunctive proposition.

III. derivatives

disjunctively

adverb

– origin late Middle English (sense 2 of the adjective): from Latin disjunctivus, from disjunct- ‘disjoined’ (see disjunct).

disjuncture /ˌdisˈjəNG(k)CHər/

I. noun

a separation or disconnection

• the monstrous disjuncture between his private and his public life.

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin disjunctura, from Latin disjunct- ‘disjoined’ (see disjunct).

disk /disk / disc

I. noun

1. a flat, thin, round object

• heavy metal disks the size of hockey pucks

• onion soup ladled over a disk of cheese.

2. an information storage device for a computer in the shape of a round flat plate that can be rotated to give access to all parts of the surface. The data may be stored either magnetically (in a magnetic disk) or optically (in an optical disk such as a CD-ROM).

3. (disc) — a CD or record.

4. (discs) — one of the suits in some tarot packs, corresponding to coins in others.

5. a shape or surface that is round and flat in appearance

• the smudged yellow disk of the moon.

6. a roundish, flattened part in an animal or plant, in particular

7. (disc or intervertebral disc) — a layer of cartilage separating adjacent vertebrae in the spine

• he suffered a prolapsed disc.

8. [Botany] (in a composite flower head of the daisy family) a close-packed cluster of disk florets in the center, forming the yellow part of the flower head.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. cultivate (a field) with a disk harrow.

III. derivatives

diskless

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent. (originally referring to the seemingly flat round form of the sun or moon): from French disque or Latin discus (see discus). / usage: Generally speaking, the US spelling is disk and the British spelling is disc, although there is much overlap and variation between the two. In particular, the spelling for senses relating to computers is nearly always disk, as in floppy disk, disk drive, etc., but disc is the norm for compact disc, disc brakes, and disc camera.

disk drive /ˈdis(k) ˌdrīv/

noun

a device that allows a computer to read from and write to computer disks.

diskette /disˈket/

noun

another term for floppy disk.

disk floret

noun

[Botany] (in a composite flower head of the daisy family) any of a number of small, tubular, and usually fertile florets that form the disk. In rayless plants such as the tansy, the flower head is composed entirely of disk florets.
Compare with ray floret.

disk harrow /disk ˈherō/

noun

a harrow with cutting edges consisting of a row of concave disks set at an oblique angle.

Disko /ˈdiskō/

an island with extensive coal deposits on the western coast of Greenland. Its chief settlement is Godhavn.

disk operating system

noun

see DOS.

disk-shaped disc-shaped

adjective

flat, thin, and circular like a disk.

disk wheel

noun

a wheel, especially a bicycle wheel, with a central disk in place of spokes.

dislike /disˈlīk/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. feel distaste for or hostility toward

• he was not distressed by the death of a man he had always disliked.

II. noun

1. a feeling of distaste or hostility

• despite her dislike of publicity, she was quite a celebrated figure

• they had taken a dislike to each other.

2. a thing to which one feels aversion

• I know all his likes and dislikes.

III. derivatives

dislikeable /disˈlīkəb(ə)l / dislikable

adjective

dislocate /ˈdisləˌkāt disˈlōˌkāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. disturb the normal arrangement or position of (something, typically a joint in the body)

• he dislocated his shoulder in training.

2. disturb the organization of; disrupt

• trade was dislocated by a famine.

3. move from its proper place or position

• the symbol is dislocated from its political context.

– origin late 16th cent.: probably a back-formation from dislocation, but perhaps from medieval Latin dislocatus ‘moved from a former position,’ from the verb dislocare.

dislocation /ˌdislōˈkāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. disturbance from a proper, original, or usual place or state

• he fell prey to loneliness and a wrenching sense of dislocation

• the social dislocations caused by government policies.

2. injury or disability caused when the normal position of a joint or other part of the body is disturbed

• congenital dislocation of the hip

• dealing with fractures and dislocations.

3. [Crystallography] a displacement of part of a crystal lattice structure.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, or from medieval Latin dislocatio(n-), from the verb dislocare (see dislocate), based on Latin locare ‘to place.’

dislodge /disˈläj/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. knock or force out of position

• the hoofs of their horses dislodged loose stones.

2. remove from a position of power or authority

• government opponents failed to dislodge the prime minister.

II. derivatives

1. dislodgeable

adjective

2. dislodgment dislodgement

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French deslogier, from des- (expressing reversal) + logier ‘encamp,’ from loge (see lodge).

disloyal /ˌdisˈloi(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. failing to be loyal to a person, country, or body to which one has obligations

• she felt that inquiring into her father's past would be disloyal to her mother.

2. (of an action, speech, or thought) demonstrating a lack of loyalty

• disloyal mutterings about his leadership.

II. derivatives

disloyally /disˈloiəlē /

adverb

– origin late 15th cent.: from Old French desloial, from des- (expressing negation) + loial ‘loyal.’

disloyalty /disˈloiəltē/

noun

the quality of not being loyal to a person, country, or organization; unfaithfulness

• an accusation of disloyalty and betrayal.

dismal /ˈdizməl/

I. adjective

1. depressing; dreary

• the dismal weather made the late afternoon seem like evening.

2. (of a person or a mood) gloomy

• his dismal mood was not dispelled by finding the house empty.

3. ‹informal› pitifully or disgracefully bad

• he shuddered as he watched his team's dismal performance.

II. derivatives

dismalness /ˈdizməlnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from earlier dismal (noun), denoting the two days in each month that in medieval times were believed to be unlucky, from Anglo-Norman French dis mal, from medieval Latin dies mali ‘evil days.’

dismally /ˈdizməlē/

adverb

1. in a gloomy or depressed manner

• we drove around dismally

• the wolves howl dismally.

2. ‹informal› in a disgracefully bad way

• the second half was a disappointment, with both teams performing dismally

• the scheme failed dismally.

dismal science

noun — [in sing.] (usu. the dismal science)

1. ‹humorous› economics.

Dismal Swamp

another name for Great Dismal Swamp.

dismantle /disˈman(t)l/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. take (a machine or structure) to pieces

• the engines were dismantled and the bits piled into a heap

• ‹figurative› the old regime was dismantled.

II. derivatives

1. dismantlement /disˈman(t)lmənt /

noun

2. dismantler /-t(ə)lər /

noun

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘destroy the defensive capability of (a fortification)’): from Old French desmanteler, from des- (expressing reversal) + manteler ‘fortify’ (from Latin mantellum ‘cloak’).

dismast /disˈmast/

verb — [with obj.]

1. break or topple the mast or masts of (a ship)
(as adj. dismasted)

• a dismasted ship wallowing in stormy seas.

dismay /disˈmā/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (someone) to feel consternation and distress

• they were dismayed by the U-turn in policy.

II. noun

consternation and distress, typically that caused by something unexpected

• to his dismay, she left him.

III. derivatives

dismayingly

adverb

– origin Middle English: from Old French, based on Latin dis- (expressing negation) + the Germanic base of may^1.

dismember /disˈmembər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cut off the limbs of (a person or animal)

• I can picture you in a white jacket dismembering rats

• (as adj. dismembered) he buried their dismembered bodies in the back yard.

2. partition or divide up (a territory or organization)

• Russia intended to dismember the Ottoman Empire.

– origin Middle English: from Old French desmembrer, based on Latin dis- ‘apart’ + membrum ‘limb.’

dismemberment /disˈmembərmənt/

noun

1. the action of cutting off a person's or animal's limbs

• graphic pictures of torture and dismemberment.

2. the action of partitioning or dividing up a territory or organization

• the dissolution and dismemberment of the British empire.

dismiss /disˈmis/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. order or allow to leave; send away

• she dismissed the taxi at the corner of the road.

2. discharge from employment or office

• CBS Records dismissed another 120 people.

3. treat as unworthy of serious consideration

• it would be easy to dismiss him as all brawn and no brain.

4. deliberately cease to think about

• he suspected a double meaning in her words, but dismissed the thought.

5. [no obj.] — (of a group assembled under someone's authority) disperse

• he told his company to dismiss.

6. [Law] refuse further hearing to (a case)

• the judge dismissed the case for lack of evidence.

II. derivatives

dismissible /disˈmisəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin dismiss-, variant of Latin dimiss- ‘sent away,’ from the verb dimittere.

dismissal /ˌdisˈmis(ə)l/

noun

1. the act of ordering or allowing someone to leave

• their controversial dismissal from the competition.

2. the act of removing someone from employment or office; discharge

• the dismissal of an employee

• a claim for unfair dismissal.

3. [Cricket] an instance of ending a batsman's innings or of having one's innings ended

• marring his effort was his dismissal in the next over.

4. the act of treating something as unworthy of serious consideration; rejection

• the government's dismissal of the report.

5. [Law] a decision not to continue hearing a case

• the dismissal of the appeal.

dismissive /disˈmisiv/

I. adjective

feeling or showing that something is unworthy of consideration

• he is too dismissive of the importance of the industrialists.

II. derivatives

dismissiveness

noun

dismissively /disˈmisivlē/

adverb

in a manner that suggests that something or someone is unworthy of consideration

• he was treated dismissively and mocked publicly

• Elizabeth shrugged dismissively.

dismount /disˈmount/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — alight from a horse, bicycle, or other thing that one is riding.

2. [with obj.] — cause to fall or alight.

3. [with obj.] — remove (something) from its support

• we have to dismount the pump.

4. [Computing] make (a disk or disk drive) unavailable for use.

II. noun

[Gymnastics] a move in which a gymnast jumps off an apparatus or completes a floor exercise.

• on the uneven bars the women go for ever more complex dismounts.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from dis- + mount^1, probably on the pattern of Old French desmonter, medieval Latin dismontare.

Disney, Walt /ˈdiznē/

(1901–66), US animator and movie and television producer; full name Walter Elias Disney. He became known for his cartoon characters that included Mickey Mouse (who first appeared in 1928), Donald Duck, Goofy, and Pluto. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) was the first full-length cartoon with sound and color. Other notable animated movies: Pinocchio (1940), Dumbo (1941), Bambi (1942), Cinderella (1950), and Peter Pan (1953).

Disneyland

noun

1. a theme park in Anaheim, California, that opened in 1955.
[from Walt Disney.]

2. a large, bustling place filled with colorful attractions.

3. a place of fantasy or make-believe

• their own think tank, their own Disneyland of future ideas

• [as modifier] Disneyland conceptions of defense which have no genuine relevance.

Disney World

an amusement park in Lake Buena Vista, southwest of Orlando, Florida, that opened in 1971.

disobedience /ˌdisəˈbēdēəns/

noun

failure or refusal to obey rules or someone in authority

• he made no allowances for neglect or disobedience of orders.

disobedient /ˌdisəˈbēdēənt/

I. adjective

refusing to obey rules or someone in authority

• Larry was stern with disobedient employees.

II. derivatives

disobediently /ˌdisəˈbēdēən(t)lē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Old French desobedient, based on Latin oboedient- ‘obeying’ (see obedient).

disobey /ˌdisəˈbā/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. fail to obey (rules, a command, or someone in authority)

• around 1,000 soldiers had disobeyed orders and surrendered.

II. derivatives

disobeyer

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French desobeir, based on Latin oboedire ‘obey’ (see obey).

disoblige /ˌdisəˈblīj/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. offend (someone) by not acting in accordance with their wishes

• one didn't disoblige them if one could help it.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘release from an obligation’): from French désobliger, based on Latin obligare ‘oblige.’

disobliging /ˌdisəˈblījiNG/

adjective

deliberately unhelpful; uncooperative.

disomy /dīˈsōmē/

I. noun

[Genetics] the condition of having a chromosome represented twice in a chromosomal complement.

II. derivatives

disomic /-mik /

adjective

– origin late 20th cent.: from di-1 ‘two’ + -some^3 + -y^3.

disorder /ˌdisˈôrdər/

I. noun

1. a state of confusion

• tiresome days of mess and disorder.

2. the disruption of peaceful and law-abiding behavior

• recurrent food crises led to periodic outbreaks of disorder.

3. [Medicine] a disruption of normal physical or mental functions; a disease or abnormal condition

• eating disorders

• an improved understanding of mental disorder.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. disordered)

1. disrupt the systematic functioning or neat arrangement of

• she went to comb her disordered hair

• his sleep is disordered.

2. [Medicine] disrupt the healthy or normal functioning of

• a patient who is mentally disordered.

– origin late 15th cent. (as a verb in the sense ‘upset the order of’): alteration, influenced by order, of earlier disordain, from Old French desordener, ultimately based on Latin ordinare ‘ordain.’

disorderly /ˌdisˈôrdərlē/

I. adjective

1. lacking organization; untidy

• his life was as disorderly as ever

• a disorderly pile of books.

2. involving or contributing to a breakdown of peaceful and law-abiding behavior

• they had no intention of staging a disorderly protest.

II. derivatives

disorderliness /diˈsôrdərlēnəs /

noun

disorderly conduct

noun

[Law] unruly behavior constituting a minor offense.

disorderly house /diˈsôrdərlē houz/

noun

[Law] ‹archaic› a brothel.

disorganization /disˌôrɡ(ə)nəˈzāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. lack of proper planning and control

• social disorganization is destroying the well-being of the population

• the evacuation was dogged by chaos and disorganization.

2. inability to plan one's activities or affairs efficiently

• if you frequently lose your keys you may be suffering from chronic disorganization.

disorganize /disˈôrɡəˌnīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. disrupt the systematic order or functioning of

• attacks on leading government figures might disorganize the regime.

– origin late 18th cent. (dating from the French Revolution): from French désorganiser.

disorganized /disˈôrɡəˌnīzd/

adjective

1. not properly planned and controlled

• the campaign was hopelessly disorganized.

2. (of a person) unable to plan one's activities efficiently

• my boss decided that I was unproductive and disorganized.

disorient /disˈôrēˌent/

I. verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. disoriented)

1. make (someone) lose their sense of direction

• she was so disoriented that Joe had to walk her to her room.

2. make (someone) feel confused

• jet lag leaves you irritable, disoriented, and tired.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French désorienter ‘turn from the east.’

disorientate /disˈôrēənˌtāt/

verb

(Brit.) another term for disorient.

disorientation /disˌôrēənˈtāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the condition of having lost one's sense of direction

• as we walked on into the night, an air of total disorientation descended.

2. a state of mental confusion

• the hospital environment can bring anxiety and disorientation to patients.

disown /disˈōn/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. refuse to acknowledge or maintain any connection with

• Howard's rich family had disowned him because of his marriage.

II. derivatives

1. disowner

noun

2. disownment /disˈōnmənt /

noun

disparage /dəˈsperij/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. regard or represent as being of little worth

• he never missed an opportunity to disparage his competitors.

II. derivatives

disparagement /dəˈsperijmənt /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘marry someone of unequal rank,’ also ‘bring discredit on’): from Old French desparagier ‘marry someone of unequal rank,’ based on Latin par ‘equal.’

disparager /diˈsperijər/

noun

a person who criticizes someone as being of little worth

• he is shrewder than his disparagers would credit.

disparaging /diˈsperijiNG/

I. adjective

expressing the opinion that something is of little worth; derogatory

• disparaging remarks about public housing.

II. derivatives

disparagingly /dəˈsperijiNGlē /

adverb

disparate /ˈdispərət dəˈsperət/

I. adjective

1. essentially different in kind; not allowing comparison

• they inhabit disparate worlds of thought.

2. containing elements very different from one another

• a culturally disparate country.

II. noun — (disparates)

1. ‹archaic› things so unlike that there is no basis for comparison.

III. derivatives

1. disparately

adverb

2. disparateness

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin disparatus ‘separated,’ from the verb disparare, from dis- ‘apart’ + parare ‘to prepare’; influenced in sense by Latin dispar ‘unequal.’

disparity /dəˈsperədē/

I. noun

a great difference

• economic disparities between different regions of the country

• the great disparity of weight between the sun and the planets.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French disparité, from late Latin disparitas, based on Latin paritas ‘parity.’

dispassionate /disˈpaSH(ə)nət/

I. adjective

not influenced by strong emotion, and so able to be rational and impartial

• she dealt with life's disasters in a calm, dispassionate way.

II. derivatives

1. dispassion /-SHən /

noun

2. dispassionateness /disˈpaSH(ə)nətnəs /

noun

dispassionately /disˈpaSH(ə)nətlē/

adverb

in an unemotional, rational, and impartial manner

• he will look at the situation calmly and dispassionately

• the issue is hard to view dispassionately.

dispatch /dəˈspaCH / despatch

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. send off to a destination or for a purpose

• he dispatched messages back to base

• [with obj. and infinitive] the mayor dispatched 150 police officers to restore order.

2. deal with (a task, problem, or opponent) quickly and efficiently

• they dispatched the opposition.

3. kill

• he dispatched the animal with one blow.

II. noun

1. the sending of someone or something to a destination or for a purpose

• a resolution authorizing the dispatch of a peacekeeping force.

2. speed in action

• the situation might change, so he should proceed with dispatch.

3. an official report on state or military affairs

• in his battle dispatch he described the gunner's bravery.

4. a report sent in by a newspaper's correspondent from a faraway place.

5. the killing of someone or something

• the legendary dispatch of villains by a hero.

– origin early 16th cent.: from Italian dispacciare or Spanish despachar ‘expedite,’ from dis-, des- (expressing reversal) + the base of Italian impacciare, Spanish empachar ‘hinder.’

dispatch box /dəˈspaCH ˈˌbäks/

noun

a container for dispatches, especially official state or military documents.

dispatcher /dəˈspaCHər / despatcher

noun

1. a person whose job is to receive messages and organize the movement of people or vehicles, especially in the emergency services

• he told the dispatcher that his wife wasn't breathing

• a cab driver responded to a call from his dispatcher

• [with modifier] emergency police dispatchers received a call from the building at 8:45 a.m.

2. a person who sends something to a destination.

dispatch rider /dəˈspaCH ˈˌrīdər/

noun

(chiefly Brit.) a messenger who delivers urgent business documents or military dispatches by motorcycle or (formerly) on horseback.

dispel /dəˈspel/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (a doubt, feeling, or belief) disappear

• the brightness of the day did nothing to dispel Elaine's dejection.

II. derivatives

dispeller

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin dispellere, from dis- ‘apart’ + pellere ‘to drive.’

dispensable /dəˈspensəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. able to be replaced or done without; superfluous

• tiny battlefield robots will be cheap and dispensable.

2. (of a law or other rule) able to be relaxed in special cases.

II. derivatives

dispensability /-ˌpensəˈbilitē /

noun

– origin early 16th cent. (in the sense ‘permissible in special circumstances’): from medieval Latin dispensabilis, from Latin dispensare (see dispense).

dispensary /dəˈspens(ə)rē/

I. noun

1. a room where medicines are prepared and provided.

2. a clinic provided by public or charitable funds.

3. (N. Amer.) a facility that prepares and sells medical marijuana

• state-issued ID cards are good for up to two ounces of pot a month from state-approved dispensaries.

– origin late 17th cent.: from medieval Latin dispensarium, neuter (used as a noun) of dispensarius, from Latin dispensare (see dispense).

dispensation /ˌdispənˈsāSH(ə)n ˌdispenˈsāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. exemption from a rule or usual requirement

• although she was too young, she was given special dispensation to play two matches

• they were given a dispensation to take most of the first week off.

2. permission to be exempted from the laws or observances of a church

• he received papal dispensation to hold a number of benefices.

3. a system of order, government, or organization of a nation, community, etc., especially as existing at a particular time

• scholarship is conveyed to a wider audience than under the old dispensation.

4. (in Christian theology) a divinely ordained order prevailing at a particular period of history

• the Mosaic dispensation.

5. ‹archaic› an act of divine providence

• the laws to which the creator in all his dispensations conforms.

6. the action of distributing or supplying something

• regulations controlling dispensation of medications.

II. derivatives

dispensational /-SHənl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin dispensatio(n-), from the verb dispensare (see dispense).

dispensationalism /ˌdispənˈsāSHənlˌizəm, -pen-/

I. noun

[Christian Theology] belief in a system of historical progression, as revealed in the Bible, consisting of a series of stages in God's self-revelation and plan of salvation.

II. derivatives

dispensationalist

noun

dispense /dəˈspens/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — distribute or provide (a service or information) to a number of people

• he dispensed a gentle pat on Claude's back.

2. (of a machine) supply (a product or cash)

• the machines dispense a range of drinks and snacks.

3. (of a pharmacist) make up and give out (medicine) according to a doctor's prescription.

4. [no obj.] (dispense with) — manage without; get rid of

• let's dispense with the formalities, shall we?

5. give special exemption from (a law or rule)

• the secretary of state was empowered to dispense with the nationality requirement in individual cases.

6. [with obj.] — grant (someone) an exemption from a religious obligation

• the pope personally nominated him as bishop, dispensing him from his impediment.

II. phrases

dispense with someone's services

dismiss someone from a job.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin dispensare ‘continue to weigh out or disburse,’ from the verb dispendere, based on pendere ‘weigh.’

dispenser /dəˈspensər/

noun

1. a person or thing that dispenses something

• his role as protector of the weak and dispenser of justice.

2. [usu. with modifier] — an automatic machine or container that is designed to release a specific amount of something

• a paper towel dispenser.

dispersal /dəˈspərsəl/

noun

1. the action or process of distributing things or people over a wide area

• the dispersal of people to increasingly distant suburbs.

2. the splitting up of a group or gathering of people, causing them to leave in different directions

• the dispersal of the crowd by mounted police.

3. the splitting up and selling off of a collection of artifacts or books

• the dispersal of the John Willett Collection.

dispersant /dəˈspərsənt/

noun

a liquid or gas used to disperse small particles in a medium.

disperse /dəˈspərs/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. distribute or spread over a wide area

• storms can disperse seeds via high altitudes

• camping sites could be dispersed among trees so as to be out of sight.

2. go or cause to go in different directions or to different destinations
[no obj.]

• the crowd dispersed

• [with obj.] the police used tear gas to disperse the protesters.

3. (with reference to gas, smoke, mist, or cloud) thin out or cause to thin out and disappear
[no obj.]

• the earlier mist had dispersed

• [with obj.] winds dispersed the bomb's radioactive cloud high in the atmosphere.

4. [Physics] divide (light) into constituents of different wavelengths.

5. [Chemistry] distribute (small particles) uniformly in a medium.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. [Chemistry] denoting a phase dispersed in another phase, as in a colloid

• emulsions should be examined after storage for droplet size of the disperse phase.

III. derivatives

1. disperser

noun

2. dispersible

adjective

3. dispersive /dəˈspərsiv /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin dispers- ‘scattered,’ from the verb dispergere, from dis- ‘widely’ + spargere ‘scatter, strew.’

dispersion /diˈspərZHən diˈspərSHən/

I. noun

1. the action or process of distributing things or people over a wide area

• some seeds rely on birds for dispersion.

2. the state of being dispersed over a wide area

• the general dispersion of Hellenistic culture.

3. [Ecology] the pattern of distribution of individuals within a habitat.

4. (also the Dispersion) — another term for diaspora.

5. a mixture of one substance dispersed in another medium.

6. [Physics] the separation of white light into colors, or the separation of any radiation according to wavelength.

7. [Statistics] the extent to which values of a variable differ from a fixed value such as the mean.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin dispersio(n-), from Latin dispergere (see disperse).

dispirit /dəˈspirit/

verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (someone) to lose enthusiasm or hope

• the army was dispirited by the uncomfortable winter conditions.

dispirited /dəˈspirədəd/

I. adjective

having lost enthusiasm and hope; disheartened

• she was determined to appear unworried in front of her dispirited family.

II. derivatives

1. dispiritedly /dəˈspirədədlē /

adverb

2. dispiritedness

noun

dispiriting /dəˈspirədiNG/

I. adjective

causing someone to lose enthusiasm and hope; disheartening

• it was a dispiriting occasion.

II. derivatives

dispiritingly

adverb

displace /disˈplās/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. take over the place, position, or role of (someone or something)

• in the northern states of India, Hindi has largely displaced English.

2. cause (something) to move from its proper or usual place

• he seems to have displaced some vertebrae.

3. (usu. be displaced) — force (someone) to leave their home, typically because of war, persecution, or natural disaster

• thousands of people have been displaced by the civil war.

4. remove (someone) from a job or position of authority against their will

• his aides were discredited and displaced.

II. derivatives

displacer

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Old French desplacer.

displaced person /disˈplāst ˈpərsn/

noun

a person who is forced to leave their home country because of war, persecution, or natural disaster; a refugee.

displacement /disˈplāsmənt/

noun

1. the moving of something from its place or position

• vertical displacement of the shoreline

• a displacement of the vertebra at the bottom of the spine.

2. the removal of someone or something by someone or something else that takes their place

• males may be able to resist displacement by other males.

3. the enforced departure of people from their homes, typically because of war, persecution, or natural disaster

• the displacement of farmers by guerrilla activity.

4. the amount by which a thing is moved from its normal position

• a displacement of 6.8 meters along the San Andreas fault.

5. the occupation by a submerged body or part of a body of a volume that would otherwise be occupied by a fluid.

6. the amount or weight of fluid that would fill the volume displaced by a floating ship, used as a measure of the ship's size

• the submarine has a surface displacement of 2,185 tons.

7. ‹technical› the volume swept by a reciprocating system, as in a pump or engine.

8. [Psychoanalysis] the unconscious transfer of an intense emotion from its original object to another one

• this phobia was linked with the displacement of fear of his father.

9. [Physics] the component of an electric field due to free separated charges, regardless of any polarizing effects.

10. the vector representing electric displacement.

11. the flux density of electric displacement.

displacement activity /disˈplāsmənt akˈtivədē/

noun

[Psychology] an animal or human activity that seems inappropriate to the context, such as head-scratching when one is confused, considered to arise unconsciously when a conflict between antagonistic urges cannot be resolved.

displacement pump

noun

a pump in which liquid is moved out of the pump chamber by a moving surface or by the introduction of compressed air or gas.

display /dəˈsplā/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make a prominent exhibition of (something) in a place where it can be easily seen

• the palace used to display a series of Flemish tapestries

• a handwritten notice was displayed in the ticket office.

2. (of a computer or other device) show (information) on a screen.

3. give a conspicuous demonstration of (a quality, emotion, or skill)

• the aggressive kind of baseball he displayed as a player.

4. [no obj.] — (of a male bird, reptile, or fish) engage in a specialized pattern of behavior that is intended to attract a mate

• she photographed the peacock, which chose that moment to display.

II. noun

1. a performance, show, or event intended for public entertainment

• a display of fireworks.

2. a collection of objects arranged for public viewing

• the museum houses an informative display of rocks

• work by lesser-known artists is also on display

• [as modifier] a display case.

3. a notable or conspicuous demonstration of a particular type of behavior, emotion, or skill

• a display of great virtuosity.

4. conspicuous or flashy exhibition; ostentation

• a flagrant display of wealth.

5. a specialized pattern of behavior by the males of some species of birds, reptiles, and fish that is intended to attract a mate

• the teal were indulging in delightful courtship displays.

6. [Printing] the arrangement and choice of type in a style intended to attract attention.

7. an electronic device for the visual presentation of data

• a 17-inch color display

• [as modifier] a visual display screen.

8. the process or facility of presenting data on a computer screen or other device

• the processing and display of high volumes of information.

9. the data shown on a computer screen or other device.

III. derivatives

displayer

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘unfurl, unfold’): from Old French despleier, from Latin displicare ‘scatter, disperse’ (in medieval Latin ‘unfold’). Compare with deploy.

display ad

noun

a large advertisement, especially in a newspaper or magazine, that features eye-catching type or illustrations.

displayed /dəˈsplād/

adjective

1. (of information) shown on a computer screen or other device

• a utility designed to allow you to cut up pieces of displayed graphics.

2. [Heraldry] (of a bird of prey) depicted with the wings extended.

3. (of the wings of a bird of prey) extended.

display type /dəˈsplā tīp/

noun

large or eye-catching type used for headings or advertisements.

displease /disˈplēz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (someone) feel annoyed or dissatisfied

• the tone of the letter displeased him

• (as adj. displeasing) it was not entirely displeasing to be the center of such a drama.

II. derivatives

displeasingly

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Old French desplaisir, from des- (expressing reversal) + plaisir ‘to please,’ from Latin placere.

displeasure /disˈpleZHər/

I. noun

a feeling of annoyance or disapproval

• his grin turns into thin-lipped displeasure.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› annoy; displease

• not for worlds would I do aught that might displeasure thee.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French desplaisir (see displease), influenced by pleasure.

disport /dəˈspôrt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹archaic› ‹humorous› enjoy oneself unrestrainedly; frolic

• a painting of lords and ladies disporting themselves by a lake.

II. noun

1. diversion from work or serious matters; recreation or amusement

• the King and all his Court were met for solace and disport.

2. ‹archaic› a pastime, game, or sport.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French desporter, from des- ‘away’ + porter ‘carry’ (from Latin portare).

disposable /dəˈspōzəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. (of an article) intended to be used once, or until no longer useful, and then thrown away

• disposable diapers

• a disposable razor.

2. (of a person or idea) able to be dispensed with; easily dismissed

• the poor performer is motivated by the fear that he or she is highly disposable.

3. (chiefly of financial assets) readily available for the owner's use as required

• he made a mental inventory of his disposable assets.

II. noun

an article designed to be thrown away after use

• don't buy disposables, such as razors, cups, and plates.

III. derivatives

disposability /dəˌspōzəˈbilədē /

noun

disposable income /dəˈspōzəbəl ˈinˌkəm dəˈspōzəbəl ˈiNGˌkəm/

noun

income remaining after deduction of taxes and other mandatory charges, available to be spent or saved as one wishes.
Compare with discretionary income.

disposal /dəˈspōzəl/

I. noun

1. the action or process of throwing away or getting rid of something

• the disposal of radioactive waste.

2. (also disposer) — (N. Amer.) ‹informal› an electrically operated device fitted to the waste pipe of a kitchen sink for grinding up food waste

• garbage disposals that never worked.

3. the sale of shares, property, or other assets

• the disposal of his shares in the company.

4. the arrangement or positioning of something

• she brushed her hair carefully, as if her success lay in the sleek disposal of each gleaming black thread.

II. phrases

at one's disposal

available for one to use whenever or however one wishes

• a helicopter was put at their disposal.

dispose /dəˈspōz/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] (dispose of) — get rid of by throwing away or giving or selling to someone else

• whose responsibility is it to dispose of scrap materials?

• people now have substantial assets to dispose of after their death.

2. ‹informal› kill; destroy

• her lover came up with hundreds of schemes for disposing of her husband.

3. overcome (a rival or threat)

• team members were buoyant after they disposed of the champions.

4. ‹informal› consume (food or drink) quickly or enthusiastically

• she watched him dispose of a large slice of cheese.

5. [with obj.] — arrange in a particular position

• the chief disposed his attendants in a circle.

6. bring (someone) into a particular frame of mind

• prolactin is released, disposing you toward sleep

• cruelty that brutalizes young minds and disposes them to violence.

7. [no obj.] — ‹literary› determine the course of events

• the city proposed, but the unions disposed.

[from the proverb ‘Man proposes, (but) God disposes,’ translating Latin Homo proponit, sed Deus disponit (Thomas à Kempis's De Imitatione Christ I. xix).]

II. derivatives

disposer /dəˈspōzər /

noun

• a waste disposer

• a disposer of grants and subsidies

– origin late Middle English: from Old French disposer, from Latin disponere ‘arrange,’ influenced by dispositus ‘arranged’ and Old French poser ‘to place.’

disposed /dəˈspōzd/

adjective — [predic., usu. with infinitive]

1. inclined or willing

• James didn't seem disposed to take the hint.

2. [with submodifier] — having a specified attitude to or toward

• it is expected that he will be favorably disposed toward the proposals.

disposition /ˌdispəˈziSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a person's inherent qualities of mind and character

• a sweet-natured girl of a placid disposition.

2. [often with infinitive] — an inclination or tendency

• the cattle showed a decided disposition to run

• the judge's disposition toward clemency.

3. the way in which something is placed or arranged, especially in relation to other things

• the plan need not be accurate so long as it shows the disposition of the rooms.

4. the action of arranging or ordering people or things in a particular way

• the prerogative gives the state widespread powers regarding the disposition and control of the armed forces.

5. (dispositions) — military preparations, in particular the stationing of troops ready for attack or defense

• the new strategic dispositions of our forces.

6. [Law] the action of distributing or transferring property or money to someone, in particular by bequest

• this is a tax that affects the disposition of assets on death.

7. the power to deal with something as one pleases

• if Napoleon had had railroads at his disposition, he would have been invincible.

8. ‹archaic› the determination of events, especially by divine power.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin dispositio(n-), from disponere ‘arrange’ (see dispose).

dispositive /dəˈspäzədiv/

I. adjective

1. relating to or bringing about the settlement of an issue or the disposition of property

• such litigation will rarely be dispositive of any question.

2. [Law] dealing with the disposition of property by deed or will

• the testator had to make his signature after making the dispositive provisions.

3. dealing with the settling of international conflicts by an agreed disposition of disputed territories

• a peace settlement in the nature of a dispositive treaty.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘contributory, conducive’): from Old French, or from medieval Latin dispositivus, from Latin disposit- ‘arranged, disposed,’ from the verb disponere (see dispose).

dispossess /ˌdispəˈzes/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. deprive (someone) of something that they own, typically land or property

• they were dispossessed of lands and properties at the time of the Reformation

• (as plural noun the dispossessed) a champion of the poor and the dispossessed.

2. oust (a person) from a dwelling or position

• he used to ride out and dispossess his tenants as the spirit moved him.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Old French despossesser, from des- (expressing reversal) + possesser ‘possess.’

dispossession /ˌdispəˈzeSHən/

noun

the action of depriving someone of land, property, or other possessions

• the global impact of poverty and dispossession

• reparation for the victims of land dispossession.

dispraise /disˈprāz/

I. noun

‹rare› censure; criticism

• this engraving has on occasion elicited dispraise for Raphael.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› express censure or criticism of (someone)

• men cannot praise Dryden without dispraising Coleridge.

– origin Middle English: from Old French despreisier, based on late Latin depreciare (see depreciate).

disproof /disˈpro͞of/

noun

1. a set of facts that prove that something is untrue

• the theory also provides a disproof of the principle of closure.

2. the action of proving that something is untrue

• considerations that are subject to scientific verification or disproof.

disproportion /ˌdisprəˈpôrSH(ə)n/

I. noun

an instance of being out of proportion with something else

• there is a disproportion between the scale of expenditure and any benefit that could possibly result.

II. derivatives

1. disproportional /ˌdisprəˈpôrSH(ə)n(ə)l /

adjective

2. disproportionality /-ˌpôrSHəˈnalitē /

noun

3. disproportionally /-SHənl-ē /

adverb

– origin mid 16th cent.: from dis- (expressing absence) + proportion, on the pattern of French disproportion.

disproportionate^1 /ˌdisprəˈpôrSH(ə)nət/

I. adjective

too large or too small in comparison with something else

• people on lower incomes spend a disproportionate amount of their income on fuel

• their sentences were disproportionate to the offenses they had committed.

II. derivatives

disproportionateness

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from dis- (expressing absence) + proportionate, on the pattern of French disproportionné.

disproportionate^2 /ˌdisprəˈpôrSHənāt/

verb — [no obj.]

1. [Chemistry] undergo disproportionation

• water disproportionates to oxygen and hydrogen.

disproportionately /ˌdisprəˈpôrSH(ə)nətlē/

adverb

to an extent that is too large or too small in comparison with something else

• a tax cut would disproportionately benefit the rich

• older cars contribute disproportionately to global warming.

disproportionation /ˌdisprəˌpôrSHəˈnāSH(ə)n/

noun

[Chemistry] a reaction in which a substance is simultaneously oxidized and reduced, giving two different products.

disprove /disˈpro͞ov/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. prove that (something) is false

• he has given the Department of Transportation two months to disprove the allegation.

II. derivatives

disprovable

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French desprover.

disputable /dəˈspyo͞odəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

not established as fact, and so open to question or debate

• whether it can be described as art criticism may be disputable.

II. derivatives

disputably /-blē /

adverb

– origin late 15th cent.: from Latin disputabilis, from the verb disputare ‘to estimate,’ later ‘to dispute’ (see dispute).

disputation /ˌdispyo͞oˈtāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. debate or argument

• promoting consensus rather than disputation

• a lengthy disputation about the rights and wrongs of a particular request.

2. formal academic debate

• the founding father of logical disputation

• scholastic disputations.

II. derivatives

disputative /-ˈpyo͞otətiv /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin disputatio(n-), from the verb disputare (see dispute).

disputatious /ˌdispyəˈtāSHəs/

I. adjective

fond of or causing heated arguments

• a congenial hangout for disputatious academics

• disputatious council meetings.

II. derivatives

1. disputatiously

adverb

2. disputatiousness

noun

dispute /diˈspyo͞ot/

I. noun

1. a disagreement, argument, or debate

• a territorial dispute between the two countries

• the question in dispute is altogether insignificant.

2. a disagreement between management and employees that leads to an action of protest by the employees

• if this dispute cannot be resolved quickly, a formal strike is inevitable.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. argue about (something); discuss heatedly

• I disputed the charge on the bill

• [no obj.] he taught and disputed with local poets.

2. question whether (a statement or alleged fact) is true or valid

• the accusations are not disputed

• [with clause] the estate disputes that it is responsible for the embankment.

3. compete for; strive to win

• the two drivers crashed while disputing the lead.

4. ‹archaic› resist (a landing or advance)

• I formed my line and prepared to dispute the advance of the foe.

III. phrases

1. beyond dispute

certain or certainly; without doubt

• the main part of his argument was beyond dispute.

2. open to dispute

not definitely decided

• such estimates are always open to dispute.

IV. derivatives

1. disputant /diˈspyo͞otnt /

noun

2. disputer /diˈspyo͞odər /

noun

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin disputare ‘to estimate’ (in late Latin ‘to dispute’), from dis- ‘apart’ + putare ‘reckon.’

disqualification /disˌkwäləfəˈkāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action of disqualifying or the state of being disqualified.

2. a fact or condition that disqualifies someone from a position or activity

• such an offense is no longer a disqualification for office.

disqualify /disˈkwäləˌfī/

verb — [with obj.]

1. pronounce (someone) ineligible for an office or activity because of an offense or infringement

• he was disqualified from driving for six months.

2. eliminate (someone) from a competition because of an infringement of the rules

• he was disqualified after failing a drug test.

3. (of a feature or characteristic) make (someone) unsuitable for an office or activity

• a heart murmur disqualified him for military service.

disquiet /disˈkwīət/

I. noun

a feeling of anxiety or worry

• public disquiet about animal testing.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. disquieted)

1. make (someone) worried or anxious

• she felt disquieted at the lack of interest the girl had shown.

disquieting /disˈkwīədiNG/

I. adjective

inducing feelings of anxiety or worry

• he found Jean's gaze disquieting.

II. derivatives

disquietingly /disˈkwīədiNGlē /

adverb

disquietude /disˈkwīəˌt(y)o͞od/

noun

a state of uneasiness or anxiety.

disquisition /ˌdiskwəˈziSHən/

I. noun

a long or elaborate essay or discussion on a particular subject

• nothing can kill a radio show quicker than a disquisition on intertextual analysis.

II. derivatives

disquisitional /-SHənl /

adjective

( — ‹archaic›

– origin late 15th cent.: via French from Latin disquisitio(n-) ‘investigation,’ based on quaerere ‘seek.’ The original sense was ‘topic for investigation,’ whence ‘discourse in which a subject is investigated’ (mid 17th cent).

Disraeli, Benjamin /dizˈrālē/

1st Earl of Beaconsfield (1804–81), British statesman; prime minister 1868 and 1874–80. He was largely responsible for the introduction of the second Reform Act (1867). He also ensured that Britain bought a controlling interest in the Suez Canal (1875) and made Queen Victoria empress of India.

disrate /disˈrāt/

verb — [with obj.] (usu. be disrated)

1. reduce (a sailor) to a lower rank.

disregard /ˌdisrəˈɡärd/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. pay no attention to; ignore

• the body of evidence is too substantial to disregard.

II. noun

the action or state of disregarding or ignoring something

• blatant disregard for the law.

disrelish /disˈreliSH / ‹archaic›

I. noun

a feeling of dislike or distaste

• disrelish for any pursuit is ample reason for abandoning it.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. regard (something) with dislike or distaste

• I am not surprised that some members should disrelish your report.

disremember /ˌdisrəˈmembər/

verb — [with obj.]

1. (US) ‹dialect› fail to remember

• they had a word for it, but I disremember it now.

disrepair /ˌdisrəˈper/

noun

poor condition of a building or structure due to neglect

• the station gradually fell into disrepair.

disreputable /disˈrepyədəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

not considered to be respectable in character or appearance

• think twice before buying cheap fireworks from disreputable sources

• he was heavy, grubby, and vaguely disreputable.

II. derivatives

1. disreputableness

noun

2. disreputably /disˈrepyədəblē /

adverb

disrepute /ˌdisrəˈpyo͞ot/

noun

the state of being held in low esteem by the public

• one of the top clubs in the country is close to bringing the game into disrepute.

disrespect /ˌdisrəˈspekt/

I. noun

lack of respect or courtesy

• growing disrespect for the rule of law.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) show a lack of respect for; insult

• a young brave who disrespects his elders.

disrespectful /ˌdisrəˈspek(t)fəl/

I. adjective

showing a lack of respect or courtesy; impolite

• a deeply disrespectful attitude toward women.

II. derivatives

disrespectfully /ˌdisrəˈspek(t)fəlē /

adverb

disrobe /disˈrōb/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. take off one's clothes

• the girl disrobed slowly and climbed into the high bed.

2. take off the clothes worn for an official ceremony

• they walked to the vestry to disrobe.

3. [with obj.] — undress (someone)

• Kate remembers being disrobed.

– origin late Middle English: from dis- (expressing reversal) + robe, perhaps on the pattern of French desrober.

disrupt /disˈrəpt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. interrupt (an event, activity, or process) by causing a disturbance or problem

• a rail strike that could disrupt both passenger and freight service.

2. drastically alter or destroy the structure of (something)

• alcohol can disrupt the chromosomes of an unfertilized egg.

II. derivatives

disrupter /disˈrəptər / disruptor

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin disrupt- ‘broken apart,’ from the verb disrumpere.

disruption /disˈrəpSH(ə)n/

noun

disturbance or problems that interrupt an event, activity, or process

• the schedule was planned to minimize disruption

• there had been no delays or disruptions to flights.

disruptive /disˈrəptiv/

I. adjective

1. causing or tending to cause disruption

• disruptive and delinquent children

• the hours of work are disruptive to home life.

2. innovative or groundbreaking

• breaking a disruptive technology into the market is never easy.

II. derivatives

1. disruptively /disˈrəptəvlē /

adverb

2. disruptiveness /disˈrəptivnəs /

noun

dissatisfaction /di(s)ˌsadəsˈfakSH(ə)n/

noun

lack of satisfaction

• widespread public dissatisfaction with incumbent politicians.

dissatisfied /di(s)ˈsadəsˌfīd/

I. adjective

not content or happy with something

• small investors dissatisfied with rates on certificates of deposit

• dissatisfied customers.

II. derivatives

dissatisfiedly

adverb

dissatisfy /disˈsadəsˌfī/

verb — [with obj.]

1. fail to satisfy (someone).

dissaving /disˈsāviNG/

I. noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) the action of spending more than one has earned in a given period.

2. (dissavings) — (chiefly N. Amer.) the excess amount spent.

II. derivatives

dissaver /-vər /

noun

dissect /dəˈsekt dīˈsekt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. methodically cut up (a body, part, or plant) in order to study its internal parts.

2. analyze (something) in minute detail

• novels that dissect our obsession with cities and urban angst.

II. derivatives

dissector /dəˈsektər dīˈsektər /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin dissect- ‘cut up,’ from the verb dissecare, from dis- ‘apart’ + secare ‘to cut.’

dissected /dīˈsektəd dəˈsektəd dēˈsektəd/

adjective

1. having been cut up for anatomical study.

2. having a divided form or structure, in particular

3. [Botany] (of a leaf) divided into many deep lobes.

4. [Geology] (of a plateau or upland) divided by a number of deep valleys.

dissection /dəˈsekSH(ə)n dīˈsekSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action of dissecting a body or plant to study its internal parts

• the dissection of animals for scientific research.

2. very detailed analysis of a text or idea

• this dissection of modern relationships.

dissemble /dəˈsembəl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. conceal one's true motives, feelings, or beliefs

• an honest, sincere person with no need to dissemble.

2. [with obj.] — disguise or conceal (a feeling or intention)

• she smiled, dissembling her true emotion.

II. derivatives

1. dissemblance /-bləns /

noun

2. dissembler /dəˈsemb(ə)lər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: alteration (suggested by semblance) of obsolete dissimule, via Old French from Latin dissimulare ‘disguise, conceal.’

disseminate /dəˈseməˌnāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. spread or disperse (something, especially information) widely

• health authorities should foster good practice by disseminating information.

2. (usu. as adj. disseminated) — spread throughout an organ or the body

• disseminated colonic cancer.

II. derivatives

disseminator /dəˈseməˌnādər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin disseminat- ‘scattered,’ from the verb disseminare, from dis- ‘abroad’ + semen, semin- ‘seed.’

dissemination /dəˌseməˈnāSH(ə)n/

noun

the act of spreading something, especially information, widely; circulation

• dissemination of public information.

disseminule /dəˈseməˌnyo͞ol/

I. noun

[Botany] a part of a plant that serves to propagate it, such as a seed or a fruit.

– origin early 20th cent.: formed irregularly from dissemination (see disseminate) + -ule.

dissension /dəˈsen(t)SH(ə)n/

I. noun

disagreement that leads to discord

• this maneuver caused dissension within feminist ranks.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin dissensio(n-), from the verb dissentire (see dissent).

dissensus /diˈsensəs/

I. noun

widespread dissent

• analysis reveals notable dissensus in evaluations of occupational roles.

– origin 1960s: from dis- (expressing reversal) + a shortened form of consensus, or from Latin dissensus ‘disagreement.’

dissent /dəˈsent/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. hold or express opinions that are at variance with those previously, commonly, or officially expressed

• two members dissented from the majority

• (as adj. dissenting) there were only a couple of dissenting voices.

2. separate from an established or orthodox church because of doctrinal disagreement.

II. noun

1. the expression or holding of opinions at variance with those previously, commonly, or officially held

• there was no dissent from this view.

2. (also Dissent) — refusal to accept the doctrines of an established or orthodox church; Nonconformity.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin dissentire ‘differ in sentiment.’

dissenter /dəˈsen(t)ər/

noun

1. a person who dissents.

2. (Dissenter) — (Brit.) ‹historical› a member of a nonestablished church; a Nonconformist.

dissentient /dəˈsenSHənt/

I. adjective

in opposition to a majority or official opinion

• dissentient voices were castigated as “hopeless bureaucrats.”

II. noun

a person who opposes a majority or official opinion.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin dissentient- ‘differing in opinion,’ from the verb dissentire.

dissepiment /dəˈsepəmənt/

I. noun

[Botany] [Zoology] a partition in a part or organ; a septum.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Latin dissaepimentum, from dissaepire ‘make separate,’ from dis- (expressing separation) + saepire ‘divide by a hedge.’

dissertation /ˌdisərˈtāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

a long essay on a particular subject, especially one written as a requirement for the Doctor of Philosophy degree

• Joe wrote his doctoral dissertation on Thucydides

• ‹figurative› she went on then into a dissertation on her family's love of Ireland.

II. derivatives

dissertational /-SHənl /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘discussion, debate’): from Latin dissertatio(n-), from dissertare ‘continue to discuss,’ from disserere ‘examine, discuss.’

disservice /ˌdi(s)ˈsərvəs/

noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. a harmful action

• you have done a disservice to the African people by ignoring this fact.

dissever /dəˈsevər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹rare› divide or sever (something).

II. derivatives

1. disseverance /dəˈsev(ə)rəns /

noun

2. disseverment

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘separate’): from Old French dessevrer, from late Latin disseparare, from dis- (expressing intensive force) + Latin separare ‘to separate.’

dissidence /ˈdisədəns/

I. noun

protest against official policy; dissent.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin dissidentia, from dissident- ‘sitting apart’ (see dissident).

dissident /ˈdisədənt/

I. noun

a person who opposes official policy, especially that of an authoritarian state

• a dissident who had been jailed by a military regime.

II. adjective

in opposition to official policy

• there is only one explicitly dissident voice to be heard.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘differing in opinion or character’): from Latin dissident- ‘sitting apart, disagreeing,’ from dis- ‘apart’ + sedere ‘sit.’

dissimilar /ˌdi(s)ˈsimilər/

I. adjective

not alike; different

• a collection of dissimilar nations lacking overall homogeneity

• the pleasures of the romance novel are not dissimilar from those of the chocolate bar.

II. derivatives

dissimilarly

adverb

– origin late 16th cent.: from dis- (expressing reversal) + similar, on the pattern of Latin dissimilis, French dissimilaire.

dissimilarity /disˌ(s)iməˈlerədē/

noun

difference; variance

• the similarity or dissimilarity between humans and other animals.

dissimilate /dəˈsiməˌlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Linguistics] change (a sound in a word) in order to be unlike the sounds near it

• in “pilgrim,” from Latin “peregrinus,” the first “r” is dissimilated to “l.”

2. [no obj.] — [Linguistics] (of a sound) undergo dissimilation

• the first “r” dissimilates to “l.”

II. derivatives

1. dissimilation /dəˌsiməˈlāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. dissimilatory /-ləˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from dis- (expressing reversal) + Latin similis ‘like, similar,’ on the pattern of assimilate.

dissimilitude /ˌdisiˈmilət(y)o͞od/

I. noun

‹formal› dissimilarity or diversity.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin dissimilitudo, from dissimilis ‘unlike,’ from dis- (expressing reversal) + similis ‘like, similar.’

dissimulate /diˈsimyəˌlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. conceal or disguise (one's thoughts, feelings, or character)

• a country gentleman who dissimulates his wealth beneath ragged pullovers

• [no obj.] now that they have power, they no longer need to dissimulate.

II. derivatives

dissimulator /diˈsimyəˌlādər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin dissimulat- ‘hidden, concealed,’ from the verb dissimulare.

dissimulation /dəˌsimyəˈlāSH(ə)n/

noun

concealment of one's thoughts, feelings, or character; pretense

• an attempt at dissimulation.

dissipate /ˈdisəˌpāt/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — disperse or scatter

• the cloud of smoke dissipated.

2. (with reference to a feeling or other intangible thing) disappear or cause to disappear
[no obj.]

• the concern she'd felt for him had wholly dissipated

• [with obj.] he wanted to dissipate his anger.

3. [with obj.] — squander or fritter away (money, energy, or resources)

• he had dissipated his entire fortune.

4. (usu. be dissipated) — [Physics] cause (energy) to be lost, typically by converting it to heat.

II. derivatives

1. dissipative /ˈdisəˌpādiv /

adjective

2. dissipator /ˈdisəˌpādər / dissipater

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin dissipat- ‘scattered,’ from the verb dissipare, from dis- ‘apart, widely’ + supare ‘to throw.’

dissipated /ˈdisəˌpādəd/

adjective

(of a person or way of life) overindulging in sensual pleasures

• dissipated behavior.

dissipation /ˌdisəˈpāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. dissipated living

• a descent into drunkenness and sexual dissipation.

2. squandering of money, energy, or resources

• the dissipation of the country's mineral wealth.

3. [Physics] loss of energy, especially by its conversion into heat.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘complete disintegration’): from Latin dissipatio(n-), from the verb dissipare (see dissipate).

dissociable /diˈsōSHəbəl/

I. adjective

able to be dissociated; separable

• language and cognition are not dissociable.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, from Latin dissociabilis, from dissociare ‘to separate.’

dissociate /diˈsōSHēˌāt diˈsōsēˌāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. disconnect or separate (used especially in abstract contexts)

• voices should not be dissociated from their social context.

2. (dissociate oneself from) — declare that one is not connected with or a supporter of (someone or something)

• he took pains to dissociate himself from the religious radicals.

3. (usu. be dissociated) — [Psychiatry] split off (a component of mental activity) to act as an independent part of mental life.

4. [Chemistry] (with reference to a molecule) to split into separate smaller atoms, ions, or molecules, especially reversibly
[with obj.]

• these compounds are dissociated by solar radiation to yield atoms of chlorine.

II. derivatives

dissociative /diˈsōSHēˌādiv diˈsōsēˌādiv /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin dissociat- ‘separated,’ from the verb dissociare, from dis- (expressing reversal) + sociare ‘join together’ (from socius ‘companion’).

dissociated personality

noun

another term for multiple personality.

dissociation /diˌsōSHēˈāSH(ə)n diˌsōsēˈāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the disconnection or separation of something from something else or the state of being disconnected

• the dissociation between the executive and the judiciary is the legacy of the Act of Settlement.

2. [Chemistry] the splitting of a molecule into smaller molecules, atoms, or ions, especially by a reversible process.

3. [Psychiatry] separation of normally related mental processes, resulting in one group functioning independently from the rest, leading in extreme cases to disorders such as multiple personality.

dissociation constant

noun

[Chemistry] a quantity expressing the extent to which a particular substance in solution is dissociated into ions, equal to the product of the concentrations of the respective ions divided by the concentration of the undissociated molecule.

dissoluble /dəˈsälyəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

able to be dissolved, loosened, or disconnected

• permitting divorce would render every marriage dissoluble.

II. derivatives

dissolubility /dəˌsälyəˈbilədē /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin dissolubilis, from the verb dissolvere (see dissolve).

dissolute /ˈdisəˌlo͞ot/

I. adjective

lax in morals; licentious

• a dissolute, drunken, disreputable rogue.

II. derivatives

1. dissolutely /ˈdisəˌlo͞otlē /

adverb

2. dissoluteness /ˈdisəˌlo͞otnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin dissolutus ‘disconnected, loose,’ from the verb dissolvere (see dissolve).

dissolution /ˌdisəˈlo͞oSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the closing down or dismissal of an assembly, partnership, or official body

• the dissolution of their marriage

• Henry VIII declared the abbey's dissolution in 1540.

2. ‹technical› the action or process of dissolving or being dissolved

• minerals susceptible to dissolution.

3. disintegration; decomposition

• the dissolution of the flesh.

4. ‹formal› death.

5. debauched living; dissipation

• an advanced state of dissolution.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin dissolutio(n-), from the verb dissolvere (see dissolve).

dissolve /dəˈzälv/

I. verb

1. (with reference to a solid) become or cause to become incorporated into a liquid so as to form a solution
[no obj.]

• glucose dissolves easily in water

• [with obj.] dissolve a bouillon cube in a pint of hot water.

2. [no obj.] — (of something abstract, especially a feeling) disappear

• my courage dissolved.

3. [no obj.] — subside uncontrollably into (an expression of strong feelings)

• she suddenly dissolved into floods of tears.

4. [no obj.] — (in a movie) change gradually to (a different scene or picture)

• dissolve to side view, looking down the street.

5. [with obj.] — close down or dismiss (an assembly or official body)

• the country's president can dissolve parliament under certain circumstances.

6. annul or put an end to (a partnership or marriage)

• it only takes 28 days to dissolve a domestic partnership.

II. noun

(in a movie) an act or instance of moving gradually from one picture to another.

III. derivatives

1. dissolvable /dəˈzälvəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. dissolver

noun

– origin late Middle English (also in the sense ‘break down into component parts’): from Latin dissolvere, from dis- ‘apart’ + solvere ‘loosen or solve.’

dissolvent /dəˈzälvənt/

I. noun

a substance that dissolves something else.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin dissolvent- ‘dissolving,’ from the verb dissolvere (see dissolve).

dissonance /ˈdisənəns/

I. noun

1. [Music] lack of harmony among musical notes

• an unusual degree of dissonance for such choral styles

• the harsh dissonances give a sound that is quite untypical of the Renaissance.

2. [Music] a tension or clash resulting from the combination of two disharmonious or unsuitable elements

• dissonance between campaign rhetoric and personal behavior.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, from late Latin dissonantia, from Latin dissonant- ‘not agreeing in sound,’ from the verb dissonare.

dissonant /ˈdisənənt/

I. adjective

1. [Music] lacking harmony

• irregular, dissonant chords.

2. [Music] unsuitable or unusual in combination; clashing

• Jackson employs both harmonious and dissonant color choices.

II. derivatives

dissonantly

adverb

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘clashing’): from Old French, or from Latin dissonant- ‘being discordant or inharmonious,’ from the verb dissonare, from dis- ‘apart’ + sonare ‘to sound.’

dissuade /dəˈswād/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. persuade (someone) not to take a particular course of action

• his friends tried to dissuade him from flying.

II. derivatives

1. dissuader

noun

2. dissuasion /dəˈswāZH(ə)n /

noun

3. dissuasive /dəˈswāsiv /

adjective

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘advise against’): from Latin dissuadere, from dis- (expressing reversal) + suadere ‘advise, persuade.’

dissyllable /dīˈsiləb(ə)l/

noun

variant spelling of disyllable.

dissymmetry /də(s)ˈsimətrē/

I. noun

1. lack of symmetry.

2. ‹technical› the symmetrical relation of mirror images, the left and right hands, or crystals with two corresponding forms.

II. derivatives

1. dissymmetric /ˌdi(s)siˈmetrik /

adjective

2. dissymmetrical /ˌdi(s)siˈmetrikəl /

adjective

distaff /ˈdistaf/

I. noun

1. a stick or spindle onto which wool or flax is wound for spinning.

2. [as modifier] — of or concerning women.

– origin Old English distæf: the first element is apparently related to Middle Low German dise, disene ‘distaff, bunch of flax’; the second is staff^1. The extended sense arose because spinning was traditionally done by women.

distaff side

I. noun

1. the female side of a family

• the family title could be passed down through the distaff side.

The opposite of spear side.

2. the female members of a group

• this fascination was not limited to the distaff side of society.

– origin late 19th cent.: because spinning (see distaff) was traditionally done by women while men did the weaving.

distal /ˈdistl/

I. adjective

1. [Anatomy] situated away from the center of the body or from the point of attachment

• the distal end of the tibia

• axons distal to the injury will degenerate.

The opposite of proximal.

2. [Anatomy] [Geology] relating to or denoting the outer part of an area affected by geological activity

• the distal zone.

Often contrasted with proximal.

II. derivatives

distally

adverb

– origin early 19th cent.: from distant, on the pattern of words such as dorsal.

distance /ˈdistəns/

I. noun

1. an amount of space between two things or people

• I bicycled the short distance home

• the distance between front and rear wheels.

2. the condition of being far off; remoteness

• distance makes things look small

• ‹figurative› a significant distance between German and Allied understandings of the war.

3. a far-off point or place

• watching them from a distance.

4. (the distance) — the more remote part of what is visible or discernible

• I heard police sirens in the distance

• they sped off into the distance.

5. an interval of time

• a distance of more than twenty years.

6. the full length of a race

• he claimed the 10,000 meter title in only his second race over the distance.

7. (N. Amer.) [Horse Racing] the distance from the winning post that a horse must have reached when the winner finishes in order to qualify for a subsequent heat.

8. (the distance) — [Boxing] the scheduled length of a fight

• he has won his first five fights inside the distance.

9. the avoidance of familiarity; aloofness or reserve

• a mix of warmth and distance makes a good neighbor.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (someone or something) far off or remote in position or nature

• her mother wished to distance her from the rough village children.

2. (distance oneself from) — declare that one is not connected with or a supporter of (someone or something)

• he sought to distance himself from the proposals.

3. (N. Amer.) [Horse Racing] beat (a horse) by a distance.

III. phrases

1. go the distance

a. [Boxing] complete a fight without being knocked out

• he went the distance after being floored in the first round.

b. (of a boxing match) last the scheduled length

• six of his fights went the distance.

c. [Baseball] pitch for the entire length of a game.

d. last for a long time

• this amplifier system should go the distance.

2. keep one's distance

a. stay far away

• keep your distance from birds feeding their young.

b. maintain one's reserve

• you had to say nothing and keep your distance.

3. within —— distance

near enough to reach by the means specified

• the parking lot is within easy walking distance

• he wanted to be within driving distance of his grandparents.

4. within striking distance

near enough to hit or achieve something

• the aircraft carrier is dispatched to deep waters within striking distance of Moscow.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘discord, debate’): from Old French or from Latin distantia, from distant- ‘standing apart,’ from the verb distare (see distant).

distance learning /ˈdistəns ˌlərniNG/

noun

a method of studying in which lectures are broadcast or classes are conducted by correspondence or over the Internet, without the student's needing to attend a school or college. Also called distance education.

distance post

noun

(N. Amer.) a post placed at a specified distance before the finishing post on a racecourse, which a horse must have passed when the winner finishes in order to qualify for a subsequent heat.

distance runner

noun

an athlete who competes in long- or middle-distance races.

distant /ˈdistənt/

I. adjective

1. far away in space or time

• distant parts of the world

• I remember that distant afternoon.

2. [predic.] — (after a measurement) at a specified distance

• the star is 30,000 light years distant from earth

• the town lay half a mile distant.

3. (of a sound) faint or vague because far away

• the distant bark of some farm dog.

4. remote or far apart in resemblance or relationship

• a distant acquaintance.

5. [attrib.] — (of a person) not closely related

• a distant cousin.

6. (of a person) not intimate; cool or reserved

• his children found him strangely distant

• she and my father were distant with each other.

7. remote; abstracted

• a distant look in his eyes.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin distant- ‘standing apart,’ from the verb distare, from dis- ‘apart’ + stare ‘stand.’

distant early warning DEW

noun

a radar system in North America set up during the Cold War for the early detection of a missile attack.

distantly /ˈdistən(t)lē/

adverb

1. far away

• distantly he heard shouts.

2. not closely

• they are distantly related to the elephants.

3. coolly or remotely

• she smiled distantly.

distaste /disˈtāst/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. mild dislike or aversion

• Harry nurtured a distaste for all things athletic

• his mouth twisted with distaste.

– origin late 16th cent.: from dis- (expressing reversal) + taste, on the pattern of early modern French desgout, Italian disgusto. Compare with disgust.

distasteful /disˈtās(t)fəl/

I. adjective

causing dislike or disgust; offensive; unpleasant

• customers complained about the distasteful odor.

II. derivatives

1. distastefully /disˈtās(t)fəlē /

adverb

2. distastefulness /disˈtās(t)fəlnəs /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.

dist. atty.

abbreviation

district attorney.

distemper^1 /ˌdisˈtempər/

I. noun

1. a viral disease of some animals, especially dogs, causing fever, coughing, and catarrh.

2. ‹archaic› political disorder

• an attempt to illuminate the moral roots of the modern world's distemper.

– origin mid 16th cent. (originally in the sense ‘bad temper,’ later ‘illness’): from Middle English distemper ‘upset, derange,’ from late Latin distemperare ‘soak, mix in the wrong proportions,’ from dis- ‘thoroughly’ + temperare ‘mingle.’ Compare with temper. Sense 1 dates from the mid 18th cent.

distemper^2 /ˌdisˈtempər/

I. noun

1. a kind of paint using glue or size instead of an oil base, for use on walls or for scene-painting.

2. a method of mural and poster painting using this.

II. verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. distempered)

1. paint (something) with distemper

• the distempered roof timbers.

– origin late Middle English (originally as a verb in the senses ‘dilute’ and ‘steep’): from Old French destemprer or late Latin distemperare ‘soak.’

distend /dəˈstend/

I. verb

swell or cause to swell by pressure from inside
[no obj.]

• the abdomen distended rapidly

• [with obj.] air is introduced into the stomach to distend it.

II. derivatives

1. distensibility /-ˌtensəˈbilitē /

noun

2. distensible /dəˈstensəb(ə)l /

adjective

3. distension /dəˈstenSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin distendere, from dis- ‘apart’ + tendere ‘to stretch.’

distended /diˈstendəd/

adjective

swollen due to pressure from inside; bloated

• a distended belly.

distich /ˈdistik/

I. noun

[Prosody] a pair of verse lines; a couplet.

– origin early 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek distikhon (metron) ‘(measure) of two lines,’ neuter of distikhos, from di- ‘twice’ + stikhos ‘line.’

distichous /ˈdistikəs/

I. adjective

[Botany] (of parts) arranged alternately in two opposite vertical rows.

II. derivatives

distichously

adverb

– origin mid 18th cent.: via Latin from Greek distikhos (see distich) + -ous.

distill /dəˈstil / ‹Brit.› distil

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. purify (a liquid) by vaporizing it, then condensing it by cooling the vapor, and collecting the resulting liquid

• they managed to distill a small quantity of water

• (as adj. distilled) dip the slide in distilled water.

2. make (something, especially liquor or an essence) in this way

• whiskey is distilled from a mash of grains

• (as noun distilling) the distilling industry.

3. extract the essence of (something) by heating it with a solvent.

4. remove (a volatile constituent) of a mixture by using heat

• coal tar is made by distilling out the volatile products in coal.

5. [no obj.] — ‹literary› emanate as a vapor or in minute drops

• she drew back from the dank breath that distilled out of the earth.

6. extract the essential meaning or most important aspects of

• my travel notes were distilled into a book

• (as adj. distilled) the employee report is a distilled version of the main accounts.

II. derivatives

distillatory /-əˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin distillare, variant of destillare, from de- ‘down, away’ + stillare (from stilla ‘a drop’).

distillate /ˈdistilət ˈdistəˌlāt/

I. noun

something formed by distilling

• petroleum distillates

• natural gas mixed with distillate.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin distillatus ‘fallen in drops,’ from the verb distillare (see distill).

distillation /ˌdistəˈlāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action of purifying a liquid by a process of heating and cooling

• the petroleum distillation process.

2. the extraction of the essential meaning or most important aspects of something

• the film is a distillation of personal experiences.

distiller /dəˈstilər/

noun

a person or company that manufactures liquor

• barrels that the master distiller deems to be of superior quality.

distillery /dəˈstil(ə)rē/

noun

a place where liquor is manufactured

• the world's oldest whiskey distillery.

distinct /dəˈstiNG(k)t/

I. adjective

1. recognizably different in nature from something else of a similar type

• the patterns of spoken language are distinct from those of writing

• there are two distinct types of sickle cell disease.

2. physically separate

• the gallery is divided into five distinct spaces.

3. readily distinguishable by the senses

• a distinct smell of nicotine.

4. [attrib.] — (used for emphasis) so clearly apparent as to be unmistakable; definite

• he got the distinct impression that Melissa wasn't pleased.

II. derivatives

distinctness /dəˈstiNGk(t)nis /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘differentiated’): from Latin distinctus ‘separated, distinguished,’ from the verb distinguere (see distinguish).

distinction /dəˈstiNG(k)SH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a difference or contrast between similar things or people

• there is a sharp distinction between domestic politics and international politics

• I was completely unaware of class distinctions.

2. the separation of things or people into different groups according to their attributes or characteristics

• these procedures were to be applied to all births, without distinction.

3. excellence that sets someone or something apart from others

• a novelist of distinction.

4. a decoration or honor awarded to someone in recognition of outstanding achievement

• he gained the highest distinction awarded for excellence in photography.

5. recognition of outstanding achievement, such as on an examination

• I made a distinction in Greek.

Compare with merit.

II. phrases

1. distinction without a difference

an artificially created distinction where no real difference exists.

2. have the distinction of

be different from others of a similar type by virtue of a notable characteristic or achievement

• pinto beans have the distinction of being one of the quickest beans to cook.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘subdivision, category’): via Old French from Latin distinctio(n-), from the verb distinguere (see distinguish).

distinctive /dəˈstiNG(k)tiv/

I. adjective

characteristic of one person or thing, and so serving to distinguish it from others

• juniper berries give gin its distinctive flavor.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘serving to differentiate’): from late Latin distinctivus, from Latin distinct- ‘distinguished’ (see distinct).

distinctively /dəˈstiNG(k)tivlē/

adverb

in a way that is characteristic of one person or thing and distinguishes it from others

• Hunter was distinctively dressed in a leather flying jacket

• a dramatic and distinctively shaped building

• [as submodifier] a distinctively American voice.

distinctiveness /dəˈstiNG(k)tivnəs/

noun

the quality of being individual or easily distinguishable

• communities are keen to maintain cultural distinctiveness.

distinctly /dəsˈtiNGktlē/

adverb

1. in a way that is readily distinguishable by the senses; clearly

• reading each word slowly and distinctly.

2. (used for emphasis) in a way that is very noticeable or apparent; decidedly

• two distinctly different cultures

• he looked distinctly uncomfortable.

distingué /ˌdēstaNGˈɡā/

I. adjective

having a distinguished manner or appearance

• he was lean and distingué, with a small goatee.

– origin early 19th cent.: French, literally ‘distinguished.’

distinguish /dəˈstiNGɡwiSH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. recognize or treat (someone or something) as different

• the child is perfectly capable of distinguishing reality from fantasy.

2. [no obj.] — perceive or point out a difference

• bees are unable to distinguish between red, black, and various grays.

3. manage to discern (something barely perceptible)

• it was too dark to distinguish anything more than their vague shapes.

4. be an identifying or characteristic mark or property of

• what distinguishes sports from games?

5. (distinguish oneself) — make oneself prominent and worthy of respect through one's behavior or achievements

• many distinguished themselves in the fight.

– origin late 16th cent.: formed irregularly from French distinguer or Latin distinguere, from dis- ‘apart’ + stinguere ‘put out’ (from a base meaning ‘prick’).

distinguishable /dəˈstiNGɡwiSHəb(ə)l/

adjective

1. clear enough to be recognized or identified as different; discernible

• distinguishable features

• this particular case is distinguishable from others.

2. clear enough to be discerned or perceived

• his words were barely distinguishable.

distinguished /dəˈstiNGɡwiSHt/

adjective

1. successful, authoritative, and commanding great respect

• a distinguished American educationist.

2. showing dignity or authority in one's appearance or manner

• that hairstyle makes you look quite distinguished.

Distinguished Flying Cross DFC

noun

a US or British military decoration for heroism or distinguished achievement while on aerial duty.

distinguishing /dəˈstiNGɡwiSHiNG/

adjective

characteristic of one thing or person, so serving to identify it; distinctive

• a house with no distinguishing features.

distort /dəˈstôrt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. pull or twist out of shape

• a grimace distorted her fine mouth.

2. [no obj.] — become twisted out of shape

• the pipe will distort as you bend it.

3. give a misleading or false account or impression of

• many factors can distort the results.

4. change the form of (an electrical signal or sound wave) during transmission, amplification, or other processing

• you're distorting the sound by overdriving the amp.

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘twist to one side’): from Latin distort- ‘twisted apart,’ from the verb distorquere, from dis- ‘apart’ + torquere ‘to twist.’

distorted /diˈstôrdəd/

I. adjective

1. pulled or twisted out of shape; contorted.

2. giving a misleading or false account or impression; misrepresented

• his report gives a distorted view of the meeting.

3. affected by electrical distortion

• distorted guitars.

II. derivatives

1. distortedly

adverb

2. distortedness

noun

distortion /dəˈstôrSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action of distorting or the state of being distorted

• the virus causes distortion of the leaves

• deliberate distortions of pitch and timbre.

2. a distorted form or part

• a distortion in the eye's shape or structure.

3. the action of giving a misleading account or impression

• we're tired of the media's continuing distortion of our issues.

4. change in the form of an electrical signal or sound wave during processing.

II. derivatives

1. distortional /dəˈstôrSH(ə)n(ə)l /

adjective

2. distortionless /-ˈtôrSHənləs /

adjective

distr.

abbreviation

1. distribution.

2. distributor.

3. district.

distract /dəˈstrakt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. prevent (someone) from giving full attention to something

• don't allow noise to distract you from your work

• (as adj. distracting) she found his nearness distracting.

2. divert (attention) from something

• it was another attempt to distract attention from the truth.

3. (distract oneself) — divert one's attention from something worrying or unpleasant by doing something different or more pleasurable

• I tried to distract myself by concentrating on Jane.

4. ‹archaic› perplex and bewilder

• horror and doubt distract His troubl'd thoughts.

– origin late Middle English (also in the sense ‘pull in different directions’): from Latin distract- ‘drawn apart,’ from the verb distrahere, from dis- ‘apart’ + trahere ‘to draw, drag.’

distracted /dəˈstraktəd/

I. adjective

unable to concentrate because one's mind is preoccupied

• Charlotte seemed too distracted to give him much attention

• she ran her fingers through her hair in a distracted fashion.

II. derivatives

distractedly /dəˈstraktədlē /

adverb

distracted driving

I. noun

the practice of driving a motor vehicle while engaged in another activity, typically one that involves the use of a mobile phone or other electronic device.

• AAA now says that distracted driving accounts for 25 to 50 percent of all accidents.

II. derivatives

distracted driver

noun

distracting /dəsˈtraktiNG/

I. adjective

preventing concentration or diverting attention; disturbing

• she found his nearness distracting.

II. derivatives

distractingly

adverb

[as submodifier]

• some of my classmates are distractingly pretty

distraction /dəˈstrakSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a thing that prevents someone from giving full attention to something else

• the company found passenger travel a distraction from the main business of moving freight.

2. a diversion or recreation

• there are plenty of distractions such as sailing.

3. extreme agitation of the mind or emotions

• he knew she was nervous by her uncharacteristic air of distraction.

II. phrases

to distraction

(in hyperbolic use) intensely

• she loved him to distraction.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin distractio(n-), from the verb distrahere (see distract).

distractor /dəˈstraktər/

noun

1. a person or thing that distracts.

2. an incorrect option in a multiple-choice question

• four pictures, three of which are distractors.

distrain /dəˈstrān/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Law] seize (someone's property) to obtain payment of rent or other money owed

• legislation has restricted the right to distrain goods found on the premises.

2. [Law] seize the property of (someone) to obtain payment of money owed

• the government applied political pressure by distraining debtors.

II. derivatives

1. distrainer /dəˈstrānər /

noun

2. distrainment

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French destreindre, from Latin distringere ‘stretch apart,’ from dis- ‘apart’ + stringere ‘tighten.’

distraint /dəˈstrānt/

I. noun

[Law] the seizure of someone's property in order to obtain payment of money owed, especially rent

• many faced heavy fines and the distraint of goods.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from distrain, on the pattern of constraint.

distrait /dəˈstrā/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. distracted or absentminded

• he seemed oddly distrait.

– origin mid 18th cent.: French, from Old French destrait, past participle of destraire ‘distract,’ from Latin distrahere ‘pull apart’ (see distract).

distraught /dəˈstrôt/

I. adjective

deeply upset and agitated

• a distraught woman sobbed and screamed for help

• he appeared on television, grief-ravaged and distraught.

– origin late Middle English: alteration of the obsolete adjective distract (from Latin distractus ‘pulled apart’), influenced by straught, archaic past participle of stretch.

distress /dəˈstres/

I. noun

1. extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain

• to his distress he saw that she was trembling.

2. the state of a ship or aircraft when in danger or difficulty and needing help

• vessels in distress on or near the coast.

3. suffering caused by lack of money or the basic necessities of life

• the poor were helped in their distress.

4. [Medicine] a state of physical strain, exhaustion, or, in particular, breathing difficulty

• they said the baby was in distress.

5. [Law] another term for distraint.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (someone) anxiety, sorrow, or pain

• I didn't mean to distress you

• [with obj. and infinitive] he was distressed to find that Anna would not talk to him.

2. give (furniture, leather, or clothing) simulated marks of age and wear

• the manner in which leather jackets are industrially distressed.

III. derivatives

distressful /dəˈstresf(ə)l /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French destresce (noun), destrecier (verb), based on Latin distringere ‘stretch apart.’

distressed /dəˈstrest/

adjective

1. suffering from anxiety, sorrow, or pain

• I was distressed at the news of his death.

2. ‹dated› impoverished

• women in distressed circumstances.

3. (of furniture, leather, or clothing) having simulated marks of age and wear

• a distressed leather jacket.

4. ‹informal› (chiefly US) (of property) for sale at unusually low prices or at a loss, especially due to mortgage foreclosure or because it is part of an insolvent estate.

distressing /dəˈstresiNG/

I. adjective

causing anxiety, sorrow or pain; upsetting

• some very distressing news.

II. derivatives

distressingly /dəˈstresiNGlē /

adverb

[as submodifier]

• the pattern was distressingly familiar

distress sale

noun

a sale of goods or assets at reduced prices to raise much-needed funds.

distress signal /dəˈstres ˌsiɡnəl/

noun

a signal from a ship or aircraft in danger.

distributary /dəˈstribyo͞oˌterē/

noun

a branch of a river that does not return to the main stream after leaving it (as in a delta).

distribute /dəˈstribyo͞ot/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. give shares of (something); deal out

• information leaflets are being distributed to hotels and guest houses.

2. supply (goods) to stores and other businesses that sell to consumers

• the journal is distributed worldwide.

3. (be distributed) — occur throughout an area

• the birds are mainly distributed in marshes and river valleys.

4. [Printing] separate (metal type that has been set up) and return the characters to their separate compartments in a type case.

5. [Logic] use (a term) to include every individual of the class to which it refers

• the middle term must be distributed, at least once, in the premises.

II. derivatives

distributable /dəˈstribyədəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin distribut- ‘divided up,’ from the verb distribuere, from dis- ‘apart’ + tribuere ‘assign.’

distributed system /dəˈstribyo͞odəd ˌsistəm/

noun

a number of independent computers linked by a network.

distribution /ˌdistrəˈbyo͞oSH(ə)n / distr.

I. noun

1. the action of sharing something out among a number of recipients

• she had it printed for distribution among her friends.

2. the way in which something is shared out among a group or spread over an area

• changes undergone by the area have affected the distribution of its wildlife.

3. the action or process of supplying goods to stores and other businesses that sell to consumers

• a manager has the choice of four types of distribution

• [as modifier] an established distribution channel.

4. [Bridge] the different number of cards of each suit in a player's hand

• strength has two ingredients, high cards and distribution.

II. derivatives

distributional /ˌdistrəˈbyo͞oSH(ə)n(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin distributio(n-), from the verb distribuere (see distribute).

distribution function

noun

short for cumulative distribution function.

distributive /dəˈstribyədiv/

I. adjective

1. concerned with the supply of goods to stores and other businesses that sell to consumers

• transportation and distributive industries.

2. concerned with the way in which things are shared between people

• the distributive effects of public expenditure

• distributive justice.

3. [Grammar] (of a determiner or pronoun) referring to each individual of a class, not to the class collectively, e.g., each, either.

4. [Mathematics] (of an operation) fulfilling the condition that, when it is performed on two or more quantities already combined by another operation, the result is the same as when it is performed on each quantity individually and the products then combined.

II. noun

[Grammar] a distributive word.

III. derivatives

distributively

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Old French distributif, -ive or late Latin distributivus, from Latin distribut- ‘divided up,’ from the verb distribuere (see distribute).

distributor /dəˈstribyədər / distr.

noun

1. an agent who supplies goods to stores and other businesses that sell to consumers

• a wholesale liquor distributor

• the movie's distributor booked the film into theaters.

2. a device in a gasoline engine for passing electric current to each spark plug in turn.

distributor cap

noun

an insulated cap that fits over the distributor in a gasoline engine and that distributes voltage to the spark plugs.

district /ˈdistrikt/

I. noun

1. an area of a country or city, especially one regarded as a distinct unit because of a particular characteristic

• an elegant shopping district.

2. a region defined for an administrative purpose

• the city school district.

3. (the District) — the District of Columbia; Washington, DC.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) divide into districts.

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting the territory under the jurisdiction of a feudal lord): from French, from medieval Latin districtus ‘(territory of) jurisdiction,’ from Latin distringere ‘draw apart.’

district attorney /ˈdistrikt əˈtərnē / DA

noun

a public official who acts as prosecutor for the state or the federal government in court in a particular district.

district court /ˈdistrikt kôrt/

noun

a state of federal trial court.

District of Columbia /distrikt əv ˈkələmbēə / DC

a federal district of the US, coextensive with the city of Washington, on the Potomac River with boundaries on the states of Virginia and Maryland.

distro /ˈdistrō/

I. noun

[Computing] a distributor or distributed version, especially of Linux software or of webzines

• I was excited enough about this distro that I forked over the cash to buy it.

– origin by shortening and alteration.

distrust /disˈtrəst/

I. noun

the feeling that someone or something cannot be relied on

• his distrust of his mother's new suitor.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. doubt the honesty or reliability of; regard with suspicion

• like a skillful gambler, Dave distrusted a sure thing.

III. derivatives

1. distruster

noun

2. distrustful /disˈtrəstfəl /

adjective

3. distrustfully /disˈtrəs(t)fəlē /

adverb

disturb /dəˈstərb/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. interfere with the normal arrangement or functioning of

• being sent to jail had apparently not disturbed his cheerfulness

• the site surface had been disturbed by bulldozer activity.

2. cause to feel anxious

• I am disturbed by the document I have just read.

3. interrupt the sleep, relaxation, or privacy of

• I'll see my patient now and we are not to be disturbed.

II. derivatives

disturber /dəˈstərbər /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French destourber, from Latin disturbare, from dis- ‘utterly’ + turbare ‘disturb’ (from turba ‘tumult’).

disturbance /dəˈstərbəns/

I. noun

1. the interruption of a settled and peaceful condition

• a helicopter landing can cause disturbance to residents.

2. a breakdown of peaceful and law-abiding behavior; a riot

• the disturbances were precipitated when four men were refused bail.

3. the disruption of healthy functioning

• her severe mental disturbance was diagnosed as schizophrenia.

4. [Meteorology] a local variation from normal or average wind conditions, usually a small tornado or cyclone.

5. [Law] interference with rights or property; molestation.

– origin Middle English: from Old French destourbance, from destourber (see disturb).

disturbed /dəˈstərbd/

adjective

1. having had its normal pattern or function disrupted

• disturbed sleep.

2. suffering or resulting from emotional and mental problems

• the treatment of disturbed children

• disturbed behavior.

disturbing /dəˈstərbiNG/

adjective

causing anxiety; worrying

• disturbing unemployment figures.

disturbingly /dəˈstərbiNGlē/

adverb

1. [usu. as submodifier] — in a way that causes worry or unease

• disturbingly violent movies

• the course of events was disturbingly familiar

• Paul's nightmares blend disturbingly with memories of his childhood orphanage home.

2. [sentence adverb] — used to express worry or unease at a situation or event

• disturbingly, he appears to support the war.

disubstituted /dīˈsəbstətyo͞odəd/

adjective

[Chemistry] (of a molecule) having two substituent groups.

disulfide /dīˈsəlˌfīd / ‹chiefly Brit.› disulphide

noun

1. [Chemistry] a sulfide containing two atoms of sulfur in its molecule or empirical formula.

2. [Chemistry] an organic compound containing the group —S—S— bonded to other groups.

disulfiram /dīˈsəlfəˌram/

I. noun

[Medicine] a synthetic compound used in the treatment of alcoholics to make drinking alcohol produce unpleasant aftereffects.
Also called Antabuse . [Alternative name: tetraethylthiuram disulfide; chem. formula: (C_2H_5)2NCSSCN(C_2H_5)2.]

– origin 1940s: blend of disulfide (see disulfide) and thiuram (from thio- + urea + amide).

disunion /disˈyo͞onyən/

noun

the breaking up of something such as a federation

• his rejection of disunion was consistent with his nationalism.

disunited /ˌdisyo͞oˈnīdəd/

I. adjective

lacking unity

• a disunited nation.

II. derivatives

disunite /ˌdisyo͞oˈnīt /

verb

disunity /disˈyo͞onədē/

noun

disagreement and conflict within a group

• the disunity among opposition parties.

disuse /disˈyo͞os/

I. noun

the state of not being used

• the machines fell into disuse with the advent of computers.

II. phrases

fall into disuse

cease to be used

• the old tracks fell into disuse and neglect.

disused /disˈyo͞ozd/

adjective

no longer being used

• they held an exhibition in a disused warehouse.

disutility /ˌdisyo͞oˈtilədē/

noun

[Economics] the adverse or harmful effects associated with a particular activity or process, especially when carried out over a long period.

disvalue /disˈvalyo͞o/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. undervalue (something or someone)

• I'm not going to disvalue the way they feel.

II. noun

a negative value or worth.

III. derivatives

disvaluation /-ˌvalyo͞oˈāSHən /

noun

disyllabic /ˌdīsəˈlabik / dissyllabic

I. adjective

1. (of a word or metrical foot) consisting of two syllables.

2. (of a bird's call) consisting of two distinct sounds, such as the call of the cuckoo.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French dissyllabique, via Latin from Greek disullabos ‘of two syllables.’

disyllable /dīˈsiləb(ə)l / dissyllable

I. noun

[Prosody] a word or metrical foot consisting of two syllables.

– origin late 16th cent.: alteration (influenced by syllable) of French disyllabe, via Latin from Greek disullabos ‘of two syllables,’ from di- ‘two’ + sullabē ‘syllable.’

dit /dit/

I. noun

(in Morse code) another term for dot^1.

– origin World War II: imitative.

ditch /diCH/

I. noun

a narrow channel dug in the ground, typically used for drainage alongside a road or the edge of a field.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. provide with ditches

• he was praised for ditching the coastal areas.

2. [no obj.] — make or repair ditches
(as noun ditching)

• they would have to pay for hedging and ditching.

3. ‹informal› get rid of; give up

• it crossed her mind to ditch her shoes and run

• plans for the road were ditched following a public inquiry.

4. ‹informal› end a relationship with (someone) peremptorily; abandon

• she ditched her husband to marry the window cleaner.

5. (N. Amer.) be truant from (school or another obligation)

• maybe she could ditch school and run away.

6. ‹informal› bring (an aircraft) down on water in an emergency

• he was picked up by a frigate after ditching his plane in the Mediterranean.

7. [no obj.] — (of an aircraft) make a forced landing on water

• the aircraft was obliged to ditch in the sea off the North African coast.

8. (US) derail (a train).

III. derivatives

ditcher /ˈdiCHər /

noun

– origin Old English dīc, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dijk ‘ditch, dike’ and German Teich ‘pond, pool,’ also to dike^1.

ditchwater /ˈdiCHˌwôdər/

I. noun

stagnant water in a ditch.

II. phrases

dull as ditchwater

see dull.

ditheism /dīˈTHēˌizəm ˈdīTHēˌizəm/

I. noun

a belief in two gods, especially as independent and opposed principles of good and evil.

II. derivatives

ditheist

noun

dither /ˈdiT͟Hər/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — be indecisive

• he was dithering about the election date.

2. [with obj.] — add white noise to (a digital recording) to reduce distortion of low-amplitude signals.

3. display or print (a color image) in such a way that there appears to be more colors in it than are really available
(as adj. dithered)

• dithered bitmaps.

II. noun

1. ‹informal› indecisive behavior

• after months of dither they had still not agreed.

2. [in sing.] — a state of agitation

• buses are jammed and dirty and everyone is in a dither over taxis.

III. derivatives

1. ditherer /ˈdiT͟H(ə)rər /

noun

2. dithery /ˈdiT͟H(ə)rē /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the dialect sense ‘tremble, quiver’): variant of dialect didder; related to dodder^1.

dithionite /dīˈTHīəˌnīt/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a salt containing the anion S_2O_42−.

– origin mid 20th cent.: from di-1 ‘two’ + Greek theion ‘sulfur’ + -ite^1.

dithizone /dīˈTHīˌzōn/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a synthetic compound used as a reagent for the analysis and separation of lead and other metals.
[Alternative name: diphenylthiocarbazone; chem. formula: C_13H_12N_4S.]

– origin 1920s: from elements of the systematic name (see above).

dithyramb /ˈdiTHəˌram/

I. noun

1. a wild choral hymn of ancient Greece, especially one dedicated to Dionysus.

2. a passionate or inflated speech, poem, or other writing.

II. derivatives

dithyrambic /ˌdiTHəˈrambik /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek dithurambos, of unknown ultimate origin.

ditransitive /dīˈtranzədiv/

adjective

[Grammar] (of a verb) taking two objects, for example give as in I gave her the book.

dittany /ˈdit(ə)nē/

I. noun

any of a number of aromatic herbaceous or shrubby plants.
[● a dwarf shrub with white woolly leaves and pink flowers, native to Crete and Greece (Origanum dictamnus, family Labiatae). ● an American herb used in cooking and herbal medicine (genus Cunila, family Labiatae). ● another term for gas plant.]

– origin late Middle English: from Old French ditain or medieval Latin ditaneum, from Latin dictamnus, dictamnum, from Greek diktamnon, perhaps from Diktē, the name of a mountain in Crete.

ditto /ˈdidō/

I. noun

1. used in accounts and lists to indicate that an item is repeated (often indicated by a ditto mark under the word or figure to be repeated).

2. ‹informal› used to indicate that something already said is applicable a second time

• if one folds his arms, so does the other; if one crosses his legs, ditto.

3. a similar thing; a duplicate.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘in the aforesaid month’): from Tuscan dialect, variant of Italian detto ‘said,’ from Latin dictus ‘said.’

dittography /diˈtäɡrəfē/

I. noun

a mistaken repetition of a letter, word, or phrase by a copyist.

II. derivatives

dittographic /ˌditəˈɡrafik /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek dittos ‘double’ + -graphy.

dittohead /ˈdidōˌhed/

I. noun

(US) ‹informal› ‹derogatory› an unquestioning supporter of an idea or opinion as expressed by a particular person, organization, etc.

• from your posts, it's obvious that you are a highly partisan dittohead unable to think for yourself.

– origin 1990s: from ditto and -head^2, with reference to fans of the US conservative radio commentator Rush Limbaugh, who would often begin their calls to the program with expressions based on the word 'ditto'.

ditto mark

noun

a symbol (”) representing “ditto.”

ditty /ˈdidē/

I. noun

a short simple song

• a lovely little music-hall ditty.

– origin Middle English: from Old French dite ‘composition,’ from Latin dictatum (neuter) ‘something dictated,’ from dictare ‘to dictate.’

ditty bag ditty box

I. noun

a receptacle for odds and ends, especially one used by sailors or fishermen.

– origin mid 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

ditz /dits/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a scatterbrained person.

– origin 1970s: back-formation from ditzy.

ditzy /ˈditsē / ditsy

I. adjective

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› silly or scatterbrained

• don't tell me my ditzy secretary didn't send you an invitation!

II. derivatives

ditziness

noun

– origin 1970s: of unknown origin.

diuresis /ˌdīyəˈrēsis/

I. noun

[Medicine] increased or excessive production of urine.
Compare with polyuria.

– origin late 17th cent.: modern Latin, from di-3 ‘through’ + Greek ourēsis ‘urination.’

diuretic /ˌdīyəˈredik / ‹Medicine›

I. adjective

(chiefly of drugs) causing increased passing of urine.

II. noun

a diuretic drug.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French diuretique, or via late Latin from Greek diourētikos, from diourein ‘urinate,’ from dia ‘through’ + ouron ‘urine.’

diurnal /dīˈərnl/

I. adjective

1. of or during the day.

2. [Zoology] (of animals) active in the daytime.

3. [Botany] (of flowers) open only during the day.

4. daily; of each day

• diurnal rhythms.

5. [Astronomy] of or resulting from the daily rotation of the earth.

II. derivatives

diurnally

adverb

– origin late Middle English (as a term in astronomy): from late Latin diurnalis, from Latin diurnus ‘daily,’ from dies ‘day.’

div

abbreviation

divergence (in mathematical equations).

Div.

abbreviation

1. Division.

2. divorced.

diva /ˈdēvə/

I. noun

1. a famous female opera singer

• your average opera isn't over till the diva trills her high notes.

2. a famous female singer of popular music

• a pop diva.

3. a self-important person, typically a woman, who is temperamental and difficult to please.

• she is much more the dedicated maverick than the petulant diva.

– origin late 19th cent.: via Italian from Latin, literally ‘goddess.’

divagate /ˈdīvəˌɡāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹literary› stray; digress

• Yeats divagated into Virgil's territory only once.

II. derivatives

divagation /ˌdīvəˈɡāSH(ə)n ˌdivəˈɡāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin divagat- ‘wandered around,’ from the verb divagari, from di- ‘widely’ + vagari ‘wander.’

divalent /dīˈvālənt/

adjective

[Chemistry] having a valence of two.

divan /dəˈvan ˈdīˌvan/

I. noun

1. /dəˈvan ˈdīˌvan / — a long low sofa without a back or arms, typically placed against a wall.

2. /diˈvan ˈdīvan / — ‹historical› a legislative body, council chamber, or court of justice in the Ottoman Empire or elsewhere in the Middle East.

– origin late 16th cent. (sense 2): via French or Italian from Turkish dīvān, from Persian dīwān ‘anthology, register, court, or bench’; compare with diwan. As a piece of furniture, a divan was originally (early 18th cent.) a low bench or raised section of floor used as a long seat against the wall of a room, common in Middle Eastern countries; European imitation of this led to the sense ‘low flat sofa or bed’ (late 19th cent).

divaricate

I. verb — /dīˈverəkāt dəˈverəˌkāt / [no obj.]

1. ‹technical› ‹literary› stretch or spread apart; diverge widely.

II. adjective — /dīˈverəkāt /

1. [Botany] (of a branch) coming off the stem almost at a right angle.

III. derivatives

divarication /dīˌverəˈkāSHən dəˌverəˈkāSHən /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin divaricat- ‘stretched apart,’ from the verb divaricare, from di- (expressing intensive force) + varicare ‘stretch the legs apart’ (from varicus ‘straddling’).

dive /dīv/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. [with adverbial of direction] — plunge head first into water

• she walked to the deep end, then she dived in

• he dived off the bridge for a bet.

2. (of a fish, a submarine, or a vessel used for underwater exploration) go to a deeper level in water

• the fish dive down to about 1,400 feet and then swim southwest.

3. swim underwater using breathing equipment

• he had been diving in the area to test equipment.

4. (of an aircraft or bird) plunge steeply downward through the air

• the aircraft dove for the ground to avoid the attack.

5. move quickly or suddenly in a specified direction

• a bullet passed close to his head, and he dived for cover

• (as adj. diving) he attempted a diving catch.

6. (of prices or profits) drop suddenly

• profits before tax dived by 61 percent.

7. ‹informal› put one's hand quickly into something, especially a pocket or purse, in order to find something

• she dived into her bag and extracted a card.

8. [Soccer] [Ice Hockey] ‹informal› (of a player) deliberately fall when challenged in order to deceive the referee into awarding a foul.

II. noun

1. a plunge head first into water

• he hit the sea in a shallow dive

• a high dive.

2. an instance of swimming or going deeper under water

• divers should have a good intake of fluid before each dive.

3. a steep descent by an aircraft or bird

• the jumbo jet went into a dive.

See also nosedive.

4. a sudden movement in a specified direction

• she made a dive for the fridge to quench her raging thirst.

5. a sudden and significant fall in prices or profits

• an 11 percent dive in profits.

6. [Soccer] [Ice Hockey] ‹informal› a deliberate fall by a player, intended to deceive the referee into awarding a foul.

7. (also dive bar) — ‹informal› a shabby or sleazy bar or similar establishment

• he got into a fight in some dive

• a detective story set in the smoky clubs and dive bars of 1940s Los Angeles.

III. phrases

take a dive

a. [Boxing] pretend to be knocked out.

b. (of prices, hopes, fortunes, etc.) fall suddenly

• profits could take a dive as easily as they could soar

• her reputation took a dive from which it has not recovered.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. dive in

help oneself to food.

2. dive into

occupy oneself suddenly and enthusiastically with (a meal, or an engrossing subject or activity)

• dive into a barbecued beef burrito.

– origin Old English dūfan ‘dive, sink’ and dȳfan ‘immerse,’ of Germanic origin; related to deep and dip.

dive-bomb /ˈdīv ˌbäm/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. bomb (a target) while diving steeply downward in an aircraft

• news that they had dive-bombed a US destroyer.

2. (of a bird or flying insect) attack (something) by swooping down on it

• the crow folded its wings and dive-bombed the vulture.

II. derivatives

dive-bomber /ˈdīv ˌbämər /

noun

divemaster /ˈdīvˌmastər/

noun

a person who is in charge of an underwater diving expedition.

diver /ˈdīvər/

noun

1. a person or animal that dives, in particular

2. a person who dives as a sport

• an Olympic diver.

3. a person who wears a diving suit to work under water

• a diver at the oil terminal

• a police diver.

4. British term for loon^1.

diverge /dəˈvərj dīˈvərj/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a road, route, or line) separate from another route, especially a main one, and go in a different direction.

2. develop in a different direction

• howler and spider monkeys diverged from a common ancestor.

3. (of an opinion, theory, approach, etc.) differ markedly

• the coverage by the columnists diverged from that in the main news stories

• (as adj. diverging) studies from different viewpoints yield diverging conclusions.

4. deviate from a set course or standard

• suddenly he diverged from his text.

5. [Mathematics] (of a series) increase indefinitely as more terms are added.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin divergere, from Latin dis- ‘in two ways’ + vergere ‘to turn or incline.’

divergence /dəˈvərjəns dīˈvərjəns/

noun

1. the process or state of diverging

• the divergence between primates and other groups.

2. a difference or conflict in opinions, interests, wishes, etc.

• a fundamental divergence of attitude.

3. a place where airflows or ocean currents diverge, typically marked by downwelling (of air) or upwelling (of water).

4. [Mathematics] the inner product of the operator del and a given vector, which gives a measure of the quantity of flux emanating from any point of the vector field or the rate of loss of mass, heat, etc., from it.

divergent /dəˈvərjənt dīˈvərjənt/

I. adjective

1. tending to be different or develop in different directions

• divergent interpretations

• varieties of English can remain astonishingly divergent from one another.

2. [Psychology] (of thought) using a variety of premises, especially unfamiliar premises, as bases for inference, and avoiding common limiting assumptions in making deductions.

3. [Mathematics] (of a series) increasing indefinitely as more of its terms are added.

II. derivatives

1. divergency

noun

2. divergently

adverb

divers /ˈdīvərz/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. ‹archaic› ‹literary› of varying types; several

• in divers places.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin diversus ‘diverse,’ from divertere ‘turn in separate ways’ (see divert).

diverse /dəˈvərs dīˈvərs/

I. adjective

showing a great deal of variety; very different

• a culturally diverse population

• subjects as diverse as architecture, language teaching, and the physical sciences.

II. derivatives

diversely

adverb

– origin Middle English: variant of divers.

diversification /dəˌvərsəfəˈkāSH(ə)n dīˌvərsəfəˈkāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action of making or becominɡ more diverse or varied

• growers should start planning diversification of crops

• studies have examined the diversification of plant species in Asia.

2. the process of a company enlarging or varying its range of products or field of operation

• the company is benefiting from geographical diversification

• diversification into other markets is worth exploring.

diversify /dəˈvərsəˌfī dīˈvərsəˌfī/

I. verb

1. make or become more diverse or varied
[no obj.]

• the trilobites diversified into a great number of species

• [with obj.] they seek to diversify their approach to teaching

• (as adj. diversified) a diversified economy.

2. [no obj.] — (of a company) enlarge or vary its range of products or field of operation

• the company expanded rapidly and diversified into computers.

3. [with obj.] (often as adj. diversified) — enlarge or vary the range of products or the field of operation of (a company)

• the rise of the diversified corporation.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘show diversity’): via Old French from medieval Latin diversificare ‘make dissimilar,’ from Latin diversus, past participle of divertere (see divert).

diversion /dəˈvərZHən dīˈvərZHən/

I. noun

1. an instance of turning something aside from its course

• a diversion of resources from defense to civil research.

2. (Brit.) an alternative route for use by traffic when the usual road is temporarily closed; a detour

• the road was closed and diversions put into operation.

3. an activity that diverts the mind from tedious or serious concerns; a recreation or pastime

• our chief diversion was reading.

4. something intended to distract someone's attention from something more important

• a subsidiary raid was carried out on the airfield to create a diversion.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin diversio(n-), from Latin divertere ‘turn aside’ (see divert).

diversionary /dəˈvərZHəˌnerē dīˈvərZHəˌnerē/

adjective

1. intended to distract attention from something more important

• her comments are easy to dismiss as a diversionary tactic

• He planned to confuse the enemy with a diversionary attack on the Alaskan coast.

2. denoting a recreational activity that diverts the mind

• a major issue in urban areas is that of accessible diversionary activities for young people

• a coffee break and diversionary chat with Paul.

3. having the effect of turning something aside from its course

• the challenge of lowering the lake isn't just technical—diversionary tunnels could drain it.

4. (Brit.) denoting an alternative route for use by traffic when the usual road is temporarily closed

• motorists are advised to follow the signed diversionary route.

diversity /dəˈvərsədē dīˈvərsədē/

I. noun

1. the state of being diverse; variety

• there was considerable diversity in the style of the reports.

2. [usu. in sing.] — a range of different things

• newspapers were obliged to allow a diversity of views to be printed.

– origin Middle English: from Old French diversite, from Latin diversitas, from diversus ‘diverse,’ past participle of divertere ‘turn aside’ (see divert).

divert /dəˈvərt dīˈvərt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (someone or something) to change course or turn from one direction to another

• a scheme to divert water from the river to irrigate agricultural land.

2. [no obj.] — (of a vehicle or person) change course

• an aircraft has diverted and will be with you shortly.

3. reallocate (something, especially money or resources) to a different purpose

• more of their advertising budget was diverted into promotions.

4. distract (someone or their attention) from something

• public relations policies are sometimes intended to divert attention away from criticism.

5. (usu. as adj. diverting) — draw the attention of (someone) away from tedious or serious concerns; entertain or amuse

• a diverting book

• nursery rhymes can calm and divert all but the most fractious child.

II. derivatives

1. diverter

noun

2. divertingly

adverb

– origin late Middle English: via French from Latin divertere, from di- ‘aside’ + vertere ‘to turn.’

diverticula /ˌdīvərˈtikyələ/

plural form of diverticulum.

diverticular /ˌdīvərˈtikyələr/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. [Medicine] of or relating to diverticula.

diverticular disease

noun

a condition in which muscle spasm in the colon (lower intestine) in the presence of diverticula causes abdominal pain and disturbance of bowel function without inflammation.

diverticulitis /ˌdīvərˌtikyəˈlīdəs/

noun

[Medicine] inflammation of a diverticulum, especially in the colon, causing pain and disturbance of bowel function.
Compare with diverticulosis.

diverticulosis /ˌdīvərˌtikyəˈlōsəs/

noun

[Medicine] a condition in which diverticula are present in the intestine without signs of inflammation.
Compare with diverticulitis.

diverticulum /ˌdīvərˈtikyələm/

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] [Zoology] a blind tube leading from a cavity or passage.

2. [Anatomy] [Zoology] [Medicine] an abnormal sac or pouch formed at a weak point in the wall of the alimentary tract.

– origin early 19th cent.: from medieval Latin, variant of Latin deverticulum ‘byway,’ from devertere ‘turn down or aside.’

divertimento /dəˌvərdəˈmen(t)ō/

I. noun

[Music] a light and entertaining composition, typically one in the form of a suite for chamber orchestra.

– origin mid 18th cent. (denoting a diversion or amusement): Italian, literally ‘diversion.’

divertissement /dəˈvərdəsmənt/

I. noun

1. a minor entertainment or diversion

• as a Sunday divertissement Wittgenstein would play Schubert quartets.

2. [Ballet] a short dance within a ballet that displays a dancer's technical skill without advancing the plot or character development.

– origin early 18th cent. (specifically denoting a short ballet): French, from divertiss-, stem of divertir, from Latin divertere ‘turn in separate ways.’

Dives /ˈdīvēz/

I. noun

‹literary› used to refer to a typical or hypothetical rich man

• there must be rich and poor, Dives says, smacking his claret.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin, used in the Vulgate translation of the Bible (Luke 16).

divest /dəˈvest dīˈvest/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. deprive (someone) of power, rights, or possessions

• men are unlikely to be divested of power without a struggle.

2. deprive (something) of a particular quality

• he has divested the original play of its charm.

3. [no obj.] — rid oneself of something that one no longer wants or requires, such as a business interest or investment

• it appears easier to carry on in the business than to divest

• the government's policy of divesting itself of state holdings.

4. ‹dated› ‹humorous› relieve (someone) of something being worn or carried

• she divested him of his coat.

– origin early 17th cent.: alteration of devest, from Old French desvestir, from des- (expressing removal) + Latin vestire (from vestis ‘garment’).

divestiture /dīˈvestəˌCH(o͝o)ər dəˈvestəˌCH(o͝o)ər / divesture

I. noun

the action or process of selling off subsidiary business interests or investments

• the divestiture of state-owned assets.

– origin early 17th cent.: from medieval Latin divestit- ‘divested’ (from the verb divestire) + -ure.

divestment /dəˈvestmənt dīˈvestmənt/

noun

another term for divestiture.

divey /ˈdīvē/

I. adjective

(US) ‹informal› (of a bar or similar establishment) shabby or sleazy

• the bar is kind of divey but the service was good

• it's a divey joint with a few stools along a small counter.

– origin 1950s: from dive (sense 3 of the noun).

divide /dəˈvīd/

I. verb

1. separate or be separated into parts
[with obj.]

• consumer magazines can be divided into a number of different categories

• [no obj.] the cell clusters began to divide rapidly.

2. [with obj.] — separate (something) into portions and distribute a share to each of a number of people

• Jack divided up the rest of the cash

• the property was divided among his heirs.

3. [with obj.] — allocate (different parts of one's time, attention, or efforts) to different activities or places

• the last years of her life were divided between Bermuda and Paris.

4. [with obj.] — form a boundary between (two people or things)

• the artificial barrier that has divided an academic education from a vocational one.

5. (of a legislative assembly) separate or be separated into two groups for voting
[no obj.]

• the House divided: 287 for, 196 against.

6. disagree or cause to disagree
[with obj.]

• the question had divided Frenchmen since the Revolution

• (as adj. divided) a divided party leadership

• [no obj.] cities where politicians frequently divide along racial lines.

7. [with obj.] — [Mathematics] find how many times (a number) contains another

• 36 divided by 2 equals 18

• [no obj.] the program helps children to multiply and divide quickly and accurately.

8. [no obj.] — (of a number) be susceptible to division without a remainder

• 30 does not divide by 8.

9. find how many times (a number) is contained in another

• divide 4 into 20.

10. [no obj.] — (of a number) be contained in a number without a remainder

• 3 divides into 15.

II. noun

1. a wide divergence between two groups, typically producing tension or hostility

• there was still a profound cultural divide between the parties.

2. a boundary between two things

• symbolically, the difference of sex is a divide.

3. (chiefly US) a ridge or line of high ground forming the division between two valleys or river systems.

III. phrases

1. divide and conquer (or rule)

the policy of maintaining control over one's subordinates or subjects by encouraging dissent between them.

2. divided against itself

(of a group that should be coherent) split by factional interests

• the regime is profoundly divided against itself.

– origin Middle English (as a verb): from Latin dividere ‘force apart, remove.’ The noun dates from the mid 17th cent.

divided highway

noun

(N. Amer.) a road with a median strip between the traffic in opposite directions and typically two or more lanes in each direction.

divided skirt /dəˈvīdid skərt/

noun

‹dated› culottes.

dividend /ˈdivəˌdend/

I. noun

1. a sum of money paid regularly (typically quarterly) by a company to its shareholders out of its profits (or reserves).

2. a payment divided among a number of people, e.g., members of a cooperative or creditors of an insolvent estate.

3. an individual's share of a dividend.

4. (dividends) — a benefit from an action or policy

• persistence pays dividends.

See also peace dividend.

5. [Mathematics] a number to be divided by another number.

– origin late 15th cent. (in the general sense ‘portion, share’): from Anglo-Norman French dividende, from Latin dividendum ‘something to be divided,’ from the verb dividere (see divide).

dividend coverage

noun

the ratio of a company's dividends to its net income.

dividend yield /ˈdivəˌdend ˌyēld/

noun

a dividend expressed as a percentage of a current share price.

divider /dəˈvīdər/

noun

1. a person or thing that divides a whole into parts.

2. an issue on which opinions are divided

• the big divider was still nuclear weapons.

3. (also room divider) — a screen or piece of furniture that divides a room into two parts.

4. (dividers) — a measuring compass, especially one with a screw for making fine adjustments.

dividing line /dəˈvīdiNG līn/

noun

1. the boundary between two areas

• the dividing line between eastern and western zones.

2. a distinction or set of distinctions marking the difference between two related things

• the dividing line between drama and reality.

divi-divi /ˌdivē ˈdivē/

I. noun

1. a tropical American tree of the pea family, bearing curled pods.
[Caesalpinia coriaria, family Leguminosae.]

2. the pods of the divi-divi tree, used as a source of tannin.

– origin mid 19th cent.: via American Spanish from Carib.

divination /ˌdivəˈnāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown by supernatural means.

II. derivatives

divinatory /diˈvinəˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin divinatio(n-), from divinare ‘predict’ (see divine^2).

divine^1 /dəˈvīn/

I. adjective

1. of, from, or like God or a god

• heroes with divine powers

• paintings of shipwrecks being prevented by divine intervention.

2. devoted to God; sacred

• divine liturgy.

3. ‹informal› ‹dated› excellent; delightful

• that succulent clementine tasted divine

• he had the most divine smile.

II. noun

1. ‹dated› a cleric or theologian.

2. (the Divine) — providence or God.

III. derivatives

divineness

noun

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin divinus, from divus ‘godlike’ (related to deus ‘god’).

divine^2 /dəˈvīn/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. discover (something) by guesswork or intuition

• his brother usually divined his ulterior motives

• [with clause] they had divined that he was a fake.

2. have supernatural or magical insight into (future events)

• frauds who claimed to divine the future in chickens' entrails.

3. discover (water) by dowsing.

II. derivatives

diviner /dəˈvīnər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French deviner ‘predict,’ from Latin divinare, from divinus (see divine^1).

divinely /dəˈvīnlē/

adverb

1. by the power of God or a god

• he regards the Bible as divinely inspired

• the idea of a divinely created universe.

2. ‹informal› ‹dated› in a very pleasing or delightful way

• you dance divinely

• [as submodifier] a divinely beautiful young woman.

divine right of kings

noun

the doctrine that kings derive their authority from God, not from their subjects, from which it follows that rebellion is the worst of political crimes. It was claimed in Britain by the earlier Stuarts and is also associated with the absolutism of Louis XIV of France.

divine service

noun

public Christian worship.

diving /ˈdīviNG/

noun

1. the sport or activity of swimming or exploring underwater.

2. the sport or activity of diving into water from a diving board.

diving beetle

noun

a predatory water beetle that has fringed back legs for swimming and stores air under its wing cases while diving.
[Family Dytiscidae: numerous genera and species, including the great diving beetle (Dytiscus marginalis).]

diving bell /ˈdīviNG ˈˌbel/

noun

an open-bottomed chamber supplied with compressed air, in which a person can be let down under water.

diving board /ˈdīviNG ˈˌbô(ə)rd/

noun

an elevated board projecting over a swimming pool or other body of water, from which people dive or jump in.

diving duck

noun

a duck of a type that dives under water for food, such as the pochard, scaup, tufted duck, and goldeneye.
Compare with dabbling duck. [Tribes Aythyini and Mergini, family Anatidae: several genera, in particular Aythya and Bucephala.]

diving petrel

noun

a stocky auklike seabird of southern oceans, having black upper parts and white underparts.
[Family Pelecanoididae and genus Pelecanoides: four species, in particular the common diving petrel (P. urinatrix).]

diving suit /ˈdīviNG ˈˌso͞ot/

noun

a watertight suit, typically with a helmet and an air supply, worn for working or exploring deep underwater.

divining rod /dəˈvīniNG ˌräd/

noun

a stick or rod used for dowsing.

divinity /dəˈvinədē/

I. noun

1. (pl. divinities) — the state or quality of being divine

• Christ's divinity.

2. the study of religion; theology

• a doctor of divinity.

3. a divine being; a god or goddess

• busts of various Roman divinities.

4. (the Divinity) — God.

5. a fluffy, creamy candy made with stiffly beaten egg whites.

– origin Middle English: from Old French divinite, from Latin divinitas, from divinus ‘belonging to a deity’ (see divine^1).

divinize /ˈdivəˌnīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (someone) divine; deify

• this brush with death seems to have divinized her.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French diviniser, from divin ‘divine.’

divisi /diˈvēzē/

I. adjective

a musical direction indicating that a section of players should be divided into two or more groups, each playing a different part
[postpositive]

• violas divisi

• divisi passages.

II. noun

a divisi passage of music.

– origin Italian, literally ‘divided’ (plural), from dividere ‘to divide.’

divisible /dəˈvizəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. capable of being divided

• the marine environment is divisible into a number of areas.

2. [Mathematics] (of a number) capable of being divided by another number without a remainder

• 24 is divisible by 4.

II. derivatives

divisibility /dəˌvizəˈbilədē /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin divisibilis, from divis- ‘divided,’ from the verb dividere (see divide).

division /dəˈviZHən/

I. noun

1. the action of separating something into parts, or the process of being separated

• the division of the land into small fields

• a gene that helps regulate cell division.

2. the distribution of something separated into parts

• the division of his estates between the two branches of his family.

3. an instance of members of a legislative body separating into two groups to vote for or against a bill

• the new clause was agreed without a division.

4. the action of splitting the roots of a perennial plant into parts to be replanted separately, as a means of propagation

• the plant can also be easily increased by division in autumn.

5. [Logic] the action of dividing a wider class into two or more subclasses.

6. disagreement between two or more groups, typically producing tension or hostility

• a growing sense of division between north and south

• a country with ethnic and cultural divisions.

7. the process or skill of dividing one number by another.
See also long division, short division.

8. [Mathematics] the process of dividing a matrix, vector, or other quantity by another under specific rules to obtain a quotient.

9. each of the parts into which something is divided

• the main divisions of the book.

10. a major unit or section of an organization, typically one handling a particular kind of work

• a retail division.

11. a group of army brigades or regiments

• an infantry division.

12. a number of teams or competitors grouped together in a sport for competitive purposes according to such characteristics as ability, size, or geographic location

• the team will finish in fifth place in Division One.

13. a part of a county, country, or city defined for administrative or political purposes

• a licensing division of a district.

14. (Brit.) a part of a county or borough forming a parliamentary constituency

• he was MP for the Lancaster division of North Lancashire.

15. [Botany] a principal taxonomic category that ranks above class and below kingdom, equivalent to the phylum in zoology.

16. [Zoology] any subsidiary category between major levels of classification.

17. a partition that divides two groups or things

• the villagers lived in a communal building and there were no solid divisions between neighbors.

II. phrases

division of labor

the assignment of different parts of a manufacturing process or task to different people in order to improve efficiency.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French devisiun, from Latin divisio(n-), from the verb dividere (see divide).

divisional /dəˈviZH(ə)n(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to an organizational or administrative division

• a divisional manager.

2. forming a partition

• divisional walls.

II. derivatives

divisionally

adverb

divisionalize /dəˈviZHənəlīz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. divisionalized)

1. subdivide (a company or other organization) into a number of separate divisions

• a large divisionalized Western corporation.

2. [no obj.] — undergo divisionalization.

II. derivatives

divisionalization /diˌviZHənələˈzāSHən /

noun

divisionism /dəˈviZHəˌnizəm/

noun

another term for pointillism.

division sign /dəˈviZHən sīn/

noun

the sign ÷, placed between two numbers showing that the first is to be divided by the second, as in 6 ÷ 3 = 2.

divisive /dəˈvīsiv/

I. adjective

tending to cause disagreement or hostility between people

• the highly divisive issue of abortion.

II. derivatives

divisively

adverb

– origin mid 16th cent. (as a noun denoting something that divides or separates): from late Latin divisivus, from Latin dividere (see divide).

divisiveness /dəˈvīsɪvnəs/

noun

a tendency to cause disagreement or hostility between people

• transparency will enhance development rather than social divisiveness.

divisor /dəˈvīzər/

I. noun

1. [Mathematics] a number by which another number is to be divided.

2. [Mathematics] a number that divides into another without a remainder

• the greatest common divisor.

– origin late Middle English: from French diviseur or Latin divisor, from dividere (see divide).

divorce /dəˈvôrs/

I. noun

1. the legal dissolution of a marriage by a court or other competent body

• her divorce from her first husband

• one in three marriages ends in divorce

• [as modifier] divorce proceedings.

2. a legal decree dissolving a marriage.

3. [in sing.] — a separation between things that were or ought to be connected

• the bitter divorce between the company and its largest shareholder.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. legally dissolve one's marriage with (someone)

• he divorced his first wife after 10 months

• (as adj. divorced) a divorced couple

• [no obj.] they divorced eight years later.

2. separate or dissociate (something) from something else

• we knew how to divorce an issue from an individual.

3. (divorce oneself from) — distance or dissociate oneself from (something)

• he wanted to divorce himself from all contact with the syndicate.

III. derivatives

divorcement /dəˈvôrsmənt /

noun

– origin late Middle English: the noun from Old French divorce, from Latin divortium, based on divertere (see divert); the verb from Old French divorcer, from late Latin divortiare, from divortium.

divorcee /dəˌvôrˈsā dəˌvôrˈsē / divorcé, divorcée /-ˈsā/

I. noun

a divorced person.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French divorcé(e) ‘divorced man (or woman).’

divot /ˈdivət/

I. noun

1. a piece of turf cut out of the ground by a golf club in making a stroke.

2. (chiefly Scottish) a piece of turf, as formerly used for roofing cottages.

– origin early 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

divulge /dəˈvəlj dīˈvəlj/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make known (private or sensitive information)

• I am too much of a gentleman to divulge her age.

II. derivatives

1. divulgation /dīˌvəlˈɡāSHən dəˌvəlˈɡāSHən ˌdivəlˈɡāSHən /

noun

2. divulgence /-jəns /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘announce publicly’): from Latin divulgare, from di- ‘widely’ + vulgare ‘publish’ (from vulgus ‘common people’).

divvy /ˈdivē / ‹informal›

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. divide up and share

• they divvied up the proceeds.

II. noun

1. (also divi) (pl. divies) — (Brit.) a dividend or share, especially of profits earned by a cooperative.

2. a distribution.

3. a portion or share.

– origin late 19th cent.: abbreviation of dividend.

Diwali /dēˈwälē / Divali

I. noun

a Hindu festival of lights, held in the period October to November. It is particularly associated with Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, and marks the beginning of the fiscal year in India.

– origin from Hindi dīvālī, from Sanskrit dīpāvali ‘row of lights,’ from dīpā ‘lamp’ + vali ‘row.’

diwan /diˈwän / dewan

I. noun

1. (in Islamic societies) a central finance department, chief administrative office, or regional governing body.

2. a chief treasury official, finance minister, or prime minister in some Indian states.

– origin Urdu, from Persian dīwān ‘fiscal register’; compare with divan.

Dix, Dorothea Lynde /diks/

(1802–87), US social reformer. She was a pioneer in US prison reform, a creator of insane asylums, and superintendent of women army nurses during the Civil War.

Dixie /ˈdiksē/

I. an informal name for the southern US states. It was used in the song “Dixie” (1859), a marching song popular with Confederate soldiers in the Civil War.

II. short for Dixieland.

III. phrases

whistle Dixie

(US) engage in unrealistic fantasies; waste one's time

• until you nail down the facts, you're just whistling Dixie.

Dixiecrat /ˈdiksēˌkrat/

noun

(US) ‹informal› any of the Southern Democrats who seceded from the party in 1948 in opposition to its policy of extending civil rights.

Dixie Cup //

noun

‹trademark› a brand of disposable paper cup.

Dixieland /ˈdiksēˌland/

noun

a kind of jazz with a strong two-beat rhythm and collective improvisation that originated in New Orleans in the early 20th century.

DIY /ˌdē ī ˈwī/

abbreviation

do-it-yourself.

Diyarbakir /dəˈyärˌbəkər/

a city in southeastern Turkey; pop. 592,600 (est. 2007).

dizygotic /ˌdīzīˈɡädik / dizygous

adjective

(of twins) derived from two separate ova, and so not identical.

dizziness /ˈdizēnəs/

noun

a sensation of spinning around and losing one's balance

• the medicine can cause dizziness or nausea.

dizzy /ˈdizē/

I. adjective

1. having or involving a sensation of spinning around and losing one's balance

• Jonathan had begun to suffer dizzy spells

• ‹figurative› he looked around, dizzy with happiness.

2. causing a dizzy sensation

• a sheer, dizzy drop

• ‹figurative› a dizzy range of hues.

3. ‹informal› (of a woman) silly but attractive

• he only married me because he wanted a dizzy blonde.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. dizzying)

1. make (someone) feel unsteady, confused, or amazed

• the dizzying rate of change

• her nearness dizzied him.

III. derivatives

dizzily /ˈdizilē /

adverb

– origin Old English dysig ‘foolish’; related to Low German dusig, dösig ‘giddy’ and Old High German tusic ‘foolish, weak.’

DJ /ˈdē ˈˌjā/

I. noun

1. a person who introduces and plays recorded popular music on the radio

• he was the only DJ to play our last release on the radio.

2. a person who plays recorded dance music at a club or party

• a DJ will spin tunes.

3. a person who uses samples of recorded music to make dance or rap music

• a band with a DJ scratching away furiously in the background.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. play recorded music on the radio or at a club or party

• he DJ'ed for 5 hours nonstop.

– origin 1940s: abbreviation of disc jockey.

djellaba /jəˈläbə / djellabah, jellaba

I. noun

a loose hooded cloak, typically woolen, of a kind traditionally worn by Arabs.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Moroccan Arabic jellāba, jellābiyya.

djembe /ˈjembə, -bā, /

I. noun

[Music] a kind of goblet-shaped hand drum originating in West Africa.

– origin French djembé, from Mande jembe.

DJIA

abbreviation

Dow Jones Industrial Average.

Djibouti /jəˈbo͞odē / Jibuti

I.
1. a country on the northeastern coast of Africa; pop. 724,600 (est. 2009); capital, Djibouti; languages, Arabic and French (official), Somali and other Cushitic languages.

2. the capital of Djibouti, a port at the western end of the Gulf of Aden; pop. 583,000 (est. 2007).

The territory became a French protectorate under the name of French Somaliland in 1897. It was renamed the French Territory of the Afars and Issas in 1946 because the Afars and the Issas are the country's two main ethnic groups. In 1977, the country achieved independence as the Republic of Djibouti.

II. derivatives

Djiboutian /-tēən /

adjective, noun

dkl

abbreviation

(US) dekaliter(s).

dkm

abbreviation

(US) dekameter(s).

dl

abbreviation

deciliter(s).

DL

abbreviation

1. [Football] defensive lineman.

2. (N. Amer.) disabled list.

D layer

I. noun

the lowest layer of the ionosphere, able to reflect low-frequency radio waves.

– origin 1930s: from an arbitrary use of the letter D.

DLitt /dēːˈlit / DLit

I. abbreviation

1. Doctor of Letters.

2. Doctor of Literature.

– origin from Latin Doctor Litterarum.

DLL

abbreviation

[Computing] dynamic link library, a collection of subroutines stored on disk, which can be loaded into memory and executed when accessed by a running program.

dm

abbreviation

decimeter(s).

DM /ˌdē ˈem / D-mark

abbreviation

Deutschmark.

DMA

abbreviation

1. Doctor of Musical Arts.

2. direct memory access, a method allowing a peripheral device to transfer data to or from the memory of a computer system using operations not under the control of the central processor.

DMAE

abbreviation

dimethylaminoethanol, a naturally occurring metabolite with cholinergic properties that is used therapeutically in attention and motion disorders, and topically as an antiwrinkle treatment.

D-mark /ˈdēmärk/

noun

short for Deutschmark.

DMCA

abbreviation

Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

DMD

abbreviation

1. Doctor of Dental Medicine.
[from Latin Dentariae Medicinae Doctor or Doctor Medicinae Dentalis.]

2. Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

DMSO

abbreviation

[Chemistry] dimethyl sulfoxide.

DMus

abbreviation

Doctor of Music.

DMV

abbreviation

Department of Motor Vehicles.

DMZ

abbreviation

(N. Amer.) demilitarized zone, an area from which warring parties agree to remove their military forces.

DNA /ˌdē ˌen ˈā/

noun

1. [Biochemistry] deoxyribonucleic acid, a self-replicating material present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information.
Each molecule of DNA consists of two strands coiled around each other to form a double helix, a structure like a spiral ladder. Each rung of the ladder consists of a pair of chemical groups called bases (of which there are four types), which combine in specific pairs so that the sequence on one strand of the double helix is complementary to that on the other. It is the specific sequence of bases that constitutes the genetic information.

2. [Biochemistry] the fundamental and distinctive characteristics or qualities of someone or something, especially when regarded as unchangeable

• diversity is part of the company's DNA

• men just don't get shopping—it's not in our DNA.

DNA fingerprinting /ˌdē ˌen ˈā ˈfiNGɡərˌprin(t)iNG / DNA profiling

noun

the analysis of DNA from samples of body tissues or fluids in order to identify individuals.

DNase /ˌdēˈenˌās, -ˌāz/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of DNA into oligonucleotides and smaller molecules.
Also called deoxyribonuclease.

– origin 1940s: from DNA + -ase.

DNA virus

noun

a virus in which the genetic information is stored in the form of DNA (as opposed to RNA).

Dnieper /ˈnēpər dəˈnyepər/

a river in eastern Europe that rises in Russia west of Moscow and flows south for about 1,370 miles (2,200 km) through Ukraine to the Black Sea.
Ukrainian name Dnipro.

Dniester /ˈnēstər dəˈnyestər/

a river in eastern Europe that rises in the Carpathian Mountains in western Ukraine and flows 876 miles (1,410 km) to the Black Sea near Odessa. Russian name Dnestr, Ukrainian name Dnister.

Dnipro /ˈ(d)nēprō/

Ukrainian name for Dnieper.

Dniprodzerzhinsk /dəˌnyēprōdzirˈZHēnsk/

an industrial city and river port in Ukraine, on the Dnieper River; pop. 245,100 (est. 2009).
Former name (until 1936) Kamenskoye.

Dnipropetrovsk /dəˌnēprōpəˈtrôfsk/

an industrial city and river port in Ukraine, on the Dnieper River; pop. 1,017,500 (est. 2009). It was known as Yekaterinoslav (Ekaterinoslav) until 1926.

DNR

abbreviation

do not resuscitate.

DNS

abbreviation

1. domain name server, the system that automatically translates Internet addresses to the numeric machine addresses that computers use.

2. domain name system, the hierarchical method by which Internet addresses are constructed.

do^1 /do͞o/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — perform (an action, the precise nature of which is often unspecified)

• something must be done about the city's traffic

• she knew what she was doing

• what can I do for you?

• Brian was making eyes at the girl, and had been doing so for most of the hearing.

2. perform (a particular task)

• Dad always did the cooking on Sundays.

3. work on (something) to bring it to completion or to a required state

• it takes them longer to do their hair than me

• she's the secretary and does the publicity.

4. make or have available and provide

• he's doing bistro food

• many hotels don't do single rooms at all

• [with two objs.] he decided to do her a favor.

5. solve; work out

• Joe was doing sums aloud.

6. cook (food) to completion or to a specified degree

• if a knife inserted into the center comes out clean, then your pie is done.

7. (often in questions) work at for a living

• what does she do?

8. produce or give a performance of (a particular play, opera, etc.)

• the Royal Shakespeare Company is doing Macbeth next month.

9. perform (a particular role, song, etc.) or imitate (a particular person) in order to entertain people

• he not only does Schwarzenegger and Groucho, he becomes them.

10. ‹informal› take (a narcotic drug)

• he doesn't smoke, drink, or do drugs.

11. attend to (someone)

• the barber said he'd do me next.

12. ‹vulgar slang› have sexual intercourse with.

13. (do it) — ‹informal› have sexual intercourse.

14. (do it) — ‹informal› urinate; defecate.

15. [with obj.] — achieve or complete, in particular

16. travel (a specified distance)

• one car I looked at had done 112,000 miles.

17. travel at (a specified speed)

• I was speeding, doing seventy-five.

18. make (a particular journey)

• last time I did New York–Philadelphia round trip by train it was over 80 bucks.

19. achieve (a specified sales figure)

• our bestselling album did about a million worldwide.

20. ‹informal› visit as a tourist, especially in a superficial or hurried way

• the tourists are allotted only a day to “do” Verona.

21. spend (a specified period of time), typically in prison or in a particular occupation

• he did five years for manslaughter.

22. [no obj.] — ‹informal› finish

• you must sit there and wait till I'm done

• [with present participle] we're done arguing.

23. (be done) — be over

• the special formula continues to beautify your tan when the day is done.

24. (be/have done with) — give up concern for: have finished with

• I would sell the place and have done with it

• Steve was not done with her.

25. [no obj.] — act or behave in a specified way

• they are free to do as they please

• you did well to bring her back.

26. make progress or perform in a specified way; get on

• when a team is doing badly, it's not easy for a new player to settle in

• Mrs. Walters, how're you doing?

27. [with obj. and complement] — have a specified effect on

• the walk will do me good.

28. [with obj.] — result in

• the years of stagnation did a lot of harm to the younger generation.

29. [no obj.] — be suitable or acceptable

• if he's anything like you, he'll do

• the old version will do for now

• [with obj.] a couple of bucks'll do me.

30. [with obj.] — ‹informal› beat up; kill

• he was the guy who did Maranzano.

31. (usu. be done) — ruin

• once you falter, you're done.

32. rob (a place)

• this would be an easy place to do, and there was plenty of money lying around.

33. (Brit.) swindle

• in business you had to do your competitors before they did you.

34. [with obj.] (usu. be/get done for) — (Brit.) ‹informal› prosecute; convict

• we got done for conspiracy to commit murder.

II. auxiliary verb

1. used before a verb (except be, can, may, ought, shall, will) in questions and negative statements

• do you have any pets?

• did he see me?

• I don't smoke

• it does not matter.

2. used to make tag questions

• you write poetry, don't you?

• I never seem to say the right thing, do I?

3. used in negative commands

• don't be silly

• do not forget.

4. used to refer to a verb already mentioned

• he looks better than he did before

• you wanted to enjoy yourself, and you did

• as the cops get smarter, so do the crooks.

5. used to give emphasis to a positive verb

• I do want to act on this

• he did look tired.

6. used in positive commands to give polite encouragement

• do tell me!

• do sit down.

7. used with inversion of a subject and verb when an adverbial phrase begins a clause for emphasis

• only rarely did they succumb

• not only did the play close, the theater closed.

III. noun

1. (also 'do) — ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) short for hairdo.

2. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) a party or other social event

• the soccer club Christmas do.

3. (also doo) [usu. with modifier] — ‹informal› excrement

• the air was rancid with the smell of donkey doo.

4. (Brit.) ‹archaic› ‹informal› a swindle or hoax.

IV. phrases

1. be to do with

be concerned or connected with

• the problems are usually to do with family tension.

2. do a ——

‹informal› behave in a manner characteristic of (a specified person)

• he did a Garbo after his flop in the play.

3. do battle

enter into a conflict.

4. do someone's head (or nut) in

(Brit.) ‹informal› make someone extremely angry, worried, or agitated.

5. do the honors

see honor.

6. do someone/something justice

see justice.

7. don't —— me

‹informal› do not use the word —— to me

• “Don't morning me. Where the hell've you been all night?”

8. do or die

a. persist, even if death is the result.

b. used to describe a critical situation where one's actions may result in victory or defeat

• the 72nd hole was do or die.

9. dos and don'ts

rules of behavior

• I have no knowledge of the political dos and don'ts.

10. do well for oneself

become successful or wealthy.

11. have (got) —— to do with

be connected with (someone or something) to the extent specified

• half the country believed rock 'n' roll had something to do with national decline

• John's got a lot to do with that bribery scandal.

12. have nothing to do with

a. have no contact or dealings with

• Billy and his father have had nothing to do with each other for nearly twenty years.

b. be no business or concern of

• it's my decision—it has nothing to do with you.

c. be unconnected with

• he says his departure has nothing to do with the calls for his resignation.

13. it isn't done

(Brit.) used to express the speaker's opinion that something contravenes custom, opinion, or propriety

• in such a society it is not done to admit to taking religion seriously.

14. it won't do

used to express the speaker's opinion that someone's behavior is unsatisfactory and cannot be allowed to continue

• Don't talk like that—I've told you before, it won't do.

15. no you don't

‹informal› used to indicate that one intends to prevent someone from doing what they were about to do

• Sharon went to get in the taxi. “Oh no you don't,” said Steve.

16. that does it!

‹informal› used to indicate that one will not tolerate something any longer

• That does it! Let's go!

17. that's done it!

(Brit.) ‹informal› used to express dismay or anger when something has gone wrong.

V. phrasal verbs

1. do away with

a. ‹informal› put an end to; remove

• the desire to do away with racism.

b. kill

• he didn't have the courage to do away with her.

2. do by

‹dated› treat or deal with in a specified way

• do as you would be done by

• she did well by them.

3. do someone/something down

a. (Brit.) ‹informal› get the better of someone, typically in an underhanded way.

b. criticize someone or something

• they're always moaning and doing British industry down.

4. do for

a. ‹informal› defeat, ruin, or kill

• without that contract we're done for.

b. (Brit.) ‹informal› do the cleaning for (a person or private household)

• Florrie usually did for the Shermans in the mornings.

5. do something (or nothing) for

‹informal› enhance (or detract from) the appearance or quality of

• that scarf does nothing for you.

6. do someone in

a. ‹informal› kill someone.

b. (usu. be done in) — ‹informal› tire someone out

• after hiking in the hills all day, I was utterly done in.

7. do someone out of

‹informal› deprive someone of (something) in an underhanded or unfair way.

8. do something out

(Brit.) ‹informal› decorate or furnish a room or building in a particular style, color, or material

• the basement is done out in limed oak.

9. do someone over

(Brit.) ‹informal› beat someone up.

10. do something over

a. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› repeat something

• to absorb the lesson, I had to do it over and over.

b. ‹informal› decorate or furnish a room or building.

11. do someone up

(usu. be done up) — dress someone up, especially in an elaborate or impressive way

• Agnes was all done up in a slinky black number.

12. do something up

a. (usu. be done up) — arrange one's hair in a particular way, especially so as to be pulled back from one's face or shoulders

• her dark hair was done up in a pony tail.

b. wrap something up

• unwieldy packages all done up with twine.

13. do with

a. [with modal] — would find useful or would like to have or do

• I could do with a cup of coffee.

b. (can't/won't be doing with) — (Brit.) be unwilling to tolerate or be bothered with

• she couldn't be doing with meals for one.

14. do without

a. (usu. can do without) — manage without

• she could do without cigarettes for a day.

b. ‹informal› would prefer not to have

• I can do without your complaints first thing in the morning.

– origin Old English dōn, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch doen and German tun, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek tithēmi ‘I place’ and Latin facere ‘make, do.’

do^2 /dō/

I. noun

1. [Music] (in solmization) the first and eighth note of a major scale.

2. [Music] the note C in the fixed-do system.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Italian do, an arbitrarily chosen syllable replacing ut, taken from a Latin hymn (see solmization).

do. /ˈdidō/

abbreviation

‹dated› ditto.

DOA

abbreviation

dead on arrival, used to describe a person who is declared dead immediately upon arrival at a hospital.

doable /ˈdo͞oəb(ə)l/

adjective

‹informal› within one's powers; feasible

• none of the jobs were fun, but they were doable.

d.o.b. dob

abbreviation

date of birth.

dobbin /ˈdäbən/

I. noun

‹dated› a pet name for a draft horse or a farm horse.

– origin late 16th cent.: nickname for the given name Robert.

dobby /ˈdäbē/

I. noun

a mechanism attached to a loom for weaving small patterns similar to but simpler than those produced by a Jacquard loom.

– origin late 19th cent.: perhaps an application of the given name Dobbie, from Dob (alteration of the given name Rob). The usage is probably an extension of the earlier sense ‘benevolent elf’ (who performed household tasks secretly).

dobby weave

noun

a style of patterned weave consisting of small geometric devices repeated frequently.

dobe /ˈdōbē/

I. noun

(US) ‹informal› adobe.

– origin mid 19th cent.: abbreviation.

Doberman /ˈdōbərmən / Doberman pinscher

I. noun

a large dog of a German breed with powerful jaws and a smooth coat, typically black with tan markings.

– origin early 20th cent.: from the name of Ludwig Dobermann, 19th-cent. German dog breeder (+ German Pinscher ‘terrier’).

Dobos Torte /ˈdôbəs ˈtôrtə, ˌtôrt/

I. noun

a rich cake made of alternate layers of sponge and chocolate or mocha cream, with a crisp caramel topping.

– origin from German Dobostorte, named after József C. Dobos (1847–1924), Hungarian pastry cook.

dobra /ˈdōbrə/

I. noun

the basic monetary unit of São Tomé and Principe, equal to 100 centavos.

– origin from Portuguese dóbra ‘doubloon.’

Dobrich /ˈdôbrēCH/

a city in northeastern Bulgaria, the center of an agricultural region; pop. 93,163 (2008). It was called Tolbukhin 1949–91 after Soviet marshal Fyodor Ivanovich Tolbukhin.

dobro /ˈdōbrō/

I. noun

‹trademark› a type of acoustic guitar with steel resonating disks inside the body under the bridge.

– origin 1950s: from Do(pěra) Bro(thers), the Czech-American inventors of the instrument.

Dobruja /ˈdäbro͞oˌjä/

a district in eastern Romania and northeastern Bulgaria on the Black Sea coast, bounded on the north and west by the Danube River.

dobsonfly /ˈdäbsənˌflī/

I. noun

a large gray North American winged insect related to the alderflies. Its predatory aquatic larva (the hellgrammite) is often used as fishing bait.
[Family Corydalidae, order Neuroptera: several genera and species, in particular Corydalus cornutus.]

– origin early 20th cent.: of unknown origin.

Dobsonian /däbˈsōnēən/

I. adjective

relating to or denoting a low-cost Newtonian reflecting telescope with large aperture and short focal length, or the simple altazimuth mount used for it.

– origin 1980s: from the name of John Dobson, American amateur astronomer, + -ian.

Dobson unit /ˈdäbsən ˌyo͞onit / DU

I. noun

a unit of measurement for the total amount of ozone in the atmosphere above a point on the earth's surface, one Dobson unit being equivalent to a layer of pure ozone 0.01 mm thick at standard temperature and pressure.

– origin 1980s: from the name of G. M. B. Dobson (1889–1976), British meteorologist.

doc /däk / ‹informal›

abbreviation

1. doctor.

2. [Computing] document.

docent /ˈdōsənt/

I. noun

1. a person who acts as a guide, typically on a voluntary basis, in a museum, art gallery, or zoo.

2. (in certain universities and colleges) a member of the teaching staff immediately below professorial rank.

– origin late 19th cent.: via German from Latin docent- ‘teaching,’ from docere ‘teach.’

Docetism /dōˈsēˌtizəm, ˈdōsi-/

I. noun

the doctrine, important in Gnosticism, that Christ's body was not human but either a phantasm or of real but celestial substance, and that therefore his sufferings were only apparent.

II. derivatives

Docetist

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from medieval Latin Docetae (the name, based on Greek dokein ‘seem,’ given to a group of 2nd-cent. Christian heretics) + -ism.

docile /ˈdäsəl/

I. adjective

ready to accept control or instruction; submissive

• a cheap and docile workforce.

II. derivatives

1. docilely /ˈdäsəllē /

adverb

2. docility /däˈsilədē /

noun

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘apt or willing to learn’): from Latin docilis, from docere ‘teach.’

dock^1 /däk/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a structure extending alongshore or out from the shore into a body of water, to which boats may be moored

• the gangplank was lowered to the dock.

2. an enclosed area of water in a port for the loading, unloading, and repair of ships.

3. (docks) — a group of enclosed areas of water along with the wharves and buildings near them.

4. short for dry dock.

5. (also loading dock) — a platform for loading or unloading trucks or freight trains.

6. a device in which a laptop computer, smartphone, or other mobile device may be placed for charging, providing access to a power supply and to peripheral devices or auxiliary features; a docking station.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a ship) tie up at a dock, especially in order to load or unload passengers or cargo

• the ship docked at San Francisco.

2. [with obj.] — bring (a ship or boat) into a dock

• the riverbank where the fur traders docked their boats.

3. (of a spacecraft) join with a space station or another spacecraft in space.

4. attach (a piece of equipment) to another

• the user wants to dock a portable into a desktop computer.

– origin late Middle English: from Middle Dutch, Middle Low German docke, of unknown origin.

dock^2 /däk/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be docked)

1. deduct (something, especially an amount of money)

• their wages are docked for public displays of affection

• [with two objs.] he will be docked an hour's pay.

2. cut short (an animal's tail)

• fifteen of the dogs had had their tails docked.

II. noun

1. the solid bony or fleshy part of an animal's tail, excluding the hair.

2. the stump left after a tail has been docked.

– origin late Middle English: perhaps related to Frisian dok ‘bunch, ball (of string, etc.)’ and German Docke ‘doll.’ The original noun sense was ‘the solid part of an animal's tail,’ whence the verb sense ‘cut short (an animal's tail),’ later generalized to ‘reduce, deduct.’

dock^3 /däk/

I. noun — (usu. the dock)

1. the enclosure in a criminal court where a defendant is placed

• the nine others in the dock face a combination of charges.

– origin late 16th cent.: probably originally slang and related to Flemish dok ‘chicken coop, rabbit hutch,’ of unknown origin.

dock^4 /däk/

I. noun

a coarse weed of temperate regions, with inconspicuous greenish or reddish flowers. The leaves are popularly used to relieve nettle stings.
[Genus Rumex, family Polygonaceae.]

– origin Old English docce, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dialect dokke.

dockage /ˈdäkij/

noun

1. accommodation or berthing of ships at docks.

2. the charge made for using docks.

docker /ˈdäkər/

noun

another term for longshoreman.

docket /ˈdäkət/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a calendar or list of cases for trial or people having cases pending.

2. an agenda or list of things to be done.

3. a document or label listing the contents of a package or delivery.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) enter (a case or suit) onto a list of those due to be heard

• the case will go to the Supreme Court, and may be docketed for the fall term.

2. mark (goods or a package) with a document or label listing the contents.

3. annotate (a letter or document) with a brief summary of its contents.

– origin late 15th cent.: perhaps from dock^2. The word originally denoted a short summary or abstract; hence, in the early 18th cent., ‘a document giving particulars of a consignment.’

dockhand /ˈdäkhand/

noun

a longshoreman.

docking station /ˈdäkiNG stāSHən/

noun

a device in which a laptop computer, smartphone, or other mobile device may be placed for charging, providing access to a power supply and to peripheral devices or auxiliary features.

dockland /ˈdäkˌland/

noun — (also docklands)

1. (chiefly Brit.) the area containing a city's docks

• plans to redevelop London's docklands.

dockominium /ˌdäkəˈminēəm/

I. noun

1. (US) a waterfront condominium with a private mooring.

2. (US) a privately owned dock at a marina.

– origin 1980s: from dock^1, on the pattern of condominium.

dockside /ˈdäkˌsīd/

noun — [in sing.]

1. the area immediately adjacent to a dock.

dockworker /ˈdäkˌwərkər/

noun

a person employed in a port to load and unload ships; a longshoreman.

dockyard /ˈdäkˌyärd/

noun

an area or establishment with docks and equipment for repairing and maintaining ships.

Doc Martens /ˌdäk ˈmärtnz / Dr. Martens

I. plural noun

‹trademark› a type of heavy lace-up boot or shoe with an air-cushioned sole.

– origin 1970s: named after Klaus Maertens, German inventor of the sole.

doctor /ˈdäktər/

I. noun

1. a qualified practitioner of medicine; a physician.

2. (N. Amer.) a qualified dentist or veterinary surgeon.

3. [with modifier] — ‹informal› a person who gives advice or makes improvements

• the script doctor rewrote the original.

4. (Doctor) — a person who holds a doctorate

• he was made a Doctor of Divinity.

5. short for Doctor of the Church.

6. ‹archaic› a teacher or learned person

• the wisest doctor is graveled by the inquisitiveness of a child.

7. an artificial fishing fly.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. change the content or appearance of (a document or picture) in order to deceive; falsify

• the reports could have been doctored.

2. alter the content of (a drink, food, or substance) by adding strong or harmful ingredients

• he denied doctoring Stephen's drinks.

3. [Baseball] tamper with (a ball) so as to affect its movement when pitched.

4. (usu. as noun doctoring) — ‹informal› treat (someone) medically

• he contemplated giving up doctoring.

5. (Brit.) remove the sexual organs of (an animal) so that it cannot reproduce.

6. repair (a machine).

III. phrases

be (just) what the doctor ordered

‹informal› be very beneficial or desirable under the circumstances

• a 2-0 victory is just what the doctor ordered.

IV. derivatives

doctorly

adjective

– origin Middle English (in the senses ‘learned person’ and ‘Doctor of the Church’): via Old French from Latin doctor ‘teacher’ (from docere ‘teach’).

doctoral /ˈdäkt(ə)rəl/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. relating to or designed to achieve a doctorate

• a doctoral dissertation.

doctorate /ˈdäkt(ə)rət/

I. noun

the highest degree awarded by a graduate school or other approved educational organization

• a doctorate in Classics.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin doctoratus ‘made a doctor.’

doctor fish

noun

a small fish of a kind used in fish pedicures to remove dead or calloused skin.
[Garra rufa or Cyprinion macrostomus.]

Doctor of Philosophy /ˈdäktər əv fəˈläsəfē / Ph.D.

noun

1. a doctorate in any discipline except medicine, or sometimes theology.

2. a person holding a Doctor of Philosophy degree.

Doctor of the Church

noun

one of the early Christian theologians regarded as especially authoritative in the Western Church (particularly St. Augustine of Hippo, St. Jerome, St. Ambrose, and St. Gregory the Great) or later so designated by the pope (e.g., St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Teresa of Ávila).
Compare with documentarian (sense 1).

Doctorow, E. L. /ˈdäktəˌrō/

(1931–), US writer; full name Edgar Lawrence Doctorow. His novels include Ragtime (1975), Billy Bathgate (1989), The Waterworks (1994), and City of God (2000).

doctrinaire /ˌdäktrəˈner/

I. adjective

seeking to impose a doctrine in all circumstances without regard to practical considerations

• a doctrinaire conservative.

II. noun

a person who seeks to impose a doctrine without regard to practical considerations.

III. derivatives

doctrinairism /-ˌizəm /

noun

– origin early 19th cent.: from French, from doctrine (see doctrine).

doctrinal /ˈdäktrənl däkˈtrīn(ə)l/

I. adjective

concerned with a doctrine or doctrines

• doctrinal disputes.

II. derivatives

doctrinally /ˈdäktrənlē däkˈtrīnəlē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin doctrinalis, from doctrina ‘teaching, learning’ (see doctrine).

doctrine /ˈdäktrən/

I. noun

1. a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a church, political party, or other group

• the doctrine of predestination.

2. (US) a stated principle of government policy, mainly in foreign or military affairs

• the Monroe Doctrine.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, from Latin doctrina ‘teaching, learning,’ from doctor ‘teacher,’ from docere ‘teach.’

docu /ˈdäkyo͞o/

noun

‹informal› short for documentary (noun):

• a well-researched and in-depth docu

• docus are our last truly independent movie art form.

docu- /ˈdäkyo͞o/

I. combining form

denoting a dramatized film, television program, play, etc., that is based on real events

• a docu-film which tells the story of how Doctor Who was created

• a docu-musical about the life of Buddy Holly.

– origin 1960s: abbreviation of documentary.

docudrama /ˈdäkyəˌdrämə/

I. noun

a dramatized television movie based on real events.

– origin 1960s: from docu- + drama.

document

I. noun — /ˈdäkyəmənt /

1. a piece of written, printed, or electronic matter that provides information or evidence or that serves as an official record.

II. verb — /ˈdäkyəˌment / [with obj.]

1. record (something) in written, photographic, or other form

• the photographer spent years documenting the lives of miners.

2. support or accompany with documentation.

III. derivatives

1. documentable /ˌdäkyəˈmentəbəl /

adjective

2. documental /ˌdäkyəˈmentl /

adjective

3. documenter /-ˌmentər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, from Latin documentum ‘lesson, proof’ (in medieval Latin ‘written instruction, official paper’), from docere ‘teach.’

documentarian /ˌdäkyəmenˈterēən/

noun

1. a photographer specializing in producing a factual record.

2. a director or producer of documentaries.

3. an expert analyst of historical documents.

documentarist /ˌdäkyəˈmen(t)ərəst/

noun

another term for documentarian (sense 1).

documentary /ˌdäkyəˈment(ə)rē/

I. adjective

1. consisting of official pieces of written, printed, or other matter

• his book is based on documentary sources.

2. (of a movie, a television or radio program, or photography) using pictures or interviews with people involved in real events to provide a factual record or report

• he has directed documentary shorts and feature films.

II. noun

a movie or a television or radio program that provides a factual record or report.

– origin early 19th cent.: from document + -ary^1.

documentation /ˌdäkyəmənˈtāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. material that provides official information or evidence or that serves as a record

• you will have to complete the relevant documentation.

2. the written specification and instructions accompanying a computer program or hardware.

3. the process of classifying and annotating texts, photographs, etc.

• she arranged the collection and documentation of photographs.

document case /ˈdäkyəˌment kās/

noun

a lightweight, typically flexible case for carrying papers.

document type definition DTD

noun

[Computing] a template that sets out the format and tag structure of an XML- or SGML-compliant document.

docuseries /ˈdäkyo͞oˌsirēz/

I. noun

a television series that follows a particular person or group of people and their involvement in real events and situations over a period of time

• a docuseries about the New York City Ballet

• a four-part docuseries chronicling his participation in France's legendary 24-hour race, Le Mans.

– origin 1980s: from docu- + series.

docusoap /ˈdäkyəˌsōp/

I. noun

a documentary following people in a particular occupation or location over a period of time.

– origin 1990s: from docu- + soap (sense 2 of the noun).

docutainment /ˌdäkyəˈtānmənt/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) entertainment provided by movies or other presentations that include documentary materials, intended both to inform and to entertain.

– origin 1970s: blend of documentary and entertainment.

DOD

abbreviation

Department of Defense.

dodder^1 /ˈdädər/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. tremble or totter, typically because of old age

• spent and nerve-weary, I doddered into the foyer of a third-rate hotel

• (as adj. doddering) that doddering old fool.

II. derivatives

1. dodderer /ˈdäd(ə)rər /

noun

2. doddery /ˈdäd(ə)rē /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: variant of obsolete dialect dadder; related to dither.

dodder^2 /ˈdädər/

I. noun

a widely distributed parasitic climbing plant of the morning glory family, with leafless threadlike stems that are attached to the host plant by means of suckers.
[Genus Cuscuta, family Convolvulaceae.]

– origin Middle English: related to Middle Low German doder, dodder, Middle High German toter.

doddle /ˈdädl/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. (Brit.) ‹informal› a very easy task

• this printer is a doddle to set up and use.

– origin 1930s: perhaps from dialect doddle ‘toddle,’ of unknown origin.

dodeca-

I. combining form

(used chiefly in scientific and musical terms) twelve; having twelve

• dodecahedron

• dodecaphonic.

– origin from Greek.

dodecagon /dōˈdekəˌɡän/

I. noun

a plane figure with twelve sides.

II. derivatives

dodecagonal /dōdiˈkaɡənl /

adjective

– origin late 17th cent.: from Greek dōdekagōnon, neuter (used as a noun) of dōdekagōnos ‘twelve-angled.’

dodecahedron /ˌdōˌdekəˈhēdrən/

I. noun

a three-dimensional shape having twelve plane faces, in particular a regular solid figure with twelve equal pentagonal faces.

II. derivatives

dodecahedral /-drəl /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: from Greek dōdekaedron, neuter (used as a noun) of dōdekaedros ‘twelve-faced.’

Dodecanese /dōˈdekənēz/

a group of twelve islands in the southeastern Aegean Sea, of which the largest is Rhodes.

dodecaphonic /dōˌdekəˈfänik/

adjective

[Music] another term for twelve-tone.

dodge /däj/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. avoid (someone or something) by a sudden quick movement

• we ducked inside our doorway to dodge shrapnel that was raining down.

2. [no obj.] — move quickly to one side or out of the way

• Adam dodged between the cars.

3. avoid (something) in a cunning or dishonest way

• he went after people who had either dodged the war or invented a record in it.

4. (often as noun dodging) — [Photography] expose (one area of a print) less than the rest during processing or enlarging.

II. noun

1. a sudden quick movement to avoid someone or something.

2. a cunning trick or dishonest act, in particular one intended to avoid something unpleasant

• bartering can be seen as a tax dodge.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the senses ‘dither’ and ‘haggle’): of unknown origin.

dodgeball /ˈdäjbôl/

noun

(N. Amer.) a game in which players in a circle try to hit opponents inside the circle, thus eliminating them, with an inflated ball.

Dodge City /ˌdäj ˈsitē/

a city in southwestern Kansas; pop. 25,689 (est. 2008). Established in 1872 as a shipping station on the Santa Fe Trail, it rapidly gained a reputation as a rowdy frontier town.

dodgem /ˈdäjəm / dodgem car

I. noun

another term for bumper car.

– origin 1920s: US proprietary name (as Dodg'em), from the phrase dodge them.

dodger /ˈdäjər/

noun

1. [often with modifier] — a person who engages in cunning tricks or dishonest practices to avoid something unpleasant

• tax dodgers.

2. [Nautical] a canvas screen on a ship giving protection from spray.

3. a small handbill or leaflet.

4. see corn dodger.

Dodgson, Charles Lutwidge /ˈdäjsən/

see Carroll, Lewis.

dodgy /ˈdäjē/

adjective

1. (Brit.) ‹informal› dishonest or unreliable

• a dodgy secondhand car salesman.

2. (Brit.) ‹informal› potentially dangerous

• activities like these could be dodgy for your heart.

3. (Brit.) ‹informal› of low quality.

dodo /ˈdōdō/

I. noun

1. an extinct flightless bird with a stout body, stumpy wings, a large head, and a heavy hooked bill. It was found on Mauritius until the end of the 17th century.
[Raphus cucullatus, family Raphidae. See also solitaire (sense 3).]

2. ‹informal› an old-fashioned and ineffective person or thing.

II. phrases

(as) dead as a (or the) dodo

a. ‹informal› dead (used for emphasis).

b. no longer effective, valid, or interesting

• the campaign was as dead as a dodo.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Portuguese doudo ‘simpleton’ (because the bird had no fear of man and was easily killed). Compare with dotterel.

Dodoma /ˈdōdəmə, -ˌmä/

the capital of Tanzania, in the center of the country; pop. 183,000 (2007).

doe /dō/

I. noun

1. a female deer.

2. a female of certain other animal species, such as hare, rabbit, rat, ferret, or kangaroo.

– origin Old English dā, of unknown origin.

DOE

abbreviation

Department of Energy.

doe-eyed /ˈdōˌīd/

adjective

having large, gentle, dark eyes

• portraits of doe-eyed young girls.

doer /ˈdo͞oər/

noun

1. the person who does something

• the doer of the action.

2. a person who acts rather than merely talking or thinking

• I'm a doer, not a moaner.

does /dəz/

third person singular present of do^1.

doeskin /ˈdōskin/

noun

1. leather made from the skin of a female fallow deer.

2. a fine satin-weave woolen cloth resembling doeskin.

doesn't /ˈdəz(ə)nt/

contraction

does not.

doest /ˈdo͞oəst/

archaic second person singular present of do^1.

doeth /ˈdo͞oəTH/

archaic third person singular present of do^1.

doff /däf dôf/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove (an item of clothing)

• he had doffed tie and jacket and rolled up his shirtsleeves.

2. take off or raise (one's hat) as a greeting or token of respect

• the manager doffed his hat to her.

– origin late Middle English: contraction of do off. Compare with don^2.

dog /dôɡ/

I. noun

1. a domesticated carnivorous mammal that typically has a long snout, an acute sense of smell, and a barking, howling, or whining voice. It is widely kept as a pet or for work or field sports.
[Canis familiaris, family Canidae (the dog family); probably domesticated from the wolf in the Mesolithic period. The dog family also includes the wolves, coyotes, jackals, and foxes.]

2. a wild animal of the dog family.

3. the male of an animal of the dog family, or of some other mammals such as the otter
[as modifier]

• a dog fox.

4. ‹informal› a person regarded as unpleasant, contemptible, or wicked (used as a term of abuse)

• come out, Michael, you dog!

5. [with adj.] — ‹dated› used to refer to a person of a specified kind in a tone of playful reproof, commiseration, or congratulation

• you lucky dog!

6. used in various phrases to refer to someone who is abject or miserable, especially because they have been treated harshly

• I make him work like a dog

• Rob was treated like a dog.

7. ‹informal› ‹derogatory› a woman regarded as unattractive.

8. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) a thing of poor quality; a failure

• a dog of a movie.

9. short for firedog.

10. a mechanical device for gripping.

11. (dogs) — (N. Amer.) ‹informal› feet

• if only I could sit down and rest my tired dogs.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. follow (someone or their movements) closely and persistently

• photographers seemed to dog her every step.

2. (of a problem) cause continual trouble for

• their finance committee has been dogged by controversy.

3. (dog it) — ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) act lazily; fail to try one's hardest.

4. grip (something) with a mechanical device
[with obj. and complement]

• she has dogged the door shut.

III. phrases

1. dog eat dog

used to refer to a situation of fierce competition in which people are willing to harm each other in order to succeed

• in this business, it's always dog eat dog

• popular music is a dog-eat-dog industry.

2. a dog's age

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a very long time

• the best I've seen in a dog's age.

3. a dog's life

an unhappy existence, full of problems or unfair treatment.

4. the dogs of war

‹literary› the havoc accompanying military conflict.
[from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar (III. 1. 274).]

5. every dog has its day

‹proverb› everyone will have good luck or success at some point in their lives.

6. go to the dogs

‹informal› deteriorate shockingly

• the country is going to the dogs.

7. hair of the dog

see hair.

8. let sleeping dogs lie

see sleep.

9. not a dog's chance

no chance at all.

10. put on the dog

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› behave in a pretentious or ostentatious way

• we have to put on the dog for Anne Marie.

11. rain cats and dogs

see rain.

12. (as) sick as a dog

see sick^1.

13. throw someone to the dogs

discard someone as worthless

• the weak and oppressed must not be thrown to the dogs.

14. you can't teach an old dog new tricks

‹proverb› you cannot make people change their established patterns of opinion and behavior.

IV. derivatives

doglike /ˈdôɡˌlīk /

adjective

– origin Old English docga, of unknown origin.

dog and pony show

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› an elaborate display or presentation, especially as part of a promotional campaign.

dogbane /ˈdäɡbān/

noun

a shrubby North American plant, typically having bell-shaped flowers and reputed to be poisonous to dogs.
[Genus Apocynum, family Apocynaceae: several species, including the common spreading dogbane (A. androsaemifolium).]

dogberry /ˈdäɡˌberē/

noun

1. ‹informal› the fruit of the dogwood.

2. (also dogberry tree) — ‹informal› the dogwood.

3. ‹informal› a fruit of poor eating quality from any of a number of other shrubs or small trees, e.g., the American rowan.

dog biscuit /ˈdôɡ ˈˌbiskit/

noun

a hard thick biscuit for feeding to dogs.

dogcart /ˈdäɡkärt/

noun

a two-wheeled horse-drawn cart, with cross seats back to back, originally incorporating a box under the seat for sportsmen's dogs.

dogcatcher /ˈdôːɡkaCHər/

noun

1. an official or employee who rounds up and impounds stray dogs in a community.
Also called dog warden.

2. ‹informal› a low-level political official.

dog clutch

noun

a device for coupling two shafts in order to transmit motion, one part having teeth that engage with slots in another.

dog cockle

noun

a burrowing bivalve mollusk that has a highly convex, almost spherical, shell.
[Family Glycimeridae: many species, including the European Glycymeris glycymeris.]

dog collar /ˈdôɡ ˈˌkälər/

noun

1. a collar for a dog.

2. informal term for clerical collar.

dog days /ˈdôɡ ˈˌdāz/

plural noun

1. the hottest period of the year (reckoned in antiquity from the heliacal rising of Sirius, the Dog Star).

2. a period of inactivity or sluggishness

• in August the baseball races are in the dog days.

dogdom /ˈdôɡdəm/

noun

the world of dogs and dog enthusiasts.

• he knows 200 commands and 70 hand signals, a vocabulary record in dogdom.

doge /dōj/

I. noun

‹historical› the chief magistrate of Venice or Genoa.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French, from Venetian Italian doze, based on Latin dux, duc- ‘leader.’

dog-ear /ˈdôɡir/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. fold down the corner of (a book or magazine), typically to mark a place.

II. adjective — (dog-eared)

1. (of an object made from paper) with the corners worn or battered with use.

dog-end /ˈdôɡ ˌend/

noun

1. (Brit.) ‹informal› a cigarette butt.

2. (Brit.) ‹informal› the last and least pleasing part of something

• the dog-end of a hard day.

dogface /ˈdäɡfās/

noun

(US) ‹informal› ‹dated› a US soldier, especially an infantryman.

dog-fall /ˈdôɡˌfôl/

noun

a fall in which wrestlers touch the ground together.

dogfight /ˈdôɡˌfīt/

I. noun

1. a close combat between military aircraft.

2. a ferocious struggle for supremacy between interested parties

• the meeting deteriorated into a dogfight.

3. a fight between dogs, especially one organized illegally for public entertainment.

II. verb

engage in a dogfight
[no obj.]

• resplendent model airplanes dogfighting in the updrafts.

III. derivatives

dogfighter

noun

dogfish /ˈdôɡˌfiSH/

noun

1. a small sand-colored bottom-dwelling shark with a long tail, common on European coasts.
[Scyliorhinus canicula, family Scyliorhinidae.]

2. [with modifier] — a small shark that resembles or is related to the dogfish, sometimes caught for food.
[Several genera in the families Scyliorhinidae, Squalidae, and Triakidae.]

dog food

I. noun

food eaten by or intended to be eaten by domesticated dogs.

• a can of dog food.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› [chiefly Computing] (of a company's staff) use a product or service developed by that company so as to test it before it is made available to customers

• it was a great opportunity to dogfood the phones

• (as noun dogfooding) If you're writing software intended for other developers then dogfooding makes perfect sense.

III. phrases

eat one's own dog food

‹informal› [chiefly Computing] (of a company's staff) use a product or service developed by that company so as to test it before it is made available to customers

• we had to eat our own dog food—we had to make sure the tools worked.

dogged /ˈdôɡəd/

I. adjective

having or showing tenacity and grim persistence

• success required dogged determination.

II. derivatives

doggedness /ˈdôɡədnəs /

noun

doggedly /ˈdôɡədlē/

adverb

in a manner that shows tenacity and grim persistence

• she has doggedly pursued her own path

• Grant is doggedly determined to uncover the truth.

dogger^1 /ˈdôɡər/

I. noun

‹historical› a two-masted, bluff-bowed Dutch sailboat, used for fishing.

– origin Middle English: from Middle Dutch.

dogger^2 /ˈdôɡər/

I. noun

[Geology] a large spherical concretion occurring in sedimentary rock.

– origin late 17th cent. (originally a dialect word denoting a kind of ironstone): perhaps from dog.

doggerel /ˈdôɡərəl/

I. noun

1. comic verse composed in irregular rhythm.

2. verse or words that are badly written or expressed

• the last stanza deteriorates into doggerel.

– origin late Middle English (as an adjective describing such verse): apparently from dog (used contemptuously, as in dog Latin) + -rel.

doggie bag

noun

a bag used by a restaurant customer or party guest to take home leftover food, supposedly for their dog.

doggish /ˈdôɡiSH/

adjective

1. of or like a dog.

2. ‹archaic› (of a person) having the bad qualities of a dog, especially by being bad-tempered or snappish.

doggo /ˈdôɡō/

I. adverb — (in phrase lie doggo)

1. ‹informal› remain motionless and quiet to escape detection

• a dozen officers had been lying doggo for hours.

– origin late 19th cent.: of obscure origin; apparently from dog + -o.

doggone /ˈdä(ɡ)ɡôn / ‹N. Amer. informal›

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. used to express feelings of annoyance, surprise, or pleasure

• now just a doggone minute

• [as submodifier] it's doggone good to be home.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. used to express surprise, irritation, or anger

• from that moment, doggone it if I didn't see a motivation in Joey!

• I'll be doggoned if every fourth kid is affected.

– origin early 19th cent.: probably from dog on it, euphemism for God damn it.

doggy /ˈdôɡē/

I. adjective

1. of or like a dog

• his doggy brown eyes.

2. fond of dogs

• it was a doggy household.

II. noun

a child's word for a dog.

III. derivatives

dogginess

noun

doggy style doggie style, doggy fashion

noun — [in sing.]

1. ‹informal› a sexual position in which one partner is penetrated from behind by the other while supporting themselves on their hands and knees

• doggy style was by far the favorite position

• [as adv.] sometimes we do it doggy style.

doghouse /ˈdôɡˌhous/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a dog's kennel.

2. (N. Amer.) [Sailing] a raised area at the after end of a yacht's coachroof, providing standing room.

II. phrases

(be) in the doghouse

‹informal› ‹often humorous› (be) in mild or temporary disfavor.

dogie /ˈdōɡē/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a motherless or neglected calf.

– origin late 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

dog in the manger

I. noun

a person who has no need of, or ability to use, a possession that would be of use or value to others, but who prevents others from having it

• what a dog in the manger you must be!

• [as adj.] she can be so dog in the manger about updating things in the office.

– origin alluding to the fable of the dog that lay in a manger to prevent the ox and horse from eating the hay.

dog Latin /dôɡ ˈlatn/

noun

a debased form of Latin.

dogleg /ˈdäɡleɡ/

I. noun

1. a thing that bends sharply, in particular a sharp bend in a road or route.

2. [Golf] a hole at which the player cannot aim directly at the green from the tee.

II. adjective

bent like a dog's hind leg

• the surf splashes over the dogleg concrete jetty.

III. verb — [no obj.]

1. follow a sharply bending route

• Highway 60 now doglegs northwest toward Frankfort.

dogma /ˈdôɡmə/

I. noun

a principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true

• the Christian dogma of the Trinity

• the rejection of political dogma.

– origin mid 16th cent.: via late Latin from Greek dogma ‘opinion,’ from dokein ‘seem good, think.’

dogmatic /dôɡˈmadik/

I. adjective

inclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true

• he gives his opinion without trying to be dogmatic.

II. derivatives

dogmatically /dôɡˈmadək(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin early 17th cent. (as a noun denoting a philosopher or physician of a school based on a priori assumptions): via late Latin from Greek dogmatikos, from dogma, dogmat- (see dogma).

dogmatics /dôɡˈmadiks/

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. a system of principles laid down by an authority, especially the Roman Catholic Church, as incontrovertibly true

• it is a work of analysis, not of dogmatics.

dogmatism /ˈdôɡməˌtizəm/

I. noun

the tendency to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true, without consideration of evidence or the opinions of others

• a culture of dogmatism and fanaticism.

II. derivatives

dogmatist /ˈdôɡmədəst /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: via French from medieval Latin dogmatismus, from Latin dogma (see dogma).

dogmatize /ˈdäɡməˌtīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. represent as an incontrovertible truth

• I find views dogmatized to the point of absurdity.

– origin early 17th cent.: via French and late Latin from Greek dogmatizein ‘lay down one's opinion,’ from dogma (see dogma).

dognap /ˈdäɡnap/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› steal (a dog), especially in order to sell it.

II. derivatives

dognapper

noun

do-gooder /ˈdo͞oˌɡo͝odər/

I. noun

a well-meaning but unrealistic or interfering philanthropist or reformer.

II. derivatives

1. do-good

adjective, noun

2. do-goodery /ˌdo͞oˈɡo͝od(ə)rē /

noun

3. do-gooding

noun

4. do-goodism /-ɡo͝odˌizəm /

noun

dog paddle ‹Brit.› doggy-paddle

I. noun

an elementary swimming stroke like that of a swimming dog.

II. verb — (dog-paddle) [no obj.]

1. swim using this stroke.

dog racing

noun

another term for greyhound racing.

Dogrib /ˈdäɡrib/

I. noun

1. a member of a Dene people of northwestern Canada.

2. the Athabaskan language of the Dogrib.

II. adjective

relating to the Dogrib or their language.

– origin translation of Cree atimospikay; from the legend that the people's common ancestor was a dog.

dog rose /ˈdôɡ ˌrōz/

noun

a delicately scented Eurasian wild rose with pink or white flowers.
[Genus Rosa, family Rosaceae: several closely related species, in particular R. canina.]

dogsbody /ˈdôɡzˌbädē/

I. noun

‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) a person who is given boring, menial tasks to do

• I got myself a job as typist and general dogsbody on a small magazine.

II. derivatives

dogsbodying

noun

dog-sit

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. look after a dog or dogs while their owner is away, usually staying at the owner's home in order to do so

• she asked me to dog-sit while she went away

• [with obj.] I was invited by a friend to dog-sit her French bulldog.

II. derivatives

1. dog-sitter

noun

2. dog-sitting

noun

dogskin /ˈdäɡskin/

noun

leather made of or imitating dog's skin, especially as used for gloves.

dogsled /ˈdäɡˌsled / dog sled

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a sled designed to be pulled by dogs.

II. verb — [no obj.] (usu. as noun dogsledding)

1. travel by dogsled

• winter activities include cross-country skiing and dogsledding.

dog's mercury

I. noun

a Eurasian plant of the spurge family, with hairy stems and small green flowers, widely found as a dominant plant of old woodland.
[Mercurialis perennis, family Euphorbiaceae.]

– origin late 16th cent.: translating modern Latin Mercurialis canina (former taxonomic name); the plant is poisonous and is contrasted with Mercurialis annua ‘annual mercury,’ useful in medicine.

dogstail /ˈdäɡztāl / dog's-tail

noun

an Old World fodder grass with spiky flower heads.
[Genus Cynosurus, family Gramineae: several species, in particular crested dogstail (C. cristatus), a common pasture grass.]

Dog Star /ˈdôɡ ˌstär/

I. the star Sirius.

– origin translating Greek kuon or Latin canicula ‘small dog,’ both names of the star; so named as it appears to follow at the heels of Orion (the hunter).

dog tag /ˈdôɡ ˈˌtaɡ/

noun

1. a metal tag attached to a dog's collar, typically giving its name and owner's address.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a soldier's metal identity tag, worn on a chain around the neck.

dog-tired /ˈdôɡ ˈˌtī(ə)rd/

adjective

extremely tired; worn out

• he'd gone to bed dog-tired.

dogtooth /ˈdäɡto͞oTH/

noun

[Architecture] a small pointed ornament repeated along a molding consisting of four petals radiating from a raised center, used especially in the Early English style.

dogtooth violet /ˈdôɡˌto͞oTH ˈvī(ə)lət/

noun

a plant of the lily family that has backward-curving pointed petals.
[Genus Erythronium, family Liliaceae: several species, in particular the trout lily of North America and the Eurasian E. dens-canis, with speckled leaves and pinkish-purple flowers.]

dog track

noun

a stadium or course used for greyhound racing

• he would often watch races with friends at the dog track.

dogtrot /ˈdäɡträt/

I. noun

1. [in sing.] — a gentle easy trot.

2. a breezeway connecting two cabins.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. move at a dogtrot.

dog violet

noun

a scentless wild violet, typically having purple or lilac flowers.
[Genus Viola, family Violaceae: several species, in particular V. conspersa of eastern North America.]

dog warden

noun

another term for dogcatcher.

dogwatch /ˈdôɡˌwäCH ˈdôɡˌwôCH/

noun

either of two short watches on a ship (4–6 or 6–8 p.m.).

dog-weary

adjective

another term for dog-tired.

dog whelk

noun

a predatory marine mollusk that typically occurs on the shore or in shallow waters.
[Family Nassaridae, class Gastropoda: Nucella and other genera.]

dog whistle

noun

1. a high-pitched whistle used to train dogs, typically having a sound inaudible to humans.

2. [usu. as modifier] — a subtly aimed political message which is intended for, and can only be understood by, a particular group

• dog-whistle issues such as immigration and crime.

dogwood /ˈdôɡˌwo͝od/

I. noun

1. a shrub or small tree of north temperate regions that yields hard timber and is grown for its decorative foliage, red stems, and colorful berries.
[Genus Cornus, family Cornaceae: many species, including the flowering dogwood (C. florida), common to the eastern US.]

2. used in names of trees that resemble the dogwood or yield similar hard timber.

– origin so named because the wood was formerly used to make “dogs” (i.e., skewers).

doh /dō / d'oh

exclamation

‹informal› used to comment on a foolish or stupid action, especially one's own

• I keep crashing cars. Doh! What a dummy!

Doha /ˈdōˌhä/

the capital of Qatar, in the eastern part of the country; pop 385,000 (est. 2007).

DOHC

abbreviation

double overhead camshaft.

DOI

abbreviation

[Computing] digital object identifier.

doily /ˈdoilē/

I. noun

a small ornamental mat made of lace or paper with a lace pattern, typically placed on a plate under a cake or other sweet foods.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Doiley or Doyley, the name of a 17th-cent. London draper. The word originally denoted a woolen material used for summer wear, said to have been introduced by this draper. The current sense (originally doily napkin) dates from the early 18th cent.

doing /ˈdo͞oiNG/

I. noun

1. (usu. doings) — the activities in which a particular person engages

• the latest doings of television stars.

2. effort; activity

• it would take some doing to calm him down.

3. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) a beating or scolding

• someone had given her a doing.

II. phrases

be someone's doing

be the creation or fault of the person named

• he looked at Lisa as though it was all her doing.

doit /doit/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. ‹archaic› a very small amount of money.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Middle Low German doyt, Middle Dutch duit, of unknown origin.

do-it-yourself DIY

I. adjective

(of work, especially building, painting, or decorating) done or to be done by an amateur at home

• easy-to-use materials and do-it-yourself kits for plumbing fittings.

II. derivatives

do-it-yourselfer

noun

dojo /ˈdōˌjō/

I. noun

a room or hall in which judo and other martial arts are practiced.

– origin Japanese, from dō ‘way, pursuit’ + jō ‘a place.’

dol.

abbreviation

dollar(s).

Dolby /ˈdōlbē ˈdôlbē/

I. noun

1. ‹trademark› an electronic noise-reduction system used in tape recording to reduce hiss.

2. ‹trademark› an electronic system used to provide stereophonic sound for movie theaters and television sets.

– origin 1960s: named after Ray M. Dolby (1933–2013), the American engineer who devised it.

dolce /ˈdōlCHā/

I. adverb, adjective

[Music] (especially as a direction) sweetly and softly.

– origin Italian, literally ‘sweet.’

dolce far niente /ˌdōlCHā ˌfär nēˈentā/

I. noun

pleasant idleness.

– origin Italian, ‘sweet doing nothing.’

dolce vita /ˌdōlCHā ˈvēdə/

I. noun — [in sing.] (usu. la dolce vita)

1. a life of heedless pleasure and luxury.

– origin Italian, literally ‘sweet life.’

doldrums /ˈdōldrəmz ˈdäldrəmz/

I. plural noun — (the doldrums)

1. a state or period of inactivity, stagnation, or depression

• the mortgage market has been in the doldrums for three years.

2. an equatorial region of the Atlantic Ocean with calms, sudden storms, and light unpredictable winds.

– origin late 18th cent. (as doldrum ‘dull, sluggish person’): perhaps from dull, on the pattern of tantrums.

dole^1 /dōl/

I. noun

1. (usu. the dole) — (Brit.) ‹informal› benefit paid by the government to the unemployed

• she is drawing on the dole.

2. ‹dated› a charitable gift of food, clothes, or money.

3. ‹literary› a person's lot or destiny.

II. verb — [with obj.] (dole something out)

1. distribute shares of something

• the scanty portions of food doled out to them.

III. phrases

on the dole

‹informal› registered as unemployed and receiving benefit from the government.

– origin Old English dāl ‘division, portion, or share,’ of Germanic origin; related to deal^1. The sense ‘distribution of charitable gifts’ dates from Middle English; the sense ‘unemployment benefit’ dates from the early 20th cent.

dole^2 /dōl/

I. noun

‹archaic› ‹literary› sorrow; mourning.

– origin Middle English: from Old French doel ‘mourning,’ from popular Latin dolus, from Latin dolere ‘grieve.’

Dole /dōl/

I. the name of a family of US politicians.

II. Bob (1923–); full name Robert Joseph Dole. He was a Republican US senator from Kansas 1969–96 and was defeated by Bill Clinton in the 1996 presidential election.

III. Elizabeth Hanford (1936–), Bob's wife; North Carolina's first female US senator 2003–09. She served as US secretary of transportation 1983–87 and US secretary of labor 1989–90 before heading the American Red Cross 1991–99. In 1999, she made an unsuccessful bid for the 2000 Republican presidential nomination.

doleful /ˈdōlfəl/

I. adjective

1. expressing sorrow; mournful

• a doleful look.

2. causing grief or misfortune

• doleful consequences.

II. derivatives

1. dolefully /ˈdōlfəlē /

adverb

2. dolefulness /ˈdōlfəlnəs /

noun

dolerite /ˈdäləˌrīt/

I. noun

[Geology] a dark, medium-grained igneous rock, typically with ophitic texture, containing plagioclase, pyroxene, and olivine. It typically occurs in dikes and sills.
Also called diabase.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French dolérite, from Greek doleros ‘deceptive’ (because it is difficult to distinguish from diorite).

dolichocephalic /ˌdäləkōsəˈfalik/

I. adjective

[Anatomy] having a relatively long skull (typically with the breadth less than 80 [or 75] percent of the length).
Often contrasted with brachycephalic.

II. derivatives

dolichocephaly /-ˈsefəlē /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek dolikhos ‘long’ + -cephalic.

doll /däl/

I. noun

1. a small model of a human figure, often one of a baby or girl, used as a child's toy.

2. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) an attractive young woman, often with connotations of unintelligence and frivolity.

3. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a generous or considerate person

• would you be a doll and set the table?

II. verb — [with obj.] (doll someone up)

1. ‹informal› dress someone or oneself smartly and attractively

• I got all dolled up for a party.

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting a mistress): nickname for the given name Dorothy. The sense ‘small model of a human figure’ dates from the late 17th cent.

dollar /ˈdälər/

I. noun

the basic monetary unit of the US, Canada, Australia, and certain countries in the Pacific, Caribbean, Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America.

II. phrases

dollars to doughnuts

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› used to emphasize one's certainty

• I'd bet dollars to doughnuts he's a medical student.

– origin from early Flemish or Low German daler, from German T(h)aler, short for Joachimsthaler, a coin from the silver mine of Joachimsthal (‘Joachim's valley’), now Jáchymov in the Czech Republic. The term was later applied to a coin used in the Spanish American colonies, which was also widely used in the British North American colonies at the time of the American Revolution, hence adopted as the name of the US monetary unit in the late 18th cent.

dollar area /ˈdälər ˈerēə/

noun

the area of the world in which currency is linked to the US dollar.

dollar diplomacy /ˈdälər dəˈplōməsē/

noun

the use of a country's financial power to extend its international influence.

dollar gap

noun

the amount by which a country's import trade with the dollar area exceeds the corresponding export trade.

dollarization /ˌdälərəˈzāSH(ə)n / dollarisation

noun

1. the process of aligning a country's currency with the US dollar.

2. the dominating effect of the US on the economy of a country.

dollar sign /ˈdälər sīn / dollar mark

noun

the sign $, representing a dollar.

dollhouse /ˈdälˌhous / ‹chiefly Brit.› doll's house

noun

a miniature toy house used for playing with dolls.

dollop /ˈdäləp/

I. noun

‹informal› a shapeless mass or blob of something, especially soft food

• great dollops of cream

• ‹figurative› a dollop of romance here and there.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. add (a shapeless mass or blob of something) casually and without measuring

• Chekov stopped him from dolloping sugar into his coffee.

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting a clump of grass or weeds in a field): perhaps of Scandinavian origin and related to Norwegian dialect dolp ‘lump.’

dolly /ˈdälē/

I. noun

1. a child's word for a doll.

2. ‹informal› ‹dated› an attractive and stylish young woman, usually with connotations of unintelligence.

3. a small platform on wheels used for holding heavy objects, typically film or television cameras.

4. ‹historical› a short wooden pole for stirring clothes in a washtub.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a film or television camera) be moved on a mobile platform in a specified direction

• the camera dollies back to reveal hundreds of people.

dolly bird /ˈdälē ˈˌbərd/

noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› ‹dated› an attractive but unintelligent young woman.

dolly tub

I. noun

‹historical› a washtub.

– origin late 19th cent.: from dialect dolly (used as a term for various contrivances thought to resemble a doll in some way) and tub.

Dolly Varden /ˌdälē ˈvärd(ə)n/

I. noun

1. (also Dolly Varden hat) — a large hat with one side drooping and with a floral trimming, formerly worn by women.

2. a brightly spotted edible char (fish) occurring in fresh water on both sides of the North Pacific.
[Salvelinus malma, family Salmonidae.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from the name of a character in Dickens's Barnaby Rudge, who wore a similar hat.

dolma /ˈdälmə/

I. noun

a dish consisting of ingredients such as meat and spiced rice wrapped in vine or cabbage leaves, popular in the Balkans, the Caucasus, and the eastern Mediterranean.

– origin from modern Greek ntolmas or its source, Turkish dolma, from dolmak ‘fill, be filled.’

dolman /ˈdōlmən/

I. noun

1. a long Turkish robe open in front.

2. a woman's loose cloak with capelike sleeves.

– origin late 16th cent.: based on Turkish dolama, dolaman.

dolman sleeve /ˈdōlmən slēv/

noun

a loose sleeve cut in one piece with the body of a garment.

dolmen /ˈdōlmən/

I. noun

a megalithic tomb with a large flat stone laid on upright ones, found chiefly in Britain and France.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, perhaps via Breton from Cornish tolmen ‘hole of a stone.’

dolomite /ˈdäləmīt ˈdōləmīt/

I. noun

1. a translucent mineral consisting of a carbonate of calcium and magnesium.

2. a sedimentary rock formed chiefly of dolomite.

II. derivatives

dolomitic /ˌdäləˈmidik /

adjective

– origin late 18th cent.: from French, from the name of Dolomieu (1750–1801), the French geologist who discovered it, + -ite^1.

Dolomite Mountains /ˌdäləmīt ˈmountənz / the Dolomites

a mountain range in northern Italy, part of the Alps, so named because the characteristic rock of the region is dolomitic limestone.

dolor /ˈdōlər / ‹Brit.› dolour

I. noun

‹literary› a state of great sorrow or distress

• they squatted, hunched in their habitual dolor.

– origin Middle English, as dolor, (denoting both physical and mental pain or distress), via Old French from Latin dolor ‘pain, grief.’

dolorimeter /ˌdōləˈrimədər ˌdäləˈrimədər/

I. noun

an instrument for measuring sensitivity to, or levels of, pain.

II. derivatives

dolorimetry /-itrē /

noun

dolorous /ˈdōlərəs/

I. adjective

‹literary› feeling or expressing great sorrow or distress.

II. derivatives

dolorously

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Old French doleros, from late Latin dolorosus, from Latin dolor ‘pain, grief.’

dolostone /ˈdäləstōn/

I. noun

[Geology] rock consisting of dolomite.

– origin mid 20th cent.: from dolomite + stone.

dolphin /ˈdälfən/

I. noun

1. a small gregarious toothed whale that typically has a beaklike snout and a curved fin on the back. Dolphins have become well known for their sociable nature and high intelligence.
[Families Delphinidae (marine) and Platanistidae (the river dolphins): several genera and many species.]

2. (also dolphinfish) — another term for mahimahi.

3. a bollard, pile, or buoy for mooring.

4. a structure for protecting the pier of a bridge or other structure from collision with ships.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French dauphin, from Provençal dalfin, from Latin delphinus, from Greek delphin.

dolphinarium /ˌdälfəˈnerēəm ˌdôlfəˈnerēəm/

I. noun

an aquarium in which dolphins are kept and trained for public entertainment.

– origin 1960s: from dolphin, on the pattern of oceanarium.

dolphin-safe

adjective

(on canned tuna labels) indicating that the tuna has been harvested using fishing methods that are not harmful to dolphins.

dolt /dōlt/

I. noun

a stupid person.

– origin mid 16th cent.: perhaps a variant of dulled, past participle of dull.

doltish /ˈdōltiSH/

I. adjective

(of a person) stupid; idiotic

• a doltish character.

II. derivatives

1. doltishly

adverb

2. doltishness /ˈdōltiSHnəs /

noun

Dom /däm/

I. noun

1. a title prefixed to the names of some Roman Catholic dignitaries and Benedictine and Carthusian monks

• Dom Bede Griffiths.

2. Portuguese form of don^1 (sense 2).

– origin from Latin dominus ‘master.’

-dom

I. suffix

1. forming nouns:

2. denoting a state or condition

• freedom.

3. denoting rank or status

• earldom.

4. denoting a domain

• fiefdom.

5. denoting a class of people or the attitudes associated with them, regarded collectively

• officialdom.

– origin Old English -dōm, originally meaning ‘decree, judgment.’

domain /dōˈmān/

I. noun

1. an area of territory owned or controlled by a ruler or government

• the southwestern French domains of the Plantagenets.

2. a specified sphere of activity or knowledge

• the expanding domain of psychology

• ‹figurative› visual communication is the domain of the graphic designer.

3. [Physics] a discrete region of magnetism in ferromagnetic material.

4. [Computing] a distinct subset of the Internet with addresses sharing a common suffix or under the control of a particular organization or individual.

5. [Mathematics] the set of possible values of the independent variable or variables of a function.

II. derivatives

domanial /-nēəl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (denoting heritable or landed property): from French domaine, alteration (by association with Latin dominus ‘lord’) of Old French demeine ‘belonging to a lord’ (see demesne).

domaine /dōˈmān/

I. noun

a vineyard.

– origin 1960s: from French, literally ‘estate’ (see domain).

domain name

noun

[Computing] the part of a network address that identifies it as belonging to a particular domain.

domain name system DNS

noun

[Computing] the system by which Internet domain names and addresses are tracked and regulated.

dome /dōm/

I. noun

1. a rounded vault forming the roof of a building or structure, typically with a circular base

• the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral.

2. the revolving openable hemispherical roof of an observatory.

3. [in names] — (N. Amer.) a sports stadium with a domed roof.

4. a thing shaped like a dome, in particular

5. the rounded summit of a hill or mountain

• the great dome of Mont Blanc.

6. a natural vault or canopy, such as that of the sky or trees

• the dome of the sky.

7. [Geology] a rounded uplifted landform or underground structure.

8. ‹informal› the top of the head

• a content face topped by a shaved dome.

9. ‹literary› a stately building.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. domed)

1. cover with or shape as a dome

• a domed stadium.

2. [no obj.] (often as noun doming) — (of stratified rock or a surface) become rounded in formation; swell.

III. derivatives

domelike /-ˌlīk /

adjective

– origin early 16th cent. (sense 3 of the noun): from French dôme, from Italian duomo ‘cathedral, dome,’ from Latin domus ‘house.’ Sense 3 of the noun derives directly from Latin domus.

Dome of the Rock

an Islamic shrine in Jerusalem, for Muslims the third most holy place after Mecca and Medina. It surrounds the sacred rock on which, according to tradition, Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac and from which the prophet Muhammad made his miraculous night ascent into heaven (the Night Journey).

Domesday /ˈdo͞omzdā/

I. noun

1. (also Domesday Book, Doomsday Book) — a comprehensive record of the extent, value, ownership, and liabilities of land in England, made in 1086 by order of William I.

2. (also domesday) — archaic spelling of doomsday.

– origin Middle English: sense 1 was apparently a popular name applied during the 12th cent. because the book was regarded as a final authority (with allusion to doomsday ‘the Day of Judgment’).

domestic /dəˈmestik/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to the running of a home or to family relations

• domestic chores

• domestic violence.

2. (chiefly Brit.) of or for use in the home rather than in an industrial or office environment

• domestic appliances.

3. (of a person) fond of family life and running a home

• she was not at all domestic.

4. (of an animal) tame and kept by humans

• domestic cattle.

5. existing or occurring inside a particular country; not foreign or international

• the current state of US domestic affairs.

II. noun

1. (also domestic worker or domestic help) — a person who is paid to help with menial tasks such as cleaning.

2. (N. Amer.) a product not made abroad.

– origin late Middle English: from French domestique, from Latin domesticus, from domus ‘house.’

domestically /dəˈmestəklē/

adverb

1. in a way that relates to the running of a home or to family relations

• his wife is domestically and financially controlling.

2. in a home environment

• barn owls can be kept domestically.

3. in a way that relates to activities inside a particular country; nationally

• only a quarter of French locomotives were domestically produced

• the company has a high reputation both domestically and internationally.

domesticate /dəˈmestəˌkāt/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be domesticated)

1. tame (an animal) and keep it as a pet or for farm produce

• mammals were first domesticated for their milk.

2. cultivate (a plant) for food.

3. ‹humorous› make (someone) fond of and good at home life and the tasks that it involves

• you've really domesticated him.

II. derivatives

domesticable /dəˈmestəkəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin domesticat- ‘domesticated,’ from the verb domesticare, from Latin domesticus ‘belonging to the house’ (see domestic).

domesticated /dəˈmestəˌkādəd/

adjective

1. (of an animal) tame and kept as a pet or on a farm

• domesticated dogs.

2. (of a plant) cultivated for food; naturalized

• domesticated crops.

3. ‹humorous› (especially of a man) fond of home life and housework

• he is thoroughly domesticated.

domestication /dəˌmestəˈkāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the process of taming an animal and keeping it as a pet or on a farm

• domestication of animals lies at the heart of human civilization.

2. the cultivation of a plant for food

• this book covers the evolution and domestication of six important cereal crops.

3. ‹humorous› the process of making someone fond of and good at home life and the tasks that it involves

• I won't say it was an easy change, but my domestication was a much needed one.

domestic goddess

noun

‹informal› ‹humorous› a woman with exceptional domestic skills, especially one who excels at preparing meals.

domesticity /ˌdōmeˈstisədē/

noun

home or family life

• the atmosphere is one of happy domesticity.

domestic partner

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a person who shares a residence with a sexual partner, especially without a legally recognized union.

II. derivatives

domestic partnership

noun

domestic science /dəˌmestik ˈsīəns/

noun

‹dated› the study of household skills such as cooking or sewing, especially as taught at school; home economics.

domestic violence

noun

violent or aggressive behavior within the home, typically involving the violent abuse of a spouse or partner.

• police, social services, and voluntary agencies are working together to tackle domestic violence.

domical /ˈdōmikəl, ˈdäm-/

adjective

domed

• an octagonal, domical vault.

domicile /ˈdäməˌsīl ˈdōməˌsīl ˈdäməsəl/

I. noun

1. ‹formal› [Law] the country that a person treats as their permanent home, or lives in and has a substantial connection with

• his wife has a domicile of origin in Germany.

2. ‹formal› [Law] (chiefly US) a person's residence or home

• the builder I've hired to renovate my new domicile.

3. ‹formal› [Law] the place at which a company or other body is registered, especially for tax purposes.

II. verb — [with adverbial of place] (be domiciled)

1. ‹formal› [Law] treat a specified country as a permanent home

• the tenant is domiciled in the US.

2. ‹formal› [Law] (chiefly US) reside; be based

• he was domiciled in a frame house on the outskirts of town.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin domicilium ‘dwelling,’ from domus ‘home.’

domiciliary /ˌdäməˈsilēˌerē, ˌdō-/

I. adjective

concerned with or occurring in someone's home

• a study compared domiciliary care with hospital care.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French domiciliaire, from medieval Latin domiciliarius, from Latin domicilium ‘dwelling’ (see domicile).

dominance /ˈdämənəns/

I. noun

1. power and influence over others

• the worldwide dominance of Hollywood.

2. [Genetics] the phenomenon whereby, in an individual containing two allelic forms of a gene, one is expressed to the exclusion of the other.

3. [Ecology] the predominance of one or more species in a plant (or animal) community.

II. derivatives

dominancy /-sē /

noun

dominant /ˈdämənənt/

I. adjective

1. most important, powerful, or influential

• they are now in an even more dominant position in the market.

2. (of a high place or object) overlooking others.

3. [Genetics] relating to or denoting heritable characteristics that are controlled by genes that are expressed in offspring even when inherited from only one parent.
Often contrasted with recessive.

4. [Ecology] denoting the predominant species in a plant (or animal) community.

5. in decision theory, (of a choice) at least as good as the alternatives in all circumstances, and better in some

• holding back is here a dominant strategy.

II. noun

1. a dominant thing, in particular

2. [Genetics] a dominant trait or gene.

3. [Ecology] a dominant species in a plant (or animal) community.

4. [Music] the fifth note of the diatonic scale of any key, or the key based on this, considered in relation to the key of the tonic.

III. derivatives

dominantly

adverb

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin dominant- ‘ruling, governing,’ from the verb dominari (see dominate).

dominant seventh

noun

[Music] the common chord of the dominant note in a key, plus the minor seventh from that note (e.g., in the key of C, a chord of G-B-D-F). It is important in conventional harmony, as it naturally resolves to the tonic or subdominant.

dominate /ˈdäməˌnāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. have a commanding influence on; exercise control over

• the company dominates the market for operating system software.

2. be the most important or conspicuous person or thing in

• the race was dominated by the 1992 champion.

3. (of something tall or high) have a commanding position over; overlook

• a picturesque city dominated by the cathedral tower.

II. derivatives

dominator /ˈdäməˌnādər /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin dominat- ‘ruled, governed,’ from the verb dominari, from dominus ‘lord, master.’

domination /ˌdäməˈnāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the exercise of control or influence over someone or something, or the state of being so controlled

• evil plans for domination of the universe.

2. (dominations) — (in traditional Christian angelology) the fourth highest order of the ninefold celestial hierarchy.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin dominatio(n-), from the verb dominari (see dominate).

dominatrix /ˌdäməˈnātriks/

I. noun

a dominating woman, especially one who takes the sadistic role in sadomasochistic sexual activities.

– origin mid 16th cent. (rare before the late 20th cent.): from Latin, feminine of dominator, from dominat- ‘ruled,’ from the verb dominari (see dominate).

domineer /ˌdäməˈnir/

I. verb — [no obj.] (usu. as adj. domineering)

1. assert one's will over another in an arrogant way

• Cathy had been a martyr to her gruff, domineering husband.

II. derivatives

domineeringly

adverb

– origin late 16th cent.: from Dutch dominieren, from French dominer, from Latin dominari (see dominate).

Domingo, Placido /dəˈmiNGɡō/

(1941–), Spanish opera singer. He moved to Mexico in 1950 and made his debut as an operatic tenor in 1957. His performances in operas by Verdi and Puccini have met with particular acclaim. He was one of the Three Tenors, along with Luciano Pavarotti and José Carreras.

Dominic, St. /ˈdämənik/

(c. 1170–1221), Spanish priest and friar; Spanish name Domingo de Guzmán. In 1216, he founded the Order of Friars Preachers at Toulouse in France; its members became known as Dominicans or Black Friars. Feast day, August 8.

Dominica /ˌdäməˈnēkə/

I. a country in the western West Indies, a mountainous island, the most northern of the Windward Islands, in the Caribbean Sea; pop. 72,700 (est. 2009); capital, Roseau; languages, English (official) and Creole.

The island came into British possession at the end of the 18th century and became an independent republic within the Commonwealth of Nations in 1978. / – origin named by Columbus, who discovered it on a Sunday (Latin dies dominica ‘the Lord's day’) in 1493.

dominical /dəˈminək(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. of Sunday as the Lord's day.

2. of Jesus Christ as the lord.

– origin Middle English: from late Latin dominicalis, from Latin dominicus, from dominus ‘lord, master.’

dominical letter

noun

any of the seven letters A–G used in church calendars to indicate the date (January 1–7) on which the first Sunday in the year falls, and hence in dating movable feasts.

Dominican^1 /dəˈminəkən/

I. noun

a member of the Roman Catholic order of preaching friars founded by St. Dominic, or of a religious order for women founded on similar principles.

II. adjective

of or relating to St. Dominic or the Dominicans.

– origin late 16th cent.: from medieval Latin Dominicanus, from Dominicus, the Latin name of Domingo de Guzmán (see Dominic, St.).

Dominican^2 /dəˈminəkən/

I. adjective

of or relating to the Dominican Republic or its people.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of the Dominican Republic.

– origin from Spanish Dominicana, influenced by Santo Domingo.

Dominican^3 /ˌdäməˈnēk(ə)n/

I. adjective

of or relating to the island of Dominica or its people.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of the island of Dominica.

Dominican Republic /dəˌminəkən rəˈpəblik/

I. a country in the Caribbean Sea that occupies the eastern part of the island of Hispaniola; pop. 9,650,100 (est. 2009); capital, Santo Domingo; official language, Spanish.

The Dominican Republic is the former Spanish colony of Santo Domingo, the part of Hispaniola that Spain retained when it ceded the western portion (now Haiti) to France in 1697. It was proclaimed a republic in 1844.

dominie /ˈdämənē/

I. noun

1. (Scottish) a schoolmaster.

2. (chiefly US) a pastor or clergyman.

– origin late 17th cent.: alteration of Latin domine! (vocative) ‘master!, sir!,’ from dominus ‘lord’ (formerly used as a polite form of address to a clergyman or member of one of the professions).

dominion /dəˈminyən/

I. noun

1. sovereignty; control

• man's attempt to establish dominion over nature.

2. (usu. dominions) — the territory of a sovereign or government

• the Angevin dominions.

3. (Dominion) — ‹historical› each of the self-governing territories of the British Commonwealth.

4. (dominions) — another term for domination (sense 2).

– origin Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin dominio(n-), from Latin dominium, from dominus ‘lord, master.’

Dominion Day

noun

former name for July 1, a national holiday observed in Canada to commemorate the formation of the Dominion in 1867. Since 1982, it has been known as Canada Day.

dominium /dəˈminēəm/

I. noun

[Law] (chiefly US) absolute ownership and control of property.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin.

domino /ˈdäməˌnō/

I. noun

1. any of 28 small oblong pieces marked with 0–6 dots (pips) in each half.

2. [treated as sing.] (dominoes) — the game played with domino pieces, in which they are laid down to form a line, each player in turn trying to find and lay down a domino with a value matched by that of a piece at either end of the line already formed.

3. ‹historical› a loose cloak, worn with a mask for the upper part of the face at masquerades.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French, denoting a hood worn by priests in winter, probably based on Latin dominus ‘lord, master.’

Domino, Fats /ˈdäməˌnō/

(1928–), US pianist, singer, and songwriter; born Antoine Domino. His music represents part of the transition from rhythm and blues to rock and roll and shows the influence of jazz, boogie-woogie, and gospel music. Notable songs: “Ain't That a Shame” (1955) and “Blueberry Hill” (1956).

domino effect

noun

the effect of the domino theory.

domino theory /ˈdäməˌnō ˌTHirē/

noun

the theory that a political event in one country will cause similar events in neighboring countries, like a falling domino causing an entire row of upended dominoes to fall.

Domitian /dəˈmiSHən/

(AD 51–96), son of Vespasian; Roman emperor 81–96; full name Titus Flavius Domitianus.

don^1 /dän/

I. noun

1. (Don) — a Spanish title prefixed to a male forename.

2. a Spanish gentleman; a Spaniard.

3. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a high-ranking member of the Mafia.

4. a university teacher, especially a senior member of a college at Oxford or Cambridge.
[transferred colloquial use of the Spanish title (see above).]

II. derivatives

donship /-ˌSHip /

noun

– origin early 16th cent.: from Spanish, from Latin dominus ‘lord, master.’

don^2 /dän/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. put on (an item of clothing)

• in the locker room the players donned their football jerseys.

– origin late Middle English: contraction of do on. Compare with doff.

Don /dän/

I. a river in Russia that rises near Tula, southeast of Moscow, and flows for 1,224 miles (1,958 km) to the Sea of Azov.

II. a river in Scotland that rises in the Grampian Mountains and flows east for 82 miles (131 km) to the North Sea at Aberdeen.

III. a river in northern England that rises in the Pennine Hills and flows east for 70 miles (112 km) to join the Ouse River shortly before it, in turn, joins the Humber River.

Donahue, Phil /ˈdänəˌhyo͞o/

(1935–), US talk show host; full name Phillip John Donahue. He began his televised “Phil Donahue Show” in 1967 and retired in 1996.

donate /ˈdōˌnāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. give (money or goods) for a good cause, for example to a charity

• the proceeds will be donated to an AIDS awareness charity.

2. allow the removal of (blood or an organ) from one's body for transplantation, transfusion, or other use.

II. derivatives

donator /ˈdōˌnādər /

noun

– origin late 18th cent.: back-formation from donation.

Donatello /ˌdänəˈtelō/

(1386–1466), Italian sculptor; born Donato di Betto Bardi. He was one of the pioneers of scientific perspective and is known for his lifelike sculptures, including the bronze David (c. 1430–60).

donation /dōˈnāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. something that is given to a charity, especially a sum of money

• a tax-deductible donation of $200.

2. the action of donating something.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin donatio(n-), from the verb donare, based on donum ‘gift.’

Donatist /ˈdänətist, ˈdō-/

I. noun

a member of a schismatic Christian group in North Africa, formed in 311, who held that only those living a blameless life belonged in the Church. They survived until the 7th century.

II. derivatives

Donatism /-ˌtizəm /

noun

– origin from Donatus (died c. 355), a Christian prelate in Carthage and the group's leader, + -ist.

donative /ˈdōnədiv ˈdänədiv / ‹rare›

I. noun

a donation, especially one given formally or officially as a largesse.

II. adjective

1. given as a donation.

2. ‹historical› (of a benefice) given directly, not presentative.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin donativum ‘gift, largesse,’ from donat- ‘given,’ from the verb donare (see donation).

Donatus, Aelius /dəˈnätəs/

(4th century), Roman grammarian. The Ars Grammatica, which contained his treatises on Latin grammar, was the sole textbook used in schools in the Middle Ages.

Donau /ˈdōnou/

German name for Danube.

Donbas /dənˈbäs, ˈdänˌbas/

Ukrainian name for Donets Basin.

Doncaster /ˈdänˌkastər ˈdäNGkəstər/

an industrial town in northern England; pop. 63,800 (est. 2009).

doncha /ˈdōn(t)SHə / dontcha, don'tcha

contraction

‹informal› don't you

• why doncha write me a nice song

• dontcha trust me?

done /dən/

I. past participle of do^1.

II. verb

1. (US) ‹informal› used as a nonstandard past tense of do^1

• I done a lot of rodeoin'.

2. (US) ‹informal› used with a standard past tense verb to indicate absoluteness or completion

• I done told you to zipper your lips.

III. adjective

1. (of food) cooked thoroughly

• the turkey will be done soon.

2. no longer happening or existing

• her hunting days were done.

3. ‹informal› socially acceptable

• therapy was not the done thing then.

IV. exclamation

used to indicate that the speaker accepts the terms of an offer

• “I'll give ten to one he misses by a mile!” called Reilly. “Done,” said the conductor.

V. phrases

1. a done deal

an agreement that has been finalized.

2. done for

‹informal› in a situation so bad that it is impossible to get out

• if he gets them, we'll all be done for.

3. done in

‹informal› extremely tired

• you look done in.

4. over and done with

see over.

donee /dōˈnē/

I. noun

1. a person who receives a gift.

2. [Law] a person who is given a power of appointment.

– origin early 16th cent.: from donor + -ee.

donegal /ˈdäniɡəl, -ˌɡôl / Donegal tweed

noun

a tweed characterized by bright flecks randomly distributed on a background usually of light gray, originally woven in County Donegal, northwestern Ireland.

Donegal /ˈdäniɡəl/

a county in extreme northwestern Republic of Ireland, part of the old province of Ulster; capital, Lifford.

Donets /dəˈn(y)ets/

a river in eastern Europe that rises near Belgorod in southern Russia and flows southeast for about 630 miles (1,000 km) through Ukraine before re-entering Russia and joining the Don River near Rostov.

Donets Basin

a coal-mining and industrial region in southeastern Ukraine that stretches between the valleys of the Donets and lower Dnieper rivers.
Ukrainian name Donbas.

Donetsk /dəˈn(y)etsk/

a city in the Donets Basin in Ukraine; pop. 974,600 (est. 2009). The city was called Yuzovka 1872–1924, and Stalin or Stalino 1924–61.

dong^1 /dôNG/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a bell) make a deep resonant sound.

II. noun

1. the deep resonant sound of a large bell.

2. ‹vulgar slang› a penis.

– origin late 16th cent.: imitative.

dong^2 /dôNG/

I. noun

the basic monetary unit of Vietnam, equal to 100 xu.

– origin from Vietnamese dông ‘coin.’

dongle /ˈdäNGɡəl/

I. noun

a small device able to be connected to and used with a computer, especially to allow access to wireless broadband or use of protected software.

– origin 1980s: an arbitrary formation.

Dong-nai River /ˌdäNGnī ˈrivər / Donnai

a river in Vietnam that flows for 300 miles (483 km) from south central Vietnam to join the Saigon River below Ho Chi Minh City.

dong quai /ˈdo͝oNG ˈkwā, ˈkwī/

noun

an aromatic herb of the parsley family, native to China and Japan, the root of which is used to treat premenstrual syndrome, menstrual cramps, menopausal symptoms, and other gynecological complaints.
[Angelica sinensis, family Umbelliferae.]

Dongying /ˈdo͝oNG ˈyiNG/

a city in Hebei province, in eastern China, near the mouth of the Yellow River, in an area rich in oil; pop. 628,400 (est. 2006).

Donizetti, Gaetano /ˌdänəˈzetē/

(1797–1848), Italian composer. His operas include tragedies such as Lucia di Lammermoor (1835) and comedies such as Don Pasquale (1843).

donjon /ˈdänjən ˈdənjən/

I. noun

the great tower or innermost keep of a castle.

– origin Middle English: variant of dungeon.

Don Juan /ˌdän ˈ(h)wän/

I. a legendary Spanish nobleman known for his dissolute life and for seducing women.

II. (as noun a Don Juan) — a seducer of women; a libertine.

donkey /ˈdôNGkē ˈdäNGkē/

I. noun

1. a domesticated hoofed mammal of the horse family with long ears and a braying call, used as a beast of burden; an ass.
[Equus asinus, family Equidae, descended from the wild ass of Africa.]

2. ‹informal› a stupid or foolish person.

II. phrases

donkey's years

‹informal› a very long time

• we've been close friends for donkey's years.

– origin late 18th cent. (originally pronounced to rhyme with monkey): perhaps from dun^1, or from the given name Duncan.

donkey engine /ˈdäNGkē ˈdôNGkē ˈenjən/

noun

a small or auxiliary engine, especially on a ship.

donkeywork /ˈdôNGkēˌwərk / donkey work

noun

‹informal› the boring or laborious part of a job; drudgery

• supervisors who get a research student to do the donkeywork.

Donna /ˈdänə/

I. noun

a title or form of address for an Italian woman.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Italian, from Latin domina ‘mistress,’ feminine of dominus ‘lord, master.’

Donnan equilibrium /ˌdänən ˌēkwəˈlibrēəm/

I. noun

[Chemistry] the equilibrium reached between two ionic solutions separated by a semipermeable membrane when one or more of the kinds of ion present cannot pass through the membrane. The result is a difference in osmotic pressure and electrical potential between the solutions.

– origin early 20th cent.: named after Frederick G. Donnan (1870–1956), British physical chemist.

Donne, John /dən/

(1572–1631), English poet and clergyman. A metaphysical poet, he is noted for his Satires (c. 1590–99), Elegies (c. 1590–99), and love poems, which appeared in the collection Songs and Sonnets. As dean of St. Paul's Cathedral, he was one of the most celebrated preachers of his age.

donnée /däˈnā / donné

I. noun

1. a subject or theme of a narrative.

2. a basic fact or assumption.

– origin late 19th cent.: French, literally ‘given.’

Donner Pass /ˌdänər ˈpas/

a site in the Sierra Nevada in northeastern California where some members of an 1844 emigrant party survived a blizzard partly by eating the dead.

donnish /ˈdäniSH/

I. adjective

thought to resemble or suit a college don, particularly because of a pedantic, scholarly manner.

II. derivatives

1. donnishly

adverb

2. donnishness

noun

donnybrook /ˈdänēˌbro͝ok/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) (Austral./NZ) a scene of uproar and disorder; a heated argument

• raucous ideological donnybrooks.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from the name of a suburb of Dublin, Ireland, formerly famous for its annual fair.

donor /ˈdōnər/

I. noun

1. a person who donates something, especially money to a fund or charity

• an anonymous donor has given $25

• [as modifier] loans from rich donor countries.

2. a person who provides blood for transfusion, semen for insemination, or an organ or tissue for transplantation.

3. [Chemistry] an atom or molecule that provides electrons in forming a coordinate bond.

4. [Physics] an impurity atom in a semiconductor that contributes a conducting electron to the material.

– origin Middle English: from Old French doneur, from Latin donator, from donare ‘give.’

donor fatigue

noun

a lessening of public willingness to respond generously to charitable appeals, resulting from the frequency of such appeals.

do-nothing

I. noun

a person who is idle or lacks ambition.

II. adjective

idle or lacking ambition.

Don Quixote /ˌdän kēˈhōdē ˌdän kēˈhōdā ˌdän ˈkwiksət/

the hero of a romance (1605–15) by Cervantes, a satirical account of chivalric beliefs and conduct. The character of Don Quixote is typified by a romantic vision and naive, unworldly idealism.

don't /dōnt/

I. contraction

do not

• they really don't know what will happen.

• I see a face I don't recognize.

II. phrases

dos and don'ts

see do^1.

usage: Don't is a contraction of do not. It is often used informally, especially in speech, as the equivalent of does not —as in, for example, she don't drink tea —but this is not standard English and should be avoided in writing.

doodad /ˈdo͞oˌdad/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a trivial ornament or gadget, especially one whose name the speaker does not know or cannot recall

• the latest electronic doodads.

– origin early 20th cent.: of unknown origin.

doodle /ˈdo͞odl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. scribble absentmindedly

• he was only doodling in the margin.

II. noun

a rough drawing made absentmindedly.

III. derivatives

doodler /-d(ə)lər /

noun

– origin early 17th cent. (originally as a noun denoting a fool, later as a verb in the sense ‘make a fool of, cheat’): from Low German dudeltopf, dudeldopp ‘simpleton.’ Current senses date from the 1930s.

doodlebug /ˈdo͞odlˌbəɡ/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› (N. Amer.) the larva of an ant lion.

2. ‹informal› (US) an unscientific device for locating oil or minerals; a divining rod.

3. ‹informal› (Brit.) informal term for V-1.

– origin mid 19th cent. (sense 1): from 17th-cent. doodle ‘ninny’ + bug.

doodly-squat /ˌdo͞od(ə)lēˈskwät / doodly

pronoun

another term for diddly-squat.

doo-doo /ˈdo͞odo͞o/

I. noun

‹informal› excrement

• they should fine people if they are not carrying a bag for their dog's doo-doo

• ‹figurative› when our fax machine isn't working, we're in deep doo-doo.

– origin 1950s (originally a child's word): reduplicated respelling of do^1 (sense 3 of the noun).

doofus /ˈdo͞ofəs / dufus

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a stupid person.

– origin 1960s: perhaps an alteration of goofus, or from Scots doof ‘dolt.’

doohickey /ˈdo͞oˌhikē/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a small object or gadget, especially one whose name the speaker does not know or cannot recall

• a garage filled with electronic parts and other valuable doohickeys.

– origin early 20th cent. (originally servicemen's slang): blend of doodad and hickey.

dookie /ˈdo͞okē / dooky

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› excrement

• dog dookie

• ‹figurative› we're in some deep dookie, folks.

– origin 1960s: origin unknown.

doolally /ˌdo͞oˈlälē/

I. adjective

(Brit.) ‹informal› temporarily deranged or feebleminded

• Uncle Orville's gone doolally again.

– origin early 20th cent.: originally doolally tap, Indian army slang, from Deolali (the name of a town with a military sanatorium and a transit camp) + Urdu tap ‘fever.’

Dooley, Thomas Anthony /ˈdo͞olē/

(1927–61), US physician and writer. He established medical missions in Laos in 1956 as well as hospitals in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. In 1957, he established Medico, an international medical aid mission. He wrote about his experiences in Deliver Us from Evil (1956), The Edge of Tomorrow (1958), and The Night They Burned the Mountain (1960).

doolie /ˈdo͞olē/

I. noun

‹informal› a freshman at the US Air Force Academy.

– origin from Hindi ḍolī, diminutive of ḍolā ‘cradle or litter.’

Doolittle, Hilda /ˈdo͞oˌlitl/

(1886–1961), US poet; pseudonym H.D. From 1911, she lived in London. Her work shows the influence of Ezra Pound and other imagist poets; it also shows the influence of classical mythology.

doom /do͞om/

I. noun

1. death, destruction, or some other terrible fate

• the aircraft was sent crashing to its doom in the water.

2. [in sing.] — ‹archaic› (in Christian belief) the Last Judgment.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be doomed)

1. condemn to certain destruction or death

• fuel was spilling out of the damaged wing and the aircraft was doomed.

2. cause to have an unfortunate and inescapable outcome

• her plan was doomed to failure.

III. phrases

doom and gloom gloom and doom

a general feeling of pessimism or despondency

• the national feeling of doom and gloom.

– origin Old English dōm ‘statute, judgment,’ of Germanic origin, from a base meaning ‘to put in place’; related to do^1.

doomed /do͞omd/

adjective

likely to have an unfortunate and inescapable outcome; ill-fated

• the moving story of their doomed love affair.

doom-laden /ˈdo͞om ˌlādn/

adjective

conveying a sense of tragedy

• a doom-laden speech.

doom-monger

noun

a person who predicts disaster

• the situation is nowhere near as critical as doom-mongers will have you believe.

doomsayer /ˈdo͞omˌsāər/

I. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a person who predicts disaster, especially in politics or economics.

II. derivatives

doomsaying /-ˌsāiNG /

noun

doomsday /ˈdo͞omzˌdā / domesday

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. the last day of the world's existence.

2. (in Christian belief) the day of the Last Judgment.

3. a time or event of crisis or great danger
[as modifier]

• in all the concern over greenhouse warming, one doomsday scenario stands out.

II. phrases

till doomsday

‹informal› forever

• we'll be here till doomsday if you don't hurry up.

– origin Old English dōmes dæg (see doom, day).

doomy /ˈdo͞omē/

I. adjective

suggesting or predicting disaster; ominous

• doomy forecasts.

II. derivatives

doomily /-məlē /

adverb

door /dôr/

I. noun

1. a hinged, sliding, or revolving barrier at the entrance to a building, room, or vehicle, or in the framework of a cupboard.

2. a doorway

• she walked through the door.

3. used to refer to the distance from one building in a row to another

• they lived within three doors of each other.

II. phrases

1. at the door

on admission to an event rather than in advance

• tickets will be available at the door.

2. close (or shut) the door on (or to)

exclude the opportunity for

• she had closed the door on ever finding out what he was feeling.

3. (from) door to door

a. from start to finish of a journey

• the trip from door to door could take more than four hours.

b. visiting all the houses in an area to sell or publicize something

• he went from door to door selling insurance policies

• [as adj.] a door-to-door salesman.

4. lay something at someone's door

regard someone as responsible for something

• the failure is laid at the door of the government.

5. leave the door open

ensure that there is still an opportunity for something

• he is leaving the door open for future change.

6. open the door to

create an opportunity for

• her research has opened the door to a deeper understanding of the subject.

7. out of doors

/ˈˌoud əv ˈdô(ə)rz / — in or into the open air

• food tastes even better out of doors.

8. show someone the door

see show.

III. derivatives

doored

adjective

[in combination]

• a glass-doored desk

– origin Old English duru, dor, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch deur ‘door’ and German Tür ‘door,’ Tor ‘gate’; from an Indo-European root shared by Latin foris ‘gate’ and Greek thura ‘door.’

doorbell /ˈdôrbel/

noun

a bell in a building that can be rung by visitors outside to signal their arrival.

doorbuster /ˈdôrˌbəstər/

noun

1. (US) ‹informal› (in retailing) a special discount price available for a limited period, typically during special early-opening hours.

2. (US) ‹informal› a firearm with special attachments for forcing entry through a door.

do-or-die /ˌdo͞o ər ˈdī/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of a person's attitude or a situation) showing or requiring a determination not to compromise or be deterred

• the mercenaries fought with a do-or-die resolution.

doorframe /ˈdôrfrām / door frame

noun

the frame in a doorway into which a door is fitted.

doorjamb /ˈdôrjam/

noun

each of the two upright parts of a doorframe, on one of which the door is hung.

doorkeeper /ˈdôrˌkēpər/

noun

a person on duty at the entrance to a building.

doorknob /ˈdôrnäb/

noun

a handle on a door that is turned to release the latch.

door knocker

noun

a metal or wooden instrument hinged to a door and rapped by visitors to attract attention and gain entry.

doorman /ˈdôrˌman ˈdôrˌmən/

noun

a man such as a porter, bouncer, or janitor who is on duty at the entrance to a large building.

doormat /ˈdôrmat/

noun

1. a mat placed in a doorway, on which people can wipe their shoes on entering a building.

2. a submissive person who allows others to dominate them

• to put up with such treatment you must be either a saint or a doormat.

doornail /ˈdôrnāl/

I. noun

a stud set in a door for strength or as an ornament.

II. phrases

(as) dead as a doornail

quite dead.

Door Peninsula

a resort region in northeastern Wisconsin that lies between Green Bay and Lake Michigan.

doorplate /ˈdôrplāt/

noun

a plate on the door of a house or room that gives information about the occupant.

doorpost /ˈdôrpōst/

noun

another term for doorjamb.

door prize

noun

a prize awarded by lottery to the holder of a ticket purchased or distributed at a dance, party, or other function.

doorsill /ˈdôrsil/

noun

the sill or threshold of a doorway.

doorstep /ˈdôrstep/

I. noun

a step leading up to the outer door of a house.

II. phrases

on one's (or the) doorstep

situated very close by

• the airport is on my doorstep, so flying is easy.

doorstop /ˈdôrstäp / doorstopper

noun

1. a fixed or heavy object that keeps a door open or stops it from banging against a wall.

2. a heavy or bulky object (used especially in reference to a thick book)

• his sixth novel is a thumping 400-page doorstop.

doorway /ˈdôrwā/

noun

an entrance to a room or building through a door

• Beth stood there in the doorway

• ‹figurative› the doorway to success.

dooryard /ˈdôryärd/

noun

(N. Amer.) a yard or garden by the door of a house.

do-over /ˈdo͞oˌōvər/

noun

‹informal› an opportunity to try or perform something a second time

• if Smokey sings off key, he gets a do-over.

doo-wop /ˈdo͞owäp/

I. noun

a style of pop music marked by the use of close harmony vocals using nonsense phrases, originating in the US in the 1950s.

II. derivatives

doo-wopper

noun

– origin imitative.

doozy /ˈdo͞ozē / doozie

I. noun

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) something outstanding or unique of its kind

• it's gonna be a doozy of a black eye.

– origin early 20th cent.: of unknown origin.

dopa /ˈdōpə/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a compound that is present in nervous tissue as a precursor of dopamine, used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
See also L-dopa. [An amino acid; alternative name dihydroxyphenylalanine; chem. formula: C_9H_11NO_4.]

– origin early 20th cent.: from German, acronym from the systematic name.

dopamine /ˈdōpəˌmēn/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a compound present in the body as a neurotransmitter and a precursor of other substances including epinephrine.
[Alternative name: 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylamine; chem. formula: C_8H_11NO_2.]

– origin 1950s: blend of dopa and amine.

dopaminergic /ˌdōpəmēˈnərjik/

I. adjective

[Biochemistry] releasing or involving dopamine as a neurotransmitter. Drugs with this effect are used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and some psychiatric disorders; some are subject to abuse.

– origin 1960s: from dopamine + Greek ergon ‘work’ + -ic.

dopant /ˈdōpənt/

I. noun

[Electronics] a substance used to produce a desired electrical characteristic in a semiconductor.

– origin 1960s: from the verb dope + -ant.

dope /dōp/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› a drug taken illegally for recreational purposes, especially marijuana or heroin.

2. a drug given to a racehorse or greyhound to inhibit or enhance its performance.

3. a drug taken by an athlete to improve performance
[as modifier]

• he failed a dope test.

4. ‹informal› a stupid person

• though he wasn't an intellectual giant, he was no dope, either.

5. ‹informal› information about a subject, especially if not generally known

• our reviewer will give you the dope on hot spots around the town.

6. a varnish applied to the fabric surface of model aircraft to strengthen them and keep them airtight.

7. a thick liquid used as a lubricant.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. administer drugs to (a racehorse, greyhound, or athlete) in order to inhibit or enhance sporting performance

• the horse was doped before the race.

2. (be doped up) — ‹informal› be heavily under the influence of drugs, typically illegal ones

• he was so doped up that he can't remember a thing.

3. treat (food or drink) with drugs

• maybe they had doped her Perrier.

4. [no obj.] — ‹informal› ‹dated› regularly take illegal drugs.

5. smear or cover with varnish or other thick liquid

• she doped the surface with photographic emulsion.

6. [Electronics] add an impurity to (a semiconductor) to produce a desired electrical characteristic.

III. adjective

‹informal› very good

• that suit is dope!

IV. phrasal verbs

dope something out

‹informal› ‹dated› work out something

• they met to dope out plans for covering the event.

V. derivatives

doper

noun

– origin early 19th cent. (in the sense ‘thick liquid’): from Dutch doop ‘sauce,’ from doopen ‘to dip, mix.’

dopester /ˈdōpstər/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a person who collects and supplies information, typically on sporting events or elections

• they are inside dopesters with special access to the racing world.

dopey /ˈdōpē / dopy

I. adjective

1. ‹informal› stupefied by sleep or a drug

• she was under sedation and a bit dopey.

2. ‹informal› idiotic

• did you ever hear such dopey names?

II. derivatives

1. dopily /ˈdōpəlē /

adverb

2. dopiness /ˈdōpēnəs /

noun

doppelgänger /ˈdäpəlˌɡaNGər/

I. noun

an apparition or double of a living person

• he has a doppelgänger named Donald, his invented twin brother.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from German, literally ‘double-goer.’

Doppler, Christian /ˈdäplər/

(1803–53), Austrian physicist. In 1842, he discovered what is now known as the Doppler effect.

Doppler broadening

noun

[Physics] the broadening of spectral lines as a result of the different velocities of the emitting atoms giving rise to different Doppler shifts.

Doppler effect

noun

[Physics] an increase (or decrease) in the frequency of sound, light, or other waves as the source and observer move toward (or away from) each other. The effect causes the sudden change in pitch noticeable in a passing siren, as well as the redshift seen by astronomers.

Doppler radar

noun

[Meteorology] a radar tracking system using the Doppler effect to determine the location and velocity of a storm, clouds, precipitation, etc.

Doppler shift

noun

[Physics] a change in frequency due to the Doppler effect.

dor /dôr / dor beetle

I. noun

a large black dung beetle that makes a droning sound in flight and excavates burrows in which its young develop.
[Family Geotrupidae: several genera and species.]

– origin Old English (denoting a bee or buzzing fly), probably imitative.

dorado /dəˈrädō/

I. noun

1. a South American freshwater fish with a golden body and red fins, popular as a game fish.
[Salminus maxillosus, family Characidae.]

2. another term for mahimahi.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Spanish, literally ‘gilded,’ from late Latin deauratus, from deaurare ‘to gild over’ (see also dory^1).

Dorado /dəˈrädō / ‹Astronomy›

I. a southern constellation (the Goldfish), containing most of the Large Magellanic Cloud.

II. (as genitive Doradus ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation

• the star R Doradus.

– origin Spanish (see dorado).

do-rag doo-rag

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a scarf or cloth worn on the head, typically with its ends or corners tied together in the back

• a young man dressed in baggy pants and a do-rag.

– origin 1960s: from do^1 (sense 1 of the noun) + rag^1.

Dorati, Antal /ˈdôräti, dôˈrätē/

(1906–88), US composer and conductor; born in Hungary. He was musical director of symphonies in Dallas 1945–49, Minneapolis 1949–60, Stockholm 1966–70, Washington, DC 1970–77, and Detroit 1977–81.

Dorchester /ˈdôrCHəstər, -ˌCHestər/

a residential section of Boston in Massachusetts, south of downtown.

Dordogne /dôrˈdōn/

I. a river in western France that rises in the Auvergne region and flows west for 297 miles (472 km) to meet the Garonne River and form the Gironde estuary.

II. a department in southwestern France. It contains caves that have yielded remains of early humans and their artifacts and art, such as at Lascaux.

Dordrecht /ˈdôrdreKHt ˈdôrdrekt/

an industrial city and river port in the Netherlands, near the mouth of the Rhine (there called the Waal) River, 12 miles (19 km) southeast of Rotterdam; pop. 118,182 (2008).
Also called Dort.

Dorian /ˈdôrēən/

I. noun

a member of a Hellenic people speaking the Doric dialect of Greek, thought to have entered Greece from the north c. 1100 BC. They settled in Peloponnesus and later colonized Sicily and southern Italy.

II. adjective

of or relating to the Dorian people or to Doris in central Greece.

– origin via Latin from Greek Dōrios ‘of Doris’ + -ian.

Dorian mode

noun

[Music] the mode represented by the natural diatonic scale D–D (containing a minor 3rd and minor 7th).

Doric /ˈdôrik ˈdärik/

I. adjective

1. relating to or denoting a classical order of architecture characterized by a sturdy fluted column and a thick square abacus resting on a rounded molding.

2. relating to or denoting the ancient Greek dialect of the Dorians.

3. ‹archaic› (of a dialect) broad; rustic.

II. noun

1. the Doric order of architecture.

2. the ancient Greek dialect of the Dorians.

3. a broad or rustic dialect, especially the dialect spoken in northeastern Scotland.
[by association with the ancient Greek dialect, perceived as rustic.]

– origin via Latin from Greek Dōrikos, from Dōrios (see Dorian).

dork /dôrk/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› a dull, slow-witted, or socially inept person.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹vulgar slang› the penis.

– origin 1960s (originally US, in the sense ‘penis’): perhaps a variant of dirk, influenced by dick^1.

dorky /ˈdôrkē/

I. adjective

1. ‹informal› socially inept or awkward

• he teases all the dorky kids.

2. ‹informal› unfashionable

• why would anyone wear such dorky glasses?

II. derivatives

dorkiness /ˈdôrkēnəs /

noun

dorm /dôrm/

I. noun

‹informal› a dormitory.

– origin early 20th cent.: abbreviation.

dormant /ˈdôrmənt/

I. adjective

1. (of an animal) having normal physical functions suspended or slowed down for a period of time; in or as if in a deep sleep

• dormant butterflies

• ‹figurative› the event evoked memories that she would rather had lain dormant.

2. (of a plant or bud) alive but not actively growing.

3. (of a volcano) temporarily inactive.

4. (of a disease) causing no symptoms but not cured and liable to recur.

5. [usu. postpositive] — [Heraldry] (of an animal) depicted lying with its head on its paws.

II. derivatives

dormancy /ˈdôrmənsē /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the senses ‘fixed in position’ and ‘latent’): from Old French, ‘sleeping,’ present participle of dormir, from Latin dormire ‘to sleep.’

dormer /ˈdôrmər / dormer window

I. noun

a window that projects vertically from a sloping roof.

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting the window of a dormitory or bedroom): from Old French dormeor ‘dormitory,’ from dormir ‘to sleep.’

Dormition /dôrˈmiSHən/

I. noun

1. (in the Orthodox Church) the passing of the Virgin Mary from earthly life.

2. the feast held in honor of Dormition on August 15, corresponding to the Assumption in the Western Church.

– origin late 15th cent.: from French, from Latin dormitio(n-) ‘falling asleep,’ from dormire ‘to sleep.’

dormitory /ˈdôrməˌtôrē/

I. noun

1. a large bedroom for a number of people in a school or institution.

2. (N. Amer.) a university or college hall of residence or hostel.

3. [as modifier] — (chiefly Brit.) denoting a small town or suburb providing a residential area for those who work in a nearby city.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin dormitorium, neuter (used as a noun) of dormitorius, from dormire ‘to sleep.’

dormouse /ˈdôrˌmous/

I. noun

an agile mouselike rodent with a hairy or bushy tail, found in Africa and Eurasia. Some kinds are noted for spending long periods in hibernation.
[Family Myoxidae: several genera and species, including the common dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) and the fat dormouse (Myoxus glis).]

– origin late Middle English: of unknown origin, but associated with French dormir or Latin dormire ‘to sleep’ and mouse.

doronicum /dəˈränəkəm/

I. noun

a plant of the genus Doronicum in the daisy family, especially (in gardening) leopard's bane.

– origin modern Latin (Linnaeus), from modern Greek dōronikon, from Persian darūnak.

dorp /dôrp/

I. noun

(chiefly S. African) a small rural town or village

• dreary little dorps.

– origin late 15th cent.: Dutch, literally ‘village’ (see thorp).

dorsal /ˈdôrsəl/

I. adjective — , &

1. [Anatomy] [Zoology] [Botany] of, on, or relating to the upper side or back of an animal, plant, or organ

• a dorsal view of the body

• the dorsal aorta.

Compare with ventral.

II. derivatives

dorsally

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin dorsalis, from Latin dorsum ‘back.’

dorsal fin

noun

[Zoology] an unpaired fin on the back of a fish or whale, e.g., the tall triangular fin of a shark or killer whale.

Dorset /ˈdôrsət/

a county of southwestern England; county town, Dorchester.

dorsi-

I. combining form

1. of, to, or on the back

• dorsiventral.

2. another term for dorso-.

– origin from Latin dorsum ‘back.’

dorsiflex /ˈdôrsəˌfleks/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Physiology] bend (something, typically the hand or foot) dorsally or toward its upper surface

• the subject dorsiflexed his ankle.

II. derivatives

dorsiflexion /ˌdôrsəˈflekSHən /

noun

dorsiflexor /ˈdôrsəˌfleksər/

noun

[Anatomy] a muscle whose contraction dorsiflexes the hand or foot.

dorsiventral /ˌdôrsəˈventrəl/

I. adjective

1. [chiefly Botany] (of a leaf or other part of a plant) having dissimilar dorsal and ventral surfaces.

2. [chiefly Botany] another term for dorsoventral.

II. derivatives

1. dorsiventrality /-venˈtralitē /

noun

2. dorsiventrally

adverb

dorso-

I. combining form

1. of, to, or on the back and (what is denoted by the second element)

• dorsoventral.

2. another term for dorsi-.

– origin from Latin dorsum ‘back.’

dorsolateral /ˌdôrsōˈladərəl/

I. adjective

[Anatomy] [Biology] of, relating to, or involving the dorsal and lateral surfaces.

II. derivatives

dorsolaterally

adverb

dorsoventral /ˌdôrsōˈventrəl/

I. adjective

1. [Anatomy] [Biology] extending along or denoting an axis joining the dorsal and ventral surfaces.

2. [Anatomy] [Biology] of, relating to, or involving the dorsoventral surfaces.

II. derivatives

dorsoventrally

adverb

dorsum /ˈdôrsəm/

I. noun

[Anatomy] [Zoology] the dorsal part of an organism or structure.

– origin late 18th cent. (denoting a long hill or ridge): from Latin, ‘back.’

Dort /dôrt/

another name for Dordrecht.

Dortmund /ˈdôrtmənd/

an industrial city in northwestern Germany, in North Rhine–Westphalia; pop. 587,600 (est. 2006).

dory^1 /ˈdôrē/

I. noun

a narrow deep-bodied fish with a mouth that can be opened very wide.
[Several genera and species in the families Zeidae and Oreosomatidae. See also John Dory.]

– origin late Middle English: from French dorée, feminine past participle of dorer ‘gild,’ from late Latin deaurare ‘gild over,’ based on Latin aurum ‘gold.’ Compare with dorado.

dory^2 /ˈdôrē/

I. noun

a small flat-bottomed rowboat with a high bow and stern, of a kind originally used for fishing in New England.

– origin early 18th cent.: perhaps from Miskito dóri ‘dugout.’

doryphore /ˈdôrəˌfôr/

I. noun

‹rare› a pedantic and annoyingly persistent critic.

– origin 1950s (introduced by Sir Harold Nicolson): from French, literally ‘Colorado beetle,’ from Greek doruphoros ‘spearcarrier.’

DoS

abbreviation

[Computing] denial of service.

DOS /dôs/

abbreviation

[Computing] disk operating system, an operating system originally developed for IBM personal computers.

dos-à-dos /ˌdōzəˈdō/

I. adjective

(of two books) bound together with a shared central board and facing in opposite directions.

II. noun

1. a seat or carriage in which the occupants sit back to back.

2. variant spelling of do-si-do.

III. verb

variant spelling of do-si-do.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, literally ‘back to back.’

dosage /ˈdōsij/

noun

1. the size or frequency of a dose of a medicine or drug

• a dosage of 450 milligrams a day

• there are recommendations about dosage for elderly patients.

2. a level of exposure to or absorption of ionizing radiation.

dose /dōs/

I. noun

1. a quantity of a medicine or drug taken or recommended to be taken at a particular time

• he took a dose of cough medicine.

2. an amount of ionizing radiation received or absorbed at one time or over a specified period

• a dose of radiation exceeding safety limits.

3. ‹informal› a venereal infection.

4. ‹informal› a quantity of something regarded as analogous to medicine in being necessary but unpleasant

• I wanted to give you a dose of the hell you put me through.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. administer a dose to (a person or animal)

• he dosed himself with vitamins.

2. adulterate or blend (a substance) with another substance

• the champagne was dosed with sugar.

III. phrases

in small doses

‹informal› when experienced or engaged in a little at a time

• computer games are great in small doses.

– origin late Middle English: from French, via late Latin from Greek dosis ‘gift,’ from didonai ‘give.’

dose equivalent

noun

an estimate of the biological effect of a dose of ionizing radiation, calculated by multiplying the dose received by a factor depending on the type of radiation. It is measured in sieverts.

dosha /ˈdōSHə, /

I. noun

(in Ayurvedic medicine) each of three energies believed to circulate in the body and govern physiological activity.

– origin Sanskrit doṣa, literally ‘fault, disease.’

do-si-do /ˌdōsēˈdō / dos-à-dos

I. noun

(in square dancing, and other country dancing) a figure in which two dancers pass around each other back to back and return to their original positions.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. dance a do-si-do.

– origin 1920s: alteration of dos-à-dos.

dosimeter /dōˈsimidər/

I. noun

a device used to measure an absorbed dose of ionizing radiation.

II. derivatives

1. dosimetric /ˌdōsəˈmetrik /

adjective

2. dosimetry /dōˈsimətrē /

noun

Dos Passos, John /däs ˈpasəs/

(1896–1970), US novelist; full name John Roderigo Dos Passos. He is known for his portrayal of life in the US in such novels as Manhattan Transfer (1925) and U.S.A. (1938).

doss /däs / ‹Brit. informal›

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. sleep (in rough or inexpensive accommodations)

• he dossed down on a friend's floor.

II. noun

1. an instance of sleeping in rough accommodations.

2. ‹archaic› a bed in a cheap lodging house.

– origin late 18th cent.: perhaps based on Latin dorsum ‘back.’

dossal /ˈdäsəl/

I. noun

an ornamental cloth hung behind an altar in a church or at the sides of a chancel.

– origin mid 17th cent. (denoting an ornamental cloth to cover the back of a seat): from medieval Latin dossale, from late Latin dorsalis ‘on the back’ (see dorsal).

dosshouse /ˈdäsˌhous/

noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› a cheap lodging house, especially for homeless people and tramps.

dossier /ˈdôsēˌā ˈdäsēˌā/

I. noun

a collection of documents about a particular person, event, or subject

• we have a dossier on him

• a dossier of complaints.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French, denoting a bundle of papers with a label on the back, from dos ‘back,’ based on Latin dorsum.

dost /dəst/

archaic second person singular present of do^1.

Dostoevsky, Fyodor /ˌdästəˈyefskē / Dostoyevsky

(1821–81), Russian novelist; full name Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky. His novels reveal his psychological insight, savage humor, and concern with the religious, political, and moral problems posed by human suffering. Notable works: Crime and Punishment (1866), The Idiot (1868), and The Brothers Karamazov (1880).

dot^1 /dät/

I. noun

1. a small round mark or spot

• a symbol depicted in colored dots.

2. a dot written or printed as part of an i or j, as a diacritical mark, as one of a series of marks to signify omission, or as a period.

3. [Music] a dot used to denote the lengthening of a note or rest by half, or to indicate staccato.

4. the shorter signal of the two used in Morse code.
Compare with dash (sense 3 of the noun).

5. used to refer to an object that appears tiny because it is far away

• the desert shrank figures to mere dots.

6. used to indicate the punctuation separating parts of an email or website address

• drop me a note at heatvision dot com.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. mark with a small spot or spots

• wet spots of rain began to dot his shirt.

2. (of a number of items) be scattered over (an area)

• churches dot the countryside.

3. place a dot over (a letter)

• you need to dot the i.

4. [Music] mark (a note or rest) to show that the time value is increased by half
(as adj. dotted)

• a dotted quarter note.

III. phrases

1. dot the i's and cross the t's

‹informal› ensure that all details are correct.

2. on the dot

‹informal› exactly on time

• he arrived on the dot at nine o'clock.

IV. derivatives

dotter

noun

– origin Old English dott ‘head of a boil.’ The word is recorded only once in Old English, then not until the late 16th cent., when it is found in the sense ‘a small lump or clot,’ perhaps influenced by Dutch dot ‘a knot.’ The sense ‘small mark or spot’ dates from the mid 17th cent.

dot^2 /dät/

I. noun

‹archaic› a dowry, particularly one from which only the interest or annual income was available to the husband.

– origin from French, from Latin dos, dot- ‘dowry’ (see dower).

DOT

abbreviation

Department of Transportation.

dotage /ˈdōdij/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. the period of life in which a person is old and weak

• you could live here and look after me in my dotage.

– origin late Middle English: from dote + -age.

dotard /ˈdōdərd/

I. noun

an old person, especially one who has become weak or senile.

– origin late Middle English: from dote + -ard.

dot-bomb dot.bomb

I. noun

‹informal› an unsuccessful dot-com company

• many promising Internet start-ups ended up as dot-bombs.

– origin on the pattern of dot-com.

dot-com /dätˈkäm / dot.com

noun

a company that relies largely or exclusively on Internet commerce.

dot-commer dot.commer

noun

someone who works for or owns an Internet-based company.

dote /dōt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (dote on/upon) — be extremely and uncritically fond of

• she doted on her two young children.

2. ‹archaic› be silly or feebleminded, especially as a result of old age

• the parson is now old and dotes.

II. derivatives

doter

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘act or talk foolishly’): of uncertain origin; related to Middle Dutch doten ‘be silly.’

doth /dəTH/

archaic third person singular present of do^1.

Dothan /ˈdōTHən/

a city in southeastern Alabama, near the Florida border; pop. 66,505 (est. 2008).

doting /ˈdōdiNG/

I. adjective

extremely and uncritically fond of someone; adoring

• she was spoiled outrageously by her doting father.

II. derivatives

dotingly /ˈdōdiNGlē /

adverb

dot matrix

noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. a grid of dots that are filled selectively to produce an image on a screen or paper

• a dot matrix display board.

dot matrix printer /ˈˌdät ˈmātriks ˌprin(t)ər/

noun

a printer that forms images of letters, numbers, etc., from a number of tiny dots.

dot-org dot.org

I. noun

a nonprofit organization that conducts its business on the Internet.

II. adjective

of or relating to nonprofit business conducted on the Internet.

– origin from .org in an Internet address, typically indicating a noncommercial site.

dot product

noun

another term for inner product.

dotted line /ˌdädəd ˈlīn/

noun

1. a line made up of dots or dashes (often used in reference to the space left for a signature on a contract)

• Adam signed on the dotted line.

2. an indirect, informal, or secondary line of responsibility within an organization (as represented by a dotted line on an organizational chart)

• I report to Hal Jones, our CFO, with a dotted line to the audit committee.

dotted rhythm

noun

[Music] rhythm in which the beat is unequally subdivided into a long dotted note and a short note.

dotterel /ˈdädərəl/

I. noun

a small plover with a brown streaked back and a chestnut or buff belly with black below. Dotterels breed in mountainous areas and in the tundra.
[Genus Eudromias, family Charadriidae: two species, esp. the Eurasian E. morinellus, which is noted for its tameness.]

– origin Middle English: from dote (so named because it is easily caught) + -rel. Compare with dodo.

dottle /ˈdädl/

I. noun

a remnant of tobacco left in a pipe after smoking.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a plug for a barrel or other container): from dot^1 + -le^1.

dotty /ˈdädē/

I. adjective

‹informal› (of a person, action, or idea) somewhat mad or eccentric

• he was slightly dotty by the end of his second term.

II. derivatives

1. dottily /ˈdätəlē /

adverb

2. dottiness /ˈdädēnəs /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: perhaps from obsolete dote ‘simpleton, fool,’ apparently from Dutch dote ‘folly.’

Douala /do͞oˈälə/

the chief port of and largest city in Cameroon; pop. 1,776,000 (est. 2007).

douane /dwän/

I. noun

‹archaic› a custom house in France or other Mediterranean countries.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, from Italian do(g)ana, from Arabic dīwān ‘office,’ from Persian dīwān (see divan). Compare with diwan.

Douay Bible /ˈdo͞oā ˌbībəl / Douay version

noun

an English translation of the Bible formerly used in the Roman Catholic Church, completed at Douai in France early in the 17th century.

double /ˈdəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. consisting of two equal, identical, or similar parts or things

• the double doors.

2. having twice the usual size, quantity, or strength

• she sipped a double brandy.

3. designed to be used by two people

• a double bed.

4. having two different roles or interpretations, especially in order to deceive or confuse

• the double life of a freelance secret agent.

5. having some essential part or feature twice, in particular

6. (of a flower variety) having more than one circle of petals

• large double blooms.

7. (of a domino) having the same number of dots on each half.

8. used to indicate that a letter or number occurs twice in succession

• “otter” is spelled with a double t.

9. [Music] lower in pitch by an octave.

II. predeterminer

twice as much or as many

• the jail now houses almost double the number of prisoners it was designed for

• I'll pay double what I paid last time.

III. adverb

1. at or to twice the amount or extent

• you have to be careful, and this counts double for older people.

2. as two instead of the more usual one

• she thought she was seeing double.

IV. noun

1. a thing that is twice as large as usual or is made up of two standard units or things

• join the two sleeping bags together to make a double.

2. a double measure of liquor.

3. [Baseball] a hit that allows the batter to reach second base safely

• Sabo came home on a double by O'Neill.

4. a type of bet in which two selections are made, with any winnings from the first being transferred to the second.

5. [Bridge] a call that will increase the points won if the declarer is successful, or increase the penalty points won by the defenders if the declarer fails to make the contract.

6. [Darts] a hit on the narrow ring enclosed by the two outer circles of a dartboard, scoring double.

7. a person who looks exactly like another

• you could pass yourself off as his double.

8. a person who stands in for an actor in a film.

9. an apparition of a living person

• she had seen her husband's double.

10. (doubles) — (especially in tennis and badminton) a game or competition involving sides made up of two players

• the semifinals of the doubles.

V. pronoun

a number or amount that is twice as large as a contrasting or usual number or amount

• he paid double and had a room all to himself.

VI. verb

1. [no obj.] — become twice as much or as many

• profits doubled in one year.

2. [with obj.] — make twice as much or as many of (something)

• Clare doubled her income overnight.

3. [with obj.] — ‹archaic› amount to twice as much as

• thy fifty yet doth double five and twenty.

4. (of a member of the armed forces) move at twice the usual speed; run

• I doubled across the deck to join the others.

5. [Baseball] (of a batter) get a two-base hit

• Strawberry doubled with two outs.

6. [Bridge] make a call increasing the value of the penalty points to be scored on an opponent's bid if it wins the auction and is not fulfilled.

7. ‹informal› (US) go out on a double date

• they doubled with his sister and her oafish boyfriend.

8. [with obj.] — fold or bend (paper, cloth, or other material) over on itself

• the muslin is doubled and then laid in a sieve over the bowl.

9. clench (a fist)

• he had one arm around her and the other fist doubled.

10. [Nautical] sail around (a headland)

• we struck out seaward to double the headland of the cape.

11. [no obj.] — (of a person or thing) be used in or play another, different role

• a laser printer doubles as a photocopier.

12. [with obj.] — (of an actor) play (two parts) in the same piece.

13. [Music] play two or more musical instruments.

14. [with obj.] — [Music] add the same note in a higher or lower octave to (a note).

VII. phrases

1. on the double

at running speed; very fast

• he disappeared on the double.

2. double or nothing

a gamble to decide whether a loss or debt should be doubled or canceled.

VIII. phrasal verbs

1. double back

go back in the direction one has come

• he had to double back to pick them up.

2. double down

a. (chiefly US) (in blackjack) double a bet after seeing one's initial cards, with the requirement that one additional card be drawn

• the amount only increases when you choose to split or double down

• he doubled down on a pair and lost.

b. strengthen one's commitment to a particular strategy or course of action, typically one that is potentially risky

• he decided to double down and escalate the war

• the third quarter of the year saw central banks doubling down on the quantitative easing approach.

3. double up

a. bend over or curl up, typically because one is overcome with pain or mirth

• Billy started to double up with laughter.

b. share a room

• “Where's Jimmy going to sleep?” “He can double up with Bert.”

c. use the winnings from a bet as stake for another bet.

IX. derivatives

doubler

noun

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin duplus (see duple). The verb is from Old French dobler, from late Latin duplare, from duplus.

double acrostic

noun

an acrostic in which the first and last letters of each line form a hidden word or words.

double-acting /ˈˌdəbəl ˈaktiNG/

adjective

1. denoting a device or product that combines two different functions

• double-acting hydraulic shock absorbers

• double-acting baking powder.

2. (of an engine) having pistons pushed from both sides alternately.

double-action /ˈdəbəl ˈakSHən/

adjective

1. another term for double-acting:

• double-action moss killer.

2. (of a gun) able to be cocked and fired in one single action.

double agent /ˈˌdəbəl ˈājənt/

noun

an agent who pretends to act as a spy for one country or organization while in fact acting on behalf of an enemy.

double bar /ˈdəbəl bär/

noun

a pair of closely spaced bar lines marking the end of a piece or section of music.

double-barreled

adjective

1. (of a gun) having two barrels.

2. having two parts or aspects.

double bass /ˌdəbəl ˈbās/

noun

the largest and lowest-pitched instrument of the violin family, providing the bass line of the orchestral string section and also much used in jazz.

double bassoon /ˈdəbəl bəˈso͞on/

noun

another term for contrabassoon.

double bill /ˈˌdəbəl ˈbil/

I. noun

a program of entertainment with two main items or personalities

• a double bill of pianist Donegan and alto sax star Woods.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. charge (different accounts) for the same expenses

• her two restaurants were double-billed for the one refrigerator

• [no obj.] the previous accounting program had a tendency to double-bill.

double bind /ˈˌdəbəl ˈbīnd/

noun

a situation in which a person is confronted with two irreconcilable demands or a choice between two undesirable courses of action.

double-bitted ax

noun

an ax with two blades.

double-blind

adjective

denoting a test or trial, especially of a drug, in which any information that may influence the behavior of the tester or the subject is withheld until after the test.
Compare with single-blind.

double bluff /ˈˌdəbəl ˈbləf/

noun

an action or statement that is intended to appear as a bluff but is in fact genuine.

double bogey ‹Golf›

I. noun

a score of two strokes over par for a hole.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. complete (a hole) in two strokes over par.

double boiler /ˈdəbəl ˈboilər/

noun

a saucepan with a detachable upper compartment heated by boiling water in the lower one.

double bond

noun

a chemical bond in which two pairs of electrons are shared between two atoms.

double-book /ˌdəbəlˈbo͝ok/

verb — [with obj.] (usu. be double-booked)

1. reserve (something, especially a seat or a hotel room) for two different customers or parties at the same time

• the hotel was double-booked.

2. book (someone) into a seat or room that is already reserved for another.

double-breasted /ˈˌdəbəl ˈˌbrestəd/

adjective

(of a jacket or coat) having a substantial overlap of material at the front and showing two rows of buttons when fastened.

double bridle

noun

a bridle that has both a curb and a snaffle bit, each with its own set of reins.

double-check /ˈˌdəbəl ˈˌCHek/

verb — [with obj.]

1. go over (something) for a second time to ensure that it is accurate or safe

• he double-checked our credentials

• [with clause] double-check that all windows are firmly locked.

double chin /ˈdəbəl CHin/

I. noun

a roll of fatty flesh below a person's chin.

II. derivatives

double-chinned /ˈˌdəbəl ˈˌCHind /

adjective

double-click /ˌdəbəlˈklik/

verb — [no obj.]

1. press a computer mouse button twice in quick succession to select a file, program, or function

• to run a window just double-click on the icon

• [with obj.] when you double-click this file it should open.

double-clutch /ˈdəbəlˌkləCH/

verb — [no obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) release and reengage the clutch of a vehicle twice when changing gear.

double concerto

noun

a concerto for two solo instruments.

double cream /ˈdəbəl krēm/

noun

British term for heavy cream.

double-cross

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. deceive or betray (a person with whom one is supposedly cooperating)

• he was blackmailed into double-crossing his own government.

II. noun

a betrayal of someone with whom one is supposedly cooperating.

III. derivatives

double-crosser /ˈˌdəbəl ˈkrôsər ˈˌdəbəl ˈkräsər /

noun

double-cut /ˈdəbəlˌkət/

adjective

(of a file) having two sets of grooves crossing each other diagonally.

double dagger

noun

a symbol (‡) used in printed text to introduce an annotation.

double date //

I. noun

a social outing in which two couples participate.

II. verb — [no obj.] (double-date)

1. take part in a double date.

2. [with obj.] — accompany (someone) on a double date.

Doubleday, Abner /ˈdəbəlˌdā/

(1819–93), US army officer. A Union general in the Civil War, he was credited in 1908 with creating the modern game of baseball, although this claim has been discounted.

double-dealing /ˌdəbəlˈdēliNG/

I. noun

the practice of working to people's disadvantage behind their backs.

II. adjective

working deceitfully to injure others

• she is a backstabbing, double-dealing twister.

III. derivatives

double-dealer /ˌdəbəl ˈdēlər /

noun

double-decker /ˌdəbəlˈdekər/

noun

something, especially a bus, that has two floors or levels
[as modifier]

• a double-decker bus

• double-decker sandwiches.

double decomposition

noun

[Chemistry] another term for metathesis (sense 2).

double denim

noun

‹informal› a style of dress in which a denim jacket or shirt is worn with a pair of jeans or a denim skirt, often regarded as a breach of fashion etiquette

• wearing a suit and no socks is a cardinal sin—it's even worse than double denim.

double-density /ˈdəbəl ˈdensədē/

adjective

[Computing] (of a disk) able to store twice as much information as other, older disks of the same physical size.

double-digit /ˈdəbəl ˌdijit/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of a number, variable, or percentage) between 10 and 99

• double-digit inflation.

II. noun — (double digits)

1. (N. Amer.) another term for double figures.

double-dip /ˌdəb(ə)lˈdip/

I. adjective

denoting or relating to a recession during which a period of economic decline is followed by a brief period of growth, followed by a further period of decline

• higher food and energy prices could increase the risk of a double-dip recession.

II. noun

a double-dip recession

• this strategy should help mitigate the risk of the economy falling into a double-dip.

III. verb — [no obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› obtain an income from two different sources, typically in an illicit way.

IV. derivatives

1. double-dipper /ˌdəb(ə)lˈdipər /

noun

2. double-dipping

noun

double dot

I. noun

(in musical composition or transcription) two dots placed side by side after a note to indicate that it is to be lengthened by three quarters of its value.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. write or perform (music) with a rhythm of alternating long and short notes in a ratio of approximately seven to one, producing a more marked effect than ordinary dotted rhythm.

double-double

noun

(chiefly Canadian) a cup of coffee with a double serving of both sugar and cream.

double dribble

I. noun

[Basketball] an illegal dribble that occurs when a player dribbles with both hands simultaneously or interrupts a dribble by holding the ball briefly in one or both hands.

II. verb — (double-dribble)

1. commit or be charged with a double dribble.

double dummy

noun

[Bridge] a way of playing with two hands exposed, allowing every card to be located, for instructional purposes.

double Dutch /ˈˌdəbəl ˈdəCH / double dutch

noun

(N. Amer.) a jump-rope game played with two long jump ropes swung in opposite directions so that they cross rhythmically
[as adv.]

• three girls jumped double Dutch, the white cords whirring like an electric fan.

double-dyed /ˌdəbəlˈdīd/

adjective

1. (of an item of clothing) dyed twice in order to give a very deep color.

2. (of a person) thoroughly imbued with a particular quality

• a double-dyed liberal.

double eagle /ˈdəbəl ˈēɡəl/

noun

1. (US) a gold coin worth twenty dollars.

2. [Golf] a score of three strokes under par at a hole.

double-edged /ˌdəbəlˈejd/

I. adjective

1. (of a knife or sword) having two cutting edges.

2. having two contradictory aspects or possible outcomes

• the consequences can be double-edged.

II. phrases

a double-edged sword

a situation or course of action having both positive and negative effects.

double effect

noun

(in ethics) the good and bad effect of an action, compared according to a principle that seeks to justify the action if the bad effect, though foreseen, is outweighed by the good effect.

double-ender /ˌdəbəlˈendər/

noun

a boat in which stern and bow are similarly tapered.

double entendre /ˌdo͞obl änˈtändrə ˌdəbl änˈtändrə/

I. noun

1. a word or phrase open to two interpretations, one of which is usually risqué or indecent.

2. humor using double entendres.

– origin late 17th cent.: from obsolete French (now double entente), ‘double understanding.’

double-entry /dəbəlˈentrē/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. denoting a system of bookkeeping in which each transaction is entered as a debit in one account and a credit in another.

double exposure /ˈdəbəl ikˈspōZHər ekˈspōZHər/

noun

the repeated exposure of a photographic plate or film to light, often producing ghost images.

double-faced /ˌdəbəlˈfāst/

adjective

1. having two faces

• a double-faced clock.

2. tending to say one thing and do another; deceitful.

3. (of a fabric or material) finished on both sides so that either may be used as the right side.

double fault /ˈˌdəbəl ˈfôlt/

I. noun

[Tennis] an instance of two consecutive faults in serving, counting as a point against the server.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. serve a double fault.

double feature /ˈdəbəl ˈfēCHər/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a movie program with two full-length films.

double figures /ˈdəbəl ˈfiɡyərz/

plural noun

a number or amount, especially a percentage, between 10 and 99

• inflation was in double figures.

double flat /ˈdəbəl flat/

noun

1. a sign placed before a musical note to indicate that it is to be lowered two semitones.

2. a musical note marked by a double flat or lowered two semitones.

double fugue

noun

[Music] a fugue with two subjects, each similarly treated.

double glazing /ˌdəbəl ˈɡlāziNG/

I. noun

windows that have two layers of glass with a space between them, designed to reduce loss of heat and exclude noise.

II. derivatives

double-glaze /ˌdəbəlˈɡlāz /

verb

double-handed /ˌdəbəlˈhandəd/

adjective

1. made to be lifted or held with two hands

• a long sword with a double-handed hilt.

2. using both hands

• a double-handed backhand.

double-headed /ˌdəbəlˈhedəd/

adjective

1. having a double head or two heads

• a double-headed monster

• double-headed nails.

2. (of a train) pulled by two locomotives.

3. (of a weapon) having two cutting implements, typically one at each end of the shaft

• a double-headed ax.

doubleheader /ˌdəbəlˈhedər/

noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) a sporting event in which two games or contests are played in succession at the same venue, typically between the same teams or players.

2. a train pulled by two locomotives coupled together.

double helix /ˈdəbəl ˈhēliks/

noun

a pair of parallel helices intertwined about a common axis, especially that in the structure of the DNA molecule.

double-hung /ˈdəbəlˌhəNG/

adjective

(of a window) consisting of two sliding vertical sashes.

double indemnity /ˈdəbəl inˈdemnədē/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) provision for payment of double the face amount of an insurance policy under certain conditions, e.g., when death occurs as a result of an accident.

double jeopardy /ˈdəbəl ˈjepərdē/

noun

1. [Law] (chiefly N. Amer.) the prosecution of a person twice for the same offense.

2. [Law] (chiefly N. Amer.) risk or disadvantage incurred from two sources simultaneously

• he is in double jeopardy, unable to speak either language adequately.

double-jointed /ˌdəbəlˈjoin(t)əd/

adjective

(of a person) having unusually flexible joints, typically those of the fingers, arms, or legs.

double-knit /ˈdəbəlnit/

I. adjective

(of fabric) knit of two joined layers for extra thickness

• a green double-knit suit.

– origin mid 19th cent.: double with reference to the “doubling” of the yarn to four-ply.

double lock /ˌdəbəl ˈläk/

I. noun

a type of spring lock that may be used as a deadbolt by an extra turn of the key.

II. verb — (double-lock)

1. [with obj.] — fasten (a door) with two locks, or with a double lock.

double meaning

noun

a word or phrase that is open to more than one interpretation

• the title of the movie has a double meaning

• [as modifier] a double-meaning punchline.

double negative /ˈdəbəl ˈneɡədiv/

I. noun

1. [Grammar] a negative statement containing two negative elements (for example didn't say nothing).

2. [Grammar] a positive statement in which two negative elements are used to produce the positive force, usu. for some particular rhetorical effect (for example there is not nothing to worry about!).

usage: According to standard English grammar, a double negative used to express a single negative, such as I don't know nothing (rather than I don't know anything), is incorrect. The rules dictate that the two negative elements cancel each other out to give an affirmative statement, so that, logically, I don't know nothing means I know something. In practice, this sort of double negative is widespread in dialect and nonstandard usage and rarely causes confusion about the intended meaning. Double negatives are standard in other languages such as Spanish and Polish, and they have not always been unacceptable in English. They were normal in Old English and Middle English and did not come to be frowned upon until some time after the 16th century. The double negative can be used in speech or in written dialogue for emphasis or other rhetorical effects. Such constructions as ‘has not gone unnoticed’ or ‘not wholly unpersuasive’ may be useful for making a point through understatement, but the double negative should be used judiciously because it may cause confusion or annoy the reader.

double-park /ˈˌdəbəl ˈˌpärk/

verb — [with obj.] (usu. be double-parked)

1. park (a vehicle) alongside one that is already parked at the side of the road.

double play

noun

[Baseball] a defensive play in which two players are put out.

double pneumonia /ˈdəbəl n(y)o͞oˈmōnēə n(y)o͞oˈmōnyə/

noun

pneumonia affecting both lungs.

double precision

noun

[Computing] the use of twice the usual number of bits to represent a number, giving greater arithmetic accuracy.

double-quick /ˌdəbəlˈkwik/

adjective, adverb

‹informal› very quick or quickly
[as adj.]

• I got changed in double-quick time

• [as adv.] you get upstairs double-quick!

double reed

noun

[Music] a reed with two slightly separated blades, used for playing a wind instrument such as an oboe or bassoon.

double refraction

noun

[Physics] division of a single incident light ray or other electromagnetic wave into two separate rays in an anisotropic medium.

double rhyme

noun

a feminine rhyme involving one stressed and one unstressed syllable in each rhyming line.

double salt

noun

[Chemistry] a crystalline salt having the composition of a mixture of two simple salts but with a different crystal structure from either.

double sharp /ˈdəbəl SHärp/

noun

1. a sign placed before a musical note to indicate that it is to be raised two semitones.

2. a musical note marked by a double sharp or raised two semitones.

double-sided /ˌdəbəlˈsīdəd/

I. adjective

using or able to be used on both sides

• double-sided adhesive tape.

II. derivatives

double-sidedness

noun

double-space

verb

type or format with a full space between lines.

doublespeak /ˈdəbəlˌspēk/

I. noun

deliberately euphemistic, ambiguous, or obscure language

• the art of political doublespeak.

– origin 1950s: often attributed incorrectly to George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four.

double standard /ˈdəbəl ˈstandərd/

noun

a rule or principle that is unfairly applied in different ways to different people or groups

• the smaller pay received by black soldiers demonstrated a double standard.

double star /ˈdəbəl stär/

noun

two stars physically very close together, as a binary star, or apparently so, as an optical double.

double steal

noun

[Baseball] a play in which two base runners each steal a base.

double stop

I. noun

the playing of two notes at once on a violin or similar bowed instrument.

II. derivatives

1. double-stop

verb

2. double-stopping /ˈˌdəbəl ˈˌstäpiNG /

noun

doublet /ˈdəblət/

I. noun

1. either of a pair of similar things, in particular

2. either of two words of the same historical source, but with two different stages of entry into the language and different resultant meanings, for example fashion and faction, cloak and clock.

3. (doublets) — the same number on two dice thrown at once.

4. [Physics] [Chemistry] a pair of associated lines close together in a spectrum or electrophoretic gel.

5. a combination of two simple lenses.

6. a man's short close-fitting padded jacket, commonly worn from the 14th to the 17th century.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, ‘something folded,’ also denoting a fur-lined coat, from double ‘double.’

double take /ˈˌdəbəl ˈtāk/

noun

a delayed reaction to something unexpected, immediately after one's first reaction

• Tony glanced at her, then did a double take.

double-talk /ˈdəblˌtôk/

noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) deliberately unintelligible speech combining nonsense syllables and actual words.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) another term for doublespeak.

double-team /ˈdəbəltēm / ‹N. Amer.›

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (in ball games, especially basketball) block (an opponent) with two players.

II. noun

an act of double-teaming.

doublethink /ˈdəbəlˌTHiNGk/

I. noun

the acceptance of or mental capacity to accept contrary opinions or beliefs at the same time, especially as a result of political indoctrination.

– origin 1949: coined by George Orwell in his novel Nineteen Eighty-Four.

double time /ˈˌdəbəl ˈˌtīm/

noun

1. a rate of pay equal to double the standard rate, sometimes paid for working on holidays or outside normal working hours.

2. [Military] a regulation running pace.

3. [Music] a rhythm that is twice as fast as an earlier one.

doubleton /ˈdəbəltən/

I. noun

1. (in card games, especially bridge) a pair of cards that are the only cards of their suit in a hand.

2. a pair of people or things.

– origin early 20th cent.: from double, on the pattern of singleton.

double tonguing

I. noun

[Music] the use of two alternating movements of the tongue (usually as in sounding t and k) in playing rapid passages on a wind instrument.

II. derivatives

double-tongue

verb

doubletree /ˈdəbəlˌtrē/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a crossbar in front of a wagon with a swingletree at each end, enabling two horses to be harnessed.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from double, on the pattern of singletree.

double U

I. noun

the letter W.

– origin late 16th cent.: the letter W represented as a word.

double vision /ˈdəbəl ˈviZHən/

noun

the simultaneous perception of two images, usually overlapping, of a single scene or object.

double whammy /ˈˌdəbəl ˈ(h)wamē/

I. noun

‹informal› a twofold blow or setback

• a double whammy of taxation and price increases.

– origin 1950s: originally with reference to the comic strip Li'l Abner (see whammy).

double-wide /ˈdəbəlwīd/

noun

(N. Amer.) a semipermanent mobile home consisting of two separate units connected on site

• she left the double-wide empty.

doubloon /dəˈblo͞on/

I. noun

‹historical› a Spanish gold coin.

– origin from French doublon or its source, Spanish doblón, from doble ‘double’ (so named because the coin was worth double the value of a pistole).

doubly /ˈdəb(ə)lē/

adverb — [often as submodifier]

1. to twice the normal extent or degree; especially

• we're going to have to work doubly hard.

2. two times or in two ways

• doubly mutant cells.

doubt /dout/

I. noun

a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction

• some doubt has been cast upon the authenticity of this account

• they had doubts that they would ever win.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — feel uncertain about

• I doubt my ability to do the job.

2. question the truth or fact of (something)

• who can doubt the value of these services?

• [with clause] I doubt if anyone slept that night.

3. disbelieve (a person or their word)

• I have no reason to doubt him.

4. [no obj.] — feel uncertain, especially about one's religious beliefs.

5. [with clause] — ‹archaic› fear; be afraid of

• I doubt not your contradictions.

III. phrases

1. beyond (a or a shadow of a) doubt

allowing no uncertainty

• you've proved it beyond doubt

• they knew beyond a shadow of a doubt what made them happy.

2. in doubt

a. open to question

• the outcome is no longer in doubt.

b. feeling uncertain about something

• by the age of 14 he was in no doubt about his career aims.

3. no doubt

a. used to indicate the speaker's firm belief that something is true even if evidence is not given or available

• those who left were attracted, no doubt, by higher pay.

b. used to introduce a concession that is subsequently dismissed as unimportant or irrelevant

• they no doubt did what they could to help her, but their best proved insufficient.

4. without (a) doubt

indisputably

• he was without doubt the very worst kind of reporter.

IV. derivatives

doubtable /ˈdoudəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French doute (noun), douter (verb), from Latin dubitare ‘hesitate,’ from dubius ‘doubtful’ (see dubious).

doubter /ˈdoudər/

noun

a person who questions or lacks faith in something; a skeptic

• he had proved all his doubters wrong.

doubtful /ˈdoutfəl/

I. adjective

1. feeling uncertain about something

• he looked doubtful, but gave a nod

• I was doubtful of my judgment.

2. not known with certainty

• the fire was of doubtful origin.

3. improbable
[with clause]

• it is doubtful whether these programs have any lasting effect.

4. not established as genuine or acceptable

• of doubtful legality.

II. derivatives

1. doubtfully /ˈdoutfəlē /

adverb

2. doubtfulness /ˈdoutfəlnəs /

noun

doubting /ˈdoudiNG/

I. adjective

expressing or feeling uncertainty or lack of conviction; skeptical

• some doubting voices were raised over the price

• people look at it through doubting eyes.

II. derivatives

doubtingly /doudiNGlē /

adverb

doubting Thomas

I. noun

a person who is skeptical and refuses to believe something without proof.

– origin early 17th cent.: with biblical allusion to the apostle Thomas (John 20: 24–29).

doubtless /ˈdoutləs/

I. adverb — [sentence adverb]

1. used to indicate the speaker's belief that a statement is certain to be true given what is known about the situation

• the company would doubtless find the reduced competition to their liking.

2. used to refer to a desirable outcome as though it were certain

• doubtless you'll solve the problem.

II. derivatives

doubtlessly

adverb

douce /do͞os/

I. adjective

(chiefly Scottish) sober, gentle, and sedate

• stories which would have outraged their douce minds.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘pleasant, sweet’): from Old French dous, douce, from Latin dulcis ‘sweet.’

douceur /do͞oˈsər/

I. noun

a financial inducement; a gratuity or bribe

• Pericles gave a handsome douceur to the Spartan commanders to withdraw without fighting.

– origin mid 18th cent.: French, literally ‘sweetness.’

douceur de vivre /do͞oˌsər də ˈvēvrə/

I. noun

a way of living that is pleasant and free from worries.

– origin mid 20th cent.: French, literally ‘sweetness of living (or life).’

douche /do͞oSH/

I. noun

1. a shower of water

• a daily douche.

2. a jet of liquid applied to part of the body for cleansing or medicinal purposes.

3. a device for washing out the vagina.

4. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) an obnoxious or contemptible person, typically a man

• that guy is such a douche.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. spray or shower with water.

2. [no obj.] — use a douche as a method of contraception.

– origin mid 18th cent. (as a noun): via French from Italian doccia ‘conduit pipe,’ from docciare ‘pour by drops,’ based on Latin ductus ‘leading’ (see duct).

douchebag /ˈdo͞oSHbaɡ/

noun

1. a small syringe for douching the vagina, especially as a contraceptive measure.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› an obnoxious or contemptible person, typically a man.

douchebaggery /ˈdo͞oSHˌbaɡərē/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› obnoxious or contemptible behavior

• no one gets away with that much douchebaggery without consequences.

douchey /ˈdo͞oSHē/

adjective

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) (typically of a man or his behavior) obnoxious or contemptible

• she has a history of dating douchey men

• he later apologized for his douchey remarks.

dough /dō/

I. noun

1. a thick, malleable mixture of flour and liquid, used for baking into bread or pastry.

2. ‹informal› money

• lots of dough.

II. derivatives

1. doughiness

noun

2. doughy /ˈdōē /

adjective

– origin Old English dāg, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch deeg and German Teig, from an Indo-European root meaning ‘smear, knead.’

doughboy /ˈdōboi/

noun

1. a boiled or deep-fried dumpling.

2. (US) ‹informal› a US infantryman, especially one in World War I.
[said to have been a term applied in the Civil War to the large globular brass buttons on the infantry uniform; also said to derive from the use of pipeclay ‘dough’ to clean the white belts worn by infantrymen.]

dough-faced /ˈdōfāst/

adjective

‹informal› pasty-faced

• his dough-faced niece.

doughnut /ˈdōˌnət / donut

noun

1. a small fried cake of sweetened dough, typically in the shape of a ball or ring.

2. a ring-shaped object, in particular a vacuum chamber in some types of particle accelerator.

doughnut hole

noun

(US) a small ball-shaped doughnut.

• it's 9:30 on a wintry Saturday morning, and we're sipping coffee and eating doughnut holes.

doughty /ˈdoudē/

I. adjective

‹archaic› ‹humorous› brave and persistent

• his doughty spirit kept him going.

II. derivatives

1. doughtily /ˈdoudəlē /

adverb

2. doughtiness

noun

– origin late Old English dohtig, variant of dyhtig, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch duchtig and German tüchtig.

Douglas /ˈdəɡləs/

I. the name of a family of US actors.

II. Kirk (1916–); born Issur Danielovitch Demsky. Notable movies: Lust for Life (1956), Spartacus (1960), which he also produced, and Seven Days in May (1964).

III. Michael (Kirk) (1944–); son of Kirk. Notable movies: The China Syndrome (1979), which he also produced, Fatal Attraction (1987), Wall Street (1987), and Basic Instinct (1992).

Douglas, Stephen Arnold

(1813–61), US lawyer and politician; known as the Little Giant. An Illinois Democrat, he was a member of the US House of Representatives 1843–47 and US Senate 1847–61. He is best remembered for the Lincoln-Douglas debates, a series of seven senatorial-campaign debates in 1858 with Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln. He won the Senate seat in 1858, but lost his 1860 bid for the presidency to Lincoln.

Douglas, William Orville

(1898–1980), US Supreme Court associate justice 1939–75. Appointed to the Court by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, he worked to uphold the New Deal programs and was a strong advocate of free speech. He also was noted for defending the environment.

Douglas fir

I. noun

a tall, slender conifer with soft foliage and, in mature trees, deeply fissured bark. It is widely planted as a timber tree.
[Genus Pseudotsuga, family Pinaceae: several species, in particular the common Douglas fir (P. menziesii) of British Columbia and the western US.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after David Douglas (1798–1834), the Scottish botanist and explorer who introduced it to Europe from North America.

Douglas-Home, Sir Alec /ˌdəɡləs ˈhyo͞om/

(1903–95), British Conservative statesman; prime minister 1963–64; born Alexander Frederick Douglas-Home.

Douglass, Frederick /ˈdəɡləs/

(1817–95), US abolitionist and writer; born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey. He escaped from slavery in 1838 and became an anti-slavery lecturer. He established an anti-slavery newspaper North Star (1847–64) and published his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (1845, revised 1892).

doula /ˈdo͞olə/

I. noun

a woman who is trained to assist another woman during childbirth and who may provide support to the family after the baby is born.

– origin 1960s: modern Greek, from Greek doulē ‘female slave.’

Doulton /ˈdōltən, ˈdôltən / Royal Doulton

noun

‹trademark› fine, decorative pottery or porcelain made at the British factories of John Doulton (1793–1873) or his successors.

doum palm /ˈdo͞om ˌpä(l)m, ˈdoum ˌpä(l)m/

I. noun

a palm tree with a forked trunk, producing edible fruit and a vegetable ivory substitute. It is native to the Nile region of Upper Egypt.
[Hyphaene thebaica, family Palmae.]

– origin early 18th cent.: doum from Arabic dawm, dūm.

dour /do͝or ˈdou(ə)r/

I. adjective

relentlessly severe, stern, or gloomy in manner or appearance

• a hard, dour, humorless fanatic.

II. derivatives

1. dourly /ˈdo͝orlē ˈdou(ə)rlē /

adverb

2. dourness /ˈdo͝ornəs ˈdou(ə)rnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English (originally Scots): probably from Scottish Gaelic dúr ‘dull, obstinate, stupid,’ perhaps from Latin durus ‘hard.’

Douro /ˈdôrō/

a river on the Iberian peninsula that rises in central Spain and flows west for 556 miles (900 km) through Portugal to the Atlantic Ocean near Oporto.
Spanish name Duero.

douroucouli /ˌdo͝orəˈko͞olē/

I. noun

a large-eyed chiefly nocturnal monkey found in South America.
Also called night monkey, owl monkey. [Genus Aotus, family Cebidae: two or more species.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: probably a South American Indian name.

douse /dous / dowse

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. pour a liquid over; drench

• he doused the car with gasoline and set it on fire.

2. extinguish (a fire or light)

• stewards appeared and the fire was doused

• ‹figurative› nothing could douse her sudden euphoria.

3. [Sailing] lower (a sail) quickly.

– origin early 17th cent.: perhaps imitative, influenced by souse, or perhaps from dialect douse ‘strike, beat,’ from Middle Dutch and Low German dossen.

dove^1 /dəv/

I. noun

1. a stocky seed- or fruit-eating bird with a small head, short legs, and a cooing voice. Doves are generally smaller and more delicate than pigeons, but many kinds have been given both names.
[Family Columbidae: numerous genera and species; white doves are a variety of the domestic pigeon.]

2. a person who advocates peaceful or conciliatory policies, especially in foreign affairs.
Compare with hawk^1 (sense 2 of the noun).

3. (Dove) — (in Christian art and poetry) the Holy Spirit (as represented in John 1:32).

II. derivatives

1. dovelike /-ˌlīk /

adjective

2. dovish /ˈdəviSH /

adjective

dove 1 (sense 2)

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse dúfa.

dove^2 /dōv / ‹N. Amer.›

past of dive.

Dove, Rita /dōv/

(1952–), US poet and novelist. The youngest poet and the first African-American woman to hold the post of poet laureate of the US (1993–95), her work includes the Pulitzer Prize–winning book of poems Thomas and Beulah (1986) and the novel Through the Ivory Gate (1992).

dovecote /ˈdəvˌkōt / dovecot

noun

a shelter with nest holes for domesticated pigeons.

dove gray /ˌdəv ˈɡrā/

noun

a light gray.

dovekie /ˈdəvkē/

I. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a small, stubby short-billed auk (seabird) with black plumage and white underparts, breeding in the Arctic.
[Alle alle, family Alcidae.]

– origin early 19th cent. (originally denoting the black guillemot, Cepphus grylle, also formerly called the Greenland dove): from a Scots diminutive of dove^1.

Dover /ˈdōvər/

I. a ferry port in Kent, in England, on the coast of the English Channel; pop. 35,200 (est. 2009). It is mainland Britain's nearest point to the Continent, being only 22 miles (35 km) from Calais, France.

II. the capital of Delaware, in the central part of the state; pop. 36,107 (est. 2008).

III. an industrial city in southeastern New Hampshire; pop. 28,609 (est. 2008).

IV. a township in southeastern New Jersey, on Barnegat Bay; pop. 89,706 (2000).

Dover, Strait of

a sea passage between England and France that connects the English Channel with the North Sea.

Dover sole /ˈdōvər sōl/

noun

either of two flatfishes that are highly valued as food.
[● a true sole that is common in European waters (Solea solea, family Soleidae). ● a relative of the lemon sole found in the eastern Pacific (Microstomus pacificus, family Pleuronectidae).]

dovetail /ˈdəvˌtāl/

I. noun

1. a joint formed by one or more tapered projections (tenons) on one piece that interlock with corresponding notches or recesses (mortises) in another.

2. a tenon used in a dovetail joint, typically wider at its extremity.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. join together by means of a dovetail.

2. fit or cause to fit together easily and conveniently
[with obj.]

• plan to enable parents to dovetail their career and family commitments

• [no obj.] flights that dovetail with the working day.

dove tree

noun

a slender deciduous Chinese tree with flowers that bear large white bracts said to resemble doves' wings, grown as an ornamental.
[Davidia involucrata, family Nyssaceae.]

Dow /dou/

short for Dow Jones Industrial Average:

• the Dow fell sharply that summer.

dowager /ˈdouəjər/

I. noun

1. a widow with a title or property derived from her late husband
[as modifier]

• the dowager duchess

• [postpositive] the queen dowager.

2. ‹informal› a dignified elderly woman.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Old French douagiere, from douage ‘dower,’ from douer ‘endow,’ from Latin dotare ‘endow’ (see dower).

dowager's hump

noun

forward curvature of the spine resulting in a stoop, typically in women with osteoporosis, caused by collapse of the front edges of the thoracic vertebrae.

dowdy /ˈdoudē/

I. adjective

(of a person, typically a woman, or their clothes) unfashionable and without style in appearance

• she could achieve the kind of casual chic that made every other woman around her look dowdy.

II. noun

a woman who is unfashionably and unattractively dressed.

III. derivatives

1. dowdily /ˈdoudəlē /

adverb

2. dowdiness /ˈdoudēnəs /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from dowd ‘person of unfashionable appearance’ (of unknown origin) +-y^1.

dowel /ˈdou(ə)l/

I. noun

a peg of wood, metal, or plastic without a distinct head, used for holding together components of a structure.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. fasten with a dowel or dowels.

– origin Middle English: perhaps from Middle Low German dovel.

doweling /ˈdouəliNG / ‹Brit.› dowelling

noun

cylindrical rods for cutting into dowels.

dower /ˈdou(ə)r/

I. noun

1. a widow's share for life of her husband's estate.

2. ‹archaic› a dowry.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› give a dowry to.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French douaire, from medieval Latin dotarium, from Latin dotare ‘endow,’ from dos, dot- ‘dowry’; related to dare ‘give.’

dowitcher /ˈdouiCHər/

I. noun

a wading bird of the sandpiper family, with a long straight bill, breeding in arctic and subarctic North America and eastern Asia.
[Genus Limnodromus, family Scolopacidae: three species, in particular the short-billed dowitcher (L. griseus) and the long-billed dowitcher (L. scolopaceus).]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Iroquoian.

Dow Jones Industrial Average /ˌdou ˌjōnz inˌdəstrēəl ˈav(ə)rij / Dow Jones Average

I. an index of figures indicating the relative price of shares on the New York Stock Exchange, based on the average price of selected stocks.

– origin from the name of Dow Jones & Co, Inc., a financial news agency founded by Charles H. Dow (1851–1902) and Edward D. Jones (c. 1855–1920), American economists whose company compiled the first average of US stock prices in 1884.

down^1 /doun/

I. adverb

1. toward or in a lower place or position, especially to or on the ground or another surface

• she looked down

• the sun started to go down

• he put his glass down

• she flicked the switch up and down

• he swung the ax to chop down the tree.

2. at or to a specified distance below

• you can plainly see the bottom 35 feet down.

3. downstairs

• I went down to put the kettle on.

4. expressing movement or position away from the north

• they're living down south.

5. to or at a place perceived as lower (often expressing casualness or lack of hurry)

• I'd rather be down at the villa

• I'm going down to the arcade.

6. (Brit.) away from the capital or major city

• there are eight trains a day, four up and four down.

7. (Brit.) away from a university, especially Oxford or Cambridge.

8. (with reference to food or drink swallowed) in or into the stomach

• she couldn't keep anything down.

9. so as to lie or be fixed flush or flat

• she stuck down a Christmas label.

10. [as exclamation] — used as a command to a person or animal to sit or lie down

• down, boy!

11. a crossword answer that reads vertically

• how many letters in fifteen down?

12. to or at a lower level of intensity, volume, or activity

• keep the noise down

• the panic was dying down

• at night it would cool down.

13. to or at a lower price, value, or rank

• output was down by 20 percent

• soup is down from 59 cents to 49 cents.

14. to a finer consistency, a smaller amount or size, or a simpler or more basic state

• I must slim down a bit

• a formal statement that can't be edited down

• thin down an oil-based paint with spirits.

15. from an earlier to a later point in time or order

• everyone, from the president down to the guy selling hot dogs, is outraged.

16. in or into a weaker or worse position, mood, or condition

• the scandal brought down the government

• he was down with the flu.

17. losing or at a disadvantage by a specified amount

• the Braves, down 7–6, rallied for two runs in the sixth inning.

18. used to express progress through a series of tasks or items

• one down and only six more to go.

19. (of a computer system) out of action or unavailable for use (especially temporarily)

• the system went down yesterday.

20. (down with ——) — shouted to express strong dislike of a specified person or thing

• crowds chanted “Down with bureaucracy!”

21. in or into writing

• I just write down whatever comes into my head

• taking down notes.

22. on or onto a list, schedule, or record

• I'll put you down for the evening shift.

23. (with reference to partial payment of a sum of money) made initially or on the spot

• pay $500 down and the rest at the end of the month.

24. (of sailing) with the current or the wind.

25. (of a ship's helm) moved around to leeward so that the rudder is to windward and the vessel swings toward the wind.

26. [Football] (of the ball or a player in possession) not in play, typically because forward progress has been stopped.

II. preposition

1. from a higher to a lower point of (something)

• up and down the stairs

• tears streaming down her face.

2. at or to a lower part of (a river or stream); nearer the sea

• a dozen miles or so down the Mississippi.

3. moving or at a point further along the course of (something)

• he lived down the street

• I wandered down the road.

4. ‹informal› at or to (a place)

• tired of going down to the pub every night.

5. throughout (a period of time)

• astrologers down the ages.

III. adjective

1. [attrib.] — directed or moving toward a lower place or position

• the down escalator

• click on the down arrow.

2. [Physics] denoting a flavor of quark having a charge of −⅓. Protons and neutrons are thought to be composed of combinations of up and down quarks.

3. [predic.] — unhappy; depressed

• he's been so down lately.

4. [predic.] — (of a computer system) temporarily out of action or unavailable

• sorry, but the computer's down.

5. [predic.] — (US) ‹informal› supporting or going along with someone or something

• “You going to the movies?” “Yo, I'm down.”

• she was totally down for a selfie

• you got to be down with me.

6. aware of and following the latest fashion

• a seriously down, hip-hop homie.

IV. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› knock or bring to the ground

• 175 enemy aircraft had been downed

• he struck Slater on the face, downing him.

2. ‹informal› consume (something, typically a drink)

• he downed a six-pack.

3. ‹informal› (of a golfer) sink (a putt).

V. noun

1. [Football] a chance for a team to advance the ball, ending when the ball carrier is tackled or the ball becomes out of play. A team must advance at least ten yards in a series of four downs in order to keep possession.

2. (downs) — ‹informal› unwelcome experiences or events

• there had been more downs than ups during his years at the company.

3. ‹informal› a feeling or period of unhappiness or depression

• everyone gets their downs, their depressive periods.

4. ‹informal› short for downer (sense 1).

VI. phrases

1. be down on

‹informal› disapprove of; feel hostile or antagonistic toward.

2. be down to

a. be attributable to (a particular factor or circumstance)

• he claimed his problems were down to the media.

b. be the responsibility of (a particular person)

• it's down to you to make sure the boiler receives regular servicing.

c. be left with only (the specified amount)

• I'm down to my last few dollars.

3. down in the mouth

‹informal› (of a person or their expression) unhappy; dejected.

4. down on one's luck

‹informal› experiencing a period of bad luck.

5. down pat (or cold)

memorized or mastered perfectly

• she had the baby's medical routine down pat

• a guy who has his art history down cold.

6. down to the ground

‹informal› completely.

7. have (or put) someone/something down as

judge someone or something to be (a particular type)

• I never had Jake down as a ladies' man.

– origin Old English dūn, dūne, shortened from adūne ‘downward,’ from the phrase of dūne ‘off the hill’ (see down^3).

down^2 /doun/

I. noun

1. soft fine fluffy feathers that form the first covering of a young bird or an insulating layer below the contour feathers of an adult bird.

2. soft fine fluffy feathers taken from ducks or their nests and used for stuffing cushions, quilts, etc.; eiderdown.

3. fine soft hair on the face or body of a person

• the little girl had a covering of golden down on her head.

4. short soft hairs on some leaves, fruit, or seeds.

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse dúnn.

down^3 /doun/

I. noun — (usu. downs)

1. a gently rolling hill

• the gentle green contours of the downs.

2. (the Downs) — ridges of undulating chalk and limestone hills in southern England, with few trees and used mainly for pasture.

– origin Old English dūn ‘hill’ (related to Dutch duin ‘dune’), perhaps ultimately of Celtic origin and related to Old Irish dún and obsolete Welsh din ‘fort,’ which are from an Indo-European root shared by town.

Down /doun/

one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, formerly an administrative area; chief town, Downpatrick.

down and dirty

adjective

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› highly competitive or unprincipled

• he's willing to get down and dirty

• backstabbing slander and electronic harassment are freely employed in down-and-dirty hacker feuds.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› earthy, direct, and explicit

• the down-and-dirty realities about these diseases

• they serve up some down-and-dirty Texas blues.

down-and-out /ˈˌdoun ən ˈˌout/

I. adjective

(of a person) without money, a job, or a place to live; destitute

• a down-and-out homeless vagrant.

II. noun

a person without money, a job, or a place to live.

down-at-the-heels /ˌdounətT͟Həˈhēlz / down-at-the-heel, down-at-heel

adjective

showing signs of neglect and deterioration; shabby

• a down-at-the-heels house.

down-ballot

adjective

1. (US) denoting a contest for a political office that appears in a relatively low position on the electoral ballot, which typically lists contested offices in descending order from national to local

• Republicans were looking to refocus their efforts on a slate of down-ballot campaigns.

2. (US) of or relating to a down-ballot electoral contest

• down-ballot candidates are not well known by the electorate.

downbeat /ˈdounˌbēt/

I. adjective

pessimistic; gloomy

• the assessment of current economic prospects is downbeat.

II. noun

[Music] an accented beat, usually the first of the bar.

down-bow /ˈdounbō/

noun

[Music] (on a stringed instrument) a stroke in which the bow, from handle to tip, is slid across the strings in a motion of the hand moving away from the strings.

downburst /ˈdounbərst/

noun

a strong downward current of air from a cumulonimbus cloud, usually associated with intense rain or a thunderstorm.

downcast /ˈdounˌkast/

I. adjective

1. (of a person's eyes) looking downward

• her modestly downcast eyes.

2. (of a person) feeling despondent.

II. noun

a shaft dug in a mine for extra ventilation.

downcode /ˈdounkōd/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. designate (a medical procedure or insurance claim) with a lower value

• an insurer who systematically downcodes professional charge submissions for critical care services

• [no obj.] we cannot turn to Medicaid to pay if Medicare downcodes.

2. [Computing] rewrite or convert (programs or software) into a lower level language

• some of the libraries written into C were downcoded into assembly.

II. derivatives

downcoding

noun

downcomer /ˈdounˌkəmər/

noun

a pipe for the downward transport of water or gas from the top of a furnace or boiler.

downconverter /ˈdounkənˌvərdər/

I. noun

[Electronics] a device that converts a signal to a lower frequency, especially in television reception.

II. derivatives

downconversion /-ˌvərZHən /

noun

downcountry /ˈdounˌkəntrē/

adjective, adverb

(chiefly N. Amer.) in, into, or relating to the low-lying and generally more densely settled part of a country as opposed to hilly regions
[as adj.]

• even the downcountry conservatives support this reform

• [as adv.] distant summer storms a hundred miles downcountry.

downcourt /ˌdounˈkôrt/

adverb

[Sports] to or into the opposite end of the court, especially in basketball.

down-curved /ˈdounkərvd/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. curved downward

• the slightly down-curved bill of a starling.

downcut /ˈdounˌkət/

verb — [no obj.]

1. [Geology] (of a river) erode downward through its bed.

downdraft /ˈdoundraft / ‹Brit.› downdraught

noun

a downward current or draft of air, especially one down a chimney into a room.

Down East

a name for northeastern New England and for the Maritime Provinces that is derived from an old term for sailing downwind, to the east.

downer /ˈdounər/

noun

1. (usu. downers) — ‹informal› a depressant or tranquilizing drug, especially a barbiturate.

2. ‹informal› a dispiriting or depressing experience or factor

• the thought of the danger his son was in put something of a downer on the situation.

3. ‹informal› a period of consistent failure

• the Red Sox enter the season on a downer.

4. ‹informal› a cow or other animal that is sick or injured and cannot get to its feet unaided.

Downers Grove /ˌdounərz ˈɡrōv/

a village in northeastern Illinois, west of Chicago; pop. 49,250 (est. 2008).

Downey /ˈdounē/

a city in southwestern California, southeast of Los Angeles; pop. 107,587 (est. 2008).

downfall /ˈdounˌfôl/

noun

1. a loss of power, prosperity, or status

• the crisis led to the downfall of the government.

2. the cause of a downfall

• his intractability will prove to be his downfall.

downfield /ˌdounˈfēld/

adverb, adjective

[Football] (N. Amer.) in or to a position nearer to the opponents' end of a field.

downforce /ˈdounfôrs/

noun

a force acting on a moving vehicle having the effect of pressing it down toward the ground, giving it increased stability. Downforce is produced by a combination of air resistance and gravity.

downgrade /ˈdounɡrād/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be downgraded)

1. reduce to a lower grade, rank, or level of importance

• some jobs had gradually been downgraded from skilled to semiskilled.

II. noun

1. an instance of reducing someone or something's rank, status, or level of importance.

2. (N. Amer.) a downward gradient, typically on a railroad track or road.

III. phrases

on the downgrade

(N. Amer.) in decline

• profits are on the downgrade.

downhaul /ˈdounhôl/

noun

[Nautical] a rope used for hauling down a sail, spar, etc., especially in order to control a sail's shape.

downhearted /ˌdounˈhärdəd/

I. adjective

discouraged; in low spirits

• fans must not be downhearted even though we lost.

II. derivatives

1. downheartedly

adverb

2. downheartedness

noun

downhill /dounˈhil/

I. adverb

1. toward the bottom of a slope

• he ran downhill

• follow the road downhill.

2. into a steadily worsening situation

• his marriage continued to slide downhill

• the business is going downhill fast.

II. adjective

1. leading down toward the bottom of a slope

• the route is downhill for part of the way.

2. of or relating to the sport of skiing or cycling downhill

• the world downhill champion.

3. leading to a steadily worsening situation

• the downhill road to delinquency.

4. without difficulty or challenge

• we can take the easy road, the downhill road, or we can put America on the path to greatness again.

III. noun

1. a downward slope.

2. [Skiing] a downhill race.

3. the activity of downhill skiing.

IV. phrases

be downhill all the way

a. be easy in comparison with what came before

• up by six runs in the eighth inning—it should have been downhill all the way.

b. become worse or less successful

• that had been the start of the present trouble—downhill all the way since then.

downhiller /ˈdounˌhilər/

noun

a skier or cyclist who takes part in downhill races.

down-hole /ˈdounhōl / downhole

adjective, adverb

(in the oil industry) used, occurring, or performed in a well or borehole.

down-home /ˈˌdoun ˈˌhōm/

adjective

(N. Amer.) connected with an unpretentious way of life, especially that of rural peoples or areas

• some good down-home cooking.

Downing Street /ˈdouniNG ˌstrēt/

I. a street in Westminster, London, between Whitehall and St. James's Park. No. 10 is the official residence of the prime minister; No. 11 is the official home of the chancellor of the exchequer.

II. used allusively for the British government or the prime minister.

– origin named after the original developer of the site, Sir George Downing (c. 1624–84), a diplomat under both Oliver Cromwell and Charles II.

downlevel /ˈdounˌlevəl/

adjective

using an earlier version of software, hardware, or an operating system

• there are still 600 million computers, many of them downlevel, that wouldn't have all of these vulnerabilities fixed.

downlight /ˈdounlīt / downlighter

I. noun

a light placed or designed so as to throw illumination downward.

II. derivatives

downlighting

noun

downlink /ˈdounliNGk/

I. noun

a telecommunications link for signals coming to the earth from a satellite, spacecraft, or aircraft.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. relay to the earth (a telecommunications signal or the information it conveys)

• any TV station can downlink just about any game.

download /ˈdounˌlōd / ‹Computing›

I. verb

[with obj.] — copy (data) from one computer system to another, typically over the Internet.

• it would be wise to download your program to another computer before testing it.

• (as adj. downloaded) DRM will limit what you can do with downloaded music and video.

Compare with upload.

II. noun

1. the act or process of downloading data

• movie downloads were painfully slow

• we have music available for free download

• [as modifier] download speeds of 200 to 300 kilobits per second.

2. a file or set of files that has been downloaded

• digital music downloads.

III. derivatives

downloader

noun

downloadable /ˌdounˈlōdəbəl/

adjective

(of data) able to be copied from one computer system to another or to a disk

• the illustrations are available as downloadable files from the website.

downmarket /ˈdounˌmärkət/

adjective, adverb

toward or relating to the cheaper or less prestigious sector of the market
[as adj.]

• an interview for the downmarket tabloids

• [as adv.] competition threatens to drive broadcasters further downmarket.

down payment /ˈˌdoun ˈˌpāmənt/

noun

an initial payment made when something is bought on credit.

downplay /ˈdounˌplā/

verb — [with obj.]

1. make (something) appear less important than it really is

• this report downplays the seriousness of global warming.

downpour /ˈdounpôr/

noun

a heavy rainfall

• a sudden downpour had filled the gutters and drains.

downrange /ˌdounˈrān(d)ZH/

adverb

(of a missile, space launch, etc.) traveling in a specified direction away from the launch site and toward the target

• rounds streaked downrange at more than a mile a second.

downrate /ˌdounˈrāt/

verb — [with obj.]

1. make (someone or something) lower in value, standard, or importance.

downright /ˈdounˌrīt/

I. adjective

1. [attrib.] — (of something bad or unpleasant) utter; complete (used for emphasis)

• it's a downright disgrace.

2. (of a person's manner or behavior) straightforward; so direct as to be blunt

• her common sense and downright attitude to life surprised him.

II. adverb — [as submodifier]

1. to an extreme degree; thoroughly

• he was downright rude.

III. derivatives

downrightness /ˈdounˌrītnəs /

noun

downriver /dounˈrivər/

adverb, adjective

toward or situated at a point nearer the mouth of a river
[as adv.]

• the cabin cruiser started to drift downriver

• [as adj.] the downriver side of the bridge.

downscale /ˈdounˌskāl / ‹N. Amer.›

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. reduce in size, scale, or extent

• he was unable to downscale his strongly unionized workforce.

II. adjective

at the lower end of a scale, especially a social scale; downmarket

• these brands appeal to downscale shoppers who are looking for a low price.

downshift /ˈdounˌSHift/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) change to a lower gear in a motor vehicle or bicycle.

2. slow down; slacken off

• well before the country slipped into recession, business was downshifting.

3. change a financially rewarding but stressful career or lifestyle for a less pressured and less highly paid but more fulfilling one

• they want to downshift from full-time work.

II. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a change to a lower gear in a motor vehicle or bicycle.

2. a change in quality or quantity to a lesser or lower degree

• the downshift of human position from the center of the cosmos.

3. an instance of changing a financially rewarding but stressful career or lifestyle for a less pressured and less highly paid but more fulfilling one.

downside /ˈdounˌsīd/

noun

the negative aspect of something, especially something regarded as in general good or desirable

• a magazine feature on the downside of fashion modeling.

downsize /ˈdounˌsīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) make (something) smaller

• I downsized the rear wheel to 26 inches.

2. make (a company or organization) smaller by eliminating staff positions.

3. [no obj.] — (of a company) eliminate staff positions

• recession forced many companies to downsize.

downslope /ˈdounslōp/

I. noun

a downward slope.

II. adverb, adjective

at or toward a lower point on a slope.

downspout /ˈdounˌspout/

noun

(N. Amer.) a pipe to carry rainwater from a roof to a drain or to ground level.

downstage /ˈdounstāj/

adjective, adverb

at or toward the front of a stage
[as adv.]

• all four run for their lives downstage

• [as adj.] a crowd of dancers occupies the downstage area.

downstairs /dounˈsterz/

I. adverb

1. down a flight of stairs

• I tripped over the cat and fell downstairs.

2. on or to a lower floor

• we were waiting for you downstairs

• she called him downstairs.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. situated downstairs

• the downstairs bathroom.

III. noun

the ground floor or lower floors of a building

• the downstairs was hardly damaged at all.

downstate /ˌdounˈstāt / ‹US›

I. adjective, adverb

of, in, or to a part of a state remote from its large cities, especially the southern part.

II. noun

a remote part of a state, especially in the southern part.

III. derivatives

downstater

noun

downstream /dounˈstrēm/

adverb, adjective

1. situated or moving in the direction in which a stream or river flows
[as adv.]

• the bridge spanned the river just downstream of the rail line

• [as adj.] deforestation could have disastrous consequences for downstream regions.

2. [Biology] situated in or toward the part of a sequence of genetic material where transcription takes place later than at a given point

• a termination signal was found downstream from the coding region.

3. at a stage in the process of gas or oil extraction and production after the raw material is ready for refining.

downstroke /ˈdounstrōk/

noun

a stroke made downward

• he writes the figure seven with a line through the downstroke

• the blade angles back on the downstroke.

downswing /ˈdounˌswiNG/

noun

1. another term for downturn.

2. [Golf] the downward movement of a club when the player is about to hit the ball.

Down syndrome /ˈdoun ˌsindrōm / Down's syndrome

I. noun

a congenital disorder arising from a chromosome defect, causing intellectual impairment and physical abnormalities including short stature and a broad facial profile. It arises from a defect involving chromosome 21, usually an extra copy (trisomy-21).

– origin 1960s: named after John L. H. Down (1828–96), the English physician who first described it. / usage: Of relatively recent coinage, Down syndrome is the accepted term in modern use, and former terms such as mongol, Mongoloid, and mongolism, which are likely to cause offense, should be avoided. See also usage at Mongoloid.

downtempo /ˌdounˈtempō/

I. adjective

(of music) having a relatively slower beat.

II. noun

a genre of electronic dance music with influences from jazz, bossa nova, and dub reggae.

down-the-line /ˌdounT͟Həˈlīn/

adjective

‹informal› thorough and uncompromising

• the party avoids down-the-line support of unions.

downthrow /ˈdounTHrō / ‹Geology›

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. displace (a rock formation) downward.

II. noun

a downward displacement of rock strata.

downtick /ˈdounˌtik/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a small decrease or slight downward trend

• a downtick in the unemployment rate is welcome news.

down timber

noun

fallen trees brought down by wind, storm, or other natural agency.

downtime /ˈdounˌtīm / down time

noun

1. time during which a machine, especially a computer, is out of action or unavailable for use.

2. (N. Amer.) a time of reduced activity or inactivity

• everyone needs downtime to unwind

• downtimes for real estate and construction.

down-to-earth

I. adjective

with no illusions or pretensions; practical and realistic

• a down-to-earth view of marriage.

II. derivatives

down-to-earthness

noun

downtown /ˌdounˈtoun / ‹chiefly N. Amer.›

I. adjective

of, in, or characteristic of the central area or main business and commercial area of a town or city

• downtown Chicago

• a downtown bar.

II. adverb

in or into a downtown area

• I drove downtown.

III. noun — /ˈdoun(t)oun /

1. the downtown area of a town or city

• the heart of Pittsburgh's downtown.

IV. derivatives

downtowner

noun

downtrend /ˈdountrend/

noun

a downward trend, tendency, or movement

• there is not yet a confirmed downtrend in interest rates.

downtrodden /ˈdounˌträd(ə)n/

adjective

oppressed or treated badly by people in power

• a downtrodden proletarian struggling for social justice.

downturn /ˈdounˌtərn/

I. noun

a decline in economic, business, or other activity

• a downturn in the housing market.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. downturned)

1. turn (something) downward

• his downturned mouth.

Down Under ‹informal› down under

I. adverb

in or to Australia or New Zealand

• selling wines under the name of the grape variety, just as they do Down Under.

II. noun

Australia and New Zealand

• thousands of men from Down Under.

– origin late 19th cent.: with reference to the position of these countries on a globe.

downvote /ˈdounˌvōt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (in an online context) register disapproval of or disagreement with (a post or poster) by means of a particular icon

• I had to resist the urge to downvote the first serious comment

• you can downvote me all you want, but the refereeing this season has been absolutely deplorable

• [no obj.] if you want to downvote, go ahead.

II. noun

(in an online context) an instance of using a particular icon to register disapproval of or disagreement with a post or poster

• there is absolutely nothing in his comment that deserves a downvote

• I am making it my mission to counter every downvote you are given for critiquing his grammar.

downward /ˈdounwərd/

I. adverb

1. toward a lower place, point, or level

• he was lying face downward.

2. used to indicate that something applies to everyone in a certain hierarchy or set

• new rules on sick leave affect employees of all grades, from managers downward.

II. adjective

moving or leading toward a lower place or level

• the downward curve of the stairs

• a downward trend in inflation.

III. derivatives

downwardly /ˈdounwərdlē /

adverb

– origin Middle English: shortening of Old English adūnweard.

downward dog downward-facing dog

noun

a yoga pose in which the body assumes an inverted V shape, with the hands and feet on the floor, and the buttocks pointing upward

• just because you're not in a yoga studio, it doesn't mean you can't practice your downward dog.

downwardly mobile

I. adjective

moving to a lower social class; losing wealth and status.

II. derivatives

downward mobility

noun

downwarp /ˈdounwôrp / ‹Geology›

I. noun

a broad depression of the earth's surface.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. displace (a rock formation) downward so as to form a depression.

downwash /ˈdounˌwäSH/

noun

the downward deflection of an airstream by an aircraft wing or helicopter rotor blade.

downwelling /ˈdounˌweliNG/

I. noun

the downward movement of fluid, especially in the sea, the atmosphere, or deep in the earth.

II. adjective

characterized by or undergoing downwelling movement

• downwelling mantle.

downwind /dounˈwind/

adverb, adjective

in the direction in which the wind is blowing
[as adv.]

• warnings were issued to people living downwind of the fire

• [as adj.] downwind landings.

downwinder /ˈdounˌwindər/

noun

(chiefly US) a person living downwind of a nuclear test site or reactor, where the risk from fallout or radiation leaks is greatest.

downy /ˈdounē/

I. adjective

1. covered with fine soft hair or feathers

• the baby's downy cheek.

2. filled with soft feathers

• a downy pillow.

3. soft and fluffy

• pale downy hair.

II. derivatives

1. downily /-nəlē /

adverb

2. downiness /ˈdounēnəs /

noun

downy mildew

noun

mildew on a plant that is marked by a whitish down composed of spore-forming hyphae, penetrating more deeply into the plant than powdery mildew.
[Family Peronosporaceae, subdivision Mastigomycotina.]

downy woodpecker

noun

a widespread small North American woodpecker with a short bill, black and white plumage, and (on the male) a red patch on the back of the head.
[Picoides pubescens, family Picidae.]

downzone /ˈdounzōn/

verb — [with obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) assign (land or property) to a zoning grade under which the permitted density of housing and development is reduced.

dowry /ˈdou(ə)rē/

I. noun

property or money brought by a bride to her husband on their marriage.

– origin Middle English (denoting a widow's life interest in her husband's estate): from Anglo-Norman French dowarie, from medieval Latin dotarium (see dower).

dowry death

noun

(in South Asia) the murder or suicide of a married woman caused by a dispute over her dowry.

dowse^1 /douz/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. practice dowsing

• water is easy to dowse for.

2. [with obj.] — search for or discover by dowsing

• he dowsed a spiral of energy on the stone.

II. derivatives

dowser /ˈdouzər ˈdousər /

noun

– origin late 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

dowse^2 /douz/

verb

variant spelling of douse.

dowsing /ˈdouziNG ˈdousiNG/

noun

a technique for searching for underground water, minerals, or anything invisible, by observing the motion of a pointer (traditionally a forked stick, now often paired bent wires) or the changes in direction of a pendulum, supposedly in response to unseen influences
[as modifier]

• a dowsing rod.

dox /däks / doxx

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› search for and publish private or identifying information about (a particular individual) on the Internet, typically with malicious intent

• hackers and online vigilantes routinely dox both public and private figures.

– origin early 21st cent.: alteration of docs, plural of doc (short for document).

doxology /däkˈsäləjē/

I. noun

a liturgical formula of praise to God.

II. derivatives

doxological /ˌdäksəˈläjikəl /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: via medieval Latin from Greek doxologia, from doxa ‘appearance, glory’ (from dokein ‘seem’) + -logia (see -logy).

doxorubicin /ˌdäksōˈro͞obəsən/

I. noun

[Medicine] a bacterial antibiotic that is widely used to treat leukemia and various other forms of cancer.
[This is produced by the streptomycete bacterium Streptomyces peucetius caesius.]

– origin 1970s: from deoxy- (in the sense ‘that has lost oxygen’) + Latin rubus ‘red’ + -mycin.

doxy /ˈdäksē/

I. noun

1. ‹archaic› a lover or mistress.

2. ‹archaic› a prostitute.

– origin mid 16th cent. (originally slang): of unknown origin.

doxycycline /ˌdäksēˈsīklēn/

I. noun

[Medicine] a broad-spectrum antibiotic of the tetracycline group, which has a long half-life in the body.

– origin 1960s: from d(e)oxy- + tetracycline.

doyen /doiˈ(y)en ˈdôyən/

I. noun

the most respected or prominent person in a particular field

• the doyen of Canadian poetry.

– origin late 17th cent.: via French from Old French deien (see dean^1).

doyenne /doiˈ(y)en/

I. noun

a woman who is the most respected or prominent person in a particular field

• she's the doyenne of daytime TV.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, feminine of doyen (see doyen).

Doyenne du Comice /doiˌen ˌdyo͞o kəˈmēs/

noun

see Comice.

Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan /doil/

(1859–1930), Scottish novelist and short-story writer. He is known for his creation of private detective Sherlock Holmes, who first appeared (with his friend Dr. Watson, the narrator of the stories) in A Study in Scarlet (1887). Other notable works: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892) and The Hound of the Baskervilles (1902).

doyley /ˈdoilē/

noun

‹dated› variant spelling of doily.

D'Oyly Carte, Richard /ˈdoilē ˈkärt/

(1844–1901), English impresario and producer. He brought together the librettist Sir W. S. Gilbert and the composer Sir Arthur Sullivan, producing many of their operettas in London's Savoy Theatre, which he had established in 1881.

doz.

abbreviation

dozen.

doze /dōz/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. sleep lightly

• he found his mother dozing by the fire.

2. (doze off) — fall lightly asleep

• I dozed off for a few seconds.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. a short light sleep.

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘stupefy, bewilder, or make drowsy’): perhaps related to Danish døse ‘make drowsy.’

dozen /ˈdəzən / dz.

I. noun

1. (pl. same) — a group or set of twelve

• a dozen bottles of sherry.

2. (dozens) — ‹informal› a lot

• she has dozens of admirers.

3. (the dozens) — an exchange of insults engaged in as a game or ritual among black Americans.

II. phrases

1. by the dozen

in large quantities.

2. talk nineteen to the dozen

(Brit.) talk incessantly.

III. derivatives

dozenth /ˈdəz(ə)nTH /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French dozeine, based on Latin duodecim ‘twelve.’

dozer /ˈdōzər/

noun

‹informal› short for bulldozer.

dozy /ˈdōzē/

I. adjective

drowsy and lazy

• he grew dozy at the end of a long day.

II. derivatives

1. dozily /-zəlē /

adverb

2. doziness /ˈdōzēnəs /

noun

DP

abbreviation

1. data processing.

2. dew point.

3. displaced person.

4. [Baseball] double play.

DPhil /dēˈfil/

abbreviation

Doctor of Philosophy.

dpi /ˌdē ˌpē ˈī/

abbreviation

[Computing] dots per inch, a measure of the resolution of printers, scanners, etc.

DPT DTP

abbreviation

diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and tetanus, a combined vaccine given to small children.

dr.

abbreviation

1. debit.
[formerly representing debtor.]

2. drachma(s).

3. dram(s).

Dr. /ˈdäktər/

abbreviation

1. (as a title) Doctor

• Dr. Michael Russell.

2. (in street names) Drive.

drab^1 /drab/

I. adjective

1. lacking brightness or interest; drearily dull

• the landscape was drab and gray

• her drab suburban existence.

2. of a dull light brown color

• drab camouflage uniforms.

II. noun

fabric of a dull brownish color.

III. derivatives

1. drably /ˈdrablē /

adverb

2. drabness /ˈdrabnəs /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (as a noun denoting undyed cloth): probably from Old French drap ‘cloth’ (see drape).

drab^2 /drab/

I. noun

1. ‹archaic› a slovenly woman.

2. ‹archaic› a prostitute.

– origin early 16th cent.: perhaps related to Low German drabbe ‘mire’ and Dutch drab ‘dregs.’

Drabble, Margaret /ˈdrabəl/

(1939–), English novelist. Notable works: The Millstone (1966), The Radiant Way (1987), The Peppered Moth (2001), and The Red Queen (2004). She is the younger sister of A. S. Byatt.

dracaena /drəˈsēnə/

I. noun

a tropical palmlike shrub or tree with ornamental foliage, popular as a greenhouse or indoor plant.
[Genera Dracaena and Cordyline, family Agavaceae. See also dragon tree.]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek drakaina, feminine of drakōn ‘serpent, dragon’ (the genus Dracaena includes Dracaena draco, the dragon tree).

drachm /dram / dr.

I. noun

1. a unit of weight formerly used by apothecaries, equivalent to 60 grains or one eighth of an ounce.

2. (also fluid drachm) — a liquid measure formerly used by apothecaries, equivalent to 60 minims or one eighth of a fluid ounce.

3. (in numismatics) an ancient silver coin based on the Attic or Hellenistic drachma.
See also drachma.

– origin late Middle English (denoting the ancient Greek drachma): from Old French dragme or late Latin dragma, via Latin from Greek drakhmē (see drachma).

drachma /ˈdräkmə/

I. noun

1. the basic monetary unit of Greece (until the introduction of the euro), notionally equal to 100 lepta.

2. a silver coin of ancient Greece.

– origin via Latin from Greek drakhmē, an Attic weight and coin. Compare with dirham and drachm.

Draco^1 /ˈdrākō / ‹Astronomy›

I. a large northern constellation (the Dragon), stretching around the north celestial pole and said to represent the dragon killed by Hercules. It has no bright stars.

II. (as genitive Draconis ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation

• the star Gamma Draconis.

– origin Latin.

Draco^2

(7th century BC), Athenian legislator. His codification of Athenian law was notorious for its severity; for instance, the death penalty was imposed even for trivial crimes, which gave rise to the adjective draconian in English.

draconian /drəˈkōnēən/

I. adjective

(of laws or their application) excessively harsh and severe.

II. derivatives

draconic /-ˈkänik /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from the Greek name Drakōn (see Draco^2) + -ian.

Dracula /ˈdrakyələ/

I. the Transylvanian vampire in Bram Stoker's novel Dracula (1897).

– origin variant of Drakula, Dragwlya, names given to Vlad Ţepeş (Vlad the Impaler), a 15th-cent. prince of Wallachia renowned for his cruelty.

draff /draf/

I. noun

‹literary› dregs or refuse.

– origin Middle English: perhaps from an unrecorded Old English word related to German Treber, Träber ‘husks, grains,’ and perhaps also to drivel.

draft /draft/

I. noun

1. a preliminary version of a piece of writing

• the first draft of the party's manifesto

• [as modifier] a draft document.

2. a plan, sketch, or rough drawing.

3. (in full draft mode) — [Computing] a mode of operation of a printer in which text is produced rapidly but with relatively low definition.

4. (the draft) — (US) compulsory recruitment for military service

• 25 million men were subject to the draft

• [as modifier] draft cards.

5. (N. Amer.) a procedure whereby new or existing sports players are made available for selection or reselection by the teams in a league, usually with the earlier choices being given to the weaker teams.

6. ‹rare› a group or individual selected from a larger group for a special duty, e.g., for military service.

7. ( draught) — (Brit.) a current of cool air in a room or other confined space

• heavy curtains at the windows cut out drafts.

8. ( draught) — (Brit.) the action or act of pulling something along, especially a vehicle or farm implement.

9. a written order to pay a specified sum; a check.

10. ( draught) — (Brit.) a single act of drinking or inhaling

• she downed the remaining beer in one draft.

11. the amount swallowed or inhaled in a single act of drinking or inhaling

• he took deep drafts of oxygen into his lungs.

12. ( draught) — (Brit.) the depth of water needed to float a ship

• the shallow draft enabled her to get close to shore.

13. ( draught) — (Brit.) the drawing in of a fishing net.

14. the fish taken at one drawing; a catch.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. prepare a preliminary version of (a text)

• I drafted a letter of resignation.

2. select (a person or group of people) for a certain purpose

• he was drafted to help with the task force on best safety practices.

3. (US) conscript (someone) for military service.

4. (N. Amer.) select (a player) for a sports team through the draft.

5. pull or draw.

6. [no obj.] — [Auto Racing] benefit from reduced wind resistance by driving very closely behind another vehicle.

III. adjective — [attrib.]

1. denoting beer or other drink that is kept in and served from a barrel or tank rather than from a bottle or can

• draft beer.

2. denoting an animal used for pulling heavy loads

• draft oxen.

IV. phrases

on draft

(of beer or other drink) on tap; ready to be drawn from a barrel or tank; not bottled or canned.

V. derivatives

drafter /ˈdraftər /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: phonetic spelling of draught.

draft board

noun

a board of civilians that is responsible for registering, classifying, and selecting people for compulsory military service.

draft dodger /ˈdraf(t) ˈˌdäjər/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹derogatory› a person who has avoided compulsory military service.

II. derivatives

draft dodging

noun

draftee /ˌdrafˈtē/

noun

(US) a person conscripted for military service.

draft horse ‹Brit.› draught horse

noun

a large horse used for pulling heavy loads, especially a cart or plow.

draft pick

noun

1. (N. Amer.) the right of a sports team to select a player during the annual selection process.

2. (N. Amer.) a player selected during the draft.

draftsman /ˈdraf(t)smən / ‹Brit.› draughtsman

I. noun

1. a person who makes detailed technical plans or drawings.

2. an artist skilled in drawing.

3. a person who drafts legal documents.

II. derivatives

draftsmanship /ˈdraf(t)smənˌSHip /

noun

draftsperson /ˈdraftsˌpərsən/

noun

a draftsman or draftswoman (used as a neutral alternative).

draftswoman /ˈdraf(t)sˌwo͝omən / ‹Brit.› draughtswoman

noun

1. a woman who makes detailed technical plans or drawings

• she served as lead draftswoman for the renovation.

2. a female artist skilled in drawing

• Nica is a deft draftswoman, as is apparent in the small drawings sprinkled through the show.

drafty /ˈdraftē / ‹Brit.› draughty

I. adjective

1. (of an enclosed space) cold and uncomfortable because of currents of cool air

• anyone would get pneumonia living in the drafty old house.

2. (of a door or window) ill-fitting, and so allowing currents of cool air in.

II. derivatives

1. draftily /-təlē /

adverb

2. draftiness /ˈdraftēnəs /

noun

drag /draɡ/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — pull (someone or something) along forcefully, roughly, or with difficulty

• we dragged the boat up the beach

• ‹figurative› I dragged my eyes away.

2. take (someone) to or from a place or event, despite their reluctance

• my girlfriend is dragging me off to Atlantic City for a week.

3. (drag oneself) — go somewhere wearily, reluctantly, or with difficulty

• I have to drag myself out of bed each day.

4. move (an icon or other image) across a computer screen using a tool such as a mouse.

5. [no obj.] — (of a person's clothes or an animal's tail) trail along the ground

• the nuns walked in meditation, their habits dragging on the grass.

6. [no obj.] (drag at) — catch hold of and pull (something)

• desperately, Jinny dragged at his arm.

7. [no obj.] — engage in a drag race

• they were caught dragging on Francis Lewis Blvd.

8. (of a ship) trail (an anchor) along the seabed, causing the ship to drift.

9. [no obj.] — (of an anchor) fail to hold, causing a ship or boat to drift.

10. search the bottom of (a river, lake, or the sea) with grapnels or nets

• frogmen had dragged the local river.

11. [with obj.] (drag something up) — ‹informal› deliberately mention an unwelcome or unpleasant fact

• pieces of evidence about his early life were dragged up.

12. (drag someone/something into) — involve someone or something in (a situation or matter), typically when such involvement is inappropriate or unnecessary

• he had no right to drag you into this sort of thing.

13. (drag something in/into) — introduce an irrelevant or inappropriate subject

• politics were never dragged into the conversation.

14. (drag someone/something down) — bring someone or something to a lower level or standard

• the economy will be dragged down by inefficient firms.

15. [no obj.] — (of time, events, or activities) pass slowly and tediously

• the day dragged—eventually it was time for bed.

16. (of a process or situation) continue at tedious and unnecessary length

• the dispute between the two families dragged on for years.

17. [with obj.] (drag something out) — protract something unnecessarily

• he dragged out the process of serving them.

18. [no obj.] (drag on) — ‹informal› (of a person) inhale the smoke from (a cigarette).

II. noun

1. the action of pulling something forcefully or with difficulty

• the drag of the current.

2. the longitudinal retarding force exerted by air or other fluid surrounding a moving object.

3. [in sing.] — a person or thing that impedes progress or development

• Larry was turning out to be a drag on her career.

4. [Fishing] unnatural motion of a fishing fly caused by the pull of the line.

5. ‹archaic› an iron shoe that can be applied as a brake to the wheel of a cart or wagon.

6. [in sing.] — ‹informal› a boring or tiresome person or thing

• working nine to five can be a drag.

7. ‹informal› an act of inhaling smoke from a cigarette

• he took a long drag on his cigarette.

8. clothing more conventionally worn by the opposite sex, especially women's clothes worn by a man

• a fashion show, complete with men in drag

• [as modifier] a live drag show.

9. short for drag race.

10. ‹informal› a street or road

• the main drag.

11. ‹historical› a private vehicle like a stagecoach, drawn by four horses.

12. a thing that is pulled along the ground or through water, in particular

13. ‹historical› a harrow used for breaking up the surface of land.

14. an apparatus for dredging a river or for recovering the bodies of drowned people from a river, a lake, or the sea.

15. another term for dragnet.

16. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› influence over other people

• they had the education but they didn't have the drag.

17. a strong-smelling lure drawn before hounds as a substitute for a fox or other hunted animal.

18. a hunt using a strong-smelling lure.

19. [Music] one of the basic patterns (rudiments) of drumming, consisting of a stroke preceded by two grace notes, which are usually played with the other stick.
See also ruff^4.

III. phrases

1. drag one's feet

a. walk slowly and wearily or with difficulty.

b. (also drag one's heels) — (of a person or organization) be deliberately slow or reluctant to act

• the government has dragged its heels over permanent legislation.

2. drag someone/something through the mud

make damaging allegations about someone or something

• he felt enough loyalty to his old school not to drag its name through the mud.

3. in drag

wearing the clothing of the opposite sex.

IV. phrasal verbs

drag something out

extract information from someone against their will

• the truth was being dragged out of us.

– origin Middle English: from Old English dragan or Old Norse draga ‘to draw’; the noun partly from Middle Low German dragge ‘grapnel.’

drag-and-drop ‹Computing›

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. move (an icon or other image) to another part of the screen using a mouse or similar device, typically in order to perform some operation on a file or document.

II. adjective

of, relating to, or permitting the movement of images in this way

• drag-and-drop transfer of messages.

drag bunt

noun

[Baseball] a bunt, usually by a left-handed batter, that is hit down the first baseline.

dragée /dräˈZHā/

I. noun

1. a candy consisting of a center covered with a coating, such as a sugared almond or a chocolate.

2. a small silver ball for decorating cookies or a cake.

– origin late 17th cent. (also denoting a mixture of spices): French, from Old French dragie (see dredge^2).

dragger /ˈdraɡər/

noun

(N. Amer.) a trawler.

draggle /ˈdraɡəl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (something) dirty or wet, typically by trailing it through mud or water
(as adj. draggled)

• she wore a draggled skirt.

2. [no obj.] — hang untidily

• red hairs draggled from under her cap.

3. [no obj.] — ‹archaic› trail behind others; lag behind

• they draggled at the heels of his troop.

– origin early 16th cent.: diminutive and frequentative of drag.

draggle-tailed /ˈdraɡəlˌtāld/

adjective

‹archaic› having untidily trailing skirts

• a draggle-tailed wench.

draggy /ˈdraɡē/

adjective

‹informal› dreary and lacking liveliness

• a long, draggy, boring Friday afternoon.

dragline /ˈdraɡlīn/

noun

1. a large excavator with a bucket pulled in by a wire cable.

2. a rope used for dragging or hauling something.

3. a rope that drags from something, e.g., a mooring line of a hot-air balloon.

4. a line of silk produced by a spider and acting as a safety line or (in newly hatched spiderlings) a parachute.

dragnet /ˈdraɡˌnet/

noun

1. a net drawn through a river or across ground to trap fish or game.

2. a systematic search for someone or something, especially criminals or criminal activity.

dragoman /ˈdraɡəmən/

I. noun

an interpreter or guide, especially in countries speaking Arabic, Turkish, or Persian.

– origin late Middle English: from obsolete French, from Italian dragomanno, from medieval Greek dragoumanos, from Arabic tarjumān ‘interpreter.’

dragon /ˈdraɡən/

I. noun

1. a mythical monster like a giant reptile. In European tradition the dragon is typically fire-breathing and tends to symbolize chaos or evil, whereas in East Asia it is usually a beneficent symbol of fertility, associated with water and the heavens.

2. ‹derogatory› a fierce and intimidating person, especially a woman.

3. another term for flying dragon.

4. see Komodo dragon.

5. ‹historical› (in the 16th and 17th centuries) a short musket carried on the belt of a soldier, especially a mounted infantryman.

6. a soldier armed with a short musket carried on the belt.
Compare with dragoon.

– origin Middle English (also denoting a large serpent): from Old French, via Latin from Greek drakōn ‘serpent.’

dragon arum

noun

any of a number of plants of the arum family, in particular the North American green dragon.

dragon boat

noun

a boat of a traditional Chinese design, typically decorated to resemble a dragon, propelled with paddles by a large crew and used for racing.

dragonet /ˌdraɡəˈnet, ˈdraɡənit/

I. noun

a marine fish that often lies partly buried in the seabed. The male is brightly colored.
[Two genera in the family Callionymidae: several species, in particular the European Callionymus lyra.]

– origin Middle English (denoting a small dragon): from Old French, diminutive of dragon ‘dragon.’

dragonfish /ˈdraɡənˌfiSH/

noun

a deep-sea fish with a long slender body.
[● a fish with fanglike teeth, a barbel on the chin, and luminous organs on the body (families Stomiatidae and Idiacanthidae). ● a fish of southern polar seas with a flattened head (family Bathydraconidae).]

dragonfly /ˈdraɡənˌflī/

noun

a fast-flying long-bodied predatory insect with two pairs of large transparent wings that are spread out sideways at rest. The voracious aquatic larvae take up to five years to reach adulthood.
Compare with damselfly. [Suborder Anisoptera, order Odonata: several families. Dragonflies include darners and skimmers.]

dragonnade /ˌdraɡəˈnād/

I. noun

one of a series of persecutions directed by Louis XIV against French Protestants, in which troops were quartered upon them.

– origin early 18th cent.: from French, from dragon ‘dragon’ (see dragoon).

dragon's blood

noun

a red gum or powder that is derived from the fruit of certain palm trees and from the stem of the dragon tree and related plants.

dragon's mouth

noun

another term for arethusa.

dragon tree /ˈdraɡən ˌtrē/

noun

a slow-growing palmlike tree of the agave family, which is native to the Canary Islands and yields dragon's blood.
[Dracaena draco, family Agavaceae.]

dragoon /drəˈɡo͞on/

I. noun

1. a member of any of several cavalry regiments in the British army.

2. ‹historical› a mounted infantryman armed with a short rifle or musket.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. coerce (someone) into doing something

• she had been dragooned into helping with the housework.

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting a kind of carbine or musket, thought of as breathing fire): from French dragon ‘dragon.’

drag queen /ˈdraɡ ˌkwēn/

noun

a man who dresses up in women's clothes, typically for the purposes of entertainment.

drag race

I. noun

a race between two or more cars over a short distance, usually a quarter of a mile, as a test of acceleration.

II. derivatives

1. drag racer

noun

2. drag racing

noun

dragster /ˈdraɡztər/

noun

a car built or modified to take part in drag races.

drag strip

noun

a straight, paved track or section of road used for drag racing.

drail /ˈdrāl/

I. noun

[Fishing] a fishhook and line weighted with lead for dragging below the surface of the water.

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting part of a plow): from the obsolete verb drail, an alteration of trail.

drain /drān/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause the water or other liquid in (something) to run out, leaving it empty, dry, or drier

• we drained the swimming pool.

2. cause or allow (liquid) to run off or out of something

• fry the pork and drain off any excess fat.

3. make (land) drier by providing channels for water to flow away in

• the land was drained and the boggy ground reclaimed.

4. (of a river) carry off the superfluous water from (a district)

• the stream drains a wide moorland above the waterfall.

5. [no obj.] — (of water or another liquid) flow away from, out of, or into something

• the river drains into the Pacific

• ‹figurative› Polly felt the blood drain from her face.

6. [no obj.] — become dry or drier as liquid runs off or away

• dishes left to drain

• the plant should be watered well and allowed to drain.

7. (of a person) drink the entire contents of (a glass or other container)

• he seized the Scotch set before him and drained it.

8. [no obj.] — (of a feeling or emotion) become progressively less strongly felt

• gradually the tension and stress drained away.

9. deprive of strength or vitality

• his limbs were drained of all energy

• Ruth slumped down in her seat, drained by all that had happened.

10. cause (money, energy, or another valuable resource) to be lost, wasted, or used up

• my mother's hospital bills are draining my income.

11. [no obj.] — (of a resource) be lost, wasted, or used up

• votes and campaign funds drained away from the Republican candidate.

12. [Golf] ‹informal› (of a player) hole (a putt).

II. noun

1. a channel or pipe carrying off surplus liquid, especially rainwater or liquid waste.

2. a tube for drawing off accumulating fluid from a body cavity or an abscess.

3. [Electronics] the part of a field-effect transistor to which the charge carriers flow after passing the gate.

4. [in sing.] — a thing that uses up a particular resource

• nuclear power is a serious drain on the public purse.

5. the continuous loss or expenditure of a particular resource

• the drain of our heritage.

III. phrases

go down the drain

‹informal› be totally wasted

• the government must stop public money from going down the drain.

– origin Old English drēahnian, drēhnian ‘strain (liquid),’ of Germanic origin; related to dry.

drainage /ˈdrānij/

noun

1. the action or process of draining something

• the pot must have holes in the base for good drainage

• the drainage of wetlands.

2. the means of removing surplus water or liquid waste; a system of drains.

drainboard /ˈdrānbôrd/

noun

(N. Amer.) a sloping grooved board or surface, on which washed dishes are left to drain, typically into a sink.

drainer /ˈdrānər/

noun

1. a device used to drain things, in particular a rack placed on a drainboard to hold washed dishes while they drain.

2. a drainboard.

3. a person or device that drains a flooded area.

drainpipe /ˈdrānˌpīp/

noun

a pipe for carrying off rainwater or liquid refuse from a building.

Draize test /ˈdrāz ˌtest/

I. noun

a pharmacological test in which a substance is introduced into the eye or applied to the skin of a laboratory animal in order to ascertain the likely effect of that substance on the corresponding human tissue.

– origin 1970s: named after John H. Draize (1900–92), the American pharmacologist who helped to develop this type of test.

drake^1 /drāk/

I. noun

a male duck

• ducks and drakes

• [as modifier] a drake mallard.

– origin Middle English: related to Low German drake and German Enterich.

drake^2 /drāk/

I. noun

(in fishing) a natural or artificial mayfly, especially a subadult or gravid female.

– origin Old English draca, from Latin draco ‘dragon.’

Drake, Sir Francis /drāk/

(c. 1540–96), English sailor and explorer. In his ship the Golden Hind he was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe (1577–80). He also played an important part in the defeat of the Spanish Armada.

Drake equation ‹Astronomy›

a speculative equation that gives an estimate of the likelihood of discovering intelligent extraterrestrial life in the galaxy, expressed as the product of a series of factors such as the number of stars, the fraction of stars with planets, the fraction of planets on which life evolves, the average lifetime of a civilization, etc. It was formulated by the US astronomer Frank Drake in 1961.

Drakensberg Mountains /ˌdräkənzˌbərɡ ˈmount(ə)nz/

a mountain range in southern Africa that stretches northeast–southwest for a distance of 700 miles (1,126 km) through Lesotho and parts of South Africa. The highest peak is Thabana Ntlenyana (11,425 feet; 3,482 m).

Drake Passage

I. an area of ocean, noted for its violent storms, that connects the South Atlantic Ocean with the South Pacific Ocean and separates the southern tip of South America (Cape Horn) from the Antarctic Peninsula.

– origin named after Sir Francis Drake (see Drake, Sir Francis).

Drakes Bay /ˌdrāks ˈbā/

an inlet of the Pacific Ocean, northwest of San Francisco in California, visited by Sir Francis Drake in 1579.

dram^1 /dram/

I. noun

1. a small drink of whiskey or other spirits (often used in humorous imitation of Scottish speech)

• a wee dram to ward off the winter chill.

2. another term for drachm (sense 1).

– origin late Middle English (sense 2): from Old French drame or medieval Latin drama, variants of dragme and dragma (see drachm).

dram^2 /dram/

noun

the basic monetary unit of Armenia, equal to 100 luma.

DRAM /ˈdēram/

I. noun

[Electronics] a memory chip that depends upon an applied voltage to keep the stored data.

– origin acronym from dynamic random-access memory.

drama /ˈdrämə/

I. noun

1. a play for theater, radio, or television

• a gritty urban drama about growing up in Harlem.

2. drama as a genre or style of literature

• Renaissance drama.

3. an exciting, emotional, or unexpected series of events or set of circumstances

• a hostage drama

• an afternoon of high drama at Fenway Park.

– origin early 16th cent.: via late Latin from Greek drama, from dran ‘do, act.’

Dramamine /ˈdraməˌmēn/

I. noun

‹trademark› an antihistamine compound used to counter nausea (especially travel sickness).

– origin 1940s: from dram- (of unknown origin) + amine.

drama queen

noun

‹informal› a person who habitually responds to situations in a melodramatic way.

dramatic /drəˈmadik/

I. adjective

1. [attrib.] — of or relating to drama or the performance or study of drama

• the dramatic arts

• a dramatic society.

2. (of an event or circumstance) sudden and striking

• a dramatic increase in recorded crime.

3. exciting or impressive

• he recalled his dramatic escape from the building

• dramatic mountain peaks.

4. (of a person or their behavior) intending or intended to create an effect; theatrical

• with a dramatic gesture, she put a hand to her brow.

– origin late 16th cent.: via late Latin from Greek dramatikos, from drama, dramat- (see drama).

dramatically /drəˈmadəklē/

adverb

1. in a way that relates to drama or the performance of drama

• they displayed their talents both musically and dramatically

• [sentence adverb] dramatically and technically the film falls far short.

2. by a strikingly large amount or to a strikingly large extent; greatly

• his health has improved dramatically

• [as submodifier] my opponent's policies are dramatically different from ours.

3. in an exciting or impressive manner

• his dramatically shaped canvases attracted critical acclaim.

4. in a way intended to create an effect; theatrically

• she paused dramatically.

dramatic monologue

noun

a poem in the form of a speech or narrative by an imagined person, in which the speaker inadvertently reveals aspects of their character while describing a particular situation or series of events.

dramatics /drəˈmadiks/

plural noun

1. [often treated as sing.] — the study or practice of acting in and producing plays

• she is known internationally for her work in creative dramatics.

2. theatrically exaggerated or overemotional behavior

• cut out the dramatics.

dramatis personae /ˌdramədəs pərˈsōnē ˌdramədəs pərˈsōnī/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing. or pl.]

1. the characters of a play, novel, or narrative.

– origin mid 18th cent.: Latin, literally ‘persons of the drama.’

dramatist /ˈdraməˌdəst ˈdräməˌdəst/

noun

a person who writes plays.

dramatization /ˌdramədəˈzāSH(ə)n ˌdraməˌtīˈzāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. a play or movie adapted from a novel or depicting a particular incident

• the film is a dramatization of a true story.

2. the process of adapting a novel or presenting a particular incident in a play or movie

• the reform of copyright law to prevent the dramatization of novels without the author's sanction.

dramatize /ˈdraməˌtīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. adapt (a novel) or present (a particular incident) as a play or movie

• the famous play that dramatized the Scopes trial.

2. exaggerate the seriousness or importance of (an incident or situation)

• they have a tendency to dramatize things.

dramaturge /ˈdraməˌtərj / dramaturg

I. noun

1. a dramatist.

2. a literary editor on the staff of a theater who consults with authors and edits texts.

– origin mid 19th cent.: via French and German from Greek dramatourgos, from drama, dramat- ‘drama’ + -ergos ‘worker.’

dramaturgy /ˈdraməˌtərjē ˈdräməˌtərjē/

I. noun

the theory and practice of dramatic composition

• studies of Shakespeare's dramaturgy.

II. derivatives

1. dramaturgic /ˌdräməˈtərjik ˌdraməˈtərjik /

adjective

2. dramaturgical /ˌdräməˈtərjikəl /

adjective

3. dramaturgically /ˌdräməˈtərjik(ə)lē /

adverb

Drambuie /ˌdramˈbo͞oē/

I. noun

‹trademark› a sweet Scotch whiskey liqueur.

– origin from Scottish Gaelic dram buidheach ‘satisfying drink.’

dramedy /ˈdrämədē/

noun

a movie, play, or broadcast program that combines elements of drama and comedy.

Drang nach Osten /ˈdräNG näk ˈästən/

I. noun

the former German policy of eastward expansion, especially that espoused under Nazi rule.

– origin early 20th cent.: German, literally ‘pressure toward the east.’

drank /draNGk/

I. verb

past of drink.

II. noun

(US) ‹informal› a drink, especially of an alcoholic beverage

• order a drank or two

• I went outside to take a drank.

[1930s: representing a regional pronunciation of drink.]

drape /drāp/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. arrange (cloth or clothing) loosely or casually on or around something

• she draped a shawl around her shoulders.

2. adorn, cover, or wrap (someone or something) loosely with folds of cloth

• the body was draped in a blanket.

3. let (oneself or a part of one's body) rest somewhere in a casual or relaxed way

• he draped an arm around her shoulders.

4. [no obj.] — (of fabric) hang or be able to hang in loose, graceful folds

• velvet drapes beautifully.

II. noun

1. (drapes) — (N. Amer.) long curtains

• Katherine pulled back the heavy velvet drapes.

2. (Brit.) ‹informal› a man's suit consisting of a long jacket and narrow trousers, as worn by a Teddy boy

• teds dressed in Edwardian-style drapes and suede shoes.

3. a cloth for covering parts of a patient's body other than that part on which a surgical operation is being performed.

4. [in sing.] — the way in which a garment or fabric hangs

• by fixing the band lower down you obtain a fuller drape in the fabric.

III. derivatives

drapey drapy

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: back-formation from drapery, influenced by French draper ‘to drape.’ The noun senses date from the early 20th cent.

draper /ˈdrāpər/

I. noun

(Brit.) ‹dated› a person who sells cloth and dry goods.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a maker of woolen cloth): from Old French drapier, from drap ‘cloth,’ from late Latin drappus.

drapery /ˈdrāp(ə)rē/

I. noun

1. cloth coverings hanging in loose folds

• the hall of the school was hung with green drapery.

2. (draperies) — long curtains of heavy fabric.

3. the artistic arrangement of clothing in sculpture or painting

• the effigy is notable for its flowing drapery.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘cloth, fabrics’): from Old French draperie, from drap ‘cloth’ (see draper).

drastic /ˈdrastik/

I. adjective

likely to have a strong or far-reaching effect; radical and extreme

• a drastic reduction of staffing levels.

– origin late 17th cent. (originally applied to the effect of medicine): from Greek drastikos, from dran ‘do.’

drastically /ˈdrastəklē/

adverb

1. in a way that is likely to have a strong or far-reaching effect

• now her fortunes have changed drastically

• management layers will be drastically reduced.

2. [as submodifier] — extremely; very

• the ending was drastically different from what I'd expected.

drat /drat/

I. exclamation — (often drat someone/something)

1. a mild expression of anger or annoyance

• “Drat!” said Mitchell, kicking the fence

• “Drat you!”

II. derivatives

dratted /ˈdradəd /

adjective

– origin early 19th cent.: shortening of od rat, euphemism for God rot.

draught /draft/

I. noun

British spelling of draft (sense 3 of the noun, sense 4 of the noun, sense 6 of the noun, sense 7 of the noun).

II. adjective

British spelling of draft.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘drawing, pulling’; also ‘something drawn, a load’): from Old Norse dráttr, of Germanic origin; related to German Tracht, also to draw. Compare with draft.

draughts /draf(t)s/

I. noun

(Brit.) checkers.
See checker^2 (sense 2).

– origin late Middle English: from draught; related to obsolete draught in the sense ‘move’ (in chess or any similar game); compare with French trait, from Latin tractus ‘a dragging.’

Drava River /ˌdrävə ˈrivər / Drave

a river that rises in northern Italy and flows for 456 miles (725 km) through southern Austria, Slovenia, and Croatia to join the Danube River near Osijek. It forms part of the border between Hungary and Croatia.

Dravidian /drəˈvidēən/

I. adjective

of, relating to, or denoting a family of languages spoken in southern India and Sri Lanka, or the peoples who speak them.

II. noun

1. the Dravidian family of languages.

2. a member of any of the peoples speaking a Dravidian language.
Dravidian languages were once spoken throughout the Indian subcontinent but were restricted to the south following the arrival of speakers of Indic languages c. 1000 BC. Those still used, by over 160 million people, include Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Telugu.

– origin from Sanskrit drāviḍa ‘relating to the Tamils’ (from Dravida ‘Tamil’) + -ian.

draw /drô/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. produce (a picture or diagram) by making lines and marks, especially with a pen or pencil, on paper

• he drew a map.

2. produce an image of (someone or something) by making lines and marks

• I asked her to draw me

• [no obj.] she draws really well.

3. trace or produce (a line or mark) on a surface

• she drew a wavering line down the board

• ‹figurative› where will we draw the outer boundaries of this Europe?

4. pull or drag (something such as a vehicle) so as to make it follow behind

• a cart drawn by two horses.

5. pull or move (something) in a specified direction

• I drew back the blanket and uncovered the body.

6. gently pull or guide (someone) in a specified direction

• “David,” she whispered, drawing him aside.

7. [no obj.] — move in a slow steady way

• the driver slowed as he drew even with me

• the train drew into the station.

8. [no obj.] — come to or arrive at a point in time or a specified point in a process

• the campaign drew to a close

• the time for the parade itself is drawing near.

9. pull (curtains, blinds, or other such coverings) shut or open

• do you want me to draw the drapes?

• she drew back the curtains and looked out.

10. make (wire) by pulling a piece of metal through successively smaller holes.

11. extract (an object or liquid) from a container or receptacle

• he drew his gun and peered into the gloomy apartment

• the children went down to the pond to draw water

• the syringe drew off most of the fluid

• (as adj. drawn) he met them with a drawn sword.

12. run (a bath)

• she drew him a hot bath.

13. (draw something from) — obtain something from (a particular source)

• an independent panel of judges drawn from members of the public

• he draws inspiration from ordinary scenes and simple places.

14. (draw on) — use (one's experience, talents, or skills) as a resource

• Sue has a lot of past experience to draw on.

15. obtain or withdraw (money) from a bank or other source

• this check draws against my personal account.

16. [Hunting] search (cover) for game.

17. [Bridge] (of player) force the opponents to play (cards in a particular suit) by leading cards in that suit

• before establishing his diamonds, declarer must draw trumps.

18. (draw on) — suck smoke from (a cigarette or pipe).

19. [no obj.] — (of a chimney, flue, or fire) allow air to flow in and upward freely, so that a fire can burn

• failure of a fire to draw properly can have a number of causes.

20. take in (a breath)

• Mrs. Feather drew a long breath and let it out.

21. [no obj.] — (of tea) be left standing so that the flavor is extracted from the leaves

• a pot of tea is allowed to draw.

22. disembowel

• after a mockery of a trial he was hanged, drawn, and quartered.

23. be the cause of (a specified response)

• he drew criticism for his lavish spending.

24. attract (someone) to come to a place or an event

• you really drew the crowds with your playing

• customers drawn in by the reductions.

25. (usu. be drawn) — induce (someone) to reveal or do something

• I would rather not be drawn into your argument.

26. direct or attract (someone's attention) to something

• it was an outrage and we had to draw people's attention to it.

27. reach (a conclusion) by deduction or inference from a set of circumstances

• the moral to be drawn is that spending wins votes.

28. formulate or perceive (a comparison or distinction)

• the law drew a clear distinction between innocent and fraudulent misrepresentation.

29. [Golf] hit (the ball) so that it travels slightly to the left (for a left-handed player, the right), usually as a result of spin given to the ball

• he had to learn to draw the ball—not least for the tee shots at Augusta.

Compare with fade (sense 3 of the verb).

30. [Billiards] impart backspin to (the cue ball), making it move backwards after hitting an object ball.

31. (of a ship) require (a specified depth of water) to float in; have (a certain draft)

• boats that draw only a few inches of water.

32. [no obj.] — (of a sail) be filled with wind.

33. (Brit.) finish (a contest or game) with an even score; tie
[with obj. and complement]

• Brazil had drawn a stormy match 1–1.

II. noun

1. an act of selecting names randomly, typically by extracting them from a bag or other container, to match competitors in a game or tournament

• the draw has been made for this year's tournament.

2. a game that ends with the score even; a tie.

3. a person or thing that is very attractive or interesting

• the museum has turned out to be a big draw for schoolchildren in the city.

4. an act of inhaling smoke from a cigar

• superb cigars offering tons of peppery smoke on each draw.

5. an act of removing a gun from its holster in order to shoot.

6. [Golf] a shot causing the ball to deviate to the left (or, for a left-handed golfer, the right).

7. [Billiards] backspin imparted to a cue ball, causing it to move backwards after hitting an object ball.

III. phrases

1. draw a bead on

see bead.

2. draw a blank

see blank.

3. draw blood

cause someone to bleed, especially in the course of a fight

• the blow drew blood from the corner of his mouth

• ‹figurative› she knew she'd drawn blood when the smile faded from his face.

4. draw fire

attract hostile criticism, usually away from a more important target

• the vaccination campaign continued to draw fire.

5. draw a line under

resolve not to engage in further discussion or consideration of (a difficult or distressing issue or situation)

• we need to draw a line under this whole affair, not prolong it.

6. draw the line

set a limit on what one is willing to do or accept, beyond which one will not go

• Alex shared the domestic work but drew the line at laundry.

7. draw lots

see lot.

8. draw the short straw

see straw.

9. quick on the draw

a. very fast in taking one's gun from its holster.

b. very fast in acting or reacting.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. draw back

choose not to do something that one was expected to do

• the government has drawn back from attempting reform.

2. draw something down draw down

a. reduce the size of a military force in an area

• more had to be done before the US could begin to draw down its forces in any significant number

• we need to start letting them stand on their own feet, and that isn't going to happen until we start drawing down.

b. withdraw money from a fund or loan facility

• I'm not actually going to be drawing down any of the loan until early 1999

• she would have to draw down on her $253,000 investments at a rate of 7.2 per cent.

c. withdraw water, oil, or gas from a reservoir or repository

• the state began drawing down some of its stored water.

3. draw on

(of a period of time) pass by and approach its end

• he remembered sitting in silence with his grandmother as evening drew on.

4. draw something on

put an item of clothing on

• she drew on her gloves.

5. draw someone out

gently or subtly persuade someone to talk or become more expansive

• she drew me out and flattered me.

6. draw something out

make something last longer

• the transition was long drawn out.

7. draw up

come to a halt

• drivers drew up at the lights.

8. draw something up

prepare a plan, proposal, agreement, or other document in detail

• they instructed an attorney to draw up a sales agreement.

9. draw oneself up

make oneself stand in a stiffly upright manner

• Sarah drew herself up, full of indignation that he should presume to judge her.

– origin Old English dragan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dragen and German tragen, also to draft.

drawback /ˈdrôˌbak/

noun

1. a feature that renders something less acceptable; a disadvantage or problem

• the main drawback of fitting catalytic converters is the cost.

2. an amount of excise or import duty remitted on imported goods that the importer re-exports rather than sells domestically.

drawbar /ˈdrôbär/

noun

1. a bar on a vehicle to which something can be attached to pull it or be pulled.

2. a coupler on a railroad car.

3. one of a number of bars that may be pulled out to control harmonics on an electric organ.

drawbridge /ˈdrôˌbrij/

noun

‹historical› a bridge, especially one over a castle's moat, that is hinged at one end so that it may be raised to prevent people's crossing or to allow vessels to pass under it.

drawcord /ˈdrôkôrd/

noun

(Brit.) another term for drawstring.

drawdown /ˈdrôdoun/

noun

1. a reduction in the size or presence of a military force

• the unit is the first to leave Germany as part of the drawdown.

2. an act of drawing on available funds or loan facilities

• a drawdown on investment capital.

3. a withdrawal of water, oil, or gas from a reservoir or repository.

• drastic drawdowns can render shorelines unusable for other economic activities and largely uninhabitable for wildlife.

4. a decline in an investment or fund

• the drawdown seemed to be concentrated in the smaller hedge funds.

drawee /drôˈē/

noun

the person or organization, typically a bank, who must pay a draft or bill.

drawer /ˈdrôr/

I. noun

1. a boxlike storage compartment without a lid, made to slide horizontally in and out of a desk, chest, or other piece of furniture.

2. (drawers) — ‹dated› ‹humorous› underpants.

3. /ˈdrôər / — a person who draws something, in particular

4. a person who writes a check.

5. a person who produces a drawing or design.

6. ‹archaic› another term for tapster.

II. derivatives

drawerful /-ˌfo͝ol /

noun

drawing /ˈdrô.iNG/

noun

1. a picture or diagram made with a pencil, pen, or crayon rather than paint, especially one drawn in monochrome

• a series of charcoal drawings on white paper.

2. the art or skill or making pictures or diagrams with a pencil, pen, or crayon

• she took lessons in drawing.

3. the selection of a winner or winners in a lottery or raffle

• entrants need not be present at the drawing.

drawing board /ˈdroiNG ˌbô(ə)rd/

I. noun

a large flat board on which paper may be spread for artists or designers to work on.

II. phrases

1. back to the drawing board

used to indicate that an idea, scheme, or proposal has been unsuccessful and that a new one must be devised

• the government must go back to the drawing board and review the whole issue of youth training.

2. on the drawing board

(of an idea, scheme, or proposal) under consideration and not yet ready to put into practice

• there are plans to enlarge the runway, but at present all this remains on the drawing board.

drawing card /ˈdrôiNG kärd / ‹Brit.› drawcard

noun

‹informal› a quality or feature that evokes interest or liking; an attraction

• rookie fireball flingers are the prime drawing cards of spring baseball.

drawing pin /ˈdroiNG ˌpin/

noun

British term for thumbtack.

drawing room

I. noun

1. a room in a large private house in which guests can be received and entertained.

2. a private compartment in a train, typically one that accommodates two or three people.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. consciously refined, lighthearted, and elegant

• drawing-room small talk.

2. (of a song or play) characterized by a polite observance of social proprieties

• a stock figure of Thirties drawing-room comedy.

– origin mid 17th cent. (denoting a private room attached to a more public one): abbreviation of 16th-cent. withdrawing-room ‘a room to withdraw to.’

drawknife /ˈdrônīf/

noun

a knife consisting of a blade with a handle at each end at right angles to it, which is drawn over a surface, toward the user, with a paring effect.

drawl /drôl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. speak in a slow, lazy way with prolonged vowel sounds
[with direct speech]

• “Suits me fine,” he drawled.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. a slow, lazy way of speaking or an accent with unusually prolonged vowel sounds

• a Texas drawl.

III. derivatives

1. drawler

noun

2. drawly

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: probably originally slang, from Low German or Dutch dralen ‘delay, linger.’

drawn /drôn/

I. past participle of draw.

II. adjective

(of a person or a person's face) looking strained from illness, exhaustion, anxiety, or pain

• Cathy was pale and drawn and she looked tired out.

drawn butter /drôn ˈbədər/

noun

(N. Amer.) melted butter.

drawn-out /ˈdrôn ˈˌout/

adjective — (often long-drawn-out)

1. lasting or seeming to last longer than is necessary

• a long-drawn-out courtship.

drawnwork /ˈdrônwərk / drawn threadwork

noun

ornamental work on linen or other fabric, done by drawing out threads and usually with additional needlework.

draw poker

noun

a variety of poker in which each player is dealt five cards and, after the first round of betting, may discard some (usually up to three) of these cards and draw replacements from the dealer.

draw reins

noun

a pair of reins that are attached to a horse's saddle or girth and pass through the bit rings to the rider's hands.

drawsheet /ˈdrôˌSHēt / draw sheet

noun

a sheet that is placed in such a way that it can be taken from under a patient or invalid without disturbing the bedclothes.

drawstring /ˈdrôˌstriNG/

noun

a string in the seam of the material of a garment or a bag, which can be pulled to tighten or close it.

dray /drā/

I. noun

a truck or cart for delivering beer barrels or other heavy loads, especially a low one without sides.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a sledge): perhaps from Old English dræge ‘dragnet,’ related to dragan ‘to pull’ (see draw).

dray horse /ˈdrā ˌhôrs/

noun

a large, powerful horse used to pull heavy loads.

drayman /ˈdrāmən/

noun

a person who delivers beer for a brewery.

DRC

abbreviation

Democratic Republic of Congo.

dread /dred/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. anticipate with great apprehension or fear

• Jane was dreading the party

• [with infinitive] I dread to think what Russell will say.

2. ‹archaic› regard with great awe or reverence.

II. noun

1. great fear or apprehension

• the thought of returning to New Jersey filled her with dread

• [in sing.] I used to have a dread of Sunday afternoons.

2. ‹informal› a person with dreadlocks.

3. (dreads) — dreadlocks.

III. adjective — [attrib.]

1. greatly feared; dreadful

• he was stricken with the dread disease and died.

2. ‹archaic› regarded with awe; greatly revered

• that dread being we dare oppose.

– origin Old English ādrǣdan, ondrǣdan; related to Old High German intrātan.

dreaded /ˈdredəd/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. regarded with great fear or apprehension

• the dreaded news came that Joe had been wounded

• ‹humorous› the dreaded fax machine.

dreadful /ˈdredfəl/

I. adjective

1. causing or involving great suffering, fear, or unhappiness; extremely bad or serious

• there's been a dreadful accident.

2. extremely disagreeable

• the weather was dreadful.

3. [attrib.] — used to emphasize the degree to which something is the case, especially something regarded with sadness or disapproval

• you're a dreadful flirt.

4. (of a person) unwell or troubled

• she looked dreadful and she was struggling for breath

• I feel dreadful—I hate myself.

II. derivatives

dreadfulness /ˈdredfəlnəs /

noun

dreadfully /ˈdredfəlē/

adverb

1. [often as submodifier] — extremely

• you're dreadfully thin

• I'm dreadfully sorry!

2. very much

• I'll miss you dreadfully.

3. very badly

• the company has performed dreadfully.

dreadlocks /ˈdredˌläks/

I. plural noun

a hairstyle in which the hair is washed but not combed and twisted while wet into tight braids or ringlets hanging down on all sides.

II. derivatives

dreadlocked

adjective

dreadnought /ˈdredˌnôt ˈdredˌnät / dreadnaught

noun

1. ‹historical› a type of battleship introduced in the early 20th century, larger and faster than its predecessors and equipped entirely with large-caliber guns.
[named after Britain's HMS Dreadnought, which was the first to be completed (1906).]

2. ‹archaic› a heavy overcoat for stormy weather.

dream /drēm/

I. noun

1. a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep

• I had a recurrent dream about falling from great heights.

2. [in sing.] — a state of mind in which someone is or seems to be unaware of their immediate surroundings

• he had been walking around in a dream all day.

3. a cherished aspiration, ambition, or ideal

• I fulfilled a childhood dream when I became champion

• the girl of my dreams

• [as modifier] they'd found their dream home.

4. an unrealistic or self-deluding fantasy

• maybe he could get a job and earn some money—but he knew this was just a dream.

5. a person or thing perceived as wonderful or perfect

• her new man's an absolute dream

• it was a dream of a backhand

• she's a couturier's dream.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. experience dreams during sleep

• I dreamed about her last night.

2. [with obj.] — see, hear, or feel (something) in a dream

• maybe you dreamed it

• [with clause] I dreamed that I was going to be executed.

3. indulge in daydreams or fantasies, typically about something greatly desired

• she had dreamed of a trip to Italy.

4. [with obj.] (dream time away) — waste one's time in a lazy, unproductive way.

5. [with negative] — contemplate the possibility of doing something or that something might be the case

• I wouldn't dream of foisting myself on you

• [with clause] I never dreamed anyone would take offense.

III. phrases

1. beyond one's wildest dreams

bigger or better than could be reasonably expected

• stockbrokers command salaries beyond the wildest dreams of most workers.

2. in your dreams

used in spoken English to assert that something much desired is not likely ever to happen.

3. in one's wildest dreams

[with negative] — used to emphasize that a situation is beyond the scope of one's imagination

• she could never in her wildest dreams have imagined the summer weather in New York.

4. like a dream

‹informal› very well or successfully

• the car is still running like a dream.

5. live the dream

‹informal› have a lifestyle that is perceived as wonderful or perfect

• the couple seemed to be living the dream: three gorgeous children and a plush pad.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. dream on

[in imperative] — ‹informal› used, especially in spoken English, as an ironic comment on the unlikely or impractical nature of a plan or aspiration

• Dean thinks he's going to get the job. Dream on, babe.

2. dream something up

imagine or invent something

• he's been dreaming up new ways of attracting customers.

V. derivatives

1. dreamful /-fəl /

adjective

( — ‹literary›

2. dreamless /ˈdrēmləs /

adjective

– origin Middle English: of Germanic origin, related to Dutch droom and German Traum, and probably also to Old English drēam ‘joy, music.’

dreamboat /ˈdrēmˌbōt/

noun

‹informal› a very attractive person, especially a man.

dreamcatcher /ˈdrēmˌkaCHər, ˈdrēmˌkeCHər/

noun

a small hoop containing a horsehair mesh, or a similar construction of string or yarn, decorated with feathers and beads, believed to give its owner good dreams. Dreamcatchers were originally made by American Indians.

dreamer /ˈdrēmər/

noun

1. a person who dreams or is dreaming.

2. a person who is unpractical or idealistic

• a rebellious young dreamer.

dreamland /ˈdrēmˌland/

noun

1. sleep regarded as a world of dreams

• she tries to lull herself into dreamland.

2. an imagined and unrealistically ideal world

• there was always in the Cotton Club a certain dreamland aspect.

dreamlike /ˈdrēmlīk/

adjective

having the qualities of a dream; unreal

• she snapped out of her dreamlike state.

dreamscape /ˈdrēmskāp/

noun

a landscape or scene with the strangeness or mystery characteristic of dreams

• surrealism's popular manifestations were the dreamscapes of Salvador Dalí.

dream team

noun

a team of people perceived as the perfect combination for a particular purpose

• the two have been linked as the dream team that will revitalize New York Democrats.

Dreamtime /ˈdrēmtīm/

noun

(in the mythology of some Australian Aborigines) the “golden age” when the first ancestors were created.

dreamwork /ˈdrēmwərk/

noun

[Psychoanalysis] the processes by which the unconscious mind alters the manifest content of dreams in order to conceal their real meaning from the dreamer.

dreamworld /ˈdrēmˌwərld/

noun

a fantastic or idealized view of life

• somebody who can live in a romantic dreamworld.

dreamy /ˈdrēmē/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) not practical; given to daydreaming

• a dreamy boy who grew up absorbed in poetry.

2. having a magical or pleasantly unreal quality; dreamlike

• a slow dreamy melody.

3. ‹informal› delightful; gorgeous

• I bet he was really dreamy.

II. derivatives

1. dreamily /ˈdrēmilē /

adverb

2. dreaminess /ˈdrēmēnəs /

noun

drear /ˈdrir/

I. adjective

literary term for dreary.

– origin early 17th cent.: abbreviation.

dreary /ˈdrirē/

I. adjective

dull, bleak, and lifeless; depressing

• the dreary routine of working, eating, and trying to sleep.

II. derivatives

1. drearily /ˈdrirəlē /

adverb

2. dreariness /ˈdrirēnəs /

noun

– origin Old English drēorig ‘gory, cruel,’ also ‘melancholy,’ from drēor ‘gore,’ of Germanic origin; related to German traurig ‘sorrowful,’ also to drowsy, and probably to drizzle.

dreck /drek / drek

I. noun

‹informal› rubbish; trash

• this so-called art is pure dreck.

II. derivatives

1. dreckish

adjective

2. drecky

adjective

– origin early 20th cent.: from Yiddish drek ‘filth, dregs,’ from a Germanic base shared by Old English threax; probably related to Greek skōr ‘dung.’

dredge^1 /drej/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. clean out the bed of (a harbor, river, or other area of water) by scooping out mud, weeds, and rubbish with a dredge.

2. bring up or clear (something) from a river, harbor, or other area of water with a dredge

• mud was dredged out of the harbor

• [no obj.] they start to dredge for oysters in November.

3. (dredge something up) — bring to people's attention an unpleasant or embarrassing fact or incident that had been forgotten

• I don't understand why you had to dredge up this story.

II. noun

1. an apparatus for bringing up objects or mud from a river or seabed by scooping or dragging.

2. a dredger.

– origin late 15th cent. (as a noun; originally in dredge-boat): perhaps related to Middle Dutch dregghe ‘grappling hook.’

dredge^2 /drej/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. sprinkle (food) with a powdered substance, typically flour or sugar

• dredge the bananas with sugar and cinnamon.

– origin late 16th cent.: from obsolete dredge ‘sweetmeat, mixture of spices,’ from Old French dragie, perhaps via Latin from Greek tragēmata ‘spices.’ Compare with dragée.

dredger /ˈdrejər/

noun

a barge or other vessel designed for dredging harbors or other bodies of water.

dree /drē/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (Scottish) ‹archaic› endure (something burdensome or painful)

• he dreed pain and dolor.

II. phrases

dree one's weird

submit to one's destiny.

– origin Old English drēogan, of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse drýgja ‘practice, perpetrate.’

dregs /dreɡz/

I. plural noun

1. the remnants of a liquid left in a container, together with any sediment or grounds

• coffee dregs.

2. the most worthless part or parts of something

• the dregs of society.

II. derivatives

dreggy /ˈdreɡē /

adjective

– origin Middle English: probably of Scandinavian origin and related to Swedish drägg (plural).

dreidel /ˈdrādl/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a small four-sided spinning top with a Hebrew letter on each side, used by the Jews.

2. (N. Amer.) a gambling game played with a dreidel, especially at Hanukkah.

– origin 1930s: from Yiddish dreydl; compare with German drehen ‘to turn.’

Dreiser, Theodore /ˈdrīzər/

(1871–1945), US novelist; full name Theodore Herman Albert Dreiser. His first novel, Sister Carrie (1900), caused controversy for its frank treatment of the heroine's sexuality and ambition. Other notable works: An American Tragedy (1925) and America Is Worth Saving (1941).

drench /dren(t)SH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. wet thoroughly; soak

• I fell in the stream and got drenched

• (as noun drenching) a severe drenching would kill his uncle.

2. cover (something) liberally or thoroughly

• cool patios drenched in flowers.

3. forcibly administer a drug in liquid form orally to (an animal).

II. noun

1. a dose of medicine administered to an animal.

2. ‹archaic› a draft of a medicinal or poisonous liquid.

– origin Old English drencan ‘force to drink,’ drenc ‘a drink or draft,’ of Germanic origin; related to German tränken (verb), Trank (noun), also to drink.

Dresden^1 /ˈdrezdən/

a city in eastern Germany, the capital of Saxony, on the Elbe River; pop. 504,800 (est. 2006). It was almost totally destroyed by Allied bombing in 1945.

Dresden^2 /ˈdrezdən / Dresden china

noun

porcelain ware with elaborate decoration and delicate colorings, made originally at Dresden and (since 1710) at nearby Meissen
[as modifier]

• a fine Dresden china cup.

dress /dres/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — put on one's clothes

• Graham showered and dressed quickly

• I'll go and get dressed.

2. [with adverbial] — wear clothes in a particular way or of a particular type

• she's nice-looking and dresses well

• (be dressed) he was dressed in jeans and a thick sweater.

3. [with obj.] — put clothes on (someone)

• they dressed her in a white hospital gown.

4. put on clothes appropriate for a formal occasion

• we dressed for dinner every night.

5. [with obj.] — design or supply clothes for (a celebrity)

• for over four decades he dressed the royal family.

6. [with obj.] — decorate (something) in an artistic or attractive way

• they had dressed the doorframes with sprays of bittersweet.

7. [with obj.] — treat or prepare (something) in a certain way, in particular

8. clean, treat, or apply a dressing to (a wound).

9. clean and prepare (food, especially poultry or shellfish) for cooking or eating
(as adj. dressed)

• dressed crab.

10. add a dressing to (a salad).

11. apply a fertilizing substance to (a field, garden, or plant).

12. complete the preparation or manufacture of (leather or fabric) by treating its surface in some way.

13. smooth the surface of (stone)
(as adj. dressed)

• a tower built of dressed stone.

14. arrange or style (one's own or someone else's hair), especially in an elaborate way.

15. [with obj.] — [Military] draw up (troops) in the proper alignment.

16. [no obj.] — (of troops) come into proper alignment.

17. [with obj.] — prepare (an artificial fly) for use in fishing
(as adj. dressed)

• a dressed wet fly.

II. noun

1. a one-piece garment for a woman or girl that covers the body and extends down over the legs.

2. clothing of a specified kind for men or women

• traditional African dress

• ‹figurative› the underlying theme is recognizable even when it appears in feminist dress.

3. [as modifier] — denoting military uniform or other clothing used on formal or ceremonial occasions

• a dress suit.

III. phrases

1. dressed to kill

wearing glamorous clothes intended to create a striking impression.

2. dressed to the nines

dressed very elaborately.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. dress down

dress informally

• Sue dressed down in old jeans and a white blouse.

2. dress someone down

‹informal› reprimand someone.

3. dress ship

decorate a ship with flags, for a special occasion.

4. dress up

a. dress in smart or formal clothes.

b. dress in a special costume for fun or as part of an entertainment

• he dressed up as a gorilla.

5. dress something up

present something in such a way that it appears better than it really is

• the company dressed up the figures a little.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘put straight’): from Old French dresser ‘arrange, prepare,’ based on Latin directus ‘direct, straight.’

dressage /ˈdresäZH/

I. noun

the art of riding and training a horse in a manner that develops obedience, flexibility, and balance.

– origin 1930s: from French, literally ‘training.’

dress circle /ˈdres ˌsərkəl/

noun

the first level of seats above the ground floor in a theater.

dress coat /ˈdres ˌkōt/

noun

another term for tailcoat.

dress code //

noun

1. a set of rules, usually written and posted, specifying the required manner of dress at a school, office, club, restaurant, etc.

• while the dress code doesn't require two-tone shoes, you will get turned away if you wear jeans.

2. the customary style of dress of a specified group

• jeans or shorts, the standard dress code for producer types.

dress-down

adjective

of or relating to dress that is informal or less formal than would be expected

• his genius for casual, dress-down clothes

• at his company, ‘dress-down day’ lasts all week.

dress-down Friday

noun

another term for casual Friday.

dresser^1 /ˈdresər/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a chest of drawers.

2. a sideboard with shelves above for storing and displaying plates and kitchen utensils.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a kitchen sideboard or table on which food was prepared): from Old French dresseur, from dresser ‘prepare’ (see dress).

dresser^2 /ˈdresər/

noun

1. [usu. with adj.] — a person who dresses in a specified way

• a snappy dresser.

2. a person who habitually dresses in a smart or elegant way

• she's gorgeous—and she's a dresser.

3. a person whose job is to look after theatrical costumes and help actors to dress.

4. a person who prepares, treats, or finishes a material or piece of equipment.

dressing /ˈdresiNG/

noun

1. (also salad dressing) — a sauce for salads, typically one consisting of oil and vinegar mixed together with herbs or other flavorings

• vinaigrette dressing.

2. (N. Amer.) stuffing

• turkey with apple dressing.

3. a piece of material placed on a wound to protect it

• an antiseptic dressing.

4. size or stiffening used in the finishing of fabrics.

5. a fertilizing substance such as compost or manure spread over or plowed into land.

dressing-down /ˈˌdresiNG ˈdoun/

noun — [in sing.]

1. ‹informal› a severe reprimand

• the secretary received a public dressing-down.

dressing gown /ˈdresiNG ˌɡoun/

noun

(Brit.) a long loose robe, typically worn after getting out of bed or bathing.

dressing room

noun

1. a room in which actors change clothes before and after their performance.

2. a small room or cubicle in a clothing store, used by customers to try on clothes.

dressing table /ˈdresiNG ˌtābəl/

noun

a table with a mirror and drawers for cosmetics, etc., used while dressing or applying makeup.

dressmaker /ˈdresˌmākər/

I. noun

a person whose job is making women's clothes.

II. derivatives

dressmaking /ˈdresˌmākiNG /

noun

dress parade /dres pəˈrād/

noun

a military parade in full dress uniform.

dress rehearsal /ˈdres rəˈˌhərsəl/

noun

the final rehearsal of a live show, in which everything is done as it would be in a real performance.

dress shield /ˈdre(s) ˌSHēld/

noun

a piece of waterproof material fastened in the armpit of a dress to protect it from perspiration.

dress shirt /ˈdre(s) ˌSHərt/

noun

1. a man's white shirt worn with a bow tie and a dinner jacket on formal occasions.

2. (N. Amer.) a man's long-sleeved shirt, suitable for wearing with a tie.

dressy /ˈdresē/

adjective

1. (of clothes) suitable for a festive or formal occasion

• wear something dressy, Kate, we're going to a cocktail party.

2. requiring or given to wearing dressy clothes

• the sweater can be worn under a blazer for more dressy events.

drew /dro͞o/

past of draw.

Drexel, Anthony Joseph /ˈdreksəl/

(1826–93), US banker and philanthropist. He joined his father's brokerage firm in 1847 and merged with J. P. Morgan in 1871, making Drexel, Morgan, and Co. the most powerful investment banking house in the US. He was the founder 1892 and benefactor of Drexel Institute of Technology.

drey /drā/

I. noun

the nest of a squirrel, typically in the form of a mass of twigs in a tree.

– origin early 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

Dreyfus, Alfred /ˈdrāfəs, ˈdrī-/

(1859–1935), French army officer. In 1894, he was falsely accused of providing military secrets to the Germans; his trial and imprisonment caused a major political crisis in France. He was eventually fully exonerated in 1906.

dribble /ˈdribəl/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — (of a liquid) fall slowly in drops or a thin stream

• rain dribbled down the window.

2. [with obj.] — pour (a liquid) slowly in drops or a thin stream

• he dribbled cream into his coffee.

3. allow saliva to run from the mouth

• his mouth was open and he was dribbling.

4. [with obj.] — (chiefly in soccer, field hockey, and basketball) take (the ball) forward past opponents with slight touches of the feet or the stick, or (in basketball) by continuous bouncing

• he attempted to dribble the ball from the goal area

• [no obj.] he dribbled past a swarm of defenders.

II. noun

1. a thin stream of liquid; a trickle

• a dribble of blood.

2. saliva running from the mouth.

3. (in soccer, hockey, and basketball) an act or instance of taking the ball forward with repeated slight touches or bounces.

III. derivatives

dribbler /ˈdrib(ə)lər /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: frequentative of obsolete drib, variant of drip. The original sense was ‘shoot an arrow short or wide of its target,’ which was also a sense of drib.

driblet /ˈdriblət/

I. noun

1. a thin stream or small drop of liquid

• driblets of spittle run from her mouth.

2. a small or insignificant amount

• the prisoners were let out in driblets.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘small sum of money’): from obsolete drib (see dribble) + -let.

dribs and drabs /ˌdribz ən ˈdrabz/

I. plural noun — (in dribs and drabs)

1. ‹informal› in small scattered or sporadic amounts

• doing the work in dribs and drabs.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from obsolete drib (see dribble) and drab (by reduplication).

dried /drīd/

past and past participle of dry.

drift /drift/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. be carried slowly by a current of air or water

• the cabin cruiser started to drift downstream

• ‹figurative› excited voices drifted down the hall.

2. [with adverbial of direction] — (of a person) walk slowly, aimlessly, or casually

• people began to drift away.

3. [with adverbial] — move passively, aimlessly, or involuntarily into a certain situation or condition

• I was drifting off to sleep

• Lewis and his father drifted apart.

4. (of a person or their attention) digress or stray to another subject

• I noticed my audience's attention drifting.

5. (especially of snow or leaves) be blown into heaps by the wind

• fallen leaves start to drift in the gutters

• (as adj. drifting) drifting snow.

II. noun

1. [in sing.] — a continuous slow movement from one place to another

• there was a drift to the towns.

2. the deviation of a vessel, aircraft, or projectile from its intended or expected course as the result of currents or winds

• the pilot had not noticed any appreciable drift.

3. a steady movement or development from one thing toward another, especially one that is perceived as unwelcome

• the drift toward a more repressive style of policing.

4. a state of inaction or indecision

• after so much drift, any expression of enthusiasm is welcome.

5. [in sing.] — the general intention or meaning of an argument or someone's remarks

• maybe I'm too close to the forest to see the trees, if you catch my drift.

• he didn't understand much Greek, but he got her drift.

6. a large mass of snow, leaves, or other material piled up or carried along by the wind.

7. [Geology] glacial and fluvioglacial deposits left by retreating ice sheets.

8. a large mass of flowering plants growing together

• a drift of daffodils.

9. [Mining] a horizontal or inclined passage following a mineral vein or coal seam.

III. derivatives

drifty

adjective

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘mass of snow, leaves, etc’): originally from Old Norse drift ‘snowdrift, something driven’; in later use from Middle Dutch drift ‘course, current’; related to drive.

drifter /ˈdriftər/

noun

1. a person who is continually moving from place to place, without any fixed home or job.

2. a fishing boat equipped with a drift net.

driftfish /ˈdriftˌfiSH/

noun

a slender-bodied bottom-dwelling fish found in the deeper waters of warm seas.
[Family Nomeidae (or Stromateidae): several genera, in particular Ariomma.]

drift ice /drift īs/

noun

detached pieces of ice drifting with the wind or ocean currents.

drift net /ˈdrift ˌnet / driftnet

I. noun

a large net for herring and similar fish, kept upright by weights at the bottom and floats at the top and allowed to drift with the tide.

II. derivatives

1. drift netter

noun

2. drift netting

noun

drift pin

noun

a steel pin driven into a hole in a piece of metal to enlarge, shape, or align the hole.

driftwood /ˈdrif(t)wo͝od/

noun

pieces of wood that are floating on the sea or have been washed ashore.

drill^1 /dril/

I. noun

1. a hand tool, power tool, or machine with a rotating cutting tip or reciprocating hammer or chisel, used for making holes.

2. a tool used by a dentist for cutting away part of a tooth before filling it.

3. instruction or training in military exercises

• parade-ground drill.

4. intensive instruction or training in something, typically by means of repeated exercises

• tables can be mastered by drill and practice

• language-learning drills.

5. a rehearsal of the procedure to be followed in an emergency

• air-raid drills.

6. (the drill) — ‹informal› the correct or recognized procedure or way of doing something

• he didn't know the drill.

7. a predatory mollusk that bores into the shells of other mollusks in order to feed on the soft tissue.
[Family Muricidae, class Gastropoda: several genera and species, in particular the American oyster drill (Urosalpinx cinerea), which is a serious pest of oyster beds.]

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. produce (a hole) in something by or as if by boring with a drill

• drill holes through the tiles for the masonry pins.

2. make a hole in (something) by boring with a drill

• a power tool for drilling wood.

3. [no obj.] — make a hole in or through something by using a drill

• do not attempt to drill through a joist

• ‹figurative› his eyes drilled into her.

4. [no obj.] — sink a borehole in order to obtain a certain substance, typically oil or water

• they are licensed to drill for oil in the area

• (as noun drilling) drilling should begin next year.

5. (of a dentist) cut away part of (a tooth) before filling it.

6. ‹informal› (of a sports player) hit, throw, or kick (a ball or puck) hard and in a straight line

• Rose drilled a ball deep to right center.

7. subject (someone) to military training exercises

• a sergeant was drilling new recruits.

8. [no obj.] — (of a person) take part in military training exercises

• the troops were drilling.

9. instruct (someone) in something by the means of repeated exercises or practice

• I reacted instinctively because I had been drilled to do just that.

10. (drill something into) — cause (someone) to learn something by repeating it regularly

• his mother had drilled into him the need to pay for one's sins.

III. phrasal verbs

drill down

[Computing] access data that is in a lower level of a hierarchically structured database

• just click on a button and drill down until you find the level of detail you require

• [as modifier] a drill-down menu of topics.

IV. derivatives

driller /ˈdrilər /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from Middle Dutch drillen ‘bore, turn in a circle.’

drill^2 /dril/

I. noun

1. a machine that makes small furrows, sows seed in them, and then covers the sown seed.

2. a small furrow, especially one made by a drill.

3. a ridge with a furrow on top made by a drill.

4. a row of plants sown in a furrow made by a drill

• drills of lettuces.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a person or machine) sow (seed) with a drill

• crops drilled in autumn.

2. plant (the ground) in furrows
(as noun drilling)

• accurate ridging and drilling make hoeing much easier.

– origin early 18th cent. (as a noun in the sense ‘small furrow’): perhaps from drill^1.

drill^3 /dril/

I. noun

a dark brown baboon with a short tail and a naked blue or purple rump, found in the rain forests of West Africa.
Compare with mandrill. [Mandrillus leucophaeus, family Cercopithecidae.]

– origin mid 17th cent.: probably a local word. Compare with mandrill.

drill^4 /dril/

I. noun

a coarse twilled cotton or linen fabric.

– origin early 18th cent.: abbreviation of earlier drilling, from German Drillich, from Latin trilix ‘triple-twilled,’ from tri- ‘three’ + licium ‘thread.’

drilling rig /ˈdriliNG ˌriɡ/

noun

a large structure with equipment for drilling an oil well.

drillmaster /ˈdrilˌmastər/

noun

1. one who instructs or leads others, especially recruits, in military drills and marching.

2. a rigorous, exacting, or severe instructor; a martinet.

drill press

noun

a machine tool for drilling holes, set on a fixed stand.

drill sergeant /ˈdril ˌsärjənt/

noun

a noncommissioned officer who trains soldiers in basic military skills.

drill stem

noun

a rotating rod or cylinder used in drilling.

drillstock /ˈdrilstäk/

noun

the part of a drilling tool or machine that holds the bit.

Drina River /ˌdrēnə ˈrivər/

a river that flows for 285 miles (459 km), partly along the border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, into the Sava River west of Belgrade in Serbia.

drink /driNGk/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. take (a liquid) into the mouth and swallow

• we sat by the fire, drinking our coffee

• [no obj.] he drank thirstily.

2. [no obj.] — consume or be in the habit of consuming alcohol, especially to excess

• she doesn't drink or smoke

• he drank himself into a stupor

• (as noun drinking) Les was ordered to cut down his drinking.

3. [no obj.] (drink up) — consume the rest of a drink, especially in a rapid manner.

4. ‹informal› (of a plant or a porous substance) absorb (moisture).

5. [no obj.] — (of wine) have a specified flavor or character when drunk

• this wine is really drinking beautifully.

6. (drink something in) — watch or listen to something with eager pleasure or interest

• she strolled to the window to drink in the view.

II. noun

1. a liquid that can be swallowed as refreshment or nourishment

• cans of soda and other drinks

• a table covered with food and drink.

2. a quantity of liquid swallowed

• he had a drink of water.

3. alcohol, or the habitual or excessive consumption of alcohol

• the effects of too much drink

• they both took to drink.

4. a glass of liquid, especially when alcoholic

• we went for a drink.

5. (the drink) — ‹informal› the sea or another large area of water.

III. phrases

1. drink and drive

drive a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

2. drink deep

take a large draft or drafts of something

• ‹figurative› he learned to drink deep of the Catholic tradition.

3. drink someone's health

express one's good wishes for someone by raising one's glass and drinking a small amount.

4. drink (a toast) to

celebrate or wish for the good fortune of someone or something by raising one's glass and drinking a small amount.

5. drink someone under the table

‹informal› consume as much alcohol as one's drinking companion without becoming as drunk.

6. I'll drink to that

uttered to express one's agreement with or approval of a statement.

– origin Old English drincan (verb), drinc (noun), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch drinken and German trinken.

drinkable /ˈdriNGkəb(ə)l/

adjective

1. (of a liquid) fit to drink; potable

• a supply of drinkable water.

2. ‹informal› (of a drink) pleasant to taste; palatable

• a very drinkable red wine.

drink-driving /ˈdriNGk ˈˌdrīviNG/

I. noun

British term for drunk driving.

II. derivatives

drink-driver /ˈdriNGk ˈˌdrīvər /

noun

drinker /ˈdriNGkər/

noun

1. a person who drinks a particular drink

• coffee drinkers.

2. a person who drinks alcohol, especially to excess

• a heavy drinker.

drinking age

noun

the minimum age at which it is legal for a person to buy alcohol

• he is still one year under the legal drinking age in Ontario

• most states had raised the drinking age to 21.

drinking fountain /driNGkiNG ˈfount(ə)n/

noun

a device producing a small jet of water for drinking.

drinking game

noun

a game or contest involving the consumption of alcoholic drinks, typically as a penalty or in response to a specified cue or prompt

• the pre-parties tend to center around drinking games

• I've started a new drinking game: every time they mention baseball you have to take a drink.

drinking song /ˈdriNGkiNG ˌsôNG/

noun

a hearty song, typically concerning drink and having bawdy lyrics, which is sung while drinking alcohol.

drip /drip/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. let fall or be so wet as to shed small drops of liquid

• the faucet won't stop dripping

• his hands were dripping with blood.

2. [with adverbial] — (of liquid) fall in small drops

• water dripped from her clothing.

3. [with obj.] — cause or allow (a liquid) to shed small drops

• the candle was dripping wax down one side.

4. display a copious amount or degree of a particular quality or thing

• the women were dripping with gold and diamonds

• [with obj.] her voice dripped sarcasm.

II. noun

1. a small drop of a liquid

• she put the bucket on top of the dresser to catch the drips.

2. [in sing.] — the action or sound of liquid falling steadily in small drops

• the drip, drip, drip of the leak in the roof.

3. short for drip feed.

4. ‹informal› a weak and ineffectual person.

5. [Architecture] a projection or groove on the underside of a cornice, windowsill, or molding that prevents rain from running down the wall below.
Compare with dripstone.

– origin Old English dryppan, drȳpen, of Germanic origin; related to Danish dryppe, also to drop.

drip-dry /ˈdrip ˈˌdrī/

I. adjective

(of a fabric or garment) capable of drying without creasing when hung up after washing

• drip-dry shirts.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of fabric or a garment) become dry without forming creases when hung up after washing.

2. [with obj.] — dry (fabric or a garment) by hanging it up after washing

• it's easy to wash and simple to drip-dry.

drip feed /ˈdrip ˌfēd/

I. noun

1. a device for introducing fluid drop by drop into a system, e.g., lubricating oil into an engine.

2. [Medicine] a device that passes fluid, nutrients, or drugs drop by drop into a patient's body on a continuous basis, usually intravenously

• he had been on a drip feed for several days.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. introduce (fluid) drop by drop

• the oiler drip-feeds oil onto all drive chains.

2. supply (a patient) with fluid, nutrients, or drugs through a drip feed.

dripless /ˈdripləs/

adjective

designed to prevent dripping

• dripless valve.

dripping /ˈdripiNG/

I. noun — (drippings)

1. fat that has melted and dripped from roasting meat, used in cooking.

2. (US) wax, fat, or other liquid produced from something by the effect of heat.

II. adjective

extremely wet
[as submodifier]

• dripping wet hair.

drippy /ˈdripē/

I. adjective

1. ‹informal› weak, ineffectual, or sloppily sentimental

• a drippy love song.

2. tending to drip

• drippy food.

II. derivatives

1. drippily /ˈdripilē /

adverb

2. drippiness

noun

dripstone /ˈdripstōn/

noun

1. [Architecture] a molding over a door or window that deflects rain and enhances the opening, typically in medieval architecture.

2. [Geology] rock deposited by precipitation from dripping water, such as that which forms stalactites and stalagmites.

drive /drīv/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — operate and control the direction and speed of a motor vehicle

• he got into his car and drove off

• they drove back into town.

2. (of a motor vehicle) travel under the control of a driver

• a car drives up, and a man gets out

• a stream of black cars drove by.

3. [with obj.] — own or use (a specified type of motor vehicle)

• Sue drives an old Chevy.

4. be licensed or competent to drive a motor vehicle

• I take it you can drive?

5. [with obj.] — convey (someone) in a vehicle, especially a private car

• Shelley drove him to the supermarket.

6. [with obj.] — propel or carry along by force in a specified direction

• the wind will drive you onshore.

7. [no obj.] — (of wind, water, or snow) move or fall with great force

• the snow drove against him.

8. (of a source of power) provide the energy to set and keep (an engine or piece of machinery) in motion

• turbines driven by steam.

9. [Electronics] (of a device) power or operate (another device)

• the interface can be used to drive a printer.

10. force (a stake or nail) into place by hitting or pushing it

• nails are driven through the boards.

11. bore (a tunnel).

12. (in ball games) hit or kick (the ball) hard with a free swing of the bat, racket, or foot.

13. [Golf] strike (a ball) from the tee, typically with a driver.

14. [with obj.] — urge or force (animals or people) to move in a specified direction

• they drove a flock of sheep through the center of the city

• the French infantry were driven back.

15. compel to leave

• troops drove out the demonstrators

• he wanted to drive me away.

16. [with obj.] — (of a fact or feeling) compel (someone) to act in a particular way, especially one that is considered undesirable or inappropriate

• he was driven by ambition

• [with obj. and infinitive] some people are driven to murder their tormentors

• (as adj. driven) my husband is a driven man.

17. bring (someone) forcibly into a specified negative state

• the thought drove him to despair

• [with obj. and complement] my laziness drives my wife crazy.

18. force (someone) to work to an excessive extent

• you're driving yourself too hard.

19. cause (something abstract) to happen or develop

• the consumer has been driving the economy for a number of years

• we need to allow market forces to drive growth in the telecommunications sector.

II. noun

1. a trip or journey in a car

• they went for a drive in the country.

2. [in names] — a street or road

• Hammond Drive.

3. short for driveway.

4. [Psychology] an innate, biologically determined urge to attain a goal or satisfy a need

• her emotional and sexual drives.

5. the determination and ambition of a person to achieve something

• her drive has sustained her through some shattering personal experiences.

6. an organized effort by a number of people to achieve a particular purpose, often to raise money

• we're planning a massive membership drive.

7. [Football] a series of offensive plays that advance the ball for the purpose of a score

• an 80-yard scoring drive.

8. the transmission of power to machinery or to the wheels of a motor vehicle.

9. (in a car with automatic transmission) the position of the gear selector in which the car will move forward, changing gears automatically as required

• he threw the car into drive.

10. [Computing] short for disk drive.

11. (in ball games) a forceful stroke made with a free swing of the bat, racket, or foot against the ball.

12. [Golf] a shot from the tee.

13. an act of driving a group of animals to a particular destination.

III. phrases

1. drive something home

see home.

2. what someone is driving at

the point that someone is attempting to make

• I don't understand what you're driving at.

IV. derivatives

1. drivability /ˌdrīvəˈbilədē / driveability

noun

2. drivable /ˈdrīvəb(ə)l / driveable

adjective

– origin Old English drīfan ‘urge (a person or animal) to go forward,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch drijven and German treiben.

drive bay

noun

[Computing] a space inside a computer in which a floppy disk, hard disk, or disk drive can be accommodated.

drive belt

noun

a belt that transmits drive from a motor, engine, or line shaft to a moving part or machine tool.

drive-by /ˈdrīv ˌbī / ‹chiefly N. Amer.›

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of a shooting or other act) carried out from a passing vehicle

• a drive-by shooting.

2. ‹informal› (chiefly US) superficial or casual; hurried

• they practice drive-by journalism rather than trying to elevate the level of discussion.

II. noun

a shooting carried out from a passing vehicle.

drive-by-wire /ˈdrīvbīˌwī(ə)r/

noun — [often as modifier]

1. a semiautomatic and normally computer-regulated system for controlling the engine, handling, suspension, and other functions of a motor vehicle.
Also called steer-by-wire.

drive chain

noun

an endless chain with links that engage with toothed wheels in order to transmit power from one shaft to another in an engine or machine tool.

drive-in /ˈdrī ˌvin/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. denoting a facility such as a restaurant that one can visit without leaving one's car

• it looked like the screen from an old drive-in theater.

II. noun

a facility one can visit without leaving one's car.

drivel /ˈdrivəl/

I. noun

silly nonsense

• don't talk such drivel!

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. talk nonsense

• he was driveling on about the glory days.

2. ‹archaic› let saliva or mucus flow from the mouth or nose; dribble.

III. derivatives

driveler /ˈdrivələr / ‹Brit.› driveller

noun

– origin Old English dreflian (sense 2 of the verb), of uncertain origin; perhaps related to draff.

driveline /ˈdrīvlīn/

noun

another term for drivetrain.

driven /ˈdrivən/

I. past participle of drive.

II. adjective

1. [in combination] — operated, moved, or controlled by a specified person or source of power

• a chauffeur-driven limousine

• wind-driven sand.

2. motivated or determined by a specified factor or feeling

• a market-driven response to customer needs.

3. (of snow) piled into drifts or made smooth by the wind

• ‹figurative› she was as pure as the driven snow.

driver /ˈdrīvər/

I. noun

1. a person who drives a vehicle

• a taxi driver

• student drivers.

2. a person who drives a specified kind of animal

• mule drivers.

3. a wheel or other part in a mechanism that receives power directly and transmits motion to other parts.

4. [Electronics] a device or part of a circuit that provides power for output.

5. [Computing] a program that controls the operation of a device such as a printer or scanner.

6. a factor that causes a particular phenomenon to happen or develop

• the hope of achieving such monopolies becomes the main driver of investment.

7. a golf club with a flat face and wooden head, used for driving from the tee.

II. phrases

in the driver's seat

in control of or dominating a situation

• the tax issue is back in the driver's seat of American politics.

III. derivatives

driverless /ˈdrīvərləs /

adjective

driver ant

noun

another term for army ant.

driver's license

noun

(N. Amer.) a document permitting a person to drive a motor vehicle.

driver's test

noun

(N. Amer.) an official test of competence which must be passed in order to get a driver's license.

driveshaft /ˈdrīvˌSHaft/

noun

a rotating shaft that transmits torque in an engine.

drive system

noun

the part of an engine, computer, or mechanical device that brings about its dynamic movement.

drive-through /ˈdrīv ˌTHro͞o / ‹informal› drive-thru

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. denoting a facility through or to which one can drive, especially to be served without leaving one's car

• a drive-through car wash

• drive-through restaurants

• the drive-thru window.

II. noun

a place or facility where one can be served without leaving one's car.

drive time /drīv tīm/

noun

(especially in broadcasting) the parts of the day when many people commute by car
[as modifier]

• drive-time radio.

drivetrain /ˈdrīvtrān/

noun

the system in a motor vehicle that connects the transmission to the drive axles.

drive-up

adjective

another term for drive-through.

driveway /ˈdrīvˌwā/

noun

a short road leading from a public road to a house or garage.

driving /ˈdrīviNG/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of rain or snow) falling and being blown by the wind with great force

• driving rain.

2. having a strong and controlling influence

• Macmillan was the driving force behind the plan

• a driving ambition.

3. energetic; dynamic

• driving dance rhythms.

II. noun

the control and operation of a motor vehicle

• he was convicted of reckless driving

• [as modifier] a driving course.

driving licence //

noun

British term for driver's license.

driving range /ˈdrīviNG ˈˌrānj/

noun

an area where golfers can practice drives.

driving wheel /ˈdrīviNG ˈˌ(h)wēl/

noun

1. any of the large wheels of a locomotive, to which power is applied either directly or via coupling rods.

2. a wheel transmitting motive power in machinery.

drizzle /ˈdrizəl/

I. noun

1. light rain falling in very fine drops

• Boston will be cloudy with patchy drizzle

• [in sing.] a steady drizzle has been falling since 3 a.m.

2. [in sing.] — (in cooking) a thin stream of a liquid ingredient trickled over food.

II. verb — [no obj.] (it drizzles, it is drizzling, etc.)

1. rain lightly

• it's started to drizzle

• (as adj. drizzling) the drizzling rain.

2. [with obj.] — trickle a thin stream of (a liquid ingredient) over food

• drizzle the clarified butter over the top.

3. [with obj.] — cause a liquid ingredient to trickle over (food) in this way

• raspberries drizzled with melted chocolate.

III. derivatives

drizzly /ˈdrizlē /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: probably based on Old English drēosan ‘to fall,’ of Germanic origin; probably related to dreary.

DRM

abbreviation

digital rights management.

drogue /drōɡ/

I. noun

1. a device, typically conical or funnel-shaped with open ends, towed behind a boat, aircraft, or other moving object to reduce speed or improve stability.

2. an object similar to a drogue used as an aerial target for gunnery practice or as a windsock.

3. (in tanker aircraft) a funnel-shaped part on the end of the hose into which a probe is inserted by an aircraft being refueled in flight.

4. short for drogue parachute.

– origin early 18th cent. (originally a whaling term denoting a piece of stout board attached to a harpoon line, used to slow down or mark the position of a harpooned whale): perhaps related to drag.

drogue parachute

noun

a small parachute used as a brake or to pull out a larger parachute or other object from an aircraft in flight or a fast-moving vehicle.

droid /droid/

I. noun

1. (in science fiction) a robot.

2. a person regarded as lifeless or mechanical

• she will probably leave you for a sales droid.

– origin 1970s: shortening of android.

droit /droit/

I. noun

[Law] ‹historical› a right or due.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, based on Latin directus ‘straight, right, direct.’

droit de seigneur /ˌdroi də sānˈyər/

I. noun

the alleged right of a medieval feudal lord to have sexual intercourse with a vassal's bride on her wedding night.

– origin French, literally ‘lord's right.’

droll /drōl/

I. adjective

curious or unusual in a way that provokes dry amusement

• his unique brand of droll self-mockery.

II. noun

‹archaic› a jester or entertainer; a buffoon.

III. derivatives

1. drollery /ˈdrōl(ə)rē /

noun

2. drollness /ˈdrōlnəs /

noun

3. drolly /ˈdrōllē /

adverb

– origin early 17th cent. (as an adjective): from French drôle, perhaps from Middle Dutch drolle ‘imp, goblin.’

dromaeosaurid /ˌdrōmēəˈsôrid / dromaeosaur

I. noun

a carnivorous bipedal dinosaur of a late Cretaceous family that included deinonychus and the velociraptors. They had a large slashing claw on each hind foot.
[Family Dromaeosauridae, suborder Theropoda, order Saurischia.]

– origin 1970s: from modern Latin Dromaeosauridae, based on Greek dromaios ‘swift-running’ + sauros ‘lizard.’

-drome

I. combining form

1. denoting a place for running or racing

• velodrome.

2. denoting something that runs or proceeds in a certain way

• palindrome.

– origin from Greek dromos ‘course, running.’

dromedary /ˈdräməˌderē/

I. noun

an Arabian one-humped camel, especially one of a light and swift breed trained for riding or racing.

– origin Middle English: from Old French dromedaire or late Latin dromedarius (camelus) ‘swift camel,’ based on Greek dromas, dromad- ‘runner.’

drone /drōn/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. make a continuous low humming sound

• in the far distance a machine droned.

2. speak tediously in a dull monotonous tone

• he reached for another beer while Jim droned on.

3. [with adverbial of direction] — move with a continuous humming sound

• traffic droned up and down the street.

II. noun

1. a low continuous humming sound

• he nodded off to the drone of the car engine.

2. ‹informal› a monotonous speech

• only twenty minutes of the hour-long drone had passed.

3. a continuous musical note, typically of low pitch.

4. a musical instrument, or part of one, sounding a continuous note, in particular (also drone pipe) a pipe in a bagpipe or (also drone string) a string in an instrument such as a hurdy-gurdy or a sitar.

5. a male bee in a colony of social bees, which does no work but can fertilize a queen.

6. a person who does no useful work and lives off others.

7. a remote-controlled pilotless aircraft or missile.

– origin Old English drān, drǣn ‘male bee,’ from a West Germanic verb meaning ‘resound, boom’; related to Dutch dreunen ‘to drone,’ German dröhnen ‘to roar,’ and Swedish dröna ‘to drowse.’

drone fly

noun

a hoverfly that resembles a honeybee. Its larva is the rat-tailed maggot.
[Eristalis tenax, family Syrphidae.]

droog /dro͞oɡ/

I. noun

‹informal› a young man belonging to a street gang.

– origin 1962: coined by Anthony Burgess in Clockwork Orange; alteration of Russian drug ‘friend.’

drool /dro͞ol/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. drop saliva uncontrollably from the mouth

• the baby begins to drool, then to cough.

2. ‹informal› make an excessive and obvious show of pleasure or desire

• I could imagine him as a teacher being drooled over by the girls.

II. noun

saliva falling from the mouth.

– origin early 19th cent.: contraction of drivel.

droolworthy /ˈdro͞olˌwərT͟Hē/

adjective

1. ‹informal› extremely attractive or desirable

• up close he was even more droolworthy.

2. ‹informal› (of food or drink) smelling or looking delicious

• droolworthy pastries and baked goods.

droop /dro͞op/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. bend or hang downward limply

• a long black cloak drooped from his shoulders.

2. sag down from or as if from weariness or dejection

• his eyelids drooped and he became drowsy

• ‹figurative› the scenes are so lengthy that the reader's spirits droop.

3. [with obj.] — cause to bend or hang downward

• James hid his face in his hands and drooped his head.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. an act or instance of drooping; a limp or weary attitude

• the exhausted droop of her shoulders.

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse drúpa ‘hang the head’; related to drip and drop.

droop-snoot /ˈdro͞opˌsno͞ot/

I. noun

‹informal› a downward-sloping nose of an aircraft or motor vehicle, especially one that is of variable pitch, giving an efficient aerodynamic profile.

II. derivatives

droop-snooted

adjective

droopy /ˈdro͞opē/

I. adjective

1. hanging down limply; drooping

• a droopy mustache.

2. lacking strength or spirit

• the girls looked rather droopy

• ‹figurative› a period of droopy sales.

II. derivatives

1. droopily /-pəlē /

adverb

2. droopiness

noun

drop /dräp/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. let or make (something) fall vertically

• the fire was caused by someone dropping a lighted cigarette

• they dropped bombs on London during the raid.

2. deliver (supplies or troops) by parachute

• the airlift dropped food into the camp.

3. [Rugby] score (a goal) by a drop kick.

4. (of an animal, especially a mare, cow, or ewe) give birth to (young).

5. ‹informal› take (a drug, especially LSD) orally

• he dropped a lot of acid in the Sixties.

6. [no obj.] — fall vertically

• the spoon dropped with a clatter from her hand.

7. (of a person) allow oneself to fall; let oneself down without jumping

• they escaped by climbing out of the window and dropping to the ground.

8. (of a person or animal) sink to or toward the ground

• he dropped to his knees in the mud.

9. ‹informal› collapse or die from exhaustion

• he looked ready to drop.

10. (of ground) slope steeply down

• the cliff drops ninety yards to the valley below.

11. make or become lower, weaker, or less

• he dropped his voice as she came into the room

• [no obj.] pretax profits dropped by 37 percent

• tourism has dropped off in the last few years.

12. abandon or discontinue (a course of action or study)

• the charges against him were dropped last year

• drop everything and get over here!

13. discard or exclude (someone or something)

• they were dropped from the team in the reshuffle.

14. ‹informal› stop associating with

• I was under pressure from family and friends to drop Barbara.

15. omit (a letter or syllable) in speech

• our English au pair drops her h's.

16. set down or unload (a passenger or goods), especially on the way to somewhere else

• he dropped the load off at a dealer's

• his mom dropped him outside and drove off to work.

17. put or leave in a particular place without ceremony or formality

• just drop it in the mail when you've got time.

18. mention in passing, typically in order to impress

• she dropped a remark about having been included in the selection.

19. (in sports) fail to win (a point, game, or match).

20. ‹informal› lose (money), especially through gambling

• they drifted into a roulette parlor and dropped about fifteen dollars.

21. [Bridge] force or be forced to play (a relatively high card) as a loser under an opponent's higher card, because it is the only card in its suit held in the hand

• West dropped the nine

• [no obj.] the queen dropped.

II. noun

1. a small round or pear-shaped portion of liquid that hangs or falls or adheres to a surface

• the first drops of rain splashed on the ground.

2. [often with negative] — a very small amount of liquid

• there was not a drop of water in sight.

3. [usu. with negative] — a drink of alcoholic liquor

• he doesn't touch a drop during the week.

4. (drops) — liquid medicine to be measured or applied in very small amounts

• eye drops.

5. [usu. in sing.] — an instance of falling or dropping

• they left within five minutes of the drop of the curtain.

6. an act of dropping supplies or troops by parachute

• the planes finally managed to make the drop.

7. a fall in amount, quality, or rate

• a significant drop in consumer spending.

8. an abrupt fall or slope

• standing on the lip of a sixty-foot drop.

9. (the drop) — [Bridge] the playing of a high card underneath an opponent's higher card, because it is the only card in its suit held in the hand.

10. ‹informal› a delivery

• I got to the depot and made the drop.

11. (US) a mailbox.

12. a hiding place for stolen, illicit, or secret things

• the lavatory's toilet tank could be used as a letter drop.

13. [usu. with modifier] — a piece of candy or a lozenge

• a lemon drop.

14. (also drop earring) — an earring that hangs down from the earlobe

• silver drop earrings

• simple amethyst and diamond drops.

15. a section of theatrical scenery lowered from the flies; a drop cloth or drop curtain.

16. a trapdoor on a gallows, the opening of which causes the prisoner to fall and thus be hanged.

17. (the drop) — execution by hanging.

III. phrases

1. at the drop of a hat

‹informal› without delay or good reason

• he used to be very bashful, blushing at the drop of a hat.

2. drop the ball

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› make a mistake; mishandle things

• I really dropped the ball on this one.

[with allusion to mishandling in baseball.]

3. drop dead

a. die suddenly and unexpectedly

• she had seen her father drop dead of a heart attack.

b. [in imperative] — ‹informal› used as an expression of intense scorn or dislike.

4. drop a (or the) dime on

‹informal› inform on (someone) to the police.

5. drop like flies

see fly^2.

6. drop one's guard

abandon one's habitual defensive or protective stance.

7. drop a hint (or drop hints)

let fall a hint or hints, as if casually or unconsciously

• he was dropping hints that in the future he would be taking a back seat in politics.

8. ocean) ">a drop in the bucket ( ocean)

a very small amount compared with what is needed or expected

• the $550 million is likely to be a drop in the bucket.

9. drop someone a line

send someone a note or letter in a casual manner

• drop me a line at the usual address.

10. drop names

see name-dropping.

11. drop one's serve

(in tennis) lose a game in which one is serving.

12. drop a stitch

let a stitch fall off the end of a knitting needle.

13. drop one's trousers

deliberately let one's trousers fall down, especially in a public place.

14. have the drop on

‹informal› have the advantage over

• if your enemy gets the drop on you he can kill you.

15. a drop too much

‹informal› enough alcohol to make one drunk

• you drive, because he has taken a drop too much.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. drop back/behind

fall back or get left behind

• the colt was struggling to stay with the pace and started to drop back.

2. drop by/in

call informally and briefly as a visitor

• they would unexpectedly drop in on us.

3. drop into

a. call casually and informally at (a place)

• he'd actually considered dropping into one of the pickup bars.

b. pass quickly and easily into (a habitual state or manner)

• she couldn't help dropping into a Brooklyn accent.

4. drop off

fall asleep easily, especially without intending to

• struggle as she might, she kept dropping off.

5. drop out

a. cease to participate in a race or competition.

b. abandon a course of study

• kids who had dropped out of college.

c. reject conventional society to pursue an alternative lifestyle

• a child of the sixties who had temporarily dropped out.

d. [Rugby] restart play with a drop kick.

e. score a drop goal.

V. derivatives

droppable

adjective

– origin Old English dropa (noun), droppian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to German Tropfen ‘a drop,’ tropfen ‘to drip,’ also to drip and droop.

drop box

noun

1. (in weaving) a box situated on either side of the race plate of the loom that is designed to hold shuttles and to bring bobbins of colored thread in line as desired.

2. a secured receptacle into which items such as returned books or videotapes, payments, keys, or donated clothing can be deposited.

drop cloth /ˈdräp ˌklôTH/

noun

(N. Amer.) a large sheet for covering furniture or flooring to protect it from dust or while decorating.

drop curtain /ˈdräp ˌkərtn/

noun

a curtain or painted cloth lowered vertically onto a theater stage.

drop-dead /ˈdräp ˈˌded/

adjective

‹informal› used to emphasize how attractive someone or something is

• her drop-dead good looks

• [as submodifier] a drop-dead gorgeous Hollywood icon.

drop-down /ˈdräpdoun/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. dropping down or unfolding when required

• an RV with two drop-down beds.

2. [Computing] (of a menu) appearing below a menu title when it is selected, and remaining until used or dismissed.
Compare with pull-down.

drop-forged /ˈdräpˌfôrjd/

I. adjective

(of a metal object) made by forcing hot metal into or through a die with a drop hammer.

II. derivatives

drop-forging /ˈdräpˌfôrjiNG /

noun

drop goal /ˈdräp ˌɡōl/

noun

[Rugby] a goal scored in open play by drop-kicking the ball over the crossbar, scoring three points (rugby union) or one point (rugby league).

drop hammer /ˈdräp ˌhamər/

noun

a large heavy weight raised mechanically and allowed to drop, as used in drop-forging and pile-driving.

drop handlebars /dräp ˈhandlˌbärz/

plural noun

bicycle handlebars of which the handles are bent below the rest of the bar, used especially on racing cycles.

drop-in

adjective

1. visited on an informal basis without booking or appointments

• a drop-in disco.

2. (of an object such as a chair seat) designed to drop into position.

drop-in center

noun

a place run by a welfare agency or charity where people may call casually for advice or assistance.

drop kick /ˈdräp ˌkik/

I. noun

1. (formerly, in football) a kick made by dropping the ball and kicking after it touches the ground.

2. (chiefly in martial arts) a flying kick made against an opponent while dropping to the ground.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. kick using a drop kick.

drop leaf /ˈdräp ˌlēf/

noun

a hinged table leaf

• both drop leaves are badly scratched

• [as modifier] a mahogany drop-leaf table.

droplet /ˈdräplət/

noun

a very small drop of a liquid

• droplets of water.

droplight /ˈdräplīt/

noun

a light that is suspended from a reel so that it can be raised or lowered, typically over a work area.

drop-off /ˈdräˌpôf/

noun

1. a decline or decrease

• a sudden drop-off in tourism.

2. (N. Amer.) a sheer downward slope; a cliff

• dizzy drop-offs on either side.

dropout /ˈdräpˌout/

noun

1. a person who has abandoned a course of study or who has rejected conventional society to pursue an alternative lifestyle

• a college dropout.

2. a momentary loss of recorded audio signal or an error in reading data on a magnetic tape or disk, usually due to a flaw in the coating.

3. (usu. dropouts) — a U-shaped slot at the end of a fork on a bicycle, made to receive the axle and enabling the wheel to be changed rapidly.

dropout factory

noun

‹informal› a high school with a very high number of dropouts.

dropper /ˈdräpər/

I. noun

1. a short glass tube with a rubber bulb at one end and a tiny hole at the other, for measuring out drops of medicine or other liquids.

2. (in full dropper line) — [Fishing] a subsidiary line or loop of filament attached to a main line or leader.

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘a person who lets something drop’); sense 1 is first recorded in the late 19th cent.

droppings /ˈdräpiNGz/

plural noun

the excrement of certain animals, such as rodents, sheep, birds, and insects.

drop scene /dräp sēn/

noun

1. a drop curtain used as part of stage scenery, especially one in front of which a scene is played while the setting is changed behind.

2. the last scene of a play.

drop scone /ˈdräp ˌskōn/

noun

a small thick pancake made by dropping spoonfuls of batter onto a frying pan or other heated surface.

dropseed /ˈdräpsēd/

noun

a grass that readily drops its seeds.
[Genus Sporobolus, family Gramineae: several species, including the widespread North American sand dropseed (S. cryptandrus), which has a high yield of edible grain.]

drop-ship

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. move (goods) from the manufacturer directly to the retailer without going through the usual distribution channels

• the shopping network has begun drop-shipping orders taken by telephone or over the Internet.

II. derivatives

drop shipment

noun

drop shot /ˈdräp ˌSHät/

noun

(chiefly in tennis or squash) a softly hit shot, usually with backspin, which drops abruptly to the ground.

drop shoulder dropped shoulder

noun

a style of shoulder on a garment cut so that the seam is positioned on the upper arm rather than the shoulder.

dropsical /ˈdräpsək(ə)l/

I. adjective

affected with or characteristic of dropsy; edematous.

– origin late 17th cent.: from dropsy, replacing earlier hydropic(al), via Latin from Greek hudrōps ‘dropsy.’

dropside /ˈdräpsīd/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of a crib or a hospital bed) having a side that drops down to open.

II. noun

a side that drops down to open.

drop-stitch /ˈdräpˌstiCH/

adjective

denoting an openwork pattern in knitted garments made by dropping a made stitch at intervals

• a drop-stitch cardigan.

dropsy /ˈdräpsē/

I. noun

old-fashioned or less technical term for edema.

– origin Middle English: shortening of idropesie, earlier form of obsolete hydropsy, via Old French and Latin from Greek hudrōps ‘dropsy,’ from hudōr ‘water.’

drop tank /ˈdräp ˌtaNGk/

noun

an external fuel tank on an aircraft that can be jettisoned when empty.

drop test

I. noun

a test of the strength of an object, in which it is dropped under standard conditions or a set weight is dropped on it from a given height.

II. derivatives

drop-testing

noun

droptop /ˈdräptäp/

noun

a car having a fabric roof that can be folded down; a convertible.

drop waist dropped waist

noun

a style of waistline on a dress cut so that the seam is positioned at the hips rather than the waist.

drop zone /dräp zōn/

noun

a designated area into which troops or supplies are dropped by parachute or in which skydivers land.

drosera /ˈdräsərə/

I. noun

a sundew.
[Genus Drosera, family Droseraceae.]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek droseros ‘dewy’ (from the appearance of the glistening hairs on the leaves).

droshky /ˈdrôSHkē/

I. noun

‹historical› a low four-wheeled open carriage of a kind formerly used in Russia.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Russian drozhki, diminutive of drogi ‘wagon,’ from droga ‘shaft, carriage pole.’

drosophila /drəˈsäfələ/

I. noun

a small fruit fly, used extensively in genetic research because of its large chromosomes, numerous varieties, and rapid rate of reproduction.
[Genus Drosophila, family Drosophilidae: in particular D. melanogaster.]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek drosos ‘dew, moisture’ + philos ‘loving.’

dross /drôs dräs/

I. noun

1. something regarded as worthless; rubbish

• there are bargains if you have the patience to sift through the dross.

2. foreign matter, dregs, or mineral waste, in particular scum formed on the surface of molten metal.

II. derivatives

drossy /ˈdrôsē ˈdräsē /

adjective

– origin Old English drōs (in the sense ‘scum on molten metal’); related to Dutch droesem and German Drusen ‘dregs, lees.’

drought /drout/

I. noun

1. a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall; a shortage of water resulting from this.

2. [usu. with modifier] — a prolonged absence of something specified

• he ended a five-game hitting drought.

3. ‹archaic› thirst.

II. derivatives

1. droughtiness

noun

2. droughty /ˈdroudē /

adjective

– origin late Old English drūgath ‘dryness,’ of Germanic origin; compare with Dutch droogte; related to dry.

drouth /drouTH/

I. noun

dialect or poetic form of drought.

II. derivatives

drouthy

adjective

drove^1 /drōv/

past of drive.

drove^2 /drōv/

I. noun

1. a herd or flock of animals being driven in a body

• a drove of cattle.

2. a large number of people or things doing or undergoing the same thing

• tourists have stayed away in droves this summer.

3. a broad chisel for use by stonemasons.

II. derivatives

drover /ˈdrōvər /

noun

– origin Old English drāf, related to drīfan ‘to drive.’

drown /droun/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. die through submersion in and inhalation of water

• she drowned in the pond

• (be drowned) two fishermen were drowned when their motorboat capsized.

2. [with obj.] — deliberately kill (a person or animal) by submerging in water

• he killed his wife then drowned himself in a fit of despair.

3. [with obj.] — submerge or flood (an area)

• when the ice melted, the valleys were drowned.

4. [with obj.] — (of a sound) make (another sound) inaudible by being much louder

• his voice was drowned out by the approaching engine noise.

5. [no obj.] (be drowning in) — be overwhelmed by a large amount of something

• both business and household sectors are drowning in debt

• art dealers are still drowning in a sea of paperwork.

6. [with obj.] (drown something in) — cover or immerse food in

• good pizza is not eight inches thick and drowned in tomato sauce.

II. phrases

1. drown one's sorrows

forget one's problems by getting drunk.

2. like a drowned rat

extremely wet and bedraggled

• she arrived at the church looking like a drowned rat.

– origin Middle English (originally northern): related to Old Norse drukkna ‘to be drowned,’ also to drink.

drowse /drouz/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. be half asleep; doze intermittently

• he was beginning to drowse in his chair.

2. [with obj.] — ‹archaic› make sleepy.

3. ‹archaic› be sluggish or inactive

• let not your prudence drowse.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. a light sleep; a condition of being half asleep.

– origin late 16th cent.: back-formation from drowsy.

drowsiness /ˈdrouzēnəs/

noun

a feeling of being sleepy and lethargic; sleepiness

• this drug can cause drowsiness.

drowsy /ˈdrouzē/

I. adjective

1. sleepy and lethargic; half asleep

• the wine had made her drowsy.

2. causing sleepiness

• the drowsy heat of the meadows.

3. (especially of a place) very peaceful and quiet

• a drowsy suburb.

II. derivatives

drowsily /ˈdrouzəlē /

adverb

– origin late 15th cent.: probably from the stem of Old English drūsian ‘be languid or slow,’ of Germanic origin; related to dreary.

drub /drəb/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. hit or beat (someone) repeatedly.

2. ‹informal› defeat thoroughly in a match or contest

• Cleveland drubbed Baltimore 9–0.

– origin early 17th cent.: probably from Arabic ḍaraba ‘to beat, bastinado.’ The first recorded uses in English are by travelers in the Near East referring specifically to the punishment of bastinado.

drubbing /ˈdrəbiNG/

noun

1. a beating; a thrashing

• I'll give the scoundrels a drubbing if I can!

2. ‹informal› a resounding defeat in a match or contest.

drudge /drəj/

I. noun

a person made to do hard, menial, or dull work

• she was little more than a drudge around the house.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹archaic› do hard, menial, or dull work.

– origin Middle English (as a noun): of unknown origin; perhaps related to drag.

drudgery /ˈdrəj(ə)rē/

noun

hard, menial, or dull work

• domestic drudgery.

drug /drəɡ/

I. noun

1. a medicine or other substance which has a physiological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body

• a new drug aimed at sufferers from Parkinson's disease.

2. a substance taken for its narcotic or stimulant effects, often illegally
[as modifier]

• a drug addict

• ‹figurative› mass adoration is a highly addictive drug.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. administer a drug to (someone) in order to induce stupor or insensibility

• they were drugged to keep them quiet.

2. add a drug to (food or drink)

• he drugged their coffee.

3. [no obj.] — ‹informal› take illegally obtained drugs

• fifteen years of drinking and drugging.

• she was convinced he was out drinking and drugging.

III. phrases

1. do drugs

‹informal› take illegal drugs.

2. on drugs

a. taking medically prescribed drugs

• on drugs for high blood pressure.

b. under the influence of or habitually taking illegal drugs.

– origin Middle English: from Old French drogue, possibly from Middle Dutch droge vate, literally ‘dry vats,’ referring to the contents (i.e., dry goods).

drug abuse /drəɡ əˈbyo͞oz/

noun

the habitual taking of addictive or illegal drugs.

drug addict /ˈdrəɡ adikt/

noun

a person who is addicted to an illegal drug.

drug baron

noun

a person who controls an organization dealing in illegal drugs

• the deportation of a reputed drug baron.

drug bust

noun

‹informal› a seizure of illegal drugs by the police or other law-enforcement agency.

drug dealer

noun

a person who sells illegal drugs

• investigators are trying to find the drug dealer who supplied him with the heroin.

drug-driving

I. noun

(Brit.) the action or offense of driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs, typically ones that are illegal

• police are about to crack down on drug-driving.

II. derivatives

drug-driver

noun

drug-free /ˈdrəɡˌfrē/

adjective

1. (of a place or situation) where no illegal drugs are used or available

• we advocate a drug-free high school

• a drug-free weekend.

2. (of a medical procedure or treatment) involving no administration of drugs

• drug-free births.

3. (of a person) not taking drugs, especially illegal ones.

drugged /drəɡd/

adjective

1. (of a person) unconscious or in a stupor as a result of taking or being given a drug

• in his drugged state.

2. (of food or drink) adulterated with a drug

• he offered them drugged wine.

drugget /ˈdrəɡət/

I. noun

1. a floor covering made of a coarse woven fabric.

2. a coarse fabric used for floor coverings.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French droguet, from drogue in the sense ‘poor-quality article.’

druggie /ˈdrəɡē / druggy

noun

‹informal› a drug addict.

druggist /ˈdrəɡəst/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a pharmacist or retailer of medicinal drugs.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French droguiste, from drogue ‘drug.’

druggy /ˈdrəɡē / ‹informal›

I. adjective

caused by, involving, or given to taking drugs, especially illegal ones

• a druggy haze

• the druggy world of rock and roll.

II. noun

variant spelling of druggie.

– origin late 16th cent.: from drug + -y^1.

drug maker

noun

1. a company that manufactures medicinal drugs

• the world's second-largest drug maker cut its profit forecast for the rest of the year.

2. a person who produces illegal drugs

• police can focus on preventing other serious crimes if they no longer have to chase down drug makers.

drug mule

noun

a person who transports illegal drugs by swallowing them or concealing them in a body cavity.

drug-related /ˈdrəɡrəˌlādəd/

adjective

associated with or caused by drugs, typically those obtained illegally

• he was charged with three drug-related offenses

• the doctor had been at the center of an investigation involving 31 drug-related deaths.

drugstore /ˈdrəɡstôr/

noun

(N. Amer.) a pharmacy that also sells toiletries and other articles.

drugstore beetle

noun

a small beetle related to the furniture beetle, with larvae that feed on stored foodstuffs such as pasta and seeds.
[Stegobium paniceum, family Anobiidae.]

Druid /ˈdro͞oəd/

I. noun

1. a priest, magician, or soothsayer in the ancient Celtic religion.

2. a member of a present-day group claiming to represent or be derived from this religion.

II. derivatives

1. Druidic /dro͞oˈidik /

adjective

2. Druidical /dro͞oˈidik(ə)l /

adjective

3. Druidism /ˈdro͞oəˌdizəm /

noun

– origin from Latin druidae, druides (plural), from Gaulish; related to Irish draoidh ‘magician, sorcerer.’

drum^1 /drəm/

I. noun

1. a percussion instrument sounded by being struck with sticks or the hands, typically cylindrical, barrel-shaped, or bowl-shaped with a taut membrane over one or both ends.

2. (drums) — a set of drums.

3. (drums) — the percussion section of a band or orchestra.

4. [in sing.] — a sound made by or resembling that of a drum

• the drum of their feet.

5. ‹historical› a military drummer.

6. something resembling or likened to a drum in shape, in particular

7. a cylindrical container or receptacle.
See also oil drum.

8. a rotating cylindrical part in a washing machine, in which the laundry is placed.

9. a cylindrical part in certain other appliances.

10. [Architecture] the circular vertical wall supporting a dome.

11. [Architecture] a stone block forming part of a column.

12. an evening or afternoon tea party of a kind that was popular in the late 18th and early 19th century.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. play on a drum.

2. make a continuous rhythmic noise

• she felt the blood drumming in her ears

• (as noun drumming) the drumming of hooves.

3. [with obj.] — beat (the fingers, feet, etc.) repeatedly on a surface, especially as a sign of impatience or annoyance

• waiting around an empty table, drumming their fingers.

4. (of a woodpecker) strike the bill rapidly on a dead trunk or branch, especially as a sound indicating a territorial claim.

5. (of a snipe) vibrate the outer tail feathers in a diving display flight, making a throbbing sound.

III. phrases

beat (or bang) the drum for (or against)

be ostentatiously in support of (or in opposition to)

• he limited campaign contributions in order to beat the drum against political action committees

• feminists bang the drum for ‘quality time.’

IV. phrasal verbs

1. drum something into

drive a lesson into (someone) by constant repetition

• it had been drummed into them to dress correctly.

2. drum someone out

expel or dismiss someone with ignominy from a place or institution

• he was drummed out of the air force.

[with allusion to the formal military drumbeat accompanying dismissal from a regiment.]

3. drum something up

attempt to obtain something by canvassing or soliciting

• the organizers are hoping to drum up support from local businesses.

– origin Middle English: from Middle Dutch or Low German tromme, of imitative origin.

drum^2 /drəm/

I. noun

(Scottish) (Irish) a long narrow hill, especially one separating two parallel valleys.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Scottish Gaelic and Irish druim ‘ridge.’

drum^3 /drəm / drumfish

noun

a fish that makes a drumming sound by vibrating its swim bladder, found mainly in estuarine and shallow coastal waters.
Also called croaker. [Family Sciaenidae (the drum family): many species, including the black drum (Pogonias cromis) of the western Atlantic. The drum family also includes the mulloway and a number of marine fishes that resemble salmon (e.g., the weakfish).]

drum and bass /ˌdrəm and ˈbās/

noun

a type of dance music characterized by bare instrumentation consisting largely of electronic drums and bass, originating in Britain during the early 1990s.

drumbeat /ˈdrəmˌbēt/

noun

a stroke or pattern of strokes on a drum

• she was aware of a constant, faint drumbeat.

drum brake /drəm brāk/

noun

a type of vehicle brake in which brake shoes press against the inside of a drum on the wheel.

drumfire /ˈdrəmˌfī(ə)r/

noun

heavy continuous rapid artillery fire.

drumhead /ˈdrəmˌhed/

I. noun

1. the membrane or skin of a drum.

2. a winter cabbage of a flat-topped variety.

3. ‹chiefly historical› the circular top of a ship's capstan, with holes into which bars are placed to turn it.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. carried out by or as if by an army in the field; improvised or summary

• a drumhead court-martial.

drum kit /ˈdrəm ˌkit / drum set

noun

a set of drums, cymbals, and other percussion instruments used with drumsticks in jazz and popular music. The most basic components are a foot-operated bass drum, a snare drum, a suspended cymbal, and one or more tom-toms.

drumlin /ˈdrəmlən/

I. noun

[Geology] a low oval mound or small hill, typically one of a group, consisting of compacted boulder clay molded by past glacial action.

– origin mid 19th cent.: probably from drum^2 + -lin from -ling.

drum machine /drəm məˈSHēn/

noun

a programmable electronic device able to imitate the sounds of a drum kit.

drum major /ˈdrəm ˈˌmājər/

noun

1. a noncommissioned officer commanding the drummers of a regimental band.

2. the male leader of a marching band, who often twirls a baton.

3. a male member of a baton-twirling parading group.

drum majorette /ˌdrəm ˌmājəˈret/

noun

1. the female leader of a marching band.

2. a girl or woman who twirls a baton, typically with a marching band or drum corps.

drummer /ˈdrəmər/

noun

1. a person who plays a drum or drums.

2. ‹informal› (chiefly US) a traveling sales representative

• a drummer in electronic software.

[from drum up (see drum^1).]

drum pad

noun

an electronic device with one or more flat pads that imitate the sounds of a drum kit when struck.

drumroll /ˈdrəmrōl / drum roll

noun

a rapid succession of beats sounded on a drum, often used to introduce an announcement or event.

drumstick /ˈdrəmˌstik/

noun

1. a stick, typically with a shaped or padded head, used for beating a drum.

2. the lower joint of the leg of a cooked chicken, turkey, or other fowl.

drunk /drəNGk/

I. verb

past participle of drink.

II. adjective

1. affected by alcohol to the extent of losing control of one's faculties or behavior

• he was so drunk he lurched from wall to wall

• she was drunk on vodka.

2. [predic.] (drunk with) — overcome with (a strong emotion)

• the crowd was high on euphoria and drunk with patriotism.

III. noun

1. a person who is drunk or who habitually drinks to excess.

2. ‹informal› a drinking bout; a period of drunkenness

• he used to go on these blind drunks.

IV. phrases

1. drunk and disorderly

creating a public disturbance under the influence of alcohol.

2. (as) drunk as a skunk

extremely drunk.

drunkard /ˈdrəNGkərd/

I. noun

a person who is habitually drunk.

– origin Middle English: from Middle Low German drunkert.

drunk driving drunken driving

I. noun

(N. Amer.) the crime of driving a vehicle with an excess of alcohol in the blood.

II. derivatives

drunk driver

noun

drunken /ˈdrəNGkən/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. drunk or intoxicated

• gangs of drunken youths roamed the streets.

2. habitually or frequently drunk

• his violent, drunken father.

3. caused by or showing the effects of drink

• the man's drunken, slurred speech.

– origin Old English, archaic past participle of drink.

drunkenly /ˈdrəNGkənlē/

adverb

in a drunk or intoxicated manner

• he stumbled drunkenly along the street.

drunkenness /ˈdrəNGkənˌnəs/

noun

the state of being intoxicated; intoxication

• a growing problem of drunkenness.

drunk tank

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a large prison cell for the detention of drunks.

drupe /dro͞op/

I. noun

[Botany] a fleshy fruit with thin skin and a central stone containing the seed, e.g., a plum, cherry, almond, or olive.

II. derivatives

drupaceous /dro͞oˈpāSHəs /

adjective

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin drupa ‘overripe olive,’ from Greek druppa ‘olive.’

drupelet /ˈdro͞oplət/

I. noun

[Botany] any of the small individual drupes forming a fleshy aggregate fruit such as a blackberry or raspberry.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin drupella, diminutive of drupa ‘overripe olive’ (see drupe).

Drury Lane /ˌdro͝orē ˈlān/

the site in London of the Theatre Royal, one of London's most famous theaters.

druse /dro͞oz/

I. noun

1. [Geology] a rock cavity lined with a crust of projecting crystals.

2. the crust of crystals lining a rock cavity.

3. [Botany] a rounded cluster of calcium oxalate crystals found in some plant cells.

II. derivatives

drusy

adjective

( — [Geology]

– origin early 19th cent.: via French from German Druse ‘weathered ore.’

druther /ˈdrəT͟Hər / ‹N. Amer. informal›

I. noun — (usu. one's druthers)

1. a person's preference in a matter

• if I had my druthers, I would prefer to be a writer.

II. adverb

rather; by preference.

– origin late 19th cent.: from a US regional pronunciation of I'd rather, contraction of would rather. Compare with ruther.

Druze /dro͞oz / Druse

I. noun

a member of a political and religious sect of Islamic origin, living chiefly in Lebanon and Syria. The Druze broke away from the Ismaili Muslims in the 11th century; they are regarded as heretical by the Muslim community at large.

– origin from French, from Arabic durūz (plural), from the name of one of their founders, Muhammad ibn Ismail al-Darazī (died 1019).

dry /drī/

I. adjective

1. free from moisture or liquid; not wet or moist

• the jacket kept me warm and dry

• he wiped it dry with his shirt.

2. having lost all wetness or moisture over a period of time

• dry paint.

3. for use without liquid

• the conversion of dry latrines into flush toilets.

4. with little or no rainfall or humidity

• the West Coast has had two dry winters in a row.

5. (of a river, lake, or stream) empty of water as a result of evaporation and lack of rainfall

• the river is always dry at this time of year.

6. (of a source) not yielding a supply of water or oil

• a dry well.

7. thirsty or thirst-making

• working in the hot sun is making me dry

• dry work.

8. (of a cow or other domestic animal) having stopped producing milk.

9. without grease or other moisturizer or lubricator

• cream conditioners for dry hair

• his throat was dry and sore.

10. (of bread or toast) without butter or other spreads

• only dry bread and water.

11. bare or lacking adornment

• the dry facts.

12. unexciting; dull

• by current tastes the text is dry.

13. unemotional, undemonstrative, or impassive

• Ralph gave me a dry, silent wave.

14. (of a joke or sense of humor) subtle, expressed in a matter-of-fact way, and having the appearance of being unconscious or unintentional

• he delighted his friends with a dry, covert sense of humor.

15. prohibiting the sale or consumption of alcoholic drink

• Indiana stayed dry after the end of prohibition.

16. (of a person) no longer addicted to or drinking alcohol

• I heard much talk about how sobriety was more than staying straight or dry.

17. (of an alcoholic drink) not sweet

• a dry, medium-bodied red wine.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. become dry

• waiting for the paint to dry

• come in out of the rain and dry off

• do not let the soil dry out

• pools are left as the rivers dry up.

2. [with obj.] — cause to become dry

• they had washed and dried their hair.

3. [with obj.] — wipe tears from (the eyes)

• she dried her eyes and blew her nose.

4. wipe dishes dry with a cloth after they have been washed.

5. [with obj.] (usu. as adj. dried) — preserve by allowing or encouraging evaporation of moisture from

• dried flowers.

6. ‹theatrical slang› forget one's lines

• a colleague of mine once dried in the middle of a scene.

III. noun

(US) a person in favor of the prohibition of alcohol.

IV. phrases

1. come up dry

(N. Amer.) be unsuccessful

• experiments have so far come up dry.

2. (as) dry as a bone

extremely dry.

3. (as) dry as dust

a. extremely dry.

b. extremely dull; lacking emotion, expression, or interest

• what the students learned was as dry as dust.

4. there wasn't a dry eye (in the house)

(with reference to a play, film, or similar event) everyone in the audience was moved to tears.

V. phrasal verbs

1. dry out

‹informal› (of an alcoholic) abstain from alcoholic drink, especially as part of a detoxification program

• he intends to dry out and get his life back together again.

2. dry up

a. ‹informal› cease talking

• then he dried up, and Phil couldn't get another word out of him.

b. (of something perceived as a continuous flow or source) decrease and stop

• his commissions began to dry up.

VI. derivatives

dryish /ˈdrīiSH /

adjective

– origin Old English drȳge (adjective), drȳgan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Middle Low German dröge, Dutch droog, and German trocken.

dryad /ˈdrīˌad ˈdrīəd/

I. noun

(in folklore and Greek mythology) a nymph inhabiting a forest or a tree, especially an oak tree.

– origin via Old French and Latin from Greek druas, druad- ‘tree nymph,’ from drus ‘tree.’

dryad saddle

noun

a common polypore growing on tree stumps and logs, having a scaly, yellowish-brown upper surface, found in both North America and Eurasia and edible when young.
[Polyporus squamosus, family Polyporaceae, class Hymenomycetes.]

dryas /ˈdrīəs/

I. noun

1. a plant of a genus that comprises the mountain avens.
[Genus Dryas, family Rosaceae.]

2. (Dryas) — [Geology] the first and third climatic stages of the late-glacial period in northern Europe, in which cold tundralike conditions prevailed and plants of the genus Dryas were abundant. The Older Dryas (about 15,000 to 12,000 years ago) followed the last ice retreat, and the Younger Dryas (about 10,800 to 10,000 years ago) followed the Allerød stage.

– origin modern Latin, from Greek druas (see dryad). The plant (sense 1) has leaves that resemble those of the oak (hence the association with dryads, being originally nymphs of the oak).

dryasdust /ˌdrīəzˈdəst/

I. noun

a boring, pedantic speaker or writer.

II. adjective

dull and boring.

– origin late 19th cent.: from the name of the character Dr. Jonas Dryasdust, featured in prefaces to Sir Walter Scott's novels.

dry battery

noun

an electric battery consisting of one or more dry cells.

dry bulb

noun

an ordinary exposed thermometer bulb, especially as used in conjunction with a wet bulb.

dry cell /ˈdrī ˌsel/

noun

an electric cell in which the electrolyte is absorbed in a solid to form a paste, preventing spillage.
Compare with wet cell.

dry-clean /ˈdrīˌklēn/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be dry-cleaned)

1. clean (a garment) with an organic solvent, without using water

• I had my winter coat dry-cleaned recently

• (as noun dry cleaning) premises that offered dry cleaning.

II. derivatives

dry cleaner

noun

dry cough

noun

a cough not accompanied by phlegm production.

dry-cure

verb

another term for dry-salt.

Dryden, John /ˈdrīdn/

(1631–1700), English poet, critic, and playwright of the Augustan Age. He is best known for Marriage à la mode (1673), All for Love (1678), and Absalom and Achitophel (1681).

dry dock /ˈdrī ˌdäk/

I. noun

a dock that can be drained of water to allow the inspection and repair of a ship's hull.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. place (a ship) in a dry dock.

dryer /ˈdrī(ə)r / drier

I. noun

1. a machine or device for drying something, especially the hair or laundry.

2. a substance mixed with oil paint or ink to promote drying.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘person who dries’): from the verb dry + -er^1.

dryer sheet

noun

a fabric softener sheet.

dry-eyed /ˈdrī ˌīd/

adjective

(of a person) not crying

• Janet was dry-eyed and stoical under assault.

dry farming /ˈdrī ˌfärmiNG/

noun

another term for dryland farming.

dry fly /drī flī/

I. noun

an artificial fishing fly that is made to float lightly on the water.

II. verb

fish using a dry fly.

dry goods /ˈdrī ˌɡo͝odz/

plural noun

(N. Amer.) fabric, thread, clothing, and related merchandise, especially as distinct from hardware and groceries.

dry-heave

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. experience the reflex of vomiting; retch

• I puked and puked until I was dry-heaving.

II. noun

an instance or feeling of retching

• I feel the dry-heaves starting, the knee-jerk reaction to my anxiety attacks.

dry hole

noun

a well drilled for oil or gas but yielding none.

dry hump dry fuck

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹vulgar slang› simulate or unsuccessfully attempt sexual intercourse with (someone or something), usually while fully dressed.

dry ice /ˈˌdrī ˈīs/

noun

1. solid carbon dioxide.

2. the cold dense white mist produced by solid carbon dioxide in air, used for theatrical effects.

drying oil

noun

an oil that thickens or hardens on exposure to air, especially one used by artists in mixing paint.

dry land

noun

land as opposed to the sea or another body of water

• the tide came in and cut off his route to dry land.

dryland farming /ˈdrīˌland ˌfärmiNG / dry farming

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a method of farming in semiarid areas without the aid of irrigation, using drought-resistant crops and conserving moisture.

drylands /ˈdrīˌlandz/

plural noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) an arid area; a region with low rainfall.

dryly /ˈdrīlē / drily

adverb

1. in a matter-of-fact or ironically humorous way

• “How very observant,” he said dryly.

2. in a dry way or condition

• Evans swallowed dryly.

dry matter

noun

the part of a foodstuff or other substance that would remain if all its water content was removed.

dry measure /drī ˈmeZHər/

noun

a measure of volume for loose dry commodities such as grain, tea, and sugar.

dry milk

noun

(US) milk that has been preserved by evaporation and reduction to powder.

dry mop

noun

another term for dust mop.

dry mounting

I. noun

[Photography] a process in which a print is bonded to a mount using a layer of adhesive in a hot press.

II. derivatives

1. dry-mount

verb

2. dry-mounted

adjective

dryness /ˈdrīnəs/

noun

1. absence or lack of moisture or liquid

• dryness of the mouth may occur while you are taking this medicine

• hand sanitizers contain ingredients that help prevent skin dryness.

2. lack or absence of rainfall or humidity

• the searing heat and dryness of the Sahara

• the sea retreated in periods of prolonged dryness.

3. lack of interest, excitement, or embellishment; dullness

• readers are repelled by the dryness of much of the matter

• it does little to rescue the ordinary moment from dryness and tedium.

4. the quality of being unemotional, undemonstrative, or impassive

• the dryness of his delivery

• a certain dryness of style.

5. the quality in an alcoholic drink of not being sweet

• there's a lovely dryness to this straw-colored wine.

dry nurse

I. noun

‹archaic› a woman who looks after a baby but does not breastfeed it.

II. derivatives

dry-nurse /ˈdrī ˌnərs /

verb

Dryopithecus /ˌdrīōˈpiTHəkəs/

I. noun

a fossil anthropoid ape of the middle Miocene to early Pliocene epochs, including the supposed common ancestor of gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans.
[Genus Dryopithecus, family Pongidae.]

II. derivatives

dryopithecine /-ˈpiTHiˌsēn /

noun, adjective

– origin modern Latin, from Greek drus ‘tree’ + pithēkos ‘ape.’

dry painting

noun

another term for sand painting.

dry plate

noun

[Photography] a glass plate coated with a light-sensitive gelatin-based emulsion, used formerly as an improvement on the earlier wet plate.

dry point /ˈdrī ˌpoint/

noun

1. a steel needle for engraving on a bare copper plate without acid.

2. an engraving or print produced with a dry point needle.

3. engraving by means of a dry point needle.

dry-roasted

adjective

roasted without fat or oil

• dry-roasted peanuts.

dry rot /ˈdrī ˈˌrät/

noun

1. fungal timber decay occurring in poorly ventilated conditions in buildings, resulting in cracking and powdering of the wood.

2. (also dry rot fungus) — the fungus that causes this.
[Serpula lacrymans, family Corticiaceae, class Hymenomycetes.]

dry run /ˈdrī ˈrən/

noun

‹informal› a rehearsal of a performance or procedure before the real one

• the president went through a dry run of his speech.

dry-salt /ˈdrīˌsôlt/

verb — [with obj.]

1. cure (meat or fish) with salt rather than in liquid.

dry-salter /ˈdrīˌsôltər/

noun

(Brit.) ‹historical› a dealer in dyes, gums, and drugs, and sometimes also in pickles and other preserved foodstuffs.

dry shampoo /drī SHamˈpo͞o/

noun

a shampoo in powder form, used without the addition of water.

dry-shod /ˈdrīˌSHäd/

adjective, adverb

without wetting one's shoes
[as adj.]

• dry-shod evacuation involved getting into a lifeboat at deck level.

dry sink

noun

(N. Amer.) an antique kitchen cabinet with an inset basin, now generally used as an ornament rather than for practical purposes.

dry-ski /ˈdrīskē/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. denoting or relating to skiing on an artificial surface

• a dry-ski slope.

dry slope /drī slōp/

noun

an artificial ski slope used for practice and training
[as modifier]

• dry-slope racers.

drystone /ˈdrīstōn/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of a stone wall) built without using mortar.

drysuit /ˈdrīˌso͞ot/

noun

a waterproof rubber suit worn for water sports and diving, under which warm clothes can be worn.

Dry Tortugas /ˌdrī tôrˈto͞oɡəz/

an island group in southwestern Florida, west of Key West, that is noted for its wildlife. Also called the Tortugas or Tortugas Keys.

dry valley

noun

a valley cut by water erosion but containing no permanent surface stream, typically one occurring in an area of porous rock such as limestone.

drywall /ˈdrīwôl/

noun

(N. Amer.) a type of board made from plaster, wood pulp, or other material, used especially to form the interior walls of houses.

dry wash

noun

(US) the dry bed of an intermittent stream.

dry well

noun

1. a shaft or chamber constructed in the ground in order to aid drainage, sometimes containing pumping equipment.

2. another term for dry hole.

Ds

symbol

the chemical element darmstadtium.

DS^1 /ˌdē ˈes/

abbreviation

1. [Music] dal segno.

2. document signed.

DS^2

I. noun

‹informal› a person's son (used in electronic communication)

• my DS rolls his eyes in disgust when I use these terms of affection.

– origin 1990s: abbreviation of darling son or dear son.

DSc /ˌdēˌesˈsē/

abbreviation

Doctor of Science.

DSC

abbreviation

Distinguished Service Cross, (in the US) an Army decoration for heroism in combat or (in the UK) a decoration for distinguished active service at sea.

DSL

abbreviation

digital subscriber line, a technology for the high-speed transmission of digital information over standard telephone lines.
See also ADSL.

DSM

abbreviation

Distinguished Service Medal, (in the US) a military decoration for exceptionally meritorious performance of a duty of great responsibility during wartime or (in the UK) a medal for distinguished service at sea.

DSO

abbreviation

Distinguished Service Order, a British military decoration for distinguished service awarded to officers of the army and navy.

DSP

abbreviation

1. (in genealogy) died without issue.
[from Latin decessit sine prole.]

2. (in computing and sound reproduction) digital signal processor or processing.

DSS

abbreviation

1. decision support system.

2. Department of Social Services.

3. digital satellite system; digital satellite services.

4. digital signature standard.

DST

abbreviation

daylight saving time.

DTD

abbreviation

[Computing] document type definition.

DTP /ˌdē ˌtē ˈpē/

abbreviation

desktop publishing.

DTs /dēːˈtēːz/

I. plural noun — (usu. the DTs)

1. ‹informal› delirium tremens.

– origin mid 19th cent.: abbreviation, originally in the singular form DT (now rare).

DTT DTTV

abbreviation

digital terrestrial television.

DTV

abbreviation

digital television.

DU

abbreviation

1. depleted uranium.

2. Dobson unit(s).

dual /ˈd(y)o͞oəl/

I. adjective

1. [attrib.] — consisting of two parts, elements, or aspects

• their dual role at work and home.

2. [Grammar] (in some languages) denoting an inflection that refers to exactly two people or things (as distinct from singular and plural)

• Old English has dual number for first- and second-person pronouns.

3. (in an aircraft) using dual controls

• a dual flight.

4. (often dual to) — [Mathematics] (of a theorem, expression, etc.) related to another by the interchange of particular pairs of terms, such as “point” and “line.”

II. noun

1. [Grammar] a dual form of a word.

2. the dual number.

3. [Mathematics] a theorem, expression, etc., that is dual to another.

III. derivatives

1. dualize /-ˌlīz /

verb

2. dually

adverb

– origin late Middle English (as a noun denoting either of the two middle incisor teeth in each jaw): from Latin dualis, from duo ‘two.’

dual carriageway /ˈd(y)o͞oəl ˈkerijˌwā/

noun

British term for divided highway.

dual citizenship ‹chiefly Brit.› dual nationality

noun

citizenship in two countries concurrently.

dual control

I. adjective

(of an aircraft or a vehicle) having two sets of controls, one of which is used by the instructor

• a dual-control pilot trainer.

II. noun — (usu. dual controls)

1. two sets of controls in an aircraft or vehicle.

dual heritage

noun

the fact of having parents from different ethnic or cultural backgrounds.

dual in-line package

noun

[Electronics] see DIP.

dualism /ˈd(y)o͞oəˌlizəm/

I. noun

1. the division of something conceptually into two opposed or contrasted aspects, or the state of being so divided

• a dualism between man and nature.

2. [Philosophy] a theory or system of thought that regards a domain of reality in terms of two independent principles, especially mind and matter (Cartesian dualism).
Compare with idealism, materialism, and monism.

3. the religious doctrine that the universe contains opposed powers of good and evil, especially seen as balanced equals.

4. in Christian theology, the heresy that in the incarnate Christ there were two coexisting persons, human and divine.

5. the quality or condition of being dual; duality.

II. derivatives

1. dualist /ˈd(y)o͞oələst /

noun, adjective

2. dualistic /ˌd(y)o͞oəˈlistik /

adjective

3. dualistically /ˌd(y)o͞oəˈlistik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin late 18th cent.: from dual, on the pattern of French dualisme.

duality /d(y)o͞oˈalədē/

I. noun

1. the quality or condition of being dual

• the novel's deep duality about human motive.

2. [Mathematics] the property of two theorems, expressions, etc., being dual to each other.

3. [Physics] the quantum-mechanical property of being regardable as both a wave and a particle.

4. an instance of opposition or contrast between two concepts or two aspects of something; a dualism

• the photographs capitalize on the dualities of light and dark, stillness and movement.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin dualitas, from dualis (see dual).

dual-purpose /ˈˌd(y)o͞oəl ˈpərpəs/

adjective

serving two purposes or functions

• a dual-purpose hand and nail cream.

dual-use /ˌd(y)o͞oəlˈyo͞os/

adjective

(chiefly US) (of technology or equipment) designed or suitable for both civilian and military purposes.

duathlon /dyo͞oˈaTHlän/

I. noun

an athletic contest consisting of running and cycling events.

• Alex came first in the duathlon and second in the triathlon in the age group 16 to 19 years.

II. derivatives

duathlete

noun

– origin 1980s: blend of duo- and triathlon. Compare with biathlon.

dub^1 /dəb/

I. verb

1. [with obj. and complement] — give an unofficial name or nickname to (someone or something)

• the media dubbed anorexia “the slimming disease.”

2. make (someone) a knight by the ritual touching of the shoulder with a sword

• he should be dubbed Sir Hubert.

3. [with obj.] — dress (an artificial fishing fly) with strands of fur or wool or with other material.

4. incorporate (fur, wool, or other materials) into a fishing fly.

5. [with obj.] — smear (leather) with grease.
Compare with dubbin.

6. trim or make smooth (wood) with an adze.

– origin late Old English (in the sense ‘make a knight’): from Old French adober ‘equip with armor,’ of unknown origin. Sense 2 is from the obsolete meaning ‘dress or adorn.’

dub^2 /dəb/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. provide (a film) with a soundtrack in a different language from the original

• the film will be dubbed into French and Flemish.

2. add (sound effects or music) to a film or a recording

• background sound can be dubbed in at the editing stage.

3. make a copy of (a sound or video recording).

4. transfer (a recording) from one medium to another.

5. combine (two or more sound recordings) into one composite soundtrack.

II. noun

1. an instance of dubbing sound effects or music

• the level of the dub can be controlled manually.

2. a style of popular music originating from the remixing of recorded music (especially reggae), typically with the removal of some vocals and instruments and the exaggeration of bass guitar.

– origin 1920s: abbreviation of double.

dub^3 /dəb / ‹informal›

I. noun

(US) an inexperienced or unskillful person.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Golf] misplay (a shot).

– origin late 19th cent.: perhaps from dub^1 in the obsolete technical sense ‘make blunt.’

Dubai /do͞oˈbī/

I. a member state of the United Arab Emirates; pop. 1,775,000 (est. 2009).

II. the capital city of Dubai, a port on the Persian Gulf; pop. 1,770,500 (est. 2009).

Du Barry, Comtesse /d(y)o͞o ˈbarē/

(1743–93), French courtier and mistress of Louis XV; born Marie Jeanne Bécu; known as Madame Du Barry. During the French Revolution she was arrested by the Revolutionary Tribunal and guillotined.

dubbin /ˈdəbən / ‹Brit.›

I. noun

prepared grease used for softening and waterproofing leather.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. apply dubbin to (leather).

– origin early 19th cent.: alteration of dubbing, present participle of dub^1 (sense 3).

dubbing /ˈdəbiNG/

I. noun

material used for the bodies of artificial fishing flies, especially fur or wool on waxed silk.

– origin late 17th cent.: from dub^1 + -ing^1.

Dubček, Alexander /ˈdo͞obCHek/

(1921–92), Czech statesman, first secretary of the Czechoslovak Communist Party 1968–69. He was the driving force behind the political reforms of 1968, which prompted the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 and his removal from office. After the collapse of communism in 1989, he was elected speaker of the federal assembly in the new Czechoslovak parliament.

dub-dub-dub /ˌdəbˌdəbˈdəb/

noun

[Computing] ‹informal› short form used instead of pronouncing the three letters in the abbreviation www (World Wide Web) in Internet addresses.

dubiety /d(y)o͞oˈbīədē/

I. noun

‹formal› the state or quality of being doubtful; uncertainty

• his enemies made much of the dubiety of his paternity.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from late Latin dubietas, from Latin dubium ‘a doubt.’

Dubinsky, David /do͞oˈbinskē/

(1892–1982), US labor leader and social reformer; born in Russia. He served as president of the International Ladies' Garment Workers Union 1932–66 and was responsible for reforms such as improved housing and healthcare.

dubious /ˈd(y)o͞obēəs/

I. adjective

1. hesitating or doubting

• Alex looked dubious, but complied.

2. not to be relied upon; suspect

• extremely dubious assumptions.

3. morally suspect

• time-sharing has been brought into disrepute by dubious sales methods.

4. of questionable value

• she earned the dubious distinction of being the lowest-paid teacher in the nation.

II. derivatives

1. dubiously /ˈd(y)o͞obēəslē /

adverb

2. dubiousness /ˈd(y)o͞obēəsnəs /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (sense 2): from Latin dubiosus, from dubium ‘a doubt,’ neuter of dubius ‘doubtful.’

dubitable /ˈd(y)o͞obədəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

‹rare› (of a belief, conclusion, etc.) open to doubt.

II. derivatives

dubitability /ˌd(y)o͞obitəˈbilitē /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin dubitabilis, from dubitare ‘to doubt.’

dubitation /ˌd(y)o͞obəˈtāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

‹formal› doubt; hesitation

• a judgment fenced around with proper scholarly dubitation.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin dubitatio(n-), from dubitare ‘to doubt.’

dubitative /ˈd(y)o͞obəˌtādiv/

I. adjective

‹formal› expressing or inclined to doubt or hesitation.

– origin early 18th cent.: from French dubitatif, -ive or late Latin dubitativus, from dubitare ‘to doubt.’

Dublin /ˈdəblən/

I. the capital city of the Republic of Ireland, on the Irish Sea at the mouth of the Liffey River; pop. 506,211 (2006).
Irish name Baile Átha Cliath.

II. a county in the Republic of Ireland, in the province of Leinster; county town, Dublin.

Dubliner /ˈdəblənər/

noun

a native or inhabitant of the Irish capital Dublin

• a suave Dubliner has taken center stage.

dubnium /ˈdəbnēəm/

I. noun

(Symbol: Db) — the chemical element of atomic number 105, a very unstable element made by high-energy atomic collisions.
See also hahnium, joliotium.

– origin 1990s: modern Latin, from Dubna in Russia, site of the Joint Nuclear Institute.

Du Bois, W. E. B. /d(y)o͞o ˈbois/

(1868–1963), US writer, sociologist, and political activist; full name William Edward Burghardt Du Bois. He was an important figure in the movement for equality for black Americans and cofounded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909.

Dubonnet /ˌd(y)o͞obəˈnā/

I. noun

‹trademark› a sweet French red wine.

– origin from the name of a family of French wine merchants.

dubplate /ˈdəbplāt/

noun

an acetate recording disk, typically one featuring a dub version of a reggae song that is not yet on general release.

• the hottest tunes could be heard on dubplates prior to their official release.

dub reggae

noun

a genre of popular dance music made from remixing reggae recordings

• Phase Selector Sound's inventive dub reggae recordings transcend their Music City origins.

Dubrovnik /do͞oˈbrôvnik, ˈdo͞oˌbrôvnik/

a port and resort on the Adriatic coast of Croatia; pop. 26,500 (est. 2009).
Italian name (until 1918) Ragusa.

dubstep /ˈdəbstep/

noun

a form of dance music, typically instrumental, characterized by a sparse, syncopated rhythm and a strong bassline.

Dubuffet, Jean /ˌd(y)o͞obəˈfā/

(1901–85), French painter. He rejected traditional techniques and incorporated materials such as sand and plaster in his paintings and produced sculptures made from garbage.

Dubuque /dəˈbyo͞ok/

an industrial and commercial city in northeastern Iowa, on the Mississippi River; pop. 57,250 (est. 2008).

ducal /ˈd(y)o͞okəl/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of, like, or relating to a duke or dukedom

• the ducal palace in Rouen.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Old French, from duc ‘duke.’

ducat /ˈdəkət/

I. noun

1. a gold coin formerly current in most European countries.

2. (ducats) — ‹informal› money

• their production of Hamlet has kept the ducats pouring in.

3. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a ticket, especially an admission ticket.

– origin from Italian ducato, originally referring to a silver coin minted by the Duke of Apulia in 1190: from medieval Latin ducatus (see duchy). Sense 2 dates from the late 19th cent.

Duce /ˈdo͞oCHā/

I. (Il Duce)

1. the title assumed by Benito Mussolini in 1922.

– origin Italian, literally ‘leader.’

Duchamp, Marcel /d(y)o͞oˈSHäN/

(1887–1968), US artist; born in France. A leading figure of the Dada movement and originator of conceptual art, he invented “ready-mades,” mass-produced articles selected at random and displayed as works of art.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy /d(y)o͞oˌSHen ˌməskyələr ˈdistrəfē / DMD

I. noun

a severe form of muscular dystrophy caused by a genetic defect and usually affecting boys.

– origin late 19th cent.: named after G. B. A. Duchenne (1806–75), the French neurologist who first described it.

duchess /ˈdəCHəs/

I. noun

1. the wife or widow of a duke.

2. a woman holding a rank equivalent to duke in her own right.

3. (Brit.) ‹informal› (especially among cockneys) an affectionate form of address used by a man to a girl or woman he knows well.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin ducissa, from Latin dux, duc- (see duke).

duchesse /d(y)o͞oˈSHes/

I. noun

1. (also duchesse satin) — a soft, heavy, glossy kind of satin, usually of silk.

2. a chaise longue resembling two armchairs linked by a stool.

3. (also duchesse dressing table) — a dressing table with a pivoting mirror.

– origin late 18th cent. (sense 2): from French, literally ‘duchess.’

duchesse lace

noun

a kind of Brussels pillow lace characterized by bold floral patterns worked with a fine thread.

duchesse potatoes

plural noun

mashed potatoes mixed with egg yolk, formed into small shapes and baked.

duchy /ˈdəCHē/

I. noun

the territory of a duke or duchess; a dukedom.

– origin Middle English: from Old French duche, from medieval Latin ducatus, from Latin dux, duc- (see duke).

duck^1 /dək/

I. noun

1. a waterbird with a broad blunt bill, short legs, webbed feet, and a waddling gait.
[Family Anatidae (the duck family); domesticated ducks are mainly descended from the mallard. The duck family also includes geese and swans, from which ducks are distinguished by their generally smaller size and shorter necks.]

2. a duck as food

• a duck for tomorrow's dinner.

3. a pure white thin-shelled bivalve mollusk found off the Atlantic coasts of America.
[Genus Anatina, family Mactridae.]

4. (also duck boat) — an amphibious transport vehicle.
[respelling of DUKW.]

II. phrases

1. get (or have) one's ducks in a row

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› get (or have) one's facts straight; get (or have) everything organized.

2. take to something like a duck to water

take to something very readily

• he shows every sign of taking to University politics like a duck to water.

3. water off a duck's back

a potentially hurtful or harmful remark or incident that has no apparent effect on the person mentioned

• it was like water off a duck's back to Nick, but I'm sure it upset Paul.

– origin Old English duce, from the Germanic base of duck^2 (expressing the notion of ‘diving bird’).

duck^2 /dək/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — lower the head or the body quickly to avoid a blow or so as not to be seen

• spectators ducked for cover

• she ducked into the doorway to get out of the line of fire

• [with obj.] he ducked his head and entered.

2. (duck out) — depart quickly

• I thought I saw you duck out.

3. [with obj.] — avoid (a blow) by moving down quickly

• he ducked a punch from an angry first baseman.

4. [with obj.] — ‹informal› evade or avoid (an unwelcome duty or undertaking)

• a responsibility that a less courageous man might well have ducked

• [no obj.] I was engaged twice and ducked out both times.

5. [no obj.] — plunge one's head or body underwater briefly

• I had to keep ducking down to get my head cool.

6. [Bridge] refrain from playing a winning card on a particular trick for tactical reasons.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. a quick lowering of the head.

III. derivatives

ducker /ˈdəkər /

noun

– origin Middle English: of Germanic origin; related to Dutch duiken and German tauchen ‘dive, dip, plunge,’ also to duck^1.

duck^3 /dək / ducks

I. noun

(Brit.) dear; darling (used as an informal or affectionate form of address, especially among cockneys).

– origin late 16th cent.: from duck^1.

duck^4 /dək/

I. noun

1. a strong linen or cotton fabric, used chiefly for casual or work clothes and sails.

2. (ducks) — pants made of duck fabric.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Middle Dutch doek ‘linen, linen cloth’; related to German Tuch ‘cloth.’

duck^5 /dək/

I. noun

[Cricket] a batsman's score of zero

• out for a duck.

– origin mid 19th cent.: short for duck's egg, used for the figure 0 because of its similar outline.

duckbill /ˈdəkbil/

I. noun

an animal with jaws resembling a duck's bill, e.g., a platypus or a duck-billed dinosaur.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. shaped like a duck's bill

• duckbill pliers.

duck-billed dinosaur

noun

another term for hadrosaur.

duckbill platypus duck-billed platypus

noun

see platypus.

duckboard /ˈdəkbôrd/

noun — (usu. duckboards)

1. a board consisting of a number of wooden slats joined together, placed so as to form a path over muddy ground or in a trench.

duck face

noun

an exaggerated pouting expression in which the lips are thrust outward, typically made by a person posing for a photograph

• the pop star pursed her lips into a duck face in one shot

• [as modifier] her duck face selfies.

duck hawk

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹dated› the peregrine falcon.

ducking stool /ˈdəkiNG ˌsto͞ol/

noun

‹historical› a chair fastened to the end of a pole, used formerly to plunge offenders into a pond or river as a punishment.

duckling /ˈdəkliNG/

noun

1. a young duck.

2. the flesh of a young duck as food.

duck mussel

noun

a freshwater bivalve mollusk that is smaller and darker than the related swan mussel, found in rivers with sandy or gravelly bottoms.
[Anodonta anatina, family Unionidae.]

duckpin /ˈdəkpin/

noun

1. (US) a short, squat bowling pin.

2. [treated as sing.] (duckpins) — (US) a game played with duckpins.

ducks and drakes

I. noun

a game of throwing flat stones so that they skim along the surface of water.

II. phrases

play ducks and drakes with

trifle with; treat frivolously.

– origin late 16th cent.: from the movement of the stone over the water.

duck's ass

noun

another term for ducktail.

duck soup /ˌdək ˈso͞op/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› an easy task, or someone easy to overcome

• we had some great battles, but against me he was duck soup.

ducktail /ˈdəktāl / duck's ass, DA

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a man's hairstyle, associated especially with the 1950s, in which the hair is slicked back on both sides and tapered at the nape.

duckwalk /ˈdəkwôk/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. walk with the body in a squatting posture.

II. noun

a walk with the body in a squatting posture.

duckweed /ˈdəkˌwēd/

noun

a tiny aquatic flowering plant that floats in large quantities on still water, often forming an apparently continuous green layer on the surface.
[Family Lemnaceae, in particular the genus Lemna.]

ducky /ˈdəkē / ‹informal›

I. noun

(Brit.) darling; dear (used as a form of address)

• come and sit down, ducky.

II. adjective

(chiefly N. Amer.) charming; delightful

• everything here is just ducky.

– origin early 19th cent.: from duck^3.

duct /dəkt/

I. noun

1. a channel or tube for conveying something, in particular

2. (in a building or a machine) a tube or passageway for air, liquid, cables, etc.

3. (in the body) a vessel for conveying lymph or glandular secretions such as tears or bile.

4. (in a plant) a vessel for conveying water, sap, or air.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be ducted)

1. convey through a duct

• a ventilation system that must be ducted through the wall

• (as adj. ducted) a ducted air system.

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘course’ or ‘direction’): from Latin ductus ‘leading, aqueduct,’ from duct- ‘led,’ from the verb ducere.

ductile /ˈdəktl ˈdəkˌtīl/

I. adjective

1. (of a metal) able to be drawn out into a thin wire.

2. able to be deformed without losing toughness; pliable, not brittle.

3. (of a person) docile or gullible.

II. derivatives

ductility /ˌdəkˈtilədē /

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘malleable’): from Latin ductilis, from duct- ‘led,’ from the verb ducere.

ducting /ˈdəktiNG/

noun

1. a system of ducts.

2. tubing or piping forming ducting.

ductless /ˈdəktləs/

adjective

[Anatomy] denoting a gland that secretes directly into the bloodstream, such as an endocrine gland or a lymph gland.

duct tape

I. noun

(N. Amer.) strong, cloth-backed, waterproof adhesive tape.

– origin 1970s: originally used for repairing leaks in ducted ventilation and heating systems.

ductule /ˈdəkt(y)o͞ol/

I. noun

[Anatomy] a minute duct.

II. derivatives

ductular /-tyələr /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: Latin, diminutive of ductus ‘leading.’

ductus /ˈdəktəs/

I. noun

[Anatomy] a duct.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘leading.’

ductwork /ˈdəktwərk/

noun

a system or network of ducts.

dud /dəd / ‹informal›

I. noun

1. a thing that fails to work properly or is otherwise unsatisfactory or worthless

• a high-grade collection, not a dud in the lot

• all three bombs were duds.

2. an ineffectual person

• a complete dud, incapable of even hitting the ball.

3. (duds) — clothes

• buy yourself some new duds.

II. adjective

1. not working or meeting standards; faulty

• a dud ignition switch.

2. counterfeit

• charged with issuing dud checks.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘item of clothing’): of unknown origin.

dude /do͞od / ‹informal chiefly N. Amer.›

I. noun

1. a man; a guy

• if some dude smacked me, I'd smack him back.

2. a stylish, fastidious man

• cool dudes.

[a slang term that came into vogue in New York c. 1883, in connection with the ‘aesthetic’ craze of the period.]

3. a city-dweller, especially one vacationing on a ranch in the western US.

II. verb — [no obj.] (dude up)

1. dress up elaborately
(as adj. duded)

• my brother was all duded up in silver and burgundy.

III. derivatives

dudish /ˈdo͞odiSH /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: probably from German dialect Dude ‘fool.’

dude ranch /ˈdo͞od ˌranCH/

noun

(in the western US) a cattle ranch converted to a vacation resort for tourists.

dudgeon /ˈdəjən/

I. noun

a feeling of offense or deep resentment

• the manager walked out in high dudgeon.

– origin late 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

Dudley /ˈdədlē/

an industrial town in western central England, near Birmingham; pop. 193,200 (est. 2009).

Dudley, Robert

Earl of Leicester (c. 1532–88), English nobleman, military commander, and favorite of Elizabeth I.

due /d(y)o͞o/

I. adjective

1. [predic.] — expected at or planned for at a certain time

• the baby's due in August

• he is due back soon

• [with infinitive] talks are due to adjourn tomorrow.

2. (of a payment) required at a certain time

• the May installment was due.

3. (of a person) having reached a point where the thing mentioned is required or owed

• she was due for a raise

• you're more than due a vacation.

4. (of a thing) required or owed as a legal or moral obligation

• he was only taking back what was due to him

• you must pay any income tax due.

5. [attrib.] — of the proper quality or extent; adequate

• driving without due care and attention.

II. noun

1. (one's due) — a person's right; what is owed to someone

• he attracts more criticism than is his due.

2. (dues) — an obligatory payment; a fee

• he had paid union dues for years.

III. adverb

(with reference to a point of the compass) exactly; directly

• we'll head due south again on the same road.

IV. phrases

1. due to

a. caused by or ascribable to

• unemployment due to automation will grow steadily.

b. because of; owing to

• he had to withdraw due to a knee injury.

2. give someone their due

be fair to someone

• to give him his due, he was a generous employer.

3. in due course

at the appropriate time

• Reynolds will respond in due course to the letter.

4. pay one's dues

a. fulfill one's obligations

• he had paid his dues to society for his previous convictions.

b. experience difficulties before achieving success

• this drummer has paid his dues with the best.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘payable’): from Old French deu ‘owed,’ based on Latin debitus ‘owed,’ from debere ‘owe.’ / usage: The use of due to as a prepositional phrase meaning ‘because of,’ as in he had to retire due to an injury first appeared in print in 1897, and traditional grammarians have opposed this prepositional usage for more than a century on the grounds that it is a misuse of the adjectival phrase due to in the sense of ‘attributable to, likely or expected to’ (the train is due to arrive at 11:15), or ‘payable or owed to’ (render unto Caesar what is due to Caesar). Nevertheless, this prepositional usage is now widespread and common in all types of literature and must be regarded as standard English.The phrase due to the fact that is very common in speech, but it is wordy, and, especially in writing, one should use the simple word ‘because.’

due date /d(y)o͞o dāt/

noun

the date on which something falls due, especially the payment of a bill or the expected birth of a baby.

due diligence

noun

1. [Law] reasonable steps taken by a person in order to satisfy a legal requirement, especially in buying or selling something.

2. [Law] a comprehensive appraisal of a business undertaken by a prospective buyer, especially to establish its assets and liabilities and evaluate its commercial potential.

duel /ˈd(y)o͞oəl/

I. noun

1. ‹chiefly historical› a contest with deadly weapons arranged between two people in order to settle a point of honor.

2. ‹chiefly historical› (in modern use) a contest or race between two parties

• two eminent critics engaged in a verbal duel.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. fight a duel or duels
(as noun dueling)

• dueling had been forbidden for serving officers.

III. derivatives

1. dueler /ˈd(y)o͞oələr / ‹Brit.› dueller

noun

2. duelist /ˈd(y)o͞oələst / ‹Brit.› duellist

noun

– origin late 15th cent.: from Latin duellum, archaic form of bellum ‘war,’ used in medieval Latin with the meaning ‘combat between two persons,’ partly influenced by dualis ‘of two.’ The original sense was ‘single combat used to decide a judicial dispute’; the sense ‘contest to decide a point of honor’ dates from the early 17th cent.

duende /do͞oˈendā/

I. noun

1. a quality of passion and inspiration.

2. a spirit.

– origin 1920s: from Spanish, contraction of duen de casa, from dueño de casa ‘owner of the house.’

duenna /ˌd(y)o͞oˈenə/

I. noun

an older woman acting as a governess and companion in charge of girls, especially in a Spanish family; a chaperone.

– origin mid 17th cent.: earlier form of Spanish dueña, from Latin domina ‘lady, mistress.’

due process /d(y)o͞o prəˈses / due process of law

noun

fair treatment through the normal judicial system, especially as a citizen's entitlement.

Duero /ˈdwerō/

Spanish name for Douro.

duet /d(y)o͞oˈet/

I. noun

1. a performance by two people, especially singers, instrumentalists, or dancers.

2. a musical composition for two performers.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. perform a duet.

III. derivatives

duettist /d(y)o͞oˈedəst /

noun

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Italian duetto, diminutive of duo ‘duet,’ from Latin duo ‘two.’

duff^1 /dəf/

I. noun — [usu. with modifier]

1. a flour pudding boiled or steamed in a cloth bag

• a currant duff.

– origin mid 19th cent.: northern English form of dough.

duff^2 /dəf/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) (Scottish) decaying vegetable matter covering the ground under trees.

2. (N. Amer.) (Scottish) [Mining] coal dust; dross.

II. adjective

1. (Brit.) ‹informal› of very poor quality

• duff lyrics.

2. (Brit.) ‹informal› incorrect or false

• she played a couple of duff notes.

– origin late 18th cent. (denoting something worthless): of unknown origin.

duff^3 /dəf/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (duff someone up) — (Brit.) ‹informal› beat someone up.

2. (Brit.) ‹informal› [Golf] mishit (a shot).

– origin early 19th cent.: of uncertain origin; sense 2 is probably a back-formation from duffer.

duff^4 /dəf/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a person's buttocks

• I did not get where I am today by sitting on my duff.

– origin mid 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

duffel /ˈdəfəl / duffle

I. noun

1. a coarse woolen cloth with a thick nap.

2. short for duffel coat.

3. (N. Amer.) sporting or camping equipment.

4. short for duffel bag.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Duffel, the name of a town in Belgium where the cloth was originally made.

duffel bag

I. noun

a cylindrical canvas bag closed by a drawstring and carried over the shoulder.

– origin early 20th cent.: from duffel (sense 2), originally denoting a bag for equipment.

duffel coat /ˈdəfl ˌkōt/

noun

a coat made of duffel, typically hooded and fastened with toggles.

duffer /ˈdəfər/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› an incompetent or stupid person, especially an elderly one

• he's the most worthless old duffer.

2. ‹informal› a person inexperienced at something, especially at playing golf.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Scots dowfart ‘stupid person,’ from douf ‘spiritless.’

Du Fu /ˌdo͞o ˈfo͞o/

variant of Tu Fu.

Dufy, Raoul /d(y)o͞oˈfē/

(1877–1953), French painter and textile designer. His characteristic style involved calligraphic outlines sketched on brilliant background washes.

dug^1 /dəɡ/

past and past participle of dig.

dug^2 /dəɡ/

I. noun — (usu. dugs)

1. the udder, teat, or nipple of a female animal.

2. ‹archaic› a woman's breast.

– origin mid 16th cent.: possibly of Old Norse origin and related to Swedish dägga, Danish dægge ‘suckle.’

dugong /ˈdo͞oˌɡäNG ˈdo͞oˌɡôNG/

I. noun

an aquatic mammal found on the coasts of the Indian Ocean from eastern Africa to northern Australia. It is distinguished from the manatees by its forked tail.
[Dugong dugon, family Dugongidae.]

– origin early 19th cent.: based on Malay duyong.

dugout /ˈdəɡˌout/

noun

1. a shelter that is dug in the ground and roofed over, especially one used by troops in warfare.

2. a low shelter at the side of a baseball field, with seating from which a team's coaches and players not taking part can watch the game.

3. (also dugout canoe) — a canoe made from a hollowed tree trunk.

duh /də/

exclamation

‹informal› used to comment on an action perceived as foolish or stupid, or a statement perceived as obvious

• I left the keys in the ignition—duh!

• Leopold correctly informs him that the opera is in Italian (duh!).

DUI

abbreviation

(US) driving under the influence (of drugs or alcohol).

duiker /ˈdīkər/

I. noun

a small African antelope that typically has a tuft of hair between the horns, found mainly in the rain forest.
[Cephalophus and other genera, family Bovidae: several species, including the common duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia), of southern African savanna and bush, and the very small blue duiker (Philantomba monticola), prized for its skin.]

– origin late 18th cent.: from South African Dutch, from Dutch, literally ‘diver,’ from the animal's habit of plunging through bushes when pursued; related to duck^2.

Duisburg /ˈd(y)o͞ozˌbərɡ, ˈd(y)o͞os-, -ˌbo͝ork/

an industrial city in northwestern Germany, in North Rhine–Westphalia; pop. 499,100 (est. 2006).

du jour /də ˈZHo͝or, ˌd(y)o͞o/

I. adjective — [postpositive]

1. (of food in a restaurant) available and being served on this day

• cream of mussel, an occasional soup du jour.

2. ‹informal› used to describe something that is enjoying great but probably short-lived popularity or publicity

• attention deficit disorder is the disease du jour.

– origin French, literally ‘of the day.’

Dukakis, Michael Stanley /do͞oˈkäkis/

(1933–), US politician. He was governor of Massachusetts 1975–79, 1983–91 and a Democratic presidential candidate in 1988. Olympia Dukakis is his cousin.

Dukakis, Olympia

(1931–), US actress. Her movies include Moonstruck (1987) and Steel Magnolias (1989). She is a cousin of Michael Dukakis.

duke /d(y)o͞ok/

I. noun

1. a male holding the highest hereditary title in the British and certain other peerages.

2. ‹chiefly historical› (in some parts of Europe) a male ruler of a small independent state.

3. (dukes) — ‹informal› the fists, especially when raised in a fighting attitude.
[from rhyming slang Duke of Yorks ‘forks’ (= fingers).]

II. verb — [no obj.] (duke it out)

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› fight it out.

– origin Old English (denoting the ruler of a duchy), from Old French duc, from Latin dux, duc- ‘leader’; related to ducere ‘to lead.’

duke cherry

noun

a cultivated cherry that is a hybrid between the mazzard and the morello.
[Prunus × gondouinii, family Rosaceae.]

dukedom /ˈd(y)o͞okdəm/

noun

1. a territory ruled by a duke.

2. the rank of duke.

DUKW

I. noun

an amphibious transport vehicle, especially as used by the Allies during World War II.
Also called duck^1.

– origin an official designation, being a combination of factory-applied letters referring to features of the vehicle.

dulcamara /ˌdəlkəˈmerə/

I. noun

an extract of woody nightshade, used in homeopathy especially for treating skin diseases and chest complaints.

– origin late 16th cent.: from medieval Latin (used as a specific epithet in Solanum dulcamara), from Latin dulcis ‘sweet’ + amara ‘bitter.’

dulce /ˈdəlsā/

I. noun

a sweet food or drink, especially a candy or jam.
[Spanish.]

II. adjective

sweet or mild.
[from Latin dulcis.]

dulce de leche /ˈdo͞olsā de ˈleCHā/

I. noun

a traditional Argentinian dessert made by caramelizing sugar in milk.

– origin early 20th cent.: American Spanish, from dulce ‘sweet’ + de ‘of’ + leche ‘milk.’

dulcet /ˈdəlsət/

I. adjective

(especially of sound) sweet and soothing (often used ironically)

• record the dulcet tones of your family and friends.

– origin late Middle English doucet, from Old French doucet, diminutive of doux, from Latin dulcis ‘sweet.’ The Latin form influenced the modern spelling.

dulcian /ˈdəlsēən/

I. noun

1. an early type of bassoon made in one piece.

2. any of various organ stops, typically with 8-foot funnel-shaped flue pipes or 8- or 16-foot reed pipes.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from German Dulzian, or a variant of dulciana.

dulciana /ˌdəlsēˈanə, -ˈänə/

I. noun

an organ stop, typically with small conical open metal pipes.

– origin late 18th cent.: via medieval Latin from Latin dulcis ‘sweet.’

dulcify /ˈdəlsəˌfī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› sweeten

• cider pap dulcified with molasses.

2. ‹literary› calm or soothe

• his voice dulcified the panic.

II. derivatives

dulcification /ˌdəlsəfəˈkāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘sweeten’): from Latin dulcificare ‘sweeten,’ from dulcis ‘sweet.’

dulcimer /ˈdəlsəmər/

I. noun

1. a musical instrument with a sounding board or box, typically trapezoidal in shape, over which strings of graduated length are stretched, played by being struck with handheld hammers.

2. (Appalachian dulcimer) — a musical instrument with a long rounded body and a fretted fingerboard, played by bowing, plucking, and strumming.
Also called mountain dulcimer.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Old French doulcemer, probably from Latin dulce melos ‘sweet melody.’

dulcitone /ˈdəlsəˌtōn/

I. noun

a musical keyboard instrument in which a series of steel tuning forks is struck by hammers. It was invented in the late 19th century and was superseded by the celesta.

– origin late 19th cent.: coined by T. Machell, the instrument's inventor, from Latin dulcis ‘sweet’ + tonus ‘tone.’

dulia /ˌd(y)o͞oˈlīə/

I. noun

(in Roman Catholic theology) the reverence accorded to saints and angels.
Compare with latria.

– origin late Middle English: via medieval Latin from Greek douleia ‘servitude,’ from doulos ‘slave.’

dull /dəl/

I. adjective

1. lacking interest or excitement

• your diet doesn't have to be dull and boring.

2. ‹archaic› (of a person) feeling bored and dispirited

• she said she wouldn't be dull and lonely.

3. lacking brightness, vividness, or sheen

• his face glowed in the dull lamplight

• his black hair looked dull.

4. (of the weather) overcast; gloomy

• next morning dawned dull.

5. (of sound) not clear; muffled

• a dull thud of hooves.

6. (of pain) indistinctly felt; not acute

• there was a dull pain in his lower jaw.

7. (of an edge or blade) blunt

• a lot more people are cut with dull knives than with sharp ones.

8. (of a person) slow to understand; stupid

• the voice of a teacher talking to a rather dull child.

9. ‹archaic› (of a person's senses) not perceiving things distinctly; insensitive.

10. (of activity) sluggish, slow-moving

• gold closed lower in dull trading.

II. verb

make or become dull or less intense
[with obj.]

• time dulls the memory

• [no obj.] Albert's eyes dulled a little.

III. phrases

1. (as) dull as dishwater

extremely dull.

2. dull the edge of

cause to be less keenly felt; reduce the intensity or effectiveness of

• she'd have to find something to dull the edges of the pain.

IV. derivatives

1. dullish /ˈdəliSH /

adjective

2. dully /ˈdəlē /

adverb

– origin Old English dol ‘stupid,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dol ‘crazy’ and German toll ‘mad, fantastic, wonderful.’

dullard /ˈdələrd/

I. noun

a slow or stupid person.

– origin Middle English: from Middle Dutch dullaert, from dul ‘dull.’

Dulles, John Foster /ˈdələs/

(1888–1959), US statesman and international lawyer. He was the US adviser at the founding of the United Nations in 1945. As secretary of state at the height of the Cold War 1953–59, he urged the stockpiling of nuclear arms to deter Soviet aggression.

dullness /ˈdəlnəs / dulness

noun

1. lack of interest or excitement

• tasks of such repetitive and numbing dullness

• a desert of unremitting flatness and dullness

• the dullness of domestic life.

2. lack of brightness, vividness, or sheen

• flowery options to brighten up the dullness of autumn

• the summer light cut into the dullness of the room

• the dullness of the colors.

3. the quality of being slow to understand; stupidity

• critical comments on the stupidity or dullness of those in authority

• dullness of comprehension.

4. the quality of not perceiving things distinctly

• you might notice mental dullness that feels like a hangover

• dullness of vision

• 70 percent of clubbers suffer dullness of hearing or ringing in the ears.

dullsville /ˈdəlzˌvil / ‹informal chiefly N. Amer.›

I. noun

a dull or monotonous place or condition.

II. adjective

dull or monotonous

• she transforms their dullsville life.

dull-witted /ˈdəl ˈˌwidid/

adjective

slow to understand; stupid.

dulosis /ˌd(y)o͞oˈlōsəs/

I. noun

[Entomology] the practice by slave-making ants of capturing the pupae of other ant species and rearing them as workers of their own colony.

II. derivatives

dulotic /-ˈlätik /

adjective

– origin early 20th cent.: from Greek doulōsis ‘slavery,’ from doulos ‘slave.’

dulse /dəls/

I. noun

a dark red edible seaweed with flattened branching fronds.
[Rhodymenia palmata, division Rhodophyta.]

– origin early 17th cent.: from Irish and Scottish Gaelic duileasg.

Duluth /dəˈlo͞oTH/

a port in northeastern Minnesota, at the western end of Lake Superior; pop. 84,284 (est. 2008).

duly /ˈd(y)o͞olē/

adverb

1. in accordance with what is required or appropriate; following proper procedure or arrangement

• a document duly signed and authorized by the inspector

• the ceremony duly began at midnight.

2. as might be expected or predicted

• I used the tent and was duly impressed.

dum /dəm/

I. adjective

(Indian) cooked with steam

• dum aloo.

– origin from Hindi dam.

Duma /ˈdo͞omə/

noun

a legislative body in the ruling assembly of Russia and of some other republics of the former Soviet Union.
Duma originally denoted pre-19th-century advisory municipal councils in Russia. It later referred to any of four elected legislative bodies established due to popular demand in Russia between 1906 and 1917. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, a new Duma was set up in 1993 as the lower chamber of the Russian parliament.

Dumas /do͞oˈmä/

I. the name of two French novelists and playwrights.

II. Alexandre (1802–70); known as Dumas père (father). He wrote the historical adventure novels The Three Musketeers (1844–45) and The Count of Monte Cristo (1844–45).

III. Alexandre (1824–95), son of Dumas père; known as Dumas fils (son). He wrote the novel (and play) La Dame aux camélias (1848), which formed the basis of Verdi's opera La Traviata (1853).

du Maurier, Dame Daphne /d(y)o͞o ˈmôrēˌā/

(1907–89), English novelist; granddaughter of George du Maurier. Notable works: Jamaica Inn (1936), Rebecca (1938), and The Birds (1952).

du Maurier, George

(1834–96), French novelist, cartoonist, and illustrator; full name George Louis Palmella Busson Du Maurier. He wrote Trilby (1894), which included the character Svengali.

dumb /dəm/

I. adjective

1. ‹offensive› (of a person) unable to speak, most typically because of congenital deafness

• he was born deaf, dumb, and blind.

2. (of animals) unable to speak as a natural state and thus regarded as helpless or deserving pity.

3. [predic.] — temporarily unable or unwilling to speak

• she stood dumb while he poured out a stream of abuse.

4. [attrib.] — resulting in or expressed by speechlessness

• they stared in dumb amazement.

5. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) stupid

• a dumb question.

6. (of a computer terminal) able only to transmit data to or receive data from a computer; having no independent processing capability.
Often contrasted with intelligent.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (dumb something down) — ‹informal› simplify or reduce the intellectual content of something so as to make it accessible to a larger number of people

• critics have accused publishers of dumbing down books.

2. [no obj.] (dumb down) — become less intellectually challenging

• the need to dumb down for mass audiences.

3. ‹literary› make dumb or unheard; silence

• a splendor that dazed the mind and dumbed the tongue.

III. derivatives

1. dumbly /ˈdəmlē /

adverb

2. dumbness /ˈdəmnəs /

noun

– origin Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse dumbr and Gothic dumbs ‘mute,’ also to Dutch dom ‘stupid’ and German dumm ‘stupid.’ / usage: Although dumb meaning ‘not able to speak’ is the older sense, it has been overwhelmed by the newer sense (meaning ‘stupid’) to such an extent that the use of the first sense is now almost certain to cause offense. Alternatives such as speech-impaired should be used instead. See also usage at deaf mute.

Dumbarton Oaks /ˌdəmbärtn ˈōks/

a historic site in Washington, DC, an estate at which plans for the United Nations were formulated at a 1944 meeting.

dumb-ass /ˈdəmˌas/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› stupid; brainless

• dumb-ass politicians.

dumbbell /ˈdəmbel/

I. noun

1. a short bar with a weight at each end, used typically in pairs for exercise or muscle-building.

2. [as modifier] — shaped like a dumbbell

• a dumbbell molecule.

3. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a stupid person.

– origin early 18th cent.: originally denoting an apparatus similar to that used to ring a church bell (but without the bell, so noiseless or “dumb”); sense 2 (dating from the 1920s) is an extended use by association with dumb ‘stupid.’

dumb blonde /dəm bländ / dumb blond

noun

‹informal› a blond-haired woman perceived in a stereotypical way as being attractive but unintelligent.

dumb cane

noun

a thick-stemmed plant with large variegated leaves, native to tropical America and widely grown as a houseplant.
[Genus Dieffenbachia, family Araceae: several species, in particular the Caribbean D. seguine, which has a poisonous sap that swells the tongue and temporarily disables the power of speech.]

dumb cluck /ˌdəm ˈklək/

noun

‹informal› a stupid person.

dumbed-down

adjective

‹informal› simplified so as to be intellectually undemanding and accessible to a wide audience

• the dumbed-down nature of modern politics.

dumbfound /ˈdəmˌfound / dumfound

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be dumbfounded)

1. greatly astonish or amaze

• they were dumbfounded at his popularity.

– origin mid 17th cent.: blend of dumb and confound.

dumbhead /ˈdəmˌhed/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a stupid person.

dumb iron

noun

‹historical› a curved side piece of a vehicle chassis, to which the front springs are attached.

dumbo /ˈdəmbō/

I. noun

‹informal› a stupid person.

– origin 1950s: from dumb + -o, popularized by the 1941 cartoon film Dumbo.

dumbphone /ˈdəmˌfōn/

I. noun

a basic mobile phone that lacks the advanced functionality characteristic of a smartphone

• there are still six dumbphones out there for every smartphone.

– origin 1990s (first referring to a phone used to access the functionality of a more sophisticated system): from dumb and phone^1 (as opposed to smartphone).

dumbshow /ˈdəmˌSHō / dumb show

noun

1. gestures used to convey a meaning or message without speech; mime

• they demonstrated in dumbshow how the tea should be made.

2. a piece of dramatic mime

• there were gags, spoofs, and dumbshows.

3. (especially in English drama of the 16th and 17th centuries) a part of a play acted in mime to summarize, supplement, or comment on the main action.

dumbsize /ˈdəmsīz/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (chiefly US) (of a company) reduce staff numbers to levels so low that work can no longer be carried out effectively.

– origin 1990s: humorously, on the pattern of downsize.

dumbstruck /ˈdəmˌstrək/

adjective

so shocked or surprised as to be unable to speak

• he was dumbstruck with terror.

dumb waiter /dəm ˈwādər/

noun

1. a small elevator for carrying things, especially food and dishes, between the floors of a building.

2. (Brit.) a movable table, typically with revolving shelves, used in a dining room.

dumdum /ˈdəmˌdəm / dumdum bullet

I. noun

a kind of soft-nosed bullet that expands on impact.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Dum Dum, name of a town and arsenal in eastern India, where such bullets were first produced.

dum-dum /ˈdəmˌdəm/

I. noun

‹informal› a stupid person.

– origin 1970s: reduplication of dumb.

Dumfries and Galloway /dəmˌfrēs ən ˈɡaləˌwā/

an administrative region in southwestern Scotland, formed in 1975; administrative center, Dumfries.

dumka /ˈdo͝omkə/

I. noun

a piece of Slavic music, originating as a folk ballad or lament, typically melancholy with contrasting lively sections.

– origin late 19th cent.: via Czech and Polish from Ukrainian.

dummkopf /ˈdo͝omˌkôf, -ˌkôpf, ˈdəm-/

I. noun

a stupid person; a blockhead.

– origin early 19th cent.: from German dumm ‘dumb’ + Kopf ‘head.’

dummy /ˈdəmē/

I. noun

1. a model or replica of a human being

• a waxwork dummy.

2. a figure used for displaying or fitting clothes

• a tailor's dummy.

3. a ventriloquist's doll.

4. [Bridge] the declarer's partner, whose cards are exposed on the table after the opening lead and played by the declarer.

5. [Bridge] the exposed hand of the declarer's partner.

6. an imaginary fourth player in whist
[as modifier]

• dummy whist.

7. something designed to resemble and serve as a substitute for the real or usual thing; a counterfeit or sham

• tests using stuffed owls and wooden dummies

• [as modifier] a dummy torpedo.

• dummy invoices and a dummy corporation, designed to underprice products.

8. a prototype or mock-up, especially of a book or the layout of a page.

9. a blank round of ammunition.

10. [as modifier] — [Grammar] denoting a word that has no semantic content but is used to maintain grammatical structure.

• a dummy subject, as in “it is” or “there are.”

11. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) a stupid person.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. create a prototype or mock-up of a book or page

• officials dummied up a set of photos.

III. phrasal verbs

dummy up

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› keep quiet; give no information.

– origin late 16th cent.: from dumb + -y^1. The original sense was ‘a person who cannot speak,’ then ‘an imaginary fourth player in whist’ (mid 18th cent.), whence ‘a substitute for the real thing’ and ‘a model of a human being’ (mid 19th cent).

dummy cord

I. noun

a cord or strap that secures an object (such as a weapon) to one's person.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. secure an object to one's person with a cord

• he'll show you how to dummy cord your knife.

dummy head

noun

[Electronics] a model of a human head with a microphone in each ear, used in making binaural and other sound-recording techniques.

dumortierite /d(y)o͞oˈmôrdēəˌrīt/

I. noun

a rare blue or violet mineral occurring typically as needles and fibrous masses in gneiss and schist. It consists of an aluminum and iron borosilicate.

– origin late 19th cent.: from the name of V.-E. Dumortier (1802–76), French geologist, + -ite^1.

dump /dəmp/

I. noun

1. a site for depositing garbage.

2. [usu. with modifier] — a place where a particular kind of waste, especially dangerous waste, is left

• a nuclear waste dump.

3. a place where weapons and other military equipment is stored

• an ammunitions dump.

4. a heap of garbage left at a dump.

5. ‹informal› an unpleasant or dreary place

• she says the town has become a dump.

6. ‹informal› an act of defecation.

7. [Computing] a copying of stored data to a different location, performed typically as a protection against loss.

8. a printout or list of the contents of a computer's memory, occurring typically after a system failure.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. deposit or dispose of (garbage, waste, or unwanted material), typically in a careless or hurried way

• trucks dumped 1,900 tons of refuse here

• [no obj.] an attempt to prevent people from dumping on vacant lots.

2. put down or abandon (something) hurriedly in order to make an escape

• the couple dumped the car and fled.

3. put (something) down firmly or heavily and carelessly

• she dumped her knapsack on the floor.

4. ‹informal› abandon or desert (someone)

• his girlfriend dumped him for being fat.

5. send (goods unsalable in the home market) to a foreign market for sale at a low price

• other countries dump steel in the US at below-market prices.

6. ‹informal› sell off (assets) rapidly

• investors dumped shares in scores of other consumer-goods firms.

7. [Computing] copy (stored data) to a different location, especially so as to protect against loss.

8. print out or list the contents of (a store), especially after a system failure.

9. [Football] tackle (a quarterback) before he can throw a pass.

III. phrasal verbs

dump on

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› criticize or abuse (someone); treat badly

• you get dumped on just because of your name.

– origin Middle English: perhaps from Old Norse; related to Danish dumpe and Norwegian dumpa ‘fall suddenly’ (the original sense in English); in later use partly imitative; compare with thump.

dumpee /dəmˈpē/

noun

‹informal› a person whose partner has abruptly ended their sexual or romantic relationship.

• "Get over it" is easy to say, but painful to do—especially if you're the dumpee.

dumper /ˈdəmpər/

noun

1. a person or thing that dumps something.

2. (the dumper) — ‹informal› used in reference to a bad or unwanted state

• his career's in the dumper.

3. (also dumper truck) — (Brit.) a dump truck.

dumping ground /ˈdəmpiNG ɡround/

noun

a place where garbage or unwanted material is left.

dumping syndrome

noun

[Medicine] a group of symptoms, including weakness, abdominal discomfort, and sometimes abnormally rapid bowel evacuation, occurring after meals in some patients who have undergone gastric surgery.

dumpling /ˈdəmpliNG/

I. noun

1. a small savory ball of dough (usually made with suet) that may be boiled, fried, or baked in a casserole.

2. a pudding consisting of apples or other fruit enclosed in a sweet dough and baked.

3. ‹humorous› a small, fat person

• he was a 250-pound dumpling.

– origin early 17th cent.: apparently from the rare adjective dump ‘of the consistency of dough,’ although dumpling is recorded much earlier.

dumps /dəmps/

I. plural noun — (in phrase (down) in the dumps)

1. ‹informal› (of a person) depressed or unhappy.

– origin early 16th cent. (originally singular in the sense ‘a dazed or puzzled state’): probably a figurative use of Middle Dutch domp ‘haze, mist.’

dumpster /ˈdəmpstər / Dumpster

I. noun

(US) ‹trademark› a large trash receptacle designed to be hoisted and emptied into a truck.

– origin 1930s: originally Dempster Dumpster, proprietary name (based on dump) given by the American manufacturers, Dempster Brothers of Knoxville, Tennessee.

dump truck /ˈdəmp ˈˌtrək/

noun

(N. Amer.) a truck with a body that tilts or opens at the back for unloading.

dumpy /ˈdəmpē/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) short and stout

• her plain, dumpy sister.

2. (of a room or building) ugly, dirty, and run-down

• a dumpy little diner with a "closed" sign hanging in the window.

II. derivatives

1. dumpily /-pəlē /

adverb

2. dumpiness /ˈdəmpēnəs /

noun

– origin mid 18th cent.: from dumpling + -y^1.

Dumyat /do͝omˈyät/

Arabic name for Damietta.

dun^1 /dən/

I. adjective

1. of a dull grayish-brown color

• a dun cow.

2. ‹literary› dark; dusky

• when the dun evening comes.

II. noun

1. a dull grayish-brown color.

2. a thing that is dun in color, in particular

3. a horse with a sandy or sandy-gray coat, black mane, tail, and lower legs, and a dark dorsal stripe.

4. a sub-adult mayfly, which has drab coloration and opaque wings.

5. an artificial fishing fly imitating this.

– origin Old English dun, dunn, of Germanic origin; probably related to dusk.

dun^2 /dən/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make persistent demands on (someone), especially for payment of a debt

• they would very likely start dunning you for payment of your taxes

• (as adj. dunning) she received two dunning letters from the bank.

II. noun

1. ‹archaic› a debt collector or an insistent creditor.

2. ‹archaic› a demand for payment.

– origin early 17th cent. (as a noun): from obsolete Dunkirk privateer, from the French port of Dunkirk.

dunam /ˈdo͝onəm/

I. noun

a measure of land area used in parts of the former Turkish empire, including Israel (where it is equal to about 900 square meters).

– origin from modern Hebrew dûnām or Arabic dūnum, from Turkish dönüm, from dönmek ‘go around.’

Dunbar's number Dunbar number

I. noun

a theoretical limit to the number of people with whom any individual is able to sustain a stable or meaningful social relationship (usually considered to be roughly 150)

• even in the age of Facebook, the number of friends with whom you keep in touch is likely to be less than Dunbar's number.

– origin early 21st cent.: named after Robin Dunbar (b. 1947), the British anthropologist and psychologist who proposed the theory in the 1990s.

Duncan, Isadora /ˈdəNGkən/

(1878–1927), US dancer and teacher. A pioneer of modern dance, she was famous for her “free” barefoot dancing. She died by strangulation when her long scarf became entangled in the wheels of a car.

Duncan I

(c. 1010–40), king of Scotland 1034–40. He was killed in battle by Macbeth.

dunce /dəns/

I. noun

a person who is slow at learning; a stupid person.

– origin early 16th cent.: originally an epithet for a follower of John Duns Scotus (Duns Scotus, John), whose followers were ridiculed by 16th-cent. humanists and reformers as enemies of learning.

dunce cap ‹Brit.› dunce's cap

noun

a paper cone formerly put on the head of a dunce at school as a mark of disgrace.

Dundalk /ˈdəndôk/

a community in north central Maryland, a port just southeast of Baltimore; pop. 62,306 (2000).

Dundee /dənˈdē/

a city in eastern Scotland, on the northern side of the Firth of Tay; pop. 141,600 (est. 2009).

Dundee cake

noun

(chiefly Brit.) a rich fruitcake, typically decorated on top with almonds.

Dundee marmalade

noun

a type of orange marmalade, originally made in Dundee.

dunderhead /ˈdəndərˌhed/

I. noun

‹informal› a stupid person.

II. derivatives

dunderheaded

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: compare with obsolete Scots dunder, dunner ‘resounding noise’; related to din.

dune /d(y)o͞on/

I. noun

a mound or ridge of sand or other loose sediment formed by the wind, especially on the sea coast or in a desert

• a sand dune.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French, from Middle Dutch dūne; related to Old English dūn ‘hill’ (see down^3).

dune buggy /ˈd(y)o͞on ˌbəɡē/

noun

a low, wide-wheeled motor vehicle for recreational driving on sand.

Dunedin /ˌdənˈēd(ə)n/

I. a city and port on South Island in New Zealand, founded in 1848 by Scottish settlers; pop. 118,683 (2006).

II. a resort city in western Florida, on the Gulf of Mexico, west of Tampa; pop. 35,988 (est. 2008).

dung /dəNG/

I. noun

the excrement of animals; manure.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. drop or spread dung on (a piece of ground).

– origin Old English, of Germanic origin; related to German Dung, Swedish dynga, Icelandic dyngja ‘dung, dunghill, heap,’ and Danish dynge ‘heap.’

dungarees /ˌdəNGɡəˈrēz/

I. plural noun

1. blue jeans or overalls.

2. [in sing.] (dungaree) — (N. Amer.) blue denim.

– origin late 17th cent. (in the sense ‘cotton cloth from India’); from Hindi duṅgrī.

dung beetle /dəNG ˈbēdl/

noun

a beetle whose larvae feed on dung, especially a scarab. The larger kinds place the dung in a hole before the eggs are laid, and some of them roll it along in a ball.
[Superfamily Scarabaeoidea, in particular families Scarabaeidae and Geotrupidae.]

Dungeness crab /ˌdənjənəs ˈkrab/

I. noun

a large crab found off the west coast of North America, where it is popular as food.
[Cancer magister, family Cancridae.]

– origin mid 20th cent.: from Dungeness, the name of a fishing village on the coast of Washington.

dungeon /ˈdənjən/

I. noun

1. a strong underground prison cell, especially in a castle.

2. (in fantasy role-playing games) a labyrinthine subterranean setting.

3. archaic term for donjon.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› imprison (someone) in a dungeon.

– origin Middle English (also with the sense ‘castle keep’): from Old French (perhaps originally with the sense ‘lord's tower’ or ‘mistress tower’), based on Latin dominus ‘lord, master.’ Compare with donjon.

Dungeons and Dragons

noun

‹trademark› a fantasy role-playing game set in an imaginary world based loosely on medieval myth.

dung fly

noun

a hairy fly that lays its eggs in fresh dung.
[Families Scathophagidae and Sphaeroceridae: several species.]

dunghill /ˈdəNGˌhil / dungheap

noun

a heap of dung or refuse, especially in a farmyard.

dunite /ˈdənīt/

I. noun

[Geology] a green to brownish coarse-grained igneous rock consisting largely of olivine.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from the name of Dun Mountain, New Zealand, + -ite^1.

dunk /dəNGk/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — dip (bread or other food) into a drink or soup before eating it

• she dunked a piece of bread into her coffee.

2. immerse or dip in water

• the bikers dunked themselves in the ocean

• (as noun dunking) the camera survived a dunking in a stream.

3. [no obj.] — [Basketball] score by shooting the ball down through the basket with the hands above the rim.

II. noun

[Basketball] a shot downward into the basket with the hands above the rim.

III. derivatives

dunker

noun

– origin early 20th cent.: from Pennsylvania Dutch dunke ‘dip,’ from German tunken ‘dip or plunge.’

Dunkard /ˈdəNGkərd/

noun

another term for Dunker.

Dunker /ˈdəNGkər/

I. noun

a member of the German Baptist Brethren, a sect of Baptist Christians founded in 1708 but living in the US since the 1720s.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Pennsylvania Dutch, from dunke (see dunk).

Dunkirk /dənˈkərk ˈdənˌkərk/

a port in northern France; pop. 70,654 (2006). It was the scene of the evacuation of 335,000 Allied troops in 1940 by warships, requisitioned civilian ships, and a host of small boats while under constant German attack from the air. French name Dunkerque.

dunlin /ˈdənlən/

I. noun

a migratory sandpiper with a down-curved bill and (in the breeding season) a reddish-brown back and black belly. It is the most common small wader of the northern hemisphere.
[Calidris alpina, family Scolopacidae.]

– origin mid 16th cent.: probably from dun^1 + -ling, from the grayish-brown winter coloring of its upper parts.

Dunlop, John Boyd /ˈdənläp/

(1840–1921), Scottish inventor. He developed the first successful pneumatic bicycle tire in 1888.

dunnage /ˈdənij/

I. noun

1. pieces of wood, matting, or similar material used to keep a cargo in position in a ship's hold.

2. ‹informal› a person's belongings, especially those brought on board ship.

– origin Middle English: of unknown origin.

dunno /dəˈnō/

I. contraction

(I) do not know.

– origin mid 19th cent.: representing an informal pronunciation.

Duns Scotus, John /dənz ˈskōtəs/

(c. 1265–1308), Scottish theologian and scholar. He was the first major theologian to defend the theory of the immaculate conception and to oppose St. Thomas Aquinas by arguing that faith is a matter of will rather than something dependent on logical proofs.

Dunstan, St. /ˈdənstən/

(c. 909–88), Anglo-Saxon prelate. As archbishop of Canterbury, he introduced the strict Benedictine rule in England and succeeded in restoring monastic life. Feast day, May 19.

dunt /dənt / ‹chiefly Scottish›

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. hit or knock firmly with a dull sound

• she dunted my father in the side with her elbow.

II. noun

a firm dull-sounding blow.

– origin late Middle English: perhaps a variant of dint.

duo /ˈd(y)o͞oō/

I. noun

1. a pair of people or things, especially in music or entertainment

• the comedy duo Laurel and Hardy.

2. [Music] a duet

• he wrote two duos for violin and viola.

– origin late 16th cent. (sense 2): via Italian from Latin duo ‘two.’

duo-

I. combining form

two; having two

• duopoly

• duotone.

– origin from Latin.

duodecimal /ˌd(y)o͞oəˈdesəm(ə)l ˌd(y)o͞oōˈdesəm(ə)l/

I. adjective

relating to or denoting a system of counting or numerical notation that has twelve as a base.

II. noun

the system of duodecimal notation.

III. derivatives

duodecimally

adverb

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin duodecimus ‘twelfth’ (from duodecim ‘twelve’) + -al.

duodecimo /ˌd(y)o͞oəˈdesəmō ˌd(y)o͞oōˈdesəmō / 12mo

I. noun

1. a size of book page that results from the folding of each printed sheet into 12 leaves (24 pages).
Also called twelvemo.

2. a duodecimo book.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin (in) duodecimo ‘in a twelfth,’ from duodecimus ‘twelfth.’

duodenary /d(y)o͞oˈädənerē ˌd(y)o͞oəˈden(ə)rē/

I. adjective

‹rare› relating to or based on the number twelve.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin duodenarius ‘containing twelve,’ based on duodecim ‘twelve.’

duodenitis /ˌdyo͞oədnˈīdis/

noun

[Medicine] inflammation of the duodenum.

duodeno- duoden-

combining form

[Anatomy] [Medicine] relating to the duodenum

• duodenitis.

duodenum /ˌd(y)o͞oəˈdēnəm/

I. noun

[Anatomy] the first part of the small intestine immediately beyond the stomach, leading to the jejunum.

II. derivatives

duodenal /ˈˌd(y)o͞oəˈˌdēnl d(y)o͞oˈädnəl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin, from duodeni ‘in twelves,’ its length being equivalent to the breadth of approximately twelve fingers.

duologue /ˈd(y)o͞oəlôɡ ˈd(y)o͞oəˌläɡ/

I. noun

a play or part of a play with speaking roles for only two actors.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from duo-, on the pattern of monologue.

duology /ˌd(y)o͞oˈäləjē/

I. noun

a pair of related novels, plays, or movies.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from duo- ‘two,’ on the pattern of trilogy.

duomo /ˈdwōmō/

I. noun

an Italian cathedral.

– origin Italian, literally ‘dome.’

duopoly /d(y)o͞oˈäpəlē/

I. noun

a situation in which two suppliers dominate the market for a commodity or service.

II. derivatives

duopolistic /-ˌäpəˈlistik /

adjective

– origin 1920s: from duo-, on the pattern of monopoly.

duotone /ˈd(y)o͞oəˌtōn/

noun

1. a halftone illustration made from a single original with two different colors at different screen angles.

2. the technique or process of making duotone illustrations

• the best images that duotone can produce.

dupatta /do͝oˈpədə/

I. noun

a length of material worn as a scarf or head covering, typically with a salwar, by women from South Asia.

– origin from Hindi dupaṭṭā.

dupe^1 /d(y)o͞op/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. deceive; trick

• the newspaper was duped into publishing an untrue story.

II. noun

a victim of deception

• knowing accomplices or unknowing dupes.

III. derivatives

1. dupable /ˈd(y)o͞opəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. duper

noun

3. dupery /ˈd(y)o͞op(ə)rē /

noun

– origin late 17th cent.: from dialect French dupe ‘hoopoe,’ from the bird's supposedly stupid appearance.

dupe^2 /d(y)o͞op/

verb, noun

short for duplicate, esp. in photography.

dupion /ˈdo͞opēˌän / dupioni , silk dupion

I. noun

1. a rough slubbed silk fabric woven from the threads of double cocoons.

2. an imitation of silk dupion with other fibers.

– origin early 19th cent. (in the sense ‘double cocoon’): from French doupion, from Italian doppione, from doppio ‘double.’

duple /ˈd(y)o͞opəl/

I. adjective

[Music] (of rhythm) based on two main beats to the measure

• duple time.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin duplus, from duo ‘two.’

duplet /ˈd(y)o͞oplət/

I. noun

1. a set of two things.

2. [Music] a pair of equal notes to be performed in the time of three.

– origin mid 17th cent. (as a dicing term in the sense of doublets (see doublet)): from Latin duplus ‘duple,’ on the pattern of doublet. Current senses date from the 1920s.

duplex /ˈd(y)o͞opleks/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a house divided into two apartments, with a separate entrance for each.

2. an apartment on two floors.

3. [Biochemistry] a double-stranded polynucleotide molecule.

II. adjective

1. having two parts, in particular

2. (N. Amer.) (of a house) consisting of two apartments.

3. (N. Amer.) (of an apartment) on two floors.

4. (of paper or board) having two differently colored layers or sides.

5. (of a printer or its software) capable of printing on both sides of the paper.

6. (of a communications system, computer circuit, etc.) allowing the transmission of two signals simultaneously in opposite directions.
Compare with multiplex, simplex.

– origin mid 16th cent. (as an adjective): from Latin duplex, duplic-, from duo ‘two’ + plicare ‘to fold.’ The noun dates from the 1920s.

duplicate

I. adjective — /ˈd(y)o͞opləkət / [attrib.]

1. exactly like something else, especially through having been copied

• a duplicate license is issued to replace a valid license which has been lost.

2. having two corresponding or identical parts

• a duplicate application form.

3. twice as large or many; doubled

• duplicate taxes on oil and gas.

II. noun — /ˈd(y)o͞opləkət /

1. one of two or more identical things

• books may be disposed of if they are duplicates.

2. a copy of an original

• locksmiths can make duplicates of most keys.

3. short for duplicate bridge.

4. ‹archaic› a pawnbroker's ticket.

III. verb — /ˈd(y)o͞opləˌkāt / [with obj.]

1. make or be an exact copy of

• a unique scent, impossible to duplicate or forget

• ‹figurative› they have not been able to duplicate his successes.

2. make or supply copies of (a document)

• information sheets had to be typed and duplicated

• (as adj. duplicating) a duplicating machine.

3. multiply by two; double

• the normal amount of DNA has been duplicated thousands of times.

4. do (something) again unnecessarily

• most of these proposals duplicated work already done.

IV. phrases

in duplicate

consisting of two exact copies

• forms to complete in duplicate.

V. derivatives

1. duplicable /-plikəbəl /

adjective

2. duplicative /-ˌkātiv /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘having two corresponding parts’): from Latin duplicat- ‘doubled,’ from the verb duplicare, from duplic- ‘twofold’ (see duplex).

duplicate bridge

noun

a competitive form of bridge in which the same hands are played successively by different partnerships.

duplication /ˌd(y)o͞opləˈkāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action or process of duplicating something.

2. a copy.

3. [Genetics] a DNA segment in a chromosome that is a copy of another segment.

– origin late Middle English (used in the mathematical sense ‘multiplication by two’): from Old French, or from Latin duplicatio(n-), from duplicare ‘to double’ (see duplicate).

duplicator /ˈd(y)o͞opləˌkādər/

noun

a machine or device for making copies of something, in particular a machine that makes copies of documents by means of fluid ink and a stencil.

duplicitous /d(y)o͞oˈplisədəs/

adjective

1. deceitful

• treacherous, duplicitous behavior.

2. [Law] (of a charge or plea) containing more than one allegation.

duplicity /d(y)o͞oˈplisədē/

I. noun

1. deceitfulness; double-dealing.

2. ‹archaic› doubleness.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French duplicite or late Latin duplicitas, from Latin duplic- ‘twofold’ (see duplex).

du Pont, E. I. /d(y)o͞o ˈpänt, ˈd(y)o͞o ˌpänt/

(1771–1834), US industrialist; born in France; full name Éleuthère Irénée du Pont. His gunpowder manufacturing plant near Wilmington, Delaware, established in 1802, grew into a corporate giant, due largely to the government contracts that ensured its early success, especially during the War of 1812.

duppy /ˈdəpē/

I. noun

(W. Indian) a malevolent spirit or ghost.

– origin late 18th cent.: probably of West African origin.

du Pré, Jacqueline /d(y)o͞o ˈprā/

(1945–87), English cellist; wife of Daniel Barenboim. She made her solo debut at 16 and was known for her interpretations of cello concertos.

Dupuytren's contracture /dəˈpwētrənz kənˌtrakCHər / Dupuytren's disease

I. noun

[Medicine] a condition in which there is fixed forward curvature of one or more fingers, caused by the development of a fibrous connection between the finger tendons and the skin of the palm.

– origin late 19th cent.: named after Baron Guillaume Dupuytren (1777–1835), the French surgeon who first described the condition.

Duque de Caxias /ˈdo͞okē dā käˈSHēəs/

a city in southeastern Brazil, a suburb of Rio de Janeiro; pop. 842,686 (2007).

dur /dər / der

exclamation

(Brit.) ‹informal› used to comment on a foolish or stupid action, especially someone else's.

dura^1 /ˈd(y)o͝orə / dura mater

I. noun

[Anatomy] the tough outermost membrane enveloping the brain and spinal cord.

II. derivatives

dural

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from medieval Latin, literally ‘hard mother,’ translation of Arabic al-'umm al-jāfiya ‘coarse mother.’

dura^2 /ˈd(y)o͝orə/

noun

variant spelling of durra.

durability /ˌd(y)o͝orəˈbilədē/

noun

the ability to withstand wear, pressure, or damage

• the reliability and durability of plastics.

durable /ˈd(y)o͝orəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. able to withstand wear, pressure, or damage; hard-wearing

• porcelain enamel is strong and durable

• ‹figurative› a durable peace can be achieved.

2. ‹informal› (of a person) having endurance

• the durable Smith lasted the full eight rounds.

II. noun — (durables)

1. short for durable goods.

III. derivatives

1. durableness /ˈd(y)o͝orəbəlnəs /

noun

2. durably /ˈd(y)o͝orəblē /

adverb

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘steadfast’): via Old French from Latin durabilis, from durare ‘to last’ (see duration).

durable goods

plural noun

(N. Amer.) goods not for immediate consumption and able to be kept for a period of time.

Duralumin /d(y)o͝orˈalyəmən/

I. noun — ( in the UK)

1. ‹trademark› a hard, light alloy of aluminum with copper and other elements.

– origin early 20th cent.: perhaps from Latin durus ‘hard’ + aluminum, but probably influenced by Düren, the name of the Rhineland town where such alloys were first produced.

duramen /d(y)o͝orˈāmən/

I. noun

[Botany] the heartwood of a tree.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘hardness,’ from durare ‘harden.’

durance /ˈd(y)o͝orəns/

I. noun

‹archaic› imprisonment or confinement.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘continuance’): from Old French, from durer ‘to last,’ from Latin durare. The sense ‘imprisonment’ is first recorded in the early 16th cent.

Durand, Asher Brown /dəˈrand/

(1796–1886), US artist. He was one of the earliest landscape painters of the Hudson River School.

Durango /dəˈraNGˌɡō/

I. a state in northern central Mexico.

II. the capital city of the state of Durango; pop. 463,830 (2005).
Full name Victoria de Durango.

Durante, Jimmy /dəˈrantē/

(1893–1980), US entertainer; born James Francis Durante. The gravelly-voiced star of Broadway, movies, radio, and television began his career in vaudeville and became known for his trademark song, “Inka Dinka Doo.” His movies include The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942).

Duras, Marguerite /d(y)o͝oˈrä/

(1914–96), French novelist, movie director, and playwright; pseudonym of Marguerite Donnadieu. Her works include the screenplay for Hiroshima mon amour (1959), as well as the semiautobiographical novel L'Amant (1984).

duration /d(y)o͝orˈāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

the time during which something continues

• the subway stop has been closed for the duration of the convention

• a flight of over eight hours' duration.

II. phrases

for the duration

a. until the end of something, especially a war

• he was in the navy for the duration plus six.

b. ‹informal› for a very long time

• some stains may be there for the duration.

III. derivatives

durational

adjective

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin duratio(n-), from durare ‘to last,’ from durus ‘hard.’

durative /ˈd(y)o͝orədiv/

adjective

[Grammar] of or denoting continuing action.
Contrasted with punctual.

Durban /ˈdərbən/

a seaport and resort in South Africa, on the coast of KwaZulu-Natal; pop. 3,409,100 (est. 2009).
Former name (until 1835) Port Natal.

durbar /ˈdərbär/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› the court of an Indian ruler.

2. ‹historical› a public reception held by an Indian prince or by a British governor or viceroy in India.

– origin Urdu, from Persian darbār ‘court.’

durchkomponiert /ˌdo͝orKHˌkämpōˈnēərt/

I. adjective

another term for through-composed.

– origin from German, from durch ‘through’ + komponiert ‘composed’ (because the music is different throughout).

Dürer, Albrecht /ˈd(y)o͝orər/

(1471–1528), German engraver and painter. A leading artist of the Renaissance, he was important for his technically advanced woodcuts and copper engravings and was also noted for his watercolors and drawings.

duress /d(y)o͝oˈres/

I. noun

1. threats, violence, constraints, or other action brought to bear on someone to do something against their will or better judgment

• confessions extracted under duress.

2. [Law] constraint illegally exercised to force someone to perform an act.

3. ‹archaic› forcible restraint or imprisonment.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘harshness, severity, cruel treatment’): via Old French from Latin duritia, from durus ‘hard.’

Durey, Louis /d(y)o͝oˈrā/

(1888–1979), French composer. A member of the Les Six group until 1921, he later wrote music that had mass appeal, in accordance with communist doctrines on art.

Durga /ˈdo͝orɡä / ‹Hinduism›

a fierce goddess, wife of Shiva, often identified with Kali. She is usually depicted riding a tiger or lion and slaying the buffalo demon, and with eight or ten arms.

Durgapur /ˈdo͝orɡəˌpo͝or/

a city in northeastern India, in the state of West Bengal; pop. 543,900 (est. 2009).

Durham^1 /ˈdərəm/

an industrial and academic city in north central North Carolina, noted for its tobacco industry and as the home of Duke University; pop. 223,284 (est. 2008).

Durham^2 /ˈdərəm/

a city in northern England on the River Wear; pop. 42,100 (2009). It is famous for its 11th-century cathedral, which contains the tomb of the Venerable Bede, and for its university.

Durham quilt /ˈdərəm ˌkwilt/

noun

a quilt made by sewing together a piece of fabric, an inner batting, and a lining, the stitches making decorative patterns.

durian /ˈdo͝orēən ˈdo͝orēˌän/

I. noun

1. an oval spiny tropical fruit containing a creamy pulp. Despite its fetid smell, it is highly esteemed for its flavor.

2. (also durian tree) — the large tree that bears the durian fruit, native to Malaysia.
[Durio zibethinus, family Bombacaceae.]

– origin late 16th cent.: from Malay durian, from duri ‘thorn.’

duricrust /ˈd(y)o͝orəˌkrəst/

I. noun

[Geology] a hard mineral crust formed at or near the surface of soil in semiarid regions by the evaporation of groundwater.

– origin 1920s: from Latin durus ‘hard’ + crust.

during /ˈd(y)o͝oriNG/

I. preposition

1. throughout the course or duration of (a period of time)

• the restaurant is open during the day

• the period during which he grew to adulthood.

2. at a particular point in the course of

• the stabbing took place during an argument at a party.

– origin late Middle English: present participle of the obsolete verb dure ‘last, endure, extend,’ via Old French from Latin durare ‘to last’ (see duration).

Durkheim, Émile /ˈdərkˌhīm/

(1858–1917), French sociologist; one of the founders of modern sociology. In 1913, he became the first professor of sociology at the Sorbonne. Notable works: The Division of Labor in Society (1893) and Suicide (1897).

durmast oak /ˈdərˌmast ˌōk/

I. noun

a Eurasian oak tree with stalkless, egg-shaped acorns.
Also called sessile oak. [Quercus petraea, family Fagaceae.]

– origin late 18th cent.: durmast perhaps originally an error for dunmast, from dun^1 + mast^2.

durn /dərn/

verb, exclamation, adjective, adverb

dialect form of darn^2.

durned /dərnd/

adjective, adverb

dialect form of darned.

Duroc /ˈd(y)o͝oräk/

I. noun

a pig of a reddish breed developed in North America.

– origin early 19th cent.: from the name of a stallion that is said to have been bought by the breeder Isaac Frink on the same day as the pigs from which he developed the breed.

Durocher, Leo /dəˈrōSHər/

(1905–91), US baseball player and manager; full name Leo Ernest Durocher. After playing shortstop in the major leagues from 1925 to 1945, he managed the Brooklyn Dodgers 1939–46, 1948, New York Giants 1948–55, Chicago Cubs 1966–72, and Houston Astros 1972–73. His cantankerous manner earned him the nickname The Lip. Baseball Hall of Fame (1994).

durra /ˈdo͝orə / dura

I. noun

grain sorghum of the principal variety grown from northeastern Africa to India.
[Sorghum bicolor var. durra, family Gramineae; white durra is var. cernuum.]

– origin late 18th cent.: from Arabic ḍura, ḍurra.

Durrell, Lawrence /ˈdərəl/

(1912–90), English novelist and poet; full name Lawrence George Durrell. He spent much of his life abroad, particularly in the Mediterranean. Notable works: Alexandria Quartet (1957–60) and Prospero's Cell (1945).

durst /dərst/

archaic or regional past of dare.

durum /ˈd(y)o͝orəm / durum wheat

I. noun

a kind of hard wheat grown in arid regions, having bearded ears and yielding flour that is used to make pasta.
[Triticum durum, family Gramineae.]

– origin early 20th cent.: from Latin, neuter of durus ‘hard,’ used in the species name since 1798.

Duse, Eleonora /ˈdo͞ozā/

(1858–1924), Italian actress. She was known for her tragic roles.

Dushanbe /d(y)o͞oˈSHämbā, -bə/

the capital of Tajikistan; pop. 553,000 (est. 2007).
Former name (1929–61) Stalinabad.

dusk /dəsk/

I. noun

1. the darker stage of twilight

• dusk was falling rapidly

• working the land from dawn to dusk.

2. semidarkness

• in the dusk of an Istanbul nightclub.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹literary› grow dark
(as adj. dusking)

• he saw the lights blaze in the dusking sky.

III. adjective

‹literary› shadowy, dim, or dark.

– origin Old English dox ‘dark, swarthy’ and doxian ‘darken in color,’ of Germanic origin; related to Old High German tusin ‘darkish’; compare with dun^1. The noun dates from the early 17th cent. The change in form from -x to -sk occurred in Middle English.

dusky /ˈdəskē/

I. adjective

1. darkish in color

• dusky red

• a dusky complexion.

2. ‹dated› used in euphemistic or poetic reference to black or other dark-skinned people

• a dusky Moorish maiden.

3. ‹literary› dim

• dusky light came from a small window.

4. [attrib.] — used in names of animals with dark coloration, e.g., dusky dolphin, dusky warbler.

II. derivatives

1. duskily /-kəlē /

adverb

2. duskiness /ˈdəskēnəs /

noun

dusky wing

noun

a small, dark-winged butterfly of the skipper family, found in North America.
[Genus Erynnis, family Hesperiidae; the species are very difficult to tell apart.]

Düsseldorf /ˈdo͞osəlˌdôrf/

an industrial city in northwestern Germany, on the Rhine River, capital of North Rhine–Westphalia; pop. 577,500 (est. 2006).

dust /dəst/

I. noun

1. fine, dry powder consisting of tiny particles of earth or waste matter lying on the ground or on surfaces or carried in the air

• the car sent up clouds of dust

• they rolled and fought in the dust.

2. [with modifier] — any material in the form of tiny particles

• coal dust.

3. [in sing.] — a fine powder

• he ground it into a fine dust.

4. [in sing.] — a cloud of dust.

5. ‹literary› a dead person's remains

• scatter my dust and ashes.

6. ‹literary› the mortal human body

• the soul, that dwells within your dust.

7. [in sing.] — an act of dusting

• a quick dust, to get rid of the cobwebs.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove the dust from the surface of (something) by wiping or brushing it

• I broke the vase I had been dusting

• pick yourself up and dust yourself off

• [no obj.] she washed and dusted and tidied.

2. (dust something off) — bring something out for use again after a long period of neglect

• a number of aircraft will be dusted off and returned to flight.

3. (dust someone off) — [Baseball] deliver a pitch very near a batter so they must fall to the dirt to avoid being hit by it.

4. (usu. be dusted) — cover lightly with a powdered substance

• roll out on a surface dusted with flour.

5. sprinkle (a powdered substance) onto something

• orange powder was dusted over the upper body.

6. (US) ‹informal› beat up or kill someone

• the officers dusted him up a little bit.

III. phrases

1. dust and ashes

used to convey a feeling of great disappointment or disillusion about something

• the party would be dust and ashes if he couldn't come.

2. the dust settles

things quiet down

• she hoped that the dust would settle quickly and the episode be forgotten.

3. eat someone's dust

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› fall far behind someone in a competitive situation.

4. gather (or collect) dust

remain unused

• some professors let their computers gather dust.

5. leave someone/something in the dust

surpass someone or something easily

• today's modems leave their predecessors in the dust.

IV. derivatives

dustless

adjective

– origin Old English dūst, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch duist ‘chaff.’

dustball /ˈdəstˌbôl/

noun

(N. Amer.) a ball of dust and fluff.

dustbath /ˈdəstbaTH/

noun

a bird's rolling in dust to clean its feathers.

dustbin /ˈdəs(t)bin/

noun

(Brit.) a garbage can.

dust bowl /ˈdəs(t) ˌbōl/

noun

1. an area of land where vegetation has been lost and soil reduced to dust and eroded, especially as a consequence of drought or unsuitable farming practice.

2. (the Dust Bowl) — an area of Oklahoma, Kansas, and northern Texas affected by severe soil erosion (caused by windstorms) in the early 1930s, which obliged many people to move.

dust bunny

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a ball of dust and fluff.

Dustbuster /ˈdəs(t)ˌbəstər/

noun

‹trademark› (chiefly N. Amer.) a handheld vacuum cleaner.

dust cover /ˈdəs(t) ˌkəvər/

noun

a dust jacket.

dust devil /ˈdəs(t) ˌdevəl/

noun

a small whirlwind or air vortex over land, visible as a column of dust and debris.

duster /ˈdəstər/

noun

1. a cloth or brush for dusting furniture.

2. (also duster coat) — a woman's loose, lightweight, full-length coat without buttons, of a style originally worn in the 1920s when traveling in an open car.

3. (N. Amer.) a short, light housecoat.

4. (US) ‹informal› a dust storm.

dustheap /ˈdəsthēp/

noun

a heap of household refuse.

dusting powder /ˈdəstiNG ˌpoudər/

noun

powder for dusting over something, in particular talcum powder.

dust jacket /ˈdəs(t) ˌjakət/

noun

a removable paper cover, generally with a decorative design, used to protect a book from dirt or damage.

dustman /ˈdəs(t)mən/

noun

(Brit.) a garbage collector.

dust mop

noun

a long-handled mop with a soft, fluffy head, used to collect dust from floors and walls.

dustpan /ˈdəs(t)pan/

noun

a flat handheld receptacle into which dust and waste can be swept from the floor.

dust ruffle

noun

a sheet with a deep pleated or gathered border that is designed to hang down over the mattress and sides of a bed.

dust sheet /ˈdəs(t) ˌSHēt/

noun

British term for drop cloth.

dust storm /ˈdəs(t) ˌstôrm/

noun

a strong, turbulent wind that carries clouds of fine dust, soil, and sand over a large area.

dust trap

noun

something on, in, or under which dust readily gathers.

dust-up /ˈdəst ˌəp/

noun

‹informal› a fight; a quarrel

• you and Larry had a dust-up over Val?

dusty /ˈdəstē/

I. adjective

1. covered with, full of, or resembling dust

• dusty old records

• a hot, dusty road.

2. (of a color) dull or muted

• patches of pale gold and dusty pink.

3. staid and uninteresting

• a dusty old bore.

II. derivatives

1. dustily /ˈdəstəlē /

adverb

2. dustiness /ˈdəstēnəs /

noun

dusty miller

I. noun

a plant of the daisy family with whitish or grayish foliage.
[Several species in the family Compositae, in particular the cultivated Artemisia stellerana of North America and Senecio cineraria of the Mediterranean.]

– origin early 19th cent.: named from the fine powder on the flowers and leaves.

Dutch /dəCH/

I. noun

1. the West Germanic language of the Netherlands.

2. (as plural noun the Dutch) — the people of the Netherlands collectively.
Dutch is most closely related to German and English. It is also the official language of Suriname and the former Netherlands Antilles and is spoken in northern Belgium, where it is called Flemish.

II. adjective

1. relating to the Netherlands, its people, or their language.

2. relating to the people of Germany; German.

III. phrases

1. go dutch

share the cost of something, especially a meal, equally.

2. in dutch

(US) ‹informal› ‹dated› in trouble

• he's been getting in dutch at school.

– origin from Middle Dutch dutsch ‘Dutch, Netherlandish, German’: the English word originally denoted speakers of both High and Low German, but became more specific after the United Provinces adopted the Low German of Holland as the national language on independence in 1579.

Dutch auction /ˈdəCH ˈôkSHən/

noun

a method of selling in which the price is reduced until a buyer is found.

Dutch cap /ˈdəCH ˌkap/

noun

a woman's lace cap with triangular flaps on each side, worn as part of Dutch traditional dress.

Dutch courage /ˈdəCH ˈkərij/

noun

strength or confidence gained from drinking alcohol

• I'll have a couple of drinks to give me Dutch courage.

Dutch door /ˈdəCH ˈˌdô(ə)r/

noun

(N. Amer.) a door divided into two parts horizontally, allowing one half to be shut and the other left open.

Dutch East India Company

a Dutch trading company founded in 1602 to protect Dutch trading interests in the Indian Ocean. It was dissolved in 1799.

Dutch East Indies /dəCH ēst ˈindēz/

former name (until 1949) of Indonesia.

Dutch elm disease /dəCH elm dəˈzēz/

noun

a fungal disease of elm trees that is spread by elm bark beetles. A virulent strain of the fungus that arose in North America in the early 20th century has destroyed the majority of American elms in many areas.
[The disease is caused by the fungus Ceratocystis ulmi, phylum Ascomycota.]

Dutchess County /ˌdəCHis ˈkoun(t)ē/

a county in southeastern New York, east of the Hudson River, traditionally agricultural but increasingly suburban; pop. 292,878 (est. 2008). Its seat is Poughkeepsie.

Dutch Guiana /ˈdəCH ɡēˈänə ˈdəCH ɡīˈänə/

former name (until 1948) of Suriname.

Dutch interior

noun

a painting of the interior of a Dutch house in a style characteristic of the work of 17th-century genre painters.

Dutchman /ˈdəCHmən/

I. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of the Netherlands, or a person of Dutch descent.

2. a Dutch ship.

3. a wedge or piece used to conceal a flaw in construction.

4. ‹archaic› a German.

II. phrases

I'm a Dutchman

(Brit.) used to express one's disbelief or as a way of underlining an emphatic assertion

• if she's seventeen, I'm a Dutchman.

Dutchman's breeches

I. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a plant closely related to bleeding heart, but typically having pale yellow or white flowers.
[Genus Dicentra, family Fumariaceae: several species, in particular D. cucullaria.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: so named because of the shape of the spurred flower.

Dutchman's pipe

noun

a vigorous climbing vine with hooked tubular flowers, native to eastern North America.
[Aristolochia durior, family Aristolochiaceae.]

Dutch metal /ˈdəCH ˌmedl/

noun

an alloy of copper and zinc used in imitation of gold leaf.

Dutch New Guinea

former name (until 1963) of Papua (sense 1).

Dutch oven /ˈˌdəCH ˈˌəvən/

noun

1. a large, heavy cooking pot with a lid.

2. ‹chiefly historical› a large metal box serving as a simple oven, heated by being placed under or next to hot coals.

Dutch Reformed Church

I. a branch of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, formed during the Reformation. It was disestablished in 1798 and replaced in 1816 by the Netherlands Reformed Church.

II. the dominant branch of the Protestant Church among Afrikaners in South Africa.

Dutch tile

I. noun

a kind of glazed white tile painted with traditional Dutch motifs in blue or brown.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. Dutch-tiled)

1. decorate with Dutch tiles

• Dutch-tiled fireplaces.

Dutch treat /ˈdəCH ˈˌtrēt/

noun

an outing, meal, or other special occasion at which each participant pays for their share of the expenses.

Dutch uncle

noun

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) a person giving firm but benevolent advice.

Dutch West India Company

a Dutch trading company founded in 1621 to develop Dutch trading interests in competition with Spain and Portugal and their colonies in western India, South America, and West Africa. It was dissolved in 1794.

Dutchwoman /ˈdəCHˌwo͝omən/

noun

a female native or inhabitant of the Netherlands, or a woman of Dutch descent.

duteous /ˈd(y)o͞odēəs/

I. adjective

‹archaic› dutiful

• a duteous vassal.

II. derivatives

1. duteously

adverb

2. duteousness

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from duty, on the pattern of words such as bounteous.

dutiable /ˈd(y)o͞odēəb(ə)l/

adjective

liable to customs or other duties

• dutiable goods.

dutiful /ˈd(y)o͞odəfəl/

I. adjective

1. conscientiously or obediently fulfilling one's duty

• a dutiful daughter.

2. motivated by duty rather than desire or enthusiasm

• dutiful applause

• a dutiful visit.

II. derivatives

dutifulness /ˈd(y)o͞odəfəlnəs /

noun

dutifully /ˈd(y)o͞odəfəlē/

adverb

1. in a conscientious or obedient manner

• I dutifully reported the accident

• I dutifully obeyed his instructions.

2. in a manner motivated by duty rather than desire or enthusiasm

• we all dutifully applauded the support act

• she listened dutifully to Nate's excited talk.

duty /ˈd(y)o͞odē/

I. noun

1. a moral or legal obligation; a responsibility

• it's my duty to uphold the law

• she was determined to do her duty as a citizen

• a strong sense of duty.

2. [as modifier] — (of a visit or other undertaking) done from a sense of moral obligation rather than for pleasure

• a fifteen-minute duty visit.

3. (often duties) — a task or action that someone is required to perform

• the queen's official duties

• your duties will include sweeping the switchboard

• Juliet reported for duty.

4. [as modifier] — (of a person) engaged in their regular work

• a duty nurse.

5. military service

• combat duty in the army.

6. (also duties) — performance of prescribed church services by a priest or minister

• he was willing to take Sunday duties.

7. a payment due and enforced by law or custom, in particular

8. a payment levied on the import, export, manufacture, or sale of goods

• a 6 percent duty on imports

• goods subject to excise duty.

9. ‹technical› the measure of an engine's effectiveness in units of work done per unit of fuel.

II. phrases

1. do duty as (or for)

serve or act as a substitute for something else

• her mug was doing duty as a wine glass.

2. on (or off) duty

engaged (or not engaged) in one's regular work

• the doorman had gone off duty and the lobby was unattended.

– origin late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French duete, from Old French deu (see due).

duty-bound /ˈd(y)o͞odē ˈˌbound/

adjective — [predic., with infinitive]

1. morally or legally obliged to do something

• legitimate news stories that the press is duty-bound to report.

duty cycle

noun

1. the cycle of operation of a machine or other device that operates intermittently rather than continuously.

2. the time occupied by this, especially as a percentage of available time.

duty-free /ˈˌd(y)o͞odē ˈˌfrē/

adjective, adverb

1. exempt from payment of duty
[as adj.]

• the permitted number of duty-free goods

• [as adv.] most EC goods enter almost duty-free.

2. [as adj.] — (of a shop or area) selling or trading in goods that are exempt from payment of duty.

duty officer

noun

an officer, especially in the police or armed forces, who is on duty at a particular time.

duumvir /ˌd(y)o͞oˈəmvər/

I. noun

(in ancient Rome) each of two magistrates or officials holding a joint office.

– origin Latin, from duum virum ‘of the two men.’

duumvirate /ˌd(y)o͞oˈəmvərət/

I. noun

a coalition of two people having joint authority or influence.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin duumviratus.

Duvalier /ˌdo͞ovälˈyā/

I. the name of a family of Haitian statesmen.

II. François (1907–71), president 1957–71; known as Papa Doc. His regime was noted for its oppressive nature.

III. Jean-Claude (1951–2014), son of François; known as Baby Doc. He succeeded to his father's presidency in 1971 but was overthrown by a mass uprising in 1986.

Duvall, Gabriel

(1752–1844), US Supreme Court associate justice 1811–35. Before being appointed to the Court by President Madison, he was a member of the US House of Representatives 1794–96.

duvet /ˌdo͞oˈvā/

I. noun

a soft quilt filled with down, feathers, or a synthetic fiber, used instead of an upper sheet and blankets.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French, literally ‘down’ (see down^2).

dux /dəks/

I. noun

a Saxon chief or leader.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin, ‘leader.’

duxelles /do͝okˈsel/

I. noun

a preparation of mushrooms sautéed with onions, shallots, garlic, and parsley and used to make stuffing or sauce

• chilies stuffed with duxelles.

– origin named after the Marquis d'Uxelles, a 17th-cent. French nobleman.

DV ‹formal›

abbreviation

1. Deo volente

• this time next week (DV) I shall be among the mountains.

2. [Bible] Douay Version.

DVD /ˌdē vē ˈdē/

I. noun

a type of compact disc able to store large amounts of data, especially high-resolution audiovisual material.

– origin 1990s: abbreviation of digital versatile disc (originally of digital video disc).

DVD+R

I. noun

1. a blank DVD on which data, including music and movies, can be permanently recorded and read using the DVD+R format.

2. a format for recordable DVDs used by some companies.

– origin abbreviation of DVD plus recordable.

DVD+RW

I. noun

1. a blank DVD that can be recorded, erased, and rerecorded with data many times and read using the DVD+RW format.

2. a format for rewritable DVDs used by some companies.

3. a disc drive that can read and record DVDs.

– origin abbreviation of DVD plus rewritable.

DVD-R

I. noun

1. a blank DVD on which data, including music and movies, can be permanently recorded and read using the DVD-R format.

2. a format for recordable DVDs used by some companies.

– origin abbreviation of DVD recordable.

DVD-RAM

I. noun

1. a blank DVD on which data, including music and movies, can be permanently recorded and read using the DVD-RAM format. A DVD-RAM discs can be recorded over many times, but will only play back in a DVD-RAM drive.

2. a format for recordable DVDs used by some companies.

– origin abbreviation of DVD recordable.

DVD-ROM /dēːvēːdēːˈräːm/

I. noun

a DVD used as a read-only optical memory device for a computer system.

– origin abbreviation of DVD read-only memory.

DVD-RW

I. noun

1. a blank DVD that can be recorded, erased, and rerecorded with data many times and read using the DVD-RW format.

2. a format for rewritable DVDs used by some companies.

3. a disc drive that can read and record DVDs.

– origin abbreviation of DVD rewritable.

Dvina River /dəˌvēnä ˈrivər/

a river that rises in Russia's Valai Hills and flows west, then north, for 634 miles (1,020 km) across Belarus and Latvia into the Gulf of Riga.

DVM

abbreviation

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.

Dvořák, Antonín /ˈdvôrˌZHäk/

(1841–1904), Czech composer. He is best known for his ninth symphony “From the New World” (1892–95).

DVR

noun

short for digital video recorder.

DW

I. noun

‹informal› a person's wife (used in electronic communication)

• my DW and I spent our anniversary at Meadow Lake Resort in Columbia Falls.

– origin 1990s: abbreviation of darling wife or dear wife.

dwale /dwāl/

I. noun

1. ‹archaic› deadly nightshade or belladonna.

2. ‹archaic› a soporific drink formerly made from this.

– origin Middle English: probably of Scandinavian origin and related to Danish dvale ‘deep sleep, stupor,’ dvaledrik ‘sleeping draft.’

dwarf /dwôrf/

I. noun

1. (in folklore or fantasy literature) a member of a mythical race of short, stocky humanlike creatures who are generally skilled in mining and metalworking.

2. a person who is of unusually or abnormally small stature because of a medical condition; a person affected by dwarfism.

3. ‹offensive› a very short person.

4. [as modifier] — denoting something, especially an animal or plant, that is much smaller than the usual size for its type or species

• a dwarf conifer.

5. (also dwarf star) — [Astronomy] a star of relatively small size and low luminosity, including the majority of main sequence stars.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause to seem small or insignificant in comparison

• the buildings surround and dwarf All Saints Church.

2. stunt the growth or development of
(as adj. dwarfed)

• the dwarfed but solid branch of a tree.

III. derivatives

dwarfish /ˈdwôrfiSH /

adjective

– origin Old English dweorg, dweorh, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dwerg and German Zwerg.

dwarfism /ˈdwôrfizəm/

noun

(in medical or technical contexts) unusually or abnormally low stature or small size.

dwarf lemur

noun

a small Madagascan primate related to the mouse lemur, feeding primarily on fruit and gums.
[Family Cheirogaleidae: three genera and four species.]

dwarf planet

noun

[Astronomy] a celestial body resembling a small planet but lacking certain technical criteria that are required for it to be classed as such.

dweeb /dwēb/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a boring, studious, or socially inept person.

II. derivatives

1. dweebish

adjective

2. dweeby

adjective

– origin 1980s: perhaps a blend of dwarf and early-20th-cent. feeb ‘a feebleminded person’ (from feeble).

dwell /dwel/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. [with adverbial of place] — ‹formal› live in or at a specified place

• groups of gypsies still dwell in these caves.

2. (dwell on/upon) — think, speak, or write at length about (a particular subject, especially one that is a source of unhappiness, anxiety, or dissatisfaction)

• I've got better things to do than dwell on the past.

3. (dwell on/upon) — (of one's eyes or attention) linger on (a particular object or place)

• she let her eyes dwell on them for a moment.

II. noun

‹technical› a slight regular pause in the motion of a machine.

– origin Old English dwellan ‘lead astray, hinder, delay’ (in Middle English ‘tarry, remain in a place’), of Germanic origin; related to Middle Dutch dwellen ‘stun, perplex’ and Old Norse dvelja ‘delay, tarry, stay.’

dweller /ˈdwelər/

noun

a person or animal that lives in or at a specified place

• city dwellers

• the majority of urban dwellers live in small apartments.

dwelling /ˈdweliNG / dwelling place

noun

‹formal› a house, apartment, or other place of residence.

dwelling house /ˈdweliNG ˌhous/

noun

[Law] a house used as a residence and not for business purposes.

dwell time

noun

‹technical› time spent in the same position, area, or stage of a process

• dwell time at US airports has reached a new high—almost 70 minutes.

DWEM

abbreviation

dead white European male.

DWI

abbreviation

(US) driving while intoxicated.

dwindle /ˈdwindl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. diminish gradually in size, amount, or strength

• traffic has dwindled to a trickle

• (as adj. dwindling) dwindling resources.

– origin late 16th cent.: frequentative of Scots and dialect dwine ‘fade away,’ from Old English dwīnan, of Germanic origin; related to Middle Dutch dwīnen and Old Norse dvína.

DWM

abbreviation

1. (in personal ads) divorced white male.

2. dead white male.

dwt

abbreviation

1. dead-weight tonnage

• a 40,000 dwt slipway.

2. pennyweight.

DX

abbreviation

[Telecommunications] distance or distant.

Dy

symbol

the chemical element dysprosium.

dyad /ˈdīad/

I. noun

1. ‹technical› something that consists of two elements or parts

• the mother–child dyad.

2. ‹technical› [Mathematics] an operator that is a combination of two vectors.

3. ‹technical› [Chemistry] a divalent atom or radical.

II. derivatives

dyadic /dīˈadik /

adjective

– origin late 17th cent. (originally denoting the number two or a pair): from late Latin dyas, dyad-, from Greek duas, from duo ‘two.’ Current senses date from the late 19th cent.

dybbuk /ˈdibək/

I. noun

(in Jewish folklore) a malevolent wandering spirit that enters and possesses the body of a living person until exorcized.

– origin from Yiddish dibek, from Hebrew dibbūq, from dāḇaq ‘cling.’

dye /dī/

I. noun

a natural or synthetic substance used to add a color to or change the color of something.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. add a color to or change the color of (something) by soaking it in a solution impregnated with a dye
[with complement]

• I dyed my hair blonde

• (as adj. dyed) dyed black hair.

2. [no obj.] — take color well or badly during a dyeing process

• it's good material—it should dye well.

III. phrases

dyed in the wool

unchanging in a particular belief or opinion; inveterate

• she's a dyed-in-the-wool conservative.

[with allusion to the fact that yarn was dyed in the raw state, producing a more even and permanent color.]

IV. derivatives

dyeable

adjective

– origin Old English dēag (noun), dēagian (verb). The noun is not recorded from Old English to the late 16th cent., when it was re-formed from the verb.

dye laser

noun

a tunable laser using the fluorescence of an organic dye.

dyeline /ˈdīlīn/

noun

another term for diazo.

dyer /ˈdīər/

noun

a person whose trade is the dyeing of cloth or other material.

dyer's greenweed

noun

a bushy, yellow-flowered Eurasian plant of the pea family, which has become naturalized in North America. The flowers were formerly used to make a yellow or green dye.
[Genista tinctoria, family Leguminosae.]

dyer's oak

noun

another term for valonia.

dyer's rocket

noun

another term for weld^2.

dyestuff /ˈdīˌstəf/

noun

a substance that yields a dye or that can be used as a dye, especially when in solution.

dying /ˈdīiNG/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. on the point of death

• he visited his dying mother.

2. occurring at or connected with the time that someone dies

• he strained to catch her dying words.

3. gradually ceasing to exist or function; in decline and about to disappear

• stone-cutting is a dying art

• the dying embers of the fire.

II. phrases

to one's dying day

for the rest of one's life

• I shall remember that to my dying day.

– origin late 16th cent.: present participle of die^1.

dyke^1 /dīk/

I. noun

‹informal› ‹offensive› a lesbian.

II. derivatives

dykey

adjective

– origin 1940s (earlier as bulldyke): of unknown origin.

dyke^2 /dīk/

noun

variant spelling of dike^1.

Dylan, Bob /ˈdilən/

(1941–), US singer and songwriter; born Robert Allen Zimmerman. The leader of an urban folk-music revival in the 1960s, he became known for political and protest songs, such as “The Times They Are A-Changin” (1964). Notable albums: Highway 61 Revisited (1965) and Blood on the Tracks (1975).

dyn

abbreviation

dyne.

dynamic /dīˈnamik/

I. adjective

1. (of a process or system) characterized by constant change, activity, or progress

• a dynamic economy.

2. (of a person) positive in attitude and full of energy and new ideas

• she's dynamic and determined.

3. [Physics] of or relating to forces producing motion.
Often contrasted with static.

4. [Linguistics] (of a verb) expressing an action, activity, event, or process.
Contrasted with stative.

5. denoting or relating to web pages that update frequently or are generated according to an individual's search terms

• the dynamic content of these sites keeps their audience informed and up to date.

6. [Electronics] (of a memory device) needing to be refreshed by the periodic application of a voltage.

7. [Electronics] of or relating to the volume of sound produced by a voice, instrument, or sound recording equipment.

8. [Music] relating to the volume of sound produced by an instrument, voice, or recording

• an astounding dynamic range.

II. noun

1. a force that stimulates change or progress within a system or process

• evaluation is part of the basic dynamic of the project.

2. [Music] another term for dynamics (sense 3).

III. derivatives

dynamical /dīˈnamək(ə)l /

adjective

– origin early 19th cent. (as a term in physics): from French dynamique, from Greek dunamikos, from dunamis ‘power.’

dynamically /dīˈnaməklē/

adverb

1. in a manner characterized by constant change, activity, or progress

• this situation can change dynamically on the timescale of minutes

• plants must respond dynamically to environmental changes.

2. in a way that relates to motion

• these bones act dynamically to allow oppositional grip.

3. [Computing] used in relation to web pages that update frequently or are generated according to an individual's search terms

• a robust, dynamically generated website

• dynamically linked versions of the browser.

4. in a positive, energetic, and innovative manner

• innovative openings were often dynamically charged

• the chairman will continue to act dynamically.

5. [Music] in a way that relates to the volume of sound produced by an instrument, voice, or recording

• the stereo mix is clearer and more dynamically sound

• the playing wasn't dynamically varied.

dynamic equilibrium

noun

a state of balance between continuing processes.

dynamic link library

noun

see DLL.

dynamic metamorphism

noun

[Geology] metamorphism produced by mechanical forces.

dynamic pricing

noun

the practice of pricing items at a level determined by a particular customer's perceived ability to pay.

dynamic range

noun

1. the range of acceptable or possible volumes of sound occurring in the course of a piece of music or a performance.

2. the ratio of the largest to the smallest intensity of sound that can be reliably transmitted or reproduced by a particular sound system, measured in decibels.

dynamics /dīˈnamiks/

I. plural noun

1. [treated as sing.] — the branch of mechanics concerned with the motion of bodies under the action of forces.
Compare with statics.

2. [usu. with modifier] — the branch of any science in which forces or changes are considered

• chemical dynamics.

3. the forces or properties that stimulate growth, development, or change within a system or process

• the dynamics of changing social relations.

4. [Music] the varying levels of volume of sound in different parts of a musical performance.

II. derivatives

dynamicist /-ˈnaməsist /

noun

dynamics (sense 1)

dynamic viscosity

noun

a quantity measuring the force needed to overcome internal friction in a fluid.

dynamism /ˈdīnəˌmizəm/

I. noun

1. the quality of being characterized by vigorous activity and progress

• the dynamism and strength of the economy.

2. the quality of being dynamic and positive in attitude

• he was known for his dynamism and strong views.

3. [Philosophy] ‹historical› the theory that phenomena of matter or mind are due to the action of forces rather than to motion or matter.

II. derivatives

dynamist

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek dunamis ‘power’ + -ism.

dynamite /ˈdīnəˌmīt/

I. noun

1. a high explosive consisting of nitroglycerine mixed with an absorbent material and typically molded into sticks.

2. something that has the potential to generate extreme reactions or to have devastating repercussions

• that policy is political dynamite.

3. ‹informal› an extremely impressive or exciting person or thing

• both her albums are dynamite

• [as modifier] a chick with a dynamite figure.

4. ‹informal› ‹dated› a narcotic, especially heroin.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. blow up (something) with dynamite.

III. derivatives

dynamiter

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek dunamis ‘power’ + -ite^1.

dynamo /ˈdīnəˌmō/

I. noun

1. a machine for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy; a generator.

2. ‹informal› an extremely energetic person

• she was a dynamo in London politics.

– origin late 19th cent.: abbreviation of dynamo-electric machine, from Greek dunamis ‘power.’

dynamometer /ˌdīnəˈmämədər/

I. noun

an instrument that measures the power output of an engine.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French dynamomètre, from Greek dunamis ‘power’ + French -mètre ‘(instrument) measuring.’

dynast /ˈdīnast ˈdīnəst/

I. noun

a member of a powerful family, especially a hereditary ruler.

– origin mid 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek dunastēs, from dunasthai ‘be able.’

dynastic /dīˈnastik/

I. adjective

1. relating to a line of hereditary rulers of a country

• the last dynastic rulers of Rome

• dynastic monarchies.

2. relating to a succession of people from the same family who play a prominent role in business, politics, or another field

• the plot concerns the dynastic struggles of two brothers.

II. derivatives

dynastically /dīˈnastiklē /

adverb

dynasty /ˈdīnəstē/

I. noun

1. a line of hereditary rulers of a country

• the Tang dynasty.

2. a succession of people from the same family who play a prominent role in business, politics, or another field

• the Ford dynasty.

– origin late Middle English: from French dynastie, or via late Latin from Greek dunasteia ‘lordship, power,’ from dunastēs (see dynast).

dyne /dīn/

I. noun

[Physics] a unit of force that, acting on a mass of one gram, increases its velocity by one centimeter per second every second along the direction that it acts.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French, from Greek dunamis ‘force, power.’

dyno /ˈdīnō/

I. noun

1. short for dynamometer.

2. [Climbing] a rapid move across a rock face in order to reach a hold.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — measure (the output of an engine) with a dynamometer.

2. [no obj.] — (in mountaineering) climb using dynos.

dys-

I. combining form

bad; difficult (used especially in medical terms)

• dyspepsia

• dysphasia.

– origin from Greek dus-; related to German zer-, also to Old English to-.

dysarthria /disˈärTHrēə/

I. noun

[Medicine] difficult or unclear articulation of speech that is otherwise linguistically normal.

– origin late 19th cent.: from dys- ‘difficult’ + Greek arthron ‘joint or articulation.’

dyscalculia /ˌdiskalˈkyo͞olēə/

noun

[Psychiatry] severe difficulty in making arithmetical calculations, as a result of brain disorder.

dyscrasia /dəˈskrāZH(ē)ə/

I. noun

[Medicine] an abnormal or disordered state of the body or of a bodily part.

II. derivatives

dyscrasic /-ˈkrazik /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (denoting an imbalance of physical qualities): via late Latin from Greek duskrasia ‘bad combination,’ from dus- ‘bad’ + krasis ‘mixture.’

dysentery /ˈdis(ə)nˌterē/

I. noun

infection of the intestines resulting in severe diarrhea with the presence of blood and mucus in the feces.
[bacterial dysentery is caused by bacteria of the genus Shigella and can also spread by contact (see amoebic dysentery, shigella).]

II. derivatives

dysenteric /ˌdisnˈterik /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French dissenterie, or via Latin from Greek dusenteria, from dusenteros ‘afflicted in the bowels,’ from dus- ‘bad’ + entera ‘bowels.’

dysfunction /ˌdisˈfəNG(k)SH(ə)n/

noun

1. abnormality or impairment in the function of a specified bodily organ or system

• bowel dysfunction.

2. deviation from the norms of social behavior in a way regarded as bad

• inner-city dysfunction.

dysfunctional /ˌdisˈfəNG(k)SH(ə)nl/

I. adjective

1. not operating normally or properly

• the telephones are dysfunctional.

2. deviating from the norms of social behavior in a way regarded as bad

• an emotionally dysfunctional businessman

• dysfunctional families.

II. derivatives

1. dysfunctionality

noun

2. dysfunctionally

adverb

dysgenic /disˈjenik/

adjective

exerting a detrimental effect on later generations through the inheritance of undesirable characteristics

• dysgenic breeding.

dysgraphia /disˈɡrafēə/

I. noun

[Medicine] inability to write coherently, as a symptom of brain disease or damage.

II. derivatives

dysgraphic /-ˈɡrafik /

adjective

– origin 1930s: from dys- ‘difficult’ + Greek -graphia ‘writing.’

dyskinesia /ˌdiskiˈnēZH(ē)ə disˌkīˈnēZH(ē)ə/

I. noun

[Medicine] abnormality or impairment of voluntary movement.

II. derivatives

dyskinetic /-ˈnetik /

adjective

dyslalia /disˈlālēə/

I. noun

[Medicine] inability to articulate comprehensible speech, especially when associated with the use of private words or sounds.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from dys- ‘difficult’ + Greek lalia ‘speech.’

dyslexia /dəsˈleksēə/

I. noun

a general term for disorders that involve difficulty in learning to read or interpret words, letters, and other symbols, but that do not affect general intelligence.

II. derivatives

dyslectic /-ˈlektik /

adjective, noun

– origin late 19th cent.: coined in German from dys- ‘difficult’ + Greek lexis ‘speech’ (apparently by confusion of Greek legein ‘to speak’ and Latin legere ‘to read’).

dyslexic /dəsˈleksik / dyslectic

I. adjective

relating to or affected by dyslexia

• dyslexic children perform well in oral tests.

II. noun

a person who has dyslexia

• dyslexics can have difficulty writing by hand.

dysmenorrhea /ˌdismenəˈrēə / ‹Brit.› dysmenorrhoea

noun

[Medicine] painful menstruation, typically involving abdominal cramps.

dysmorphia /disˈmôrfēə/

I. noun

[Medicine] deformity or abnormality in the shape or size of a specified part of the body

• muscle dysmorphia.

II. derivatives

dysmorphic

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek dusmorphia ‘misshapenness, ugliness,’ from dus- dys- + morphē ‘form.’

dyspareunia /ˌdispəˈro͞onēə/

I. noun

[Medicine] difficult or painful sexual intercourse.

– origin late 19th cent.: from dys- ‘difficult’ + Greek pareunos ‘lying with.’

dyspepsia /disˈpepsēə disˈpepSHə/

I. noun

indigestion.

– origin early 18th cent.: via Latin from Greek duspepsia, from duspeptos ‘difficult to digest.’

dyspeptic /disˈpeptik/

I. adjective

of or having indigestion or consequent irritability or depression.

II. noun

a person who suffers from indigestion or irritability.

dysphagia /ˌdisˈfāj(ē)ə/

I. noun

[Medicine] difficulty or discomfort in swallowing, as a symptom of disease

• progressive dysphagia.

– origin late 18th cent.: modern Latin, from dys- + Greek phagia ‘eating’ (from phagein ‘eat’).

dysphasia /ˌdisˈfāZH(ē)ə disˈfāzēə/

I. noun

[Medicine] language disorder marked by deficiency in the generation of speech, and sometimes also in its comprehension, due to brain disease or damage.

II. derivatives

dysphasic /-ˈfāzik /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek dusphatos ‘hard to utter,’ from dus- ‘difficult’ + phatos ‘spoken.’

dysphemism /ˈdisfəˌmizəm/

noun

a derogatory or unpleasant term used instead of a pleasant or neutral one, such as “loony bin” for “mental hospital.”
The opposite of euphemism.

dysphonia /disˈfōnēə/

noun

[Medicine] difficulty in speaking due to a physical disorder of the mouth, tongue, throat, or vocal cords.

dysphoria /disˈfôrēə/

I. noun

[Psychiatry] a state of unease or generalized dissatisfaction with life.
The opposite of euphoria.

II. derivatives

dysphoric /-ˈfôrik /

adjective, noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek dusphoria, from dusphoros ‘hard to bear.’

dysplasia /disˈplāZH(ē)ə/

I. noun

[Medicine] the enlargement of an organ or tissue by the proliferation of cells of an abnormal type, as a developmental disorder or an early stage in the development of cancer.

– origin 1930s: from dys- ‘bad’ + Greek plasis ‘formation.’

dysplastic /disˈplastik/

adjective

1. exhibiting dysplasia.

2. (of dogs) having malformed joints resulting from a genetic condition.

3. (of moles) generally larger and with irregular and indistinct borders; often symptomatic of melanoma.

dyspnea /dispˈnēə / ‹Brit.› dyspnoea

I. noun

[Medicine] difficult or labored breathing.

II. derivatives

dyspneic /dispˈnēik /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek duspnoia, from dus- ‘difficult’ + pnoē ‘breathing.’

dyspraxia /disˈpraksēə/

I. noun

another term for apraxia.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Greek dus- ‘bad or difficult’ + praxis ‘action.’

dysprosium /disˈprōzēəm/

I. noun

(Symbol: Dy) — the chemical element of atomic number 66, a soft silvery-white metal of the lanthanide series.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek dusprositos ‘hard to get at’ + -ium.

dysregulation /ˌdisreɡ(y)əˈlāSHən/

noun

abnormality or impairment in the regulation of a metabolic, physiological, or psychological process

• family dysfunction may contribute to emotional dysregulation

• the phenomenon of narcolepsy can be understood in terms of a dysregulation of rapid eye movement sleep.

dysrhythmia /disˈriT͟Hmēə/

I. noun

[Medicine] abnormality in a physiological rhythm, especially in the activity of the brain or heart.

II. derivatives

1. dysrhythmic /-mik /

adjective

2. dysrhythmical /-mikəl /

adjective

dysthymia /disˈTHīmēə/

I. noun

[Psychiatry] persistent mild depression.

II. derivatives

dysthymic /-ˈTHīmik /

adjective, noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek dusthumia.

dystocia /dəˈstōSH(ē)ə/

I. noun

[Medicine] [Veterinary Medicine] difficult birth, typically caused by a large or awkwardly positioned fetus, by smallness of the maternal pelvis, or by failure of the uterus and cervix to contract and expand normally.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Greek dustokia, from dus- ‘difficult’ + tokos ‘childbirth.’

dystonia /dəˈstōnēə/

I. noun

[Medicine] a state of abnormal muscle tone resulting in muscular spasm and abnormal posture, typically due to neurological disease or a side effect of drug therapy.

II. derivatives

dystonic /disˈtänik /

adjective

dystopia /disˈtōpēə/

I. noun

an imagined place or state in which everything is unpleasant or bad, typically a totalitarian or environmentally degraded one.
Compare with utopia.

– origin late 18th cent.: from dys- ‘bad’ + utopia.

dystopian /disˈtōpēən/

I. adjective

relating to or denoting an imagined place or state in which everything is unpleasant or bad, typically a totalitarian or environmentally degraded one

• the dystopian future of a society bereft of reason

• the utopian dream that became a dystopian nightmare.

II. noun

a person who advocates or describes an imagined place or state in which everything is unpleasant or bad

• a lot of things those dystopians feared did not come true.

dystrophic /disˈträfik/

I. adjective

1. [Medicine] affected by or relating to dystrophy, especially muscular dystrophy.

2. [Ecology] (of a lake) having brown acidic water that is low in oxygen and supports little life, owing to high levels of dissolved humus.
Compare with eutrophic and oligotrophic.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek dus- ‘bad’ + -trophia ‘nourishment’ + -ic.

dystrophin /disˈtrōfin/

noun

[Biochemistry] a protein found in skeletal muscle, which is absent in sufferers from muscular dystrophy.

dystrophy /ˈdistrəfē/

I. noun

1. [Medicine] [Veterinary Medicine] a disorder in which an organ or tissue of the body wastes away.
See also muscular dystrophy.

2. [Medicine] impaired nourishment of a bodily part.

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin dystrophia, from Greek dus- ‘bad’ + -trophia ‘nourishment.’

dysuria /dəˈSHo͝orēə/

I. noun

[Medicine] painful or difficult urination.

– origin late Middle English: via late Latin from Greek dusouria, from dus- ‘difficult’ + ouron ‘urine.’

DZ

abbreviation

drop zone

• used parachutes were scattered across the DZ.

dz.

abbreviation

dozen.

Dzaudzhikau /ˌdzouˌjēˈkou/

former name (1944–54) of Vladikavkaz.

Dzerzhinsk /dzirˈZHēnsk/

a city in western central Russia, west of Nizhni Novgorod; pop. 247,500 (est. 2008).
Former names Chernorechye (until 1919) and Rastyapino (1919–29).

dzo /ZHō/

I. noun

a hybrid of a cow and a yak.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Tibetan ṃdso.

Dzongkha /ˈzôNGkə/

noun

the official language of Bhutan, closely related to Tibetan.

e /ē/

symbol

1. (also e−) — [Chemistry] an electron.

2. (e) — [Mathematics] the transcendental number that is the base of Napierian or natural logarithms, approximately equal to 2.71828.

E^1 /ē / e

noun

1. the fifth letter of the alphabet.

2. denoting the fifth in a set of items, categories, sizes, etc.

3. (e) — [Chess] denoting the fifth file from the left, as viewed from White's side of the board.

4. denoting the lowest-earning socioeconomic category for marketing purposes.

5. (E) — a shape like that of a capital E
[in combination]

• an E-shaped stately home.

6. (usu. E) — [Music] the third note of the diatonic scale of C major.

7. a key based on a scale with E as its keynote.

E^2 /ē/

I. abbreviation

1. Earth.

2. East or Eastern

• 139° E.

3. Easter.

4. ‹informal› the drug Ecstasy or a tablet of Ecstasy.

5. engineer or engineering.

6. English.

7. (also e) [in combination] — electronic

• E-commerce.

II. symbol

1. [Physics] electric field strength.

2. [Physics] electromotive force.

3. [Physics] energy

• E = mc^2.

E^3 /ē/

symbol

(€) — euro(s).

e-1 /i/

prefix

variant spelling of ex-1 (as in elect, emit).

e-2 /i/

I. prefix

(also E-) — denoting something in electronic form, especially the use of electronic data transfer for information exchange and financial transactions via the Internet

• e-business

• e-cash

• e-world

• e-zine.

– origin from electronic, on the pattern of email.

ea.

abbreviation

each (used especially when giving retail prices)

• T-shirts for $9.95 ea.

each /ēCH/

I. determiner, pronoun

used to refer to every one of two or more people or things, regarded and identified separately
[as determiner]

• each battery is in a separate compartment

• each one of us was asked what went on

• [as pronoun] Doug had money from each of his five uncles

• they each have their own personality.

II. adverb

to, for, or by every one of a group (used after a noun or an amount)

• they cost $35 each

• Paul and Bill have a glass each.

III. phrases

each and every

every single (used for emphasis)

• taking each and every opportunity.

– origin Old English ǣlc; related to Dutch elk and German jeglich, based on a West Germanic phrase meaning ‘ever alike’ (see aye^2, alike).

each other /ēCH ˈəT͟Hər/

pronoun

used to refer to each member of a group when each does something to or for other members

• they communicate with each other in French.

Eagan /ˈēɡən/

a city in southeastern Minnesota, just south of St. Paul; pop. 63,985 (est. 2008).

eager /ˈēɡər/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) wanting to do or have something very much

• the man was eager to please

• young intellectuals eager for knowledge.

2. (of a person's expression or tone of voice) characterized by keen expectancy or interest

• small eager faces looked up and listened.

– origin Middle English (also in the sense ‘sharp to the senses, pungent, sour’): from Old French aigre ‘keen,’ from Latin acer, acr- ‘sharp, pungent.’ / usage: See usage at anxious.

eager beaver /ˈˌēɡər ˈbēvər/

noun

‹informal› a keen and enthusiastic person who works very hard.

eagerly /ˈēɡərlē/

adverb

1. used to emphasize a strong desire to do or have something

• original illustrations are eagerly sought by collectors.

2. in a keenly expectant or interested manner

• fans of the show are eagerly awaiting the new season.

eagerness /ˈēɡərnəs/

noun

enthusiasm to do or to have something; keenness

• the player showed eagerness to play.

eagle /ˈēɡəl/

I. noun

1. a large bird of prey with a massive hooked bill and long broad wings, renowned for its keen sight and powerful soaring flight.
[Family Accipitridae: several genera, in particular Aquila.]

2. a figure of an eagle, especially as a symbol of the US, or formerly as a Roman or French ensign.

3. [Golf] a score of two strokes under par at a hole.
[suggested by birdie.]

4. (US) in the US, a former gold coin worth ten dollars.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Golf] play (a hole) in two strokes under par

• he eagled the last to share fourth place.

– origin Middle English: from Old French aigle, from Latin aquila.

eagle eye /ˈˌēɡəl ˈī/

noun

a keen or close watch

• she was keeping an eagle eye on Laura.

eagle-eyed /ˌēɡəlˈīd/

adjective

quick to notice things; observant

• an eagle-eyed reader spotted the error in last week's column.

eagle owl /ˈēɡəl oul/

noun

a very large Old World owl with ear tufts and a deep hoot.
[Genus Bubo, family Strigidae: several species, in particular the Eurasian B. bubo.]

Eagle Pass

a city in southwestern Texas, on the Rio Grande; pop. 26,668 (est. 2008).

eagle ray /ˈēɡəl rā/

noun

a large marine ray with long pointed pectoral fins, a long tail, and a distinct head.
[Family Myliobatidae: genera Myliobatis and Aetobatus, and several species.]

eaglet /ˈēɡlət/

noun

a young eagle.

eagre /ˈēɡər/

I. noun

dialect term for bore^3.

– origin early 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

Eakins, Thomas /ˈākinz/

(1844–1916), US painter and photographer. He is known for his portraits and genre pictures of life in Philadelphia. The Gross Clinic (1875) aroused controversy because of its explicit depiction of surgery.

-ean

I. suffix

forming adjectives and nouns such as Antipodean, Joycean, and Pythagorean.
Compare with -an.

– origin from Latin -aeus, -eus or Greek -aios, -eios, + -an.

ear^1 /ir/

I. noun

1. the organ of hearing and balance in humans and other vertebrates, especially the external part of this.

2. an organ sensitive to sound in other animals.

3. [in sing.] — an ability to recognize, appreciate, and reproduce sounds, especially music or language

• an ear for melody.

4. used to refer to a person's willingness to listen and pay attention to something

• she offers a sympathetic ear to worried pet owners.

5. an ear-shaped thing, especially the handle of a jug.

The ear of a mammal is composed of three parts. The outer or external ear consists of a fleshy external flap and a tube leading to the eardrum or tympanum. The middle ear is an air-filled cavity connected to the throat, containing three small linked bones that transmit vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear. The inner ear is a complex fluid-filled labyrinth including the spiral cochlea (where vibrations are converted to nerve impulses) and the three semicircular canals (forming the organ of balance). The ears of other vertebrates are broadly similar.

II. phrases

1. be all ears

‹informal› be listening eagerly and attentively.

2. bring something (down) about one's ears

bring something, especially misfortune, on oneself

• she brought her world crashing about her ears.

3. one's ears are burning

one is subconsciously aware of being talked about or criticized.

4. grin (or smile) from ear to ear

smile broadly.

5. have something coming out of one's ears

‹informal› have a substantial or excessive amount of something

• that man's got money coming out of his ears.

6. have someone's ear

have access to and influence with someone

• he claimed to have the prime minister's ear.

7. have (or keep) an ear to the ground

be well informed about events and trends.

8. in one ear and out the other

heard but disregarded or quickly forgotten

• whatever he tells me seems to go in one ear and out the other.

9. listen with half an ear

not give one's full attention.

10. be out on one's ear

‹informal› be dismissed or ejected ignominiously.

11. up to one's ears in

‹informal› very busy with or deeply involved in

• I'm up to my ears in work here.

III. derivatives

1. eared /ird /

adjective

[in combination]

• long-eared

2. earless /ˈirləs /

adjective

– origin Old English ēare, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch oor and German Ohr, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin auris and Greek ous.

ear^2 /ir/

I. noun

1. the seed-bearing head or spike of a cereal plant.

2. (N. Amer.) a head of corn.

– origin Old English ēar, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch aar and German Ähre.

earache /ˈirˌāk/

noun

pain inside the ear.
Also called otalgia.

earbud /ˈirbəd/

noun

a very small headphone, worn inside the ear.

ear candle

noun

a hollow cone-shaped tube of wax-coated paper or other material, made for use in ear candling.

ear candling /ˈir ˌkand(ə)liNG / ear coning

noun

a form of alternative therapy in which the tapered end of an ear candle is placed in a person's ear while the other end of the candle is lit, in the belief that earwax and other impurities are drawn out of the ear canal by a partial vacuum created by the candle flame.

• the Spa menu includes colonics, ear candling, and body brushing performed with an oak-leaf broom.

ear candy

noun

light popular music that is pleasant and entertaining but intellectually unchallenging

• the album is mostly ear candy—upbeat melodies and catchy choruses that you can't get out of your head.

ear drops /ˈi(ə)r ˌdräps/

plural noun

1. liquid medication to be applied in small amounts to the ear.

2. (eardrops) — hanging earrings.

eardrum /ˈirˌdrəm/

noun

a membrane of the middle ear that vibrates in response to sound waves; the tympanic membrane.

earflap /ˈirflap/

noun

a flap of material on a hat or cap, covering the ear.

earful /ˈirˌfo͝ol/

noun — [in sing.]

1. ‹informal› a loud blast of a noise

• an earful of static.

2. ‹informal› a prolonged amount of talking, typically an angry reprimand

• he gave his players an earful at halftime.

Earhart, Amelia /ˈe(ə)rˌhärt/

(1897–1937?), US aviator; full name Amelia Mary Earhart. In 1932, she became the first woman to fly an airplane across the Atlantic Ocean by herself. In 1937, her plane disappeared somewhere over the Pacific Ocean during an around-the-world flight.

earhole /ˈirˌhōl/

noun

1. the external opening of the ear

• seals can close their earholes under water.

2. ‹informal› a person's ear.

earl /ˈər(ə)l/

I. noun

a British nobleman ranking above a viscount and below a marquess.

– origin Old English eorl, of Germanic origin. The word earl originally denoted a man of noble rank, as opposed to a churl; also the word denoted specifically a hereditary nobleman directly above the rank of thane. It was later an equivalent of jarl and, under Canute and his successors, applied to the governor of divisions of England such as Wessex and Mercia. In the late Old English period, as the Saxon court came increasingly under Norman influence, the word was applied to any nobleman bearing the continental title of count (see count^2).

earldom /ˈərldəm/

noun

1. the rank or title of an earl.

2. ‹historical› the territory governed by an earl.

earless lizard /ˌirləs ˈlizərd/

noun

a small, long-legged burrowing lizard without visible external ear openings, native to North America.
[Holbrookia texana, family Iguanidae.]

Earl Grey

I. noun

a kind of China tea flavored with bergamot.

– origin probably named after the 2nd Earl Grey (1764–1845).

earlobe /ˈirlōb/

noun

the soft, fleshy lower part of the external ear.

earlock /ˈirläk/

noun

a lock of hair over or above the ear.

earl palatine

noun

‹historical› an earl having royal authority within his country or domain.

early /ˈərlē/

I. adjective

1. happening or done before the usual or expected time

• we ate an early lunch.

2. (of a plant or crop) flowering or ripening before other varieties

• early potatoes.

3. happening, belonging to, or done near the beginning of a particular time or period

• an early goal secured victory.

4. done or occurring near the beginning of the day

• we agreed to meet at 6 a.m. to get an early start.

5. denoting or belonging to the beginning or opening stages of a historical period, cultural movement, or sphere of activity

• early Impressionism.

6. occurring at the beginning of a sequence

• the earlier chapters of the book.

II. adverb

1. before the usual or expected time

• I was planning to finish work early today.

2. near the beginning of a particular time or period

• we lost a couple of games early in the season.

3. near the beginning of the day

• I wrote this piece early one morning.

4. (earlier) — before the present time or before the time one is referring to

• you met my husband earlier.

III. phrases

1. at the earliest

not before the time or date specified

• the table won't be delivered until next week at the earliest.

2. early bird

‹humorous› a person who rises, arrives, or acts before the usual or expected time.

3. an early grave

a premature or untimely death

• he worked himself into an early grave.

4. the early hours

the time after midnight and before dawn.

5. an early night

an occasion when someone goes to bed before the usual time.

6. early (or earlier) on

at an early (or earlier) stage in a particular time or period

• they discovered early on that the published data were wrong.

IV. derivatives

earliness /ˈərlēnəs /

noun

– origin Old English (as an adverb) ǣrlīce (see ere, -ly^2), influenced by Old Norse árliga. The adjective use dates from Middle English.

Early, Jubal /ˈərlē/

(1816–94), Confederate army officer; full name Jubal Anderson Early. He nearly reached Washington, DC, in an 1864 raid, but was defeated several months later by Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley and was relieved of his command.

early adopter

noun

a person who starts using a product or technology as soon as it becomes available.

Early English

adjective

denoting the earliest stage of English Gothic church architecture, typical of the late 12th and 13th centuries and marked by the use of pointed arches and simple lancet windows without tracery.

early immersion

noun

(in Canada) a method of teaching a foreign language in schools, in which students begin instruction at a young age and are taught primarily in that language

• research shows that early immersion is the best way to become fluent in French

• [as modifier] early immersion students tend to develop higher levels of second language proficiency.

early music

noun

medieval, Renaissance, and early baroque music, especially as revived and played on period instruments.

early retirement

noun

the practice of leaving employment before the statutory age, especially on favorable financial terms.

early warning system

noun

1. a network of radar stations established at the boundary of a defended region to provide advanced warning of an aircraft or missile attack.

2. a condition, system, or series of procedures indicating a potential development or impending problem.

earmark /ˈirˌmärk/

I. noun

1. a characteristic or identifying feature

• this car has all the earmarks of a classic.

2. (US) a congressional directive that funds should be spent on a specific project.

3. a mark on the ear of a domesticated animal indicating ownership or identity.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. designate (something, typically funds or resources) for a particular purpose

• the new money will be earmarked for cancer research.

2. mark the ear of (an animal) as a sign of ownership or identity.

earmuffs /ˈirˌməfs/

plural noun

a pair of soft fabric coverings, connected by a band across the top of the head, that are worn over the ears to protect them from cold or noise.

earn /ərn/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a person) obtain (money) in return for labor or services

• they earn $35 per hour

• he now earns his living as a truck driver.

2. [with two objs.] — (of an activity or action) cause (someone) to obtain (money)

• this latest win earned them $50,000 in prize money.

3. (of capital invested) gain (money) as interest or profit.

4. gain or incur deservedly in return for one's behavior or achievements

• through the years she has earned affection and esteem.

II. phrases

earn one's keep

a. work in return for food and accommodations.

b. be worth the time, money, or effort spent on one.

III. phrasal verbs

earn out (or earn something out)

(of an author, book, recording artist, etc.) generate sufficient income through sales to equal the amount paid in an advance or royalty

• my experience is that most authors don't earn out

• don't confuse earning out the advance with being profitable.

– origin Old English earnian, from a base shared by Old English esne ‘laborer.’

earned income

noun

money derived from paid work.
Often contrasted with unearned income.

earned run

noun

[Baseball] a run scored without the aid of errors by the team in the field (i.e., by hits, walks, and outs that advance base runners).

earned run average

noun

[Baseball] a statistic used to measure a pitcher's effectiveness, obtained by calculating the average number of earned runs scored against the pitcher in every nine innings pitched.

earner /ˈərnər/

noun — [with adj. or noun modifier]

1. a person who obtains money in return for labor or services

• higher rates of income tax for high earners

• a wage earner.

2. an activity or product that brings in income of a specified kind or level

• tobacco is a major foreign currency earner.

earnest^1 /ˈərnəst/

I. adjective

resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction

• an earnest student

• two girls were in earnest conversation.

II. phrases

in earnest

a. occurring to a greater extent or more intensely than before

• after Labor Day the campaign begins in earnest.

b. (of a person) sincere and serious in behavior or convictions.

III. derivatives

earnestly /ˈərnəs(t)lē /

adverb

– origin Old English eornoste (adjective), eornost (noun), of Germanic origin; related to German Ernst (noun).

earnest^2 /ˈərnəst/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. a thing intended or regarded as a sign or promise of what is to come

• the presence of the troops is an earnest of the world's desire not to see the conflict repeated elsewhere.

– origin Middle English ernes, literally ‘installment paid to confirm a contract,’ based on Old French erres, from Latin arra, shortened form of arrabo ‘a pledge.’ The spelling was influenced by words ending in -ness; the final -t is probably by association with earnest^1.

earnest money

noun

(chiefly US) money paid to confirm a contract.

earnestness /ˈərnəs(t)nəs/

noun

sincere and intense conviction

• he tells his story with intense earnestness

• the deadly earnestness of the conversation.

Earnhardt, Dale /ˈərnˌhärt/

(1951–2001), US stock car driver; full name Ralph Dale Earnhardt. He raced professionally and set many records from 1979 until an accident during the Daytona 500 took his life in February 2001.

earnings /ˈərniNGz/

plural noun

1. money obtained in return for labor or services.

2. income derived from an investment or product

• savers who are attracted by the tax-free earnings.

earn-out

noun

a provision written into some financial transactions whereby the seller of a business will receive additional payments based on the future performance of the business sold.

Earp, Wyatt /ərp/

(1848–1929), US marshal and frontiersman; full name Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp. He is best known for the gunfight at the OK Corral (1881), in which he, his brothers, and his friend Doc Holliday fought the Clanton brothers at Tombstone, Arizona.

earphone /ˈirfōn/

noun — (usu. earphones)

1. an electrical device worn on the ear to receive radio or telephone communications or to listen to a radio, MP3 player, etc., without other people hearing.

earpiece /ˈirˌpēs/

noun

1. the part of a telephone, radio receiver, or other aural device that is applied to the ear during use.

2. the part of a pair of glasses that fits around the ear.

ear-piercing /ˈi(ə)r ˌpi(ə)rsiNG/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. loud and shrill

• the alarm emits an ear-piercing screech.

II. noun

the practice of making holes in the lobes or edges of the ears to allow the wearing of earrings.

earplug /ˈirˌpləɡ/

noun — (usu. earplugs)

1. a piece of wax, rubber, or cotton placed in the ear as protection against noise or water.

2. ‹historical› an ornament worn in the lobe of the ear.

earring /ˈirˌ(r)iNG/

noun

a piece of jewelry worn on the lobe or edge of the ear.

ear shell /ˈir ˌSHel/

noun

another term for abalone.

earshot /ˈirˌSHät/

noun

the range or distance over which one can hear or be heard

• she waited until he was out of earshot before continuing.

ear-splitting /ˈi(ə)r ˌsplidiNG/

adjective

extremely loud

• an ear-splitting crack of thunder.

earth /ərTH/

I. noun

1.
a. (also Earth) — the planet on which we live; the world

• the diversity of life on earth.

b. the surface of the world as distinct from the sky or the sea

• it plummeted back to earth at 60 mph.

c. the present abode of humankind, as distinct from heaven or hell.

The earth is the third planet from the sun in the solar system, orbiting between Venus and Mars at an average distance of 90 million miles (149.6 million km) from the sun, and has one natural satellite, the moon. It has an equatorial diameter of 7,654 miles (12,756 km), an average density 5.5 times that of water, and is believed to have formed about 4,600 million years ago. The earth, which is three-quarters covered by oceans and has a dense atmosphere of nitrogen and oxygen, is the only planet known to support life.

2. the substance of the land surface; soil

• a layer of earth.

3. one of the four elements in ancient and medieval philosophy and in astrology (considered essential to certain signs of the zodiac).

4. a stable, dense, nonvolatile inorganic substance found in the ground.

5. ‹literary› the substance of the human body.

6. the underground lair or habitation of a badger or fox.

7. [Electrical] British term for ground^1 (sense 7 of the noun).

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (earth something up) — cover the root and lower stem of a plant with heaped-up earth.

2. [Hunting] drive (a fox) to its underground lair.

3. [no obj.] — (of a fox) run to its underground lair.

4. [Electrical] British term for ground^1 (sense 5 of the verb).

III. phrases

1. come (or bring) back (down) to earth

return or cause to return to reality after a period of daydreaming or excitement.

2. the earth moved (or did the earth move for you?)

‹humorous› one had (or did you have?) an orgasm.

3. go to earth

a. (of a hunted animal) hide in an underground burrow.

b. go into hiding

• he'd gone to earth after that meeting.

4. like nothing on earth

‹informal› very strange

• they looked like nothing on earth.

5. on earth

used for emphasis

• who on earth would venture out in weather like this?

– origin Old English eorthe, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch aarde and German Erde.

earth almond

noun

another term for chufa.

earthbound /ˈərTHˌbound/

adjective

1. attached or restricted to the earth

• a flightless earthbound bird.

2. attached or limited to material existence as distinct from a spiritual or heavenly one

• her earthbound view of the sacrament.

3. lacking in imaginative reach or drive

• an earthbound performance.

4. (also earth-bound) — moving toward the earth

• an earthbound spaceship.

earth closet /ˈərTH ˌkläzət/

noun

(Brit.) a basic type of toilet with dry earth used to cover excrement.

earthen /ˈərTHən/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of a floor or structure) made of compressed earth

• the hillside adjacent to the earthen dam.

2. (of a pot) made of baked or fired clay.

3. ‹literary› of, relating to, or characteristic of the earth or material existence.

earthenware /ˈərTHənˌwer/

noun — [often as modifier]

1. pottery made of clay fired to a porous state that can be made impervious to liquids by the use of a glaze

• an earthenware jug.

earthling /ˈərTHliNG/

noun

an inhabitant of the earth (used especially in science fiction by members of alien species).

earth loop

noun

[Electrical] British term for ground loop.

earthly /ˈərTHlē/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to the earth or human life on the earth

• water is liquid at normal earthly temperatures.

2. of or relating to humankind's material existence as distinct from a spiritual or heavenly one

• all earthly happiness is but vanity.

3. [with negative] — ‹informal› used for emphasis

• there was no earthly reason why she should not come too.

II. derivatives

earthliness /ˈərTHlēnəs /

noun

earth mother /ˈərTH ˈˌməT͟Hər/

noun

1. (in mythology and primitive religion) a goddess symbolizing fertility and the source of life.

2. a sensual and maternal woman.

earthmover /ˈərTHˌmo͞ovər/

I. noun

a vehicle or machine designed to excavate large quantities of soil.

II. derivatives

earthmoving

noun, adjective

earthnut /ˈərTHˌnət/

noun

1. a Eurasian plant of the parsley family, which has an edible roundish tuber and is typically found in woodland and acid pasture.
Also called pignut. [Conopodium majus, family Umbelliferae.]

2. the almond-flavored tuber of the earthnut plant.

3. (chiefly Brit.) another term for peanut.

earthquake /ˈərTHˌkwāk/

noun

1. a sudden and violent shaking of the ground, sometimes causing great destruction, as a result of movements within the earth's crust or volcanic action.

2. a great upheaval

• a political earthquake.

Major earthquakes are confined to particular active regions of the earth's crust corresponding to the edges of the crustal plates, and most earthquakes are due to the release of strain energy associated with the relative motions of the plates. The intensity of earthquakes is expressed by the Richter scale, destructive earthquakes generally measuring between about 7 and 9.

earth science /ərTH ˈsīəns/

noun

1. the branch of science dealing with the physical constitution of the earth and its atmosphere.

2. (earth sciences) — the various branches of earth science, e.g., geology, oceanography, or meteorology.

earthshaking /ˈərTHˌSHākiNG/

adjective

1. (of music or sound) loud and throbbing

• earthshaking hard-core metal.

2. another term for earth-shattering:

• this is not of earthshaking importance.

earth-shattering /ˈərTH ˌSHadəriNG/

I. adjective

(in hyperbolic use) very important, momentous, or traumatic

• tell me this earth-shattering news of yours.

II. derivatives

earth-shatteringly

adverb

earthshine /ˈərTHˌSHīn / earthlight

noun

[Astronomy] the glow caused by sunlight reflected off the earth, especially on the darker portion of a crescent moon.

earthstar /ˈərTHstär/

noun

a brownish woodland fungus with a spherical spore-containing fruiting body surrounded by a fleshy star-shaped structure, found in both Eurasia and North America.
[Family Geastraceae, class Gasteromycetes: Geastrum and other genera.]

earth station

noun

a radio station located on the earth and used for relaying signals from satellites.

earth tone

noun

a rich warm color with a brownish hue.

earthward /ˈərTHwərd / earthwards

adverb, adjective

toward the earth
[as adv.]

• we can watch the parachute as it drifts earthward

• [as adj.] the bird's earthward plummet.

earthwork /ˈərTHˌwərk/

noun

a large artificial bank of soil, especially one made as a defense.

earthworm /ˈərTHˌwərm/

noun

a burrowing annelid worm that lives in the soil. Earthworms play an important role in aerating and draining the soil and in burying organic matter.
[Family Lumbricidae, class Oligochaeta: Lumbricus, Allolobophora, and other genera.]

earthy /ˈərTHē/

I. adjective

1. resembling or suggestive of earth or soil

• an earthy smell.

2. (of a person) direct and uninhibited; hearty

• the storefront is given over to a young, earthy crowd.

3. (of humor) somewhat coarse or crude

• their good-natured vulgarity and earthy humor.

II. derivatives

1. earthily

adverb

2. earthiness /ˈərTHēnəs /

noun

ear trumpet /ˈi(ə)r ˌtrəmpət/

noun

a trumpet-shaped device formerly used as a hearing aid.

ear tuft

noun

each of a pair of tufts of longer feathers on the top of the head of some owls. They are unconnected with the true ears.

earwax /ˈirˌwaks/

noun

the protective yellow waxy substance secreted in the passage of the outer ear.
Also called cerumen.

earwig /ˈirˌwiɡ/

I. noun

a small elongated insect with a pair of terminal appendages that resemble pincers. The females typically care for their eggs and young until they are grown.
[Order Dermaptera: several families.]

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) eavesdrop on a conversation

• he looked behind him to see if anyone was earwigging.

2. [with obj.] — ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) ‹archaic› influence (someone) by secret means.

– origin Old English ēarwicga, from ēare ‘ear’ + wicga ‘earwig’ (probably related to wiggle). The insect is so named because it was once thought to crawl into the human ear.

earwitness /ˈirwitnəs/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a witness whose testimony is based on what they personally heard.

earworm /ˈirˌwərm/

noun

1. short for corn earworm.

2. ‹informal› a catchy song or tune that runs continually through a person's mind.

ease /ēz/

I. noun

1. absence of difficulty or effort

• he gave up tobacco and alcohol with ease

• the guitar's versatility and ease of handling.

2. absence of rigidity or discomfort; poise

• I was always vexed by her self-contained ease.

3. freedom from worries or problems, especially about one's material situation

• a life of wealth and ease.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — make (something unpleasant, painful, or intense) less serious or severe

• a huge road-building program to ease congestion.

2. [no obj.] — become less serious or severe

• the pain doesn't usually ease off for several hours.

3. [no obj.] (ease up) — relax one's efforts; do something with more moderation

• I'd ease up on the hard stuff if I were you.

4. (ease something away/down/off) — [Nautical] slacken a rope.

5. (ease something away/down/off) — [Nautical] sail slowly or gently.

6. make (something) happen more easily; facilitate

• Tokyo's dominance of government was deemed to ease efficient contact-making.

7. [no obj.] — [Finance] (of share prices, interest rates, etc.) decrease in value or amount

• these shares should be bought and tucked away for when interest rates ease

• (as noun easing) a slight easing of inflation.

8. [no obj.] — move carefully, gradually, or gently

• I eased down the slope with care

• [with obj.] the pilot eased the throttle back.

9. [with obj.] (ease someone out) — gradually exclude someone from a post or place, especially by devious or subtle maneuvers

• after the scandal he was eased out of his job.

III. phrases

1. at (one's) ease

a. free from worry, awkwardness, or problems; relaxed

• she was never quite at ease with Phil.

b. (at ease) — [Military] in a relaxed attitude with the feet apart and the hands behind the back (often as a command)

• all right, stand at ease!

2. ease someone's mind

alleviate someone's anxiety.

IV. derivatives

easer

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French aise, based on Latin adjacens ‘lying close by,’ present participle of adjacere. The verb is originally from Old French aisier, from the phrase a aise ‘at ease’; in later use from the noun.

easeful /ˈēzfəl/

adjective

‹literary› providing or offering comfort or peace

• life was easeful at that time.

easel /ˈēzəl/

I. noun

a self-supporting wooden frame for holding an artist's work while it is being painted or drawn.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Dutch ezel ‘ass.’ The word “horse” is used in English in a similar way to denote a supporting frame.

easement /ˈēzmənt/

I. noun

1. [Law] a right to cross or otherwise use someone else's land for a specified purpose.

2. ‹literary› the state or feeling of comfort or peace

• time brings easement.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French aisement, from aisier (see ease).

easily /ˈēz(ə)lē/

adverb

1. without difficulty or effort

• he climbed the mountain easily

• the area is easily accessible by road.

2. in a relaxed manner

• he shrugged easily.

3. more quickly or frequently than is usual

• they get bored easily.

4. without doubt; by far

• English is easily the reigning language in the financial world.

5. very probably

• events that could easily become stodgy and predictable.

east /ēst/

I. noun — (usu. the east)

1. the direction toward the point of the horizon where the sun rises at the equinoxes, on the right-hand side of a person facing north, or the point on the horizon itself

• a gale was blowing from the east

• the Atlantic Ocean is to the east of Florida.

2. the compass point corresponding to this.

3. the eastern part of the world or of a specified country, region, or town

• a factory in the east of the city.

4. (usu. the East) — the regions or countries lying to the east of Europe, especially China, Japan, and India

• the protection of trade routes to the East.

5. (usu. the East) — the eastern part of the US from the Alleghenies on the west and north of the Mason–Dixon line

• Pittsburgh beat up on the bottom three teams in the East.

6. (usu. the East) — short for East Coast.

7. (usu. the East) — ‹historical› the former communist states of eastern Europe.

8. (East) [as name] — [Bridge] the player sitting to the left of North and partnering West.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. lying toward, near, or facing the east

• the hospital's east wing.

2. (of a wind) blowing from the east.

3. situated in the part of a church containing the altar or high altar, usually the actual east.

4. (often East) — of or denoting the eastern part of a specified area, city, or country or its inhabitants

• East Texas

• East African.

III. adverb

to or toward the east

• traveling east, he met two men

• the river rises east of the city.

– origin Old English ēast-, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch oost and German ost, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin aurora, Greek auōs ‘dawn.’

East Africa /ēst ˈafrəkə/

the eastern part of the African continent, especially the countries of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

East Anglia /ˌēst ˈaNGɡlēə/

a region in eastern England that consists of the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, as well as parts of Essex and Cambridgeshire counties.

East Asia

I. the eastern part of the Asian continent, including China and Japan.

II. derivatives

East Asian

adjective

East Bengal

the part of the former Indian province of Bengal that was ceded to Pakistan in 1947 and that forms the greater part of the province of East Pakistan. It gained independence as Bangladesh in 1971.

eastbound /ˈēs(t)ˌbound/

adjective

leading or traveling toward the east

• the eastbound lane.

east by north

noun

a direction or compass point midway between east and east-northeast.

east by south

noun

a direction or compass point midway between east and east-southeast.

East Chicago

an industrial port city in northwestern Indiana, on Lake Michigan, southeast of Chicago, Illinois; pop. 29,978 (est. 2008).

East Coast

noun

the eastern seaboard of the US, especially the narrow corridor from Boston to Washington, DC.

East End /ˈˌēst ˈend/

the part of London, England, north of the Thames and east of the City, including the Docklands.

East Ender /ˌēst ˈendər/

noun

a native or inhabitant of the east part of London

• an East Ender accent.

Easter /ˈēstər/

I. noun

1. the most important and oldest festival of the Christian Church, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ and held (in the Western Church) between March 21 and April 25, on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the northern spring equinox.

2. the period in which Easter occurs, especially the weekend from Good Friday to Easter Monday.

– origin Old English ēastre; of Germanic origin and related to German Ostern and east. According to Bede the word is derived from Ēastre, the name of a goddess associated with spring.

Easter bunny

noun

an imaginary rabbit said to bring gifts to children at Easter.

Easter egg

noun

1. a hard-boiled egg that is dyed and often decorated as part of the Easter celebration.

2. an artificial egg, typically chocolate, given at Easter, especially to children.

3. an unexpected or undocumented feature in a piece of computer software or on a DVD, included as a joke or a bonus.

Easter Island

an island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, west of and administered by Chile; pop. 3,300 (est. 2009). The island, first settled by Polynesians in about AD 400, is famous for its large monolithic statues of human heads that are believed to date from 1000–1600.

Easter lily

noun

(N. Amer.) a spring-flowering lily.
[Genus Lilium, family Liliaceae: several species, in particular the tall, white-flowered Japanese lily L. longiflorum.]

easterly /ˈēstərlē/

I. adjective, adverb

1. in an eastward position or direction
[as adj.]

• the captain ordered an easterly course.

2. (of a wind) blowing from the east
[as adj.]

• the light easterly breeze.

II. noun — (often easterlies)

1. a wind blowing from the east.

Easter Monday /ˈēstər ˈmənˌdā ˈməndē/

noun

the day after Easter Sunday, a public holiday in some places.

eastern /ˈēstərn/

I. adjective

1. [attrib.] — situated in the east, or directed toward or facing the east

• eastern Long Island

• the eastern slopes of the mountain.

2. (of a wind) blowing from the east.

3. (usu. Eastern) — living in or originating from the east, in particular the regions or countries lying to the east of Europe

• an Eastern monk.

4. of, relating to, or characteristic of the East or its inhabitants

• an eastern religion.

II. derivatives

easternmost /ˈēstərnˌmōst /

adjective

– origin Old English ēasterne (as east, -ern).

Eastern bloc /ˈēstərn/

the countries of eastern and central Europe that were under Soviet domination from the end of World War II until the collapse of the Soviet communist system in 1989–91, usually considered to include Poland, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Yugoslavia.

Eastern Church /ˈēstərn ˈˌCHərCH / Eastern Orthodox Church

I. another name for Orthodox Church.

II. any of the Christian Churches originating in eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Eastern Desert

another name of the Arabian Desert.

Eastern Empire

the eastern part of the Roman Empire, after its division in AD 395.
See also Byzantine Empire.

eastern equine encephalitis

noun

a rare viral disease that affects horses and humans and is spread by mosquitoes, occurring mainly in eastern US states.

Easterner /ˈēstərnər / easterner

noun

a native or inhabitant of the east, especially of the eastern US.

Eastern Europe

the portion of the European landmass that lies east of Germany and the Alps and west of the Ural Mountains. It includes the former Eastern bloc countries of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia (formerly as Czechoslovakia), Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria, as well as the Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and the former Soviet republics of Belarus and Ukraine, along with Russia west of the Urals.

eastern hemisphere

the half of the earth that contains Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.

Eastern Shore

region of eastern Maryland on the Delmarva Peninsula, on the east side of Chesapeake Bay.

Eastern time

the standard time in a zone including the eastern states of the US and parts of Canada, specifically.
[● standard time based on the mean solar time at the meridian 75° W, five hours behind GMT. ● Eastern time during daylight saving time, four hours behind GMT.]

Eastertide /ˈēstərˌtīd/

noun

the Easter period.

east-facing

adjective

facing the east

• place plants in an east-facing window

• east-facing beaches.

East Flanders

a province in northern Belgium; capital, Ghent.
See also Flanders.

East Germanic

I. noun

the extinct eastern group of Germanic languages, including Gothic.

II. adjective

of or relating to the East Germanic group of languages.

East Hampton

a resort town in eastern Long Island in New York, noted for its artists' colony; pop. 22,106 (est. 2008).

East Harlem

a neighborhood of Harlem in northern Manhattan in New York City. Parts of it have been called Italian Harlem and Spanish Harlem, reflecting local ethnic history.

East Hartford

an industrial town in central Connecticut, across the Connecticut River from Hartford; pop. 48,571 (est. 2008).

East India

another name of East Indies (sense 2).

East India Company

a trading company formed in 1600 to develop commerce in the newly colonized areas of Southeast Asia and India. In the 18th century it took administrative control of Bengal and other areas of India, and held it until the British Crown took over in 1858 in the wake of the Indian Mutiny.

East Indiaman /ˌēst ˈindēəmən/

noun

‹historical› a trading ship belonging to the East India Company.

East Indies /ˈˌēst ˈindēz/

I. the islands in Southeast Asia, especially those of the Malay Archipelago.

II. ‹archaic› the whole of Southeast Asia to the east of and including India.

III. derivatives

East Indian

adjective

easting /ˈēstiNG/

noun

1. distance traveled or measured eastward, especially at sea.

2. a figure or line representing eastward distance on a map (expressed by convention as the first part of a grid reference, before northing).

East Lansing

a city in south central Michigan, home to Michigan State University; pop. 45,857 (est. 2008).

East London

a port and resort in South Africa, on the southeastern coast; pop. 452,200 (est. 2009).

East Los Angeles

a community in southwestern California, a largely Hispanic suburb east of Los Angeles; pop. 124,283 (2000).

Eastman, George /ˈēstmən/

(1854–1932), US inventor and manufacturer of photographic equipment. He invented flexible roll film that is coated with light-sensitive emulsion and, in 1888, the Kodak camera for use with it.

Eastman, Linda

see McCartney, Linda.

east-northeast /ˈˌēst ˌnôrTHˈēst ˈˌēs(t)ˌnôrTHˈēst/

noun

the direction or compass point midway between east and northeast.

Easton /ˈēstən/

an industrial city in eastern Pennsylvania, on the Lehigh and Delaware rivers; pop. 26,080 (est. 2008).

East Orange

a city in northeastern New Jersey, northwest of Newark; pop. 65,390 (est. 2008).

East Point

a city in northwestern Georgia, south of Atlanta; pop. 43,418 (est. 2008).

Eastport /ˈēstpôrt/

a maritime city in eastern Maine, on an island in Passamaquoddy Bay, the easternmost US city; pop. 1,536 (est. 2008).

East Providence

a city in eastern Rhode Island, across the Seekonk River from Providence; pop. 48,480 (est. 2008).

East Prussia

the northeastern part of the former kingdom of Prussia, on the Baltic coast, later part of Germany and divided after World War II between the former Soviet Union and Poland.

East River

a tidal inlet in New York City that separates the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx from the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens.

East Siberian Sea

a part of the Arctic Ocean that lies between the New Siberian Islands and Wrangel Island, to the north of eastern Siberia.

East Side

a part of Manhattan in New York City that lies between the East River and Fifth Avenue.

east-southeast /ˈˌēst ˌsouTHˈēst ˈˌēs(t)ˌsouTHˈēst/

noun

the direction or compass point midway between east and southeast.

East St. Louis

a city in southwestern Illinois, across the Mississippi River from St. Louis; pop. 28,773 (est. 2008).

East Timor /ēst ˈtēmôr/

I. a country on the eastern part of the island of Timor in the southern part of the Malay Archipelago; pop. 1,131,600 (2009); capital, Dili; languages, Portuguese, Indonesian, English, and indigenous languages.
Official name Timor Leste. Formerly a Portuguese colony, East Timor declared itself independent in 1975. In 1976 it was invaded by Indonesia, which annexed and claimed it as their 27th state. The region was the scene of bitter fighting and of alleged mass killings by the Indonesian government and military forces. In a UN-supervised referendum in 1999, the people voted for independence from Indonesia. Violence continued, but on May 20, 2002, East Timor achieved international recognition as an independent state.

II. derivatives

East Timorese

noun, adjective

eastward /ˈēs(t)wərd/

I. adjective

in an easterly direction

• they followed an eastward course.

II. adverb

toward the east

• the bus rattled its way eastward.

III. noun — (the eastward)

1. the direction or region toward the east

• a squall came from the eastward.

IV. derivatives

eastwardly

adverb

east–west

adjective

1. extending between the east and the west

• freight leaving the port travels on an east–west axis

• [as adv.] there are several major rivers running east–west.

2. (also East–West) — relating to the relationship between the eastern and western parts of the world or of a country, region, or town

• East–West economic ties.

Eastwood, Clint /ˈēstˌwo͝od/

(1930–), US movie actor and director; full name Clinton Eastwood, Jr. He became known after he starred in A Fistful of Dollars (1964), the first cult “spaghetti western.” He portrayed detective Harry Callahan in five movies, beginning with Dirty Harry (1971). Movies that he directed as well as starred in include Bird (1988), Unforgiven (1992), The Bridges of Madison County (1994), and Mystic River (2003).

easy /ˈēzē/

I. adjective

1. achieved without great effort; presenting few difficulties

• an easy way of retrieving information.

2. [attrib.] — (of an object of attack or criticism) having no defense; vulnerable

• he was vulnerable and an easy target.

3. ‹informal› ‹derogatory› (of a woman) open to sexual advances; sexually available

• her reputation at school for being easy.

4. (of a period of time or way of life) free from worries or problems

• promises of an easy life in the New World.

5. (of a person) lacking anxiety or awkwardness; relaxed

• his easy and agreeable manner

• they didn't feel easy about what they were doing.

II. adverb

‹archaic› (US) ‹informal› without difficulty or effort

• we all scared real easy in those days.

III. exclamation

be careful

• easy, girl—you'll knock me over!

IV. phrases

1. be easier said than done

be more easily talked about than put into practice.

2. (as) easy as pie

see pie^1.

3. easy come, easy go

used to indicate that a relationship or possession acquired without effort may be abandoned or lost casually and without regret.

4. easy does it

used especially in spoken English to advise someone to approach a task carefully and slowly.

5. easy on the eye (or ear)

‹informal› pleasant to look at (or listen to).

6. go (or be) easy on someone

‹informal› refrain from being harsh with or critical of someone.

7. go easy on something

‹informal› be sparing or cautious in one's use or consumption of something

• go easy on fatty foods.

8. have it easy

‹informal› be free from difficulties; be fortunate.

9. I'm easy

‹informal› said by someone when offered a choice to indicate that they have no particular preference.

10. of easy virtue

‹dated› (of a woman) sexually promiscuous.

11. rest (or sleep) easy

be untroubled by (or go to sleep without) worries

• this insurance policy will let you rest easy.

12. take the easy way out

extricate oneself from a difficult situation by choosing the simplest or most expedient course rather than the most honorable or ethical one.

13. take it easy

a. proceed calmly and in a relaxed manner.

b. make little effort; rest.

V. derivatives

easiness /ˈēzēnis /

noun

– origin Middle English (also in the sense ‘comfortable, quiet, tranquil’): from Old French aisie, past participle of aisier ‘put at ease, facilitate’ (see ease).

easy-breezy

adjective

1. (chiefly US) easy; simple

• here is an easy-breezy recipe to whip up fresh almond milk in your kitchen.

2. (chiefly US) light-hearted and relaxed

• an easy-breezy, feel-good summer film

• occasionally I wake up with that indefinable feeling of happiness and contentment, feeling easy-breezy.

easy-care /ˈēzē ke(ə)r/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (chiefly of man-made fabrics) requiring little effort to wash and dry, and typically no ironing.

easy chair /ˈēzē ˌCHe(ə)r/

noun

a large, comfortable chair, typically an armchair.

easygoing /ˌēzēˈɡōiNG/

adjective

relaxed and tolerant in approach or manner

• an outwardly easygoing but fiercely competitive youngster.

easy listening /ˈēzē ˈlisniNG/

noun

popular music that is tuneful and undemanding.

easy mark

noun

‹informal› a person who is easy prey; a weakling or a sucker

• an easy mark for a grifter.

easy money /ˈēzē ˈmənē/

noun

1. money obtained by dubious means or for little work.

2. money available at relatively low interest.

easy street /ˈēzē strēt/

noun

‹informal› a state of financial comfort or security

• she keeps complaining about her lot, but I think she's on easy street.

easy-to-use

adjective

straightforward and simple to use

• an easy-to-use guide containing excellent tips.

eat /ēt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. put (food) into the mouth and chew and swallow it

• he was eating a hot dog

• eat up all your peas

• [no obj.] she watched her son as he ate.

2. have (a meal)

• we ate dinner in a noisy cafe.

3. [no obj.] (eat out) — have a meal in a restaurant.

4. [no obj.] (eat in) — have a meal at home rather than in a restaurant.

5. ‹informal› bother; annoy

• she knew what was eating him.

6. ‹vulgar slang› (chiefly US) perform fellatio or cunnilingus on (someone).

7. (eat out) — ‹vulgar slang› perform cunnilingus or anilingus on (someone).

8. ‹informal› (US) absorb (financial loss or cost).

II. noun — (eats)

1. ‹informal› food or snacks

• people would stop for soft drinks or eats.

III. phrases

1. eat someone alive

a. ‹informal› (of insects) bite someone many times

• we were eaten alive by mosquitoes.

b. exploit someone's weakness and completely dominate them

• he expects manufacturers to be eaten alive by lawyers in liability suits.

2. eat crow

see crow^1.

3. eat dirt

see dirt.

4. eat someone's dust

see dust.

5. eat one's heart out

a. suffer from excessive longing, especially for someone or something unattainable.

b. [in imperative] — ‹informal› used to encourage feelings of jealousy or regret

• eat your heart out, I'm having a ball!

6. eat humble pie

see humble.

7. eat like a bird (or a horse)

‹informal› eat very little (or a lot).

8. eat someone out of house and home

‹informal› eat a lot of someone else's food.

9. eat one's words

retract what one has said, especially in a humiliated way

• they will eat their words when I win.

10. have someone eating out of one's hand

have someone completely under one's control.

11. I'll eat my hat

‹informal› used to indicate that one thinks the specified thing is extremely unlikely to happen

• if he comes back, I'll eat my hat.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. eat away at (or eat something away)

a. erode or destroy something gradually

• the sun and wind eat away at the ice

• prevents bone from being eaten away.

b. use up (profits, resources, or time), especially when they are intended for other purposes

• inflation can eat away at the annuity's value over the years.

2. eat into

another way of saying eat away at .

3. eat someone up

(usu. as adj. eaten up) — dominate the thoughts of someone completely

• I'm eaten up with guilt.

4. eat something up

a. use resources or time in very large quantities

• an operating system that eats up 200Mb of disk space.

b. encroach on something

• this is the countryside that villagers fear will be eaten up by concrete.

– origin Old English etan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch eten and German essen, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin edere and Greek edein.

eatable /ˈēdəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

fit to be consumed as food

• eatable fruits.

II. noun — (eatables)

1. items of food

• parcels of eatables and gifts.

eater /ˈēdər/

noun — [with adj. or noun modifier]

1. a person or animal that consumes food in a specified way or of a specified kind

• I'm still a big eater

• it was a good place to dine if you were a fish eater.

eatery /ˈēdərē/

noun

‹informal› a restaurant or other place where people can be served food.

eat-in /ˈētin/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (N. Amer.) (of a kitchen) designed for eating in as well as cooking.

eating apple /ˈēdiNG ˌapəl/

noun

an apple that is suitable for eating raw.

eating disorder /ēdiNG diˈsôrdər/

noun

any of a range of psychological disorders characterized by abnormal or disturbed eating habits (such as anorexia nervosa).

eating house /ˈēdiNG ˌhous/

noun

a restaurant (usu. used in the names of restaurants)

• The Blue Whale Eating House

• Mrs. Miller's -- a contemporary pub and fine eating house.

Eau Claire /ō ˈkler/

a city in west central Wisconsin; pop. 65,426 (est. 2008).

eau de cologne /ˌō də kəˈlōn/

I. noun

a toilet water with a strong, characteristic scent, originally made in Cologne, Germany.

– origin early 19th cent.: French, literally ‘water of Cologne.’

eau de Nil /ˌō də ˈnē/

I. noun

a pale greenish color.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French eau-de-Nil, literally ‘water of the Nile’ (from the supposed resemblance in color).

eau de toilette /ˌō də twäˈlet/

I. noun

a dilute form of perfume; toilet water.

– origin early 20th cent.: French, literally‘toilet water.’

eau-de-vie /ˌō də ˈvē/

I. noun

brandy.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French eau-de-vie, literally ‘water of life.’

eaves /ēvz/

I. plural noun

the part of a roof that meets or overhangs the walls of a building.

– origin Old English efes (singular); of Germanic origin; related to German dialect Obsen, also probably to over.

eavesdrop /ˈēvzˌdräp/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. secretly listen to a conversation

• she opened the window just enough to eavesdrop on the conversation outside.

II. derivatives

eavesdropper /ˈēvzˌdräpər /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: back-formation from eavesdropper (late Middle English) ‘a person who listens from under the eaves,’ from the obsolete noun eavesdrop ‘the ground onto which water drips from the eaves,’ probably from Old Norse upsardropi, from ups ‘eaves’ + dropi ‘a drop.’

eavestrough /ˈēvzˌtrôf/

noun

(Canadian) a gutter fixed beneath the edge of a roof.

EB

abbreviation

[Computing] exabyte(s).

e-banking /ˈēbaNGkiNG/

I. noun

a method of banking in which the customer conducts transactions electronically via the Internet.

• it's hard to beat e-banking for the 24-hour convenience it offers Internet-literate customers.

II. derivatives

e-bank /ˈēbaNGk /

noun

eBay /ˈēˌbā/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. buy or sell (goods) through the eBay website.

II. derivatives

eBayer

noun

– origin 1997: from the proprietary name of the website eBay (from E cho Bay Technology Group, the name of a company run by eBay's founder, Pierre Omidyar).

ebb /eb/

I. noun — (usu. the ebb)

1. the movement of the tide out to sea

• I knew the tide would be on the ebb

• [as modifier] the ebb tide.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of tidewater) move away from the land; recede

• the tide began to ebb.

Compare with flow.

2. (of an emotion or quality) gradually lessen or reduce

• my enthusiasm was ebbing away.

III. phrases

1. at a low ebb

in a poor state

• the country was at a low ebb due to the recent war.

2. ebb and flow

a recurrent or rhythmical pattern of coming and going or decline and regrowth.

– origin Old English ebba (noun), ebbian (verb); related to Dutch ebbe (noun), ebben (verb), and ultimately to of, which had the primary sense ‘away from.’

EBCDIC /ˈebsēˌdik/

abbreviation

Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code, a standard eight-bit character code used in computing and data transmission.

e-bike

noun

a bicycle that can be run on electric power as well as by pedaling.

e-billing /ˈēˌbiliNG/

noun

the practice by which invoices or bills are electronically delivered or presented to customers, rather than being sent by mail.

EBIT

abbreviation

earnings before interest and tax.

EBITDA

abbreviation

earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (used as an indicator of the overall profitability of a business).

Ebla /ˈeblə, ˈēblə/

a city in ancient Syria that was southwest of Aleppo. It became very powerful in the mid-3rd millennium BC, when it dominated a region corresponding to modern Lebanon, northern Syria, and southeastern Turkey.

EbN

abbreviation

east by north.

E-boat /ˈēbōt/

I. noun

a German torpedo boat used in World War II.

– origin from E- for enemy + boat.

Ebola /ēˈbōlə/

I. noun

an infectious and frequently fatal disease marked by fever and severe internal bleeding, spread through contact with infected body fluids by a filovirus (Ebola virus), whose normal host species is unknown

• he developed symptoms similar to those of Ebola and sought medication at the hospital

• an outbreak of Ebola fever in the country may have killed up to 36 people.

– origin 1976: named after a river in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), near which the disease was first observed.

ebon /ˈebən/

noun

‹literary› dark brown or black; ebony
[as modifier]

• the dark shadows of the mountains gave the river an ebon hue.

Ebonics /ēˈbäniks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. American black English regarded as a language in its own right rather than as a dialect of standard English.

– origin blend of ebony and phonics.

ebonite /ˈebəˌnīt/

I. noun

another term for vulcanite.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from ebony + -ite^1.

ebonize /ˈebəˌnīz/

verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. ebonized)

1. make (furniture) look like ebony

• an ebonized casket.

ebony /ˈebənē/

I. noun

1. heavy blackish or very dark brown timber from a mainly tropical tree.

2. a very dark brown or black color

• his smile flashed against the ebony of his skin

• [as modifier] his ebony hair.

3. a tree of tropical and warm-temperate regions that produces ebony.
[Genera Diospyros and Euclea, family Ebenaceae: numerous species, in particular D. ebenum.]

4. used in names of trees of other families that produce similar timber, e.g., Jamaican ebony.

– origin late Middle English: from earlier ebon (via Old French and Latin from Greek ebenos ‘ebony tree’), perhaps on the pattern of ivory.

e-book /ˈēbo͝ok/

noun

1. an electronic version of a printed book that can be read on a computer or handheld device designed specifically for this purpose.

2. a dedicated device for reading electronic versions of printed books.

Ebro /ˈāvrō, ˈābrō/

a river in northeastern Spain that rises in the mountains of the Cantabria region and flows southeast for 570 miles (910 km) into the Mediterranean Sea.

EbS

abbreviation

east by south.

EBT

abbreviation

(US) Electronic Benefit Transfer (a system for issuing welfare payments electronically, by means of a payment card which recipients use to make purchases)

• EBT is intended to streamline the process by which government benefits are issued

• EBT cards are modern-day food stamps.

ebullience /iˈbo͝olyəns iˈbəlyəns/

noun

the quality of being cheerful and full of energy; exuberance

• the ebullience of happy children.

ebullient /iˈbo͝olyənt iˈbəlyənt/

I. adjective

1. cheerful and full of energy

• she sounded ebullient and happy.

2. ‹archaic› ‹literary› (of liquid or matter) boiling or agitated as if boiling

• misted and ebullient seas.

II. derivatives

ebulliently

adverb

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘boiling’): from Latin ebullient- ‘boiling up,’ from the verb ebullire, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + bullire ‘to boil.’

ebullition /ˌebəˈliSHən/

I. noun

1. ‹technical› ‹archaic› the action of bubbling or boiling.

2. ‹technical› ‹archaic› a sudden outburst of emotion or violence

• in an ebullition of fervor.

– origin late Middle English (used to describe a state of agitation of the bodily humors): from late Latin ebullitio(n-), from ebullire ‘boil up’ (see ebullient).

e-business /ˈēˌbiznəs/

noun

another term for e-commerce.

EBV

abbreviation

Epstein-Barr virus.

EC /ˈˌē ˈsē/

abbreviation

1. European Commission.

2. European Community.

3. executive committee.

ecad /ˈēˌkad, ˈeˌkad/

I. noun

[Ecology] an organism that is modified by its environment.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Greek oikos ‘house’ + -ad^1.

e-card /ˈēkärd/

noun

a digital version of a greeting card, typically accessed by the recipient via a hyperlink in an email.

• the next day she sent him an animated e-card that told him how special he was to her.

écarté /ˌākärˈtā/

I. noun

1. a card game for two players, played originally in 19th-century France, in which thirty-two cards are used, and certain cards may be discarded in exchange for others.

2. [Ballet] a position in which the dancer, facing diagonally toward the audience, extends one leg to the side with the arm of the same side raised above the head and the other arm extended to the side.

– origin early 19th cent.: French, past participle of écarter ‘discard, throw out,’ from é ‘out’ + carte ‘card.’

e-cash /ˈēkaSH/

noun

electronic financial transactions conducted in cyberspace via computer networks.

ecbolic /ekˈbälik / ‹Medicine›

I. adjective

inducing contractions of the uterus leading to expulsion of a fetus

• the ecbolic properties of Indian medicinal plants.

II. noun

an agent that induces contractions of the uterus.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Greek ekbolē ‘expulsion’ + -ic.

Ecce Homo /ˈeCHā ˈhōˌmō, ˈeksē, ˈekā/

I. noun

[Art] a painting of Jesus Christ wearing the crown of thorns.

– origin early 17th cent.: Latin, literally ‘behold the man,’ the words of Pontius Pilate to the Jews after Jesus was crowned with thorns (John 19:5).

eccentric /ikˈsentrik/

I. adjective

1. (of a person or their behavior) unconventional and slightly strange

• my favorite aunt is very eccentric.

2. ‹technical› (of a thing) not placed centrally or not having its axis or other part placed centrally.

3. (of a circle) not centered on the same point as another.

4. (of an orbit) not circular.

II. noun

1. a person of unconventional and slightly strange views or behavior

• he enjoys a colorful reputation as an engaging eccentric.

2. a disc or wheel mounted eccentrically on a revolving shaft in order to transform rotation into backward-and-forward motion, e.g., a cam in an internal combustion engine.

III. derivatives

eccentrically /ikˈsentrək(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English (as a noun denoting a circle or orbit not having the earth precisely at its center): via late Latin from Greek ekkentros, from ek ‘out of’ + kentron ‘center.’

eccentric anomaly

noun

[Astronomy] the actual anomaly of a planet in an elliptical orbit.
Compare with mean anomaly.

eccentricity /ˌeksenˈtrisədē/

noun

1. the quality of being eccentric.

2. (usu. eccentricities) — an eccentric act, habit, or thing

• her eccentricities were amusing rather than irritating.

3. ‹technical› deviation of a curve or orbit from circularity.

4. a measure of the extent of a deviation of a curve or orbit

• Halley's Comet has an eccentricity of about 0.9675.

ecchymosis /ˌekəˈmōsəs/

I. noun

[Medicine] a discoloration of the skin resulting from bleeding underneath, typically caused by bruising.

– origin mid 16th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek ekkhumōsis ‘escape of blood,’ from ekkhumonathai ‘force out blood.’

eccl.

abbreviation

1. ecclesiastic.

2. ecclesiastical.

Eccles.

abbreviation

[Bible] Ecclesiastes.

Eccles, Sir John Carew /ˈekəlz/

(1903–97), Australian physiologist, who demonstrated the way in which nerve impulses are conducted by means of chemical neurotransmitters. Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine (1963), shared with Alan L. Hodgkin and Andrew F. Huxley.

ecclesial /əˈklēzēəl/

I. adjective

‹formal› relating to or constituting a church or denomination

• the modernization of ecclesial buildings.

– origin mid 17th cent. (but rare before the 1960s): via Old French from Greek ekklēsia ‘assembly, church’ (see ecclesiastic).

ecclesiarch /iˈklēzēˌärk/

I. noun

‹archaic› a ruler of a church.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Greek ekklēsia ‘church’ + arkhos ‘leader.’

Ecclesiastes /əˌklēzēˈastēz/

a book of the Bible traditionally attributed to Solomon, consisting largely of reflections on the vanity of human life.

ecclesiastic /əˌklēzēˈastik / ‹formal›

I. noun

a priest or member of the clergy.

II. adjective

another term for ecclesiastical.

– origin late Middle English: from French ecclésiastique, or via late Latin from Greek ekklēsiastikos, from ekklēsiastēs ‘member of an assembly,’ from ekklēsia ‘assembly, church,’ based on ekkalein ‘summon out.’

ecclesiastical /əˌklēzēˈastək(ə)l/

I. adjective

of or relating to the Christian Church or its clergy

• the ecclesiastical hierarchy.

II. derivatives

ecclesiastically

adverb

ecclesiasticism /əˌklēzēˈastəsizəm/

noun

excessive attention to details of church practice

• the ecclesiasticism that so often gets in the way of the gospel.

Ecclesiasticus /əˌklēzēˈastəkəs/

a book of the Apocrypha containing moral and practical maxims, probably composed or compiled in the early 2nd century BC.

ecclesiology /əˌklēzēˈäləjē/

I. noun

1. the study of churches, especially church building and decoration.

2. theology as applied to the nature and structure of the Christian Church.

II. derivatives

1. ecclesiological /iˌklēzēəˈläjikəl /

adjective

2. ecclesiologist /-jist /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek ekklēsia ‘assembly, church’ + -logy.

Ecclus

abbreviation

[Bible] Ecclesiasticus.

eccrine /ˈekrən, ˈekˌrīn, ˈekˌrēn/

I. adjective

[Medicine] relating to or denoting multicellular glands that do not lose cytoplasm in their secretions, especially the sweat glands found widely distributed on the skin.
Compare with apocrine.

– origin 1930s: from Greek ekkrinein ‘secrete,’ from ek- ‘out’ + krinein ‘sift, separate.’

ECCS

abbreviation

[Physics] emergency core cooling system.

ecdysiast /ekˈdēzēəst/

I. noun

‹humorous› a striptease performer.

– origin 1940s: coined by H. L. Mencken from Greek ekdusis ‘shedding,’ on the pattern of enthusiast.

ecdysis /ˈekdəsəs/

I. noun

[Zoology] the process of shedding the old skin (in reptiles) or casting off the outer cuticle (in insects and other arthropods).

II. derivatives

ecdysial /ekˈdizēəl /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek ekdusis, from ekduein ‘put off,’ from ek- ‘out, off’ + duein ‘put.’

ecdysone /ˈekdəˌsōn/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a steroid hormone that controls molting in insects and other arthropods.

– origin 1950s: from Greek ekdusis ‘shedding’ + -one.

ECG /ˌē ˌsē ˈjē/

abbreviation

1. electrocardiogram.

2. electrocardiograph.

échappé /ˌāSHaˈpā/

I. adjective — [postpositive]

1. [Ballet] (of a movement) progressing from a closed position (first, third, or fifth) to an open position (second or fourth) of the feet.

– origin French, literally ‘escaped.’

echelon /ˈeSHəˌlän/

I. noun

1. a level or rank in an organization, a profession, or society

• the upper echelons of the business world.

2. [often with modifier] — a part of a military force differentiated by position in battle or by function

• the rear echelon.

3. [Military] a formation of troops, ships, aircraft, or vehicles in parallel rows with the end of each row projecting further than the one in front.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Military] arrange in an echelon formation
(as noun echeloning)

• the echeloning of fire teams.

– origin late 18th cent. (sense 2 of the noun): from French échelon, from échelle ‘ladder,’ from Latin scala.

echeveria /ˌeCHəvəˈrēə/

I. noun

a succulent plant with rosettes of fleshy colorful leaves, native to warm regions of America and popular as houseplants.
[Genus Echeveria, family Crassulaceae: numerous species and cultivars.]

– origin modern Latin, named after Anastasio Echeveri or Echeverría, 19th-cent. Mexican botanical illustrator.

echidna /əˈkidnə/

I. noun

a spiny insectivorous egg-laying mammal with a long snout and claws, native to Australia and New Guinea.
Also called spiny anteater. [Family Tachyglossidae, order Monotremata: two genera and species, in particular Tachyglossus aculeatus.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek ekhidna ‘viper,’ also the name of a mythical creature that gave birth to the many-headed Hydra; compare with ekhinos ‘sea urchin, hedgehog.’

echinacea /ˌekəˈnāSHə/

I. noun

a North American coneflower. It is used in herbal medicine, largely for its antibiotic and wound-healing properties.
[Genus Echinacea, family Compositae: several species, in particular the purple coneflower.]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek ekhinos ‘hedgehog.’

echinoderm /əˈkīnəˌdərm/

noun

[Zoology] a marine invertebrate of the phylum Echinodermata, such as a starfish, sea urchin, or sea cucumber.

Echinodermata /iˌkīnəˈdərmətə, ˌekənə- / ‹Zoology›

I. a phylum of marine invertebrates that includes starfishes, sea urchins, brittlestars, crinoids, and sea cucumbers. They have fivefold radial symmetry, a calcareous skeleton, and tube feet operated by fluid pressure.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek ekhinos ‘hedgehog, sea urchin’ + derma ‘skin.’

echinoid /iˈkīˌnoid, ˈekəˌnoid / ‹Zoology›

I. noun

an echinoderm of the class Echinoidea; a sea urchin.

II. adjective

relating to or denoting echinoids.

Echinoidea /ˌekəˈnoidēə / ‹Zoology›

I. a class of echinoderms that comprises the sea urchins.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from echinus.

echinus /əˈkīnəs/

I. noun

1. [Zoology] a sea urchin.
[Genus Echinus, class Echinoidea: several species, including the common European edible sea urchin (E. esculentus).]

2. [Architecture] a rounded molding below an abacus on a Doric or Ionic capital.

– origin late Middle English: via Latin from Greek ekhinos ‘hedgehog, sea urchin.’

Echiura /ˌekēˈyo͝orə / ‹Zoology›

I. a small phylum of wormlike marine invertebrates that comprises the spoonworms.

II. derivatives

1. echiuran

noun, adjective

2. echiuroid /ˌekēˈyo͝oˌroid /

noun, adjective

– origin modern Latin (earlier Echiuroidea), from Greek ekhis ‘viper’ + oura ‘tail.’

echo /ˈekō/

I. noun

1. a sound or series of sounds caused by the reflection of sound waves from a surface back to the listener

• the walls threw back the echoes of his footsteps.

2. a reflected radio or radar beam.

3. the deliberate introduction of reverberation into a sound recording.

4. [Linguistics] the repetition in structure and content of one speaker's utterance by another.

5. a close parallel or repetition of an idea, feeling, style, or event

• his love for her found an echo in her own feelings.

6. (often echoes) — a detail or characteristic that is suggestive of something else

• the cheese has a sharp rich aftertaste with echoes of salty, earthy pastures.

7. ‹archaic› a person who slavishly repeats the words or opinions of another.

8. [Bridge] a play by a defender of a higher card in a suit followed by a lower one in a subsequent trick, used as a signal to request a further lead of that suit by their partner.

9. a code word representing the letter E, used in radio communication.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a sound) be repeated or reverberate after the original sound has stopped

• their footsteps echoed on the metal catwalks.

2. (of a place) resound with or reflect back a sound or sounds

• the house echoed with shouts and thundering feet.

3. [with obj.] — repeat (someone's words or opinions), typically to express agreement

• these criticisms are echoed in a number of other studies

• [with direct speech] “A trip?” she echoed.

4. [with obj.] — (of an object, movement, or event) be reminiscent of or have shared characteristics with

• a blue suit that echoed the color of her eyes.

5. [with obj.] — [Computing] send a copy of (an input signal or character) back to its source or to a screen for display

• for security reasons, the password will not be echoed to the screen.

6. [Bridge] (of a defender) play a higher card followed by a lower one in the same suit, as a signal to request one's partner to lead that suit.

III. derivatives

1. echoer

noun

2. echoey /ˈekō-ē /

adjective

3. echoless /ˈekōləs /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French or Latin, from Greek ēkhō, related to ēkhē ‘a sound.’

Echo /ˈekō / ‹Greek Mythology›

a nymph deprived of speech by Hera in order to stop her chatter, and left able only to repeat what others had said.

echocardiogram /ˌekōˈkärdēəɡram/

noun

[Medicine] a test of the action of the heart using ultrasound waves to produce a visual display, used for the diagnosis or monitoring of heart disease.

echocardiography /ˌekōˌkärdēˈäɡrəfē/

I. noun

[Medicine] the use of ultrasound waves to investigate the action of the heart.

II. derivatives

1. echocardiograph /ˌekōˈkärdēəˌɡraf /

noun

2. echocardiographic /-ˌkärdēəˈɡrafik /

adjective

echo chamber /ˈekō ˌCHāmbər/

noun

an enclosed space for producing reverberation of sound.

echoencephalogram /ˌekōˌenˈsefələˌɡram/

noun

[Medicine] a record produced by echoencephalography.

echoencephalograph /ˌekōənˈsefələɡraf / EEG

I. noun

an instrument used to examine the skull and brain by means of reflected ultrasonic waves as part of a painless and noninvasive procedure.

II. derivatives

echoencephalographic /-ˌsefələˈɡrafik /

adjective

echoencephalography /ˌekōenˌsefəˈläɡrəfē/

noun

[Medicine] the use of ultrasound waves to investigate structures within the skull.

echogram /ˈekōˌɡram/

noun

a recording of depth or distance under water made by an echo sounder.

echograph /ˈekōˌɡraf/

noun

an instrument for recording echograms; an automated echo sounder.

echoic /eˈkōik/

I. adjective

1. of or like an echo.

2. [Linguistics] representing a sound by imitation; onomatopoeic.

II. derivatives

echoically

adverb

echolalia /ˌekōˈlālēə/

I. noun

1. [Psychiatry] meaningless repetition of another person's spoken words as a symptom of psychiatric disorder.

2. [Psychiatry] repetition of speech by a child learning to talk.

– origin late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek ēkhō ‘echo’ + lalia ‘speech.’

echolocation /ˌekōlōˈkāSH(ə)n/

noun

the location of objects by reflected sound, in particular that used by animals such as dolphins and bats.

echopraxia /ˌekōˈpraksēə/

I. noun

[Psychiatry] meaningless repetition or imitation of the movements of others as a symptom of psychiatric disorder.

– origin early 20th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek ēkhō ‘echo’ + praxis ‘action.’

echo sounder /ˈekō ˌsoundər/

I. noun

a device for determining the depth of the seabed or detecting objects in water by measuring the time taken for sound echoes to return to the listener.

II. derivatives

echo sounding echo-sounding

noun

echovirus /ˈekōˌvīrəs / ECHO virus

I. noun

[Medicine] any of a group of enteroviruses that can cause a range of diseases, including respiratory infections and a mild form of meningitis.

– origin 1950s: from echo (acronym from enteric cytopathogenic human orphan, because the virus was not originally assignable to any known disease) + virus.

echt /eKHt ekt/

I. adjective

authentic and typical

• the film's opening was an echt pop snob event.

II. adverb — [as submodifier]

1. authentically and typically

• echt-American writers as Hawthorne and Cooper and Mark Twain.

– origin early 20th cent.: German, literally ‘genuine, real.’

e-cigarette /ˌēsiɡəˈret ˌēˈsiɡəˌret / ‹informal› e-cig

noun

another term for electronic cigarette.

ECL

abbreviation

[Computing] emitter-coupled logic.

éclair /āˈkler, iˈkler / eclair

I. noun

a small, soft, log-shaped pastry filled with cream and typically topped with chocolate icing.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, literally ‘lightning.’

éclaircissement /āˌklersēsˈmänt/

I. noun

‹archaic› ‹literary› an enlightening explanation of something, typically someone's conduct, that has been hitherto inexplicable.

– origin French, from éclaircir ‘clear up,’ from é (expressing a change of state) + clair (see clear).

eclampsia /iˈklam(p)sēə/

I. noun

[Medicine] a condition in which one or more convulsions occur in a pregnant woman suffering from high blood pressure, often followed by coma and posing a threat to the health of mother and baby.
See also preeclampsia.

II. derivatives

eclamptic /iˈklam(p)tik /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from French éclampsie, from Greek eklampsis ‘sudden development,’ from eklampein ‘shine out.’

éclat /āˈklä/

I. noun

1. brilliant display or effect

• she came into prominence briefly but with éclat.

2. social distinction or conspicuous success

• such action bestows more éclat upon a warrior than success by other means.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French, from éclater ‘burst out.’

eclectic /əˈklektik/

I. adjective

1. deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources

• her musical tastes are eclectic.

2. (Eclectic) — [Philosophy] of, denoting, or belonging to a class of ancient philosophers who did not belong to or found any recognized school of thought but selected such doctrines as they wished from various schools.

II. noun

a person who derives ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.

III. derivatives

1. eclectically

adverb

2. eclecticism /əˈklektəˌsizəm /

noun

– origin late 17th cent. (as a term in philosophy): from Greek eklektikos, from eklegein ‘pick out,’ from ek ‘out’ + legein ‘choose.’

eclipse /əˈklips/

I. noun

1. an obscuring of the light from one celestial body by the passage of another between it and the observer or between it and its source of illumination

• an eclipse of the sun.

2. a loss of significance, power, or prominence in relation to another person or thing

• the election result marked the eclipse of the traditional right and center.

3. [Ornithology] a phase during which the distinctive markings of a bird (especially a male duck) are obscured by molting of the breeding plumage
[as modifier]

• eclipse plumage.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a celestial body) obscure the light from or to (another celestial body)

• as the last piece of the sun was eclipsed by the moon.

2. ‹literary› obscure or block out (light)

• a sea of blue sky violently eclipsed by showers.

3. deprive (someone or something) of significance, power, or prominence

• the state of the economy has eclipsed the environment as the main issue.

III. phrases

in eclipse

a. losing or having lost significance, power, or prominence

• his political power was in eclipse.

b. [Ornithology] (especially of a male duck) in its eclipse plumage.

– origin Middle English: from Old French e(s)clipse (noun), eclipser (verb), via Latin from Greek ekleipsis, from ekleipein ‘fail to appear, be eclipsed,’ from ek ‘out’ + leipein ‘to leave.’

eclipsing binary /əˈklipsiNG ēˈklipsiNG ˈbīnərē ˈbīˌnerē/

noun

[Astronomy] a binary star whose brightness varies periodically as the two components pass one in front of the other.

ecliptic /əˈkliptik/

I. noun

[Astronomy] a great circle on the celestial sphere representing the sun's apparent path during the year, so called because lunar and solar eclipses can occur only when the moon crosses it.

II. adjective

of an eclipse or the ecliptic.

– origin late Middle English: via Latin from Greek ekleiptikos, from ekleipein ‘fail to appear’ (see eclipse).

eclogite /ˈekləˌjīt/

I. noun

[Geology] a metamorphic rock containing granular minerals, typically garnet and pyroxene.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, from Greek eklogē ‘selection’ (with reference to the selective content of the rock) + -ite^1.

eclogue /ˈeklôɡ/

I. noun

a short poem, especially a pastoral dialogue.

– origin late Middle English: via Latin from Greek eklogē ‘selection,’ from eklegein ‘pick out.’

eclose /iˈklōz/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. [Entomology] (of an insect) emerge as an adult from the pupa or as a larva from the egg.

II. derivatives

eclosion /iˈklōZH(ə)n /

noun

– origin late 19th cent. (as eclosion): from French éclore ‘to hatch,’ based on Latin ex- ‘out’ + claudere ‘to close.’

ECM

abbreviation

electronic countermeasures.

eco- /ˈēkō/

combining form

representing ecology.

Eco, Umberto /ˈekō/

(1932–), Italian novelist and semiotician. Notable works: The Name of the Rose (1981) and Travels in Hyperreality (1986).

eco-activist

I. noun

a person engaged in vigorous social or political campaigns whose aim is to prevent damage to the environment.

• according to eco-activists, many of these coastal fish farms are plagued by disease and pollution.

II. derivatives

eco-activism

noun

ecocentrism /ˌekōˈsenˌtrizəm, ˌēkō-/

I. noun

a point of view that recognizes the ecosphere, rather than the biosphere, as central in importance, and attempts to redress the imbalance created by anthropocentrism.

II. derivatives

ecocentric /-ˈsentrik /

adjective

eco-chic /ˈekōˌSHēk, ˈēkō-/

noun

1. concern with environmental issues, viewed as a fashion or fad

• eco-chic is all the rage!

2. design or clothing that reflects a concern with environmental issues

• almost overnight, the front lobby went from art deco to eco-chic

• [as modifier] an eco-chic hemp drawstring bag.

ecocide /ˈēkōˌsīd ˈekōˌsīd/

noun

destruction of the natural environment, especially when willfully done.

ecocline /ˈekōˌklīn, ˈēkō-/

noun

[Ecology] a cline from one ecosystem to another, showing a continuous gradient between the two extremes.

ecoconsumer /ˈekōkənˌso͞omər, ˈēkō-/

noun

a consumer who makes purchasing decisions partly or largely on the basis of ecological issues

• sophisticated ecoconsumers are descending upon some destinations that are not capable of delivering the expected services.

eco-driving

noun

the practice of driving in such a way as to minimize fuel consumption and the emission of carbon dioxide

• all instructors and examiners have been coached in eco-driving

• [as modifier] you can save a lot of money by adopting a few simple eco-driving techniques.

eco-fashion

noun

clothing and other goods made from recycled materials or otherwise produced by methods that are not harmful to the environment
[as modifier]

• launched to provide an alternative to chemically treated clothing, the eco-fashion business has been slow to catch on.

ecofeminism /ˌekōˈfeməˌnizəm, ˌēkō-/

I. noun

a philosophical and political movement that combines ecological concerns with feminist ones, regarding both as resulting from male domination of society.

II. derivatives

ecofeminist

noun

ecofreak /ˈēkōfrēk/

noun

‹informal› a person who is unusually enthusiastic about the protection and preservation of the environment.

eco-friendly

adjective

not harmful to the environment

• I use only eco-friendly products.

ecol.

abbreviation

1. ecological.

2. ecology.

eco-labeling

I. noun

the practice of marking products with a distinctive label to show that their manufacture conforms to recognized environmental standards.

II. derivatives

eco-label /ˈēkō ˌlābəl ˈekō ˌlābəl /

noun

E. coli /ē ˈkōlī/

noun

a bacterium commonly found in the intestines of humans and other animals, where it usually causes no harm. Some strains can cause severe food poisoning, especially in old people and children.
[Escherichia coli; a motile Gram-negative bacillus.]

ecolodge /ˈekōˌläj, ˈēkō-/

noun

a type of tourist accommodation designed to have the least possible impact on the natural environment in which it is situated.

ecological /ˌekəˈläjik(ə)l ˌēkəˈläjik(ə)l/

adjective

relating to or concerned with the relation of living organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings

• one of the world's worst ecological disasters

• pollution is posing a serious threat to the ecological balance of the oceans.

ecological cascade

noun

a shift in the balance of populations in an ecosystem occasioned by marked depletion in one species, usually as a result of human action.

ecological footprint /ˌēːkəˈläːjiklˈfo͝otprint/

noun

the impact of a person or community on the environment, expressed as the amount of land required to sustain their use of natural resources.

ecologically /ˌekəˈläjəklē ˌēkəˈläjəklē/

adverb

in a way that concerns the relation of living organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings

• Russia's vast forests are of global importance both economically and ecologically.

ecologist /ēˈkäləjəst/

noun

an expert in or student of ecology

• a German ecologist studying the river habitat.

ecology /ēˈkäləjē/

I. noun

1. the branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.

2. (also Ecology) — the political movement that seeks to protect the environment, especially from pollution.

– origin late 19th cent. (originally as oecology): from Greek oikos ‘house’ + -logy.

e-commerce /ˈēˌkämərs/

noun

commercial transactions conducted electronically on the Internet.

econobox /iˈkänəˌbäks/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a car that is small and economical rather than luxurious or stylish.

– origin blend of economical and box.

econometrics /əˌkänəˈmetriks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the branch of economics concerned with the use of mathematical methods (especially statistics) in describing economic systems.

II. derivatives

1. econometric /əˌkänəˈmetrik /

adjective

2. econometrical /əˌkänəˈmetrikəl /

adjective

3. econometrician /əˌkänəməˈtriSHən /

noun

4. econometrist /əˌkänəˈmetrəst /

noun

– origin 1930s: from economy, on the pattern of words such as biometrics and psychometrics.

economic /ˌekəˈnämik ˌēkəˈnämik/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to economics or the economy

• the government's economic policy

• pest species of great economic importance.

2. (of a subject) considered in relation to trade, industry, and the creation of wealth

• economic history.

3. justified in terms of profitability

• many organizations must become larger if they are to remain economic.

4. requiring fewer resources or costing less money

• solar power may provide a more economic solution.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French and Latin from Greek oikonomikos, from oikonomia (see economy). Originally a noun, the word denoted household management or a person skilled in this, hence the early sense of the adjective (late 16th cent.) ‘relating to household management’ Modern senses date from the mid 19th cent. / usage: Economic means 'concerning economics': he's rebuilding a solid economic base for the country's future. Economical is commonly used to mean 'thrifty, avoiding waste': small cars should be inexpensive to buy and economical to run.

economical /ˌekəˈnämik(ə)l ˌēkəˈnämik(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. giving good value or service in relation to the amount of money, time, or effort spent

• a small, economical car.

2. (of a person or lifestyle) careful not to waste money or resources.

3. using no more of something than is necessary

• this chassis is economical in metal and therefore light in weight.

II. phrases

be economical with the truth

‹euphemistic› lie or deliberately withhold information.
[mid 19th cent.: popularized by a statement given in evidence by Sir Robert Armstrong, British cabinet secretary, in the “Spycatcher” trial (1986), conducted to prevent publication of a book by a former MI5 employee.]

usage: See usage at economic.

economically /ˌekəˈnämik(ə)lē ˌēkəˈnämik(ə)lē/

adverb

1. in a way that relates to economics or finance
[sentence adverb]

• the region is important economically.

2. in a way that involves careful use of money or resources

• the new building was erected as economically as possible.

3. in a way that uses no more of something than is necessary

• a précis aims to express a passage more economically.

economic good

noun

[Economics] a product or service that can command a price when sold

• water is an economic good and should be treated as such.

economic growth

noun

an increase in the amount of goods and services produced per head of the population over a period of time

• he believes that creativity holds the key to economic growth.

economic indicator

noun

a statistic used to gauge future trends in a nation's economy.

economic man

noun

[Economics] a hypothetical person who behaves in exact accordance with their rational self-interest

• economic man measures costs against benefits.

economic migrant //

noun

a person who travels from one country or area to another in order to improve their standard of living.

economic rent

noun

[Economics] the extra amount earned by a resource (e.g., land, capital, or labor) by virtue of its present use.

economics /ˌekəˈnämiks ˌēkəˈnämiks/

I. plural noun — [often treated as sing.]

1. the branch of knowledge concerned with the production, consumption, and transfer of wealth.

2. the condition of a region or group as regards material prosperity

• he is responsible for the island's modest economics.

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting the science of household management): from economic + the plural suffix -s, originally on the pattern of Greek ta oikonomika (plural), the name of a treatise by Aristotle. Current senses date from the late 18th cent.

economism /iˈkänəˌmizəm/

I. noun

belief in the primacy of economic causes or factors.

– origin early 20th cent.: from French économisme, based on Greek oikonomia ‘household management’ (see economy).

economist /əˈkänəməst/

I. noun

an expert in economics.

– origin late 16th cent. (originally in the Greek sense): from Greek oikonomos ‘household manager’ (see economy) + -ist. The current sense dates from the early 19th cent.

economize /əˈkänəˌmīz/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. spend less; reduce one's expenses

• I have to economize where I can

• people on low incomes may try to economize on fuel.

II. derivatives

economization /ˌekəˌnäməˈzāSH(ə)n əˌkänəˌmīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

economizer /ēˈkänəˌmīzər/

noun

1. a device designed to make a machine or system more energy-efficient.

2. a person who reduces expenditure.

economy /əˈkänəmē/

I. noun

1. the wealth and resources of a country or region, especially in terms of the production and consumption of goods and services.

2. a particular system or stage of an economy

• a free-market economy

• the less-developed economies.

3. careful management of available resources

• even heat distribution and fuel economy.

4. sparing or careful use of something

• economy of words.

5. (usu. economies) — a financial saving

• there were many economies to be made by giving up our offices in Manhattan.

6. (also economy class) — the cheapest class of air or rail travel

• we flew economy.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of a product) offering the best value for the money
[in combination]

• an economy pack.

2. designed to be economical to use

• an economy car.

III. phrases

1. economy of scale

a proportionate saving in costs gained by an increased level of production.

2. economy of scope

a proportionate saving gained by producing two or more distinct goods, when the cost of doing so is less than that of producing each separately.

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘management of material resources’): from French économie, or via Latin from Greek oikonomia ‘household management,’ based on oikos ‘house’ + nemein ‘manage.’ Current senses date from the 17th cent.

economy-class syndrome //

noun

deep-vein thrombosis said to be caused by periods of prolonged immobility on long-haul flights.

economy-size /ēˈkänəmē əˈkänəmē sīz / economy-sized

adjective

of a size that offers a large quantity for a proportionally lower cost

• an economy-size container.

e-content /ˈēˌkän(t)ent/

noun

text and images designed for display on web pages

• click on this link to license our e-content

• [as modifier] e-content solutions.

ecophysiology /ˌekōˌfizēˈäləjē, ˌēkō-/

noun

[Biology] the study of the interrelationship between the normal physical function of an organism and its environment.

écorché /ˌākôrˈSHā/

I. noun

a painting or sculpture of a human figure with the skin removed to display the musculature.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, literally ‘flayed.’

ecoregion /ˈekōˌrējən, ˈēkō-/

noun

a major ecosystem defined by distinctive geography and receiving uniform solar radiation and moisture

• the Columbia Basin ecoregion.

eco-resort

noun

a tourist resort whose facilities are intended to have a minimal impact on the local environment.

ecosphere /ˈēkōˌsfēr ˈekōˌsfēr/

noun

1. the biosphere of the earth or another planet, especially when the interaction between the living and nonliving components is emphasized.

2. [Astronomy] the region of space around a sun or star where conditions are such that planets are theoretically capable of sustaining life.

ecossaise /ˌākōˈsāz/

I. noun

an energetic country dance in duple time in which couples form lines facing each other.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, feminine of écossais ‘Scottish’; the connection with Scotland is unclear.

ecosystem /ˈēkōˌsistəm/

noun

1. [Ecology] a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

2. [Ecology] (in general use) a complex network or interconnected system

• Silicon Valley's entrepreneurial ecosystem

• the entire ecosystem of movie and video production will eventually go digital.

ecotage /ˈekəˌtäZH, ēkə-/

I. noun

sabotage carried out for ecological reasons.

– origin 1970s: blend of ecological (see ecology) and sabotage.

eco-tax /ˈēkōˌtaks/

noun

a tax levied on products, practices, or activities which are considered to be harmful to the environment

• the German coalition introduced an eco-tax on petrol to discourage motorists.

ecoterrorism /ˈekōˌterəˈrizəm/

I. noun

1. violence carried out to further environmentalist ends.

2. the action of causing deliberate environmental damage in order to further political ends.

II. derivatives

ecoterrorist /ˈēkōterərəst /

noun

ecotone /ˈēkətōn ˈekəˌtōn/

I. noun

[Ecology] a region of transition between two biological communities.

II. derivatives

ecotonal

adjective

ecotopia /ˈēkōtōpēə, ˈekō-/

I. noun

an ecologically ideal region or form of society, generally viewed as imaginary.

II. derivatives

ecotopian

adjective

– origin 1975: from the title of a novel by Ernest Callenbach, originally denoting the Pacific coast of the US, from eco- ‘ecological,’ on the pattern of Utopia.

ecotourism /ˌekōˈto͝orizəm ˈēkōˌto͝orizəm ˈekōˌto͝orizəm/

I. noun

tourism directed toward exotic, often threatened, natural environments, especially to support conservation efforts and observe wildlife.

II. derivatives

1. ecotour

noun, verb

2. ecotourist

noun

ecotoxicology /ˌekōˌtäksiˈkäləjē, ˌēkō-/

I. noun

the branch of science that deals with the nature, effects, and interactions of substances that are harmful to the environment.

II. derivatives

1. ecotoxicological /-kəˈläjikəl /

adjective

2. ecotoxicologist /-jist /

noun

ecotype /ˈēkōˌtīp ˈekōˌtīp/

noun

[Botany] [Zoology] a distinct form or race of a plant or animal species occupying a particular habitat.

ecovillage /ˈēkōˌvilij/

noun

a community whose inhabitants seek to live according to ecological principles, causing as little impact on the environment as possible.

eco-warrior /ˈēkōˌwôrēər/

noun

a person actively involved in preventing damage to the environment.

ECOWAS

abbreviation

Economic Community of West African States.

e-crime

I. noun

another term for cybercrime.

• the survey found that fewer than a quarter of companies even reported e-crime to the police.

II. derivatives

e-criminal

noun

ecru /ˈekro͞o/

I. noun

the light beige color of unbleached linen.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French écru ‘unbleached.’

ecstasy /ˈekstəsē/

I. noun

1. an overwhelming feeling of great happiness or joyful excitement

• there was a look of ecstasy on his face

• they went into ecstasies over the view.

2. an emotional or religious frenzy or trancelike state, originally one involving an experience of mystic self-transcendence.

3. (abbr.: MDMA)(Ecstasy) — an amphetamine-based synthetic drug with euphoric and hallucinatory effects, originally promoted as an adjunct to psychotherapy.

– origin late Middle English (sense 2): from Old French extasie, via late Latin from Greek ekstasis ‘standing outside oneself,’ based on ek- ‘out’ + histanai ‘to place.’

ecstatic /ekˈstadik ikˈstadik/

I. adjective

1. feeling or expressing overwhelming happiness or joyful excitement

• ecstatic fans filled the stadium.

2. involving an experience of mystic self-transcendence

• an ecstatic vision.

II. noun

a person subject to mystical experiences.

III. derivatives

ecstatically /ekˈstadək(ə)lē /

adverb

ECT /ˈˌē ˈˌsē ˈtē/

abbreviation

electroconvulsive therapy.

ecto-

I. combining form

outer; external; on the outside (used commonly in scientific terms)

• ectoderm

• ectoparasite.

– origin from Greek ektos ‘outside.’

ectoderm /ˈektəˌdərm/

I. noun

[Zoology] [Embryology] the outermost layer of cells or tissue of an embryo in early development, or the parts derived from this, which include the epidermis and nerve tissue.
Compare with endoderm and mesoderm.

II. derivatives

ectodermal /ˌektəˈdərm(ə)l /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from ecto- ‘outside’ + Greek derma ‘skin.’

ectogenesis /ˌektəˈjenəsəs/

I. noun

(chiefly in science fiction) the development of embryos in artificial conditions outside the uterus.

II. derivatives

1. ectogene /ˈektəˌjēn /

noun

2. ectogenetic /ˌektəˌjəˈnetik /

adjective

3. ectogenetically /-ˌjəˈnetik(ə)lē /

adverb

ectomorph /ˈektəˌmôrf/

I. noun

[Physiology] a person with a lean and delicate body build.
Compare with endomorph and mesomorph.

II. derivatives

1. ectomorphic /ˌektəˈmôrfik /

adjective

2. ectomorphy

noun

– origin 1940s: ecto- from ectodermal (being the layer of the embryo giving rise to physical characteristics that predominate) + -morph.

-ectomy

I. combining form

denoting surgical removal of a specified part of the body

• appendectomy.

– origin from Greek ektomē ‘excision,’ from ek ‘out’ + temnein ‘to cut.’

ectoparasite /ˌektəˈperəsīt/

I. noun

[Biology] a parasite, such as a flea, that lives on the outside of its host.
Compare with endoparasite.

II. derivatives

ectoparasitic /-ˌparəˈsitik /

adjective

ectopic /ekˈtäpik/

I. adjective

[Medicine] in an abnormal place or position.

II. noun

an ectopic pregnancy.

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin ectopia ‘presence of tissue, cells, etc., in an abnormal place’ (from Greek ektopos ‘out of place’) + -ic.

ectopic beat

noun

another term for extrasystole.

ectopic pregnancy /ekˌtäpik ˈpreɡnənsē/

noun

a pregnancy in which the fetus develops outside the uterus, typically in a Fallopian tube.

ectoplasm /ˈektəˌplazəm/

I. noun

1. [Biology] the more viscous, clear outer layer of the cytoplasm in amoeboid cells.
Compare with endoplasm.

2. a supernatural viscous substance that is supposed to exude from the body of a medium during a spiritualistic trance and form the material for the manifestation of spirits.

II. derivatives

ectoplasmic /ˌektəˈplazəmik /

adjective

Ectoprocta /ˌektəˈpräktə / ‹Zoology›

I. another term for Bryozoa.

II. derivatives

ectoproct /ˈektəˌpräkt /

noun

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek ektos ‘outside or external’ + prōktos ‘anus.’

ectotherm /ˈektəˌTHərm/

I. noun

[Zoology] an animal that is dependent on external sources of body heat.

II. derivatives

1. ectothermic

adjective

2. ectothermy

noun

ectropion /ekˈtrōpēən, -pēˌän/

I. noun

[Medicine] a condition, typically a consequence of advanced age, in which the eyelid is turned outward away from the eyeball.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Greek, from ek- ‘out’ + trepein ‘to turn.’

ECU /āˈk(y)o͞o / ecu

I. noun

the former official monetary unit of the European Union, used to evaluate the exchange rates and reserves of members of the European Monetary System on a common basis and in trading Eurobonds. It was replaced by the euro.

– origin acronym from European currency unit.

Ecuador /ˈekwəˌdôr/

1. a republic in northwestern South America, on the Pacific coast; pop. 14,573,100 (est. 2009); capital, Quito; languages, Spanish (official), Quechua.

Formerly part of the Inca empire, Ecuador was conquered by the Spanish in 1534. It remained part of Spain's American empire until 1822, when independence was gained.

Ecuadorian /ˌekwəˈdôrēən / Ecuadorean

I. adjective

relating to Ecuador or its people

• the Ecuadorian government.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of Ecuador

• the Ecuadorians raced to victory, taking five out of the last six games.

ecumenical /ˌekyəˈmenək(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. representing a number of different Christian churches.

2. promoting or relating to unity among the world's Christian churches

• ecumenical dialogue.

II. derivatives

ecumenically

adverb

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘belonging to the universal Church’): via late Latin from Greek oikoumenikos, from oikoumenē ‘the (inhabited) earth.’

Ecumenical Patriarch

noun

a title of the Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople.

ecumenism /ˈekyəməˌnizəm iˈkyo͞oːmənizəm/

noun

the principle or aim of promoting unity among the world's Christian churches.

eczema /ˈeɡzəmə ˈeksəmə iɡˈzēmə/

I. noun

a medical condition in which patches of skin become rough and inflamed, with blisters that cause itching and bleeding, sometimes resulting from a reaction to irritation (eczematous dermatitis) but more typically having no obvious external cause.

II. derivatives

eczematous /eɡˈzemədəs eɡˈzēmədəs iɡˈzēmədəs iɡˈzemədəs /

adjective

– origin mid 18th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek ekzema, from ekzein ‘boil over, break out,’ from ek- ‘out’ + zein ‘boil.’

ED

abbreviation

1. eating disorder.

2. election district.

3. (chiefly US) emergency department.

4. erectile dysfunction.

ed.

abbreviation

1. edited by.

2. edition.

3. editor.

4. education.

-ed^1

I. suffix

1. forming adjectives:

2. (added to nouns) having; possessing; affected by

• talented

• diseased.

3. (added to nouns) characteristic of

• ragged.

4. used in phrases consisting of adjective and noun

• bad-tempered

• three-sided.

– origin Old English -ede.

-ed^2

I. suffix

1. forming:

2. the past tense and past participle of weak verbs

• landed

• walked.

3. participial adjectives

• wounded.

– origin Old English -ed, -ad, -od.

edacious /əˈdāSHəs/

I. adjective

‹rare› of, relating to, or given to eating.

II. derivatives

edacity /əˈdasədē /

noun

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin edax, edac- (from edere ‘eat’) + -ious.

Edam /ˈēdəm/

I. noun

a round Dutch cheese, typically pale yellow with a red wax coating.

– origin early 19th cent.: named after the town of Edam in the Netherlands.

edamame /ˌedəˈmämā/

I. noun

a dish of green soybeans boiled or steamed in their pods.

– origin Japanese, literally ‘beans on a branch.’

edaphic /əˈdafik/

I. adjective

[Ecology] of, produced by, or influenced by the soil.

– origin late 19th cent.: coined in German from Greek edaphos ‘floor’ + -ic.

edaphosaur /ˈedəfōsôr / edaphosaurus

I. noun

a large herbivorous synapsid reptile of the late Carboniferous and early Permian periods, with long knobbly spines on its back supporting a sail-like crest.
[Genus Edaphosaurus, order Pelycosuria, subclass Synapsida.]

II. derivatives

edaphosaurian

adjective

– origin modern Latin, from Greek edaphos ‘floor’ + sauros ‘lizard.’

e-dating

noun

another term for online dating.

• even in the modern age, e-dating remains a risky business.

EDC

abbreviation

Export Development Canada; a Crown corporation that facilitates trade between Canada and other countries

• EDC has opened the door to over $38 billion in new exports.

Edda /ˈedə/

I. either of two 13th-century Icelandic books, the Elder or Poetic Edda (a collection of Old Norse poems on Norse legends) and the Younger or Prose Edda (a handbook to Icelandic poetry by Snorri Sturluson). The Eddas are the chief source of knowledge of Scandinavian mythology.

– origin either from the name of the great-grandmother in the Old Norse poem Rigsthul, or from Old Norse óthr ‘poetry.’

eddo /ˈedō/

I. noun

a taro corm or plant, especially of a West Indian variety with many edible cormlets.
[Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum, family Araceae.]

– origin late 17th cent.: of West African origin.

eddy /ˈedē/

I. noun

1. a circular movement of water, counter to a main current, causing a small whirlpool.

2. a movement of wind, fog, or smoke resembling this.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of water, air, or smoke) move in a circular way

• the mists from the river eddied around the banks.

– origin late Middle English: probably from the Germanic base of the Old English prefix ed- ‘again, back.’

Eddy, Mary Baker /ˈedē/

(1821–1910), US religious leader; founder of the Christian Science movement. Long a victim of various ailments, she believed herself cured by a faith healer, Phineas Quimby (1802–1866), and later evolved her own system of spiritual healing.

eddy current

noun

a localized electric current induced in a conductor by a varying magnetic field.

Ede /ˈādə/

I. an industrial city in eastern Netherlands; pop. 107,686 (2008).

II. an industrial town in southwestern Nigeria, northeast of Ibadan, in a predominantly Yoruba region; pop. 196,800 (est. 2005).

Edelman, Marian Wright /ˈādlmən/

(1939–), US human rights activist; president of the Children's Defense Fund, which she founded in 1973. She wrote The Measure of Our Success: A Letter to My Children and Yours (1992).

edelweiss /ˈādlˌwīs ˈādlˌvīs/

I. noun

a European mountain plant that has woolly white bracts around its small flowers and downy gray-green leaves.
[Leontopodium alpinum, family Compositae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from German, from edel ‘noble’ + weiss ‘white.’

edema /əˈdēmə / ‹Brit.› oedema

I. noun

a condition characterized by an excess of watery fluid collecting in the cavities or tissues of the body.
Also called dropsy.

II. derivatives

edematous /əˈdemədəs /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: modern Latin, from Greek oidēma, from oidein ‘to swell.’

Eden /ˈēdn / Garden of Eden

I. the place where Adam and Eve lived in the biblical account of the Creation, from which they were expelled for disobediently eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

II. (as noun an Eden) — a place or state of great happiness; an unspoiled paradise

• the lost Eden of his childhood.

– origin from late Latin (Vulgate), Greek Ēdēn (Septuagint), and Hebrew ῾Ēḏen; perhaps related to Akkadian edinu, from Sumerian eden ‘plain, desert’ (but believed to be related to Hebrew ῾ēḏen ‘delight’).

Eden, Anthony /ˈēdn/

1st Earl of Avon (1897–1977), British Conservative statesman; prime minister 1955–57; full name Robert Anthony Eden. His premiership was dominated by the Suez crisis of 1956, and widespread opposition to Britain's role in this led to his resignation.

Edenic /ēˈdenik/

adjective

1. relating to or characteristic of the garden of Eden

• the story of the Edenic fall.

2. unspoiled and idyllic

• an Edenic world of economic prosperity.

Eden Prairie

a city in southeastern Minnesota, southwest of Minneapolis; pop. 61,191 (est. 2008).

Edentata /ˌēdenˈtätə, -ˈtātə / ‹Zoology›

another term for Xenarthra.

edentate /ēˈdenˌtāt/

I. noun

[Zoology] a mammal of an order distinguished by the lack of incisor and canine teeth. The edentates, which include anteaters, sloths, and armadillos, are all native to Central and South America.
[Order Xenarthra (or Edentata).]

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin edentatus, past participle of edentare ‘make toothless,’ from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + dens, dent- ‘tooth.’

edentulous /ēˈden(t)SHələs/

I. adjective

[Medicine] [Zoology] lacking teeth.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Latin edentulus, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + dens, dent- ‘tooth’ + -ulous.

Ederle, Gertrude /ˈedərlē/

(1906–2003), US swimmer; full name Gertrude Caroline Ederle. The winner of three Olympic medals in 1924, she became the first woman to swim the English Channel 1926, two hours faster than any man had done.

Edgar /ˈedɡər/

(944–75), king of England 959–975; younger brother of Edwy. He became king of Northumbria and Mercia in 957 when these regions renounced their allegiance to Edwy. He succeeded to the throne of England on Edwy's death.

edge /ej/

I. noun

1. the outside limit of an object, area, or surface; a place or part farthest away from the center of something

• a willow tree at the water's edge

• ‹figurative› these measures are merely tinkering at the edges of a wider issue.

2. an area next to a steep drop

• the cliff edge.

3. [in sing.] — the point or state immediately before something unpleasant or momentous occurs

• the economy was teetering on the edge of recession.

4. the sharpened side of the blade of a cutting implement or weapon

• a knife with a razor-sharp edge.

5. the line along which two surfaces of a solid meet.

6. [in sing.] — an intense, sharp, or striking quality

• a flamenco singer brings a primitive edge to the music

• she was still smiling, but there was an edge to her voice.

7. [in sing.] — a quality or factor that gives superiority over close rivals or competitors

• the veal had the edge on flavor.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — provide with a border or edge

• the pool is edged with paving.

2. move gradually, carefully, or furtively in a particular direction
[no obj.]

• she tried to edge away from him

• Nick edged his way through the crowd

• [with obj.] Hazel quietly edged him away from the others.

3. [with obj.] — (US) ‹informal› defeat by a small margin

• Connecticut avoided an upset and edged Yale 49–48.

4. [with obj.] — give an intense or sharp quality to

• the bitterness that edged her voice.

5. [no obj.] — ski with one's weight on the edges of one's skis.

III. phrases

1. on edge

tense, nervous, or irritable

• never had she felt so on edge before an interview.

2. on the edge of one's seat

‹informal› very excited and giving one's full attention to something.

3. set someone's teeth on edge

(especially of an unpleasantly harsh sound) cause someone to feel intense discomfort or irritation

• a grating that set her teeth on edge.

4. take the edge off

reduce the intensity or effect of (something unpleasant or severe)

• the tablets will take the edge off the pain.

IV. phrasal verbs

edge someone out

remove a person from an organization or role by indirect means

• she was edged out of the organization by the director.

V. derivatives

1. edgeless /ˈejləs /

adjective

2. edger /ˈejər /

noun

– origin Old English ecg ‘sharpened side of a blade,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch egge and German Ecke, also to Old Norse eggja (see egg^2), from an Indo-European root shared by Latin acies ‘edge’ and Greek akis ‘point.’

edge city

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a relatively large urban area situated on the outskirts of a city, typically beside a major road.

– origin 1991: coined by J. Garreau in a book of the same name.

edge connector

noun

an electrical connector with a row of contacts, fitted to the edge of a printed circuit board to facilitate connection to external circuits.

edged /ejd/

adjective

1. (of an object, area, or surface) having an outside edge or boundary of a specified kind
[in combination]

• a regular square-edged tile.

2. (of an implement or weapon) having a sharpened blade for cutting

• edged tools used by carpenters

• [in combination] a single-edged razor blade.

edge tool

noun

any tool with a sharp cutting edge.

edgewise /ˈejˌwīz / edgeways

I. adverb, adjective

with the edge uppermost or toward the viewer
[as adv.]

• could be inserted edgewise between the teeth

• [as adj.] an edgewise view of our own galaxy.

II. phrases

get a word in edgewise

[usu. with negative] — contribute to a conversation with difficulty because the other speaker talks almost without pause.

Edgewood /ˈejwo͝od/

a community in northeastern Maryland that is noted for its US arsenal; pop. 23,378 (2000).

edging /ˈejiNG/

noun

1. a thing forming an edge or border

• the crocheted edging of the cloth.

2. the process of providing something with an edge or border.

edgy /ˈejē/

I. adjective

1. tense, nervous, or irritable

• he became edgy and defensive.

2. (of a musical performance or a piece of writing) having an intense or sharp quality.

3. ‹informal› at the forefront of a trend; experimental or avant-garde

• their songs combine good music and smart, edgy ideas.

II. derivatives

1. edgily /ˈejəlē /

adverb

2. edginess /ˈejēnəs /

noun

EDI

abbreviation

electronic data interchange (a standard for exchanging information between computer systems).

edible /ˈedəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

fit to be eaten (often used to contrast with unpalatable or poisonous examples)

• nasturtium seeds are edible.

II. noun — (edibles)

1. items of food.

III. derivatives

edibility /ˌedəˈbilədē /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from late Latin edibilis, from Latin edere ‘eat.’

edict /ˈēdikt/

I. noun

an official order or proclamation issued by a person in authority.

II. derivatives

edictal /iˈdiktl /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Latin edictum ‘something proclaimed,’ neuter past participle of edicere, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + dicere ‘say, tell.’

edification /ˌedəfəˈkāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

‹formal› the instruction or improvement of a person morally or intellectually

• the idea that art's main purpose is to supply moral uplift and edification.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin aedificatio(n-), from aedificare ‘build’ (see edify).

edifice /ˈedəfəs/

I. noun

1. ‹formal› a building, especially a large, imposing one.

2. ‹formal› a complex system of beliefs

• the concepts on which the edifice of capitalism was built.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin aedificium, from aedis ‘dwelling’ + facere ‘make.’

edify /ˈedəˌfī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› instruct or improve (someone) morally or intellectually.

– origin Middle English: from Old French edifier, from Latin aedificare ‘build,’ from aedis ‘dwelling’ + facere ‘make’ (compare with edifice). The word originally meant ‘construct a building,’ also ‘strengthen,’ hence to “build up” morally or spiritually.

edifying /ˈedəˌfīiNG/

I. adjective

providing moral or intellectual instruction

• edifying literature.

II. derivatives

edifyingly

adverb

Edina /ēˈdīnə/

a city in southeastern Minnesota, southwest of Minneapolis; pop. 45,608 (est. 2008).

Edinburg /ˈednˌbərɡ/

a city in southern Texas, in the Rio Grande valley; pop. 71,520 (est. 2008).

Edinburgh /ˈed(ə)nbərə/

the capital of Scotland, on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth; pop. 449,100 (est. 2009). The city grew up around an 11th-century castle built by Malcolm III on a rocky ridge that dominates the landscape.

Edinburgh, Duke of

see Philip, Prince.

Edinburgh Festival Edinburgh International Festival

an international festival of the arts held annually in Edinburgh since 1947. In addition to the main program a flourishing fringe festival has developed.

Edison /ˈedəsən/

a township in eastern New Jersey, northeast of New Brunswick; pop. 99,706 (est. 2008). It is home to Thomas Edison's research laboratory in Menlo Park.

Edison, Thomas

(1847–1931), US inventor; full name Thomas Alva Edison. He took out the first of more than 1,000 patents at the age of 21. His inventions include automatic telegraph systems, the carbon microphone for telephones, the phonograph, and the carbon filament lamp.

edit /ˈedət/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. prepare (written material) for publication by correcting, condensing, or otherwise modifying it

• Volume I was edited by J. Johnson.

2. choose material for (a movie or a radio or television program) and arrange it to form a coherent whole

• the footage wasn't good enough to be edited into broadcast form

• (as adj. edited) an edited version drawn from several prerecorded performances.

3. change (text) on a computer.

4. (edit something out) — remove unnecessary or inappropriate words, sounds, or scenes from a text, movie, or radio or television program.

5. be editor of (a newspaper or magazine).

II. noun

1. a change or correction made as a result of editing.

2. a version of written, recorded, or filmed material made as a result of editing

• a rough edit of some delightful Javanese gamelan music.

3. a featured selection of clothes, accessories, beauty products, etc., from a particular season or collection

• this is ELLE’s personal Autumn/Winter 2012 edit.

– origin late 18th cent. (as a verb): partly a back-formation from editor, reinforced by French éditer ‘to edit’ (from édition ‘edition’).

edit.

abbreviation

1. edited.

2. edition.

3. editor.

editable /ˈedədəb(ə)l/

adjective

(of text or software) in a format that can be edited by the user.

edition /əˈdiSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a particular form or version of a published text

• a paperback edition.

2. a particular version of a text that has been revised or created from a substantially new setting of type

• a first edition.

3. [in sing.] — a person or thing that is compared to another as a copy to an original

• the building was a simpler edition of its namesake.

4. the total number of copies of a book, newspaper, or other published material issued at one time.

5. a particular version or instance of a regular program or broadcast

• the Monday edition will be repeated on Wednesday afternoons.

– origin late Middle English: from French édition, from Latin editio(n-), from edere ‘put out,’ from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + dare ‘give.’

editio princeps /eˈditēō ˈprinkeps, iˈdiSHēō ˈprinseps/

I. noun

the first printed edition of a book.

– origin Latin, from editio(n-) ‘edition’ and princeps ‘chief, leader’ (from primus ‘first’).

editor /ˈedədər/

I. noun

1. a person who is in charge of and determines the final content of a text, particularly a newspaper or magazine

• the editor of The New York Times

• a sports editor.

2. a person who works for a publishing company, commissioning or preparing material for publication.

3. a computer program enabling the user to enter or alter text.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin, ‘producer (of games), publisher,’ from edit- ‘produced, put forth,’ from the verb edere.

editorial /ˌedəˈtôrēəl/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to the commissioning or preparing of material for publication

• a pillar of scholarly publishing and editorial excellence.

2. of or relating to the part of a newspaper or magazine that contains news, information, or comment as opposed to advertising.

II. noun

1. a newspaper article written by or on behalf of an editor that gives an opinion on a topical issue.

2. the parts of a newspaper or magazine that are not advertising.

III. derivatives

1. editorialist /ˌedəˈtôrēələst /

noun

2. editorially /ˌedəˈtôrēəlē /

adverb

editorialize /ˌedəˈtôrēəˌlīz/

verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a newspaper, editor, or broadcasting organization) make comments or express opinions rather than just report the news.

editorship /ˈedədərˌSHip/

noun

the position of editor in charge of a newspaper, magazine, or multiauthor book

• in 1877 Digby assumed the editorship of the Madras Times.

editress /ˈeditris/

I. noun

(chiefly Brit.) another term for editrix.

usage: See usage at -ess^1.

editrix /ˈeditriks/

I. noun

‹dated› ‹humorous› a female editor.

– origin early 20th cent.: from editor + -trix.

edit suite

noun

a room containing equipment for electronically editing video-recorded material.

Ed.M.

I. abbreviation

master of education.

– origin from Latin Educationis Magister.

Edmond /ˈedmənd/

a city in central Oklahoma, an oil center north of Oklahoma City; pop. 79,559 (est. 2008).

Edmonds /ˈedməndz/

a city in west central Washington, on Puget Sound, north of Seattle; pop. 40,158 (est. 2008).

Edmonton /ˈedmənt(ə)n/

the capital of the province of Alberta, in western Canada, on the North Saskatchewan River; pop. 730,372 (2006).

Edmund /ˈedmənd/

I. the name of two kings of England.

II. Edmund I (921–946), reigned 939–946. After succeeding Athelstan, Edmund spent much of his reign trying to win his northern lands back from Norse control.

III. Edmund II (c. 980–1016), son of Ethelred the Unready; reigned 1016; known as Edmund Ironside. Edmund led the resistance to Canute's forces in 1015, but was eventually defeated and forced to divide the kingdom with Canute. On Edmund's death, Canute became king of all England.

Edmund, St.

(c. 1175–1240), English churchman and teacher; archbishop of Canterbury 1234–40; born Edmund Rich. He was the last primate of all of England. Feast day, November 16.

Edmund Campion, St.

see Campion, St. Edmund.

Edmund the Martyr, St.

(c. 841–870), king of East Anglia 855–870. After the defeat of his army by the invading Danes in 870, tradition holds that he was captured and shot with arrows for refusing to reject the Christian faith or to share power with his pagan conqueror. Feast day, November 20.

Edo^1 /ˈedō/

former name of Tokyo.

Edo^2 /ˈedō/

I. noun

1. a member of a people inhabiting the district of Benin in Nigeria.

2. the Benue-Congo language of the Edo.

II. adjective

relating to the Edo or their language.

– origin the name of Benin City in Edo.

Edomite /ˈēdəˌmīt/

I. adjective

of or relating to Edom, an ancient region south of the Dead Sea, or its people.

II. noun

a member of an ancient people living in Edom in biblical times, traditionally believed to be descended from Esau.

EDP

abbreviation

electronic data processing.

EDT /ˈˌē ˈˌdē ˈtē/

abbreviation

Eastern Daylight Time (see Eastern time).

EDTA

abbreviation

[Chemistry] ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid, a crystalline acid with a strong tendency to form chelates with metal ions.
[Chem. formula: (CH_2COOH)2NCH_2CH_2N(CH_2COOH)2.]

educ.

abbreviation

1. educated.

2. education.

3. educational.

educable /ˈejəkəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

able to be educated

• we must have teachers who believe that every child is educable.

II. derivatives

educability /ˌejəkəˈbilitē /

noun

educate /ˈejəˌkāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. give intellectual, moral, and social instruction to (someone, especially a child), typically at a school or university

• she was educated at a boarding school.

2. provide or pay for instruction for (one's child), especially at a school.

3. give (someone) training in or information on a particular field

• the need to educate people to conserve water

• a plan to educate the young on the dangers of drug-taking.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin educat- ‘led out,’ from the verb educare, related to educere ‘lead out’ (see educe).

educated /ˈejəˌkādəd/

adjective

1. having been educated
[in combination]

• a Harvard-educated lawyer.

2. resulting from or having had a good education

• educated tastes.

educated guess

noun

a guess based on knowledge and experience and therefore likely to be correct.

education /ˌejəˈkāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university

• a new system of public education.

2. the theory and practice of teaching

• colleges of education.

3. a body of knowledge acquired while being educated

• his education is encyclopedic and eclectic.

4. information about or training in a particular field or subject

• health education.

5. (an education) — an enlightening experience

• a day with those kids was an education in patience and forbearance.

II. derivatives

educationist /ˌejəˈkāSH(ə)nəst /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin educatio(n-), from the verb educare (see educate).

educational /ˌejəˈkāSH(ə)n(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to the provision of education

• children with special educational needs.

2. intended or serving to educate or enlighten.

II. derivatives

educationalist /ˌejəˈkāSHənləst ˌejəˈkāSHnələst /

noun

educationally /ˌejəˈkāSH(ə)nəlē/

adverb

in a way that relates to the provision of education

• youngsters will benefit educationally and socially

• [as submodifier] students from the most educationally disadvantaged backgrounds.

educational psychology

noun

a branch of psychology that studies children in an educational setting and is concerned with teaching and learning methods, cognitive development, and aptitude assessment.

educationese /ˌejəˌkāSHənˈēz/

noun

‹informal› jargon used by people involved in the field of education

• the document is filled with educationese.

educative /ˈejəˌkādiv/

adjective

intended or serving to educate or enlighten; educational

• a useful educative tool.

educator /ˈejəˌkādər/

noun

a person who provides instruction or education; a teacher

• the perspective of a professional educator.

educe /ēˈd(y)o͞os/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› bring out or develop (something latent or potential)

• out of love obedience is to be educed.

2. ‹formal› infer (something) from data

• more information can be educed from these statistics.

II. derivatives

1. educible /ēˈd(y)o͞osəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. eduction /ēˈdəkSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin educere ‘lead out,’ from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + ducere ‘to lead.’

educrat /ˈejəˌkrat/

I. noun

‹informal› ‹derogatory› an education administrator.

– origin blend of education and bureaucrat.

edulcorate /əˈdəlkəˌrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹rare› make (something) more acceptable or palatable.

II. derivatives

edulcoration /əˌdəlkəˈrāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin edulcorat- ‘sweetened,’ from the verb edulcorare, from Latin e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + dulcor ‘sweetness.’

edutainment /ˌejəˈtānmənt/

I. noun

entertainment, especially computer games, with an educational aspect.

– origin 1980s: blend of education and entertainment.

Edw.

abbreviation

Edward.

Edward /ˈedwərd/

I. the name of six kings of England and also one of Great Britain and Ireland and one of the United Kingdom.

II. Edward I (1239–1307), son of Henry III; reigned 1272–1307; known as the Hammer of the Scots. His campaign against Prince Llewelyn ended with the annexation of Wales in 1284, but he failed to conquer Scotland.

III. Edward II (1284–1327), son of Edward I; reigned 1307–27. In 1314, he was defeated by Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn. In 1326, Edward's wife, Isabella of France, and her lover, Roger de Mortimer, invaded England; Edward was deposed in favor of his son and murdered.

IV. Edward III (1312–77), son of Edward II; reigned 1327–77. In 1330, he took control of his kingdom, banishing Isabella and executing Mortimer. He supported Edward de Baliol, the pretender to the Scottish throne, and started the Hundred Years War.

V. Edward IV (1442–83), son of Richard, Duke of York; reigned 1461–83. He became king after defeating the Lancastrian Henry VI. Edward was briefly forced into exile 1470–01 by the Earl of Warwick but regained his position with victory at Tewkesbury in 1471.

VI. Edward V (1470–c. 1483), son of Edward IV; reigned 1483 but not crowned. Edward and his brother Richard, known as the Princes in the Tower, were probably murdered and the throne was taken by their uncle, Richard III.

VII. Edward VI (1537–53), son of Henry VIII; reigned 1547–53. His reign saw the establishment of Protestantism as the state religion.

VIII. Edward VII (1841–1910), son of Queen Victoria; reigned 1901–10. Although he played little part in government on coming to the throne, his popularity helped to revitalize the monarchy.

IX. Edward VIII (1894–1972), son of George V; reigned 1936 but not crowned. Edward abdicated 11 months after coming to the throne in order to marry a US divorcée, Mrs. Wallis Simpson. He was given the title the duke of Windsor by George VI.

Edward, Lake

a lake on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire). It is linked to Lake Albert by the Semliki River.

Edward, Prince

Edward Antony Richard Louis, Earl of Wessex (1964–), third son of Elizabeth II. In 1999, he married Sophie Rhys-Jones.

Edward, Prince of Wales

see Black Prince.

Edwardian /edˈwôrdēən/

I. adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of the reign of King Edward VII

• the Edwardian era

• a fine Edwardian house.

II. noun

a person who lived during the Edwardian period.

Edwardiana /edˌwôrdēˈanə, -ˌwär-/

plural noun

articles, especially collectors' items, from the reign of Edward VII.

Edwards, John

(1953–), US politician. A Democrat from North Carolina, he was a trial lawyer before running for political office. He served in the US Senate 1999–2005 and was the Democratic candidate for vice president in 2004.

Edwards, Jonathan /ˈedwərdz/

(1703–58), American cleric and theologian. He was known for the extreme Calvinism of his preaching and writing.

Edward the Confessor, St.

(c. 1003–66), son of Ethelred the Unready; king of England 1042–66. He founded Westminster Abbey, where he was eventually buried. Feast day, October 13.

Edward the Elder

(c. 870–924), son of Alfred the Great; king of Wessex 899–924. His military successes against the Danes made it possible for his son Athelstan to become the first king of all of England in 925.

Edward the Martyr, St.

(c. 963–978), son of Edgar; king of England 975–978. He was faced with a challenge for the throne by supporters of his half-brother, Ethelred, who eventually had him murdered. Feast day, March 18.

Edwy /ˈedwē / Eadwig

(died 959), king of England 955–957. He was about 15 years old when he became king. After Mercia and Northumbria renounced him in favor of his brother Edgar, he ruled over only the lands south of the Thames River.

EE

abbreviation

1. electrical engineer.

2. electrical engineering.

-ee

I. suffix

1. forming nouns:

2. denoting the person affected directly or indirectly by the action of the formative verb

• employee

• lessee.

3. denoting a person described as or concerned with

• absentee

• patentee.

4. denoting an object of relatively smaller size

• goatee.

– origin from Anglo-Norman French -é, from Latin -atus (past participial ending). Some forms are anglicized modern French nouns (e.g., refugee from réfugié).

EEA

abbreviation

European Economic Area, a free-trade zone created in 1994, composed of the states of the European Union together with Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein.

EEC /ˌē ˌē ˈsē/

abbreviation

1. European Economic Community.

2. echoencephalograph.

e-edition /ˈēəˌdiSH(ə)n/

noun

a digital edition of a printed book, newspaper, or journal, which can be read on a computer or mobile device

• a free e-edition is also available via the website.

EEG

abbreviation

1. electroencephalogram.

2. electroencephalograph.

3. electroencephalography.

eejit /ˈējit/

noun

‹informal› Irish and Scottish form of idiot.

eek /ēk/

exclamation

‹informal› used as an expression of alarm, horror, or surprise.

eel /ēl/

I. noun

1. a snakelike fish with a slender elongated body and poorly developed fins, proverbial for its slipperiness

• the man was wanted in a dozen countries but was as slippery as an eel.

[Order Anguilliformes: many families, in particular Anguillidae, which comprises mainly freshwater eels that breed in the sea, including the common Anguilla anguilla of Europe and the American eel (A. rostrata).]

2. used in names of unrelated fishes that resemble the true eels, e.g., electric eel, moray eel.

II. derivatives

1. eellike /-ˌlīk /

adjective

2. eely

adjective

– origin Old English ǣl, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch aal and German Aal.

Eelam /ˈēˌlam/

the proposed homeland of the Tamil people of Sri Lanka, for which the Tamil Tigers separatist group fought until their defeat in 2009.

eelgrass /ˈēlɡras/

noun

1. a marine plant with long ribbonlike leaves that grows in coastal waters and brackish inlets.
[Zostera marina, family Zosteraceae.]

2. (N. Amer.) another term for tape grass.

eelpout /ˈēlpout/

I. noun

a fish of cool or cold seas, having a broad head with thick lips and an elongated body with the dorsal and anal fins continuous with the tail.
[Family Zoarcidae: numerous genera and species, including the widely distributed northern European viviparous blenny (Zoarces viviparus).]

– origin Old English ǣlepūta (see eel, pout^2).

eelworm /ˈēlwərm/

noun

a nematode, especially a small soil nematode that can become a serious pest of crops and ornamental plants.

Eemian /ˈēmēən / Eem

I. adjective

1. [Geology] of, relating to, or denoting the most recent interglacial period of the Pleistocene in northern Europe, preceding the Weichsel glaciation.

2. (as noun the Eemian or Eem) — [Geology] the Eemian interglacial or the system of deposits laid down during it.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Eem, the name of a river in the Netherlands, + -ian.

e'en /ēn / ‹literary›

contraction

even.

-een

I. suffix

(Irish) forming diminutive nouns such as colleen.

– origin from the Irish diminutive suffix -ín.

eensy /ˈēn(t)sē / eensy-weensy

adjective

‹informal› extremely small; tiny.

EEO

abbreviation

equal employment opportunity.

EEPROM /ˌē-ēˈpräm, ˈēˌpräm, ˈdəbəl ē ˈpräm/

I. noun

[Computing] a read-only memory whose contents can be erased and reprogrammed using a pulsed voltage.

– origin acronym from electrically erasable programmable ROM.

e'er /er / ‹literary›

contraction

ever.

-eer

I. suffix

1. (forming nouns) denoting a person concerned with or engaged in an activity

• auctioneer

• puppeteer.

2. (forming verbs) denoting concern or involvement with an activity

• electioneer

• profiteer.

– origin from French -ier, from Latin -arius; verbs (sense 2) are often back-formations (e.g., electioneer from electioneering).

eerie /ˈirē/

I. adjective

strange and frightening

• an eerie green glow in the sky.

II. derivatives

eeriness /ˈirēnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English (originally northern English and Scots in the sense ‘fearful’): probably from Old English earg ‘cowardly,’ of Germanic origin; related to German arg.

eerily /ˈirilē/

adverb

in a strange and frightening manner

• their footsteps echoed eerily

• [as submodifier] the streets are eerily quiet.

Eeyorish /ˈē(y)ôriSH / Eeyoreish

I. adjective

(Brit.) pessimistic or gloomy

• one of the most Eeyorish speeches we have ever heard.

– origin 1990s: from Eeyore, the name of a donkey in A. A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh (1926), characterized by his gloomy outlook on life.

ef-

I. prefix

variant spelling of ex-1. assimilated before f (as in efface, effloresce).

usage: See usage at ex-1.

EFA

abbreviation

essential fatty acid.

eff /ef/

I. noun, verb

‹informal› used as a euphemism for “fuck.”

II. phrases

eff and blind

(Brit.) ‹informal› use vulgar expletives; swear

• You can eff and blind all you want; the rules still stand.

[blind from its use in vulgar imprecations such as blind me (see blimey).]

– origin 1950s: the letter F represented as a word.

eff.

abbreviation

efficiency.

effable /ˈefəbəl/

I. adjective

‹rare› able to be described in words.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin effabilis, from effari ‘utter.’

efface /əˈfās/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. erase (a mark) from a surface

• with time, the words are effaced by the frost and the rain

• ‹figurative› his anger was effaced when he stepped into the open air.

2. (efface oneself) — make oneself appear insignificant or inconspicuous.

II. derivatives

effacement /əˈfāsmənt eˈfāsmənt ēˈfāsmənt /

noun

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘pardon or be absolved from (an offense)’): from French effacer, from e- (from Latin ex- ‘away from’) + face ‘face.’

effect /əˈfekt/

I. noun

1. a change that is a result or consequence of an action or other cause

• the lethal effects of hard drugs

• politicians really do have some effect on the lives of ordinary people.

2. the state of being or becoming operative.

3. the extent to which something succeeds or is operative

• wind power can be used to great effect.

4. [with modifier] — [Physics] a physical phenomenon, typically named after its discoverer

• the Doppler effect.

5. an impression produced in the mind of a person

• gentle music can have a soothing effect.

6. (effects) — the lighting, sound, or scenery used in a play, movie, or broadcast

• the production relied too much on spectacular effects.

7. (effects) — personal belongings

• the insurance covers personal effects.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (something) to happen; bring about

• nature always effected a cure

• budget cuts that were quietly effected over four years.

III. phrases

1. come into effect

become operative; start to apply

• similar legislation came into effect in Wales on the same date.

• the Kyoto Protocol officially came into effect last week.

2. for effect

in order to impress people

• I suspect he's controversial for effect.

3. in effect

a. in operation; in force

• a moratorium in effect since 1985 has been lifted.

b. used to convey that something is the case in practice even if it is not formally acknowledged to be so

• additional payments that are in effect an entrance tax.

4. put (or bring or carry) something into effect

cause something to apply or become operative

• they succeeded in putting their strategies into effect.

5. take effect

become operative; start to apply

• the ban is to take effect in six months.

6. to the effect that

used to refer to the general sense of something written or spoken

• some comments to the effect that my essay was a little light on analysis.

7. to that effect

having that result, purpose, or meaning

• she thought it a foolish rule and put a notice to that effect in a newspaper.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin effectus, from efficere ‘accomplish,’ from ex- ‘out, thoroughly’ + facere ‘do, make.’ Sense 3 of the noun, ‘personal belongings,’ arose from the obsolete sense ‘something acquired on completion of an action.’ / usage: For the differences in use between effect and affect, see usage at affect^1.

effective /əˈfektiv/

I. adjective

1. successful in producing a desired or intended result

• effective solutions to environmental problems.

2. (especially of a law or policy) operative

• the agreements will be effective from November.

3. [attrib.] — fulfilling a specified function in fact, though not formally acknowledged as such

• the region did not come under effective Dutch control until 1904.

4. assessed according to actual rather than face value

• an effective price of $176 million.

5. impressive; striking

• an effective finale.

II. noun

a soldier fit and available for service.

III. derivatives

effectivity /ˌefekˈtivitē, ˌēfek- /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin effectivus, from efficere ‘work out, accomplish’ (see effect).

effective demand

noun

[Economics] the level of demand that represents a real intention to purchase by people with the means to pay.

effectively /əˈfektəvlē/

adverb

1. in such a manner as to achieve a desired result

• make sure that resources are used effectively.

2. actually but not officially or explicitly

• they were effectively controlled by the people they were supposed to be investigating

• [sentence adverb] effectively, this means that companies will be able to avoid regulations.

effectiveness /iˈfektivnəs/

noun

the degree to which something is successful in producing a desired result; success

• the effectiveness of the treatment.

effective temperature

noun

[Physics] the temperature of an object calculated from the radiation it emits, assuming black-body behavior.

effector /əˈfektər/

noun

[Biology] an organ or cell that acts in response to a stimulus
[as modifier]

• effector cells.

effectual /əˈfek(t)SH(o͞o)əl/

I. adjective

(typically of something inanimate or abstract) successful in producing a desired or intended result; effective

• tobacco smoke is the most effectual protection against the mosquito.

II. derivatives

1. effectuality /əˌfek(t)SHəˈwalədē /

noun

2. effectually /əˈfek(t)SH(o͞o)əlē /

adverb

3. effectualness /əˈfek(t)SH(o͞o)əlnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin effectualis, from Latin effectus (see effect).

effectuate /əˈfek(t)SHəˌwāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› put into force or operation

• school choice would effectuate a transfer of power from government to individuals.

II. derivatives

effectuation /əˌfek(t)SHəˈwāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from medieval Latin effectuat- ‘caused to happen,’ from the verb effectuare, from Latin effectus (see effect).

effeminate /əˈfemənət/

I. adjective

(of a man) having or showing characteristics regarded as typical of a woman; unmanly.

II. derivatives

1. effeminacy /əˈfemənəsē /

noun

2. effeminately /əˈfemənətlē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Latin effeminatus, past participle of effeminare ‘make feminine,’ from ex- (expressing a change of state) + femina ‘woman.’

effendi /əˈfendē/

I. noun

1. a man of high education or social standing in an eastern Mediterranean or Arab country.

2. ‹historical› a title of respect or courtesy in Turkey.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Turkish efendi, from modern Greek aphentēs, from Greek authentēs ‘lord, master.’

efferent /ˈefərənt/

I. adjective

[Physiology] conducted or conducting outward or away from something (for nerves, the central nervous system; for blood vessels, the organ supplied).
The opposite of afferent.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin efferent- ‘carrying out,’ from the verb efferre, from ex- ‘out’ + ferre ‘carry.’

effervesce /ˌefərˈves/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a liquid) give off bubbles.

2. be vivacious and enthusiastic.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Latin effervescere, from ex- ‘out, up’ + fervescere ‘begin to boil’ (from fervere ‘be hot, boil’).

effervescence /ˌefərˈvesəns/

noun

1. bubbles in a liquid; fizz

• the effervescence of sparkling wine.

2. vivacity and enthusiasm

• he was filled with such effervescence.

effervescent /ˌefərˈves(ə)nt/

I. adjective

1. (of a liquid) giving off bubbles; fizzy.

2. vivacious and enthusiastic

• effervescent young people.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin effervescent- ‘boiling up,’ from the verb effervescere (see effervesce).

effete /əˈfēt/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) affected, overrefined, and ineffectual

• effete trendies from art college.

2. no longer capable of effective action

• the authority of an effete aristocracy began to dwindle.

II. derivatives

effeteness /əˈfētnəs /

noun

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘no longer fertile, past bearing young’): from Latin effetus ‘worn out by bearing young,’ from ex- ‘out’ + fetus ‘breeding’; related to fetus.

efficacious /ˌefəˈkāSHəs/

I. adjective

‹formal› (typically of something inanimate or abstract) successful in producing a desired or intended result; effective

• the vaccine has proved both efficacious and safe.

II. derivatives

1. efficaciously /ˌefəˈkāSHəslē /

adverb

2. efficaciousness /ˌefəˈkāSHəsnəs /

noun

– origin early 16th cent.: from Latin efficax, efficac- (from efficere ‘accomplish’: see effect) + -ious.

efficacy /ˈefəkəsē/

I. noun

the ability to produce a desired or intended result

• there is little information on the efficacy of this treatment.

– origin early 16th cent.: from Latin efficacia, from efficax, efficac- (see efficacious).

efficiency /əˈfiSHənsē/

I. noun

1. the state or quality of being efficient

• greater energy efficiency.

2. an action designed to achieve this

• to increase efficiencies and improve earnings.

3. ‹technical› the ratio of the useful work performed by a machine or in a process to the total energy expended or heat taken in.

4. short for efficiency apartment.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘the fact of being an efficient cause’): from Latin efficientia, from efficere ‘accomplish’ (see effect).

efficiency apartment / / efficiency

noun

an apartment in which one room typically contains the kitchen, living, and sleeping quarters, with a separate bathroom.

efficient /əˈfiSHənt/

I. adjective

1. (especially of a system or machine) achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense

• fluorescent lamps are efficient at converting electricity into light.

2. (of a person) working in a well-organized and competent way

• an efficient administrator.

3. [in combination] — preventing the wasteful use of a particular resource

• an energy-efficient heating system.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘making, causing,’ usually in efficient cause): from Latin efficient- ‘accomplishing,’ from the verb efficere (see effect). The current sense dates from the late 18th cent.

efficient cause

noun

[Philosophy] an agent that brings a thing into being or initiates a change.

efficiently /əˈfiSHəntlē/

adverb

1. in a way that achieves maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense

• it is essential to make sure businesses operate efficiently to maximize profits

• they recycle waste cheaply and efficiently.

2. in a well-organized and competent way

• he worked efficiently to accomplish the tasks set.

effigy /ˈefijē/

I. noun

1. a sculpture or model of a person

• coins bearing the effigy of Maria Theresa of Austria.

2. a roughly made model of a particular person, made in order to be damaged or destroyed as a protest or expression of anger

• the senator was burned in effigy.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin effigies, from effingere ‘to fashion (artistically),’ from ex- ‘out’ + fingere ‘to shape.’

effing /ˈefiNG/

adjective, adverb

‹informal› used as a euphemism for ‘fucking’, for emphasis or to express annoyance

• give me an effing break!

• that was an effing awful thing to pray for.

effleurage /ˌefləˈräZH/

I. noun

a form of massage involving a circular stroking movement made with the palm of the hand.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. massage with a circular stroking movement

• effleurage the shoulders and press gently.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French, from effleurer ‘skim the surface, stroke lightly,’ literally ‘remove the flower or “outer beauty” of (something).’

effloresce /ˌefləˈres/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — (of a substance) lose moisture and turn to a fine powder upon exposure to air.

2. (of salts) come to the surface of brickwork, rock, or other material and crystallize there.

3. (of a surface) become covered with salt particles.

4. reach an optimum stage of development; blossom

• simple concepts that effloresce into testable conclusions.

II. derivatives

1. efflorescence /ˌefləˈresns /

noun

2. efflorescent /ˌefləˈres(ə)nt /

adjective

– origin late 18th cent.: from Latin efflorescere, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + florescere ‘begin to bloom’ (from florere ‘to bloom,’ from flos, flor- ‘flower’).

effluence /ˈeflo͞oəns/

I. noun

1. a substance that flows out from something.

2. the action of flowing out.

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin effluentia, from Latin effluere ‘flow out,’ from ex- ‘out’ + fluere ‘to flow.’

effluent /ˈeflo͞oənt/

I. noun

liquid waste or sewage discharged into a river or the sea

• the bay was contaminated with the effluent from an industrial plant.

– origin late Middle English (in the adjective sense ‘flowing out’): from Latin effluent- ‘flowing out,’ from the verb effluere (see effluence). The noun dates from the mid 19th cent.

effluvium /əˈflo͞ovēəm/

I. noun

an unpleasant or harmful odor, secretion, or discharge

• the unwholesome effluvia of decaying vegetable matter.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin, from effluere ‘flow out.’

efflux /eˈfləks/

I. noun

1. ‹technical› the flowing out of a particular substance or particle.

2. ‹technical› material flowing out.

3. ‹technical› another term for effluxion (sense 1).

– origin mid 16th cent.: from medieval Latin effluxus, from effluere ‘flow out.’

effluxion /eˈfləkSHən/

I. noun

1. (efflux) — [Law] the passing of time, in particular when leading to the expiration of an agreement or contract.

2. ‹archaic› the action of flowing out.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French, or from late Latin effluxio(n-), from effluere ‘flow out.’

effort /ˈefərt/

I. noun

1. a vigorous or determined attempt

• hammer birdhouses to country fenceposts in an effort to bring back the eastern bluebird.

2. the result of an attempt

• he was a keen gardener, winning many prizes for his efforts.

3. strenuous physical or mental exertion

• the doctor spared no effort in helping my father.

4. ‹technical› a force exerted by a machine or in a process.

5. [with modifier] — the activities of a group of people with a common purpose

• the war effort.

II. derivatives

1. effortful

adjective

2. effortfully

adverb

– origin late 15th cent.: from French, from Old French esforcier, based on Latin ex- ‘out’ + fortis ‘strong.’

effortless /ˈefərtləs/

I. adjective

1. requiring no physical or mental exertion

• went up the steps in two effortless bounds.

2. achieved with admirable ease

• her effortless sense of style.

II. derivatives

effortlessness /ˈefərtləsnəs /

noun

effortlessly /ˈefərtləslē/

adverb

in a manner requiring no physical or mental exertion

• I watched the man effortlessly glide across the mountainside trail

• [as submodifier] effortlessly cool models.

effrontery /əˈfrən(t)ərē/

I. noun

insolent or impertinent behavior

• one juror had the effrontery to challenge the coroner's decision.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French effronterie, based on late Latin effrons, effront- ‘shameless, barefaced,’ from ex- ‘out’ + frons ‘forehead.’

effulgent /əˈfo͝oljənt əˈfəljənt/

I. adjective

1. ‹literary› shining brightly; radiant.

2. ‹literary› (of a person or their expression) emanating joy or goodness.

II. derivatives

1. effulgence /əˈfo͝oljəns ēˈfo͝oljəns əˈfəljəns ēˈfəljəns /

noun

2. effulgently

adverb

– origin mid 18th cent. (earlier (mid 17th cent.) as effulgence): from Latin effulgent- ‘shining brightly,’ from the verb effulgere, from ex- ‘out’ + fulgere ‘to shine.’

effuse /əˈfyo͞oz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. give off (a liquid, light, smell, or quality).

2. [no obj.] — talk in an unrestrained, excited manner

• this was the type of material that they effused about.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin effusus, past participle of effundere ‘pour out,’ from ex- ‘out’ + fundere ‘pour.’

effusion /əˈfyo͞oZHən/

I. noun

1. an instance of giving off something such as a liquid, light, or smell

• a massive effusion of poisonous gas.

2. [Medicine] an escape of fluid into a body cavity.

3. an act of talking or writing in an unrestrained or heartfelt way

• literary effusions.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin effusio(n-), from effundere ‘pour out’ (see effuse).

effusive /əˈfyo͞osiv/

I. adjective

1. expressing feelings of gratitude, pleasure, or approval in an unrestrained or heartfelt manner

• an effusive welcome.

2. [Geology] (of igneous rock) poured out when molten and later solidified.

3. of or relating to the eruption of large volumes of molten rock.

II. derivatives

1. effusively /əˈfyo͞osəvlē ēˈfyo͞osəvlē əˈfyo͞ozəvlē ēˈfyo͞ozəvlē /

adverb

2. effusiveness /əˈfyo͞osivnis ēˈfyo͞osivnis əˈfyo͞ozivnis ēˈfyo͞ozivnis /

noun

Efik /ˈefik/

I. noun

1. a member of a people of southern Nigeria.

2. the Benue-Congo language of the Efik, closely related to Ibibio, and used as a lingua franca.

II. adjective

relating to the Efik or their language.

– origin the name in Efik.

e-fit /ˈēfit/

I. noun

(Brit.) ‹trademark› an electronic picture of the face of a person being sought by the police, created by a computer program from composite photographs of facial features.

– origin 1980s: from e- ‘electronic’ and fit, on the pattern of photofit.

EFL /ˌē ˌef ˈel/

abbreviation

English as a foreign language.

EFM

abbreviation

electronic fetal monitor.

eft /eft/

I. noun

1. a newt.

2. [Zoology] the juvenile stage of a newt.

– origin Old English efeta, of unknown origin. Compare with newt.

EFTA /ˈeftə/

abbreviation

European Free Trade Association.

EFTPOS /ˈeftpäs ˈeftpôs/

abbreviation

electronic funds transfer at point of sale.

EFTS

abbreviation

electronic funds transfer system.

e.g. /ˌēˈjē/

I. abbreviation

for example.

– origin from Latin exempli gratia ‘for the sake of an example.’

egad /ēˈɡad / egads

I. exclamation

‹archaic› expressing surprise, anger, or affirmation.

– origin late 17th cent.: representing earlier A God.

egalitarian /iˌɡaləˈterēən/

I. adjective

of, relating to, or believing in the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities

• a fairer, more egalitarian society.

II. noun

a person who advocates or supports egalitarian principles.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French égalitaire, from égal ‘equal,’ from Latin aequalis (see equal).

egalitarianism /ēˌɡaləˈterēəˌnizəm/

noun

the doctrine that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities.

Egbert /ˈeɡbərt/

(died 839), king of Wessex 802–839. In 825, he won a decisive victory that temporarily brought Mercian supremacy to an end.

EGD

I. noun

a technology or system that integrates a computer display with a pair of eyeglasses, using a lens or mirror to reflect images into the eyes

• some EGDs are designed to clip right onto your eyeglasses.

– origin abbreviation of ‘eyeglass display.’

EGF

abbreviation

epidermal growth factor.

egg^1 /eɡ/

I. noun

1. an oval or round object laid by a female bird, reptile, fish, or invertebrate, usually containing a developing embryo. The eggs of birds are enclosed in a chalky shell, while those of reptiles are in a leathery membrane.

2. an infertile egg, typically of the domestic hen, used for food.

3. [Biology] the female reproductive cell in animals and plants; an ovum.

4. a thing resembling a bird's egg in shape

• chocolate eggs.

5. [Architecture] a decorative oval molding, used alternately with triangular figures.

6. [with adj.] — ‹informal› ‹dated› a person possessing a specified quality

• she was a good egg.

II. phrases

1. don't put all your eggs in one basket

‹proverb› don't risk everything on the success of one venture.

2. go suck an egg

[as imperative] — (N. Amer.) ‹informal› used as an expression of anger or scorn.

3. kill the goose that lays the golden egg

destroy a reliable and valuable source of income.
[with allusion to one of Aesop's fables.]

4. lay an egg

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› be completely unsuccessful; fail badly.

5. with egg on one's face

‹informal› appearing foolish or ridiculous

• don't underestimate this team, or you'll be left with egg on your face.

III. derivatives

eggless

adjective

– origin Middle English (superseding earlier ey, from Old English ǣg): from Old Norse.

egg^2 /eɡ/

I. verb — [with obj.] (egg someone on)

1. urge or encourage someone to do something, especially something foolish or risky.

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse eggja ‘incite.’

egg and dart

noun

[Architecture] a motif of alternating eggs and darts, used to enrich an ovolo molding.

eggar /ˈeɡər/

I. noun

a large brownish moth that is often active during the day. The caterpillars typically bear irritant hairs and make an egg-shaped cocoon.
[Many species in the family Lasiocampidae.]

– origin early 18th cent.: probably from egg^1 + -er^1.

eggbeater /ˈeɡˌbēdər/

noun

1. a kitchen utensil used for beating ingredients such as eggs or cream.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a helicopter.

egg-bound /ˈeɡˌbound/

adjective

(of a hen) unable through weakness or disease to expel its eggs.

eggcorn /ˈeɡkôrn/

I. noun

a word or phrase that results from a mishearing or misinterpretation of another, an element of the original being substituted for one that sounds very similar or identical (e.g. tow the line instead of toe the line).

– origin early 21st cent.: with reference to a misinterpretation of acorn.

egg cream /eɡ krēm/

noun

(US) a drink consisting of milk and soda water, flavored with syrup.

eggcup /ˈeɡˌkəp/

noun

a small cup for holding a boiled egg upright while it is being eaten.

egg-eating snake egg-eater

noun

an Old World snake that swallows birds' eggs. It has weak teeth, and breaks shells with sawlike projections inside the gullet.
[Subfamily Dasypeltinae, family Colubridae: genus Dasypeltis (of Africa, in particular the widespread D. scabra), and Elachistodon westermanni (of India).]

egghead /ˈeɡˌhed/

I. noun

‹informal› ‹often derogatory› a person who is highly academic or studious; an intellectual.

II. derivatives

eggheaded

adjective

– origin by analogy with a bald head.

eggnog /ˈeɡˌnäɡ/

noun

a drink made from a mixture of beaten eggs, cream, and flavorings, often with alcohol.

eggplant /ˈeɡˌplant/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) the large egg-shaped fruit of an Old World plant, eaten as a vegetable. Its skin is typically dark purple, but the skin of certain cultivated varieties is white or yellow.

2. (N. Amer.) a dark purple color like the skin of the eggplant.

3. (N. Amer.) the large plant of the nightshade family that bears the eggplant fruit.
[Solanum melongena, family Solanaceae.]

egg roll

noun

(N. Amer.) a Chinese-style snack consisting of diced meat or shrimp and shredded vegetables wrapped in a dough made with egg and deep-fried.

egg sac

noun

a protective silken pouch in which a female spider deposits her eggs.

eggs and bacon egg and bacon

noun

any of a number of plants that have yellow flowers with orange, red, or brown markings, supposedly suggestive of eggs and bacon, in particular
[● bird's-foot trefoil. ● a shrubby Australian bush plant (Bossiaea and other genera, family Leguminosae).]

eggs Benedict

I. plural noun

a dish consisting of poached eggs and sliced ham on toasted English muffins, covered with hollandaise sauce.

– origin late 19th cent.: of uncertain origin.

egg-shaped /ˈeɡSHāpt/

adjective

having the oval shape of an egg

• a variety with white flowers and egg-shaped fruits.

eggshell /ˈeɡˌSHel/

noun

1. the thin, hard outer layer of an egg, especially a hen's egg.

2. (also eggshell paint) — an oil-based paint that dries with a slight sheen

• the woodwork was painted in eggshell

• [as modifier] an eggshell finish.

3. [as modifier] — (of china) of extreme thinness and delicacy

• eggshell porcelains.

4. a pale yellowish-white color.

egg tempera

noun

an emulsion of pigment and egg yolk, used in tempera painting.

egg timer /ˈeɡ ˌtīmər/

noun

a device for measuring the time required to cook a boiled egg, traditionally in the form of a miniature hourglass.

egg tooth

noun

a hard white protuberance on the beak or jaw of an embryo bird or reptile that is used for breaking out of the shell and is later lost.

egg white /ˈeɡ ˌ(h)wīt/

noun

the clear, viscous substance around the yolk of an egg that turns white when cooked or beaten.
Also called albumen.

eggy /ˈeɡē/

adjective

rich in or covered with egg

• many white wines go passably with eggy dishes.

eggy bread

noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› another term for French toast:

• I had eggy bread with maple syrup and bacon.

eglantine /ˈeɡlənˌtīn ˈeɡlənˌtēn/

I. noun

another term for sweetbrier.

– origin Middle English: from Old French eglantine, from Provençale aiglentina, based on Latin acus ‘needle’ or aculeus ‘prickle.’

ego /ˈēɡō/

I. noun

1. a person's sense of self-esteem or self-importance

• a boost to my ego.

2. [Psychoanalysis] the part of the mind that mediates between the conscious and the unconscious and is responsible for reality testing and a sense of personal identity.
Compare with id and superego.

3. [Philosophy] (in metaphysics) a conscious thinking subject.

II. derivatives

egoless

adjective

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘I.’

egocentric /ˌēɡōˈsentrik/

I. adjective

1. thinking only of oneself, without regard for the feelings or desires of others; self-centered

• their egocentric tendency to think of themselves as invulnerable.

2. centered in or arising from a person's own existence or perspective

• egocentric spatial perception.

II. noun

an egocentric person.

III. derivatives

1. egocentrically /-(ə)lē /

adverb

2. egocentricity /ˌēɡōs(ə)nˈtrisədē /

noun

3. egocentrism /ˌēɡōˈsenˌtrizəm /

noun

– origin early 20th cent.: from ego, on the pattern of words such as geocentric.

ego ideal

noun

1. [Psychoanalysis] (in Freudian theory) the part of the mind that imposes on itself concepts of ideal behavior developed from parental and social standards.

2. [Psychoanalysis] (in general use) an idealized conception of oneself.

egoism /ˈēɡōˌizəm/

I. noun

1. [Ethics] an ethical theory that treats self-interest as the foundation of morality.

2. [Ethics] another term for egotism.

II. derivatives

1. egoist /ˈēɡəwəst ˈēɡōəst /

noun

2. egoistic /ˈˌēɡəˈwistik ˈˌēɡōˈistik /

adjective

3. egoistical /ˌēɡōˈistik(ə)l /

adjective

4. egoistically /-ˈistik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin late 18th cent.: from French égoïsme and modern Latin egoismus, from Latin ego ‘I.’ / usage: The words egoism and egotism are frequently confused, as though interchangeable, but there are distinctions worth noting. Both words derive from Latin ego (‘I’), the first-person singular pronoun. Egotism, the more commonly used term, denotes an excessive sense of self-importance, too-frequent use of the word ‘I,’ and general arrogance and boastfulness. Egoism, a more subtle term, is perhaps best left to ethicists, for whom it denotes a view or theory of moral behavior in which self-interest is the root of moral conduct. An egoist, then, might devote considerable attention to introspection, but could be modest about it, whereas an egotist would have an exaggerated sense of the importance of his or her self-analysis, and would have to tell everyone.

egomania /ˌēɡōˈmānēə/

noun

obsessive egotism or self-centeredness.

egomaniac /ˌēɡōˈmānēˌak/

I. noun

a person who is obsessively egotistical or self-centered

• he is a raving egomaniac.

II. derivatives

egomaniacal /ˌēɡōməˈnīəkəl /

adjective

ego psychology

I. noun

[Psychology] a system of psychoanalytic developmental psychology concerned especially with personality.

II. derivatives

ego psychologist

noun

egosurf /ˈēɡōˌsərf/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹informal› search the Internet for instances of one's own name or links to one's own website.

II. derivatives

egosurfing

noun

EGOT /ˈēɡät/

I. noun

(US) ‹informal› the achievement of having won all four of the major American entertainment awards (i.e., an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony)

• she'll be halfway to her EGOT if she wins the Oscar

• [as modifier] he will become the youngest member of the super-elite EGOT club if his song wins tonight.

– origin early 21st cent.: from the initial letters of Emmy, Grammy, Oscar^1, and Tony, as popularized by the television comedy series 30 Rock.

egotism /ˈēɡəˌtizəm/

I. noun

the practice of talking and thinking about oneself excessively because of an undue sense of self-importance

• in his arrogance and egotism, he underestimated Jill.

II. derivatives

egotize /ˈēɡəˌtīz /

verb

– origin early 18th cent.: from French égoïste, from Latin ego ‘I.’ / usage: See usage at egoism.

egotist /ˈēɡətəst/

noun

a person who is excessively conceited or self-absorbed; self-seeker

• he is a self-absorbed egotist.

egotistical /ˌēɡəˈtistək(ə)l/

I. adjective

excessively conceited or absorbed in oneself; self-centered

• he's selfish, egotistical, and arrogant.

II. derivatives

1. egotistic /ˌēɡəˈtistik /

adjective

2. egotistically /ˌēɡəˈtistik(ə)lē /

adverb

ego trip /ˈēɡō ˌtrip/

noun

‹informal› an activity done in order to increase one's sense of self-importance

• driving that car was the biggest ego trip I'd ever had.

egregious /əˈɡrējəs/

I. adjective

1. outstandingly bad; shocking

• egregious abuses of copyright.

2. ‹archaic› remarkably good.

II. derivatives

1. egregiously

adverb

2. egregiousness

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (sense 2): from Latin egregius ‘illustrious,’ literally ‘standing out from the flock,’ from ex- ‘out’ + grex, greg- ‘flock.’ The derogatory sense (late 16th cent.) probably arose as an ironical use.

egress /ˈēˌɡres/

I. noun

1. the action of going out of or leaving a place

• direct means of access and egress for passengers.

2. a way out

• a narrow egress.

3. [Law] (US) the right or freedom to come out or go out.

4. [Astronomy] another term for emersion.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (chiefly US) go out of or leave (a place)

• they'd egress the area by heading southwest.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin egressus ‘gone out,’ from the verb egredi, from ex- ‘out’ + gradi ‘to step.’

egressive /əˈɡresiv/

adjective

[Phonetics] (of a speech sound) produced using the normal outward-flowing airstream.
Compare with ingressive.

egret /ˈēˌɡret ˈēɡrət/

I. noun

a heron with mainly white plumage, having long plumes in the breeding season.
[Genus Egretta (and Bubulcus), family Ardeidae: several species.]

– origin Middle English: from Old French aigrette, from Provençal aigreta, from the Germanic base of heron.

Egypt /ˈējəpt/

I. a country in northeastern Africa, on the Mediterranean Sea; pop. 78,866,600 (est. 2009); capital, Cairo; official language, Arabic.

The population of Egypt is concentrated chiefly along the fertile valley of the Nile River because the rest of the country is largely desert. Egypt's history spans 5,000 years: the ancient kingdoms of Upper and Lower Egypt were ruled successively by 31 dynasties, which may be divided into the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom, and the New Kingdom. Egypt was a center of Hellenistic culture and then a Roman province before coming under Islamic rule and then becoming part of the Ottoman Empire. Modern Egypt became independent in 1922. From 1958 to 1961 Egypt was united with Syria as the United Arab Republic, a title it retained until 1971. Wars with Israel were fought in 1967 (the Six Day War) and 1973 (the Yom Kippur or October War); the countries signed a peace treaty in 1979. In 2011 a series of popular demonstrations led to president Hosni Mubarak leaving office.

Egyptian /əˈjipSH(ə)n/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to Egypt or its people.

2. of or relating to Egyptian antiquities

• a large Egyptian collection was sold at Sotheby's.

3. of or relating to the language of ancient Egypt.

II. noun

1. a native of ancient or modern Egypt, or a person of Egyptian descent.

2. the Afro-Asiatic language used in ancient Egypt, attested from c. 3000 BC. It is represented in its oldest stages by hieroglyphic inscriptions and in its latest form by Coptic; it has been replaced in modern use by Arabic.

III. derivatives

1. Egyptianization /iˌjipSHəniˈzāSHən /

noun

2. Egyptianize /-ˌnīz /

verb

Egyptian black

noun

another term for basalt (stoneware pottery).

Egyptian clover

noun

another term for berseem clover.

Egyptian cobra

noun

a large nocturnal African cobra with a thick body and large head.
Also called asp. [Naja haje, family Elapidae.]

Egyptian cotton

noun

fine-quality cotton of a kind developed in Egypt
[as modifier]

• luxurious Egyptian cotton sheets.

Egyptian goose

noun

a large African goose that has a dark patch around the eye, pink bill and legs, and either reddish-brown or grayish-brown upper parts.
[Alopochen aegyptiacus, family Anatidae.]

Egyptian mongoose

noun

a mongoose occurring over much of Africa and parts of southwestern Asia and Iberia, noted for its destruction of crocodile eggs.
Also called ichneumon. [Herpestes ichneumon, family Herpestidae.]

Egyptian plover

noun

a ploverlike African bird of the courser family, with a striking pattern of black and white over a mainly bluish back and buff-colored underparts.
Also called crocodile bird. [Pluvianus aegyptius, family Glareolidae.]

Egyptian vulture

noun

a small white vulture with black wing tips, common in much of southern Eurasia and Africa.
[Neophron percnopterus, family Accipitridae.]

Egyptology /ˌējipˈtäləjē/

I. noun

the study of the language, history, and civilization of ancient Egypt.

II. derivatives

1. Egyptological /iˌjiptəˈläjikəl /

adjective

2. Egyptologist /ˈˌēˌjipˈtäləjəst /

noun

eh /ā/

I. exclamation

used to represent a sound made in speech in a variety of situations, in particular to ask for something to be repeated or explained or to elicit agreement

• “Eh? What's this?”

• “Let's hope so, eh?”

– origin natural utterance: first recorded in English in the mid 16th cent.

EHF

abbreviation

extremely high frequency.

EHP

abbreviation

1. effective horsepower.

2. electric horsepower.

EHV

abbreviation

extra-high voltage.

Eichmann, Adolf /ˈīkmən/

(1906–62), German Nazi administrator; full name Karl Adolf Eichmann. He administered the concentration camps during World War II. In 1960, he was traced to Argentina by Israeli agents and executed after trial in Israel.

eicosapentaenoic acid /ˌīkōsəˌpen(t)əˌnōik ˈasəd/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a polyunsaturated fatty acid found especially in fish oils. In humans it is a metabolic precursor of prostaglandins.
[Chem. formula: C_19H_29COOH.]

– origin 1960s: from Greek eicosa- ‘twenty’ (the number of carbon atoms in the molecule) + penta- ‘five’ (the number of unsaturated bonds) + -ene + -oic on the pattern of methanoic.

Eid /ēd / Id

I. noun

1. a Muslim festival, in particular

2. (in full Eid ul-Fitr ) — the feast marking the end of the fast of Ramadan.

3. (in full Eid ul-Adha ) — the festival marking the culmination of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca and commemorating the sacrifice of Abraham.

– origin from Arabic ῾īd ‘feast,’ from Aramaic.

EIDE

noun

[Computing] enhanced integrated drive electronics.
See IDE.

eider /ˈīdər/

I. noun

1. a northern sea duck, of which the male has mainly black and white plumage with a colored head, and the brown female has soft down feathers that are used to line the nest.
[Genus Somateria (and Polysticta), family Anatidae: four species, in particular the common eider (S. mollissima).]

2. another term for eiderdown.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Icelandic æthur, from Old Norse æthr.

eiderdown /ˈīdərˌdoun/

noun

1. small, soft feathers from the breast of the female eider duck.

2. (chiefly Brit.) a quilt filled with down (originally from the eider) or some other soft material.

eidetic /īˈdedik/

I. adjective

[Psychology] relating to or denoting mental images having unusual vividness and detail, as if actually visible.

II. noun

a person able to form or recall eidetic images.

III. derivatives

eidetically

adverb

– origin 1920s: coined in German from Greek eidētikos, from eidos ‘form.’

eidolon /īˈdōlən/

I. noun

1. an idealized person or thing.

2. a specter or phantom.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Greek eidōlon, from eidos ‘form.’

eidos /ˈīdäs, ˈādäs/

I. noun

[Anthropology] the distinctive expression of the cognitive or intellectual character of a culture or social group.

– origin 1930s: Greek, literally ‘form, type, or idea,’ partly in contrast to ethos.

Eiffel, Gustave /ˈīfəl/

(1832–1923), French engineer; full name Alexandre Gustave Eiffel. He designed and built the Eiffel Tower and was the architect of the inner structure of the Statue of Liberty.

Eiffel Tower /ˈīfəl ˌtou(ə)r/

a wrought-iron structure erected in Paris for the World Exhibition of 1889. With a height of 984 feet (300 m), it was the tallest man-made structure for many years.

eigen-

I. combining form

[Mathematics] [Physics] proper; characteristic

• eigenfunction.

– origin from the German adjective eigen ‘own.’

eigenfrequency /ˈīɡənˌfrēkwənsē/

noun

[Mathematics] [Physics] one of the natural resonant frequencies of a system.

eigenfunction /ˈīɡənˌfəNG(k)SHən/

noun

[Mathematics] [Physics] each of a set of independent functions that are the solutions to a given differential equation.

eigenstate /ˈīɡənˌstāt/

noun

[Physics] a quantum-mechanical state corresponding to an eigenvalue of a wave equation.

eigenvalue /ˈīɡənˌvalyo͞o/

noun

1. [Mathematics] [Physics] each of a set of values of a parameter for which a differential equation has a nonzero solution (an eigenfunction) under given conditions.

2. [Mathematics] [Physics] any number such that a given matrix minus that number times the identity matrix has a zero determinant.

eigenvector /ˈīɡənˌvektər/

noun

[Mathematics] [Physics] a vector that when operated on by a given operator gives a scalar multiple of itself.

eight /āt/

I. cardinal number

1. (Roman numeral: viii or VIII) — equivalent to the product of two and four; one more than seven, or two less than ten; 8

• a committee of eight members

• eight were acquitted

• eight of them were unemployed.

2. a group or unit of eight people or things

• the win placed Canada closer to the final eight.

3. eight years old

• children as young as eight.

4. eight o'clock

• in time for dinner at eight.

5. short for figure eight.

6. a size of garment or other merchandise denoted by eight.

7. a playing card with eight pips.

8. an eight-oared rowboat or its crew.

– origin Old English ehta, eahta, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German acht, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin octo and Greek oktō.

eight ball /ˈāt ˌbôl/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) [Billiards] the black ball, numbered eight.

2. (N. Amer.) a game of pool in which one side must pocket all of the striped or solid balls and finally the eight ball to win.

3. (eightball) — (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a portion of an illegal drug weighing an eighth of an ounce (3.54 g).

II. phrases

behind the eight ball

‹informal› at a disadvantage.

eighteen /āˈtēn ˈāˌtēn/

I. cardinal number

1. (Roman numeral: xviii or XVIII) — equivalent to the product of two and nine; one more than seventeen, or eight more than ten; 18

• she wrote eighteen novels

• out of sixty batches checked, eighteen were incorrect

• eighteen of the guests were gathered.

2. a set or team of eighteen individuals.

3. eighteen years old

• he was barely eighteen.

4. a size of garment or other merchandise denoted by eighteen.

– origin Old English e(a)htatēne (see eight, -teen).

eighteenmo /ˌāˈtēnˌmō/

noun

another term for octodecimo.

eighteenth /ˌā(t)ˈtēnTH ˈā(t)ˌtēnTH/

ordinal number

1. constituting number eighteen in a sequence; 18th

• the eighteenth century

• her eighteenth birthday.

2. (as noun the eighteenth) — the last hole of a golf course

• he holed an eagle at the eighteenth.

3. each of eighteen equal parts into which something is or may be divided.

eightfold /ˈātfōld/

I. adjective

1. eight times as great or as numerous

• an eightfold increase in expenditure.

2. having eight parts or elements

• an eightfold shape.

II. adverb

by eight times; to eight times the number or amount

• claims have grown eightfold in ten years.

eightfold path

noun

[Buddhism] the path to nirvana, comprising eight aspects in which an aspirant must become practiced: right views, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration.

eighth /ā(t)TH/

I. ordinal number

1. constituting number eight in a sequence; 8th

• in the eighth century

• the eighth of September

• seven men admitted conspiracy, an eighth admitted assisting an offender.

2. (an eighth/one eighth) — each of eight equal parts into which something is or may be divided

• an eighth of an inch.

3. the eighth finisher or position in a race or competition

• she finished eighth of the eleven runners.

II. derivatives

eighthly

adverb

eighth note /ˈā(t)TH nōt / ‹Brit.› quaver

noun

[Music] (N. Amer.) a note having the time value of an eighth of a whole note or half a quarter note, represented by a large dot with a hooked stem.

eightpenny nail /ˈātpenē ˌnāl/

noun

a nail that is 2.5 inches (64 mm) long.

eighty /ˈādē/

I. cardinal number

1. (Roman numeral: lxxx or LXXX eleven) — equivalent to the product of eight and ten; ten less than ninety; 80

• eighty miles north

• a buffet for eighty

• eighty of the nurses fled.

2. (eighties) — the numbers from 80 to 89, especially the years of a century or of a person's life

• his grandmother was in her eighties.

3. eighty years old

• he was over eighty at the time.

4. eighty miles an hour

• roaring down the highway doing eighty.

II. derivatives

1. eightieth /ˈādēəTH /

ordinal number

2. eightyfold /ˈātēˌfōld /

adjective, adverb

– origin Old English hunde(a)htatig, from hund (of uncertain origin) + e(a)hta ‘eight’ + -tig (see -ty^2); the first element was lost early in the Middle English period.

eighty-six /ˌādēˈsiks / 86

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› eject or bar (someone) from a restaurant, bar, etc.

• they were accused of cheating, and eighty-sixed from their favorite casino.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› reject, discard, or cancel

• the passwords will be 86ed by next October.

– origin 1930s (as a noun, used in restaurants and bars to indicate that a menu item is unavailable or that a customer is not to be served): perhaps rhyming slang for nix^1.

Eijkman, Christiaan /ˈīkmən/

(1858–1930), Dutch physician. His work resulted in a simple cure for beriberi and led to the discovery of the vitamin thiamine. Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine (1929), shared with Frederick G. Hopkins.

Eilat /āˈlät / Elat

the southernmost town in Israel, a port and resort at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba; pop. 46,600 (est. 2008). Founded in 1949 near the ruins of biblical Elath, it is Israel's only outlet to the Red Sea.

Eindhoven /ˈīntˌhōvən, ˈānt-/

a city in the southern Netherlands; pop. 210,333 (2008).

Einfühlung /ˈīnfo͞oˌlo͝oNG/

I. noun

empathy.

– origin German, from ein- ‘into’ + Fühlung ‘feeling.’

e-ink /ˈēiNGk/

noun

‹trademark› a type of electronic display for text that is intended to imitate the appearance of printed ink, typically used in e-readers

• like other devices employing e-ink, it only uses power when the pages are turned

• [as modifier] e-ink screens strain your eyes less if you read for extended periods.

einkorn /ˈīnkôrn/

I. noun

an old kind of Mediterranean wheat with small bearded ears and spikelets that each contain one slender grain, used as fodder in prehistoric times but now rarely grown.
Compare with emmer, spelt^2. [Triticum monococcum, family Gramineae.]

– origin early 20th cent.: from German, from ein ‘one’ + Korn ‘seed.’

Einstein, Albert /ˈīnˌstīn/

I. (1879–1955), US theoretical physicist; born in Germany; founder of the special and general theories of relativity. Often regarded as the greatest scientist of the 20th century, he was influential in the decision to build an atomic bomb. After World War II, however, he spoke out against nuclear weapons.

II. (as noun an Einstein) — a genius.

III. derivatives

Einsteinian /īnˈstīnēən /

adjective

einsteinium /īnˈstīnēəm/

I. noun

(Symbol: Es) — the chemical element of atomic number 99, a radioactive metal of the actinide series. Einsteinium does not occur naturally and was discovered in 1953 in debris from the first hydrogen bomb explosion.

– origin 1950s: from the name of Albert Einstein, Albert + -ium.

Einthoven, Willem /ˈīntˌhōvən/

(1860–1927), Dutch physiologist. He devised the first electrocardiograph, a device that records specific muscular contractions in the heart.

Éire /ˈerə/

the Gaelic name for Ireland, and the Irish name of the Republic of Ireland.

Eirene /īˈrēnē / ‹Greek Mythology›

the goddess of peace.
Roman equivalent Pax.

Eisenhower, Dwight David /ˈīzənˌhou-ər/

(1890–1969), US general and 34th president of the US 1953–61; nicknamed Ike. A Kansas Republican, he was one of the most celebrated US military leaders before entering politics. In World War II, he was Supreme Commander of Allied Expeditionary Forces in western Europe 1943–45. As president, he adopted a hard line toward communism in both his domestic and foreign policy.

Eisenstaedt, Alfred /ˈīzənˌSHtat, -ˌSHtet, -ˌstat/

(1898–1995), US photojournalist; born in Dirschau, Germany (now part of Poland). He was one of the original photographers for Life magazine 1936–72.

Eisenstein, Sergei /ˈīzənˌSHtīn/

(1898–1948), Russian movie director, born in Latvia; full name Sergei Mikhailovich Eisenstein. He is noted for The Battleship Potemkin (1925), a commemoration of the Russian Revolution of 1905 that is celebrated for its pioneering use of montage.

eish /āSH/

I. exclamation

(S. African) ‹informal› used to express surprise, annoyance, pain, etc.

• eish, I never win!

• woke up with a cramp, eish.

– origin 1990s: from Tsotsitaal, a township patois.

Eisner, Michael Dammann /ˈīznər/

(1942–), US corporate executive, noted for his tenure as CEO of The Walt Disney Company 1984–2005.

eisteddfod /īˈsteT͟Hˌväd/

I. noun

a competitive festival of music and poetry in Wales, in particular the annual National Eisteddfod.

II. derivatives

eisteddfodic /ˌīsteT͟Hˈvädik /

adjective

– origin Welsh, literally ‘session,’ from eistedd ‘sit.’

Eiswein /ˈīsvīn/

I. noun

wine made from ripe grapes picked while covered with frost.

– origin from German, from Eis ‘ice’ + Wein ‘wine.’

either /ˈēT͟Hər ˈīT͟Hər/

I. conjunction, adverb

1. used before the first of two (or occasionally more) alternatives that are being specified (the other being introduced by “or”)

• either I'll accompany you to your room, or I'll wait here

• available in either black or white.

2. [adv., with negative] — used to indicate a similarity or link with a statement just made

• you don't like him, do you? I don't, either

• it won't do any harm, but won't really help, either.

3. for that matter; moreover (used to add information)

• I was too tired to go. And I couldn't have paid my way, either.

II. determiner, pronoun

1. one or the other of two people or things
[as determiner]

• there were no children of either marriage

• [as pronoun] they have a mortgage that will be repaid if either of them dies.

2. [determiner] — each of two

• the road was straight with fields of grass on either side.

III. phrases

either way

whichever of two given alternatives is the case

• I'm not sure whether he is trying to be clever or controversial, but either way, such writing smacks of racism.

– origin Old English ǣgther, contracted form of ǣg(e)hwæther, of Germanic origin; ultimately related to aye^1 and whether. / usage: In good English writing style, it is important that either and or are correctly placed so that the structures following each word balance and mirror each other. Thus, it is correct to say either I'll accompany you, or I'll wait here. The two expressed choices are parallel, as each includes the subject and its verb phrase: I'll accompany you; I'll wait here. It would be incorrect to say either I'll accompany you or John because the first choice includes the subject and its verb phrase, but the second choice is just an object: I'll accompany you; John. A corrected version could be I'll accompany either you or John (now the choices are parallel, as each is just the object: you; John). See also usage at neither.

either/or /ˌēT͟Hərˈôr ˌīT͟Hərˈôr / either-or

noun

an unavoidable choice between two alternatives

• you can give him an ultimatum—an either/or.

ejaculate

I. verb — /ēˈjakyəˌlāt /

1. [no obj.] — (of a man or male animal) eject semen from the body at the moment of sexual climax.

2. [with direct speech] — ‹dated› say something quickly and suddenly

• “Indeed?” ejaculated the stranger.

II. noun — /iˈjakyo͝olət /

1. semen that has been ejected from the body.

III. derivatives

1. ejaculator

noun

2. ejaculatory /əˈjakyələˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin ejaculat- ‘darted out,’ from the verb ejaculari, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + jaculari ‘to dart’ (from jaculum ‘dart, javelin,’ from jacere ‘to throw’).

ejaculation /əˌjakyəˈlāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action of ejecting semen from the body.

2. ‹dated› something said quickly and suddenly.

eject /ēˈjekt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. force or throw (something) out, typically in a violent or sudden way

• many types of rock are ejected from volcanoes as solid, fragmentary material.

2. cause (something) to drop out or be removed, usually mechanically

• he ejected the spent cartridge.

3. [no obj.] — (of a pilot) escape from an aircraft by being explosively propelled out of it

• he flew to open sea, put the plane in a nosedive, and ejected.

4. compel (someone) to leave a place

• angry supporters were forcibly ejected from the court.

5. dismiss (someone), especially from political office

• he was ejected from office in July.

6. emit; give off

• plants utilize carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that animals eject

• (as adj. ejected) ejected electrons.

7. dispossess (a tenant) by legal process.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin eject- ‘thrown out,’ from the verb eicere, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + jacere ‘to throw.’

ejecta /əˈjektə/

I. plural noun — [often treated as sing.]

1. material that is forced or thrown out, especially as a result of volcanic eruption, meteoritic impact, or stellar explosion.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin, ‘things thrown out,’ neuter plural of ejectus ‘thrown out,’ from eicere (see eject).

ejection /ēˈjekSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action of forcing or throwing something out; emission

• an explosive ejection of ash.

2. the action of forcing someone to leave a place or position; expulsion

• the forcible ejection of a table of rowdy drunks.

ejection seat /əˈjekSH(ə)n ˌsēt/

noun

a device that causes the ejection of a pilot from an aircraft, used in an emergency.

ejective /əˈjektiv / ‹Phonetics›

I. adjective

denoting a type of consonant in some languages, e.g., Hausa, produced by sudden release of pressure from the glottis.

II. noun

an ejective consonant.

ejectment /əˈjektmənt/

noun

1. [Law] the action or process of evicting a tenant from property

• the landlord shall serve a writ in ejectment.

2. [Law] the action or process in which a person evicted from property seeks to recover possession and damages.

ejector /əˈjektər/

noun

a device that causes something to be removed or to drop out

• a built-in drill ejector.

ejido /eˈhēdō/

I. noun

(in Mexico) a piece of land farmed communally under a system supported by the state.

– origin Mexican Spanish, from Spanish, denoting common land on the road leading out of the village.

Ekaterinburg /yiˌkətyərinˈbo͝ork, iˈkatərinˌbərɡ/

variant spelling of Yekaterinburg.

eke^1 /ēk/

I. verb — [with obj.] (eke something out)

1. manage to support oneself or make a living with difficulty

• they eked out their livelihoods from the soil.

2. make an amount or supply of something last longer by using or consuming it frugally

• the remains of yesterday's stew could be eked out to make another meal.

3. obtain or create, but just barely

• Tennessee eked out a 74–73 overtime victory.

– origin Old English ēacian, ēcan (in the sense ‘increase’), of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse auka.

eke^2 /ēk/

I. adverb

archaic term for also.

– origin Old English, of Germanic origin.

EKG

abbreviation

1. (US) electrocardiogram.

2. (US) electrocardiograph.

3. (US) electrocardiography.

el /el/

noun — (the El)

1. an elevated railroad or section of railroad, especially that in Chicago.

2. a train running on an elevated railroad.

el.

abbreviation

elevation.

el-Aaiún /ˌelīˈo͞on/

Arabic name of Laayoune.

elaborate

I. adjective — /əˈlab(ə)rət /

1. involving many carefully arranged parts or details; detailed and complicated in design and planning

• elaborate security precautions

• elaborate wrought-iron gates.

2. (of an action) lengthy and exaggerated

• he made an elaborate pretense of yawning.

II. verb — /əˈlabəˌrāt /

1. [with obj.] — develop or present (a theory, policy, or system) in detail

• the key idea of the book is expressed in the title and elaborated in the text.

2. [no obj.] — add more detail concerning what has already been said

• he would not elaborate on his news.

3. [with obj.] — [Biology] (of a natural agency) produce (a substance) from its elements or simpler constituents.

III. derivatives

1. elaborateness /əˈlab(ə)rətnəs /

noun

2. elaborative /-ˌrātiv /

adjective

3. elaborator /-tər /

noun

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘produced by effort of labor,’ also sense 2 of the verb of the verb): from Latin elaborat- ‘worked out,’ from the verb elaborare, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + labor ‘work.’

elaborately /əˈlab(ə)rətlē/

adverb

in a detailed and carefully arranged manner

• elaborately decorated cakes

• the press conferences have become elaborately staged events.

elaboration /əˌlabəˈrāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the process of developing or presenting a theory, policy, or system in further detail

• his work led to the elaboration of a theory of evolution

• the concept needs more elaboration than a short essay allows.

2. the addition of more detail concerning what has already been said

• the speech lacked any elaboration on concrete measures taken

• this is a point requiring elaboration.

El Alamein, Battle of /el ˌäləˈmān, ˌaləˈmān/

a battle of World War II fought in 1942 at El Alamein in Egypt, 60 miles (90 km) west of Alexandria. The German Afrika Korps under Rommel was halted in its advance toward the Nile by the British 8th Army under Montgomery, giving the British a decisive victory.

Elam /ˈēlam/

an ancient state in southwestern Iran, established in the 4th millennium BC. Susa was one of its chief cities.

Elamite /ˈēləˌmīt/

I. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of ancient Elam.

2. the language of ancient Elam, of unknown affinity and spoken from the 3rd millennium to the 4th century BC.

II. adjective

relating to the ancient Elamites or their language.

elan /āˈlän āˈlan / élan

I. noun

energy, style, and enthusiasm

• a rousing march, played with great elan.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French élan, from élancer ‘to dart,’ from é- ‘out’ + lancer ‘to throw.’

eland /ˈēlənd/

I. noun

a spiral-horned African antelope that lives in open woodland and grassland. It is the largest of the antelopes.
[Genus Taurotragus, family Bovidae: the giant eland (T. derbianus) and the common eland (T. oryx).]

– origin late 18th cent.: via Afrikaans from Dutch,‘elk,’ from obsolete German Elend, from Lithuanian élnis.

elapse /əˈlaps/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of time) pass or go by

• weeks elapsed before anyone was charged with the attack

• (as adj. elapsed) a display tells you which track is playing and its elapsed time.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘slip away’): from Latin elaps- ‘slipped away,’ from the verb elabi, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out, away’ + labi ‘to glide, slip.’

elasipod /əˈlasəˌpäd/

I. noun

[Zoology] an aberrant deep-water sea cucumber that lacks a respiratory tree. Most live on the seabed and have leglike appendages, while some swim by means of webbed papillae.
[Order Elasipodida, class Holothuroidea.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Elasipoda, from Greek elasmos ‘beaten metal’ + pous, pod- ‘foot.’

elasmobranch /əˈlazməˌbraNGk/

I. noun

[Zoology] a cartilaginous fish of a group that comprises the sharks, rays, and skates.
Compare with selachian. [Subclass Elasmobranchii, class Chondrichthyes.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Elasmobranchii (plural), from Greek elasmos ‘beaten metal’ + brankhia ‘gills.’

elasmosaur /əˈlazməˌsôr / elasmosaurus

I. noun

a Cretaceous plesiosaur with a long neck shaped like that of a swan.
[Family Elasmosauridae, infraorder Plesiosauria: several genera, including Elasmosaurus.]

II. derivatives

elasmosaurian

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Elasmosaurus, from Greek elasmos ‘beaten metal’ + sauros ‘lizard.’

elastane /əˌlastān/

I. noun

(Brit.) an elastic polyurethane material, used especially for hosiery, underwear, and other close-fitting clothing.

– origin 1970s: from elastic + -ane^2.

elastase /ēˈlastāz/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a pancreatic enzyme that digests elastin.

– origin 1940s: from elastic + -ase.

elastic /əˈlastik/

I. adjective

1. (of an object or material) able to resume its normal shape spontaneously after contraction, dilatation, or distortion.

2. able to encompass variety and change; flexible and adaptable

• the definition of nationality is elastic in this cosmopolitan country.

3. [Economics] (of demand or supply) sensitive to changes in price or income

• the labor supply is very elastic.

4. [Physics] (of a collision) involving no decrease of kinetic energy.

II. noun

cord, tape, or fabric, typically woven with strips of rubber, that returns to its original length or shape after being stretched.

III. derivatives

1. elastically /-(ə)lē /

adverb

2. elasticize /iˈlastəˌsīz /

verb

– origin mid 17th cent. (originally describing a gas in the sense ‘expanding spontaneously to fill the available space’): from modern Latin elasticus, from Greek elastikos ‘propulsive,’ from elaunein ‘to drive.’

elasticated /əˈlastəˌkādəd/

adjective

(chiefly Brit.) (of a garment or material) made elastic by the insertion of rubber thread or tape

• ski pants with elasticated waist.

elastic band

noun

a rubber band.

elastic fiber

noun

[Anatomy] a yellowish fiber composed chiefly of elastin and occurring in networks or sheets that give elasticity to tissues in the body.

elasticity /ēˌlaˈstisədē/

noun

1. the ability of an object or material to resume its normal shape after being stretched or compressed; stretchiness

• aging can decrease the elasticity of your skin.

2. the ability of something to change and adapt; adaptability.

3. [Economics] the degree to which a demand or supply is sensitive to changes in price or income.

• the price elasticity of electricity demand.

elastic limit

noun

[Physics] the maximum extent to which a solid may be stretched without permanent alteration of size or shape.

elastic modulus

noun

[Physics] the ratio of the force exerted upon a substance or body to the resultant deformation.

elastin /əˈlastən/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] an elastic, fibrous glycoprotein found in connective tissue.

– origin late 19th cent.: from elastic + -in^1.

elastomer /əˈlastəmər/

I. noun

a natural or synthetic polymer having elastic properties, e.g., rubber.

II. derivatives

elastomeric /əˌlastəˈmerik /

adjective

– origin 1930s: from elastic + -mer.

elate /əˈlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. elated)

1. make (someone) ecstatically happy

• I felt elated at beating Dennis.

II. adjective

‹archaic› in high spirits; exultant or proud

• the ladies returned with elate and animated faces.

III. derivatives

1. elatedly

adverb

2. elatedness

noun

– origin late Middle English (as an adjective): from Latin elat- ‘raised,’ from the verb efferre, from ex- ‘out, from’ + ferre ‘to bear.’ The verb dates from the late 16th cent.

elation /ēˈlāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

great happiness and exhilaration

• Richard's elation at regaining his health was short-lived.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French elacion, from Latin elat- ‘raised,’ from the verb efferre (see elate).

E layer

I. noun

a layer of the ionosphere able to reflect medium-frequency radio waves.

– origin 1930s: arbitrary use of the letter E, + layer.

Elazig /ˈeläzē/

a commercial city in east central Turkey, east of the upper Euphrates River; pop. 319,400 (est. 2007).

Elba /ˈelbə/

a small island off the western coast of Italy, known as the place of Napoleon's first exile 1814–15.

Elbe /ˈelb(ə)/

a river in central Europe that flows for 720 miles (1,159 km) from the Czech Republic through the German cities of Dresden, Magdeburg, and Hamburg to the North Sea.

Elbert, Mount /ˈelbərt/

a mountain in Colorado, east of Aspen. Rising to 14,431 feet (4,399 m), it is the highest peak in the Rocky Mountains.

elbow /ˈelˌbō/

I. noun

1. the joint between the forearm and the upper arm

• she propped herself up on one elbow.

2. the part of the sleeve of a garment covering the elbow.

3. a thing resembling an elbow, in particular a piece of piping bent through an angle.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. strike (someone) with one's elbow

• one player had elbowed another in the face.

2. [no obj.] — move by pushing past people with one's elbows

• people elbowed past each other to the door

• furiously, he elbowed his way through the crowd.

3. treat (a person or idea) dismissively

• his new TV talk show was elbowed aside in the ratings war.

III. phrases

1. at one's elbow

close at hand; nearby.

2. elbow-to-elbow

very close together.

3. up to one's elbows in

a. ‹informal› with one's hands plunged in (something)

• I was up to my elbows in the cheese-potato mixture.

b. deeply involved in (a task or undertaking).

– origin Old English elboga, elnboga, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch elleboog and German Ellenbogen (see also ell^1, bow^1).

elbow grease /ˈelbō ˈˌɡrēs/

noun

‹informal› hard physical work, especially vigorous polishing or cleaning

• you should be able to get the rust off with a wire brush and elbow grease.

elbow macaroni

noun

(N. Amer.) pasta in the form of small, curved tubes

• Americans have fond memories of elbow macaroni smothered in cheese-flavored sauce.

elbow room

noun

‹informal› adequate space to move or work in

• the car has elbow room for four adults

• ‹figurative› Quebec wants a little more elbow room within the federation.

Elbrus /elˈbro͞os, ˈelˌbro͞os/

a peak in the Caucasus Mountains, on the border between Russia and Georgia. Rising to 18,481 feet (5,642 m), it is the highest mountain in Europe.

Elburz Mountains /ˌelbo͝orz ˈmount(ə)nz/

a mountain range in northwestern Iran, close to the southern shore of the Caspian Sea. Damavand is the highest peak, rising to 18,386 feet (5,604 m).

El Cajon /ˌel kəˈhōn/

a city in southwestern California, east of San Diego; pop. 92,718 (est. 2008).

El Capitan /ˌel kapəˈtan/

a peak in Yosemite National Park in California, known for its sheer walls that rise over 3,000 feet (1,000 m) above its base.

El Centro /el ˈsentrō/

a city in southern California, the commercial center of the Imperial Valley; pop. 40,083 (est. 2008).

Elche /ˈelCHā/

a town in southeastern Spain, in the province of Alicante; pop. 228,348 (2008).

el cheapo /ˌel ˈCHēpō/

I. adjective, noun

another way of saying cheapo.

– origin 1960s: from cheap, on the pattern of Spanish phrases such as El Dorado and El Greco.

eld /eld/

I. noun

1. ‹literary› old age.

2. ‹literary› former times; the past.

– origin Old English ieldu, eldu, of Germanic origin; related to elder^1 and old.

elder^1 /ˈeldər/

I. adjective

1. (of one or more out of a group of related or otherwise associated people) of a greater age

• my elder daughter

• the elder of the two sons.

2. (the Elder) — used to distinguish between related famous people with the same name

• Pliny the Elder.

II. noun — (usu. elders)

1. a person of greater age than someone specified

• schoolchildren were no less fascinated than their elders

• take a bit of advice from your elders and betters.

2. a person of advanced age.

3. (often elders) — a leader or senior figure in a tribe or other group

• a council of village elders.

4. an official in the early Christian Church, or of various Protestant Churches and sects.

III. derivatives

eldership /ˈeldərˌSHip /

noun

– origin Old English ieldra, eldra, of Germanic origin; related to German älter, also to eld and old.

elder^2 /ˈeldər/

I. noun

a small tree or shrub with pithy stems, typically having white flowers and bluish-black or red berries.
[Genus Sambucus, family Caprifoliaceae: numerous species, in particular the common North American S. canadensis and the Eurasian S. nigra.]

– origin Old English ellærn; related to Middle Low German ellern, elderne.

elderberry /ˈeldərˌberē/

noun

1. the bluish-black or red berry of the elder, used especially for making jelly or wine.

2. an elder tree or shrub.

eldercare /ˈeldərˌker/

noun

(N. Amer.) care of people who are elderly or infirm, provided by residential institutions, by paid daily help in the home, or by family members.

elderflower /ˈeldərˌflou(ə)r/

noun

the flower of the elder, used to make wines, cordials, and other drinks.

elder hand

noun

(in card games for two players, e.g., piquet) the player who is the first to receive a complete hand, i.e., the player dealt to.

elderly /ˈeldərlē/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) old or aging

• she was elderly and silver-haired

• (as plural noun the elderly) teams of volunteers to carry out home repairs for the elderly.

2. (of a machine or similar object) showing signs of age

• a couple of elderly cars.

II. derivatives

elderliness /-lēnis /

noun

elder statesman /ˈeldər ˈstātsmən/

noun

a person who is experienced and well-respected, especially a politician.

eldest /ˈeldəst/

I. adjective

(of one out of a group of related or otherwise associated people) of the greatest age; oldest

• Swift left the company to his eldest son, Charles

• he was the eldest of the three.

– origin Old English ieldest, eldest, of Germanic origin; related to German ältest, also to eld and old.

eldest hand

noun

(in card games for three or more players) the player who is the first to receive a complete hand, usually the player immediately to the left of the dealer.

El Dorado /ˌel dəˈrädō/

I. the name of a fictitious country or city abounding in gold, formerly believed to exist somewhere in the region of the Orinoco and Amazon rivers.

II. (pl. El Dorados) (as noun an El Dorado or eldorado) — a place of great abundance.

– origin Spanish, literally ‘the gilded one.’

eldritch /ˈeldriCH/

I. adjective

weird and sinister or ghostly

• an eldritch screech.

– origin early 16th cent. (originally Scots): perhaps related to elf.

Eleanor of Aquitaine /ˌelənər əv ˈakwəˌtān/

(c. 1122–1204), daughter of the duke of Aquitaine; queen of France 1137–52 and of England 1154–89. She was married to Louis VII of France from 1137; their marriage was annulled in 1152, and she married the future Henry II of England in 1154. She was the mother of Richard I and John I.

e-learning /ˈēˌlərniNG/

noun

learning conducted via electronic media, typically on the Internet

• successful e-learning depends on the self-motivation of individuals to study effectively

• [as modifier] e-learning software.

Eleatic /ˌelēˈadik/

I. adjective

of or relating to Elea, an ancient Greek city in southwestern Italy, or the school of philosophers that flourished there in about the 5th century BC, including Xenophanes, Parmenides, and Zeno.

II. noun

an Eleatic philosopher.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin Eleaticus, from Elea.

elec.

abbreviation

1. electric, electrical.

2. electrician.

3. electricity.

elecampane /ˌeləkamˈpān/

I. noun

a plant that has yellow daisylike flowers with long slender petals and bitter aromatic roots that are used in herbal medicine, native to central Asia.
[Inula helenium, family Compositae.]

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin enula (from Greek helenion ‘elecampane’) + campana probably meaning ‘of the fields’ (from campus ‘field’).

elect /əˈlekt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. choose (someone) to hold public office or some other position by voting

• the members who were elected to the committee

• [with obj. and infinitive] they elected him leader.

2. opt for or choose to do something

• freshman year you could elect Industrial Arts

• [no obj.] more people elected to work at home.

3. [Christian Theology] (of God) choose (someone) in preference to others for salvation.

II. adjective — (usu. as plural noun the elect)

1. (of a person) chosen or singled out

• one of the century's elect.

2. [postpositive in combination] — elected to or chosen for a position but not yet in office

• the president-elect.

3. [Christian Theology] chosen by God for salvation.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin elect- ‘picked out,’ from the verb eligere, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + legere ‘to pick.’

electable /əˈlektəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

(of a politician or party) having the qualities which make election likely or plausible

• he was the most electable candidate in the field.

II. derivatives

electability /əˈlektəbilədē /

noun

election /əˈlekSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a formal and organized process of electing or being elected, especially of members of a political body

• the 1860 presidential election

• [as modifier] an election year

• the first of his family to run for election.

2. the act or an instance of electing

• his election to the House of Representatives.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin electio(n-), from eligere ‘pick out’ (see elect).

electioneer /əˌlekSHəˈnir/

I. verb — [no obj.] (usu. as noun electioneering)

1. (of a politician or political campaigner) take part actively and energetically in the activities of an election campaign

• the election will not be lost or won as the result of a few weeks of electioneering.

II. noun

a campaigning politician during an election.

elective /əˈlektiv/

I. adjective

1. related to or working by means of election

• an elective democracy.

2. (of a person or office) appointed or filled by election

• he had never held elective office

• the National Assembly, with 125 elective members.

3. (of a body or position) possessing or giving the power to elect.

4. (of a course of study) chosen by the student rather than compulsory.

5. (of surgical or medical treatment) chosen by the patient rather than urgently necessary.

II. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) an optional course of study

• up to half the credits in many public high schools are electives.

III. derivatives

electively

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Old French electif, -ive, from late Latin electivus, from elect- ‘picked out,’ from the verb eligere (see elect).

elector /əˈlektər/

I. noun

1. a person who has the right to vote in an election.

2. (in the US) a member of the electoral college.

3. [usu. as title] — ‹historical› a German prince entitled to take part in the election of the Holy Roman Emperor

• the Elector of Brandenburg.

II. derivatives

electorship /-ˌSHip /

noun

electoral /əˈlekt(ə)rəl/

I. adjective

of or relating to elections or electors

• electoral reform.

II. derivatives

electorally /əˈlekt(ə)rəlē /

adverb

electoral college

noun

1. (in the US) a body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president.

2. a body of electors chosen or appointed by a larger group.

electoral vote

noun

1. a vote cast by a member of the electoral college

• collectively, these three states account for 39 electoral votes.

2. (the electoral vote) — the choice expressed collectively by the electoral college, which determines the winner of elections for president and vice president in the US

• I'm following the polls from battleground states, which will determine the electoral vote.

electorate /əˈlekt(ə)rət/

noun

1. [treated as sing. or pl.] — all the people in a country or area who are entitled to vote in an election.

2. ‹historical› the office or territories of a German elector.

Electra /əˈlektrə / ‹Greek Mythology›

the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. She persuaded her brother Orestes to kill Clytemnestra and Aegisthus (their mother's lover) in revenge for the murder of Agamemnon.

Electra complex

I. noun

[Psychoanalysis] old-fashioned term for the Oedipus complex as manifested in young girls.

– origin early 20th cent.: named after Electra.

electress /iˈlektris/

noun — [usu. as title]

1. ‹historical› the wife of a German elector.

electret /əˈlektrət/

I. noun

[Physics] a permanently polarized piece of dielectric material, analogous to a permanent magnet.

– origin late 19th cent.: blend of electricity and magnet.

electric /əˈlektrik/

I. adjective

1. of, worked by, charged with, or producing electricity

• an electric stove

• an electric current.

2. (of a musical instrument) amplified through a loudspeaker

• electric bass guitar.

3. (of a color) brilliant and vivid

• images shot through with jagged streaks of electric blue.

4. having or producing a sudden sense of thrilling excitement

• the atmosphere was electric.

II. noun

an electric train or other vehicle.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from modern Latin electricus, from Latin electrum ‘amber,’ from Greek ēlektron (because rubbing amber causes electrostatic phenomena).

electrical /əˈlektrək(ə)l/

adjective

1. operating by or producing electricity

• an electrical appliance.

2. concerned with electricity

• an electrical engineer.

electrically /əˈlektrəklē/

adverb

by means of electricity

• electrically charged particles

• electrically operated doors.

electrical storm

noun

a thunderstorm or other violent disturbance of the electrical condition of the atmosphere.

electric-arc furnace

noun

another term for arc furnace.

electric blanket

noun

a blanket that can be heated electrically by an internal element.

electric chair

noun

a chair in which criminals sentenced to death are executed by electrocution.

electric eel

noun

an eellike freshwater fish of South America, using pulses of electricity to kill prey, to assist in navigation, and for defense.
[Electrophorus electricus, the only member of the family Electrophoridae.]

electric eye /əˈlektrik ēˈlektrik ī/

noun

‹informal› a photoelectric cell operating a relay when the beam of light illuminating it is obscured.

electric fence

noun

a fence through which an electric current can be passed, giving an electric shock to any person or animal touching it.

electric field /əˈlektrik ēˈlektrik fēld/

noun

[Physics] a region around a charged particle or object within which a force would be exerted on other charged particles or objects.

electric guitar /əˈlektrik ēˈlektrik ɡəˈtär/

noun

a guitar with a built-in pickup or pickups that convert string vibrations into electrical signals for amplification.

electrician /əˌlekˈtriSHən/

noun

a person who installs and maintains electrical equipment.

electric intensity

noun

the strength of an electric field at any point, equal to the force per unit charge experienced by a small charge placed at that point.

electricity /əˌlekˈtrisədē/

noun

1. a form of energy resulting from the existence of charged particles (such as electrons or protons), either statically as an accumulation of charge or dynamically as a current.

2. the supply of electric current to a house or other building for heating, lighting, or powering appliances

• the electricity was back on.

3. a state or feeling of thrilling excitement

• the atmosphere was charged with a dangerous sexual electricity.

electric moment

noun

[Physics] the product of the distance separating the charges of a dipole and the magnitude of either charge.

electric organ

noun

1. an organ (keyboard) in which the sound is produced electrically rather than by pipes.

2. [Zoology] an organ in certain fishes that is used to produce an electrical discharge for stunning prey, for sensing the surroundings, or as a defense.

electric-powered electrically powered

adjective

powered by electricity.

electric ray

noun

a sluggish bottom-dwelling marine ray that typically lives in shallow water and can produce an electric shock for the capture of prey and for defense.
Also called torpedo ray (see torpedo). [Family Torpedinidae: several genera, in particular Torpedo, and many species.]

electric razor electric shaver

noun

an electrical device for shaving, with oscillating or rotating blades behind a metal guard.

electric shock

noun

a sudden discharge of electricity through a part of the body.

electrification /əˌlektrəfəˈkāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action or process of charging something with electricity

• I saw no evidence of electrification of the fence.

2. the conversion of a machine or system to the use of electrical power

• the electrification of the railroads

• [as modifier] the Government's rural electrification program.

electrify /əˈlektrəˌfī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. charge with electricity; pass an electric current through
(as adj. electrified)

• an electrified fence.

2. convert (a machine or system, especially a railroad line) to the use of electrical power.

3. (often as adj. electrifying) — impress greatly; thrill

• an electrifying performance.

II. derivatives

electrifier /-ˌfī(ə)r /

noun

– origin mid 18th cent.: from electric + -fy.

electro /əˈlektrō/

noun

1. short for electrotype or electroplate.

2. a style of dance music with a fast beat and synthesized backing track.

electro-

combining form

1. relating to or caused by electricity; involving electricity and …

• electroconvulsive

• electromagnetism.

2. relating to music characterized by the use of synthesizers or electronically created sounds

• electropop.

electroacoustic /iˌlektrōəˈko͞ostik/

I. adjective

1. involving the direct conversion of electrical into acoustic energy or vice versa.

2. (of a guitar) having both a pickup and a reverberating hollow body.

II. noun

an electroacoustic guitar.

electro-acupuncture /əˌlektrōˈakyəˌpəNGk(t)SHər / electroacupuncture

noun

acupuncture in which the needles used carry a mild electric current.

electrocardiogram /əˌlektrōˈkärdēōˌɡram / ECG, EKG

noun

[Medicine] a record or display of a person's heartbeat produced by electrocardiography.

electrocardiograph /əˌlektrōˈkärdēəɡraf / ECG, EKG

noun

a machine used for electrocardiography.

electrocardiography /əˌlektrōˌkärdēˈäɡrəfē / ECG, EKG

I. noun

the measurement of electrical activity in the heart and the recording of such activity as a visual trace (on paper or on an oscilloscope screen), using electrodes placed on the skin of the limbs and chest.

II. derivatives

electrocardiographic /-ˌkärdiəˈɡrafik /

adjective

electrocautery /əˌlektrōˈkôdərē/

noun

cautery using a needle or other instrument that is electrically heated.

electrochemistry /əˌlektrōˈkeməstrē/

I. noun

the branch of chemistry that deals with the relations between electrical and chemical phenomena.

II. derivatives

1. electrochemical /əˈˌlektrōˈkeməkəl əˈˌlektrəˈkeməkəl ēˈˌlektrəˈkeməkəl ēˈˌlektrōˈkeməkəl /

adjective

2. electrochemically /-ˈkemik(ə)lē /

adverb

3. electrochemist

noun

electrochromism /əˌlektrōˈkrōmizəm/

I. noun

[Chemistry] the property of certain dyes of changing color when placed in an electric field.

II. derivatives

electrochromic /-ˈkrōmik /

adjective

electrocoagulation /əˌlektrōˌkōˌaɡyəˈlāSH(ə)n/

noun

the coagulation of blood or other tissues by the local application of an electric current to produce concentrated heat.

electroconvulsive /əˌlektrōkənˈvəlsiv/

adjective

of or relating to the treatment of mental illness by the application of electric shocks to the brain.

electrocorticogram /əˌlektrōˈkôrdəkōɡram/

noun

[Physiology] a chart or record of the electrical activity of the brain made using electrodes in direct contact with it.

electrocute /əˈlektrəˌkyo͞ot/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. injure or kill someone by electric shock

• a man was electrocuted when he switched on the Christmas tree lights.

2. execute (a convicted criminal) by means of the electric chair.

– origin late 19th cent.: from electro-, on the pattern of execute.

electrocution /əˌlektrəˈkyo͞oSH(ə)n/

noun

the injury or killing of someone by electric shock

• they switched off the power supply to avoid any risk of electrocution

• death row inmates face either electrocution or lethal injection.

electrocyte /əˈlektrəˌsīt/

noun

[Zoology] a modified muscle or nerve cell that generates electricity in the electric organ of certain fishes.

electrode /əˈlektrōd/

I. noun

a conductor through which electricity enters or leaves an object, substance, or region.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from electric + Greek hodos ‘way,’ on the pattern of anode and cathode.

electrodermal /əˌlektrōˈdərməl/

adjective

of or relating to measurement of the electrical conductivity of the skin, especially as an indicator of someone's emotional responses.

electrodialysis /əˌlektrōdīˈaləsəs/

noun

[Chemistry] dialysis in which the movement of ions is aided by an electric field applied across the semipermeable membrane.

electrodynamics /əˌlektrōˌdīˈnamiks/

I. plural noun — [usu. treated as sing.]

1. the branch of mechanics concerned with the interaction of electric currents with magnetic fields or with other electric currents.

II. derivatives

electrodynamic

adjective

electrodynamometer /əˌlektrōˌdīnəˈmämidər/

noun

an instrument that measures electric current by indicating the strength of repulsion or attraction between the magnetic fields of two sets of coils, one fixed and one movable.

electroencephalogram /əˌlektrōənˈsefələɡram / EEG

noun

a test or record of brain activity produced by electroencephalography.

electroencephalograph /əˌlektrōənˈsefələɡraf / EEG

noun

a machine used for electroencephalography.

electroencephalography /əˌlektrōənˌsefəˈläɡrəfē/

noun

the measurement of electrical activity in different parts of the brain and the recording of such activity as a visual trace (on paper or on an oscilloscope screen).

electrofish /əˌlektrəˌfiSH/

verb — [with obj.]

1. fish (a stretch of water) using electrocution or a weak electric field.

electrofusion /iˌlektrōˈfyo͞oZHən/

noun

fusion (in cells or other materials) that is induced by the application of electric current

• the shell and center are joined by electrofusion, with the reconstructed embryo retaining most of the mother's DNA.

electrogenic /əˌlektrōˈjenik/

adjective

[Physiology] producing a change in the electrical potential of a cell.

electrojet /əˈlektrəˌjet/

noun

an intense electric current that occurs in a narrow belt in the lower ionosphere, especially in the region of strong auroral displays.

electrokinetic /əˌlektrōkəˈnedik/

adjective

of or relating to the flow of electricity.

electroless /iˈlektrōlis/

adjective

relating to or denoting nickel plating using chemical means, as opposed to electroplating.

electrolier /əˌlektrəˈlir/

I. noun

a chandelier in which the lights are electrical.

– origin late 19th cent.: from electro-, on the pattern of chandelier.

electrologist /ilekˈträləjist/

noun

a person trained to remove unwanted hair on the body or face or small blemishes on the skin by a method that involves the application of heat using an electric current.

electroluminescence /əˌlektrōˌlo͞oməˈnesəns/

I. noun

[Chemistry] luminescence produced electrically, especially in a phosphor by the application of a voltage.

II. derivatives

electroluminescent

adjective

electrolysis /əˌlekˈträləsəs/

I. noun

1. [Chemistry] chemical decomposition produced by passing an electric current through a liquid or solution containing ions.

2. the removal of hair roots or small blemishes on the skin by the application of heat using an electric current.

II. derivatives

1. electrolytic /əˌlektrəˈlidik /

adjective

2. electrolytical /iˌlektrəˈlitikəl /

adjective

3. electrolytically /iˌlektrəˈlitik(ə)lē /

adverb

electrolyte /əˈlektrəˌlīt/

I. noun

1. a liquid or gel that contains ions and can be decomposed by electrolysis, e.g., that present in a battery.

2. (usu. electrolytes) — [Physiology] the ionized or ionizable constituents of a living cell, blood, or other organic matter.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from electro- + Greek lutos ‘released’ (from luein ‘loosen’).

electrolytic cell /əˌlektrəˌlidik ˈsel/

noun

1. a cell in which electrolysis occurs, consisting of an electrolyte through which current from an external source is passed, by a system of electrodes, in order to produce an electrochemical reaction.

2. a cell consisting of an electrolyte, its container, and two electrodes, in which the electrochemical reaction between the electrodes and the electrolyte produces an electric current.

electrolyze /əˈlektrəˌlīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. subject to or treat by electrolysis

• when you electrolyze water, it splits into hydrogen and oxygen.

II. derivatives

electrolyzer

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from electrolysis, on the pattern of analyze.

electromagnet /əˈlektrōˌmaɡnət/

noun

[Physics] a soft metal core made into a magnet by the passage of electric current through a coil surrounding it.

electromagnetic /əˌlektrōmaɡˈnetik/

I. adjective

of or relating to the interrelation of electric currents or fields and magnetic fields.

II. derivatives

electromagnetically /-(ə)lē /

adverb

electromagnetic field

noun

[Physics] a field of force that consists of both electric and magnetic components, resulting from the motion of an electric charge and containing a definite amount of electromagnetic energy.

electromagnetic pulse

noun

an intense pulse of electromagnetic radiation, especially one generated by a nuclear explosion and occurring high above the earth's surface.

electromagnetic radiation

noun

[Physics] a kind of radiation including visible light, radio waves, gamma rays, and X-rays, in which electric and magnetic fields vary simultaneously.

electromagnetic spectrum

noun

[Physics] the range of wavelengths or frequencies over which electromagnetic radiation extends.

electromagnetic units

plural noun

[Physics] a largely obsolete system of electrical units derived primarily from the magnetic properties of electric currents.

electromagnetism /əˌlektrōˈmaɡnəˌtizəm/

noun

1. the interaction of electric currents or fields and magnetic fields.

2. the branch of physics concerned with this.

electromechanical /əˌlektrōməˈkanək(ə)l/

adjective

of, relating to, or denoting a mechanical device that is electrically operated.

electrometer /ēˌlekˈträmədər əˌlekˈträmədər/

I. noun

[Physics] an instrument for measuring electrical potential without drawing any current from the circuit.

II. derivatives

1. electrometric /iˌlektrəˈmetrik /

adjective

2. electrometry /-ˈträmitrē /

noun

electromotive /əˌlektrəˈmōdiv/

adjective

[Physics] producing or tending to produce an electric current.

electromotive force /əˌlektrəˈmōdiv ēˌlektrəˈmōdiv fôrs / emf

noun

[Physics] a difference in potential that tends to give rise to an electric current.

electromyogram /əˌlektrōˈmīəɡram/

noun

[Medicine] a record or display produced by electromyography.

electromyography /əˌlektrōmīˈäɡrəfē/

I. noun

the recording of the electrical activity of muscle tissue, or its representation as a visual display or audible signal, using electrodes attached to the skin or inserted into the muscle.

II. derivatives

1. electromyograph /-ˈmīəˌɡraf /

noun

2. electromyographic /-ˌmīəˈɡrafik /

adjective

3. electromyographically /-ˌmīəˈɡrafik(ə)lē /

adverb

electron /əˈlekˌträn/

I. noun

[Physics] a stable subatomic particle with a charge of negative electricity, found in all atoms and acting as the primary carrier of electricity in solids.
The electron's mass is about 9 × 1028g, 1,836 times less than that of the proton. Electrons orbit the positively charged nuclei of atoms and are responsible for binding atoms together in molecules and for the electrical, thermal, optical, and magnetic properties of solids. Electric currents in metals and in semiconductors consist of a flow of electrons, and light, radio waves, X-rays, and much heat radiation are all produced by accelerating and decelerating electrons.

– origin late 19th cent.: from electric + -on.

electron beam

noun

[Physics] a stream of electrons in a gas or vacuum.

electron-dense

adjective

(of biological specimens) allowing the passage of few electrons, and so appearing dark in electron micrographs.

electron diffraction

noun

[Physics] the diffraction of a beam of electrons by atoms or molecules, used especially for determining crystal structures.

electronegative /əˌlektrəˈneɡədiv/

I. adjective

1. [Physics] electrically negative.

2. [Chemistry] (of an element) tending to acquire electrons and form negative ions in chemical reactions.

II. derivatives

electronegativity /əˌlektrōˌneɡəˈtivədē /

noun

electronegative (sense 2)

electron gun

noun

[Physics] a device for producing a narrow stream of electrons from a heated cathode.

electronic /əˌlekˈtränik/

I. adjective

1. (of a device) having or operating with the aid of many small components, especially microchips and transistors, that control and direct an electric current

• an electronic calculator.

2. (of music) produced by electronic instruments.

3. of or relating to electronics

• a degree in electronic engineering.

4. of or relating to electrons.

5. carried out or accessed by means of a computer or other electronic device, especially over a network

• electronic banking.

– origin early 20th cent.: from electron + -ic.

electronica /ilekˈtränikə, ˌēlek-/

I. noun

1. a popular style of music deriving from techno and rave and having a more ambient, esoteric, or cerebral quality.

2. electronic devices or technology considered collectively.

– origin 1990s: from electronic + -a^2.

electronically /əˌlekˈtränəklē/

adverb

1. by means of electronic equipment or devices

• the information can be recorded electronically

• electronically controlled access gates

• online services that can be accessed electronically.

2. in a way that relates to electrons

• molecules that can accept energy to form electronically excited states.

electronic cigarette

noun

a cigarette-shaped device containing a nicotine-based liquid that is vaporized and inhaled, used to simulate the experience of smoking tobacco

• more smokers are turning to electronic cigarettes to help them quit smoking.

electronic flash

noun

[Photography] a flash from a gas-discharge tube, used in high-speed photography.

electronic mail

noun

another term for email.

electronic music

noun

music performed using synthesizers and other electronic instruments.

electronic organizer

noun

a pocket-sized computer used for storing and retrieving information such as addresses and appointments.

electronic publishing

noun

the issuing of books and other material in machine-readable form rather than on paper.

electronics /əˌlekˈträniks/

plural noun — [usu. treated as sing.]

1. the branch of physics and technology concerned with the design of circuits using transistors and microchips, and with the behavior and movement of electrons in a semiconductor, conductor, vacuum, or gas

• electronics is seen as a growth industry

• [as modifier] electronics engineers.

2. [treated as pl.] — circuits or devices using transistors, microchips, and other components.

electronic signature

noun

[Computing] symbols or other data in digital form attached to an electronically transmitted document as verification of the sender’s intent to sign the document

• the new rules will make electronic signatures acceptable and speed up the application process.

See also digital signature.

electronic skin

noun

a thin layer of material containing electronic sensors that is designed to mimic some of the properties of human skin, especially its sensitivity to pressure and temperature

• in experiments, the researchers laminated electronic skin onto a prosthetic hand.

electronic tagging

noun

the attaching of electronic markers to people or goods for monitoring purposes, e.g., to track offenders under house arrest or to deter shoplifters.

electron lens

noun

[Physics] a device for focusing a stream of electrons by means of electric or magnetic fields.

electron microscope

noun

[Physics] a microscope with high magnification and resolution, employing electron beams in place of light and using electron lenses.

electron optics

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the branch of physics that deals with the behavior of electrons and electron beams in magnetic and electric fields.

electron pair

noun

1. [Chemistry] two electrons occupying the same orbital in an atom or molecule.

2. [Physics] an electron and a positron produced in a high-energy reaction.

electron spin resonance ESR

noun

[Physics] a spectroscopic method of locating electrons within the molecules of a paramagnetic substance.

electron tube

noun

[Physics] an evacuated or gas-filled tube in which a current of electrons flows between electrodes.

electron volt eV

noun

[Physics] a unit of energy equal to the work done on an electron in accelerating it through a potential difference of one volt.

electrooculogram /əˌlektrōˈäkyələɡram/

noun

a record produced by electrooculography.

electrooculography /əˌlektrōˌäkyəˈläɡrəfē/

I. noun

the measurement of the electrical potential between electrodes placed at points close to the eye, used to investigate eye movements especially in physiological research.

II. derivatives

electrooculographic /-ləˈɡrafik /

adjective

electrooptics /əˌlektrōˈäptiks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the branch of science that deals with the effect of electric fields on light and on the optical properties of substances.

II. derivatives

1. electrooptic

adjective

2. electrooptical /-ˈäptikəl /

adjective

electroosmosis /əˌlektrōäzˈmōsis/

I. noun

osmosis under the influence of an electric field.

II. derivatives

electroosmotic /-ˈmätik /

adjective

electrophilic /əˌlektrəˈfilik/

I. adjective

[Chemistry] (of a molecule or group) having a tendency to attract or acquire electrons.
Often contrasted with nucleophilic.

II. derivatives

electrophile /iˈlektrəˌfīl /

noun

electrophoresis /əˌlektrəfəˈrēsis/

I. noun

[Physics] [Chemistry] the movement of charged particles in a fluid or gel under the influence of an electric field.

II. derivatives

1. electrophorese /-ˈrēs /

verb

2. electrophoretic /əˌlektrəfəˈredik /

adjective

3. electrophoretically /-ˈretik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin early 20th cent.: from electro- + Greek phorēsis ‘being carried.’

electrophorus /əˌlekˈträfərəs/

I. noun

[Physics] a device for repeatedly generating static electricity by induction.

– origin late 18th cent.: from electro- + Greek -phoros ‘bearing.’

electrophysiology /əˌlektrōˌfizēˈäləjē/

I. noun

the branch of physiology that deals with the electrical phenomena associated with nervous and other bodily activity.

II. derivatives

1. electrophysiological /-ˌfizēəˈläjikəl /

adjective

2. electrophysiologically /-ˌfizēəˈläjik(ə)lē /

adverb

3. electrophysiologist /-jist /

noun

electroplate /əˈlektrəˌplāt/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as noun electroplating)

1. coat (a metal object) by electrolytic deposition with chromium, silver, or another metal.

II. noun

electroplated articles.

III. derivatives

electroplater

noun

electroplax /əˈlektrōˌplaks / electroplaque

noun

[Zoology] each of a number of flattened plates of protoplasm that make up the electric organ of certain fishes, e.g., the electric eel.

electropolish /əˈlektrōˌpäliSH/

verb — [with obj.] (often as noun electropolishing)

1. give a shiny surface to (metal) using electrolysis.

electropop /əˈlektrōpôp/

noun

a style of popular music characterized by the use of electronically created sounds, with a synthesizer as the primary instrument.

electroporation /iˌlektrōpəˈrāSHən/

I. noun

[Biology] the action or process of introducing DNA or chromosomes into bacteria or other cells using a pulse of electricity to briefly open the pores in the cell membranes.

II. derivatives

electroporate /-ˈpôrˌāt /

verb

electropositive /əˌlektrəˈpäzədiv/

adjective

1. [Physics] electrically positive.

2. [Chemistry] (of an element) tending to lose electrons and form positive ions in chemical reactions.

electroreception /əˌlektrōrəˈsepSH(ə)n/

I. noun

the detection by an aquatic animal of electric fields or currents.

II. derivatives

electroreceptor /-ˈseptər /

noun

electroretinogram /əˌlektrōˈretənōɡram/

noun

a record of the electrical activity of the retina, used in medical diagnosis and research.

electroscope /əˈlektrəˌskōp/

I. noun

[Physics] an instrument for detecting and measuring electricity, especially as an indication of the ionization of air by radioactivity.

II. derivatives

electroscopic /iˌlektrəˈskäpik /

adjective

electroshock /əˈlektrōˌSHäk/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. of or relating to medical treatment by means of electric shocks

• electroshock therapy.

electrosomatic /əˌlektrōsəˈmadik/

adjective

1. pertaining to electronic devices implanted in an organism.

2. pertaining to electrical fields within an organism.

electrostatic /əˌlektrōˈstadik/

I. adjective

[Physics] of or relating to stationary electric charges or fields as opposed to electric currents.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from electro- + static, on the pattern of hydrostatic.

electrostatic generator

noun

any of various devices used to build up an electric charge to an extreme potential in order to generate electricity, especially the Van de Graaf generator.

electrostatic precipitator

noun

a device that removes suspended dust particles from a gas or exhaust by applying a high-voltage electrostatic charge and collecting the particles on charged plates.

electrostatics /əˌlektrōˈstadiks/

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. [Physics] the study of stationary electric charges or fields as opposed to electric currents.

electrostatic units

plural noun

a system of units based primarily on the forces between electric charges.

electrosurgery /iˌlektrōˈsərjərē/

I. noun

surgery using a high-frequency electric current to heat and so cut tissue with great precision.

II. derivatives

electrosurgical /-ˈsərjikəl /

adjective

electrotechnology /əˌlektrōtekˈnäləjē / electrotechnics

I. noun

the science of the application of electricity in technology.

II. derivatives

1. electrotechnic /-ˈteknik /

adjective

2. electrotechnical /-ˈteknikəl /

adjective

electrotherapy /əˌlektrōˈTHerəpē/

I. noun

the use of electric currents passed through the body to stimulate nerves and muscles, chiefly in the treatment of various forms of paralysis.

II. derivatives

1. electrotherapeutic /-ˌTHerəˈpyo͞otik /

adjective

2. electrotherapeutical /-ˌTHerəˈpyo͞otikəl /

adjective

3. electrotherapist /əˌlektrəˈTHerəpəst /

noun

electrothermal /əˌlektrəˈTHərməl/

adjective

[Physics] of or relating to heat derived from electricity.

electrotype /əˈlektrəˌtīp/

I. verb — [with obj.] (often as noun electrotyping)

1. make a copy of (something) by the electrolytic deposition of copper on a mold.

II. noun

a copy made by electrotyping.

III. derivatives

electrotyper

noun

electrovalent /əˌlektrəˈvālənt/

I. adjective

[Chemistry] (of bonding) resulting from electrostatic attraction between positive and negative ions; ionic.

II. derivatives

1. electrovalence /əˌlektrəˈvāləns /

noun

2. electrovalency /əˌlektrəˈvālənsē /

noun

– origin 1920s: from electro- + -valent, on the pattern of trivalent.

electroweak /əˌlektrōˈwēk/

adjective

[Physics] relating to or denoting electromagnetic and weak interactions regarded as manifestations of the same interaction.

electrum /əˈlektrəm/

I. noun

a natural or artificial alloy of gold with at least 20 percent silver, used for jewelry, especially in ancient times.

– origin late Middle English: via Latin from Greek ēlektron ‘amber, electrum.’

electuary /əˈlekCHəˌwerē/

I. noun

‹archaic› a medicinal substance mixed with honey or another sweet substance.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin electuarium, probably from Greek ekleikton, from ekleikhein ‘lick up.’

eleemosynary /ˌeləˈmäsnərē/

I. adjective

of, relating to, or dependent on charity; charitable.

– origin late 16th cent. (as a noun denoting a place where alms were distributed): from medieval Latin eleemosynarius, from late Latin eleemosyna ‘alms,’ from Greek eleēmosunē ‘compassion’ (see alms).

elegance /ˈeləɡəns/

noun

1. the quality of being graceful and stylish in appearance or manner; style

• a slender woman with grace and elegance.

2. the quality of being pleasingly ingenious and simple; neatness

• the simplicity and elegance of the solution.

elegancy /ˈeliɡənsē/

noun

1. graceful and stylish appearance or manner; elegance.

2. something that is elegant

• I do hope you will study a little of the proprieties and elegancies of life.

elegant /ˈeləɡənt/

I. adjective

1. pleasingly graceful and stylish in appearance or manner

• she will look elegant in black

• an elegant, comfortable house.

2. (of a scientific theory or solution to a problem) pleasingly ingenious and simple

• the grand unified theory is compact and elegant in mathematical terms.

– origin late 15th cent. (describing a person dressing tastefully): from French, or from Latin elegans, elegant-, related to eligere ‘choose, select’ (see elect).

elegantly /ˈeləɡən(t)lē/

adverb

1. in a graceful and stylish manner

• a handsome, elegantly dressed businessman

• tendrils of clouds glide elegantly across the sky.

2. in a pleasingly ingenious and simple manner

• an elegantly phrased argument

• he has elegantly solved the problem.

elegant variation

noun

the stylistic fault of studiedly finding different ways to denote the same thing in a piece of writing, merely to avoid repetition.

elegiac /ˌeləˈjīək/

I. adjective

1. (especially of a work of art) having a mournful quality

• the movie score is a somber effort, elegiac in its approach.

2. wistfully mournful.

II. plural noun — (elegiacs)

1. verses in an elegiac meter.

III. derivatives

elegiacally /ˌeləˈjīək(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin late 16th cent.: from French élégiaque, or via late Latin, from Greek elegeiakos, from elegeia (see elegy).

elegiac couplet

noun

a pair of lines consisting of a dactylic hexameter and a pentameter, especially in Greek and Latin verse.

elegiac stanza

noun

a quatrain in iambic pentameter rhymed abab.
Compare with heroic stanza.

elegize /ˈeləˌjīz/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. write in a wistfully mournful way about someone or something.

II. derivatives

elegist /-jist /

noun

elegy /ˈeləjē/

I. noun

1. a poem of serious reflection, typically a lament for the dead.

2. (in Greek and Roman poetry) a poem written in elegiac couplets, as notably by Catullus and Propertius.

– origin early 16th cent.: from French élégie, or via Latin, from Greek elegeia, from elegos ‘mournful poem.’

elem.

abbreviation

elementary.

element /ˈeləmənt/

I. noun

1. a part or aspect of something abstract, especially one that is essential or characteristic

• the death had all the elements of a great tabloid story

• there are four elements to the proposal.

2. a small but significant presence of a feeling or abstract quality

• it was the element of danger he loved in flying.

3. (elements) — the rudiments of a branch of knowledge

• legal training may include the elements of economics and political science.

4. [usu. with modifier] (often elements) — a group of people of a particular kind within a larger group or organization

• extreme right-wing elements in the army.

5. [Mathematics] [Logic] an entity that is a single member of a set.

6. (also chemical element) — each of more than one hundred substances that cannot be chemically interconverted or broken down into simpler substances and are primary constituents of matter. Each element is distinguished by its atomic number, i.e., the number of protons in the nuclei of its atoms.

7. any of the four substances (earth, water, air, and fire) regarded as the fundamental constituents of the world in ancient and medieval philosophy.

8. one of the four substances (earth, water, air, or fire) considered as a person's or animal's natural environment

• for the islanders, the sea is their kingdom, water their element.

9. (the elements) — the weather, especially strong winds, heavy rain, and other kinds of bad weather

• there was no barrier against the elements.

10. (elements) — (in church use) the bread and wine of the Eucharist.

11. a part in an electric teapot, heater, or stove that contains a wire through which an electric current is passed to provide heat.

12. on some electric typewriters, a ball with raised letters that print when the keys are pressed.

II. phrases

be in (or out of) one's element

be in (or not in) a situation or environment that one particularly likes and in which one can perform well

• she was in her element with doctors and hospitals.

– origin Middle English (denoting fundamental constituents of the world or celestial objects): via Old French from Latin elementum ‘principle, rudiment,’ translating Greek stoikheion ‘step, component part.’

elemental /ˌeləˈmen(t)l/

I. adjective

1. primary or basic

• elemental features from which all other structures are compounded.

2. concerned with chemical elements or other basic components

• elemental analysis.

3. consisting of a single chemical element.

4. related to or embodying the powers of nature

• a thunderstorm is the inevitable outcome of battling elemental forces.

5. (of an emotion) having the primitive and inescapable character of a force of nature

• the urge for revenge was too elemental to be ignored.

II. noun

a supernatural entity or force thought to be physically manifested by occult means.

III. derivatives

1. elementalism /-ˌizəm /

noun

2. elementally

adverb

– origin late 15th cent.: from medieval Latin elementalis, from elementum ‘principle, rudiment’ (see element).

elementary /ˌeləˈment(ə)rē/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to the most rudimentary aspects of a subject

• the six stages take students from elementary to advanced level.

2. easily dealt with; straightforward and uncomplicated

• it's interesting work, although a lot of it is elementary.

3. not decomposable into elements or other primary constituents.

II. derivatives

1. elementarily /-rəlē /

adverb

2. elementariness

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘composed of the four elements, earth, air, fire, and water’): from Latin elementarius, from elementum ‘principle, rudiment’ (see element). Current senses dates from the mid 16th cent.

elementary backstroke

noun

a swimming stroke performed on the back in which the arms are extended straight out and then brought to the sides in a circular motion while the legs are tucked in toward the body and then kicked out in a corresponding movement

• I sighed, doing an elementary backstroke to keep afloat.

elementary particle

noun

any of various fundamental subatomic particles, including those that are the smallest and most basic constituents of matter (leptons and quarks) or are combinations of these (hadrons, which consist of quarks), and those that transmit one of the four fundamental interactions in nature (gravitational, electromagnetic, strong, and weak).
Compare with subatomic particle, and see baryon, boson, gluon, graviton, meson, photon, W particle, Z particle.

elementary school

noun

(N. Amer.) a school for the first four to six grades, and usually including kindergarten.

elemi /ˈeləmē/

I. noun

an oleoresin obtained from a tropical tree and used in varnishes, ointments, and aromatherapy.
[This resin is obtained from several trees in the family Burseraceae, in particular Bursera simaruba (producing American elemi) and Canarium luzanicum (producing Manila elemi).]

– origin mid 16th cent.: perhaps from Arabic al-lāmī.

elenchus /əˈleNGkəs/

I. noun

1. [Logic] a logical refutation.
See also ignoratio elenchi.

2. (also Socratic elenchus) — [Logic] the Socratic method of eliciting truth by question and answer, especially as used to refute an argument.

– origin mid 17th cent. (superseding late Middle English elench): via Latin from Greek elenkhos.

elephant /ˈeləfənt/

I. noun

1. a heavy plant-eating mammal with a prehensile trunk, long curved ivory tusks, and large ears, native to Africa and southern Asia. It is the largest living land animal.
[Family Elephantidae, order Proboscidea: two species. See African elephant, Indian elephant.]

2. (chiefly Brit.) a size of paper, now standardized at 28 × 23 inches (approximately 711 × 584 mm).

II. derivatives

elephantoid /ˌeləˈfantoid, ˈeləfənˌtoid /

adjective

III. phrases

the elephant in the room

a major problem or controversial issue that is obviously present but avoided as a subject for discussion because it is more comfortable to do so.

– origin Middle English: from Old French elefant, via Latin from Greek elephas, elephant- ‘ivory, elephant.’

elephant bird

noun

a heavily built, giant flightless bird, found in Madagascar until it was exterminated in about AD 1000. The eggs, which are still found occasionally, are the largest known.
Also called aepyornis. [Family Aepyornithidae, genera Aepyornis and Mullerornis: several species, including A. maximus.]

elephant ear

noun

any of a number of plants with large heart-shaped leaves.

elephant grass

noun

a tall robust tropical African grass that is used for fodder and paper.
Also called napier grass. [Pennisetum purpureum, family Gramineae.]

elephantiasis /ˌeləfənˈtīəsəs/

I. noun

[Medicine] a condition in which a limb or other part of the body becomes grossly enlarged due to obstruction of the lymphatic vessels, typically by the nematode parasites that cause filariasis.

– origin mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek, from elephas, elephant- ‘elephant’ + -iasis.

elephantine /ˌeləˈfan(t)ēn ˌeləˈfanˌtīn ˈeləfənˌtēn ˈeləfənˌtīn/

I. adjective

of, resembling, or characteristic of an elephant or elephants, especially in being large, clumsy, or awkward

• there was an elephantine thud from the bathroom.

– origin early 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek elephantinos, from elephas, elephant- ‘elephant.’

elephant seal /ˈeləfənt sē(ə)l/

noun

a large seal that breeds on the west coast of North America and the islands around Antarctica. The male is much larger than the female and has a very thick neck and an inflatable snout.
[Genus Mirounga, family Phocidae: two species.]

Eleusinian mysteries /ˌelyo͞oˌsinēən ˈmistərēz/

plural noun

the annual rites performed by the ancient Greeks at the village of Eleusis near Athens in honor of Demeter and Persephone.

Eleuthera /iˈlo͞oTHərə/

an island in the central Bahamas, over 100 miles (160 km) long; pop. 8,900 (est. 2009). It was settled by the British in the 1640s.

elev.

abbreviation

elevation.

elevate /ˈeləˌvāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. raise or lift (something) up to a higher position

• the exercise will naturally elevate your chest and head.

2. raise to a more important or impressive level

• in the 1920s he was elevated to secretary of state

• exotic toppings elevate a pizza from fast food to fine food.

3. (of a priest) hold up (a consecrated host or chalice) for adoration.

4. increase the level or amount of (something, especially the level of a component of a person's blood)

• high amounts of the drug can elevate blood pressure.

5. raise the axis of (a piece of artillery) to increase its range.

II. derivatives

elevatory /-vəˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin elevat- ‘raised,’ from the verb elevare, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out, away’ + levare ‘lighten’ (from levis ‘light’).

elevated /ˈeləˌvādəd/

I. adjective

1. situated or placed higher than the surrounding area

• this hotel has an elevated position above the village

• the elevated section of the freeway.

2. (of a level or amount) higher or greater than what is considered normal

• an elevated temperature.

3. of a high intellectual or moral standard or level

• the elevated canon of great literary texts.

4. having a high rank or social standing

• a suitably elevated occupation.

II. noun

an elevated railroad.

elevation /ˌeləˈvāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action or fact of elevating or being elevated

• her sudden elevation to the cabinet.

2. augmentation of or increase in the amount or level of something.

3. (in a Christian Mass) the raising of the consecrated elements for adoration.

4. height above a given level, especially sea level

• a network of microclimates created by sharp differences in elevation

• a total elevation gain of 3,995 feet.

5. a high place or position

• most early plantation development was at the higher elevations.

6. the angle of something with the horizontal, especially of a gun or of the direction of a celestial object.

7. [Ballet] the ability of a dancer to attain height in jumps.

8. a particular side of a building

• a burglar alarm was prominently displayed on the front elevation.

9. a drawing or diagram, especially of a building, made by projection on a vertical plane.
Compare with plan (sense 3 of the noun).

II. derivatives

elevational /-SHənl, -SHnəl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin elevatio(n-), from elevare ‘raise’ (see elevate).

elevator /ˈeləˌvādər/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a platform or compartment housed in a shaft for raising and lowering people or things to different floors or levels

• in the elevator she pressed the button for the lobby.

2. a machine consisting of an endless belt with scoops attached, used typically for raising grain to be stored in an upper story.

3. (N. Amer.) a tall building used for storing large quantities of grain.

4. a hinged flap on the horizontal stabilizer of an aircraft, typically one of a pair, used to control the motion of the aircraft about its lateral axis.

5. a muscle whose contraction raises a part of the body

• elevators of the upper lip.

6. (also elevator shoe) — (N. Amer.) ‹trademark› a shoe with a raised insole designed to make the wearer appear taller.

– origin mid 17th cent. (denoting a levator muscle): modern Latin, from Latin elevare ‘raise’; in later use directly from elevate.

elevator music

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) bland recorded background music played in public places.

elevator pitch

I. noun

‹informal› (chiefly US) a succinct and persuasive sales pitch.

– origin from the idea of having to impress a senior executive during a brief ride in an elevator.

eleven /əˈlevən/

I. cardinal number

1. (Roman numeral: xi or XI) — equivalent to the sum of six and five; one more than ten; 11

• the room was about eleven feet wide

• eighteen schools were founded, eleven of them in Los Angeles.

2. eleven years old

• the eldest is only eleven.

3. eleven o'clock

• she often worked until eleven at night.

4. a size of garment or other merchandise denoted by eleven.

5. a group or unit of eleven people or things.

6. a sports team of eleven players.

II. phrases

up to eleven

‹informal› so as to reach or surpass the maximum level; to an extreme or intense degree

• turn the volume up to eleven

• I like my art cranked up to eleven.

[1984: coined in the film comedy This is Spinal Tap, with reference to a rock guitarist whose amplifier's volume control goes up to eleven rather than the usual ten.]

III. derivatives

elevenfold /-ˌfōld /

adjective, adverb

– origin Old English endleofon, from the base of one + a second element (probably expressing the sense ‘left over’) occurring also in twelve; of Germanic origin and related to Dutch and German elf.

elevenses /əˈlevənzəz/

plural noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› a short break for light refreshments, usually with tea or coffee, taken about eleven o'clock in the morning.

eleventh /əˈlevənTH/

I. ordinal number

1. constituting number eleven in a sequence; 11th

• the eleventh century

• February the eleventh

• the eleventh fairway of a tiny golf course.

2. (an eleventh/one eleventh) — each of eleven equal parts into which something is or may be divided.

3. the eleventh grade of a school.

4. [Music] an interval or chord spanning an octave plus a fourth in the diatonic scale, or a note separated from another by this interval.

II. phrases

the eleventh hour

the latest possible moment

• he refused to take a public stand until the eleventh hour of the campaign.

elevon /ˈeləˌvän/

I. noun

[Aeronautics] the movable part of the trailing edge of a delta wing.

– origin 1940s: blend of elevator and aileron (because the elevon combines the functions of both).

elf /elf/

I. noun

a supernatural creature of folk tales, typically represented as a small, elusive figure in human form with pointed ears, magical powers, and a capricious nature.

II. derivatives

1. elfish /ˈelfiSH /

adjective

2. elven /ˈelvən /

adjective

( — ‹literary›

3. elvish /ˈelviSH /

adjective

– origin Old English, of Germanic origin; related to German Alp ‘nightmare.’

ELF

abbreviation

extremely low frequency.

elfin /ˈelfən/

I. adjective

1. (with reference to a person) small and delicate, typically with an attractively mischievous or strange charm

• she looked up at him with an elfin grin.

2. of or relating to elves

• an enchanted world of fairies in elfin glades.

II. noun

1. ‹archaic› an elf.

2. a small North American butterfly that is typically brownish with markings on the wing margins that give the impression of scalloped edges.
[Genus Incisalia, family Lycaenidae.]

– origin late 16th cent.: from elf, probably suggested by Middle English elvene ‘of elves,’ and by Elphin, the name of a character in Arthurian romance.

elflocks /ˈelfläks/

plural noun

a tangled mass of hair.

elf owl

noun

a tiny owl that nests in cacti and trees in the arid country of the southern US and Mexico.
[Micrathene whitneyi, family Strigidae.]

Elgar, Sir Edward /ˈelˌɡär, -ɡər/

(1857–1934), English composer; full name Sir Edward William Elgar. He is known for the five Pomp and Circumstance marches (1901–30).

Elgin /ˈeljin/

an industrial city in northeastern Illinois, west of Chicago, formerly noted for its watch manufacturing; pop. 106,330 (est. 2008).

Elgin Marbles /ˌelɡən ˈmärbəlz/

I. a collection of classical Greek marble sculptures and architectural fragments, chiefly from the Parthenon in Athens, brought to England by the diplomat and art connoisseur Thomas Bruce (1766–1841), the 7th Earl of Elgin.

Executed by Phidias in the 5th century BC, the sculptures were brought from Greece between 1803 and 1812, when the country was under Turkish control. They are currently housed in the British Museum, but are the subject of a repatriation request from the Greek government, which does not accept the legality of the Turkish sale.

el-Giza /ˌelˈɡēzə/

another name for Giza.

El Greco /el ˈɡrekō/

(1541–1614), Spanish painter; born on Crete; born Domenikos Theotokopoulos. His portraits and religious works are characterized by distorted perspective, elongated figures, and strident use of color. In Spanish, his name means “the Greek.”

elhi /elˈhī/

adjective

‹informal› of, relating to, or intended for use in grades 1 to 12.

Eli /ˈēlī/

(in the Bible) a priest who acted as a teacher to the prophet Samuel (1 Sam. 1–3).

Elia /ˈēlēə/

the pseudonym adopted by Charles Lamb in his Essays of Elia (1823) and Last Essays of Elia (1833).

elicit /ēˈlisət/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. evoke or draw out (a response, answer, or fact) from someone in reaction to one's own actions or questions

• they invariably elicit exclamations of approval from guests.

2. ‹archaic› draw forth (something that is latent or potential) into existence

• a corrupt heart elicits in an hour all that is bad in us.

II. derivatives

1. elicitation /əˌlisəˈtāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. elicitor /-tər /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin elicit- ‘drawn out by trickery or magic,’ from the verb elicere, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + lacere ‘entice, deceive.’

elide /ēˈlīd/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. omit (a sound or syllable) when speaking
(as adj. elided)

• the indication of elided consonants or vowels.

2. join together; merge

• whole periods of time are elided into a few seconds of screen time

• [no obj.] the two things elided in his mind.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘annul, do away with,’ chiefly as a Scots legal term): from Latin elidere ‘crush out,’ from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + laedere ‘to dash.’ / usage: The standard meaning of the verb elide is ‘omit,’ most frequently used as a term to describe the way that some sounds or syllables are dropped in speech, e.g., in contractions such as I'll or he's. The result of such omission (or elision) is that the two surrounding syllables are merged; this fact has given rise to a new sense, with the meaning ‘join together, merge,’ as in the two things elided in his mind. This new sense is now common in general use.

eligibility /ˌeləjəˈbilədē/

noun

the state of having the right to do or obtain something through satisfaction of the appropriate conditions

• your eligibility for benefits will depend on your income

• restrictions governing the eligibility of candidates.

eligible /ˈeləjəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. having the right to do or obtain something; satisfying the appropriate conditions

• customers who are eligible for discounts

• [with infinitive] a foreign student is eligible to attend the school.

2. (of a person) desirable or suitable as a partner in marriage

• the world's most eligible bachelor.

II. derivatives

eligibly /-blē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: via French from late Latin eligibilis, from Latin eligere ‘choose, select’ (see elect).

Elijah /əˈlījə/

(9th century BC), a Hebrew prophet in the time of Jezebel who maintained the worship of Jehovah against that of Baal and other pagan gods.

eliminate /əˈliməˌnāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. completely remove or get rid of (something)

• a policy that would eliminate inflation.

2. exclude (someone or something) from consideration

• the police have eliminated Larry from their inquiries.

3. murder (a rival or political opponent).

4. (usu. be eliminated) — exclude (a person or team) from further participation in a sporting competition following defeat or inadequate results

• the Bears were eliminated from the playoffs in the first round.

5. [Mathematics] remove (a variable) from an equation, typically by substituting another that is shown by a different equation to be equivalent.

6. [Chemistry] generate or remove (a simple substance) as a product in the course of a reaction involving larger molecules.

7. [Physiology] expel (waste matter) from the body.

II. derivatives

1. eliminable /əˈlimənəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. eliminator /əˈliməˌnādər /

noun

3. eliminatory /əˈlimənəˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘drive out, expel’): from Latin eliminat- ‘turned out of doors,’ from the verb eliminare, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + limen, limin- ‘threshold.’

elimination /əˌliməˈnāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the complete removal or destruction of something

• the elimination of extreme poverty is a key objective

• a global commitment to the elimination of nuclear weapons.

2. the exclusion of someone or something from consideration or further participation

• a 1-1 draw confirmed their elimination from the tournament

• [as modifier] after the initial elimination rounds, 16 boys qualified for the final.

3. the expulsion of waste matter from the body

• the treatment promotes the elimination of toxins.

4. [Mathematics] the removal of a variable from an equation, typically by substituting another which is shown by another equation to be equivalent

• Bezout's method of elimination.

5. [Chemistry] the generation of a simple substance as a product in the course of a reaction involving larger molecules

• a condensation reaction can link together two monosaccharide sugars to form a disaccharide with the elimination of water.

elimination diet

noun

a procedure used to identify foods that may be causing an adverse effect in a person, in which all suspected foods are excluded from the diet and then reintroduced one at a time.

eliminationism /əˌliməˈnāSHəˌniz(ə)m/

noun

the belief or policy that a particular group of people should be expelled or eradicated

• a regime that stands for little other than racist eliminationism.

eliminationist /əˌliməˈnāSHənəst/

I. adjective

denoting or relating to the belief that a particular group of people should be expelled or eradicated

• their eliminationist rhetoric.

II. noun

an advocate or supporter of the belief or policy that a particular group of people should be expelled or eradicated

• racists and eliminationists.

ELINT /ˈelint/

I. noun

covert intelligence-gathering by electronic means.

– origin 1960s: blend of electronic and intelligence.

Eliot, George /ˈelēət/

(1819–80), English novelist; pseudonym of Mary Ann Evans. Her novels of provincial life are characterized by their exploration of moral problems and their development of the psychological analysis that marks the modern novel. Notable works: Adam Bede (1859), The Mill on the Floss (1860), and Middlemarch (1871–72).

Eliot, T. S.

(1888–1965), British poet, critic, and playwright; born in the US; full name Thomas Stearns Eliot. Associated with the rise of literary modernism, he was established as the voice of a disillusioned generation with his long poem The Waste Land (1922). Four Quartets (1943) revealed his increasing involvement with Christianity. Nobel Prize for Literature (1948).

ELISA /iˈlīzə, iˈlīsə/

noun

[Biochemistry] enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, an immunological assay technique making use of an enzyme bonded to a particular antibody or antigen.

Elisabethville /əˈlizəbəTHˌvil/

former name (until 1966) of Lubumbashi.

Elisha /əˈlīSHə/

(9th century BC), a Hebrew prophet, disciple, and successor of Elijah.

elision /əˈliZHən/

I. noun

1. the omission of a sound or syllable when speaking (as in I'm, let's, e 'en).

2. an omission of a passage in a book, speech, or film

• the movie's elisions and distortions have been carefully thought out.

3. the process of joining together or merging things, especially abstract ideas

• unease at the elision of so many vital questions.

– origin late 16th cent.: from late Latin elision-, from Latin elidere ‘crush out’ (see elide). / usage: See usage at elide.

elite /əˈlēt āˈlēt/

I. noun

1. [treated as sing. or pl.]

a. a select part of a group that is superior to the rest in terms of ability or qualities

• the elite of Britain's armed forces

• [as modifier] elite colleges and universities

• an elite athlete.

b. a group or class of people seen as having the greatest power and influence within a society, especially because of their wealth or privilege

• the country's governing elite

• the silent majority were looked down upon by the liberal elite.

2. a size of letter in typewriting, with 12 characters to the inch (about 4.7 to the centimeter).

– origin late 18th cent.: from French élite ‘selection, choice,’ from élire ‘to elect,’ from a variant of Latin eligere (see elect). Sense 2 dates from the early 20th cent.

elitism /əˈlēdˌizəm/

noun

1. the advocacy or existence of an elite as a dominating element in a system or society.

2. the attitude or behavior of a person or group who regard themselves as belonging to an elite

• he accused her of racism and white elitism.

elitist /əˈlēdəst āˈlēdəst/

I. adjective

1. relating to or supporting the view that a society or system should be led by an elite

• older men with an elitist attitude about music

• the image of polo as an elitist sport.

2. demonstrating a superior attitude or behavior associated with an elite

• some that say he is a spoiled, elitist snob.

II. noun

a person who believes that a society or system should be led by an elite

• critics portray him as an out-of-touch elitist.

elixir /əˈliksər/

I. noun

1. a magical or medicinal potion

• an elixir guaranteed to induce love.

2. a preparation that was supposedly able to change metals into gold, sought by alchemists.

3. (also elixir of life) — a preparation supposedly able to prolong life indefinitely.

4. a medicinal solution of a specified type

• a natural herbal cough elixir.

– origin late Middle English: via medieval Latin from Arabic al-'iksīr, from al ‘the’ + 'iksīr from Greek xērion ‘powder for drying wounds’ (from xēros ‘dry’).

Elizabeth /əˈlizəbəTH/

an industrial port city in northeastern New Jersey, on Newark Bay; pop. 124,755 (est. 2008).

Elizabeth, the Queen Mother

(1900–2002), wife of George VI; born Lady Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon. She married George VI in 1923 when he was the Duke of York; they had two daughters, Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret.

Elizabeth I /əˌlizəbəTH T͟Həˈfərst/

(1533–1603), daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn; queen of England and Ireland 1558–1603. Succeeding her Catholic sister Mary I, Elizabeth re-established Protestantism as the state religion. Her reign was dominated by the threat of a Catholic restoration and by war with Spain, culminating in the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. Although frequently courted, she never married.

Elizabeth II

(1926–), daughter of George VI; queen of the United Kingdom since 1952; born Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary. She married Prince Philip in 1947; they have four children: Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward.

Elizabethan /əˌlizəˈbēTH(ə)n/

I. adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I

• a lady in Elizabethan dress.

II. noun

a person, especially a writer, of the time of Queen Elizabeth I.

Elizabethan sonnet

noun

a type of sonnet much used by Shakespeare, written in iambic pentameter and consisting of three quatrains and a final couplet with the rhyme scheme abab cdcd efef gg.

elk /elk/

I. noun

1. (pl. same or elks) — (N. Amer.) a red deer of a large race native to North America.
Also called wapiti. [Cervus canadensis, family Cervidae.]

2. (Brit.) another term for moose.

3. (pl. Elks) (Elk) — a member of a charitable fraternal organization, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

– origin late 15th cent.: probably from Old English elh, eolh, with substitution of k for h. Other words that have undergone this change are dialect selk (Old English seolh ‘seal’) and fark (Old English færh ‘farrow’).

elk grass

noun

another name for beargrass.

Elkhart /ˈelˌkärt, ˈelkˌhärt/

an industrial city in northern Indiana, a rail center that is also noted for the manufacture of musical instruments; pop. 52,653 (est. 2008).

Elk Hills

a range in south central California, near Bakersfield, the site of an oil reserve that was involved in the 1920s Teapot Dome scandal.

elkhound /ˈelkhound / Norwegian elkhound

noun

a large hunting dog of a Scandinavian breed with a shaggy gray coat.

ell^1 /el/

I. noun

a former measure of length (equivalent to six hand breadths) used mainly for textiles, locally variable but typically about 45 inches.

– origin Old English eln, of Germanic origin; from an Indo-European root shared by Latin ulna (see ulna). Compare with elbow and also with cubit (the measure was originally linked to the length of the human arm or forearm).

ell^2 /el/

noun

1. something that is L-shaped or that creates an L shape, in particular

2. (N. Amer.) an extension of a building or room that is at right angles to the main part.

3. (N. Amer.) a bend or joint for connecting two pipes at right angles.

ellagic acid /əˌlajik ˈasid/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a compound extracted from oak galls and various fruits and nuts. It has some ability to inhibit blood flow and retard the growth of cancer cells.
[A tetracyclic phenol; chem. formula: C_14H_6O_8.]

– origin early 19th cent.: ellagic from French ellagique (an anagram of galle ‘gallnut’ + -ique), thus avoiding the form gallique, already in use.

Ellesmere Island /ˌelzmir ˈīlənd/

the most northern of the islands in the Canadian Arctic.

Ellet, Charles /ˈelit/

(1810–62), US engineer. In 1841–42, he built the first public wire suspension bridge in the US, across the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia.

Ellice Islands /ˌeləs ˈīləndz/

former name of Tuvalu.

Ellicott City /ˌelikət ˈsitē/

a historic community in north central Maryland, west of Baltimore; pop. 56,397 (2000).

Ellington, Duke /ˈeliNGtən/

(1899–1974), US jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader; born Edward Kennedy Ellington. Coming to fame in the early 1930s, he wrote over 900 compositions, including Mood Indigo (1930), and was one of the first popular musicians to write extended pieces.

ellipse /əˈlips/

I. noun

a regular oval shape, traced by a point moving in a plane so that the sum of its distances from two other points (the foci) is constant, or resulting when a cone is cut by an oblique plane that does not intersect the base.

– origin late 17th cent.: via French from Latin ellipsis (see ellipsis).

ellipsis /əˈlipsis/

I. noun

1. the omission from speech or writing of a word or words that are superfluous or able to be understood from contextual clues.

2. a set of dots indicating an ellipsis.

– origin mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek elleipsis, from elleipein ‘leave out.’

ellipsoid /əˈlipsoid/

I. noun

a three-dimensional figure whose plane sections are ellipses or circles.

II. derivatives

ellipsoidal /ˌeləpˈsoidl /

adjective

elliptic /iˈliptik/

I. adjective

of, relating to, or having the form of an ellipse.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Greek elleiptikos ‘defective,’ from elleipein ‘leave out, fall short.’

elliptical /iˈliptik(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. (of speech or writing) using or involving ellipsis, especially so as to be difficult to understand

• an elliptical lyrical style.

2. another term for elliptic.

II. derivatives

elliptically /əˈliptik(ə)lē /

adverb

ellipticity /ēˌlipˈtisədē eˌlipˈtisədē/

noun

the condition of being elliptic.

Ellis Island /ˌeləs ˈīlənd/

an island in the bay of New York that served as an entry point for immigrants to the US 1892–1943 and as a detention center for people awaiting deportation until 1954. It is now part of a national monument and houses an immigration museum.

Ellison, Ralph /ˈeləsən/

(1914–94), US writer; full name Ralph Waldo Ellison. He is most noted for his novel Invisible Man (1952), but he also published two collections of essays, Shadow and Act (1964) and Going to the Country (1986), many of which explore African-American music and folklore.

Ellsberg, Daniel

(1931–) US political analyst, economist, and activist. A former adviser to President Nixon on policy in Southeast Asia, he became an avid opponent of the Vietnam War. Indicted for leaking classified Vietnam-related papers (the “Pentagon Papers”) to the press in 1971, he was freed of charges when it was disclosed that Nixon had authorized the theft of Ellsberg's psychiatric records in order to discredit him.

Ellsworth, Lincoln /ˈelzwərTH/

(1880–1951), US explorer. He participated in a number of polar expeditions and was the first person to fly over both the North (1926) and South (1935) poles.

Ellsworth, Oliver

(1745–1807), US chief justice 1796–1800. As members of the Continental Congress, he and Roger Sherman authored the Connecticut Compromise of 1787, which established the system of two US senators per state, regardless of state population. Prior to his appointment to the Court by President Washington, he was a US senator from Connecticut 1789–96.

Ellsworth Land

a plateau region in Antarctica between the Walgreen Coast and Palmer Land. It rises at the Vinson Massif to 16,863 feet (5,140 m), the highest point in Antarctica.

elm /elm / elm tree

I. noun

1. a tall deciduous tree that typically has rough serrated leaves and propagates from root suckers.
[Genus Ulmus, family Ulmaceae: several species, including the English elm (U. procera) and the American elm (U. americana), now largely lost to Dutch Elm disease.]

2. (also elmwood) — the wood of the elm tree.

– origin Old English, of Germanic origin; related to German dialect Ilm, and Swedish and Norwegian alm.

Elmira /elˈmīrə/

an industrial city in south central New York, near the Pennsylvania border; pop. 29,271 (est. 2008).

El Monte /ˌel ˈmän(t)ē/

a city in southwestern California, east of Los Angeles; pop. 121,791 (est. 2008).

El Niño /el ˈnēnyō/

I. noun

an irregularly occurring and complex series of climatic changes affecting the equatorial Pacific region and beyond every few years, characterized by the appearance of unusually warm, nutrient-poor water off northern Peru and Ecuador, typically in late December.

– origin late 19th cent.: Spanish, literally ‘the (Christ) child,’ because of the occurrence near Christmas.

elocution /ˌeləˈkyo͞oSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the skill of clear and expressive speech, especially of distinct pronunciation and articulation.

2. a particular style of speaking.

II. derivatives

1. elocutionary /ˌeləˈkyo͞oSHəˌnerē /

adjective

2. elocutionist /ˌeləˈkyo͞oSH(ə)nəst /

noun

– origin late Middle English (denoting oratorical or literary style): from Latin elocutio(n-), from eloqui ‘speak out’ (see eloquence).

elodea /iˈlōdēə/

I. noun

an aquatic plant of a genus that includes the ornamental waterweeds.
[Genus Elodea, family Hydrocharitaceae.]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek helōdēs ‘marshy.’

Elohim /eˈlōhim, ˌelōˈhēm, ˌelōˈhim/

I. noun

a name for God used frequently in the Hebrew Bible.

– origin from Hebrew 'ĕlōhīm (plural).

Elohist /eˈlōhist, ˈelōˌhist/

I. the postulated author or authors of parts of the Hexateuch in which God is regularly named Elohim.
Compare with Yahwist.

– origin from Hebrew 'ĕlōhīm (see Elohim) + -ist.

elongate /ēˈlôNGˌɡāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (something) longer, especially unusually so in relation to its width.

2. [no obj.] — [chiefly Biology] grow longer.

II. adjective

[chiefly Biology] long in relation to width; elongated

• elongate, fishlike creatures.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘move away, place at a distance’): from late Latin elongat- ‘placed at a distance,’ from the verb elongare, from Latin e- (variant of ex-) ‘away’ + longe ‘far off,’ longus ‘long.’

elongated /ēˈlôNGˌɡādəd/

adjective

unusually long in relation to its width

• the creature had two sets of arms and an elongated face.

elongation /ēˌlôNGˈɡāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the lengthening of something.

2. a part of a line formed by lengthening; a continuation.

3. the amount of extension of an object under stress, usually expressed as a percentage of the original length.

4. [Astronomy] the angular separation of a planet from the sun or of a satellite from a planet, as seen by an observer.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin elongatio(n-), from elongare ‘place at a distance’ (see elongate).

elope /əˈlōp/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. run away secretly in order to get married, especially without parental consent

• later he eloped with one of the maids.

II. derivatives

1. elopement /əˈlōpmənt ēˈlōpmənt /

noun

2. eloper

noun

– origin late 16th cent. (in the general sense ‘abscond, run away’): from Anglo-Norman French aloper, perhaps related to leap.

eloquence /ˈeləkwəns/

I. noun

fluent or persuasive speaking or writing

• a preacher of great power and eloquence.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin eloquentia, from eloqui ‘speak out,’ from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + loqui ‘speak.’

eloquent /ˈeləkwənt/

I. adjective

1. fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing

• an eloquent speech.

2. clearly expressing or indicating something

• the touches of fatherliness are eloquent of the real man.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin eloquent- ‘speaking out,’ from the verb eloqui (see eloquence).

eloquently /ˈeləkwən(t)lē/

adverb

in a fluent or persuasive manner

• commentators have spoken eloquently on both sides of the issue.

El Paso /el ˈpasō/

a city in western Texas, on the Rio Grande, opposite Ciudad Juárez in Mexico; pop. 613,190 (est. 2008).

El Salvador /el ˈsalvədôr/

I. a country in western Central America, on the Pacific coast; pop. 7,185,200 (est. 2009); capital, San Salvador; official language, Spanish.

The territory was conquered by the Spanish in 1524 and gained its independence in 1821. Between 1979 and 1992 El Salvador was devastated by a civil war that was marked by the activities of right-wing death squads and resistance by left-wing guerrillas. A UN-brokered peace accord was agreed upon in 1992.

else /els/

I. adverb

1. [with indefinite pronoun or adv.] — in addition; besides

• anything else you need to know?

• I just brought basics—I wasn't sure what else you'd want

• they will offer low prices but little else.

2. [with indefinite pronoun or adv.] — different; instead

• isn't there anyone else you could ask?

• they took songs owned by someone else and used them without permission

• they moved on to somewhere else

• it's fate, destiny, or whatever else you like to call it.

3. short for or else.

II. phrases

or else

a. used to introduce the second of two alternatives

• she felt tempted either to shout at him or else to let his tantrums slide by.

b. in circumstances different from those mentioned; if it were not the case

• they can't want it, or else they'd request it.

c. used to warn what will happen if something is not carried out

• you go along with this or else you're going to jail.

d. used as a warning or a threat

• she'd better shape up, or else.

– origin Old English elles, of Germanic origin; related to Middle Dutch els and Swedish eljest.

elsewhere /ˌelsˈ(h)wer/

I. adverb

in, at, or to some other place or other places

• he is seeking employment elsewhere.

II. pronoun

some other place

• all Hawaiian plants originally came from elsewhere.

– origin Old English elles hwǣr (see else, where).

Elsinore /ˈelsəˌnôr/

a port on the northeastern coast of the island of Zealand in Denmark; pop. 61,053 (2009). It is the site of the 16th-century Kronborg Castle, which is the setting for Shakespeare's Hamlet.
Danish name Helsingør.

ELSS

abbreviation

extravehicular life support system.

Elster /ˈelstər/

I. noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. [Geology] a Pleistocene glaciation in northern Europe, corresponding to the Anglian of Britain (and possibly the Mindel of the Alps).

2. [Geology] the system of deposits laid down at the time of the Elster glaciation.

II. derivatives

Elsterian /elˈsti(ə)rēən /

adjective, noun

– origin 1930s: the name of a tributary of the Elbe River in Germany.

eluant /ˈel(y)əwənt/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a fluid used to elute a substance.

– origin 1940s: from Latin eluent- ‘washing out,’ from the verb eluere (see elute).

eluate /ˈel(y)o͞oət ˈel(y)əˌwāt/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a solution obtained by elution.

– origin 1930s: from Latin eluere ‘wash out’ + -ate^1.

elucidate /ēˈlo͞osəˌdāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (something) clear; explain

• work such as theirs will help to elucidate this matter

• [with clause] in what follows I shall try to elucidate what I believe the problems to be

• [no obj.] they would not elucidate further.

II. derivatives

1. elucidative /əˈlo͞osəˌdādiv /

adjective

2. elucidator /əˈlo͞osəˌdādər /

noun

3. elucidatory /əˈlo͞osədəˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from late Latin elucidat- ‘made clear,’ from the verb elucidare, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + lucidus ‘lucid.’

elucidation /əˌlo͞osəˈdāSH(ə)n/

noun

explanation that makes something clear; clarification

• work that led to the elucidation of the structure of proteins.

elude /ēˈlo͞od/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. evade or escape from (a danger, enemy, or pursuer), typically in a skillful or cunning way

• he managed to elude his pursuers by escaping into an alley.

2. (of an idea or fact) fail to be grasped or remembered by (someone)

• the logic of this eluded most people.

3. (of an achievement, or something desired or pursued) fail to be attained by (someone)

• sleep still eluded her.

4. avoid compliance with or subjection to (a law, demand, or penalty).

II. derivatives

elusion /əˈlo͞oSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘delude, baffle’): from Latin eludere, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out, away from’ + ludere ‘to play.’

Elul /ˈeləl, eˈlo͝ol/

I. noun

(in the Jewish calendar) the twelfth month of the civil and sixth of the religious year, usually coinciding with parts of August and September.

– origin from Hebrew ’ĕlūl.

el-Uqsur /elˈo͝okˌso͝or / al-Uqsur

Arabic name for Luxor.

elusive /ēˈlo͞osiv/

I. adjective

1. difficult to find, catch, or achieve

• success will become ever more elusive.

2. difficult to remember or recall

• the elusive thought he had had moments before.

II. derivatives

1. elusively /əˈlo͞osivlē /

adverb

2. elusiveness /əˈlo͞osivnəs /

noun

– origin early 18th cent.: from Latin elus- ‘eluded’ (from the verb eludere) + -ive.

elute /əˈlo͞ot/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Chemistry] remove (an adsorbed substance) by washing with a solvent, especially in chromatography.

II. derivatives

elution /əˈlo͞oSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin 1920s: from Latin elut- ‘washed out,’ from the verb eluere, suggested by German eluieren.

elutriate /əˈlo͞otrēˌāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Chemistry] separate (lighter and heavier particles in a mixture) by suspension in an upward flow of liquid or gas.

2. [Chemistry] purify by straining.

II. derivatives

elutriation /əˌlo͞otrēˈāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin elutriat- ‘washed out,’ from the verb elutriare, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + lutriare ‘to wash.’

elvan /ˈelvən/

I. noun

[Geology] hard intrusive igneous rock found in Cornwall, England, typically quartz porphyry.

– origin early 18th cent.: perhaps via Cornish from Welsh elfen ‘element.’

elver /ˈelvər/

I. noun

a young eel, especially when undergoing mass migration upriver from the sea.

– origin mid 17th cent.: variant of dialect eel-fare ‘the passage of young eels up a river,’ also ‘a brood of young eels,’ from eel + fare in its original sense ‘a journey.’

elves /elvz/

plural form of elf.

Elyria /iˈlirēə/

an industrial city in northern Ohio, west of Cleveland; pop. 54,979 (est. 2008).

Elysée Palace /elēˌzā ˈpaləs/

a building in Paris that has been the official residence of the French president since 1870. It was built in 1718 and was occupied by Madame de Pompadour, Napoleon I, and Napoleon III.

Elysian /iˈliZH(ē)ən eˈliZH(ē)ən iˈlēZH(ē)ən ēˈliZH(ē)ən/

I. adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of heaven or paradise

• Elysian visions.

II. phrases

the Elysian Fields

another name for Elysium.

Elysium /iˈliZHēəm iˈlēzēəm iˈlizēəm eˈliZHēəm / ‹Greek Mythology›

I. the place at the ends of the earth to which certain favored heroes were conveyed by the gods after death.

II. (as noun an Elysium) — a place or state of perfect happiness.

– origin via Latin from Greek Elusion (pedion) ‘(plain) of the blessed.’

elytron /ˈeləˌträn/

I. noun

[Entomology] each of the two wing cases of a beetle.

II. derivatives

elytrous /-trəs /

adjective

– origin mid 18th cent. (denoting a sheath or covering, specifically that of the spinal cord): from Greek elutron ‘sheath.’

Elzevir /ˈelzəˌvir/

a family of Dutch printers. Fifteen members were active 1581–1712; Bonaventure (1583–1652) and Abraham (1592–1652) managed the firm in its prime.

em /em/

I. noun

1. [Printing] a unit for measuring the width of printed matter, equal to the height of the type size being used.

2. [Printing] a unit of measurement equal to twelve points.

– origin late 18th cent.: the letter M represented as a word, since it is approximately this width.

EM

abbreviation

1. electromagnetic.

2. Engineer of Mines.

3. enlisted man (men).

'em /əm/

I. pronoun

short for them, esp. in informal use:

• let 'em know who's boss.

– origin Middle English: originally a form of hem, dative and accusative third person plural pronoun in Middle English; now regarded as an abbreviation of them.

em-

prefix

variant spelling of en-1, en-2 assimilated before b, p (as in emblazon, emplacement).

emaciated /əˈmāSHēˌādəd/

adjective

abnormally thin or weak, especially because of illness or a lack of food

• she was so emaciated she could hardly stand.

emaciation /əˌmāSHēˈāSH(ə)n/

noun

the state of being abnormally thin or weak

• thin to the point of emaciation.

email /ˈēmāl / e-mail

I. noun

1. messages distributed by electronic means from one computer user to one or more recipients via a network

• reading email has become the first task of the morning

• [as modifier] email messages.

2. the system of sending messages by electronic means from one computer to another

• a contract communicated by email.

3. a message sent by email

• I got three emails from my mother today.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. send an email to (someone)

• you can email me at my normal address.

2. send (a message) by email

• employees can email the results back.

III. derivatives

emailer

noun

– origin 1970s (originally with reference to Intelpost, a system for sending facsimiles of documents between countries electronically): abbreviation of electronic mail.

emalangeni /ˌeməläNGˈɡenē/

plural form of lilangeni.

emanate /ˈeməˌnāt/

I. verb — [no obj.] (emanate from)

1. (of something abstract but perceptible) issue or spread out from (a source)

• warmth emanated from the fireplace

• she felt an undeniable charm emanating from him.

2. originate from; be produced by

• the proposals emanated from a committee.

3. [with obj.] — give out or emit (something abstract but perceptible)

• he emanated a powerful brooding air.

II. derivatives

1. emanative /-ˌnātiv /

adjective

2. emanator /-ˌnātər /

noun

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin emanat- ‘flowed out,’ from the verb emanare, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + manare ‘to flow.’

emanation /ˌeməˈnāSHən/

noun

1. an abstract but perceptible thing that issues or originates from a source

• she saw the insults as emanations of his own tortured personality.

2. the action or process of issuing from a source

• the risk of radon gas emanation.

3. a tenuous substance or form of radiation given off by something

• vaporous emanations surround the mill's foundations.

4. [Chemistry] ‹archaic› a radioactive gas formed by radioactive decay of a solid.

5. (in various mystical traditions) a being or force that is a manifestation of God.

emancipate /əˈmansəˌpāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. set free, especially from legal, social, or political restrictions

• the citizen must be emancipated from the obsessive secrecy of government.

2. [Law] set (a child) free from the authority of its father or parents.

3. free from slavery

• it is estimated that he emancipated 8,000 slaves.

II. derivatives

1. emancipator /əˈmansəˌpādər /

noun

2. emancipatory /-pəˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin emancipat- ‘transferred as property,’ from the verb emancipare, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + mancipium ‘slave.’

emancipated /iˈmansəˌpādəd/

adjective

free from legal, social, or political restrictions; liberated

• emancipated young women.

emancipation /əˌmansəˈpāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the fact or process of being set free from legal, social, or political restrictions; liberation

• the emancipation of feminist ideas.

2. the freeing of someone from slavery.

• the early struggle for emancipation from slavery.

Emancipation Proclamation /iˌmansəˈpāSHən ˌpräkləˈmāSHən/

the announcement made by President Lincoln during the Civil War on September 22, 1862, emancipating all black slaves in states still engaged in rebellion against the Union. Although implementation was strictly beyond Lincoln's powers, the declaration turned the war into a crusade against slavery. It went into effect on January 1, 1863.

emasculate /ēˈmaskyəˌlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (a person, idea, or piece of legislation) weaker or less effective

• our winner-take-all elections emasculate fringe parties.

2. (usu. as adj. emasculated) — deprive (a man) of his male role or identity

• he feels emasculated because he cannot control his sons' behavior.

3. ‹archaic› castrate (a man or male animal).

4. [Botany] remove the anthers from a flower.

II. derivatives

1. emasculation /əˌmaskyəˈlāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. emasculator /-ˌlātər /

noun

3. emasculatory /-ləˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin emasculat- ‘castrated,’ from the verb emasculare, from e- (variant of ex-, expressing a change of state) + masculus ‘male.’

embalm /əmˈbä(l)m/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (often as noun embalming) — preserve (a corpse) from decay, originally with spices and now usually by arterial injection of a preservative

• the Egyptian method of embalming.

2. preserve (someone or something) in an unaltered state

• the band was all about revitalizing pop greats and embalming their legacy.

3. ‹archaic› give a pleasant fragrance to

• the sweetness of the linden trees embalmed all the air.

II. derivatives

1. embalmer /əmˈbä(l)mər /

noun

2. embalmment /əmˈbä(l)mmənt /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French embaumer, from em- ‘in’ + baume ‘balm,’ variant of basme (see balm).

embank /əmˈbaNGk/

verb — [with obj.]

1. construct a wall or bank of earth or stone in order to confine (a river) within certain limits.

2. construct a bank of earth or stone to carry (a road or railroad) over an area of low ground.

embankment /əmˈbaNGkmənt/

noun

1. a wall or bank of earth or stone built to prevent a river flooding an area.

2. a bank of earth or stone built to carry a road or railroad over an area of low ground.

embargo /əmˈbärɡō/

I. noun

1. an official ban on trade or other commercial activity with a particular country

• an embargo on grain sales

• the oil embargo of 1973.

2. an official prohibition on any activity.

3. ‹historical› an order of a state forbidding foreign ships to enter, or any ships to leave, its ports.

4. ‹archaic› a stoppage, prohibition, or impediment.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (usu. be embargoed) — impose an official ban on (trade or a country or commodity)

• the country has been virtually embargoed by most of the noncommunist world.

2. officially ban the publication of

• documents of national security importance are routinely embargoed.

3. ‹archaic› seize (a ship or goods) for state service.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Spanish, from embargar ‘arrest,’ based on Latin in- ‘in, within’ + barra ‘a bar.’

embark /əmˈbärk/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. go on board a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle

• he embarked for India in 1817.

2. [with obj.] — put or take on board a ship or aircraft

• its passengers were ready to be embarked.

3. (embark on/upon) — begin (a course of action, especially one that is important or demanding)

• he embarked on a new career.

II. derivatives

1. embarkation /ˌemˌbärˈkāSHən /

noun

2. embarkment

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French embarquer, from em- ‘in’ + barque ‘bark, ship.’

embarras de richesses /ämbäˌrä də rēˈSHes / embarras de choix

I. noun

more options or resources than one knows what to do with

• he had presented us with an embarras de richesses of history and culture.

– origin mid 18th cent.: French, literally ‘embarrassment of riches (or choice).’

embarrass /ˌimˈberəs ˌemˈberəs/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (someone) to feel awkward, self-conscious, or ashamed

• she wouldn't embarrass either of them by making a scene.

2. (be embarrassed) — be caused financial difficulties

• he would be embarrassed by an inheritance tax.

3. ‹archaic› hamper or impede (a person, movement, or action)

• the state of the rivers will embarrass the enemy in a considerable degree.

4. ‹archaic› make difficult or intricate; complicate.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘hamper, impede’): from French embarrasser, from Spanish embarazar, probably from Portuguese embaraçar (from baraço ‘halter’).

embarrassed /əmˈberəst/

I. adjective

1. feeling or showing embarrassment

• he became embarrassed at his own effusiveness

• an embarrassed silence.

2. having or showing financial difficulties.

II. derivatives

embarrassedly /-əstlē, -əsidlē /

adverb

embarrassing /əmˈberəsiNG/

adjective

causing embarrassment

• an embarrassing muddle.

embarrassingly /əmˈberəsiNGlē/

adverb

in a manner or to a degree that causes self-consciousness, shame, or awkwardness

• the lie was embarrassingly exposed last December

• [as submodifier] embarrassingly awful lyrics

• [sentence adverb] another new student whose name, most embarrassingly, escapes me.

embarrassment /əmˈberəsmənt/

I. noun

1. a feeling of self-consciousness, shame, or awkwardness

• I turned red with embarrassment.

2. a person or thing causing embarrassment

• he was an embarrassment who was safely left ignored

• her extreme views might be an embarrassment to the movement.

3. financial difficulty

• his temporary financial embarrassment.

II. phrases

embarrassment of riches (or choice)

more options or resources than one knows what to do with

• picking a highlight from such an embarrassment of riches is hard.

• there is an embarrassment of intellectual riches in the two anthologies.

• as consumers we have an embarrassment of choice.

embassage /ˈembəsij/

I. noun

1. ‹archaic› the business or message of an envoy.

2. ‹archaic› a body of people sent as a deputation to or on behalf of a head of state.

3. ‹archaic› archaic term for embassy.

– origin late 15th cent. (denoting the action of sending an envoy): from Old French ambasse ‘message or embassy’ + -age.

embassy /ˈembəsē/

I. noun

1. the official residence or offices of an ambassador

• the Chilean embassy in Moscow.

2. the staff working in an embassy

• the embassy denied any involvement in the murder.

3. the position or function of an ambassador.

4. ‹chiefly historical› a deputation or mission sent by one ruler or state to another.

– origin late 16th cent. (originally also as ambassy denoting the position of ambassador): from Old French ambasse, based on Latin ambactus ‘servant.’ Compare with ambassador.

embattle /əmˈbadl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› set (an army) in battle array

• it was three o'clock before the king's army was embattled.

2. ‹archaic› fortify (a building or place) against attack.

– origin Middle English: from Old French embataillier.

embattled /əmˈbadld/

adjective

1. (of a place or people) involved in or prepared for war, especially because surrounded by enemy forces

• the embattled Yugoslavian republics.

2. (of a person) beset by problems or difficulties

• the worst may not be over for the embattled senator.

3. [postpositive] — [Heraldry] divided or edged by a line of square notches like battlements in outline.

embay /əmˈbā/

verb — [with obj.] (usu. be embayed)

1. (chiefly of the wind) confine (a sailing vessel) to a bay

• ships were embayed between two headlands.

2. (as adj. embayed) — formed into bays; hollowed out by or as if by the sea

• the embayed island.

3. [chiefly Geology] enclose (something) in a recess or hollow.

embayment /əmˈbāmənt/

noun

a recess in a coastline forming a bay.

embed /əmˈbed / imbed

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. fix (an object) firmly and deeply in a surrounding mass

• he had an operation to remove a nail embedded in his chest.

2. implant (an idea or feeling) within something else so it becomes an ingrained or essential characteristic of it

• the Victorian values embedded in Tennyson's poetry.

3. [Linguistics] place (a phrase or clause) within another clause or sentence.

4. [Computing] incorporate (a text or code) within the body of a file or document.

5. (often as adj. embedded) — design and build (a microprocessor) as an integral part of a system or device.

6. attach (a journalist) to a military unit during a conflict

• the CNN correspondent is now embedded with the US Navy aboard the USS Constellation

• (as adj. embedded) check out the excellent blog of embedded journalist Michael.

II. noun — /ˈembed /

1. an embedded journalist

• most of the embeds found themselves covering construction and civil works projects.

III. derivatives

embedment

noun

embeddedness /emˈbedədnəs, imˈbedədnəs / imbeddedness

noun

the quality of being firmly and deeply ingrained or fixed in place

• the cultural embeddedness of economic and political practices.

embellish /əmˈbeliSH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (something) more attractive by the addition of decorative details or features

• blue silk embellished with golden embroidery.

2. make (a statement or story) more interesting or entertaining by adding extra details, especially ones that are not true

• she had real difficulty telling the truth because she liked to embellish things.

II. derivatives

embellisher

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French embelliss-, lengthened stem of embellir, based on bel ‘handsome,’ from Latin bellus.

embellishment /əmˈbeliSHmənt/

noun

1. a decorative detail or feature added to something to make it more attractive

• architectural embellishments.

2. a detail, especially one that is not true, added to a statement or story to make it more interesting or entertaining.

3. the action of adding details or features.

ember /ˈembər/

I. noun — (usu. embers)

1. a small piece of burning or glowing coal or wood in a dying fire

• the dying embers in the fireplace

• ‹figurative› the flickering embers of nationalism.

– origin Old English ǣmyrge, of Germanic origin; related to Old High German eimuria ‘pyre,’ Danish emmer, Swedish mörja ‘embers.’ The b was added in English for ease of pronunciation when the vowel of the second syllable (y) disappeared.

Ember day

I. noun

any of a number of days reserved for fasting and prayer in the Western Christian Church. Ember days traditionally comprise the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday following St. Lucy's Day (December 13), the first Sunday in Lent, Pentecost (Whitsun), and Holy Cross Day (September 14), though other days are observed locally.

– origin Old English ymbren, perhaps an alteration of ymbryne ‘period,’ from ymb ‘around’ + ryne ‘course,’ perhaps influenced in part by ecclesiastical Latin quatuor tempora ‘four periods’ (on which the equivalent German Quatember is based).

embezzle /əmˈbezəl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. steal or misappropriate (money placed in one's trust or belonging to the organization for which one works)

• she had embezzled $5,600,000 in company funds.

II. derivatives

embezzler /əmˈbezlər /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘steal’): from Anglo-Norman French embesiler, from besiler in the same sense (compare with Old French besillier ‘maltreat, ravage’), of unknown ultimate origin. The current sense dates from the late 16th cent.

embezzlement /əmˈbezəlmənt/

noun

theft or misappropriation of funds placed in one's trust or belonging to one's employer

• charges of fraud and embezzlement.

Embioptera /ˌembēˈäptərə, ˌembī- / ‹Entomology›

I. a small order of insects that comprises the web-spinners.

II. derivatives

embiopteran

noun, adjective

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Embia (genus name) + Greek pteron ‘wing.’

embitter /əmˈbidər/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. embittered)

1. cause (someone) to feel bitter or resentful

• he died an embittered man.

2. ‹literary› give a sharp or pungent taste or smell to

• the smell of orange zest and smoke embittered the air.

II. derivatives

embitterment /əmˈbidərmənt /

noun

emblazon /əmˈblāzn/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. conspicuously inscribe or display (a design) on something

• T-shirts emblazoned with the names of baseball teams.

2. depict (a heraldic device)

• the cardinal's coat of arms is emblazoned on the door panel.

3. ‹archaic› celebrate or extol publicly

• their success was emblazoned.

II. derivatives

emblazonment

noun

emblem /ˈembləm/

I. noun

1. a heraldic device or symbolic object as a distinctive badge of a nation, organization, or family

• America's national emblem, the bald eagle.

2. (emblem of) — a thing serving as a symbolic representation of a particular quality or concept

• our child would be a dazzling emblem of our love.

– origin late 16th cent. (as a verb): from Latin emblema ‘inlaid work, raised ornament,’ from Greek emblēma ‘insertion,’ from emballein ‘throw in, insert,’ from em- ‘in’ + ballein ‘to throw.’

emblematic /ˌembləˈmadik/

I. adjective

serving as a symbol of a particular quality or concept; symbolic

• this case is emblematic of a larger problem.

II. derivatives

1. emblematical /ˌembləˈmatikəl /

adjective

2. emblematically /ˌembləˈmatik(ə)lē /

adverb

emblematist /emˈblemədist/

noun

a creator or user of emblems, especially in allegorical pictures.

emblematize /emˈbleməˌtīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› serve as a symbolic representation of (a quality or concept).

emblements /ˈembləmənts/

I. plural noun

[Law] the profit from growing crops that have been sown, regarded as personal property.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Old French emblaement, from emblaier ‘sow with corn’ (based on blé ‘corn’).

embodiment /əmˈbädimənt/

noun

1. a tangible or visible form of an idea, quality, or feeling

• she seemed to be a living embodiment of vitality.

2. the representation or expression of something in a tangible or visible form

• it was in Germany alone that his hope seemed capable of embodiment.

embody /əmˈbädē/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. be an expression of or give a tangible or visible form to (an idea, quality, or feeling)

• a team that embodies competitive spirit and skill.

2. provide (a spirit) with a physical form.

3. include or contain (something) as a constituent part

• the changes in law embodied in the Freedom of Information Act.

4. ‹archaic› form (people) into a body, especially for military purposes.

II. derivatives

embodier /-ˈbädēər /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from em- + body, on the pattern of Latin incorporare.

embolden /əmˈbōldən/

verb — [with obj.]

1. give (someone) the courage or confidence to do something or to behave in a certain way

• emboldened by robust passenger traffic, the airlines put through major fare increases.

2. cause (a piece of text) to appear in a bold typeface

• center, embolden, and underline the heading.

embolectomy /ˌembəˈlektəmē/

noun

surgical removal of an embolus.

embolism /ˈembəˌlizəm/

I. noun

1. [Medicine] obstruction of an artery, typically by a clot of blood or an air bubble.

2. the periodic intercalation of days or a month to correct the accumulating discrepancy between the calendar year and the solar year, as in a leap year.

– origin mid 19th cent.: via late Latin from Greek embolismos, from emballein ‘insert.’

embolization /ˌembələˈzāSH(ə)n/

noun

[Medicine] the artificial or natural formation or development of an embolus.

embolus /ˈembələs/

I. noun

a blood clot, air bubble, piece of fatty deposit, or other object that has been carried in the bloodstream to lodge in a vessel and cause an embolism.

II. derivatives

embolic /emˈbälik /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent. (denoting something inserted or moving within another, specifically the plunger of a syringe): from Latin, literally ‘piston,’ from Greek embolos ‘peg, stopper.’ The current sense dates from the mid 19th cent.

embonpoint /ˌämbônˈpwän/

I. noun

the plump or fleshy part of a person's body, in particular a woman's bosom.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French en bon point ‘in good condition.’

embosom /əmˈbo͝ozəm/

verb — [with obj.] (usu. be embosomed)

1. ‹literary› take or press to one's bosom; embrace.

2. ‹literary› enclose or surround (something) protectively.

emboss /imˈbôs/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. embossed)

1. carve, mold, or stamp a design on (a surface) so that it stands out in relief

• an embossed brass dish.

2. carve, mold, or stamp (a design) in relief on a surface or object

• a dull gold casing with the logo embossed on the front.

II. derivatives

1. embosser /əmˈbôsər emˈbäsər əmˈbôsər emˈbäsər /

noun

2. embossment /əmˈbôsmənt emˈbôsmənt əmˈbäsmənt emˈbäsmənt /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from the Old French base of obsolete French embosser, from em- ‘into’ + boce ‘protuberance.’

embouchure /ˌämbo͞oˈSHo͝or/

I. noun

1. [Music] the way in which a player applies the mouth to the mouthpiece of a brass or wind instrument.

2. the mouthpiece of a flute or a similar instrument.

3. ‹archaic› the mouth of a river or valley.

– origin mid 18th cent.: French, from s'emboucher ‘discharge itself by the mouth,’ from emboucher ‘put in or to the mouth,’ from em- ‘into’ + bouche ‘mouth.’

embourgeoisement /emˈbo͝orZHwäzmənt, -ˌmänt/

I. noun

the proliferation in a society of values perceived as characteristic of the middle class, especially of materialism.

– origin 1930s: French, from embourgeoiser ‘become or make bourgeois.’

embowed /emˈbōd/

adjective

1. ‹literary› bent, arched, or vaulted.

2. [postpositive] — ‹literary› [Heraldry] (of an arm) bent at the elbow; (of a dolphin) with the body curved.

embowel /əmˈbouəl/

I. verb

archaic term for disembowel.

– origin early 16th cent.: from Old French emboweler, alteration of esboueler, from es- ‘out’ + bouel ‘bowel.’

embower /əmˈbou(ə)r/

verb — [with obj.] (usu. be embowered)

1. ‹literary› surround or shelter (a place or a person), especially with trees or climbing plants

• the house stood remote, embowered in trees.

embrace /əmˈbrās/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. hold (someone) closely in one's arms, especially as a sign of affection

• Aunt Sophie embraced her warmly

• [no obj.] the two embraced, holding each other tightly.

2. accept or support (a belief, theory, or change) willingly and enthusiastically

• besides traditional methods, artists are embracing new technology.

3. include or contain (something) as a constituent part

• his career embraces a number of activities—composing, playing, and acting.

II. noun

1. an act of holding someone closely in one's arms

• they were locked in an embrace.

2. used to refer to something that is regarded as surrounding, holding, or restricting someone

• the transformations brought about by the embrace of mass media.

3. [in sing.] — an act of accepting or supporting something willingly or enthusiastically

• their eager embrace of foreign influences.

III. derivatives

1. embraceable

adjective

2. embracement /əmˈbrāsmənt /

noun

3. embracer

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘encircle, surround, enclose’; formerly also as imbrace): from Old French embracer, based on Latin in- ‘in’ + bracchium ‘arm.’

embrasure /əmˈbrāZHər/

I. noun

a small opening in a parapet of a fortified building, splayed on the inside.

II. derivatives

embrasured

adjective

– origin early 18th cent.: from French, from obsolete embraser (earlier form of ébraser) ‘widen a door or window opening,’ of unknown ultimate origin.

embrittle /əmˈbridl/

I. verb

make or become brittle.

II. derivatives

embrittlement

noun

embrocation /ˌembrəˈkāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

a liquid used for rubbing on the body to relieve pain from sprains and strains.

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin embrocatio(n-), from the verb embrocare, based on Greek embrokhē ‘lotion.’

embroider /əmˈbroidər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. decorate (cloth) by sewing patterns on it with thread

• she had already embroidered a dozen little nighties for the babies

• (as adj. embroidered) an embroidered handkerchief

• [no obj.] she was teaching one of the girls how to embroider.

2. produce (a design) on cloth with thread
(as adj. embroidered)

• a chunky knit sweater with embroidered flowers.

3. add fictitious or exaggerated details to (an account) to make it more interesting

• she embroidered her stories with colorful detail.

II. derivatives

embroiderer /əmˈbroid(ə)rər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French enbrouder, from en- ‘in, on’ + Old French brouder, broisder ‘decorate with embroidery,’ of Germanic origin.

embroidery /əmˈbroid(ə)rē/

I. noun

1. the art or pastime of embroidering cloth.

2. cloth decorated with embroidery.

3. embellishment or exaggeration in the description or reporting of an event

• fanciful embroidery of the facts.

– origin late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French enbrouderie, from enbrouder ‘embroider.’

embroil /emˈbroil imˈbroil/

I. verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. embroiled)

1. involve (someone) deeply in an argument, conflict, or difficult situation

• she became embroiled in a dispute between two women she hardly knew

• the movie's about a journalist who becomes embroiled with a nightclub owner.

2. bring into a state of confusion or disorder.

II. derivatives

embroilment /emˈbroilmənt əmˈbroilmənt /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from French embrouiller ‘to muddle.’

embryectomy /ˌembrēˈektəmē/

noun

[Medicine] ‹rare› the surgical removal of an embryo, especially one implanted outside the uterus in an ectopic pregnancy.

embryo /ˈembrēˌō/

I. noun

1. an unborn or unhatched offspring in the process of development.

2. an unborn human baby, especially in the first eight weeks from conception, after implantation but before all the organs are developed.
Compare with fetus.

3. [Botany] the part of a seed that develops into a plant, consisting (in the mature embryo of a higher plant) of a plumule, a radicle, and one or two cotyledons.

4. a thing at a rudimentary stage that shows potential for development

• a simple commodity economy is merely the embryo of a capitalist economy.

II. phrases

in embryo

at a rudimentary stage with the potential for further development.

– origin late Middle English: via late Latin from Greek embruon ‘fetus,’ from em- ‘into’ + bruein ‘swell, grow.’

embryo-

combining form

representing embryo.

embryogenesis /ˌembrēōˈjenəsəs/

I. noun

[Biology] the formation and development of an embryo.

II. derivatives

1. embryogenetic /ˌembrēōjəˈnedik /

adjective

2. embryogenic /-ˈjenik /

adjective

3. embryogeny /ˌembrēˈäjənē /

noun

embryology /ˌembrēˈäləjē/

I. noun

the branch of biology and medicine concerned with the study of embryos and their development.

II. derivatives

1. embryologic /ˌembrēəˈläjik /

adjective

2. embryological /ˌembrēəˈläjək(ə)l /

adjective

3. embryologically /ˌembrēəˈläjik(ə)lē /

adverb

4. embryologist /ˌembrēˈäləjəst /

noun

embryonate /ˈembrēəˌnāt/

I. adjective

(of an egg) containing an embryo.

II. verb — [no obj.] (usu. as adj. embryonated)

1. (of an egg) develop into an embryo

• embryonated duck eggs

• the eggs were allowed two weeks to embryonate.

embryonic /ˌembrēˈänik/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to an embryo.

2. (of a system, idea, or organization) in a rudimentary stage with potential for further development

• the plan is still in its embryonic stages.

II. derivatives

embryonically /-(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin mid 19th cent.: from late Latin embryo, embryon- ‘embryo’ + -ic.

embryopathy /ˌembrēˈäpəTHē/

noun

a developmental defect in an embryo or fetus.

embryo sac

noun

a cell inside the ovule of a flowering plant where fertilization occurs and which becomes the female gametophyte, containing the endosperm nucleus and the fertilized ovum that develops into the embryo.

emcee /ˌemˈsē / ‹informal›

I. noun

a master of ceremonies.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. perform the role of a master of ceremonies at (a public entertainment or a large social occasion).

– origin 1930s: representing the pronunciation of MC.

em dash /ˈem ˌdaSH/

noun

a long dash used in punctuation.

-eme

I. suffix

[Linguistics] forming nouns denoting linguistic units that are in systemic contrast with one other

• grapheme

• phoneme.

– origin abstracted from phoneme.

emend /əˈmend/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make corrections and improvements to (a text).

2. alter (something) in such a way as to correct it

• the year of his death might need to be emended to 652

• [with clause] he hesitated and quickly emended what he had said.

II. derivatives

1. emendable /əˈmendəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. emender

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin emendare, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out of’ + menda ‘a fault.’ Compare with amend.

emendation /ˌēmənˈdāSHən ˌemənˈdāSHən/

noun

1. the process of making a revision or correction to a text.

2. a correction or revision to a text

• here are some suggested emendations.

emer.

abbreviation

emerita or emeritus.

emerald /ˈem(ə)rəld/

I. noun

1. a bright green precious stone consisting of a chromium-rich variety of beryl.

2. a bright green color like that of an emerald
[as modifier]

• the leaves are emerald green.

3. a small hummingbird with bright metallic green plumage and darker wings and tail, found mainly in the area of the Caribbean and Central America.
[Three genera, in particular Chlorostilbon and Amazilia, family Trochilidae: numerous species.]

II. adjective

bright green in color

• beyond the airport lay emerald hills.

– origin Middle English: from Old French e(s)meraud, ultimately via Latin from Greek (s)maragdos, via Prakrit from Semitic (compare with Hebrew bāreqeṯ, from bāraq ‘flash, sparkle’).

emerald-cut /ˈem(ə)rəldˌkət/

adjective

(of a gem) cut in a rectangular shape with stepped facets.

Emerald Isle /ˈem(ə)rəld īl/

(the Emerald Isle)

1. a name for Ireland.

emerg /ēˈmərj/

noun

(Canadian) ‹informal› short for emergency room:

• she's at emerg with a broken nose.

emerge /əˈmərj/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. move out of or away from something and come into view

• black ravens emerged from the fog.

2. become apparent, important, or prominent

• Philadelphia has emerged as the clear favorite

• (as adj. emerging) a world of emerging economic giants.

3. (of facts or circumstances) become known

• reports of a deadlock emerged during preliminary discussions

• [with clause] during the trial it emerged that she had been suffering from a rare personality disorder.

4. recover from or survive a difficult or demanding situation

• the economy has started to emerge from recession.

5. (of an insect or other invertebrate) break out from an egg, cocoon, or pupal case.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘become known, come to light’): from Latin emergere, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out, forth’ + mergere ‘to dip.’

emergence /əˈmərjəns/

I. noun

1. the process of coming into view or becoming exposed after being concealed

• I misjudged the timing of my emergence.

2. the escape of an insect or other invertebrate from an egg, cocoon, pupal case, etc.

• the parasite's eggs hatch synchronously with the emergence of the wasp larvae.

3. [Botany] an outgrowth from a stem or leaf composed of epidermal and subepidermal tissue, as the prickles on a thistle plant.

4. the process of coming into being, or of becoming important or prominent

• the emergence of the environmental movement

• Japan's emergence as a modern state.

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘unforeseen occurrence’): from medieval Latin emergentia, from Latin emergere ‘bring to light’ (see emerge).

emergency /əˈmərjənsē/

I. noun

1. a serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation requiring immediate action

• your quick response in an emergency could be a lifesaver

• times of emergency.

2. [as modifier] — arising from or needed or used in an emergency

• an emergency exit.

3. a person with a medical condition requiring immediate treatment.

4. (N. Amer.) short for emergency room:

• he was rushed into emergency.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin emergentia, from Latin emergere ‘arise, bring to light’ (see emerge).

emergency exit

noun

a designated way out of a building or vehicle, to be used for escape in the event of an emergency

• on the plane, I was extremely fortunate to be seated directly in front of an emergency exit.

emergency medical technician EMT

noun

a person who is specially trained and certified to administer basic emergency services to victims of trauma or acute illness before and during transportation to a hospital or other healthcare facility.

emergency room

noun

(N. Amer.) the department of a hospital that provides immediate treatment for acute illnesses and trauma.

emergency services

plural noun

the public organizations that respond to and deal with emergencies when they occur, especially those that provide police, ambulance, and firefighting services.

emergent /əˈmərjənt/

I. adjective

1. in the process of coming into being or becoming prominent

• the emergent democracies of eastern Europe.

2. [Philosophy] (of a property) arising as an effect of complex causes and not analyzable simply as the sum of their effects.

• one such emergent property is the ability, already described, of an established ecosystem to repel an invading species.

3. [Ecology] of or denoting a plant that is taller than the surrounding vegetation, especially a tall tree in a forest.

4. of or denoting a water plant with leaves and flowers that appear above the water surface.

II. noun

1. [Philosophy] an emergent property.

2. [Philosophy] [Botany] an emergent tree or other plant.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘occurring unexpectedly’): from Latin emergent- ‘arising from,’ from the verb emergere (see emerge).

emerita /əˈmerədə/

adjective — [postpositive]

1. (of a woman who is the former holder of an office, especially a female college professor) having retired but allowed to retain her title as an honor

• a professor emerita

• the librarian emerita of Wellesley College.

emeritus /əˈmerədəs/

I. adjective

(of the former holder of an office, especially a college professor) having retired but allowed to retain their title as an honor

• emeritus professor of microbiology

• [postpositive] the gallery's director emeritus.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin, past participle of emereri ‘earn one's discharge by service,’ from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out of, from’ + mereri ‘earn.’

emersed /əˈmərst/

I. adjective

[Botany] denoting or characteristic of an aquatic plant reaching above the surface of the water.
Contrasted with submersed (see submerse).

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin emersus ‘arisen,’ past participle of emergere (see emerge).

emersion /əˈmərZHən/

I. noun

1. the process or state of emerging from or being out of water after being submerged.

2. [Astronomy] the reappearance of a celestial body after its eclipse or occultation.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from late Latin emersio(n-), from Latin emergere (see emerge).

Emerson, Ralph Waldo /ˈemərsən/

(1803–82), US philosopher and poet. In 1832, while visiting Britain, he became associated with German idealism. On his return to the US, he evolved the concept of transcendentalism, which found expression in his essay Nature (1836).

emery /ˈem(ə)rē/

I. noun

1. a grayish-black mixture of corundum and magnetite, used in powdered form as an abrasive.

2. [as modifier] — denoting materials coated with emery for polishing, smoothing, or grinding

• emery paper.

– origin late 15th cent.: from French émeri, from Old French esmeri, from Italian smeriglio, based on Greek smuris, smiris ‘polishing powder.’

emery board /ˈem(ə)rē ˌbô(ə)rd/

noun

a strip of thin wood or card coated with emery or another abrasive and used as a nail file.

emesis /ˈeməsəs/

I. noun

‹technical› the action or process of vomiting.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek, from emein ‘to vomit.’

emetic /əˈmedik/

I. adjective

1. (of a substance) causing vomiting.

2. ‹informal› nauseating or revolting

• that emetic music in department stores.

II. noun

a medicine or other substance that causes vomiting.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Greek emetikos, from emein ‘to vomit.’

emetine /ˈeməˌtēn/

I. noun

an alkaloid present in ipecac and formerly used in the treatment of amoebic infections and as an emetic in aversion therapy.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Greek emetos ‘vomiting’ + -ine^4.

EMF

abbreviation

1. electromagnetic field(s).

2. (emf) — electromotive force.

3. European Monetary Fund.

EMG

abbreviation

1. electromyogram.

2. electromyography.

-emia -hemia, ‹Brit.› -aemia, -haemia

I. combining form

in nouns denoting that a substance is present in the blood, especially in excess

• septicemia

• leukemia.

– origin from modern Latin -aemia, from Greek -aimia, from haima ‘blood.’

emic /ˈēmik / ‹Anthropology›

I. adjective

relating to or denoting an approach to the study or description of a particular language or culture in terms of its internal elements and their functioning rather than in terms of any existing external scheme.
Often contrasted with etic.

II. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. study adopting this approach.

– origin 1950s: abstracted from such words as phonemic (see phoneme) and systemic.

emigrant /ˈeməɡrənt/

I. noun

a person who leaves their own country in order to settle permanently in another

• the first emigrants to America

• [as modifier] emigrant workers.

II. adjective

used by emigrants

• an emigrant ship.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin emigrant- ‘migrating from,’ from the verb emigrare (see emigrate).

emigrate /ˈeməˌɡrāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. leave one's own country in order to settle permanently in another

• Rosa's parents emigrated from Argentina.

II. derivatives

emigration /ˌeməˈɡrāSHən /

noun

– origin late 18th cent.: from Latin emigrat- ‘emigrated,’ from the verb emigrare, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out of’ + migrare ‘migrate.’ / usage: To emigrate is to leave a country, especially one's own, intending to remain away. To immigrate is to enter a country, intending to remain there: my aunt emigrated from Poland and immigrated to Canada.

émigré /ˈeməˌɡrā / emigre

I. noun

a person who has left their own country in order to settle in another, usually for political reasons.

– origin late 18th cent. (originally denoting a person escaping the French Revolution): French, past participle of émigrer ‘emigrate.’

eminence /ˈemənəns/

I. noun

1. fame or recognized superiority, especially within a particular sphere or profession

• her eminence in cinematography.

2. an important, influential, or distinguished person

• the Lord Chancellor canvassed the views of various legal eminences.

3. (His/Your Eminence) — a title given to a Roman Catholic cardinal, or used in addressing him

• His Eminence, Thomas Cardinal Wolsey.

4. ‹formal› ‹literary› a piece of rising ground

• an eminence commanding the River Emme.

5. [Anatomy] a slight projection from the surface of a part of the body.

– origin Middle English: from Latin eminentia, from eminere ‘jut, project.’

éminence grise /ˌemənəns ˈɡrēz/

I. noun

a person who exercises power or influence in a certain sphere without holding an official position.

– origin 1930s: French, literally ‘gray eminence.’ The term was originally applied to Cardinal Richelieu's gray-cloaked private secretary, Père Joseph (1577–1638).

eminent /ˈemənənt/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) famous and respected within a particular sphere or profession

• one of the world's most eminent statisticians.

2. [attrib.] — used to emphasize the presence of a positive quality

• the guitar's eminent suitability for recording studio work.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin eminent- ‘jutting, projecting,’ from the verb eminere. / usage: A trio of frequently confused words is eminent, imminent, and immanent. Eminent means 'outstanding, famous': the book was written by an eminent authority on folk art. Imminent means 'about to happen': people brushed aside the possibility that war was imminent. Immanent, often used in religious or philosophical contexts, means 'inherent': he believed in the immanent unity of nature taught by the Hindus.

eminent domain

noun

[Law] the right of a government or its agent to expropriate private property for public use, with payment of compensation.

eminently /ˈemənən(t)lē/

adverb — [often as submodifier]

1. to a notable degree; very

• an eminently readable textbook.

emir /əˈmir / amir

I. noun

1. a title of various Muslim (mainly Arab) rulers

• the emir of Kuwait.

2. ‹historical› a Muslim (usually Arab) military commander or local chief.

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting a male descendant of Muhammad): from French émir, from Arabic 'amīr (see amir).

emirate /ˈemərət ˈeməˌrāt/

noun

the rank, lands, or reign of an emir.

Emirati /ˌeməˈrädē/

I. noun

a citizen or inhabitant of the United Arab Emirates

• the number of Emiratis marrying foreigners had risen by 10 per cent.

II. adjective

relating to the United Arab Emirates or its citizens

• Emirati families

• a menu of traditional Emirati fare.

emissary /ˈeməˌserē/

I. noun

a person sent on a special mission, usually as a diplomatic representative.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin emissarius ‘scout, spy,’ from emittere ‘send out’ (see emit).

emission /əˈmiSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the production and discharge of something, especially gas or radiation

• the effects of lead emission on health

• cuts in carbon dioxide emissions.

2. an ejaculation of semen.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘emanation’): from Latin emissio(n-), from emiss- ‘sent out,’ from the verb emittere (see emit).

emission nebula

noun

[Astronomy] a nebula that shines with its own light.

emission spectrum /əˈmiSHən ēˈmiSHən ˈspektrəm/

noun

a spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by a source.
Compare with absorption spectrum.

emissions trading /ēˈmiSHnstrādiNG/

noun

a system by which countries and organizations receive permits to produce a specified amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, which they may trade with others.

emissive /əˈmisiv/

I. adjective

‹technical› having the power to radiate something, especially light, heat, or radiation.

II. derivatives

emissivity /ˌeməˈsivədē /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘that is emitted’): from Latin emiss- ‘emitted, sent out’ (from the verb emittere) + -ive.

emit /əˈmit/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. produce and discharge (something, especially gas or radiation)

• coal-fired power stations continue to emit large quantities of sulfur dioxide.

2. make (a sound)

• she emitted a sound like laughter.

3. issue formally and with authority; put into circulation, especially currency.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin emittere, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out of’ + mittere ‘send.’

emitter /əˈmidər/

noun

1. a machine, device, etc., that emits something.

2. [Electronics] a region in a bipolar transistor producing carriers of current.

Emmanuel /əˈmanyəwəl / Immanuel

the name given to Christ as the deliverer of Judah prophesied by Isaiah (Isa. 7:14, 8:8; Matt. 1:23).

emmenagogue /əˈmenəɡäɡ eˈmenəˌɡäɡ əˈmēnəˌɡäɡ/

I. noun

[Medicine] a substance that stimulates or increases menstrual flow.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Greek emmēna ‘menses’ + agōgos ‘eliciting.’

Emmental /ˈemənˌtäl / Emmenthal

I. noun

a kind of hard Swiss cheese with many holes in it, similar to Gruyère.

– origin from German Emmentaler, from Emmental, the name of a valley in Switzerland where the cheese was originally made.

emmer /ˈemər/

I. noun

an old kind of Eurasian wheat with bearded ears and spikelets that each contain two grains, now grown mainly for fodder and breakfast cereals.
Compare with einkorn, spelt^2. [Triticum dicoccum, family Gramineae.]

– origin early 20th cent.: from German, from Old High German amer ‘spelt.’

emmet /ˈemət/

I. noun

‹archaic› an ant.

– origin Old English ǣmete (see ant).

Emmy /ˈemē/

I. noun

a statuette awarded annually to an outstanding television program or performer.

– origin 1940s: said to be from Immy, short for image orthicon tube (a kind of television camera tube).

emo /ˈēmō / emocore /ˈimōˌkôr/

I. noun

1. a style of rock music resembling punk but having more complex arrangements and lyrics that deal with more emotional subjects.

2. an admirer of emo music or a member of the subculture associated with it

• I'm not one of those emos who are always crying—I just want to make that clear.

II. adjective

denoting or relating to emo and its associated subculture

• an emo band

• emo kids.

– origin 1990s: short for emotional hardcore.

emoji /ēˈmōjē/

I. noun

a small digital image or icon used to express an idea, emotion, etc., in electronic communication

• emoji liven up your text messages with tiny smiley faces.

– origin 1990s: Japanese, from e ‘picture’ + moji ‘letter, character.’

emollient /əˈmälyənt/

I. adjective

1. having the quality of softening or soothing the skin

• an emollient cream.

2. attempting to avoid confrontation or anger; soothing or calming

• the president's emollient approach to differences.

II. noun

a preparation that softens the skin

• formulated with rich emollients.

III. derivatives

emollience

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin emollient- ‘making soft,’ from the verb emollire, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + mollis ‘soft.’

emolument /əˈmälyəmənt/

I. noun — (usu. emoluments)

1. ‹formal› a salary, fee, or profit from employment or office

• the directors' emoluments.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin emolumentum, originally probably ‘payment to a miller for grinding grain,’ from emolere ‘grind up,’ from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out, thoroughly’ + molere ‘grind.’

Emona /iˈmōnə/

Roman name of Ljubljana.

emote /əˈmōt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (especially of an actor) portray emotion in a theatrical manner.

II. derivatives

emoter

noun

– origin early 20th cent. (originally US): back-formation from emotion.

emoticon /əˈmōdəˌkän/

I. noun

a representation of a facial expression such as:-) (representing a smile), formed by various combinations of keyboard characters and used in electronic communications to convey the writer's feelings or intended tone.

– origin 1990s: blend of emotion and icon.

emotion /əˈmōSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a natural instinctive state of mind deriving from one's circumstances, mood, or relationships with others

• she was attempting to control her emotions

• his voice was low and shaky with emotion

• fear had become his dominant emotion.

2. instinctive or intuitive feeling as distinguished from reasoning or knowledge

• responses have to be based on historical insight, not simply on emotion.

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting a public disturbance or commotion): from French émotion, from émouvoir ‘excite,’ based on Latin emovere, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + movere ‘move.’ The sense ‘mental agitation’ dates from the mid 17th cent., the current general sense from the early 19th cent.

emotional /əˈmōSH(ə)n(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to a person's emotions

• children with emotional difficulties.

2. arousing or characterized by intense feeling

• an emotional speech.

3. (of a person) having feelings that are easily excited and openly displayed

• he was a strongly emotional young man.

II. derivatives

1. emotionalism /əˈmōSHənlˌizəm əˈmōSHnəˌlizəm ēˈmōSHənlˌizəm ēˈmōSHnəˌlizəm /

noun

2. emotionalist /-ist /

noun, adjective

3. emotionality /əˌmōSHəˈnalədē /

noun

4. emotionalize /-ˌlīz /

verb

usage: See usage at emotive.

emotional intelligence

noun

the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one's emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically

• emotional intelligence is the key to both personal and professional success.

emotionally /əˈmōSH(ə)nəlē/

adverb

1. in a way that relates to a person's emotions

• an opportunity for parent and child to connect emotionally

• Gill was emotionally unstable.

2. in a manner characterized by intense feeling

• staff reacted emotionally to the good news

• she spoke emotionally about her father.

emotional quotient

noun

the level of a person's emotional intelligence, often as represented by a score on a standardized test

• her emotional quotient was below average.

emotionless /iˈmōSHənləs/

adjective

not showing any emotion; unemotional

• her voice was flat and emotionless.

emotive /əˈmōdiv/

I. adjective

1. arousing or able to arouse intense feeling

• animal experimentation is an emotive subject

• the issue has proved highly emotive.

2. expressing a person's feelings rather than being neutrally or objectively descriptive

• the comparisons are emotive rather than analytic.

II. derivatives

1. emotively

adverb

2. emotiveness /əˈmōdivnəs /

noun

3. emotivity /ˌēmōˈtivitē /

noun

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin emot- ‘moved,’ from the verb emovere (see emotion). / usage: The words emotive and emotional share similarities but are not interchangeable. Emotive is used to mean ‘arousing intense feeling,’ while emotional tends to mean ‘characterized by intense feeling.’ Thus an emotive issue is one likely to arouse people's passions, while an emotional response is one that is itself full of passion. In sentences such as we took our emotive farewells, emotive has been used where emotional is appropriate.

emotivism /iˈmodiˌvizəm/

I. noun

[Philosophy] an ethical theory that regards ethical and value judgments as expressions of feeling or attitude and prescriptions of action, rather than assertions or reports of anything.

II. derivatives

emotivist

noun

EMP

abbreviation

electromagnetic pulse.

emp.

abbreviation

1. emperor.

2. empire.

3. empress.

empanada /empəˈnädə/

I. noun

a Spanish or Latin American pastry turnover filled with a variety of savory ingredients and baked or fried.

– origin Spanish, feminine past participle (used as a noun) of empanar ‘roll in pastry,’ based on Latin panis ‘bread.’

empath /ˈempaTH/

noun

(chiefly in science fiction) a person with the paranormal ability to apprehend the mental or emotional state of another individual.

empathetic /ˌempəˈTHedik/

I. adjective

showing an ability to understand and share the feelings of another

• she's compassionate and empathetic towards her daughter

• I have been touched by the empathetic response to my bad luck.

II. derivatives

empathetically /ˌempəˈTHedəklē /

adverb

empathic /emˈpaTHik/

I. adjective

showing an ability to understand and share the feelings of another

• an attentive, empathic listener

• tears may elicit an empathic response in people.

II. derivatives

empathically /emˈpaTHəklē /

adverb

empathize /ˈempəˌTHīz/

verb — [no obj.]

1. understand and share the feelings of another

• counselors need to be able to empathize with people.

empathy /ˈempəTHē/

I. noun

the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Greek empatheia (from em- ‘in’ + pathos ‘feeling’) translating German Einfühlung.

Empedocles /emˈpedəˌklēz/

(c. 493–c. 433 BC), Greek philosopher, born in Sicily. He taught that the universe is composed of fire, air, water, and earth, which mingle and separate under the influence of the opposing principles of Love and Strife.

empennage /ˌämpəˈnäZH, ˈempanij/

I. noun

[Aeronautics] an arrangement of stabilizing surfaces at the tail of an aircraft.

– origin early 20th cent.: from French, from empenner ‘to feather an arrow,’ from em- ‘in’ + penne ‘a feather’ (from Latin penna).

emperor /ˈemp(ə)rər/

I. noun

1. a sovereign ruler of great power and rank, especially one ruling an empire.

2. (also emperor butterfly) — an orange and brown North American butterfly with a swift dodging flight, breeding chiefly on hackberries.
[Genus Asterocampa, subfamily Apaturinae, family Nymphalidae: several species, in particular the tawny emperor (A. clyton).]

II. phrases

the emperor's new clothes the emperor has no clothes

used in reference to a situation in which people believe or pretend to believe in the worth or importance of something that is worthless, or fear to point out an obvious truth that is counter to prevailing opinion

• is his white canvas a case of the emperor's new clothes or is it something beautiful, even moving?

• this is the first time that anyone has stripped his work of its rhetoric and shown that this particular emperor has no clothes.

[after the title of the story Kejserens nye klæder (1837) by the Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen (first translated into English as The Emperor's New Clothes in 1846), in which an emperor is tricked into thinking he is wearing beautiful new clothes, which all his courtiers pretend to admire, until a boy points out that he is in fact naked.]

III. derivatives

emperorship /-ˌSHip /

noun

– origin Middle English (especially representing the title given to the head of the Roman Empire): from Old French emperere, from Latin imperator ‘military commander,’ from imperare ‘to command,’ from in- ‘toward’ + parare ‘prepare, contrive.’

emperor moth

noun

a large moth of the silkworm moth family with eyespots on all four wings.
[Saturnia and other genera, family Saturniidae: several species, in particular the common European S. pavonia.]

emperor penguin

noun

the largest species of penguin. It has a yellow patch on each side of the head and rears its young during the Antarctic winter.
[Aptenodytes forsteri, family Spheniscidae.]

emphasis /ˈemfəsəs/

I. noun

1. special importance, value, or prominence given to something

• they placed great emphasis on the individual's freedom

• different emphases and viewpoints.

2. stress laid on a word or words to indicate special meaning or particular importance.

3. vigor or intensity of expression

• he spoke with emphasis and with complete conviction.

– origin late 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek, originally ‘appearance, show,’ later denoting a figure of speech in which more is implied than is said (the original sense in English), from emphainein ‘exhibit,’ from em- ‘in, within’ + phainein ‘to show.’

emphasize /ˈemfəˌsīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. give special importance or prominence to (something) in speaking or writing

• he jabbed a finger into the tabletop to emphasize his point

• [with clause] he emphasized that the drug works in only 30 percent of cases.

2. lay stress on (a word or phrase) when speaking.

3. make (something) more clearly defined

• a one-piece bathing suit that emphasized her build.

emphatic /əmˈfadik/

I. adjective

1. showing or giving emphasis; expressing something forcibly and clearly

• the children were emphatic that they would like to repeat the experience

• an emphatic movement of his hand.

2. (of an action or event or its result) definite and clear

• he walked stiffly, with an emphatic limp.

3. (of word or syllable) bearing the stress.

4. [Linguistics] denoting certain Arabic consonants that are pronounced with both dental articulation and constriction of the pharynx.

II. noun

[Linguistics] an emphatic consonant.

– origin early 18th cent.: via late Latin from Greek emphatikos, from emphasis (see emphasis).

emphatically /əmˈfadək(ə)lē/

adverb

1. in a forceful way.

2. [as submodifier] — without doubt; clearly

• Jane, though born in California, feels emphatically Canadian

• [sentence adverb] Greg is emphatically not a slacker.

emphysema /ˌemfəˈsēmə/

I. noun

1. (also pulmonary emphysema) — [Medicine] a condition in which the air sacs of the lungs are damaged and enlarged, causing breathlessness.

2. [Medicine] a condition in which air is abnormally present within the body tissues.

II. derivatives

1. emphysematous /ˌemfəsəˈmāSHəs /

adjective

2. emphysemic

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent. (sense 2): via late Latin from Greek emphusēma, from emphusan ‘puff up.’

empire /ˈemˌpī(ə)r/

I. noun

1. an extensive group of states or countries under a single supreme authority, formerly especially an emperor or empress
[in names]

• the Roman Empire.

2. a large commercial organization owned or controlled by one person or group

• her business empire grew.

3. an extensive operation or sphere of activity controlled by one person or group

• the kitchen had once been the ladies' empire.

4. supreme political power over several countries when exercised by a single authority

• he encouraged the Greeks in their dream of empire in Asia Minor.

5. ‹archaic› absolute control over a person or group.

6. a variety of apple.

II. adjective — /ämˈpir / [attrib.]

1. denoting a style of furniture, decoration, or dress fashionable during the First or (less commonly) the Second Empire in France. The decorative style was neoclassical but marked by an interest in Egyptian and other ancient motifs probably inspired by Napoleon's Egyptian campaigns.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin imperium, related to imperare ‘to command’ (see emperor).

empire builder /ˈemˌpī(ə)r ˌbildər/

I. noun

1. a person who adds to or strengthens an empire.

2. a person who seeks more power, responsibility, or staff within an organization for the purposes of self-aggrandizement.

II. derivatives

empire-building

noun

Empire State

a nickname for the state of New York.

Empire State Building

a skyscraper on Fifth Avenue, New York City, which was for several decades the tallest building in the world. When first erected, in 1930–31, it measured 1,250 feet (381 m); it currently stands at approximately 1,454 feet (443 m).

Empire State of the South

a nickname for the state of Georgia.

empiric /əmˈpirik/

I. adjective

another term for empirical.

II. noun

1. ‹archaic› a person who, in medicine or other branches of science, relies solely on observation and experiment.

2. ‹archaic› a quack doctor.

– origin late Middle English: via Latin from Greek empeirikos, from empeiria ‘experience,’ from empeiros ‘skilled’ (based on peira ‘trial, experiment’).

empirical /əmˈpirik(ə)l/

adjective

based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic

• they provided considerable empirical evidence to support their argument.

empirical formula

noun

[Chemistry] a formula giving the proportions of the elements present in a compound but not the actual numbers or arrangement of atoms.
Compare with molecular formula, structural formula.

empirically /əmˈpiriklē/

adverb

by means of observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic

• empirically tested methods

• only what was empirically verifiable could be accepted as true

• [sentence adverb] empirically, the theory has a number of weaknesses.

empiricism /əmˈpirəˌsizəm/

noun

[Philosophy] the theory that all knowledge is derived from sense-experience. Stimulated by the rise of experimental science, it developed in the 17th and 18th centuries, expounded in particular by John Locke, George Berkeley, and David Hume.
Compare with phenomenalism.

empiricist /əmˈpirəsəst / ‹Philosophy›

I. noun

a person who supports the theory that all knowledge is based on experience derived from the senses

• most scientists are empiricists by nature.

II. adjective

relating to or characteristic of the theory that all knowledge is based on experience derived from the senses

• his radically empiricist view of science as a direct engagement with the world.

emplacement /əmˈplāsmənt/

I. noun

1. a structure on or in which something is firmly placed.

2. a platform or defended position where a gun is placed for firing.

3. [chiefly Geology] the process or state of setting something in place or being set in place.

II. derivatives

emplace

verb

– origin early 19th cent.: from French, from em- ‘in’ + place ‘a place.’

employ /əmˈploi/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. give work to (someone) and pay them for it

• the firm employs 150 people

• [with obj. and infinitive] temps can be employed to do much of the work.

2. keep occupied

• most of the newcomers are employed in developing the technology into a product.

3. make use of

• the methods they have employed to collect the data.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. the state or fact of being employed for wages or a salary

• I started work in the employ of a grocer and wine merchant.

2. ‹archaic› employment

• her place of employ.

III. derivatives

employed /imˈploid /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (formerly also as imploy): from Old French employer, based on Latin implicari ‘be involved in or attached to,’ passive form of implicare (see imply). In the 16th and 17th cent. the word also had the senses ‘enfold, entangle’ and ‘imply,’ derived directly from Latin; compare with implicate.

employable /əmˈploiəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. suitable for paid work

• they will emerge as highly employable graduates

• students with employable skills.

2. able to be used

• this report shows the attempts to incriminate me by whatever means employable.

II. derivatives

employability /əmˌploiəˈbilədē /

noun

employee /emˈploiē emˌploiˈē/

noun

a person employed for wages or salary, especially at nonexecutive level.

employer /əmˈploiər/

noun

a person or organization that employs people.

employment /əmˈploimənt/

noun

1. the condition of having paid work

• a fall in the numbers in full-time employment.

2. a person's trade or profession.

3. the action of giving work to someone

• the employment of a full-time tutor.

employment agency

noun

an agency that finds employers or employees for those seeking them.

Emporia /emˈpôrēə/

a commercial city in east central Kansas, associated with William Allen White and his Emporia Gazette, which he published from 1895 until 1944; pop. 26,380 (est. 2008).

emporium /emˈpôrēəm/

I. noun

1. a large retail store selling a wide variety of goods.

2. a business establishment that specializes in products or services on a large scale (often used for humorously formal effect)

• the world-famous food emporium

• you know those half-automated carwash emporia that advertise an “all-cloth wash?”

3. ‹archaic› a principal center of commerce; a market.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin, from Greek emporion, from emporos ‘merchant,’ based on a stem meaning ‘to journey.’

empower /əmˈpou(ə)r/

verb — [with obj. and infinitive]

1. give (someone) the authority or power to do something

• nobody was empowered to sign checks on her behalf.

2. [with obj.] — make (someone) stronger and more confident, especially in controlling their life and claiming their rights

• movements to empower the poor.

empowerment /əmˈpouərmənt/

noun

1. authority or power given to someone to do something

• individuals are given empowerment to create their own dwellings.

2. the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one's life and claiming one's rights

• political steps for the empowerment of women

• a foundation to promote economic empowerment for poor communities.

empress /ˈemprəs/

I. noun

1. a female emperor.

2. the wife or widow of an emperor.

– origin Middle English: from Old French emperesse, feminine of emperere (see emperor).

empressement /ˌäNpresˈmäN/

I. noun

‹archaic› animated eagerness or friendliness; effusion.

– origin from French, from empresser ‘rush eagerly.’

empress tree

noun

a fast-growing paulownia widely grown as an ornamental in the US and now considered an ecological threat, in light of its prolific growth and reproductive capacity.
[paulownia tomentosa, family Scrophulariaceae.]

emptiness /ˈem(p)tēnəs/

noun

1. the state of containing nothing

• the vast emptiness of space.

2. the quality of lacking meaning or sincerity; meaninglessness

• he realizes the emptiness of his statement.

3. the quality of having no value or purpose; futility

• feelings of emptiness and loneliness.

empty /ˈem(p)tē/

I. adjective

1. containing nothing; not filled or occupied

• he took his empty coffee cup back to the counter

• the room was empty of furniture.

2. [Mathematics] (of a set) containing no members or elements.

3. (of words or a gesture) lacking meaning or sincerity

• his answer sounded a little empty

• empty threats.

4. having no value or purpose

• her life felt empty and meaningless.

5. ‹informal› hungry.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove all the contents of (a container)

• we empty the cash register each night at closing time

• pockets were emptied of loose change.

2. remove (the contents) from a container

• he emptied out the contents of his briefcase.

3. [no obj.] — (of a place) be vacated by people in it

• the bar suddenly seemed to empty.

4. [no obj.] (empty into) — (of a river) discharge itself into (the sea or a lake).

III. noun — (usu. empties)

1. ‹informal› a container (especially a bottle or glass) left empty of its contents.

IV. phrases

1. running on empty

exhausted of all one's resources or sustenance.

2. empty vessels make the most noise (or sound)

‹proverb› those with least wisdom or knowledge are always the most talkative.

3. on an empty stomach

see stomach.

V. derivatives

emptily /ˈem(p)təlē /

adverb

– origin Old English ǣmtig, ǣmetig ‘at leisure, unoccupied, empty,’ from ǣmetta ‘leisure,’ perhaps from ā ‘no, not’ + mōt ‘meeting’ (see moot).

empty calories

plural noun

calories derived from food containing no nutrients.

empty-handed /ˈˌem(p)tē ˈhandəd/

adjective — [predic.]

1. having failed to obtain or achieve what one wanted

• the burglars fled empty-handed.

empty-headed /ˈˌem(p)tē ˈˌhedəd/

adjective

unintelligent and foolish

• why did they promote that empty-headed man?

empty nester //

noun

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) a parent whose children have grown up and left home.

empty-netter /ˌem(p)tēˈnedər/

noun

[Ice Hockey] ‹informal› a goal scored while the defending goaltender is not guarding their net

• he scored an empty-netter with 9.1 seconds left.

Empty Quarter

another name for Rub' al-Khali.

empty suit

noun

‹informal› (chiefly US) a prominent person regarded as lacking substance, personality, or ability

• they're a bunch of Ivy League empty suits.

empty word

noun

[Grammar] a word that has only a grammatical function, and no meaning in itself (for example, the infinitive marker to in English).

empurple /əmˈpərpəl/

verb

make or become purple
[no obj.]

• his face empurpled with fury.

empyema /ˌempīˈēmə/

I. noun

[Medicine] the collection of pus in a cavity in the body, especially in the pleural cavity.

– origin late Middle English: via late Latin from Greek empuēma, from empuein ‘suppurate,’ from em- ‘in’ + puon ‘pus.’

empyrean /emˈpirēən ˌempəˈrēən / empyreal

I. adjective

belonging to or deriving from heaven.

II. noun — (the empyrean)

1. heaven, in particular the highest part of heaven.

2. ‹literary› the visible heavens; the sky.

– origin late Middle English (as an adjective): via medieval Latin from Greek empurios, from en- ‘in’ + pur ‘fire.’ The noun dates from the mid 17th cent.

EMS

abbreviation

1. emergency medical service.

2. European Monetary System.

3. expanded memory system, a system for increasing the amount of memory available to a computer, now largely superseded by XMS.

EMT

abbreviation

emergency medical technician.

emu /ˈēm(y)o͞o/

I. noun

a large flightless fast-running Australian bird resembling the ostrich, with shaggy gray or brown plumage, bare blue skin on the head and neck, and three-toed feet.
[Dromaius novaehollandiae, the only member of the family Dromaiidae.]

– origin early 17th cent.: from Portuguese ema. The word originally denoted the cassowary, later the greater rhea; current usage dates from the early 19th cent.

EMU

abbreviation

European Monetary Union.

emulate /ˈemyəˌlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. match or surpass (a person or achievement), typically by imitation

• lesser men trying to emulate his greatness.

2. imitate

• hers is not a hairstyle I wish to emulate.

3. [Computing] reproduce the function or action of (a different computer, software system, etc.).

II. derivatives

1. emulative /ˈemyəˌlādiv /

adjective

2. emulator /ˈemyəˌlādər /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin aemulat- ‘rivaled, equaled,’ from the verb aemulari, from aemulus ‘rival.’

emulation /ˌemyəˈlāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. effort to match or surpass a person or achievement, typically by imitation

• their success is inspiring emulation from others

• a model worthy of emulation.

2. [Computing] reproduction of the function or action of a different computer, software system, etc.

• software emulation of complete systems

• [as modifier] an additional server is accessed via emulation software.

emulous /ˈemyələs/

I. adjective — (often emulous of)

1. ‹formal› seeking to emulate or imitate someone or something.

2. ‹formal› motivated by a spirit of rivalry

• emulous young writers.

II. derivatives

1. emulously

adverb

2. emulousness

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘resembling, imitating’): from Latin aemulus ‘rival.’ Current senses date from the mid 16th cent.

emulsifier /əˈməlsəˌfī(ə)r/

noun

1. a substance that stabilizes an emulsion, in particular a food additive used to stabilize processed foods.

2. an apparatus used for making an emulsion by stirring or shaking a substance.

emulsify /əˈməlsəˌfī/

I. verb

make into or become an emulsion
[with obj.]

• mustard helps to emulsify a vinaigrette.

II. derivatives

1. emulsifiable /-ˌfīəbəl /

adjective

2. emulsification /əˌməlsəfəˈkāSH(ə)n /

noun

emulsion /əˈməlSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a fine dispersion of minute droplets of one liquid in another in which it is not soluble or miscible.

2. a fine dispersion of one liquid or pureed food substance in another

• ravioli with pea and ginger emulsion.

3. (also emulsion paint) — a water-based paint used for walls.

4. a light-sensitive coating for photographic films and plates, containing crystals of a silver compound dispersed in a medium such as gelatin.

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting a milky liquid made by crushing almonds in water): from modern Latin emulsio(n-), from the verb emulgere ‘milk out,’ from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + mulgere ‘to milk.’

en /en/

I. noun

[Printing] a unit of measurement equal to half an em and approximately the average width of typeset characters, used especially for estimating the total amount of space a text will require.

– origin late 18th cent.: the letter N represented as a word, since it is approximately this width.

en-1 em-

I. prefix

1. forming verbs (added to nouns) expressing entry into the specified state or location

• engulf

• embed.

2. forming verbs (added to nouns and adjectives) expressing conversion into the specified state (as in encrust, ennoble).

3. often forming verbs having the suffix -en (as in embolden, enliven).

4. (added to verbs) in; into; on

• ensnare.

5. as an intensifier

• entangle.

– origin from French, from Latin in-. See also in-2, a commonly found by-form.

en-2 em-

I. prefix

within; inside

• encyst

• endemic

• embolism

• empyema.

– origin from Greek.

-en^1

I. suffix

1. forming verbs:

2. (from adjectives) denoting the development, creation, or intensification of a state

• widen

• deepen

• loosen.

3. from nouns (such as strengthen from strength).

– origin Old English -nian, of Germanic origin.

-en^2

I. suffix

1. forming adjectives from nouns:

2. made or consisting of

• earthen

• woolen.

3. resembling

• golden

• silvern.

– origin Old English, of Germanic origin.

-en^3 -n

I. suffix

1. forming past paticiples of strong verbs:

2. as a regular inflection

• spoken.

3. as an adjective

• mistaken

• torn.

4. often with a restricted adjectival sense

• drunken

• sunken.

– origin Old English, of Germanic origin.

-en^4

I. suffix

forming the plural of a few nouns such as children, oxen.

– origin Middle English reduction of the earlier suffix -an.

-en^5

I. suffix

forming diminutives of nouns (such as chicken, maiden).

– origin Old English, of Germanic origin.

-en^6

I. suffix

1. forming feminine nouns such as vixen.

2. forming abstract nouns such as burden.

– origin Old English, of Germanic origin.

enable /enˈāb(ə)l inˈāb(ə)l/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. give (someone or something) the authority or means to do something
[with obj. and infinitive]

• the evidence would enable us to arrive at firm conclusions.

2. make possible

• a number of courses are available to enable an understanding of a broad range of issues.

3. [chiefly Computing] make (a device or system) operational; activate.

4. (as adj., in combination -enabled) — adapted for use with the specified application or system

• WAP-enabled mobile phones.

II. derivatives

enablement

noun

– origin late Middle English (formerly also as inable): from en-1, in-2, + able.

enabler /iˈnāblər eˈnāblər/

noun

1. a person or thing that makes something possible

• the people who run these workshops are crime enablers

• Bluetooth is the ultimate enabler of the smart house that has been the darling of futurists since the 1939 World's Fair.

2. a person who encourages or enables negative or self-destructive behavior in another

• he criticized her role as an enabler in her husband's pathological womanizing.

enabling act

noun

a statute empowering a person or body to take certain action, especially to make regulations, rules, or orders.

enact /enˈakt inˈakt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (a bill or other proposal) law

• legislation was enacted in 1987 to attract international companies.

2. put into practice (a belief, idea, or suggestion).

3. act out (a role or play) on stage.

II. derivatives

1. enactable

adjective

2. enaction /enˈakSHən /

noun

3. enactor /-tər /

noun

– origin late Middle English (formerly also as inact): from en-1, in-2, + act, suggested by medieval Latin inactare, inactitare.

enactment /inˈak(t)mənt/

I. noun

1. the process of passing legislation.

2. a law that is passed.

3. a process of acting something out

• the story becomes an enactment of his fantasies.

II. derivatives

enactive /-tiv /

adjective

enamel /iˈnaməl/

I. noun

1. an opaque or semitransparent glassy substance applied to metallic or other hard surfaces for ornament or as a protective coating.

2. a work of art executed in enamel.

3. the hard glossy substance that covers the crown of a tooth.

4. (also enamel paint) — a paint that dries to give a smooth, hard coat.

5. ‹dated› nail polish.

II. verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. enameled)

1. coat or decorate (a metallic or hard object) with enamel

• an enameled roasting pan.

2. ‹dated› apply nail polish to (fingernails or toenails).

III. derivatives

1. enameler

noun

2. enamelist /-ist /

noun

– origin late Middle English (originally as a verb; formerly also as inamel): from Anglo-Norman French enamailler, from en- ‘in, on’ + amail ‘enamel,’ ultimately of Germanic origin.

enamelware /iˈnaməlˌwer/

noun

enameled kitchenware.

enamelwork /iˈnaməlˌwərk/

noun

the craft of inlaying or decorating metal objects with enamel.

enamor /iˈnamər eˈnamər / ‹chiefly Brit.› enamour

I. verb — (be enamored of/with/by)

1. be filled with a feeling of love for

• it is not difficult to see why Edward is enamored of her.

2. have a liking or admiration for

• she was truly enamored of New York.

– origin Middle English (formerly also as inamour): from Old French enamourer, from en- ‘in’ + amour ‘love.’

enanthema /ˌenanˈTHēmə/

I. noun

[Medicine] an ulcer or eruption occurring on a mucus-secreting surface such as the inside of the mouth.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from en-2 ‘within’ + a shortened form of exanthema.

enantiodromia /əˌnan(t)ēəˈdrōmēə/

I. noun

‹rare› the tendency of things to change into their opposites, especially as a supposed governing principle of natural cycles and of psychological development.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Greek, literally ‘running in opposite ways.’

enantiomer /əˈnantēōmər/

I. noun

[Chemistry] each of a pair of molecules that are mirror images of each other.

II. derivatives

1. enantiomeric /iˌnantēəˈmerik /

adjective

2. enantiomerically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin 1930s: from Greek enantios ‘opposite’ + -mer.

enantiomorph /əˈnantēōmôrf/

I. noun

each of two crystalline or other geometric forms that are mirror images of each other.

II. derivatives

1. enantiomorphic /iˌnantēəˈˌmôrfik /

adjective

2. enantiomorphism /əˌnantēōˈmôrˌfizəm /

noun

3. enantiomorphous /iˌnantēəˈmôrfəs /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek enantios ‘opposite’ + -morph.

enargite /enˈärjit, ˈenərˌjit/

I. noun

a dark gray mineral consisting of a sulfide of copper and arsenic.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek enargēs ‘clear, distinct’ (referring to evident cleavage) + -ite^1.

enarthrosis /ˌenärˈTHrōsəs/

I. noun

[Anatomy] a ball-and-socket joint.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Greek enarthrōsis, from enarthros ‘jointed,’ from en- ‘inside’ + arthron ‘joint.’

enation /ēˈnāSHən/

I. noun

[Botany] an outgrowth from the surface of a leaf or other part of a plant.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin enatio(n-), from enasci ‘issue forth.’

en bloc /än ˈbläk/

I. adverb

all together or all at the same time

• various private museums offered to purchase the trove en bloc.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French.

en brochette /äN brōˈSHet/

I. adjective

[Cooking] (of a dish) cooked on a skewer.

– origin French en brochette ‘on a skewer.’

en brosse /ˌän ˈbrôs/

I. adjective — [postpositive]

1. (of a person's hair) cut in a short and bristly style.

– origin early 20th cent.: French, literally ‘in the form of a brush.’

enc.

abbreviation

1. enclosed.

2. enclosure.

encage /inˈkāj enˈkāj/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› confine in or as in a cage.

encamp /inˈkamp enˈkamp/

verb — [no obj.]

1. settle in or establish a camp, especially a military one

• we encamped for the night by the side of a river.

encampment /inˈkampmənt enˈkampmənt/

noun

1. a place with temporary accommodations consisting of huts or tents, typically for troops or nomads.

2. the process of setting up a camp.

encapsidate /inˈkapsəˌdāt enˈkapsəˌdāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Biochemistry] enclose (a gene or virus particle) in a protein shell.

II. derivatives

encapsidation /enˌkapsiˈdāSHən /

noun

encapsulate /inˈkapsəˌlāt enˈkapsəˌlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. enclose (something) in or as if in a capsule.

2. express the essential features of (someone or something) succinctly

• the conclusion is encapsulated in one sentence.

3. [Computing] enclose (a message or signal) in a set of codes that allow use by or transfer through different computer systems or networks.

4. [Computing] provide an interface for (a piece of software or hardware) to allow or simplify access for the user.

5. (as adj. encapsulated) — enclosed by a protective coating or membrane.

– origin late 19th cent. (also as incapsulate): from en-1, in-2 ‘into’ + Latin capsula (see capsule).

encapsulation /inˌkaps(y)əˈlāSH(ə)n, enˌkaps(y)əˈlāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action of enclosing something in or as if in a capsule

• encapsulation of contaminants within a solid glass-like matrix

• encapsulation of the iron prevents its interaction with food.

2. [Computing] the process of enclosing a message or signal in a set of codes which allow transfer across networks

• proper encapsulation of data for network transmission.

3. [Computing] the provision of an interface for a piece of software or hardware to allow or simplify access for the user.

4. the succinct expression or depiction of the essential features of something

• his encapsulation of the concept

• this article is an encapsulation of everything that is wrong with the economy.

encase /inˈkās enˈkās / ‹dated› incase

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. enclose or cover in a case or close-fitting surround.

II. derivatives

encasement

noun

encaustic /inˈkôstik enˈkôstik/

I. adjective

(especially in painting and ceramics) using pigments mixed with hot wax that are burned in as an inlay.

II. noun

the art or process of encaustic painting.

– origin late 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek enkaustikos, from enkaiein ‘burn in,’ from en- ‘in’ + kaiein ‘to burn.’

-ence /əns, ns/

I. suffix

1. forming nouns:

2. denoting a quality or an instance of it

• impertinence.

3. denoting an action or its result

• reference

• reminiscence.

– origin from French -ence, from Latin -entia, -antia (from present participial stems -ent-, -ant-). Since the 16th cent. many inconsistencies have occurred in the use of -ence and -ance.

enceinte^1 /enˈsānt, änˈsant/

I. noun

‹archaic› an enclosure or the enclosing wall of a fortified place.

– origin early 18th cent.: from French, from Latin incincta, feminine past participle of incingere ‘gird in,’ from in- ‘in’ + cingere ‘to gird.’

enceinte^2 /änˈsant/

I. adjective

‹archaic› pregnant.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French.

Enceladus /ənˈselədəs / ‹Astronomy›

I. a satellite of Saturn, the eighth closest to the planet, discovered by W. Herschel in 1789. Probably composed mainly of ice, it has a diameter of 311 miles (500 km).

– origin named after a Greek mythological giant killed by Athene.

encephalic /ˌensəˈfalik/

I. adjective

[Anatomy] relating to, affecting, or situated in the brain.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek enkephalos ‘brain’ (from en- ‘in’ + kephalē ‘head’) + -ic.

encephalitis /enˌsefəˈlīdəs/

I. noun

inflammation of the brain, caused by infection or an allergic reaction.

II. derivatives

encephalitic /-ˈlitik /

adjective

encephalitis lethargica /ensefəˌlīdəs ləˈTHärjikə/

noun

a form of encephalitis caused by a virus and characterized by headache and drowsiness leading to coma.
Also called sleeping sickness.

encephalization /enˌsefələˈzāSH(ə)n/

noun

[Zoology] an evolutionary increase in the complexity or relative size of the brain, involving a shift of function from noncortical parts of the brain to the cortex.

encephalo-

I. combining form

of or relating to the brain

• encephalopathy.

– origin from Greek enkephalos.

encephalogram /inˈsefələˌɡram enˈsefələˌɡram/

noun

[Medicine] an image, trace, or other record of the structure or electrical activity of the brain.

encephalography /enˌsefəˈläɡrəfē/

I. noun

[Medicine] any of various techniques for recording the structure or electrical activity of the brain.

II. derivatives

1. encephalograph /enˈsefələˌɡraf /

noun

2. encephalographic /-ləˈɡrafik /

adjective

encephalomyelitis /inˌsefələˌmīəˈlīdəs enˌsefələˌmīəˈlīdəs/

noun

[Medicine] inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, typically due to acute viral infection.

encephalon /inˈsefələn enˈsefəlän/

I. noun

[Anatomy] the brain.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Greek enkephalon ‘what is inside the head,’ from en- ‘inside’ + kephalē ‘head.’

encephalopathy /enˌsefəˈläpəTHē inˌsefəˈläpəTHē/

noun

[Medicine] a disease in which the functioning of the brain is affected by some agent or condition (such as viral infection or toxins in the blood).

enchain /inˈCHān enˈCHān/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› bind with or as with chains.

II. derivatives

enchainment

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French enchainer, based on Latin catena ‘chain.’

enchaînement /ˌäNSHenˈmäN/

I. noun

[Ballet] a linked sequence of steps or movements constituting a phrase.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, ‘chaining together.’

enchant /inˈCHant enˈCHant/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. fill (someone) with great delight; charm

• Isabel was enchanted with the idea.

2. put (someone or something) under a spell
(as adj. enchanted)

• an enchanted garden.

II. derivatives

enchantedly

adverb

– origin late Middle English (in the senses ‘put under a spell’ and ‘delude’; formerly also as inchant): from French enchanter, from Latin incantare, from in- ‘in’ + cantare ‘sing.’

enchanter /inˈCHan(t)ər enˈCHan(t)ər/

noun

a person who uses magic or sorcery, especially to put someone or something under a spell.

enchanter's nightshade

I. noun

a woodland plant with small white flowers and fruit with hooked bristles, native to Eurasia and North America.
[Genus Circaea, family Onagraceae: several species, including C. quadrisulcata and the smaller C. alpina.]

– origin late 16th cent.: believed by early botanists to be the herb used by Circe to charm Odysseus' companions.

enchanting /inˈCHan(t)iNG enˈCHan(t)iNG/

I. adjective

delightfully charming or attractive

• Dinah looked enchanting.

II. derivatives

enchantingly /inˈCHan(t)iNGlē enˈCHan(t)iNGlē /

adverb

enchantment /inˈCHantmənt enˈCHantmənt/

noun

1. a feeling of great pleasure; delight

• the enchantment of the mountains.

2. the state of being under a spell; magic

• a world of mystery and enchantment.

enchantress /inˈCHantrəs enˈCHantrəs/

I. noun

1. a woman who uses magic or sorcery, especially to put someone or something under a spell.

2. a very attractive and beguiling woman.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French enchanteresse, from enchanter (see enchant).

enchase /inˈCHās enˈCHās/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. decorate (a piece of jewelry or work of art) by inlaying, engraving, or carving.

2. place (a jewel) in a setting.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘decorate with figures in relief’): from Old French enchasser ‘set gems, encase,’ from en- ‘in’ + chasse ‘a case.’

enchilada /ˌen(t)SHəˈlädə/

I. noun

a rolled tortilla with a filling typically of meat and served with a chili sauce.

II. phrases

1. the big enchilada

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a person or thing of great importance.

2. the whole enchilada

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› the whole situation; everything.

– origin Latin American Spanish, feminine past participle of enchilar ‘season with chili.’

enchiridion /ˌeNGkəˈridēən, ˌenkī-/

I. noun

‹formal› a book containing essential information on a subject.

– origin late Middle English: via late Latin from Greek enkheiridion, from en- ‘within’ + kheir ‘hand’ + the diminutive suffix -idion.

Encinitas /ˌensiˈnēdəs/

a city in southwestern California, northwest of San Diego; pop. 60,372 (est. 2008).

encipher /inˈsīfər enˈsīfər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. convert (a message or piece of text) into a coded form; encrypt.

II. derivatives

encipherment /inˈsīfərmənt enˈsīfərmənt /

noun

encircle /inˈsərk(ə)l enˈsərk(ə)l/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. form a circle around; surround

• the town is encircled by fortified walls.

II. derivatives

encirclement /inˈsərkəlmənt enˈsərkəlmənt /

noun

encl. enc.

abbreviation

1. enclosed.

2. enclosure.

en clair /ˌän ˈkler/

I. adjective, adverb

(especially of a telegram or official message) in ordinary language, rather than in code or cipher.

– origin French, literally ‘in clear.’

enclasp /inˈklasp enˈklasp/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› hold tightly in one's arms.

enclave /ˈenˌklāv ˈäNGˌklāv/

I. noun

1. a portion of territory within or surrounded by a larger territory whose inhabitants are culturally or ethnically distinct.

2. a place or group that is different in character from those surrounding it

• the engineering department is traditionally a male enclave.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, from Old French enclaver ‘enclose, dovetail,’ based on Latin clavis ‘key.’

enclitic /enˈklidik / ‹Linguistics›

I. noun

a word pronounced with so little emphasis that it is shortened and forms part of the preceding word, e.g., n't in can't.
Compare with proclitic.

II. adjective

denoting or relating to an enclitic word.

III. derivatives

enclitically /-(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: via late Latin from Greek enklitikos, from enklinein ‘lean on,’ from en- ‘in, on’ + klinein ‘to lean.’

enclose /inˈklōz enˈklōz / ‹dated› inclose

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. surround or close off on all sides

• the entire estate was enclosed with walls

• (as adj. enclosed) a dark enclosed space.

2. ‹historical› fence in (common land) so as to make it private property.

3. (usu. as adj. enclosed) — seclude (a religious order or other community) from the outside world.

4. [chiefly Mathematics] bound on all sides; contain.

5. place (something) in an envelope together with a letter

• I enclose a copy of the job description.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘shut in, imprison’): from Old French enclos, past participle of enclore, based on Latin includere ‘shut in.’

enclosure /inˈklōZHər enˈklōZHər / ‹dated› inclosure

I. noun

1. an area that is sealed off with an artificial or natural barrier.

2. an artificial or natural barrier that seals off an area.

3. the state of being enclosed, especially in a religious community

• the nuns kept strict enclosure.

4. ‹historical› the process or policy of fencing in waste or common land so as to make it private property, as pursued in much of Britain in the 18th and early 19th centuries

• one of the chief effects of enclosure was to increase the number of landless workers.

5. a document or object placed in an envelope together with a letter.

– origin late Middle English: from legal Anglo-Norman French and Old French, from enclos ‘closed in’ (see enclose).

encode /inˈkōd enˈkōd/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. convert into a coded form.

2. [Computing] convert (information or an instruction) into a particular form

• the amount of time required to encode a WAV file to MP3 format.

3. [Biochemistry] (of a gene) be responsible for producing (a substance or behavior).

II. derivatives

1. encodable

adjective

2. encoder /inˈkōdər enˈkōdər /

noun

3. encodement /inˈkōdmənt enˈkōdmənt /

noun

encomiast /inˈkōmēˌast enˈkōmēˌast/

I. noun

‹formal› a person who publicly praises or flatters someone else.

II. derivatives

1. encomiastic /inˌkōmēˈastik enˌkōmēˈastik /

adjective

2. encomiastically /enˌkōmēˈastik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin early 17th cent.: from Greek enkōmiastēs, from enkōmiazein ‘to praise,’ from enkōmion (see encomium).

encomienda /enˌkōmēˈendə, -ˌkämē-/

I. noun

‹historical› a grant by the Spanish Crown to a colonist in America conferring the right to demand tribute and forced labor from the Indian inhabitants of an area.

– origin Spanish, literally ‘commission, charge.’

encomium /enˈkōmēəm inˈkōmēəm/

I. noun

‹formal› a speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly.

– origin mid 16th cent.: Latin, from Greek enkōmion ‘eulogy,’ from en- ‘within’ + komos ‘revel.’

encompass /inˈkəmpəs enˈkəmpəs/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — surround and have or hold within

• a vast halo encompassing the Milky Way galaxy.

2. include comprehensively

• no studies encompass all aspects of medical care.

3. ‹archaic› cause (something) to take place

• an act designed to encompass the death of the king.

II. derivatives

encompassment

noun

encopresis /ˌenkəˈprēsis/

noun

[Medicine] involuntary defecation, especially associated with emotional disturbance or psychiatric disorder.

encore /ˈänkôr/

I. noun

a repeated or additional performance of an item at the end of a concert, as called for by an audience.

II. exclamation

called out by an audience at the end of a concert to request an additional performance.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. give or call for a repeated or additional performance of (an item) at the end of a concert.

– origin early 18th cent.: French, literally ‘still, again.’

encounter /inˈkoun(t)ər enˈkoun(t)ər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. unexpectedly experience or be faced with (something difficult or hostile)

• we have encountered one small problem.

2. meet (someone) unexpectedly.

II. noun

1. an unexpected or casual meeting with someone or something.

2. a confrontation or unpleasant struggle

• his close encounter with death.

– origin Middle English (in the senses ‘meet as an adversary’ and ‘a meeting of adversaries’; formerly also as incounter): from Old French encontrer (verb), encontre (noun), based on Latin in- ‘in’ + contra ‘against.’

encounter group

noun

(chiefly US) a group of people who meet to gain psychological benefit through close contact with one another.

encourage /inˈkərij/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. give support, confidence, or hope to (someone)

• we were encouraged by the success of this venture

• (as adj. encouraged) I feel much encouraged.

2. give support and advice to (someone) so that they will do or continue to do something
[with obj. and infinitive]

• pupils are encouraged to be creative.

3. help or stimulate (an activity, state, or view) to develop

• the intention is to encourage new writing talent.

II. derivatives

encourager /inˈkərijər /

noun

– origin Middle English (formerly also as incourage): from French encourager, from en- ‘in’ + corage ‘courage.’

encouragement /inˈkərijmənt enˈkərijmənt/

noun

1. the action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope

• thank you for all your support and encouragement.

2. persuasion to do or to continue something

• incentives and encouragement to play sports.

3. the act of trying to stimulate the development of an activity, state, or belief

• the encouragement of foreign investment.

encouraging /enˈkərijiNG/

I. adjective

1. giving someone support or confidence; supportive

• she gave me an encouraging smile.

2. positive and giving hope for future success; promising

• the results are very encouraging.

II. derivatives

encouragingly /inˈkərijiNGlē /

adverb

[sentence adverb]

• encouragingly, there is more research being done today

• [as submodifier] the level of activity continues to be encouragingly high

encroach /inˈkrōCH enˈkrōCH/

I. verb — [no obj.] (usu. encroach on/upon)

1. intrude on (a person's territory or a thing considered to be a right)

• rather than encroach on his privacy, she might have kept to her room.

2. advance gradually beyond usual or acceptable limits

• the sea has encroached all around the coast.

II. derivatives

encroacher /inˈkrōCHər enˈkrōCHər /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘obtain unlawfully, seize’; formerly also as incroach): from Old French encrochier ‘seize, fasten upon,’ from en- ‘in, on’ + crochier (from croc ‘hook,’ from Old Norse krókr).

encroachment /enˈkrōCHmənt/

noun

1. intrusion on a person's territory, rights, etc.

• minor encroachments on our individual liberties.

2. a gradual advance beyond usual or acceptable limits

• urban encroachment of habitat.

3. [Football] a penalty in which a defensive player is positioned in the neutral zone at the start of a play.

en croute /ˌän ˈkro͞ot/

I. adjective, adverb

in a pastry crust
[as postpositive adj.]

• salmon en croute

• [as adv.] goat's cheese is particularly tasty baked en croute.

– origin French en croûte.

encrust /inˈkrəst enˈkrəst / incrust

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cover (something) with a hard surface layer

• the mussels encrust navigation buoys

• (as adj. encrusted) the dried and encrusted blood.

2. [no obj.] — form a crust.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘cause to form a crust’): from French incruster or encroûter, both from Latin incrustare, from in- ‘into’ + crusta ‘a crust.’

encrustation /ˌenkrəsˈtāSH(ə)n / incrustation

I. noun

1. the action of encrusting or state of being encrusted.

2. a crust or hard coating on the surface of something

• the sides are white with encrustations of salt.

3. [Architecture] a facing of marble on a building.

– origin early 17th cent. (originally as incrustation): from late Latin incrustatio(n-), from the verb incrustare (see encrust).

encrypt /inˈkript enˈkript/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. convert (information or data) into a cipher or code, especially to prevent unauthorized access.

2. (encrypt something in) — conceal data in (something) by converting it into a code.

– origin 1950s (originally US): from en-1 ‘in’ + Greek kruptos ‘hidden.’

encryption /inˈkripSH(ə)n enˈkripSH(ə)n/

noun

the process of converting information or data into a code, especially to prevent unauthorized access

• I use encryption to protect sensitive information transmitted online.

enculturation /enˌkəlCHəˈrāSHən / inculturation

noun

1. the gradual acquisition of the characteristics and norms of a culture or group by a person, another culture, etc.

2. the adaptation of Christian liturgy to a non-Christian cultural background.

encumber /inˈkəmbər enˈkəmbər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. restrict or burden (someone or something) in such a way that free action or movement is difficult

• she was encumbered by her heavy skirts

• they had arrived encumbered with families.

2. saddle (a person or estate) with a debt or mortgage

• an estate heavily encumbered with debt.

3. fill or block up (a place)

• we tripped over sticks and stones, which encumber most of the trail.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘cause trouble to, entangle’; formerly also as incumber): from Old French encombrer ‘block up,’ from en- ‘in’ + combre ‘river barrage.’

encumbrance /inˈkəmb(ə)rəns enˈkəmb(ə)rəns/

I. noun

1. a burden or impediment.

2. [Law] a mortgage or other charge on property or assets.

3. ‹archaic› a person, especially a child, who is dependent on someone else for support.

– origin Middle English (denoting an encumbered state; formerly also as incumbrance): from Old French encombrance, from encombrer ‘block up’ (see encumber).

ency.

abbreviation

encyclopedia.

-ency /ənsē, n-sē/

I. suffix

1. forming nouns:

2. denoting a quality

• efficiency.

3. denoting a state

• presidency.

– origin from Latin -entia (compare with -ence).

encyc.

abbreviation

encyclopedia.

encycl.

abbreviation

encyclopedia.

encyclical /inˈsiklək(ə)l enˈsiklək(ə)l/

I. noun

a papal letter sent to all bishops of the Roman Catholic Church.

II. adjective

of or relating to an encyclical letter.

– origin mid 17th cent. (as an adjective): via late Latin from Greek enkuklios ‘circular, general,’ from en- ‘in’ + kuklos ‘a circle.’

encyclopedia /inˌsīkləˈpēdēə enˌsīkləˈpēdēə / ‹chiefly Brit.› encyclopaedia

I. noun

a book or set of books giving information on many subjects or on many aspects of one subject and typically arranged alphabetically.

– origin mid 16th cent.: modern Latin, from pseudo-Greek enkuklopaideia for enkuklios paideia ‘all-around education.’

encyclopedic /inˌsīkləˈpēdik enˌsīkləˈpēdik / ‹chiefly Brit.› encyclopaedic

I. adjective

1. comprehensive in terms of information

• he has an almost encyclopedic knowledge of food.

2. relating to or containing names of famous people and places and information about words that is not simply linguistic

• a dictionary with encyclopedic material.

II. derivatives

encyclopedically /-(ə)lē /

adverb

encyclopedism /inˌsīkləˈpēdizəm enˌsīkləˈpēdizəm / ‹chiefly Brit.› encyclopaedism

noun

comprehensive learning or knowledge.

encyclopedist /inˌsīkləˈpēdəst enˌsīkləˈpēdəst / ‹chiefly Brit.› encyclopaedist

noun

a person who writes, edits, or contributes to an encyclopedia.

encyst /enˈsist/

I. verb

[Zoology] enclose or become enclosed in a cyst.

II. derivatives

1. encystation /ˌensiˈstāSHən /

noun

2. encystment /enˈsistmənt /

noun

end /end/

I. noun

1. a final part of something, especially a period of time, an activity, or a story

• the end of the year

• Mario led the race from beginning to end.

2. a termination of a state or situation

• the party called for an end to violence

• one notice will be effective to bring the tenancy to an end.

3. used to emphasize that something, typically a subject of discussion, is considered finished

• you will go to church and that's the end of it.

4. death or ruin

• if she's caught stealing again, it will be the end of her career.

5. ‹archaic› (in biblical use) an ultimate state or condition

• the end of that man is peace.

6. the furthest or most extreme part or point of something

• a length of wire with a hook at the end

• [as modifier] the end house.

7. a small piece that is left after something has been used

• a box of candle ends.

8. a specified extreme point on a scale

• homebuyers at the lower end of the market.

9. the part or share of an activity with which someone is concerned

• you're going to honor your end of the deal.

10. a place that is linked to another by a telephone call, letter, or journey

• “Hello,” said a voice at the other end.

11. the part of an athletic field or court defended by one team or player.

12. a goal or result that one seeks to achieve

• each would use the other to further his own ends

• to this end, schools were set up for peasant women.

13. [Lawn Bowling] [Curling] a session of play in one particular direction across the playing area.

14. [Football] an offensive or defensive lineman positioned nearest to the sideline.

II. verb

1. come or bring to a final point; finish
[no obj.]

• when the war ended, policy changed

• the chapter ends with a case study

• [with obj.] she wanted to end the relationship.

2. [no obj.] — reach a point and go no further

• the boundary where agnosticism ends and atheism begins.

3. [no obj.] — perform a final act

• the man ended by attacking a police officer.

4. [no obj.] (end in) — have as its final part, point, or result

• one in three marriages is now likely to end in divorce.

5. [no obj.] (end up) — eventually reach or come to a specified place, state, or course of action

• I ended up in Connecticut

• you could end up with a higher income.

III. phrases

1. at the end of the day

‹informal› when everything is taken into consideration

• at the end of the day, I'm responsible for what happens in the school.

2. be at (or have come to) an end

a. be finished or completed.

b. (of a supply of something) become exhausted

• our patience has come to an end.

3. be at the end of

be close to having no more of (something)

• he was at the end of his ability to cope.

4. be the end

‹informal› be the limit of what one can tolerate

• you really are the end!

5. come to (or meet) a bad end

be led by one's own actions to ruin or an unpleasant death.

6. end one's days (or life)

spend the final part of one's existence in a specified place or state

• the last passenger pigeon ended her days in the Cincinnati Zoo.

7. an end in itself

a goal that is pursued in its own right to the exclusion of others.

8. end in tears

have an unhappy or painful outcome (often as a warning)

• this treaty will end in tears.

9. end it all

commit suicide.

10. the end of the road (or line)

the point beyond which progress or survival cannot continue

• if the lawsuit is not dropped it could be the end of the road for the publisher.

11. the end of one's rope (or tether)

having no patience or energy left to cope with something

• after enduring four years of mice in the house, we were at the end of our rope

• they have reached the end of their tether.

12. the end of the world

a. the termination of life on the earth.

b. ‹informal› a complete disaster

• it's not the end of the world if you're not great at sports.

13. end on

a. with the furthest point of an object facing toward one

• seen end on, their sharp, rocky summits point like arrows.

b. with the furthest point of an object touching that of another

• slim stone tiles had been layered end on with incredible skill.

14. end to end

in a row with the furthest point of one object touching that of another object.

15. in the end

eventually or on reflection

• in the end, I saw that she was right.

16. keep (or hold) one's end up

‹informal› perform well in a difficult or competitive situation.

17. make an end of

cause (someone or something) to stop existing.

18. make (both) ends meet

earn enough money to live without getting into debt.

19. never (or not) hear the end of

be continually reminded of (an unpleasant topic or cause of annoyance).

20. no end

‹informal› to a great extent; very much

• this cheered me up no end.

21. no end of

‹informal› a vast number or amount of (something)

• we shared no end of good times.

22. on end

a. continuing without stopping for a specified period of time

• sometimes they'll be gone for days on end.

b. in an upright position

• he brushed his hair, leaving a tuft standing on end.

23. put an end to

cause someone or something to stop existing

• injury put an end to his career.

24. a —— to end all ——s

‹informal› used to emphasize how impressive or successful something is of its kind

• it was a party to end all parties.

25. without end

without a limit or boundary

• a war without end.

– origin Old English ende (noun), endian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch einde (noun), einden (verb) and German Ende (noun), enden (verb).

-end

I. suffix

denoting a person or thing to be treated in a specified way

• dividend

• reverend.

– origin from Latin -endus, gerundive ending.

end-all

noun — (the end-all)

1. the thing that is final or definitive.

endanger /inˈdānjər enˈdānjər/

verb — [with obj.]

1. put (someone or something) at risk or in danger

• he was driving in a manner likely to endanger life.

endangered /inˈdānjərd enˈdānjərd/

adjective

(of a species) seriously at risk of extinction.

endangered species

noun

a species of animal or plant that is seriously at risk of extinction

• special collections of rare and endangered species from Crete.

endangerment /inˈdānjərmənt, enˈdānjərmənt/

noun

the action of putting someone or something at risk or in danger

• prosecutors charged him with reckless endangerment of fellow passengers

• child endangerment.

end-around /ˈendəˌround/

I. noun

[Football] a play in which an end carries the ball around the opposing side of the line of scrimmage.

II. adjective

[Computing] involving the transfer of a digit from one end of a register to the other.

endarterectomy /ˌendärdəˈrektəmē/

noun

surgical removal of part of the inner lining of an artery, together with any obstructive deposits, most often carried out on the carotid artery or on vessels supplying the legs.

endarteritis /ˌendärdəˈrīdəs/

noun

[Medicine] inflammation of the inner lining of an artery.

en dash /ˈen ˌdaSH/

noun

a short dash, the width of an en, used in punctuation.

endear /inˈdir enˈdir/

verb — [with obj.]

1. cause to be loved or liked

• Flora's spirit and character endeared her to everyone who met her.

endearing /inˈdiriNG enˈdiriNG/

adjective

inspiring love or affection

• an endearing little grin.

endearingly /inˈdiriNGlē enˈdiriNGlē/

adverb

in a manner that inspires affection

• he was admired by "his boys," as he endearingly called them.

endearment /inˈdirmənt enˈdirmənt/

noun

1. a word or phrase expressing love or affection.

2. love or affection

• a term of endearment.

endeavor /ənˈdevər / ‹Brit.› endeavour

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. try hard to do or achieve something

• he is endeavoring to help the Third World.

II. noun

1. an attempt to achieve a goal
[with infinitive]

• an endeavor to reduce serious injury.

2. earnest and industrious effort, especially when sustained over a period of time

• enthusiasm is a vital ingredient in all human endeavor.

3. an enterprise or undertaking

• a political endeavor.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘exert oneself’): from the phrase put oneself in devoir ‘do one's utmost’ (see devoir).

endemic /enˈdemik/

I. adjective

1. (of a disease or condition) regularly found among particular people or in a certain area

• areas where malaria is endemic

• complacency is endemic in industry today.

2. [attrib.] — denoting an area in which a particular disease is regularly found.

3. (of a plant or animal) native or restricted to a certain country or area

• a marsupial endemic to northeastern Australia.

II. noun

an endemic plant or animal.

III. derivatives

1. endemically /enˈdemək(ə)lē /

adverb

2. endemicity /ˌendəˈmisədē /

noun

3. endemism /ˈendəˌmizəm /

noun

endemic (sense 2 of the adjective)

– origin mid 17th cent. (as a noun): from French endémique or modern Latin endemicus, from Greek endēmios ‘native’ (based on dēmos ‘people’). / usage: On the difference between endemic, epidemic, and pandemic, see usage at epidemic.

Enderby Land /ˈendərbē länd, länt/

a part of Antarctica that is claimed by Australia.

endergonic /ˌendərˈɡänik/

I. adjective

[Biochemistry] (of a metabolic or chemical process) accompanied by or requiring the absorption of energy, the products being of greater free energy than the reactants.
The opposite of exergonic.

– origin mid 20th cent.: from endo- ‘within’ + Greek ergon ‘work’ + -ic.

Enders, John Franklin /ˈendərz/

(1897–1985), US virologist. With Frederick C. Robbins (1916–2003) and Thomas H. Weller (1915–2008), he devised a method of growing viruses in tissue cultures, which led to the development of vaccines against mumps, polio, and measles. Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine (1954), shared with Robbins and Weller.

endgame /ˈen(d)ˌɡām / end game

noun

the final stage of a game such as chess or bridge, when few pieces or cards remain

• the knight was trapped in the endgame

• ‹figurative› the retaliatory endgame of nuclear warfare.

endgate /ˈen(d)ɡāt/

noun

(N. Amer.) another term for tailgate.

end grain

noun

the grain of wood seen when it is cut across the growth rings.

endian /ˈendēən/

I. adjective

[Computing] denoting or relating to a system of ordering data in a computer's memory whereby the most significant (big-endian) or least significant (little-endian) byte is put first.

– origin 1980s: a reference to Swift's Gulliver's Travels, in which the Lilliputians were divided into two camps, those who ate their eggs by opening the ‘big’ end and those who ate them by opening the ‘little’ end.

ending /ˈendiNG/

I. noun

1. an end or final part of something, especially a period of time, an activity, or a book or movie

• the ending of the Cold War.

2. the furthest part or point of something

• a nerve ending.

3. the final part of a word, constituting a grammatical inflection or formative element.

– origin Old English endung ‘termination, completion’ (see end, -ing^1).

endive /ˈenˌdīv ˈänˌdēv/

I. noun

1. an edible Mediterranean plant whose bitter leaves may be blanched and used in salads.
[Cichorium endivia, family Compositae (including both curly-leaved and smooth-leaved varieties).]

2. (also Belgian endive) — (N. Amer.) a young, typically blanched chicory plant, eaten as a cooked vegetable or in salads.

– origin late Middle English (also denoting the sow thistle): via Old French from medieval Latin endivia, based on Greek entubon.

endless /ˈen(d)ləs/

I. adjective

1. having or seeming to have no end or limit

• endless ocean wastes

• the list is endless.

2. countless; innumerable

• we smoked endless cigarettes.

3. (of a belt, chain, or tape) having the ends joined to form a loop allowing continuous action.

II. derivatives

endlessness

noun

– origin Old English endelēas (see end, -less).

endlessly /ˈen(d)ləslē/

adverb

in a way that has or seems to have no end or limit

• the original episodes were endlessly repeated

• [as submodifier] an endlessly fascinating subject.

endless screw

noun

the threaded cylinder in a worm gear.

end line

noun

[Football] the line that marks the back of the end zone.

endlong /ˈendˌlôNG, -ˌläNG/

adverb

‹archaic› from end to end; lengthwise.

end man

noun

1. a man at the end of a row, line, or series.

2. ‹historical› a man at the end of a line of performers in a minstrel show who engaged in comic repartee with the interlocutor.

endmost /ˈen(d)mōst/

adjective

nearest to the end.

endnote /ˈen(d)ˌnōt/

noun

a note printed at the end of a book or section of a book.

endo-

I. combining form

internal; within

• endoderm

• endogenous.

– origin from Greek endon ‘within.’

endocardial /ˌendōˈkärdēəl/

adjective

1. [Anatomy] [Medicine] of or relating to the endocardium.

2. [Anatomy] [Medicine] situated inside the heart.

endocarditis /ˌendōˌkärˈdīdəs/

I. noun

[Medicine] inflammation of the endocardium.

II. derivatives

endocarditic /-ˈditik /

adjective

endocardium /ˌendōˈkärdēəm/

I. noun

the thin, smooth membrane that lines the inside of the chambers of the heart and forms the surface of the valves.

– origin late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from endo- ‘within’ + Greek kardia ‘heart.’

endocarp /ˈendōkärp/

I. noun

[Botany] the innermost layer of the pericarp that surrounds a seed in a fruit. It may be membranous (as in apples) or woody (as in the stone of a peach or cherry).

II. derivatives

endocarpic /ˌendōˈkärpik /

adjective

– origin early 19th cent.: from endo- ‘within’ + a shortened form of pericarp.

endocentric /ˌendōˈsentrik/

adjective

[Linguistics] denoting or being a construction in which the whole has the same syntactic function as the head, for example big black dogs.
Contrasted with exocentric.

endocrine /ˈendəkrən/

I. adjective

[Physiology] of, relating to, or denoting glands that secrete hormones or other products directly into the blood

• the endocrine system.

– origin early 20th cent.: from endo- ‘within’ + Greek krinein ‘sift.’

endocrinology /ˌendōkrəˈnäləjē/

I. noun

the branch of physiology and medicine concerned with endocrine glands and hormones.

II. derivatives

1. endocrinological /-ˌkrinəˈläjikəl /

adjective

2. endocrinologist /ˌendəkrəˈnäləjəst /

noun

endocytosis /ˌendōsīˈtōsəs/

I. noun

[Biology] the taking in of matter by a living cell by invagination of its membrane to form a vacuole.

II. derivatives

1. endocytose /ˌendōsīˈtōs, -ˈtōz /

verb

2. endocytotic /-ˈtätik /

adjective

endoderm /ˈendəˌdərm / entoderm

I. noun

[Zoology] [Embryology] the innermost layer of cells or tissue of an embryo in early development, or the parts derived from this, which include the lining of the gut and associated structures.
Compare with ectoderm and mesoderm.

II. derivatives

1. endodermal /ˌendəˈdərməl, ˌendō- /

adjective

2. endodermic /ˌendəˈdərmik, ˌendō- /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from endo- ‘within’ + Greek derma ‘skin.’

endodermis /ˌendōˈdərməs/

I. noun

[Botany] an inner layer of cells in the cortex of a root and of some stems, surrounding a vascular bundle.

– origin early 20th cent.: from endo- ‘within’ + modern Latin dermis ‘skin.’

endogamy /enˈdäɡəmē/

I. noun

1. [Anthropology] the custom of marrying only within the limits of a local community, clan, or tribe.
Compare with exogamy.

2. [Anthropology] [Biology] the fusion of reproductive cells from related individuals; inbreeding; self-pollination.

II. derivatives

1. endogamic /enˈdäɡəmē /

adjective

2. endogamous /enˈdäɡəməs /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from endo- ‘within’ + Greek gamos ‘marriage,’ on the pattern of polygamy.

endogenetic /ˌendōjəˈnedik/

adjective

another term for endogenic.

endogenic /ˌendōˈjenik/

adjective

[Geology] formed or occurring beneath the surface of the earth.
Often contrasted with exogenic.

endogenous /enˈdäjənəs/

I. adjective

1. having an internal cause or origin

• the expected rate of infection is endogenous to the system.

Often contrasted with exogenous.

2. [Biology] growing or originating from within an organism

• endogenous gene sequences.

3. [chiefly Psychiatry] (of a disease or symptom) not attributable to any external or environmental factor

• endogenous depression.

4. confined within a group or society.

II. derivatives

endogenously

adverb

endoglossic /ˌendōˈɡlôsik/

I. noun

[Linguistics] denoting or relating to an indigenous language that is used as the first or official language in a country or community.
Compare with exoglossic.

– origin 1980s: from endo-, Greek glōssa ‘language, tongue,’ and -ic.

endolithic /ˌendōˈliTHik/

adjective

[Biology] living in or penetrating into stone

• endolithic algae.

endolymph /ˈendəˌlimf/

noun

[Anatomy] the fluid in the membranous labyrinth of the ear.

endometriosis /ˌendōˌmētrēˈōsəs/

noun

[Medicine] a condition resulting from the appearance of endometrial tissue outside the uterus and causing pelvic pain.

endometritis /ˌendōməˈtrīdəs/

noun

[Medicine] inflammation of the endometrium.

endometrium /ˌendōˈmētrēəm/

I. noun

[Anatomy] the mucous membrane lining the uterus, which thickens during the menstrual cycle in preparation for possible implantation of an embryo.

II. derivatives

endometrial /-trēəl /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from endo- ‘within’ + Greek mētra ‘womb.’

endomorph /ˈendəˌmôrf/

I. noun

1. [Physiology] a person with a soft round body build and a high proportion of fat tissue.
Compare with ectomorph and mesomorph.

2. [Mineralogy] a mineral or crystal enclosed within another.

II. derivatives

1. endomorphic /ˌendəˈmôrfik /

adjective

2. endomorphy /-ˌmôrfē /

noun

– origin 1940s: endo- from endodermal (being the layer of the embryo giving rise to the physical characteristics that predominate) + -morph.

endonuclease /ˌendōˈn(y)o͞oklēˌās, -ˌāz/

noun

[Biochemistry] an enzyme that cleaves a polynucleotide chain by separating nucleotides other than the two end ones.

endoparasite /ˌendōˈperəsīt/

I. noun

[Biology] a parasite, such as a tapeworm, that lives inside its host.
Compare with ectoparasite.

II. derivatives

endoparasitic /-ˌparəˈsitik /

adjective

endopeptidase /ˌendōˈpeptədās/

noun

[Biochemistry] an enzyme that breaks peptide bonds other than terminal ones in a peptide chain.

endophora /enˈdäfərə/

I. noun

[Linguistics] the set of relationships among words having the same reference within a text, contributing to textual cohesion; anaphora and cataphora.
Compare with exophora.

II. derivatives

endophoric /ˌendəˈfôrik, -fär- /

adjective

– origin late 20th cent.: from endo- ‘within,’ on the pattern of anaphora.

endophyte /ˈendəˌfīt/

I. noun

[Botany] a plant, especially a fungus, that lives inside another plant.

II. derivatives

1. endophytic /ˌendəˈfitik /

adjective

2. endophytically /ˌendəˈfitik(ə)lē /

adverb

endoplasm /ˈendōˌplazəm/

noun

[Biology] ‹dated› the more fluid, granular inner layer of the cytoplasm in amoeboid cells.
Compare with ectoplasm (sense 1).

endoplasmic reticulum /ˌendōˌplazmik rəˈtikyələm/

noun

[Biology] a network of membranous tubules within the cytoplasm of a eukaryotic cell, continuous with the nuclear membrane. It usually has ribosomes attached and is involved in protein and lipid synthesis.

endopodite /enˈdäpəˌdīt / endopod

I. noun

[Zoology] the inner branch of the biramous limb or appendage of a crustacean.
Compare with exopodite, protopodite.

– origin late 19th cent.: from endo- ‘within’ + Greek pous, pod- ‘foot’ + -ite^1.

end organ

noun

1. [Anatomy] a specialized, encapsulated ending of a peripheral sensory nerve, which acts as a receptor for a stimulus.

2. another term for target organ.

endorphin /ˌenˈdôrfēn/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] any of a group of hormones secreted within the brain and nervous system and having a number of physiological functions. They are peptides that activate the body's opiate receptors, causing an analgesic effect.

– origin 1970s: blend of endogenous and morphine.

endorse /inˈdôrs enˈdôrs / ‹dated› indorse

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. declare one's public approval or support of

• the report was endorsed by the college.

2. recommend (a product) in an advertisement.

3. sign (a check or bill of exchange) on the back to make it payable to someone other than the stated payee or to accept responsibility for paying it.

4. (usu. be endorsed on) — write (a comment) on the front or back of a document.

II. derivatives

1. endorsable

adjective

2. endorser /inˈdôrsər enˈdôrsər /

noun

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘write on the back of’; formerly also as indorse): from medieval Latin indorsare, from Latin in- ‘in, on’ + dorsum ‘back.’

endorsee /ˌendôrˈsē/

noun

a person to whom a check or bill of exchange is made payable instead of the stated payee.

endorsement /inˈdôrsmənt enˈdôrsmənt / ‹dated› indorsement

noun

1. an act of giving one's public approval or support to someone or something.

2. a clause in an insurance policy detailing an exemption from or change in coverage.

3. the action of endorsing a check or bill of exchange.

endoscope /ˈendəˌskōp/

noun

[Medicine] an instrument that can be introduced into the body to give a view of its internal parts.

endoscopy /enˈdäskəpē/

I. noun

[Medicine] a procedure in which an instrument is introduced into the body to give a view of its internal parts

• an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed gastritis

• patients with alarm symptoms should undergo endoscopy.

II. derivatives

1. endoscopic /ˌendəˈskäpik /

adjective

2. endoscopically /ˌendəˈskäpəklē /

adverb

3. endoscopist /enˈdäskəpəst /

noun

endoskeleton /ˌendōˈskelətn/

I. noun

[Zoology] an internal skeleton, such as the bony or cartilaginous skeleton of vertebrates.
Compare with exoskeleton.

II. derivatives

endoskeletal /-ˈskelitl /

adjective

endosperm /ˈendəˌspərm/

noun

[Botany] the part of a seed that acts as a food store for the developing plant embryo, usually containing starch with protein and other nutrients.

endospore /ˈendəˌspôr/

I. noun

1. [Biology] a resistant asexual spore that develops inside some bacteria cells.

2. [Biology] the inner layer of the membrane or wall of some spores and pollen grains.

II. derivatives

endosporous /enˈdäspərəs, ˌendəˈspôrəs /

adjective

endosymbiosis /ˌendōˌsimbēˈōsis, -ˌsimbī-/

I. noun

[Biology] symbiosis in which one of the symbiotic organisms lives inside the other.

II. derivatives

1. endosymbiont /-ˈsimbēˌänt, -ˈsimbī- /

noun

2. endosymbiotic /-ˈätik /

adjective

endothelium /ˌendəˈTHēlēəm/

I. noun

the tissue that forms a single layer of cells lining various organs and cavities of the body, especially the blood vessels, heart, and lymphatic vessels. It is formed from the embryonic mesoderm.
Compare with epithelium.

II. derivatives

endothelial /-lēəl /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from endo- ‘within’ + Greek thēlē ‘nipple.’

endotherm /ˈendəˌTHərm/

I. noun

[Zoology] an animal that is dependent on or capable of the internal generation of heat; a warm-blooded animal.

II. derivatives

endothermy

noun

– origin 1940s: from endo- ‘within,’ on the pattern of homoiotherm.

endothermic /ˌendōˈTHərmik/

I. adjective

1. (also endothermal) — [Chemistry] (of a reaction or process) accompanied by or requiring the absorption of heat.
The opposite of exothermic.

2. (of a compound) requiring a net input of heat for its formation from its constituent elements.

3. [Zoology] (of an animal) dependent on or capable of the internal generation of heat.

II. derivatives

endothermically /-(ə)lē /

adverb

endotoxin /ˈendəˌtäksən/

I. noun

[Microbiology] a toxin that is present inside a bacterial cell and is released when the cell disintegrates. It is sometimes responsible for the characteristic symptoms of a disease, e.g., in botulism.
Compare with exotoxin.

II. derivatives

endotoxic /ˌendōˈtäksik /

adjective

endotracheal /ˌendōˈtrākēəl/

I. adjective

situated or occurring within or performed by way of the trachea

• endotracheal tube.

II. derivatives

endotracheally

adverb

endow /inˈdou enˈdou/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. give or bequeath an income or property to (a person or institution)

• he endowed the church with lands.

2. establish (a college post, annual prize, or project) by donating the funds needed to maintain it.

3. (usu. be endowed with) — provide with a quality, ability, or asset

• he was endowed with tremendous physical strength.

II. derivatives

endower

noun

– origin late Middle English (also in the sense ‘provide a dower or dowry’; formerly also as indow): from legal Anglo-Norman French endouer, from en- ‘in, toward’ + Old French douer ‘give as a gift’ (from Latin dotare: see dower).

endowment /inˈdoumənt enˈdoumənt/

noun

1. the action of endowing something or someone

• he tried to promote the endowment of a Chair of Psychiatry.

2. an income or form of property given or bequeathed to someone.

3. (usu. endowments) — a quality or ability possessed or inherited by someone.

4. [usu. as modifier] — a form of life insurance involving payment of a fixed sum to the insured person on a specified date, or to their estate should they die before this date

• an endowment policy.

endpaper /ˈen(d)ˌpāpər / end paper

noun

a blank or decorated leaf of paper at the beginning or end of a book, especially one fixed to the inside of the cover.

end plate

noun

1. a flattened piece at or forming the end of something such as a motor or generator.

2. [Anatomy] each of the discoid expansions of a motor nerve where its branches terminate on a muscle fiber.

endplay /ˈen(d)plā / ‹Bridge›

I. noun

a way of playing the last few tricks that forces an opponent to make a disadvantageous lead.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. force (an opponent) to make an endplay.

endpoint /ˈen(d)point / end point

noun

1. the final stage of a period or process.

2. [Chemistry] the point in a titration at which a reaction is complete, often marked by a color change.

3. [Mathematics] a point or value that marks the end of a ray or one of the ends of a line segment or interval.

end product /ˈen(d) ˌprädəkt/

noun

that which is produced as the final result of an activity or process, especially the finished article in a manufacturing process.

end result /ˈen(d) rəˌzəlt/

noun

the final result or outcome of an activity or process.

endrin /ˈendrin/

I. noun

a toxic insecticide that is a stereoisomer of dieldrin.

– origin mid 20th cent.: from endo- ‘within’ + a shortened form of dieldrin.

end run

I. noun

1. [Football] an attempt by the ballcarrier to run around the end of the defensive line.

2. [Football] (N. Amer.) an evasive tactic or maneuver.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) evade; circumvent

• an attempt to end-run regulations for fire protection.

end-stage

adjective

denoting, relating to, or occurring in the final phase of a terminal illness

• he was suffering end-stage kidney failure

• patients with end-stage lung disease.

end-stopped /ˈendstäpt/

adjective

(of verse) having a pause at the end of each line.

end times

plural noun

(chiefly US) (in some religious beliefs) the period leading up to Judgment Day

• people in every age have wondered if the end times were going to occur during their lifetimes.

endue /inˈd(y)o͞o enˈd(y)o͞o/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› endow or provide with a quality or ability

• our sight would be endued with a far greater sharpness.

– origin late Middle English (also in the sense ‘induct into an ecclesiastical living’): from Old French enduire, partly from Latin inducere ‘lead in’ (see induce), reinforced by the sense of Latin induere ‘put on clothes.’

endurable /ˌinˈd(y)o͝orəb(ə)l ˌenˈd(y)o͝orəb(ə)l/

adjective

able to be endured; bearable

• my journey was long but endurable.

endurance /inˈd(y)o͝orəns enˈd(y)o͝orəns/

I. noun

1. the fact or power of enduring an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way

• she was close to the limit of her endurance.

2. the capacity of something to last or to withstand wear and tear.

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘continued existence, ability to last’; formerly also as indurance): from Old French, from endurer ‘make hard’ (see endure).

endure /inˈd(y)o͝or enˈd(y)o͝or/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — suffer (something painful or difficult) patiently

• it seemed impossible that anyone could endure such pain.

2. [no obj.] — remain in existence; last

• these cities have endured through time.

II. derivatives

endurer

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French endurer, from Latin indurare ‘harden,’ from in- ‘in’ + durus ‘hard.’

enduring /inˈd(y)o͝oriNG enˈd(y)o͝oriNG/

I. adjective

continuing or long-lasting

• he formed a number of enduring relationships with women

• an enduring problem.

II. derivatives

enduringly /inˈd(y)o͝oriNGlē enˈd(y)o͝oriNGlē /

adverb

enduro /inˈd(y)o͝orō enˈd(y)o͝orō/

I. noun

a long-distance race, especially for motor vehicles, motorcycles, or bicycles, typically over rough terrain, designed to test endurance.

– origin 1950s: from endurance + the informal suffix -o.

end use

noun

the application or function for which something is designed or for which it is ultimately used.

end user /ˈend ˌyo͞ozər ˈen(d)ˌyo͞ozər/

noun

the person who actually uses a particular product.

endways /ˈen(d)ˌwāz / endwise

adverb

1. with its end facing upward, forward, or toward the viewer

• a little town looking endways on to the river.

2. in a row with the end of one object touching that of another

• strips of rubber cemented endways.

Endymion /enˈdimēən / ‹Greek Mythology›

a remarkably beautiful young man, loved by the Moon (Selene). According to one story, he was put in an eternal sleep by Zeus for having fallen in love with Hera, and was then visited every night by Selene.

end zone /end zōn/

noun

1. [Football] the rectangular area at each end of the field into which the ball must be carried or passed and caught to score a touchdown.

2. [Hockey] the area at either end of the rink, extending from the blue line to the boards behind the goal.

ENE

abbreviation

east-northeast.

-ene

I. suffix

1. denoting an inhabitant

• Nazarene.

2. [Chemistry] forming names of unsaturated hydrocarbons containing a double bond

• benzene

• ethylene.

– origin from Greek -ēnos.

en échelon /än ˈeSHəˌlän/

I. adjective, adverb

[chiefly Geology] in approximately parallel formation at an oblique angle to a particular direction.

– origin early 19th cent.: French, literally ‘in rung formation.’

enema /ˈenəmə/

I. noun

1. a procedure in which liquid or gas is injected into the rectum, typically to expel its contents, but also to introduce drugs or permit X-ray imaging.

2. a quantity of fluid or a syringe used in an enema.

– origin late Middle English: via late Latin from Greek, from enienai ‘send or put in,’ from en- ‘in’ + hienai ‘send.’

enemy /ˈenəmē/

I. noun

1. a person who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something.

2. [treated as sing. or pl.] (the enemy) — a hostile nation or its armed forces or citizens, especially in time of war

• the enemy shot down four helicopters

• [as modifier] enemy aircraft.

3. a thing that harms or weakens something else

• routine is the enemy of art.

II. phrases

be one's own worst enemy

act in a way contrary to one's own interests.

– origin Middle English: from Old French enemi, from Latin inimicus, from in- ‘not’ + amicus ‘friend.’

energetic /ˌenərˈjedik/

I. adjective

1. showing or involving great activity or vitality

• energetic exercise.

2. [Physics] characterized by a high level of energy (in the technical sense)

• energetic X-rays.

3. of or relating to energy (in the technical sense).

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘powerfully effective’): from Greek energētikos, from energein ‘operate, work in or upon’ (based on ergon ‘work’).

energetically /ˌenərˈjedəklē/

adverb

in a manner showing or involving great activity or vitality

• the girls dance energetically while the boys line the walls

• he energetically pursued his business activities.

energetics /ˌenərˈjediks/

I. plural noun

1. the properties of something in terms of energy.

2. [treated as sing.] — the branch of science dealing with the properties of energy and the way in which it is redistributed in physical, chemical, or biological processes.

II. derivatives

energeticist /-ˈjetisist /

noun

energize /ˈenərˌjīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. give vitality and enthusiasm to

• people were energized by his ideas.

2. supply energy, typically kinetic or electrical energy, to (something).

II. derivatives

energizer

noun

EnerGuide /ˈenərˌɡīd / Energuide

noun — ( in Canada)

1. ‹trademark› (in Canada) a system for measuring and rating the energy efficiency of houses or products, especially vehicles and household appliances

• EnerGuide is likely to yield very substantial real resource savings

• [as modifier] the whole house has an EnerGuide rating of 84.

energumen /ˌenərˈɡyo͞omən/

I. noun

‹archaic› a person believed to be possessed by the devil or a spirit.

– origin early 18th cent. (also denoting an enthusiast or fanatic): via late Latin from Greek energoumenos, passive participle of energein ‘work in or upon.’

energy /ˈenərjē/

I. noun

1. the strength and vitality required for sustained physical or mental activity

• changes in the levels of vitamins can affect energy and well-being.

2. (energies) — a person's physical and mental powers, typically as applied to a particular task or activity.

3. power derived from the utilization of physical or chemical resources, especially to provide light and heat or to work machines.

4. [Physics] the property of matter and radiation that is manifest as a capacity to perform work (such as causing motion or the interaction of molecules)

• a collision in which no energy is transferred.

5. a degree or level of energy possessed by something or required by a process.

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting force or vigor of expression): from French énergie, or via late Latin from Greek energeia, from en- ‘in, within’ + ergon ‘work.’

energy audit

noun

an assessment of the energy needs and efficiency of a building or buildings.

energy drink /ˈenərji driNGk/

noun

any of various types of beverage that are considered a source of energy, especially a soft drink containing a high percentage of sugar and/or caffeine or other stimulant.

energy efficiency ratio EER

noun

the ratio of a heating or cooling system's output, per hour, in British thermal units to the input in watts, used to measure the system's efficiency.

energy level

noun

[Physics] the fixed amount of energy that a system described by quantum mechanics, such as a molecule, atom, electron, or nucleus, can have.

energy-saving /ˈenərjēˌsāviNG/

adjective

designed to make economical use of electricity, gas, or other forms of energy

• an energy-saving lightbulb

• local authorities are keen to promote a range of energy-saving initiatives.

enervate

I. verb — /ˈenərˌvāt / [with obj.]

1. cause (someone) to feel drained of energy or vitality; weaken.

II. adjective — /ˈenərvət /

1. ‹literary› lacking in energy or vitality

• the enervate slightness of his frail form.

III. derivatives

enervator /-ˌvātər /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin enervat- ‘weakened (by extraction of the sinews),’ from the verb enervare, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out of’ + nervus ‘sinew.’

enervating /ˈenərˌvādiNG/

adjective

causing one to feel drained of energy or vitality

• the enervating humidity of the coast.

enervation /ˌenərˈvāSH(ə)n/

noun

a feeling of being drained of energy or vitality; fatigue

• a sense of enervation.

en face /än ˈfäs/

I. adverb, adjective

facing forward.

– origin mid 18th cent.: French.

en famille /ˌän fäˈmē/

I. adverb

with one's family

• when they went out en famille, Steven always drove.

– origin early 18th cent.: French, literally ‘in family.’

enfant terrible /ˌänfän teˈrēbl(ə)/

I. noun

a person whose unconventional or controversial behavior or ideas shock, embarrass, or annoy others.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, literally ‘terrible child.’

enfeeble /inˈfēb(ə)l enˈfēb(ə)l/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make weak or feeble
(as adj. enfeebled)

• trade unions are in an enfeebled state.

II. derivatives

1. enfeeblement /inˈfēbəlmənt enˈfēbəlmənt /

noun

2. enfeebler /-ˈfēblər /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French enfeblir, from en- (expressing a change of state) + feble ‘feeble.’

enfeoff /inˈfēf enˈfēf/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹historical› (under the feudal system) give (someone) freehold property or land in exchange for their pledged service.

2. ‹historical› give (property or land) in exchange for pledged service

• the lands were enfeoffed to the baron.

II. derivatives

enfeoffment /inˈfēfmənt enˈfēfmənt /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French enfeoffer, from Old French en- ‘in’ + fief ‘fief.’ Compare with feoffment.

enfetter /inˈfedər enˈfedər/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› restrain (someone) with shackles.

enfevered /enˈfēvərd/

adjective

‹literary› having or showing the signs of fever.

enfilade /ˈenfəläd ˈenfəˌlād/

I. noun

1. a volley of gunfire directed along a line from end to end.

2. a suite of rooms with doorways in line with each other.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. direct a volley of gunfire along the length of (a target).

– origin early 18th cent. (denoting the position of a military post commanding the length of a line): from French, from enfiler ‘thread on a string, pierce from end to end,’ from en- ‘in, on’ + fil ‘thread.’

enflesh /enˈfleSH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› give bodily form to; make real or concrete.

II. derivatives

enfleshment

noun

enfleurage /ˌäNfləˈräZH/

I. noun

the extraction of essential oils and perfumes from flowers using odorless animal or vegetable fats.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, from enfleurer ‘saturate with the perfume from flowers.’

enflurane /enˈflo͝oˌrān/

I. noun

[Medicine] a volatile organic liquid used as a general anesthetic.
[A halogenated ether; chem. formula: CHF_2OCF_2CHFCl.]

– origin 1970s: from en- (of unknown origin) + fluoro- + -ane^2.

enfold /inˈfōld enˈfōld / ‹dated› infold

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. surround; envelop

• he shut off the engine and silence enfolded them.

2. hold or clasp (someone) lovingly in one's arms.

3. fold or shape into folds.

II. derivatives

enfoldment

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘involve, entail, imply’; formerly also as infold): from en-1, in-2 ‘within’ + fold^1.

enforce /inˈfôrs enˈfôrs/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. compel observance of or compliance with (a law, rule, or obligation).

2. cause (something) to happen by necessity or force

• there is no outside agency to enforce cooperation between the players.

– origin Middle English (in the senses ‘strive’ and ‘impel by force’; formerly also as inforce): from Old French enforcir, enforcier, based on Latin in- ‘in’ + fortis ‘strong.’

enforceable /inˈfôrsəb(ə)l enˈfôrsəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

(of a law, rule, or obligation) able to be imposed so that it must be complied with

• a binding and enforceable contract

• there was no legally enforceable right of residency.

II. derivatives

enforceability /inˌfôrsəˈbilədē, enˌfôrsəˈbilədē /

noun

enforced /inˈfôrst enˈfôrst/

I. adjective

caused by necessity or force; compulsory

• a period of enforced idleness.

II. derivatives

enforcedly /-sidlē /

adverb

enforcement /ənˈfôrsmənt/

noun

the act of compelling observance of or compliance with a law, rule, or obligation

• the strict enforcement of environmental regulations.

enforcer /inˈfôrsər enˈfôrsər/

noun

1. a person or group that compels observance of or compliance with a law, rule, or obligation

• the city police's role as enforcers of traffic rules will increase

• [with modifier] we will encourage law enforcers to take strict measures against those involved in corruption.

2. ‹informal› a person who imposes their will by violence and intimidation

• gangland enforcers linked to a drugs gang.

3. [Sports] ‹informal› a strong, aggressive, or intimidating player whose role is to protect teammates or dominate an area of the field of play

• a surprising twist in career for the burly defensive enforcer.

enfranchise /inˈfranˌCHīz enˈfranˌCHīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. give the right to vote to

• a proposal that foreigners should be enfranchised for local elections.

2. ‹historical› free (a slave).

– origin late Middle English (formerly also as infranchise): from Old French enfranchiss-, lengthened stem of enfranchir, from en- (expressing a change of state) + franc, franche ‘free.’

enfranchisement /inˈfranˌCHīzmənt enˈfranˌCHīzmənt/

noun

1. the giving of a right or privilege, especially the right to vote

• the World War hastened the enfranchisement of women.

2. ‹historical› liberation from imprisonment or slavery.

3. [Law] ‹Brit.› the action of making land freehold

• legal costs attributable to the enfranchisement of leasehold properties.

ENG

abbreviation

electronic news gathering.

eng.

abbreviation

1. engine.

2. engineer.

3. engineering.

4. engraved.

5. engraver.

6. engraving.

engage /inˈɡāj enˈɡāj/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — occupy, attract, or involve (someone's interest or attention)

• he plowed on, trying to outline his plans and engage Sutton's attention.

2. (engage someone in) — cause someone to become involved in (a conversation or discussion).

3. arrange to employ or hire (someone)

• he was engaged as a trainee copywriter.

4. [with infinitive] — pledge or enter into a contract to do something

• he engaged to pay them $10,000 against a bond.

5. ‹dated› reserve (accommodations, a place, etc.) in advance

• he had engaged a small sailboat.

6. [no obj.] (engage in) — participate or become involved in

• organizations engage in a variety of activities

• (be engaged in) some are actively engaged in crime.

7. (engage with) — establish a meaningful contact or connection with

• the teams needed to engage with local communities.

8. (with reference to a part of a machine or engine) move into position so as to come into operation
[no obj.]

• the clutch will not engage

• [with obj.] he engaged the gears and pulled out into the road.

9. [with obj.] — (of fencers or swordsmen) bring (weapons) together preparatory to fighting.

10. enter into conflict or combat with (an enemy).

– origin late Middle English (formerly also as ingage): from French engager, ultimately from the base of gage^1. The word originally meant ‘to pawn or pledge something,’ later ‘pledge oneself (to do something),’ hence ‘enter into a contract’ (mid 16th cent.), ‘involve oneself in an activity,’ ‘enter into combat’ (mid 17th cent.), giving rise to the notion ‘involve someone or something else.’

engagé /ˌäNGɡäˈZHā/

I. adjective

(of a writer, artist, or their works) morally committed to a particular aim or cause.

– origin French, past participle of engager (see engage).

engaged /inˈɡājd enˈɡājd/

adjective

1. [predic.] — busy; occupied

• I told him I was otherwise engaged.

2. (Brit.) (of a telephone line) unavailable because already in use.

3. (Brit.) (of a lavatory) already in use.

4. having formally agreed to marry.

5. [Architecture] (of a column) attached to or partly let into a wall.

engagement /inˈɡājmənt enˈɡājmənt/

I. noun

1. a formal agreement to get married.

2. the duration of an agreement to get married

• a good long engagement to give you time to be sure.

3. an arrangement to do something or go somewhere at a fixed time

• a dinner engagement.

4. the action of engaging or being engaged

• Britain's continued engagement in open trading

• the engagement of the gears.

5. a fight or battle between armed forces.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the general sense ‘a legal or moral obligation’): French, from engager ‘to pledge’ (see engage).

engagement ring

noun

a ring traditionally given by a man to a woman when they agree to marry.

engaging /inˈɡājiNG enˈɡājiNG/

I. adjective

charming and attractive

• Sophie had a sunny personality that was very engaging.

II. derivatives

1. engagingly /inˈɡājiNGlē enˈɡājiNGlē /

adverb

2. engagingness

noun

en garde /än ˈɡärd, äN/

I. exclamation

[Fencing] a direction to be ready to fence, taking the opening position for action.

– origin French en garde '(be) on guard.'.

Engelmann spruce /ˈeNGɡəlmən ˌspro͞os / Engelmann's spruce

I. noun

a tall spruce found in the mountains of western North America and Mexico.
[Picea engelmannii, family Pinaceae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after George Engelmann (1809–84), American botanist.

Engels, Friedrich /ˈeNGɡəlz/

(1820–95), German socialist and political philosopher. He collaborated with Karl Marx in the writing of the Communist Manifesto (1848) and translated and edited Marx's later work.

engender /ənˈjendər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause or give rise to (a feeling, situation, or condition)

• the issue engendered continuing controversy.

2. ‹archaic› (of a father) beget (offspring).

– origin Middle English (formerly also as ingender): from Old French engendrer, from Latin ingenerare, from in- ‘in’ + generare ‘beget’ (see generate).

engine /ˈenjən/

I. noun

1. a machine with moving parts that converts power into motion.

2. a thing that is the agent or instrument of a particular process

• exports used to be the engine of growth.

3. a railroad locomotive.

4. short for fire engine.

5. ‹historical› a mechanical device or instrument, especially one used in warfare

• a siege engine.

II. derivatives

1. engined

adjective

[in combination]

• a twin-engined helicopter

2. engineless

adjective

– origin Middle English (formerly also as ingine): from Old French engin, from Latin ingenium ‘talent, device,’ from in- ‘in’ + gignere ‘beget’; compare with ingenious. The original sense was ‘ingenuity, cunning’ (surviving in Scots as ingine), hence ‘the product of ingenuity, a plot or snare,’ also ‘tool, weapon,’ later specifically denoting a large mechanical weapon; whence a machine (mid 17th cent.), used commonly later in combinations such as steam engine, internal combustion engine.

engine driver /ˈenjən ˌdrīvər/

noun

(Brit.) a driver of a locomotive; an engineer.

engineer /ˌenjəˈnir/

I. noun

1. a person who designs, builds, or maintains engines, machines, or public works.

2. a person qualified in a branch of engineering, especially as a professional

• an aeronautical engineer.

3. the operator or supervisor of an engine, especially a railroad locomotive or the engine on an aircraft or ship.

4. a skillful contriver or originator of something

• the prime engineer of the approach.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. design and build (a machine or structure)

• the men who engineered the tunnel.

2. skillfully or artfully arrange for (an event or situation) to occur

• she engineered another meeting with him.

3. modify (an organism) by manipulating its genetic material
[as adj., with submodifier] (engineered)

• genetically engineered plants.

– origin Middle English (denoting a designer and constructor of fortifications and weapons; formerly also as ingineer): in early use from Old French engigneor, from medieval Latin ingeniator, from ingeniare ‘contrive, devise,’ from Latin ingenium (see engine); in later use from French ingénieur or Italian ingegnere, also based on Latin ingenium, with the ending influenced by -eer.

engineering /ˌenjəˈniriNG/

noun

1. the branch of science and technology concerned with the design, building, and use of engines, machines, and structures.

2. the work done by, or the occupation of, an engineer.

3. the action of working artfully to bring something about

• if not for Keegan's shrewd engineering, the election would have been lost.

engineering science /ˌenjəˈni(ə)riNG ˈsīəns / engineering sciences

noun

the parts of science concerned with the physical and mathematical basis of engineering and machine technology.

engine room

noun

the room containing the engines, especially in a ship.

enginery /ˈenjənrē/

noun

‹archaic› engines collectively; machinery.

engine turning

I. noun

the decoration of metal or ceramic objects with regular engraved patterns using a lathe.

II. derivatives

engine-turned

adjective

engirdle /inˈɡərdl enˈɡərdl / engird

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› surround; encircle

• railroads engirdled this tract of country.

englacial /enˈɡlāSHəl/

I. adjective

situated, occurring, or formed inside a glacier.

II. derivatives

englacially

adverb

England /ˈiNG(ɡ)lənd/

I. a European country that forms the largest and most southern part of Great Britain and of the United Kingdom, surrounded on three sides by water (Irish Sea on west, English Channel on south, North Sea on east); pop. 51,446,000 (est. 2008); capital, London; language, English.

England was conquered by the Romans in the first century AD, when it was inhabited by Celtic peoples. It was a Roman province until the early 5th century. During the 3rd–7th centuries Germanic-speaking tribes, traditionally known as Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, established a number of independent kingdoms there. England emerged as a distinct political entity in the 9th century before being conquered by William, Duke of Normandy, in 1066.

English /ˈiNG(ɡ)liSH/

I. noun

1. the West Germanic language of England, now widely used in many varieties throughout the world.

2. (as plural noun the English) — the people of England.

3. (N. Amer.) spin given to a ball, especially in pool or billiards.
English is the principal language of Great Britain, the US, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and many other countries. There are some 400 million native speakers, and it is the medium of communication for many millions more; it is the most widely used second language in the world. It belongs to the West Germanic group of Indo-European languages though its vocabulary has been much influenced by Old Norse, Norman French, and Latin.

II. adjective

relating to England, its people, or their language.

III. derivatives

1. Englishman /ˈiNGɡliSHmən /

noun

2. Englishwoman /ˈiNG(ɡ)liSHˌwo͝omən /

noun

– origin Old English Englisc (see Angle, -ish^1). The word originally denoted the early Germanic settlers of Britain (Angles, Saxons, and Jutes), or their language (now called Old English).

English bond

noun

[Building] a bond used in brickwork consisting of alternate courses of stretchers and headers.

English breakfast /ˈiNG(ɡ)liSH ˈbrekfəst / full English breakfast

noun

a substantial breakfast including hot cooked food such as bacon and eggs.

English Canadian

I. noun

a Canadian whose principal language is English.

II. adjective

of or relating to English-speaking Canadians.

English Channel

a sea channel that separates southern England from northern France. It is 22 miles (35 km) wide at its narrowest point. A railroad tunnel (the Channel Tunnel) underneath the channel opened in 1994.

English Civil War

I. the war between Charles I and his Parliamentary opponents, 1642–49.

Civil war broke out after Charles refused to accede to a series of demands made by Parliament. The king's forces (the Royalists or Cavaliers) were decisively defeated by the Parliamentary forces (or Roundheads) at the Battle of Naseby (1645), and an attempt by Charles to regain power in alliance with the Scots was defeated in 1648. Charles himself was tried and executed by Parliament in 1649.

English horn

noun

[Music] (chiefly N. Amer.) an alto woodwind instrument of the oboe family, having a bulbous bell and sounding a fifth lower than the oboe.

English muffin

noun

(N. Amer.) a flat circular spongy bread roll made from yeast dough and eaten split, toasted, and buttered.

English mustard

noun

a kind of mustard made from mustard seeds milled to a powder, having a very hot taste and typically bright yellow in color.

Englishness /ˈiNG(ɡ)liSHnəs/

noun

the quality of being English or of having characteristics regarded as typically English

• a deep vein of Englishness runs through his work

• he combined cultural Englishness with political cosmopolitanism.

English Pale the Pale

I. that part of Ireland over which England exercised jurisdiction before the whole country was conquered. Centered in Dublin, it varied in extent at different times from the reign of Henry II until the full conquest under Elizabeth I.

– origin Pale from pale^2.

English setter

noun

a setter of a breed of dog with a long white or partly white coat.

English sonnet

noun

another term for Elizabethan sonnet.

English sparrow

noun

another term for house sparrow.

englobe /enˈɡlōb/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› enclose in or shape into a globe.

engorge /inˈɡôrj enˈɡôrj/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — cause to swell with blood, water, or another fluid

• the river was engorged by a day-long deluge.

2. (engorge oneself) — ‹archaic› eat to excess.

II. derivatives

engorgement /inˈɡôrjmənt enˈɡôrjmənt /

noun

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘gorge; eat or fill to excess’): from Old French engorgier ‘feed to excess,’ from en- ‘into’ + gorge ‘throat.’

engr.

abbreviation

1. engineer.

2. engraved.

3. engraver.

4. engraving.

engraft /inˈɡraft enˈɡraft / ingraft

I. verb

another term for graft^1.

II. derivatives

engraftment

noun

engrailed /inˈɡrāld enˈɡrāld/

adjective

[chiefly Heraldry] having semicircular indentations along the edge.
Compare with invected.

engram /ˈenɡram/

I. noun

a hypothetical permanent change in the brain accounting for the existence of memory; a memory trace.

II. derivatives

engrammatic /ˌenɡrəˈmatik /

adjective

– origin early 20th cent.: coined in German from Greek en- ‘within’ + gramma ‘letter of the alphabet.’

engrave /inˈɡrāv enˈɡrāv/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be engraved)

1. cut or carve (a text or design) on the surface of a hard object

• my name was engraved on the ring.

2. cut or carve a text or design on (such an object).

3. cut (a design) as lines on a metal plate for printing.

4. (be engraved on or in) — be permanently fixed in (one's memory or mind)

• the image would be forever engraved in his memory.

II. phrases

be engraved in stone

see stone.

III. derivatives

engraver /inˈɡrāvər enˈɡrāvər /

noun

– origin late 15th cent. (formerly also as ingrave): from en-1, in-2 ‘in, on’ + grave^3, influenced by obsolete French engraver.

engraving /inˈɡrāviNG enˈɡrāviNG/

noun

1. a print made from an engraved plate, block, or other surface.

2. the process or art of cutting or carving a design on a hard surface, especially so as to make a print.

engross /inˈɡrōs enˈɡrōs/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. absorb all the attention or interest of

• the notes totally engrossed him.

2. ‹archaic› gain or keep exclusive possession of (something)

• the country had made the best of its position to engross trade.

[from Old French en gros, from medieval Latin in grosso ‘wholesale.’]

3. [Law] produce (a legal document) in its final or definitive form.

II. derivatives

engrossment /inˈɡrōsmənt enˈɡrōsmənt /

noun

– origin late Middle English (formerly also as ingross): based on en-1, in-2 ‘in’ + late Latin grossus ‘large.’

engrossed /inˈɡrōst enˈɡrōst/

adjective — [predic.]

1. having all one's attention or interest absorbed by someone or something

• they seemed to be engrossed in conversation.

engrossing /inˈɡrōsiNG enˈɡrōsiNG/

I. adjective

absorbing all one's attention or interest

• the most engrossing parts of the book.

II. derivatives

engrossingly

adverb

engulf /inˈɡəlf enˈɡəlf/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a natural force) sweep over (something) so as to surround or cover it completely

• the cafe was engulfed in flames

• ‹figurative› Europe might be engulfed by war.

2. eat or swallow (something) whole.

II. derivatives

engulfment

noun

enhance /inˈhans enˈhans/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. intensify, increase, or further improve the quality, value, or extent of

• his refusal does nothing to enhance his reputation

• computer techniques that enhance images.

II. derivatives

enhancer

noun

– origin Middle English (formerly also as inhance): from Anglo-Norman French enhauncer, based on Latin in- (expressing intensive force) + altus ‘high.’ The word originally meant ‘elevate’ (literally and figuratively), later ‘exaggerate, make appear greater,’ also ‘raise the value or price of something’ Current senses date from the early 16th cent.

enhancement /enˈhansmənt/

noun

an increase or improvement in quality, value, or extent

• these enhancements will improve the customer experience

• the enhancement of civic amenities.

enharmonic /ˌenhärˈmänik/

I. adjective

1. [Music] of or relating to notes that are the same in pitch (in modern tuning) though bearing different names (e.g., F sharp and G flat or B and C flat).

2. [Music] of or having intervals smaller than a semitone (e.g., between notes such as F sharp and G flat, in systems of tuning that distinguish them).

II. derivatives

enharmonically

adverb

– origin early 17th cent. (designating ancient Greek music based on a tetrachord divided into two quartertones and a major third): via late Latin from Greek enarmonikos, from en- ‘in’ + harmonia ‘harmony.’

Enid /ˈēnid/

a city in north central Oklahoma; pop. 47,396 (est. 2008).

enigma /iˈniɡmə/

I. noun

a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand.

– origin mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek ainigma, from ainissesthai ‘speak allusively,’ from ainos ‘fable.’

enigmatic /ˌenəɡˈmadik / enigmatical

I. adjective

difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious

• he took the money with an enigmatic smile.

II. derivatives

enigmatically /ˌeniɡˈmadək(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin early 17th cent.: from French énigmatique or late Latin aenigmaticus, based on Greek ainigma ‘riddle’ (see enigma).

enisle /enˈīl/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› isolate on or as if on an island

• in the sea of life enisled, we mortal millions live alone.

Eniwetok /ˌenəˈwēˌtäk, əˈnēwi- / Enewetak

an uninhabited island in the North Pacific Ocean, one of the Marshall Islands. After its population was evacuated, it was used by the US as a testing ground for atom bombs 1948–54.

enjambed /enˈjamd/

I. adjective

(of a line, couplet, or stanza of verse) ending partway through a sentence or clause that continues in the next.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French enjamber ‘stride over’ + -ed^2.

enjambment /inˈjambmənt enˈjam(b)mənt / enjambement

I. noun

(in verse) the continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, couplet, or stanza.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French enjambement, from enjamber ‘stride over, go beyond,’ from en- ‘in’ + jambe ‘leg.’

enjoin /inˈjoin enˈjoin/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. instruct or urge (someone) to do something
[with obj. and infinitive]

• the code enjoined members to trade fairly.

2. prescribe (an action or attitude) to be performed or adopted

• the charitable deeds enjoined on him by religion.

3. (enjoin someone from) — [Law] prohibit someone from performing (a particular action) by issuing an injunction.

II. derivatives

1. enjoiner

noun

2. enjoinment /inˈjoinmənt enˈjoinmənt /

noun

– origin Middle English (formerly also as injoin): from Old French enjoindre, from Latin injungere ‘join, attach, impose,’ from in- ‘in, toward’ + jungere ‘to join.’

enjoinder /enˈjoindər/

noun

[Law] a prohibition ordered by an injunction.

enjoy /inˈjoi enˈjoi/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. take delight or pleasure in (an activity or occasion)

• Joe enjoys reading Icelandic family sagas.

2. (enjoy oneself) — have a pleasant time

• I could never enjoy myself, knowing you were in your room alone.

3. [no obj., in imperative] — ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) used to urge someone to take pleasure in what is being offered or is about to happen

• Bake until the filling starts to bubble and the crust turns golden brown. Enjoy!

4. possess and benefit from

• the security forces enjoy legal immunity from prosecution.

II. derivatives

enjoyer

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French enjoier ‘give joy to’ or enjoïr ‘enjoy,’ both based on Latin gaudere ‘rejoice.’

enjoyable /inˈjoiəb(ə)l enˈjoiəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

(of an activity or occasion) giving delight or pleasure

• the decision is aimed at making shopping more enjoyable.

II. derivatives

1. enjoyability /enˌjoi-əˈbilitē /

noun

2. enjoyableness

noun

3. enjoyably /inˈjoiəblē enˈjoiəblē /

adverb

enjoyment /inˈjoimənt enˈjoimənt/

noun

1. the state or process of taking pleasure in something

• the enjoyment of a good wine.

2. a thing that gives pleasure

• one of his particular enjoyments was campfire singing.

3. the action of possessing and benefiting from something.

enkephalin /enˈkefələn/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] either of two compounds that occur naturally in the brain. They are peptides related to the endorphins, with similar physiological effects.

– origin 1970s: from Greek enkephalos ‘brain’ (from en- ‘in’ + kephalē ‘head’) + -in^1.

enkindle /inˈkindl enˈkindl/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› set on fire.

2. ‹literary› arouse or inspire (an emotion)

• fresh remembrance of vexation must still enkindle rage.

enl.

abbreviation

1. enlarge.

2. enlarged.

3. enlisted.

enlace /inˈlās enˈlās/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› entwine or entangle

• a web of green enlaced the thorn trees.

– origin Middle English: from Old French enlacier, based on Latin laqueus ‘noose.’

enlarge /inˈlärj enˈlärj/

I. verb

1. make or become bigger or more extensive
[with obj.]

• recently my son enlarged our garden pond

• [no obj.] lymph nodes enlarge and become hard

• (as adj. enlarged) an enlarged spleen.

2. [with obj.] — develop a bigger print of (a photograph).

II. phrasal verbs

enlarge on/upon

speak or write about (something) in greater detail

• I would like to enlarge on this theme.

– origin Middle English (formerly also as inlarge): from Old French enlarger, from en- (expressing a change of state) + large ‘large.’

enlargement /inˈlärjmənt enˈlärjmənt/

noun

1. the action or state of enlarging or being enlarged.

2. a photograph that is larger than the negative from which it is produced or than a print that has already been made from it.

enlarger /inˈlärjər enˈlärjər/

noun

[Photography] an apparatus for enlarging or reducing negatives or positives.

enlighten /inˈlītn enˈlītn/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. give (someone) greater knowledge and understanding about a subject or situation

• Christopher had not enlightened Frances as to their relationship.

2. give (someone) spiritual knowledge or insight.

3. ‹archaic› shed light on (an object).

II. derivatives

enlightener

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘make luminous’; formerly also as inlighten): in early use from Old English inlīhtan ‘to shine’; later from en-1, in-2 (as an intensifier) + lighten^2 or the noun light^1.

enlightened /inˈlītnd enˈlītnd/

adjective

1. having or showing a rational, modern, and well-informed outlook

• the more enlightened employers offer better terms.

2. spiritually aware.

enlightenment /inˈlītnmənt enˈlītnmənt/

noun

1. the action of enlightening or the state of being enlightened

• Robbie looked to me for enlightenment.

2. the action or state of attaining or having attained spiritual knowledge or insight, in particular (in Buddhism) that awareness which frees a person from the cycle of rebirth.

3. (the Enlightenment) — a European intellectual movement of the late 17th and 18th centuries emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition. It was heavily influenced by 17th-century philosophers such as Descartes, Locke, and Newton, and its prominent exponents include Kant, Goethe, Voltaire, Rousseau, and Adam Smith.

enlist /inˈlist enˈlist/

I. verb

1. enroll or be enrolled in the armed services
[no obj.]

• he enlisted in the army

• [with obj.] hundreds of thousands of recruits had been enlisted.

2. [with obj.] — engage (a person or their help or support)

• the company enlisted the help of independent consultants.

II. derivatives

enlister

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (formerly also as inlist): from en-1, in-2 ‘in, on’ + list^1, perhaps suggested by Dutch inlijsten ‘put on a list.’

enlisted man /inˈlistid enˈlistid man/

noun

(US) a member of the armed forces below the rank of NCO.

enlistment /inˈlis(t)mənt enˈlis(t)mənt/

noun

1. the action of enrolling or being enrolled in the armed services

• the army relied on voluntary enlistment.

2. the engagement of a person to provide help or support

• his enlistment of young people in his campaign

• the enlistment of students in the protests could lead to conflict.

enliven /inˈlīvən enˈlīvən/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (something) more entertaining, interesting, or appealing

• the wartime routine was enlivened by a series of concerts.

2. make (someone) more cheerful or animated

• the visit had clearly enlivened my mother.

II. derivatives

1. enlivener

noun

2. enlivenment

noun

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘restore to life, give life to’; formerly also as inliven): from 16th-cent. enlive, inlive (in the same sense), from en-1, in-2 (as an intensifier) + life.

en masse /än ˈmas/

I. adverb

in a group; all together

• the board of directors resigned en masse.

– origin late 18th cent.: French, literally ‘in a mass.’

enmesh /inˈmeSH enˈmeSH/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be enmeshed in)

1. cause to become entangled in something

• whales enmeshed in drift nets.

2. involve (someone) in a difficult situation from which it is hard to escape

• he is enmeshed in an adulterous affair.

II. derivatives

enmeshment

noun

enmity /ˈenmədē/

I. noun

the state or feeling of being actively opposed or hostile to someone or something

• enmity between Protestants and Catholics

• family feuds and enmities.

– origin Middle English: from Old French enemi(s)tie, based on Latin inimicus (see enemy).

ennead /ˈenēˌad/

I. noun

‹rare› a group or set of nine.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Greek enneas, ennead-, from ennea ‘nine.’

enneagram /ˈenēəˌɡram/

I. noun

a nine-sided figure used in a particular system of analysis to represent the spectrum of possible personality types.

– origin from Greek ennea ‘nine’ + -gram^1.

Ennius, Quintus /ˈenēəs/

(239–169 BC), Roman epic poet and playwright. He was largely responsible for the creation of a native Roman literature based on Greek models.

ennoble /əˈnōbəl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. give (someone) a noble rank or title.

2. lend greater dignity or nobility of character to

• the theater is a moral instrument to ennoble the mind.

II. derivatives

ennoblement /əˈnōb(ə)lmənt /

noun

– origin late 15th cent. (formerly also as innoble): from French ennoblir, from en- (expressing a change of state) + noble ‘noble.’

ennui /änˈwē/

I. noun

a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement.

– origin mid 18th cent.: French, from Latin mihi in odio est ‘it is hateful to me.’ Compare with annoy.

Enoch /ˈēnək ˈēˌnäk/

I. (in the Bible) the eldest son of Cain.

II. the first city, built by Cain (Gen. 4:17).

III. a Hebrew patriarch, father of Methuselah.

enoki /əˈnōkē / enoki mushroom

I. noun

an edible Japanese mushroom, growing in clusters, with slender stems and small caps.

– origin 1980s: from Japanese enoki-take, from enoki ‘nettle-tree’ + take ‘mushroom.’

enology /ēˈnäləjē / oenology

I. noun

the study of wines.

II. derivatives

1. enological /ēnəˈläjik(ə)l /

adjective

2. enologist /ēˈnäləjəst /

noun

– origin early 19th cent.: from Greek oinos ‘wine’ + -logy.

enormity /iˈnôrmədē/

I. noun

1. (the enormity of) — the great or extreme scale, seriousness, or extent of something perceived as bad or morally wrong

• a thorough search disclosed the full enormity of the crime.

2. (in neutral use) the large size or scale of something

• I began to get a sense of the enormity of the task.

3. a grave crime or sin

• the enormities of the regime.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin enormitas, from enormis, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out of’ + norma ‘pattern, standard.’ The word originally meant ‘deviation from legal or moral rectitude’ and ‘transgression’ Current senses have been influenced by enormous. / usage: Enormity traditionally means ‘the extreme scale or seriousness of something bad or morally wrong,’ as in they were struggling to deal with the enormity of the crime. Today, however, a more neutral sense as a synonym for hugeness or immensity, as in he soon discovered the enormity of the task, is common. Some people regard this use as wrong, arguing that enormity in its original sense meant ‘an extreme wickedness’ and should therefore continue to be used only of contexts in which a negative moral judgment is implied. Nevertheless, the sense of 'great size' is now broadly accepted in standard English, although it generally relates to something difficult, such as a task, challenge, or achievement.

enormous /iˈnôrməs/

I. adjective

very large in size, quantity, or extent

• her enormous blue eyes

• the possibilities are enormous.

II. derivatives

enormousness /iˈnôrməsnəs /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin enormis ‘unusual, huge’ (see enormity) + -ous.

enormously /əˈnôrməslē/

adverb

to a very great degree or extent; considerably

• quality of life varies enormously from one place to another

• [as submodifier] she has been enormously successful.

enosis /iˈnōsis, ēˈnō-, ˈenōsēs/

I. noun

the political union of Cyprus and Greece, as an aim or ideal of certain Greeks and Cypriots.

– origin 1920s: from modern Greek henōsis, from hena ‘one.’

enough /iˈnəf/

I. determiner, pronoun

1. as much or as many as required
[as determiner]

• too much work and not enough people to do it

• there was just enough room for two cars

• [as pronoun] they ordered more than enough for five people

• getting enough of the right things to eat

• [as postpositive adj.] there will be time enough to tell you when we meet.

2. used to indicate that one is unwilling to tolerate any more of something undesirable
[as determiner]

• we've got enough problems without that

• [as pronoun] I've had enough of this arguing

• that's enough, pack it in.

II. adverb

1. to the required degree or extent (used after an adjective, adverb, or verb); adequately

• before he was old enough to shave

• you're not big enough for basketball.

2. to a moderate degree; fairly

• he can get there easily enough

• he seems nice enough.

3. [with sentence adverb] — used for emphasis

• curiously enough, there is no mention of him.

III. exclamation

used to express an impatient desire for the cessation of undesirable behavior or speech

• Enough! After six years of your arguing, I've had it!

IV. phrases

1. enough is enough

no more will be tolerated.

2. enough said

there is no need to say more; all is understood.

– origin Old English genōg, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch genoeg and German genug.

en papillote /äN ˌpapēˈyōt/

adjective, adverb

(of food) cooked and served in a paper wrapper
[as postpositive adj.]

• fish en papillote.

en passant /äːNpaˈsäːN/

I. adverb

1. by the way; incidentally

• the group's disbandment was announced, almost en passant, by the president.

2. [Chess] by the en passant rule.

II. phrases

en passant rule (or law)

[Chess] the rule that a pawn making a first move of two squares instead of one may nevertheless be immediately captured by an opposing pawn on the fifth rank.

– origin early 17th cent.: French, literally ‘in passing.’

enplane /inˈplān enˈplān / emplane

verb

go or put on board an aircraft.

en poste /äN ˈpôst/

adverb

in an official diplomatic position at a particular place.

en primeur /äN prēˈmœr/

I. adjective, adverb

(of wine) newly produced and made available.

– origin late 20th cent.: French, literally ‘as being new.’

en prise /än ˈprēz/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. [Chess] (of a piece or pawn) in a position to be taken.

– origin early 19th cent.: French.

enqueue /enˈkyo͞o/

verb — [with obj.]

1. [Computing] add (an item of data awaiting processing) to a queue of such items.

enquire /inˈkwī(ə)r enˈkwī(ə)r/

I. verb

(chiefly Brit.) another term for inquire.

II. derivatives

enquirer /inˈkwī(ə)rər enˈkwī(ə)rər /

noun

– origin Middle English enquere, from Old French enquerre, based on Latin inquirere (based on quaerere ‘seek’).

enquiring /inˈkwī(ə)riNG enˈkwī(ə)riNG/

adjective

(chiefly Brit.) another term for inquiring.

enquiry /ˈinkwərē inˈkwī(ə)rē/

noun

(chiefly Brit.) another term for inquiry.

enrage /inˈrāj enˈrāj/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be enraged)

1. make very angry

• the students were enraged at these new rules.

– origin late 15th cent. (formerly also as inrage): from French enrager, from en- ‘into’ + rage ‘rage, anger.’

enraged /inˈrājd enˈrājd/

adjective

very angry; furious

• an enraged mob screamed abuse.

en rapport /ˌän raˈpôr/

I. adverb

having a close and harmonious relationship

• his improvisation indicates that he is en rapport with the rhythm of the band.

– origin French (see rapport).

enrapt /inˈrapt enˈrapt/

adjective

fascinated; enthralled

• the enrapt audience.

enrapture /inˈrapCHər enˈrapCHər/

verb — [with obj.] (usu. be enraptured)

1. give intense pleasure or joy to

• Ruth was enraptured by the child who was sleeping in her arms so peacefully.

enrich /inˈriCH enˈriCH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. improve or enhance the quality or value of

• her exposure to museums enriched her life in France.

2. add to the nutritive value of (food) by adding vitamins or nutrients

• cereal enriched with extra oat bran.

3. (usu. as adj. enriched) — increase the proportion of a particular isotope in (an element), especially that of the fissile isotope U-235 in uranium so as to make it more powerful or explosive.

4. [Architecture] embellish a molding by carving or otherwise forming a sculpted, ornamental pattern, such as egg and dart

• one may enrich the echinus of a Doric capital with the egg and dart motif.

5. make (someone) wealthy or wealthier

• top party members had enriched themselves.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘make wealthy’): from Old French enrichir, from en- ‘in’ + riche ‘rich.’

enrichment /inˈriCHmənt enˈriCHmənt/

noun

1. the action of improving or enhancing the quality or value of something

• enrichment of the soil for more plant growth

• environments where youth can experience cultural enrichment.

2. an increase in the proportion of a particular isotope in an element, especially that of the fissile isotope U-235 in uranium, so as to make it more powerful or explosive

• a centrifuge plant for uranium enrichment

• [as modifier] the enrichment process used to make nuclear fuel rods.

3. the process of making someone wealthy or wealthier

• the policy was denounced as a means of enrichment of a small elite.

enrobe /inˈrōb enˈrōb/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› dress in a robe or vestment.

enroll /inˈrōl enˈrōl / ‹Brit.› enrol

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. officially register as a member of an institution or a student on a course

• he enrolled in drama school

• [with obj.] the school enrolls approximately 1,000 students

• he enrolled in drama school.

2. [with obj.] — recruit (someone) to perform a service

• a campaign to enroll more foster families.

3. [with obj.] — [Law] ‹historical› enter (a deed or other document) among the rolls of a court of justice.

4. ‹archaic› write the name of (someone) on a list or register.

II. derivatives

enrollee /ˌenrōˈlē /

noun

– origin late Middle English (formerly also as inroll): from Old French enroller, from en- ‘in’ + rolle ‘a roll’ (names being originally written on a roll of parchment).

enrollment /inˈrōlmənt enˈrōlmənt / ‹Brit.› enrolment

noun

1. the action of enrolling or being enrolled

• the amount due must be paid on enrollment in October

• enrollments for teacher training have dropped off sharply.

2. (N. Amer.) the number of people enrolled, typically at a school or college.

en route /ˌän ˈro͞ot/

I. adverb

during the course of a journey; on the way

• he stopped in Turkey en route to Geneva.

– origin late 18th cent.: French (see route).

ENS

abbreviation

ensign.

Enschede /ˈenskəˌdā/

a city in the eastern Netherlands; pop. 154,753 (2008).

ensconce /ənˈskäns/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. establish or settle (someone) in a comfortable, safe, or secret place

• Agnes ensconced herself in their bedroom

• spectators who were once comfortably ensconced in the old stadium's box seats.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the senses ‘fortify’ and ‘shelter within or behind a fortification’; formerly also as insconce): from en-1, in-2 ‘in’ + sconce^2.

ensemble /änˈsämbəl/

I. noun

1. a group of musicians, actors, or dancers who perform together

• a Bulgarian folk ensemble.

2. a scene or passage written for performance by a whole cast, choir, or group of instruments.

3. the coordination between performers executing an ensemble passage

• a high level of tuning and ensemble is guaranteed.

4. a group of items viewed as a whole rather than individually

• the buildings in the square present a charming provincial ensemble.

5. [usu. in sing.] — a set of clothes chosen to harmonize when worn together.

6. [chiefly Physics] a group of similar systems, or different states of the same system, often considered statistically.

– origin late Middle English (as an adverb (long rare) meaning ‘at the same time’): from French, based on Latin insimul, from in- ‘in’ + simul ‘at the same time.’ The noun dates from the mid 18th cent.

Ensenada /ˌensəˈnädə/

a city in northwestern Mexico, in Baja California state, on the Pacific Ocean; pop. 248,446 (2005).

ensheathe /enˈSHēT͟H / ensheath

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [chiefly Biology] enclose (an organism, tissue, structure, etc.) in or as in a sheath.

II. derivatives

ensheathment

noun

enshrine /inˈSHrīn enˈSHrīn/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be enshrined)

1. place (a revered or precious object) in an appropriate receptacle

• relics are enshrined under altars.

2. preserve (a right, tradition, or idea) in a form that ensures it will be protected and respected

• the right of all workers to strike was enshrined in the new constitution.

II. derivatives

enshrinement

noun

enshroud /inˈSHroud enˈSHroud/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› envelop completely and hide from view

• heavy gray clouds enshrouded the city.

ensiform /ˈensəˌfôrm/

I. adjective

[chiefly Botany] shaped like a sword blade; long and narrow with sharp edges and a pointed tip.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin ensis ‘sword’ + -form.

ensiform cartilage

noun

another term for xiphoid process.

ensign

I. noun

1. /ˈens(ə)n ˈenˌsīn / — a flag or standard, especially a military or naval one indicating nationality.

2. ‹archaic› a sign or emblem of a particular thing

• all the ensigns of our greatness.

3. /ˈens(ə)n / — a commissioned officer of the lowest rank in the US Navy and Coast Guard, ranking above chief warrant officer and below lieutenant.

4. ‹historical› the lowest rank of commissioned infantry officer in the British army.

5. ‹historical› a standard-bearer.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French enseigne, from Latin insignia ‘signs of office’ (see insignia). Compare with ancient^2.

ensilage /ˈensəlij/

I. noun

another term for silage.

II. verb

another term for ensile.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French, from ensiler (see ensile).

ensile /inˈsīl enˈsīl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. put (grass or another crop) into a silo in order to preserve it as silage.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French ensiler, from Spanish ensilar, from en- ‘in’ + silo ‘silo.’

enslave /inˈslāv enˈslāv/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (someone) a slave.

2. cause (someone) to lose their freedom of choice or action

• they were enslaved by their need to take drugs.

II. derivatives

enslaver

noun

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘make (a person) subject to a superstition, passion, etc’; formerly also as inslave): from en-1, in-2 (as an intensifier) + slave.

enslavement /enˈslāvmənt/

noun

the action of making someone a slave; subjugation

• the enslavement of millions of Africans.

ensnare /ənˈsner/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. catch in or as in a trap

• they were ensnared in downtown traffic.

II. derivatives

ensnarement

noun

ensnarl /ənˈsnärl/

verb — [with obj.]

1. cause to become caught up in complex difficulties or problems.

Ensor, James /ˈensôr/

Baron (1860–1949), Belgian painter and engraver; full name James Sydney Ensor. Noted for macabre subjects, his work is significant both for symbolism and for the development of 20th-century expressionism.

ensorcell /enˈsôrsəl / ensorcel

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› enchant; fascinate.

II. derivatives

ensorcellment ensorcelment

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Old French ensorceler, alteration of ensorcerer, from sorcier ‘sorcerer.’

ensoul /enˈsōl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. endow with a soul.

II. derivatives

ensoulment

noun

enstatite /ˈenstəˌtīt/

I. noun

a translucent crystalline mineral of varying colors that occurs in some igneous rocks and stony meteorites. It consists of magnesium silicate and is a member of the pyroxene group.

II. derivatives

enstatitic /ˌenstəˈtitik /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek enstatēs ‘adversary’ (because of its refractory nature) + -ite^1.

ensue /inˈso͞o enˈso͞o/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. happen or occur afterward or as a result

• the difficulties that ensued from their commitment to Cuba

• (as adj. ensuing) there were repeated clashes in the ensuing days.

– origin late Middle English (formerly also as insue): from Old French ensivre, from Latin insequi, based on sequi ‘follow.’

en suite /än ˈswēt/

I. adjective, adverb

1. (of a bathroom) immediately adjoining a bedroom and forming part of the same set of rooms
[as adj.]

• all rooms have en-suite facilities

• [as adv.] each bedroom has a small bathroom en suite.

2. [as adj.] — (of a bedroom) having an adjoining bathroom.

II. noun

an en-suite bathroom

• the en-suite is fully tiled in black and white and has a double shower.

– origin late 18th cent. (in the sense ‘in agreement or harmony’): from French, literally ‘in sequence.’

ensure /inˈSHo͝or enˈSHo͝or/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make certain that (something) shall occur or be the case
[with clause]

• the client must ensure that accurate records be kept.

2. make certain of obtaining or providing (something)
[with two objs.]

• she would ensure him a place in society.

3. [no obj.] (ensure against) — make sure that (a problem) shall not occur.

– origin late Middle English (in the senses ‘convince’ and ‘make safe’): from Anglo-Norman French enseurer, alteration of Old French aseurer, earlier form of assurer (see assure). Compare with insure. / usage: On the difference between ensure and insure, see usage at insure.

enswathe /enˈswäT͟H enˈswāT͟H/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› envelop or wrap in a garment or piece of fabric.

ENT /ē en ˈtē/

abbreviation

ear, nose, and throat (as a department in a hospital).

-ent /ənt, nt/

I. suffix

1. (forming adjectives) denoting an occurrence of action

• refluent.

2. denoting a state

• convenient.

3. (forming nouns) denoting an agent

• coefficient.

– origin from French, or from the Latin present participial verb stem -ent- (see also -ant).

entablature /ənˈtabləCHər ənˈtabləˌCHo͝or/

I. noun

[Architecture] a horizontal, continuous lintel on a classical building supported by columns or a wall, comprising the architrave, frieze, and cornice.

– origin early 17th cent. (formerly also as intablature): from Italian intavolatura ‘boarding’ (partly via French entablement ‘entablement’), from intavolare ‘board up’ (based on tavola ‘table’).

entablement /ənˈtābəlmənt/

I. noun

[Architecture] a platform supporting a statue, above the dado and base.

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘entablature’): from French, based on table ‘table.’

entail

I. verb — /inˈtāl enˈtāl / [with obj.]

1. involve (something) as a necessary or inevitable part or consequence

• a situation that entails considerable risks.

2. [Logic] have as a logically necessary consequence.

3. [Law] settle the inheritance of (property) over a number of generations so that ownership remains within a particular group, usually one family

• her father's estate was entailed on a cousin.

4. ‹archaic› cause to experience or possess in a way perceived as permanent or inescapable

• I cannot get rid of the disgrace that you have entailed upon us.

II. noun — /ˈenˌtāl /

1. [Law] a settlement of the inheritance of property over a number of generations so that it remains within a family or other group.

2. [Law] a property that is bequeathed under such conditions.

III. derivatives

entailment /inˈtālmənt enˈtālmənt /

noun

– origin late Middle English (referring to settlement of property; formerly also as intail): from en-1, in-2 ‘into’ + Old French taille ‘notch, tax’ (see tail^2).

entamoeba /ˌen(t)əˈmēbə / entameba

I. noun

an amoeba that typically lives harmlessly in the gut, though one kind can cause amoebic dysentery.
[Genus Entamoeba, phylum Rhizopoda, kingdom Protista.]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek entos ‘within’ + amoeba.

entangle /inˈtaNGɡəl enˈtaNGɡəl/

verb — [with obj.] (usu. be entangled)

1. cause to become twisted together with or caught in

• fish attempt to swim through the mesh and become entangled.

2. involve (someone) in difficulties or complicated circumstances from which it is difficult to escape

• the case of murder in which she had found herself so painfully entangled.

entanglement /inˈtaNGɡəlmənt enˈtaNGɡəlmənt/

noun

1. the action or fact of entangling or being entangled

• many dolphins die from entanglement in fishing nets.

2. a complicated or compromising relationship or situation

• romantic entanglements.

3. an extensive barrier, typically made of interlaced barbed wire and stakes, erected to impede enemy soldiers or vehicles

• the attackers were caught up on wire entanglements.

entasis /ˈen(t)əsəs/

I. noun

[Architecture] a slight convex curve in the shaft of a column, introduced to correct the visual illusion of concavity produced by a straight shaft.

– origin mid 17th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek, from enteinein ‘to stretch or strain.’

entelechy /ənˈteləkē/

I. noun

1. [Philosophy] the realization of potential.

2. [Philosophy] the supposed vital principle that guides the development and functioning of an organism or other system or organization.

3. [Philosophy] the soul.

– origin late Middle English: via late Latin from Greek entelekheia (used by Aristotle), from en- ‘within’ + telos ‘end, perfection’ + ekhein ‘be in a certain state.’

entellus /ənˈteləs / entellus monkey

I. noun

another term for hanuman.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from the name of an aged Trojan in Virgil's Aeneid.

entente /änˈtänt/

I. noun

1. a friendly understanding or informal alliance between states or factions

• the growing entente between former opponents.

2. a group of states in an informal alliance.

3. (the Entente Cordiale) — the understanding between Britain and France reached in 1904, forming the basis of Anglo-French cooperation in World War I.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French entente (cordiale) ‘(friendly) understanding.’

enter /ˈen(t)ər/

I. verb

1. come or go into (a place)
[with obj.]

• she entered the kitchen

• [no obj.] the door opened and Karl entered

• ‹figurative› reading the Bible, we enter into an amazing new world of thoughts.

2. [no obj.] — used as a stage direction to indicate when a character comes on stage

• enter Hamlet.

3. [with obj.] — penetrate (something)

• the bullet entered his stomach.

4. [with obj.] — (of a man) insert the penis into the vagina of (a woman).

5. [with obj.] — come or be introduced into

• the thought never entered my head.

6. [with obj.] — begin to be involved in

• in 1941 America entered the war.

7. become a member of or start working in (an institution or profession)

• that autumn, he entered college.

8. register as a competitor or participant in (a tournament, race, or examination).

9. start or reach (a stage or period of time) in an activity or situation

• the election campaign entered its final phase.

10. [no obj.] — (of a particular performer in an ensemble) start or resume playing or singing.

11. write or key (information) in a book, computer, etc., so as to record it

• children can enter the data into the computer.

12. [Law] submit (a statement) in an official capacity, usually in a court of law

• an attorney entered a plea of guilty on her behalf.

II. noun

a key on a computer keyboard that is used to perform various functions, such as executing a command or selecting options on a menu.

III. phrasal verbs

1. enter into

a. become involved in (an activity, situation, or matter)

• they have entered into a relationship.

b. undertake to bind oneself by (an agreement or other commitment)

• the council entered into an agreement with a private firm.

c. form part of or be a factor in

• medical ethics also enter into the question.

2. enter on/upon

a. ‹formal› begin (an activity or job); start to pursue (a particular course in life)

• he entered upon a turbulent political career.

b. [Law] (as a legal entitlement) go freely into property as or as if the owner.

– origin Middle English: from Old French entrer, from Latin intrare, from intra ‘within.’

enteral /ˈen(t)ərəl/

I. adjective

[Medicine] (chiefly of nutrition) involving or passing through the intestine, either naturally via the mouth and esophagus, or through an artificial opening.
Often contrasted with parenteral.

II. derivatives

enterally

adverb

– origin early 20th cent.: from Greek enteron ‘intestine’ + -al, partly as a back-formation from parenteral.

enteric /enˈterik/

I. adjective

of, relating to, or occurring in the intestines.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Greek enterikos, from enteron ‘intestine.’

enteric fever /enˈterik ˈfēvər/

noun

another term for typhoid or paratyphoid.

enteritis /ˌen(t)əˈrīdəs/

noun

[Medicine] inflammation of the intestine, especially the small intestine, usually accompanied by diarrhea.

entero-

I. combining form

of or relating to the intestine

• enterovirus.

– origin from Greek enteron.

enterococcus /ˌen(t)ərōˈkäkəs/

I. noun

a streptococcus of a group that occurs naturally in the intestine but causes inflammation and blood infection if introduced elsewhere in the body (e.g., by injury or surgery).
[Genus Streptococcus (or Enterococcus); Gram-positive cocci.]

II. derivatives

enterococcal /ˌentərōˈkäkəl /

adjective

enterocoele /ˈen(t)ərōˌsēl / enterocoel

I. noun

[Zoology] a coelom or coelomic cavity developed from the wall of the archenteron in some invertebrates.

II. derivatives

1. enterocoelic /ˌentərōˈsēlik /

adjective

2. enterocoely /-ˌsēlē /

noun

enterocolitis /ˌen(t)ərōkəˈlīdəs/

noun

[Medicine] inflammation of both the small intestine and the colon.

enterocyte /ˈen(t)ərōˌsīt/

noun

[Physiology] a cell of the intestinal lining.

enterohepatic /ˌen(t)ərōhiˈpadik/

adjective

[Physiology] relating to or denoting the circulation of bile salts and other secretions from the liver to the intestine, where they are reabsorbed into the blood and returned to the liver.

enteropathy /ˌen(t)əˈräpəTHē/

noun

[Medicine] a disease of the intestine, especially the small intestine.

enterostomy /ˌen(t)əˈrästəmē/

noun

1. an ileostomy or similar surgical operation in which the small intestine is diverted to an artificial opening in the abdominal wall or in another part of the intestine.

2. an opening in the abdominal wall formed during an enterostomy.

enterotomy /ˌen(t)əˈrädəmē/

noun

the surgical cutting open of the intestine.

enterotoxemia /ˌen(t)ərōˌtäkˈsēmēə / ‹Brit.› enterotoxaemia

noun

[chiefly Veterinary] blood poisoning caused by an enterotoxin.

enterotoxigenic /ˌentərōˌtäksəˈjenik/

adjective

[Medicine] (of bacteria) producing an enterotoxin.

enterotoxin /ˌen(t)ərōˈtäksən/

noun

[Medicine] a toxin produced in or affecting the intestines, such as those causing food poisoning or cholera.

enterovirus /ˌen(t)ərōˈvīrəs/

noun

[Medicine] any of a group of RNA viruses (including those causing polio and hepatitis A) that typically occur in the gastrointestinal tract, sometimes spreading to the central nervous system or other parts of the body.

enterprise /ˈen(t)ərˌprīz/

I. noun

1. a project or undertaking, typically one that is difficult or requires effort

• a joint enterprise between French and Japanese companies.

2. initiative and resourcefulness

• success came quickly, thanks to a mixture of talent, enterprise, and luck.

3. a business or company

• a state-owned enterprise.

4. entrepreneurial economic activity.

II. derivatives

enterpriser

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, ‘something undertaken,’ feminine past participle (used as a noun) of entreprendre, based on Latin prendere, prehendere ‘to take.’

enterprise culture

noun

a capitalist society in which taking on financial risks in the hope of profit is encouraged.

enterprise zone /ˈen(t)ərˌprīz ˌzōn/

noun

an impoverished area in which incentives such as tax concessions are offered to encourage business investment and provide jobs for the residents.

enterprising /ˈen(t)ərˌprīziNG/

I. adjective

having or showing initiative and resourcefulness

• some enterprising teachers have started their own recycling programs.

II. derivatives

enterprisingly /ˈen(t)ərˌprīziNGlē /

adverb

entertain /ˌen(t)ərˈtān/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. provide (someone) with amusement or enjoyment

• a tremendous game that thoroughly entertained the crowd.

2. receive (someone) as a guest and provide them with food and drink

• a private dining room where members could entertain groups of friends.

3. give attention or consideration to (an idea, suggestion, or feeling)

• Washington entertained little hope of an early improvement in relations.

– origin late Middle English: from French entretenir, based on Latin inter ‘among’ + tenere ‘to hold.’ The word originally meant ‘maintain, continue,’ later ‘maintain in a certain condition, treat in a certain way,’ also ‘show hospitality’ (late 15th cent).

entertainer /ˌen(t)ərˈtānər/

noun

a person, such as a singer, dancer, or comedian, whose job is to entertain others.

entertaining /ˌen(t)ərˈtāniNG/

I. adjective

providing amusement or enjoyment

• the magazine is both entertaining and informative.

II. derivatives

entertainingly /ˌen(t)ərˈtāniNGlē /

adverb

entertainment /ˌen(t)ərˈtānmənt/

noun

1. the action of providing or being provided with amusement or enjoyment

• everyone just sits in front of the TV for entertainment.

2. an event, performance, or activity designed to entertain others

• a theatrical entertainment.

3. the action of receiving a guest or guests and providing them with food and drink.

enthalpy /ˈenTHalpē ənˈTHalpē/

I. noun

1. (Symbol: H) — [Physics] a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the total heat content of a system. It is equal to the internal energy of the system plus the product of pressure and volume.

2. [Physics] the change in enthalpy associated with a particular chemical process.

– origin 1920s: from Greek enthalpein ‘warm in,’ from en- ‘within’ + thalpein ‘to heat.’

entheogen /enˈthēəˌjen, -jən/

I. noun

a chemical substance, typically of plant origin, that is ingested to produce a nonordinary state of consciousness for religious or spiritual purposes.

II. derivatives

entheogenic /enˌthēəˈjenik /

adjective

– origin 1970s: from Greek, literally ‘becoming divine within’; coined by an informal committee studying the inebriants of shamans.

enthrall /inˈTHrôl enˈTHrôl / ‹Brit.› enthral

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. capture the fascinated attention of

• she had been so enthralled by the adventure that she had hardly noticed the cold.

2. (also inthrall) — ‹archaic› enslave.

II. derivatives

enthrallment /inˈTHrôlmənt enˈTHrôlmənt / ‹Brit.› enthralment

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘enslave’; formerly also as inthrall): from en-1, in-2 (as an intensifier) + thrall.

enthralling /enˈTHrôliNG/

adjective

capturing and holding one's attention; fascinating

• an enthralling bestseller.

enthrone /ənˈTHrōn/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be enthroned)

1. install (a monarch) on a throne, especially during a ceremony to mark the beginning of their rule.

2. give or ascribe a position of authority to

• he was enthroned as the guru of the avant-garde.

II. derivatives

enthronement /ənˈTHrōnmənt /

noun

enthuse /inˈTH(y)o͞oz enˈTH(y)o͞oz/

I. verb — [reporting verb]

1. say something that expresses one's eager enjoyment, interest, or approval
[no obj.]

• they both enthused over my new look

• [with direct speech] “This place is superb!” she enthused.

2. [with obj.] — make (someone) interested and eagerly appreciative

• public art is a tonic that can enthuse alienated youth.

usage: The verb enthuse is formed as a back-formation from the noun enthusiasm and, like many verbs formed from nouns in this way, it is regarded by traditionalists as unacceptable. It is difficult to see why: it is a perfectly established means for creating new words in the language (verbs like classify, commentate, and edit were also formed as back-formations from nouns, for example). Enthuse itself has been in the language for more than 150 years.

enthusiasm /inˈTH(y)o͞ozēˌazəm enˈTH(y)o͞ozēˌazəm/

I. noun

1. intense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval

• her energy and enthusiasm for life

• few expressed enthusiasm about the current leaders.

2. a thing that arouses feelings of intense and eager enjoyment

• the three enthusiasms of his life were politics, religion, and books.

3. ‹archaic› ‹derogatory› religious fervor supposedly resulting directly from divine inspiration, typically involving speaking in tongues and wild, uncoordinated movements of the body.

– origin early 17th cent. (sense 2): from French enthousiasme, or via late Latin from Greek enthousiasmos, from enthous ‘possessed by a god, inspired’ (based on theos ‘god’).

enthusiast /inˈTH(y)o͞ozēˌast enˈTH(y)o͞ozēˌast/

I. noun

1. a person who is highly interested in a particular activity or subject

• a sports car enthusiast.

2. ‹archaic› ‹derogatory› a person of intense and visionary Christian views.

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting a person believing that he or she is divinely inspired): from French enthousiaste or ecclesiastical Latin enthusiastes ‘member of a heretical sect,’ from Greek enthousiastēs ‘person inspired by a god,’ from the adjective enthous (see enthusiasm).

enthusiastic /inˌTH(y)o͞ozēˈastik enˌTH(y)o͞ozēˈastik/

I. adjective

having or showing intense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval

• the promoter was enthusiastic about the concert venue.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Greek enthousiastikos, from enthous ‘possessed by a god’ (see enthusiasm).

enthusiastically /ēnˌTH(y)o͞ozēˈastəklē enˌTH(y)o͞ozēˈastəklē/

adverb

in a way that shows intense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval

• the report was enthusiastically welcomed by all groups

• the audience applauded enthusiastically.

enthymeme /ˈenTHəˌmēm/

I. noun

[Logic] an argument in which one premise is not explicitly stated.

– origin mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek enthumēma, from enthumeisthai ‘consider,’ from en- ‘within’ + thumos ‘mind.’

entice /inˈtīs enˈtīs/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. attract or tempt by offering pleasure or advantage

• a show that should entice a new audience into the theater

• [with obj. and infinitive] the whole purpose of bribes is to entice governments to act against the public interest.

II. derivatives

enticer

noun

– origin Middle English (also in the sense ‘incite, provoke’; formerly also as intice): from Old French enticier, probably from a base meaning ‘set on fire,’ based on an alteration of Latin titio ‘firebrand.’

enticement /ənˈtīsmənt/

noun

1. something used to attract or to tempt someone; a lure

• financial enticements.

2. the quality of being attractive or tempting

• despite the enticement of low prices, sales fell sharply from 2000's record level.

enticing /inˈtīsiNG enˈtīsiNG/

I. adjective

attractive or tempting; alluring

• an enticing prospect.

II. derivatives

enticingly /inˈtīsiNGlē enˈtīsiNGlē /

adverb

entire /ənˈtī(ə)r/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. with no part left out; whole

• my plans are to travel the entire world.

2. not broken or decayed.

3. without qualification or reservations; absolute

• an ideological system with which he is in entire agreement.

4. (of a male horse) not castrated.

5. [Botany] (of a leaf) without indentations or division into leaflets.

II. noun

an uncastrated male horse.

– origin late Middle English (formerly also as intire): from Old French entier, based on Latin integer ‘untouched, whole,’ from in- ‘not’ + tangere ‘to touch.’

entirely /ənˈtī(ə)rlē/

adverb

1. completely (often used for emphasis)

• the juries were made up entirely of men

• [as submodifier] we have an entirely different outlook.

2. solely

• eight coaches entirely for passenger transport.

entirety /enˈtī(ə)rtē enˈtīrədē/

I. noun

the whole of something

• she would have to stay in her room over the entirety of the weekend.

II. phrases

in its entirety

as a whole; completely

• the poem is too long to quote in its entirety here.

– origin Middle English: from Old French entierete, from Latin integritas, from integer ‘untouched, whole’ (see entire). Compare with integrity.

entisol /ˈentiˌsäl, -sôl/

I. noun

[Soil Science] a soil of an order comprising mineral soils that have not yet differentiated into distinct horizons.

– origin mid 20th cent.: from entire + -sol.

entitle /inˈtīdl enˈtīdl/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be entitled)

1. give (someone) a legal right or a just claim to receive or do something

• employees are normally entitled to severance pay

• [with obj. and infinitive] the landlord is entitled to require references.

2. give (something, especially a text or work of art) a particular title

• an article entitled “The Harried Society.”

3. [with obj. and complement] — ‹archaic› give (someone) a specified title expressing their rank, office, or character

• they entitled him Sultan.

– origin late Middle English (formerly also as intitle): via Old French from late Latin intitulare, from in- ‘in’ + Latin titulus ‘title.’

entitled /inˈtīdld enˈtīdld/

adjective

believing oneself to be inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment

• his pompous, entitled attitude

• kids who feel so entitled and think the world will revolve around them.

entitlement /inˈtīdlmənt enˈtīdlmənt/

noun

1. the fact of having a right to something

• full entitlement to fees and maintenance should be offered

• you should be fully aware of your legal entitlements.

2. the amount to which a person has a right

• annual leave entitlement.

3. the belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment

• no wonder your kids have a sense of entitlement

• [as modifier] this entitlement mentality is completely out of control.

4. (US) a government program that provides benefits to any individual meeting certain eligibility requirements

• Social Security, Medicare, and other entitlements are going broke

• [as modifier] entitlement programs.

entitlement program

noun

a government program that guarantees certain benefits to a particular group or segment of the population.

entity /ˈen(t)ədē/

I. noun

1. a thing with distinct and independent existence

• church and empire were fused in a single entity.

2. existence; being

• entity and nonentity.

II. derivatives

entitative /-ˌtātiv /

adjective

[chiefly Philosophy]

– origin late 15th cent. (denoting a thing's existence): from French entité or medieval Latin entitas, from late Latin ens, ent- ‘being’ (from esse ‘be’).

entom.

abbreviation

entomology.

entomb /inˈto͞om enˈto͞om/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be entombed)

1. place (a dead body) in a tomb.

2. bury or trap in or under something

• many people died, most entombed in collapsed buildings.

– origin late Middle English (formerly also as intomb): from Old French entomber, from en- ‘in’ + tombe ‘tomb.’

entombment /enˈto͞omˌmənt/

noun

the placing of a dead body in a tomb; interment

• the entombment of the Unknown Soldier.

entomo-

I. combining form

of an insect; of or relating to insects

• entomophagous.

– origin from Greek entomon, neuter (denoting an insect) of entomos ‘cut up, segmented.’

entomologist /ˌen(t)əˈmäləjəst/

noun

a person who studies or is an expert in the branch of zoology concerned with insects

• entomologists have identified 800,000 different insect species.

entomology /ˌen(t)əˈmäləjē/

I. noun

the branch of zoology concerned with the study of insects.

II. derivatives

entomological /ˌen(t)əməˈläjək(ə)l /

adjective

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French entomologie or modern Latin entomologia, from Greek entomon (denoting an insect) + -logia (see -logy).

entomophagy /ˌen(t)əˈmäfəjē/

I. noun

the practice of eating insects, especially by people.

II. derivatives

1. entomophagist /-jist /

noun

2. entomophagous /ˌen(t)əˈmäfəɡəs /

adjective

entomophilous /ˌen(t)əˈmäfələs/

I. adjective

[Botany] (of a plant or flower) pollinated by insects.

II. derivatives

entomophily /-ˈmäfəlē /

noun

entoparasite /ˌen(t)ōˈperəsīt/

I. noun

[Biology] another term for endoparasite.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek entos ‘within’ + parasite.

Entoprocta /ˌen(t)əˈpräktə / ‹Zoology›

I. a small phylum of sedentary aquatic invertebrates that resemble moss animals. They have a rounded body on a long stalk, bearing a ring of tentacles for filtering food from the water.

II. derivatives

entoproct /ˈentəˌpräkt /

noun

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek entos ‘within’ + prōktos ‘anus,’ the anus being within the ring of tentacles.

entoptic /enˈtäptik/

I. adjective

(of visual images) occurring or originating inside the eye.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek entos ‘within’ + optic.

entourage /ˌänto͝oˈräZH/

I. noun

a group of people attending or surrounding an important person

• an entourage of bodyguards.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, from entourer ‘to surround.’

entr'acte /ˈänˌtrakt ˌänˈträkt/

I. noun

1. an interval between two acts of a play or opera.

2. a piece of music or a dance performed during an entr'acte.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French (earlier form of entracte), from entre ‘between’ + acte ‘act.’

entrails /ˈentrālz ˈentrəlz/

I. plural noun

1. a person or animal's intestines or internal organs, especially when removed or exposed.

2. the innermost parts of something

• digging copper out of the entrails of the earth.

– origin Middle English: from Old French entrailles, from medieval Latin intralia, alteration of Latin interanea ‘internal things,’ based on inter ‘among.’

entrain^1 /inˈtrān enˈtrān/

verb — [no obj.]

1. board a train.

2. [with obj.] — put or allow (someone or something) on board a train.

entrain^2 /inˈtrān enˈtrān/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a current or fluid) incorporate and sweep along in its flow.

2. cause or bring about as a consequence

• the triumph of a revolution was measured in terms of the social revision it entrained.

3. [Biology] (of a rhythm or something that varies rhythmically) cause (another) gradually to fall into synchronism with it.

4. [no obj.] (entrain to) — fall into synchronism with (something) in such a way.

II. derivatives

entrainment

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘bring on as a consequence’): from French entraîner, from en- ‘in’ + traîner ‘to drag.’

entrance^1 /ˈentrəns/

I. noun

1. an opening, such as a door, passage, or gate, that allows access to a place.

2. [usu. in sing.] — an act or instance of going or coming in

• at their abrupt entrance he rose to his feet.

3. [usu. in sing.] — the coming of an actor or performer onto a stage

• her final entrance is as a triumphant princess.

4. the right, means, or opportunity to enter somewhere or be a member of an institution, society, or other body

• about fifty people attempted to gain entrance

• [as modifier] an entrance examination.

5. [Music] another term for entry.

II. phrases

make an (or one's) entrance

a. (of an actor or performer) come on stage.

b. enter somewhere in a conspicuous or impressive way

• she slowly counted to ten before making her entrance.

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘right or opportunity of admission’): from Old French, from entrer ‘enter.’

entrance^2 /inˈtrans enˈtrans/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. fill (someone) with wonder and delight, holding their entire attention

• I was entranced by a cluster of trees that were lit up by fireflies

• (as adj. entrancing) he had never seen a more entrancing woman.

2. cast a spell on

• Orpheus entranced the wild beasts.

II. derivatives

1. entrancement /inˈtransmənt enˈtransmənt /

noun

2. entrancingly /inˈtransiNGlē enˈtransiNGlē /

adverb

– origin late 16th cent. (formerly also as intrance): from en-1, in-2 ‘into’ + trance.

entrance hall

noun

the room or space immediately inside the main door of a large or grand building

• on the ground floor there was an impressive entrance hall leading to the various living rooms.

entranceway /ˈentrənsˌwā/

noun

a way into a place or thing, especially a doorway or corridor at the entrance to a building.

entrant /ˈentrənt/

I. noun

a person or group that enters, joins, or takes part in something.

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting a person taking legal possession of land or property): from French, literally ‘entering,’ present participle of entrer (see enter).

entrap /inˈtrap enˈtrap/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. catch (someone or something) in or as in a trap

• she was entrapped by family expectations.

2. trick or deceive (someone), especially by inducing them to commit a crime in order to secure their prosecution.

II. derivatives

entrapper

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Old French entraper, from en- ‘in’ + trappe ‘a trap.’

entrapment /inˈtrapmənt enˈtrapmənt/

noun

1. the state of being caught in or as in a trap

• the feeling of entrapment grows as the roads close and the power goes out

• nerve entrapment often occurs in throwing sports.

2. the action of tricking someone into committing a crime in order to secure their prosecution

• his style of investigation constitutes entrapment.

en travesti /äN ˌtraveˈstē/

I. adverb, adjective

dressed as a member of the opposite sex, especially for a theatrical role.

– origin mid 20th cent.: from French, literally ‘(dressed) in disguise, cross-dressed.’

entreat /inˈtrēt enˈtrēt/

I. verb

1. [reporting verb] — ask someone earnestly or anxiously to do something
[with obj. and infinitive]

• his friends entreated him not to go.

2. [with obj.] — ask earnestly or anxiously for (something)

• a message had been sent, entreating aid for the Navajos.

3. [with obj.] — ‹archaic› treat (someone) in a specified manner

• the King, I fear, hath ill entreated her.

II. derivatives

1. entreatingly /inˈtrēdiNGlē enˈtrēdiNGlē /

adverb

2. entreatment

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘treat, act toward (someone)’; formerly also as intreat): from Old French entraitier, based on traitier ‘to treat,’ from Latin tractare ‘to handle.’

entreaty /inˈtrēdē enˈtrēdē/

I. noun

an earnest or humble request

• the king turned a deaf ear to his entreaties.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘treatment, management’; formerly also as intreaty): from entreat, on the pattern of treaty.

entrechat /ˌäntrəˈSHä/

I. noun

[Ballet] a vertical jump during which the dancer repeatedly crosses the feet and beats them together.

– origin French, from Italian (capriola) intrecciata ‘complicated (caper).’

entrecôte /ˈäntrəˌkōt/

I. noun

a boned steak cut off the sirloin.

– origin French, from entre ‘between’ + côte ‘rib.’

entrée /ˈänˌtrā ˌänˈtrā / entree

I. noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) the main course of a meal.

2. (Brit.) a dish served between the first and main courses at a formal dinner.

3. the right to enter or join a particular sphere or group

• an actress with an entrée into the intellectual society of Berlin.

• her beauty and charm rapidly gained her entrée to high society.

• their connections and relative wealth gave them entree to all of the most select entertainments.

– origin early 18th cent. (denoting a piece of instrumental music forming the first part of a suite): French, feminine past participle of entrer ‘enter’ (see entry).

entremets /ˌäntrəˈmā/

I. noun

a light dish served between two courses of a formal meal.

– origin French, from entre ‘between’ + mets ‘dish.’

entrench /inˈtren(t)SH enˈtren(t)SH / ‹dated› intrench

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — establish (an attitude, habit, or belief) so firmly that change is very difficult or unlikely

• ageism is entrenched in our society.

2. establish (a person or their authority) in a position of great strength or security

• by 1947 de Gaulle's political opponents were firmly entrenched in power.

3. apply extra legal safeguards to (a right, especially a constitutional right, guaranteed by legislation).

4. establish (a military force, camp, etc.) in trenches or other fortified positions.

5. [no obj.] (entrench on/upon) — ‹archaic› encroach or trespass upon.

II. derivatives

entrenchment /inˈtren(t)SHmənt enˈtren(t)SHmənt /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘place within a trench’): from en-1, in-2 ‘into’ + trench.

entrenched /inˈtren(t)SHt enˈtren(t)SHt/

adjective

(of an attitude, habit, or belief) firmly established and difficult or unlikely to change; ingrained

• an entrenched resistance to change.

entre nous /ˌäntrə ˈno͞o/

I. adverb

between ourselves; privately

• entre nous, the old man's a bit of a problem.

– origin late 17th cent.: French.

entrepôt /ˈäntrəˌpō/

I. noun

a port, city, or other center to which goods are brought for import and export, and for collection and distribution.

– origin early 18th cent.: French, from entreposer ‘to store,’ from entre ‘among’ + poser ‘to place.’

entrepreneur /ˌäntrəprəˈnər/

I. noun

1. a person who organizes and operates a business or businesses, taking on greater than normal financial risks in order to do so.

2. a promoter in the entertainment industry.

II. derivatives

entrepreneurism

noun

– origin early 19th cent. (denoting the director of a musical institution): from French, from entreprendre ‘undertake’ (see enterprise).

entrepreneurial /ˌäntrəprəˈnərēəl/

I. adjective

characterized by the taking of financial risks in the hope of profit; enterprising

• an entrepreneurial culture

• our entrepreneurial spirit thrives on meeting the next challenge.

II. derivatives

1. entrepreneurialism

noun

2. entrepreneurially

adverb

entrepreneurship /ˌäntrəprəˈnərˌSHip/

noun

the activity of setting up a business or businesses, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit

• the new business opportunities have encouraged entrepreneurship on a grand scale.

entresol /ˈen(t)ərˌsäl ˈän(t)rəˌsäl ˈen(t)ərˌsôl ˈän(t)rəˌsôl/

I. noun

a low story between the first floor and the second floor of a building; a mezzanine floor.

– origin early 18th cent.: French, from Spanish entresuelo, from entre ‘between’ + suelo ‘story.’

entropion /enˈtrōpēˌän, -pēən/

I. noun

[Medicine] a condition in which the eyelid is rolled inward against the eyeball, typically caused by muscle spasm or by inflammation or scarring of the conjunctiva (as in diseases such as trachoma), and resulting in irritation of the eye by the lashes (trichiasis).

– origin late 19th cent.: from en-2 ‘inside,’ on the pattern of ectropion.

entropy /ˈentrəpē/

I. noun

1. (Symbol: S) — [Physics] a thermodynamic quantity representing the unavailability of a system's thermal energy for conversion into mechanical work, often interpreted as the degree of disorder or randomness in the system.

2. lack of order or predictability; gradual decline into disorder

• a marketplace where entropy reigns supreme.

3. (in information theory) a logarithmic measure of the rate of transfer of information in a particular message or language.

II. derivatives

1. entropic /enˈträpik /

adjective

2. entropically /enˈträpik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin mid 19th cent.: from en-2 ‘inside’ + Greek tropē ‘transformation.’

entrust /ənˈtrəst/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. assign the responsibility for doing something to (someone)

• I've been entrusted with the task of getting him safely back.

2. put (something) into someone's care or protection

• you persuade people to entrust their savings to you.

II. derivatives

entrustment /ənˈtrəs(t)mənt /

noun

entry /ˈentrē/

I. noun

1. an act of going or coming in

• the door was locked, but he forced an entry.

2. a place of entrance, such as a door or lobby.

3. the right, means, or opportunity to enter a place or be a member of something

• undocumented workers seeking entry to the United States.

4. the action of undertaking something or becoming a member of something

• more young people are postponing their entry into full-time work.

5. [Bridge] a card providing an opportunity to transfer the lead to a particular hand.

6. [Law] the action of taking up the legal right to property.

7. [Music] the point in a piece of music at which a particular performer in an ensemble starts or resumes playing or singing.

8. ‹dialect› a passage between buildings.

9. an item written or printed in a diary, list, ledger, or reference book.

10. the action of recording an entry

• sophisticated features to help ensure accurate data entry.

11. a person or thing competing in a race or competition

• from the hundreds of entries we received, twelve winners were finally chosen.

12. [in sing.] — the number of competitors in a particular race or competition.

13. the action of participating in a race or competition.

14. the forward part of a ship's hull below the waterline, considered in terms of breadth or narrowness.

– origin Middle English: from Old French entree, based on Latin intrata, feminine past participle of intrare (see enter).

entry form /ˈentrē fô(ə)rm/

noun

an application form for a competition.

entry inhibitor

noun

a class of anti-HIV drugs that work by blocking the entry of the virus into a host cell.

entry-level /ˈentrē ˌlevəl/

adjective

1. at the lowest level in an employment hierarchy

• he was hired as an entry-level research assistant.

2. (of a product) suitable for a beginner or first-time user; basic

• entry-level computers.

entryway /ˈentrēˌwā/

noun

(N. Amer.) a way in to somewhere or something; an entrance.

entry word

noun

a word, phrase, or name that is the subject of and heading for an entry in a dictionary, glossary, or encyclopedia, and is usu. set in boldface or another distinctive type; a headword or lemma.

entry wound /ˈentrē ˌwo͞ond/

noun

a wound made by a bullet or other missile at the point where it entered the body.

entwine /ənˈtwīn/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. wind or twist together; interweave

• they lay entwined in each other's arms

• ‹figurative› the nations' histories were closely entwined.

II. derivatives

entwinement

noun

enucleate /əˈn(y)o͞oklēˌāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Biology] remove the nucleus from (a cell).

2. surgically remove (a tumor or gland, or the eyeball) intact from its surrounding capsule.

II. adjective

[Biology] (of a cell) lacking a nucleus.

III. derivatives

enucleation /əˌn(y)o͞oklēˈāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘clarify, explain’): from Latin enucleat- ‘extracted, made clear,’ from the verb enucleare, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out of’ + nucleus ‘kernel’ (see nucleus).

Enugu /āˈno͞oɡo͞o/

an industrial city in southeastern Nigeria, capital of the state of Enugu; pop. 563,600 (est. 2005).

enumerable /əˈn(y)o͞omərəb(ə)l/

adjective

[Mathematics] able to be counted by one-to-one correspondence with the set of all positive integers.

enumerate /əˈn(y)o͞oməˌrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. mention (a number of things) one by one

• there is not space to enumerate all his works.

2. ‹formal› establish the number of

• the 2000 census enumerated 10,493 households in the county.

II. derivatives

enumerative /əˈn(y)o͞omərədiv ēˈn(y)o͞omərədiv əˈn(y)o͞oməˌrādiv ēˈn(y)o͞oməˌrādiv /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin enumerat- ‘counted out,’ from the verb enumerare, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + numerus ‘number.’

enumeration /əˌn(y)o͞oməˈrāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action of mentioning a number of things one by one

• the complete enumeration of all possible genetic states

• it is not necessary to give an exhaustive enumeration of the circumstances.

2. ‹formal› the action of establishing the number of something

• detailed enumeration of the income of the household

• a complete enumeration of residents in the area.

enumerator /əˈn(y)o͞oməˌrādər/

noun

a person employed in taking a census of the population.

enunciate /əˈnənsēˌāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. say or pronounce clearly

• she enunciated each word slowly.

2. express (a proposition or theory) in clear or definite terms

• a written document enunciating this policy.

3. proclaim

• a prophet enunciating the Lord's wisdom.

II. derivatives

1. enunciation /ēˌnənsēˈāSHən əˌnənsēˈāSHən /

noun

2. enunciative /ēˈnənsēədiv əˈnənsēədiv ēˈnənsēˌādiv əˈnənsēˌādiv /

adjective

3. enunciator /əˈnənsēˌādər /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (as enunciation): from Latin enuntiat- ‘announced clearly,’ from the verb enuntiare, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + nuntiare ‘announce’ (from nuntius ‘messenger’).

enuresis /ˌenyəˈrēsis/

I. noun

[Medicine] involuntary urination, especially by children at night.

II. derivatives

enuretic /ˌenyəˈredik /

adjective, noun

– origin early 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek enourein ‘urinate in,’ from en- ‘in’ + ouron ‘urine.’

enurn /inˈərn/

I. verb

variant spelling of inurn.

II. derivatives

enurnment

noun

envelop /ənˈveləp/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. wrap up, cover, or surround completely

• a figure enveloped in a black cloak

• ‹figurative› a feeling of despair enveloped him.

2. (of troops) surround (an enemy force).

II. derivatives

envelopment /ənˈveləpmənt /

noun

– origin late Middle English (formerly also as invelop(e)): from Old French envoluper, from en- ‘in’ + a second element (also found in develop) of unknown origin. / usage: Envelop is a verb, stressed on the second syllable and meaning ‘wrap completely.’ The noun meaning ‘paper container for a letter’ is envelope, stressed on the first syllable.

envelope /ˈenvəˌlōp ˈänvəˌlōp/

I. noun

1. a flat paper container with a sealable flap, used to enclose a letter or document.

2. a covering or containing structure or layer

• the external envelope of the swimming pool.

3. the outer metal or glass housing of a vacuum tube, electric light, etc.

4. the structure within a balloon or nonrigid airship containing the gas.

5. [Microbiology] a membrane forming the outer layer of certain viruses.

6. [Electronics] a curve joining the successive peaks of a modulated wave.

7. [Mathematics] a curve or surface tangent to each of a family of curves or surfaces.

8. [Astronomy] the nebulous covering of the head of a comet; coma.

II. phrases

push the envelope

‹informal› approach or extend the limits of what is possible

• these are extremely witty and clever stories that consistently push the envelope of TV comedy.

[originally aviation slang, relating to graphs of aerodynamic performance.]

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘wrapper, enveloping layer’): from French enveloppe, from envelopper ‘envelop.’ The sense ‘covering of a letter’ dates from the early 18th cent.

envenom /ənˈvenəm/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› put poison on or into; make poisonous.

– origin Middle English (formerly also as invenom): from Old French envenimer, from en- ‘in’ + venim ‘venom.’

envenomate /ənˈvenəˌmāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Zoology] [Medicine] (of a snake, scorpion, spider, or insect) poison by biting or stinging.

II. derivatives

envenomation /enˌvenəˈmāSHən /

noun

Enver Pasha /enˈver pəˈSHä/

(1881–1922), Turkish political and military leader. A leader of the Young Turks in 1908, he was part of a ruling triumvirate that followed a coup d'état in 1913.

enviable /ˈenvēəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

arousing or likely to arouse envy

• an enviable reputation for academic achievement.

II. derivatives

enviably /ˈenvēəblē /

adverb

envious /ˈenvēəs/

I. adjective

feeling or showing envy

• I'm envious of their happiness

• an envious glance.

II. derivatives

enviously /ˈenvēəslē /

adverb

– origin Middle English: from Old French envieus, from envie ‘envy,’ on the pattern of Latin invidiosus ‘invidious.’

enviro /inˈvīrō enˈvīrō/

I. noun

‹informal› an environmentalist

• command-and-control solutions demanded by the more radical enviros.

II. adjective

environmental

• an enviro group that combats the committee's advocates for Western ranching, mining, and energy interests.

– origin shortening.

environ /ənˈvīrən, ənˈvī(ə)rn/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› surround; enclose

• the stone circle was environed by an expanse of peat soil.

– origin Middle English (formerly also as inviron): from Old French environer, from environ ‘surroundings,’ from en ‘in’ + viron ‘circuit’ (from virer ‘to turn, veer’).

environment /inˈvīrənmənt/

noun

1. the surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates.

2. [usu. with modifier] — the setting or conditions in which a particular activity is carried on

• a good learning environment.

3. [with modifier] — [Computing] the overall structure within which a user, computer, or program operates

• a desktop development environment.

4. (the environment) — the natural world, as a whole or in a particular geographical area, especially as affected by human activity.

environmental /inˌvīrənˈmen(t)l/

adjective

1. relating to the natural world and the impact of human activity on its condition

• acid rain may have caused major environmental damage.

2. aiming or designed to promote the protection of the natural world

• environmental tourism.

3. relating to or arising from a person's surroundings

• environmental noise.

environmental art

noun

1. the production of artistic works intended to enhance or become part of an urban or other outdoor environment.

2. the production of works of art by manipulation of the natural landscape.

3. the production of works of art in the form of large installations or assemblages that surround the observer.

environmental audit

noun

an assessment of the extent to which an organization is observing practices that seek to minimize harm to the environment.

environmentalism /ēnˌvīrənˈmen(t)əlizəm/

noun

1. concern about and action aimed at protecting the environment

• he claims to embrace modern environmentalism and an ecological approach.

2. the theory that environment, as opposed to heredity, has the primary influence on the development of a person or group.

environmentalist /inˌvīrənˈmen(t)ələst/

noun

1. a person who is concerned with or advocates the protection of the environment.

2. a person who considers that environment, as opposed to heredity, has the primary influence on the development of a person or group.

environmentally /inˌvīrənˈmen(t)əlē/

adverb

1. in a way that relates to the natural world and the impact of human activity on its condition

• alternatives to environmentally damaging pesticides

• measures designed to promote environmentally friendly farming

• the village was suffering economically, socially, and environmentally.

2. in a way that relates to a person's surroundings
[sentence adverb]

• environmentally speaking, it's a good job change for me.

environmentally unfriendly

adjective

harmful to the environment

• the water industry is badly affected by the environmentally unfriendly activities of others.

environmental medicine

noun

a branch of medicine that studies environmental inputs and the individual's physical, mental, and emotional responses to them.

environment-friendly

adjective

another term for eco-friendly.

environs /inˈvīrənz/

I. plural noun

the surrounding area or district

• the picturesque environs of the lake.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, plural of environ (see environ).

envisage /ənˈvizij/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. contemplate or conceive of as a possibility or a desirable future event

• the Rome Treaty envisaged free movement across frontiers.

2. form a mental picture of (something not yet existing or known)

• he knew what he liked but had difficulty envisaging it.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French envisager, from en- ‘in’ + visage ‘face.’

envision /ənˈviZHən/

verb — [with obj.]

1. imagine as a future possibility; visualize

• she envisioned the admiring glances of guests seeing her home.

envoi /ˈenˌvoi, ˈänˌvoi / envoy

I. noun

1. a short stanza concluding a ballade.

2. ‹literary› an author's concluding words.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French envoi, from envoyer ‘send’ (see envoy).

envoy /ˈenˌvoi ˈänˌvoi/

I. noun

1. a messenger or representative, especially one on a diplomatic mission.

2. short for envoy extraordinary.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French envoyé, past participle of envoyer ‘send,’ from en voie ‘on the way,’ based on Latin via ‘way.’

envoy extraordinary

noun

a minister plenipotentiary, ranking below an ambassador and above a chargé d'affaires.

envy /ˈenvē/

I. noun

1. a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck

• she felt a twinge of envy for the people on board.

2. (the envy of) — a person or thing that inspires envy

• their national health service is the envy of many in Europe.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. desire to have a quality, possession, or other desirable attribute belonging to (someone else)

• he envied people who did not have to work on weekends

• [with two objs.] I envy Jane her happiness.

2. desire for oneself (something possessed or enjoyed by another)

• a lifestyle that most of us would envy.

III. derivatives

envier /ˈenvēər /

noun

– origin Middle English (also in the sense ‘hostility, enmity’): from Old French envie (noun), envier (verb), from Latin invidia, from invidere ‘regard maliciously, grudge,’ from in- ‘into’ + videre ‘to see.’

enwrap /ənˈrap/

verb — [with obj.]

1. wrap; envelop

• the book jacket enwraps a plain blue paper binding.

2. engross or absorb (someone)

• they were enwrapped in conversation.

enwreathe /ənˈrēT͟H/

verb — [with obj.] (usu. be enwreathed)

1. ‹literary› surround or envelop (something)

• the lofty battlements, thickly enwreathed with ivy.

enzootic /ˌenzōˈädik/

I. adjective

of, relating to, or denoting a disease that regularly affects animals in a particular district or at a particular season.
Compare with epizootic, endemic (sense 1 of the adjective).

– origin late 19th cent.: from en-2 ‘within’ + Greek zōion ‘animal’ + -ic.

enzyme /ˈenzīm/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a substance produced by a living organism that acts as a catalyst to bring about a specific biochemical reaction.
Most enzymes are proteins with large complex molecules whose action depends on their particular molecular shape. Some enzymes control reactions within cells and some, such as the enzymes involved in digestion, outside them.

II. derivatives

1. enzymatic /ˌenzəˈmatik /

adjective

2. enzymatically /ˌenzəˈmatik(ə)lē /

adverb

3. enzymic /enˈzīmik, -ˈzimik /

adjective

4. enzymically /enˈzīmik(ə)lē, -zim- /

adverb

– origin late 19th cent.: coined in German from modern Greek enzumos ‘leavened,’ from en- ‘within’ + Greek zumē ‘leaven.’

enzymology /ˌenzəˈmäləjē/

I. noun

the branch of biochemistry concerned with enzymes.

II. derivatives

1. enzymological /-məˈläjikəl /

adjective

2. enzymologist /-jist /

noun

EO

abbreviation

executive order.

e.o.

abbreviation

ex officio.

eo-

I. combining form

early, primeval

• eohippus.

– origin from Greek, ēṓs, 'dawn.'.

Eocene /ˈēəˌsēn/

I. adjective

1. [Geology] of, relating to, or denoting the second epoch of the Tertiary period, between the Paleocene and Oligocene epochs.

2. (as noun the Eocene) — [Geology] the Eocene epoch or the system of rocks deposited during it.

The Eocene epoch lasted from 56.5 million to 35.4 million years ago. It was a time of rising temperatures, and there was an abundance of mammals, including the first horses, bats, and whales.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek ēōs ‘dawn’ + kainos ‘new.’

eohippus /ˌēōˈhipəs/

I. noun

another term for hyracotherium.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek ēōs ‘dawn’ + hippos ‘horse.’

eo ipso /ˈē-ō ˈipsō, ˈā-ō/

I. adverb

‹formal› by that very act or quality; thereby

• such a grand theory would eo ipso give an account of how we communicate using language.

– origin Latin, ablative of id ipsum ‘the thing itself.’

eolian /ēˈōlēən/

adjective

US variant spelling of aeolian.

eolith /ˈēəˌliTH/

I. noun

[Archaeology] a roughly chipped flint found in Tertiary strata, originally thought to be an early artifact but probably of natural origin.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek ēōs ‘dawn’ + lithos ‘stone.’

Eolithic /ˌēəˈliTHik/

I. adjective

1. [Archaeology] ‹dated› of, relating to, or denoting a period at the beginning of the Stone Age, preceding the Paleolithic and characterized by the earliest crude stone tools.

2. (as noun the Eolithic) — [Archaeology] ‹dated› the Eolithic period.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French éolithique, from Greek ēōs ‘dawn’ + lithikos (from lithos ‘stone’).

e.o.m.

abbreviation

end of the month.

eon /ˈēən ˈēˌän / ‹chiefly Brit.› aeon

I. noun — (often eons)

1. an indefinite and very long period of time, often a period exaggerated for humorous or rhetorical effect

• he reached the crag eons before I arrived

• his eyes searched her face for what seemed like eons.

2. [Astronomy] [Geology] a unit of time equal to a billion years.

3. [Geology] a major division of geological time, subdivided into eras

• the Precambrian eon.

4. [Philosophy] (in Neoplatonism, Platonism, and Gnosticism) a power existing from eternity; an emanation or phase of the supreme deity.

– origin mid 17th cent.: via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek aiōn ‘age.’

Eos /ˈēəs ˈēˌäs / ‹Greek Mythology›

the Greek goddess of the dawn.
Roman equivalent Aurora^2.

eosin /ˈēəsən/

I. noun

a red fluorescent dye that is a bromine derivative of fluorescein, or one of its salts or other derivatives.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek ēōs ‘dawn’ + -in^1.

eosinophil /ˌēəˈsinəfil/

noun

[Physiology] a white blood cell containing granules that are readily stained by eosin.

eosinophilia /ˌēəsinəˈfilēə/

noun

[Medicine] an increase in the number of eosinophils in the blood, occurring in response to some allergens, drugs, and parasites, and in some types of leukemia.

eosinophilic /ˌēəsinəˈfilik/

adjective

1. [Physiology] (of a cell or its contents) readily stained by eosin.

2. [Medicine] relating to or marked by eosinophilia.

EOT

abbreviation

1. [Computing] end of tape.

2. [Telecommunications] end of transmission.

-eous

I. suffix

(forming adjectives) resembling; displaying the nature of

• aqueous

• erroneous.

– origin from the Latin suffix -eus + -ous.

EP

abbreviation

1. electroplate.

2. European Parliament.

3. European plan.

4. extended-play (of a record or compact disc)

• an EP of remixes.

5. extreme pressure (used in grading lubricants).

Ep.

abbreviation

Epistle.

e.p.

abbreviation

[Chess] en passant.

ep-

prefix

variant spelling of epi- before a vowel or h (as in eparch, ephemeral).

EPA

abbreviation

Environmental Protection Agency.

epact /ˈēpakt/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. the number of days by which the solar year differs from the lunar year.

2. the number of days into the moon's phase cycle at the beginning of the solar (calendar) year.

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting the age of the moon in days at the beginning of the calendar year): from French épacte, via late Latin from Greek epaktai (hēmerai) ‘intercalated (days),’ from epagein ‘bring in,’ from epi ‘in addition’ + agein ‘bring.’

eparch /ˈepärk/

I. noun

the chief bishop of an eparchy.

– origin mid 17th cent. (denoting the governor of an administrative division of Greece): from Greek eparkhos, from epi ‘above’ + arkhos ‘ruler.’

eparchy /ˈepˌärkē/

I. noun

a province of the Orthodox Church.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Greek eparkhia, from eparkhos (see eparch).

épater /āˈpätā/

I. verb — (in phrase épater les bourgeois)

1. shock people who are conventional or complacent.

– origin early 20th cent.: French, literally ‘startle, shock.’

epaulet /ˈepəlet / epaulette

I. noun

an ornamental shoulder piece on an item of clothing, typically on the coat or jacket of a military uniform.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French épaulette, diminutive of épaule ‘shoulder,’ from Latin spatula in the late Latin sense ‘shoulder blade.’

epaxial /eˈpaksēəl/

adjective

[Anatomy] [Zoology] situated on the dorsal side of an axis

• epaxial muscles.

epazote /ˌepəˈzōtā/

noun

a pungent herb used in Latin-American cooking and for tea.

épée /eˈpā/

I. noun

1. a sharp-pointed dueling sword, designed for thrusting and used, with the end blunted, in fencing.

2. the sport of fencing with an épée.

II. derivatives

épéeist /eˈpāəst /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: French, ‘sword,’ from Old French espee (see spay).

epeirogeny /ˌepīˈräjənē/

I. noun

[Geology] the regional uplift of an extensive area of the earth's crust.

II. derivatives

1. epeirogenesis /əˌpīrōˈjenəsəs /

noun

2. epeirogenic /iˌpīrōˈjenik /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek ēpeiros ‘mainland’ + -geny.

ependyma /əˈpendəmə/

I. noun

[Anatomy] the thin membrane of glial cells lining the ventricles of the brain and the central canal of the spinal cord.

II. derivatives

ependymal

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek ependuma, from ependuein ‘put on over.’

epenthesis /əˈpenTHəsəs/

I. noun

the insertion of a sound or letter within a word, e.g., the b in thimble.

II. derivatives

epenthetic /ˌepenˈTHetik /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: via late Latin from Greek, from epentithenai ‘insert,’ from epi ‘in addition’ + en- ‘within’ + tithenai ‘to place.’

epergne /iˈpərn, āˈpərn/

I. noun

an ornamental centerpiece for a dining table, typically used for holding fruit or flowers.

– origin early 18th cent.: perhaps an altered form of French épargne ‘saving, economy.’

epexegesis /eˌpeksəˈjēsis/

I. noun

1. the addition of words to clarify meaning.

2. words added for the purpose of clarifying meaning.

II. derivatives

1. epexegetic /-ˈjetik /

adjective

2. epexegetical /-ˈjetikəl /

adjective

3. epexegetically /-ˈjetik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin late 16th cent.: from Greek epexēgēsis, from epi ‘in addition’ + exēgēsis ‘explanation’ (see exegesis).

Eph.

abbreviation

[Bible] Ephesians.

ephah /ˈēfə, ˈefä/

I. noun

an ancient Hebrew dry measure equivalent to a bushel (35 l).

– origin from Hebrew ῾ēp̱āh, probably from Egyptian.

ephebe /ˈefēb əˈfēb/

I. noun

(in ancient Greece) a young man of 18–20 years undergoing military training.

II. derivatives

ephebic /iˈfēbik, eˈfēbik /

adjective

– origin via Latin from Greek ephēbos ‘adolescent boy,’ from epi ‘near to’ + hēbē ‘early manhood.’

ephebophile /əˈfēbōˌfīl/

I. noun

an adult who is sexually attracted to adolescents.

II. derivatives

ephebophilia

noun

– origin 1960s: from Greek ephēbos ‘adolescent boy’ (see ephebe) + -phile.

ephedra /əˈfedrə, ˈefidrə/

I. noun

an evergreen shrub of warm, arid regions that has trailing or climbing stems and tiny, scalelike leaves. Some kinds are a source of ephedrine and are used medicinally.
[Family Ephedraceae and genus Ephedra.]

– origin modern Latin, from Latin, ‘equisetum,’ literally ‘horse tail’ (which it resembles), from Greek ephedra, equivalent to hippouris,‘horse tail.’

ephedrine /əˈfedrən ˈefədrən ˈefəˌdrēn/

I. noun

[Medicine] a crystalline alkaloid drug obtained from some ephedras. It causes constriction of the blood vessels and widening of the bronchial passages and is used to relieve asthma and hay fever.
[Alternative name: 1-phenyl-2-methylaminopropanol; chem. formula: C_10H_15NO.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from ephedra + -ine^4.

ephemera /əˈfem(ə)rə/

I. plural noun

1. things that exist or are used or enjoyed for only a short time.

2. items of collectible memorabilia, typically written or printed ones, that were originally expected to have only short-term usefulness or popularity

• Mickey Mouse ephemera.

– origin late 16th cent.: plural of ephemeron. Current use has been influenced by plurals such as trivia and memorabilia.

ephemeral /əˈfem(ə)rəl/

I. adjective

1. lasting for a very short time

• fashions are ephemeral.

2. (chiefly of plants) having a very short life cycle.

II. noun

an ephemeral plant.

III. derivatives

1. ephemerality /əˌfem(ə)ˈralədē /

noun

2. ephemerally

adverb

3. ephemeralness

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from Greek ephēmeros (see ephemera) + -al.

ephemeris /əˈfem(ə)rəs/

I. noun

1. [Astronomy] [Astrology] a table or data file giving the calculated positions of a celestial object at regular intervals throughout a period.

2. [Astronomy] [Astrology] a book or set of such tables or files.

– origin early 16th cent.: from Latin, from Greek ephēmeros ‘lasting only a day.’

ephemeris time

noun

time on a scale defined by the orbital period rather than the axial rotation of the earth.

ephemeron /iˈfeməˌrän/

I. noun

an insect that lives only for a day or a few days.

– origin from Greek, neuter of ephēmeros ‘lasting only a day.’

Ephemeroptera /əˌfeməˈräptərə / ‹Entomology›

I. an order of insects that comprises the mayflies.

II. (as plural noun ephemeroptera) — insects of the order Ephemeroptera; mayflies.

III. derivatives

ephemeropteran /-tərən /

noun, adjective

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Ephemera (genus name) + pteron ‘wing.’

Ephesians /iˈfēZHəns/

a book of the New Testament ascribed to St. Paul, consisting of an epistle to the Church at Ephesus.

Ephesus /ˈefəsəs/

an ancient Greek city on the western coast of Asia Minor, in modern Turkey, site of the temple of Diana. It is an important center of early Christianity. St. Paul preached here, and St. John is said to have lived here.

ephod /ˈefäd ˈēfäd/

I. noun

(in ancient Israel) a sleeveless garment worn by Jewish priests.

– origin late Middle English: from Hebrew ῾ēp̱ōḏ.

ephor /ˈefôr ˈefər/

I. noun

(in ancient Greece) one of five senior Spartan magistrates.

II. derivatives

ephorate /ˈefəˌrāt, ˈefərit /

noun

– origin from Greek ephoros ‘overseer,’ from epi ‘above’ + the base of horan ‘see.’

ephyra /ˈefərə/

I. noun

[Zoology] a larval jellyfish, after it has separated from the scyphistoma.

– origin mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek Ephura, denoting a Nereid and an Oceanid.

epi- ep-

I. prefix

1. on; upon

• epicycle

• epigraph.

2. above

• epicotyl

• epicontinental.

3. in addition

• epigenesis

• epiphenomenon.

– origin from Greek epi ‘upon, near to, in addition.’

epibenthos /ˌepəˈbenTHäs/

I. noun

[Ecology] the flora and fauna living on the surface of the bottom of a sea or lake.

II. derivatives

epibenthic /-ˈbenTHik /

adjective

– origin early 20th cent.: from Greek epi ‘upon’ + benthos ‘depth of the sea.’

epiblast /ˈepəˌblast/

noun

[Embryology] the outermost layer of an embryo before it differentiates into ectoderm and mesoderm.

epic /ˈepik/

I. noun

1. a long poem, typically one derived from ancient oral tradition, narrating the deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary figures or the history of a nation.

2. the genre of epic poems

• the romances display gentler emotions not found in Greek epic.

3. a long film, book, or other work portraying heroic deeds and adventures or covering an extended period of time

• a Hollywood biblical epic.

II. adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of an epic or epics

• England's national epic poem Beowulf.

2. heroic or grand in scale or character

• his epic journey around the world

• a tragedy of epic proportions.

3. ‹informal› particularly impressive or remarkable

• the gig last night was epic

• these CEOs are paid salaries and bonuses in the millions despite their epic failures.

III. derivatives

1. epical

adjective

2. epically /-(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin late 16th cent. (as an adjective): via Latin from Greek epikos, from epos ‘word, song,’ related to eipein ‘say.’

epicanthic /ˌepəˈkanTHik/

adjective

denoting a fold of skin from the upper eyelid covering the inner angle of the eye, typical in many peoples of eastern Asia and found as a congenital abnormality elsewhere.

epicardium /ˌepəˈkärdēəm/

I. noun

[Anatomy] a serous membrane that forms the innermost layer of the pericardium and the outer surface of the heart.

II. derivatives

epicardial /-dēəl /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from epi- ‘above’ + Greek kardia ‘heart,’ on the pattern of pericardium.

epicedium /ˌepəˈsēdēəm/

I. noun

‹formal› a funeral ode.

II. derivatives

epicedian /-dēən /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent. (originally in the anglicized form epicede and the Greek form epicedeon): from Latin, from Greek epikēdeion, neuter of epokēdeios ‘of a funeral’ (based on kēdos ‘care, grief’).

epicene /ˈepəˌsēn/

I. adjective

1. having characteristics of both sexes or no characteristics of either sex; of indeterminate sex

• the sort of epicene beauty peculiar to boys of a certain age.

2. effeminate; effete

• the actor infused the role with an epicene languor.

II. noun

an epicene person.

– origin late Middle English (as a grammatical term): via late Latin from Greek epikoinos (based on koinos ‘common’).

epicenter /ˈepəˌsen(t)ər / ‹Brit.› epicentre

I. noun

1. the point on the earth's surface vertically above the focus of an earthquake.

2. the central point of something, typically a difficult or unpleasant situation

• the patient was at the epicenter of concern.

II. derivatives

epicentral /ˌepiˈsentrəl /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek epikentros ‘situated on a center,’ from epi ‘upon’ + kentron ‘center.’

epicondyle /ˌepiˈkänˌdīl, -ˈkändl/

I. noun

[Anatomy] a protuberance above or on the condyle of a long bone, especially either of the two at the elbow end of the humerus.

II. derivatives

epicondylar /-ˈkändl-ər /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French épicondyle, modern Latin epicondylus (see epi-, condyle).

epicondylitis /ˌepiˌkändīˈlītis, -ˌkändlˈītis/

noun

[Medicine] a painful inflammation of tendons surrounding an epicondyle.

epicontinental /ˌepəkän(t)əˈnen(t)l/

adjective

denoting those areas of sea or ocean overlying the continental shelf.

epicormic /ˌepiˈkôrmik/

I. adjective

[Botany] (of a shoot or branch) growing from a previously dormant bud on the trunk or a limb of a tree.

– origin early 20th cent.: from epi- ‘upon’ + Greek kormos ‘tree trunk.’

epicotyl /ˌepəˈkädl/

noun

[Botany] the region of an embryo or seedling stem above the cotyledon.

epicritic /ˌepəˈkridik/

I. adjective

[Physiology] relating to or denoting those sensory nerve fibers of the skin that are capable of fine discrimination of touch or temperature stimuli.
Often contrasted with protopathic.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Greek epikritikos ‘giving judgment over,’ from epi ‘upon or over’ + krinein ‘to judge.’

Epictetus /ˌepəkˈtēdəs/

(c. AD 55–c. 135), Greek philosopher. He preached the common brotherhood of man and advocated a Stoic philosophy.

epicure /ˈepəˌkyo͝or/

I. noun

a person who takes particular pleasure in fine food and drink.

II. derivatives

epicurism /ˈepəˌkyo͝oˌrizəm ˌepəˈkyo͝oˌrizəm /

noun

– origin late Middle English (denoting a disciple of Epicurus): via medieval Latin from Greek Epikouros ‘Epicurus.’

Epicurean /ˌepəkyəˈrēən ˌepəˈkyo͝orēən/

I. noun

1. a disciple or student of the Greek philosopher Epicurus.

2. (epicurean) — a person devoted to sensual enjoyment, especially that derived from fine food and drink.

II. adjective

1. of or concerning Epicurus or his ideas

• Epicurean philosophers.

2. (epicurean) — relating to or suitable for an epicure

• epicurean feasts.

Epicureanism /ˌepəkyəˈrēəˌnizəm ˌepəˈkyo͝orēəˌnizəm /ˌepəkyəˈrēəˌnizəm ˌepəˈkyo͝orēəˌnizəm//

noun

an ancient school of philosophy founded in Athens by Epicurus. The school rejected determinism and advocated hedonism (pleasure as the highest good), but of a restrained kind: mental pleasure was regarded more highly than physical, and the ultimate pleasure was held to be freedom from anxiety and mental pain, especially that arising from needless fear of death and of the gods.

Epicurus /ˌepəˈkyo͝orəs/

(341–270 BC), Greek philosopher, founder of Epicureanism. His physics is based on Democritus' theory of a materialist universe composed of indestructible atoms moving in a void, unregulated by divine providence.

epicuticle /ˌepēˈkyo͞odik(ə)l/

I. noun

[Botany] [Zoology] the thin, waxy, protective outer layer covering the surfaces of some plants, fungi, insects, and other arthropods.

II. derivatives

epicuticular /-kyo͞oˈtikyələr /

adjective

epicycle /ˈepəˌsīk(ə)l/

I. noun

1. [Geometry] a small circle whose center moves around the circumference of a larger one.

2. [Geometry] ‹historical› an epicycle used to describe planetary orbits in the Ptolemaic system.

II. derivatives

epicyclic /ˌepiˈsīklik, ˈepi- /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, or via late Latin from Greek epikuklos, from epi ‘upon’ + kuklos ‘circle.’

epicycloid /ˌepəˈsīkloid/

I. noun

[Mathematics] a curve traced by a point on the circumference of a circle rolling on the exterior of another circle.

II. derivatives

epicycloidal /ˌepəˌsīˈkloidl /

adjective

epideictic /ˌepəˈdīktik/

I. adjective

‹formal› characterized by or designed to display rhetorical or oratorical skill.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Greek epideiktikos (based on deiknunai ‘to show’).

epidemic /ˌepəˈdemik/

I. noun

1. a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time

• a flu epidemic.

2. a disease occurring in such a way.

3. a sudden, widespread occurrence of a particular undesirable phenomenon

• an epidemic of violent crime.

II. adjective

of, relating to, or of the nature of an epidemic

• shoplifting has reached epidemic proportions.

Compare with endemic, pandemic, epizootic.

– origin early 17th cent. (as an adjective): from French épidémique, from épidémie, via late Latin from Greek epidēmia ‘prevalence of disease,’ from epidēmios ‘prevalent,’ from epi ‘upon’ + dēmos ‘the people.’ / usage: A disease that quickly and severely affects a large number of people and then subsides is an epidemic: throughout the Middle Ages, successive epidemics of the plague killed millions. Epidemic is also used as an adjective: she studied the causes of epidemic cholera. A disease that is continually present in an area and affects a relatively small number of people is endemic: malaria is endemic in (or to) hot, moist climates. A pandemic is a widespread epidemic that may affect entire continents or even the world: the pandemic of 1918 ushered in a period of frequent epidemics of gradually diminishing severity. Thus, from an epidemiologist's point of view, the Black Death in Europe and AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa are pandemics rather than epidemics.

epidemiological /ˌepəˌdēmēəˈläjəkəl / epidemiologic

adjective

relating to the branch of medicine which deals with the incidence, distribution, and control of diseases

• epidemiological studies of the effect of pesticides on humans.

epidemiologist /ˌepəˌdēmēˈäləjəst/

noun

a person who studies or is an expert in the branch of medicine which deals with the incidence, distribution, and possible control of diseases

• epidemiologists are warning of a new pandemic.

epidemiology /ˌepəˌdēmēˈäləjē/

I. noun

the branch of medicine that deals with the incidence, distribution, and possible control of diseases and other factors relating to health.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek epidēmia ‘prevalence of disease’ + -logy.

epidermal growth factor EGF

I. noun

a mitogenic protein thought to be involved in such physical processes as normal cell growth, wound healing, and the formation of tumors.

– origin First observed in 1959.

epidermis /ˌepəˈdərməs/

I. noun

1. [Biology] the outer layer of cells covering an organism, in particular

2. [Biology] [Zoology] [Anatomy] the surface epithelium of the skin of an animal, overlying the dermis.

3. [Biology] [Botany] the outer layer of tissue in a plant, except where it is replaced by periderm.

II. derivatives

1. epidermal /ˌepəˈdərm(ə)l /

adjective

2. epidermic /-ˈdərmik /

adjective

3. epidermoid /-ˈdərˌmoid /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: via late Latin from Greek, from epi ‘upon’ + derma ‘skin.’

epidermolysis /ˌepidərˈmäləsis / epidermolysis bullosa

noun

[Medicine] loosening of the epidermis, with extensive blistering of the skin and mucous membranes, occurring either after injury, or as a spontaneous and potentially dangerous condition, particularly in children.

epidiascope /ˌepəˈdīəskōp/

I. noun

an optical projector capable of giving images of both opaque and transparent objects.

– origin early 20th cent.: from epi- + dia- + -scope.

epididymis /ˌepəˈdidəməs/

I. noun

[Anatomy] a highly convoluted duct behind the testis, along which sperm passes to the vas deferens.

II. derivatives

epididymal /-məl /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: from Greek epididumis, from epi ‘upon’ + didumos ‘testicle’ (from duo ‘two’).

epidote /ˈepəˌdōt/

I. noun

a lustrous yellow-green crystalline mineral, common in metamorphic rocks. It consists of a hydroxyl silicate of calcium, aluminum, and iron.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French épidote, from Greek epididonai ‘give additionally’ (because of the length of the crystals).

epidural /ˌepəˈd(y)o͝orəl/

I. adjective

[Anatomy] [Medicine] on or around the dura mater, in particular (of an anesthetic) introduced into the space around the dura mater of the spinal cord.

II. noun

an epidural anesthetic, used especially in childbirth to produce loss of sensation below the waist.

– origin late 19th cent.: from epi- ‘upon’ + dura^1 + -al.

epifauna /ˈepəˌfônə/

I. noun

[Ecology] animals living on the surface of the seabed or a riverbed, or attached to submerged objects or aquatic animals or plants.
Compare with infauna.

II. derivatives

epifaunal /-ˈfônl /

adjective

– origin early 20th cent.: from epi- ‘upon’ + fauna.

epifluorescence /ˌepəflo͝oˈresəns/

noun

[Optics] the fluorescence of an object in an optical microscope when irradiated from the viewing side.

epigastrium /ˌepəˈɡastrēəm/

I. noun

[Anatomy] the part of the upper abdomen immediately over the stomach.

II. derivatives

epigastric /ˌepəˈɡastrik /

adjective

– origin late 17th cent.: via late Latin from Greek epigastrion, neuter of epigastrios ‘over the belly,’ from epi ‘upon’ + gastēr ‘belly.’

epigeal /ˌepəˈjēəl/

I. adjective

1. [Botany] growing on or close to the ground.
Compare with hypogeal.

2. [Botany] (of seed germination) with one or more seed leaves appearing above the ground.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek epigeios (from epi ‘upon’ + gē ‘earth’) + -al.

epigene /ˈepəˌjēn/

I. adjective

[Geology] taking place or produced on the surface of the earth.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French épigène, from Greek epigenēs, from epi ‘upon’ + genēs (see -gen).

epigenesis /ˌepəˈjenəsəs/

I. noun

[Biology] the theory, now generally held, that an embryo develops progressively from an undifferentiated egg cell.
Often contrasted with preformation.

II. derivatives

epigenesist /-sist /

noun, adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from epi- ‘in addition’ + genesis.

epigenetic /ˌepəjəˈnedik/

I. adjective

1. [Biology] relating to or arising from nongenetic influences on gene expression

• epigenetic carcinogens.

2. of, relating to, or of the nature of epigenesis.

3. [Geology] formed later than the surrounding or underlying rock formation.

II. derivatives

1. epigenetically /-(ə)lē /

adverb

2. epigeneticist /-ˈnetisist /

noun

epigenetics /ˌepəjəˈnediks/

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. [Biology] the study of changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself

• epigenetics has transformed the way we think about genomes.

epiglottis /ˌepəˈɡlädəs/

I. noun

a flap of cartilage at the root of the tongue, which is depressed during swallowing to cover the opening of the windpipe.

II. derivatives

1. epiglottal /-ˈɡlätl /

adjective

2. epiglottic /ˌepəˈɡlädik /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Greek epiglōttis, from epi ‘upon, near to’ + glōtta ‘tongue.’

epigone /ˈepəˌɡōn/

I. noun

a less distinguished follower or imitator of someone, especially an artist or philosopher

• the epigone's habit of exaggerating his master's voice.

– origin mid 18th cent.: plurals from French épigones and Latin epigoni, from Greek epigonoi ‘those born afterward’ (based on gignesthai ‘be born’).

epigram /ˈepəˌɡram/

I. noun

1. a pithy saying or remark expressing an idea in a clever and amusing way.

2. a short poem, especially a satirical one, having a witty or ingenious ending.

II. derivatives

1. epigrammatist /ˌepəˈɡramədəst /

noun

2. epigrammatize /ˌepəˈɡraməˌtīz /

verb

– origin late Middle English: from French épigramme, or Latin epigramma, from Greek, from epi ‘upon, in addition’ + gramma (see -gram^1).

epigrammatic /ˌepəɡrəˈmadik/

I. adjective

of the nature or in the style of an epigram; concise, clever, and amusing

• an epigrammatic style.

II. derivatives

epigrammatically /-(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin early 17th cent.: from late Latin epigrammaticus, from Latin epigramma (see epigram).

epigraph /ˈepəˌɡraf/

I. noun

1. an inscription on a building, statue, or coin.

2. a short quotation or saying at the beginning of a book or chapter, intended to suggest its theme.

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting the heading of a document or letter): from Greek epigraphē, from epigraphein ‘write on.’

epigraphy /əˈpiɡrəfē/

I. noun

1. the study and interpretation of ancient inscriptions.

2. epigraphs collectively.

II. derivatives

1. epigrapher

noun

2. epigraphic /ˌepəˈɡrafik /

adjective

3. epigraphical /ˌepiˈɡrafikəl /

adjective

4. epigraphically /ˌepiˈɡrafik(ə)lē /

adverb

5. epigraphist /əˈpiɡrəfəst /

noun

epigynous /əˈpijənəs/

I. adjective

[Botany] (of a plant or flower) having the ovary enclosed in the receptacle, with the stamens and other floral parts situated above.
Compare with hypogynous, perigynous.

II. derivatives

epigyny /iˈpijənē /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin epigynus, from epi- ‘upon, above’ + Greek gunē ‘woman’ + -ous.

epilation /ˌepəˈlāSHən/

I. noun

the removal of hair by the roots.

II. derivatives

1. epilate /ˈepəˌlāt /

verb

2. epilator /ˈepəˌlātər /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: from French épiler, from é- (expressing removal) + Latin pilus ‘strand of hair,’ on the pattern of depilation.

epilepsy /ˈepəˌlepsē/

I. noun

a neurological disorder marked by sudden recurrent episodes of sensory disturbance, loss of consciousness, or convulsions, associated with abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French épilepsie, or via late Latin from Greek epilēpsia, from epilambanein ‘seize, attack,’ from epi ‘upon’ + lambanein ‘take hold of.’

epileptic /ˌepəˈleptik/

I. adjective

of, relating to, or having epilepsy

• he had an epileptic fit.

II. noun

a person who has epilepsy.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French épileptique, via late Latin from Greek epilēptikos, from epilēpsia (see epilepsy).

epileptogenic /ˌepəˌleptəˈjenik/

adjective

[Medicine] capable of causing an epileptic attack.

epilimnion /ˌepəˈlimnēˌän, -nēən/

I. noun

the upper layer of water in a stratified lake.

– origin early 20th cent.: from epi- ‘above’ + Greek limnion (diminutive of limnē ‘lake’).

epilithic /ˌepəˈliTHik/

I. adjective

[Botany] (of a plant) growing on the surface of rock.

– origin early 20th cent.: from epi- ‘upon’ + Greek lithos ‘stone’ + -ic.

epilogue /ˈepəˌlôɡ ˈepəˌläɡ / epilog

I. noun

a section or speech at the end of a book or play that serves as a comment on or a conclusion to what has happened.

– origin late Middle English: from French épilogue, via Latin from Greek epilogos, from epi ‘in addition’ + logos ‘speech.’

epimer /ˈepəmər/

I. noun

[Chemistry] each of two isomers with different configurations of atoms around one of several asymmetric carbon atoms present.

II. derivatives

1. epimeric /ˌepəˈmerik /

adjective

2. epimerism /-ˌrizəm /

noun

epimerize /ˈepəməˌrīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. [Chemistry] convert from one epimeric form into the other.

epimeron /ˌepəˈmi(ə)rˌän, iˈpiməˌrän/

I. noun

[Entomology] (in insects) the posterior part of the sidewall of a thoracic segment.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from epi- ‘near’ + Greek mēros ‘thigh.’

epimysium /ˌepəˈmizēəm, -ˈmiZHēəm/

I. noun

[Anatomy] a sheath of fibrous elastic tissue surrounding a muscle.

– origin modern Latin, from epi- ‘upon’ + Greek mus ‘muscle.’

epinephrine /ˌepəˈnefrən/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] another term for adrenaline.

– origin late 19th cent.: from epi- ‘above’ + Greek nephros ‘kidney’ + -ine^4.

epiphany /əˈpifənē/

I. noun

1. the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi (Matthew 2:1–12).

2. the festival commemorating the Epiphany on January 6.

3. a manifestation of a divine or supernatural being.

4. a moment of sudden revelation or insight.

II. derivatives

epiphanic /ˌepəˈfanik /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Greek epiphainein ‘reveal.’ The sense relating to the Christian festival is via Old French epiphanie and ecclesiastical Latin epiphania.

epiphenomenon /ˌepēfəˈnämənän ˌepēfəˈnämənən/

I. noun

1. a secondary effect or byproduct that arises from but does not causally influence a process, in particular

2. [Medicine] a secondary symptom, occurring simultaneously with a disease or condition but not directly related to it.

3. a mental state regarded as a byproduct of brain activity.

II. derivatives

epiphenomenal /-ˈnämənl /

adjective

epiphora /əˈpifərə/

I. noun

1. [Medicine] excessive watering of the eye.

2. [Rhetoric] another term for epistrophe.

– origin late 16th cent. (sense 2): via Latin from Greek epi ‘upon’ + pherein ‘to bear or carry.’ Sense 1 dates from the mid 17th cent.

epiphyllum /ˌepəˈfiləm/

I. noun

a cactus with flattened stems and large, fragrant red or yellow flowers.
[Genus Epiphyllum, family Cactaceae: several species, in particular the night-flowering cactus (E. hookeri).]

– origin modern Latin, from epi- ‘upon’ + Greek phullon ‘leaf.’

epiphysis /əˈpifəsəs/

I. noun

1. the end part of a long bone, initially growing separately from the shaft.
Compare with diaphysis.

2. another term for pineal.

– origin mid 17th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek epiphusis, from epi ‘upon, in addition’ + phusis ‘growth.’

epiphyte /ˈepəˌfīt/

I. noun

[Botany] a plant that grows on another plant but is not parasitic, such as the numerous ferns, bromeliads, air plants, and orchids growing on tree trunks in tropical rain forests.

II. derivatives

1. epiphytal /ˌepəˈfītl /

adjective

2. epiphytic /ˌepəˈfidik /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from epi- ‘in addition’ + Greek phuton ‘plant.’

EPIRB

abbreviation

emergency position-indicating radio beacon.

Epirus /əˈpīrəs/

I. a coastal region in northwestern Greece; capital, Ioánnina.
Greek name Ipiros.

II. an ancient country that included the modern region of Epirus and extended north to Illyria and east to Macedonia and Thessaly.

Epis.

abbreviation

1. Episcopal.

2. Episcopalian.

3. Epistle.

Episc.

abbreviation

1. Episcopal.

2. Episcopalian.

episcopacy /əˈpiskəpəsē/

I. noun

1. government of a church by bishops.

2. (the episcopacy) — the bishops of a region or church collectively.

3. another term for episcopate.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from ecclesiastical Latin episcopatus ‘episcopate,’ on the pattern of prelacy.

episcopal /əˈpiskəpəl/

I. adjective

1. of a bishop or bishops

• episcopal power.

2. (of a church) governed by or having bishops.

II. derivatives

1. episcopalism /-ˌlizəm /

noun

2. episcopally

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from French épiscopal or ecclesiastical Latin episcopalis, from episcopus ‘bishop,’ from Greek episkopos ‘overseer’ (see bishop).

Episcopal Church /əˈpiskəpəl ēˈpiskəpəl CHərCH/

the Anglican Church in the US and Scotland.

episcopalian /əˌpiskəˈpālēən/

I. adjective

1. of or advocating government of a church by bishops.

2. of or belonging to an episcopal church.

II. noun

1. an adherent of episcopacy.

2. (Episcopalian) — a member of the Episcopal Church.

III. derivatives

episcopalianism /əˌpiskəˈpālyəˌnizəm /

noun

episcopate /əˈpiskəpət əˈpiskəˌpāt/

I. noun

1. the office or term of office of a bishop.

2. (the episcopate) — the bishops of a church or region collectively.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from ecclesiastical Latin episcopatus ‘made a bishop,’ from episcopus ‘bishop,’ from Greek episkopos ‘overseer’ (see bishop).

episcope /ˈepəˌskōp/

noun

an optical projector that gives images of opaque objects.

episematic /ˌepəsəˈmadik/

I. adjective

[Zoology] (of coloration or markings) serving to help animals recognize other individuals of the same species.

– origin late 19th cent.: from epi- ‘upon’ + Greek sēma ‘sign’ + -atic.

episiotomy /iˌpēzēˈädəmē/

I. noun

a surgical cut made at the opening of the vagina during childbirth, to aid a difficult delivery and prevent rupture of tissues.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek epision ‘pubic region’ + -tomy.

episode /ˈepəˌsōd/

I. noun

1. an event or a group of events occurring as part of a larger sequence; an incident or period considered in isolation

• the latest episode in the feud.

2. each of the separate installments into which a serialized story or radio or television program is divided.

3. a finite period in which someone is affected by a specified illness

• acute psychotic episodes.

4. [Music] a passage containing distinct material or introducing a new subject.

5. a section between two choric songs in Greek tragedy.

– origin late 17th cent. (denoting a section between two choric songs in Greek tragedy): from Greek epeisodion, neuter of epeisodios ‘coming in besides,’ from epi ‘in addition’ + eisodos ‘entry’ (from eis ‘into’ + hodos ‘way’).

episodic /ˌepəˈsädik/

I. adjective

1. containing or consisting of a series of loosely connected parts or events

• an episodic narrative.

2. occurring occasionally and at irregular intervals

• volcanic activity is highly episodic in nature.

3. (of a television or radio program or magazine story) broadcast or published as a series of installments.

II. derivatives

episodically /-(ə)lē /

adverb

episome /ˈepəˌsōm/

noun

[Microbiology] a genetic element inside some bacterial cells, especially the DNA of some bacteriophages, that can replicate independently of the host and also in association with a chromosome with which it becomes integrated.
Compare with plasmid.

Epist.

abbreviation

Epistle.

epistasis /əˈpistəsəs/

I. noun

[Genetics] the interaction of genes that are not alleles, in particular the suppression of the effect of one such gene by another.

II. derivatives

epistatic /ˌepiˈstatik /

adjective

– origin early 19th cent.: from Greek, literally ‘stoppage,’ from ephistanai ‘to stop.’

epistaxis /ˌepəˈstaksəs/

I. noun

[Medicine] bleeding from the nose.

– origin late 18th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek, from epistazein ‘bleed from the nose,’ from epi ‘upon, in addition’ + stazein ‘to drip.’

epistemic /ˌepəˈstemik, ˌepəˈstēmik/

I. adjective

of or relating to knowledge or to the degree of its validation.

II. derivatives

epistemically /-(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin 1920s: from Greek epistēmē ‘knowledge’ (see epistemology) + -ic.

epistemological /iˌpistəməˈläjəkəl/

I. adjective

[Philosophy] relating to the theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and scope, and the distinction between justified belief and opinion

• what epistemological foundation is there for such an artificial discrimination?

II. derivatives

epistemologically /iˌpistəməˈläjəklē /

adverb

epistemology /əˌpistəˈmäləjē/

I. noun

[Philosophy] the theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and scope. Epistemology is the investigation of what distinguishes justified belief from opinion.

II. derivatives

epistemologist /-jist /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek epistēmē ‘knowledge,’ from epistasthai ‘know, know how to do.’

episternum /ˌepəˈstərnəm/

noun

1. [Zoology] a bone between the clavicles, especially (in mammals) the upper part of the sternum.

2. [Zoology] [Entomology] (in insects) the anterior part of the sidewall of a thoracic segment.

epistle /əˈpisəl/

I. noun

1. ‹formal› a letter.

2. ‹formal› a poem or other literary work in the form of a letter or series of letters.

3. (also Epistle) — ‹formal› a book of the New Testament in the form of a letter from an Apostle

• St. Paul's epistle to the Romans.

4. ‹formal› an extract from an Epistle (or another New Testament book not a Gospel) that is read in a church service.

– origin Old English, via Latin from Greek epistolē, from epistellein ‘send news,’ from epi ‘upon, in addition’ + stellein ‘send.’ The word was reintroduced in Middle English from Old French.

epistolary /əˈpistəˌlerē/

I. adjective

relating to or denoting the writing of letters or literary works in the form of letters

• an epistolary novel.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French épistolaire or Latin epistolaris, from epistola (see epistle).

epistrophe /əˈpistrəfē/

I. noun

[Rhetoric] the repetition of a word at the end of successive clauses or sentences.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Greek epistrophē, from epistrephein ‘to turn around,’ from epi ‘in addition’ + strephein ‘to turn.’

epistyle /ˈepəˌstīl/

I. noun

[Architecture] an architrave.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the Latin form epistylium): from French épistyle or via Latin, from Greek epistulion, from epi ‘upon’ + stulos ‘pillar.’

epitaph /ˈepəˌtaf/

I. noun

a phrase or statement written in memory of a person who has died, especially as an inscription on a tombstone.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French epitaphe, via Latin from Greek epitaphion ‘funeral oration,’ neuter of ephitaphios ‘over or at a tomb,’ from epi ‘upon’ + taphos ‘tomb.’

epitaxy /ˈepəˌtaksē/

I. noun

[Crystallography] the natural or artificial growth of crystals on a crystalline substrate determining their orientation.

II. derivatives

epitaxial /ˌepəˈtaksēəl /

adjective

– origin 1930s: from French épitaxie, from Greek epi ‘upon’ + taxis ‘arrangement.’

epithalamium /ˌepəTHəˈlāmēəm / epithalamion

I. noun

a song or poem celebrating a marriage.

II. derivatives

epithalamic /-ˈlamik /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek epithalamion, from epi ‘upon’ + thalamos ‘bridal chamber.’

epithalamus /ˌepəˈTHaləməs ˌepēˈTHaləməs/

noun

[Anatomy] a part of the dorsal forebrain including the pineal gland and a region in the roof of the third ventricle of the brain.

epithelial /ˌepəˈTHēlēəl/

adjective

[Anatomy] relating to or denoting the thin tissue forming the outer layer of a body's surface and lining the alimentary canal and other hollow structures

• the epithelial cells lining the gut

• ovarian epithelial tumors.

epithelialize /ˌepəˈTHēlēəlīz/

I. verb — [with obj. & no obj.]

1. cover or become covered with epithelial tissue, e.g. during the healing of a wound.

II. derivatives

epithelialization /ˌepəˌTHēlēəliˈzāSHən /

noun

epithelium /ˌepəˈTHēlēəm/

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] the thin tissue forming the outer layer of a body's surface and lining the alimentary canal and other hollow structures.

2. [Anatomy] the part of the epithelium derived from embryonic ectoderm and endoderm, as distinct from endothelium and mesothelium.

– origin mid 18th cent.: modern Latin, from epi- ‘above’ + Greek thēlē ‘teat.’

epithet /ˈepəˌTHet/

I. noun

1. an adjective or descriptive phrase expressing a quality characteristic of the person or thing mentioned

• old men are often unfairly awarded the epithet “dirty.”

2. an epithet as a term of abuse

• the woman begins to hurl racial epithets at them.

II. derivatives

1. epithetic /epəˈTHetik /

adjective

2. epithetical /epəˈTHetikəl /

adjective

3. epithetically /epəˈTHetik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin late 16th cent.: from French épithète, or via Latin from Greek epitheton, neuter of epithetos ‘attributed,’ from epitithenai ‘add,’ from epi ‘upon’ + tithenai ‘to place.’

epitome /əˈpidəmē/

I. noun

1. (the epitome of) — a person or thing that is a perfect example of a particular quality or type

• she looked the epitome of elegance and good taste.

2. a summary of a written work; an abstract.

3. ‹archaic› a thing representing something else in miniature.

II. derivatives

epitomist /əˈpidəməst /

noun

– origin early 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek epitomē, from epitemnein ‘abridge,’ from epi ‘in addition’ + temnein ‘to cut.’

epitomize /əˈpidəˌmīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. be a perfect example of

• Hearst's newspapers epitomized bare-knuckle yellow journalism.

2. ‹archaic› give a summary of (a written work).

II. derivatives

epitomization /iˌpitəmiˈzāSHən /

noun

epitope /ˈepəˌtōp/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] the part of an antigen molecule to which an antibody attaches itself.
Also called antigenic determinant.

– origin 1960s: from epi- ‘upon’ + Greek topos ‘place.’

epizoic /ˌepiˈzōik/

I. adjective

[Biology] (of a plant or animal) growing or living nonparasitically on the exterior of a living animal.

II. derivatives

epizoite /ˌepiˈzō-īt /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from epi- ‘upon’ + Greek zōion ‘animal’ + -ic.

epizoon /ˌepəˈzōän/

I. noun

[Zoology] an animal that lives on the body of another animal, especially as a parasite.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from epi- ‘upon’ + Greek zōion ‘animal.’

epizootic /ˌepəzōˈädik/

I. adjective

of, relating to, or denoting a disease that is temporarily prevalent and widespread in an animal population.
Compare with enzootic, epidemic.

II. noun

an outbreak of an epizootic disease.

– origin late 18th cent. (as an adjective): from French épizootique, from épizootie, from Greek epi ‘upon’ + zōion ‘animal.’

e pluribus unum /ˌē ˌplo͝orəbəs ˈ(y)o͞onəm/

noun

out of many, one (the motto of the US).

EPNS

abbreviation

electroplated nickel silver.

EPO

abbreviation

erythropoietin, especially when isolated as a drug for medical use or for illegal use by athletes.

epoch /ˈepək/

I. noun

1. a period of time in history or a person's life, typically one marked by notable events or particular characteristics

• the Victorian epoch.

2. the beginning of a distinctive period in the history of someone or something

• welfare reform was an epoch in the history of U.S. social policy.

3. [Geology] a division of time that is a subdivision of a period and is itself subdivided into ages, corresponding to a series in chronostratigraphy

• the Pliocene epoch.

4. [Astronomy] an arbitrarily fixed date relative to which planetary or stellar measurements are expressed.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the Latin form epocha; originally in the general sense of a date from which succeeding years are numbered): from modern Latin epocha, from Greek epokhē ‘stoppage, fixed point of time,’ from epekhein ‘stop, take up a position,’ from epi ‘upon, near to’ + ekhein ‘stay, be in a certain state.’

epochal /ˈepəkəl/

adjective

forming or characterizing an epoch; epoch-making.

epoch-making

adjective

of major importance; likely to have a significant effect on a particular period of time.

epode /ˈepōd/

I. noun

1. a form of lyric poem written in couplets, in which a long line is followed by a shorter one.

2. the third section of an ancient Greek choral ode, or of one division of such an ode.
Compare with strophe and antistrophe.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French épode, or via Latin epodos, from Greek epōidos, from epi ‘upon’ + ōidē (see ode).

eponym /ˈepəˌnim/

I. noun

1. a person after whom a discovery, invention, place, etc., is named or thought to be named.

2. a name or noun formed after a person.

II. derivatives

eponymy /əˈpänəmē /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek epōnumos ‘given as a name, giving one's name to someone or something,’ from epi ‘upon’ + onuma ‘name.’

eponymous /əˈpänəməs/

adjective

1. (of a person) giving their name to something

• the eponymous hero of the novel.

2. (of a thing) named after a particular person

• Roseanne's eponymous hit TV series.

EPOS /ˈēˌpäs ˌē ˌpē ˌō ˌes/

abbreviation

electronic point of sale (used to describe retail outlets that record information electronically).

epoxide /eˈpäkˌsīd/

I. noun

[Chemistry] an organic compound whose molecule contains a three-membered ring involving an oxygen atom and two carbon atoms.

– origin 1930s: from epi- ‘in addition’ + oxide.

epoxy /iˈpäksē/

I. noun

an adhesive, plastic, paint, or other material made from a class of synthetic thermosetting polymers containing epoxide groups.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. consisting of or denoting epoxy

• epoxy cement.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. glue (something) using epoxy resin.

– origin early 20th cent.: from epi- ‘in addition’ + oxy-2.

EPROM /ˈēpräm/

I. noun

[Electronics] a read-only memory whose contents can be erased by ultraviolet light or other means and reprogrammed using a pulsed voltage.

– origin 1970s: acronym from erasable programmable ROM.

eps

abbreviation

earnings per share.

epsilon /ˈepsiˌlän/

I. noun

1. the fifth letter of the Greek alphabet (Ε, ε), transliterated as ‘e.’

2. [as modifier] — denoting the fifth in a series of items, categories, etc.

3. [followed by Latin genitive] (Epsilon) — [Astronomy] the fifth star in a constellation

• Epsilon Carinae.

II. symbol

permittivity.

– origin early 18th cent.: Greek, ‘plain or simple E,’ from psilos ‘plain,’ referring to the need to distinguish epsilon from the diphthong ai: in late Greek the two had the same pronunciation.

Epsom /ˈepsəm/

a town in Surrey, southeastern England; pop. 35,000 (est. 2009). Its natural mineral waters were used in the production of Epsom salts. The annual Derby and Oaks horse races are held at its racecourse on Epsom Downs.

Epsom salts /epsəmˈsôːlts/

I. plural noun

crystals of hydrated magnesium sulfate used as a purgative or for other medicinal use.
[Chem. formula: MgSO_4.7H_2O.]

– origin mid 18th cent.: named after the town of Epsom, where it was first found occurring naturally.

Epstein, Sir Jacob /ˈepˌstīn/

(1880–1959), British sculptor; born in the US. A founder of the Vorticist group, he later had great success with his modeled portraits of the famous, in particular Einstein (1933).

Epstein–Barr virus /ˌepstīnˈbär ˌvīrəs / EBV

I. noun

[Medicine] a herpesvirus causing infectious mononucleosis and associated with certain cancers, for example Burkitt's lymphoma.

– origin 1960s: named after Michael A. Epstein (born 1921), British virologist, and Y. M. Barr (born 1932), Irish-born virologist.

epyllion /əˈpilēən, -ˌän/

I. noun

a narrative poem that resembles an epic poem in style but is notably shorter.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek epullion, diminutive of epos ‘word, song,’ from eipein ‘say.’

EQ^1

I. noun

the levels of frequency response of an audio signal, or controls which allow their adjustment

• judicious use of EQ helps me create a space for each sound

• [as modifier] you can save your own EQ settings.

– origin 1970s: short for equalization or equalizer.

EQ^2

I. noun

short for emotional intelligence or emotional quotient:

• EQ enables us to use feelings to boost and complement our IQ

• he had a high IQ but a low EQ.

– origin 1940s: on the pattern of IQ.

eq.

abbreviation

1. equal.

2. equation.

3. equivalent.

equable /ˈekwəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) not easily disturbed or angered; calm and even-tempered.

2. not varying or fluctuating greatly

• an equable climate.

II. derivatives

1. equability /ˌekwəˈbilədē ˌēkwəˈbilədē /

noun

2. equably /ˈekwəblē ˈēkwəblē /

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘fair, equitable’): from Latin aequabilis, from aequare ‘make equal’ (see equate).

equal /ˈēkwəl/

I. adjective

1. being the same in quantity, size, degree, or value

• add equal amounts of water and flour

• 1 liter is roughly equal to 1 quart.

2. (of people) having the same status, rights, or opportunities.

3. uniform in application or effect; without discrimination on any grounds

• a dedicated campaigner for equal rights.

4. evenly or fairly balanced

• it was hardly an equal contest.

5. [predic.] (equal to) — having the ability or resources to meet (a challenge)

• the players proved equal to the task.

II. noun

a person or thing considered to be the same as another in status or quality

• we all treat each other as equals

• it was a day without equal in market history.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. be the same as in number or amount

• four plus six divided by two equals five

• the total debits should equal the total credits.

2. match or rival in performance or extent

• he equaled the world record of 9.93 seconds.

3. be equivalent to

• his work is concerned with why private property equals exploitation.

IV. phrases

1. (the) first among equals

the person or thing having the highest status in a group.

2. other (or all) things being equal

provided that other factors or circumstances remain the same

• it follows that, other things being equal, the price level will rise.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin aequalis, from aequus ‘even, level, equal.’ / usage: It is widely held that adjectives such as equal and unique have absolute meanings and therefore can have no degrees of comparison. Hence they should not be modified, and it is incorrect to say more equal or very unique on the grounds that these are adjectives that refer to a logical or mathematical absolute. For more discussion of this question, see usage at unique.

equalitarian /ēˌkwäləˈterēən/

I. noun

another term for egalitarian.

II. derivatives

equalitarianism /-ˌnizəm /

noun

equality /əˈkwälədē/

I. noun

1. the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities

• an organization aiming to promote racial equality.

2. [Mathematics] a symbolic expression of the fact that two quantities are equal; an equation.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin aequalitas, from aequalis (see equal).

equality rights

noun

(chiefly Canadian) the rights of all citizens to equal treatment under the law

• clashes between religious and equality rights have lately been a combustible topic.

Equality State

a nickname for the state of Wyoming.

equalize /ˈēkwəˌlīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make the same in quantity, size, or degree throughout a place or group

• incentives to equalize funding for school districts.

2. [no obj.] — become equal to a specified or standard level

• equal volumes tend to equalize in temperature.

3. [with obj.] — make uniform in application or effect

• the act was structured to equalize the status of a defendant.

II. derivatives

equalization /ˌēkwələˈzāSH(ə)n ˌēkwəˌlīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘be equal to’): from equal + -ize, partly suggested by French égaliser.

equalizer /ˈēkwəˌlīzər/

noun

1. a thing that has an equalizing effect

• education is the great equalizer.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a weapon, especially a gun.

3. [Electronics] a passive network designed to modify a frequency response, especially to compensate for distortion.

equally /ˈēkwəlē/

I. adverb

1. in the same manner

• all children should be treated equally.

2. in amounts or parts that are the same in size

• the money can be divided equally between you.

3. to the same extent or degree
[as submodifier]

• follow-up discussion is equally important.

4. [sentence adverb] — in addition and having the same importance (used to introduce a further comment on a topic)

• not all who live in inner cities are poor; equally, many poor people live outside inner cities.

usage: The construction equally as—for example in follow-up discussion is equally as important —is relatively common but is sometimes criticized on the grounds of redundancy. Equally used alone is adequate: follow-up discussion is equally important.

equal marriage

noun

the situation in which same-sex couples have the same legal right to marry as opposite-sex couples

• she has been a vocal supporter of equal marriage.

equal opportunity /ˈēkwəl ˈˌäpərˈˌt(y)o͞onədē/

noun

the policy of treating employees and others without discrimination, especially on the basis of their sex, race, or age
[as modifier]

• an equal opportunity employer.

Equal Rights Amendment ERA

noun

a proposed amendment to the US Constitution stating that civil rights may not be denied on the basis of one's sex.

equals sign /ˈēkwəlz sīn / equal sign

noun

the symbol =.

equal time

noun

(in broadcasting) a principle of allowing equal air time to opposing points of view, especially to political candidates for two or more parties.

equanimity /ˌekwəˈnimədē/

I. noun

mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation

• she accepted both the good and the bad with equanimity.

II. derivatives

equanimous /əˈkwänəməs /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent. (also in the sense ‘fairness, impartiality’): from Latin aequanimitas, from aequus ‘equal’ + animus ‘mind.’

equant /ˈēkwənt/

I. adjective

[Geology] (of a crystal or particle) having its different diameters approximately equal, so as to be roughly cubic or spherical in shape.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin aequant- ‘making equal,’ from the verb aequare.

equate /əˈkwāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. consider (one thing) to be the same as or equivalent to another

• customers equate their name with quality.

2. [no obj.] (equate to/with) — (of one thing) be the same as or equivalent to (another)

• that sum equates to half a million pounds today.

3. cause (two or more things) to be the same in quantity or value

• the level of prices will move to equate supply and demand.

II. derivatives

equatable /-təbəl /

adjective

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘make equal, balance’): from Latin aequat- ‘made level or equal,’ from the verb aequare, from aequus (see equal). Current senses date from the mid 19th cent.

equation /əˈkwāZHən/

I. noun

1. [Mathematics] a statement that the values of two mathematical expressions are equal (indicated by the sign =).

2. the process of equating one thing with another

• the equation of science with objectivity.

3. (the equation) — a situation or problem in which several factors must be taken into account

• money also came into the equation.

4. [Chemistry] a symbolic representation of the changes that occur in a chemical reaction, expressed in terms of the formulae of the molecules or other species involved.

II. phrases

equation of the first order, (second order, etc.)

[Mathematics] an equation involving only the first derivative, second derivative, etc.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin aequatio(n-), from aequare ‘make equal’ (see equate).

equational /əˈkwāZH(ə)n(ə)l/

adjective

another term for equative.

equation of state

noun

[Chemistry] an equation showing the relationship between the values of the pressure, volume, and temperature of a quantity of a particular substance.

equation of time

noun

the difference between mean solar time (as shown by clocks) and apparent solar time (indicated by sundials), which varies with the time of year.

equative /əˈkwādiv/

I. adjective

[Grammar] denoting a sentence or other structure in which one term is identified with another, as in the winner is Jill.

II. derivatives

equatively

adverb

equator /ēˈkwādər/

I. noun

1. an imaginary line drawn around the earth equally distant from both poles, dividing the earth into northern and southern hemispheres and constituting the parallel of latitude 0°.

2. a corresponding line on a planet or other body.

3. [Astronomy] short for celestial equator.

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin aequator, in the phrase circulus aequator diei et noctis ‘circle equalizing day and night,’ from Latin aequare ‘make equal’ (see equate).

equatorial /ˌekwəˈtôrēəl/

I. adjective

of, at, or near the equator

• equatorial regions.

II. derivatives

equatorially /ˌekwəˈtôrēəlē /

adverb

Equatorial Guinea /ekwəˌtôrēəl ˈɡinē/

I.
1. a small country in West Africa, on the Gulf of Guinea, comprising several offshore islands and a coastal settlement between Cameroon and Gabon; pop. 633,400 (est. 2009); capital, Malabo (on the island of Bioko); languages, Spanish (official), local Niger–Congo languages, pidgin.

Formerly a Spanish colony, the country became fully independent in 1968. It is the only independent Spanish-speaking state on the continent of Africa. Since 1991 it has been nominally a constitutional democracy.

II. derivatives

Equatorial Guinean

adjective, noun

equatorial mount equatorial mounting

noun

[Astronomy] a telescope mounting with one axis aligned to the celestial pole, which allows the movement of celestial objects to be followed by motion about this axis alone.
Compare with altazimuth (sense 1).

equatorial telescope

noun

an astronomical telescope on an equatorial mount.

equerry /ˈekwərē, əˈkwerē/

I. noun

1. an officer of the British royal household who attends or assists members of the royal family.

2. ‹historical› an officer of the household of a prince or noble who had charge over the stables.

– origin early 16th cent. (formerly also as esquiry): from Old French esquierie ‘company of squires, prince's stables,’ from Old French esquier ‘esquire,’ perhaps associated with Latin equus ‘horse.’ The historical sense is apparently based on Old French esquier d'esquierie ‘squire of stables.’

eques /ˈekwes/

singular form of equites.

equestrian /əˈkwestrēən/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to horse riding

• his amazing equestrian skills.

2. depicting or representing a person on horseback

• an equestrian statue.

3. (in ancient Rome) relatinɡ or belonɡinɡ to the wealthy class known as the equites (see equites).

II. noun

1. a rider or performer on horseback.

2. (in ancient Rome) a member of the equites (see equites).

– origin mid 17th cent. (as an adjective): from Latin equester ‘belonging to a horseman’ (from eques ‘horseman, knight,’ from equus ‘horse’) + -ian.

equestrianism /əˈkwestrēəˌnizəm/

noun

the skill or sport of horse riding. As an Olympic sport it is divided into three disciplines: show jumping, dressage, and the three-day event (combining show jumping, dressage, and cross-country riding).

equestrienne /əˌkwestrēˈen/

I. noun

a female rider or performer on horseback.

– origin mid 19th cent.: alteration of equestrian, on the pattern of feminine nouns such as Parisienne.

equi-

I. combining form

equal; equally

• equiangular

• equidistant.

– origin from Latin aequi-, from aequus ‘equal.’

equiangular /ˌekwəˈaNGɡyələr ˌekwēˈaNGɡyələr ˌēkwēˈaNGɡyələr/

adjective

having equal angles.

equiangular spiral

noun

another term for logarithmic spiral.

equid /ˈēkwid, ˈekwid/

I. noun

[Zoology] a mammal of the horse family (Equidae).

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Equidae (plural), from Latin equus ‘horse.’

equidistant /ˌēkwəˈdistənt ˌekwəˈdistənt/

I. adjective

at equal distances

• he wants to be equidistant from both political parties.

II. derivatives

1. equidistance /ˌēkwəˈdist(ə)ns ˌekwəˈdist(ə)ns /

noun

2. equidistantly

adverb

equifinal /ˌēkwəˈfīnəl, ˌekwə-/

I. adjective

‹technical› having the same end or result.

II. derivatives

1. equifinality /ˌēkwəfīˈnalitē, ˌekwə- /

noun

2. equifinally

adverb

equilateral /ˌēkwəˈladərəl ˌekwəˈladərəl/

I. adjective

having all its sides of the same length

• an equilateral triangle.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French équilateral or late Latin aequilateralis, from aequilaterus ‘equal-sided’ (based on Latin latus, later- ‘side’).

equilibrate /əˈkwiləˌbrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹technical› bring into or keep in equilibrium.

2. [no obj.] — ‹technical› approach or attain a state of equilibrium.

II. derivatives

equilibration /əˌkwiləˈbrāSHən eˌkwiləˈbrāSHən ēˌkwiləˈbrāSHən /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from late Latin aequilibrat- ‘made to balance,’ from the verb aequilibrare, from aequi- ‘equally’ + libra ‘balance.’

equilibrist /iˈkwiləbrəst/

I. noun

‹chiefly archaic› an acrobat who performs balancing feats, especially a tightrope walker.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from equilibrium + -ist.

equilibrium /ˌēkwəˈlibrēəm ˌekwəˈlibrēəm/

I. noun

1. a state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced

• the maintenance of social equilibrium.

2. a state of physical balance

• I stumbled over a rock and recovered my equilibrium.

3. a calm state of mind

• his intensity could unsettle his equilibrium.

4. [Chemistry] a state in which a process and its reverse are occurring at equal rates so that no overall change is taking place

• ice is in equilibrium with water.

5. [Economics] a situation in which supply and demand are matched and prices stable.

II. derivatives

equilibrial /-ˈlibrēəl /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘well-balanced state of mind’): from Latin aequilibrium, from aequi- ‘equal’ + libra ‘balance.’

equine /ˈekwīn ˈēˌkwīn/

I. adjective

1. of, relating to, or affecting horses or other members of the horse family

• equine infectious anemia.

2. resembling a horse

• her somewhat equine features.

II. noun

a horse or other member of the horse family.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Latin equinus, from equus ‘horse.’

equine encephalitis

noun

a category of viral diseases that affects horses and, in some cases, humans.
See also eastern equine encephalitis.

equinoctial /ˌēkwəˈnäkSHəl ˌekwəˈnäkSHəl/

I. adjective

1. happening at or near the time of an equinox.

2. of or relating to equal day and night.

3. at or near the equator.

II. noun

another term for celestial equator.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘relating to equal periods of day and night’): via Old French from Latin aequinoctialis, from aequinoctium (see equinox).

equinoctial point

noun

either of two points at which the ecliptic cuts the celestial equator.

equinox /ˈekwəˌnäks ˈēkwəˌnäks/

I. noun

1. the time or date (twice each year) at which the sun crosses the celestial equator, when day and night are of equal length (about September 22 and March 20).

2. another term for equinoctial point.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French equinoxe or Latin aequinoctium, from aequi- ‘equal’ + nox, noct- ‘night.’

equip /əˈkwip/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. supply with the necessary items for a particular purpose

• all bedrooms are equipped with a color TV

• they equipped themselves for the campaign.

2. prepare (someone) mentally for a particular situation or task

• I don't think he's equipped for the modern age.

II. derivatives

equipper

noun

– origin early 16th cent.: from French équiper, probably from Old Norse skipa ‘to man (a ship),’ from skip ‘ship.’

equip.

abbreviation

equipment.

equipage /ˈekwəpij/

I. noun

1. ‹archaic› the equipment for a particular purpose.

2. ‹historical› a carriage and horses with attendants.

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting the crew of a ship): from French équipage, from équiper ‘equip.’

equipartition /ˌekwəˌpärˈtiSHən ˌēkwəˌpärˈtiSHən / equipartition of energy

I. noun

1. [Physics] the equal distribution of the kinetic energy of a system among its various degrees of freedom.

2. [Physics] the principle that equipartition exists for a system in thermal equilibrium.

II. derivatives

equipartitioned

adjective

equipment /əˈkwipmənt/

I. noun

1. the necessary items for a particular purpose

• office equipment.

2. the process of supplying someone or something with items necessary for a particular purpose

• the construction and equipment of new harbor facilities.

3. mental resources

• they lacked the intellectual equipment to recognize the jokes.

4. ‹informal› used euphemistically to refer to a man's penis and testicles.

– origin early 18th cent.: from French équipement, from équiper ‘equip.’

equipoise /ˈekwəˌpoiz/

I. noun

1. balance of forces or interests

• this temporary equipoise of power.

2. a counterbalance or balancing force

• capital flows act as an equipoise to international imbalances in savings.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. balance or counterbalance (something).

– origin mid 17th cent.: from equi- ‘equal’ + the noun poise^1, replacing the phrase equal poise.

equipollent /ˌēkwəˈpälənt ˌekwəˈpälənt / ‹archaic›

I. adjective

equal or equivalent in power, effect, or significance.

II. noun

a thing that has equal or equivalent power, effect, or significance.

III. derivatives

1. equipollence /ˌēkwəˈpäləns ˌekwəˈpäləns /

noun

2. equipollency

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French equipolent, from Latin aequipollent- ‘of equal value,’ from aequi- ‘equally’ + pollere ‘be strong.’

equipotent /ˌēkwəˈpōtnt, ˌekwə-/

adjective

‹technical› (chiefly of chemicals and medicines) equally powerful; having equal potencies.

equipotential /ˌekwəpəˈten(t)SH(ə)l ˌēkwəpəˈten(t)SH(ə)l/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. [Physics] (of a surface or line) composed of points all at the same potential.

II. noun

an equipotential line or surface.

equiprobable /ˌēkwəˈpräbəbəl, ˌekwə-/

I. adjective

[Mathematics] [Logic] (of two or more things) equally likely to occur; having equal probability.

II. derivatives

equiprobability /-ˌpräbəˈbilitē /

noun

equisetum /ˌekwəˈsēdəm/

I. noun

[Botany] a plant of a genus that comprises the horsetails.
[Genus Equisetum, family Equisetaceae.]

– origin modern Latin, from Latin equus ‘horse’ + saeta ‘bristle.’

equitable /ˈekwədəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. fair and impartial

• an equitable balance of power.

2. [Law] valid in equity as distinct from law

• the beneficiaries have an equitable interest in the property.

II. derivatives

1. equitability /ˌekwitəˈbilitē /

noun

2. equitableness

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French équitable, from équité (see equity).

equitably /ˈekwədəblē/

adverb

in a fair and impartial manner

• wealth is equitably distributed

• obligations and resources must be shared equitably.

equitant /ˈekwədənt/

I. adjective

[Botany] (of a leaf) having its base folded and partly enclosing the leaf next above it, as in an iris.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Latin equitant- ‘riding on horseback,’ from the verb equitare.

equitation /ˌekwəˈtāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

‹formal› the art and practice of horsemanship and horse riding.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French équitation or Latin equitatio(n-), from equitare ‘ride a horse,’ from eques, equit- ‘horseman’ (from equus ‘horse’).

equites /ˈekwəˌtās, -ˌtēz/

I. plural noun

(in ancient Rome) a class of citizens who originally formed the cavalry of the Roman army and at a later period were a wealthy class of great political importance.

– origin Latin, plural of eques ‘horseman.’

equity /ˈekwədē/

I. noun

1. the quality of being fair and impartial

• equity of treatment.

2. [Law] a branch of law that developed alongside common law in order to remedy some of its defects in fairness and justice, formerly administered in special courts.

3. (Equity) — (in the US, UK, and several other countries) a trade union to which most professional actors belong.

4. the value of the shares issued by a company

• he owns 62% of the group's equity.

5. (equities) — stocks and shares that carry no fixed interest.

6. the value of a mortgaged property after deduction of charges against it.

– origin Middle English: from Old French equité, from Latin aequitas, from aequus ‘equal.’

equity of redemption /ˈekwədē əv ə rəˈdem(p)SHən rēˈdem(p)SHən/

noun

[Law] the right of a mortgagor over the mortgaged property, especially the right to redeem the property on payment of the principal, interest, and costs.

equity release

noun

(Brit.) the use of financial arrangements which provide the owner of a house or other property with funds derived from the value of their property while enabling them to continue using it

• boosting your capital or income through equity release may mean you lose some or all of your state benefits

• [as modifier] equity release schemes.

equity stock

noun

capital stock, either common stock or preferred stock.

equiv.

abbreviation

equivalent.

equivalence /iˈkwivələns/

noun

the condition of being equal or equivalent in value, worth, function, etc.

equivalence class /iˈkwivələns ˌklas/

noun

[Mathematics] [Logic] the class of all members of a set that are in a given equivalence relation.

equivalence principle

noun

[Physics] a basic postulate of general relativity, stating that at any point of space-time the effects of a gravitational field cannot be experimentally distinguished from those due to an accelerated frame of reference.

equivalence relation

noun

[Mathematics] [Logic] a relation between elements of a set that is reflexive, symmetric, and transitive. It thus defines exclusive classes whose members bear the relation to each other and not to those in other classes (e.g., “having the same value of a measured property”).

equivalency /əˈkwivələnsē/

noun

1. another term for equivalence.

2. short for general equivalency degree.

equivalent /əˈkwiv(ə)lənt/

I. adjective

1. equal in value, amount, function, meaning, etc.

• one unit is equivalent to one glass of wine.

2. [predic.] (equivalent to) — having the same or a similar effect as

• some regulations are equivalent to censorship.

3. [Mathematics] belonging to the same equivalence class.

II. noun

1. a person or thing that is equal to or corresponds with another in value, amount, function, meaning, etc.

• the French equivalent of the FBI.

2. (also equivalent weight) — [Chemistry] the mass of a particular substance that can combine with or displace one gram of hydrogen or eight grams of oxygen, used in expressing combining powers, especially of elements.

III. derivatives

equivalently

adverb

– origin late Middle English (describing persons who were equal in power or rank): via Old French from late Latin aequivalent- ‘being of equal worth,’ from the verb aequivalere, from aequi- ‘equally’ + valere ‘be worth.’

equivocal /əˈkwivək(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous

• the equivocal nature of her remarks.

2. uncertain or questionable in nature

• the results of the investigation were equivocal.

II. derivatives

1. equivocality /əˌkwivəˈkalədē /

noun

2. equivocally /əˈkwivək(ə)lē /

adverb

3. equivocalness /əˈkwivəkəlnəs /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from late Latin aequivocus, from Latin aequus ‘equally’ + vocare ‘to call.’

equivocate /əˈkwivəˌkāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself
[with direct speech]

• “Not that we are aware of,” she equivocated.

II. derivatives

1. equivocator /əˈkwivəˌkādər /

noun

2. equivocatory /-kəˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘use a word in more than one sense’): from late Latin aequivocat- ‘called by the same name,’ from the verb aequivocare, from aequivocus (see equivocal).

equivocation /iˌkwivəˈkāSH(ə)n/

noun

the use of ambiguous language to conceal the truth or to avoid committing oneself; prevarication

• I say this without equivocation.

equivoque /ˈekwəvōk ˈēkwəˌvōk / equivoke

I. noun

1. an expression capable of having more than one meaning; a pun.

2. the fact of having more than one meaning or possible interpretation; ambiguity.

– origin late Middle English (as an adjective in the sense ‘equivocal’): from Old French equivoque or late Latin aequivocus (see equivocal).

Equuleus /ēˈkwo͝olēəs / ‹Astronomy›

I. a small northern constellation (the Foal or Little Horse), perhaps representing the brother of Pegasus. It has no bright stars.

II. (as genitive Equulei ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation

• the star Delta Equulei.

– origin Latin.

er /ər/

I. exclamation

expressing hesitation

• “Would you like some tea?” “Er … yes … thank you.”

– origin natural utterance: first recorded in English in the mid 19th cent.

Er

symbol

the chemical element erbium.

ER

abbreviation

1. (N. Amer.) emergency room.

2. Queen Elizabeth.
[from Latin Elizabetha Regina.]

-er^1 /ər/

I. suffix

1. denoting a person, animal, or thing that performs a specified action or activity

• farmer

• sprinkler.

2. denoting a person or thing that has a specified attribute or form

• foreigner

• two-wheeler.

3. denoting a person concerned with a specified thing or subject

• milliner

• philosopher.

4. denoting a person belonging to a specified place or group

• city-dweller

• New Yorker.

– origin Old English -ere, of Germanic origin.

-er^2 /ər/

I. suffix

forming the comparative of adjectives (as in bigger) and adverbs (as in faster).

– origin Old English suffix -ra (adjectival), -or (adverbial), of Germanic origin.

-er^3 /ər/

I. suffix

forming frequentative verbs such as glimmer, patter.

– origin Old English -erian, -rian, of Germanic origin.

-er^4 /ər/

I. suffix

1. forming nouns:

2. such as sampler.
[ending corresponding to Latin -aris.]

3. such as butler, danger.
[ending corresponding to Latin -arius, -arium.]

4. such as border.
[ending corresponding (via Old French -eure) to Latin -atura.]

5. such as laver.
[ending corresponding (via Old French -eor) to Latin -atorium.]

6. equivalent to -or^1.

– origin via Old French or Anglo-Norman French (see above).

-er^5 /ər/

I. suffix

[chiefly Law] (forming nouns) denoting verbal action or a document effecting such action

• disclaimer

• misnomer.

– origin from Anglo-Norman French (infinitive ending).

era /ˈirə ˈerə/

I. noun

1. a long and distinct period of history with a particular feature or characteristic

• his death marked the end of an era

• the era of glasnost.

2. a system of chronology dating from a particular noteworthy event

• the dawn of the Christian era.

3. [Geology] a major division of time that is a subdivision of an eon and is itself subdivided into periods

• the Mesozoic era.

4. ‹archaic› a date or event marking the beginning of a new and distinct period of time.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from late Latin aera, denoting a number used as a basis of reckoning, an epoch from which time is reckoned, plural of aes, aer- ‘money, counter.’

ERA

abbreviation

1. [Baseball] earned run average.

2. Equal Rights Amendment.

eradicate /əˈradəˌkāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. destroy completely; put an end to

• this disease has been eradicated from the world.

II. derivatives

1. eradicable /əˈradəkəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. eradicant /-kənt /

noun

3. eradicator /-ˌkātər /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘pull up by the roots’): from Latin eradicat- ‘torn up by the roots,’ from the verb eradicare, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + radix, radic- ‘root.’

eradicated /əˈradəˌkādəd/

adjective — [postpositive]

1. [Heraldry] (of a tree or plant) depicted with the roots exposed.

eradication /iˌradiˈkāSH(ə)n/

noun

the complete destruction of something

• the eradication of poverty.

erase /əˈrās/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. rub out or remove (writing or marks)

• graffiti had been erased from the wall.

2. remove all traces of (a thought, feeling, or memory)

• the magic of the landscape erased all else from her mind.

3. remove recorded material from (a magnetic tape or medium); delete (data) from a computer's memory.

II. derivatives

erasable /əˈrāsəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent. (originally as a heraldic term meaning ‘represent the head or limb of an animal with a jagged edge’): from Latin eras- ‘scraped away,’ from the verb eradere, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + radere ‘scrape.’

erased /əˈrāst/

adjective — [postpositive]

1. [Heraldry] (of a head or limb) depicted as cut off in a jagged line.

eraser /əˈrāsər/

noun

an object, typically a piece of soft rubber or plastic, used to rub out something written.

Erasmus, Desiderius /iˈrazməs/

(c. 1469–1536), Dutch humanist and scholar; Dutch name Gerhard Gerhards. He was the foremost Renaissance scholar of northern Europe, and paved the way for the Reformation with his satires on the Catholic Church.

Erastianism /iˈrastēəˌnizəm, iˈrasCHə-/

I. noun

the doctrine that the state should have supremacy over the Church in ecclesiastical matters (wrongly attributed to Erastus).

II. derivatives

Erastian /iˈrastēən, iˈrasCHən /

noun, adjective

Erastus /iˈrastəs/

(1524–83), Swiss theologian and physician; Swiss name Thomas Lieber, also Liebler or Lüber. Professor of medicine at Heidelberg from 1558, he opposed the imposition of a Calvinistic system of church government in the city.

erasure /əˈrāSHər/

noun

1. the removal of writing, recorded material, or data.

2. the removal of all traces of something; obliteration

• the erasure of prior history.

Erato /ˈerədō / ‹Greek & Roman Mythology›

I. the Muse of lyric poetry and hymns.

– origin Greek, literally ‘lovely.’

Eratosthenes /ˌerəˈtäsTHənēz/

(c. 275–194 BC), Greek scholar, geographer, and astronomer. The first systematic geographer of antiquity, he accurately calculated the circumference of the earth.

erbium /ˈərbēəm/

I. noun

(Symbol: Er) — the chemical element of atomic number 68, a soft silvery-white metal of the lanthanide series.

– origin mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from (Ytt)erb(y), in Sweden, where it was first found. Compare with ytterbium.

Erdrich, Louise /ˈərdrik/

(1954–), US writer; a Native American (Ojibwa). Her novels include Love Medicine (1984), The Beet Queen (1986), Tales of Burning Love (1996), The Antelope Wife (1998), and The Plague of Doves (2008).

ere /er/

I. preposition, conjunction

‹literary› ‹archaic› before (in time)
[as prep.]

• we hope you will return ere long

• [as conjunction] I was driven for some half mile ere we stopped.

– origin Old English ǣr, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch eer and German eher.

e-reader /ˈēˌrēdər/

noun

a handheld device on which electronic versions of books, newspapers, magazines, etc., can be read.

Erebus /ˈerəbəs / ‹Greek Mythology›

the primeval god of darkness, son of Chaos.

Erebus, Mount

I. a volcanic peak on Ross Island, Antarctica. Rising to 12,452 feet (3,794 m), it is the world's most southern active volcano.

– origin named after the Erebus, the ship of Sir James Ross's expedition to the Antarctic.

Erech /ˈerˌek, ˈēˌrek/

biblical name for Uruk.

Erechtheum /iˈrikTHēəm, ˌerikˈTHēəm/

a marble temple of the Ionic order built on the Acropolis in Athens c. 421–406 BC, with shrines to Athena, Poseidon, and Erechtheus, a legendary king of Athens. It is most famous for its southern portico, in which the entablature is supported by six caryatids.

erect /əˈrekt/

I. adjective

1. rigidly upright or straight

• she stood erect with her arms by her sides.

2. (of the penis, clitoris, or nipples) enlarged and rigid, especially in sexual excitement.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. construct (a building, wall, or other upright structure)

• the guest house was erected in the eighteenth century

• the police had erected roadblocks.

2. create or establish (a theory or system)

• the party that erected the welfare state.

III. derivatives

1. erectable

adjective

2. erectly /əˈrek(t)lē /

adverb

3. erectness /əˈrek(t)nəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin erect- ‘set up,’ from the verb erigere, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + regere ‘to direct.’

erectile /əˈrektl əˈrekˌtīl/

I. adjective

1. able to become erect

• erectile spines.

2. denoting tissues that are capable of becoming of temporarily engorged with blood, particularly those of the penis or other sexual organs.

3. relating to the capability of the penis or other sexual organs to become erect

• men with erectile dysfunction.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French érectile, from Latin erigere ‘set up’ (see erect).

erectile dysfunction

noun

inability of a man to maintain an erection sufficient for satisfying sexual activity

• a treatment proven safe for erectile dysfunction.

erection /əˈrekSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action of erecting a structure or object

• fees will be levied for the erection of monuments.

2. a building or other upright structure.

3. an enlarged and rigid state of the penis, typically in sexual excitement.

erector /əˈrektər/

noun

1. a person or thing that erects something.

2. a muscle that maintains an erect state of a part of the body or an erect posture of the body.

erelong /e(ə)rˈlôNG, -ˈläNG/

adverb

‹archaic› before long; soon.

eremite /ˈerəˌmīt/

I. noun

a Christian hermit or recluse.

II. derivatives

1. eremitic /ˌerəˈmidik /

adjective

2. eremitical /ˌerəˈmidək(ə)l /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French eremite, from late Latin eremita (see hermit).

erethism /ˈerəˌTHizəm/

I. noun

1. excessive sensitivity or rapid reaction to stimulation of a part of the body, especially the sexual organs.

2. a state of abnormal mental excitement or irritation.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French éréthisme, from Greek erethismos, from erethizein ‘irritate.’

erewhile /erˈ(h)wīl/

I. adverb

‹archaic› a while before; some time ago.

– origin Middle English: from ere + while.

Erfurt /ˈerfo͝ort/

an industrial city in central Germany; pop. 202,700 (est. 2006).

erg^1 /ərɡ/

I. noun

[Physics] a unit of work or energy, equal to the work done by a force of one dyne when its point of application moves one centimeter in the direction of action of the force.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek ergon ‘work.’

erg^2 /ərɡ/

I. noun

an area of shifting sand dunes in the Sahara.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French, from Arabic ῾irq, ῾erg.

ergative /ˈərɡədiv / ‹Grammar›

I. adjective

1. relating to or denoting a case of nouns (in some languages, e.g., Basque and Eskimo) that identifies the subject of a transitive verb and is different from the case that identifies the subject of an intransitive verb.

2. (of a language) possessing the ergative case.

3. (in English) denoting verbs that can be used both transitively and intransitively to describe the same action, with the object in the former case being the subject in the latter, as in I boiled the kettle and the kettle boiled.
Compare with inchoative.

II. noun

1. an ergative word.

2. (the ergative) — the ergative case.

III. derivatives

ergativity /ˌərɡəˈtivitē /

noun

– origin 1950s: from Greek ergatēs ‘worker’ (from ergon ‘work’) + -ive.

ergo /ˈərɡō ˈerɡō/

I. adverb — [sentence adverb]

1. therefore

• she was the sole beneficiary of the will, ergo the prime suspect.

– origin late Middle English: Latin.

ergocalciferol /ˌərɡəkalˈsifəräl, -rôl/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] another term for calciferol, vitamin D2.

– origin 1950s: blend of ergot and calciferol.

ergodic /ərˈɡädik/

I. adjective

[Mathematics] relating to or denoting systems or processes with the property that, given sufficient time, they include or impinge on all points in a given space and can be represented statistically by a reasonably large selection of points.

II. derivatives

ergodicity /ˌərɡəˈdisitē /

noun

– origin early 20th cent.: from German ergoden, from Greek ergon ‘work’ + hodos ‘way’ + -ic.

ergogenic /ˌərɡəˈjenik/

adjective

(not in technical use) intended to enhance physical performance, stamina, or recovery

• ergogenic supplements.

ergograph /ˈərɡəˌɡraf/

noun

an instrument for measuring and recording the work done by a particular muscle group.

ergometer /ərˈɡämidər/

noun

an apparatus that measures work or energy expended during a period of physical exercise.

ergometrine /ˌərɡəˈmetrēn/

I. noun

[Chemistry] an alkaloid present in ergot. An amide of lysergic acid, it has oxytocic activity and is given to control bleeding after childbirth.

– origin 1930s: from ergot + Greek mētra ‘womb’ + -ine^4.

ergonomic /ˌərɡəˈnämik/

I. adjective

relating to or designed for efficiency and comfort in the working environment

• ergonomic keyboard design

• workstations with ergonomic chairs

• the ergonomic hazards of computer use.

II. derivatives

ergonomically /ˌərɡəˈnäməkəlē /

adverb

ergonomics /ˌərɡəˈnämiks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the study of people's efficiency in their working environment.

II. derivatives

ergonomist /ərˈɡänəməst /

noun

– origin 1950s: from Greek ergon ‘work,’ on the pattern of economics.

ergosphere /ˈərɡōˌsfir/

noun

[Astronomy] a postulated region around a black hole, from which energy could escape.

ergosterol /ərˈɡästərôl ərˈɡästəˌräl/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a compound present in ergot and many other fungi. A steroid alcohol, it is converted to vitamin D_2 when irradiated with ultraviolet light.

– origin early 20th cent.: from ergot, on the pattern of cholesterol.

ergot /ˈərɡət ˈərˌɡät/

I. noun

1. a fungal disease of rye and other cereals in which black, elongated, fruiting bodies grow in the ears of the cereal. Eating contaminated food can result in ergotism.
[The fungus is Claviceps purpurea, subdivision Ascomycotina.]

2. the fruiting bodies of ergot, used as a source of certain medicinal alkaloids, especially for inducing uterine contractions or controlling postpartum bleeding.

3. a small, horny protuberance on the back of each of a horse's fetlocks.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French, from Old French argot ‘cock's spur’ (because of the appearance produced by the disease).

ergotamine /ərˈɡätəˌmēn, -min/

noun

[Medicine] a compound present in some kinds of ergot. An alkaloid, it causes constriction of blood vessels and is used in the treatment of migraine.

ergotism /ˈərɡəˌtizəm/

noun

poisoning produced by eating food affected by ergot, typically resulting in headache, vomiting, diarrhea, and gangrene of the fingers and toes.

erhu /ərˈho͞o / erh hu

I. noun

a Chinese two-stringed musical instrument held in the lap and played with a bow.

– origin early 20th cent.: Chinese, from èr ‘two’ + hú ‘bowed instrument.’

erica /ˈerəkə/

I. noun

a plant of the genus Erica (family Ericaceae), especially (in gardening) heather.

– origin modern Latin, from Greek ereikē.

ericaceous /ˌerəˈkāSHəs/

I. adjective

[Botany] of, relating to, or denoting plants of the heather family (Ericaceae).

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Ericaceae (plural), from the genus name Erica (see erica).

Ericsson, John /ˈeriksən/

(1803–89), Swedish engineer whose inventions included the marine screw propeller (1836) and a steam railroad locomotive that rivaled George Stephenson's Rocket.

Ericsson, Leif Ericson, Eriksson

Norse explorer; son of Eric the Red. He sailed west from Greenland (c. 1000) and reputedly discovered land (variously identified as Labrador, Newfoundland, or New England), which he named Vinland because of the vines he claimed to have found growing there.

Eric the Red /ˌerik T͟Hə ˈred/

(c. 940–c. 1010), Norse explorer. He left Iceland in 982 in search of land to the west and explored Greenland, establishing a Norse settlement there in 986.

Eridanus /əˈridənəs / ‹Astronomy›

I. a long, straggling southern constellation (the River), said to represent the river into which Phaethon fell when struck by Zeus' thunderbolt.

II. (as genitive Eridani ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation

• the star Phi Eridani.

– origin Latin.

Erie /ˈirē/

an industrial port city in northwestern Pennsylvania, on Lake Erie; pop. 103,817 (est. 2008).

Erie, Lake /ˈi(ə)rē/

one of the five Great Lakes in North America, on the border between Canada and the US. It is linked to Lake Huron by the Detroit River and to Lake Ontario by the Welland Ship Canal and the Niagara River, which is its only natural outlet.

Erie Canal

a historic canal that connects the Hudson River at Albany in eastern New York with the Niagara River and the Great Lakes. Opened in 1825, it spurred the growth of New York City. Today it is chiefly recreational.

erigeron /əˈrijərən, -ˌrän/

I. noun

a widely distributed herbaceous plant of the daisy family, which is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental.
[Genus Erigeron, family Compositae.]

– origin early 17th cent.: modern Latin, from Latin, ‘groundsel’ (the original sense in English), from Greek ērigerōn, from ēri ‘early’ + gerōn ‘old man’ (because the plant flowers early in the year, and some species bear gray down).

Erin /ˈerən/

noun

archaic or poetic/literary name for Ireland.

Erinys /əˈrinəs/

noun

(in Greek mythology) a Fury.

eristic /əˈristik / ‹formal›

I. adjective

1. of or characterized by debate or argument.

2. (of an argument or arguer) aiming at winning rather than at reaching the truth.

II. noun

1. a person given to debate or argument.

2. the art or practice or debate or argument.

III. derivatives

eristically /-(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Greek eristikos, from erizein ‘to wrangle,’ from eris ‘strife.’

Eritrea /ˌerəˈtrēə ˌerəˈtrāə/

I.
1. an independent state in northeastern Africa, on the Red Sea; pop. 5,647,200 (est. 2009); capital, Asmara; languages, Tigre and Cushitic.

Eritrea was an Italian colony from 1890 to 1952, when it became part of Ethiopia. After a long guerrilla war, it became internally self-governing in 1991 and fully independent in 1993.

– origin from Italian, from Latin Mare Erythraeum the Red Sea.

Eritrean /ˌerəˈtrēən ˌerəˈtrāən/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of Eritrea or its people

• the Eritrean capital.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of Eritrea

• Eritreans maintain a strong national identity.

Erlangen /ˈerˌläNGən/

an industrial city in southern Germany, on the Regnitz River; pop. 104,700 (est. 2007).

Erlanger, Joseph /ˈərˌlaNGər/

(1874–1965), US physiologist. Collaborating with Herbert Gasser, he showed that the velocity of a nerve impulse is proportional to the diameter of the fiber. Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine (1944), shared with Gasser.

Erlenmeyer flask /ˈərlənˌmīər, ˈerlən-/

I. noun

a conical, flat-bottomed laboratory flask with a narrow neck.

– origin late 19th cent.: named after Emil Erlenmeyer (1825–1909), German chemist.

Erl King /ˈərl ˌkiNG/

I. noun

(in Germanic mythology) a bearded giant or goblin who lures little children to the land of death.

– origin late 18th cent.: from German Erlkönig ‘alder king,’ a mistranslation of Danish ellerkonge ‘king of the elves.’

ERM

abbreviation

Exchange Rate Mechanism.

ermine /ˈərmən/

I. noun

1. a stoat, especially when in its white winter coat.

2. the white fur of the stoat, used for trimming garments, especially the ceremonial robes of judges or peers.

3. [Heraldry] fur represented as black spots on a white ground, as a heraldic tincture.

4. (also ermine moth) — a stout-bodied moth that has cream or white wings with black spots, and a very hairy caterpillar.
[Family Arctiidae: several genera and species.]

II. derivatives

ermined /ˈərmənd /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French hermine, probably from medieval Latin (mus) Armenius ‘Armenian (mouse).’

ermines /ˈərmənz/

I. noun

[Heraldry] fur resembling ermine but with white spots on a black ground.

– origin mid 16th cent.: perhaps from Old French hermines, plural of herminet, diminutive of hermine ‘ermine.’

erminois /ˌərməˈnoiz/

I. noun

[Heraldry] fur resembling ermine but with black spots on a gold ground.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Old French, from hermine ‘ermine.’

-ern

I. suffix

forming adjectives such as northern.

– origin Old English -erne, of Germanic origin.

erne /ərn/

I. noun

‹literary› the sea eagle.

– origin Old English earn ‘eagle,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch arend.

Ernst, Max /ərnst/

(1891–1976), German artist. A leader of the Dada movement, he developed the techniques of collage, photomontage, and frottage.

erode /əˈrōd/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of wind, water, or other natural agents) gradually wear away (soil, rock, or land)

• the cliffs have been eroded by the sea.

2. [no obj.] — (of soil, rock, or land) be gradually worn away by natural agents.

3. gradually destroy or be gradually destroyed
[with obj.]

• this humiliation has eroded what confidence Jean has

• [no obj.] profit margins are eroding.

4. [Medicine] (of a disease) gradually destroy (bodily tissue).

II. derivatives

erodible /iˈrōdəbəl /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: from French éroder or Latin erodere, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out, away’ + rodere ‘gnaw.’

erogenous /əˈräjənəs/

I. adjective

(of a part of the body) sensitive to sexual stimulation

• erogenous zones.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Eros + -genous.

Eros /ˈeˌräs ˈēˌräs/

I. [Greek Mythology] the god of love, son of Aphrodite.
Roman equivalent Cupid.

II. sexual love or desire.

III. (in Freudian theory) the life instinct.
Often contrasted with Thanatos.

IV. (in Jungian psychology) the principle of personal relatedness in human activities, associated with the anima.
Often contrasted with Logos.

V. [Astronomy] an asteroid discovered in 1898. At times it comes nearer to the earth than any celestial body except the moon.

– origin Latin, from Greek, literally ‘sexual love.’

erosion /əˈrōZHən/

I. noun

1. the process of eroding or being eroded by wind, water, or other natural agents

• the problem of soil erosion.

2. the gradual destruction or diminution of something

• the erosion of support for the party.

3. [Medicine] the gradual destruction of tissue or tooth enamel by physical or chemical action.

4. [Medicine] a place where surface tissue has been gradually destroyed

• patients with gastric erosions.

II. derivatives

1. erosional /əˈrōZHənl ēˈrōZHənl əˈrōZHnəl ēˈrōZHnəl /

adjective

2. erosive /əˈrōsiv /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: via French from Latin erosio(n-), from erodere ‘wear or gnaw away’ (see erode).

erotic /əˈrädik/

I. adjective

of, relating to, or tending to arouse sexual desire or excitement.

II. derivatives

erotically /əˈrädək(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French érotique, from Greek erōtikos, from erōs, erōt- ‘sexual love.’

erotica /əˈrädəkə/

I. noun

literature or art intended to arouse sexual desire.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek erōtika, neuter plural of erōtikos (see erotic).

eroticism /əˈrädəˌsizəm/

noun

1. the quality or character of being erotic

• a disturbing blend of violence and eroticism.

2. sexual desire or excitement.

eroticize /əˈrädəˌsīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. give (something or someone) erotic qualities

• certain symbols and body shapes are eroticized.

II. derivatives

eroticization /iˌrätəsəˈzāSHən /

noun

erotism /əˈräˌdizəm/

I. noun

sexual desire or excitement; eroticism.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek erōs, erōt- ‘sexual love’ + -ism.

eroto-

I. combining form

relating to eroticism

• erotomania.

– origin from Greek erōs, erōt- ‘sexual love.’

erotogenic /əˌrädəˈjenik ēˌrädəˈjenik əˌrōdəˈjenik ēˌrōdəˈjenik / erotogenous

adjective

another term for erogenous.

erotology /ˌerəˈtäləjē/

noun

the study of sexual love and behavior.

erotomania /əˌrädəˈmānēə əˌrōdəˈmānēə/

I. noun

1. [Psychiatry] excessive sexual desire.

2. a delusion in which a person (typically a woman) believes that another person (typically of higher social status) is in love with them.
Also called de Clerambault's syndrome.

II. derivatives

erotomaniac /əˌrädəˈmānēˌak əˌrōdəˈmānēˌak ēˌrädəˈmānēˌak ēˌrōdəˈmānēˌak /

noun

err /er ər/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹formal› be mistaken or incorrect; make a mistake

• the judge had erred in ruling that the evidence was inadmissible.

2. (often as adj. erring) — ‹formal› sin; do wrong

• the erring brother who had wrecked his life.

II. phrases

1. err on the right side

act so that the least harmful of possible mistakes or errors in is the most likely to occur.

2. err on the side of

display more rather than less of (a specified quality) in one's actions

• it is better to err on the side of caution.

3. to err is human, to forgive divine

‹proverb› it is human nature to make mistakes oneself while finding it hard to forgive others.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘wander, go astray’): from Old French errer, from Latin errare ‘to stray.’ / usage: Traditionally, errrhymes with her, although the pronunciation that rhymes with hair is now common.

errand /ˈerənd/

I. noun

1. a short journey undertaken in order to deliver or collect something, often on someone else's behalf

• she asked Tim to run an errand for her.

2. ‹archaic› the purpose or object of an errand

• she knew that if she stated her errand, she would not be able to see him.

II. phrases

errand of mercy

a mission carried out to help someone in difficulty.

– origin Old English ǣrende ‘message, mission,’ of Germanic origin; related to Old High German ārunti, and obscurely to Swedish ärende and Danish ærinde.

errand boy /ˈerənd ˌboi/

noun

1. ‹dated› a boy employed in a shop or office to make deliveries and run other errands.

2. ‹dated› ‹informal› a man who is in the lowest rank of an organization

• Louis was Harry's errand boy, a gofer.

errant /ˈerənt/

I. adjective

1. [attrib.] — erring or straying from the proper course or standards

• he could never forgive his daughter's errant ways.

2. [Zoology] (of a polychaete worm) of a predatory kind that moves about actively and is not confined to a tube or burrow.

3. [often postpositive] — ‹archaic› ‹literary› traveling in search of adventure

• that same lady errant.

See also knight errant.

II. derivatives

1. errancy /ˈerənsē /

noun

errant (sense 1)

2. errantry /ˈerəntrē /

noun

errant (sense 2)

– origin Middle English (sense 2): sense 1 from Latin errant- ‘erring,’ from the verb errare; sense 2 from Old French errant ‘traveling,’ present participle of errer, from late Latin iterare ‘go on a journey,’ from iter ‘journey.’ Compare with arrant.

erratic /əˈradik/

I. adjective

not even or regular in pattern or movement; unpredictable

• her breathing was erratic.

II. noun

[Geology] a rock or boulder that differs from the surrounding rock and is believed to have been brought from a distance by glacial action.

III. derivatives

erraticism /iˈratiˌsizəm /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French erratique, from Latin erraticus, from errare ‘to stray, err.’

erratically /əˈradəklē/

adverb

in a manner that is not even or regular in pattern or movement; unpredictably

• he had been seen driving erratically minutes before the accident

• you're having mood swings and behaving erratically.

erratum /eˈrädəm/

I. noun

1. an error in printing or writing.

2. (errata) — a list of corrected errors appended to a book or published in a subsequent issue of a journal.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin, ‘error,’ neuter past participle of errare ‘err.’

Er Rif /ˌər ˈrif/

another name for Rif Mountains.

erroneous /əˈrōnēəs/

I. adjective

wrong; incorrect

• employers sometimes make erroneous assumptions.

II. derivatives

erroneousness /eˈrōnēəsnəs ēˈrōnēəsnəs ēˈrōnyəsnəs eˈrōnyəsnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin erroneus (from erro(n-) ‘vagabond,’ from errare ‘to stray, err’) + -ous.

erroneously /əˈrōnēəslē/

adverb

in a mistaken way; incorrectly

• he was erroneously reported dead

• some erroneously believe the law will protect them.

error /ˈerər/

I. noun

1. a mistake

• spelling errors

• an error of judgment.

2. the state or condition of being wrong in conduct or judgment

• the money had been paid in error

• the crash was caused by human error.

3. [Baseball] a misplay by a fielder that allows a batter to reach base or a runner to advance.

4. ‹technical› a measure of the estimated difference between the observed or calculated value of a quantity and its true value.

5. [Law] a mistake of fact or of law in a court's opinion, judgment or order.

II. phrases

see the error of one's ways

realize or acknowledge one's wrongdoing.

III. derivatives

errorless

adjective

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin error, from errare ‘to stray, err.’

error bar

noun

[Mathematics] a line through a point on a graph, parallel to one of the axes, which represents the uncertainty or error of the corresponding coordinate of the point.

error correction

noun

[Computing] the automatic correction of errors that arise from the incorrect transmission of digital data.

error-free

adjective

containing no mistakes; faultless

• the program and the design are error-free

• an error-free performance.

error message

noun

[Computing] a message displayed on a monitor screen or printout, indicating that an incorrect instruction has been given, or that there is an error resulting from faulty software or hardware.

error-prone

adjective

tending to make or cause errors

• a complex and error-prone process.

ersatz /ˈerˌzäts ˈerˌsäts/

I. adjective

1. (of a product) made or used as a substitute, typically an inferior one, for something else

• ersatz coffee.

2. not real or genuine

• ersatz emotion.

– origin late 19th cent.: from German, literally ‘replacement.’

Erse /ərs/

I. noun

‹dated› the Scottish or Irish Gaelic language.

– origin early Scots form of Irish.

erst /ərst/

I. adverb

‹archaic› long ago; formerly

• the friends whom erst you knew.

– origin Old English ǣrest, superlative of ǣr (see ere).

erstwhile /ˈərstˌ(h)wīl/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. former

• his erstwhile rivals.

II. adverb

‹archaic› formerly

• Mary Anderson, erstwhile the queen of America's stage.

erucic acid /iˌro͞osik ˈasid/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a solid compound present in mustard and rape seeds.
[An unsaturated fatty acid: chem. formula: C_21H_41COOH.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: erucic from Latin eruca ‘rocket’ (denoting the plant) + -ic.

eruct /iˈrəkt/

verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹technical› emit stomach gas noisily through the mouth; belch.

eructation /əˌrəkˈtāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

‹formal› a belch.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin eructatio(n-), from the verb eructare, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + ructare ‘belch.’

erudite /ˈer(y)əˌdīt/

I. adjective

having or showing great knowledge or learning.

II. derivatives

eruditely /ˈer(y)əˌdītlē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Latin eruditus, past participle of erudire ‘instruct, train’ (based on rudis ‘rude, untrained’).

erudition /ˌer(y)o͝oˈdiSH(ə)n/

noun

the quality of having or showing great knowledge or learning; scholarship

• he was known for his wit, erudition, and teaching skills.

erumpent /iˈrəmpənt/

adjective

[Biology] bursting forth or through a surface

• perithecia separately or collectively erumpent

• ‹figurative› a spectacle of erumpent patriotism.

erupt /əˈrəpt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a volcano) become active and eject lava, ash, and gases

• Mount Pinatubo began erupting in June.

2. be ejected from an active volcano

• hot lava erupted from the crust.

3. (of an object) explode with fire and noise resembling an active volcano

• smoke bombs erupted everywhere.

4. break out or burst forth suddenly and dramatically

• fierce fighting erupted between the army and guerrillas

• cheers erupted from the crowd.

5. give vent to anger, enthusiasm, amusement, or other feelings in a sudden and noisy way

• the soldiers erupted in fits of laughter.

6. (of a pimple, rash, or other prominent mark) suddenly appear on the skin.

7. (of the skin) suddenly develop a pimple, rash, or mark.

8. (of a tooth) break through the gums during normal development.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin erupt- ‘broken out,’ from the verb erumpere, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + rumpere ‘burst out, break.’

eruption /əˈrəpSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. an act or instance of erupting

• the eruption of Vesuvius

• magma is stored in crustal reservoirs before eruption.

2. a sudden outbreak of something, typically something unwelcome or noisy

• a sudden eruption of street violence.

3. a spot, rash, or other prominent and reddish mark appearing suddenly on the skin.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin eruptio(n-), from the verb erumpere (see erupt).

eruptive /əˈrəptiv/

adjective

1. of, relating to, or formed by volcanic activity

• a history of the eruptive activity in an area.

2. producing or characterized by eruptions

• an acute eruptive disease.

eruv /ˈero͝ov/

I. noun

[Judaism] an urban area enclosed by a wire boundary that symbolically extends the private domain of Jewish households into public areas, permitting activities within it that are normally forbidden in public on the Sabbath.

– origin from Hebrew ῾ērūḇ, from a base meaning ‘mixture.’

Erving, Julius /ˈərviNG/

(1950–), US basketball player; full name Julius Winfield Erving; known as Dr. J. He played most of his career with the Philadelphia 76ers 1977–87. Basketball Hall of Fame (1993).

-ery -ry

I. suffix

1. forming nouns:

2. denoting a class or kind

• confectionery

• greenery.

3. denoting an occupation, a state, a condition, or behavior

• archery

• bravery

• slavery.

4. with depreciatory reference

• knavery

• tomfoolery.

5. denoting a place set aside for an activity or a grouping of things, animals, etc.

• orangery

• rookery.

– origin from French -erie, based on Latin -arius and -ator.

eryngium /iˈrinjēəm/

I. noun

a plant of the genus Eryngium in the parsley family, especially (in gardening) sea holly.

– origin late 16th cent.: modern Latin, from Latin eryngion, from a diminutive of Greek ērungos ‘sea holly.’

eryngo /əˈriNGɡō/

I. noun

another term for sea holly or eryngium.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Italian and Spanish eringio, from Latin eryngion (see eryngium).

erysipelas /ˌerəˈsipələs/

I. noun

[Medicine] an acute, sometimes recurrent disease caused by a bacterial infection. It is characterized by large, raised red patches on the skin, especially that of the face and legs, with fever and severe general illness.
[This is caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, a Gram-positive coccus.]

– origin late Middle English: via Latin from Greek erusipelas; perhaps related to eruthros ‘red’ and pella ‘skin.’

erysipeloid /ˌerəˈsipəloid/

noun

[Medicine] dermatitis of the hands due to bacterial infection, occurring mainly among handlers of meat and fish products.
[This is caused by Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, a Gram-positive bacterium occurring either as slightly curved rods or as filaments.]

erythema /ˌerəˈTHēmə/

I. noun

[Medicine] superficial reddening of the skin, usually in patches, as a result of injury or irritation causing dilatation of the blood capillaries.

II. derivatives

1. erythemal /-məl /

adjective

2. erythematous /-ˈTHemətəs, -ˈTHēmətəs /

adjective

– origin late 18th cent.: from Greek eruthēma, from eruthainein ‘be red,’ from eruthros ‘red.’

erythrism /ˈerəˌTHrizəm, iˈriTH-/

I. noun

[Zoology] a congenital condition of abnormal redness in an animal's fur, plumage, or skin.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek eruthros ‘red’ + -ism.

erythritol /əˈriTHrətôl əˈriTHrəˌtäl/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a sweet substance extracted from certain lichens and algae. It is used medicinally as a vasodilator.
[A tetrahydric alcohol; chem. formula: C_4H_10O_4.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from erythrite (earlier name for erythritol) + -ol.

erythro-

I. combining form

(used commonly in zoological and medical terms) red

• erythrocyte.

– origin from Greek eruthros ‘red.’

erythroblast /əˈriTHrōˌblast/

I. noun

[Physiology] an immature erythrocyte containing a nucleus.

II. derivatives

erythroblastic /iˌriTHrōˈblastik /

adjective

erythroblastosis /əˌriTHrōblaˈstōsəs/

noun

1. [Medicine] the abnormal presence of erythroblasts in the blood.

2. (also erythroblastosis fetalis) — [Medicine] another term for hemolytic disease of the newborn.

erythrocyte /iˈriTHrəˌsīt/

I. noun

a red blood cell that (in humans) is typically a biconcave disc without a nucleus. Erythrocytes contain the pigment hemoglobin, which imparts the red color to blood, and transport oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from the tissues.

II. derivatives

erythrocytic /iˌriTHrəˈsitik /

adjective

erythrogenic /iˌriTHrəˈjenik/

adjective

[Medicine] (of a bacterial toxin) causing inflammation and reddening of the skin.

erythroid /əˈriTHˌroid/

adjective

[Physiology] of or relating to erythrocytes.

erythroleukemia /iˌriTHrōlo͞oˈkēmēə/

noun

[Medicine] a rare acute form of leukemia in which there is proliferation of immature red and white blood cells.

erythromycin /iˌriTHrəˈmīsin/

I. noun

[Medicine] an antibiotic used in the treatment of infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria. It is similar in its effects to penicillin.
[This is obtained from the streptomycete bacterium Streptomyces erythreus.]

– origin 1950s: from elements of the modern Latin taxonomic name Streptomyces erythreus + -in^1.

erythronium /ˌeriˈTHrōnēəm/

I. noun

a plant of a genus that includes dogtooth violet.
[Genus Erythronium, family Liliaceae.]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek (saturion) eruthronion ‘red-flowered (orchid).’

erythropoiesis /iˌriTHrōpoiˈēsəs/

I. noun

[Physiology] the production of red blood cells.

II. derivatives

erythropoietic /-ˈetik /

adjective

erythropoietin /əˌriTHrōˈpoiətn/

noun

[Biochemistry] a hormone secreted by the kidneys that increases the rate of production of red blood cells in response to falling levels of oxygen in the tissues.

Erzgebirge /ˈertsɡəˌbirɡə/

a mountain range on the border between Germany and the Czech Republic.
Also called the Ore Mountains.

Erzurum /ˈerzəro͞om/

a city in northeastern Turkey, capital of a mountainous province of the same name; pop. 338,100 (est. 2007).

Es

symbol

the chemical element einsteinium.

-es^1

I. suffix

1. forming plurals of nouns ending in sibilant sounds

• boxes

• kisses.

2. forming plurals of certain nouns ending in -o

• potatoes

• heroes.

– origin variant of -s^1.

-es^2

I. suffix

1. forming the third person singular of the present tense:

2. in verbs ending in sibilant sounds

• pushes.

3. in verbs ending in -o (but not -oo)

• goes.

– origin variant of -s^2.

ESA

abbreviation

European Space Agency.

Esaki, Leo /eˈsäkē/

(1925–), Japanese physicist. He investigated and pioneered the development of quantum-mechanical tunneling of electrons in semiconductor devices. He designed the tunnel diode. He shared the 1973 Nobel Prize for Physics with Ivar Giaever (1929–) and Brian D. Josephson (1940–).
See tunnel diode.

Esau /ˈēsô/

(in the Bible) the elder of the twin sons of Isaac and Rebecca, who sold his birthright to his brother Jacob and was tricked out of his father's blessing by his brother (Gen. 25, 27).

escabeche /ˌeskəˈbeCHā/

I. noun

a Spanish dish consisting of fried fish that is marinated and served cold.

– origin Spanish.

escadrille /ˈeskəˌdril, ˌeskəˈdril/

I. noun

a French squadron of aircraft.

– origin early 20th cent.: French, literally ‘flotilla, flight.’

escalade /ˌeskəˈlād/

I. noun

‹historical› the scaling of fortified walls using ladders, as a form of military attack.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French, or from Spanish escalada, escalado, from medieval Latin scalare ‘to scale, climb,’ from Latin scala ‘ladder.’

escalate /ˈeskəˌlāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. increase rapidly

• the price of tickets escalated

• (as adj. escalating) the escalating cost of health care.

2. become or cause to become more intense or serious
[no obj.]

• the disturbance escalated into a full-scale riot

• [with obj.] we do not want to escalate the war.

– origin 1920s (in the sense ‘travel on an escalator’): back-formation from escalator.

escalation /ˌeskəˈlāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. a rapid increase; a rise

• cost escalations.

2. an increase in the intensity or seriousness of something; an intensification

• an escalation of violence.

escalator /ˈeskəˌlādər/

I. noun

a moving staircase consisting of an endlessly circulating belt of steps driven by a motor, conveying people between the floors of a public building.

– origin early 20th cent. (originally as a trade name): from escalade ‘climb a wall by ladder’ (from the noun escalade), on the pattern of elevator.

escalator clause /ˈeskəˌlādər klôz/

noun

a clause in a contract that allows for an increase or a decrease in wages or prices under certain conditions.

escallop /əˈskäləp əˈskaləp/

I. noun

1. variant spelling of escalope.

2. another term for scallop (sense 2 of the noun).

3. [Heraldry] a scallop shell as a charge.

II. verb

another term for scallop (sense 3 of the noun).

– origin late 15th cent. (sense 2 of the noun): from Old French escalope ‘shell.’ Compare with escalope and scallop.

escalope /iˈskäləp ˌeskəˈlōp/

I. noun

a thin slice of meat without any bone, typically a special cut of veal from the leg that is coated, fried, and served in a sauce.
Also called scallop.

– origin French; compare with escallop and scallop.

escapade /ˈeskəˌpād/

I. noun

an act or incident involving excitement, daring, or adventure.

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘an escape’): from French, from Provençal or Spanish, from escapar ‘to escape,’ based on medieval Latin ex- ‘out of’ + cappa ‘cloak.’ Compare with escape.

escape /əˈskāp/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — break free from confinement or control

• two burglars have just escaped from prison

• (as adj. escaped) escaped convicts.

2. [with obj.] — elude or get free from (someone)

• he drove along I-84 to escape the police.

3. succeed in avoiding or eluding something dangerous, unpleasant, or undesirable

• the driver escaped with a broken knee

• [with obj.] a baby boy narrowly escaped death.

4. (of a gas, liquid, or heat) leak from a container.

5. [with obj.] — (of words or sounds) issue involuntarily or inadvertently from (someone or their lips)

• a sob escaped her lips.

6. [with obj.] — fail to be noticed or remembered by (someone)

• the name escaped him

• it may have escaped your notice, but this is not a hotel.

7. [with obj.] — [Computing] interrupt (an operation) by means of the escape key.

8. cause (a subsequent character or characters) to be interpreted differently.

II. noun

1. an act of breaking free from confinement or control

• the story of his escape from a POW camp

• he could think of no way of escape, short of rudeness.

2. an act of successfully avoiding something dangerous, unpleasant, or unwelcome

• the baby was fine, but it was a lucky escape.

3. a means of escaping from somewhere
[as modifier]

• he had planned his escape route.

4. a form of temporary distraction from reality or routine

• romantic novels should present an escape from the dreary realities of life.

5. a leakage of gas, liquid, or heat from a container.

6. a garden plant or pet animal that has gone wild and (especially in plants) become naturalized.

7. (also escape key) — [Computing] a key on a computer keyboard that either interrupts the current operation or causes subsequent characters to be interpreted differently.

III. derivatives

1. escapable

adjective

2. escaper

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French eschaper, based on medieval Latin ex- ‘out’ + cappa ‘cloak.’ Compare with escapade.

escape clause

noun

a clause in a contract that specifies the conditions under which one party can be freed from an obligation.

escapee /əˌskāˈpē ˌesˌkāˈpē/

noun

a person who has escaped from somewhere, especially prison.

escape hatch /əˈskāp ˌhaCH eˈskāp ˌhaCH/

noun

a hatch for use as an emergency exit, especially from a submarine, ship, or aircraft.

escape mechanism

noun

[Psychology] a mental process such as daydreaming that enables a person to avoid acknowledging unpleasant or threatening aspects of reality.

escapement /əˈskāpmənt/

I. noun

1. a mechanism in a clock or watch that alternately checks and releases the train by a fixed amount and transmits a periodic impulse from the spring or weight to the balance wheel or pendulum.

2. a mechanism in a typewriter that shifts the carriage a small fixed amount to the left after a key is pressed and released.

3. the part of the mechanism in a piano that enables the hammer to fall back as soon as it has struck the string.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French échappement, from échapper ‘to escape.’

escape velocity /əˈskāp eˈskāp vəˈläsədē/

noun

the lowest velocity that a body must have in order to escape the gravitational attraction of a particular planet or other object.

escape wheel /əˈskāp eˈskāp (h)wēl/

noun

a toothed wheel in the escapement of a watch or clock.

escapism /əˈskāpˌizəm/

noun

the tendency to seek distraction and relief from unpleasant realities, especially by seeking entertainment or engaging in fantasy.

escapist /əˈskāpist/

I. noun

a person who seeks distraction and relief from unpleasant realities, especially in the form of entertainment or fantasy

• the perfect escapist's paradise, almost as remote as a desert island.

II. adjective

providing or seeking distraction and relief from unpleasant realities, especially in the form of entertainment or fantasy

• I was ready for a good escapist read

• the escapist desires of the moviegoing public.

escapologist /eskəˈpäləjəst əˌskāˈpäləjəst/

I. noun

an entertainer specializing in escaping from the confinement of such things as ropes, handcuffs, and chains.

II. derivatives

escapology /əˌskāˈpäləjē ˌeskəˈpäləjē /

noun

escargot /ˌeskärˈɡō/

I. noun

a snail, especially as an item on a menu.

– origin French, from Old French escargol, from Provençal escaragol.

escarole /ˈeskəˌrōl/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) an endive of a variety with broad undivided leaves and a slightly bitter flavor, used in salads.

– origin early 20th cent.: from French, from Italian scar(i)ola, based on Latin esca ‘food.’

escarpment /əˈskärpmənt/

I. noun

a long, steep slope, especially one at the edge of a plateau or separating areas of land at different heights.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French escarpement, escarpe ‘scarp,’ from Italian scarpa ‘slope.’ Compare with scarp.

Escaut /esˈkō/

French name for Scheldt.

-esce

I. suffix

forming verbs, often denoting the initiation of action

• coalesce

• effervesce.

– origin from or suggested by Latin verbs ending in -escere.

-escence

I. suffix

forming nouns corresponding to adjectives ending in -escent (such as fluorescence corresponding to fluorescent).

– origin see -escent.

-escent

I. suffix

forming adjectives denoting a developing state or action

• coalescent

• fluorescent.

– origin from French, or from Latin -escent- (present participial stem of verbs ending in -escere).

eschar /ˈeskär/

I. noun

[Medicine] a dry, dark scab or falling away of dead skin, typically caused by a burn, or by the bite of a mite, or as a result of anthrax infection.

– origin late Middle English: from French eschare or late Latin eschara ‘scar or scab,’ from Greek (see also scar).

eschatology /ˌeskəˈtäləjē/

I. noun

the part of theology concerned with death, judgment, and the final destiny of the soul and of humankind.

II. derivatives

1. eschatological /ˌesˌkadlˈäjək(ə)l /

adjective

2. eschatologist /-jist /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek eskhatos ‘last’ + -logy.

eschaton /ˈeskəˌtän/

I. noun — (the eschaton)

1. [Theology] the final event in the divine plan; the end of the world.

– origin 1930s: from Greek eskhaton, neuter of eskhatos ‘last.’

escheat /əsˈCHēt / ‹chiefly historical›

I. noun

1. the reversion of property to the state, or (in feudal law) to a lord, on the owner's dying without legal heirs.

2. an item of property affected by this.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of land) revert to a lord or the state by escheat.

2. [with obj.] (usu. as adj. escheated) — hand over (land) as an escheat.

– origin Middle English: from Old French eschete, based on Latin excidere ‘fall away,’ from ex- ‘out of, from’ + cadere ‘to fall.’

Escher, M. C. /ˈeSHər/

(1898–1972), Dutch graphic artist; full name Maurits Corneille Escher. His prints are characterized by their sophisticated use of visual illusion.

eschew /əsˈCHo͞o/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. deliberately avoid using; abstain from

• he appealed to the crowd to eschew violence.

II. derivatives

eschewal

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French eschiver, ultimately of Germanic origin and related to German scheuen ‘shun,’ also to shy^1.

Escoffier, Georges-Auguste /ˌeskäfˈyā/

(1846–1935), French chef. He gained an international reputation while working in London at the Savoy Hotel 1890–99 and later at the Carlton 1899–1919.

escolar /ˌeskəˈlär/

I. noun

a large, elongated predatory fish occurring in tropical and temperate oceans throughout the world.
Also called snake mackerel. [Family Gempylidae: several genera and species.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Spanish, literally ‘scholar,’ so named because the ringed markings around the eyes resemble spectacles.

Escondido /ˌeskənˈdēdō/

a commercial city in southwestern California, north of San Diego; pop. 137,103 (est. 2008).

Escorial /eˈskôrēəl, ˌeskôrˈyäl/

a monastery and palace in central Spain, near Madrid, built in the late 16th century by Philip II.

escort

I. noun — /ˈesˌkôrt /

1. a person, vehicle, ship, or aircraft, or a group of these, accompanying another for protection, security, or as a mark of rank

• a police escort

• he was driven away under armed escort.

2. a man who accompanies a woman to a particular social event.

3. a person, typically a woman, who may be hired to accompany someone socially
[as modifier]

• an escort agency.

II. verb — /iˈskôrt / [with obj.]

1. accompany (someone or something) somewhere, especially for protection or security, or as a mark of rank

• Shiona escorted Janice to the door

• the shipment was escorted by armed patrol boats.

– origin late 16th cent. (originally denoting a body of armed men escorting travelers): from French escorte (noun), escorter (verb), from Italian scorta, feminine past participle of scorgere ‘to conduct, guide,’ based on Latin ex- ‘out of’ + corrigere ‘set right’ (see correct).

escritoire /ˌeskrəˈtwär/

I. noun

a small writing desk with drawers and compartments.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French, from medieval Latin scriptorium ‘writing room’ (see scriptorium).

escrow /ˈeskrō / ‹Law›

I. noun

1. a bond, deed, or other document kept in the custody of a third party, taking effect only when a specified condition has been fulfilled.

2. [usu. as modifier] — a deposit or fund held in trust or as a security

• an escrow account.

3. the state of being kept in custody or trust

• the board holds funds in escrow.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) place in custody or trust.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Old French escroe ‘scrap, scroll,’ from medieval Latin scroda, of Germanic origin; related to shred.

escudo /eˈsk(y)o͞odō/

I. noun

the basic monetary unit of Portugal (until the introduction of the euro) and Cape Verde, equal to 100 centavos.

– origin Spanish and Portuguese, from Latin scutum ‘shield.’

esculent /ˈeskyələnt / ‹formal›

I. adjective

fit to be eaten; edible.

II. noun

a thing, especially a vegetable, fit to be eaten.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin esculentus, from esca ‘food,’ from esse ‘eat.’

escutcheon /əˈskəCHən/

I. noun

1. a shield or emblem bearing a coat of arms.

2. (also escutcheon plate) — a flat piece of metal for protection and often ornamentation, around a keyhole, door handle, or light switch.

II. phrases

1. a blot on one's escutcheon

a stain on one's reputation or character.

2. escutcheon of pretense

a small shield within a coat of arms, bearing another coat or device to which the bearer has a claim, especially one to which a man's wife is heiress.

III. derivatives

escutcheoned

adjective

– origin late 15th cent.: from Anglo-Norman French escuchon, based on Latin scutum ‘shield.’

Esd.

abbreviation

Esdras, either in the Apocrypha or the Vulgate (in biblical references).

Esdras /ˈezdrəs/

I. either of two books of the Apocrypha. The first is mainly a compilation from Chronicles, Nehemiah, and Ezra; the second is a record of angelic revelation.

II. (in the Vulgate) the books of Ezra and Nehemiah.

ese /ˈesā / ése

I. noun

(US) ‹informal› (in Spanish-speaking regions) used as a form of address for a man

• I told him all about you, ese.

– origin Mexican Spanish.

ESE

abbreviation

east-southeast.

-ese

I. suffix

1. forming adjectives and nouns:

2. denoting an inhabitant or language of a country or city

• Japanese

• Viennese.

3. ‹often derogatory› (especially with reference to language) denoting character or style

• journalese

• officialese.

– origin from Old French -eis, based on Latin -ensis.

e-security

noun

another term for cybersecurity.

esemplastic /ˌesemˈplastik/

I. adjective

‹rare› molding into one; unifying.

II. derivatives

esemplastically /-(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin early 19th cent.: from Greek es ‘into’ + hen (neuter of heis ‘one’) + plastic; formed irregularly by Coleridge, probably suggested by German Ineinsbildung, in the same sense.

eserine /ˈesəˌrēn, ˈesərin/

I. noun

[Chemistry] another term for physostigmine.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French ésérine, from Efik esere.

e-shopping /ˈēˌSHäpiNG/

noun

the action or activity of buying goods or services over the Internet

• the rapid growth in e-shopping has been the focus of much public debate.

e-signature

noun

[Computing] short for electronic signature.

• the notification bears the e-signature of the director.

Esk.

abbreviation

Eskimo.

esker /ˈeskər/

I. noun

[Geology] a long ridge of gravel and other sediment, typically having a winding course, deposited by meltwater from a retreating glacier or ice sheet.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Irish eiscir.

Eskimo /ˈeskəˌmō/

I. noun

1. ‹often (esp. in Canada & Greenland) offensive› a member of an indigenous people inhabiting northern Canada, Alaska, Greenland, and eastern Siberia, traditionally living by hunting (especially of seals) and by fishing.

2. either of the two main languages of the Eskimo people (Inuit and Yupik), forming a major division of the Eskimo-Aleut family.

II. adjective

of or relating to the Eskimos or their languages.

– origin via French Esquimaux, possibly from Spanish esquimao, esquimal, from Montagnais ayas̆kimew ‘person who laces a snowshoe,’ probably applied first to the Micmac and later to the Eskimo (see husky^2). / usage: 1 In recent years, Eskimo has come to be regarded as offensive because of one of its possible etymologies (Abnaki askimo ‘eater of raw meat’), but this descriptive name is accurate since Eskimos traditionally derived their vitamins from eating raw meat. This dictionary gives another possible etymology above, but the etymological problem is still unresolved. 2 The peoples inhabiting the regions from northwestern Canada to western Greenland call themselves Inuit (see usage at Inuit), but in the US, Eskimo is the only term that can be properly applied to all of the peoples as a whole, and it is still widely used in anthropological and archaeological contexts. The broader term Native American is sometimes used to refer to Eskimo and Aleut peoples. See usage at Native American.

Eskimo-Aleut /ˌeskəˌmōəˈlo͞ot/

I. adjective

relating to the family of languages comprising Inuit, Yupik, and Aleut.

II. noun

the Eskimo-Aleut family of languages.

Eskimo curlew

noun

a small New World curlew with a striped head, formerly common in the arctic tundra but now close to extinction.
[Numenius borealis, family Scolopacidae.]

Eskimo pie

noun

(US) ‹trademark› a bar of chocolate-coated ice cream.

Eskimo roll

noun

a complete rollover in kayaking, from upright to capsized to upright.

Eskisehir /ˌeskiSHəˈhir/

an industrial and spa city in west central Turkey, the capital of Eskisehir province; pop. 570,900 (est. 2007).

ESL /ˈˌē ˌes ˈel/

abbreviation

English as a second language.

ESN

abbreviation

electronic serial number, a unique identifying number programmed into a mobile phone.

ESOL /ˈēˌsäl/

abbreviation

English for speakers of other languages.

ESOP

abbreviation

employee stock ownership plan; a plan by which a company's capital stock is bought by its employees or workers.

esophagitis /iˌsäfəˈjīdəs/

noun

[Medicine] inflammation of the esophagus.

esophagoscope /əˈsäfəɡəˌskōp/

noun

an instrument for the inspection or treatment of the esophagus.

esophagus /əˈsäfəɡəs ˌēˈsäfəɡəs / ‹Brit.› oesophagus

I. noun

the part of the alimentary canal that connects the throat to the stomach; the gullet. In humans and other vertebrates it is a muscular tube lined with mucous membrane.

II. derivatives

esophageal /əˌsäfəˈjēəl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: modern Latin, from Greek oisophagos.

esoteric /ˌesəˈterik/

I. adjective

intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest

• esoteric philosophical debates.

II. derivatives

1. esoterically /-(ə)lē /

adverb

2. esotericism /ˌesəˈterəˌsizəm /

noun

3. esotericist /-ˈterəsist /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Greek esōterikos, from esōterō, comparative of esō ‘within,’ from es, eis ‘into.’ Compare with exoteric.

esoterica /ˌesəˈterikə/

I. noun

esoteric or highly specialized subjects or publications.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Greek esōterika, neuter plural of esōterikos ‘esoteric.’

ESP

abbreviation

1. electrostatic precipitator.

2. extrasensory perception.

esp.

abbreviation

especially.

espadrille /ˈespəˌdril/

I. noun

a light canvas shoe with a plaited fiber sole.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French, from Provençal espardi(l)hos, from espart ‘esparto,’ from Latin spartum (see esparto).

espalier /əsˈpalyər esˈpälyər esˈpalyā/

I. noun

1. a fruit tree or ornamental shrub whose branches are trained to grow flat against a wall, supported on a lattice or a framework of stakes.

2. a lattice or framework for an espaliered tree or shrub.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. train (a tree or shrub) to grow flat against a wall.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, from Italian spalliera, from spalla ‘shoulder,’ from Latin spatula (see spatula), in late Latin ‘shoulder blade.’

España /esˈpänyə/

Spanish name for Spain.

esparto /əˈspärdō / esparto grass

I. noun

a coarse grass with tough narrow leaves, native to Spain and North Africa. It is used to make ropes, wickerwork, and high-quality paper.
[Stipa tenacissima, family Gramineae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Spanish, via Latin from Greek sparton ‘rope.’

especial /əˈspeSH(ə)l/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. better or greater than usual; special

• these traditions are of especial interest to feminists.

2. for or belonging chiefly to one person or thing

• her outburst was for my especial benefit.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin specialis ‘special,’ from species (see species).

especially /iˈspeSHəlē/

I. adverb

1. used to single out one person, thing, or situation over all others

• he despised them all, especially Sylvester

• a new song, written especially for Jonathan.

2. to a great extent; very much

• he didn't especially like dancing

• [as submodifier] sleep is especially important for growing children.

usage: There is some overlap in the uses of especially and specially. In the broadest terms, both words mean ‘particularly,’ and the preference for one word over the other is linked with particular conventions of use rather than with any deep difference in meaning. For example, there is little to choose between written especially for Jonathan and written specially for Jonathan, and neither is more correct than the other. On the other hand, in sentences such as he despised them all, especially Sylvester, substitution of specially is found in informal uses but should not be used in written English, while in the car was specially made for the occasion, substitution of especially is somewhat unusual. Overall, especially is by far the more common of the two, occurring twenty times as frequently as specially in the Oxford English Corpus.

Esperanto /ˌespəˈrän(t)ō/

I. noun

an artificial language devised in 1887 as an international medium of communication, based on roots from the chief European languages.

II. derivatives

Esperantist /ˌespəˈrän(t)əst /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: from the name Dr. Esperanto, used as a pen name by the inventor of the language, Ludwik L. Zamenhof (1858–1917), Polish physician; the literal sense is ‘one who hopes’ (based on Latin sperare ‘to hope’).

espial /əsˈpī(ə)l/

I. noun

‹archaic› the action of watching or catching sight of something or someone or the fact of being seen

• he withdrew from his point of espial.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘spying’): from Old French espiaille, from espier ‘espy.’

espionage /ˈespēəˌnäZH/

I. noun

the practice of spying or of using spies, typically by governments to obtain political and military information.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French espionnage, from espionner ‘to spy,’ from espion ‘a spy.’

Espiritu Santo /eˌspirito͞o ˈsänto͞o/

a volcanic island in northwestern Vanuatu, the largest in the country. Largely agricultural, it was the site of US bases during World War II.

esplanade /ˈespləˌnäd ˈespləˌnād/

I. noun

1. a long, open, level area, typically beside the sea, along which people may walk for pleasure.

2. an open, level space separating a fortress from a town.

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting an area of flat ground on top of a rampart): from French, from Italian spianata, from Latin explanatus ‘flattened, leveled,’ from explanare (see explain).

Espoo /ˈespō/

the second-largest city in Finland, in the southern part of the country, a western suburb of Helsinki; pop. 173,000.

e-sport

noun

a multiplayer video game played competitively for spectators, typically by professional gamers

• millions of people enjoy watching e-sports

• it's the most popular PC game and currently the most popular e-sport

• [as modifier] the largest e-sports tournament in the world finished yesterday in Seattle.

Esposito, Phil /ˌespəˈzētō/

(1942–), Canadian ice hockey player; full name Philip Anthony Esposito. He played for the Chicago Blackhawks 1964–67, the Boston Bruins 1967–75, and the New York Rangers 1975–81. Hockey Hall of Fame (1984).

espousal /iˈspouzl iˈspousl eˈspouzl eˈspousl/

I. noun

1. [in sing.] — an act of adopting or supporting a cause, belief, or way of life

• his espousal of the leftist cause.

2. ‹archaic› a marriage or engagement.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French espousaille, from Latin sponsalia ‘betrothal,’ neuter plural of sponsalis (adjective), from sponsare ‘espouse, betroth.’

espouse /iˈspouz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. adopt or support (a cause, belief, or way of life)

• he turned his back on the modernism he had espoused in his youth.

2. ‹archaic› marry

• Edward had espoused the Lady Grey.

3. (be espoused to) — (of a woman) be engaged to (a particular man).

II. derivatives

espouser

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘take as a spouse’): from Old French espouser, from Latin sponsare, from sponsus ‘betrothed,’ past participle of spondere.

espressivo /ˌespreˈsēvō/

I. adverb, adjective

[Music] (especially as a direction) with expression of feeling.

– origin Italian, from Latin expressus ‘distinctly presented.’

espresso /eˈspresˌō/

I. noun

strong black coffee made by forcing steam through ground coffee beans.

– origin 1940s: from Italian (caffè) espresso, literally ‘pressed out (coffee).’ / usage: The often-occurring variant spelling expresso—and its pronunciation /ikˈspresō/ —is incorrect and was probably formed by analogy with express.

esprit /əsˈprē/

I. noun

the quality of being lively, vivacious, or witty.

– origin French, from Latin spiritus ‘spirit.’

esprit de corps /eˌsprē də ˈkôr/

I. noun

a feeling of pride, fellowship, and common loyalty shared by the members of a particular group.

– origin late 18th cent.: French, literally ‘spirit of the body.’

esprit de l'escalier /eˌsprē də ˌleskəlˈyā/

I. noun

used to refer to the fact that a witty remark or retort often comes to mind after the opportunity to make it has passed.

– origin early 20th cent.: French, literally ‘wit of the staircase.’

espy /əˈspī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› catch sight of

• she espied her daughter rounding the corner.

– origin Middle English: from Old French espier, ultimately of Germanic origin and related to Dutch spieden and German spähan. Compare with spy.

Esq. /ˈesˌkwī(ə)r/

abbreviation

Esquire.

-esque

I. suffix

(forming adjectives) in the style of; resembling

• carnivalesque

• Reaganesque

• Houdini-esque.

– origin from French, via Italian -esco from medieval Latin -iscus.

esquire /ˈesˌkwīər əˈskwī(ə)r/

I. noun

1. (Esquire) (abbr.: Esq.) — (N. Amer.) a title appended to a lawyer's surname.

2. (Brit.) a polite title appended to a man's name when no other title is used, typically in the address of a letter or other documents

• Robert A. Pearson Esquire.

3. ‹historical› a young nobleman who, in training for knighthood, acted as an attendant to a knight.

4. an officer in the service of a king or nobleman.

5. [as title] — a landed proprietor or country squire.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French esquier, from Latin scutarius ‘shield-bearer,’ from scutum ‘shield’; compare with squire. Sense 2 was the original denotation, sense 1 being at first a courtesy title given to such a person.

ESR

abbreviation

[Physics] electron spin resonance.

ess /es/

I. noun

a thing shaped like the letter S.

– origin mid 16th cent.: the letter S represented as a word.

-ess^1

I. suffix

forming nouns denoting female gender

• abbess

• adulteress

• tigress.

– origin from French -esse, via late Latin from Greek -issa. / usage: The suffix -ess has been used since the Middle Ages to form nouns denoting female persons, using a neutral or a male form as the base (such as hostess and actress from host and actor). Despite the apparent equivalence between the male and female pairs of forms, however, they are rarely equivalent in terms of actual use and connotation in modern English (consider the differences in meaning and use between manager and manageress). In the late 20th century, as the role of women in society changed, some of these feminine forms became problematic and are now regarded as old-fashioned, sexist, and patronizing (e.g., poetess, authoress, editress). The ‘male’ form is increasingly being used as the ‘neutral’ form, where the gender of the person concerned is simply unspecified.

-ess^2

I. suffix

forming abstract nouns from adjectives, such as largess.

– origin Middle English via French -esse from Latin -itia.

essay

I. noun — /ˈesā /

1. a short piece of writing on a particular subject.

2. ‹formal› an attempt or effort

• a misjudged essay.

3. a trial design of a postage stamp yet to be accepted.

II. verb — /eˈsā / [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› attempt or try

• essay a smile.

– origin late 15th cent. (as a verb in the sense ‘test the quality of’): alteration of assay, by association with Old French essayer, based on late Latin exagium ‘weighing,’ from the base of exigere ‘ascertain, weigh’; the noun (late 16th cent.) is from Old French essai ‘trial.’

essayist /ˈesāəst/

noun

a person who writes essays, especially as a literary genre.

essayistic /ˌesāˈistik/

adjective

characteristic of or used in essays; discursive; informal.

esse /ˈesē, ˈese/

I. noun

[Philosophy] essential nature or essence.
See also in esse.

– origin mid 16th cent.: Latin, literally ‘to be’ (used as a noun).

Essen /ˈesən/

an industrial city in the Ruhr valley, in northwestern Germany; pop. 583,200 (est. 2006).

essence /ˈesəns/

I. noun

1. the intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something, especially something abstract, that determines its character

• conflict is the essence of drama.

2. [Philosophy] a property or group of properties of something without which it would not exist or be what it is.

3. an extract or concentrate obtained from a particular plant or other matter and used for flavoring or scent.

II. phrases

1. in essence

basically and without regard for peripheral details; fundamentally

• in detail the class system is complex but in essence it is simple.

2. of the essence

critically important

• time will be of the essence.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin essentia, from esse ‘be.’

Essene /əˈsēn ˈesēn/

I. noun

a member of an ancient Jewish ascetic sect of the 2nd century BC–2nd century AD in Palestine, who lived in highly organized groups and held property in common. The Essenes are widely regarded as the authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

– origin from Latin Esseni (plural), from Greek Essēnoi, perhaps from Aramaic.

essential /əˈsen(t)SHəl/

I. adjective

1. absolutely necessary; extremely important
[with infinitive]

• it is essential to keep up-to-date records

• fiber is an essential ingredient.

2. [attrib.] — fundamental or central to the nature of something or someone

• the essential weakness of the plaintiff's case.

3. [Biochemistry] (of an amino acid or fatty acid) required for normal growth but not synthesized in the body and therefore necessary in the diet.

4. [Medicine] (of a disease) with no known external stimulus or cause; idiopathic

• essential hypertension.

II. noun — (usu. essentials)

1. a thing that is absolutely necessary

• we had only the bare essentials in the way of gear.

2. (essentials) — the fundamental elements or characteristics of something

• he was quick to grasp the essentials of an opponent's argument.

III. derivatives

1. essentiality /əˌsen(t)SHēˈalədē /

noun

2. essentialness

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘in the highest degree’): from late Latin essentialis, from Latin essentia.

essentialism /əˈsen(t)SHəˌlizəm/

I. noun

1. [Philosophy] a belief that things have a set of characteristics that make them what they are, and that the task of science and philosophy is their discovery and expression; the doctrine that essence is prior to existence.
Compare with existentialism.

2. [Philosophy] the view that all children should be taught on traditional lines the ideas and methods regarded as essential to the prevalent culture.

3. [Philosophy] the view that categories of people, such as women and men, or heterosexuals and homosexuals, or members of ethnic groups, have intrinsically different and characteristic natures or dispositions.

II. derivatives

essentialist

noun, adjective

essentially /əˈsen(t)SHəlē/

adverb

used to emphasize the basic, fundamental, or intrinsic nature of a person, thing, or situation
[sentence adverb]

• essentially, they are amateurs.

essential oil /əˈsen(t)SHəl oil/

noun

a natural oil typically obtained by distillation and having the characteristic fragrance of the plant or other source from which it is extracted.

Essequibo /ˌesəˈkwēbō, -ˈkēbō/

a river in Guyana that rises in the Guiana Highlands and flows north for about 600 miles (965 km) to the Atlantic Ocean.

Essex /ˈesəks/

I. a county in eastern England; county town, Chelmsford.

II. a town in northwestern Vermont that includes the village of Essex Junction; pop. 19,649 (est. 2008).

est /est/

I. noun

a system for self-improvement aimed at developing a person's potential through intensive group awareness and training sessions.

– origin 1970s: acronym from Erhard Seminars Training, from the name of Werner Erhard (born 1935), the American businessman who devised the technique.

EST /ˌē ˌes ˈtē/

abbreviation

Eastern Standard Time (see Eastern time).

est.

abbreviation

1. established.

2. estimated.

-est^1 /əst, ist/

I. suffix

forming the superlative of adjectives (such as shortest, widest), and of adverbs (such as soonest).

– origin Old English -ost-, -ust-, -ast-.

-est^2 /əst, ist / -st

I. suffix

‹archaic› forming the second person singular of verbs

• canst

• goest.

– origin Old English -est, -ast, -st.

establish /əˈstabliSH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. set up (an organization, system, or set of rules) on a firm or permanent basis

• the British established a rich trade with Portugal.

2. initiate or bring about (contact or communication)

• the two countries established diplomatic relations.

3. achieve permanent acceptance or recognition for

• the principle of the supremacy of national parliaments needs to be firmly established

• he had established himself as a film star.

4. introduce (a character, set, or location) into a film or play and allow its identification

• establish the location with a wide shot.

5. show (something) to be true or certain by determining the facts
[with clause]

• the police established that the two passports were forgeries.

6. [Bridge] ensure that one's remaining cards in (a suit) will be winners (if not trumped) by playing off the high cards in that suit.

II. derivatives

establisher /əˈstabliSHər /

noun

– origin late Middle English (recorded earlier as stablish): from Old French establiss-, lengthened stem of establir, from Latin stabilire ‘make firm,’ from stabilis (adjective) ‘stable.’

established /əˈstabliSHt/

I. adjective

1. having been in existence for a long time and therefore recognized and generally accepted

• the ceremony was an established event in the annual calendar

• an established artist.

2. (of a plant) having taken root; growing well.

3. (of a church or religion) recognized by the government as the national church or religion.

II. phrases

the Established Church

the Church of England or of Scotland.

establishment /əˈstabliSHmənt/

noun

1. the action of establishing something or being established

• the establishment of a scholarship renews that personal interest of donors in students.

2. ‹archaic› a marriage.

3. a business organization, public institution, or household

• hotels or catering establishments.

4. (usu. the Establishment) — a group in a society exercising power and influence over matters of policy or taste, and seen as resisting change.

5. [with adj.] — an influential group within a specified profession or area of activity

• rumblings of discontent among the medical establishment.

6. (the Establishment or the Church Establishment) — the ecclesiastical system organized by law.

7. the Church of England or of Scotland.

establishmentarian /əˌstabliSHmənˈterēən/

I. adjective

adhering to, advocating, or relating to the principle of an established church.

II. noun

a person adhering to or advocating this.

III. derivatives

establishmentarianism /-izəm /

noun

Establishment Clause

noun

[Law] the clause in the First Amendment of the US Constitution that prohibits the establishment of religion by Congress.

estaminet /esˌtamēˈnā/

I. noun

a small cafe in France that sells alcoholic drinks.

– origin French, from Walloon staminé ‘cowshed,’ from stamo ‘a pole for tethering a cow,’ probably from German Stamm ‘stem.’

estancia /eˈstansēə/

I. noun

a cattle ranch in Latin America or the southwestern US.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Spanish, literally ‘station,’ from medieval Latin stantia, based on Latin stare ‘to stand.’

estate /iˈstāt/

I. noun

1. an area or amount of land or property, in particular

2. an extensive area of land in the country, usually with a large house, owned by one person or organization.

3. all the money and property owned by a particular person, especially at death

• in his will, he divided his estate between his wife and daughter.

4. a property where coffee, rubber, grapes, or other crops are cultivated.

5. (Brit.) a housing or commercial development.

6. (also estate of the realm) — a class or order regarded as forming part of the body politic, in particular (in Britain), one of the three groups constituting Parliament, now the Lords Spiritual (the heads of the Church), the Lords Temporal (the peerage), and the Commons. They are also known as the three estates.

7. ‹dated› a particular class or category of people in society

• the spiritual welfare of all estates of men.

8. ‹archaic› ‹literary› a particular state, period, or condition in life

• programs for the improvement of man's estate

• the holy estate of matrimony.

9. grandeur, pomp, or state

• a chamber without a chair of estate.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘state or condition’): from Old French estat, from Latin status ‘state, condition,’ from stare ‘to stand.’

estate agent /əsˈtāt ˌājənt/

I. noun

(Brit.) a real estate agent.

II. derivatives

estate agency

noun

estate car /əsˈtāt ˌkär/

noun

(Brit.) a station wagon.

estate tax

noun

(US) a tax levied on the net value of the estate of a deceased person before distribution to the heirs.
Also called death tax.

esteem /əˈstēm/

I. noun

respect and admiration, typically for a person

• he was held in high esteem by colleagues.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be esteemed)

1. respect and admire

• many of these qualities are esteemed by managers

• (esteemed) a highly esteemed scholar.

2. ‹formal› consider; deem
[with two objs.]

• I should esteem it a favor if you could speak to them.

– origin Middle English (as a noun in the sense ‘worth, reputation’): from Old French estime (noun), estimer (verb), from Latin aestimare ‘to estimate.’ The verb was originally in the Latin sense, also ‘appraise’ (compare with estimate), used figuratively to mean ‘assess the merit of.’ Current senses date from the 16th cent.

ester /ˈestər/

I. noun

[Chemistry] an organic compound made by replacing the hydrogen of an acid by an alkyl or other organic group. Many naturally occurring fats and essential oils are esters of fatty acids.

II. derivatives

esterify /əˈsterəˌfī /

verb

– origin mid 19th cent.: from German, probably from a blend of Essig ‘vinegar’ and Äther ‘ether.’

esterase /ˈestərās ˈestərāz/

noun

[Biochemistry] an enzyme that hydrolyzes particular esters into acids and alcohols or phenols.

esterification /esˌterəfiˈkāSHən/

noun

[Chemistry] a reaction of an alcohol with an acid to produce an ester and water.

Esth.

abbreviation

[Bible] Esther.

Esther /ˈestər/

I. (in the Bible) a woman chosen on account of her beauty by the Persian king Ahasuerus (generally supposed to be Xerxes I) to be his queen. She used her influence with him to save the Israelites in captivity from persecution.

II. a book of the Bible containing an account of events in the life of Esther; a part survives only in Greek and is included in the Apocrypha.

estimable /ˈestəməbəl/

I. adjective

worthy of great respect.

II. derivatives

estimably /-blē /

adverb

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘able to be estimated or appraised’; earlier in inestimable): via Old French from Latin aestimabilis, from aestimare ‘to estimate.’

estimate

I. verb — /ˈestəˌmāt / [with obj.]

1. roughly calculate or judge the value, number, quantity, or extent of

• the aim is to estimate the effects of macroeconomic policy on the economy

• [with clause] it is estimated that smoking causes 100,000 premature deaths every year

• (as adj. estimated) an estimated cost of $140,000,000.

II. noun — /ˈestəmət /

1. an approximate calculation or judgment of the value, number, quantity, or extent of something

• at a rough estimate, our staff is recycling a quarter of the paper used.

2. a written statement indicating the likely price that will be charged for specified work or repairs

• compare costs by getting estimates from at least two firms.

3. a judgment of the worth or character of someone or something

• his high estimate of the poem.

III. derivatives

estimative /ˈestəˌmādiv /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin aestimat- ‘determined, appraised,’ from the verb aestimare. The noun originally meant ‘intellectual ability, comprehension’ (only in late Middle English), later ‘valuing, a valuation’ (compare with estimation). The verb originally meant ‘to think well or badly of someone or something’ (late 15th cent.), later ‘regard as being, consider to be’ (compare with esteem).

estimation /ˌestəˈmāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a rough calculation of the value, number, quantity, or extent of something

• estimations of protein concentrations.

2. [usu. in sing.] — a judgment of the worth or character of someone or something

• the pop star rose in my estimation.

– origin late Middle English (originally in the sense ‘comprehension, intuition,’ also ‘valuing, a valuation’): from Latin aestimatio(n-), from aestimare ‘determine, appraise’ (see estimate).

estimator /ˈestəˌmādər/

noun

1. [Statistics] a rule, method, or criterion for arriving at an estimate of the value of a parameter.

2. a quantity used or evaluated as an estimate.

3. a person who estimates the price, value, number, quantity, or extent of something.

estival /ˈestəvəl esˈtīvəl / aestival

I. adjective

‹technical› belonging to or appearing in summer.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin aestivalis, from aestivus, from aestus ‘heat.’

estivate /ˈestəˌvāt / aestivate

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. [Zoology] (of an animal, particularly an insect, fish, or amphibian) spend a hot or dry period in a prolonged state of torpor or dormancy.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘pass the summer’): from Latin aestivat-, from aestivare ‘spend the summer,’ from aestus ‘heat.’

estivation /ˌestəˈvāSHən / aestivation

noun

1. [Zoology] prolonged torpor or dormancy of an animal during a hot or dry period.

2. [Botany] the arrangement of petals and sepals in a flower bud before it opens.
Compare with vernation.

estoile /eˈstoil/

I. noun

[Heraldry] a star with (usually six) wavy points or rays.

– origin late 16th cent.: via Old French from Latin stella ‘star.’

Estonia /eˈstōnēə/

I. a Baltic country on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland; pop. 1,299,400 (est. 2009); capital, Tallinn; languages, Estonian (official) and Russian.

Previously ruled by the Teutonic Knights and then by Sweden, Estonia was ceded to Russia in 1721. It was proclaimed an independent republic in 1918 but was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940 as a constituent republic, the Estonian SSR. With the breakup of the Soviet Union, Estonia regained its independence in 1991. In 2004 it joined both NATO and the EU.

Estonian /eˈstōnēən/

I. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Estonia, or a person of Estonian descent.

2. the Finno-Ugric language of Estonia, closely related to Finnish.

II. adjective

relating to Estonia, its people, or their language.

estop /əˈstäp/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be estopped from)

1. [Law] bar or preclude by estoppel.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘stop up, dam, plug’): from Old French estopper ‘stop up, impede,’ from late Latin stuppare, from Latin stuppa ‘tow, oakum.’ Compare with stop and stuff.

estoppel /əˈstäpəl/

I. noun

[Law] the principle that precludes a person from asserting something contrary to what is implied by a previous action or statement of that person or by a previous pertinent judicial determination.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Old French estouppail ‘bung,’ from estopper (see estop).

estradiol /ˌestrəˈdīôl, -ˌäl / ‹Brit.› oestradiol

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a major estrogen produced in the ovaries.

– origin 1930s: from estrus + di-1 + -ol.

estrange /əsˈtrānj/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (someone) to be no longer close or affectionate to someone; alienate

• are you deliberately seeking to estrange your readers?

– origin late 15th cent.: from Old French estranger, from Latin extraneare ‘treat as a stranger,’ from extraneus ‘not belonging to the family,’ used as a noun to mean ‘stranger.’ Compare with strange.

estranged /iˈstrānjd/

adjective

1. (of a person) no longer close or affectionate to someone; alienated

• Harriet felt more estranged from her daughter than ever

• her estranged father.

2. (of a wife or husband) no longer living with their spouse.

estrangement /esˈtrān(d)ZHmənt/

noun

1. the fact of no longer being on friendly terms or part of a social group

• the growing estrangement of the police from their communities.

2. the fact of no longer living with one's spouse; separation.

• a parent's rights in the event of divorce or estrangement.

estreat /əsˈtrēt / ‹Law chiefly historical›

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. enforce the forfeit of (a surety for bail or other recognizance).

II. noun

a copy of a court record for use in the enforcement of a fine or forfeiture of a recognizance.

III. derivatives

estreatment

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French estraite, feminine past participle of estraire, from Latin extrahere ‘draw out’ (see extract).

estriol /ˈestrīˌôl, - ˌäl, eˈstrīôl, eˈstrīäl / oestriol

I. noun

[Biochemistry] an estrogen that is one of the metabolic products of estradiol.

– origin 1930s: from estrane (the parent molecule of most estrogens) + tri- + -ol.

estrogen /ˈestrəjən / ‹Brit.› oestrogen

I. noun

any of a group of steroid hormones that promote the development and maintenance of female characteristics of the body. Such hormones are also produced artificially for use in oral contraceptives or to treat menopausal and menstrual disorders.

II. derivatives

estrogenic /ˌestrəˈjenik /

adjective

– origin 1920s: from estrus + -gen.

estrone /ˈestrōn / ‹Brit.› oestrone

I. noun

[Biochemistry] an estrogen similar to but less potent than estradiol.

– origin 1930s: from estrane (parent molecule of most estrogens) + -one.

estrous cycle /ˈestrəs ˌsīk(ə)l/

noun

the recurring reproductive cycle in many female mammals, including estrus, ovulation, and changes in the uterine lining.

estrus /ˈestrəs / estrum, ‹or chiefly Brit.› oestrus

I. noun

a recurring period of sexual receptivity and fertility in many female mammals; heat

• a mare in estrus.

II. derivatives

estrous /ˈestrəs /

adjective

– origin late 17th cent.: from Greek oistros ‘gadfly or frenzy.’

estuary /ˈesCHəˌwerē/

I. noun

the tidal mouth of a large river, where the tide meets the stream.

II. derivatives

1. estuarial /ˌesCHo͞oˈe(ə)rēəl /

adjective

2. estuarine /ˈesCHo͞oəˌrīn ˈesCHo͞oəˌrēn /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting a tidal inlet of any size): from Latin aestuarium ‘tidal part of a shore,’ from aestus ‘tide.’

Estuary English

noun

(in the UK) a type of accent identified as spreading outward from London and containing features of both received pronunciation and London speech.

estufa /eˈsto͞ofə/

I. noun

1. a heated chamber in which Madeira wine is stored and matured.

2. (US) an underground chamber in which a fire is kept permanently alight, used as a place of assembly by Pueblo Indians.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Spanish, probably based on Greek tuphos ‘steam or smoke.’

esu

abbreviation

electrostatic unit(s).

esurient /əˈso͝orēənt/

I. adjective

‹archaic› hungry or greedy.

II. derivatives

esuriently

adverb

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin esurient- ‘being hungry,’ from the verb esurire, from esse ‘eat.’

ESV

abbreviation

earth satellite vehicle.

ET

abbreviation

1. Eastern time.

2. extraterrestrial.

-et^1

I. suffix

forming nouns that were originally diminutives

• baronet

• hatchet

• tablet.

– origin from Old French -et, -ete.

-et^2 -ete

I. suffix

forming nouns such as comet, and often denoting people

• athlete

• poet.

– origin from Greek -ētēs.

eta /ˈātə, ˈētə/

noun

1. the seventh letter of the Greek alphabet (Η, η), transliterated as ‘e’ or ‘ē.’

2. [followed by Latin genitive] (Eta) — [Astronomy] the seventh star in a constellation

• Eta Carinae.

ETA^1 /ˌēˌtēˈā/

abbreviation

estimated time of arrival, in particular the time at which an aircraft or ship is expected to arrive at its destination.

ETA^2 /ˈedə/

I. a Basque separatist movement in Spain, founded in 1959.

– origin Basque acronym, from Euzkadi ta Azkatasuna ‘Basque homeland and liberty.’

etagere /ˌātäˈZHer / étagère

I. noun

a piece of furniture with a number of open shelves for displaying ornaments.

– origin French étagère, from étage ‘shelf.’

e-tailer /ˈēˌtālər/

I. noun

‹trademark› a retailer selling goods via electronic transactions on the Internet.

– origin 1990s: blend of e- ‘electronic’ and retailer.

et al. /ˌed ˈäl ed ˈal/

I. abbreviation

and others (used especially in referring to academic books or articles that have more than one author)

• the conclusions of Gardner et al.

– origin from Latin et alii. / usage: See usage at et cetera.

etalon /ˈādlˌän/

I. noun

[Physics] a device consisting of two reflecting glass plates, employed for measuring small differences in the wavelength of light using the interference it produces.

– origin early 20th cent.: from French étalon, literally ‘standard of measurement.’

etc. /etˈsedərə / &c.

adverb

short for et cetera.

et cetera /et ˈsedərə / etcetera

I. adverb

1. used at the end of a list to indicate that further, similar items are included

• we're trying to resolve problems of obtaining equipment, drugs, et cetera.

2. indicating that a list is too tedious or clichéd to give in full

• we've all got to do our duty, pull our weight, et cetera, et cetera.

– origin Latin, from et ‘and’ and cetera ‘the rest’ (neuter plural of ceterus ‘left over’). / usage: Et cetera (a Latin phrase meaning ‘and the other things, the rest’) is sometimes mispronounced ‘ex cetera,’ and its abbreviation, properly etc., is often misspelled ‘ect.’ The phrase ‘and et cetera’ is redundant, for et means ‘and’ in Latin. This abbreviation should be used for things, not for people. Et al. (an abbreviation of et alii, ‘and other people, and others’) is properly used for others (people) too numerous to mention, as in a list of multiple authors: Bancroft, Fordwick, et al. In general, both terms (and their abbreviations) are common enough that it is not necessary to italicize or underline them.

etceteras /etˈsedərəz/

plural noun

unspecified or typical extra items

• she began to pack her compact, comb, and other etceteras.

etch /eCH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. engrave (metal, glass, or stone) by coating it with a protective layer, drawing on it with a needle, and then covering it with acid to attack the parts the needle has exposed, especially in order to produce prints from it
(as adj. etched)

• etched glass windows.

2. use the etching process to produce (a print or design).

3. (of an acid or other solvent) corrode or eat away the surface of (something).

4. selectively dissolve the surface of (a semiconductor or printed circuit) with a solvent, laser, or stream of electrons.

5. cut or carve (a text or design) on a surface

• her initials were etched on the table

• ‹figurative› his name is etched in baseball history.

6. mark (a surface) with a carved text or design

• a Pictish stone etched with mysterious designs

• ‹figurative› her face was etched with tiredness.

7. cause to stand out or be clearly defined or visible

• Jo watched the outline of the town etched against the sky

• (as adj. etched) her finely etched profile.

8. (be etched) — (of an experience, image, etc.) be permanently fixed in someone's memory

• the events remain etched in the minds of all who witnessed them.

II. noun

the action or process of etching something.

III. derivatives

etcher /ˈeCHər /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Dutch etsen, from German ätzen, from a base meaning ‘cause to eat’; related to eat.

etchant /ˈeCHənt/

noun

an acid or corrosive chemical used in etching; a mordant.

etching /ˈeCHiNG/

noun

1. a print produced by the process of etching

• etchings of animals and wildflowers.

2. the art or process of producing etched plates or objects.

ETD /ēːtēːˈdēː/

abbreviation

estimated time of departure.

-ete

suffix

variant spelling of -et^2 (as in athlete).

eternal /əˈtərn(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. lasting or existing forever; without end or beginning

• the secret of eternal youth

• fear of eternal damnation.

2. (of truths, values, or questions) valid for all time; essentially unchanging

• eternal truths of art and life.

3. ‹informal› seeming to last or persist forever, especially on account of being tedious or annoying

• eternal nagging demands

• she is an eternal optimist.

4. used to emphasize expressions of admiration, gratitude, or other feelings

• to his eternal credit, he maintained his dignity throughout.

5. (the Eternal) — used to refer to an everlasting or universal spirit, as represented by God.

II. phrases

1. the Eternal City

a name for the city of Rome.

2. eternal triangle

a relationship between three people, typically a couple and the lover of one of them, involving sexual rivalry.

III. derivatives

1. eternality /ˌētərˈnalitē /

noun

2. eternalize /əˈtərn(ə)lˌīz /

verb

3. eternalness

noun

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from late Latin aeternalis, from Latin aeternus, from aevum ‘age.’

eternally /əˈtərnəlē/

adverb

1. in a way that continues or lasts forever; permanently
[as submodifier]

• his eternally optimistic attitude.

• we must be eternally vigilant.

2. ‹informal› in an annoying or tedious way that seems to last forever; constantly

• he was rattling on eternally.

3. [as submodifier] — used to emphasize expressions of admiration, gratitude, etc.

• I'll be eternally grateful.

eternity /əˈtərnədē/

I. noun

1. infinite or unending time

• their love was sealed for eternity

• this state of affairs has lasted for all eternity.

2. a state to which time has no application; timelessness.

3. [Theology] endless life after death

• immortal souls destined for eternity.

4. used euphemistically to refer to death

• he could have crashed the car and taken them both to eternity.

5. (an eternity) — ‹informal› a period of time that seems very long, especially on account of being tedious or annoying

• a silence that lasted an eternity.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French eternite, from Latin aeternitas, from aeternus ‘without beginning or end’ (see eternal).

eternize /ēˈtərˌnīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› make eternal; cause to live or last forever.

etesian wind /iˈtēZHən wind / Etesian wind

I. noun

another term for meltemi.

– origin early 17th cent.: etesian from Latin etesius ‘annual’ (from Greek etēsios, from etos ‘year’) + -an.

ETF

noun

short for exchange-traded fund:

• investments in ETFs have not fallen.

eth /eT͟H / edh

I. noun

an Old English letter, ð or Ð, representing the dental fricatives and . It was superseded by the digraph th, but is now used as a phonetic symbol for the voiced dental fricative in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) system.
Compare with thorn (sense 3).

– origin from Danish edh, perhaps representing the sound of the letter.

Eth.

abbreviation

Ethiopia.

-eth^1

suffix

variant spelling of -th^1 (as in fiftieth).

-eth^2 -th

I. suffix

‹archaic› forming the third person singular of the present tense of verbs

• doeth

• saith.

– origin Old English -eth, -ath, -th.

ethacrynic acid /eTHəˌkrinik ˈasəd/

I. noun

[Medicine] a powerful diuretic drug used in the treatment of fluid retention, especially that associated with heart, liver, and kidney disorders.
[Alternative name: 2,3-dichloro-4-(2-ethylacryloyl) phenoxyacetic acid; chem. formula: C_13H_12Cl_2O_4.]

– origin 1960s: ethacrynic from elements of the systematic name (see above).

ethambutol /eˈTHambyəˌtôl, -ˌtäl/

I. noun

[Medicine] a synthetic compound with bacteriostatic properties, used in combination with other drugs in the treatment of tuberculosis.
[A derivative of ethylenediamine; chem. formula: C_10H_24N_2O_2.]

– origin 1960s: from eth(yl) + am(ine) + but(an)ol.

ethanal /ˈeTHəˌnäl/

I. noun

systematic chemical name for acetaldehyde.

– origin late 19th cent.: blend of ethane and aldehyde.

ethanamide /eˈTHanəˌmīd/

noun

systematic chemical name for acetamide.

ethane /ˈeTHˌān/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a colorless, odorless, flammable gas that is a constituent of petroleum and natural gas. It is the second member of the alkane series.
[Chem. formula: C_2H_6.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from ether + -ane^2.

ethanediol /ˌeTHānˈdīôl/

noun

systematic chemical name for ethylene glycol.

ethanoic acid /ˌeTHəˌnō-ik ˈasid/

noun

systematic chemical name for acetic acid.

ethanol /ˈeTHənōl ˈeTHəˌnôl/

I. noun

a colorless volatile flammable liquid which is produced by the natural fermentation of sugars; alcohol

• yeast used in making beer metabolizes the sugar into ethanol

• we tested cars using ethanol mixed with gasoline.

– origin early 20th cent.: blend of ethane and alcohol.

ethchlorvynol /ˌeTHklôrˈvīnôl ˌeTHklôrˈvīnl/

noun

another name for Placidyl.

Ethelred /ˈeTHəlˌred/

I. the name of two English kings.

II. Ethelred I (died 871), king of Wessex and Kent 865–871; elder brother of Alfred. His reign was marked by the continuing struggle against the invading Danes.

III. Ethelred II (c. 969–1016), king of England 978–1016; known as Ethelred the Unready. His inability to confront the Danes after he succeeded his murdered half-brother St. Edward the Martyr led to his payment of tribute to prevent their attacks.
[Unready, later form of obsolete unredy ‘badly advised.’]

ethene /ˈeTHēn/

I. noun

systematic chemical name for ethylene.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from ether + -ene.

ether /ˈēTHər/

I. noun

1. [Chemistry] a pleasant-smelling, colorless, volatile liquid that is highly flammable. It is used as an anesthetic and as a solvent or intermediate in industrial processes.
[Alternative names: diethyl ether, ethoxyethane; chem. formula: C_2H_5OC_2H_5.]

2. any organic compound with a structure similar to ether, having an oxygen atom linking two alkyl or other organic groups

• methyl t -butyl ether.

3. (also aether) — ‹chiefly literary› the clear sky; the upper regions of air beyond the clouds

• nasty gases and smoke disperse into the ether.

4. (the ether) — ‹informal› air regarded as a medium for radio

• choral evensong still wafts across the ether.

5. (also aether) — [Physics] ‹archaic› a very rarefied and highly elastic substance formerly believed to permeate all space, including the interstices between the particles of matter, and to be the medium whose vibrations constituted light and other electromagnetic radiation.

II. derivatives

etheric /iˈTHerik, iˈTHi(ə)rik /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, or via Latin from Greek aithēr ‘upper air,’ from the base of aithein ‘burn, shine.’ Originally the word denoted a substance believed to occupy space beyond the sphere of the moon. Sense 3 arose in the mid 17th cent. and sense 1 in the mid 18th cent.

ethereal /əˈTHirēəl/

I. adjective

1. extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world

• her ethereal beauty

• a singer who has a weirdly ethereal voice.

2. heavenly or spiritual

• ethereal, otherworldly visions.

3. [Chemistry] (of a solution) having diethyl ether as a solvent.

II. derivatives

1. ethereality /əˌTHirēəˈalədē ēˌTHirēəˈalədē eˌTHirēəˈalədē /

noun

2. etherealize /əˈTHirēəˌlīz ēˈTHirēəˌlīz eˈTHirēəˌlīz /

verb

3. ethereally

adverb

– origin early 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek aitherios (from aithēr ‘ether’) + -al.

etherize /ˈēTHəˌrīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹chiefly historical› anesthetize (a person or animal) with ether.

II. derivatives

etherization /ˌēTH(ə)rəˈzāSH(ə)n ˌēTHəˌrīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

Ethernet /ˈēTHərˌnet/

I. noun

1. [Computing] a system for connecting a number of computer systems to form a local area network, with protocols to control the passing of information and to avoid simultaneous transmission by two or more systems.

2. [Computing] a network using this.

– origin 1970s: blend of ether and network.

ethic /ˈeTHik/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. a set of moral principles, especially ones relating to or affirming a specified group, field, or form of conduct

• the puritan ethic was being replaced by the hedonist ethic.

II. adjective

‹rare› of or relating to moral principles or the branch of knowledge dealing with these.

– origin late Middle English (denoting ethics or moral philosophy; also used attributively): from Old French éthique, from Latin ethice, from Greek (hē) ēthikē (tekhnē) ‘(the science of) morals,’ based on ēthos (see ethos).

ethical /ˈeTHək(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to moral principles or the branch of knowledge dealing with these

• ethical issues in nursing

• ethical churchgoing men.

2. morally good or correct

• can a profitable business be ethical?

3. avoiding activities or organizations that do harm to people or the environment

• an expert on ethical investment

• switching to more ethical products

• adopt ethical shopping habits

• ethical holidays.

4. [attrib.] — (of a medicine) legally available only on a doctor's prescription and usually not advertised to the general public.

II. derivatives

ethicality /ˌeTHəˈkalədē /

noun

ethical hacker

I. noun

a person who hacks into a computer network in order to test or evaluate its security, rather than with malicious or criminal intent

• ethical hackers are becoming a mainstay of the effort to make corporate networks more secure.

II. derivatives

ethical hacking

noun

ethically /ˈeTHəklē/

adverb

1. in a way that relates to moral principles

• to be spiritual may be interpreted both ethically and religiously

• [as submodifier] numerous companies with ethically questionable practices.

2. in a morally good or correct manner

• we will act ethically in our relations with the public.

3. in a way that avoids activities or organizations that do harm to people or the environment

• she was keen to see her money invested ethically

• ethically produced T-shirts.

ethics /ˈeTHiks/

I. plural noun

1. [usu. treated as pl.] — moral principles that govern a person's or group's behavior

• Judeo-Christian ethics.

2. the moral correctness of specified conduct

• the ethics of euthanasia.

3. [usu. treated as sing.] — the branch of knowledge that deals with moral principles.
Schools of ethics in Western philosophy can be divided, very roughly, into three sorts. The first, drawing on the work of Aristotle, holds that the virtues (such as justice, charity, and generosity) are dispositions to act in ways that benefit both the person possessing them and that person's society. The second, defended particularly by Kant, makes the concept of duty central to morality: humans are bound, from a knowledge of their duty as rational beings, to obey the categorical imperative to respect other rational beings. Thirdly, utilitarianism asserts that the guiding principle of conduct should be the greatest happiness or benefit of the greatest number.

II. derivatives

ethicist /ˈeTHisist /

noun

Ethiopia /ˌēTHēˈōpēə/

I. a country in northeastern Africa, on the Red Sea; pop. 85,237,300 (est. 2009); capital, Addis Ababa; languages, Amharic (official) and several other Afro-Asiatic languages.
Former name Abyssinia.

Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, having a recorded civilization that dates from the 2nd millennium BC. Little known to Europeans until the late 19th century, it was invaded and conquered by Italy in 1935. The emperor Haile Selassie was restored by the British in 1941 and ruled until he was overthrown in a Marxist coup in 1974. The subsequent period was marked by civil war, fighting against separatist guerrillas in Eritrea and Tigray, and repeated famines; after the fall of the government in 1991, a multiparty system was adopted, and elections were held in 1995. / – origin via Latin from Greek Aethiops, from aithein ‘to burn’ + ōps ‘the face.’

Ethiopian /ˌēTHēˈōpēən/

I. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Ethiopia, or a person of Ethiopian descent.

2. ‹archaic› a black person.

II. adjective

1. of or relating to Ethiopia or its people.

2. [Zoology] of, relating to, or denoting a zoogeographical region comprising Africa south of the Sahara, together with the tropical part of the Arabian peninsula and (usually) Madagascar. Distinctive animals include the giraffes, hippopotamuses, aardvark, elephant shrews, tenrecs, and lemurs.
Also called Afrotropical.

Ethiopic /ˌēTHēˈäpik ˌēTHēˈōpik/

I. noun

another term for Ge'ez.

II. adjective

of, in, or relating to Ge'ez.

– origin mid 17th cent. (as an adjective): via Latin from Greek aithiopikos, from Aethiops (see Ethiopia).

ethmoid /ˈeTHmoid / ethmoid bone

I. noun

[Anatomy] a square bone at the root of the nose, forming part of the cranium, and having many perforations through which the olfactory nerves pass to the nose.

II. derivatives

ethmoidal /ˌeTHˈmoidl /

adjective

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Greek ēthmoeidēs, from ēthmos ‘a sieve.’

ethnic /ˈeTHnik/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to a population subgroup (within a larger or dominant national or cultural group) with a common national or cultural tradition

• leaders of ethnic communities.

2. of or relating to national and cultural origins

• two playwrights of different ethnic origins.

3. denoting origin by birth or descent rather than by present nationality

• ethnic Albanians in Kosovo.

4. characteristic of or belonging to a non-Western cultural tradition

• ethnic dishes

• folk and ethnic music.

5. ‹archaic› neither Christian nor Jewish; pagan or heathen.

II. noun

‹dated› ‹offensive› a member of an ethnic minority.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a person not of the Christian or Jewish faith): via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek ethnikos ‘heathen,’ from ethnos ‘nation.’ Current senses date from the 19th cent.

ethnically /ˈeTHnəklē/

adverb

with reference to birth, origins, or cultural background

• a racially and ethnically diverse society.

ethnic cleansing /ˈeTHnik klenziNG/

noun

the mass expulsion or killing of members of an unwanted ethnic or religious group in a society.

ethnic group

noun

a community or population made up of people who share a common cultural background or descent

• the largest of six ethnic groups inhabiting the area of northern Sumatra.

ethnicity /eTHˈnisədē/

noun

the fact or state of belonging to a social group that has a common national or cultural tradition

• the interrelationship between gender, ethnicity, and class

• the diverse experience of women of different ethnicities.

ethnic minority /ˈeTHnik məˈnôrədē/

noun

a group that has different national or cultural traditions from the main population.

ethno-

I. combining form

ethnic; ethnological

• ethnocentric

• ethnology.

– origin from Greek ethnos ‘nation.’

ethnobotany /ˌeTHnōˈbät(ə)nē/

I. noun

the scientific study of the traditional knowledge and customs of a people concerning plants and their medical, religious, and other uses.

II. derivatives

1. ethnobotanic /-bəˈtanik /

adjective

2. ethnobotanical /-bəˈtanikəl /

adjective

3. ethnobotanist /-ˈbätn-ist /

noun

ethnocentric /ˌeTHnōˈsentrik/

I. adjective

evaluating other peoples and cultures according to the standards of one's own culture.

II. derivatives

1. ethnocentrically /-(ə)lē /

adverb

2. ethnocentricity /-ˌsenˈtrisitē /

noun

ethnocentrism /ˌeTHnōˈsentrizəm/

I. noun

evaluation of other cultures according to preconceptions originating in the standards and customs of one's own culture.

II. derivatives

ethnocentrist

adjective, noun

ethnocide /ˈeTHnəˌsīd/

noun

the deliberate and systematic destruction of the culture of an ethnic group.

ethnocultural /ˌeTHnōˈkəlCH(ə)rəl/

adjective

relating to or denoting a particular ethnic group.

ethnographic /ˌeTHnəˈɡrafik / ethnographical

I. adjective

relating to the scientific description of peoples and cultures with their customs, habits, and mutual differences

• ethnographic research in European border communities.

II. derivatives

ethnographically /ˌeTHnəˈɡrafəkəl /

adverb

ethnography /eTHˈnäɡrəfē/

I. noun

the scientific description of the customs of individual peoples and cultures.

II. derivatives

ethnographer /eTHˈnäɡrəfər /

noun

ethnohistory /ˌeTHnōˈhist(ə)rē/

I. noun

the branch of anthropology concerned with the history of peoples and cultures, especially non-Western ones.

II. derivatives

1. ethnohistorian /-hiˈstôrēən /

noun

2. ethnohistoric /-hiˈstôrik, -ˈstär- /

adjective

3. ethnohistorical

adjective

4. ethnohistorically

adverb

ethnolinguistics /ˌeTHnōliNGˈɡwistiks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the branch of linguistics concerned with the relations between linguistic and cultural behavior.

II. derivatives

1. ethnolinguist /-ˈliNGɡwist /

noun

2. ethnolinguistic

adjective

ethnology /eTHˈnäləjē/

I. noun

the study of the characteristics of various peoples and the differences and relationships between them.

II. derivatives

1. ethnologic /ˌeTHnəˈläjik /

adjective

2. ethnological /ˌeTHnəˈläjək(ə)l /

adjective

3. ethnologically /ˌeTHnəˈläjik(ə)lē /

adverb

4. ethnologist /eTHˈnäləjəst /

noun

ethnomethodology /ˌeTHnōˌmeTHəˈdäləjē/

I. noun

a method of sociological analysis that examines how individuals use everyday conversation and gestures to construct a common-sense view of the world.

II. derivatives

1. ethnomethodological /-dəˈläjikəl /

adjective

2. ethnomethodologist /-jist /

noun

ethnomusicology /ˌeTHnōˌmyo͞ozəˈkäləjē/

I. noun

the study of the music of different cultures, especially non-Western ones.

II. derivatives

1. ethnomusicologic /-kəˈläjik /

adjective

2. ethnomusicological /-kəˈläjikəl /

adjective

3. ethnomusicologist /-jist /

noun

ethnoscience /ˌeTHnōˈsīəns/

noun

the study of the different ways the world is perceived and categorized in different cultures.

ethogram /ˈēTHəˌɡram/

I. noun

[Zoology] a catalog or table of all the different kinds of behavior or activity observed in an animal.

– origin 1930s: from Greek ēthos ‘nature, disposition’ + -gram^1.

ethology /ēˈTHäləjē eˈTHäləjē/

I. noun

1. the science of animal behavior.

2. the study of human behavior and social organization from a biological perspective.

II. derivatives

1. ethological /ˌēTHəˈläjək(ə)l /

adjective

2. ethologist /ēˈTHäləjəst /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: via Latin from Greek ēthologia, from ēthos (see ethos).

ethos /ˈēTHäs/

I. noun

the characteristic spirit of a culture, era, or community as manifested in its beliefs and aspirations

• a challenge to the ethos of the 1960s.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin, from Greek ēthos ‘nature, disposition,’ (plural) ‘customs.’

ethoxyethane /əˌTHäksēˈeTHān/

noun

systematic chemical name for diethyl ether (see ether (sense 1)).

ethyl /ˈeTHəl/

I. noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. [Chemistry] of or denoting the hydrocarbon radical—C_2H_5, derived from ethane and present in many organic compounds

• ethyl acetate

• an ethyl group.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from German, from Äther ‘ether’ + -yl.

ethyl acetate /ˈeTHəl ˈasəˌtāt/

noun

[Chemistry] a colorless, volatile liquid with a fruity smell, used as a plastics solvent and in flavorings and perfumes.
[Chem. formula: CH_3COOC_2H_5.]

ethyl alcohol /ˌeTHəl ˈalkəˌhôl/

noun

another term for ethanol.

ethylbenzene /ˌeTHəlˈbenˌzēn, ˌeTHəlbenˈzēn/

noun

[Chemistry] a colorless, flammable liquid hydrocarbon, used in the manufacture of styrene.
[Chem. formula: C_6H_5C_2H_5.]

ethylene /ˈeTHəˌlēn/

noun

[Chemistry] a flammable hydrocarbon gas of the alkene series, occurring in natural gas, coal gas, and crude oil and given off by ripening fruit. It is used in chemical synthesis, especially in the manufacture of polyethylene.
[Alternative name: ethene; chem. formula: C_2H_4.]

ethylenediamine /ˌeTHəlēnˈdīəmēn/

noun

[Chemistry] a viscous liquid used in making detergents and emulsifying agents.
[Chem. formula: NH_2CH_2CH_2NH_2.]

ethylene glycol

noun

[Chemistry] a colorless viscous hygroscopic liquid used as an antifreeze, in the manufacture of polyesters, and in the preservation of ancient waterlogged timbers.
[Alternative name: ethanediol; chem. formula: CH_2(OH)CH_2OH.]

ethylene oxide

noun

[Chemistry] a flammable toxic gas used as an intermediate and fumigant.
[An epoxide; chem. formula: (CH_2)2O.]

ethyne /ˈeTHīn, eˈTHīn/

noun

systematic chemical name for acetylene.

etic /ˈedik / ‹Anthropology›

I. adjective

relating to or denoting an approach to the study or description of a particular language or culture that is general, nonstructural, and objective in its perspective.
Often contrasted with emic.

II. plural noun — (etics) [treated as sing.]

1. study adopting this approach.

– origin 1950s: abstracted from phonetic.

-etic

I. suffix

forming adjectives and nouns such as pathetic, peripatetic.

– origin from Greek -ĕtikos or -ētikos.

e-ticket /ˈēˌtikit/

noun

‹trademark› a reservation for an airline flight for which the details are recorded electronically without the issuing of a paper ticket.

etiolated /ˈēdēəˌlādəd/

I. adjective

1. (of a plant) pale and drawn out due to a lack of light

• etiolated mung bean seedlings.

2. having lost vigor or substance; feeble

• a tone of etiolated nostalgia.

II. derivatives

etiolation /ˌēdēəˈlāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin late 18th cent.: from the verb etiolate (from French étioler, from Norman French étieuler ‘grow into haulm’) + -ed^2.

etiology /ˌēdēˈäləjē / ‹Brit.› aetiology

I. noun

1. [Medicine] the cause, set of causes, or manner of causation of a disease or condition

• a disease of unknown etiology

• a group of distinct diseases with different etiologies.

2. the causation of diseases and disorders as a subject of investigation.

3. the investigation or attribution of the cause or reason for something, often expressed in terms of historical or mythical explanation.

II. derivatives

1. etiologic /ˌētēəˈläjik /

adjective

2. etiological /ˌēdēəˈläjək(ə)l /

adjective

3. etiologically /ˌētēəˈläjik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin mid 16th cent.: via medieval Latin from Greek aitiologia, from aitia ‘a cause’ + -logia (see -logy).

etiquette /ˈedəkət ˈedəˌket/

I. noun

the customary code of polite behavior in society or among members of a particular profession or group.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French étiquette ‘list of ceremonial observances of a court,’ also ‘label, etiquette,’ from Old French estiquette (see ticket).

Etna, Mount /ˈetnə/

a volcano in eastern Sicily that rises to 10,902 feet (3,323 m). It is the highest and most active volcano in Europe.

ETO

abbreviation

(in World War II) European Theater of Operations.

Eton /ˈētn / Eton College

a boys' private school in southern England, on the Thames River opposite Windsor, founded in 1440 by Henry VI to prepare scholars for King's College, Cambridge.

Eton collar /ˌētn ˈkälər/

noun

a broad, stiff white collar worn outside the coat collar, especially with an Eton jacket.

Etonian /ēˈtōnēən/

I. noun

a past or present member of Eton College

• an Old Etonian.

II. adjective

relating to or typical of Eton College.

Eton jacket /ˈētn ˌjakət/

noun

a short jacket reaching only to the waist, typically black and having a point at the back, formerly worn by students at Eton College.

Etosha Pan /ēˈtōSHə ˈpan/

a depression in the plateau in northern Namibia that is filled with salt water and has no outlets. It covers an area of 1,854 square miles (4,800 sq km).

étouffée /ˌāto͞oˈfā/

noun

(US) a spicy Cajun stew made with vegetables and seafood.

etrier /ˈātrēˌā, ˌātrēˈā/

I. noun

[Climbing] a short rope ladder with a few rungs of wood or metal.

– origin 1950s: from French étrier ‘stirrup.’

Etruria /əˈtro͝orēə/

an ancient region in western Italy, between the Arno and Tiber rivers, corresponding approximately to modern Tuscany and parts of Umbria. It was the center of the Etruscan civilization.

Etrurian /əˈtro͝orēən/

noun, adjective

another term for Etruscan.

Etruscan /əˈtrəskən/

I. noun

1. a native of ancient Etruria.

2. the language of ancient Etruria, of unknown affinity, written in an alphabet derived from Greek.

II. adjective

relating to ancient Etruria, its people, or their language.
The Etruscan civilization was at its height c. 500 BC and was an important influence on the Romans, who subdued the Etruscans by the end of the 3rd century BC.

– origin from Latin Etruscus + -an.

et seq. et seqq.

I. adverb

and what follows (used in page references)

• see volume 35, p. 329 et seq.

– origin from Latin et sequens ‘and the following,’ or from et sequentes, et sequentia ‘and the following things.’

-ette

I. suffix

1. forming nouns:

2. denoting relatively small size

• kitchenette.

3. denoting an imitation or substitute

• flannelette.

4. denoting female gender

• suffragette.

– origin from Old French -ette, feminine of -et^1. / usage: The use of -ette as a feminine suffix for forming new words is relatively recent: it was first recorded in the word suffragette at the beginning of the 20th century and has since been used to form only a handful of well-established words, including usherette and drum majorette. In the modern context, where the tendency is to use gender-neutral words, the suffix -ette is not very productive and new words formed using it tend to be restricted to the deliberately flippant or humorous, as, for example, bimbette and punkette.

étude /āˈt(y)o͞od/

I. noun

a short musical composition, typically for one instrument, designed as an exercise to improve the technique or demonstrate the skill of the player.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, literally ‘study.’

etui /āˈtwē/

I. noun

‹dated› a small ornamental case for holding needles, cosmetics, and other articles.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French étui, from Old French estui ‘prison,’ from estuier ‘shut up, keep.’ Compare with tweezers.

-etum

I. suffix

(forming nouns) denoting a collection or plantation of trees or other plants

• arboretum

• pinetum.

– origin from Latin.

et ux.

I. adverb

[Law] ‹chiefly historical› and wife (used to indicate a couple comprising a man and his otherwise unidentified wife).

– origin from Latin et uxor ‘and wife.’

ETV

abbreviation

educational television.

etym.

abbreviation

1. etymological.

2. etymology.

etymological /ˌedəməˈläjəkəl/

I. adjective

relating to the origin and historical development of words and their meanings

• an etymological dictionary

• the etymological roots of the word are of interest.

II. derivatives

etymologically /ˌedəməˈläjəklē /

adverb

etymologize /ˌedəˈmäləjīz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be etymologized)

1. give or trace the etymology of (a word).

– origin mid 16th cent.: from medieval Latin etymologizare, from Latin etymologia (see etymology).

etymology /ˌedəˈmäləjē/

I. noun

1. the study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history.

2. the origin of a word and the historical development of its meaning.

II. derivatives

etymologist /ˌedəˈmäləjəst /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French ethimologie, via Latin from Greek etumologia, from etumologos ‘student of etymology,’ from etumon, neuter singular of etumos ‘true.’

etymon /ˈedəˌmän/

I. noun

a word or morpheme from which a later word is derived.

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting the original form of a word): via Latin from Greek etumon ‘true thing’ (see etymology).

Eu

symbol

the chemical element europium.

EU /ēːˈyo͞oː/

abbreviation

European Union.

eu-

I. combining form

good; well; easily; normal

• eupeptic

• euphony.

– origin from Greek eu ‘well,’ from eus ‘good.’

eubacterium /ˌyo͞obakˈtirēəm/

I. noun

1. a bacterium of a large group typically having simple cells with rigid cell walls and often flagella for movement. The group comprises the “true” bacteria and cyanobacteria, as distinct from archaebacteria.
[Kingdom Eubacteria; this group is sometimes taken to exclude nonrigid forms such as spirochetes and mycoplasmas.]

2. a bacterium found mainly in the intestines of vertebrates and in the soil.
[Genus Eubacterium; Gram-positive, anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria.]

II. derivatives

eubacterial /-ti(ə)rēəl /

adjective

Euboea /yo͞oˈbēə/

an island in Greece in the western Aegean Sea that is separated from the mainland by a narrow channel at Chalcis, which is its capital.
Greek name Évvoia.

eucalyptus /ˌyo͞okəˈliptəs / eucalypt

I. noun

1. a fast-growing evergreen Australasian tree that has been widely introduced elsewhere. It is valued for its timber, oil, gum, and resin, and as an ornamental tree.
Also called gum^1, gum tree. [Genus Eucalyptus, family Myrtaceae: numerous species.]

2. (also eucalyptus oil) — the oil from eucalyptus leaves, chiefly used for its medicinal properties.

– origin modern Latin, from Greek eu ‘well’ + kaluptos ‘covered’ (from kaluptein ‘to cover’), because the unopened flower is protected by a cap.

eucatastrophe /ˌyo͞okəˈtastrəfē/

I. noun

‹rare› a sudden and favorable resolution of events in a story; a happy ending.

– origin mid 20th cent.: said to have been coined by J. R. R. Tolkien.

Eucharist /ˈyo͞ok(ə)rəst/

I. noun

1. the Christian ceremony commemorating the Last Supper, in which bread and wine are consecrated and consumed.

2. the consecrated elements, especially the bread.

The bread and wine are referred to as the body and blood of Christ, though much theological controversy has focused on how substantially or symbolically this is to be interpreted. The service of worship is also called Holy Communion or (chiefly in the Protestant tradition) the Lord's Supper or (chiefly in the Catholic tradition) the Mass or (chiefly in the Eastern Orthodox tradition) the Divine Liturgy. See also consubstantiation, transubstantiation.

II. derivatives

1. Eucharistic /ˌyo͞okəˈristik /

adjective

2. Eucharistical /ˌyo͞okəˈristək(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French eucariste, based on ecclesiastical Greek eukharistia ‘thanksgiving,’ from Greek eukharistos ‘grateful,’ from eu ‘well’ + kharizesthai ‘offer graciously’ (from kharis ‘grace’).

euchre /ˈyo͞okər/

I. noun

a card game for two to four players, usually played with the thirty-two highest cards, the aim being to win at least three of the five tricks played.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (in the card game euchre) gain the advantage over (another player) by preventing them from taking three tricks.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› deceive, outwit, or cheat (someone)

• the merchant can be euchred out of his caftan by hard bargaining.

– origin early 19th cent.: from German dialect Jucker(spiel).

euchromatin /yo͞oˈkrōməˌtin/

I. noun

[Genetics] chromosome material that does not stain strongly except during cell division. It represents the major genes and is involved in transcription.
Compare with heterochromatin.

II. derivatives

euchromatic /ˌyo͞okrəˈmatik /

adjective

Euclid^1 /ˈyo͞oklid/

a city in northeastern Ohio, northeast of Cleveland; pop. 47,415 (est. 2008).

Euclid^2 /ˈyo͞oklid/

(c. 300 BC), Greek mathematician. His Elements of Geometry, which covered plane geometry, the theory of numbers, irrationals, and solid geometry, was the standard work until other kinds of geometry were discovered in the 19th century.

Euclidean /yo͞oˈklidēən/

adjective

1. of or relating to Euclid, in particular

2. of or denoting the system of geometry based on the work of Euclid and corresponding to the geometry of ordinary experience.

3. of such a nature that the postulates of Euclidean geometry are valid.
Compare with non-Euclidean.

eucrite /ˈyo͞okrīt/

I. noun

1. [Geology] a highly basic form of gabbro containing anorthite or bytownite with augite.

2. [Geology] a stony meteorite that contains no chondrules and consists mainly of anorthite and augite.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek eukritos ‘easily discerned,’ from eu- ‘well’ + kritos ‘separated’ (from krinein ‘to separate’).

eucryphia /yo͞oˈkrifēə/

I. noun

a shrub or small tree with glossy dark green leaves and large white flowers, native to Australia and South America.
[Genus Eucryphia, family Eucryphiaceae.]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek eu ‘well’ + -kruphos ‘hidden’ (with reference to its joined sepals).

eudaemonic /ˌyo͞odəˈmänik / eudemonic

I. adjective

‹formal› conducive to happiness.

II. derivatives

eudaemonia /-ˈmōnēə /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek eudaimonikos, from eudaimōn ‘happy’ (see eudaemonism).

eudaemonism /yo͞oˈdēməˌnizəm / eudemonism

I. noun

a system of ethics that bases moral value on the likelihood that good actions will produce happiness.

II. derivatives

1. eudaemonist

noun

2. eudaemonistic /-ˌdēməˈnistik /

adjective

– origin early 19th cent.: from Greek eudaimonismos ‘system of happiness,’ from eudaimōn ‘happy,’ from eu ‘well’ + daimōn ‘guardian spirit.’

eudiometer /ˌyo͞odēˈämədər/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a graduated glass tube in which mixtures of gases can be made to react by an electric spark, used to measure changes in volume of gases during chemical reactions.

II. derivatives

1. eudiometric /ˌyo͞odēəˈmetrik /

adjective

2. eudiometrical /ˌyo͞odēəˈmetrikəl /

adjective

3. eudiometry /ˌyo͞odēˈämətrē /

noun

– origin late 18th cent. (denoting an instrument used to measure amounts of oxygen, thought to be greater in fine weather): from Greek eudios ‘clear, fine’ (weather), from eu ‘well’ + dios ‘heavenly.’

Eugene /yo͞oˈjēn/

a city in west central Oregon, on the Willamette River, home to the University of Oregon; pop. 150,104 (est. 2008).

eugenics /yo͞oˈjeniks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the science of improving a human population by controlled breeding to increase the occurrence of desirable heritable characteristics. Developed largely by Francis Galton as a method of improving the human race, it fell into disfavor only after the perversion of its doctrines by the Nazis.

II. derivatives

1. eugenic /yo͞oˈjenik /

adjective

2. eugenically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

3. eugenicist /yo͞oˈjenəsəst /

noun, adjective

4. eugenist /-ˈjenist /

noun, adjective

Eugénie /yo͞oˌZHāˈnē/

(1826–1920), Spanish empress of France 1853–70 and wife of Napoleon III; born Eugénia María de Montijo de Guzmán. She was an important influence on her husband's foreign policy.

eugenol /ˈyo͞ojənôl ˈyo͞ojənäl/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a colorless or pale yellow liquid compound present in oil of cloves and other essential oils and used in perfumery.
[Alternative name: 4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol; chem. formula: C_10H_12O_2.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from Eugenia (genus name of the tree from which oil of cloves is obtained, named in honor of Prince Eugene of Savoy (1663–1736)) + -ol.

euglena /yo͞oˈɡlēnə/

I. noun

[Biology] a green, single-celled, freshwater organism with a flagellum, sometimes forming a green scum on stagnant water.
[Genus Euglena, division Euglenophyta (or phylum Euglenophyta, kingdom Protista).]

– origin modern Latin, from eu- ‘well’ + Greek glēnē ‘eyeball, socket of joint.’

euglenoid /yo͞oˈɡlēnoid / ‹Biology›

I. noun

a flagellated single-celled organism of a group that comprises euglena and its relatives.
[Division (or phylum) Euglenophyta.]

II. adjective

1. of or relating to organisms of the euglenoid group.

2. (of cell locomotion) achieved by peristaltic waves that pass along the cell, characteristic of the euglenoids.

euhedral /yo͞oˈhēdrəl/

adjective

[Geology] (of a mineral crystal in a rock) bounded by faces corresponding to its regular crystal form unconstrained by adjacent minerals.

eukaryote /yo͞oˈkerēōt / eucaryote

I. noun

[Biology] an organism consisting of a cell or cells in which the genetic material is DNA in the form of chromosomes contained within a distinct nucleus. Eukaryotes include all living organisms other than the eubacteria and archaebacteria.
Compare with prokaryote.

II. derivatives

eukaryotic /-ˌkarēˈätik /

adjective

– origin 1960s: from eu- ‘easily (formed)’ + karyo- ‘kernel’ + -ote as in zygote.

EULA /ˈyo͞olə/

abbreviation

end user license agreement.

eulachon /ˈyo͞oləˌkän/

I. noun

another term for candlefish.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Lower Chinook ulâkân.

Euler, Leonhard /ˈoilər/

(1707–83), Swiss mathematician. He attempted to elucidate the nature of functions, and his study of infinite series led his successors, notably Neils Abel and Augustin Cauchy, to introduce ideas of convergence and rigorous argument into mathematics.

Euler, Ulf von

(1905–83), Swedish physiologist; full name Ulf Svante von Euler; son of Hans Euler-Chelpin. He was the first to discover a prostaglandin, which he isolated from semen. Euler also identified norepinephrine as the principal chemical neurotransmitter of the sympathetic nervous system. He shared the 1970 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine with Bernard Katz (1911–2003) and Julius Axelrod (1912–2004).

Euler-Chelpin, Hans von /ˌoilər ˈkelpin/

(1873–1964), Swedish biochemist; born in Germany; full name Hans Karl August Simon von Euler-Chelpin. He worked mainly on enzymes and vitamins and explained the role of enzymes in the alcoholic fermentation of sugar. He shared the 1929 Nobel Prize for Chemistry with Arthur Harden (1865–1940).

Euler's constant ‹Mathematics›

I. a constant used in numerical analysis, approximately equal to 0.577216. It represents the limit of the series 1 + ½ + ⅓ + ¼ + …1/n − (natural logarithm of n), as n tends to infinity. It is not known whether this is a rational number or not.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after L. Euler (see Euler, Leonhard).

Euler's formula

the geometric formula V − E + F = 2, where V, E, and F are the numbers of vertices, edges, and faces of any simple convex polyhedron or of an equivalent topological graph.

eulogium /yo͞oˈlōjēəm/

I. noun

another term for eulogy.

– origin early 17th cent.: from medieval Latin, ‘praise.’

eulogize /ˈyo͞oləˌjīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. praise highly in speech or writing

• contemporaries eulogized him as a great US senator

• a plaque that eulogizes the workers.

II. derivatives

1. eulogist /ˈyo͞oləjəst /

noun

2. eulogistic /ˌyo͞oləˈjistik /

adjective

3. eulogistically /ˈyo͞oləˈjistik(ə)lē /

adverb

eulogy /ˈyo͞oləjē/

I. noun

a speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly, typically someone who has just died

• his good friend delivered a brief eulogy.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘high praise’): from medieval Latin eulogium, eulogia (from Greek eulogia ‘praise’), apparently influenced by Latin elogium ‘inscription on a tomb’ (from Greek elegia ‘elegy’). The current sense dates from the late 16th cent.

Eumenides /yo͞oˈmenəˌdēz / ‹Greek Mythology›

I. a name given to the Furies. The Eumenides probably originated as well-disposed deities of fertility, whose name was given to the Furies either by confusion or euphemistically.

– origin via Latin from Greek, from eumenēs ‘well disposed,’ from eu ‘well’ + menos ‘spirit.’

eunuch /ˈyo͞onək/

I. noun

1. a man who has been castrated, especially (in the past) one employed to guard the women's living areas at an oriental court.

2. an ineffectual person

• a nation of political eunuchs.

– origin Old English, via Latin from Greek eunoukhos, literally ‘bedroom guard,’ from eunē ‘bed’ + a second element related to ekhein ‘to hold.’

eunuchoid /ˈyo͞onəˌkoid/

I. adjective

[chiefly Medicine] resembling a eunuch, typically in having reduced or indeterminate sexual characteristics.

II. derivatives

eunuchoidism /-izəm /

noun

euonymus /yo͞oˈänəməs/

I. noun

a shrub or small tree that is widely cultivated for its autumn colors and bright fruit.
[Genus Euonymus, family Celastraceae: numerous species, including the spindle tree.]

– origin modern Latin (named by Linnaeus), from Latin euonymos, from Greek euōnumos ‘having an auspicious or honored name,’ from eus ‘good’ + onoma ‘name.’

eupeptic /yo͞oˈpeptik/

I. adjective

of or having good digestion or a consequent air of healthy good spirits.

– origin late 17th cent. (in the sense ‘helping digestion’): from Greek eupeptos, from eu ‘well, easily’ + peptein ‘to digest.’

euphausiid /yo͞oˈfôzēid/

I. noun

[Zoology] a shrimplike, planktonic marine crustacean of an order that includes krill. Many kinds are luminescent.
[Order Euphausiaceae, subclass Malacostraca.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Euphausia (genus name from Greek eu ‘well’ + phainein ‘to show’ + ousia ‘substance’) + -id^2.

euphemism /ˈyo͞ofəˌmizəm/

I. noun

a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing

• “downsizing” as a euphemism for cuts.

The opposite of dysphemism.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Greek euphēmismos, from euphēmizein ‘use auspicious words,’ from eu ‘well’ + phēmē ‘speaking.’

euphemistic /ˌyo͞ofəˈmistik/

adjective

using or of the nature of a euphemism

• the euphemistic terms she uses to describe her relationships.

euphemistically /ˌyo͞ofəˈmistəklē/

adverb

by means of a mild or indirect word or expression instead of one considered too harsh or blunt

• punitive legislation euphemistically called “welfare reform”

euphemize /ˈyo͞ofəˌmīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. refer to (something unpleasant or embarrassing) by means of a euphemism.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek euphēmizein ‘use auspicious words’ (see euphemism).

euphonious /yo͞oˈfōnēəs/

I. adjective

(of sound, especially speech) pleasing to the ear

• this successful candidate delivers a stream of fine, euphonious phrases.

II. derivatives

euphoniously

adverb

euphonium /yo͞oˈfōnēəm/

I. noun

a valved brass musical instrument resembling a small tuba of tenor pitch, played mainly in military and brass bands.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek euphōnos ‘having a pleasing sound’ + -ium.

euphony /ˈyo͞ofənē/

I. noun

1. the quality of being pleasing to the ear, especially through a harmonious combination of words.

2. the tendency to make phonetic change for ease of pronunciation.

II. derivatives

1. euphonic /yo͞oˈfänik /

adjective

2. euphonize /ˈyo͞ofəˌnīz /

verb

– origin late Middle English: from French euphonie, via late Latin from Greek euphōnia, from euphōnos ‘well sounding’ (based on phōnē ‘sound’).

euphorbia /yo͞oˈfôrbēə/

I. noun

a plant of a genus that comprises the spurges.
[Genus Euphorbia, family Euphorbiaceae.]

– origin late Middle English: from Latin euphorbea, named after Euphorbus, Greek physician to the reputed discoverer of the plant, Juba II of Mauretania (1st cent. BC).

euphoria /yo͞oˈfôrēə/

I. noun

a feeling or state of intense excitement and happiness

• the euphoria of success will fuel your desire to continue training.

– origin late 17th cent. (denoting well-being produced in a sick person by the use of drugs): modern Latin, from Greek, from euphoros ‘borne well, healthy,’ from eu ‘well’ + pherein ‘to bear.’

euphoriant /yo͞oˈfôrēənt/

I. adjective

(chiefly of a drug) producing a feeling of euphoria.

II. noun

a euphoriant drug.

euphoric /yo͞oˈfôrik yo͞oˈfärik/

I. adjective

characterized by or feeling intense excitement and happiness

• a euphoric sense of freedom.

II. derivatives

euphorically /yo͞oˈfôrik(ə)lē, -ˈfär- /

adverb

euphrasia /yo͞oˈfrāZHə/

I. noun

1. a plant of the genus Euphrasia in the figwort family, especially eyebright.

2. a preparation of eyebright used in herbal medicine and homeopathy, especially for treating eye problems.

– origin early 18th cent.: via medieval Latin from Greek, literally ‘cheerfulness.’

Euphrates /yo͞oˈfrādēz/

a river of southwestern Asia that rises in the mountains of eastern Turkey and flows for 1,700 miles (2,736 km) through Syria and Iraq to join the Tigris River to form the Shatt al-Arab waterway.

euphuism /ˈyo͞ofyəˌwizəm/

I. noun

‹formal› an artificial, highly elaborate way of writing or speaking.

II. derivatives

1. euphuist /ˈyo͞ofyəˌwist /

noun

2. euphuistic /ˌyo͞ofyəˈwistik /

adjective

3. euphuistically /ˌyo͞ofyəˈwistik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin late 16th cent.: from Euphues, the name of a character in John Lyly's prose romance of the same name (1578–80), from Greek euphuēs ‘well endowed by nature,’ from eu ‘well’ + the base of phuē ‘growth.’

euploid /ˈyo͞oploid/

I. adjective

[Biology] (of a nucleus, cell, or organism) having an exact multiple of the haploid number of chromosomes.

– origin from eu- + -ploid.

Eurasia /yo͝oˈrāZHə/

a term used to describe the combined continental landmass of Europe and Asia.

Eurasian /ˌyo͝orˈāZH(ə)n/

I. adjective

1. of mixed European (or European-American) and Asian parentage.

2. of or relating to Eurasia.

II. noun

a person of mixed European (or European-American) and Asian parentage.

usage: In the 19th century, the word Eurasian was normally used to refer to a person of mixed British and Indian parentage. In its modern uses, however, the -asian part of the term more often implies Southeast Asian, and Eurasian is often used as a synonym for Amerasian.

eureka /yo͞oˈrēkə yəˈrēkə/

I. exclamation

a cry of joy or satisfaction when one finds or discovers something.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Greek heurēka ‘I have found it’ (from heuriskein ‘find’), said to have been uttered by Archimedes when he hit upon a method of determining the purity of gold. The noun dates from the early 20th cent.

Eureka /yo͝oˈrēkə, yə-/

a port city in northwestern California, on Humboldt Bay off the Pacific Ocean, a noted lumbering center; pop. 25,300 (est. 2008).

eurhythmy

noun

variant spelling of eurythmy.

EURIBOR /ˈyəribôr ˈyo͞oribôr/

abbreviation

‹trademark› Euro interbank offered rate, the basic rate of interest used in lending between banks on the European Union interbank market and also used as a reference for setting the interest rate on other loans.

Euripides /yəˈripədēz/

(480–c. 406 BC), Greek playwright. His 19 surviving plays show important innovations in the handling of traditional myths, such as the introduction of realism, an interest in feminine psychology, and the portrayal of abnormal and irrational states of mind. Notable works: Medea, Hippolytus, Electra, Trojan Women, and Bacchae.

euro^1 /ˈyo͝orō/

noun

the single European currency, which replaced the national currencies of France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Luxembourg, Austria, Finland, the Republic of Ireland, Belgium, and the Netherlands in 2002. Seventeen member states of the European Union now use the euro.

euro^2 /ˈyərō/

I. noun

the common wallaroo (see wallaroo).

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Adnyamadhanha yuru.

Euro /ˈyo͝orō/

adjective

‹informal› European, especially concerned with the European Union

• he voted with the government in the Euro debate.

Euro-

combining form

1. European; European and …

• Euro-American.

2. relating to Europe or the European Union

• Eurocommunism

• a Euro-MP.

euro area

noun — (the euro area)

1. the member states of the European Union whose currency is the euro

• concerns about rising prices in the euro area.

Eurobond /ˈyərəˌbänd ˈyərōbänd ˈyo͞orōˌbänd/

noun

an international bond issued in Europe or elsewhere outside the country in whose currency its value is stated (usually the US or Japan).

Euro-Canadian

I. adjective

relating to Canadians of European origin or descent

• the Euro-Canadian media endorse the concept of government by majority rule

• conflicts that arise when Aboriginal and Euro-Canadian histories intersect.

II. noun

a Canadian of European origin or descent

• the resource extraction economy reflects the values and beliefs of the Euro-Canadians of the North.

Eurocentric /ˌyərōˈsentrik ˌyo͝orōˈsentrik/

I. adjective

focusing on European culture or history to the exclusion of a wider view of the world; implicitly regarding European culture as preeminent.

II. derivatives

1. Eurocentricity /-ˌsenˈtrisitē /

noun

2. Eurocentrism /ˌyərōˈsenˌtrizəm ˌyo͞orōˈsenˌtrizəm /

noun

Eurocheque /ˈyərəˌCHek ˈyərōˌCHek ˈyo͞orōˌCHek/

noun

a check issued under an arrangement between European banks that enables account-holders from one country to use their checks in another.

Eurocommunism /ˌyərōˈkämyənizəm ˌyo͞orōˈkämyənizəm/

I. noun

a political system advocated by some communist parties in western European countries, stressing independence from the former Soviet Communist Party and preservation of many elements of Western liberal democracy.

II. derivatives

Eurocommunist

adjective, noun

Eurocrat /ˈyo͝orəˌkrat/

noun

‹informal› ‹chiefly derogatory› a bureaucrat in the administration of the European Union.

eurocreep /ˈyərōˌkrēp, ˈyo͝orō- / Eurocreep

noun

‹informal› the gradual acceptance of the euro in European Union countries that have not yet officially adopted it as their national currency.

Eurocurrency /ˈyərōkərənsē/

noun

1. a form of money held or traded outside the country in whose currency its value is stated (originally US dollars held in Europe).

2. [in sing.] — a single currency for use by the member states of the European Union.

Eurodollar /ˈyo͝orōˌdälər/

noun

a US dollar deposit held in Europe or elsewhere outside the US.

euroland /ˈyo͝orōland/

another term for eurozone.

Euromarket /ˈyərōmärkət ˈyo͞orōˌmärkət/

noun

1. a financial market that deals with Eurocurrencies.

2. the European Union regarded as a single commercial or financial market.

Europa /yo͝oˈrōpə/

I. [Greek Mythology] a princess of Tyre who was courted by Zeus in the form of a bull. She was carried off by him to Crete, where she bore him three sons (Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Sarpedon).

II. [Astronomy] one of the Galilean moons of Jupiter, the sixth closest satellite to the planet, having a network of dark lines on a bright icy surface and a diameter of 1,951 miles (3,140 km).

Europe /ˈyo͝orəp/

a continent in the northern hemisphere, separated from Africa on the south by the Mediterranean Sea and from Asia on the east roughly by the Bosporus, the Caucasus Mountains, and the Ural Mountains. Europe contains approximately 10 percent of the world's population. It consists of the western part of the landmass of which Asia forms the eastern (and greater) part and includes the British Isles, Iceland, and most of the Mediterranean islands. Its recent history has been dominated by the decline of European states from their former colonial and economic preeminence, the emergence of the European Union among the wealthy democracies of western Europe, and the collapse of the Soviet Union with consequent changes of power in central and eastern Europe.

Europe, Council of

an association of European states founded in 1949 to safeguard the political and cultural heritage of Europe and promote economic and social cooperation. One of the Council's principal achievements is the European Convention on Human Rights.

European /ˌyo͝orəˈpēən/

I. adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Europe or its inhabitants.

2. of or relating to the European Union

• a single European currency.

II. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Europe.

2. a national of a state belonging to the European Union.

3. a person who is committed to the European Union

• they claimed to be the party of good Europeans.

4. a person of European parentage.

III. derivatives

Europeanism /ˌyərəˈpēəˌnizəm /

noun

– origin from French européen, from Latin europaeus, based on Greek Eurōpē ‘Europe.’

European Commission

a group, appointed by agreement among the governments of the European Union, which initiates Union action and safeguards its treaties. It meets in Brussels.

European Commission for Human Rights

an institution of the Council of Europe, set up to examine complaints of alleged breaches of the Convention. It is based in Strasbourg.

European Community EC

I. an economic and political association of certain European countries, incorporated since 1993 in the European Union.

The European Community was formed in 1967 and includes the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the European Court of Justice. Until 1987 it was commonly known as the EEC. The name European Communities is still used in legal contexts where the three distinct organizations are recognized. See also European Union.

European Court of Justice /ˈˌyərəˈˌpēən ˈˌyo͞orəˈˌpēən kôrt əv ə ˈjəstəs/

an institution of the European Union, with thirteen judges appointed by its member governments, meeting in Luxembourg. Established in 1958, it exists to safeguard the law in the interpretation and application of Community treaties.

European Economic Community /ˈˌyərəˈˌpēən ˈˌyo͞orəˈˌpēən ˈˌekəˈnämik ˈˌēkəˈnämik kəˈmyo͞onədē / EEC

an institution of the European Union, an economic association of western European countries set up by the Treaty of Rome (1957). The original members were France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.
See also European Community and European Union.

European Free Trade Association /ˈˌyərəˈˌpēən ˈˌyo͞orəˈˌpēən frē trād əˌsōsēˈāSHən əˌsōSHēˈāSHən / EFTA

a customs union of western European countries, established in 1960 as a trade grouping without the political implications of the European Economic Community. The original members were Austria, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK.

European Investment Bank /ˈˌyərəˈˌpēən ˈˌyo͞orəˈˌpēən inˈves(t)mənt baNGk/

a bank set up in 1958 by the Treaty of Rome to finance capital investment projects promoting the balanced development of members of the European Community. It is based in Luxembourg.

Europeanize /ˌyərəˈpēəˌnīz ˌyo͞orəˈpēəˌnīz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. Europeanized)

1. give (someone or something) a European character or scope

• a highly Europeanized city.

2. transfer to the control or responsibility of the European Union.

II. derivatives

Europeanization /ˌyərəˈpēənəˈzāSHən ˌyo͞orəˈpēənəˈzāSHən ˌyərəˈpēəˌnīˈzāSHən ˌyo͞orəˈpēəˌnīˈzāSHən /

noun

European kitchen

noun

a compact kitchen with fitted cabinets and appliances, usually white.

European Monetary System /ˈˌyərəˈˌpēən ˈˌyo͞orəˈˌpēən ˈmänəˌterē ˈsistim ˈsistəm / EMS

a monetary system inaugurated by the European Community in 1979 to coordinate and stabilize the exchange rates of the currencies of member countries, as a prelude to monetary union. It is based on the use of the Exchange Rate Mechanism.

European Monetary Union /ˌyo͝orəpēən ˈmənətrē ˌyo͞onēən / EMU

a European Union program intended to work toward full economic unity in Europe based on the phased introduction of a common currency (originally, the ECU). The program was announced in 1989; the second stage came into effect on January 1, 1994 under the terms of the Maastricht Treaty, and in 2002 the euro replaced the currencies of twelve European Union countries.

European Parliament

the Parliament of the European Community, originally established in 1952. From 1958 to 1979 it was composed of representatives drawn from the parliaments of member countries, but since 1979 direct elections have taken place every five years. Through the Single European Act (1987) it assumed a degree of sovereignty over national parliaments. The European Parliament meets in Strasbourg, and its committee is in Brussels.

European plan

noun

(N. Amer.) a system of charging for a hotel room only, without meals.
Often contrasted with American plan.

European Recovery Program

official name for the Marshall Plan.

European Space Agency ESA

an organization set up in 1975 to coordinate the national space programs of the collaborating countries. It is based in Paris.

European Union EU

I. an economic and political association of European countries as a unit with internal free trade and common external tariffs.

The European Union was created on November 1, 1993. It consists of 28 member states, 16 of which use the common currency unit, the euro. The terms European Economic Community (EEC) and European Community (EC) continue to be used loosely to refer to what is now the European Union.

Europhile /ˈyərōˌfīl ˈyo͞orōˌfīl/

noun

a person who admires Europe or favors participation in the European Union.

Europhobe /ˈyərōˌfōb ˈyo͞orōˌfōb/

I. noun

a person who strongly dislikes Europe or opposes participation in the European Union.

II. derivatives

Europhobic

adjective

europium /yəˈrōpēəm/

I. noun

(Symbol: Eu) — the chemical element of atomic number 63, a soft silvery-white metal of the lanthanide series. Europium oxide is used with yttrium oxide as a red phosphor in color television screens.

– origin early 20th cent.: modern Latin, based on Europe.

Europoort /ˈyo͝orōˌpôrt/

a major European port in the Netherlands, near Rotterdam.

Euroskeptic /ˌyərōˈskeptik / Eurosceptic

I. noun

a person who is opposed to increasing the powers of the European Union.

II. derivatives

Euroskepticism /ˌyərōˈskeptisizəm /

noun

Eurotrash /ˈyərōˌtraSH/

noun

‹informal› rich European socialites, especially those living or working in the US.

eurozone /ˈyo͝orōˌzōn/

noun

the group of European Union nations whose national currency is the euro.

eury-

I. combining form

denoting a wide variety or range of something specified

• eurytopic.

– origin from Greek eurus ‘wide.’

euryapsid /ˌyo͝orēˈapsəd/

I. noun

a Mesozoic marine reptile of a group characterized by a single upper temporal opening in the skull, including the nothosaurs, plesiosaurs, and ichthyosaurs.
[Sometimes placed in a subclass Euryapsida, though this taxon is no longer widely recognized.]

– origin from Greek eurus ‘wide’ + apsis, apsid- ‘arch.’

Eurydice /yəˈridəsē / ‹Greek Mythology›

the wife of Orpheus. After she was killed by a snake, Orpheus secured her release from the underworld on the condition that he not look back at her on their way back to the world of the living. But Orpheus did look back, whereupon Eurydice disappeared.

euryhaline /ˌyərəˈhālīn, -ˈhal-/

I. adjective

[Ecology] (of an aquatic organism) able to tolerate a wide range of salinity.
Often contrasted with stenohaline.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek eurus ‘wide’ + halinos ‘of salt.’

eurypterid /yəˈriptərid/

I. noun

an extinct marine arthropod of a group occurring in the Paleozoic era. They are related to horseshoe crabs and resemble large scorpions with a terminal pair of paddle-shaped swimming appendages.
[Subclass Eurypterida, class Merostomata, subphylum Chelicerata.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Eurypterus (genus name), from eury- + Greek pteron ‘wing’ + -id^2.

eurythermal /ˌyo͝orəˈTHərməl / eurythermic

adjective

[Ecology] (of an organism) able to tolerate a wide range of temperatures.
Often contrasted with stenothermal.

eurythmic /yəˈriT͟Hmik, yo͝o-/

I. adjective

‹rare› (especially of architecture or art) in or relating to harmonious proportion.

– origin mid 19th cent.: based on Greek euruthmia ‘proportion’ + -ic.

eurythmics /yəˈriT͟Hmiks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. a system of rhythmical physical movements to music used to teach musical understanding (especially in Steiner schools) or for therapeutic purposes, created by Émile Jaques-Dalcroze.

– origin early 20th cent.: from eu- ‘well’ + rhythm + -ics.

eurytopic /ˌyərəˈtäpik, yo͝orə-/

adjective

[Ecology] (of an organism) able to tolerate a wide range of habitats or ecological conditions.
Often contrasted with stenotopic.

Eusebius /yo͞oˈsēbēəs/

(c. AD 264–c. 340), bishop and church historian; known as Eusebius of Caesaria. His Ecclesiastical History is the principal source for the history of Christianity (especially in the Eastern Church) from the age of the Apostles until 324.

eusocial /yo͞oˈsōSHəl/

I. adjective

[Zoology] (of an animal species, especially an insect) showing an advanced level of social organization, in which a single female or caste produces the offspring and nonreproductive individuals cooperate in caring for the young.

II. derivatives

eusociality /-ˌsōSHēˈalitē /

noun

Eustachian tube /yo͞oˈstāSH(ē)ən ˌt(y)o͞ob/

I. noun

[Anatomy] a narrow passage leading from the pharynx to the cavity of the middle ear, permitting the equalization of pressure on each side of the eardrum.

– origin mid 18th cent.: named after Bartolomeo Eustachio (died 1574), the Italian anatomist who identified and described it.

eustasy /ˈyo͞ostəsē/

I. noun

a change of sea level throughout the world, caused typically by movements of parts of the earth's crust or melting of glaciers.

II. derivatives

eustatic /yo͞oˈstadik /

adjective

– origin 1940s: back-formation from eustatic, coined in German from Greek eu ‘well’ + statikos ‘static.’

Euston Road /ˌyo͞ostn ˈrōd/

I. noun — [as modifier]

1. relating to or denoting a group of English post-impressionist realistic painters of the 1930s.

– origin from the name of a road in London, England, site of a former School of Drawing and Painting (1938–39).

eustress /yo͞oˈstres/

I. noun

moderate or normal psychological stress interpreted as being beneficial for the experiencer.

– origin late 20th cent.: eu- + stress, on the pattern of distress.

eutectic /yo͞oˈtektik / ‹Chemistry›

I. adjective

relating to or denoting a mixture of substances (in fixed proportions) that melts and solidifies at a single temperature that is lower than the melting points of the separate constituents or of any other mixture of them.

II. noun

1. a eutectic mixture.

2. short for eutectic point.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek eutēktos ‘easily melting,’ from eu ‘well, easily’ + tēkein ‘melt.’

eutectic point eutectic temperature

noun

[Chemistry] the temperature at which a particular eutectic mixture freezes or melts.

eutectoid /yo͞oˈtektoid / ‹Metallurgy›

I. adjective

relating to or denoting an alloy that has a minimum transformation temperature between a solid solution and a simple mixture of metals.

II. noun

a eutectoid mixture or alloy.

Euterpe /yo͞oˈtərpē / ‹Greek & Roman Mythology›

I. the Muse of flute playing and lyric poetry.

– origin Greek, literally ‘well-pleasing.’

euthanasia /ˌyo͞oTHəˈnāZH(ē)ə ˌyo͞oTHəˈnāzēə/

I. noun

the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma. The practice is illegal in most countries.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘easy death’): from Greek, from eu ‘well’ + thanatos ‘death.’

euthanize /ˈyo͞oTHəˌnīz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be euthanized)

1. (N. Amer.) put (a living being, especially a dog or cat) to death humanely.

– origin 1970s: formed irregularly from euthanasia + -ize.

Eutheria /yo͞oˈTHirēə / ‹Zoology›

I. a major group of mammals that comprises the placentals.
Compare with Metatheria. [Infraclass Eutheria, subclass Theria.]

– origin modern Latin (plural), from eu- ‘well, prospering’ + Greek thērion ‘wild beast.’

eutherian /yo͞oˈTHirēən / ‹Zoology›

I. noun

a mammal of the major group Eutheria, which includes all the placentals and excludes the marsupials and monotremes.

II. adjective

relating to or denoting eutherians.

euthyroid /yo͞oˈTHīˌroid/

adjective

[Medicine] having a normally functioning thyroid gland.

eutrophic /yo͞oˈträfik/

I. adjective

[Ecology] (of a lake or other body of water) rich in nutrients and so supporting a dense plant population, the decomposition of which kills animal life by depriving it of oxygen.
Compare with dystrophic and oligotrophic.

– origin early 18th cent. (denoting a medicine promoting good nutrition): from Greek eutrophia, from eu ‘well’ + trephein ‘nourish.’ The current sense dates from the 1930s.

eutrophication /yo͞oˌträfəˈkāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

excessive richness of nutrients in a lake or other body of water, frequently due to runoff from the land, which causes a dense growth of plant life and death of animal life from lack of oxygen.

II. derivatives

eutrophicate /yo͞oˈträfiˌkāt /

verb

eV

abbreviation

electron-volt(s).

EV

noun

(chiefly US) an electric vehicle

• most EVs are capable of quick acceleration.

EVA

abbreviation

1. ethyl vinyl acetate, a material used as cushioning in running shoes, consisting of a rubbery copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate.

2. (in space) extravehicular activity.

evacuant /əˈvakyəwənt/

I. noun

a medicine that induces some kind of bodily discharge, such as an emetic, a sudorific, or especially a laxative.

II. adjective

(of a medicine or treatment) acting to induce some kind of bodily discharge.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin evacuant- ‘emptying (the bowels),’ from the verb evacuare, later in the more general sense ‘remove (contents).’

evacuate /iˈvakyəˌwāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove (someone) from a place of danger to a safe place

• several families were evacuated from their homes.

2. leave or cause the occupants to leave (a place of danger)

• fire alarms forced staff to evacuate the building

• [no obj.] residents have to evacuate because of a hurricane.

3. (of troops) withdraw from (a place)

• the last American troops evacuated the Canal Zone.

4. ‹technical› remove air, water, or other contents from (a container)

• when it springs a leak, evacuate the pond

• (as adj. evacuated) an evacuated bulb.

5. empty (the bowels or another bodily organ).

6. discharge (feces or other matter) from the body.

7. deprive (something) of contents, value, or force

• he evacuated time and history of significance.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘clear the contents of’): from Latin evacuat- ‘(of the bowels) emptied,’ from the verb evacuare, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out of’ + vacuus ‘empty.’

evacuation /iˌvakyəˈwāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action of evacuating a person or a place

• there were waves of evacuation during the blitz

• a full-scale evacuation of the city center.

2. the action of emptying the bowels or another bodily organ.

3. a quantity of matter discharged from the bowels or another bodily organ.

4. ‹technical› the action of emptying a container of air, water, or other contents.

evacuative /iˈvakyəˌwādiv/

adjective, noun

another term for evacuant.

evacuee /iˌvakyəˈwē/

I. noun

a person evacuated from a place of danger to somewhere safe.

– origin early 20th cent. (originally in the French form): from French évacué, past participle of évacuer, from Latin evacuare (see evacuate).

evade /əˈvād/

I. verb

1. escape or avoid, especially by cleverness or trickery

• friends helped him to evade capture for a time

• he tried to kiss her, but she evaded him.

2. (of an abstract thing) elude (someone)

• sleep still evaded her.

3. avoid giving a direct answer to (a question)

• he denied evading the question.

4. avoid dealing with or accepting; contrive not to do (something morally or legally required)

• difficulties to be faced and not evaded.

5. escape paying (tax or duty), especially by illegitimate presentation of one's finances.

6. defeat the intention of (a law or rule), especially while complying with its letter.

II. derivatives

1. evadable /əˈvādəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. evader

noun

– origin late 15th cent.: from French évader, from Latin evadere, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out of’ + vadere ‘go.’

evaginate /əˈvajəˌnāt/

I. verb

[Biology] [Physiology] (with reference to a tubular or pouch-shaped organ or structure) turn or be turned inside out.

II. derivatives

evagination /iˌvajəˈnāSHən /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin evaginat- ‘unsheathed,’ from the verb evaginare, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out of’ + vagina ‘sheath.’

evaluate /əˈvalyəˌwāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. form an idea of the amount, number, or value of; assess

• when you evaluate any hammer, look for precision machining

• [with clause] computer simulations evaluated how the aircraft would perform.

2. [Mathematics] find a numerical expression or equivalent for (an equation, formula, or function).

II. derivatives

evaluator /-yo͞oˌātər /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent. (earlier (mid 18th cent.) as evaluation): from French évaluer, from es- (from Latin ex-) ‘out, from’ + Old French value ‘value.’

evaluation /əˌvalyəˈwāSH(ə)n/

noun

the making of a judgment about the amount, number, or value of something; assessment

• the evaluation of each method

• an initial evaluation of the program.

evaluative /əˈvalyəˌwādiv/

adjective

based on or relating to an assessment to form an idea of the value of something

• supervisors are making evaluative judgments of their work

• you will need to demonstrate analytical and evaluative skills.

evan.

abbreviation

1. evangelical.

2. evangelist.

evanesce /ˌevəˈnes/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹literary› pass out of sight, memory, or existence.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin evanescere, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out of’ + vanus ‘empty.’

evanescent /ˌevəˈnes(ə)nt/

I. adjective

1. ‹chiefly literary› soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing

• a shimmering evanescent bubble.

2. ‹chiefly literary› [Physics] denoting a field or wave that extends into a region where it cannot propagate and whose amplitude therefore decreases with distance.

II. derivatives

1. evanescence /ˌevəˈnes(ə)ns /

noun

2. evanescently

adverb

– origin early 18th cent. (in the sense ‘almost imperceptible’): from Latin evanescent- ‘disappearing,’ from the verb evanescere (see evanesce).

evang. Evang.

abbreviation

1. evangelical.

2. evangelist.

evangel /ēˈvanjəl/

I. noun

1. ‹archaic› the Christian gospel.

2. any of the four Gospels.

3. (N. Amer.) another term for evangelist.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘gospel’): from Old French evangile, via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek euangelion ‘good news,’ from euangelos ‘bringing good news,’ from eu- ‘well’ + angelein ‘announce.’

evangelical /ˌēvanˈjelək(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. of or according to the teaching of the gospel or the Christian religion.

2. of or denoting a tradition within Protestant Christianity emphasizing the authority of the Bible, personal conversion, and the doctrine of salvation by faith in the Atonement.

3. zealous in advocating something.

II. noun

a member of the evangelical tradition in the Christian Church.

III. derivatives

1. evangelic /-ˈjelik /

adjective

2. evangelicalism /ˌēˌvanˈjeləkəˌlizəm /

noun

3. evangelically /ˌēˌvanˈjelək(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin mid 16th cent.: via ecclesiastical Latin from ecclesiastical Greek euangelikos, from euangelos (see evangel).

evangelism /əˈvanjəˌlizəm/

noun

1. the spreading of the Christian gospel by public preaching or personal witness.

2. zealous advocacy of a cause.

evangelist /əˈvanjələst/

I. noun

1. a person who seeks to convert others to the Christian faith, especially by public preaching.

2. a layperson engaged in Christian missionary work.

3. a zealous advocate of something

• he is an evangelist of junk bonds.

4. the writer of one of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John)

• St. John the Evangelist.

– origin Middle English (sense 2): from Old French évangéliste, via ecclesiastical Latin from ecclesiastical Greek euangelistēs, from euangelizesthai ‘evangelize.’

evangelistic /iˌvanjəˈlistik/

adjective

1. seeking to convert others to the Christian faith; missionary

• an evangelistic preacher.

2. zealously advocating a particular cause; campaigning

• an almost evangelistic zeal for the product.

evangelize /əˈvanjəˌlīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. convert or seek to convert (someone) to Christianity.

2. [no obj.] — preach the Christian gospel

• the Church's mission to evangelize and declare the faith.

II. derivatives

1. evangelization /əˌvanjələˈzāSH(ə)n ˌēˌvanjəlīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. evangelizer

noun

– origin late Middle English: from ecclesiastical Latin evangelizare, from Greek euangelizesthai, from euangelos (see evangel).

Evans, Dame Edith

(1888–1976), English actress; full name Dame Edith Mary Evans. She is particularly remembered as Lady Bracknell in Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest.

Evans, Mary Ann

see Eliot, George.

Evans, Sir Arthur /ˈevənz/

(1851–1941), English archaeologist; full name Sir Arthur John Evans. His excavations at Knossos (1899–1935) resulted in the discovery of the Bronze Age civilization of Crete, which he named Minoan after the legendary Cretan king Minos.

Evanston /ˈevənstən/

I. a city in northeastern Illinois, just north of Chicago, home to Northwestern University; pop. 77,693 (est. 2008).

II. a city in southwestern Wyoming, next to the Utah border, southwest of Green River; pop. 11,781 (est. 2008).

Evansville /ˈevənzˌvil/

an industrial port city in southwestern Indiana, on the Ohio River; pop. 116,309 (est. 2008).

evap.

abbreviation

evaporate.

evaporate /əˈvapəˌrāt/

I. verb

1. turn from liquid into vapor
[no obj.]

• cook until most of the liquid has evaporated

• [with obj.] this gets the oil hot enough to evaporate any moisture.

2. lose or cause to lose moisture or solvent as vapor
[with obj.]

• the solution was evaporated to dryness.

3. [no obj.] — (of something abstract) cease to exist

• the militancy of earlier years had evaporated in the wake of defeat.

II. derivatives

1. evaporable /əˈvap(ə)rəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. evaporator /əˈvapəˌrādər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin evaporat- ‘changed into vapor,’ from the verb evaporare, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out of’ + vapor ‘steam, vapor.’

evaporated milk

noun

a processed form of milk that has had some of the liquid removed by evaporation.

evaporating dish /əˈvapəˌrādiNG ˌdiSH/

noun

[Chemistry] a small ceramic dish in which liquids are heated over a flame so that they evaporate, leaving a solid residue.

evaporation /əˌvapəˈrāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the process of turning from liquid into vapor

• snow cover prevents evaporation of water from the soil.

2. the process of something abstract ceasing to exist

• thousands of employees witnessed the rapid evaporation of their retirement plans

• the police's attempt to dictate public policy led to a sudden evaporation of support.

evaporative /əˈvapəˌrādiv/

I. adjective

relating to or involving evaporation

• evaporative water loss.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin evaporativus, from evaporare ‘change into vapor’ (see evaporate).

evaporative cooling

I. noun

reduction in temperature resulting from the evaporation of a liquid, which removes latent heat from the surface from which evaporation takes place. This process is employed in industrial and domestic cooling systems, and is also the physical basis of sweating.

II. derivatives

evaporative cooler

noun

evaporite /iˈvapəˌrīt/

I. noun

[Geology] a natural salt or mineral deposit left after the evaporation of a body of water.

– origin 1920s: alteration of evaporate (see also -ite^1).

evapotranspiration /iˌvapōˌtranspəˈrāSHən/

noun

the process by which water is transferred from the land to the atmosphere by evaporation from the soil and other surfaces and by transpiration from plants.

evasion /əˈvāZHən/

I. noun

1. the action of evading something

• their adroit evasion of almost all questions.

2. an indirect answer; a prevaricating excuse

• the protestations and evasions of a witness.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘prevaricating excuse’): via Old French from Latin evasio(n-), from evadere (see evade).

evasive /əˈvāsiv/

I. adjective

1. tending to avoid commitment or self-revelation, especially by responding only indirectly

• she was evasive about her phone number.

2. directed toward avoidance or escape

• they decided to take evasive action.

II. derivatives

1. evasively /əˈvāsivlē /

adverb

2. evasiveness /əˈvāsivnəs /

noun

– origin early 18th cent.: from Latin evas- ‘evaded’ (from the verb evadere) + -ive.

eve /ēv/

I. noun

1. the day or period of time immediately before an event or occasion

• on the eve of her departure he gave her a little parcel.

2. the evening or day before a religious festival

• the service for Passover eve.

3. ‹chiefly literary› evening

• a bitter winter's eve.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘close of day’): short form of even^2.

Eve /ēv/

(in the Bible) the first woman, wife of Adam and mother of Cain and Abel.

evection /əˈvekSH(ə)n/

I. noun

[Astronomy] regular variation in the eccentricity of the moon's orbit around the earth, caused mainly by the sun's attraction.

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘elevation, exaltation’): from Latin evectio(n-), from evehere ‘carry out or up,’ from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + vehere ‘carry.’

Eve hypothesis

noun

the hypothesis (based on study of mitochondrial DNA) that modern humans have a common female ancestor who lived in Africa around 200,000 years ago.
Also called African Eve hypothesis.

even^1 /ˈēvən/

I. adjective

1. flat and smooth

• prepare the site, then lay an even bed of mortar.

2. in the same plane or line; level

• run a file along the saw to make all of the teeth even with each other.

3. equal in number, amount, or value

• an even gender balance among staff and students.

4. equally balanced

• it's not an even fight.

5. having little variation in quality; regular

• they traveled at an even and leisurely pace.

6. (of a person's temper or disposition) equable; calm

• a man of good humor and even temper.

7. (of a number, such as 2, 6, or 108) divisible by two without a remainder.

8. bearing an even number

• headers can be placed on odd or even pages or both.

9. exactly equal to a round number; not having any fractions

• the Dow Jones ended at an even 10,000.

II. verb

make or become even
[with obj.]

• she cut the hair again to even up the ends

• [no obj.] thereafter prices evened out.

III. adverb

1. used to emphasize something surprising or extreme

• they have never even heard of the US

• they wore fur hats, even in summer.

2. used in comparisons for emphasis

• he knows even less about it than I do.

IV. phrases

1. even as

at the very same time as

• even as he spoke, their baggage was being unloaded.

2. an even break

‹informal› a fair chance

• suckers never get an even break.

3. even if

a. despite the possibility that; no matter whether

• always try everything even if it turns out to be a dud.

b. despite the fact that

• he is a great president, even if he has many enemies.

4. even now (or then)

a. now (or then) as well as before

• even now, after all these years, it upsets me.

b. in spite of what has (or had) happened

• even then he never raised his voice to me.

c. at this (or that) very moment

• very likely you are even now picking up the telephone to call.

5. even so

in spite of that; nevertheless

• not the most exciting of places, but even so I was having a good time.

6. even though

despite the fact that

• even though he was bigger, he never looked down on me.

7. get (or be) even

‹informal› inflict trouble or harm on someone similar to that which they have inflicted on oneself

• I'll get even with you for this.

8. of even date

[Law] ‹formal› of the same date.

9. on an even keel

a. (of a ship or aircraft) having the same draft forward and aft.

b. (of a person or situation) functioning normally after a period of difficulty

• getting her life back on to an even keel after their breakup had been difficult.

V. derivatives

evenness /ˈēv(ə)nnəs /

noun

– origin Old English efen (adjective), efne (adverb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch even, effen and German eben.

even^2 /ˈēvən/

I. noun

‹archaic› ‹literary› the end of the day; evening

• bring it to my house this even.

– origin Old English ǣfen, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch avont and German Abend.

Even /ˈāwən, ˈevən/

I. noun

1. a member of an indigenous people of eastern Siberia.

2. the language of the Even, a Tungusic language with about 6,000 speakers, closely related to Evenki.

II. adjective

relating to the Even or their language.

even-aged /ˈēvənˌājd/

adjective

1. [Forestry] (of woodland) composed of trees of approximately the same age.

2. [Forestry] (of trees) of approximately the same age.

evenfall /ˈēvənfôl/

noun

‹literary› the onset of evening; dusk

• he kindles his lamp at evenfall.

even-handed /ˌēvənˈhandəd/

I. adjective

fair and impartial in treatment or judgment

• an even-handed approach.

II. derivatives

1. even-handedly

adverb

2. even-handedness

noun

evening /ˈēvniNG/

I. noun

1. the period of time at the end of the day, usually from about 6 p.m. to bedtime

• it was seven o'clock in the evening

• [as modifier] the evening meal.

2. evening characterized by a specified type of activity or particular weather conditions

• they could have a relaxing evening.

3. [as modifier] — prescribed by fashion as suitable for relatively formal social events held in the evening

• a couple in evening dress.

II. adverb — (evenings)

1. ‹informal› in the evening; every evening

• Saturday evenings he invariably fell asleep.

III. exclamation

‹informal› short for good evening.

– origin Old English ǣfnung ‘dusk falling, the time around sunset,’ from ǣfnian ‘approach evening,’ from ǣfen (see even^2).

evening gown

noun

a long, elegant dress suitable for wearing on formal occasions.

evening grosbeak

noun

a grosbeak native to North America, with yellow coloring.
[Coccothraustes vespertinus.]

evening prayer

noun

1. (usu. evening prayers) — a formal act of worship held in the evening.

2. [in sing.] — (in the Anglican Church) the service of evensong.

evening primrose /ˈēv(ə)niNG ˈprimˌrōz/

noun

a plant with yellow flowers that open in the evening.
[Genus Oenothera, family Onagraceae: numerous species, in particular the common evening primrose (O. biennis).]

evening primrose oil

noun

an oil extracted from the seeds of the evening primrose. It contains gamma-linolenic acid and is used in complementary and alternative medicine, especially in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome

• at night I take evening primrose oil, vitamin E, and St John's wort.

evening star /ˈēv(ə)niNG stär/

noun — (the evening star)

1. the planet Venus, seen shining in the western sky after sunset.

evening wear

noun

clothing, especially for women, that is suitable for formal social occasions.

• the fifth floor is beginning to fill with men in dark suits and women in evening wear.

Evenki /iˈweNGkē, iˈveNGkē/

I. noun

1. a member of an indigenous people of northern Siberia.
Also called Tungus.

2. the Tungusic language of the Evenki.

II. adjective

relating to the Evenki or their language.

evenly /ˈēvənlē/

adverb

1. so as to present a flat or uniform surface or line

• scoop cream onto the cake and spread evenly.

2. in equal numbers, amounts, or values

• the jackpot will be split evenly among the holders of the three tickets.

3. with each having an equal chance

• the match was evenly balanced throughout the first half

• an evenly contested game.

4. with equal space or time between each; regularly

• a series of evenly spaced dots

• he was breathing evenly, fast asleep.

5. calmly and without strong emotion or variation

• he speaks evenly and softly.

6. used to indicate a number that is divisible by two without a remainder

• signals are numbered evenly, 2, 4, 6, 8, etc.

even money

noun

1. (in betting) odds offering an equal chance of winning or losing, with the amount won being the same as the stake

• players bet on each throw for even money

• [as modifier] Romany King swept past the even-money favorite Paco's Boy.

2. [as modifier] — (of a chance) equally likely to happen or not; fifty-fifty

• above those engines there was an even-money chance of being heard.

evensong /ˈēvənˌsôNG / Evensong

I. noun

(in the Christian Church) a service of evening prayers, psalms, and canticles, conducted according to a set form, especially that of the Anglican Church

• choral evensong.

– origin Old English ǣfensang, originally applied to the pre-Reformation service of vespers (see even^2, song).

even-steven /ˌēvən ˈstēvən/

I. adjective, adverb

‹informal› used in reference to fair and equal competition or distribution of resources
[as adj.]

• the race was an even-steven affair

• [as adv.] I split the money with my wife even-steven.

– origin mid 19th cent.: rhyming phrase, used as an intensive.

event /əˈvent/

I. noun

1. a thing that happens, especially one of importance

• one of the main political events of the late 20th century.

2. a planned public or social occasion

• events to raise money for charity.

3. each of several particular contests making up a sports competition

• a star sprinter in the 100- and 200-meter events.

4. [Physics] a single occurrence of a process, e.g., the ionization of one atom.

II. phrases

1. in any event at all events

whatever happens or may have happened

• in any event, there was one promise the trickster did keep.

2. in the event

(chiefly Brit.) as it turns (or turned) out

• he was sent on this important and, in the event, quite fruitless mission.

3. in the event of ——

if —— happens

• this will reduce the chance of serious injury in the event of an accident.

4. in the event that

if; should it happen that

• in the event that an attack is launched, the defenders will have been significantly weakened by air attacks.

5. in that event

if that happens

• in that event, the US would incline toward a lifting of the arms embargo.

III. derivatives

1. eventless

adjective

2. eventlessness

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin eventus, from evenire ‘result, happen,’ from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out of’ + venire ‘come.’

event creation

noun

1. the activity of planning, organizing, and staging public events.

2. (in computer programming) the activity of or facility for creating an event that will unfold in real time when conditions for it have been met.

even-tempered /ˈēvən ˈˌtempərd/

adjective

not easily annoyed or angered

• a gentle and even-tempered man.

eventer /əˈven(t)ər/

I. noun

(Brit.) a horse or rider that takes part in eventing.

– origin 1970s: from event, in three-day event (see eventing).

eventful /əˈventfəl/

I. adjective

marked by interesting or exciting events

• his long and eventful life.

II. derivatives

1. eventfully

adverb

2. eventfulness

noun

event horizon

noun

1. [Astronomy] a theoretical boundary around a black hole beyond which no light or other radiation can escape.

2. [Astronomy] a point of no return

• we're nearing the event horizon of the presidential election.

eventide /ˈēvənˌtīd/

I. noun

‹archaic› ‹literary› the end of the day; evening

• the moon flower opens its white, trumpetlike flowers at eventide.

– origin Old English ǣfentīd (see even^2, tide).

eventing /əˈven(t)iNG/

I. noun

an equestrian sport in which competitors must take part in each of several contests, usually cross-country, dressage, and show jumping.

– origin 1960s: from event, in three-day event, horse trials held on three consecutive days. Compare with eventer.

eventive /əˈven(t)iv/

adjective

[Linguistics] (of the subject or object of a sentence) denoting an event.

even-toed ungulate

noun

a hoofed mammal of an order that includes the ruminants, camels, pigs, and hippopotamuses. Mammals of this group have either two or four toes on each foot.
Compare with odd-toed ungulate. [Order Artiodactyla: three suborders. See also ruminant, tylopod.]

eventual /əˈven(t)SH(o͞o)əl/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. occurring at the end of or as a result of a series of events; final; ultimate

• it's impossible to predict the eventual outcome of the competition.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘relating to an event or events’): from Latin eventus (see event), on the pattern of actual.

eventuality /iˌven(t)SHəˈwalədē/

noun

a possible event or outcome

• you must be prepared for all eventualities.

eventually /əˈven(t)SH(o͞o)əlē/

adverb — [sentence adverb]

1. in the end, especially after a long delay, dispute, or series of problems

• eventually, after midnight, I arrived at the hotel.

eventuate /əˈven(t)SHəˌwāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹formal› occur as a result

• you never know what might eventuate.

2. (eventuate in) — ‹formal› lead to as a result

• circumstances that eventuate in crime.

II. derivatives

eventuation /iˌvenCHo͞oˈāSHən /

noun

– origin late 18th cent.: from event, on the pattern of actuate.

ever /ˈevər/

I. adverb

1. [usu. with negative or in questions] — at any time

• nothing ever seemed to ruffle her

• don't you ever regret giving up all that money?

2. used in comparisons for emphasis

• they felt better than ever before

• our biggest ever range.

3. at all times; always

• ever the man of action, he was impatient with intellectuals

• it remains as popular as ever

• they lived happily ever after

• [in combination] he toyed with his ever-present cigar.

4. [with comparative] — increasingly; constantly

• having to borrow ever larger sums.

5. used for emphasis in questions and other remarks, expressing astonishment or outrage

• who ever heard of a grown man being frightened of the dark?

• don't you ever forget it!

II. phrases

1. ever and anon

‹archaic› occasionally

• ever and anon the stillness is rent by the scream of a gibbon.

[from Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost (V. ii. 101).]

2. ever since

throughout the period since

• she had lived alone ever since her husband died.

3. ever so

very

• I am ever so grateful.

4. ever such

(Brit.) ‹informal› very much

• ever such a pretty little cat.

5. for ever

see forever.

6. yours ever ever yours

(Brit.) a formula used to end an informal letter, before the signature.

– origin Old English ǣfre, of unknown origin.

everblooming /ˈevərˈblo͞omiNG/

adjective

(of a plant) in bloom throughout most or all of the growing season

• others prefer an everblooming variety like the rugosa roses.

ever-changing

adjective

constantly changing or developing

• the key is adapting to the ever-changing conditions

• ever-changing technology.

Everest, Mount /ˈev(ə)rəst/

I. a mountain in the Himalayas, on the border between Nepal and Tibet. Rising to 29,028 feet (8,848 m), it is the highest mountain in the world; it was first climbed in 1953 by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.
Tibetan name Qomolungma.

– origin named after Sir George Everest (1790–1866), a supervisor for the British government in India.

Everett /ˈev(ə)rit/

I. an industrial city in northeastern Massachusetts, just north of Boston; pop. 37,353 (est. 2008).

II. an industrial port city in northwestern Washington, north of Seattle, noted for its huge Boeing aircraft-assembly plant; pop. 98,212 (est. 2008).

everglade /ˈevərˌɡlād/

noun

a marshy tract of land that is mostly under water and covered with tall grass.

Everglades /ˈevərˌɡlādz/

a vast area of marshland and coastal mangrove in southern Florida, part of which is protected as a national park.

evergreen /ˈevərˌɡrēn/

I. adjective

1. of or denoting a plant that retains green leaves throughout the year

• the glossy laurel is hardy and evergreen

• evergreen shrubs.

Often contrasted with deciduous.

2. having an enduring freshness, success, or popularity

• in Hollywood parlance, Star Trek is an evergreen asset.

II. noun

a plant that retains green leaves throughout the year

• evergreens planted to cut off the east wind.

evergreen oak

noun

another term for holm oak.

Evergreen State

a nickname for the state of Washington.

everlasting /ˌevərˈlastiNG/

I. adjective

lasting forever or for a very long time

• the damned would suffer everlasting torment

• it would be an everlasting reminder of this evening.

II. noun

1. ‹literary› eternity.

2. (also everlasting flower) — a flower of the daisy family with a papery texture, retaining its shape and color after being dried, especially a helichrysum.
Also called immortelle.

III. derivatives

1. everlastingly /ˌevərˈlastiNGlē /

adverb

2. everlastingness

noun

evermore /ˌevərˈmôr/

adverb

(chiefly used for rhetorical effect or in ecclesiastical contexts) always

• we pray that we may evermore dwell in him and he in us.

Evers, Medgar /ˈevərz/

(1925–63), US civil rights leader; full name Medgar Wiley Evers. He was Mississippi field secretary of the NAACP from 1954; his assassination was a factor in President Kennedy's call for new, comprehensive civil rights legislation.

ever-shifting

adjective

constantly changing, especially in an unpredictable way

• a kaleidoscopic vision of an ever-shifting landscape.

evert /əˈvərt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Biology] [Physiology] turn (a structure or organ) outward or inside out
(as adj. everted)

• the characteristic facial appearance of full, often everted lips.

II. derivatives

1. eversible /iˈversəbəl /

adjective

2. eversion /əˈvərZH(ə)n /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘upset, overthrow’): from Latin evertere, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + vertere ‘to turn.’ The current sense dates from the late 18th cent.

Evert, Chris /ˈevərt/

(1954–), US tennis player; full name Christine Marie Evert. During 1974–86, she won the women's singles title at seven French Open, six US Open, three Wimbledon, and two Australian Open tournaments.

everwhere /ˈevərˌ(h)wer/

adverb

1. ‹dialect› everywhere.

2. ‹dialect› wherever.

everwhich /ˈevərˌ(h)wiCH/

adjective

‹dialect› whichever.

every /ˈevrē/

I. determiner

1. (preceding a singular noun) used to refer to all the individual members of a set without exception

• the hotel assures every guest of personal attention

• [with possessive determiner] the children hung on his every word.

2. used before an amount to indicate something happening at specified intervals

• tours are every thirty minutes

• they had every third week off.

3. (used for emphasis) all possible; the utmost

• you have every reason to be disappointed.

II. phrases

1. every bit as

(in comparisons) equally as

• the planning should be every bit as enjoyable as the event itself.

2. every inch

see inch^1.

3. every last (or every single)

used to emphasize that every member of a group is included

• unbelievers, every last one of them

• they insist you weigh every single thing.

4. every man has his price

‹proverb› everyone is open to bribery if the inducement offered is large enough.

5. every now and then (or now and again)

from time to time; occasionally

• I used to see him every now and then.

6. every other (or every second)

each second in a series; each alternate

• I train with weights every other day

• the auctions are held every second week.

7. every so often

from time to time; occasionally

• every so often I need a laugh to stay sane.

8. every time

without exception

• it brews a perfect blend of coffee every time.

9. every which way

a. ‹informal› in all directions

• you can see cracks moving every which way.

b. by all available means

• since then he has tried every which way to avoid contact with his ex.

– origin Old English ǣfre ǣlc (see ever, each).

everybody /ˈevrēˌbädē ˈevrēˌbədē/

I. pronoun

every person

• everybody agrees with his views

• it's not everybody's cup of tea.

usage: Everybody, along with everyone, traditionally uses a singular pronoun of reference: everybody must sign his own name. Because the use of his in this context is now perceived as sexist by some, a second option became popular: everybody must sign his or her own name. But his or her is often awkward, and many feel that the plural simply makes more sense: everybody must sign their own name. Although this violates what many consider standard, it is in fact standard in British English and increasingly so in US English. In some sentences, only they makes grammatical sense: everybody agreed to convict the defendant, and they voted unanimously.

everyday /ˈevrēˌdā/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. happening or used every day; daily

• everyday chores like shopping and housework.

2. commonplace

• everyday drugs like aspirin.

II. adverb

each day; daily

• I get up at six every day.

usage: The adjective everyday, meaning ‘happening or used every day’ or ‘commonplace’ (everyday activities), is written as one word, whereas the adverb meaning ‘each day, daily’ (I get up at six every day) is written as two.

Everyman /ˈevrēˌman/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. an ordinary or typical human being

• it is Everyman's dream car.

– origin early 20th cent.: the name of the principal character in a 15th-cent. morality play.

everyone /ˈevrēˌwən/

I. pronoun

every person

• everyone needs time to unwind

• he knew everyone in the business.

usage: See usage at everybody.

every one

I. pronoun

each one.

usage: The pronoun everyone, meaning ‘every person,’ is spelled as one word: everyone had a great time at the party. The pronoun every one, meaning ‘each one,’ is spelled as two words: every one of the employees got a bonus at the end of the year.

everyplace /ˈevrēˌplās/

adverb

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› informal term for everywhere.

everything /ˈevrēˌTHiNG/

I. pronoun

1. all things; all the things of a group or class

• he taught me everything I know

• herbal cures for everything from leprosy to rheumatism.

2. all things of importance; a great deal

• I lost everything in the crash

• he owed everything to his years in Munich.

3. the most important thing or aspect

• money isn't everything.

4. the current situation; life in general

• how's everything?

• everything is going okay.

II. phrases

1. and everything

‹informal› used to refer vaguely to other things associated with what has been mentioned

• you'll still get paid and everything.

2. have everything

‹informal› possess every attraction or advantage

• she was articulate, she was fun—it seemed to me she had everything.

everywhere /ˈevrēˌ(h)wer/

I. adverb

1. in or to all places

• I've looked everywhere

• everywhere she went she was fêted.

2. in many places; common or widely distributed

• sandwich bars are everywhere.

II. noun

all places or directions

• everywhere was in darkness.

III. phrases

everywhere else

in all other places

• they are the same machines used everywhere else in the world.

– origin Middle English: formerly also as two words.

Everywoman /ˈevrēˌwo͝omən/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. an ordinary or typical woman

• the book is a compilation of memorably silly moments in the life of a hapless Everywoman.

– origin early 20th cent: on the pattern of Everyman.

evg.

abbreviation

evening.

evict /əˈvikt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. expel (someone) from a property, especially with the support of the law

• he had court orders to evict the trespassers from three camps.

II. derivatives

evictor /əˈviktər /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘recover property, or the title to property, by legal process’): from Latin evict- ‘overcome, defeated,’ from the verb evincere, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + vincere ‘conquer.’

eviction /iˈvikSH(ə)n/

noun

the action of expelling someone, especially a tenant, from a property; expulsion

• the forced eviction of residents.

evidence /ˈevədəns/

I. noun

1. the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid

• the study finds little evidence of overt discrimination.

2. [Law] information given personally, drawn from a document, or in the form of material objects, tending or used to establish facts in a legal investigation or admissible as testimony in court

• without evidence, they can't bring a charge.

3. signs; indications

• there was no obvious evidence of a break-in.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be evidenced)

1. be or show evidence of

• that it has been populated from prehistoric times is evidenced by the remains of Neolithic buildings.

III. phrases

1. give evidence

[Law] give information and answer questions formally and in person in court or at an inquiry.

2. in evidence

noticeable; conspicuous

• his dramatic flair is still very much in evidence.

3. King's or Queen's) evidence ">turn state's ( King's or Queen's) evidence

[Law] (of a criminal) give information in court against one's partners in order to receive a less severe punishment oneself.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin evidentia, from evident- ‘obvious to the eye or mind’ (see evident).

evidence-based

adjective

[Medicine] denoting disciplines of health care that proceed empirically with regard to the patient and reject more traditional protocols.

evident /ˈevədənt/

I. adjective

plain or obvious; clearly seen or understood

• she ate the cookies with evident enjoyment.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin evidens, evident- ‘obvious to the eye or mind,’ from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + videre ‘to see.’

evidential /ˌevəˈden(t)SH(ə)l/

I. adjective

‹formal› of or providing evidence

• the evidential value of the record.

II. derivatives

1. evidentiality /ˌeviˌdenCHēˈalitē /

noun

2. evidentially

adverb

– origin early 17th cent.: from medieval Latin evidentialis, from Latin evidentia (see evidence).

evidentiary /ˌevəˈden(t)SHərē/

adjective

[chiefly Law] another term for evidential.

evidently /ˈevədəntlē/

adverb

1. plainly or obviously; in a way that is clearly seen or understood

• a work so evidently laden with significance.

2. [sentence adverb] — it is plain that; it would seem that

• evidently Mrs. Smith thought differently.

3. used as an affirmative response or reply

• “Were they old pals or something?” “Evidently.”

evil /ˈēvəl/

I. adjective

1. profoundly immoral and malevolent

• his evil deeds

• no man is so evil as to be beyond redemption.

2. (of a force or spirit) embodying or associated with the forces of the devil

• we have been driven out of the house by this evil spirit.

3. harmful or tending to harm

• the evil effects of high taxes.

4. (of something seen or smelled) extremely unpleasant

• a bathroom with an evil smell.

II. noun

1. profound immorality, wickedness, and depravity, especially when regarded as a supernatural force

• the world is stalked by relentless evil

• good and evil in eternal opposition.

2. a manifestation of this, especially in people's actions

• the evil that took place last Thursday.

3. something that is harmful or undesirable

• sexism, racism, and all other unpleasant social evils.

III. phrases

1. the evil eye

a gaze or stare superstitiously believed to cause material harm

• he gave me the evil eye as I walked down the corridor.

2. the Evil One

‹archaic› the Devil.

3. give someone (the) evils

(Brit.) ‹informal› glare at someone

• I looked at the girl he'd been eyeing up and I gave her the evils.

4. put off the evil day (or hour)

postpone something unpleasant for as long as possible.

5. speak evil of

slander

• it is a sin to speak evil of the king.

IV. derivatives

1. evilly /ˈēvəllē /

adverb

2. evilness /ˈēvəlnəs /

noun

– origin Old English yfel, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch euvel and German Übel.

evildoer /ˈēvəlˌdo͞oər/

I. noun

a person who commits profoundly immoral and malevolent deeds.

II. derivatives

evildoing /ˈēvəlˌdo͞oiNG /

noun

evil-minded

adjective

having wicked thoughts, ideas, or intentions.

evil-smelling /ˈēvəlˌsmeliNG/

adjective

having an extremely unpleasant smell

• an evil-smelling cesspit.

evince /əˈvins/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› reveal the presence of (a quality or feeling)

• his letters evince the excitement he felt at undertaking this journey.

2. ‹formal› be evidence of; indicate

• man's inhumanity to man as evinced in the use of torture.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘prove by argument or evidence’): from Latin evincere ‘overcome, defeat’ (see evict).

eviscerate /əˈvisəˌrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› disembowel (a person or animal)

• the goat had been skinned and neatly eviscerated.

2. ‹formal› deprive (something) of its essential content

• myriad little concessions that would eviscerate the project.

3. ‹formal› [Surgery] remove the contents of (a body organ).

II. derivatives

evisceration /əˌvisəˈrāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin eviscerat- ‘disemboweled,’ from the verb eviscerare, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + viscera ‘internal organs.’

e-vite /ˈēvīt / evite

I. noun

‹trademark› an invitation sent by email

• the holidays are fast approaching and the e-vites are pouring in.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. send an invitation to (someone) by email

• the site was launched when its founders e-vited 100 friends to join.

eviternity /ˌevəˈtərnədē/

I. noun

‹archaic› ‹literary› eternal existence; everlasting duration.

II. derivatives

eviternal /-ˈtərnl /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin aeviternus ‘eternal’ + -ity.

evocation /ˌēvōˈkāSH(ə)n evōˈkāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the act of bringing or recalling a feeling, memory, or image to the conscious mind

• the vivid evocation of stillness in the title poem

• the evocation of deep emotions.

2. an account or work of art that brings or recalls a feeling, memory, or image to the conscious mind

• his 560-page epic is a detailed, moving evocation of childhood.

3. the action of eliciting a response

• the mutual evocation of responses through body language.

4. the action of invoking a spirit or deity

• the evocation of wandering spirits.

evocative /əˈväkədiv/

I. adjective

bringing strong images, memories, or feelings to mind

• powerfully evocative lyrics

• the building's cramped interiors are highly evocative of past centuries.

II. derivatives

1. evocatively /əˈväkədivlē /

adverb

2. evocativeness

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin evocativus, from evocat- ‘called forth,’ from the verb evocare (see evoke).

evoke /əˈvōk/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. bring or recall to the conscious mind

• the sight of American asters evokes pleasant memories of childhood.

2. elicit (a response)

• the awkward kid who evoked giggles from his sisters.

3. invoke (a spirit or deity).

II. derivatives

evoker

noun

– origin early 17th cent. (sense 2): from Latin evocare, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out of, from’ + vocare ‘to call.’

evolute /ˈevəˌlo͞ot / evolute curve

I. noun

[Mathematics] a curve that is the locus of the centers of curvature of another curve (its involute).

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin evolutus, past participle of evolvere ‘roll out’ (see evolve).

evolution /ˌevəˈlo͞oSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of the earth.
The idea of organic evolution was proposed by some ancient Greek thinkers but was long rejected in Europe as contrary to the literal interpretation of the Bible. Lamarck proposed a theory that organisms became transformed by their efforts to respond to the demands of their environment, but he was unable to explain a mechanism for this. Lyell demonstrated that geological deposits were the cumulative product of slow processes over vast ages. This helped Darwin toward a theory of gradual evolution over a long period by the natural selection of those varieties of an organism slightly better adapted to the environment and hence more likely to produce descendants. Combined with the later discoveries of the cellular and molecular basis of genetics, Darwin's theory of evolution has, with some modification, become the dominant unifying concept of modern biology.

2. the gradual development of something, especially from a simple to a more complex form

• the forms of written languages undergo constant evolution.

3. [Chemistry] the giving off of a gaseous product, or of heat.

4. a pattern of movements or maneuvers

• silk ribbons waving in fanciful evolutions.

5. [Mathematics] ‹dated› the extraction of a root from a given quantity.

II. derivatives

1. evolutional /-SHənl /

adjective

2. evolutionally /-(ə)lē /

adverb

3. evolutive /ˌevəˈlo͞odiv /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin evolutio(n-) ‘unrolling,’ from the verb evolvere (see evolve). Early senses related to physical movement, first recorded in describing a tactical “wheeling” maneuver in the realignment of troops or ships. Current senses stem from a notion of “opening out” and “unfolding,” giving rise to a general sense of ‘development.’

evolutionary /ˌevəˈlo͞oSHəˌnerē/

I. adjective

1. relating to or denoting the process by which different kinds of living organisms are believed to have developed from earlier forms during the history of the earth

• Darwinian evolutionary theory

• chance enters into the evolutionary process in the form of naturally occurring random mutations.

2. relating to the gradual development of something

• updating technology is an evolutionary process.

3. relating to a pattern of movements or maneuvers

• evolutionary tactics

• he was in command of the evolutionary squadron.

II. derivatives

evolutionarily /ˌevəˌlo͞oSHəˈnerəlē /

adverb

evolutionist /ˌevəˈlo͞oSHənəst/

I. noun

a person who believes in the theories of evolution and natural selection.

II. adjective

of or relating to the theories of evolution and natural selection

• an evolutionist model.

III. derivatives

evolutionism /ˌevəˈlo͞oSHəˌnizəm ˌēvəˈlo͞oSHəˌnizəm /

noun

evolve /ēˈvälv/

I. verb

1. develop gradually, especially from a simple to a more complex form
[no obj.]

• the company has evolved into a major chemical manufacturer

• the Gothic style evolved steadily and naturally from the Romanesque

• [with obj.] each school must evolve its own way of working.

2. (with reference to an organism or biological feature) develop over successive generations, especially as a result of natural selection
[no obj.]

• the populations are cut off from each other and evolve independently.

3. [with obj.] — [Chemistry] give off (gas or heat).

II. derivatives

1. evolvable

adjective

2. evolvement /əˈvälvmənt ēˈvälvmənt əˈvôlvmənt ēˈvôlvmənt /

noun

– origin early 17th cent. (in the general sense ‘make more complex, develop’): from Latin evolvere, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out of’ + volvere ‘to roll.’

EVOO

abbreviation

extra virgin olive oil.

Évros /ˈevrôs/

Greek name for the Maritsa.

evulsion /əˈvəlZH(ə)n əˈvəlSH(ə)n/

noun

the action of plucking something out by force; violent or forcible extraction.

Évvoia /ˈevyä, ˈevēä/

Greek name for Euboea.

evzone /ˈevzōn/

I. noun

a kilted soldier belonging to a select Greek infantry regiment.

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Greek euzōnos, from Greek, ‘dressed for exercise’ (from eu- ‘fine’ + zōnē ‘belt’), because of their distinctive uniform, which includes a fustanella.

ew /ˈēo͞o / eww

I. exclamation

‹informal› used to express disgust or distaste

• ew, I'd hate to think what has been trampled into that carpet

• eww, how can you eat that?

– origin 1970s: imitative.

EW

abbreviation

enlisted woman (women).

ewe /yo͞o/

I. noun

a female sheep.

– origin Old English eowu, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch ooi and German Aue.

Ewe /ˈāwā, ˈāvā/

I. noun

1. a member of a people of Ghana, Togo, and Benin.

2. the Kwa language of the Ewe.

II. adjective

relating to the Ewe or their language.

– origin the name in Ewe.

ewe neck

I. noun

a horse's neck of which the upper outline curves downward instead of upward.

II. derivatives

ewe-necked

adjective

ewer /ˈyo͞oər/

I. noun

a large jug with a wide mouth, formerly used for carrying water for someone to wash in.

– origin late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French ewer, variant of Old French aiguiere, based on Latin aquarius ‘of water,’ from aqua ‘water.’

Ewing, Patrick /ˈyo͞o-iNG/

(1962–), US basketball player, born in Jamaica; full name Patrick Aloysius Ewing. Before playing center for the New York Knicks 1985–2000, he led the US Olympic team to gold medals in 1984 and 1992. He later played for the Seattle SuperSonics 2000–2001 and the Orlando Magic 2001–2002.

ex^1 /eks/

I. preposition

1. (of goods) sold direct from

• carpet tiles offered at a special price, ex stock.

2. without; excluding

• the discount and market price are ex dividend.

– origin mid 19th cent. (sense 2): from Latin, ‘out of.’

ex^2 /eks/

I. noun

‹informal› a former husband, wife, or partner in a relationship

• I don't want my ex to spoil what I have now.

– origin early 19th cent.: independent usage of ex-1.

Ex.

abbreviation

[Bible] Exodus.

ex-1 /eks / e-

I. prefix

1. out; outside of

• expand

• express.

2. up and away; upward

• excel

• extol.

3. thoroughly

• exacerbate

• excruciate.

4. removal or release

• excommunicate

• exculpate

• expel.

5. forming verbs expressing inducement of a state

• exasperate

• excite.

6. forming nouns (from titles of office, status, etc.) expressing a former state

• ex-husband

• ex-convict.

– origin from Latin ex ‘out of.’ / usage: Ex- is assimilated as ef- before f (as in effeminate). Exfiltrate and exfoliate and their derivatives are exceptions.

ex-2 /eks/

I. prefix

out

• exodus

• exorcism.

– origin from Greek ex ‘out of.’

exa-

I. combining form

(used in units of measurement) denoting a factor of 10^18

• exajoule.

– origin from (h)exa- (see hexa-), based on the supposed analogy of tera- and tetra-.

exabyte /ˈeksəbīt / Eb, EB

noun

[Computing] a unit of information equal to one quintillion (10^18) bytes, or one billion gigabytes.

exacerbate /iɡˈzasərˌbāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse

• the exorbitant cost of land in urban areas only exacerbated the problem

• the forest fire was exacerbated by the lack of rain.

II. derivatives

exacerbation /iɡˌzasərˈbāSHən eɡˌzasərˈbāSHən /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin exacerbat- ‘made harsh,’ from the verb exacerbare, from ex- (expressing inducement of a state) + acerbus ‘harsh, bitter.’ The noun exacerbation (late Middle English) originally meant ‘provocation to anger.’ / usage: On the difference between exacerbate and exasperate, see usage at exasperate.

exact /iɡˈzakt/

I. adjective

1. not approximated in any way; precise

• the exact details were still being worked out.

2. accurate or correct in all details

• an exact replica, two feet tall, was constructed.

3. (of a person) tending to be accurate and careful about minor details

• she was an exact, clever manager.

4. (of a subject of study) permitting precise or absolute measurements as a basis for rigorously testable theories

• psychomedicine isn't an exact science yet.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. demand and obtain (something, especially a payment) from someone

• tributes exacted from the Slavic peoples

• William's advisers exacted an oath of obedience from the clergy.

2. inflict (revenge) on someone

• a frustrated woman bent on exacting a cruel revenge for his rejection.

III. derivatives

1. exactable /iɡˈzaktəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. exactitude /iɡˈzaktəˌt(y)o͞od /

noun

3. exactor /iɡˈzaktər /

noun

– origin late Middle English (as a verb): from Latin exact- ‘completed, ascertained, enforced,’ from the verb exigere, from ex- ‘thoroughly’ + agere ‘perform.’ The adjective dates from the mid 16th cent. and reflects the Latin exactus ‘precise.’

exacta /iɡˈzaktə/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a bet in which the first two places in a race must be predicted in the correct order.
Compare with quinella.

– origin 1960s: from American Spanish (quiniela) exacta ‘exact (quinella).’

exacting /iɡˈzaktiNG/

I. adjective

making great demands on one's skill, attention, or other resources

• living up to such exacting standards.

II. derivatives

1. exactingly

adverb

2. exactingness

noun

exaction /iɡˈzakSHən/

I. noun

1. ‹formal› the action of demanding and obtaining something from someone, especially a payment or service

• he supervised the exaction of tolls at various ports.

2. ‹formal› a sum of money demanded for a payment or service.

3. ‹formal› an act of demanding unfair and exorbitant payment; an act of extortion.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin exactio(n-), from exigere ‘ascertain, perfect, enforce’ (see exact).

exactly /iɡˈzak(t)lē/

I. adverb

1. without discrepancy (used to emphasize the accuracy of a figure or description)

• they met in 1989 and got married exactly two years later

• fold the second strip of paper in exactly the same way.

2. in exact terms; without vagueness

• what exactly are you looking for?

3. used as a reply to confirm or agree with what has just been said

• “You mean that you're going to tell me the truth?” “Exactly.”

II. phrases

not exactly ‹informal›

a. not at all

• that was not exactly convincing.

b. not quite but close to being

• not exactly agitated, but disturbed.

exactness /iɡˈzak(t)nəs/

noun

the quality of being accurate or correct; precision

• it is impossible to calculate with mathematical exactness.

exaggerate /iɡˈzajəˌrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. represent (something) as being larger, greater, better, or worse than it really is

• they were apt to exaggerate any aches and pains

• [no obj.] I couldn't sleep for three days—I'm not exaggerating.

2. (as adj. exaggerated) — enlarged or altered beyond normal or due proportions

• her plump thighs, exaggerated hips, and minuscule waist.

II. derivatives

1. exaggeratedly /iɡˈzajəˌrādədlē /

adverb

2. exaggerative /iɡˈzajəˌrādiv /

adjective

3. exaggerator /iɡˈzajəˌrādər /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin exaggerat- ‘heaped up,’ from the verb exaggerare, from ex- ‘thoroughly’ + aggerare ‘heap up’ (from agger ‘heap’). The word originally meant ‘pile up, accumulate,’ later ‘intensify praise or blame,’ ‘dwell on a virtue or fault,’ giving rise to current senses.

exaggeration /iɡˌzajəˈrāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. a statement that represents something as better or worse than it really is

• it would be an exaggeration to say I had morning sickness, but I did feel queasy.

2. the action of making statements that represent something as better or worse than it really is

• he was prone to exaggeration.

exalt /iɡˈzôlt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. hold (someone or something) in very high regard; think or speak very highly of

• the party will continue to exalt its hero.

2. raise to a higher rank or a position of greater power

• this naturally exalts the peasant above his brethren in the same rank of society.

3. make noble in character; dignify

• romanticism liberated the imagination and exalted the emotions.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin exaltare, from ex- ‘out, upward’ + altus ‘high.’

exaltation /ˌeɡˌzôlˈtāSHən/

I. noun

1. a feeling or state of extreme happiness

• she beams with exaltation.

2. the action of elevating someone in rank, power, or character

• the resurrection and exaltation of Christ.

3. the action of praising someone or something highly

• the exaltation of the army as a place for brotherhood.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘the action of raising high’): from late Latin exaltatio(n-), from Latin exaltare ‘raise aloft’ (see exalt).

exalted /iɡˈzôltəd/

I. adjective

1. (of a person or their rank or status) placed at a high or powerful level; held in high regard

• it had taken her years of hard infighting to reach her present exalted rank.

2. (of an idea) noble; lofty

• his exalted hopes of human progress.

3. in a state of extreme happiness

• I felt exalted and newly alive.

II. derivatives

1. exaltedly

adverb

2. exaltedness

noun

exam /iɡˈzam/

noun

1. short for examination (sense 2):

• he was likely to fail his exams again

• [as modifier] exam results.

2. [with adj. or noun modifier] — (N. Amer.) a medical test of a specified kind

• routine eye exams.

examen /iɡˈzāmən/

I. noun

a formal examination of the soul or conscience, made usually daily by Jesuits and some other Roman Catholics.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin, in the figurative sense ‘examination’ (literally ‘tongue of a balance’), from exigere ‘weigh accurately.’

examination /iɡˌzaməˈnāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a detailed inspection or investigation

• an examination of marketing behavior

• a medical examination is conducted without delay.

2. the action or process of conducting an inspection or investigation

• the treaty is under examination by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

3. a formal test of a person's knowledge or proficiency in a particular subject or skill

• he scraped through the examinations at the end of his first year.

4. [Law] the formal questioning of a witness in court.

– origin late Middle English (also in the sense ‘testing (one's conscience) by a standard’): via Old French from Latin examinatio(n-), from examinare ‘weigh, test’ (see examine).

examination for discovery

noun

(Canadian) [Law] a meeting in which the evidence to be presented at a civil trial is disclosed before the trial takes place

• I have seen the employee's case collapse as a result of information obtained only at examination for discovery.

examination-in-chief /eɡˌzaməˈnāSHənin(t)SHēf/

noun

another term for direct examination.

examine /iɡˈzamən/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. inspect (someone or something) in detail to determine their nature or condition; investigate thoroughly

• a doctor examined me and said I might need a caesarean

• this forced us to examine every facet of our business.

2. test the knowledge or proficiency of (someone) by requiring them to answer questions or perform tasks

• the colleges set standards by examining candidates.

3. [Law] formally question (a witness) in court.
Compare with cross-examine.

II. derivatives

1. examinable /iɡˈzamənəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. examinee /iɡˌzaməˈnē eɡˌzaməˈnē /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French examiner, from Latin examinare ‘weigh, test,’ from examen (see examen).

examiner /ˌiɡˈzamənər/

noun

1. a person whose job is to inspect something; an inspector

• a police vehicle examiner.

2. a person who administers and grades examinations to test people's knowledge or proficiency.

example /iɡˈzampəl/

I. noun

1. a thing characteristic of its kind or illustrating a general rule

• it's a good example of how European action can produce results

• some of these carpets are among the finest examples of the period.

2. a printed or written problem or exercise designed to illustrate a rule.

3. a person or thing regarded in terms of their fitness to be imitated or the likelihood of their being imitated

• it is vitally important that parents should set an example

• she followed her brother's example and deserted her family.

II. verb — (be exampled)

1. be illustrated or exemplified

• the extent of Allied naval support is exampled by the navigational specialists provided.

III. phrases

1. for example

used to introduce something chosen as a typical case

• many, like Helen, for example, come from very poor backgrounds.

2. make an example of

punish as a warning to others.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, from Latin exemplum, from eximere ‘take out,’ from ex- ‘out’ + emere ‘take.’ Compare with sample.

exanimate /ekˈsanəmət/

I. adjective

‹rare› showing no sign of life; lifeless

• his exanimate body.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin exanimatus ‘deprived of life,’ from ex- ‘out’ + animatus (see animate).

ex ante /ˌeks ˈantē/

I. adjective, adverb

based on forecasts rather than actual results
[as adj.]

• this is an ex ante estimate of the variance.

– origin modern Latin, from Latin ex ‘from, out of’ + ante ‘before.’

exanthema /ˌeɡzanˈTHēmə/

I. noun

[Medicine] a skin rash accompanying a disease or fever.

II. derivatives

1. exanthematic /eɡˌzanTHəˈmatik /

adjective

2. exanthematous /-ˈTHemətəs /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: via late Latin from Greek exanthēma ‘eruption,’ from ex- ‘out’ + antheein ‘to blossom’ (from anthos ‘flower’).

exarch /ˈeksärk/

I. noun

1. (in the Orthodox Church) a bishop lower in rank than a patriarch and having jurisdiction wider than the metropolitan of a diocese.

2. ‹historical› a governor of a distant province under the Byzantine emperors.

– origin late 16th cent.: via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek exarkhos, from ex- ‘out of’ + arkhos ‘ruler.’

exarchate /ˈeksärˌkāt/

I. noun

‹historical› a distant province governed by an exarch under the Byzantine emperors.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from medieval Latin exarchatus, from ecclesiastical Latin exarchus, from Greek (see exarch).

exasperate /iɡˈzaspəˌrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. irritate intensely; infuriate

• this futile process exasperates prison officials

• (as adj. exasperated) she grew exasperated with his inability to notice anything.

II. derivatives

exasperatedly

adverb

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin exasperat- ‘irritated to anger,’ from the verb exasperare (based on asper ‘rough’). / usage: The verbs exasperate and exacerbate are sometimes confused. Exasperate, the more common of the two, means ‘irritate or annoy to an extreme degree’ (He calls me three times a day asking for money. It's exasperating!). Exacerbate means ‘increase the bitterness or severity of’ (the star shortstop's loud self-congratulations only exacerbated his teammates’ resentment).

exasperating /iɡˈzaspəˌrādiNG/

I. adjective

intensely irritating; infuriating

• they suffered a number of exasperating setbacks.

II. derivatives

exasperatingly /iɡˈzaspəˌrādiNGlē /

adverb

exasperation /iɡˌzaspəˈrāSH(ə)n/

noun

a feeling of intense irritation or annoyance

• she rolled her eyes in exasperation.

exc.

abbreviation

1. except.

2. exception.

3. excursion.

Exc.

abbreviation

Excellency.

Excalibur /ekˈskaləbər/

(in Arthurian legend) King Arthur's magic sword.

ex cathedra /ˌeks kəˈTHēdrə/

I. adverb, adjective

with the full authority of office (especially of the pope's infallibility as defined in Roman Catholic doctrine)
[as adv.]

• for an encyclical to be infallible the pope must speak ex cathedra.

– origin early 19th cent.: Latin, ‘from the (teacher's) chair,’ from ex ‘from’ and cathedra ‘seat’ (from Greek kathedra).

excavate /ˈekskəˌvāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (a hole or channel) by digging

• the cheapest way of doing this was to excavate a long trench.

2. dig out material from (the ground)

• the ground was largely excavated by hand.

3. extract (material) from the ground by digging

• a very large amount of gravel would be excavated to form the channel.

4. remove earth carefully and systematically from (an area) in order to find buried remains.

5. reveal or extract (buried remains) by carefully removing earth

• clothing and weapons were excavated from the burial site.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin excavat- ‘hollowed out,’ from the verb excavare, from ex- ‘out’ + cavare ‘make or become hollow’ (from cavus ‘hollow’).

excavation /ˌekskəˈvāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action of excavating something, especially an archaeological site

• the methods of excavation have to be extremely rigorous

• students often participate in excavations.

2. a site that is being or has been excavated.

excavator /ˈekskəˌvādər/

noun

1. a person who removes earth carefully and systematically from an archaeological site in order to find buried remains.

2. a large machine for removing soil from the ground, especially on a building site.

exceed /ikˈsēd/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. be greater in number or size than (a quantity, number, or other measurable thing)

• production costs have exceeded $60,000.

2. go beyond what is allowed or stipulated by (a set limit, especially of one's authority)

• the Tribunal's decision clearly exceeds its powers under the statute.

3. be better than; surpass

• catalog sales have exceeded expectations.

II. derivatives

exceedance

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘go over a boundary or specified point’): from Old French exceder, from Latin excedere, from ex- ‘out’ + cedere ‘go.’

exceeding /ikˈsēdiNG ekˈsēdiNG / ‹archaic literary›

I. adjective

very great

• she spoke warmly of his exceeding kindness.

II. adverb — [as submodifier]

1. extremely; exceedingly

• an ale of exceeding poor quality.

exceedingly /ikˈsēdiNGlē/

adverb

1. [as submodifier] — extremely

• the team played exceedingly well.

2. ‹archaic› to a great extent

• the supply multiplied exceedingly.

excel /ikˈsel/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. be exceptionally good at or proficient in an activity or subject

• a sturdy youth who excelled at football.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin excellere, from ex- ‘out, beyond’ + celsus ‘lofty.’

excellence /ˈeks(ə)ləns/

I. noun

1. the quality of being outstanding or extremely good

• the award for excellence in engineering

• a center of academic excellence.

2. ‹archaic› an outstanding feature or quality.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin excellentia, from the verb excellere ‘surpass’ (see excel).

excellency /ˈeksələnsē/

I. noun

1. (His, Your, etc., Excellency) — a title given to certain high officials of state, especially ambassadors, or of the Roman Catholic Church, or used in addressing them

• His Excellency the Indian Consul General.

2. ‹archaic› an outstanding feature or quality.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘excellence’): from Latin excellentia, from excellere ‘surpass’ (see excel). The use of the word as a title dates from the mid 16th cent.

excellent /ˈeks(ə)lənt/

I. adjective

extremely good; outstanding

• a 3-bedroom house in excellent condition

• their results are excellent.

II. exclamation

used to indicate approval or pleasure

• “What a lovely idea! Excellent!”

– origin late Middle English (in the general sense ‘excelling, outstanding,’ referring to either a good or bad quality): from Old French, from Latin excellent ‘being preeminent,’ from excellere (see excel). The current appreciatory sense dates from the early 17th cent.

excellently /ˈeks(ə)lən(t)lē/

adverb

in an extremely good or outstanding way

• all the actors performed excellently

• the remains were excellently preserved.

excelsior /ikˈselsēər/

I. noun

1. used in the names of hotels, newspapers, and other products to indicate superior quality

• they stayed at the Excelsior.

2. (N. Amer.) softwood shavings used for packing fragile goods or stuffing furniture.

– origin late 18th cent. (as an exclamation): from Latin, comparative of excelsus, from ex- ‘out, beyond’ + celsus ‘lofty.’

Excelsior State

a nickname for the state of New York.

excentric /ikˈsentrik/

I. adjective

[chiefly Biology] not centrally placed or not having its axis or other part placed centrally

• a distinct excentric nucleus.

II. derivatives

excentrically /-(ə)lē /

adverb

except /ikˈsept/

I. preposition

not including; other than

• naked except for my socks

• they work every day except Sunday.

II. conjunction

1. used before a statement that forms an exception to one just made

• I didn't tell him anything, except that I needed the money

• our berets were the same except mine had a leather band inside.

2. ‹archaic› unless

• she never offered advice, except it were asked of her.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› specify as not included in a category or group; exclude

• he excepted from his criticism a handful of distinguished writers.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin except- ‘taken out,’ from the verb excipere, from ex- ‘out of’ + capere ‘take.’ / usage: See usage at accept.

excepted /ikˈseptəd/

adjective — [postpositive]

1. not included in the category or group specified

• most museums (the Getty excepted) have small acquisitions budgets.

excepting /ikˈseptiNG/

preposition

‹formal› except for; apart from

• excepting some of the dialogue, the book is in every way superior to the movie.

exception /ikˈsepSH(ə)n/

I. noun

a person or thing that is excluded from a general statement or does not follow a rule

• the drives between towns are a delight, and the journey to Graz is no exception

• while he normally shies away from introducing resolutions, he made an exception in this case.

II. phrases

1. the exception proves the rule

‹proverb› the fact that some cases do not follow a rule proves that the rule applies in all other cases.
[From Latin exceptio probat regulam in casibus non exceptis ‘The exception confirms the rule in the cases not excepted.’ The exception here is ‘the action of excepting’ not ‘that being excepted.’ By specifically excluding cases where the rule doesn't apply, you make the rule stronger for the cases still governed by it.]

2. take exception to

object strongly to; be offended by

• they took exception to his bohemian demeanor.

3. with the exception of

except; not including.

4. without exception

with no one or nothing excluded.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin exceptio(n-), from excipere ‘take out’ (see except).

exceptionable /ikˈsepSH(ə)nəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

‹formal› open to objection; causing disapproval or offense

• his drawings are almost the only exceptionable part of his work.

usage: Exceptionable means ‘open to objection’ and is usually found in negative contexts: there was nothing exceptionable in the evidence. It is sometimes confused with the much more common exceptional, meaning ‘unusual, outstanding.’ Their opposites, unexceptionable (‘unobjectionable, beyond criticism’) and unexceptional (‘ordinary’), are also sometimes confused. See also usage at unexceptionable.

exceptional /ˌikˈsepSH(ə)n(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. unusual; not typical

• crimes of exceptional callousness and cruelty.

2. unusually good; outstanding

• a pepper offering exceptional flavor and juiciness.

3. (US) (of a child) mentally or physically disabled so as to require special schooling

• helping parents of exceptional children.

II. derivatives

exceptionality /ikˌsepSHəˈnalədē /

noun

usage: See usage at exceptionable.

exceptionally /ˌikˈsepSH(ə)nəlē/

adverb

1. to a greater degree than normal; unusually
[as submodifier]

• the weather was exceptionally mild for the time of the year.

2. only in unusual circumstances

• the court allows half an hour in most cases, one hour exceptionally for a very important case.

excerpt

I. noun — /ˈekˌsərpt /

1. a short extract from a film, broadcast, or piece of music or writing.

II. verb — /ikˈsərpt / [with obj.]

1. take (a short extract) from a text

• the notes are excerpted from his forthcoming biography.

2. take an excerpt or excerpts from (a text).

III. derivatives

1. excerptible /ekˈsərptəbəl, ik- /

adjective

2. excerption /ekˈsərpSHən ikˈsərpSHən eɡˈzərpSHən iɡˈzərpSHən /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (as a verb): from Latin excerpt- ‘plucked out,’ from the verb excerpere, from ex- ‘out of’ + carpere ‘to pluck.’

excess /ikˈses ˈekses/

I. noun

1. an amount of something that is more than necessary, permitted, or desirable

• are you suffering from an excess of stress in your life?

2. the amount by which one quantity or number exceeds another

• the excess of imports over exports rose $1.4 billion.

3. lack of moderation in an activity, especially eating or drinking

• bouts of alcoholic excess.

4. (excesses) — outrageous or immoderate behavior

• the worst excesses of the French Revolution.

5. the action of exceeding a permitted limit

• there is no issue as to excess of jurisdiction.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. exceeding a prescribed or desirable amount

• trim any excess fat off the meat.

III. phrases

1. in (or to) excess

exceeding the proper amount or degree

• she insisted that he did not drink to excess.

2. in excess of

more than; exceeding

• a top speed in excess of 20 knots.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin excessus, from excedere ‘go out, surpass’ (see exceed).

excess baggage

noun

1. luggage weighing more than the limit allowed on an aircraft and liable to an extra charge.

2. a thing that is surplus to requirements, and therefore unwanted or inconvenient.

excessive /ikˈsesiv/

I. adjective

more than is necessary, normal, or desirable; immoderate

• he was drinking excessive amounts of brandy.

II. derivatives

excessiveness /ikˈsesivnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French excessif, -ive, from medieval Latin excessivus, from Latin excedere ‘surpass’ (see exceed).

excessively /əkˈsesivlē/

adverb

to a greater degree or in greater amounts than is necessary, normal, or desirable; inordinately

• they don't drink excessively

• [as submodifier] excessively high taxes.

exch.

abbreviation

1. exchange.

2. exchequer.

exchange /iksˈCHānj/

I. noun

1. an act of giving one thing and receiving another (especially of the same type or value) in return

• negotiations should eventually lead to an exchange of land for peace

• an exchange of prisoners of war

• opportunities for the exchange of information.

2. a visit or visits in which two people or groups from different countries stay with each other or do each other's jobs
[as modifier]

• nine colleagues were away on an exchange visit to Germany.

3. a short conversation; an argument

• there was a heated exchange.

4. the giving of money for its equivalent in the money of another country.

5. the fee or percentage charged for converting the currency of one country into that of another.

6. a system or market in which commercial transactions involving currency, shares, commodities, etc., can be carried out within or between countries. See also foreign exchange.

7. a central office or station of operations providing telephone service

• private branch exchanges to automate internal telephone networks.

8. [Chess] a move or short sequence of moves in which both players capture material of comparable value, or particularly in which one captures a rook in return for a knight or bishop (and is said to win the exchange).

9. a building or institution used for the trading of a particular commodity or commodities

• the New York Stock Exchange.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. give something and receive something of the same kind in return

• we exchanged addresses

• he exchanged a concerned glance with Stephen.

2. give or receive one thing in place of another

• we regret that tickets cannot be exchanged

• she exchanged her suburban housewife look for leathers and tattoos.

III. phrases

in exchange

as a thing exchanged

• at 8, he was carrying bags of groceries in exchange for a nickel.

IV. derivatives

1. exchangeability /iksˌCHānjəˈbilədē /

noun

2. exchangeable /iksˈCHānjəbəl eksˈCHānjəbəl /

adjective

3. exchanger /iksˈCHānjər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French eschange (noun), eschangier (verb), based on changer (see change). The spelling was influenced by Latin ex- ‘out, utterly’ (see ex-1).

exchange control /iksˈCHānj eksˈCHānj kənˈtrōl/

noun

a governmental restriction on the movement of currency between countries.

exchange rate

noun

the value of one currency for the purpose of conversion to another.

exchange rate mechanism ERM

an arrangement within the European Monetary System that allows the value of participating currencies to fluctuate to a defined degree in relation to each other so as to control exchange rates. Each currency is given a rate of exchange with the euro, from which it is allowed to fluctuate by no more than a specified amount; if it moves beyond this the government in question must alter its economic policies or reset the currency's rate with the euro.

exchange-traded fund

noun

a type of investment fund that is traded on a stock exchange

• two exchange-traded funds that own biotechnology stocks both fell about 4% this week.

exchange transfusion

noun

[Medicine] the simultaneous removal of a patient's blood and replacement by donated blood, used in treating serious conditions such as hemolytic disease of the newborn.

exchequer /iksˈCHekər/

I. noun

1. a royal or national treasury.

2. (Exchequer) — (Brit.) the bank account into which tax receipts and other public monies are paid; the funds of the British government.

3. (Exchequer) — (Brit.) ‹historical› the former government office responsible for collecting revenue and making payments on behalf of the sovereign, auditing official accounts, and trying legal cases relating to revenue.

– origin Middle English: from Old French eschequier, from medieval Latin scaccarium ‘chessboard,’ from scaccus (see check^1). The original sense was ‘chessboard.’ Current senses derive from the department of state established by the Norman kings of England to deal with the royal revenues, named Exchequer from the checkered tablecloth on which accounts were kept by means of counters. The spelling was influenced by Latin ex- ‘out’ (see ex^1). Compare with chequer.

excimer /ˈeksəmər/

I. noun

[Chemistry] an unstable molecule that is formed in an excited state by the combination of two smaller molecules or atoms and rapidly dissociates with emission of radiation. Such species are utilized in some kinds of lasers.

– origin 1960s: blend of excited and dimer.

excipient /ikˈsipēənt/

I. noun

an inactive substance that serves as the vehicle or medium for a drug or other active substance.

– origin early 18th cent. (as an adjective in the sense ‘that takes exception’): from Latin excipient- ‘taking out,’ from the verb excipere.

excise^1

I. noun — /ˈekˌsīz / [usu. as modifier]

1. a tax levied on certain goods and commodities produced or sold within a country and on licenses granted for certain activities

• excise taxes on cigarettes.

II. verb — /ikˈsīz / [with obj.] (usu. as adj. excised)

1. charge excise on (goods)

• excised goods.

– origin late 15th cent. (in the general sense ‘a tax or toll’): from Middle Dutch excijs, accijs, perhaps based on Latin accensare ‘to tax,’ from ad- ‘to’ + census ‘tax’ (see census).

excise^2 /ikˈsīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cut out surgically

• the precision with which surgeons can excise brain tumors

• (as adj. excised) excised tissue.

2. remove (a section) from a text or piece of music

• the clauses were excised from the treaty.

II. derivatives

excision /ikˈsiZH(ə)n /

noun

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘notch or hollow out’): from Latin excis- ‘cut out,’ from the verb excidere, from ex- ‘out of’ + caedere ‘to cut.’

exciseman /ˈeksīzmən/

noun

(Brit.) ‹historical› an official responsible for collecting excise tax and preventing infringement of the excise laws (especially by smuggling).

excitable /ikˈsīdəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. responding rather too readily to something new or stimulating; too easily excited

• Chip could be a bit wayward and excitable.

2. (of tissue or a cell) responsive to stimulation.

II. derivatives

1. excitability /ikˌsīdəˈbilədē /

noun

2. excitably /-əblē /

adverb

excitant /ikˈsītnt/

I. noun

[Biology] a substance that elicits an active physiological or behavioral response.

– origin early 17th cent.: perhaps suggested by French excitant.

excitation /ˌeksəˈtāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. ‹technical› the application of energy to a particle, object, or physical system, in particular

2. [Physics] the process in which an atom or other particle adopts a higher energy state when energy is supplied

• thermal excitation.

3. [Physiology] the state of enhanced activity or potential activity of a cell, organism, or tissue that results from its stimulation.

4. [Physics] the process of applying current to the winding of an electromagnet to produce a magnetic field.

5. [Electronics] the process of applying a signal voltage to the control electrode of an electron tube or the base of a transistor.

6. the action or state of exciting or being excited; excitement

• a state of sexual excitation.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, from late Latin excitatio(n-), from excitare ‘rouse, call forth’ (see excite).

excitative /ikˈsīdədiv/

adjective

‹rare› causing excitation.

excitatory /ikˈsīdəˌtôrē/

adjective

[chiefly Physiology] characterized by, causing, or constituting excitation

• the excitatory action of these impulses.

excite /ikˈsīt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause strong feelings of enthusiasm and eagerness in (someone)

• flying still excites me

• Gould was excited by these discoveries.

2. arouse (someone) sexually

• his kiss thrilled and excited her.

3. bring out or give rise to (a feeling or reaction)

• the ability to excite interest in others.

4. produce a state of increased energy or activity in (a physical or biological system)

• the energy of an electron is sufficient to excite the atom.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘stir someone up, incite someone to do something’): from Old French exciter or Latin excitare, frequentative of exciere ‘call out or forth.’ Sense 1 dates from the mid 19th cent.

excited /ikˈsīdəd/

adjective

1. very enthusiastic and eager

• they were excited about the prospect

• the excited children.

2. sexually aroused.

3. [Physics] of or in an energy state higher than the normal or ground state.

excitedly /ikˈsīdədlē/

adverb

in a very enthusiastic and eager manner

• he talked excitedly about his future marriage plans

• they excitedly waved and blew kisses.

excitement /ikˈsītmənt/

noun

1. a feeling of great enthusiasm and eagerness

• her cheeks were flushed with excitement

• the excitement of seeing a live leopard.

2. something that arouses enthusiasm and eagerness; an exciting incident

• the excitements of the previous night.

3. sexual arousal.

exciter /ikˈsīdər/

noun

a thing that produces excitation, in particular a device that provides a magnetizing current for the electromagnets in a motor or generator.

exciting /ikˈsīdiNG/

I. adjective

1. causing great enthusiasm and eagerness

• an exciting breakthrough.

2. sexually arousing.

II. derivatives

1. excitingly /ikˈsīdiNGlē /

adverb

2. excitingness

noun

exciton /ˈeksətän/

I. noun

[Physics] a mobile concentration of energy in a crystal formed by an excited electron and an associated hole.

– origin 1930s: from excitation + -on.

excl.

abbreviation

1. exclamation.

2. excluding.

3. exclusive.

exclaim /ikˈsklām/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. cry out suddenly, especially in surprise, anger, or pain

• she looked in the mirror, exclaiming in dismay at her appearance

• [with direct speech] “Well, I never,” she exclaimed.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French exclamer or Latin exclamare, from ex- ‘out’ + clamare ‘to shout.’

exclamation /ˌekskləˈmāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

a sudden cry or remark, especially expressing surprise, anger, or pain

• Meg gave an involuntary exclamation

• an exclamation of amazement.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin exclamatio(n-), from exclamare ‘shout out’ (see exclaim).

exclamation point ‹Brit.› exclamation mark

noun

a punctuation mark (!) indicating an exclamation.

exclamatory /ikˈsklaməˌtôrē ekˈsklaməˌtôrē/

adjective

of or relating to a sudden cry or remark, especially one expressing surprise, anger, or pain.

exclave /ˈeksklāv/

I. noun

a portion of territory of one state completely surrounded by territory of another or others, as viewed by the home territory.
Compare with enclave.

– origin late 19th cent.: from ex-1 ‘out’ + a shortened form of enclave.

exclosure /ikˈsklōZHər/

I. noun

[Forestry] an area from which unwanted animals are excluded.

– origin 1920s: from ex-1 ‘out’ + closure, on the pattern of enclosure.

exclude /ikˈsklo͞od/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. deny (someone) access to or bar (someone) from a place, group, or privilege

• women had been excluded from many scientific societies.

2. keep (something) out of a place

• apply flux to exclude oxygen.

3. remove from consideration; rule out

• computer software is excluded from the mandatory 15-year write-off.

4. prevent the occurrence of; preclude

• clauses seeking to exclude liability for loss or damage.

II. phrases

law (or principle) of the excluded middle

[Logic] the principle that one (and one only) of two contradictory propositions must be true.

III. derivatives

1. excludable

adjective

2. excluder

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin excludere, from ex- ‘out’ + claudere ‘to shut.’

excluding /ikˈsklo͞odiNG/

preposition

not taking someone or something into account; apart from; except

• you have eight more days, excluding Sundays.

exclusion /ikˈsklo͞oZHən/

I. noun

1. the process or state of excluding or being excluded

• drug users are subject to exclusion from the military.

2. an item or risk specifically not covered by an insurance policy or other contract

• exclusions can be added to your policy.

II. phrases

to the exclusion of

so as to exclude something specified

• don't revise a few topics to the exclusion of all others.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin exclusio(n-), from excludere ‘shut out’ (see exclude).

exclusionary /ikˈsklo͞oZHəˌnerē/

adjective

1. relating to or characterized by the exclusion of something, especially from a contract or group

• exclusionary membership policies

• there should be no exclusionary language.

2. relating to an item or eventuality specifically not covered by an insurance policy or other contract

• an exclusionary rule barring liability of the police for negligence.

exclusionary rule /ikˈsklo͞oZHəˌnerē ˌro͞ol/

noun

(US) [Law] a law that prohibits the use of illegally obtained evidence in a criminal trial.

exclusion clause

noun

(in a contract) a clause disclaiming liability for a particular risk.

exclusionist /ikˈsklo͞oZHənəst/

I. adjective

acting to shut out or bar someone from a place, group, or privilege

• an exclusionist foreign policy.

II. noun

a person favoring the exclusion of someone from a place, group, or privilege.

exclusion principle Pauli exclusion principle

noun

see Pauli, Wolfgang.

exclusion zone

noun

an area into which entry is forbidden, especially by ships or aircraft of particular nationalities.

exclusive /ikˈsklo͞osiv/

I. adjective

1. excluding or not admitting other things

• my exclusive focus is on San Antonio issues.

2. unable to exist or be true if something else exists or is true

• these approaches are not exclusive; many students will combine them

• mutually exclusive political views.

3. (of terms) excluding all but what is specified.

4. restricted or limited to the person, group, or area concerned

• the couple had exclusive possession of the condo

• the jaguar and puma are exclusive to the New World.

5. (of an item or story) not published or broadcast elsewhere

• an exclusive interview.

6. (of a commodity) not obtainable elsewhere

• exclusive designer jewelry.

7. catering or available to only a few, select people; high class and expensive

• an exclusive Georgetown neighborhood.

8. [predic.] (exclusive of) — not including; excepting

• prices are exclusive of tax and delivery.

II. noun

an item or story published or broadcast by only one source.

III. derivatives

exclusiveness /ikˈsklo͞osivnis ikˈsklo͞ozivnis ekˈsklo͞osivnis ekˈsklo͞ozivnis /

noun

– origin late 15th cent. (as a noun denoting something that excludes or causes exclusion): from medieval Latin exclusivus, from Latin excludere ‘shut out’ (see exclude).

Exclusive Brethren

plural noun

the more rigorous of two principal divisions of the Plymouth Brethren (the other being the Open Brethren). The Exclusive Brethren restrict their contact with outsiders and with modern technology.

exclusive economic zone

noun

an area of coastal water and seabed within a certain distance of a country's coastline, to which the country claims exclusive rights for fishing, drilling, and other economic activities.

exclusively /ikˈsklo͞osəvlē/

adverb

to the exclusion of others; only; solely

• paints produced exclusively for independent retailers

• [as submodifier] exclusively female concerns.

exclusive OR

noun

1. [Electronics] a Boolean operator working on two variables that has the value of one if one but not both of the variables has a value of one.
Also called XOR.

2. (also exclusive OR gate) — [Electronics] a circuit that produces an output signal when a signal is received through one and only one of its two inputs.

exclusivism /ikˈsklo͞osəˌvizəm/

I. noun

the action or policy of excluding a person or group from a place, group, or privilege.

II. derivatives

exclusivist /ikˈsklo͞osəvəst /

adjective, noun

exclusivity /ˌeksklo͞oˈsivədē/

noun

1. the practice of excluding or not admitting other things

• these banks maintain their exclusivity by setting minimum entry standards

• the event was criticized for its gender exclusivity.

2. the inability to exist or be true if something else exists or is true

• those that maintain exclusivity of religion—that is, one particular religion is the only true religion.

3. restriction to a particular person, group, or area

• those inside the circle cultivate an air of exclusivity

• [as modifier] we have exclusivity agreements with companies.

4. the fact of an item or story not being published or broadcast elsewhere

• there is no sense in us sharing coverage, and we would insist on exclusivity

• agents and publishers can demand exclusivity.

5. the state of catering for or being affordable by only a few, select customers

• the hotel's emphasis is on exclusivity and luxury.

excogitate /eksˈkäjəˌtāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› think out, plan, or devise

• scholars straining to excogitate upon subjects of which they know little.

II. derivatives

excogitation /eksˌkäjəˈtāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin early 16th cent.: from Latin excogitat- ‘found by process of thought,’ from the verb excogitare, from ex- ‘out’ + cogitare ‘think.’

excommunicate

I. verb — /ˌekskəˈmyo͞onəˌkāt / [with obj.]

1. officially exclude (someone) from participation in the sacraments and services of the Christian Church.

II. adjective — /ˌekskəˈmyo͞onikət /

1. excommunicated

• all violators were to be pronounced excommunicate.

III. noun — /ˌekskəˈmyo͞onikət /

1. an excommunicated person.

IV. derivatives

1. excommunicative /ˌekskəˈmyo͞onəˌkādiv /

adjective

2. excommunicator /ˌekskəˈmyo͞onəˌkādər /

noun

3. excommunicatory /ˌekskəˈmyo͞onəkəˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from ecclesiastical Latin excommunicat- ‘excluded from communication with the faithful,’ from the verb excommunicare, from ex- ‘out’ + Latin communis ‘common to all,’ on the pattern of Latin communicare (see communicate).

excommunication /ˌekskəˌmyo͞onəˈkāSH(ə)n/

noun

the action of officially excluding someone from participation in the sacraments and services of the Christian Church

• he appealed against the papal sentence of excommunication.

ex-con /ˈˌeks ˈkän/

I. noun

‹informal› an ex-convict; a former inmate of a prison.

– origin early 20th cent.: abbreviation.

excoriate /ikˈskôrēˌāt ekˈskôrēˌāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› censure or criticize severely

• the papers that had been excoriating him were now lauding him.

2. [chiefly Medicine] damage or remove part of the surface of (the skin).

II. derivatives

excoriation /ikˌskôrēˈāSH(ə)n ekˌskôrēˈāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin excoriat- ‘skinned,’ from the verb excoriare, from ex- ‘out, from’ + corium ‘skin, hide.’

excrement /ˈekskrəmənt/

I. noun

waste matter discharged from the bowels; feces.

II. derivatives

excremental /ˌekskrəˈmen(t)l /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French excrément or Latin excrementum, from excernere ‘to sift out’ (see excrete).

excrescence /ˌikˈskresəns/

I. noun

1. a distinct outgrowth on a human or animal body or on a plant, especially one that is the result of disease or abnormality.

2. an unattractive or superfluous addition or feature

• removing the excrescences of later interpretation.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin excrescentia, from excrescere ‘grow out,’ from ex- ‘out’ + crescere ‘grow.’

excrescent /ˌikˈskres(ə)nt/

adjective

1. forming or constituting an excrescence.

2. (of a speech sound) added without etymological justification (e.g., the -t at the end of the surname Bryant).

excreta /ikˈskrēdə/

I. noun — [treated as sing. or pl.]

1. waste matter discharged from the body, especially feces and urine.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin, ‘things sifted out,’ neuter plural of excretus, past participle of excernere (see excrete).

excrete /ikˈskrēt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a living organism or cell) separate and expel as waste (a substance, especially a product of metabolism)

• excess bicarbonate is excreted by the kidney

• [no obj.] the butterfly pupa neither feeds nor excretes.

II. derivatives

1. excreter

noun

2. excretive /ikˈskrēdiv /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘cause to excrete’): from Latin excret- ‘sifted out,’ from the verb excernere, from ex- ‘out’ + cernere ‘sift.’

excretion /ikˈskrēSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. (in living organisms and cells) the process of eliminating or expelling waste matter.

2. a product of excretion

• bodily excretions.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French excrétion or Latin excretio(n-), from excernere ‘sift out’ (see excrete).

excretory /ˈekskrəˌtôrē/

adjective

of, relating to, or concerned with excretion

• the excretory organs.

excruciate /ikˈskro͞oSHēˌāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹rare› torment (someone) physically or mentally

• I stand back, excruciated by the possibility.

II. derivatives

excruciation /ikˌskro͞oSHēˈāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin excruciat- ‘tormented,’ from the verb excruciare (based on crux, cruc- ‘a cross’).

excruciating /ikˈskro͞oSHēˌādiNG/

adjective

1. intensely painful

• excruciating back pain.

2. mentally agonizing; very embarrassing, awkward, or tedious

• excruciating boredom.

excruciatingly /ikˈskro͞oSHēˌādiNGlē/

adverb

1. to an intensely painful degree

• it stings excruciatingly.

2. [as submodifier] — used to emphasize how embarrassing, awkward, or tedious something is

• the day passed excruciatingly slowly

• I was excruciatingly shy at that age.

exculpate /ˈekskəlˌpāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› show or declare that (someone) is not guilty of wrongdoing

• the article exculpated the mayor.

II. derivatives

1. exculpation /ˌekskəlˈpāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. exculpatory /ˌeksˈkəlpəˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin exculpat- ‘freed from blame,’ from the verb exculpare, from ex- ‘out, from’ + Latin culpa ‘blame.’

excurrent /ekˈskərənt/

I. adjective

[chiefly Zoology] (of a vessel or opening) conveying fluid outward.
The opposite of incurrent.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin excurrent- ‘running out,’ from the verb excurrere.

excursion /ikˈskərZHən/

I. noun

1. a short journey or trip, especially one engaged in as a leisure activity

• an excursion to Mount Etna

• ‹figurative› an excursion into theology.

2. ‹technical› an instance of the movement of something along a path or through an angle.

3. a deviation from a regular pattern, path, or level of operation.

4. ‹archaic› a digression.

5. a military sortie (see — ‹archaic› alarum).

II. derivatives

excursionist /ikˈskərZH(ə)nəst /

noun

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘act of running out,’ also meaning ‘sortie’ in the phrase alarums and excursions (see alarum)): from Latin excursio(n-), from the verb excurrere ‘run out,’ from ex- ‘out’ + currere ‘to run.’

excursive /ikˈskərsiv/

I. adjective

‹formal› of the nature of an excursion; ranging widely; digressive.

II. derivatives

1. excursively

adverb

2. excursiveness /ikˈskərsivnəs /

noun

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin excurs- ‘digressed, run out’ (from the verb excurrere) + -ive, perhaps influenced by discursive.

excursus /ekˈskərsəs/

I. noun

1. a detailed discussion of a particular point in a book, usually in an appendix.

2. a digression in a written text.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin, ‘excursion,’ from excurrere ‘run out.’

excusable /ikˈskyo͞ozəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

able to be justified or forgiven; forgivable

• the error is excusable.

II. derivatives

excusably /ikˈskyo͞ozəblē /

adverb

excusal /ikˈskyo͞ozəl/

I. noun

(typically in legal contexts) the action or fact of excusing or being excused

• he harbored views that would prevent or substantially impair the performance of his duties so as to support his excusal for cause.

– origin late 16th cent.: from excuse (verb) + -al.

excuse

I. verb — /ikˈskyo͞oz / [with obj.]

1. attempt to lessen the blame attaching to (a fault or offense); seek to defend or justify

• he did nothing to hide or excuse Jacob's cruelty.

2. forgive (someone) for a fault or offense

• you must excuse my sister

• he could be excused for feeling that he was born at the wrong time.

3. overlook or forgive (a fault or offense)

• sit down—excuse the mess.

4. (of a fact or circumstance) serve in mitigation of (a person or act)

• his ability excuses most of his faults.

5. release (someone) from a duty or requirement

• it will not be possible to excuse you from jury duty.

6. (used in polite formulas) allow (someone) to leave a room or gathering

• now, if you'll excuse us, we have to be getting along.

7. (excuse oneself) — say politely that one is leaving.

8. (be excused) — (used especially by school pupils) be allowed to leave the room, especially to go to the bathroom

• please, can I be excused?

II. noun — /ikˈskyo͞os /

1. a reason or explanation put forward to defend or justify a fault or offense

• there can be no possible excuse for any further delay

• no one will have the excuse that they didn’t know.

2. a reason put forward to conceal the real reason for an action; a pretext

• they use their hunting as an excuse to get away from the womenfolk.

3. (an excuse for) — ‹informal› a poor or inadequate example of

• that pathetic excuse for a man!

III. phrases

1. excuse me

a. said politely in various contexts, for example when attempting to get someone's attention, asking someone to move so that one may pass, or interrupting or disagreeing with a speaker.

b. (N. Amer.) said when asking someone to repeat what they have just said.

2. make one's excuses

say politely that one is leaving or cannot be present.

IV. derivatives

excusatory /ikˈskyo͞ozəˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French escuser (verb), from Latin excusare ‘to free from blame,’ from ex- ‘out’ + causa ‘accusation, cause.’

ex div.

abbreviation

ex dividend.

ex dividend /ˌeks ˈdivədənd/

adjective, adverb

(of stocks or shares) not including the next dividend.

exec /iɡˈzek/

I. noun

‹informal› an executive

• top execs.

– origin late 19th cent.: abbreviation.

execrable /ˈeksəkrəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

extremely bad or unpleasant

• execrable cheap wine.

II. derivatives

execrably /ˈeksəkrəblē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘expressing or involving a curse’): via Old French from Latin execrabilis, from exsecrari ‘to curse’ (see execrate).

execrate /ˈeksəˌkrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. feel or express great loathing for

• they were execrated as dangerous and corrupt.

2. [no obj.] — ‹archaic› curse; swear.

II. derivatives

1. execration /ˌeksəˈkrāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. execrative /ˈeksəˌkrādiv /

adjective

3. execratory /-krəˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin exsecrat- ‘cursed,’ from the verb exsecrari, based on sacrare ‘dedicate’ (from sacer ‘sacred’).

executable /ˈeksəˌkyo͞odəb(ə)l / ‹Computing›

I. adjective

(of a file or program) able to be run by a computer.

II. noun

an executable file or program.

executant /iɡˈzekyədənt / ‹formal›

I. noun

1. a person who carries something into effect

• executants of the publisher's will.

2. a person who performs music or makes a work of art or craft.

II. adjective

of or relating to the performance of music or the making of works of art or craft

• music is both an art and an executant skill.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French exécutant ‘carrying out,’ present participle of exécuter (see execute).

execute /ˈeksəˌkyo͞ot/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. carry out or put into effect (a plan, order, or course of action)

• the corporation executed a series of financial deals.

2. produce (a work of art)

• not only does she execute embroideries, she designs them, too.

3. perform (an activity or maneuver requiring care or skill)

• they had to execute their dance steps with the greatest precision.

4. [Law] make (a legal instrument) valid by signing or sealing it.

5. [Law] carry out (a judicial sentence, the terms of a will, or other order)

• police executed a search warrant.

6. [Computing] carry out an instruction or program.

7. carry out a sentence of death on (a legally condemned person)

• he was convicted of treason and executed.

8. kill (someone) as a political act.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French executer, from medieval Latin executare, from Latin exsequi ‘follow up, carry out, punish,’ from ex- ‘out’ + sequi ‘follow.’

execution /ˌeksəˈkyo͞oSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the carrying out or putting into effect of a plan, order, or course of action

• he was fascinated by the entire operation and its execution.

2. the technique or style with which an artistic work is produced or carried out

• the opera's creative execution.

3. [Law] the putting into effect of a legal instrument or order.

4. [Law] seizure of the property or person of a debtor in default of payment.

5. [Law] short for writ of execution.

6. [Computing] the performance of an instruction or program.

7. the carrying out of a sentence of death on a condemned person

• the execution of juveniles is prohibited by international law

• the place of execution

• executions of convicted murderers.

8. the killing of someone as a political act.

executioner /ˌeksəˈkyo͞oSH(ə)nər/

noun

an official who carries out a sentence of death on a legally condemned person.

executive /iɡˈzekyədiv/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. having the power to put plans, actions, or laws into effect

• an executive chairman

• executive authority.

2. relating to managing an organization or political administration and putting into effect plans, policies, or laws

• the executive branch of government

• the state has various executive functions.

Often contrasted with legislative.

II. noun

1. a person with senior managerial responsibility in a business organization.

2. [as modifier] — suitable or appropriate for a senior business executive

• the executive suite

• an executive jet.

3. an executive committee or other body within an organization

• the union executive.

4. (the executive) — the person or branch of a government responsible for putting policies or laws into effect.

III. derivatives

executively

adverb

– origin late Middle English (as an adjective): from medieval Latin executivus, from exsequi ‘carry out’ (see execute).

executive agreement

noun

an international agreement, usu. regarding routine administrative matters not warranting a formal treaty, made by the executive branch of the US government without ratification by the Senate.

executive federalism

noun

(Canadian) the practice of establishing constitutional, social, and economic policy in meetings between federal and provincial executives

• the premier was a critic of executive federalism and opposed meetings where decisions were made by political and bureaucratic elites.

executive officer /iɡˈzekyədiv eɡˈzekyədiv ˈôfəsər ˈäfəsər/

noun

1. an officer with executive power.

2. (in naval vessels and some other military contexts) the officer who is second in command to the captain or commanding officer.

executive order

noun

(US) [Law] a rule or order issued by the president to an executive branch of the government and having the force of law.

executive privilege

noun

the privilege, claimed by the president for the executive branch of the US government, of withholding information in the public interest.

executive secretary

noun

a secretary with administrative responsibilities, especially one managing the business affairs and activities of an executive or an organization.

executive session /iɡˈzekyədiv eɡˈzekyədiv ˈseSHən/

noun

(US) a meeting, especially a private one, of a legislative body for executive business.

executor

I. noun

1. /iɡˈzekyədər / — [Law] a person or institution appointed by a testator to carry out the terms of their will.

2. /iɡˈzekyədər ˈeksəˌkyo͞odər / — a person who produces something or puts something into effect

• the makers and executors of policy.

II. derivatives

1. executorial /iɡˌzekyəˈtôrēəl /

adjective

( — ‹rare›

2. executorship /-ˌSHip /

noun

3. executory /iɡˈzekyəˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin Middle English: via Anglo-Norman French from Latin execut- ‘carried out,’ from exsequi (see execute).

executrix /iɡˈzekyəˌtriks/

I. noun

[Law] a female executor of a will.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin, from Latin executor (see executor).

exedra /ˈeksədrə ikˈsēdrə/

I. noun

1. [Architecture] a room, portico, or arcade with a bench or seats where people may converse, especially in ancient Roman and Greek houses and gymnasia, typically semicircular in plan.

2. [Architecture] an outdoor recess containing a seat.

– origin Latin, from Greek ex- ‘out of’ + hedra ‘seat.’

exegesis /ˌeksəˈjēsis/

I. noun

critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially of scripture

• the task of biblical exegesis

• a close exegesis of the plot.

II. derivatives

1. exegetic /-ˈjetik /

adjective

2. exegetical /ˌeksəˈjedək(ə)l /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: from Greek exēgēsis, from exēgeisthai ‘interpret,’ from ex- ‘out of’ + hēgeisthai ‘to guide, lead.’

exegete /ˈeksəˌjēt/

I. noun

an expounder or textual interpreter, especially of scripture.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. expound or interpret (a text, especially scripture)

• I am able to exegete the scriptures in ways that make sense.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Greek exēgētēs, from exēgeisthai ‘interpret.’

exemplar /iɡˈzemplər iɡˈzemplär/

I. noun

a person or thing serving as a typical example or excellent model

• he became the leading exemplar of conservative philosophy.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French exemplaire, from late Latin exemplarium, from Latin exemplum ‘sample, imitation’ (see example).

exemplary /iɡˈzemplərē/

I. adjective

1. serving as a desirable model; representing the best of its kind

• an award for exemplary community service.

2. (of a punishment) serving as a warning or deterrent

• exemplary sentencing may discourage the ultraviolent minority.

3. [Law] (of damages) exceeding the amount needed for simple compensation.

II. derivatives

1. exemplarily /iɡˈzemplərəlē eɡzemˈplerəlē /

adverb

2. exemplariness /iɡˈzemplərēnəs /

noun

3. exemplarity /ˌeɡzemˈplaritē /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from late Latin exemplaris, from Latin exemplum ‘sample, imitation’ (see example).

exemplify /iɡˈzempləˌfī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. be a typical example of

• rock bands that best exemplify the spirit of the age.

2. give an example of; illustrate by giving an example.

3. [Law] make an attested copy of (a document) under an official seal.

II. derivatives

exemplification /iɡˌzempləfəˈkāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘illustrate by examples’): from medieval Latin exemplificare, from Latin exemplum ‘sample’ (see example).

exemplum /iɡˈzempləm/

I. noun

an example or model, especially a moralizing or illustrative story.

– origin late 19th cent.: Latin, literally ‘example.’

exempt /iɡˈzem(p)t/

I. adjective

free from an obligation or liability imposed on others

• these patients are exempt from all charges

• they are not exempt from criticism.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. free (a person or organization) from an obligation or liability imposed on others

• they were exempted from paying the tax.

III. noun

a person who is exempt from something, especially the payment of tax.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin exemptus ‘taken out, freed,’ past participle of eximere.

exemption /iɡˈzem(p)SH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the process of freeing or state of being free from an obligation or liability imposed on others

• exemption from prescription charges

• regulatory exemptions.

2. (also personal exemption) — the process of exempting a person from paying taxes on a specified amount of income for themselves and their dependents.

3. (US) an item or amount exempted

• a series of exemptions from the partnership tax rules.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin exemptio(n-), from eximere ‘take out, free.’

exenteration /iɡˌzen(t)əˈrāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

complete surgical removal of a body organ, especially the eyeball and other contents of the eye socket, usually in cases of malignant cancer.

– origin mid 17th cent. (originally in the sense ‘disembowelment’): from Latin exenterat- ‘removed,’ from the verb exenterare (suggested by Greek exenterizein), from ex- ‘out of’ + enteron ‘intestine.’

exequatur /ˌeksəˈkwādər/

I. noun

an official recognition by a government of a consul, agent, or other representative of a foreign state, authorizing them to exercise the duties of office.

– origin early 17th cent.: Latin, literally ‘let him or her perform.’

exequy /ˈeksikwē/

I. noun — (exequies)

1. ‹formal› funeral rites; obsequies

• he attended the exequies for the dead pope.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin exsequias, accusative of exsequiae ‘funeral ceremonies,’ from exsequi ‘follow after.’

exercise /ˈeksərˌsīz/

I. noun

1. activity requiring physical effort, carried out especially to sustain or improve health and fitness

• exercise improves your heart and lung power

• loosening-up exercises.

2. a task or activity done to practice or test a skill

• there are exercises at the end of each chapter to check comprehension.

3. a process or activity carried out for a specific purpose, especially one concerned with a specified area or skill

• an exercise in public relations.

4. (often exercises) — a military drill or training maneuver.

5. (exercises) — (N. Amer.) ceremonies

• graduation exercises.

6. the use or application of a faculty, right, or process

• the free exercise of religion.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. use or apply (a faculty, right, or process)

• control is exercised by the Board

• anyone receiving a suspect package should exercise extreme caution.

2. [no obj.] — engage in physical activity to sustain or improve health and fitness; take exercise

• she still exercised every day.

3. exert (part of the body) to promote or improve muscular strength

• raise your knee to exercise the upper leg and hip muscles.

4. cause (an animal) to engage in exercise

• she exercised her dogs before breakfast.

5. occupy the thoughts of; worry or perplex

• the knowledge that a larger margin was possible still exercised him.

III. derivatives

exercisable /ˈeksərˌsīzəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘application of a faculty, right, or process’): via Old French from Latin exercitium, from exercere ‘keep busy, practice,’ from ex- ‘thoroughly’ + arcere ‘keep in or away.’

exercise ball

noun

a lightweight, inflated plastic ball with a diameter of 18–36 inches (45–91 cm), used in various fitness and physiotherapeutic exercises.
Also called stability ball.

exercise bike /ˈeksərˌsīz bīk / exercise bicycle

noun

a piece of exercise equipment having handlebars, pedals, and a saddle like a bicycle, on which the user replicates the movements of bicycling.

exercise book /ˈeksərˌsīz ˌbo͝ok/

noun

(N. Amer.) a book containing printed exercises for the use of students.

exercise price

noun

[Stock Market] the price per share at which the owner of a traded option is entitled to buy or sell the underlying security.

exerciser /ˈeksərˌsīzər/

noun

1. a person who exercises.

2. an apparatus used to exercise.

exercise yard

noun

an enclosed outdoor area used for physical exercise in a prison.

Exercycle /ˈeksərˌsīk(ə)l/

I. noun

‹trademark› an exercise bike.

– origin 1930s: blend of exercise and bicycle.

exergonic /ˌeksərˈɡänik/

I. adjective

[Biochemistry] (of a metabolic or chemical process) accompanied by the release of energy.
The opposite of endergonic.

– origin mid 20th cent.: from ex-2 ‘out of’ + Greek ergon ‘work’ + -ic.

exergue /ekˈsərɡ eɡˈzərɡ ˈeksərɡ ˈeɡzərɡ/

I. noun

a small space or inscription below the principal emblem on a coin or medal, usually on the reverse side.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French, from medieval Latin exergum, from ex- ‘out’ + Greek ergon ‘work’ (probably as a rendering of French hors d'oeuvre ‘something lying outside the work’).

exert /iɡˈzərt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. apply or bring to bear (a force, influence, or quality)

• the moon exerts a force on the Earth

• exerting influence over the next generation.

2. (exert oneself) — make a physical or mental effort

• he needs to exert himself to try to find an answer.

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘perform, practice’): from Latin exserere ‘put forth,’ from ex- ‘out’ + serere ‘bind.’

exertion /iɡˈzərSH(ə)n/

noun

1. physical or mental effort

• she was panting with the exertion

• a well-earned rest after their mental exertions.

2. the application of a force, influence, or quality

• the exertion of authority.

Exeter^1 /ˈeksədər/

a city in southwestern England, the county town of Devon, on the Exe River; pop. 109,200 (est. 2009). Exeter was founded by the Romans, who called it Isca.

Exeter^2 /ˈeksədər/

a historic town in southeastern New Hampshire, home to Phillips Exeter Academy; pop. 14,762 (est. 2008).

exeunt /ˈeksēˌənt ˈeksēˌo͝ont/

I. verb

used as a stage direction in a printed play to indicate that a group of characters leave the stage

• exeunt Hamlet and Polonius.

See also exit.

II. phrases

exeunt omnes /ˌeksēˌənt ˈämnāz /

used as a stage direction to indicate that all the actors leave the stage.

– origin late 15th cent.: Latin, literally ‘they go out.’

exfiltrate /eksˈfiltrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. withdraw (troops or spies) surreptitiously, especially from a dangerous position.

II. derivatives

exfiltration /ˌeksfilˈtrāSHən /

noun

– origin 1980s (earlier (late 19th cent.) as exfiltration): perhaps suggested by the pair infiltration, infiltrate.

exfoliant /eksˈfōlēənt/

I. noun

a cosmetic product designed to remove dead cells from the surface of the skin.

– origin 1980s: from exfoliate + -ant.

exfoliate /eksˈfōlēāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a material) come apart or be shed from a surface in scales or layers

• the bark exfoliates in papery flakes.

2. [with obj.] — cause to do this

• salt solutions exfoliate rocks on evaporating.

3. [with obj.] — wash or rub (a part of the body) with a granular substance to remove dead cells from the surface of the skin

• exfoliate your legs to get rid of dead skin.

4. [with obj.] — shed (material) in scales or layers.

II. derivatives

1. exfoliation /eksˌfōlēˈāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. exfoliative /-ˌātiv /

adjective

3. exfoliator /eksˈfōlēātər /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from late Latin exfoliat- ‘stripped of leaves,’ from the verb exfoliare, from ex- ‘out, from’ + folium ‘leaf.’

ex gratia /eks ˈɡrāSH(ē)ə/

I. adverb, adjective

(especially with reference to the paying of money) done from a sense of moral obligation rather than because of any legal requirement
[as adj.]

• an ex gratia payment.

– origin mid 18th cent.: Latin, literally ‘from favor,’ from ex ‘from’ and gratia (see grace).

exhalation /ˌeks(h)əˈlāSHən/

noun

1. the process or action of exhaling.

2. an expiration of air from the lungs

• he let his breath out in a long exhalation of relief.

3. an amount of vapor or fumes given off.

exhale /eksˈhāl ˈeksˌhāl/

I. verb

1. breathe out in a deliberate manner
[no obj.]

• she sat back and exhaled deeply

• [with obj.] he exhaled the smoke toward the ceiling.

2. [with obj.] — give off (vapor or fumes)

• the jungle exhaled mists of early morning.

II. derivatives

exhalable

adjective

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘be given off as vapor’): from Old French exhaler, from Latin exhalare, from ex- ‘out’ + halare ‘breathe.’

exhaust /iɡˈzôst/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. drain (someone) of their physical or mental resources; tire out

• her day trip had exhausted her.

2. use up (resources or reserves) completely

• the country has exhausted its treasury reserves.

3. expound on, write about, or explore (a subject or options) so fully that there is nothing further to be said or discovered

• she seemed to have exhausted all permissible topics of conversation.

4. expel (gas or steam) from or into a particular place.

II. noun

1. waste gases or air expelled from an engine, turbine, or other machine in the course of its operation

• buses spewing out black clouds of exhaust

• [as modifier] exhaust fumes.

2. the system through which waste gases are expelled
[as modifier]

• an exhaust pipe.

III. derivatives

1. exhauster /iɡˈzôstər /

noun

2. exhaustibility /iɡˌzôstəˈbilədē /

noun

3. exhaustible /iɡˈzôstəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the general sense ‘draw off or out’): from Latin exhaust- ‘drained out,’ from the verb exhaurire, from ex- ‘out’ + haurire ‘draw (water), drain.’

exhausted /iɡˈzôstəd/

I. adjective

1. drained of one's physical or mental resources; very tired

• I was cold and exhausted

• she returned home, exhausted from her day in the city.

2. (of resources or reserves) completely used up

• Karl spat, his patience suddenly exhausted.

II. derivatives

exhaustedly

adverb

exhausting /iɡˈzôstiNG/

I. adjective

making one feel very tired; very tiring

• a long and exhausting journey.

II. derivatives

exhaustingly

adverb

exhaustion /iɡˈzôsCH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a state of extreme physical or mental fatigue

• he was pale with exhaustion.

2. the action or state of using something up or of being used up completely

• the rapid exhaustion of fossil fuel reserves.

3. [Logic] the process of establishing a conclusion by eliminating all the alternatives.

– origin early 17th cent.: from late Latin exhaustio(n-), from Latin exhaurire ‘drain out’ (see exhaust).

exhaustive /iɡˈzôstiv/

I. adjective

examining, including, or considering all elements or aspects; fully comprehensive

• she has undergone exhaustive tests since becoming ill.

II. derivatives

exhaustiveness /iɡˈzôstivnəs /

noun

exhaustively /iɡˈzôstəvlē/

adverb

in a way that includes or considers all elements or aspects; comprehensively

• the book is a scholarly study, exhaustively researched.

exhaust trail

noun

another term for contrail.

exhibit /iɡˈzibət/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. publicly display (a work of art or item of interest) in an art gallery or museum or at a trade fair

• only one sculpture was exhibited in the artist's lifetime.

2. [no obj.] — (of an artist) display one's work to the public in an art gallery or museum

• she was invited to exhibit at several French museums.

3. (usu. be exhibited) — publicly display the work of (an artist) in an art gallery or museum

• no foreign painters were exhibited.

4. manifest or deliberately display (a quality or a type of behavior)

• he could exhibit a saintlike submissiveness.

5. show as a sign or symptom

• patients with alcoholic liver disease exhibit many biochemical abnormalities.

II. noun

1. an object or collection of objects on public display in an art gallery or museum or at a trade fair

• the museum is rich in exhibits.

2. (N. Amer.) an exhibition

• people flocked to the exhibit in record-breaking numbers.

3. [Law] a document or other object produced in a court as evidence.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘submit for consideration,’ also specifically ‘present a document as evidence in court’): from Latin exhibit- ‘held out,’ from the verb exhibere, from ex- ‘out’ + habere ‘hold.’

exhibition /ˌeksəˈbiSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a public display of works of art or other items of interest, held in an art gallery or museum or at a trade fair

• an exhibition of French sculpture

• he never lent his treasures out for exhibition.

2. a display or demonstration of a particular skill

• fields that have been plowed with a supreme exhibition of the farm worker's skills

• [as modifier] exhibition games.

3. [in sing.] — an ostentatious or insincere display of a particular quality or emotion

• a false but convincing exhibition of concern for smaller nations.

4. [usu. as modifier] — (in sports) a game whose outcome does not affect a team's standing, typically one played before the start of a regular season

• an exhibition game.

5. (Brit.) a scholarship awarded to a student at a school or college, usually after a competitive examination.

II. phrases

make an exhibition of oneself

behave in a conspicuously foolish way in public.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘maintenance, support’; hence sense 4, mid 17th cent.): via Old French from late Latin exhibitio(n-), from Latin exhibere ‘hold out’ (see exhibit).

exhibitioner /ˌeksəˈbiSH(ə)nər/

noun

(Brit.) a student who has been awarded an exhibition (scholarship).

exhibitionism /ˌeksəˈbiSHəˌnizəm/

noun

1. extravagant behavior that is intended to attract attention to oneself.

2. [Psychiatry] a mental condition characterized by the compulsion to display one's genitals in public.

exhibitionist

I. noun

a person who behaves in an extravagant way in order to attract attention

• I am something of an exhibitionist.

II. adjective

behaving extravagantly in order to attract attention.

III. derivatives

1. exhibitionistic /-ˌbiSHəˈnistik /

adjective

2. exhibitionistically /-ˌbiSHəˈnistik(ə)lē /

adverb

exhibitor /iɡˈzibədər/

noun

a person who displays works of art or other items of interest at an exhibition.

exhilarate /iɡˈziləˌrāt/

I. verb

make (someone) feel very happy, animated, or elated

• the children were exhilarated by a sense of purpose

• (as adj. exhilarated) all this hustle and bustle makes me feel exhilarated.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin exhilarat- ‘made cheerful,’ from the verb exhilarare, from ex- (expressing inducement of a state) + hilaris ‘cheerful.’

exhilarating /iɡˈziləˌrādiNG/

I. adjective

making one feel very happy, animated, or elated; thrilling

• an exhilarating two-hour rafting experience.

II. derivatives

exhilaratingly

adverb

exhilaration /iɡˌziləˈrāSH(ə)n/

noun

a feeling of excitement, happiness, or elation

• they felt the exhilaration of victory.

exhort /iɡˈzôrt/

I. verb — [with obj. and infinitive]

1. strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something

• the media have been exhorting people to turn out for the demonstration

• [with direct speech] “Come on, you guys,” exhorted Linda.

II. derivatives

1. exhortative /iɡˈzôrdədiv /

adjective

2. exhortatory /-təˌtôrē /

adjective

3. exhorter

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French exhorter or Latin exhortari, from ex- ‘thoroughly’ + hortari ‘encourage.’

exhortation /ˌeɡzôrˈtāSH(ə)n ˌeksôrˈtāSH(ə)n/

noun

an address or communication emphatically urging someone to do something

• exhortations to eat well

• no amount of exhortation had any effect.

exhumation /ˌeks(h)yo͞oˈmāSH(ə)n ˌeɡz(y)o͞oˈmāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action of digging up something buried, especially a corpse

• the exhumation of bodies was ordered following protests by the villagers

• the exhumation of a prisoners' mass grave.

2. [Geology] the exposure of a land surface that was formerly buried

• the exhumation of rock to the surface.

exhume /iɡˈz(y)o͞om ekˈs(y)o͞om/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. dig out (something buried, especially a corpse) from the ground.

2. (usu. be exhumed) — [Geology] expose (a land surface) that was formerly buried.

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin exhumare, from ex- ‘out of’ + humus ‘ground.’

ex-husband

noun

a man to whom someone was formerly married, from whom they are now divorced.

ex hypothesi /ˌeks hīˈpäTHəsī/

I. adverb

according to the hypothesis proposed.

– origin modern Latin, from ex ‘from’ and hypothesi, ablative of late Latin hypothesis (see hypothesis).

exigence /ˈeksəjəns/

noun

another term for exigency.

exigency /ˈeksəjənsē eɡˈzijənsē/

I. noun

an urgent need or demand

• women worked long hours when the exigencies of the family economy demanded it

• he put financial exigency before personal sentiment.

– origin late 16th cent.: from late Latin exigentia, from Latin exigere ‘enforce’ (see exact).

exigent /ˈekzəjənt/

I. adjective

‹formal› pressing; demanding

• the exigent demands of the music took a toll on her voice.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin exigent- ‘completing, ascertaining,’ from the verb exigere (see exact).

exigible /ˈeksəjəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

(of a tax, duty, or other payment) able to be charged or levied.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French, from exiger ‘demand, exact,’ from Latin exigere (see exact).

exiguous /eɡˈziɡyo͞oəs ekˈsiɡyo͞oəs/

I. adjective

‹formal› very small in size or amount

• my exiguous musical resources.

II. derivatives

1. exiguity /ˌeɡzəˈɡyo͞oədē ˌeksəˈɡyo͞oədē /

noun

2. exiguously

adverb

3. exiguousness

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin exiguus ‘scanty’ (from exigere ‘weigh exactly’) + -ous.

exile /ˈeɡˌzīl ˈekˌsīl/

I. noun

1. the state of being barred from one's native country, typically for political or punitive reasons

• he knew now that he would die in exile.

2. a person who lives away from their native country, either from choice or compulsion

• the return of political exiles.

3. (the Exile) — another term for Babylonian Captivity.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be exiled)

1. expel and bar (someone) from their native country, typically for political or punitive reasons

• a corrupt dictator who had been exiled from his country

• he was exiled to Tasmania in 1849

• (as adj. exiled) supporters of the exiled king.

– origin Middle English: the noun partly from Old French exil ‘banishment’ and partly from Old French exile ‘banished person’; the verb from Old French exiler; all based on Latin exilium ‘banishment,’ from exul ‘banished person.’

exilic /eɡˈzilik ekˈsilik/

adjective

of or relating to a period of exile, especially that of the Jews in Babylon in the 6th century BC.

exine /ˈekˌsēn, -ˌsīn/

I. noun

[Botany] the decay-resistant outer coating of a pollen grain or spore. It typically bears a highly characteristic surface pattern that is used in palynology.

– origin late 19th cent.: perhaps from ex-2 ‘out’ + Greek is, in- ‘fiber.’

exist /iɡˈzist/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. have objective reality or being

• remains of these baths still exist on the south side of the Pantheon

• there existed no organization to cope with espionage.

2. be found, especially in a particular place or situation

• two conflicting stereotypes of housework exist in popular thinking today.

3. live, especially under adverse conditions

• how am I going to exist without you?

• only a minority of people exist on unemployment benefits alone.

– origin early 17th cent.: probably a back-formation from existence.

existence /iɡˈzistəns/

I. noun

1. the fact or state of living or having objective reality

• the plane was the oldest Boeing remaining in existence

• the need to acknowledge the existence of a problem.

2. continued survival

• she helped to keep the company alive when its very existence was threatened.

3. a way of living

• living in a city was more expensive than a rural existence.

4. any of a person's supposed current, future, or past lives on this earth

• reaping the consequences of evil deeds sown in previous existences.

5. ‹archaic› a being or entity.

6. all that exists.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, or from late Latin existentia, from Latin exsistere ‘come into being,’ from ex- ‘out’ + sistere ‘take a stand.’

existent /iɡˈzist(ə)nt/

I. adjective

‹formal› having reality or existence

• the technique has been existent for some years.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin exsistent- ‘coming into being, emerging,’ from the verb exsistere (see existence).

existential /ˌeɡzəˈsten(t)SH(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to existence.

2. [Philosophy] concerned with existence, especially human existence as viewed in the theories of existentialism.

3. [Logic] (of a proposition) affirming or implying the existence of a thing.

II. derivatives

existentially

adverb

– origin late 17th cent.: from late Latin existentialis, from existentia (see existence).

existentialism /ˌeɡzəˈsten(t)SHəˌlizəm/

I. noun

a philosophical theory or approach that emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining their own development through acts of the will.
Generally taken to originate with Kierkegaard and Nietzsche, existentialism tends to be atheistic (although there is a strand of Christian existentialism deriving from the work of Kierkegaard), to disparage scientific knowledge, and to deny the existence of objective values, stressing instead the reality and significance of human freedom and experience. The approach was developed chiefly in 20th-century Europe, notably by Martin Heidegger, Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, and Simone de Beauvoir.

– origin translating Danish existents-forhold ‘condition of existence’ (frequently used by Kierkegaard), from existential.

existentialist /ˌeɡzəˈsten(t)SHələst/

I. noun

a person who advocates the philosophical theory of existentialism.

II. adjective

relating to or supporting the philosophical theory of existentialism

• existentialist writers.

existential quantifier

noun

[Logic] a formal expression used in asserting that something exists of which a stated general proposition can be said to be true.

existing /iɡˈzistiNG/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. in existence or operation at the time under consideration; current

• opponents of the existing political system.

exit /ˈeɡzət ˈeksət/

I. noun

1. a way out, especially of a public building, room, or passenger vehicle

• she slipped out by the rear exit

• a fire exit.

2. a ramp where traffic can leave a highway, major road, or traffic circle

• he pulled off at an exit and stopped his Mercedes-Benz.

3. an act of going out of or leaving a place

• he made a hasty exit from the room.

4. a departure of an actor from the stage

• the brief soliloquy following Clarence's exit.

5. a departure from a particular situation

• Australia's early exit from the World Cup.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. go out of or leave a place

• they exited from the aircraft

• the bullet entered her back and exited through her chest

• [with obj.] elephants enter and exit the forest on narrow paths.

2. (of an actor) leave the stage.

3. (exit) — used as a stage direction in a printed play to indicate that a character leaves the stage

• exit Pamela.

See also exeunt.

4. leave a particular situation

• organizations that do not have freedom to exit from unprofitable markets.

5. [Computing] terminate a process or program, usually returning to an earlier or more general level of interaction

• this key enables you to temporarily exit from a LIFESPAN option.

6. [Bridge] relinquish the lead.

– origin mid 16th cent. (as a stage direction): from Latin exit ‘he or she goes out,’ third person singular present tense of exire, from ex- ‘out’ + ire ‘go.’ The noun use (late 16th cent.) is from Latin exitus ‘going out,’ from the verb exire, and the other verb uses (early 17th cent.) are from the noun.

exit examination exit exam

noun

(N. Amer.) a test which a student is required to pass in order to complete a course of study

• the exit examination requires the demonstration of knowledge and skills in clinical emergency medicine

• California's high school exit exam.

exit interview

noun

an interview held with an employee about to leave an organization, typically in order to discuss the employee's reasons for leaving and their experience of working for the organization

• in his exit interview, he suggested to HR that a counselor within the office would have been a great help.

exit line

noun

1. a line spoken by an actor immediately before leaving the stage.

2. a parting remark.

exit poll

noun

a poll of people leaving a polling place, asking how they voted.

exit strategy

noun

a preplanned means of extricating oneself from a situation that is likely to become difficult or unpleasant.

• it is vital that all investors have some sort of exit strategy.

exit visa /ˈeɡzət ˈeksət ˈvēzə / exit permit

noun

a document giving authorization to leave a particular country.

exit wound /ˈeksət ˌwo͞ond/

noun

a wound made by a bullet or other missile passing out of the body.

ex libris /ˌeks ˈlēbris/

I. adverb

used as an inscription on a bookplate to show the name of the book's owner

• ex libris Edith Wharton.

II. noun

a bookplate inscribed to show the name of the book's owner.

– origin late 19th cent.: Latin, literally ‘out of the books or library (of someone).’

ex nihilo /ˈeks ˈnē(h)əlō, ˈnī(h)əlō/

I. adverb

‹formal› out of nothing

• the fashioning of life ex nihilo by God.

– origin late 16th cent.: Latin.

exo-

I. prefix

external; from outside

• exodermis.

– origin from Greek exō ‘outside.’

exoatmospheric /ˌeksōˌatməˈsfi(ə)rik, ˌeksōˌatməˈsferik/

adjective

operating or taking place outside the atmosphere.

exobiology /ˌeksōbīˈäləjē/

I. noun

the branch of science that deals with the possibility and likely nature of life on other planets or in space.

II. derivatives

1. exobiological /-ˌbīəˈläjikəl /

adjective

2. exobiologist /-jist /

noun

exocarp /ˈeksōˌkärp/

noun

[Botany] the outer layer of the pericarp of a fruit.

exocentric /ˌeksōˈsentrik/

adjective

[Linguistics] denoting or being a construction that has no explicit head, for example John slept.
Contrasted with endocentric.

Exocet /ˈeksəˌset ˈeksōˌset/

I. noun

‹trademark› a French-made guided anti-ship missile.

– origin 1970s: from French, literally ‘flying fish,’ via Latin from Greek ekōkoitos ‘fish that comes up on the beach’ (literally ‘out of bed’).

exocrine /ˈeksəˌkrin/

I. adjective

[Physiology] relating to or denoting glands that secrete their products through ducts opening onto an epithelium rather than directly into the bloodstream.
Often contrasted with endocrine.

– origin early 20th cent.: from exo- ‘outside’ + Greek krinein ‘sift.’

exocytosis /ˌeksōsīˈtōsəs/

I. noun

[Biology] a process by which the contents of a cell vacuole are released to the exterior through fusion of the vacuole membrane with the cell membrane.

II. derivatives

exocytotic /-ˈtätik /

adjective

exodermis /ˌeksōˈdərməs/

I. noun

[Botany] a specialized layer in a root beneath the epidermis or velamen.

– origin early 20th cent.: from exo- ‘outside,’ on the pattern of endodermis, epidermis.

exodus /ˈeksədəs/

I. noun

1. a mass departure of people, especially emigrants.

2. (the Exodus) — the departure of the Israelites from Egypt.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Greek (see Exodus).

Exodus /ˈeksədəs/

I. the second book of the Bible, which recounts the departure of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, their journey across the Red Sea and through the wilderness led by Moses, and the giving of the Ten Commandments. The events have been variously dated by scholars between about 1580 and 1200 BC.

– origin Old English, via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek exodos, from ex- ‘out of’ + hodos ‘way.’

exoenzyme /ˌeksōˈenzīm/

noun

[Biochemistry] an enzyme that acts outside the cell that produces it.

ex officio /ˌeks əˈfiSHēō/

I. adverb, adjective

by virtue of one's position or status
[as adj.]

• an ex officio member of the committee.

– origin Latin, from ex ‘out of, from’ + officium ‘duty.’

exogamy /ekˈsäɡəmē/

I. noun

1. [Anthropology] the custom of marrying outside a community, clan, or tribe.
Compare with endogamy.

2. [Anthropology] [Biology] the fusion of reproductive cells from distantly related or unrelated individuals; outbreeding; cross-pollination.

II. derivatives

exogamous /ekˈsäɡəməs /

adjective

exogenic /ˌeksəˈjenik/

adjective

[Geology] formed or occurring on the surface of the earth.
Often contrasted with endogenic.

exogenous /ˌekˈsäjənəs/

I. adjective

1. of, relating to, or developing from external factors.
Often contrasted with endogenous.

2. [Biology] growing or originating from outside an organism

• an exogenous hormone.

3. [chiefly Psychiatry] (of a disease, symptom, etc.) caused by an agent or organism outside the body

• exogenous depression.

4. relating to an external group or society

• exogenous marriage.

II. derivatives

exogenously

adverb

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin exogena (denoting an exogenous plant, suggested by classical Latin indigena ‘native’) + -ous.

exoglossic /ˌeksōˈɡlôsik/

I. adjective

[Linguistics] denoting or relating to a nonindigenous language that is used as an official or second language in a particular country or community.
Compare with endoglossic.

– origin 1980s: from exo-, Greek glōssa ‘language, tongue,’ and -ic.

exon /ˈeksän/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a segment of a DNA or RNA molecule containing information coding for a protein or peptide sequence.
Compare with intron.

II. derivatives

exonic

adjective

– origin 1970s: from expressed (see express^1) + -on.

exonerate /iɡˈzänəˌrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (especially of an official body) absolve (someone) from blame for a fault or wrongdoing, especially after due consideration of the case

• the court-martial exonerated me

• they should exonerate these men from this crime.

2. (exonerate someone from) — release someone from (a duty or obligation).

II. derivatives

exonerative /iɡˈzänəˌrādiv /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin exonerat- ‘freed from a burden,’ from the verb exonerare, from ex- ‘from’ + onus, oner- ‘a burden.’

exoneration /iɡˌzänəˈrāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action of officially absolving someone from blame; vindication

• the defendants' eventual exoneration.

2. the release of someone from a duty or obligation.

exonuclease /ˌeksōˈn(y)o͞oklēās/

noun

[Biochemistry] an enzyme that removes successive nucleotides from the end of a polynucleotide molecule.

exopeptidase /ˌeksōˈpeptədās/

noun

[Biochemistry] an enzyme that breaks the terminal peptide bond in a peptide chain.

exophora /ekˈsäfərə/

I. noun

[Linguistics] reference in a text or utterance to something external to it, which is only fully intelligible in terms of information about the extralinguistic situation.
Compare with endophora.

II. derivatives

exophoric /ˌeksōˈfôrik, -fär- /

adjective

exophthalmic /ˌeksäfˈTHalmik ˌeksäpˈTHalmik/

adjective

[Medicine] having or characterized by protruding eyes.

exophthalmic goiter

noun

another term for Graves' disease.

exophthalmos /ˌeksäfˈTHalməs ˌeksäpˈTHalməs / exophthalmus, exophthalmia

I. noun

[Medicine] abnormal protrusion of the eyeball or eyeballs.

– origin early 17th cent.: from modern Latin exophthalmus, from Greek exophthalmos ‘having prominent eyes,’ from ex- ‘out’ + ophthalmos ‘eye.’

exoplanet /ˈeksōˌplanət/

noun

a planet that orbits a star outside the solar system

• most of the 100 known exoplanets are comparable in mass to Jupiter.

exopodite /ekˈsäpəˌdīt / exopod

I. noun

[Zoology] the outer branch of the biramous limb or appendage of a crustacean.
Compare with endopodite, protopodite.

– origin late 19th cent.: from exo- ‘outside’ + Greek pous, pod- ‘foot’ + -ite^1.

exor.

abbreviation

an executor (of a will).

exorbitant /iɡˈzôrbəd(ə)nt/

I. adjective

(of a price or amount charged) unreasonably high

• the exorbitant price of tickets.

II. derivatives

1. exorbitance /iɡˈzôrbədəns eɡˈzôrbədəns iɡˈzôrbətns eɡˈzôrbətns /

noun

2. exorbitantly /iɡˈzôrbədəntlē eɡˈzôrbədəntlē iɡˈzôrbətntlē eɡˈzôrbətntlē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English (originally as a legal term describing a case that is outside the scope of a law): from late Latin exorbitant- ‘going off the track,’ from exorbitare, from ex- ‘out from’ + orbita ‘course, track.’

exorcise /ˈeksôrˌsīz / exorcize

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. drive out or attempt to drive out (an evil spirit) from a person or place

• an attempt to exorcise an unquiet spirit

• ‹figurative› inflation has been exorcised.

2. rid (a person or place) of an evil spirit

• infants were exorcised prior to baptism.

– origin late Middle English: from French exorciser or ecclesiastical Latin exorcizare, from Greek exorkizein, from ex- ‘out’ + horkos ‘oath.’ The word originally meant ‘conjure up or command an evil spirit’; the specific sense of driving out an evil spirit dates from the mid 16th cent.

exorcism /ˈeksôrˌsizəm/

I. noun

the expulsion or attempted expulsion of an evil spirit from a person or place.

II. derivatives

exorcist /ˈekˌsôrˌsəst ˈeksərˌsəst /

noun

– origin late Middle English: via ecclesiastical Latin from ecclesiastical Greek exorkismos, from exorkizein ‘exorcize.’

exordium /iɡˈzôrdēəm eɡˈzôrdēəm/

I. noun

‹formal› the beginning or introductory part, especially of a discourse or treatise.

II. derivatives

exordial /iɡˈzôrdēəl eɡˈzôrdēəl /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin, from exordiri ‘begin,’ from ex- ‘out, from’ + ordiri ‘begin.’

exoskeleton /ˌeksəˈskelətn/

I. noun

[Zoology] a rigid external covering for the body in some invertebrate animals, especially arthropods, providing both support and protection.
Compare with endoskeleton.

II. derivatives

exoskeletal /ˌeksōˈskelətl /

adjective

exosphere /ˈeksōˌsfir/

I. noun

[Astronomy] the outermost region of a planet's atmosphere.

II. derivatives

exospheric /ˌeksōˈsfi(ə)rik, -ˈsferik /

adjective

exospore /ˈeksōˌspôr/

I. noun

1. the outer layer of the membrane in some spores.

2. a spore formed by separation and release from a sporophore, the spore-bearing structure of a fungus.

II. derivatives

exosporal /ˌeksəˈspôrəl /

adjective

exosporium /ˌeksōˈspôrēəm/

I. noun

[Botany] another term for exine.

II. derivatives

exosporial /-ˈspôrēəl /

adjective

exostosis /ˌeksäˈstōsis/

I. noun

[Medicine] a benign outgrowth of cartilaginous tissue on a bone.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Greek, from ex- ‘out’ + osteon ‘bone.’

exoteric /ˌeksəˈterik/

I. adjective

‹formal› (especially of a doctrine or mode of speech) intended for or likely to be understood by the general public

• an exoteric, literal meaning and an esoteric, inner teaching.

The opposite of esoteric.

– origin mid 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek exōterikos, from exōterō ‘outer,’ comparative of exō ‘outside.’

exothermic /ˌeksōˈTHərmik/

I. adjective

1. [Chemistry] (of a reaction or process) accompanied by the release of heat.
The opposite of endothermic (sense 1).

2. [Chemistry] (of a compound) formed from its constituent elements with a net release of heat.

II. derivatives

exothermically /-(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin late 19th cent.: from French exothermique.

exotic /iɡˈzädik/

I. adjective

1. originating in or characteristic of a distant foreign country

• exotic birds

• they loved to visit exotic places.

2. attractive or striking because colorful or out of the ordinary

• an exotic outfit

• (as noun the exotic) there was a touch of the exotic in her appearance.

3. of a kind not used for ordinary purposes or not ordinarily encountered

• exotic elementary particles as yet unknown to science.

II. noun

an exotic plant or animal

• he planted exotics in the sheltered garden.

III. derivatives

exotically /iɡˈzädək(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin late 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek exōtikos ‘foreign,’ from exō ‘outside.’

exotica /iɡˈzädikə/

I. plural noun

objects considered strange or interesting because they are out of the ordinary, especially because they originated in a distant foreign country.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin, neuter plural of exoticus ‘foreign’ (see exotic).

exotic dancer

noun

a striptease dancer.

exoticism /iɡˈzädəsizəm/

noun

1. the quality of being attractive or striking through being colorful or unusual

• the luxury and exoticism of the new decor.

2. style or traits considered characteristic of a distant foreign country

• she exudes an aura of oriental exoticism.

exoticize /iɡˈzädəˌsīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. portray (someone or something unfamiliar) as exotic or unusual; romanticize or glamorize

• importantly, the film doesn't exoticize the East

• (as adj. exoticized) when class is addressed in the art world, it is often in the context of exoticized poverty.

II. derivatives

exoticization

noun

– origin 1960s: from exotic + -ize.

exotoxin /ˈeksōˌtäksən/

noun

[Microbiology] a toxin released by a living bacterial cell into its surroundings.
Compare with endotoxin.

exp.

abbreviation

1. expenses.

2. experience (usually in the context of job advertisements)

• previous exp. an advantage.

3. (Exp.) — experimental (in titles of periodicals)

• J. Exp. Biol.

4. expiration

• exp. date.

5. [Mathematics] the exponential function raising e to the power of the given quantity

• it is reduced by exp. (−U).

6. exposures (in the context of photography)

• $4.45 for 24 exp.

7. express.

expand /ikˈspand/

I. verb

1. become or make larger or more extensive
[no obj.]

• their business expanded into other hotels and properties

• [with obj.] baby birds cannot expand and contract their lungs.

2. [no obj.] — [Physics] (of the universe) undergo a continuous change whereby, according to theory based on observed redshifts, all the galaxies recede from one another.

3. [no obj.] (expand on) — give a fuller version or account of

• Anne expanded on the theory.

II. derivatives

1. expandable /ikˈspandəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. expander /ikˈspandər /

noun

3. expansibility /ikˌspansəˈbilədē /

noun

4. expansible /ikˈspansəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin expandere ‘to spread out,’ from ex- ‘out’ + pandere ‘to spread.’

expanded /ikˈspandəd/

noun

1. being or having been enlarged, extended, or broadened, in particular

2. denoting materials which have a light cellular structure

• expanded polystyrene.

3. denoting sheet metal slit and stretched into a mesh, used to reinforce concrete and other brittle materials.

4. relatively broad in shape

• the expanded fins of the ray.

expanse /ikˈspans/

I. noun

1. an area of something, typically land or sea, presenting a wide continuous surface

• the green expanse of the forest.

2. the distance to which something expands or can be expanded

• the moth has a wing expanse of 20 to 24 mm.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from modern Latin expansum ‘something expanded,’ neuter past participle of expandere (see expand).

expansile /ikˈspansəl, -ˌsīl/

adjective

[Physics] of, relating to, or capable of expansion.

expansion /ikˈspanSHən/

I. noun

1. the action of becoming larger or more extensive

• the rapid expansion of suburban Washington

• a small expansion of industry.

2. extension of a state's territory by encroaching on that of other nations, pursued as a political strategy

• German expansion in the 1930s.

3. a thing formed by the enlargement, broadening, or development of something

• the book is an expansion of a lecture given last year.

4. the increase in the volume of fuel on combustion in the cylinder of an engine, or the piston stroke in which this occurs.

– origin early 17th cent.: from late Latin expansion-, from Latin expandere (see expand).

expansionary /ikˈspanSHəˌnerē/

adjective

(of a policy or action) intended to result in economic or political expansion

• an expansionary budget.

expansion bolt /ikˈspanSHən ekˈspanSHən bōlt/

noun

a bolt that expands when inserted, no thread being required in the surrounding material.

expansion card expansion board

noun

[Computing] a circuit board that can be inserted in a computer to give extra facilities or memory.

expansionism /ikˈspanSHəˌnizəm/

noun

the policy of territorial or economic expansion

• the post-colonial critique of Western expansionism.

expansionist /ikˈspan(t)SH(ə)nəst/

I. noun

a follower or advocate of a policy of territorial or economic expansion

• he was an aggressive expansionist.

II. adjective

relating to or characteristic of a policy of territorial or economic expansion

• the imperial government became increasingly bent on expansionist policies.

III. derivatives

expansionistic /ikˌspan(t)SHəˈnistik /

adjective

expansion joint /ikˈspanSHən ekˈspanSHən joint/

noun

a joint that makes allowance for thermal expansion of the parts joined without distortion.

expansion slot /ikˈspanSHən ˌslät ekˈspanSHən ˌslät/

noun

[Computing] a place in a computer where an expansion card can be inserted.

expansion team

noun

a new team added to an established professional sport league.

expansive /ikˈspansiv/

I. adjective

1. covering a wide area in terms of space or scope; extensive or wide-ranging

• deep, expansive canyons.

2. (of a person or their manner) open, demonstrative, and communicative

• she felt expansive and inclined to talk.

3. tending toward economic or political expansion

• expansive domestic economic policies.

II. derivatives

1. expansively /ikˈspansəvlē ekˈspansəvlē /

adverb

2. expansiveness /ikˈspansivnəs /

noun

expansivity /ikˌspanˈsivədē ekˌspanˈsivədē/

noun

[Physics] the amount a material expands or contracts per unit length due to a one-degree change in temperature.

ex parte /ˌeks ˈpärdē/

I. adjective, adverb

[Law] with respect to or in the interests of one side only or of an interested outside party.

– origin late 17th cent.: Latin, literally ‘from a side.’

expat /ˌeksˈpat/

noun, adjective

‹informal› short for expatriate.

expatiate /ikˈspāSHēˌāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. speak or write at length or in detail

• she expatiated on working-class novelists.

II. derivatives

expatiation /ikˌspāSHēˈāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘roam freely’): from Latin exspatiari ‘move beyond one's usual bounds,’ from ex- ‘out, from’ + spatiari ‘to walk’ (from spatium ‘space’).

expatriate

I. noun — /ˌeksˈpātrēət /

1. a person who lives outside their native country

• American expatriates in London.

2. ‹archaic› a person exiled from their native country.

II. adjective — /ˌeksˈpātrēət / [attrib.]

1. (of a person) living outside their native country

• expatriate writers and artists.

2. ‹archaic› expelled from one's native country.

III. verb — /eksˈpātrēˌāt / [no obj.]

1. settle oneself abroad

• candidates should be willing to expatriate.

IV. derivatives

expatriation /ekˌspātrēˈāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin mid 18th cent. (as a verb): from medieval Latin expatriat- ‘gone out from one's country,’ from the verb expatriare, from ex- ‘out’ + patria ‘native country.’

expect /ikˈspekt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. regard (something) as likely to happen

• we expect the best

• [with obj. and infinitive] he expects the stock market to sink further

• [with clause] we expect that farmers will harvest 63 million acres of hay.

2. regard (someone) as likely to do or be something
[with obj. and infinitive]

• they were not expecting him to continue.

3. believe that (someone or something) will arrive soon

• Celia was expecting a visitor.

4. look for (something) from someone as rightfully due or requisite in the circumstances

• we expect great things of you.

5. require (someone) to fulfill an obligation
[with obj. and infinitive]

• we expect employers to pay a reasonable salary.

6. (I expect) — ‹informal› used to indicate that one supposes something to be so, but has no firm evidence or knowledge

• they're just friends of his, I expect

• [with clause] I expect you know them?

II. phrases

1. be expecting (a baby)

‹informal› be pregnant.

2. to be expected

completely normal

• wild swings in the weather are to be expected.

3. what can (or do) you expect?

used to emphasize that there was nothing unexpected about a person or event, however disappointed one might be.

III. derivatives

expectable /ikˈspektəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘defer action, wait’): from Latin exspectare ‘look out for,’ from ex- ‘out’ + spectare ‘to look’ (frequentative of specere ‘see’).

expectancy /ikˈspektənsē/

I. noun

the state of thinking or hoping that something, especially something pleasant, will happen or be the case

• they waited with an air of expectancy.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin exspectantia, from exspectare ‘look out for’ (see expect).

expectant /ikˈspektənt/

I. adjective

1. having or showing an excited feeling that something is about to happen, especially something pleasant and interesting

• an expectant conference crowd.

2. [attrib.] — (of a woman) pregnant

• an expectant mother.

II. noun

‹archaic› a person who anticipates receiving something, especially high office.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin exspectant- ‘expecting,’ from the verb exspectare (see expect).

expectantly /ikˈspektən(t)lē/

adverb

with an excited feeling that something is about to happen, especially something good

• she waited expectantly for his answer

• he looked expectantly at his friend.

expectation /ˌekspekˈtāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future

• reality had not lived up to expectations

• an expectation that the government will provide the resources

• he drilled his men in expectation of a Prussian advance.

2. a belief that someone will or should achieve something

• students had high expectations for their future.

3. (expectations) — ‹archaic› one's prospects of inheritance.

4. [Mathematics] another term for expected value.

II. phrases

manage expectations manage someone's expectations

seek to prevent disappointment by establishing in advance what can realistically be achieved or delivered by a project, undertaking, course of action, etc.

• as the White House tries to paint a rosy economic picture, they are also trying to manage expectations

• the company needs to be very sure it has a hit or it should start managing its customers' expectations.

expected utility

noun

[Mathematics] [Economics] a predicted utility value for one of several options, calculated as the sum of the utility of every possible outcome each multiplied by the probability of its occurrence.

expected value

noun

[Mathematics] a predicted value of a variable, calculated as the sum of all possible values each multiplied by the probability of its occurrence.

expectorant /ikˈspekt(ə)rənt/

I. noun

a medicine that promotes the secretion of sputum by the air passages, used especially to treat coughs.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin expectorant- ‘expelling from the chest,’ from the verb expectorare (see expectorate).

expectorate /ikˈspektəˌrāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. cough or spit out phlegm from the throat or lungs.

2. [with obj.] — spit out (phlegm).

II. derivatives

expectoration /ˌekˌspektəˈrāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘enable sputum to be coughed up,’ referring to medicine): from Latin expectorat- ‘expelled from the chest,’ from the verb expectorare, from ex- ‘out’ + pectus, pector- ‘breast.’

expediency /ikˈspēdēənsē/

noun

the quality of being convenient and practical despite possibly being improper or immoral; convenience

• an act of political expediency.

expedient /ikˈspēdēənt/

I. adjective

1. (of an action) convenient and practical, although possibly improper or immoral

• either side could break the agreement if it were expedient to do so.

2. (of an action) suitable or appropriate

• holding a public inquiry into the scheme was not expedient.

II. noun

a means of attaining an end, especially one that is convenient but considered improper or immoral

• the current policy is a political expedient.

III. derivatives

1. expedience /ikˈspēdēəns /

noun

2. expediently /ikˈspēdēəntlē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Latin expedient- ‘extricating, putting in order,’ from the verb expedire (see expedite). The original sense was neutral; the depreciatory sense, implying disregard of moral considerations, dates from the late 18th cent.

expedite /ˈekspəˌdīt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (an action or process) happen sooner or be accomplished more quickly

• he promised to expedite economic reforms.

II. derivatives

expediter expeditor

noun

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘perform quickly’): from Latin expedire ‘extricate (originally by freeing the feet), put in order,’ from ex- ‘out’ + pes, ped- ‘foot.’

expedition /ˌekspəˈdiSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a journey or voyage undertaken by a group of people with a particular purpose, especially that of exploration, scientific research, or war

• an expedition to the jungles of the Orinoco.

2. the people involved in an expedition

• many of the expedition have passed rigorous courses.

3. ‹informal› a short trip made for a particular purpose

• a shopping expedition.

4. ‹formal› promptness or speed in doing something

• the landlord shall remedy the defects with all possible expedition.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin expeditio(n-), from expedire ‘extricate’ (see expedite). Early senses included ‘prompt supply of something’ and ‘setting out with aggressive intent’ The notions of ‘speed’ and ‘purpose’ are retained in current senses. Sense 1 dates from the late 16th cent.

expeditionary /ˌekspəˈdiSHəˌnerē/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. of or forming an expedition, especially a military expedition

• an expeditionary force.

expeditious /ˌekspəˈdiSHəs/

I. adjective

done with speed and efficiency

• an expeditious investigation.

II. derivatives

expeditiousness /ˌekspəˈdiSHəsnəs /

noun

– origin late 15th cent.: from expedition + -ous.

expeditiously /ˌekspəˈdiSHəslē/

adverb

with speed and efficiency

• the directors will move expeditiously to reach a conclusion.

expel /ikˈspel/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. deprive (someone) of membership of or involvement in a school or other organization

• she was expelled from school.

2. force (someone) to leave a place, especially a country.

3. force out or eject (something), especially from the body

• she expelled a shuddering breath.

II. derivatives

1. expellable

adjective

2. expellee /ˌekspelˈlē /

noun

3. expeller

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the general sense ‘eject, force to leave’): from Latin expellere, from ex- ‘out’ + pellere ‘to drive.’

expend /ikˈspend/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. spend or use up (a resource such as money, time, or energy)

• we do not need to expend energy working on our marriage.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin expendere, from ex- ‘out’ + pendere ‘weigh, pay.’ Compare with spend.

expendable /ikˈspendəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. (of an object) designed to be used only once and then abandoned or destroyed

• the need for unmanned and expendable launch vehicles.

2. of little significance when compared to an overall purpose, and therefore able to be abandoned

• the region is expendable in the wider context of national politics.

II. derivatives

1. expendability /ikˌspendəˈbilədē /

noun

2. expendably /-əblē /

adverb

expenditure /ikˈspendəCHər/

I. noun

1. the action of spending funds

• the expenditure of taxpayers' money.

2. an amount of money spent

• cuts in public expenditure.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from expend, suggested by obsolete expenditor ‘officer in charge of expenditure,’ from medieval Latin, from expenditus, irregular past participle of Latin expendere ‘pay out’ (see expend).

expense /ikˈspens/

I. noun

1. the cost required for something; the money spent on something

• we had ordered suits at great expense

• the committee does not expect members to be put to any expense.

2. (expenses) — the costs incurred in the performance of one's job or a specific task, especially one undertaken for another person

• his hotel and travel expenses.

3. a thing on which one is required to spend money

• tolls are a daily expense.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be expensed)

1. offset (an item of expenditure) as an expense against taxable income.

III. phrases

1. at someone's expense

a. paid for by someone

• the document was printed at the taxpayer's expense.

b. with someone as the victim, especially of a joke

• my friends all had a good laugh at my expense.

2. at the expense of

so as to cause harm to or neglect of

• the pursuit of profit at the expense of the environment

• language courses that emphasize communication skills at the expense of literature.

– origin late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French, alteration of Old French espense, from late Latin expensa (pecunia) ‘(money) spent,’ from Latin expendere ‘pay out’ (see expend).

expense account

noun

an arrangement under which sums of money spent in the course of business by an employee are later reimbursed by their employer.

expensive /ikˈspensiv/

I. adjective

costing a lot of money

• keeping a horse is expensive

• an expensive bottle of wine.

II. derivatives

expensiveness /ikˈspensivnəs /

noun

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘lavish, extravagant’): from Latin expens- ‘paid out,’ from the verb expendere (see expend), + -ive.

expensively /ikˈspensəvlē/

adverb

in a way that costs a lot of money

• expensively dressed guests

• expensively produced ads.

experience /ˌikˈspirēəns/

I. noun

1. practical contact with and observation of facts or events

• he had already learned his lesson by painful experience

• he spoke from experience.

2. the knowledge or skill acquired by experience over a period of time, especially that gained in a particular profession by someone at work

• older men whose experience could be called upon

• candidates with the necessary experience.

3. an event or occurrence that leaves an impression on someone

• for the younger players it has been a learning experience.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. encounter or undergo (an event or occurrence)

• the company is experiencing difficulties.

2. feel (an emotion)

• an opportunity to experience the excitement of New York.

III. derivatives

1. experienceable

adjective

2. experiencer

noun

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin experientia, from experiri ‘try.’ Compare with experiment and expert.

experienced /ˌikˈspirēənst/

adjective

having knowledge or skill in a particular field, especially a profession or job, gained over a period of time

• an experienced social worker

• she was experienced in marketing.

experiential /ikˌspirēˈen(t)SH(ə)l/

I. adjective

involving or based on experience and observation

• the experiential learning associated with employment.

II. derivatives

experientially

adverb

– origin early 19th cent.: from experience, on the pattern of words such as inferential.

experiment

I. noun — /ikˈsperəmənt /

1. a scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact

• laboratory experiments on guinea pigs

• I have tested this by experiment.

2. a course of action tentatively adopted without being sure of the eventual outcome

• the previous experiment in liberal democracy had ended in disaster.

II. verb — /ikˈsperəmənt / [no obj.]

1. perform a scientific procedure, especially in a laboratory, to determine something

• she experimented on chickens as well as mice.

2. try out new concepts or ways of doing things

• the designers experimented with new ideas in lighting.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin experimentum, from experiri ‘try.’ Compare with experience and expert.

experimental /ikˌsperəˈmen(t)l/

I. adjective

1. (of a new invention or product) based on untested ideas or techniques and not yet established or finalized

• an experimental drug.

2. (of a work of art or an artistic technique) involving a radically new and innovative style

• experimental music.

3. of or relating to scientific experiments

• experimental results.

4. ‹archaic› based on experience as opposed to authority or conjecture

• an experimental knowledge of God.

II. derivatives

1. experimentalism /ikˌsperəˈmen(t)əˌlizəm /

noun

2. experimentalist /ikˌsperəˈmen(t)ələst /

noun

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘having personal experience,’ also ‘experienced, observed’): from medieval Latin experimentalis, from Latin experimentum (see experiment).

experimentally /ikˌsperəˈmen(t)əlē/

adverb

1. by means of scientific experiment

• the existence of the electron was demonstrated experimentally.

2. in a tentative way, without being sure of the outcome

• I glanced down at my left shoulder, rotating it experimentally.

3. ‹archaic› as the result of experience as opposed to authority or conjecture

• to whom does God experimentally reveal the eternal purpose of His grace?

experimental psychology

noun

the branch of psychology concerned with the scientific investigation of basic psychological processes such as learning, memory, and cognition in humans and animals.

experimentation /ikˌsperəmənˈtāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the process of performing a scientific procedure, especially in a laboratory, to determine something

• experimentation on the brain and the nerves

• after experimentation in the laboratory, the first vines of the new clone were planted.

2. the action or process of trying out new ideas, methods, or activities

• It was a period of innovation and experimentation with new decorative techniques

• experimentation with drugs has been associated with boredom

• a flair for musical experimentation.

experimenter /ikˈsperəˌmen(t)ər/

noun

1. a person who performs a scientific procedure, especially in a laboratory, to determine something

• each participant was tested by a trained experimenter.

2. a person who tries out new ideas, methods, or activities

• early experimenters with structure and harmony.

experimenter effect /ikˈsperəˌmen(t)ər iˌfekt/

noun

an influence exerted by the experimenter's expectations or other characteristics on the results of an experiment, especially in psychology.

expert /ˈekˌspərt/

I. noun

a person who has a comprehensive and authoritative knowledge of or skill in a particular area

• experts in child development

• a financial expert.

II. adjective

having or involving authoritative knowledge

• he had received expert academic advice

• he is expert at handling the media.

III. derivatives

expertness /ˈekˌspərtnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English (as an adjective): from French, from Latin expertus, past participle of experiri ‘try.’ The noun use dates from the early 19th cent. Compare with experience and experiment.

expertise /ˌekspərˈtēz ˌekspərˈtēs/

I. noun

expert skill or knowledge in a particular field

• technical expertise.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, from expert (see expert).

expertly /ˈekˌspərtlē/

adverb

in a highly skillful or knowledgeable manner

• Dylan sings and dances expertly

• this is a tight, expertly crafted movie.

expert system

noun

[Computing] a piece of software programmed using artificial intelligence techniques. Such systems use databases of expert knowledge to offer advice or make decisions in such areas as medical diagnosis and trading on the stock exchange.

expert witness

noun

a person who is permitted to testify at a trial because of special knowledge or proficiency in a particular field that is relevant to the case.

• she was hired as an expert witness because she had assisted in more than 100 similar surgical procedures.

expiate /ˈekspēˌāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. atone for (guilt or sin)

• their sins must be expiated by sacrifice.

II. derivatives

1. expiable /ˈekspēəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. expiator /ˈekspēˌādər /

noun

3. expiatory /ˈekspēəˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘end (rage, sorrow, etc.) by suffering it to the full’): from Latin expiat- ‘appeased by sacrifice,’ from the verb expiare, from ex- ‘out’ + piare (from pius ‘pious’).

expiation /ˌekspēˈāSH(ə)n/

noun

the act of making amends or reparation for guilt or wrongdoing; atonement

• an act of public expiation.

expiration /ˌekspəˈrāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) the ending of the fixed period for which a contract is valid

• the expiration of the lease.

2. the end of a period of time

• the expiration of three years.

3. ‹technical› exhalation of breath.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a vapor or exhalation): from Latin exspiratio(n-), from the verb exspirare (see expire).

expiratory /ikˈspīrəˌtôrē/

adjective

of or relating to the exhalation of air from the lungs.

expire /ˌikˈspī(ə)r/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — (of a document, authorization, or agreement) cease to be valid, typically after a fixed period of time

• the old contract had expired.

2. (of a period of time) come to an end

• the three-year period has expired.

3. (of a person) die.

4. [with obj.] — ‹technical› exhale (air) from the lung.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French expirer, from Latin exspirare ‘breathe out,’ from ex- ‘out’ + spirare ‘breathe.’

expiry /ikˈspī(ə)rē/

noun

1. (Brit.) (Canadian) the end of the period for which something is valid

• the expiry of the patent

• [as modifier] an expiry date.

2. (Brit.) (Canadian) the end of a fixed period of time

• the expiry of the six-month period.

3. (Brit.) (Canadian) ‹archaic› death.

explain /ikˈsplān/

I. verb — [reporting verb]

1. make (an idea, situation, or problem) clear to someone by describing it in more detail or revealing relevant facts or ideas
[with clause]

• they explained that their lives centered on the religious rituals

• [with direct speech] “my daddy has spells,” Ben explained

• [with obj.] he explained the situation.

2. account for (an action or event) by giving a reason as excuse or justification
[with obj.]

• Callie found it necessary to explain her blackened eye

• [with clause] he makes athletes explain why they made a mistake

• [no obj.] she had tried to explain about Adam, hadn't she?

3. [with obj.] — be the cause of or motivating factor for

• her father's violence explains her pacificism

• [with clause] this would explain why so many adult children still live with their parents.

4. (explain something away) — minimize the significance of an embarrassing fact or action by giving an excuse or justification

• they know stories about me that I can't explain away.

II. phrases

explain oneself

a. expand on what one has said in order to make one's meaning clear.

b. give an account of one's motives or conduct in order to excuse or justify oneself

• he was too panicked to stay and explain himself to the policeman.

III. derivatives

explainable /ikˈsplānəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin explanare, based on planus ‘plain.’

explainer /ikˈsplānər/

noun

1. a person who explains a concept, topic, situation, etc.

• an excellent teacher and explainer

• scientists often aren't the best explainers.

2. a statement, article, or video that provides an explanation of a concept, topic, situation, etc.

• if you're confused, Reuters has a quick explainer on how the Italian election works

• can you give us an explainer of what sub-prime means?

• [as modifier] learn more about gravity and how it affects all objects in space with this terrific explainer video.

explanandum /ˌekspləˈnandəm/

I. noun

[Philosophy] another term for explicandum.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin, ‘(something) to be explained.’

explanans /ekˈsplāˌnans/

I. noun

[Philosophy] another term for explicans.

– origin 1940s: Latin, ‘explaining.’

explanation /ˌekspləˈnāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a statement or account that makes something clear

• the birth rate is central to any explanation of population trends.

2. a reason or justification given for an action or belief

• Freud tried to make sex the explanation for everything

• my application was rejected without explanation.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin explanatio(n-), from the verb explanare (see explain).

explanatory /ikˈsplanəˌtôrē/

I. adjective

serving to explain something

• explanatory notes.

II. derivatives

explanatorily /ikˌsplanəˈtôrəlē /

adverb

explant ‹Biology›

I. verb — /ikˈsplant ekˈsplant / [with obj.] (often as adj. explanted)

1. transfer (living cells, tissues, or organs) from animals or plants to a nutrient medium.

II. noun — /ˈeksplant /

1. a cell, organ, or piece of tissue that has been transferred in this way.

III. derivatives

explantation /ikˌsplanˈtāSHən ekˌsplanˈtāSHən /

noun

– origin early 20th cent.: from modern Latin explantare, from ex- ‘out’ + plantare ‘to plant.’

expletive /ˈeksplədiv/

I. noun

1. an oath or swear word.

2. [Grammar] a word or phrase used to fill out a sentence or a line of verse without adding to the sense.

II. adjective

[Grammar] (of a word or phrase) serving to fill out a sentence or line of verse.

– origin late Middle English (as an adjective): from late Latin expletivus, from explere ‘fill out,’ from ex- ‘out’ + plere ‘fill.’ The general noun sense ‘word used merely to fill out a sentence’ (early 17th cent.) was applied specifically to an oath or swear word in the early 19th cent.

explicable /ikˈsplikəb(ə)l ˈekspləkəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

able to be accounted for or understood

• the English class system is not entirely explicable in terms of money.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French, or from Latin explicabilis, from explicare (see explicate).

explicandum /ˌekspləˈkandəm/

I. noun

[Philosophy] the fact, thing, or expression that is to be explained or explicated.
Compare with explicans.

– origin mid 19th cent.: Latin, ‘something to be explained,’ neuter gerundive of explicare.

explicans /ˈekspləˌkanz/

I. noun

[Philosophy] the explanation or explication given for a fact, thing, or expression.
Compare with explicandum.

– origin late 19th cent.: Latin, present participle of explicare ‘explain.’

explicate /ˈekspləˌkāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. analyze and develop (an idea or principle) in detail

• attempting to explicate the relationship between crime and economic forces.

2. analyze (a literary work) in order to reveal its meaning.

II. derivatives

1. explicative /ˈekspləˌkādiv ˌekˈsplikədiv /

adjective

2. explicator /-ˌkātər /

noun

3. explicatory /ikˈsplikəˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin explicat- ‘unfolded,’ from the verb explicare, from ex- ‘out’ + plicare ‘to fold.’

explication /ˌekspləˈkāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the process of analyzing and developing an idea or principle in detail

• this term is meaningless without further explication and analysis

• his explications of scientific concepts.

2. the process of analyzing a literary work in order to reveal its meaning

• careful reading and explication of classical texts.

explicit /ikˈsplisit/

I. adjective

1. stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or doubt

• the speaker's intentions were not made explicit.

2. (of a person) stating something in a clear and detailed way

• let me be explicit.

3. describing or representing sexual activity in a graphic fashion

• explicit photos showing poses and acts.

II. noun

the closing words of a text, manuscript, early printed book, or chanted liturgical text.
[Middle English: late Latin, ‘here ends,’ or abbreviation of explicitus est liber ‘the scroll is unrolled.’]

III. derivatives

explicitness /ikˈsplisitnəs /

noun

– origin early 17th cent. (as an adjective): from French explicite or Latin explicitus, past participle of explicare ‘unfold’ (see explicate).

explicitly /ikˈsplisitlē/

adverb

1. in a clear and detailed manner, leaving no room for confusion or doubt

• the essay should state explicitly how the facts support the thesis

• she has explicitly rejected the theory of patriarchy.

2. (in reference to representations of sexual activity) graphically and vividly
[as submodifier]

• explicitly erotic images.

explode /ikˈsplōd/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. burst or shatter violently and noisily as a result of rapid combustion, decomposition, excessive internal pressure, or other process, typically scattering fragments widely

• a large bomb exploded in a park.

2. [with obj.] — cause (a bomb) to do this

• the USSR had not yet exploded its first nuclear weapon.

3. ‹technical› undergo a violent expansion in which much energy is released as a shock wave

• lead ensures that gasoline burns rather than explodes.

4. (of a person) suddenly give expression to violent and uncontainable emotion, especially anger

• he can explode with anger

• [with direct speech] “This is ludicrous!” she exploded.

5. (of a violent emotion or a situation) arise or develop suddenly

• tension that could explode into violence at any time.

6. (explode into) — suddenly begin to move or start a new activity

• a bird exploded into flight.

7. increase suddenly or rapidly in size, number, or extent

• the car population of Warsaw has exploded.

8. (as adj. exploded) — (of a diagram or drawing) showing the components of a mechanism as if separated by an explosion but in the normal relative positions

• an exploded diagram of the rifle's parts.

9. [with obj.] — show (a belief or theory) to be false or unfounded

• the myths that link smoking with glamour need to be exploded.

II. derivatives

exploder

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘reject scornfully, discard’): from Latin explodere ‘drive out by clapping, hiss off the stage,’ from ex- ‘out’ + plaudere ‘to clap.’ Sense 2 is derived from the original sense of the word. Sense 1 (late 18th cent.) evolved via an old sense ‘expel with violence and sudden noise,’ perhaps influenced by obsolete displode ‘burst with a noise.’

exploding offer

noun

a job offer that is retracted if not accepted within a very short period of time

• they can’t get first-rate students unless they use pressure tactics like exploding offers.

exploit

I. verb — /ikˈsploit / [with obj.]

1. make full use of and derive benefit from (a resource)

• 500 companies sprang up to exploit this new technology.

2. use (a situation or person) in an unfair or selfish way

• the company was exploiting a legal loophole

• accusations that he exploited a wealthy patient.

3. benefit unfairly from the work of (someone), typically by overworking or underpaying them

• making money does not always mean exploiting others.

II. noun — /ˈekˌsploit /

1. a bold or daring feat

• the most heroic and secretive exploits of the war.

2. a software tool designed to take advantage of a flaw in a computer system, typically for malicious purposes such as installing malware

• if someone you don't know tweets you a link, it's either spam, an exploit, or probably both.

III. derivatives

1. exploitable /ikˈsploidəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. exploitative /ikˈsploidədiv ekˈsploidədiv /

adjective

3. exploiter /ikˈsploidər /

noun

4. exploitive /ikˈsploitiv /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French esploit (noun), based on Latin explicare ‘unfold’ (see explicate). The early notion of ‘success, progress’ gave rise to the sense ‘attempt to capture,’ ‘military expedition,’ hence the current sense of the noun. Current verb senses (mid 19th cent.) are taken from modern French exploiter.

exploitation /ˌekˌsploiˈtāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action or fact of treating someone unfairly in order to benefit from their work

• the exploitation of migrant workers.

2. the action of making use of and benefiting from resources

• the Bronze Age saw exploitation of gold deposits.

3. the fact of making use of a situation to gain unfair advantage for oneself

• this administration's exploitation of the fear of crime.

exploration /ˌekspləˈrāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action of traveling in or through an unfamiliar area in order to learn about it

• voyages of exploration

• an exploration of the African interior.

2. thorough analysis of a subject or theme

• an exploration of the religious dimensions of our lives.

II. derivatives

explorational /-ˈrāSHənl /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting an investigation): from French, or from Latin exploratio(n-), from the verb explorare (see explore). The current sense dates from the early 19th cent.

Exploratorium /ikˌsplôrəˈtôrēəm/

I. noun — [usu. in names]

1. ‹trademark› a scientific museum or similar center at which visitors have the opportunity of performing prearranged experiments or demonstrations.

– origin 1960s: coined by F. Oppenheimer, director of the San Francisco Exploratorium, from exploration and -orium.

exploratory /ikˈsplôrəˌtôrē/

I. adjective

relating to or involving exploration or investigation

• surgeons performed an exploratory operation

• exploratory talks.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin exploratorius, from explorare (see explore).

explore /ikˈsplôr/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. travel in or through (an unfamiliar country or area) in order to learn about or familiarize oneself with it

• the best way to explore Iceland's northwest

• ‹figurative› the project encourages children to explore the world of photography.

2. [no obj.] (explore for) — search for resources such as mineral deposits

• the company explored for oil.

3. inquire into or discuss (a subject or issue) in detail

• he sets out to explore fundamental questions.

4. examine or evaluate (an option or possibility)

• you continue to explore new ways to generate income.

5. examine by touch

• her fingers explored his hair.

6. [Medicine] surgically examine (a wound or body cavity) in detail.

II. derivatives

explorative /ikˈsplôrədiv /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘investigate (why)’): from French explorer, from Latin explorare ‘search out,’ from ex- ‘out’ + plorare ‘utter a cry.’

explorer /ikˈsplôrər/

noun

a person who explores an unfamiliar area; an adventurer

• a polar explorer.

explosion /ikˈsplōZHən/

I. noun

1. a violent and destructive shattering or blowing apart of something, as is caused by a bomb.

2. ‹technical› a violent expansion in which energy is transmitted outward as a shock wave.

3. a sudden outburst of something such as noise, light, or violent emotion, especially anger

• an explosion of anger.

4. a sudden political or social upheaval.

5. a rapid or sudden increase in amount or extent

• an explosion in the adder population.

6. [Phonetics] another term for plosion.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin explosio(n-) ‘scornful rejection,’ from the verb explodere (see explode).

explosive /ikˈsplōsiv ikˈsplōziv/

I. adjective

1. able or likely to shatter violently or burst apart, as when a bomb explodes

• an explosive device.

2. likely to cause an eruption of anger or controversy

• Marco's explosive temper

• the idea was politically explosive.

3. of or relating to a sudden and dramatic increase in amount or extent

• the explosive growth of personal computers in the 1980s.

4. (of a vocal sound) produced with a sharp release of air.

5. [Phonetics] another term for plosive.

II. noun — (often explosives)

1. a substance that can be made to explode, especially any of those used in bombs or shells.

III. derivatives

explosiveness /ikˈsplōsivnis ekˈsplōsivnis ikˈsplōzivnis ekˈsplōzivnis /

noun

explosive bolt

noun

a bolt that can be released by being blown out of position by an integral explosive charge.

explosive cyclogenesis

I. noun

[Meteorology] the rapid fall of barometric pressure in a particular area, especially by at least 24 millibars over a 24-hour period at or north of 60° latitude

• last week's explosive cyclogenesis over the Atlantic was due to a clash of cold Arctic air with warmer air from the south.

– origin 1940s: see cyclogenesis.

explosively /ikˈsplōsəvlē ikˈsplōzəvlē/

adverb

1. in the violent manner of an explosion

• some volcanoes erupt explosively while others just simmer along.

2. with an outburst of anger or controversy

• residents reacted explosively to the rumors.

3. (with reference to an increase) suddenly and dramatically

• house prices have risen explosively over the past two years

• the quiet town has grown explosively.

expo /ˈekspō/

I. noun

a large exhibition.

– origin 1960s (referring to the World Fair held in Montreal in 1967): abbreviation of exposition.

exponent /ikˈspōnənt ˈekspōnənt/

I. noun

1. a person who believes in and promotes the truth or benefits of an idea or theory

• an early exponent of the teachings of Thomas Aquinas.

2. a person who has and demonstrates a particular skill, especially to a high standard

• he's the world's leading exponent of country rock guitar.

3. [Mathematics] a quantity representing the power to which a given number or expression is to be raised, usually expressed as a raised symbol beside the number or expression (e.g., 3 in 2^3 = 2 × 2 × 2).

4. [Linguistics] a linguistic unit that realizes another, more abstract unit.

– origin late 16th cent. (as an adjective in the sense ‘expounding’): from Latin exponent- ‘putting out,’ from the verb exponere (see expound).

exponential /ˌekspəˈnen(t)SH(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. [Mathematics] of or expressed by a mathematical exponent

• an exponential curve.

2. [Mathematics] (of an increase) becoming more and more rapid

• the social security budget was rising at an exponential rate.

– origin early 18th cent.: from French exponentiel, from Latin exponere ‘put out’ (see expound).

exponential function

noun

[Mathematics] a function whose value is a constant raised to the power of the argument, especially the function where the constant is e.

exponential growth

noun

growth whose rate becomes ever more rapid in proportion to the growing total number or size.

exponentially /ˌekspəˈnen(t)SHəlē/

adverb

1. (with reference to an increase) more and more rapidly

• our business has been growing exponentially.

2. [Mathematics] by means of or as expressed by a mathematical exponent

• values distributed exponentially according to a given time constant

• the coefficients show an exponentially decaying trend.

exponentiation /ˌekspəˌnen(t)SHēˈāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

[Mathematics] the operation of raising one quantity to the power of another.

II. derivatives

exponentiate /-ˈnenCHēˌāt /

verb

export

I. verb — /ikˈspôrt ˈekspôrt / [with obj.]

1. send (goods or services) to another country for sale

• we exported $16 million worth of mussels to Japan.

2. spread or introduce (ideas and beliefs) to another country

• the Greeks exported Hellenic culture around the Mediterranean basin.

3. [Computing] transfer (data) in a format that can be used by other programs.

II. noun — /ˈekˌspôrt / (usu. exports)

1. a commodity, article, or service sold abroad

• wool and mohair were the principal exports.

2. (exports) — sales of goods or services to other countries, or the revenue from such sales

• meat exports.

3. the selling and sending out of goods or services to other countries

• the export of Western technology.

4. [as modifier] — of a high standard suitable for export

• high-grade export coal.

III. derivatives

1. exportability /ikˌspôrtəˈbilitē /

noun

2. exportable /ikˈspôrdəbəl ekˈspôrdəbəl /

adjective

3. exportation /ˌekˌspôrˈtāSHən ˌekspərˈtāSHən /

noun

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘take away’): from Latin exportare, from ex- ‘out’ + portare ‘carry.’ Current senses date from the 17th cent.

exporter /ˈekspôrdər ikˈspôrdər/

noun

1. a person, country, or company that sends goods or services to another country for sale

• Brazil is the world's largest producer and exporter of sugar

• a major oil exporter to the United States.

2. a person or group spreading or introducing ideas and beliefs to another country

• charges have been leveled against the West since its ascension as an exporter of ideas

• Japan has only begun to be an exporter of culture in the last couple of decades.

export surplus

noun

the amount by which the value of a country's exports exceeds that of its imports.

expose /ikˈspōz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (something) visible, typically by uncovering it

• at low tide the sands are exposed.

2. (often as adj. exposed) — leave (something) uncovered or unprotected, especially from the weather

• the coast is very exposed to the southwest.

3. subject (photographic film) to light, especially when operating a camera.

4. (expose oneself) — publicly and indecently display one's genitals.

5. (usu. as adj. exposed) — leave or put (someone) in an unprotected and vulnerable state

• Miranda felt exposed and lonely.

6. (expose someone to) — cause someone to experience or be at risk of

• he exposed himself unnecessarily to gunfire in the war.

7. make (something embarrassing or damaging) public

• investigations exposed a vast network of illegalities.

8. reveal the true and typically objectionable nature of (someone or something)

• he has been exposed as a liar and a traitor.

9. (expose someone to) — introduce someone to (a subject or area of knowledge)

• students were exposed to probability and statistics in high school.

10. leave (a child) in the open to die.

II. derivatives

exposer

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French exposer, from Latin exponere (see expound), but influenced by Latin expositus ‘put or set out’ and Old French poser ‘to place.’

exposé /ˌekspōˈzā/

I. noun

a report of the facts about something, especially a journalistic report that reveals something scandalous

• a shocking exposé of a medical cover-up.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French, ‘shown, set out,’ past participle of exposer (see expose).

exposition /ˌekspəˈziSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a comprehensive description and explanation of an idea or theory

• the exposition and defense of his ethics.

2. [Music] the part of a movement, especially in sonata form, in which the principal themes are first presented.

3. the part of a play or work of fiction in which the background to the main conflict is introduced.

4. a large public exhibition of art or trade goods.

5. ‹archaic› the action of making public; exposure

• the country squires dreaded the exposition of their rustic conversation.

II. derivatives

expositional /-ziSHənl /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Latin expositio(n-), from the verb exponere ‘put out, exhibit, explain.’

expositor /ikˈspäzədər/

I. noun

a person or thing that explains complicated ideas or theories

• a lucid expositor of difficult ideas.

– origin Middle English: via Old French or late Latin, from Latin exposit- ‘exposed, explained,’ from exponere (see expound).

expository /ikˈspäziˌtôrē/

adjective

intended to explain or describe something

• formal expository prose.

ex post

I. adjective, adverb

based on actual results rather than forecasts
[as adj.]

• the ex post trade balance

• [as adv.] the real-wage rate had fallen ex post.

– origin modern Latin, from ex ‘from’ and post ‘after.’

ex post facto /ˌeks pōst ˈfaktō/

I. adjective, adverb

with retroactive effect or force
[as adj.]

• ex post facto laws.

– origin erroneous division of Latin ex postfacto ‘in the light of subsequent events.’

expostulate /ikˈspäsCHəˌlāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. express strong disapproval or disagreement

• I expostulated with him in vain.

II. derivatives

1. expostulation /ikˌspäsCHəˈlāSHən ekˌspäsCHəˈlāSHən /

noun

2. expostulator /-lātər /

noun

3. expostulatory /ikˈspäsCHələˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘demand how or why, state a complaint’): from Latin expostulat- ‘demanded,’ from the verb expostulare, from ex- ‘out’ + postulare ‘demand.’

exposure /ikˈspōZHər/

I. noun

1. the state of being exposed to contact with something

• the dangers posed by exposure to asbestos.

2. a physical condition resulting from being outside in severe weather conditions without adequate protection

• he died of exposure at 8,000 feet.

3. experience of something

• his exposure to the banking system.

4. the action of exposing a photographic film to light or other radiation

• a camera that would give a picture immediately after exposure

• trial exposures made with a UV filter.

5. the quantity of light or other radiation reaching a photographic film, as determined by shutter speed and lens aperture.

6. the action of placing oneself at risk of financial losses, e.g., through making loans, granting credit, or underwriting insurance.

7. the revelation of an identity or fact, especially one that is concealed or likely to arouse disapproval

• she took her life for fear of exposure as a spy.

8. the publicizing of information or an event

• scientific findings receive regular exposure in the media.

9. the direction in which a building faces; an outlook

• the exposure is perfect—a gentle slope to the southwest.

– origin early 17th cent.: from expose, on the pattern of words such as enclosure.

exposure meter

noun

another term for light meter.

expound /ikˈspound/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. present and explain (a theory or idea) systematically and in detail

• he was expounding a powerful argument

• [no obj.] he declined to expound on his decision.

2. explain the meaning of (a literary or doctrinal work)

• the abbess expounded the scriptures to her nuns.

II. derivatives

expounder /ikˈspoundər /

noun

– origin Middle English expoune (in the sense ‘explain (what is difficult)’): from Old French espon-, present tense stem of espondre, from Latin exponere ‘expose, publish, explain,’ from ex- ‘out’ + ponere ‘put.’ The origin of the final -d (recorded from the Middle English period) is uncertain (compare with compound^1, propound).

ex-president

noun

a former president of a particular country or organization

• Finland's ex-president

• an ex-president of the National Farmers Union.

express^1 /ikˈspres/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. convey (a thought or feeling) in words or by gestures and conduct

• he expressed complete satisfaction.

2. (express oneself) — say what one thinks or means

• with a diplomatic smile, she expressed herself more subtly.

3. [chiefly Mathematics] represent (a number, relation, or property) by a figure, symbol, or formula

• constants can be expressed in terms of the Fourier transform.

4. (usu. be expressed) — [Genetics] cause (an inherited characteristic or gene) to appear in a phenotype.

5. squeeze out (liquid or air).

II. derivatives

1. expresser

noun

2. expressible /ikˈspresəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (also in the sense ‘press out, obtain by squeezing or wringing,’ used figuratively to mean ‘extort’): from Old French expresser, based on Latin ex- ‘out’ + pressare ‘to press.’

express^2 /ikˈspres/

I. adjective

1. operating at high speed, in particular

2. (of a train or other vehicle of public transportation) making few intermediate stops and reaching its destination quickly

• an express train bound for Innsbruck

• express bus service

• an express elevator.

3. denoting a service in which letters or packages are delivered by a special service to ensure speed or security

• an express letter.

• an express airmail service.

II. adverb

by express train or delivery service

• I got my wife to send my gloves express to the hotel.

III. noun

1. an express train or other vehicle of public transportation

• we embarked for the south of France on an overnight express.

2. an overnight or rapid delivery service

• the books arrived by express.

3. an express rifle.

IV. verb — [with obj.]

1. send by express delivery or messenger

• I expressed my clothes to my destination.

– origin early 18th cent. (in the sense of the verb): extension of express^3; sense 1 of the noun from express train, so named because it served a particular destination without intermediate stops, reflecting an earlier sense of express ‘done or made for a special purpose,’ later interpreted in the sense ‘rapid.’ Senses relating to express delivery date from the institution of this postal service in Britain in 1891.

express^3 /ikˈspres/

I. adjective

1. definitely stated, not merely implied

• it was his express wish that the celebration continue.

2. precisely and specifically identified to the exclusion of anything else

• the schools were founded for the express purpose of teaching deaf children.

3. ‹archaic› (of a likeness) exact.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French expres, from Latin expressus ‘distinctly presented,’ past participle of exprimere ‘press out, express,’ from ex- ‘out’ + primere ‘press.’

express canoe

noun

(Canadian) ‹historical› a small, light, fast canoe used for deliveries or transporting passengers

• the 900-mile trip required three weeks to a month, though the light express canoes could make it in half that time.

expression /ikˈspreSHən/

I. noun

1. the process of making known one's thoughts or feelings

• his views found expression in his moral sermons

• she accepted his expressions of sympathy.

2. the conveying of feeling in the face or voice, in a work of art, or in the performance of a piece of music

• eyes empty of expression

• their instruments have a rich variety of expression.

3. the look on someone's face that conveys a particular emotion

• a sad expression.

4. a word or phrase, especially an idiomatic one, used to convey an idea

• nowhere is the expression “garbage in, garbage out” any truer.

5. [Mathematics] a collection of symbols that jointly express a quantity

• the expression for the circumference of a circle is 2πr.

6. the production of something, especially by pressing or squeezing it out

• essential oils obtained by distillation or expression.

7. [Genetics] the appearance in a phenotype of a characteristic or effect attributed to a particular gene.

8. (also gene expression) — the process by which possession of a gene leads to the appearance in the phenotype of the corresponding character.

II. derivatives

expressional /ekˈspreSHnəl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin expressio(n-), from exprimere ‘press out, express.’ Compare with express^1.

expressionism /ikˈspreSHəˌnizəm/

noun

a style of painting, music, or drama in which the artist or writer seeks to express emotional experience rather than impressions of the external world.
Expressionists characteristically reject traditional ideas of beauty or harmony and use distortion, exaggeration, and other nonnaturalistic devices in order to emphasize and express the inner world of emotion. The paintings of El Greco and Grünewald exemplify expressionism in this broad sense, but the term is also used of a late-19th- and 20th-century European and specifically German movement tracing its origins to Van Gogh, Edvard Munch, and James Ensor, which insisted on the primacy of the artist's feelings and mood, often incorporating violence and the grotesque.

expressionist /ikˈspreSH(ə)nəst/

I. noun

a painter, writer, or composer who is an exponent of expressionism, seeking to express through their work the inner world of emotion rather than external reality

• the American abstract expressionist, Jackson Pollock.

II. adjective

relating to expressionism or its exponents

• he placed emphasis on an expressionist style

• an exhibition of abstract expressionist paintings.

III. derivatives

1. expressionistic /ikˌspreSHəˈnistik /

adjective

2. expressionistically /ikˌspreSHəˈnistəklē /

adverb

Expressionists characteristically reject traditional ideas of beauty or harmony and use distortion, exaggeration, and other non-naturalistic devices in order to express emotional states. The paintings of El Greco and Grünewald exemplify expressionism in this broad sense, but the term is also used of a late 19th and 20th century European and specifically German movement tracing its origins to Van Gogh, Edvard Munch, and James Ensor, which insisted on the primacy of the artist's feelings and mood, often incorporating violence and the grotesque.

expressionless /ikˈspreSHənləs ekˈspreSHənləs/

I. adjective

(of a person's face or voice) not conveying any emotion; unemotional

• her face was expressionless.

II. derivatives

1. expressionlessly

adverb

2. expressionlessness

noun

expression mark

noun

[Music] a word or phrase on a musical score that indicates the expression required of a performer.

expressive /ikˈspresiv/

I. adjective

1. effectively conveying thought or feeling.

2. [predic.] (expressive of) — conveying (the specified quality or idea)

• the spires are expressive of religious aspiration.

II. derivatives

1. expressively /ikˈspresəvlē ekˈspresəvlē /

adverb

2. expressiveness /ikˈspresivnəs /

noun

3. expressivity /ˌekspreˈsivədē /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘tending to press out’): from French expressif, -ive or medieval Latin expressivus, from exprimere ‘press out’ (see express^3). Compare with express^1.

express lane

noun

1. (on a highway) a lane for through traffic, having fewer exits.

2. (in a grocery store) a checkout aisle for shoppers buying only a few items.

expressly /ˌikˈspreslē/

adverb

1. explicitly; clearly

• she was expressly forbidden to use the stove.

2. for a specific purpose; solely

• the house was expressly built for entertaining.

express rifle /ikˈspres ekˈspres ˈrīfəl/

noun

a rifle that discharges a bullet at high speed and is used in big-game hunting.

expressway /ikˈspresˌwā/

noun

(N. Amer.) a highway designed for fast traffic, with controlled entrance and exit, a dividing strip between the traffic in opposite directions, and typically two or more lanes in each direction.

expropriate /ˌeksˈprōprēˌāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (especially of the state) take away (property) from its owner

• government plans to expropriate farmland.

2. dispossess (someone) of property

• the land reform expropriated the Irish landlords.

II. derivatives

expropriator /-ˌātər /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from medieval Latin expropriat- ‘taken from the owner,’ from the verb expropriare, from ex- ‘out, from’ + proprium ‘property,’ neuter singular of proprius ‘own.’

expropriation /ˌeksˌprōprēˈāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action by the state or an authority of taking property from its owner for public use or benefit

• the decree provided for the expropriation of church land and buildings

• the expropriation of assets by the government.

2. the action of dispossessing someone of property

• a popular movement aiming at the expropriation of the landowners and the overthrow of the autocracy.

expt.

abbreviation

experiment.

exptl.

abbreviation

experimental.

expulsion /ikˈspəlSHən/

I. noun

1. the action of depriving someone of membership in an organization

• expulsion from school.

2. the process of forcing someone to leave a place, especially a country

• the expulsion of the Jesuits from Spain.

3. the process of forcing something out of the body.

II. derivatives

expulsive /ikˈspəlsiv /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin expulsio(n-), from expellere ‘drive out’ (see expel).

expunge /ikˈspənj/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. erase or remove completely (something unwanted or unpleasant)

• I’ve kind of expunged that period from my CV.

II. derivatives

1. expunction /ikˈspəNG(k)SH(ə)n /

noun

2. expungement

noun

3. expunger

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin expungere ‘mark for deletion by means of points,’ from ex- ‘out’ + pungere ‘to prick.’

expurgate /ˈekspərˌɡāt/

I. verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. expurgated)

1. remove matter thought to be objectionable or unsuitable from (a book or account)

• the expurgated Arabian Nights.

II. derivatives

1. expurgation /ˌekspərˈɡāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. expurgator /ˈekspərˌɡādər /

noun

3. expurgatory /ikˈspərɡəˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘purge of excrement’): from Latin expurgat- ‘thoroughly cleansed,’ from the verb expurgare, from ex- ‘out’ + purgare ‘cleanse.’

exquisite /ekˈskwizət ˈekˌskwizət/

I. adjective

1. extremely beautiful and, typically, delicate

• exquisite, jewellike portraits.

2. intensely felt

• the most exquisite kind of agony.

3. highly sensitive or discriminating

• her exquisite taste in painting.

II. noun

a man who is affectedly concerned with his clothes and appearance; a dandy.

III. derivatives

exquisiteness /ekˈskwizətnəs ˈekˌskwizətnəs ˈekskwəzətnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘carefully ascertained, precise’): from Latin exquisit- ‘sought out,’ from the verb exquirere, from ex- ‘out’ + quaerere ‘seek.’

exquisitely /ekˈskwizətlē ˈekˌskwizətlē/

adverb

1. in an extremely beautiful and delicate manner

• exquisitely crafted sculptures

• she sings exquisitely.

2. [often as submodifier] — in an intensely felt manner

• the exquisitely painful portrait of a marriage collapsing.

3. in a highly sensitive or discriminating manner

• she was always exquisitely attuned to her mother's moods.

exr.

abbreviation

executor.

exrx.

abbreviation

executrix.

exsanguination /ekˌsaNGɡwəˈnāSHən/

I. noun

1. [Medicine] the action of draining a person, animal, or organ of blood.

2. [Medicine] severe loss of blood.

II. derivatives

exsanguinate /ekˈsaNGɡwəˌnāt /

verb

– origin early 20th cent.: from Latin exsanguinatus ‘drained of blood’ (from ex- ‘out’ + sanguis, sanguin- ‘blood’) + -ion.

exsanguine /eksˈsaNGɡwin/

I. adjective

‹literary› bloodless; anemic.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from ex-1 ‘out’ + Latin sanguis, sanguin- ‘blood.’

exsert /ekˈsərt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Biology] cause to protrude; push out
(as adj. exserted)

• an exserted stigma.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin exsert- ‘put forth,’ from the verb exserere (see exert).

ex-serviceman

noun

(Brit.) a man who was formerly a member of the armed forces.

ex-servicewoman /eksˈsərvisˌwo͝omən/

noun

(Brit.) a woman who was formerly a member of the armed forces.

ex silentio /ˌeks səˈlen(t)SHēō/

I. adjective, adverb

by the absence of contrary evidence.

– origin early 20th cent.: Latin, literally ‘from silence.’

exsolve /eksˈsälv/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. [Geology] (of a mineral or other substance) separate out from solution, especially from solid solution in a rock.

2. [with obj.] (usu. as adj. exsolved) — [Geology] form (a mineral or other substance) by the process of exsolution

• coarsely exsolved ilmenites.

II. derivatives

exsolution /ˌeksəˈlo͞oSHən /

noun

ext.

abbreviation

1. extension (in a telephone number).

2. exterior.

3. external.

4. extra.

extant /ˈekstənt ekˈstant/

I. adjective

(especially of a document) still in existence; surviving

• the original manuscript is no longer extant.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘accessible, able to be publicly seen or reached’): from Latin exstant- ‘being visible or prominent, existing,’ from the verb exstare, from ex- ‘out’ + stare ‘to stand.’

extemporaneous /ikˌstempəˈrānēəs/

I. adjective

spoken or done without preparation

• an extemporaneous speech.

II. derivatives

1. extemporaneously /ikˌstempəˈrānēəslē /

adverb

2. extemporaneousness /ikˌstempəˈrānēəsnəs /

noun

extemporary /ikˈstempəˌrerē/

I. adjective

another term for extemporaneous.

II. derivatives

1. extemporarily /ikˌstempəˈrerəlē /

adverb

2. extemporariness

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from extempore, on the pattern of temporary.

extempore /ikˈstempərē ekˈstempərē/

I. adjective, adverb

spoken or done without preparation
[as adj.]

• extempore public speaking

• [as adv.] he recited the poem extempore.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin ex tempore ‘on the spur of the moment’ (literally ‘out of the time’).

extemporize /ikˈstempəˌrīz/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. compose, perform, or produce something such as music or a speech without preparation; improvise

• he extemporized at the piano

• [with obj.] she was extemporizing touching melodies.

II. derivatives

extemporization /ikˌstempərəˈzāSHən ekˌstempərəˈzāSHən ikˌstempəˌrīˈzāSHən ekˌstempəˌrīˈzāSHən /

noun

extend /ikˈstend/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause to cover a larger area; make longer or wider

• the Forest Service plans to extend a gravel road nearly a mile.

2. cause to last longer

• high schools may consider extending the class day to seven periods.

3. postpone (a starting or ending time) beyond the original limit

• he extended the deadline to 4 p.m. today.

4. straighten or spread out (the body or a limb) at full length

• she is unable to extend her thumb.

5. [no obj.] — spread from a central point to cover a wider area

• the pipeline currently extends 1,200 miles from Santa Barbara.

6. [no obj.] — occupy a specified area or stretch to a specified point

• the mountains extend over the western end of the island

• a fault that may extend to a depth of 12 miles.

7. [no obj.] (extend to) — include within one's scope; be applicable to

• her generosity did not extend to all adults.

8. hold (something) out toward someone

• I nod and extend my hand.

9. offer or make available

• she extended an invitation to her to stay

• I can't extend credit indefinitely.

10. (extend oneself) — exert or exercise oneself to the utmost

• you have to extend yourself to change rather than keep on doing the same thing.

II. derivatives

1. extendability /ikˌstendəˈbilitē /

noun

2. extendable /ikˈstendəbəl ekˈstendəbəl /

adjective

3. extendibility /ikˌstendəˈbilitē /

noun

4. extendible /ikˈstendəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin extendere ‘stretch out,’ from ex- ‘out’ + tendere ‘stretch.’

extended /ˌikˈstendəd/

adjective

1. made larger; enlarged

• an extended kitchen and new balcony.

2. lasting longer than is usual or expected; prolonged

• an extended period of time.

extended family

noun

a family that extends beyond the nuclear family, including grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives, who all live nearby or in one household.

extended-play /ekˌstəndədˈplā/

adjective

1. denoting a record that plays longer than most singles.

2. denoting an audio- or videotape that is thinner and longer than standard.

extender /ikˈstendər/

noun

1. a person or thing that extends something.

2. a substance added to a product such as paint, ink, or glue, to dilute its color or increase its bulk.

3. [Photography] another term for extension tube.

extensible /ikˈstensəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

able to be extended; extendable

• an extensible architecture designed to accommodate changes.

II. derivatives

extensibility /ikˌstensəˈbilədē /

noun

extensile /ikˈstensəl, -sīl/

I. adjective

capable of being stretched out or protruded.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin extens- ‘stretched out’ (from the verb extendere) + -ile.

extension /ˌikˈsten(t)SH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a part that is added to something to enlarge or prolong it; a continuation

• the railroad's southern extension.

2. a room or set of rooms added to an existing building.

3. the action or process of becoming or making something larger

• the extension of the president's powers.

4. an application of an existing system or activity to a new area

• direct marketing is an extension of telephone selling.

5. an increase in the length of time given to someone to hold office, complete a project, or fulfill an obligation.

6. [Computing] an optional suffix to a file name, typically consisting of a period followed by several characters, indicating the file's content or function.

7. (also extension cord) — a length of electric cord that permits the use of an appliance at some distance from a fixed socket.

8. an extra telephone on the same line as the main one.

9. a subsidiary telephone in a set of offices or similar building, on a line leading from the main switchboard but having its own additional number.

10. [usu. as modifier] — instruction by a university or college for students who do not attend full time

• extension courses.

11. (extensions) — lengths of real or artificial hair woven into a person's own hair to create a long hairstyle.

12. the action of moving a limb from a bent to a straight position

• seizures with sudden rigid extension of the limbs.

13. the muscle action controlling this

• triceps extension.

14. [Ballet] the ability of a dancer to raise one leg above the waist, or an instance of this

• she has amazing extension

• he could perform 180-degree extensions.

15. [Medicine] the application of traction to a fractured or dislocated limb or to an injured or diseased spinal column to restore it to its normal position.

16. the lengthening of a horse's stride within a particular gait.

17. [Logic] the range of a term or concept as measured by the objects that it denotes or contains, as opposed to its internal content.
Often contrasted with intension.

18. [Physics] [Philosophy] the property of occupying space; spatial magnitude

• nature, for Descartes, was pure extension in space.

II. phrases

by extension

taking the same line of argument further

• this raised serious questions about his credibility and, by extension, the credibility of the company.

III. derivatives

extensional /-SHənl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin extensio(n-), from extendere ‘stretch out’ (see extend).

extension ladder

noun

a ladder that can be extended by means of sliding sections.

extension tube /ikˈsten(t)SHən ekˈsten(t)SHən t(y)o͞ob/

noun

[Photography] a tube fitted to a camera between the body and lens to shorten the distance of closest focus of an object so that close-up pictures can be taken.

extensive /ikˈstensiv/

I. adjective

1. covering or affecting a large area

• an extensive garden.

2. large in amount or scale

• an extensive collection of silver.

3. (of agriculture) obtaining a relatively small crop from a large area with a minimum of attention and expense

• extensive farming techniques.

Often contrasted with intensive (sense 1 of the adjective).

II. derivatives

extensiveness /ikˈstensivnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from French extensif, -ive or late Latin extensivus, from extens- ‘stretched out,’ from the verb extendere (see extend).

extensively /ikˈstensəvlē/

adverb

1. in a way that covers or affects a large area

• the house was extensively damaged by the fire

• her husband traveled extensively in his job.

2. to a large or detailed degree

• he has written extensively about the project

• the article was extensively researched.

extensometer /ikˌstenˈsämədər/

I. noun

an instrument for measuring the deformation of a material under stress.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin extens- ‘extended’ (from the verb extendere) + -meter.

extensor /ikˈstensər ikˈstensôr / extensor muscle

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] a muscle whose contraction extends or straightens a limb or other part of the body.
Often contrasted with flexor.

2. [Anatomy] any of a number of specific muscles in the arm, hand, leg, and foot.

– origin early 18th cent.: from late Latin, from extens- ‘stretched out,’ from the verb extendere (see extend).

extent /ikˈstent/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. the area covered by something

• an enclosure ten acres in extent.

2. the degree to which something has spread; the size or scale of something

• the extent of AIDS infection.

3. the amount to which something is or is believed to be the case

• everyone will have to compromise to some extent

• they altered the document to such an extent that it contained little in the way of new policy.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘valuation of property, esp. for taxation purposes’): from Anglo-Norman French extente, from medieval Latin extenta, feminine past participle of Latin extendere ‘stretch out’ (see extend).

extenuate /ikˈstenyəˌwāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (usu. as adj. extenuating) — make (guilt or an offense) seem less serious or more forgivable

• there were extenuating circumstances that caused me to say the things I did.

2. (usu. as adj. extenuated) — ‹literary› make (someone) thin

• drawings of extenuated figures.

II. derivatives

1. extenuation /ikˌstenyəˈwāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. extenuatory /-əˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘make thin, emaciate’): from Latin extenuat- ‘made thin,’ from the verb extenuare (based on tenuis ‘thin’).

exterior /ˌikˈstirēər/

I. adjective

1. forming, situated on, or relating to the outside of something

• exterior and interior walls.

2. coming from outside

• exterior noise.

3. (in filming) outdoor

• exterior locations.

II. noun

1. the outer surface or structure of something

• a jar with floral designs on the exterior.

2. the outer structure of a building

• the museum has a modern exterior.

3. a person's behavior and appearance, often contrasted with their true character

• beneath that assured exterior, she's vulnerable.

4. (in filming) an outdoor scene.

III. derivatives

1. exteriority /ikˌstirēˈôrədē ekˌstirēˈôrədē ekˌstērēˈôrədē ikˌstērēˈôrədē /

noun

2. exteriorize /ikˈstirēəˌrīz ekˈstirēəˌrīz ekˈstērēəˌrīz ikˈstērēəˌrīz /

verb

3. exteriorly /ikˈstirēərlē ekˈstirēərlē ekˈstērēərlē ikˈstērēərlē /

adverb

– origin early 16th cent.: from Latin, comparative of exter ‘outer.’

exterior angle

noun

[Geometry] the angle between a side of a rectilinear figure and an adjacent side extended outward.

exterminate /ikˈstərməˌnāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. destroy completely

• after exterminating the entire population, the soldiers set fire to the buildings.

2. kill (a pest)

• they use poison to exterminate moles.

II. derivatives

1. exterminator /ikˈstərməˌnādər /

noun

2. exterminatory /ikˈstərmənəˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘drive out, banish’): from Latin exterminat- ‘driven out, banished,’ from the verb exterminare, from ex- ‘out’ + terminus ‘boundary.’ The sense ‘destroy’ (mid 16th cent.) comes from the Latin of the Vulgate.

extermination /ikˌstərməˈnāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. killing, especially of a whole group of people or animals

• the near extermination of the buffalo herds.

2. complete destruction.

extern /ˈekstərn/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) a person working in but not living in an institution, such as a nonresident doctor or other worker in a hospital.

2. a student participating in a temporary training program in a workplace

• the opportunity to shadow alumni mentors as externs provides students with experience impossible to gain in the classroom

• she worked as a judicial extern for two US federal judges.

3. (in a strictly enclosed order of nuns) a sister who does not live exclusively within the enclosure and goes on outside errands.

– origin mid 16th cent. (as an adjective in the sense ‘external’): from French externe or Latin externus, from exter ‘outer.’ The word was used by Shakespeare to mean ‘outward appearance’; current senses date from the early 17th cent.

external /ikˈstərnl/

I. adjective

1. belonging to or forming the outer surface or structure of something

• the external walls.

2. relating to or denoting a medicine or similar substance for use on the outside of the body

• for external application only.

3. coming or derived from a source outside the subject affected

• for many people the church was a symbol of external authority.

4. coming from or relating to a foreign country or an outside institution

• responsibility for defense and external affairs.

5. [Computing] (of hardware) not contained in the main computer; peripheral.

6. [Computing] (of storage) using a disk or tape drive rather than the main memory.

II. noun — (externals)

1. the outward features of something

• the place has all the appropriate externals, such as chimneys choked with ivy and windows with jasmine.

2. features that are only superficial; inessentials.

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin, from Latin exter ‘outer.’

external ear

noun

the parts of the ear outside the eardrum, especially the pinna.

externalism /ikˈstərnəˌlizəm/

I. noun

1. excessive regard for outward form in religion.

2. [Philosophy] the view that mental events and acts are essentially dependent on the world external to the mind, in opposition to the Cartesian separation of mental and physical worlds.

II. derivatives

externalist

noun, adjective

externality /ˌekstərˈnalədē/

noun

1. [Economics] a side effect or consequence of an industrial or commercial activity that affects other parties without this being reflected in the cost of the goods or services involved, such as the pollination of surrounding crops by bees kept for honey.

2. [Philosophy] the fact of existing outside the perceiving subject.

externalize /ikˈstərnəˌlīz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be externalized)

1. give external existence or form to

• elements of the internal construction were externalized onto the facade.

2. express (a thought or feeling) in words or actions

• an urgent need to externalize the experience.

3. [Psychology] project (a mental image or process) onto a figure outside oneself

• such neuroses are externalized as interpersonal conflicts.

II. derivatives

externalization /ikˌstərnəlīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

externally /ikˈstərnəlē/

adverb

1. with reference to the outer surface or structure of something; outside

• the antenna should be mounted externally, perhaps on the roof.

2. (used in reference to a medicine or similar substance) on the outside of the body

• the oil is externally applied to treat bruises and rheumatic complaints.

3. used to indicate that something occurs or comes from a source outside the institution, country, or subject affected

• most exam papers are marked externally

• externally funded projects.

4. [Computing] using a disk or tape drive rather than the main memory

• all data that has been stored externally will be easy to retrieve.

externship /ˈekstərnˌSHip/

noun

(N. Amer.) a temporary training program in a workplace, especially one offered to students as part of a course of study

• students participate in an 8-week externship

• I did my pastry externship at the River Café.

exteroceptive /ˌekstərōˈseptiv/

I. adjective

[Physiology] relating to stimuli that are external to an organism.
Compare with interoceptive.

II. derivatives

1. exteroception /-ˈsepSHən /

noun

2. exteroceptivity /-sepˈtivitē /

noun

– origin early 20th cent.: probably a blend of exterior or external and receptive.

exteroceptor /ˈekstərōˌseptər/

noun

[Physiology] a sensory receptor that receives external stimuli.
Compare with interoceptor.

extinct /ikˈstiNG(k)t/

I. adjective

1. (of a species, family, or other larger group) having no living members

• trilobites and dinosaurs are extinct.

2. no longer in existence

• an extinct language

• the sort of girls' school that is now extinct.

3. (of a volcano) not having erupted in recorded history.

4. no longer burning

• his now extinct pipe.

5. (of a title of nobility) having no qualified claimant.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘no longer alight’): from Latin exstinct- ‘extinguished,’ from the verb exstinguere (see extinguish).

extinction /ikˈstiNG(k)SH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the state or process of a species, family, or larger group being or becoming extinct

• the extinction of the great auk

• mass extinctions.

2. the wiping out of a debt.

3. [Physics] reduction in the intensity of light or other radiation as it passes through a medium or object, due to absorption, reflection, and scattering

• ultraviolet extinction.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin exstinctio(n-), from exstinguere ‘quench’ (see extinguish).

extinguish /ikˈstiNGɡwiSH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (a fire or light) to cease to burn or shine

• firemen were soaking everything to extinguish the blaze.

2. put an end to; annihilate

• hope is extinguished little by little.

3. cancel (a debt) by full payment

• the debt was absolutely extinguished.

4. [Law] render (a right or obligation) void

• rights of common pasture were extinguished.

II. derivatives

1. extinguishable /ikˈstiNGɡwiSHəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. extinguishment /ikˈstiNGɡwiSHmənt /

noun

( — [Law]

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin exstinguere, from ex- ‘out’ + stinguere ‘quench.’ Compare with distinguish.

extinguisher /ikˈstiNGɡwiSHər/

noun

short for fire extinguisher.

extirpate /ˈekstərˌpāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. root out and destroy completely

• the use of every legal measure to extirpate this horrible evil from the land.

II. derivatives

1. extirpation /ˌekstərˈpāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. extirpator /ˈekstərˌpādər /

noun

– origin late Middle English (as extirpation): from Latin exstirpare, from ex- ‘out’ + stirps ‘a stem.’

extol /ikˈstōl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. praise enthusiastically

• he extolled the virtues of the Russian peoples.

II. derivatives

1. extoller /ikˈstōlər /

noun

2. extolment /ikˈstōlmənt /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin extollere, from ex- ‘out, upward’ + tollere ‘raise.’

extort /ikˈstôrt/

I. verb

obtain (something) by force, threats, or other unfair means

• he was convicted of trying to extort $1 million from a developer.

II. derivatives

1. extorter

noun

2. extortive /-tiv /

adjective

– origin early 16th cent.: from Latin extort- ‘wrested,’ from the verb extorquere, from ex- ‘out’ + torquere ‘to twist.’

extortion /ikˈstôrSH(ə)n/

I. noun

the practice of obtaining something, especially money, through force or threats.

II. derivatives

extortioner /ikˈstôrSH(ə)nər /

noun

– origin Middle English: from late Latin extortio(n-), from Latin extorquere ‘wrest’ (see extort).

extortionate /ikˈstôrSH(ə)nət/

I. adjective

1. (of a price) much too high; exorbitant

• extortionate ticket prices.

2. using or given to extortion

• the extortionate power of the unions.

II. derivatives

extortionately

adverb

[as submodifier]

• lobster is extortionately expensive here

extortionist /ikˈstôrSHənist/

noun

a person who tries to obtain something through force or violence; a racketeer

• he is a blackmailer and an extortionist.

extra /ˈekstrə/

I. adjective

added to an existing or usual amount or number

• an extra thirty-five cents an hour.

II. adverb

1. [as submodifier] — to a greater extent than usual; especially

• he is trying to be extra good.

2. in addition

• installation will cost about $60 extra.

III. noun

1. an item in addition to what is usual or strictly necessary

• I had an education with all the extras.

2. an item for which an additional charge is made

• the price you pay includes all major charges—there are no hidden extras.

3. a person engaged temporarily to fill out a scene in a movie or play, especially as one of a crowd.

4. ‹dated› a special issue of a newspaper.

– origin mid 17th cent. (as an adjective): probably a shortening of extraordinary, suggested by similar forms in French and German.

extra- /ˈekstrə/

I. prefix

1. outside; beyond

• extracellular

• extraterritorial.

2. beyond the scope of

• extracurricular.

– origin via medieval Latin from Latin extra ‘outside.’

extra-base hit

noun

[Baseball] a base hit that allows a batter to safely reach second base, third base, or home without the benefit of a fielding error; a double, triple, or home run.

extracellular /ˌekstrəˈselyələr/

I. adjective

[Biology] situated or taking place outside a cell or cells

• extracellular space in the cortex.

II. derivatives

extracellularly

adverb

extrachromosomal /ˌekstrəˌkrōməˈsōməl/

adjective

[Biology] situated or operating outside the chromosome

• extrachromosomal DNA.

extraconstitutional /ˌekstrəˌkänstəˈt(y)o͞oSHənl/

adjective

not based on or authorized by a political constitution

• the dubious legality of extraconstitutional courts.

extracorporeal /ˌekstrəkôrˈpôrēəl/

adjective

1. [chiefly Surgery] situated or occurring outside the body.

2. [chiefly Surgery] denoting a technique of lithotripsy using shock waves generated externally.

extract

I. verb — /ikˈstrakt / [with obj.]

1. remove or take out, especially by effort or force

• the decayed tooth will have to be extracted.

2. obtain (something such as money or an admission) from someone in the face of initial unwillingness

• I won't let you go without trying to extract a promise from you.

3. obtain (a substance or resource) from something by a special method

• lead was extracted from the copper.

4. select (a passage from a piece of writing, music, or film) for quotation, performance, or reproduction

• the table is extracted from the report.

5. derive (an idea or the evidence for it) from a body of information

• the desire to extract meaningful lessons from a few experiments.

6. [Mathematics] calculate (a root of a number).

II. noun — /ˈekˌstrakt /

1. a short passage taken from a piece of writing, music, or film

• an extract from a historical film.

2. a preparation containing the active ingredient of a substance in concentrated form

• vanilla extract

• extract of chamomile.

III. derivatives

1. extractability /ikˌstraktəˈbilitē /

noun

2. extractable /ikˈstraktəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin extract- ‘drawn out,’ from the verb extrahere, from ex- ‘out’ + trahere ‘draw.’

extraction /ikˈstrakSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action of taking out something, especially using effort or force

• mineral extraction

• a dental extraction.

2. [with adj.] — the ethnic origin of someone's family

• a worker of Polish extraction.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from late Latin extractio(n-), from Latin extrahere ‘draw out’ (see extract).

extractive /ikˈstraktiv ekˈstraktiv/

adjective

of or involving extraction, especially the extensive extraction of natural resources without provision for their renewal

• extractive industry.

extractor /ikˈstraktər/

noun — [often with modifier]

1. a machine or device used to extract something

• a juice extractor.

2. [as modifier] — denoting a device used to ventilate and remove bad smells from an area

• the engine room's extractor fans.

extracurricular /ˌekstrəkəˈrikyələr/

I. adjective

1. (of an activity at a school or college) pursued in addition to the normal course of study

• extracurricular activities include sports, drama, music, chess.

2. ‹often humorous› outside the normal routine, especially that provided by a job or marriage

• Harriet's extracurricular sweetheart.

II. derivatives

extracurricularly

adverb

extraditable /ˌekstrəˈdīdəb(ə)l ˈekstrədīdəb(ə)l/

adjective

1. (of a crime) making a criminal liable to extradition

• possession of explosives will be an extraditable offense.

2. (of a criminal) liable to extradition.

extradite /ˈekstrəˌdīt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. hand over (a person accused or convicted of a crime) to the jurisdiction of the foreign state in which the crime was committed

• Greece refused to extradite him to Italy.

– origin mid 19th cent.: back-formation from extradition.

extradition /ˌekstrəˈdiSH(ə)n/

I. noun

the action of extraditing a person accused or convicted of a crime

• they fought to prevent his extradition to the US

• extraditions of drug suspects.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, from ex- ‘out, from’ + tradition ‘delivery.’

extrados /ˈekstrəˌdäs/

I. noun

[Architecture] the upper or outer curve of an arch.
Often contrasted with intrados.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French, from Latin extra ‘outside’ + French dos ‘back’ (from Latin dorsum).

extradural /ˌekstrəˈd(y)o͝orəl/

adjective

[Medicine] another term for epidural.

extrafloral /ˌekstrəˈflôrəl/

adjective

[Botany] (of a nectary) situated outside a flower, especially on a leaf or stem.

extragalactic /ˌekstrəɡəˈlaktik/

adjective

[Astronomy] situated, occurring, or originating outside the Milky Way galaxy

• extragalactic radio sources.

extra innings

noun

1. [Baseball] the continuation of a tie game beyond the usual nine innings.

2. [Baseball] any continuation beyond the expected or scheduled time.

extrajudicial /ˌekstrəjo͞oˈdiSH(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. [Law] (of a sentence) not legally authorized

• there have been reports of extrajudicial executions.

2. [Law] (of a settlement, statement, or confession) not made in court; out-of-court.

II. derivatives

extrajudicially

adverb

extra large

adjective

of a very large size relative to similar items of the same type

• an extra-large pizza

• the bedrooms are extra large.

extralegal /ˌekstrəˈlēɡəl/

adjective

(of an action or situation) beyond the authority of the law; not regulated by the law.

extralimital /ˌekstrəˈlimidl/

adjective

[chiefly Biology] situated, occurring, or derived from outside a particular area.

extralinguistic /ˌekstrəliNGˈɡwistik/

adjective

not involving or beyond the bounds of language.

extramarital /ˌekstrəˈmerədl/

I. adjective

(especially of sexual relations) occurring outside marriage

• an extramarital affair.

II. derivatives

extramaritally

adverb

extramundane /ˌekstrəmənˈdān/

adjective

‹rare› outside or beyond the physical world.

extramural /ˌekstrəˈmyo͝orəl/

I. adjective

1. outside the walls or boundaries of a town, college, or institution

• extramural researchers.

2. additional to one's work or course of study and typically not connected with it

• extramural activities.

II. derivatives

extramurally

adverb

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin extra muros ‘outside the walls’ + -al.

extraneous /ikˈstrānēəs/

I. adjective

1. irrelevant or unrelated to the subject being dealt with

• one is obliged to wade through many pages of extraneous material.

2. of external origin

• when the transmitter pack is turned off, no extraneous noise is heard.

3. separate from the object to which it is attached

• other insects attach extraneous objects or material to themselves.

II. derivatives

1. extraneously /ikˈstrānēəslē /

adverb

2. extraneousness /ikˈstrānēəsnəs /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin extraneus + -ous.

extranet /ˈekstrəˌnet/

I. noun

an intranet that can be partially accessed by authorized outside users, enabling businesses to exchange information over the Internet securely.

– origin 1990s: from extra- ‘outside’ + net, by analogy with intranet.

extranuclear /ˌekstrəˈn(y)o͞oklēər/

adjective

1. situated in or affecting parts of a cell outside the nucleus.

2. situated or occurring outside the nucleus of an atom.

extraocular muscle /ˌekstrəˌäkyələr ˈməs(ə)l/

noun

each of six small voluntary muscles controlling movement of the eyeball within the socket.

extraordinaire /ikstrôrdiˈner/

I. adjective — [postpositive]

1. ‹informal› outstanding or remarkable in a particular capacity

• memories of a gardener extraordinaire.

– origin 1940s: French, ‘extraordinary.’

extraordinarily /ikˈstrôrdnˌerəlē ekˈstrôrdnˌerəlē/

adverb

1. in a very unusual or remarkable way

• he was able to show us how people can behave extraordinarily

• [sentence adverb] extraordinarily, he escaped with a scratch.

2. [as submodifier] — to a remarkable degree; extremely

• he did a good job in extraordinarily difficult circumstances

• it is a simple story, extraordinarily well told.

extraordinary /ikˈstrôrd(ə)nˌerē ˌekstrəˈôrdnˌerē/

I. adjective

1. very unusual or remarkable

• the extraordinary plumage of the male

• [with clause] it is extraordinary that no consultation took place.

2. unusually great

• young children need extraordinary amounts of attention.

3. [attrib.] — (of a meeting) specially convened

• an extraordinary session of the Congress.

4. [postpositive] — (of an official) additional; specially employed

• his appointment as Ambassador Extraordinary in London.

II. noun — (usu. extraordinaries)

1. an item in a company's accounts not arising from its normal activities.
Compare with exceptional.

III. derivatives

extraordinariness /ikˈstrôrdnˌerēnəs ekˈstrôrdnˌerēnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin extraordinarius, from extra ordinem ‘outside the normal course of events.’

extraordinary ray

noun

[Optics] (in double refraction) the light ray that does not obey the ordinary laws of refraction.
Compare with ordinary ray.

extra point

noun

[Football] a point awarded for a successful placekick following a touchdown.point after touchdown.

extrapolate /ikˈstrapəˌlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. extend the application of (a method or conclusion, especially one based on statistics) to an unknown situation by assuming that existing trends will continue or similar methods will be applicable

• the results cannot be extrapolated to other patient groups

• [no obj.] it is always dangerous to extrapolate from a sample.

2. estimate or conclude (something) by extrapolating

• attempts to extrapolate likely human cancers from laboratory studies.

3. [Mathematics] extend (a graph, curve, or range of values) by inferring unknown values from trends in the known data
(as adj. extrapolated)

• a set of extrapolated values.

II. derivatives

1. extrapolative /-ˌlātiv /

adjective

2. extrapolator /-ˌlātər /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: from extra- ‘outside’ + a shortened form of interpolate.

extrapolation /ikˌstrapəˈlāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action of estimating or concluding something by assuming that existing trends will continue or a current method will remain applicable

• sizes were estimated by extrapolation

• caution is advised in the interpretation and extrapolation of results

• the figure is an extrapolation from prior data.

2. [Mathematics] the extension of a graph, curve, or range of values by inferring unknown values from trends in the known data

• extrapolation of the logarithmic curve yielded an estimate of 66 species.

extraposition /ˌekstrəpəˈziSHən/

noun

[Grammar] the placing of a word or group of words outside or at the end of a clause, while retaining the sense. The subject is often postponed and replaced by it at the start, as in it's no use crying over spilt milk rather than crying over spilt milk is no use.

extrapyramidal /ˌekstrəpəˈramidl/

adjective

[Anatomy] [Medicine] relating to or denoting nerves concerned with motor activity that descend from the cortex to the spine and are not part of the pyramidal system

• extrapyramidal symptoms.

extrasensory perception /ˌekstrəˌsensərē pərˈsepSH(ə)n / ESP

noun

the faculty of perceiving things by means other than the known senses, e.g., by telepathy or clairvoyance.

extrasolar /ˌekstrəˈsōlər/

adjective

existing or occurring outside the solar system

• extrasolar planets.

extra special

adjective

particularly good or significant

• today's celebrations are extra special as they mark the centennial

• this year he got his mother an extra-special gift.

extrasystole /ˌekstrəˈsistəlē/

noun

[Medicine] a heartbeat outside the normal rhythm, as often occurs in normal individuals.

extraterrestrial /ˌekstrətəˈrestrēəl/

I. adjective

of or from outside the earth or its atmosphere

• searches for extraterrestrial intelligence.

II. noun

a hypothetical or fictional being from outer space, especially an intelligent one.

extraterritorial /ˌekstrəˌterəˈtôrēəl/

I. adjective

1. (of a law or decree) valid outside a country's territory.

2. denoting the freedom of an ambassador or other embassy staff from the jurisdiction of the territory of residence

• foreign embassies have extraterritorial rights.

3. situated outside a country's territory

• extraterritorial industrial zones.

II. derivatives

extraterritoriality /ˌekstrəˌterəˌtôrēˈalədē /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin extra territorium ‘outside the territory’ + -al.

extratropical /ˌekstrəˈträpikəl/

adjective

[chiefly Meteorology] situated, existing, or occurring outside the tropics.

extrauterine /ˌekstrəˈyo͞otərin/

adjective

[Medicine] existing, formed, or occurring outside the uterus

• the first hour of extrauterine life.

extravagance /ikˈstravəɡəns/

I. noun

1. lack of restraint in spending money or use of resources

• his reckless extravagance with other people's money.

2. a thing on which too much money has been spent or which has used up too many resources

• salmon trout is an unnecessary extravagance.

3. excessive elaborateness of style, speech, or action

• the extravagance of the decor.

II. derivatives

extravagancy /ikˈstravəɡ(ə)nsē /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, from medieval Latin extravagant- ‘diverging greatly,’ from the verb extravagari (see extravagant).

extravagant /ikˈstravəɡənt/

I. adjective

1. lacking restraint in spending money or using resources

• it was rather extravagant to buy both.

2. costing too much money

• extravagant gifts like computer games.

3. exceeding what is reasonable or appropriate; absurd

• extravagant claims for its effectiveness.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘unusual, abnormal, unsuitable’): from medieval Latin extravagant- ‘diverging greatly,’ from the verb extravagari, from Latin extra- ‘outside’ + vagari ‘wander.’

extravagantly /ikˈstravəɡəntlē/

adverb

1. with a lack of restraint in spending money or using resources

• he lived extravagantly and fell deeply into debt.

2. in an excessive or elaborate way

• extravagantly decorated ceilings painted with stars and angels.

3. to a large degree and with extreme feeling

• as a child, Mozart was extravagantly praised

• he was extravagantly admired for his versatility.

extravaganza /ikˌstravəˈɡanzə/

I. noun

an elaborate and spectacular entertainment or production

• an extravaganza of dance in many forms.

– origin mid 18th cent. (in the sense ‘extravagance in language or behavior’): from Italian estravaganza ‘extravagance.’ The change was due to association with words beginning with extra-.

extravasate /ikˈstravəˌsāt/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. extravasated)

1. [chiefly Medicine] let or force out (a fluid, especially blood) from the vessel that naturally contains it into the surrounding area.

II. derivatives

extravasation /ikˌstravəˈsāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from extra- ‘outside’ + Latin vas ‘vessel’ + -ate^3.

extravascular /ˌekstrəˈvaskyələr/

adjective

[Medicine] situated or occurring outside the vascular system

• extravascular fluid.

extravehicular /ˌekstrəvēˈhikyələr/

adjective

of or relating to an activity performed in space outside a spacecraft.

extra virgin

adjective

denoting a particularly fine grade of olive oil made from the first pressing of the olives and containing a maximum of one percent oleic acid.

extrema /ikˈstrēmə/

plural form of extremum.

extreme /ikˈstrēm/

I. adjective

1. reaching a high or the highest degree; very great

• extreme cold.

2. not usual; exceptional

• in extreme cases the soldier may be discharged.

3. very severe or serious

• expulsion is an extreme sanction.

4. (of a person or their opinions) advocating severe or drastic measures; far from moderate, especially politically

• the party has expelled some of its more extreme members.

5. denoting or relating to a sport performed in a hazardous environment and involving great physical risk, such as parachuting or whitewater rafting.

6. [attrib.] — furthest from the center or a given point; outermost

• the extreme northwest of Scotland.

II. noun

1. either of two abstract things that are as different from each other as possible

• unbridled talk at one extreme and total silence at the other.

2. the highest or most extreme degree of something

• extremes of temperature.

3. a very severe or serious act

• he was unwilling to go to the extreme of civil war.

4. [Logic] the subject or predicate in a proposition, or the major or minor term in a syllogism (as contrasted with the middle term).

III. phrases

1. extremes meet

‹proverb› opposite extremes have much in common.

2. go (or take something) to extremes

take an extreme course of action; do something to an extreme degree

• we may go to extremes to find peace and quiet.

3. in the extreme

to an extreme degree

• the reasoning was convoluted in the extreme.

IV. derivatives

extremeness /ikˈstrēmnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin extremus ‘outermost, utmost,’ superlative of exterus ‘outer.’

extremely /ikˈstrēmlē/

adverb — [as submodifier]

1. to a very great degree; very

• this is an extremely difficult thing to do.

extreme unction

noun

(in the Roman Catholic Church) a former name for the sacrament of anointing of the sick, especially when administered to the dying.

extremism /ikˈstrēˌmizəm/

noun

the holding of extreme political or religious views; fanaticism

• the dangers of religious extremism.

extremist /ikˈstrēməst/

noun

a person who holds extreme or fanatical political or religious views, especially one who resorts to or advocates extreme action

• political extremists

• [as modifier] an extremist conspiracy.

extremity /ikˈstremədē/

I. noun

1. the furthest point or limit of something

• the peninsula's western extremity.

2. (extremities) — the hands and feet

• tingling and numbness in the extremities.

3. the extreme degree or nature of something

• the extremity of the violence concerns us.

4. a condition of extreme adversity or difficulty

• the terror of an animal in extremity.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French extremite or Latin extremitas, from extremus ‘utmost’ (see extreme).

extremophile /ekˈstreməˌfīl/

noun

[Biology] a microorganism, especially an archaean, that lives in conditions of extreme temperature, acidity, alkalinity, or chemical concentration.

extremum /ikˈstrēməm/

I. noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. [Mathematics] the maximum or minimum value of a function.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Latin, neuter of extremus ‘utmost’ (see extreme).

extricate /ˈekstrəˌkāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. free (someone or something) from a constraint or difficulty

• he was trying to extricate himself from official duties.

II. derivatives

1. extricable /ikˈstrikəbəl ekˈstrikəbəl ˈekstrikəbəl /

adjective

2. extrication /ˌekstrəˈkāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘unravel, untangle’): from Latin extricat- ‘unraveled,’ from the verb extricare, from ex- ‘out’ + tricae ‘perplexities.’

extrinsic /ikˈstrinzik ikˈstrinsik/

I. adjective

1. not part of the essential nature of someone or something; coming or operating from outside

• extrinsic factors that might affect time budgets

• the idea that power is extrinsic to production and profits.

2. (of a muscle, such as any of the eye muscles) having its origin some distance from the part that it moves.

II. derivatives

extrinsically /-(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘outward’): from late Latin extrinsecus ‘outward,’ from Latin extrinsecus ‘outwardly,’ based on exter ‘outer’; the ending was altered under the influence of -ic.

extropy /ˈekstrəpē/

I. noun

the pseudoscientific principle that life will expand indefinitely and in an orderly, progressive way throughout the entire universe by the means of human intelligence and technology.

II. derivatives

extropian /ekˈstrōpēən /

adjective, noun

– origin 1980s: from ex-1 ‘out’ + a shortened form of entropy.

extrorse /ekˈstrôrs ˈekˌstrôrs/

I. adjective

1. [Botany] [Zoology] turned outward.
The opposite of introrse.

2. [Botany] [Zoology] (of anthers) releasing their pollen on the outside of the flower.

II. derivatives

extrorsely

adverb

– origin mid 19th cent.: from late Latin extrorsus ‘outward’ (adverb).

extrovert /ˈekstrəˌvərt / extravert

I. noun

1. an outgoing, overtly expressive person.

2. [Psychology] a person predominantly concerned with external things or objective considerations.
Compare with introvert.

II. adjective

of, denoting, or typical of an extrovert

• his extrovert personality made him the ideal host.

III. derivatives

extroversion /ˌekstrəˈvərZH(ə)n /

noun

– origin early 20th cent.: from extro- (variant of extra-, on the pattern of intro-) + Latin vertere ‘to turn.’ / usage: The original spelling extravert is now rare in general use but is found in technical use in psychology.

extroverted /ˈekstrəˌvərdəd / extraverted

adjective

outgoing and socially confident

• she is extroverted, confident, and gives rousing lectures

• Margaret possesses a gregarious, extraverted personality.

extrude /ikˈstro͞od/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be extruded)

1. thrust or force out

• lava was being extruded from the volcano.

2. shape (a material such as metal or plastic) by forcing it through a die.

II. derivatives

1. extrudable

adjective

2. extrusile /ikˈstro͞osəl, -ˌsīl /

adjective

3. extrusion /ikˈstro͝oZHn ekˈstro͞oZHən /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin extrudere, from ex- ‘out’ + trudere ‘to thrust.’

extrusive /ikˈstro͞osiv/

adjective

[Geology] relating to or denoting rock that has been extruded at the earth's surface as lava or other volcanic deposits.

exuberance /iɡˈzo͞ob(ə)rəns/

noun

1. the quality of being full of energy, excitement, and cheerfulness; ebullience

• a sense of youthful exuberance.

2. the quality of growing profusely; luxuriance

• houseplants growing with wild exuberance.

exuberant /iɡˈzo͞ob(ə)rənt/

I. adjective

1. filled with or characterized by a lively energy and excitement

• giddily exuberant crowds

• flamboyant and exuberant architectural invention.

2. growing luxuriantly or profusely

• exuberant foliage.

II. derivatives

exuberantly /iɡˈzo͞ob(ə)rəntlē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘overflowing, abounding’): from French exubérant, from Latin exuberant- ‘being abundantly fruitful,’ from the verb exuberare (based on uber ‘fertile’).

exudate /ˈeksədāt ˈeksyo͞oˌdāt/

I. noun

1. an exuded substance, in particular

2. [Medicine] a mass of cells and fluid that has seeped out of blood vessels or an organ, especially in inflammation.

3. [Botany] [Entomology] a substance secreted by a plant or insect.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin exsudat- ‘exuded,’ from the verb exsudare.

exude /iɡˈzo͞od/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. discharge (moisture or a smell) slowly and steadily

• the beetle exudes a caustic liquid.

2. [no obj.] — (of moisture or a smell) be discharged by something slowly and steadily

• slime exudes from the fungus.

3. (of a person) display (an emotion or quality) strongly and openly

• Mr. Thomas exuded friendship and goodwill.

4. (of a place) have a strong atmosphere of

• the building exudes an air of tranquility.

II. derivatives

1. exudation /ˌeksyo͞oˈdāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. exudative /ˈeksyo͞oˌdādiv /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin exsudare, from ex- ‘out’ + sudare ‘to sweat.’

exult /iɡˈzəlt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. show or feel elation or jubilation, especially as the result of a success

• exulting in her escape, Annie closed the door behind her.

II. derivatives

exultingly /iɡˈzəltiNGlē /

adverb

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin exsultare, frequentative of exsilire ‘leap up,’ from ex- ‘out, upward’ + salire ‘to leap.’

exultant /iɡˈzəltnt/

I. adjective

triumphantly happy

• she felt exultant and powerful.

II. derivatives

1. exultancy /-ˈzəltnsē /

noun

2. exultantly /iɡˈzəltntlē eɡˈzəltntlē /

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin exsultant- ‘exulting,’ from the verb exsultare.

exultation /ˌeksəlˈtāSH(ə)n ˌeɡzəlˈtāSH(ə)n/

noun

a feeling of triumphant elation or jubilation; rejoicing

• she laughs in exultation.

Exuma Cays /ikˈso͞omə ˈkēz, iɡˈzo͞omə/

a group of about 350 small islands in the Bahamas.

exurb /ˈeksərb ˈeɡzərb/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a district outside a city, especially a prosperous area beyond the suburbs.

II. derivatives

1. exurban /ekˈsərbən /

adjective

2. exurbanite /ekˈsərbəˌnīt /

noun, adjective

– origin 1955: coined by A. C. Spectorsky (1919–72), American author and editor, either from Latin ex ‘out of’ + urbs ‘city,’ or as a back-formation from the earlier adjective exurban.

exurbia /ekˈsərbēə eɡˈzərbēə/

I. noun

the exurbs collectively; the region beyond the suburbs.

– origin 1955: from ex-1 ‘out of’ + -urbia, on the pattern of suburbia. See exurb.

exuviae /iɡˈzo͞ovēˌē iɡˈzo͞ovēˌī/

I. plural noun — [also treated as sing.]

1. [Zoology] an animal's cast or sloughed skin, especially that of an insect larva.

II. derivatives

exuvial /iɡˈzo͞ovēəl eɡˈzo͞ovēəl /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘animal skins, spoils of the enemy,’ from exuere ‘divest oneself of.’

exuviate /iɡˈzo͞ovēˌāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹technical› shed (a skin or shell).

II. derivatives

exuviation /iɡˌzo͞ovēˈāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from exuviae + -ate^3.

ex-voto /ˌeksˈvōdō/

I. noun

a religious offering given in order to fulfill a vow.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Latin ex voto ‘from a vow.’

ex-wife

noun

a woman to whom someone was formerly married, from whom they are now divorced.

-ey

suffix

variant spelling of -y^2 (as in Charley, Limey).

eyas /ˈīəs / eyass

I. noun

a young hawk, especially (in falconry) an unfledged nestling taken from the nest for training.

– origin late 15th cent. (originally nyas): from French niais, based on Latin nidus ‘nest.’ The initial n was lost by wrong division of a nyas; compare with adder, apron, and umpire.

eye /ī/

I. noun

1.
a. each of a pair of globular organs in the head through which people and vertebrate animals see, the visible part typically appearing almond-shaped in animals with eyelids

• my cat is blind in one eye

• closing her eyes, she tried to relax.

b. the corresponding visual or light-detecting organ of many invertebrate animals.

c. the region of the face surrounding the eyes

• her eyes were swollen with crying.

d. a person's eye as characterized by the color of the iris

• he had piercing blue eyes.

e. used to refer to someone's power of vision and in descriptions of the manner or direction of someone's gaze

• his sharp eyes had missed nothing

• I couldn't take my eyes off him.

f. used to refer to someone's opinion or attitude toward something

• in the eyes of his younger colleagues, Mr. Arnett was an eccentric

• to European eyes, it may seem that the city is overcrowded.

The basic components of the vertebrate eye are a transparent cornea, an adjustable iris, a lens for focusing, a sensitive retina lining the back of the eye, and a clear fluid- or jelly-filled center. The most primitive animals only have one or two eyespots, while many other invertebrates have several simple eyes or a pair of compound eyes.

2. a thing resembling an eye in appearance, shape, or relative position, in particular

3. the small hole in a needle through which the thread is passed.

4. a small metal loop into which a hook is fitted as a fastener on a garment.
See also hook and eye.

5. [Nautical] a loop at the end of a rope, especially one at the top end of a shroud or stay.

6. a rounded eyelike marking on an animal, such as those on the tail of a peacock; an eyespot.

7. a round, dark spot on a potato from which a new shoot can grow.

8. (US) a center cut of meat

• eye of round.

9. the center of a flower, especially when distinctively colored.

10. the calm region at the center of a storm or hurricane.
See also the eye of the storm below.

11. (eyes) — [Nautical] the extreme forward part of a ship

• it was hanging in the eyes of the ship.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. look at or watch closely or with interest

• Rose eyed him warily.

III. phrases

1. all eyes

used to convey that a particular person or thing is currently the focus of public interest or attention

• all eyes are on the hot spots of eastern Europe.

2. be all eyes

be watching eagerly and attentively.

3. before (or under) one's (very) eyes

right in front of one (used for emphasis, especially in the context of something surprising or unpleasant)

• he saw his life's work destroyed before his very eyes.

4. close (or shut) one's eyes to

refuse to notice or acknowledge something unwelcome or unpleasant

• he couldn't close his eyes to the truth—he had cancer.

5. an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth

used to refer to the belief that punishment in kind is the appropriate way to deal with an offense or crime.
[with biblical allusion to Exod. 21: 24.]

6. the eye of the storm

a. the calm region at the center of a storm.

b. the most intense part of a tumultuous situation

• he was in the eye of the storm of abstract art.

7. the eye of the wind

(also the wind's eye) — the direction from which the wind is blowing.

8. eyes front (or left or right)

a military command to turn the head in the particular direction stated.

9. a ——'s-eye view

a view from the position or standpoint of a ——

• a satellite's-eye view of global warming.

See also bird's-eye view, worm's-eye view.

10. give someone the eye

‹informal› look at someone in a way that clearly indicates one's sexual interest in them

• this blonde was giving me the eye.

11. half an eye

used in reference to a slight degree of perception or attention

• he kept half an eye on the house as he worked.

12. have an eye for

be able to recognize, appreciate, and make good judgments about

• applicants should have an eye for detail.

13. have (or keep) an (or one's) eye on

a. keep under careful observation

• dealers are keeping an eye on the currency markets.

b. (have one's eye on) — hope or plan to acquire

• the county sheriff has his eye on retirement.

14. have (or with) an eye to

a. have (or having) as one's objective

• with an eye to transatlantic business, he made a deal in New York.

b. consider (or be considering) prudently; look (or be looking) ahead to

• the charity must have an eye to the future.

15. have (or with) an eye to (or for or on) the main chance

look or be looking for an opportunity to take advantage of a situation for personal gain, typically a financial one

• a developer with an eye on the main chance.

16. one's eyes are bigger than one's stomach

one has asked for or taken more food than one can actually eat.

17. (only) have eyes for

be (exclusively) interested in or attracted to

• he has eyes for no one but you.

18. have eyes in the back of one's head

know what is going on around one even when one cannot see it.

19. hit someone between the eyes (or in the eye)

‹informal› be very obvious or impressive

• he wouldn't notice talent if it hit him right between the eyes.

20. keep an eye out (or open)

look out for something with particular attention

• keep an eye out for his car.

21. skinned) ">keep one's eyes open (or peeled skinned)

be on the alert; watch carefully or vigilantly for something

• visitors should keep their eyes peeled for lions.

22. lay (or set or clap) eyes on

‹informal› see

• Harry has not laid eyes on Alice for twenty years.

23. make eyes at someone

look at someone in a way that indicates one's sexual interest.

24. my eye

‹informal› ‹dated› used especially in spoken English to indicate surprise or disbelief.
[said to be originally nautical slang.]

25. open someone's eyes

enlighten someone about certain realities; cause someone to realize or discover something

• the letter finally opened my eyes to the truth.

26. see eye to eye

have similar views or attitudes to something; be in full agreement

• Mr. Trumble and I do not always see eye to eye.

27. a twinkle (or gleam) in someone's eye

something that is as yet no more than an idea or dream

• not every gleam in a grocer's eye becomes a store.

28. what the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over

‹proverb› if you're unaware of an unpleasant fact or situation, you can't be troubled by it.

29. with one's eyes open with open eyes

fully aware of the possible difficulties or consequences

• I went into this job with my eyes open.

30. with one's eyes shut (or closed)

a. without having to make much effort; easily

• I could do it with my eyes shut.

b. without considering the possible difficulties or consequences

• she didn't go to Hollywood with her eyes closed.

31. with one eye on

giving some but not all one's attention to

• I sat with one eye on the clock, waiting for my turn.

IV. derivatives

eyeless /ˈīləs /

adjective

– origin Old English ēage, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch oog and German Auge.

eyeball /ˈīˌbôl/

I. noun

the round part of the eye of a vertebrate, within the eyelids and socket. In mammals it is typically a firm, mobile, spherical structure enclosed by the sclera and the cornea.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› look or stare at closely

• we eyeballed one another.

III. phrases

1. eyeball to eyeball

face to face with someone, especially in an aggressive way

• he wheeled around to confront John eyeball to eyeball.

2. give someone the hairy eyeball

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› stare at someone disapprovingly or angrily, especially with one's eyelids partially lowered.

3. up to one's eyeballs

‹informal› used to emphasize the extreme degree of an undesirable situation or condition

• he's up to his eyeballs in debt.

eyeblack /ˈīblak/

noun

old-fashioned term for mascara.

eyebolt /ˈībōlt/

noun

a bolt or bar with an eye at the end for attaching a hook or ring to.

eyebright /ˈībrīt/

noun

a small plant of the figwort family with little snapdragonlike flowers. Found in dry fields and along roadsides, it was formerly used as a remedy for eye problems.
[Genus Euphrasia, family Scrophulariaceae: several species, in particular the European E. officinalis and the North American E. americana.]

eyebrow /ˈīˌbrou/

I. noun

the strip of hair growing on the ridge above a person's eye socket.

II. phrases

raise one's eyebrows (or an eyebrow)

show surprise, disbelief, or mild disapproval.

eyebrow pencil /ˈīˌbrou ˈpensəl/

noun

a cosmetic pencil for defining or accentuating the eyebrows.

eye candy /ī ˈkandē/

noun

‹informal› visual images that are superficially attractive and entertaining but intellectually undemanding

• the film's success rested on a promotional campaign showcasing its relentless eye candy.

eye-catching /ˈī ˌkaCHiNG/

I. adjective

immediately appealing or noticeable; striking

• an eye-catching poster.

II. derivatives

1. eye-catcher

noun

2. eye-catchingly

adverb

eye contact /ˈī ˌkäntakt/

noun

the act of looking directly into one another's eyes

• make eye contact with your interviewers.

eyecup /ˈīˌkəp/

noun

1. a piece of an optical device such as a microscope, camera, or pair of binoculars that is contoured to provide a comfortable rest against the user's eye.

2. (N. Amer.) a small container used for applying cleansing solutions to the eye.

eyed /īd/

adjective — [in combination]

1. having eyes of the type or number specified

• a blue-eyed blonde

• a one-eyed cat

• Wendy woke up bleary-eyed.

eye drops /ˈī ˌdräps/

plural noun

liquid medication to be applied in very small amounts to the eyeball.

eyeful /ˈīˌfo͝ol/

noun — [in sing.]

1. ‹informal› a long, steady look at something

• they wanted to get an eyeful of Lily.

2. ‹informal› a visually striking person or thing

• she was quite an eyeful.

3. ‹informal› a quantity or piece of something thrown or blown into the eye

• an eyeful of fluid.

eyeglass /ˈīˌɡlas/

noun

1. a single lens for correcting or assisting defective eyesight, especially a monocle.

2. (eyeglasses) — (N. Amer.) another term for glasses.

3. another term for eyepiece.

eyehole /ˈīhōl/

noun

a hole to look through, especially in a curtain or mask.

eyelash /ˈīˌlaSH/

noun

each of the short curved hairs growing on the edges of the eyelids, serving to protect the eyes from dust particles.

eyelet /ˈīlət/

I. noun

1. a small round hole in leather or cloth for threading a lace, string, or rope through.

2. a metal ring used to reinforce an eyelet hole.

3. a small hole ornamented with stitching around its edge, used as a form of decoration in embroidery.

4. a small hole or slit in a wall for looking through.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make eyelets in (fabric).

– origin late Middle English oilet, from Old French oillet, diminutive of oil ‘eye,’ from Latin oculus. The change in the first syllable in the 17th cent. was due to association with eye.

eye level /ˈī ˌlevəl/

noun

the level of the eyes looking straight ahead

• pictures hung at eye level.

eyelid /ˈīˌlid/

noun

each of the upper and lower folds of skin that cover the eye when closed.

eyeliner /ˈīˌlīnər/

noun

a cosmetic applied as a line around the eyes to make them appear larger or more noticeable.

eye-opener /ˈī ˌōp(ə)nər/

noun

1. [in sing.] — ‹informal› an event or situation that proves to be unexpectedly enlightening

• a visit to the docks can be a fascinating eye-opener.

2. ‹informal› (N. Amer.) an alcoholic drink taken early in the day.

eye-opening

adjective

(of an event or situation) unexpectedly enlightening

• this documentary should be an eye-opening experience to all.

eyepatch /ˈīˌpaCH/

noun

a patch worn to protect an injured eye.

eye pencil /ī ˈpensəl/

noun

a pencil for applying makeup around the eyes.

eyepiece /ˈīˌpēs/

noun

the lens or group of lenses that is closest to the eye in a microscope, telescope, or other optical instrument.
Also called eyeglass or ocular.

eye-popping /ˈīpäpiNG/

adjective

‹informal› astonishingly or strikingly impressive

• the company has doubled its assets to an eye-popping $113 billion.

eye rhyme /ī rīm/

noun

a similarity between words in spelling but not in pronunciation, e.g., love and move.

eye-rolling

I. noun

the action of rolling one's eyes, typically as an expression of exasperation, disbelief, or disapproval

• there's been plenty of eye-rolling and head-shaking over the pronouncements.

II. adjective

causing someone to roll their eyes in exasperation, disbelief, or disapproval

• the lines are delivered with eye-rolling attempts at whimsy and satire.

III. derivatives

eye-rollingly

adverb

eyeshade /ˈīˌSHād/

noun

a translucent visor used to protect the eyes from strong light.

eyeshadow /ˈīˌSHadō/

noun

a colored cosmetic, typically in powder form, applied to the eyelids or to the skin around the eyes to accentuate them.

eyeshot /ˈīˌSHät/

noun

the distance for which one can see

• he is within eyeshot.

eyesight /ˈīˌsīt/

noun

a person's ability to see

• poor eyesight ended his plans for a naval career.

eye socket /ˈī ˌsäkət/

noun

the cavity in the skull that encloses an eyeball with its surrounding muscles.
Also called orbit.

eyes-only

adjective

intended to be seen or read only by the person addressed; confidential, secret

• a top-secret, eyes-only telegram for the president.

• this information is eyes-only to you.

eyesore /ˈīsôr/

noun

a thing that is very ugly, especially a building that disfigures a landscape.

eye splice /ī splīs/

noun

a splice made by turning the end of a rope back on itself and interlacing the strands, thereby forming a loop.

eyespot /ˈīspät/

noun

1. [Zoology] a light-sensitive pigmented spot on the bodies of invertebrate animals such as flatworms, starfishes, and microscopic crustaceans, and also in some unicellular organisms.

2. a rounded eyelike marking on an animal, especially on the wing of a butterfly or moth.

3. a fungal disease of cereals, sugar cane, and other cultivated grasses, characterized by yellowish oval spots on the leaves and stems.
[The fungus is typically Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides, subdivision Deuteromycotina.]

eyestalk /ˈīˌstôk/

noun

[Zoology] a movable stalk that bears an eye near its tip, especially in crabs, shrimps, and related crustaceans, and in some mollusks.

eye strain /ˈī ˌstrān/

noun

fatigue of the eyes, such as that caused by reading or looking at a computer screen for too long.

eyestripe /ˈīˌstrīp/

noun

a stripe on a bird's head that encloses or appears to run through the eye.

eyetooth /ˈīto͞oTH/

I. noun

a canine tooth, especially one in the upper jaw.

II. phrases

give one's eyeteeth for (or to be)

do anything in order to have or be something

• I'd give my eyeteeth for a lover.

eye tracking

noun

a technology that monitors eye movements as a means of detecting abnormalities or of studying how people interact with text or online documents

• a company that uses eye tracking to evaluate visual products.

eye wall

noun

[Meteorology] the area immediately outside the eye of a hurricane or cyclone, associated with tall clouds, heavy rainfall, and high winds.

eyewash /ˈīˌwôSH ˈīˌwäSH/

noun

1. cleansing solution for a person's eye.

2. ‹informal› insincere talk; nonsense

• their rhetoric about reducing intrusive federal rules is so much eyewash.

eyewear /ˈīwer/

noun

things worn on the eyes, such as spectacles and contact lenses.

eyewitness /ˈīˌwitnəs/

noun — [often as modifier]

1. a person who has personally seen something happen and so can give a first-hand description of it

• eyewitness accounts of the London blitz.

eye worm

noun

either of two parasitic nematode worms that affect the eyes of mammals.
[● a filarial worm of equatorial Africa, infesting humans and other primates, causing loiasis and sometimes passing across the cornea (Loa loa, class Phasmida). ● a nematode that occurs in the region of the eyelid and tear duct, found chiefly in hoofed mammals (genus Thelazia, class Phasmida).]

eyra /ˈārə/

I. noun

a reddish-brown form of the jaguarundi.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Spanish, from Tupi eirara, irara.

eyre /er/

I. noun

‹historical› a circuit court held in medieval England by a judge (a justice in eyre) who rode from county to county for that purpose.

– origin Middle English: from Old French eire, from Latin iter ‘journey.’

Eyre, Lake /e(ə)r/

I. a lake in northeastern South Australia, in southern Australia, the country's largest salt lake.

– origin named after explorer E. J. Eyre (1815–1901).

eyrir /ˈārir/

noun

a monetary unit of Iceland, equal to one hundredth of a krona.

Eysenck, Hans /ˈīsəNGk/

(1916–97), British psychologist; born in Germany; full name Hans Jürgen Eysenck. He was noted for his strong criticism of Freudian psychoanalysis and for his ideas concerning the assessment of intelligence and personality.

Ezekiel /əˈzēkēəl/

I. a Hebrew prophet of the 6th century BC who prophesied the forthcoming destruction of Jerusalem and the Jewish nation and inspired hope for the future well-being of a restored state.

II. a book of the Bible containing the prophecies of Ezekiel.

e-zine /ˈēzēn/

noun

a magazine published only in electronic form on a computer network.

Ezra /ˈezrə/

I. a Jewish priest and scribe who played a central part in the reform of Judaism in the 5th or 4th century BC, continuing the work of Nehemiah and forbidding mixed marriages.

II. a book of the Bible telling of Ezra, the return of the Jews from Babylon, and the rebuilding of the Temple.

f /ef/

I. abbreviation

1. farad.

2. farthing.

3. father.

4. fathom.

5. feet.

6. [Grammar] feminine.

7. female.

8. [in combination] — (in units of measurement) femto- (1015).

9. filly.

10. fine.

11. (in textual references) folio.

12. following.

13. foot.

14. form.

15. [Music] forte.

16. (in racing results) furlong(s).

17. franc.

18. from.

19. [Chemistry] denoting electrons and orbitals possessing three units of angular momentum

• f-orbitals.

[f from fundamental, originally applied to lines in atomic spectra.]

II. symbol

1. focal length

• apertures of f/5.6 to f/11.

See also f-number.

2. [Mathematics] a function of a specified variable

• the value of f(x).

3. [Electronics] frequency.

F^1 /ef / f

noun

1. the sixth letter of the alphabet.

2. denoting the next after E in a set of items, categories, etc.

3. the sixth highest or lowest class of academic marks (also used to represent “Fail”).

4. (f) — [Chess] denoting the sixth file from the left, as viewed from White's side of the board.

5. (usu. F) — [Music] the fourth note of the diatonic scale of C major.

6. a key based on a scale with F as its keynote.

F^2 /ef/

I. abbreviation

1. Fahrenheit

• 60°F.

2. failure.

3. false.

4. farad(s).

5. (F) — [Chemistry] faraday(s).

6. (in racing results) favorite.

7. February.

8. Fellow.

9. female.

10. fighter (in designations of US aircraft types)

• the F117 Stealth fighter.

11. forint.

12. (in auto racing) formula

• an F1 driver.

13. Franc(s).

14. France.

15. French.

II. symbol

1. the chemical element fluorine.

2. [Physics] force

• F = ma.

f/

abbreviation

f-number.

F F1

abbreviation

[Biology] the first filial generation, i.e., the generation of hybrids arising from a first cross. The second filial generation is designated F_2, and so on.

fa /fä/

I. noun

1. [Music] (in solmization) the fourth note of a major scale.

2. [Music] the note F in the fixed-do system.

– origin Middle English: representing (as an arbitrary name for the note) the first syllable of famuli, taken from a Latin hymn (see solmization).

FAA

abbreviation

Federal Aviation Administration.

f.a.a.

abbreviation

free of all average.

fab^1 /fab/

I. adjective

‹informal› fabulous; wonderful.

– origin 1960s: abbreviation.

fab^2 /fab/

I. noun

1. [Electronics] a microchip fabrication plant.

2. [Electronics] a particular fabrication process in a manufacturing plant.

– origin 1980s: abbreviation of fabrication (see fabricate).

Fabergé, Peter Carl /ˌfabərˈZHā/

(1846–1920), Russian goldsmith and jeweler. He is known for the intricate Easter eggs that he made for Tsar Alexander III and other royalty.

Fabian /ˈfābēən/

I. noun

a member or supporter of the Fabian Society, an organization of socialists aiming at the gradual rather than revolutionary achievement of socialism.

II. adjective

1. relating to or characteristic of the Fabians

• the Fabian movement.

2. employing a cautiously persistent and dilatory strategy to wear out an enemy

• Fabian tactics.

III. derivatives

1. Fabianism /ˈfābēəˌnizəm /

noun

2. Fabianist /-əst /

noun

– origin late 18th cent.: from the name of Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus (see Fabius), after whom the Fabian Society is also named.

Fabius /ˈfābēəs/

(died 203 BC), Roman general and statesman; full name Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus; known as Fabius Cunctator (Fabius the Delayer). After Hannibal's defeat of the Roman army at Cannae in 216 BC, Fabius successfully wore down the Carthaginian invaders.

fable /ˈfābəl/

I. noun

1. a short story, typically with animals as characters, conveying a moral.

2. a story, typically a supernatural one incorporating elements of myth and legend.

3. myth and legend

• the unnatural monsters of fable.

4. a false statement or belief.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹archaic› tell fictitious tales

• I do not dream nor fable.

2. [with obj.] — ‹archaic› fabricate or invent (an incident, person, or story).

III. derivatives

fabler /ˈfāb(ə)lər /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French fable (noun), from Latin fabula ‘story,’ from fari ‘speak.’

fabled /ˈfābəld/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. well known for being of great quality or rarity; famous

• a fabled art collection.

2. mythical; imaginary

• the fabled kingdom.

fabless /ˈfablis/

I. adjective

denoting or relating to a company that designs microchips but contracts out their production rather than owning its own factory

• the newcomers' strategy was fabless production.

– origin 1980s: from fab ‘a microchip fabrication plant’ + -less.

fabliau /ˈfablēˌō/

I. noun

a metrical tale, typically a bawdily humorous one, of a type found chiefly in early French poetry.

– origin from Old French (Picard dialect) fabliaux, plural of fablel ‘short fable,’ diminutive of fable.

Fabriano, Gentile da

see Gentile da Fabriano.

fabric /ˈfabrik/

I. noun

1. cloth, typically produced by weaving or knitting textile fibers

• heavy silk fabric

• waterproof fabrics.

2. the walls, floor, and roof of a building.

3. the body of a car or aircraft.

4. the essential structure of anything, especially a society or culture

• the fabric of society.

– origin late 15th cent.: from French fabrique, from Latin fabrica ‘something skillfully produced,’ from faber ‘worker in metal, stone, etc.’ The word originally denoted a building, later a machine or appliance, the general sense being ‘something made,’ hence sense 1 (mid 18th cent., originally denoting any manufactured material). Sense 2 dates from the mid 17th cent.

fabricate /ˈfabrəˌkāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. invent or concoct (something), typically with deceitful intent

• officers fabricated evidence.

2. construct or manufacture (something, especially an industrial product), especially from prepared components

• you will have to fabricate an exhaust system.

II. derivatives

fabricator /ˈfabrəˌkādər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin fabricat- ‘manufactured,’ from the verb fabricare, from fabrica ‘something skillfully produced’ (see fabric).

fabrication /ˌfabrəˈkāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action or process of manufacturing or inventing something

• the assembly and fabrication of electronic products.

2. an invention; a lie

• the story was a complete fabrication.

fabric softener

noun

liquid used to soften clothes when they are being washed, or specially treated squares of cloth used to soften clothes in the dryer.

Fabry–Pérot interferometer /fäˌbrēpāˌrō ˌintərfəˈrämədər/

I. noun

an interferometer that incorporates an etalon, used chiefly in astronomy.

– origin early 20th cent.: named after Charles Fabry (1867–1945) and Alfred Pérot (1863–1925), French physicists.

fabulate /ˈfabyəˌlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. relate (an event or events) as a fable or story.

2. [no obj.] — relate untrue or invented stories.

II. derivatives

1. fabulation /ˌfabyəˈlāSHən /

noun

2. fabulator /-ˌlātər /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin fabulat- ‘narrated as a fable,’ from the verb fabulari, from fabula (see fable).

fabulist /ˈfabyələst/

I. noun

1. a person who composes or relates fables.

2. a liar, especially a person who invents elaborate, dishonest stories.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French fabuliste, from Latin fabula (see fable).

fabulous /ˈfabyələs/

I. adjective

1. extraordinary, especially extraordinarily large

• fabulous riches.

2. ‹informal› amazingly good; wonderful

• a fabulous two-week vacation.

3. having no basis in reality; mythical

• fabulous creatures.

II. derivatives

1. fabulosity /ˌfabyəˈläsədē /

noun

2. fabulousness

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘known through fable, unhistorical’): from French fabuleux or Latin fabulosus ‘celebrated in fable,’ from fabula (see fable).

fabulously /ˈfabyələslē/

adverb

1. ‹informal› extremely well; wonderfully

• we all seemed to be getting along fabulously

• the fabulously named village of Nether Wallop

• a fabulously decorated room.

2. [as submodifier] — ‹informal› to an extraordinary degree; immensely

• they worked really hard and did fabulously well

• fabulously glamorous models.

fac.

abbreviation

1. facsimile.

2. faculty.

facade /fəˈsäd / façade

I. noun

1. the face of a building, especially the principal front that looks onto a street or open space.

2. an outward appearance that is maintained to conceal a less pleasant or creditable reality

• her flawless public facade masked private despair.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French façade, from face ‘face,’ on the pattern of Italian facciata.

face /fās/

I. noun

1. the front part of a person's head from the forehead to the chin, or the corresponding part in an animal.

2. the face as expressing emotion; an expression shown on the face

• the happy faces of these children.

3. a manifestation or outward aspect of something

• the unacceptable face of social drinking.

4. [with adj.] — a person of a particular type

• this season's squad has a lot of old faces in it.

5. the surface of a thing, especially one that is presented to the view or has a particular function, in particular

6. [Geometry] each of the surfaces of a solid

• the faces of a cube.

7. a vertical or sloping side of a mountain or cliff

• the south face of Broad Peak.

8. the side of a planet or moon facing the observer.

9. the front of a building.

10. the plate of a clock or watch bearing the digits or hands.

11. the distinctive side of a playing card.

12. short for typeface.

13. the side of a coin showing the head or principal design.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. be positioned with the face or front toward (someone or something)

• he turned to face her.

2. [no obj.] — have the face or front pointing in a specified direction

• the house faces due east.

3. [no obj.] — (of a soldier) turn in a particular direction

• they immediately faced about.

4. confront and deal with or accept

• honesty forced her to face facts

• [no obj.] the candidates choose not to face up to the pragmatic issues.

5. (face someone/something down) — overcome someone or something by a show of determination

• he faced down persistent hecklers at a noontime rally.

6. have (a difficult event or situation) in prospect

• each defendant faced a maximum sentence of 10 years.

7. (of a problem or difficult situation) present itself to and require action from (someone)

• if you were suddenly faced with an emergency, would you know how to cope?

8. (usu. be faced with) — cover the surface of (a thing) with a layer of a different material

• the external basement walls were faced with granite slabs.

III. phrases

1. face down

with the face or surface turned toward the ground

• he lay face down on his bed.

2. face the music

be confronted with the unpleasant consequences of one's actions.

3. the face of the earth

used for emphasis or exaggeration, to refer to the existence or disappearance of someone or something

• he's just disappeared off the face of the earth

• the most grueling training on the face of the earth.

4. face up

with the face or surface turned upward to view

• place the panel face up before cutting.

5. get out of someone's face

[usu. as imperative] — (N. Amer.) ‹informal› stop harassing or annoying someone

• shut up and get out of my face.

6. have the face to do something

‹dated› have the effrontery to do something.

7. in one's face

directly at or against one; as one approaches

• she slammed the door in my face.

8. in the face of

a. when confronted with

• her resolution in the face of the enemy.

b. in spite of

• reform had been introduced in the face of considerable opposition.

9. in your face

see in-your-face.

10. lose face

suffer a loss of respect; be humiliated

• the code of conduct required that he strike back or lose face.

11. loss of face

a loss of respect; humiliation

• he could step aside now without loss of face.

12. make a face (or faces)

produce an expression on one's face that shows dislike, disgust, or some other negative emotion, or that is intended to be amusing

• she made a face and tossed her purse at him.

13. on the face of it

without knowing all of the relevant facts; at first glance

• on the face of it, these improvements look to be insignificant.

14. put a good (or brave or bold) face on something

act as if something unpleasant or upsetting is not as bad as it really is

• he tried to put a good face on the financial picture.

15. put one's face on

‹informal› apply makeup to one's face.

16. save face

retain respect; avoid humiliation

• an outcome that allows them all to save face.

17. set one's face against

oppose or resist with determination

• he had set his face against the idea.

18. throw something back in someone's face

reject something in a brusque or ungracious manner

• she'd given him her trust and he'd thrown it back in her face.

19. to one's face

openly in one's presence

• you're telling me to my face I'm a liar.

IV. phrasal verbs

face off

a. (chiefly N. Amer.) take up an attitude of confrontation, especially at the start of a fight or game

• close to a million soldiers face off in the desert.

b. [Ice Hockey] start or restart play with a face-off.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, based on Latin facies ‘form, appearance, face.’

face amount

noun

another term for death benefit.

Facebook /ˈfāsbo͝ok/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. spend time using the social networking website Facebook

• If the boss knew how much time you spent shopping online or Facebooking, do you think he or she would be happy?

2. [with obj.] — contact (someone) via Facebook

• Jean Facebooked me later.

II. derivatives

Facebooker

noun

– origin early 21st cent.: from Facebook, the proprietary name of the social networking website.

face card /ˈfās ˌkärd/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a playing card that is a king, queen, or jack of a suit.

face-centered /ˈfāsˌsen(t)ərd/

adjective

denoting a crystal structure in which there is an atom at each vertex and at the center of each face of the unit cell.
Compare with body-centered.

facecloth /ˈfāsˌklôTH/

noun

a washcloth.

faced /fāst/

adjective

1. [in combination] — having a face or expression of a specified kind

• a pimply-faced teenager

• a burly, square-faced doorman

• sad-faced children.

2. [in combination] — having a surface or front of a specified kind

• a heavy, square-faced hammer

• a stone-faced building.

3. [Geometry] (of a solid) having a specified number of surfaces

• a twelve-faced solid.

4. (of a piece of stone or other material) having a smoothed or polished surface

• walls and pillars had faced stone on the outer surfaces.

5. (of a playing card) turned face up

• he gets the faced card as his first card.

face guard

noun

a protective covering or mask for the face, worn especially when playing sports, working with hazardous substances, etc.

• the player was wearing a specially designed face guard to protect his fractured cheekbone.

faceless /ˈfāsləs/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) remote and impersonal; anonymous

• the faceless bureaucrats who made the rules.

2. (of a building or place) characterless and dull.

II. derivatives

facelessness

noun

facelift /ˈfāslift/

noun

1. a cosmetic surgical operation to remove unwanted wrinkles by tightening the skin of the face.

2. a procedure carried out to improve the appearance of something

• the station has undergone a multimillion-dollar facelift.

face mask

noun

a protective mask covering the nose and mouth or nose and eyes.

face-off /ˈfās ˌôf/

noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) a direct confrontation between two people or groups

• a face-off for the championship title.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) [Ice Hockey] the start or a restart of play, in which the referee drops the puck between two opposing players.

face paint

I. noun

bold-colored paint used to decorate the face.

II. derivatives

1. face painter

noun

2. face painting

noun

facepalm /ˈfāspä(l)m / face palm

I. noun — [often as exclamation]

1. a gesture in which the palm of one's hand is brought to one's face, as an expression of disbelief, shame, or exasperation

• the site collects photos of our favorite facepalms

• I'm pretty sure said friend now thinks Anne and I are dating—facepalm!

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. bring the palm of one's hand to one's face, as an expression of disbelief, shame, or exasperation

• how many times did she facepalm during the hearing?

faceplate /ˈfāsplāt/

noun

1. an enlarged end or attachment on the end of the mandrel on a lathe, with slots and holes on which work can be mounted.

2. a plate protecting a piece of machinery, a light switch, or an electrical outlet.

3. the part of a cathode ray tube that carries the phosphor screen.

4. the transparent window of a diver's or astronaut's helmet.

face powder /ˈfās ˌpoudər/

noun

flesh-tinted cosmetic powder used to improve the appearance of the face by reducing shine and concealing blemishes.

faceprint /ˈfāsprint/

I. noun

a digital scan or photograph of a human face, used for identifying individuals from the unique characteristics of facial structure

• hidden cameras and faceprints are used to single out individuals in a crowd.

– origin on the pattern of fingerprint.

faceprinting /ˈfāsˌprin(t)iNG/

I. noun

the process of creating a digital faceprint and using software to compare it with a database of photographs, especially to identify known criminals.

– origin on the pattern of fingerprinting.

facer /ˈfāsər/

noun

1. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) a blow to the face.

2. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) a sudden difficulty or obstacle.

face-saving /ˈfās ˌsāviNG/

I. adjective

preserving one's reputation, credibility, or dignity

• a face-saving solution for both sides.

II. derivatives

face-saver /ˈfās ˌsāvər /

noun

facet /ˈfasət/

I. noun

1. one side of something many-sided, especially of a cut gem.

2. a particular aspect or feature of something

• participation by the laity in all facets of church life.

3. [Zoology] any of the individual units (ommatidia) that make up the compound eye of an insect or crustacean.

II. derivatives

faceted /ˈfasədəd /

adjective

[in combination]

• multifaceted

– origin early 17th cent.: from French facette, diminutive of face ‘face, side’ (see face).

facetiae /fəˈsēSHēˌē, -SHēˌī/

I. plural noun

1. ‹dated› pornographic literature.

2. ‹archaic› humorous or witty sayings.

– origin early 16th cent.: from Latin, plural of facetia ‘jest,’ from facetus ‘witty.’

face time

noun

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› time spent in face-to-face contact with someone.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› time spent being filmed or photographed by the media.

facetious /fəˈsēSHəs/

I. adjective

treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor; flippant.

II. derivatives

1. facetiously /fəˈsēSHəslē /

adverb

2. facetiousness /fəˈsēSHəsnəs /

noun

– origin late 16th cent. (in the general sense ‘witty, amusing’): from French facétieux, from facétie, from Latin facetia ‘jest,’ from facetus ‘witty.’

face to face /ˈfās tə ˈfās/

adverb, adjective

1. with the people involved being close together and looking directly at each other
[as adv.]

• the two men stood face to face

• [as adj.] a face-to-face conversation.

2. [as adv.] — in direct confrontation

• he came face to face with a tiger.

face validity

noun

the degree to which a procedure, especially a psychological test or assessment, appears effective in terms of its stated aims.

face value /ˈfās ˈˌvalyo͞o/

noun

1. the value printed or depicted on a coin, banknote, postage stamp, ticket, etc., especially when less than the actual or intrinsic value.

2. the superficial appearance or implication of something

• she felt the lie was unconvincing, but he seemed to take it at face value.

facial /ˈfāSHəl/

I. adjective

of or affecting the face

• facial expressions.

II. noun

a beauty treatment for the face.

III. derivatives

facially

adverb

– origin early 17th cent. (as a theological term meaning ‘face to face, open’): from medieval Latin facialis, from facies (see face). The current sense of the adjective dates from the early 19th cent.

facial hair

noun

a growth of hair on a man's chin, cheeks, or upper lip

• men with lots of facial hair.

facialist /ˈfāSHəlist/

noun

a person who gives facials and other beauty treatments for the face.

facial nerve

noun

[Anatomy] each of the seventh pair of cranial nerves, supplying the facial muscles and the tongue.

facial profiling

noun

the recording and analysis of a person's facial characteristics, especially to assist in identifying an individual

• the police have set up a system of facial profiling at major sporting events.

facial tissue

noun

tissue that is used to blow one's nose, contain a sneeze, etc.

-facient

I. combining form

producing a specified action or state

• abortifacient.

– origin from Latin facient- ‘doing, making.’

facies /ˈfāSHēz ˈfāSHēˌēz/

I. noun

1. [Medicine] the appearance or facial expression of an individual that is typical of a particular disease or condition.

2. [Geology] the character of a rock expressed by its formation, composition, and fossil content.

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting the face): from Latin, ‘form, appearance, face.’

facile /ˈfasəl/

I. adjective

1. (especially of a theory or argument) appearing neat and comprehensive only by ignoring the true complexities of an issue; superficial.

2. (of a person) having a superficial or simplistic knowledge or approach

• a man of facile and shallow intellect.

3. (of success, especially in sports) easily achieved; effortless

• a facile victory.

4. acting or done in a quick, fluent, and easy manner

• he was revealed to be a facile liar.

II. derivatives

1. facilely /ˈfasəl(l)ē /

adverb

2. facileness

noun

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘easily accomplished’): from French, or from Latin facilis ‘easy,’ from facere ‘do, make.’

facilitate /fəˈsiləˌtāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (an action or process) easy or easier

• schools were located on the same campus to facilitate the sharing of resources.

II. derivatives

1. facilitative /-ˌtātiv /

adjective

2. facilitatory /-təˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: from French faciliter, from Italian facilitare, from facile ‘easy,’ from Latin facilis (see facile).

facilitation /fəˌsiləˈtāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action of facilitating something.

2. [Physiology] the enhancement of the response of a neuron to a stimulus following stimulation.

facilitator /fəˈsiləˌtādər/

noun

a person or thing that makes an action or process easy or easier

• a true educator acts as a facilitator of learning

• a program run by trained facilitators.

facilities management facility management

I. noun

the maintenance of an organization's buildings and equipment

• she is director of operations for facilities management.

II. derivatives

facilities manager

noun

facility /fəˈsilədē/

I. noun

1. space or equipment necessary for doing something

• cooking facilities

• facilities for picnicking, camping, and hiking.

2. an amenity or resource, especially one connected with leisure or hygiene

• facilities include two swimming pools.

3. (the facilities) — a public restroom.

4. an establishment set up to fulfill a particular function or provide a particular service, typically an industrial or medical one

• a manufacturing facility.

5. an option or service that gives the opportunity to do or benefit from something

• the program includes a help facility and interactive windows.

6. [usu. in sing.] — an ability to do or learn something well and easily; a natural aptitude

• he had a facility for languages.

7. absence of difficulty or effort

• the pianist played with great facility.

– origin early 16th cent. (denoting the means or unimpeded opportunity for doing something): from French facilité or Latin facilitas, from facilis ‘easy’ (see facile).

facing /ˈfāsiNG/

I. noun

1. a layer of material covering part of a garment and providing contrast, decoration, or strength.

2. (facings) — the cuffs, collar, and lapels of a military jacket, contrasting in color with the rest of the garment.

3. an outer layer covering the surface of a wall.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. positioned with the front toward a certain direction; opposite

• a book with Italian and English lyrics printed on facing pages

• [in combination] two large front-facing windows.

FACP

abbreviation

Fellow of the American College of Physicians.

FACS

abbreviation

Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

facsimile /fakˈsiməlē/

I. noun

1. an exact copy, especially of written or printed material.

2. another term for fax.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make a copy of

• the ride was facsimiled for Disney World.

III. phrases

in facsimile

as an exact copy.

– origin late 16th cent. (originally as fac simile, denoting the making of an exact copy, especially of writing): modern Latin, from Latin fac! (imperative of facere ‘make’) and simile (neuter of similis ‘like’).

fact /fakt/

I. noun

1. a thing that is indisputably the case

• she lacks political experience—a fact that becomes clear when she appears in public

• a body of fact.

2. (the fact that) — used in discussing the significance of something that is the case

• the real problem facing them is the fact that their funds are being cut.

3. (usu. facts) — a piece of information used as evidence or as part of a report or news article.

4. [chiefly Law] the truth about events as opposed to interpretation

• there was a question of fact as to whether they had received the letter.

II. phrases

1. before (or after) the fact

before (or after) the committing of a crime

• an accessory before the fact.

2. a fact of life

something that must be accepted as true and unchanging, even if it is unpleasant

• it is a fact of life that young girls write horrible things about people in their diaries.

3. facts and figures

precise details.

4. the facts of life

information about sexual functions and practices, especially as given to children.

5. the fact of the matter

the truth.

6. in (point of) fact

used to emphasize the truth of an assertion, especially one contrary to what might be expected or what has been asserted

• Aunt Madeline isn't in fact an aunt but a more distant relative.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Latin factum, neuter past participle of facere ‘do.’ The original sense was ‘an act or feat,’ later ‘bad deed, a crime,’ surviving in the phrase before (or after) the fact. The earliest of the current senses (‘truth, reality’) dates from the late 16th cent.

fact-based

adjective

based on or concerned with true events or experiences

• fact-based movies

• the analysis must be fact-based and empirical.

fact-check

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. investigate (an issue) in order to verify the facts

• I didn't fact-check the assertions in the editorial

• reporters can't be expected to fact-check every quotation.

II. derivatives

fact checker

noun

fact-finding

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (especially of a committee or its activity) having the purpose of discovering and establishing the facts of an issue

• a fact-finding mission.

II. noun

the discovery and establishment of the facts of an issue.

III. derivatives

fact-finder

noun

facticity /fakˈtisədē/

noun

the quality or condition of being fact

• the facticity of death.

faction^1 /ˈfakSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a small, organized, dissenting group within a larger one, especially in politics

• the left-wing faction of the party.

2. a state of conflict within an organization; dissension.

– origin late 15th cent. (denoting the action of doing or making something): via French from Latin factio(n-), from facere ‘do, make.’

faction^2 /ˈfakSH(ə)n/

I. noun

a literary and cinematic genre in which real events are used as a basis for a fictional narrative or dramatization.

– origin 1960s: blend of fact and fiction.

-faction

I. combining form

in nouns of action derived from verbs ending in -fy (such as satisfaction from satisfy).

– origin from Latin factio(n)-, from facere ‘do, make.’

factional /ˈfakSH(ə)n(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. relating or belonging to a faction

• factional leaders.

2. characterized by dissent

• factional conflicts.

II. derivatives

1. factionalism /ˈfakSH(ə)nəˌlizəm ˈfakSH(ə)nlˌizəm /

noun

2. factionally

adverb

factionalize /ˈfakSH(ə)nəˌlīz/

verb — [no obj.]

1. (especially of a political party or other organized group) split or divide into factions

• there was a tendency for students to factionalize.

factious /ˈfakSHəs/

I. adjective

relating or inclined to a state of faction

• a factious country.

II. derivatives

1. factiously

adverb

2. factiousness /ˈfakSHəsnəs /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French factieux or Latin factiosus, from factio (see faction^1).

factitious /fakˈtiSHəs/

I. adjective

artificially created or developed

• a largely factitious national identity.

II. derivatives

1. factitiously /fakˈtiSHəslē /

adverb

2. factitiousness

noun

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the general sense ‘made by human skill or effort’): from Latin facticius ‘made by art,’ from facere ‘do, make.’

factitive /ˈfaktədiv/

I. adjective

[Linguistics] (of a verb) having a sense of causing a result and taking a complement as well as an object, as in he appointed me captain.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin factitivus, formed irregularly from Latin factitare, frequentative of facere ‘do, make.’

factive /ˈfaktiv/

adjective

[Linguistics] denoting a verb that assigns the status of an established fact to its object (normally a clausal object), e.g., know, regret, resent.

factoid /ˈfakˌtoid/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) a brief or trivial item of news or information.

2. an assumption or speculation that is reported and repeated so often that it becomes accepted as fact.

factor /ˈfaktər/

I. noun

1. a circumstance, fact, or influence that contributes to a result or outcome

• his legal problems were not a factor in his decision

• she worked fast, conscious of the time factor.

2. [Biology] a gene that determines a hereditary characteristic

• the Rhesus factor.

3. a number or quantity that when multiplied with another produces a given number or expression.

4. [Mathematics] a number or algebraic expression by which another is exactly divisible.

5. [Physiology] any of a number of substances in the blood, mostly identified by numerals, which are involved in coagulation.
See factor VIII.

6. a business agent; a merchant buying and selling on commission.

7. a company that buys a manufacturer's invoices at a discount and takes responsibility for collecting the payments due on them.

8. ‹archaic› an agent, deputy, or representative.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Mathematics] another term for factorize.

2. sell (one's receivable debts) to a factor.

III. phrases

the —— factor

used to indicate that something specified will have a powerful, though unpredictable, influence on a result or outcome

• the feel-good factor.

IV. phrasal verbs

factor something in (or out)

include (or exclude) something as a relevant element when making a calculation or decision

• when the psychological costs are factored in, a different picture will emerge.

V. derivatives

factorable

adjective

– origin late Middle English (meaning ‘doer, perpetrator,’ also in the Scots sense ‘agent’): from French facteur or Latin factor, from fact- ‘done,’ from the verb facere.

factor VIII factor eight

noun

[Physiology] a blood protein (a beta globulin) involved in clotting. A deficiency of this causes one of the main forms of hemophilia.

factorage /ˈfaktərij/

noun

the commission or charges payable to a factor.

factor analysis

noun

[Statistics] a process in which the values of observed data are expressed as functions of a number of possible causes in order to find which are the most important.

factor cost

noun

the cost of an item or a service in terms of the various factors that have played a part in its production or availability, and exclusive of tax costs.

factorial /fakˈtôrēəl/

I. noun

1. (Symbol: !) — [Mathematics] the product of an integer and all the integers below it; e.g., factorial four (4!) is equal to 24.

2. [Mathematics] the product of a series of factors in an arithmetic progression.

II. adjective

[chiefly Mathematics] relating to a factor or factorial

• a factorial design.

III. derivatives

factorially

adverb

factorize /ˈfaktəˌrīz/

I. verb

[Mathematics] (with reference to a number) resolve or be resolvable into factors.

II. derivatives

factorization /ˌfakt(ə)rəˈzāSH(ə)n ˌfaktəˌrīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

factory /ˈfakt(ə)rē/

I. noun

1. a building or group of buildings where goods are manufactured or assembled chiefly by machine.

2. [with modifier] — a person, group, or institution that continually produces a great quantity of something specified

• a huge factory of lying, slander, and bad English.

3. ‹historical› an establishment for traders carrying on business in a foreign country.

– origin late 16th cent. (in sense 2): from medieval Latin factoria from Latin factor (see factor). Sense 1 from late Latin factoria, literally ‘oil press.’

factory farming /ˈfakt(ə)rē ˌfärmiNG/

I. noun

a system of rearing livestock using intensive methods, by which poultry, pigs, or cattle are confined indoors under strictly controlled conditions.

II. derivatives

factory farm /ˈfakt(ə)rē ˌfärm /

noun

factory floor /ˈfakt(ə)rē flô(ə)r/

noun

the workers in a company or industry, rather than the management

• the unions had almost no influence on the factory floor.

factory outlet /ˈfakt(ə)rē ˈoutˌlet ˈoutlət/

noun

a store in which goods, especially surplus stock, are sold directly by the manufacturers at a discount.

factory ship /ˈfakt(ə)rē SHip/

noun

a fishing or whaling ship, or a ship accompanying a fishing or whaling fleet, with facilities for immediate processing of the catch.

factotum /fakˈtōdəm/

I. noun

an employee who does all kinds of work

• he was employed as the general factotum.

– origin mid 16th cent. (originally in the phrases dominum (or magister) factotum, translating roughly as ‘master of everything,’ and Johannes factotem ‘John do-it-all’ or ‘Jack of all trades’): from medieval Latin, from Latin fac! ‘do!’ (imperative of facere) + totum ‘the whole thing’ (neuter of totus).

fact sheet /ˈfak(t) ˌSHēt/

noun

a sheet of paper giving useful information about a particular issue, especially one distributed for publicity purposes.

factual /ˈfak(t)SH(o͞o)əl/

I. adjective

1. concerned with what is actually the case rather than interpretations of or reactions to it

• a mixture of comment and factual information.

2. actually occurring

• cases mentioned are factual.

II. derivatives

1. factuality /ˌfakCHo͞oˈalitē /

noun

2. factualness

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from fact, on the pattern of actual.

factually /ˈfak(t)SH(o͞o)əlē/

adverb

with regard to what is actually the case; in relation to fact

• his assertion is factually incorrect

• the evidence is legally and factually insufficient.

factum /ˈfaktəm/

I. noun

[Law] (chiefly Canadian) a statement of the facts of a case.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘something done or made.’

facture /ˈfak(t)SHər/

I. noun

the quality of the execution of a painting; an artist's characteristic handling of the paint

• Manet's sensuous facture.

– origin late Middle English (in the general sense ‘construction, workmanship’): via Old French from Latin factura ‘formation, manufacture,’ from facere ‘do, make.’ The current sense dates from the late 19th cent.

facula /ˈfakyələ/

I. noun

1. [Astronomy] a bright region on the surface of the sun, linked to the subsequent appearance of sunspots in the same area.

2. [Astronomy] a bright spot on the surface of a planet.

II. derivatives

facular /-lər /

adjective

– origin early 18th cent.: from Latin, diminutive of fax, fac- ‘torch.’

facultative /ˈfakəlˌtādiv/

I. adjective

1. occurring optionally in response to circumstances rather than by nature

• prison-style, facultative homosexuality.

2. [Biology] capable of but not restricted to a particular function or mode of life

• a facultative parasite.

Often contrasted with obligate.

II. derivatives

facultatively

adverb

– origin early 19th cent.: from French facultatif, -ive, from faculté (see faculty).

faculty /ˈfakəltē/

I. noun

1. an inherent mental or physical power

• her critical faculties.

2. an aptitude or talent for doing something

• the author's faculty for philosophical analysis.

3. the teaching staff of a university or college, or of one of its departments or divisions, viewed as a body

• there were then no tenured women on the faculty

• the English faculty.

4. a group of university departments concerned with a major division of knowledge

• the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

5. ‹dated› the members of a particular profession, especially medicine, considered collectively.

6. a license or authorization, especially from a church authority.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French faculte, from Latin facultas, from facilis ‘easy,’ from facere ‘make, do.’

fad /fad/

I. noun

an intense and widely shared enthusiasm for something, especially one that is short-lived and without basis in the object's qualities; a craze

• prairie restoration is the latest gardening fad in the Midwest.

II. derivatives

1. faddish /ˈfadiSH /

adjective

2. faddishly

adverb

3. faddishness /ˈfadiSHnəs /

noun

4. faddism /-ˌizəm /

noun

5. faddist /ˈfadəst /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent. (originally dialect): probably the second element of fidfad, contraction of fiddle-faddle.

FAD

abbreviation

[Biochemistry] flavin adenine dinucleotide, a coenzyme derived from riboflavin and important in various metabolic reactions.

fade /fād/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. gradually grow faint and disappear

• the noise faded away

• ‹figurative› hopes of peace had faded.

2. lose or cause to lose color or brightness
[no obj.]

• the fair hair had faded to a dusty gray

• (usu. as adj. faded) faded jeans.

3. (of a flower) lose freshness and wither.

4. gradually become thin and weak, especially to the point of death.

5. (of a racehorse, runner, etc.) lose strength or drop back, especially after a promising start

• she faded near the finish.

6. (of a radio signal) gradually lose intensity

• the signal faded away.

7. (of a vehicle brake) become temporarily less efficient as a result of frictional heating.

8. [with adverbial] — (with reference to film and television images) come or cause to come gradually into or out of view, or to merge into another shot
[no obj.]

• fade into scenes of rooms strewn with festive remains

• [with obj.] some shots have to be faded in.

9. (with reference to recorded sound) increase or decrease in volume or merge into another recording
[no obj.]

• they let you edit the digital data, making it fade in and out

• [with obj.] fade up natural sound.

10. [Golf] (of the ball) deviate to the right (or, for a left-handed golfer, the left), typically as a result of spin given to the ball.

11. [with obj.] — (of a golfer) cause (the ball) to deviate

• he had to fade the ball around a light pole.

Compare with draw (sense 5 of the verb).

12. [with obj.] — (N. Amer.) ‹informal› (in craps) match the bet of (another player)

• Lovejoy faded him for twenty-five cents.

II. noun

1. the process of becoming less bright

• the sun can cause color-fade.

2. an act of causing a film or television picture to darken and disappear gradually

• a fade to black would bring the sequence to a close.

Compare with fade-out.

3. [Golf] a shot causing the ball to deviate to the right (or, for a left-handed golfer, the left), usually purposely.

III. phrases

do a fade

‹informal› run away.

IV. phrasal verbs

fade back

[Football] move back from the scrimmage line.

V. derivatives

fadeless /ˈfādləs /

adjective

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘grow weak, waste away’; compare with fade away): from Old French fader, from fade ‘dull, insipid,’ probably based on a blend of Latin fatuus ‘silly, insipid’ and vapidus ‘vapid.’

fadeaway /ˈfādəˌwā/

adjective

[Basketball] another term for fallaway.

fade-in /ˈfād ˌin/

noun

a filmmaking and broadcasting technique whereby an image is made to appear gradually or the volume of sound is gradually increased from zero.

fade-out /ˈfād ˌout/

noun

1. a filmmaking and broadcasting technique whereby an image is made to disappear gradually or the sound volume is gradually decreased to zero.

2. a gradual and temporary loss of a broadcast signal

• radio fade-outs.

fader /ˈfādər/

noun

a device for varying the volume of sound, the intensity of light, or the gain on a video or audio signal.

fade-up

noun

an instance of increasing the brightness of an image or the volume of a sound.

fado /ˈfäT͟Ho͞o/

I. noun

1. a type of popular Portuguese song, usually with a melancholy theme and accompanied by mandolins or guitars.

2. the music for a fado.

– origin early 20th cent.: Portuguese, literally ‘fate.’

faerie /ˈferē / faery

I. noun

1. ‹archaic› ‹literary› fairyland

• the world of faerie.

2. ‹archaic› ‹literary› a fairy.

3. [as modifier] — ‹archaic› ‹literary› imaginary; mythical

• faerie dragons.

– origin late 16th cent. (introduced by Spenser): pseudoarchaic variant of fairy.

Faeroe Islands /ˌferō ˈīləndz/

variant spelling of Faroe Islands.

FAF

abbreviation

Financial Aid Form.

fag^1 /faɡ/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) a tiring or unwelcome task

• it's too much of a fag to drive all the way there and back again.

2. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) (Brit.) a junior pupil at a private school who works and runs errands for a senior pupil.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (Brit.) ‹informal› work hard, especially at a tedious job or task

• he didn't have to fag away in a lab to get the right answer.

2. (Brit.) ‹informal› (of a pupil at a private school) work and run errands for a senior pupil.

– origin mid 16th cent. (as a verb in the sense ‘grow weary’): of unknown origin. Compare with flag^1.

fag^2 /faɡ/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› ‹offensive› a male homosexual.

II. derivatives

faggy

adjective

– origin 1920s: short for faggot.

fag^3 /faɡ/

I. noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› a cigarette.

– origin late 19th cent.: elliptically from fag end.

fag end /ˈˌfaɡ ˈend/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) a cigarette butt.

2. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) an inferior and useless remnant of something

• the fag ends of rope

• ‹figurative› a culture reaching the fag end of its existence.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘remnant’): from 15th-cent. fag ‘a flap,’ of unknown origin. The sense ‘a cigarette butt’ dates from the early 20th cent.

fagged /faɡd/

adjective — [predic.]

1. extremely tired; exhausted

• we were all absolutely fagged out.

faggot /ˈfaɡət/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› ‹offensive› a male homosexual.

2. British spelling of fagot.

II. derivatives

faggoty

adjective

– origin early 20th cent.: perhaps from the obsolete sense of fagot ‘contemptible woman.’

fag hag

noun

‹informal› ‹offensive› a heterosexual woman who spends much of her time with homosexual men.

fagot /ˈfaɡət / ‹Brit.› faggot

noun

1. a bundle of sticks or twigs bound together as fuel.

2. a bundle of iron rods bound together for reheating, welding, and hammering into bars.

fagoting /ˈfaɡədiNG / ‹Brit.› faggoting

noun

embroidery in which threads are fastened together in bundles

• a black silk dress with tiers of fagoting.

Fahd /fäd/

(1921–2005), king of Saudi Arabia 1982–2005; full name Fahd ibn Abdul-Aziz al-Saud.

fahlerz /ˈfälərts/

I. noun

a gray copper ore, of which tetrahedrite and tennantite are the typical minerals.

– origin late 18th cent.: from German, from fahl ‘ash-colored’ + Erz ‘ore.’

Fahr.

abbreviation

Fahrenheit.

Fahrenheit /ˈferənˌhīt / F

I. adjective — [postpositive when used with a numeral]

1. of or denoting a scale of temperature on which water freezes at 32° and boils at 212° under standard conditions.

II. noun

the Fahrenheit scale of temperature.

– origin mid 18th cent.: named after Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit (1686–1736), German physicist.

FAIA

abbreviation

Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.

faience /fīˈäns fāˈäns/

I. noun

glazed ceramic ware, in particular decorated tin-glazed earthenware of the type that includes delftware and maiolica.

– origin late 17th cent. (originally denoting pottery made at Faenza, Italy): from French faïence, from Faïence, the French name for Faenza.

fail /fāl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. be unsuccessful in achieving one's goal

• he failed in his attempt to secure election

• [with infinitive] they failed to be ranked in the top ten.

2. [with obj.] — be unsuccessful in (an examination, test, or interview)

• she failed her finals.

3. [with obj.] — (of a person or a commodity) be unable to meet the standards set by (a test of quality or eligibility)

• the player has failed a drug test.

4. [with obj.] — judge (someone, especially in an examination) not to have passed.

5. neglect to do something
[with infinitive]

• the firm failed to give adequate risk warnings.

6. [with infinitive] — behave in a way contrary to hopes or expectations by not doing something

• commuter chaos has again failed to materialize.

7. (cannot fail to be/do something) — used to express a strong belief that something must be the case

• you cannot fail to be deeply impressed.

8. (never fail to do something) — used to indicate that something invariably happens

• such comments never failed to annoy him.

9. [with obj.] — desert or let down (someone)

• at the last moment her nerve failed her.

10. break down; cease to work well

• a truck whose brakes had failed.

11. become weaker or of poorer quality; die away

• the light began to fail

• (as adj. failing) his failing health.

12. (especially of a rain or a crop or supply) be lacking or insufficient when needed or expected.

13. (of a business or a person) be obliged to cease trading because of lack of funds; become bankrupt.

II. noun

a grade that is not high enough to pass an examination or test.

III. phrases

1. too big to fail

(of a financial organization or other business) so important to the economy of a country that a government or central bank must take measures to prevent it from ceasing to trade or going bankrupt.

• he caused a stir earlier this month when he said that no company was too big to fail.

2. without fail

absolutely predictably; with no exception

• he writes every week without fail.

– origin Middle English: from Old French faillir (verb), faille (noun), based on Latin fallere ‘deceive.’ An earlier sense of the noun was ‘failure to do or perform a duty,’ surviving in the phrase without fail.

failed /fāld/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of an undertaking or a relationship) not achieving its end or not lasting; unsuccessful

• a failed coup attempt.

2. (of a person) unsuccessful in a particular activity, especially not good enough to make a living by it

• a failed writer.

3. (of a business) unable to continue due to financial difficulties.

4. (of a mechanism) not functioning properly; broken-down

• an aircraft with a failed engine.

failed state

noun

a state whose political or economic system has become so weak that the government is no longer in control

• if we turn our back on the developing world we will see more failed states.

failing /ˈfāliNG/

I. noun

a weakness, especially in character; a shortcoming

• pride is a terrible failing.

II. preposition

in default of; in the absence of

• she longed to be with him and, failing that, to be on her own.

faille /fīl/

I. noun

a soft, light-woven fabric having a ribbed texture and originally made of silk.

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting a kind of hood or veil worn by women): from Old French. The current sense dates from the mid 19th cent.

failover /ˈfālˌōvər/

noun

[Computing] a method of protecting computer systems from failure, in which standby equipment automatically takes over when the main system fails.

fail-safe /ˈfāl ˈˌsāf/

I. adjective

1. causing a piece of machinery or other mechanism to revert to a safe condition in the event of a breakdown or malfunction

• a forklift with a fail-safe device.

2. unlikely or unable to fail

• the computer that runs the place is supposed to be fail-safe.

II. noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. a system or plan that comes into operation in the event of something going wrong or that is there to prevent such an occurrence

• the secondary safety system is indeed a fail-safe.

failure /ˈfālyər/

I. noun

1. lack of success

• an economic policy that is doomed to failure

• the failures of his policies.

2. an unsuccessful person, enterprise, or thing

• bad weather had resulted in crop failures.

3. the omission of expected or required action

• their failure to comply with the basic rules.

4. a lack or deficiency of a desirable quality

• a failure of imagination.

5. the action or state of not functioning

• symptoms of heart failure

• an engine failure.

6. a sudden cessation of power.

7. the collapse of a business.

– origin mid 17th cent. (originally as failer, in the senses ‘nonoccurrence’ and ‘cessation of supply’): from Anglo-Norman French failer for Old French faillir (see fail).

fain /fān / ‹archaic›

I. adjective

1. pleased or willing under the circumstances

• the traveler was fain to proceed.

2. compelled by the circumstances; obliged

• he was fain to acknowledge that the agreement was sacrosanct.

II. adverb

with pleasure; gladly

• I am weary and would fain get a little rest.

– origin Old English fægen ‘happy, well pleased,’ of Germanic origin, from a base meaning ‘rejoice’; related to fawn^2.

fainéant /ˈfānēənt/

I. noun

‹archaic› an idle or ineffective person.

II. adjective

idle or ineffective.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French, from fait ‘does’ + néant ‘nothing.’

faint /fānt/

I. adjective

1. (of a sight, smell, or sound) barely perceptible

• the faint murmur of voices.

2. (of a hope, chance, or possibility) slight; remote

• there is a faint chance that the enemy may flee.

3. lacking in strength or enthusiasm; feeble

• the faint beat of a butterfly's wing.

4. [predic.] — weak and dizzy; close to losing consciousness

• the heat made him feel faint.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. lose consciousness for a short time because of a temporarily insufficient supply of oxygen to the brain.

2. ‹archaic› grow weak or feeble; decline

• the fires were fainting.

III. noun — [in sing.]

1. a sudden loss of consciousness

• she hit the floor in a dead faint.

IV. phrases

not have the faintest

‹informal› have no idea

• I haven't the faintest what it means.

V. derivatives

faintness /ˈfāntnis /

noun

– origin Middle English (sense 2 of the adjective; also in the sense ‘cowardly,’ surviving in faint heart): from Old French faint, past participle of faindre (see feign). Compare with feint^1.

faint heart /ˌfānt ˈhärt/

I. noun

a person who has a timid or reserved nature.

II. phrases

faint heart never won fair lady

‹proverb› timidity will prevent you from achieving your objective.

faint-hearted /ˌfāntˈhärdəd/

I. adjective

lacking courage; timid

• they were feeling faint-hearted at the prospect of war

• (as plural noun the faint-hearted) litigation is not for the faint-hearted.

II. derivatives

1. faint-heartedly /ˌfāntˈhärdədlē /

adverb

2. faint-heartedness

noun

faintly /ˈfān(t)lē/

adverb

1. in a faint manner; indistinctly

• she smiled faintly.

2. [as submodifier] — slightly

• his faintly ridiculous hair.

fair^1 /fer/

I. adjective

1. in accordance with the rules or standards; legitimate

• the group has achieved fair and equal representation for all its members.

2. just or appropriate in the circumstances

• to be fair, this subject poses special problems.

3. ‹archaic› (of a means or procedure) gentle; not violent.

4. [Baseball] (of a batted ball) within the field of play marked by the first and third baselines.

5. [Baseball] pertaining to the fair part of the field

• the ball was hit into fair territory.

6. (of hair or complexion) light; blond.

7. (of a person) having a light complexion or blond hair.

8. considerable though not outstanding in size or amount

• he did a fair bit of coaching.

9. moderately good though not outstandingly so

• he believes he has a fair chance of success.

10. (of weather) fine and dry.

11. (of the wind) favorable

• they set sail with a fair wind.

12. ‹archaic› beautiful: attractive

• the fairest of her daughters.

13. (of words, a speech, or a promise) false, despite being initially attractive or pleasing; specious.

II. adverb

1. without cheating or trying to achieve unjust advantage

• no one could say he played fair.

2. [as submodifier] — ‹dialect› to a high degree

• she'll be fair delighted to see you.

III. noun

‹archaic› a beautiful woman.

IV. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹dialect› (of the weather) become fine

• looks like it's fairing off some.

V. phrases

1. all's fair in love and war

‹proverb› in certain highly charged situations, any method of achieving your objective is justifiable.

2. by fair means or foul

‹literary› ‹humorous› using whatever means are necessary

• they were determined to ensure victory for themselves, by fair means or foul.

3. fair and square

honestly and straightforwardly

• we won the match fair and square.

4. a fair deal

equitable treatment.

5. fair dinkum

(Austral./NZ) ‹informal› see dinkum.

6. fair enough

‹informal› used to admit that something is reasonable or acceptable

• “I can't come because I'm working late.” “Fair enough.”

7. fair-to-middling

slightly above average

• she manages to capitalize on some fair-to-middling material.

8. fair name

‹dated› a good reputation.

9. the fair sex the fairer sex

‹dated› ‹humorous› women.

10. fair's fair

‹informal› used to request just treatment or assert that an arrangement is just

• Fair's fair—we were here first.

11. for fair

(US) ‹informal› ‹dated› completely and finally

• then we'd be rid of him for fair.

12. in a fair way to do something

‹dated› having nearly done something, and likely to achieve it

• he is in a fair way to get well.

13. it's a fair cop

(Brit.) an admission that the speaker has been caught doing wrong and deserves punishment.

14. no fair

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› unfair (often used in or as a petulant protestation)

• no fair—we're the only kids in the whole school who don't get to watch TV on school nights.

VI. derivatives

fairish /ˈferiSH /

adjective

– origin Old English fæger ‘pleasing, attractive,’ of Germanic origin, related to Norwegian vakker, ‘beautiful.’

fair^2 /fer/

I. noun

1. a gathering of stalls and amusements for public entertainment.

2. (also agricultural fair) — (N. Amer.) a competitive exhibition of livestock, agricultural products, and household skills held annually by a town, county, or state and also featuring entertainment and educational displays.

3. a periodic gathering for the sale of goods.

4. an exhibition to promote particular products

• the Contemporary Art Fair.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘periodic gathering for the sale of goods’): from Old French feire, from late Latin feria, singular of Latin feriae ‘holy days’ (on which such fairs were often held).

fair^3 /fer/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. faired)

1. streamline (a vehicle, boat, or aircraft) by adding fairings.

– origin Old English in the senses ‘beautify’ and ‘appear or become clean’ The current sense dates from the mid 19th cent.

Fairbanks^1 /ˈferbaNGks/

the second-largest city in Alaska, in the central part of the state, near the junction of the Chena and Tanana rivers; pop. 35,132 (est. 2008).

Fairbanks^2 /ˈferbaNGks/

I. the name of a family of US actors.

II. Douglas (1883–1939); born Douglas Elton Ulman. He cofounded United Artists in 1919 and became known for his swashbuckling roles in such silent movies as The Mark of Zorro (1920), Robin Hood (1922), and The Thief of Baghdad (1924).

III. Douglas, Jr. (1909–2000); born Douglas Elton Ulman Fairbanks. The son of Douglas, several of his roles were also in the swashbuckling tradition. Notable movies: The Prisoner of Zenda (1937), The Corsican Brothers (1941), and That Lady in Ermine (1948).

Fairborn /ˈferbôrn/

a city in southwestern Ohio, northeast of Dayton; pop. 32,366 (est. 2008).

fair catch

noun

[Football] a catch of a punt in which a player raises a hand and does not advance the ball.

fair copy /fe(ə)r ˈkäpē/

noun

written or printed matter transcribed or reproduced after final correction.

Fairfax County

a county in northeastern Virginia that incorporates many suburbs of Washington, DC; pop. 1,015,302 (est. 2008).

Fairfield /ˈferfēld/

I. a city in north central California, an agricultural processing center; pop. 103,683 (est. 2008).

II. a residential town in southwestern Connecticut; pop. 57,345 (est. 2008).

III. a city in southwestern Ohio, north of Cincinnati; pop. 42,384 (est. 2008).

fair game

noun

a person or thing that is considered a reasonable target for criticism, exploitation, or attack.

fairground /ˈferɡround / fairgrounds

noun

an outdoor area where a fair is held.

fair-haired /ˈfer ˈˌhe(ə)rd/

adjective

1. having light-colored hair.

2. (N. Amer.) (of a person) favorite; cherished

• the fair-haired boy of American advertising.

fairies' bonnets

plural noun

a small toadstool with a grooved, yellowish-brown, thimble-shaped cap, growing in large clusters on rotten wood or in soil.
[Coprinus disseminatus, family Coprinaceae, class Hymenomycetes.]

fairing /ˈferiNG/

noun

an external metal or plastic structure added to increase streamlining and reduce drag, especially on a high-performance car, motorcycle, boat, or aircraft.

Fair Isaac Corporation FICO

noun

[Finance] the largest and best known of several companies that provide software for calculating a person's credit score.

Fair Isle

I. one of the Shetland Islands, about halfway between Orkney and the main Shetland group.

II. [usu. as adj.] — traditional multicolored geometric designs used in woolen knitwear

• Fair Isle sweaters.

fairlead /ˈferlēd/

noun

a ring mounted on a boat or ship to guide a rope, keeping it clear of obstructions and preventing it from being cut or chafed.

fairly /ˈferlē/

I. adverb

1. with justice

• he could not fairly be accused of wasting police time.

2. [usu. as submodifier] — to quite a high degree

• I was fairly certain she had nothing to do with the affair.

• I get along fairly well with everybody.

3. actually (used to emphasize something surprising or extreme)

• he fairly snarled at her.

II. phrases

fairly and squarely

another term for fair and square (see fair^1).

fair-market value

noun

a selling price for an item to which a buyer and seller can agree.

fair-minded /ˌferˈmīndəd/

I. adjective

impartial in judgment; just

• a fair-minded employer.

II. derivatives

1. fair-mindedly

adverb

2. fair-mindedness

noun

fairness /ˈfernəs/

noun

1. impartial and just treatment or behavior without favoritism or discrimination

• part of my role is to ensure fairness to all parties

• I was impressed with her fairness and firm hand as manager.

2. the quality of having light-colored hair or a pale complexion

• descriptions emphasize the fairness of her skin.

3. ‹archaic› beauty

• the maiden allows her fairness to lead her to trouble.

fairness doctrine

noun

a former federal policy in the US requiring television and radio broadcasters to present contrasting viewpoints on controversial issues of public importance.

fairness opinion

noun

[Finance] a professional opinion, provided by an investment bank or other third party, about whether the price offered in a merger or acquisition deal is reasonable

• the offer was put to shareholders without a customary fairness opinion by a financial adviser.

fair play /ˌfer ˈplā/

noun

respect for the rules or equal treatment of all concerned.

fair-skinned /ˌferˈskind/

adjective

(of a person) having pale or relatively pale skin

• a fair-skinned woman with blue eyes.

fair-spoken /ˈferˌspōkən/

adjective

‹archaic› (of a person) courteous and pleasant.

fair trade

noun

trade in which fair prices are paid to producers in developing countries.

fair-trade agreement

noun

an agreement, typically illegal, between a manufacturer of a trademarked item in the US and its retail distributors to sell the item at a price at or above that designated by the manufacturer.

fair use

noun

(in US copyright law) the doctrine that brief excerpts of copyright material may, under certain circumstances, be quoted verbatim for purposes such as criticism, news reporting, teaching, and research, without the need for permission from or payment to the copyright holder.

fairwater /ˈfe(ə)rˌwôtər, -ˌwätər/

noun

a structure that improves the streamlining of a ship to assist its smooth passage through water.

fairway /ˈferwā/

noun

1. the part of a golf course between a tee and the corresponding green, where the grass is kept short.

2. a navigable channel in a river or harbor.

3. a regular course or track followed by ships.

fair-weather friend /fe(ə)r ˈweT͟Hər frend/

noun

a person who stops being a friend in times of difficulty.

fairy /ˈferē/

I. noun

1. a small imaginary being of human form that has magical powers, especially a female one.

2. ‹informal› ‹offensive› a male homosexual.

II. adjective

belonging to, resembling, or associated with fairies

• fairy gold.

III. derivatives

fairylike /ˈferēˌlīk /

adjective

– origin Middle English (denoting fairyland, or fairies collectively): from Old French faerie, from fae ‘a fairy,’ from Latin fata ‘the Fates,’ plural of fatum (see fate). Compare with fay.

fairy armadillo

noun

a very small burrowing armadillo found in southern South America.
[Genus Clamyphorus, family Dasypodidae: two species.]

fairy bluebird

noun

a southern Asian forest songbird related to the orioles, the male of which has bright blue and black plumage.
[Genus Irena, family Irenidae (or Oriolidae): two species, in particular the widespread I. puella.]

fairy dust

noun

another term for pixie dust.

fairy fly

noun

a minute parasitic wasp that lays its eggs in the eggs of other insects.
[Family Mymaridae, order Hymenoptera: numerous genera.]

fairy godmother /ˈˌferē ˈɡädˌməT͟Hər/

noun

a female character in some fairy tales who has magical powers and brings unexpected good fortune to the hero or heroine.

fairyland /ˈferēˌland/

noun

1. the imaginary home of fairies.

2. a beautiful or seemingly enchanted place
[as modifier]

• a fairyland castle.

3. an imagined ideal place; a utopia.

fairy ring /ˈferē ˌriNG/

noun

a circular area of grass that is darker in color than the surrounding grass due to the growth of certain fungi. They were popularly believed to have been caused by fairies dancing.

fairy shrimp

noun

a small, transparent crustacean that typically swims on its back, using its legs to filter food particles from the water.
[Order Anostraca, class Branchiopoda: many species, including brine shrimps.]

fairy tale /ˈferē tāl / fairy story

noun

1. a children's story about magical and imaginary beings and lands.

2. [as modifier] — denoting something regarded as resembling a fairy story in being magical, idealized, or extremely happy

• a fairy-tale romance.

3. a fabricated story, especially one intended to deceive.

fairy tern

noun

a small white tropical tern that lays its single egg on a narrow ledge or on the bare branch of a tree. When it flies against a bright sky, the wings appear somewhat translucent, allowing the bone structure to be seen.
[Gygis alba, family Sternidae.]

fairy wren

noun

a small Australian songbird with a long cocked tail, the male of which has partly or mainly blue plumage.
[Genus Malurus, family Maluridae: several species, in particular the common superb fairy wren or blue wren (M. cyaneus).]

Faisal /ˈfīsəl/

I. the name of two kings of Iraq.

II. Faisal I (1885–1933); reigned 1921–33. He was supported by the British and by fervent Arab nationalists. Under his rule, Iraq achieved full independence in 1932.

III. Faisal II (1935–58), grandson of Faisal I; reigned 1939–58.He was assassinated in a military coup, after which a republic was established.

Faisalabad /ˌfīˌsäləˈbäd, -ˈbad/

an industrial city in Punjab, Pakistan; pop. 2,793,700 (est. 2009). Until 1979 it was known as Lyallpur.

fait accompli /ˌfed əkämˈplē ˌfād əkämˈplē/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. a thing that has already happened or been decided before those affected hear about it, leaving them with no option but to accept

• the results were presented to shareholders as a fait accompli.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, literally ‘accomplished fact.’

faith /fāTH/

I. noun

1. complete trust or confidence in someone or something

• this restores one's faith in politicians.

2. strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.

3. a system of religious belief

• the Christian faith.

4. a strongly held belief or theory

• the faith that life will expand until it fills the universe.

II. phrases

break (or keep) faith

be disloyal (or loyal)

• an attempt to make us break faith with our customers.

– origin Middle English: from Old French feid, from Latin fides.

faith-based

adjective

affiliated with or based on religion or a religious group

• a faith-based plan that bilked investors out of millions.

faithful /ˈfāTHfəl/

adjective

1. loyal, constant, and steadfast

• he exhorted them to remain faithful to the principles of Reaganism

• employees who had notched up decades of faithful service

• (as plural noun the faithful) the struggle to please the party faithful.

2. (of a spouse or partner) never having a sexual relationship with anyone else

• her husband was faithful to her.

3. (of an object) reliable

• my faithful compass.

4. (usu. as plural noun the faithful) — having a strong belief in a particular religion, especially Islam.

5. true to the facts or the original

• the rugs they make today remain faithful to their ancestors' methods.

faithfully /ˈfāTHfəlē/

I. adverb

1. in a loyal manner.

2. in a manner that is true to the facts or the original

• she translated the novel as faithfully as possible.

II. phrases

yours faithfully

(chiefly Brit.) a formula for ending a formal letter to someone whose name you do not know.

faithfulness /ˈfāTHfəlnəs/

noun

the quality of being faithful; fidelity

• faithfulness in marriage.

faith healing /ˈfāTH ˌhēliNG/

I. noun

healing achieved by religious belief and prayer, rather than by medical treatment.

II. derivatives

faith healer /ˈfāTH ˌhēlər /

noun

faithless /ˈfāTHləs/

I. adjective

1. disloyal, especially to a spouse or partner; untrustworthy

• her faithless lover.

2. without religious faith.

II. derivatives

1. faithlessly

adverb

2. faithlessness /ˈfāTHləsnəs /

noun

fajita /fəˈhēdə/

I. noun

a dish of Mexican origin consisting of strips of spiced beef or chicken, chopped vegetables, and grated cheese, wrapped in a soft tortilla and often served with sour cream.

– origin late 20th cent.: Mexican Spanish, literally ‘little strip or belt.’

fake^1 /fāk/

I. noun

1. a thing that is not genuine; a forgery or sham

• the painting was a fake.

2. a person who appears or claims to be something that they are not.

3. a pretense or trick

• his excuse for coming was a fake.

II. adjective

1. not genuine; counterfeit

• fake designer clothing

• expressing fake emotions.

2. (of a person) claiming to be something that one is not

• a fake doctor.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. forge or counterfeit (something)

• the woman faked her spouse's signature.

2. pretend to feel or suffer from (an emotion or illness)

• he had begun to fake a bad stomachache.

3. make (an event) appear to happen

• he faked his own death.

4. accomplish (a task) by improvising

• all the experts agree that you can't fake it.

5. [Music] improvise

• he fakes the melody line of a standard tune.

IV. derivatives

1. faker /ˈfākər /

noun

2. fakery /ˈfāk(ə)rē /

noun

– origin late 18th cent. (as an adjective; originally slang): origin uncertain; perhaps ultimately related to German fegen ‘sweep, thrash.’ Compare with fig^2.

fake^2 /fāk/

I. noun, verb

variant spelling of flake^4.

– origin late Middle English (as a verb): of unknown origin.

fake bake

I. noun

‹informal› the process of getting a sunless tan, as under sunlamps or by applying a sunless-tanning lotion

• they're advertising reasonable prices for fake bakes.

II. verb — [no obj.] (usu. fake-bake)

1. get a sunless tan

• in the winter months, she likes to fake-bake about once a week.

fake book

noun

[Music] a book of music containing the basic chord sequences of jazz or other tunes.

fake tan

I. noun

1. an artificial suntan

• she had short blonde hair and a fake tan.

2. a lotion containing chemicals that react with the skin to produce an artificial suntan

• it's time to dust off the ball gowns and slap on some fake tan.

II. derivatives

fake-tanned

adjective

fakie /ˈfākē/

I. noun

(in skateboarding or snowboarding) a movement in which the board is ridden backward.

II. adverb

with a movement in which the board is ridden backwards

• once you can do it forward, try it fakie.

fakir /fəˈkir ˈfākər / fakeer, faqir, faquir

I. noun

a Muslim (or, loosely, a Hindu) religious ascetic who lives solely on alms.

– origin early 17th cent.: via French from Arabic faḳīr ‘needy man.’

Falabella /ˌfaləˈbelə/

I. noun

a horse of a miniature breed, the adult of which does not usually exceed 30 inches (75 cm) in height.

– origin late 20th cent.: named after Julio Falabella (died 1981), an Argentinian breeder.

falafel /fəˈläfəl / felafel

I. noun

a Middle Eastern dish of spiced mashed chickpeas or other pulses formed into balls or fritters and deep-fried, usually eaten with or in pita bread.

– origin from colloquial Egyptian Arabic falāfil, plural of Arabic fulful, filfil ‘pepper.’

Falange /fəˈlanj, ˈfāˌlanj/

I. the Spanish Fascist movement that merged with traditional right-wing elements in 1937 to form the ruling party, the Falange Española Tradicionalista, under General Franco. It was formally abolished in 1977.

II. derivatives

1. Falangism /-izəm /

noun

2. Falangist /-jist /

noun, adjective

– origin Spanish, from Latin phalanx, phalang- (see phalanx).

Falasha /fəˈläSHə/

I. noun

‹often offensive› a member of a group of people in Ethiopia who hold the Jewish faith but use Ge'ez rather than Hebrew as a liturgical language. The Falashas were not formally recognized as Jews until 1975, and many of them were airlifted to Israel in 1984–85 and after.

– origin early 18th cent.: Amharic, literally ‘exile, immigrant.’

falcate /ˈfalkāt ˈfôlkāt/

I. adjective

[Botany] [Zoology] curved like a sickle; hooked

• the mandibles are falcate.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin falcatus, from falx, falc- ‘sickle.’

falcated teal

I. noun

a small duck that is native to China and northeastern Asia.
[Anas falcata, family Anatidae.]

– origin early 18th cent.: named from the long sickle-shaped inner secondary feathers of the male.

falchion /ˈfôl(t)SHən/

I. noun

‹historical› a broad, slightly curved sword with the cutting edge on the convex side.

– origin Middle English fauchon, from Old French, based on Latin falx, falc- ‘sickle.’ The -l- was added in the 16th cent. to conform with the Latin spelling.

falciform /ˈfalsəˌfôrm/

I. adjective

[Anatomy] [Zoology] curved like a sickle; hooked

• the falciform ligament.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin falx, falc- ‘sickle’ + -iform.

falciparum /falˈsipərəm / falciparum malaria

I. noun

the most severe form of malaria, caused by infection with Plasmodium falciparum
[as modifier]

• the falciparum parasite.

– origin 1930s: modern Latin, from Latin falx, falc- ‘sickle’ + -parum (from -parus ‘bearing’).

falcon /ˈfalkən ˈfôlkən/

I. noun

1. a diurnal bird of prey with long pointed wings and a notched beak, typically catching prey by diving on it from above.
Compare with hawk^1 (sense 1 of the noun). [Family Falconidae, in particular the genus Falco: many species, including the peregrine, hobby, merlin, and kestrel.]

2. [Falconry] a female falcon, especially a peregrine.
Compare with tercel.

– origin Middle English faucon (originally denoting any diurnal bird of prey used in falconry): from Old French, from late Latin falco. The -l- was added in the 15th cent. to conform with the Latin spelling.

falconer /ˈfalkənər/

I. noun

a person who keeps, trains, or hunts with falcons, hawks, or other birds of prey.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French fauconier, from faucon (see falcon).

falconet /ˈfalkənət/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› a light cannon.

2. a very small South Asian (or South American) falcon, typically having bold black-and-white plumage.
[Genus Microhierax (and Spiziapteryx), family Falconidae: six species.]

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Italian falconetto, diminutive of falcone ‘falcon,’ from Latin falco (see falcon). Sense 2 is from falcon + -et^1.

falconry /ˈfalkənrē/

I. noun

the sport of hunting with falcons or other birds of prey; the keeping and training of such birds.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French fauconnerie, from faucon (see falcon).

Faldo, Nick /ˈfôldō/

(1957–), English golfer; full name Sir Nicholas Alexander Faldo. He won the British Open championship in 1987, 1990, and 1992 and the US Masters in 1989, 1990, and 1996.

faldstool /ˈfôldˌsto͞ol/

I. noun

1. a folding chair used by a bishop when not occupying the throne or when officiating in a church other than his own.

2. a small movable folding desk or stool for kneeling at prayer.

– origin late Old English fældestōl, of Germanic origin, from the base of fold^1 and stool, influenced by medieval Latin faldistolium, from Germanic. Compare with fauteuil.

Falkland Islands /ˌfôklənd ˈīləndz / the Falklands

I. a group of more than 100 islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, an overseas territory of the UK, about 300 miles (500 km) east of the Strait of Magellan; pop. 3,100 (est. 2008); capital, Stanley (on East Falkland). They were occupied and colonized by Britain in 1832–33, following the expulsion of an Argentine garrison. Argentina has contested British sovereignty and continues to refer to the islands by their old Spanish name, the Malvinas. In 1982, an Argentine invasion led to the Falklands War, which ended in a successful British reoccupation.

II. derivatives

Falkland Islander Falklander

noun

Falkland Islands Dependencies

a British overseas territory in the South Atlantic Ocean that consists of the South Sandwich Islands and South Georgia (which is administered from the Falkland Islands).

Falklands War

I. an armed conflict between Britain and Argentina in 1982.

On the orders of Argentina's military junta, Argentine forces invaded the Falkland Islands in support of their claim to sovereignty. In response, Britain sent a task force of ships and aircraft, which forced the Argentine forces to surrender.

fall /fôl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. move downward, typically rapidly and freely without control, from a higher to a lower level

• bombs could be seen falling from the planes

• (as adj. falling) the power lines had been brought down by falling trees.

2. (fall off) — become detached accidentally and drop to the ground

• my sunglasses fell off and broke on the pavement.

3. hang down

• hair that was allowed to fall to the shoulders.

4. (of land) slope downward; drop away

• the land fell away in a steep bank.

5. (fall into) — (of a river) flow or discharge itself into.

6. (of someone's eyes or glance) be directed downward.

7. (of someone's face) show dismay or disappointment by appearing to sag or droop

• her face fell as she thought about her life with George.

8. occur, arrive, or become apparent as if by dropping suddenly

• when night fell we managed to crawl back to our lines

• the information might fall into the wrong hands.

9. (of a person) lose one's balance and collapse

• she fell down at school today.

10. throw oneself down, typically in order to worship or implore someone

• they fell on their knees, rendering thanks to God.

11. (of a tree, building, or other structure) collapse to the ground

• the house looked as if it were going to fall down at any moment.

12. (of a building or place) be captured or defeated

• their mountain strongholds fell to enemy attack.

13. die in battle

• an English leader who had fallen at the hands of the Danes.

14. ‹archaic› commit sin; yield to temptation

• it is their husband's fault if wives do fall.

15. (of a government or leader) lose office.

16. (in sports) lose or be eliminated from play.

17. decrease in number, amount, intensity, or quality

• in 1987 imports into Britain fell by 12 percent

• we're worried that standards are falling.

18. find a lower level; subside or abate

• the water table in the Rift Valley fell.

19. (of a measuring instrument) show a lower reading

• the barometer had fallen a further ten points.

20. pass into a specified state

• many of the buildings fell into disrepair

• she fell pregnant.

21. (fall to doing something) — begin to do something

• he fell to musing about how it had happened.

22. be drawn accidentally into

• you must not fall into this common error.

23. occur at a specified time

• Mother's birthday fell on Flag Day.

24. be classified or ordered in the way specified

• canals fall within the Minister's brief.

II. noun

1. [usu. in sing.] — an act of falling or collapsing; a sudden uncontrollable descent

• his mother had a fall, hurting her leg as she alighted from a train.

2. a controlled act of falling, especially as a stunt or in martial arts.

3. [Wrestling] a move which pins the opponent's shoulders on the ground for a count of three.

4. a state of hanging or drooping downward

• the fall of her hair.

5. a downward difference in height between parts of a surface

• at the corner of the massif this fall is interrupted by other heights of considerable stature.

6. a sudden onset or arrival as if by dropping

• the fall of darkness.

7. a thing that falls or has fallen

• in October came the first thin fall of snow

• a rock fall.

8. (usu. falls) — a waterfall or cascade.

9. ‹chiefly literary› a downward turn in a melody

• that strain again, it had a dying fall.

10. (falls) — the parts or petals of a flower that bend downward, especially the outer perianth segments of an iris.

11. a decrease in size, number, rate, or level; a decline

• a big fall in unemployment.

12. a loss of office

• the fall of the government.

13. the loss of a city or fortified place during battle

• the fall of Jerusalem.

14. a person's moral descent, typically through succumbing to temptation.

15. (the Fall or the Fall of Man) — the lapse of humankind into a state of sin, ascribed in traditional Jewish and Christian theology to the disobedience of Adam and Eve as described in Genesis.

16. (also Fall) — (N. Amer.) autumn.

III. phrases

1. fall foul (or afoul) of

come into conflict with and be undermined by

• any commitment of resources is likely to fall foul of government cash limitations.

2. fall in (or into) line

conform with others or with accepted behavior.
[with reference to military formation.]

3. fall into place

(of a series of events or facts) begin to make sense or cohere

• once he knew what to look for, the theory fell quickly into place.

4. fall on stony ground

see stony.

5. fall over oneself to do something

‹informal› be excessively eager to do something

• critics and audiences fell over themselves to compliment him.

6. fall prey to

see prey.

7. fall short (of)

a. (of a missile) fail to reach its target.

b. ‹figurative› be deficient or inadequate; fail to reach a required goal

• the total vote fell short of the required two-thirds majority.

8. fall to pieces

see fall apart below.

9. fall victim to

see victim.

10. take the fall

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› receive blame or punishment, typically in the place of another person.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. fall apart (or to pieces)

a. break up, come apart, or disintegrate

• their marriage is likely to fall apart.

b. (of a person) lose one's capacity to cope

• Angie fell to pieces because she had lost everything.

2. fall back

move or turn back; retreat.

3. fall back on

have recourse to when in difficulty

• they normally fell back on one of three arguments.

4. fall behind

a. fail to keep up with one's competitors.

b. fail to meet a commitment to make a regular payment

• borrowers falling behind with their mortgage payments.

5. fall down

be shown to be inadequate or false; fail

• the deal fell down partly because there were a lot of unanswered questions.

6. fall for ‹informal›

a. be captivated by; fall in love with.

b. be deceived by (something)

• he should have known better than to expect Duncan to fall for a cheap trick like that.

7. fall in

a. take one's place in a military formation

• the soldiers fell in by the side of the road.

b. (of a structure) collapse inward.

8. fall in with

a. meet by chance and become involved with

• he fell in with thieves.

b. act in accordance with (someone's ideas or suggestions); agree to

• falling in with other people's views.

9. fall on (or upon)

a. attack fiercely or unexpectedly

• the army fell on the besiegers.

b. seize enthusiastically

• she fell on the sandwiches as though she had not eaten in weeks.

c. (of someone's eyes or gaze) be directed toward

• her gaze fell on the mud-stained coverlet.

d. (of a burden or duty) be borne or incurred by

• the cost of tuition should not fall on the student.

10. fall out

a. (of the hair, teeth, etc.) become detached and drop out.

b. have an argument

• he had fallen out with his family.

c. leave one's place in a military formation, or on parade

• the two policemen at the rear fell out of the formation.

d. happen; turn out

• matters fell out as Stephen arranged.

11. fall through

come to nothing; fail

• the project fell through due to lack of money.

12. fall to

a. (of a task) become the duty or responsibility of

• it fell to me to write to Shephard.

b. (of property) revert to the ownership of.

– origin Old Englishfallan, feallan, of Germanic origin; the noun is partly from the verb, partly from Old Norse fall ‘downfall, sin.’

fallacious /fəˈlāSHəs/

I. adjective

based on a mistaken belief

• fallacious arguments.

II. derivatives

1. fallaciously /fəˈlāSHəslē /

adverb

2. fallaciousness /fəˈlāSHəsnəs /

noun

– origin early 16th cent.: from Old French fallacieux, from Latin fallaciosus, from fallacia (see fallacy).

fallacy /ˈfaləsē/

I. noun

1. a mistaken belief, especially one based on unsound argument

• the notion that the camera never lies is a fallacy.

2. [Logic] a failure in reasoning that renders an argument invalid.

3. faulty reasoning; misleading or unsound argument

• the potential for fallacy which lies behind the notion of self-esteem.

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘deception, guile’; gradually superseding Middle English fallace): from Latin fallacia, from fallax, fallac- ‘deceiving,’ from fallere ‘deceive.’

fallacy of composition

noun

the error of assuming that what is true of a member of a group is true for the group as a whole.

fallaway /ˈfôləˌwā/

noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. made or done while moving or falling away, especially (in basketball) from the basket

• he hit a fallaway jumper with five minutes left in the half.

fallback /ˈfôlˌbak/

noun

1. an alternative plan that may be used in an emergency

• teaching was a last resort, a fallback.

2. a reduction or retreat

• the offering will hit the market after a fallback from record highs.

fallback position

noun

an alternative course of action that may be taken if the original plan fails

• it's important to have a fallback position.

Fall Classic

noun

[Baseball] a nickname for the World Series.

fallen /ˈfôlən/

I. past participle of fall.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. [Theology] subject to sin or depravity

• fallen human nature.

2. ‹dated› (of a woman) regarded as having lost her honor through engaging in a sexual relationship outside marriage

• a fallen woman with a checkered past.

3. (of a soldier) killed in battle

• fallen heroes.

III. derivatives

fallenness

noun

fallen angel

noun

(in Christian, Jewish, and Muslim tradition) an angel who rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven.

faller /ˈfôlər/

noun

(N. Amer.) a person who fells trees for a living.

fallfish /ˈfôlˌfiSH/

noun

a North American freshwater fish resembling the chub. Also called corporal.
[Semotilus corporalis, family Cyprinidae.]

fall guy /ˈfôl ˌɡī/

noun

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) a scapegoat

• he contends that he is innocent, that he was set up as a fall guy.

fallibilism /ˈfaləbəˌlizəm/

I. noun

[Philosophy] the principle that propositions concerning empirical knowledge can be accepted even though they cannot be proved with certainty.

II. derivatives

fallibilist

noun, adjective

fallibility /ˌfaləˈbilədē/

noun

the tendency to make mistakes or be wrong

• technology is not a cure for human fallibility

• studies on the fallibility of memory and perception.

fallible /ˈfaləb(ə)l/

I. adjective

capable of making mistakes or being erroneous

• experts can be fallible.

II. derivatives

fallibly /-blē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin fallibilis, from Latin fallere ‘deceive.’

falling-out /ˈfôliNG ˌout/

noun — [in sing.]

1. a quarrel or disagreement

• the two of them had a falling-out.

falling sickness

noun — (the falling sickness)

1. archaic term for epilepsy.

falling star /ˌfôliNG ˈstär/

noun

a meteor or shooting star.

fall line /ˈfôl ˌlīn/

noun

1. a narrow zone that marks the geological boundary between an upland region and a plain, distinguished by the occurrence of falls and rapids where rivers and streams cross it.

2. (the Fall Line) — (in the US) the zone demarcating the Piedmont from the Atlantic coastal plain.

3. (the fall line) — [Skiing] the route leading straight down any particular part of a slope.

falloff /ˈfôläf/

noun — [in sing.]

1. a decrease in something

• even top schools have seen a falloff in applications.

fallopian tube /fəˈlōpēən ˌto͞ob/

I. noun

(in a female mammal) either of a pair of tubes along which eggs travel from the ovaries to the uterus.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Fallopius, Latinized form of the name of Gabriello Fallopio (1523–62), the Italian anatomist who first described them.

fallout /ˈfôlˌout/

noun

1. radioactive particles that are carried into the atmosphere after a nuclear explosion or accident and gradually fall back as dust or in precipitation.

2. [usu. with modifier] — airborne substances resulting from an industrial process or accident

• acid fallout from power stations.

3. the adverse side effects or results of a situation

• almost as dramatic as the financial scale of the mess is the growing political fallout.

fallout shelter

noun

a building or other structure designed to protect people from radioactive fallout after a nuclear explosion

• once the survivors have emerged from their fallout shelters, their suffering is often only beginning.

fallow^1 /ˈfalō/

I. adjective

1. (of farmland) plowed and harrowed but left unsown for a period in order to restore its fertility as part of a crop rotation or to avoid surplus production

• incentives for farmers to let the land lie fallow in order to reduce grain surpluses.

2. inactive

• long fallow periods when nothing seems to happen.

3. (of a sow) not pregnant.

II. noun

a piece of fallow or uncultivated land.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. leave (land) fallow.

IV. derivatives

fallowness /ˈfalōnəs /

noun

– origin Old English fealgian ‘to break up land for sowing,’ of Germanic origin; related to Low German falgen.

fallow^2 /ˈfalō/

I. noun

a pale brown or reddish yellow color.

– origin Old English falu, fealu.

fallow deer /ˈfalō di(ə)r/

noun

a Eurasian deer with branched palmate antlers, typically having a white-spotted reddish-brown coat in summer.
[Cervus dama, family Cervidae.]

Fall River

an industrial city in southeastern Massachusetts, a longtime textile center that is also associated with the Lizzie Borden legend; pop. 90,931 (est. 2008).

Falmouth /ˈfalməTH/

a commercial town in southeastern Massachusetts, southwest of Cape Cod, home to the Woods Hole ocean science complex; pop. 33,123 (est. 2008).

false /fôls/

I. adjective

1. not according with truth or fact; incorrect

• the test can produce false results

• the allegations were false.

2. not according with rules or law

• false imprisonment.

3. appearing to be the thing denoted; deliberately made or meant to deceive

• check to see if the trunk has a false bottom

• a false passport.

4. artificial

• false eyelashes.

5. feigned

• a horribly false smile.

6. illusory; not actually so

• sunscreens give users a false sense of security.

7. [attrib.] — used in names of plants, animals, and gems that superficially resemble the thing properly so called, e.g., false oat, false killer whale.

8. treacherous; unfaithful

• a false lover.

II. phrases

false position

a situation in which one is compelled to act in a manner inconsistent with one's true nature or principles.

III. derivatives

falseness /ˈfôlsnəs /

noun

– origin Old English fals ‘fraud, deceit,’ from Latin falsum ‘fraud,’ neuter past participle of fallere ‘deceive’; reinforced or re-formed in Middle English from Old French fals, faus ‘false.’

false acacia

noun

a tree of the same family as the true acacias (Leguminosae), but of a different genus (Robinia), in particular the black locust of North America.

false alarm /ˈˌfôls əˈlärm/

noun

1. a false report of a fire to a fire department.

2. a warning given about something that fails to happen.

false bedding

noun

[Geology] another term for cross-bedding.

false beechdrops

noun

see pinesap.

false card ‹Bridge›

I. noun

a card played in order to give one's opponents a misleading impression of one's strength in the suit led.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. play (a false card).

false color

noun

color added during the processing of a photographic or computer image to aid interpretation of the subject.

false consciousness

noun

(especially in Marxist theory) a way of thinking that prevents a person from perceiving the true nature of their social or economic situation.

false coral snake

noun

a harmless snake that mimics the bright coloration of the venomous coral snakes.
[Several genera in the family Colubridae, in particular Simophis and Pliocercus of South America.]

false cypress

noun

a conifer of a genus that includes Lawson cypress (see Port Orford cedar).
[Genus Chamaecyparis, family Cupressaceae.]

false dawn

noun

1. a transient light that precedes the rising of the sun by about an hour.

2. a promising situation that comes to nothing

• the latest signs of an economic recovery could be another false dawn.

false face

noun

a mask, usually wooden, traditionally worn ceremonially by some North American Indian peoples to cure the sick.

false friend /ˌfôls ˈfrend/

I. noun

a word or expression that has a similar form to one in a person's native language, but a different meaning (for example English magazine and French magasin ‘shop’).

– origin translating French faux ami.

false fruit

noun

a fruit formed from other parts of the plant as well as the ovary, especially the receptacle, as occurs in the strawberry or fig.
Also called pseudocarp.

false gharial /ˌfôls ˈɡerēəl/

noun

a rare, narrow-snouted crocodile that resembles the gharial, native to Indonesia and Malaysia.
[Tomistoma schlegelii, family Crocodylidae.]

false-hearted

adjective

deceitful or unfaithful

• shame on you and your devious, false-hearted marketing.

false hellebore /ˌfôls ˈheləˌbôr/

noun

a herbaceous plant of the lily family, with pleated leaves and a tall spike of densely packed yellow-green flowers, found in damp soils in north temperate regions.
Also called Indian poke. [Genus Veratrum, family Liliaceae: several species, in particular V. viride of North America.]

falsehood /ˈfôlsˌho͝od/

noun

1. the state of being untrue

• the truth or falsehood of the many legends that surround her.

2. a lie.

3. lying

• the right to sue for malicious falsehood.

false imprisonment

noun

the state of being imprisoned without legal authority

• he sought damages from the police for wrongful arrest and false imprisonment.

falsely /ˈfôlslē/

adverb

1. not in accordance with truth or fact; incorrectly

• the police falsely accused him of murder

• the deaths were falsely attributed to influenza.

2. not in accordance with rules or law; dishonestly

• he admitted two counts of falsely claiming expenses

• he was offered money to testify falsely against me.

3. in an insincere or artificial manner

• she smiled falsely.

4. in an illusory manner; not actually so

• testing will yield falsely reassuring results.

false memory

noun

[Psychology] an apparent recollection of an event that did not actually occur, especially one of childhood sexual abuse arising from suggestion during psychotherapy
[as modifier]

• false memory syndrome.

false memory syndrome

noun

[Psychology] a condition in which a person has an apparent recollection of an event that did not actually occur, especially one of childhood sexual abuse that arises during psychotherapy or psychoanalysis

• she later retracted her allegations in what came to be seen as a case of false memory syndrome.

false move /fôls mo͞ov/

noun

an unwise or careless action that could have dangerous consequences

• one false move would lead to nuclear war.

false negative

noun

a test result which incorrectly indicates that a particular condition or attribute is absent

• it's possible to have a false negative—the test says you aren't pregnant when you are

• [as modifier] introducing a known quantity of cyanide into the sample may prevent false negative results.

false positive

noun

a test result which incorrectly indicates that a particular condition or attribute is present

• stress testing, a routine diagnostic tool used in detecting heart disease, results in a significant number of false positives in women

• [as modifier] the computer-aided system may return false positive results.

false pregnancy

noun

[Medicine] an abnormal condition in which signs of pregnancy such as amenorrhea, nausea, and abdominal swelling are present in a woman who is not pregnant.

false pretenses

plural noun

behavior intended to deceive others

• he obtained money by false pretenses.

false rib /ˌfôls ˈrib/

noun

another term for floating rib.

false scorpion

noun

another term for pseudoscorpion.

false start /ˌfôls ˈstärt/

noun

1. an invalid or disallowed start to a race, usually due to a competitor beginning before the official signal has been given.

2. an unsuccessful attempt to begin something.

false step /ˌfôls ˈstep/

noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. a slip or stumble

• one false step and we would have fallen in the sea.

2. a careless or unwise act; a mistake.

false sunbird

noun

a small asity of Madagascar that resembles a sunbird.
[Genus Neodrepanis, family Philepittidae: two species.]

false teeth /ˌfôls ˈtēTH/

plural noun

another term for dentures (see denture).

false topaz

noun

another term for citrine.

falsetto /fôlˈsedō/

I. noun

1. [Music] a method of voice production used by male singers, especially tenors, to sing notes higher than their normal range

• he sang in a piercing falsetto

• he was singing falsetto in this role.

2. [Music] a singer using falsetto.

3. [Music] a voice or sound that is unusually or unnaturally high.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Italian, diminutive of falso ‘false,’ from Latin falsus (see false).

false vampire

noun

a large carnivorous bat that preys on rodents, reptiles, and other small vertebrates.
[● an Old World bat (three species in the family Megadermatidae, including the large Australian ghost bat, Macroderma gigas). ● a tropical New World bat (Vampyrum spectrum, family Phyllostomidae).]

false widow false widow spider

noun

a spider resembling the black widow, some species of which are moderately poisonous to humans.
[Genus Steatoda, family Theridiidae: numerous species, in particular S. nobilis, the bite of which can be painful, native to Madeira and the Canary Islands and naturalized in parts of Europe and elsewhere.]

falsework /ˈfôlswərk/

noun

temporary framework structures used to support a building during its construction.

falsies /ˈfôlsēz/

plural noun

‹informal› pads of material in women's clothing used to increase the apparent size of the breasts.

falsification /ˌfôlsəfəˈkāSH(ə)n/

noun

the action of falsifying information or a theory

• an investigation into fraud and the falsification of records.

falsify /ˈfôlsəˌfī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. alter (information or evidence) so as to mislead.

2. forge or alter (a document) fraudulently
(as adj. falsified)

• falsified documents.

3. prove (a statement or theory) to be false

• the hypothesis is falsified by the evidence.

4. fail to fulfill (a hope, fear, or expectation); remove the justification for

• changes falsify individual expectations.

II. derivatives

1. falsifiability /ˌfôlsəˌfīəˈbilətē /

noun

2. falsifiable /ˌfôlsəˈfīəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (sense 2): from French falsifier, from medieval Latin falsificare, from Latin falsificus ‘making false,’ from falsus ‘false.’

falsity /ˈfôlsədē/

noun

the fact of being untrue, incorrect, or insincere

• he exposed the falsity of the claim.

Falstaffian /fôlˈstafēən/

adjective

of or resembling Shakespeare's character Sir John Falstaff in being fat, jolly, and debauched

• a Falstaffian gusto for life.

falter /ˈfôltər/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. start to lose strength or momentum

• her smile faltered and then faded

• (as adj. faltering) his faltering career.

2. speak in a hesitant or unsteady voice
[with direct speech]

• “I c-c-can't,” he faltered.

3. move unsteadily or in a way that shows lack of confidence

• he faltered and finally stopped in midstride.

II. derivatives

1. falterer

noun

2. falteringly /ˈfôlt(ə)riNGlē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English (in the senses ‘stammer’ and ‘stagger’).

Falun Gong /ˈfälo͞on ˈɡo͝oNG, ˈɡäNG / Falun Dafa

I. noun

1. a spiritual exercise and meditation regime with similarities to t'ai chi ch'uan, practiced predominantly in China.

2. a Taoist-Buddhist sect practicing Falun Gong.

– origin 1990s: Chinese, literally ‘wheel of law,’ from fǎ ‘law’ + lún ‘wheel’ (+ gōng ‘skill’ or dà fǎ ‘great method’).

Falwell, Jerry /ˈfôlˌwel/

(1933–2007), US Baptist clergyman; full name Jerry Lamon Falwell. He was president of the Moral Majority 1979–87, a conservative political action group he cofounded in 1979.

FAM

abbreviation

the Family Channel.

fam.

abbreviation

1. familiar.

2. family.

fame /fām/

I. noun

the condition of being known or talked about by many people, especially on account of notable achievements

• winning the Olympic title has brought her fame and fortune.

II. phrases

1. fifteen minutes of fame

see fifteen.

2. of —— fame

having a particular famous association; famous for having or being ——

• the Cariboo country of gold rush fame.

– origin Middle English (also in the sense ‘reputation,’ which survives in the phrase house of ill fame): via Old French from Latin fama.

famed /fāmd/

I. adjective

1. known about by many people; renowned

• he is famed for his eccentricities.

2. ‹archaic› widely reported or rumored.

– origin Middle English: past participle of archaic fame (verb), from Old French famer, from Latin fama.

familia /fəˈmilyə/

I. noun

‹historical› a household or religious community under one head, regarded as a unit.

– origin early 18th cent.: Latin, literally ‘family, household.’

familial /fəˈmilyəl/

I. adjective

of, relating to, or occurring in a family or its members

• the familial Christmas dinner.

– origin early 20th cent.: from French, from Latin familia ‘family.’

familiar /fəˈmilyər/

I. adjective

1. well known from long or close association

• their faces will be familiar to many of you

• a familiar voice.

2. often encountered or experienced; common

• the situation was all too familiar.

3. [predic.] (familiar with) — having a good knowledge of

• ensure that you are familiar with the heating controls.

4. in close friendship; intimate

• she had not realized they were on such familiar terms.

5. informal to an inappropriate degree.

II. noun

1. (also familiar spirit) — a demon supposedly attending and obeying a witch, often said to assume the form of an animal.

2. (in the Roman Catholic Church) a person rendering certain services in a pope's or bishop's household.

3. a close friend or associate.

III. derivatives

familiarly /fəˈmilyərlē /

adverb

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘intimate,’ ‘on a family footing’): from Old French familier, from Latin familiaris, from familia ‘household servants, household, family,’ from famulus ‘servant.’

familiarity /fəˌmilyˈerədē/

I. noun

1. close acquaintance with or knowledge of something

• increase customer familiarity with a product.

2. the quality of being well known; recognizability based on long or close association

• the reassuring familiarity of his parents' home.

3. relaxed friendliness or intimacy between people

• familiarity allows us to give each other nicknames.

4. inappropriate and often offensive informality of behavior or language

• the unnecessary familiarity made me dislike him at once.

II. phrases

familiarity breeds contempt

‹proverb› extensive knowledge of or close association with someone or something leads to a loss of respect for them or it.

– origin Middle English (in the senses ‘close relationship’ and ‘sexual intimacy’): via Old French from Latin familiaritas, from familiaris ‘familiar, intimate’ (see familiar).

familiarize /fəˈmilyəˌrīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. give (someone) knowledge or understanding of something

• to familiarize pupils with the microscope and its uses.

2. make (something) better known or more easily grasped

• exercises which will help to familiarize the terms used.

II. derivatives

familiarization /fəˌmilyərəˈzāSH(ə)n fəˌmilyəˌrīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

familist /ˈfaməlist/

I. adjective

of, relating to, or advocating a social framework centered on family relationships rather than on the needs of the individual.

II. derivatives

1. familism /-izəm /

noun

2. familistic /ˌfaməˈlistik /

adjective

Familist /ˈfaməlist/

noun

a member of the Christian sect of the 16th and 17th centuries called the Family of Love, which asserted the importance of love and the necessity for absolute obedience to any government.

famille /ˌfäˈmē(ə)/

I. noun

Chinese enameled porcelain of particular periods in the 17th and 18th centuries with a predominant color, famille jaune (yellow), famille noire (black), famille rose (red), famille verte (green).

– origin late 19th cent.: French, literally ‘family.’

family /ˈfam(ə)lē/

I. noun

1. [treated as sing. or pl.] — a group consisting of parents and children living together in a household.

2. a group of people related to one another by blood or marriage

• friends and family can provide support.

3. the children of a person or couple

• she has the sole responsibility for a large family.

4. a person or people related to one and so to be treated with a special loyalty or intimacy

• I could not turn him away, for he was family.

5. a group of people united in criminal activity.

6. [Biology] a principal taxonomic category that ranks above genus and below order, usually ending in -idae (in zoology) or -aceae (in botany).

7. a group of objects united by a significant shared characteristic.

8. [Mathematics] a group of curves or surfaces obtained by varying the value of a constant in the equation generating them.

9. all the descendants of a common ancestor

• the house has been owned by the same family for 300 years.

10. a race or group of peoples from a common stock.

11. all the languages ultimately derived from a particular early language, regarded as a group

• the Austronesian language family.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. designed to be suitable for children as well as adults

• a family newspaper.

III. phrases

in the family way

‹informal› pregnant.

– origin late Middle English (sense 2 of the noun): from Latin familia ‘household servants, household, family,’ from famulus ‘servant.’

family Bible

noun

a Bible designed to be used at family prayers, typically one with space on its flyleaves for recording important family events.

family court

noun

[Law] a court of law that handles cases involving domestic issues such as divorce, child custody, etc.

family doctor family practitioner

noun

a medical doctor who is trained to provide primary health care to patients of either sex and any age.

family hour

noun

a period in the evening during which many children and their families watch television, especially 8 to 9 p.m.

• the rise in the amount of sex and profanity, as well as violence, in the family hour does American families a disservice.

family jewels

I. plural noun

1. valuable items of jewelry belonging to a particular family and handed down from one generation to the next

• the Astor family jewels.

2. ‹humorous› a man's genitals.

II. phrases

sell (or sell off) the family jewels

part with or sell valuable or precious resources for the sake of immediate profit or advantage

• he has no intention of selling the family jewels by licensing out his technology too early.

family leave

noun

an excused absence from work for the purpose of dealing with family matters, especially the birth or adoption of a child or to care for a sick parent or spouse.

family man /ˈfam(ə)lē ˈˌman/

noun

a man who lives with his wife and children, especially one who enjoys home life.

family medicine

noun

the branch of medicine designed to provide basic health care to all the members of a family.

family name /ˈfam(ə)lē nām/

noun

1. a surname.

2. a family's good reputation

• he won't disgrace the family name.

family-owned /ˈfam(ə)lēˌōnd/

adjective

(of a business) owned or run by members of a single family

• many family-owned businesses are small

• there's nothing pretentious about this family-owned bakery.

family planning /ˈfam(ə)lē ˈˌplaniNG/

noun — [often as modifier]

1. the practice of controlling the number of children in a family and the intervals between their births, particularly by means of artificial contraception or voluntary sterilization

• family-planning clinics.

2. artificial contraception.

family planning clinic

noun

a clinic that provides advice and treatment relating to contraception and sexual health

• condoms are available free from family planning clinics.

family practice

noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) the work of a doctor who provides primary health care to members of the local community

• applicants must have experience in occupational medicine or family practice.

• [as modifier] a family practice doctor.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) the business or premises of a doctor providing primary health care to members of the local community

• he noticed an increase in patients in this age group at his family practice in Miami.

family room

noun

(N. Amer.) a living room used by all family members for recreation and relaxation.

family-sized /ˈfam(ə)lēˌsīzd / family-size

adjective

large enough to suit or satisfy a whole family

• there is plenty of space for a family-sized dining table

• a family-sized bucket of boneless chicken.

family style

I. adjective

1. designating a style of preparation or serving of food in which diners help themselves from plates of food that have been put on the table

• a family-style Italian restaurant.

2. suitable for an entire family, including children

• family-style entertainment.

II. adverb

with plates of food from which individual diners can serve themselves

• spaghetti served in a huge bowl, family style.

family tree /ˈfam(ə)lē ˈˌtrē/

noun

a diagram showing the relationships between people in several generations of a family; a genealogical tree.

family values

plural noun

values held to be traditionally learned or reinforced within a family, such as those of high moral standards and discipline.

famine /ˈfamən/

I. noun

1. extreme scarcity of food

• drought could result in famine throughout the region

• the famine of 1921–22.

2. a shortage

• the cotton famine of the 1860s.

3. ‹archaic› hunger.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, from faim ‘hunger,’ from Latin fames.

famished /ˈfamiSHt/

I. adjective

‹informal› extremely hungry.

– origin late Middle English: past participle of the verb famish, from Middle English fame ‘starve,’ from Old French afamer, based on Latin fames ‘hunger.’

famous /ˈfāməs/

I. adjective

known about by many people

• the country is famous for its natural beauty

• a famous star.

II. phrases

1. famous for being famous

having no recognizable or distinct reason for one's fame other than high media exposure.

2. famous last words

said as an ironic comment on or reply to an overconfident assertion that may well be proved wrong by events

• “I'll be perfectly OK on my own.” “Famous last words,” she thought to herself.

III. derivatives

famousness /ˈfāməsnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French fameus, from Latin famosus ‘famed,’ from fama (see fame).

famously /ˈfāməslē/

adverb

1. ‹informal› excellently

• he wasn't difficult at all—we got on famously.

2. indicating that the fact asserted is widely known

• they have famously reclusive lifestyles.

famulus /ˈfamyələs/

I. noun

‹historical› an assistant or servant, especially one working for a magician or scholar.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin, ‘servant.’

fan^1 /fan/

I. noun

1. an apparatus with rotating blades that creates a current of air for cooling or ventilation.

2. a device, typically folding and shaped like a segment of a circle when spread out, that is held in the hand and waved so as to cool the person holding it by causing the air to move.

3. a thing or shape resembling an open handheld fan.

4. an alluvial or talus deposit spread out in an open fan shape at the foot of a slope.

5. a small sail for keeping the head of a windmill toward the wind.

6. a device for winnowing grain.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — cool (especially a person or a part of the body) by waving something to create a current of air

• he fanned himself with his hat.

2. (of breath or a breeze) blow gently on

• his breath fanned her skin as he leaned toward her.

3. [with obj.] — brush or drive away with a waving movement

• a veil of smoke which she fanned away with a jeweled hand.

4. [no obj.] — [Baseball] [Ice Hockey] swing at and miss the ball or puck.

5. [no obj.] — [Baseball] (of a batter) strike out.

6. [Baseball] (of a pitcher) strike out (a batter).

7. [with obj.] — increase the strength of (a fire) by blowing on it or stirring up the air near it

• gusty wind fanned fires in Yellowstone Park.

8. cause (a belief or emotion) to become stronger or more widespread

• long-range weather forecasts fanned fears of drought damage.

9. [no obj.] — disperse or radiate from a central point to cover a wide area

• the arriving passengers began to fan out through the town in search of lodgings.

10. spread out or cause to spread out into a semicircular shape
[no obj.]

• a dress made of tiny pleats that fanned out as she walked

• [with obj.] a wind fanned her hair out behind her.

III. derivatives

1. fanlike /-ˌlīk /

adjective

2. fanner /ˈfanər /

noun

– origin Old English fann (as a noun denoting a device for winnowing grain), fannian (verb), from Latin vannus ‘winnowing fan.’ Compare with vane.

fan^2 /fan/

I. noun

a person who has a strong interest in or admiration for a particular person or thing

• football fans

• I'm a fan of this author.

– origin late 19th cent. (originally US): abbreviation of fanatic.

fanatic /fəˈnadik/

I. noun

1. a person filled with excessive and single-minded zeal, especially for an extreme religious or political cause.

2. [often with modifier] — ‹informal› a person with an obsessive interest in and enthusiasm for something, especially an activity

• a fitness fanatic.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. filled with or expressing excessive zeal

• his fanatic energy.

III. derivatives

fanaticize /fəˈnadəˌsīz /

verb

– origin mid 16th cent. (as an adjective): from French fanatique or Latin fanaticus ‘of a temple, inspired by a god,’ from fanum ‘temple.’ The adjective originally described behavior or speech that might result from possession by a god or demon, hence the earliest sense of the noun ‘a religious maniac’ (mid 17th cent).

fanatical /fəˈnadək(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. filled with excessive and single-minded zeal

• fanatical revolutionaries.

2. obsessively concerned with something

• he was fanatical about security at night.

II. derivatives

fanatically /fəˈnadək(ə)lē /

adverb

fanaticism /fəˈnadəˌsizəm/

noun

the quality of being fanatical

• the dangers of religious fanaticism.

fan base

noun

the fans of a sports team, pop music group, etc., considered as a distinct social grouping.

fan belt /ˈfan ˌbelt/

noun

(in a motor-vehicle engine) a belt that transmits motion from the driveshaft to the radiator fan and the generator or alternator.

fanboy /ˈfanboi / ‹informal›

I. noun

a male fan, especially one who is obsessive about comics, music, movies, or science fiction.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a male fan) behave in an obsessive or overexcited way

• he fanboyed out meeting his idol on the red carpet.

fancier /ˈfansēər/

noun — [with modifier]

1. a connoisseur or enthusiast of something, especially someone who has a special interest in or breeds a particular animal

• a pigeon fancier.

fanciful /ˈfansəfəl/

I. adjective

1. (of a person or their thoughts and ideas) overimaginative and unrealistic

• a fanciful story about a pot of gold.

2. existing only in the imagination or fancy

• the Moon Maiden is one of a number of fanciful lunar inhabitants.

3. designed to be exotically ornamental rather than practical

• fanciful bonnets.

II. derivatives

1. fancifully /ˈfansif(ə)lē /

adverb

2. fancifulness /ˈfansifəlnəs /

noun

fan club /ˈfan ˌkləb/

noun

an organized group of fans of a famous person.

fancy /ˈfansē/

I. adjective

1. elaborate in structure or decoration

• the furniture was very fancy

• a fancy computerized system.

2. designed to impress

• converted fishing boats with fancy new names.

3. (chiefly N. Amer.) (especially of foodstuffs) of high quality

• fancy molasses.

4. (of flowers) of two or more colors.

5. (of an animal) bred to develop particular points of appearance

• fancy goldfish.

6. ‹archaic› (of a drawing, painting, or sculpture) created from the imagination rather than from life.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. feel a desire or liking for

• do you fancy a drink?

2. find sexually attractive

• he saw a woman he fancied.

3. (fancy oneself) — ‹informal› have an unduly high opinion of oneself, or of one's ability in a particular area

• he fancied himself an amateur psychologist.

4. [with clause] — imagine; think

• he fancied he could smell the perfume of roses.

5. [in imperative] — used to express one's surprise at something

• fancy meeting all those television actors!

III. noun

1. a feeling of liking or attraction, typically one that is superficial or transient

• this does not mean that the law should change with every passing fancy.

2. the faculty of imagination

• my research assistant is prone to flights of fancy.

3. a thing that one supposes or imagines, typically an unfounded or tentative belief or idea; notion or whim

• scientific fads and fancies.

4. (in sixteenth and seventeenth cent. music) a composition for keyboard or strings in free or variation form.

IV. phrases

1. as (or when or where) the fancy takes one

according to one's inclination

• I shall go where the fancy takes me.

2. take (or catch) someone's fancy

appeal to someone

• she'll grab any toy that takes her fancy.

3. take a fancy to

become fond of, especially without an obvious reason.

V. derivatives

1. fancily /ˈfansəlē /

adverb

2. fanciness

noun

– origin late Middle English: contraction of fantasy.

fancy dress /ˈˌfansē ˈdres/

noun

an unusual or amusing costume worn to make someone look like a famous person, fictional character, or an animal, especially as part of a theme at a party.

fancy footwork

noun

‹informal› skillful movement of one's feet, especially in dancing or sport

• they performed foxtrots with fancy footwork and great panache.

fancy-free /ˈˌfansē ˈfrē/

adjective

free from emotional involvement or commitment to anyone

• her recent divorce meant that she was footloose and fancy-free.

fancy goods /ˈfansē ɡo͝odz/

plural noun

‹dated› items for sale that are purely or chiefly ornamental.

fancy man /ˈfansē ˈˌman/

noun

1. ‹dated› a woman's lover.

2. ‹dated› ‹archaic› a pimp.

fancy-pants

adjective

‹informal› superior or high-class in a pretentious way

• a fancy-pants restaurant.

fancy woman /ˈfansē ˈˌwo͝omən/

noun

‹dated› a married man's mistress.

fancywork /ˈfansēˌwərk/

noun

ornamental needlework, crochet, or knitting, as opposed to plain or purely functional stitches.

fan dance

noun

a dance in which the female performer is apparently nude and remains partly concealed throughout by large fans.

fandango /fanˈdaNGɡō/

I. noun

1. a lively Spanish dance for two people, typically accompanied by castanets or tambourine.

2. a foolish or useless act or thing

• the Washington inaugural fandango.

– origin mid 18th cent.: Spanish, of unknown origin.

fandom /ˈfandəm/

I. noun

1. the state or condition of being a fan of someone or something

• my 17 years of sports fandom

• an extensive questionnaire determined levels of Harry Potter fandom on a scale of one to five.

2. the fans of a particular person, team, fictional series, etc., regarded collectively as a community or subculture

• the Breaking Bad fandom

• of course, every fandom has its extreme members.

– origin late 19th cent.: from fan^2 + -dom.

fane /fān/

I. noun

‹archaic› a temple or shrine.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin fanum.

Faneuil, Peter /ˈfanyəl, ˈfanl/

(1700–43), US merchant. He donated the building known as Faneuil Hall to the city of Boston in 1742.

fanfare /ˈfanfer/

I. noun

1. a short ceremonial tune or flourish played on brass instruments, typically to introduce something or someone important.

2. media attention or elaborate ceremony

• he turned 25 on Saturday with little fanfare.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French, ultimately of imitative origin.

fanfaronade /ˌfanˌferəˈnād/

I. noun

arrogant or boastful talk.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French fanfaronnade, from fanfaron ‘braggart,’ from fanfare (see fanfare).

fanfic /ˈfanfik/

I. noun

short for fan fiction.

– origin 1970sː abbreviation.

fan fiction //

noun

fiction written by a fan of, and featuring characters from, a particular TV series, movie, etc.

fang /faNG/

I. noun

1. a large, sharp tooth, especially a canine tooth of a dog or wolf.

2. the tooth of a venomous snake, by which poison is injected.

3. the biting mouthpart of a spider.

II. derivatives

1. fanged /faNGd /

adjective

2. fangless

adjective

– origin late Old English (denoting booty or spoils), from Old Norse fang ‘capture, grasp’; compare with vang. A sense ‘trap, snare’ is recorded from the mid 16th cent.; both this and the original sense survive in Scots. The current sense (also mid 16th cent.) reflects the same notion of ‘something that catches and holds.’

Fang /faNG, fäNG / Fan

I. noun

1. a member of a people inhabiting parts of Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon.

2. the Bantu language of the Fang.

II. adjective

relating to the Fang or their language.

– origin French, probably from Fang Pangwe.

fangirl /ˈfanɡərl / ‹informal›

I. noun

a female fan, especially one who is obsessive about comics, movies, music, or science fiction.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a female fan) behave in an obsessive or overexcited way

• I'm still fangirling over this casting.

fango /ˈfaNGō/

I. noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. mud from thermal springs in Italy, used in curative treatment at spas and health clubs

• fango therapies.

– origin early 20th cent.: Italian, literally ‘mud.’

fan-in /ˈfanˌin/

noun

[Electronics] the number of inputs that can be connected to a circuit.

fanjet /ˈfanjet/

noun

another term for turbofan.

fanlight /ˈfanˌlīt/

noun

a small semicircular or rectangular window over a door or another window.

fan mail /ˈfan ˌmāl/

noun

letters from fans to a famous person they admire.

Fannie Mae /ˈfanē ˈmā/

I. informal name for the Federal National Mortgage Association, a corporation that trades in mortgages.

– origin 1940s: elaboration of the acronym FNMA, suggested by the given names Fanny and Mae. Compare with Freddie Mac.

fanny /ˈfanē/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a person's buttocks.

2. (Brit.) ‹vulgar slang› a woman's genitals.

– origin late 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

fanny pack /ˈfanē ˌpak/

noun

(N. Amer.) a small pouch on a belt, for money and small articles, worn around the waist or hips.

fan-out /ˈfanˌout/

noun

[Electronics] the number of inputs that can be connected to a specified output.

fan palm

noun

a palm with large, lobed, fan-shaped leaves.
[Chamaerops and other genera, family Palmae: many species, including the dwarf fan palm (C. humilis), which is the only palm native to Europe.]

fantabulous /fanˈtabyələs/

I. adjective

‹informal› excellent; wonderful

• a fantabulous prize.

– origin 1950s: blend of fantastic and fabulous.

fantail /ˈfantāl/

I. noun

1. a fan-shaped tail or end.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) the rounded overhanging part of the stern of a vessel, especially a warship.

3. (also fantail pigeon) — a domestic pigeon of a broad-tailed variety.

4. the fan of a windmill.

II. derivatives

fan-tailed

adjective

fan-tan /ˈfanˌtan/

I. noun

1. a Chinese gambling game in which players try to guess the remainder after the banker has divided a number of hidden objects into four groups.

2. a card game in which players build on sequences of sevens.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Chinese fān tān, literally ‘repeated divisions.’

fantasia /fanˈtāzēə/

I. noun

1. a musical composition with a free form and often an improvisatory style.

2. a musical composition that is based on several familiar tunes.

3. a thing that is composed of a mixture of different forms or styles

• the theater is a kind of Moorish and Egyptian fantasia.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Italian, ‘fantasy,’ from Latin phantasia (see fantasy).

fantasist /ˈfan(t)əsəst/

noun

a person who imagines or dreams about something desired

• a serial liar and fantasist who had boasted of many affairs

• a fantasist with delusions of grandeur.

fantasize /ˈfan(t)əˌsīz/

verb — [no obj.]

1. indulge in daydreaming about something desired

• he sometimes fantasized about emigrating.

2. [with obj.] — imagine (something that one wants to happen)

• they sometimes fantasize the destruction of the world.

fantasizer /ˈfan(t)əˌsīzər/

noun

a person who indulges in daydreaming or fantasizing

• some fantasizers superimpose their daydreams on to their daily tasks.

fantast /ˈfantast / phantast

I. noun

‹archaic› (N. Amer.) an impractical, impulsive person; a dreamer.

– origin late 16th cent.: originally via medieval Latin from Greek phantastēs ‘boaster,’ from phantazein or phantazesthai (see fantastic); in modern use from German Phantast.

fantastic /fanˈtastik/

I. adjective

1. ‹informal› extraordinarily good or attractive

• they did a fantastic job

• your support has been fantastic.

2. of an extraordinary size or degree

• she had spent a fantastic amount of cash.

3. imaginative or fanciful; remote from reality

• novels are capable of mixing fantastic and realistic elements

• fantastic hybrid creatures.

4. (of an object) seeming more appropriate to the imagination than to reality; strange or exotic

• visions of a fantastic, mazelike building.

II. derivatives

1. fantastical /fanˈtastəkəl /

adjective

(fantastic (sense 2))

2. fantasticality /ˌfanˌtastəˈkalitē /

noun

(fantastic (sense 2))

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘existing only in the imagination, unreal’): from Old French fantastique, via medieval Latin from Greek phantastikos, from phantazein ‘make visible,’ phantazesthai ‘have visions, imagine,’ from phantos ‘visible.’ From the 16th to the 19th centuries the Latinized spelling phantastic was also used.

fantastically /fanˈtastəklē/

adverb

1. ‹informal› extraordinarily well

• every single player performed fantastically.

2. to an extraordinary degree

• his power was increasing fantastically

• [as submodifier] a fantastically expensive gift.

3. in a strange or exotic way

• the whole show was fantastically twisted.

fantasticate /fanˈtastəˌkāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹rare› make (something) seem fanciful or fantastic

• I do not think I have fantasticated these accounts.

II. derivatives

fantastication /ˌfanˌtastiˈkāSHən /

noun

fantasy /ˈfan(t)əsē/

I. noun

1. the faculty or activity of imagining things, especially things that are impossible or improbable

• his research had moved into the realm of fantasy.

2. the product of imagining impossible or improbable things

• the scene is clearly fantasy.

3. a fanciful mental image, typically one on which a person dwells at length or repeatedly and which reflects their conscious or unconscious wishes

• the notion of being independent is a child's ultimate fantasy.

4. an idea with no basis in reality

• it is a misleading fantasy to suggest that the bill can be implemented.

5. a genre of imaginative fiction involving magic and adventure, especially in a setting other than the real world.

6. [as modifier] — denoting a competition or league in which participants select imaginary teams from among the players in a real sports league and score points according to the actual performance of their players

• he's my second-round draft choice in fantasy baseball this year

• look at their dedication to fantasy leagues and the enormous minutiae of the stats they memorize.

7. a musical composition, free in form, typically involving variation on an existing work or the imaginative representation of a situation or story; a fantasia.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› imagine the occurrence of; fantasize about.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French fantasie, from Latin phantasia, from Greek, ‘imagination, appearance,’ later ‘phantom,’ from phantazein ‘make visible.’ From the 16th to the 19th centuries the Latinized spelling phantasy was also used.

fantasy football /ˈfan(t)əsē ˈfo͝otˌbôl/

noun

a competition in which participants select imaginary teams from among the players in a league and score points according to the actual performance of their players.

fantasyland /ˈfan(t)əsēˌland/

noun

a place that is unreal or imaginary or that excites wonder

• living in a fantasyland of endless prosperity and happiness

• I live in the real world , not fantasyland

• [as modifier] the restaurant is famous for its fantasyland decor of twinkling lights and glitzy mirrors.

Fante /ˈfäntē, ˈfantē / Fanti

I. noun

1. a member of a people of southern Ghana.

2. the dialect of Akan spoken by the Fante.

II. adjective

relating to the Fante or their language.

– origin the name in Akan.

fantod /ˈfantäd/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a state or attack of uneasiness or unreasonableness

• the mumbo-jumbo gave me the fantods.

– origin mid 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

fan vault

I. noun

[Architecture] a type of vault consisting of a set of concave ribs spreading out from a central point like the ribs of an opened umbrella, used especially in the English Perpendicular style.

II. derivatives

fan vaulting

noun

fan worm

noun

a tube-dwelling marine bristle worm that bears a fanlike crown of filaments that are typically brightly colored and project from the top of the tube, filtering the water for food particles.
[Families Sabellidae and Serpulidae, class Polychaeta: numerous species.]

fanzine /ˈfanˌzēn/

I. noun

a magazine, usually produced by amateurs, for fans of a particular performer, group, or form of entertainment.

– origin 1940s (originally US): blend of fan^2 and magazine.

FAO

abbreviation

1. Food and Agriculture Organization.

2. for the attention of.

fap /fap/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹vulgar slang› (of a man) masturbate.

II. derivatives

fapper

noun

– origin 1990s: imitative.

FAQ /ˌef ˌā ˈkyo͞o/

I. noun

[Computing] a list of questions and answers relating to a particular subject, especially one giving basic information for users of a website.

– origin 1990s: acronym from frequently asked questions.

far /fär/

I. adverb

1. [often with adverbial] — at, to, or by a great distance (used to indicate the extent to which one thing is distant from another)

• it was not too far away

• the mountains far in the distance glowed in the sun.

2. over a large expanse of space or time

• he had not traveled far

• ‹figurative› that's the reason why we have come so far and done as well as we have.

3. by a great deal

• he is able to function far better than usual

• the reality has fallen far short of early expectations.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. situated at a great distance in space or time

• the far reaches of the universe.

2. more distant than another object of the same kind

• he was standing in the far corner.

3. distant from a point seen as central; extreme

• she was brought up in the far north of Scotland

• the largest electoral success for the far right since the war.

III. phrases

1. as far as

a. for as great a distance as

• the river stretched away as far as he could see.

b. for a great enough distance to reach

• I decided to walk as far as the village.

c. to the extent that

• as far as I am concerned, it is no big deal.

2. be a far cry from

be very different from

• the hotel's royal suite is a far cry from the poverty of his home country.

3. by far

by a great amount

• this was by far the largest city in the area.

4. far and away

by a great amount

• he is far and away the most accomplished player.

5. far and near

(also near and far) — everywhere

• they came from far and near to New York City.

6. far and wide

over a large area

• the high plains where bison roamed far and wide.

7. far be it from me to

used to express reluctance, especially to do something that one thinks may be resented

• far be it from me to speculate on his reasons.

8. far from

very different from being; tending to the opposite of

• conditions were far from satisfactory.

9. far gone

a. in a bad or worsening state, especially so as to be beyond recovery

• a few frames from the original film were too far gone to salvage.

b. advanced in time

• the legislative session is too far gone for the lengthy hearings needed to pass the bill.

10. go far

a. achieve a great deal

• he was the bright one, and everyone was sure he would go far.

b. contribute greatly

• a book that goes far toward bridging the gap.

c. be worth or amount to much

• the money would not go far at this year's prices.

11. go so far as to do something

do something regarded as extreme

• surely they wouldn't go so far as to break in?

12. go too far

exceed the limits of what is reasonable or acceptable.

13. how far

a. used to ask how great a distance is

• they wanted to know how far he could travel.

b. to what extent

• he was not sure how far she was committed.

14. so far

a. to a certain limited extent

• the commitment to free trade goes only so far.

b. (of a trend that seems likely to continue) up to this time

• we've only had one honest man so far.

15. (in) so far as

to the extent that

• it was a windless storm so far as blizzards go.

16. so far, so good

progress has been satisfactory up to now

• “How's the job going?” “So far, so good.”

– origin Old English feorr; from an Indo-European root shared by Sanskrit para and Greek pera ‘further.’

Far.

abbreviation

faraday.

farad /ˈferad / F

I. noun

the SI unit of electrical capacitance, equal to the capacitance of a capacitor in which one coulomb of charge causes a potential difference of one volt.

– origin mid 19th cent.: shortening of faraday. The term was originally proposed as a unit of electrical charge.

faradaic /ˌferəˈdāik/

I. adjective

another term for faradic.

– origin late 19th cent.: from the name of M. Faraday (seeFaraday, Michael) + -ic.

faraday /ˈferəˌdā / F

I. noun

[Chemistry] a unit of electric charge equal to Faraday's constant.

– origin early 20th cent.: coined in German from the name of Faraday, Michael.

Faraday, Michael /ˈfarəˌdā/

(1791–1867), English physicist and chemist. He contributed significantly to the study of electromagnetism and discovered the laws of electrolysis.

Faraday cage

noun

[Physics] a grounded metal screen surrounding a piece of equipment to exclude electrostatic and electromagnetic influences.

Faraday effect

noun

[Physics] the rotation of the plane of polarization of electromagnetic waves in certain substances in a magnetic field.

Faraday's constant ‹Chemistry›

the quantity of electric charge carried by one mole of electrons (equal to 96.49 coulombs).
Compare with faraday.

Faraday's law

I. [Physics] a law stating that when the magnetic flux linking a circuit changes, an electromotive force is induced in the circuit proportional to the rate of change of the flux linkage.

II. [Chemistry] a law stating that the amount of any substance deposited or liberated during electrolysis is proportional to the quantity of electric charge passed and to the equivalent weight of the substance.

faradic /fəˈradik / faradaic

adjective

produced by or associated with electrical induction.

Farallon Islands /ˌferəˈlän ˌīləndz/

a small, uninhabited island group in the Pacific Ocean, west of San Francisco in California.

farandole /ˌfarənˈdōl, ˈfarənˌdōl/

I. noun

‹historical› a lively Provençal dance in which the dancers join hands and wind in and out in a chain.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, from modern Provençal farandoulo.

faraway /ˈfärəˌwā/

adjective

1. distant in space or time

• exotic and faraway locations.

2. seeming remote from the immediate surroundings; dreamy

• she had a strange faraway look in her eyes.

farce /färs/

I. noun

1. a comic dramatic work using buffoonery and horseplay and typically including crude characterization and ludicrously improbable situations.

2. the genre of farce.

3. an absurd event

• the debate turned into a drunken farce.

– origin early 16th cent.: from French, literally ‘stuffing,’ from farcir ‘to stuff,’ from Latin farcire. An earlier sense of ‘forcemeat stuffing’ became used metaphorically for comic interludes “stuffed” into the texts of religious plays, whence current usage.

farceur /färˈsər/

I. noun

1. a writer of or performer in farces.

2. a joker or comedian.

– origin late 17th cent.: French, from obsolete farcer ‘act in farces.’

farcical /ˈfärsək(ə)l/

I. adjective

of or resembling a farce, especially because of absurd or ridiculous aspects

• a farcical tangle of events.

II. derivatives

1. farcicality /ˌfärsəˈkalədē /

noun

2. farcically /ˈfärsək(ə)lē /

adverb

farcy /ˈfärsē/

I. noun

glanders in horses (or a similar disease in cattle) in which there is inflammation of the lymph vessels, causing nodules (farcy buds or farcy buttons).

– origin late Middle English: from Old French farcin, from late Latin farciminum, from farcire ‘to stuff’ (because of the appearance of the swollen nodules).

fardel /ˈfärdl/

I. noun

‹archaic› a bundle

• a fardel of stories, personages, emotions.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, diminutive of fard, from Arabic farda ‘piece, pack.’

fare /fer/

I. noun

1. the money a passenger on public transportation has to pay.

2. a passenger paying to travel in a vehicle, especially a taxicab.

3. a range of food, especially of a particular type

• delicious Provençal fare.

4. performance or entertainment of a particular style

• conventional Hollywood fare.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. [with adverbial] — perform in a specified way in a particular situation or over a particular period of time

• the party fared badly in the spring elections.

2. ‹archaic› happen; turn out

• beware that it fare not with you as with your predecessor.

3. ‹archaic› travel

• a young knight fares forth.

– origin Old Englishfær, faru ‘traveling, a journey or expedition,’ faran ‘to travel,’ also ‘get on (well or badly),’ of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse ferja ‘ferryboat,’ also to ford. Sense 1 of the noun stems from an earlier meaning ‘a journey for which a price is paid’ sense 2 of the noun was originally used with reference to the quality or quantity of food provided, probably from the idea of faring well or badly.

Far East /ˈˌfär ˈēst/

China, Japan, and other countries in eastern Asia.

Far Eastern

adjective

relating to or characteristic of the Far East or its inhabitants

• Far Eastern languages and cultures.

fare-thee-well /ˈferT͟Hēwel / fare-you-well

noun — (in phrase to a fare-thee-well)

1. (US) to perfection; thoroughly

• the inn is touristy to a fare-thee-well.

farewell /ˌferˈwel/

I. exclamation

used to express good wishes on parting

• farewell, Albert!

II. noun

1. an act of parting or of marking someone's departure

• the dinner had been arranged as a farewell.

2. parting good wishes

• he had come on the pretext of bidding her farewell

• I bade him a fond farewell.

– origin late Middle English: from the imperative of fare + the adverb well^1.

farfalle /färˈfälā, -ˈfalē/

I. noun

small pieces of pasta shaped like bows or butterflies' wings.

– origin Italian, plural of farfalla ‘butterfly.’

farfel /ˈfärfəl/

I. noun

ground noodle dough that when cooked in boiling water forms small pellets, or the pellets so formed, which are used in soups.

– origin Yiddish farfl.

far-fetched /ˌfärˈfeCHt/

adjective

unlikely and unconvincing; implausible.

far-flung /ˈfär ˈfləNG/

adjective

1. distant or remote

• the far-flung corners of the world.

2. widely distributed

• newsletters provided an important link to a far-flung membership.

Fargo /ˈfärɡō/

the largest city in North Dakota, in the southeastern part of the state, across the Red River of the North from Moorhead in Minnesota; pop. 95,531 (est. 2008).

Fargo, William

see Wells, Fargo & Co.

Faridabad /fəˈrēdəˌbäd, -ˌbad/

an industrial city in northern India, south of Delhi, in the state of Haryana; pop. 1,464,100 (est. 2009).

farina /fəˈrēnə/

I. noun

1. flour or meal made of cereal grains, nuts, or starchy roots.

2. ‹archaic› a powdery substance, or a substance in powdered form.

3. ‹archaic› starch.

II. derivatives

farinaceous /ˌferəˈnāSHəs /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin, from far ‘grain.’

farkleberry /ˈfärkəlˌberē/

I. noun

a shrub or small tree with thick leathery leaves and inedible black berries, native to the southeastern US.
[Vaccinium arboreum, family Ericaceae.]

– origin mid 18th cent.: probably an alteration of whortleberry.

farm /färm/

I. noun

1. an area of land and its buildings used for growing crops and rearing animals, typically under the control of one owner or manager.

2. the main dwelling place on a farm; a farmhouse

• a half-timbered farm.

3. [with modifier] — a place for breeding a particular type of animal or producing a specified crop

• a fish farm.

4. [with modifier] — an establishment at which something is produced or processed

• an energy farm.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — make one's living by growing crops or keeping livestock

• he has farmed organically for five years.

2. [with obj.] — use (land) for growing crops and rearing animals, especially commercially.

3. [with obj.] — breed or grow commercially (a type of livestock or crop, especially one not normally domesticated or cultivated).

4. [with obj.] (farm someone/something out) — send out or subcontract work to others

• it saves time and money to farm out some writing work to specialized companies.

5. arrange for a child or other dependent person to be looked after by someone, usually for payment.

6. send a sports player to a farm team.

7. [with obj.] — ‹historical› allow someone to collect and keep the revenues from (a tax) on payment of a fee

• the customs had been farmed to the collector for a fixed sum.

III. phrases

1. buy the farm

see buy.

2. from farm to fork (or table)

a. used to refer to the various processes in the food chain from agricultural production to consumption

• a catering industry initiative that allows certified traceability of fresh meat and eggs from farm to fork

• [as modifier] each of these countries has farm-to-fork legislation.

b. (chiefly US) used to refer to locally grown or produced food
[as modifier]

• in San Francisco, farm-to-fork eating is a year-round affair.

IV. derivatives

farmable /ˈfärməb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French ferme, from medieval Latin firma ‘fixed payment,’ from Latin firmare ‘fix, settle’ (in medieval Latin ‘contract for’), from firmus ‘constant, firm’; compare with firm^2. The noun originally denoted a fixed annual amount payable as rent or tax; this is reflected in sense 3 of the verb, which later gave rise to ‘to subcontract’ (sense 2 of the verb). The noun came to denote a lease, and, in the early 16th cent., land leased specifically for farming. The verb sense ‘grow crops or keep livestock’ dates from the early 19th cent.

Farm Aid

an organization whose annual concert of blues, country, and rock music promotes awareness of the need to protect and support family farms in the United States.

Farm Belt

the states of the Midwest that are noted particularly for their agricultural production: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

farmer /ˈfärmər/

I. noun

1. a person who owns or manages a farm.

2. ‹historical› a person to whom the collection of taxes was contracted for a fee.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French fermier, from medieval Latin firmarius, from firma (see farm). Sense 1 originally denoted a bailiff or steward who farmed land on the owner's behalf, or a tenant farmer.

Farmer, Fannie Merritt /ˈfärmər/

(1857–1915), US educator and author. She opened Miss Farmer's School of Cookery in 1902; her Boston Cooking School Cook Book (1896) was known as “the mother of level measurements.”

farmer cheese farmer's cheese

noun

an unripened cheese that is mild in flavor, firmer than cottage cheese and somewhat crumbly in texture.

farmer's lung

noun

informal term for aspergillosis.

farmers' market

noun

a food market at which local farmers sell fruit and vegetables and often meat, cheese, and bakery products directly to consumers.

farmhand /ˈfärmˌhand/

noun

a worker on a farm.

farmhouse /ˈfärmˌhous/

noun

a house attached to a farm, especially the main house in which the farmer lives.

farming /ˈfärmiNG/

noun

the activity or business of growing crops and raising livestock.

Farmington /ˈfärmiNGtən/

a city in northwestern New Mexico; pop. 42,637 (est. 2008).

Farmington Hills

a city in southeastern Michigan, west of Detroit; pop. 78,522 (est. 2008).

farmland /ˈfärmˌland/

noun — (also farmlands)

1. land used for farming.

farmstead /ˈfärmˌsted/

noun

a farm and its buildings.

farm team

noun

(N. Amer.) a minor league baseball team that provides players as needed to an affiliated major league team.

farmworker /ˈfärmˌwərkər/

noun

a person employed to work on a farm.

farmyard /ˈfärmˌyärd/

noun

a yard or enclosure attached to a farmhouse.

Farne Islands /ˌfärn ˈīləndz/

a group of 17 small islands off the coast of Northumberland, England, noted for their wildlife.

Farnese, Alessandro /färˈnāzā/

see Paul III.

Farnham, Eliza Wood /ˈfärnəm/

(1815–64), US reformer and writer. As matron of the women's department of Sing Sing prison in Ossining, New York 1844–48, she instituted major reforms.

Far North

the northernmost part of the earth or of a particular country or region

• the great white bear of the Far North.

faro /ˈferō/

I. noun

a gambling card game in which players bet on the order in which the cards will appear.

– origin early 18th cent. (originally as pharaoh or pharo): from French pharaon(see pharaoh), said to have been the name of the king of hearts.

Faroe Islands /ˈferō ˌīləndz / Faeroe Islands, the Faroes

a group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean between Iceland and the Shetland Islands that belong to Denmark but are semi-autonomous; pop. 48,900 (est. 2009); capital, Tórshavn.

Faroese /ˌferōˈēz / Faeroese

I. adjective

of or relating to the Faroe Islands or their people or language.

II. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of the Faroes, or a person of Faroese descent.

2. the official language of the Faroes, a North Germanic language closely related to Icelandic.

far off

adjective

remote in time or space

• a far-off country.

farolito /ˌfarəˈlētō, ˌfär-/

noun

another term for luminaria (sense 1).

farouche /fəˈro͞oSH/

I. adjective

sullen or shy in company.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French, alteration of Old French forache, based on Latin foras ‘out of doors.’

Farouk /fəˈro͞ok/

(1920–65), king of Egypt; reigned 1936–52. His defeat in the Arab–Israeli conflict of 1948, together with the general corruption of his reign, led to a military coup in 1952. Farouk was forced to abdicate in favor of his infant son, Fuad.

far out /ˌfär ˈout/

adjective

1. unconventional or avant-garde

• far-out politics.

2. [often as exclamation] — ‹informal› excellent

• it's really far out!

Farquhar, George /ˈfärkwər/

(1678–1707), Irish playwright. He was a principal figure in Restoration comedy. Notable works: The Recruiting Officer (1706) and The Beaux' Stratagem (1707).

farrago /fəˈräɡō fəˈrāɡō/

I. noun

a confused mixture

• a farrago of fact and myth about Abraham Lincoln.

II. derivatives

farraginous /fəˈraj(ə)nəs /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘mixed fodder,’ from far ‘corn.’

Farragut, David Glasgow /ˈfarəɡət/

(1801–70), US navy admiral; born James Glasgow Farragut. The outstanding naval commander of the Civil War, he captured the city of New Orleans in April 1862 and extended Union control of the Mississippi River north to Vicksburg.

Farrakhan, Louis /ˈfarəˌkan, ˈfärəˌkän/

(1933–), US Nation of Islam leader since 1978 and African-American nationalist; born Louis Eugene Walcott. He is known for advocating black separatism and black economic power.

far-reaching /ˌfäˈrēCHiNG/

adjective

having important and widely applicable effects or implications

• a series of far-reaching political reforms.

Farrell, J. T. /ˈfarəl/

(1904–79), US novelist; full name James Thomas Farrell. He is known for his trilogy about Studs Lonigan: Young Lonigan (1932), The Young Manhood of Studs Lonigan (1934), and Judgment Day (1935).

Farrell, Suzanne

(1945–), US dancer; born Roberta Sue Fricker. She performed with the New York City Ballet 1961–69, where she became principal dancer 1965–69. She is noted for her performance in the movie version of A Midsummer Night's Dream (1966).

farrier /ˈferēər/

I. noun

a craftsman who trims and shoes horses' hooves.

II. derivatives

farriery /ˈferyərē /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Old French ferrier, from Latin ferrarius, from ferrum ‘iron, horseshoe.’

farro /ˈfärō/

I. noun

a type of hulled wheat, especially spelt or emmer, typically used in salads, soups, and side dishes.

– origin late 18th cent.: Italian, from Latin, ‘wheat.’

farrow /ˈferō/

I. noun

1. a litter of pigs.

2. an act of giving birth to a litter of pigs.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a sow) give birth to (piglets)

• the pig is one of a litter of nine farrowed in July.

– origin Old English fearh, færh ‘young pig,’ from an Indo-European root shared by Greek porkos and Latin porcus ‘pig.’

Farrow, Mia /ˈfarō/

(1945–), US actress; daughter of Maureen O'Sullivan. She starred in Rosemary's Baby (1968), The Great Gatsby (1974), Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), and Husbands and Wives (1992).

farruca /fəˈro͞okə/

I. noun

a type of flamenco dance.

– origin 1930s: Spanish, feminine of farruco ‘Galician or Asturian,’ from Farruco, pet form of the given name Francisco.

far-seeing /ˈfärˌsēiNG/

adjective

having shrewd judgment and an ability to predict and plan for future eventualities.

Farsi /ˈfärsē/

I. noun

the modern Persian language that is the official language of Iran.

– origin from Arabic fārsī, from Fārs, from Persian Pārs ‘Persia.’ Compare with Parsee.

farsighted /ˈfärˌsīdəd färˈsīdəd/

I. adjective

1. (N. Amer.) unable to see things clearly, especially if they are relatively close to the eyes, owing to the focusing of rays of light by the eye at a point behind the retina; hyperopic.

2. seeing or able to see for a great distance.

3. having imagination or foresight

• a farsighted businessman.

II. derivatives

1. farsightedly

adverb

2. farsightedness /färˈsīdədnəs /

noun

Far South

the southernmost part of the earth or of a particular country or region

• the balmy warmth of the late winter in the Far South.

fart /färt / ‹informal›

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. emit gas from the anus.

2. (fart about/around) — waste time on silly or trivial things.

II. noun

1. an emission of gas from the anus.

2. a boring or contemptible person

• he was such an old fart.

– origin Old English (recorded in the verbal noun feorting ‘farting’).

farther /ˈfärT͟Hər / further

I. used as comparative of far.

II. adverb

1. at, to, or by a greater distance (used to indicate the extent to which one thing or person is or becomes distant from another)

• the farther away you are from your home, the better you should behave

• ‹figurative› his action pushes Haiti even farther away from democratic rule.

2. over a greater expanse of space or time; for a longer way

• the stream fills the passage, and only a cave diver can explore farther

• ‹figurative› people were trying to get their food dollars to go farther.

III. adjective

1. more distant in space than another item of the same kind

• the farther side of the mountain.

2. more remote from a central point

• the farther stretches of the diocese.

usage: Traditionally, farther and farthest were used in referring to physical distance: the falls were still two or three miles farther up the path. Further and furthest were restricted to figurative or abstract senses: we decided to consider the matter further. Although farther and farthest are still restricted to measurable distances, further and furthest are now common in both senses: put those plants the furthest from the window.

farthermost /ˈfärT͟Hərˌmōst / furthermost

adjective

(of an edge or extreme) at the greatest distance from a central point or implicit standpoint

• the pitch broke sharply over the farthermost part of the strike zone.

farthest /ˈfärT͟Hist / furthest

I. used as superlative of far.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. situated at the greatest distance from a specified or understood point

• the farthest door led to a kitchen.

2. covering the greatest area or distance

• his record for the farthest flight.

3. extremely remote

• the farthest ends of the earth.

III. adverb

1. at or by the greatest distance (used to indicate how far one thing or person is or becomes distant from another)

• the bed farthest from the window.

2. over the greatest distance or area

• his group probably had farthest to ride.

3. used to indicate the most distant point reached in a specified direction

• it was the farthest north I had ever traveled.

4. to the most extreme or advanced point

• countries where industrialization had gone furthest

• the farthest he'll go is to admit a sort of resentment.

IV. phrases

at the farthest

at the greatest distance; at most

• the Allied line had been pushed forward, at the farthest, about one mile.

– origin late Middle English: formed as a superlative of further. / usage: On the differences between farthest and furthest, see farther.

farthing /ˈfärT͟HiNG/

I. noun

1. a former monetary unit and coin of the UK, withdrawn in 1961, equal to a quarter of an old penny.

2. [usu. with negative] — the least possible amount

• she didn't care a farthing for the woman.

– origin Old English fēorthing, from fēortha ‘fourth.’

farthingale /ˈfärT͟HiNGˌɡāl/

I. noun

‹historical› a hooped petticoat or circular pad of fabric around the hips, formerly worn under women's skirts to extend and shape them.

– origin early 16th cent. (formerly also as vardingale): from French verdugale, alteration of Spanish verdugado, from verdugo ‘rod, stick,’ from verde ‘green.’

fartlek /ˈfärtlək/

I. noun

[Track & Field] a system of training for distance runners in which the terrain and pace are continually varied to eliminate boredom and enhance psychological aspects of conditioning.

– origin 1940s: from Swedish, from fart ‘speed’ + lek ‘play.’

Far West

the region of North America west of the Great Plains.

FAS

abbreviation

1. fetal alcohol syndrome.

2. Foreign Agricultural Service.

f.a.s.

abbreviation

free alongside ship.

fasc.

abbreviation

fascicle.

fasces /ˈfasēz/

I. plural noun

‹historical› (in ancient Rome) a bundle of rods with a projecting ax blade, carried by a lictor as a symbol of a magistrate's power, and used as an emblem of authority in Fascist Italy.

– origin Latin, plural of fascis ‘bundle.’

fascia /ˈfaSH(ē)ə ˈfāSH(ē)ə/

I. noun

1. ( also facia) — (chiefly Brit.) a wooden board or other flat piece of material such as that covering the ends of rafters.

2. a covering, typically a detachable one, for the front part of a mobile phone.

3. (in classical architecture) a long flat surface between moldings on an architrave.

4. (chiefly Brit.) the dashboard of a motor vehicle.

5. (pl. fasciae ) — [Anatomy] a thin sheath of fibrous tissue enclosing a muscle or other organ.

II. derivatives

fascial /ˈfaSH(ē)əl, fā- /

adjective

fascia (sense 2)

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin, ‘band, doorframe,’ related to fasces. Compare with fess^1.

fasciated /ˈfaSHēˌātəd, ˈfā- / fasciate

I. adjective

1. [Botany] showing abnormal fusion of parts or organs, resulting in a flattened, ribbonlike structure.

2. [Zoology] striped or banded.

II. derivatives

fasciation /ˌfaSHēˈāSHən, ˌfā- /

noun

– origin mid 18th cent. (in the sense ‘striped, banded’): from Latin fasciatus (past participle of fasciare ‘swathe,’ from fascia ‘band’) + -ed^1.

fascicle /ˈfasək(ə)l/

I. noun

1. (also fascicule ) — a separately published installment of a book or other printed work.

2. (also fasciculus ) — [Anatomy] [Biology] a bundle of structures, such as nerve or muscle fibers or conducting vessels in plants.

II. derivatives

1. fascicled

adjective

2. fascicular /fəˈsikyələr /

adjective

3. fasciculate /fəˈsikyəˌlāt /

adjective

– origin late 15th cent. (sense 2): from Latin fasciculus, diminutive of fascis ‘bundle.’

fasciculation /fəˌsikyəˈlāSHən/

noun

1. [Medicine] a brief, spontaneous contraction affecting a small number of muscle fibers, often causing a flicker of movement under the skin. It can be a symptom of disease of the motor neurons.

2. [chiefly Biology] arrangement in bundles.

fasciitis /ˌfasēˈītəs, ˌfaSHē-/

noun

[Medicine] inflammation of the fascia of a muscle or organ.

fascinate /ˈfasəˌnāt/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be fascinated)

1. draw irresistibly the attention and interest of (someone)

• I've always been fascinated by other cultures

• [with obj.] she was fascinated to learn about this strange land.

2. ‹archaic› (especially of a snake) deprive (a person or animal) of the ability to resist or escape by the power of a look or gaze

• the serpent fascinates its prey.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘bewitch, put under a spell’): from Latin fascinat- ‘bewitched,’ from the verb fascinare, from fascinum ‘spell, witchcraft.’

fascinating /ˈfasəˌnādiNG/

I. adjective

extremely interesting

• fascinating facts.

II. derivatives

fascinatingly /ˈfasəˌnādiNGlē /

adverb

fascination /ˌfasəˈnāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the power to fascinate someone; the quality of being fascinating

• television has always held a fascination for me.

2. the state of being fascinated

• he had a lifelong fascination with science.

usage: The two senses of fascination each take a different preposition. A person has a fascination with something they are very interested in (her fascination with the royal family), whereas something interesting holds a fascination for a person (words have always held a fascination for me). The Oxford English Corpus shows that the distinction is often blurred today, but it should be maintained in careful writing.

fascinator /ˈfasəˌnādər/

noun

1. a woman's light, decorative headpiece consisting of feathers, flowers, beads, etc., attached to a comb or hair clip.

2. a fascinating person.

fascine /fəˈsēn/

I. noun

a bundle of rods, sticks, or plastic pipes bound together, used in construction or military operations for filling in marshy ground or other obstacles and for strengthening the sides of embankments, ditches, or trenches.

– origin late 17th cent.: via French from Latin fascina, from fascis ‘bundle.’

fascioliasis /fəˌsēəˈlīəsis, fəˌsīə-/

I. noun

[Medicine] infestation of a human or an animal with the liver fluke.

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Fasciola hepatica, the name of the liver fluke (from Latin fasciola ‘small bandage’) + -iasis.

fascism /ˈfaSHˌizəm / Fascism

I. noun

1. an authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization.

2. (in general use) extreme right-wing, authoritarian, or intolerant views or practice.

The term Fascism was first used of the totalitarian right-wing nationalist regime of Mussolini in Italy (1922–43), and the regimes of the Nazis in Germany and Franco in Spain were also fascist. Fascism tends to include a belief in the supremacy of one national or ethnic group, a contempt for democracy, an insistence on obedience to a powerful leader, and a strong demagogic approach.

– origin 1920s: from Italian fascismo, from fascio ‘bundle, political group,’ from Latin fascis (see fasces).

fascist /ˈfaSHəst/

I. noun

1. an advocate or follower of the political philosophy or system of fascism

• he went to Spain to fight against the fascists

• Eastern European fascists could win power only with support from the Nazis.

2. a person who is extremely right-wing or authoritarian

• fascists made death threats against immigrants and asylum seekers.

3. a person who is very intolerant or domineering in a particular area

• I'm a bit of a spelling fascist, but still have blind spots over words like “privilege” or “separate”

• if I were being a culinary fascist, I would possibly moan about the overdone cooked tomatoes.

II. adjective

of or relating to fascism

• a military coup threw out the old fascist regime.

– origin early 20th cent.: Italian fascista, from fascio (see fascism).

fascistic /faˈSHistik/

adjective

having or relating to extreme right-wing, authoritarian, or intolerant views or practices

• religious nationalism can lead to fascistic tendencies

• the party's most overtly fascistic elements.

fashion /ˈfaSHən/

I. noun

1. a popular trend, especially in styles of dress and ornament or manners of behavior

• his hair is cut in the latest fashion.

2. the production and marketing of new styles of goods, especially clothing and cosmetics
[as modifier]

• a fashion magazine.

3. a manner of doing something

• the work is done in a rather casual fashion.

II. verb — [with obj.] (often be fashioned)

1. make into a particular or the required form

• the bottles were fashioned from green glass.

2. (fashion something into) — use materials to make into

• the skins were fashioned into boots and shoes.

III. phrases

1. after a fashion

to a certain extent but imperfectly or unsatisfactorily

• he could read after a fashion.

2. after (or in) the fashion of

in a manner similar to

• she took servants for granted after the fashion of wealthy and pampered girls.

3. in (or out of) fashion

popular (or unpopular) and considered (or not considered) to be attractive at the time in question.

IV. derivatives

fashioner

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘make, shape, appearance,’ also ‘a particular make or style’): from Old French façon, from Latin factio(n-), from facere ‘do, make.’

-fashion

combining form

1. in the manner of something specified

• dog-fashion

• castanet-fashion.

2. in the style associated with a specified place or people

• American-fashion

• Bristol-fashion.

fashionable /ˈfaSH(ə)nəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. characteristic of, influenced by, or representing a current popular trend or style

• fashionable clothes.

2. (of a person) dressing or behaving according to the current trend.

II. derivatives

1. fashionability /ˌfaSH(ə)nəˈbilətē /

noun

2. fashionableness /ˈfaSH(ə)nəb(ə)lnəs /

noun

fashionably /ˈfaSH(ə)nəblē/

I. adverb

in a manner characteristic of, influenced by, or representing a current popular style or trend

• an elegant and fashionably dressed woman

• a fashionably chic orgy-like party.

II. phrases

fashionably late

deliberately arriving after an event has started, especially in order to prove one's social status

• I arrived at the party fashionably late.

fashion buyer

noun

a person employed to select and purchase clothes and accessories for a large retail store to stock

• the response from fashion buyers, the press, and the public has been incredible.

fashion-forward

adjective

(of a person or style of clothing) very fashionable

• it's become the clothing line of choice for fashion-forward women.

fashion house

noun

a company specializing in the design and sale of high-fashion clothing and accessories

• world-renowned fashion house Louis Vuitton.

fashionista /ˌfaSHəˈnēstə/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› a designer of haute couture.

2. ‹informal› a devoted follower of fashion

• sleek designs that press all the fashionistas' buttons.

– origin 1990s: from fashion + Spanish suffix -ista, as in Sandinista, turista.

fashion plate

noun

1. a person who dresses very fashionably.

2. a picture, typically in a magazine, illustrating a new or current fashion in clothes.

fashion show

noun

an event at which collections of newly designed clothing are modeled for an audience

• the front row seats at a Calvin Klein fashion show.

fashion victim /ˈfaSHən ˈviktim/

noun

a person who follows popular trends in dress and behavior slavishly.

fast^1 /fast/

I. adjective

1. moving or capable of moving at high speed

• a fast and powerful car.

2. performed or taking place at high speed; taking only a short time

• the journey was fast and enjoyable.

3. performing or able to perform a particular type of action quickly

• a fast reader.

4. allowing people or things to move at high speed

• a wide, fast road.

5. (of a playing field) likely to make the ball bounce or run quickly or to allow competitors to reach a high speed.

6. [predic. or as complement] — (of a clock or watch) showing a time ahead of the correct time

• I keep my watch fifteen minutes fast.

7. firmly fixed or attached

• he made a rope fast to each corner.

8. (of friends) close and loyal.

9. (of a dye) not fading in light or when washed.

10. [Photography] (of a film) needing only a short exposure.

11. (of a lens) having a large aperture and therefore allowing short exposure times.

12. (of a person or lifestyle) engaging in or involving exciting or shocking activities

• the fast life she led in London.

II. adverb

1. at high speed

• he was driving too fast.

2. within a short time

• they think they're going to get rich fast.

3. so as to be hard to move; firmly or securely

• the ship was held fast by the anchor chain.

4. (of someone or something sleeping) so as to be hard to wake

• they were too fast asleep to reply.

III. phrases

pull a fast one

‹informal› try to gain an unfair advantage

• Joey pulled a fast one on us.

– origin Old English fæst ‘firmly fixed, steadfast’ and fæste ‘firmly, securely’ In Middle English the adverb developed the senses ‘strongly, vigorously’ (compare with run hard), and ‘close, immediate’ (just surviving in the archaic and poetic fast by; compare with hard by), hence ‘closely, immediately’ and ‘quickly’; the idea of rapid movement was then reflected in adjectival use.

fast^2 /fast/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. abstain from all or some kinds of food or drink, especially as a religious observance.

II. noun

an act or period of fasting

• a five-day fast.

– origin Old English fæstan (verb); related to Old Norse fasta, the source of the noun.

Fast, Howard Melvin /fast/

(1914–2003), US writer. He is best known for his historical novels and as a member of the Communist party 1943–56 who was imprisoned in 1950 for refusing to cooperate with the House Committee on Un-American Activities.

fast and furious

I. adverb

1. very rapidly

• my heart was beating fast and furious.

2. eagerly; uproariously.

II. adjective

full of rapid action; lively and exciting

• the game was fast and furious.

fastback /ˈfas(t)bak/

noun

a car with a roofline that slopes continuously down at the back.

fastball /ˈfas(t)ˌbôl/

noun

1. a baseball pitch thrown at or near a pitcher's maximum speed.

2. another term for fast-pitch softball.

fast break

I. noun

a swift attack from a defensive position in basketball, soccer, and other ball games

• a defense that shut off our fast break altogether

• [as modifier] there are no fast-break baskets.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (US) make a swift attack from a defensive position in certain ball games

• fast-breaking relentlessly is harder than playing a control game.

fast breeder fast breeder reactor

noun

a breeder reactor in which the neutrons causing fission are not slowed by any moderator.

fast-casual

adjective

(N. Amer.) denoting or relating to a type of high-quality self-service restaurant offering dishes that are prepared to order and more expensive than those available in a typical fast-food restaurant

• the fast-casual spot offers wraps, rice bowls, house-made soups, and salads

• fast-casual dining is on the rise in Tampa Bay.

fasten /ˈfas(ə)n/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. close or join securely

• fasten your seat belts.

2. [no obj.] — be closed or done up in a particular place or part or in a particular way

• a blue nightie that fastens down the back.

3. fix or hold in place

• she fastened her locket around her neck.

4. (fasten something on/upon) — direct one's eyes, thoughts, feelings, etc., intently at

• Maggie fastened her eyes on him

• [no obj.] speculation fastened on three candidates.

5. (fasten something on/upon) — ascribe responsibility to

• blame hadn't been fastened on anyone.

6. [no obj.] (fasten on/upon) — single out (someone or something) and concentrate on them or it obsessively

• the critics fastened on two sections of the report.

II. derivatives

fastener /ˈfas(ə)nər /

noun

– origin Old English fæstnian ‘make sure, confirm,’ also ‘immobilize’; related to fast^1.

fastening /ˈfas(ə)niNG/

noun

a device that closes or secures something

• a front-zip fastening.

fast-flowing

adjective

flowing swiftly

• a fast-flowing river.

fast follower

noun

a company that quickly imitates the innovations of its competitors

• its successful model of evolving from fast follower to market leader

• [as modifier] fast-follower strategies.

fast food /ˈˌfas(t) ˈˌfo͞od/

noun

food that can be prepared quickly and easily and is sold in restaurants and snack bars as a quick meal or to be taken out
[as modifier]

• a fast-food restaurant.

fast forward /fast ˈfôrwərd/

I. noun

1. a control on a tape or video player for advancing the tape rapidly
[as modifier]

• the fast-forward button.

2. a facility for cueing audio equipment by allowing the tape to be played at high speed and stopped when the desired place is reached.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. advance (a tape) rapidly, sometimes while simultaneously playing it at high speed.

2. [no obj.] — move speedily forward in time when considering or dealing with something over a period

• the text fast-forwards to 1990.

fast-growing /ˌfastˈɡrōiNG/

adjective

increasing in size at a rapid rate

• the fast-growing organic food market

• fast-growing crops

• one of the fastest growing economies in Europe.

fast ice

noun

ice that extends out from the shore and is attached to it.

fastidious /faˈstidēəs/

I. adjective

1. very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail

• he chooses his words with fastidious care.

2. very concerned about matters of cleanliness

• the child seemed fastidious about getting her fingers sticky or dirty.

II. derivatives

1. fastidiously /faˈstidēəslē /

adverb

2. fastidiousness /faˈstidēəsnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin fastidiosus, from fastidium ‘loathing.’ The word originally meant ‘disagreeable, distasteful,’ later ‘disgusted’ Current senses date from the 17th cent.

fastigiate /fəˈstijēət/

I. adjective

[Botany] (of a tree or shrub) having the branches sloping upward more or less parallel to the main stem.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin fastigium ‘tapering point, gable’ + -ate^2.

fast lane /ˈfas(t) ˌlān/

I. noun

1. a lane of a highway for use by traffic that is moving faster than the rest.

2. a situation in which life is hectic or highly pressured

• his face showed the strain of a life lived in the fast lane

• [as modifier] a youth culture of fast-lane living.

II. phrases

life in the fast lane

an exciting and eventful lifestyle, especially one bringing wealth and success.

fast-moving

adjective

rapid in movement or action

• a fast-moving train switching tracks at high speed

• a taut, fast-moving detective story.

fastness /ˈfas(t)nəs/

I. noun

1. a secure refuge, especially a place well protected by natural features

• a remote Himalayan mountain fastness.

2. the ability of a material or dye to maintain its color without fading or washing away

• the dyes differ in their fastness to light.

– origin Old English fæstnes (see fast^1, -ness).

fast neutron

noun

a neutron with high kinetic energy, especially one released by nuclear fission and not slowed by any moderator.

fast-pitch softball fast-pitch

noun

a variety of the game of softball featuring fast underhand pitching.

fast reactor

noun

a nuclear reactor in which fission is caused mainly by fast neutrons.

fast-talk /ˈfasttôk/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) pressure (someone) into doing something using rapid or misleading speech

• heroin dealers tried to fast-talk him into a quick sale

• (as adj. fast-talking) a fast-talking confidence trickster.

fast track //

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. a route, course, or method that provides for more rapid results than usual

• a career in the fast track of the civil service.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. accelerate the development or progress of (a person or project)

• the old boys' network fast-tracks men to the top of the corporate ladder.

Compare with slow track.

fast-twitch /ˈfasttwiCH/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. [Physiology] (of a muscle fiber) contracting rapidly, thus providing power rather than endurance.

fat /fat/

I. noun

1. a natural oily or greasy substance occurring in animal bodies, especially when deposited as a layer under the skin or around certain organs.

2. a fatty substance made from animal or plant products, used in cooking.

3. the presence of excess fat in a person or animal, causing them to appear corpulent

• he was a tall man, running to fat.

4. [Chemistry] any of a group of natural esters of glycerol and various fatty acids, which are solid at room temperature and are the main constituents of animal and vegetable fat.
Compare with oil.

II. adjective

1. (of a person or animal) having a large amount of excess flesh

• the driver was a fat, wheezing man.

2. (of an animal bred for food) made plump for slaughter.

3. containing much fat

• fat bacon.

4. large in bulk or circumference

• a fat cigarette.

5. ‹informal› (of an asset or opportunity) financially substantial or desirable

• a fat profit

• fat motion picture deals.

6. ‹informal› used ironically to express the belief that there is none or very little of something

• fat chance she had of influencing him

• a fat lot of good that'll do him.

7. (of coal) containing a high proportion of volatile oils.

8. (of wood) containing a high proportion of resin

• fat pine.

III. verb

‹archaic› make or become fat
[with obj.]

• numbers of black cattle are fatted here

• [no obj.] the hogs have been fatting

• (as adj. fatted) a fatted duck.

IV. phrases

1. the fat is in the fire

something has happened that will surely lead to an unpleasant result or angry reaction.

2. kill the fatted calf

produce one's best food to celebrate, especially at a prodigal's return.
[with biblical allusion to Luke 15.]

3. live off (or on) the fat of the land

have the best of everything.

V. derivatives

1. fatless /ˈfatləs /

adjective

2. fatly /ˈfatlē /

adverb

3. fattish /ˈfadiSH /

adjective

– origin Old English fǣtt ‘well fed, plump,’ also ‘fatty, oily.’

Fatah /fəˈtä ˈfädə / al-Fatah

I. a Palestinian political and military organization founded in 1958 by Yasser Arafat and others to bring about the establishment of a Palestinian state. It dominated the Palestine Liberation Organization from the 1960s, but more recently has been challenged by more extreme groups, and in 2006 was defeated by Hamas in the elections for the Palestinian National Authority.

– origin Arabic, literally ‘victory.’

fatal /ˈfādl/

I. adjective

1. causing death

• a fatal accident.

2. leading to failure or disaster

• there were three fatal flaws in the strategy.

– origin late Middle English (in the senses ‘destined by fate’ and ‘ominous’): from Old French, from Latin fatalis, from fatum (see fate).

fatalism /ˈfādlˌizəm/

I. noun

1. the belief that all events are predetermined and therefore inevitable.

2. a submissive outlook, resulting from a fatalistic attitude.

II. derivatives

fatalist /ˈfādlist /

noun

fatalistic /ˌfādlˈistik/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of the belief that all events are predetermined and therefore inevitable

• many have an almost fatalistic attitude toward their own health

• he gives a fatalistic shrug at the bleak future.

II. derivatives

fatalistically /ˌfādlˈistəklē /

adverb

fatality /fāˈtalədē fəˈtalədē/

I. noun

1. an occurrence of death by accident, in war, or from disease

• shooting was heard and there were fatalities.

2. a person killed by accident, war, or disease.

3. helplessness in the face of fate

• the plot needs a darker sense of fatality to cover its absurdities.

– origin late 15th cent. (denoting the quality of causing death or disaster): from French fatalité, from late Latin fatalitas, from Latin fatalis ‘decreed by fate,’ from fatum (see fate). Sense 1 dates from the mid 19th cent.

fatally /ˈfādəlē/

adverb

1. with death as a result

• 21,000 soldiers died or were fatally wounded.

2. in a way that leads to failure or disaster

• the whole concept is fatally flawed

• the revelation fatally undermined the prosecution's case

• [as submodifier] Katharine's sister is fatally attractive to men.

Fata Morgana /ˌfädə ˌmôrˈɡänə/

I. noun

a mirage.

– origin Italian, literally ‘fairy Morgan’; originally referring to a mirage seen in the Strait of Messina between Italy and Sicily and attributed to Morgan le Fay, whose legend and reputation were carried to Sicily by Norman settlers.

fatback /ˈfatbak/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) fat from the upper part of a side of pork, especially when dried and salted in strips.

2. (US) informal term for menhaden.

fatberg /ˈfatˌbərɡ/

I. noun

(chiefly Brit.) a very large mass of solid waste in a sewage system, consisting especially of congealed fat and personal hygiene products that have been flushed down toilets

• repairs on 20 meters of damaged pipe affected by the fatberg started on Monday.

– origin early 21st cent.: from fat and iceberg.

fat body

noun

[Zoology] each of a number of small white structures in the body of an animal, especially an insect, that act as a store of fats and glycogen.

fat burner

noun

an over-the-counter drug that claims to burn calories by increasing the rate of the body's metabolism.

fat camp

noun

‹informal› a residential summer program for overweight children, promoting exercise and healthy eating to facilitate weight loss.

fat cat /ˈfat ˌkat/

noun

‹derogatory› a wealthy and powerful person, typically one involved in business or politics
[as modifier]

• a fat-cat developer.

fat city

noun

1. ‹informal› a condition of great prosperity or good fortune

• when school was out, we were in fat city, man!

2. ‹informal› the condition of being overweight.

fate /fāt/

I. noun

1. the development of events beyond a person's control, regarded as determined by a supernatural power

• fate decided his course for him

• his injury is a cruel twist of fate.

2. the course of someone's life, or the outcome of a particular situation for someone or something, seen as beyond their control

• he suffered the same fate as his companion.

3. [in sing.] — the inescapable death of a person

• the guards led her to her fate.

4. (the Fates) — [Greek & Roman Mythology] the three goddesses who preside over the birth and life of humans. Each person's destiny was thought of as a thread spun, measured, and cut by the three Fates, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos.
Also called the Moirai and the Parcae.

5. (Fates) — another term for Norns.

II. verb — (be fated)

1. be destined to happen, turn out, or act in a particular way
[with infinitive]

• the regime was fated to end badly.

III. phrases

1. a fate worse than death

see death.

2. seal someone's fate

make it inevitable that something unpleasant will happen to someone.

– origin late Middle English: from Italian fato or Old French fator (later) from their source, Latin fatum ‘that which has been spoken,’ from fari ‘speak.’

fateful /ˈfātfəl/

I. adjective

having far-reaching and typically disastrous consequences or implications

• a fateful oversight.

II. derivatives

1. fatefully

adverb

2. fatefulness

noun

fat farm /ˌfat ˈfärm/

noun

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) a residential establishment where overweight people seek improved health by dieting, exercise, and treatment.

fat finger ‹informal, humorous›

I. noun

used to refer to clumsy or inaccurate typing, typically resulting from one finger striking two keys at the same time

• the programming problem turned out to be a case of fat finger

• [as modifier] his texts are full of fat-finger mistakes.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. type (something) inaccurately by striking two keys at the same time with one finger

• you may have fat-fingered your password.

III. derivatives

fat-fingered

adjective

fat-free /ˈfat ˈˌfrē/

adjective

(of a food) not containing animal or vegetable fats

• virtually fat-free yogurt.

fathead /ˈfatˌhed/

I. noun

‹informal› a stupid person.

II. derivatives

1. fatheaded /ˌfatˈhedəd /

adjective

2. fatheadedness

noun

fat hen

noun

another name for lamb's-quarters.

father /ˈfäT͟Hər/

I. noun

1. a man in relation to his natural child or children.

2. a male animal in relation to its offspring.

3. (usu. fathers) — ‹literary› an ancestor.

4. (also founding father) — an important figure in the origin and early history of something

• Dorsey should be remembered as the father of gospel music.

5. a man who gives care and protection to someone or something

• the prince is widely regarded as the father of the nation.

6. the oldest or most respected member of a society or other body.

7. (the Father) — (in Christian belief) the first person of the Trinity; God.

8. (Father) — ‹literary› used in proper names, especially when personifying time or a river, to suggest an old and venerable character

• Father Thames.

9. (also Father) — (often as a title or form of address) a priest

• pray for me, Father.

10. (the Fathers or the Church Fathers) — early Christian theologians (in particular of the first five centuries) whose writings are regarded as especially authoritative.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. be the father of

• he fathered three children.

2. (usu. as noun fathering) — treat with the protective care usually associated with a father

• the two males share the fathering of the cubs.

3. be the source or originator of

• a culture which has fathered half the popular music in the world.

4. (father someone on) — make a woman pregnant

• he fathered a child on a one-night stand.

5. assign the paternity of a child or responsibility for a book, idea, or action to

• a collection of Irish stories was fathered on him.

6. ‹archaic› appear as or admit that one is the father or originator of

• a singular letter from a lady, requesting I would father a novel of hers.

III. phrases

like father, like son

‹proverb› a son's character or behavior can be expected to resemble that of his father.

IV. derivatives

fatherlike /ˈfäT͟Hərˌlīk /

adjective, adverb

– origin Old English fæder; from an Indo-European root shared by Latin pater and Greek patēr.

Father Christmas /ˈˌfäT͟Hər ˈkrisməs / ‹chiefly Brit.›

another name for Santa Claus.

father confessor

noun

1. a priest who hears confessions and gives absolution and spiritual counsel.

2. a person, typically an older man, to whom one confides private matters

• he was growing tired of acting as the father confessor to every student.

father figure /ˈfäT͟Hər ˌfiɡyər/

noun

an older man who is respected for his paternal qualities and may be an emotional substitute for a father.

fatherhood /ˈfäT͟Hərˌho͝od/

noun

the state of being a father

• the joys of fatherhood had softened him.

father-in-law /ˈfäT͟Hər ən ˌlô/

noun

the father of one's spouse.

fatherland /ˈfäT͟Hərˌland/

noun — (often the Fatherland)

1. a person's native country, especially when referred to in patriotic terms.

2. ‹chiefly historical› Germany, especially during the period of Hitler's control.

fatherless /ˈfäT͟Hərləs/

I. adjective

having no father because he is dead or absent from the home

• at thirty-eight, she was left with six fatherless children

• children growing up in fatherless households.

II. derivatives

fatherlessness /ˈfäT͟Hərləsnəs /

noun

fatherly /ˈfäT͟Hərlē/

I. adjective

of, resembling, or characteristic of a father, especially in being protective and affectionate

• he gave me such a kind and fatherly look.

II. derivatives

fatherliness /ˈfäT͟Hərlēnəs /

noun

Father's Day /ˈfäT͟Hərz ˌdā/

noun

the third Sunday in June, a day on which fathers are particularly honored by their children, especially with gifts and greeting cards.

fathom /ˈfaT͟Həm/

I. noun

a unit of length equal to six feet (approximately 1.8 m), chiefly used in reference to the depth of water

• sonar says that we're in eighteen fathoms.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. [usu. with negative] — understand (a difficult problem or an enigmatic person) after much thought

• he could scarcely fathom the idea that people actually lived in Las Vegas

• [with clause] he couldn't fathom why she was being so anxious.

2. measure the depth of (water)

• an attempt to fathom the ocean.

III. derivatives

1. fathomable /ˈfaT͟H(ə)məb(ə)l /

adjective

2. fathomless /ˈfaT͟Həmləs /

adjective

– origin Old English fæthm. The original sense was ‘something that embraces,’ (plural) ‘the outstretched arms’; hence, a unit of measurement based on the span of the outstretched arms, later standardized to six feet.

Fathometer /faT͟Hˈämətər, ˈfaT͟Hə(m)ˌmētər/

noun

(US) ‹trademark› a type of echo sounder.

fatigue /fəˈtēɡ/

I. noun

1. extreme tiredness, typically resulting from mental or physical exertion or illness

• he was nearly dead with fatigue.

2. a reduction in the efficiency of a muscle or organ after prolonged activity.

3. weakness in materials, especially metal, caused by repeated variations of stress

• metal fatigue.

4. [with modifier] — a lessening in one's response to or enthusiasm for something, typically as a result of overexposure to it

• museum fatigue.

5. (also fatigue detail) — a group of soldiers ordered to perform menial, nonmilitary tasks, sometimes as a punishment.

6. (fatigues) — loose-fitting clothing, typically khaki, olive drab, or camouflaged, worn by soldiers

• battle fatigues.

II. verb — [with obj.] (often be fatigued)

1. cause (someone) to feel tired or exhausted

• they were fatigued by their journey.

2. reduce the efficiency of (a muscle or organ) by prolonged activity.

3. weaken (a material, especially metal) by repeated variations of stress.

III. derivatives

1. fatiguability /fəˌtēɡəˈbilitē /

noun

2. fatiguable

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘task or duty that causes weariness’): from French fatigue (noun), fatiguer (verb), from Latin fatigare ‘tire out,’ from ad fatim, affatim ‘to satiety or surfeit, to bursting.’

Fatiha /ˈfädēˌhä / Fatihah

I. noun

the short first sura of the Koran, used by Muslims as an essential element of ritual prayer.

– origin from Arabic al-Fātiḥah ‘the opening (sura),’ from fātiḥa ‘opening,’ from fataḥa ‘to open.’

Fatima /ˈfadəmə/

(c. AD 606–632), youngest daughter of the prophet Muhammad; wife of the fourth caliph, Ali. The descendants of Muhammad trace their lineage through her; she is revered, especially by Shiite Muslims, as the mother of the imams Hasan and Husayn.

Fátima /ˈfadəmə/

a village in western central Portugal, northeast of Lisbon; pop. 8,500 (est. 2008). It became a center of Roman Catholic pilgrimage after the reported sighting there of the Virgin Mary in 1917.

Fatimid /ˈfadəˌmid/

I. noun

a member of a dynasty that ruled in parts of northern Africa, Egypt, and Syria from 909 to 1171, and founded Cairo as its capital in 969.

II. adjective

of or relating to the Fatimids.

III. derivatives

Fatimite /-ˌmīt /

noun, adjective

– origin from Arabic Fāṭima (see Fatima, from whom the dynasty is said to descend) + -id^3.

fatling /ˈfatliNG/

noun

a young animal that has been fattened in readiness for slaughter.

fatness /ˈfatnəs/

noun

1. the state or quality of having a large amount of excess flesh

• there is a widespread popular belief that adult fatness begins in childhood.

2. ‹informal› the quality of being substantial, especially financially

• the fatness of their bank account

• ought not the job be more important than the fatness of the pay check?

fat-shame

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (someone judged to be fat or overweight) to feel humiliated by making mocking or critical comments about their size

• I get sick to my stomach thinking of all the people who took to Twitter to fat-shame her

• a friend of mine got fat-shamed by a skinny hipster bartender there.

II. derivatives

fat-shamer

noun

fat shaming

I. noun

the action or practice of humiliating someone judged to be fat or overweight by making mocking or critical comments about their size

• the star endured fat shaming and cyberbullying for the weight she gained while pregnant

• evidence shows that fat shaming actually leads to people gaining weight.

II. adjective

expressing mocking or critical comments about someone judged to be fat or overweight

• she refuses to resort to extreme dieting because of fat-shaming bullies

• the loudmouth TV personality received widespread criticism for her fat-shaming tweets.

fatso /ˈfatsō/

noun

‹informal› ‹derogatory› a fat person.

fat tax

noun

‹informal› a tax on foods or drinks considered unhealthy and whose consumption is believed to be linked to rising rates of obesity.

• critics say a fat tax would hit the poor hardest because they spend 30 per cent of their income on food.

fatten /ˈfatn/

verb

[with obj.] — make or become fat or fatter.

• he could do with some good food to fatten him up

• [no obj.] These cattle fatten up quickly.

• ‹figurative› this may fatten their profits.

fattening /ˈfatniNG/

adjective

(of a food) causing an increase in the weight of someone who eats it.

fattoush /faˈto͞oSH / fatoush

I. noun

a Middle Eastern salad consisting of tomatoes, cucumber, and other vegetables together with croutons made from toasted pita bread.

– origin Arabic fattūš.

fatty /ˈfadē/

I. adjective

1. containing a large amount of fat

• go easy on fatty foods

• fatty tissue.

2. [Medicine] (of a disease or lesion) marked by abnormal deposition of fat in cells

• fatty degeneration of the liver.

II. noun

‹informal› a fat person (especially as a nickname).

III. derivatives

fattiness /ˈfadēnəs /

noun

fatty acid /ˈfadē ˈasəd/

noun

[Chemistry] a carboxylic acid consisting of a hydrocarbon chain and a terminal carboxyl group, especially any of those occurring as esters in fats and oils.

fatty oil

noun

another term for fixed oil.

fatuous /ˈfaCHo͞oəs/

I. adjective

silly and pointless

• a fatuous comment.

II. derivatives

1. fatuity /fəˈto͞oədē /

noun

2. fatuously /ˈfaCHo͞oəslē /

adverb

3. fatuousness /ˈfaCHo͞oəsnəs /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin fatuus ‘foolish’ + -ous.

fatwa /ˈfatwä/

I. noun

a ruling on a point of Islamic law given by a recognized authority.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Arabic fatwā, from afta'aā ‘decide a point of law.’ Compare with mufti^1.

faubourg /fōˈbo͝or, -bərɡ/

I. noun

(usu. in place names) a suburb, especially one in Paris

• the Faubourg Saint-Germain.

– origin French (earlier faux-bourg ‘false borough’), perhaps an alteration of forsborc, literally ‘outside the town,’ but perhaps based on Middle High German phâlburgere ‘burgers of the pale,’ i.e., people living outside the city wall but still inside the palisade.

fauces /ˈfōsēz/

I. plural noun

[Anatomy] the arched opening at the back of the mouth leading to the pharynx.

II. derivatives

faucial /ˈfôSHəl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin, ‘throat.’

faucet /ˈfôsit/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a device by which a flow of liquid or gas from a pipe or container can be controlled; a tap.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a bung for the vent-hole of a cask, or a tap for drawing liquor from a container): from Old French fausset, from Provençal falset, from falsar ‘to bore.’ The current sense dates from the mid 19th cent.

faugh /fô/

I. exclamation

‹dated› expressing disgust

• “Faugh! This place stinks!”

– origin natural exclamation: first recorded in English in the mid 16th cent.

Faulkner, William /ˈfôknər/

I. (1897–1962), US novelist. His works deal with the history and legends of the US South and have a strong sense of a society in decline. Notable works: The Sound and the Fury (1929), As I Lay Dying (1930), and Absalom! Absalom! (1936). Nobel Prize for Literature (1949).

II. derivatives

Faulknerian /fôkˈni(ə)rēən /

adjective

fault /fôlt/

I. noun

1. an unattractive or unsatisfactory feature, especially in a piece of work or in a person's character

• my worst fault is impatience.

2. a break or other defect in an electrical circuit or piece of machinery

• a fire caused by an electrical fault.

3. a misguided or dangerous action or habit

• it has been the great fault of our politicians that they have all wanted to do something.

4. (in tennis and similar games) a service of the ball not in accordance with the rules.

5. (usu. faults) — (in show jumping) a penalty point imposed for an error.

6. responsibility for an accident or misfortune

• an ordinary man thrust into peril through no fault of his own

• it was his fault she had died.

7. [Geology] an extended break in a body of rock, marked by the relative displacement and discontinuity of strata on either side of a particular surface.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. criticize for inadequacy or mistakes

• her colleagues and superiors could not fault her dedication to the job

• you cannot fault him for the professionalism of his approach.

2. [no obj.] — ‹archaic› do wrong

• the people of Caesarea faulted greatly when they called King Herod a god.

3. (be faulted) — [Geology] (of a rock formation) be broken by a fault or faults

• rift valleys where the crust has been stretched and faulted

• (as noun faulting) a complex pattern of faulting.

III. phrases

1. at fault

a. responsible for an undesirable situation or event; in the wrong

• we recover compensation from the person at fault.

b. mistaken or defective

• he suspected that his calculator was at fault.

2. find fault

make an adverse criticism or objection, sometimes unfairly or destructively

• he finds fault with everything I do.

3. — to a fault

(of someone who displays a particular commendable quality) to an extent verging on excess

• you're kind, caring and generous to a fault.

– origin Middle English faut(e) ‘lack, failing,’ from Old French, based on Latin fallere ‘deceive.’ The -l- was added (in French and English) in the 15th cent. to conform with the Latin word, but did not become standard in English until the 17th cent., remaining silent in pronunciation until well into the 18th.

fault-finding /fôlt ˈfīndiNG/

I. noun

1. continual criticism, typically concerning trivial things.

2. the investigation of the cause of malfunction in machinery, especially electronic equipment.

II. derivatives

fault-finder

noun

faultless /ˈfôltləs/

I. adjective

free from defect or error

• your logic is faultless.

II. derivatives

1. faultlessly /ˈfôltləslē /

adverb

2. faultlessness

noun

fault line

noun

1. a line on a rock surface or the ground that traces a geological fault.

2. a divisive issue or difference of opinion that is likely to have serious consequences

• religion is now the great fault line of American politics.

faulty /ˈfôltē/

I. adjective

1. working badly or unreliably because of imperfections

• a car with faulty brakes.

2. (of reasoning and other mental processes) mistaken or misleading because of flaws

• faulty logic.

3. having or displaying weaknesses

• her character was faulty.

II. derivatives

1. faultily /ˈfôltəlē /

adverb

2. faultiness /ˈfôltēnəs /

noun

faun /fôn/

I. noun

[Roman Mythology] one of a class of lustful rural gods, represented as a man with a goat's horns, ears, legs, and tail.

– origin late Middle English: from the name of the pastoral god Faunus.

fauna /ˈfônə ˈfänə/

I. noun

1. the animals of a particular region, habitat, or geological period

• the flora and fauna of Siberia

• islands that support one of the richest of all marine faunas.

Compare with flora.

2. a book or other work describing or listing the animal life of a region.

II. derivatives

1. faunal /ˈfônl ˈfänl /

adjective

2. faunistic /fôˈnistik, fä- /

adjective

– origin late 18th cent.: modern Latin application of Fauna, the name of a rural goddess, sister of Faunus.

faunal region /ˈfônl, ˈfänl/

noun

another term for zoogeographical region.

Fauntleroy /ˈfôn(t)ləˌroi / Little Lord Fauntleroy

I. noun

an excessively well-mannered or elaborately dressed young boy.

– origin from the name of the boy hero of Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel Little Lord Fauntleroy (1886).

Faunus /ˈfônəs, ˈfänəs / ‹Roman Mythology›

an ancient Italian pastoral god, grandson of Saturn, associated with wooded places.

Faust /foust / Faustus

(died c. 1540), German astronomer and necromancer. Reputed to have sold his soul to the Devil, he became the subject of dramas by Marlowe and Goethe, an opera by Gounod, and a novel by Thomas Mann.

Faustian /ˈfoustēən/

adjective

relating to or resembling Faust, a German astronomer and necromancer reputed to have sold his soul to the Devil

• modern celebrities enter into a Faustian pact with the general public.

faute de mieux /ˌfōt də ˈmyə/

I. adverb

for want of a better alternative

• the show is, faute de mieux, the most eagerly anticipated musical of the season to come.

– origin mid 18th cent.: French, literally ‘for want of (something) better.’

fauteuil /ˈfōtil, fōˈtœyə/

I. noun

a wooden seat in the form of an armchair with open sides and upholstered arms.

– origin French, from Old French faudestuel, from medieval Latin faldistolium (see faldstool).

Fauve /fōv / fauve

noun

a member of a group of French painters who favored Fauvism
[as modifier]

• a Fauve canvas by Matisse.

Fauvism /ˈfōˌvizəm / fauvism

I. noun

a style of painting with vivid expressionistic and nonnaturalistic use of color that flourished in Paris from 1905 and, although short-lived, had an important influence on subsequent artists, especially the German expressionists. Matisse was regarded as the movement's leading figure.

II. derivatives

Fauvist

noun, adjective

– origin from French fauvisme, from fauve ‘wild beast.’ The name originated from a remark of the French art critic Louis Vauxcelles at the Salon of 1905; coming across a quattrocento-style statue in the midst of works by Matisse and his associates, he is reputed to have said, “Donatello au milieu des fauves!” (‘Donatello among the wild beasts’).

faux /fō/

I. adjective

1. made in imitation; artificial

• a string of faux pearls

• a faux-fur jacket.

2. not genuine; fake or false

• their faux concern for the well-being of the voters didn't fool many.

– origin French, literally ‘false.’

fauxhawk /ˈfōˌhôk/

I. noun

a hairstyle in which a section of hair running from the front to the back of the head stands erect, intended to resemble a Mohawk haircut (in which the sides of the head are shaved)

• the opening drew a primarily male audience sporting ironic T-shirts and fauxhawks.

– origin early 21st cent.: blend of faux and Mohawk (sense 3 of the noun).

faux-naïf /ˌfōnäˈēf/

I. adjective

(of a work of art or a person) artificially or affectedly simple or naive

• faux-naif pastoralism.

II. noun — (faux naif)

1. a person who pretends to be ingenuous

• the old device of a faux naif observing his own country as a foreigner.

– origin mid 20th cent.: from French faux ‘false’ + naïf ‘naive.’

faux pas /ˌfō ˈpä/

I. noun

an embarrassing or tactless act or remark in a social situation.

– origin late 17th cent.: French, literally ‘false step.’

fava bean /ˈfävə ˌbēn/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) another term for broad bean.

– origin Italian fava, from Latin faba ‘bean.’

fave /fāv/

noun, adjective

‹informal› short for favorite.

favela /fəˈvelə/

I. noun

a Brazilian shack or shanty town; a slum.

II. derivatives

favelado /ˌfävəˈlädō /

noun

– origin Portuguese.

favicon /ˈfāvəˌkän/

noun

an icon associated with a URL that is variously displayed, as in a browser's address bar or next to the site name in a bookmark list.

favor /ˈfāvər / ‹Brit.› favour

I. noun

1. an attitude of approval or liking

• the legislation is viewed with favor.

2. support or advancement given as a sign of approval

• a struggle between competing aides for presidential favor.

3. overgenerous preferential treatment

• they accused you of showing favor to one of the players.

4. a small gift or souvenir

• good party favors include stickers, hair barrettes, or crayons.

5. ‹archaic› a thing such as a badge or knot of ribbons that is given or worn as a mark of liking or support.

6. an act of kindness beyond what is due or usual

• I've come to ask you a favor.

7. (one's favors) — ‹dated› used with reference to a woman allowing a man to have sexual intercourse with her

• she had granted her favors to him.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. feel or show approval or preference for

• slashing public spending is a policy that few politicians favor.

2. give unfairly preferential treatment to

• critics argued that the policy favored the private sector.

3. work to the advantage of

• natural selection has favored bats.

4. (favor someone with) — (often used in polite requests) give someone (something that they want)

• please favor me with an answer.

5. ‹dated› (N. Amer.) ‹informal› resemble (a parent or relative) in facial features

• she's pretty, and she favors you.

6. treat (an injured limb) gently, not putting one's full weight on it

• he favors his sore leg.

III. phrases

1. do someone a favor

do something for someone as an act of kindness.

2. in favor

a. (also out of favor) — meeting (or not meeting) with approval

• they were not in favor with the party

• proper dancing has gone out of favor.

b. having or showing approval

• the appeals court ruled 2-1 in favor of his extradition.

3. in one's favor

to one's advantage

• events were moving in his favor.

4. in favor of

a. to be replaced by

• he stepped down as leader in favor of his rival.

b. to the advantage of

• the final score was 25-16 in favor of Washington.

IV. derivatives

favorer

noun

– origin Middle English (in the noun sense ‘liking, preference’): via Old French from Latin favor, from favere ‘show kindness to’ (related to fovere ‘cherish’).

favorable /ˈfāv(ə)rəb(ə)l / ‹Brit.› favourable

I. adjective

1. expressing approval

• the book received highly favorable reviews.

2. giving consent

• their demands rarely received a favorable response.

3. to the advantage of someone or something

• they made a settlement favorable to the unions.

4. (of a wind) blowing in the direction of travel.

5. (of weather, or a period of time judged in terms of its weather) fine.

6. suggesting a good outcome

• a favorable prognosis.

II. derivatives

favorableness /ˈfāvər(ə)bəlnəs ˈfāvrəbəlnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin favorabilis, from favor (see favor).

favorably /ˈfāv(ə)rəblē / ‹Brit.› favourably

adverb

1. with approval

• the audience responded very favorably.

2. to the advantage of someone or something

• the deal will work out favorably for the company.

favored /ˈfāvərd/

adjective

preferred or recommended

• she was his favored candidate

• the most favored destination of visitors to Canada.

favorite /ˈfāv(ə)rət / favourite

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. preferred before all others of the same kind

• their favorite Italian restaurant.

II. noun

1. a person or thing that is especially popular or particularly well liked by someone

• the song is still a favorite after 20 years.

2. the competitor thought most likely to win a game or contest, especially by people betting on the outcome

• he was the early favorite to win the South Carolina caucuses.

3. a record of the address of a website or other data made to enable quick access; a bookmark.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. record the address of (a website or other data) to enable quick access in future

• you can see who else favorited the same pictures.

IV. phrases

favorite son

a. a famous man who is particularly popular and praised for his achievements in his native area

• Green Bay's favorite son is equal parts laid-back and hot-blooded.

b. (US) a person supported as a presidential candidate by delegates from the candidate's home state.

– origin late 16th cent. (as a noun): from obsolete French favorit, from Italian favorito, past participle of favorire ‘to favor,’ from Latin favor (see favor).

favoritism /ˈfāv(ə)rəˌtizəm/

noun

the practice of giving unfair preferential treatment to one person or group at the expense of another.

favrile glass /fəvˈrē ˌɡlas/

I. noun

a richly colored iridescent glass, developed by L. C. Tiffany.

– origin late 19th cent.: formed as a trademark from the obsolete adjective fabrile ‘of a craftsman.’

Fawkes, Guy /fôks/

(1570–1606), English conspirator. He was hanged for his part in the Gunpowder Plot of November 5, 1605. The occasion is commemorated annually in Britain on November 5 with fireworks, bonfires, and the burning of an effigy called a guy.

fawn^1 /fôn/

I. noun

1. a young deer in its first year.

2. a light yellowish-brown color.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a deer) produce young.

III. phrases

in fawn

(of a deer) pregnant.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French faon, based on Latin fetus ‘offspring’; compare with fetus.

fawn^2 /fôn/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a person) give a servile display of exaggerated flattery or affection, typically in order to gain favor or advantage

• congressmen fawn over the President.

2. (of an animal, especially a dog) show slavish devotion, especially by crawling and rubbing against someone.

– origin Old English fagnian ‘make or be glad’; related to fain.

fawner /ˈfônər ˈfänər/

noun

a person who gives a servile display of exaggerated flattery or affection

• the consummate fawner was able to sway a president with false deference.

fawning /ˈfôniNG/

I. adjective

displaying exaggerated flattery or affection; obsequious

• fawning adoration

• fawning interviews with Hollywood celebs.

II. derivatives

fawningly

adverb

fax /faks/

I. noun

1. an image of a document made by electronic scanning and transmitted as data by telecommunication links.

2. the production or transmission of faxes

• he received the report by fax.

3. (also fax machine) — a machine for transmitting and receiving faxes.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. send (a document) by fax.

2. contact (someone) by fax

• to obtain a brochure, fax the agent

• [no obj.] the best way to order materials was to fax.

– origin 1940s: abbreviation of facsimile.

fay /fā/

I. noun

‹literary› a fairy.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French fae, faie, from Latin fata ‘the Fates,’ plural of fatum (see fate). Compare with fairy.

fayalite /fəˈyälˌīt/

I. noun

a black or brown mineral that is an iron-rich form of olivine and occurs in many igneous rocks.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Fayal (the name of an island in the Azores) + -ite^1.

Fayetteville /ˈfāətˌvil, -vəl/

I. a commercial city in northwestern Arkansas, home to the University of Arkansas; pop. 73,372 (est. 2008).

II. a commercial city in south central North Carolina; pop. 174,091 (est. 2008).

fayre /fer/

noun

(Brit.) pseudoarchaic spelling of fair^2 and fare (sense 2 of the noun).

faze /fāz/

I. verb — [with obj., usu. with negative]

1. ‹informal› disturb or disconcert (someone)

• she was not fazed by his show of anger.

– origin mid 19th cent.: variant of dialect feeze ‘drive or frighten off,’ from Old English fēsian. / usage: Faze has no connection with the word phase and should not be spelled with a ph-, although this is a common error: almost a quarter of citations for the word in the Oxford English Corpus are for the incorrect spelling.

fazenda /fəˈzendə/

I. noun

an estate or large farm in Portugal, Brazil, and other Portuguese-speaking countries.

– origin Portuguese (see hacienda).

fazendeiro /ˌfazənˈdārō/

I. noun

a person who owns or occupies a fazenda.

– origin Portuguese.

fb f.b.

abbreviation

[Sports] fullback.

FB

abbreviation

1. foreign body.

2. freight bill.

FBI /ˈˌef ˌbē ˈī/

abbreviation

Federal Bureau of Investigation.

F-bomb

noun

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) used as a euphemism for the word “fuck”, with reference to the latter's taboo status and potential to shock or offend

• I got caught on air dropping the F-bomb.

f.c.

abbreviation

1. fielder's choice.

2. follow copy.

FCA

abbreviation

Farm Credit Association.

fcap.

abbreviation

foolscap.

FCC

abbreviation

Federal Communications Commission.

FCS

abbreviation

Fellow of the Chemical Society.

fcy.

abbreviation

fancy.

FD

abbreviation

1. Defender of the Faith.
[from Latin Fidei Defensor.]

2. Fire Department.

FDA /ˈˌef ˈˌdē ˈā/

abbreviation

Food and Drug Administration.

FDC

abbreviation

first day cover.

FDDI

abbreviation

fiber-distributed data interface, a communications, cabling, and hardware standard for high-speed optical-fiber networks.

FDI

abbreviation

foreign direct investment.

FDIC

abbreviation

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, a body that underwrites most private bank deposits.

FDR

the nickname of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (see Roosevelt, Franklin Delano).

Fe

I. symbol

the chemical element iron.

– origin from Latin ferrum.

fealty /ˈfē(ə)ltē/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› a feudal tenant's or vassal's sworn loyalty to a lord

• they owed fealty to the Earl rather than the King.

2. ‹historical› formal acknowledgment of this

• a property for which she did fealty.

– origin Middle English: from Old French feau(l)te, fealte, from Latin fidelitas (see fidelity).

fear /ˈfir/

I. noun

1. an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat

• drivers are threatening to quit their jobs in fear after a cabby's murder

• fear of increasing unemployment

• he is prey to irrational fears.

2. ‹archaic› a mixed feeling of dread and reverence

• the love and fear of God.

3. (fear for) — a feeling of anxiety concerning the outcome of something or the safety and well-being of someone

• police launched a search for the family amid fears for their safety.

4. the likelihood of something unwelcome happening

• she could observe the other guests without too much fear of attracting attention.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. be afraid of (someone or something) as likely to be dangerous, painful, or threatening

• he said he didn't care about life so why should he fear death?

• [with clause] farmers fear that they will lose business.

2. [no obj.] (fear for) — feel anxiety or apprehension on behalf of

• I fear for the city with this madman let loose in it.

3. [with infinitive] — avoid or put off doing something because one is afraid

• they aim to make war so horrific that potential aggressors will fear to resort to it.

4. used to express regret or apology

• I'll buy her book, though not, I fear, the hardback version.

5. ‹archaic› regard (God) with reverence and awe.

III. phrases

1. for fear of (or that)

to avoid the risk of (or that)

• no one dared refuse the order for fear of losing their job.

2. never fear

used to reassure someone

• we shall meet again, never fear.

3. put the fear of God in (or into) someone

cause someone to be very frightened.

4. without fear or favor

impartially

• make all your decisions without fear or favor.

– origin Old English fǣr ‘calamity, danger,’ fǣran ‘frighten,’ also ‘revere.’

fearful /ˈfirfəl/

I. adjective

1. feeling afraid; showing fear or anxiety

• bond traders have remained fearful of inflation

• [with clause] the mothers were fearful that their daughters would marry and move abroad.

2. causing or likely to cause people to be afraid; horrifying

• a fearful accident.

3. ‹informal› very great

• he could cause a fearful commotion.

II. derivatives

fearfulness /ˈfirfəlnəs /

noun

fearfully /ˈfirfəlē/

adverb

1. in an anxious manner; apprehensively

• he glanced over his shoulder fearfully.

2. [as submodifier] — dreadfully; extremely

• she was fearfully worried for the welfare of her family.

fearless /ˈfirləs/

adjective

lacking fear

• a fearless defender of freedom.

fearlessly /ˈfirləslē/

adverb

with a lack of fear

• he fearlessly challenges the Government's version of events

• He acted fearlessly when necessary.

fearlessness /ˈfirləsnəs/

noun

lack of fear

• she quickly earned a reputation for fearlessness, despite her stature.

fearmongering /ˈfirˌməNGəriNG/

I. noun

the action of deliberately arousing public fear or alarm about a particular issue

• his campaign for re-election was based on fearmongering and deception.

II. derivatives

fearmonger

noun

fearsome /ˈfirsəm/

I. adjective

frightening, especially in appearance

• the cat mewed, displaying a fearsome set of teeth.

II. derivatives

1. fearsomely /ˈfirsəmlē /

adverb

2. fearsomeness

noun

feasibility /ˌfēzəˈbilədē/

noun

the state or degree of being easily or conveniently done

• the feasibility of a manned flight to Mars.

feasibility study /ˌfēzəˈbilədē ˈstədē/

noun

an assessment of the practicality of a proposed plan or method.

feasible /ˈfēzəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. possible to do easily or conveniently

• it is not feasible to put most finds from excavations on public display.

2. ‹informal› likely; probable

• the most feasible explanation.

II. derivatives

feasibly /ˈfēzəblē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Old French faisible, from fais-, stem of faire ‘do, make,’ from Latin facere. / usage: The primary meaning of feasible is 'capable of being done or effected.' There is rarely a need to use feasible to mean 'likely' or 'probable' when those words can do the job. There are cases, however, in which a careful writer finds that the sense of likelihood or probability (as with an explanation or theory) is more naturally or idiomatically expressed with feasible than with possible or probable.

feast /fēst/

I. noun

1. a large meal, typically one in celebration of something

• a wedding feast.

2. a plentiful supply of something enjoyable, especially for the mind or senses

• the concert season offers a feast of classical music.

3. an annual religious celebration.

4. a day dedicated to a particular saint

• the feast of St. Joseph.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. eat and drink sumptuously

• the men would congregate and feast after hunting.

2. (feast on) — eat large quantities of

• we sat feasting on barbecued chicken and beer.

3. [with obj.] — give (someone) a plentiful and delicious meal

• he was feasted and invited to all the parties.

III. phrases

1. skeleton at the feast

a person or thing that brings gloom or sadness to an otherwise pleasant or celebratory occasion.

2. feast one's eyes on

gaze at with pleasure.

3. feast or famine

either too much of something or too little.

IV. derivatives

feaster /ˈfēstər /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French feste (noun), fester (verb), from Latin festa, neuter plural of festus ‘joyous.’ Compare with fête and fiesta.

feast day

noun

a day on which a celebration, especially an annual Christian one, is held.

Feast of Dedication

noun

another name for Hanukkah.

Feast of Tabernacles

noun

another name for Succoth.

Feast of Weeks

noun

another name for Shavuoth.

feat /fēt/

I. noun

an achievement that requires great courage, skill, or strength

• the new printing presses were considerable feats of engineering.

– origin late Middle English (in the general sense ‘action or deed’): from Old French fait, from Latin factum (see fact).

feather /ˈfeT͟Hər/

I. noun

1. any of the flat appendages growing from a bird's skin and forming its plumage, consisting of a partly hollow horny shaft fringed with vanes of barbs.

2. one of the feathers or featherlike vanes fastened to the shaft of an arrow or a dart.

3. (feathers) — a fringe of long hair on the legs of a dog, horse, or other animal.

4. a small side branch on a tree.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — rotate the blades of (a propeller) about their own axes in such a way as to lessen the air or water resistance.

2. vary the angle of attack of (rotor blades).

3. [Rowing] turn (an oar) so that it passes through the air edgewise

• he turned, feathering one oar slowly.

4. [no obj.] — float, move, or wave like a feather

• the green fronds feathered against a blue sky.

5. [with obj.] — touch (someone or something) very lightly.

6. [with obj.] — shorten or taper the hair by cutting or trimming

• my sister had her hair feathered.

III. phrases

1. a feather in one's cap

an achievement to be proud of.

2. feather one's (own) nest

make money illicitly and at someone else's expense.

3. (as) light as a feather

extremely light and insubstantial.

IV. derivatives

featherless /ˈfeT͟Hərləs /

adjective

– origin Old English fether, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin penna ‘feather’ and Greek pteron ‘wing.’

featherback /ˈfeT͟Hərˌbak/

noun

a tropical freshwater fish native to southern Asia and Africa, with a strongly humped back, a small, featherlike dorsal fin, and a long anal fin that runs from the belly to the tail.
[Family Notopteridae: four genera and several species, in particular the large edible Notopterus chitala of Asia.]

featherbed /ˈfeT͟Hərˌbed/

I. noun

a bed that has a mattress stuffed with feathers.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. provide (someone) with advantageous economic or working conditions

• apart from the fees he earns, a practicing lawyer is not featherbedded in any way.

2. (usu. as noun featherbedding) — deliberately limit production or retain excess staff in (a business) in order to create jobs or prevent unemployment, typically as a result of a union contract.

featherbrain /ˈfeT͟Hərˌbrān / featherhead

I. noun

a silly or absentminded person

• things can't help but be wrong in a household run by such a featherbrain

• Miss Fillamore called her a featherhead and said she was foolish to give up a secure position.

II. derivatives

featherbrained /ˈfeT͟Hərˌbrānd / featherheaded

adjective

• the most senior members of the staff were involved in this featherbrained crime

• I was just a fumbling featherheaded kid

feather duster /ˈfeT͟Hər ˈdəstər/

noun

1. a long-handled brush with a head made of feathers, used for dusting.

2. (also feather duster worm) — (US) another term for fan worm.

feathered /ˈfeT͟Hərd/

adjective

1. (of a bird) covered with feathers
[in combination]

• black-feathered ostriches.

2. decorated with feathers

• a feathered hat.

feathered friend

noun — (usu. feathered friends)

1. ‹informal› ‹humorous› a bird.

feather edge

noun

a fine edge produced by tapering a board or other object.

feathering /ˈfeT͟HəriNG/

noun

1. the plumage of a bird or part of a bird.

2. featherlike markings or structure

• traditional finishes such as marbling and feathering.

3. the feathers of an arrow.

4. fringes of hairs on the appendages or body of a dog.

5. [Architecture] cusping in tracery.

6. the action of varying the angle of propellers, rotor blades, or oars so as to reduce air or water resistance.

featherlight /ˈfeT͟Hərˌlīt/

adjective

extremely light

• a featherlight touch.

feather star

noun

an echinoderm with a small disklike body, long feathery arms for feeding and movement, and short appendages for grasping the surface.
[Order Comatulida, class Crinoidea.]

featherstitch /ˈfeT͟HərˌstiCH/

I. noun

ornamental zigzag sewing.

II. verb — [with obj., usu. as noun]

1. sew (something) with a featherstitch.

feathertail glider /ˈfeT͟Hərtāl ˌɡlīdər/

noun

an Australian pygmy possum with a flap of skin between the fore- and hind limbs for gliding, and a feathery tail.
[Acrobates pygmaeus, family Burramyidae. Alternative name: flying mouse.]

featherweight /ˈfeT͟Hərˌwāt/

noun

1. a weight in boxing and other sports intermediate between bantamweight and lightweight. It ranges from 118 to 126 pounds (54 to 57 kg).

2. a featherweight boxer or other competitor.

3. a very light person or thing.

4. a person or thing not worth serious consideration

• he is an intellectual featherweight.

feathery /ˈfeT͟H(ə)rē/

I. adjective

having, covered with, or resembling feathers

• wisps of feathery blonde hair.

II. derivatives

featheriness /ˈfeT͟H(ə)rēnəs /

noun

feature /ˈfēCHər/

I. noun

1. a distinctive attribute or aspect of something

• safety features like dual air bags.

2. (usu. features) — a part of the face, such as the mouth or eyes, making a significant contribution to its overall appearance.

3. [Linguistics] a distinctive characteristic of a linguistic unit, especially a speech sound or vocabulary item, that serves to distinguish it from others of the same type.

4. a newspaper or magazine article or a broadcast program devoted to the treatment of a particular topic, typically at length

• a feature on Detroit's downtown fishery.

5. (also feature film) — a full-length film intended as the main item in a movie theater program.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. have as a prominent attribute or aspect

• the hotel features a large lounge, a sauna, and a coin-operated solarium.

2. have as an important actor or participant

• the film featured Glenn Miller and his Orchestra.

3. [no obj.] (often be featured) — be a significant characteristic of or take an important part in

• this famous photograph is prominently featured in art collections.

4. [no obj.] — be apparent

• women rarely feature in writing on land settlement.

– origin late Middle English (originally denoting the form or proportions of the body, or a physical feature): from Old French faiture ‘form,’ from Latin factura (see facture).

feature-complete

adjective

[Computing] denoting a version of a piece of software having all the functionality intended for the final version but requiring some improvements and fixes before release

• a feature-complete Beta 3 of Windows 2000 is due later this quarter.

featured /ˈfēCHərd/

adjective

1. [in combination] — having distinctive attributes or aspects of a specified kind

• the front of the chassis is well featured

• the complexities of a fully featured computer.

2. [in combination] — having facial parts, such as the mouth, nose, and eyes, of a specified kind

• this blond, blue-eyed, regular-featured queen

• my aunt was a tall, hard-featured lady.

3. (of a newspaper or magazine article, broadcast program, or show) made a special attraction

• our featured interview for this issue

• he was the featured guest artist.

feature-length /ˈfēCHər ˈˌleNGTH/

adjective

of the length of a typical feature film or program

• a feature-length documentary.

featureless /ˈfēCHərləs/

adjective

lacking distinctive attributes or aspects

• a featureless landscape of snow and ice.

feature phone

noun

a mobile phone that incorporates features such as the ability to access the Internet and store and play music but lacks the advanced functionality of a smartphone.

Feb.

abbreviation

February.

febrifuge /ˈfebrəˌfyo͞oj/

I. noun

a medicine used to reduce fever.

II. derivatives

febrifugal /fəˈbrif(y)əɡ(ə)l ˌfebrəˈfyo͞oɡ(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late 17th cent.: from French fébrifuge, from Latin febris ‘fever’ + fugare ‘drive away.’ Compare with feverfew.

febrile /ˈfeˌbrīl ˈfēˌbrīl/

I. adjective

1. having or showing the symptoms of a fever

• a febrile illness.

2. having or showing a great deal of nervous excitement or energy

• a febrile imagination.

II. derivatives

febrility /fēˈbrilətē /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French fébrile or medieval Latin febrilis, from Latin febris ‘fever.’

February /ˈfeb(y)o͞oˌerē ˈfebro͞oˌerē/

I. noun

the second month of the year, in the northern hemisphere usually considered the last month of winter

• even in February the place is busy

• [as modifier] a freezing February morning.

– origin Middle English feverer, from Old French feverier, based on Latin februarius, from februa, the name of a purification feast held in this month. The spelling change in the 15th cent. was due to association with the Latin word. / usage: Note that February is spelled with an r following the Feb-. Precise speakers insist that the r should be pronounced, but this is not easy, and most people replace the r following Feb- with a y sound: Feb-yoo- rather than Feb-roo-. This is now becoming the accepted standard.

fec.

I. abbreviation

he or she made it.

– origin from Latin fecit.

fecal /ˈfēkəl / ‹Brit.› faecal

adjective

relating to or resembling feces

• discharge of fecal matter

• fecal incontinence.

feces /ˈfēsēz / ‹Brit.› faeces

I. plural noun

waste matter discharged from the bowels after food has been digested; excrement.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin, plural of faex ‘dregs.’

feckless /ˈfekləs/

I. adjective

lacking initiative or strength of character; irresponsible

• a feckless mama's boy

• an unfortunate example of feckless filmmaking.

• the feckless exploitation of the world's natural resources.

II. derivatives

1. fecklessly

adverb

2. fecklessness /ˈfekləsnəs /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from Scots and northern English dialect feck (from effeck, variant of effect) + -less.

feculent /ˈfekyələnt/

I. adjective

of or containing dirt, sediment, or waste matter

• their feet were forever slipping on feculent bog.

II. derivatives

feculence /ˈfekyələns /

noun

– origin late 15th cent.: from French féculent or Latin faeculentus, from faex, faec- ‘dregs.’

fecund /ˈfekənd ˈfēkənd/

I. adjective

1. producing or capable of producing an abundance of offspring or new growth; fertile

• a lush and fecund garden

• ‹figurative› her fecund imagination.

2. ‹technical› (of a woman or women) capable of becoming pregnant and giving birth.

– origin late Middle English: from French fécond or Latin fecundus ‘fruitful.’

fecundate /ˈfekənˌdāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. fertilize

• there were no insects to fecundate flowering plants.

2. ‹literary› make fruitful

• he actuates and fecundates our souls.

II. derivatives

fecundation /ˌfēk(ə)nˈdāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin fecundat- ‘made fruitful,’ from the verb fecundare, from fecundus ‘fruitful.’

fecundity /feˈkəndədē fiˈkəndədē/

noun

1. the ability to produce an abundance of offspring or new growth; fertility

• multiply mated females show increased fecundity

• age-related decline in female fecundity.

2. the ability to produce many new ideas

• the immense fecundity of his imagination made a profound impact on European literature.

fed /fed/

past and past participle of feed.

Fed /fed/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› (US) a federal agent or official, especially a member of the FBI

• I don't think he has any friends since he ratted to the Feds.

2. (the feds) — ‹informal› (Brit.) the police

• her two older brothers had got a restraining order put on them by the feds.

3. (usu. the Fed) — ‹informal› (US) short for Federal Reserve.

– origin early 20th cent.: abbreviation of federal. The abbreviation fed had previously been used in the late 18th cent. to denote a member of the Federalist party, who advocated a union of American colonies after the American Revolution.

fed.

abbreviation

1. federal.

2. federated.

3. federation.

fedayeen /ˌfedāˈēn, -dīˈēn/

I. plural noun

Arab guerrillas operating especially in Israel and Palestine against the Israeli government, and in Iraq against the occupying coalition forces during and after the Second Gulf War.

– origin 1950s: from colloquial Arabic fidā'iyīn, plural of classical Arabic fidā'ī ‘one who gives his life for another or for a cause,’ from fadā ‘to ransom someone.’ The singular fedai (from Arabic and Persian fidā'ī) had previously been used (late 19th cent.) to denote an Ismaili Muslim assassin.

federacy /ˈfed(ə)rəsē/

I. noun

1. a group of states with a central government but independence in internal affairs; a federation.

2. the state of being joined by a treaty.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from federate + -acy, on the pattern of confederacy.

federal /ˈfed(ə)rəl/

I. adjective

1. having or relating to a system of government in which several states form a unity but remain independent in internal affairs

• Russia's federation treaty shares powers among Russia's federal and local governments.

2. of, relating to, or denoting the central government as distinguished from the separate units constituting a federation

• the federal agency that provides legal services to the poor.

3. of, relating to, or denoting the central government of the US.

4. (Federal) — (US) ‹historical› of the northern states in the Civil War

• a loud Federal cheer was heard, proving Stonewall to be hard pressed.

II. derivatives

1. federalization /ˌfed(ə)rəliˈzāSHən /

noun

2. federalize /ˈfed(ə)rəˌlīz /

verb

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin foedus, foeder- ‘league, covenant’ + -al.

Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI

an agency of the US federal government that deals principally with internal security and counter-intelligence and that also conducts investigations in federal law enforcement. It was established in 1908 as a branch of the Department of Justice, but was substantially reorganized under the controversial directorship (1924–72) of J. Edgar Hoover.

federal case

noun

1. (US) [Law] a criminal case that falls under the jurisdiction of a federal court.

2. ‹informal› a matter of great concern or with dire consequences

• I'm not trying to make a federal case out of this, Christine, but you've got to do something.

federal holiday

noun

a public holiday established by the federal government of a country

• there's no mail today because it's a federal holiday.

federalism /ˈfed(ə)rəˌlizəm/

noun

1. the federal principle or system of government

• the politics of federalism in Canada.

2. (Federalism) — the principles of the Federalist Party.

3. in Canada, support of confederation in opposition to Quebec separatism.

federalist /ˈfed(ə)rələst/

I. noun

1. a person who advocates or supports a system of government in which several states unite under a central authority

• the ideas of the European federalists.

2. (Federalist) — (US) a member or supporter of the Federalist Party

• they captured both the legislative and the executive branches of the federal government from the Federalists.

II. adjective

1. relating to or denoting a system of government in which several states unite under a central authority

• the federalist structure of the American system of government.

2. (Federalist) — (US) designating or pertaining to the Federalist Party

• it was not a weapon that could reach the Federalist judges.

Federalist Papers The Federalist

a collection of essays written under the pseudonym “Publius” by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, addressed to “The People of the State of New York,” first published in New York City newspapers between October 1787 and August 1788. The purpose of The Federalist was to persuade New Yorkers to ratify the Constitution adopted in Philadelphia in September 1787.

Federalist Party

an early political party in the US, joined by George Washington during his presidency (1789–97) and in power until 1801. The party's emphasis on strong central government was extremely important in the early years after independence, but by the 1820s it had been superseded by the Democratic-Republican Party.

federally /ˈfed(ə)rəlē/

adverb

by means of the central government as distinguished from the separate units constituting a federation

• federally funded projects

• over 20 million acres of federally administered forests.

Federal Open Market Committee

noun

a committee of the Federal Reserve Board that meets regularly to set monetary policy, including the interest rates that are charged to banks.

Federal Register

noun

a daily publication of the US federal government that issues proposed and final administrative regulations of federal agencies.

Federal Republic of Germany /ˈfed(ə)rəl rəˈpəblik rēˈpəblik əv ə ˈjərmənē/

I. former name of West Germany (see Germany).

II. the official name of Germany.

Federal Reserve

the federal banking authority in the US that performs the functions of a central bank and is used to implement the country's monetary policy, providing a national system of reserve cash available to banks. Created in 1913, the Federal Reserve System consists of twelve Federal Reserve Districts, each having a Federal Reserve Bank. These are controlled from Washington, DC, by the Federal Reserve Board consisting of governors appointed by the US president with Senate approval.

Federal Trade Commission

noun

[Finance] a federal agency, established in 1914, that administers antitrust and consumer protection legislation in pursuit of free and fair competition in the marketplace.

Federal Way

a city in west central Washington that lies between Seattle and Tacoma; pop. 84,309 (est. 2008).

federate

I. verb — /ˈfedəˌrāt /

1. (with reference to a number of states or organizations) form or be formed into a single centralized unit, within which each state or organization keeps some internal autonomy
[no obj.]

• In 1901 the six colonies federated to form the Commonwealth of Australia

• [with obj.] Eritrea was federated with Ethiopia in 1952

• (as adjective federated) the establishment of 20 federated states in Mindanao.

II. adjective — /ˈfed(ə)rət /

1. of or relating to a federated state or organization

• federate armies.

III. derivatives

federative /ˈfed(ə)rədiv ˈfedəˌrādiv /

adjective

– origin early 18th cent. (as an adjective): from late Latin foederatus, based on foedus, foeder- ‘league, covenant.’

Federated States of Micronesia

full name for Micronesia (sense 2).

federation /ˌfedəˈrāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a group of states with a central government but independence in internal affairs
[in names]

• should the world be governed by a Pax Americana or by a democratic UN federation?

2. an organization or group within which smaller divisions have some degree of internal autonomy
[in names]

• the best tag team in the World Wrestling Federation.

3. the action of forming states or organizations into a single group with centralized control

• a first step in the federation of Europe.

II. derivatives

federationist /-ist /

noun

– origin early 18th cent.: from French fédération, from late Latin foederatio(n-), from the verb foederare ‘to ally,’ from foedus ‘league.’

Federer, Roger /ˈfedərər/

(1981–), Swiss tennis player. In 2012 he won his seventh Wimbledon title, this being his 17th grand slam singles title.

fedora /fəˈdôrə/

I. noun

a low, soft felt hat with a curled brim and the crown creased lengthwise.

– origin late 19th cent. (originally US): from Fédora, the title of a drama (1882) written by the French dramatist Victorien Sardou (1831–1908).

fed up /ˌfed ˈəp/

adjective — [predic.]

1. annoyed or upset at a situation or treatment

• he was fed up with doing all the work.

fee /fē/

I. noun

1. a payment made to a professional person or to a professional or public body in exchange for advice or services.

2. money paid as part of a special transaction, e.g., for a privilege or for admission to something

• the gallery charges an admission fee.

3. (usu. fees) — money regularly paid (especially to a school or similar institution) for continuing services

• high tuition fees required by the schools.

4. [Law] ‹historical› an estate of land, especially one held on condition of feudal service.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹rare› make a payment to (someone) in return for services.

III. phrases

hold something in fee

[Law] ‹historical› hold an estate in return for feudal service to a superior.

– origin Middle English: from an Anglo-Norman French variant of Old French feu, fief, from medieval Latin feodum, feudum, ultimately of Germanic origin. Compare with feu and fief.

feeb /fēb / ‹informal›

noun

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a feebleminded person.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› an FBI agent.

feebate /ˈfēbāt/

I. noun

a system of charges and rebates whereby energy-efficient or environmentally friendly practices are rewarded while failure to adhere to such practices is penalized.

– origin 1990s: blend of fee and rebate.

feeble /ˈfēbəl/

I. adjective

1. lacking physical strength, especially as a result of age or illness

• my legs are very feeble after the flu.

2. (of a sound) faint

• his voice sounded feeble and far away.

3. lacking strength of character

• she overreacted in such a feeble, juvenile way.

4. failing to convince or impress

• a feeble excuse.

II. derivatives

feebleness /ˈfēbəlnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French fieble, earlier fleible, from Latin flebilis ‘lamentable,’ from flere ‘weep.’

feebleminded /ˌfēbəlˈmīndəd/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) unable to make intelligent decisions or judgments.

2. (of an idea or proposal) lacking in sense or clear direction

• a feebleminded policy.

3. ‹dated› (of a person) having less than average intelligence.

II. derivatives

1. feeblemindedly feeble-mindedly

adverb

2. feeblemindedness feeble-mindedness

noun

feebly /ˈfēblē/

adverb

1. in a way that lacks strength or force

• I smiled feebly

• many, from fear, cried out feebly.

2. in a way that fails to convince or impress

• he feebly attempted to defend the challenge

• Plan D, a feebly disguised version of Plan C.

feed /fēd/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. give food to

• the raiders fed the guard dog to keep it quiet

• [with two objs.] he fed her brownies he had just baked.

2. [no obj.] — (especially of an animal or baby) take food; eat something

• morays emerge at night to feed.

3. provide an adequate supply of food for

• the island's simple agriculture could hardly feed its inhabitants.

4. [no obj.] (feed on/off) — derive regular nourishment from (a particular substance)

• the bird feeds on cliff-top vegetation

• ‹figurative› his powerful mind fed off political discussion.

5. encourage the growth of

• I could feed my melancholy by reading Romantic poetry.

6. give fertilizer to (a plant).

7. put fuel on (a fire).

8. supply (a machine) with material, power, or other things necessary for its operation

• the programs are fed into the computer.

9. [with two objs.] — supply (someone) with (information, ideas, etc.)

• I think he is feeding his old employer commercial secrets.

10. supply water to (a body of water)

• the pond is fed by a small stream

• [no obj.] water feeds into the lower pool.

11. insert further coins into (a meter) to extend the time for which it operates.

12. [with two objs.] — prompt (an actor) with (a line)

• you were still in the wings feeding Micky his lines.

13. (in ball games) pass (the ball) to a player

• he took the ball and fed Salley.

14. (US) distribute (a broadcast) to local television or radio stations via satellite or network

• programs that the national networks feed to local stations.

15. cause to move gradually and steadily, typically through a confined space

• make holes through which to feed the cables.

II. noun

1. an act of giving food, especially to animals or a baby, or of having food given to one

• I've just given the horse her feed.

2. ‹informal› a meal

• how 'bout I fix up a nice hot feed?

3. food for domestic animals

• the crops are grown for animal feed

• cow feed.

4. a device or conduit for supplying material to a machine

• the plotter has a continuous paper feed.

5. the supply of raw material to a machine or device
[as modifier]

• a feed pipe.

6. a broadcast distributed by satellite or network from a central source to a large number of radio or television stations

• a satellite feed from Washington.

7. [Computing] a facility for notifying the user of a blog or other frequently updated website that new content has been added

• most blogs and news sites offer RSS feeds of their latest content.

8. a line or prompt given to an actor on stage.

9. an actor who provides a feed to a fellow performer.

III. phrases

off one's feed

‹informal› having no appetite.

IV. phrasal verbs

feed back

a. (of a response) influence the development of the thing that has given rise to it

• what the audience tells me feeds back into my work.

b. (of an electrical or other system) produce feedback.

– origin Old English fēdan (verb); related to food.

feedback /ˈfēdˌbak/

noun

1. information about reactions to a product, a person's performance of a task, etc., used as a basis for improvement.

2. the modification or control of a process or system by its results or effects, e.g., in a biochemical pathway or behavioral response.
See also negative feedback, positive feedback.

3. the return of a fraction of the output signal from an amplifier, microphone, or other device to the input of the same device; sound distortion produced by this.

feedbag /ˈfēdbaɡ/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) a strong canvas or leather bag containing grain, fastened over a horse's muzzle for feeding

• I refilled her water trough and feedbag.

2. (N. Amer.) a small lightweight bag containing food and drink, given to riders during a cycling race

• a helper was trying to hand out the feedbags to the riders.

feed box

noun

an open container in which food for animals is placed

• he keeps a mineral block in the feed box for the calves to lick.

feed dog

noun

the mechanism in a sewing machine that feeds the material under the needle.

feeder /ˈfēdər/

noun

1. a person or animal that eats a particular food or in a particular manner

• a plankton feeder.

2. a container filled with food for birds or mammals.

3. a person or thing that supplies something, in particular

4. a device supplying material to a machine

• the automatic sheet feeder holds up to 10 sheets of paper.

5. a tributary stream.

6. [usu. as modifier] — a branch road or railroad line linking outlying districts with a main communication system.

7. a transmission line carrying electricity to a distribution point.

8. [usu. as modifier] — a school, sports team, etc., from which members move on to one more advanced

• a feeder school for Florida State University.

feeder school

noun

a school from which many or most students progress to a particular higher-level educational institution

• the school takes pupils from six main feeder schools.

feedforward /ˌfēdˈfôrwərd/

noun

the modification or control of a process using its anticipated results or effects.

feeding bottle /ˈfēdiNG ˌbädl/

noun

(Brit.) a bottle fitted with a nipple for feeding a baby.

feeding frenzy

noun

1. an aggressive and competitive group attack on prey by a number of sharks or piranhas.

2. an episode of frantic competition or rivalry for something

• his casual remark caused a media feeding-frenzy.

feedlot /ˈfēdlät/

noun

an area or building where livestock are fed and fattened up.

feedstock /ˈfēdstäk/

noun

raw material to supply or fuel a machine or industrial process.

feedstuff /ˈfēdˌstəf/

noun — (usu. feedstuffs)

1. a food provided for cattle and other livestock.

feedthrough /ˈfēdTHro͞o/

noun

an electrical connector used to join two parts of a circuit on opposite sides of something, such as a circuit board or a grounding screen.

feel /fēl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. be aware of (a person or object) through touching or being touched

• she felt someone touch her shoulder.

2. be aware of (something happening) through physical sensation

• she felt the ground give way beneath her.

3. examine or search by touch

• he touched her head and felt her hair

• [no obj.] he felt around for the matches.

4. [no obj.] — be capable of sensation

• the dead cannot feel.

5. [no obj., with complement] — give a sensation of a particular physical quality when touched

• the wool feels soft.

6. (feel something out) — ‹informal› investigate something cautiously

• they want to feel out the situation.

7. (feel someone up) — ‹informal› fondle someone for one's own sexual stimulation.

8. experience (an emotion or sensation)

• I felt a sense of excitement

• [no obj.] I felt angry and humiliated

• we feel very strongly about freedom of expression.

9. [no obj., with complement] — consider oneself to be in a particular state or exhibiting particular qualities

• he doesn't feel obliged to visit every weekend.

10. (feel up to) — have the strength and energy to do or deal with

• after the accident she didn't feel up to driving.

11. [usu. with negative] (feel oneself) — be healthy and well

• Ruth was not quite feeling herself.

12. be emotionally affected by

• he didn't feel the loss of his mother so keenly.

13. (feel for) — have compassion for

• poor woman—I feel for her.

14. [with clause] — have a belief or impression, especially without an identifiable reason

• she felt that the woman positively disliked her.

15. hold an opinion

• I felt I could make a useful contribution.

II. noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. an act of touching something to examine it.

2. the sense of touch

• he worked by feel rather than using his eyes.

3. a sensation given by an object or material when touched

• nylon cloth with a cotton feel.

4. the impression given by something

• the restaurant has a modern bistro feel.

III. phrases

1. feel one's age

become aware that one is growing older and less energetic.

2. feel free (to do something)

have no hesitation or shyness (often used as an invitation or for reassurance)

• feel free to say what you like.

3. feel like (doing) something

be inclined to have or do

• I feel like celebrating.

4. feel one's oats

see oat.

5. feel the pinch

see pinch.

6. feel the pulse of

see pulse^1.

7. feel small

see small.

8. feel strange

see strange.

9. feel one's way

a. find one's way by touch rather than sight

• she plunged into the darkness of the tunnel, feeling her way along the walls.

b. act cautiously, especially in an area with which one is unfamiliar

• she was new in the job, still feeling her way.

10. get a (or the) feel for (or of)

familiarize oneself with

• you can explore to get a feel of the place.

11. have a feel for

have a sensitive appreciation or an intuitive understanding of

• you have to have a feel for animals.

12. make oneself (or one's presence) felt

have a noticeable effect or influence

• the economic crisis began to make itself felt.

– origin Old English fēlan.

feeler /ˈfēlər/

noun

1. an animal organ such as an antenna or palp that is used for testing things by touch or for searching for food.

2. a tentative proposal intended to ascertain someone's attitude or opinion

• he put out feelers about seeking the party nomination.

feeler gauge /ˈfēlər ɡāj/

noun

a gauge consisting of a number of thin blades of calibrated thickness used for measuring narrow gaps or clearances.

feel-good /ˈfēlɡo͝od/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. causing a feeling of happiness and well-being

• a feel-good movie.

II. derivatives

feel-goodism /-ˌɡo͝odˌizəm /

noun

feeling /ˈfēliNG/

I. noun

1. an emotional state or reaction

• a feeling of joy.

2. (feelings) — the emotional side of someone's character; emotional responses or tendencies to respond

• I don't want to hurt her feelings.

3. strong emotion

• “God bless you!” she said with feeling.

4. a belief, especially a vague or irrational one
[with clause]

• he had the feeling that he was being watched.

5. an opinion, typically one shared by several people

• a feeling grew that justice had not been done.

6. the capacity to experience the sense of touch

• a loss of feeling in the hands.

7. the sensation of touching or being touched by a particular thing

• the feeling of water against your skin.

8. (feeling for) — a sensitivity to or intuitive understanding of

• he seems to have little feeling for art.

II. adjective

showing emotion or sensitivity

• he had a warm and feeling heart.

III. derivatives

feelingless

adjective

feelingly /ˈfēliNGlē/

adverb

(of the expression of an emotion or opinion) in a heartfelt way

• “Thank goodness,” she said feelingly.

fee-paying /ˈfēˌpāiNG/

adjective

1. required to pay a fee or fees for a service

• fee-paying students

• fee-paying patients.

2. (chiefly Brit.) (of a school or similar institution) charging fees for continuing services

• many families were making sacrifices to send children to fee-paying schools.

fee simple /ˈfē ˈˌsimpəl/

noun

[Law] a permanent and absolute tenure of an estate in land with freedom to dispose of it at will, especially a freehold tenure, which is the main type of land ownership.

feet /fēt/

plural form of foot.

fee tail

I. noun

[Law] ‹historical› a former type of tenure of an estate in land with restrictions or entailment regarding the line of heirs to whom it may be willed.

– origin late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French fee tailé (see fee, tail^2).

feet first

adverb

1. after death; as a corpse

• everyone told me that they were going to carry me out feet first.

2. without hesitation or preparation

• the show begins in a way that compels the audience to jump in feet first.

feh /fe/

I. exclamation

conveying disapproval, displeasure, or disgust

• The greatest writer in the English language? Feh!

– origin Yiddish.

Fehling's solution /ˈfāliNGz səˌlo͞oSH(ə)n / Fehling's reagent

noun

an alkaline solution of copper(II) sulfate and a tartrate, used in a laboratory test for sugars.

Feiffer, Jules /ˈfīfər/

(1929–), US cartoonist and writer. He is best known for his satirical cartoons, which appeared in The Village Voice and The New Yorker.

feign /fān/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. pretend to be affected by (a feeling, state, or injury)

• she feigned nervousness.

2. ‹archaic› invent (a story or excuse).

3. [no obj.] — ‹archaic› indulge in pretense.

– origin Middle English: from Old French feign-, stem of feindre, from Latin fingere ‘mold, contrive.’ Senses in Middle English (taken from Latin) included ‘make something,’ ‘invent a story, excuse, or allegation,’ hence ‘make a pretense of a feeling or response’ Compare with fiction and figment.

feigned /fānd/

adjective

simulated or pretended; insincere

• her eyes widened with feigned shock.

feijoa /fāˈyōə, -ˈhōə/

I. noun

1. an evergreen shrub or small tree that bears edible green fruit resembling guavas. It is native to tropical South America and cultivated in New Zealand for its fruit.
[Genus Feijoa, family Myrtaceae: two species.]

2. the fruit of the feijoa plant.

– origin late 19th cent.: modern Latin, named after J. da Silva Feijó (1760–1824), Brazilian naturalist.

feijoada /ˌfāZHo͝oˈädə, fāˈjwädə/

I. noun

a Brazilian or Portuguese stew of black beans with pork or other meat and vegetables, served with rice.

– origin Portuguese, from feijão, from Latin phaseolus ‘bean.’

Feinstein, Dianne /ˈfīnˌstīn/

(1933–), US politician. She served as mayor of San Francisco, California 1978–88 before she became a US senator 1992–.

feint^1 /fānt/

I. noun

1. a deceptive or pretended blow, thrust, or other movement, especially in boxing or fencing

• a brief feint at the opponent's face.

2. a mock attack or movement in warfare, made in order to distract or deceive an enemy.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. make a deceptive or distracting movement, typically during a fight

• he feinted left, drawing a punch and slipping it.

2. [with obj.] — pretend to throw a (punch or blow) in order to deceive or distract an opponent

• Feinting a left, I bobbed to the right.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French feinte, past participle (used as a noun) of feindre ‘feign.’

feint^2 /fānt/

I. adjective

1. denoting paper printed with faint lines as a guide for handwriting.

2. denoting the lines so printed.

– origin mid 19th cent.: variant of faint.

feisty /ˈfīstē/

I. adjective

1. ‹informal› (of a person, typically one who is relatively small or weak) lively, determined, and courageous

• a feisty heroine who's more than a pretty face

• a feisty upstart.

2. ‹informal› touchy and aggressive

• he got a bit feisty and tried to hit me.

II. derivatives

1. feistily /ˈfīstəlē /

adverb

2. feistiness /ˈfīstēnis /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: from earlier feist, fist ‘small dog,’ from fisting cur or hound, a derogatory term for a lapdog, from Middle English fist ‘break wind.’ Compare with fizzle.

Feldenkrais method /ˈfeldənkrīs ˌmeTHəd/

I. noun

a system designed to promote bodily and mental well-being by conscious analysis of neuromuscular activity via exercises that improve flexibility and coordination and increase ease and range of motion.

– origin 1930s: named after Moshe Feldenkrais (1904–84), Russian-born physicist and mechanical engineer.

feldspar /ˈfeldspär/

I. noun

an abundant rock-forming mineral typically occurring as colorless or pale-colored crystals and consisting of aluminosilicates of potassium, sodium, and calcium.

– origin mid 18th cent.: alteration of German Feldspat, Feldspath, from Feld ‘field’ + Spat, Spath ‘spar’ (see spar^3). The form felspar is by mistaken association with German Fels ‘rock.’

feldspathic /ˌfeldˈspaTHik/

adjective

[Geology] (of a mineral or rock) of the nature of or containing feldspar.

feldspathoid /ˈfeldspəˌTHoid/

I. noun

[Geology] any of a group of minerals chemically similar to feldspar but containing less silica, such as nepheline and leucite.

II. derivatives

feldspathoidal /ˌfel(d)spaTHˈoidl /

adjective

felicific /ˌfeləˈsifik/

I. adjective

[Ethics] relating to or promoting increased happiness

• the institution of a rule against murder is in general felicific.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin felicificus, from felix, felic- ‘happy.’

felicitate /fəˈlisəˌtāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. congratulate

• the award winner was felicitated by the cultural association.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘regard as or pronounce happy or fortunate’): from late Latin felicitat- ‘made happy,’ from the verb felicitare, from Latin felix, felic- ‘happy.’

felicitations /fəˌlisəˈtāSH(ə)nz/

plural noun

words expressing praise for an achievement or good wishes on a special occasion.

felicitous /fəˈlisədəs/

I. adjective

1. well chosen or suited to the circumstances

• a felicitous phrase.

2. pleasing and fortunate

• the view was the room's only felicitous feature.

II. derivatives

1. felicitously /fəˈlisidəslē /

adverb

2. felicitousness

noun

felicity /fəˈlisədē/

I. noun

1. intense happiness

• domestic felicity.

2. the ability to find appropriate expression for one's thoughts

• speech that pleased by its accuracy, felicity, and fluency.

3. a particularly effective feature of a work of literature or art

• the King James version, thanks to its felicities of language, ruled supreme.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French felicite, from Latin felicitas, from felix, felic- ‘happy.’

felid /ˈfēlid/

I. noun

[Zoology] a mammal of the cat family (Felidae); a wild cat.

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Felidae (plural), from Latin feles ‘cat.’

feline /ˈfēˌlīn/

I. adjective

1. of, relating to, or affecting cats or other members of the cat family

• feline leukemia.

2. catlike, especially in beauty or slyness

• her face was feline in shape.

II. noun

a cat or other member of the cat family.

III. derivatives

felinity /fēˈlinədē /

noun

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin felinus, from feles ‘cat.’

Felipe VI /feˌlēpā T͟Hə ˈsiksTH/

(1968–), king of Spain from 2014; full name Felipe Juan Pablo Alfonso de Todos los Santos de Borbón y de Grecia. His father Juan Carlos abdicated in his favor in 2014.

felix culpa /ˈfāliks ˈko͝olpə, ˈfēliks/

I. noun

1. [Christian Theology] the sin of Adam viewed as fortunate, because it brought about the blessedness of the Redemption.

2. [Christian Theology] an apparent error or disaster with happy consequences

• he presents the revolt of the Noldor as a felix culpa.

– origin mid 20th cent.: Latin, literally ‘happy fault.’

fell^1 /fel/

past of fall.

fell^2 /fel/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (usu. be felled) — cut down (a tree).

2. knock down

• strong winds felled power lines

• ‹figurative› corruption that felled the financial system in Thailand.

3. (also flat-fell) — stitch down (the edge of a seam) to lie flat
(as adj. flat-felled)

• a flat-felled seam.

II. noun

an amount of timber cut.

– origin Old English fellan, of Germanic origin; related to fall.

fell^3 /fel/

I. noun

a hill or stretch of high moorland, especially in northern England
[in place names]

• Cross Fell

• an area of fell and moor.

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse fjall, fell ‘hill.’

fell^4 /fel/

I. adjective

‹literary› of terrible evil or ferocity; deadly

• sorcerers use spells to achieve their fell ends.

II. phrases

in (or at) one fell swoop

all at one time

• nothing can topple the government in one fell swoop.

[from Shakespeare's Macbeth (IV. iii. 219).]

– origin Middle English: from Old French fel, nominative of felon ‘wicked (person’) (see felon^1).

fell^5 /fel/

I. noun

‹archaic› an animal's hide or skin with its hair.

– origin Old English fel, fell, of Germanic origin; from an Indo-European root shared by Latin pellis and Greek pella ‘skin.’

fella /ˈfelə / fellah

noun

nonstandard spelling of fellow, used in representing speech in various dialects:

• goodbye, young fella.

fellah /ˈfelə, felˈä/

I. noun

an Egyptian peasant.

– origin from Arabic fallāḥ ‘tiller of the soil,’ from falaḥa ‘till the soil.’

fellate /ˈfelˌāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. perform fellatio on (a man).

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin fellat- ‘sucked,’ from the verb fellare.

fellatio /fəˈlāSH(ē)ˌō/

I. noun

oral stimulation of a man's penis.

II. derivatives

fellator /ˈfelˌātər /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Latin fellare ‘to suck.’

feller^1 /ˈfelər/

noun

nonstandard spelling of fellow, used in representing speech in various dialects.

feller^2 /ˈfelər/

noun

a person who cuts down trees.

Feller, Bob /ˈfelər/

(1918–), US baseball player; full name Robert William Andrew Feller. He pitched for the Cleveland Indians 1936–56 (with the exception of 1942–44 when he served in the US Navy) and led American League pitchers in strikeouts seven times. Baseball Hall of Fame (1962).

Fellini, Federico /fəˈlēnē/

(1920–93), Italian movie director. Notable movies: La Strada (1954), La Dolce Vita (1960) and 8½ (1963).

felloes /ˈfelōz / fellies

I. plural noun

the outer rim of a wheel, to which the spokes are fixed.

– origin Old English felg (singular).

fellow /ˈfelō/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› a man or boy

• he was an extremely obliging fellow.

2. a boyfriend or lover

• has she got a fellow?

3. (usu. fellows) — a person in the same position, involved in the same activity, or otherwise associated with another

• he was learning with a rapidity unique among his fellows.

4. a thing of the same kind as or otherwise associated with another

• the page has been torn away from its fellows.

5. a member of a learned society

• he was elected a fellow of the Geological Society.

6. (also research fellow) — a student or graduate receiving a fellowship for a period of research.

7. (Brit.) an incorporated senior member of a college

• a tutorial fellow.

8. a member of the governing body in some universities.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. sharing a particular activity, quality, or condition with someone or something

• they urged the troops not to fire on their fellow citizens.

– origin late Old English fēolaga ‘a partner or colleague’ (literally ‘one who lays down money in a joint enterprise’), from Old Norse félagi, from félag ‘partnership’ from fé ‘cattle, property, money’ + lag ‘a laying down,’ from the Germanic base of lay^1.

fellow feeling /ˈfelō ˈˌfēliNG/

noun

sympathy and fellowship existing between people based on shared experiences or feelings.

fellowship /ˈfelōˌSHip/

noun

1. friendly association, especially with people who share one's interests

• they valued fun and good fellowship as the cement of the community.

2. a group of people meeting to pursue a shared interest or aim.

3. a guild or corporation.

4. the status of a fellow of a college or society

• she held the Faulkner fellowship.

fellow traveler

I. noun

1. a person who travels with another.

2. a person who is not a member of a particular group or political party (especially the Communist Party), but who sympathizes with the group's aims and policies.

II. derivatives

fellow traveling

adjective

felo de se /ˌfelō də ˈsā/

I. noun

suicide.

– origin from Anglo-Latin, literally ‘felon of himself’; formerly a criminal act in the UK.

felon^1 /ˈfelən/

I. noun

a person who has been convicted of a felony.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. ‹archaic› cruel; wicked

• the felon undermining hand of dark corruption.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, literally ‘wicked, a wicked person’ (oblique case of fel ‘evil’), from medieval Latin fello, fellon-. Compare with felon^2.

felon^2 /ˈfelən/

I. noun

archaic term for whitlow.

– origin Middle English: perhaps a specific use of felon^1; medieval Latin fello, fellon- had the same sense.

felonious /fəˈlōnēəs/

I. adjective

1. of, relating to, or involved in crime

• they turned their felonious talents to the smuggling trade.

2. [Law] relating to or of the nature of felony

• his conduct was felonious.

II. derivatives

feloniously

adverb

felony /ˈfelənē/

I. noun

a crime, typically one involving violence, regarded as more serious than a misdemeanor, and usually punishable by imprisonment for more than one year or by death

• he pleaded guilty to six felonies

• an accusation of felony.

The distinction between felonies and misdemeanors usually depends on the penalties or consequences attaching to the crime. In English common law, felony originally comprised those offenses (murder, wounding, arson, rape, and robbery) for which the penalty included forfeiture of land and goods.

– origin Middle English: from Old French felonie, from felon (see felon^1).

felsic /ˈfelsik/

I. adjective

[Geology] of, relating to, or denoting a group of light-colored minerals including feldspar, feldspathoids, quartz, and muscovite.
Often contrasted with mafic.

– origin early 20th cent.: from feldspar + a contraction of silica.

felt^1 /felt/

I. noun

a kind of cloth made by rolling and pressing wool or another suitable textile accompanied by the application of moisture or heat, which causes the constituent fibers to mat together to create a smooth surface.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make into felt; mat together

• the wood fibers are shredded and felted together.

2. cover with felt
(as adj. felted)

• a felted roof.

3. [no obj.] — become matted

• care must be taken in washing, or the wool will shrink and felt.

III. derivatives

felty

adjective

– origin Old English; related to filter.

felt^2 /felt/

past and past participle of feel.

felt-tip pen /ˌfeltˌtip ˈpen / felt-tipped pen, felt tip

noun

a pen with a writing point made of felt or other tightly packed fibers, typically containing a brightly colored ink.

felucca /fəˈlo͞okə/

I. noun

a small vessel propelled by oars or lateen sails or both, used on the Nile and formerly more widely in the Mediterranean region.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Italian feluc(c)a, probably from obsolete Spanish faluca, from Arabic fulk ‘ship,’ probably from Greek epholkion ‘(towed) boat.’

fem.

abbreviation

1. female.

2. feminine.

FEMA /ˈfēmə/

abbreviation

Federal Emergency Management Agency.

female /ˈfēˌmāl/

I. adjective

1. of or denoting the sex that can bear offspring or produce eggs, distinguished biologically by the production of gametes (ova) that can be fertilized by male gametes

• a herd of female deer.

2. relating to or characteristic of women or female animals

• a female audience

• a female name.

3. (of a plant or flower) having a pistil but no stamens.

4. (of parts of machinery, fittings, etc.) manufactured hollow so that a corresponding male part can be inserted.

II. noun

a female person, animal, or plant.

III. derivatives

femaleness

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French femelle, from Latin femella, diminutive of femina ‘a woman.’ The change in the ending was due to association with male, but the words male and female are not otherwise linked etymologically.

female circumcision /ˈfēˌmāl ˌsərkəmˈsiZHən/

noun

(among some peoples) the action or traditional practice of cutting off the clitoris and sometimes the labia of girls or young women.

female condom /ˈfēˌmāl ˈkändəm/

noun

a contraceptive device made of thin rubber, inserted into a woman's vagina before sexual intercourse.

female genital mutilation female genital cutting

noun

the practice, traditional in some cultures, of partially or totally removing the external genitalia of girls and young women for nonmedical reasons. It is illegal in many countries.

female-oriented ‹chiefly Brit.› female-orientated

adjective

biased toward, dominated by, or designed for women

• female-oriented websites.

female-to-male

I. adjective

1. relating to or denoting interaction or transfer between a female and a male

• female-to-male HIV infection.

2. denoting or relating to a person who is born female and subsequently adopts the identity or appearance of a male, especially one who has undergone gender reassignment

• female-to-male transsexuals.

II. noun

a person who is born female and subsequently adopts the identity or appearance of a male, especially one who has undergone gender reassignment

• the show follows two male-to-females and two female-to-males as they transition from one gender to the other.

feme covert /ˈfem ˈkəvərt, ˈfēm/

I. noun

[Law] ‹historical› a married woman.

– origin early 16th cent.: from Anglo-Norman French, literally ‘a woman covered (i.e., protected by marriage).’

feme sole /ˈfem ˈsōl, ˈfēm/

I. noun

‹historical› [Law] a woman without a husband, especially one who is divorced.

– origin early 16th cent.: from Anglo-Norman French feme soule ‘a woman alone.’

feminal /ˈfemənl/

I. adjective

‹archaic› of or relating to a woman.

II. derivatives

feminality /ˌfeməˈnalətē /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin feminalis, from Latin femina ‘woman.’

feminazi /ˈfemiˌnätsē/

I. noun

‹derogatory› a radical feminist.

– origin 1990s: blend of feminist and Nazi.

femineity /ˌfeməˈnēədē/

I. noun

‹archaic› the quality of being feminine.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin femineus ‘womanish’ (from femina ‘woman’) + -ity.

feminine /ˈfemənən/

I. adjective

1. having qualities or appearance traditionally associated with women, especially delicacy and prettiness

• a feminine frilled blouse.

2. of or relating to women; female

• he enjoys feminine company.

3. [Grammar] of or denoting a gender of nouns and adjectives, conventionally regarded as female.

4. [Music] (of a cadence) occurring on a metrically weak beat.

II. noun — (the feminine)

1. the female sex or gender

• the association of the arts with the feminine.

2. [Grammar] a feminine word or form.

III. derivatives

1. femininely /ˈfemənənlē /

adverb

2. feminineness

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin femininus, from femina ‘woman.’

feminine rhyme

noun

[Prosody] a rhyme between stressed syllables followed by one or more unstressed syllables (e.g., stocking /shocking, glamorous /amorous.).
Compare with masculine rhyme.

femininity /ˌfeməˈninədē/

noun

the quality of being female; womanliness

• she celebrates her femininity by wearing makeup and high heels.

feminism /ˈfeməˌnizəm/

I. noun

the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men.
The issue of rights for women first became prominent during the French and American revolutions in the late 18th century. In Britain it was not until the emergence of the suffragette movement in the late 19th century that there was significant political change. A ‘second wave’ of feminism arose in the 1960s, with an emphasis on unity and sisterhood.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French féminisme.

feminist /ˈfemənəst/

I. noun

a person who supports feminism.

II. adjective

of, relating to, or supporting feminism

• feminist literature.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French féministe, from Latin femina ‘woman.’

feminize /ˈfeməˌnīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (something) more characteristic of or associated with women

• as office roles changed, clerical work was increasingly feminized.

2. induce female sexual characteristics in (a male).

II. derivatives

feminization /ˌfemənəˈzāSH(ə)n ˌfemeˌnīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

femme /fem / fem

I. noun

‹informal› a lesbian or an effeminate male homosexual who takes a traditionally feminine sexual role.
Often contrasted with butch.

– origin 1960s: French, ‘woman.’

femme fatale /ˌfem fəˈtal ˌfem fəˈtäl/

I. noun

an attractive and seductive woman, especially one who will ultimately bring disaster to a man who becomes involved with her.

– origin early 20th cent.: French, literally ‘disastrous woman.’

femto-

I. combining form

(used in units of measurement) denoting a factor of 10−15

• femtosecond.

– origin from Danish or Norwegian femten ‘fifteen.’

femtocell /ˈfemtōˌsel/

I. noun

a very small mobile phone base station that is connected to the phone network via the Internet, typically used in areas where the mobile signal is weak and considered to be smaller than a picocell.

– origin early 21st cent.: from femto- (in the sense 'extremely small') and cell (sense 4).

femtosecond /ˈfemtōˌsekənd / fs

noun

one quadrillionth of a second.

femur /ˈfēmər/

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] the bone of the thigh or upper hind limb, articulating at the hip and the knee.

2. [Anatomy] [Zoology] the third segment of the leg in insects and some other arthropods, typically the longest and thickest segment.

II. derivatives

femoral /ˈfem(ə)rəl /

adjective

– origin late 15th cent.: from Latin femur, femor- ‘thigh.’

fen^1 /fen/

I. noun

1. a low and marshy or frequently flooded area of land

• a flooded fen

• 55 acres of fen.

2. (the Fens) — flat low-lying areas of eastern England, formerly marshland but largely drained for agriculture since the 17th century.

3. [Ecology] wetland with alkaline, neutral, or only slightly acid peaty soil.
Compare with bog.

II. derivatives

fenny /ˈfenē /

adjective

– origin Old English fen(n).

fen^2 /fen/

I. noun

a monetary unit of China, equal to one hundredth of a yuan.

– origin from Chinese fēn ‘a hundredth part.’

fence /fens/

I. noun

1. a barrier, railing, or other upright structure, typically of wood or wire, enclosing an area of ground to mark a boundary, control access, or prevent escape.

2. a large upright obstacle used in equestrian jumping events.

3. a guard or guide on a plane, saw, or other tool.

4. ‹informal› a person who deals in stolen goods.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — surround or protect with a fence

• our garden was not fully fenced.

2. (fence something in/off) — enclose or separate with a fence for protection or to prevent escape

• everything is fenced in to keep out the wolves.

3. (fence someone/something out) — use a barrier to exclude someone or something

• Idaho law requires people to fence out cows.

4. [with obj.] — ‹informal› deal in (stolen goods)

• after stealing your ring, he didn't even know how to fence it.

5. [no obj.] — fight with swords, especially as a sport.
See also fencing.

6. conduct a discussion or argument in such a way as to avoid the direct mention of something

• we were fencing, not talking about the subject we'd come to talk about.

III. phrases

1. mend (one's) fences

see mend.

2. side of the fence

either of the opposing positions involved in a conflict

• whatever side of the fence you are on, the issue is here to stay.

3. sit on the fence

avoid making a decision or choice.

IV. derivatives

1. fenceless /ˈfensləs /

adjective

2. fencer /ˈfensər /

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘defending, defence’): shortening of defence. Compare with fend.

fence lizard

noun

a small gray-brown North American spiny lizard that typically has bright markings and often basks on rail fences, logs, and tree stumps.
[Sceloporus undulatus, family Iguanidae.]

fence-mending

noun

the action of making peace with a person or group

• the two countries have some fence-mending to do

• [as modifier] he hopes that a fence-mending trip will bring the hostilities to an end.

fence post /ˈfens ˌpōst/

noun

a wooden or metal post set in the ground as a supporting part of a fence.

fencerow /ˈfensˌrō/

noun

(N. Amer.) an uncultivated strip of land on each side of and below a fence.

fencing /ˈfensiNG/

noun

1. the sport of fighting with swords, especially foils, épées, or sabers, according to a set of rules, in order to score points against an opponent
[as modifier]

• a fencing foil.

2. the action of conducting a discussion or argument so as to avoid the direct mention of something.

3. a series of fences

• security fencing.

4. material used for the construction of fences

• chestnut is still in demand for fencing.

5. the erection of fences.

fend /fend/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] (fend for oneself) — look after and provide for oneself, without any help from others

• you're old enough to fend for yourself.

2. [with obj.] (fend someone/something off) — ‹figurative› defend oneself from a blow, attack, or attacker.

• he fended off the awkward questions.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘defend’): shortening of defend. Compare with fence.

fender /ˈfendər/

noun

1. a thing used to keep something off or prevent a collision, in particular

2. (N. Amer.) the mudguard or area around the wheel well of a vehicle.

3. a plastic cylinder, tire, etc., hung over a ship's side to protect it against impact.

4. (US) a metal frame at the front of a locomotive or streetcar for pushing aside obstacles on the line; a cowcatcher.

5. a low frame bordering a fireplace to contain burning materials.

Fender, Leo /ˈfendər/

(1907–91), US guitar-maker. He pioneered the design and production of electric guitars and founded the company named after him.

fender bender /ˈfendər ˌbendər/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a minor collision between motor vehicles.

fenestra /fəˈnestrə/

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] [Zoology] a small natural hole or opening, especially in a bone. The mammalian middle ear is linked by the fenestra ovalis to the vestibule of the inner ear, and by the fenestra rotunda to the cochlea.

2. [Medicine] an artificial opening.

3. an opening in a bandage or cast.

4. a perforation in a forceps blade.

5. a hole made by surgical fenestration.

– origin early 19th cent. (as a botanical term denoting a small scar left by the separation of the seed from the ovary): from Latin, literally ‘window.’

fenestrate /ˈfenəˌstrāt/

I. adjective

[Botany] [Zoology] having small windowlike perforations or transparent areas.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin fenestratus ‘provided with openings,’ from the verb fenestrare.

fenestrated /ˈfenəˌstrādəd/

I. adjective

1. provided with a window or windows

• the fenestrated heights of nearby buildings.

2. [chiefly Anatomy] having perforations, apertures, or transparent areas

• the capillaries have a fenestrated epithelium.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin fenestrare (see fenestrate) + -ed^1.

fenestration /ˌfenəˈstrāSHən/

noun

1. [Architecture] the arrangement of windows and doors on the elevations of a building.

2. [Architecture] [Botany] [Zoology] the condition of being fenestrate.

3. [Architecture] [Medicine] a surgical operation in which a new opening is formed, especially in the bony labyrinth of the inner ear to treat certain types of deafness.

fenfluramine /fenˈflo͝orəˌmēn/

noun

[Medicine] an SSRI appetite-suppressant drug once prescribed for obesity, but withdrawn from the US market in 1997 because of safety concerns. It was one component of fen-phen.

feng shui /feNGˈSHo͞oːē/

I. noun

(in Chinese thought) a system of laws considered to govern spatial arrangement and orientation in relation to the flow of energy (qi), and whose favorable or unfavorable effects are taken into account when siting and designing buildings.

– origin Chinese, from fēng ‘wind’ and shuǐ ‘water.’

Fenian /ˈfēnēən/

I. noun

1. a member of a 19th-century revolutionary nationalist organization among the Irish in the US and Ireland. The Fenians staged an unsuccessful revolt in Ireland in 1867 and were responsible for isolated revolutionary acts against the British until the early 20th century, when they were gradually eclipsed by the IRA.

2. ‹offensive› (chiefly in Northern Ireland) a derogatory term for a Catholic or Irish nationalist.

II. derivatives

Fenianism /-izəm /

noun

– origin from Old Irish féne, the name of an ancient Irish people, confused with fíann, fianna (see Fianna Fáil).

fenland /ˈfenˌland/

noun — (also fenlands)

1. land consisting of fens

• thousands of acres of fenland.

2. (usu. the Fenland) — the Fens of eastern England.

fennec /ˈfenik / fennec fox

I. noun

a small pale fox with large pointed ears, native to the deserts of North Africa and Arabia.
[Vulpes zerda, family Canidae.]

– origin late 18th cent.: via Arabic from Persian fanak, fanaj.

fennel /ˈfenl/

I. noun

an aromatic yellow-flowered European plant of the parsley family, with feathery leaves.
[Foeniculum vulgare, family Umbelliferae: two subspecies, a hardy perennial (dulce), the seeds and leaves of which are used as culinary herbs, and the annual Florence fennel (azoricum), with swollen leaf bases that are eaten as a vegetable.]

– origin Old English finule, fenol, from Latin faeniculum, diminutive of faenum ‘hay.’

fen-phen /ˈfenfen/

noun

a combination of the appetite-suppressant drugs fenfluramine and phentermine not used since the withdrawal of fenfluramine from the US market in 1997.

fentanyl /ˈfentənil, ˈfentn-il/

noun

a fast-acting narcotic analgesic and sedative that is sometimes abused for its heroinlike effect.

fenugreek /ˈfen(y)əˌɡrēk/

I. noun

a white-flowered herbaceous plant of the pea family, with aromatic seeds that are used for flavoring, especially ground and used in curry powder.
[Trigonella foenum-graecum, family Leguminosae.]

– origin Old English fenogrecum (superseded in Middle English by forms from Old French fenugrec), from Latin faenugraecum, from faenum graecum ‘Greek hay’ (the Romans used the dried plant as fodder).

Fenway /ˈfenwā/

(the Fenway) — a park system that incorporates the wetlands in Boston, Massachusetts. Nearby is Fenway Park, the baseball stadium of the Boston Red Sox.

feoffee /feˈfē fēˈfē/

I. noun

1. a trustee invested with a freehold estate to hold in possession for a purpose.

2. ‹historical› (in feudal law) a person to whom a grant of freehold property is made.

– origin late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French feoffe ‘enfeoffed,’ past participle of feoffer, variant of Old French fieffer (see feoffment).

feoffment /ˈfēfmənt/

I. noun

‹historical› (in feudal law) a grant of ownership of freehold property to someone.

II. derivatives

feoffor /ˈfēfər /

noun

– origin Middle English: from an Anglo-Norman French variant of Old French fieffer ‘put in legal possession,’ from fief (see fee and fief).

FEP

abbreviation

[Computing] front-end processor.

FEPC

abbreviation

Fair Employment Practices Commission.

FERA

abbreviation

Federal Emergency Relief Administration.

feral /ˈferəl ˈfirəl/

I. adjective

1. (especially of an animal) in a wild state, especially after escape from captivity or domestication

• a feral cat.

2. resembling a wild animal

• a feral snarl.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin fera ‘wild animal’ (from ferus ‘wild’) + -al.

Ferber, Edna /ˈfərbər/

(1887–1968), US writer. She wrote the novels So Big (1924) and Giant (1952), as well as stage plays that include Dinner at Eight (1932, with George S. Kaufman).

ferberite /ˈfərbəˌrīt/

I. noun

a black mineral consisting of ferrous tungstate, typically occurring as elongated prisms.

– origin early 19th cent.: named after Rudolph Ferber (1743–90), Swedish mineralogist, + -ite^1.

fer de lance /ˌfer də ˈlans, ˌfer də ˈläns/

I. noun

a large and dangerous pit viper native to Central and South America.
[Genus Bothrops, family Viperidae: several species, in particular B. atrox.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from French, literally ‘iron (head) of a lance.’

Ferdinand /ˈfərdəˌnand/

of Aragon (1452–1516), king of Castile 1474–1516 and of Aragon 1479–1516; known as Ferdinand the Catholic. He and his wife Isabella instituted the Spanish Inquisition in 1478 and supported the expedition of Christopher Columbus in 1492. Their capture of Granada from the Moors in the same year effectively united Spain as one country.

feria /ˈfi(ə)rēə, ˈfer-/

I. noun

(in Spanish-speaking regions) a local fair or festival, usually in honor of a patron saint.

– origin mid 19th cent.: Spanish, from Latin, literally ‘holiday.’

ferial /ˈferēəl ˈfirēəl/

I. adjective

[Christian Church] denoting an ordinary weekday, as opposed to one appointed for a festival or fast.

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin ferialis, from Latin feria ‘holiday.’ In late Latin feria was used with a prefixed ordinal number to mean ‘day of the week’ (e.g., secunda feria ‘second day, Monday’), but Sunday (Dominicus) and Saturday (Sabbatum) were usually referred to by their names; hence feria came to mean ‘ordinary weekday.’

feringhee /fəˈriNGɡē / feringhi

I. noun

1. ‹chiefly derogatory› (in India and other parts of Asia) a foreigner, especially one with white skin.

2. ‹archaic› a person of Indian–Portuguese parentage.

– origin via Urdu from Persian firangī, from the base of Frank.

Ferlinghetti, Lawrence /ˌfərliNGˈɡetē/

(1919–), US poet and publisher; born Lawrence Ferling; full name Lawrence Monsanto Ferlinghetti. Identified with San Francisco's beat movement, he founded a publishing house called City Lights. Notable works: A Coney Island of the Mind (1958) and Her (1960).

Ferm.

abbreviation

Fermanagh.

Fermanagh /fərˈmanə/

one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, formerly an administrative area; chief town, Enniskillen.

Fermat, Pierre de /ferˈmä/

(1601–65), French mathematician. His work on curves led directly to the general methods of calculus introduced by Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz. He is also recognized as the founder of the modern theory of numbers.

fermata /fərˈmädə/

I. noun

1. [Music] a pause of unspecified length on a note or rest.

2. [Music] a mark over a note or rest that is to be lengthened by an unspecified amount.

– origin Italian, from fermare ‘to stop.’

Fermat's last theorem /ferˌmäz last ˈTHēərəm / ‹Mathematics›

a conjecture by Fermat that if n is an integer greater than 2, the equation x n + y n = z n has no positive integral solutions. Fermat noted that he had “a truly wonderful proof” of the conjecture, but never wrote it down. In 1995 a general proof was published by the Princeton-based British mathematician Andrew Wiles.

ferment

I. verb — /fərˈment /

1. [no obj.] — (of a substance) undergo fermentation

• the drink had fermented, turning some of the juice into alcohol.

2. [with obj.] — cause the fermentation of (a substance).

3. [with obj.] — incite or stir up (trouble or disorder)

• the politicians and warlords who are fermenting this chaos.

4. [no obj.] — (of a negative feeling or memory) fester and develop into something worse

• it had been fermenting in my subconscious for a while.

II. noun — /ˈfərˌmənt /

1. agitation and excitement among a group of people, typically concerning major change and leading to trouble or violence

• Germany at this time was in a state of religious ferment.

2. ‹archaic› a fermenting agent or enzyme.

III. derivatives

fermentable /fərˈmen(t)əb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French ferment (noun), fermenter (verb), based on Latin fermentum ‘yeast,’ from fervere ‘to boil.’

fermentation /ˌfərmənˈtāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the chemical breakdown of a substance by bacteria, yeasts, or other microorganisms, typically involving effervescence and the giving off of heat.

2. the process of fermentation involved in the making of beer, wine, and liquor, in which sugars are converted to ethyl alcohol.

3. ‹archaic› agitation; excitement

• I had found Paris in high fermentation.

II. derivatives

fermentative /fərˈmen(t)ədiv /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin fermentatio(n-), from Latin fermentare ‘to ferment’ (see ferment).

fermenter /fərˈmen(t)ər/

noun

1. a container in which fermentation takes place.

2. an organism that causes fermentation.

fermi /ˈfermē, ˈfər-/

I. noun

a unit of length equal to 10−15 meter (one femtometer), used in nuclear physics. It is similar to the diameter of a proton.

– origin early 20th cent.: named after E. Fermi (see Fermi, Enrico).

Fermi, Enrico /ˈfermē/

(1901–54), US atomic physicist; born in Italy. He directed the first controlled nuclear chain reaction in 1942 and joined the Manhattan Project to work on the atom bomb. Nobel Prize for Physics (1938).

Fermi–Dirac statistics /ˌfərmēdəˈrak stəˌtistiks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. [Physics] a type of quantum statistics used to describe systems of fermions.

– origin 1920s: named after E. Fermi (see Fermi, Enrico) and P. A. M. Dirac (see Dirac, Paul).

fermion /ˈfermēän ˈfərmēän/

I. noun

[Physics] a subatomic particle, such as a nucleon, that has half-integral spin and follows the statistical description given by Fermi and Dirac.

– origin 1940s: from the name of E. Fermi (see Fermi, Enrico) + -on.

fermium /ˈfermēəm ˈfərmēəm/

I. noun

(Symbol: Fm) — the chemical element of atomic number 100, a radioactive metal of the actinide series. Fermium does not occur naturally and was discovered in 1953 in the debris of the first hydrogen bomb explosion.

– origin 1950s: from the name of E. Fermi (see Fermi, Enrico) + -ium.

fern /fərn/

I. noun

a flowerless plant that has feathery or leafy fronds and reproduces by spores released from the undersides of the fronds. Ferns have a vascular system for the transport of water and nutrients.
[Class Filicopsida, division Pteridophyta.]

II. derivatives

1. fernery /ˈfərn(ə)rē /

noun

2. ferny /ˈfərnē /

adjective

– origin Old English fearn.

Fernando Póo /fərˌnandō ˈpō/

former name (until 1973) for Bioko.

fern bar

noun

‹informal› a barroom in a contemporary design that includes ferns and other plants.

fernbrake /ˈfərnbrāk/

I. noun

a bed or thicket of ferns.

– origin Old English fearnbraca (plural): see fern, brake^4.

ferocious /fəˈrōSHəs/

I. adjective

1. savagely fierce, cruel, or violent

• the wolverine is nature's most ferocious and violent animal.

2. (of a conflict) characterized by or involving aggression, bitterness, and determination

• a ferocious argument.

3. extreme and unpleasant

• a ferocious headache.

II. derivatives

ferociousness /fəˈrōSHəsnəs /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin ferox, feroc- ‘fierce’ + -ious.

ferociously /fəˈrōSHəslē/

adverb

1. in a savagely fierce, cruel, or violent manner

• the dogs barked ferociously

• her novel was ferociously attacked when published.

2. [as submodifier] — to a very great degree; extremely

• a bookish, ferociously intelligent young girl

• he's the most ferociously loyal friend.

ferocity /fəˈräsədē/

I. noun

the state or quality of being ferocious

• the ferocity of the storm caught them by surprise.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French, or from Latin ferocitas, from ferox, feroc- ‘fierce.’

-ferous -iferous

I. suffix

having, bearing, or containing (a specified thing)

• Carboniferous

• pestiferous.

– origin from French -fère or Latin -fer ‘producing,’ from ferre ‘to bear.’

-ferously

combining form

in adverbs corresponding to adjectives ending in -ferous (such as pestiferously corresponding to pestiferous).

-ferousness

combining form

in nouns corresponding to adjectives ending in -ferous (such as pestiferousness corresponding to pestiferous).

Ferrara /fəˈrärə/

a city in northern Italy, capital of a province of the same name; pop. 130,486 (est. 2009).

Ferrari, Enzo /fəˈrärē/

(1898–1988), Italian car designer and manufacturer. In 1929, he founded the company named after him.

Ferraro, Geraldine Anne /fəˈrärō/

(1935–2011), US politician. The first woman from a major political party to be nominated, she ran unsuccessfully for vice president of the US with Democratic candidate Walter Mondale in 1984. She served in the US House of Representatives 1979–85.

ferrate /ˈferāt/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a salt in which the anion contains both iron (typically ferric iron) and oxygen.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin ferrum ‘iron’ + -ate^1.

Ferrel's law /ˈferəlz ˌlô / ‹Meteorology›

I. a law stating that Coriolis forces deflect winds and freely moving objects to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere.

– origin early 20th cent.: named after William Ferrel (1817–91), American meteorologist.

ferret /ˈferət/

I. noun

1. a domesticated polecat kept as a pet or used, especially in Europe, for catching rabbits. It is typically albino or brown.
[Mustela putorius furo, family Mustelidae; descended mainly from the European polecat.]

2. (black-footed ferret) — a rare weasellike animal (Mustela nigripes), found in grassland in the US.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — (of a person) hunt with ferrets, typically for rabbits.

2. clear (a hole or area of ground) of rabbits with ferrets.

3. [with adverbial of place] — look around in a place or container in search of something

• he went to the desk and ferreted around.

4. [with obj.] (ferret something out) — search tenaciously for and find something

• she had the ability to ferret out the facts.

III. derivatives

1. ferreter

noun

2. ferrety /ˈferədē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French fuiret, alteration of fuiron, based on late Latin furo ‘thief, ferret,’ from Latin fur ‘thief.’

ferri-

I. combining form

[Chemistry] of iron with a valence of three; ferric.
Compare with ferro-.

– origin from Latin ferrum ‘iron.’

ferriage /ˈferēij/

noun

1. ‹archaic› the action of transporting someone or something by ferry.

2. ‹archaic› the fare paid for ferry transportation.

ferric /ˈferik/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to iron.

2. [Chemistry] of iron with a valence of three; of iron(III).
Compare with ferrous.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Latin ferrum ‘iron’ + -ic.

ferricyanide /ˌferiˈsīəˌnīd/

noun

[Chemistry] a salt containing the anion Fe(CN)63−.

ferrimagnetic /ˌferēˌmaɡˈnedik/

I. adjective

[Physics] (of a substance) displaying a weak form of ferromagnetism associated with parallel but opposite alignment of neighboring atoms. In contrast with antiferromagnetic materials, these alignments do not cancel out and there is a net magnetic moment.

II. derivatives

ferrimagnetism /ˌferiˈmaɡnəˌtizəm /

noun

Ferris wheel /ˈferəs ˌ(h)wēl/

I. noun

an amusement-park or fairground ride consisting of a giant vertical revolving wheel with passenger cars suspended on its outer edge.

– origin late 19th cent.: named after George W. G. Ferris (1859–96), the American engineer who invented it.

ferrite /ˈferīt/

I. noun

1. a ceramic compound consisting of a mixed oxide of iron and one or more other metals. Ferrite has ferrimagnetic properties and is used in high-frequency electrical components such as antennas.

2. [Metallurgy] a form of pure iron with a body-centered cubic crystal structure, occurring in low-carbon steel.

II. derivatives

ferritic /fəˈritik /

adjective

(ferrite (sense 2)).

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin ferrum ‘iron’ + -ite^1.

ferritin /ˈferətn/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a protein produced in mammalian metabolism that serves to store iron in the tissues.

– origin 1930s: from ferri- + -t- (for ease of pronunciation) + -in^1.

ferro- /ˈferō/

I. combining form

1. containing iron

• ferroconcrete.

2. [Chemistry] of iron with a valence of two; ferrous.
Compare with ferri-.

– origin from Latin ferrum ‘iron.’

ferroalloy /ˌferōˈaloi, -əˈloi/

noun

an alloy of iron with one or more other metals, used in the production of steel.

ferrocene /ˈferəˌsēn/

I. noun

[Chemistry] an orange crystalline compound whose molecule has a sandwich structure in which two planar cyclopentadiene ligands enclose an iron atom.
[Chem. formula: Fe(C_5H_5)2.]

– origin 1950s: from ferro- ‘containing iron’ + -cene from c(yclopentadi)ene.

ferroconcrete /ˌferōˈkänkrēt/

noun

another term for reinforced concrete.

ferrocyanide /ˌferōˈsīənīd/

noun

[Chemistry] a salt containing the anion Fe(CN)64−.

ferroelectric /ˌferōəˈlektrik / ‹Physics›

I. adjective

(of a substance) exhibiting permanent electric polarization that varies in strength with the applied electric field.

II. noun

a ferroelectric substance.

III. derivatives

ferroelectricity /ˌferō-iˌlekˈtrisəte /

noun

ferrofluid /ˌferōˈflo͞oid/

noun — [often as modifier]

1. a fluid containing a magnetic suspension

• ferrofluid cooling.

ferromagnesian /ˌferōˌmaɡˈnēZHən, -zēən/

adjective

[Geology] (of a rock or mineral) containing iron and magnesium as major components.

ferromagnetic /ˌferōmaɡˈnedik/

I. adjective

[Physics] (of a body or substance) having a high susceptibility to magnetization, the strength of which depends on that of the applied magnetizing field, and that may persist after removal of the applied field. This is the kind of magnetism displayed by iron and is associated with parallel magnetic alignment of neighboring atoms.

II. derivatives

ferromagnetism /ˌferōˈmaɡnəˌtizəm /

noun

ferromanganese /ˌferōˈmaNGɡəˌnēz/

noun

an alloy of iron and manganese used in the production of steel.

ferrosilicon /ˈferōˌsilikən/

noun

an alloy of iron and silicon used in the production of steel and some types of iron.

ferrous /ˈferəs/

I. adjective

1. (chiefly of metals) containing or consisting of iron.

2. [Chemistry] of iron with a valence of two; of iron(II).
Compare with ferric.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin ferrum ‘iron’ + -ous.

ferrous oxide

noun

a black powder, FeO, used in making steel and glass.

ferrous sulfate

noun

a pale green iron salt used in inks, tanning, water purification, and treatment of anemia.
[Alternative name: iron(II) sulfate; chem. formula (crystals): FeSO_47H_2O.]

ferruginous /fəˈro͞ojənəs/

I. adjective

1. containing iron oxides or rust

• a band of ferruginous limestone.

2. reddish brown; rust-colored

• the ferruginous earth of southern Brazil.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin ferrugo, ferrugin- ‘rust, dark red’ (from ferrum ‘iron’) + -ous.

ferrule /ˈferəl/

I. noun

1. a ring or cap, typically a metal one, that strengthens the end of a handle, stick, or tube and prevents it from splitting or wearing.

2. a metal band strengthening or forming a joint.

– origin early 17th cent.: alteration (probably by association with Latin ferrum ‘iron’) of obsolete verrel, from Old French virelle, from Latin viriola, diminutive of viriae ‘bracelets.’

ferry /ˈferē/

I. noun

1. a boat or ship for conveying passengers and goods, especially over a relatively short distance and as a regular service.

2. a service for conveying passengers or goods by boat or ship.

3. the place from which a ferry service operates.

4. a service using another mode of transportation to convey passengers and goods, especially aircraft.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. convey in a ferry or other ship or boat, especially across a short stretch of water

• riverboats ferried weekend picnickers to the park.

2. transport from one place to another on short or regular trips

• helicopters ferried 4,000 men into the desert.

III. derivatives

ferryman

noun

(pl. ferrymen) /ˈferēˌman ˈferēmən / —

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse ferja ‘ferryboat,’ of Germanic origin and related to fare.

fertile /ˈfərdl/

I. adjective

1. (of soil or land) producing or capable of producing abundant vegetation or crops

• fields along the fertile flood plains of the river

• ‹figurative› Germany in the 1920s and 30s was fertile ground for such ideas.

2. (of a seed or egg) capable of becoming a new individual.

3. (of a person, animal, or plant) able to conceive young or produce seed

• Barbara carefully calculated the period when she was most fertile.

4. (of a person's mind or imagination) producing many new and inventive ideas with ease.

5. (of a situation or subject) fruitful and productive in generating new ideas

• a series of fertile debates within the social sciences.

6. [Physics] (of nuclear material) able to become fissile by the capture of neutrons.

– origin late Middle English: via French from Latin fertilis, from ferre ‘to bear.’

Fertile Crescent

a crescent-shaped area of fertile land in the Middle East that extends from the eastern Mediterranean coast through the valley of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers to the Persian Gulf. It was the center of the Neolithic development of agriculture (from 7000 BC), and the cradle of the Assyrian, Sumerian, and Babylonian civilizations.

fertility /fərˈtilədē/

noun

1. the quality of being fertile; productiveness

• improve the soil fertility by adding compost.

2. the ability to conceive children or young

• anxiety and stress affect fertility in both men and women.

fertility cult /fərˈtilədē ˌkəlt/

noun

a pagan religious system of some agricultural societies in which seasonal rites are performed with the aim of ensuring good harvests and the future well-being of the community.

fertilization /ˌfərdləˈzāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. [Biology] the action or process of fertilizing an egg, female animal, or plant, involving the fusion of male and female gametes to form a zygote.

2. [Biology] the action or process of applying a fertilizer to soil or land.

fertilize /ˈfərdlˌīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (an egg, female animal, or plant) to develop a new individual by introducing male reproductive material.

2. make (soil or land) more fertile or productive by adding suitable substances to it.

II. derivatives

fertilizable

adjective

fertilizer /ˈfərdlˌīzər/

noun

a chemical or natural substance added to soil or land to increase its fertility

• a nitrogenous fertilizer

• these varieties need pesticides and more fertilizer.

ferula /ˈfer(y)ələ/

I. noun

1. a tall large-leaved Eurasian plant of a genus that includes asafetida and its relatives.
[Genus Ferula, family Umbelliferae.]

2. rare term for ferule.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin, ‘giant fennel, rod.’

ferule /ˈferəl/

I. noun

‹historical› a flat ruler with a widened end, formerly used for punishing children.

– origin late Middle English (denoting the giant fennel): from Latin ferula (see ferula).

fervent /ˈfərvənt/

I. adjective

1. having or displaying a passionate intensity

• a fervent disciple of tax reform.

2. ‹archaic› hot, burning, or glowing.

II. derivatives

fervency /ˈfərv(ə)nsē /

noun

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin fervent- ‘boiling,’ from the verb fervere. Compare with fervid and fervor.

fervently /ˈfərvəntlē/

adverb

very enthusiastically or passionately

• he fervently believes he's doing the right thing

• I fervently opposed the change.

fervid /ˈfərvəd/

I. adjective

1. intensely enthusiastic or passionate, especially to an excessive degree

• a letter of fervid thanks.

2. ‹literary› burning, hot, or glowing.

II. derivatives

fervidly

adverb

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘glowing, hot’): from Latin fervidus, from fervere ‘to boil.’ Compare with fervent and fervor.

fervor /ˈfərvər / ‹Brit.› fervour

I. noun

1. intense and passionate feeling

• he talked with all the fervor of a new convert.

2. ‹archaic› intense heat.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin fervor, from fervere ‘to boil.’ Compare with fervent and fervid.

fescue /ˈfeskyo͞o/

I. noun

any of a number of narrow-leaved grasses.
[● a perennial grass that is a valuable lawn, pasture, and fodder species (genus Festuca, family Gramineae). ● an annual grass that typically occurs on drier soils such as on dunes and wasteland (genus Vulpia, family Gramineae).]

– origin Middle English festu, festue ‘straw, twig,’ from Old French festu, based on Latin festuca ‘stalk, straw.’ The change of -t- to -c- occurred in the 16th cent.; the current sense dates from the mid 18th cent.

fess^1 /fes / fesse

I. noun

[Heraldry] an ordinary in the form of a broad horizontal stripe across the middle of the shield.

II. phrases

in fess

[Heraldry] across the middle third of the field.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Old French fesse, alteration of faisse, from Latin fascia ‘band.’ Compare with fascia.

fess^2 /fes/

I. verb — [no obj.] (fess up)

1. ‹informal› confess; own up

• “Fess up,” she demanded. “What were you doing in Peter's private office?”

– origin early 19th cent.: shortening of confess.

Fessenden, Reginald Aubrey /ˈfesəndən/

(1866–1932), US pioneer of radiotelephony, born in Canada. He invented the heterodyne receiver.

fess point

noun

[Heraldry] a point at the center of a shield.

-fest

I. combining form

in nouns denoting a festival or large gathering of a specified kind

• gabfest

• slugfest.

– origin from German Fest ‘festival.’

festa /ˈfestə/

I. noun

(in Italy and other Mediterranean countries) a religious or other festival.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Italian, ‘festival,’ from Latin.

festal /ˈfest(ə)l/

I. adjective

of, like, or relating to a celebration or festival

• he appeared in festal array.

II. derivatives

festally

adverb

– origin late 15th cent.: via Old French from late Latin festalis, from Latin festum, (plural) festa ‘feast.’

fester /ˈfestər/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a wound or sore) become septic; suppurate

• I developed a tropical sore that festered badly

• (as adj. festering) a festering abscess.

2. (of food or garbage) become rotten and offensive to the senses

• a gully full of garbage that festered in the shade.

3. (of a negative feeling or a problem) become worse or more intense, especially through long-term neglect or indifference

• anger which festers and grows in his heart.

4. (of a person) undergo physical and mental deterioration in isolated inactivity

• I might be festering in jail now.

– origin late Middle English: from the rare word fester ‘fistula,’ later ‘festering sore,’ or Old French festrir (verb), both from Old French festre (noun), from Latin fistula ‘pipe, reed, fistula.’

festival /ˈfestəvəl/

I. noun

1. a day or period of celebration, typically a religious commemoration

• a tabulation of saints' days and other festivals

• [as modifier] a festival atmosphere.

2. an annual celebration or anniversary

• highlights of this year's pumpkin festival.

3. an organized series of concerts, plays, or movies, typically one held annually in the same place

• numbers that are still heard at traditional jazz festivals.

– origin Middle English (as an adjective): via Old French from medieval Latin festivalis, from Latin festivus, from festum, (plural) festa ‘feast.’

festivalgoer /ˈfestəvəlˌɡōər/

noun

a person attending a music festival, film festival, etc.

• a cheering crowd of festivalgoers

• the majority of festivalgoers purchase tickets weeks in advance of the screenings.

festival of lights

noun

1. another term for Hanukkah.

2. another term for Diwali.

Festival of the Dead

noun

another term for Bon.

festive /ˈfestiv/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to a festival

• parties are held and festive food is served.

2. cheerful and jovially celebratory

• the somber atmosphere has given way to a festive mood.

II. derivatives

1. festively

adverb

2. festiveness

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin festivus, from festum, (plural) festa ‘feast.’

festivity /feˈstivədē/

I. noun

1. the celebration of something in a joyful and exuberant way

• the season of festivity and goodwill.

2. a festive celebration

• she had caught Susan taking a bunch of bouquets at the conclusion of an earlier festivity.

3. (festivities) — activities or events celebrating a special occasion

• the Chinese New Year is celebrated with a multitude of festivities.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French festivite or Latin festivitas, from festivus ‘festive,’ from festum, (plural) festa ‘feast.’

festoon /feˈsto͞on/

I. noun

1. a chain or garland of flowers, leaves, or ribbons, hung in a curve as a decoration.

2. a carved or molded ornament representing a festoon.

II. verb — [with obj.] (often be festooned with)

1. adorn (a place) with ribbons, garlands, or other decorations

• the room was festooned with balloons and streamers.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French feston, from Italian festone ‘festal ornament,’ from festum ‘feast.’

Festschrift /ˈfes(t)ˌSHrift / festschrift

I. noun

a collection of writings published in honor of a scholar.

– origin late 19th cent.: from German, from Fest ‘celebration’ + Schrift ‘writing.’

FET

abbreviation

field-effect transistor.

feta /ˈfedə / feta cheese

I. noun

a white salty Greek cheese made from the milk of ewes or goats.

– origin from modern Greek pheta.

fetal /ˈfēdl/

adjective

1. of or relating to a fetus

• nutrients essential for normal fetal growth.

2. denoting a posture characteristic of a fetus, with the back curved forward and the limbs folded in front of the body

• he retired to his bed, curled in the fetal position.

fetal alcohol syndrome FAS

noun

[Medicine] a congenital syndrome caused by excessive consumption of alcohol by the mother during pregnancy, characterized by retardation of mental development and of physical growth, particularly of the skull and face of the infant.

fetch^1 /feCH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. go for and then bring back (someone or something)

• he ran to fetch help.

2. ‹archaic› bring forth (blood or tears)

• kind offers fetched tears from me.

3. ‹archaic› draw or take a (breath); heave (a sigh).

4. achieve (a particular price) when sold

• handwoven blankets and rugs that can fetch as much as $45,000.

5. [with two objs.] — ‹informal› inflict (a blow or slap) on (someone)

• he always used to slam the gate and try and fetch her shins a wallop.

6. ‹informal› ‹dated› cause great interest or delight in (someone)

• Nadine thought his deductions were good, but she was not as fetched by them as Larry was.

II. noun

1. the distance traveled by wind or waves across open water.

2. the distance a vessel must sail to reach open water.

3. ‹archaic› a contrivance, dodge, or trick

• it is no ingenious fetches of argument that we want.

III. phrases

fetch and carry

run backward and forward bringing things to someone in a servile fashion

• neither is anyone going to fetch and carry for you when you are in bed with influenza.

IV. phrasal verbs

fetch up

‹informal› arrive or come to rest somewhere, typically by accident or unintentionally.

V. derivatives

fetcher

noun

– origin Old English fecc(e)an, variant of fetian, probably related to fatian ‘grasp.’

fetch^2 /feCH/

I. noun

‹chiefly archaic› the apparition or double of a living person, formerly believed to be a warning of that person's impending death.

– origin late 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

fetching /ˈfeCHiNG/

I. adjective

attractive

• a fetching little garment of pink satin.

II. derivatives

fetchingly /ˈfeCHiNGlē /

adverb

fête /fāt / fete

I. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a celebration or festival.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be fêted)

1. honor or entertain (someone) lavishly

• she was an instant celebrity, fêted by the media.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘festival, fair’): from French, from Old French feste (see feast).

fête champêtre /ˈfāt SHäNˈpetr(ə), ˈfet/

I. noun

an outdoor entertainment; a rural festival.

– origin late 18th cent.: French, literally ‘rural festival.’

fête galante /ˈfāt ɡəˈlänt, ˈfet/

I. noun

1. an outdoor entertainment or rural festival, especially as depicted in 18th-century French painting.

2. a painting in the fête galante genre.

– origin early 20th cent.: French, literally ‘elegant festival.’

fetich

noun

archaic spelling of fetish.

feticide /ˈfēdəˌsīd/

noun

destruction or abortion of a fetus.

fetid /ˈfedid / ‹Brit.› foetid

I. adjective

smelling extremely unpleasant

• the fetid water of the marsh.

II. derivatives

1. fetidly /ˈfedidlē /

adverb

2. fetidness /ˈfedidnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin fetidus (often erroneously spelled foetidus), from fetere ‘to stink.’ Compare with fetor.

fetish /ˈfediSH/

I. noun

1. an inanimate object worshiped for its supposed magical powers or because it is considered to be inhabited by a spirit.

2. a course of action to which one has an excessive and irrational commitment

• he had a fetish for writing more opinions each year than any other justice.

3. a form of sexual desire in which gratification is linked to an abnormal degree to a particular object, item of clothing, part of the body, etc.

• Victorian men developed fetishes focusing on feet, shoes, and boots.

– origin early 17th cent. (originally denoting an object used by the peoples of West Africa as an amulet or charm): from French fétiche, from Portuguese feitiço ‘charm, sorcery’ (originally an adjective meaning ‘made by art’), from Latin factitius(see factitious).

fetishism /ˈfediSHizəm/

noun

1. a form of sexual behavior in which gratification is linked to an abnormal degree to a particular object, activity, part of the body, etc.

• erotic fetishism

• foot fetishism.

2. excessive and irrational devotion or commitment to a particular thing

• a critique of the new technological fetishism

• the fetishism of consumer goods.

3. worship of an inanimate object for its supposed magical powers or because it is considered to be inhabited by a spirit

• the fetishism of Aboriginality.

fetishist /ˈfediSHist/

noun

1. a person whose sexual desire or gratification is linked to an abnormal degree to a particular object, activity, part of the body, etc.

• there are plenty of foot fetishists online.

2. a person who has an excessive and irrational devotion or commitment to a particular thing

• a clothes fetishist

• a fetishist about accuracy.

fetishistic /ˌfedəˈSHistik/

adjective

1. relating to sexual fetishism

• a fetishistic obsession with leather outfits.

2. having an excessive and irrational devotion or commitment to a particular thing

• their almost fetishistic attention to detail.

fetishize /ˈfedəˌSHīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. have an excessive and irrational commitment to or obsession with (something)

• an author who fetishizes privacy.

2. make (something) the object of a sexual fetish

• women's bodies are so intensely fetishized.

II. derivatives

fetishization /ˌfetiSHiˈzāSHən /

noun

fetlock /ˈfetˌläk / fetlock joint

I. noun

the joint of a horse's or other quadruped's leg between the cannon bone and the pastern.

– origin Middle English: ultimately of Germanic origin; related to foot.

feto-

combining form

representing fetus.

fetor /ˈfēdər / ‹Brit.› foetor

I. noun

a strong, foul smell

• the fetor of decay.

– origin late 15th cent.: from Latin, from fetere ‘to stink.’ Compare with fetid.

fetter /ˈfedər/

I. noun — (usu. fetters)

1. a chain or manacle used to restrain a prisoner, typically placed around the ankles

• he lay bound with fetters of iron.

2. a restraint or check on someone's freedom to do something, typically one considered unfair or overly restrictive

• the fetters of discipline and caution.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. restrain with chains or manacles, typically around the ankles
(as adj. fettered)

• a ragged and fettered prisoner.

2. restrict or restrain (someone) in an unfair or undesirable fashion

• he was not fettered by tradition.

– origin Old English feter; from an Indo-European root shared by foot.

fetterlock /ˈfedərˌläk/

noun

a D-shaped fetter for tethering a horse by the leg, now only as represented as a heraldic charge.

fettle /ˈfedl/

I. noun

condition

• the aircraft remains in fine fettle.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. trim or clean the rough edges of (a metal casting or a piece of pottery) before firing.

2. (N. English) make or repair (something)

• the familiar sounds of bikes being prepped and fettled.

III. derivatives

fettler /ˈfetl-ər /

noun

– origin late Middle English (as a verb in the general sense ‘get ready, prepare,’ specifically ‘prepare oneself for battle, gird up’): from dialect fettle ‘strip of material, girdle,’ from Old English fetel.

fettuccine /ˌfedəˈCHēnē / fettucini

I. noun

pasta made in ribbons.

– origin from Italian, plural of fettucina, diminutive of fetta ‘slice, ribbon.’

fettuccine Alfredo

noun

a dish of fettuccine served in a sauce of cream, butter, and grated Parmesan cheese.

fetus /ˈfēdəs / ‹Brit.› foetus

I. noun

an unborn offspring of a mammal, in particular an unborn human baby more than eight weeks after conception.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin, ‘pregnancy, childbirth, offspring.’ / usage: The spelling foetus has no etymological basis but is recorded from the 16th century and until recently was the standard British spelling in both technical and nontechnical use. In technical usage, fetus is now the standard spelling throughout the English-speaking world.

feu /fyo͞o / ‹Scots Law›

I. noun

1. a perpetual lease at a fixed rent.

2. a piece of land held by a feu.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. grant (land) on a feu.

– origin late 15th cent. (originally denoting a feudal tenure in which an annual payment was made in lieu of military service): from Old French (see fee).

feud /fyo͞od/

I. noun

1. a state of prolonged mutual hostility, typically between two families or communities, characterized by violent assaults in revenge for previous injuries

• the long-standing feud between two noble families.

2. a prolonged and bitter quarrel or dispute

• one of the most volatile feuds that currently rock the scientific community.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. take part in a prolonged quarrel or conflict

• these two families have been feuding since the Civil War

• Hoover feuded with the CIA for decades.

– origin Middle English fede ‘hostility, ill will,’ from Old French feide, from Middle Dutch, Middle Low German vēde; related to foe.

feud.

abbreviation

1. feudal.

2. feudalism.

feudal /ˈfyo͞odl/

I. adjective

1. according to, resembling, or denoting the system of feudalism

• feudal barons.

2. absurdly outdated or old-fashioned

• his view of patriotism was more than old-fashioned—it was positively feudal.

II. derivatives

1. feudalization /ˌfyo͞odl-iˈzāSHən /

noun

2. feudalize /ˈfyo͞odəˌlīz ˈfyo͞odlˌīz /

verb

3. feudally /ˈfyo͞od(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin early 17th cent.: from medieval Latin feudalis, from feudum (see fee).

feudalism /ˈfyo͞odlˌizəm/

I. noun

‹historical› the dominant social system in medieval Europe, in which the nobility held lands from the Crown in exchange for military service, and vassals were in turn tenants of the nobles, while the peasants (villeins or serfs) were obliged to live on their lord's land and give him homage, labor, and a share of the produce, notionally in exchange for military protection.

II. derivatives

1. feudalist /ˈfyo͞od(ə)ləst /

noun

2. feudalistic /ˌfyo͞odlˈistik ˌfyo͞odəˈlistik /

adjective

feudality /fyo͞oˈdalədē/

I. noun

‹archaic› the principles and practice of the feudal system.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French féodalité, from féodal, from medieval Latin feudalis ‘feudal,’ from feudum (see fee).

feudatory /ˈfyo͞odəˌtôrē / ‹historical›

I. adjective

owing feudal allegiance to

• they had for a long period been feudatory to the Norwegian Crown.

II. noun

a person who holds land under the conditions of the feudal system.

– origin late 16th cent.: from medieval Latin feudatorius, from feudare ‘enfeoff,’ from feudum (see fee).

feu de joie /ˌfə də ˈZHwä/

I. noun

a rifle salute fired by soldiers on a ceremonial occasion, each soldier firing in succession along the ranks to make a continuous sound.

– origin early 18th cent.: French, literally ‘fire of joy.’

feudist /ˈfyo͞odəst/

noun

(US) a person taking part in a feud.

feuilleton /ˈfoi-itn, ˌfœyəˈtôN/

I. noun

1. a part of a newspaper or magazine devoted to fiction, criticism, or light literature.

2. an article printed in a feuilleton.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, from feuillet, diminutive of feuille ‘leaf.’

fever /ˈfēvər/

I. noun

1. an abnormally high body temperature, usually accompanied by shivering, headache, and in severe instances, delirium

• I would take aspirin to help me with the pain and reduce the fever

• African equine fever.

2. a state of nervous excitement or agitation

• I was mystified, and in a fever of expectation.

3. [with modifier] — the excitement felt by a group of people about a particular public event

• election fever reaches its climax tomorrow.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› bring about a high body temperature or a state of nervous excitement in (someone)

• a heart which sin has fevered.

– origin Old English fēfor, from Latin febris; reinforced in Middle English by Old French fievre, also from febris.

fevered /ˈfēvərd/

adjective

1. having or showing the symptoms associated with a dangerously high temperature

• her fevered eyes.

2. feeling or displaying an excessive degree of nervous excitement, agitation, or energy

• my fevered adolescent imagination.

feverfew /ˈfēvərˌfyo͞o/

I. noun

a bushy aromatic Eurasian plant of the daisy family, with feathery leaves and daisylike flowers. It is used in herbal medicine to treat headaches.
[Tanacetum parthenium, family Compositae.]

– origin Old English feferfuge, from Latin febrifuga, from febris ‘fever’ + fugare ‘drive away.’ Compare with febrifuge.

fever grass

noun

West Indian term for lemongrass.

feverish /ˈfēv(ə)riSH/

I. adjective

1. having or showing the symptoms of a fever

• he suffered from feverish colds.

2. displaying a frenetic excitement or energy

• the next couple of weeks were spent in a whirl of feverish activity.

II. derivatives

feverishness /ˈfēv(ə)riSHnəs /

noun

feverishly /ˈfēv(ə)riSHlē/

adverb

1. in a manner that shows the symptoms of a fever

• water trickled from his hair and he began shivering feverishly.

2. in a frenetically excited or energetic manner

• a feverishly anticipated major sports tournament

• they all set to work feverishly.

feverous /ˈfēv(ə)rəs/

adjective

1. ‹archaic› apt to cause fever.

2. ‹archaic› feverish.

fever pitch /ˈfēvər ˈˌpiCH/

noun

a state of extreme excitement

• the football crowd was at fever pitch.

fever tree

noun

any of a number of trees that are believed either to cause or to cure fever, in particular
[● a North American tree used in the treatment of malaria during the Civil War (Pinckneya pubens, family Rubiaceae). ● a southern African tree that was formerly believed to cause malaria (Acacia xanthophloea, family Leguminosae).]

few /fyo͞o/

I. determiner, adjective, pronoun

1. (a few) — a small number of
[as adj.]

• may I ask a few questions?

• [as pronoun] I will recount a few of the stories told me

• many believe it but only a few are prepared to say.

2. used to emphasize how small a number of people or things is
[as adj.]

• he had few friends

• [as pronoun] few thought to challenge these assumptions

• very few of the titles have any literary merit

• one of the few who survived

• [comparative] a population of fewer than two million

• [as adj.] sewing was one of her few pleasures

• [superlative] ask which products have the fewest complaints.

II. noun — (as plural noun the few)

1. the minority of people; the elect

• a world that increasingly belongs to the few.

III. phrases

1. every few

once in every small group of (typically units of time)

• she visits every few weeks.

2. few and far between

scarce; infrequent

• my inspired moments are few and far between.

3. a good few

(Brit.) a fairly large number of

• it had been around for a good few years.

4. have a few

‹informal› drink enough alcohol to be slightly drunk

• I tend to keep my mouth shut, unless I've had a few.

5. no fewer than

used to emphasize a surprisingly large number

• there are no fewer than seventy different brand names.

6. not a few

a considerable number

• his fiction has caused not a few readers to see red.

7. quite a few

a fairly large number

• quite a few people can do it.

8. some few

some but not many

• some few people are born without any sense of time.

– origin Old English fēawe, fēawa; from an Indo-European root shared by Latin paucus and Greek pauros ‘small.’ / usage: Fewer versus less: strictly speaking, the rule is that fewer, the comparative form of few, is used with words denoting people or countable things (fewer members; fewer books; fewer than ten contestants). Less, on the other hand, is used with mass nouns, denoting things that cannot be counted (less money; less music). In addition, less is normally used with numbers (less than 10,000) and with expressions of measurement or time (less than two weeks; less than four miles away). But to use less with count nouns, as in less people or less words, is incorrect in standard English.

fey /fā/

I. adjective

1. giving an impression of vague unworldliness

• his mother was a strange, fey woman.

2. having supernatural powers of clairvoyance.

3. (chiefly Scottish) fated to die or at the point of death

• now he is fey, he sees his own death, and I see it too.

II. derivatives

1. feyly

adverb

2. feyness

noun

– origin Old English fǣge (in the sense ‘fated to die soon’).

Feynman, Richard Phillips /ˈfīnmən/

(1918–88), US theoretical physicist. He is noted for his work on quantum electrodynamics. He shared the 1965 Nobel Prize for Physics with Julian Schwinger (1918–94) and Sin-Itiro Tomonaga (1906–97).

Feynman diagram

noun

[Physics] a diagram showing electromagnetic interactions between subatomic particles.

fez /fez/

I. noun

a flat-topped conical red hat with a black tassel on top, worn by men in some Muslim countries (formerly the Turkish national headdress).

II. derivatives

fezzed

adjective

– origin early 19th cent.: from Turkish fes (perhaps via French fez), named after Fez, once the chief place of manufacture.

Fez /fez / Fès

a city in northern Morocco, founded in 808; pop. 977,946 (2004).

ff

abbreviation

[Music] fortissimo.

ff.

abbreviation

1. folios.

2. following pages.

FFA

abbreviation

1. free from alongside.

2. Future Farmers of America.

FFS

exclamation

‹vulgar slang› for fuck's sake! (used as an expression of annoyance).

FFV

abbreviation

1. First Family of Virginia.

2. flex-fuel vehicle.

FG

abbreviation

1. [Football] [Basketball] field goal.

2. fine grain.

FGM

noun

short for female genital mutilation.

FHA

abbreviation

1. Federal Housing Administration.

2. Future Homemakers of America.

FHLBB

abbreviation

Federal Home Loan Bank Board.

f-hole /ˈefhōl/

noun

either of a pair of sound holes resembling an ∫ and a reversed ∫ in shape, cut in the front of musical instruments of the violin family and some other stringed instruments such as semi-acoustic electric guitars and mandolins.

fhp

abbreviation

friction horsepower.

FIA

I. the international governing body for motor-racing events.

– origin acronym from French Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.

fiacre /fēˈakrə/

I. noun

‹historical› a small four-wheeled carriage for public hire.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French, named after the Hôtel de St. Fiacre in Paris, where such vehicles were first hired out.

fiancé /ˌfēˌänˈsā fēˈänsā/

I. noun

a man who is engaged to be married

• my fiancé and I were childhood sweethearts.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, past participle of fiancer ‘betroth,’ from Old French fiance ‘a promise,’ based on Latin fidere ‘to trust.’

fiancée /ˌfēˌänˈsā fēˈänsā/

noun

a woman who is engaged to be married

• he went back to the valley to marry his fiancée.

fianchetto /ˌfēənˈCHetō, -ˈketō / ‹Chess›

I. noun

the development of a bishop by moving it one square to a long diagonal of the board.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. develop (a bishop) by moving it one square to a long diagonal of the board.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Italian, diminutive of fianco ‘flank,’ ultimately of Germanic origin. Compare with flank.

Fianna Fáil /ˌfēənə ˈfoil/

I. one of the two main political parties of the Republic of Ireland. Larger and traditionally more republican than its rival Fine Gael, it was formed in 1926 in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921 by Eamon de Valera together with some of the moderate members of Sinn Fein.

– origin Irish, from fianna ‘band of warriors’; compare with Fenian) and Fáil, genitive of Fál, an ancient name for Ireland. The phrase Fianna Fáil was used in 15th-cent. poetry in the neutral sense ‘people of Ireland,’ but the founders of the political party interpreted it to mean ‘soldiers of destiny.’

fiasco /fēˈaskō/

I. noun

a thing that is a complete failure, especially in a ludicrous or humiliating way

• his plans turned into a fiasco.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Italian, literally ‘bottle, flask,’ in the phrase far fiasco, literally ‘make a bottle,’ figuratively ‘fail in a performance’: the reason for the figurative sense is unexplained.

fiat /ˈfēˌät ˈfēət/

I. noun

1. a formal authorization or proposition; a decree

• adopting a legislative review program, rather than trying to regulate by fiat.

2. an arbitrary order

• the appraisal dropped the value from $75,000 to $15,000, rendering it worthless by bureaucratic fiat.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin, ‘let it be done,’ from fieri ‘be done or made.’

fiat money /ˈfēət ˈfēˌät ˈmənē/

noun

inconvertible paper money made legal tender by a government decree.

fib /fib/

I. noun

a lie, typically an unimportant one

• parents told little white fibs about out-of-wedlock births.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. tell an unimportant lie.

III. derivatives

fibber /ˈfibər /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: perhaps a shortening of obsolete fible-fable ‘nonsense,’ reduplication of fable.

fiber /ˈfībər / ‹Brit.› fibre

I. noun

1. a thread or filament from which a vegetable tissue, mineral substance, or textile is formed

• tropical elements like coconut fibers and branches.

2. a substance formed of threads or filaments

• ordinary synthetics don't breathe as well as natural fibers

• high strength carbon fiber.

3. a threadlike structure forming part of the muscular, nervous, connective, or other tissue in the human or animal body

• there were degenerative changes in muscle fibers

• ‹figurative› she wanted him with every fiber of her being.

4. strength of character

• a weak person with no moral fiber.

5. dietary material containing substances such as cellulose, lignin, and pectin, which are resistant to the action of digestive enzymes

• cereals high in fiber.

II. derivatives

1. fibered

adjective

[in combination]

• natural-fibered

2. fiberless /ˈfībərləs /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘lobe of the liver,’ (plural) ‘entrails’): via French from Latin fibra ‘fiber, filament, entrails.’

fiberboard /ˈfībərˌbôrd / ‹Brit.› fibreboard

noun

a building material made of wood or other plant fibers compressed into boards.

fiberfill /ˈfībərˌfil/

noun

synthetic material used for padding and insulation in garments and soft furnishings such as cushions and duvets.

fiberglass /ˈfībərˌɡlas / ‹Brit.› fibreglass, ‹trademark› Fiberglas

noun

1. a reinforced plastic material composed of glass fibers embedded in a resin matrix.

2. a textile fabric made from woven glass filaments.

fiber-optic /ˌfībərˈäptik / ‹Brit.› fibre-optic

adjective

consisting of or using thin flexible fibers with a glass core through which light signals can be sent with very little loss of strength

• high-speed fiber-optic broadband.

fiber optics /ˈfībər ˈäptiks/

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the use of thin flexible fibers of glass or other transparent solids to transmit light signals, chiefly for telecommunications or for internal examination of the body.

2. [treated as pl.] — the fibers and associated devices so used.

fiberscope /ˈfībərˌskōp / ‹Brit.› fibrescope

noun

a fiber-optic device for viewing inaccessible internal structures, especially in the human body.

Fibonacci, Leonardo /ˌfēbəˈnäCHē/

(c. 1170–c. 1250), Italian mathematician; known as Fibonacci of Pisa. He made many original contributions in complex calculations, algebra, and geometry and pioneered number theory and indeterminate analysis, discovering the Fibonacci series.

Fibonacci series Fibonacci sequence

noun

[Mathematics] a series of numbers in which each number (Fibonacci number) is the sum of the two preceding numbers. The simplest is the series 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, etc.

fibre tip

noun

British term for felt-tip pen.

fibril /ˈfībrəl ˈfibrəl/

I. noun

‹technical› a small or slender fiber

• each muscle fiber is subdivided into smaller fibrils.

II. derivatives

1. fibrillar /-lər /

adjective

2. fibrillary /-ˌlerē /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from modern Latin fibrilla, diminutive of Latin fibra (see fiber).

fibrillate /ˈfibrəˌlāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a muscle, especially in the heart) make a quivering movement due to uncoordinated contraction of the individual fibrils

• the atria ceased to fibrillate when the temperature was reduced.

2. (of a fiber) split up into fibrils.

3. [with obj.] — break (a fiber) into fibrils.

II. derivatives

fibrillation /ˌfibrəˈlāSH(ə)n /

noun

fibrin /ˈfībrən/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] an insoluble protein formed from fibrinogen during the clotting of blood. It forms a fibrous mesh that impedes the flow of blood.

II. derivatives

1. fibrinoid /ˈfībrəˌnoid, ˈfib- /

adjective

2. fibrinous /ˈfībrənəs /

adjective

– origin early 19th cent.: from fiber + -in^1.

fibrinogen /fīˈbrinəjən/

noun

[Biochemistry] a soluble protein present in blood plasma, from which fibrin is produced by the action of the enzyme thrombin.

fibrinogenic /ˌfībrənōˈjenik/

adjective

of or relating to fibrinogen or to the formation of fibrin.

fibrinolysis /ˌfībrəˈnäləsəs/

I. noun

[Physiology] the enzymatic breakdown of the fibrin in blood clots.

II. derivatives

fibrinolytic /ˈfībrənəˈlitik /

adjective

fibro-

I. combining form

of, relating to, or characterized by fibers

• fibroblast

• fibroma.

– origin from Latin fibra ‘fiber.’

fibroadenoma /ˌfībrōˌadnˈōmə/

noun

[Medicine] a tumor formed of mixed fibrous and glandular tissue, typically occurring as a benign growth in the breast.

fibroblast /ˈfībrəblast/

noun

[Physiology] a cell in connective tissue that produces collagen and other fibers.

fibrocartilage /ˌfībrōˈkärd(ə)lij/

noun

cartilage that contains fibrous bundles of collagen, such as that of the intervertebral disks in the spinal cord.

fibrocystic /ˌfībrəˈsistik, ˌfib-/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. [Medicine] (of a disease) characterized by the development of fibrous tissue and cystic spaces, typically in the pancreas or the breast.

fibroid /ˈfīˌbroid/

I. adjective

of or characterized by fibers or fibrous tissue.

II. noun

[Medicine] a benign tumor of muscular and fibrous tissues, typically developing in the wall of the uterus.

fibroin /ˈfībrəwən/

I. noun

a protein that is the chief constituent of silk and spider webs.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from fibro- + -in^1.

fibrolite /ˈfībrəˌlīt/

noun

another term for sillimanite.

fibroma /fīˈbrōmə/

I. noun

[Medicine] a benign fibrous tumor of connective tissue.

II. derivatives

fibromatous /fīˈbrōmətəs /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin fibra (see fiber) + -oma.

fibromyalgia /ˌfībrōmīˈalj(ē)ə/

noun

a chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and tenderness in localized areas.

fibrosarcoma /ˌfībrōsärˈkōmə/

I. noun

[Medicine] a sarcoma in which the predominant cell type is a malignant fibroblast.

II. derivatives

fibrosarcomatous /-ˈkōmətəs, -ˈkäm- /

adjective

fibrosis /fīˈbrōsəs/

I. noun

[Medicine] the thickening and scarring of connective tissue, usually as a result of injury.

II. derivatives

fibrotic /fīˈbrätik /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin fibra (see fiber) + -osis.

fibrositis /ˌfībrəˈsīdəs/

I. noun

[Medicine] inflammation of fibrous connective tissue, typically affecting the back and causing stiffness and pain.

II. derivatives

fibrositic /-ˈsitik /

adjective

– origin early 20th cent.: from Latin fibrosus ‘fibrous’ (from fibra ‘fiber’) + -itis.

fibrous /ˈfībrəs/

I. adjective

consisting of or characterized by fibers

• lignin is the fibrous material that gives wood its strength.

II. derivatives

1. fibrously

adverb

2. fibrousness /ˈfībrəsnəs /

noun

fibula /ˈfibyələ/

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] the outer and usually smaller of the two bones between the knee and the ankle in humans (or the equivalent joints in other terrestrial vertebrates), parallel with the tibia.

2. [Archaeology] a brooch or clasp.

II. derivatives

fibular /ˈfibyələr /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin, ‘brooch,’ perhaps related to figere ‘to fix.’ The bone is so named because the shape it makes with the tibia resembles a clasp, the fibula being the tongue.

-fic -ific

I. suffix

(forming adjectives) producing; making

• prolific

• soporific.

– origin from French -fique or Latin -ficus from facere ‘do, make.’

FICA

abbreviation

Federal Insurance Contributions Act.

-fically -ifically

suffix

forming adverbs corresponding to adjectives ending in -fic (such as prolifically corresponding to prolific).

-fication -ification

I. suffix

forming nouns of action from verbs ending in -fy (such as simplification from simplify).

– origin from French, or from Latin -fication- (from verbs ending in -ficare).

ficelle /fēˈsel/

I. noun

a small, very thin loaf of French bread.

– origin French ‘twine, string.’

fiche /fēSH/

noun

short for microfiche.

Fichte, Johann Gottlieb /ˈfiktə/

(1762–1814), German philosopher. A student of Kant, he postulated that the ego is the basic reality, and the world is posited by the ego in defining and delimiting itself.

fichu /ˈfiˌSHo͞o/

I. noun

a small triangular shawl, worn around a woman's shoulders and neck.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French, from ficher ‘to fix, pin,’ from Latin fīgere. Compare with fix and microfiche.

fickle /ˈfik(ə)l/

I. adjective

changing frequently, especially as regards one's loyalties, interests, or affection

• Web patrons are a notoriously fickle lot, bouncing from one site to another on a whim

• the weather is forever fickle.

II. derivatives

fickly /ˈfik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin Old English ficol ‘deceitful.’

fickleness /ˈfikəlnəs/

noun

changeability, especially as regards one's loyalties or affections

• the fickleness of youth.

FICO score /ˈfīkō ˌskôr/

noun

[Finance] a person's credit score calculated with software from Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO).
The FICO score is a number between 300 and 850, which indicates a person's capacity to repay a loan. The higher the number, the lower the risk that the borrower will default.

fict.

abbreviation

1. fiction.

2. fictitious.

fictile /ˈfiktl ˈfikˌtīl/

I. adjective

1. made of earth or clay by a potter.

2. of or relating to pottery or its manufacture.

3. capable of being molded; plastic.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin fictilis, from fict- ‘formed, contrived,’ from the verb fingere.

fiction /ˈfikSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. literature in the form of prose, especially short stories and novels, that describes imaginary events and people.

2. invention or fabrication as opposed to fact

• he dismissed the allegation as absolute fiction.

3. [in sing.] — a belief or statement that is false, but that is often held to be true because it is expedient to do so

• the notion of that country being a democracy is a polite fiction.

II. derivatives

fictionist /ˈfikSH(ə)nəst /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘invented statement’): via Old French from Latin fictio(n-), from fingere ‘form, contrive.’ Compare with feign and figment.

fictional /ˈfikSH(ə)n(ə)l/

I. adjective

of or relating to fiction; invented for the purposes of fiction

• fictional texts

• a fictional character.

II. derivatives

1. fictionality /ˌfikSHəˈnalətē /

noun

2. fictionalization /ˌfikSHənl-iˈzāSHən /

noun

3. fictionalize /ˈfikSH(ə)nəˌlīz /

verb

4. fictionally

adverb

fictitious /fikˈtiSHəs/

I. adjective

1. not real or true, being imaginary or having been fabricated

• she pleaded guilty to stealing thousands in taxpayer dollars by having a fictitious employee on her payroll.

2. of, relating to, or denoting the imaginary characters and events found in fiction

• the people in this novel are fictitious; the background of public events is not.

II. derivatives

1. fictitiously /fikˈtiSHəslē /

adverb

2. fictitiousness /fikˈtiSHəsnəs /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin ficticius (from fingere ‘contrive, form’) + -ous (see also -itious^2).

fictive /ˈfiktiv/

I. adjective

creating or created by imagination

• the novel's fictive universe.

II. derivatives

fictiveness

noun

– origin early 17th cent. (but rare before the 19th cent.): from French fictif, -ive or medieval Latin fictivus, from Latin fingere ‘contrive, form.’

ficus /ˈfīkəs/

I. noun

a tree, shrub, or climbing plant of a large genus that includes the figs and the rubber plant. They grow in tropical and warm climates, and several species are of commercial importance.
[Genus Ficus, family Moraceae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin, ‘fig, fig tree.’

fid /fid/

I. noun

1. [Nautical] a thick peg, wedge, or supporting pin, in particular

2. [Nautical] a square wooden or iron bar that takes the weight of a topmast stepped to a lower mast by being passed through holes in both masts.

3. [Nautical] a conical pin or spike used in splicing rope.

– origin early 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

fid.

abbreviation

fiduciary.

Fid. Def.

abbreviation

Fidei Defensor.
See Defender of the Faith.

fiddle /ˈfidl/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› a violin, especially when used to play folk music.

2. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) an act of defrauding, cheating, or falsifying

• a major mortgage fiddle.

3. [Nautical] a contrivance, such as a raised rim, that prevents things from rolling or sliding off a table in bad weather.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — ‹informal› play the fiddle

• he fiddled with the band from 1949 to 1951

• (fiddling) country music with lots of fiddling and banjo playing.

2. [with obj.] — ‹informal› play (a tune) on the fiddle

• Bill Monroe fiddled his last tune at his annual Beanblossom Bluegrass Festival.

3. [no obj.] — ‹informal› touch or fidget with something in a restless or nervous way

• Laura fiddled with her cup.

4. ‹informal› tinker with something in an attempt to make minor adjustments or improvements

• never fiddle with an electric machine that's plugged in.

5. (fiddle around) — ‹informal› pass time aimlessly, without doing or achieving anything of substance.

6. [with obj.] — ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) falsify (figures, data, or records), typically in order to gain money

• everyone is fiddling their expenses.

III. phrases

1. fiddle while Rome burns

be concerned with relatively trivial matters while ignoring the serious or disastrous events going on around one.

2. (as) fit as a fiddle

in good health.

3. on the fiddle

(Brit.) ‹informal› engaged in cheating or swindling.

4. play second fiddle to

take a subordinate role to someone or something in a way often considered demeaning

• she had to play second fiddle to the interests of her husband.

– origin Old Englishfithele, denoting a violin or similar instrument (originally not an informal or depreciatory term), based on Latin vitulari ‘celebrate a festival, be joyful,’ perhaps from Vitula, the name of a Roman goddess of joy and victory. Compare with viol.

fiddleback /ˈfidlˌbak/

noun

1. [usu. as modifier] — a thing shaped like the back of a violin, with the sides deeply curved inward, in particular

2. the back of a chair.

3. a rippled effect in the grain of fine wood, often exploited when making the backs of violins
[as modifier]

• fiddleback mahogany.

4. (also fiddleback spider) — another term for brown recluse.

fiddle-de-dee /ˌfidl dē ˈdē/

I. noun — [often as exclamation]

1. ‹dated› nonsense.

– origin late 18th cent.: from fiddle + a reduplication.

fiddle-faddle /ˈfidl ˌfadl/

I. noun

trivial matters: nonsense

• he's concerned with petty fiddle-faddle about his personal arrangements.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. bother with trifles; fuss

• you haven't time to fiddle-faddle about like that.

– origin late 16th cent.: reduplication of fiddle.

fiddle-footed

adjective

1. (of a horse) skittish.

2. (of a person) restless or apt to wander

• he was what we might consider a fiddle-footed missionary, moving from place to place.

fiddlehead /ˈfidlhed/

I. noun

1. (also fiddlehead fern) — (N. Amer.) the young, curled, edible frond of certain ferns.

2. a scroll-like carving at a ship's bow.

– origin late 18th cent.: from the resemblance to the head of a violin.

fiddler /ˈfid(ə)lər/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› a person who plays the violin, especially one who plays folk music.

2. (Brit.) ‹informal› a person who cheats or swindles, especially one indulging in petty theft.

– origin Old English fithelere, from fithele (see fiddle).

fiddler crab /ˈfidlər krab/

noun

a small amphibious crab, the males of which have one greatly enlarged claw that they wave in territorial display and courtship.
[Genus Uca, family Ocypodidae.]

Fiddler's Green

the sailor's Elysium, traditionally a place of wine, women, and song.

fiddlestick /ˈfidlˌstik/

I. exclamation — (fiddlesticks)

1. nonsense.

II. noun

‹informal› a violin bow.

fiddling /ˈfidliNG/

adjective

annoyingly trivial or petty

• fiddling little details.

fiddly /ˈfidlē/

adjective

(Brit.) ‹informal› complicated or detailed and awkward to do or use

• replacing the battery is fiddly.

fideism /ˈfēdāˌizəm/

I. noun

the doctrine that knowledge depends on faith or revelation.

II. derivatives

1. fideist

noun

2. fideistic /ˌfēdāˌistik /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin fides ‘faith’ + -ism.

fidelity /fəˈdelədē/

I. noun

1. faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support

• he sought only the strictest fidelity to justice.

2. sexual faithfulness to a spouse or partner.

3. the degree of exactness with which something is copied or reproduced

• the 1949 recording provides reasonable fidelity.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French fidelite or Latin fidelitas, from fidelis ‘faithful,’ from fides ‘faith.’ Compare with fealty.

fidget /ˈfijit/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. make small movements, especially of the hands and feet, through nervousness or impatience

• the audience had begun to fidget on their chairs.

2. [with obj.] — make (someone) uneasy or uncomfortable

• she fidgets me with her never-ending spit and polish.

II. noun

1. a quick, small movement, typically a repeated one, caused by nervousness or impatience

• he disturbed other people with convulsive fidgets.

2. a person given to repeated nervous or impatient movements, especially one whom other people find irritating.

3. (usu. fidgets) — a state of mental or physical restlessness or uneasiness

• a marketing person full of nervous energy and fidgets.

III. derivatives

fidgeter

noun

– origin late 17th cent.: from obsolete or dialect fidge ‘to twitch’; perhaps related to Old Norse fikja ‘move briskly, be restless or eager.’

fidgety /ˈfijədē/

I. adjective

inclined to fidget; restless or uneasy

• I get nervous and fidgety at the dentist.

II. derivatives

fidgetiness /ˈfijidēnəs /

noun

Fido^1 /ˈfīdō/

I. noun

‹informal› ‹humorous› a generic name for a pet dog.

– origin from Latin fidō ‘I trust.’

Fido^2 ‹historical›

I. a system for dispersing fog using gasoline burners on the ground to enable aircraft to land. It was developed by the Allies during World War I.

– origin acronym from Fog Intensive Dispersal Operation.

fiducial /fəˈdo͞oSH(ē)əl/

I. adjective

‹technical› (especially of a point or line) assumed as a fixed basis of comparison.

– origin late 16th cent.: from late Latin fiducialis, from fiducia ‘trust,’ from fidere ‘to trust.’

fiduciary /fəˈd(y)o͞oSHēˌerē fəˈd(y)o͞oSH(ə)rē/

I. adjective

1. [Law] involving trust, especially with regard to the relationship between a trustee and a beneficiary

• the company has a fiduciary duty to shareholders.

2. [Law] ‹archaic› held or given in trust

• fiduciary estates.

3. [Law] [Finance] (of a paper currency) depending for its value on securities (as opposed to gold) or the reputation of the issuer.

II. noun

a trustee.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘something inspiring trust; credentials’): from Latin fiduciarius, from fiducia ‘trust,’ from fidere ‘to trust.’

fidus Achates /ˌfīdəs əˈkädēz/

I. noun

a faithful friend or devoted follower.

– origin late 16th cent.: Latin, literally ‘faithful Achates’ (see Achates).

fie /fī/

I. exclamation

‹archaic› ‹humorous› used to express disgust or outrage

• if people don't answer your first letter, fie on them!

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin fi, an exclamation of disgust at a stench.

Fiedler, Arthur /ˈfēdlər/

(1894–1979), US conductor. An accomplished violist, he played with the Boston Symphony Orchestra 1915–30 and from 1930 to 1974 conducted the Boston Pops Orchestra.

fief /fēf/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› an estate of land, especially one held on condition of feudal service.

2. a person's sphere of operation or control.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French (see fee).

fiefdom /ˈfēfdəm/

noun

a fief.

field /fēld/

I. noun

1. an area of open land, especially one planted with crops or pasture, typically bounded by hedges or fences

• a wheat field

• a field of corn.

2. a piece of land used for a particular purpose, especially an area marked out for a game or sport

• a football field.

3. [Baseball] defensive play or the defensive positions collectively

• he is fast in the field and on the bases.

4. a large area of land or water completely covered in a particular substance, especially snow or ice

• an ice field.

5. an area rich in a natural product, typically oil or gas

• an oil field.

6. an area on which a battle is fought

• a field of battle.

7. ‹archaic› a battle

• many a bloody field was to be fought.

8. a place where a subject of scientific study or artistic representation can be observed in its natural location or context.

9. a particular branch of study or sphere of activity or interest

• we talked to professionals in various fields.

10. [Computing] a part of a record, representing an item of data.

11. [Linguistics] [Psychology] a general area of meaning within which individual words make particular distinctions.

12. a space or range within which objects are visible from a particular viewpoint or through a piece of apparatus

• the stars drift through this telescope's field of view.

See also field of vision.

13. an area on a flag with a single background color

• fifty white stars on a blue field.

14. [Heraldry] the surface of an escutcheon or of one of its divisions.

15. (usu. the field) — all the participants in a contest or sport

• he destroyed the rest of the field with a devastating injection of speed.

16. [Physics] the region in which a particular condition prevails, especially one in which a force or influence is effective regardless of the presence or absence of a material medium.

17. the force exerted or potentially exerted in a field

• the variation in the strength of the field.

18. [Mathematics] a system subject to two binary operations analogous to those for the multiplication and addition of real numbers, and having similar commutative and distributive laws.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — [Baseball] play as a fielder.

2. [with obj.] — catch or stop (the ball)

• he fielded the ball cleanly, but threw it down the right-field line.

3. [with obj.] — send out (a team or individual) to play in a game

• a high school that traditionally fielded mediocre teams.

4. (of a political party) nominate (a candidate) to run in an election

• a radical political party that is beginning to field candidates in local elections.

5. deploy (an army)

• no one had the power to field an army of any consequence.

6. [with obj.] — deal with (a difficult question, telephone call, etc.)

• she has fielded five calls from salespeople.

III. adjective — [attrib.]

1. carried out or working in the natural environment, rather than in a laboratory or office

• field observations.

2. (of military equipment) light and mobile for use on campaign

• field artillery.

3. used in names of animals or plants found in the open country, rather than among buildings or as cultivated varieties

• field ant.

4. denoting a game played outdoors on a marked field.

IV. phrases

1. in the field

a. on campaign; (while) engaged in combat or maneuvers

• troops in the field.

b. away from the laboratory or studio; engaged in practical work in a natural environment.

c. (of an employee) away from the home office; working while traveling

• he was a salesman in the field.

2. keep the field

‹archaic› continue a military campaign.

3. lead the field

a. be the leader in a race.

b. be the best or most popular

• in the executive car group, this model leads the field.

4. play the field

‹informal› indulge in a series of sexual relationships without committing oneself to anyone.

5. take the field

a. (of a sports team) go onto a field to begin a game.

b. [Baseball] begin one's turn on defense in an inning.

c. start a military campaign.

– origin Old English feld (also denoting a large tract of open country; compare with veld), of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch veld and German Feld.

Field, Marshall /fēld/

(1834–1906), US merchant and philanthropist. In 1881, he organized Marshall Field & Co., which became the largest retail store in the world. He made major donations to the University of Chicago, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Field Museum of Natural History.

Field, Sally

(1946–), US actress; full name Sally Margaret Field. Her movies include Sybil (1977), Norma Rae (1979), Places in the Heart (1984), Steel Magnolias (1989), and Forrest Gump (1994). She directed Beautiful (2000).

Field, Stephen Johnson

(1816–99), US Supreme Court associate justice 1863–97. Appointed to the Court by President Lincoln, he was a conservative. His brother David Dudley Field (1805–94) was noted for his expertise in law codification; another brother Cyrus West Field (1819–92) was known for his part in the laying of the undersea cable between the US and Europe 1857–66.

field book

noun

a book in which a surveyor or other technician or scientist writes down measurements and other technical notes taken in the field.

field boot

noun

a close-fitting, knee-length military boot.

field corn

noun

corn grown to feed livestock.

fieldcraft /ˈfēldkraft/

noun

the techniques involved in living, traveling, or making military or scientific observations in the field, especially while remaining undetected.

field cricket

noun

a cricket that lives in a burrow in grassland and has a musical birdlike chirp.
[Family Gryllidae, numerous species.]

field day /ˈfēl(d) ˈˌdā/

noun

1. [Military] a review or an exercise, especially in maneuvering.

2. (N. Amer.) a day devoted to athletic contests or other sporting events, typically at a school.

3. [in sing.] — an opportunity for action, success, or excitement, especially at the expense of others

• shoplifters are having a field day in the store.

4. a day set aside for the display of agricultural machinery and crops, especially corn and soybeans.

field-effect transistor FET

noun

[Electronics] a transistor in which most current is carried along a channel whose effective resistance can be controlled by a transverse electric field.

field emission

noun

[Physics] the emission of electrons from the surface of a conductor under the influence of a strong electrostatic field, as a result of the tunnel effect.

fielder /ˈfēldər/

noun

[Baseball] [Cricket] a player who occupies a defensive position in the field while the other side is batting (typically one other than the pitcher or catcher, or bowler).

fielder's choice

noun

[Baseball] a play in which the fielding team's decision to put out another player allows the batter to reach first base safely.

field events

plural noun

track-and-field contests other than races, such as throwing and jumping events.
Compare with track events.

fieldfare /ˈfēldfer/

I. noun

a large migratory thrush with a gray head, breeding in northern Eurasia.
[Turdus pilaris, subfamily Turdinae, family Muscicapidae.]

– origin late Old English feldefare, perhaps from feld ‘field’ + the base of faran ‘to travel’ (see fare).

field glasses /ˈfēl(d) ˈˌɡlasəz/

plural noun

binoculars for outdoor use.

field goal /ˈfēl(d) ˌɡōl/

noun

1. [Football] a goal scored by a placekick, scoring three points.

2. [Basketball] a basket scored while the clock is running and the ball is in play.

field-grade officer

noun

[Military] a major, lieutenant colonel, or colonel.

field-grade rank

noun

the rank attained by a military field officer.

field guide

noun

a book for the identification of birds, flowers, minerals, or other things in their natural environment.

field hand /ˈfēl(d) ˈˌhand/

noun

a person employed as a farm laborer.

field hockey /ˈfēl(d) ˈˌhäkē/

noun

a game played between two teams of eleven players who use hooked sticks to drive a small hard ball toward goals at opposite ends of a field.

field hospital /ˈfēl(d) ˈˌhäspidl/

noun

a temporary hospital set up near a combat zone to provide emergency care for the wounded.

field house //

noun

1. (N. Amer.) a large building, often part of a college, that provides space for a variety of athletic facilities, such as basketball and squash courts, a running track, a swimming pool, exercise equipment, and often an indoor arena with spectator seating.

2. (N. Amer.) a building usually adjacent to an athletic field and equipped with changing rooms, lockers, showers, etc., for those using the athletic facility.

Fielding, Henry /ˈfēldiNG/

(1707–54), English novelist. He provoked the introduction of censorship in theaters with his political satire The Historical Register for 1736. He then turned to writing picaresque novels, notably Joseph Andrews (1742) and Tom Jones (1749).

field lens

noun

in a multiple lens optical system, the lens farthest from the eye.

field mark

noun

a visible mark or characteristic that can be used in identifying a bird or other animal in the field.

field marshal /ˈfēl(d) ˌmärSHəl/

noun

an officer of the highest rank in the British and other armies.

field mouse /fēld mous/

noun

a dark brown mouse with a long tail and large eyes.
Also called wood mouse. [Genus Apodemus, family Muridae: several species, in particular the widespread A. sylvaticus.]

field mushroom

noun

another term for champignon.

field officer

noun

another term for field-grade officer.

field of honor

noun

the place where a duel or battle is fought.

field of vision

noun

the entire area that a person or animal is able to see when their eyes are fixed in one position.

field pea

I. noun

a pea plant of a variety grown chiefly for fodder or as green manure.

– origin early 18th cent.: said to be so named because they were once the only agricultural peas cultivated in the UK.

Fields, Dame Gracie /ˈfēldz/

(1898–1979), English singer and comedienne; born Grace Stansfield.

Fields, W. C.

(1880–1946), US comedian; born William Claude Dukenfield. Having made his name as a comedy juggler, he became a vaudeville star and appeared in the Ziegfeld Follies revues between 1915 and 1921. Notable movies: The Bank Dick (1940) and Never Give a Sucker an Even Break (1941).

field sports /ˈfēld ˌspôrts/

plural noun

outdoor sports, especially hunting, shooting, and fishing.

fieldstone /ˈfēl(d)stōn/

noun — [often as modifier]

1. stone used in its natural form

• a fieldstone fireplace.

field test /ˈfēl(d) ˌtest/

I. noun

a test carried out in the environment in which a product or device is to be used.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. test (something) in the environment in which it will be used.

field theory

noun

[Physics] a theory that explains physical phenomena in terms of a field and the manner in which it interacts with matter or with other fields.

field trial

noun

1. a field test.

2. a competition for hunting dogs to test their levels of skill and training in retrieving or pointing.

field trip /ˈfēl(d) ˌtrip/

noun

a trip made by students or research workers to study something at first hand

• a field trip to the power plant was organized.

fieldwork /ˈfēldwərk/

I. noun

1. practical work conducted by a researcher in the natural environment, rather than in a laboratory or office.

2. ‹rare› a temporary fortification.

II. derivatives

fieldworker /ˈfēl(d)ˌwərkər /

noun

fiend /fēnd/

I. noun

1. an evil spirit or demon.

2. (the fiend) — ‹archaic› the Devil.

3. a wicked or cruel person

• a fiend thirsty for blood and revenge.

4. a person causing mischief or annoyance

• you little fiend!

5. ‹informal› a person who is excessively fond of or addicted to something

• the restaurant's owner is a wine fiend.

II. derivatives

fiendlike /-ˌlīk /

adjective

– origin Old English fēond ‘an enemy, the devil, a demon,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vijand and German Feind ‘enemy.’

fiendish /ˈfēndiSH/

I. adjective

1. extremely cruel or unpleasant; devilish

• shrieks of fiendish laughter.

2. extremely awkward or complex

• a fiendish problem.

II. derivatives

1. fiendishly /ˈfēndiSHlē /

adverb

2. fiendishness /ˈfēndiSHnəs /

noun

Fiennes /fīnz/

I. the name of a family of British actors.

II. Ralph (1962–). His best known roles include Hamlet in a 1995 Broadway production (Tony Award) and Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter movies. Other notable movies: Schindler's List (1993), Quiz Show (1994), The English Patient (1996), and The End of the Affair (1999).

III. Joseph (1970–), the brother of Ralph. Notable movies: Shakespeare in Love (1998), Luther (2003), and Running with Scissors (2006).

fierce /firs/

I. adjective

1. having or displaying an intense or ferocious aggressiveness

• as women, we need to accept that we can be fierce, cunning, and predatory

• the fierce air battles that ensued over the Pacific.

2. (of a feeling, emotion, or action) showing a heartfelt and powerful intensity

• he kissed her with a fierce, demanding passion.

3. (of the weather or temperature) powerful and destructive in extent or intensity

• fierce storms lashed the country.

II. phrases

something fierce

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› to a great and almost overwhelming extent

• he said he missed me something fierce.

III. derivatives

fierceness /ˈfi(ə)rsnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French fiers ‘fierce, brave, proud,’ from Latin ferus ‘untamed.’ Compare with feral.

fiercely /ˈfirslē/

adverb

1. in a savagely violent or aggressive manner

• the army clashed fiercely with militants.

2. in a powerful and destructive manner

• the wind was blowing fiercely

• the fire was already burning fiercely.

3. with a heartfelt and powerful intensity

• campaigners have fiercely opposed the proposals

• [as submodifier] they are fiercely independent.

fieri facias /ˌfēərē ˈfāSH(ē)əs/

I. noun

[Law] a writ to a sheriff for executing a judgment.

– origin late Middle English Latin, ‘you shall make happen.’

fiery /ˈfī(ə)rē/

I. adjective

1. consisting of fire or burning strongly and brightly

• the sun was a fiery ball low on the hills

• ‹figurative› a fiery hot chili sauce.

2. having the bright color of fire

• the car was painted a fiery red.

3. (of a person) having a passionate, quick-tempered nature

• a fiery, imaginative Aries.

4. (of behavior or words) passionately angry and deeply felt

• a fiery speech.

II. derivatives

1. fierily /ˈfīrəlē /

adverb

2. fieriness /ˈfīrēnəs /

noun

fiery cross

noun

1. a burning wooden cross used as a symbol by the Ku Klux Klan.

2. ‹historical› a wooden cross, charred and dipped in blood, used among Scottish clans to summon men to battle.

fiesta /fēˈestə/

I. noun

1. (in Spanish-speaking regions) a religious festival

• the yearly fiesta of San Juan.

2. an event marked by festivities or celebration

• a balloon fiesta.

– origin Spanish, from Latin festum, (plural) festa (see feast).

FIFA /ˈfēfə/

I. the international governing body of soccer, formed in 1904 and based in Zurich, Switzerland.

– origin acronym from French Fédération internationale de football association.

fi. fa.

abbreviation

fieri facias.

fife /fīf/

I. noun

a kind of small shrill flute used especially with the drum in military bands.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹archaic› play the fife.

III. derivatives

fifer /ˈfīfər /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from German Pfeife ‘pipe,’ or from French fifre from Swiss German Pfifre ‘piper.’ Compare with pipe.

fife rail

I. noun

1. ‹chiefly historical› a rail around the mainmast of a sailing ship, holding belaying pins.

2. ‹chiefly historical› the rail on top of the bulwark at the edge of a sailing ship's poop or forecastle.

– origin early 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

FIFO /ˈfīˌfō/

abbreviation

first in, first out (chiefly with reference to methods of stock valuation and data storage).
Compare with LIFO.

fifteen /fifˈtēn ˈfifˌtēn/

I. cardinal number

1. (Roman numeral: xv or XV) — equivalent to the product of three and five; one more than fourteen, or five more than ten; 15

• all fifteen species of cranes mate for life

• fifteen feet high

• fifteen of the passengers made their appearance.

2. fifteen years old

• she must be fifteen by now.

II. phrases

fifteen minutes of fame

a brief period of fame that a person enjoys before fading back into obscurity.
[adapted from Andy Warhol's comment ‘in the future everybody will be world famous for fifteen minutes’ (1968).]

– origin Old English fīftēne, fīftīene (see five, -teen).

fifteenth /fifˈtēnTH ˈfifˌtēnTH/

ordinal number

1. constituting number fifteen in a sequence; 15th

• August the fifteenth

• the fifteenth century

• on the fifteenth floor.

2. (a fifteenth/one fifteenth) — each of fifteen equal parts into which something is or may be divided.

3. an organ stop sounding a register of pipes two octaves (fifteen notes) above the diapason.

fifth /fi(f)TH/

I. ordinal number

1. constituting number five in a sequence; 5th

• the fifth century BC

• her mother had just given birth to another child, her fifth

• the world's fifth-largest oil exporter

• the fifth of November.

2. (a fifth/one fifth) — each of five equal parts into which something is or may be divided.

3. the fifth finisher or position in a race or competition

• he finished fifth.

4. (in some vehicles) the fifth (and typically highest) in a sequence of gears

• in my panic I changed from third to fifth.

5. fifthly (used to introduce a fifth point or reason)

• fourth, it can aid the process of life review, and fifth, it is an enjoyable and stimulating experience.

6. [Music] an interval spanning five consecutive notes in a diatonic scale, in particular an interval of three whole steps and a half step (e.g., C to G)

• strings tuned a fifth apart.

7. [Music] the note which is higher by a fifth than the root of a diatonic scale.

8. (a fifth of) — (US) ‹informal› a fifth of a gallon, as a measure of liquor, or a bottle of this capacity

• a fifth of whiskey.

9. the fifth grade of a school.

II. phrases

take (or plead) the Fifth

(in the US) exercise the right, guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution, of refusing to answer questions in order to avoid incriminating oneself

• Why is she taking the Fifth if she didn't do anything wrong?

[short for take the Fifth Amendment.]

III. derivatives

fifthly /ˈfi(f)THlē /

adverb

Fifth Amendment

I. noun

an amendment to the US Constitution that contains a number of provisions relating to criminal law, including guarantees of due process and of the right to refuse to answer questions in order to avoid incriminating oneself

• she has since refused to testify before Congress, invoking the Fifth Amendment.

II. phrases

take (or plead) the Fifth Amendment

(in the US) exercise the right, guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution, of refusing to answer questions in order to avoid incriminating oneself

• he took the Fifth Amendment when questioned about the apparently flawed bankruptcy filing.

fifth column /ˈˌfi(f)TH ˈkäləm/

I. noun

a group within a country at war who are sympathetic to or working for its enemies.

II. derivatives

fifth columnist /ˈˌfi(f)TH ˈkäləmnəst /

noun

– origin The term dates from the Spanish Civil War, when General Mola, leading four columns of troops toward Madrid, declared that he had a fifth column inside the city.

fifth-generation

adjective

denoting a proposed new class of computer or programming language employing artificial intelligence.

Fifth-monarchy-man /fi(f)THˈmänərkēˌman/

I. noun

‹historical› a member of a 17th-century sect expecting the immediate Second Coming of Christ and repudiating all other government.

– origin from Fifth Monarchy, denoting the last of the five great empires prophesied by Daniel (Dan. 2:44).

fifth position

noun

1. [Ballet] a posture in which the feet are turned outward, one immediately in front of but touching the other so that the toe of the back foot just protrudes beyond the heel of the front foot.

2. a position of the arms in which they are held curved in front of the body, at hip level, waist level, or above the head, with the palms facing the body.

3. [Music] a position of the left hand on the fingerboard of a stringed instrument nearer to the bridge than the fourth position, enabling a higher set of notes to be played.

Fifth Republic

the republican regime established in France with de Gaulle's introduction of a new constitution in 1958.

fifth wheel /fi(f)TH (h)wēl/

noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) an extra wheel for a four-wheeled vehicle.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) ‹informal› a superfluous person or thing.

3. (chiefly N. Amer.) a coupling between a trailer and a vehicle used for towing.

4. (also fifth-wheel trailer) — (chiefly N. Amer.) a trailer with accommodations for camping out.

5. (chiefly N. Amer.) ‹historical› a horizontal turntable over the front axle of a carriage as an extra support to prevent its tipping.

fiftieth /ˈfiftēəTH/

ordinal number

1. constituting number fifty in a sequence; 50th

• they celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary

• his fiftieth birthday.

2. each of fifty equal parts into which something is or may be divided

• a fiftieth of a second.

fifty /ˈfiftē/

I. cardinal number

1. (Roman numeral: l or L) — the number equivalent to the product of five and ten; half of one hundred; 50

• only fifty percent of the aircraft were serviceable

• about fifty of us filed in

• a fifty-pound salmon.

2. (fifties) — the numbers from 50 to 59, especially the years of a century or of a person's life

• Elvis is the icon of the Fifties.

3. fifty years old

• she looked about fifty.

4. fifty miles an hour

• doing about fifty.

5. a fifty-dollar bill.

II. derivatives

fiftyfold /ˈfiftēˌfōld /

adjective, adverb

– origin Old English fīftig (see five, -ty^2).

fifty-fifty /ˌfiftēˈfiftē/

I. adjective

1. the same in share or proportion; equal

• fifty-fifty partners.

2. used to refer to one of two possibilities that are equally likely to happen

• he has a fifty-fifty chance of surviving the operation.

II. adverb

equally; half and half

• they divided the spoils fifty-fifty.

fig^1 /fiɡ/

I. noun

1. a soft pear-shaped fruit with sweet dark flesh and many small seeds, eaten fresh or dried.

2. (also figtree) — the deciduous Old World tree or shrub that bears the fig.
[Ficus carica, family Moraceae.]

3. used in names of other plants of the genus Ficus, or in names of nonrelated plants that bear a fruit similar to a fig.

II. phrases

not give (or care) a fig

not have the slightest concern about

• Karla didn't give a fig for Joe's comfort or his state of mind.

– origin Middle English: from Old French figue, from Provençal fig(u)a, based on Latin ficus.

fig^2 /fiɡ / ‹informal›

I. noun — (in phrase full fig)

1. smart clothes, especially those appropriate to a particular occasion or profession

• a soldier walking up the street in full fig.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› dress up (someone) to look smart

• he was figged out in the latest modes.

– origin late 17th cent. (as a verb): variant of obsolete feague ‘liven up’ (earlier ‘whip’); perhaps related to German fegen ‘sweep, thrash’; compare with fake^1. An early sense of the verb was ‘fill the head with nonsense’; later (early 19th cent.) ‘cause (a horse) to be lively and carry its tail well (by applying ginger to its anus)’; hence ‘smarten up.’

fig. /fiɡ/

abbreviation

figure

• see fig.34.

figgy /ˈfigē/

adjective

made with or having the taste or smell of figs

• pork served with figgy jam

• a sweet, figgy fragrance.

figgy pudding

noun

(chiefly Brit.) a rich boiled pudding made with flour, suet, figs, and other dried fruit, traditionally eaten at Christmas

• no winter season would be complete without a figgy pudding.

fight /fīt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. take part in a violent struggle involving the exchange of physical blows or the use of weapons

• the men were fighting

• they fight with other children.

2. [with obj.] — engage in (a war or battle)

• there was another war to fight.

3. [no obj.]

• we fought and died for this country.

4. quarrel or argue

• she didn't want to fight with her mother all the time

• they were fighting over who pays the bill.

5. [with obj.] — struggle to put out (a fire, especially a large one)

• two fire trucks raced to the scene to fight the blaze.

6. [with obj.] — endeavor vigorously to win (an election or other contest).

7. campaign determinedly for or against something, especially to put right what one considers unfair or unjust

• I will fight for more equitable laws.

8. [with obj.] — struggle or campaign against (something)

• the best way to fight fascism abroad and racism at home.

9. [with obj.] — attempt to repress (a feeling or an expression of a feeling)

• she had to fight back tears of frustration.

10. [with obj.] — take part in a boxing match against (an opponent).

11. (fight one's way) — move forward with difficulty, especially by pushing through a crowd or overcoming physical obstacles

• she watched him fight his way across the room.

12. [with obj.] — ‹archaic› command, manage, or maneuver (troops, a ship, or military equipment) in battle

• General Hill fights his troops well.

II. noun

1. a violent confrontation or struggle

• we'll get into a fight and wind up with bloody noses.

2. a boxing match.

3. a battle or war

• the country was not eager for a fight with the US.

4. a vigorous struggle or campaign for or against something

• a long fight against cancer.

5. an argument or quarrel

• she had a fight with her husband.

6. the inclination or ability to fight or struggle

• Ginny felt the fight trickle out of her.

III. phrases

1. fight fire with fire

use the weapons or tactics of one's enemy or opponent, even if one finds them distasteful.

2. fight like cats and dogs

(of two people) be continually arguing with one another.

3. fight a losing battle

be fated to fail in one's efforts

• he was fighting a losing battle to stem the tears.

4. fight shy of

be unwilling to undertake or become involved with

• these musicians fight shy of change.

5. make a fight of it

put up a spirited show of resistance in a fight or contest

• the Chargers certainly made a fight of it in the second half.

6. fight or flight

the instinctive physiological response to a threatening situation, which readies one either to resist forcibly or to run away.

7. put up a fight

offer resistance to an attack.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. fight back

counterattack or retaliate in a fight, struggle, or contest.

2. fight it out

settle a dispute by fighting or competing aggressively

• they fought it out with a tug-of-war.

3. fight someone/something off

defend oneself against an attack by someone or something

• well-fed people are better able to fight off infectious disease.

– origin Old English feohtan (verb), feoht(e), gefeoht (noun); related to Dutch vechten, gevecht and German fechten, Gefecht.

fighter /ˈfīdər/

noun

1. a person or animal that fights, especially as a soldier or a boxer.

2. a person who does not easily admit defeat in spite of difficulties or opposition

• there'll be months of physiotherapy but medical staff say she's a fighter.

3. a fast military aircraft designed for attacking other aircraft

• designers employ stealth to render a fighter invisible to radar

• [as modifier] fighter pilots.

fighter-bomber /ˈfīdər ˌbämər/

noun

an aircraft serving as both a fighter and bomber.

fighter jet

noun

a fast jet-powered military aircraft designed for attacking other aircraft

• above us, F-16 fighter jets patrolled the skies.

fighting /ˈfīdiNG/

I. noun

the action of fighting; violence or conflict

• terrible fighting broke out in the streets.

II. adjective

displaying or engaging in violence, combat, or aggression

• he was a fighting man

• he put up his fists and took a fighting stance.

fighting chair

noun

(N. Amer.) a fixed chair on a boat used by a person trying to catch large fish.

fighting chance /fīdiNG CHans/

noun

a possibility of success if great effort is made

• they still have a fighting chance of clinching the title.

fighting fish Siamese fighting fish

noun

a small labyrinth fish native to Thailand, the males of which fight vigorously. It has been bred in a variety of colors for fighting and for aquariums.
[Betta splendens, family Belontiidae.]

fighting words

plural noun

1. ‹informal› words indicating a willingness to fight or challenge someone.

2. ‹informal› (US) words expressing an insult, especially of an ethnic, racial, or sexist nature.

fig leaf /ˈfiɡ ˌlēf/

I. noun

1. a leaf of a fig tree, often depicted as concealing the genitals in paintings and sculpture.

2. a thing designed to conceal a difficulty or embarrassment

• the amendment was just a fig leaf designed to cover the cracks in the party.

– origin early 16th cent.: with reference to the story of Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:7).

figment /ˈfiɡmənt/

I. noun

a thing that someone believes to be real but that exists only in their imagination

• it really was Ross and not a figment of her overheated imagination.

– origin late Middle English (denoting an invented statement or story): from Latin figmentum, related to fingere ‘form, contrive.’ Compare with feign and fiction. The current sense dates from the early 17th cent.

figura /fiˈɡyərə/

I. noun

(in literary theory) a person or thing representing or symbolizing a fact or ideal.

– origin mid 20th cent.: Latin, literally ‘figure’ (representing an early use of figure to denote an emblem or type).

figural /ˈfiɡyərəl/

I. adjective

1. another term for figurative (sense 1)).

2. (in postmodernist writing) relating to or denoting a form of signification that relies on imagery and association rather than on rational and linguistic concepts.

3. [Art] another term for figurative (sense 2)).

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, or from late Latin figuralis, from figura ‘form, shape’ (see figure).

figurant /ˈfiɡyərənt ˌfiɡ(y)əˈränt/

I. noun

a supernumerary actor.

– origin French, present participle of figurer ‘to figure.’

figuration /ˌfiɡyəˈrāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. ornamentation by means of figures or designs.

2. [Music] use of florid counterpoint

• the figuration of the accompaniment comes out too strongly.

3. allegorical representation

• the figuration of “The Possessed” is much more complex

• the opening parable may be read as a figuration of the main idea behind the novel.

– origin Middle English (in the senses ‘outline’ and ‘making of arithmetical figures’): from Latin figuratio(n-), from figurare ‘to form or fashion,’ from figura (see figure).

figurative /ˈfiɡyərədiv/

I. adjective

1. departing from a literal use of words; metaphorical

• gold, in the figurative language of the people, was “the tears wept by the sun.”

2. (of an artist or work of art) representing forms that are recognizably derived from life.

II. derivatives

figurativeness /ˈfiɡ(y)ərədivnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English: from late Latin figurativus, from figurare ‘to form or fashion,’ from figura (see figure).

figuratively /ˈfiɡyərədəvlē/

adverb

1. used to indicate a departure from a literal use of words; metaphorically

• we left a lot of people literally and figuratively in the dark

• [sentence adverb] I did bump into—figuratively speaking—quite a few interesting people.

2. in a style representing forms that are recognizably derived from life

• Chinese art influenced her to paint figuratively.

figure /ˈfiɡyər/

I. noun

1. a number, especially one that forms part of official statistics or relates to the financial performance of a company

• official census figures

• a figure of 30,000 deaths annually from snakebite.

2. a numerical symbol, especially any of the ten in Arabic notation

• the figure 7.

3. one of a specified number of digits making up a larger number, used to give a rough idea of the order of magnitude

• their market price runs into five figures

• [in combination] a six-figure salary.

4. an amount of money

• a figure of two thousand dollars.

5. (figures) — arithmetical calculations

• she has no head for figures.

6. a person's bodily shape, especially that of a woman and when considered to be attractive

• she had always been so proud of her figure.

7. a person seen indistinctly, especially at a distance

• a backpacked figure appeared in the distance.

8. a person of a particular kind, especially one who is important or distinctive in some way

• Williams became something of a cult figure.

9. a representation of a human or animal form in drawing or sculpture

• starkly painted figures.

10. a shape defined by one or more lines in two dimensions (such as a circle or a triangle), or one or more surfaces in three dimensions (such as a sphere or a cuboid), either considered mathematically in geometry or used as a decorative design

• a red ground with white and blue geometric figures.

11. a diagram or illustrative drawing, especially in a book or magazine

• figure 1 shows an ignition circuit.

12. [Figure Skating] a movement or series of movements following a prescribed pattern and often beginning and ending at the same point.

13. a pattern formed by the movements of a group of people, for example in square dancing or synchronized swimming, as part of a longer dance or display.

14. ‹archaic› the external form or shape of a thing.

15. [Music] a short succession of notes producing a single impression.

16. [Logic] the form of a syllogism, classified according to the position of the middle term.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. be a significant and noticeable part of something

• the issue of nuclear policy figured prominently in the talks.

2. (of a person) play a significant role in a situation or event

• he figured largely in opposition to the bill.

3. (of a fictional character) play a part in a novel, play, or movie

• the four characters who figure in Ridley's play.

4. [with obj.] — (N. Amer.) calculate or work out (an amount or value) arithmetically.

5. [with clause] — ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) think, consider, or expect to be the case

• I figure that wearing a suit makes you look like a bank clerk

• [with obj.] for years, teachers had figured him for a dullard.

6. (of a recent event or newly discovered fact) be logical and unsurprising

• well, she supposed that figured.

7. [with obj.] — represent (something) in a diagram or picture

• varieties of this Cape genus are figured from drawings made there.

8. (usu. as adj. figured) — embellish (something) with a pattern

• the floors were covered with figured linoleum.

III. phrases

1. figure of fun

a person who is considered ridiculous.

2. figure of speech

/ˌfiɡyər əv ˈspēCH / — a word or phrase used in a nonliteral sense to add rhetorical force to a spoken or written passage

• calling her a crab is just a figure of speech.

3. lose (or keep) one's figure

lose (or retain) a slim and attractive bodily shape.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. figure on

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› count or rely on something happening or being the case in the future

• anyone thinking of salmon fishing should figure on paying $200 a day.

2. figure something out

‹informal› solve or discover the cause of a problem

• he was trying to figure out why the camera wasn't working.

3. figure someone out

reach an understanding of a person's actions, motives, or personality.

V. derivatives

figureless

adjective

– origin Middle English (in the senses ‘distinctive shape of a person or thing,’ ‘representation of something material or immaterial,’ and ‘numerical symbol,’ among others): from Old French figure (noun), figurer (verb), from Latin figura ‘shape, figure, form’; related to fingere ‘form, contrive.’

figured bass /ˈfiɡyərd bās/

noun

[Music] a bass line with the intended harmonies indicated by figures rather than written out as chords, typical of continuo parts in baroque music.

figure eight /ˌfiɡyər ˈāt / ‹Brit.› figure of eight

noun

an object or movement having the shape of the number eight.

figure-ground /ˈfiɡyərˌɡround/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. [Psychology] [Art] relating to or denoting the perception of images by the distinction of objects from a background from which they appear to stand out, especially in contexts where this distinction is ambiguous.

figurehead /ˈfiɡyərˌhed/

noun

1. a nominal leader or head without real power.

2. a carving, typically a bust or a full-length figure, set at the prow of an old-fashioned sailing ship.

figure-hugging //

adjective

(of a garment) fitting closely to the contours of a woman's body

• a low-cut, figure-hugging dress.

figure of merit

noun

a numerical expression representing the performance or efficiency of a given device, material, or procedure.

figure skating /ˈfiɡyər ˌskādiNG/

I. noun

the competitive sport of ice skating in prescribed patterns (figures) and choreographed free skating.

II. derivatives

figure skater /ˈfiɡyər ˌskādər /

noun

figurine /ˌfiɡ(y)əˈrēn/

I. noun

a statuette, especially one of a human form.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, from Italian figurina, diminutive of figura, from Latin figura (see figure).

fig wasp

noun

a tiny Old World wasp that lays its eggs inside the flower of the wild fig. It was introduced into the New World to effect cross-fertilization of the cultivated fig.
[Blastophaga psenes, family Agaonidae, superfamily Chalcidoidea.]

figwort /ˈfiɡwərt ˈfiɡˌwôrt/

I. noun

a widely distributed herbaceous plant with purplish-brown two-lobed flowers. It was formerly considered to be effective in the treatment of scrofula.
[Genus Scrophularia, family Scrophulariaceae (the figwort family): several species. Plants of this family have distinctive two-lobed flowers and include the snapdragons, toadflaxes, foxgloves, mulleins, monkey flowers, and speedwells.]

– origin mid 16th cent.: from obsolete fig ‘piles’ + wort. The word originally denoted the pilewort, or lesser celandine, which was used as a treatment for piles; the current sense dates from the late 16th cent.

Fiji /ˈfējē/

I. a republic in the South Pacific consisting of a group of more than 800 islands, of which about a hundred are inhabited; pop. 944,700 (est. 2009); capital, Suva; languages, English (official), Fijian, and Hindi.

First visited by Abel Tasman in 1643, the Fiji Islands became a British Crown Colony in 1874 and independent within the Commonwealth of Nations in 1970. In 1987, following a coup, Fiji became a republic and withdrew from the Commonwealth.

Fijian /ˈfējēən fēˈjēən/

I. adjective

of or relating to Fiji, its people, or language.

II. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Fiji, or a person of Fijian descent.

2. the Austronesian language of the indigenous people of Fiji.

FIL

I. noun

‹informal› a person's father-in-law

• my in-laws helped tremendously—my MIL prepared food and my FIL helped move boxes and furniture.

– origin 1960s: abbreviation.

filament /ˈfiləmənt/

I. noun

1. a slender threadlike object or fiber, especially one found in animal or plant structures

• a filament of cellulose.

2. a conducting wire or thread with a high melting point, forming part of an electric bulb or vacuum tube and heated or made incandescent by an electric current.

3. [Botany] the slender part of a stamen that supports the anther.

4. [Astronomy] a narrow streamer from the sun's chromosphere or in its corona.

5. [Astronomy] a narrow streamer of gas in an interstellar cloud or nebula.

II. derivatives

1. filamentary /ˌfiləˈmen(t)ərē /

adjective

2. filamented

adjective

3. filamentous /-ˌmentəs /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: from French, or from modern Latin filamentum, from late Latin filare ‘to spin,’ from Latin filum ‘thread.’

filaria /fəˈlerēə/

I. noun

a threadlike parasitic nematode worm transmitted by biting flies and mosquitoes, causing filariasis and related diseases.
[Superfamily Filarioidea, class Phasmida.]

II. derivatives

filarial /-ˈle(ə)rēəl /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Filaria (former genus name), from Latin filum ‘thread.’

filariasis /ˌfiləˈrīəsəs/

noun

[Medicine] a tropical disease caused by the presence of filarial worms, especially in the lymph vessels where heavy infestation can result in elephantiasis.

filature /ˈfiləˌCHo͝or ˈfiləCHər/

I. noun

1. the process of obtaining silk thread from silkworm cocoons.

2. an establishment where silk is obtained from silkworm cocoons.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French, from Italian filatura, from filare ‘to spin.’

filbert /ˈfilbərt/

I. noun

1. a cultivated hazel tree that bears edible oval nuts.
[Genus Corylus, family Betulaceae: several species, in particular the giant filbert (Corylus maxima).]

2. the nut of the filbert tree.

3. (also filbert brush) — a brush with bristles forming a flattened oval head, used in oil painting.

– origin Middle English fylberd, from Anglo-Norman French philbert, dialect French noix de filbert (so named because it is ripe about August 20, the feast day of St. Philibert).

filch /filCH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› pilfer or steal (something, especially a thing of small value) in a casual way

• I was promptly accused of filching Mr. Muir's idea.

II. derivatives

filcher /ˈfilCHər /

noun

– origin Middle English: of unknown origin.

file^1 /fīl/

I. noun

1. a folder or box for holding loose papers that are typically arranged in a particular order for easy reference

• a file of correspondence.

2. the contents of a file folder or box.

3. [Computing] a collection of data, programs, etc., stored in a computer's memory or on a storage device under a single identifying name

• do you want to save this file?

• [as modifier] a file name.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. place (a document) in a cabinet, box, or folder in a particular order for preservation and easy reference

• the contract, when signed, is filed

• ‹figurative› he still had the moment filed away in his memory.

2. submit (a legal document, application, or charge) to be placed on record by the appropriate authority

• criminal charges were filed against the firm

• [no obj.] the company had filed for bankruptcy.

3. (of a reporter) send (a story) to a newspaper or news organization.

III. phrases

on file

in a file or filing system.

IV. derivatives

filer /ˈfīlər /

noun

– origin late Middle English (as a verb meaning ‘string documents on a thread or wire to keep them in order’): from French filer ‘to string,’ fil ‘a thread,’ both from Latin filum ‘a thread.’ Compare with file^2.

file^2 /fīl/

I. noun

1. a line of people or things one behind another

• Plains Cree warriors riding in file down the slopes.

2. [Military] a small detachment of troops

• a file of English soldiers had ridden out from Perth.

3. [Chess] each of the eight rows of eight squares on a chessboard running away from the player toward the opponent.
Compare with rank^1 (sense 2 of the noun)).

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a group of people) walk one behind the other, typically in an orderly and solemn manner

• the mourners filed into the church.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French file, from filer ‘to string.’

file^3 /fīl/

I. noun

a tool with a roughened surface or surfaces, typically of steel, used for smoothing or shaping a hard material

• it is possible to make the necessary notch with a file.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. smooth or shape (something) with a file

• when I have nothing else to do, I file my nails.

2. (file something away/off) — remove something by grinding it off with a file

• the engine numbers were filed away.

III. derivatives

filer /ˈfīlər /

noun

– origin Old English fīl; related to Dutch vijl and German Feile.

filé /fiˈlā, ˈfēlā/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) pounded or powdered sassafras leaves used to flavor and thicken soup, especially gumbo.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, past participle of filer ‘to twist.’

file cabinet /fīl ˈkab(ə)nət/

noun

(N. Amer.) another term for filing cabinet.

file clerk

noun

(N. Amer.) a person employed in an office to file or retrieve documents

• I entered the company as a file clerk seven years ago.

file extension

noun

[Computing] a group of letters occurring after a period in a file name, indicating the format of the file.

filefish /ˈfīlˌfiSH/

I. noun

a fish with a dorsal spine and rough scales, related to the triggerfishes and occurring in tropical and sometimes temperate seas.
[Numerous genera and species, family Balistidae (or Monacanthidae).]

– origin late 18th cent.: from file^3 (because of its rough skin, suggesting the surface of a file).

filename /ˈfīlnām/

noun

an identifying name given to a computer file.

Filene, Edward Albert /fīˈlēn/

(1860–1937), US merchant. As the president of Wm. Filene & Sons, he brought about many innovations, including the bargain basement and charge accounts. In 1921, he helped to establish the Credit Union National Extension Bureau.

file server /ˈfīl ˌsərvər/

noun

[Computing] a device that controls access to separately stored files, as part of a multiuser system.

file-sharing /ˈfīlSHeriNG/

noun

the practice of or ability to transmit files from one computer to another over a network or the Internet
[often as modifier]

• file-sharing software.

filet /fiˈlā ˈfilā/

noun

1. French spelling of fillet, used esp. in the names of French or French-sounding dishes:

• filet de boeuf.

2. a kind of net or lace with a square mesh.
[late 19th cent.: from French, ‘net.’]

filet mignon /fiˌlā minˈyän/

I. noun

a small tender piece of beef from the end of the tenderloin.

– origin mid 20th cent.: French, literally ‘dainty fillet.’

File Transfer Protocol

noun

another term for FTP.

filial /ˈfilyəl/

I. adjective

1. of or due from a son or daughter

• a display of filial affection.

2. [Biology] denoting the generation or generations after the parental generation.
See also F1.

II. derivatives

filially

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, or from ecclesiastical Latin filialis, from filius ‘son,’ filia ‘daughter.’

filiation /ˌfilēˈāSHən/

I. noun

1. the fact of being or of being designated the child of a particular parent or parents

• relationships based on ties of filiation as opposed to marriage.

2. the manner in which a thing is related to another from which it is derived or descended in some respect

• the filiation of Old Norse manuscripts.

3. a branch of a society or language.

– origin late Middle English: from French, from ecclesiastical and medieval Latin filiatio(n-), from Latin filius ‘son,’ filia ‘daughter.’

filibeg /ˈfiləˌbeɡ / philibeg, filabeg

I. noun

(Scottish) ‹chiefly historical› a kilt.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Scottish Gaelic feileadh-beag ‘little kilt,’ from feileadh ‘plaid’ and beag ‘little.’

filibuster /ˈfiləˌbəstər/

I. noun

1. an action such as a prolonged speech that obstructs progress in a legislative assembly while not technically contravening the required procedures

• it was defeated by a Senate filibuster in June.

2. ‹historical› a person engaging in unauthorized warfare against a foreign country.

II. verb — [no obj.] (often as noun filibustering)

1. act in an obstructive manner in a legislature, especially by speaking at inordinate length

• several measures were killed by Republican filibustering.

2. [with obj.] — obstruct (a measure) by filibustering.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French flibustier, first applied to pirates who pillaged the Spanish colonies in the West Indies, ultimately from Dutch vrijbuiter; see freebooter. In the mid 19th cent. (via Spanish filibustero), the term denoted American adventurers who incited revolution in several Latin American states, whence sense 2 of the noun. The verb was used to describe tactics intended to sabotage congressional proceedings, whence sense 1 of the noun.

filicide /ˈfiləˌsīd/

I. noun

1. the killing of one's son or daughter

• maternal filicide.

2. a person who kills their son or daughter.

– origin mid 17th cent. from Latin filius ‘son,’ filia ‘daughter’ + -cide.

Filicopsida /ˌfiləˈkäpsədə / ‹Botany›

I. a class of pteridophyte plants that comprises the ferns.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Latin filix, filic- ‘fern’ + opsis ‘appearance.’

filiform /ˈfiləˌfôrm/

I. adjective

[Biology] threadlike

• the antennae are filiform.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin filum ‘thread’ + -iform.

filigree /ˈfiləˌɡrē / filagree

I. noun

1. ornamental work of fine (typically gold or silver) wire formed into delicate tracery
[as modifier]

• delicate silver filigree earrings.

2. a thing resembling filigree

• a wedding cake of gold and white filigree.

– origin late 17th cent. (earlier as filigreen, filigrane): from French filigrane, from Italian filigrana (from Latin filum ‘thread’ + granum ‘seed’).

filigreed /ˈfiləˌɡrēd / filagreed

adjective

ornamented with or resembling filigree work

• white filigreed stockings.

filing /ˈfīliNG/

noun — (usu. filings)

1. a small particle rubbed off by a file when smoothing or shaping something

• iron filings.

filing cabinet /ˈfīliNG ˌkab(ə)nət/

noun

a piece of office furniture, typically made of steel, with deep drawers for storing documents.

Filioque /ˌfilēˈōkwē/

I. the word inserted in the Western version of the Nicene Creed to assert the doctrine of the procession of the Holy Ghost from the Son as well as from the Father, which is not admitted by the Eastern Church. It was one of the central issues in the Great Schism of 1054.

– origin Latin, literally ‘and from the Son.’

Filipino /ˌfiləˈpēnō / Pilipino

I. noun

1. (fem. Filipina ) — a native or national of the Philippines, or a person of Filipino descent.

2. the national language of the Philippines, a standardized form of Tagalog.

II. adjective

relating to the Philippines, the Filipinos, or their language.

– origin Spanish, from las Islas Filipinas ‘the Philippine Islands.’

Fílippoi /ˈfēliˌpē/

Greek name for Philippi.

fill /fil/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. put someone or something into (a space or container) so that it is completely or almost completely full

• I filled up the bottle with water

• the office was filled with reporters.

2. [no obj.] (fill with) — become full of

• Eleanor's eyes filled with tears.

3. become an overwhelming presence in

• a pungent smell of garlic filled the air.

4. cause (someone) to have an intense experience of an emotion or feeling

• his presence filled us with foreboding.

5. appoint a person to hold (a vacant position)

• the number of high-tech jobs and the people who can fill them.

6. hold and perform the expected duties of (a position or role)

• she fills the role of the “good” child.

7. occupy or take up (a period of time)

• the next few days were filled with meetings.

8. (chiefly N. Amer.) be supplied with the items described in (a prescription or order)

• she needed to fill a prescription.

9. block up (a cavity in a tooth) with cement, amalgam, or gold.

10. [no obj.] — (of a sail) curve out tautly as the wind blows into it.

11. (of a weather system) increase in barometric pressure.
Compare with deepen.

12. [with obj.] — (of the wind) blow into (a sail), causing it to curve outward.

13. [Poker] complete (a good hand) by drawing the necessary cards.

II. noun

1. (one's fill) — an amount of something that is as much as one wants or can bear

• we have eaten our fill

• I've had my fill of surprises for one day.

2. an amount of something that will occupy all the space in a container.

3. material, loose or compacted, that fills a space, especially in building or engineering work

• loose polystyrene fill.

4. the action of filling something, especially of shading in a region of a computer graphics display.

5. (in popular music) a short interjected phrase on a particular instrument.

III. phrases

1. fill the bill

see bill^1.

2. fill someone's shoes

‹informal› take over someone's function or duties and fulfill them satisfactorily.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. fill in

act as a substitute for someone when they are unable to do their job

• my producer will have to have someone standing by to fill in for me.

2. fill someone in

a. inform someone more fully of a matter, giving all the details

• the cab driver filled me in on much important economic and sociological data.

b. (Brit.) ‹informal› ‹dated› hit or punch someone

• I filled in a chap and took his money.

3. fill something in

a. put material into a hole, trench, or space so that it is completely full

• the canal is now disused and partly filled in.

b. complete a drawing by adding color or shade to the spaces within an outline

• incised letters, filled in with gold.

c. (chiefly Brit.) add information to complete something, typically a form or other official document

• he filled in all the forms.

4. fill out

(of a person) put on weight to a noticeable extent.

5. fill something out

a. add information to complete an official form or document

• he filled out the requisite forms.

b. give more details to add to someone's understanding of something

• he filled out the background by going into historical questions.

6. fill up

a. become completely full

• the dining car filled up.

b. fill the fuel tank of a car.

– origin Old English fyllan (verb), fyllu (noun) of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vullen and German füllen (verbs), Fülle (noun), also to full^1.

fille de joie /ˌfē(yə) də ˈZHwä/

I. noun

used euphemistically to refer to a prostitute.

– origin early 18th cent.: French, literally ‘girl of pleasure.’

filled gold

noun

a relatively inexpensive metal with a layer of gold applied over it.

filler^1 /ˈfilər/

noun

1. [usu. in combination] — a thing put in a space or container to fill it

• these plants are attractive gap-fillers or ground cover.

2. a substance used for filling cracks or holes in a surface, especially before painting it

• quick-hardening wood filler.

3. material used to fill a cavity or increase bulk

• foam filler

• good quality paints should contain little or no filler.

4. an item serving only to fill space or time, especially in a newspaper, broadcast, or recording.

5. a word or sound filling a pause in an utterance or conversation (e.g., er, well, you know).

6. a linguistic unit that fills a particular slot in syntactic structure.

7. (US) the tobacco blend used in a cigar.

8. [in combination] — a person or thing that fills a space or container

• supermarket shelf-fillers.

filler^2 /ˈfilər/

I. noun

a monetary unit of Hungary, equal to one hundredth of a forint.

– origin from Hungarian fillér.

fillet /fiˈlā ˈfilət/

I. noun

1. (also filet) — a fleshy boneless piece of meat from near the loins or the ribs of an animal

• a chicken breast fillet

• roast fillet of lamb.

2. (also fillet steak) — a beef steak cut from the lower part of a sirloin.

3. a boned side of a fish.

4. /ˈfilit / — a band or ribbon worn around the head, especially for binding the hair.

5. [Architecture] a narrow flat band separating two moldings.

6. [Architecture] a small band between the flutes of a column.

7. a plain or decorated line impressed on the cover of a book.

8. a roller used to impress a line on the cover of a book.

9. /ˈfilit / — a concave strip of material roughly triangular in cross section that rounds off an interior angle between two surfaces

• a splayed mortar fillet at the junction of the roof with the chimney stack

• [as modifier] a fillet weld.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. remove the bones from (a fish).

2. cut (fish or meat) into boneless strips.

III. derivatives

filleter

noun

– origin Middle English (denoting a band worn around the head): from Old French filet ‘thread,’ based on Latin filum ‘thread.’

fill-in /ˈfilin/

noun

a person or thing acting or serving in place of another; a substitute

• she could be a competent short-term fill-in

• [as modifier] a college student working as a fill-in doorman.

filling /ˈfiliNG/

I. noun

1. a quantity of material that fills or is used to fill something

• a cushion with polyester filling.

2. a piece of material used to fill a cavity in a tooth

• a gold filling.

3. an edible substance placed between the layers of a sandwich, cake, or other foodstuff

• a Swiss roll with a chocolate filling.

4. (N. Amer.) another term for weft.

II. adjective

(of food) leaving one with a pleasantly satiated feeling

• a filling spicy bean soup.

filling station /ˈfiliNG ˌstāSHən/

noun

another term for gas station.

fillip /ˈfiləp/

I. noun

1. something that acts as a stimulus or boost to an activity

• the halving of the automobile tax would provide a fillip to sales.

2. ‹archaic› a movement made by bending the last joint of a finger against the thumb and suddenly releasing it; a flick of the finger

• the Prince, by a fillip, made some of the wine fly in Oglethorpe's face.

3. a slight smart stroke or tap

• she began to give him dainty fillips on the nose with a soft forepaw.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› propel (a small object) with a flick of the finger

• our aforesaid merchant filliped a nut sharply against his bullying giant.

2. ‹archaic› strike (someone or something) slightly and smartly

• he filliped him over the nose.

3. ‹archaic› stimulate or urge (someone or something)

• pour, that the draught may fillip my remembrance.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘make a fillip with the fingers’): symbolic; compare with flick, flip^1.

fill light

noun

a supplementary light used in photography or filming that does not change the character of the main light and is used chiefly to lighten shadows.

Fillmore, Millard /ˈfilmôr/

(1800–74), 13th president of the US 1850–53. A New York Whig, he served in the US House of Representatives 1833–35, 1837–43 and became US vice president in 1849. Seventeen months later, he succeeded to the presidency upon the death of President Zachary Taylor. Fillmore was an advocate of compromise on the slavery issue, but his unpopular enforcement of the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act hastened the end of the Whig Party.

fill-up

noun

an instance of making something completely full, especially the fuel tank of an automobile

• free coffee with fill-up.

filly /ˈfilē/

I. noun

1. a young female horse, especially one less than four years old.

2. ‹dated› a lively girl or young woman.

– origin late Middle English: from Old Norse fylja, of Germanic origin; related to foal.

film /film/

I. noun

1. a thin flexible strip of plastic or other material coated with light-sensitive emulsion for exposure in a camera, used to produce photographs or motion pictures

• he had already shot a whole roll of film

• a new range of films and cameras.

2. material in the form of a thin flexible sheet

• clear plastic film between the layers of glass.

3. a thin layer covering a surface

• she quickly wiped away the light film of sweat.

4. ‹archaic› a fine thread or filament

• films of silk.

5. a motion picture; a movie

• a horror film

• [as modifier] a film director.

6. movies considered as an art or industry

• a critical overview of feminist writing on film.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — capture on film as part of a series of moving images; make a movie of (a story or event)

• she glowered at the television crew who were filming them.

2. [no obj.] (film well/badly) — be well or badly suited to portrayal in a film

• an adventure story that would film well.

3. [no obj.] — become or appear to become covered with a thin layer of something

• his eyes had filmed over.

III. derivatives

filmdom

noun

film (sense 2 of the noun)

– origin Old English filmen ‘membrane’; related to fell^5.

film badge /film baj/

noun

a device containing photographic film that registers the wearer's exposure to radiation.

filmgoer /ˈfilmˌɡōər/

I. noun

a person who goes to the movies, especially regularly.

II. derivatives

filmgoing /-ˌɡōiNG /

noun

filmic /ˈfilmik/

adjective

of or relating to movies or cinematography

• he has reconceived the stage production in filmic terms.

filmmaker /ˈfilmˌmākər/

noun

a person who directs or produces movies for the theater or television.

filmmaking /ˈfilmˌmākiNG/

noun

the direction or production of movies for the theater or television

• the best emerging talent in independent filmmaking

• a brilliant piece of filmmaking

• [as modifier] the filmmaking process.

film noir /ˌfilm ˈnwär/

I. noun

1. a style or genre of cinematographic film marked by a mood of pessimism, fatalism, and menace. The term was originally applied (by a group of French critics) to American thriller or detective films made in the period 1944–54 and to the work of directors such as Orson Welles, Fritz Lang, and Billy Wilder.

2. a film marked by a mood of pessimism, fatalism, and menace.

– origin mid 20th cent.: French, literally ‘black film.’

filmography /filˈmäɡrəfē/

I. noun

a list of films by one director or actor, or on one subject.

– origin 1960s: from film + -graphy, on the pattern of bibliography.

filmsetting /ˈfilmˌsediNG/

I. noun

British term for photocomposition.

II. derivatives

1. filmset /ˈfilmˌset /

verb

2. filmsetter /ˈfilmˌsedər /

noun

film star //

noun

another term for movie star.

filmstrip /ˈfilmˌstrip/

noun

a series of transparencies in a strip for projection.

filmy /ˈfilmē/

I. adjective

1. (especially of fabric) thin and translucent

• filmy white voile.

2. covered with or forming a thin layer of something

• her eyes were dull and filmy.

II. derivatives

1. filmily /ˈfilməlē /

adverb

2. filminess /ˈfilmēnəs /

noun

filmy fern

noun

a small fern of damp shady places, with wiry creeping stems and delicate forked fronds that are only one cell thick. They occur chiefly in tropical and subtropical regions.
[Family Hymenophyllaceae: Hymenophyllum and other genera.]

Filofax /ˈfīlōˌfaks/

I. noun

‹trademark› a loose-leaf notebook for recording appointments, addresses, and notes.

– origin 1930s: representing a colloquial pronunciation of file of facts.

filopodium /ˌfiləˈpōdēəm, ˌfī-/

I. noun

[Biology] a long, slender, tapering pseudopodium, as found in some protozoans and in embryonic cells.

II. derivatives

filopodial /-ˈpōdēəl /

adjective

– origin early 20th cent.: from Latin filium ‘thread’ + podium.

filoselle /ˈfiləˌsel/

I. noun

floss silk, or silk thread resembling this, used in embroidery.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French, from Italian filosello ‘raw silk from a cocoon,’ of uncertain ultimate origin.

filovirus /ˈfēlōˌvīrəs, ˈfī-/

noun

a filamentous RNA virus of a genus that causes severe hemorrhagic fevers in humans and primates, and that includes the Ebola and Marburg viruses.

fils^1 /fils/

I. noun

a monetary unit of Iraq, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, and Yemen, equal to one hundredth of a riyal in Yemen and one thousandth of a dinar elsewhere.

– origin from a colloquial pronunciation of Arabic fals, denoting a small copper coin, from Latin follis ‘purse, coin’; compare with follis, fool^1.

fils^2 /fēs/

I. noun

used after a surname to distinguish a son from a father of the same name

• Alexandre Dumas fils.

Compare with père.

– origin late 19th cent.: French, literally ‘son.’

filter /ˈfiltər/

I. noun

1. a porous device for removing impurities or solid particles from a liquid or gas passed through it

• an oil filter.

2. short for filter tip:
[as modifier]

• a cheap filter cigarette.

3. a screen, plate, or layer of a substance that absorbs light or other radiation or selectively absorbs some of its components

• filters can be used in photography to reduce haze.

4. a device for suppressing electrical or sound waves of frequencies not required.

5. [Computing] a piece of software that processes text, for example to remove unwanted spaces or to format it for use in another application.

6. (Brit.) an arrangement whereby vehicles may turn left (or right) while other traffic waiting to go straight ahead or turn right (or left) is stopped by a red light
[as modifier]

• a filter lane.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. pass (a liquid, gas, light, or sound) through a device to remove unwanted material

• the patient is hooked up to a dialysis machine twice a week to filter out the cholesterol in the blood

• ‹figurative› you'll be put through to a secretary whose job it is to filter calls.

2. [no obj., with adverbial of direction] — move slowly or in small quantities or numbers through something or in a specified direction

• people filtered out of the concert during the last set.

3. [no obj., with adverbial] — (of information) gradually become known

• the news began to filter in from the hospital.

4. [with obj.] — [Computing] process or treat with a filter.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a piece of felt): from French filtre, from medieval Latin filtrum ‘felt used as a filter,’ related to felt^1.

filterable /ˈfiltərəbəl / filtrable

adjective

1. capable of passing through a filter.

2. capable of being separated out by a filter

• filterable virus

• filterable solids.

filter bed /ˈfiltər ˌbed/

noun

a tank or pond containing a layer of sand or gravel, used for filtering large quantities of liquid.

filter cake

noun

a deposit of insoluble material left on a filter.

filter feeding

I. noun

[Zoology] (of an aquatic animal) feeding by filtering out plankton or nutrients suspended in the water.

II. derivatives

1. filter-feed

verb

2. filter feeder

noun

filter paper /ˈfiltər ˌpāpər/

noun

a piece of porous paper for filtering liquids, used especially in chemical processes and coffee-making.

filter press

noun

a device consisting of a series of cloth filters fixed to frames, used for the large-scale filtration of liquid under pressure.

filter tip /ˈfiltər ˌtip/

I. noun

1. a filter attached to a cigarette for removing some components from the inhaled smoke.

2. a cigarette with a filter tip.

II. derivatives

filter-tipped /ˈfiltər ˌtipt /

adjective

filth /filTH/

I. noun

1. disgusting dirt

• stagnant pools of filth.

2. obscene and offensive language or printed material.

3. corrupt behavior; decadence.

4. used as a term of abuse for a person or people one greatly despises

• I can’t believe she married that filth.

5. (as plural noun the filth) — (Brit.) ‹informal› ‹derogatory› the police.

– origin Old English fȳlth ‘rotting matter, rottenness,’ also ‘corruption, obscenity,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vuilte, also to foul.

filthy /ˈfilTHē/

I. adjective

1. disgustingly dirty

• a filthy hospital with no sanitation.

2. obscene and offensive

• filthy language.

3. ‹informal› used to express one's anger and disgust

• you filthy beast.

4. (of a mood) bad-tempered and aggressive

• he arrived at the meeting half an hour late in a filthy temper.

5. (Brit.) ‹informal› (of weather) very unpleasant

• it looked like a filthy night.

II. adverb — [as submodifier]

1. ‹informal› to an extreme and often disgusting extent

• he has become filthy rich.

III. derivatives

1. filthily /ˈfilTHəlē /

adverb

2. filthiness /ˈfilTHēnəs /

noun

filthy lucre

I. noun

money, especially when gained in a dishonest or dishonorable way.

– origin early 16th cent.: with biblical allusion to Tit. 1:11.

filtrate /ˈfilˌtrāt/

I. noun

a liquid that has passed through a filter

• filtrates of bacterial cultures

• drops of clear filtrate.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. filter

• the remaining alkali is filtrated.

– origin early 17th cent.: from modern Latin filtrat- ‘filtered,’ from the verb filtrare, from medieval Latin filtrum (see filter).

filtration /filˈtrāSH(ə)n/

noun

the action or process of filtering something

• small particles are difficult to remove without filtration.

fimbria /ˈfimbrēə/

I. noun

1. [chiefly Anatomy] a series of threads or other projections resembling a fringe.

2. [usu. in pl.] — [chiefly Anatomy] an individual thread in a fimbria, especially a fingerlike projection at the end of the fallopian tube near the ovary.

II. derivatives

fimbrial /-brēəl /

adjective

– origin mid 18th cent.: from late Latin, literally ‘border, fringe.’

fimbriated /ˈfimbrēˌādəd / fimbriate

I. adjective

1. [Biology] having a fringe or border of hairlike or fingerlike projections.

2. [Heraldry] having a narrow border, typically of a specified tincture.

– origin late 15th cent. (sense 2): from Latin fimbriatus (from fimbria ‘fringe’) + -ed^1.

fin /fin/

I. noun

1. a flattened appendage on various parts of the body of many aquatic vertebrates and some invertebrates, including fish and cetaceans, used for propelling, steering, and balancing.

2. an underwater swimmer's flipper.

3. a small flattened projecting surface or attachment on an aircraft, rocket, or automobile, providing aerodynamic stability or serving as a design element.

4. a flattened projection on a device, such as a radiator, used for increasing heat transfer.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. swim underwater by means of flippers

• I finned madly for the surface.

III. derivatives

1. finless

adjective

2. finned /find /

adjective

[in combination]

• primitive ray-finned fishes

– origin Old English finn, fin, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vin and probably ultimately to Latin pinna ‘feather, wing.’

fin.

abbreviation

1. finance.

2. financial.

3. finish.

finagle /fəˈnāɡ(ə)l/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› (chiefly US) obtain (something) by devious or dishonest means

• Ted attended all the football games he could finagle tickets for.

2. [no obj.] — ‹informal› (chiefly US) act in a devious or dishonest manner

• they wrangled and finagled over the fine points.

II. derivatives

finagler /fəˈnāɡ(ə)lər /

noun

– origin 1920s (originally U.S.): from dialect fainaigue ‘cheat’; perhaps from Old French fornier ‘deny.’

final /ˈfīnl/

I. adjective

1. coming at the end of a series

• the final version of the report was presented.

2. reached or designed to be reached as the outcome of a process or a series of events

• the final cost will easily run into six figures.

3. allowing no further doubt or dispute

• the decision of the judging panel is final.

II. noun

1. the last game in a sports tournament or other competition, which decides the winner of the tournament.

2. (finals) — a series of games constituting the final stage of a competition

• the World Cup finals.

3. (final) — (N. Amer.) an examination at the end of a term, academic year, or particular class.

4. (finals) — (Brit.) a series of examinations at the end of a degree course

• she was doing her history finals.

5. [Music] the principal note in a mode.

6. (finals) — (Brit.) the final approach of a landing aircraft to a runway

• the plane piloted by Richards was on finals.

III. phrases

the final straw

see straw.

– origin Middle English (in the adjectival sense ‘conclusive’): from Old French, or from Latin finalis, from finis ‘end.’ Compare with finish.

final cause /ˈfīnl kôz/

noun

[Philosophy] the purpose or aim of an action or the end toward which a thing naturally develops.

final drive

noun

the last part of the transmission system in a motor vehicle.

finale /fəˈnalē fəˈnälē/

I. noun

the last part of a piece of music, a performance, or a public event, especially when particularly dramatic or exciting

• the festival ends with a grand finale.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Italian, from Latin finalis (see final).

Final Four

noun

the four teams that qualify for the championship round in the annual NCAA men's or women's college basketball tournament.

finalist /ˈfīn(ə)ləst/

noun

a competitor or team in the final or finals of a competition.

finality /fīˈnalədē fəˈnalədē/

I. noun

1. the fact or impression of being an irreversible ending

• the abrupt finality of death

• there's a dreadful finality about cutting down a tree.

2. a tone or manner that indicates that no further comment or argument is possible

• “No,” she said with finality.

3. an action or event that ends something irreversibly

• death is the ultimate finality.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French finalité, from late Latin finalitas, from Latin finalis (see final).

finalize /ˈfīnlˌīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. produce or agree on a finished and definitive version of

• efforts intensified to finalize plans for postwar reconstruction.

II. derivatives

finalization /ˌfīn(ə)ləˈzāSH(ə)n ˌfīnəˌlīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

finally /ˈfīn(ə)lē/

adverb

1. after a long time, typically involving difficulty or delay

• he finally arrived to join us.

2. as the last in a series of related events or objects

• a referendum followed by local, legislative, and, finally, presidential elections.

3. [sentence adverb] — used to introduce a final point or reason

• finally, it is common knowledge that travel broadens the horizons.

4. in such a way as to put an end to doubt and dispute

• to dispel finally the belief that auditors were clients of the company.

final solution /ˈfīnl səˈlo͞oSHən/

I. noun

the Nazi policy of exterminating European Jews. Introduced by Heinrich Himmler and administered by Adolf Eichmann, the policy resulted in the murder of 6 million Jews in concentration camps between 1941 and 1945.

– origin translation of German Endlösung.

finance /ˈfīnans fəˈnans/

I. noun

1. the management of large amounts of money, especially by governments or large companies.

2. monetary support for an enterprise

• housing finance.

3. (finances) — the monetary resources and affairs of a country, organization, or person

• the finances of the school were causing serious concern.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. provide funding for (a person or enterprise)

• the city and county originally financed the project.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, from finer ‘make an end, settle a debt,’ from fin ‘end’ (see fine^2). The original sense was ‘payment of a debt, compensation, or ransom’; later ‘taxation, revenue’ Current senses date from the 18th cent., and reflect sense development in French.

finance company ‹Brit.› finance house

noun

a company concerned primarily with providing money, as for short-term loans.

financial /fəˈnan(t)SHəl fīˈnan(t)SHəl/

I. adjective

of or relating to finance

• an independent financial adviser.

II. noun — (financials)

1. the finances or financial situation of an organization or individual

• he needs to pay serious attention to his financials, particularly cash flow.

2. shares in financial companies.

• at the end of the year fund managers sell their worst-performing stocks—and financials have fared badly this year.

financial adviser

noun

a person who is employed to provide financial services or guidance to clients

• her financial advisers' unwise recommendations led her to squander $9 million.

financial analyst

noun

a person whose job is to assess the financial condition of a business or asset to determine if it is a sound investment

• many financial analysts think a financial bubble has been created.

financialization /fəˌnanCHələˈzāSHən, fīˌnanCHələˈzāSHən/

noun

the process by which financial institutions, markets, etc., increase in size and influence

• the financialization of the US economy.

financially /fəˈnan(t)SH(ə)lē fīˈnan(t)SH(ə)lē/

adverb

in a way that relates to finance

• he does not benefit financially from sales of the book

• [as submodifier] the company is now financially stable.

financial planner

noun

a person employed to manage the personal finances of clients

• he hired a financial planner to make sure he was doing everything required to retire comfortably and meet his family's financial needs.

financial services

plural noun

professional services involving the investment, lending, and management of money and assets

• the firm provides a range of financial services, including tax preparation, insurance coverage, and investment portfolios

• [as modifier] the financial services sector.

Financial Times index

another term for FTSE index.

financial year

noun

British term for fiscal year.

financier /ˌfinənˈsir fəˈnanˌsir/

I. noun

a person concerned with the management of large amounts of money on behalf of governments or other large organizations.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French, from finance (see finance).

finback /ˈfinbak / finback whale

noun

a large rorqual with a small dorsal fin, a dark gray back, and white underparts.
Also called fin whale, common rorqual (see rorqual). [Balaenoptera physalus, family Balaenopteridae.]

finca /ˈfiNGkə/

noun

(in Spanish-speaking regions) a country estate; a ranch.

finch /fin(t)SH/

I. noun

a seed-eating songbird that typically has a stout bill and colorful plumage.
[The true finches belong to the family Fringillidae (the finch family), which includes chaffinches, canaries, linnets, crossbills, etc. Many other finches belong to the bunting, waxbill, or sparrow families.]

– origin Old English finc; related to Dutch vink and German Fink.

find /fīnd/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. discover or perceive by chance or unexpectedly

• Lindsey looked up to find Neil watching her

• the remains of a headless body had been found.

2. discover (someone or something) after a deliberate search

• in this climate it could be hard to find a buyer.

3. (find oneself) — discover oneself to be in a surprising or unexpected situation

• phobia sufferers often find themselves virtual prisoners in their own home.

4. succeed in obtaining (something)

• she also found the time to raise five children.

5. summon up (a quality, especially courage) with an effort

• I found the courage to speak.

6. [no obj.] — (of hunters or hounds) discover game, especially a fox

• she heard the new halloo—they had found.

7. recognize or discover (something) to be present

• vitamin B12 is found in dairy products.

8. become aware of; discover to be the case

• the majority of staff find the magazine to be informative and useful

• [with clause] she found that none of the local nursery schools had an available slot.

9. ascertain (something) by study, calculation, or inquiry

• a forum that attempts to find solutions for multimedia publishers.

10. perceive or experience (something) to be the case
[with obj. and complement]

• both men found it difficult to put ideas into words.

11. (find oneself) — discover the fundamental truths about one's own character and identity

• I did psychotherapy for years—I wanted to find myself.

12. [Law] (of a court) officially declare to be the case
[with obj. and complement]

• he was found guilty of speeding

• [with clause] the court found that a police lab expert had fabricated evidence.

13. (of a thing) reach or arrive at, either of its own accord or without the human agent being known

• water finds its own level.

14. (find one's way) — reach one's destination by one's own efforts, without knowing in advance how to get there

• he found his way to the front door.

15. (find one's way) — come to be in a certain situation

• each and every boy found his way into a suitable occupation.

16. (of a letter) reach (someone).

17. ‹archaic› reach the understanding or conscience of (someone)

• whatever finds me, bears witness for itself that it has proceeded from a Holy Spirit.

II. noun

1. a discovery of something valuable, typically something of archaeological interest

• he made his most spectacular finds in the Valley of the Kings

• this resort is a real find.

2. a person who is discovered to be useful or interesting in some way

• Paul had been a real find—he could design the whole hotel complex.

3. [Hunting] the finding of a fox.

III. phrases

1. all found

(Brit.) ‹dated› (of an employee's wages) with board and lodging provided free

• your wages would be five shillings all found.

2. find fault

see fault.

3. find favor

be liked or prove acceptable

• the ballets did not find favor with the public.

4. find one's feet

a. stand up and become able to walk.

b. establish oneself in a particular field

• I think he really started to find his feet with this album.

5. find God

experience a religious conversion or awakening.

6. find in favor of

see find for below.

7. find it in one's heart to do something

allow or force oneself to do something

• I ask you to find it in your heart to forgive me.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. find against

[Law] (of a court) make a decision against or judge to be guilty.

2. find for (or find in favor of)

[Law] (of a court) make a decision in favor of or judge to be innocent

• a jury found for the plaintiff.

3. find someone out

detect a person's offensive or immoral actions

• she would always find him out if he tried to lie.

4. find something out find out about something

discover a fact

• he hadn't time to find out what was bothering her.

V. derivatives

findable /ˈfīndəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin Old English findan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vinden and German finden.

finder /ˈfīndər/

I. noun

1. a person who finds someone or something.

2. (in full finder-scope) — a small telescope attached to a large one to locate an object for observation.

3. the viewfinder of a camera.

II. phrases

finders keepers (losers weepers)

‹informal› used, often humorously, to assert that whoever finds something by chance is entitled to keep it.

finder's fee

noun

a fee paid by a business to a person or organization for bringing to its attention financial investors, potential new employees, or buyers or sellers whose relationship with the business will materially benefit it.

fin de siècle /ˌfaN də ˈsyeklə/

I. adjective

1. relating to or characteristic of the end of a century, especially the 19th century

• fin-de-siècle art.

2. decadent

• there was a fin-de-siècle air in the club last night.

II. noun

the end of a century, especially the 19th century.

– origin French, ‘end of century.’

finding /ˈfīndiNG/

noun

1. the action of finding someone or something

• a local doctor reported the finding of numerous dead rats.

2. (often findings) — a conclusion reached as a result of an inquiry, investigation, or trial

• experimental findings.

3. (findings) — (N. Amer.) small articles or tools used in making garments, shoes, or jewelry.

Findlay /ˈfin(d)lē/

an industrial city in northwestern Ohio; pop. 36,987 (est. 2008).

fine^1 /fīn/

I. adjective

1. of high quality

• this was a fine piece of filmmaking

• fine wines.

2. (of a person) worthy of or eliciting admiration

• what a fine human being he is.

3. good; satisfactory

• relations in the group were fine.

4. used to express one's agreement with or acquiescence to something

• anything you want is fine by me, Linda

• he said such a solution would be fine.

5. in good health and feeling well

• “I'm fine, just fine. And you?”

6. (of the weather) bright and clear

• it was another fine winter day.

7. of imposing and dignified appearance or size

• a very fine Elizabethan mansion.

8. (of speech or writing) sounding impressive and grand but ultimately insincere

• fine words seemed to produce few practical benefits.

9. denoting or displaying a state of good, though not excellent, preservation in stamps, books, coins, etc.

10. (of gold or silver) containing a specified high proportion of pure metal

• the coin is struck in .986 fine gold.

11. (of a thread, filament, or person's hair) thin

• I have always had fine and dry hair.

12. (of a point) sharp

• I sharpened the leads to a fine point.

13. consisting of small particles

• the soils were all fine silt.

14. having or requiring an intricate delicacy of touch

• exquisitely fine work.

15. (of something abstract) subtle and therefore perceived only with difficulty and care

• the fine distinctions between the new and old definitions of refugee.

16. (of feelings) refined; elevated

• you might appeal to their finer feelings.

II. noun — (fines)

1. very small particles found in mining, milling, etc.

III. adverb

‹informal› in a satisfactory or pleasing manner; very well

• “And how's the job-hunting going?” “Oh, fine.”

IV. verb

1. [with obj.] — clarify (beer or wine) by causing the precipitation of sediment during production.

2. [no obj.] — (of liquid) become clear

• the ale hadn't had quite time to fine down.

3. make or become thinner
[with obj.]

• it can be fined right down to the finished shape

• [no obj.] she'd certainly fined down—her face was thinner.

V. phrases

1. cut it (or things) fine

allow a very small margin of something, especially time

• boys who have cut it rather fine are scuttling into chapel.

2. do fine

a. be entirely satisfactory

• an omelet will do fine.

b. be healthy or well

• the baby's doing fine.

c. do something in a satisfactory manner

• he was doing fine acquiring all the necessary disciplines in finance.

3. do someone fine

suit or be enough for someone.

4. fine feathers make fine birds

‹proverb› beautiful clothes or an eye-catching appearance make a person appear similarly beautiful or impressive.

5. the finer points of

the more complex or detailed aspects of

• he went on to discuss the finer points of his work.

6. ——'s finest

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› the police of a particular city

• Moscow's finest.

7. one's finest hour

the time of one's greatest success.

8. fine words butter no parsnips

‹proverb› nothing is achieved by empty promises or flattery.

9. not to put too fine a point on it

to speak bluntly

• not to put too fine a point on it, your Emily is a liar.

[figuratively, with reference to the sharpening of a weapon, tool, etc.]

10. one fine day

at some unspecified or unknown time

• you want to be the Chancellor one fine day.

VI. derivatives

fineness /ˈfīn(n)is /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French fin, based on Latin finire ‘to finish’ (see finish).

fine^2 /fīn/

I. noun

a sum of money exacted as a penalty by a court of law or other authority

• a parking fine.

II. verb — [with obj.] (often be fined)

1. punish (someone) by making them pay a sum of money, typically as a penalty for breaking the law

• he was fined $600 and sentenced to one day in jail.

III. derivatives

fineable /ˈfīnəbəl /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French fin ‘end, payment,’ from Latin finis ‘end’ (in medieval Latin denoting a sum paid on settling a lawsuit). The original sense was ‘conclusion’ (surviving in the phrase in fine); also used in the medieval Latin sense, the word came to denote a penalty of any kind, later specifically a monetary penalty.

fine^3 /fēn/

noun

1. French brandy of high quality made from distilled wine rather than from pomace.

2. short for fine champagne.

fine^4 /ˈfēnā/

I. noun

(in musical directions) the place where a piece of music finishes (when this is not at the end of the score but at the end of an earlier section that is repeated at the end of the piece).

– origin Italian, from Latin finis ‘end.’

fine art /ˌfīn ˈärt/

I. noun

1. (also fine arts) — creative art, especially visual art, whose products are to be appreciated primarily or solely for their imaginative, aesthetic, or intellectual content

• the convergence of popular culture and fine art.

2. an activity requiring great skill or accomplishment

• he'll have to learn the fine art of persuasion.

II. phrases

have (or get) something down to a fine art

achieve a high level of skill, facility, or accomplishment in some activity through experience

• Mike had gotten the breakfast routine down to a fine art.

fine champagne

I. noun

brandy from the Champagne district of the Cognac region of which half or more of the content comes from the central Grande Champagne.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, literally ‘fine (brandy from) Champagne.’

fine chemicals

plural noun

chemical substances prepared to a very high degree of purity for use in research and industry.

fine-draw /ˈfīnˌdrô/

verb — [with obj.]

1. sew together (two pieces of cloth or edges of a tear) so that the join is imperceptible

• a table cover composed of cloth fine-drawn together.

Fine Gael /ˌfēnə ˈɡāl/

I. one of the two major political parties of the Republic of Ireland (the other being Fianna Fáil). Founded in 1923 as Cumann na nGaedheal, it changed its name in 1933. It has advocated the concept of a united Ireland achieved by peaceful means.

– origin Irish, literally ‘tribe of Gaels.’

fine-grained /ˈfīnˌɡrānd/

adjective

1. (chiefly of wood) having a fine or delicate arrangement of fibers.

2. (chiefly of rock) consisting of small particles.

3. involving great attention to detail

• fine-grained analysis.

finely /ˈfīnlē/

adverb

1. in a very skilled manner; excellently

• a finely crafted movie

• a finely proportioned Gothic church

• finely tailored suits.

2. in a manner worthy of or eliciting admiration

• Miss Bingley was dressed very finely.

3. into very thin or small pieces

• slice the onions finely

• finely chopped almonds.

4. with a very sharp point

• a rod of finely sharpened iron.

5. made or consisting of small particles or threads

• the flesh is smooth and finely textured

• finely woven linen.

6. with delicate or intricate workmanship or structure

• finely detailed mosaic pictures

• a finely worked tapestry.

7. in a subtle or sensitive manner

• we are trying to judge answers too finely

• the contest for the presidency is finely balanced

• they both turn in finely nuanced performances.

fine needle aspiration

noun

[Medicine] a procedure in which a thin needle is used to draw cells or fluid from a lump or mass under the skin.

fine print /ˈˌfīn ˈprint/

noun

1. printed matter in small type.

2. inconspicuous details or conditions printed in an agreement or contract, especially ones that may prove unfavorable

• read the fine print of whatever loan document is shoved under your nose.

finery^1 /ˈfīnərē/

I. noun

expensive or ostentatious clothes or decoration

• officers in their blue, gold, and scarlet finery.

– origin late 17th cent.: from fine^1, on the pattern of bravery.

finery^2 /ˈfīnərē/

I. noun

‹historical› a hearth where pig iron was converted into wrought iron.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French finerie, from Old French finer ‘refine.’

fines herbes /ˌfēnz ˈerb/

I. plural noun

mixed herbs used in cooking, especially fresh herbs chopped as a flavoring for omelets.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, literally ‘fine herbs.’

fine-spun /ˈfīnˌspən/

adjective

1. (especially of fabric) fine or delicate in texture.

2. subtle; overly refined.

finesse /fəˈnes/

I. noun

1. intricate and refined delicacy

• orchestral playing of great finesse.

2. artful subtlety, typically that needed for tactful handling of a difficulty

• clients want advice and action that calls for considerable finesse.

3. (in bridge and whist) an attempt to win a trick with a card that is not a certain winner.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. do (something) in a subtle and delicate manner

• his third shot, which he attempted to finesse, failed by a fraction.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) slyly attempt to avoid blame or censure when dealing with (a situation or action)

• the administration's attempts to finesse its mishaps.

3. (in bridge and whist) play (a card that is not a certain winner) in the hope of winning a trick with it

• the declarer finesses ♦J.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘purity, delicacy’): from French, related to fine^1.

fine structure

noun

1. the composition of an object, substance, or energy phenomenon as viewed on a small scale and in considerable detail.

2. [Physics] the presence of groups of closely spaced lines in spectra corresponding to slightly different energy levels.

fine-structure constant

noun

[Physics] a fundamental and dimensionless physical constant, equal to approximately 1/137, that occurs in expressions describing the fine structure of atomic spectra.

fine-tooth comb /ˈˌfīn ˌto͞oTH ˈˌkōm / fine-toothed comb

noun

1. a comb with narrow teeth that are close together.

2. [in sing.] — used with reference to a very thorough search or analysis of something

• you should check the small print with a fine-tooth comb.

fine-tune /ˈfīn ˈt(y)o͞on/

verb — [with obj.]

1. make small adjustments to (something) in order to achieve the best or a desired performance

• the advanced angler seeking to fine-tune his angling skills.

finger /ˈfiNGɡər/

I. noun

1. each of the four slender jointed parts attached to either hand (or five, if the thumb is included)

• she raked her hair back with her fingers.

2. a part of a glove intended to cover a finger.

3. a measure of liquor in a glass, based on the breadth of a finger

• he poured three fingers of vodka into a juice glass.

4. an object that has roughly the long, narrow shape of a finger

• a shortbread finger.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. touch or feel (something) with the fingers

• the thin man fingered his mustache.

2. play (a musical instrument) with the fingers, especially in a tentative or casual manner

• a woman fingered a lute.

3. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) inform on (someone) to the police

• you fingered me for those burglaries.

4. (finger someone for) — identify or choose someone for (a particular purpose)

• a research biologist with impeccable credentials was fingered for team leader.

5. [Music] play (a passage) with a particular sequence of positions of the fingers.
See also fingering.

6. mark (music) with signs showing which fingers are to be used.

III. phrases

1. be all fingers and thumbs

(Brit.) ‹informal› be clumsy or awkward in one's actions.

2. give someone the finger

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› make an obscene gesture with the middle finger raised as a sign of contempt, meaning 'fuck you.'.

3. have a finger in every pie

be involved in a large and varied number of activities or enterprises.

4. have (or keep) one's finger on the pulse

be aware of all the latest news or developments

• he keeps his finger on the pulse of world music.

5. keep one's fingers crossed

see cross.

6. lay a finger on someone

touch someone, especially with the intention of harming them.

7. lift a finger

see lift.

8. put one's finger on something

identify something exactly

• he cannot put his finger on what has gone wrong.

9. twist (or wind or wrap) someone around one's little finger

see little finger.

10. work one's fingers to the bone

see bone.

IV. derivatives

fingerless

adjective

– origin Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vinger and German Finger.

fingerboard /ˈfiNGɡərˌbôrd/

noun

a flat or roughly flat strip on the neck of a stringed instrument, against which the strings are pressed to shorten the vibrating length and produce notes of higher pitches.

finger bowl /ˈfiNGɡər ˌbōl/

noun

a small bowl holding water for rinsing the fingers during or after a meal.

finger-dry /ˈfiNGɡərˌdrī/

verb — [with obj.]

1. dry and style (hair) by repeatedly running one's fingers through it.

fingered /ˈfiNGɡərd/

adjective

1. [in combination] — having or using a finger or fingers of a specified kind

• her long-fingered hands.

2. (of written music) marked with figures showing what finger is to be used for producing each note.

finger food /ˈfiNGɡər fo͞od/

noun

food served in such a form and style that it can conveniently be eaten with the fingers.

fingering /ˈfiNGɡəriNG/

noun

1. a manner or technique of using the fingers, especially to play a musical instrument

• he once studied keyboard fingering

• the tuning makes some chord fingerings awkward.

2. an indication of fingering in a musical score.

Finger Lakes

a region in central New York that is named for its series of narrow glacial lakes that lie parallel in a North-South orientation. Canandaigua, Keuka, Seneca, and Cayuga lakes are among the better known.

finger-licking /ˈfiNGɡərˌlikiNG/

adjective

(chiefly N. Amer.) tasty; delicious

• a finger-licking meal

• [as submodifier] finger-licking good.

fingerling /ˈfiNGɡərliNG/

noun

1. a small young fish, especially a salmon parr.
[from finger (with reference to its transverse dusky bars) + -ling.]

2. (US) a variety of potato having a pink, yellow, blue or light tan skin and flesh.

fingermark /ˈfiNGɡərˌmärk/

noun

a mark left on a surface by a dirty or greasy finger.

fingernail /ˈfiNGɡərˌnāl/

noun

the flattish horny part on the upper surface of the tip of each finger.

finger of God finger of fate

I. noun

[Astrology] an aspect between three planets where one is quincunx to each of the other two, which are sextile to each other.

– origin so named because of the resemblance of the aspect to a pointed finger.

finger paint /ˈfiNGɡər ˌpānt/

I. noun

thick paint designed to be applied with the fingers, used especially by young children.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (especially of children) apply paint with the fingers.

III. derivatives

finger painting /ˈfiNGɡər ˌpān(t)iNG /

noun

fingerpick /ˈfiNGɡərˌpik/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. play (a guitar or similar instrument) using the fingernails or small plectrums worn on the fingertips to pluck the strings

• black southern guitarists were fingerpicking guitars long before white musicians

• [no obj.] he fingerpicked with facility.

II. noun

a plectrum worn on a fingertip.

III. derivatives

fingerpicker

noun

finger-pointing

noun

‹informal› actions or words that bring attention to a particular person or issue.

fingerpost /ˈfiNGɡərˌpōst/

noun

a post at a road junction from which signs project in the direction of the place or route indicated.

fingerprint /ˈfiNGɡərˌprint/

I. noun

1. an impression or mark made on a surface by a person's fingertip, especially as used for identifying individuals from the unique pattern of whorls and lines

• the police had his fingerprints on file.

2. a distinctive identifying characteristic

• the faint chemical fingerprint of plastic explosives.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. record the fingerprints of (someone)

• I was booked, fingerprinted, and locked up for the night.

fingerspelling /ˈfiNGɡərˌspeliNG/

noun

a form of sign language in which individual letters are formed by the fingers to spell out words.

fingertip /ˈfiNGɡərˌtip/

I. noun

the tip of a finger.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. using or operated by the fingers

• police made a fingertip search of the area

• fingertip electronic controls.

2. reaching to the fingertips

• the silhouette is close to the waist and flared to fingertip length.

III. phrases

1. at one's fingertips

(especially of information) readily available; accessible

• until we have more facts at our fingertips, there is no use in speculating.

2. by one's fingertips

only with difficulty; precariously

• the general was clinging to power by his fingertips.

3. to one's fingertips

completely

• he is a professional to his fingertips.

finger-wagging

noun

the action of reprimanding or warning someone

• the government is unable to resist such finger-wagging

• [as modifier] a finger-wagging speech.

finger wave

noun

a wave set in wet hair using the fingers.

finial /ˈfinēəl/

I. noun

1. a distinctive ornament at the apex of a roof, pinnacle, canopy, or similar structure in a building.

2. an ornament at the top, end, or corner of an object

• ornate curtain poles with decorative finials.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French fin or Latin finis ‘end.’

finical /ˈfinikəl/

I. adjective

another term for finicky.

II. derivatives

1. finicality /ˌfiniˈkalitē /

noun

2. finically /ˈfinik(ə)lē /

adverb

3. finicalness /ˈfinikəlnəs /

noun

– origin late 16th cent. (probably originally college slang): probably from fine^1 + -ical, perhaps suggested by Middle Dutch fijnkens ‘accurately, neatly, prettily.’

finicking /ˈfinikiNG/

I. adjective

another term for finicky.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from finical + -ing^2.

finicky /ˈfinikē/

I. adjective

1. fussy about one's needs or requirements

• a finicky eater.

2. showing or requiring great attention to detail

• a finicky, almost fetishistic collector.

II. derivatives

finickiness /-kēnis /

noun

– origin early 19th cent.: from finical + -y^1.

fining /ˈfīniNG/

noun — (usu. finings)

1. a substance used for clarifying liquid, especially beer or wine.

2. the process of clarifying wine or beer
[as modifier]

• a fining agent.

finis /ˈfinis/

I. noun

the end (printed at the end of a book or shown at the end of a film).

– origin late Middle English: from Latin.

finish /ˈfiniSH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. bring (a task or activity) to an end; complete

• they were straining to finish the job

• [with present participle] we finished eating our meal

• [no obj.] the musician finished to thunderous applause.

2. consume or get through the final amount or portion of (something, especially food or drink)

• finish your fajita while it's still hot

• Jerry finished off a margarita.

3. [no obj.] — (of an activity) come to an end

• the war has finished but nothing has changed.

4. [no obj.] (finish with) — have no more need for or nothing more to do with

• “I've finished with Tom,” Gloria said.

5. reach the end of a race or other sporting competition, typically in a particular position
[with complement]

• she finished third in the 3-meter springboard diving.

6. (usu. be finished) — complete the manufacture or decoration of (a material, object, or place) by giving it an attractive surface appearance

• the interior was finished with V-jointed American oak.

7. complete the fattening of (livestock) before slaughter.

8. ‹dated› prepare (a girl) for entry into fashionable society.

II. noun

1. [usu. in sing.] — an end or final part or stage of something

• a bowl of raspberries was the perfect finish to the meal

• I really enjoyed the film from start to finish.

2. a point or place at which a race or competition ends

• he surged into a winning lead 200 meters from the finish.

3. the manner in which the manufacture of an article is completed in detail

• wide variation in specification and finish.

4. the surface appearance of a manufactured material or object, or the material used to produce this

• lightweight nylon with a shiny finish.

5. the final taste impression of a wine or beer

• the wine has a lemony tang on the finish.

III. phrases

a fight to the finish

a fight or contest that ends only with the complete defeat of one of the parties involved.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. finish someone off

kill, destroy, or comprehensively defeat someone.

2. finish up

a. complete an action or process

• he hadn't finished up the paperwork on it.

b. end a period of time or course of action by doing something or being in a particular position

• Tony started out running the back elevator and finished up as bell captain

• we finished up with a plate of meats.

– origin Middle English: from Old French feniss-, lengthened stem of fenir, from Latin finire, from finis ‘end.’

finished /ˈfiniSHt/

adjective

1. (of an action, activity, or piece of work) having been completed or ended

• a preparatory drawing for the finished painting.

2. [predic.] — (of a person) having completed or ended an action or activity

• they'll be finished here in an hour.

3. [predic.] — having lost effectiveness, power, or prestige

• he was told he was finished at the club.

4. (of an object or room) having been given a particular decorative surface as the final stage in its manufacture or decoration
[in combination]

• plastic-finished lining paper.

5. [attrib.] — (of livestock) having completed fattening before slaughter

• a reduction in prices for finished cattle.

finisher /ˈfiniSHər/

noun

1. a person or thing that finishes something, in particular

2. a person who reaches the end of a race or other sporting competition

• a third-place finisher.

3. (in soccer) a player who scores a goal

• he is one of the best finishers at the club.

4. a worker or machine performing the last operation in a manufacturing process.

5. an animal that has been fattened ready for slaughter
[as modifier]

• finisher pigs.

finishing school /ˈfiniSHiNG ˌsko͞ol/

noun

a private school where girls are prepared for entry into fashionable society.

finishing touch /ˈfiniSHiNG təCH/

noun — (usu. finishing touches)

1. a final detail or action completing and enhancing a piece of work

• now they're putting the finishing touches to a new album.

finish line

noun

a line marking the end of a race.

finite /ˈfīnīt/

I. adjective

1. having limits or bounds

• every computer has a finite amount of memory.

2. not infinitely small

• one's chance of winning may be small, but it is finite.

3. [Grammar] (of a verb form) having a specific tense, number, and person.
Contrasted with nonfinite.

II. derivatives

1. finitely /ˈfīˌnītlē /

adverb

2. finiteness /ˈfīˌnītnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin finitus ‘finished,’ past participle of finire(see finish).

finitism /ˈfīnəˌtizəm/

I. noun

[Philosophy] [Mathematics] rejection of the belief that anything can actually be infinite.

II. derivatives

finitist

noun

finito /fəˈnēdō/

I. adjective — [predic.]

1. ‹informal› finished

• it's all done—finito.

– origin Italian.

finitude /ˈfinəˌto͞od, ˈfī-/

noun

‹formal› the state of having limits or bounds

• one quickly senses the finitude of his patience.

fink /fiNGk / ‹N. Amer. informal›

I. noun

1. an unpleasant or contemptible person, in particular

2. a person who informs on people to the authorities

• he was assumed by some to be the management's fink.

3. ‹dated› a strikebreaker.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (fink on) — inform on to the authorities

• there was no shortage of people willing to fink on their neighbors.

2. (fink out) — fail to do something promised or expected because of a lack of courage or commitment

• administration officials had finked out.

3. cease to function

• your immune system begins finking out and you get sick.

– origin late 19th cent.: of unknown origin; perhaps from German, literally ‘finch,’ but also a pejorative term. Students started to refer to nonmembers of fraternities as finks, probably by association with the freedom of wild birds as opposed to caged ones. The term was later generalized to denote those not belonging to organizations such as trade unions.

Fink, Mike /fiNGk/

(c.1770–1823), US frontiersman. His exploits as a marksman, Indian scout, trapper, and keelboat man were legendary.

fin keel

noun

a boat's keel shaped like an inverted dorsal fin.

Finland /ˈfinlənd/

I. a country on the Baltic Sea, between Sweden and Russia; pop. 5,250,300 (est. 2009); capital, Helsinki; official languages, Finnish and Swedish.
Finnish name Suomi.

The northern third of the country lies within the Arctic Circle. Long an area of Swedish–Russian rivalry, Finland was ceded to Russia in 1809 but became an independent republic after the Russian Revolution of 1917. Wars with the former Soviet Union were fought in 1939–40 and 1941–4. Finland joined the European Union in 1995.

Finland, Gulf of

an arm of the Baltic Sea between Finland and Estonia that extends east to St. Petersburg in Russia.

Finlandization /ˌfinləndiˈzāSHən/

I. noun

‹historical› the process or result of being obliged for economic reasons to favor, or at least not oppose, the interests of the former Soviet Union despite not being politically allied to it.

II. derivatives

Finlandize /ˈfinlənˌdīz /

verb

– origin 1960s: translation of German Finnlandisierung, referring to the case of Finland after 1944.

Finn /fin/

I. noun

a native or inhabitant of Finland or a person of Finnish descent.

– origin Old English Finnas (plural), originally applied more widely to denote a people of Scandinavia and northeastern Europe speaking a Finno-Ugric language.

finna /ˈfinə/

I. contraction

(US) ‹dialect› going to; intending to

• I'm finna make a scene.

– origin alteration of fixing to (see fix).

finnan /ˈfinən / finnan haddie

I. noun

haddock cured with the smoke of green wood, turf, or peat.

– origin early 18th cent.: alteration of Findon, the name of a fishing village near Aberdeen in Scotland, but sometimes confused with the Scottish river and village of Findhorn.

finnesko /ˈfinzkō/

I. noun

a boot of tanned reindeer skin with the hair on the outside.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Norwegian finnsko, from Finn (see Finn) + sko (see shoe).

Finnic /ˈfinik/

adjective

1. of, relating to, or denoting the group of Finno-Ugric languages that includes Finnish and Estonian.

2. of, relating to, or denoting the group of peoples that includes the Finns and the Estonians.

Finnish /ˈfiniSH/

I. noun

the Finno-Ugric language of the Finns, spoken in Finland and in parts of Russia and Sweden.

II. adjective

relating to the Finns or their language.

Finno-Ugric /ˌfinōˈ(y)o͞oɡrik / Finno-Ugrian

I. adjective

of or relating to the major group of Uralic languages, whose main branches are Finnic and Ugric.

II. noun

the Finno-Ugric group of languages.

finny /ˈfinē/

adjective

‹literary› of, relating to, or resembling a fish

• it transfixes its finny prey.

fino /ˈfēnō/

I. noun

a light-colored dry sherry.

– origin mid 19th cent.: Spanish, literally ‘fine,’ based on Latin finire ‘to finish’ (see finish).

finocchio /fəˈnōkēˌō/

I. noun

another term for Florence fennel (see fennel).

– origin early 18th cent.: from Italian, from a popular Latin variant of Latin faeniculum (see fennel).

fintech /ˈfinˌtek/

I. noun

computer programs and other technology used to support or enable banking and financial services

• fintech is one of the fastest-growing areas for venture capitalists

• [as modifier] fintech startups.

– origin early 21st cent.: abbreviation of financial technology (earlier in the names of various companies).

fin whale

noun

another term for finback.

fioritura /fēˌôrəˈto͝orə/

I. noun

[Music] an embellishment of a melody, especially as improvised by an operatic singer.

– origin Italian, literally ‘flowering,’ from fiorire ‘to flower.’

fipple /ˈfipəl/

I. noun

the mouthpiece of a recorder or similar wind instrument that is blown endwise, in which a thin channel cut through a block directs a stream of air against a sharp edge. The term has been applied to various parts of this, including the block and the channel.

– origin early 17th cent.

fipple flute

noun

a flute, such as a recorder, played by blowing endwise.

fir /fər/

I. noun

an evergreen coniferous tree with upright cones and flat needle-shaped leaves, typically arranged in two rows. Firs are an important source of timber and resins.
[Genus Abies, family Pinaceae: many species.]

II. derivatives

firry

adjective

– origin late Middle English: probably from Old Norse fyri- (recorded in fyriskógr ‘fir-woods’).

fire /ˈfī(ə)r/

I. noun

1. combustion or burning, in which substances combine chemically with oxygen from the air and typically give out bright light, heat, and smoke

• his house was destroyed by fire.

2. one of the four elements in ancient and medieval philosophy and in astrology.

3. a destructive burning of something

• a fire at a hotel.

4. a collection of fuel, especially wood or coal, burned in a controlled way to provide heat or a means for cooking

• our small kettle was kept constantly on the fire.

5. a burning sensation in the body

• the whiskey lit a fire in the back of his throat.

6. fervent or passionate emotion or enthusiasm

• the fire of their religious conviction.

7. ‹literary› luminosity; glow

• their soft smiles light the air like a star's fire.

8. the shooting of projectiles from weapons, especially bullets from guns

• a burst of machine-gun fire.

9. strong criticism or antagonism

• he directed his fire against policies promoting American capital flight.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. discharge a gun or other weapon in order to explosively propel (a bullet or projectile)

• he fired a shot at the retreating prisoners

• they fired off a few rounds.

2. discharge (a gun or other weapon)

• another gang fired a pistol

• [no obj.] troops fired on crowds.

3. [no obj.] — (of a gun) be discharged.

4. direct (questions or statements, especially unwelcome ones) toward someone in rapid succession

• they fired questions at me for what seemed like ages.

5. (fire something off) — send a message aggressively, especially as one of a series

• he fired off a letter informing her that he regarded the matter with the utmost seriousness.

6. ‹informal› dismiss (an employee) from a job

• having to fire men who've been with me for years

• you're fired!

7. supply (a furnace, engine, boiler, or power station) with fuel.

8. [no obj.] — (of an internal combustion engine, or a cylinder in one) undergo ignition of its fuel when started

• the engine fired and she pushed her foot down on the accelerator.

9. (usu. fire something up) — start (an engine or other device)

• with a flick of his wrist he fired up the chainsaw

• she fired up her laptop and checked her email.

10. ‹archaic› set fire to

• I fired the straw.

11. stimulate or excite (the imagination or an emotion)

• India fired my imagination.

12. fill (someone) with enthusiasm

• in the locker room they were really fired up.

13. [no obj.] (fire up) — ‹archaic› show sudden anger

• If I were to hear anyone disparage you, I would fire up in a flash.

14. bake or dry (pottery, bricks, etc.) in a kiln.

III. phrases

1. breathe fire

be extremely angry

• I don't want an indignant boyfriend on my doorstep breathing fire.

2. catch fire

a. begin to burn.

b. become interesting or exciting

• the show never caught fire.

3. fire and brimstone

the torments of hell

• his father was preaching fire and brimstone sermons.

4. fire away

‹informal› used to give someone permission to begin speaking, typically to ask questions

• “I want to clear up some questions that have been puzzling me.” “Fire away.”

5. fire in the (or one's) belly

a powerful sense of ambition or determination.

6. fire on all cylinders

work or function at a peak level of performance

• neither conductor nor orchestra are really firing on all cylinders.

7. go through fire (and water)

face any peril.

8. light a fire under someone

(N. Amer.) stimulate someone to work or act more quickly or enthusiastically.

9. on fire

a. in flames; burning.

b. in a state of excitement

• Wright is now on fire with confidence.

10. open fire

see open.

11. play with fire

see play.

12. set fire to set something on fire

cause to burn; ignite.

13. set the world on fire

do something remarkable or sensational

• the film hasn't exactly set the world on fire.

14. take fire

(Brit.) start to burn.

15. under fire

a. being shot at

• observers sent to look for the men came under heavy fire.

b. being rigorously criticized

• the president was under fire from all sides.

16. where's the fire?

‹informal› used to ask someone why they are in such a hurry or state of excitement.

IV. derivatives

1. fireless

adjective

2. firer

noun

– origin Old English fȳr (noun), fȳrian ‘supply with material for a fire’; related to Dutch vuur and German Feuer.

fire alarm /ˈfī(ə)r əˈˌlärm/

noun

a device making a loud noise that gives warning of a fire.

fire-and-forget /ˌfī(ə)rənfərˈɡet/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of a missile) able to guide itself to its target once fired.

fire ant

noun

a tropical American ant that has a painful and sometimes dangerous sting.
[Genus Solenopsis, family Formicidae: several species, in particular the South American S. invicta, which has become a serious pest in the southeastern US.]

firearm /ˈfī(ə)rˌärm/

noun

a rifle, pistol, or other portable gun.

fireback /ˈfī(ə)rˌbak/

noun

1. the back wall of a fireplace.

2. a metal plate covering the back wall of a fireplace.

fireball /ˈfī(ə)rˌbôl/

noun

1. a ball of flame or fire

• a crashed tanker exploded in a fireball.

2. a large bright meteor.

3. ‹historical› a ball filled with combustibles or explosives, fired at an enemy or enemy fortifications.

4. a person with a fiery temper or a great deal of energy.

fireballer /ˈfī(ə)rˌbôlər/

I. noun

[Baseball] a pitcher who throws a good fastball.

II. derivatives

fireballing

adjective

firebase /ˈfī(ə)rˌbās/

noun

an area in a war zone in which artillery can be massed to provide heavy firepower in support of other military units.

fire-bellied toad

noun

a warty European aquatic toad, the underside of which is vividly marked in red, orange, yellow, black, and white.
[Genus Bombina, family Discoglossidae: in particular B. bombina.]

fireblight /ˈfī(ə)rˌblīt/

noun

a serious bacterial disease of plants of the rose family, especially fruit trees, giving the leaves a scorched appearance.
[The bacterium is Erwinia amylovora.]

firebomb /ˈfī(ə)rˌbäm/

I. noun

a bomb designed to cause a fire.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. attack or destroy (something) with a bomb which causes a fire

• he suspects that someone firebombed his business.

firebox /ˈfī(ə)rˌbäks/

noun

the chamber of a boiler in which the fuel is burned.

firebrand /ˈfī(ə)rˌbrand/

noun

1. a person who is passionate about a particular cause, typically inciting change and taking radical action

• a political firebrand.

2. a piece of burning wood.

firebrat /ˈfī(ə)rˌbrat/

noun

a fast-moving brownish insect, a type of bristletail, that frequents warm places indoors.
[Thermobia domestica, family Lepismatidae, order Thysanura.]

firebreak /ˈfī(ə)rˌbrāk/

noun

an obstacle to the spread of fire, such as a strip of open space in a forest.

• we passed into a conifer forest and followed firebreaks downhill.

• a fire-resistant door designed to be a firebreak.

firebrick /ˈfī(ə)rˌbrik/

noun

a brick capable of withstanding intense heat, used especially to line furnaces and fireplaces.

fire brigade

noun

(chiefly Brit.) an organized body of people trained and employed to extinguish fires.

firebug /ˈfī(ə)rˌbəɡ/

noun

‹informal› an arsonist.

fireclay /ˈfī(ə)rˌklā/

noun

clay capable of withstanding high temperatures, chiefly used for making firebricks.

fire company

noun

(N. Amer.) another term for fire department.

fire control

noun

1. the process of targeting and firing heavy weapons.

2. the prevention and monitoring of forest fires and grass fires.

fire coral

noun

a colonial corallike hydrozoan, the heavy external skeleton of which forms reefs. The polyps bear nematocysts that can inflict painful stings.
[Genus Millepora, order Hydroida (or Milleporina), class Hydrozoa.]

firecracker /ˈfī(ə)rˌkrakər/

noun

1. a loud, explosive firework, typically wrapped in paper and lit with a fuse.

2. an outstanding, exciting, or attractive person or thing

• the book was hardly a literary firecracker.

firecrest /ˈfī(ə)rˌkrest/

noun

a small warbler having a red and orange crest and occurring mainly in Europe.
[Regulus ignicapillus, family Sylviidae.]

firedamp /ˈfī(ə)rˌdamp/

noun

methane, especially as forming an explosive mixture with air in coal mines.

fire department

noun

(N. Amer.) the department of a local or municipal authority in charge of preventing and fighting fires.

firedog /ˈfī(ə)rˌdäɡ/

noun

another term for andiron.

fire door /ˈfī(ə)r dô(ə)r/

noun

1. a fire-resistant door to prevent the spread of fire.

2. a door to the outside of a building used only as an emergency exit.

firedrake /ˈfī(ə)rˌdrāk/

I. noun

[Germanic Mythology] a fiery dragon.

– origin Old English fȳr-draca, from fȳr (see fire) + draca ‘dragon,’ from Latin draco.

fire drill /ˈfī(ə)r ˌdril/

noun

1. a practice of the emergency procedures to be used in case of fire.

2. a primitive device for kindling fire by frictional heating, consisting of a pointed stick that is twirled in a hole in a flat piece of soft wood.

fire-eater /ˈfī(ə)r ˌēdər/

noun

1. an entertainer who appears to eat fire.

2. ‹dated› a person prone to quarreling or fighting.

fire engine /ˈfī(ə)r ˈˌenjən/

noun

a vehicle carrying firefighters and equipment for fighting large fires.

fire escape /ˈfī(ə)r əˈˌskāp/

noun

a staircase or other apparatus used for escaping from a building on fire.

fire extinguisher /ˈfī(ə)r əkˈstiNGɡwiSHər/

noun

a portable device that discharges a jet of water, foam, gas, or other material to extinguish a fire.

firefight /ˈfī(ə)rˌfīt/

noun

[Military] a battle using guns rather than bombs or other weapons.

firefighter /ˈfī(ə)rˌfīdər/

noun

a person whose job is to extinguish fires.

firefighting /ˈfī(ə)rˌfīdiNG/

noun

1. the action or process of extinguishing fires, as a person's job.

2. (in business) the practice of dealing with problems as they arise rather than planning strategically to avoid them.

firefly /ˈfī(ə)rˌflī/

noun

a soft-bodied beetle related to the glowworm, the winged male and flightless female of which both have luminescent organs. The light is chiefly produced as a signal between the sexes, especially in flashes.
[Family Lampyridae: many species.]

fireguard /ˈfī(ə)rˌɡärd/

noun

1. a protective screen or grid placed in front of an open fire.

2. (N. Amer.) a firebreak in a forest.

firehall /ˈfīərˌhôl/

noun

a fire station.

fire hose /ˈfī(ə)r ˌhōz/

noun

1. a large-diameter hose used in extinguishing fires.

2. (usu. firehose) — [Computing] an unfiltered, real-time stream of data produced by a social media website or other online service

• two companies with access to Twitter's firehose of tweets.

firehouse /ˈfī(ə)rˌhous/

noun

(N. Amer.) another term for fire station.

fire irons /ˈfī(ə)r ˈī(ə)rnz/

plural noun

implements for tending a domestic fire, typically tongs, a poker, and a shovel.

Fire Island

a barrier island on the southern shore of Long Island in New York, the site of numerous small resort communities.

fireless cooker /ˌfī(ə)rləs ˈko͝okər/

noun

an insulated container capable of maintaining a temperature at which food can be cooked.

firelight /ˈfī(ə)rˌlīt/

I. noun

light from a fire in a fireplace.

– origin Old English fȳr-lēoht (see fire, light^1).

fire line

noun

(N. Amer.) a firebreak in a forest.

firelock /ˈfī(ə)rˌläk/

noun

‹historical› a firearm in which the priming is ignited by sparks.

fireman /ˈfī(ə)rmən/

noun

1. a firefighter.

2. a person who tends a furnace or the fire of a steam engine or steamship; a stoker.

3. (US) an enlisted person in the US navy who maintains and operates a ship's machinery.

Firenze /fiˈrentsə/

Italian name of Florence.

fire opal

noun

another term for girasol (sense 1).

firepit /ˈfī(ə)rˌpit/

noun

a pit dug into the ground or a freestanding metal vessel, in which a contained outdoor fire is made.

fireplace /ˈfī(ə)rˌplās/

noun

1. a place for a domestic fire, especially a grate or hearth at the base of a chimney.

2. a structure surrounding a fireplace.

fireplug /ˈfī(ə)rˌpləɡ/

noun

1. (US) a hydrant for a fire hose.

2. (US) (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a short, stocky person, especially an athlete.

firepower /ˈfī(ə)rˌpou(ə)r/

noun

the destructive capacity of guns, missiles, or a military force (used with reference to the number and size of weapons available)

• the enormous disparity in firepower between the two sides

• ‹figurative› the well-funded legal firepower of the tobacco companies.

fireproof /ˈfī(ə)rˌpro͞of/

I. adjective

able to withstand fire or great heat

• a fireproof dish.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (something) fireproof

• nearby museum buildings will be fireproofed.

fire-raiser /ˈfī(ə)r ˌrāzər/

I. noun

(Brit.) an arsonist.

II. derivatives

fire-raising /ˈfī(ə)r ˌrāziNG /

noun

fire-resistant

adjective

(especially of a fabric) treated so as to be nonflammable

• homes built with fire-resistant materials.

fire salamander

noun

a robust short-tailed nocturnal salamander that has black skin with bright red, orange, and yellow markings, native to upland forests of Europe, northwestern Africa, and southwestern Asia.
[Salamandra salamandra, family Salamandridae.]

fire sale /ˈfī(ə)r ˌsāl/

noun

1. a sale of goods remaining after the destruction of commercial premises by fire.

2. a sale of goods or assets at a very low price, typically when the seller is facing bankruptcy.

fire screen /ˈfī(ə)r ˌskrēn/

noun

a screen or grid placed in front of an open fire to deflect the direct heat or to protect against sparks.

fire service /ˈfī(ə)r ˈsərvəs/

noun

(Brit.) an organization in charge of preventing and fighting fires.

fireship /ˈfī(ə)rˌSHip/

noun

‹historical› a ship loaded with burning material and explosives and set adrift to ignite and blow up an enemy's ships.

fireside /ˈfī(ə)rˌsīd/

noun

1. the area around a fireplace (used especially with reference to a person's home or family life)

• he preferred the warmth of his own fireside.

2. (US) a fireside chat.

fireside chat

noun

1. an informal conversation.

2. (US) one of a series of radio broadcasts made by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to the nation, beginning in 1933.

fire starter

noun

(N. Amer.) a piece of flammable material used to help start a fire.

fire station /ˈfī(ə)r ˌstāSHən/

noun

a facility where fire engines and other equipment of a fire department are housed.

fire step /ˈfī(ə)r ˌstep/

noun

a step or ledge on which soldiers in a trench stand to fire.

firestone /ˈfī(ə)rˌstōn/

noun

stone that can withstand fire and great heat, used especially for lining furnaces and ovens.

Firestone, Harvey Samuel /ˈfīrˌstōn/

(1868–1938), US industrialist. He organized the Firestone Tire & Rubber Company in 1900 and was its president 1903–32 and chairman 1932–38.

firestorm /ˈfī(ə)rˌstô(ə)rm/

noun

an intense and destructive fire (typically one caused by bombing) in which strong currents of air are drawn into the blaze, making it burn more fiercely

• within the firestorm every building was burned to a shell

• ‹figurative› the incident ignited a firestorm of controversy.

firethorn /ˈfī(ə)rˌTHôrn/

noun

another term for pyracantha.

fire tower

noun

a tower, often at a high elevation, that especially in former years was staffed by a lookout for the detection of fires occurring over a wide area.

fire trail

noun

(N. Amer.) (Austral.) a track through forest or bush for use in fighting fires.

firetrap /ˈfī(ə)rˌtrap/

noun

a building without proper provision for escape in case of fire.

fire truck /ˈfī(ə)r ˌtrək/

noun

(N. Amer.) another term for fire engine.

fire-walking /ˈfī(ə)rˌwôkiNG/

I. noun

the practice of walking barefoot over something such as hot stones or wood ashes, often as part of a traditional ceremony.

II. derivatives

fire-walker

noun

firewall /ˈfī(ə)rˌwôl/

noun

1. a wall or partition designed to inhibit or prevent the spread of fire.

2. [Computing] a part of a computer system or network that is designed to block unauthorized access while permitting outward communication.

3. another term for Chinese wall.

fire warden /ˈfī(ə)r ˈwôrdn/

noun

(N. Amer.) a person employed to prevent or extinguish fires, especially in a town, camp, or forest.

firewater /ˈfī(ə)rˌwôdər ˈfī(ə)rˌwädər/

noun

‹informal› strong liquor.

fireweed /ˈfī(ə)rˌwēd/

noun

a plant that springs up on burned land, especially the pink-flowered Epilobium angustifolium, a widespread willow herb.

FireWire /ˈfī(ə)rˌwī(ə)r/

noun

[Computing] ‹trademark› a technology that allows high-speed communication and data exchange between a computer and a peripheral or between two computers.

firewood /ˈfī(ə)rˌwo͝od/

noun

wood burned as fuel.

firework /ˈfī(ə)rˌwərk/

noun

1. a device containing gunpowder and other combustible chemicals that causes a spectacular explosion when ignited, used typically for display or in celebrations

• they were oohing and aahing as if they were watching the fireworks

• [as modifier] a firework display.

2. (fireworks) — an outburst of anger or other emotion, or a display of brilliance or energy

• when you put these men together, you're bound to get fireworks.

firing /ˈfī(ə)riNG/

noun

1. the action of setting fire to something

• the deliberate firing of 600 oil wells.

2. the discharging of a gun or other weapon

• the prolonged firing caused heavy losses

• no missile firings were planned.

3. the dismissal of an employee from a job

• the recent firing of the head of the department.

4. the baking or drying of pottery or bricks in a kiln.

firing line /ˈfī(ə)riNG ˈˌlīn/

noun

1. the line of positions from which gunfire is directed at targets.

2. the front line of troops in a battle.

3. a position where one is subject to criticism or blame because of one's responsibilities or position

• the referee in the firing line is an experienced official.

firing pin

noun

a movable pin in a firearm that strikes the primer of a cartridge to set off the charge.

firing squad

noun

1. a group of soldiers detailed to shoot a condemned person.

2. (US) a group of soldiers detailed to fire the salute at a military funeral.

firkin /ˈfərkən/

I. noun

1. ‹chiefly historical› a small cask used chiefly for liquids, butter, or fish.

2. ‹chiefly historical› a unit of liquid volume equal to half a kilderkin (about 11 gallons or 41 liters).

– origin Middle English ferdekyn, probably from the Middle Dutch diminutive of vierde ‘fourth’ (a firkin originally contained a quarter of a barrel).

firm^1 /fərm/

I. adjective

1. having a solid, almost unyielding surface or structure

• the bed should be reasonably firm, but not too hard.

2. solidly in place and stable

• no building can stand without firm foundations

• ‹figurative› he was unable to establish the store on a firm financial footing.

3. having steady but not excessive power or strength

• you need a firm grip on the steering.

4. (of a person, action, or attitude) showing resolute determination and strength of character

• he didn't like being firm with Larry, but he had to.

5. strongly felt and unlikely to change

• he retains a firm belief in the efficacy of prayer.

6. (of a person) steadfast and constant

• we became firm friends.

7. decided upon and fixed or definite

• she had no firm plans for the next day.

8. (of a currency, a commodity, or shares) having a steady value or price that is more likely to rise than fall

• the dollar was firm against the yen.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (something) physically solid or resilient

• an exercise program designed to firm up muscle tone.

2. fix (a plant) securely in the soil.

3. [no obj.] — (of a price) rise slightly to reach a level considered secure

• he believed house prices would firm by the end of the year.

4. make (an agreement or plan) explicit and definite

• archaeologists have now firmed up this new view.

III. adverb

in a resolute and determined manner

• she will stand firm against the government's proposal.

IV. phrases

1. be on firm ground

be sure of one's facts or secure in one's position, especially in a discussion.

2. a firm hand

strict discipline or control.

– origin Middle English: from Old French ferme, from Latin firmus.

firm^2 /fərm/

I. noun

a business concern, especially one involving a partnership of two or more people

• a law firm.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Italian firma, from medieval Latin, from Latin firmare ‘fix, settle’ (in late Latin ‘confirm by signature’), from firmus ‘firm’; compare with farm. The word originally denoted one's autograph or signature; later (mid 18th cent.) the name under which the business of a firm was transacted, hence the firm itself (late 18th cent).

firmament /ˈfərməmənt/

I. noun

1. ‹literary› the heavens or the sky, especially when regarded as a tangible thing.

2. ‹literary› a sphere or world viewed as a collection of people

• one of the great stars in the American golfing firmament.

II. derivatives

firmamental /ˌfərməˈmen(t)l /

adjective

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin firmamentum, from firmare ‘fix, settle.’

firman /ˈfərmən/

I. noun

1. a Near Eastern sovereign's edict.

2. a grant or permit.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Persian firmān, Sanskrit pramāṇa ‘right measure, standard, authority.’

firmly /ˈfərmlē/

adverb

1. with little possibility of movement; securely

• the door remained firmly shut

• ‹figurative› his work is rooted firmly in Chinese culture.

2. in a way that uses steady power or strength

• I had her wrist grasped firmly in my hand

• stop the bleeding by pressing firmly.

3. with resolute determination and strength of character

• the council is firmly committed to raising standards in education.

4. without doubt; definitely

• I firmly believe that we could do better

• his reputation is now firmly established.

firmness /ˈfərmnəs/

noun

1. the quality of having a solid, almost unyielding surface or structure

• he tested the firmness of the mattress

• I felt the firmness of his upper arm.

2. the application of steady but not excessive power or strength

• the firmness of his hand on my chest

• he sang with a wonderful firmness of tone.

3. resolute determination and strength of character

• his firmness of purpose gained him a devoted following.

4. the state of being fixed, definite, or constant

• so certain were we of the firmness of our plan

• the continuing firmness of oil prices.

firmware /ˈfərmwer/

noun

[Computing] permanent software programmed into a read-only memory.

firn /firn/

I. noun

granular snow, especially on the upper part of a glacier, where it has not yet been compressed into ice.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from German, from Old High German firni ‘old’; related to Swedish forn ‘former.’

first /fərst/

I. ordinal number

1. coming before all others in time or order; earliest; 1st

• his first wife

• the first of five daughters.

2. never previously done or occurring

• her first day at school.

3. coming next after a specified or implied time or occurrence

• I didn't take the first bus.

4. met with or encountered before any others

• the first house I came to.

5. originally

• many valuable drugs have been recognized first as poisons.

6. before doing something else specified or implied

• do you mind if I take a shower first?

7. for the first time

• she first picked up a guitar out of sheer boredom.

8. firstly; in the first place (used to introduce a first point or reason)

• first, it is wrong that the victims should have no remedy.

9. in preference; rather (used when strongly rejecting a suggestion or possibility)

• she longed to go abroad, but not at this man's expense—she'd die first!

10. with a specified part or person in a leading position

• it plunged nose first into the river.

11. ‹informal› the first occurrence of something notable

• we traveled by air, a first for both of us.

12. the first in a sequence of a vehicle's gears

• he stuck the car in first and revved.

13. [Baseball] first base

• he made it all the way home from first.

14. the first grade of a school.

15. a first edition of a book.

16. foremost in position, rank, or importance

• the doctor's first duty is to respect this right

• career women who put work first

• football must come first.

17. [often with infinitive] — the most likely, pressing, or suitable

• he is the first to admit he was not the best of patients

• his first problem is where to live.

18. the first finisher or position in a race or competition.

19. [Music] performing the highest or chief of two or more parts for the same instrument or voice

• the first violins.

20. (firsts) — goods of the best quality

• factory firsts, seconds, and discontinued styles.

21. (Brit.) a place in the top grade in an examination, especially that for a degree

• he took a first in Classics.

22. (Brit.) a person having achieved a top grade in an examination.

II. phrases

1. at first

at the beginning; in the initial stage or stages

• at first Hugh tried to be patient.

2. at first glance

see glance^1.

3. at first hand

see firsthand.

4. at first instance

see instance.

5. at first sight

see sight.

6. (the) first among equals

see equal.

7. first blood

see blood.

8. first come, first served

used to indicate that people will be dealt with in the order in which they arrive or apply

• tickets are available on a first come, first served basis.

9. first and foremost

most importantly; more than anything else

• I'm first and foremost a writer.

10. first and last

fundamentally; on the whole

• museums are first and last about curatorship.

11. first of all

a. before doing anything else; at the beginning

• first of all, let me ask you something.

b. most importantly

• German unity depends first of all on the German people.

12. first off

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) as a first point; first of all

• first off, I owe you a heck of an apology.

13. first past the post

a. (of a contestant, especially a horse, in a race) winning a race by being the first to reach the finish line.

b. [attrib.] — (Brit.) denoting an electoral system in which a candidate or party is selected by achievement of a simple majority

• our first-past-the-post electoral system.

14. first thing

early in the morning; before anything else

• I have to meet Josh first thing tomorrow.

15. first things first

used to assert that important matters should be dealt with before other things.

16. from the (very) first

from the beginning or the early stages

• he should have realized it from the first.

17. from first to last

from beginning to end; throughout

• it's a fine performance that commands attention from first to last.

18. in the first place

a. as the first consideration or point

• political reality was not quite that simple—in the first place, divisions existed within the parties.

b. at the beginning; to begin with (especially in reference to the time when an action was being planned or discussed)

• I should have told you in the first place.

19. of the first order (or magnitude)

used to denote something that is excellent or considerable of its kind

• it is a media event of the first order.

20. of the first water

see water.

– origin Old Englishfyr(e)st; of Germanic origin, related to Old Norse fyrstr and German Fürst ‘prince,’ from an Indo-European root shared by Sanskrit prathama, Latin primus, and Greek prōtos. / usage: First, second, third, etc., are adverbs as well as adjectives: first, dice three potatoes; second, add the bouillon. Firstly, secondly, etc., are also correct, but make sure not to mix the two groups: first, second, third; not first, secondly, thirdly. See also usage at former^1.

first aid /ˌfərst ˈād/

I. noun

help given to a sick or injured person until full medical treatment is available

• an expert in emergency first aid

• [as modifier] a first-aid kit.

II. derivatives

first aider /ˌfərst ˈādər /

noun

first base

noun

1. [Baseball] the first of the four stations that must be reached in turn to score a run

• she made an awkward turn at first base and injured her right ankle.

2. ‹informal› used to refer to the first step toward achieving an objective

• some of the projects will not get past first base.

3. ‹informal› used to refer to a preliminary stage of sexual intimacy, typically characterized as kissing

• Clara had let me get to first base a few times.

firstborn /ˈfərs(t)bôrn/

I. adjective

(of a person's child) the first to be born; the eldest

• his new album and his firstborn child are due in the same week.

II. noun

a person's first child

• their firstborn arrived.

First Cause

noun

[Philosophy] a supposed ultimate cause of all events, which does not itself have a cause, identified with God.

first class /ˈˌfərs(t) ˈklas/

I. noun

1. a set of people or things grouped together as the best.

2. the best and most expensive seating or accommodations in a plane, train, or ship

• a seat in first class.

3. (Brit.) the highest division in the results of the examinations for a university degree.

II. adjective, adverb

1. of the best quality
[as adj.]

• a full-scale grand opera needs a first-class orchestra.

2. of or relating to the best seating or accommodations in a train, ship, or plane
[as adj.]

• first-class air transportation

• [as adv.] you can travel first class on any train.

3. of or relating to a class of mail given priority
[as adj.]

• first-class mail

• [as adv.] send it first class.

4. [as adj.] — (Brit.) of or relating to the highest division in a university examination

• a first-class honors degree.

First Consul

the title held by Napoleon Bonaparte from 1799 to 1804, when he became Emperor of France.

first cost

noun

another term for prime cost.

first-day cover first day cover

noun

an envelope bearing a stamp or stamps postmarked on their day of issue.

first-degree

adjective — [attrib.]

1. [Medicine] denoting burns that affect only the surface of the skin and cause reddening.

2. [Law] (chiefly N. Amer.) denoting the most serious category of a crime, especially murder

• he was convicted of first-degree murder.

first-degree relative

noun

[Law] a person's parent, sibling, or child.

first down

noun

[Football] a gain of ten yards or more in field position during a series of downs, permitting the offensive team to attempt another series of downs.

First Empire

the period of the reign of Napoleon I as emperor of the French (1804–15).

first family

noun

1. a family considered to rank first in social prestige or pedigree in a particular place.

2. the family of the president of the US or of the governor of a US state, or of the chief executive of another political unit.

first finger

noun

the finger next to the thumb; the forefinger; the index finger.

first floor /ˈˌfərs(t) ˈflô(ə)r/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) the ground floor of a building.

2. (chiefly Brit.) the floor of a building just above the ground floor.

first-foot

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. be the first person to cross the threshold of the house of (someone) in the New Year, in accordance with a Scottish custom.

II. noun

the first person to cross a threshold in the New Year.

III. derivatives

first-footer /ˈfo͝otər /

noun

first fruits /ˈˌfərs(t) ˈfro͞ots/

plural noun

1. the first agricultural produce of a season, especially when given as an offering to God.

2. the initial results of an enterprise or endeavor

• the first fruits of the companies' collaboration.

3. ‹historical› a payment to a superior by the new holder of an office.

first gear

noun

1. the lowest in a set of gears on a vehicle, used when traveling very slowly.

2. used in reference to a failure to make progress

• in a scrappy first half, neither team seemed to get out of first gear.

first-generation //

adjective

1. designating the first of a generation to become a citizen in a new country.

2. designating the first of a generation to be born in a country of parents who had immigrated

• a first-generation Canadian whose parents were born on a farm in Vietnam.

3. designating the first version of a type made available

• first-generation descrambler technology.

first grade

noun

1. (N. Amer.) the first year of formal education

• we had been friends since first grade.

2. (N. Amer.) the set of students grouped together for teaching in the first year of formal education

• every kid in the first grade will receive a card.

firsthand /ˌfərstˈhand/

I. adjective, adverb

(of information or experience) from the original source or personal experience; direct
[as adj.]

• neither of them had any firsthand knowledge of Andean culture

• [as adv.] this is something you have to hear firsthand.

II. phrases

at first hand

directly or from personal experience

• scientists observed the process at first hand.

first intention

noun

[Medicine] the healing of a wound by natural contact of the parts involved

• healing by first intention.

Compare with second intention.

First International

see international (sense 2 of the noun).

First Lady /fərst ˈlādē/

noun

1. the wife of the president of the US or other head of state.

2. (usu. first lady) — the leading woman in a particular activity or profession

• the first lady of rock.

first language /fərst ˈlaNGɡwij/

noun

a person's native language.

first lieutenant

noun

a commissioned officer in the US Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps ranking above second lieutenant and below captain.

first light /ˌfərst ˈlīt/

noun

the time when light first appears in the morning; dawn

• you are to set off at first light.

first-line

adjective

of first resort

• first-line drugs for HIV exposure.

firstling /ˈfərstliNG/

noun — (usu. firstlings)

1. ‹archaic› the first agricultural produce or animal offspring of a season.

firstly /ˈfərstlē/

I. adverb

used to introduce a first point or reason

• firstly it is wrong and secondly it is extremely difficult to implement.

usage: See usage at first.

first mate /ˈˌfərs(t) ˈmāt/

noun

the deck officer second in command to the master of a merchant ship.

first minister

noun

the leader of the ruling political party in some regions or countries.

first name /ˈfərs(t) ˈˌnām/

I. noun

a personal name given to someone at birth or baptism and used before a family name.

II. phrases

on a first-name basis

having a friendly and informal relationship

• an amateur ecologist who is on a first-name basis with most reptiles.

First Nation

noun

(in Canada) an indigenous American Indian community officially recognized as an administrative unit by the federal government or functioning as such without official status.

• the Siksika First Nation in Alberta.

• (as modifier First Nations) the First Nations peoples of Canada.

first night /ˈfərs(t) ˈnīt/

noun

the first public performance of a play or show
[as modifier]

• first-night nerves.

first-nighter /ˌfərstˈnīdər/

noun

a person who attends a first night.

first offender /ˈˌfərst əˈfendər/

noun

a person who is convicted of a criminal offense for the first time.

first officer

noun

1. the first mate on a merchant ship.

2. the second in command to the captain on an aircraft.

first-order /ˈfərstˌôrdər/

adjective

1. of or relating to the simplest or most fundamental level of organization, experience, or analysis; primary or immediate

• for a teacher, of course, drama must be a first-order experience.

2. ‹technical› having an order of one, especially denoting mathematical equations involving only the first power of the independent variable or only the first derivative of a function.

first-person shooter

noun

a type of video game whose gameplay involves shooting enemies and other targets and in which a player views the action as though through the eyes of the character they are controlling

• blast through hordes of aliens in this sci-fi first-person shooter

• [as modifier] first-person shooter games.

first position

noun

1. [Ballet] a posture in which the feet are turned outward with the heels touching.

2. a position of the arms in which both are held curved in front of the body at waist level, with the palms facing the body.

3. [Music] the lowest position of the hand on the fingerboard of a stringed instrument.

first principles

plural noun

the fundamental concepts or assumptions on which a theory, system, or method is based

• I think we have to start again and go right back to first principles.

first-rate /ˈˌfərst ˈˌrāt/

adjective

1. of the best class or quality; excellent

• first-rate musicians.

2. in good health or condition; very well

• I think you look first-rate.

first reading

noun

(in the UK) the first presentation of a bill to Parliament, to permit its introduction.

first refusal

noun

the privilege of deciding whether to accept or reject something before it is offered to others

• tenants have a right of first refusal if the landlord proposes to sell the property.

First Republic

the republican regime in France from the abolition of the monarchy in 1792 until Napoleon's accession as emperor in 1804.

first responder

noun

(N. Amer.) someone designated or trained to respond to an emergency.

first sergeant

noun

(in the US Army or Marine Corps) the highest-ranking noncommissioned officer in a company or equivalent unit.

First State

a nickname for the state of Delaware^1.

first strike

noun

an attack with nuclear weapons designed to destroy the enemy's nuclear weapons before their use.

first string

noun

1. [Sports] the best players on a team, the ones that normally play the most.

2. [Sports] the best or most talented individuals in any endeavor.

first-time buyer

noun

a person buying a house or condominium who has not previously owned a home and therefore has no property to sell.

First World /ˌfərst ˈwərld/

noun

the industrialized capitalist countries of western Europe, North America, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.
Compare with Second World and Third World.

First World problem

noun

‹informal› a relatively trivial or minor problem or frustration (implying a contrast with serious problems such as those that may be experienced in the developing world)

• it's a First World problem, but still if you're staying at a 5-star resort you expect some decent service.

First World War

another term for World War I.

firth /fərTH/

I. noun

a narrow inlet of the sea; an estuary.

– origin Middle English (originally Scots), from Old Norse fjǫrthr (see fjord).

Firth, J. R. /fərTH/

(1890–1960), English linguist; full name John Rupert Firth. Firth was noted for his contributions to linguistic semantics and prosodic phonology.

fisc /fisk/

I. noun

1. [Roman History] the public treasury of Rome or the emperor's privy purse.

2. [Roman History] ‹archaic› (N. Amer.) a public treasury or exchequer.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French, or from Latin fiscus ‘rush basket, purse, treasury.’

fiscal /ˈfisk(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to government revenue, especially taxes

• monetary and fiscal policy.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) of or relating to financial matters

• the domestic fiscal crisis.

3. (N. Amer.) used to denote a fiscal year

• the budget deficit for fiscal 1996.

II. noun

‹archaic› a legal or treasury official in some countries.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French, or from Latin fiscalis, from fiscus ‘purse, treasury’ (see fisc).

fiscal cliff

noun

a situation in which a particular set of financial factors causes or threatens sudden and severe economic decline

• the massive new spending program threatens to send our nation over a fiscal cliff, leading to even higher taxes and fewer jobs.

fiscally /ˈfiskəlē/

adverb

1. in a way that relates to government revenue, especially taxes

• I wouldn't call any of our party leaders fiscally conservative.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) in a way that relates to financial matters

• one of the nation's most fiscally challenged states.

fiscal year /ˈfiskəl yi(ə)r / ‹N. Amer.›

noun

a year as reckoned for taxing or accounting purposes

• the firm is expected to turn a profit for its fiscal year ending April 30.

Fischer, Bobby /ˈfiSHər/

(1943–2008), US chess player; full name Robert James Fischer. He defeated Boris Spassky in 1972 to become the world champion, a title he held until 1975.

Fischer, Emil Hermann

(1852–1919), German organic chemist. He studied the structure of sugars, other carbohydrates, and purines and synthesized many of them. He also confirmed that peptides and proteins consist of chains of amino acids. Nobel Prize for Chemistry (1902).

Fischer, Hans

(1881–1945), German organic chemist. He determined the structure of the porphyrin group of many natural pigments. Nobel Prize for Chemistry (1930).

fish^1 /fiSH/

I. noun

1. a limbless cold-blooded vertebrate animal with gills and fins and living wholly in water

• the sea is thick with fish.

2. the flesh of fish as food

• hot crab appetizers stuffed with fish.

3. (the Fish or Fishes) — the zodiacal sign or constellation Pisces.

4. used in names of invertebrate animals living wholly in water, e.g., cuttlefish, shellfish, jellyfish.

5. [with adj.] — ‹informal› a person who is strange in a specified way

• he is generally thought to be a bit of a cold fish.

6. ‹informal› a torpedo.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. catch or try to catch fish, typically by using a net or hook and line

• he was fishing for bluefish

• I've told the girls we've gone fishing.

2. [with obj.] — catch or try to catch fish in (a particular body of water)

• they did fish the mountain streams when game grew scarce.

3. search, typically by groping or feeling for something concealed

• he fished for his registration certificate and held it up to the policeman's flashlight.

4. try subtly or deviously to elicit a response or some information from someone

• I was not fishing for compliments.

5. [with obj.] (fish something out) — pull or take something out of water or a container

• the body of a woman had been fished out of the river.

III. phrases

1. a big fish

an important or influential person

• he became a big fish in the world of politics.

2. a big fish in a small (or little) pond

a person seen as important and influential only within the limited scope of a small organization or group.

3. drink like a fish

drink excessive amounts of alcohol.

4. fish or cut bait

see bait.

5. a fish out of water

a person in a completely unsuitable environment or situation.

6. fished out

depleted of fish

• the grayling here have hardly been fished out.

7. have other (or bigger) fish to fry

have other (or more important) matters to attend to.

8. like shooting fish in a barrel

extremely easy

• picking cultivated berries is like shooting fish in a barrel.

9. neither fish nor fowl (nor good red herring)

of indefinite character and difficult to identify or classify.

10. there are plenty more fish in the sea

used to console someone whose romantic relationship has ended by pointing out that there are many other people with whom they may have a successful relationship in the future.

IV. derivatives

fishlike

adjective

– origin Old English fisc (as a noun denoting any animal living exclusively in water), fiscian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vis, vissen and German Fisch, fischen. / usage: The normal plural of fish is fish (a shoal of fish; he caught two huge fish). The older form fishes is still used, but almost exclusively when referring to different kinds of fish (freshwater fishes of the Great Lakes).

fish^2 /fiSH/

I. noun

a flat plate of metal, wood, or another material that is fixed on a beam or across a joint in order to give additional strength, especially on a ship's damaged mast or spar as a temporary repair.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. mend or strengthen (a beam, joint, mast, etc.) with a fish.

2. join (rails in a railroad track) with a fishplate.

– origin early 16th cent.: probably from French fiche, from ficher ‘to fix,’ based on Latin figere.

Fish, Hamilton /fiSH/

(1808–93), US politician. A Republican, he held many political offices, including governor of New York 1849–50, US senator 1851–57, and US secretary of state 1869–77.

fish and chips //

noun

a dish of fried fish fillets served with French fries.

fishbowl /ˈfiSHˌbōl/

noun

1. a round glass bowl for keeping pet fish in.

2. a place open to public view and criticism

• there was no privacy in his office; it was a fishbowl.

fishcake /ˈfiSHkāk/

noun

a patty of shredded fish and mashed potato, typically coated in batter or breadcrumbs and fried.

fish eagle

noun

an eagle that catches and feeds on fish.
[Genus Haliaetus, family Accipitridae: two or three species, in particular the white-headed African fish eagle (H. vocifer).]

fisher /ˈfiSHər/

I. noun

1. a person who catches fish for a living or for sport

• he was an enthusiastic fisher and hunter

• an experienced trout fisher will be on hand to guide and advise.

2. a large brown marten valued for its fur, found in North American woodland where it frequently preys on porcupines.
Also called pekan. [Martes pennanti, family Mustelidae.]

– origin Old English fiscere ‘fisherman,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch visser and German Fischer, also to fish^1.

Fisher, St. John /ˈfiSHər/

(1469–1535), English cleric. In 1504, he became bishop of Rochester and earned the disfavor of Henry VIII by opposing his divorce from Catherine of Aragon. When he refused to accept the king as supreme head of the English church, he was condemned to death. Feast day, June 22.

fisherfolk /ˈfiSHərˌfōk/

plural noun

people who catch fish for a living.

fisherman /ˈfiSHərmən/

noun

1. a person who catches fish for a living or for sport.

2. a fishing boat.

fisherman knit fisherman's knit

noun

a type of thick ribbed knitting.

fisherman's bend

noun

a knot tied by making a full turn around something (typically the ring of an anchor), a half hitch through the turn, and a half hitch around the standing part of the rope.

fisherwoman /ˈfiSHərˌwo͝omən/

noun

a woman who catches fish, especially for a living.

fishery /ˈfiSHərē/

noun

1. a place where fish are reared for commercial purposes.

2. a fishing ground or area where fish are caught.

3. the occupation or industry of catching or rearing fish.

fisheye /ˈfiSHˌī/

noun

1. (also fisheye lens) — a wide-angle lens with a field of vision covering up to 180°, the scale being reduced toward the edges.

2. (US) ‹informal› a suspicious or unfriendly look

• Wally gave him the fisheye.

fish farm /ˈfiSH ˌfärm/

I. noun

a place where fish are artificially bred or cultivated, e.g., for food, to restock lakes for angling, or to supply aquariums.

II. derivatives

1. fish farmer

noun

2. fish farming

noun

fish finger /ˈfiSH ˈˌfiNGɡər/

noun

British term for fish stick.

fish hawk

noun

another term for osprey.

fishhook /ˈfiSHˌho͝ok/

noun

see hook (sense 1 of the noun).

fishing /ˈfiSHiNG/

I. noun

the activity of catching fish, either for food or as a sport.

II. phrases

fishing expedition

a search or investigation undertaken with the hope, though not the stated purpose, of discovering information

• they worried about an FBI fishing expedition.

fishing cat

noun

a small wild cat found in wetland habitats in India and Southeast Asia, having a light brown coat with dark spots, a ringed tail, and slightly webbed paws.
[Felis viverrina, family Felidae.]

fishing fly

noun

a natural or artificial flying insect used as bait in fishing.

fishing line /ˈfiSHiNG ˌlīn/

noun

a long thread of silk or nylon attached to a baited hook, sometimes with a sinker or float, and used for catching fish.

fishing pole

noun

(N. Amer.) a fishing rod, especially a simple one with no reel.

fishing reel

noun

a device for winding and unwinding fishing line, designed to be attached to a fishing rod.

fishing rod /ˈfiSHiNG ˌräd/

noun

a long, tapering rod to which a fishing line is attached, typically on a reel.

fish knife

noun

a blunt knife with a broad blade for dressing, serving or eating fish.

fish ladder /fiSH ˈladər/

noun

a series of pools built like steps to enable fish to bypass a dam or waterfall.

fish louse

noun

an aquatic crustacean that is a parasite of fish, typically attached to the skin or gills.
[● a free-swimming crustacean with a shieldlike carapace and a pair of suckers (class Branchiura: several genera, in particular Argulus). ● an elongated crustacean that becomes permanently attached to the host and typically highly modified (class Copepoda: several orders and numerous species).]

fish meal fishmeal

noun

ground dried fish used as fertilizer or animal feed.

fishmonger /ˈfiSHˌməNGɡər ˈfiSHˌmäNGɡər/

noun

a person or store that sells fish for food.

fishnet /ˈfiSHˌnet/

noun

a fabric with an open mesh resembling a fishing net
[as modifier]

• black fishnet stockings.

fish pedicure

noun

a cosmetic treatment in which one places one's feet in a tank containing small fish that nibble away dead or calloused skin on the feet.

fishplate /ˈfiSHˌplāt/

noun

1. a flat piece of metal used to connect adjacent rails in a railroad track.

2. a flat piece of metal with ends like a fish's tail, used to position masonry.

fishpond /ˈfiSHˌpänd/

noun

1. a pond in which live fish are kept.

2. an attraction at a fair where contestants use a rod and line to attempt to extract a prize, or a token representing a prize, from a pool or other enclosure.

fish sauce

noun

a Thai and Vietnamese sauce used as a flavoring or condiment, prepared from fermented anchovies and salt.

fish stick //

noun

a small, oblong piece of fish fillet, usually breaded and fried.

fish store fish shop

noun

a store that sells fish for food

• the best fish stores in Toronto deal in an abundant array of offshore delicacies

• most cannot afford to buy snapper in fish shops or supermarkets.

fish story

noun

(US) ‹informal› an incredible or far-fetched story.

fishtail /ˈfiSHˌtāl/

I. noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. an object that is forked like a fish's tail

• carved detail including fishtail terminals on the banisters.

2. an uncontrolled sideways movement of the back of a motor vehicle

• he hit the brakes, sending the car into a fishtail that carried him across the street.

II. verb — [no obj., usu. with adverbial of direction]

1. (of a vehicle) make a fishtail movement

• the vehicle fishtailed from one side of the road to the other.

fishway /ˈfiSHˌwā/

noun

another term for fish ladder.

fishwife /ˈfiSHˌwīf/

noun

1. a coarse-mannered woman who is prone to shouting.

2. ‹archaic› a woman who sells fish.

fishy /ˈfiSHē/

I. adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling fish or a fish

• a fishy smell.

2. ‹informal› arousing feelings of doubt or suspicion

• I'm convinced there is something fishy going on.

II. derivatives

1. fishily /ˈfiSHəlē /

adverb

2. fishiness

noun

Fisk, James /fisk/

(1834–72), US financier; known as Big Jim. He made his fortune in the stock manipulation that ruined the Erie Railroad, and with Jay Gould he engineered events that involved the US treasury in the scandalous Black Friday attempt to corner the gold market in 1869.

fissile /ˈfisəl ˈfiˌsīl/

I. adjective

1. (of an atom or element) able to undergo nuclear fission

• a fissile isotope.

2. (chiefly of rock) easily split

• flat-bedded and very highly fissile shale.

II. derivatives

fissility /fiˈsilədē /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘easily split’): from Latin fissilis, from fiss- ‘split, cracked,’ from the verb findere.

fission /ˈfiSHən/

I. noun

1. the action of dividing or splitting something into two or more parts

• the party dissolved into fission and acrimony.

2. short for nuclear fission.

3. [Biology] reproduction by means of a cell or organism dividing into two or more new cells or organisms

• bacteria divide by transverse binary fission.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (chiefly of atoms) undergo fission

• these heavy nuclei can also fission.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin fissio(n-), from findere ‘to split.’

fissionable /ˈfiSH(ə)nəbəl/

adjective

another term for fissile.

fission bomb

noun

another term for atom bomb.

fission-track dating

noun

[Geology] a technique for establishing the age of a mineral sample from its uranium content. It involves microscopically counting tracks produced by uranium fission fragments and then establishing the existing concentration of uranium by counting again after irradiating the sample with neutrons.

fissiparous /fiˈsipərəs/

I. adjective

1. inclined to cause or undergo division into separate parts or groups

• She was unsuccessful in holding a fissiparous membership together.

2. [Biology] (of an organism) reproducing by fission

• small fissiparous worms.

II. derivatives

fissiparousness

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin fissus, past participle of findere ‘split,’ on the pattern of viviparous.

fissure /ˈfiSHər/

I. noun

1. a long, narrow opening or line of breakage made by cracking or splitting, especially in rock or earth.

2. [chiefly Anatomy] a long narrow opening in the form of a crack or groove, e.g., any of the spaces separating convolutions of the brain.

3. a state of incompatibility or disagreement

• the fissure between private sector business and the newly expanding public sector.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. fissured)

1. split or crack (something) to form a long narrow opening

• the skin becomes dry, fissured, and cracked.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin fissura, from findere ‘to split.’

fist /fist/

I. noun

a person's hand when the fingers are bent in toward the palm and held there tightly, typically in order to strike a blow or grasp something.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — hit with or as with the fists or a fist

• a fastball he fisted into left field.

2. (also fist-fuck) [with obj.] — ‹vulgar slang› penetrate (a person's anus or vagina) with one's fist.

III. phrases

make a —— fist of (or at)

‹informal› do something to the specified degree of success

• I think he's made a good fist of it.

IV. derivatives

fisted

adjective

[in combination]

• bare-fisted

– origin Old English fȳst; related to Dutch vuist and German Faust.

fist bump ‹informal chiefly US›

I. noun

a gesture of greeting or affirmation in which two people lightly tap each other's clenched fist

• El Duque walked in and traded a fist bump with his catcher.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. greet (someone) by lightly tapping their clenched fist with one's own

• politicians were soon fist-bumping one another on TV chat shows

• [no obj.] two lawyers walked into the hall and fist-bumped before getting on the elevator.

fistfight /ˈfistfīt/

noun

a fight with bare fists.

fistful /ˈfis(t)fo͝ol/

noun

as much as a person can hold in their clenched hand

• the man took a fistful of cash from the drawer

• he grabbed fistfuls of my hair and tugged at it.

fistic /ˈfistik/

adjective

of or relating to boxing; pugilistic.

fisticuffs /ˈfistiˌkəfs/

I. plural noun

fighting with the fists.

– origin early 17th cent.: probably from obsolete fisty ‘relating to the fists or to fistfighting’ + cuff^2.

fist pump ‹informal chiefly US›

I. noun

a gesture of triumph or affirmation in which the forearm is raised with fist clenched, then swung downward toward the body in a vigorous pumping motion

• his 25-foot birdie was greeted with fist pumps and high fives.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. swing one's clenched fist and raised forearm downward toward the body in a vigorous pumping motion as a gesture of triumph or affirmation

• "Yes!" Rachel yelped and fist-pumped from behind her laptop

• [with obj.] if that were the case, we'd be fist-pumping the air in delight.

fistula /ˈfisCH(ə)lə/

I. noun

[Medicine] an abnormal or surgically made passage between a hollow or tubular organ and the body surface, or between two hollow or tubular organs.

II. derivatives

1. fistular /ˈfisCHələr /

adjective

2. fistulous /-ləs /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin, ‘pipe, flute, fistula.’ Compare with fester.

fit^1 /fit/

I. adjective

1. [predic.] — (of a thing) of a suitable quality, standard, or type to meet the required purpose

• the meat is fit for human consumption

• [with infinitive] is the water clean and fit to drink?

2. (of a person) having the requisite qualities or skills to undertake something competently

• he felt himself quite fit for battle

• [with infinitive] Ted was ghastly pale and fit to do no more than switch channels.

3. suitable and correct according to accepted social standards

• a fit subject on which to correspond.

4. [with infinitive] — ‹informal› (of a person or thing) having reached such an extreme condition as to be on the point of doing the thing specified

• he baited even his close companions until they were fit to kill him.

5. ‹informal› ready

• well, are you fit?

6. in good health, especially because of regular physical exercise

• I swim regularly to keep fit

• ‹figurative› the measures would ensure a leaner, fitter company.

7. (Brit.) ‹informal› sexually attractive; good-looking.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. be of the right shape and size for

• those jeans still fit me

• [no obj.] the shoes fit better after being stretched.

2. (usu. be fitted for) — try clothing on (someone) in order to make or alter it to the correct size

• she was about to be fitted for her costume.

3. [no obj.] — be of the right size, shape, or number to occupy a particular position or place

• Angela says we can all fit in her car.

4. fix or put (something) into place

• they fitted smoke alarms to their home.

5. (often be fitted with) — provide (something) with a particular component or article

• most tools can be fitted with a new handle.

6. join or cause to join together to form a whole
[no obj.]

• it took a while to figure out how the confounded things fit together

• [with obj.] many physicists tried to fit together the various pieces of the puzzle.

7. be in agreement or harmony with; match

• the punishment should fit the crime.

8. (of an attribute, qualification, or skill) make (someone) suitable to fulfill a particular role or undertake a particular task

• an MS fits the student for a professional career.

III. noun

1. the particular way in which something, especially a garment or component, fits around or into something

• the dress was a perfect fit.

2. the particular way in which a thing matches something else

• a close fit between teachers' qualifications and their teaching responsibilities.

3. [Statistics] the correspondence between observed data and the values expected by theory.

IV. phrases

1. (as) fit as a fiddle

see fiddle.

2. fit the bill

see bill^1.

3. fit like a glove

see glove.

4. fit to be tied

‹informal› very angry

• Daddy was fit to be tied when I separated from Hugh.

5. fit to bust

‹informal› with great energy

• they laughed fit to bust.

6. see (or think) fit

consider it correct or acceptable to do something

• why did the company see fit to give you the job?

V. phrasal verbs

1. fit in

a. (of a person) be socially compatible with other members of a group

• he feels he should become tough to fit in with his friends.

b. (of a thing) be in harmony with other things within a larger structure

• produce ideas that fit in with an established approach.

c. (also fit into) — (of a person or thing) constitute part of a particular situation or larger structure

• where do your sisters fit in?

2. fit someone/something in (or into)

a. find room or have sufficient space for someone or something

• can you fit any more books into the box?

b. succeed in finding time in a busy schedule to see someone or do something

• you're never too busy to fit exercise into your life.

3. fit someone/something out (or up)

provide with the necessary equipment, supplies, clothes, or other items for a particular situation

• the cabin had been fitted out to a high standard.

4. fit someone up

(Brit.) ‹informal› incriminate someone by falsifying evidence against them.

5. fit something on

(Brit.) try on (a garment).

VI. derivatives

fitly /ˈfitlē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: of unknown origin.

fit^2 /fit/

I. noun

1. a sudden uncontrollable outbreak of intense emotion, laughter, coughing, or other action or activity

• in a fit of temper

• he got coughing fits.

2. a sudden attack of convulsions and/or loss of consciousness, typical of epilepsy and some other medical conditions

• he thought she was having a fit.

II. phrases

1. have (or throw) a fit

‹informal› be very surprised or angry

• my mother would have a fit if she heard that.

2. in fits (of laughter)

‹informal› highly amused

• he had us all in fits.

3. in (or by) fits and starts

with irregular bursts of activity

• the machine tends to go forward in fits and starts.

– origin Old English fitt ‘conflict,’ in Middle English ‘position of danger or excitement,’ also ‘short period’; the sense ‘sudden attack of illness’ dates from the mid 16th cent.

fit^3 /fit / fytte

I. noun

‹archaic› a section of a poem.

– origin Old English fitt, perhaps the same word as fit^2, or related to German Fitze ‘skein of yarn,’ in the obsolete sense ‘thread with which weavers mark off a day's work.’

fitch /fiCH/

I. noun

1. old-fashioned term for polecat.

2. (also fitch fur) — the fur of a polecat.

– origin late Middle English (denoting the fur of a polecat): from Middle Dutch visse ‘polecat.’

Fitchburg /ˈfiCHˌbərɡ/

a city in north central Massachusetts, northwest of Boston; pop. 40,239 (est. 2008).

fitché /ˈfiCHˌā / fitchy, fitched

I. adjective

[Heraldry] (of a cross) having the foot extended into a point.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French fiché, past participle of ficher ‘to fix.’

fitful /ˈfitfəl/

I. adjective

active or occurring spasmodically or intermittently; not regular or steady

• a few hours' fitful sleep

• business was fitful.

II. derivatives

fitfulness /ˈfitfəlnəs /

noun

fitfully /ˈfitfəlē/

adverb

not regularly or continuously; intermittently

• he slept fitfully.

fitment /ˈfitmənt/

noun — (usu. fitments)

1. (chiefly Brit.) a fixed item of furniture or piece of equipment, especially in a house.

fitness /ˈfitnəs/

noun

1. the condition of being physically fit and healthy

• disease and lack of fitness are closely related

• [as modifier] a fitness test.

2. the quality of being suitable to fulfill a particular role or task

• he had a year in which to establish his fitness for the office.

3. [Biology] an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment

• if sharp teeth increase fitness, then genes causing teeth to be sharp will increase in frequency.

fit-out /ˈfidout/

noun

(chiefly Brit.) an act of providing the necessary equipment for a house or apartment, especially the final decoration and furniture.

fitted /ˈfidəd/

adjective

1. made or shaped to fill a space or to cover something closely or exactly

• the blouse has a fitted bodice

• navy blue fitted sheets.

2. (chiefly Brit.) (of a room) equipped with matching pieces of furniture built to be fixed into a particular space

• a fitted kitchen.

3. attached to or provided with a particular component or article

• a pistol fitted with a match-grade barrel.

4. [predic.] — having the appropriate qualities or skills to do something

• physicists may not be fitted for involvement in industrial processes.

fitter /ˈfidər/

noun

1. a person who puts together or installs machinery, engine parts, or other equipment

• a pipe fitter.

2. a person who supervises the cutting, fitting, or alteration of garments or shoes.

fitting /ˈfidiNG/

I. noun

1. (often fittings) — a small part on or attached to a piece of furniture or equipment

• the wooden fittings were made of walnut.

2. (fittings) — items, such as a stove or shelves, that are fixed in a building but can be removed when the owner moves

• little remains of the house's Victorian fittings.

Compare with fixture (sense 1).

3. the action of fitting something, in particular

4. the installing, assembling, and adjusting of machine parts

• the fitting of new engines by the shipyard.

5. an occasion when one tries on a garment that is being made or altered

• she's coming tomorrow for a fitting.

II. adjective

1. suitable or appropriate under the circumstances; right or proper

• a fitting reward

• [with clause] it was fitting that he should reply.

2. [in combination] — fitted around or to something or someone in a specified way

• loose-fitting trousers.

III. derivatives

fittingness /ˈfidiNGnəs /

noun

fittingly /ˈfidiNGlē/

adverb

in a way that is suitable or appropriate under the circumstances

• obituaries fittingly described him as a master of figures

• [sentence adverb] perhaps fittingly, Scotland has its share of outdoor clothing firms.

fitting room

noun

a room in a store in which one can try on clothes before deciding whether to purchase them.

Fitzgerald, Barry /fitsˈjerəld/

(1888–1961), Irish actor; born in Ireland; born William Joseph Shields. His movies include Going My Way (1944), The Naked City (1948), and The Quiet Man (1952).

Fitzgerald, Ella

(1917–96), US jazz singer; full name Ella Jane Fitzgerald. Known for her distinctive style of scat singing, she appeared with Count Basie and Duke Ellington. From the mid 1950s, she made a series of recordings of songs by George Gershwin and Cole Porter.

Fitzgerald, F. Scott

(1896–1940), US novelist; full name Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald. His novels, in particular The Great Gatsby (1925), provide a vivid portrait of the US during the jazz era of the 1920s. Fitzgerald later became part of an affluent and fashionable set living on the French Riviera; their lifestyle is reflected in Tender is the Night (1934), a semiautobiographical novel.

FitzGerald contraction /fitsˈjerəld kənˌtrakSH(ə)n / FitzGerald–Lorentz contraction

I. noun

[Physics] another term for Lorentz contraction.

– origin named after George. F. FitzGerald (1851–1901), Irish physicist, and H. A. Lorentz (see Lorentz, Hendrik), who independently postulated the theory in 1892.

Fitzrovia /ˌfitsˈrōvēə/

I. an area of central London between Bloomsbury and Marylebone, near the British Museum, traditionally associated with writers and bohemians.

– origin 1950s: Latinized form from Fitzroy Square, on the model of Belgravia.

Fiume /ˈfyo͞omā/

Italian name of Rijeka.

five /fīv/

I. cardinal number

1. (Roman numeral: v or V) — equivalent to the sum of two and three; one more than four, or half of ten; 5

• a circlet of five petals

• five of Sweden's top financial experts.

2. a group or unit of five people or things

• the bulbs are planted in threes or fives.

3. five years old

• he moved with his family to a fish farm when he was five.

4. five o'clock

• at half past five.

5. a size of garment or other merchandise denoted by five.

6. a playing card or domino with five spots or pips.

7. (US) a five-dollar bill

• Joe counted his money: six fives and three twenties.

II. phrases

five a day

used in reference to nutritional guidelines recommending the consumption of at least five portions of fruit and vegetables each day

• have you had your five a day today?

• overall, just one in five Americans meets the five-a-day minimum.

– origin Old English fīf, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vijf and German fünf, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin quinque and Greek pente.

five-alarm /ˌfīvəˈlärm/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (US) ‹informal› (of a fire) very large or fierce.

2. (US) ‹informal› (of food, such as chilies) extremely pungent; hot.

five-and-dime five-and-dime store, five-and-ten

noun

1. (N. Amer.) a store selling a wide variety of inexpensive household and personal goods.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹historical› a store where all the articles were priced at five or ten cents.

five-finger /ˌfīvˈfiNGɡər / fivefinger

noun

any of a number of plants with leaves that are divided into five leaflets or with flowers that have five petals, such as cinquefoil.

five-finger discount

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› an act of shoplifting.

five-finger exercise

noun

an exercise on the piano for all the fingers on both hands.

fivefold /ˈfīvfōld/

I. adjective

1. five times as great or as numerous

• a fivefold increase in funding.

2. having five parts or elements

• fivefold rotational symmetry.

II. adverb

by five times; to five times the number or amount

• the unemployment rate rose almost fivefold.

five hundred

noun

a form of euchre in which making 500 points wins a game.

five Ks /ˌfīv ˈkāz/

plural noun — (the five Ks)

1. See Khalsa.

Five Nations

plural noun

‹historical› the original Iroquois confederacy, comprising the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca peoples.
Compare with Six Nations.

five o'clock shadow /ˈˌfīvəˌkläk ˈSHadō/

noun

a dark appearance on a man's chin and face caused by the slight growth of beard that has occurred since he shaved in the morning.

Five Pillars of Islam

the five duties expected of every Muslim: profession of the faith in a prescribed form, observance of ritual prayer, giving alms to the poor, fasting during the month of Ramadan, and performing a pilgrimage to Mecca.
See hajj, salat, sawm, shahada, and zakat.

fiver /ˈfīvər/

noun

1. ‹informal› (N. Amer.) a five-dollar bill.

2. ‹informal› (Brit.) a five-pound note.

fives /fīvz/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. a game, played especially in the UK, in which a ball is hit with a gloved hand or a bat against the walls of a court with three walls (Eton fives) or four walls (Rugby fives).

– origin mid 17th cent.: plural of five used as a singular noun; the significance is unknown.

five-second rule

noun

‹humorous› a notional rule stating that food which has been dropped on the ground will still be uncontaminated with bacteria and therefore safe to eat if it is retrieved within five seconds

• was I right to apply the five-second rule to the three slices of ham that left a damp, greasy ring on the kitchen floor?

five senses

plural noun — (the five senses)

1. the faculties of sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch.

fivesome /ˈfīvsəm/

noun

a group of five people.

five-spice five-spice powder

noun

a blend of five powdered spices, typically fennel seeds, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, and peppercorns, used in Chinese cuisine.

five-star /ˈfīv ˈˌstär/

adjective

1. (especially of a hotel or restaurant) given five stars in a grading system, typically one in which this denotes the highest class or quality

• a luxury five-star hotel.

2. (in the US armed forces) having or denoting the highest military rank (awarded only in wartime), distinguished by five stars on the uniform

• a five-star general.

5:2 diet

noun

a diet that involves eating normally for five days out of a seven-day period and greatly restricting the amount of food eaten on the other two days

• I've been on the 5:2 diet for seven weeks.

five-year plan /ˈˌfīv ˌyi(ə)r ˈplan/

noun

(especially in the former Soviet Union) a government plan for economic development over five years. The first such plan in the Soviet Union was inaugurated in 1928.

fix /fiks/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [with obj.] — fasten (something) securely in a particular place or position

• fix the clamp on a rail

• the upper jaw of an amphibian is firmly fixed to the skull.

2. lodge or implant (an idea, image, or memory) firmly in a person's mind

• he turned back to fix the scene in his mind.

3. (fix something on/upon) — direct one's eyes, attention, or mind steadily or unwaveringly toward

• I fixed my attention on the tower.

4. [no obj.] (fix on/upon) — (of a person's eyes, attention, or mind) be directed steadily or unwaveringly toward

• her gaze fixed on Jess.

5. attract and hold (a person's attention or gaze)

• their taut relationship fixes your attention.

6. (fix someone with) — look at someone unwaveringly

• she fixed her nephew with an unwavering stare.

7. mend; repair

• you should fix that shelf.

8. (fix something up) — do the necessary work to improve or adapt something

• we want to fix up the house before we sell it.

9. make arrangements for (something); organize

• he's sent her on ahead to fix things up

• I've fixed it for you to see him on Thursday.

10. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) restore order or tidiness to (something, especially one's hair, clothes, or makeup)

• Laura was fixing her hair.

11. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) prepare or arrange for the provision of (food or drink)
[with two objs.]

• they were fixing him breakfast

• Ruth fixed herself a cold drink.

12. (fix someone up) — ‹informal› arrange for someone to have something; provide someone with something

• I'll fix you up with a room.

13. (fix someone up) — ‹informal› arrange for someone to meet or go out with someone in order to help them establish a romantic relationship.

14. (be fixing to do something) — (US) ‹dialect› be intending or planning to do something

• you're fixing to get into trouble.

15. decide or settle on (a specific price, date, course of action, etc.)

• no date has yet been fixed for a hearing

• the rent will be fixed at $600 a month

• [no obj.] their thinking then seemed fixed on conventional projects.

16. discover the exact location of (something) by using radar or visual bearings or astronomical observation

• he fixed his position.

17. settle the form of (a language).

18. assign or determine (a person's liability or responsibility) for legal purposes

• there are no facts that fix the defendant with liability.

19. make (something) permanent or static in nature

• the rate of interest is fixed for the life of the loan.

20. make (a dye, photographic image, or drawing) permanent.

21. [Biology] preserve or stabilize (a specimen) with a chemical substance prior to microscopy or other examination

• specimens were fixed in buffered formalin.

22. (of a plant or microorganism) assimilate (nitrogen or carbon dioxide) by forming a nongaseous compound

• lupines fix gaseous nitrogen in their root nodules.

23. ‹informal› influence the outcome of (something, especially a race, contest, or election) by illegal or underhanded means

• the foundation denies fixing races.

24. put (an enemy or rival) out of action, especially by killing them

• don't you tell nobody, or I'll fix you good!

25. [no obj.] — ‹informal› take an injection of a narcotic drug.

26. (N. Amer.) castrate or spay (an animal); neuter.

II. noun

1. [in sing.] — ‹informal› a difficult or awkward situation from which it is hard to extricate oneself; a predicament

• how on earth did you get into such a fix?

2. ‹informal› a dose of a narcotic drug to which one is addicted

• he hadn't had his fix.

3. ‹figurative› a thing or activity that gives a person a feeling of euphoria or pleasure and that it is difficult to do without

• that rush of adrenaline that is the fix of the professional newsman.

4. a measure taken to resolve a problem or correct a mistake; a solution or remedy

• representatives trying to find cheap fixes to meet their obligations

• the company is working on a fix but suggests users consider technical workarounds in the meantime.

5. a position determined by visual or radio bearings or astronomical observations.

6. [in sing.] — ‹informal› a dishonest or underhanded arrangement

• obviously, his appointment was a fix.

III. phrases

get a fix on

a. determine the position of (something) by visual or radio bearings or astronomical observation.

b. ‹informal› assess or determine the nature or facts of; obtain a clear understanding of

• it is hard to get a fix on their ages.

IV. derivatives

fixable /ˈfiksəbəl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: partly from Old French fix ‘fixed,’ partly from medieval Latin fixare ‘to fix,’ both from Latin fixus, past participle of figere ‘fix, fasten.’ The noun dates from the early 19th cent.

fixate /ˈfikˌsāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (usu. be fixated on/upon) — cause (someone) to acquire an obsessive attachment to someone or something

• she has for some time been fixated on photography.

2. [no obj.] (fixate on/upon) — acquire an obsessive attachment to

• it is important not to fixate on animosity.

3. (in Freudian theory) arrest (a person or their libidinal energy) at an immature stage, causing an obsessive attachment.

4. ‹technical› direct one's eyes toward

• subjects fixated a central point

• [no obj.] there is tendency to fixate near the beginning of the line of print.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin fixus, past participle of figere (see fix) + -ate^3.

fixation /fikˈsāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. an obsessive interest in or feeling about someone or something

• his fixation on the details of other people's erotic lives

• our fixation with diet and fitness.

2. [Psychoanalysis] the arresting of part of the libido at an immature stage, causing an obsessive attachment

• fixation at the oral phase might result in dependence on others

• an oral-maternal fixation.

3. the action of making something firm or stable

• sand dune fixation.

4. [Biochemistry] the process by which some plants and microorganisms incorporate gaseous nitrogen or carbon dioxide to form nongaseous compounds

• his work on nitrogen fixation in plants.

5. [Biology] the process of preserving or stabilizing (a specimen) with a chemical substance prior to microscopy or other examination

• biopsy specimens were placed in cassettes before fixation in formalin.

6. ‹technical› the action of concentrating the eyes directly on something

• during the period of total blindness there was a complete absence of visual fixation.

– origin late Middle English (originally as an alchemical term denoting the process of reducing a volatile spirit or essence to a permanent bodily form): from medieval Latin fixatio(n-), from fixare (see fix).

fixative /ˈfiksədiv/

I. noun

1. a chemical substance used to preserve or stabilize biological material prior to microscopy or other examination

• an alcoholic fixative

• ten double drops of fixative.

2. a substance used to stabilize the volatile components of perfume.

3. a liquid sprayed onto a pastel or charcoal drawing to fix colors or prevent smudging.

4. a substance used to keep things in position or stick them together

• the swift glues these thin twigs to a wall using its own saliva as a fixative.

II. adjective

(of a substance) used to fix or stabilize something.

fixed /fikst/

I. adjective

1. fastened securely in position

• a fixed iron ladder down the port side.

2. (especially of a price, rate, or time) predetermined and not subject to or able to be changed

• most trusts locked investors in for a fixed period.

3. (of a person's expression) held for a long time without changing, especially to conceal other feelings

• a fixed smile.

4. (of a view or idea) held inflexibly

• the fixed assumptions of the cold war.

5. [predic.] (fixed for) — ‹informal› situated with regard to

• how's the club fixed for money now?

6. (of a sports contest) having the outcome dishonestly predetermined

• the fight's fixed—the ref has your card marked.

II. derivatives

1. fixedly /ˈfiksidlē /

adverb

2. fixedness /ˈfiksidnəs /

noun

fixed assets /ˈfikst ˈˌaˌsəts/

plural noun

assets that are purchased for long-term use and are not likely to be converted quickly into cash, such as land, buildings, and equipment.
Compare with current assets.

fixed capital

noun

capital invested in fixed assets.

fixed charge

noun

a liability to a creditor that relates to specific assets of a company.

fixed costs

plural noun

business costs, such as rent, that are constant whatever the quantity of goods or services produced.

fixed-do /fiks(t)ˈdō / ‹Brit.› fixed-doh

adjective — [attrib.]

1. [Music] denoting a system of solmization in which C is called “do,” D is called “re,” etc., irrespective of the key in which they occur.
Compare with movable-do.

fixed focus

noun

a camera focus that cannot be adjusted, typically used with a small-aperture lens having a large depth of field.

fixed idea

noun

another term for idée fixe.

fixed income

noun

an income from a pension or investment that is set at a particular figure and does not vary (as a dividend) or rise with the rate of inflation.

fixed-line

adjective

denoting or relating to telecommunications systems using cables laid across land, as opposed to cellular radio systems.

fixed oil

noun

a nonvolatile oil of animal or plant origin.

fixed point /ˌfikst ˈpoint/

I. noun

[Physics] a well-defined reproducible temperature that can be used as a reference point, e.g., one defined by a change of phase.

II. adjective — (fixed-point)

1. [Computing] denoting a mode of representing a number by a single sequence of digits whose values depend on their location relative to a predetermined radix point

• these computers perform arithmetic in fixed-point binary format.

Often contrasted with floating-point.

fixed-wing

adjective — [attrib.]

1. denoting aircraft of the conventional type as opposed to those with rotating wings, such as helicopters.

fixer /ˈfiksər/

noun

1. a person who makes arrangements for other people, especially of an illicit or devious kind.

2. a substance used for fixing a photographic image.

fixer-upper

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a house in need of repairs (used chiefly in connection with the purchase of such a house).

fixie /ˈfiksē/

I. noun

a single-gear bicycle that has no freewheel, so that its wheels cannot move unless power is applied to the pedals.

– origin early 21st cent.: from fixed-wheel bicycle or fixed-gear bicycle.

fixing /ˈfiksiNG/

noun

1. the process of deciding or planning something

• the fixing of the date of the hearing

• the fixing of a fair and reasonable price.

2. (fixings) — apparatus or equipment for a particular purpose

• picnic fixings.

3. (N. Amer.) the ingredients necessary to make a dish or meal

• have all the fixings ready before starting.

4. the action of fastening something in place

• the fixing of additional strengthening steelwork.

5. (Brit.) screws, bolts, or other items used to fix or assemble building material, furniture, or equipment.

6. the action of mending or repairing something

• the roof needs fixing

• problems in need of fixing.

7. ‹informal› the illegal or underhand influencing of the outcome of something such as a race, game, or election

• police investigating the alleged fixing of horse races

• several laws restricted the fixing of retail prices.

fixit /ˈfiksit/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› a person known for repairing things or putting things in order

• he pictured himself as a Mr. Fixit.

2. [usu. as modifier] — ‹informal› an act of repairing or putting something right

• a fixit shop.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Little Miss Fixit, the title of a musical show.

fixity /ˈfiksidē/

I. noun

the state of being unchanging or permanent

• the fixity of his stare.

– origin mid 17th cent. (denoting the property of a substance of not evaporating or losing weight when heated): partly from obsolete fix ‘fixed,’ partly from French fixité.

fixture /ˈfiksCHər/

I. noun

1. a piece of equipment or furniture that is fixed in position in a building or vehicle

• a light fixture.

2. (fixtures) — articles attached to a house or land and considered legally part of it so that they normally remain in place when an owner moves

• the hotel retains many original fixtures and fittings.

Compare with fitting (sense 1 of the noun)).

3. ‹informal› a person or thing that is established in a particular place or situation

• palm readers were a fixture in most '40s nightclubs.

4. (Brit.) a sports event that takes place on a particular date.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘fixing, becoming fixed’): alteration (first found in Shakespeare) of obsolete fixure (from late Latin fixura, from Latin figere ‘to fix’), with t inserted on the pattern of mixture.

fizz /fiz/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a liquid) produce bubbles of gas and make a hissing sound

• the mixture fizzed like mad.

2. make a buzzing or crackling sound

• lightning starts to crackle and fizz.

3. [with adverbial] — move with or display excitement, exuberance, or liveliness

• anticipation began to fizz through his veins.

II. noun

1. effervescence

• the champagne had lost its fizz.

2. ‹informal› an effervescent drink, especially sparkling wine

• a bottle of grapefruit fizz.

3. exuberance; liveliness

• she saw I had lost some of my fizz.

– origin mid 17th cent.: imitative.

fizzle /ˈfizəl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. end or fail in a weak or disappointing way

• their threatened revolt fizzled out at yesterday's meeting.

2. make a feeble hissing or spluttering sound

• the strobe lights fizzled and flickered.

II. noun

1. a failure

• in the end the fireworks were a fizzle.

2. a feeble hissing or spluttering sound

• the electric fizzle of the waves.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘break wind quietly’): probably imitative (compare with fizz), but perhaps related to Middle English fist (see feisty). Current senses date from the 19th cent.

fizzy /ˈfizē/

I. adjective

1. (of a beverage) containing bubbles of gas; effervescent

• fizzy mineral water.

2. full of energy or exuberance; lively

• fizzy new wave pop.

II. derivatives

1. fizzily /ˈfizəlē /

adverb

2. fizziness /ˈfizēnəs /

noun

fjord /fēˈôrd fyôrd / fiord

I. noun

a long, narrow, deep inlet of the sea between high cliffs, as in Norway and Iceland, typically formed by submergence of a glaciated valley.

– origin late 17th cent.: Norwegian, from Old Norse fjǫrthr. Compare with firth.

fL

abbreviation

foot-Lambert.

FL

abbreviation

Florida (in official postal use).

fl.

abbreviation

1. floor.

2. floruit.

3. fluid.

Fla.

abbreviation

Florida.

flab /flab/

I. noun

‹informal› soft loose flesh on a person's body; fat.

– origin 1950s: back-formation from flabby.

flabbergast /ˈflabərˌɡast/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. flabbergasted)

1. ‹informal› surprise (someone) greatly; astonish

• this news has left me totally flabbergasted.

– origin late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

flabby /ˈflabē/

I. adjective

1. (of a part of a person's body) soft, loose, and fleshy

• this exercise helps to flatten a flabby stomach.

2. (of a person) having soft loose flesh.

3. not tightly controlled, powerful, or effective

• the quartet playing was uncommitted and flabby.

II. derivatives

1. flabbily /ˈflabəlē /

adverb

2. flabbiness /ˈflabēnəs /

noun

– origin late 17th cent.: alteration of earlier flappy.

flabellum /fləˈbeləm/

noun

1. a fan, especially an elegant, ornamental one used in Christian ritual.

2. [Biology] ‹historical› a fan-shaped organ, part, or anatomical structure.

flaccid /ˈfla(k)səd/

I. adjective

1. (of part of the body) soft and hanging loosely or limply, especially so as to look or feel unpleasant

• she took his flaccid hand in hers.

2. (of plant tissue) drooping or inelastic through lack of water.

3. lacking force or effectiveness

• the flaccid leadership campaign was causing concern.

II. derivatives

1. flaccidity /fla(k)ˈsidədē /

noun

2. flaccidly

adverb

– origin early 17th cent.: from French flaccide or Latin flaccidus, from flaccus ‘flabby.’

flack^1 /flak / ‹N. Amer. informal›

I. noun

a publicity agent

• a public relations flack.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. publicize or promote (something or someone)

• a crass ambulance-chaser who flacks himself in TV ads

• [no obj.] the local news media shamelessly flack for the organizing committee.

III. derivatives

flackery

noun

– origin 1940s: of unknown origin.

flack^2 /flak/

noun

variant spelling of flak.

flacon /ˈflakən, flaˈkôN/

I. noun

a small stoppered bottle, especially one for perfume.

– origin early 19th cent.: French, ‘flask.’

flag^1 /flaɡ/

I. noun

1. a piece of cloth or similar material, typically oblong or square, attachable by one edge to a pole or rope and used as the symbol or emblem of a country or institution or as a decoration during public festivities

• the American flag.

2. used in reference to the country to which a person has allegiance

• the private's heroism served as an example for every soldier under the flag.

3. a ship's country of registry.

4. a small piece of cloth, typically attached at one edge to a pole, used as a marker or signal in various sports

• jumped the starter's flag, did he?

5. the ensign carried by a flagship as an emblem of an admiral's rank.

6. a device, symbol, or drawing typically resembling a flag, used as a marker

• golf courses are indicated by a numbered flag on the map.

7. [Computing] a variable used to indicate a particular property of the data in a record.

8. a hook attached to the stem of a musical note, determining the rhythmic value of the note.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. mark (an item) for attention or treatment in a specified way

• “greatfully” would be flagged as a misspelling of “gratefully.”

2. draw attention to

• problems often flag the need for organizational change.

3. [Football] charge (a player) with a penalty by dropping a penalty flag

• a play in which he was flagged for being offside.

4. [with obj.] — direct (someone) to go in the specified direction by waving a flag or using hand signals

• have him flagged off the course.

5. (flag someone/something down) — signal to a vehicle or driver to stop, especially by waving one's arm

• she flagged down a patrol car.

6. [no obj.] — (of an official in football, soccer, and other sports) raise or throw a flag to indicate a breach of the rules

• the rookie cornerback managed to get flagged for three penalties in one game.

7. provide or decorate with a flag or flags.

8. register (a vessel) in a specific country, under whose flag it then sails

• the flagging out of much of the fleet to flags of convenience.

III. phrases

1. fly the flag

a. (of a ship) be registered in a particular country and sail under its flag.

b. (also show or carry or wave the flag) — represent or demonstrate support for one's country, political party, or organization, especially when one is abroad

• he will never consider buying an import, because he likes to fly the flag.

2. show the flag

(of a naval vessel) make an official visit to a foreign port, especially as a show of strength.

3. wrap oneself in the flag

(chiefly N. Amer.) make an excessive show of one's patriotism, especially for political ends.

IV. derivatives

flagger

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: perhaps from obsolete flag ‘drooping,’ of unknown ultimate origin.

flag^2 /flaɡ/

I. noun

a flat stone slab, typically rectangular or square, used for paving.

– origin late Middle English (also in the sense ‘turf, sod’): probably of Scandinavian origin and related to Icelandic flag ‘spot from which a sod has been cut’ and Old Norse flaga ‘slab of stone.’

flag^3 /flaɡ/

I. noun

1. a plant with sword-shaped leaves that grow from a rhizome.
[● a plant of the iris family (genus Iris, family Iridaceae). See blue flag (sense 1); yellow flag (sense 2) ● see sweet flag.]

2. the long slender leaf of a flag plant.

– origin late Middle English: related to Middle Dutch flag and Danish flæg; of unknown ultimate origin.

flag^4 /flaɡ/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a person) become tired, weaker, or less enthusiastic

• if you begin to flag, there is an excellent café to revive you.

2. (often as adj. flagging) — (especially of an activity or quality) become weaker or less dynamic

• she should make another similar film to revive her flagging career.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘flap about loosely, hang down’): related to obsolete flag ‘hanging down.’

Flag Day

noun

June 14, the anniversary of the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official US flag in 1777.

flagellant /ˈflajələnt fləˈjelənt/

I. noun

a person who subjects themselves or others to flogging, either as a religious discipline or for sexual gratification.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin flagellant- ‘whipping,’ from the verb flagellare, from flagellum ‘whip’ (see flagellum).

flagellate^1 /ˈflajəˌlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. flog (someone), either as a religious discipline or for sexual gratification

• he flagellated himself with branches.

II. derivatives

1. flagellator /ˈflajəˌlādər /

noun

2. flagellatory /fləˈjeləˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin flagellat- ‘whipped,’ from flagellare.

flagellate^2 /ˈflajələt ˈflajəˌlāt / ‹Zoology›

I. noun

a protozoan that has one or more flagella used for swimming.
[Several phyla in the kingdom Protista (formerly subphylum Mastigophora, phylum Protozoa), including forms such as euglena that are sometimes regarded as algae.]

II. adjective

(of a cell or single-celled organism) bearing one or more flagella

• motile flagellate cells.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from flagellum + -ate^2.

flagellation /ˌflajəˈlāSH(ə)n/

noun

flogging or beating, either as a religious discipline or for sexual gratification

• pursuing the path of penance and flagellation.

flagellin /fləˈjelən/

noun

the structural protein of bacterial flagella.

flagellum /ˌfləˈjeləm/

I. noun

[Biology] a slender threadlike structure, especially a microscopic whiplike appendage that enables many protozoa, bacteria, spermatozoa, etc., to swim.

II. derivatives

flagellar /fləˈjelər, ˈflajələr /

adjective

– origin early 19th cent. (denoting a whip or scourge): from Latin, diminutive of flagrum ‘scourge.’

flageolet^1 /ˌflajəˈlet/

I. noun

1. a small flutelike instrument resembling a recorder but with four finger holes on top and two thumb holes below.

2. another term for tin whistle.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, diminutive of Old French flageol, from Provençal flaujol, of unknown origin.

flageolet^2 /ˌflajəˈlet/

I. noun

a French kidney bean of a small variety used in cooking.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French, based on Latin phaseolus ‘bean.’

flagfish /ˈflaɡˌfiSH/

noun

any of a number of small fish with prominent or boldly marked fins, in particular
[● a colorful freshwater fish with spots and iridescent scales, native to Florida (Jordanella floridae, family Cyprinodontidae).]

flag-flying /ˈflaɡˌflīiNG/

noun

the action of making a public display to promote the interests of one's country, or of another organization or group.

flag football

noun

a modified form of football in which ballcarriers are downed by pulling off a marker, or flag, loosely attached to a belt, rather than by tackling.

Flagg, James Montgomery /flaɡ/

(1877–1960), US artist. He created the World War I recruiting poster that features Uncle Sam pointing at the viewer, with the caption “I Want You.”

flagged /flaɡd/

adjective

paved with flat stone slabs

• a large, flagged vestibule

• [in combination] the garden has a stone-flagged patio.

flagitious /fləˈjiSHəs/

I. adjective

(of a person or their actions) criminal; villainous.

II. derivatives

1. flagitiously

adverb

2. flagitiousness /fləˈjiSHəsnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin flagitiosus, from flagitium ‘importunity, shameful crime,’ from flagitare ‘demand earnestly.’

Flagler, Henry Morrison /ˈflaɡlər/

(1830–1913), US financier. With John D. Rockefeller, he developed the Standard Oil Company. He organized the Florida East Coast Railway in 1886.

flagman /ˈflaɡman/

noun

a person who gives signals with a flag, especially on railroad lines or during road construction.

flag of convenience //

noun

a flag of a country under which a ship is registered in order to avoid financial charges or restrictive regulations in the owner's country.

flag officer /flaɡ ˈôfəsər ˈäfəsər/

I. noun

1. an admiral, vice admiral, or rear admiral.

2. the commodore of a yacht club.

– origin mid 17th cent.: flag, because the officer had the privilege of carrying a flag that denoted his rank.

flag of truce

noun

a white flag indicating a desire for a truce.

flagon /ˈflaɡən/

I. noun

1. a large container in which drink is served, typically with a handle and spout

• there was a flagon of beer in his vast fist.

2. the amount of liquid held in a flagon

• he had at least three flagons of wine down him already.

3. a container similar to a flagon used to hold the wine for the Eucharist.

4. a large bottle in which wine or cider is sold, typically holding about 2 pints (1.13 liters).

– origin late Middle English: from Old French flacon, based on late Latin flasco, flascon-, of unknown origin. Compare with flask.

flagpole /ˈflaɡˌpōl/

I. noun

a pole used for flying a flag.

II. phrases

run something up the flagpole (to see who salutes)

test the popularity of a new idea or proposal

• the idea was first run up the flagpole in 1997.

flag rank

noun

the rank attained by flag officers.

flagrant /ˈflāɡrənt/

I. adjective

(of something considered wrong or immoral) conspicuously or obviously offensive

• his flagrant bad taste

• a flagrant violation of the law.

II. derivatives

flagrancy /ˈflāɡrənsē /

noun

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘blazing, resplendent’): from French, or from Latin flagrant- ‘blazing,’ from the verb flagrare.

flagrantly /ˈflāɡrəntlē/

adverb

in a conspicuously or obviously offensive way

• authorities are flagrantly violating the law by refusing to comply.

flagship /ˈflaɡˌSHip/

noun

1. the ship in a fleet that carries the commanding admiral.

2. the best or most important thing owned or produced by a particular organization

• this bill is the flagship of the administration's legislative program

• [as modifier] their flagship product.

flagstaff /ˈflaɡˌstaf/

noun

another term for flagpole.

Flagstaff /ˈflaɡstaf/

a city in north central Arizona, near the San Francisco Peaks, home to Lowell Observatory and the University of Northern Arizona; pop. 60,222 (est. 2008).

flag station flag stop

noun

1. ‹historical› a station at which trains stop only if signaled to do so.

2. ‹historical› a small town or a place of no consequence

• we must go back some years to a little flag station in a pinewood clearing.

flagstick /ˈflaɡstik/

noun

[Golf] another term for pin (sense 2 of the noun).

flagstone /ˈflaɡˌstōn/

I. noun

a flat stone slab, typically rectangular or square, used for paving.

II. derivatives

flagstoned

adjective

flag-waving /ˈflaɡ ˌwāviNG/

I. noun

the expression of patriotism in a populist and emotional way

• what began as jingoistic flag-waving deteriorated into an international crisis.

II. derivatives

flag-waver

noun

flail /flāl/

I. noun

1. a threshing tool consisting of a wooden staff with a short heavy stick swinging from it.

2. a device similar to a flail, used as a weapon or for flogging.

3. a machine having an action similar to a flail, used for threshing or slashing
[as modifier]

• a flail hedge trimmer.

II. verb

1. wave or swing or cause to wave or swing wildly
[no obj.]

• his arms were flailing helplessly

• [with obj.] he flailed his arms and drove her away.

2. [no obj.] — flounder; struggle uselessly

• I was flailing about in the water

• he flailed around on the snow.

3. [with obj.] — beat; flog

• he escorted them, flailing their shoulders with his cane.

– origin Middle English, from Old English fligel, based on Latin flagellum ‘whip’ (see flagellum); probably influenced in Middle English by Old French flaiel or Dutch vlegel.

flair /fler/

I. noun

1. [in sing.] — a special or instinctive aptitude or ability for doing something well

• she had a flair for languages

• none of us had much artistic flair.

2. stylishness and originality

• she dressed with flair.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French, from flairer ‘to smell,’ based on Latin fragrare ‘smell sweet.’ Compare with fragrant.

flak /flak / flack

I. noun

1. antiaircraft fire.

2. strong criticism

• you must be strong enough to take the flak if things go wrong.

– origin 1930s: from German, abbreviation of Fliegerabwehrkanone, literally ‘aircraft-defense gun.’

flake^1 /flāk/

I. noun

1. a small, flat, thin piece of something, typically one that has broken away or been peeled off from a larger piece

• paint peeling off the walls in unsightly flakes

• flakes of pastry.

2. a snowflake.

3. [Archaeology] a piece of hard stone chipped off for use as a tool by prehistoric humans
[as modifier]

• flake tools.

4. thin pieces of crushed dried food or bait for fish.

5. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a crazy or eccentric person.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — come or fall away from a surface in thin pieces

• the paint had been flaking off for years.

2. lose small fragments from the surface

• my nails have started to flake at the ends.

3. [with obj.] — break or divide (food) into thin pieces

• flake the fish

• (as adj. flaked) flaked haddock.

4. [no obj.] — (of food, especially when well cooked) come apart in thin pieces.

– origin Middle English: the immediate source is unknown, the senses perhaps deriving from different words; probably of Germanic origin and related to flag^2 and flaw^1.

flake^2 /flāk/

I. noun

a rack or shelf for storing or drying food such as fish.

– origin Middle English (denoting a wicker framework): perhaps of Scandinavian origin and related to Old Norse flaki, fleki ‘wicker shield’ and Danish flage ‘wicker framework.’

flake^3 /flāk/

I. verb — [no obj.] (flake out)

1. ‹informal› fall asleep; drop from exhaustion.

– origin late 15th cent. (in the senses ‘become languid’ and (of a garment) ‘fall in folds’): variant of obsolete flack and the verb flag^4. The current sense dates from the 1940s.

flake^4 /flāk / ‹Nautical› fake

I. noun

a single turn of a coiled rope or hawser.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. lay (a rope) in loose coils in order to prevent it from tangling

• a cable had to be flaked out.

2. lay (a sail) down in folds on either side of the boom.

– origin early 17th cent. (as a noun): of unknown origin; compare with German Flechte in the same sense.

flake white /flāk (h)wīt/

noun

a pure white pigment made from flakes of white lead.

flak jacket /ˈflak ˌjakət / flak vest

noun

a sleeveless jacket made of heavy fabric reinforced with metal or Kevlar, worn as protection against bullets and shrapnel.

flaky /ˈflākē / flakey

I. adjective

1. breaking or separating easily into small thin pieces

• a tree with flaky bark.

2. (especially of skin or paint) tending to crack and come away from a surface in small pieces

• the skin on the shins is often very flaky and dry.

3. ‹informal› crazy or eccentric

• flaky ideas about taxes.

4. ‹informal› (of a device or software) prone to break down; unreliable.

II. derivatives

1. flakiness /-kēnis /

noun

2. flakily /-kəlē /

adverb

flaky pastry /ˈflākē ˈpāstrē/

noun

pastry consisting of thin light layers when baked.

flam /flam/

I. noun

[Music] one of the basic patterns (rudiments) of drumming, consisting of a stroke preceded by a grace note.

– origin late 18th cent.: probably imitative.

flambé /flämˈbā/

I. adjective

1. [postpositive] — (of food) covered with liquor and set alight briefly

• crêpes flambé.

2. denoting or characterized by a red copper-based porcelain glaze with purple streaks.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. cover (food) with liquor and set it alight briefly.

– origin late 19th cent.: French, literally ‘singed,’ past participle of flamber, from flambe ‘a flame.’

flambeau /ˈflambō/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› a flaming torch, especially one made of several thick wicks dipped in wax.

2. ‹historical› a large candlestick with several branches.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, from flambe ‘a flame.’

flamboyance /flamˈboiəns/

I. noun

1. the tendency to attract attention because of one's exuberance, confidence, and stylishness

• he had a reputation for flair and flamboyance

• critics dismiss his flamboyance and excess as indulgent.

2. the quality of being bright, colorful, and very noticeable

• the stunning tones give the show a lot of visual flamboyance.

II. derivatives

flamboyancy /flamˈboiənsē /

noun

flamboyant^1 /ˌflamˈboi(y)ənt/

I. adjective

1. (of a person or their behavior) tending to attract attention because of their exuberance, confidence, and stylishness

• a flamboyant display of aerobatics

• she is outgoing and flamboyant, continuously talking and joking.

2. (especially of clothing) noticeable because brightly colored, highly patterned, or unusual in style.

3. [Architecture] of or denoting a style of French Gothic architecture marked by wavy flamelike tracery and ornate decoration.

II. derivatives

flamboyantly /flamˈboi(y)ən(t)lē /

adverb

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, literally ‘flaming, blazing,’ present participle of flamboyer, from flambe ‘a flame.’

flamboyant^2 /ˌflamˈboi(y)ənt/

I. noun

another term for royal poinciana. (see poinciana).

– origin late 19th cent.: probably a noun use of the French adjective flamboyant ‘blazing’ (see flamboyant^1).

flame /flām/

I. noun

1. a hot glowing body of ignited gas that is generated by something on fire

• the flame of a candle

• a sheet of flame blocked my escape.

2. a thing compared to a flame's ability to burn fiercely or be extinguished

• the flame of hope burns brightly here.

• the sound of his laughter fanned the flame of anger to new heights.

3. a brilliant orange-red color
[in combination]

• a flame-red trench coat.

4. [Computing] ‹informal› a vitriolic or abusive message posted on the Internet or sent by email, typically in quick response to another message

• flames about inexperienced users posting stupid messages.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — burn and give off flames

• a great fire flamed in an open fireplace.

2. [with obj.] — set (something) alight

• warm the whiskey slightly, pour over the lobster, and flame it.

3. shine or glow like a flame

• her thick hair flamed against the light.

4. (of an intense emotion) appear suddenly and fiercely

• hope flamed in her.

5. (of a person's face) suddenly become red with intense emotion, especially anger or embarrassment

• Jess's cheeks flamed.

6. [with obj.] — [Computing] ‹informal› direct a vitriolic or abusive message at (someone) by posting on the Internet or sending an email

• your opinions and mine are probably different, but please don't flame me.

III. phrases

1. burst into flame (or flames)

suddenly begin to burn fiercely

• the grass looked ready to burst into flame.

2. go up in flames

be destroyed by fire

• last night two factories went up in flames.

3. in flames

on fire; burning fiercely

• the plane plunged to the ground in flames.

4. old flame

‹informal› a former lover.

IV. phrasal verbs

flame out

a. (of a jet engine) lose power through the extinction of the flame in the combustion chamber.

b. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) fail, especially conspicuously

• journalists had seared him for flaming out in the second round of the Olympics.

V. derivatives

1. flameless /ˈflāmləs /

adjective

2. flamelike /-ˌlīk /

adjective

3. flamer /ˈflāmər /

noun

(). — [Computing]

4. flamy /ˈflāmē /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French flame (noun), flamer (verb), from Latin flamma ‘a flame.’

flame-colored ‹Brit.› flame-coloured

adjective

of a brilliant orange-red color

• she is proud of her flame-colored hair.

flame-haired

adjective

having red hair

• a flame-haired beauty.

flamen /ˈflāmən/

I. noun

[Roman History] a priest serving a particular deity.

– origin Middle English: Latin, literally ‘priest.’

flamenco /fləˈmeNGkō/

I. noun

1. a style of Spanish music, played especially on the guitar and accompanied by singing and dancing.

2. a style of spirited, rhythmical dance performed to flamenco music, often with castanets.

– origin late 19th cent.: Spanish, ‘like a Gypsy,’ literally ‘Fleming,’ from Middle Dutch Vlaminc.

flameout /ˈflāmout/

noun

1. an instance of the flame in the combustion chamber of a jet engine being extinguished, with a resultant loss of power.

2. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) a complete or conspicuous failure

• his first-round flameout at the U.S. Open.

flameproof /ˈflāmˌpro͞of/

I. adjective

1. (especially of a fabric) treated so as to be nonflammable.

2. (of cookware) able to be used either in an oven or on a stove

• a flameproof casserole.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (something) flameproof.

flame stitch

noun

another term for Bargello.

flamethrower /ˈflāmˌTHrōər/

noun

a weapon that sprays out burning fuel.

flame tree

noun

any of a number of trees with brilliant red flowers, in particular
[● an Australian bottle tree (Brachychiton acerifolius, family Sterculiaceae). ● another term for royal poinciana (see poinciana).]

flame war

noun

an argument between Internet users who repeatedly provoke each other with personal attacks through email and other forms of online communication.

flaming /ˈflāmiNG/

I. adjective

1. [attrib.] — burning fiercely and emitting flames

• they dragged her away from the flaming car.

2. very hot

• flaming June.

3. of a bright orange or red color

• the flaming autumn maples of the St. Lawrence River valley.

4. passionate or violent

• I'm a flaming liberal, but I don't hate conservatives.

5. [attrib.] — (Brit.) ‹informal› used for emphasis to express annoyance

• weeds can become a flaming nuisance.

6. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› ‹chiefly derogatory› (of a gay man) having a manner or appearance regarded as stereotypically homosexual.

II. derivatives

flamingly

adverb

flamingo /fləˈmiNGɡō/

I. noun

a tall wading bird with mainly pink or scarlet plumage and long legs and neck. It has a heavy bent bill that is held upside down in the water in order to filter-feed on small organisms.
[Family Phoenicopteridae: three genera and four species, in particular the greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber).]

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Spanish flamengo, earlier form of flamenco (see flamenco); associated, because of its color, with Latin flamma ‘a flame.’

flammable /ˈflaməb(ə)l/

I. adjective

easily set on fire

• the use of highly flammable materials.

II. derivatives

flammability /ˌflaməˈbilədē /

noun

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin flammare, from flamma ‘a flame.’ / usage: The words flammable and inflammable mean the same thing, but flammable is preferred to avoid confusion: see usage at inflammable.

flammulated owl /ˌflamyəˌlādəd ˈoul/

noun

a small reddish-gray migratory American owl that sometimes occurs in loose colonies.
[Otus flammeolus, family Strigidae.]

flan /flan/

I. noun

1. a baked dish consisting of an open-topped pastry case with a savory or sweet filling.

2. a sponge base with a sweet topping.

3. a disk of metal such as one from which a coin is made.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French (originally denoting a round cake) from Old French flaon, from medieval Latin flado, fladon-, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch vlade ‘custard.’

Flanders /ˈflandərz/

a region in the southwestern part of the Low Countries, now divided between Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. It was a powerful medieval principality and the scene of prolonged fighting during World War I.

flânerie /ˌflän(ə)ˈrē/

I. noun

aimless idle behavior.

– origin French, from flâner ‘saunter, lounge.’

flâneur /fläˈnər / flaneur

I. noun

an idler or lounger.

– origin French, from flâner ‘saunter, lounge.’

flange /flanj/

I. noun

a projecting flat rim, collar, or rib on an object, serving to strengthen or attach or (on a wheel) to maintain position on a rail

• the flanges that held the tailpipe to the aircraft.

II. derivatives

1. flanged /flanjd /

adjective

2. flangeless

adjective

– origin late 17th cent.: perhaps based on Old French flanchir ‘to bend.’

flanger /ˈflanjər/

noun

an electronic device that alters a sound signal by introducing a cyclically varying phase shift into one of two identical copies of the signal and recombining them, used especially in popular music to alter the sound of an instrument.

flanging /ˈflanjiNG/

noun

1. the provision of a flange or flanges on an object

• the rim displays the same flanging.

2. the alteration of sound using a flanger.

flank /flaNGk/

I. noun

1. the side of a person's or animal's body between the ribs and the hip

• leaning against his horse's flanks.

2. a cut of meat from the flank of an animal

• a thick flank of beef on a spit

• two pounds of flank.

3. the side of something large, such as a mountain, building, or ship

• the northern flank of the volcano.

4. the right or left side of a body of people such as an army, a naval force, or a soccer team

• the left flank of the Russian Third Army.

5. the right or left side of a game board such as a chessboard.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. be situated on each side of or on one side of (someone or something)

• the fireplace is flanked by built-in bookshelves.

2. (usu. as adj. flanking) — guard or strengthen (a military force or position) from the side

• massive walls, defended by four flanking towers.

3. (usu. as adj. flanking) — attack down or from the sides, or rake with gunfire from the sides

• a flanking attack from the northeast.

– origin late Old English, from Old French flanc, of Germanic origin.

flanker /ˈflaNGkər/

noun

1. a person or thing situated on the flank of something, in particular

2. [Football] an offensive back who lines up to the outside of an end.

3. [Military] a fortification guarding or menacing the side of a force or position.

4. (Brit.) ‹informal› ‹dated› a trick; a swindle

• he's certainly pulled a flanker on the army.

flannel /ˈflanl/

I. noun

1. a kind of soft-woven fabric, typically made of wool or cotton and slightly milled and raised
[as modifier]

• my longest, thickest flannel nightgown.

2. (flannels) — men's trousers made of flannel.

3. short for flannelette.

4. (Brit.) a washcloth.

5. (Brit.) ‹informal› bland fluent talk indulged in to avoid addressing a difficult subject or situation directly

• a simple admittance of ignorance was much to be preferred to any amount of flannel.

– origin Middle English: probably from Welsh gwlanen ‘woolen article,’ from gwlân ‘wool.’

flannelboard /ˈflanlˌbôrd/

noun

a board covered with flannel to which paper or cloth cutouts will stick, used as a toy or a teaching aid.

flannel cake

noun

‹dialect› a pancake.

flannelette /ˌflanəˈlet/

noun

a napped cotton fabric resembling flannel
[as modifier]

• a flannelette nightdress.

flannelmouth /ˈflanlˌmouTH/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a person who talks too much, especially in a boastful or deceitful way.

flap /flap/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a bird) move (its wings) up and down when flying or preparing to fly

• a pheasant flapped its wings

• [no obj.] gulls flapped around uttering their strange cries.

2. [no obj.] — (of something attached at one point or loosely fastened) flutter or wave around

• the tent bent with the gale, and the corners flapped furiously.

3. wave (something) around or at something or someone

• she flapped the duster angrily

• she began flapping her arms to drive away the permeating cold.

4. strike or attempt to strike (something) loosely with one's hand, a cloth, or a broad implement, especially to drive it away.

II. noun

1. a piece of something thin, such as cloth, paper, or metal, hinged or attached only on one side, that covers an opening or hangs down from something

• the flap of the envelope

• he pushed through the tent flap.

2. a hinged or sliding section of an aircraft wing used to control lift

• flaps are normally moved by the hydraulics

• a final approach at sixty knots with 45° of flap.

3. a large broad mushroom.

4. [Phonetics] a type of consonant produced by allowing the tip of the tongue to strike the alveolar ridge very briefly.

5. a movement of a wing or an arm from side to side or up and down

• the surviving bird made a few final despairing flaps.

6. [in sing.] — the sound of something making a flapping movement

• hear the coo of the dove, the flap of its wings.

7. [in sing.] — ‹informal› a state of agitation; a panic

• they're in a flap over who's going to take Henry's lectures.

III. derivatives

flappy

adjective

– origin Middle English: probably imitative.

flapdoodle /ˈflapˌdo͞odl/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› (chiefly US) nonsense

• people who are prey to dogmatic flapdoodle.

2. ‹informal› (chiefly US) a fool.

– origin mid 19th cent.: an arbitrary formation.

flapjack /ˈflapˌjak/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a pancake.

– origin from flap (in the dialect sense ‘toss a pancake’) + jack^1.

flappable /ˈflapəbəl/

adjective

excitable and quick to lose one's composure

• he became totally flappable in her presence.

flapper /ˈflapər/

noun

‹informal› (in the 1920s) a fashionable young woman intent on enjoying herself and flouting conventional standards of behavior.
[late 19th cent.: probably from a dialect sense of the noun flap, ‘a woman of loose character.’]

flap valve flapper valve

noun

a valve opened and closed by a plate hinged at one side.

flare /fler/

I. noun

1. a sudden brief burst of bright flame or light

• the flare of the match lit up his face.

2. a device producing a bright flame, used especially as a signal or marker

• a helicopter spotted a flare set off by the crew

• [as modifier] a flare gun.

3. [in sing.] — a sudden burst of intense emotion

• she felt a flare of anger within her.

4. [Astronomy] a sudden explosion in the chromosphere and corona of the sun or another star, resulting in an intense burst of radiation.
See also solar flare.

5. [Photography] extraneous illumination on film caused by internal reflection in the camera.

6. [in sing.] — a gradual widening, especially of a skirt or pants

• as you knit, add a flare or curve a hem.

7. an upward and outward curve of a vessel's bow, designed to throw the water outward when under way.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. burn with a sudden intensity

• the blaze across the water flared

• the bonfire crackled and flared up.

2. (of a light or a person's eyes) glow with a sudden intensity

• her eyes flared at the stinging insult.

3. (of an emotion) suddenly become manifest in a person or their expression

• alarm flared in her eyes

• tempers flared.

4. (flare up) — (of an illness or chronic medical complaint) recur unexpectedly and cause further discomfort

• Tracy's pain has flared up again, this time almost beyond enduring.

5. (especially of an argument, conflict, or trouble) suddenly become more violent or intense

• a recurrent border dispute flared up again.

6. (flare up) — (of a person) suddenly become angry

• she flared up, shouting at Jeff.

7. (often as adj. flared) — gradually become wider at one end

• a flared skirt

• the dress flared out into a huge train.

8. (of a person's nostrils) dilate

• his head lifted, his nostrils flaring.

9. [with obj.] — (of a person) cause (the nostrils) to dilate.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘spread out (one's hair)’): of unknown origin. Current senses date from the 17th cent.

flare star

noun

[Astronomy] a dwarf star that displays spasmodic outbursts of radiation, believed to be due to extremely intense flares.

flare-up /ˈfler ˌəp/

noun

a sudden outburst of something, especially violence or a medical condition

• a flare-up between the two countries.

flash /flaSH/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — (of a light or something that reflects light) shine in a bright but brief, sudden, or intermittent way

• the lights started flashing

• (as adj. flashing) a police car with a flashing light.

2. [with obj.] — cause to shine briefly or suddenly

• the oncoming car flashed its lights.

3. [with obj.] — shine or show a light to send (a signal)

• red lights started to flash a warning.

4. [with obj.] — give (a swift or sudden look)

• Carrie flashed a glance in his direction

• [with two objs.] she flashed him a withering look.

5. express a sudden burst of emotion, especially anger, with a swift or sudden look

• she glared at him, her eyes flashing.

6. [with obj.] — display (an image, words, or information) suddenly on a television or computer screen or electronic sign, typically briefly or repeatedly

• suddenly the screen flashes a message.

7. [no obj.] — (of an image or message) be displayed briefly or repeatedly on a screen

• the election results flashed on the screen.

8. ‹informal› hold up or show (something, often proof of one's identity) quickly before replacing it

• she opened her purse and flashed her ID card.

9. ‹informal› make a conspicuous display of (something) so as to impress or attract attention

• they all flash their money around.

10. [no obj.] (often as noun flashing) — ‹informal› (especially of a man) show one's genitals briefly in public.

11. [no obj.] — move or pass very quickly

• a look of terror flashed across Kirov's face

• the scenery flashed by

• another stray thought flashed through her mind.

12. [with obj.] — send (news or information) swiftly by means of telegraphy or telecommunications

• the story was flashed around the world.

II. noun

1. a sudden brief burst of bright light or a sudden glint from a reflective surface

• the grenade exploded with a yellow flash of light

• a lightning flash.

2. a thing that occurs suddenly and within a brief period of time, in particular

3. a sudden instance or manifestation of a quality, understanding, or humor

• she had a flash of inspiration.

4. a news flash.

5. (Flash) — [Computing] ‹trademark› a platform for producing and displaying animation and video in web browsers.

6. a camera attachment that produces a brief very bright light, used for taking photographs in poor light

• an electronic flash

• if in any doubt, use flash

• [as modifier] flash photography.

7. excess plastic or metal forced between facing surfaces as two halves of a mold close up, forming a thin projection on the finished object.

III. adjective

1. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) (of a thing) ostentatiously expensive, elaborate, or up to date

• a flash new car.

2. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) (of a person) superficially attractive because stylish and full of brash charm

• he was carrying this money around and trying to be flash.

3. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) ‹archaic› of or relating to thieves, prostitutes, or the underworld, especially their language.

IV. phrases

1. flash in the pan

a thing or person whose sudden but brief success is not repeated or repeatable

• our start to the season was just a flash in the pan.

[with allusion to the priming of a firearm, the flash arising from an explosion of gunpowder from the pan within the lock.]

2. in (or like) a flash

very quickly; immediately

• she was out of the back door in a flash.

3. (as) quick as a flash

(especially of a person's response or reaction) very quickly

• quick as a flash, he was at her side.

V. phrasal verbs

1. flash back

(of a person's thoughts or mind) briefly and suddenly recall a previous time or incident

• her thoughts immediately flashed back to last night.

2. flash over

a. make an electric circuit by sparking across a gap.

b. (of a fire) spread instantly across a gap because of intense heat.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘splash water about’): probably imitative; compare with flush^1 and splash.

flashback /ˈflaSHˌbak/

noun

1. a scene in a movie, novel, etc., set in a time earlier than the main story

• in a series of flashbacks, we follow the pair through their teenage years.

2. a sudden and disturbing vivid memory of an event in the past, typically as the result of psychological trauma or taking LSD.

flashboard /ˈflaSHˌbôrd/

noun

a board used for increasing the depth of water behind a dam.

flashbulb /ˈflaSHˌbəlb/

noun

a light bulb that flashes in order to illuminate a photographic subject, of a type that is used only once

• suddenly flashbulbs were popping and whole rolls of film were squeezed off in seconds.

flash burn /ˈflaSH ˌbərn/

noun

a burn caused by sudden intense heat, as from a nuclear explosion.

flash card /ˈflaSH ˌkärd/

noun

a card containing a small amount of information, held up for students to see, as an aid to learning.

flash crash

noun

[Stock Market] ‹informal› an extremely rapid decline in the price of one or more commodities or securities, typically one caused by automated trading

• high frequency trading can trigger a flash crash.

flashcube /ˈflaSHˌkyo͞ob/

noun

‹dated› a set of four flashbulbs arranged in a cube and operated in turn.

flash drive //

noun

a small electronic device containing flash memory that is used for storing data or transferring it to or from a computer, digital camera, etc.

flasher /ˈflaSHər/

noun

1. an automatic device causing a light to flash on and off rapidly.

2. a signal using a flasher, for example a car's turn signal.

3. ‹informal› a person, especially a man, who exposes his genitals in public.

flash fiction

noun

fiction that is extremely brief, typically only a few hundred words or fewer in its entirety.

flash flood /ˈˌflaSH ˈfləd/

noun

a sudden local flood, typically due to heavy rain.

flash-freeze /ˈflaSHˌfrēz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. freeze (food or other material) rapidly so as to prevent the formation of ice crystals

• the steaks were flash-frozen.

II. derivatives

flash-freezer

noun

flash-fry

verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. flash-fried)

1. fry (food) briefly and at a very high temperature.

flashgun /ˈflaSHˌɡən/

noun

a device that gives a brief flash of intense light, used for taking photographs indoors or in poor light.

flashing /ˈflaSHiNG/

I. noun

a strip of metal used to stop water from penetrating the junction of a roof with another surface

• flashings around chimneys

• the lead flashing on the roof.

– origin late 18th cent.: from the earlier synonym flash (of unknown origin) + -ing^1.

flashlight /ˈflaSHˌlīt/

noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) a battery-operated portable light.

2. a flashing light used for signals and in lighthouses.

3. a light giving an intense flash, used for photographing at night or indoors.

flash memory /flaSH ˈmem(ə)rē/

noun

[Computing] a kind of memory that retains data in the absence of a power supply.

• the diagnostics are kept in flash memory.

flash mob

I. noun

a large public gathering at which people perform an unusual or seemingly random act and then disperse, typically organized by means of the Internet or social media

• equipped with cameras and LED lights, a flash mob of 135 people appeared out of nowhere to put on a performance.

II. derivatives

1. flash mobber

noun

2. flash mobbing

noun

flashover /ˈflaSHˌōvər/

noun

1. a high-voltage electric short circuit made through the air between exposed conductors.

2. an instance of a fire spreading very rapidly across a gap because of intense heat.

flash photolysis

noun

[Chemistry] the use of an intense flash of light to bring about decomposition or dissociation in a heated gas, usually as a means of generating and studying short-lived molecules.

flashpoint /ˈflaSHpoint / flash point

noun

1. a place, event, or time at which trouble, such as violence or anger, flares up

• the flashpoint of the conflagration is just blocks away.

2. [Chemistry] the temperature at which a particular organic compound gives off sufficient vapor to ignite in air.

flash suit

noun

a set of heatproof protective clothing.

flash tube

noun

a gas discharge tube used, especially in photography, to provide an electronic flash when a current is suddenly passed through it.

flash welding

noun

a welding process in which the ends of two metal parts are fused by heat generated from their resistance to an electric current and applied pressure.

flashy /ˈflaSHē/

I. adjective

ostentatiously attractive or impressive

• he always had a flashy car.

II. derivatives

1. flashily /ˈflaSHəlē /

adverb

2. flashiness /ˈflaSHēnəs /

noun

flask /flask/

I. noun

1. a container or bottle, in particular

2. a narrow-necked glass container, typically conical or spherical, used in a laboratory to hold reagents or samples.

3. a metal container for storing a small amount of liquor, typically to be carried in one's pocket

• his silver flask of brandy.

4. a narrow-necked bulbous glass container, typically with a covering of wickerwork, for storing wine or oil.

5. a vacuum flask.

6. the contents of a flask

• a flask of coffee.

7. ‹historical› short for powder flask.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘cask’): from medieval Latin flasca. From the mid 16th cent. the word denoted a case of horn, leather, or metal for carrying gunpowder. The sense ‘glass container’ (late 17th cent.) was influenced by Italian fiasco, from medieval Latin flasco. Compare with flagon.

flat^1 /flat/

I. adjective

1. smooth and even; without marked lumps or indentations

• a flat wall

• trim the surface of the cake to make it completely flat.

2. (of land) without hills

• thirty-five acres of flat countryside.

3. (of an expanse of water) calm and without waves.

4. not sloping

• the flat roof of a garage.

5. having a broad level surface but little height or depth; shallow

• a flat rectangular box

• a flat cap.

6. (of the foot) having an arch that is lower than usual.

7. (of shoes) without heels or with very low heels.

8. lacking interest or emotion; dull and lifeless

• “I'm sorry,” he said, in a flat voice

• her drawings were flat and unimaginative.

9. (of a person) without energy; dispirited

• his sense of intoxication wore off until he felt flat and weary.

10. (of a market, prices, etc.) showing little activity; sluggish

• cash flow was flat at $214 million

• flat sales in the drinks industry.

11. (of a sparkling drink) having lost its effervescence

• flat champagne.

12. (of something kept inflated, especially a tire) having lost some or all of its air, typically because of a puncture

• you've got a flat tire.

13. (of a color) uniform

• the dress was a deadly, flat shade of gray.

14. (of a photographic print or negative) lacking contrast.

15. (US) (of paint) without gloss; matte.

16. [attrib.] — (of a fee, wage, or price) the same in all cases, not varying with changed conditions or in particular cases

• a $30 flat fare.

See also flat rate.

17. (of a denial, contradiction, or refusal) completely definite and firm; absolute

• his statement was a flat denial that he had misbehaved.

18. (of musical sound) below true or normal pitch.

19. [postpositive, in combination] — (of a note) a semitone lower than a specified note

• the double basses' opening low E-flat

• you never have to change key from B-flat major.

20. (of a key) having a flat or flats in the signature.

21. (Flat) — of or relating to flat racing

• the Flat season.

II. adverb

1. in or to a horizontal position

• he was lying flat on his back

• she had been knocked flat by the blast.

2. lying in close juxtaposition, especially against another surface

• his black curly hair was blown flat across his skull.

3. so as to become smooth and even

• I hammered the metal flat.

4. ‹informal› completely; absolutely

• I'm turning you down flat

• [as submodifier] she was going to be flat broke in a couple of days.

5. after a phrase expressing a period of time to emphasize how quickly something can be done or has been done

• you can prepare a healthy meal in ten minutes flat.

6. below the true or normal pitch of musical sound

• it wasn't a question of singing flat, but of simply singing the wrong notes.

III. noun

1. [in sing.] — the flat part of something

• she placed the flat of her hand over her glass.

2. a flat object, in particular

3. (often flats) — an upright section of painted stage scenery mounted on a frame.

4. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) a flat tire.

5. (N. Amer.) a shallow container in which seedlings are grown and sold.

6. (often flats) — a shoe with a very low heel or no heel.

7. a railroad car with a flat floor and no sides or roof; a flatcar.

8. (usu. flats) — an area of low level ground, especially near water

• the Utah salt flats.

See also mudflat.

9. a musical note lowered a semitone below natural pitch.

10. the sign ♭, indicating a flat.

IV. verb — [with obj.]

1. (usu. as adj. flatted) — [Music] (N. Amer.) lower (a note) by a semitone

• “blue” harmony emphasizing the flatted third and seventh.

2. ‹archaic› make flat; flatten

• flat the loaves down.

V. phrases

1. fall flat

fail completely to produce the intended or expected effect

• his jokes fell flat.

2. fall flat on one's face

a. fall over forward.

b. fail in an embarrassingly obvious way

• the president could fall flat on his face if the economy doesn't start improving soon.

3. (as) flat as a pancake

see pancake.

4. flat out

a. as fast or as hard as possible

• the whole team is working flat out to satisfy demand

• (as adj. flat-out) the album lacks the flat-out urgency of its predecessor.

b. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) without hesitation or reservation; unequivocally

• in those early days I'd just flat out vote against foreign aid

• (as adj. flat-out) flat-out perjury.

c. lying completely stretched out, especially asleep or exhausted

• she was lying flat out on her pink bath towel.

5. that's flat

‹informal› used to indicate that one has reached a decision and will not be persuaded to change one's mind

• he won't go into a home and that's flat.

VI. derivatives

flattish /ˈflatiSH /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse flatr; related to plant, platy-, plaza.

flat^2 /flat/

I. noun

British term for apartment.

II. derivatives

flatlet /ˈflatlət /

noun

– origin early 19th cent. (denoting a floor or story): alteration of obsolete flet ‘floor, dwelling,’ of Germanic origin and related to flat^1.

flat arch

noun

[Architecture] an arch with a flat lower or inner curve.
See also jack arch.

flatbed /ˈflatˌbed/

noun

1. a long flat area or structure

• the flatbed of a truck.

2. a vehicle with a flat load-carrying area
[as modifier]

• a flatbed truck.

3. [as modifier] — denoting a letterpress printing machine in which the form is carried on a horizontal surface

• a flatbed press.

4. [Computing] a scanner, plotter, or other device that keeps paper flat during use
[as modifier]

• the flatbed technology lets paper enter and exit the printer directly.

flat-bed press

noun

a press in which a rotating cylinder equipped with paper makes contact with a horizontal printing surface.

flatboat /ˈflatbōt/

noun

a cargo boat with a flat bottom for use in shallow water.

flatbread /ˈflatbred/

noun

flat, thin, often unleavened bread.

flatbug /ˈflatˌbəɡ/

noun

a broad flat bug that typically lives on or under loose bark.
[Family Aradidae, suborder Heteroptera: several species.]

Flatbush /ˈflatˌbo͝oSH/

a residential and commercial section of central Brooklyn in New York City.

flatcar /ˈflatˌkär/

noun

(N. Amer.) a railroad freight car without a roof or sides.

flat-chested /ˌflatˈCHestəd/

adjective

(of a woman) having small breasts.

flat file

noun

[Computing] a file having no internal hierarchy.

flatfish /ˈflatˌfiSH/

noun

a flattened marine fish that swims on its side with both eyes on the upper side. They live typically on the seabed and are colored to resemble it.
[Order Pleuronectiformes: several families, in particular Bothidae (left-eye flounders), Pleuronectidae (right-eye flounders), and Soleidae (soles).]

flatfoot /ˈflatfo͝ot/

noun

1. (also flat feet) — a condition in which the foot has an arch that is lower than usual

• various surgical techniques are used to correct adult-acquired flatfoot

• he had a severe case of flat feet and complained of back problems.

2. (pl. flatfoots or flatfeet ) — ‹informal› ‹dated› a police officer

• FBI flatfoots and Mafia goons.

flat-footed

I. adjective

1. having flat feet

• a flat-footed, overweight cop.

2. ‹informal› unable to move quickly and smoothly; clumsy

• getting caught in flat-footed ignorance can be uncomfortable.

3. ‹informal› not clever or imaginative; uninspired

• he has little space for anecdote, but the text is no flat-footed catalog.

II. phrases

catch someone flat-footed

‹informal› take someone by surprise

• the rise of regional conflicts has caught military planners flat-footed.

III. derivatives

1. flat-footedly

adverb

2. flat-footedness

noun

flat-four /ˌflatˈfô(ə)r/

I. adjective

(of an engine) having four horizontal cylinders, two on each side of the crankshaft.

II. noun

a flat-four engine.

flathead /ˈflathed/

noun

1. (Flathead) — a member of certain North American Indian peoples such as the Chinook, Choctaw, and Salish, named from their supposed practice of flattening their children's heads artificially.

2. (US) the Salishan language spoken by those people.

3. ‹informal› a foolish person.

4. an edible tropical marine fish that has a pointed flattened head with the eyes positioned on the top, typically burrowing in the seabed with just the eyes showing.
[Family Platycephalidae: several genera and species.]

5. (US) (of an engine) having the valves and spark plugs in the cylinder block rather than the cylinder head, which is essentially a flat plate.

6. (of a vehicle) having a flathead engine.

7. [as modifier] — (US) (of a screw) countersunk.

Flathead Range

a range of the Rocky Mountains in northwestern Montana. The Flathead River flows through the area.

flatiron /ˈflatˌīərn/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› an iron that was heated externally and used for pressing clothes.

2. (flat iron)

a. a heated device for straightening and styling hair.

II. verb — (flat-iron) [with obj.]

1. straighten or style hair with a flat iron.

flatland /ˈflatland/

I. noun

1. (also flatlands) — land with no hills, valleys, or mountains

• another 100 miles of flatland.

2. [as place name] — an imagined land existing in only two dimensions.
[from the title of a book, Flatland (1884), by E. A. Abbot.]

3. (Brit.) an urban area in which the majority of dwellings are flats (apartments)

• London flatland.

II. derivatives

flatlander

noun

• she's been enthralling flatlanders with her tales of the mountains

flat-leafed parsley flat-leaf parsley

noun

parsley of a variety with large flat leaves.
Also called Italian parsley.

flatline /ˈflatlīn/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹informal› (of a person) die.

2. ‹informal› (of a project or undertaking) fail

• the film has flatlined.

3. ‹informal› fail to increase; remain static

• their share of the vote has flatlined at about 3%.

II. derivatives

flatliner

noun

– origin 1980s: from flat^1 + line^1 (with reference to the continuous straight line displayed on a heart monitor, indicating death).

flatly /ˈflatlē/

adverb

1. showing little interest or emotion

• “You'd better go,” she said flatly.

2. in a firm and unequivocal manner; absolutely

• they flatly refused to play

• [as submodifier] his view seems to me flatly contrary to our evidence.

3. in a smooth and even way

• I applied the paint flatly.

4. [Photography] without marked contrast of light and dark

• the photographs were lit very flatly.

flatmate /ˈflatˌmāt/

noun

(Brit.) a person who shares a flat (apartment) with others

• my flatmate moved out a month ago.

flatness /ˈflatnəs/

noun

1. the quality of having a level surface without raised areas or indentations

• the flatness of the external surface

• I am transfixed by the flatness of her stomach.

2. lack of hills in a landscape

• the flatness of the desert stretched out uninterrupted for miles

• extensive areas of relative flatness.

3. lack of emotion or enthusiasm; dullness

• neither the editing nor the score do much to help the film's emotional flatness

• there's no escaping the flatness of the characters.

4. lack of activity of trade, prices, etc.; sluggishness

• investors seem content with progress, despite the flatness of revenue and profits.

5. loss of effervescence in a sparkling drink.

6. loss of air in something inflated, such as a tire.

7. the quality of a musical sound being below normal pitch

• the flatness of the vocals.

flatpack /ˈflatpak/

noun

[Electronics] a package for an integrated circuit consisting of a rectangular sealed unit with a number of horizontal metal pins protruding from its sides.

flat race /ˈflat ˈˌrās/

I. noun

a horse race over level ground, as opposed to a steeplechase or hurdles.

II. derivatives

flat racing /ˈflat ˈˌrāsiNG /

noun

flat rate /ˈflat ˈˌrāt/

noun

1. a charge that is the same in all cases, not varying in proportion with something

• a system of charging a flat rate per household

• [as modifier] replacing the fee-for-service system with flat-rate payments.

2. a rate of taxation that is not progressive, but remains at the same proportion on all amounts.

flat screen

noun

[usu. as modifier] — a television or computer screen that is perfectly flat rather than slightly curved and has a slim casing

• a flat-screen TV.

flat sheet

noun

an ordinary sheet for a bed as distinct from a fitted one.

flat spin /ˈflat ˈˌspin/

noun

[Aeronautics] a spin in which an aircraft descends in tight circles while remaining almost horizontal.

flatten /ˈflatn/

I. verb

1. make or become flat or flatter
[with obj.]

• spoon the mixture into the pan, flatten into cakes, and fry until brown

• [no obj.] the ground flattened out and became marshy

• (as adj. flattened) they were dancing on the flattened grass.

2. [with obj.] — press (oneself or one's body) against a surface, typically to get away from something or to let someone pass

• they flattened themselves on the pavement as a bomb came whistling down.

3. [with obj.] — [Music] lower (a note) in pitch by a half step.

4. [with obj.] — raze (a building or settlement) to the ground

• the hurricane flattened thousands of homes.

5. ‹informal› knock someone down with power and vigor

• once I'm in the ring, I know I can flatten him.

6. ‹informal› defeat (someone) completely, especially in a sports contest.

II. phrasal verbs

flatten out

a. (of an increasing quantity or rate) show a less marked rise; slow down.

b. make an aircraft fly horizontally after a dive or climb

• he flattened out and made a fine three-point landing.

III. derivatives

flattener

noun

flatter /ˈfladər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. lavish insincere praise and compliments upon (someone), especially to further one's own interests

• she was flattering him to avoid doing what he wanted.

2. give an unrealistically favorable impression of

• the portraitist flatters his sitter to the detriment of his art.

3. (usu. be flattered) — make (someone) feel honored and pleased
[with obj. and infinitive]

• I was very flattered to be given the commission

• [with obj. and clause] at least I am flattered that you don't find me boring.

4. (flatter oneself) — make oneself feel pleased by believing something favorable about oneself, typically something that is unfounded
[with clause]

• I flatter myself I'm the best dressed man here.

5. (of a color or a style of clothing) make (someone) appear more attractive or to the best advantage

• the muted fuchsia shade flattered her pale skin.

6. ‹archaic› please (the ear or eye)

• the beauty of the stone flattered the young clergyman's eyes.

– origin Middle English: perhaps a back-formation from flattery.

flatterer /ˈfladərər/

noun

a person who lavishes praise, often insincerely; a sycophant

• he is not allowing flatterers to deceive him.

flattering /ˈfladəriNG/

I. adjective

1. (of a person or their remarks) full of praise and compliments

• the article began with some flattering words about us.

2. pleasing; gratifying
[with infinitive]

• it was flattering to have a pretty girl like Frances so obviously fond of him.

3. enhancing someone's appearance

• I don't think anything sleeveless is very flattering

• that's a flattering picture of him.

II. derivatives

flatteringly /ˈfladəriNGlē /

adverb

flattery /ˈfladərē/

I. noun

excessive and insincere praise, especially that given to further one's own interests

• his healthy distrust of courtiers' flattery.

– origin Middle English: from Old French flaterie, from flater ‘stroke, flatter,’ probably of Germanic origin and related to flat^1.

flattop /ˈflatˌtäp/

noun

1. a man's hairstyle in which the hair is cropped short so that it bristles up into a flat surface

• a blond flattop and a faint blond mustache.

2. (US) ‹informal› an aircraft carrier.

3. an acoustic guitar that has a flat rather than a curved front

• he had a guitar, an old Gibson flattop.

flatulence /ˈflaCHələns/

I. noun

1. the accumulation of gas in the alimentary canal

• foods that may cause flatulence.

2. inflated or pretentious speech or writing; pomposity

• the flatulence characterizing his writings.

II. derivatives

flatulency

noun

flatulent /ˈflaCHələnt/

I. adjective

1. suffering from or marked by an accumulation of gas in the alimentary canal

• treat flatulent cows with caustic soda.

2. related to or causing an accumulation of gas in the alimentary canal

• the flatulent effect of beans.

3. inflated or pretentious in speech or writing

• the days of flatulent oratory are gone.

II. derivatives

flatulently

adverb

– origin late 16th cent.: via French from modern Latin flatulentus, from Latin flatus ‘blowing’ (see flatus).

flatus /ˈflādəs/

I. noun

‹formal› gas in or from the stomach or intestines, produced by swallowing air or by bacterial fermentation.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘blowing,’ from flare ‘to blow.’

flatware /ˈflatˌwer/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) eating utensils such as knives, forks, and spoons.

2. relatively flat dishes such as plates and saucers.
The opposite of hollowware.

flatwater /ˈflatˌwôdər/

noun

(N. Amer.) slowly moving water in a river, as opposed to rapids
[as modifier]

• flatwater kayak and canoe teams.

flat water

noun

ordinary tap or bottled drinking water, as opposed to sparkling water

• you won't get flat water here unless you request it.

flatworm /ˈflatˌwərm/

noun

a worm of a phylum that includes the planarians together with the parasitic flukes and tapeworms. They are distinguished by having a simple flattened body that lacks blood vessels, and a digestive tract that, if present, has a single opening.
[Phylum Platyhelminthes: several classes.]

flat-woven /ˈflatˌwōvən/

I. adjective

(of a carpet or rug) woven so as not to form a projecting pile.

II. derivatives

flat-weave

noun

Flaubert, Gustave /flōˈber/

(1821–80), French novelist and short-story writer. A dominant figure in the French realist school, he is noted for Madame Bovary (1857), his first published novel.

flaunt /flônt flänt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. display (something) ostentatiously, especially in order to provoke envy or admiration or to show defiance

• newly rich consumers eager to flaunt their prosperity.

2. (flaunt oneself) — dress or behave in a sexually provocative way.

II. phrases

if you've got it, flaunt it

‹informal› one should make a conspicuous and confident show of one's wealth or attributes rather than be modest about them.

III. derivatives

1. flaunter

noun

2. flaunty

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: of unknown origin. / usage: Flaunt and flout may sound similar but they have different meanings. Flaunt means ‘display ostentatiously,’ as in tourists who liked to flaunt their wealth, while flout means ‘openly disregard (a rule or convention),’ as in new recruits growing their hair and flouting convention. It is a common error, recorded since around the 1940s, to use flaunt when flout is intended, as in the young woman had been flaunting the rules and regulations.

flauta /ˈfloudə/

I. noun

a Mexican dish consisting of a tortilla that is rolled around a filling of meat and cheese and then fried

• I ordered the flautas and a margarita.

– origin Spanish, literally ‘flute.’

flautist /ˈflôdəst ˈfloudəst/

I. noun

a flutist.

– origin mid 19th cent. (superseding 17th-cent. flutist in British English use): from Italian flautista, from flauto ‘flute.’

flavanone /ˈflāvəˌnōn/

noun

a colorless, crystalline derivative of flavone.

flavescent /fləˈves(ə)nt/

I. adjective

yellowish or turning yellow.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin flavescent- ‘turning yellow,’ from the verb flavescere, from flavus ‘yellow.’

Flavian /ˈflāvēən/

I. adjective

of or relating to a dynasty (AD 69–96) of Roman emperors including Vespasian and his sons Titus and Domitian.

II. noun

a member of the Flavian dynasty.

– origin from Latin Flavianus, from Flavius, a given name used by this dynasty.

flavin /ˈflāvin/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] any of a group of naturally occurring pigments including riboflavin. They have a tricyclic aromatic molecular structure.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin flavus ‘yellow’ + -in^1.

flavine /ˈflāvēn/

I. noun

1. [Medicine] an antiseptic derived from acridine.

2. [Chemistry] another term for quercetin.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Latin flavus ‘yellow’ + -ine^4.

flavivirus /ˈflāvəˌvīrəs/

noun

any of a group of RNA viruses, mostly having arthropod vectors, that cause a number of serious human diseases including yellow fever, dengue, various types of encephalitis, and hepatitis C.
[Family Flaviviridae, three genera.]

flavone /ˈflāvōn/

I. noun

1. [Chemistry] a colorless crystalline compound that is the basis of a number of white or yellow plant pigments.
[A tricyclic aromatic compound; chem. formula: C_15H_10O_2.]

2. [Chemistry] any of the plant pigments of which flavone is the basis.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin flavus ‘yellow’ + -one.

flavonoid /ˈflāvəˌnoid/

noun

[Chemistry] any of a large class of plant pigments having a structure based on or similar to that of flavone.

flavoprotein /ˌflāvəˈprōtēn/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] any of a class of conjugated proteins that contain flavins and are involved in oxidation reactions in cells.

– origin 1930s: blend of flavin and protein.

flavor /ˈflāvər / ‹Brit.› flavour

I. noun

1. the distinctive taste of a food or drink

• the yogurt comes in eight fruit flavors

• adding sun-dried tomatoes gives the sauce extra flavor.

2. the general quality of taste in a food

• no other cracker adds so much flavor to the cheese.

3. (chiefly US) a substance used to alter or enhance the taste of food or drink; a flavoring

• we use vanilla and almond flavors.

4. [in sing.] — an indication of the essential character of something

• the extracts give a flavor of the content and tone of the conversation.

5. [in sing.] — a distinctive quality or atmosphere

• whitewashed walls and red pantiles gave the resort a Mediterranean flavor.

6. a kind, variety, or sort

• various flavors of firewall are evolving.

7. [Physics] a quantized property of quarks that differentiates them into at least six varieties (up, down, charmed, strange, top, bottom).
Compare with color.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. alter or enhance the taste of (food or drink) by adding a particular ingredient

• they use a wide range of spices to flavor their foods

• chunks of chicken flavored with herbs.

2. give a distinctive quality to

• the faint exasperation that had flavored her tone.

III. phrases

flavor of the month

a person or thing that enjoys a short period of great popularity

• social networking is no longer the flavor of the month among investors.

IV. derivatives

1. flavorful /ˈflāvərfəl /

adjective

2. flavorless /ˈflāvərləs /

adjective

3. flavorsome /ˈflāvərsəm /

adjective

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘fragrance, aroma’): from Old French flaor, perhaps based on a blend of Latin flatus ‘blowing’ and foetor ‘stench’; the -v- appears to have been introduced in Middle English by association with savor. Sense 1 of the noun dates from the late 17th cent.

flavored /ˈflāvərd / ‹Brit.› flavoured

adjective

1. (of food or drink) having a particular type of taste
[in combination]

• the peanut oil is light but fairly full-flavored.

2. (of food or drink) having been given a particular taste by the addition of a flavoring

• a flavored drink

• [in combination] chicken breasts in lemon-flavored stock.

3. [in combination] — having a particular distinctive quality

• the band knocked out some fine rock 'n' roll-flavored singles.

flavor enhancer

noun

a chemical additive, e.g., monosodium glutamate, used to intensify the flavor of food.

flavoring /ˈflāvəriNG / ‹Brit.› flavouring

noun

a substance used to give a different, stronger, or more agreeable taste to food or drink

• vanilla flavoring

• mustard has been used as a flavoring for thousands of years.

flavorous /ˈflāvərəs/

adjective

‹dated› having a pleasant or pungent flavor.

flaw^1 /flô/

I. noun

1. a mark, fault, or other imperfection that mars a substance or object

• plates with flaws in them were sold at the outlet store.

2. a fault or weakness in a person's character

• he had his flaws, but he was still a great teacher.

3. a mistake or shortcoming in a plan, theory, or legal document that causes it to fail or reduces its effectiveness

• there were fundamental flaws in the case for reforming local government.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be flawed)

1. (of an imperfection) mar, weaken, or invalidate (something)

• the computer game was flawed by poor programming.

– origin Middle English: perhaps from Old Norse flaga ‘slab’; see flag^2. The original sense was ‘a flake of snow,’ later, ‘a fragment or splinter,’ hence ‘a defect or imperfection’ (late 15th cent).

flaw^2 /flô/

I. noun

‹literary› a squall of wind; a short storm.

– origin early 16th cent.

flawed /flôd/

adjective

1. blemished, damaged, or imperfect in some way

• flawed crystals.

2. (of a person) having a weakness in character

• a flawed hero.

flawless /ˈflôləs/

I. adjective

1. without any blemishes or imperfections; perfect

• her brown flawless skin.

2. without any mistakes or shortcomings

• he greeted her in almost flawless English.

II. derivatives

flawlessness /ˈflôləsnəs /

noun

flawlessly /ˈflôləslē/

adverb

in a manner free from imperfections or defects; perfectly

• the system works flawlessly

• a flawlessly executed campaign.

flax /flaks/

I. noun

1. a blue-flowered herbaceous plant that is cultivated for its seed (linseed) and for textile fiber made from its stalks.
[Linum usitatissimum, family Linaceae.]

2. textile fiber obtained from the flax plant

• a mill for the preparation and spinning of flax.

3. used in names of other plants of the flax family (e.g., purging flax) or plants that yield similar fiber (e.g., false flax).

– origin Old English flæx; related to Dutch vlas and German Flachs, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin plectere and Greek plekein ‘to plait, twist.’

flaxen /ˈflaksən/

adjective

1. of flax.

2. (especially of hair) of the pale yellow color of dressed flax

• her long flaxen hair.

flaxseed /ˈflak(s)sēd/

noun

1. another term for linseed.

2. a pupa of the Hessian fly, which resembles a seed of flax.

flay /flā/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. peel the skin off (a corpse or carcass)

• one shoulder had been flayed to reveal the muscles.

2. peel (the skin) off a corpse or carcass

• she flayed the white skin from the flesh.

3. whip or beat (someone) so harshly as to remove their skin

• Matthew flayed them viciously with a branch.

4. criticize severely and brutally

• he flayed the government for not moving fast enough on economic reform.

II. derivatives

flayer /ˈflāər /

noun

– origin Old English flēan, of Germanic origin; related to Middle Dutch vlaen.

F layer

I. noun

the highest and most strongly ionized region of the ionosphere.

– origin 1920s: arbitrary use of F + layer.

fld.

abbreviation

1. field.

2. fluid.

fl dr

abbreviation

fluid dram.

flea /flē/

I. noun

1. a small wingless jumping insect that feeds on the blood of mammals and birds. It sometimes transmits diseases through its bite, including plague and myxomatosis.
[Order Siphonaptera: several families and many species, including the human flea (Pulex irritans) and the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis).]

2. short for flea beetle.

3. a water flea (see daphnia).

II. phrases

a flea in one's ear

a sharp reproof

• she expected to be sent away with a flea in her ear.

– origin Old English flēa, flēah, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vlo and German Floh.

fleabag /ˈflēˌbaɡ/

noun

1. ‹informal› (N. Amer.) a seedy, run-down hotel or lodging house.

2. ‹informal› a shabby and unpleasant person or thing.

fleabane /ˈflēbān/

noun

a herbaceous plant of the daisy family, reputed to drive away fleas.
[Erigeron, Pulicaria, and other genera, family Compositae: in particular the pink-flowered common fleabane (E. philadelphicus) and the white-flowered daisy fleabane (E. annus).]

flea beetle

noun

a small jumping leaf beetle that can be a pest of plants such as crucifers.
[Phyllotreta and other genera, family Chrysomelidae.]

fleabite /ˈflēbīt/

noun

1. a small red mark caused by the bite of a flea.

2. a trivial injury or cost

• the proposed energy tax amounted to little more than a fleabite.

flea-bitten /ˈflēbitn/

adjective

1. bitten by or infested with fleas.

2. ‹informal› sordid, shabby, or disreputable

• this flea-bitten gross-out movie seems to believe that it's about something.

flea circus

noun

a novelty show of performing fleas.

flea collar /ˈflē ˌkälər/

noun

a collar for a cat or dog that is impregnated with insecticide in order to keep the pet free of fleas.

flea-flicker

noun

[Football] a designed play in which a pass is thrown to a receiver who then laterals to a teammate.

flea market /ˈflē ˌmärkət/

noun

a market, typically outdoors, selling secondhand goods.

fleapit /ˈflēˌpit/

noun

(chiefly Brit.) a dingy, dirty place, especially a run-down movie theater.

flèche /flāSH, fleSH/

I. noun

a slender spire, typically over the intersection of the nave and the transept of a Gothic church.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, literally ‘arrow.’

flechette /flāˈSHet, fleSHˈet / fléchette

I. noun

a type of ammunition resembling a small dart, shot from a gun.

– origin World War I: from French fléchette, diminutive of flèche ‘arrow.’

fleck /flek/

I. noun

1. a very small patch of color or light

• his blue eyes had gray flecks in them

• flecks of sunshine.

2. a small particle or speck of something

• brushing a few flecks of dandruff from his suit.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. mark or dot with small patches of color or particles of something

• the minarets are flecked with gold leaf.

– origin late Middle English (as a verb): perhaps from Old Norse flekkr (noun), flekka (verb), or from Middle Low German, Middle Dutch vlecke.

fled /fled/

past and past participle of flee.

fledge /flej/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a young bird) develop wing feathers that are large enough for flight.

2. [with obj.] — bring up (a young bird) until its wing feathers are developed enough for flight.

3. [with obj.] — provide (an arrow) with feathers.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from the obsolete adjective fledge ‘ready to fly,’ from Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vlug ‘quick, agile,’ also to fly^1.

fledged /flejd/

adjective

1. (of a young bird) having wing feathers that are large enough for flight; able to fly.
See also full-fledged.

2. (of a person or thing) having just taken on the role specified

• our discipline is so new fledged that the FBI had to take its cases to the Smithsonian for analysis.

3. ‹chiefly literary› (of an arrow) provided with feathers.

fledgling /ˈflejliNG / fledgeling

I. noun

1. a young bird that has just fledged.

2. [usu. as modifier] — a person or organization that is immature, inexperienced, or underdeveloped

• the fledgling democracies of eastern Europe.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from the obsolete adjective fledge (see fledge), on the pattern of nestling.

flee /flē/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. run away from a place or situation of danger

• a man was shot twice as he fled from five masked youths.

2. [with obj.] — run away from (someone or something)

• he was forced to flee the country

• ‹figurative› all remaining doubt that he was a guerilla began to flee my mind.

– origin Old English flēon, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vlieden and German fliehen.

fleece /flēs/

I. noun

1. the woolly covering of a sheep or goat

• as the sheep came on board, we grabbed their long shaggy fleeces

• he clutched the ram by two handfuls of thick fleece.

2. the amount of wool shorn from a sheep in a single piece at one time.

3. a thing resembling a sheep's woolly covering, in particular

4. a soft warm fabric with a texture similar to sheep's wool, used as a lining material.

5. a jacket or other garment made from a fleece fabric.

6. [Heraldry] a representation of a fleece suspended from a ring.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› obtain a great deal of money from (someone), typically by overcharging or swindling them

• money that authorities say he fleeced from well-to-do acquaintances.

2. ‹literary› cover as if with a fleece

• the sky was half blue, half fleeced with white clouds.

– origin Old English flēos, flēs; related to Dutch vlies and German Vlies.

fleeced /flēst/

adjective

1. (of a sheep or goat) having a woolly covering

• heavily fleeced sheep hunkered down for shelter

• [in combination] a golden-fleeced ram.

2. (of a garment) lined with a soft warm fabric with a texture similar to sheep's wool
[in combination]

• a white-fleeced jacket.

fleecy /ˈflēsē/

I. adjective

1. (especially of a towel or garment) made of or lined with a soft, warm fabric

• a fleecy sweatshirt.

2. (especially of a cloud) white and fluffy.

II. derivatives

1. fleecily /-səlē /

adverb

2. fleeciness /-sēnis /

noun

fleer /ˈflir/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹literary› laugh impudently or jeeringly

• he fleered at us.

II. noun

‹archaic› an impudent or jeering look or speech.

– origin late Middle English: probably of Scandinavian origin and related to Norwegian and Swedish dialect flira ‘to grin.’

fleet^1 /flēt/

I. noun

1. the largest group of naval vessels under one commander, organized for specific tactical or other purposes

• an invasion fleet.

2. (the fleet) — a country's navy

• the US fleet.

3. a group of ships sailing together, engaged in the same activity, or under the same ownership

• the small port supports a fishing fleet.

4. a number of ships, vehicles or aircraft operating together or under the same ownership

• a fleet of ambulances took the injured to hospital.

– origin Old English flēot ‘ship, shipping,’ from flēotan ‘float, swim’ (see fleet^4).

fleet^2 /flēt/

I. adjective

fast and nimble in movement

• a man of advancing years, but fleet of foot.

II. derivatives

1. fleetly

adverb

2. fleetness

noun

– origin early 16th cent.: probably from Old Norse fljótr, of Germanic origin and related to fleet^4.

fleet^3 /flēt/

I. noun

(Brit.) a marshland creek, channel, or ditch.

– origin Old English flēot, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vliet, also to fleet^4.

fleet^4 /flēt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹literary› move or pass quickly

• a variety of expressions fleeted across his face

• time may fleet and youth may fade.

2. [with obj.] — ‹literary› pass (time) rapidly.

3. ‹literary› fade away; be transitory

• the cares of boyhood fleet away.

– origin Old English flēotan ‘float, swim,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vlieten and German fliessen, also to flit and float.

Fleet Admiral

noun

an admiral of the highest rank in the US Navy (awarded only in wartime).

fleet-footed /ˌflētˈfo͝odəd/

adjective

nimble and fast on one's feet

• the fleet-footed sprinter captured his third gold medal.

fleeting /ˈflēdiNG/

I. adjective

lasting for a very short time

• hoping to get a fleeting glimpse of a whale underwater.

II. derivatives

fleetingness

noun

fleetingly /ˈflēdiNGlē/

adverb

for a very short time

• only fleetingly does she let any strain show.

Fleet Street /ˈflēt ˌstrēt/

a street in central London in which the offices of national newspapers were located until the mid-1980s (often used to refer to the British press)

• the hottest story in Fleet Street.

Flem.

abbreviation

Flemish.

Fleming /ˈflemiNG/

I. noun

1. a native of Flanders.

2. a member of the Flemish-speaking people inhabiting northern and western Belgium.
Compare with Walloon.

– origin late Old English Flæmingi, from Old Norse, reinforced by Middle Dutch Vlāming, related to Vlaanderen ‘Flanders.’

Fleming, Ian

(1908–64), English novelist; full name Ian Lancaster Fleming. He is known for his spy novels whose hero is the secret agent James Bond. Many of these James Bond stories were made into movies.

Fleming, Peggy

(1948–), US figure skater. She was world champion 1966–68 and won an Olympic gold medal in 1968.

Fleming, Renée

(1959–), US opera singer. She made her debut with the Metropolitan Opera in 1991 and is known for her interpretation of the bel canto repertory and for her enthusiasm for contemporary operas.

Fleming, Sir Alexander /ˈflemiNG/

(1881–1955), Scottish bacteriologist. In 1928, Fleming discovered the effect of penicillin on bacteria. Twelve years later, Howard Florey and Ernst Chain established its therapeutic use as an antibiotic. Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine (1945), shared with Florey and Chain.

Fleming's left-hand rule ‹Physics›

I. a mnemonic concerning the behavior of a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field, according to which the directions of the magnetic field, the current, and the force exerted on the conductor are indicated respectively by the first finger, second finger, and thumb of the left hand when these are held out perpendicular to each other.

– origin 1920s: proposed by English engineer John Ambrose Fleming (1849–1945).

Fleming's right-hand rule ‹Physics›

a mnemonic concerning the behavior of a conductor moving in a magnetic field, according to which the directions of the magnetic field, the induced current, and the motion of the conductor are indicated respectively by the first finger, second finger, and thumb of the right hand when these are held out perpendicular to each other.

Flemish /ˈflemiSH/

I. noun

1. the Dutch language as spoken in Flanders, one of the two official languages of Belgium.

2. (the Flemish) [as plural noun] — the people of Flanders.

II. adjective

relating to Flanders, its people, or their language.

– origin Middle English: from Middle Dutch Vlāmisch, related to Vlaanderen ‘Flanders.’

Flemish bond

noun

[Building] a pattern of bricks in a wall in which each course consists of alternate headers and stretchers.

flense /flens / flench

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. slice the skin or fat from (a carcass, especially that of a whale).

2. strip (skin or fat) from a carcass

• the skin had been flensed off.

II. derivatives

flenser

noun

– origin early 19th cent.

flesh /fleSH/

I. noun

1. the soft substance consisting of muscle and fat that is found between the skin and bones of an animal or a human

• she grabbed Anna's arm, her fingers sinking into the flesh.

2. the flesh of an animal, regarded as food

• the food an animal eats will affect the taste and texture of its flesh

• [in combination] a flesh-eater.

3. the pulpy substance of a fruit or vegetable, especially the part that is eaten

• halve the avocados and scrape out the flesh.

4. the skin or surface of the human body with reference to its color, appearance, or sensual properties

• she gasped as the cold water hit her flesh.

5. (the flesh) — the human body and its physical needs and desires, especially as contrasted with the mind or the soul

• I have never been one to deny the pleasures of the flesh.

6. flesh color.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] (flesh out) — put weight on

• he had fleshed out to a solid 220 pounds.

2. [with obj.] (flesh something out) — add more details to something that exists only in a draft or outline form

• the theorists have fleshed out a variety of scenarios.

3. [with obj.] — (Brit.) give (a hound or hawk) a piece of the flesh of game that has been killed in order to incite it.

4. ‹literary› initiate (someone) in bloodshed or warfare

• he fleshed his troops by indulging them with enterprises against the enemy's posts.

5. [with obj.] (often as noun fleshing) — remove the flesh adhering to (a skin or hide)

• after fleshing, the hide is soaked again.

III. phrases

1. all flesh

all human and animal life.

2. go the way of all flesh

die or come to an end.

3. in the flesh

in person rather than via a telephone, a movie, the written word, or other means

• they decided that they should meet Alexander in the flesh.

4. lose flesh

‹archaic› become thinner.

5. make someone's flesh crawl (or creep)

another way of saying make someone's skin crawl (see skin).

6. one flesh

used to refer to the spiritual and physical union of two people in a relationship, especially marriage

• my body is his, his is mine: one flesh.

[with biblical allusion to Gen. 2:24.]

7. put flesh on (the bones of) something

add more details to something that exists only in a draft or outline form

• he has yet to put flesh on his “big idea.”

8. put on flesh

put on weight.

9. sins of the flesh

‹archaic› ‹humorous› sins related to physical indulgence, especially sexual gratification.

IV. derivatives

fleshless /ˈfleSHləs /

adjective

– origin Old English flǣsc, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vlees and German Fleisch.

flesh and blood

I. noun

used to emphasize that a person is a physical, living being with human emotions or frailties, often in contrast to something abstract, spiritual, or mechanical

• the customer is flesh and blood, not just a sales statistic

• [as modifier] he seemed more like a creature from a dream than a flesh-and-blood father.

II. phrases

one's (own) flesh and blood

a near relative or one's close family

• he felt as much for that girl as if she had been his own flesh and blood.

flesh color /fleSH ˈkələr/

I. noun

a light brownish pink.

II. derivatives

flesh-colored /ˈfleSHˌkələrd /

adjective

flesh-eating /ˈfleSHˌēdiNG/

adjective

1. (of an animal or plant) carnivorous

• flesh-eating carrion crows

• a flesh-eating pitcher plant.

2. (of a disease or microorganism) destructive to body tissue

• flesh-eating bacteria.

3. (of a supernatural creature) feeding on human flesh

• flesh-eating zombies.

fleshed /fleSHt/

adjective — [in combination]

1. having flesh of a specified kind

• thick white-fleshed fish

• soft-fleshed fruits.

flesher /ˈfleSHər/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) a knife for fleshing hides.

2. a person who fleshes hides.

flesh fly

noun

a fly that breeds in carrion, typically producing live young that are deposited on a carcass.
[Family Sarcophagidae: Sarcophaga and other genera.]

fleshings /ˈfleSHiNGz/

plural noun

flesh-colored tights worn by actors.

fleshly /ˈfleSHlē/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to human desire or bodily appetites; sensual

• fleshly pleasures.

2. having an actual physical presence

• we will shed the lofty metaphysical Cage and incorporate the earlier dynamic and fleshly Cage.

– origin Old English flǣsclic (see flesh, -ly^1).

fleshpots /ˈfleSHˌpäts/

I. plural noun

places providing luxurious or hedonistic living

• he had lived the life of a roué in the fleshpots of London and Paris.

– origin early 16th cent.: with biblical allusion to the fleshpots of Egypt (Exod. 16:3).

flesh side

noun

the side of a hide that adjoins the flesh.

flesh wound /ˈfleSH ˌwo͞ond/

noun

a wound that breaks the skin but does not damage bones or vital organs.

fleshy /ˈfleSHē/

I. adjective

1. (of a person or part of the body) having a substantial amount of flesh; plump

• her torso was full, fleshy, and heavy.

2. (of plant or fruit tissue) soft and thick

• fleshy, greeny-gray leaves.

3. resembling flesh in appearance or texture.

II. derivatives

fleshiness /ˈfleSHēnəs /

noun

fletch /fleCH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. provide (an arrow) with feathers for flight

• most arrows are fletched with 3- to 5-inch feathers.

II. noun

each of the feathered vanes of an arrow
[in combination]

• a four-fletch arrow.

– origin mid 17th cent.: alteration of fledge, probably influenced by fletcher.

fletcher /ˈfleCHər/

I. noun

‹chiefly historical› a person who makes and sells arrows.

– origin Middle English: from Old French flechier, from fleche ‘arrow.’

Fletcher, John /ˈfleCHər/

(1579–1625), English playwright. A writer of Jacobean tragicomedies, he wrote about 15 plays with Francis Beaumont and is also believed to have collaborated with William Shakespeare on such plays as The Two Noble Kinsmen and Henry VIII (both c. 1613).

fletching /ˈfleCHiNG/

noun

the feathers of an arrow

• it has good-sized fletching

• he repairs damaged fletchings.

fleur-de-lis /ˈˌflər də ˈˌlē / fleur-de-lys

I. noun

1. [Art] [Heraldry] a stylized lily composed of three petals bound together near their bases. It is especially known from the former royal arms of France, in which it appears in gold on a blue field.

2. a European iris.
[Genus Iris, family Iridaceae, in particular I. × germanica ‘Florentina’ (with bluish-white flowers) or I. pseudacorus (the yellow flag).]

– origin Middle English: from Old French flour de lys ‘flower of the lily.’

fleur de sel /ˈflər də ˈsel, ˈflo͝or/

I. noun

French sea salt.

– origin French, literally ‘flower of salt.’

fleuron /ˈflərän ˈflo͝orän/

I. noun

1. a flower-shaped ornament, used especially on buildings, coins, books, and pastry.

2. a small pastry puff used for garnishing.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French floron, from flour (see flower).

flew /flo͞o/

past of fly^1.

flews /flo͞oz/

I. plural noun

the thick hanging lips of a bloodhound or similar dog.

– origin late 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

flex /fleks/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. bend (a limb or joint)

• she saw him flex his ankle and wince.

2. [no obj.] — (of a limb or joint) become bent

• prevent the damaged wrist from flexing.

3. cause (a muscle) to stand out by contracting or tensing it

• bodybuilders flexing their muscles.

4. [no obj.] — (of a muscle) contract or be tensed

• a muscle flexed in his jaw.

5. [no obj.] — (of a material) be capable of warping or bending and then reverting to shape

• set windows in rubber so they flex during an earthquake.

6. (usu. as adj. flexed) — [Archaeology] place (a corpse) with the legs drawn up under the chin

• a flexed burial.

II. noun

the action or state of flexing

• add rigidity and eliminate brake flex.

III. phrases

flex one's muscles

see muscle.

– origin early 16th cent.: from Latin flex- ‘bent,’ from the verb flectere.

flex-fuel /ˈfleksˌfyo͞o(ə)l/

adjective

denoting a motor vehicle that will run on gasoline, ethanol, or these two in any combination

• flex-fuel subcompacts have captured 20% of Brazil's new car market.

flexibility /ˌfleksəˈbilədē/

noun

1. the quality of bending easily without breaking

• players gained improved flexibility in their ankles.

2. the ability to be easily modified

• I enjoyed the flexibility of the schedule.

3. willingness to change or compromise

• the government has shown flexibility in applying its policy.

flexible /ˈfleksəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. capable of bending easily without breaking

• flexible rubber seals.

2. able to be easily modified to respond to altered circumstances or conditions

• flexible forms of retirement.

3. (of a person) ready and able to change so as to adapt to different circumstances

• you can save money if you're flexible about where your room is located.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin flexibilis, from flectere ‘to bend.’

flexibly /ˈfleksəblē/

adverb

1. in a way that can change so as to adapt to different circumstances

• the ability of governments to respond flexibly to changing economic circumstances

• most women who have children want to work flexibly.

2. in a way that bends easily without breaking

• the robot can move flexibly and smoothly over uneven surfaces.

flexile /ˈfleksəl ˈfleksīl/

I. adjective

‹archaic› pliant and flexible

• the serpent's flexile body.

II. derivatives

flexility /flekˈsilədē /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin flexilis, from flectere ‘to bend.’

flexion /ˈflekSHən / flection

I. noun

the action of bending or the condition of being bent, especially the bending of a limb or joint

• flexion of the fingers

• these protozoans can move by body flexions.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin flexio(n-), from flectere ‘to bend.’

flexitarian /ˌfleksəˈterēən/

I. noun

a person who has a primarily vegetarian diet but occasionally eats meat or fish

• in my close social circle I have a vegetarian, a pescatarian, and a flexitarian

• [as modifier] a flexitarian diet.

– origin 1990s: blend of flexible and vegetarian.

flexography /flekˈsäɡrəfē/

I. noun

a rotary relief printing method using rubber or plastic plates and fluid inks or dyes for printing on fabrics and impervious materials such as plastics, as well as on paper.

II. derivatives

flexographic /ˌfleksəˈɡrafik /

adjective

– origin 1950s: from Latin flexus ‘a bending’ (from the verb flectere) + -graphy.

flexor /ˈfleksər ˈflekˌsôr / flexor muscle

noun

1. [Anatomy] a muscle whose contraction bends a limb or other part of the body.
Often contrasted with extensor.

2. [Anatomy] any of a number of specific muscles in the arm, hand, leg, or foot.

flextime /ˈfleksˌtīm / ‹Brit.› flexitime

I. noun

a system of working a set number of hours with the starting and finishing times chosen within agreed limits by the employee

• no need for day care—the parents can work flextime.

– origin 1970s: blend of flexible and time.

flexuous /ˈflekSHo͞oəs/

I. adjective

full of bends and curves.

II. derivatives

1. flexuosity /ˌflekSHo͞oˈäsədē /

noun

2. flexuously

adverb

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin flexuosus, from flexus ‘a bending,’ from the verb flectere.

flexure /ˈflekSHər/

I. noun

1. [chiefly Anatomy] [Geology] the action of bending or curving, or the condition of being bent or curved.

2. [chiefly Anatomy] [Geology] a bent or curved part

• these lesser hills were flexures of the San Andreas system.

II. derivatives

flexural /-rəl /

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin flexura, from flectere ‘to bend.’

flexwing /ˈfleksˌwiNG/

noun

a collapsible fabric delta wing, as used in hang gliders.

flibbertigibbet /ˈflibərdēˌjibət/

I. noun

a frivolous, flighty, or excessively talkative person.

– origin late Middle English: probably imitative of idle chatter.

flic /flik/

I. noun

‹informal› a French policeman.

– origin French.

flick /flik/

I. noun

1. a sudden sharp movement

• the flick of a switch

• a flick of the wrist.

2. the sudden release of a bent finger or thumb, especially to propel a small object

• he sent his cigarette spinning away with a flick of his fingers.

3. a light, sharp, quickly retracted blow, especially with a whip.

4. ‹informal› a motion picture

• a Hollywood action flick.

5. (the flicks) — (chiefly Brit.) the movies

• fancy a night at the flicks?

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. propel (something) with a sudden sharp movement, especially of the fingers

• Emily flicked some ash off her sleeve.

2. (flick something on/off) — turn something electrical on or off by means of a switch

• he flicked on the air conditioning.

3. [no obj.] — make a sudden sharp movement

• the finch's tail flicks up and down.

4. [with obj.] — move (a whip) so as to strike.

III. phrasal verbs

flick through

another way of saying flip through (see flip^1).

– origin late Middle English: symbolic, fl- frequently beginning words denoting sudden movement.

flicker^1 /ˈflikər/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of light or a source of light) shine unsteadily; vary rapidly in brightness

• the interior lights flickered and came on.

2. (of a flame) burn fitfully, alternately flaring up and dying down

• the candle flickered again

• (as adj. flickering) the flickering flames of the fire.

3. [with adverbial of place] — (of a feeling or emotion) be experienced or show itself briefly and faintly, especially in someone's eyes

• amusement flickered briefly in his eyes.

4. make small, quick movements; flutter rapidly

• her eyelids flickered

• [with complement] the injured killer's eyes flickered open.

5. [with adverbial of direction] — (of someone's eyes) move quickly in a particular direction in order to look at something

• her alert hazel eyes flickered around the room.

II. noun

1. an unsteady movement of a flame or light that causes rapid variations in brightness

• the flicker of a candle flame caught our eyes.

2. fluctuations in the brightness of a movie or television image such as occur when the number of frames per second is too small or the refresh rate too low for persistence of vision.

3. a tiny movement

• then a flicker of movement caught his eye.

4. a brief feeling or indication of emotion

• a flicker of a smile passed across her face

• she felt a flicker of alarm.

III. phrasal verbs

flicker out

a. (of a flame or light) die away and go out after a series of flickers.

b. (of a feeling) die away and finally disappear

• the swift burst of curiosity and eagerness flickered out.

– origin Old English flicorian, flycerian ‘to flutter,’ probably of Germanic origin and related to Low German flickern and Dutch flikkeren.

flicker^2 /ˈflikər/

I. noun

an American woodpecker that often feeds on ants on the ground.
[Genus Colaptes, family Picidae: several species, in particular the common flicker (C. auratus), occurring in two forms that are distinguished by the underside of the tail and wings, which may be yellow (yellow-shafted flicker) or salmon red (red-shafted flicker).]

– origin early 19th cent.: imitative of its call.

Flickertail State /ˈflikərtāl ˌstāt/

a nickname for the state of North Dakota.

flick knife /ˈflik ˌnīf/

noun

British term for switchblade.

flier /ˈflīər / flyer

I. noun

1. a person or thing that flies, especially in a particular way

• a nervous flier.

2. a person who flies something, especially an aircraft.

3. ‹informal› a fast-moving person or thing.

4. a small handbill advertising an event or product.

5. (chiefly N. Amer.) a speculative investment.

6. a step in a straight flight of stairs.

II. phrases

take a flyer

(chiefly N. Amer.) take a chance.

flight /flīt/

I. noun

1. the action or process of flying through the air

• an eagle in flight

• the history of space flight.

2. an act of flying; a journey made through the air or in space, especially a scheduled journey made by an airline

• I got the first flight.

3. the movement or trajectory of a projectile or ball through the air.

4. [as modifier] — relating to or denoting archery in which the main concern is shooting long distances

• short, light flight arrows.

5. ‹literary› swift passage of time

• the never-ending flight of future days.

6. a group of creatures or objects flying together, in particular

7. a flock or large body of birds or insects in the air, especially when migrating

• flights of Canada geese.

8. a group of aircraft operating together, especially an air force unit of about six aircraft

• a refueling mission in which his crew topped off three flights of four F-16A jets.

9. the action of fleeing or attempting to escape

• refugees on the latest stage of their flight from turmoil.

10. a series of steps between floors or levels

• she has to come up four flights of stairs to her apartment.

11. a series of hurdles across a racetrack.

12. a closely spaced sequence of locks in a canal.

13. an extravagant or far-fetched idea or account

• ignoring such ridiculous flights of fancy.

14. the tail of a dart.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. shoot (wildfowl) in flight
(as noun flighting)

• duck and geese flighting.

2. (Brit.) (in soccer, cricket, etc.) deliver (a ball) with well-judged trajectory and pace

• he flighted a free kick into the box.

III. phrases

1. in full flight

a. escaping as fast as possible.

b. having gained momentum in a run or activity

• when this jazz pianist is in full flight he can be mesmerizing.

2. put someone/something to flight

cause someone or something to flee

• a soldier who held off, and eventually put to flight, waves of attackers.

3. take flight

a. (of a bird) take off and fly

• the whole flock took flight

• ‹figurative› she entered the company after a year's apprenticeship, and her career took flight.

b. flee

• noise that would prompt a spooked horse to take flight.

– origin Old English flyht ‘action or manner of flying,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vlucht and fly^1. This was probably merged in Middle English with an unrecorded Old English word related to German Flucht and to flee, which is represented by sense 3 of the noun.

flight attendant /ˈflī(t) əˌtendənt/

noun

a steward or stewardess on an aircraft.

flight bag /ˈflī(t) ˌbaɡ/

noun

a small zippered shoulder bag carried by air travelers.

flight capital

noun

money transferred abroad to avoid taxes or inflation, achieve better investment returns, or to provide for possible emigration.

flight control /ˈflī(t) kənˌtrōl/

noun

1. the activity of directing the movement of aircraft

• automatic flight control

• [as modifier] the flight-control computer.

2. a control surface on an aircraft.

flight crew /ˈflīt ˌkro͞o/

noun — [treated as sing. or pl.]

1. the personnel responsible for the operation of an aircraft during flight.

flight deck /ˈflī(t) ˌdek/

noun

1. the cockpit of a large aircraft, from which the pilot and crew fly it.

2. the deck of an aircraft carrier, used for takeoff and landing.

flight engineer /flīt ˌenjəˈni(ə)r/

noun

a member of a flight crew responsible for the aircraft's engines and other systems during flight.

flight envelope

noun

the range of combinations of speed, altitude, angle of attack, etc., within which a flying object is aerodynamically stable.

flight feather

noun

any of the large primary or secondary feathers in a bird's wing, supporting it in flight.
Also called remex.

flight jacket ‹Brit.› flying jacket

noun

a short jacket, typically leather, tightly gathered at the waist and cuffs by elasticated bands and having a zip front.

flightless /ˈflītlis/

I. adjective

(of a bird or an insect) naturally unable to fly.

II. derivatives

flightlessness

noun

flight line

noun

1. the part of an airport around the hangars where aircraft can be parked and serviced.

2. a line of flight.

flight path /ˈflī(t) ˌpaTH/

noun

the actual or planned course of an aircraft or spacecraft.

flight plan /ˈflī(t) ˌplan/

noun

[Aeronautics] a written account of the details of a particular proposed flight.

flight recorder /ˈflī(t) rəˌkôrdər / flight data recorder

noun

a device in an aircraft that records technical details during a flight, used in the event of an accident to discover its cause.

flight risk

noun

a person thought likely to leave the country before a trial or bail hearing

• police can detain suspects without charges if they are considered flight risks.

flightseeing /ˈflītˌsēiNG/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) the activity of viewing places of interest from an aircraft.

– origin 1940s: blend of flight and sightseeing.

flight simulator /ˈflī(t) simyəˌlādər/

noun

a machine designed to resemble the cockpit of an aircraft, with computer-generated images that mimic the pilot's view, typically with mechanisms that move the entire structure in imitation of an aircraft's motion, used for training pilots.

flight suit

noun

a one-piece garment worn by the pilot and crew of a military or light aircraft.

flight surgeon

noun

a military surgeon specializing in aerospace medicine.

flight test /ˈflīt ˌtest/

I. noun

a flight of an aircraft, rocket, or equipment to see how well it functions.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. test (an aircraft or rocket) by flying it
(as noun flight-testing)

• it was undergoing cold-weather flight-testing.

flightworthy /ˈflītˌwərT͟Hē/

adjective

(of an aircraft) capable of being flown safely.

flighty /ˈflīdē/

I. adjective

fickle and irresponsible

• you may be seen as too flighty and lightweight for real responsibility.

II. derivatives

1. flightily /ˈflīdəlē /

adverb

2. flightiness /ˈflīdēnəs /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from flight + -y^1.

flimflam /ˈflimˌflam / ‹informal›

I. noun

1. nonsensical or insincere talk

• I suppose that you suspect me of pseudointellectual flimflam.

2. a confidence game

• flimflams perpetrated against us by our elected officials.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. swindle (someone) with a confidence game

• the tribe was flimflammed out of its land.

III. derivatives

1. flimflammer

noun

2. flimflammery /-ˌflamərē /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: symbolic reduplication.

flimsy /ˈflimzē/

I. adjective

1. comparatively light and insubstantial; easily damaged

• voyagers who crossed the sea in flimsy boats.

2. (of clothing) light and thin

• I wore flimsy clothes and needed warming.

3. (of a pretext or account) weak and unconvincing

• a pretty flimsy excuse.

II. noun

1. (Brit.) a document, especially a copy, made on very thin paper

• credit-card flimsies.

2. (Brit.) very thin paper

• sheets of yellow flimsy.

III. derivatives

1. flimsily /ˈflimzəlē /

adverb

2. flimsiness /ˈflimzēnəs /

noun

– origin early 18th cent.: probably from flimflam.

flinch /flin(t)SH/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. make a quick, nervous movement of the face or body as an instinctive reaction to surprise, fear or pain

• she flinched at the acidity in his voice

• he had faced death without flinching.

2. (flinch from) — avoid doing or becoming involved in (something) through fear or anxiety

• I rarely flinch from a fight when I'm sure of myself.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. an act of flinching

• “Don't call me that,” he said with a flinch.

III. derivatives

1. flincher /ˈflin(t)SHər /

noun

2. flinchingly

adverb

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘slink or sneak off’): from Old French flenchir ‘turn aside,’ of West Germanic origin and related to German lenken ‘to guide, steer.’

flinders /ˈflindərz/

I. plural noun

small fragments or splinters

• the panel has been smashed to flinders.

– origin late Middle English: probably of Scandinavian origin and related to Norwegian flindra ‘chip, splinter.’

Flinders, Matthew /ˈflindərz/

(1774–1814), English explorer. He circumnavigated Australia (1801–03) for the Royal Navy and charted much of its west coast for the first time.

Flinders bar

I. noun

a bar of soft iron placed vertically in or near the housing of a ship's compass to correct deviation caused by the local magnetic field of the ship.

– origin late 19th cent.: name after Captain M. Flinders (see Flinders, Matthew).

fling /fliNG/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. throw or hurl forcefully

• he picked up the debris and flung it away

• ‹figurative› I was flung into jail.

2. move or push (something) suddenly or violently

• he flung back the bedclothes

• [with obj.] Jennifer flung open a door.

3. (fling oneself) — throw oneself headlong

• he flung himself down at her feet with a laugh.

4. (fling oneself into) — wholeheartedly engage in or begin on (an enterprise)

• the producer flung himself into an ugly battle with the studio.

5. (fling something on/off) — put on or take off clothes carelessly or rapidly.

6. utter (words) forcefully

• the words were flung at her like an accusation.

7. [no obj.] — go angrily or violently; rush

• he flung away to his study, slamming the door behind him.

II. noun

1. a short period of enjoyment or wild behavior

• one final fling before a tranquil retirement.

2. a short, spontaneous sexual relationship

• I had a fling with someone when I was at college.

3. short for Highland fling.

III. derivatives

flinger

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘go violently’): perhaps related to Old Norse flengja ‘flog.’ Sense 1 of the noun is based on an earlier sense ‘reckless movement of the body’ and dates from the early 19th cent.

flint /flint/

I. noun

1. a hard gray rock consisting of nearly pure chert, occurring chiefly as nodules in chalk.

2. a piece of flint, especially as flaked or ground in ancient times to form a tool or weapon.

3. a piece of flint used with steel to produce an igniting spark, e.g., in a flintlock gun, or (in modern use) a piece of an alloy used similarly, especially in a cigarette lighter.

– origin Old English; related to Middle Dutch vlint and Old High German flins.

Flint /flint/

an industrial city in southeastern Michigan, an auto industry center since the Buick Company was established there in 1903; pop. 112,900 (est. 2008).

flint corn

noun

corn of a variety that has hard, slightly translucent grains.

flint glass /ˈflint ˌɡlas/

noun

a pure lustrous kind of glass originally made with flint.

flintlock /ˈflintˌläk/

noun

1. an old-fashioned type of gun fired by a spark from a flint.

2. [usu. as modifier] — the lock on a flintlock gun

• an antique flintlock pistol.

flinty /ˈflin(t)ē/

I. adjective

1. of, containing, or reminiscent of flint

• flinty soil.

2. (of a person or their expression) very hard and unyielding

• a flinty stare.

II. derivatives

1. flintily /ˈflintl-ē /

adverb

2. flintiness /ˈflin(t)ēnəs /

noun

flip^1 /flip/

I. verb

1. turn over or cause to turn over with a sudden sharp movement
[with obj.]

• the yacht was flipped by a huge wave

• [no obj.] the plane flipped over and then exploded.

2. [with obj.] — move, push, or throw (something) with a sudden sharp movement

• she flipped off her dark glasses

• she flipped a few coins onto the bar.

3. turn (an electrical appliance or switch) on or off

• he flipped a switch and the front door opened.

4. toss (a coin) to decide an issue

• given those odds, one may as well flip a coin

• [no obj.] you want to flip for it?

5. [no obj.] — ‹informal› suddenly lose control or become very angry

• he had clearly flipped under the pressure

• she would have flipped out if someone had done this to her.

6. suddenly become very enthusiastic

• I walked into a store, saw the guitar on the wall, and just flipped.

7. [with obj.] — buy and sell (something, especially real estate or shares) quickly to make a profit

• within one week of starting I flipped a property for a quick $3,000 profit.

8. [no obj.] — (US) ‹informal› become an informer

• when he was taken in by the investigators, he flipped immediately.

9. [with obj.] — persuade to become an informer

• the prosecutors won't be able to flip any witnesses to testify against the ex-CEO.

II. noun

1. a sudden sharp movement

• she dismissed his qualms with a flip of her hand.

2. an act or instance of turning over or being turned over in the air

• he celebrates his goals with an acrobatic flip

• ‹figurative› Alex's heart did a little flip inside her chest.

3. (a flip through) — a quick look or search through a volume or a collection of papers

• a quick flip through my cookbooks.

4. (Brit.) ‹informal› a quick tour or pleasure trip

• I did a flip round the post-show party.

[derived from an earlier sense ‘short flight in an aircraft.’]

III. adjective

glib; flippant

• he couldn't get away with flip, funny conversation.

IV. exclamation

used to express mild annoyance.

V. phrases

flip one's lid (or one's wig)

‹informal› suddenly become deranged or lose one's self-control.

VI. phrasal verbs

flip through

look or search quickly through (a volume or a collection of papers)

• just flip through the phone book and pick a lawyer.

– origin mid 16th cent. (as a verb in the sense ‘make a flick with the finger and thumb’): probably a contraction of fillip.

flip^2 /flip/

I. noun

another term for eggnog.

– origin late 17th cent.: perhaps from flip^1 in the sense ‘whip up.’

flip chart

noun

a large pad of paper bound so that each page can be turned over at the top to reveal the next, used on a stand at presentations.

flip chip

I. noun

a computer chip that is installed on a circuit board face-down, with connections formed by solder bumps rather than wires.

– origin 1990s: from the fact that the chip is rotated 180 degrees from the traditional mode of attachment.

flip-flop /ˈflip fläp/

I. noun

1. a light sandal, typically of plastic or rubber, with a thong between the big and second toe.

2. (N. Amer.) a backward handspring.

3. ‹informal› an abrupt reversal of policy

• his flip-flop on taxes.

4. [Electronics] a switching circuit that works by changing from one stable state to another, or through an unstable state back to its stable state, in response to a triggering pulse.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. [with adverbial of direction] — move with a flapping sound or motion

• she flip-flopped off the porch in battered sneakers.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› make an abrupt reversal of policy

• the candidate flip-flopped on a number of issues.

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the general sense ‘something that flaps or flops’): imitative reduplication of flop.

flippancy /ˈflipənsē/

noun

lack of respect or seriousness; frivolousness

• she was infuriated by his careless flippancy.

flippant /ˈflipənt/

I. adjective

not showing a serious or respectful attitude

• a flippant remark.

II. derivatives

flippantly /ˈflip(ə)n(t)lē /

adverb

– origin early 17th cent.: from flip^1 + -ant, perhaps on the pattern of heraldic terms such as couchant and rampant. Early senses included ‘nimble’ and ‘talkative,’ hence ‘playful,’ giving rise to the current use ‘lacking seriousness.’

flipper /ˈflipər/

noun

1. a broad flat limb without fingers, used for swimming by various sea animals such as seals, whales, and turtles.

2. a flat rubber attachment worn on the foot for underwater swimming.

3. a pivoted arm in a pinball machine, controlled by the player and used for sending the ball back up the table.

4. ‹informal› a hand.

Flipper, Henry Ossian /ˈflipər/

(1856–1940), US soldier and engineer. The first black graduate of West Point 1877, he was court-martialed on false charges in 1882. The charges were not withdrawn until the 1970s, and in 1999 he was formally pardoned.

flipping /ˈflipiNG/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) used for emphasis or to express mild annoyance

• are you out of your flipping mind?

– origin early 20th cent.: from flip^1 + -ing^2.

flip side /ˈflip ˌsīd/

noun

1. ‹informal› the less important side of a pop single record; the B-side.

2. ‹informal› another aspect or version of something, especially its reverse or its unwanted concomitant

• virtues are the flip side of vices.

flip-top /ˈfliptäp/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. denoting or having a lid or cover that can be easily opened by pulling, pushing, or flicking it with the fingers

• an accessory case with a clear flip-top lid.

II. noun

a flip-top lid or cover.

flirt /flərt/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — behave as though attracted to or trying to attract someone, but for amusement rather than with serious intentions

• it amused him to flirt with her.

2. (flirt with) — experiment with or show a superficial interest in (an idea, activity, or movement) without committing oneself to it seriously

• a painter who had flirted briefly with Cubism.

3. (flirt with) — deliberately expose oneself to (danger or difficulty)

• the need of some individuals to flirt with death.

4. [with obj.] — (of a bird) wave or open and shut (its wings or tail) with a quick flicking motion.

5. [no obj.] — move back and forth with a flicking or fluttering motion

• the lark was flirting around the site.

II. noun

a person who habitually flirts.

– origin mid 16th cent.: apparently symbolic, the elements fl- and -irt both suggesting sudden movement; compare with flick and spurt. The original verb senses were ‘give someone a sharp blow’ and ‘sneer at’; the earliest noun senses were ‘joke, gibe’ and ‘flighty girl’ (defined by Dr. Johnson as ‘a pert young hussey’), with a notion originally of cheeky behavior, later of playfully amorous behavior.

flirtation /ˌflərˈtāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. behavior that demonstrates a playful sexual attraction to someone

• Fabia was in no mood for his lighthearted flirtation.

2. a short or casual relationship

• she had had plenty of flirtations—now she had fallen in love.

3. a short period of casual experimentation with or interest in a particular idea or activity

• his brief flirtation with the avant-garde in the 1920s.

flirtatious /ˌflərˈtāSHəs/

I. adjective

1. behaving in such a way as to suggest a playful sexual attraction to someone

• she was beautiful and very flirtatious.

2. expressing a playful sexual attraction

• a flirtatious smile.

II. derivatives

1. flirtatiously /-ˈtāSHəslē /

adverb

2. flirtatiousness /flərˈtāSHəsnəs /

noun

flirty /ˈflərdē/

adjective

suggesting or expressing a playful sexual attraction

• she is extremely flirty and vivacious

• dates full of flirty banter.

flit /flit/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. move swiftly and lightly

• small birds flitted about in the branches

• ‹figurative› the idea had flitted through his mind.

2. (Brit.) leave one's home or move, typically secretly so as to escape creditors or obligations.

II. noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› an act of leaving one's home or moving, typically secretly so as to escape creditors or obligations

• moonlight flits from one insalubrious dwelling to another.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘move house’): from Old Norse flytja; related to fleet^4.

flitch /fliCH/

I. noun

1. a slab of timber cut from a tree trunk, usually from the outside.

2. (also flitch plate) — the strengthening plate in a flitch beam.

3. ‹chiefly dialect› a side of bacon.

– origin Old English flicce, originally denoting the salted and cured side of any meat, of Germanic origin; related to Middle Low German vlicke.

flitch beam

noun

a compound beam made of a steel plate between two slabs of wood.

flitter /ˈflidər/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. move quickly in an apparently random or purposeless manner

• if only you would settle down instead of flittering around the countryside.

II. noun

a fluttering movement

• the flash and flitter of colored wings.

– origin late Middle English: frequentative of flit.

flittermouse /ˈflidərˌmous/

I. noun

old-fashioned term for bat^2 (sense 1).

– origin mid 16th cent.: on the pattern of Dutch vledermuis or German Fledermaus.

flivver /ˈflivər/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› ‹dated› a cheap car or aircraft, especially one in bad condition.

– origin early 20th cent.: of unknown origin.

flixweed /ˈflikswēd/

I. noun

a Eurasian plant with small yellow flowers and finely divided leaves, formerly thought to cure dysentery.
[Descurainia sophia, family Brassicaceae.]

– origin late 16th cent.: from obsolete flix (variant of flux) + weed.

FLN

abbreviation

Front de Libération Nationale.

float /flōt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. rest or move on or near the surface of a liquid without sinking

• she relaxed, floating gently in the water.

2. [with obj.] — cause (a buoyant object) to rest or move on the surface of a liquid without sinking

• trees were felled and floated downstream.

3. be suspended freely in a liquid or gas

• fragments of chipped cartilage floated in the joint.

4. [with adverbial of direction] — move or hover slowly and lightly in a liquid or the air; drift

• clouds floated across a brilliant blue sky

• ‹figurative› through the open window floated the sound of traffic.

5. (float about/around) — (of a rumor, idea, etc.) circulate

• the notion was floating around Capitol Hill.

6. (of a sight or idea) come before the eyes or mind

• the advice his father had given him floated into his mind.

7. [with obj.] — (in sports) make (the ball) travel lightly and effortlessly through the air

• he floated the kick into the net.

8. [with obj.] — put forward (an idea) as a suggestion or test of reactions.

9. offer the shares of (a company) for sale on the stock market for the first time.

10. (of a currency) fluctuate freely in value in accordance with supply and demand in the financial markets

• a policy of letting the pound float.

11. [with obj.] — allow (a currency) to fluctuate in value.

II. noun

1. a thing that is buoyant in water, in particular

2. a small object attached to a fishing line to indicate by moving when a fish bites.

3. a cork or buoy supporting the edge of a fishing net.

4. a hollow or inflated organ enabling an organism (such as the Portuguese man-of-war) to float in the water.

5. a hollow structure fixed underneath an aircraft enabling it to take off and land on water.

6. a device floating on the surface of a liquid that forms part of a valve apparatus controlling flow in and out of the enclosing container, e.g., in a toilet tank or a carburetor.

7. a platform mounted on a truck and carrying a display in a parade

• a carnival float.

8. a hand tool with a rectangular blade used for smoothing plaster or concrete.

9. (chiefly N. Amer.) a soft drink with a scoop of ice cream floating in it

• root-beer floats.

10. (in critical path analysis) the period of time by which the duration of an activity may be extended without affecting the overall time for the process.

III. phrases

float someone's boat

‹informal› appeal to or excite someone, especially sexually

• Kevin doesn't exactly float her boat.

– origin Old English flotian (verb), of Germanic origin and related to fleet^4, reinforced in Middle English by Old French floter, also from Germanic.

floatable /ˈflōdəb(ə)l/

adjective

1. capable of floating.

2. (chiefly US) (of water) able to support floating objects; deep enough to float in.

float arm

noun

the hinged arm attached to the ball float in the ballcock of a toilet tank.

floatel /flōˈtel / flotel

I. noun

1. a floating hotel, especially a boat used as a hotel.

2. a vessel providing housing for workers on an offshore oil rig.

– origin 1950s: blend of float and hotel.

floater /ˈflōdər/

noun

1. a person or thing that floats, in particular

2. (N. Amer.) a worker who is required to do a variety of tasks as the need for each arises.

3. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) a person who frequently changes occupation or residence.

4. a loose particle within the eyeball that is apparent in one's field of vision.

5. (US) an insurance policy covering loss of articles without specifying a location.

float glass /ˈflōt ˌɡlas/

noun

glass made by allowing it to solidify on molten metal.

floating /ˈflōdiNG/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. buoyant or suspended in water or air

• a massive floating platform.

2. not settled in a definite place; fluctuating or variable

• the floating population that is migrating to the cities.

floating debt /ˈflōdiNG det/

noun

a debt that is repayable in the short term.
Compare with funded debt.

floating dock /ˈflōdiNG däk/

noun

a submersible floating structure used as a dry dock.

floating holiday

noun

1. a public holiday that does not fall on the same numeric date each year, such as the US Thanksgiving, which always falls on the fourth Thursday of November.

2. a paid day off from work, given as a substitution for a public holiday and typically taken on a day chosen by the employee.

floating kidney /ˈflōdiNG ˈkidnē/

noun

1. a condition in which the kidneys are abnormally movable.

2. a kidney which is abnormally movable.

floating-point /ˈflōdiNGˌpoint/

adjective

[Computing] denoting a mode of representing numbers as two sequences of bits, one representing the digits in the number and the other an exponent that determines the position of the radix point

• speeds of more than one million floating-point operations per second.

Often contrasted with fixed point (adjective).

floating rib /ˈflōdiNG rib/

noun

any of the lower ribs that are not attached directly to the breastbone.
Also called false rib.

floatplane /ˈflōtplān/

noun

an aircraft equipped with floats for landing on water; a seaplane.

float valve

noun

another term for ball valve.

floaty /ˈflōdē/

adjective

(especially of a woman's garment or a fabric) light and flimsy

• elegant floaty dresses.

floc /fläk/

I. noun

‹technical› a loosely clumped mass of fine particles.

– origin 1920s: abbreviation of flocculus.

floccinaucinihilipilification /ˌfläksəˌnôsəˌnīˌhiləˌpiləfiˈkāSHən/

I. noun

the action or habit of estimating something as worthless. (The word is used chiefly as a curiosity.).

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin flocci, nauci, nihili, pili (words meaning ‘at little value’) + -fication. The Latin elements were listed in a well-known rule of the Latin Grammar used at Eton College, an English public school.

floccose /ˈfläkōs/

I. adjective

[chiefly Botany] covered with or consisting of woolly tufts.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from late Latin floccosus, from Latin floccus ‘flock.’

flocculant /ˈfläkyələnt/

noun

a substance that promotes the clumping of particles, especially one used in treating waste water.

flocculate /ˈfläkyəˌlāt/

I. verb

‹technical› form or cause to form into small clumps or masses
[no obj.]

• it tends to flocculate in high salinities

• [with obj.] its ability to flocculate suspended silt.

II. derivatives

flocculation /ˌfläkyəˈlāSHən /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin flocculus ‘floccule’ + -ate^3.

floccule /ˈfläkyo͞ol/

I. noun

a small clump of material that resembles a tuft of wool.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin flocculus, diminutive of floccus ‘flock.’

flocculent /ˈfläkyələnt/

I. adjective

1. having or resembling tufts of wool

• the first snows of winter lay thick and flocculent.

2. having a loosely clumped texture

• a brown flocculent precipitate.

II. derivatives

flocculence

noun

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin floccus ‘tuft of wool’ + -ulent.

flocculus /ˈfläkyələs/

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] a small egg-shaped lobe on the undersurface of the cerebellum.

2. [Astronomy] a small cloudy wisp on the surface of the sun.

3. a floccule.

– origin late 18th cent.: modern Latin, diminutive of Latin floccus (see floccus).

floccus /ˈfläkəs/

I. noun

a tuft of wool or similar clump of fibers or filaments.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin, ‘lock or tuft of wool.’ Compare with flock^2.

flock^1 /fläk/

I. noun

1. a number of birds of one kind feeding, resting, or traveling together

• a flock of gulls.

2. a number of domestic animals, especially sheep, goats, or geese, that are kept together

• a flock of sheep.

3. (flocks) — large crowds of people

• flocks of young people hung around at twilight.

4. a group of children or students in someone's charge.

5. a Christian congregation or body of believers, especially one under the charge of a particular minister

• Thomas addressed his flock.

[alluding to the metaphor of Christ or a Christian pastor as a shepherd.]

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. congregate or mass in a flock or large group

• students flocked to spring break sites.

– origin Old English flocc, of unknown origin. The original sense was ‘a band or body of people’: this became obsolete, but has been reintroduced as a transferred use of the sense ‘a number of animals kept together.’

flock^2 /fläk / flocking

I. noun — [often as modifier]

1. a soft material for stuffing cushions, quilts, and other soft furnishings, made of wool refuse or torn-up cloth

• flock mattresses.

2. powdered wool or cloth, sprinkled on wallpaper, cloth, or metal to make a raised pattern.

3. a lock or tuft of wool or cotton.

II. derivatives

flocky /ˈfläkē /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French floc, from Latin floccus (see floccus).

Flodden, Battle of /ˈflädn / Flodden Field

a decisive battle of the Anglo-Scottish war of 1513, at Flodden, a hill near the Northumbrian village of Branxton in northeastern England. A Scottish army under James IV was defeated by a smaller but better-led English force and suffered heavy losses, including the king and most of his nobles.

floe /flō / ice floe

I. noun

a sheet of floating ice.

– origin early 19th cent. (superseding flake^1 in this sense): probably from Norwegian flo, from Old Norse fló ‘layer.’

flog /fläɡ/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. beat (someone) with a whip or stick as punishment or torture

• the stolen horses will be returned and the thieves flogged

• (as noun flogging) public floggings.

2. ‹informal› promote or talk about (something) repetitively or at excessive length

• rather than flogging one idea to death, they should be a lighthearted pop group.

3. (Brit.) ‹informal› sell or offer for sale

• he made a fortune flogging beads to hippies.

II. derivatives

flogger /ˈfläɡər /

noun

– origin late 17th cent. (originally slang): perhaps imitative, or from Latin flagellare ‘to whip,’ from flagellum ‘whip.’

flokati /flōˈkädē / flokati rug

I. noun

a Greek woven woolen rug with a thick loose pile.

– origin mid 20th cent.: from modern Greek phlokatē ‘peasant's blanket.’

flood /fləd/

I. noun

1. an overflowing of a large amount of water beyond its normal confines, especially over what is normally dry land

• in a thousand miles the flood destroyed every bridge

• people uprooted by drought or flood

• [as modifier] a flood barrier.

2. (the Flood) — the biblical flood brought by God upon the earth because of the wickedness of the human race (Gen. 6 ff.).

3. the inflow of the tide.

4. ‹literary› a river, stream, or sea.

5. an outpouring of tears or emotion

• Rose burst into such a flood of tears and sobs as I had never seen.

6. a very large quantity of people or things that appear or need to be dealt with

• a constant flood of callers.

7. short for floodlight.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — cover or submerge (a place or area) with water

• the dam burst, flooding a small town

• watching her father flood their backyard skating rink

• (as noun flooding) a serious risk of flooding.

2. [no obj.] — become covered or submerged with water

• part of the vessel flooded

• ‹figurative› Sarah's eyes flooded with tears.

3. (usu. be flooded out) — drive someone out of their home or business with a flood

• most of the families who have been flooded out will receive compensation.

4. (of a river or sea) become swollen and overflow (its banks)

• the river flooded its banks

• [no obj.] the river will flood if it gets much worse.

5. overfill the carburetor of (an engine) with fuel, causing the engine to fail to start.

6. [no obj.] — arrive in overwhelming amounts or quantities

• congratulatory messages flooded in

• his old fears came flooding back.

7. [with obj.] — overwhelm or swamp with large amounts or quantities

• our switchboard was flooded with calls.

8. [with obj.] — fill or suffuse completely

• she flooded the room with light.

III. phrases

be in (full) flood

a. (of a river) be swollen and overflowing its banks.

b. (be in full flood) — be progressing or talking vigorously or enthusiastically

• discussion was already in full flood and refused to be dammed.

– origin Old English flōd, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vloed and German Flut, also to flow.

floodgate /ˈflədˌɡāt/

noun

1. a gate that can be opened or closed to admit or exclude water, especially the lower gate of a lock.

2. (usu. the floodgates) — a last restraint holding back an outpouring of something powerful or substantial

• his lawsuit could open the floodgates for thousands of similar claims.

floodlight /ˈflədˌlīt/

I. noun

1. a large, powerful light, typically one of several used to illuminate a sports field, a stage, or the exterior of a building.

2. the illumination provided by a floodlight

• a tennis court where you can play by floodlight.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. floodlit)

1. illuminate (a building or outdoor area) with floodlights

• floodlit football fields.

floodplain /ˈflədplān/

noun

an area of low-lying ground adjacent to a river, formed mainly of river sediments and subject to flooding.

flood tide /ˈfləd ˈˌtīd/

noun

1. an incoming tide.

2. a powerful surge or flow of something

• the trickle of tourists has become a flood tide.

floodwater /ˈflədˌwôdər / floodwaters

noun

water overflowing as the result of a flood

• trying to track the rising floodwaters and coordinate relief efforts.

floodway /ˈflədˌwā/

noun

(N. Amer.) a channel built to take the floodwaters of a river

• the floodway is used every second spring on average.

floor /flôr/

I. noun

1. the lower surface of a room, on which one may walk

• he dropped the cup and it smashed on the floor

• the kitchen floor.

2. the bottom of the sea, a cave, or an area of land

• the ocean floor.

3. ‹informal› the ground

• the best way to play is to pass the ball on the floor.

4. the minimum level of prices or wages

• the dollar's floor against the yen.

5. all the rooms or areas on the same level of a building; a story

• his office was on the twenty-second floor

• [as modifier, in combination] a third-floor apartment.

6. (the floor) — (in a legislative assembly) the part of the house in which members sit and from which they speak.

7. the right or opportunity to speak next in debate

• other speakers have the floor.

8. (of the stock exchange) the large central hall where trading takes place.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. provide (a room or area) with a floor

• a hall floored in gleaming white oak

• (-floored) a stone-floored building.

2. ‹informal› knock (someone) to the ground, especially with a punch.

3. baffle or confound (someone) completely

• that question floored him.

III. phrases

1. cross the floor

see cross.

2. from the floor

(of a speech or question) delivered by an individual member at a meeting, not by a representative on the platform

• questions from the floor will be invited.

3. take the floor

a. begin to dance on a dance floor.

b. speak in a debate or assembly.

– origin Old English flōr, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vloer and German Flur.

floorboard /ˈflôrˌbôrd/

noun

1. a long plank making up part of a wooden floor in a building.

2. (N. Amer.) the floor of a motor vehicle

• the keys had fallen on the floorboard of her car.

floorcloth /ˈflôrklôTH/

noun

(N. Amer.) a thin canvas rug or similar light floor covering.

floor exercise

noun

a routine of gymnastic exercises performed without the use any of apparatus.

flooring /ˈflôriNG/

noun

the boards or other material of which a floor is made.

floor lamp /ˈflô(ə)r ˌlamp/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a tall lamp designed to stand on the floor.

floor leader

noun

(US) the leader of a party in a legislative assembly.

floorman /ˈflôrmən/

noun

a person who supervises the gaming tables in a casino.

floor manager /ˈflô(ə)r ˌmanəjər/

noun

1. the stage manager of a television production.

2. an employee in a large store who supervises other salespeople.

floorpan /ˈflôrpan/

noun

(chiefly Brit.) the lower part of the body of a motor vehicle, forming the floor of the passenger compartment.

floor plan /ˈflô(ə)r ˌplan/

noun

a scale diagram of the arrangement of rooms in one story of a building.

floor sample

noun

an article of merchandise that has been displayed in a store and that is offered for sale at a reduced price.

floor show /ˈflô(ə)r ˈˌSHō/

noun

an entertainment, such as singing or comedy, presented at a nightclub, restaurant, or similar venue.

floor-through apartment

noun

an apartment that occupies an entire floor of a building.

floorwalker /ˈflôrˌwôkər/

noun

(N. Amer.) a senior employee of a large store who assists customers and supervises salespeople.

floozy /ˈflo͞ozē / floozie, floosie

I. noun

‹informal› a girl or a woman who has a reputation for promiscuity.

– origin early 20th cent.: perhaps related to flossy or to dialect floosy ‘fluffy.’

flop /fläp/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — fall, move, or hang in a heavy, loose, and ungainly way

• black hair flopped across his forehead.

2. sit or lie down heavily or suddenly in a specified place, especially when very tired

• Liz flopped down into the armchair.

3. ‹informal› rest or sleep in a specified place

• I'm going to flop here for the night.

4. ‹informal› [chiefly Basketball] deliberately fall or stumble in order to give the appearance of being fouled by an opponent

• nearly everyone watching the game in Chicago believed James flopped

• (as noun flopping) the league introduced a system to penalize flopping.

5. [no obj.] — ‹informal› (of a performer or show) be completely unsuccessful; fail totally

• prime-time dramas that flopped in the US market.

II. noun

1. a heavy, loose, and ungainly movement, or a sound made by it

• they hit the ground with a flop.

2. ‹informal› (chiefly US) short for flophouse.

3. ‹informal› a total failure

• the play had been a flop.

– origin early 17th cent.: variant of flap.

-flop

I. combining form

[Computing] floating-point operations per second (used as a measure of computing power)

• a gigaflop computer.

– origin acronym; originally spelled -flops (s = second) but shortened to avoid misinterpretation as plural.

flophouse /ˈfläpˌhous/

noun

‹informal› (chiefly US) a cheap hotel or rooming house.

flopper /ˈfläpər/

noun

‹informal› [chiefly Basketball] a player who deliberately falls or stumbles in order to give the appearance of being fouled by an opponent

• because no one wants to reward a flopper, many referees are hesitant to call fouls.

floppy /ˈfläpē/

I. adjective

tending to hang or move in a limp, loose, or ungainly way

• the dog had floppy ears

• floppy hats.

II. noun

[Computing] short for floppy disk.

III. derivatives

1. floppily /ˈfläpəlē /

adverb

2. floppiness

noun

floppy disk //

noun

[Computing] a flexible removable magnetic disk, typically encased in hard plastic, used for storing data.

floptical /ˈfläptək(ə)l/

I. adjective

[Computing] ‹trademark› denoting or relating to a type of floppy-disk drive using a laser to position the read-write head.

II. noun

a floppy-disk drive that uses a laser to position the read-write head.

– origin 1980s: blend of floppy and optical.

flor /flôr/

I. noun

yeast allowed to develop in a whitish film on the surface of dry (fino) sherries and similar wines during fermentation.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Spanish, literally ‘flower.’

flor.

abbreviation

floruit.

flora /ˈflôrə/

I. noun

1. the plants of a particular region, habitat, or geological period

• the desert flora give way to oak woodlands

• the river's flora and fauna have been inventoried and protected.

Compare with fauna.

2. a treatise on or list of the plant life of a particular region or period.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Latin flos, flor- ‘flower.’

Flora /ˈflôrə / ‹Roman Mythology›

the goddess of flowering plants.

floral /ˈflôrəl/

I. adjective

1. of flowers

• celebrations of the season's floral abundance.

2. decorated with or depicting flowers

• a floral pattern.

3. [Botany] of flora or floras

• faunal and floral evolution.

II. noun

a fabric with a floral design.

III. derivatives

florally

adverb

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin flos, flor- ‘flower’ + -al.

Floréal /ˌflôrāˈäl/

I. noun

the eighth month of the French Republican calendar (1793–1805), originally running from April 20 to May 19.

– origin French, from Latin floreus ‘flowery,’ from flos, flor- ‘flower.’

Florence /ˈflôrəns/

I. a city in western central Italy, the capital of Tuscany, on the Arno River; pop. 365,659 (2008). Florence was a leading center of the Italian Renaissance, especially under the rule of the Medici family during the 15th century.
Italian name Firenze.

II. an industrial and commercial city in northwestern Alabama, on the Tennessee River, east of Muscle Shoals; pop. 37,877 (est. 2008).

III. a city in northern Kentucky, southwest of Covington; pop. 27,745 (est. 2008).

IV. a commercial city in northeastern South Carolina; pop. 31,570 (est. 2008).

Florentine /ˈflôrəntēn/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to Florence.

2. (florentine) [postpositive] — (of food) served or prepared on a bed of spinach

• eggs florentine.

II. noun

1. a native or citizen of Florence.

2. (florentine) — a cookie consisting mainly of nuts and preserved fruit, coated on one side with chocolate.

– origin Middle English (as a noun): from French Florentin(e) or Latin Florentinus, from Florentia ‘Florence.’

Flores /ˈflôrəs/

the largest of the Lesser Sunda Islands in Indonesia.

florescence /flôˈresns fləˈresns/

I. noun

the process of flowering

• the Hieracia are erect throughout the process of florescence

• ‹figurative› a spectacular cultural florescence.

– origin late 18th cent.: from modern Latin florescentia, from Latin florescere ‘begin to flower,’ based on flos, flor- ‘flower.’

floret /ˈflôrət/

I. noun

1. [Botany] one of the small flowers making up a composite flower head.

2. [Botany] one of the flowering stems making up a head of cauliflower or broccoli.

3. [Botany] a small flower.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin flos, flor- ‘flower’ + -et^1.

Florey, Howard Walter /ˈflôrē/

Baron (1898–1968), Australian pathologist. With Ernst Chain, he isolated and purified penicillin. Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine (1945), shared with Chain and Alexander Fleming.

Florianópolis /ˌflôrēəˈnôpəlis/

a city in southern Brazil, on the Atlantic coast; pop. 396,723 (2007).

floriated /ˈflôrēˌādəd/

adjective

decorated with floral designs.

floribunda /ˌflôrəˈbəndə/

I. noun

a plant, especially a rose, that bears dense clusters of flowers.

– origin late 19th cent.: modern Latin, feminine (used as a noun) of floribundus ‘freely flowering,’ from Latin flos, flor- ‘flower,’ influenced by Latin abundus ‘copious.’

florican /ˈflôrəˌkan/

I. noun

a small southern Asian bustard (bird), the male of which has mainly black plumage with white wings.
[Family Otidae: the Bengal florican (Houbaropsis begalensis) and the lesser florican (Sypheotides indica).]

– origin late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

floriculture /ˈflôrəˌkəlCHər/

I. noun

the cultivation of flowers.

II. derivatives

1. floricultural /ˈflôrəˌkəlCH(ə)rəl /

adjective

2. floriculturist /ˌflôrəˈkəlCH(ə)rəst /

noun

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin flos, flor- ‘flower’ + culture, on the pattern of horticulture.

florid /ˈflôrid ˈflärid/

I. adjective

1. having a red or flushed complexion

• a stout man with a florid face.

2. elaborately or excessively intricate or complicated

• florid operatic-style music was out.

3. (of language) using unusual words or complicated rhetorical constructions

• the florid prose of the nineteenth century.

4. [Medicine] (of a disease or its manifestations) occurring in a fully developed form

• florid symptoms of psychiatric disorder.

II. derivatives

1. floridity /fləˈridədē /

noun

2. floridly

adverb

3. floridness

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin floridus, from flos, flor- ‘flower.’

Florida /ˈflôridə/

a state in the southeastern US, on a peninsula that extends into the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico; pop. 18,328,340 (est. 2008); capital, Tallahassee; statehood, Mar. 3, 1845 (27). Explored by Ponce de León in 1513, it was purchased from Spain by the US in 1819. It is a popular resort and retirement area.

Florida Keys

a chain of small islands off the tip of the Florida peninsula. Linked to each other and to the mainland by a series of causeways and bridges that form the Overseas Highway, the islands extend southwest over a distance of 100 miles (160 km).

Florida room

noun

(N. Amer.) another term for sunroom.

Florida torreya

noun

another term for stinking cedar.

Floridian /ˈflôridēən/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of the US state of Florida or its inhabitants

• a famous Floridian businessman.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of the US state of Florida

• it made me very proud to be a Floridian.

floriferous /flôˈrifərəs/

I. adjective

(of a plant) producing many flowers.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin florifer (from flos, flor- ‘flower’ + -fer ‘producing’) + -ous.

florilegium /ˌflôrəˈlējēəm/

I. noun

a collection of literary extracts; an anthology.

– origin early 17th cent.: modern Latin, literally ‘bouquet’ (from Latin flos, flor- ‘flower’ + legere ‘gather’), translation of Greek anthologion (see anthology).

florin /ˈflôrən ˈflärən/

I. noun

1. a former British coin and monetary unit worth two shillings.

2. a foreign coin of gold or silver, especially a Dutch guilder.

3. the basic monetary unit of Aruba, equal to 100 cents.

– origin via Old French from Italian fiorino, diminutive of fiore ‘flower,’ from Latin flos, flor-. The word originally denoted a gold coin issued in Florence, bearing a fleur-de-lis (the city's emblem) on the reverse.

Florissant /ˈflôrəsənt/

a historic city in east central Missouri, northwest of St. Louis; pop. 50,561 (est. 2008).

florist /ˈflôrəst/

I. noun

a person who sells and arranges plants and cut flowers.

II. derivatives

floristry /-trē /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin flos, flor- ‘flower,’ on the pattern of French fleuriste or Italian florista.

floristic /fləˈristik/

I. adjective

[Botany] relating to the study of the distribution of plants.

II. derivatives

floristically /-(ə)lē /

adverb

floristics /fləˈristiks/

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. [Botany] the branch of phytogeography concerned with the study of plant species present in an area.

floruit /ˈflôr(y)əwət / fl., flor.

I. verb

used in conjunction with a specified period or set of dates to indicate when a particular historical figure lived, worked, or was most active.

II. noun

the period during which a historical figure lived or worked

• they place Nicander's floruit in the middle of the 2nd century BC.

– origin mid 19th cent.: Latin, literally ‘he or she flourished.’

flory /ˈflôrē / fleury

I. adjective — [predic. or postpositive]

1. [Heraldry] decorated with fleurs-de-lis.

2. [Heraldry] (of a cross) having the end of each limb splayed out into three pointed lobes.

II. phrases

flory counter-flory

decorated with fleurs-de-lis set in alternating directions.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French floure, from flour ‘flower.’

floss /flôs fläs/

I. noun

1. the rough silk enveloping a silkworm's cocoon.

2. (also floss silk) — untwisted silk fibers used in embroidery.

3. the silky down in corn and other plants

• milkweed floss.

4. short for dental floss.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. clean between (one's teeth) with dental floss

• I flossed my teeth

• [no obj.] you must floss well.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French (soie) floche ‘floss (silk),’ from Old French flosche ‘down, nap of velvet,’ of unknown origin.

flossy /ˈflôsē ˈfläsē/

adjective

1. of or like floss

• short flossy curls.

2. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› excessively showy

• the flossy gleam of a cheap suit

• she cultivated flossy friends.

flotation /flōˈtāSH(ə)n / floatation

I. noun

1. the action of floating in a liquid or gas

• the body form is modified to assist in flotation and propulsion.

2. the process of offering a company's shares for sale on the stock market for the first time.

3. the process of separating small particles of various materials by treatment with chemicals in water in order to make some particles adhere to air bubbles and rise to the surface for removal while others remain in the water.

4. the capacity to float; buoyancy.

– origin early 19th cent.: alteration of floatation (from float) on the pattern of French flottaison. The spelling flot- was influenced by flotilla.

flotation tank

noun

a lightproof, soundproof tank of salt water in which a person floats as a form of deep relaxation.

flotilla /flōˈtilə/

I. noun

a fleet of ships or boats

• a flotilla of cargo boats.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Spanish, diminutive of flota ‘fleet.’

flotsam /ˈflätsəm/

I. noun

1. the wreckage of a ship or its cargo found floating on or washed up by the sea.
Compare with jetsam.

2. people or things that have been rejected and are regarded as worthless

• the room was cleared of boxes and other flotsam.

II. phrases

flotsam and jetsam

useless or discarded objects.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Anglo-Norman French floteson, from floter ‘to float.’

FLOTUS /ˈflōdəs/

abbreviation

First Lady of the United States.

flounce^1 /flouns/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. go or move in an exaggeratedly impatient or angry manner

• he stood up in a fury and flounced out.

2. move with exaggerated motions

• she flounced around, playing the tart and flirting.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. an exaggerated action, typically intended to express one's annoyance or impatience

• she left the room with a flounce.

– origin mid 16th cent.: perhaps of Scandinavian origin and related to Norwegian flunsa ‘hurry,’ or perhaps symbolic, like bounce or pounce.

flounce^2 /flouns/

I. noun

a wide ornamental strip of material gathered and sewn to a piece of fabric, typically on a skirt or dress; a frill.

II. verb — (as adj. flounced)

1. trimmed with a flounce or flounces

• a flounced skirt.

III. derivatives

flouncy /ˈflounsē /

adjective

– origin early 18th cent.: from an alteration of obsolete frounce ‘a fold or pleat,’ from Old French fronce, of Germanic origin; related to ruck^2.

flounder^1 /ˈfloundər/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. struggle or stagger helplessly or clumsily in water or mud

• he was floundering about in the shallow offshore waters.

2. struggle mentally; show or feel great confusion

• she floundered, not knowing quite what to say.

3. be in serious difficulty

• many firms are floundering.

II. derivatives

flounderer

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: perhaps a blend of founder^3 and blunder, or perhaps symbolic, fl- frequently beginning words connected with swift or sudden movement. / usage: See usage at founder^3.

flounder^2 /ˈfloundər/

I. noun

1. a small flatfish that typically occurs in shallow coastal water.
[Families Pleuronectidae and Bothidae: several species, in particular the edible Platichthys flesus of European waters.]

2. (flounders) — a collective term for flatfishes other than soles.
See flatfish.

– origin Middle English: from Old French flondre, probably of Scandinavian origin and related to Danish flynder.

flour /ˈflou(ə)r/

I. noun

1. a powder obtained by grinding grain, typically wheat, and used to make bread, cakes, and pastry.

2. fine soft powder obtained by grinding the seeds or roots of starchy vegetables

• manioc flour.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. sprinkle (something, especially a work surface or cooking utensil) with a thin layer of flour

• grease and flour two round cake pans.

2. (US) grind (grain) into flour.

– origin Middle English: a specific use of flower in the sense ‘the best part,’ used originally to mean ‘the finest quality of ground wheat’ The spelling flower remained in use alongside flour until the early 19th cent.

flour beetle

noun

a small brown darkling beetle that is a widespread pest of flour and other cereal products.
[Genera Tribolium, Gnathocerus, and others, family Tenebrionidae: several species.]

flourish /ˈfləriSH/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — (of a person, animal, or other living organism) grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way, especially as the result of a particularly favorable environment

• wild plants flourish on the banks of the lake.

2. develop rapidly and successfully

• the organization has continued to flourish.

3. [with adverbial] — (of a person) be working or at the height of one's career during a specified period

• the caricaturist and wit who flourished in the early years of this century.

4. [with obj.] — (of a person) wave (something) around to attract the attention of others

• “Happy New Year!” he yelled, flourishing a bottle of whiskey.

II. noun

1. a bold or extravagant gesture or action, made especially to attract the attention of others

• with a flourish, she ushered them inside.

2. an instance of suddenly performing or developing in an impressively successful way

• the Bulldogs produced a late second-half flourish.

3. an elaborate rhetorical or literary expression.

4. an ornamental flowing curve in handwriting or scrollwork

• spiky gothic letters with an emphatic flourish beneath them.

5. [Music] a fanfare played by brass instruments

• a flourish of trumpets.

6. an ornate musical passage.

7. an improvised addition played especially at the beginning or end of a composition.

III. derivatives

flourisher

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French floriss-, lengthened stem of florir, based on Latin florere, from flos, flor- ‘a flower.’ The noun senses ‘ornamental curve’ and ‘florid expression’ come from an obsolete sense of the verb, ‘adorn’ (originally with flowers).

flourishing /ˈflərəSHiNG/

adjective

developing rapidly and successfully; thriving

• a flourishing career.

flour moth Mediterranean flour moth

noun

a grayish-yellow moth, the caterpillar of which is a pest of flour and cereal products.
[Ephestia kuehniella, family Pyralidae.]

floury /ˈflou(ə)rē/

I. adjective

1. covered with flour

• Maggie wiped her floury hands on her apron.

2. of or resembling flour

• floury white makeup.

II. derivatives

flouriness

noun

flout /flout/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. openly disregard (a rule, law or convention)

• these same companies still flout basic ethical practices.

2. [no obj.] — ‹archaic› mock; scoff

• the women pointed and flouted at her.

– origin mid 16th cent.: perhaps from Dutch fluiten ‘whistle, play the flute, hiss (in derision’); German dialect pfeifen auf, literally ‘pipe at,’ has a similar extended meaning. / usage: Flout and flaunt do not have the same meaning: see usage at flaunt.

flow /flō/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a fluid, gas, or electricity) move along or out steadily and continuously in a current or stream

• from here the river flows north

• a cross-current of electricity seemed to flow between them

• ventilation channels keep the air flowing.

2. (of the sea or a tidal river) move toward the land; rise.
Compare with ebb.

3. [with adverbial of direction] — go from one place to another in a steady stream, typically in large numbers

• the firm is hoping the orders will keep flowing in.

4. (of clothing or hair) hang loosely in an easy and graceful manner

• her red hair flowed over her shoulders.

5. proceed or be produced smoothly, continuously, and effortlessly

• talk flowed freely around the table.

6. be available in copious quantities

• their talk and laughter grew louder as the excellent brandy flowed.

7. (flow from) — result from; be caused by

• there are certain advantages that may flow from that decision.

8. (of a solid) undergo a permanent change of shape under stress, without melting.

II. noun

1. [in sing.] — the action or fact of moving along in a steady, continuous stream

• the flow of water into the pond.

2. the rate or speed at which something flows

• under the ford the river backs up, giving a deep sluggish flow.

3. the rise of a tide or a river.
Compare with ebb.

4. a steady, continuous stream of something

• she eased the car into the flow of traffic.

5. the gradual permanent deformation of a solid under stress, without melting.

III. phrases

1. go with the flow

‹informal› be relaxed and accept a situation, rather than trying to alter or control it.

2. in full flow

a. talking fluently and easily and showing no sign of stopping.

b. performing vigorously and enthusiastically

• Richardson was run out when he was in full flow.

3. in mid flow

in the process of talking fluently

• the diplomats stopped her in mid flow, explaining they had to go to an important meeting.

– origin Old English flōwan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vloeien, also to flood.

flow chart /ˈflō ˌCHärt / flowchart, flow diagram

noun

1. a diagram of the sequence of movements or actions of people or things involved in a complex system or activity.

2. a graphical representation of a computer program in relation to its sequence of functions (as distinct from the data it processes).

flower /ˈflou(ə)r/

I. noun

1. the seed-bearing part of a plant, consisting of reproductive organs (stamens and carpels) that are typically surrounded by a brightly colored corolla (petals) and a green calyx (sepals).

2. a brightly colored and conspicuous example of the flower of a plant together with its stalk, typically used with others as a decoration or gift

• I stopped to buy Bridget some flowers.

3. the state or period in which a plant's flowers have developed and opened

• the roses were just coming into flower.

4. (the flower of) — the finest individuals out of a number of people or things

• the flower of college track athletes.

5. the period of optimum development

• a young policeman in the flower of his life gunned down.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a plant) produce flowers; bloom

• these daisies can flower as late as October.

2. [with obj.] — induce (a plant) to produce flowers.

3. be in or reach an optimum stage of development; develop fully and richly

• it is there that the theory of deconstruction has flowered most extravagantly

• (as noun flowering) the flowering of Viennese intellectual life.

III. derivatives

1. flowerless /ˈflou(ə)rləs /

adjective

2. flowerlike /-ˌlīk /

adjective

– origin Middle English flour, from Old French flour, flor, from Latin flos, flor-. The original spelling was no longer in use by the late 17th cent. except in its specialized sense ‘ground grain’ (see flour).

flowerage /ˈflou(ə)rij/

noun

the process of coming into flower

• the flowerage of Romanticism.

flower arrangement

noun

a decorative display of cut flowers

• wild flowers make for some of the prettiest flower arrangements.

flower arranger

noun

a person who creates decorative displays with cut flowers

• the spectacular displays were put up by 400 flower arrangers.

flower arranging

noun

the craft or activity of creating attractive displays with cut flowers

• she runs courses in flower arranging

• [as modifier] flower-arranging skills.

flower bed /ˈflou(ə)r ˌbed/

noun

a garden plot in which flowers are grown.

flower beetle

noun

any of a number of beetles that frequent flowers, in particular
[● an elongated beetle with soft wing cases (chiefly of the family Melyridae). ● a day-flying chafer (family Scarabaeidae).]

flower child /ˈflou(ə)r ˌCHīld/

noun

‹historical› a hippie who wore flowers as symbols of peace and love.

flowered /ˈflou(ə)rd/

adjective

1. (especially of fabric or a garment) having a floral design

• flowered curtains.

2. [in combination] — (of a plant) bearing flowers of a specified kind or number

• yellow-flowered japonica.

flowerer /ˈflou(ə)rər/

noun

a plant that flowers at a specified time or in a specified manner

• bedding plants and other summer flowerers.

flower essence

noun

a substance prepared from a flowering plant and used therapeutically for its alleged beneficial effects on mood, outlook, etc.

floweret /ˈflouəret/

noun

a floret, especially of cauliflower or broccoli.

flower girl

noun

1. a young girl who carries flowers or scatters them in front of the bride at a wedding; a child bridesmaid.

2. (Brit.) ‹dated› a woman or girl who sells flowers, especially in the street.

flower head /ˈflou(ə)r ˌhed / flowerhead

noun

a compact mass of flowers at the top of a stem, especially a capitulum.

flowering /ˈflou(ə)riNG/

adjective

1. (of a plant) in bloom

• a basket of flowering plants.

2. capable of producing flowers, especially in contrast to a similar plant with the flowers inconspicuous or absent

• flowering dogwood.

3. [in combination] — producing flowers at a specified time or of a specified type

• winter-flowering heathers.

flowering cherry

noun

an ornamental tree grown for its spring blossom, the fruit not being considered edible.
[Genus Prunus, family Rosaceae: several species, in particular P. serrulata and its hybrids.]

flowering currant

noun

an ornamental shrub grown for its clusters of small pinkish-red flowers.
[Genus Ribes, family Grossulariaceae: several species, in particular the red-flowering currant (R. sanguineum).]

flowering plant

noun

a plant that produces flowers; an angiosperm.

flowering plum

noun

another term for purple-leaf plum.

flowering quince

noun

an Asian shrub of the rose family, with bright red flowers followed by round white, green, or yellow edible fruits.
Also called Japanese quince, japonica. [Genus Chaenomeles, family Rosaceae: several species, in particular C. speciosa, which is grown as an ornamental.]

flowering rush

noun

a tall rushlike plant with long narrow leaves and pinkish flowers, living in shallow slow-moving water. Native to Eurasia, it has become established in North America.
[Butomus umbellatus, the only member of the family Butomaceae.]

flowerpecker /ˈflou(ə)rˌpekər/

noun

a small songbird with a short bill and tail, feeding chiefly on insects in flowers and found in Australasia and Southeast Asia.
[Family Dicaeidae (the flowerpecker family): two genera, esp. Dicaeum. The flowerpecker family also includes the pardalotes and the mistletoe bird.]

flowerpot /ˈflou(ə)rˌpät/

noun

a small container, typically with sloping sides and made from plastic or earthenware, used for growing a plant in.

flower power /ˈflou(ə)r ˈˌpou(ə)r/

noun

‹historical› the ideas of the flower children, especially the promotion of peace and love as means of changing the world.

flower show

noun

an event at which flowers are displayed and judged for awards

• the Glass House plays host to the prestigious annual flower show.

flowers of sulfur

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. [Chemistry] a fine yellow powdered form of sulfur produced by sublimation.

flowers of zinc

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. finely powdered zinc oxide.

flowery /ˈflou(ə)rē/

I. adjective

1. full of, resembling, or smelling of flowers

• a flowery meadow

• flowery wallpaper.

2. (of a style of speech or writing) full of elaborate or literary words and phrases

• flowery language.

II. derivatives

floweriness /ˈflou(ə)rēnəs /

noun

flowing /ˈflōiNG/

I. adjective

1. (especially of long hair or clothing) hanging or draping loosely and gracefully

• a long flowing gown of lavender silk.

2. (of a line or contour) smoothly continuous

• the flowing curves of the lawn.

3. (of language, movement, or style) graceful and fluent

• a flowing prose style.

II. derivatives

flowingly

adverb

flowmeter /ˈflōˌmēdər/

noun

an instrument for measuring the rate of flow of a fluid, especially through a pipe.

flown /flōn/

past participle of fly^1.

flowsheet /ˈflōˌSHēt/

noun

another term for flow chart.

flowstone /ˈflōstōn/

noun

[Geology] rock deposited as a thin sheet by precipitation from flowing water.

flu /flo͞o/

I. noun

short for influenza:

• I had a bad case of the flu.

II. derivatives

flulike

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: abbreviation.

flub /fləb / ‹N. Amer. informal›

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. botch or bungle (something)

• she glanced at her notes and flubbed her lines

• [no obj.] don't flub again.

II. noun

a thing badly or clumsily done; a blunder

• the textbooks are littered with flubs.

– origin 1920s: of unknown origin.

fluctuant /ˈfləkCHo͞oənt/

I. adjective

‹literary› fluctuating; unstable.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Old French, ‘undulating,’ from Latin fluctuare ‘undulate.’

fluctuate /ˈfləkCHəˌwāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. rise and fall irregularly in number or amount

• trade with other countries tends to fluctuate from year to year

• (as adj. fluctuating) a fluctuating level of demand.

– origin mid 17th cent. (earlier (late Middle English) as fluctuation): from Latin fluctuat- ‘undulated,’ from the verb fluctuare, from fluctus ‘flow, current, wave,’ from fluere ‘to flow.’

fluctuation /ˌfləkCHəˈwāSH(ə)n/

noun

an irregular rising and falling in number or amount; a variation

• fluctuations in the yearly values could be caused by a variety of factors.

• the current fluctuation in energy prices.

flue /flo͞o/

I. noun

1. a duct for smoke and waste gases produced by a fire, a gas heater, a power station, or other fuel-burning installation

• no air rises up the chimney, usually because the flue is blocked

• [as modifier] flue gases.

2. a channel for conveying heat.

– origin late Middle English (denoting the mouthpiece of a hunting horn): of unknown origin. Current senses date from the late 16th cent.

flue-cure /ˈflo͞oˌkyo͝o(ə)r/

verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. flue-cured)

1. cure (tobacco) using heat from pipes or flues connected to a furnace.

fluence /ˈflo͞oəns/

I. noun

[Physics] a stream of particles crossing a unit area, usually expressed as the number of particles per second.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘a flowing, a stream’): from French, from Latin fluentia, from fluere ‘to flow.’

fluency /ˈflo͞oənsē/

I. noun

1. the quality or condition of being fluent, in particular

2. the ability to speak or write a foreign language easily and accurately

• fluency in Spanish is essential.

3. the ability to express oneself easily and articulately.

4. gracefulness and ease of movement or style

• the horse was jumping with breathtaking fluency.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin fluentia, from fluere ‘to flow.’

fluent /ˈflo͞oənt/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) able to express oneself easily and articulately

• a fluent speaker and writer on technical subjects.

2. (of a person) able to speak or write a particular foreign language easily and accurately

• she became fluent in French and German.

3. (of a foreign language) spoken accurately and with facility

• he spoke fluent Spanish.

4. (of speech, language, movement, or style) smoothly graceful and easy

• his style of play was fast and fluent.

5. able to flow freely; fluid

• a fluent discharge from the nose.

– origin late 16th cent. (also in the literal sense ‘flowing freely or abundantly’): from Latin fluent- ‘flowing,’ from the verb fluere.

fluently /ˈflo͞oəntlē/

adverb

1. with an ability to express oneself easily and articulately

• he writes fluently and authoritatively

• she speaks fluently and convincingly on the need for more controls.

2. (with reference to speaking or reading a particular foreign language) with ease and accuracy

• children learned to read fluently by the end of the year

• he can converse fluently in Filipino.

3. in a smoothly graceful and effortless manner

• if they move their bow fluently throughout those 4 octaves, then they are good violinists

• Moscow Flyer jumped fluently at Aintree to record a six-length victory.

4. in a way that progresses smoothly

• the game ran fluently.

flue pipe /ˈflo͞o ˌpīp/

noun

1. a pipe acting as a flue.

2. an organ pipe into which the air enters directly without striking a reed.

flue stop

noun

an organ stop for a set of flue pipes.

fluff /fləf/

I. noun

1. soft fibers from fabrics such as wool or cotton that accumulate in small light clumps

• he brushed his sleeve to remove the fluff.

2. any soft downy substance, especially the fur or feathers of a young mammal or bird.

3. entertainment or writing perceived as trivial or superficial

• the movie is a piece of typical Hollywood fluff.

4. ‹informal› a mistake made in speaking or playing music, or by an actor in delivering lines.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (something) appear fuller and softer, typically by shaking or brushing it

• I fluffed up the pillows.

2. ‹informal› fail to perform or accomplish (something) successfully or well (used especially in a sporting or acting context)

• the extra fluffed his only line.

– origin late 18th cent.: probably a dialect alteration of 16th-cent. flue ‘down, nap, fluff,’ apparently from Flemish vluwe.

fluffy /ˈfləfē/

I. adjective

1. of, like, or covered with fluff

• fluffy white clouds

• a fluffy towel.

2. (of food) light in texture and containing air

• cream the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy.

3. ‹informal› lacking substance, depth, or seriousness

• the commercial wallows in soft, fluffy, feel-good territory.

4. (of a person, especially a woman) frivolous, silly, or vague

• fluffy blondes in leopard-skin pedal pushers.

II. derivatives

1. fluffily /ˈfləfəlē /

adverb

2. fluffiness /ˈfləfēnəs /

noun

flugelhorn /ˈflo͞oɡəlˌhôrn / flügelhorn, fluegelhorn

I. noun

a valved brass musical instrument like a cornet but with a mellower tone.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from German Flügelhorn, from Flügel ‘wing’ + Horn ‘horn.’

fluid /ˈflo͞oid/

I. noun

a substance that has no fixed shape and yields easily to external pressure; a gas or (especially) a liquid

• we all need several glasses of fluid a day

• a cleaning fluid.

II. adjective

1. (of a substance) able to flow easily

• the paint is more fluid than tube watercolors

• a fluid medium.

2. not settled or stable; likely or able to change

• our plans are still fluid

• the fluid political situation of the 1930s.

3. smoothly elegant or graceful

• her movements were fluid and beautiful to watch.

4. (of a clutch or coupling) using a liquid to transmit power.

III. derivatives

1. fluidic /ˈflo͞oˈidik /

adjective

2. fluidly

adverb

– origin late Middle English (as an adjective): from French fluide or Latin fluidus, from fluere ‘to flow.’

fluidics /ˌflo͞oˈidiks/

plural noun — [often treated as sing.]

1. the study and technique of using small interacting flows and fluid jets for functions usually performed by electronic devices.

fluidity /flo͞oˈidədē/

noun

1. the ability of a substance to flow easily

• lead especially assists in the fluidity of the molten metal.

2. smooth elegance or grace

• they moved with supreme skill and graceful fluidity.

3. the state of being unsettled or unstable; changeability

• tactical considerations can change rapidly given the fluidity of the situation.

fluidize /ˈflo͞oəˌdīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹technical› cause (a finely divided solid) to acquire the characteristics of a fluid by passing a gas upward through it.

II. derivatives

fluidization /ˌflo͞oədəˈzāSH(ə)n ˌflo͞oəˌdīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

fluidized bed

noun

a layer of a fluidized solid, used in chemical processes and in the efficient burning of coal for power generation.

fluid mechanics /ˈflo͞oid məˈkaniks/

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the branch of mechanics dealing with the properties of fluids in various states and with their reaction to forces acting upon them.

fluid ounce /ˈˌflo͞oid ˈˌouns / fl. oz.

noun

1. (US) a unit of capacity equal to one sixteenth of a US pint (approximately 0.03 liter).

2. (Brit.) a unit of capacity equal to one twentieth of a pint (approximately 0.028 liter).

fluidram /ˈflo͞oiˌdram/

noun

(US) a fluid drachm.
See drachm.

fluke^1 /flo͞ok/

I. noun

unlikely chance occurrence, especially a surprising piece of luck

• their triumph was no fluke.

– origin mid 19th cent. (originally a term in games such as billiards denoting a lucky stroke): perhaps a dialect word.

fluke^2 /flo͞ok/

I. noun

1. a parasitic flatworm that typically has suckers and hooks for attachment to the host. Some species are of veterinary or medical importance.
[Classes Trematoda and Monogenea, phylum Platyhelminthes. See digenean and monogenean.]

2. ‹chiefly dialect› (N. Amer.) a flatfish, especially a flounder.

– origin Old English flōc (sense 2), of Germanic origin; related to German flach ‘flat.’

fluke^3 /flo͞ok/

I. noun

1. a broad triangular plate on the arm of an anchor.

2. either of the lobes of a whale's tail.

– origin mid 16th cent.: perhaps from fluke^2 (because of the shape).

fluky /ˈflo͞okē / flukey

I. adjective

obtained or achieved more by chance than skill

• a fluky goal.

II. derivatives

1. flukily /-kilē /

adverb

2. flukiness

noun

flu-like

adjective

(of an illness) resembling influenza

• she went to bed complaining of severe flulike symptoms.

flume /flo͞om/

I. noun

1. a deep narrow channel or ravine with a stream running through it.

2. an artificial channel conveying water, typically used for transporting logs or timber.

3. a water-chute ride at an amusement park.

– origin Middle English (denoting a river or stream): from Old French flum, from Latin flumen ‘river,’ from fluere ‘to flow.’ The sense ‘artificial channel’ dates from the mid 18th cent.; ‘water chute for amusement’ is a late 20th-cent. usage.

flummery /ˈfləmərē/

I. noun

1. empty compliments; nonsense

• she hated the flummery of public relations.

2. a sweet dish made with beaten eggs, milk, sugar, and flavorings.

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting a dish made with oatmeal or wheatmeal boiled to a jelly): from Welsh llymru; perhaps related to llymrig ‘soft, slippery.’

flummox /ˈfləməks/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be flummoxed)

1. ‹informal› perplex (someone) greatly; bewilder

• he was completely flummoxed by the question.

– origin mid 19th cent.: probably of dialect origin; compare with dialect flummock ‘to make untidy, confuse.’

flummoxed /ˈfləməkst/

adjective

bewildered or perplexed

• he became flummoxed and speechless.

flump /fləmp/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. fall or sit down heavily

• he went off to flump into a chair.

2. [with obj.] — set or throw (something) down heavily

• Ellie flumped her hands down on her sewing.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. the action or sound of a heavy fall

• the rocks hit the ground with a flump.

– origin early 17th cent.: imitative; compare with plump^2.

flung /fləNG/

past and past participle of fling.

flunk /fləNGk / ‹informal›

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) fail to reach the required standard in (an examination, test, or course of study)

• I flunked biology in the tenth grade

• [no obj.] I didn't flunk but I didn't do too well.

2. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) judge (a student or examination candidate) to have failed to reach the required standard

• the teacher flunked thirteen third-graders.

3. [no obj.] (flunk out) — ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) (of a student) leave or be dismissed from school or college as a result of failing to reach the required standard

• he had flunked out of college.

– origin early 19th cent. (in the general sense ‘back down, fail utterly’): perhaps related to funk^1 or to flink ‘be a coward,’ perhaps a variant of flinch.

flunky /ˈfləNGkē / flunkey

I. noun

1. ‹chiefly derogatory› a liveried manservant or footman.

2. ‹chiefly derogatory› a person who performs relatively menial tasks for someone else, especially obsequiously.

II. derivatives

flunkyism /-ˌizəm /

noun

– origin mid 18th cent. (originally Scots): perhaps from flank in the sense ‘a person who stands at one's flank.’

fluoresce /ˌflo͝oəˈres/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. shine or glow brightly due to fluorescence

• the molecules fluoresce when excited by ultraviolet radiation.

– origin late 19th cent.: back-formation from fluorescence.

fluorescein /ˌflo͝oəˈresēən flôˈresēən/

I. noun

[Chemistry] an orange dye with a yellowish-green fluorescence, used as an indicator and tracer.
[A derivative of resorcinol and phthalic anhydride; chem. formula: C_20H_12O_5.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from fluorescence + -in^1.

fluorescence /flo͝o(ə)ˈresəns flôrˈesəns/

I. noun

1. the visible or invisible radiation emitted by certain substances as a result of incident radiation of a shorter wavelength such as X-rays or ultraviolet light.

2. the property of absorbing light of short wavelength and emitting light of longer wavelength.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from fluorspar (which fluoresces), on the pattern of opalescence.

fluorescent /ˌflo͝o(ə)ˈresənt flôrˈesənt/

I. adjective

1. (of a substance) having or showing fluorescence

• a fluorescent dye.

2. containing a fluorescent tube

• fluorescent lighting.

3. vividly colorful

• a fluorescent T-shirt.

II. noun

a fluorescent tube or lamp.

fluorescent screen

noun

a transparent screen coated with fluorescent material to show images from X-rays.

fluorescent tube fluorescent bulb, fluorescent lamp

noun

a glass tube that radiates light when phosphor on its inside surface is made to fluoresce by ultraviolet radiation from mercury vapor.

fluoridate /ˈflo͝orəˌdāt ˈflôrəˌdāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. add traces of fluorides to (something, especially a water supply)
(as adj. fluoridated)

• fluoridated toothpaste.

II. derivatives

fluoridation /flo͝orəˈdāSH(ə)n flôrəˈdāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin 1940s: back-formation from earlier fluoridation.

fluoride /ˈflo͝orˌīd ˈflôrˌīd/

I. noun

1. [Chemistry] a compound of fluorine with another element or group, especially a salt of the anion F− or an organic compound with fluorine bonded to an alkyl group.

2. [Chemistry] sodium fluoride or another fluorine-containing salt added to water supplies or toothpaste in order to reduce tooth decay.

– origin early 19th cent.: from fluorine + -ide.

fluorinate /ˈflo͝oərənāt ˈflôrəˌnāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Chemistry] introduce fluorine into (a compound).

2. [Chemistry] another term for fluoridate.

II. derivatives

fluorination /ˌflo͝orəˈnāSHən, ˌflôr- /

noun

fluorine /ˈflo͝orˌēn flôrˌēn/

I. noun

(Symbol: F) — the chemical element of atomic number 9, a poisonous pale yellow gas of the halogen series. It is the most reactive of all the elements, causing severe burns on contact with skin.

– origin early 19th cent.: from fluor (see fluorspar) + -ine^4.

fluorite /ˈflo͝oərīt ˈflôˌrīt/

I. noun

a mineral consisting of calcium fluoride that typically occurs as cubic crystals, colorless when pure but often colored by impurities.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from fluor (see fluorspar) + -ite^1.

fluoro-

combining form

1. representing fluorine.

2. representing fluorescence.

fluorocarbon /ˌflo͝oərōˈkärbən/

noun

[Chemistry] a compound formed by replacing one or more of the hydrogen atoms in a hydrocarbon with fluorine atoms.

fluorochrome /ˈflo͝orəˌkrōm, ˈflôr-/

noun

a chemical that fluoresces, especially one used as a label in biological research.

fluorography /flo͝orˈäɡrəfē, flôr-/

I. noun

photography in which the image is formed by fluorescence, used chiefly in biomedical research.

II. derivatives

fluorograph /ˈflo͝orəˌɡraf, ˈflôr- /

noun

fluorometer /flo͝oˈrämitər, flô- / fluorimeter

I. noun

an instrument for measuring the intensity of fluorescence, used chiefly in biochemical analysis.

II. derivatives

1. fluorometric /ˌflo͝orəˈmetrik, ˌflôr- /

adjective

2. fluorometrically /ˌflo͝orəˈmetrik(ə)lē, ˌflôr- /

adverb

3. fluorometry /flo͝orˈämətrē, flôr- /

noun

fluoropolymer /ˌflo͝orōˈpäləmər, ˌflôr-/

noun

an organic polymer containing fluorine atoms, such as polytetrafluoroethylene.

fluoroquinolone /ˌflo͝orōˈkwinlˌōn, ˌflôrō-/

noun

any of a class of therapeutic antibiotics that are active against a range of bacteria associated with human and animal diseases. Their use in livestock has sparked concerns about the spread of bacteria resistant to them in humans.

fluoroscope /ˈflo͝orəˌskōp, ˈflôr-/

I. noun

an instrument with a fluorescent screen used for viewing X-ray images without taking and developing X-ray photographs.

II. derivatives

1. fluoroscopic /ˌflo͝orəˈskäpik, ˌflôr- /

adjective

2. fluoroscopically /ˌflo͝orəˈskäpik(ə)lē, ˌflôr- /

adverb

3. fluoroscopy /flo͝orˈäskəpē, flôr- /

noun

fluorosis /ˌflo͝oəˈrōsəs/

noun

[Medicine] a chronic condition caused by excessive intake of fluorine compounds, marked by mottling of the teeth and, if severe, calcification of the ligaments.

fluorspar /ˈflo͝oərspär/

I. noun

another term for fluorite.

– origin late 18th cent.: from fluor ‘a flow, a mineral used as a flux, fluorspar’ (from Latin fluor, from fluere ‘to flow’) + spar^3.

fluoxetine /flo͞oˈäksəˌtīn/

I. noun

[Medicine] a synthetic compound that inhibits the uptake of serotonin in the brain and is taken to treat depression.
Also called Prozac .

– origin 1970s: from fluo(rine) + ox(y) + -etine (perhaps from e + a blend of toluene and amine).

flurried /ˈflərēd/

adjective

(of a person) agitated, nervous, or anxious

• I sat down, feeling a little flurried and excited.

flurry /ˈflərē/

I. noun

1. a small swirling mass of something, especially snow or leaves, moved by sudden gusts of wind

• a flurry of snow.

2. a sudden short period of commotion or excitement

• there was a brief flurry of activity in the hall.

3. a number of things arriving or happening during the same period

• a flurry of editorials hostile to the administration.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (especially of snow or leaves) be moved in small swirling masses by sudden gusts of wind

• gusts of snow flurried through the door.

2. (of a person) move quickly in a busy or agitated way

• the waiter flurried between them.

– origin late 17th cent.: from obsolete flurr ‘fly up, flutter, whir’ (imitative), probably influenced by hurry.

flush^1 /fləSH/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — (of a person's skin or face) become red and hot, typically as the result of illness or strong emotion

• Mr. Cunningham flushed angrily.

2. [with obj.] — cause (a person's skin or face) to become red and hot

• the chill air flushed the parson's cheeks.

3. glow or cause to glow with warm color or light
[no obj.]

• the ash in the center of the fire flushed up

• [with obj.] the sky was flushed with the gold of dawn.

4. [with obj.] — cleanse (something, especially a toilet) by causing large quantities of water to pass through it

• flush the toilet

• the nurse flushed out the catheter.

5. [no obj.] — (of a toilet) be cleansed by flushing

• Cally heard the toilet flush.

6. remove or dispose of (an object or substance) by flushing

• I flushed the pills down the toilet

• the kidneys require more water to flush out waste products.

7. cause (a liquid) to flow through something

• 0.3 ml of saline is gently flushed through the tube.

8. [with obj.] — drive (a bird, especially a game bird, or an animal) from its cover

• the grouse were flushed from the woods.

9. cause to be revealed; force into the open

• they're trying to flush Tilton out of hiding.

10. [no obj.] — (of a plant) send out fresh shoots

• the plant had started to flush by late March.

II. noun

1. a reddening of the face or skin that is typically caused by illness or strong emotion

• a flush of embarrassment rose to her cheeks.

2. an area of warm color or light

• the bird has a pinkish flush on the breast.

3. [in sing.] — a sudden rush of intense emotion

• I was carried away in a flush of enthusiasm.

4. a sudden abundance or spate of something

• the frogs feast on the great flush of insects.

5. a period when something is new or particularly fresh and vigorous

• he is no longer in the first flush of youth.

6. a fresh growth of leaves, flowers, or fruit.

7. an act of cleansing something, especially a toilet, with a sudden flow of water

• an old-fashioned toilet uses six or seven gallons per flush

• leave the hose running to give the system a good flush out.

8. the device used for producing a flow of water in a toilet

• he pressed the flush absentmindedly.

9. [as modifier] — denoting a type of toilet that has a flush device

• a flush toilet.

10. a sudden flow

• the melting snow provides a flush of water.

11. the action of driving a game bird from its cover

• the dogs retrieve the birds after the flush.

III. derivatives

1. flushable

adjective

2. flusher /ˈfləSHər /

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘move rapidly, spring up,’ especially of a bird ‘fly up suddenly’): symbolic, fl- frequently beginning words connected with sudden movement; perhaps influenced by flash and blush.

flush^2 /fləSH/

I. adjective

1. completely level or even with another surface

• the gates are flush with the adjoining fencing.

2. (of printed text) not indented or protruding

• each line is flush with the left-hand margin.

3. (of a door) having a smooth surface, without indented or protruding panels or moldings.

4. [predic.] — ‹informal› having plenty of something, especially money

• the banks are flush with funds.

5. (of money) plentiful

• the years when cash was flush.

II. adverb

1. so as to be level or even

• the screw must fit flush with the surface.

2. so as to be directly centered; squarely

• Jumbo reached up and hit Bruno flush on the jaw.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. fill in (a joint) level with a surface.

IV. derivatives

flushness

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘perfect, lacking nothing’): probably related to flush^1.

flush^3 /fləSH/

I. noun

(in poker) a hand of cards all of the same suit.

– origin early 16th cent.: from French flux (formerly flus), from Latin fluxus ‘a flow’ (see flux: the use in cards can be compared with English run).

flush^4 /fləSH/

I. noun

[Ecology] a piece of wet ground over which water flows without being confined to a definite channel.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘marshy place’).

flushed /fləSHt/

adjective

1. (of a person's skin) red and hot, typically as the result of illness or strong emotion

• her flushed cheeks.

2. (of a person) excited or elated by something

• flushed with success, I was getting into my stride.

Flushing /ˈfləSHiNG/

a commercial and residential section of northern Queens in New York City, noted for its diverse population.

fluster /ˈfləstər/

I. verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. flustered)

1. make (someone) agitated or confused

• you need to be able to work under pressure and not get flustered.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. an agitated or confused state

• the main thing is not to get all in a fluster.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘make slightly drunk’): perhaps of Scandinavian origin and related to Icelandic flaustra ‘hurry, bustle.’

flute /flo͞ot/

I. noun

1. a wind instrument made from a tube with holes along it that are stopped by the fingers or keys, held vertically or horizontally so that the player's breath strikes a narrow edge. The modern orchestral form, typically made of metal, is held horizontally and has an elaborate set of keys.

2. an organ stop with wooden or metal flue pipes producing a similar tone.

3. [Architecture] an ornamental vertical groove in a column.

4. a trumpet-shaped frill on a dress or other garment.

5. a cylindrical groove, as on pastry.

6. a tall, narrow wine glass

• a flute of champagne.

II. verb

1. [with direct speech] — speak in a melodious way reminiscent of the sound of a flute

• “What do you do?” she fluted.

2. [no obj.] — ‹literary› play, or seem to play, a flute or pipe

• to him who sat upon the rocks, and fluted to the morning sea

• [with obj.] some swan fluting a wild carol.

3. [with obj.] (often as adj. fluted) — make flutes or grooves in

• fluted columns.

4. make trumpet-shaped frills on (a garment)

• a fluted collar.

III. derivatives

flutelike /-ˌlīk /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French flahute, probably from Provençal flaüt, perhaps a blend of flaujol ‘flageolet’ + laüt ‘lute.’

fluted /ˈflo͞odəd/

adjective

having flutes or grooves; ridged

• fluted pillars.

fluting /ˈflo͞odiNG/

I. noun

1. sound reminiscent of that of a flute

• the silvery fluting of a blackbird.

2. a groove or set of grooves forming a surface decoration

• a hollow stem with vertical flutings

• pieces decorated with fluting.

II. adjective

reminiscent of the sound of a flute

• the golden, fluting voice filled the room.

flutist /ˈflo͞odəst / ‹chiefly Brit.› flautist

noun

a flute player.

flutter /ˈflədər/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a bird or other winged creature) fly unsteadily or hover by flapping the wings quickly and lightly

• a couple of butterflies fluttered around the garden.

2. [with obj.] — (of a bird or other winged creature) flap (its wings) quickly and lightly

• the lark fluttered its wings, hovering.

3. [with adverbial] — move or fall with a light irregular or trembling motion

• the remaining petals fluttered to the ground.

4. [with adverbial of direction] — (of a person) move restlessly or uncertainly

• the hostess fluttered forward to greet her guests.

5. (of a pulse or heartbeat) beat feebly or irregularly.

II. noun

1. an act of fluttering

• there was a flutter of wings at the window.

2. a state or sensation of tremulous excitement

• Sandra felt a flutter in the pit of her stomach

• her insides were in a flutter.

3. [Aeronautics] undesired oscillation in a part of an aircraft under stress.

4. [Medicine] disturbance of the rhythm of the heart that is less severe than fibrillation

• atrial flutter

• I was diagnosed as having a heart flutter.

5. [Electronics] rapid variation in the pitch or amplitude of a signal, especially of recorded sound.
Compare with wow^2.

6. (Brit.) ‹informal› a small bet

• a flutter on the horses.

III. phrases

flutter one's eyelashes

open and close one's eyes rapidly in a coyly flirtatious manner.

IV. derivatives

1. flutterer

noun

2. flutteringly

adverb

3. fluttery

adjective

– origin Old English floterian, flotorian, a frequentative form related to fleet^4.

flutter kick

noun

a brisk, alternating, up-and-down movement of the legs when swimming with certain strokes, such as the crawl.

flutter-tonguing /ˈflədərˌtəNGiNG/

noun

the action of vibrating the tongue (as if rolling an r) in playing a wind instrument to produce a whirring effect.

fluty /ˈflo͞odē / flutey

adjective

reminiscent of the sound of a flute

• a drawn-out fluty whistle.

fluvial /ˈflo͞ovēəl/

I. adjective

[chiefly Geology] of or found in a river.

– origin Middle English: from Latin fluvialis, from fluvius ‘river,’ from fluere ‘to flow.’

fluviatile /ˈflo͞ovēəˌtīl/

I. adjective

of, found in, or produced by a river

• fluviatile sediments.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French, from Latin fluviatilis, from fluviatus ‘wet,’ from fluvius ‘river.’

fluvio-

I. combining form

river; relating to rivers

• fluvioglacial.

– origin from Latin fluvius ‘river.’

fluvioglacial /ˌflo͞ovēōˈɡlāSH(ə)l/

adjective

[Geology] relating to or denoting erosion or deposition caused by flowing meltwater from glaciers or ice sheets.

fluvoxamine /flo͞oˈväksəˌmēn, -min/

noun

[Medicine] a synthetic antidepressant drug that acts by prolonging the effect of the neurotransmitter serotonin on the brain.

flux /fləks/

I. noun

1. the action or process of flowing or flowing out

• the flux of men and women moving back and forth

• a localized flux of calcium into the cell.

2. [Medicine] an abnormal discharge of blood or other matter from or within the body.

3. (usu. the flux) — ‹archaic› diarrhea or dysentery.

4. continuous change

• the whole political system is in a state of flux.

5. [Physics] the rate of flow of a fluid, radiant energy, or particles across a given area.

6. the amount of radiation or number of particles incident on an area in a given time.

7. the total electric or magnetic field passing through a surface.

8. a substance mixed with a solid to lower its melting point, used especially in soldering and brazing metals or to promote vitrification in glass or ceramics.

9. a substance added to a furnace during metal smelting or glassmaking that combines with impurities to form slag.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. treat (a metal object) with a flux to promote melting.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin fluxus, from fluere ‘to flow.’

flux density /fləks ˈdensədē/

noun

the magnitude of a magnetic, electric, or other flux passing through a unit area.

fluxgate /ˈfləksɡāt / flux gate

noun

a device consisting of one or more soft iron cores each surrounded by primary and secondary windings, used for determining the characteristics of an external magnetic field from the signals produced in the secondary windings.

fluxion /ˈfləkSHən/

I. noun

1. ‹dated› [Mathematics] a function corresponding to the rate of change of a variable quantity; a derivative.

2. another term for flux (sense 1 of the noun)).

II. derivatives

fluxional /ˈfləkSH(ə)n(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late 17th cent.: from French, or from Latin flux- ‘flowed,’ from the verb fluere.

fly^1 /flī/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a bird or other winged creature) move through the air under control

• close the door or the moths will fly in

• the bird can fly enormous distances.

2. (of an aircraft or its occupants) travel through the air

• I fly back to New York this evening.

3. [with obj.] — control the flight of (an aircraft); pilot.

4. [with obj.] — transport in an aircraft

• helicopters flew the injured to a hospital.

5. [with obj.] — accomplish (a purpose) in an aircraft

• pilots trained to fly combat missions.

6. [with obj.] — release (a bird) to fly, especially a hawk for hunting or a pigeon for racing.

7. move or be hurled quickly through the air

• balls kept flying over her hedge

• he was sent flying by the tackle.

8. (past flied) [with adverbial of direction] — [Baseball] hit a ball high into the air

• Gwynn flied to left.

9. (past flied) (fly out) — [Baseball] (of a batter) be put out by hitting a fly ball that is caught.

10. [with adverbial of direction] — go or move quickly

• she flew along the path.

11. ‹informal› depart hastily

• I must fly!

12. (of time) pass swiftly

• how time flies!

13. (of a report) be circulated among many people

• rumors were flying around Chicago.

14. (of accusations or insults) be exchanged swiftly and heatedly

• the accusations flew thick and fast.

15. [with adverbial] — (especially of hair) wave or flutter in the wind

• they were running, hair flying everywhere.

16. (with reference to a flag) display or be displayed, especially on a flagpole

• flags were flying at half-mast.

17. ‹archaic› flee; run away

• those that fly may fight again.

18. [with obj.] — flee from; escape from in haste

• you must fly the country for a while.

19. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› be successful

• that idea didn't fly with most other council members.

II. noun

1. ( flies) — an opening at the crotch of a pair of pants, closed with a zipper or buttons and typically covered with a flap.

2. a flap of material covering the opening or fastening of a garment or of a tent
[as modifier in combination]

• a fly-fronted shirt.

3. (the flies) — the space over the stage in a theater.

4. [Baseball] short for fly ball.

5. (pl. usu. flys) — (Brit.) ‹historical› a one-horse hackney carriage.

III. phrases

1. fly the coop

‹informal› make one's escape.

2. fly the flag

see flag^1.

3. fly high

be very successful; prosper

• that young man is the sort to fly high.

4. fly in the face of

be openly at variance with (what is usual or expected)

• a need to fly in the face of convention.

5. fly into a rage (or temper)

become suddenly or violently angry.

6. fly the nest

a. (of a young bird) leave its nest on becoming able to fly.

b. ‹informal› (of a young person) leave their parents' home to set up home elsewhere.

7. fly off the handle

‹informal› lose one's temper suddenly and unexpectedly.
[figuratively, with reference to the loose head of an ax.]

8. go fly a kite

[in imperative] — (N. Amer.) ‹informal› go away.

9. on the fly

a. while in motion or progress

• his deep shot was caught on the fly.

b. [Computing] during the running of a computer program without interrupting the run.

IV. phrasal verbs

fly at

a. attack (someone) verbally or physically

• Robbie flew at him, fists clenched.

b. (of a hawk) pursue and attack, or habitually pursue (prey).

c. (fly a hawk at) — send a hawk to pursue and attack (prey).

V. derivatives

flyable

adjective

– origin Old English flēogan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vliegen and German fliegen, also to fly^2.

fly^2 /flī/

I. noun

1. a flying insect of a large order characterized by a single pair of transparent wings and sucking (and often also piercing) mouthparts. Flies are noted as vectors of disease.
See also Diptera. [Order Diptera: numerous families.]

2. [usu. in combination] — used in names of flying insects of other orders, e.g., butterfly, dragonfly, firefly.

3. an infestation of flying insects on a plant or animal

• cattle to be treated for warble fly.

4. a natural or artificial flying insect used as bait in fishing, especially a mayfly.

II. phrases

1. die (or drop) like flies

die or collapse in large numbers

• people in the area seemed to die like flies in the winter.

2. a fly in the ointment

a minor irritation that spoils the success or enjoyment of something.

3. fly on the wall

a. an unnoticed observer of a particular situation.

b. [as adj.] — denoting a filmmaking technique whereby events are observed realistically with minimum interference rather than acted out under direction

• a fly-on-the-wall documentary.

4. wouldn't hurt (or harm) a fly

(of a person or animal) inoffensive and harmless.

5. you (can) catch more flies with honey than (with) vinegar

‹proverb› it is more effective to be polite and flattering than to be hostile or demanding.

– origin Old English flȳge, flēoge, denoting any winged insect; related to Dutch vlieg and German Fliege, also to fly^1.

fly^3 /flī/

I. adjective

1. ‹informal› (N. Amer.) stylish and fashionable

• they were wearin' fly clothes.

2. ‹informal› (Brit.) knowing and clever; worldly-wise

• she's fly enough not to get done out of it.

II. derivatives

flyness

noun

– origin early 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

fly agaric

noun

a poisonous toadstool that has a red cap with fluffy white spots, growing particularly among birch trees. It contains hallucinogenic alkaloids and has long been used by the indigenous peoples of northeastern Siberia.
[Amanita muscaria, family Amanitaceae, class Hymenomycetes.]

fly ash

noun

ash produced in small dark flecks, typically from a furnace, and carried into the air.

flyaway /ˈflīəˌwā/

adjective

(of a person's hair) fine and difficult to control.

flyback /ˈflībak/

noun

the return of the scanning spot in a cathode ray tube to the starting point.

fly ball

noun

[Baseball] a ball batted high into the air.

flyblow /ˈflīˌblō/

noun

flies' eggs contaminating food, especially meat.

flyblown /ˈflīˌblōn/

adjective

dirty or contaminated, especially through contact with flies and their eggs and larvae

• the room was filthy and flyblown.

flyboy /ˈflīˌboi/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a pilot, especially one in the air force.

flybridge /ˈflīˌbrij / flying bridge

noun

an open deck above the main bridge of a vessel such as a yacht or cabin cruiser, typically equipped with duplicate controls.

flyby /ˈflībī/

noun

a flight past a point, especially the close approach of a spacecraft to a planet or moon for observation.

fly-by-night /ˈflī bə ˌnīt/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. unreliable or untrustworthy, especially in business or financial matters

• cheap suits made by fly-by-night operators.

II. noun

an unreliable or untrustworthy person.

fly-by-wire /ˈflībīˌwī(ə)r/

noun — [often as modifier]

1. a semiautomatic and typically computer-regulated system for controlling the flight of an aircraft or spacecraft

• sophisticated fly-by-wire technology.

fly-casting

I. noun

another term for fly fishing.

II. derivatives

fly-cast

verb

flycatcher /ˈflīˌkaCHər ˈflīˌkeCHər/

noun

a bird that catches flying insects, especially in short flights from a perch.
[Typical Old World flycatchers belong to the family Muscicapidae. Many others belong to the Old World family Monarchidae and the New World family Tyrannidae (tyrant flycatchers), while some belong to families Eopsaltridae (Australasia), Platysteiridae (Africa), and Bombycillidae (America).]

fly-drive /ˈflī ˈˌdrīv/

I. adjective

(chiefly Brit.) denoting a package vacation that includes a flight and car rental at the destination.

II. noun

a vacation that includes a flight and car rental.

fly fishing

I. noun

the sport of fishing using a rod and an artificial fly as bait.

II. derivatives

fly-fish

verb

fly gallery

noun

a raised platform at the side of a stage that contains ropes and equipment for moving props and scenery. Also called fly floor.

fly-in /ˈflīin/

noun

1. a meeting for pilots who arrive by air

• they are holding a helicopter fly-in.

2. an act of transporting people or goods by air

• one or two fly-ins to remote lakes.

3. [as modifier] — denoting a place or activity that is reached using an aircraft

• fly-in canoe trips.

flying /ˈflīiNG/

I. adjective

1. moving or able to move through the air with wings

• a flying ant.

2. done while hurling oneself through the air

• he took a flying kick at a policeman.

3. moving rapidly, especially through the air

• one passenger was cut by flying glass.

4. hasty; brief

• a flying visit.

5. used in names of animals that can glide by using winglike membranes or other structures, e.g., flying squirrel.

II. noun

flight, especially in an aircraft

• she hates flying.

III. phrases

with flying colors

with distinction

• Sylvia had passed her exams with flying colors.

flying boat /ˈˌflīiNG ˈbōt/

noun

a large seaplane that lands with its fuselage in the water.

flying bomb /ˈˌflīiNG ˈbäm/

noun

a small pilotless aircraft with an explosive warhead, especially a V-1.

flying bridge /flīiNG brij/

noun

another term for flybridge.

flying buttress /ˈˌflīiNG ˈbətrəs/

noun

[Architecture] a buttress slanting from a separate pier, typically forming an arch with the wall it supports.

flying change

noun

a movement in riding in which the leading leg at the canter is changed without breaking gait while the horse is in the air.

flying disc flying disk

noun

a concave plastic disc designed for skimming through the air as an outdoor game or amusement

• rotating your upper body to throw the flying disc helps to improve the flexibility of your spine.

flying dragon

noun

an arboreal Southeast Asian lizard that has expanding membranes along the sides of the body, used for gliding between trees.
Also called dragon. [Genus Draco, family Agamidae: several species.]

Flying Dutchman /ˈˌflīiNG ˈdəCHmən/

I. a legendary spectral ship supposedly seen in the region of the Cape of Good Hope and presaging disaster.

II. the captain of the Flying Dutchman.

flying fish /ˈˌflīiNG ˈfiSH/

noun

a fish of warm seas that leaps out of the water and uses its winglike pectoral fins to glide over the surface for some distance.
[Family Exocoetidae: several genera and species, in particular Exocoetus volitans.]

flying fox /ˈˌflīiNG ˈfäks/

noun

a large fruit bat with a foxlike face, found in Madagascar, Southeast Asia, and northern Australia.
[Pteropus and two other genera, family Pteropodidae: numerous species.]

flying frog

noun

a nocturnal arboreal Asian frog that is able to glide between trees using the large webs between its extended toes.
[Polypedates leucomystax, family Rhacophoridae.]

flying gurnard

noun

a bottom-dwelling marine fish that has bony armor on the skull, spines behind the head, and large brightly colored pectoral fins. It moves through the water with a gliding or flying motion.
[Family Dactylopteridae: two genera and several species.]

flying lemur

noun

a tree-dwelling lemurlike mammal with a membrane between the fore- and hind limbs for gliding from tree to tree. It is nocturnal and native to Southeast Asia.
Also called colugo. [Family Cynocephalidae and genus Cynocephalus, order Dermoptera: two species.]

flying lizard

noun

another term for flying dragon.

flying machine

noun

an aircraft, especially an early or unconventional one.

flying mouse

noun

1. another term for feathertail glider.

2. [Computing] a mouse that can be lifted from the desk and used in three dimensions.

flying phalanger

noun

a small Australasian marsupial with a membrane between the fore- and hind limbs for gliding.
[Genera Petaurus and Petauroides, family Petauridae: five species.]

flying saucer /ˈˌflīiNG ˈsôsər/

noun

a disk-shaped flying craft supposedly piloted by aliens; a UFO.

flying snake

noun

a greenish semiarboreal Southeast Asian snake that can glide down from a tree in a stiff horizontal position, with the belly hollowed to slow its descent.
[Chrysopelea ornata, family Colubridae.]

flying squad /ˈˌflīiNG ˈskwäd/

noun

(Brit.) a division of a police force or other organization that is capable of reaching an incident quickly.

flying squirrel

noun

a small squirrel that has skin joining the fore and hind limbs for gliding from tree to tree.
[Subfamily Pteromyinae, family Sciuridae (many species in Southeast Asia, northern Eurasia, and North America) and family Anomaluridae (several species in Africa). The two common North American species are the northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) and the southern flying squirrel (G. volans).]

flying start /ˈˌflīiNG ˈstärt/

noun

1. a start of a race or time trial in which the starting point is passed at speed.

2. a good beginning, especially one giving an advantage over competitors

• the team got off to a flying start in last year's rally.

flying wedge

noun

a fast-moving group, as of police officers, linked together closely in a V-shaped formation, sometimes used to force a way through a crowd or to protect someone behind them.

flying wing

noun

an aircraft with little or no fuselage and no vertical airfoil.

fly-kick

noun

a kick, especially in rugby, made while the ball is still in the air.

flyleaf /ˈflīˌlēf/

noun

a blank page at the beginning or end of a book.

Flynn, Errol /flin/

(1909–59), US actor; born in Australia; born Leslie Thomas Flynn. His usual role was the swashbuckling hero of romantic costume dramas in movies such as Captain Blood (1935) and The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938).

flyover /ˈflīˌōvər/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) a low flight by one or more aircraft over a specific location

• there were artillery platforms in the hills, making a flyover too risky.

2. a ceremonial flight of an aircraft past a person or a place.

3. (chiefly Brit.) an overpass.

4. [as modifier] — (US) ‹informal› ‹derogatory› denoting central regions of the US regarded as less significant than the East or West coasts

• his appeal extends way beyond the Bible Belt and the flyover states.

flypaper /ˈflīˌpāpər/

noun

sticky, poison-treated strips of paper that are hung indoors to catch and kill flies.

Fly River /ˌflī ˈrivər/

a river in Papua New Guinea—the country's longest—that flows for 750 miles (1,200 km) from the border with Indonesia into the Gulf of Papua.

fly rod

noun

a lightweight flexible rod used in fly fishing.

flysch /fliSH/

I. noun

[Geology] a sedimentary deposit consisting of thin beds of shale or marl alternating with coarser strata such as sandstone or conglomerate.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Swiss German dialect.

flysheet /ˈflīˌSHēt/

noun

1. a tract or circular of two or four pages.

2. (Brit.) a fabric cover pitched outside and over a tent to give extra protection against bad weather.
See fly^1 (sense 1 of the noun).

flyspeck /ˈflīˌspek/

I. noun

1. a tiny stain made by the excrement of an insect.

2. a thing that is contemptibly small or insignificant

• a sleepy flyspeck of a town.

II. derivatives

flyspecked

adjective

fly spray /flī sprā/

noun

a substance sprayed from an aerosol that kills flying insects.

fly strike

noun

infestation of an animal with blowfly maggots.

fly swatter /flī ˈswädər / flyswatter

noun

an implement used for swatting insects, typically a square of plastic mesh attached to a wire handle.

fly-through /ˈflīTHro͞o/

noun

a computer-animated simulation of what would be seen by one flying through a particular real or imaginary region.

fly-tip

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (Brit.) dump waste illegally.

II. derivatives

fly-tipper

noun

fly-tying

noun

the making of the artificial flies used in fly-fishing.

flyway /ˈflīwā/

noun

[Ornithology] a route regularly used by large numbers of migrating birds.

flyweight /ˈflīˌwāt/

noun

1. a weight in boxing and other sports intermediate between light flyweight and bantamweight. In boxing it ranges from 108 to 112 pounds (48 to 51 kg).

2. a flyweight boxer or other competitor.

flywheel /ˈflīˌ(h)wēl/

noun

a heavy revolving wheel in a machine that is used to increase the machine's momentum and thereby provide greater stability or a reserve of available power during interruptions in the delivery of power to the machine.

Fm

symbol

the chemical element fermium.

FM /ˌef ˈem/

abbreviation

frequency modulation
[as adj.]

• an FM radio station.

fm.

abbreviation

fathom(s).

FMB

abbreviation

Federal Maritime Board.

FMCG

abbreviation

fast-moving consumer goods
[as adj.]

• the FMCG sector.

FMCS

abbreviation

Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

FML

abbreviation

‹vulgar slang› fuck my life! (used to express dismay at a frustrating or irritating personal situation).

FMN

abbreviation

flavin mononucleotide.

FMV

abbreviation

full-motion video.

FN

abbreviation

foreign national.

fn.

abbreviation

footnote.

FNMA

abbreviation

Federal National Mortgage Association.
Also called Fannie Mae.

f-number /ˈef ˌnəmbər/

I. noun

[Photography] the ratio of the focal length of a camera lens to the diameter of the aperture being used for a particular shot (e.g., f8, indicating that the focal length is eight times the diameter).

– origin early 20th cent.: from f (denoting the focal length) and number.

FO

abbreviation

1. field officer.

2. Foreign Office.

fo.

abbreviation

folio.

Fo, Dario /fō/

(1926–), Italian playwright. Notable works: Accidental Death of an Anarchist (1970) and Open Couple (1983). Nobel Prize for Literature (1997).

FOAF

abbreviation

1. friend of a friend

• investigations never do succeed in finding the FOAF who started any of these yarns.

2. a story or urban legend attributed to one of these.

foal /fōl/

I. noun

a young horse or related animal.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a mare) give birth to a foal.

2. (be foaled) — (of a foal) be born.

III. phrases

in (or with) foal

(of a mare) pregnant.

– origin Old English fola, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch veulen and German Fohlen, also to filly.

foam /fōm/

I. noun

1. a mass of small bubbles formed on or in liquid, typically by agitation or fermentation

• a beer with a thick head of foam.

2. a mass of small bubbles formed from saliva or sweat.

3. a thick preparation containing many small bubbles

• shaving cream (foam type) does a fine job on my beard.

4. a lightweight form of rubber or plastic made by solidifying liquid foam.

5. (the foam) — ‹literary› the sea

• Venus rising from the foam.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. form or produce a mass of small bubbles; froth

• the sea foamed beneath them.

III. phrases

foam at the mouth

‹informal› be very angry.

IV. derivatives

foamless

adjective

– origin Old English fām (noun), fǣman (verb); related to Old High German feim (noun), feimen (verb).

foamflower /ˈfōmˌflou(ə)r/

noun

see tiarella.

foam party

noun

a party, especially in a nightclub, at which guests dance and play in foam or soap suds.

foam rubber

noun

a spongy material made of rubber or plastic in the form of foam, used for cushioning and in upholstery.

foamy /ˈfōmē/

adjective

producing or consisting of foam; frothy

• a beach with foamy waves

• a mug of foamy beer.

fob^1 /fäb/

I. noun

1. a chain attached to a watch for carrying in a waistcoat or waistband pocket.

2. a small ornament attached to a watch chain.

3. (also fob pocket) — a small pocket for carrying a watch.

4. a tab on a key ring.

– origin mid 17th cent. (denoting a fob pocket in a waistband): origin uncertain; probably related to German dialect Fuppe ‘pocket.’

fob^2 /fäb/

I. verb — [with obj.] (fob someone off)

1. deceitfully attempt to satisfy someone by making excuses or giving them something inferior

• secretaries fob off most unwanted callers by saying their boss is in a meeting.

2. (fob something off on) — give (someone) something inferior to or different from what they want

• he fobbed off the chairmanship on Clifford.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘cheat out of’): origin uncertain; perhaps related to German foppen ‘deceive, cheat, banter,’ or to fop.

FOB^1

abbreviation

1. Forward Operating Base.

2. friend of Bill, a friend of Bill Clinton, especially one of his close circle of advisers and contacts.

FOB^2

I. noun

‹informal› ‹often offensive› a recent immigrant, especially regarded as being unassimilated.

– origin 1960s: from the initial letters of fresh off the boat; compare with off the boat.

f.o.b. /ˌefˌōˈbē/

abbreviation

free on board.

FOBT

I. noun

(Brit.) a type of electronic gaming machine on which players may bet on the outcome of various simulated games and events (such as roulette, blackjack, bingo, and horse races), the odds offered being fixed from game to game

• anti-gambling campaigners have asked for tighter regulation of FOBTs.

– origin early 21st cent.: abbreviation of fixed-odds betting terminal.

focaccia /fōˈkäCH(ē)ə/

I. noun

a type of flat Italian bread made with yeast and olive oil and flavored with herbs.

– origin Italian.

focal /ˈfōk(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to the center or main point of interest

• tapestries in which birds or animals provide the focal interest.

2. [Optics] of or relating to the focus of a lens.

3. (of a disease or medical condition) occurring in one particular site in the body.

II. derivatives

focally

adverb

– origin late 17th cent.: from modern Latin focalis, from Latin focus, or directly from focus.

focalize /ˈfōkəˌlīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹technical› focus (something), in particular

2. ‹technical› (in literary theory) provide an internal focus for (a text)

• the narrative discourse is focalized around the consciousness of the central protagonist.

3. ‹technical› [Medicine] confine (a disease or infection) to a particular site in the body.

II. derivatives

focalization /ˌfōkələˈzāSH(ə)n ˌfōkəˌlīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

focal length /ˈfōkəl ˌleNGTH/

noun

1. the distance between the center of a lens or curved mirror and its focus.

2. the equivalent distance in a compound lens or telescope.

focal plane /ˈfōkəl plān/

noun

the plane through the focus perpendicular to the axis of a mirror or lens.

focal point /ˈfōkəl ˌpoint/

noun

1. the point at which rays or waves meet after reflection or refraction, or the point from which diverging rays or waves appear to proceed.

2. the center of interest or activity

• almost every sizable city can have a junior college that can act as a focal point for cultural activity.

Foch, Ferdinand /fôSH/

(1851–1929), French general. He supported the use of offensive warfare, which resulted in many of his 20th Corps being killed at the start of World War I in August 1914.

focus /ˈfōkəs/

I. noun

1. the center of interest or activity

• this generation has made the environment a focus of attention.

2. an act of concentrating interest or activity on something

• our focus on the customer's requirements.

3. [Geology] the point of origin of an earthquake.
Compare with epicenter.

4. [Medicine] the principal site of an infection or other disease.

5. [Linguistics] the part of a sentence given prominence, usually for emphasis or contrast, e.g., Bob in it was Bob who came, not Bill.
Compare with rheme.

6. the state or quality of having or producing clear visual definition

• his face is rather out of focus.

7. another term for focal point.

8. the point at which an object must be situated with respect to a lens or mirror for an image of it to be well defined.

9. a device on a lens that can be adjusted to produce a clear image.

10. [Geometry] one of the fixed points from which the distances to any point of a given curve, such as an ellipse or parabola, are connected by a linear relation.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a person or their eyes) adapt to the prevailing level of light and become able to see clearly

• try to focus on a stationary object.

2. [with obj.] — cause (one's eyes) to focus

• trying to focus his bleary eyes on Corbett.

3. [with obj.] — adjust the focus of (a telescope, camera, or other instrument)

• they were focusing a telescope on a star.

4. (of rays or waves) meet at a single point.

5. [with obj.] — (of a lens) make (rays or waves) meet at a single point.

6. [no obj.] — (of light, radio waves, or other energy) become concentrated into a sharp beam of light or energy.

7. [with obj.] — (of a lens) concentrate (light, radio waves, or energy) into a sharp beam.

8. (focus on) — pay particular attention to

• the study will focus on a number of areas in Wales.

9. [with obj.] — concentrate

• the course helps to focus and stimulate your thoughts.

10. [with obj.] — [Linguistics] place the focus on (a part of a sentence).

III. derivatives

focuser

noun

– origin mid 17th cent. (as a term in geometry and physics): from Latin, literally ‘domestic hearth.’

focus group /ˈfōkəs ɡro͞op/

noun

a demographically diverse group of people assembled to participate in a guided discussion about a particular product before it is launched, or to provide ongoing feedback on a political campaign, television series, etc.

focus puller

noun

an assistant to a film or television cameraman who is responsible for keeping the lens focused during filming.

fodder /ˈfädər/

I. noun

1. food, especially dried hay or feed, for cattle and other livestock.

2. a person or thing regarded only as material for a specific use

• young people ending up as factory fodder.

See also cannon fodder.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. give fodder to (cattle or other livestock).

– origin Old English fōdor, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch voeder and German Futter, also to food.

fody /ˈfōdē/

I. noun

a songbird of the weaver family occurring in Madagascar and islands in the Indian Ocean, the male of which typically has mainly red plumage.
[Genus Foudia, family Ploceidae: several species.]

– origin a local word.

foe /fō/

I. noun

an enemy or opponent

• join forces against the common foe.

– origin Old English fāh ‘hostile’ and gefā ‘enemy’; related to feud.

FoE

abbreviation

Friends of the Earth.

foehn /fən fān / föhn

I. noun — (often the foehn)

1. a hot southerly wind on the northern slopes of the Alps.

2. (also foehn wind) — [Meteorology] a warm dry wind developing in the lee of any mountain range.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from German Föhn, based on Latin (ventus) Favonius ‘mild west wind,’ Favonius being the Roman personification of the west or west wind.

foetal

adjective

variant spelling of fetal (chiefly in British nontechnical use).

foetus /ˈfētəs/

I. noun

variant spelling of fetus (chiefly in British nontechnical use).

II. derivatives

foeticide /ˈfētəˌsīd /

noun

usage: See usage at fetus.

fog^1 /fôɡ fäɡ/

I. noun

1. a thick cloud of tiny water droplets suspended in the atmosphere at or near the earth's surface that obscures or restricts visibility (to a greater extent than mist; strictly, reducing visibility to below 1 km)

• the collision occurred in thick fog.

2. [in sing.] — an opaque mass of something in the atmosphere

• a whirling fog of dust.

3. [Photography] cloudiness that obscures the image on a developed negative or print.

4. [in sing.] — something that obscures and confuses a situation or someone's thought processes

• the origins of local government are lost in a fog of detail.

II. verb

1. (with reference to a glass surface) cover or become covered with steam
[with obj.]

• hot steam drifted about her, fogging up the window

• [no obj.] the windshield was starting to fog up.

2. [Photography] make (a film, negative, or print) obscure or cloudy.

3. bewilder or puzzle (someone)

• she stared at him, confusion fogging her brain.

4. make (an idea or situation) difficult to understand

• the government has been fogging the issue.

5. treat with something, especially an insecticide, in the form of a spray

• Winnipeg stopped fogging for mosquitoes three years ago.

III. phrases

1. in a fog

in a state of perplexity; unable to think clearly or understand something.

2. the fog of war

confusion caused by the chaos of war or battle

• he argues that the fog of war clouded everyone's judgment.

– origin mid 16th cent.: perhaps a back-formation from foggy.

fog^2 /fôɡ fäɡ/

I. noun

1. the grass that grows in a field after a crop of hay has been taken.

2. long grass left standing in a pasture and used as winter grazing.

– origin late Middle English: origin uncertain; perhaps related to Norwegian fogg.

fog bank /ˈfôɡ ˌbaNGk ˈfäɡ ˌbaNGk/

noun

a dense mass of fog, especially at sea.

fogbound /ˈfôɡˌbound ˈfäɡˌbound/

adjective

1. unable to travel or function normally because of thick fog.

2. enveloped or obscured by fog

• a fogbound forest.

fogbow /ˈfôɡˌbō, ˈfäɡ-/

noun

a phenomenon similar to a rainbow, produced by sunlight shining on fog.

fogey /ˈfōɡē / fogy

I. noun

a person, typically an old one, who is considered to be old-fashioned or conservative in attitude or tastes

• a bunch of old fogeys.

II. derivatives

1. fogeydom /ˈfōɡēdəm /

noun

2. fogeyish

adjective

3. fogeyism /ˌ-izəm /

noun

– origin late 18th cent.: related to earlier slang fogram, of unknown origin.

Foggia /ˈfôjə, ˈfôdjä/

a town in southeastern Italy; pop. 153,239 (2008).

foggy /ˈfôɡē ˈfäɡē/

I. adjective

1. full of or accompanied by fog

• a dark and foggy night.

2. unable to think clearly; confused

• she was foggy with sleep.

3. indistinctly expressed or perceived; obscure

• exactly what the company hopes to achieve is still foggy.

II. phrases

not have the foggiest (idea or notion)

‹informal› have no idea at all.

III. derivatives

fogginess /ˈfôɡēnəs /

noun

– origin late 15th cent.: perhaps from fog^2.

Foggy Bottom ‹US informal›

I. the US State Department

• Foggy Bottom's strategy for ensuring stability was to leave most of the power structure in place.

– origin the name of a riverside area of Washington, DC, where the department is based.

foghorn /ˈfôɡˌhôrn ˈfäɡˌhôrn/

noun

a device making a loud, deep sound as a warning to ships in fog.

fog lamp fog light

noun

a bright light on a motor vehicle, used in foggy conditions to improve road visibility or warn other drivers of one's presence.

foible /ˈfoibəl/

I. noun

1. a minor weakness or eccentricity in someone's character

• they have to tolerate each other's little foibles.

2. [Fencing] the weaker part of a sword blade, from the middle to the point.
Compare with forte^1.

– origin late 16th cent. (as an adjective in the sense ‘feeble’): from obsolete French, in Old French fieble (see feeble). Both noun senses also formerly occurred as senses of the word feeble and all date from the 17th cent.

foie gras /ˌfwä ˈɡrä/

I. noun

1. the liver of a specially fattened goose or duck prepared as food.

2. short for pâté de foie gras.

– origin French, ‘fat liver.’

foil^1 /foil/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. prevent (something considered wrong or undesirable) from succeeding

• a brave policewoman foiled the armed robbery.

2. frustrate the efforts or plans of

• Errol Flynn was a dashing Mountie foiling Nazi agents in Canada.

3. [Hunting] (of a hunted animal) run over or cross (ground or a scent or track) in such a way as to confuse the hounds.

II. noun

1. [Hunting] the track or scent of a hunted animal.

2. ‹archaic› a setback in an enterprise; a defeat.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘trample down’): perhaps from Old French fouler ‘to full cloth, trample,’ based on Latin fullo ‘fuller.’ Compare with full^2.

foil^2 /foil/

I. noun

1. metal hammered or rolled into a thin flexible sheet, used chiefly for covering or wrapping food

• aluminum foil.

2. a person or thing that contrasts with and so emphasizes and enhances the qualities of another

• the earthy taste of grilled vegetables is a perfect foil for the tart bite of creamy goat cheese.

3. a thin leaf of metal placed under a precious stone to increase its brilliance.

4. [Architecture] a leaf-shaped curve formed by the cusping of an arch or circle, typically occurring in groups of three or more in Gothic tracery.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin folium ‘leaf.’

foil^3 /foil/

I. noun

a light fencing sword without cutting edges but with a button on its point.

II. derivatives

foilist /-ist /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

foil^4 /foil/

noun

each of the winglike structures fitted to a hydrofoil's hull to lift it clear of the water at speed.

foist /foist/

I. verb — [with obj.] (foist someone/something on)

1. impose an unwelcome or unnecessary person or thing on

• don't let anyone foist inferior goods on you.

2. (foist someone/something into) — introduce someone or something surreptitiously or unwarrantably into

• he attempted to foist a new delegate into the conference.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘palm a false die, so as to produce it at the right moment’): from Dutch dialect vuisten ‘take in the hand,’ from vuist (see fist).

Fokine, Michel /ˈfôkyin, fôˈkēn/

(1880–1942), US dancer and choreographer; born in Russia; born Mikhail Mikhailovich Fokin. He reformed classical ballet. He was Sergi Diaghilev's chief choreographer at the Ballets Russes 1909–14.

Fokker, Anthony /ˈfäkər/

(1890–1939), US aircraft designer and pilot; born in Java; full name Anthony Herman Gerard Fokker. Having built his first aircraft in 1908, he designed fighters used by the Germans in World War I.

fol.

abbreviation

1. folio.

2. following.

folacin /ˈfôləsən, ˈfäl-/

noun

another term for folic acid.

fold^1 /fōld/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. bend (something flexible and relatively flat) over on itself so that one part of it covers another

• she folded all her clothes and packed all her bags.

2. (fold something in/into) — mix an ingredient gently with (another ingredient), especially by lifting a mixture with a spoon so as to enclose it without stirring or beating

• fold the egg whites into the chocolate mixture.

3. [no obj.] — (of a piece of furniture or equipment) be able to be bent or rearranged into a flatter or more compact shape, typically in order to make it easier to store or carry
[with complement]

• the deck chair folds flat

• (as adj. folding) a folding chair.

4. bend or rearrange (a piece of folding furniture or equipment)

• he folded up his tripod.

5. [no obj.] (fold out) — be able to be opened out; unfold

• the sofa folds out.

6. [Geology] cause (rock strata) to undergo bending or curvature
(as noun folding)

• a more active period of igneous activity caused intense folding.

7. [with adverbial] — cover or wrap something in (a soft or flexible material)

• a plastic bag was folded around the book.

8. hold or clasp (someone) closely in one's arms with passion or deep affection

• Bob folded her in his arms and kissed her.

9. [no obj.] — ‹informal› (of an enterprise or organization) cease operating as a result of financial problems or a lack of support

• the club folded earlier this year.

10. (especially of a sports player or team) suddenly stop performing well or effectively

• he folded in the second round.

11. (of a poker player) drop out of a hand

• an unerring knack for knowing when to fold and when to stay in.

II. noun

1. (usu. folds) — a form or shape produced by the gentle draping of a loose, full garment or piece of cloth

• the fabric fell in soft folds.

2. an area of skin that sags or hangs loosely.

3. (chiefly Brit.) an undulation or gentle curve of the ground; a slight hill or hollow

• the house lay in a fold of the hills.

4. [Geology] a bend or curvature of strata.

5. a line or crease produced in paper or cloth as the result of folding it.

6. a piece of paper or cloth that has been folded

• a fold of paper slipped out of the diary.

III. phrases

1. above (or below) the fold

a. printed in the top (or bottom) half of the front page of a broadsheet newspaper and so visible (or not visible) when the paper is folded

• they're holding four column inches above the fold.

b. positioned in the upper (or lower) half of a web page and so visible (or not visible) without scrolling down the page

• click-through yield on ads below the fold is lower.

2. fold one's arms

bring one's arms together and cross them over one's chest.

3. fold one's hands

bring or hold one's hands together.

IV. derivatives

foldable

adjective

– origin Old English falden, fealden, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vouwen and German falten.

fold^2 /fōld/

I. noun

1. a pen or enclosure in a field where livestock, especially sheep, can be kept.

2. (the fold) — a group or community, especially when perceived as the locus of a particular set of aims and values

• he's performing a ritual to be accepted into the fold.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. shut (livestock) in a fold.

– origin Old English fald, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vaalt.

-fold /fōld/

I. suffix

1. forming adjectives and adverbs from cardinal numbers:

2. in an amount multiplied by

• threefold.

3. consisting of so many parts or facets

• twofold.

– origin Old English -fald, -feald; related to fold^1.

foldaway /ˈfōldəˌwā/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. adapted or designed to be folded up for ease of storage or transport

• a foldaway table.

folder /ˈfōldər/

noun

1. a folding cover or holder, typically made of stiff paper or cardboard, for storing loose papers.

2. an icon on a computer screen that can be used to access a directory containing related files or documents.

3. (N. Amer.) a folded leaflet or a booklet made of folded sheets of paper.

folderol /ˈfäldəräl ˈfôldəˌrôl / falderal

noun

1. trivial or nonsensical fuss

• all the folderol of the athletic contests and the cheerleaders.

2. ‹dated› a showy but useless item.

folding door

noun

a door with vertical jointed sections that can be folded together to one side to allow access to a room or building.

folding money /fōldiNG ˈmənē/

noun

‹informal› paper money; banknotes.

foldout /ˈfōldout/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of a page in a book or magazine or a piece of furniture) designed to be opened out for use and then folded away

• a fold-out map.

II. noun

a page or piece of furniture designed to be folded open or closed.

foley /ˈfōlē/

I. noun — [as modifier]

1. relating to or concerned with the addition of recorded sound effects after the shooting of a film

• the aural details that foley artists duplicate.

– origin named after the inventor of the editing process.

folia /ˈfōlēə/

plural form of folium.

foliaceous /ˌfōlēˈāSHəs/

I. adjective

1. of or resembling a leaf or leaves.

2. [chiefly Geology] consisting of thin sheets or laminae.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin foliaceus ‘leafy’ (from folium ‘leaf’) + -ous.

foliage /ˈfōl(ē)ij/

I. noun

plant leaves, collectively

• healthy green foliage.

– origin late Middle English foilage (in the sense ‘design resembling leaves’): from Old French feuillage, from feuille ‘leaf,’ from Latin folium. The change in the first syllable was due to association with Latin folium.

foliage leaf

noun

[Botany] a normal leaf, as opposed to petals and other modified leaves.

foliar /ˈfōlēər/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. ‹technical› of or relating to leaves

• foliar color and shape.

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin foliaris, from Latin folium ‘leaf.’

foliar feed

I. noun

nutrients supplied to the leaves of a plant.

II. derivatives

foliar feeding

noun

foliate

I. adjective — /ˈfōlēət ˈfōlēāt /

1. decorated with leaves or leaflike motifs

• foliate scrolls.

II. verb — /ˈfōlēˌāt / [with obj.]

1. decorate with leaves or leaflike motifs

• the dome is to be foliated.

2. number the leaves of (a book) rather than the pages.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin foliatus ‘leaved,’ from folium ‘leaf.’

foliated /ˈfōlēˌādəd/

adjective

1. decorated with leaves or leaflike motifs

• ten columns foliated at the capitals.

2. [Architecture] decorated with foils or conventionalized leaves.

3. [chiefly Geology] consisting of thin sheets or laminae.

foliation /ˌfōlēˈāSHən/

noun

[chiefly Geology] the process of being split into thin sheets or laminae.

folic acid /fōlik ˈasəd/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a vitamin of the B complex, found especially in leafy green vegetables, liver, and kidney.
Also called pteroylglutamic acid, vitamin M.

II. derivatives

folate /ˈfōˌlāt /

noun

– origin 1940s: folic from Latin folium ‘leaf’ + -ic.

folie à deux /fôˌlē ä ˈdœ/

I. noun

delusion or mental illness shared by two people in close association.

– origin early 20th cent.: French, literally ‘shared madness.’

folie de grandeur /ˈfôˌlēdəɡräNˈdər/

I. noun

delusions of grandeur.

– origin late 19th cent.: French.

Folies-Bergère /fôˌlēbərˈZHer, fôˌlē berˈZHer/

a variety theater in Paris, opened in 1869, known for its lavish productions featuring nude and seminude female performers.

folio /ˈfōlēˌō/

I. noun

1. an individual leaf of paper or parchment, numbered on the recto or front side only, occurring either loose as one of a series or forming part of a bound volume.

2. [Printing] the page number in a printed book.

3. a sheet of paper folded once to form two leaves (four pages) of a book.

4. a size of book made up of folio sheets of paper

• copies in folio.

5. a book or manuscript made up of folio sheets of paper; a volume of the largest standard size

• old vellum-bound folios

• [as modifier] a folio volume.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin, ablative of folium ‘leaf,’ in medieval Latin used in references to mean ‘on leaf so-and-so.’ The original sense of in folio (from Italian in foglio) was ‘in the form of a full-sized sheet or leaf folded once’ (designating the largest size of book).

foliose /ˈfōlēˌōs/

I. adjective

[Botany] (of a lichen) having a lobed, leaflike shape.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Latin foliosus, from folium ‘leaf.’

folium /ˈfōlēəm/

I. noun

‹technical› a thin leaflike structure, e.g., in some rocks or in the cerebellum of the brain.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘leaf.’

folivore /ˈfōləˌvôr/

I. noun

[Zoology] an animal that feeds on leaves.

II. derivatives

folivorous /fōˈlivərəs /

adjective

folk /fōk/

I. plural noun

1. (also folks) — ‹informal› people in general

• some folk will do anything for money

• an old folks' home.

2. (folks) — used as a friendly form of address to a group of people

• meanwhile, folks, why not relax and enjoy the show?

3. (one's folks) — (chiefly N. Amer.) the members of one's family, especially one's parents

• I get along all right with your folks.

4. folk music

• a mixture of folk and reggae.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of or relating to the traditional art or culture of a community or nation

• a revival of interest in folk customs

• a folk museum.

2. relating to or originating from the beliefs and opinions of ordinary people

• a folk hero

• folk wisdom.

3. of or relating to folk music

• performing at a folk club in Chicago.

III. phrases

just (plain) folks

ordinary, down-to-earth, unpretentious people.

– origin Old English folc, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch volk and German Volk.

folk dance

I. noun

a popular dance, considered as part of the tradition or custom of a particular people

• well-known folk dances

• ballet steps complicated by borrowings from folk dance.

II. derivatives

1. folk dancer

noun

2. folk dancing

noun

folk etymology /fōk ˌedəˈmäləjē/

noun

1. a popular but mistaken account of the origin of a word or phrase.

2. the process by which the form of an unfamiliar or foreign word is adapted to a more familiar form through popular usage.

folkie /ˈfōkē/

noun

‹informal› a singer, player, or fan of folk music.

folkish /ˈfōkiSH/

adjective

1. characteristic of ordinary people or traditional culture

• folkish humor.

2. relating to or like folk music or folk singers

• the most conventionally folkish number on the album.

folklife /ˈfōklīf/

noun

the way of life of a rural or traditional community.

folklore /ˈfōklôr/

I. noun

1. the traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, passed through the generations by word of mouth.

2. a body of popular myth and beliefs relating to a particular place, activity, or group of people

• Hollywood folklore.

II. derivatives

1. folkloric /-ˌlôrik /

adjective

2. folklorist /ˈfōkˌlôrəst /

noun

3. folkloristic /ˌfōkləˈristik /

adjective

folk mass

noun

a mass in which folk music is used instead of traditional liturgical music.

folk medicine

noun

treatment of disease or injury based on tradition, especially on oral tradition, rather than on modern scientific practice, and often utilizing indigenous plants as remedies.

folk memory /fōk ˈmem(ə)rē/

noun

a body of recollections or legends connected with the past that persists among a group of people.

folk music

noun

music that originates in traditional popular culture or that is written in such a style. Folk music is typically of unknown authorship and is transmitted orally from generation to generation.

folk rock

noun

popular music resembling or derived from folk music but incorporating the stronger beat of rock music and using electric instruments.

folk singer folksinger

noun

a person who sings folk songs, typically accompanying themselves on a guitar.

folk song

noun

a song that originates in traditional popular culture or that is written in such a style.

folksonomy /ˌfōkˈsänəmē/

I. noun

a user-generated system of classifying and organizing online content into different categories by the use of metadata such as electronic tags.

– origin early 21st cent.: blend of folks (see folk) and taxonomy.

folksy /ˈfōksē/

I. adjective

1. having the characteristics of traditional culture and customs, especially in a contrived or artificial way

• the shop's folksy, small-town image.

2. (of a person) informal and unpretentious

• his tireless energy and folksy oratory were much in demand at constituency lunches.

II. derivatives

folksiness /-sēnis /

noun

folk tale /ˈfōk ˌtāl/

noun

a story originating in popular culture, typically passed on by word of mouth.

folktronica /fōkˈtränikə/

I. noun

a style of popular music incorporating elements of folk and electronic music.

• this is as perfect an example of melodic folktronica as one might hope to find.

• [as modifier] a folktronica band.

– origin early 21st cent.: blend of folk (sense 2 of the noun) and electronica.

folkways /ˈfōkwāz/

plural noun

the traditional behavior or way of life of a particular community or group of people

• a study of Cherokee folklore and folkways.

folky /ˈfōkē/

I. adjective

another term for folksy or folkish.

II. derivatives

folkiness /-kēnis /

noun

follicle /ˈfälək(ə)l/

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] a small secretory cavity, sac, or gland, in particular

2. (also hair follicle) — the sheath of cells and connective tissue that surrounds the root of a hair.

3. short for Graafian follicle.

4. [Botany] a dry fruit that is derived from a single carpel and opens on one side only to release its seeds.

II. derivatives

1. follicular /fəˈlikyələr /

adjective

2. folliculate /fəˈlikyələt, -ˌlāt /

adjective

3. folliculated /fəˈlikyəˌlādəd /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin folliculus ‘little bag,’ diminutive of follis ‘bellows.’

follicle mite

noun

a parasitic mite that burrows into the hair follicles, causing demodectic mange.
[Genus Demodex, family Demodicidae.]

follicle-stimulating hormone FSH

noun

[Biochemistry] a hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland that promotes the formation of ova or sperm.

folliculitis /fəˌlikyəˈlīdəs/

noun

[Medicine] inflammation of the hair follicles.

follis /ˈfälis/

I. noun

a bronze or copper coin of a type introduced by the Roman emperor Diocletian in AD 296 and also used later in Byzantine currency.

– origin late 19th cent.: Latin, literally ‘bag, purse’; compare with fils^1, fool^1.

follow /ˈfälō/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. go or come after (a person or thing proceeding ahead); move or travel behind

• she went back into the house, and Ben followed her

• [no obj.] he was following behind in his car.

2. go after (someone) in order to observe or monitor

• the KGB man followed her everywhere.

3. ‹archaic› strive after; aim at

• I follow fame.

4. go along (a route or path).

5. (of a route or path) go in the same direction as or parallel to (another)

• the road follows a hidden sweetwater brook.

6. come after in time or order

• the six years that followed his restoration

• [no obj.] the rates are as follows.

7. happen after (something else) as a consequence

• raucous laughter followed the ribald remark

• [no obj.] retribution soon followed.

8. [no obj.] — be a logical consequence

• it thus follows from this equation that the value must be negative.

9. [with obj.] — (of a person) do something after (something else)

• he follows his surprise hit movie with a paranoid thriller.

10. (often be followed by) — have (a dish or course) after another or others in a meal

• turkey was followed by dessert.

11. act according to (an instruction or precept)

• he has difficulty in following written instructions.

12. conform to

• the film faithfully follows Shakespeare's plot.

13. act according to the lead or example of (someone)

• he follows Aristotle in believing this.

14. treat as a teacher or guide

• those who seek to follow Jesus Christ.

15. pay close attention to (something)

• I've been following this discussion closely.

16. keep track of; trace the movement or direction of

• she followed his gaze, peering into the gloom.

17. maintain awareness of the current state or progress of (events in a particular sphere or account)

• young Italians follow football.

18. (of a person or account) be concerned with the development of (something)

• the book follows the life and career of Henry Clay.

19. track (a person, group, or organization) by subscribing to their account on a social media website or application

• if you've been following me on Facebook recently you may have seen a bunch of different posts about surgery and back trouble

• I don't follow many celebrities on Twitter anymore.

20. understand the meaning or tendency of (a speaker or argument)

• I still don't follow you.

21. practice (a trade or profession).

22. undertake or carry out (a course of action or study)

• she followed a strict diet.

II. phrases

1. follow in someone's footsteps (or steps)

do as another person did before, especially in following a particular career.

2. follow one's nose

a. trust to one's instincts

• you are on the right track so follow your nose.

b. move along guided by one's sense of smell.

c. go straight ahead.

3. follow suit

a. (in bridge, whist, and other card games) play a card of the suit led.

b. conform to another's actions

• Spain cut its rates by half a percent but no other country has followed suit.

III. phrasal verbs

1. follow through

(in golf, baseball, and other sports) continue one's movement after the ball has been struck or thrown.

2. follow something through

continue an action or task to its conclusion.

3. follow something up

pursue or investigate something further

• I decided to follow up the letters with phone calls.

– origin Old English folgian, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch volgen and German folgen.

followee /ˌfälōˈē/

noun

1. a person who is being tracked on a social media website or application

• some people were upset that followers and followees are displayed on your public profile page.

2. a person who is being followed

• tailgaters are fools—if an accident happens, the follower gets the blame, not the followee.

follower /ˈfälōər/

noun

1. an adherent or devotee of a particular person, cause, or activity

• a freethinker and follower of Voltaire.

2. someone who is tracking a particular person, group, organization, etc. on a social media website or application

• she remains an immensely divisive figure, but she has a million followers on Facebook.

3. a person who moves or travels behind someone or something.

following /ˈfälōiNG/

I. preposition

coming after or as a result of

• police are hunting for two men following a spate of robberies in the area.

II. noun

1. a body of supporters or admirers

• he attracted a worldwide following.

2. [treated as sing. or pl.] (the following) — what follows or comes next

• the following are both grammatically correct sentences.

III. adjective — [attrib.]

1. next in time

• the following day there was a ceremony in St. Peter's Square.

2. about to be mentioned

• you are required to provide us with the following information.

3. (of a wind or sea) blowing or moving in the same direction as the course of a vehicle or vessel.

follow-on /ˈfälō ˌän/

noun

1. the action of occurring as a consequence or result of something
[as modifier]

• follow-on treatment.

2. a thing that occurs as a consequence, result, or modification of another

• it will act as the follow-on to the current version of the software.

follow-the-leader

noun

1. a children's game in which the participants copy the actions and words of a person who has been chosen as leader.

2. the copying of the actions of others, often without consideration of their suitability for oneself

• consumers play follow-the-leader when it comes to buying fashion.

• [as modifier] a follow-the-leader effect in the investments market.

follow-through /ˈfälō ˌTHro͞o/

noun

1. the continuing of an action or task to its conclusion

• the company assures follow-through on all aspects of the contract.

2. a continuation of the movement of an arm, bat, racket, or club after a ball has been thrown or struck

• he has a characteristic swing and follow-through.

follow-up /ˈfälō ˌəp/

noun

1. a continuation or repetition of something that has already been started or done, in particular

2. an activity carried out as part of a study in order to monitor or further develop earlier work
[as modifier]

• follow-up interviews.

3. further observation or treatment of a patient, especially to monitor earlier treatment

• patients who require proper medical follow-up.

4. a piece of work that builds on or exploits the success of earlier work

• she is writing a follow-up to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

folly /ˈfälē/

I. noun

1. lack of good sense; foolishness

• an act of sheer folly.

2. a foolish act, idea, or practice

• the follies of youth.

3. a costly ornamental building with no practical purpose, especially a tower or mock-Gothic ruin built in a large garden or park.

4. (Follies) — a theatrical revue, typically with glamorous female performers
[in names]

• the Ziegfeld Follies.

– origin Middle English: from Old French folie ‘madness,’ in modern French also ‘delight, favorite dwelling’ (compare with sense 2), from fol ‘fool, foolish.’

Folsom^1 /ˈfōlsəm/

a city in north central California, northeast of Sacramento; pop. 67,788 (est. 2008).

Folsom^2

I. noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. [Archaeology] a Paleo-Indian culture of Central and North America, dated to about 10,500–8,000 years ago. The culture is distinguished by fluted stone projectile points or spearheads.
Compare with Clovis^2.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Folsom, northeastern New Mexico, the area where remains were first found.

Fomalhaut /ˈfōməlˌhôt / ‹Astronomy›

I. the brightest star in the constellation Piscis Austrinus.

– origin Arabic fam al-ḥūt ‘mouth of the fish,’ from fam ‘mouth’ + al- ‘the’ + ḥūt ‘fish.’

foment /ˌfōˈment ˈfōˌment/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. instigate or stir up (an undesirable or violent sentiment or course of action)

• they accused him of fomenting political unrest.

2. ‹archaic› bathe (a part of the body) with warm or medicated lotions.

II. derivatives

fomenter /ˌfōˈmen(t)ər /

noun

– origin late Middle English (sense 2): from French fomenter, from late Latin fomentare, from Latin fomentum ‘poultice, lotion,’ from fovere ‘to heat, cherish.’

fomentation /ˌfōmənˈtāSHən/

I. noun

1. the action of instigating or stirring up undesirable sentiment or actions.

2. ‹archaic› a poultice.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin fomentatio(n-), from the verb fomentare (see foment).

fomites /ˈfōməˌtēz/

I. plural noun

[Medicine] objects or materials that are likely to carry infection, such as clothes, utensils, and furniture.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin, plural of fomes, literally ‘kindling wood, tinder.’

FOMO /ˈfōmō/

I. noun

‹informal› anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may currently be happening elsewhere, often aroused by posts seen on a social media website

• I realized I was a lifelong sufferer of FOMO.

– origin early 21st cent.: abbreviation of fear of missing out.

Fon /fän/

I. noun

1. a member of a people inhabiting the southern part of Benin.

2. the Kwa language of the Fon.

II. adjective

relating to the Fon or their language.

– origin the name in Fon.

fond /fänd/

I. adjective — [predic.] (fond of)

1. having an affection or liking for

• I'm very fond of Mike

• he was not too fond of dancing.

2. [attrib.] — affectionate; loving

• waving a fond farewell to her parents

• reading it brought many fond memories of our childhood.

3. [attrib.] — (of a hope or belief) foolishly optimistic; naive.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘infatuated, foolish’): from obsolete fon ‘a fool, be foolish,’ of unknown origin. Compare with fun.

Fonda /ˈfändə/

I. the name of a family of US actors.

II. Henry (Jaynes) (1905–82), noted for his roles in such movies as The Grapes of Wrath (1940), Twelve Angry Men (1957), and On Golden Pond (1981).

III. Jane (1937–), Henry's daughter. Her movies include Klute (1971), The China Syndrome (1979), Nine to Five (1980), and On Golden Pond (1981).

IV. Peter (1939–), Henry's son. His best known movies are Easy Rider (1969) and Ulee's Gold (1997). Peter's daughter Bridget (1964–) is also an actor.

fondant /ˈfändənt/

I. noun

1. a thick paste made of sugar and water and often flavored or colored, used in the making of candy and the icing and decoration of cakes.

2. a candy made of fondant.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French, literally ‘melting,’ present participle of fondre.

fondant potatoes

plural noun

potatoes trimmed in the shape of eggs, fried in butter and then baked.

Fond du Lac /ˈfändlˌak, ˈfänjəˌlak/

an industrial and commercial city in southeastern Wisconsin, on Lake Winnebago; pop. 42,025 (est. 2008).

fondle /ˈfändl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. stroke or caress lovingly or erotically

• the dog came over to have his ears fondled

• charges that he fondled a patient during an examination.

II. noun

an act of fondling.

III. derivatives

fondler /ˈfändlər, ˈfändl-ər /

noun

– origin late 17th cent. (in the sense ‘pamper’): back-formation from obsolete fondling ‘much-loved or petted person,’ from fond + -ling.

fondly /ˈfändlē/

adverb

1. with affection or liking

• he talks fondly of his grandfather

• things I fondly recall from my childhood.

2. with a foolishly optimistic hope or belief; naively

• they fondly believed the cheers were for them.

fondness /ˈfändnəs/

noun

affection or liking for someone or something

• I remember him with great fondness

• I have a fondness for spicy food.

fondu /fänˈd(y)o͞o/

I. adjective — [postpositive]

1. [Ballet] (of a position) involving a lowering of the body by bending the knee of the supporting leg

• an arabesque fondu.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, literally ‘melted.’

fondue /fänˈd(y)o͞o/

I. noun

a dish in which small pieces of food are dipped into a hot sauce or a hot cooking medium such as oil or broth

• a Swiss cheese fondue.

– origin French, feminine past participle of fondre ‘to melt.’

fone /fōn/

I. noun

‹informal› a phone

• I switched my fone to silent.

– origin early 20th cent.: informal respelling of phone^1.

Fonseca, Gulf of /fänˈsākə/

an inlet of the Pacific Ocean in western Central America. El Salvador lies on its north, Honduras on its east, and Nicaragua on its south.

fons et origo /ˈfänz et ōˈrīɡō, ˈfänz et ōˈrēɡō/

I. noun

the source and origin of something

• they recognized the sixties as the fons et origo of music as they knew it.

– origin Latin, originally as fons et origo mali ‘the source and origin of evil.’

font^1 /fänt/

I. noun

1. a receptacle in a church for the water used in baptism, typically a freestanding stone structure.

2. another term for stoup.

3. a reservoir for oil in an oil lamp.

4. a fount

• they dip down into the font of wisdom.

II. derivatives

fontal /ˈfän(t)l /

adjective

– origin late Old English: from Latin fons, font- ‘spring, fountain,’ occurring in the ecclesiastical Latin phrase fons or fontes baptismi ‘baptismal water(s).’

font^2 /fänt / ‹Brit.› fount

I. noun

[Printing] a set of type of one particular face and size.

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting the action or process of casting or founding): from French fonte, from fondre ‘to melt.’

Fontaine, Joan

(1917–2013), US actress; born in Japan; born Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland; sister of Olivia de Havilland; full name Joan de Beauvoir Fontaine. Her movies include Rebecca (1940), Suspicion (1941), and The Constant Nymph (1943).

Fontainebleau /ˌfôNtenˈblō, ˈfäntinˌblō/

a town in north central France, southeast of Paris, where King Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes and Napoleon I signed his first abdication; pop. 16,302 (2007).

Fontana /fänˈtanə/

a city in southwestern California, east of Los Angeles; pop. 184,984 (est. 2008).

fontanel /ˌfäntnˈel / fontanelle

I. noun

a space between the bones of the skull in an infant or fetus, where ossification is not complete and the sutures not fully formed. The main one is between the frontal and parietal bones.

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting a hollow of the skin between muscles): from French, from modern Latin fontanella, from an Old French diminutive of fontaine (see fountain). The current sense dates from the mid 18th cent.

Fontanne, Lynn /fänˈtan/

(1887–1983), British actress. She married actor Alfred Lunt (1892–1977) in 1922, and thereafter they appeared in many plays together, including The Guardsman (1924) and The Visit (1958).

Fonteyn, Dame Margot /fänˈtān/

(1919–91), English ballet dancer; born Margaret Hookham. In 1962, she began a partnership with Rudolf Nureyev, dancing with him in Giselle and Romeo and Juliet.

fontina /fänˈtēnə/

noun

a kind of pale yellow Italian cheese.

Foochow /fo͞oˈCHou/

variant of Fuzhou.

food /fo͞od/

I. noun

any nutritious substance that people or animals eat or drink, or that plants absorb, in order to maintain life and growth

• we need food and water

• they had eaten their food and slept

• baby foods

• [as modifier] food shortages

• ‹figurative› music is food for the soul.

II. phrases

food for thought

something that warrants serious consideration.

– origin late Old English fōda, of Germanic origin; related to fodder.

food additive

noun

a substance added to food to enhance its flavor or appearance or to preserve it.

Food and Agriculture Organization /ˌfo͞od (ə)n(d) ˈaɡrəˌkəlCHər ˌôrɡənəˈzāSH(ə)n / FAO

an agency of the United Nations established in 1945 to secure improvements in the production and distribution of food and agricultural products and to raise levels of nutrition. Its headquarters are in Rome.

food baby

noun

‹informal› a protruding stomach caused by eating a large quantity of food and supposedly resembling that of a woman in the early stages of pregnancy

• a very small bump was visible in the tight frock, although it could easily have been mistaken for a food baby.

food bank //

noun

a place where stocks of food, typically basic provisions and non-perishable items, are supplied free of charge to people in need.

food body

noun

[Botany] a small nutrient-rich structure developed on the leaves, flowers, or petioles of some tropical plants to attract ants.

food chain /ˈfo͞od ˌCHān/

noun

1. a hierarchical series of organisms each dependent on the next as a source of food.

2. ‹informal› a hierarchical system or structure within a particular sphere or group

• a small paper toward the bottom of the journalistic food chain.

3. the series of processes by which food is grown or produced, sold, and eventually consumed

• they have taken all reasonable steps to ensure that no contaminated products enter the food chain.

food coma

noun

‹informal› a state of sleep or extreme lethargy induced by the consumption of a large amount of food

• I fell into a post-dinner food coma.

food court

noun

(N. Amer.) an area, typically in a shopping mall, where fast-food outlets, tables, and chairs are located.

food desert

noun

an urban area in which it is difficult to buy affordable or good-quality fresh food.

• many poor people live in food deserts—where they have plenty of food but none of it healthy.

food diary food journal

noun

a detailed daily record of the food and drink one consumes over a certain period of time, typically kept as a means of tracking calorie consumption or identifying habitual eating patterns

• she went to three exercise classes a week, kept a food diary, and ate little and often

• after looking at your food journal, ask yourself if you're eating enough fresh produce and fiber.

food fish

noun

a species of fish that is used as food by humans or forms a major part of the diet of a particular predator.

Food Guide Pyramid

noun

a food pyramid developed by the US Department of Agriculture, displaying color-coded food groups arranged according to recommended levels of consumption in a healthy diet.

foodie /ˈfo͞odē/

noun

‹informal› a person with a particular interest in food; a gourmet.

food-insecure

adjective

lacking reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food

• 60 percent of the country's population is classified as food-insecure

• food-insecure households.

food insecurity

noun

the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food

• more than 800 million people live every day with hunger or food insecurity as their constant companion.

food mile //

noun

a mile over which a food item is transported from producer to consumer, as a unit of measurement of the fuel used to do this.

food poisoning /ˈfo͞od ˌpoiz(ə)niNG/

noun

illness caused by bacteria or other toxins in food, typically with vomiting and diarrhea.

food processor

noun

an electric kitchen appliance used for chopping, mixing, or pureeing foods.

food pyramid

noun

1. a nutritional diagram in the shape of a pyramid, especially (in the US) the Food Guide Pyramid.

2. [Ecology] a graphic representation of predatory relationships in the food chain, in which various forms of life are shown on different levels, with each level preying on the one below it.

food security

noun

the state of having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food

• food security has declined dramatically in many developing countries

• the ultimate in individual food security is growing your own food.

food stamp /ˈfo͞od ˌstamp/

noun

a voucher issued by the government to those on low income, exchangeable for food.

foodstuff /ˈfo͞odˌstəf/

noun

a substance suitable for consumption as food.

food supplement

noun

see supplement.

food truck

noun

a large vehicle equipped with facilities for cooking and selling food.

• new gourmet food trucks take the street-food game to a higher level.

food vacuole

noun

[Biology] a vacuole with a digestive function in the protoplasm of a protozoan.

food value /fo͞od ˈvalyo͞o/

noun

the nutritional value of a foodstuff.

food web

noun

[Ecology] a system of interlocking and interdependent food chains.

foofaraw /ˈfo͞ofəˌrô / ‹informal›

noun

1. a great deal of fuss or attention given to a minor matter.

2. showy frills added unnecessarily.

foo fighter /ˈfo͞o ˌfīdər/

I. noun

an unidentified flying object of a kind reported by US pilots during World War II, usually described as a bright light or ball of fire.

– origin 1940s: from the comic strip Smokey Stover (created in 1935 by Bill Holman (1903–1987)), whose title character used the invented term to mean ‘firefighter.’

fool^1 /fo͞ol/

I. noun

1. a person who acts unwisely or imprudently; a silly person

• what a fool I was to do this.

2. ‹historical› a jester or clown, especially one retained in a noble household.

3. ‹informal› a person devoted to a particular activity

• he is a running fool.

4. ‹archaic› a person who is duped.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. trick or deceive (someone); dupe

• he fooled nightclub managers into believing he was a successful businessman

• she had been fooling herself in thinking she could remain indifferent.

2. [no obj.] — act in a joking, frivolous, or teasing way

• I shouted at him impatiently to stop fooling around.

3. [no obj.] (fool around) — (chiefly N. Amer.) engage in casual or extramarital sexual activity.

III. adjective — [attrib.]

1. ‹informal› foolish or silly

• that damn fool waiter.

IV. phrases

1. be no (or nobody's) fool

be a shrewd or prudent person.

2. a fool and his money are soon parted

‹proverb› a foolish person spends money carelessly and will soon be penniless.

3. fools rush in where angels fear to tread

‹proverb› people without good sense or judgment will have no hesitation in tackling a situation that even the wisest would avoid.

4. make a fool of

a. trick or deceive (someone) so that they look foolish.

b. (make a fool of oneself) — behave in an incompetent or inappropriate way that makes one appear foolish.

5. play (or act) the fool

behave in a playful or silly way.

6. there's no fool like an old fool

‹proverb› the foolish behavior of an older person seems especially foolish as they are expected to think and act more sensibly than a younger one.

7. you could have fooled me!

used to express cynicism or doubt about an assertion

• “Fun, was it? Well, you could have fooled me!”

V. phrasal verbs

fool with

a. toy with; play idly with

• I like fooling with cameras.

b. tease (a person)

• we've just been fooling with you.

– origin Middle English: from Old French fol ‘fool, foolish,’ from Latin follis ‘bellows, bag,’ by extension ‘empty-headed person’; compare with fils^1, follis.

fool^2 /fo͞ol/

I. noun — [usu. with modifier]

1. (chiefly Brit.) a cold dessert made of pureed fruit mixed or served with cream or custard

• raspberry fool with cream.

– origin late 16th cent.: perhaps from fool^1.

foolery /ˈfo͞olərē/

noun

silly or foolish behavior.

foolhardy /ˈfo͞olˌhärdē/

I. adjective

recklessly bold or rash

• it would be foolhardy to go into the scheme without support.

II. derivatives

1. foolhardily /-ˌhärdl-ē /

adverb

2. foolhardiness /ˈfo͞olˌhärdēnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French folhardi, from fol ‘foolish’ + hardi ‘bold’ (see hardy).

foolish /ˈfo͞oliSH/

adjective

(of a person or action) lacking good sense or judgment; unwise

• it was foolish of you to enter into correspondence.

foolishly /ˈfo͞oliSHli/

adverb

in an unwise manner; stupidly

• they were condemned for acting foolishly

• I foolishly wasted my money

• foolishly, I decided to give it a go.

foolishness /ˈfo͞oliSHnəs/

noun

lack of good sense or judgment; stupidity

• she was realizing the foolishness of her actions.

foolproof /ˈfo͞olˌpro͞of/

adjective

incapable of going wrong or being misused

• a foolproof security system.

foolscap /ˈfo͝olzˌkap/

I. noun

a size of paper, now standardized at about 13 × 8 (or 13 × 15.75) inches (300 × 200 [or 300 × 400] mm)
[as modifier]

• a stack of foolscap paper.

– origin late 17th cent.: said to be named from a former watermark representing a jester's cap.

fool's errand

noun

a task or activity that has no hope of success.

fool's gold /ˈfo͞olz ˌɡōld/

noun

a brassy yellow mineral, especially pyrite, that can be mistaken for gold.

fool's paradise

noun — [in sing.]

1. a state of happiness based on a person's not knowing about or denying the existence of potential trouble

• they were living in a fool's paradise, refusing to accept that they were in debt.

fool's parsley

noun

a poisonous white-flowered plant of the parsley family, with fernlike leaves and an unpleasant smell, native to Eurasia and North Africa.
[Aethusa cynapium, family Umbelliferae.]

foosball /ˈfo͞osbôl/

I. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a tabletop version of soccer in which players turn rods fixed on top of a playing box and attached to miniature figures of players, in order to flick the ball and strike it toward the goal.

– origin 1960s: from German Fussball ‘football.’

foot /fo͝ot/

I. noun

1. the lower extremity of the leg below the ankle, on which a person stands or walks.

2. a corresponding part of the leg in vertebrate animals.

3. [Zoology] a locomotory or adhesive organ of an invertebrate.

4. the part of a sock or stocking that covers the foot.

5. ‹literary› a person's manner or speed of walking or running

• fleet of foot.

6. [treated as pl.] — (Brit.) ‹historical› ‹formal› infantry; foot soldiers

• a captain of foot.

7. the lower or lowest part of something standing or perceived as standing vertically; the base or bottom

• the foot of the stairs.

8. the end of a table that is furthest from where the host sits.

9. the end of a bed, couch, or grave where the occupant's feet normally rest.

10. a device on a sewing machine for holding the material steady as it is sewn.

11. [Botany] the part by which a petal is attached.

12. the lower edge of a sail.

13. (Symbol: ʹ) — a unit of linear measure equal to 12 inches (30.48 cm)

• shallow water no more than a foot deep.

14. [usu. as modifier] — [Music] a unit used in describing sets of organ pipes or harpsichord strings, in terms of the average or approximate length of the vibrating column of air or the string which produces the sound

• a sixteen-foot stop.

15. [Prosody] a group of syllables constituting a metrical unit. In English poetry it consists of stressed and unstressed syllables, while in ancient classical poetry it consists of long and short syllables.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› pay (the bill) for something, especially when the bill is considered large or unreasonable.

2. (foot it) — ‹informal› cover a distance, especially a long one, on foot

• the rider was left to foot it ten or twelve miles back to camp.

3. ‹informal› ‹archaic› dance

• the dance of fairies, footing it to the cricket's song.

III. phrases

1. at someone's feet

as someone's disciple or subject

• you would like to sit at my feet and thus acquire my wisdom.

2. feet of clay

a fundamental flaw or weakness in a person otherwise revered.
[with biblical allusion (Dan. 2:33) to the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, in which a magnificent idol has feet “part of iron and part of clay”; Daniel interprets this to signify a future kingdom that will be “partly strong, and partly broken,” and will eventually fall.]

3. get one's feet wet

begin to participate in an activity.

4. get (or start) off on the right (or wrong) foot

make a good (or bad) start at something, especially a task or relationship.

5. have something at one's feet

have something in one's power or command

• a perfect couple with the world at their feet.

6. have (or keep) one's (or both) feet on the ground

be (or remain) practical and sensible

• it's a very exciting time for the business but it's important that we keep our feet on the ground.

7. have a foot in both camps

have an interest or stake concurrently in two parties or sides

• I can have a foot in both the creative and business camps.

8. have (or get) a foot in the door

gain or have a first introduction to a profession or organization.

9. have one foot in the grave

‹informal› ‹often humorous› be near death through old age or illness.

10. my foot!

‹informal› said to express strong contradiction

• Efficient, my foot!

11. off one's feet

so as to be no longer standing

• she was blown off her feet by the shock wave from the explosion.

12. on one's feet

a. standing

• she's in the shop on her feet all day.

b. well enough after an illness or injury to walk around

• we'll have you back on your feet in no time.

13. on (or by) foot

walking rather than traveling by car or using other transport.

14. on the back foot

(Brit.) outmaneuvered by a competitor or opponent; at a disadvantage

• Messi's early goal put Milan on the back foot

• the government found itself on the back foot as peaceful demonstrations continued.

15. on the front foot

(Brit.) outmaneuvering a competitor or opponent; at an advantage

• City were on the front foot from the word go

• the Prime Minister's bellicose performance was motivated by a desire to get back on the front foot.

16. put one's best foot forward

embark on an undertaking with as much effort and determination as possible.

17. put one's feet up

‹informal› take a rest, especially when reclining with one's feet raised and supported.

18. put one's foot down

‹informal› adopt a firm policy when faced with opposition or disobedience.

19. put one's foot in it (or put one's foot in one's mouth)

‹informal› say or do something tactless or embarrassing; commit a blunder or indiscretion.

20. set foot on

(or in) [often with negative] — enter; go into

• he hasn't set foot in the place since the war.

21. set something on foot

‹archaic› set an action or process in motion

• a plan had lately been set on foot for their relief.

Compare with afoot.

22. sweep someone off their feet

charm someone quickly and overpoweringly.

23. think on one's feet

react to events decisively, effectively, and without prior thought or planning.

24. to one's feet

to a standing position

• he leaped to his feet.

IV. derivatives

1. footed /ˈfo͝odəd /

adjective

[in combination]

• the black-footed ferret

2. footless

adjective

– origin Old English fōt, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch voet and German Fuss, from an Indo-European root shared by Sanskrit pad, pāda, Greek pous, pod-, and Latin pes, ped- ‘foot.’

footage /ˈfo͝odij/

noun

1. a length of film made for movies or television

• film footage of the riot.

2. size or length measured in feet

• the square footage of the room.

foot-and-mouth disease /ˈˌfo͝od ən ˈmouTH dəˌzēz/

noun

a contagious viral disease of cattle and sheep, causing ulceration of the hoofs and around the mouth.

football /ˈfo͝otˌbôl/

noun

1. a form of team game played in North America with an oval ball on a field marked out as a gridiron.

2. British term for soccer.

3. play in a game of football, especially when stylish and entertaining

• his team played some impressive football.

4. a ball used in football, either oval (as in American football) or round (as in soccer), typically made of leather or plastic and filled with compressed air.

5. a topical issue or problem that is the subject of continued argument or controversy

• the use of education as a political football.

footballer /ˈfo͝otˌbôlər/

noun

(Brit.) a person who plays soccer; a soccer player

• his dream of becoming a professional footballer.

football hooligan

noun

(Brit.) a violent troublemaker whose behavior is associated with or motivated by their support of a soccer team

• two gangs of football hooligans clashed in the city center.

footballing /ˈfo͝otˌbôliNG/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (Brit.) relating to the playing of soccer

• a footballing legend

• young footballing talent.

football pool

noun

a form of gambling on the results of football games, the winners receiving amounts accumulated from entry money.

footbed /ˈfo͝otbed/

noun

an insole in a boot or shoe, used for cushioning or to provide a better fit.

footboard /ˈfo͝otbôrd/

noun

1. an upright panel forming the foot of a bed.

2. a board serving as a step up to a vehicle such as a train.

footboy /ˈfo͝otboi/

noun

‹historical› a boy employed as a servant.

footbrake /ˈfo͝otˌbrāk/

noun

a brake lever in a motor vehicle, which the driver operates by pressing down with the foot.

footbridge /ˈfo͝otˌbrij/

noun

a bridge designed to be used by pedestrians.

foot-candle /fo͝otˈkandl/

noun

a unit of illumination (now little used) equal to that given by a source of one candela at a distance of one foot (equivalent to one lumen per square foot or 10.764 lux).

foot-dragging /ˈfo͝otˌdraɡiNG/

I. noun

reluctance or deliberate delay concerning a decision or action

• bureaucratic foot-dragging has continued to delay the project.

II. derivatives

foot-dragger

noun

footer /ˈfo͝odər/

noun

1. [in combination] — a person or thing of a specified number of feet in length or height

• a tall, sturdy six-footer.

2. a line or block of text appearing at the foot of each page of a book or document.
Compare with header.

footfall /ˈfo͝otˌfôl/

noun

1. the sound of a footstep or footsteps

• you will recognize his footfall on the stairs.

2. (Brit.) the number of people entering a store or shopping area in a given time

• consumer goods shops lost footfall during sunny weekends.

foot fault /ˈfo͝ot ˌfôlt/

I. noun

(in tennis, squash, and similar games) an infringement of the rules made by incorrect placement of the feet when serving.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a player) make a foot fault

• in his anxiety he foot-faulted.

2. [with obj.] — award a foot fault against (a player)

• he was foot-faulted by the umpire.

footgear /ˈfo͝otɡir/

noun

another term for footwear.

foothill /ˈfo͝otˌhil/

noun — (usu. foothills)

1. a low hill at the base of a mountain or mountain range

• the camp lies in the foothills of the Andes.

foothold /ˈfo͝otˌhōld/

noun

1. a place where a person's foot can be lodged to support them securely, especially while climbing.

2. [usu. in sing.] — a secure position from which further progress may be made

• the company is attempting to gain a foothold in the Russian market.

footing /ˈfo͝odiNG/

noun

1. (one's footing) — a secure grip with one's feet

• he suddenly lost his footing.

2. [in sing.] — the basis on which something is established or operates

• attempts to establish the store on a firm financial footing.

3. the position or status of a person in relation to others

• the suppliers are on an equal footing with the buyers.

4. (usu. footings) — the bottommost part of a foundation wall, with a course of concrete wider than the base of the wall.

footle /ˈfo͞odl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (chiefly Brit.) engage in fruitless activity; mess about

• where's that pesky creature that was footling about outside?

– origin late 19th cent.: perhaps from dialect footer ‘idle, putter about,’ from 16th-cent. foutre ‘worthless thing,’ from Old French, literally ‘have sexual intercourse with.’

footlights /ˈfo͝otˌlīts/

plural noun — (usu. the footlights)

1. a row of spotlights along the front of a stage at the level of the actors' feet.

footling /ˈfo͞od(ə)liNG/

adjective

trivial and irritating

• year after year you come with the same footling complaint.

footlocker /ˈfo͝otˌläkər/

noun

(N. Amer.) a small trunk or storage chest, originally stored at the foot of a bed.

foot log

noun

(N. Amer.) a log used as a simple footbridge.

footlong /ˈfo͝otˌlôNG, -ˌläNG/

I. adjective

measuring one foot in length.

II. noun

a hot dog one foot long.

footloose /ˈfo͝otˌlo͞os/

adjective

1. able to travel freely and do as one pleases due to a lack of responsibilities or commitments

• I am footloose and fancy-free—I can follow my job wherever it takes me.

2. (chiefly Brit.) (of a commercial, industrial, or financial operation) unrestricted in its location or field of operations and able to respond to fluctuations in the market

• modern factories are largely footloose.

footman /ˈfo͝otmən/

noun

1. a liveried servant whose duties include admitting visitors and waiting at table.

2. ‹historical› a soldier in the infantry.

3. ‹archaic› a trivet to hang on the bars of a grate.

4. a slender moth that is typically of a subdued color, the caterpillar feeding almost exclusively on lichens.
[Several genera in the family Arctiidae: many species.]

footmark /ˈfo͝otmärk/

noun

a footprint.

footnote /ˈfo͝otˌnōt/

I. noun

1. an ancillary piece of information printed at the bottom of a page.

2. a thing that is additional or less important

• this incident seemed destined to become a mere footnote in history.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. add a footnote or footnotes to (a piece of writing).

footpace /ˈfo͝otpās/

noun

1. walking speed.

2. a raised section of a floor.

footpad /ˈfo͝otpad/

noun

‹historical› a highwayman operating on foot rather than riding a horse.

footpath /ˈfo͝otˌpaTH/

noun

a path for people to walk along, especially one in the countryside.

footplate /ˈfo͝otˌplāt/

noun

1. (chiefly Brit.) the platform for the crew in the cab of a locomotive.

2. [as modifier] — denoting railroad staff responsible for operating trains, as opposed to other employees.

foot-pound /ˌfo͝otˈpound/

noun

1. a unit of energy equal to the amount required to raise 1 pound a distance of 1 foot.

2. a unit of torque equal to the force of 1 lb acting perpendicularly to an axis of rotation at a distance of 1 foot.

foot-pound-second system

noun

a system of measurement having the foot, pound, and second as basic units.

footprint /ˈfo͝otˌprint/

noun

1. the impression left by a foot or shoe on the ground or a surface.

2. the impact on the environment of human activity in terms of pollution, damage to ecosystems, and the depletion of natural resources

• these countries are so populous that they can have a very big footprint.

3. [Computing] the amount of memory or disk space required by a program.

4. the area covered by something, in particular

5. the area beneath an aircraft or a land vehicle that is affected by its noise or weight.

6. the area in which a broadcast signal from a particular source can be received.

7. the space taken up on a surface by a piece of computer hardware.

footrest /ˈfo͝otˌrest/

noun

a support for the feet or a foot, used when sitting.

foot rope

noun

1. [Sailing] a rope to which the lower edge of a sail is sewn.

2. [Sailing] a rope below a yard on which a sailor can stand while furling or reefing a sail.

foot rot /ˈfo͝ot ˈˌrät/

noun

1. a bacterial disease of the feet in hoofed animals, especially sheep.
[The bacteria belong to the genera Bacteroides and Fusobacterium.]

2. any of a number of fungal diseases of plants in which the base of the stem rots.

footsie /ˈfo͝otsē/

I. noun

‹informal› the action of touching someone's feet lightly with one's own feet, especially under a table, as a playful expression of romantic interest

• he was playing footsie with Mara under the table.

– origin 1940s: humorous diminutive of foot.

Footsie /ˈfo͝otsē/

I. noun

(Brit.) ‹trademark› informal term for FTSE index.

– origin 1980s: fanciful elaboration of FTSE, influenced by footsie.

footslog /ˈfo͝otsläɡ/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (especially of a soldier) walk or march for a long distance, typically wearily or with effort

• they footslogged around the two villages.

II. noun

a long and exhausting walk or march.

III. derivatives

footslogger

noun

foot soldier /ˈfo͝ot ˈˌsōljər/

noun

1. a soldier who fights on foot; an infantryman.

2. a person who carries out important work but does not have a role of authority in an organization or field

• programmers are the foot soldiers of the computer revolution.

footsore /ˈfo͝otsôr/

adjective

(of a person or animal) having painful or tender feet from much walking.

footstalk /ˈfo͝otstôk/

noun

the short supporting stalk of a leaf or flower, or various stalklike structures in animals.

footstep /ˈfo͝otˌstep/

noun

a step taken by a person in walking, especially as heard by another person.

footstool /ˈfo͝otˌsto͞ol/

noun

a low stool for resting the feet on when sitting.

footsure /ˈfo͝oCHo͝or/

adjective

another term for sure-footed.

foot-tapping

adjective

having or creating a strong rhythmical musical beat

• foot-tapping gospel hymns.

foot valve

noun

a one-way valve at the inlet of a pipe or the base of a suction pump.

footwall /ˈfo͝otwäl/

noun

[Geology] the block of rock that lies on the underside of an inclined fault or of a mineral deposit.

footway /ˈfo͝otwā/

noun

(Brit.) a path or track for pedestrians.

footwear /ˈfo͝otwer/

noun

outer coverings for the feet, such as shoes, boots, and sandals.

footwell /ˈfo͝otwel/

I. noun

a space for the feet in front of a seat in a vehicle or aircraft.

– origin 1980s: from foot + well^2 (in the sense ‘a depression in the floor’).

footwork /ˈfo͝otˌwərk/

noun

1. the manner in which one moves one's feet in various activities such as sports and dancing

• he speaks with other boxers, stopping to comment on punching angles and footwork.

2. adroit response to sudden danger or new opportunities

• the company had to do a lot of nimble footwork to stay alive.

footy /ˈfo͝odē/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› (Brit.) football (soccer).

2. ‹informal› (Austral./NZ) football (Australian rules).

– origin by shortening and alteration.

foo yong /fo͞o ˈyəNG/

I. noun

a Chinese dish or sauce made with egg as a main ingredient.

– origin from Chinese (Cantonese dialect) foō yung, literally ‘hibiscus.’

foozle /ˈfo͞ozəl / ‹informal›

I. noun

a clumsy or botched attempt at something, especially a shot in golf.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. botch; bungle
(as adj. foozled)

• sliced approach shots and foozled putts.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from German dialect fuseln ‘work badly’; compare with fusel oil.

fop /fäp/

I. noun

a man who is concerned with his clothes and appearance in an affected and excessive way; a dandy.

II. derivatives

foppery /ˈfäp(ə)rē /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘fool’): perhaps related to fob^2.

foppish /ˈfäpiSH/

I. adjective

(of a man) concerned with his clothes and appearance in an affected and excessive way

• he is foppish and vain

• a foppish dandy.

II. derivatives

1. foppishly

adverb

2. foppishness /ˈfäpiSHnəs /

noun

for /fôr fər/

I. preposition

1. in support of or in favor of (a person or policy)

• they voted for independence in a referendum.

2. affecting, with regard to, or in respect of (someone or something)

• she is responsible for the efficient running of their department

• the demand for money.

3. on behalf of or to the benefit of (someone or something)

• these parents aren't speaking for everyone.

4. employed by

• it was a good firm to work for.

5. having (the thing mentioned) as a purpose or function

• she is searching for enlightenment

• the necessary tools for making a picture frame.

6. having (the thing mentioned) as a reason or cause

• Aileen is proud of her family for their support

• I could dance and sing for joy.

7. having (the place mentioned) as a destination

• they are leaving for Swampscott tomorrow.

8. representing (the thing mentioned)

• the “F” is for Fascinating.

9. in place of or in exchange for (something)

• swap these two bottles for that one.

10. charged as (a price)

• copies are available for only a buck.

11. in relation to the expected norm of (something)

• she was tall for her age

• warm weather for this time of year.

12. indicating the length of (a period of time)

• he was in prison for 12 years

• I haven't seen him for some time.

13. indicating the extent of (a distance)

• he crawled for 300 yards.

14. indicating an occasion in a series

• the camcorder failed for the third time.

II. conjunction

‹literary› because; since

• he felt guilty, for he knew that he bore a share of responsibility for Fanny's death.

III. phrases

1. be for it

(Brit.) ‹informal› be in imminent danger of punishment or other trouble.

2. for all ——

see all.

3. for ever

see forever.

4. for why

‹informal› for what reason

• you're going to and I'll tell you for why.

5. oh for ——

I long for ——

• oh for a strong black coffee!

6. there's (or that's) —— for you

used ironically to indicate a particularly poor example of (a quality mentioned)

• there's gratitude for you.

– origin Old English, probably a reduction of a Germanic preposition meaning ‘before’ (in place or time); related to German für, also to fore.

for.

abbreviation

1. foreign.

2. forest.

3. forester.

4. forestry.

f.o.r.

abbreviation

free on rail.

for-

I. prefix

1. denoting prohibition

• forbid.

2. denoting abstention, neglect, or renunciation

• forgive

• forget

• forgo.

3. denoting extremity of negative state expressed

• forlorn

• forsake.

– origin Old English.

fora /ˈfôrə/

plural form of forum (sense 3).

forage /ˈfôrij ˈfärij/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a person or animal) search widely for food or provisions

• gulls are equipped by nature to forage for food.

2. [with obj.] — obtain (food or provisions)

• a girl foraging grass for oxen.

3. [with obj.] — obtain food or provisions from (a place)

• a man foraging a dumpster finds some celery.

4. [with obj.] — ‹archaic› supply (an animal or person) with food.

II. noun

1. bulky food such as grass or hay for horses and cattle; fodder.

2. [in sing.] — a wide search over an area in order to obtain something, especially food or provisions

• the nightly forage produces things that can be sold.

III. derivatives

forager /ˈfôrijər ˈfärijər /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French fourrage (noun), fourrager (verb), from fuerre ‘straw,’ of Germanic origin and related to fodder.

forage cap /ˈfôrij ˌkap ˈfärij ˌkap/

noun

a soft cap, usually having a stiff brim, forming part of a soldier's uniform.

forage fish

noun

a species of fish of interest to humans chiefly as the prey of more valuable game fish.

forage harvester

noun

a large agricultural machine for harvesting forage crops.

foramen /fəˈrāmən/

I. noun

[Anatomy] an opening, hole, or passage, especially in a bone.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin, from forare ‘bore a hole.’

foramen magnum

I. noun

[Anatomy] the hole in the base of the skull through which the spinal cord passes.

– origin late 19th cent.: Latin, ‘large opening.’

foraminifer /ˌfôrəˈminəfər, ˌfär-/

I. noun

[Zoology] a single-celled planktonic animal with a perforated chalky shell through which slender protrusions of protoplasm extend. Most kinds are marine, and when they die, their shells form thick ocean-floor sediments.
See also globigerina. [Order Foraminiferida, phylum Rhizopoda, kingdom Protista.]

II. derivatives

1. foraminiferal /fəˌraməˈnifərəl /

adjective

2. foraminiferan /fəˌraməˈnifərən /

noun, adjective

3. foraminiferous /fəˌraməˈnifərəs /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin foramen, foramin- (see foramen) + -fer ‘bearing’ (from ferre ‘to bear’).

for'ard /ˈfôrərd, ˈfär-/

adjective, adverb

nonstandard spelling of forward, used to represent a nautical pronunciation.

forasmuch as /ˌfôrəzˈməCH əz/

I. conjunction

‹archaic› because; since

• forasmuch as the tree returned to life, so too could Arthur be returned to her.

– origin Middle English for as much, translating Old French por tant que ‘for so much as.’

forastero /ˌfôrəˈsterō / forastero tree

I. noun

a cacao tree of a widely grown variety that provides the bulk of the world's cocoa beans.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Spanish, literally ‘foreign,’ because the tree was imported into Venezuela from the West Indies, as distinct from the criollo or native variety.

foray /ˈfôrˌā ˈfärˌā/

I. noun

1. a sudden attack or incursion into enemy territory, especially to obtain something; a raid

• the garrison made a foray against Richard's camp

• ‹figurative› he made another foray to the bar.

2. an attempt to become involved in a new activity or sphere

• my first foray into journalism.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. make or go on a foray

• the place into which they were forbidden to foray.

III. derivatives

forayer

noun

– origin Middle English: back-formation from forayer ‘a person who forays,’ from Old French forrier ‘forager,’ from fuerre ‘straw’ (see forage).

forb /fôrb/

I. noun

[Botany] a herbaceous flowering plant other than a grass.

– origin 1920s: from Greek phorbē ‘fodder,’ from phorbein ‘to feed.’

forbade /fərˈbad fərˈˈbād / forbad

past of forbid.

forbear^1 /fərˈber fôrˈber/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹literary› ‹formal› politely or patiently restrain an impulse to do something; refrain

• the boy forbore from touching anything

• [with infinitive] he modestly forbears to include his own work.

2. [with obj.] — ‹literary› ‹formal› refrain from doing or using (something)

• Rebecca could not forbear a smile.

– origin Old English forberan (see for-, bear^1). The original senses were ‘endure, bear with,’ hence ‘endure the absence of something, do without,’ also ‘bear up against, control oneself,’ hence ‘refrain from’ (Middle English).

forbear^2

noun

variant spelling of forebear.

forbearance /fôrˈberəns fərˈberəns/

noun

1. ‹formal› patient self-control; restraint and tolerance

• forbearance from taking action.

2. ‹formal› [Law] the action of refraining from exercising a legal right, especially enforcing the payment of a debt.

forbearing /fôrˈberiNG fərˈberiNG/

adjective

(of a person) patient and restrained.

forbid /fərˈbid/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. refuse to allow (something)

• environmental laws forbid alteration of the coast.

2. order (someone) not to do something

• I was forbidden from leaving Russia

• [with obj. and infinitive] my doctor has forbidden me to eat sugar.

3. refuse (someone or something) entry to a place or area

• all cars are forbidden.

4. (of a circumstance or quality) make (something) impossible; prevent

• the cliffs forbid any easy turning movement.

II. phrases

God (or Heaven) forbid

used to express a fervent wish that something does not happen
[with clause]

• God forbid that this should happen to anyone ever again.

– origin Old English forbēodan (see for-, bid^2).

forbidden /fərˈbidn/

I. adjective

1. not allowed; banned

• a list of forbidden books.

2. [Physics] denoting or involving a transition between two quantum-mechanical states that does not conform to some selection rule, especially for electric dipole radiation.

II. phrases

1. the forbidden degrees

the number of steps of descent from the same ancestor that bar two related people from marrying.

2. forbidden fruit

a thing that is desired all the more because it is not allowed.
[with biblical allusion to Gen. 2:17.]

Forbidden City

I. an area of Beijing, China, that contains the former imperial palaces, to which entry was forbidden to all except the members of the imperial family and their servants.

II. a name given to Lhasa, Tibet.

forbidding /fərˈbidiNG/

I. adjective

unfriendly or threatening in appearance

• a grim and forbidding building.

II. derivatives

forbiddingly /fərˈbidiNGlē /

adverb

forbore /fərˈbôr/

past of forbear^1.

forborne /fərˈbôrn/

past participle of forbear^1.

forbye /fôrˈbī / forby

adverb, preposition

‹archaic› (Scottish) in addition; besides
[as adv.]

• there's chicken in the fridge, and plenty of soup forbye, if you get hungry again.

force /fôrs/

I. noun

1. strength or energy as an attribute of physical action or movement

• he was thrown backward by the force of the explosion.

2. [Physics] an influence tending to change the motion of a body or produce motion or stress in a stationary body. The magnitude of such an influence is often calculated by multiplying the mass of the body by its acceleration.

3. a person or thing regarded as exerting power or influence

• he might still be a force for peace and unity.

4. [in combination] — used with a number as a measure of wind strength on the Beaufort scale

• a force-nine gale.

5. coercion or compulsion, especially with the use or threat of violence

• they ruled by law and not by force.

6. mental or moral strength or power

• the force of popular opinion.

7. the state of being in effect or valid

• the law came into force in January.

8. the powerful effect of something

• the force of her writing is undiminished.

9. an organized body of military personnel or police

• a soldier in a UN peacekeeping force.

10. (forces) — troops and weaponry

• concealment from enemy forces

• ‹figurative› a battle between the forces of good and evil.

11. a group of people brought together and organized for a particular activity

• a sales force.

12. (the force) — ‹informal› a police department.

13. [Baseball] a force-out.

14. a situation in which a force-out is possible.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make a way through or into by physical strength; break open by force

• they broke into Fred's house and forced every cupboard door with ax or crowbar.

2. [with obj.] — drive or push into a specified position or state using physical strength or against resistance

• she forced her feet into flat leather sandals

• ‹figurative› Fields was forced out as director.

3. achieve or bring about (something) by coercion or effort

• Sabine forced a smile

• she forced her way up the ladder.

4. push or strain (something) to the utmost

• she knew if she forced it she would rip it.

5. artificially hasten the development or maturity of (a plant).

6. (often be forced) — make (someone) do something against their will

• she was forced into early retirement

• [with obj.] the universities were forced to cut staff.

7. rape (a woman).

8. [Baseball] put out (a runner), or cause (a runner) to be put out, at the base to which they are advancing when they are forced to run on a batted ball

• I was forced at second base as the first half of a double play.

9. (in cards) make a play or bid that compels another player to make (a particular response); make a play or bid that compels (another player) to make such a response

• East could force declarer to ruff another spade.

III. phrases

1. by force of

by means of

• exercising authority by force of arms.

2. force the bidding

(at an auction) make bids to raise the price rapidly.

3. force someone's hand

make someone do something

• the exchange markets may force the Fed's hand.

4. force the issue

compel the making of an immediate decision.

5. force the pace

adopt a fast pace in a race in order to tire out one's opponents quickly.

6. in force

a. in great strength or numbers

• birdwatchers were out in force.

b. in effect; valid

• the US has over $8 trillion worth of life insurance in force.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. force something down

a. manage to swallow food or drink when one does not want to

• I forced down a slice of toast.

b. compel an aircraft to land

• the plane might have been forced down by fighters.

2. force oneself on/upon

rape (a woman).

3. force something on/upon

impose or press something on (a person or organization)

• economic cutbacks were forced on the government.

V. derivatives

1. forceable /ˈfôrsəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. forcer

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French force (noun), forcer (verb), based on Latin fortis ‘strong.’

forced /fôrst/

I. adjective

1. obtained or imposed by coercion or physical power

• the brutal regime of forced labor.

2. (of a gesture or expression) produced or maintained with effort; affected or unnatural

• a forced smile.

3. (of a plant) having its development or maturity artificially hastened.

II. phrases

forced march

a fast march by soldiers, typically over a long distance.

forced landing

I. noun

an act of abruptly bringing an aircraft to the ground or the surface of water in an emergency.

II. derivatives

force-land

verb

force-feed /ˈfôrs ˌfēd/

verb — [with obj.]

1. force (a person or animal) to eat.

2. [with two objs.] — impose or force (information or ideology) upon (someone)

• no group has the right to force-feed its beliefs on her.

force feedback

noun

[Computing] the simulation of physical attributes such as weight in computer gaming and virtual reality, allowing the user to interact directly with virtual objects using touch.

force field

noun

(chiefly in science fiction) an invisible barrier of exerted strength or impetus

• future land combat vehicles will deflect enemy shells with an electromagnetic force field.

forceful /ˈfôrsfəl/

I. adjective

(especially of a person or argument) strong and assertive; vigorous and powerful

• she was a forceful personality

• forceful, imaginative marketing.

II. derivatives

forcefulness /ˈfôrsfəlnəs /

noun

forcefully /ˈfôrsfəlē/

adverb

1. in a strong and assertive manner; vigorously

• he argued forcefully against reform

• the government needs to act forcefully on this issue.

2. using considerable physical strength or violence

• he forcefully shoved her back into the wall

• exhale forcefully through your nose.

force majeure /ˌfôrs mäˈZHər/

I. noun

1. unforeseeable circumstances that prevent someone from fulfilling a contract.

2. irresistible compulsion or greater force.

– origin late 19th cent.: French, literally ‘greater force.’

forcemeat /ˈfôrsˌmēt/

I. noun

a mixture of meat or vegetables chopped and seasoned for use as a stuffing or garnish.

– origin late 17th cent.: from obsolete force ‘to stuff,’ alteration (influenced by the verb force) of farce, from French farcir (see farce).

force-out /fôrsout/

noun

[Baseball] the putout of a base runner who is forced to go to the next base.

force play

noun

[Baseball] a play in which a runner must advance when a ball is hit, thereby allowing a fielder to put the runner out by touching the approached base before the runner gets there.

forceps /ˈfôrsəps ˈfôrˌseps / a pair of forceps

I. plural noun

1. a pair of pincers or tweezers used in surgery or in a laboratory.

2. a large instrument with broad pincers, used to encircle a baby's head and assist in birth
[as modifier]

• a forceps delivery.

3. [Zoology] an organ or structure resembling forceps, especially the cerci of an earwig.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin, ‘tongs, pincers.’

force pump

noun

a pump used to move water or other liquid under pressure.

forcible /ˈfôrsəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. done by force

• signs of forcible entry.

2. vigorous and strong; forceful

• they could only be deterred by forcible appeals.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, from force (see force).

forcibly /ˈfôrsəblē/

adverb

1. using force or violence

• no one will be forcibly evicted.

2. in a forceful way; convincingly

• they argued forcibly against the proposal.

forcing /ˈfôrsiNG/

adjective

[Bridge] (of a bid) requiring by convention a response from one's partner, no matter how weak their hand may be.

forcing house /ˈfôrsiNG houz/

noun

a place in which the growth or development of something (especially plants) is artificially hastened.

ford /fôrd/

I. noun

a shallow place in a river or stream allowing one to walk or drive across.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a person or vehicle) cross (a river or stream) at a shallow place.

III. derivatives

1. fordable /ˈfôrdəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. fordless

adjective

– origin Old English; related to Dutch voorde, also to fare.

Ford, Ford Madox /fôrd/

(1873–1939), English novelist and editor; born Ford Hermann Hueffer. He is known for his novel The Good Soldier (1915).

Ford, Gerald Rudolph

(1913–2006), 38th president of the US 1974–77; born as Leslie Lynch King, Jr. (renamed by his stepfather in 1916). He served in the US House of Representatives 1949–73 and as vice president 1973–74 before succeeding to the presidency upon the resignation of Richard Nixon in the wake of the Watergate affair. Noted for his integrity and candidness, he worked to heal the nation, to curb inflation while stimulating the economy, and to prevent war in the Middle East. He lost the 1976 presidential election to Jimmy Carter.

Ford, Harrison

(1942–), US actor. Best known for his roles in the Star Wars trilogy (1977, 1980, 1983) and Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and its three sequels (1984, 1989, 2008).

Ford, Henry

(1863–1947), US automobile manufacturer. A pioneer of large-scale mass production, he founded the Ford Motor Company, which produced the Model T in 1909. Control of the company passed to his grandson, Henry Ford II (1917–1987), in 1945.

Ford, John

(1895–1973), US movie director; born Sean Aloysius O'Feeney. He is chiefly known for his westerns, several of which starred John Wayne, including Stagecoach (1939) and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949). Other notable movies include The Grapes of Wrath (1940).

Ford, Tennessee Ernie

(1919–91), US country singer and songwriter. His notable songs include “Mule Train” (1949) and “Sixteen Tons” (1955). Country Music Hall of Fame (1990).

Ford, Whitey

(1928–), US baseball player; born Edward Charles Ford. A New York Yankee 1950 and 1953–67, he had a career win percentage of .690, one of the highest among 20th-century pitchers. Baseball Hall of Fame (1974).

Fordham /ˈfôrdəm/

a section of the central Bronx in New York City that takes its name from Fordham University.

fore /fôr/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. situated or placed in front

• the fore and hind pairs of wings.

II. noun

the front part of something, especially a ship.

III. exclamation

called out as a warning to people in the path of a golf ball.

IV. preposition

nonstandard form of before:

• we'll be harvesting corn 'fore the end of the month.

V. phrases

to the fore

in or to a conspicuous or leading position

• his persistent effort brought this issue to the fore.

– origin Old English (as a preposition, also in the sense ‘before in time, previously’): of Germanic origin; related to Dutch voor and German vor. The adjective and noun represent the prefix fore- used independently (late 15th cent).

fore-

I. combining form

1. (added to verbs) in front

• foreshorten.

2. beforehand; in advance

• forebode

• foreshadow.

3. (added to nouns) situated in front of

• forecourt.

4. the front part of

• forebrain.

5. of or near the bow of a ship

• forecastle.

6. preceding; going before

• forefather.

– origin Old English (see fore).

fore and aft

I. adverb

1. at the front and rear (often used with reference to a ship or plane)

• we're moored fore and aft.

2. backward and forward

• a sperm whale cannot see directly fore and aft.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. backward and forward

• the fore-and-aft motion of the handles.

2. (of a hat, especially one worn as part of a uniform) having three corners and a brim at the front and back

• we were in full dress, with fore-and-aft hats and swords.

3. (of a sail or rigging) set lengthwise, not on transverse yards

• a fore-and-aft-rigged yacht.

– origin early 17th cent.: perhaps translating a phrase of Low German origin; compare with Dutch van voren en van achteren.

forearm^1 /ˈfôrˌärm/

noun

the part of a person's arm extending from the elbow to the wrist or the fingertips.

forearm^2 /fôrˈärm/

verb — [with obj.]

1. prepare (someone) in advance for danger, attack, or another undesirable future event.

forebear /ˈfôrber / forbear

I. noun — (usu. one's forebears)

1. an ancestor.

– origin late 15th cent.: from fore + bear, variant of obsolete beer ‘someone who exists’ (from be + -er^1).

forebode /fôrˈbōd/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› ‹literary› (of a situation or occurrence) act as a warning of (something bad)

• this lull foreboded some new assault upon him.

2. ‹archaic› ‹literary› have a presentiment of (something bad)

• I foreboded mischief the moment I heard.

foreboding /fôrˈbōdiNG/

I. noun

fearful apprehension; a feeling that something bad will happen

• with a sense of foreboding she read the note.

II. adjective

implying or seeming to imply that something bad is going to happen

• when the doctor spoke, his voice was dark and foreboding.

III. derivatives

forebodingly

adverb

forebrain /ˈfôrbrān/

noun

[Anatomy] the anterior part of the brain, including the cerebral hemispheres, the thalamus, and the hypothalamus.
Also called prosencephalon.

forecaddie /ˈfôrˌkadē/

noun

a caddie who goes ahead of golfers to see where the balls fall.

forecast /ˈfôrˌkast/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. predict or estimate (a future event or trend)

• rain is forecast for eastern Ohio

• [with obj. and infinitive] coal consumption is forecast to increase.

II. noun

a prediction or estimate of future events, especially coming weather or a financial trend.

forecaster /ˈfôrˌkastər/

noun

a person who predicts or estimates a future event or trend

• economic forecasters are predicting a downturn.

forecastle /ˈfōksəl ˈfôrˌkasəl / fo'c's'le

noun

1. the forward part of a ship below the deck, traditionally used as the crew's living quarters.

2. a raised deck at the bow of a ship.

forecheck /ˈfôrCHek/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. [Ice Hockey] play an aggressive style of defense, checking opponents in their own defensive zone, before they can organize an attack.

II. derivatives

forechecker

noun

foreclose /fôrˈklōz/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — take possession of a mortgaged property as a result of the mortgagor's failure to keep up their mortgage payments

• the bank was threatening to foreclose on his mortgage.

2. [with obj.] — take away someone's power of redeeming (a mortgage) and take possession of the mortgaged property.

3. [with obj.] — rule out or prevent (a course of action)

• the decision effectively foreclosed any possibility of his early rehabilitation.

– origin Middle English: from Old French forclos, past participle of forclore, from for- ‘out’ (from Latin foras ‘outside’) + clore ‘to close.’ The original sense was ‘bar from escaping,’ in late Middle English ‘shut out,’ and ‘bar from doing something’ (sense 2), hence specifically ‘bar someone from redeeming a mortgage’ (sense 1, early 18th cent).

foreclosure /ˌfôrˈklōZHər/

noun

the action of taking possession of a mortgaged property when the mortgagor fails to keep up their mortgage payments

• assistance for mortgage borrowers facing foreclosure

• major increases in home foreclosures.

forecourt /ˈfôrˌkôrt/

noun

1. an open area in front of a large building.

2. [Tennis] the part of the court between the service line and the net.

foredeck /ˈfôrdek/

noun

the deck at the forward part of a ship.

foredoom /fôrˈdo͞om/

verb — [with obj.] (usu. be foredoomed)

1. condemn beforehand to certain failure or destruction

• the policy is foredoomed to failure.

foredune /ˈfôrdo͞on/

noun

[Ecology] a part of a system of sand dunes on the side nearest to the sea.

fore-edge /ˈfôrˌej / fore edge

noun

‹technical› the outer vertical edge of the pages of a book.

forefather /ˈfôrˌfäT͟Hər/

noun — (usu. one's forefathers)

1. a member of the past generations of one's family or people; an ancestor.

2. a precursor of a particular movement

• the forefathers of rock 'n' roll.

forefinger /ˈfôrˌfiNGɡər/

noun

the finger next to the thumb; the first or index finger.

forefoot /ˈfôrˌfo͝ot/

noun

1. each of the front feet of a four-footed animal.

2. the forward end of a vessel's keel where it joins the stern.

forefront /ˈfôrˌfrənt/

noun — (the forefront)

1. the leading or most important position or place

• we are at the forefront of developments.

forego^1 /fôrˈɡō fərˈɡō/

verb

variant spelling of forgo.

forego^2 /fôrˈɡō/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› precede in place or time.

II. derivatives

foregoer /fôrˈɡōr /

noun

foregoing /ˈfôrɡōiNG / ‹formal›

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. just mentioned or stated; preceding

• the foregoing discussion has juxtaposed management and owner control.

II. noun — (the foregoing) [treated as sing. or pl.]

1. the things just mentioned or stated.

foregone /fôrˈɡôn/

I. past participle of forego^2.

II. adjective — [often postpositive]

1. ‹archaic› past

• poets dream of lives foregone in worlds fantastical.

III. phrases

a foregone conclusion

a result that can be predicted with certainty.

foreground /ˈfôrˌɡround/

I. noun — (the foreground)

1. the part of a view that is nearest to the observer, especially in a picture or photograph

• the images show vegetation in the foreground.

2. the most prominent or important position or situation

• whenever books are chosen for children, meaning should always be in the foreground.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (something) the most prominent or important feature

• sexual relationships are foregrounded and idealized.

– origin late 17th cent.: from fore- + ground^1, on the pattern of Dutch voorgrond.

foregut /ˈfôrˌɡət/

noun

[Anatomy] [Zoology] the anterior part of the gut, toward the mouth.

forehand /ˈfôrˌhand/

noun

1. (in tennis and other racket sports) a stroke played with the palm of the hand facing in the direction of the stroke
[as modifier]

• a good forehand drive.

2. the part of a horse in front of the saddle.

forehanded /ˈfôrˌhandəd/

I. adjective

1. (US) another term for forehand (as adj.).

2. (US) looking to the future; prudent; thrifty.

II. adverb

(in tennis and other racket sports) with a forehand stroke.

forehead /ˈfôrˌhed ˈfôrəd/

I. noun

the part of the face above the eyebrows.

– origin Old English forhēafod (see fore-, head).

foreign /ˈfôrən/

I. adjective

1. of, from, in, or characteristic of a country or language other than one's own

• a foreign language.

2. dealing with or relating to other countries

• foreign policy.

3. of or belonging to another district or area.

4. coming or introduced from outside

• the quotation is a foreign element imported into the work.

5. (of a law or restriction) outside the local jurisdiction.

6. strange and unfamiliar

• I suppose this all feels pretty foreign to you.

7. (foreign to) — not belonging to or characteristic of

• crime and brutality are foreign to our nature and our country.

II. derivatives

foreignness /ˈfôrənˌnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English foren, forein, from Old French forein, forain, based on Latin foras, foris ‘outside,’ from fores ‘door.’ The current spelling arose in the 16th cent., by association with sovereign.

foreign aid /ˈfôrən ād/

noun

money, food, or other resources given or lent by one country to another.

foreign bill

noun

a bill of exchange payable in another country.

foreign body /ˈfôrən ˈbädē/

noun

an object or piece of extraneous matter that has entered the body by accident or design.

foreigner /ˈfôrənər/

noun

1. a person born in or coming from a country other than one's own.

2. ‹informal› a person not belonging to a particular place or group; a stranger or outsider.

foreign exchange

noun

1. the currency of other countries.

2. an institution or system for dealing in the currency of other countries.

Foreign Legion /ˈˌfôrən ˈlēj(ē)ən/

a military unit of the French army founded in the 1830s to fight France's colonial wars. Composed, except for the higher ranks, of non-Frenchmen, the Legion was famed for its audacity and endurance. Its most famous campaigns were in French North Africa in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

foreign minister /ˈfôrən ˈminəstər/

noun

(in many countries) a government minister in charge of relations with other countries

• the Tunisian foreign minister will visit Washington.

foreign mission

noun

1. a permanent office established by a nation to represent its interests in a foreign country.

2. a group sent by a church to live in a foreign country for a period of time, especially to seek converts.

foreign national

noun

a person who is not a naturalized citizen of the country in which they are living

• most of the students affected were said to be foreign nationals.

foreign office

in some countries, the department of government in charge of foreign affairs.

foreign policy

noun

a government's strategy in dealing with other nations

• a scathing critic of US foreign policy

• [as modifier] a foreign-policy crisis.

foreign secretary

noun

(in the UK) a foreign minister.

foreign service

noun

1. the government department concerned with the representation of a country abroad.

2. (Foreign Service) — a division of the US State Department staffed by diplomatic and consular personnel.

foreknow /fôrˈnō/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› be aware of (an event) before it happens

• he foreknows his death like a saint.

foreknowledge /fôrˈnäləj/

noun

awareness of something before it happens or exists.

forelady /ˈfôrˌlādē/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹dated› another term for forewoman.

foreland /ˈfôrlənd/

noun

1. an area of land bordering on another or lying in front of a particular feature.

2. a cape or promontory.

3. [Geology] a stable unyielding block of the earth's crust, against which compression produces a folded mountain range.

foreleg /ˈfôrˌleɡ/

noun

either of the front legs of a four-footed animal.

forelimb /ˈfôrˌlim/

noun

either of the front limbs of an animal.

forelock /ˈfôrˌläk/

noun

1. a lock of hair growing just above the forehead.

2. the part of the mane (of a horse or similar animal) that grows from the poll and hangs down over the forehead.

foreman /ˈfôrmən/

I. noun

1. a worker, especially a man, who supervises and directs other workers.

2. (in a court of law) a person, especially a man, who presides over a jury and speaks on its behalf.

– origin Middle English: perhaps suggested by Dutch voorman (compare with German Vormann).

Foreman, George /ˈfôrmən/

(1949–), US boxer. Having held the world heavyweight championship 1973–74, he regained the title in 1994–95, becoming the oldest man to do so.

foremast /ˈfôrmast ˈfôrməst/

noun

the mast of a ship nearest the bow.

foremost /ˈfôrˌmōst/

I. adjective

most prominent in rank, importance, or position

• one of the foremost art collectors of his day.

II. adverb

before anything else in rank, importance, or position; in the first place

• O'Keefe's work was, foremost, an expression of the feelings of a woman.

III. phrases

first and foremost

see first.

– origin Old English formest, fyrmest, from forma ‘first’ (ultimately a superlative formed from the Germanic base of fore) + -est^1. Compare with first and former^1. The current spelling arose by association with fore and most.

foremother /ˈfôrˌməT͟Hər/

noun — (usu. one's foremothers)

1. a female ancestor or precursor of something.

forename /ˈfôrˌnām/

noun

another term for first name.

forenoon /ˈfôrˌno͞on/

noun — [in sing.]

1. (N. Amer.) [Nautical] the morning.

forensic /fəˈrenzik fəˈrensik/

I. adjective

1. of, relating to, or denoting the application of scientific methods and techniques to the investigation of crime

• forensic evidence.

2. of or relating to courts of law.

II. noun — (forensics)

1. scientific tests or techniques used in connection with the detection of crime.

2. [treated as sing. or pl.] (also forensic) — ‹informal› a laboratory or department responsible for tests used in detection of crime.

III. derivatives

forensically /-(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin forensis ‘in open court, public,’ from forum (see forum).

forensic accounting

noun

the use of accounting skills to investigate fraud or embezzlement and to analyze financial information for use in legal proceedings.

forensic medicine /fəˈrenzik fəˈrensik ˈmedəsən/

noun

the application of medical knowledge to the investigation of crime, particularly in establishing the causes of injury or death.

foreordain /ˌfôrôrˈdān/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of God or fate) appoint or decree (something) beforehand

• progress is not foreordained.

II. derivatives

foreordination /fôrˌôrdəˈnāSH(ə)n /

noun

forepart /ˈfôrˌpärt/

noun

the part situated at the front of something; the foremost part.

forepaw /ˈfôrpô/

noun

either of the front paws of a quadruped.

forepeak /ˈfôrpēk/

noun

the forwardmost division of a vessel's hull, often used in ships as a ballast tank.

foreperson /ˈfôrˌpərs(ə)n/

noun

a foreman or forewoman (used as a neutral alternative).

foreplay /ˈfôrˌplā/

noun

sexual activity that precedes intercourse.

forequarter /ˈfôrˌkwôrdər/

noun

1. a front quarter of something, especially of a carcass (of beef, lamb, etc.).

2. (forequarters) — the front legs and adjoining parts of a quadruped.

forerun /fôrˈrən/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› go before or indicate the coming of

• the vast inquietude that foreruns the storm.

forerunner /ˈfôrˌrənər/

noun

1. a person or thing that precedes the coming or development of someone or something else

• the icebox was a forerunner of today's refrigerator.

2. a sign or warning of something to come

• overcast mornings are the sure forerunners of steady rain.

3. ‹archaic› an advance messenger.

foresail /ˈfôrˌsāl ˈfôrsəl/

noun

the principal sail on a foremast.

foresee /fôrˈsē/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. be aware of beforehand; predict

• we did not foresee any difficulties

• [with clause] it is impossible to foresee how life will work out.

II. derivatives

foreseer /-ˈsēər /

noun

– origin Old English foresēon (see fore-, see^1).

foreseeable /fôrˈsēəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

able to be foreseen or predicted

• the situation is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future.

II. derivatives

1. foreseeability /fôrˌsēəˈbilətē /

noun

2. foreseeably /-ˈsēəblē /

adverb

foreshadow /fôrˈSHadō/

verb — [with obj.]

1. be a warning or indication of (a future event)

• it foreshadowed my preoccupation with jazz.

foresheet /ˈfôrˌSHēt/

noun

1. a rope by which the lee corner of a foresail is kept in place.

2. (foresheets) — the inner part of the bow of a boat.

foreshock /ˈfôrˌSHäk/

noun

a mild tremor preceding the violent shaking movement of an earthquake.

foreshore /ˈfôrSHôr/

noun

the part of a shore between high- and low-water marks, or between the water and cultivated or developed land.

foreshorten /fôrˈSHôrtn fərˈSHôrtn/

verb — [with obj.]

1. portray or show (an object or view) as closer than it is or as having less depth or distance, as an effect of perspective or the angle of vision

• seen from the road, the mountain is greatly foreshortened.

2. prematurely or dramatically shorten or reduce (something) in time or scale
(as adj. foreshortened)

• foreshortened reports.

foreshow /fôrˈSHō/

verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› give warning or promise of (something); foretell.

foresight /ˈfôrˌsīt/

I. noun

the ability to predict or the action of predicting what will happen or be needed in the future

• he had the foresight to check that his escape route was clear.

– origin Middle English: from fore- + sight, probably suggested by Old Norse forsjá, forsjó.

foresighted /ˌfôrˈsīdəd/

I. adjective

having or using foresight.

II. derivatives

1. foresightedly

adverb

2. foresightedness

noun

foreskin /ˈfôrˌskin/

noun

the retractable roll of skin covering the end of the penis.
Also called prepuce.

forest /ˈfôrəst/

I. noun

1. a large area covered chiefly with trees and undergrowth

• a pine forest

• much of Europe was covered with forest.

2. a large number or dense mass of vertical or tangled objects

• a forest of connecting wires.

3. ‹historical› (in England) an area, typically owned by the sovereign and partly wooded, kept for hunting and having its own laws.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. forested)

1. cover (land) with forest; plant with trees

• a forested area.

III. phrases

cannot see the forest for the trees

fail to grasp the main issue because of excessive attention to details.

IV. derivatives

forestation /ˌfôrəˈstāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘wooded area kept for hunting,’ also denoting any uncultivated land): via Old French from late Latin forestis (silva), literally ‘(wood) outside,’ from Latin foris ‘outside’ (see foreign).

forestall /fôrˈstôl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. prevent or obstruct (an anticipated event or action) by taking action ahead of time

• vitamins may forestall many diseases of aging.

2. act in advance of (someone) in order to prevent them from doing something

• she started to rise, but Erica forestalled her and got the telephone.

3. ‹historical› buy up (goods) in order to profit by an enhanced price.

II. derivatives

1. forestaller

noun

2. forestallment

noun

– origin Old English foresteall ‘an ambush’ (see fore- and stall). As a verb the earliest sense (Middle English) was ‘intercept and buy up (goods) before they reach the market, so as to raise the price’ (formerly an offense).

forestay /ˈfôrˌstā/

noun

a stay leading forward and down to support a ship's foremast.

forestaysail /ˌfôrˈstāsəl, -ˌsāl/

noun

a triangular sail set on the forestay.

forester /ˈfôrəstər/

I. noun

1. a person in charge of a forest or skilled in planting, managing, or caring for trees.

2. ‹chiefly archaic› a person or animal living in a forest.

3. (Austral.) the eastern gray kangaroo.
See gray kangaroo.

4. a small black day-flying moth with two white or yellow spots on each wing.
[Family Agaristidae: several genera and species, including the eight-spotted forester (Alypia octomaculata), common throughout the northeastern US.]

– origin Middle English: from Old French forestier, from forest (see forest).

Forester, C. S. /ˈfôrəstər/

(1899–1966), English novelist; pseudonym of Cecil Lewis Troughton Smith. He is remembered for his seafaring novels set during the Napoleonic Wars and featuring Captain Horatio Hornblower. He also wrote The African Queen (1935).

Forest Hills

an affluent residential section of central Queens in New York City that is associated with the US Open in tennis, which was played here until 1978.

forestland /ˈfôrəstˌland, ˈfär-/

noun

an area of land covered by forests.

forestry /ˈfôrəstrē/

noun

the science or practice of planting, managing, and caring for forests.

foretaste /ˈfôrˌtāst/

noun — [in sing.]

1. a sample or suggestion of something that lies ahead

• the freezing rain was a foretaste of winter.

foretell /fôrˈtel/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. predict (the future or a future event)

• as he foretold, thousands lost their lives

• [with clause] a seer had foretold that she would assume the throne.

II. derivatives

foreteller

noun

forethought /ˈfôrˌTHôt/

noun

careful consideration of what will be necessary or may happen in the future

• Jim had the forethought to book in advance.

foretoken

I. verb — /ˈfôrˌtōkən / [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› be a sign of (something to come)

• a shiver in the night air foretokening December.

II. noun — /ˌfôrˈtōkən /

1. a sign of something to come.

– origin Old English foretācn (noun: see fore-, token).

foretold /fôrˈtōld fərˈtōld/

past and past participle of foretell.

foretop /ˈfôrtäp/

noun

1. a platform around the head of the lower section of a sailing ship's foremast.

2. the front seat on top of a horse-drawn vehicle.

3. another term for forelock.

fore-topgallant mast

noun

the third section of a sailing ship's foremast, above the fore-topmast.

fore-topgallant sail

noun

the sail above a sailing ship's fore-topsail.

fore-topmast /fôrˈtäpˌmast/

noun

the second section of a sailing ship's foremast.

fore-topsail /fôrˈtäpˌsāl fôrˈtäpsəl/

noun

the sail above a sailing ship's foresail.

foretriangle /ˈfôrˌtrīˌaNGɡəl/

noun

1. the triangular space between the deck, foremast, and forestay of a sailing vessel.

2. the area of sail within the foretriangle.

forever /fəˈrevər/

I. adverb

1. for all future time; for always

• she would love him forever.

2. a very long time (used hyperbolically)

• it took forever to get a passport.

3. used in slogans of support after the name of something or someone

• Elvis Forever!

4. continually

• she was forever pushing her hair out of her eyes.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. ‹informal› lasting or permanent

• these puppies need a forever home

• parenting is a forever job.

forevermore /fəˌrevərˈmôr/

adverb

forever (used for rhetorical effect)

• our military will be invincible forevermore.

forewarn /fôrˈwôrn/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. inform (someone) of a danger or possible problem

• he had been forewarned of a coup plot.

II. phrases

forewarned is forearmed

‹proverb› prior knowledge of possible dangers or problems gives one a tactical advantage.

III. derivatives

forewarner

noun

forewarning /fôrˈwôrniNG/

noun

an advance warning

• officials had no forewarning of the attacks.

forewent /fôrˈwent/

past of forego^1, forego^2.

forewing /ˈfôrwiNG/

noun

either of the two front wings of a four-winged insect.

forewoman /ˈfôrˌwo͝omən/

noun

1. a female worker who supervises and directs other workers.

2. (N. Amer.) (in a court of law) a woman who presides over a jury and speaks on its behalf.

foreword /ˈfôrˌwərd/

I. noun

a short introduction to a book, typically by a person other than the author.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from fore- + word, on the pattern of German Vorwort.

forex /ˈfôreks/

abbreviation

foreign exchange.

foreyard /ˈfôryärd/

noun

the lowest yard on a sailing ship's foremast.

forfeit /ˈfôrfət/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. lose or be deprived of (property or a right or privilege) as a penalty for wrongdoing

• those unable to meet their taxes were liable to forfeit their property.

2. lose or give up (something) as a necessary consequence of something else

• she didn't mind forfeiting an extra hour in bed to get up and clean the stables.

II. noun

1. a fine or penalty for wrongdoing or for a breach of the rules in a club or game.

2. [Law] an item of property or a right or privilege lost as a legal penalty.

3. (forfeits) — a game in which trivial penalties are exacted.

4. the action of forfeiting something.

III. adjective — [predic.]

1. lost or surrendered as a penalty for wrongdoing or neglect

• the lands which he had acquired were automatically forfeit.

IV. derivatives

1. forfeitable /ˈfôrfədəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. forfeiter /ˈfôrfədər /

noun

– origin Middle English (originally denoting a crime or transgression, hence a fine or penalty for this): from Old French forfet, forfait, past participle of forfaire ‘transgress,’ from for- ‘out’ (from Latin foris ‘outside’) + faire ‘do’ (from Latin facere).

forfeiture /ˈfôrfəCHər/

noun

the loss or giving up of something as a penalty for wrongdoing

• the court ordered the forfeiture of his computer.

forfend /fôrˈfend/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› avert, keep away, or prevent (something evil or unpleasant).

2. (also forefend) — (US) protect (something) by precautionary measures.

II. phrases

Heaven (or God) forfend

‹archaic› ‹humorous› used to express dismay or horror at the thought of something happening

• Invite him back? Heaven forfend!

• God forfend that we should allow the media to tell us how to run our business.

forgather /fərˈɡaT͟Hər fôrˈɡaT͟Hər / foregather

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹formal› assemble or gather together.

– origin late 15th cent. (originally Scots as forgadder): from Dutch vergaderen.

forgave /fərˈɡāv/

past of forgive.

forge^1 /fôrj/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make or shape (a metal object) by heating it in a fire or furnace and beating or hammering it.

2. create (a relationship or new conditions)

• the two women forged a close bond

• the country is forging a bright new future.

3. produce a copy or imitation of (a document, signature, banknote, or work or art) for the purpose of deception.

II. noun

1. a blacksmith's workshop; a smithy.

2. a furnace or hearth for melting or refining metal.

3. a workshop or factory containing a furnace for refining metal.

III. derivatives

forgeable

adjective

– origin Middle English (also in the general sense ‘make, construct’): from Old French forger, from Latin fabricare ‘fabricate,’ from fabrica ‘manufactured object, workshop.’ The noun is via Old French from Latin fabrica.

forge^2 /fôrj/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. move forward gradually or steadily

• he forged through the crowded side streets.

II. phrasal verbs

forge ahead

a. move forward or take the lead in a race.

b. continue or make progress with a course or undertaking

• the government is forging ahead with reforms.

– origin mid 18th cent. (originally of a ship): perhaps an aberrant pronunciation of force.

forged /fôrjd/

adjective

copied fraudulently; fake

• they have illegally entered the UK using forged travel documents.

forger /ˈfôrjər/

noun

a person who produces fraudulent copies or imitations

• one of Europe's most notorious art forgers.

forgery /ˈfôrjərē/

noun

1. the action of forging or producing a copy of a document, signature, banknote, or work of art.

2. a forged or copied document, signature, banknote, or work of art.

forget /fərˈɡet/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. fail to remember

• he had forgotten his lines

• [with clause] she had completely forgotten how tired and hungry she was.

2. inadvertently neglect to attend to, do, or mention something
[with infinitive]

• she forgot to lock her door

• [no obj.] I'm sorry, I just forgot.

3. put out of one's mind; cease to think of or consider

• forget all this romantic stuff

• [no obj.] for years she had struggled to forget about him.

4. (forget it) — said when insisting to someone that there is no need for apology or thanks.

5. (forget it) — said when telling someone that their idea or aspiration is impracticable.

6. (forget oneself) — stop thinking about one's own problems or feelings

• he must forget himself in his work.

7. (forget oneself) — act improperly or unbecomingly.

II. phrases

not forgetting ——

(at the end of a list) and also ——

• we depend on them for food and shelter and clothing, not forgetting heat in the wintertime.

III. derivatives

forgetter /fərˈɡedər /

noun

– origin Old English forgietan; related to Dutch vergeten and German vergessen, and ultimately to for- and get.

forgetful /fərˈɡetfəl/

I. adjective

apt or likely not to remember

• I'm a bit forgetful these days

• she was soon forgetful of the time.

II. derivatives

forgetfully /fərˈɡetfəlē /

adverb

forgetfulness /fərˈɡetfəlnəs/

noun

lapse of memory

• she teased him for his forgetfulness.

forget-me-not /fərˈɡet mē ˌnät/

I. noun

a low-growing plant of the borage family that typically has blue flowers and is a popular ornamental.
[Myosotis and other genera, family Boraginaceae: several species, in particular the common water forget-me-not (M. scorpioides), whose bright blue flowers have a yellow, pink, or white center.]

– origin mid 16th cent.: translating the Old French name ne m'oubliez mye; said to have the virtue of ensuring that the wearer of the flower would never be forgotten by a lover.

forgettable /fərˈɡedəb(ə)l/

adjective

easily forgotten, especially through being uninteresting or mediocre.

forgivable /fərˈɡivəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

able to be forgiven or tolerated; excusable

• the flaws are forgivable.

II. derivatives

forgivably /fərˈɡivəblē /

adverb

forgive /fərˈɡiv/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. stop feeling angry or resentful toward (someone) for an offense, flaw, or mistake

• I don't think I'll ever forgive David for the way he treated her.

2. (usu. be forgiven) — stop feeling angry or resentful toward someone for (an offense, flaw, or mistake)

• they are not going to pat my head and say all is forgiven

• [no obj.] he was not a man who found it easy to forgive and forget.

3. cancel (a debt)

• he proposed that their debts should be forgiven.

4. used in polite expressions as a request to excuse or regard indulgently one's foibles, ignorance, or impoliteness

• you will have to forgive my suspicious mind.

II. phrases

one could (or may) be forgiven

it would be understandable (if one mistakenly did a particular thing)

• the arrangements are so complex that you could be forgiven for feeling confused.

III. derivatives

forgiver

noun

– origin Old English forgiefan, of Germanic origin, related to Dutch vergeven and German vergeben, and ultimately to for- and give.

forgiveness /ˌfərˈɡivnəs/

I. noun

the action or process of forgiving or being forgiven

• she is quick to ask forgiveness when she has overstepped the line.

– origin Old English forgiefenes, from forgiefen (past participle of forgiefan ‘forgive’) + the noun suffix -nes.

forgiving /fərˈɡiviNG/

I. adjective

1. ready and willing to forgive

• Taylor was in a forgiving mood

• he was definitely not inclined to be forgiving of anyone spearing his cattle.

2. (of a thing) easy or safe to deal with

• it's a good, comfortable, forgiving airplane.

II. derivatives

forgivingly /fərˈɡiviNGlē /

adverb

forgo /fôrˈɡō fərˈɡō / forego

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. omit or decline to take (something pleasant or valuable); go without

• she wanted to forgo the dessert and leave while they could.

2. refrain from

• we forgo any comparison between the two men.

– origin Old English forgān (see for-, go^1).

forgot /fərˈɡät/

past of forget.

forgotten /fərˈɡätn/

past participle of forget.

forint /ˈfôrint/

I. noun

the basic monetary unit of Hungary, equal to 100 filler.

– origin Hungarian, from Italian fiorino (see florin).

fork /fôrk/

I. noun

1. an implement with two or more prongs used for lifting food to the mouth or holding it when cutting.

2. a pronged tool used for digging or lifting in a garden or farm.

3. a device, component, or part with two or more prongs, in particular

4. a unit consisting of a pair of supports in which a bicycle or motorcycle wheel revolves.

5. a flash of forked lightning.

6. the point where something, especially a road or river, divides into two parts.

7. either of the two parts where a road or river divides.

8. [Chess] a simultaneous attack on two or more pieces by one piece.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] — (especially of a road or other route) divide into two parts

• the place where the road forks.

2. [no obj.] — take or constitute one part or the other at the point where a road or other route divides

• a minor road forked left.

3. [with obj.] — dig, lift, or manipulate (something) with a fork

• fork in some compost.

4. [with obj.] — [Chess] attack (two pieces) simultaneously with one piece.

III. phrasal verbs

fork something over/out/up (or fork over/out/up)

‹informal› pay money for something, especially reluctantly.

IV. derivatives

forkful /ˈfôrkˌfo͝ol /

noun

– origin Old English forca, force (denoting an agricultural implement), based on Latin furca ‘pitchfork, forked stick’; reinforced in Middle English by Anglo-Norman French furke (also from Latin furca).

forkball /ˈfôrkbôl/

noun

[Baseball] a sinking pitch, released from between the widely spread index finger and middle finger.

Forkbeard, Sweyn /ˈfôrkˌbi(ə)rd/

see Sweyn I.

forked /fôrkt/

I. adjective

having a divided or pronged end or branches; bifurcated

• a deeply forked tail.

II. phrases

with forked tongue

‹humorous› untruthfully; deceitfully.

forked lightning /fôrkt ˈlītniNG/

noun

lightning that is visible in the form of a branching line across the sky.

forklift /ˈfôrklift/

I. noun

a vehicle with a pronged device in front for lifting and carrying heavy loads.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. lift and carry (a heavy load) with a forklift

• blocks of compacted garbage being forklifted onto a trailer.

forlorn /fərˈlôrn/

I. adjective

1. pitifully sad and abandoned or lonely

• forlorn figures at bus stops.

2. (of an aim or endeavor) unlikely to succeed or be fulfilled; hopeless

• a forlorn attempt to escape.

II. phrases

forlorn hope

a persistent or desperate hope that is unlikely to be fulfilled.
[mid 16th cent.: from Dutch verloren hoop ‘lost troop,’ from verloren (past participle of verliezen ‘lose’) and hoop ‘company’ (related to heap). The phrase originally denoted a band of soldiers picked to begin an attack, many of whom would not survive; the current sense (mid 17th cent.) derives from a misunderstanding of the etymology.]

III. derivatives

1. forlornly /fərˈlôrnlē /

adverb

2. forlornness /fərˈlôrnˌnəs /

noun

– origin Old English forloren ‘depraved, morally abandoned,’ past participle of forlēosan ‘lose,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch verliezen and German verlieren, and ultimately to for- and lose. Sense 1 dates from the 16th cent.

form /fôrm/

I. noun

1. the visible shape or configuration of something

• the form, color, and texture of the tree.

2. arrangement of parts; shape

• the entities underlying physical form.

3. the body or shape of a person or thing

• his eyes scanned her slender form.

4. arrangement and style in literary or musical composition

• these videos are a triumph of form over content.

5. [Philosophy] the essential nature of a species or thing, especially (in Plato's thought) regarded as an abstract ideal that real things imitate or participate in.

6. a mold, frame, or block in or on which something is shaped.

7. a temporary structure for holding fresh concrete in shape while it sets.

8. a particular way in which a thing exists or appears; a manifestation

• her obsession has taken the form of compulsive exercise.

9. any of the ways in which a word may be spelled, pronounced, or inflected

• an adjectival rather than adverbial form.

10. the structure of a word, phrase, sentence, or discourse

• every distinction in meaning is associated with a distinction in form.

11. a type or variety of something

• sponsorship is a form of advertising.

12. an artistic or literary genre.

13. [Botany] a taxonomic category that ranks below variety, which contains organisms differing from the typical kind in some trivial, frequently impermanent, character, e.g., a color variant.
Compare with subspecies and variety.

14. the customary or correct method or procedure; what is usually done

• an excessive concern for legal form and precedent.

15. a set order of words; a formula.

16. a formality or item of mere ceremony

• the outward forms of religion.

17. a printed document with blank spaces for information to be inserted

• an application form.

18. (chiefly Brit.) a class or year in a school, usually given a specifying number

• the fifth form.

19. the state of an athlete or sports team with regard to their current standard of performance

• illness has affected his form

• they've been in good form this season.

20. details of previous performances by a racehorse or greyhound

• an interested bystander studying the form.

21. (Brit.) a long bench without a back.

22. [Printing] (chiefly US) variant spelling of forme.

23. (chiefly Brit.) a hare's lair.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. bring together parts or combine to create (something)

• the company was formed in 1982.

2. (form people/things into) — organize people or things into (a group or body)

• peasants and miners were formed into a militia.

3. go to make up or constitute

• the precepts that form the basis of the book.

4. [no obj.] — gradually appear or develop

• a thick mist was forming all around.

5. conceive (an idea or plan) in one's mind.

6. enter into or contract (a relationship)

• the women would form supportive friendships.

7. articulate (a word, speech sound, or other linguistic unit).

8. construct (a new word) by derivation or inflection.

9. make or fashion into a certain shape or form

• form the dough into balls.

10. [no obj.] (form into) — be made or fashioned into a certain shape or form

• his strong features formed into a smile of pleasure.

11. (be formed) — have a specified shape

• her body was slight and flawlessly formed.

12. shape or develop by training or discipline.

13. influence or shape (something abstract)

• the role of the news media in forming public opinion.

III. phrases

1. in form

(of an athlete or sports team) playing or performing well.

2. off form

(of an athlete or sports team) not playing or performing well.

IV. derivatives

1. formability /ˌfôrməˈbilətē /

noun

2. formable

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French forme (noun), fo(u)rmer (verb, from Latin formare ‘to form’), both based on Latin forma ‘a mold or form.’

-form -iform

I. combining form

1. having the form of

• cruciform.

2. having a particular number of

• multiform.

– origin from French -forme, from Latin -formis, from forma ‘form.’

formal /ˈfôrməl/

I. adjective

1. done in accordance with rules of convention or etiquette; suitable for or constituting an official or important situation or occasion

• a formal dinner party.

2. (of a person or their manner) prim or stiff.

3. of or denoting a style of writing or public speaking characterized by more elaborate grammatical structures and more conservative and technical vocabulary.

4. (especially of a house or garden) arranged in a regular, classical, and symmetrical manner.

5. officially sanctioned or recognized

• a formal complaint.

6. having a conventionally recognized form, structure, or set of rules

• he had little formal education.

7. of or concerned with outward form or appearance, especially as distinct from content or matter

• I don't know enough about art to appreciate the purely formal qualities.

8. having the form or appearance without the spirit

• his sacrifice will be more formal than real.

9. of or relating to linguistic or logical form as opposed to function or meaning.

II. noun

1. (N. Amer.) an evening gown.

2. (N. Amer.) an occasion on which evening dress is worn.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin formalis, from forma ‘shape, mold’ (see form).

formal cause

noun

[Philosophy] (in Aristotelian thought) the pattern that determines the form taken by something.

formaldehyde /fôrˈmaldihīd fərmˈaldəˌhīd/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a colorless pungent gas in solution made by oxidizing methanol.
[Alternative name: methanal; chem. formula: CH_2O.]

– origin late 19th cent.: blend of formic acid and aldehyde.

formalin /ˈfôrməlin/

I. noun

a colorless solution of formaldehyde in water, used chiefly as a preservative for biological specimens.

– origin late 19th cent.: from formaldehyde + -in^1.

formalism /ˈfôrməˌlizəm/

noun

1. excessive adherence to prescribed forms

• academic dryness and formalism.

2. the use of forms of worship without regard to inner significance.

3. the basing of ethics on the form of the moral law without regard to intention or consequences.

4. concern or excessive concern with form and technique rather than content in artistic creation.

5. (in the theater) a symbolic and stylized manner of production.

6. the treatment of mathematics as a manipulation of meaningless symbols.

7. a description of something in formal mathematical or logical terms.

formalist /ˈfôrmələst/

I. noun

1. a person who adheres excessively to prescribed forms

• to the strict formalist, the law is the law.

2. a follower or advocate of the basing of ethics on the form of the moral law without regard to intention or consequences.

3. an artist who is excessively concerned with form, technique, or symbolism rather than content

• a conventional formalist who would reduce painting to its essential qualities.

4. an advocate of the treatment of mathematics as a manipulation of meaningless symbols.

II. adjective

relating to or supporting principles of formalism

• formalist arguments

• his is a formalist approach, describing the art in terms of composition and content.

III. derivatives

formalistic /ˌfôrməˈlistik /

adjective

formality /fôrˈmalədē/

I. noun

1. the rigid observance of rules of convention or etiquette

• he retained the formality of his social background.

2. stiffness of behavior or style

• with disconcerting formality, the brothers shook hands.

3. (usu. formalities) — a thing that is done simply to comply with requirements of etiquette, regulations, or custom

• legal formalities.

4. (a formality) — something that is done as a matter of course and without question; an inevitability

• her saying no was just a formality, and both of them knew it.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘accordance with legal rules or conventions’): from French formalité or medieval Latin formalitas, from formalis (see formal).

formalize /ˈfôrməˌlīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. give (something) legal or formal status.

2. give (something) a definite structure or shape

• we became able to formalize our thoughts.

II. derivatives

formalization /ˌfôrmələˈzāSH(ə)n ˌfôrməlīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

formal logic

noun

logic based on argument involving deductively necessary relationships and including the use of syllogisms and mathematical symbols.

formally /ˈfôrməlē/

adverb

1. in accordance with the rules of convention or etiquette

• he was formally attired.

2. officially

• the mayor will formally open the new railroad station.

3. [sentence adverb] — in outward form or appearance; in theory

• the theorems in question are formally true.

4. in terms of form or structure

• formally complex types of text.

formalwear /ˈfôrməlwer/

noun

clothing, such as tuxedos and evening gowns, for formal social occasions.

Forman, Milos /ˈfôrmən/

(1932–), US movie director; born Jan Tomáš Forman in Czechoslovakia. He made One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), which won five Academy Awards, and Amadeus (1984), which won eight Academy Awards, including that for best director.

formant /ˈfôrmənt/

I. noun

[Phonetics] each of several prominent bands of frequency that determine the phonetic quality of a vowel.

– origin early 20th cent.: coined in German from Latin formant- ‘forming,’ from the verb formare.

format /ˈfôrˌmat/

I. noun

1. the way in which something is arranged or set out

• the format of the funeral service.

2. the shape, size, and presentation of a book or periodical.

3. the medium in which a sound recording is made available

• the album is available as a CD as well as on LP and cassette formats.

4. [Computing] a defined structure for the processing, storage, or display of data

• a data file in binary format.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (especially in computing) arrange or put into a format.

2. prepare (a storage medium) to receive data.

– origin mid 19th cent.: via French and German from Latin formatus (liber) ‘shaped (book),’ past participle of formare ‘to form.’

formate /ˈfôrmāt/

noun

a salt or ester of formic acid.

formation /fôrˈmāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the action of forming or process of being formed

• the formation of the Great Rift Valley.

2. a structure or arrangement of something

• a cloud formation.

3. a formal arrangement of aircraft in flight or troops

• a battle formation

• the helicopters hovered overhead in formation.

4. [Geology] an assemblage of rocks or series of strata having some common characteristic.

II. derivatives

formational /-SHənl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin formation-, from formare ‘to form’ (see form).

formative /ˈfôrmədiv/

I. adjective

1. serving to form something, especially having a profound and lasting influence on a person's development

• his formative years.

2. of or relating to a person's development

• a formative assessment.

3. [Linguistics] denoting or relating to any of the smallest meaningful units that are used to form words in a language, typically combining forms and inflections.

II. noun

[Linguistics] a formative element.

III. derivatives

formatively

adverb

– origin late 15th cent.: from Old French formatif, -ive or medieval Latin formativus, from Latin formare ‘to form’ (see form).

form class

noun

[Linguistics] a class of linguistic forms with grammatical or syntactic features in common; a part of speech or subset of a part of speech.

form criticism

noun

analysis of the Bible by tracing the history of its content of parables, psalms, and other literary forms.

form drag

noun

[Aeronautics] that part of the drag on an airfoil that arises from its shape. It varies according to the angle of attack and can be decreased by streamlining.

forme /fôrm/

noun

1. [Printing] a body of type secured in a chase for printing.

2. [Printing] a quantity of film arranged for making a plate.

former^1 /ˈfôrmər/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. having previously filled a particular role or been a particular thing

• her former boyfriend.

2. of or occurring in the past or an earlier period

• in former times.

3. (the former) — denoting the first or first mentioned of two people or things

• those who take the former view

• [as noun] the powers of the former are more comprehensive than those of the latter.

– origin Middle English: from Old English forma (see foremost) + -er^2. / usage: Traditionally, former and latter are used in relation to pairs of items: either the first of two items (former) or the second of two items (latter). The reason for this is that former and latter were formed as comparatives, and comparatives are correctly used with reference to just two things, while a superlative is used where there are more than two things. (So, for example, strictly speaking one should say the longest of the three books but the longer of the two books.) In practice, former and latter are now sometimes used just as synonyms for first and last and are routinely used to refer to a contrast involving more than two items. Such uses, however, are not acceptable in good English style. Therefore, if you're referring to winter, spring, and summer, for example, it would be correct to say I find the last most enjoyable, not I find the latter most enjoyable.

former^2 /ˈfôrmər/

noun

1. a person or thing that forms something
[in combination]

• an opinion-former.

2. a transverse strengthening part in an aircraft wing or fuselage.

3. [in combination] — (chiefly Brit.) a person in a particular school year

• fifth-formers.

formerly /ˈfôrmərlē/

adverb

in the past; in earlier times

• Mumbai, formerly Bombay

• [sentence adverb] the building formerly housed their accounting offices.

form factor

noun

1. a mathematical factor that compensates for irregularity in the shape of an object, usually the ratio between its volume and that of a regular object of the same breadth and height.

2. the physical size and shape of a piece of computer hardware.

formfitting /ˈfôrmˌfidiNG/

adjective

(of clothing) fitting the body snugly, so that its shape is clearly visible: said of clothing

• she wore a formfitting dress.

form genus

noun

[Paleontology] a classificatory category used for fossils that are similar in appearance but cannot be reliably assigned to an established animal or plant genus, such as fossil parts of organisms and trace fossils.

Formica /fôrˈmīkə fərˈmīkə/

I. noun

‹trademark› a hard durable plastic laminate used for countertops, cupboard doors, and other surfaces.

– origin 1920s: of unknown origin.

formic acid /ˌfôrmik ˈasəd/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a colorless irritant volatile acid made catalytically from carbon monoxide and steam. It is present in the fluid emitted by some ants.
[Alternative name: methanoic acid; chem. formula: HCOOH.]

– origin late 18th cent.: formic from Latin formica ‘ant.’

formicary /ˈfôrməˌkerē / formicarium

I. noun

an ant's nest, especially one in an artificial container for purposes of study.

– origin early 19th cent.: from medieval Latin, from Latin formica ‘ant.’

formication /ˌfôrməˈkāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

a sensation like insects crawling over the skin.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Latin formicatio(n-), from formicare ‘crawl like an ant’ (said of the pulse or skin), from formica ‘ant.’

formidable /ˈfôrmədəb(ə)l fərˈmidəb(ə)l/

I. adjective

inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense, or capable

• a formidable opponent.

II. derivatives

1. formidableness

noun

2. formidably /ˈfôrmədəblē fərˈmidəblē fôrˈmidəblē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from French, or from Latin formidabilis, from formidare ‘to fear.’ / usage: The preferred pronunciation of formidable is with the stress on for-, although the stress is sometimes heard on the second syllable (in Britain more than in the US).

formless /ˈfôrmləs/

I. adjective

without a clear or definite shape or structure

• a dark and formless idea.

II. derivatives

1. formlessly

adverb

2. formlessness

noun

form letter

noun

a standardized letter to deal with frequently occurring matters.

Formosa /fôrˈmōsə/

I. former name of Taiwan.

– origin Portuguese, literally ‘beautiful.’

formula /ˈfôrmyələ/

I. noun

1. (pl. formulas or formulae ) — a mathematical relationship or rule expressed in symbols.

2. (also chemical formula) — a set of chemical symbols showing the elements present in a compound and their relative proportions, and in some cases the structure of the compound.
See empirical formula, molecular formula, structural formula.

3. (pl. formulas) — a fixed form of words, especially one used in particular contexts or as a conventional usage

• a legal formula.

4. a method, statement, or procedure for achieving something, especially reconciling different aims or positions

• the forlorn hope of finding a peace formula.

5. a rule or style unintelligently or slavishly followed
[as modifier]

• one of those formula tunes.

6. a statement that formally enunciates a religious doctrine.

7. a stock epithet, phrase, or line repeated for various effects in literary composition, especially epic poetry.

8. (pl. formulas) — a list of ingredients for or constituents of something

• the soft drink company closely guards its secret formula.

9. a formulation

• an original coal tar formula that helps prevent dandruff.

10. an infant's liquid food preparation based on cow's milk or soy protein, given as a substitute for breast milk.

11. (usually followed by a number) a classification of race car, especially by engine capacity.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘fixed form of words (for use on ceremonial or social occasions)’): from Latin, diminutive of forma ‘shape, mold.’

formulaic /ˌfôrmyəˈlāik/

I. adjective

1. constituting or containing a verbal formula or set form of words

• a formulaic greeting.

2. produced in accordance with a slavishly followed rule or style; predictable

• much romantic fiction is stylized, formulaic, and unrealistic.

II. derivatives

formulaically /-(ə)lē /

adverb

Formula One

noun

‹trademark› an international form of auto racing, whose races are called Grand Prix.

formularize /ˈfôrmyələˌrīz/

verb — [with obj.]

1. make (something) formulaic or predictable

• their stage shows have become a little formularized.

formulary /ˈfôrmyəˌlerē/

I. noun

1. a collection of formulas or set forms, especially for use in religious ceremonies.

2. an official list giving details of medicines that may be prescribed.

II. adjective

relating to or using officially prescribed formulas.

– origin mid 16th cent.: the noun from French formulaire or medieval Latin formularius (liber) ‘(book) of formulae,’ from Latin formula (see formula); the adjective (early 18th cent.) is directly from formula.

formulate /ˈfôrmyəˌlāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. create or devise methodically (a strategy or a proposal)

• economists and statisticians were needed to help formulate economic policy.

2. express (an idea) in a concise or systematic way

• the argument is sufficiently clear that it can be formulated mathematically.

II. derivatives

1. formulable /-ləbəl /

adjective

2. formulator /-ˌlātər /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from formula + -ate^3, on the pattern of French formuler, from medieval Latin formulare.

formulation /ˌfôrmyəˈlāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the action of devising or creating something

• the formulation of foreign policy.

2. a particular expression of an idea, thought, or theory.

3. a material or mixture prepared according to a particular formula.

formyl /ˈfôrmil/

noun — [as modifier]

1. [Chemistry] of or denoting the acyl radical —CHO, derived from formic acid

• N-formyl methionine.

Fornax /ˈfôrnaks / ‹Astronomy›

I. an inconspicuous southern constellation (the Furnace), near Eridanus.

II. (as genitive Fornacis ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation

• the star Beta Fornacis.

– origin Latin.

fornicate /ˈfôrnəˌkāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹formal› ‹humorous› (of two people not married to each other) have sexual intercourse.

II. derivatives

fornicator /ˈfôrnəˌkādər /

noun

– origin Middle English (as fornication): from ecclesiastical Latin fornicat- ‘arched,’ from fornicari, from Latin fornix, fornic- ‘vaulted chamber,’ later ‘brothel.’

fornication /ˌfôrnəˈkāSH(ə)n/

noun

‹formal› ‹humorous› sexual intercourse between people not married to each other

• laws forbidding adultery and fornication.

fornix /ˈfôrniks/

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] a vaulted or arched structure in the body, in particular

2. (also fornix cerebri ) — [Anatomy] a triangular area of white matter in the mammalian brain between the hippocampus and the hypothalamus.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘arch, vaulted chamber.’

for-profit /fərˈpräfət/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. denoting an organization that operates to make a profit, especially one (such as a hospital or school) that would more typically be nonprofit.

Forrest, Nathan Bedford /ˈfôrəst, ˈfär-/

(1821–77), Confederate cavalry officer. He led a massacre of 300 black Union soldiers at the surrender of Fort Pillow, Tennessee, in April 1864. After the Civil War, he was an early leader of the Ku Klux Klan.

forsake /fərˈsāk/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹chiefly literary› abandon (someone or something)

• he would never forsake Tara.

2. ‹chiefly literary› renounce or give up (something valued or pleasant)

• I won't forsake my vegetarian principles.

II. derivatives

forsaker

noun

– origin Old English forsacan ‘renounce, refuse’; related to Dutch verzaken, and ultimately to for- and sake^1.

forsaken /fərˈsākən/

I. adjective

abandoned or deserted

• a journey into forgotten and forsaken places.

II. derivatives

forsakenness

noun

forsooth /fərˈso͞oTH/

I. adverb — [sentence adverb]

1. ‹archaic› ‹humorous› indeed (often used ironically or to express surprise or indignation)

• forsooth, there is no one I trust more.

– origin Old English forsōth (see for, sooth).

Forster, E. M. /ˈfôrstər/

(1879–1970), English novelist and literary critic; full name Edward Morgan Forster. His novels include A Room with a View (1908) and A Passage to India (1924).

forsterite /ˈfôrstəˌrīt/

I. noun

a magnesium-rich variety of olivine, occurring as white, yellow, or green crystals.

– origin early 19th cent.: from the name of J. R. Forster (1729–98), German naturalist, + -ite^1.

forswear /fôrˈswer/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› agree to give up or do without (something)

• he would never forswear the religion of his people.

2. (forswear oneself/be forsworn) — ‹formal› swear falsely; commit perjury

• I swore that I would lead us safely home and I do not mean to be forsworn.

– origin Old English forswerian (see for-, swear).

Forsyth, Frederick /ˈfôrˌsīTH/

(1938–), English novelist. He is known for political thrillers such as The Day of the Jackal (1971), The Odessa File (1972), The Fourth Protocol (1984), and The Afghan (2006).

forsythia /fərˈsiTHēə fôrˈsiTHēə/

I. noun

a widely cultivated ornamental Eurasian shrub whose bright yellow flowers appear in early spring before the leaves.
[Genus Forsythia, family Oleaceae: several species.]

– origin modern Latin, named after William Forsyth (1737–1804), Scottish botanist and horticulturalist, said to have introduced the shrub into Britain from China.

fort /fôrt/

I. noun

1. a fortified building or strategic position.

2. a permanent army post.

3. ‹historical› a trading post.
[so named because such establishments were originally fortified.]

II. phrases

hold the fort

see hold^1.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French fort or Italian forte, from Latin fortis ‘strong.’

fort.

abbreviation

1. fortification.

2. fortified.

Fortaleza /ˌfôrdlˈāzə/

a port in northeastern Brazil, on the Atlantic coast; pop. 2,431,415 (2007).

fortalice /ˈfôrdələs/

I. noun

a small fort, fortified house, or outwork of fortification.

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin fortalitia, -itium, from Latin fortis ‘strong.’

Fortas, Abe /ˈfôrtəs/

(1910–82), US Supreme Court associate justice 1965–69. Criticized for his financial dealings with a known criminal, he was the first justice ever forced to resign by public criticism.

Fort Collins /ˌfôrt ˈkälinz/

a commercial and industrial city in north central Colorado, home to Colorado State University; pop. 136,509 (est. 2008).

Fort-de-France /ˌfôrdəˈfrans/

the capital of Martinique; pop. 93,000 (est. 2007).

Fort Dodge /ˌfôrt ˈdäj/

a commercial and mining city in northwestern Iowa; pop. 25,180 (est. 2008).

forte^1 /ˈfôrˌtā fôrt/

I. noun

1. [in sing.] — a thing at which someone excels

• small talk was not his forte.

2. [Fencing] the stronger part of a sword blade, from the hilt to the middle.
Compare with foible.

– origin mid 17th cent. (sense 2; originally as fort): from French fort (masculine), forte (feminine) ‘strong,’ from Latin fortis.

forte^2 /ˈfôrˌtā fôrt / ‹Music›

I. adverb, adjective

(especially as a direction) loud or loudly.

II. noun

a passage performed or marked to be performed loudly.

– origin Italian, literally ‘strong, loud,’ from Latin fortis.

Fortean /ˈfôrdēən/

I. adjective

of, relating to, or denoting paranormal phenomena.

II. derivatives

Forteana /ˌfôrtēˈanə /

plural noun

– origin 1970s: from the name of Charles H. Fort (1874–1932), American student of paranormal phenomena.

fortepiano /fôːrtāˈpyanō/

I. noun

[Music] a piano, especially of the kind made in the 18th and early 19th centuries.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from forte^2 + piano^2.

forte piano /ˌfôrtā pēˈanō, pēˈänō/

I. adverb, adjective

[Music] (especially as a direction) loud and then immediately soft.

– origin Italian.

forth /fôrTH/

I. adverb

1. ‹chiefly archaic› out from a starting point and forward or into view

• the plants will bush out, putting forth fresh shoots.

2. ‹chiefly archaic› onward in time

• from that day forth he gave me endless friendship.

II. phrases

and so forth

see so^1.

– origin Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch voort and German fort, from an Indo-European root shared by fore-.

Forth /fôrTH/

a river in central Scotland that rises on Ben Lomond and flows east into the North Sea.

Forth, Firth of

the estuary of the Forth River in Scotland, spanned by a cantilevered railroad bridge and a highway suspension bridge.

forthcoming /fôrTHˈkəmiNG/

I. adjective

1. planned for or about to happen in the near future

• the forthcoming baseball season.

2. [predic. often with negative] — (of something required) ready or made available when wanted or needed

• financial support was not forthcoming.

3. (of a person) willing to divulge information

• their daughter had never been forthcoming about her time in Europe.

II. derivatives

forthcomingness

noun

forthright /ˈfôrTHˌrīt/

I. adjective

1. (of a person or their manner or speech) direct and outspoken; straightforward and honest

• his most forthright attack yet on the reforms.

2. ‹archaic› proceeding directly forward.

II. adverb

1. ‹archaic› directly forward.

2. ‹archaic› immediately.

III. derivatives

1. forthrightly

adverb

2. forthrightness

noun

– origin Old English forthriht ‘straightforward, directly’ (see forth, right).

forthwith /fôrTHˈwiTH/

I. adverb

(especially in official use) immediately; without delay

• we undertake to pay forthwith the money required.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘along with, at the same time’): partly from earlier forthwithal, partly representing forth with used alone without a following noun.

fortification /ˌfôrdəfəˈkāSH(ə)n/

I. noun — (often fortifications)

1. a defensive wall or other reinforcement built to strengthen a place against attack.

2. the action of fortifying or process of being fortified

• the fortification of the frontiers.

– origin late Middle English: via French from late Latin fortificatio(n-), from fortificare (see fortify).

fortify /ˈfôrdəˌfī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. strengthen (a place) with defensive works so as to protect it against attack

• the whole town was heavily fortified

• (as adj. fortified) a fortified manor house.

2. strengthen or invigorate (someone) mentally or physically

• I was fortified by the knowledge that I was in a sympathetic house.

3. (often as adj. fortified) — strengthen (a drink) with alcohol

• fortified wine.

4. increase the nutritive value of (food), especially with vitamins.

II. derivatives

1. fortifiable /ˈfôrdəˌfīəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. fortifier

noun

– origin late Middle English: from French fortifier, from late Latin fortificare, from Latin fortis ‘strong.’

fortis /ˈfôrdəs/

I. adjective

[Phonetics] (of a consonant, in particular a voiceless consonant) strongly articulated, especially more so than another consonant articulated in the same place.
The opposite of lenis.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘strong.’

fortissimo /fôrˈtisəˌmō / ‹Music›

I. adverb, adjective

(especially as a direction) very loud or loudly.

II. noun

a passage marked to be performed very loudly.

– origin Italian, from Latin fortissimus ‘very strong.’

fortitude /ˈfôrdəˌt(y)o͞od/

I. noun

courage in pain or adversity

• she endured her illness with great fortitude.

– origin Middle English: via French from Latin fortitudo, from fortis ‘strong.’

Fort Knox /ˌfôrt ˈnäks/

a US military reservation in Kentucky, noted as the site of the depository, which was built in 1936, that holds the bulk of the nation's gold bullion in its vaults.

Fort Lamy /ˌfôr ləˈmē/

former name (until 1973) for N'Djamena.

Fort Lauderdale /ˌfôrt ˈlôdərdāl/

a resort, commercial, and industrial city in southeastern Florida, north of Miami; pop. 183,126 (est. 2008).

Fort Lee /ˌfôrt ˈlē/

a commercial and residential borough in northeastern New Jersey, across the Hudson River from New York City; pop. 36,275 (est. 2008).

Fort McHenry /ˌfôrt məkˈhenrē/

a historic site in the harbor of Baltimore in Maryland, scene of an 1812 British siege that inspired Francis Scott Key to write “The Star Spangled Banner.”

Fort Myers /ˌfôrt ˈmī-ərz/

a resort and commercial city in southwestern Florida; pop. 65,394 (est. 2008).

fortnight /ˈfôrtˌnīt/

I. noun

1. (chiefly Brit.) a period of two weeks.

2. (chiefly Brit.) ‹informal› used after the name of a day to indicate that something will take place two weeks after that day.

– origin Old English fēowertīene niht ‘fourteen nights.’

fortnightly /ˈfôrtˌnītlē / ‹chiefly Brit.›

I. adjective

happening or produced every two weeks

• a fortnightly bulletin.

II. adverb

every two weeks

• evening classes will run fortnightly.

III. noun

a magazine or similar publication issued every two weeks.

Fort Pierce /ˌfôrt ˈpirs/

a resort and port city in east central Florida; pop. 40,885 (est. 2008).

Fortran /ˈfôrˌtran / FORTRAN

I. noun

a high-level computer programming language used especially for scientific computation.

– origin 1950s: contraction of formula translation.

fortress /ˈfôrtrəs/

I. noun

1. a military stronghold, especially a strongly fortified town fit for a large garrison.

2. a heavily protected and impenetrable building.

3. ‹figurative› a person or thing not susceptible to outside influence or disturbance

• he had proved himself to be a fortress of moral rectitude.

– origin Middle English: from Old French forteresse ‘strong place,’ based on Latin fortis ‘strong.’

Fort Smith /ˌfôrt ˈsmiTH/

an industrial city in western Arkansas, on the Arkansas River; pop. 84,716 (est. 2008).

Fort Sumter /ˌfôrt ˈsəmtər/

a historic site in the mouth of the harbor of Charleston in South Carolina. Confederate forces fired on US troops here in April 1861, beginning the Civil War.

fortuitous /fôrˈto͞oədəs/

I. adjective

1. happening by accident or chance rather than design

• the similarity between the paintings may not be simply fortuitous.

2. ‹informal› happening by a lucky chance; fortunate

• from a cash standpoint, the company's timing is fortuitous.

II. derivatives

fortuitousness /fôrˈto͞oədəsnəs /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin fortuitus, from forte ‘by chance,’ from fors ‘chance, luck.’ / usage: The traditional, etymological meaning of fortuitous is ‘happening by chance’: a fortuitous meeting is a chance meeting, which might turn out to be either a good thing or a bad thing. In modern uses, however, fortuitous tends more often to be used to refer to fortunate outcomes, and the word has become more or less a synonym for ‘lucky’ or ‘fortunate.’ This use is frowned upon as being not etymologically correct and is best avoided except in informal contexts.

fortuitously /fôrˈto͞oədəslē/

adverb

1. by chance rather than intention

• he fortuitously ended up in Detroit when his car broke down.

2. by a lucky chance; fortunately

• my arrival appears to be fortuitously timed.

fortuity /fôrˈto͞oədē/

noun

1. a chance occurrence.

2. the state of being controlled by chance rather than design.

fortunate /ˈfôrCH(ə)nət/

I. adjective

1. favored by or involving good luck or fortune; lucky
[with infinitive]

• she'd been fortunate to escape more serious injury

• it was fortunate that the weather was good.

2. auspicious or favorable

• a most fortunate match for our daughter.

3. materially well-off; prosperous

• less fortunate children still converged on the soup kitchens.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin fortunatus, from fortuna (see fortune).

fortunately /ˈfôrCH(ə)nətlē/

adverb — [sentence adverb]

1. it is fortunate that

• fortunately, no shots were fired and no one was hurt.

fortune /ˈfôrCHən/

I. noun

1. chance or luck as an external, arbitrary force affecting human affairs

• some malicious act of fortune keeps them separate.

2. luck, especially good luck

• this astounding piece of good fortune that has befallen me.

3. (fortunes) — the success or failure of a person or enterprise over a period of time or in the course of a particular activity

• he is credited with turning around the company's fortunes.

4. a large amount of money or assets

• he eventually inherited a substantial fortune.

5. (a fortune) — ‹informal› a surprisingly high price or amount of money

• I spent a fortune on drink and drugs.

II. phrases

1. fortune favors the brave

‹proverb› a successful person is often one who is willing to take risks.

2. the fortunes of war

the unpredictable, haphazard events of war.

3. make a (or one's) fortune

acquire great wealth by one's own efforts.

4. a small fortune

‹informal› a large amount of money.

5. tell someone's fortune

make predictions about a person's future by palmistry, using a crystal ball, reading tarot cards, or similar divining methods.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin Fortuna, the name of a goddess personifying luck or chance.

Fortune 500

noun

‹trademark› an annual list of the five hundred most profitable US industrial corporations.

fortune cookie /ˈfôrCHən ˌko͝okē/

noun

(N. Amer.) a thin folded cookie containing a slip of paper with a prediction or aphorism written on it, served in Chinese restaurants.

fortune hunter /ˈfôrCHən ˌhən(t)ər/

noun

a person who seeks to become rich through marrying someone wealthy.

fortune teller

I. noun

a person who is supposedly able to predict a person's future by palmistry, using a crystal ball, or similar methods.

• he went to a fortune teller to ask for advice.

II. derivatives

fortune telling /ˈfôrCHən ˌteliNG /

noun

Fort Wayne /ˌfôrt ˈwān/

an industrial and commercial city in northeastern Indiana; pop. 251,591 (est. 2008).

Fort Worth /ˌfôrt ˈwərTH/

a city in northern Texas, on the Trinity River, west of Dallas; pop. 703,073 (est. 2008).

forty /ˈfôrdē/

I. cardinal number

1. (Roman numeral: xl or XL) — the number equivalent to the product of four and ten; ten less than fifty; 40

• Troy was only forty miles away

• forty were arrested

• there were about thirty or forty of them.

2. (forties) — the numbers from forty to forty-nine, especially the years of a century or of a person's life

• Terry was in his early forties.

3. forty years old

• a tall woman of about forty.

4. forty miles an hour

• they were doing about forty.

II. phrases

forty winks

‹informal› a short sleep or nap, especially during the day.

III. derivatives

1. fortieth /ˈfôrdēiTH /

ordinal number

2. fortyfold /-ˌfōld /

adjective, adverb

– origin Old English fēowertig (see four, -ty^2).

forty-five /fôrdēˈfīv/

noun

1. a phonograph record played at 45 rpm; a single.

2. (often .45) — (US) a 45-caliber revolver.

forty-niner /ˌfôrdēˈnīnər/

noun

a prospector in the California gold rush of 1849.

forty-ninth parallel

the parallel of latitude 49° north of the equator, especially referred to as the boundary between Canada and the US west of Lake of the Woods.

forum /ˈfôrəm/

I. noun

1. a place, meeting, or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged

• it will be a forum for consumers to exchange their views on medical research.

2. an Internet site where users can post comments about a particular issue or topic and reply to other users' postings; a message board.

3. (chiefly N. Amer.) a court or tribunal.

4. (pl. fora ) — (in an ancient Roman city) a public square or marketplace used for judicial and other business.

– origin late Middle English (sense 3): from Latin, literally ‘what is out of doors,’ originally denoting an enclosure surrounding a house; related to fores ‘(outside) door.’ Sense 1 dates from the mid 18th cent.

forumite /ˈfôrəmīt/

I. noun

‹informal› a person who posts comments in a particular Internet forum, typically on a regular basis

• Spencer has gone from hero to zero with some forumites in recent weeks.

– origin 1990sː from forum + -ite^1.

forward /ˈfôrwərd/

I. adverb

1. toward the front; in the direction that one is facing or traveling

• he started up the engine and the car moved forward

• Lori leaned forward over the table.

2. in, near, or toward the bow or nose of a ship or aircraft.

3. in the normal order or sequence

• the number was the same backward as forward.

4. onward so as to make progress; toward a successful conclusion

• there's no way forward for the relationship.

5. into a position of prominence or notice

• he is pushing forward a political ally.

6. toward the future; ahead in time

• from that day forward, the assembly was at odds with us.

7. to an earlier time

• the special issue has been moved forward to winter.

II. adjective

1. directed or facing toward the front or the direction that one is facing or traveling

• forward flight

• the pilot's forward view.

2. positioned near the enemy lines

• troops moved to the forward areas.

3. (in sports) moving toward the opponents' goal

• a forward pass.

4. in, near, or toward the bow or nose of a ship or aircraft.

5. [Electronics] (of a voltage applied to a semiconductor junction) in the direction that allows significant current to flow.

6. [attrib.] — relating to or concerned with the future

• a twelve-month forward forecast.

7. moving or tending onward to a successful conclusion

• the decision is a forward step.

8. developing or acting earlier than expected or required; advanced or precocious

• an alarmingly forward yet painfully vulnerable child.

9. (of a person) bold or familiar in manner, especially in a presumptuous way.

III. noun

1. an attacking player in basketball, hockey, or other sports.

2. [Football] an offensive or defensive lineman.

3. (forwards) — [Finance] short for forward contract.

IV. verb — [with obj.]

1. send (a letter or email) on to a further destination
(as adj. forwarding)

• a forwarding address.

2. hand over or send (an official document)

• their final report was forwarded to the Commanding Officer.

3. dispatch (goods)
(as adj. forwarding)

• a freight forwarding company.

4. help to advance (something); promote

• the scientists are forwarding the development of biotechnology.

V. phrases

take something forward

take responsibility for dealing with a task or developing a project

• he's designed a potentially successful product and we're doing all we can to help him take it forward.

VI. derivatives

forwardly /ˈfôrwərdlē /

adverb

– origin Old English forweard (in the sense ‘toward the future,’ as in from this day forward), variant of forthweard (see forth, -ward).

forward contract

noun

[Finance] an informal agreement traded through a broker-dealer network to buy and sell specified assets, typically currency, at a specified price at a certain future date.
Compare with futures contract.

forwarder^1 /ˈfôrwərdər/

noun

a person or organization that supervises the dispatch and delivery of goods, especially by making banking and insurance arrangements and completing required documents.

forwarder^2 /ˈfôrwərdər/

adjective, adverb

‹dated› ‹informal› further forward; more advanced

• time was drawing on and we were no forwarder.

forward-looking /ˈfôrwərd ˌlo͝okiNG / forward-thinking

adjective

favoring innovation and development; progressive.

forwardness /ˈfôrwərdnəs/

noun

boldness or overfamiliarity in manner

• he was taken aback by the girl's forwardness.

forward pass

noun

[Football] a pass thrown from behind the line of scrimmage in a forward direction, toward the opponent's goal.

forward slash

noun

a slash (/), especially as used in website addresses and computer commands (in contrast to backslash)

• most modern web browsers will replace an incorrect backslash in a URL with the correct forward slash.

forwent /fôrˈwent/

past of forgo.

FOS

abbreviation

free on steamer.

Fosbury, Dick /ˈfäzˌberē/

(1947–), US high jumper; full name Richard Douglas Fosbury. He originated the now standard style of jumping known as the “Fosbury flop,” in which the jumper clears the bar head first and backward. In 1968, he won the Olympic gold medal using this technique.

FOSS

abbreviation

[Computing] free and open-source software

• FOSS has worked well for some categories of software, but not for others.

fossa^1 /ˈfäsə/

I. noun

[Anatomy] a shallow depression or hollow.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘ditch,’ feminine past participle of fodere ‘to dig.’

fossa^2 /ˈfäsə/

I. noun

a large nocturnal reddish-brown catlike mammal of the civet family, found in the rain forests of Madagascar.
[Cryptoprocta ferox, family Viverridae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Malagasy fosa.

fosse /fäs/

I. noun

[Archaeology] a long narrow trench or excavation, especially in a fortification.

– origin late Old English, via Old French from Latin fossa (see fossa^1).

Fosse, Bob /ˈfôsē, ˈfäsē/

(1927–87), US jazz dancer and choreographer; full name Robert Louis Fosse. He directed and choreographed Broadway musicals such as Pajama Game (1954) and Redhead (1958), and movies such as Cabaret (1972) and All That Jazz (1979). Fosse (1999), a Broadway musical, was dedicated to him.

fossick /ˈfäsik/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (Austral./NZ) ‹informal› rummage; search

• he spent years fossicking through documents.

2. (Austral./NZ) ‹informal› search for gold in abandoned workings.

II. derivatives

fossicker /ˈfäsikər /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent. (referring to mining): probably from the English dialect sense ‘obtain by asking’ (i.e., ‘ferret out’).

fossil /ˈfäsəl/

I. noun

1. the remains or impression of a prehistoric organism preserved in petrified form or as a mold or cast in rock.

2. ‹derogatory› ‹humorous› an antiquated or stubbornly unchanging person or thing

• he can be a cantankerous old fossil at times.

3. a word or phrase that has become obsolete except in set phrases or forms, e.g., hue in hue and cry.

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting a fossilized fish found, and believed to have lived, underground): from French fossile, from Latin fossilis ‘dug up,’ from fodere ‘dig.’

fossil fuel /ˈfäsəl ˈˌfyo͞o(ə)l/

noun

a natural fuel such as coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms.

fossil ivory

noun

ivory from the tusks of a mammoth.

fossilize /ˈfäsəˌlīz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be fossilized)

1. preserve (an organism) so that it becomes a fossil

• the hard parts of the body are readily fossilized.

2. [no obj.] — become a fossil

• flowers do not readily fossilize.

3. become or cause to become antiquated, fixed, or incapable of change or development.

II. derivatives

fossilization /ˌfäsələˈzāSH(ə)n ˌfäsəˌlīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

fossilized /ˈfäsəˌlīzd/

adjective

1. preserved to become a fossil

• a fossilized bone

• fossilized human remains.

2. archaic and incapable of change

• a faltering economy and a fossilized political system.

fossorial /fäˈsôrēəl/

I. adjective

1. [Zoology] (of an animal) burrowing.

2. [Zoology] (of limbs) adapted for use in burrowing.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from medieval Latin fossorius (from Latin fossor ‘digger,’ from fodere ‘to dig’) + -al.

foster /ˈfôstər ˈfästər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. encourage or promote the development of (something, typically something regarded as good)

• the teacher's task is to foster learning.

2. develop (a feeling or idea) in oneself

• appropriate praise helps a child foster a sense of self-worth.

3. bring up (a child that is not one's own by birth).

II. adjective

1. denoting someone that has a specified family connection through fostering rather than birth

• foster parent

• foster child.

2. involving or concerned with fostering a child

• foster care

• foster home.

III. derivatives

1. fosterage /ˈfästərij /

noun

2. fosterer

noun

– origin Old English fōstrian ‘feed, nourish,’ from fōster ‘food, nourishment,’ of Germanic origin; related to food. The sense ‘bring up another's (originally also one's own) child’ dates from Middle English.

Foster, Jodie /ˈfôstər, ˈfäs-/

(1962–), US actress; born Alicia Christian Foster. Notable movies: Taxi Driver (1976), The Accused (1988), Silence of the Lambs (1991), and Nell (1994).

Foster, Stephen

(1826–64), US composer; full name Stephen Collins Foster. He wrote more than 200 songs and, although a Northerner, was best known for songs that purported to capture the Southern plantation spirit, such as “Oh! Susannah” (1848), “Camptown Races” (1850), and “Old Folks at Home” (1851).

fosterling /ˈfôstərliNG ˈfästərliNG/

I. noun

‹chiefly archaic› a child who is fostered or adopted.

– origin Old English fōstorling (see foster, -ling).

Foucault, Jean /fo͞oˈkō/

(1819–68), French physicist; full name Jean Bernard Léon Foucault. He is chiefly remembered for the huge pendulum that he hung from the roof of the Panthéon in Paris in 1851 to demonstrate the rotation of the earth. He also invented the gyroscope.

Foucault, Michel

(1926–84), French philosopher; full name Michel Paul Foucault. He was concerned with how society defines categories of abnormality, such as insanity, sexuality, and criminality, and the manipulation of social attitudes toward such things by those in power.

fouetté /fo͞oəˈtā/

I. noun

1. [Ballet] a pirouette performed with a circular whipping movement of the raised leg to the side.

2. [Ballet] a quick shift of direction of the upper body, performed with one leg extended.

– origin French, past participle of fouetter ‘to whip.’

fought /fôt/

past and past participle of fight.

foul /foul/

I. adjective

1. offensive to the senses, especially through having a disgusting smell or taste or being unpleasantly soiled

• a foul odor

• his foul breath.

2. ‹informal› very disagreeable or unpleasant

• the news had put Michelle in a foul mood.

3. (of the weather) wet and stormy.

4. [Sailing] (of wind or tide) opposed to one's desired course.

5. wicked or immoral

• murder most foul.

6. (of language) obscene or profane.

7. done contrary to the rules of a sport

• a foul tackle.

8. containing or charged with noxious matter; polluted

• foul, swampy water.

9. [predic.] (foul with) — clogged or choked with

• the land was foul with weeds.

10. [Nautical] (of a rope or anchor) entangled.

11. (of a ship's bottom) encrusted with algae, barnacles, or other marine growth.

12. [Printing] (of a first copy or proof) defaced by corrections.

II. noun

1. (in sports) an unfair or invalid stroke or piece of play, especially one involving interference with an opponent.

2. a collision or entanglement in riding, rowing, or running.

3. short for foul ball.

4. ‹informal› ‹dated› a disease in the feet of cattle.

III. adverb

1. unfairly; contrary to the rules.

2. (in sports) in foul territory

• if a batter hits a bunt foul with two strikes, he is out.

IV. verb — [with obj.]

1. make foul or dirty; pollute

• factories that fouled the atmosphere.

2. disgrace or dishonor.

3. (of an animal) make (something) dirty with excrement

• make sure that your pet never fouls the sidewalk.

4. (foul oneself) — (of a person) defecate involuntarily.

5. (in sports) commit a foul against (an opponent).

6. [Baseball] hit a foul ball

• Carter fouled into the glove of Boggs.

7. (of a ship) collide with or interfere with the passage of (another).

8. cause (a cable, anchor, or other object) to become entangled or jammed

• watch out for driftwood which might foul up the engine.

9. [no obj.] — become entangled or jammed

• we feared the anchor would foul in the heavy grasses.

V. phrases

1. fall foul of

see fall.

2. foul one's (own) nest

do something damaging or harmful to oneself or one's own interests.

VI. phrasal verbs

1. foul out

a. [Basketball] be put out of the game for exceeding the permitted number of fouls.

b. [Baseball] (of a batter) be made out by hitting a foul ball that is caught by an opposing player:

• Wilson has never fouled out against this young pitcher.

2. foul something up (or foul up)

make a mistake with or spoil something

• leaders should admit when they completely foul things up.

VII. derivatives

1. foully /ˈfou(l)lē /

adverb

2. foulness /ˈfoulnəs /

noun

– origin Old English fūl, of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse fúll ‘foul,’ Dutch vuil ‘dirty,’ and German faul ‘rotten, lazy,’ from an Indo-European root shared by Latin pus, Greek puos ‘pus,’ and Latin putere ‘to stink.’

foulard /fo͞oˈlärd fəˈlärd/

I. noun

1. a thin, soft material of silk or silk and cotton, typically having a printed pattern.

2. a tie or handkerchief made of foulard.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, of unknown origin.

foul ball

noun

[Baseball] a ball struck so that it falls or will fall outside the lines extending from home plate past first and third bases. A foul ball that is not caught counts as a strike against the batter, unless it would be the third strike. The exception is a bunted foul ball, which can be a third strike.
Compare with foul tip.

foul brood

noun

a fatal bacterial disease of larval honeybees.
[This disease is caused by the bacteria Paenibacillus larvae or Melissococcus pluton.]

foul line

noun

1. [Sports] a line marking the boundary of permissible movement or play, in particular

2. [Sports] [Baseball] either of the straight lines extending from home plate past first and third bases into the outfield and marking the limit of the area within which a hit is deemed to be fair.

3. [Sports] [Basketball] either of the lines 15 feet in front of each backboard, from which free throws are made.
Also called free-throw line.

4. [Sports] (in bowling) a line on the alley, perpendicular to the gutters and 60 feet from the head pin.

foul mouth

noun

a tendency to use bad language

• he had a foul mouth and an even fouler disposition.

foul-mouthed /ˈfoulˌmouT͟Hd ˈfoulˌmouTHt/

adjective

using or characterized by a great deal of bad language

• a foul-mouthed cop.

foul play /ˌfoul ˈplā/

noun

1. unfair play in a game or sport.

2. unlawful or dishonest behavior, in particular violent crime resulting in another's death.

foul shot

noun

[Basketball] another term for free throw.

foul-smelling /ˌfoulˈsmeliNG/

adjective

having an extremely unpleasant smell

• foul-smelling breath.

foul tip

I. noun

[Baseball] a pitched ball that tips off the bat and travels directly to the catcher's hands. Unlike a foul ball, a foul tip can be a batter's third strike.

II. derivatives

foul-tip

verb

foul-up /ˈfoul ˌəp/

noun

a mistake resulting in confusion.

found^1 /found/

I. past and past participle of find.

II. adjective

1. having been discovered by chance or unexpectedly, in particular

2. (of an object or sound) collected in its natural state and presented in a new context as part of a work of art or piece of music

• collages of found photos.

3. (of art) comprising or making use of found objects.

4. (of poetry) formed by reinterpreting metrically the structure of a nonpoetic text.

5. [with submodifier] — (of a ship) equipped; supplied

• the ship was two years old, well found and seaworthy.

found^2 /found/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. establish or originate (an institution or organization), especially by providing an endowment

• the monastery was founded in 1665

• (as adj. founding) the three founding partners.

2. plan and begin the building of (a town or colony).

3. (usu. be founded on/upon) — construct or base (a principle or other abstract thing) according to a particular principle or grounds

• a society founded on the highest principles of religion and education.

4. (of a thing) serve as a basis for

• the company's fortunes are founded on its minerals business.

– origin Middle English: from Old French fonder, from Latin fundare, from fundus ‘bottom, base.’

found^3 /found/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. melt and mold (metal).

2. fuse (materials) to make glass.

3. make (an article) by melting and molding metal.

– origin early 16th cent.: from French fondre, from Latin fundere ‘melt, pour.’

foundation /founˈdāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. (often foundations) — the lowest load-bearing part of a building, typically below ground level.

2. a body or ground on which other parts rest or are overlaid

• he starts playing melody lines on the bass instead of laying the foundation down.

3. (also foundation garment) — a woman's supporting undergarment, such as a girdle.

4. a cream or powder used as a base to even out facial skin tone before applying other cosmetics.

5. an underlying basis or principle for something

• this idea is the foundation of all modern economics

• without stability, the country will not be able hold the elections that will lay the foundation for a peaceful and democratic future.

6. [often with negative] — justification or reason

• distorted and misleading accusations with no foundation.

7. the action of establishing an institution or organization on a permanent basis, especially with an endowment.

8. an institution established with an endowment, for example a college or a body devoted to financing research or charity.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French fondation, from Latin fundatio(n-), from fundare ‘to lay a base for’ (see found^2).

foundational /founˈdāSH(ə)nəl/

adjective

denoting an underlying basis or principle; fundamental

• the foundational principles of Christianity

• rules are a foundational element in game design.

foundation stone /founˈdāSHən ˌstōn/

noun

1. a stone laid at a ceremony to celebrate the beginning of construction of a building.

2. a basic or essential element of something.

founder^1 /ˈfoundər/

I. noun

a person who manufactures articles of cast metal; the owner or operator of a foundry

• an iron founder.

– origin Middle English: probably from Old French fondeur, from fondre (see found^3).

founder^2 /ˈfoundər/

noun

a person who establishes an institution or settlement.

• he was the founder of modern Costa Rica.

founder^3 /ˈfoundər/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a ship) fill with water and sink

• six drowned when the yacht foundered off the Florida coast.

2. (of a plan or undertaking) fail or break down, typically as a result of a particular problem or setback

• the talks foundered on the issue of reform.

3. (chiefly N. Amer.) (of a hoofed animal, especially a horse or pony) succumb to laminitis.

II. noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) laminitis in horses, ponies, or other hoofed animals.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘knock to the ground’): from Old French fondrer, esfondrer ‘submerge, collapse,’ based on Latin fundus ‘bottom, base.’ / usage: It is easy to confuse the words founder and flounder, not only because they sound similar but also because the contexts in which they are used overlap. Founder means, in its general and extended use, ‘fail or come to nothing, sink out of sight’ (the scheme foundered because of lack of organizational backing). Flounder, on the other hand, means ‘struggle, move clumsily, be in a state of confusion’ (new recruits floundering about in their first week).

founder effect

noun

[Biology] the reduced genetic diversity that results when a population is descended from a small number of colonizing ancestors.

founding father /ˌfoundiNG ˈfäT͟Hər/

noun

1. a person who starts or helps to start a movement or institution.

2. (Founding Father) — a member of the convention that drew up the US Constitution in 1787.

foundling /ˈfoundliNG/

I. noun

an infant that has been abandoned by its parents and is discovered and cared for by others.

– origin Middle English: from found^1 (past participle) + -ling, perhaps on the pattern of Dutch vondeling.

found object

noun

objet trouvé.

foundress /ˈfoundrəs/

noun

‹dated› ‹rare› a female founder

• she was the sixth-century foundress of a community of women.

foundry /ˈfoundrē/

I. noun

a workshop or factory for casting metal.

– origin early 17th cent. (earlier as foundery): from found^3 + -ry, perhaps suggested by French fonderie.

fount^1 /fount/

I. noun

1. a source of a desirable quality or commodity

• our courier was a fount of knowledge.

2. ‹literary› a spring or fountain.

– origin late 16th cent.: back-formation from fountain, on the pattern of the pair mountain, mount.

fount^2 /fänt/

noun

(Brit.) variant spelling of font^2.

fountain /ˈfount(ə)n/

I. noun

1. an ornamental structure in a pool or lake from which one or more jets of water are pumped into the air.

2. short for drinking fountain.

3. a thing that spurts or cascades into the air

• little fountains of dust.

4. ‹chiefly literary› a natural spring of water.

5. a source of a desirable quality

• the government always quotes this report as the fountain of truth.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. spurt or cascade like a fountain

• an enormous curtain of lava fountained into the sky.

III. derivatives

fountained /ˈfountnd /

adjective

(). — ‹literary›

– origin Middle English (sense 2 of the noun): from Old French fontaine, from late Latin fontana, feminine of Latin fontanus, adjective from fons, font- ‘a spring.’

fountainhead /ˈfount(ə)nˌhed/

noun

an original source of something

• this president was the fountainhead of patronage.

fountain pen /ˈfount(ə)n ˌpen/

noun

a pen with a reservoir or cartridge from which ink flows continuously to the nib.

Fountain Valley

a city in southwestern California, southeast of Los Angeles; pop. 55,516 (est. 2008).

four /fôr/

I. cardinal number

1. (Roman numeral: iv, IV, archaic iiii or IIII) — equivalent to the product of two and two; one more than three, or six less than ten; 4

• Francesca's got four brothers

• it took four of them to lift it

• a four-bedroom house.

2. a group or unit of four people or things

• the girls walked in pairs or fours.

3. four years old

• I began to teach myself to read at four.

4. four o'clock

• it's half past four.

5. a size of garment or other merchandise denoted by four.

6. a playing card or domino with four spots or pips.

– origin Old English fēower, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German vier, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin quattuor and Greek tessares.

four-bagger

noun

[Baseball] a home run.

four-by-four / / 4X4

noun

‹informal› a vehicle with four-wheel drive.

Four Cantons, Lake of the

another name for Lake Lucerne (see Lucerne, Lake).

fourchette /fo͞orˈSHet/

I. noun

[Anatomy] a thin fold of skin at the back of the vulva.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French, diminutive of fourche ‘fork.’

four-color

adjective

denoting a color printing process using red, cyan (greenish blue), yellow, and black inks on separate plates that are serially transferred to the same sheet to produce images in full color.

Four Corners

the point where Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah meet.

four-dimensional

adjective

having four dimensions, typically the three dimensions of space (length, breadth, and depth) plus time.

Fourdrinier machine /ˌfôrdrəˈnir, fôrˈdrinēər/

I. noun

a machine for making paper as a continuous sheet by drainage on a wire mesh belt.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after Henry (died 1854) and Sealy (died 1847) Fourdrinier, British papermakers and patentees of such a machine.

four-engined /ˌfôrˈenjind/

adjective

(chiefly of an aircraft) having four engines

• the larger four-engined plane.

four-eyed fish

noun

a small livebearing freshwater fish of tropical America. Each eye is divided into two, allowing the fish to see both above and below the water while swimming at the surface.
[Family Anablepidae and genus Anableps: several species.]

four-eyes /ˈfôrīz/

noun

‹derogatory› a person who wears glasses.

four flush ‹N. Amer.›

I. noun

a poker hand of little value, having four cards of the same suit and one of another.
Compare with flush^3.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹informal› (in poker) bluff when holding a weak hand, particularly a four flush.

2. ‹informal› keep up a pretense; bluff

• your mother will get wise that you're four-flushing.

III. derivatives

four-flusher /ˈfôr ˌfləSHər /

noun

fourfold /ˈfôrˌfōld/

I. adjective

1. four times as great or as numerous

• there has been a fourfold increase in break-ins.

2. having four parts or elements

• fourfold symmetry.

II. adverb

by four times; to four times the number or amount

• the price of electricity rose fourfold.

four freedoms

(usu. the four freedoms)

1. the four essential human freedoms as proclaimed in a speech to Congress by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941: freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.

Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

I. four allegorical mounted figures, commonly identified as Pestilence (or Conquest), War, Famine, and Death, whose arrival heralds the end of the world, as described in the biblical book of Revelation.

II. used to refer to people or phenomena seen as agents of imminent catastrophe

• in 2003, the airline industry survived the four horsemen of the apocalypse.

Four Hundred the Four Hundred, the 400

I. noun

the social elite of a community

• I would like nothing better than to ask the Four Hundred to meet you.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Ward McAllister's remark “There are only 400 people in New York that one really knows,” later popularized in society reports by the New York Sun. The notion ‘elite’ is said to be from the selection of high society guests by the socialite Mrs. William B. Astor Jr., whose ballroom could hold 400.

Fourier, Joseph /ˈfo͝orēˌā, fo͞orˈyā/

(1768–1830), French mathematician; full name Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier. He solved partial differential equations by the method of separation of variables and superposition, which led him to analyze the series and integrals that are now known by his name.

Fourier analysis

noun

[Mathematics] the analysis of a complex waveform expressed as a series of sinusoidal functions, the frequencies of which form a harmonic series.

Fourierism /ˈfo͝orēəˌrizəm/

I. noun

a system for the reorganization of society into self-sufficient cooperatives, in accordance with the principles of the French socialist Charles Fourier (died 1837).

II. derivatives

Fourierist

noun, adjective

Fourier series

noun

[Mathematics] an infinite series of trigonometric functions that represents an expansion or approximation of a periodic function, used in Fourier analysis.

Fourier transform

noun

[Mathematics] a function derived from a given function and representing it by a series of sinusoidal functions.

four-in-hand /ˌfôrinˈhand/

noun

1. a vehicle with four horses driven by one person
[as modifier]

• four-in-hand coaches compete this week for the Devon blue ribbon.

2. a team of four horses.

3. (N. Amer.) a necktie tied in a loose knot with two hanging ends, popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
[said to be by association with the sport of driving four-in-hand carriages.]

four-leaf clover /ˈfôr ˌlēf ˈˌklōvər / four-leafed clover

noun

a clover leaf with four leaflets, rather than the typical three, thought to bring good luck.

four-letter word /ˈfôr ˌledər ˈˌwərd/

noun

any of several short words referring to sexual or excretory functions, regarded as coarse or offensive.

four noble truths

plural noun

the four central beliefs containing the essence of Buddhist teaching.
See Buddhism.

four-o'clock /ˌfôrəˈkläk/

noun

a tropical American herbaceous plant with fragrant trumpet-shaped flowers that open late in the afternoon.
Also called marvel of Peru. [Mirabilis jalapa, family Nyctaginaceae.]

four-ply /fô(ə)r plī/

I. adjective

(of a material) having four strands or layers

• four-ply yarn.

II. noun

knitting yarn made of four strands.

four-poster /ˌfôrˈpōstər / four-poster bed

noun

a bed with a post at each corner, sometimes supporting a canopy.

fourscore /ˌfôrˈskôr/

cardinal number

‹archaic› eighty.

foursome /ˈfôrsəm/

noun

1. a group of four people.

2. a golf match between two pairs of players, with partners playing the same ball.

four-square /fô(ə)r skwe(ə)r/

I. adjective

1. (of a building or structure) having a square shape and solid appearance.

2. (of a person or quality) firm and resolute

• a four-square and formidable hero.

II. adverb

1. squarely and solidly

• a castle standing four-square and isolated on a peninsula.

2. firmly or resolutely, especially in support of someone or something

• they stand four-square behind integration.

four-star /ˈfôr ˈˌstär/

adjective

1. (especially of a hotel or restaurant) given four stars in a grading system, typically one in which this denotes the highest or next to the highest class or quality.

2. (in the US armed forces) having or denoting the second-highest military rank, distinguished by four stars on the uniform.

four-stroke /ˈfôr ˌstrōk/

I. adjective

1. denoting an internal combustion engine having a cycle of four strokes (intake, compression, combustion, and exhaust).
Compare with two-stroke.

2. denoting a vehicle having a four-stroke engine.

II. noun

a four-stroke engine or vehicle.

fourteen /ˌfôrˈtēn ˈfôrˌtēn/

I. cardinal number

1. (Roman numeral: xiv or XIV) — equivalent to the product of seven and two; one more than thirteen, or six less than twenty; 14

• they had spent fourteen days in solitary confinement

• all fourteen of us were seated.

2. a size of garment or other merchandise denoted by fourteen.

3. fourteen years old

• he left school at fourteen.

– origin Old English fēowertīene (see four, -teen).

fourteenth /ˌfôrˈtēnTH ˈfôrˌtēnTH/

ordinal number

1. constituting number fourteen in a sequence; 14th

• the early fourteenth century

• his fourteenth birthday.

2. each of fourteen equal parts into which something is or may be divided

• three fourteenths of $79.5 million.

fourth /fôrTH/

ordinal number

1. constituting number four in a sequence; 4th

• the fourth and fifth centuries

• there were three bedrooms, with potential for a fourth.

2. (a fourth/one fourth) — (chiefly N. Amer.) a quarter

• nearly three fourths of that money is now gone.

3. the fourth finisher or position in a race or competition

• he could do no better than finish fourth.

4. the fourth (and often highest) in a sequence of a vehicle's gears

• he took the corner at the end of the road in fourth.

5. fourthly (used to introduce a fourth point or reason)

• third, visit popular attractions during lunch; fourth, stay late.

6. [Music] an interval spanning four consecutive notes in a diatonic scale, in particular an interval of two tones and a semitone (e.g., C to F).

7. [Music] the note which is higher by a fourth than the tonic of a diatonic scale or root of a chord.

fourth-class

adjective

a class of US mail applying to packages weighing more than sixteen ounces and used especially for sending general merchandise, books, recordings, and films.

fourth dimension /fôrTH dəˈmen(t)SHən/

noun

1. a postulated spatial dimension additional to those determining length, area, and volume.

2. time regarded as analogous to linear dimensions.

fourth estate

I. noun — (the fourth estate)

1. the press; the profession of journalism

• copy desks are held together by the bad-news contingent of the fourth estate.

– origin originally used humorously in various contexts; its first usage with reference to the press has been attributed to Edmund Burke, but this remains unconfirmed.

Fourth International

see international (sense 2 of the noun).

fourthly /ˈfôrTHlē/

adverb

in the fourth place (used to introduce a fourth point or reason)

• fourthly, and last, there are variations in context that influence the process.

fourth official

noun

[Soccer] an official who assists the referee before, during, and after a match.

Fourth of July

noun

a national holiday celebrating the anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
Also called Independence Day.

fourth position

noun

1. [Ballet] a posture in which the feet are placed turned outward one in front of the other, separated by the distance of one step.

2. a position of the arms in which one is held curved over the head and the other curved in front of the body at waist level.

3. [Music] a position of the left hand on the fingerboard of a stringed instrument nearer to the bridge than the third position, enabling a higher set of notes to be played.

Fourth Republic

the republican regime in France between the end of World War II (1945) and the introduction of a new constitution by Charles de Gaulle in 1958.

fourth wall

I. noun — (the fourth wall)

1. the space that separates a performer or performance from an audience.

2. the conceptual barrier between any fictional work and its viewers or readers

• he breaks the fourth wall by having Sam refer to the script and the play he's acting in.

– origin originally used of the proscenium opening in a theatre through which the audience sees the action of a play.

Fourth World

noun

1. those countries and communities considered to be the poorest and most underdeveloped of the Third World.

2. those communities that form politically and economically disadvantaged minorities within societies, owing to factors such as urban deprivation or discrimination against tribal peoples.

four-wheel drive /ˌfôr ˌ(h)wēl ˈdrīv/

noun

1. a transmission system that provides power directly to all four wheels of a vehicle.

2. a vehicle with four-wheel drive, typically designed for off-road driving.

fovea /ˈfōvēə / fovea centralis

I. noun

[Anatomy] a small depression in the retina of the eye where visual acuity is highest. The center of the field of vision is focused in this region, where retinal cones are particularly concentrated.

II. derivatives

foveal /-vēəl /

adjective

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘small pit.’

fowl /foul/

I. noun

1. a gallinaceous bird kept chiefly for its eggs and flesh; a domestic cock or hen.
[The domestic fowl is descended from the wild red junglefowl of Southeast Asia (see jungle fowl).]

2. any other domesticated bird kept for its eggs or flesh, e.g., the turkey, duck, goose, and guineafowl.

3. the flesh of birds, especially of the domestic cock or hen, as food; poultry.

4. birds collectively, especially as the quarry of hunters.

5. ‹archaic› a bird.

– origin Old English fugol, originally the general term for a bird, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vogel and German Vogel, also to fly^1.

Fowler, H. W. /ˈfoulər/

(1858–1933), English lexicographer and grammarian; full name Henry Watson Fowler. He compiled the first edition of the Concise Oxford Dictionary (1911) with his brother Francis George Fowler (1871–1918) and wrote a guide to style and idiom, Modern English Usage, which was first published in 1926.

Fowles, John /foulz/

(1926–2005), English novelist; full name John Robert Fowles. Notable works: The Collector (1963), The Magus (1966), and The French Lieutenant's Woman (1969).

fowling /ˈfouliNG/

I. noun

the hunting, shooting, or trapping of wildfowl.

II. derivatives

fowler /ˈfoulər /

noun

fowl pest /ˈfoul ˌpest/

noun

either of two similar viral diseases of poultry, Newcastle disease or fowl plague.

fowl plague

noun

an acute and often fatal infectious viral disease of birds, especially poultry.

fowlpox /ˈfoulpäks/

noun

a slow-spreading viral disease of birds that produces wartlike nodules on the skin. Infestations sometimes threaten commercial poultry interests.
[Avipoxvirus, family Poxviridae.]

fox /fäks/

I. noun

1. a carnivorous mammal of the dog family with a pointed muzzle and bushy tail, proverbial for its cunning.
[Vulpes and three other genera, family Canidae: several species, including the red fox and the arctic fox.]

2. the fur of a fox.

3. ‹informal› a cunning or sly person

• a wily old fox.

4. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a sexually attractive woman.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› baffle or deceive (someone)

• the bad light and dark shadows foxed him.

2. repair (a boot or shoe) by renewing the upper leather.

3. ornament (the upper of a boot or shoe) with a strip of leather.

III. derivatives

foxlike /-ˌlīk /

adjective

– origin Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vos and German Fuchs.

Fox

I. noun

1. a member of an American Indian people formerly living in southern Wisconsin, and now mainly in Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas.

2. the Algonquian language of the Fox.

II. adjective

relating to the Fox or their language.

Fox, George /fäks/

(1624–91), English preacher and founder of the Society of Friends (Quakers).

Fox, Vicente

(1942–), Mexican statesman; president 2000–06; full name Vicente Fox Quesada. A member of the conservative National Action Party (PAN), he ended seventy-one years of rule by the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) when elected president.

foxed /fäkst/

I. adjective

(of the paper of old books or prints) discolored with brown spots.

II. derivatives

foxing /ˈfäksiNG /

noun

foxfire /ˈfäksˌfī(ə)r/

noun

(N. Amer.) the phosphorescent light emitted by certain fungi on decaying timber.

foxglove /ˈfäksˌɡləv/

noun

a tall Eurasian plant with erect spikes of flowers, typically pinkish-purple or white, shaped like the fingers of gloves. It is a source of the drug digitalis.
[Genus Digitalis, family Scrophulariaceae: many species, in particular D. purpurea.]

fox grape

noun

a wild grape-bearing vine native to the eastern US.
Also called labrusca, Isabella.

foxhole /ˈfäksˌhōl/

I. noun

1. the den or burrow of a fox.

2. a hole in the ground used by troops as a shelter against enemy fire or as a firing point.

3. a place of refuge or concealment.

– origin Old English: from fox + hole; the military sense arose during World War I.

foxhound /ˈfäksˌhound/

noun

a dog of a smooth-haired breed with drooping ears, often trained to hunt foxes in packs over long distances.

fox hunting /ˈfäks ˌhən(t)iNG/

I. noun

the sport of hunting a fox across country with a pack of hounds by a group of people on foot and horseback, a traditional sport of the English landed gentry.

II. derivatives

fox hunter

noun

foxtail /ˈfäkstāl/

noun

a common meadow grass that has soft brushlike flowering spikes.
[Genus Alopecurus, family Gramineae: several species, in particular A. pratensis.]

fox terrier /ˌfäks ˈterēər/

noun

a terrier of a short-haired or wire-haired breed originally used for unearthing foxes.

foxtrot /ˈfäksˌträt/

I. noun

1. a ballroom dance in 4/4 time, with alternation of two slow and two quick steps.

2. a piece of music written for a foxtrot.

3. a code word representing the letter F, used in radio communication.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. perform a foxtrot.

Foxwoods /ˈfäkswo͝odz/

a gambling resort on the Mashantucket Pequot reservation in the town of Ledyard in southeastern Connecticut, north of New London.

foxy /ˈfäksē/

I. adjective

1. resembling or likened to a fox

• a terrier with a foxy expression.

2. ‹informal› cunning or sly in character.

3. ‹informal› (chiefly of a woman) sexually attractive.

4. reddish brown in color.

5. (of wine) having a musky flavor.

6. (of paper or other material) marked with spots; foxed.

II. derivatives

1. foxily /ˈfäksəlē /

adverb

2. foxiness /ˈfäksēnəs /

noun

foyaite /ˈfoiyəˌīt ˈfōyəˌīt/

I. noun

[Geology] a kind of syenite.

– origin late 19th cent.: from the name of Foya in Portugal.

foyer /ˈfoiər ˈfoiˌā/

I. noun

1. an entrance hall or other open area in a building used by the public, especially a hotel or theater.

2. (N. Amer.) an entrance hall in a house or apartment.

– origin late 18th cent. (denoting the center of attention or activity): from French, ‘hearth, home,’ based on Latin focarius ‘kitchen servant,’ from focus ‘domestic hearth.’

Foyt, A. J. /foit/

(1935–), US race car driver; full name Anthony Joseph Foyt, Jr. He won the Indianapolis 500 four times 1961, 1964, 1967, 1977.

fp

abbreviation

1. (FP) — Fabricated Plate.

2. fireplace.

3. forte-piano.

4. freezing point.

FPC

abbreviation

1. Federal Power Commission.

2. fish protein concentrate.

3. Friends Peace Committee.

fpl

abbreviation

fireplace.

fpm

abbreviation

feet per minute.

FPO

abbreviation

1. Field post office.

2. Fleet post office.

fps f.p.s.

abbreviation

1. feet per second.

2. foot-pound-second.

3. frames per second.

FPS

noun

short for first-person shooter:

• want to play an FPS?

FPU

abbreviation

[Computing] floating-point unit, a processor that performs arithmetic operations.

fr.

abbreviation

franc(s).

Fr.

I. abbreviation

1. Father (as a courtesy title of priests)

• Fr. Buckley.

[from French frère, literally ‘brother.’]

2. France.

3. French.

4. Friday.

II. symbol

the chemical element francium.

f.r.

I. adverb

on the right-hand page.

– origin from Latin folio recto.

Fra /frä/

I. noun

a prefixed title given to an Italian monk or friar

• Fra Angelico.

– origin Italian, abbreviation of frate ‘brother,’ from Latin frater.

frabjous /ˈfrabjəs/

I. adjective

‹humorous› delightful; joyous

• “Oh frabjous day!” she giggled.

II. derivatives

frabjously

adverb

– origin 1871: coined by Lewis Carroll in Through the Looking Glass, apparently to suggest fair and joyous.

fracas /ˈfrākəs ˈfrakəs/

I. noun

a noisy disturbance or quarrel.

– origin early 18th cent.: French, from fracasser, from Italian fracassare ‘make an uproar.’

frack^1 /frak/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. inject liquid into (a subterranean rock formation, borehole, etc.) at high pressure so as to force open existing fissures and extract oil or gas

• millions of gallons of water are needed to successfully frack a single well

• a gas company wants to frack his land and the land around it.

2. extract (oil or gas) by injecting liquid into a subterranean rock formation, borehole, etc., at high pressure

• the industry has begun to frack natural gas from shale deposits

• (as adj. fracked) the pipeline currently brings fracked gas to New York from Texas.

II. derivatives

fracker

noun

– origin 1950s: representing an abbreviated form of fracture.

frack^2 /frak / frak

I. exclamation

(US) ‹informal› used to express annoyance, frustration, impatience, or surprise

• what the frack is going on!

– origin 1970s: euphemistic alteration of fuck, popularized by the US television show Battlestar Galactica.

fracking^1 /ˈfrakiNG/

I. noun

the process of injecting liquid at high pressure into subterranean rocks, boreholes, etc., so as to force open existing fissures and extract oil or gas

• the governor has halted gas fracking until July.

Also called hydraulic fracturing.

– origin 1950s: representing an abbreviated form of fracturing.

fracking^2 /ˈfrakiNG / frakking

I. adjective, adverb

(US) ‹informal› used for emphasis or to express annoyance, frustration, impatience, or surprise

• are you out of your fracking mind?

– origin 1970s: euphemism for fucking, from frack^2.

fractal /ˈfraktəl / ‹Mathematics›

I. noun

a curve or geometric figure, each part of which has the same statistical character as the whole. Fractals are useful in modeling structures (such as eroded coastlines or snowflakes) in which similar patterns recur at progressively smaller scales, and in describing partly random or chaotic phenomena such as crystal growth, fluid turbulence, and galaxy formation.

II. adjective

relating to or of the nature of a fractal or fractals

• fractal geometry.

– origin 1970s: from French, from Latin fract- ‘broken,’ from the verb frangere.

fraction /ˈfrakSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a numerical quantity that is not a whole number (e.g., ½, 0.5).

2. a small or tiny part, amount, or proportion of something

• he hesitated for a fraction of a second

• her eyes widened a fraction.

3. a dissenting group within a larger one.

4. each of the portions into which a mixture may be separated by a process in which the individual components behave differently according to their physical properties.

5. (usu. the Fraction) — (in the Christian Church) the breaking of the Eucharistic bread.

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from ecclesiastical Latin fractio(n-) ‘breaking (bread),’ from Latin frangere ‘to break.’

fractional /ˈfrakSH(ə)n(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. of, relating to, or expressed as a numerical value that is not a whole number, especially a fraction less than one.

2. small or tiny in amount

• there was a fractional hesitation before he said yes.

3. [Chemistry] relating to or denoting the separation of components of a mixture by making use of their differing physical properties

• fractional crystallization.

II. derivatives

fractionally /ˈfrakSHənəlē ˈfrakSHnəlē /

adverb

fractional distillation

noun

[Chemistry] separation of a liquid mixture into fractions differing in boiling point (and hence chemical composition) by means of distillation, typically using a fractionating column.

fractionalize /ˈfrakSHənlˌīz/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. fractionalized)

1. divide (someone or something) into separate groups or parts

• fractionalized consumer markets.

II. derivatives

fractionalization /ˌfrakSHənl-iˈzāSHən /

noun

fractionate /ˈfrakSHəˌnāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹chiefly technical› divide into fractions or components.

2. ‹chiefly technical› separate (a mixture) by fractional distillation.

II. derivatives

fractionation /ˌfrakSHəˈnāSH(ə)n /

noun

fractionating column

noun

[Chemistry] a tall, horizontally subdivided or packed container for fractional distillation in which vapor passes upward and condensing liquid flows downward. The vapor becomes progressively enriched in more volatile components as it ascends, and the less volatile components become concentrated in the descending liquid, which can be drawn off.

fractious /ˈfrakSHəs/

I. adjective

1. (typically of children) irritable and quarrelsome

• they fight and squabble like fractious children.

2. (of a group or organization) difficult to control; unruly

• the fractious coalition of Social Democrats.

II. derivatives

1. fractiously

adverb

2. fractiousness /ˈfrakSHəsnəs /

noun

– origin late 17th cent.: from fraction, probably on the pattern of the pair faction, factious.

fracture /ˈfrak(t)SHər/

I. noun

1. the cracking or breaking of a hard object or material

• bone density testing can predict the risk for fracture.

2. a crack or break in a hard object or material, typically a bone or a body of rock

• a fracture of the left leg.

3. the physical appearance of a freshly broken rock or mineral, especially as regards the shape of the surface formed.

4. [Phonetics] the replacement of a simple vowel by a diphthong owing to the influence of a following sound, typically a consonant.

5. a diphthong substituted by a fracture.

II. verb

1. break or cause to break
[no obj.]

• the stone has fractured

• [with obj.] ancient magmas fractured by the forces of wind and ice.

2. [with obj.] — sustain a fracture of (a bone)
(as adj. fractured)

• she suffered a fractured skull.

3. (with reference to an organization or other abstract thing) split or fragment so as to no longer function or exist
[no obj.]

• the movement had fractured without his leadership.

4. (as adj. fractured) — (of speech or a language) broken.

– origin late Middle English: from French, or from Latin fractura, from frangere ‘to break.’

frae /frā/

preposition

(Scottish) from

• you better collect the tab frae the office.

frag /fraɡ / ‹N. Amer. military slang›

I. noun

a hand grenade.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. deliberately kill (an unpopular senior officer), typically with a hand grenade.

– origin 1970s: from fragmentation grenade.

fragile /ˈfrajəl ˈfraˌjīl/

I. adjective

1. (of an object) easily broken or damaged.

2. flimsy or insubstantial; easily destroyed

• you have a fragile grip on reality.

3. (of a person) not strong or sturdy; delicate and vulnerable.

II. derivatives

fragilely /ˈfrajə(l)lē /

adverb

– origin late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘morally weak’): from Latin fragilis, from frangere ‘to break.’ The sense ‘liable to break’ dates from the mid 16th cent.

fragile X syndrome

noun

[Medicine] an inherited condition characterized by an X chromosome that is abnormally susceptible to damage, especially by folic acid deficiency. Affected individuals tend to be mentally handicapped.

fragility /frəˈjilədē/

noun

1. the quality of being easily broken or damaged

• osteoporosis is characterized by bone fragility.

2. the quality of being delicate or vulnerable

• a film about the fragility of relationships

• his emotional fragility.

fragment

I. noun — /ˈfraɡmənt /

1. a small part broken or separated off something

• small fragments of pottery, glass, and tiles.

2. an isolated or incomplete part of something

• Nathan remembered fragments of that conversation.

II. verb — /fraɡˈment /

1. break or cause to break into fragments
[no obj.]

• his followers fragmented into sects.

III. derivatives

fragmental /fraɡˈmen(t)l /

adjective

). — [chiefly Geology]

– origin late Middle English: from French, or from Latin fragmentum, from frangere ‘to break.’

fragmentary /ˈfraɡmənˌterē/

I. adjective

consisting of small parts that are disconnected or incomplete

• excavations have revealed fragmentary remains of masonry.

II. derivatives

fragmentarily /ˌfraɡmənˈterəlē /

adverb

fragmentation /ˌfraɡmənˈtāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the process or state of breaking or being broken into small or separate parts

• the fragmentation of society into a collection of interest groups.

2. [Computing] the storing of a file in separate areas of memory scattered throughout a hard disk.

fragmentation bomb /ˌfraɡmənˈtāSHən bäm/

noun

a bomb designed to break into small fragments as it explodes.

Fragonard, Jean-Honoré /ˌfraɡəˈnär/

(1732–1806), French painter in the rococo style. He is known for landscapes and for erotic canvases such as The Progress of Love (1771).

fragrance /ˈfrāɡrəns/

I. noun

1. a pleasant, sweet smell

• the fragrance of fresh-ground coffee

• the bushes fill the air with fragrance.

2. a perfume or aftershave.

II. derivatives

fragranced /ˈfrāɡrənst /

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, or from Latin fragrantia, from fragrare ‘smell sweet.’

fragrance-free

adjective

(of toiletries or cleaning products) not containing perfume

• mild, fragrance-free soaps.

fragrancy /ˈfrāɡrənsē/

noun

‹dated› fragrance.

fragrant /ˈfrāɡrənt/

I. adjective

having a pleasant or sweet smell.

II. derivatives

fragrantly

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from French, or from Latin fragrant- ‘smelling sweet,’ from the verb fragrare.

'fraid /frād/

verb

‹informal› nonstandard contraction of “afraid” or “I'm afraid,” expressing regret

• 'fraid not, doll.

fraidy cat /ˈfrādē ˌkat/

noun

a child's term for a timid or fearful person, often used as a taunt when addressed to another child.

frail /ˈfrā(ə)l/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) weak and delicate

• a frail voice

• she looked frail and vulnerable.

2. easily damaged or broken; fragile or insubstantial

• the balcony is frail

• the frail Russian economy.

3. weak in character or morals.

II. derivatives

1. frailly /ˈfrā(l)lē /

adverb

2. frailness

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French fraile, from Latin fragilis (see fragile).

frailty /ˈfrā(ə)ltē/

I. noun

1. the condition of being weak and delicate

• the increasing frailty of old age.

2. weakness in character or morals

• all drama begins with human frailty

• you're too self-righteous to see your own frailties.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘weakness in morals’): from Old French frailete, from Latin fragilitas, from fragilis (see fragile).

fraise^1 /frāz/

I. noun

(in cooking) a strawberry.

– origin French, from Latin fraga ‘wild strawberries.’

fraise^2 /frāz/

noun

1. a fortification with sharpened stakes projecting outward.

2. a decorative ruff worn at the neck, especially in Elizabethan era fashion.

Fraktur /frakˈto͝or/

I. noun

a German style of black-letter type.

– origin late 19th cent.: German, from Latin fractura ‘fracture’ (because of its angularity).

frambesia /ˌframˈbēZH(ē)ə/

I. noun

another term for yaws.

– origin early 19th cent.: modern Latin, from French framboise ‘raspberry,’ so named because of the red swellings caused by the disease, likened to raspberries.

framboise /ˌframˈbwäz/

I. noun

(in cooking) a raspberry.

– origin late 16th cent.: French, ‘raspberry,’ from a conflation of Latin fraga ambrosia ‘ambrosial strawberry.’

frame /frām/

I. noun

1. a rigid structure that surrounds or encloses something such as a door or window.

2. (frames) — a metal or plastic structure holding the lenses of a pair of glasses.

3. a case or border enclosing a mirror or picture.

4. the rigid supporting structure of an object such as a vehicle, building, or piece of furniture.

5. a person's body with reference to its size or build

• a shiver shook her slim frame.

6. a boxlike structure of glass or plastic in which seeds or young plants are grown.

7. [in sing.] — ‹archaic› ‹literary› the universe, or part of it, regarded as an embracing structure.

8. [in sing.] — ‹archaic› ‹literary› the structure, constitution, or nature of someone or something

• we have in our inward frame various affections.

9. [usu. in sing.] — a basic structure that underlies or supports a system, concept, or text

• the establishment of conditions provides a frame for interpretation.

10. ‹technical› short for frame of reference:

• the Earth's motion relative to the frame of the distant galaxies.

11. the genre or form of a literary text determining its expected style and content

• my poems look as though they have a classical frame.

12. [often as modifier] — an enclosing section of narrative, especially one which foregrounds or comments on the primary narrative of a text

• a frame narrator reports the narrative spoken by an inner narrator.

13. [Linguistics] a structural environment within which a class of words or other linguistic units can be correctly used. For example I —— him is a frame for a large class of transitive verbs.

14. a single complete picture in a series forming a movie, television, or video film.

15. a single picture in a comic strip.

16. [Computing] a graphic panel in a display window, especially in a web browser, that encloses a self-contained section of data and permits multiple independent document viewing.

17. another term for rack^1 (sense 4 of the noun).

18. a round of play in bowling.

19. (US) ‹informal› an inning in a baseball game

• he closed out the game by pitching two hitless frames.

20. (N. Amer.) short for frame-up.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. place (a picture or photograph) in a frame

• he had the photo framed.

2. surround so as to create a sharp or attractive image

• a short, strong style cut to frame the face.

3. (US) erect the framework of a building.

4. create or formulate (a concept, plan, or system)

• the staff have proved invaluable in framing the proposals.

5. form or articulate (words)

• he walked out before she could frame a reply.

6. ‹archaic› make or construct (something) by fitting parts together or in accordance with a plan

• what immortal hand or eye could frame thy fearful symmetry?

7. ‹informal› produce false evidence against (an innocent person) so that they appear guilty

• he claims he was framed.

III. phrases

frame of mind

a particular mood that influences one's attitude or behavior.

IV. derivatives

1. frameable /-məbəl /

adjective

2. frameless /ˈfrāmləs /

adjective

– origin Old English framian ‘be useful,’ of Germanic origin and related to from. The general sense in Middle English, ‘make ready for use,’ probably led to sense 2 of the verb; it also gave rise to the specific meaning ‘prepare timber for use in building,’ later ‘make the wooden parts of a building,’ essentially the framework, hence the noun sense ‘structure’ (late Middle English).

framed /frāmd/

adjective

1. (of a picture or similar) held in a frame

• a framed photograph of her father.

2. [in combination] — (of a building) having a frame of a specified material

• a traditional oak-framed house.

frame house /ˈfrām ˈˌhous/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a house constructed from a wooden skeleton, typically covered with sheathing.

frame of reference

noun

1. a set of criteria or stated values in relation to which measurements or judgments can be made

• the observer interprets what he sees in terms of his own cultural frame of reference.

2. (also reference frame) — a system of geometric axes in relation to which measurements of size, position, or motion can be made.

framer /ˈfrāmər/

noun

1. a person who shapes or creates a concept, plan, or system

• objections will be made if the framer of the law can be absolutely proved to have meant one thing.

2. (often Framer) — one of the drafters of the US Constitution

• the Framers would have a hard time recognizing the modern presidency.

3. a person who makes frames for paintings or photographs

• in a frame shop or gallery framers work normal shop hours.

frame rate

noun

the frequency at which frames in a television picture, film, or video sequence are displayed.

• the higher frame rate is supposed to make fast action scenes look smoother.

frame saw

noun

a saw with a thin blade kept rigid by being stretched in a frame.

frame-up /ˈfrām ˌəp/

noun — [in sing.]

1. ‹informal› a conspiracy to falsely incriminate someone.

framework /ˈfrāmˌwərk/

noun

1. an essential supporting structure of a building, vehicle, or object

• a conservatory in a delicate framework of iron.

2. a basic structure underlying a system, concept, or text

• the theoretical framework of political sociology.

framing /ˈfrāmiNG/

noun

1. the action of framing something.

2. frames collectively.

Framingham /ˈfrāmiNGˌham/

an industrial and commercial town in eastern Massachusetts; pop. 64,885 (est. 2008).

franc /fraNGk/

I. noun

the basic monetary unit of Switzerland and several other countries (including France, Belgium, and Luxembourg until the introduction of the euro), equal to 100 centimes.

– origin from Old French, from Latin Francorum Rex ‘king of the Franks,’ the legend on gold coins struck in the 14th cent. in the reign of Jean le Bon.

Franca /ˈfräNGkə/

an industrial and commercial city in southern Brazil, in São Paulo state; pop. 319,100 (est. 2007).

France /frans/

I. a country in western Europe, on the Atlantic Ocean; pop. 64,420,100 (est. 2009); capital, Paris; official language, French.

France became a major power under the Valois and Bourbon dynasties in the 16th–18th centuries and briefly dominated Europe under Napoleon after the overthrow of the monarchy in the French Revolution 1789. Defeated in the Franco-Prussian War 1870–71, the country also suffered much destruction and loss of life in World War I, and during World War II was occupied by the Germans. France was a founding member of the EEC (now the EU) in 1957.

France, Anatole /frans/

(1844–1924), French writer; pseudonym of Jacques-Anatole-François Thibault. Works include Le Crime de Sylvestre Bonnard (1881), L'Ile des pingouins (1908), and Les Dieux ont soif (1912). Nobel Prize for Literature (1921).

franchise /ˈfranˌCHīz/

I. noun

1. an authorization granted by a government or company to an individual or group enabling them to carry out specified commercial activities, e.g., providing a broadcasting service or acting as an agent for a company's products.

2. a business or service given a franchise to operate.

3. a general title or concept used for creating or marketing a series of products, typically films or television shows

• the Harry Potter franchise.

4. (chiefly in North America) an ownership structure in professional sports in which a league is limited to a fixed number of teams.

5. (N. Amer.) an authorization given by a league to own a sports team.

6. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a professional sports team.

7. (also franchise player) — (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a star player on a team.

8. (usu. the franchise) — the right to vote.

9. the rights of citizenship.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. grant a franchise to (an individual or group).

2. grant a franchise for the sale of (goods) or the operation of (a service)

• all the catering was franchised out.

III. derivatives

franchiser /ˈfranˌCHīzər / franchisor

noun

– origin Middle English (denoting a grant of legal immunity): from Old French, based on franc, franche ‘free’ (see frank^1). Sense 2 of the noun dates from the late 18th cent. and sense 1 of the noun from the 20th cent.

franchisee /ˌfranCHīˈzē/

noun

an individual or company that holds a franchise for the sale of goods or the operation of a service

• he had a string of regional offices operated by franchisees.

Francis /ˈfransəs/

(1936–), Argentinian cleric, pope from 2013; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio. He is the first pope from the American continent, and the first Jesuit to hold the post.

Francis, Dick /ˈfransis/

(1920–2010), English jockey and writer; full name Richard Stanley Francis. He was a champion jockey who, after his retirement in 1957, began to write thrillers, mostly set in the world of horse racing.

Francis I

(1494–1547), king of France 1515–47. Much of his reign 1521–44 was spent at war with Charles V of Spain. A supporter of the arts, he commissioned the building of the Louvre.

Franciscan /franˈsiskən/

I. noun

a friar, sister, or lay member of a Christian religious order founded in 1209 by St. Francis of Assisi, or of an order based on Franciscan rule. The Franciscan orders are noted for preachers and missionaries.
Divergences of practice led to the separation of the Friars Minor of the Observance (the Observants) and the Friars Minor Conventual (the Conventuals) in 1517, and to the foundation of the stricter Friars Minor Capuchin (the Capuchins) in 1529. The order of Franciscan nuns was founded by St. Clare (c. 1212) under the direction of St. Francis; they are known as ‘Poor Clares.’.

II. adjective

of, relating to, or denoting St. Francis or the Franciscans.

– origin from French franciscain, from modern Latin Franciscanus, from Franciscus ‘Francis.’

Francis of Assisi, St.

(c. 1181–1226), Italian monk; founder of the Franciscan order 1209; born Giovanni di Bernardone. He drew up the original rule, based on complete poverty, of the Franciscan order. He is the patron saint of animals. Feast day, October 4.

Francis of Sales, St. /säl/

(1567–1622), French bishop. A leader of the Counter-Reformation, he was bishop of Geneva 1602–22. The Salesian order (founded in 1859) is named after him. Feast day, January 24.

Francis Xavier, St.

see Xavier, St. Francis.

francium /ˈfran(t)sēəm/

I. noun

(Symbol: Fr) — the chemical element of atomic number 87, a radioactive member of the alkali metal group. Francium occurs naturally as a decay product in uranium and thorium ores.

– origin 1940s: from France (the discoverer's native country) + -ium.

Franck, César /fräNGk/

(1822–90), French composer and organist; born in Belgium; full name César Auguste Franck. Notable works: Symphonic Variations (1885), the D minor Symphony (1886–88), and the String Quartet (1889).

Franck, James

(1882–1964), US physicist; born in Germany. He worked on the bombardment of atoms by electrons and became involved in the US atom bomb project. He advocated the explosion of the bomb in an uninhabited area to demonstrate its power to Japan.

Franco- /ˈfraNGkō / franco-

I. combining form

1. French; French and …

• francophone

• Franco-German.

2. relating to France.

– origin from medieval Latin Francus ‘Frank.’

Franco, Francisco /ˈfraNGkō/

(1892–1975), Spanish general and dictator; head of state 1939–75. Leader of the Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War, he became head of the Falange Party in 1937 and proclaimed himself Caudillo (“leader”) of Spain. With the defeat of the republic in 1939, he took control of the government and established a dictatorship that ruled Spain until his death.

Francoism /ˈfraNGkōizəm/

noun

the principles and policies advocated by the Spanish dictator General Franco

• his research has focused on the Spanish Civil War and early Francoism.

Francoist /ˈfraNGkōist/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of the principles and policies of the Spanish dictator General Franco

• victims of Francoist repression.

II. noun

an advocate of the principles and policies of the Spanish dictator General Franco

• he was a fervent Francoist.

francolin /ˈfraNGkələn/

I. noun

a large game bird resembling a partridge, with bare skin on the head or neck, found in Africa and southern Asia.
[Genus Francolinus, family Phasianidae: many species.]

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French, from Italian francolino, of unknown origin.

Franconia /fraNGˈkōnēə/

a medieval duchy in southern Germany, inhabited by the Franks.

Franconian /franˈkōnēən/

I. adjective

of or relating to Franconia or its inhabitants.

II. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Franconia.

2. a group of medieval West Germanic dialects, combining features of Low and High German.

3. the group of modern German dialects of Franconia.

Franconia Notch /fraNGˌkōnēə ˈnäCH/

a valley in the White Mountains of northern New Hampshire, noted for its scenery, including a rock formation called the Old Man of the Mountains.

Francophile /ˈfraNGkəˌfīl/

noun

a person who is fond of or greatly admires France or the French.

francophone /ˈfraNGkəˌfōn / Francophone

I. adjective

French-speaking

• a summit of francophone countries.

II. noun

a person who speaks French.

– origin early 20th cent.: from Franco- ‘French’ + Greek phōnē ‘voice.’

Franco-Prussian War /ˌfraNGkōˌprəSH(ə)n ˈwôr/

the war of 1870–71 between France (under Napoleon III) and Prussia, in which Prussian troops advanced into France and decisively defeated the French at Sedan. The defeat marked the end of the French Second Empire. For Prussia, the proclamation of the new German Empire at Versailles was the climax of Bismarck's ambitions to unite Germany.

frangible /ˈfranjəbəl/

I. adjective

‹formal› fragile; brittle.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, or from medieval Latin frangibilis, from Latin frangere ‘to break.’

frangipane /ˈfranjəˌpān/

I. noun

1. an almond-flavored cream or paste.

2. a pastry filled with this.

3. variant spelling of frangipani.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French, named after the Marquis Muzio Frangipani (see frangipani). The term originally denoted the frangipani shrub or tree, the perfume of which is said to have been used to flavor the almond cream.

frangipani /ˌfran(d)ZHəˈpanē ˌfran(d)ZHəˈpänē / frangipane

I. noun

1. a tropical American tree or shrub with clusters of fragrant white, pink, or yellow flowers.
[Genus Plumeria, family Apocynaceae: several species, in particular P. rubra.]

2. perfume obtained from the frangipani plant.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after the Marquis Muzio Frangipani, a 16th-cent. Italian nobleman who invented a perfume for scenting gloves.

franglais /fräNGˈɡlā / Franglaise

I. noun

a form of French using many words and idioms borrowed from English.

– origin 1960s: coined in French, from a blend of français ‘French’ and anglais ‘English.’

frank^1 /fraNGk/

I. adjective

1. open, honest, and direct in speech or writing, especially when dealing with unpalatable matters

• a long and frank discussion

• to be perfectly frank, I don't know.

2. open, sincere, or undisguised in manner or appearance

• Katherine saw her look at Sam with frank admiration.

3. [Medicine] unmistakable; obvious

• frank ulceration.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘free’): from Old French franc, from medieval Latin francus ‘free,’ from Francus (see Frank: only Franks had full freedom in Frankish Gaul). Another Middle English sense was ‘generous,’ which led to the current sense.

frank^2 /fraNGk/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. stamp an official mark on (a letter or parcel), especially to indicate that postage has been paid or does not need to be paid.

2. ‹historical› sign (a letter or parcel) to ensure delivery free of charge.

3. ‹archaic› facilitate or pay the passage of (someone)

• English will frank the traveler through most of North America.

II. noun

an official mark or signature on a letter or parcel, especially to indicate that postage has been paid or does not need to be paid.
[formerly as a superscribed signature of an eminent person entitled to send letters free of charge.]

III. derivatives

franker

noun

– origin early 18th cent.: from frank^1, an early sense being ‘free of obligation.’

frank^3 /fraNGk/

noun

(N. Amer.) short for frankfurter.

Frank /fraNGk/

I. noun

1. a member of a Germanic people that conquered Gaul in the 6th century and controlled much of western Europe for several centuries afterward.

2. (in the eastern Mediterranean region) a person of western European nationality or descent.

– origin Old English Franca, of Germanic origin; perhaps from the name of a weapon and related to Old English franca ‘javelin’ (compare with Saxon); reinforced in Middle English by medieval Latin Francus and Old French Franc, of the same origin and related to French.

Frank, Anne /fraNGk/

(1929–45), German Jewish girl noted for her diary (The Diary of a Young Girl, 1953) that records the experiences of her family, who hid from the Nazis for two years in occupied Amsterdam. They were eventually betrayed and sent to concentration camps; Anne died in the concentration camp at Belsen.

Frankenfish /ˈfraNGkənˌfiSH/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› a genetically modified fish.

2. ‹informal› the northern snakehead, so dubbed for its voracious appetite and ability to survive adverse conditions.

– origin from Franken(stein) and fish.

Frankenfood /ˈfraNGkənˌfo͞od/

I. noun

‹informal› ‹derogatory› genetically modified food

• a cornucopia of pesticide-laden monocrops and lab-engineered Frankenfoods.

– origin 1990s: from Franken(stein) + food.

Frankenstein /ˈfraNGkənˌstīn/

I. a character in the novel Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus (1818) by Mary Shelley. Baron Frankenstein is a scientist who creates and brings to life a manlike monster that eventually turns on him and destroys him.

II. (also Frankenstein's monster) [as noun] — a thing that becomes terrifying or destructive to its maker.

Frankfort /ˈfraNGkfərt/

the capital of Kentucky, in the northern part of the state; pop. 27,322 (est. 2008).

Frankfurt /ˈfraNGkfərt/

a commercial city in western Germany, in the state of Hesse; pop. 652,600 (est. 2006). Full name Frankfurt am Main.

frankfurter /ˈfraNGkfərdər/

I. noun

a seasoned smoked sausage typically made of beef and pork.

– origin from German Frankfurter Wurst ‘Frankfurt sausage.’

Frankfurter, Felix /ˈfraNGkˌfərtər/

(1882–1965), US Supreme Court associate justice 1939–62; born in Austria. He was a founder of the American Civil Liberties Union in 1920 and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963.

Frankfurt School

a school of philosophy of the 1920s whose adherents were involved in a reappraisal of Marxism, particularly in terms of the cultural and aesthetic dimension of modern industrial society. Principal figures include Theodor Adorno, Max Horkheimer, and Herbert Marcuse.

frankincense /ˈfraNGkənˌsens/

I. noun

an aromatic gum resin obtained from an African tree and burned as incense.
Also called olibanum, gum olibanum. [This resin is obtained from the tree Boswellia sacra, family Burseraceae, native to Somalia.]

– origin late Middle English: from Old French franc encens, literally ‘high-quality incense,’ from franc (see frank^1) in an obsolete sense ‘superior, of high quality’ (which also existed in English) + encens ‘incense.’

franking /ˈfraNGkiNG/

noun

1. the action of franking a letter or parcel
[as modifier]

• a franking machine.

2. an official mark or signature on a letter or parcel to indicate that postage has been paid or does not need to be paid.

Frankish /ˈfraNGkiSH/

I. noun

the West Germanic language of the ancient Franks.

II. adjective

relating to the ancient Franks or their language.

franklin /ˈfraNGklən/

I. noun

a landowner of free but not noble birth in the 14th and 15th centuries in England.

– origin Middle English: from Anglo-Latin francalanus, from francalis ‘held without dues,’ from francus ‘free’ (see frank^1).

Franklin, Aretha /ˈfraNGklin/

(1942–), US soul and gospel singer. She became a hit with the album I Never Loved a Man (the Way I Love You) (1967) and went on to record more than 30 albums, including the live gospel set Amazing Grace (1972) and A Rose Is Still a Rose (1998).

Franklin, Benjamin

(1706–90), American statesman, inventor, and scientist. He was the only individual to sign all three principal documents of the new nation: the Declaration of Independence, the treaty with Great Britain that ended the American Revolution, and the US Constitution. His main scientific achievements were the formulation of a theory of electricity, which introduced positive and negative electricity, and a demonstration of the electrical nature of lightning, which led to the invention of the lightning conductor.

Franklin stove

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a cast-iron stove for heating a room, resembling an open fireplace in shape.

– origin late 18th cent.: named after Benjamin Franklin.

frankly /ˈfraNGklē/

I. adverb

1. in an open, honest, and direct manner

• she talks very frankly about herself.

2. [sentence adverb] — used to emphasize the truth of a statement, however unpalatable or shocking this may be

• frankly, I was pleased to leave.

usage: See usage at hopefully.

frankness /ˈfraNGknəs/

noun

the quality of being open, honest, and direct in speech or writing

• Lisa spoke with disarming frankness about the accident.

frantic /ˈfran(t)ik/

I. adjective

1. wild or distraught with fear, anxiety, or other emotion

• she was frantic with worry.

2. conducted in a hurried, excited, and chaotic way, typically because of the need to act quickly

• frantic attempts to resuscitate the girl.

II. derivatives

franticness /ˈfran(t)iknəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English frentik ‘insane, violently mad,’ from Old French frenetique (see frenetic).

frantically /ˈfran(t)iklē/

adverb

1. in a distraught way owing to fear, anxiety, or other emotion

• women wept as they frantically searched for missing children.

2. in a hurried, excited, or disorganized manner

• the two ladies competing for his attention waved frantically at him

• officials frantically typed on laptops.

Franz Josef /ˌfränz ˈjōzəf, ˌfränts ˈyōzəf/

(1830–1916), emperor of Austria 1848–1916 and king of Hungary 1867–1916. He gave Hungary equal status with Austria in 1867. His annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908 contributed to European political tensions, and the assassination in Sarajevo of his heir apparent, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, precipitated World War I.

Franz Josef Land /land, länt/

a group of islands in the Arctic Ocean, discovered in 1873 by an Austrian expedition and annexed by the former Soviet Union in 1928.

frap /frap/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. [Nautical] bind (something) tightly.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘strike, beat,’ now only dialect): from Old French fraper ‘to bind, strike,’ of unknown origin. The current sense dates from the mid 16th cent.

frappé^1 /fraˈpā/

I. adjective — [postpositive]

1. (of a drink) iced or chilled

• a crème de menthe frappé.

II. noun

1. a drink served with ice or frozen to a slushy consistency.

2. (usu. frappe ) — (chiefly in New England) a milk shake, especially one made with ice cream.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, literally ‘iced.’

frappé^2 /fraˈpā/

I. adjective — [postpositive]

1. [Ballet] (of a position) involving a beating action of the toe of one foot against the ankle of the supporting leg

• a battement frappé.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, literally ‘struck.’

Frascati /frasˈkädē/

noun

a wine, typically white, produced in the region of Frascati, Italy.

Fraser /ˈfrāzər, ˈfrāZHər/

a river in British Columbia, Canada. It rises in the Rocky Mountains and flows in a wide curve for 850 miles (1,360 km) into the Strait of Georgia, just south of Vancouver.

Fraser fir

noun

a North American fir tree, occurring primarily in the mountains of Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina.
[Abies fraseri, family Pinaceae.]

frass /fras/

I. noun

1. fine powdery refuse or fragile perforated wood produced by the activity of boring insects.

2. the excrement of insect larvae.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from German Frass, from fressen ‘devour.’

frat /frat/

I. noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a college fraternity

• a frat party.

– origin late 19th cent.: abbreviation.

frat boy

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a young man who behaves in a boisterous or foolish manner considered typical of members of some college fraternities.

frater /ˈfrādər/

I. noun

‹historical› the dining room or refectory of a monastery.

– origin Middle English: from Old French fraitur, shortening of refreitor, from late Latin refectorium ‘refectory.’

fraternal /frəˈtərnl/

I. adjective

1. of or like a brother or brothers

• his lack of fraternal feeling shocked me.

2. of or denoting an organization or order for people, especially men, that have common interests or beliefs.

3. (of twins) developed from separate ova and therefore genetically distinct and not necessarily of the same sex or more similar than other siblings.
Compare with identical (sense 1)).

II. derivatives

1. fraternalism /-ˌizəm /

noun

2. fraternally /frəˈtərn(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin fraternalis, from Latin fraternus, from frater ‘brother.’

fraternal twin

noun

either of a pair of twins who, as a result of developing from separate fertilized ova, are genetically distinct and not necessarily of the same sex or more similar in appearance than other siblings

• Candy and Jeff are fraternal twins.

fraternity /frəˈtərnədē/

I. noun

1. [treated as sing. or pl.] — a group of people sharing a common profession or interests

• members of the hunting fraternity.

2. (N. Amer.) a male students' society in a university or college.

3. a religious or Masonic society or guild.

4. the state or feeling of friendship and mutual support within a group

• the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity.

– origin Middle English: from Old French fraternite, from Latin fraternitas, from fraternus (see fraternal).

fraternize /ˈfradərˌnīz/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. associate or form a friendship with someone, especially when one is not supposed to

• she ignored Elisabeth's warning glare against fraternizing with the enemy.

II. derivatives

1. fraternization /ˌfradərnəˈzāSH(ə)n ˈfradərnīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. fraternizer

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from French fraterniser, from medieval Latin fraternizare, from Latin fraternus ‘brotherly’ (see fraternal).

fratricidal /ˈfratrəˌsīd(ə)l/

adjective

relating to or denoting conflict within a single family or organization

• the fratricidal strife within the party.

fratricide /ˈfratrəˌsīd/

I. noun

1. the killing of one's brother or sister.

2. a person who kills their brother or sister.

3. the accidental killing of one's own forces in war.

– origin late 15th cent. (denoting a person who kills their brother or sister, derived from Latin fratricida): the primary current sense comes via French from late Latin fratricidium, from frater ‘brother’ + -cidium (see -cide).

fratty /ˈfradē/

I. adjective

(US) ‹informal› characteristic of a college fraternity or its members (often with reference to rowdy behavior)

• three fratty college boys

• fratty bars.

– origin late 19th cent.: from frat + -y^1.

Frau /frou/

I. noun

a title or form of address for a married or widowed German-speaking woman

• Frau Nordern.

– origin early 19th cent.: German, literally ‘wife.’

fraud /frôd/

I. noun

1. wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain

• he was convicted of fraud

• prosecutions for social security frauds.

2. a person or thing intended to deceive others, typically by unjustifiably claiming or being credited with accomplishments or qualities

• mediums exposed as tricksters and frauds.

II. derivatives

fraudster /ˈfrôdstər /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Old French fraude, from Latin fraus, fraud- ‘deceit, injury.’

fraudulent /ˈfrôjələnt/

I. adjective

1. obtained, done by, or involving deception, especially criminal deception

• the fraudulent copying of American software.

2. unjustifiably claiming or being credited with particular accomplishments or qualities

• he unmasked fraudulent psychics.

II. derivatives

fraudulence /ˈfrôjələns /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin fraudulentus, from fraus, fraud- ‘deceit, injury.’

fraudulently /ˈfrôjələntlē/

adverb

in a way that involves deception, especially criminal deception

• she bought goods with a fraudulently obtained credit card

• he fraudulently claimed $13,000 in housing benefits.

fraught /frôt/

I. adjective

1. [predic.] (fraught with) — (of a situation or course of action) filled with or destined to result in (something undesirable)

• marketing any new product is fraught with danger.

2. causing or affected by great anxiety or stress

• there was a fraught silence

• she sounded a bit fraught.

– origin late Middle English, ‘laden, provided, equipped,’ past participle of obsolete fraught ‘load with cargo,’ from Middle Dutch vrachten, from vracht ‘ship's cargo.’ Compare with freight.

Fräulein /ˈfroilīn/

I. noun

a title or form of address for an unmarried German-speaking woman, especially a young woman

• Fräulein Winkelmann.

– origin German, diminutive of Frau.

Fraunhofer, Joseph von /ˈfrounˌhōfər/

(1787–1826), German optician; a pioneer in spectroscopy. He observed and mapped the dark lines in the solar spectrum (Fraunhofer lines) that result from the absorption of particular frequencies of light by elements present in the outer layers of the sun.

fraxinella /ˌfraksəˈnelə/

I. noun

another term for gas plant.

– origin mid 17th cent.: modern Latin (former specific epithet), diminutive of Latin fraxinus ‘ash tree’ (because of its leaves, thought to resemble those of the ash).

fray^1 /frā/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a fabric, rope, or cord) unravel or become worn at the edge, typically through constant rubbing

• cheap fabric soon frays

• (as adj. frayed) the frayed collar of her old coat.

2. (of a person's nerves or temper) show the effects of strain.

3. [with obj.] — (of a male deer) rub (a bush or small tree) with the head in order to remove the velvet from newly formed antlers, or to mark territory during the rut.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French freiier, from Latin fricare ‘to rub.’

fray^2 /frā/

I. noun — (the fray)

1. a situation of intense activity, typically one incorporating an element of aggression or competition

• nineteen companies intend to bid for the contract, with three more expected to enter the fray.

2. a battle or fight.

– origin late Middle English: from archaic fray ‘to quarrel,’ from affray ‘startle,’ from Anglo-Norman French afrayer (see affray).

frayed /frād/

adjective

1. (of a fabric, rope, or cord) unraveled or worn at the edge

• the frayed collar of her old coat.

2. (of a person's nerves or temper) showing the effects of strain

• an effort to soothe frayed nerves.

Frazier, Joe /ˈfrāZHər/

(1944–2011), US heavyweight boxing champion; full name Joseph Frazier. He first won the world title in 1968, lost it to George Foreman in 1973, and subsequently lost to Muhammad Ali twice before retiring in 1976.

frazil /ˈfrazəl, frəˈzil / frazil ice

I. noun

(N. Amer.) soft or amorphous ice formed by the accumulation of ice crystals in water that is too turbulent to freeze solid.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Canadian French frasil ‘snow floating in the water,’ from French fraisil ‘cinders.’

frazzle /ˈfrazəl / ‹informal›

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. frazzled)

1. cause to feel completely exhausted; wear out

• a frazzled parent.

2. fray

• change the skirt if it gets frazzled

• ‹figurative› it's enough to frazzle the nerves.

II. noun — (a frazzle)

1. the state of being completely exhausted or worn out

• I'm tired, worn to a frazzle.

– origin early 19th cent. (originally dialect): perhaps a blend of fray^1 and obsolete fazle ‘ravel out,’ of Germanic origin.

FRB

abbreviation

1. Federal Reserve Bank.

2. Federal Reserve Board.

FRCP

abbreviation

Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians.

FRCS

abbreviation

Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons.

freak /frēk/

I. noun

1. a very unusual and unexpected event or situation

• the teacher says the accident was a total freak

• [as modifier] a freak storm.

2. (also freak of nature) — a person, animal, or plant with an unusual physical abnormality.

3. ‹informal› a person regarded as strange because of their unusual appearance or behavior.

4. [with modifier] — ‹informal› a person who is obsessed with or unusually enthusiastic about a specified interest

• a fitness freak.

5. [usu. with modifier] — ‹informal› a person addicted to a drug of a particular kind

• the twins were cocaine freaks.

6. ‹archaic› a sudden arbitrary change of mind; a whim

• follow this way or that, as the freak takes you.

II. verb

1. ‹informal› behave or cause to behave in a wild and irrational way, typically because of the effects of extreme emotion, mental illness, or drugs
[no obj.]

• I could have freaked out and started smashing the place up

• [with obj.] he freaks guest stars out on show day.

2. [with obj.] — ‹archaic› fleck or streak randomly

• the white pink and the pansy freaked with jet.

freaking /ˈfrēkiNG/

I. adjective, adverb

(US) ‹informal› used for emphasis or to express anger, annoyance, contempt, or surprise

• I'm going out of my freaking mind!

• this film is so freaking good.

– origin euphemism for fucking.

freakish /ˈfrēkiSH/

I. adjective

1. bizarre or grotesque; abnormal

• freakish and mischievous elves.

2. capricious or whimsical; unpredictable

• freakish weather.

II. derivatives

1. freakishly

adverb

2. freakishness

noun

freak-out /ˈfrēkout/

noun

‹informal› a wildly irrational reaction or spell of behavior.

freak show /ˈfrēk ˌSHō/

noun

1. a sideshow at a fair, featuring abnormally developed people or animals.

2. an unusual or grotesque event viewed for pleasure, especially when in bad taste.

freaky /ˈfrēkē/

I. adjective

‹informal› very odd, strange, or eccentric.

II. derivatives

1. freakily /-kəlē /

adverb

2. freakiness

noun

freckle /ˈfrek(ə)l/

I. noun

a small patch of light brown color on the skin, often becoming more pronounced through exposure to the sun.

II. verb

cover or become covered with freckles
[no obj.]

• skin that freckles easily

• (as adj. freckled) a freckled face.

III. derivatives

freckly /ˈfrekl-ē, ˈfreklē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: alteration of dialect frecken, from Old Norse freknur (plural).

freckle-faced /ˈfrekəlˌfāst/

adjective

having freckles on the face (often used to suggest innocence or wholesomeness)

• a freckle-faced schoolboy who never lost the merriment of his youth.

Freddie Mac /ˌfredē ˈmak/

I. informal name for the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, a corporation that trades in mortgages.

– origin 1970s: loosely from the initial letters of Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, on the model of Fannie Mae.

Frederick /ˈfred(ə)ˌrik/

a city in northern Maryland; pop. 59,213 (est. 2008).

Frederick I /ˌfred(ə)rik T͟Həˈfərst/

(c. 1123–90), king of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor 1152–90; known as Frederick Barbarossa (“Redbeard”). He made a sustained effort to subdue Italy and the papacy, but was eventually defeated at the battle of Legnano in 1176.

Frederick II

(1712–86), king of Prussia 1740–86; known as Frederick the Great. His campaigns in the War of the Austrian Succession 1740–48 and the Seven Years War 1756–63 succeeded in considerably strengthening Prussia's position; by the end of his reign he had doubled the area of his country.

Fredericksburg /ˈfred(ə)riksˌbərɡ/

a historic commercial city in northeastern Virginia, on the Rappahannock River; pop. 22,818 (est. 2008).

Frederick William

(1620–88), elector of Brandenburg 1640–88; known as the Great Elector. His program of reconstruction and reorganization following the Thirty Years War brought stability to his country and laid the foundation for the expansion of Prussian power in the 18th century.

Fredericton /ˈfredriktən/

I. the capital of New Brunswick, Canada; pop. 50,535 (2006). The city was founded in 1785 by colonists who left the US after the American Revolution out of loyalty to the British crown.

– origin named after Frederick Augustus (1763–1827), second son of the British king George III.

free /frē/

I. adjective

1. not under the control or in the power of another; able to act or be done as one wishes

• I have no ambitions other than to have a happy life and be free

• a free choice.

2. (of a state or its citizens or institutions) subject neither to foreign domination nor to despotic government

• a free press.

3. [often as complement] — not or no longer confined or imprisoned

• the researchers set the birds free.

4. ‹historical› not a slave.

5. [with infinitive] — able or permitted to take a specified action

• you are free to leave.

6. [in names] — denoting an ethnic or political group actively opposing an occupying or invading force, in particular the groups that continued resisting the Germans in World War II after the fall of their countries.
See also Free French.

7. [often as complement] — not physically restrained, obstructed, or fixed; unimpeded

• she lifted the cat free.

8. [Physics] (of power or energy) disengaged or available.
See also free energy.

9. [Physics] [Chemistry] not bound in an atom, a molecule, or a compound

• the atmosphere of that time contained virtually no free oxygen.

See also free radical.

10. [Linguistics] (of a morpheme) able to occur in isolation.

11. not subject to or constrained by engagements or obligations

• she spent her free time shopping.

12. (of a facility or piece of equipment) not occupied or in use

• the bathroom was free.

13. [predic.] (free of/from) — not subject to or affected by (a specified thing, typically an undesirable one)

• membership is free of charge.

14. given or available without charge

• free health care.

15. using or expending something without restraint; lavish

• she was always free with her money.

16. frank or unrestrained in speech, expression, or action

• he was free in his talk of revolution.

17. ‹archaic› overfamiliar or forward in manner.

18. (of a literary style) not observing the strict laws of form.

19. (of a translation) conveying only the broad sense; not literal.

20. [Sailing] (of the wind) blowing from a favorable direction to the side or stern of a vessel.

II. adverb

1. without cost or payment

• ladies were admitted free.

2. [Sailing] with the sheets eased.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. release from captivity, confinement, or slavery

• they were freed from jail.

2. release from physical obstruction, restraint, or entanglement

• I had to tug hard and at last freed him.

3. remove something undesirable or restrictive from

• his inheritance freed him from financial constraints

• free your mind and body of excess tension.

4. make available for a particular purpose

• this will free up funds for development elsewhere.

IV. phrases

1. for free

‹informal› without cost or payment

• these professionals were giving their time for free.

2. free and easy

/ˈfrē ən ˈēzē / — informal and relaxed.

3. free, gratis, and for nothing

‹humorous› without charge.

4. a free hand

freedom to act at one's own discretion.

5. free on board

(abbr.: f.o.b.) — including or assuming delivery without charge to the buyer's named destination.

6. (a) free rein

see rein.

7. a free ride

a situation in which someone benefits without having to make a fair contribution

• people have been having a free ride, paying so little rent that there is no money for maintenance.

8. the free world

the noncommunist countries of the world, as formerly opposed to the Soviet bloc.

9. it's a free country

said when asserting that a course of action is not illegal or forbidden, often in justification of it.

10. make free with

treat without ceremony or proper respect

• he'll have something to say about your making free with his belongings.

V. derivatives

freeness

noun

– origin Old English frēo (adjective), frēon (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vrij and German frei, from an Indo-European root meaning ‘to love,’ shared by friend. / usage: Free means ‘without charge,’ and a gift is ‘something given without charge.’ The expression “free gift” is therefore a needless repetition.

-free /ˌfredəriksˈbərɡ/

I. combining form

free of or from

• smoke-free

• tax-free.

– origin from free.

free agent /frē ˈājənt/

noun

1. a person who does not have any commitments that restrict their actions.

2. a sports player who is not bound by a contract and so is eligible to join any team.

free alongside ship FAS

adverb

without charge for delivery to the boarding area next to a ship, but with the understanding that the buyer is responsible for the item once it is so delivered.

free association /frē əˌsōsēˈāSHən əˌsōSHēˈāSHən/

I. noun

1. [Psychology] the mental process by which one word or image may spontaneously suggest another without any apparent connection.

2. a psychoanalytic technique for investigation of the unconscious mind, in which a relaxed subject reports all passing thoughts without reservation.

3. the forming of a group, political alliance, or other organization without any constraint or external restriction

• it would violate their First Amendment rights of free association and free expression.

II. derivatives

free-associate

verb

free association (sense 1)

freebase /ˈfrēˌbās / freebase cocaine

I. noun

cocaine that has been converted from its salt to its base form by heating with ether or boiling with sodium bicarbonate, taken by inhaling the fumes or smoking the residue.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. prepare or take (freebase cocaine).

freebie /ˈfrēbē / freebee

I. noun

‹informal› a thing given free of charge.

– origin 1940s: an arbitrary formation from free.

freeboard /ˈfrēbôrd/

noun

the height of a ship's side between the waterline and the deck.

freebooter /ˈfrēˌbo͞odər/

I. noun

a pirate or lawless adventurer.

II. derivatives

freeboot

verb

– origin late 16th cent.: from Dutch vrijbuiter, from vrij ‘free’ + buit ‘booty,’ + the noun suffix -er. Compare with filibuster.

freeborn /ˈfrēbôrn/

adjective

not born in slavery.

Free Church /ˌfrē ˈCHərCH/

noun

a Christian Church that has dissented or seceded from an established Church.

free climbing /ˈfrē ˌklīmiNG/

I. noun

rock climbing without the assistance of devices such as pegs placed in the rock, but occasionally using ropes and belays.
Compare with aid climbing.

II. derivatives

free climb

noun, verb

freedman /ˈfrēdmən ˈfrēdman/

noun

‹historical› an emancipated slave.

freedom /ˈfrēdəm/

I. noun

1. the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint

• we do have some freedom of choice

• he talks of revoking some of the freedoms.

2. absence of subjection to foreign domination or despotic government

• he was a champion of Irish freedom.

3. the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved

• the shark thrashed its way to freedom.

4. the state of being physically unrestricted and able to move easily

• the shorts have a side split for freedom of movement.

5. (freedom from) — the state of not being subject to or affected by (a particular undesirable thing)

• government policies to achieve freedom from want.

6. the power of self-determination attributed to the will; the quality of being independent of fate or necessity.

7. unrestricted use of something

• the dog is happy having the freedom of the house when we are out.

8. ‹archaic› familiarity or openness in speech or behavior.

– origin Old English frēodōm (see free, -dom).

freedom fighter /ˈfrēdəm ˌfīdər/

noun

a person who takes part in a violent struggle to achieve a political goal, especially in order to overthrow their government.

freedom march

noun

a march organized as a demonstration of protest against a political entity for its oppressive policies, which are often directed at a specific group such as a minority.

freedom of conscience

noun

the right to follow one's own beliefs in matters of religion and morality.

freedom of religion

noun

the right to practice whatever religion one chooses.

freedom of speech free speech

noun

the right to express any opinions without censorship or restraint.

freedom of the seas

noun

the right of merchant ships to move freely on the seas in peace or war without interference except in territorial zones.

freedom rider

noun

(US) a person who challenged racial laws in the American South in the 1960s, originally by refusing to abide by the laws designating that seating in buses be segregated by race.

Freedom Trail

a walking tour in Boston, Massachusetts, that takes visitors past historic sites relating to the American Revolution.

free energy

noun

[Physics] a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a system to do work.

free enterprise /ˌfrē ˈen(t)ərˌprīz/

noun

an economic system in which private business operates in competition and largely free of state control.

free fall /ˈfrē ˌfôl/

I. noun

1. downward movement under the force of gravity only

• the path of a body in free fall.

2. the part of a parachute-descent before the parachute opens.

3. the movement of a spacecraft in space without thrust from the engines.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. move under the force of gravity only; fall rapidly.

free fire zone

noun

1. a military combat zone in which there are no restrictions on the use of fire power.

2. an area of activity apparently without rules.

free flight /ˈfrē ˌflīt/

noun

the flight of a spacecraft, rocket, or missile when the engine is not producing thrust.

free-floating /frē ˈflōdiNG/

I. adjective

1. not attached to anything and able to move freely

• free-floating aquatic plants.

2. not assigned to a fixed or particular position, category, or level

• free-floating exchange rates.

3. (of a person) not committed to a particular cause or political party.

4. [Psychiatry] (of anxiety) chronic and generalized, without an obvious cause.

II. derivatives

1. free-float

verb

2. free-floater

noun

free-flowing

adjective

1. moving in a continuous, steady stream

• free-flowing traffic.

2. (of movement or play in sports) smooth and fluent

• the free-flowing movements of modern dance.

3. (of drink) available in abundant quantities

• free-flowing champagne.

free-for-all /ˈˌfrē fə ˈˌrôl/

noun

a disorganized or unrestricted situation or event in which everyone may take part, especially a fight, discussion, or trading market.

free-form /ˈfrē ˌfô(ə)rm/

adjective

not conforming to a regular or formal structure or shape

• a free-form jazz improvisation.

Free French

plural noun

an organization of French troops and volunteers in exile formed under General de Gaulle in 1940. Based in London, the movement organized forces that opposed the Axis powers in French Equatorial Africa, Lebanon, and elsewhere, and cooperated with the French Resistance.

freegan /ˈfrēɡən/

I. noun

a person who rejects consumerism and seeks to help the environment by reducing waste, especially by retrieving and using discarded food and other goods.

• there is a need for more freegans in our wasteful society.

– origin early 21st cent.: blend of free and vegan.

free gift

noun

a small item given without charge as an inducement to purchase or subscribe to something

• some banks offer free gifts to students

• receive a free gift when you order a trial shipment.

free good

noun

[Economics] a resource, such as sunlight or air, which is so abundant that its availability is not a constraint on economic activity

• water can no longer be considered as a free good.

freehand /ˈfrēˌhand/

adjective, adverb

(especially with reference to drawing) done manually without the aid of instruments such as rulers
[as adj.]

• a freehand sketch

• [as adv.] the pictures should be drawn freehand.

free-handed /ˌfrēˈhandəd/

I. adjective

generous, especially with money.

II. derivatives

1. free-handedly /ˌfrēˌhandədlē /

adverb

2. free-handedness /ˌfrēˈhandədnəs /

noun

free hit

noun

(in field hockey) a penalty hit awarded for a foul committed outside the goal area

• a quickly taken free hit by the home team was excellently converted.

freehold /ˈfrēˌhōld/

I. noun

1. permanent and absolute tenure of land or property with freedom to dispose of it at will.
Often contrasted with leasehold.

2. (the freehold) — the ownership of a piece of land or property by permanent tenure.

3. a piece of land or property held by permanent tenure.

II. adjective

held by or having the status of freehold.

III. derivatives

freeholder /ˈfrēˌhōldər /

noun

free jazz

noun

an improvised style of jazz characterized by the absence of set chord patterns or time patterns.

freekeh /ˈfrēkə/

I. noun

a cereal food made from unripened wheat that has been roasted and typically crushed into small pieces, used especially in Middle Eastern cookery

• cook the freekeh in simmering salted water for about 15 minutes, then drain.

– origin Arabic farīka, from farīk ‘rubbed,’ from faraka ‘to rub’ (the grain is rubbed between the hands, so that the husks can be blown away).

free kick /ˈˌfrē ˈkik/

noun

(in soccer and rugby) an unimpeded kick of the stationary ball awarded to one side as a penalty for a foul or infringement by the other side.

freelance /ˈfrēˌlans/

I. adjective

1. working for different companies at different times rather than being permanently employed by one company

• a freelance journalist.

2. independent or uncommitted in politics or personal life.

II. adverb

earning one's living as a freelance

• I work freelance from home.

III. noun

1. a freelance worker.

2. (often free lance) — ‹historical› a medieval mercenary.

IV. verb — [no obj.]

1. earn one's living as a freelance.

– origin early 19th cent. (denoting a mercenary): originally as two words.

freelancer /ˈfrēˌlansər/

noun

a person who works freelance.

free-living /ˌfrēˈliviNG/

adjective

1. freely indulging in pleasures, especially that of eating; having an unrestricted or independent lifestyle.

2. [Biology] living freely and independently, not as a parasite or attached to a substrate.

freeloader /ˈfrēˌlōdər/

I. noun

‹informal› a person who takes advantage of others' generosity without giving anything in return.

II. derivatives

freeload /ˈfrēˌlōd /

verb

free love /frē ləv/

noun

the idea or practice of having sexual relations according to choice, without being restricted by marriage or other long-term relationships.

freely /ˈfrēlē/

adverb

1. not under the control of another; as one wishes

• I roamed freely.

2. without restriction or interference

• air can freely circulate.

3. in copious or generous amounts

• she drank freely to keep up her courage.

4. openly and honestly

• you may speak freely.

5. willingly and readily; without compulsion

• I freely confess to this failing.

freeman /ˈfrēmən ˈfrēˌman/

noun

1. a person who is entitled to full political and civil rights.

2. ‹historical› a person who is not a slave or serf.

Freeman, Morgan /ˈfrēmən/

(1937–), US actor. Notable movies: Street Smart (1987), Driving Miss Daisy (1989), The Shawshank Redemption (1994), and Million Dollar Baby (2004).

free market /ˈˌfrē ˈmärkət/

I. noun

an economic system in which prices are determined by unrestricted competition between privately owned businesses.

II. derivatives

free marketeer free-marketeer

noun

freemartin /ˈfrēˌmärtn/

I. noun

a hermaphrodite or imperfect sterile female calf that is the twin of a male calf whose hormones affected its development.

– origin late 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

Freemason /ˈfrēˌmās(ə)n/

noun

a member of an international order established for mutual help and fellowship, which holds elaborate secret ceremonies.
The original freemasons were itinerant skilled stonemasons of the 14th century, who are said to have recognized fellow craftsmen by secret signs. Modern Freemasonry is usually traced to the formation of the Grand Lodge in London in 1717; members are typically professionals and businessmen.

Freemasonry /ˈfrēˌmāsnrē/

noun

1. the system and institutions of the Freemasons.

2. (freemasonry) — instinctive sympathy or fellow feeling between people with something in common

• the unshakable freemasonry of actors in a crisis.

free pass

noun

an authorization of free admission or travel.

Freeport /ˈfrēpôrt/

I. a port city in the northern Bahamas, on Grand Bahama Island; pop. 44,300 (est. 2009).

II. a commercial and industrial city in northwestern Illinois; pop. 24,615 (est. 2008).

III. a commercial village in the town of Hempstead on Long Island in New York; pop. 43,881 (est. 2008).

free port /ˈfrē ˌpôrt/

noun

1. a port open to all traders.

2. a port area where goods in transit are exempt from customs duty.

free radical

noun

[Chemistry] an uncharged molecule (typically highly reactive and short-lived) having an unpaired valence electron.

free-range /ˈˌfrē ˈˌrānj/

adjective

1. (of livestock, especially poultry) kept in natural conditions, with freedom of movement.

2. (of eggs) produced by birds reared under natural conditions.

free running

noun

a version of parkour that includes acrobatic moves that are purely aesthetic.

free safety

noun

[Football] a defensive back who is usually free from an assignment to cover a particular player on the offensive team.

free school

noun

1. (in England) a school set up by an organization or a group of individuals, funded by the government but not controlled by the local authority.

2. ‹historical› a school for which no fees were charged, typically run at public expense.

freesia /ˈfrēZHə/

I. noun

a small southern African plant of the iris family, with fragrant, colorful, tubular flowers, many varieties of which are cultivated for use by florists.
[Genus Freesia, family Iridaceae.]

– origin modern Latin, named after Friedrich H. T. Freese (died 1876), German physician.

free silver

adjective

denoting a US political movement for the free coinage of silver, especially that of the last quarter of the nineteenth century.

free skating

I. noun

the sport of performing variable skating figures and jumps to music.

II. derivatives

free skate

noun

free speech

noun

another term for freedom of speech.

free-spending

adjective

(of a person or their behavior) spending money in an extravagant way

• cruise ships brimming with free-spending tourists.

free spirit /frē ˈspirit/

noun

an independent or uninhibited person

• they raised their children to be free spirits.

free-spirited /ˌfrēˈspirədəd/

adjective

independent and not constrained by convention

• a free-spirited girl who stands up for herself

• Berlin beckons with its free-spirited lifestyle.

free-spoken /ˌfrēˈspōkən/

adjective

‹archaic› speaking candidly and openly.

freestanding /ˌfrēˈstandiNG/

adjective

1. not supported by another structure.

2. not relying on or linked to anything else; independent

• if extracts rather than complete texts are used, they should be freestanding and coherent.

Free State /frē stāt/

noun

1. ‹historical› (before the Civil War) a state of the US in which slavery was illegal.

2. (the Free State) — a nickname for the state of Maryland.

3. a province in central South Africa, situated to the north of the Orange River; capital, Bloemfontein.
Formerly called (until 1995) Orange Free State.

freestone /ˈfrēstōn/

noun

1. rock that can be cut easily in any direction, in particular a fine-grained sandstone or limestone of uniform texture.
[from Old French franche pere ‘excellent rock.’]

2. a stone fruit in which the pit is easily separated from the flesh when the fruit is ripe
[as modifier]

• freestone peaches.

Contrasted with clingstone.

freestyle /ˈfrēˌstīl/

I. adjective

denoting a contest or version of a sport in which there are few restrictions on the moves or techniques that competitors employ

• freestyle wrestling.

II. noun

a contest in which there are few restrictions, in particular a swimming race in which competitors may use any stroke.

III. derivatives

freestyler

noun

free-swimming /ˌfrēˈswimiNG/

adjective

[Zoology] (of an aquatic animal) not attached to an object or substrate and able to swim freely.

free-tailed bat freetail bat

noun

a streamlined fast-flying insectivorous bat with a projecting tail, found in tropical and subtropical countries.
[Family Molossidae: several genera and numerous species, including the mastiff bats and hairless bats.]

freethinker /ˌfrēˈTHiNGkər/

I. noun

a person who rejects accepted opinions, especially those concerning religious belief.

II. derivatives

freethinking /ˌfrēˈTHiNGkiNG /

noun, adjective

free throw /ˈfrē ˌTHrō/

noun

[Basketball] an unimpeded attempt at a basket (worth one point) awarded to a player following a foul or other infringement.

free-throw line free throw line

noun

[Basketball] another term for foul line.

free-to-air //

adjective

denoting or relating to television programs broadcast on standard public or commercial networks, as opposed to subscription satellite or cable.

Freetown /ˈfrētoun/

the capital and chief port of Sierra Leone; pop. 827,000 (est. 2007).

free trade /ˈˌfrē ˈtrād/

noun

international trade left to its natural course without tariffs, quotas, or other restrictions.

free university

noun

a nontraditional educational program of courses often taught by nonprofessionals as an alternative to traditional academic programs, usually offered without prerequisites at low cost or at no cost.

free verse /frē vərs/

noun

poetry that does not rhyme or have a regular meter.
Also called vers libre.

freeware /ˈfrēˌwer/

noun

software that is available free of charge.

freeway /ˈfrēˌwā/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) an express highway, especially one with controlled access.

2. (N. Amer.) a toll-free highway.

free weight

noun

a weight used in weightlifting that is not attached to an apparatus.

freewheel /ˈfrē(h)wēl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ride a bicycle with the pedals at rest, especially downhill

• he had come freewheeling down the road.

2. allow a motor vehicle to travel without the engine running or in neutral gear

• she was convinced that she saved a lot of money by turning the engine off and freewheeling down the hill.

3. act or proceed in a relaxed or casual way, without making much effort

• I'm not the sort of person who would freewheel his way to the end of a contract

• another manager might have been willing to freewheel through one final season.

II. noun

1. a device that allows a bicycle wheel to revolve forward while the crank is stationary.

2. a device in a motor vehicle transmission allowing the drive shaft to spin faster than the engine.

freewheeling /ˈfrēˌ(h)wēliNG/

adjective

characterized by a disregard for rules or conventions; unconstrained or uninhibited

• he exemplifies the freewheeling spirit of a certain sector of the digital economy

• the freewheeling drug scene of the sixties.

free will /ˌfrē ˈwil/

I. noun

the power of acting without the constraint of necessity or fate; the ability to act at one's own discretion.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (especially of a donation) given readily; voluntary

• free-will offerings.

freeze /frēz/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — (of a liquid) be turned into ice or another solid as a result of extreme cold

• in the winter the milk froze.

2. [with obj.] — turn (a liquid) into ice or another solid.

3. (of something wet or containing liquid) become blocked, covered, or rigid with ice

• the pipes had frozen.

4. [with obj.] — cause (something wet or containing liquid) to become blocked, covered, or rigid with ice
[with complement]

• the ground was frozen hard.

5. be or feel so cold that one is near death (often used hyperbolically)

• you'll freeze to death standing there.

6. [with obj.] — (of the weather) cause (someone) to feel so cold that they are near death.

7. (of the weather) be at or below freezing

• at night it froze again.

8. [with obj.] — deprive (a part of the body) of feeling, especially by the application of a chilled anesthetic substance.

9. [with obj.] — treat (someone) with a cold manner; stare coldly at (someone)

• she would freeze him with a look when he tried to talk to her.

10. [with obj.] — store (something) at a very low temperature in order to preserve it

• the cake can be frozen.

11. [no obj.] — (of food) be able to be preserved by freezing

• this soup freezes well.

12. [no obj.] — become suddenly motionless or paralyzed with fear or shock

• Mathewson froze on the spot, unable to take the next step.

13. stop moving when ordered or directed.

14. [with obj.] — hold (something) at a fixed level or in a fixed state for a period of time

• new spending on defense was to be frozen.

15. prevent (assets) from being used for a period of time

• the charity's bank account has been frozen.

16. stop (a moving image) at a particular frame when filming or viewing

• the camera will set fast shutter speeds to freeze the action.

17. [no obj.] — (of a computer screen) become temporarily locked because of system problems.

II. noun

1. an act of holding or being held at a fixed level or in a fixed state

• workers faced a pay freeze.

2. short for freeze-frame.

3. a period of frost or very cold weather

• the big freeze surprised the weathermen.

III. phrases

freeze one's blood

(or one's blood freezes) — fill (or be filled) with a sudden feeling of great fear or horror.

IV. phrasal verbs

freeze someone out

‹informal› behave in a hostile or obstructive way so as to exclude someone from something.

V. derivatives

freezable /-zəbəl /

adjective

– origin Old English frēosan (in the phrase hit frēoseth ‘it is freezing, it is so cold that water turns to ice’), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vriezen and German frieren, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin pruina ‘hoarfrost’ and frost.

freeze-dry /ˈfrēz ˌdrī/

verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. freeze-dried)

1. preserve (something) by rapidly freezing it and then subjecting it to a high vacuum that removes ice by sublimation

• freeze-dried beef stew.

freeze-frame /ˈfrēz ˌfrām/

I. noun

1. the facility of stopping a film or videotape in order to view a motionless image.

2. a single frame forming a motionless image from a film or videotape.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. use a freeze-frame facility on (an image or a recording).

freeze-out /ˈfrēzout/

noun

‹informal› an exclusion of a person or organization from something, by boycotting or ignoring them.

freezer /ˈfrēzər/

noun

1. a refrigerated compartment, cabinet, or room for preserving food at very low temperatures.

2. a device for making frozen desserts such as ice cream or sherbet.

freeze-up /ˈfrēzəp/

noun

1. a period of extreme cold.

2. (US) the freezing over of a body of water such as a lake or river

• until freeze-up, the caribou stay near the lake.

freezing /ˈfrēziNG/

I. adjective

1. below 32°F (0°C)

• strong winds and freezing temperatures.

2. (used hyperbolically) very cold

• he was freezing and miserable

• [as submodifier] it was freezing cold outside.

3. (of fog or rain) consisting of droplets that freeze rapidly on contact with a surface to form ice.

II. noun

the freezing point of water

• the temperature was well above freezing.

freezing point /ˈfrēziNG ˌpoint/

noun

the temperature at which a liquid turns into a solid when cooled.

Frege, Gottlob /ˈfrāɡə/

(1848–1925), German philosopher and mathematician; founder of modern logic.

Freiburg /ˈfrībərɡ, -ˌbo͝ork/

an industrial city in southwestern Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, on the edge of the Black Forest; pop. 220,600 (est. 2009). Full name Freiburg im Breisgau.

freight /frāt/

I. noun

1. goods transported by truck, train, ship, or aircraft.

2. the transport of goods by truck, train, ship, or aircraft.

3. a charge for transport by freight.

4. (in full freight train) — a train of freight cars

• sugar and molasses moving by freight.

5. a load or burden.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. transport (goods) in bulk by truck, train, ship, or aircraft

• the metals had been freighted from the city

• [no obj.] ships freighting to Dublin.

2. (be freighted with) — be laden or imbued with (something abstract)

• each word was freighted with anger.

III. derivatives

freighting /frātiNG /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘rental of a ship for transporting goods’): from Middle Dutch, Middle Low German vrecht, variant of vracht ‘ship's cargo.’ Compare with fraught.

freightage /ˈfrādij/

noun

1. the carrying of goods in bulk.

2. goods carried in bulk; freight.

freight car /ˈfrāt ˌkär/

noun

(N. Amer.) a railroad car for carrying freight.

freighter /ˈfrādər/

noun

1. a ship or aircraft designed to carry goods in bulk.

2. a person who loads, receives, or forwards goods for transport.

freight train

noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) a train for carrying goods rather than people

• a collision between a passenger train and a freight train.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) used in reference to a phenomenon regarded as powerful and unstoppable

• people do not see the freight train of fiscal chaos coming

• cybercrime is a runaway freight train.

Frelimo /freˈlēmō/

I. the nationalist liberation party of Mozambique, founded in 1962. After independence in 1975, Frelimo governed Mozambique as a one-party state until 1990, when a multiparty system was introduced.

– origin Portuguese, contraction of Frente de Libertação de Moçambique, the name of the party.

Fremantle /ˈfrēˌman(t)l/

a city in southwestern Australia, in the state of Western Australia, the port for Perth; pop. 27,453 (2008).

Fremont /ˈfrēmänt/

I. an industrial and commercial city in north central California, south of Oakland, off San Francisco Bay; pop. 202,867 (est. 2008).

II. a city in eastern Nebraska, on the north shore of the Platte River, northwest of Omaha; pop. 25,224 (est. 2008).

Frémont, John Charles /ˈfrēˌmänt/

(1813–90), US explorer and politician. He explored several viable routes to the Pacific Ocean across the Rocky Mountains in the 1840s. During the Mexican War 1846–48, he fought to win California. In 1856, he unsuccessfully opposed James Buchanan for the presidency.

French /fren(t)SH/

I. adjective

of or relating to France or its people or language.

II. noun

1. the Romance language of France, also used in parts of Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada, in several countries of northern and western Africa and the Caribbean, and elsewhere.

2. (Brit.) short for French vermouth.

3. (as plural noun the French) — the people of France collectively.

III. phrases

(if you'll) excuse (or pardon) my French

‹informal› used to apologize for swearing.

IV. derivatives

Frenchness

noun

French is the first or official language of over 200 million people and is widely used as a second language. It is a Romance language that developed from the Latin spoken in Gaul, the northern dialects becoming dominant after Paris became the capital in the 10th century. French became widely used owing to the cultural influence and colonial expansion of France from the 11th century, and it had a very great influence on English as the language of the Norman ruling class. / – origin Old English Frencisc, of Germanic origin, from the base of Frank.

French, Daniel Chester /frenCH/

(1850–1931), US sculptor. Among his works are the statue of the Minute Man, unveiled 1875 at Concord, Massachusetts, and the seated figure of Abraham Lincoln, completed 1922, in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC.

French and Indian War

I. North American war (1754–63) between France and Great Britain.

France's Canadian colonies and American Indian allies were pitted against Britain and its American colonies. The beginning of these hostilities became the prelude to and major cause of the Seven Years War and marked the onset of George Washington's rise to prominence. The conflict ended with the Treaty of Paris; Britain won nearly all of French North America.

French braid

I. noun

a hairstyle in which all the hair is gathered into one large braid down the back of the head, starting from the forehead.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. create a French braid.

French bread

noun

white bread in a long, crisp loaf.

French Canadian /ˈˌfrenCH ˈˌkəˈnādēən/

I. noun

1. a Canadian whose principal language is French.

2. the form of French spoken in Canada.

II. adjective

relating to French-speaking Canadians or their language.

French chalk /ˈˌfrenCH ˈCHôk/

noun

talc used for marking cloth and removing grease and, in powder form, as a dry lubricant.

French Congo

former name (until 1910) of French Equatorial Africa.

French cuff

noun

a shirt cuff that is folded back before fastening, creating a double-layered cuff.

French curve

noun

a template used for drawing curved lines.

French-cut

adjective

1. [Cooking] sliced obliquely

• French-cut green beans.

2. (of women's panties) cut so as to reveal much of the upper thigh.

French door

noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) a door with glass panes throughout its length.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) a French window.

French dressing /ˈˌfrenCH ˈdresiNG/

noun

1. a salad dressing of vinegar, oil, and seasonings.

2. (N. Amer.) a sweet, creamy salad dressing commercially prepared from oil, tomato puree, and spices.

French Equatorial Africa

a former federation of French territories in west central Africa 1910–58. Previously called French Congo, its constituent territories were Chad, Ubanghi Shari (now the Central African Republic), Gabon, and Middle Congo (now Congo).

French fries /ˈˌfrenCH ˈfrīz / French fried potatoes

plural noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) potatoes cut into strips and deep-fried.

French Guiana /ˌfren(t)SH ɡēˈänə ˌfren(t)SH ɡīˈanə/

an overseas department of France, in northern South America; pop. 202,000 (est. 2007); capital, Cayenne.

french heel

noun

a high, curved heel on a woman's shoe.

French horn /ˈˌfrenCH ˈhôrn/

noun

a brass instrument with a coiled tube, valves, and a wide bell, developed from the simple hunting horn in the 17th century. It is played with the right hand in the bell to soften the tone and increase the range of available harmonics.

Frenchify /ˈfren(t)SHəˌfī/

verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. Frenchified)

1. ‹often derogatory› make French in form, character, or manners

• she pronounced it without the Frenchified accent.

French kiss /ˈˌfrenCH ˈkis/

I. noun

a kiss with contact between tongues.

II. derivatives

French kissing

noun

French knot

noun

(in embroidery) a stitch in which the thread is wound around the needle, which is then passed back through the fabric at almost the same point to form a small dot.

French leave

I. noun

‹informal› ‹dated› an unauthorized or unannounced departure; absence without permission

• he seems to have taken French leave.

– origin mid 18th cent.: said to derive from the French custom of leaving a dinner or ball without saying goodbye to the host or hostess. The phrase was first recorded shortly after the Seven Years’ War (1756–63); the equivalent French expression is filer à l'Anglaise, literally ‘to escape in the style of the English.’

French letter /ˈˌfrenCH ˈledər/

noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› a condom.

Frenchman /ˈfren(t)SHmən/

noun

a person, especially a man, who is French by birth or descent.

French manicure

noun

a style of manicure in which the fingernails are painted pale pink with a white band at the tip.

French pastry

noun

a rich pastry, often with a filling of fruit or custard.

French polish /ˈˌfrenCH ˈpäliSH/

I. noun

shellac polish that produces a high gloss on wood.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. treat (wood) with French polish.

French Polynesia /ˌfren(t)SH päləˈnēZHə/

an overseas territory of France in the South Pacific; pop. 287,000 (est. 2009); capital, Papeete (on the island of Tahiti). French Polynesia includes the Society Islands, the Gambier Islands, the Tuamotu Archipelago, the Tubuai Islands, and the Marquesas. It was granted partial autonomy in 1977.

French poodle

noun

(chiefly US) a poodle

• they often meet fans of the orchestra while taking their two French poodles for walks in the park.

French press

noun

1. ( in the UK) — ‹trademark› a coffee pot containing a plunger made of fine mesh with which the grounds are pushed to the bottom when the coffee is ready to be poured

• the coffee here comes in a French press.

2. an exercise designed to strengthen the triceps muscle, performed by lying face up and lifting and lowering a barbell by straightening and bending the arms

• only one major muscle is involved in the French press.

French Republican calendar

noun

a reformed calendar officially introduced by the French Republican government on October 5, 1793.
The calendar was taken to have started on the equinox of September 22, 1792, the day of the proclamation of the Republic. It had twelve months of thirty days each, with five days of festivals at the year's end (six in leap years). The names of the months were Vendémiaire, Brumaire, Frimaire, Nivose, Pluviose, Ventose, Germinal, Floréal, Plairial, Messidor, Thermidor, and Fructidor. The new calendar was abandoned under the Napoleonic regime, and the Gregorian calendar was formally reinstated on January 1, 1806.

French Revolution /ˈˌfrenCH ˌrevəˈlo͞oSHən/

I. the overthrow of the Bourbon monarchy in France (1789–99).

The French Revolution began with the meeting of the legislative assembly (the States General) in May 1789 when the French government was already in crisis; the Bastille was stormed in July of the same year. The revolution became steadily more radical and ruthless with power increasingly in the hands of the Jacobins and Robespierre; Louis XVI's execution in January 1793 was followed by Robespierre's Reign of Terror. The revolution failed to produce a stable form of republican government, and after several different forms of administration, the last, the Directory, was overthrown by Napoleon in 1799.

French roll

noun

1. a crisp roll of French bread.

2. another term for French twist.

French seam /ˌfrenCH ˈsēm/

noun

a seam with the raw edges enclosed.

French Somaliland /ˌfren(t)SH səˈmälēland/

former name (until 1967) of Djibouti.

French Southern and Antarctic Territories

an overseas territory of France, comprised of Adélie Land in Antarctica, the Kerguelen and Crozet archipelagos, and the islands of Amsterdam and St. Paul in the southern Indian Ocean.

French Sudan

former name of Mali.

French tickler

noun

‹informal› a condom with ribbed protrusions.

French toast /ˈˌfrenCH ˈtōst/

noun

bread coated in egg and milk and fried.

French twist

noun

(N. Amer.) a woman's hairstyle in which the hair is tucked into a vertical roll down the back of the head.

French vermouth

noun

dry vermouth.

French Wars of Religion

a series of religious and political conflicts in France (1562–98) involving the Protestant Huguenots on one side and Catholic groups on the other. The wars were complicated by interventions from Spain, Rome, England, the Netherlands, and elsewhere, and were not brought to an end until the settlement of the Edict of Nantes.

French West Africa /ˈˌfrenCH ˌwest ˈafrəkə/

a former federation of French territories in northwestern Africa 1895–1959. Its constituent territories were Senegal, Mauritania, French Sudan (now Mali), Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso), Niger, French Guinea (now Guinea), Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), and Dahomey (now Benin).

French window /ˈˌfrenCH ˈwindō/

noun — (usu. French windows)

1. each of a pair of casement windows extending to the floor in an outside wall, serving as a window and door.

Frenchwoman /ˈfren(t)SHˌwo͝omən/

noun

a female who is French by birth or descent.

Frenchy /ˈfren(t)SHē / Frenchie

I. adjective

‹informal› ‹chiefly derogatory› perceived as characteristically French

• a perfect example of that kind of progressive Frenchy art.

II. noun

1. ‹informal› ‹chiefly derogatory› a French person.

2. (Canadian) a French Canadian.

3. (Brit.) ‹informal› ‹dated› short for French letter.

frenemy /ˈfrenəmi/

I. noun

‹informal› a person with whom one is friendly despite a fundamental dislike or rivalry.

– origin 1950s: blend of friend and enemy.

frenetic /frəˈnedik/

I. adjective

fast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled way

• a frenetic pace of activity.

II. derivatives

frenetically /frəˈnedək(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘insane’): from Old French frenetique, via Latin from Greek phrenitikos, from phrenitis ‘delirium,’ from phrēn ‘mind.’ Compare with frantic.

frenulum /ˈfrenyələm/

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] a small fold or ridge of tissue that supports or checks the motion of the part to which it is attached, in particular a fold of skin beneath the tongue, or between the lip and the gum.

2. [Anatomy] [Entomology] (in some moths and butterflies) a bristle or row of bristles on the edge of the hind wing that keeps it in contact with the forewing.

– origin early 18th cent.: modern Latin, diminutive of Latin frenum ‘bridle.’

frenum /ˈfrēnəm/

I. noun

another term for frenulum.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘bridle.’

frenzied /ˈfrenzēd/

I. adjective

wildly excited or uncontrolled

• a frenzied attack.

II. derivatives

frenziedly

adverb

frenzy /ˈfrenzē/

I. noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. a state or period of uncontrolled excitement or wild behavior

• Doreen worked herself into a frenzy of rage.

– origin Middle English: from Old French frenesie, from medieval Latin phrenesia, from Latin phrenesis, from Greek phrēn ‘mind.’

Freon /ˈfrēän/

I. noun

‹trademark› an aerosol propellant, refrigerant, or organic solvent consisting of one or more of a group of chlorofluorocarbons and related compounds.

– origin 1930s: of unknown origin.

freq.

abbreviation

1. frequency.

2. frequent.

3. [Grammar] frequentative.

4. frequently.

frequency /ˈfrēkwənsē/

I. noun

1. the rate at which something occurs or is repeated over a particular period of time or in a given sample

• shops have closed with increasing frequency during the period.

2. the fact of being frequent or happening often.

3. [Statistics] the ratio of the number of actual to possible occurrences of an event.

4. [Statistics] the (relative) number of times something occurs in a given sample.

5. (Symbol: f or ν) — the rate at which a vibration occurs that constitutes a wave, either in a material (as in sound waves), or in an electromagnetic field (as in radio waves and light), usually measured per second.

6. the particular waveband at which a radio station or other system broadcasts or transmits signals.

– origin mid 16th cent. (gradually superseding late Middle English frequence; originally denoting a gathering of people): from Latin frequentia, from frequens, frequent- ‘crowded, frequent.’

frequency distribution /ˈfrēkwənsē ˌdistrəˈbyo͞oSHən/

noun

[Statistics] a mathematical function showing the number of instances in which a variable takes each of its possible values.

frequency division multiplexing

noun

[Telecommunications] a technique for sending two or more signals over the same telephone line, radio channel, or other medium. Each signal is transmitted as a unique range of frequencies within the bandwidth of the channel as a whole, enabling several signals to be transmitted simultaneously.
Compare with time division multiplexing.

frequency modulation /ˈfrēkwənsē ˌmäjəˈlāSHən / FM

noun

the modulation of a radio or other wave by variation of its frequency, especially to carry an audio signal.
Often contrasted with amplitude modulation.

frequency response

noun

[Electronics] the dependence on signal frequency of the output–input ratio of an amplifier or other device.

frequent

I. adjective — /ˈfrēkwənt /

1. occurring or done on many occasions, in many cases, or in quick succession

• frequent changes in policy

• the showers will become heavier and more frequent.

2. [attrib.] — (of a person) doing something often; habitual

• a frequent visitor to New England.

3. found at short distances apart

• frequent army roadblocks.

4. [Medicine] ‹dated› (of the pulse) rapid.

II. verb — /frēˈkwent / [with obj.]

1. visit (a place) often or habitually

• bars frequented by soldiers

• (frequented) one of the most frequented sites.

III. derivatives

1. frequentation /ˌfrēkwənˈtāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. frequenter /frēˈkwen(t)ər /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘profuse, ample’): from French, or from Latin frequens, frequent- ‘crowded, frequent,’ of unknown ultimate origin.

frequentative /frēˈkwən(t)ədiv / ‹Grammar›

I. adjective

(of a verb or verbal form) expressing frequent repetition or intensity of action.

II. noun

a frequentative verb or verbal form, e.g., chatter in English.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French fréquentatif, -ive or Latin frequentativus, from frequens, frequent- ‘crowded, frequent.’

frequent flier frequent flyer

noun

a person who regularly travels by air on commercial flights, especially one who is enrolled in a promotional program for such travelers.

frequently /ˈfrēkwən(t)lē/

adverb

regularly or habitually; often

• they go abroad frequently.

fresco /ˈfreskō/

I. noun

1. a painting done rapidly in watercolor on wet plaster on a wall or ceiling, so that the colors penetrate the plaster and become fixed as it dries.

2. the fresco method of painting, used in Roman times and by the great masters of the Italian Renaissance including Giotto, Masaccio, and Michelangelo.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. paint in fresco

• four scenes had been frescoed on the wall

• [as adj.] frescoed ceilings.

– origin late 16th cent.: Italian, literally ‘cool, fresh.’ The word was first recorded in the phrase in fresco, representing Italian affresco, al fresco ‘on the fresh (plaster).’

fresh /freSH/

I. adjective

1. (of food) recently made or obtained; not canned, frozen, or otherwise preserved

• fresh fruit.

2. not previously known or used; new or different

• the court had heard fresh evidence.

3. recently created or experienced and not faded or impaired

• the memory was still fresh in their minds.

4. (of a person) attractively youthful and inexperienced.

• a fresh young girl.

5. [predic.] — (of a person) full of energy and vigor

• they are feeling fresh after a good night's sleep.

6. (of a color or a person's complexion) bright or healthy in appearance.

• her dark hair set off her fresh complexion to perfection.

7. (of water) not salty.

• all the fresh water in the world's lakes.

8. (of the wind) cool and fairly strong.

• a fresh northerly wind was speeding the ship southwards.

9. pleasantly clean, pure, and cool

• the toothpaste leaves the mouth feeling wonderfully fresh.

10. [predic.] (fresh from/out of) — (of a person) having just had (a particular experience) or come from (a particular place)

• we were fresh out of art school.

11. ‹informal› presumptuous or impudent toward someone, especially in a sexual way

• some of the men tried to get fresh with the girls.

12. (of a cow) yielding a renewed or increased supply of milk following the birth of a calf.

II. adverb — [usu. in combination]

1. newly; recently

• fresh-baked bread

• fresh-cut grass.

III. phrases

1. be fresh out of

‹informal› have just sold or run out of a supply of (something).

2. (as) fresh as a daisy

see daisy.

3. fresh blood

see blood.

– origin Old English fersc ‘not salt, fit for drinking,’ superseded in Middle English by forms from Old French freis, fresche; both ultimately of Germanic origin and related to Dutch vers and German frisch.

fresh air

I. noun

the air outside as opposed to that within a room or other enclosed space

• he rolled his window down to get some fresh air

• it's great to be out in the fresh air.

II. phrases

a breath of fresh air

a. a small amount of or a brief time in the fresh air.

b. a refreshing change

• the company's no-nonsense attitude is a breath of fresh air.

fresh breeze

noun

a wind of force 5 on the Beaufort scale (17-21 knots or 20–24 mph).

freshen /ˈfreSHən/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — make (something) newer, cleaner, or more attractive

• it didn't take long to freshen her makeup.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) add more liquid to (a drink); top off.

3. [no obj.] — (of wind) become stronger and colder.

4. [no obj.] — (N. Amer.) (of a cow) give birth and come into milk.

II. phrasal verbs

freshen up

a. revive oneself by washing oneself or changing into clean clothes

• I freshened up by having a shower.

b. (freshen something up) — make something look newer or more attractive.

freshener /ˈfreSHənər/

noun

1. a substance or device that makes something fresher or cleaner

• parsley is a natural breath freshener

• chemicals that smell like toilet freshener.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) a quantity of a drink that refills a partly full glass or cup

• yes, thank you, I will take a freshener.

fresher /ˈfreSHər/

noun

(Brit.) informal term for freshman.

freshet /ˈfreSHət/

I. noun

1. the flood of a river from heavy rain or melted snow.

2. a rush of fresh water flowing into the sea.

– origin late 16th cent.: probably from Old French freschete, diminutive of freis ‘fresh.’

fresh-faced /ˈfreSH ˈˌfāst/

adjective

having a clear and young-looking complexion.

fresh gale

noun

a wind of force 8 on the Beaufort scale (34-40 knots or 39-46 mph).

freshly /ˈfreSHlē/

adverb — [usu. as submodifier]

1. newly; recently

• freshly ground black pepper.

freshman /ˈfreSHmən/

noun

1. a first-year student at a university, college, or high school

• we invited the freshmen

• [as modifier] a freshman second baseman.

2. (US) a newcomer or novice, especially someone newly elected to Congress.

freshness /ˈfreSHnəs/

noun

1. (with reference to food) the state of being recently made or obtained or not having decayed

• the restaurant's selling point is the freshness of its ingredients.

2. the quality of being pleasantly new or different

• he brings freshness to a familiar story

• the commentary should display freshness of insight.

3. the state of being recently created or experienced and not faded or impaired

• the freshness of the memory.

4. the quality of being attractively youthful and unspoiled

• he has the enthusiasm and freshness of youth.

5. energy and vigor

• his freshness, passion, and focus got him cast in leading roles.

6. brightness or healthiness of complexion or appearance

• she has retained the freshness of face that was there at her debut

• the frescoes still retain their freshness and color.

7. (with reference to wind) the quality of being cool and fairly strong

• the freshness of the wind with its cooling air.

8. the quality of being pleasantly clean and cool

• the minty freshness of toothpaste.

freshwater /ˈfreSHˌwôdər/

adjective

1. of or found in fresh water; not of the sea

• freshwater and marine fish.

2. (US) ‹informal› (especially of a school or college) situated in a remote or obscure area; provincial.

freshwater flea

noun

another term for daphnia.

freshwoman /ˈfreSHˌwo͝omən/

noun

a female first-year student at a university, college, or high school.

fresnel /ˈfreznəl, frāˈnel / fresnel lens

I. noun

[Photography] a flat lens made of a number of concentric rings, to reduce spherical aberration.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after A. J. Fresnel (see Fresnel, Augustin Jean).

Fresnel, Augustin Jean /frāˈnel/

(1788–1827), French physicist and civil engineer. He correctly postulated that light moves in a wavelike motion transverse to the direction of propagation.

Fresno /ˈfreznō/

a city in central California, in the San Joaquin valley; pop. 476,050 (est. 2008).

fret^1 /fret/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — be constantly or visibly worried or anxious

• she fretted about the cost of groceries

• [with clause] I fretted that my fingers were so skinny.

2. [with obj.] — cause (someone) worry or distress.

3. [with obj.] — gradually wear away (something) by rubbing or gnawing

• the bay's black waves fret the seafront.

4. form (a channel or passage) by rubbing or wearing away.

5. [no obj.] — flow or move in small waves

• soft clay that fretted between his toes.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. (chiefly Brit.) a state of anxiety or worry.

– origin Old English fretan ‘devour, consume,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vreten and German fressen, and ultimately to for- and eat.

fret^2 /fret/

I. noun

1. [Art] [Architecture] a repeating ornamental design of interlaced vertical and horizontal lines, such as the Greek key pattern.

2. [Heraldry] a device of narrow diagonal bands interlaced through a diamond.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. fretted)

1. decorate with fretwork

• intricately carved and fretted balustrades.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French frete ‘trelliswork’ and freter (verb), of unknown origin.

fret^3 /fret/

I. noun

each of a sequence of bars or ridges on the fingerboard of some stringed musical instruments (such as the guitar), used for fixing the positions of the fingers to produce the desired notes.

II. verb — [with obj.] (often as adj. fretted)

1. provide (a stringed instrument) with frets.

2. play (a note) while pressing the string down against a fret

• fretted notes.

III. derivatives

fretless

adjective

– origin early 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

fretboard /ˈfretbôrd/

noun

a fretted fingerboard on a guitar or other musical instrument.

fretful /ˈfretfəl/

I. adjective

feeling or expressing distress or irritation

• the baby was crying with a fretful whimper.

II. derivatives

1. fretfully /ˈfretfəlē /

adverb

2. fretfulness /ˈfretfəlnəs /

noun

fretsaw /ˈfretˌsô/

noun

a saw with a narrow blade stretched vertically on a frame, for cutting thin wood in patterns.

fretwork /ˈfretˌwərk/

noun

ornamental design in wood, typically openwork, done with a fretsaw.

Freud, Anna /froid/

(1895–1982), British psychoanalyst; born in Austria; the youngest child of Sigmund Freud. She introduced important innovations in method and theory to her father's work, notably with regard to disturbed children, and set up a child therapy course and clinic in London.

Freud, Lucian

(1922–2011), German-born British painter, grandson of Sigmund Freud. His subjects, typically portraits and nudes, are painted in a powerful naturalistic style based on firm draftsmanship and often using striking angles.

Freud, Sigmund

(1856–1939), Austrian neurologist and psychotherapist. He was the first to emphasize the significance of unconscious processes in normal and neurotic behavior and was the founder of psychoanalysis as both a theory of personality and a therapeutic practice. He proposed the existence of an unconscious element in the mind that influences consciousness and of conflicts in it between various sets of forces. His theory of the sexual origin of neuroses aroused great controversy.

Freudian /ˈfroidēən / ‹Psychology›

I. adjective

1. relating to or influenced by Sigmund Freud and his methods of psychoanalysis, especially with reference to the importance of sexuality in human behavior.

2. susceptible to analysis in terms of unconscious desires

• he wasn't sure whether his passion for water power had some deep Freudian significance.

II. noun

a follower of Freud or his methods.

III. derivatives

Freudianism /ˈfroidēəˌnizəm /

noun

Freudian slip /ˌfroidēən ˈslip/

noun

an unintentional error regarded as revealing subconscious feelings.

Frey /frā / ‹Scandinavian Mythology› Freyr

the god of fertility and dispenser of rain and sunshine.

Freya /ˈfrāə / ‹Scandinavian Mythology›

the goddess of love and of the night, sister of Frey. She is often identified with Frigga.

Fri.

abbreviation

Friday.

friable /ˈfrīəbəl/

I. adjective

easily crumbled

• the soil was friable between her fingers.

II. derivatives

1. friability /ˌfrīəˈbilədē /

noun

2. friableness /ˈfrīəb(ə)lnəs /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French, or from Latin friabilis, from friare ‘to crumble.’

friar /ˈfrī(ə)r/

I. noun

a member of any of certain religious orders of men, especially the four mendicant orders (Augustinians, Carmelites, Dominicans, and Franciscans).

– origin Middle English: from Old French frere, from Latin frater ‘brother.’

friarbird /ˈfrīərˌbərd/

noun

a large Australasian honeyeater with a dark, partly naked head and a long curved bill.
[Genus Philemon, family Meliphagidae: many species.]

Friar Minor

I. noun

a Franciscan friar.

– origin so named because the Franciscans regarded themselves as of humbler rank than members of other orders.

friary /ˈfrīərē/

noun

a building or community occupied by or consisting of friars.

fribble /ˈfribəl/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› a frivolous or foolish person.

2. ‹informal› a thing of no great importance.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹dated› part with lightly and wastefully; fritter

• it is no longer respectable to fribble the days away in idle pleasure.

– origin mid 17th cent.: symbolic, from the earlier (now obsolete) verb meaning ‘stammer,’ also ‘act aimlessly or frivolously.’

fricandeau /ˈfrikənˌdō/

I. noun

1. a slice of veal or beef loin.

2. a dish made from veal or beef loin, usually fried or stewed and served with a sauce.

– origin French, probably related to fricassée ‘stew,’ from the verb fricasser (see fricassee).

fricassee /ˈfrikəsē ˌfrikəˈsē/

I. noun

a dish of stewed or fried pieces of meat served in a thick white sauce.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make a fricassee of (something).

– origin from French fricassée, feminine past participle of fricasser ‘cut up and cook in sauce’ (probably a blend of frire ‘to fry’ and casser ‘to break’).

fricative /ˈfrikədiv / ‹Phonetics›

I. adjective

denoting a type of consonant made by the friction of breath in a narrow opening, producing a turbulent air flow.

II. noun

a fricative consonant, e.g., f and th.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin fricativus, from Latin fricare ‘to rub.’

Frick, Henry Clay /frik/

(1849–1919), US industrialist. He was chairman of the Carnegie Steel Company 1889–1900; his art collection is housed in his former home, now a museum, in New York City.

fricking /ˈfrikiNG/

I. adjective, adverb

‹informal› used for emphasis or to express anger, annoyance, contempt, or surprise

• they don't have a fricking clue

• it's fricking ridiculous.

– origin 1930s: euphemism for fucking.

friction /ˈfrikSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the resistance that one surface or object encounters when moving over another

• a lubrication system that reduces friction.

2. the action of one surface or object rubbing against another

• the friction of braking.

3. conflict or animosity caused by a clash of wills, temperaments, or opinions

• a considerable amount of friction between father and son.

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting chafing or rubbing of the body or limbs, formerly much used in medical treatment): via French from Latin frictio(n-), from fricare ‘to rub.’

frictional /ˈfrikSHənl/

adjective

of or produced by the action of one surface or object rubbing against or moving over another

• frictional drag.

frictional unemployment

noun

[Economics] the unemployment which exists in any economy due to people being in the process of moving from one job to another.

friction clutch

noun

a clutch in which friction between two moving surfaces is increased until they move in unison.

friction drive

noun

a transmission system used in motor vehicles that depends upon friction between moving parts in contact to transmit motion.

frictionless /ˈfrikSHənləs/

I. adjective

1. not impeded by or creating friction; smooth

• a compass needs to have a lightweight magnet and a frictionless bearing.

2. achieved with or involving little difficulty; effortless

• a frictionless payment solution.

II. derivatives

frictionlessly

adverb

friction tape /ˈfrikSHən ˌtāp/

noun

adhesive tape used chiefly to cover exposed electric wires.

friction welding

noun

welding in which the heat is produced by rotating one component against the other under compression.

Friday /ˈfrīdā ˈfrīdē/

I. noun

the day of the week before Saturday and following Thursday

• he was arrested on Friday

• the cleaning woman came on Fridays

• [as modifier] Friday evening.

II. adverb

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) on Friday

• we'll try again Friday.

2. (Fridays) — (chiefly N. Amer.) on Fridays; each Friday

• he goes there Fridays.

– origin Old English Frīgedæg ‘day of Frigga,’ named after the Germanic goddess Frigga, wife of the supreme god Odin and goddess of married love; translation of late Latin Veneris dies ‘day of Venus,’ Frigga being equated with the Roman goddess of love, Venus. Compare with Dutch vrijdag and German Freitag. / The days of the week in ancient Rome were named after the planets, which in turn were named after gods. In most cases the Germanic names substituted the name of a comparable Germanic god for the Roman god's name.

fridge /frij/

I. noun

a refrigerator.

– origin 1920s: abbreviation, probably influenced by the proprietary name Frigidaire.

fried /frīd/

I. past and past participle of fry^1.

II. adjective

1. (of food) cooked in hot fat or oil

• a breakfast of fried eggs and bacon.

2. [predic.] — (N. Amer.) ‹informal› exhausted or worn out

• I had just come from doing a shoot and I was really fried.

3. intoxicated with drugs or alcohol.

Friedan, Betty /friˈdan/

(1921–2006), US feminist and writer. She wrote The Feminine Mystique (1963), which presented femininity as an artificial construct and traced the ways in which US women are socialized to become mothers and housewives. In 1966, she founded the National Organization for Women, serving as its president until 1970. Other works: The Second Stage (1981) and The Fountain of Age (1993).

Friedman, Milton

(1912–2006), US economist. As a policy adviser to President Ronald Reagan from 1981 to 1989, he advocated free market forces to produce balanced economic growth. Notable works: Capitalism and Freedom (1962) and Free to Choose (1980, coauthored with his wife). Nobel Prize for Economics (1976).

friend /frend/

I. noun

1. a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically exclusive of sexual or family relations.

2. a person who acts as a supporter of a cause, organization, or country by giving financial or other help

• join the Friends of Guilford Free Library.

3. a person who is not an enemy or who is on the same side

• she was unsure whether he was friend or foe.

4. a familiar or helpful thing

• he settled for that old friend the compensation grant.

5. (often as a polite form of address or in ironic reference) an acquaintance or a stranger one comes across

• my friends, let me introduce myself.

6. a contact associated with a social networking website

• all of a sudden you've got 50 friends online who need to stay connected.

7. (Friend) — a member of the Religious Society of Friends; a Quaker.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. add (someone) to a list of contacts associated with a social networking website

• I am friended by 29 people who I have not friended back.

2. ‹archaic› befriend (someone).

III. phrases

1. be (or make) friends with

be (or become) on good or affectionate terms with (someone).

2. a friend at court

a person in a position to use their influence on one's behalf.

3. a friend in need is a friend indeed

‹proverb› a person who helps at a difficult time is a truly reliable person.

4. friends in high places

people in senior positions who are able and willing to use their influence on one's behalf.

5. with friends like ——, who needs enemies?

used to suggest that a supposed friend or ally of a particular person has acted against the best interests of that person

• with friends like this guy, who needs enemies?

– origin Old English frēond, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vriend and German Freund, from an Indo-European root meaning ‘to love,’ shared by free.

friendless /ˈfren(d)ləs/

adjective

having no friends; alone

• they have been left virtually friendless.

friendliness /ˈfrendlēnəs/

noun

the quality of being friendly; affability

• I was overwhelmed by the friendliness of the people here.

friendly /ˈfren(d)lē/

I. adjective

1. kind and pleasant

• they were friendly to me

• she gave me a friendly smile.

2. [predic.] — (of a person) on good or affectionate terms

• I was friendly with one of the local farmers.

3. (of a contest) not seriously or unpleasantly competitive or divisive

• friendly rivalry between the two schools.

4. [Soccer] (of a match) not affecting a team's league standings.

5. [in combination] — denoting something that is adapted for or is not harmful to a specified thing

• an environment-friendly agronomic practice.

6. favorable or serviceable

• trees providing a friendly stage on which seedlings begin to grow.

7. [Military] (of troops or equipment) of, belonging to, or in alliance with one's own forces.

II. adverb

in a friendly manner.

friendly fire /ˈfren(d)lē ˈfī(ə)r/

noun

[Military] weapon fire coming from one's own side, especially fire that causes accidental injury or death to one's own forces.

Friendly Islands /ˈfren(d)lē ˌīlən(d)z/

another name for Tonga.

friend of Dorothy

I. noun

‹informal› a gay man.

– origin from the name of Dorothy, a character played by the actress Judy Garland (a gay icon) in the movie The Wizard of Oz (1939).

friendship /ˈfren(d)SHip/

I. noun

1. the emotions or conduct of friends; the state of being friends.

2. a relationship between friends

• she formed close friendships with women.

3. a state of mutual trust and support between allied nations.

– origin Old English frēondscipe (see friend, -ship).

Friends of the Earth /ˌfrendz əv T͟Hē ˈərTH / FoE

an international pressure group established in 1971 to campaign for a better awareness of and response to environmental problems.

friend zone

noun

‹informal› a situation in which a friendship exists between two people, one of whom has an unreciprocated romantic or sexual interest in the other

• I always wind up in the friend zone, watching them pursue other guys.

Friesland /ˈfrēzlənd/

I. the western part of the ancient region of Frisia.

II. a northern province in the Netherlands, bounded on the west and north by the IJsselmeer and the North Sea; capital, Leeuwarden.

frieze^1 /frēz/

I. noun

1. a broad horizontal band of sculpted or painted decoration, especially on a wall near the ceiling.

2. a horizontal paper strip mounted on a wall to give a similar effect.

3. [Architecture] the part of an entablature between the architrave and the cornice.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French frise, from medieval Latin frisium, variant of frigium, from Latin Phrygium (opus) ‘(work) of Phrygia.’

frieze^2 /frēz/

I. noun

heavy, coarse woolen cloth with a nap, usually on one side only.

– origin late Middle English: from French frise, from medieval Latin frisia, ‘Frisian wool.’

frig^1 /friɡ / ‹vulgar slang›

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. used as a euphemism for ‘fuck’

2. masturbate.

II. exclamation

expressing extreme anger, annoyance, or contempt.

III. phrasal verbs

frig around

‹vulgar slang› spend time doing unimportant or trivial things.

– origin late Middle English: of unknown origin. The original sense was ‘move restlessly, wriggle,’ later ‘rub, chafe,’ hence ‘masturbate’ (late 17th cent).

frig^2 /friɡ / 'frig

noun

‹informal› short for refrigerator.

frigate /ˈfriɡit/

I. noun

1. a warship with a mixed armament, generally heavier than a destroyer (in the US Navy) and of a kind originally introduced for convoy escort work.

2. ‹historical› a sailing warship of a size and armament just below that of a ship of the line.

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting a light, fast boat that was rowed or sailed): from French frégate, from Italian fregata, of unknown origin.

frigate bird

noun

a predatory tropical seabird with dark plumage, long narrow wings, a deeply forked tail, and a long hooked bill.
Also called man-o'-war bird (see man-of-war). [Family Fregatidae and genus Fregata: five species.]

Frigga /ˈfriɡə / ‹Scandinavian Mythology›

the wife of Odin and goddess of married love and of the hearth, often identified with Freya. Friday is named after her.

frigging /ˈfriɡiNG/

I. adjective, adverb

‹informal› used for emphasis or to express anger, annoyance, contempt, or surprise

• I cried like a frigging baby

• that was frigging awesome!

– origin 1920s: euphemism for fucking.

fright /frīt/

I. noun

1. a sudden intense feeling of fear

• I jumped up in fright.

2. an experience that causes one to feel sudden intense fear

• she's had a nasty fright

• I got the fright of my life seeing that woman in the hotel.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› frighten

• come, be comforted, he shan't fright you.

III. phrases

1. look a fright

‹informal› have a disheveled or grotesque appearance.

2. take fright

suddenly become frightened or panicked.

– origin Old English fryhto, fyrhto (noun), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch furcht and German Furcht.

frighten /ˈfrītn/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (someone) afraid or anxious

• the savagery of his thoughts frightened him

• people were no longer easily frightened into docility.

2. (frighten someone/something off) — deter someone or something from involvement or action by making them afraid.

3. [no obj.] — (of a person) become afraid or anxious

• at his age, I guess he doesn't frighten any more.

II. derivatives

frightener /ˈfrītnər /

noun

frightened /ˈfrītnd/

adjective

afraid or anxious

• a frightened child.

frightening /ˈfrīt(ə)niNG/

adjective

making someone afraid or anxious; terrifying

• a frightening experience.

frighteningly /ˈfrīt(ə)niNGlē/

adverb

1. in a frightening or alarming way

• his eyes rolled frighteningly

• [as submodifier] a frighteningly realistic battle display.

2. [sentence adverb] — used to express alarm at a situation or event

• frighteningly, there is little anyone can do.

frightful /ˈfrītfəl/

I. adjective

1. very unpleasant, serious, or shocking

• there's been a frightful accident.

2. ‹informal› used for emphasis, especially of something bad

• her hair was a frightful mess.

II. derivatives

frightfulness

noun

frightfully /ˈfrītfəlē/

adverb — [as submodifier]

1. (Brit.) ‹dated› very (used for emphasis)

• it was frightfully hot

• I'm frightfully sorry.

fright wig /ˈfrīt ˌwiɡ/

noun

a wig with the hair arranged standing up or sticking out, as worn by a clown or similar performer.

frigid /ˈfrijid/

I. adjective

1. very cold in temperature

• frigid water.

2. (especially of a woman) unable or unwilling to be sexually aroused and responsive.

3. showing no friendliness or enthusiasm; stiff or formal in behavior or style

• Henrietta looked back with a frigid calm.

II. derivatives

1. frigidity /frəˈjidədē /

noun

2. frigidly /ˈfrijidlē /

adverb

3. frigidness

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin frigidus, from frigere ‘be cold,’ from frigus (noun) ‘cold.’

frigid zone

noun

1. each of the two areas of the earth respectively north of the Arctic Circle and south of the Antarctic Circle.

2. ‹informal› a range of extremely cold temperatures

• winter temperatures can dip into the frigid zone.

frijol /ˈfrēhōl, frēˈhōl/

noun

a bean, especially a red kidney bean or cowpea, used as a staple in Mexican cooking.

frijoles /frēˈhōˌlās/

I. plural noun

(in Mexican cooking) beans.

– origin Spanish, plural of frijol ‘bean.’

frijoles refritos /frēˌhōlās rāˈfrēdōs/

noun

refried beans.

frill /fril/

I. noun

1. a strip of gathered or pleated material sewn by one side onto a garment or larger piece of material as a decorative edging or ornament.

2. a thing resembling a frill in appearance or function

• a frill of silver hair surrounded a shining bald pate.

3. a natural fringe of feathers or hair on a bird or other animal.

4. [Paleontology] an upward-curving bony plate extending behind the skull of many ceratopsian dinosaurs.

5. (usu. frills) — an unnecessary extra feature or embellishment

• it was just a comfortable apartment with no frills.

II. derivatives

1. frilled /frild /

adjective

2. frillery /ˈfrilərē /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from or related to Flemish frul.

frilled lizard frill-necked lizard

noun

a large northern Australian lizard with a membrane around the neck that can be erected to form a ruff for defensive display. When disturbed, it runs away on its hind legs.
[Chlamydosaurus kingii, family Agamidae.]

frilled shark

noun

an elongated deep-sea shark of snakelike appearance, with prominent gill covers that give the appearance of a frill around the neck.
[Chlamydoselachus anguineus, the only member of the family Clamydoselachidae.]

frilly /ˈfrilē/

I. adjective

1. decorated with frills or similar ornamentation

• a frilly apron.

2. overelaborate or showy in character or style

• seafood dishes that avoid being too frilly or rich.

II. plural noun — (frillies)

1. ‹informal› an item of women's underwear.

III. derivatives

frilliness /ˈfrilēnis /

noun

Frimaire /frēˈmer/

I. noun

the third month of the French Republican calendar (1793–1805), originally running from November 21 to December 20.

– origin French, from frimas ‘hoarfrost.’

fringe /frinj/

I. noun

1. an ornamental border of threads left loose or formed into tassels or twists, used to edge clothing or material.

2. chiefly British term for bangs (see bang^1 (sense 2 of the noun)).

3. a natural border of hair or fibers in an animal or plant.

4. (often the fringes) — the outer, marginal, or extreme part of an area, group, or sphere of activity

• his uncles were on the fringes of crooked activity.

5. (the fringe) — the unconventional, extreme, or marginal wing of a group or sphere of activity

• the lunatic fringe of American political life

• rap music is no longer something on the fringe.

6. a band of contrasting brightness or darkness produced by diffraction or interference of light.

7. a strip of false color in an optical image.

8. (N. Amer.) short for fringe benefit.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. not part of the mainstream; unconventional, peripheral, or extreme

• fringe theater.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. decorate (clothing or material) with a fringe

• a rich robe of gold, fringed with black velvet.

2. form a border around (something)

• the sea is fringed by palm trees.

3. (as adj. fringed) — (of a plant or animal) having a natural border of hair or fiber.

IV. derivatives

1. fringeless

adjective

2. fringy /ˈfrinjē /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French frenge, based on late Latin fimbria, earlier a plural noun meaning ‘fibers, shreds.’

fringe benefit

noun

an extra benefit supplementing an employee's salary, for example, a company car, subsidized meals, health insurance, etc.

fringed orchid

noun

a North American orchid with a flower that has a fringed lip.
[Genus Habenaria, family Orchidaceae: many species.]

fringing reef /ˈfrinjiNG ˌrēf/

noun

a coral reef that lies close to the shore.

frippery /ˈfrip(ə)rē/

I. noun

1. showy or unnecessary ornament in architecture, dress, or language.

2. a tawdry or frivolous thing.

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting old or secondhand clothes): from French friperie, from Old French freperie, from frepe ‘rag,’ of unknown ultimate origin.

Fris.

abbreviation

Frisian.

Frisbee /ˈfrizbē / frisbee

I. noun

1. ‹trademark› a concave plastic disk designed for skimming through the air as an outdoor game or amusement.

2. ‹trademark› the game or amusement of skimming a Frisbee.

– origin 1950s: said to be named after the Frisbie bakery (Bridgeport, Connecticut), whose pie tins could be used similarly.

Frisbee golf frisbee golf

I. noun

a game in which a Frisbee is thrown into each of a series of metal baskets on an outdoor course, the object being to complete the course using the fewest possible throws

• guests of all ages can play Frisbee golf.

Also called disc golf.

– origin 1960s: from Frisbee (a proprietary name) + golf.

Frisch, Karl von /friSH/

(1886–1982), Austrian zoologist. He worked mainly on honeybees, studying particularly their vision, navigation, and communication. He showed that they perform an elaborate dance in the hive to indicate the direction and distance of food. Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1973), shared with Konrad Lorenz and Nikolaas Tinbergen.

Frisch, Otto Robert

(1904–79), British physicist; born in Austria. With his aunt, Lise Meitner, he recognized that Otto Hahn's experiments with uranium had produced a new type of nuclear reaction, which Frisch called nuclear fission. He also indicated the explosive potential of its chain reaction.

Frisch, Ragnar

(1895–1973), Norwegian economist; a pioneer of econometrics; full name Ragnar Anton Kittil Frisch. Nobel Prize for Economics (1969), shared with Jan Tinbergen.

Frisco /ˈfriskō / ‹informal› 'Frisco

a name for San Francisco:

• he's going to Frisco to see his sister.

frisée /frēˈzā/

I. noun

the curly endive (see endive (sense 1)).

– origin French, from chicorée frisée ‘curly endive.’

Frisia /ˈfriZHə, ˈfrēZHə/

an ancient region in northwestern Europe. It included the Frisian Islands and parts of the mainland corresponding to the modern provinces of Friesland and Groningen in the Netherlands and the regions of Ostfriesland and Nordfriesland in northwestern Germany.

Frisian /ˈfriZHən ˈfrēZHən ˈfrisēən/

I. adjective

of or relating to Frisia or Friesland, its people, or language.

II. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Frisia or Friesland.

2. the West Germanic language of Frisia or Friesland, the language most closely related to English.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin Frisii ‘Frisians’ (from Old Frisian Frīsa, Frēsa) + -ian.

Frisian Islands

a chain of islands that lie off the coast of northwestern Europe and extend from the IJsselmeer in the Netherlands to Jutland. The West Frisian Islands form part of the Netherlands, the East Frisian Islands form part of Germany, and the North Frisian Islands are divided between Germany and Denmark.

frisk /frisk/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — (of a police officer or other official) pass the hands over (someone) in a search for hidden weapons, drugs, or other items.

2. [no obj.] — (of an animal or person) skip or leap playfully; frolic

• this did not deter the foal from frisking about.

3. [with obj.] — (of an animal) move or wave (its tail or legs) playfully

• a horse was frisking his back legs like a colt.

II. noun

1. [in sing.] — an act of frisking someone.

2. a playful skip or leap.

III. derivatives

frisker

noun

– origin early 16th cent.(sense 2 of the verb): from obsolete frisk ‘lively, frisky,’ from Old French frisque ‘alert, lively, merry,’ perhaps of Germanic origin. Sense 1 of the verb, originally a slang term, dates from the late 18th cent.

frisket /ˈfriskit/

I. noun

1. [Printing] a thin metal frame keeping the paper in position during printing on a hand press.

2. [Printing] (US) fluid or adhesive paper used in painting or crafts to cover areas of a surface on which paint is not wanted.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French frisquette, from Provençal frisqueto, from Spanish frasqueta.

frisky /ˈfriskē/

I. adjective

playful and full of energy

• he bounds about like a frisky pup.

II. derivatives

1. friskily /ˈfriskəlē /

adverb

2. friskiness /ˈfriskēnəs /

noun

frisson /frēˈsôn/

I. noun

a sudden strong feeling of excitement or fear; a thrill

• a frisson of excitement.

– origin late 18th cent.: French, literally ‘a shiver or thrill.’

frit /frit/

I. noun

1. the mixture of silica and fluxes that is fused at high temperature to make glass.

2. a calcined and pulverized mixture used to make soft-paste porcelain or ceramic glazes.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make into frit.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Italian fritta, feminine past participle of friggere ‘to fry.’

frites /frēt(s)/

plural noun

short for pommes frites.

frit fly /frit flī/

I. noun

a very small black fly whose larvae are a serious pest of cereal crops and golf-course turf.
[Oscinella frit, family Chloropidae.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin frit ‘particle on an ear of grain.’

frith /friTH/

noun

archaic spelling of firth.

fritillary /ˈfridlˌerē/

I. noun

1. a Eurasian plant of the lily family, with hanging bell-like flowers.
[Genus Fritillaria, family Liliaceae: numerous species.]

2. a butterfly with orange-brown wings that are checkered with black.
[Subfamilies Argynninae and Melitaeinae, family Nymphalidae: Argynnis, Speyeria, and other genera, and numerous species, including the North American great spangled fritillary (S. cybele).]

– origin mid 17th cent.: from modern Latin fritillaria, from Latin fritillus ‘dice box’ (probably with reference to the checkered corolla of the snake's-head fritillary).

frittata /frēˈtädə/

I. noun

an Italian dish made with fried beaten eggs, resembling a Spanish omelet.

– origin Italian, from fritto, past participle of friggere ‘to fry.’ Compare with fritter^2.

fritter^1 /ˈfridər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (fritter something away) — waste time, money, or energy on trifling matters

• I wish we hadn't frittered the money away so easily.

2. [no obj.] — dwindle; diminish

• the day fritters.

3. ‹archaic› divide (something) into small pieces

• they become frittered into minute tatters.

II. derivatives

fritterer

noun

– origin early 18th cent.: based on obsolete fitter ‘break into fragments, shred’; perhaps related to German Fetzen ‘rag, scrap.’

fritter^2 /ˈfridər/

I. noun

a piece of fruit, vegetable, or meat that is coated in batter and deep-fried.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French friture, based on Latin frigere (see fry^1). Compare with frittata.

fritto misto /ˌfrēdō ˈmēstō/

I. noun

a dish of various foods, typically seafood, deep-fried in batter.

– origin Italian, ‘mixed fry.’

fritz /frits/

I. noun — (in phrase go or be on the fritz)

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› (of a machine) stop working properly.

– origin early 20th cent.: said to be a use of Fritz, with allusion to cheap German imports into the US before World War I.

Friuli /frēˈo͞olē/

I. a historic region in southeastern Europe now divided between Slovenia and the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

II. derivatives

Friulian /-ˈo͞olēən /

adjective, noun

Friuli-Venezia Giulia /frēˌo͞olēvāˌnetsēə ˈjo͞olyə/

a region in northeastern Italy, on the border with Slovenia and Austria; capital, Trieste.

frivol /ˈfrivəl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. behave in a frivolous way.

– origin mid 19th cent.: back-formation from frivolous.

frivolity /frəˈvälədē/

noun

lack of seriousness; lightheartedness

• a night of fun and frivolity.

frivolous /ˈfrivələs/

I. adjective

1. not having any serious purpose or value

• rules to stop frivolous lawsuits.

2. (of a person) carefree and not serious.

II. derivatives

1. frivolously /ˈfrivələslē /

adverb

2. frivolousness /ˈfrivələsnəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin frivolus ‘silly, trifling’ + -ous.

frizz /friz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. form (hair) into a mass of small, tight curls or tufts

• her hair was frizzed up in a style that seemed matronly.

2. [no obj.] — (of hair) form itself into a mass of small tight curls

• his hair had frizzed out symmetrically.

II. noun

the state of being formed into a mass of tight curls or tufts

• a perm designed to add curl without frizz.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘dress leather with pumice’): from French friser. The sense ‘form hair into a mass of curls’ dates from the late 16th cent.

frizzante /fritˈsäntā/

I. adjective

(of wine) semisparkling.

– origin Italian.

frizzle^1 /ˈfrizəl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. fry or grill with a sizzling noise

• Elsie had the fat frizzling in the frying pan.

2. [with obj.] — fry until crisp, shriveled, or burned
(as adj. frizzled)

• add diced frizzled salt pork to taste.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. the sound or act of frying

• the frizzle of the pan.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from fry^1, probably influenced by sizzle.

frizzle^2 /ˈfrizəl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. form (hair) into tight curls.

II. noun

a tight curl in hair.

III. derivatives

frizzly /ˈfriz(ə)lē /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from frizz + -le^4.

frizzy /ˈfrizē/

I. adjective

formed of a mass of small, tight curls or tufts

• frizzy red hair.

II. derivatives

frizziness /ˈfrizēnəs /

noun

Frobisher, Sir Martin /ˈfrōbiSHər/

(c. 1535–94), English explorer. In 1576, he led an unsuccessful expedition in search of the Northwest Passage. Frobisher served in Sir Francis Drake's Caribbean expedition of 1585–86 and took part in the defeat of the Spanish Armada.

frock /fräk/

I. noun

1. a woman's or girl's dress.

2. a loose outer garment, in particular

3. a long gown with flowing sleeves worn by monks, priests, or clergy.

4. ‹historical› a field laborer's smock.

5. short for frock coat.

6. [in sing.] — ‹archaic› priestly office

• such words as these cost the preacher his frock.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. provide with or dress in a frock
[as adj., in combination]

• a black-frocked Englishman.

2. ‹archaic› invest (someone) with priestly office.
Compare with defrock.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French froc, of Germanic origin. The sense ‘priest's or monk's gown’ is preserved in defrock.

frock coat /ˈfräk ˌkōt/

noun

a man's double-breasted, long-skirted coat, now worn chiefly on formal occasions.

froe /frō/

I. noun

a cleaving tool with a handle at right angles to the blade.

– origin late 16th cent.: abbreviation of obsolete frower, from froward in the sense ‘turned away.’

Froebel, Friedrich /ˈfrəbəl/

(1782–1852), German educator and founder of the kindergarten system; full name Friedrich Wilhelm August Froebel.

frog^1 /frôɡ fräɡ/

I. noun

1. a tailless amphibian with a short squat body, moist smooth skin, and very long hind legs for leaping.
[Frogs are found in most families of the order Anura, but the ‘true frogs’ are confined to the large family Ranidae.]

2. ‹informal› a person regarded as repulsive in character or appearance.

3. (Frog) — ‹informal› ‹offensive› a French person.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. hunt for or catch frogs.

III. phrases

have a frog in one's throat

‹informal› lose one's voice or find it hard to speak because of hoarseness.

IV. derivatives

1. frogger

noun

2. froggy /ˈfrôɡē /

adjective

– origin Old English frogga, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vors and German Frosch. Used as a general term of abuse in Middle English, the term was applied specifically to the Dutch in the 17th cent.; its application to the French (late 18th cent.) is partly alliterative, partly from the reputation of the French for eating frogs' legs.

frog^2 /frôɡ fräɡ/

I. noun

1. a thing used to hold or fasten something, in particular

2. an ornamental coat fastener or braid consisting of a spindle-shaped button and a loop through which it passes.

3. an attachment to a belt for holding a sword, bayonet, or similar weapon.

4. a perforated or spiked device for holding the stems of flowers in an arrangement.

5. the piece into which the hair is fitted at the lower end of the bow of a stringed instrument.

6. a grooved metal plate for guiding the wheels of a railroad vehicle at an intersection.

– origin early 18th cent.: perhaps a use of frog^1, influenced by synonymous Italian forchetta or French fourchette ‘small fork,’ because of the shape.

frog^3 /frôɡ fräɡ/

I. noun

1. an elastic horny pad growing in the sole of a horse's hoof, helping to absorb the shock when the hoof hits the ground.

2. a raised or swollen area on a surface.

– origin early 17th cent.: perhaps from frog^2.

frogfish /ˈfrôɡˌfiSH/

noun

an anglerfish that typically lives on the seabed, where its warty skin and color provide camouflage.
[Families Antennariidae (numerous species, including Antennaria hispidus of the Indo-Pacific), and Brachionichthyidae (four Australian species).]

frogged /ˈfrôɡd, fräɡd/

adjective

(of a coat) having an ornamental braid or fastening consisting of a spindle-shaped button and a loop.

frogging /ˈfrôɡiNG, fräɡ-/

noun

ornamental braid or coat fastenings consisting of spindle-shaped buttons and loops.

froghopper /ˈfrôɡˌhäpər, fräɡ-/

noun

a jumping, plant-sucking bug, the larva of which produces a frothy mass on plants.
Also called spittlebug. [Family Cercopidae, suborder Homoptera: several genera.]

frog kick

noun

a movement used in swimming, especially in the breast stroke, in which the legs are brought toward the body with the knees bent and the feet together and then kicked outward before being brought together again, all in one continuous movement.

frog legs frogs' legs

plural noun

the back legs of frogs, as an item of food

• the restaurant will serve classics like a croque-monsieur and frog legs

• I ate frogs' legs, which I'd never had before.

froglet /ˈfrôɡlət, ˈfräɡ-/

noun

1. a small kind of frog.
[Several genera, including Crinia of Australia (family Myobatrachidae), and Philautus of Malaysia (family Rhacophoridae).]

2. a tiny frog that has recently developed from a tadpole.

frogman /ˈfrôɡˌman ˈfrôɡmən/

noun

a person who swims underwater wearing a rubber suit, flippers, and an oxygen supply.

frogmarch /ˈfrôɡˌmärCH/

verb — [with obj.]

1. force (someone) to walk forward by holding and pinning their arms from behind

• the cop frogmarched him down the steep stairs.

frogmouth /ˈfrôɡˌmouTH, ˈfräɡ-/

noun

a nocturnal bird resembling a nightjar, occurring in Southeast Asia and Australasia.
[Family Podargidae: two genera and several species, in particular the tawny frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) of Australia.]

frog orchid

noun

a small orchid with inconspicuous green flowers, growing chiefly on calcareous grassland in north temperate regions.
[Coeloglossum viride, family Orchidaceae.]

frog's-bit /ˈfrôɡzˌbit/

noun

a floating freshwater plant with creeping stems that bear clusters of small rounded leaves.
[Two species in the family Hydrocharitaceae: Eurasian frog's-bit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae) and American frog's-bit (Limnobium spongia).]

frogspawn /ˈfrôɡˌspôn/

noun

the eggs of a frog, which are surrounded by transparent jelly.

frog spit

noun

another term for cuckoo spit.

froideur /frwäˈdər/

I. noun

coolness or reserve between people.

– origin French, from froid ‘cold.’

frolic /ˈfrälik/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of an animal or person) play and move about cheerfully, excitedly, or energetically

• Edward frolicked on the sand.

2. play about with someone in a flirtatious or sexual way

• he denied allegations that he frolicked with a secretary.

II. noun — (often frolics)

1. a playful action or movement

• his injuries were inflicted by the frolics of a young filly

• the days of fun and frolic were gone for good.

2. flirtatious or sexual activity or actions

• her poolside frolics.

III. adjective

‹archaic› cheerful, merry, or playful

• a thousand forms of frolic life.

IV. derivatives

frolicker

noun

– origin early 16th cent. (as an adjective): from Dutch vrolijk ‘merry, cheerful.’

frolicsome /ˈfräliksəm/

I. adjective

lively and playful.

II. derivatives

1. frolicsomely

adverb

2. frolicsomeness

noun

from /frəm/

I. preposition

1. indicating the point in space at which a journey, motion, or action starts

• she began to walk away from him

• I leapt from my bed

• ‹figurative› he was turning the committee away from appeasement.

2. indicating the distance between a particular place and another place used as a point of reference

• the ambush occurred 50 yards from a checkpoint.

3. indicating the point in time at which a particular process, event, or activity starts

• the show will run from 10 to 2.

4. indicating the source or provenance of someone or something

• I'm from Hartford

• she phoned him from the hotel

• she demanded the keys from her husband.

5. indicating the date at which something was created

• a document dating from the thirteenth century.

6. indicating the starting point of a specified range on a scale

• men who ranged in age from seventeen to eighty-four.

7. indicating one extreme in a range of conceptual variations

• anything from geography to literature.

8. indicating the point at which an observer is placed

• you can see the island from here

• ‹figurative› the ability to see things from another's point of view.

9. indicating the raw material out of which something is manufactured

• a varnish made from copal.

10. indicating separation or removal

• the party was ousted from power after sixteen years.

11. indicating prevention

• the story of how he was saved from death.

12. indicating a cause

• a child suffering from asthma.

13. indicating a source of knowledge or the basis for one's judgment

• information obtained from papers, books, and presentations.

14. indicating a distinction

• the courts view him in a different light from that of a manual worker.

II. phrases

1. as from

see as^1.

2. from day to day (or hour to hour, etc.)

daily (or hourly, etc.); as the days (or hours, etc.) pass.

3. from now (or then, etc.) on

now (or then, etc.) and in the future

• they were friends from that day on.

4. from time to time

occasionally.

– origin Old English fram, from, of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse frá (see fro).

fromage blanc /frōˌmäZH ˈbläNGk/

I. noun

a type of soft French cheese made from cow's milk and having a creamy sour taste.

– origin French, literally ‘white cheese.’

Fromm, Erich /främ/

(1900–80), US psychoanalyst and social philosopher; born in Germany. His works, which include Escape from Freedom (1941), Man for Himself (1947), and The Sane Society (1955), emphasize the role of culture in neurosis and strongly criticize materialist values.

frond /fränd/

I. noun

the leaf or leaflike part of a palm, fern, or similar plant

• fronds of bracken

• ‹figurative› her hair escaped in wayward fronds.

II. derivatives

fronded

adjective

– origin late 18th cent.: from Latin frons, frond- ‘leaf.’

Fronde /frônd/

I. a series of civil wars in France 1648–53, in which the nobles rose in rebellion against Mazarin and the court during the minority of Louis XIV.

II. the party which rose in rebellion against Mazarin and the court at this time.

– origin late 18th cent.: French, from the name for a type of sling used in a children's game played in the streets of Paris at this time.

frondeur /ˌfrônˈdər/

I. noun

‹rare› a political rebel.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, literally ‘slinger,’ used to denote a member of the Fronde.

frons /fränz/

I. noun

[Zoology] the forehead or equivalent part of an animal, especially the middle part of an insect's face between the eyes and above the clypeus.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin, ‘front, forehead.’

front /frənt/

I. noun

1. the side or part of an object that presents itself to view or that is normally seen or used first; the most forward part of something

• a page at the front of the book had been torn out

• he sealed the envelope and wrote on the front.

2. [in sing.] — the position directly ahead of someone or something; the most forward position or place

• she quickly turned her head to face the front.

3. the forward-facing part of a person's body, on the opposite side to their back.

4. the part of a garment covering this

• oatmeal slopped from the tray onto his shirt front.

5. ‹informal› a woman's bust or cleavage.

6. any face of a building, especially that of the main entrance

• the west front of the cathedral.

7. (chiefly Brit.) short for seafront or waterfront.

8. the foremost line or part of an armed force; the furthest position that an army has reached and where the enemy is or may be engaged

• his regiment was immediately sent to the front.

9. the direction toward which a line of troops faces when formed.

10. a particular formation of troops for battle.

11. a particular situation or sphere of operation

• there was some good news on the jobs front.

12. [often in names] — an organized political group

• the Palestinian Liberation Front.

13. [Meteorology] the forward edge of an advancing mass of air.
See cold front, occluded front, warm front.

14. [in sing.] — an appearance or form of behavior assumed by a person to conceal their genuine feelings

• she put on a brave front.

15. a person or organization serving as a cover for subversive or illegal activities

• the CIA identified the company as a front for a terrorist group.

16. a well-known or prestigious person who acts as a representative, rather than an active member, of an organization.
See also frontman.

17. boldness and confidence of manner

• he's got a bit of talent and a lot of front.

18. ‹archaic› a person's face or forehead.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of or at the front

• the front cover of the magazine

• she was in the front yard.

2. [Phonetics] (of a vowel sound) formed by raising the body of the tongue, excluding the blade and tip, toward the hard palate.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. (of a building or piece of land) have the front facing or directed toward

• the houses that front Beacon Street

• [no obj.] we sold the uphill land that fronted on the road.

2. be or stand in front of

• they reached the hedge fronting the garden.

3. ‹archaic› stand face to face with; confront

• Tom fronted him with unwavering eyes.

4. (usu. be fronted) — provide (something) with a front or facing of a particular type or material

• a metal box fronted by an alloy panel

• (-fronted) a glass-fronted bookcase.

5. lead or be the most prominent member in (an organization, activity, or group of musicians)

• the group is fronted by two girl singers.

6. present or host (a television or radio program).

7. [no obj.] — act as a front or cover for someone or something acting illegally or wishing to conceal something

• he fronted for them in illegal property deals.

8. [Phonetics] articulate (a vowel sound) with the tongue further forward
(as adj. fronted)

• all speakers use raised and fronted variants more in spontaneous speech.

9. [Linguistics] place (a sentence element) at the beginning of a sentence instead of in its usual position, typically for emphasis or as feature of some dialects, as in horrible it was.

IV. exclamation

used to summon someone to the front or to command them to assume a forward-facing position, as in calling a bellhop to the front desk or giving orders to troops on parade

• scouts, front and center!

V. phrases

1. in front

a. in a position just ahead of or further forward than someone or something else

• the car in front stopped suddenly.

b. in the lead in a game or contest

• the Reds were in front until the eighth inning.

c. on the part or side that normally first presents itself to view

• a house with a wide porch in front.

2. in front of

a. in a position just ahead or at the front part of someone or something else

• the lawn in front of the house.

b. in a position facing someone or something

• she sat in front of the mirror.

c. in the presence of

• the teacher didn't want his authority challenged in front of the class.

3. out front

a. at or to the front; in front

• two station wagons stopped out front.

b. in the auditorium of a theater.

4. up front

a. at or near the front

• the floor plan has an open living area up front.

b. in advance

• every fee must be paid up front.

c. open and direct; frank

• I vowed to be up front with her.

VI. derivatives

1. fronting /ˈfrəntiNG /

noun

2. frontless

adjective

3. frontward /-wərd /

adjective, adverb

4. frontwards /-wərdz /

adverb

– origin Middle English (denoting the forehead): from Old French front (noun), fronter (verb), from Latin frons, front- ‘forehead, front.’

frontage /ˈfrən(t)ij/

noun

1. the facade of a building.

2. a strip or extent of land abutting on a street or water

• the houses have a narrow frontage to the street

• our lot has a frontage of 153 feet, with a depth of 170 feet

• beautiful homes with river frontage.

frontage road

noun

(N. Amer.) a subsidiary road running parallel to a main road or highway and giving access to houses and businesses.
Also called service road.

frontal^1 /ˈfrən(t)l/

I. adjective

1. of or at the front

• the frontal view misses the octagonal tower.

2. (of an attack) delivered directly on the front, not the side or back

• a frontal assault upon the Iraqi fortifications.

3. of or relating to the forehead or front part of the skull

• the frontal sinuses.

II. derivatives

frontally /ˈfrən(t)lē /

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘relating to the forehead’): from modern Latin frontalis, from Latin frons, front- ‘front, forehead.’

frontal^2 /ˈfrən(t)l/

I. noun

a decorative cloth for covering the front of an altar.

– origin Middle English (denoting a band or ornament worn on the forehead): from Old French frontel, from Latin frontale, from frons, front- ‘front, forehead.’

frontal bone

noun

1. the bone that forms the front part of the skull and the upper part of the eye sockets.

2. either of the pair of bones from which the frontal bone is formed by fusion in infancy.

frontal lobe

noun

each of the paired lobes of the brain lying immediately behind the forehead, including areas concerned with behavior, learning, personality, and voluntary movement.

frontal lobotomy

noun

lobotomy of the frontal lobe of the cerebrum to sever the white connecting fibers.

front and center

I. adverb

prominently; at the forefront

• standing front and center here today are our bravest heroes.

II. adjective

prominent; of the greatest importance

• why is this matter suddenly front and center?

• my front-and-center concerns.

front bench /ˈˌfrənt ˈbenCH/

I. noun

(in the UK) the foremost seats in the House of Commons, occupied by the members of the cabinet and shadow cabinet.

II. derivatives

frontbencher

noun

front bottom

noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› used euphemistically to refer to the female genitalia

• these are women who insist on a “no front bottom” clause.

front burner

noun

the focus of attention

• a revamp of the 1872 Mining Law is next up on the front burner.

Compare with back burner.

front court

noun

1. the part of a basketball court where each team tries to score against its opponent.

2. the players on a team who usually play closest to the other team's basket when trying to score.

Front de Libération Nationale /ˌfrän də libəräsˌyän näsyəˈnäl / FLN

I. a revolutionary political party in Algeria that supported the war of independence against France 1954–62.

– origin French, ‘National Liberation Front.’

front desk

noun

the main desk at a hotel or motel, for checking in or out and handling requests from guests.

front door //

noun

the main entrance to a house.

Frontenac, Louis de Buade /ˈfrontəˌnak, frôNt(ə)ˈnäk/

Comte de (1622–98), French politician. He served as governor of New France 1672–82, 1689–98.

front end /frən(t) ˈend/

I. noun

1. the front of a car or other vehicle.

2. the part of a radio or television receiver to which the aerial signal goes first.

3. [Computing] a part of a computer or program that allows access to other parts.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. (of money) paid or charged at the beginning of a transaction

• a front-end fee.

2. [Computing] (of a device or program) directly accessed by the user and allowing access to further devices, programs, or databases.

front-end load

noun

the deduction of commission fees and expenses from mutual fund shares at the time of purchase.

front-end loader

noun

1. (N. Amer.) a machine with a scoop or bucket on an articulated arm at the front for digging and loading earth.

2. (N. Amer.) a hydraulic bucket or scoop that fits onto the front of a tractor.

frontes /ˈfrän(t)ēz/

plural form of frons.

front-fanged /ˈfrəntˌfaNGd/

adjective

(of a snake such as a cobra or viper) having the front pair of teeth modified as fangs, with grooves or canals to conduct the venom.
Compare with back-fanged.

frontier /ˌfrənˈtir/

I. noun

1. a line or border separating two countries.

2. the district near a border separating two countries.

3. the extreme limit of settled land beyond which lies wilderness, especially referring to the western US before Pacific settlement

• his novel of the American frontier.

4. the extreme limit of understanding or achievement in a particular area

• the success of science in extending the frontiers of knowledge.

II. derivatives

frontierless

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French frontiere, based on Latin frons, front- ‘front.’

frontiersman /ˌfrənˈtirzmən/

noun

a man living in the region of a frontier, especially that between settled and unsettled country.

frontierswoman /frənˈtirzˌwo͝omən/

noun

a woman living in the region of a frontier, especially that between settled and unsettled country.

frontispiece /ˈfrən(t)isˌpēs/

I. noun

1. an illustration facing the title page of a book.

2. [Architecture] the principal face of a building.

3. a decorated entrance.

4. a pediment over a door or window.

– origin late 16th cent. (sense 2): from French frontispice or late Latin frontispicium ‘facade,’ from Latin frons, front- ‘front’ + specere ‘to look.’ The change in the ending (early in the word's history) was by association with piece.

frontlet /ˈfrən(t)lət/

I. noun

1. an ornamental piece of cloth hanging over the upper part of an altar frontal.

2. ‹dated› a decorative band or ornament worn on the forehead.

3. another term for phylactery.

4. a piece of armor or harness for an animal's forehead.

– origin late 15th cent. (sense 2): from Old French frontelet, diminutive of frontel (see frontal^2).

front line /ˈˌfrənt ˈˌlīn / frontline

noun — (usu. the front line)

1. the military line or part of an army that is closest to the enemy
[as modifier]

• the front-line troops.

2. the most important or influential position in a debate or movement

• it is doctors who are on the front line of the euthanasia debate.

front-line state

plural noun

a country that borders on an area troubled by a war or other crisis

• Germany will no longer be a front-line state with little strategic depth.

front-load

verb — [with obj.]

1. distribute or allocate (costs, effort, etc.) unevenly, with the greater proportion at the beginning of an enterprise or process.

frontman /ˈfrəntˌman/

noun

1. the lead singer of a pop or rock group.

2. a person who represents an organization and works to make its image more appealing to the public

• Harry wanted Teddy to act as the respectable frontman for his business interests.

3. (in soccer) a forward or attacker

• once again, Wigan's frontmen failed to take their chances.

front matter /ˈfrənt ˌmadər/

noun

the pages preceding the main text of a book, including the title, table of contents, and preface.

front money

noun

money received at the beginning of the period of a contract, or money spent in advance of a business operation before income can be obtained

• sought investors willing to put up front money to stage the Broadway musical.

front nine

noun

[Golf] the first nine holes on an eighteen-hole course

• she missed two short birdie putts on the front nine.

front office //

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) the management or administrative officers of a business or other organization.

fronton /ˈfräntän/

I. noun

1. a building where pelota or jai alai is played.

2. another term for pediment.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French, from Italian frontone, from fronte ‘forehead,’ from Latin frons, front- ‘front, forehead.’

front-page

I. adjective

1. appearing on the first page of a newspaper or similar publication and containing important or remarkable news

• they ran a front-page story headlined “White-Collar Chic.”

2. worthy of being printed on the first page of a newspaper, etc.

• dishonest research has become front-page news.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. print (a story) on the first page of a newspaper, etc.

• the paper had front-paged a 1988 discovery at one of his nearby digs.

Front Range

the easternmost range of the Rocky Mountains, chiefly in Colorado, that reaches 14,270 feet (4,349 m) at Grays Peak; also home to Pikes Peak.

front runner /frənt ˈrənər/

noun

1. the contestant that is leading in a race or other competition.

2. an athlete or horse that runs best when in the front of the field.

front-running /ˌfrəntˈrəniNG/

I. adjective

1. ahead in a race or other competition.

2. (of an athlete or horse) running best when in front of the field.

II. noun

1. [Stock Market] the practice by market makers of dealing on advance information provided by their brokers and investment analysts, before their clients have been given the information.

2. (US) the practice of giving one's support to a competitor because they are in front.

frontside /ˈfrəntsīd/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. denoting a maneuver in surfing and other board sports that is done counterclockwise for a regular rider and clockwise for a goofy rider.

front-wheel drive /ˌfrənt ˌ(h)wēl ˈdrīv/

noun

a transmission system that provides power to the front wheels of a motor vehicle.

frontwoman /ˈfrəntˌwo͝omən/

noun

a female lead singer of a pop or rock group

• the frontwoman for one of this city's feistiest rock bands.

frore /frôr/

I. adjective

‹literary› frozen; frosty.

– origin Middle English: archaic past participle of freeze.

frosh /fräSH/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a college freshman
[as modifier]

• frosh week.

– origin early 20th cent.: alteration of freshman, perhaps influenced by German Frosch ‘frog’ (in dialect use ‘grammar-school student’).

frost /frôst/

I. noun

1. a deposit of small white ice crystals formed on the ground or other surfaces when the temperature falls below freezing

• the lanes were glistening with frost.

2. a weather condition or period of cold weather in which deposits of frost form

• when the hard frosts had set in.

3. a chilling or dispiriting quality, especially one conveyed by a cold manner

• there was a light frost of anger in Jack's tone.

4. [in sing.] — ‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) a failure.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. cover (something) with or as if with small ice crystals; freeze

• each windowpane was frosted along its edges.

2. [no obj.] — become covered with small ice crystals

• a mustache that frosts up when he's ice-climbing.

3. (N. Amer.) decorate (a cake, cupcake, or other baked item) with icing.

4. (US) tint hair strands to change the color of isolated strands.

5. injure (a plant) by freezing weather.

6. ‹informal› anger or annoy

• such discrimination frosted her no end.

III. derivatives

frostless

adjective

– origin Old English frost, forst, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vorst and German Frost, also to freeze.

Frost, Robert /frôst/

(1874–1963), US poet, noted for his ironic tone and simple language; full name Robert Lee Frost. Much of his poetry reflects his ties to New England, including the collections North of Boston (1914) and New Hampshire (1923). He won Pulitzer Prizes in 1924, 1931, and 1937.

frostbite /ˈfrôs(t)ˌbīt/

noun

injury to body tissues caused by exposure to extreme cold, typically affecting the nose, fingers, or toes and sometimes resulting in gangrene.

frosted /ˈfrôstəd/

adjective

1. covered with or as if with frost

• I stood looking out on the frosted garden.

2. (of glass or a window) having a translucent textured surface so that it is difficult to see through.

3. (chiefly N. Amer.) (of food) decorated or dusted with icing or sugar.

4. (of lipstick, eyeshadow, or nail polish) having a pale, pearlescent sheen

• pink frosted lipstick.

5. (chiefly US) (of hair) having isolated light-colored tints

• brown hair with frosted tips.

frost flower

noun

any of a group of delicate clusters of ice crystals that form directly from water vapor, typically on the surface of sea ice.

frost-free

adjective

free of a buildup of ice without defrosting

• a frost-free freezer.

frost heave

I. noun

1. the uplift of water-saturated soil or other surface deposits due to expansion on freezing.

2. a mound formed by frost heave, especially when broken through the pavement of a road.

II. derivatives

frost heaving

noun

frosting /ˈfrôstiNG/

noun

1. (N. Amer.) icing.

2. a roughened matte finish on otherwise shiny material such as glass or steel.

frost line

noun — [in sing.]

1. (N. Amer.) the maximum depth of ground below which the soil does not freeze in winter.

frostwork /ˈfrôstwərk/

noun

attractive patterns made by frost on a window or other surface.

frosty /ˈfrôstē/

I. adjective

1. (of the weather) very cold with frost forming on surfaces

• a cold and frosty morning.

2. covered with or as if with frost

• the dog crouched in the frosty grass.

3. cold and unfriendly in manner

• Sam gave her a frosty look.

II. derivatives

1. frostily /ˈfrôstəlē /

adverb

2. frostiness /ˈfrôstēnəs /

noun

froth /frôTH/

I. noun

1. a mass of small bubbles in liquid caused by agitation, fermentation, etc.; foam

• leave the yeast until there is a good head of froth.

2. impure matter that rises to the surface of liquid

• skim off any surface froth.

3. something that rises or overflows in a soft, light mass

• her skirt swirled in a froth of black lace.

4. worthless or insubstantial talk, ideas, or activities

• the froth of party politics.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. form or contain a rising or overflowing mass of small bubbles

• he took a quick sip of beer as it frothed out of the can

• (as adj. frothing) scooping salmon out of the frothing gorge.

2. [with obj.] — agitate (a liquid) so as to produce a mass of small bubbles.

3. rise or overflow in a soft, light mass

• she wore an ivory silk blouse, frothing at neck and cuffs.

III. phrases

froth at the mouth

a. emit a large amount of saliva from the mouth in a bodily seizure.

b. ‹informal› display intense anger

• one can barely read a word about them without frothing at the mouth.

– origin late Middle English: from Old Norse frotha, frauth.

frothy /ˈfrôTHē/

I. adjective

1. full of or covered with a mass of small bubbles

• steaming mugs of frothy coffee.

2. light and entertaining but of little substance

• lots of frothy interviews.

II. derivatives

1. frothily /-THəlē, T͟Həlē /

adverb

2. frothiness /-THēnis, T͟Hēnis /

noun

frottage /frôˈtäZH/

I. noun

1. [Art] the technique or process of taking a rubbing from an uneven surface to form the basis of a work of art.

2. a work of art produced by taking a rubbing from an uneven surface.

3. the practice of touching or rubbing against the clothed body of another person in a crowd as a means of obtaining sexual gratification.

II. derivatives

1. frotteur /-ˈtər /

noun

frottage (sense 2)

2. frotteurism /-ˈtərˌizəm /

noun

frottage (sense 2)

– origin 1930s: French, ‘rubbing, friction.’

frottola /ˈfrädələ/

I. noun

[Music] a form of Italian comic or amorous song, especially from the 15th and 16th centuries.

– origin Italian, literally ‘fib, tall tale.’

Froude number /ˈfroud ˌnəmbər/

I. noun

a dimensionless number used in hydrodynamics to indicate how well a particular model works in relation to a real system.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after William Froude (1810–79), English civil engineer.

froufrou /ˈfro͞ofro͞o/

I. noun

1. a rustling noise made by someone walking in a dress.

2. frills or other ornamentation, particularly of women's clothes
[as modifier]

• a little froufrou skirt.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French, imitative.

frounce /frouns/

I. noun

[Falconry] a form of trichomoniasis affecting hawks, resulting in a sore with a cheesy secretion in the mouth or throat.

– origin late Middle English: of unknown origin.

FROW /frō/

I. noun

‹informal› the row of seats closest to the catwalk at a fashion show, considered to be the most prestigious and desirable place to sit

• Nicole Richie joined Jessica Alba on the FROW in a monochrome black and white frock.

– origin early 21st cent.: abbreviation of front row.

froward /ˈfrō(w)ərd/

I. adjective

(of a person) difficult to deal with; contrary.

II. derivatives

1. frowardly

adverb

2. frowardness

noun

– origin late Old English frāward ‘leading away from, away,’ based on Old Norse frá (see fro, from).

frown /froun/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. furrow one's brow in an expression of disapproval, displeasure, or concentration

• he frowned as he reread the letter.

2. (frown on/upon) — disapprove of

• the old Russian rural system frowned on private enterprise.

II. noun

a facial expression or look characterized by a furrowing of one's brows

• a frown of disapproval.

III. derivatives

1. frowner

noun

2. frowningly

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Old French froignier, from froigne ‘surly look,’ of Celtic origin.

frowst /froust / ‹informal chiefly Brit.›

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. a warm, stuffy atmosphere in a room.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. lounge about in a warm, stuffy atmosphere

• don't frowst by the fire all day.

III. derivatives

frowster

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: back-formation from frowsty.

frowsty /ˈfroustē/

I. adjective

(Brit.) having a stale, warm, and stuffy atmosphere

• a small, frowsty office.

II. derivatives

frowstiness

noun

– origin mid 19th cent. (originally dialect): variant of frowzy.

frowzy /ˈfrouzē / frowsy

I. adjective

1. scruffy and neglected in appearance.

2. dingy and stuffy

• a frowzy nightclub.

II. derivatives

frowziness /ˈfrouzēnəs /

noun

– origin late 17th cent. (originally dialect): of unknown origin.

fro-yo /ˈfrōyō/

noun

‹informal› frozen yogurt.

froze /frōz/

past of freeze.

frozen /ˈfrōzən/

I. past participle of freeze.

II. adjective

[Billiards] (of a ball) resting against another ball or a cushion.

frozen shoulder

noun

the common name for adhesive capsulitis.

frozen smoke

noun

another term for aerogel.

FRS

abbreviation

1. Federal Reserve System.

2. (in the UK) Fellow of the Royal Society.

frt.

abbreviation

freight.

Fructidor /ˌfro͝oktəˈdôr, frYk-/

I. noun

the twelfth month of the French Republican calendar (1793–1805), originally running from August 18 to September 16.

– origin French, from Latin fructus ‘fruit’ + Greek dōron ‘gift.’

fructification /ˌfrəktəfəˈkāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the process of fructifying.

2. [Botany] a spore-bearing or fruiting structure, especially in a fungus.

– origin late 15th cent.: from late Latin fructificatio(n-), from Latin fructificare ‘fructify,’ from fructus ‘fruit.’

fructify /ˈfrəktəˌfī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹formal› make (something) fruitful or productive.

2. [no obj.] — ‹formal› bear fruit or become productive.

– origin Middle English: from Old French fructifier, from Latin fructificare, from fructus ‘fruit.’

fructose /ˈfrəkˌtōs ˈfrəkˌtōz/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a hexose sugar found especially in honey and fruit.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin fructus ‘fruit’ + -ose^2.

fructuous /ˈfrək(t)SHəwəs/

I. adjective

‹formal› full of or producing a great deal of fruit.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin fructuosus, from fructus ‘fruit.’

frug /fro͝oɡ/

I. noun

a vigorous dance to pop music, popular in the mid-1960s.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. perform the frug, a vigorous dance of the 1960s.

– origin of unknown origin.

frugal /ˈfro͞oɡəl/

I. adjective

1. sparing or economical with regard to money or food

• he led a remarkably frugal existence.

2. simple and plain and costing little

• a frugal meal.

II. derivatives

frugally /ˈfro͞oɡəlē /

adverb

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin frugalis, from frugi ‘economical, thrifty,’ from frux, frug- ‘fruit.’

frugality /fro͞oˈɡalədē/

noun

the quality of being economical with money or food; thriftiness

• he scorned the finer things in life and valued frugality and simplicity.

frugivorous /fro͞oˈjivərəs/

I. noun

[Zoology] (of an animal) feeding on fruit.

II. derivatives

frugivore /ˈfro͞ojiˌvôr /

adjective

– origin mid 20th cent.: from Latin frux, frug- ‘fruit’ + -vore (see -vorous).

fruit /fro͞ot/

I. noun

1. the sweet and fleshy product of a tree or other plant that contains seed and can be eaten as food

• tropical fruits such as mangoes and papaya

• eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.

2. [Botany] the seed-bearing structure of a plant, e.g., an acorn.

3. the result or reward of work or activity

• the pupils began to appreciate the fruits of their labors

• the journal was the first fruit of the creative partnership.

4. ‹archaic› ‹literary› natural produce that can be used for food

• we give thanks for the fruits of the earth.

5. ‹archaic› offspring

• she couldn't bear not to see the fruit of her womb.

6. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› ‹offensive› a male homosexual.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a tree or other plant) produce fruit, typically at a specified time

• the trees fruit very early

• (as noun fruiting) cover strawberries with cloches to encourage early fruiting.

III. phrases

1. in fruit

(of a tree or plant) at the stage of producing fruit.

2. old fruit

(Brit.) ‹informal› ‹dated› a friendly form of address used by one man to another.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, from Latin fructus ‘enjoyment of produce, harvest,’ from frui ‘enjoy,’ related to fruges ‘fruits of the earth,’ plural (and most common form) of frux, frug- ‘fruit.’

fruit acid

noun

another term for alpha-hydroxy acid.

fruitage /ˈfro͞odij/

noun

‹archaic› ‹literary› fruit collectively.

fruitarian /ˌfro͞oˈterēən/

I. noun

a person who eats only fruit.

II. derivatives

fruitarianism /ˌfro͞oˈterēəˌnizəm /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: from fruit, on the pattern of vegetarian.

fruit bat

noun

a bat with a long snout and large eyes, feeding chiefly on fruit or nectar and found mainly in the Old World tropics.
[Family Pteropodidae: many genera and numerous species. See also flying fox.]

fruit-bearing

adjective

(of a tree or other plant) producing fruit

• flowering and fruit-bearing shrubs enhance a new home.

fruit body

noun

another term for fruiting body.

fruitcake /ˈfro͞otkāk/

noun

1. a cake containing dried fruit and nuts.

2. ‹informal› an eccentric or insane person.
[compare with nutty as a fruitcake (see nutty).]

fruit cocktail /fro͞ot ˈkäkˌtāl/

noun

a finely chopped fruit salad, often commercially produced in cans.

fruit cup /ˌfro͞ot ˈkəp/

noun

(N. Amer.) a salad made of chopped fruit and served in a glass dish as an appetizer or dessert.

fruit drop /ˈfro͞ot ˌdräp/

noun

the shedding of unripe fruit from a tree.

fruited /ˈfro͞odəd/

adjective — [usu. in combination]

1. (of a tree or plant) producing fruit, especially of a specified kind

• heavy-fruited plants like tomatoes.

fruiter /ˈfro͞odər/

noun

a tree producing fruit at a specified time or in a specified manner

• the wet-season fruiters.

fruiterer /ˈfro͞odərər/

I. noun

a retailer of fruit.

– origin late Middle English: from fruiter + -er^1; the reason for the addition of the suffix is unclear.

fruit fly /ˈfro͞ot ˌflī/

noun

a small fly that feeds on fruit in both its adult and larval stages.
[Families Drosophilidae and Tephritidae: many genera. See also drosophila.]

fruitful /ˈfro͞otfəl/

I. adjective

1. (of a tree, a plant, or land) producing much fruit; fertile.

2. producing good or helpful results; productive

• years of fruitful collaboration

• the two days of talks had been fruitful.

3. (of a person) producing many offspring.

II. derivatives

1. fruitfully /ˈfro͞otfəlē /

adverb

2. fruitfulness /ˈfro͞otfəlnəs /

noun

fruiting body

noun

[Botany] the spore-producing organ of a fungus, often seen as a mushroom or toadstool.

fruition /fro͞oˈiSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the point at which a plan or project is realized

• the plans have come to fruition sooner than expected.

2. [in sing.] — the realization of a plan or project

• new methods will come with the fruition of that research.

3. ‹literary› the state or action of producing fruit.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘enjoyment’): via Old French from late Latin fruitio(n-), from frui ‘enjoy’ (see fruit); the current senses (dating from the late 19th cent.) arose by association with fruit.

fruitless /ˈfro͞otləs/

I. adjective

1. failing to achieve the desired results; unproductive or useless

• his fruitless attempts to publish poetry.

2. (of a tree or plant) not producing fruit.

II. derivatives

1. fruitlessly /ˈfro͞otləslē /

adverb

2. fruitlessness

noun

fruitlet /ˈfro͞otlət/

noun

1. an immature or small fruit.

2. [Botany] another term for drupelet.

fruit loop

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a crazy or foolish person.

– origin 1970s: from Froot Loops, trademark for a breakfast cereal.

fruit machine /ˈfro͞ot məˌSHēn/

noun

British term for slot machine.

fruit pigeon

noun

a fruit-eating pigeon occurring in the Old World tropics.
[● a relative of the imperial pigeons occurring in New Guinea (genus Ducula, family Columbidae). ● a green pigeon occurring in Africa (genus Treron, family Columbidae).]

fruit salad /fro͞ot ˈsaləd/

noun

1. a mixture of different types of chopped fruit served in syrup or juice.

2. ‹military slang› a display of medals and other decorations.

fruit sugar

noun

another term for fructose.

fruit tree /ˈfro͞o(t) ˌtrē/

noun

a tree grown for its edible fruit.

fruitwood /ˈfro͞otwo͝od/

noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. the wood of a fruit tree, especially when used in furniture

• a fruitwood dressing table.

fruity /ˈfro͞odē/

I. adjective

1. (especially of food or drink) of, resembling, or containing fruit

• a light and fruity Beaujolais.

2. (of a voice or sound) mellow, deep, and rich

• Jeff had a wonderfully fruity voice.

3. (Brit.) ‹informal› sexually suggestive in content or style.

4. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› ‹offensive› relating to or associated with homosexuals.

5. ‹informal› (chiefly US) eccentric or crazy

• a kind of fruity professor.

II. derivatives

1. fruitily /ˈfro͞otl-ē /

adverb

2. fruitiness /ˈfro͞otēnəs /

noun

frumenty /ˈfro͞oməntē / furmety

I. noun

(Brit.) an old-fashioned dish consisting of hulled wheat boiled in milk and seasoned with cinnamon and sugar.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French frumentee, from frument, from Latin frumentum ‘corn.’

frump /frəmp/

I. noun

an unattractive woman who wears dowdy old-fashioned clothes.

II. derivatives

1. frumpish /ˈfrəmpiSH /

adjective

2. frumpishly

adverb

– origin mid 16th cent.: probably a contraction of late Middle English frumple ‘wrinkle,’ from Middle Dutch verrompelen. The word originally denoted a mocking speech or action; later (in the plural) ill humor, the sulks; hence a bad-tempered, (later) dowdy woman (early 19th cent).

frumpy

I. adjective

(of a woman or her clothes) dowdy and old-fashioned

• a frumpy housewife

• her frumpy, shapeless dresses.

II. derivatives

1. frumpily /ˈfrəmpəlē /

adverb

2. frumpiness /ˈfrəmpēnis /

noun

Frunze /ˈfro͞onzə/

former name (1926–91) of Bishkek.

frusta /ˈfrəstə/

plural form of frustum.

frustrate /ˈfrəstrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. prevent (a plan or attempted action) from progressing, succeeding, or being fulfilled

• his attempt to frustrate the merger.

2. prevent (someone) from doing or achieving something

• an increasingly popular way to frustrate car thieves.

3. cause (someone) to feel upset or annoyed, typically as a result of being unable to change or achieve something
(as adj. frustrating)

• it can be very frustrating to find that the size you want isn't there.

II. adjective

‹archaic› frustrated.

III. derivatives

frustrater

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin frustrat- ‘disappointed,’ from the verb frustrare, from frustra ‘in vain.’

frustrated /ˈfrəˌstrādəd/

I. adjective

1. feeling or expressing distress and annoyance, especially because of inability to change or achieve something

• young people get frustrated with the system.

2. [attrib.] — (of a person) unable to follow or be successful in a particular career

• a frustrated actor.

3. [attrib.] — prevented from progressing, succeeding, or being fulfilled

• our parents may want us to fulfill their own frustrated dreams.

4. (of a person or sexual desire) unfulfilled sexually

• jealousies and frustrated passions.

II. derivatives

frustratedly

adverb

frustratingly /ˈfrəˌstrādiNGlē/

adverb

1. in a way that causes irritation or frustration

• the film is frustratingly undercut by a lack of artistic daring

• [as submodifier] my recovery proved frustratingly slow.

2. [sentence adverb] — used to express irritation or frustration at a situation or event

• frustratingly, we do not learn the actual outcome.

frustration /frəˈstrāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the feeling of being upset or annoyed, especially because of inability to change or achieve something

• I sometimes feel like screaming with frustration.

2. an event or circumstance that causes one to have a feeling of frustration

• the inherent frustrations of assembly line work.

3. the prevention of the progress, success, or fulfillment of something

• the frustration of their wishes.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin frustratio(n-), from frustrare ‘disappoint’ (see frustrate).

frustule /ˈfrəsˌCHo͞ol/

I. noun

[Botany] the silicified cell wall of a diatom, consisting of two valves or overlapping halves.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin frustulum, diminutive of frustum (see frustum).

frustum /ˈfrəstəm/

I. noun

[Geometry] the portion of a cone or pyramid that remains after its upper part has been cut off by a plane parallel to its base, or that is intercepted between two such planes.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin, ‘piece cut off.’

fruticose /ˈfro͞odəkōs/

I. adjective

[Botany] (of a lichen) having upright or pendulous branches.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin fruticosus, from frutex, frutic- ‘bush, shrub.’

fry^1 /frī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cook (food) in hot fat or oil, typically in a shallow pan.

2. [no obj.] — (of food) be cooked by placing in hot fat in a shallow pan

• put half a dozen steaks to fry in a pan.

3. [no obj.] — ‹informal› (of a person) burn or overheat

• with the sea and sun and wind you'll fry if you don't take care.

4. ‹informal› destroy

• drugs fry the brain.

5. (US) execute or be executed by electrocution.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. a meal of meat or other food cooked by frying.

2. (N. Amer.) a social gathering where fried food is served

• you'll explore islands and stop for a fish fry.

3. (fries) — another term for French fries.

– origin Middle English: from Old French frire, from Latin frigere.

fry^2 /frī/

I. plural noun

1. young fish, especially when newly hatched.

2. the young of other animals produced in large numbers, such as frogs.

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse frjó.

Fry, Christopher /frī/

(1907–2005), English playwright; full name Christopher Harris Fry. He is known chiefly for his comic verse dramas, especially The Lady's Not for Burning (1948) and Venus Observed (1950).

fryer /ˈfrī(ə)r / frier

noun

1. a large, deep container for frying food.

2. (N. Amer.) a small young chicken suitable for frying.

frying pan /ˈfrīiNG ˌpan / frypan

I. noun

a shallow pan with a long handle, used for cooking food in hot fat or oil.

II. phrases

out of the frying pan into the fire

from a bad situation to one that is worse.

fry-up /ˈfrī ˌəp/

noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› a dish of various types of fried food.

fs

abbreviation

femtosecond.

FSBO /ˈfizˌbō/

abbreviation

1. for sale by owner, referring to the sale of property directly by the owner rather than through a professional real estate agent

• FSBO sellers.

2. [as noun] — an owner selling a home or other property without the assistance of a real estate agent

• FSBOs rely on their lawyers to draw up contracts.

FSH

abbreviation

follicle-stimulating hormone.

FSLIC

noun

Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation.

f. sp.

I. abbreviation

a taxonomic category, especially of fungi, below that of species and defined by physiological characteristics, especially as they affect pathogenicity. The abbreviation is used in binomial names, between the species name and a special qualifier.

– origin abbreviation of Latin forma specialis, ‘special form.’

FST

abbreviation

flat-screen television.

f-stop /ˈefˌstäp/

noun

[Photography] a camera setting corresponding to a particular f-number.

FT

abbreviation

1. [Basketball] free throw.

2. full-time.

ft.

abbreviation

foot; feet.

Ft.

abbreviation

Fort

• Ft. Lauderdale.

FTA

abbreviation

(N. Amer.) Free Trade Agreement, used to refer to that signed in 1988 between the US and Canada.

FTC

abbreviation

Federal Trade Commission.

ft-c

abbreviation

foot-candle.

fth.

abbreviation

fathom.

FT index /ˌef ˈtē ˈinˌdeks/

another term for FTSE index.

ft-lb

abbreviation

foot-pound.

FTM

I. adjective

short for female-to-male (sense 2 of the adjective):

• an FTM transsexual.

II. noun

short for female-to-male:

• the books shed light on the lived experiences of FTMs in America.

FTP /ˈˌef ˈˌtē ˈpē / ‹Computing›

I. abbreviation

file transfer protocol, a standard for the exchange of program and data files across a network.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹informal› transfer (a file) from one computer or system to another, especially on the Internet.

FTSE index

I. (Brit.) ‹trademark› a figure (published by the Financial Times) indicating the relative prices of shares on the London Stock Exchange, especially one calculated on the basis of Britain's one hundred largest public companies.

– origin FTSE, abbreviation of Financial Times Stock Exchange.

FTW

I. abbreviation

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) for the win, used typically in electronic communication as an expression of affirmation or strong approval

• even though this is the pre-season you can't count out the revenge factor—Arizona FTW!

– origin 1980s: originally in motorcyclists' slang, as an abbreviation of fuck the world.

Fuad /fo͞oˈäd/

I. the name of two kings of Egypt.

II. Fuad I (1868–1936), reigned 1922–36. Formerly sultan of Egypt 1917–22, he became Egypt's first king after independence.

III. Fuad II (1952–), grandson of Fuad I; reigned 1952–53. Named king as an infant on the forced abdication of his father, Farouk, he was deposed when Egypt became a republic.

fubar /ˈfo͞obär / foobar

I. adjective

out of working order; seriously, perhaps irreparably, damaged

• the clock in the hall is fubar.

– origin 1940s: acronym from fucked up beyond all recognition (or repair).

fubsy /ˈfəbzē/

I. adjective

(Brit.) ‹informal› fat and squat.

– origin late 18th cent.: from dialect fubs ‘small fat person,’ perhaps a blend of fat and chub.

FUBU /ˈfo͞obo͞o / Fubu

I. noun

‹trademark› a brand of designer and sports clothing marketed mainly at young consumers of hip-hop culture
[attrib.]

• a powder-blue Fubu football jersey.

– origin 1990s: acronym from ‘For Us, By Us.’

Fuchs, Klaus /fo͝oks/

(1911–88), British physicist; born in Germany; full name Emil Klaus Julius Fuchs. A communist who fled Nazi persecution, he passed secret information regarding the atom bomb to the former Soviet Union during the 1940s.

Fuchs, Sir Vivian

(1908–99), English geologist and explorer; full name Sir Vivian Ernest Fuchs. He made the first overland crossing of the Antarctic 1955–58. His party met Sir Edmund Hillary's New Zealand contingent, approaching from the opposite direction, at the South Pole.

fuchsia /ˈfyo͞oSHə/

I. noun

1. a shrub with pendulous tubular flowers that are typically of two contrasting colors. They are native to America and New Zealand and are commonly grown as ornamentals.
[Genus Fuchsia, family Onagraceae: many cultivars.]

2. a vivid purplish-red color like that of the sepals of a typical fuchsia flower.

– origin modern Latin, named in honor of Leonhard Fuchs (1501–66), German botanist.

fuchsin /ˈfyo͞oksən, -ˌsēn / fuchsine

I. noun

a deep red synthetic dye used as a biological stain and disinfectant.
[A chloride of rosaniline; chem. formula: C_20H_20N_3Cl.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from German Fuchs ‘fox,’ translating French Renard (the name of the chemical company that first produced fuchsin commercially) + -in^1.

fuci /ˈfyo͞osī/

plural form of fucus.

fuck /fək / ‹vulgar slang›

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. have sexual intercourse with (someone).

2. [no obj.] — (of two people) have sexual intercourse.

3. ruin or damage (something).

II. noun

1. an act of sexual intercourse.

2. [with adj.] — a sexual partner.

III. exclamation

used alone or as a noun or a verb in various phrases to express anger, annoyance, contempt, impatience, or surprise, or simply for emphasis.

IV. phrases

1. go fuck yourself

‹vulgar slang› an exclamation expressing anger or contempt for, or rejection of, someone.

2. not give a fuck (about)

‹vulgar slang› used to emphasize indifference or contempt.

V. phrasal verbs

1. fuck around ‹vulgar slang›

a. spend time doing unimportant or trivial things.

b. have sexual intercourse with a variety of partners.

c. (fuck around with) — meddle with.

2. fuck off

[usu. in imperative] — ‹vulgar slang› (of a person) go away.

3. fuck someone over

(US) ‹vulgar slang› treat someone in an unfair or humiliating way.

4. fuck someone up

‹vulgar slang› damage or confuse someone emotionally.

5. fuck something up (or fuck up)

‹vulgar slang› do something badly or ineptly.

VI. derivatives

fuckable

adjective

– origin early 16th cent.: of Germanic origin (compare Swedish dialect focka and Dutch dialect fokkelen); possibly from an Indo-European root meaning ‘strike,’ shared by Latin pugnus ‘fist.’ / usage: Despite the wideness and proliferation of its use in many sections of society, the word fuck remains (and has been for centuries) one of the most taboo words in English. Until relatively recently, it rarely appeared in print; even today, there are a number of euphemistic ways of referring to it in speech and writing, e.g., the F-word, f***, or f—k.

fuck buddy

noun

‹vulgar slang› a friend or acquaintance with whom a person regularly has sex without the expectation of a romantic relationship.

fucker /ˈfəkər/

noun

‹vulgar slang› a contemptible or stupid person (often used as a general term of abuse).

fuckhead /ˈfəkhed/

noun

‹vulgar slang› a stupid or contemptible person (often used as a general term of abuse).

fucking /ˈfəkiNG/

adjective, adverb

‹vulgar slang› used for emphasis or to express anger, annoyance, contempt, or surprise.

fuck-me /ˈfəkmē/

adjective

‹vulgar slang› (of clothing, especially shoes) inviting or perceived as inviting sexual interest.

fuck-up /ˈfəkəp/

noun

1. ‹vulgar slang› a mess or muddle.

2. ‹vulgar slang› a person who has a tendency to make a mess of things.

fuckwit /ˈfəkwit/

noun

‹vulgar slang› (chiefly Brit.) a stupid or contemptible person (often used as a general term of abuse).

fucoid /ˈfyo͞okoid / ‹Botany›

I. noun

a brown seaweed or fossil plant of a group to which bladderwrack belongs.
[Order Fucales, class Phaeophyceae, including genus Fucus.]

II. adjective

of, relating to, or resembling a brown seaweed, especially a fucoid.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from fucus + -oid.

fucoxanthin /ˌfyo͞okōˈzanTHən/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a brown carotenoid pigment occurring in and generally characteristic of the brown algae.

– origin late 19th cent.: from fucus + xanthin, variant of xanthine.

fucus /ˈfyo͞okəs/

I. noun

a seaweed of a large genus of brown algae having flat leathery fronds.
[Genus Fucus, class Phaeophyceae.]

– origin early 17th cent. (denoting a cosmetic): from Latin, ‘rock lichen, red dye, rouge,’ from Greek phukos ‘seaweed,’ of Semitic origin.

FUD /fəd/

I. noun

fear, uncertainty and doubt, usually evoked intentionally in order to put a competitor at a disadvantage
[as modifier]

• the FUD factor.

– origin acronym.

fuddle /ˈfədl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. confuse or stupefy (someone), especially with alcohol

• my head was aching and my brain seemed fuddled.

2. [no obj.] — ‹archaic› go on a drinking bout.

II. noun — [in sing.]

1. a state of confusion or intoxication

• through the fuddle of wine he heard some of the conversation.

2. ‹archaic› a drinking bout.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘go on a drinking bout’): of unknown origin.

fuddled /ˈfədld/

adjective

confused or stupefied, especially as a result of drinking alcohol
[in combination]

• Benjamin was trying to clear his drink-fuddled brain.

fuddy-duddy /ˈfədēˌdədē/

I. noun

‹informal› a person who is old-fashioned and fussy

• he probably thinks I'm an old fuddy-duddy.

– origin early 20th cent. (originally dialect): of unknown origin.

fudge /fəj/

I. noun

1. a soft candy made from sugar, butter, and milk or cream.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) rich chocolate, used especially as a filling for cakes or a sauce on ice cream

• chocolate cake filled with whipped cream and topped with hot fudge

• [as modifier] a fudge cake.

3. an instance of faking or ambiguity

• the new settlement is a fudge rushed out to win cheers at the conference.

4. ‹archaic› nonsense.

5. a piece of late news inserted in a newspaper page.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. present or deal with (something) in a vague, noncommittal, or inadequate way, especially so as to conceal the truth or mislead

• a temptation to fudge the issue and nudge grades up.

2. adjust or manipulate (facts or figures) so as to present a desired picture.

III. exclamation

‹dated› nonsense (expressing disbelief or annoyance).

– origin early 17th cent.: probably an alteration of obsolete fadge ‘to fit’ Early usage was as a verb in the sense ‘turn out as expected,’ also ‘merge together’: this probably gave rise to its use in confectionery. In the late 17th cent. the verb came to mean ‘fit together in a clumsy or underhanded manner,’ which included facts or figures being cobbled together in a superficially convincing way: this led to the exclamation ‘fudge!’ and to sense 3 of the noun.

fudge factor

noun

‹informal› a figure included in a calculation to account for error or unanticipated circumstances, or to ensure a desired result.

fuel /ˈfyo͞o(ə)l/

I. noun

1. material such as coal, gas, or oil that is burned to produce heat or power.

2. short for nuclear fuel.

3. food, drink, or drugs as a source of energy

• any protein intake can also be used as fuel.

4. a thing that sustains or inflames passion, argument, or other emotion or activity

• the remuneration packages will add fuel to the debate about top-level rewards.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. supply or power (an industrial plant, vehicle, or machine) with fuel

• the plan includes a hydroelectric plant to fuel a paper factory

• ‹figurative› a big novel that is fueled by anger and revenge.

2. fill up (a vehicle, aircraft, or ship) with oil or gasoline.

3. [no obj.] (fuel up) — (of a person) eat a meal

• arrive straight from work and fuel up on the complimentary buffet.

4. cause (a fire) to burn more intensely.

5. sustain or inflame (a feeling or activity)

• his rascal heart and private pain fuel his passion as an actor.

III. phrases

add fuel to the fire (or flames)

cause a situation or conflict to become more intense, especially by provocative comments.

– origin Middle English: from Old French fouaille, based on Latin focus ‘hearth’ (in late Latin ‘fire’).

fuel cell

noun

a cell producing an electric current directly from a chemical reaction.

fuel consumption

noun

the amount of fuel a vehicle uses to travel a particular distance at a particular speed

• the vehicle is easier to drive and has far better fuel consumption.

fuel efficiency

noun

the capacity of an engine, especially that of a vehicle, to obtain energy from fuel

• the company has always placed a lot of emphasis on improving fuel efficiency.

fuel-efficient /ˈfyo͞o(ə)ləˌfiSHənt/

adjective

(chiefly of a vehicle) designed to prevent the wasteful consumption of fuel

• an affordable, fuel-efficient compact car.

fuel element

noun

an element consisting of nuclear fuel and other materials for use in a reactor.

fuel injection /ˈfyo͞o(ə)l inˈjekSHən/

I. noun

the direct introduction of fuel under pressure into the combustion units of an internal combustion engine.

II. derivatives

fuel-injected

adjective

fuel oil /ˈfyo͞o(ə)l ˌoil/

noun

oil used as fuel in an engine or furnace.

fuel rod /ˈfyo͞o(ə)l räd/

noun

a rod-shaped fuel element in a nuclear reactor.

fuelwood /ˈfyo͞oəlˌwo͝od/

noun

wood used as fuel.

Fuentes, Carlos /ˈfwentās/

(1928–2012), Mexican writer. Notable works: Where the Air is Clear (1958), Terra Nostra (1975), The Old Gringo (1984), and Happy Families (2006).

fufu /ˈfo͞ofo͞o / foo-foo

I. noun

dough made from boiled and ground plantain or cassava, used as a staple food in parts of western and central Africa.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Twi fufuu.

fug /fəɡ/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. (Brit.) ‹informal› a warm, stuffy, or smoky atmosphere in a room

• the cozy fug of the music halls.

II. derivatives

fuggy /ˈfəɡē /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent. (originally dialect and schoolchildren's slang): of unknown origin.

fugacious /fyo͞oˈɡāSHəs/

I. adjective

‹literary› tending to disappear; fleeting

• she was acutely conscious of her fugacious youth.

II. derivatives

1. fugaciously

adverb

2. fugaciousness

noun

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin fugax, fugac- (from fugere ‘flee’) + -ious.

fugacity /fyo͞oˈɡasədē/

noun

1. ‹literary› the quality of being fleeting or evanescent.

2. [Chemistry] a thermodynamic property of a real gas that, if substituted for the pressure or partial pressure in the equations for an ideal gas, gives equations applicable to the real gas.

fugal /ˈfyo͞oɡəl/

I. adjective

of the nature of a fugue

• the virtuosity of the fugal finale.

II. derivatives

fugally

adverb

fugato /f(y)o͞oˈɡädō / ‹Music›

I. adjective, adverb

in the style of a fugue, but not in strict or complete fugal form.

II. noun

a fugato passage.

– origin Italian.

-fuge

I. combining form

expelling or dispelling either a specified thing or in a specified way

• vermifuge

• centrifuge.

– origin from modern Latin -fugus, from Latin fugare ‘cause to flee.’

fugitive /ˈfyo͞ojədiv/

I. noun

1. a person who has escaped from a place or is in hiding, especially to avoid arrest or persecution

• fugitives from justice

• [as modifier] fugitive criminals.

2. [as modifier] — quick to disappear; fleeting

• he entertained a fugitive idea that Barbara needed him.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French fugitif, -ive, from Latin fugitivus, from fugere ‘flee.’

fugleman /ˈfyo͞oɡəlˌman/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› a soldier placed in front of a regiment or company while drilling to demonstrate the motions and time.

2. ‹historical› a leader, organizer, or spokesman

• fuglemen of the ideological right.

– origin early 19th cent.: from German Flügelmann ‘leader of the file,’ from Flügel ‘wing’ + Mann ‘man.’

fugly /ˈfəɡli/

I. adjective

‹vulgar slang› very ugly or unattractive

• I told him we all thought he was fugly.

– origin 1970s: blend of fucking and ugly.

fugu /ˈfo͞oɡo͞o/

I. noun

a puffer fish that is eaten as a Japanese delicacy, after some highly poisonous parts have been removed.

– origin mid 20th cent.: from Japanese.

fugue /fyo͞oɡ/

I. noun

1. [Music] a contrapuntal composition in which a short melody or phrase (the subject) is introduced by one part and successively taken up by others and developed by interweaving the parts.

2. [Psychiatry] a state or period of loss of awareness of one's identity, often coupled with flight from one's usual environment, associated with certain forms of hysteria and epilepsy.

II. derivatives

fuguist /ˈfyo͞oɡəst /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from French, or from Italian fuga, from Latin fuga ‘flight,’ related to fugere ‘flee.’

führer /ˈfyo͞orər / fuehrer

I. noun

a ruthless, tyrannical leader.

– origin mid 20th cent.: from German Führer ‘leader,’ part of the title Führer und Reichskanzler ‘Leader and Chancellor of the Empire’ assumed in 1934 by Adolf Hitler, Adolf.

Fujairah /fo͞oˈjīrə / al-Fujayrah

one of the seven member states of the United Arab Emirates; pop. 107,900 (est. 2009).

Fuji, Mount /ˈfo͞ojē/

a dormant volcano on the island of Honshu in Japan. Japan's highest mountain, it rises to 12,385 feet (3,776 m). It is regarded as sacred by the Japanese.
Also called Fujiyama.

Fujian /fo͞oˈjyän / Fukien

a province in southeastern China, on the China Sea; capital, Fuzhou.

Fujita scale /fo͞oˈjēdə ˌskāl / Fujita-Pearson scale

I. noun

[Meteorology] a scale of tornado severity with numbers from 0 to 6, based on the degree of observed damage.

– origin mid 20th cent.: named after Dr. Tetsuya Theodore Fujita (1920–1988), the meteorologist who chiefly devised it.

Fujiyama /ˌfo͞ojēˈyämə/

another name for Fuji, Mount.

Fukuoka /ˌfo͞oko͞oˈōkə/

an industrial city and port in southern Japan, capital of Kyushu island; pop. 1,363,841 (2007).

-ful

I. suffix

1. (forming adjectives from nouns) full of

• sorrowful.

2. having the qualities of

• masterful.

3. forming adjectives from adjectives or from Latin stems with little change of sense

• grateful.

4. (forming adjectives from verbs) apt to; able to; accustomed to

• forgetful

• watchful.

5. (pl. -fuls) — forming nouns denoting the amount needed to fill the specified container, holder, etc.

• bucketful

• handful.

– origin from full^1. / usage: The combining form -ful is used to form nouns meaning ‘the amount needed to fill’ (cupful, spoonful, etc.). The plural form of such words is cupfuls, spoonfuls, etc. Three cups full would denote the individual cups rather than a quantity measured in cups: on the sill were three cups full of milk; add three cupfuls of milk to the batter.

Fula /ˈfo͞olə/

noun

the Benue-Congo language of the Fulani people, spoken as a first language by about 10 million people and widely used in West Africa as a lingua franca. Also called Ful, Fulani.

Fulani /fəˈlänē/

I. noun

1. a member of a people living in a region of West Africa from Senegal to northern Nigeria and Cameroon. They are traditionally nomadic cattle herders of Muslim faith.

2. another term for Fula.

II. adjective

relating to the Fulani or their language.

– origin the name in Hausa.

Fulbright, William /ˈfo͝olˌbrīt/

(1905–95), US senator; full name James William Fulbright. An Arkansas Democrat, he sponsored the Fulbright Act of 1946, which authorized funds from the sale of surplus war materials overseas to be used to finance exchange programs of students and teachers between the US and other countries. The program now is supported by federal grants.

fulcrum /ˈfo͝olkrəm ˈfəlkrəm/

I. noun

1. the point on which a lever rests or is supported and on which it pivots.

2. a thing that plays a central or essential role in an activity, event, or situation

• research is the fulcrum of the academic community.

– origin late 17th cent. (originally in the general sense ‘a prop or support’): from Latin, literally ‘post of a couch,’ from fulcire ‘to prop up.’

fulfill /fo͝olˈfil / ‹Brit.› fulfil

I. verb

1. bring to completion or reality; achieve or realize (something desired, promised, or predicted)

• he wouldn't be able to fulfill his ambition to visit Naples.

2. (fulfill oneself) — gain happiness or satisfaction by fully developing one's abilities or character.

3. ‹archaic› complete (a period of time or piece of work).

4. carry out (a task, duty, or role) as required, pledged, or expected

• some officials were dismissed because they could not fulfill their duties.

5. satisfy or meet (a requirement or condition)

• goods must fulfill three basic conditions.

II. derivatives

1. fulfillable

adjective

2. fulfiller

noun

– origin late Old English fullfyllan ‘fill up, make full’ (see full^1, fill).

fulfilled /fo͝olˈfild/

adjective

satisfied or happy because of fully developing one's abilities or character.

fulfilling /fo͝olˈfiliNG/

adjective

making someone satisfied or happy because of fully developing their character or abilities

• a fulfilling and rewarding career.

fulfillment /fo͝olˈfilmənt / ‹Brit.› fulfilment

noun

1. satisfaction or happiness as a result of fully developing one's abilities or character

• she did not believe that marriage was the key to happiness and fulfillment.

2. the achievement of something desired, promised, or predicted

• winning the championship was the fulfillment of a childhood dream.

3. the meeting of a requirement or condition

• the fulfillment of statutory requirements.

4. the performance of a task, duty, or role as required, pledged, or expected.

fulgent /ˈfəljənt/

I. adjective

‹literary› shining brightly.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin fulgent- ‘shining,’ from the verb fulgere.

fulguration /ˌfo͝olɡ(y)əˈrāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. [Medicine] the destruction of small growths or areas of tissue using diathermy.

2. ‹literary› a flash like that of lightning.

II. derivatives

1. fulgurant

adjective

(in fulguration (sense 2))

2. fulgurate

verb

3. fulgurous

adjective

(in fulguration (sense 2))

– origin mid 17th cent. (usually plural in the sense ‘flashes of lightning’): from Latin fulguratio(n-) ‘sheet lightning,’ from fulgur ‘lightning.’ Sense 1 dates from the early 20th cent.

fulgurite /ˈfo͝olɡ(y)əˌrīt/

I. noun

1. [Geology] vitreous material formed of sand or other sediment fused by lightning.

2. [Geology] a piece of fulgurite.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin fulgur ‘lightning’ + -ite^1.

fuliginous /fyo͞oˈlijənəs/

I. adjective

sooty; dusky.

– origin late 16th cent. (originally describing a vapor as ‘thick and noxious’): from late Latin fuliginosus, from fuligo, fuligin- ‘soot.’

Fuling /ˌfo͞oˈliNG/

a city in Sichuan province, in central China, on the Yangtze River at its junction with the Wu River; pop. 168,500 (est. 2009).

full^1 /fo͝ol/

I. adjective

1. containing or holding as much or as many as possible; having no empty space

• wastebaskets full of rubbish

• she could only nod, for her mouth was full.

2. having eaten or drunk to one's limits or satisfaction.
See also full up below.

3. [predic.] (full of) — containing or holding much or many; having a large number of

• his diary is full of entries about her.

4. [predic.] (full of) — having a lot of (a particular quality)

• she was full of confidence.

5. [predic.] (full of) — completely engrossed with; unable to stop talking or thinking about

• Anna had been full of her day, saying how Mitch had described England to her.

6. filled with intense emotion

• she picked at her food, her heart too full to eat.

7. involving a lot of activities

• he lived a full life.

8. [attrib.] — not lacking or omitting anything; complete

• fill in your full name below

• full details on request.

9. (often used for emphasis) reaching the utmost limit; maximum

• he reached for the engine control and turned it up to full power

• John made full use of all the tuition provided.

10. having all the privileges and status attached to a particular position

• the country applied for full membership in the European Community.

11. (of a report or account) containing as much detail or information as possible.

12. used to emphasize an amount or quantity

• he kept his fast pace going for the full 14-mile distance.

13. [attrib.] — (of a covering material in bookbinding) used for the entire cover

• bound in full cloth.

14. (of a person or part of their body) plump or rounded

• she had full lips

• the fuller figure.

15. (of the hair) having body.

16. (of a garment) made using much material arranged in folds or gathers, or generously cut so as to fit loosely

• the dress has a square neck and a full skirt.

17. (of a sound) strong and resonant.

18. (of a flavor or color) rich or intense.

II. adverb

1. straight; directly

• she turned her head and looked full into his face.

2. very

• he knew full well she was too polite to barge in.

3. ‹archaic› entirely (used to emphasize an amount or quantity)

• they talked for full half an hour.

III. noun — (the full)

1. ‹archaic› the period, point, or state of the greatest fullness or strength; the height of a period of time.

2. ‹archaic› the state or time of full moon.

3. ‹archaic› ‹archaic› (Irish) the whole.

IV. verb

1. [with obj.] — (W. Indian) make (something) full; fill up

• he full up the house with bawling.

2. [with obj.] — gather or pleat (fabric) so as to make a garment full.

3. [no obj.] — ‹dialect› (US) (of the moon or tide) become full.

V. phrases

1. full and by

[Sailing] close-hauled but with sails filling.

2. full of beans

see bean.

3. full of oneself

very self-satisfied and with an exaggerated sense of self-worth.

4. full of years

‹archaic› having lived to a considerable age.

5. full on

a. running at or providing maximum power or capacity

• he had the heater full on.

b. so as to make a direct or significant impact

• the recession has hit us full on.

c. (full-on) — ‹informal› (of an activity or thing) not diluted in nature or effect

• this is full-on ballroom boogie.

6. full out

a. as much or as far as possible; with maximum effort or power

• he held his foot to the floor until the car raced full out.

b. [Printing] flush with the margin.

7. full steam (or speed) ahead

used to indicate that one should proceed with as much speed or energy as possible.

8. full to the brim

see brim.

9. full up

a. filled to capacity.

b. having eaten or drunk so much that one is replete.

10. in full

a. with nothing omitted

• I shall expect your life story in full.

b. to the full amount due

• their relocation costs would be paid in full.

c. to the utmost; completely

• the textbooks have failed to exploit in full the opportunities offered.

11. to the full

to the greatest possible extent

• enjoy your free trip to Europe to the full.

– origin Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vol and German voll.

full^2 /fo͝ol/

I. verb — [with obj.] (often as noun fulling)

1. clean, shrink, and felt (cloth) by heat, pressure, and moisture.

– origin Middle English: probably a back-formation from fuller^1, influenced by Old French fouler ‘press hard upon’ or medieval Latin fullare, based on Latin fullo ‘fuller.’

fullback /ˈfo͝olˌbak/

noun

1. [Football] an offensive player in the backfield.

2. (in a game such as soccer or field hockey) a player in a defensive position at the side of the field.

full-blooded /ˌfo͝olˈblədəd/

I. adjective

1. of unmixed race

• a full-blooded Cherokee.

2. vigorous, enthusiastic, and without compromise

• a full-blooded argument.

II. derivatives

1. full blood

noun

full-blooded (sense 1)

2. full-bloodedly

adverb

3. full-bloodedness

noun

full-blown /ˈfo͝ol ˈˌblōn/

adjective

1. fully developed

• the onset of full-blown AIDS in persons infected with HIV.

2. (of a flower) in full bloom.

full-bodied /ˌfo͝olˈbädēd/

adjective

rich and satisfying in flavor or sound

• a spicy, full-bodied white wine.

full bore

I. adverb

at full speed or maximum capacity

• the boat came full bore toward us.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. denoting firearms of relatively large caliber

• full-bore handguns.

2. complete; thoroughgoing

• a full-bore campaign to bring down the government.

full-bottomed /ˌfo͝olˈbädəmd/

adjective

(of a wig) long at the back.

full-bred

adjective

(of an animal) bred from parents of the same breed or variety; of unmixed origin

• a large full-bred Alsatian.

full brother

noun

a brother born of the same mother and father.

full color

noun

the full range of colors

• lively illustrations in full color.

full-court press

noun

1. [Basketball] a defensive tactic in which members of a team cover their opponents throughout the court and not just near their own basket.

2. [Basketball] (US) an instance of aggressive pressure

• if the president were to mount a full-court press for the space station.

full dress /ˈfo͝ol ˌdres/

I. noun

clothes worn on ceremonial or formal occasions.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. denoting an event, activity, or process that is treated with complete seriousness or that possesses all the characteristics of a genuine example of the type

• shuttle diplomacy might be better than a full-dress conference.

full dress uniform

noun

a military uniform worn on ceremonial occasions.

full employment

noun

the condition in which virtually all who are able and willing to work are employed

• a target of full employment.

fuller^1 /ˈfo͝olər/

I. noun

a person who fulls cloth.

– origin Old English fullere, from Latin fullo, of unknown origin.

fuller^2 /ˈfo͝olər/

I. noun

1. a grooved or rounded tool on which iron is shaped.

2. a groove made by this, especially in a horseshoe.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. stamp (iron) with a fuller.

– origin early 19th cent. (as a verb): of unknown origin.

Fuller, Margaret /ˈfo͝olər/

(1810–50), US literary critic and social reformer; full name Sarah Margaret Fuller. An advocate of cultural education for women, she conducted “Conversations,” a popular series of discussion groups in the Boston area before becoming literary critic of the New York Tribune 1844–46. Among her books is Woman in the Nineteenth Century (1845).

Fuller, Melville Weston

(1833–1910), US Supreme Court associate justice 1888–1910. He was also a member of the Court of International Arbitration 1900–1910 in The Hague.

Fuller, R. Buckminster /ˈfo͝olər/

(1895–1983), US designer and architect; full name Richard Buckminster Fuller. He is best known for his invention of the geodesic dome and also for his ideals of using the world's resources with maximum purpose and least waste.

fullerene /ˈfo͝oləˌrēn/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a form of carbon having a large spheroidal molecule consisting of a hollow cage of atoms, of which buckminsterfullerene was the first known example.

– origin 1980s: contraction of buckminsterfullerene.

fuller's earth

noun

a type of clay used in fulling cloth and as an adsorbent.

fuller's teasel

I. noun

a teasel with stiff bracts that curve backward from the prickly flower head.
[Dipsacus sativus, family Dipsacaceae.]

– origin so named because it was formerly dried and used for raising the nap on woven cloth.

Fullerton /ˈfo͝olərtən/

a city in southwestern California, southeast of Los Angeles; pop. 131,868 (est. 2008).

full face /ˈˌfo͝ol ˈfās/

I. adverb

with all of the face visible; facing directly at someone or something

• she looked full face at the mirror.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. showing all of the face

• a full-face mug shot.

2. covering all of the face

• a full-face motorcycle helmet.

full-fashioned /ˌfo͝olˈfaSHənd/

adjective

1. (of women's clothing, especially hosiery) shaped and seamed to fit the body

• full-fashioned stockings.

2. (of a knitted garment) shaped by increasing or decreasing the number of loops made along the fabric length without alteration of the stitch.

full-figured

adjective

(of a woman) having a plump or curvaceous body

• full-figured teens struggle to find stylish prom gowns

• she was just over five feet tall and full-figured.

full-flavored ‹Brit.› full-flavoured

adjective

(of food or drink) having a rich or intense flavor

• a full-flavored cheese

• a vibrant, full-flavored wine.

full-fledged /ˈfo͝ol ˈˌflejd/

adjective

(N. Amer.) completely developed or established; of full status

• coldlike symptoms that never quite develop into full-fledged colds.

full flood

noun

1. the tide or a river at its highest.

2. (be in full flood) — see flood.

full-frontal /ˈfo͝ol ˈˌfrən(t)l/

adjective

1. (of nudity or a nude figure) with full exposure of the front of the body.

2. with nothing concealed or held back

• they put a full-frontal guitar assault to clever lyrics.

full gainer

noun

[Sports] (in diving) a dive in which a complete backwards somersault is performed before entering the water feet first.

full-grown /ˈfo͝ol ˈˌɡrōn/

adjective

having reached maturity.

full growth

noun

the greatest size that a plant or animal naturally attains; maturity.

full-hearted /ˌfo͝olˈhärdəd/

I. adjective

with great enthusiasm and commitment; full of sincere feeling

• full-hearted consent of the electorate.

II. derivatives

1. full-heartedly /ˌfo͝olˈhärdədlē /

adverb

2. full-heartedness /ˌfo͝olˈhärdədnəs /

noun

full house /ˈˌfo͝ol ˈhous/

noun — [in sing.]

1. an audience, or a group of people attending a meeting, that fills the venue for the event to capacity.

2. a poker hand with three of a kind and a pair, beating a flush and losing to four of a kind.

3. a winning card at bingo in which all the numbers have been successfully marked off.

full-length /ˌfo͝olˈleNGTH/

I. adjective

1. of the standard length

• a full-length Disney cartoon.

2. (of a garment or curtain) extending to, or almost to, the ground.

3. (of a mirror or portrait) showing the whole human figure.

II. adverb — (usu. full length)

1. (of a person) with the body lying stretched out and flat

• Lucy flung herself full length on the floor.

full marks

plural noun

1. the maximum award in an examination or assessment.

2. praise for someone's intelligence, hard work, or other quality

• she had to give him full marks for originality.

full measure

noun

the total amount or extent

• the full measure of their worth.

full moon

noun

1. the phase of the moon in which its whole disk is illuminated.

2. the time when the moon's whole disk is illuminated

• it was several days after full moon.

full-motion video FMV

noun

digital video data that is transmitted or stored on video discs for real-time reproduction on a computer (or other multimedia system) at a rate of not less than 25 frames per second.

full-mouthed /ˈfo͝ol ˌmouT͟Hd/

adjective

1. (of cattle, sheep, etc.) having a full set of adult teeth.

2. spoken loudly or vigorously.

fullness /ˈfo͝olnəs / fulness

I. noun

1. the state of being filled to capacity

• scores of cans in different states of fullness.

2. the state of having eaten enough or more than enough and feeling full

• the feeling of fullness you acquire from eating brown rice.

3. the state of being complete or whole

• the honesty and fullness of the information they provide.

4. (in or alluding to biblical use) all that is contained in the world

• God's green earth in all its fullness is for the people.

5. (of a person's body or part of it) the state of being filled out so as to produce a rounded shape

• the childish fullness of his cheeks.

6. (of a garment or the hair) the condition of having been cut or designed to give a full shape.

7. richness or intensity of flavor, sound, or color

• the coffee is of a luxurious fullness.

II. phrases

1. the fullness of one's (or the) heart

‹literary› overwhelming emotion.

2. in the fullness of time

after a due length of time has elapsed; eventually

• he'll tell us in the fullness of time.

full page /fo͝ol ˈpāj/

noun — [usu. as modifier]

1. an entire page of a newspaper or magazine

• full-page advertisements.

full professor

I. noun

(N. Amer.) see professor.

II. derivatives

full professorship

noun

full-rigged /ˌfo͝olˈriɡd/

adjective

(of a sailing ship) having three or more masts that all carry square sails.

full-scale /ˈfo͝ol ˈˌskāl/

adjective

1. of the same size as the thing represented

• a huge tank containing two full-scale pirate ships.

2. unrestricted in size, extent, or intensity; complete and thorough

• a full-scale invasion of the mainland.

full score

noun

a score of a musical composition giving the parts for all performers on separate staves.

full-service broker

I. noun

a stockbroker or brokerage firm that provides investment advice and related services to clients in addition to facilitating transactions

• Betty uses a full-service broker to assist her with her portfolio selections.

Compare with discount broker.

II. derivatives

full-service brokerage

noun

full sister

noun

a sister born of the same mother and father.

full-sized /fo͝olˈsīzd / full-size

adjective

of normal size for its type

• she was still a puppy, not yet full-sized.

full stop /ˈˌfo͝ol ˈstäp/

noun

(chiefly Brit.) another term for period (sense 2 of the noun).

full-time /ˈfo͝ol ˈˌtīm/

I. adjective

occupying or using the whole of someone's available working time, typically 40 hours in a week

• a full-time job.

II. adverb

on a full-time basis

• both parents were employed full-time.

full-timer /ˈfo͝ol ˈˌtīmər/

noun

a person who does a full-time job.

full-toned

adjective

having a strong, resonant tone

• a rich, full-toned rendition of a Puccini aria.

fully /ˈfo͝olē/

I. adverb

1. completely or entirely; to the furthest extent

• I fully understand the fears of the workers.

2. without lacking or omitting anything

• this issue is discussed more fully in chapter seven

• [as submodifier] a fully equipped gymnasium.

3. no less or fewer than (used to emphasize an amount)

• fully 65 percent of all funerals are by cremation.

– origin Old English fullīce (see full^1, -ly^2).

-fully

suffix

forming adverbs corresponding to adjectives ending in -ful (such as sorrowfully corresponding to sorrowful).

fully fashioned /ˈfo͝olē ˈˌfaSHənd/

adjective

another term for full-fashioned.

fully fledged /ˌfəlē ˈflejd/

adjective

British term for full-fledged.

fulmar /ˈfo͝olmər/

I. noun

a gull-sized gray and white seabird of the petrel family, with a stocky body and tubular nostrils.
[Genus Fulmarus, family Procellariidae: two species, in particular the northern fulmar (F. glacialis) of the arctic.]

– origin late 17th cent.: from Hebridean Norn dialect, from Old Norse fúll ‘stinking, foul’ (because of its habit of regurgitating its stomach contents when disturbed) + már ‘gull.’

fulminant /ˈfo͝olmənənt/

I. adjective

[Medicine] (of a disease or symptom) severe and sudden in onset.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French, or from Latin fulminant- ‘striking with lightning,’ from the verb fulminare (see fulminate).

fulminate /ˈfo͝olməˌnāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. express vehement protest

• all fulminated against the new curriculum.

2. ‹literary› explode violently or flash like lightning

• thunder fulminated around the house.

3. [usu. as adj.] (fulminating) — [Medicine] (of a disease or symptom) develop suddenly and severely

• fulminating appendicitis.

II. noun

[Chemistry] a salt or ester of fulminic acid.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin fulminat- ‘struck by lightning,’ from fulmen, fulmin- ‘lightning.’ The earliest sense (derived from medieval Latin fulminare) was ‘denounce formally,’ later ‘issue formal censures’ (originally said of the pope). A sense ‘emit thunder and lightning,’ based on the original Latin meaning, arose in the early 17th cent., and hence ‘explode violently’ (late 17th cent).

fulminate of mercury

noun

a white or grayish crystalline powder that when dry is extremely volatile when exposed to heat or pressure and is used as an explosive.

fulmination /ˌfəlməˈnāSHən/

noun — (usu. fulminations)

1. an expression of vehement protest

• the fulminations of media moralists.

2. a violent explosion or a flash like lightning.

fulminic acid /fo͝olˈminik, fəl-/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a very unstable acid isomeric with cyanic acid.
[Chem. formula: HONC.]

– origin early 19th cent.: fulminic from Latin fulmen, fulmin- ‘lightning’ + -ic.

fulsome /ˈfo͝olsəm/

I. adjective

1. complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree

• they are almost embarrassingly fulsome in their appreciation.

2. of large size or quantity; generous or abundant

• a fulsome harvest.

II. derivatives

1. fulsomely /ˈfo͝olsəmlē /

adverb

2. fulsomeness /ˈfo͝olsəmnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘abundant’): from full^1 + -some^1. / usage: Although the earliest use of fulsome (first recorded in the 13th century) was ‘generous or abundant,’ this meaning is now regarded by some people as wronɡ. The correct meaning today is held to be ‘excessively complimentary or flattering.’ However, the word is still often used in its oriɡinal sense of ‘abundant,’ especially in sentences such as she was fulsome in her praise for the people who organized it, and this use can give rise to ambiguity: for one speaker, fulsome praise may be a genuine compliment, while for others it will be interpreted as an insult.

Fulton, Robert /ˈfo͝oltn/

(1765–1815), US inventor; pioneer of the steamship. He constructed a steam-propelled “diving-boat” in 1800, which he submerged to a depth of 25 feet (7.6 m). In 1806, he built the first successful paddle steamer, the Clermont. Eighteen other steamships were subsequently built, inaugurating the era of commercial steam navigation.

fulvic acid /ˈfəlvik, ˈfo͝ol-/

noun

a highly soluble organic phenol found in humus that chelates elemental mineral nutrients.

fulvous /ˈfo͝olvəs/

I. adjective

reddish yellow; tawny.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin fulvus + -ous.

Fu Manchu /ˌfo͞o ˌmanˈCHo͞o / Fu Manchu mustache

I. noun

a long narrow mustache in which the ends taper and droop down to the chin.

– origin mid 20th cent.: the kind of mustache worn by Fu Manchu, a master criminal in the novels of British writer Sax Rohmer (1883-1959).

fumaric acid /fyo͞oˌmerik ˈasəd/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a crystalline acid, isomeric with maleic acid, present in fumitory and many other plants.
[Alternative name: trans -butenedioic acid; chem. formula: HOOCCH=CHCOOH.]

II. derivatives

fumarate /ˈfyo͞oməˌrāt /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: fumaric from modern Latin Fumaria ‘fumitory’ + -ic.

fumarole /ˈfyo͞oməˌrōl/

I. noun

an opening in or near a volcano, through which hot sulfurous gases emerge.

II. derivatives

fumarolic /ˌfyo͞oməˈrōlik /

adjective

– origin early 19th cent.: from obsolete Italian fumaruolo, from late Latin fumariolum ‘vent, hole for smoke,’ a diminutive based on Latin fumus ‘smoke.’

fumble /ˈfəmbəl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. use the hands clumsily while doing or handling something

• she fumbled with the lock.

2. (fumble around/about) — move clumsily in various directions using the hands to find one's way

• Greg fumbled around in the closet and found his black jacket.

3. [with obj.] — use the hands clumsily to move (something) as specified

• she fumbled a cigarette from her bag.

4. [with obj.] — [Football] drop or lose control of (the ball), sometimes causing a turnover

• he seldom fumbled a ball.

5. [with obj.] — (in other ball games) fail to catch or field (the ball, a pass, a shot, etc.) cleanly.

6. express oneself or deal with something clumsily or nervously

• asked for explanations, Michael had fumbled for words.

II. noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. an act of using the hands clumsily while doing or handling something

• just one fumble during a tire change could separate the winners from the losers.

2. [Football] an act of dropping or losing control of the ball, sometimes causing a turnover

• his fumble was recovered on the 6-yard line.

3. (in other ball games) an act of failing to catch or field the ball cleanly.

4. an act of managing or dealing with something clumsily

• we are not talking about subtle errors of judgment, but major fumbles.

III. derivatives

1. fumbler /ˈfəmb(ə)lər /

noun

2. fumblingly /ˈfəmb(ə)liNGlē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Low German fommeln or Dutch fommelen.

fume /fyo͞om/

I. noun — (usu. fumes)

1. gas, smoke, or vapor that smells strongly or is dangerous to inhale

• clouds of exhaust fumes spewed by cars.

2. a pungent odor of a particular thing or substance

• he breathed fumes of wine into her face.

3. ‹literary› a watery vapor, steam, or mist rising from the earth or sea.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. emit gas, smoke, or vapor

• fragments of lava hit the ground, fuming and sizzling.

2. [with obj.] (usu. as adj. fumed) — expose (especially wood) to ammonia fumes in order to produce dark tints

• the fumed oak sideboard.

3. feel, show, or express great anger

• he is fuming over the interference in his work.

III. derivatives

1. fumingly /ˈfyo͞omiNGlē /

adverb

2. fumy /ˈfyo͞omē /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French fumer (verb), from Latin fumare ‘to smoke.’

fume hood

noun

(US) a ventilated enclosure in a chemistry laboratory, in which harmful volatile chemicals can be used or kept.

fumet /fyo͞oˈmā, ˈfyo͞omət/

I. noun

a concentrated stock, especially of game or fish, used as flavoring.

– origin early 18th cent. (in the senses ‘smell of game’ and ‘game flavor’): from French, from fumer ‘to smoke.’ The current sense dates from the early 20th cent.

fumigate /ˈfyo͞oməˌɡāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. apply the fumes of certain chemicals to (an area) to disinfect it or to rid it of vermin.

II. derivatives

1. fumigant /-ɡənt /

noun

2. fumigation /ˌfyo͞oməˈɡāSH(ə)n /

noun

3. fumigator /-ˌɡātər /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent. (earlier (late Middle English) as fumigation, in the sense ‘the action of perfuming’): from Latin fumigat- ‘fumigated,’ from the verb fumigare, from fumus ‘smoke.’

fumitory /ˈfyo͞oməˌtôrē/

I. noun

an Old World plant with spikes of small tubular pink or white flowers and finely divided grayish leaves, often considered a weed.
[Genus Fumaria, family Fumariaceae.]

– origin late Middle English: from Old French fumeterre, from medieval Latin fumus terrae ‘smoke of the earth’ (because of its grayish leaves).

fun /fən/

I. noun

1. enjoyment, amusement, or lighthearted pleasure

• the children were having fun in the play area

• anyone who turns up can join in the fun.

2. a source of this

• people watching is great fun.

3. playful behavior or good humor

• she's full of fun.

4. behavior or an activity that is intended purely for amusement and should not be interpreted as having serious or malicious purposes

• it was nothing serious; they just enjoyed having some harmless fun.

5. [attrib.] — (of a place or event) providing entertainment or leisure activities for children

• a 33-acre movie-themed fun park.

II. adjective

‹informal› amusing, entertaining, or enjoyable

• it was a fun evening.

III. verb

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› joke or tease
[no obj.]

• no need to get sore—I was only funning

• [with obj.] they are just funning you.

IV. phrases

1. for fun for the fun of it

in order to amuse oneself and not for any more serious purpose.

2. fun and games

amusing and enjoyable activities

• teaching isn't all fun and games.

3. someone's idea of fun

used to emphasize one's dislike for an activity or to mock someone else's liking for it

• being stuck behind a desk all day isn't my idea of fun.

4. in fun

not intended seriously; as a joke

• remember when you meet the press to say that your speech was all in fun.

5. like fun

‹dated› an ironic exclamation of contradiction or disbelief in response to a statement.

6. make fun of poke fun at

tease, laugh at, or joke about (someone) in a mocking or unkind way.

7. not much (or a lot of) fun

used to indicate that something strikes one as extremely unpleasant and depressing

• it can't be much fun living next door to him.

8. what fun!

used to convey that an activity or situation sounds amusing or enjoyable.

– origin late 17th cent. (denoting a trick or hoax): from obsolete fun ‘to cheat or hoax,’ dialect variant of late Middle English fon ‘make a fool of, be a fool,’ related to fon ‘a fool,’ of unknown origin. Compare with fond. / usage: The use of fun as an adjective meaning ‘enjoyable,’ as in we had a fun evening, is now established in informal use, although not accepted in standard English. The comparative and superlative forms funner and funnest, formed as if fun were a standard adjective, should only be used in very informal contexts, typically speech.

Funabashi /ˌfo͞onäˈbäSHē/

a city in central Japan, on eastern Honshu Island, a suburb of Tokyo; pop. 584,152 (2008).

Funafuti /ˌf(y)o͞onəˈf(y)o͞odē/

the capital of Tuvalu, on an island of the same name; pop. 5,000 (est. 2007).

funambulist /fyo͞oˈnambyələst/

I. noun

a tightrope walker.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French funambule or Latin funambulus (from funis ‘rope’ + ambulare ‘to walk’) + -ist.

Funchal /fo͞onˈSHäl, fən-/

the capital and chief port of Madeira, on the south coast of the island; pop. 99,759 (2006).

function /ˈfəNG(k)SH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. an activity or purpose natural to or intended for a person or thing

• bridges perform the function of providing access across water

• Vitamin A is required for good eye function.

2. practical use or purpose in design

• building designs that prioritize style over function.

3. a basic task of a computer, especially one that corresponds to a single instruction from the user.

4. [Mathematics] a relationship or expression involving one or more variables

• the function (bx + c).

5. a variable quantity regarded in relation to one or more other variables in terms of which it may be expressed or on which its value depends.

6. [Chemistry] a functional group.

7. a thing dependent on another factor or factors

• class shame is a function of social power.

8. a large or formal social event or ceremony

• he was obliged to attend party functions.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. work or operate in a proper or particular way

• her liver is functioning normally.

2. (function as) — fulfill the purpose or task of (a specified thing)

• the museum intends to function as an educational and study center.

III. derivatives

functionless

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French fonction, from Latin functio(n-), from fungi ‘perform.’

functional /ˈfəNG(k)SH(ə)n(ə)l/

adjective

1. of or having a special activity, purpose, or task; relating to the way in which something works or operates

• there are important functional differences between left and right brain.

2. designed to be practical and useful, rather than attractive

• she had assumed the apartment would be functional and simple.

3. working or operating

• the museum will be fully functional from the opening of the festival.

4. (of a disease) affecting the operation, rather than the structure, of an organ

• functional diarrhea.

5. (of a mental illness) having no discernible organic cause

• functional psychosis.

6. [Mathematics] of or relating to a variable quantity whose value depends on one or more other variables.

functional food

noun

(chiefly Brit.) another term for nutraceutical.

functional grammar

noun

a theory of grammar concerned with how the social, cognitive, and pragmatic functions of language relate to structure.

functional group

noun

[Chemistry] a group of atoms responsible for the characteristic reactions of a particular compound.

functional illiterate

noun

a person whose level of ability to read and write is below that needed to do the ordinary tasks required to function normally in society.

functionalism /ˈfəNG(k)SH(ə)nlˌizəm/

I. noun

1. belief in or stress on the practical application of a thing, in particular

2. (in the arts) the doctrine that the design of an object should be determined solely by its function, rather than by aesthetic considerations, and that anything practically designed will be inherently beautiful.

3. (in the social sciences) the theory that all aspects of a society serve a function and are necessary for the survival of that society.

4. (in the philosophy of mind) the theory that mental states can be sufficiently defined by their cause, their effect on other mental states, and their effect on behavior.

II. derivatives

functionalist /ˈfəNG(k)SH(ə)nələst /

noun, adjective

functionality /ˌfəNG(k)SHəˈnalədē/

noun

1. the quality of being suited to serve a purpose well; practicality

• I like the feel and functionality of this bakeware.

2. the purpose that something is designed or expected to fulfill

• manufacturing processes may be affected by the functionality of the product.

3. the range of operations that can be run on a computer or other electronic system

• new software with additional functionality.

functionally /ˈfəNG(k)SH(ə)nəlē/

adverb

1. in a way that relates to the purpose or use of something

• the parish clergy was socially and functionally differentiated

• disk and tape are functionally equivalent as storage devices.

2. in a way that relates to how something works or operates

• task forces evaluated all aspects of the department both structurally and functionally.

3. in a way that is practical and useful, rather than attractive

• a functionally designed two-bedroom apartment.

functional medicine

noun

medical practice or treatments that focus on optimal functioning of the body and its organs, usually involving systems of holistic or alternative medicine

• you don't have to have a disease to benefit from functional medicine.

functional shift

noun

a shift in the use of a word to a new grammatical function, such as the use of the nouns contact and impact as verbs.

functionary /ˈfəNG(k)SHəˌnerē/

noun

a person who has to perform official functions or duties; an official.

function key /ˈfəNG(k)SHən ˌkē/

noun

[Computing] a button on a computer keyboard, distinct from the main alphanumeric keys, to which software can assign a particular function.

function word /ˈfəNG(k)SHən ˌwərd/

noun

[Linguistics] a word whose purpose is more to signal grammatical relationship than the lexical meaning of a sentence, e.g., do in do you live here?

functor /ˈfəNG(k)tər/

I. noun

1. [Logic] [Mathematics] a function; an operator.

2. [Logic] [Mathematics] [Linguistics] another term for function word.

– origin 1930s: from function, on the pattern of words such as factor.

fund /fənd/

I. noun

1. a sum of money saved or made available for a particular purpose

• he had set up a fund to coordinate economic investment.

2. (funds) — financial resources

• the misuse of public funds.

3. a large stock or supply of something

• a vast fund of information.

4. (the funds) — (Brit.) the stock of the national debt (as a mode of investment).

5. an organization set up for the administration and management of a monetary fund.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. provide with money for a particular purpose

• the World Bank refused to fund the project

• [in combination] government-funded research.

III. phrases

in funds

(Brit.) having money to spend.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin fundus ‘bottom, piece of landed property.’ The earliest sense was ‘the bottom or lowest part,’ later ‘foundation or basis’; the association with money has perhaps arisen from the idea of landed property being a source of wealth.

funda /ˈfəndə/

noun

(Indian) a basic or fundamental principle underlying something

• her fundas in life are crystal clear.

fundal /ˈfənd(ə)l/

adjective

[Medicine] of or relating to the fundus of an organ, especially of the stomach, uterus, or eyeball.

fundament /ˈfəndəmənt/

I. noun

1. the foundation or basis of something.

2. ‹humorous› a person's buttocks.

– origin Middle English (also denoting the base of a building, or the founding of a building or institution): from Old French fondement, from Latin fundamentum, from fundare ‘to found.’

fundamental /ˌfəndəˈmen(t)əl/

I. adjective

1. forming a necessary base or core; of central importance

• the protection of fundamental human rights

• interpretation of evidence is fundamental to the historian's craft.

2. affecting or relating to the essential nature of something or the crucial point about an issue

• the fundamental problem remains that of the housing shortage.

3. so basic as to be hard to alter, resolve, or overcome

• the theories are based on a fundamental error.

II. noun — (usu. fundamentals)

1. a central or primary rule or principle on which something is based

• two courses cover the fundamentals of microbiology.

2. a fundamental note, tone, or frequency.

III. derivatives

fundamentality /ˌfəndəmənˈtalətē /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from French fondamental, or late Latin fundamentalis, from Latin fundamentum, from fundare ‘to found.’

fundamental frequency

noun

[Physics] the lowest frequency produced by the oscillation of the whole of an object, as distinct from the harmonics of higher frequency.

fundamentalism /ˌfəndəˈmen(t)lˌizəm/

noun

1. a form of a religion, especially Islam or Protestant Christianity, that upholds belief in the strict, literal interpretation of scripture.

2. strict adherence to the basic principles of any subject or discipline

• free-market fundamentalism.

Modern Christian fundamentalism arose from American millenarian sects of the 19th century and has become associated with reaction against social and political liberalism, and with the rejection of the theory of evolution. Islamic fundamentalism appeared in the 18th and 19th centuries as a reaction to the disintegration of Islamic political and economic power, asserting that Islam is central to both state and society and advocating strict adherence to the Koran (Qur'an) and to Islamic law (sharia).

fundamentalist /ˌfəndəˈmen(t)ələst/

I. noun

1. a person who believes in the strict, literal interpretation of scripture in a religion

• religious fundamentalists.

2. a person who adheres strictly to the basic principles of any subject or discipline

• a free-market fundamentalist.

II. adjective

1. relating to or advocating the strict, literal interpretation of scripture

• a fundamentalist Protestant preacher.

2. relating to or advocating strict adherence to the basic principles of any subject or discipline

• the fundamentalist ideologies of market and state.

fundamentally /ˌfəndəˈmen(t)əlē/

adverb — [often as submodifier]

1. in central or primary respects

• two fundamentally different concepts of democracy.

2. [sentence adverb] — used to make an emphatic statement about the basic truth of something

• fundamentally, this is a matter for doctors.

fundamental note

noun

[Music] the lowest note of a chord in its original (uninverted) form.

fundamental particle

noun

another term for elementary particle.

fundamental tone

noun

[Music] the tone that represents the fundamental frequency of a vibrating object such as a string or bell.

fundamental unit

noun

1. one of a set of unrelated units of measurement, which are arbitrarily defined and from which other units are derived. For example, in the SI system the fundamental units are the meter, kilogram, and second.

2. a thing that is or is perceived as being the smallest part into which a complex whole can be analyzed

• the house is the fundamental unit of Basque society.

fun day

noun

(chiefly Brit.) a day of organized events providing a variety of amusements and activities

• the club hosted its annual family fun day on Friday, August 15.

funded debt

noun

debt in the form of securities with long-term or indefinite redemption.
Compare with floating debt.

funder /ˈfəndər/

noun

a person or organization that provides money for a particular purpose

• the largest charitable funder of cancer research

• the money was coming from a private funder.

fundi /ˈfənˌdī ˈfənˌdē/

plural form of fundus.

fundie /ˈfəndē/

I. noun

‹informal› (chiefly Brit.) a fundamentalist, especially a Christian fundamentalist.

– origin 1980s: from German, abbreviation of Fundamentalist ‘fundamentalist.’

funding /ˈfəndiNG/

noun

1. money provided, especially by an organization or government, for a particular purpose.

2. the action or practice of providing money for a particular purpose.

fund manager /fənd ˈmanijər ˈmanəjər/

noun

an employee or department of a large institution (such as a bank, pension fund, or insurance company) that manages the investment of money on its own behalf or on that of an outside client.

fundraise /ˈfəndrāz/

verb — [no obj.]

1. seek financial support for a charity, cause, or other enterprise

• we support a lot of charities that fundraise for cancer care and research.

fundraiser /ˈfəndˌrāzər/

noun

1. a person whose job or task is to seek financial support for a charity, institution, or other enterprise.

2. an event held to generate financial support for a charity or other enterprise.

fundraising /ˈfəndˌrāziNG/

I. noun

the seeking of financial support for a charity, cause, or other enterprise

• a new development director in charge of fundraising.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. seeking to generate financial support for a charity, cause, or other enterprise

• a fundraising campaign

• a charity fundraising event.

fundus /ˈfəndəs/

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] the part of a hollow organ (such as the uterus or the gallbladder) that is farthest from the opening.

2. [Anatomy] the upper part of the stomach, which forms a bulge higher than the opening of the esophagus (farthest from the pylorus).

3. [Anatomy] the part of the eyeball opposite the pupil.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘bottom.’

Fundy, Bay of /ˈfəndē/

an arm of the Atlantic Ocean between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Its fast-running tides, which are used to generate electricity, are the highest in the world and reach 50–80 feet (12–15 m).

funeral /ˈfyo͞on(ə)rəl/

I. noun

1. the ceremonies honoring a dead person, typically involving burial or cremation.

2. (US) ‹rare› a sermon delivered at a funeral.

3. ‹archaic› ‹literary› a procession of mourners at a burial.

II. phrases

it's (or that's) someone's funeral

‹informal› used to warn someone that an unwise act or decision is their responsibility

• “I won't discuss it.” “Don't then—it's your funeral.”

– origin late Middle English: from Old French funeraille, from medieval Latin funeralia, neuter plural of late Latin funeralis, from Latin funus, funer- ‘funeral, death, corpse.’

funeral director

noun

an undertaker.

funeral home /ˈfyo͞on(ə)rəl ˌhōm / funeral parlor

noun

an establishment where the dead are prepared for burial or cremation.

funeral pyre /ˈfyo͞on(ə)rəl ˈpī(ə)r/

noun

a pile of wood on which a corpse is burned as part of a funeral ceremony in some traditions.

funerary /ˈfyo͞onəˌrerē/

I. adjective

relating to a funeral or the commemoration of the dead

• funerary ceremonies.

– origin late 17th cent.: from late Latin funerarius, from funus, funer- ‘funeral.’

funereal /fyəˈnērēəl/

I. adjective

having the mournful, somber character appropriate to a funeral

• Lincoln's funereal gloominess was legendary.

II. derivatives

funereally

adverb

– origin early 18th cent.: from Latin funereus (from funus, funer- ‘funeral’) + -al.

funfair /ˈfənfer/

noun

(chiefly Brit.) a fair consisting of rides, sideshows, and other amusements.

fungal /ˈfəNGɡəl/

adjective

of or caused by a fungus or fungi

• fungal diseases such as mildew.

fungi /ˈfənˌɡē ˈfənˌjē ˈfənˌɡī ˈfənˌjī/

plural form of fungus.

fungible /ˈfənjəbəl/

I. adjective

[Law] (of goods contracted for without an individual specimen being specified) able to replace or be replaced by another identical item; mutually interchangeable

• money is fungible—money that is raised for one purpose can easily be used for another.

II. derivatives

fungibility /ˌfənjəˈbilədē /

noun

– origin late 17th cent.: from medieval Latin fungibilis, from fungi ‘perform, enjoy,’ with the same sense as fungi vice ‘serve in place of.’

fungicide /ˈfənjəˌsīd ˈfəNGɡəˌsīd/

I. noun

a chemical that destroys fungus.

II. derivatives

fungicidal /ˈfənjəˌsīdl ˈfəNGɡəˌsīdl /

adjective

fungiform /ˈfənjəfôrm ˈfəNGɡəˌfôrm/

adjective

having the shape of or resembling a fungus or mushroom.

fungistatic /ˌfənjəˈstatik, ˌfəNGɡə-/

I. adjective

inhibiting the growth of fungi.

II. derivatives

fungistatically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

fungivorous /ˌfənˈjivərəs, -ˈɡiv-/

adjective

feeding on fungi or mushrooms.

fungo /ˈfəNGɡō/

I. noun

1. [Baseball] a fly ball hit for fielding practice.

2. (also fungo bat or stick) — [Baseball] a long lightweight bat for hitting practice balls to fielders.

– origin mid 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

fungoid /ˈfəNGˌɡoid/

I. adjective

1. of or caused by a fungus or fungi

• she suffered from a fungoid disease of her feet.

2. resembling a fungus in shape, texture, or speed of growth

• his skin looked moist and fungoid.

II. noun

a fungoid plant.

fungous /ˈfəNGɡəs/

I. adjective

resembling, caused by, or having the nature of a fungus.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin fungosus, from fungus (see fungus).

fungus /ˈfəNGɡəs/

I. noun

1. any of a group of unicellular, multicellular, or syncytial spore-producing organisms feeding on organic matter, including molds, yeast, mushrooms, and toadstools.

2. fungal infection (especially on fish).

3. [in sing.] — used to describe something that has appeared or grown rapidly and is considered unpleasant or unattractive

• there was a fungus of outbuildings behind the house.

Fungi lack chlorophyll and are therefore incapable of photosynthesis. Many play an ecologically vital role in breaking down dead organic matter; some are an important source of antibiotics or are used in fermentation, and others cause disease. The familiar mushrooms and toadstools are merely the fruiting bodies of organisms that exist mainly as a threadlike mycelium in the soil. Some fungi form associations with other plants, growing with algae to form lichens, or in the roots of higher plants to form mycorrhizas. Fungi are now often classified as a separate kingdom distinct from the green plants.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin, perhaps related to Greek spongos, sphongos (see sponge).

fungus beetle

noun

a small beetle that feeds chiefly on fungi and is typically black with red or yellow markings.
[Families Mycetophagidae, Erotylidae, and others: several genera.]

fungus garden

noun

[Entomology] a growth of fungus cultivated by certain ants or termites as a source of food.

fungus gnat

noun

a slender and delicate fly whose larvae feed chiefly on fungi.
[Family Mycetophilidae: numerous species.]

funhouse /ˈfənˌhous/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) (in an amusement park) a building equipped with trick mirrors, shifting floors, and other devices designed to scare or amuse people as they walk through.

funicle /ˈfyo͞onək(ə)l/

I. noun

1. [Botany] a filamentous stalk attaching a seed or ovule to the placenta.
Also called funiculus.

2. [Botany] [Entomology] a filamentous section of an insect's antenna, supporting the club.

– origin mid 17th cent.: anglicized form of Latin funiculus (see funiculus).

funicular /fyo͞oˈnikyələr/

I. adjective

1. (of a railroad, especially one on a mountainside) operating by cable with ascending and descending cars counterbalanced.

2. of or relating to a rope or its tension.

II. noun

a cable railroad, especially one on a mountainside, in which ascending and descending cars are counterbalanced.

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘of or like a cord or thread’): from Latin funiculus (diminutive of funis ‘rope’) + -ar^1.

funiculus /fyo͞oˈnikyələs/

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] a bundle of nerve fibers enclosed in a sheath of connective tissue, or forming one of the main tracts of white matter in the spinal cord.

2. [Anatomy] another term for funicle.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin, diminutive of funis ‘rope.’

funk^1 /fəNGk / ‹informal›

I. noun

1. (also blue funk) [in sing.] — (chiefly N. Amer.) a state of depression

• I sat absorbed in my own blue funk.

2. (chiefly Brit.) a state of great fear or panic

• are you in a blue funk about running out of things to say?

3. ‹dated› (chiefly Brit.) a coward.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (chiefly Brit.) avoid (a task or thing) out of fear

• I could have seen him this morning but I funked it.

– origin mid 18th cent. (first recorded as slang at Oxford University in Oxford, England): perhaps from funk^2 in the slang sense ‘tobacco smoke,’ or from obsolete Flemish fonck ‘disturbance, agitation.’

funk^2 /fəNGk/

I. noun

1. a style of popular dance music of US black origin, based on elements of blues and soul and having a strong rhythm that typically accentuates the first beat in the bar.

2. [in sing.] — (N. Amer.) ‹informal› ‹dated› a strong musty smell of sweat or tobacco.

II. verb — [with obj.] (funk something up)

1. give music elements of the style of funk.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘musty smell’): perhaps from French dialect funkier ‘blow smoke on,’ based on Latin fumus ‘smoke.’

Funk, Casimir /fo͝oNGk, fəNGk/

(1884–1967), US biochemist; born in Poland. He showed that a number of diseases, including scurvy, rickets, beriberi, and pellagra, were each caused by the deficiency of a particular dietary component. He coined the term vitamins for the chemicals concerned.

funkadelic /ˌfəNGkəˈdelik/

I. adjective

denoting a type of dance music that combines funk with elements (such as the use of highly amplified guitars and a heavy drumbeat) derived from rock.

II. derivatives

funkadelia /-ˈdēlēə /

noun

– origin 1970s: from the name of a pop group, formed c. 1970, from funk^2 + a shortened form of psychedelic.

funkster /ˈfəNGkstər/

noun

‹informal› a performer or fan of funky music.

funky^1 /ˈfəNGkē/

I. adjective

1. ‹informal› (of music) having or using a strong dance rhythm, in particular that of funk

• some excellent funky beats.

2. ‹informal› modern and stylish in an unconventional or striking way

• she likes wearing funky clothes.

3. ‹informal› (N. Amer.) strongly musty

• cooked greens make the kitchen smell really funky.

II. derivatives

1. funkily /ˈfəNGkəlē /

adverb

2. funkiness

noun

– origin late 18th cent. (in the sense ‘smelling strong or bad’): from funk^2.

funky^2 /ˈfəNGkē/

I. adjective

(Brit.) ‹archaic› ‹informal› frightened, panicky, or cowardly.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from funk^1.

fun-loving /ˈfənˌləviNG/

adjective

(of a person) light-hearted and lively

• he was known as a fun-loving, easy-going family man.

funnel /ˈfənl/

I. noun

1. a tube or pipe that is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, used for guiding liquid or powder into a small opening.

2. a thing resembling a funnel in shape or function

• a funnel of light fell from a circular ceiling.

3. a metal chimney on a ship or steam engine.

II. verb — [with obj. and adverbial of direction]

1. guide or channel (something) through or as if through a funnel

• some $12.8 billion was funneled through the Marshall Plan.

2. [no obj., with adverbial of direction] — move or be guided through or as if through a funnel

• the wind funneled down through the valley.

3. [no obj.] — assume the shape of a funnel by widening or narrowing at the end

• the crevice funneled out.

III. derivatives

funnellike /-ˌlīk /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: apparently via Old French from Provençal fonilh, from late Latin fundibulum, from Latin infundibulum, from infundere, from in- ‘into’ + fundere ‘pour.’

funnel cake

noun

(US) a cake made of batter that is poured through a funnel into hot fat or oil, deep-fried until crisp, and served sprinkled with sugar, of Pennsylvania Dutch origin.

funnel cloud

noun

a rotating funnel-shaped cloud forming the core of a tornado or waterspout.

funnel neck

noun

a neck for a knit garment similar to a turtleneck but shorter and without a fold.
Compare with mock turtleneck.

funnel-shaped

adjective

wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, like a funnel

• funnel-shaped yellow flowers.

funnel-web spider

noun

any of a number of spiders that build a funnel-shaped web, in particular
[● a large and dangerously venomous Australian spider (genera Atrax and Hadronyche, family Dipluridae, suborder Mygalomorphae). ● a spider of the family Agelenidae.]

funnily /ˈfənəlē/

adverb

1. in a strange or amusing way

• you do talk funnily.

2. [sentence adverb] (funnily enough) — used to admit that a situation or fact is surprising or curious

• funnily enough, I was starting to like the idea.

funny /ˈfənē/

I. adjective

1. causing laughter or amusement; humorous

• a funny story

• the play is hilariously funny.

2. [predic.] — expressing a speaker's objection to another's laughter or mockery

• She started to laugh. “What's so funny?” he asked.

3. [predic. with negative] — ‹informal› used to emphasize that something is unpleasant or wrong and should be regarded seriously or avoided

• stealing other people's work isn't funny.

4. difficult to explain or understand; strange

• I had a funny feeling you'd be around

• a funny thing, democracy.

5. unusual or odd; curious

• Bev has a funny little stammer.

6. unusual in such a way as to arouse suspicion

• there was something funny going on.

7. used to draw attention to or express surprise at a curious or interesting fact or occurrence

• that's funny!—that vase of flowers has been moved.

8. ‹informal› (of a person or part of the body) not in wholly good health or order; slightly ill

• suddenly my stomach felt funny.

II. plural noun — (funnies)

1. ‹informal› (N. Amer.) the comic strips in newspapers

• I read the sports page, funnies, and editorial.

III. phrases

1. see the funny side (of something)

appreciate the humorous aspect of a situation or experience.

2. (oh) very funny!

‹informal› used ironically to indicate that a speaker does not share another's joke or amusement.

IV. derivatives

funniness /ˈfənēnəs /

noun

funny bone /ˈfəni ˌbōn/

noun

1. ‹informal› the part of the elbow over which the ulnar nerve passes. A knock on the funny bone may cause numbness and pain along the forearm and hand.

2. ‹informal› a person's sense of humor, as located in an imaginary physical organ

• photographs to jostle the mind and the funny bone.

funny business /ˈfənē ˌbiznis/

noun

deceptive, disobedient, or lecherous behavior

• they sent a big strong farmer's lad to make sure there was no funny business.

funny farm /ˈfənē färm/

noun

‹informal› a psychiatric hospital

• he should be taken off to the funny farm.

funny-looking

adjective

strange or unusual in appearance

• that funny-looking seabird, the puffin.

funny man /ˈfənē ˌman/

noun

a professional comedian or clown.

funny money /ˈfənē ˈmənē/

noun

‹informal› currency that is forged or otherwise worthless.

funny papers

plural noun

(N. Amer.) a section of a newspaper containing comics and humorous matter.

fun run /ˈfən ˌrən/

noun

‹informal› a noncompetitive run, especially for sponsored runners in support of a charity.

fun-size fun-sized

adjective

(of a product) smaller than the regular or usual size

• fun-size chocolate bars.

funster /ˈfənstər/

noun

‹informal› a person who makes fun; a joker.

fur /fər/

I. noun

1. the short, fine, soft hair of certain animals

• a long, lean, muscular cat with sleek fur.

2. the skin of an animal with fur on it.

3. skins with fur on them, or fabrics resembling these, used as material for making, trimming, or lining clothes

• jackets made out of yak fur

• [as modifier] a fur coat.

4. a garment made of, trimmed, or lined with fur

• she pulled the fur around her.

5. [Heraldry] any of several heraldic tinctures representing animal skins in stylized form (e.g., ermine, vair).

6. (Brit.) a coating formed by hard water on the inside surface of a pipe, kettle, or other container.

7. a coating formed on the tongue as a symptom of sickness.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. [as adj., often in combination] (furred) — covered with or made from a particular type of fur

• silky-furred lemurs.

2. (Brit.) coat or clog with a deposit

• the stuff that furs up coronary arteries.

3. fix strips of wood to (floor joists, wall studs, etc.) in order to level them or increase their depth.

III. phrases

1. fur and feather

game mammals and birds.

2. make the fur fly

‹informal› cause serious, perhaps violent, trouble.

IV. derivatives

furless

adjective

– origin Middle English (as a verb): from Old French forrer ‘to line, sheathe,’ from forre ‘sheath,’ of Germanic origin.

fur.

abbreviation

furlong(s).

furan /ˈfyo͝orˌan, fyo͝oˈran/

I. noun

1. [Chemistry] a colorless volatile liquid with a planar unsaturated five-membered ring in its molecule.
[Chem. formula: C_4H_4O.]

2. [Chemistry] any substituted derivative of this.

– origin late 19th cent.: from synonymous furfuran.

fur baby

noun

‹informal› a person's dog, cat, or other furry pet animal

• my fur baby gets carsick, so we don't take her far unless we have medication from her vet.

furball /ˈfərbôl/

noun

1. another term for hairball.

2. ‹informal› a furry pet animal.

furbearer /ˈfərˌberər/

noun

an animal whose fur is valued commercially.

furbelow /ˈfərbəˌlō/

I. noun

1. a gathered strip or pleated border of a skirt or petticoat.

2. (furbelows) — showy ornaments or trimmings

• frills and furbelows just made her look stupid.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. furbelowed)

1. ‹literary› adorn with trimmings.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French falbala ‘trimming, flounce,’ of unknown ultimate origin.

furbish /ˈfərbiSH/

I. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. furbished)

1. give a fresh look to (something old or shabby); renovate

• the newly furbished church.

2. ‹archaic› brighten up (a weapon) by polishing it.

II. derivatives

furbisher

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French forbiss-, lengthened stem of forbir, of Germanic origin.

furca /ˈfərkə/

I. noun

1. [Zoology] a forked appendage or projection in an arthropod, in particular

2. [Zoology] an ingrowth of the thorax of many insects.

3. [Zoology] the furcula of a springtail.

II. derivatives

furcal /ˈfərkəl /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘fork.’

furcate ‹technical›

I. verb — /ˈfərkāt fərˈkāt / [no obj.]

1. divide into two or more branches; fork

• lines of descent furcating from a common source.

II. adjective — /ˈfərkət /

1. divided into two or more branches; forked.

III. derivatives

furcation /fərˈkāSHən /

noun

– origin early 19th cent.: from late Latin furcatus ‘cloven,’ from Latin furca ‘fork.’

furcula /ˈfərkyələ/

I. noun

1. [Zoology] a forked organ or structure, in particular

2. [Zoology] the wishbone of a bird.

3. [Zoology] the forked appendage at the end of the abdomen in a springtail, by which the insect jumps.

II. derivatives

furcular

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin, diminutive of furca ‘fork.’

furfuraceous /ˌfərf(y)əˈrāSHəs/

I. adjective

[Botany] [Medicine] covered with or characterized by branlike scales.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from late Latin furfuraceus (from Latin furfur ‘bran’) + -ous.

furfural /ˈfərf(y)əˌral/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a colorless liquid used in synthetic resin manufacture, originally obtained by distilling bran.
[An aldehyde derived from furan; chem. formula: C_4H_3OCHO.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from obsolete furfurol (in the same sense) + -al.

furfuraldehyde /ˌfərf(y)əˈraldəˌhīd/

noun

[Chemistry] another term for furfural.

furioso /ˌfyo͝orēˈōsō, -zō/

I. adverb, adjective

[Music] (especially as a direction) furiously and wildly.

– origin Italian.

furious /ˈfyo͝orēəs/

I. adjective

1. extremely angry

• she was furious at this attempt to manipulate her.

2. full of anger or energy; violent or intense

• he drove at a furious speed.

II. derivatives

furiousness

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French furieus, from Latin furiosus, from furia ‘fury.’

furiously /ˈfyo͞orēəslē/

adverb

1. in an extremely angry manner

• he furiously denies the claims

• I was furiously opposed to the cuts.

2. in an extremely energetic or hurried manner; intensely

• Terry was furiously scribbling away

• Charlie pedaled furiously for six miles.

fur kid fur child

noun

‹informal› a person's dog, cat, or other furry pet animal

• we were looking for a place to board our two fur kids for a long weekend

• have you noticed how relaxing it can feel to just sit and pet your fur child?

furl /fərl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. roll or fold up and secure neatly (a flag, sail, umbrella, or other piece of fabric)

• he shouted to the crew to furl sails

• (as adj. furled) a furled umbrella.

2. [no obj.] — ‹literary› become rolled up; curl
(as adj. furled)

• the plant sends up cones of furled leaves.

II. derivatives

furlable

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: from French ferler, from Old French fer, ferm ‘firm’ + lier ‘bind’ (from Latin ligare).

furlong /ˈfərˌlôNG/

I. noun

an eighth of a mile, 220 yards.

– origin Old English furlang, from furh ‘furrow’ + lang ‘long’ The word originally denoted the length of a furrow in a common field (formally regarded as a square of ten acres). It was also used as the equivalent of the Roman stadium, one eighth of a Roman mile, whence the current sense. Compare with stadium.

furlough /ˈfərlō/

I. noun

1. leave of absence, especially that granted to a member of the armed services

• a civil servant home on furlough

• a six-week furlough in Australia.

2. (US) a temporary release of a convict from prison

• a system that allowed murderers to leave prison for weekend furloughs.

3. (US) a layoff, especially a temporary one, from a place of employment.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (US) grant a leave of absence to.

2. (US) lay off (workers), especially temporarily

• President Reagan furloughed “nonessential” employees

• (as adj. furloughed) factories are apt to recall some furloughed workers.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Dutch verlof, modeled on German Verlaub, of West Germanic origin and related to leave^2.

furn.

abbreviation

furnished.

furnace /ˈfərnəs/

I. noun

1. an enclosed structure in which material can be heated to very high temperatures, e.g., for smelting metals.

2. (N. Amer.) an appliance fired by gas, oil, or wood in which air or water is heated to be circulated throughout a building in a heating system.

3. used to describe a very hot place

• her car was a furnace.

– origin Middle English: from Old French fornais(e), from Latin fornax, fornac-, from fornus ‘oven.’

Furneaux Islands /ˌfərnō ˈīləndz/

a group of islands off the coast of northeastern Tasmania, in Australia, in the Bass Strait. The largest island is Flinders Island.

furnish /ˈfərniSH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. provide (a house or room) with furniture and fittings

• the proprietor has furnished the bedrooms in a variety of styles.

2. (furnish someone with) — supply someone with (something); give (something) to someone

• she was able to furnish me with details of the incident.

3. be a source of; provide

• fish furnish an important source of protein.

II. derivatives

furnisher /ˈfərniSHər /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the general sense ‘provide or equip with what is necessary or desirable’): from Old French furniss-, lengthened stem of furnir, ultimately of West Germanic origin.

furnished /ˈfərniSHt/

adjective

(of accommodations) available to be rented with furniture.

furnishing /ˈfərniSHiNG/

I. noun

1. (usu. furnishings) — furniture, fittings, and other decorative accessories, such as curtains and carpets, for a house or room.

2. the action of decorating a house or room and providing it with furniture and fittings.

II. adjective

denoting fabrics used for curtains, upholstery, or floor coverings

• they create historic furnishing textiles for the finest museums.

furniture /ˈfərniCHər/

I. noun

1. large movable equipment, such as tables and chairs, used to make a house, office, or other space suitable for living or working.

2. [usu. with adj. or noun modifier] — small accessories or fittings for a particular use or piece of equipment

• computer hardware, software, and furniture.

3. the mountings of a rifle.

4. [Printing] pieces of wood or metal placed around or between metal type to make blank spaces and fasten the matter in the chase.

II. phrases

part of the furniture

‹informal› a person or thing that has been somewhere so long as to seem a permanent, unquestioned, or invisible feature.

– origin early 16th cent. (denoting the action of furnishing): from French fourniture, from fournir, from Old French furnir ‘to furnish.’

furor /ˈfyo͝oˌrôr / ‹also chiefly Brit.› furore

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. an outbreak of public anger or excitement

• the article raised a furor among mathematicians.

2. ‹archaic› a wave of enthusiastic admiration; a craze.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Italian furore, from Latin furor, from furere ‘be mad, rage.’

furosemide /fyo͝oˈrōsəˌmīd / ‹chiefly Brit.› frusemide

I. noun

[Medicine] a synthetic compound with a strong diuretic action, used especially in the treatment of edema.
[Chem. formula: C_12H_11ClN_2O_5S.]

– origin 1960s: from fur- (alteration of fur(yl), denoting a radical derived from furan) + -o- + sem- (of unknown origin) + -ide.

furrier /ˈfərēər/

I. noun

a person who prepares or deals in furs.

– origin Middle English: from Old French forreor, from forrer ‘to line, sheathe’ (see fur). The change in the ending in the 16th cent. was due to association with -ier.

furriery /ˈfərēərē/

noun

the art or trade of dressing and preparing furs.

furring strip /ˈfəriNG ˌstrip/

noun

a length of wood tapering to nothing, used in roofing and other construction work.

furrow /ˈfərō/

I. noun

1. a long narrow trench made in the ground by a plow, especially for planting seeds or for irrigation.

2. a rut, groove, or trail in the ground or another surface

• truck wheels had dug furrows in the sand.

3. a line or wrinkle on a person's face

• there were deep furrows in his brow.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make a rut, groove, or trail in (the ground or the surface of something)

• gorges furrowing the deep-sea floor.

2. (with reference to the forehead or face) mark or be marked with lines or wrinkles caused by frowning, anxiety, or concentration
[with obj.]

• a look of concern furrowed his brow

• [no obj.] her brow furrowed

• (as adj. furrowed) he stroked his furrowed brow.

3. (with reference to the eyebrows) tighten or be tightened and lowered in anxiety, concentration, or disapproval, so wrinkling the forehead
[no obj.]

• his brows furrowed in concentration

• [with obj.] she furrowed her brows, thinking hard.

4. (usu. as adj. furrowed) — use a plow to make a long narrow trench in (land or earth)

• furrowed fields.

III. derivatives

furrowy

adjective

– origin Old English furh, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch voor and German Furche, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin porca ‘ridge between furrows.’

furry /ˈfərē/

I. adjective

1. covered with fur

• furry creatures in fields.

2. having a soft surface like fur

• it has soft and furry apple-green leaves.

II. derivatives

furriness /ˈfərēnis /

noun

fur seal

noun

a gregarious eared seal that frequents the coasts of the Pacific and southern oceans, the male of which is substantially larger than the female. The thick fur on the underside is used commercially as sealskin.
[Two genera in the family Otariidae: the northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) and the southern fur seal (genus Arctocephalus).]

further /ˈfərT͟Hər/

I. used as comparative of far.

II. adverb

1. (also farther ) — at, to, or by a greater distance (used to indicate the extent to which one thing or person is or becomes distant from another)

• for some time I had wanted to move farther from Lynne

• ‹figurative› the committee seems to have moved further away from its original aims.

2. [with negative] — used to emphasize the difference between a supposed or suggested fact or state of mind and the truth

• as for her being a liar, nothing could be further from the truth

• nothing could be further from his mind than marrying.

3. (also farther ) — over a greater expanse of space or time; for a longer way

• we had walked further than I realized

• ‹figurative› wages have been driven down even further.

4. beyond the point already reached or the distance already covered

• Emily decided to drive further up the coast

• before going any further we need to define our terms.

5. beyond or in addition to what has already been done

• we are investigating ways to further increase customer satisfaction

• this theme will be developed further in Chapter 6

• I shall not trouble you any further.

6. [sentence adverb] — used to introduce a new point relating to or reinforcing a previous statement

• poison hemlock resembles wild carrot, but has a strong, pungent odor; further, young leaves of wild carrot are more finely divided.

7. at or to a more advanced, successful, or desirable stage

• at the end of three years they were no further on.

III. adjective

1. (also farther ) — more distant in space than something else of the same kind

• two men were standing at the further end of the clearing.

2. more remote from a central point

• the museum is in the further reaches of the town.

3. additional to what already exists or has already taken place, been done, or been accounted for

• cook for a further ten minutes.

IV. verb — [with obj.]

1. help the progress or development of (something); promote

• he had depended on using them to further his own career.

V. phrases

1. not go any further

(of a secret) not be told to anyone else.

2. until further notice

used to indicate that a situation will not change until another announcement is made

• the museum is closed to the public until further notice.

3. until further orders

used to indicate that a situation is only to change when another command is received

• they were to be kept in prison until further orders.

VI. derivatives

furtherer

noun

– origin Old English furthor (adverb), furthra (adjective), fyrthrian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to forth. / usage: On the differences between further and farther, see farther.

furtherance /ˈfərT͟H(ə)rəns/

noun

the advancement of a scheme or interest

• acts in furtherance of an industrial dispute.

furthermore /ˈfərT͟Hərˌmôr/

adverb — [sentence adverb]

1. in addition; besides (used to introduce a fresh consideration in an argument)

• this species has a quiet charm and, furthermore, is an easy garden plant.

furthermost /ˈfərT͟Hərˌmōst/

adjective

variant form of farthermost.

furthest /ˈfərT͟Həst/

I. adjective, adverb

variant form of farthest.

usage: On the differences between furthest and farthest, see farther.

furtive /ˈfərdiv/

I. adjective

1. attempting to avoid notice or attention, typically because of guilt or a belief that discovery would lead to trouble; secretive

• they spent a furtive day together

• he stole a furtive glance at her.

2. suggestive of guilty nervousness

• the look in his eyes became furtive.

II. derivatives

furtiveness /ˈfərdivnəs /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from French furtif, -ive or Latin furtivus, from furtum ‘theft.’

furtively /ˈfərdivlē/

adverb

in a way that attempts to avoid notice or attention; secretively

• I furtively glanced over at my father to see his reaction

• customers slipped furtively in.

furuncle /ˈfyo͝orˌəNGk(ə)l/

I. noun

technical term for boil^2.

II. derivatives

1. furuncular /fyo͞oˈrəNGkyələr /

adjective

2. furunculous /fyo͝oˈrəNGkyələs /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Latin furunculus, literally ‘petty thief,’ also ‘knob on a vine’ (regarded as stealing the sap), from fur ‘thief.’

furunculosis /fyo͝oˌrəNGkyəˈlōsəs/

I. noun

1. [Medicine] the simultaneous or repeated occurrence of boils on the skin.

2. a bacterial disease of salmon and trout.

– origin late 19th cent.: from furuncle + -osis.

fury /ˈfyo͝orē/

I. noun

1. wild or violent anger

• tears of fury and frustration

• Rachel shouted, beside herself with fury.

2. (a fury) — a surge of violent anger or other feeling

• in a fury, he lashed the horse on.

3. [in sing.] — violence or energy displayed in natural phenomena or in someone's actions

• the fury of a gathering storm

• she was paddling with a new fury.

4. (Fury) — [Greek Mythology] a spirit of punishment, often represented as one of three goddesses who executed the curses pronounced upon criminals, tortured the guilty with stings of conscience, and inflicted famines and pestilences. The Furies were identified at an early date with the Eumenides.

5. ‹dated› used to convey a woman's anger or aggression by comparing her to a Fury from Greek mythology

• she turned on him like a vengeful fury.

II. phrases

like fury

‹informal› with great energy or effort

• she fought like fury in his arms.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French furie, from Latin furia, from furiosus ‘furious,’ from furere ‘be mad, rage.’

furze /fərz/

I. noun

another term for gorse.

II. derivatives

furzy /ˈfərzē /

adjective

– origin Old English fyrs, of unknown origin.

fusain /ˈfyo͞ozān/

I. noun

[Geology] a crumbly, porous type of coal resembling wood charcoal, used in drawing.

– origin late 19th cent.: from French, literally ‘spindle tree,’ also ‘fine charcoal’ (made from the spindle tree).

fusarium /fyo͝oˈzerēəm/

I. noun

1. a mold of a large genus, many of which cause plant diseases, especially wilting.
[Genus Fusarium, subdivision Deuteromycotina.]

2. infestation with fusarium or related molds.

– origin early 20th cent.: modern Latin, from Latin fusus ‘spindle.’

fuscous /ˈfəskəs/

I. adjective

‹technical› ‹literary› dark and somber in color.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin fuscus ‘dusky’ + -ous.

fuse^1 /fyo͞oz/

I. noun

a safety device consisting of a strip of wire that melts and breaks an electric circuit if the current exceeds a safe level.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — join or blend to form a single entity

• intermarriage had fused the families into a large unit.

2. [no obj.] — (of groups of atoms or cellular structures) join or coalesce

• the two nuclei move together and fuse into one nucleus.

3. melt (a material or object) with intense heat, especially so as to join it with something else

• powdered glass was fused to a metal base.

4. [with obj.] — provide (a circuit or electrical appliance) with a fuse
(as adj. fused)

• a fused plug.

5. [no obj.] — (Brit.) (of an electrical appliance) stop working when a fuse melts

• the crew were left in darkness after the lights fused.

6. [with obj.] — cause (an electrical appliance) to stop working when a fuse melts.

III. phrases

blow a fuse

a. use too much power in an electrical circuit, causing a fuse to melt.

b. ‹informal› lose one's temper

• it was only a suggestion—there's no need to blow a fuse.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin fus- ‘poured, melted,’ from the verb fundere.

fuse^2 /fyo͞oz / fuze

I. noun

1. a length of material along which a small flame moves to explode a bomb or firework, meanwhile allowing time for those who light it to move to a safe distance.

2. a device in a bomb, shell, or mine that makes it explode on impact, after an interval, at set distance from the target, or when subjected to magnetic or vibratory stimulation.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. fit a fuse to (a bomb, shell, or mine)

• the bomb was fused to go off during a charity performance.

III. phrases

1. light the (or a) fuse

set something tense or exciting in motion

• the event lit the fuse for the revolution.

2. a short fuse

a. a tendency to lose one's temper quickly

• watch your tongue—he's got a very short fuse.

b. (on a short fuse) — likely to lose one's temper or explode.

IV. derivatives

fuseless

adjective

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Italian fuso, from Latin fusus ‘spindle.’

fuse box /ˈfyo͞oz ˌbäks/

noun

a box housing the fuses for circuits in a building.

fused silica

noun

an extremely transparent glass made from fusing silica, commonly used in optical lenses.

fusee /fyo͞oˈzē / fuzee

I. noun

1. a conical pulley or wheel, especially in a watch or clock.

2. a large-headed match capable of staying lit in strong wind.

3. (N. Amer.) a railroad signal flare.

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting a spindle-shaped figure): from French fusée ‘spindleful,’ based on Latin fusus ‘spindle.’

fuselage /ˈfyo͞osəˌläZH ˈfyo͞ozəˌläZH/

I. noun

the main body of an aircraft.

– origin early 20th cent.: from French, from fuseler ‘shape into a spindle,’ from fuseau ‘spindle.’

fusel oil /ˈfyo͞ozəl ˌoil/

I. noun

a mixture of several alcohols (chiefly amyl alcohol) produced as a byproduct of alcoholic fermentation.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from German Fusel ‘bad liquor,’ probably related to fuseln ‘to bungle.’

Fushun /ˈfo͞oˈSHo͝on/

a coal-mining city in northeastern China, in the province of Liaoning; pop. 1,264,700 (est. 2006).

fusible /ˈfyo͞ozəbəl/

I. adjective

able to be fused or melted easily.

II. derivatives

fusibility /ˌfyo͞ozəˈbilədē /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, or from medieval Latin fusibilis, from fundere ‘pour, melt.’

fusiform /ˈfyo͞ozəˌfôrm/

I. adjective

[Botany] [Zoology] tapering at both ends; spindle-shaped.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Latin fusus ‘spindle’ + -iform.

fusil^1 /ˈfyo͞ozəl/

I. noun

‹historical› a light flintlock musket.

– origin late 16th cent. (denoting a flint in a tinderbox): from French, ultimately from Latin focus ‘hearth, fire.’

fusil^2 /ˈfyo͞ozəl/

I. noun

[Heraldry] an elongated lozenge.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French fusel, from a diminutive of Latin fusus ‘spindle.’

fusilier /ˌfyo͞ozəˈlir / fusileer

I. noun — (usu. Fusiliers)

1. a member of any of several British regiments formerly armed with fusils

• the Royal Scots Fusiliers.

2. ‹historical› a soldier armed with a fusil.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French, from fusil (see fusil^1).

fusillade /ˈfyo͞osəˌläd ˈfyo͞osəˌlād/

I. noun

a series of shots fired or missiles thrown all at the same time or in quick succession

• marchers had to dodge a fusillade of missiles

• ‹figurative› a fusillade of accusations.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› attack (a place) or shoot down (someone) by a series of shots fired at the same time or in quick succession.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French, from fusiller ‘to shoot,’ from fusil (see fusil^1) + -ade^1.

fusilli /fyo͞oˈsilē, -ˈsēlē/

I. noun

pasta pieces in the form of short spirals.

– origin Italian, literally ‘little spindles,’ diminutive of fuso.

fusimotor /ˈfyo͞ozəˌmōdər/

adjective

[Anatomy] relating to or denoting the motor neurons with slender fibers that innervate muscle spindles.

fusion /ˈfyo͞oZHən/

I. noun

1. the process or result of joining two or more things together to form a single entity

• a fusion of an idea from anthropology and an idea from psychology

• malformation or fusion of the three bones in the middle ear.

2. [Physics] short for nuclear fusion.

3. the process of causing a material or object to melt with intense heat, especially so as to join with another

• the fusion of resin and glass fiber in the molding process.

4. music that is a mixture of different styles, especially jazz and rock.

II. adjective

referring to food or cooking that incorporates elements of diverse cuisines

• their fusion fare includes a sushi-like roll of gingery rice and eel wrapped in marinated Greek grape leaves.

III. derivatives

fusional /-ZHənl /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin fusio(n-), from fundere ‘pour, melt.’

fusion bomb

noun

a bomb deriving its energy from nuclear fusion, especially a hydrogen bomb.

fusionist /ˈfyo͞oZHənəst/

I. noun

1. a person who strives for coalition between political parties or factions.

2. a player or fan of music that is mixture of two modern styles.

II. derivatives

fusionism /-ˌnizəm /

noun

fuss /fəs/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. a display of unnecessary or excessive excitement, activity, or interest

• I don't know what all the fuss is about.

2. a protest or dispute of a specified degree or kind

• he didn't put up too much of a fuss.

3. elaborate or complex procedures; trouble or difficulty

• they settled in with very little fuss.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. show unnecessary or excessive concern about something

• she's always fussing about her food.

2. move around or busy oneself restlessly

• beside him Kelly was fussing with sheets of paper.

3. [with obj.] — (Brit.) disturb or bother (someone)

• when she cries in her sleep, try not to fuss her.

III. phrases

1. make a fuss

become angry and complain.

2. of) ">make a fuss over ( of)

treat (a person or animal) with excessive attention or affection.

IV. derivatives

fusser /ˈfəsər /

noun

– origin early 18th cent.: perhaps Anglo-Irish.

fussbudget /ˈfəsˌbəjət/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a fussy person.

fussed /fəst/

adjective — [predic.]

1. (Brit.) ‹informal› (of a person) feeling concern, distress, or annoyance; having strong feelings about something

• it'd be great to be there but I'm not that fussed.

fusspot /ˈfəsˌpät/

noun

‹informal› a fussy person.

fussy /ˈfəsē/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) fastidious about one's needs or requirements; hard to please

• he is very fussy about what he eats.

2. showing excessive or anxious concern about detail

• Eleanor patted her hair with quick, fussy movements.

3. full of unnecessary detail or decoration

• I hate fussy clothes.

II. derivatives

1. fussily /ˈfəsəlē /

adverb

2. fussiness /ˈfəsēnis /

noun

fustanella /ˌfəstəˈnelə/

I. noun

a stiff white kilt, worn by men in Albania and Greece.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Italian, from modern Greek phoustani, phoustanela, probably from Italian fustagno, from medieval Latin fustaneum (see fustian).

fustian /ˈfəsCHən/

I. noun

1. thick, durable twilled cloth with a short nap, usually dyed in dark colors.

2. pompous or pretentious speech or writing

• a smoke screen of fustian and fantasy.

– origin Middle English: from Old French fustaigne, from medieval Latin fustaneum, from (pannus) fustaneus ‘cloth from Fostat,’ a suburb of Cairo; sense 2 perhaps from the fact that fustian was sometimes used to cover pillows and cushions, implying that the language was “padded”; compare with bombast.

fustic /ˈfəstik/

I. noun

1. ‹archaic› a yellow dye obtained from either of two kinds of timber, especially that of old fustic.

2. (also old fustic) — a tropical American tree with heartwood that yields dyes and other products.
See also young fustic. [Madura tinctoria, family Moraceae.]

– origin late Middle English: via French from Spanish fustoc, from Arabic fustuḳ, from Greek pistakē ‘pistachio tree.’

fusty /ˈfəstē/

I. adjective

1. smelling stale, damp, or stuffy

• the fusty odor of decay.

2. old-fashioned in attitude or style

• grammar in the classroom became a fusty notion.

II. derivatives

1. fustily /ˈfəstəlē /

adverb

2. fustiness /ˈfəstēnəs /

noun

– origin late 15th cent.: from Old French fuste ‘smelling of the cask,’ from fust ‘cask, tree trunk,’ from Latin fustis ‘cudgel.’

fut.

abbreviation

future.

futhark /ˈfo͞oTHärk / futhorc , futhork

I. noun

the runic alphabet.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from letters corresponding to the first six letters of the ancient runic alphabet: f, u, th, a (or o), r, k.

futile /ˈfyo͞odl ˈfyo͞odīl/

I. adjective

incapable of producing any useful result; pointless

• a futile attempt to keep fans from mounting the stage.

II. derivatives

futilely /ˈfyo͞odl(l)ē /

adverb

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin futilis ‘leaky, futile,’ apparently from fundere ‘pour.’

futilitarian /fyo͞oˌtiləˈterēən/

I. adjective

devoted to futile pursuits.

II. noun

a person devoted to futile pursuits.

futility /ˌfyo͞oˈtilədē/

noun

pointlessness or uselessness

• the horror and futility of war.

futon /ˈf(y)o͞otän/

I. noun

1. a Japanese quilted mattress rolled out on the floor for use as a bed.

2. a type of low wooden sofa that can be unfolded for use as a bed.

– origin late 19th cent.: Japanese.

futsal /ˈfo͝otsäl/

I. noun

a modified form of soccer played with five players per side on a smaller, typically indoor, field.

– origin 1980s: partly from Brazilian Portuguese, shortened from futebol du salão, and partly from Spanish, shortened from fútbol sala or fútbol de salón.

futtock /ˈfədək/

I. noun

each of the curved timber pieces forming the lower part of a ship's frame.

– origin Middle English: perhaps from Middle Low German, or from foot + hook.

future /ˈfyo͞oCHər/

I. noun

1. (usu. the future) — the time or a period of time following the moment of speaking or writing; time regarded as still to come

• we plan on getting married in the near future

• work on the building will be halted for the foreseeable future.

2. events that will or are likely to happen in the time to come

• nobody can predict the future.

3. used to refer to what will happen to someone or something in the time to come

• a blueprint for the future of American fast food.

4. a prospect of success or happiness

• he'd decided that there was no future in the gang

• I began to believe I might have a future as an artist.

5. [Grammar] a tense of verbs expressing events that have not yet happened.

6. (futures) — [Finance] short for futures contract.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. at a later time; going or likely to happen or exist

• the needs of future generations.

2. (of a person) planned or destined to hold a specified position

• his future wife.

3. existing after death

• expectation of a future life.

4. [Grammar] (of a tense) expressing an event yet to happen.

III. phrases

1. for future reference

see reference.

2. in future

(chiefly Brit.) from now on

• she would be more careful in future.

IV. derivatives

futureless /ˈfyo͞oCHərləs /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin futurus, future participle of esse ‘be’ (from the stem fu-, ultimately from a base meaning ‘grow, become’).

future history

noun

(in science fiction) a narration of imagined future events.

future life

noun

1. a future state or existence, especially seen as very different from the present.

2. (in Hinduism and some other religions) a reincarnated existence.

3. [in sing.] — (in Christianity and some other religions) the afterlife.

future perfect /ˈfyo͞oCHər pərˈfekt/

noun

[Grammar] a tense of verbs expressing expected completion in the future, in English exemplified by will have done.

future-proof ‹Brit.›

I. adjective

(of a product) unlikely to become obsolete.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (a product or system) future-proof

• this approach allows you to future-proof your applications.

futures contract

noun

[Finance] an agreement traded on an organized exchange to buy or sell assets, especially commodities or shares, at a fixed price but to be delivered and paid for later.
Compare with forward contract.

future shock

I. noun

a state of distress or disorientation due to rapid social or technological change.

– origin 1970s: popularized by the 1970 book Future Shock by Alvin Toffler, Alvin (1928–).

future tense

noun

[Grammar] a tense expressing an action that has not yet happened or a state that does not yet exist

• the dialect does not have a past or future tense

• the report was in the future tense and was written to explain what was due to happen that evening.

futurism /ˈfyo͞oCHəˌrizəm/

I. noun

1. concern with events and trends of the future or which anticipate the future.

2. (Futurism) — an artistic movement begun in Italy in 1909 that violently rejected traditional forms so as to celebrate and incorporate into art the energy and dynamism of modern technology. Launched by Filippo Marinetti, it had effectively ended by 1918 but was widely influential, particularly in Russia on figures such as Malevich and Mayakovsky.

– origin from future + -ism, translating Italian futurismo, French futurisme.

futurist /ˈfyo͞oCHərəst/

I. noun

1. (Futurist) — an adherent of futurism.

2. a person who studies the future and makes predictions about it based on current trends.

3. [Theology] a person who believes that eschatological prophecies are still to be fulfilled.

II. adjective

1. (often Futurist) — of or relating to futurism or the Futurists.

2. relating to a vision of the future, especially one involving the development of technology

• the grim urban setting of the novel would have been a futurist nightmare.

futuristic /ˌfyo͞oCHəˈristik/

I. adjective

1. having or involving very modern technology or design

• a swimming pool and futuristic dome.

2. (of a film or book) set in the future, typically in a world of advanced or menacing technology.

3. (Futuristic) — ‹dated› of or characteristic of Futurism.

II. derivatives

futuristically

adverb

futurity /fyəˈCHo͝orədē fyəˈto͝orədē/

noun

1. the future time

• the tremendous shadows that futurity casts upon the present.

2. a future event.

3. renewed or continuing existence

• the snowdrops were a promise of futurity.

4. (US) short for futurity race.

futurity race futurity stakes

noun

(US) a horse race for young horses for which entries are made long in advance, sometimes before the horses are born.

futurology /ˌfyo͞oCHəˈräləjē/

I. noun

systematic forecasting of the future, especially from present trends in society.

II. derivatives

1. futurological /ˌfyo͞oCHərəˈläjēk(ə)l /

adjective

2. futurologist /ˌfyo͞oCHəˈräləjəst /

noun

futz /fəts/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› waste time; idle or busy oneself aimlessly

• mother futzed around in the kitchen.

2. (futz around with) — (N. Amer.) ‹informal› deal with (something) in a trifling way; fiddle with

• Mick was futzing around with his camera equipment.

– origin 1930s: perhaps an alteration of Yiddish arumfartzen ‘fart around.’

Fuxin /ˈfo͞oˈSHin / Fou-hsin

an industrial city in northeastern China, in Liaoning province; pop. 691,800 (est. 2006).

Fuzhou /ˌfo͞oˈjō / Foochow

a port in southeastern China, capital of Fujian province; pop. 1,457,600 (est. 2006).

fuzz^1 /fəz/

I. noun

1. a fluffy or frizzy mass of hair or fiber

• a fuzz of black hair

• his face was covered with white fuzz.

2. a blurred image or area

• she saw Jess surrounded by a fuzz of sunlight.

3. a buzzing or distorted sound, especially one deliberately produced as an effect on an electric guitar.

II. verb

1. make or become blurred or indistinct
[with obj.]

• snow fuzzes the outlines of the signs

• [no obj.] tiny detail can be enlarged to poster size without fuzzing out.

2. [no obj.] — (of hair) become fluffy or frizzy

• her hair fuzzed out uncontrollably in the heat.

– origin late 16th cent.: probably of Low German or Dutch origin; compare with Dutch voos, Low German fussig ‘spongy.’

fuzz^2 /fəz/

I. noun — (the fuzz)

1. ‹informal› the police.

– origin 1920s: of unknown origin.

fuzzball /ˈfəzbôl/

noun

1. a ball of fuzz

• a black and white puppy that looks like a laundered fuzzball.

2. another term for puffball (sense 2).

fuzzbox /ˈfəzˌbäks/

noun

a device that adds a distorted buzzing quality to the sound of an electric guitar or other instrument.

fuzzed /fəzd/

adjective

(of popular music or electric instruments) having or producing a distorted buzzing tone

• fuzzed guitars.

fuzzy /ˈfəzē/

I. adjective

1. having a frizzy, fluffy, or frayed texture or appearance

• a girl with fuzzy dark hair.

2. difficult to perceive clearly or understand and explain precisely; indistinct or vague

• the picture is very fuzzy

• that fuzzy line between right and wrong.

3. (of a person or the mind) unable to think clearly; confused

• my mind felt fuzzy.

4. another term for fuzzed.

5. [Computing] [Logic] of or relating to a form of set theory and logic in which predicates may have degrees of applicability, rather than simply being true or false. It has important uses in artificial intelligence and the design of control systems.

II. phrases

warm fuzzy (or warm and fuzzy)

‹informal› (chiefly US) used to refer to a sentimentally emotional response or something designed to evoke such a response

• babies require a lot of attention, not just momentary warm fuzzies.

III. derivatives

1. fuzzily /ˈfəzəlē /

adverb

2. fuzziness /ˈfəzēnis /

noun

fuzzyheaded /ˌfəzēˈhedəd/

adjective

1. muddled in thought or conception

• fuzzyheaded liberals.

2. slightly dizzy or giddy

• a strange musky scent in the air made her feel fuzzyheaded and distracted.

f.v.

I. abbreviation

on the back of the page.

– origin from Latin folio verso.

FWB

abbreviation

four-wheel brake.

FWD

abbreviation

1. four-wheel drive.

2. front-wheel drive.

fwd.

abbreviation

forward.

F-word /ˈefwərd/

noun

‹informal› used as a euphemism for the word “fuck” because of the latter's taboo status.

fwy

abbreviation

freeway.

FX^1

I. plural noun

sound or visual effects used in film, TV, or music

• computer FX may allow him to redefine cinema.

– origin 1950s: from the pronunciation of the two letters forming the two syllables of effects.

FX^2

plural noun

foreign exchange.

FY

abbreviation

(N. Amer.) fiscal year.

-fy

I. suffix

1. (added to nouns) forming verbs denoting making or producing

• speechify.

2. denoting transformation or the process of making into

• deify

• petrify.

3. forming verbs denoting the making of a state defined by an adjective

• amplify

• falsify.

4. forming verbs expressing a causative sense

• horrify.

– origin from French -fier, from Latin -ficare, -facere, from facere ‘do, make.’

FYI

abbreviation

for your information.

fyke /fīk / fyke net

I. noun

(chiefly US) a bag net for catching fish.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Dutch fuik ‘fish trap.’

fylfot /ˈfilfät/

I. noun

a swastika.

– origin late 15th cent.: perhaps from fill-foot ‘pattern filling the foot of a painted window.’

fynbos /ˈfānbäs/

I. noun

a distinctive type of vegetation found only on the southern tip of Africa. It includes a wide range of plant species, particularly small heatherlike trees and shrubs.

– origin Afrikaans, literally ‘fine bush.’

FZS

abbreviation

Fellow of the Zoological Society.

g /jē/

I. abbreviation

1. [Chemistry] gas.

2. gelding.

3. gram(s).

4. [Physics] denoting quantum states or wave functions that do not change sign on inversion through the origin.
[from German gerade ‘even.’]

II. symbol

[Physics] the acceleration due to gravity, equal to 9.81 m/s^2.

G^1 /jē / g

noun

1. the seventh letter of the alphabet.

2. denoting the next after F in a set of items, categories, etc.

3. (g) — [Chess] denoting the seventh file from the left, as viewed from White's side of the board.

4. [Music] the fifth note in the diatonic scale of C major.

5. a key based on a scale with G as its keynote.

G^2 /jē/

I. abbreviation

1. [Physics] gauss.

2. German.

3. [in combination] — (in units of measurement) giga- (10^9).

4. good.

5. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› grand (a thousand dollars).

6. a unit of gravitational force equal to that exerted by the earth's gravitational field.

II. symbol

1. [Chemistry] Gibbs free energy.

2. (N. Amer.) general audiences, a rating in the Voluntary Movie Rating System that all ages may be admitted.

3. [Physics] the gravitational constant, equal to 6.67 × 10−11N m^2 kg−2.

4. [Physics] conductance.

G7

abbreviation

Group of Seven.

G8 /jēːˈāt/

abbreviation

Group of Eight.

G20

abbreviation

Group of Twenty.

G77

abbreviation

Group of Seventy-Seven.

Ga^1 /ɡä/

symbol

the chemical element gallium.

Ga^2 /ɡä/

abbreviation

[Bible] Galatians.

GA

abbreviation

1. Gamblers Anonymous.

2. General Assembly.

3. general aviation.

4. General of the Army.

5. Georgia (in official postal use).

Ga.

abbreviation

Georgia.

gab /ɡab / ‹informal›

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. talk, typically at length, about trivial matters

• Franny walked right past a woman gabbing on the phone.

II. noun

talk; chatter.

– origin early 18th cent.: variant of gob^1.

GABA

abbreviation

gamma-aminobutyric acid.

gabardine /ˈɡabərˌdēn / ‹chiefly Brit.› gaberdine

I. noun

1. a smooth, durable twill-woven cloth, typically of worsted or cotton.

2. (Brit.) a raincoat made of gabardine.

3. (usu. gaberdine) — ‹historical› a loose long upper garment, worn particularly by Jewish men.

– origin early 16th cent.: from Old French gauvardine, earlier gallevardine, perhaps from Middle High German wallevart ‘pilgrimage’ and originally ‘a garment worn by a pilgrim.’ The textile sense is first recorded in the early 20th cent.

gabble /ˈɡabəl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. talk rapidly and unintelligibly; utter meaningless sounds

• he gabbled on in a panicky way until he was dismissed.

II. noun

rapid, unintelligible talk.

III. derivatives

gabbler /ˈɡablər /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from Dutch gabbelen, of imitative origin.

gabbro /ˈɡabrō/

I. noun

[Geology] a dark, coarse-grained plutonic rock of crystalline texture, consisting mainly of pyroxene, plagioclase feldspar, and often olivine.

II. derivatives

1. gabbroic /ɡəˈbrō-ik /

adjective

2. gabbroid /-broid /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Italian, from Latin glaber, glabr- ‘smooth.’

gabby /ˈɡabē/

adjective

‹informal› excessively or annoyingly talkative.

gabfest /ˈɡabˌfest/

noun

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) a conference or other gathering with prolonged talking

• these summits are merely empty gabfests.

gabion /ˈɡābēən/

I. noun

a wirework container filled with rock, broken concrete, or other material, used in the construction of dams, retaining walls, etc.

II. derivatives

gabionage /ˈɡābēəˌnäZH /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: via French from Italian gabbione, from gabbia ‘cage,’ from Latin cavea.

gable /ˈɡābəl/

I. noun

1. the part of a wall that encloses the end of a pitched roof.

2. (also gable end) — a wall topped with a gable.

3. a gable-shaped canopy over a window or door.

II. derivatives

gabled /ˈɡābəld /

adjective

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Old Norse gafl, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch gaffel and German Gabel ‘fork’ (the point of the gable originally being the fork of two crossed timbers supporting the end of the rooftree).

Gable, Clark /ˈɡābəl/

(1901–60), US actor; full name William Clark Gable. He was noted for movies such as It Happened One Night (1934) and Gone with the Wind (1939). His last movie, The Misfits, was released posthumously in 1961.

gable roof

noun

a roof with two sloping sides and a gable at each end.

Gabon /ɡəˈbän/

1. a country in West Africa, on the Atlantic coast; pop. 1,515,000 (est. 2009); capital, Libreville; languages, French (official) and West African languages.

Gabon became a French territory in 1888. Part of French Equatorial Africa from 1910 to 1958, it declared independence in 1960.

Gabonese /ˌɡabəˈnēz/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of Gabon or its people

• the Gabonese head of state.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of Gabon

• many Gabonese believe that drugs are a serious problem in their country

• the Gabonese scored a nice double.

gaboon /ɡəˈbo͞on / gaboon mahogany

I. noun

a tropical West African hardwood tree valued for its timber.
Also called okoume. [Aucoumea klaineana, family Burseraceae.]

– origin early 20th cent.: from Gaboon (now Gabon).

Gaboon viper

I. noun

a large, thick-bodied venomous African snake with a pair of hornlike scales on the snout, and the scales richly patterned with brown, purple, and cream.
[Bitis gabonica, family Viperidae.]

– origin early 20th cent.: named after Gaboon (now Gabon).

Gabor, Dennis /ɡəˈbôr, ˈɡäbôr/

(1900–79), British electrical engineer; born in Hungary. He conceived the idea of holography. Nobel Prize for Physics (1971).

Gaborone /ˌɡäbəˈrōnē/

the capital of Botswana, in the southern part of the country near the border with South Africa; pop. 223,200 (est. 2009).

Gabriel /ˈɡābrēəl/

(in the Bible) the archangel who foretold the birth of Jesus to the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:26–38), and who also appeared to Zacharias, father of John the Baptist, and to Daniel; (in Islam) the archangel who revealed the Koran to the Prophet Muhammad.

gad /ɡad/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹informal› go around from one place to another, in the pursuit of pleasure or entertainment

• help out around the house and not be gadding about the countryside.

– origin late Middle English: back-formation from obsolete gadling ‘wanderer, vagabond,’ (earlier) ‘companion,’ of Germanic origin.

Gad^1 /ɡad/

I. (in the Bible) a Hebrew patriarch, son of Jacob and Zilpah (Gen. 30:9–11).

II. the tribe of Israel traditionally descended from Gad.

Gad^2 /ɡad/

I. exclamation

used to express dismay or surprise.

– origin late 15th cent.: euphemistic alteration of God.

gadabout /ˈɡadəˌbout/

noun

a habitual pleasure-seeker.

Gadarene /ˈɡadəˌrēn/

I. adjective

involving or engaged in a headlong or potentially disastrous rush to do something.

– origin early 19th cent. (in the current sense): from New Testament Greek Gadarēnos ‘inhabitant of Gadara’ (see Matt. 8:28–32).

Gaddafi, Mu'ammer al- /ɡəˈdäfē / Qaddafi

(1942–2011), Libyan statesman; head of state 1970–2011. After leading a coup that overthrew King Idris in 1969, he established the Libyan Arab Republic and pursued a policy of Islamic fundamentalism blended with Arab nationalism. Accused of supporting international terrorism and wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity, he was deposed in August 2011. He was later captured and killed by Libyan revolutionaries.

Gaddis, William /ˈɡadis/

(1922–98), US writer. He is noted for the novels JR (1975), Carpenter's Gothic (1985), and A Frolic of His Own (1994).

gadfly /ˈɡadˌflī/

I. noun

1. a fly that bites livestock, especially a horsefly, warble fly, or botfly.

2. an annoying person, especially one who provokes others into action by criticism.

– origin late 16th cent.: from gad, or obsolete gad ‘goad, spike,’ from Old Norse gaddr, of Germanic origin; related to yard^1.

gadget /ˈɡajət/

I. noun

a small mechanical or electronic device or tool, especially an ingenious or novel one

• a state-of-the-art kitchen with every conceivable gadget.

II. derivatives

1. gadgeteer /ˌɡajiˈti(ə)r /

noun

2. gadgety

adjective

– origin late 19th cent. (originally in nautical use): probably from French gâchette ‘lock mechanism’ or from the French dialect word gagée ‘tool.’

gadgetry /ˈɡajətrē/

noun

small mechanical or electronic devices or tools, especially ingenious or novel ones

• the very latest in electronic gadgetry.

gadid /ˈɡādid/

I. noun

[Zoology] a fish of the cod family (Gadidae).

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Gadidae (plural), from gadus ‘cod.’

gadoid /ˈɡādoid ˈɡaˌdoid/

I. noun

[Zoology] a bony fish of an order (Gadiformes) that comprises the cods, hakes, and their relatives.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin gadus (from Greek gados ‘cod’) + -oid.

gadolinite /ˈɡadələˌnīt/

I. noun

a rare dark brown or black mineral, consisting of a silicate of iron, beryllium, and rare earths.

– origin early 19th cent.: named after Johan Gadolin (1760–1852), the Finnish mineralogist who first identified it.

gadolinium /ˌɡadəˈlinēəm/

I. noun

(Symbol: Gd) — the chemical element of atomic number 64, a soft silvery-white metal of the lanthanide series.

– origin late 19th cent.: from gadolinite.

gadroon /ɡəˈdro͞on/

I. noun

a decorative edging on metal or wood, typically formed by inverted flutings.

II. derivatives

1. gadrooned

adjective

2. gadrooning

noun

– origin late 17th cent.: from French godron, probably related to goder ‘to pucker,’ also to godet.

Gadsden /ˈɡadzdən/

an industrial city in northeastern Alabama; pop. 36,816 (est. 2008).

Gadsden Purchase /ˌɡadzdən ˈpərCHəs/

an area in New Mexico and Arizona, near the Rio Grande, that covers an area of more than 30,000 square miles (77,700 sq km). It was purchased from Mexico in 1853 by US diplomat James Gadsden (1788–1858) with the intention of ensuring a southern railroad route to the Pacific Ocean.

gadwall /ˈɡadwôl/

I. noun

a brownish-gray freshwater duck found across Eurasia and North America.
[Anas strepera, family Anatidae.]

– origin mid 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

gadzooks /ˌɡadˈzo͞oks/

I. exclamation

‹archaic› an exclamation of surprise or annoyance.

– origin late 17th cent.: alteration of God's hooks, i.e., the nails by which Jesus Christ was fastened to the cross; see Gad^2.

Gael /ɡāl/

I. noun

1. a Gaelic-speaking person.

2. a person whose ancestors spoke Gaelic.

II. derivatives

Gaeldom /-dəm /

noun

– origin from Scottish Gaelic Gaidheal.

Gaelic /ˈɡālik/

I. adjective

of or relating to the Goidelic languages, particularly the Celtic language of Scotland, and the culture associated with speakers of these languages and their descendants.

II. noun

1. a Goidelic language brought from Ireland in the 5th and 6th centuries AD and spoken mainly in the highlands and islands of western Scotland.

2. (also Irish Gaelic) — another term for Irish (the language).

Gaeltacht /ˈɡāltəKHt/

I. (the Gaeltacht)

1. regions in Ireland, primarily the western coast, where the vernacular language is Irish.

– origin Irish, earlier Gaedhealtacht, from Gaedheal ‘Gael’ + tacht ‘talk, speech.’

gaff^1 /ɡaf/

I. noun

1. a stick with a hook, or a barbed spear, for landing large fish.

2. [Sailing] a spar to which the head of a fore-and-aft sail is bent.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. seize or impale with a gaff.

– origin Middle English: from Provençal gaf ‘hook’; related to gaffe.

gaff^2 /ɡaf/

I. noun

(US) ‹informal› rough treatment; criticism

• if wages increase, perhaps we can stand the gaff.

– origin early 19th cent. (in the senses ‘outcry; nonsense’ and in the phrase blow the gaff ‘let out a secret’): of unknown origin.

gaff^3 /ɡaf/

I. noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› a house, apartment, or other building, especially as being a person's home

• John's new gaff is on McDonald Road.

– origin mid 18th cent. (in sense ‘a fair’): of unknown origin.

gaffe /ɡaf/

I. noun

an unintentional act or remark causing embarrassment to its originator; a blunder

• an unforgivable social gaffe.

– origin early 20th cent.: from French, literally ‘boat hook’ (from Provençal gaf: see gaff^1), used colloquially to mean ‘blunder.’

gaffer /ˈɡafər/

I. noun

1. the chief electrician in a motion-picture or television production unit.

2. ‹informal› an old man.

3. (Brit.) ‹informal› a person in charge of others; a boss.

– origin late 16th cent.: probably a contraction of godfather; compare with gammer.

gag^1 /ɡaɡ/

I. noun

1. a piece of cloth put in or over a person's mouth to prevent them from speaking or crying out.

2. a restriction on freedom of speech or dissemination of information

• they lobbied hard for a gag on doctors and nurses.

3. a device for keeping the patient's mouth open during a dental or surgical operation.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — put a gag on (someone)

• she was bound and gagged by robbers in her home.

2. (of a person or body with authority) prevent (someone) from speaking freely or disseminating information

• the administration is trying to gag its critics.

3. [no obj.] — choke or retch

• he gagged on the sourness of the wine.

– origin Middle English: perhaps related to Old Norse gagháls ‘with the neck thrown back,’ or imitative of a person choking.

gag^2 /ɡaɡ/

I. noun

a joke or an amusing story or scene, especially one forming part of a comedian's act or in a film or play.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. tell jokes.

– origin mid 19th cent. (originally theatrical slang): of unknown origin.

gaga /ˈɡäˌɡä/

I. adjective

‹informal› overexcited or irrational, typically as a result of infatuation or excessive enthusiasm; mentally confused; senile.

– origin early 20th cent.: from French, ‘senile, a senile person,’ reduplication based on gâteux, variant of gâteur, hospital slang in the sense ‘bed wetter.’

Gagarin, Yury /ɡəˈɡärin/

(1934–68), Russian cosmonaut; full name Yury Alekseyevich Gagarin. In 1961, he made the first manned space flight, completing a single orbit of the earth in 108 minutes.

gage^1 /ɡāj / ‹archaic›

I. noun

1. a valued object deposited as a guarantee of good faith.

2. a pledge, especially a glove, thrown down as a symbol of a challenge to fight.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. offer (a thing or one's life) as a guarantee of good faith.

– origin Middle English: from Old French gage (noun), gager (verb), of Germanic origin; related to wage and wed.

gage^2 /ɡāj/

noun, verb

variant spelling of gauge.

gage^3 /ɡāj/

noun

another term for greengage.

gagger /ˈɡaɡər/

noun

1. a person or thing that gags, in particular

2. a piece of iron used in a foundry mold to keep the core in place.

gagging clause

noun

(Brit.) a condition in a contract of employment forbidding an employee from publicly disclosing information about their employer or work

• as part of her severance terms she was forced to sign a gagging clause pledging not to reveal what she knew.

gaggle /ˈɡaɡəl/

I. noun

1. a flock of geese.

2. ‹informal› a disorderly or noisy group of people

• the gaggle of reporters and photographers that dogged his every step.

– origin Middle English (as a verb): imitative of the noise that a goose makes; compare with Dutch gaggelen and German gackern.

gag law ‹Brit.› gagging law

noun

a law forbidding the public disclosure of information on a particular matter

• the gag law prohibits the publication of polling data for the last few days preceding a federal election.

gagman /ˈɡaɡman / gag man

noun

a writer or performer of gags.

gag order ‹Brit.› gagging order

noun

[Law] a judge's order that a case may not be discussed in public.

gag rule

noun

1. a regulation or directive that prohibits public discussion of a particular matter, in particular

2. a regulation preventing the staff of government-funded family-planning clinics from offering patients information about abortion.

3. a US government policy preventing US aid to foreign family-planning organizations unless they agree not to promote or perform abortions.

gagster /ˈɡaɡstər/

noun

another term for gagman.

gah /ɡä/

I. exclamation

used to express exasperation or dismay

• had to go the dentist this morning (arrived late—gah!).

– origin natural exclamation: first recorded in English in the early 20th cent.

Gaia /ˈɡīə/

I. (also Gaea, Ge) — [Greek Mythology] the Earth personified as a goddess, daughter of Chaos. She was the mother and wife of Uranus (Heaven); their offspring included the Titans and the Cyclopes.
[Greek, ‘Earth.’]

II. the earth viewed as a vast self-regulating organism.
[1970s: coined by James Lovelock, at the suggestion of the writer William Golding, from the name of the goddess Gaia.]

III. derivatives

Gaian

noun, adjective

Gaia hypothesis

noun

the theory, put forward by James Lovelock, that living matter on the earth collectively defines and regulates the material conditions necessary for the continuance of life. The planet, or rather the biosphere, is thus likened to a vast self-regulating organism.

gaiety /ˈɡāədē / gayety

I. noun

1. the state or quality of being lighthearted or cheerful

• the sudden gaiety of children's laughter.

2. merrymaking or festivity

• he seemed to be a part of the gaiety, having a wonderful time.

3. (gaieties) — ‹dated› entertainments or amusements.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French gaieté, from gai (see gay).

gaijin /ɡīˈjin/

I. noun

(in Japan) a foreigner.

– origin Japanese, contraction of gaikoku-jin, from gaikoku ‘foreign country’ + jin ‘person.’

gaillardia /ɡəˈlärdēə/

I. noun

an American plant of the daisy family, cultivated for its bright red and yellow flowers.
[Genus Gaillardia, family Compositae.]

– origin modern Latin, named in memory of Gaillard de Marentonneau, 18th-cent. French amateur botanist.

gaily /ˈɡālē/

adverb

1. in a cheerful or lighthearted way

• he waved gaily to the crowd.

2. without thinking of the consequences

• she plunged gaily into speculation on the stock market.

3. [as submodifier] — with a bright or cheerful appearance

• gaily colored sailboats dot the lake.

gain /ɡān/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. obtain or secure (something desired, favorable, or profitable)

• a process that has gained the confidence of the industry

• [with two objs.] their blend of acoustic folk pop gained them several chart hits.

2. reach or arrive at (a desired destination)

• we gained the ridge.

3. [no obj.] (gain on) — come closer to (a person or thing pursued)

• a huge bear gaining on him with every stride.

4. ‹archaic› bring over to one's interest or views; win over

• to gratify the queen and gain the court.

5. increase the amount or rate of (something, typically weight or speed)

• she had gradually gained weight since her wedding.

6. [no obj.] — increase in value

• stocks also gained for the third day in a row.

7. [no obj.] (gain in) — improve or advance in some respect

• canoeing is gaining in popularity.

8. (of a clock or watch) become fast by (a specific amount of time)

• this atomic clock will neither gain nor lose a second in the next 1 million years.

II. noun

1. an increase in wealth or resources

• the mayor was accused of using municipal funds for personal gain.

2. a thing that is achieved or acquired

• a balance between water loss and water gain.

3. the factor by which power or voltage is increased in an amplifier or other electronic device, usually expressed as a logarithm.

III. derivatives

1. gainable

adjective

2. gainer /ˈɡānər /

noun

– origin late 15th cent. (as a noun, originally in the sense ‘booty’): from Old French gaigne (noun), gaignier (verb), of Germanic origin.

Gainesville /ˈɡānzˌvil, -vəl/

a city in north central Florida, home to the University of Florida; pop. 114,916 (est. 2008).

gainful /ˈɡānfəl/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. serving to increase wealth or resources

• he soon found gainful employment.

II. derivatives

1. gainfully /ˈɡānfəlē /

adverb

2. gainfulness

noun

gainsay /ˌɡānˈsā/

I. verb — [with obj. with negative]

1. ‹formal› deny or contradict (a fact or statement)

• the impact of the railroads cannot be gainsaid.

2. ‹formal› speak against or oppose (someone).

II. derivatives

gainsayer

noun

– origin Middle English: from obsolete gain- ‘against’ + say.

Gainsborough, Thomas /ˈɡānzbərə/

(1727–88), English painter. He was known for his society portraits, including Mr. and Mrs. Andrews (1748) and The Blue Boy (c. 1770), and for landscapes such as The Watering Place (1777).

gainsharing /ˈɡānˌSHeriNG/

noun

an incentive plan in which employees or customers receive benefits directly as a result of cost-saving measures that they initiate or participate in
[as modifier]

• the company's gainsharing program ties bonuses directly to team performance.

’gainst /ɡenst/

preposition

‹literary› short for against.

gait /ɡāt/

I. noun

1. a person's manner of walking

• the easy gait of an athlete.

2. the paces of an animal, especially a horse or dog.

– origin late Middle English (originally Scots).

gaita /ˈɡīdə/

I. noun

a kind of bagpipe played in northern Spain and Portugal.

– origin Spanish and Portuguese.

gaiter /ˈɡādər/

I. noun — (usu. gaiters)

1. a garment similar to leggings, worn to cover or protect the ankle and lower leg.

2. (chiefly US) a shoe or overshoe extending to the ankle or above.

3. a lower leg covering, buttoned up the side and worn as part of the traditional costume of an Anglican bishop.

II. derivatives

gaitered /ˈɡādərd /

adjective

– origin early 18th cent.: from French guêtre, probably of Germanic origin and related to wrist.

Gaithersburg /ˈɡāTHərzˌbərɡ/

a city in west central Maryland, northwest of Washington, DC; pop. 58,744 (est. 2008).

gak /ɡak / ‹informal› gack

I. noun

1. cocaine.

2. a sticky or messy substance

• the shower failed to remove the gak from my hair.

II. exclamation

used to express distaste or disgust

• Gak! There she is again!

– origin 1970s: imitative; the form gak dates from the 1990s.

gal^1 /ɡal/

I. noun

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) a girl or young woman.

– origin late 18th cent.: representing a pronunciation.

gal^2 /ɡal/

I. noun

[Physics] a unit of gravitational acceleration equal to one centimeter per second per second.

– origin early 20th cent.: named after Galileo Galilei.

gal. //

abbreviation

gallon(s).

Gal.

abbreviation

[Bible] Galatians.

gala /ˈɡālə ˈɡalə/

I. noun

a social occasion with special entertainments or performances
[as modifier]

• a black-tie gala that begins with a cocktail reception.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘showy dress’): via Italian and Spanish from Old French gale ‘rejoicing.’

galactagogue /ɡəˈlaktəˌɡäɡ/

I. noun

[Medicine] a food or drug that promotes or increases the flow of a mother's milk.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek gala, galakt- ‘milk’ + agōgos ‘leading.’

galactic /ɡəˈlaktik/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to a galaxy or galaxies, especially the Milky Way galaxy.

2. [Astronomy] measured relative to the galactic equator.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek galaktias (variant of galaxias ‘galaxy’) + -ic.

galactic equator

noun

[Astronomy] the great circle passing as closely as possible through the densest parts of the Milky Way.

galactic noise

noun

unidentified radio-frequency radiation coming from beyond the solar system.

galactorrhea /ɡəˌlaktəˈrēə/

I. noun

[Medicine] excessive or inappropriate production of milk.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek gala, galakt- ‘milk’ + rhoia ‘flux, flow.’

galactosamine /ɡəlakˈtäsəˌmēn, -min, -ˈtōsə-/

I. noun

an amino acid derived from the sugar galactose, of which chondroitin is a derivative.

– origin early 20th cent.: from German Galaktosamin.

galactose /ɡəˈlaktōs/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a sugar of the hexose class that is a constituent of lactose and many polysaccharides.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek gala, galakt- ‘milk’ + -ose^2.

galactosidase /ɡəˈlaktōsiˌdās, -ˌdāz, -lakˈtō-/

noun

an enzyme, such as lactase, that is involved in the hydrolytic breakdown of a galactoside.

galactoside /ɡəˈlaktəˌsīd/

noun

a glycoside yielding galactose on hydrolysis.

galago /ɡəˈlāɡō ɡəˈläɡō/

I. noun

another term for bush baby.

– origin modern Latin (genus name).

galah /ɡəˈlä/

I. noun

a small Australian cockatoo with a gray back and rosy pink head and underparts, abundant and regarded as a pest.
[Eulophus roseicapillus, family Cacatuidae (or Psittacidae).]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Yuwaalaraay (an Aboriginal language of New South Wales).

Galahad /ˈɡaləˌhad / Sir Galahad

the noblest of King Arthur's legendary knights; renowned for immaculate purity and destined to find the Holy Grail.

galangal /ɡəˈlaNGɡəl / galingale

I. noun

an Asian plant of the ginger family, the aromatic rhizome of which is widely used in cooking and herbal medicine.
[Genera Alpinia and Kaempferia, family Zingiberaceae.]

– origin Middle English galingale, via Old French from Arabic ḵalanjān, perhaps from Chinese gāoliángjiāng, from gāoliáng (the name of a district in Guangdong Province, China) + jiāng ‘ginger.’

galant /ɡəˈlänt/

I. adjective

of, relating to, or denoting a light and elegant style of 18th-century music.

– origin French and German (see gallant).

galanthophile /ɡəˈlanTHəˌfīl/

I. noun

a person who collects snowdrops

• the anonymous bidder bought the highly prized bulb on eBay, beating competition from other galanthophiles.

– origin late 19th cent. (as galanthophil): blend of Galanthus (the snowdrop's taxonomic name, from Greek gala, galakt- ‘milk’ and anthos ‘flower’) and -phile.

galantine /ˈɡalənˌtēn/

I. noun

a dish of white meat or fish that is boned, cooked, pressed, and served cold in aspic.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘sauce for fish’): from Old French, alteration of galatine, from medieval Latin galatina; the current sense dates from the early 18th cent.

Galapagos Islands /ɡəˈläpəɡōs ˌīləndz ɡəˈläpəɡəs ˌīləndz/

a Pacific Ocean archipelago on the equator, about 650 miles (1,045 km) west of Ecuador, to which it belongs; pop. 28,000 (est. 2009). Noted for giant tortoises and many other endemic species, they were the site of Charles Darwin's 1835 observations, which helped him to form his theory of natural selection.
Spanish name Archipiélago de Colón.

Galatea /ˌɡaləˈtēə/

I. [Greek Mythology] a sea nymph courted by the Cyclops Polyphemus, who in jealousy killed his rival Acis.

II. the name given to the statue fashioned by Pygmalion and brought to life.

Galaţi /ɡäˈläts, -ˈlätsē/

an industrial city in eastern Romania, a port on the lower Danube River; pop. 296,697 (2006).

Galatia /ɡəˈlāSH(ē)ə/

I. an ancient region in central Asia Minor, settled by invading Gauls (the Galatians) in the 3rd century BC. It later became a province of the Roman Empire.

II. derivatives

Galatian

adjective, noun

Galatians /ɡəˈlāSHənz/

a book of the New Testament, an epistle of St. Paul to the Church in Galatia.

galaxy /ˈɡaləksē/

I. noun

1. a system of millions or billions of stars, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction.

2. (the Galaxy) — the galaxy of which the solar system is a part; the Milky Way.

3. a large group of impressive people or things

• the four musicians have played with a galaxy of stars.

The Galaxy in which the earth is located is a disk-shaped spiral galaxy with approximately 100,000 million stars. The sun is located about two thirds of the way out from the center.

– origin late Middle English (originally referring to the Milky Way): via Old French from medieval Latin galaxia, from Greek galaxias (kuklos) ‘milky (vault),’ from gala, galakt- ‘milk.’

Galba /ˈɡalbə/

(c. 3 BC–AD 69), Roman emperor AD 68–69; full name Servius Sulpicius Galba. The successor to Nero, he aroused hostility because of his severity and parsimony and was murdered in a conspiracy organized by Otho.

galbanum /ˈɡalbənəm/

I. noun

a bitter aromatic resin produced from kinds of ferula.

– origin Middle English: via Latin from Greek khalbanē, probably of Semitic origin.

Galbraith, John Kenneth /ˈɡalˌbrāTH/

(1908–2006), US economist; born in Canada. Well known for his criticism of consumerism and of the power of large multinational corporations, he wrote The Affluent Society (1958) and The New Industrial State (1967).

gale /ɡāl/

I. noun

1. a very strong wind

• it was almost blowing a gale

• [as modifier] gale-force winds.

2. [Meteorology] a wind of force 7 to 10 on the Beaufort scale (28-55 knots or 32-63 mph).

3. a storm at sea.

4. (a gale of/gales of) — a burst of sound, especially of laughter

• she collapsed into gales of laughter.

– origin mid 16th cent.: perhaps related to Old Norse galinn ‘mad, frantic.’

galea /ˈɡālēə/

I. noun

[Botany] [Zoology] a structure shaped like a helmet.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘helmet.’

Galen /ˈɡālən/

I. (129–199), Greek physician; full name Claudios Galenos; Latin name Claudius Galenus. While attempting to systematize medicine, he made important discoveries in anatomy and physiology.

II. derivatives

1. Galenism /-ˌnizəm /

noun

2. Galenist /-nist /

adjective, noun

galena /ɡəˈlēnə/

I. noun

a bluish, gray, or black mineral of metallic appearance, consisting of lead sulfide. It is the chief ore of lead.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin, ‘lead ore’ (in a partly purified state).

galenic /ɡāˈlenik, ɡə-/

adjective

1. (Galenic) — [Medicine] of or relating to Galen or his methods.

2. [Medicine] (of a medicine) galenical.

galenical /ɡāˈlenək(ə)l ɡəˈlenək(ə)l / ‹Medicine›

I. adjective

1. (of a medicine) made of natural rather than synthetic components.

2. (Galenical) — of or relating to Galen.

II. noun

a medicine made of natural rather than synthetic components.

galère /ɡaˈler/

I. noun

a group or coterie

• the repulsive galère of Lolita's admirers.

– origin mid 18th cent.: French, literally ‘galley.’ The term was used in Molière's play Scapin meaning ‘coterie.’

Galesburg /ˈɡālzbərɡ/

a commercial and industrial city in west central Illinois; pop. 31,181 (est. 2008).

galette /ɡəˈlet/

I. noun

1. a flat round cake of pastry or bread.

2. a savory pancake made from potatoes or buckwheat.

– origin French, from Old French galet ‘pebble.’

gal Friday

noun

informal term for girl Friday.

galia melon /ˈɡälēə ˌmelən/

noun

a small rounded melon of a variety with rough skin and fragrant orange flesh.

Galibi /ɡəˈlēbē/

I. noun

another term for Carib (sense 2 of the noun).

– origin Carib, literally ‘strong man.’

Galicia /ɡəˈliSHə/

I. an autonomous region and former kingdom in northwestern Spain; capital, Santiago de Compostela.

II. a region in eastern central Europe, north of the Carpathian Mountains. A former province of Austria, it now forms part of southeastern Poland and western Ukraine.

Galician /ɡəˈliSHən/

I. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Galicia in northwestern Spain.

2. the Romance language of Galicia in northwestern Spain, closely related to Portuguese.

3. a native or inhabitant of Galicia in east central Europe.

II. adjective

1. of or relating to Galicia in northwestern Spain, its people, or their language.

2. of or relating to Galicia in east central Europe.

Galilean^1 /ˌɡaləˈlēən/

adjective

of or relating to Galileo or his methods.

Galilean^2 /ˌɡaləˈlēən/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to Galilee.

2. ‹archaic› ‹derogatory› Christian.

II. noun

1. a native of Galilee.

2. ‹archaic› ‹derogatory› a Christian.

Galilean satellites ‹Astronomy›

the four largest moons of Jupiter (Callisto, Europa, Ganymede, and Io), discovered by Galileo in 1610 and independently by the German astronomer Simon Marius (1573–1624).

Galilean telescope

noun

an astronomical telescope of the earliest type, with a biconvex objective and biconcave eyepiece.

galilee /ˈɡaləˌlē/

I. noun

a chapel or porch at the entrance to some English churches.

– origin Middle English: from Old French, from medieval Latin galilea ‘Galilee.’ Compare with gallery.

Galilee /ˈɡaləˌlē/

a northern region of ancient Palestine, west of the Jordan River, associated with the ministry of Jesus. It is now part of Israel.

Galilee, Sea of

a lake in northern Israel. The Jordan River flows through it from north to south.
Also called Tiberias, Lake or Kinneret, Lake.

Galileo /ˌɡaləˈlāō/

an American space probe to Jupiter launched in 1989. It reached the vicinity of Jupiter in 1995 and released a probe which descended into Jupiter's atmosphere.

Galileo Galilei /ˌɡaləˈlāō ˌɡaləˈlāē/

(1564–1642), Italian astronomer and physicist. He discovered the constancy of a pendulum's swing, formulated the law of uniform acceleration of falling bodies, and described the parabolic trajectory of projectiles. He applied the telescope to astronomy and observed craters on the moon, sunspots, Jupiter's moons, and the phases of Venus.

galingale /ˈɡalənˌɡāl/

noun

1. a Eurasian sedge with an aromatic rhizome, formerly used in perfumes.
[late 16th cent.: variant of galangal.] [Cyperus longus, family Cyperaceae.]

2. variant spelling of galangal.

galipot /ˈɡaləˌpät/

I. noun

hardened resin deposits formed on the stem of certain species of pine, in particular the maritime pine.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French, of unknown origin.

gall^1 /ɡôl/

I. noun

1. bold, impudent behavior

• the bank had the gall to demand a fee.

2. the contents of the gallbladder; bile (proverbial for its bitterness).

3. an animal's gallbladder.

4. used to refer to something bitter or cruel

• accept life's gall without blaming somebody else.

– origin Old English gealla (denoting bile), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch gal, German Galle ‘gall,’ from an Indo-European root shared by Greek kholē and Latin fel ‘bile.’

gall^2 /ɡôl/

I. noun

1. annoyance; irritation

• he imagined Linda's gall as she found herself still married and not rich.

2. (especially of a horse) a sore on the skin made by chafing.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (someone) feel annoyed

• he knew he was losing, and it galled him.

2. make sore by rubbing

• the straps galled their shoulders.

– origin Old English gealle ‘sore on a horse,’ perhaps related to gall^1; superseded in Middle English by forms from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch.

gall^3 /ɡôl/

I. noun

1. an abnormal growth formed on plants and trees, especially oaks, in response to the presence of insect larvae, mites, or fungi.

2. [as modifier] — denoting insects or mites that produce galls

• gall flies.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin galla.

Galla /ˈɡalə/

I. noun, adjective

see Oromo.

– origin of unknown origin.

gallant

I. adjective — /ˈɡalənt /

1. (of a person or their behavior) brave; heroic

• she had made gallant efforts to pull herself together.

2. ‹archaic› grand; fine

• they made a gallant array as they marched off.

3. (of a man or his behavior) giving special attention and respect to women; chivalrous.

II. noun — /ɡəˈlant ɡəˈlänt /

1. ‹dated› ‹literary› a man who pays special attention to women.

2. ‹dated› ‹literary› a dashing man of fashion; a fine gentleman.

III. verb — /ɡəˈlant ɡəˈlänt / [with obj.]

1. ‹archaic› (of a man) flirt with (a woman).

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘finely dressed’): from Old French galant, from galer ‘have fun, make a show,’ from gale ‘pleasure, rejoicing.’

gallantly /ˈɡaləntlē/

adverb

1. in a brave or heroic manner

• these young soldiers fought gallantly for their nation.

2. ‹archaic› in a grand or impressive manner

• they descended the staircase like two queens gallantly entering court.

3. in a charmingly attentive and chivalrous manner

• he bowed gallantly

• the doorman gallantly held the door open for Elisa.

gallantry /ˈɡaləntrē/

I. noun

1. courageous behavior, especially in battle

• a medal awarded for outstanding gallantry during the raid.

2. polite attention or respect given by men to women.

3. (gallantries) — actions or words used when paying polite and respectful attention to women.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘splendor, ornamentation’): from French galanterie, from galant (see gallant).

Gallaudet, Thomas Hopkins /ˌɡaləˈdet/

(1787–1851), US educator. In 1817, he founded the first free American school for deaf students in Hartford, Connecticut. Gallaudet University in Washington, DC, is named for him.

gallberry /ˈɡôlˌberē / gallberry holly

noun

a North American holly with shiny leaves and white flowers.
[Genus Ilex, family Aquifoliaceae: the tall gallberry (I. coriacea) of the southeastern US, and the more widespread low gallberry (I. glabra), with black berries and nearly spineless leaves.]

gallbladder /ˈɡôlˌbladər / gall bladder

noun

the small sac-shaped organ beneath the liver, in which bile is stored after secretion by the liver and before release into the intestine.

galleon /ˈɡalēən/

I. noun

a sailing ship in use (especially by Spain) from the 15th through 17th centuries, originally as a warship, later for trade. Galleons were mainly square-rigged and usually had three or more decks and masts.

– origin early 16th cent.: either via Middle Dutch from French galion, from galie ‘galley,’ or from Spanish galeón.

galleria /ˌɡaləˈrēə/

I. noun

a covered or enclosed area, especially one with commercial establishments for shopping, dining, etc.

– origin Italian (see gallery).

gallerist /ˈɡalərist/

I. noun

a person who owns an art gallery or who exhibits and promotes artists' work in galleries and other venues in order to attract potential buyers

• gallerists will tell you it would be difficult to break even without doing at least one art fair per year.

– origin early 20th cent. (in the sense ‘person in a gallery’): from gallery and -ist.

gallery /ˈɡal(ə)rē/

I. noun

1. a room or building for the display or sale of works of art.

2. a collection of pictures.

3. a balcony, especially a platform or upper floor, projecting from the back or sidewall inside a church or hall, providing space for an audience or musicians.

4. (the gallery) — the highest balconies in a theater, containing the cheapest seats.

5. a group of spectators, especially those at a golf tournament.

6. a long room or passage, typically one that is partly open at the side to form a portico or colonnade.

7. a horizontal underground passage, especially in a mine.

II. phrases

play to the gallery

act in an exaggerated or theatrical manner, especially to appeal to popular taste.

III. derivatives

galleried

adjective

– origin late Middle English (sense 3): via Old French from Italian galleria ‘gallery,’ formerly also ‘church porch,’ from medieval Latin galeria, perhaps an alteration of galilea (see galilee).

galley /ˈɡalē/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› a low, flat ship with one or more sails and up to three banks of oars, chiefly used for warfare, trade, and piracy.

2. a long rowboat used as a ship's boat.

3. the kitchen in a ship or aircraft.

4. (also galley proof) — a printer's proof in the form of long single-column strips, not in sheets or pages.
[galley from French galée denoting an oblong tray for holding setup type.]

– origin Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin galea, from medieval Greek galaia, of unknown origin.

galley slave /ˈɡalē ˌslāv/

noun

1. ‹historical› a person condemned to row in a galley.

2. ‹historical› a person who works very hard, typically performing menial or thankless tasks

• call-center workers are the galley slaves of the twenty-first century.

Galliano /ɡalˈyänō/

I. noun

a golden-yellow Italian liqueur flavored with herbs.

– origin named after Major Giuseppe Galliáno, noted for halting Ethiopian forces in the war of 1895–96.

galliard /ˈɡalyərd/

I. noun

‹historical› a lively dance in triple time for two people, including complicated turns and steps.

– origin late Middle English (as an adjective meaning ‘valiant, sturdy’ and ‘lively, brisk’): from Old French gaillard ‘valiant,’ of Celtic origin. The current sense dates from the mid 16th cent.

Gallic /ˈɡalik/

I. adjective

1. French or typically French.

2. of or relating to the Gauls.

II. derivatives

Gallicize /ˈɡaləˌsīz /

verb

– origin late 17th cent.: from Latin Gallicus, from Gallus ‘a Gaul.’

gallic acid /ˈɡalik, ˈɡôlik/

I. noun

[Chemistry] an acid extracted from oak galls and other vegetable products, formerly used in making ink.
[Alternative name: 3, 4, 5-trihydroxybenzoic acid; chem. formula: C_6H_2(OH)3COOH.]

II. derivatives

gallate /ˈɡalāt, ˈɡôlāt /

noun

– origin late 18th cent.: gallic from Latin galla ‘oak gall’ (see gall^3) + -ic.

Gallican /ˈɡaləkən/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to the ancient Church of Gaul or France.

2. of or holding a doctrine (reaching its peak in the 17th century) that asserted the freedom of the Roman Catholic Church in France and elsewhere from the ecclesiastical authority of the papacy.
Compare with ultramontane.

II. noun

an adherent of the Gallican doctrine.

III. derivatives

Gallicanism /-ˌnizəm /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Old French gallican, or from Latin Gallicanus, from Gallicus (see Gallic).

Gallicism /ˈɡaləˌsizəm/

I. noun

a French expression, especially one adopted by speakers of another language.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French gallicisme, from Latin Gallicus (see Gallic).

Gallic Wars

Julius Caesar's campaigns 58–51 BC, which established Roman control over Gaul north of the Alps and west of the Rhine River (Transalpine Gaul). During this period Caesar twice invaded Britain (55 and 54 BC).

galligaskins /ˌɡaləˈɡaskənz/

I. plural noun

(Brit.) ‹historical› loose-fitting breeches, trousers, or gaiters.

– origin late 16th cent.: perhaps an alteration (influenced by galley and Gascon) of obsolete French gargesque, from Italian grechesca, feminine of grechesco ‘Greek.’

gallimaufry /ˌɡaləˈmôfrē/

I. noun

1. a confused jumble or medley of things.

2. (US) a dish made from diced or minced meat, especially a hash or ragout.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from archaic French galimafrée ‘unappetizing dish,’ perhaps from Old French galer ‘have fun’ + Picard mafrer ‘eat copious quantities.’

gallimimus /ˌɡaliˈmīməs/

I. noun

an ostrich dinosaur of the late Cretaceous period.
[Genus Gallimimus, infraorder Ornithomimosauria, suborder Theropoda.]

– origin modern Latin, from Latin galli ‘of a cockerel’ (genitive of gallus) + mimus ‘mime, pretense.’

gallinaceous /ˌɡaləˈnāSHəs/

I. adjective

‹dated› of or relating to birds of an order (Galliformes) which includes domestic poultry and game birds.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Latin gallinaceus (from gallina ‘hen,’ from gallus ‘cock’) + -ous.

galling /ˈɡôliNG/

I. adjective

annoying; humiliating

• the loss was particularly galling.

II. derivatives

gallingly

adverb

gallinule /ˈɡaləˌn(y)o͞ol/

I. noun

a marsh bird of the rail family, with mainly black, purplish-blue, or dark green plumage, and a red bill.
[Genera Porphyrio and Porphyrula (or Gallinula), family Rallidae: several species, including the purple gallinule (Porphyrula martinica), found from the southeastern US to Argentina. See also moorhen.]

– origin late 18th cent.: from modern Latin Gallinula (genus term), diminutive of Latin gallina ‘hen,’ from gallus ‘cock.’

galliot /ˈɡalēət ˈɡalēˌät/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› a single-masted Dutch cargo boat or fishing vessel.

2. ‹historical› a small fast galley, especially in the Mediterranean.

– origin Middle English: from Old French galiote or Dutch galjoot, from a diminutive of medieval Latin galea ‘galley.’

Gallipoli /ɡəˈlipəlē/

a major campaign of World War I that took place on the Gallipoli peninsula, on the European side of the Dardanelles in 1915–16. The Allies (with heavy involvement of troops from Australia and New Zealand) hoped to gain control of the strait, but the campaign reached stalemate after each side suffered heavy casualties.

gallipot /ˈɡaləˌpät/

I. noun

‹historical› a small pot made from glazed earthenware or metal, used by pharmacists to hold medicines or ointments.

– origin late Middle English: probably from galley + pot^1 (because gallipots were brought from the Mediterranean in galleys).

gallium /ˈɡalēəm/

I. noun

(Symbol: Ga) — the chemical element of atomic number 31, a soft silvery-white metal that melts at about 30°C, just above room temperature.

– origin late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Latin Gallia ‘France’ or gallus ‘cock’; named (either patriotically or as a translation of his own name) by Paul-Émile Lecoq de Boisbaudran (1838–1912), the French chemist who discovered it in 1875.

gallium arsenide

noun

a dark-gray crystalline compound containing gallium and arsenic, used in the manufacture of microelectronic components, such as solar cells and semiconductors.

gallivant /ˈɡaləˌvant/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹informal› go around from one place to another in the pursuit of pleasure or entertainment

• she quit her job to go gallivanting around the globe.

– origin early 19th cent.: perhaps an alteration of gallant.

galliwasp /ˈɡaləˌwäsp/

I. noun

a marsh lizard found in Central America and the Caribbean.
[Genus Diploglossus, family Anguidae: many species, in particular D. monotropis of the West Indies.]

– origin late 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

gall midge

noun

a small, delicate midge that induces gall formation in plants or may cause other damage to crops.
[Family Cecidomyiidae: numerous genera and species.]

gall mite

noun

a minute mite that is parasitic on plants, typically living inside buds and causing them to form hard galls.
[Family Eriophyidae, order Prostigmata: numerous species, in particular Cecidophyopsis ribis, which affects black-currant bushes, causing big bud and transmitting the reversion virus.]

Gallo-

I. combining form

1. French; French and …

• Gallo-German.

2. relating to France.

– origin from Latin Gallus ‘a Gaul.’

gallon /ˈɡalən/

I. noun

1. a unit of volume for liquid measure equal to four quarts, in particular

2. (US) equivalent to 3.79 liters.

3. (also imperial gallon) — (Brit.) equivalent to 4.55 liters (also used for dry measure).

4. (gallons of) — ‹informal› a large volume

• gallons of fake blood.

II. derivatives

gallonage /-nij /

noun

– origin Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French galon, from the base of medieval Latin galleta, galletum ‘pail, liquid measure,’ perhaps of Celtic origin.

galloon /ɡəˈlo͞on/

I. noun

a narrow ornamental strip of fabric, typically a silk braid or piece of lace, used to trim clothing or finish upholstery.

– origin early 17th cent.: from French galon, from galonner ‘to trim with braid,’ of unknown ultimate origin.

gallop /ˈɡaləp/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. the fastest pace of a horse or other quadruped, with all the feet off the ground together in each stride

• the horse broke into a furious gallop

• riding at full gallop.

2. a ride on a horse at a gallop

• Will went for a gallop on the beach.

3. a very fast pace of running or moving.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a horse) go at the pace of a gallop.

2. [with obj.] — make (a horse) gallop

• Fred galloped the horse off to the start.

3. (of a person) run fast and rather boisterously.

4. (of a process or time) progress rapidly in a seemingly uncontrollable manner

• panic about the deadline galloping toward them

• (as adj. galloping) galloping inflation.

III. derivatives

galloper /ˈɡaləpər /

noun

– origin early 16th cent.: from Old French galop (noun), galoper (verb), variants of Old Northern French walop, waloper (see wallop).

Galloway /ˈɡaləˌwā/

noun

an animal of a breed of cattle that originated in Galloway, Scotland. They are hornless and black and are raised for beef.

gallows /ˈɡalōz/

I. plural noun — [usu. treated as sing.]

1. a structure, typically of two uprights and a crosspiece, for the hanging of criminals.

2. (the gallows) — execution by hanging

• saved from the gallows by a last-minute reprieve.

– origin Old English galga, gealga, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch galg and German Galgen; reinforced in Middle English by Old Norse gálgi.

gallows humor /ˈɡalōz ˈ(h)yo͞omər/

noun

grim and ironic humor in a desperate or hopeless situation.

gallows tree /ˈɡalōz trē/

noun

another term for gallows.

gallstone /ˈɡôlˌstōn/

noun

a small, hard crystalline mass formed abnormally in the gallbladder or bile ducts from bile pigments, cholesterol, and calcium salts. Gallstones can cause severe pain and blockage of the bile duct.

Gallup, George Horace /ˈɡaləp/

(1901–84), US statistician. A pioneer of opinion research, he developed the Gallup Poll and founded the American Institute of Public Opinion in 1935.

Gallup poll /ˈɡaləp ˌpōl/

I. noun

‹trademark› an assessment of public opinion by the questioning of a statistically representative sample.

– origin 1940s: named after G. H. Gallup (see Gallup, George Horace), US statistician who devised the method.

galluses /ˈɡaləsəz/

I. plural noun

(chiefly Scottish) (N. Amer.) suspenders for trousers.

– origin mid 19th cent.: plural of gallus, variant of gallows.

gall wasp

noun

a small winged insect of antlike appearance. The female lays its egg in plant tissue, which swells to form a gall when the larva hatches.
[Superfamily Cynipoidea, order Hymenoptera: several genera.]

Galois, Évariste /ɡälˈwä/

(1811–32), French mathematician. His memoir on the conditions for solubility of polynomial equations was posthumously published in 1846.

Galois theory ‹Mathematics›

a method of applying group theory to the solution of algebraic equations.

galoot /ɡəˈlo͞ot/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) (Scottish) ‹informal› a clumsy or oafish person (often as a term of abuse).

– origin early 19th cent. (originally in nautical use meaning ‘an inexperienced marine’): of unknown origin.

galop /ˈɡaləp/

I. noun

a lively ballroom dance in duple time, popular in the late 18th century.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, literally ‘gallop.’

galore /ɡəˈlôr/

I. adjective — [postpositive]

1. in abundance

• there were prizes galore for everything.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Irish go leor, literally ‘to sufficiency.’

galosh /ɡəˈläSH/

I. noun — (usu. galoshes)

1. a waterproof overshoe, typically made of rubber.

– origin Middle English (denoting a type of clog): via Old French from late Latin gallicula, diminutive of Latin gallica (solea) ‘Gallic (shoe).’ The current sense dates from the mid 19th cent.

gal pal

noun

‹informal› a female friend.

Galsworthy, John /ˈɡôlzˌwərT͟Hē/

(1867–1933), British novelist and playwright. He is noted for The Forsyte Saga (1906–28), a series of novels. Nobel Prize for Literature (1932).

Galton, Sir Francis /ˈɡôltn/

(1822–1911), English scientist. He founded eugenics and introduced methods of measuring human mental and physical abilities. He also pioneered the use of fingerprints as a means of identification. He was a cousin of Charles Darwin.

galumph /ɡəˈləmf/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹informal› move in a clumsy, ponderous, or noisy manner

• she galumphed along beside him

• (as adj. galumphing) a galumphing tortoise.

– origin 1871 (in the sense ‘prance in triumph’): coined by Lewis Carroll in Through the Looking Glass; perhaps a blend of gallop and triumph.

galv.

abbreviation

galvanic.

Galvani, Luigi /ɡälˈvänē/

(1737–98), Italian anatomist. He is noted for his discovery of the twitching of frogs' legs in an electric field.

galvanic /ɡalˈvanik/

I. adjective

1. relating to or involving electric currents produced by chemical action.

2. sudden and dramatic

• hurry with awkward galvanic strides.

II. derivatives

galvanically /-ik(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin late 18th cent.: from French galvanique, from Galvani, Luigi.

galvanic skin response galvanic skin reflex, GSR

noun

a change in the electrical resistance of the skin caused by emotional stress, measurable with a sensitive galvanometer, e.g., in lie-detector tests.

galvanism /ˈɡalvəˌnizəm/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› electricity produced by chemical action.

2. ‹historical› the therapeutic use of electric currents.

– origin late 18th cent.: from French galvanisme, from Galvani, Luigi.

galvanize /ˈɡalvəˌnīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. shock or excite (someone), typically into taking action

• the urgency of his voice galvanized them into action.

2. (often as adj. galvanized) — coat (iron or steel) with a protective layer of zinc

• an old galvanized bucket.

II. derivatives

1. galvanization /ˌɡalv(ə)nəˈzāSH(ə)n ˌɡalvəˌnīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

2. galvanizer

noun

– origin early 19th cent. (in the sense ‘stimulate by electricity’): from French galvaniser (see Galvani, Luigi).

galvanomagnetic /ˌɡalvənōmaɡˈnetik, ɡalˈvanō-/

adjective

of or relating to the production of an electromagnetic field within a conductor or semiconductor through which a current is flowing.

galvanometer /ˌɡalvəˈnämədər/

I. noun

an instrument for detecting and measuring small electric currents.

II. derivatives

galvanometric /ˌɡalv(ə)nəˈmetrik /

adjective

galvanoscope /ˈɡalvənəˌskōp/

I. noun

a galvanometer that works by measuring the deflection of a needle in the magnetic field induced by the electric current.

II. derivatives

galvanoscopic /ˌɡalvənəˈskäpik /

adjective

Galveston /ˈɡalvəstən/

a port in southeastern Texas, southeast of Houston; pop. 57,086 (est. 2008). It is situated on Galveston Bay, an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico.

Galway /ˈɡôlwā/

I. a county in the Republic of Ireland, on the western coast of Connacht Province.

II. the county town of Galway, a seaport at the head of Galway Bay; pop. 72,414 (2006).

Galway Bay

an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean on the western coast of Ireland.

gam^1 /ɡam/

I. noun

‹informal› a leg, especially in reference to the shapeliness of a woman's leg.

– origin late 18th cent.: probably a variant of the heraldic term gamb, which denotes a charge representing an animal's leg, from Old Northern French gambe ‘leg.’

gam^2 /ɡam/

I. noun

1. ‹rare› a school of whales, porpoises, or dolphins.

2. (US) ‹dialect› a social meeting or informal conversation (originally one among whalers at sea).

– origin mid 19th cent.: origin uncertain; perhaps from English dialect gam ‘game,’ or shortened from gammon^3.

Gama, Vasco da

see da Gama, Vasco.

Gamay /ɡaˈmā, ˈɡamā/

I. noun

1. a variety of black wine grape native to the Beaujolais district of France.

2. a fruity red wine made from the Gamay grape.

3. (also Gamay-Beaujolais) — a red wine with a fruity flavor.

– origin from the name of a hamlet in Burgundy, eastern France.

gamba /ˈɡämbə, ˈɡam-/

noun

short for viola da gamba.

gambado^1 /ɡamˈbāˌdō ɡamˈbäˌdō / gambade

I. noun

a leap or bound, especially an exaggerated one.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Spanish gambada, from gamba ‘leg.’

gambado^2 /ɡamˈbāˌdō ɡamˈbäˌdō/

I. noun

a gaiter, typically one attached to a saddle to protect a rider's leg from the weather.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Italian gamba ‘leg’ + -ado.

Gambia /ˈɡambēə/

I. (also the Gambia) — a country on the coast of West Africa; pop. 1,778,100 (est. 2009); capital, Banjul; languages, English (official), Malinke and other indigenous languages, and Creole.
Gambia consists of a narrow strip of territory on either side of the Gambia River that forms an enclave in Senegal. It was created a British colony in 1843 and became a republic in 1970. It was an independent member of the Commonwealth from1965 to 2013.

II. a river in West Africa that rises near Labé in Guinea and flows for 500 miles (800 km) through Senegal and Gambia to meet the Atlantic Ocean at Banjul.

Gambian /ˈɡambēən/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of Gambia or its people

• accommodation for the visiting Gambian athletes.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of Gambia

• this nature reserve is very important for the Gambians.

gambier /ˈɡamˌbir / gambir

I. noun

an astringent extract of a tropical Asiatic plant, used in tanning.
[The chief source of gambier is the climber Uncaria gambier, family Rubiaceae.]

– origin early 19th cent.: from Malay gambir, the name of the plant.

Gambier Islands /ˈɡambir ˌīləndz/

a group of coral islands in the South Pacific Ocean, part of French Polynesia.

gambit /ˈɡambət/

I. noun

1. (in chess) an opening in which a player makes a sacrifice, typically of a pawn, for the sake of some compensating advantage.

2. a device, action, or opening remark, typically one entailing a degree of risk, that is calculated to gain an advantage

• his resignation was a tactical gambit.

– origin mid 17th cent.: originally gambett, from Italian gambetto, literally ‘tripping up,’ from gamba ‘leg.’

gamble /ˈɡambəl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. play games of chance for money; bet

• she was fond of gambling on cards and horses.

2. [with obj.] — bet (a sum of money) on a game of chance

• he was gambling every penny he had on the spin of a wheel.

3. take risky action in the hope of a desired result
[with clause]

• the British could only gamble that something would turn up.

II. noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. an act of gambling; an enterprise undertaken or attempted with a risk of loss and a chance of profit or success.

– origin early 18th cent.: from obsolete gamel ‘play games,’ or from the verb game.

gambler /ˈɡamblər/

noun

a person who gambles

• a compulsive gambler.

gamboge /ɡamˈbōj ɡamˈbo͞oZH/

I. noun

a gum resin produced by various eastern Asian trees, used as a yellow pigment and in medicine as a purgative.

– origin early 18th cent. (earlier in the Latin form): from modern Latin gambaugium, from Cambodia.

gambol /ˈɡambəl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. run or jump about playfully

• the mare gamboled toward Connie.

II. noun — [usu. in sing.]

1. an act of running or jumping about playfully.

– origin early 16th cent.: alteration of obsolete gambade, via French from Italian gambata ‘trip up,’ from gamba ‘leg.’

gambrel /ˈɡambrəl / gambrel roof

I. noun

1. a roof with two sides, each of which has a shallower slope above a steeper one.

2. a hip roof with a small gable forming the upper part of each end.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘bent piece of wood or iron used by butchers to hang carcasses on’): from Old Northern French gamberel, from gambier ‘forked stick,’ from gambe ‘leg.’ The sense ‘hip roof’ (mid 19th cent.) is based on an earlier meaning ‘joint in the upper part of a horse's hind leg,’ the shape of which the roof resembles.

gambusia /ɡamˈbyo͞oZHə/

I. noun

another term for mosquitofish.

– origin modern Latin, alteration of American Spanish gambusino.

game /ɡām/

I. noun

1. a form of play or sport, especially a competitive one played according to rules and decided by skill, strength, or luck.

2. a complete episode or period of play, typically ending in a definite result

• a baseball game.

3. a single portion of play forming a scoring unit in a match, especially in tennis.

4. [Bridge] a score of 100 points for tricks bid and made (the best of three games constituting a rubber).

5. a person's performance in a game; a person's standard or method of play

• he will attempt to raise his game to another level.

6. (games) — a meeting for sporting contests, especially track and field

• the Olympic Games.

7. (games) — (Brit.) sports and athletic activities as organized in a school.

8. the equipment for a game, especially a board game or a computer game.

9. a type of activity or business, especially when regarded as a game

• this was a game of shuttle diplomacy at which I had become adept.

10. a secret and clever plan or trick

• I was on to his little game, but I didn't want him to know.

11. wild mammals or birds hunted for sport or food.

12. the flesh of mammals or birds, used as food.

II. adjective

eager and willing to do something new or challenging

• they were game for anything after the traumas of Monday.

III. verb

1. [with obj.] — manipulate (a situation), typically in a way that is unfair or unscrupulous

• it was very easy for a few big companies to game the system

• politicians blamed electricity generators for gaming the market.

2. [no obj.] — play video or computer games

• the majority of the audience are teens who game and watch anime.

3. [no obj.] — play games of chance for money; gamble

• other Russians gamed at the tables in Monte Carlo.

IV. phrases

1. ahead of the game

ahead of one's competitors or peers in the same sphere of activity.

2. at the top of one's game

see top^1.

3. beat someone at their own game

use someone's own methods to outdo them in their chosen activity.

4. game over

‹informal› said when a situation is regarded as hopeless or irreversible.

5. make (a) game of

‹archaic› mock; taunt.

6. make a game of it

[Sports] make a contest more closely competitive.

7. off (or on) one's game

playing badly (or well).

8. the only game in town

‹informal› the best, the most important, or the only thing worth considering.

9. play the game

behave in a fair or honorable way; abide by the rules or conventions.

10. play games

deal with someone or something in a way that lacks due seriousness or respect

• Don't play games with me!

V. derivatives

1. gameness /ˈɡāmnəs /

noun

2. gamester /ˈɡāmstər /

noun

– origin Old English gamen ‘amusement, fun,’ gamenian ‘play, amuse oneself,’ of Germanic origin.

game bird

noun

1. a bird hunted for sport or food.

2. a bird of a large group that includes pheasants, grouse, quails, guineafowl, guans, etc.
[Order Galliformes: several families.]

game changer

I. noun

an event, idea, or procedure that effects a significant shift in the current manner of doing or thinking about something

• a potential game changer that could revitalize the entire US aerospace industry.

II. derivatives

game-changing

adjective

gamecock /ˈɡāmkäk/

noun

a rooster bred and trained for cockfighting. Also called game fowl.

game engine

noun

the basic software of a computer game or video game.

game face

noun

(N. Amer.) a neutral or serious facial expression, as displayed by a sports player or gambler.

game fish /ˈɡām ˌfiSH / gamefish

noun

a fish caught by anglers for sport, especially (in fresh water) salmon and trout and (in the sea) billfish, shark, bass, and many members of the mackerel family.

gamekeeper /ˈɡāmˌkēpər/

I. noun

a person employed to breed and protect game, typically for a large estate.

II. derivatives

gamekeeping /-ˌkēpiNG /

noun

gamelan /ˈɡaməˌlan/

I. noun

a traditional instrumental ensemble of Indonesia, typically including many bronze percussion instruments.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Javanese.

gamely /ˈɡāmlē/

adverb

in a brave, spirited way

• he battled gamely but was outclassed by his more experienced opponent

• I scribbled madly, gamely trying to keep up.

game misconduct

noun

[Ice Hockey] a punitive suspension of a player for the remainder of a game, with a substitution permitted.

gamepad /ˈɡāmˌpad/

noun

a handheld controller for video games.

game plan /ˈɡām ˌplan/

noun

a strategy worked out in advance, especially in sports, politics, or business.

gameplay /ˈɡāmplā/

noun

the tactical aspects of a computer game, such as its plot and the way it is played, as distinct from the graphics and sound effects.

game point /ˌɡām ˈpoint/

noun

(in tennis and other sports) a point that, if won by one contestant, will also win the game.

gamer /ˈɡāmər/

noun

1. a person who plays video games or participates in role-playing games.

• every gamer has suffered from small-screen videos.

2. (N. Amer.) (especially in sports) a person known for consistently making a strong effort.

• he's a gamer, always ready to go that extra mile.

game room

noun

a room for relaxing or socializing in a house or public building, typically furnished with a pool table, Ping-Pong table, dart board, or other recreational amenities.

game show /ˈɡām ˌSHō/

noun

a television program in which people compete to win prizes.

gamesmanship /ˈɡāmzmənˌSHip/

I. noun

the art of winning games by using various ploys and tactics to gain a psychological advantage.

II. derivatives

gamesman

noun

gamesome /ˈɡāmsəm/

I. adjective

playful and merry.

II. derivatives

1. gamesomely

adverb

2. gamesomeness

noun

gametangium /ˌɡaməˈtanjēəm/

I. noun

[Botany] a specialized organ or cell in which gametes are formed in algae, ferns, and some other plants.

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin gameta (see gamete) + Greek angeion ‘vessel’ + -ium.

gamete /ˈɡamˌēt ɡəˈmēt/

I. noun

[Biology] a mature haploid male or female germ cell that is able to unite with another of the opposite sex in sexual reproduction to form a zygote.

II. derivatives

gametic /ɡəˈmetik /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin gameta, from Greek gametē ‘wife,’ gametēs ‘husband,’ from gamos ‘marriage.’

game theory games theory

noun

the branch of mathematics concerned with the analysis of strategies for dealing with competitive situations where the outcome of a participant's choice of action depends critically on the actions of other participants. Game theory has been applied to contexts in war, business, and biology.
Compare with decision theory.

gameto-

combining form

[Biology] representing gamete.

gametocyte /ɡəˈmēdəˌsīt/

noun

[Biology] a cell that divides (by meiosis) to form gametes.

gametogenesis /ɡəˌmēdəˈjenəsəs/

I. noun

[Biology] the process in which cells undergo meiosis to form gametes.

II. derivatives

1. gametogenic /-ˈjenik /

adjective

2. gametogeny /ˌɡaməˈtäjənē /

noun

gametophyte /ɡəˈmēdəˌfīt/

I. noun

[Botany] (in the life cycle of plants with alternating generations) the gamete-producing and usually haploid phase, producing the zygote from which the sporophyte arises. It is the dominant form in bryophytes.

II. derivatives

gametophytic /ɡəˌmētəˈfitik /

adjective

game warden /ɡām ˈwôrdn/

noun

a person who is employed to supervise game and hunting in a particular area.

gamification /ˌɡāmifəˈkāSHən/

I. noun

the application of typical elements of game playing (e.g., point scoring, competition with others, rules of play) to other areas of activity, typically as an online marketing technique to encourage engagement with a product or service

• gamification is exciting because it promises to make the hard stuff in life fun.

II. derivatives

gamify

verb

gamin /ˈɡamən/

I. noun

‹dated› a street urchin.

– origin mid 19th cent.: French, originally an eastern dialect word, of unknown origin.

gamine /ɡaˈmēn/

I. noun

1. a girl with mischievous or boyish charm.

2. ‹dated› a female street urchin.

II. adjective

characteristic of or relating to a girl with mischievous or boyish charm.

– origin late 19th cent.: French, feminine of gamin (see gamin).

gaming /ˈɡāmiNG/

noun

1. the action or practice of playing gambling games

• gaming is evident everywhere in Las Vegas, not just on the Strip

• US states are already moving to regulate online gaming

• [as modifier] thousands of people flock to these gaming establishments every year.

2. the action or practice of playing video games

• I'm fourteen years old and enjoy gaming and playing baseball

• [as modifier] smooth animations and tastefully designed graphics make for an effortless gaming experience.

gaming house

noun

‹dated› a public building where gambling games are played; a casino.

gamma /ˈɡamə/

noun

1. the third letter of the Greek alphabet (Γ, γ), transliterated as ‘g.’
[The combinations γγ, γκ, and γχ are usually transliterated as ‘ng,’ ‘nc’ or ‘nk,’ and ‘nch’ or ‘nkh’.]

2. [as modifier] — denoting the third in a series of items, categories, etc.

3. [as modifier] — relating to gamma rays

• gamma detector.

4. [followed by Latin genitive] (Gamma) — [Astronomy] the third (usually third-brightest) star in a constellation

• Gamma Orionis.

5. (pl. same) — [Physics] a unit of magnetic field strength equal to 10−5 oersted.

gamma-aminobutyric acid /ˈɡamə-əˌmēnōbyo͞oˈtirik ˈasid/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] an amino acid that acts to inhibit the transmission of nerve impulses in the central nervous system.
[Chem. formula: H_2NCH_2CH_2CH_2COOH.]

– origin early 20th cent.: gamma indicating the relative position of amino on the third carbon away from the acid group.

gamma globulin /ˌɡamə ˈɡläbyələn/

noun

see globulin.

gamma-HCH

I. noun

another term for lindane.

– origin HCH from hexachlorocyclohexane.

gamma radiation /ˈɡamə ˌrādēˈāSHən/

noun

gamma rays.

gamma rays

plural noun

penetrating electromagnetic radiation of a kind arising from the radioactive decay of atomic nuclei.

gammer /ˈɡamər/

I. noun

‹archaic› an old countrywoman.

– origin late 16th cent.: probably a contraction of godmother; see also gaffer.

gammon^1 /ˈɡamən/

I. noun

1. ham that has been cured or smoked like bacon.

2. the bottom piece of a side of bacon, including a hind leg.

– origin late 15th cent. (denoting the haunch of a pig): from Old Northern French gambon, from gambe ‘leg.’

gammon^2 /ˈɡamən/

I. noun

a victory in backgammon (carrying a double score) in which the winner removes all their pieces before the loser has removed any.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. defeat (a backgammon opponent) with a gammon.

– origin mid 18th cent.: apparently from Old English gamen or gamenian (see game), with survival of the -n ending.

gammon^3 /ˈɡamən / ‹informal, dated›

I. noun

nonsense; rubbish.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. hoax or deceive (someone).

– origin early 18th cent.: origin uncertain; the term was first used as criminals' slang in give gammon to ‘give cover to (a pickpocket)’ and keep in gammon ‘distract (a victim) for a pickpocket.’

gammy /ˈɡamē/

I. adjective

(Brit.) ‹informal› (of part of a person's body, especially the leg) unable to function normally because of injury or chronic pain.

– origin mid 19th cent. (in the sense ‘bad, false’): form of British dialect game in the same sense.

Gamow, George /ˈɡamôf/

(1904–68), US physicist; born in Russia. A proponent of the Big Bang theory, he also suggested the triplet code of bases in DNA, which governs the synthesis of amino acids.

gamp /ɡamp/

I. noun

(Brit.) ‹informal› ‹dated› an umbrella, especially a large unwieldy one.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after Mrs. Gamp, in Charles Dickens's Martin Chuzzlewit, who carried such an umbrella.

gamut /ˈɡamət/

I. noun — (the gamut)

1. the complete range or scope of something

• the whole gamut of human emotion.

2. [Music] a complete scale of musical notes; the compass or range of a voice or instrument.

3. ‹historical› a scale consisting of seven overlapping hexachords, containing all the recognized notes used in medieval music, covering almost three octaves from bass G to treble E.

4. ‹historical› the lowest note in the gamut scale.

II. phrases

run the gamut

experience, display, or perform the complete range of something

• wines that run the gamut from dry to sweet.

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin gamma ut, originally the name of the lowest note in the medieval scale (bass G an octave and a half below middle C), then applied to the whole range of notes used in medieval music. The Greek letter Γ (gamma) was used for bass G, with ut indicating that it was the first note in the lowest of the hexachords or six-note scales (see solmization).

gamy /ˈɡāmē / gamey

I. adjective

1. (of meat) having the strong flavor or smell of game, especially when it is slightly tainted.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) racy; disreputable

• gamy language.

II. derivatives

1. gamily /ˈɡāməlē /

adverb

2. gaminess /ˈɡāmēnəs /

noun

ganache /ɡəˈnaSH/

I. noun

a whipped filling of chocolate and cream, used in desserts such as cakes and truffles.

– origin French.

Ganapati /ˌɡənəˈpədē / ‹Hinduism›

another name for Ganesh.

Gäncä /ɡänˈjä/

an industrial city in Azerbaijan; pop. 307,900 (est. 2008). The city was formerly called Elizavetpol 1804–1918 and Kirovabad 1935–89.
Russian name Gyandzhe.

Gand /ɡän/

French name of Ghent.

Ganda /ˈɡändə/

I. noun

1. a member of an African people of the kingdom of Buganda, now forming part of Uganda.

2. another term for Luganda.

II. adjective

relating to the Ganda or their language.

– origin Luganda ganda stem denoting the Ganda language, country, people, etc., according to its prefix. Compare Baganda, Luganda, Muganda.

gander /ˈɡandər/

I. noun

1. a male goose.

2. [in sing.] — ‹informal› a look or glance

• take a gander at that luggage.

[from criminals' slang.]

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (US) ‹informal› look or glance at something

• Paulie gandered at shelves full of coffee paraphernalia.

– origin Old English gandra, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch gander, also to gannet.

Gander /ˈɡandər/

a town on the island of Newfoundland, on Lake Gander; pop. 9,951 (2006). Its airport served the first regular transatlantic flights during World War II.

Gandhi /ˈɡändē/

I. the name of a family of Indian political leaders, including:

II. Indira (1917–84); prime minister 1966–77 and 1980–84. The daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, she sought to establish a secular state and to lead India out of poverty. She was assassinated by her own Sikh bodyguards following prolonged religious disturbance.

III. Rajiv (1944–91); prime minister 1984–89. The eldest son of Indira, he became prime minister after his mother's assassination. His premiership was marked by continuing unrest, and he was assassinated during an election campaign. His widow, Sonia (1946–), born in Italy, entered the political arena in 1998 and was elected head of the Congress Party, leading the party to victory in the 2004 elections.

Gandhi, Mahatma

(1869–1948), Indian nationalist and spiritual leader; full name Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Prominent in the opposition to British rule in India, he pursued a policy of nonviolent civil disobedience. Although he never held government office, he was regarded as the country's supreme political and spiritual leader. Gandhi was assassinated by a Hindu following his agreement to the creation of the state of Pakistan.

Gandhinagar /ˌɡəndiˈnəɡər/

a city in western India, capital of the state of Gujarat; pop. 271,300 (est. 2009).

G and T G & T

noun

a drink of gin and tonic.

gandy dancer /ˈɡandē ˌdansər/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a track maintenance worker on a railroad.

– origin early 20th cent.: of unknown origin.

ganef /ˈɡänəf/

noun

(US) ‹informal› a variant spelling of gonif.

Ganesh /ɡəˈnāSH / ‹Hinduism› Ganesha

I. an elephant-headed deity, son of Shiva and Parvati. Worshiped as the remover of obstacles and patron of learning, he is usually depicted colored red, with a potbelly and one broken tusk, riding a rat.
Also called Ganapati.

– origin from Sanskrit Gaṇeśa ‘lord of the ganas’ (Shiva's attendants).

gang^1 /ɡaNG/

I. noun

1. an organized group of criminals.

2. a group of young people involved in petty crime or violence.

3. ‹informal› a group of people, especially young people, who regularly associate together.

4. an organized group of people doing manual work

• ninety days of hard labor on the road gang.

5. a set of switches, sockets, or other electrical or mechanical devices grouped together.

II. verb

1. [no obj.] (gang together) — (of a number of people) form a group or gang

• the smaller supermarket chains are ganging together to beat the big boys.

2. (gang up) — (of a number of people) join together, typically in order to intimidate someone

• he is being unfairly ganged up on.

3. [with obj.] — arrange (electrical devices or machines) together to work in coordination.

– origin Old English, from Old Norse gangr, ganga ‘gait, course, going,’ of Germanic origin; related to gang^2. The original meaning was ‘going, a journey,’ later in Middle English ‘a way, passage,’ also ‘set of things or people that go together.’

gang^2 /ɡaNG/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (Scottish) go; proceed

• gang to your bed, lass.

II. phrasal verbs

gang agley

(of a plan) go wrong.
[1786: from Robert Burns's ‘The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men, Gang aft agley’ (Poems and Songs).]

– origin Old English gangan, of Germanic origin; related to go^1.

Ganga /ˈɡəNGɡə/

Hindi name for Ganges.

gangbang /ˈɡaNGˌbaNG / ‹informal›

I. noun

1. the successive rape of one person by a group of other people.

2. a sexual orgy involving changes of partner.

3. (N. Amer.) an instance of violence involving members of a criminal gang.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — (of a group of people) rape (someone).

2. (as noun gangbanging) — (N. Amer.) the violent activities of a criminal gang.

III. derivatives

gangbanger

noun

gangbuster /ˈɡaNGˌbəstər/

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› a police officer or other person who takes part in breaking up criminal gangs.

2. [as modifier] — (N. Amer.) ‹informal› very successful, especially commercially

• the restaurant did a gangbuster business.

II. phrases

go (or like) gangbusters

(N. Amer.) used to refer to great vigor, speed, or success

• the real estate market was going gangbusters

• it's growing like gangbusters.

ganger /ˈɡaNGər/

noun

(Brit.) the foreman of a gang of laborers.

Ganges /ˈɡanjēz/

I. a river in northern India and Bangladesh that rises in the Himalayas and flows southwest for about 1,678 miles (2,700 km) to the Bay of Bengal, where it forms the world's largest delta. The river is regarded by Hindus as sacred.
Hindi name Ganga.

II. derivatives

Gangetic /ɡanˈjetik /

adjective

gangland /ˈɡaNGˌland/

noun

the world of criminal gangs
[as modifier]

• he was the victim of a gangland killing.

gangle /ˈɡaNGɡəl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. move ungracefully.

– origin mid 20th cent.: back-formation from gangling.

gangling /ˈɡaNGɡliNG/

I. adjective

(of a person) tall, thin, and awkward in movements or bearing.

– origin early 19th cent.: from the verb gang^2 + -le^4 + -ing^2.

ganglion /ˈɡaNGɡlēən/

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] a structure containing a number of nerve cell bodies, typically linked by synapses, and often forming a swelling on a nerve fiber.

2. a network of cells forming a nerve center in the nervous system of an invertebrate.

3. a well-defined mass of gray matter within the central nervous system.
See also basal ganglia.

4. [Medicine] an abnormal benign swelling on a tendon sheath.

II. derivatives

ganglionic /ˌɡaNGɡlēˈänik /

adjective

– origin late 17th cent.: from Greek ganglion ‘tumor on or near sinews or tendons,’ used by Galen to denote the complex nerve centers.

ganglioside /ˈɡaNGɡlēəˌsīd/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] any of a group of complex lipids that are present in the gray matter of the human brain.

– origin 1940s: from ganglion + -oside (see -ose^2, -ide).

gangly /ˈɡaNGɡlē/

adjective

another term for gangling.

Gang of Four

(in China) a group of four associates, including Mao Zedong's wife, involved in implementing the Cultural Revolution. They were among the groups competing for power on Mao's death in 1976, but were arrested and imprisoned.

gangplank /ˈɡaNGˌplaNGk/

noun

a movable plank used as a ramp to board or disembark from a ship or boat.

gangplow /ˈɡaNGˌplou/

noun

a type of plow with several blades for turning two or more furrows at one time.

gang rape

I. noun

the rape of one person by a group of other people.

II. derivatives

gang-rape /ˈɡaNG ˌrāp /

verb

gangrene /ˈɡaNGɡrēn ɡaNGˈɡrēn/

I. noun

[Medicine] localized death and decomposition of body tissue, resulting from either obstructed circulation or bacterial infection.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. become affected with gangrene.

III. derivatives

gangrenous /ˈɡaNGɡrənəs /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent.: via French from Latin gangraena, from Greek gangraina.

gangsta /ˈɡaNGstə/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› a gang member.

2. (also gangsta rap) — a type of rap music featuring aggressive lyrics, often with reference to gang violence.

– origin 1980s: alteration of gangster.

gangster /ˈɡaNGstər/

I. noun

a member of a gang of violent criminals.

II. derivatives

gangsterism /ˈɡaNGɡstəˌrizəm /

noun

Gangtok /ˈɡəNGˌtôk/

a city in northern India, in the foothills of the Kanchenjunga Mountains, capital of the state of Sikkim; pop. 32,500 (est. 2009).

gangue /ɡaNG/

I. noun

the commercially valueless material in which ore is found.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French, from German Gang ‘course, lode’; related to gang^1.

gangway

I. noun — /ˈɡaNGwā /

1. a raised platform or walkway providing a passage.

2. (Brit.) a passage between rows of seats, especially in a theater or aircraft.

3. a movable bridge linking a ship to the shore.

4. an opening in the bulwarks by which a ship is entered or left.

5. a temporary arrangement of planks for crossing muddy or difficult ground on a building site.

II. exclamation — /ˈɡaNGwā /

1. make way!; get out of the way!

ganister /ˈɡanəstər/

I. noun

a close-grained, hard siliceous rock, or a similar synthetic product, used especially for lining furnaces.

– origin early 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

ganja /ˈɡanjə ˈɡänjə/

I. noun

marijuana.

– origin early 19th cent.: from Hindi gāṁjā.

gannet /ˈɡanət/

I. noun

1. a large seabird with mainly white plumage, known for catching fish by plunge-diving.
[Genus Morus (or Sula), family Sulidae: three species, in particular the northern gannet (M. bassanus) of the North Atlantic (also called solan goose).]

2. (Brit.) ‹informal› a greedy person.

– origin Old English ganot, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch gent ‘gander,’ also to gander.

gannetry /ˈɡanətrē/

noun

a breeding colony of gannets, usually on an isolated rock.

ganoid /ˈɡanoid / ‹Zoology›

I. adjective

1. (of fish scales) hard and bony with a shiny enamellike surface.
Compare with ctenoid and placoid.

2. (of a fish) having ganoid scales.

II. noun

a primitive fish that has ganoid scales, e.g., a bichir, sturgeon, or freshwater garfish.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French ganoïde, from Greek ganos ‘brightness.’

Gansu /ˌɡänˈso͞o / Kansu

a province in northwestern central China; capital, Lanzhou. This narrow, mountainous province forms a corridor through which the Silk Road passed.

gantry /ˈɡantrē/

I. noun

1. a bridgelike overhead structure with a platform supporting equipment such as a crane, railroad signals, lights, or cameras.

2. a movable framework for supporting and servicing a rocket prior to launching.

– origin late Middle English (denoting a wooden stand for barrels): probably from dialect gawn (contraction of gallon) + tree.

Gantt chart /ˈɡant ˌCHärt/

I. noun

a chart in which a series of horizontal lines shows the amount of work done or production completed in certain periods of time in relation to the amount planned for those periods.

– origin early 20th cent.: named after Henry L. Gantt (1861–1919), American management consultant.

Ganymede /ˈɡanəˌmēd/

I. [Greek Mythology] a Trojan youth who was so beautiful that he was carried off by Zeus to be the cupbearer for the Olympic gods.

II. [Astronomy] one of the Galilean moons of Jupiter, the seventh closest satellite to the planet and the largest satellite in the solar system with a diameter of 3,268 miles (5,260 km).

ganzfeld /ˈɡänzˌfeld, ˈɡans-/

I. noun

a technique of controlled sensory input used in parapsychology with the aim of improving results in tests of telepathy and other paranormal phenomena.

– origin 1950s (in sense ‘empty field of vision’): from German, literally ‘whole field.’

GAO

abbreviation

Government Accountability Office, a body that undertakes investigations for Congress.

gap /ɡap/

I. noun

1. a break or hole in an object or between two objects

• he came through the gap in the hedge.

2. a pass or way through a range of hills.

3. an unfilled space or interval; a break in continuity

• there are many gaps in our understanding of what happened.

4. a difference, especially an undesirable one, between two views or situations

• the media were bridging the gap between government and people.

II. derivatives

1. gapped

adjective

2. gappy /ˈɡapē /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse, ‘chasm’; related to gape.

GAPA

abbreviation

ground-to-air pilotless aircraft.

gape /ɡāp/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. stare with one's mouth open wide, typically in amazement or wonder

• they gaped at her as if she were an alien.

2. be or become wide open
[with complement]

• a large duffel bag gaped open by her feet.

II. noun

1. a wide opening or breach

• a gape of the jaws.

2. an open-mouthed stare

• she climbed into her sports car to the gapes of passersby.

3. a widely open mouth or beak

• juvenile birds with yellow gapes.

4. (the gapes) — a disease of birds with gaping of the mouth as a symptom, caused by infestation with gapeworm.

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse gapa; related to gap.

gaper /ˈɡāpər/

noun

1. a person who stares, typically in amazement or wonder.

2. a burrowing bivalve mollusk, the shell valves of which have an opening at one or both ends.
[Genus Mya, family Myidae.]

gapeworm /ˈɡāpwərm/

noun

a parasitic nematode worm that infests the trachea and bronchi of birds, causing the gapes.
[Syngamus trachea, class Phasmida.]

gaping /ˈɡāpiNG/

I. adjective

(of a hole, wound, etc.) wide open

• there was a gaping hole in the wall.

II. derivatives

gapingly /ˈɡāpiNGlē /

adverb

gapping /ˈɡapiNG/

noun

[Grammar] the omission of a verb in the second of two coordinate clauses, as in I went by bus and Mary by car.

gap-toothed /ˈɡap ˈˌto͞oTHt/

adjective

having or showing gaps between the teeth.

gap year //

noun

(chiefly Brit.) a period, typically an academic year, taken by a student as a break between secondary school and higher education.

gar /ɡär/

I. noun

the freshwater garfish of North America.

– origin mid 18th cent.: abbreviation.

garage /ɡəˈräZH ɡəˈräj/

I. noun

1. a building or shed for housing a motor vehicle or vehicles.

2. an establishment that provides services and repairs for motor vehicles.

3. (also garage rock) — a style of unpolished energetic rock music associated with suburban amateur bands
[as modifier]

• garage band.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. put or keep (a motor vehicle) in a garage.

– origin early 20th cent.: from French, from garer ‘to shelter.’

garage sale /ɡəˈräZH sāl/

noun

(chiefly N. Amer.) a sale of miscellaneous household goods, often held in the garage or front yard of someone's house.

garam masala /ˌɡärəm məˈsälə/

I. noun

a spice mixture used in Indian cooking.

– origin from Urdu garam maṣālaḥ, from garam ‘hot, pungent’ + maṣālaḥ ‘spice.’

Garamond /ˈɡerəˌmänd/

I. noun

a typeface much used in books.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after Claude Garamond (1499–1561), French type founder.

garb^1 /ɡärb/

I. noun

clothing or dress, especially of a distinctive or special kind

• the black and brown garb of a Franciscan friar.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be garbed)

1. dress in distinctive clothes

• she was garbed in Indian shawls.

– origin late 16th cent.: via French from Italian garbo ‘elegance,’ of Germanic origin; related to gear.

garb^2 /ɡärb/

I. noun

[Heraldry] a sheaf of wheat.

– origin early 16th cent.: from Old Northern French garbe; compare with French gerbe.

garbage /ˈɡärbij/

I. noun

1. (chiefly N. Amer.) wasted or spoiled food and other refuse, as from a kitchen or household.

2. (chiefly N. Amer.) a thing that is considered worthless or meaningless

• a store full of overpriced garbage.

3. (chiefly N. Amer.) [Computing] unwanted data in a computer's memory.

II. phrases

garbage in, garbage out

(abbr.: GIGO) — used to express the idea that in computing and other spheres, incorrect or poor quality input will always produce faulty output.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘offal’): from Anglo-Norman French, of unknown ultimate origin.

garbage can /ˈɡärbij ˌkan / garbage bin

noun

(N. Amer.) a container, typically plastic or metal, for household refuse.

garbage chute

noun

(N. Amer.) a chute in a high-rise building for conveying domestic refuse from upper floors to a collection point at the bottom

• some owners try to force bags that are too large down the garbage chute.

garbage collection

I. noun

1. (N. Amer.) the action or process of collecting refuse for disposal

• municipal garbage collection in the neighborhood is inadequate.

2. (N. Amer.) [Computing] the automatic process of freeing up space in a computer's memory by removing data that is no longer required or in use
[as modifier]

• the easiest way to determine if our application is burning through memory is to examine the garbage collection logs.

II. derivatives

garbage collector

noun

garbage collector

noun

(N. Amer.) a person employed to cart away household trash and garbage.

garbage disposal

noun

1. (also garbage disposal unit) — (N. Amer.) an electrically operated device fitted to the waste pipe of a kitchen sink for grinding up food waste

• don't put the potato skins down the garbage disposal.

2. (N. Amer.) the disposal of household refuse

• residents pay for garbage disposal in two ways under the “Pay-As-You-Throw” program.

garbage man

noun

(N. Amer.) a man employed to take away household garbage.

garbage truck

noun

(N. Amer.) a vehicle used for collecting household refuse

• the rumbling of a garbage truck awoke me.

garbanzo /ɡärˈbänzō / garbanzo bean

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a chickpea.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from Spanish.

garble /ˈɡärbəl/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. reproduce (a message, sound, or transmission) in a confused and distorted way

• the connection was awful and kept garbling his voice

• (as adj. garbled) I got a garbled set of directions.

II. noun

a garbled account or transmission.

III. derivatives

garbler /-b(ə)lər /

noun

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘sift out, cleanse’): from Anglo-Latin and Italian garbellare, from Arabic ġarbala ‘sift,’ perhaps from late Latin cribellare ‘to sieve,’ from Latin cribrum ‘sieve.’

Garbo, Greta /ˈɡärˌbō/

(1905–90), US actress; born in Sweden; born Greta Gustafsson. Notable movies: Anna Christie (1930), Mata Hari (1931), and Anna Karenina (1935). After her retirement in 1941, she lived as a recluse.

garboard /ˈɡärbôrd / garboard strake

I. noun

the first range of planks or plates laid on a ship's bottom next to the keel.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Dutch gaarboord, perhaps from garen ‘gather’ + boord ‘board.’

garbology /ɡärˈbäləjē/

I. noun

the study of a community or culture by analyzing its waste.

II. derivatives

garbologist /-jist /

noun

– origin 1960s: from garbage + -logy.

Garcia, Jerry /ɡärˈsēə/

(1942–95), US rock singer and guitarist; full name Jerome John Garcia. He was the central figure of the Grateful Dead, a group formed c. 1966. Mixing psychedelic rock with country and blues influences in lengthy improvisations, the band toured extensively until Garcia's death.

García Lorca /ɡärˌsēə ˈlôrkə/

see Lorca, Federico García.

García Márquez, Gabriel /ɡärˈsēə ˈmärkes/

(1927–14), Colombian novelist; full name Gabriel José de la Concordia García Márquez. His works include One Hundred Years of Solitude (1967), a classic example of magic realism, and Love in the Time of Cholera (1985). Nobel Prize for Literature (1982).

garçon /ɡärˈsän/

I. noun

a waiter in a French restaurant or hotel.

– origin French, literally ‘boy.’

garçonnière /ˌɡärsənˈyer/

I. noun

a bachelor's apartment.

– origin French, from garçon ‘boy.’

Garda /ˈɡärdə/

I. noun — [treated as sing. or pl.]

1. the state police force of the Irish Republic.

2. (pl. Gardai ) — a member of the Irish police force.

– origin from Irish Garda Síochána ‘Civic Guard.’

Garda, Lake /ˈɡärdə/

a lake in northeastern Italy that lies between Lombardy and Venetia.

garden /ˈɡärdn/

I. noun

1. a piece of ground, often near a house, used for growing flowers, fruit, or vegetables.

2. (gardens) — ornamental grounds laid out for public enjoyment and recreation

• botanical gardens.

3. [in names] — (N. Amer.) a large public hall

• Madison Square Garden.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. cultivate or work in a garden.

– origin Middle English: from Old Northern French gardin, variant of Old French jardin, of Germanic origin; related to yard^2.

Gardena /ɡärˈdēnə/

a city in southwestern California, south of Los Angeles; pop. 58,554 (est. 2008).

garden apartment

noun

1. a low-rise apartment complex with landscaped gardens or lawns.

2. a ground-floor unit of an apartment building, with access to a garden or lawn.

Garden City

I. a city in southwestern Kansas, on the Arkansas River; pop. 28,557 (est. 2008).

II. a commercial village in the town of Hempstead on Long Island in New York; pop. 22,275 (est. 2008).

garden cress /ˈɡärdn kres/

noun

a type of cress that is usually grown as a sprouting vegetable, often mixed with sprouting mustard, and used in salads.
[Lepidium sativum, family Brassicaceae.]

garden eel

noun

an eel of warm seas that lives in a community or “garden.” Each individual occupies a burrow from which its head and foreparts protrude, enabling it to catch passing food.
[Several genera and species, family Congridae.]

gardener /ˈɡärdnər/

I. noun

a person who tends and cultivates a garden as a pastime or for a living

• a part-time gardener and handyman

• she's an avid gardener.

– origin Middle English: from Old French gardinier, from gardin (see garden).

garden-fresh

adjective

(of produce) very fresh; just picked

• a salad of garden-fresh greens.

Garden Grove

a city in southwestern California, southeast of Los Angeles; pop. 165,796 (est. 2008).

gardenia /ɡärˈdēnyə/

I. noun

a tree or shrub of the bedstraw family, with large fragrant white or yellow flowers. Native to warm climates, it is widely cultivated.
[Genus Gardenia, family Rubiaceae: several species, in particular the Cape jasmine.]

– origin modern Latin, named in honor of Dr. Alexander Garden (1730–91), Scottish naturalist.

gardening /ˈɡärd(ə)niNG/

noun

the activity of tending and cultivating a garden, especially as a pastime.

garden party /ˈɡärdn ˈpärdē/

noun

a social event held outdoors on a lawn or in a garden.

Garden State

a nickname for the state of New Jersey.

garden-variety /ˈɡärdn vəˈrīədē/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. (N. Amer.) of the usual or ordinary type; commonplace

• they are your everyday, garden-variety Americans.

garden warbler

noun

a migratory Eurasian songbird with drab plumage, frequenting woodlands.
[Sylvia borin, family Sylviidae.]

garderobe /ˈɡärdrōb/

I. noun

1. a lavatory in a medieval building.

2. a wardrobe or small storeroom, especially in a medieval building.

– origin late Middle English: French, from garder ‘to keep’ + robe ‘robe, dress’; compare with wardrobe.

Gardner, Ava /ˈɡärdnər/

(1922–90), US actress; full name Ava Lavinia Gardner. Notable movies: The Killers (1946), Bhowani Junction (1956), and The Night of the Iguana (1964).

Gardner, Erle Stanley

(1899–1970), US novelist and short-story writer. He practiced as a defense lawyer before writing novels that feature lawyer-detective Perry Mason.

Garfield, James Abram /ˈɡärˌfēld/

(1831–81), 20th president of the US March–September 1881. He fought for the Union during the Civil War, resigning his command to enter Congress as a Republican. He served in the US House of Representatives 1863–80. Although his presidency was shortened by an assassin, his battle against corruption succeeded in breaking the stronghold of New York senator Roscoe Conkling (1829–88) over the New York Customs House—the US's principal port of entry.

garfish /ˈɡärˌfiSH/

I. noun

any of a number of long, slender fish with elongated beaklike jaws containing sharply pointed teeth.
[● a marine fish (family Belonidae, in particular the common European Belone belone; also called needlefish or garpike). ● a freshwater fish (family Lepisosteidae and genus Lepisosteus; also called gar or garpike).]

– origin Middle English: apparently from Old English gār ‘spear’ + fish^1.

garganey /ˈɡärɡənē/

I. noun

a small Eurasian duck, the male of which has a dark brown head with a white stripe from the eye to the neck.
[Anas querquedula, family Anatidae.]

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Italian dialect garganei, of imitative origin.

gargantua /ɡärˈɡan(t)SHo͞oə/

noun

a person of great size; a giant.

gargantuan /ɡärˈɡan(t)SH(o͞o)ən/

I. adjective

enormous

• a gargantuan appetite.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Gargantua, the name of a voracious giant in Rabelais' book of the same name (1534), + -an.

garget /ˈɡärɡət/

I. noun

inflammation of a cow's or ewe's udder.

– origin early 18th cent.: perhaps a special use of Old French gargate ‘throat’; related to gargoyle. The term was used earlier to denote inflammation of the throat in cattle.

gargle /ˈɡärɡəl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. wash one's mouth and throat with a liquid kept in motion by exhaling through it

• instruct patients to gargle with warm water.

II. noun

1. an act or instance or the sound of gargling

• a swig and gargle of mouthwash.

2. [usu. in sing.] — a liquid used for gargling.

– origin early 16th cent.: from French gargouiller ‘gurgle, bubble,’ from gargouille ‘throat’ (see gargoyle).

gargoyle /ˈɡärˌɡoil/

I. noun

a grotesque carved human or animal face or figure projecting from the gutter of a building, typically acting as a spout to carry water clear of a wall.

II. derivatives

gargoyled

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French gargouille ‘throat,’ also ‘gargoyle’ (because of the water passing through the throat and mouth of the figure); related to Greek gargarizein ‘to gargle’ (imitating the sounds made in the throat).

gargoylism /ˈɡärɡoiˌlizəm/

I. noun

former term for Hurler's syndrome.

– origin early 20th cent.: from gargoyle (because the deformities that characterize the syndrome were thought to resemble Gothic gargoyles) + -ism.

garibaldi /ˌɡerəˈbôldē/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› a woman's or children's loose blouse, originally bright red in imitation of the shirts worn by Garibaldi and his followers.

2. a small bright orange marine fish found off California.
[Hypsypops rubicundus, family Pomacentridae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after G. Garibaldi (see Garibaldi, Giuseppe).

Garibaldi, Giuseppe /ˌɡarəˈbôldē/

(1807–82), Italian patriot and military leader of the Risorgimento (unification of Italy). With his volunteer force of “Red Shirts,” he captured Sicily and southern Italy from the Bourbons in 1860–61, thereby playing a key role in the establishment of a united kingdom of Italy.

garish /ˈɡeriSH/

I. adjective

obtrusively bright and showy; lurid

• garish shirts in all sorts of colors.

II. derivatives

1. garishly /ˈɡerəSHlē /

adverb

2. garishness /ˈɡeriSHnəs /

noun

– origin mid 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

garland /ˈɡärlənd/

I. noun

1. a wreath of flowers and leaves, worn on the head or hung as a decoration.

2. ‹dated› a prize or distinction.

3. ‹archaic› a literary anthology or miscellany.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. adorn or crown with a garland

• they were garlanded with flowers.

– origin Middle English: from Old French garlande, of unknown origin.

Garland /ˈɡärlənd/

a city in northeastern Texas, northeast of Dallas; pop. 218,577 (est. 2008).

Garland, Judy

(1922–69), US singer and actress; born Frances Gumm. Her best known movie role was as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (1939). Other notable movies: Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) and A Star is Born (1954).

garlic /ˈɡärlik/

I. noun

1. a strong-smelling pungent-tasting bulb, used as a flavoring in cooking and in herbal medicine.

2. the plant, closely related to the onion, that produces this bulb.
[Allium sativum, family Liliaceae (or Alliaceae).]

II. derivatives

garlicky /ˈɡärlikē /

adjective

– origin Old English gārlēac, from gār ‘spear’ (because the shape of a clove resembles the head of a spear) + lēac ‘leek.’

garlic chives

plural noun

another term for Chinese chives.

garlic mustard

noun

a European mustard plant with medicinal and culinary uses that is also an aggressive woodland invader in most of the eastern US.
[Alliaria petiolata, family Brassicaceae.]

garlic press

noun

a handheld device for crushing cloves of garlic through a sievelike receptacle.

garment /ˈɡärmənt/

I. noun

an item of clothing.

– origin Middle English: from Old French garnement ‘equipment,’ from garnir ‘equip’ (see garnish).

garment bag

noun

a large zippered bag incorporating a hanger on which garments may be hung to prevent wrinkling during travel or storage.

Garmo, Mount /ˈɡärˌmō/

former name (until 1933) of Ismail Samani Peak.

Garnacha /ˌɡärˈnäCHə/

I. noun

1. a variety of wine grape grown in Spain.

2. a red or rosé wine made from Garnacha grapes.

– origin Spanish, from Italian vernaccia (see vernaccia). The grape is known in France and elsewhere as Grenache.

garner /ˈɡärnər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. gather or collect (something, especially information or approval)

• the police struggled to garner sufficient evidence.

2. ‹archaic› store; deposit

• the crop was ready to be reaped and garnered.

II. noun

‹archaic› a storehouse; a granary.

– origin Middle English (originally as a noun meaning ‘granary’): from Old French gernier, from Latin granarium ‘granary,’ from granum ‘grain.’

Garner, Errol /ˈɡärnər/

(1923–77), US jazz pianist and composer; full name Errol Louis Garner. He formed his own trio and also recorded with Charlie Parker. Noted for an exuberant style, he wrote many songs, including “Misty.”

Garner, John Nance

(1868–1967) US vice president 1933–41; known as Cactus Jack. A member of the US House of Representatives from Texas 1903–33, he served as speaker from 1931 until 1933.

garnet /ˈɡärnət/

I. noun

1. a precious stone consisting of a deep red vitreous silicate mineral.

2. [Mineralogy] any of a class of silicate minerals including this, which belong to the cubic system and have the general chemical formula A_3B_2(SiO_4)3 (A and B being respectively divalent and trivalent metals).

– origin Middle English: probably via Middle Dutch from Old French grenat, from medieval Latin granatus, perhaps from granatum (see pomegranate), because the garnet is similar in color to the pulp of the fruit.

garnierite /ˈɡärnēəˌrīt/

I. noun

a bright green amorphous mineral consisting of a hydrated silicate of nickel and magnesium.

– origin 1875: named after Jules Garnier (1839–1904), French geologist.

garnish /ˈɡärniSH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. decorate or embellish (something, especially food)

• salad garnished with an orange slice.

2. [Law] serve with a garnishment.

3. seize (money, especially part of a person's salary) to settle a debt or claim

• the IRS garnished his earnings.

II. noun

a decoration or embellishment for something, especially food.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘equip, arm’): from Old French garnir, probably of Germanic origin and related to warn. Sense 1 of the verb dates from the late 17th cent.

garnishee /ˌɡärniˈSHē / ‹Law›

I. noun

a third party who is served notice by a court to surrender money in settlement of a debt or claim
[as modifier]

• a garnishee order.

II. verb

another term for garnish (sense 2 of the verb).

garnishment /ˈɡärniSHmənt/

noun

1. a decoration or embellishment.

2. [Law] a court order directing that money or property of a third party (usually wages paid by an employer) be seized to satisfy a debt owed by a debtor to a plaintiff creditor.

garniture /ˈɡärnəCHər/

I. noun

a set of decorative accessories, in particular vases.

– origin late 15th cent.: from French, from garnir ‘to garnish.’

Garonne /ɡəˈrän ɡəˈrôn/

a river in southwestern France that rises in the Pyrenees Mountains and flows northwest for 400 miles (645 km) through Toulouse and Bordeaux to join the Dordogne River at the Gironde estuary.

garpike /ˈɡärpīk/

I. noun

another term for garfish.

– origin late 18th cent.: from gar + pike^1.

garret /ˈɡerət/

I. noun

a top-floor or attic room, especially a small dismal one (traditionally inhabited by an artist).

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘watchtower’): from Old French garite, from garir (see garrison).

Garrick, David /ˈɡarik/

(1717–79), English actor and playwright. A versatile actor, he managed the Drury Lane Theatre.

garrison /ˈɡerəsən/

I. noun

1. the troops stationed in a fortress or town to defend it.

2. the building occupied by troops stationed in a town to defend it.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. provide (a place) with a body of troops

• troops are garrisoned in the various territories.

2. station (troops) in a particular place

• army regiments were garrisoned in Ireland.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘safety, means of protection’): from Old French garison, from garir ‘defend, provide,’ of Germanic origin.

Garrison, William Lloyd /ˈɡarəsən/

(1805–79) US social reformer and voice of New England abolitionism. He published The Liberator 1831–65 and was a founder of the American Anti-Slavery Society in 1833.

garrison cap

noun

(US) a cap without a brim, especially one worn as part of a military uniform.

garrison town

noun

a town that has troops permanently stationed in it.

garron /ˈɡarən/

I. noun

a small, sturdy workhorse of a breed originating in Ireland and Scotland.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Scottish Gaelic gearran, Irish gearrán.

garrote /ɡəˈrät ɡəˈrōt / garrotte, garotte

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. kill (someone) by strangulation, typically with an iron collar or a length of wire or cord

• he had been garroted with piano wire.

II. noun

a wire, cord, or apparatus used to strangle someone.

– origin early 17th cent.: via French from Spanish, ‘a cudgel, a garrote,’ perhaps of Celtic origin.

garrulity /ɡəˈro͞olədē/

noun

excessive talkativeness, especially on trivial matters

• the character's comic garrulity.

garrulous /ˈɡer(y)ələs/

I. adjective

excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters

• Polonius is portrayed as a foolish, garrulous old man.

II. derivatives

1. garrulously /ˈɡer(y)ələslē /

adverb

2. garrulousness /ˈɡer(y)ələsnəs /

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin garrulus (from garrire ‘to chatter, prattle’) + -ous.

Garson, Greer /ˈɡärsən/

(1904–96), US actress; born in Ireland; full name Eileen Evelyn Greer Garson. She starred in movies such as Mrs. Miniver (1942), Adventure (1945), and Sunrise at Campobello (1960).

garter /ˈɡärdər/

I. noun

1. a band worn around the leg to keep up a stocking or sock.

2. a band worn on the arm to keep a shirtsleeve up.

3. (N. Amer.) a suspender for a sock or stocking.

4. (the Garter) — short for Order of the Garter.

5. the badge or membership of the Order of the Garter.

II. derivatives

gartered

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old French gartier, from garet ‘bend of the knee, calf of the leg,’ probably of Celtic origin.

garter belt /ˈɡärdər belt/

noun

(N. Amer.) a belt with attached garters or fasteners, worn as an undergarment to hold up stockings.

garter snake /ˈɡärdər snāk/

noun

1. a common, harmless North American snake that typically has well-defined longitudinal stripes and favors damp habitats. It is occasionally kept as a pet.
[Genus Thamnophis, family Colubridae: several species, in particular T. sirtalis.]

2. a venomous burrowing African snake that is typically dark with lighter bands.
[Genus Elapsoidea, family Elapidae: several species.]

garter stitch /ˈɡärdər stiCH/

noun

knitting in which all of the rows are knitted in knit (plain) stitch, rather than alternating with purl rows.

garth /ɡärTH/

I. noun

1. (Brit.) an open space surrounded by cloisters.

2. (Brit.) ‹archaic› a yard or garden.

– origin Middle English (also, in early use, denoting a hollow): from Old Norse garthr; related to yard^2.

Garuda /ɡəˈro͞odə / ‹Hinduism›

I. an eaglelike being that Vishnu rides as his mount.

– origin from Sanskrit garuḍa.

Garvey, Marcus /ˈɡärvē/

(1887–1940), Jamaican political activist and black nationalist leader; full name Marcus Mosiah Garvey. He advocated the establishment of an African homeland for black Americans. His thinking was later an important influence on Rastafarianism.

Gary /ˈɡerē/

an industrial city in northwestern Indiana, on Lake Michigan, southeast of Chicago; pop. 95,920 (est. 2008).

gas /ɡas/

I. noun

1. an airlike fluid substance which expands freely to fill any space available, irrespective of its quantity

• hot balls of gas that become stars

• poisonous gases.

2. [Physics] a gaseous substance that cannot be liquefied by the application of pressure alone.
Compare with vapor.

3. a flammable gas used as a fuel.

4. a gaseous anesthetic such as nitrous oxide, used in dentistry.

5. gas or vapor used as a poisonous agent to kill or disable an enemy in warfare.

6. (N. Amer.) gas generated in the alimentary canal; flatulence.

7. [Mining] an explosive mixture of firedamp with air.

8. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› short for gasoline.

9. used in reference to power or the accelerator of an automobile

• I ordered my friend to step on the gas.

10. (a gas) — ‹informal› a person or thing that is entertaining or amusing

• the party would be a gas.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. kill or harm by exposure to poisonous gas.

2. [no obj.] — (of a storage battery or dry cell) give off gas.

3. (N. Amer.) ‹informal› fill the tank of (an engine or motor vehicle) with gasoline

• after gassing up the car, he went into the restaurant.

4. [no obj.] — ‹informal› talk, especially excessively, idly, or boastfully

• I thought you'd never stop gassing.

III. phrases

run out of gas

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› run out of energy; lose momentum.

– origin mid 17th cent.: invented by J. B. van Helmont (1577–1644), Belgian chemist, to denote an occult principle that he believed to exist in all matter; suggested by Greek khaos ‘chaos,’ with Dutch g representing Greek kh.

gasbag /ˈɡasˌbaɡ/

noun

1. ‹informal› a person who talks too much, typically about unimportant things.

2. the container holding the gas in a balloon or airship.

gas burner

noun

a nozzle or jet through which gas is released to burn, e.g., on a stove.

gas cap

noun

(N. Amer.) a cap that closes the pipe leading to the gas tank of a motor vehicle

• my gas cap wasn't on tight enough.

gas chamber /ˈɡas ˈˌCHāmbər/

noun

an airtight room that can be filled with poisonous gas as a means of execution.

gas chromatograph

noun

a device or apparatus used in gas chromatography to separate the constituents of a volatile substance.

gas chromatography /ɡas ˌkrōməˈtäɡrəfē/

noun

chromatography employing a gas as the moving carrier medium.
Compare with gas–liquid chromatography.

Gascogne /ɡäsˈkônyə/

French name for Gascony.

Gascon /ˈɡaskən/

I. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Gascony.

2. (gascon) — ‹archaic› a person who boasts about their achievements or possessions.
[with allusion to the perceived character of natives of Gascony.]

II. adjective

of or relating to Gascony or its people.

– origin via Old French from Latin Vasco, Vascon-; related to Basque.

gasconade /ˌɡaskəˈnād/

I. noun

‹literary› extravagant boasting.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from French gasconnade, from gasconner ‘talk like a Gascon, brag.’

gas constant R

noun

[Chemistry] the constant of proportionality in the gas equation. It is equal to 8.314 joule kelvin1 mole1.

Gascony /ˈɡaskənē/

a region and former province in southwestern France, in the northern foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains.
French name Gascogne.

gaseous /ˈɡasēəs ˈɡaSHəs/

I. adjective

of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a gas

• gaseous emissions from motor vehicles

• gaseous oxygen.

II. derivatives

gaseousness

noun

gas equation

noun

[Chemistry] the equation of state of an ideal gas, PV = nRT, where P = pressure, V = volume, T = absolute temperature, R = the gas constant, and n = the number of moles of gas.

gas-fired /ˈɡas ˈˌfī(ə)rd/

adjective

using a combustible gas as its fuel

• gas-fired central heating.

gas fitter

noun

(Brit.) a person trained to connect, disconnect, and service gas fittings and appliances.

gas gangrene

noun

rapidly spreading gangrene occurring in dirty wounds infected by bacteria that give off a foul-smelling gas.
[This disease is usually caused by anaerobic bacteria of the genus Clostridium.]

gas giant

noun

[Astronomy] a large planet of relatively low density consisting predominantly of hydrogen and helium, such as Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, or Neptune.

gas guzzler /ˈɡas ˌɡəz(ə)lər/

noun

‹informal› an automobile with high fuel consumption.

gas-guzzling

adjective

‹informal› (of a car) having a high fuel consumption

• gas-guzzling SUVs.

gash /ɡaSH/

I. noun

1. a long deep slash, cut, or wound

• a bad gash in one leg became infected.

2. a cleft made as if by a slashing cut

• the blast ripped a 25-foot gash in the hull.

3. ‹vulgar slang› the vulva.

4. ‹offensive› women collectively regarded in sexual terms.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make a gash in; cut deeply

• the jagged edges gashed their fingers.

– origin Middle English garse, from Old French garcer ‘to chap, crack,’ perhaps based on Greek kharassein ‘sharpen, scratch, engrave.’ The current spelling is recorded from the mid 16th cent.

gasify /ˈɡasəˌfī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. convert (a solid or liquid, especially coal) into gas

• 5 million tons of coal have been gasified.

2. [no obj.] — become a gas

• if PVC is overheated it will gasify.

II. derivatives

gasification /ˌɡasəfəˈkāSH(ə)n /

noun

gas jet

noun

1. another term for gas burner.

2. a flame of illuminated gas from a gas burner.

Gaskell, Mrs. Elizabeth /ˈɡaskəl/

(1810–65), English novelist; full name Mrs. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. An active humanitarian from a Unitarian background, she wrote Mary Barton (1848), Cranford (1853), and North and South (1855), which display her interest in social concerns. She also wrote a biography (1857) of her friend Charlotte Brontë.

gasket /ˈɡaskət/

I. noun

1. a shaped piece or ring of rubber or other material sealing the junction between two surfaces in an engine or other device.

2. a cord securing a furled sail to the yard, boom, or gaff of a sailing vessel.

– origin early 17th cent. (sense 2): perhaps from French garcette ‘thin rope’ (originally ‘little girl’), diminutive of garce, feminine of gars ‘boy.’

gaskin /ˈɡaskən/

I. noun

the muscular part of the hind leg of a horse between the stifle and the hock.

– origin late 16th cent.: perhaps from galligaskins (the original sense).

gas laws

plural noun

[Chemistry] the physical laws that describe the properties of gases, including Boyle's and Charles' laws.

gaslight /ˈɡaslīt/

I. noun

1. a type of lamp in which an incandescent mantle is heated by a jet of burning gas.

2. the light produced by a gas lamp

• in the gaslight she looked paler than ever.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. manipulate (someone) by psychological means into questioning their own sanity

• in the first episode, Karen Valentine is being gaslighted by her husband.

[from the storyline of the movie Gaslight (1944), in which a man psychologically manipulates his wife into believing that she is going insane.]

III. derivatives

gaslit /ˈɡaslit /

adjective

gas–liquid chromatography

noun

chromatography employing a gas as the moving carrier medium and a liquid as the stationary medium.

gas log

noun

a gas-burning appliance consisting of a gas burner made to resemble a log, used in a fireplace to simulate the effect of a burning log.

gasman /ˈɡasˌman/

noun

a person who installs or services gas appliances or reads gas meters.

gas mask /ˈɡas ˌmask/

noun

a protective mask used to cover a person's face as a defense against poisonous gas.

gas mileage

noun

(N. Amer.) the number of miles that a vehicle can travel using a particular amount of fuel

• a well-tuned engine can improve gas mileage by an average of 4%.

gasohol /ˈɡasəˌhôl ˈɡasəˌhäl/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) a mixture of gasoline and ethyl alcohol used as fuel in internal combustion engines.

– origin 1970s: blend of gas and alcohol.

gas oil /ˈɡas ˌoil/

noun

a type of fuel oil distilled from petroleum.

gasolier /ˌɡasəˈlir / gaselier

I. noun

a chandelier with gas burners rather than light bulbs or candles.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from gas, on the pattern of chandelier.

gasoline /ˌɡasəˈlēn ˈɡasəlēn / ‹dated› gasolene

I. noun

(N. Amer.) refined petroleum used as fuel for internal combustion engines.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from gas + -ol + -ine^4 (or -ene).

gasometer /ɡaˈsämədər/

I. noun

a tank for storing and measuring gas.

– origin late 18th cent. (in the sense ‘container for holding or measuring a gas’): from French gazomètre, from gaz ‘gas’ + -mètre ‘(instrument) measuring.’

gasp /ɡasp/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. inhale suddenly with the mouth open, out of pain or astonishment

• a woman gasped in horror at the sight of him.

2. [with obj.] — say (something) while catching one's breath, especially as a result of strong emotion

• Jeremy gasped out an apology

• [with direct speech] “It's beautiful!,” she gasped, much impressed.

3. strain to take a deep breath

• she surfaced and gasped for air.

II. noun

a convulsive catching of breath

• his breath was coming in gasps.

III. phrases

one's (or the) last gasp

the point of exhaustion, death, or completion

• the last gasp of the Cold War.

– origin late Middle English: from Old Norse geispa ‘to yawn.’

gas pedal

noun

the pedal that controls the speed of a vehicle's engine.

Gaspé Peninsula /ɡasˌpā pəˈninsələ/

a region in southeastern Quebec in Canada, between the St. Lawrence River and New Brunswick.

gas-permeable /ˈˌɡas ˈpərmēəbəl/

adjective

(of a contact lens) allowing the diffusion of gases into and out of the cornea.

gas plant

noun

an aromatic Eurasian plant of the rue family, with showy white flowers and fragrant leaves that emit a flammable vapor. This can sometimes be ignited without harming the plant.
Also called burning bush, dittany, fraxinella. [Dictamnus albus, family Rutaceae.]

gas pump

noun

(N. Amer.) a piece of equipment installed in a gas station to dispense gasoline into the fuel tank of a motor vehicle

• the new year has brought higher prices at the gas pump.

gas range

noun

(N. Amer.) a large cooking stove in which the combustion of gas is used as the source of heat

• installing a gas range can be costly.

gasser /ˈɡasər/

noun

1. ‹informal› an idle talker; a chatterer.

2. ‹informal› (US) a very attractive or impressive person or thing

• that story you wrote for me is a gasser!

Gasser, Herbert Spencer /ˈɡasər/

(1888–1963), US physiologist. In collaboration with Joseph Erlanger, he used an oscilloscope to show that the velocity of a nerve impulse is proportional to the diameter of the fiber. Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine (1944), shared with Erlanger.

gas station /ˈɡas ˌstāSHən/

noun

(N. Amer.) an establishment beside a road selling gasoline and oil.

gassy /ˈɡasē/

I. adjective

1. of, like, or full of gas

• the carbonated water has a gassy, soda-pop character

• gassy planets like Jupiter.

2. ‹informal› (of people or language) inclined to be verbose

• a long and gassy book.

3. (N. Amer.) (of people) flatulent.

II. derivatives

gassiness

noun

gas tank

noun

1. (N. Amer.) the container holding the fuel supply in a motor vehicle, aircraft, etc.

• we filled our gas tank before we left town.

2. a container or structure for holding gas

• a defunct oil refinery stands alongside huge gas tanks.

Gastarbeiter /ˈɡästˌärbīdər/

I. noun

German term for guest worker.

– origin German, from Gast ‘guest’ + Arbeiter ‘worker.’

gasthaus /ˈɡästhous / Gasthaus

I. noun

a small inn or hotel in a German-speaking country or region.

– origin from German, from Gast ‘guest’ + Haus ‘house.’

gas-tight /ˈɡasˌtīt/

adjective

sealed so as to prevent the leakage of gas.

Gastonia /ɡaˈstōnēə/

an industrial city in southwestern North Carolina; pop. 72,505 (est. 2008).

gastr-

combining form

variant spelling of gastro- shortened before a vowel (as in gastrectomy).

gastrectomy /ɡaˈstrektəmē/

noun

surgical removal of a part or the whole of the stomach.

gastric /ˈɡastrik/

I. adjective

of the stomach.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from modern Latin gastricus, from Greek gastēr, gastr- ‘stomach.’

gastric band

noun

(in the surgical treatment of obesity) a silicone device placed around the upper section of the stomach, creating a small pouch above the band and thereby restricting the amount of food that can be comfortably eaten.

• she had a gastric band fitted to help her lose weight.

• [as modifier] a gastric band operation.

gastric juice

noun

a thin, clear, virtually colorless acidic fluid secreted by the stomach glands and active in promoting digestion.

gastrin /ˈɡastrən/

I. noun

[Biochemistry] a hormone that stimulates secretion of gastric juice, and is secreted into the bloodstream by the stomach wall in response to the presence of food.

– origin early 20th cent.: from gastric + -in^1.

gastritis /ɡaˈstrīdəs/

noun

[Medicine] inflammation of the lining of the stomach.

gastro- gastr-

I. combining form

of or relating to the stomach

• gastrectomy

• gastroenteritis.

– origin from Greek gastēr, gastr- ‘stomach.’

gastrocnemius /ˌɡastrō(k)ˈnēmēəs / gastrocnemius muscle

I. noun

[Anatomy] the chief muscle of the calf of the leg, which flexes the knee and foot. It runs to the Achilles tendon from two heads attached to the femur.

– origin late 17th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek gastroknēmia ‘calf of the leg,’ from gastēr, gastr- ‘stomach’ + knēmē ‘leg’ (from the bulging shape of the calf).

gastrocolic /ˌɡastrōˈkälik/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. of or relating to the stomach and the colon.

gastroenteritis /ˌɡastrōˌen(t)əˈrīdəs/

noun

inflammation of the stomach and intestines, typically resulting from bacterial toxins or viral infection and causing vomiting and diarrhea.

gastroenterology /ˌɡastrōˌen(t)əˈräləjē/

I. noun

the branch of medicine that deals with disorders of the stomach and intestines.

II. derivatives

1. gastroenterological /-tərəˈläjikəl /

adjective

2. gastroenterologist /ˌɡastrōˌen(t)əˈräləjəst /

noun

gastrointestinal /ˌɡastrōinˈtestənl/

adjective

of or relating to the stomach and the intestines.

gastrolith /ˈɡastrəˌliTH/

noun

1. [Medicine] a hard concretion in the stomach.

2. [Zoology] a small stone swallowed by a bird, reptile, or fish, to aid digestion in the gizzard.

gastronome /ˈɡastrəˌnōm / gastronomer , gastronomist

I. noun

a gourmet.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French, from gastronomie (see gastronomy).

gastronomic /ˌɡastrəˈnämik / gastronomical

I. adjective

relating to the practice of cooking or eating good food

• the hotel restaurant serves the most exclusive gastronomic delights

• a gastronomic tour of the South of France.

II. derivatives

gastronomically /ˌgastrəˈnäməklē /

adverb

gastronomy /ɡaˈstränəmē/

I. noun

1. the practice or art of choosing, cooking, and eating good food.

2. the cooking of a particular area

• traditional American gastronomy.

II. derivatives

gastronomical /ˌɡastrəˈnämikəl /

adjective

– origin early 19th cent.: from French gastronomie, from Greek gastronomia, alteration of gastrologia (see gastro-, -logy).

gastropod /ˈɡastrəˌpäd/

noun

[Zoology] a mollusk of the large class Gastropoda, such as a snail, slug, or whelk.

Gastropoda /ˌɡastrəˈpōdə / ‹Zoology›

I. a large class of mollusks which includes snails, slugs, whelks, and all terrestrial kinds. They have a large muscular foot for movement and (in many kinds) a single asymmetrical spiral shell.

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek gastēr, gastr- ‘stomach’ + pous, pod- ‘foot.’

gastropub /ˈɡastrōˌpəb/

I. noun

(Brit.) a pub that specializes in serving high-quality food.

– origin 1990s: blend of gastronomy and pub.

gastroscope /ˈɡastrəˌskōp/

I. noun

an optical instrument used for inspecting the interior of the stomach.

II. derivatives

1. gastroscopic /ˌɡastrəˈskäpik /

adjective

2. gastroscopy /ɡaˈsträskəpē /

noun

gastrostomy /ɡəˈsträstəmē/

noun

1. an opening into the stomach from the abdominal wall, made surgically for the introduction of food.

2. a surgical operation for making an opening in the stomach.

Gastrotricha /ɡasˈträtrikə / ‹Zoology›

I. a small phylum of minute aquatic wormlike animals that bear bristles and cilia. They are thought to be related to the nematode worms and rotifers.

II. derivatives

gastrotrich /ˈɡastrəˌtrik /

noun

– origin modern Latin (plural), from Greek gastēr, gastr- ‘stomach’ + thrix, trikh- ‘hair.’

gastrula /ˈɡastrələ/

I. noun

[Embryology] an embryo at the stage following the blastula, when it is a hollow cup-shaped structure having three layers of cells.

II. derivatives

gastrulation /ˌɡastrəˈlāSH(ə)n /

noun

– origin late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek gastēr, gastr- ‘stomach’ + the Latin diminutive ending -ula.

gas turbine /ɡas ˈtərˌbīn ˈtərbən/

noun

a turbine driven by expanding hot gases produced by burning fuel, as in a jet engine.

gasworks /ˈɡasˌwərks/

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. a place where gas is manufactured and processed.

gat^1 /ɡat/

I. noun

‹informal› a revolver or pistol.

– origin early 20th cent.: abbreviation of Gatling gun.

gat^2 /ɡat/

archaic past of get.

gate /ɡāt/

I. noun

1. a hinged barrier used to close an opening in a wall, fence, or hedge.

2. a gateway

• she went out through the gate.

3. an exit from an airport building to an aircraft.

4. [in names] — a mountain pass or other natural passage

• the Golden Gate.

5. the number of people who pay to enter a sports facility, exhibition hall, etc., for any one event
[as modifier]

• gate receipts.

6. the money taken for admission.

7. a device resembling a gate in structure or function, in particular

8. a hinged or sliding barrier for controlling the flow of water

• a sluice gate.

9. [Skiing] an opening through which a skier must pass in a slalom course, typically marked by upright poles.

10. a device for holding each frame of a movie film in position behind the lens of a camera or projector.

11. an electric circuit with an output that depends on the combination of several inputs

• a logic gate.

12. the part of a field-effect transistor to which a signal is applied to control the resistance of the conductive channel of the device.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. be gated)

1. (Brit.) confine (a student) to school or college

• he was gated for the rest of term.

III. phrases

get (or be given) the gate

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› be dismissed from a job.

– origin Old English gæt, geat, plural gatu, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch gat ‘gap, hole, breach.’

-gate

I. combining form

in nouns denoting an actual or alleged scandal, especially one involving a cover-up

• Irangate.

– origin early 1970s: suggested by the Watergate scandal, 1972.

gate array

noun

1. [Computing] a regular arrangement of logic gates.

2. [Computing] an electronic chip consisting of a regular arrangement of logic gates.

gateau /ɡəˈtō ɡaˈtō/

I. noun

a rich cake, typically one containing layers of cream or fruit.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French gâteau ‘cake.’

gatecrash /ˈɡātˌkraSH/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. enter (a party or other gathering) without an invitation or ticket

• the photographer gatecrashed the 2000 wedding in New York.

II. derivatives

gatecrasher /ˈɡātkraSHər /

noun

gated community /ɡādid kəˈmyo͞onədē/

noun

a residential area with roads that have gates to control the movement of traffic and people into and out of the area.

gatefold /ˈɡātˌfōld/

noun

an oversized page in a book or magazine folded to the same size as the other pages but intended to be opened out for reading.

gatehouse /ˈɡātˌhous/

noun

a house or enclosure near a gateway.

gatekeeper /ˈɡātˌkēpər/

noun

1. an attendant at a gate who is employed to control who goes through it.

2. a person or thing that controls access to something

• the primary-care doctor serves as the gatekeeper to specialists.

gatekeeping /ˈɡātˌkēpiNG/

noun

1. the activity of controlling, and usually limiting, general access to something

• Wal-Mart's cultural gatekeeping has served to narrow the mainstream for entertainment offerings.

2. [Computing] a function or system that controls access or operations to files, computers, networks, or the like
[as modifier]

• a gatekeeping mechanism that allows reads under some circumstances and blocks them under others.

gateleg table /ˈɡātleɡ ˌtāb(ə)l/

I. noun

a table with hinged legs that swing out from the frame to support the drop leaves that make the surface of the table larger.

II. derivatives

gatelegged /ˈɡātˌleɡəd /

adjective

gate money

noun

1. (US) ‹informal› money paid to a prisoner upon their release

• he got out of Pleasant Valley Prison with only $200 in gate money.

2. (Brit.) the total amount of money paid for admission to a sports ground for an event

• the gate money from the match will be shared between both clubs.

gatepost /ˈɡātˌpōst/

noun

a post on which a gate is hinged, or against which it shuts.

Gates, Bill /ɡāts/

(1955–), US computer entrepreneur and philanthropist; full name William Henry Gates. In 1975, he cofounded Microsoft, a computer software company, the success of which made him the youngest multibillionaire in US history. With his wife, he established the philanthropic Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000.

Gates, Horatio

(c. 1727–1806), American army officer; born in England. Originally an officer in the British army, he sided with the colonials when the American Revolution broke out. He commanded the Saratoga campaign 1777.

Gates, Robert

(1943–), US intelligence expert and cabinet member; full name Robert Michael Gates. After 26 years with the CIA, including its directorship 1991–93, he became US secretary of defense in 2006, serving under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

Gateshead /ˈɡātsˌhed/

an industrial town in northeastern England, on the southern bank of the Tyne River, opposite Newcastle; pop. 73,400 (est. 2009).

gate valve /ˈɡāt ˈˌvalv/

noun

a valve with a sliding part that controls the extent of the aperture.

gateway /ˈɡātˌwā/

noun

1. an opening that can be closed by a gate

• we turned into a gateway leading to a small cottage.

2. a frame or arch built around or over a gate

• a big house with a wrought-iron gateway.

3. a means of access or entry to a place

• Mombasa, the gateway to East Africa.

4. a means of achieving a state or condition

• curiosity is the gateway to learning.

5. [Computing] a device used to connect two different networks, especially a connection to the Internet.

Gateway Arch

a colossal arch built along the west bank of the Mississippi River in St. Louis, Missouri. The stainless steel arch, 630 feet (192 m) wide and rising 630 feet (192 m) above the banks of the river, was designed by Eero Saarinen and was built 1963–65.

gateway drug /ˈɡātwā ˌdrəɡ/

noun

a habit-forming drug that, while not itself addictive, may lead to the use of other addictive drugs

• many believe that alcohol and cigarettes are gateway drugs that increase the risk of subsequent involvement with illegal drugs.

Gatha /ˈɡätə, -ˌtä/

I. noun

any of 17 poems attributed to Zoroaster that are the most ancient texts of the Avesta.

– origin from Avestan gāthā.

gather /ˈɡaT͟Hər/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — come together; assemble or accumulate

• a crowd gathered in the square.

2. [with obj.] — bring together and take in from scattered places or sources

• we have gathered the information.

3. pick up from the ground or a surface

• they gathered up the dirty plates and cups.

4. collect (grain or other crops) as a harvest.

5. collect (plants, fruits, etc.) for food.

6. draw together or toward oneself

• she gathered the child in her arms.

7. draw and hold together (fabric or a part of a garment) by running thread through it

• the front is gathered at the waist.

8. [with obj.] — infer; understand

• her clients were, I gathered, a prosperous group.

9. [with obj.] — develop a higher degree of

• the green movement is gathering pace.

10. [with obj.] — summon up (a mental or physical attribute such as one's thoughts or strength) for a purpose

• he lay gathering his thoughts together

• he gathered himself for a tremendous leap.

II. noun — (gathers)

1. a part of a garment that is gathered or drawn in.

III. phrases

gather way

(of a ship) begin to move.

IV. derivatives

gatherer /ˈɡaT͟H(ə)rər /

noun

– origin Old English gaderian; related to Dutch gaderen, also to together.

gathering /ˈɡaT͟H(ə)riNG/

noun

1. an assembly or meeting, especially a social or festive one or one held for a specific purpose

• a family gathering.

2. a set of printed signatures of a book, gathered for binding.

Gatineau /ˌɡatnˈō, ɡa-tēˈnō/

a city in southwestern Quebec in Canada, a largely French-speaking suburb across the Ottawa River from Ottawa in Ontario; pop. 242,124 (2006).

Gatling gun /ˈɡatliNG ˌɡən / Gatling

I. noun

a rapid-fire, crank-driven gun with a cylindrical cluster of several barrels. The first practical machine gun, it was officially adopted by the US Army in 1866.

– origin named after Richard J. Gatling (1818–1903), its American inventor.

gator /ˈɡādər/

I. noun

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) an alligator.

– origin mid 19th cent.: shortened form.

Gatorade /ˈɡādəˌrād/

noun

‹trademark› a fruit-flavored drink especially for athletes, designed to supply the body with carbohydrates and to replace fluids and sodium lost during exercise.

GATT /ɡat/

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, an international treaty (1948–94) to promote trade and economic development by reducing tariffs and other restrictions. It was superseded by the establishment of the World Trade Organization in 1995.

gauche /ɡōSH/

I. adjective

lacking ease or grace; unsophisticated and socially awkward.

II. derivatives

1. gauchely

adverb

2. gaucheness /ˈɡōSHnəs /

noun

– origin mid 18th cent.: French, literally ‘left.’

gaucherie /ˌɡōSHəˈrē/

I. noun

awkward, embarrassing, or unsophisticated ways

• she had long since gotten over gaucheries such as blushing.

– origin late 18th cent.: French, from gauche (see gauche).

Gaucher's disease /ɡōˈSHāz dəˌzēz/

I. noun

a hereditary disease in which the metabolism and storage of fats is abnormal. It results in bone fragility, neurological disturbance, anemia, and enlargement of the liver and spleen.

– origin mid 20th cent.: named after Phillippe C. E. Gaucher (1854–1918), French physician.

gaucho /ˈɡouCHō/

I. noun

a cowboy of the South American pampas.

– origin Latin American Spanish, probably from Araucanian kauču ‘friend.’

gaud /ɡôd/

I. noun

‹archaic› a showy and purely ornamental thing

• displays of overpriced gauds.

– origin Middle English (denoting a trick or pretense): perhaps via Anglo-Norman French from Old French gaudir ‘rejoice,’ from Latin gaudere. Current senses may have been influenced by obsolete gaud ‘a large ornamental bead in a rosary.’

gaudery /ˈɡôdərē/

noun

1. gaudy articles or decoration, especially clothing or jewelry.

2. tasteless or extravagant display of gaudy articles or decoration.

Gaudí, Antonio /ˈɡoudē/

(1853–1926), Spanish architect; full name Antonio Gaudí y Cornet. He was a leading but idiosyncratic exponent of art nouveau who worked chiefly in Barcelona and is known mainly for his ornate and extravagant church of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

gaudy^1 /ˈɡôdē/

I. adjective

extravagantly bright or showy, typically so as to be tasteless

• silver bows and gaudy ribbons.

II. derivatives

1. gaudily /ˈɡôdəlē /

adverb

2. gaudiness /ˈɡôdēnəs /

noun

– origin late 15th cent.: probably from gaud + -y^1.

gaudy^2 /ˈɡôdē/

I. noun

(Brit.) a celebratory reunion dinner or entertainment held by a college.

– origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘rejoicing, a celebration’): from Latin gaudium ‘joy,’ or from gaude ‘rejoice!,’ imperative of gaudere.

gauge /ɡāj / ‹chiefly technical› gage

I. noun

1. an instrument or device for measuring the magnitude, amount, or contents of something, typically with a visual display of such information.

2. a tool for checking whether something conforms to a desired dimension.

3. a means of estimating something; a criterion or test

• emigration is perhaps the best gauge of public unease.

4. the thickness, size, or capacity of something, especially as a standard measure, in particular

5. the diameter of a string, fiber, tube, etc.
[as modifier]

• a fine 0.018-inch gauge wire.

6. [in combination] — a measure of the diameter of a gun barrel, or of its ammunition, expressed as the number of spherical pieces of shot of the same diameter as the barrel that can be made from 1 pound (454 g) of lead
[as modifier]

• a 12-gauge shotgun.

7. [in combination] — the thickness of sheet metal or plastic
[as modifier]

• 500-gauge polyethylene.

8. the distance between the rails of a line of railroad track

• the line was laid to a gauge of 2 ft. 9 in.

9. (usu. the gage) — [Nautical] ‹historical› the position of a sailing vessel to windward (weather gage) or leeward (lee gage) of another.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. estimate or determine the magnitude, amount, or volume of

• astronomers can gauge the star's intrinsic brightness.

2. form a judgment or estimate of (a situation, mood, etc.)

• she is unable to gauge his mood.

3. measure the dimensions of (an object) with a gauge

• when dry, the assemblies can be gauged exactly and planed to width.

4. (as adj. gauged) — made in standard dimensions

• gauged sets of strings.

III. derivatives

1. gaugeable /ˈɡājəb(ə)l /

adjective

2. gauger /ˈɡājər /

noun

– origin Middle English (denoting a standard measure): from Old French gauge (noun), gauger (verb), variant of Old Northern French jauge (noun), jauger (verb), of unknown origin.

gauge theory

noun

[Physics] a quantum theory using mathematical functions to describe subatomic interactions in terms of particles that are not directly detectable.

Gauguin, Paul /ɡōˈɡaN/

(1848–1903), French painter; full name Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin. He lived mainly in Tahiti from 1891, painting in a post-impressionist style that was influenced by primitive art. Notable works: The Vision after the Sermon (1888) and Faa Iheihe (1898).

Gaul^1 /ɡôl/

an ancient region in Europe that corresponds to modern France, Belgium, the southern Netherlands, southwestern Germany, and northern Italy. The area south of the Alps was conquered in 222 BC by the Romans, who called it Cisalpine Gaul. The area north of the Alps, known as Transalpine Gaul, was taken by Julius Caesar between 58 and 51 BC.

Gaul^2 /ɡôl/

I. noun

a native or inhabitant of ancient Gaul.

– origin from Latin Gallus, probably of Celtic origin.

Gauleiter /ˈɡouˌlīdər/

I. noun

1. ‹historical› a political official governing a district under Nazi rule.

2. an overbearing official.

– origin 1930s: German, from Gau ‘administrative district’ + Leiter ‘leader.’

Gaulish /ˈɡôliSH/

I. adjective

of, relating to, or denoting the ancient Gauls.

II. noun

the Celtic language of the ancient Gauls.

Gaulle, Charles de

see de Gaulle, Charles.

Gaullism /ˈɡôˌlizəm/

I. noun

the principles and policies of Charles de Gaulle, characterized by their conservatism, nationalism, and advocacy of centralized government.

II. derivatives

Gaullist /ˈɡôləst /

noun, adjective

– origin 1940s: from French Gaullisme.

gaunt /ɡônt/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) lean and haggard, especially because of suffering, hunger, or age.

2. (of a building or place) grim or desolate in appearance.

II. derivatives

1. gauntly

adverb

2. gauntness /ˈɡôn(t)nəs /

noun

– origin late Middle English: of unknown origin.

Gaunt /ɡônt/

former name of Ghent.

Gaunt, John of

see John of Gaunt.

gauntlet^1 /ˈɡôntlət ˈɡäntlət/

I. noun

1. a stout glove with a long loose wrist.

2. ‹historical› an armored glove, as worn by a medieval knight.

3. the part of a glove covering the wrist.

II. phrases

take up (or throw down) the gauntlet

accept (or issue) a challenge.
[from the medieval custom of issuing a challenge by throwing one's gauntlet to the ground; whoever picked it up was deemed to have accepted the challenge.]

– origin late Middle English: from Old French gantelet, diminutive of gant ‘glove,’ of Germanic origin.

gauntlet^2 /ˈɡôntlət ˈɡäntlət / gantlet

I. noun — (in phrase run the gauntlet)

1. go through an intimidating or dangerous crowd, place, or experience in order to reach a goal

• they had to run the gauntlet of television cameras.

2. ‹historical› undergo the military punishment of receiving blows while running between two rows of men with sticks.

– origin mid 17th cent.: alteration of gantlope (from Swedish gatlopp, from gata ‘lane’ + lopp ‘course’) by association with gauntlet^1.

gaur /ˈɡou(ə)r/

I. noun

a large wild ox native to India and Malaysia.
Also called Indian bison, seladang. [Bos gaurus, family Bovidae.]

– origin early 19th cent.: from Sanskrit gaura; related to cow^1.

gauss /ɡous / G

I. noun

a unit of magnetic induction, equal to one ten-thousandth of a tesla.

– origin late 19th cent.: named after Karl Gauss (see Gauss, Karl Friedrich).

Gauss, Karl Friedrich /ɡous/

(1777–1855), German mathematician, astronomer, and physicist. He laid the foundations of number theory.

Gaussian distribution /ˈɡousēən ˌdistrəˌbyo͞oSH(ə)n/

I. noun

[Statistics] another term for normal distribution.

– origin early 20th cent.: named after Karl Gauss (see Gauss, Karl Friedrich), who described it.

Gautama, Siddhartha /ˈɡôtəmə, ˈɡou-/

see Buddha.

gauze /ɡôz/

I. noun

1. a thin translucent fabric of silk, linen, or cotton.

2. [Medicine] thin, loosely woven cloth used for dressing and swabs.

3. [in sing.] — a transparent haze or film

• they saw the grasslands through a gauze of golden dust.

4. (also wire gauze) — a very fine wire mesh.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French gaze, perhaps from Gaza, the name of a town in Palestine.

gauzy /ˈɡôzē/

I. adjective

resembling gauze; thin and translucent

• a gauzy dress.

II. derivatives

1. gauzily /-zəlē /

adverb

2. gauziness

noun

gavage /ɡəˈväZH/

I. noun

the administration of food or drugs by force, especially to an animal, typically through a tube leading down the throat to the stomach.

– origin late 19th cent.: French, from gaver ‘force-feed,’ from a base meaning ‘throat.’

gave /ɡāv/

past of give.

gavel /ˈɡavəl/

I. noun

a small mallet with which an auctioneer, a judge, or the chair of a meeting hits a surface to call for attention or order.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. bring (a hearing or person) to order by use of a gavel

• he gaveled the convention to order.

– origin early 19th cent. (originally US in the sense ‘stonemason's mallet’): of unknown origin.

gavelkind /ˈɡavəlˌkīnd/

I. noun

‹historical› a system of inheritance in which a deceased person's land is divided equally among all male heirs.

– origin Middle English: from obsolete gavel ‘payment, rent’ + kind^1.

gavel-to-gavel

adjective

lasting from beginning to end of a formal session or meeting, such as a political convention

• uninterrupted gavel-to-gavel coverage without commentary.

gavial /ˈɡāvēəl/

I. noun

variant spelling of gharial.

– origin from French, the -v- probably being substituted for -r- by scribal error.

gavotte /ɡəˈvät/

I. noun

1. a medium-paced French dance, popular in the 18th century.

2. a piece of music accompanying or in the rhythm of a gavotte, composed in common time beginning on the third beat of the bar.

– origin French, from Provençal gavoto ‘dance of the mountain people,’ from Gavot ‘a native of the Alps.’

GAW G.A.W.

abbreviation

guaranteed annual wage.

Gawain /ɡəˈwān ˈɡäwān/

(in Arthurian legend) one of the knights of the Round Table who quested after the Holy Grail. He is the hero of the medieval poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

gawk /ɡôk/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. stare openly and stupidly

• they were gawking at some pinup.

II. noun

an awkward or shy person.

III. derivatives

1. gawker /ˈɡôkər /

noun

2. gawkish

adjective

– origin late 17th cent. (as a noun): perhaps related to obsolete gaw ‘to gaze,’ from Old Norse gá ‘heed.’

gawky /ˈɡôkē/

I. adjective

nervously awkward and ungainly

• a gawky teenager.

II. derivatives

1. gawkily /-kəlē /

adverb

2. gawkiness

noun

gawp /ɡôp/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. ‹informal› stare openly in a stupid or rude manner

• what are you gawping at?

II. derivatives

gawper

noun

– origin late 17th cent.: perhaps an alteration of gape.

gay /ɡā/

I. adjective

1. (of a person, especially a man) homosexual

• that friend of yours, is he gay?

2. relating to or used by homosexuals

• feminist, black, and gay perspectives.

3. lighthearted and carefree

• Nan had a gay disposition and a very pretty face.

4. brightly colored; showy; brilliant

• a gay profusion of purple and pink sweet peas.

5. ‹informal› ‹offensive› foolish, stupid, or unimpressive

• making students wait for the light is kind of a gay rule.

II. noun

a homosexual, especially a man.

– origin Middle English (sense 2 of the adjective): from Old French gai, of unknown origin. / usage: Gay meaning ‘homosexual,’ dating back to the 1930s (if not earlier), became established in the 1960s as the term preferred by homosexual men to describe themselves. It is now the standard accepted term throughout the English-speaking world. As a result, the centuries-old other senses of gay meaning either ‘carefree’ or ‘bright and showy,’ once common in speech and literature, are much less frequent. The word gay cannot be readily used today in these older senses without sounding old-fashioned or arousing a sense of double entendre, despite concerted attempts by some to keep them alive. Gay in its modern sense typically refers to men (lesbian being the standard term for homosexual women), but in some contexts it can be used of both men and women.

Gay, John /ɡā/

(1685–1732), English poet and playwright. He is chiefly known for The Beggar's Opera (1728).

Gaya /ɡəˈyä/

a city in northeastern India, in the state of Bihar, south of Patna; pop. 470,400 (est. 2009). It is a place of Hindu pilgrimage.

gaydar /ˈɡādär/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› ‹humorous› the putative ability of homosexuals to recognize one another intuitively or by means of very slight indications.

2. ‹informal› ‹humorous› the putative ability of heterosexuals to discern the homosexuality of others.

– origin 1980s: blend of gay and radar.

Gaye, Marvin /ɡā/

(1939–84), US soul singer, composer, and musician. Best known for “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” (1968), he later recorded the albums Let's Get It On (1973) and Midnight Love (1982).

gay liberation

noun

a movement to eliminate social and legal discrimination against homosexuals.

Gay-Lussac's law /ˌɡāləˈsaks ˌlô / ‹Chemistry›

I. a law stating that the volumes of gases undergoing a reaction at constant pressure and temperature are in a simple ratio to each other and to that of the product.

– origin early 19th cent.: named after Joseph L. Gay-Lussac (1778–1850), French chemist and physicist.

gay marriage

noun

marriage between partners of the same sex (as recognized in some jurisdictions).

gayness /ˈɡānes/

noun

1. homosexuality

• kids who are comfortable with their gayness.

2. ‹dated› the state or quality of being light-hearted and carefree

• the gayness of his voice suddenly departed.

3. ‹dated› brightness of color; showiness

• the injured man looked ghastly in contrast to the gayness of his surroundings.

gay pride

noun

a sense of dignity and satisfaction in connection with the public acknowledgment of one's own homosexuality.

gay rights

plural noun

equal civil and social rights for homosexuals compared with heterosexuals.

gaz.

abbreviation

1. gazette.

2. gazetteer.

gazania /ɡəˈzānēə/

I. noun

a tropical herbaceous plant of the daisy family, with showy flowers that are typically orange or yellow.
[Genus Gazania, family Compositae.]

– origin modern Latin, named after Theodore of Gaza (1398–1478), Greek scholar.

Gaza Strip /ˌɡäzə ˈstrip/

a strip of territory in Palestine, on the southeastern Mediterranean coast, including the town of Gaza; pop. 1,551,900 (est. 2009). Administered by Egypt from 1949 and occupied by Israel from 1967, it became a self-governing enclave under the PLO–Israeli accord of 1994 and elected its own legislative council in 1996.

gaze /ɡāz/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. look steadily and intently, especially in admiration, surprise, or thought

• he could only gaze at her in astonishment.

II. noun

1. a steady intent look

• he turned, following her gaze

• offices screened from the public gaze.

2. [in sing.] — (in literary theory) a particular perspective taken to embody certain aspects of the relationship between observer and observed, especially as reflected in the way in which an author or film director (unconsciously or otherwise) directs attention

• the male gaze.

III. derivatives

gazer /ˈɡāzər /

noun

– origin late Middle English: perhaps related to obsolete gaw (see gawk).

gazebo /ɡəˈzēbō/

I. noun

a roofed structure that offers an open view of the surrounding area, typically used for relaxation or entertainment.

– origin mid 18th cent.: perhaps humorously from gaze, in imitation of Latin future tenses ending in -ebo: compare with lavabo.

gazelle /ɡəˈzel/

I. noun

a small slender antelope that typically has curved horns and a yellowish-brown coat with white underparts, found in open country in Africa and Asia.
[Gazella and other genera, family Bovidae: several species.]

– origin early 17th cent.: from French, probably via Spanish from Arabic ghazāl.

gaze tracking

noun

another term for eye tracking.

gazette /ɡəˈzet/

I. noun

1. (used in the names of periodicals) a journal or newspaper.

2. (Brit.) the official publication of a government organization or institution, listing appointments and other public notices.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (Brit.) announce or publish in an official gazette.

– origin early 17th cent.: via French from Italian gazzetta, originally Venetian gazeta de la novità ‘a halfpennyworth of news’ (because the news-sheet sold for a gazeta, a Venetian coin of small value).

gazetteer /ˌɡazəˈtir/

I. noun

a geographical index or dictionary.

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘journalist’): via French from Italian gazzettiere, from gazzetta (see gazette). The current sense comes from a late 17th-cent. gazetteer called The Gazetteer's: or, Newsman's Interpreter: Being a Geographical Index.

Gaziantep /ˌɡäˈzēänˌtep/

a city in southern Turkey, near the border with Syria; pop. 1,175,000 (est. 2007).
Former name (until 1921): Aintab.

gazillion /ɡəˈzilyən / kazillion

I. cardinal number

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a very large number or quantity (used jocularly or for emphasis)

• I'd like to sell gazillions of books.

II. derivatives

gazillionth

adjective

– origin 1970s: fanciful formation on the pattern of billion and million.

gazillionaire /ɡəˈzilyəˌner/

I. noun

‹informal› an extremely rich person

• it's really not hard to look fabulous when you're a gazillionaire in your early 20s.

• I've never claimed to be a gazillionaire—the press labeled me one.

– origin 1980s: from gazillion, on the pattern of millionaire.

gazing ball

noun

a sphere made from a reflective material such as mirrored glass, typically mounted on a stand and used as a lawn or garden ornament.

gazpacho /ɡəˈspäCHō/

I. noun

a Spanish-style soup made from tomatoes and other vegetables and spices, served cold.

– origin Spanish.

gazump /ɡəˈzəmp/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (Brit.) (of a seller) raise the contracted price of a property after having informally accepted a lower offer (from an intending buyer).

2. (Brit.) ‹archaic› swindle (someone).

II. derivatives

gazumper

noun

– origin 1920s (sense 2): from Yiddish gezumph ‘overcharge.’ Sense 1 dates from the 1970s.

gazunder /ɡəˈzəndər/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. (Brit.) (of a buyer) lower the amount of an offer made on a property and accepted by (a seller) at the time of final negotiations.

– origin late 1980s: humorous blend of gazump and under.

Gb

abbreviation

[Computing] gigabit(s).

GB

abbreviation

1. [Computing] gigabyte(s).

2. Great Britain.

GBH

abbreviation

grievous bodily harm.

Gbyte

abbreviation

gigabyte(s).

GCB

abbreviation

(in the UK) Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.

gcd

abbreviation

[Mathematics] greatest common divisor.

gcf

abbreviation

[Mathematics] greatest common factor.

GCT

abbreviation

Greenwich Civil Time.

Gd

symbol

the chemical element gadolinium.

GD

abbreviation

Grand Duchy.

gd.

abbreviation

1. good.

2. guard.

Gdańsk /ɡəˈdänsk, -ˈdansk/

an industrial port and shipbuilding center in northern Poland, on an inlet of the Baltic Sea; pop. 456,103 (2007). Disputed between Prussia and Poland during the 19th century, it was a free city under a League of Nations mandate 1919–39, when it was annexed by Nazi Germany, which precipitated hostilities with Poland and the outbreak of World War II.
German name Danzig.

g'day /ɡəˌdā/

exclamation

(Austral./NZ) good day.

GDP /ˌjē ˌdē ˈpē/

abbreviation

gross domestic product.

GDR

abbreviation

‹historical› German Democratic Republic.
See Germany.

gds.

abbreviation

goods.

Gdynia /ɡəˈdinēə/

a port and naval base in northern Poland, on the Baltic Sea, northwest of Gdańsk; pop. 251,183 (2007).

Ge^1

symbol

the chemical element germanium.

Ge^2 /ɡā / ‹Greek Mythology›

another name for Gaia.

geanticline /jēˈan(t)iˌklīn/

I. noun

[Geology] a large-scale anticline or upward fold of stratified rock.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek gē ‘earth’ + anticline.

gear /ɡir/

I. noun

1. (often gears) — one of a set of toothed wheels that work together to alter the relation between the speed of a driving mechanism (such as the engine of a vehicle or the crank of a bicycle) and the speed of the driven parts (the wheels).

2. a particular function or state of adjustment of engaged gears

• he was tooling along in fifth gear.

3. used in reference to the level of effort or intensity expended in an activity or undertaking

• from this weekend, the campaign is expected to step up a gear

• now the champions moved up a gear.

• the play moves down a gear whenever he walks off stage.

4. ‹informal› equipment that is used for a particular purpose.

5. a person's personal possessions and clothes.

6. clothing, especially of a specified kind

• designer gear.

7. [Nautical] a ship's rigging.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. design or adjust the gears in (a machine) to give a specified speed or power output

• it's geared too high for serious off-road use.

2. (gear something to) — adjust or adapt something to suit a special purpose or need.

III. phrases

1. change (or switch or shift) gears

adopt a different approach to a situation or task

• we have to be prepared to shift gears when things create problems for the government.

2. in gear

a. with a gear engaged

• the captain revved the engines and put them in gear.

b. proceeding with energy, determination, or speed

• I couldn't get myself into gear early enough on Saturday morning.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. gear down (or up)

change to a lower (or higher) gear.

2. gear for

make ready or prepared

• a nation geared for war.

3. gear up

equip or prepare oneself

• the region started to gear up for the tourist season.

– origin Middle English: of Scandinavian origin; compare with Old Norse gervi. Early senses expressed the general meaning ‘equipment or apparatus,’ later ‘mechanism’: hence sense 1 of the noun (early 19th cent).

gearbox /ˈɡirˌbäks/

noun

a set of gears with its casing, especially in a motor vehicle; the transmission.

gearing /ˈɡiriNG/

noun

1. the set or arrangement of gears in a machine

• the mill's internal waterwheel and gearing survive.

2. British term for leverage (sense 2 of the noun).

gear lever /ˈɡi(ə)r ˌlevər / gearstick

noun

(Brit.) another term for gearshift.

gear ratio

noun

(in a gearbox, transmission, etc.) the ratio between the rates at which the last and first gears rotate.

gearshift /ˈɡirˌSHift/

noun

(N. Amer.) a device used to engage or disengage gears in a transmission or similar mechanism.

gearwheel /ˈɡirˌ(h)wēl/

noun

1. a toothed wheel in a set of gears.

2. (on a bicycle) a cogwheel driven directly by the chain.

geas /ɡeSH/

I. noun

(in Irish folklore) an obligation or prohibition magically imposed on a person.

– origin Irish.

gecko /ˈɡekō/

I. noun

a nocturnal and often highly vocal lizard that has adhesive pads on the feet to assist in climbing on smooth surfaces. It is widespread in warm regions.
[Gekkonidae and related families: numerous genera and species.]

– origin late 18th cent.: from Malay dialect geko, gekok, imitative of its cry.

GED

abbreviation

1. (N. Amer.) (US) ‹trademark› General Educational Development, referring to a system of standardized examinations which entitle those who pass them to receive a credential considered as equivalent to completion of high school.

2. (N. Amer.) general equivalency degree (or diploma).

gee^1 /jē / gee-whiz

I. exclamation

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) a mild expression, typically of surprise, enthusiasm, or sympathy

• Gee, Linda looks great at fifty!

– origin mid 19th cent.: perhaps an abbreviation of Jesus.

gee^2 /jē/

I. exclamation — (gee up)

1. a command to a horse to go faster.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. command (a horse) to go faster.

2. encourage (someone) to work more quickly

• I was running around geeing people up.

– origin early 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

gee^3 /jē/

I. noun

(US) ‹informal› a thousand dollars

• we paid five gees.

– origin 1930s: representing the initial letter of grand.

geebung /ˈjēbəNG/

I. noun

an Australian shrub or small tree that bears creamy-yellow flowers and small green fruit.
[Genus Persoonia, family Proteaceae.]

– origin early 19th cent.: from Dharuk.

Geechee /ˈɡēCHē/

I. noun

term used of the Gullah dialect, or a speaker of this dialect.

– origin possibly from the name of the Ogeechee River, in Georgia.

geek /ɡēk/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› an unfashionable or socially inept person.

2. [usu. with modifier] — ‹informal› a knowledgeable and obsessive enthusiast

• a computer geek.

3. ‹informal› a carnival performer who performs wild or disgusting acts.

II. verb — [no obj.] (geek out)

1. engage in or discuss computer-related tasks obsessively or with great attention to technical detail

• we all geeked out for a bit and exchanged ICQ/MSN/AOL/website information

• keep it simple or geek out and create multiple playlists on the move.

2. be or become extremely excited or enthusiastic about a subject, typically one of specialist or minority interest

• I am totally geeking out over this upcoming film.

III. derivatives

geekish

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from the related English dialect geck ‘fool,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch gek ‘mad, silly.’

geek chic

noun

‹informal› the dress, appearance, and culture associated with computing and technology enthusiasts, regarded as stylish or fashionable

• the crowd is young, the style is geek chic, and the latest in computer gadgetry is on display.

geekery /ˈɡēkərē/

noun

‹informal› obsessive interest in or enthusiasm for a subject, typically one of specialist or minority interest

• the New York Comic Con begins today, and with it comes all the geekery one expects of comic-book conventions.

geekspeak /ˈɡēkspēk/

noun

‹informal› technical jargon regarded as characteristic of that used by computer enthusiasts

• Littman does a good job of translating acronym-laden geekspeak into English.

geeky /ˈɡēkē/

I. adjective

1. ‹informal› unfashionable and socially inept

• the geeky kid getting bullied at school.

2. ‹informal› knowledgeable and obsessively interested in something, especially technology

• a bunch of geeky techies

• his geeky obsession with model cars.

II. derivatives

geekiness /ˈɡēkēnəs /

noun

Geelong /jēˈlôNG/

a port and oil-refining center on the southern coast of Australia, in the state of Victoria; pop. 134,100 (est. 2008).

geese /ɡēs/

plural form of goose.

gee whiz ‹informal chiefly N. Amer.›

I. exclamation

another way of saying gee^1.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. characterized by or causing naive astonishment or wonder, in particular at new technology

• this era of gee-whiz gadgetry.

Ge'ez /ɡēˈez/

I. noun

an ancient Semitic language of Ethiopia, which survives as the liturgical language of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. It is the ancestor of the modern Ethiopian languages such as Amharic.
Also called Ethiopic.

– origin of Ethiopic origin.

geezer /ˈɡēzər/

I. noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› ‹derogatory› an old man.

– origin late 19th cent.: representing a dialect pronunciation of earlier guiser ‘mummer.’

gefilte fish /ɡəˈfiltə ˌfiSH/

I. noun

a dish of stewed or baked stuffed fish, or of fish cakes boiled in a fish or vegetable broth and usually served chilled.

– origin late 19th cent.: Yiddish, ‘stuffed fish,’ from filn ‘to fill’ + fish^1.

gegenschein /ˈɡāɡənˌSHīn/

I. noun

[Astronomy] a patch of very faint nebulous light sometimes seen in the night sky opposite the position of the sun. It is thought to be the image of the sun reflected from gas and dust outside the atmosphere.

– origin late 19th cent.: German Gegenschein, from gegen ‘opposite’ + Schein ‘glow, shine.’

Gehenna /ɡəˈhenə/

I. (in Judaism and the New Testament) hell.

– origin via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek geenna, from Hebrew gē' hinnōm ‘hell,’ literally ‘valley of Hinnom,’ a place near Jerusalem where children were sacrificed to Baal (Jer. 19:5,6).

Gehrig, Lou /ˈɡeriɡ/

(1903–41), US baseball player; full name Henry Louis Gehrig; known as the Iron Horse. He played a then-record 2,130 consecutive major league games for the New York Yankees from 1925 to 1939; his stamina earned him his nickname. He died from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often called Lou Gehrig's disease. Baseball Hall of Fame (1939).

Geiger, Hans Wilhelm /ˈɡīɡər/

(1882–1945), German nuclear physicist; full name Hans Johann Wilhelm Geiger. In 1908, he developed a prototype radiation counter for detecting alpha particles.

Geiger counter Geiger-Müller counter

noun

a device for measuring radioactivity by detecting and counting ionizing particles.

Geisel, Theodor /ˈɡīzəl/

(1904–91) US writer and illustrator; known as Dr. Seuss; full name Theodor Seuss Geisel. His numerous children's books include And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street (1937), Horton Hatches the Egg (1940), The Cat in the Hat (1957), Green Eggs and Ham (1960), and Oh, the Places You'll Go! (1990). For adults he wrote You're Only Old Once! (1986).

geisha /ˈɡāSHə / geisha girl

I. noun

a Japanese hostess trained to entertain men with conversation, dance, and song.

– origin late 19th cent.: Japanese, ‘entertainer,’ from gei ‘performing arts’ + sha ‘person.’

Geissler tube /ˈɡīslər ˌto͞ob/

I. noun

a sealed tube of glass or quartz with a central constriction, filled with vapor for the production of a luminous electrical discharge.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after Heinrich Geissler (1814–79), the German mechanic and glassblower who invented it.

Geist /ɡīst/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. the spirit of an individual or group.

– origin German; related to ghost.

geitonogamy /ˌɡītnˈäɡəmē/

I. noun

[Botany] the fertilization of a flower by pollen from another flower on the same (or a genetically identical) plant.
Compare with xenogamy.

II. derivatives

geitonogamous /-məs /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek geitōn, geitono- ‘neighbor’ + -gamos ‘marrying.’

Gejiu /ˌɡeˈjo͞o / Geju

a city in southern China, near the border with Vietnam; pop. 216,500 (est. 2006).

gel^1 /jel/

I. noun

1. a jellylike substance containing a cosmetic, medicinal, or other preparation

• try rubbing some teething gel onto sore gums

• hair gel.

2. [Chemistry] a semisolid colloidal suspension of a solid dispersed in a liquid.

3. [Biochemistry] a semirigid slab or cylinder of an organic polymer used as a medium for the separation of macromolecules.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. [Chemistry] form into a gel

• the mixture gelled at 7 degrees Celsius.

2. [with obj.] — [Chemistry] treat (the hair) with gel.

– origin late 19th cent.: abbreviation of gelatin.

gel^2 /jel/

I. verb

(chiefly Brit.) variant spelling of jell.

– origin late 19th cent.: from gel^1.

gelada /jəˈlädə / gelada baboon

I. noun

a brownish baboon with a long mane and naked red rump, native to Ethiopia.
[Theropithecus gelada, family Cercopithecidae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Amharic č῾äallada.

gelateria /jəˌladəˈrēə/

I. noun

a shop selling Italian or Italian-style ice cream

• I stopped at a gelateria and ate a vanilla gelato.

– origin Italian, from gelato.

gelati /jəˈlädē/

plural form of gelato.

gelatin /ˈjelətn / ‹chiefly dated› gelatine

I. noun

1. a virtually colorless and tasteless water-soluble protein prepared from collagen and used in food preparation as the basis of jellies, in photographic processes, and in glue.

2. (usu. blasting gelatin) — a high explosive consisting chiefly of a gel of nitroglycerine with added cellulose nitrate.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French gélatine, from Italian gelatina, from gelata, from Latin (see jelly).

gelatinize /jəˈlatnīz ˈjelədəˌnīz/

I. verb

1. make or become gelatinous or jellylike.

2. [with obj.] (usu. as adj. gelatinized) — coat with gelatin

• gelatinized glass microscope slides.

II. derivatives

gelatinization /jeˌlatniˈzāSHən /

noun

gelatinous /jəˈlatnəs/

I. adjective

1. having a jellylike consistency

• a sweet, gelatinous drink.

2. of or like the protein gelatin

• tooth enamel is coated with a gelatinous layer of protein.

II. derivatives

gelatinously

adverb

gelation^1 /jəˈlāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

‹technical› solidification by freezing.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin gelatio(n-), from gelare ‘freeze.’

gelation^2 /jəˈlāSH(ə)n/

noun

[Chemistry] the process of forming a gel.

gelato /jəˈlädō/

I. noun

Italian or Italian-style ice cream

• raspberry tart topped with vanilla gelato

• a cafe famous for its mouthwatering gelatos.

– origin Italian.

gelcap /ˈjelkap/

noun

a gelatin capsule containing liquid medication or other substance to be taken orally.

gelcoat /ˈjelkōt/

noun

the smooth, hard surface layer of polyester resin in a fiberglass structure.

geld /ɡeld/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. castrate (a male animal).

2. deprive of vitality or vigor

• the English version of the book has been gelded.

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse gelda, from geldr ‘barren.’

Gelderland /ˈɡeldərˌlänt, ˈKHel-/

a province in the Netherlands, on the border with Germany; capital, Arnhem.

gelding /ˈɡeldiNG/

I. noun

a castrated animal, especially a male horse.

– origin late Middle English: from Old Norse geldingr, from geldr ‘barren.’

gelid /ˈjelid/

I. adjective

icy; extremely cold

• the gelid pond

• ‹figurative› she gave a gelid reply.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin gelidus, from gelu ‘frost, intense cold.’

gelignite /ˈjeləɡˌnīt/

I. noun

a high explosive made from a gel of nitroglycerine and nitrocellulose in a base of wood pulp and sodium or potassium nitrate, used particularly for rock blasting.

– origin late 19th cent.: probably from gelatin + Latin (l)ignis ‘wood’ + -ite^1.

Gell-Mann, Murray /ˌɡel ˈmän/

(1929–), US theoretical physicist. He coined the word quark and proposed the concept of strangeness in quarks. Nobel Prize for Physics (1969).

gel pen

noun

a pen that uses a gel-based ink, combining the permanence of oil-based ballpoint ink and the smooth glide of water-based ink.

gelsemium /jelˈsēmēəm/

I. noun

1. a preparation of the rhizome of yellow jasmine, used in homeopathy to treat flulike symptoms.

2. a plant of a genus that includes the yellow jasmine.
[Genus Gelsemium, family Loganiaceae.]

– origin late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Italian gelsomino ‘jasmine.’

Gelsenkirchen /ˌɡelzənˈkirKHən/

an industrial city in western Germany, in North Rhine–Westphalia, northeast of Essen; pop. 266,800 (est. 2006).

gelt /ɡelt/

I. noun

‹informal› money.

– origin early 16th cent. (originally often used to refer to the pay of a German army): from German Geld ‘money.’

gem /jem/

I. noun

1. a precious or semiprecious stone, especially when cut and polished or engraved.

2. a person or thing considered to be outstandingly good or special in some respect

• this architectural gem of a palace.

3. used in names of some brilliantly colored hummingbirds, e.g., mountain gem.

II. verb — [with obj.] (usu. as adj. gemmed)

1. ‹rare› decorate with or as with gems.

III. derivatives

gemlike /-ˌlīk /

adjective

– origin Old English gim, from Latin gemma ‘bud, jewel’; influenced in Middle English by Old French gemme.

GEM

abbreviation

ground-effect machine.

Gemara /ɡəˈmärə/

I. noun — (the Gemara)

1. a rabbinical commentary on the Mishnah, forming the second part of the Talmud.

– origin from Aramaic gĕmārā ‘completion.’

gematria /ɡəˈmātrēə/

I. noun

a Kabbalistic method of interpreting the Hebrew scriptures by computing the numerical value of words, based on those of their constituent letters.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Aramaic gīmaṭrĕyā, from Greek gēometria (see geometry).

Gemayel, Pierre /jəˈmīəl/

(1905–84), Lebanese political leader. A Maronite Christian, he founded the right-wing Phalange Party in 1936 and served as a member of parliament 1960–84. His youngest son, Bashir (1947–82), was assassinated while president-elect; his eldest son, Amin (1942–), served as president 1982–88.

Gemeinschaft /ɡəˈmīnˌSHäft, -ˌSHaft/

I. noun

social relations between individuals, based on close personal and family ties; community.
Contrasted with Gesellschaft.

– origin German, from gemein ‘common’ + -schaft (see -ship).

gemelli /jəˈmelē/

I. noun

pasta in the form of two short rods twisted around each other.

– origin Italian, literally ‘twins.’

geminal /ˈjemənl/

I. adjective

[Chemistry] denoting substituent atoms or groups, especially protons, attached to the same atom in a molecule.

II. derivatives

geminally

adverb

– origin 1960s: from Latin geminus ‘twin’ + -al.

geminate ‹Phonetics›

I. adjective — /ˈjemənət /

1. consisting of identical adjacent speech sounds, especially consonants; doubled.

II. verb — /ˈjeməˌnāt / [with obj.]

1. double or repeat (a speech sound).

III. derivatives

gemination /ˌjeməˈnāSHən /

noun

– origin late Middle English: from Latin geminatus, past participle of geminare ‘double, pair with,’ from geminus ‘twin.’

Gemini /ˈjeməˌnī ˈjeməˌnē/

I. [Astronomy] a northern constellation (the Twins), said to represent the mythological twins Castor and Pollux, whose names are given to its two brightest stars.
See Dioscuri.

II. (as genitive Geminorum ) — used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation

• the star Eta Geminorum.

III. [Astrology] the third sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters about May 21.

IV. (pl. Geminis) (a Gemini) — a person born when the sun is in the sign of Gemini.

V. a series of twelve manned orbiting space missions, launched by the US in the 1960s in preparation for the Apollo program.

– origin Latin, plural of geminus ‘twin.’

Geminian /ˈjeməˌnīən ˈjeməˌnēən / ‹Astrology›

I. adjective

relating to the sign of Gemini

• he exhibits Geminian traits.

II. noun

a person born under the sign of Gemini

• a Geminian makes a stimulating friend.

Geminids /ˈjemənidz / ‹Astronomy›

an annual meteor shower with a radiant in the constellation Gemini, reaching a peak about December 13.

gemma /ˈjemə/

I. noun

1. [Biology] a small cellular body or bud that can separate to form a new organism.

2. [Biology] another term for chlamydospore.

– origin late 18th cent. (denoting a leaf bud, as distinct from a flower bud): from Latin, literally ‘bud, jewel.’

gemmation /jeˈmāSHən/

I. noun

[Biology] asexual reproduction by the production of gemmae; budding.

– origin mid 18th cent.: from French, from gemmer ‘to bud,’ from gemme ‘bud,’ from Latin gemma.

gemmiparous /jeˈmipərəs/

I. adjective

[Biology] (of a plant or animal) reproducing by gemmation.

– origin late 18th cent.: from modern Latin gemmiparus, from Latin gemma ‘bud, jewel’ + parere ‘produce, give birth to.’

gemmule /ˈjemyo͞ol/

I. noun

[Zoology] a tough-coated dormant cluster of embryonic cells produced by a freshwater sponge for development in more favorable conditions.

II. derivatives

gemmulation /ˌjemyəˈlāSHən /

noun

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French, from Latin gemmula, diminutive of gemma ‘bud, jewel.’

gemology /jeˈmäləjē / gemmology

I. noun

the study of precious stones.

II. derivatives

1. gemological /ˌjeməˈläjək(ə)l /

adjective

2. gemologist /jeˈmäləjəst /

noun

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin gemma ‘bud, jewel’ + -logy.

gemsbok /ˈɡemzbäk/

I. noun

a large antelope that has a gray coat, distinctive black-and-white head markings, and long straight horns, native to southwestern and East Africa.
[Oryx gazella, family Bovidae. See also oryx.]

– origin late 18th cent.: via Afrikaans from Dutch, literally ‘chamois,’ from gems ‘chamois’ + bok ‘buck.’

Gem State

a nickname for Idaho.

gemstone /ˈjemˌstōn/

noun

a precious or semiprecious stone, especially one cut, polished, and used in a piece of jewelry.

gemütlich /ɡəˈmo͞otlik/

I. adjective

pleasant and cheerful.

– origin mid 19th cent.: German.

gemütlichkeit /ɡəˈmo͞otlikˌkīt / Gemütlichkeit

I. noun

geniality; friendliness.

– origin mid 19th cent.: German.

gen^1 /jen / ‹Brit. informal›

I. noun

information

• you've got more gen on him than we have.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (gen up on) — find out about

• we genned up on the agencies that had done the work.

2. [with obj.] (gen someone up) — provide someone with information.

• as everything's finalized, I can gen you up properly.

– origin World War II (originally used in the armed services): perhaps from the first syllable of general information.

gen^2 /jen/

noun

‹informal› short for generation:

• the next gen of consoles

• third-gen data protocols.

Gen.

abbreviation

1. General

• Gen. Eisenhower.

2. [Bible] Genesis.

-gen

I. combining form

1. [Chemistry] denoting a substance that produces something

• oxygen

• allergen.

2. [Botany] denoting a substance or plant that is produced

• cultigen.

– origin via French -gène from Greek genēs ‘-born, of a specified kind,’ from gen- (root of gignomai ‘be born, become,’ genos ‘a kind’).

gena /ˈjēnə/

I. noun

[Zoology] the lateral part of the head of an insect or other arthropod below the level of the eyes.

II. derivatives

genal

adjective

– origin early 19th cent.: Latin, literally ‘cheek.’

gendarme /ˈZHändärm/

I. noun

1. an armed police officer in France and other French-speaking countries.

2. a rock pinnacle on a mountain, occupying and blocking an arête.

– origin mid 16th cent. (originally denoting a mounted officer in the French army): French, from gens d'armes ‘men of arms.’ Sense 1 dates from the late 18th cent.

gendarmerie /ZHänˈdärmərē/

I. noun

1. a force of gendarmes.

2. the headquarters of a force of gendarmes.

– origin mid 16th cent.: French (see gendarme).

gender /ˈjendər/

I. noun

1. the state of being male or female (typically used with reference to social and cultural differences rather than biological ones)

• traditional concepts of gender

• [as modifier] gender roles.

2. the members of one or other sex

• differences between the genders are encouraged from an early age.

3. [Grammar] (in languages such as Latin, Greek, Russian, and German) each of the classes (typically masculine, feminine, common, neuter) of nouns and pronouns distinguished by the different inflections that they have and require in words syntactically associated with them. Grammatical gender is only very loosely associated with natural distinctions of sex.

4. the property (in nouns and related words) of belonging to a gender

• adjectives usually agree with the noun in gender and number.

II. derivatives

genderless /ˈjendərləs /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from Old French gendre (modern genre), based on Latin genus ‘birth, family, nation.’ The earliest meanings were ‘kind, sort, genus’ and ‘type or class of noun, etc.’ (which was also a sense of Latin genus). / usage: The word gender has been used since the 14th century as a grammatical term, referring to classes of noun designated as masculine, feminine, or neuter in some languages. The sense ‘the state of being male or female’ has also been used since the 14th century, but this did not become common until the mid 20th century. Although the words gender and sex both have the sense ‘the state of being male or female,’ they are typically used in slightly different ways: sex tends to refer to biological differences, while gender refers to cultural or social ones.

gender bender /ˈjendər ˈbendər/

noun

1. ‹informal› a person who dresses and behaves in a way characteristic of the opposite sex.

2. ‹informal› [Electronics] a device for changing an electrical or electronic connector from male to female, or from female to male.

gender changer

noun

an electrical adaptor which allows two male or two female connectors to be connected to each other.

gender dysphoria /ˈjendər disˈfôrēə/

I. noun

[Medicine] the condition of feeling one's emotional and psychological identity as male or female to be opposite to one's biological sex.

II. derivatives

gender dysphoric

adjective, noun

gendered /ˈjendərd/

adjective

relating or specific to people of one particular gender

• gendered occupations.

gender equality

noun

the state in which access to rights or opportunities is unaffected by gender

• legislation that reflected the principles of gender equality.

gender-fluid

adjective

denoting or relating to a person who does not identify themselves as having a fixed gender

• the actor, DJ, and artist identifies as gender-fluid

• “they” has been adopted in the gender-fluid community as an easy-to-understand gender-neutral pronoun.

gender gap

noun

the discrepancy in opportunities, status, attitudes, etc., between men and women.

gender identity

noun

a person's perception of having a particular gender, which may or may not correspond to the gender they were assigned at birth

• he said that young children should be able to explore their gender identities

• [mass noun] state law means the college cannot discriminate on the basis of gender identity.

gender-neutral

adjective

1. suitable for, applicable to, or common to both male and female genders

• gender-neutral games and toys

• the assessment criteria are gender-neutral.

2. denoting a word or expression that cannot be taken to refer to one gender only

• gender-neutral terms like flight attendant, firefighter, and police officer.

gender-nonconforming

adjective

denoting or relating to a person whose behavior or appearance does not conform to prevailing cultural and social expectations about what is appropriate to their gender

• an international conference focused on the needs and interests of transgender and gender-nonconforming people.

genderqueer /ˈjendərˌkwir/

I. adjective

denoting or relating to a person who does not subscribe to conventional gender distinctions but identifies with neither, both, or a combination of male and female genders.

• the genderqueer community.

II. noun

a person who does not subscribe to conventional gender distinctions but identifies with neither, both, or a combination of male and female genders.

• a younger generation of self-proclaimed genderqueers explicitly reject ‘transgender’ as an identifier.

– origin 1990s: from gender + queer (used as a neutral or positive term of self-reference).

gender reassignment

noun

the process whereby a person's physical sexual characteristics are changed by means of medical procedures such as surgery or hormone treatment.
[as modifier]

• gender reassignment surgery.

gender role

noun

the role or behavior learned by a person as appropriate to their gender, determined by the prevailing cultural norms

• the emphasis on maintaining traditional gender roles.

gene /jēn/

I. noun

1. [Biology] (in informal use) a unit of heredity that is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring

• proteins coded directly by genes.

2. [Biology] (in technical use) a distinct sequence of nucleotides forming part of a chromosome, the order of which determines the order of monomers in a polypeptide or nucleic acid molecule which a cell (or virus) may synthesize.

– origin early 20th cent.: from German Gen, from Pangen, a supposed ultimate unit of heredity (from Greek pan- ‘all’ + genos ‘race, kind, offspring’).

genealogical /ˌjēnēəˈläjək(ə)l/

I. adjective

of or relating to the study or tracing of lines of family descent

• genealogical research.

II. derivatives

genealogically /ˌjēnēəˈläjək(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin late 16th cent.: from French généalogique, via medieval Latin from Greek genealogikos, from genealogia (see genealogy).

genealogical tree

noun

a diagram showing the lines of descent of a human family or of an animal species, so named because its typical construction is like that of an inverted branching tree.

genealogy /ˌjēnēˈäləjē ˌjēnēˈaləjē/

I. noun

1. a line of descent traced continuously from an ancestor

• combing through the birth records and genealogies.

2. the study and tracing of lines of descent or development.

3. a plant's or animal's line of evolutionary development from earlier forms.

II. derivatives

1. genealogist /ˌjēnēˈäləjəst ˌjēnēˈaləjəst /

noun

2. genealogize /ˌjēnēˈäləˌjīz /

verb

– origin Middle English: via Old French and late Latin from Greek genealogia, from genea ‘race, generation’ + -logia (see -logy).

gene-altered

adjective

(especially in journalism) genetically modified

• the much ballyhooed, vine-ripened, gene-altered, rot-resistant tomato.

gene amplification /ˈjēn ˌampləfiˌkāSH(ə)n/

noun

the multiple replication of a section of the genome, which occurs during a single cell cycle and results in the production of many copies of a specific sequence of the DNA molecule.

gene doping

noun

the transfer of genes or genetically modified cells into an individual as a potential method for illicitly enhancing athletic performance

• rules against gene doping might be difficult to enforce.

gene frequency

noun

the ratio of a particular allele to the total of all other alleles of the same gene in a given population.

gene map

noun

1. a record of the DNA sequence of a gene

• a cancer gene map.

2. a genome map.

gene pool /ˈjēn ˌpo͞ol/

noun

the stock of different genes in an interbreeding population.

genera /ˈjenərə/

plural form of genus.

general /ˈjen(ə)rəl/

I. adjective

1. affecting or concerning all or most people, places, or things; widespread

• books of general interest.

2. not specialized or limited in range of subject, application, activity, etc.

• brush up on your general knowledge.

3. (of a rule, principle, etc.) true for all or most cases.

4. normal or usual

• it is not general practice to confirm or deny such reports.

5. considering or including the main features or elements of something, and disregarding exceptions; overall

• they fired in the general direction of the enemy

• a general introduction to the subject.

6. [often in titles] — chief or principal

• a general manager.

II. noun

1. a commander of an army, or an army officer of very high rank.

2. an officer in the US Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps ranking above lieutenant general.

3. the head of a religious order organized on quasi-military lines, e.g., the Jesuits, the Dominicans, or the Salvation Army.

4. (the general) — ‹archaic› the general public.

III. phrases

1. as a general rule

in most cases.

2. in general

a. usually; mainly

• in general, Alexander was a peaceful, loving man.

b. as a whole

• our understanding of culture in general and of literature in particular.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin generalis, from genus, gener- ‘class, race, kind.’ The noun primarily denotes a person having overall authority: the sense ‘army commander’ is an abbreviation of captain general, from French capitaine général ‘commander in chief.’

General American

noun

(in nontechnical use) the variety of English spoken in the greater part of the US, particularly with reference to the lack of regional characteristics.

general anesthesia

noun

anesthesia that affects the whole body and usually induces a loss of consciousness

• he had the operation under general anesthesia.

Compare with local anesthesia.

General Baptist

noun

a member of an Arminian Baptist congregation who rejects the Calvinist doctrine of predestination.
Compare with Particular Baptist.

general counsel

noun

the main lawyer who gives legal advice to a company.

general court-martial

noun

a court-martial for trying serious offenses, consisting of at least five officers with the authority to impose a sentence of dishonorable discharge or death.

generalcy /ˈjenərəlsē/

noun

the rank, office, or tenure of a general.

general delivery

noun

(N. Amer.) mail delivery to a post office for pickup by the addressee.

general election

noun

1. a regular election of candidates for office, as opposed to a primary election.

2. a regular election for statewide or national offices.

general equivalency degree general equivalency diploma, GED

noun

a diploma signifying high school graduation, awarded to those who successfully complete a required examination.

general headquarters

noun — [treated as sing. or pl.]

1. the headquarters of a military commander.

generalissimo /ˌjen(ə)rəˈlisəˌmō/

I. noun

the commander of a combined military force consisting of army, navy, and air force units.

– origin early 17th cent.: Italian, ‘having greatest authority,’ superlative of generale (see general).

generalist /ˈjen(ə)rələst/

noun

a person competent in several different fields or activities

• with a generalist's education and some specific skills.

generality /ˌjenəˈralədē/

I. noun

1. a statement or principle having general rather than specific validity or force

• he confined his remarks to generalities.

2. the quality or state of being general

• policy should be formulated at an appropriate level of generality.

3. (the generality) — the majority

• appropriate to the generality of laymen.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French generalite, from late Latin generalitas, from generalis (see general).

generalization /ˌjen(ə)rələˈzāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. a general statement or concept obtained by inference from specific cases

• he was making sweeping generalizations.

2. the action of generalizing

• such anecdotes cannot be a basis for generalization.

generalize /ˈjen(ə)rəˌlīz/

I. verb

1. [no obj.] — make a general or broad statement by inferring from specific cases

• it is not easy to generalize about the poor

• it is tempting to generalize from these conclusions.

2. make or become more widely or generally applicable
[with obj.]

• most of what we have observed in this field can be generalized to other fields

• [no obj.] many of the results generalize to multibody structures.

3. [with obj.] — make (something) more widespread or common

• attempts to generalize an elite education.

4. (as adj. generalized) — [Medicine] (of a disease) affecting much or all of the body; not localized

• a generalized rash and fever.

II. derivatives

1. generalizability /ˌjenərəˌlīzəˈbilitē /

noun

2. generalizable

adjective

3. generalizer

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘reduce to a general statement’): from general + -ize.

generalized anxiety disorder

noun

a psychological disorder characterized by excessive or disproportionate anxiety about several aspects of life, such as work, social relationships, or financial matters

• extreme worrying almost every day for six months or more may signal generalized anxiety disorder.

general ledger

noun

[Finance] the main accounting record of a company or organization

• management accountants felt pressure to integrate cost accounts with the general ledger.

generally /ˈjen(ə)rəlē/

adverb

1. [sentence adverb] — in most cases; usually

• the term of a lease is generally 99 years.

2. in general terms; without regard to particulars or exceptions

• a decade when France was moving generally to the left.

3. widely

• the best scheme is generally reckoned to be the Canadian one.

general meeting /ˈjen(ə)rəl ˈmēdiNG/

noun

a meeting open to all members of an organization.

general officer

noun

an officer ranking above colonel in the US Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps.

general of the air force

noun

an officer of the highest rank in the US Air Force, ranking above general (awarded only in wartime).

general of the army

noun

an officer of the highest rank in the US Army, above general (awarded only in wartime).

general practitioner /ˈjen(ə)rəl prakˈtiSH(ə)nər / GP

noun

a medical doctor who is trained to provide primary health care to patients of either sex and any age.

general-purpose /ˈjen(ə)rəl ˈpərpəs/

adjective

having a range of potential uses; not specialized in function or design

• a general-purpose detergent.

General San Martín /ˌKHānāˈräl ˌsän märˈtēn/

a city in eastern Argentina, northwest of Buenos Aires; pop. 423,200 (est. 2008).

General Santos /KHānāˌräl ˈsän(t)ōs/

a port city in the Philippines, on southern Mindanao Island, on Saragani Bay; pop. 443,500 (est. 2007).

General Sarmiento /KHānāˌräl särˈmyen(t)ō / Sarmiento, San Miguel

a city in eastern Argentina, west of Buenos Aires; pop. 280,700 (est. 2008).

general semantics

plural noun — [usu. treated as sing.]

1. a system of linguistic philosophy developed by Alfred Korzybski (1879–1950), which explores the arbitrary nature of words and symbols and attempts to refine ways of using language.

generalship /ˈjen(ə)rəlˌSHip/

noun

the skill or practice of exercising military command.

general staff /ˈjen(ə)rəl staf/

noun — [treated as sing. or pl.]

1. the staff assisting a military commander in planning and executing operations.

general store

noun

a store, typically in a small town, selling a wide variety of goods.

general strike /ˈjen(ə)rəl strīk/

noun

a strike of workers in all or most industries.

General Synod

noun

the highest governing body of the Church of England, an elected assembly of three houses (bishops, clergy, and laity).

generate /ˈjenəˌrāt/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cause (something, especially an emotion or situation) to arise or come about

• changes that are likely to generate controversy

• generate more jobs in the economy.

2. produce (energy, especially electricity).

3. produce (a set or sequence of items) by performing specified mathematical or logical operations on an initial set.

4. [Linguistics] produce (a sentence or other unit, especially a well-formed one) by the application of a finite set of rules to lexical or other linguistic input.

5. [Mathematics] form (a line, surface, or solid) by notionally moving a point, line, or surface.

II. derivatives

generable /ˈjen(ə)rəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin early 16th cent. (in the sense ‘beget, procreate’): from Latin generat- ‘created,’ from the verb generare, from genus, gener- ‘stock, race.’

generation /ˌjenəˈrāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. all of the people born and living at about the same time, regarded collectively

• one of his generation's finest songwriters.

2. the average period, generally considered to be about thirty years, during which children are born and grow up, become adults, and begin to have children of their own.

3. a set of members of a family regarded as a single step or stage in descent
[as modifier, in combination]

• a third-generation Canadian.

4. a single stage in the development of a type of product

• a new generation of rear-engined sports cars.

5. the production of something

• methods of electricity generation

• the generation of wealth.

6. the propagation of living organisms; procreation.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin generatio(n-), from the verb generare (see generate).

generational /ˌjenəˈrāSH(ə)nəl/

I. adjective

1. relating to or characteristic of all the people born and living at about the same time, regarded collectively

• generational differences in television usage

• we're seeing a generational shift in attitudes.

2. relating to the different generations of a particular family

• a compelling generational saga.

II. derivatives

generationally /ˌjenəˈrāSH(ə)nəlē /

adverb

generation gap /ˌjenəˈrāSHən ɡap/

noun — (usu. the generation gap)

1. differences of outlook or opinion between people of different generations.

generation-skipping tax GST

noun

an estate tax imposed on beneficiaries who are two or more generations removed from the testator.

• a married couple has a total generation-skipping tax exemption of transfers of up to $2,000,000.

Generation X /ˌjenəˈrāSHən eks/

noun

the generation born after that of the baby boomers (roughly from the early 1960s to mid 1970s), often perceived to be disaffected and directionless.

Generation Xer /ˌjenəˌrāSHən ˈeksər/

noun

a member of Generation X (born from the early 1960s to mid 1970s)

• as a Generation Xer I have come to the conclusion that the politicians have let a whole generation down.

Generation Y

I. noun

the generation born in the 1980s and 1990s, comprising primarily the children of the baby boomers and typically perceived as increasingly familiar with digital and electronic technology.

– origin 1990s: after Generation X.

Generation Yer /ˌjenəˌrāSHən ˈwīər/

noun

a member of Generation Y (born in the 1980s and 1990s)

• Generation Yers spend more time online than watching television.

generative /ˈjenərədiv ˈjenəˌrādiv/

I. adjective

1. relating to or capable of production or reproduction

• the generative power of the life force.

2. [Linguistics] applying principles of generative grammar.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin generativus, from generare ‘beget’ (see generate).

generative cell

noun

a reproductive cell, especially a cell of an angiosperm pollen grain that divides to produce two male gamete nuclei.

generative grammar

noun

[Linguistics] a type of grammar that describes a language in terms of a set of logical rules formulated so as to be capable of generating the infinite number of possible sentences of that language and providing them with the correct structural description.

generator /ˈjenəˌrādər/

noun

1. a thing that generates something, in particular

2. a dynamo or similar machine for converting mechanical energy into electricity.

3. an apparatus for producing gas, steam, or another product.

4. [with modifier] — [Computing] a routine that constructs other routines or subroutines using given parameters, for specific applications

• a report generator.

5. [Mathematics] a point, line, or surface regarded as moving and so notionally forming a line, surface, or solid.

generatrix /ˌjenəˈrātriks/

I. noun

[Mathematics] another term for generator.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin (feminine).

generic /jəˈnerik/

I. adjective

1. characteristic of or relating to a class or group of things; not specific

• chèvre is a generic term for all goat's milk cheese.

2. (of goods, especially medicinal drugs) having no brand name; not protected by a registered trademark

• generic aspirin.

3. ‹derogatory› lacking imagination or individuality; predictable and unoriginal

• generic dance-floor fillers

• the plot of the film isn't just generic, it's insultingly stupid.

4. [Biology] of or relating to a genus.

II. noun

a consumer product having no brand name or registered trademark

• substituting generics for brand-name drugs.

– origin late 17th cent.: from French générique, from Latin genus, gener- ‘stock, race.’

generically /jəˈnerəklē/

adverb

1. in a way that relates to a class or group of similar things; not specifically

• what most writers generically refer to as "world music".

2. as an unbranded name

• Prozac, generically known as fluoxetine hydrochloride

• most shorts are made of a stretchy fabric generically called spandex.

3. ‹derogatory› in a way which lacks imagination or individuality; predictably and unoriginally

• generically nondescript musical numbers

• the characters were stiffly animated and generically designed.

4. [Biology] with reference to genus

• the group of aerobic bacteria generically designated as actinomycetes.

generosity /ˌjenəˈräsədē/

I. noun

1. the quality of being kind and generous

• I was overwhelmed by the generosity of friends and neighbors.

2. the quality or fact of being plentiful or large

• diners certainly cannot complain about the generosity of portions.

– origin late Middle English (denoting nobility of birth): from Latin generositas, from generosus ‘magnanimous’ (see generous). Current senses date from the 17th cent.

generous /ˈjen(ə)rəs/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) showing a readiness to give more of something, as money or time, than is strictly necessary or expected

• she was generous with her money.

2. showing kindness toward others

• it was generous of them to ask her along.

3. (of a thing) larger or more plentiful than is usual or necessary

• a generous sprinkle of pepper.

II. derivatives

generousness

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: via Old French from Latin generosus ‘noble, magnanimous,’ from genus, gener- ‘stock, race.’ The original sense was ‘of noble birth,’ hence ‘characteristic of noble birth, courageous, magnanimous, not mean’ (a sense already present in Latin).

generously /ˈjen(ə)rəslē/

adverb

1. in a way that shows a readiness to give more of something, especially money, than is necessary or expected

• everyone is asked to give generously to this worthy cause

• food is shared generously.

2. in a way that shows kindness or warmth toward others

• the public applauded generously

• she graciously and generously acknowledges their influence.

3. enough or more than enough in size or amount; plentifully

• generously butter a baking sheet

• generously proportioned rooms.

Genesee River /ˌjenəˈsē, ˈjenəˌsē/

a river that flows for 144 miles (232 km) from northwestern Pennsylvania through western New York into Lake Ontario at Rochester.

genesis /ˈjenəsəs/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. the origin or mode of formation of something

• this tale had its genesis in fireside stories.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Greek (see Genesis).

Genesis /ˈjenəsəs/

I. the first book of the Bible, which includes the stories of the creation of the world, Noah's Ark, the Tower of Babel, and the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.

– origin late Old English, via Latin from Greek, ‘generation, creation, nativity, horoscope,’ from the base of gignesthai ‘be born or produced.’ The name was given to the first book of the Old Testament in the Greek translation (the Septuagint), hence in the Latin translation (the Vulgate).

genet^1 /ˈjenət/

I. noun

1. a nocturnal, catlike mammal of the civet family with short legs, spotted fur, and a long bushy ringed tail, found in Africa, southwestern Europe, and Arabia.
[Genus Genetta, family Viverridae: several species, in particular the common genet (G. genetta).]

2. the fur of the genet.

– origin Middle English (used in the plural meaning ‘genet skins’): from Old French genete, probably via Catalan, Portuguese, or Spanish from Arabic jarnaiṭ.

genet^2 /ˈjenət/

noun

another term for jennet (sense 2).

Genet, Jean /jəˈnā/

(1910–86), French novelist, poet, and playwright. Much of his work portrayed life in the criminal and homosexual underworlds, of which he was a part. Notable works: Our Lady of the Flowers (novel, 1944), The Maids (play, 1947), and The Thief's Journal (autobiography, 1949).

gene therapy /jēn ˈTHerəpē/

noun

the transplantation of normal genes into cells in place of missing or defective ones in order to correct genetic disorders.

genetic /jəˈnedik/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to genes or heredity

• all the cells in the body contain the same genetic information.

2. of or relating to genetics

• an attempt to control mosquitoes by genetic techniques.

3. of or relating to origin; arising from a common origin

• the genetic relations between languages.

II. derivatives

genetical

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent. (sense 2): from genesis, on the pattern of pairs such as antithesis, antithetic.

genetically /jəˈnedəklē/

adverb

1. in a way that relates to genes or genetics

• hair color is genetically determined

• a genetically inherited condition.

2. in a way that relates to origin or development

• language varieties that are genetically related.

genetically modified /jəˌnedik(ə)lē ˈmädəfīd / GM

adjective

(of an organism or crop) containing genetic material that has been artificially altered so as to produce a desired characteristic

• genetically modified viruses to insert new genes into growing plants.

genetic blueprint

noun

(not in technical use) a gene map, or a genome map.

genetic code /jəˈnedik kōd/

noun

the nucleotide triplets of DNA and RNA molecules that carry genetic information in living cells.
See triplet code.

genetic counseling

noun

the giving of advice to prospective parents concerning the chances of genetic disorders in a future child.

genetic drift

noun

[Biology] variation in the relative frequency of different genotypes in a small population, owing to the chance disappearance of particular genes as individuals die or do not reproduce.

genetic engineering /jəˈnedik ˌenjəˈni(ə)riNG/

noun

the deliberate modification of the characteristics of an organism by manipulating its genetic material.

genetic fingerprinting /jəˈnedik ˈfiNGɡərˌprin(t)iNG / genetic profiling

noun

another term for DNA fingerprinting.

geneticist /jəˈnedəsəst/

noun

an expert in or student of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics

• geneticists have discovered a "thinness" gene.

genetic load

noun

[Biology] the presence of unfavorable genetic material in the genes of a population.

genetic map

I. noun

a graphic representation of a chromosome including the position of its genes.

II. derivatives

genetic mapping

noun

genetic marker

noun

a gene or short sequence of DNA used to identify a chromosome or to locate other genes on a genetic map.

genetic pollution

noun

the spread of altered genes from genetically engineered organisms to other, nonengineered organisms, especially by cross-pollination.

genetics /jəˈnediks/

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the study of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics.

2. [treated as sing. or pl.] — the genetic properties or features of an organism, characteristic, etc.

• the effects of family genetics on the choice of career.

genetic testing genetic screening

noun

the sequencing of human DNA in order to discover genetic differences, anomalies, or mutations that may prove pathological.

• genetic testing to identify HLA status in the fetuses of 49 couples considered at risk.

Geneva /jəˈnēvə/

a city in southwestern Switzerland, on Lake Geneva; pop. 179,971 (2007). It is headquarters of international bodies such as the Red Cross, various organizations of the United Nations, and the World Health Organization.
French name Genève.

Geneva, Lake

a lake in southwestern central Europe, between the Jura Mountains and the Alps. Its southern shore forms part of the border between France and Switzerland.
French name Lac Léman.

Geneva bands

I. plural noun

two white cloth strips attached to the collar of some Protestants' clerical dress.

– origin late 19th cent.: from the place name Geneva, where they were originally worn by Calvinists.

Geneva Bible

noun

an English translation of the Bible published in 1560 by Protestant scholars working in Europe.

Geneva Convention

an international agreement first made at Geneva in 1864 and later revised, governing the status and treatment of captured and wounded military personnel and civilians in wartime.

Geneva cross

noun

a red cross on a white background, used to identify medical equipment and facilities, especially in war, and as a sign of neutrality.

Geneva Protocol

any of various protocols drawn up in Geneva, especially that of 1925 limiting chemical and bacteriological warfare.

Genève /ZHəˈnev, -ˈnāv/

French name for Geneva.

genever /jəˈnēvər / ‹literary› geneva

I. noun

Dutch gin.

– origin early 18th cent.: from Dutch, from Old French genevre, from an alteration of Latin juniperus (gin being flavored with juniper berries). The variant spelling is due to association with Geneva.

Genghis Khan /ˌɡeNGˌɡis ˈkän ˌjeNGˌɡis ˈkän/

(1162–1227), founder of the Mongol empire; born Temujin. He took the name Genghis Khan (“ruler of all”) in 1206 after uniting the nomadic Mongol tribes. When he died, his empire extended from China to the Black Sea. His grandson Kublai Khan completed the conquest of China.

genial^1 /ˈjēnyəl/

I. adjective

1. friendly and cheerful

• waved to them in genial greeting.

2. (especially of air or climate) pleasantly mild and warm.

II. derivatives

genially /ˈjēnyəlē /

adverb

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin genialis ‘nuptial, productive,’ from genius (see genius). The Latin sense was adopted into English; hence the senses ‘mild and conducive to growth’ (mid 17th cent.), later ‘cheerful, kindly’ (mid 18th cent.).

genial^2 /jəˈnēəl/

I. adjective

[Anatomy] ‹rare› of or relating to the chin.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek geneion ‘chin’ (from genus ‘jaw’) + -al.

geniality /ˌjēnēˈalədē/

noun

the quality of having a friendly and cheerful manner; affability

• he was endowed with geniality and good humor.

genic /ˈjenik/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. [Biology] of or relating to genes

• a genic mutation.

-genic

I. combining form

1. producing

• carcinogenic.

2. produced by

• iatrogenic.

3. well suited to

• mediagenic.

[on the pattern of words such as (photo)genic.]

– origin from -gen + -ic.

-genically

suffix

forming adverbs corresponding to adjectives ending in -genical (such as iatrogenically corresponding to iatrogenic).

geniculate /jəˈnikyəlit, -ˌlāt/

I. adjective

[Anatomy] bent at a sharp angle.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin geniculatus, from geniculum ‘small knee, joint (of a plant).’

geniculate body geniculate nucleus

noun

[Anatomy] either of two protuberances on the inferior surface of the thalamus that relay auditory and visual impulses respectively to the cerebral cortex.

genie /ˈjēnē/

I. noun

a spirit of Arabian folklore, as traditionally depicted imprisoned within a bottle or oil lamp, and capable of granting wishes when summoned.
Compare with jinn.

– origin mid 17th cent. (denoting a guardian or protective spirit): from French génie, from Latin genius (see genius). Génie was adopted in the current sense by the 18th-cent. French translators of The Arabian Nights' Entertainments, because of its resemblance in form and sense to Arabic jinnī ‘jinni.’

genii /ˈjēnēˌē ˈjēnēˌī/

plural form of genie, genius.

genip /ɡəˈnip/

I. noun

1. the edible fruit of a tropical American tree.

2. (also genipap tree ) — either of two tropical American trees that yield the genip fruit.
[● a large spreading tree (Melicoccus bijugatus, family Sapindaceae). ● another term for genipapo.]

– origin mid 18th cent.: from American Spanish quenepo ‘guinep tree,’ quenepa, denoting the fruit.

genipapo /ˌjenəˈpapō / genipap tree

I. noun

1. a tropical American tree of the bedstraw family that yields useful timber. Its fruit has a jellylike pulp that is used for flavoring drinks and to make a black dye.
Also called genip. [Genipa americana, family Rubiaceae.]

2. a drink, flavoring, or dye made from the genipapo fruit.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Portuguese jenipapo, from Tupi.

genit.

abbreviation

[Grammar] genitive.

genital /ˈjenədl/

I. adjective

1. of or relating to the human or animal reproductive organs

• conditions of the lower genital tract.

2. [Psychoanalysis] (in Freudian theory) relating to or denoting the final stage of psychosexual development reached in adulthood.

II. noun — (genitals)

1. a person or animal's external organs of reproduction.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin genitalis, from genitus, past participle of gignere ‘beget.’

genital herpes

noun

a disease characterized by blisters in the genital area, caused by a variety of the herpes simplex virus.

genitalia /ˌjeniˈtālēə/

I. plural noun

‹formal› ‹technical› the genitals.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Latin, neuter plural of genitalis (see genital).

genital wart

noun

a small growth occurring in the anal or genital areas, caused by a virus that is spread especially by sexual contact.

genitive /ˈjenədiv / ‹Grammar›

I. adjective

relating to or denoting a case of nouns and pronouns (and words in grammatical agreement with them) indicating possession or close association.

II. noun

1. a word in the genitive case.

2. (the genitive) — the genitive case.

III. derivatives

1. genitival /ˌjenəˈtīv(ə)l /

adjective

2. genitivally /ˌjeniˈtīvəlē /

adverb

– origin late Middle English: from Old French genitif, -ive or Latin genitivus (casus) ‘(case) of production or origin,’ from gignere ‘beget.’

genitor /ˈjenədər/

I. noun

[Anthropology] a person's biological father.
Often contrasted with pater.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘father’): from Old French geniteur or Latin genitor, from the root of gignere ‘beget.’ The current sense dates from the mid 20th cent.

genitourinary /ˌjenidōˈyo͝orəˌnerē/

adjective — [attrib.]

1. [chiefly Medicine] of or relating to the genital and urinary organs.

geniture /ˈjeniCHər, -ˌCHo͝or/

I. noun

‹archaic› a person's birth or parentage.

– origin late Middle English: from Old French geniture or Latin genitura, from the root of gignere ‘beget.’

genius /ˈjēnyəs/

I. noun

1. exceptional intellectual or creative power or other natural ability

• she was a teacher of genius

• Gardner had a real genius for tapping wealth.

2. a person who is exceptionally intelligent or creative, either generally or in some particular respect

• one of the great musical geniuses of the 20th century.

3. a person regarded as exerting a powerful influence over another for good or evil

• he sees Adams as the man's evil genius

• this young man is my good genius, my guardian angel.

4. (pl. genii ) — (in some mythologies) a guardian spirit associated with a person, place, or institution.

5. (pl. genii) — the prevalent character or spirit of something such as a nation or age

• Boucher's paintings did not suit the austere genius of neoclassicism.

II. adjective

‹informal› very clever or ingenious

• a genius marketing ploy

• this book was absolutely genius in parts.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin, ‘attendant spirit present from one's birth, innate ability or inclination,’ from the root of gignere ‘beget.’ The original sense ‘tutelary spirit attendant on a person’ gave rise to a sense ‘a person's characteristic disposition’ (late 16th cent.), which led to a sense ‘a person's natural ability,’ and finally ‘exceptional natural ability’ (mid 17th cent.).

genius loci /ˈjēnēəs ˈlōsī, -kī/

I. noun — [in sing.]

1. the prevailing character or atmosphere of a place.

2. the presiding god or spirit of a place.

– origin early 17th cent.: Latin, literally ‘spirit of the place.’

genl.

abbreviation

general.

genlock /ˈjenläk/

I. noun

‹trademark› a device for maintaining synchronization between two different video signals, or between a video signal and a computer or audio signal, enabling video images and computer graphics to be mixed.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. maintain synchronization between two signals using the genlock technique.

– origin 1960s: from generator + the verb lock^1.

genoa /ˈjenˌōə/

I. noun

[Sailing] a large jib or foresail whose foot extends aft of the mast, used especially on racing yachts.

– origin late 19th cent.: so named because of association with the city of Genoa.

Genoa /ˈjenˌōə/

a seaport on the northwestern coast of Italy, capital of Liguria region; pop. 611,171 (2008). It was the birthplace of Christopher Columbus.
Italian name Genova.

genocidal /ˌjenəˈsīdl/

adjective

relating to or involving the deliberate killing of a large group of people of a particular nation or ethnic group

• a genocidal dictator

• victims of a genocidal massacre.

genocide /ˈjenəˌsīd/

I. noun

the deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular ethnic group or nation.

– origin 1940s: from Greek genos ‘race’ + -cide.

Genoese /ˌjenōˈēz/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of the Italian seaport of Genoa or its inhabitants

• a wealthy Genoese family.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of the Italian seaport of Genoa

• no two Genoese will agree on the exact proportions of the ingredients of pesto

• the Genoese had trading enclaves in Spain.

genoise /ZHəˈnwäz/

noun

a sponge cake with melted butter incorporated into the batter.

• the genoise au chocolat paired moist cake layers with a truffle-like filling.

genome /ˈjēˌnōm/

I. noun

1. [Biology] the haploid set of chromosomes in a gamete or microorganism, or in each cell of a multicellular organism.

2. [Biology] the complete set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or organism.

– origin 1930s: blend of gene and chromosome.

genome map

noun

[Biology] a record of the entire genome of an organism, consisting of correctly ordered gene maps.

genomic /ˈjēˌnōmik/

adjective

[Biology] relating to the haploid set of chromosomes in a gamete or microorganism, or the complete set of genes in a cell or organism

• genomic DNA

• a genomic sequence.

genomics /jēˈnōmiks jēˈnämiks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. [Biology] the branch of molecular biology concerned with the structure, function, evolution, and mapping of genomes.

– origin 1980s: from genome ‘the complete set of genes present in an organism’ + -ics.

genotype /ˈjenəˌtīp ˈjēnəˌtīp/

I. noun

[Biology] the genetic constitution of an individual organism.
Often contrasted with phenotype.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. investigate the genetic constitution of (an individual organism)

• the person appointed will be responsible for maintaining and genotyping many different lines of zebra fish.

III. derivatives

genotypic /ˌjenəˈtipik ˌjēnəˈtipik /

adjective

– origin early 20th cent.: from German Genotypus, from Greek genos ‘race, offspring’ + -tupos ‘type.’

-genous

I. combining form

1. producing; inducing

• erogenous.

2. originating in

• endogenous.

– origin from -gen + -ous.

Genova /ˈjenəvə/

Italian name for Genoa.

genre /ˈZHänrə/

I. noun

a category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter.

– origin early 19th cent.: French, literally ‘a kind’ (see gender).

genre painting

I. noun

a style of painting depicting scenes from ordinary life, especially domestic situations. Genre painting is associated particularly with 17th-century Dutch and Flemish artists.

II. derivatives

genre painter

noun

gens /jenz/

I. noun

1. a group of families in ancient Rome who shared a name and claimed a common origin.

2. [Anthropology] a group of people who are related through their male ancestors.

– origin Latin, from the root of gignere ‘beget.’

gent /jent/

I. noun

1. ‹informal› a gentleman.

2. (the gents) — ‹informal› (Brit.) a men's public restroom.

– origin mid 16th cent.: originally a standard written abbreviation; a colloquial usage since the early 19th cent.

Gent /KHent ɡent/

Flemish name for Ghent.

gentamicin /ˌjen(t)əˈmīsən/

I. noun

a broad-spectrum antibiotic used chiefly for severe systemic infections.
[This antibiotic is derived from bacteria of the genus Micromonospora.]

– origin 1960s: from genta- (of unknown origin) + -micin (alteration of -mycin).

genteel /jenˈtēl/

I. adjective

polite, refined, or respectable, often in an affected or ostentatious way.

II. derivatives

1. genteelly /jenˈtēllē /

adverb

2. genteelness

noun

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘fashionable, stylish’): from French gentil ‘well-born.’ From the 17th cent. to the 19th cent. the word was used in such senses as ‘of good social position,’ ‘having the manners of a well-born person,’ ‘well-bred.’ The ironic or derogatory implication dates from the 19th cent.

genteelism /jenˈtēlizəm/

noun

a word or expression used because it is thought to be socially more acceptable than the everyday word

• in German usage “sister” was the accepted genteelism for “mistress.”

gentian /ˈjen(t)SH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. a plant of temperate and mountainous regions, typically with violet or vivid blue trumpet-shaped flowers. Many kinds are cultivated as ornamentals, especially as arctic alpines, and some are of medicinal use.
[Genera Gentiana and Gentianella, family Gentianaceae: numerous species, including the four-petaled fringed gentian (Gentiana crinita) of North America.]

2. a tonic liquor formerly extracted from the root of the gentian.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin gentiana, according to Pliny named after Gentius, king of Illyria, who is said to have discovered the medicinal properties of a common species.

gentian violet /ˈjenCHən ˈvī(ə)lət/

noun

a synthetic violet dye derived from rosaniline, used as an antiseptic.

gentile /ˈjen(t)īl/

I. adjective

1. (Gentile) — not Jewish

• Christianity spread from Jewish into Gentile cultures.

2. (of a person) not belonging to one's own religious community.

3. (in the Mormon church) non-Mormon.

4. [chiefly Anthropology] of, relating to, or indicating a nation or clan, especially a gens.

II. noun

a person who is not Jewish.

– origin late Middle English: from Latin gentilis ‘of a family or nation, of the same clan’ (used in the Vulgate to refer to non-Jews), from gens, gent- ‘family, race,’ from the root of gignere ‘beget.’

Gentile da Fabriano /jenˌtēlā də ˌfäbrēˈänō/

(c. 1370–1427), Italian painter. His major surviving work is The Adoration of the Magi (1423), an altarpiece.

gentility /jenˈtilədē/

I. noun

social superiority as demonstrated by genteel manners, behavior, or appearances

• her grandmother's pretensions to gentility.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘honorable birth’): from Old French gentilite, from gentil (see gentle).

gentle /ˈjen(t)l/

I. adjective

1. (of a person) mild in temperament or behavior; kind or tender

• he was a gentle, sensitive man.

2. ‹archaic› (of a person) noble or having the qualities attributed to noble birth; courteous; chivalrous.

3. moderate in action, effect, or degree; not harsh or severe

• a little gentle persuasion

• a gentle breeze.

4. (of a slope) gradual

• a gentle embankment.

II. verb

1. make or become gentle; calm or pacify
[no obj.]

• Cobb's tone gentled a little.

2. [with obj.] — make (an animal) docile by gentle handling

• a bird that has been gentled enough to sit on the hand.

– origin Middle English: from Old French gentil ‘highborn, noble,’ from Latin gentilis ‘of the same clan’ (see gentile). The original sense was ‘nobly born,’ hence ‘courteous, chivalrous,’ later ‘mild, moderate in action or disposition’ (mid 16th cent.).

gentle breeze

noun

a light wind of force 3 on the Beaufort scale (7–10 knots or 8–12 mph).

gentlefolk /ˈjen(t)lˌfōk/

plural noun

‹archaic› people of high social position.

gentle giant

noun

a man who is tall and strong but has a quiet, mild nature

• he is the consummate nice guy, a gentle giant who is thoughtful and caring.

gentlelady /jen(t)lˌlādē/

noun

a polite form of a address for a woman, used especially to a congresswoman during a congressional debate.

gentleman /ˈjen(t)lmən/

I. noun

1. a chivalrous, courteous, or honorable man

• he behaved like a perfect gentleman.

2. a man of good social position, especially one of wealth and leisure.

3. (in the UK) a man of noble birth attached to a royal household.

4. a polite or formal way of referring to a man

• opposite her an old gentleman sat reading.

5. (gentlemen) — used as a polite form of address to a group of men

• “Can I help you, gentlemen?”

6. used as a courteous designation for a male fellow member of the US House of Representatives.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘man of noble birth’): from gentle + man, translating Old French gentilz hom. In later use the term denoted a man of a good family (especially one entitled to a coat of arms) but not of the nobility.

gentleman-at-arms /ˈˌjen(t)lmənətˌärmz/

noun

one of the bodyguards of the British monarch on ceremonial occasions.

gentleman farmer /ˈjen(t)lmən ˈfärmər/

noun

a well-to-do man who runs a farm for pleasure.

gentlemanly /ˈjen(t)lmənlē/

I. adjective

(of a man) befitting a gentleman; chivalrous, courteous, or honorable

• a paragon of gentlemanly conduct.

II. derivatives

gentlemanliness

noun

gentleman's agreement /ˈjen(t)lmənz əˌɡrēmənt / gentlemen's agreement

noun

an arrangement or understanding which is based upon the trust of both or all parties, rather than being legally binding.

gentleman's gentleman /jentlmənzˈjentlmən/

noun

a valet.

gentleness /ˈjen(t)lnəs/

noun

1. the quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered

• Michael was admired for his gentleness and tolerance

• her gentleness of manner.

2. softness of action or effect; lightness

• the gentleness of his touch

• the gentleness of diffused light.

3. the state of having only gradual inclines

• the gentleness of the terrain.

4. ‹archaic› a courteous or chivalrous quality attributed to noble birth

• the gentleness of English civilization is mixed up with barbarities.

gentlepeople /jen(t)lˌpēp(ə)l/

plural noun

a polite or formal way of addressing or referring to a group of people.

gentlewoman /ˈjen(t)lˌwo͝omən/

noun

‹archaic› a woman of high social standing.

gently /ˈjen(t)lē/

I. adverb

1. with a mild, kind, or tender manner

• she gently broke the news to her mom

• [as submodifier] a gently humorous account.

2. with lightness of action or effect; softly

• gently pat your skin dry

• palm trees swayed gently in the breeze.

3. with only gradual inclines

• a gently undulating landscape

• the lawn slopes gently to the river.

II. phrases

gently born

‹archaic› (of a person) having the qualities attributed to noble birth; courteous and chivalrous

• my family may be silly, but we are still gently born and bred.

gentoo /ˈjento͞o / gentoo penguin

I. noun

a tall penguin with a white triangular patch above the eye, breeding on subantarctic islands.
[Pygoscelis papua, family Spheniscidae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: perhaps from Anglo-Indian Gentoo ‘a Hindu,’ from Portuguese gentio ‘gentile.’

gentrification /ˌjentrəfəˈkāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the process of renovating and improving a house or district so that it conforms to middle-class taste

• an area undergoing rapid gentrification.

2. the process of making a person or activity more refined or polite

• soccer has undergone gentrification

• Miss Havisham's plan for his gentrification.

gentrify /ˈjentrəˌfī/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. renovate and improve (especially a house or district) so that it conforms to middle-class taste.

2. (usu. as adj. gentrified) — make (someone or their way of life) more refined or polite.

II. derivatives

gentrifier

noun

gentry /ˈjentrē/

I. noun — (often the gentry)

1. people of good social position, specifically (in the UK) the class of people next below the nobility in position and birth

• a member of the landed gentry.

2. [with adj.] — (US) people of a specified class or group

• a New Orleans family of Creole gentry.

– origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘superiority of birth or rank’): from Anglo-Norman French genterie, based on gentil (see gentle).

genu /ˈjēn(y)o͞o, ˈjen(y)o͞o/

I. noun

1. [Anatomy] the knee.

2. [Anatomy] [Anatomy] [Biology] a part of certain structures resembling a knee, in particular a bend in the corpus callosum of mammals.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin.

genuflect /ˈjenyəˌflekt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. lower one's body briefly by bending one knee to the ground, typically in worship or as a sign of respect

• she genuflected and crossed herself.

2. [with adverbial] — show deference or servility

• politicians had to genuflect to the far left to advance their careers.

II. derivatives

1. genuflection /ˌjenyəˈflekSH(ə)n /

noun

2. genuflector /-tər /

noun

– origin mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘bend (the knee)’): from ecclesiastical Latin genuflectere, from Latin genu ‘knee’ + flectere ‘to bend.’

genuine /ˈjenyo͞oən/

I. adjective

1. truly what something is said to be; authentic

• each book is bound in genuine leather.

2. (of a person, emotion, or action) sincere

• she had no doubts as to whether Tom was genuine

• a genuine attempt to delegate authority.

II. derivatives

genuineness /ˈjenyəwən(n)əs /

noun

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘natural or proper’): from Latin genuinus, from genu ‘knee’ (with reference to the Roman custom of a father acknowledging paternity of a newborn child by placing it on his knee); later associated with genus ‘birth, race, stock.’

genuinely /ˈjenyo͞oənlē/

adverb

1. in a truthful way

• they speak genuinely about how proud they are.

2. used to emphasize sincerity or seriousness

• both parties genuinely believe they're right

• it is genuinely an honor to be on the campaign.

3. to the fullest degree; properly

• people don't genuinely understand what they're dealing with.

4. [as submodifier] — really (used for emphasis)

• this is a genuinely funny film.

genus /ˈjēnəs/

I. noun

1. [Biology] a principal taxonomic category that ranks above species and below family, and is denoted by a capitalized Latin name, e.g., Leo.

2. [Biology] (in philosophical and general use) a class of things that have common characteristics and that can be divided into subordinate kinds.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from Latin, ‘birth, race, stock.’

Gen X

noun

short for Generation X:

• Gen X entered a slow job market with a mountain of debt.

Gen Xer /ˌjen ˈeksər/

noun

‹informal› a member of Generation X (born in the 1960s and 1970s).

• of the 1,000 Gen Xers polled, 68 percent said they owned their homes.

Gen Y

noun

short for Generation Y:

• both Gen X and Gen Y are generally suspicious of big business, the government, and the media.

-geny

I. combining form

denoting the mode by which something develops or is produced

• orogeny

• organogeny.

– origin related to French -génie; both forms derive from Greek -geneia, from gen- (root of gignomai ‘be born, become’ and genos ‘a kind’).

Gen Yer /ˌjen ˈwīər/

noun

‹informal› a member of Generation Y (born in the 1980s and 1990s).

• Gen Yers have no memory of life without computers and the Internet.

Geo.

abbreviation

‹dated› George.

geo- /ˈjēō/

I. combining form

of or relating to the earth

• geocentric

• geochemistry.

– origin from Greek gē ‘earth.’

geobotany /ˌjēōˈbät(ə)nē/

I. noun

another term for phytogeography.

II. derivatives

1. geobotanical /-bəˈtanikəl /

adjective

2. geobotanist /-ˈbätn-ist /

noun

geocache /ˈjēōˌkaSH/

I. noun

(in the activity or pastime of geocaching) an item, typically a container holding a number of other items, that has been hidden at a location whose coordinates have been posted on the Internet

• for the next ten hours we would be battling through mud and flash floods to find over 100 geocaches on foot.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. participate in the activity or pastime of geocaching

• a serious leg injury has meant I've been unable to geocache for a couple of months.

III. derivatives

geocacher

noun

geocaching /ˈjēōˌkaSHiNG/

I. noun

the recreational activity of hunting for and finding a hidden object by means of GPS coordinates posted on a website.

– origin from geo(graphical) +cache + -ing.

geocentric /ˌjēōˈsentrik/

I. adjective

1. having or representing the earth as the center, as in former astronomical systems.
Compare with heliocentric.

2. [Astronomy] measured from or considered in relation to the center of the earth.

II. derivatives

1. geocentrically /-trik(ə)lē /

adverb

2. geocentrism /-trizəm /

noun

geochemistry /ˌjēōˈkeməstrē/

I. noun

the study of the chemical composition of the earth and its rocks and minerals.

II. derivatives

1. geochemical /ˌjēōˈkemək(ə)l /

adjective

2. geochemist /ˌjēōˈkeməst /

noun

geochronology /ˌjēōkrəˈnäləjē/

I. noun

the branch of geology concerned with the dating of rock formations and geological events.

II. derivatives

1. geochronological /-ˌkränəˈläjikəl /

adjective

2. geochronologist /-jist /

noun

geochronometric /ˌjēōˌkränəˈmetrik/

I. adjective

of or relating to geochronological measurement.

II. derivatives

geochronometry /-krəˈnämətrē /

noun

geocode /ˈjēəˌkōd/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. provide geographical coordinates corresponding to (a location)

• participants' residential addresses were geocoded, enabling individual survey data to be linked with data on land use

• (as noun geocoding) only about 70 percent of addresses were of a standard that would allow geocoding.

II. noun

a set of geographical coordinates corresponding to a location

• the calculation is made based upon the geocode for every zip code in the Hudson Valley.

III. derivatives

geocoder

noun

geodata /ˈjēōˌdatə, -ˌdātə/

noun

computerized geographical data.

• the use of geodata greatly depends on the ease and speed of acquisition.

geode /ˈjēōd/

I. noun

1. a small cavity in rock lined with crystals or other mineral matter.

2. a rock containing a cavity lined with crystals or other mineral matter.

II. derivatives

geodic /jēˈädik /

adjective

– origin late 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek geōdēs ‘earthy,’ from gē ‘earth.’

geodesic /ˌjēəˈdesik ˌjēəˈdēsik/

I. adjective

1. of, relating to, or denoting the shortest possible line between two points on a sphere or other curved surface.

2. another term for geodetic.

II. noun

a geodesic line or structure.

geodesic dome

noun

a dome constructed of short struts following geodesic lines and forming an open framework of triangles or polygons. The principles of its construction were described by Buckminster Fuller.

geodesy /jēˈädəsē/

I. noun

the branch of mathematics dealing with the shape and area of the earth or large portions of it.

II. derivatives

geodesist /-sist /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from modern Latin geodaesia, from Greek geōdaisia, from gē ‘earth’ + daiein ‘to divide.’

geodetic /ˌjēəˈdedik/

I. adjective

of or relating to geodesy, especially as applied to land surveying.

– origin late 17th cent.: from Greek geōdaitēs ‘land surveyor,’ from geōdaisia (see geodesy).

geodetic survey

noun

a land survey with corrections made to account for the curvature of the earth's surface.

geoduck /ˈɡo͞oēˌdək/

I. noun

a giant mud-burrowing bivalve mollusk occurring on the west coast of North America, where it is collected for food. Its shell valves are not large enough to enclose its body and very long siphon.
[Panopea generosa, family Hyatellidae.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from Puget Sound Salish.

geoeconomics /ˌjēōˌekəˈnämiks, -ēkə-/

plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the study of the economic trends and conditions of the world's countries and how they are related; economics considered on the broadest global scale.

2. the economic policies or conditions of a country as seen in a global perspective.

geoengineering /ˌjēōenjəˈniriNG/

noun

the deliberate large-scale manipulation of an environmental process that affects the earth's climate, in an attempt to counteract the effects of global warming.

geofence /ˈjēōˌfens/

I. noun

a virtual geographic boundary, defined by GPS or RFID technology, that enables software to trigger a response when a mobile device enters or leaves a particular area

• they could put up a geofence around the building, meaning your phone disables itself when you enter it.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. create a virtual geographic boundary around (an area) by means of GPS or RFID technology, enabling software to trigger a response when a mobile device enters or leaves the area

• the company has now geofenced the locations of 180,000 US schools

• (as adj. geofenced) when you leave that geofenced area, the apps are again enabled.

geofencing /ˈjēōˌfensiNG/

noun

the use of GPS or RFID technology to create a virtual geographic boundary, enabling software to trigger a response when a mobile device enters or leaves a particular area

• geofencing turns the lights off when you leave and on when you get home

• kids are savvy enough to get around geofencing of the school grounds.

Geoffrey of Monmouth /ˌjefrē əv ˈmänməTH/

(c. 1100–c. 54), Welsh chronicler. His Historia Regum Britanniae (c. 1139; first printed in 1508), an account of the kings of Britain, was a major source for English literature, especially for the tales of King Arthur.

geog.

abbreviation

1. geographer.

2. geographic.

3. geographical.

4. geography.

geographer /jēˈäɡrəfər/

noun

an expert in the study of the physical features of the earth and its atmosphere, and of human activity as it affects and is affected by these.

geographical /ˌjēəˈɡrafik(ə)l / geographic

I. adjective

1. based on or derived from the physical features of an area

• the geographical distribution of plants

• the geographical area covered by the Diocese.

• geographical boundaries.

2. of or relating to geography.

– origin mid 16th cent.: from French géographique or late Latin geographicus, from Greek geōgraphikos, from geōgraphos ‘geographer,’ from gē ‘earth’ + graphein ‘write, draw.’

geographically /ˌjēəˈɡrafəklē/

adverb

in terms of the geography or physical features of an area

• the city has always felt geographically isolated from the rest of Canada.

geographical mile /ˌjēəˈɡrafəkəl mīl/

noun

a distance equal to one minute of longitude or latitude at the equator (about 1,850 meters).

geography /jēˈäɡrəfē/

I. noun

1. the study of the physical features of the earth and its atmosphere, and of human activity as it affects and is affected by these, including the distribution of populations and resources, land use, and industries.

2. [usu. in sing.] — the nature and relative arrangement of places and physical features

• knowing the geography and topology of the battlefield.

– origin late 15th cent.: from French géographie or Latin geographia, from Greek geōgraphia, from gē ‘earth’ + -graphia ‘writing.’

geoid /ˈjēoid/

I. noun — (the geoid)

1. the hypothetical shape of the earth, coinciding with mean sea level and its imagined extension under (or over) land areas.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek geoeidēs, from gē ‘earth’ + -oeidēs (see -oid).

geoinformation /ˌjēōˌinfərˈmāSHən/

noun

computerized geographical information.

• the growing importance of geoinformation in planning, developing, and managing available natural resources.

geol.

abbreviation

1. geologic.

2. geological.

3. geologist.

4. geology.

geolocation /ˌjēōlōˈkāSHən/

I. noun

the process or technique of identifying the geographical location of a person or device by means of digital information processed via the Internet.

II. derivatives

geolocate

verb

geological /ˌjēəˈläjəkəl / geologic

I. adjective

relating to the study of the earth's physical structure and substance

• a geological map of the country

• the geological history of the earth.

II. derivatives

geologically /ˌjēəˈläjək(ə)lē /

adverb

geological survey

noun

a detailed and systematic study of the topography, geology, and mineral resources of an area or country.

geologist /jēˈäləjəst/

noun

an expert in or student of geology

• geologists have discovered sediments which contain fossilized single-celled organisms.

geology /jēˈäləjē/

I. noun

1. the science that deals with the earth's physical structure and substance, its history, and the processes that act on it.

2. the geological features of an area

• the geology of the Outer Hebrides.

3. the geological features of a planetary body

• the geology of the surface of Mars.

II. derivatives

1. geologic /ˌjēəˈläjik /

adjective

2. geologize /jēˈäləˌjīz /

verb

– origin late 18th cent.: from modern Latin geologia, from Greek gē ‘earth’ + -logia (see -logy).

geom.

abbreviation

1. geometric.

2. geometrical.

3. geometry.

geomagnetic equator

noun

a notional circle on the earth's surface, the plane of which is equidistant between the north and south magnetic poles and perpendicular to the magnetic field.

geomagnetism /ˌjēōˈmaɡnəˌtizəm/

I. noun

the branch of geology concerned with the magnetic properties of the earth.

II. derivatives

1. geomagnetic /ˌjēōˌmaɡˈnedik /

adjective

2. geomagnetically /-ˌmaɡˈnetik(ə)lē /

adverb

geomancy /ˈjēəˌmansē/

I. noun

1. the art of placing or arranging buildings or other sites auspiciously.

2. divination from configurations seen in a handful of earth thrown on the ground, or by interpreting lines or textures on the ground.

II. derivatives

1. geomancer /ˈjēəˌmansər /

noun

2. geomantic /ˌjēəˈman(t)ik /

adjective

geomatics /ˌjēəˈmadiks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the branch of science that deals with the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data relating to the earth's surface.

II. derivatives

geomatic /ˌjēəˈmadik /

adjective

– origin 1980s: blend of geography and informatics.

geometer /jēˈämədər/

I. noun

1. a person skilled in geometry.

2. (also geometer moth) — [Entomology] a geometrid moth or its caterpillar.

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin geometra, based on Greek geōmetrēs, from gē ‘earth’ + metrēs ‘measurer.’

geometric /ˌjēəˈmetrik / geometrical

I. adjective

1. of or relating to geometry, or according to its methods.

2. (of a design) characterized by or decorated with regular lines and shapes

• traditional Hopi geometric forms.

3. (Geometric) — [Archaeology] of or denoting a period of Greek culture (around 900–700 BC) characterized by geometrically decorated pottery.

II. derivatives

geometrically /ˌjēəˈmetrək(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin mid 17th cent.: via French from Latin geometricus, from Greek geōmetrikos, from geōmetrēs (see geometer).

geometric isomer geometrical isomer

I. noun

[Chemistry] each of two or more compounds that differ from each other in the arrangement of groups with respect to a double bond, ring, or other rigid structure.

II. derivatives

geometric isomerism

noun

geometric mean

noun

the central number in a geometric progression (e.g., 9 in 3, 9, 27), also calculable as the n th root of a product of n numbers.

geometric progression

noun

a progression of numbers with a constant ratio between each number and the one before (e.g., each subsequent number is increased by a factor of 3 in the progression 1, 3, 9, 27, 81).

geometrics /ˌjēəˈmetriks/

plural noun

straight lines and simple geometric shapes, e.g., circles and squares, used together to form a design or pattern

• their high-quality sheets in florals, classic solids, and bold geometrics can transform the look and feel of a room.

geometric series

noun

a series of numbers or quantities in geometric progression.

geometrid /jēˈämətrid/

I. noun

a moth of a large family (Geometridae), distinguished by having twiglike caterpillars that move by arching and straightening the body.
Also called geometer.

– origin late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Geometridae (plural), from the genus name Geometra, from Latin geometres (see geometer).

geometry /jēˈämətrē/

I. noun

1. the branch of mathematics concerned with the properties and relations of points, lines, surfaces, solids, and higher dimensional analogs.

2. (pl. geometries) — a particular system of geometry

• non-Euclidean geometries.

3. [in sing.] — the shape and relative arrangement of the parts of something

• the geometry of spiders' webs.

– origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin geometria, from Greek, from gē ‘earth’ + metria (see -metry).

geomorphic /ˌjēəˈmôrfik/

adjective

of or relating to the form of the landscape and other natural features of the earth's surface.

geomorphology /ˌjēōˌmôrˈfäləjē/

I. noun

the study of the physical features of the surface of the earth and their relation to its geological structures.

II. derivatives

1. geomorphological /ˌjēōˌmôrfəˈläjək(ə)l /

adjective

2. geomorphologist /-jist /

noun

geopark /ˈjēōpärk/

noun

a UNESCO-designated area containing one or more sites of particular geological importance, intended to conserve the geological heritage and promote public awareness of it, typically through tourism.

geophagy /jēˈäfəjē/

I. noun

the practice of eating earth, especially chalk or clay in famine-stricken regions.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from geo- ‘earth’ + Greek phagia ‘eating, feeding’ (from phagein ‘eat’).

geophysical /ˌjēəˈfizikəl/

adjective

relating to the physics of the earth

• a detailed geophysical survey of the area.

geophysics /ˌjēōˈfiziks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the physics of the earth.

II. derivatives

geophysicist /ˌjēōˈfizəsəst /

noun

geopolitics /ˌjēōˈpälədiks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing. or pl.]

1. politics, especially international relations, as influenced by geographical factors

• we were entering a new phase of global geopolitics.

II. derivatives

1. geopolitical /ˌjēōpəˈlidəkəl /

adjective

2. geopolitically /ˌjēōpəˈlidəklē /

adverb

3. geopolitician /ˌjēōpäləˈtiSHən /

noun

Geordie /ˈjôrdē / ‹Brit. informal›

I. noun

1. a person from Tyneside, an area in northeastern England.

2. the English dialect or accent typical of people from Tyneside.

II. adjective

of or relating to Tyneside, its people, or their accent or dialect

• Geordie humor.

– origin mid 19th cent.: diminutive of the given name George.

George /jôrj/

I. the name of four kings of Great Britain and Ireland, one of Great Britain and Ireland (from 1920, of the United Kingdom), and one of the United Kingdom.

II. George I (1660–1727), great-grandson of James I; reigned 1714–27; elector of Hanover 1698–1727. The first British sovereign of the house of Hanover, he was unpopular in England because of his German manners and his inability to speak English.

III. George II (1683–1760), son of George I; reigned 1727–60; elector of Hanover 1727–60. He took an active part in the War of the Austrian Succession 1740–48.

IV. George III (1738–1820), grandson of George II; reigned 1760–1820; elector of Hanover 1760–1815; king of Hanover 1815–20. He reigned during the time of the American Revolution and the War of 1812. His political influence declined from 1788 after bouts of mental illness.

V. George IV (1762–1830), son of George III; reigned 1820–30. Known as a patron of the arts and bon viveur, he had a bad reputation that was further damaged by his attempt to divorce his estranged wife Caroline of Brunswick just after coming to the throne.

VI. George V (1865–1936), son of Edward VII; reigned 1910–36. He exercised restrained but important influence over British politics and played a significant role in the formation of the government in 1931. During World War I he changed the name of the royal house to Windsor.

VII. George VI (1894–1952), son of George V; reigned 1936–52. He came to the throne when his older brother Edward VIII abdicated.

George, Lake /jôrj/

a resort lake in northeastern New York, northeast of Albany, near the Vermont border, scene of many 18th-century military actions.

George, St.

patron saint of England. He is reputed in legend to have slain a dragon and may have been martyred near Lydda in Palestine some time before the reign of Constantine. Feast day, April 23.

Georges Bank /ˌjôrjəz ˈbaNGk/

underwater rise in the Atlantic Ocean, between Massachusetts and Nova Scotia, site of important US and Canadian fishing zones.

Georgetown /ˈjôrjtoun/

I. the capital of Guyana, a port at the mouth of the Demerara River; pop. 133,000 (est. 2007).

II. an affluent section of northwestern Washington, DC, home to government officials, shopping districts, and Georgetown University.

George Town

I. the capital of the Cayman Islands, on the island of Grand Cayman; pop. 28,000 (est. 2007).

II. the chief port of Malaysia and capital of the state of Penang, on Penang Island; pop. 158,800 (est. 2009).
Also called Penang.

georgette /jôrˈjet/

I. noun

a thin silk or crepe dress material.

– origin early 20th cent.: named after Georgette de la Plante (c. 1900), French dressmaker.

Georgia /ˈjôrjə/

I. a country in southwestern Asia, on the eastern shore of the Black Sea; pop. 4,615,800 (est. 2009); capital, Tbilisi; languages, Georgian (official), Russian, and Armenian.
An independent kingdom in medieval times, Georgia became part of the Russian empire in the 19th century and then was absorbed into the Soviet Union. When the Soviet Union broke up in 1991, Georgia became an independent republic outside of the Commonwealth of Independent States. Since then, separatist movements among the Abkhazian and South Ossetian minorities have led to outbreaks of ethnic conflict.

II. a state in the southeastern US, on the Atlantic coast; pop. 9,685,744 (est. 2008); capital, Atlanta; statehood, Jan. 2, 1788 (4). Founded as an English colony in 1732 and named after George II, it was one of the original thirteen states. It was the site of General Sherman's “March to the Sea” in 1864 during the Civil War.

Georgia, Strait of /ˈjôrjə/

an ocean passage between Vancouver Island and the mainland of British Columbia and Washington.

Georgian^1 /ˈjôrjən/

adjective

1. of or characteristic of the reigns of the British kings George I–IV (1714–1830).

2. of or relating to British architecture of the Georgian period that was characterized especially by restrained elegance and the use of neoclassical styles.

3. of or characteristic of the reigns of the British kings George V and VI (1910–52).

4. of or relating to British literature of 1910–20, in particular pastoral poetry of a type strongly attacked by the early modernists.

Georgian^2 /ˈjôrjən/

I. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of the country Georgia, or a person of Georgian descent.

2. the South Caucasian (or Kartvelian) language, having its own alphabet, that is the official language of Georgia.

II. adjective

relating to the country Georgia, its people, or their language.

Georgian^3 /ˈjôrjən/

I. noun

a native or resident of the US state of Georgia.

II. adjective

relating to the US state of Georgia.

georgic /ˈjôrjik/

I. noun

1. a poem or book dealing with agriculture or rural topics.

2. (Georgics) — the title of a didactic poem on farming by the Roman poet Virgil.

II. adjective

‹literary› rustic; pastoral.

– origin early 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek geōrgikos, from geōrgos ‘farmer.’

geoscience /ˈjēōˌsīəns/

I. noun — (also geosciences)

1. earth sciences, especially geology.

II. derivatives

geoscientist /ˌjēōˈsīən(t)əst /

noun

geospatial /ˌjēōˈspāSH(ə)l/

adjective

[Geography] relating to or denoting data that is associated with a particular location.

geosphere /ˈjēōˌsfir/

noun

any of the almost spherical concentric regions of matter that make up the earth and its atmosphere, as the lithosphere and hydrosphere.

geostationary /ˌjēōˈstāSHənərē/

adjective

(of an artificial satellite of the earth) moving in a geosynchronous orbit in the plane of the equator, so that it remains stationary in relation to a fixed point on the surface. This orbit is achieved at an altitude of 22,300 miles (35,900 km) above the earth. It is used by communication and meteorological satellites.

geostrophic /ˌjēəˈsträfik/

I. adjective

[Meteorology] [Oceanography] relating to or denoting the component of a wind or current that arises from a balance between pressure gradients and Coriolis forces.

– origin early 20th cent.: from geo- ‘of the earth’ + Greek strophē ‘a turning’ (from strephein ‘to turn’).

geosynchronous /ˌjēōˈsiNGkrənəs/

adjective

(of an earth satellite or its orbit) having a period of rotation synchronous with that of the earth's rotation.

geosyncline /ˌjēōˈsinklīn/

noun

[Geology] a large-scale depression in the earth's crust containing very thick deposits.

geotag /ˈjēōˌtaɡ/

I. noun

an electronic tag that assigns a geographical location to a photograph or video, a posting on a social media website, etc.

• you can go back and add geotags to existing shots.

II. verb — [with obj.] (often as noun geotagging)

1. assign a geotag or geotags to (a digital photograph or video, a posting on a social media website, etc.)

• the device also has a 3 megapixel camera which can be used for geotagging

• researchers looked at a total of 380,000 messages, each geotagged so that the location of the tweeter could be pinpointed.

geotaxis /ˌjēōˈtaksəs/

I. noun

[Biology] the motion of a motile organism or cell in response to the force of gravity.

II. derivatives

geotactic /-ˈtaktik /

adjective

geotechnics /ˌjēōˈtekniks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing.]

1. the branch of civil engineering concerned with the study and modification of soil and rocks.

II. derivatives

1. geotechnic

adjective

2. geotechnical /-nikəl /

adjective

geotectonic /ˌjēōtekˈtänik/

adjective

another term for tectonic.

geothermal /ˌjēōˈTHərməl / geothermic

adjective

of, relating to, or produced by the internal heat of the earth

• some 70% of Iceland's energy needs are met from geothermal sources.

geotropism /jēəˈtrōpizəm/

I. noun

[Botany] the growth of the parts of plants with respect to the force of gravity. The upward growth of plant shoots is an instance of negative geotropism; the downward growth of roots is positive geotropism.

II. derivatives

geotropic /ˌjēəˈträpik /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from geo- ‘earth’ + Greek tropē ‘turning’ + -ism.

ger.

abbreviation

1. [Grammar] gerund.

2. [Grammar] gerundive.

Gera /ˈɡārä/

an industrial city in eastern central Germany, in Thuringia; pop. 102,700 (est. 2006).

geranial /jəˈrānēəl/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a fragrant oil present in lemongrass oil and used in perfumery.
[an isomer of citral; chem. formula: C_10H_16O.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from German, contraction of Geraniumaldehyde.

geraniol /jəˈrānēˌôl, -ˌäl/

I. noun

[Chemistry] a fragrant liquid present in some floral oils and used in perfumery.
[A terpenoid alcohol; chem. formula: C_10H_18O.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from German, from geranium + -ol.

geranium /jəˈrānēəm/

I. noun

1. a herbaceous plant or small shrub of a genus that comprises the cranesbills and their relatives. Geraniums bear a long narrow fruit that is said to be shaped like the bill of a crane.
[Genus Geranium, family Geraniaceae.]

2. (in general or informal use) a cultivated pelargonium.

3. the scarlet color of many cultivated pelargoniums.

– origin modern Latin, from Greek geranion, from geranos ‘crane.’

gerbera /ˈɡərbərə/

I. noun

a plant of the daisy family, native to Asia and Africa, with large brightly colored flowers.
[Genus Gerbera, family Compositae: many species, in particular the widely cultivated Transvaal daisy.]

– origin modern Latin, named after Traugott Gerber (died 1743), German naturalist.

gerbil /ˈjərbəl/

I. noun

1. a burrowing mouselike rodent that is specially adapted to living in arid conditions, found in Africa and Asia.
[Subfamily Gerbillinae, family Muridae: several genera, in particular Gerbillus.]

2. another term for jird.

– origin mid 19th cent.: from French gerbille, from modern Latin gerbillus, diminutive of gerboa (see jerboa).

gerenuk /ˈɡerəˌno͝ok/

I. noun

a slender East African antelope with a long neck, often browsing on tall bushes by standing on its hind legs.
[Litocranius walleri, family Bovidae.]

– origin late 19th cent.: from Somali.

geriatric /ˌjerēˈatrik/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of or relating to old people, especially with regard to their health care

• a geriatric hospital.

II. noun

an old person, especially one receiving special care

• a rest home for geriatrics.

– origin 1920s: from Greek gēras ‘old age’ + iatros ‘doctor,’ on the pattern of pediatric. / usage: Geriatric is the normal, semiofficial term used in the US and Britain when referring to the health care of old people (a geriatric ward; geriatric patients). When used outside such contexts, however, it typically carries overtones of being worn out and decrepit and can therefore be offensive.

geriatrics /ˌjerēˈatriks/

I. plural noun — [treated as sing. or pl.]

1. the branch of medicine or social science dealing with the health and care of old people.

II. derivatives

geriatrician /ˌjerēəˈtriSHən /

noun

Géricault, Théodore /ˌZHerēˈkō/

(1791–1824), French painter; full name Jean Louis André Théodore Géricault. His most noted work, The Raft of the Medusa (1819), depicts the survivors of a famous 1816 shipwreck.

germ /jərm/

I. noun

1. a microorganism, especially one that causes disease.

2. a portion of an organism capable of developing into a new one or part of one.
Compare with germ cell.

3. the embryo in a cereal grain or other plant seed.
Compare with wheat germ.

4. an initial stage from which something may develop

• the germ of a brilliant idea.

II. derivatives

germy

adjective

‹informal› germ (sense 1)

– origin late Middle English (sense 2): via Old French from Latin germen ‘seed, sprout.’ Sense 1 dates from the late 19th cent.

german /ˈjərmən/

I. adjective

1. ‹archaic› germane.

2. [postpositive] — ‹archaic› (of a sibling) having the same parents

• my brothers-german.

– origin Middle English: from Old French germain, from Latin germanus ‘genuine, of the same parents.’

German /ˈjərmən/

I. noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Germany.

2. a person of German descent

• Sudeten Germans.

3. a West Germanic language used in Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland, and by communities in the US and elsewhere.
See also High German, Low German.

4. (in full German cotillion) — a complex dance in which one couple leads the other couples through a variety of figures and there is a continual change of partners.

II. adjective

of or relating to Germany, its people, or their language.

– origin from Latin Germanus, used to designate related peoples of central and northern Europe, a name perhaps given by Celts to their neighbors; compare with Old Irish gair ‘neighbor.’

German cockroach

noun

a small, brown, common indoor cockroach found worldwide.
[Blatella germanica, order Dictyoptera.]

German Democratic Republic /ˈjərmən ˈˌdeməˈˌkradik rəˈpəblik rēˈpəblik / GDR, DDR

official name for the former state of East Germany (see Germany).

germander /jərˈmandər/

I. noun

a widely distributed plant of the mint family. Some kinds are cultivated as ornamentals and some are used in herbal medicine.
[Genus Teucrium, family Labiatae: many species, including the American germander (T. canadense) and the European wall germander (T. chamaedrys).]

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin germandra, based on Greek khamaidrus, literally ‘ground oak,’ from khamai ‘on the ground’ + drus ‘oak’ (because the leaves of some species were thought to resemble those of the oak).

germander speedwell

noun

a speedwell with bright blue flowers and leaves resembling those of the germander, native to Eurasia but now common in North America.
[Veronica chamaedrys, family Scrophulariaceae.]

germane /jərˈmān/

I. adjective

relevant to a subject under consideration

• that is not germane to our theme.

II. derivatives

1. germanely

adverb

2. germaneness

noun

– origin early 17th cent.: variant of german, with which it was synonymous from Middle English. The current sense has arisen from a usage in Shakespeare's Hamlet.

German East Africa

a former German protectorate in East Africa 1891–1918 that corresponds to present-day Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi.

German Empire

I. an empire in German-speaking central Europe, created by Bismarck in 1871 after the Franco-Prussian War by the union of twenty-five German states under the Hohenzollern king of Prussia.
Also called Second Reich.

Forming an alliance with Austria–Hungary, the German Empire became the greatest industrial power in Europe and engaged in colonial expansion in Africa, China, and the Far East. Tensions arising with other colonial powers led to World War I, after which the German Empire collapsed and the Weimar Republic was created.

Germanic /jərˈmanik/

I. adjective

1. of, relating to, or denoting the branch of the Indo-European language family that includes English, German, Dutch, Frisian, the Scandinavian languages, and Gothic.

2. of, relating to, or denoting the peoples of ancient northern and western Europe speaking Germanic languages.

3. having characteristics of or attributed to Germans or Germany

• she had an almost Germanic regard for order.

II. noun

1. the Germanic languages collectively.
See also East Germanic, North Germanic, West Germanic.

2. the unrecorded ancient language from which the Germanic languages developed, thought to have been spoken on the shores of the Baltic Sea in the 3rd millennium BC.
Also called Proto-Germanic.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin Germanicus, from Germanus (see German).

Germanist /ˈjərmənəst/

noun

an expert in or student of the language, literature, and civilization of Germany, or of Germanic languages.

germanium /ˌjərˈmānēəm/

I. noun

(Symbol: Ge) — the chemical element of atomic number 32, a shiny gray semimetal. Germanium was important in the making of transistors and other semiconductor devices, but has been largely replaced by silicon.

– origin late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Latin Germanus (see German).

Germanize /ˈjərməˌnīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. make German; cause to adopt German language and customs

• the Poles had Germanized their family names.

II. derivatives

Germanization /ˌjərmənəˈzāSH(ə)n ˌjərməˌnīˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

German measles /ˈˌjərmən ˈmēzəlz/

plural noun — [usu. treated as sing.]

1. another term for rubella.

Germano-

combining form

1. German; German and …

• Germanophile.

2. relating to Germany

• Germanocentric.

Germanophile /jərˈmanəˌfīl/

noun

a person who is fond of or greatly admires Germany or German people or culture.

German shepherd German shepherd dog

noun

a large dog of a breed often used as guard dogs or guide dogs or for police work.

German silver /ˈˌjərmən ˈsilvər/

noun

a white alloy of nickel, zinc, and copper.

German South West Africa

a former German protectorate 1884–1918 in southwestern Africa that corresponds to present-day Namibia.

Germantown /ˈjərmənˌtoun/

I. a city in southwestern Tennessee, a southeastern suburb of Memphis; pop. 37,251 (est. 2008).

II. a historic residential section of northwestern Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, scene of a 1777 battle.

Germany /ˈjərmənē/

I. a country in central Europe, on the Baltic Sea in the north; pop. 82,329,800 (est. 2009); capital, Berlin; official language, German.
German name Deutschland.

The multiplicity of small German states achieved real unity only with the rise of Prussia and the formation of the German Empire in the mid 19th century. After being defeated in World War I, Germany was taken over in the 1930s by the Nazi dictatorship that led to a policy of expansionism and eventually to complete defeat in World War II. Germany was occupied for a time by the victorious Allies and was partitioned. The western part (including West Berlin), which was occupied by the US, Britain, and France, became the Federal Republic of Germany or West Germany, with its capital at Bonn. The eastern part, occupied by the former Soviet Union, became the German Democratic Republic or East Germany, with its capital in East Berlin. West Germany emerged as a major European industrial power and was a founder member of the EEC, while the East remained under Soviet domination. After the general collapse of communism in eastern Europe, East and West Germany reunited on October 3, 1990.

germ cell /ˈjərm ˌsel/

noun

1. [Biology] a cell containing half the number of chromosomes of a somatic cell and able to unite with one from the opposite sex to form a new individual; a gamete.

2. [Biology] an embryonic cell with the potential of developing into a gamete.

germ-free

adjective

containing no germs; sterile or clean

• an enclosed, germ-free environment.

germicide /ˈjərməˌsīd/

I. noun

a substance or other agent that destroys harmful microorganisms; an antiseptic.

II. derivatives

germicidal /ˈjərməˌsīdl /

adjective

germinal /ˈjərmənl/

I. adjective — [attrib.]

1. relating to or of the nature of a germ cell or embryo.

2. in the earliest stage of development.

3. providing material for future development

• the subject was revived in a germinal article by Charles Ferguson.

II. derivatives

germinally

adverb

– origin early 19th cent.: from Latin germen, germin- ‘sprout, seed’ + -al.

Germinal /ˈjərmənl/

noun

the seventh month of the French Republican calendar (1793–1805), originally running from March 21 to April 19.

germinal disk germinal disc

noun

another term for blastodisk.

germinate /ˈjərməˌnāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. (of a seed or spore) begin to grow and put out shoots after a period of dormancy.

2. [with obj.] — cause (a seed or spore) to germinate.

3. come into existence and develop

• the idea germinated and slowly grew into an obsession.

II. derivatives

1. germinable /-nəbəl /

adjective

2. germinative /ˈjərməˌnādiv /

adjective

3. germinator /-ˌnātər /

noun

– origin late 16th cent.: from Latin germinat- ‘sprouted forth, budded,’ from the verb germinare, from germen, germin- ‘sprout, seed.’

germination /ˌjərməˈnāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the development of a plant from a seed or spore after a period of dormancy

• successful germination of crops

• light can influence seed germination.

2. the process of something coming into existence and developing

• the rules would stifle the germination of new ideas.

Germiston /ˈjərməstən/

a city in South Africa, southeast of Johannesburg; pop. 139,700 (est. 2001). It is the site of a large gold refinery.

germ layer

noun

[Embryology] each of the three layers of cells (ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm) that are formed in the early embryo.

germ line

noun

[Biology] a series of germ cells each descended or developed from earlier cells in the series, regarded as continuing through successive generations of an organism.

germophobe /ˈjərməˌfōb / germaphobe

I. noun

a person with an extreme fear of germs and an obsession with cleanliness

• I'm not a germophobe, but everyone knows that hotel remote controls are never cleaned and are probably filthy.

II. derivatives

1. germophobia /ˌjərməˈfōbēə /

noun

2. germophobic /ˌjərməˈfōbik /

adjective

– origin late 19th cent.: from germ + -phobia.

germ plasm

noun

1. [Biology] germ cells, collectively.

2. [Biology] the genetic material of germ cells.

germ warfare /jərm ˈwôrˌfe(ə)r/

noun

another term for biological warfare.

Geronimo^1 /jəˈränəˌmō/

(c. 1829–1909), Apache chief; Apache name Goyathlay. He resisted white encroachment on tribal lands in Arizona by leading his people in raids on settlers and US troops before he surrendered in 1886.

Geronimo^2 /jəˈränəˌmō/

I. exclamation

used to express exhilaration, especially when leaping from a great height or moving at a high speed.

– origin World War II: by association with Geronimo^1, adopted as a slogan by American paratroopers.

gerontic /jəˈrän(t)ik/

I. adjective

of or relating to old age, elderly people, or senescent animals or plants.

– origin late 19th cent.: from Greek gerōn, geront- ‘old man’ + -ic.

gerontocracy /ˌjerənˈtäkrəsē/

I. noun

1. a state, society, or group governed by old people.

2. government based on rule by old people.

II. derivatives

1. gerontocrat /jəˈräntəˌkrat /

noun

2. gerontocratic /jəˌräntəˈkratik /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek gerōn, geront- ‘old man’ + -cracy.

gerontology /ˌjerənˈtäləjē/

I. noun

the scientific study of old age, the process of aging, and the particular problems of old people.

II. derivatives

1. gerontological /jəˌräntlˈäjikəl /

adjective

2. gerontologist /ˌjerənˈtäləjəst /

noun

– origin early 20th cent.: from Greek gerōn, geront- ‘old man’ + -logy.

-gerous

I. combining form

bearing (a specified thing)

• armigerous.

– origin from Latin -ger ‘bearing’ (from the root of gerere ‘to bear, carry’) + -ous.

Gerry, Elbridge /ˈjerē/

(1744–1814), US politician; a signer of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and vice president of the US 1813–14. His political maneuvering regarding electoral redistricting in Massachusetts gave rise to the term “gerrymander.”

gerrymander /ˈjerēˌmandər/

I. verb — [with obj.] (often as noun gerrymandering)

1. manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favor one party or class.

2. achieve (a result) by manipulating the boundaries of an electoral constituency

• a total freedom to gerrymander the results they want.

II. noun

an instance of gerrymandering.

III. derivatives

gerrymanderer /ˈjerēˌmand(ə)rər /

noun

– origin early 19th cent.: from the name of Governor Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts + salamander, from the supposed similarity between a salamander and the shape of a new voting district on a map drawn when he was in office (1812), the creation of which was felt to favor his party: the map (with claws, wings, and fangs added), was published in the Boston Weekly Messenger, with the title The Gerry-Mander.

Gershwin, George /ˈɡərˌSHwin/

(1898–1937), US composer and pianist; born Jacob Gershovitz. He achieved success in 1919 with the song “Swanee” and went on to compose many successful songs and musicals, as well as Rhapsody in Blue (1924) and An American in Paris (1928) for orchestra and an opera, Porgy and Bess (1935). The lyrics for many of these were written by his brother Ira Gershwin (1896–1983).

gerund /ˈjerənd/

I. noun

[Grammar] a form that is derived from a verb but that functions as a noun, in English ending in -ing, e.g., asking in do you mind my asking you?

– origin early 16th cent.: from late Latin gerundium, from gerundum, variant of gerendum, the gerund of Latin gerere ‘do.’

gerundive /jəˈrəndiv/

I. noun

[Grammar] (in Latin) a form that is derived from a verb but that functions as an adjective, denoting something “that should or must be done.”

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘gerund’): from late Latin gerundivus (modus) ‘gerundive (mood),’ from gerundium (see gerund).

Gesellschaft /ɡəˈzelˌSHäft, -ˌSHaft/

I. noun

social relations based on impersonal ties, as duty to a society or organization.
Contrasted with Gemeinschaft.

– origin German, from Gesell(e) ‘companion’ + -schaft (see -ship).

gesneriad /ɡesˈni(ə)rēˌad, jes-/

I. noun

a tropical plant of a family that includes African violets, gloxinias, and their relatives.
[Family Gesneriaceae.]

– origin mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Gesneria (genus name), from the name of Conrad von Gesner (1516–65), Swiss naturalist, + -ad^1.

gesso /ˈjesō/

I. noun

a hard compound of plaster of Paris or whiting in glue, used in sculpture or as a base for gilding or painting on wood.

II. derivatives

gessoed

adjective

– origin late 16th cent.: Italian, from Latin gypsum (see gypsum).

gestalt /ɡəˈSHtält / Gestalt

I. noun

[Psychology] an organized whole that is perceived as more than the sum of its parts.

II. derivatives

1. gestaltism

noun

2. gestaltist

noun

– origin 1920s: from German Gestalt, literally ‘form, shape.’

Gestalt psychology

noun

a movement in psychology founded in Germany in 1912, seeking to explain perceptions in terms of gestalts rather than by analyzing their constituents.

Gestalt therapy

noun

a psychotherapeutic approach developed by Fritz Perls (1893–1970). It focuses on insight into gestalts in patients and their relations to the world, and often uses role playing to aid the resolution of past conflicts.

Gestapo /ɡəˈstäpō/

I. the German secret police under Nazi rule. It ruthlessly suppressed opposition to the Nazis in Germany and occupied Europe and sent Jews and others to concentration camps. From 1936 it was headed by Heinrich Himmler.

– origin German, from Geheime Staatspolizei ‘secret state police.’

gestate /ˈjeˌstāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. carry a fetus in the womb from conception to birth

• rabbits gestate for approximately twenty-eight days

• [with obj.] these individuals gestate male-based litters.

2. (of a fetus) undergo gestation.

3. develop over a long period

• a research trip he made while gestating his new book.

II. derivatives

gestative /jeˈstātiv, ˈjestətiv /

adjective

– origin mid 19th cent.: from Latin gestat- ‘carried in the womb,’ from the verb gestare.

gestation /jeˈstāSH(ə)n/

I. noun

1. the process of carrying or being carried in the womb between conception and birth.

2. the development of something over a period of time

• various ideas are in the process of gestation.

II. derivatives

gestational /jeˈstāSHən(ə)l /

adjective

– origin mid 16th cent. (denoting an excursion on horseback, in a carriage, etc., considered as exercise): from Latin gestatio(n-), from gestare ‘carry, carry in the womb,’ frequentative of gerere ‘carry.’

gesticulate /jeˈstikyəˌlāt/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. use gestures, especially dramatic ones, instead of speaking or to emphasize one's words

• they were shouting and gesticulating frantically at drivers who did not slow down.

II. derivatives

1. gesticulative /-ˌlātiv /

adjective

2. gesticulator /jeˈstikyəˌlādər /

noun

3. gesticulatory /ˌjeˈstikyələˌtôrē /

adjective

– origin early 17th cent.: from Latin gesticulat- ‘gesticulated,’ from the verb gesticulari, from gesticulus, diminutive of gestus ‘action.’

gesticulation /jeˌstikyəˈlāSH(ə)n/

noun

a gesture, especially a dramatic one, used instead of speaking or to emphasize one's words

• he punctuated his speech with wild gesticulations

• there was a lot of gesticulation.

gesture /ˈjesCHər/

I. noun

1. a movement of part of the body, especially a hand or the head, to express an idea or meaning

• Alex made a gesture of apology

• so much is conveyed by gesture.

2. an action performed to convey one's feelings or intentions

• Maggie was touched by the kind gesture.

3. an action performed for show in the knowledge that it will have no effect

• I hope the amendment will not be just a gesture.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. make a gesture

• she gestured meaningfully with the pistol.

2. [with obj.] — express (something) with a gesture or gestures

• he gestured his dissent at this.

3. [with obj. or infinitive] — direct or invite (someone) to move somewhere specified

• he gestured her to a chair.

III. derivatives

gestural /ˈjesCH(ə)rəl /

adjective

– origin late Middle English: from medieval Latin gestura, from Latin gerere ‘bear, wield, perform.’ The original sense was ‘bearing, deportment,’ hence ‘the use of posture and bodily movements for effect in oratory.’

gesundheit /ɡəˈzo͝on(t)īt/

I. exclamation

used to wish good health to a person who has just sneezed.

– origin from German Gesundheit ‘health.’

get /ɡet/

I. verb

1. [with obj.] — come to have or hold (something); receive

• I got the impression that she wasn't happy.

2. experience, suffer, or be afflicted with (something bad)

• I got a sudden pain in my left eye.

3. receive as a punishment or penalty

• I'll get the sack if things go wrong.

4. contract (a disease or ailment)

• I might be getting the flu.

5. [with obj.] — succeed in attaining, achieving, or experiencing; obtain

• I need all the sleep I can get.

6. move in order to pick up or bring (something); fetch

• get another chair

• [with two objs.] I'll get you a drink.

7. tend to meet with or find in a specified place or situation

• it was nothing like the winters we get in Florida.

8. travel by or catch (a bus, train, or other form of transport)

• I'll get a taxi and be home in an hour.

9. obtain (a figure or answer) as a result of calculation.

10. respond to a ring of (a telephone or doorbell) or the knock on (a door)

• I'll get it!

11. [in imperative] — ‹informal› said as an invitation to notice or look at someone, especially to criticize or ridicule them

• get her!

12. [no obj.] — enter or reach a specified state or condition; become

• he got very worried

• it's getting late

• [with past participle] you'll get used to it.

13. [as auxiliary verb] — used with a past participle to form the passive mood

• the cat got groomed.

14. [with obj.] — cause to be treated in a specified way

• get the form signed by a doctor.

15. [with obj.] — induce or prevail upon (someone) to do something

• Sophie got Beth to make a fire.

16. [no obj., with infinitive] — have the opportunity to do

• he got to try out a few of these new cars.

17. [no obj., with present participle or infinitive] — begin to be or do something, especially gradually or by chance

• we got talking one evening.

18. [no obj.] — come, go, or make progress eventually or with some difficulty

• I got to the airport

• they weren't going to get anywhere.

19. move or come into a specified position, situation, or state

• she got into the car.

20. [with obj.] — succeed in making (someone or something) come, go, or make progress

• my honesty often gets me into trouble.

21. ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) reach a specified point or stage

• it's getting so I can't even think.

22. [usu. in imperative] — ‹informal› (US) go away.

23. (have got) — see have.

24. [with obj.] — catch or apprehend (someone)

• the police have got him.

25. strike or wound (someone) with a blow or missile

• you got me in the eye!

26. ‹informal› punish, injure, or kill (someone), especially as retribution

• I'll get you for this!

27. (get it) — ‹informal› be punished, injured, or killed

• wait until Dad comes home, then you'll get it!

28. (get mine, his, etc.) — ‹informal› be killed or appropriately punished or rewarded

• I'll get mine, you get yours, we'll all get wealthy.

29. ‹informal› annoy or amuse (someone) greatly

• cleaning the same things all the time, that's what gets me.

30. ‹informal› baffle (someone)

• “What's a ‘flowery boundary tree’?” “You got me.”

31. [with obj.] — ‹informal› understand (an argument or the person making it)

• What do you mean? I don't get it.

32. [with obj.] — ‹archaic› acquire (knowledge) by study; learn

• knowledge which is gotten at school.

II. noun

1. ‹dated› an animal's offspring

• he passes this on to his get.

2. (Brit.) ‹informal› ‹dialect› a person whom the speaker dislikes or despises.

III. phrases

1. (as) —— as all get out

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› to a great or extreme extent

• he was stubborn as all get out.

2. be out to get someone

be determined to punish or harm someone, especially in retaliation

• he thinks the media are out to get him.

3. get in there

‹informal› take positive action to achieve one's aim (often said as an exhortation)

• you get in there, son, and you work.

4. get it on

‹informal› have sexual intercourse.

5. get it up

‹vulgar slang› (of a man) achieve an erection.

6. get out the vote

(US) engage in efforts intended to encourage people to vote in an election

• he gave a final exhortation to his volunteers to get out the vote

• [as modifier] his political organization was able to mobilize its get-out-the-vote campaign.

7. get-rich-quick

/ˌɡetˌriCHˈkwik / — ‹derogatory› designed or concerned to make a lot of money fast

• another one of your get-rich-quick schemes.

8. get-up-and-go

/ˌɡedəp(ə)nˈɡō / — ‹informal› energy, enthusiasm, and initiative.

IV. phrasal verbs

1. get something across

manage to communicate an idea clearly.

2. get ahead

become successful in one's life or career

• how to get ahead in advertising.

3. get along

a. have a harmonious or friendly relationship

• they seem to get along pretty well.

b. manage to live or survive

• don't worry, we'll get along without you.

4. get around

a. coax or persuade (someone) to do or allow something that they initially do not want to.

b. deal successfully with (a problem).

c. evade (a regulation or restriction) without contravening it

• the company changed its name to get around the law.

5. round to) ">get around to ( round to)

deal with (a task) in due course

• I didn't get around to putting all the photos in frames.

6. get at

a. reach or gain access to (something)

• it's difficult to get at the screws.

b. bribe or unfairly influence (someone)

• he had been got at by government officials.

c. ‹informal› imply (something)

• I can see what you're getting at.

7. get away

a. escape

• Stevie was caught, but the rest of us got away

• he was very lucky to get away with his life.

b. leave one's home or work for a time of rest or recreation; go on a vacation

• it will be nice to get away.

8. get away with

escape blame, punishment, or undesirable consequences for (an act that is wrong or mistaken)

• you'll never get away with this.

9. get back at

take revenge on (someone)

• I wanted to get back at them for what they did.

10. get back to

contact (someone) later to give a reply or return a message

• I'll find out and get back to you.

11. get by

manage with difficulty to live or accomplish something

• he had just enough money to get by.

12. get down

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› enjoy oneself by being uninhibited, especially with friends in a social setting

• get down and party!

13. get someone down

depress or demoralize someone.

14. get something down

a. write something down.

b. swallow food or drink, especially with difficulty.

15. get down to

begin to do or give serious attention to

• let's get down to business.

16. get in

a. (of a train, aircraft, or other transport) arrive at its destination

• the train got in late.

b. (of a person) arrive at one's destination

• what time did you get in?

c. (of a political party or candidate) be elected.

17. get in on

become involved in (a profitable or exciting activity).

18. get into

(of a feeling) affect, influence, or take control of (someone)

• I don't know what's got into him.

19. get in with

become friendly with (someone), especially in order to gain an advantage

• I hope he doesn't get in with the wrong crowd.

20. get off

a. ‹informal› escape a punishment; be acquitted

• she got off lightly

• you'll get off with a warning.

b. (N. Amer.) ‹vulgar slang› have an orgasm.

21. get off on

‹informal› be excited or aroused by (something)

• he was obviously getting off on the adrenaline of performing before the crowd.

22. get on

a. perform or make progress in a specified way

• how are you getting on?

b. continue doing something, especially after an interruption

• I've got to get on with this job.

c. (chiefly Brit.) another way of saying get along.

d. (be getting on) — ‹informal› be old or comparatively old

• we are both getting on a bit.

23. get on to

(chiefly Brit.) make contact with (someone) about a particular topic.

24. get out

a. (of something previously secret) become known

• news got out that we were coming.

b. (also get out of here) [in imperative] — ‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) used to express disbelief

• get out, you're a liar.

c. [usu. in imperative] — ‹informal› go away; leave.

25. get something out

succeed in uttering, publishing, or releasing something

• we need to get this report out by Friday.

26. get out of

contrive to avoid or escape (a duty or responsibility)

• they wanted to get out of paying.

27. get something out of

achieve benefit from (an undertaking or exercise)

• we never got any money out of it.

28. get over

a. recover from (an ailment or an upsetting or startling experience)

• the trip will help him get over Sal's death.

b. overcome (a difficulty).

29. get something over

a. manage to communicate an idea or theory

• the company is keen to get the idea over.

b. complete an unpleasant or tedious but necessary task promptly

• come on, let's get it over with.

30. get through

a. (also get someone through) — pass or assist someone in passing (a difficult or testing experience or period)

• I need these lessons to get me through my exam.

b. (also get something through) — (with reference to a piece of legislation) become or cause to become law.

c. make contact by telephone

• after an hour of busy signals, I finally got through.

d. succeed in communicating with someone in a meaningful way

• I just don't think anyone can get through to these kids.

31. get to

a. ‹informal› annoy or upset (someone) by persistent action

• he started crying—we were getting to him.

b. another way of saying get around to above.

32. get together

gather or assemble socially or to cooperate.

33. get up

a. (also get someone up) — rise or cause to rise from bed after sleeping.

b. (of wind or the sea) become strong or agitated.

34. get something up

a. prepare or organize a project or piece of work

• we used to get up little plays.

b. enhance or refine one's knowledge of a subject.

V. derivatives

gettable /ˈɡedəb(ə)l /

adjective

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse geta ‘obtain, beget, guess’; related to Old English gietan (in begietan ‘beget,’ forgietan ‘forget’), from an Indo-European root shared by Latin praeda ‘booty, prey,’ praehendere ‘get hold of, seize,’ and Greek khandanein ‘hold, contain, be able.’

geta /ˈɡetə, ˈɡeˌtä/

noun

a Japanese wooden shoe with a thong to pass between the first (big) toe and the second toe.

get-at-able /ɡedˈadəb(ə)l / getatable

adjective

‹informal› accessible.

getaway /ˈɡedəˌwā/

noun

1. an escape or quick departure, especially after committing a crime

• the thugs made their getaway

• [as modifier] a getaway car.

2. ‹informal› a vacation

• a perfect family getaway.

3. the destination or accommodations for a vacation

• a popular island getaway.

get-go git-go

noun

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) the very beginning

• Lawrence knew from the get-go that he could count on me to tell him the truth.

Gethsemane, Garden of /ɡeTHˈsemənē/

I. a garden between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives, where Jesus went with his disciples after the Last Supper and was betrayed (Matt. 26:36–46).

– origin from Hebrew gath-shemen ‘oil press.’

getter /ˈɡedər/

noun

1. [usu. in combination] — a person or thing that gets a specified desirable thing

• an attention-getter

• a vote-getter.

2. [Electronics] [Physics] a substance used to remove residual gas from a vacuum tube, or impurities or defects from a semiconductor crystal.

get-together

noun

an informal gathering.

get-tough

adjective

‹informal› designating an approach or attitude characterized by assertiveness, firmness, or aggressiveness

• the administration is implementing get-tough changes in the juvenile system

• a new get-tough policy on parking offences.

Getty, J. Paul /ˈɡetē/

(1892–1976), US industrialist; full name Jean Paul Getty. He made a fortune in the oil industry and was also a noted art collector. He founded the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California.

Gettysburg /ˈɡetēzˌbərɡ, -iz-/

a historic agricultural and commercial borough in south central Pennsylvania, scene of a critical Civil War battle in July 1863; pop. 8,040 (est. 2008).

Gettysburg, Battle of

a decisive battle of the Civil War, fought near the town of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania in July 1863. A Union army under General Meade repulsed the Confederate army of General Lee and forced him to abandon his invasion of the north.

Gettysburg Address

a speech delivered on November 19, 1863, by President Abraham Lincoln at the dedication of the national cemetery on the site of the Battle of Gettysburg.

getup /ˈɡedəp/

noun

‹informal› a style or arrangement of dress, especially an elaborate or unusual one

• she looks ridiculous in that getup.

Getz, Stan /ɡets/

(1927–91), US jazz saxophonist; born Stanley Gayetsky. A leader of the “cool” school of jazz, his recordings include “Early Autumn” (1948) and “The Girl from Ipanema” (1963). His Jazz Samba album (1962) with Charlie Byrd launched the samba and bossa nova movements of the 1960s.

geum /ˈjēəm/

I. noun

a plant of a genus that comprises the avens.
[Genus Geum, family Rosaceae.]

– origin modern Latin, variant of Latin gaeum.

GeV

abbreviation

gigaelectronvolt, equivalent to 10^9 electron-volts.

gewgaw /ˈɡyo͞oɡô/

I. noun — (usu. gewgaws)

1. a showy thing, especially one that is useless or worthless.

– origin Middle English: of unknown origin.

Gewürztraminer /ɡəˈvo͝ortstrəˌmēnər/

I. noun

1. a variety of white grape grown mainly in the Alsace, Austria, and the Rhine valley.

2. a wine made from the Gewürztraminer grape.

– origin German, from Gewürz ‘spice’ + Traminer.

geyser /ˈɡīzər/

I. noun

1. a hot spring in which water intermittently boils, sending a tall column of water and steam into the air.

2. a jet or stream of liquid

• the pipe sent up a geyser of sewer water into the street.

3. /ˈɡēzər / — (Brit.) a gas-fired water heater through which water flows as it is rapidly heated.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. (especially of water or steam) gush or burst out with great force

• yellow smoke geysered upward.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Icelandic Geysir, the name of a particular spring in Iceland; related to geysa ‘to gush.’

geyserite /ˈɡīzəˌrīt/

I. noun

a hard opaline siliceous deposit occurring around geysers and hot springs.

– origin early 19th cent.: from geyser + -ite^1.

GF

noun

‹informal› a person's girlfriend

• when his GF isn't around, he always flirts with me.

GFE

abbreviation

government-furnished equipment.

GFWC

abbreviation

General Federation of Women's Clubs.

GGPA

abbreviation

graduate grade-point average.

Ghagara River /ɡəˈɡärə, ˈɡäɡərə / Gogra

a river in south central Asia that flows for 570 miles (900 km) from southwestern Tibet through Nepal into India, where it joins the Ganges River.

Ghana /ˈɡänə/

1. a country in West Africa, with a southern coastline that borders on the Atlantic Ocean; pop. 23,887,800 (est. 2009); capital, Accra; languages, English (official) and West African languages.
Former name (until 1957) Gold Coast.

Formerly a center of the slave trade, the area became the British colony of Gold Coast in 1874. In 1957, it gained independence as a member of the Commonwealth of Nations under the leadership of Kwame Nkrumah. It was the first British colony to become independent.

Ghanaian /ɡäˈnāən/

I. adjective

relating to Ghana or its people

• a traditional Ghanaian folk song.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of Ghana, or a person of Ghanaian descent

• Ghanaians maintain a rich oral tradition.

gharial /ˈɡerēəl / gavial

I. noun

a large fish-eating crocodile with a long narrow snout that widens at the nostrils, native to the Indian subcontinent.
[Gavialis gangeticus, the only member of the family Gavialidae.]

– origin early 19th cent.: from Hindi ghaṛiyāl. The spelling gavial (from French) is an alteration probably due to scribal error.

ghastly /ˈɡas(t)lē/

I. adjective

1. causing great horror or fear; frightful or macabre

• she was overcome with horror at the ghastly spectacle.

2. ‹informal› objectionable; unpleasant

• we had to wear ghastly old-fashioned dresses.

3. extremely unwell

• he always felt ghastly first thing in the morning.

4. deathly white or pallid

• a ghastly pallor

• [as submodifier] he turned ghastly pale and rushed to the bathroom.

II. derivatives

ghastliness /ˈɡas(t)lēnəs /

noun

– origin Middle English: from obsolete gast ‘terrify,’ from Old English gǣstan, of Germanic origin; related to ghost. The gh spelling is by association with ghost. The sense ‘objectionable’ dates from the mid 19th cent.

ghat /ɡôt ɡät / ghaut

I. noun

1. (in South Asia) a flight of steps leading down to a river.

2. (in South Asia) a mountain pass.

– origin Hindi ghāṭ.

Ghats /ɡôts/

two mountain ranges in central and southern India. Known as the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats, they run parallel to the coast on either side of the Deccan plateau and meet at the southern tip of India.

ghazal /ˈɡəzəl/

I. noun

(in Middle Eastern and Indian literature and music) a lyric poem with a fixed number of verses and a repeated rhyme, typically on the theme of love, and normally set to music.

– origin via Persian from Arabic ġazal.

ghazi /ˈɡäzē/

I. noun

(often as an honorific title) a Muslim fighter against non-Muslims.

– origin from Arabic al-ġāzī, participle of ġazā ‘invade, raid.’

Ghaziabad /ˈɡäzēəˌbäd/

a city in northern India, in Uttar Pradesh, east of Delhi; pop. 1,437,900 (est. 2009).

GHB

abbreviation

(sodium) gamma-hydroxybutyrate, a designer drug with anesthetic properties.
[Chem. formula: CH_2OH(CH_2)2COONa.]

ghee /ɡē/

I. noun

clarified butter made from the milk of a buffalo or cow, used in South Asian cooking.

– origin from Hindi ghī, from Sanskrit ghṛtá ‘sprinkled.’

Ghent /ɡent/

a city in Belgium, capital of the province of East Flanders, on the Scheldt River; pop. 237,250 (2008).
Flemish name Gent, French name Gand.

gherkin /ˈɡərkən/

I. noun

1. a small variety of cucumber, or a young green cucumber used for pickling.

2. a trailing plant with cucumberlike fruits used for pickling.
[Cucumis anguria, family Cucurbitaceae.]

3. the fresh or pickled fruit of the gherkin.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Dutch augurkje, gurkje, diminutive of augurk, gurk, from Slavic, based on medieval Greek angourion ‘cucumber.’

ghetto /ˈɡedō/

I. noun

1. a part of a city, especially a slum area, occupied by a minority group or groups.

2. ‹historical› the Jewish quarter in a city

• the Warsaw Ghetto.

3. an isolated or segregated group or area

• the relative security of the gay ghetto.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. put in or restrict to an isolated or segregated area or group.

– origin early 17th cent.: perhaps from Italian getto ‘foundry’ (because the first ghetto was established in 1516 on the site of a foundry in Venice), or from Italian borghetto, diminutive of borgo ‘borough.’

ghetto blaster /ˈɡedō ˌblastər/

noun

‹informal› a large portable radio and cassette or CD player.

ghetto-fabulous

adjective

‹informal› denoting or exemplifying an ostentatious or flamboyant lifestyle or style of clothing of a type associated with the hip-hop subculture

• ghetto-fabulous rappers.

ghettoize /ˈɡedōˌīz/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. put in or restrict to an isolated or segregated place, group, or situation

• they called for a policy that seeks to integrate foreign laborers rather than ghettoize them.

II. derivatives

ghettoization /ˌɡedōˌīˈzāSH(ə)n ˌɡedōeˈzāSH(ə)n /

noun

GHG

abbreviation

greenhouse gas.

Ghibelline /ˈɡibəlēn ˈɡibəˌlīn ˈɡibələn/

I. noun

a member of one of the two great political factions in Italian medieval politics, traditionally supporting the Holy Roman Emperor against the pope and his supporters, the Guelphs.

– origin from Italian Ghibellino, perhaps from German Waiblingen, an estate belonging to Hohenstaufen emperors.

Ghiberti, Lorenzo /ɡēˈbertē/

(1378–1455), Italian sculptor and goldsmith.

Ghirlandaio /ˌɡirlənˈdīō/

(c. 1448–94), Italian painter; born Domenico di Tommaso Bigordi. He is noted for his religious frescoes, particularly Christ Calling Peter and Andrew (1482–84) in the Sistine Chapel in Rome.

ghost /ɡōst/

I. noun

1. an apparition of a dead person that is believed to appear or become manifest to the living, typically as a nebulous image

• the building is haunted by the ghost of a monk

• ‹figurative› the ghosts of past deeds.

2. a faint trace of something

• she gave the ghost of a smile.

3. a faint secondary image produced by a fault in an optical system or on a cathode ray screen, e.g., by faulty television reception or internal reflection in a mirror or camera.

II. verb

1. [with obj.] — act as ghostwriter of (a work)

• his memoirs were smoothly ghosted by a journalist.

2. [no obj.] — glide smoothly and effortlessly

• they ghosted up the river.

III. phrases

1. the ghost in the machine

[Philosophy] the mind viewed as distinct from the body (usually used in a derogatory fashion by critics of dualism).
[coined by the philosopher Gilbert Ryle (1949).]

2. give up the ghost

a. die.

b. (of a machine) stop working.

3. look as if you have seen a ghost

look very pale and shocked.

4. not stand a ghost of a chance

have no chance at all.

IV. derivatives

ghostlike /ˈɡōs(t)ˌlīk /

adjective

– origin Old English gāst (in the sense ‘spirit, soul’), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch geest and German Geist. The gh- spelling occurs first in Caxton, probably influenced by Flemish gheest.

ghost bike

noun

a bicycle painted white and left as a memorial at a site where a cyclist was fatally injured by a collision with a motor vehicle

• a ghost bike is a reminder of the vulnerability of cyclists.

ghostbuster /ˈɡōstˌbəstər / ‹informal›

noun

1. a person who claims to be able to banish ghosts and poltergeists.

2. a parapsychologist.

3. an investigator of tax fraud.

ghost crab

noun

a pale yellowish crab that lives in a burrow in the sand above the high-water mark and goes down to the sea at night to feed.
[Genus Ocypode, family Ocypodidae.]

Ghost Dance

an American Indian religious cult of the second half of the 19th century, based on the performance of a ritual dance that, it was believed, would drive away white people and restore the traditional lands and way of life. Advocated by the Sioux chief Sitting Bull, the cult was central to the uprising that was crushed at the Battle of Wounded Knee.

ghosting /ˈɡōstiNG/

noun

the appearance of a ghost or secondary image on a television or other display screen.

ghostly /ˈɡōs(t)lē/

I. adjective

of or like a ghost in appearance or sound; eerie and unnatural

• a ghostly figure with a hood.

II. derivatives

ghostliness /ˈɡōs(t)lēnəs /

noun

– origin Old English gāstlic, from gāst ‘ghost.’

ghost moth ghost swift

noun

a medium to large swift moth, the male of which has white wings.
[Family Hepialidae. See swift (sense 2 of the noun).]

ghost story /ˈɡōs(t) ˌstôrē/

noun

a story involving ghosts or ghostly circumstances, intended to be suspenseful and scary.

ghost town /ˈɡōs(t) ˌtoun/

noun

a deserted town with few or no remaining inhabitants.

ghost word

noun

a word that is not actually used but is recorded in a dictionary or other reference work.

ghostwriter /ˈɡōstˌrīdər/

I. noun

a person whose job it is to write material for someone else who is the named author.

II. derivatives

ghostwrite /ˈɡōstrīt /

verb

ghoul /ɡo͞ol/

I. noun

1. an evil spirit or phantom, especially one supposed to rob graves and feed on dead bodies.

2. a person morbidly interested in death or disaster.

– origin late 18th cent.: from Arabic ġūl, ‘a desert demon believed to rob graves and devour corpses.’

ghoulish /ˈɡo͞oliSH/

I. adjective

1. resembling or characteristic of a ghoul

• a ghoulish mask.

2. morbidly interested in death or disaster

• she told the story with ghoulish relish.

II. derivatives

1. ghoulishly /ˈɡo͞oliSHlē /

adverb

2. ghoulishness

noun

GHQ

abbreviation

general headquarters.

ghrelin /ˈɡrelin/

noun

an enzyme produced by stomach lining cells that stimulates appetite.

Ghulghuleh /ɡo͞olˈɡo͞ole/

an ancient city in central Afghanistan. It was destroyed by Genghis Khan c. 1221.

GHz

abbreviation

gigahertz.

gi /ɡē/

I. noun

a lightweight two-piece white garment worn in judo and other martial arts. A gi typically consists of loose-fitting pants and a jacket that is closed with a cloth belt.

– origin Japanese.

GI^1 /ˌjē ˈī/

I. noun

a private soldier in the US Army.

– origin 1930s (originally denoting equipment supplied to US forces): abbreviation of galvanized iron; later misinterpreted as an abbreviation of government (or general) issue.

GI^2

abbreviation

glycemic index.

Giacometti, Alberto /ˌjäkəˈmetē/

(1901–66), Swiss sculptor and painter. His most typical works are of emaciated and extremely elongated human forms, such as Invisible Object (1934–35), and Man Pointing (1947).

giant /ˈjīənt/

I. noun

1. an imaginary or mythical being of human form but superhuman size.

2. an abnormally tall or large person, animal, or plant.

3. a very large company or organization.

4. a person of exceptional talent or qualities

• a giant among sportsmen.

5. [Astronomy] a star of relatively great size and luminosity compared to ordinary stars of the main sequence, and 10–100 times the diameter of the sun.

II. adjective — [attrib.]

1. of very great size or force; gigantic

• giant multinational corporations

• a giant transport plane

• a giant meteorite.

2. used in names of very large animals and plants, e.g., giant hogweed, giant tortoise.

III. derivatives

giantlike /-ˌlīk /

adjective

– origin Middle English geant (with the first syllable later influenced by Latin gigant-), from Old French, via Latin from Greek gigas, gigant-.

giant anteater /ˈjīənt ˈan(t)ˌēdər/

noun

a large insectivorous mammal with long coarse fur, large claws, an elongated snout, and a long tongue for catching ants. It is native to Central and South America.
[Myrmecophaga tridactyla, family Myrmecophagidae, order Xenartha (or Edentata).]

giant clam

noun

a very large bivalve mollusk that occurs in the tropical Indo-Pacific.
[Family Tridacnidae: several species, including Tridacna gigas, which is the largest living shelled mollusk.]

giant deer

noun

another term for Irish elk.

giantess /ˈjīən(t)əs/

noun

a female giant.

giant gourami

noun

a large edible freshwater fish that is native to Asia. It is widely farmed there and has been introduced elsewhere.
[Family Osphronemidae and genus Osphronemus, in particular O. goramy.]

giant groundsel

noun

a large treelike plant of the daisy family, having a thick stem and a few short branches tipped with broad leaves, growing chiefly on high mountains in central and eastern Africa.
[Genus Senecio (or Dendrosenecio), family Compositae.]

giantism /ˈjīənˌtizəm/

noun

a tendency toward abnormally large size; gigantism.

giant-killer /ˈjīənt ˌkilər/

I. noun

a person or team that defeats a seemingly much more powerful opponent.

II. derivatives

giant-killing

noun

giant order

noun

[Architecture] an order whose columns extend through more than one story.

giant petrel

noun

the largest petrel, which is found around southern oceans, has a massive bill, and scavenges from carcasses.
[Genus Macronectes, family Procellariidae: two species.]

giant puffball

noun

a European fungus that produces a spherical white fruiting body with a diameter of up to 32 inches (80 cm), edible when young.
[Langermannia gigantea, family Lycoperdaceae, class Gasteromycetes.]

giant reed

noun

a fast-growing perennial grass native to India that is a principal source for reeds used in musical instruments. In the US it threatens some native plant habitats because of its spreading and dispersal habits.
[Arundo donax, family Poaceae.]

giant salamander

noun

a very large salamander that is native to North America and eastern Asia, in particular
[● a permanently aquatic salamander (three species in the family Cryptobranchidae), e.g., the American hellbender. ● a terrestrial salamander (three species in the family Dicamptodontidae), of western North America.]

giant sequoia

noun

another term for giant redwood (see redwood).

giant slalom /ˈjīənt ˈsläləm/

noun

a long-distance slalom with fast, wide turns.

giant squid

noun

a deep-sea squid that is the largest known invertebrate, reaching a length of 59 feet (18 m) or more.
[Genus Architeuthis, order Teuthoidea.]

giant toad

noun

another term for cane toad.

giant tortoise

noun

a very large tortoise with a long lifespan, occurring on several tropical oceanic islands.
[Genus Geochelone, family Testudinidae: G. nigra (Galapagos Islands) and G. gigantea (Aldabra and the Seychelles).]

giaour /ˈjou(ə)r/

I. noun

‹archaic› ‹derogatory› a non-Muslim, especially a Christian.

– origin from Turkish gâvur, from Persian gaur, probably from Arabic kāfir (see Kaffir).

Giap, Vo Nguyen /zyäp/

(1912–2013), Vietnamese military and political leader. As North Vietnamese vice-premier and defense minister, he was responsible for the strategy leading to the withdrawal of US forces from South Vietnam in 1973 and the subsequent reunification of the country in 1976.

giardiasis /ˌjēärˈdīəsis, järˈdī-/

I. noun

infection of the intestine with a flagellate protozoan, which causes diarrhea and other symptoms.
[The protozoan is Giardia lamblia, phylum Metamonada, kingdom Protista.]

– origin early 20th cent.: from modern Latin Giardia (from the name of Alfred M. Giard (1846–1908), French biologist) + -asis.

gib /jib/

I. noun

a wood or metal bolt, wedge, or pin for holding part of a machine or structure in place, usually adjusted by a screw or key
[as modifier]

• gib screws.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. fasten (parts) together with a gib.

– origin late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

gibber /ˈjibər/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. speak rapidly and unintelligibly, typically through fear or shock

• they shrieked and gibbered as flames surrounded them

• (as adj. gibbering) a gibbering idiot.

– origin early 17th cent.: imitative.

gibberellic acid /ˌjibərelik ˈasəd/

I. noun

a gibberellin that is used commercially, notably in germinating barley for malt.

– origin 1950s: gibberellic from modern Latin Gibberella (see gibberellin) + -ic.

gibberellin /ˌjibəˈrelən/

I. noun

any of a group of plant hormones that stimulate stem elongation, germination, and flowering.

– origin 1930s: from modern Latin Gibberella (from Gibberella fujikuroi, the fungus from which one of the gibberellins was first extracted), diminutive of the genus name Gibbera, from Latin gibber ‘hump,’ + -in^1.

gibberish /ˈjib(ə)riSH/

I. noun

unintelligible or meaningless speech or writing; nonsense

• he talks gibberish.

– origin early 16th cent.: perhaps from gibber (but recorded earlier) + the suffix -ish^1 (denoting a language as in Spanish, Swedish, etc).

gibbet /ˈjibit / ‹historical›

I. noun

1. a gallows.

2. an upright post with an arm on which the bodies of executed criminals were left hanging as a warning or deterrent to others.

3. (the gibbet) — execution by hanging

• the four ringleaders were sentenced to the gibbet.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. hang up (a body) on a gibbet.

2. execute (someone) by hanging.

3. ‹archaic› hold up to contempt

• poor Melbourne is gibbeted in the Times.

– origin Middle English: from Old French gibet ‘staff, cudgel, gallows,’ diminutive of gibe ‘club, staff,’ probably of Germanic origin.

gibbon /ˈɡibən/

I. noun

a small, slender tree-dwelling ape with long powerful arms and loud hooting calls, native to the forests of Southeast Asia.
See also white-handed gibbon. [Family Hylobatidae and genus Hylobates: several species.]

– origin late 18th cent.: from French, from an Indian dialect word.

Gibbon, Edward /ˈɡibən/

(1737–94), English historian. He is best known for his multivolume work, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1776–88).

gibbous /ˈɡibəs ˈjibəs/

I. adjective

1. (of the moon) having the observable illuminated part greater than a semicircle and less than a circle.

2. convex or protuberant

• gibbous eyes.

II. derivatives

1. gibbosity /ɡəˈbäsədē /

noun

2. gibbously

adverb

3. gibbousness

noun

– origin late Middle English: from late Latin gibbosus, from Latin gibbus ‘hump.’

Gibbs, Josiah Willard /ɡibz/

(1839–1903), US physical chemist. He was a pioneer in the fields of chemical thermodynamics and statistical mechanics.

Gibbs free energy

I. noun

(Symbol: G) — [Chemistry] a thermodynamic quantity equal to the enthalpy (of a system or process) minus the product of the entropy and the absolute temperature.

– origin named after J. W. Gibbs (see Gibbs, Josiah Willard).

gibbsite /ˈɡibzīt/

I. noun

a colorless mineral consisting of aluminum hydroxide, occurring chiefly as a constituent of bauxite or in encrustations.

– origin early 19th cent.: named after George Gibbs (1776–1833), American mineralogist, + -ite^1.

gibe /jīb / jibe

I. noun

an insulting or mocking remark; a taunt

• a gibe at his old rivals.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. make insulting or mocking remarks; jeer

• some cynics in the media might gibe.

– origin mid 16th cent. (as a verb): perhaps from Old French giber ‘handle roughly’ (in modern dialect ‘kick’); compare with jib^2.

giblets /ˈjibləts/

I. plural noun

the liver, heart, gizzard, and neck of a chicken or other fowl, usually removed before the bird is cooked, and often used to make gravy, stuffing, or soup.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘an inessential appendage,’ later ‘garbage, offal’): from Old French gibelet ‘game bird stew,’ probably from gibier ‘birds or mammals hunted for sport.’

Gibraltar /jəˈbrôltər/

a British overseas territory near the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula, at the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar; pop. 28,800 (est. 2009). Occupying a site of great strategic importance, Gibraltar consists of a fortified town and a military base at the foot of a rocky headland called the Rock of Gibraltar. Britain captured it during the War of the Spanish Succession in 1704 and is responsible for its defense, external affairs, and internal security.

Gibraltar, Strait of

a channel between the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula and North Africa that forms the only outlet of the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. It is about 38 miles (60 km) long and varies in width from 15 to 25 miles (24 to 40 km).

Gibraltarian /ˌjibrôlˈterēən/

I. adjective

relating to or characteristic of Gibraltar or its people

• experts appointed by the Gibraltarian government.

II. noun

a native or inhabitant of Gilbraltar

• crowds of Gibraltarians gathered at the foot of the cliff face.

Gibran, Khalil /jiˈbrän / Jubran

(1883–1931), US writer and artist; born in Lebanon. His writings in both Arabic and English are deeply romantic, displaying his religious and mystical nature. He is best known for The Prophet (1923).

Gibson /ˈɡibsən/

noun

a dry martini cocktail garnished with a pickled onion.

Gibson, Althea /ˈɡibsən/

(1927–2003), US tennis player. She was the first black player to succeed at the highest level of tennis, winning all of the major world women's singles titles in the late 1950s.

Gibson, Bob

(1935–) US baseball player; full name Robert Gibson; born Pack Gibson. He pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals 1959–75. Baseball Hall of Fame (1981).

Gibson, Charles Dana

(1867–1944) US artist. A magazine illustrator, he created the “Gibson Girl,” typifying a standard of fashion for the times.

Gibson, Mel

(1956–), Australian actor and director; born in the US; full name Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson. Notable movies: the Lethal Weapon trilogy (1987, 1989, and 1992), Braveheart (1995), and The Passion of the Christ (2004).

Gibson Desert /ˌɡibsən ˈdezərt/

a desert region in western Australia, southeast of the Great Sandy Desert, in eastern central Western Australia. The first European to cross it was Ernest Giles in 1876. He named it after Alfred Gibson, who was lost on an earlier expedition.

Gibson girl

I. noun

a girl typifying the fashionable ideal of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

– origin represented in the work of Charles D. Gibson (1867–1944), American artist and illustrator.

gibus /ˈjībəs / gibus hat

I. noun

a kind of collapsible top hat.

– origin mid 19th cent.: named after Gibus, the French inventor of this type of hat.

giclée /ZHēˈklā / giclee

noun

1. a technology for fine art or photograph reproduction using a high-quality inkjet printer to make individual copies.

2. a print produced using the giclée process.

• 65 percent of galleries now sell giclées.

giddap /ɡidˈəp/

exclamation

(N. Amer.) another term for giddy-up.

giddiness /ˈɡidēnəs/

noun

1. a sensation of whirling and a tendency to fall or stagger; dizziness

• symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and giddiness.

2. a state of excitable frivolity.

• the fans can be forgiven their giddiness.

giddy /ˈɡidē/

I. adjective

1. having a sensation of whirling and a tendency to fall or stagger; dizzy

• I felt giddy and had to steady myself

• Luke felt almost giddy with relief.

2. disorienting and alarming, but exciting

• he has risen to the giddy heights of master.

3. excitable and frivolous

• her giddy young sister-in-law.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. make (someone) feel excited to the point of disorientation
[as adj.]

• the giddying speed of the revolving doors.

III. derivatives

giddily /ˈɡidəlē /

adverb

– origin Old English gidig ‘insane,’ literally ‘possessed by a god,’ from the base of God. Current senses date from late Middle English.

giddy-up /ˈɡidēˌəp / giddap

I. exclamation

used to get a horse to start moving or go faster.

– origin 1920s (as giddap): reproducing a pronunciation of get up.

Gide, André /ZHēd/

(1869–1951), French novelist, essayist, and critic; regarded as the father of modern French literature; full name André Paul Guillaume Gide. His notable works include The Immoralist (1902), Strait Is the Gate (1909), The Counterfeiters (1927), and Journal (1939–50). Nobel Prize for Literature (1947).

Gideon /ˈɡidēən/

I. (in the Bible) an Israelite leader, described in Judges 6:11.

II. a member of Gideons International.

Gideons International

an international Christian organization of business and professional people, founded in 1899 in the US with the aim of spreading the Christian faith by placing bibles in hotel rooms and hospital wards.

gie /ɡē/

verb

Scottish form of give.

Gielgud, Sir John /ˈɡēlˌɡo͝od/

(1904–2000), English actor and director; full name Arthur John Gielgud. A notable Shakespearean actor, particularly remembered for his interpretation of the role of Hamlet, he also appeared in contemporary plays and movies, including the film Arthur (1980).

GIF /ɡif jif/

I. noun

1. [Computing] a lossless format for image files that supports both animated and static images
[as modifier]

• a GIF image.

2. [Computing] a file in GIF format.

– origin 1980s: acronym from graphic interchange format.

gift /ɡift/

I. noun

1. a thing given willingly to someone without payment; a present

• a Christmas gift

• [as modifier] a gift shop.

2. an act of giving something as a present

• his mother's gift of a pen.

3. ‹informal› a very easy task or unmissable opportunity

• that touchdown was an absolute gift.

4. a natural ability or talent

• he has a gift for comedy.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. give (something) as a gift, especially formally or as a donation or bequest

• the company gifted 2,999 shares to a charity.

2. present (someone) with a gift or gifts

• the director gifted her with a heart-shaped brooch.

3. (gift someone with) — endow someone with (something)

• she was gifted with a powerful clairvoyance.

III. phrases

1. the gift of tongues

see tongue.

2. look a gift horse in the mouth

find fault with something that has been received as a gift or favor.
[earlier as look a given horse in the mouth.]

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse gipt; related to give.

GIFT /ɡift/

I. noun

[Medicine] gamete intrafallopian transfer, a technique for assisting conception by introducing mixed ova and sperm into a Fallopian tube.

– origin 1980s: acronym.

gift aid

I. noun

1. (US) financial aid that does not require repayment, such as student grants and scholarships

• there are four types of federal grants that could help you pay for college, all of which fall under the umbrella of gift aid.

2. (Gift Aid) — (Brit.) a program enabling registered charities to reclaim tax on a donation made by a UK taxpayer, effectively increasing the amount of the donation

• using Gift Aid means that the taxman will add 28p to every pound you give

• [as modifier] Gift Aid donations.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. (Brit.) make (a donation) to a registered charity under the Gift Aid program

• he gift-aided the money—which added quite a lot to the total.

gift certificate /ɡift ˌsərˈtifəkāt/

noun

(N. Amer.) a voucher given as a present that is exchangeable for a specified cash value of goods or services from a particular place of business.

gifted /ˈɡiftəd/

I. adjective

having exceptional talent or natural ability

• a gifted amateur musician

• scholarships for gifted students.

II. derivatives

giftedness

noun

gift of gab ‹chiefly Brit.› gift of the gab

noun

the ability to speak with eloquence and fluency.

gift shop

noun

a shop that sells souvenirs and small items suitable to be given as presents

• a lovely little gift shop, full of magnets, coasters, and handbags.

giftware /ˈɡiftwer/

noun

goods sold as being suitable as gifts.

gift wrap /ˈɡift ˌrap / gift-wrapping

I. noun

decorative paper for wrapping presents.

II. verb — (gift-wrap) [with obj.] (usu. as adj. gift-wrapped)

1. wrap (a present) in decorative paper.

2. hand over (something) as if a gift

• his first on-screen role came gift-wrapped.

Gifu /ˈɡēfo͞o/

a city in central Japan, on the island of Honshu; pop. 413,099 (2007).

gig^1 /ɡiɡ/

I. noun

1. ‹chiefly historical› a light two-wheeled carriage pulled by one horse.

2. a light, fast, narrow boat adapted for rowing or sailing.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. travel in a gig.

– origin late 18th cent.: apparently a transferred sense of obsolete gig ‘a flighty girl,’ which was also applied to various objects or devices that whirled.

gig^2 /ɡiɡ / ‹informal›

I. noun

1. a live performance by or engagement for a musician or group playing popular or jazz music.

2. a job, especially one that is temporary or that has an uncertain future

• he secured his first gig as an NFL coach.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. perform a gig or gigs.

2. [with obj.] — use (a piece of musical equipment) at a gig.

– origin 1920s: of unknown origin.

gig^3 /ɡiɡ/

I. noun

a harpoonlike device used for catching fish or frogs.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. catch fish or frogs using a gig.

– origin early 18th cent.: shortening of earlier (rarely used) fizgig, probably from Spanish fisga ‘harpoon.’

gig^4 /ɡiɡ/

noun

[Computing] ‹informal› short for gigabyte.

giga- /ˈɡiɡə-/

I. combining form

1. used in units of measurement.

2. denoting a factor of 10^9

• gigahertz.

3. [Computing] denoting a factor of 2^30.

– origin from Greek gigas ‘giant.’

gigabit /ˈɡiɡəbit / Gb

noun

[Computing] a unit of information equal to one billion (10^9) or, strictly, 2^30 bits.

gigabyte /ˈɡiɡəˌbīt / GB

noun

[Computing] a unit of information equal to one billion (10^9) or, strictly, 2^30 bytes.

gigaflop /ˈɡiɡəˌfläp/

I. noun

[Computing] a unit of computing speed equal to one billion floating-point operations per second.

– origin 1970s: back-formation from gigaflops (see giga-, -flop).

giganotosaurus /jīˌɡəˈnōdəsôrəs/

I. noun

an enormous carnivorous dinosaur of the late Cretaceous period, resembling the tyrannosaurs.
[Genus Giganotosaurus, suborder Theropoda, order Saurischia.]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek gigas ‘giant’ + nōton ‘back’ + sauros ‘lizard.’

gigantesque /ˌjīɡənˈtesk jīˈɡanˌtesk/

I. adjective

like or appropriate to a giant

• these figures, gigantesque and caricatured, haunted my dreams

• a gigantesque feat.

– origin early 19th cent.: from French, from Italian gigantesco, from Greek gigas, gigant- (see giant).

gigantic /jīˈɡan(t)ik/

I. adjective

of very great size or extent; huge or enormous

• a gigantic concrete tower.

II. derivatives

gigantically /jīˈɡan(t)ək(ə)lē /

adverb

– origin early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘like or suited to a giant’): from Latin gigas, gigant- (see giant) + -ic.

gigantism /jīˈɡanˌtizəm/

noun

1. [chiefly Biology] unusual or abnormal largeness.

2. [chiefly Biology] [Medicine] excessive growth due to hormonal imbalance.

3. [chiefly Biology] [Botany] excessive size in plants due to polyploidy.

gigantomachy /ˌjīɡənˈtäməkē/

I. noun

(in Greek mythology) the struggle between the gods and the giants.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Greek gigantomakhia, from gigas, gigant- (see giant) + -makhia ‘fighting.’

Gigantopithecus /jīˌɡan(t)əˈpəTHəkəs/

I. noun

a very large fossil Asian ape of the late Miocene to early Pleistocene epochs.
[Genus Gigantopithecus, family Pongidae.]

– origin modern Latin, from Greek gigas, gigant- (see giant) + pithēkos ‘ape.’

gigapixel /ˈɡiɡəˌpiksəl/

noun

[Computing] a unit of graphic resolution equivalent to one billion or 10^9 pixels.
[as modifier]

• apart from their obvious appeal to photographers, gigapixel images also hold tremendous potential for law enforcement and the military.

gigaton /ˈɡiɡəˌtən / ‹Brit.› gigatonne

noun

a unit of explosive force equal to one billion (10^9) tons of trinitrotoluene (TNT).

gigawatt /ˈɡiɡəˌwät/

noun

a unit of electric power equal to one billion (10^9) watts.

giggle /ˈɡiɡəl/

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. laugh lightly in a nervous, affected, or silly manner

• they giggled at some private joke

• (as adj. giggling) three giggling girls.

II. noun

1. a light, silly laugh.

2. (the giggles) — continuous uncontrollable giggling

• I got a fit of the giggles.

III. derivatives

giggler /ˈɡiɡ(ə)lər /

noun

– origin early 16th cent.: imitative.

giggly /ˈɡiɡ(ə)lē/

adjective

having a tendency to laugh in an excited, nervous, or silly way

• from giggly schoolgirl to tough career woman.

GIGO /ˈɡiɡō/

abbreviation

[chiefly Computing] garbage in, garbage out.
See garbage.

gigolo /ˈZHiɡəlō/

I. noun

‹chiefly derogatory› a young man paid or financially supported by an older woman to be her escort or lover.

– origin 1920s (in the sense ‘dancing partner’): from French, formed as the masculine of gigole ‘dance hall woman,’ from colloquial gigue ‘leg.’

gigot /ˈjiɡət/

I. noun

a leg of mutton or lamb.

– origin French, diminutive of colloquial gigue ‘leg,’ from giguer ‘to hop, jump,’ of unknown origin.

gigot sleeve

noun

a leg-of-mutton sleeve.

gigue /ZHēɡ/

I. noun

[Music] a lively piece of music in the style of a dance, typically of the Renaissance or baroque period, and usually in compound time.

– origin late 17th cent.: French, literally ‘jig.’

Gijón /KHēˈKHōn/

a port and industrial city in northern Spain, on the Bay of Biscay; pop. 275,699 (2008).

Gila monster /ˈhēlə ˌmänstər/

I. noun

a venomous lizard native to the southwestern US and Mexico.
[Heloderma suspectum, family Helodermatidae.]

– origin late 19th cent.: named after Gila, a river in New Mexico and Arizona.

Gila River /ˌhēlə ˈrivər/

a river that flows for 645 miles (1,045 km) from New Mexico across southern Arizona to the Colorado River. Phoenix is in its valley.

Gilbert /ˈɡilbərt/

a town in southwestern Arizona, part of the Phoenix metropolitan area; pop. 216,449 (est. 2008).

Gilbert, Cass /ˈɡilbərt/

(1859–1934) US architect. He designed the Woolworth building in New York City 1908–13, the annex to the US Treasury building 1918–19, and the US Supreme Court building 1935.

Gilbert, Sir Humphrey

(c. 1539–83), English explorer. He claimed Newfoundland for Elizabeth I in 1583.

Gilbert, Sir W. S.

(1836–1911), English playwright; full name William Schwenck Gilbert. He is best known as a librettist who collaborated on light operas with composer Sir Arthur Sullivan. Notable works: HMS Pinafore (1878), The Pirates of Penzance (1879), and The Mikado (1885).

Gilbert, William

(1544–1603), English physician and physicist. He discovered how to make magnets and coined the term magnetic pole.

Gilbert and Ellice Islands /ˌɡilbərt ən ˈeləs ˌīləndz/

a former British colony 1915–75 in the central Pacific Ocean that consisted of two groups of islands: the Gilbert Islands, now a part of Kiribati, and the Ellice Islands, now Tuvalu.

Gilbert Islands

a group of islands in the central Pacific Ocean that forms part of Kiribati. The islands straddle the equator and lie immediately west of the International Date Line. They were formerly part of the British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands.

gild^1 /ɡild/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. cover thinly with gold.

2. give a specious or false brilliance to

• they gild the facts until the truth all but vanishes.

II. phrases

gild the lily

try to improve what is already beautiful or excellent.
[misquotation, from ‘To gild refined gold, to paint the lily; to throw perfume on the violet, … is wasteful, and ridiculous excess’ (Shakespeare's King John VI. ii. 11).]

III. derivatives

gilder /ˈɡildər /

noun

– origin Old English gyldan, of Germanic origin; related to gold.

gild^2 /ɡild/

noun

archaic spelling of guild.

gilded /ˈɡildəd/

adjective

1. covered thinly with gold leaf or gold paint

• an elegant gilded birdcage.

2. wealthy and privileged

• he saw plain, decent boys transformed to gilded, roistering youths.

gilding /ˈɡildiNG/

noun

1. the process of applying gold leaf or gold paint.

2. the material used in, or the surface produced by applying gold leaf or gold paint.

gilet /ˈZHilā/

I. noun

a light sleeveless padded jacket.

– origin late 19th cent.: French, ‘waistcoat,’ from Spanish jileco, from Turkish yelek.

Gilgamesh /ˈɡilɡəˌmeSH/

a legendary king of the Sumerian city state of Uruk who is supposed to have ruled sometime during the first half of the 3rd millennium BC. He is the hero of the Babylonian epic of Gilgamesh, which recounts his exploits in an ultimately unsuccessful quest for immortality.

gill^1 /ɡil/

I. noun — (often gills)

1. the paired respiratory organ of fishes and some amphibians, by which oxygen is extracted from water flowing over surfaces within or attached to the walls of the pharynx.

2. an organ similar to a gill in an invertebrate animal.

3. the vertical plates arranged radially on the underside of mushrooms and many toadstools.

4. the wattles or dewlap of a fowl.

5. (gills) — the flesh below a person's jaws and ears

• we stuffed ourselves to the gills with scrambled eggs and toast.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. gut or clean (a fish).

2. catch (a fish) in a gill net.

III. phrases

green around (or at) the gills

(of a person) sickly-looking.

IV. derivatives

gilled

adjective

[in combination]

• a six-gilled shark

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse.

gill^2 /jil/

I. noun

a unit of liquid measure, equal to a quarter of a pint.

– origin Middle English: from Old French gille ‘measure or container for wine,’ from late Latin gillo ‘water pot.’

gill^3 /ɡil/

I. noun

1. (Brit.) a deep ravine, especially a wooded one.

2. (Brit.) a narrow mountain stream.

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse gil ‘deep glen.’

gill^4 /ɡil / jill

I. noun

1. ‹archaic› a young woman; a sweetheart.

2. a female ferret.
Compare with hob^2 (sense 1).

– origin late Middle English: abbreviation of the given name Gillian.

Gill, Eric /ɡil/

(1882–1940), English sculptor, engraver, and typographer; full name Arthur Eric Rowton Gill. He did the relief carvings Stations of the Cross (1914–18) at Westminster Cathedral and the Prospero and Ariel (1931) on Broadcasting House in London. He also designed the first sans serif typeface, Gill Sans.

gill arch

noun

1. any of a series of bony or cartilaginous curved bars along the pharynx, supporting the gills of fish and amphibians.

2. any of the corresponding rudimentary structures in the embryos of higher vertebrates.

Gillard, Julia /ˈɡilärd/

(1961–), Australian Labor stateswoman; prime minister 2010–13; full name Julia Eileen Gillard.

gill cover

noun

a flap of skin protecting a fish's gills, typically stiffened by bony plates.
Also called operculum.

Gillespie, Dizzy /ɡəˈlespē/

(1917–93), US jazz trumpet player and bandleader; born John Birks Gillespie. As a virtuoso trumpet player and a leading exponent of bebop style, he formed his own group in 1944 and toured the world.

gillie /ˈɡilē / ghillie

I. noun

1. (in Scotland) a man or boy who attends someone on a hunting or fishing expedition.

2. ‹historical› a Highland chief's attendant.

3. (usu. ghillie) — a type of shoe with laces along the instep and no tongue, especially those used for Scottish country dancing.

– origin late 16th cent.: from Scottish Gaelic gille ‘lad, servant.’ The word was also found in the term gilliewetfoot, denoting a servant who carried the chief over a stream, used as a contemptuous name by Lowlanders for the follower of a Highland chief. Sense 2 dates from the 1930s.

gill net

I. noun

a fishing net that is hung vertically so that fish get trapped in it by their gills.

II. derivatives

gill-netter

noun

gill-over-the-ground

noun

another term for ground ivy.

gill slit /ˈɡil ˌslit/

noun

1. any of a series of openings between the gill arches of a fish, through which water passes from the pharynx to the exterior, bathing the gills in the process.

2. a set of grooves similar to gill slits found in embryos of higher vertebrates.

gillyflower /ˈjilēˌflou(ə)r / gilliflower

I. noun

any of a number of fragrant flowers, such as the wallflower, clove pink, or white stock.

– origin Middle English gilofre (in the sense ‘clove’), from Old French gilofre, girofle, via medieval Latin from Greek karuophullon (from karuon ‘nut’ + phullon ‘leaf’). The ending was altered by association with flower, but gilliver survived in dialect.

Gilsonite /ˈɡilsəˌnīt/

I. noun

‹trademark› a very pure, shiny black, brittle form of asphalt, used in making inks, paints, and varnishes.

– origin late 19th cent.: named after Samuel H. Gilson, 19th-cent. American mineralogist, + -ite^1.

gilt^1 /ɡilt/

I. adjective

covered thinly with gold leaf or gold paint.

II. noun

gold leaf or gold paint applied in a thin layer to a surface.

– origin Middle English: archaic past participle of gild^1.

gilt^2 /ɡilt/

I. noun

a young sow.

– origin Middle English: from Old Norse gyltr.

gilt-edged /ˈɡilt ˈˌejd/

adjective

1. (especially of paper or a book) having a gilded edge or edges.

2. relating to or denoting stocks or other securities that are regarded as extremely reliable investments.

3. of very high quality.

gimbal /ˈɡimb(ə)l ˈjimb(ə)l/

I. noun — (often gimbals)

1. a mechanism, typically consisting of rings pivoted at right angles, for keeping an instrument such as a compass or chronometer horizontal in a moving vessel or aircraft.

II. derivatives

gimbaled gimballed

adjective

– origin late 16th cent. (used in the plural denoting connecting parts in machinery): variant of earlier gimmal, itself a variant of late Middle English gemel ‘twin, hinge, finger ring that can be divided into two rings,’ from Old French gemel ‘twin,’ from Latin gemellus, diminutive of geminus.

gimcrack /ˈjimˌkrak/

I. adjective

flimsy or poorly made but deceptively attractive

• plastic gimcrack cookware.

II. noun

a cheap and showy ornament; a knickknack.

III. derivatives

gimcrackery /ˈjimˌkrak(ə)rē /

noun

– origin Middle English gibecrake, of unknown origin. Originally a noun, the term denoted some kind of inlaid work in wood, later a fanciful notion or mechanical contrivance, hence a knickknack.

gimlet /ˈɡimlət/

I. noun

1. a small T-shaped tool with a screw-tip for boring holes.

2. a cocktail of gin (or sometimes vodka) and lime juice.

– origin Middle English: from Old French guimbelet, diminutive of guimble ‘drill,’ ultimately of Germanic origin.

gimlet eye

I. noun

an eye with a piercing stare.

II. derivatives

gimlet-eyed

adjective

gimme /ˈɡimē / ‹informal›

I. contraction

give me (not acceptable in standard use)

• just gimme the damn thing.

II. noun

(N. Amer.) a thing that is very easy to perform or obtain, especially in a game or sport

• the kick would hardly be a gimme in that wind.

gimme cap gimme hat

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a baseball cap that bears a company name or slogan and is given away for publicity purposes.

gimmick /ˈɡimik/

I. noun

a trick or device intended to attract attention, publicity, or business.

– origin 1920s (originally US): of unknown origin but possibly an approximate anagram of magic, the original sense being ‘a piece of magicians' apparatus.’

gimmickry /ˈɡimikrē/

noun

gimmicks collectively; the use of gimmicks

• it does what it says it does, with no design gimmickry.

gimmicky /ˈɡimikē/

adjective

(of a trick or device) intended to attract attention, publicity, or trade

• gimmicky 3D effects

• scripts with gimmicky plots.

gimp^1 /ɡimp/

I. noun

1. twisted silk, worsted, or cotton with cord or wire running through it, used chiefly as upholstery trimming.

2. (in lacemaking) coarser thread that forms the outline of the design in some techniques.

3. fishing line made of silk bound with wire.

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Dutch, of unknown ultimate origin.

gimp^2 /ɡimp / ‹N. Amer. informal, derogatory›

I. noun

1. a physically handicapped or lame person.

2. a limp.

3. a feeble or contemptible person.

II. verb — [no obj.]

1. limp; hobble

• she gimped around thereafter on an artificial leg.

III. derivatives

gimpy

adjective

– origin 1920s (originally US): of unknown origin.

gin^1 /jin/

I. noun

1. a clear alcoholic spirit distilled from grain or malt and flavored with juniper berries.

2. (also gin rummy) — a two-handed form of the card game rummy in which players are dealt ten cards each and attempt to produce a hand in which the point value of unmatched cards adds up to ten or less.

– origin early 18th cent.: abbreviation of genever.

gin^2 /jin/

I. noun

1. a machine for separating cotton from its seeds.

2. a machine for raising and moving heavy weights.

3. (also gin trap) — a snare for catching game.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. treat (cotton) in a gin.

2. trap (a person or animal) in a gin.

III. phrasal verbs

1. gin someone up

(US) arouse or intensify strong feelings in someone

• the goal of the convention is to gin up the faithful.

2. gin something up

(US) generate or increase something, especially by dubious or dishonest means

• the trade press has ginned up a controversy

• critics say the program is just a way for big drug companies to gin up demand for their psychiatric drugs.

IV. derivatives

ginner

noun

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘a tool or device, a trick’): from Old French engin (see engine).

ginger /ˈjinjər/

I. noun

1. a hot fragrant spice made from the rhizome of a plant. It is chopped or powdered for cooking, preserved in syrup, or candied.

2. spirit; mettle

• he had more ginger than her first husband.

3. a Southeast Asian plant, which resembles bamboo in appearance, from which this rhizome is taken.
[Zingiber officinale, family Zingiberaceae.]

4. a light reddish-yellow or orange-brown color.

5. (Brit.) ‹informal› ‹chiefly derogatory› a red-haired or ginger-haired person.

II. adjective

1. (chiefly of hair or fur) of a light reddish-yellow or orange-brown color.

2. (of a cat) having ginger fur

• a ginger tom.

3. ‹informal› ‹chiefly derogatory› (of a person) having red or ginger hair.

III. verb — [with obj.]

1. (usu. as adj. gingered) — flavor with ginger

• gingered chicken wings.

2. (ginger someone/something up) — stimulate; enliven

• she slapped his hand lightly to ginger him up.

IV. derivatives

gingery /ˈjinjərē /

adjective

– origin late Old English gingifer, conflated in Middle English with Old French gingimbre, from medieval Latin gingiber, from Greek zingiberis, from Pali siṅgivera, of Dravidian origin.

ginger ale

noun

a clear, effervescent nonalcoholic drink flavored with ginger extract.

ginger beer

noun

a cloudy, effervescent drink made from a mixture of ginger and syrup.

gingerbread /ˈjinjərˌbred/

I. noun

1. cake made with molasses and flavored with ginger.

2. fancy decoration, especially on a building
[as modifier]

• a high-gabled gingerbread house.

– origin Middle English (originally denoting preserved ginger), from Old French gingembrat, from medieval Latin gingibratum, from gingiber (see ginger). The change in the ending in the 15th cent. was due to association with bread.

ginger jar

noun

a small ceramic jar with a high rim over which a lid fits.

gingerly /ˈjinjərlē/

I. adverb

in a careful or cautious manner

• Jackson sat down very gingerly.

II. adjective

showing great care or caution

• with strangers the preliminaries are taken at a gingerly pace.

III. derivatives

gingerliness

noun

– origin early 16th cent. (in the sense ‘daintily, mincingly’): perhaps from Old French gensor ‘delicate,’ comparative of gent ‘graceful,’ from Latin genitus ‘well-born.’

ginger snap /ˈjinjər ˌsnap/

noun

a thin brittle cookie flavored with ginger.

gingham /ˈɡiNGəm/

I. noun

lightweight plain-woven cotton cloth, typically checked in white and a bold color
[as modifier]

• gingham curtains.

– origin early 17th cent.: from Dutch gingang, from Malay genggang (originally an adjective meaning ‘striped’).

gingiva /jinˈjīvə ˈjinjəvə / gingivae

I. noun — [treated as sing. or pl.]

1. [Medicine] the gums.

II. derivatives

gingival /jinˈjīv(ə)l ˈjinjəv(ə)l /

adjective

– origin late 17th cent.: Latin, ‘gum.’

gingivitis /ˌjinjəˈvīdəs/

noun

[Medicine] inflammation of the gums.

ginglymus /ˈjiNGɡləməs, ˈɡiNG-/

I. noun

[Anatomy] a hingelike joint, such as the elbow or knee, that allows movement in only one plane.

– origin late 16th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek ginglumos ‘hinge.’

Gingrich, Newt /ˈɡiNG(ɡ)riCH/

(1943–) US politician; full name Newton Leroy Gingrich. A representative to Congress from Georgia 1979–99, he served as Speaker of the House from 1995 until his resignation in 1998. A conservative, he was noted for his “Contract with America,” which outlined Republican goals for the first 100 days of the Congress of 1995.

Gini /ˈjēnē / Gini coefficient

I. noun

[Economics] a statistical measure of the degree of variation or inequality represented in a set of values, used especially in analyzing income inequality

• an increase in the Gini coefficient suggests that income is becoming more unevenly distributed.

– origin from the name of Corrado Gini (1884–1965), the Italian statistician who developed the measure.

gink /ɡiNGk/

I. noun

‹informal› (chiefly N. Amer.) a foolish or contemptible person.

– origin early 20th cent. (originally US): of unknown origin.

ginkgo /ˈɡiNGkō / gingko

I. noun

a deciduous Chinese tree related to the conifers, with fan-shaped leaves and yellow flowers. It has a number of primitive features and is similar to some Jurassic fossils.
Also called maidenhair tree. [Ginkgo biloba, the only living member of the family Ginkgoaceae and order Ginkgoales, class Coniferopsida.]

– origin late 18th cent.: from Japanese ginkyō, from Chinese yínxìng.

gin mill /ˈjin ˌmil/

noun

(N. Amer.) ‹informal› a run-down or seedy nightclub or bar.

ginormous /jīˈnôrməs/

I. adjective

‹informal› ‹humorous› extremely large; enormous

• a ginormous five-volume treatment of Greek and Arabic medicine.

– origin 1940s (originally military slang): blend of gigantic and enormous.

Ginsberg, Allen /ˈɡinzbərɡ/

(1926–97), US poet. Part of the beat generation and later influential in the hippie movement of the 1960s, he is noted for Howl and Other Poems (1956), in which he attacked society for its materialism and complacency.

Ginsburg, Ruth Bader

(1933–) US Supreme Court associate justice 1993– . Appointed to the Court by President Clinton, she is one of its more liberal voices.

ginseng /ˈjinseNG/

I. noun

1. a plant tuber credited with various tonic and medicinal properties, especially in East Asia.

2. the plant from which ginseng is obtained, native to eastern Asia and North America.
[Genus Panax, family Araliaceae: several species, in particular the Asian P. pseudoginseng and the North American P. quinquefolius.]

– origin mid 17th cent.: from Chinese rénshēn, from rén ‘man’ + shēn, a kind of herb (because of the supposed resemblance of the forked root to a person).

ginzo /ˈɡinzō / ‹US informal, offensive›

I. noun

an Italian; a person of Italian descent.

II. adjective

Italian.

– origin 1930s: perhaps from US slang Guinea, denoting an Italian or Spanish immigrant.

Giorgione /ˌjôrˈjōnē/

(c. 1478–1510), Italian painter; also called Giorgio Barbarelli or Giorgio da Castelfranco. He introduced the small easel picture in oils that was intended for private collectors. Notable works: The Tempest (c. 1505) and Sleeping Venus (c. 1510).

Giotto^1 /ˈjôdō/

(c. 1267–1337), Italian painter; full name Giotto di Bondone. He introduced a naturalistic style showing human expression. His name is associated with the legend of “Giotto's O,” in which he is said to have proven his mastery to the pope by drawing a perfect circle freehand. His works include the frescoes in the Arena Chapel in Padua (1305–08) and the church of Santa Croce in Florence (c. 1320).

Giotto^2 /ˈjôdō/

a European space probe that photographed the nucleus of Halley's comet in March 1986.

Giovanni de' Medici /jōˈvänē də ˈmediCHē/

the name of the Pope Leo X (see Leo^1).

giraffe /jəˈraf/

I. noun

1. a large African mammal with a very long neck and forelegs, having a coat patterned with brown patches separated by lighter lines. It is the tallest living animal.
[Giraffa camelopardalis, family Giraffidae.]

2. (the Giraffe) — the constellation Camelopardalis.

– origin late 16th cent.: from French girafe, Italian giraffa, or Spanish and Portuguese girafa, based on Arabic zarāfa. The animal was known in Europe in the medieval period, and isolated instances of names for it based on the Arabic are recorded in Middle English, when it was commonly called the camelopard.

girandole /ˈjirənˌdōl/

I. noun

a branched support for candles or other lights, which either stands on a surface or projects from a wall.

– origin mid 17th cent. (denoting a revolving cluster of fireworks): from French, from Italian girandola, from girare ‘gyrate, turn,’ from Latin gyrare (see gyrate).

girasol /ˈjirəˌsäl ˈjirəˌsôl / girasole

I. noun

1. a kind of opal reflecting a reddish glow.

2. (N. Amer.) another term for Jerusalem artichoke.

– origin late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘sunflower’): from French, or from Italian girasole, from girare ‘to turn’ + sole ‘sun’ (because the sunflower turns to follow the path of the sun).

gird^1 /ɡərd/

I. verb — [with obj.]

1. ‹literary› encircle (a person or part of the body) with a belt or band

• a young man was to be girded with the belt of knighthood.

2. ‹literary› secure (a garment or sword) on the body with a belt or band

• a white robe girded with a magenta sash.

3. ‹literary› surround; encircle

• steel rings that gird the elongated, tubular building.

II. phrases

gird (up) one's loins

prepare and strengthen oneself for what is to come.

III. phrasal verbs

gird oneself for

prepare oneself for (dangerous or difficult future actions).

– origin Old English gyrdan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch gorden and German gürten, also to girdle and girth.

gird^2 /ɡərd / ‹archaic›

I. verb — [no obj.]

1. make cutting or critical remarks

• they girded at the committee.

II. noun

a cutting or critical remark; a taunt.

– origin Middle English (in the sense ‘strike, stab’): of unknown origin.

girder /ˈɡərdər/

I. noun

a large iron or steel beam or compound structure used for building bridges and the framework of large buildings.

– origin early 17th cent.: from gird^1 in the archaic sense ‘brace, strengthen.’

girdle /ˈɡərdl/

I. noun

1. a belt or cord worn around the waist.

2. a woman's elasticized corset extending from waist to thigh.

3. a thing that surrounds something like a belt or girdle

• a communications girdle around the world.

4. [Anatomy] either of two sets of bones encircling the body, to which the limbs are attached.
See pectoral girdle, pelvic girdle.

5. the part of a cut gem dividing the crown from the base and embraced by the setting.

6. a ring around a tree made by removing bark.

II. verb — [with obj.]

1. encircle (the body) with or as a girdle or belt

• the Friar loosened the rope that girdled his waist.

2. surround; encircle

• the chain of volcanoes that girdles the Pacific.

3. cut through the bark all the way around (a tree or branch), typically in order to kill it or to kill a branch to make the tree more fruitful.

– origin Old English gyrdel, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch gordel and German Gürtel, also to gird^1 and girth.

girdler /ˈɡərd(ə)lər/

noun

1. ‹archaic› a maker of girdles.

2. a person or thing that girdles.

3. an insect that removes rings of bark from trees
[in combination]

• a twig-girdler.

girl /ɡərl/

I. noun

1. a female child.

2. a person's daughter, especially a young one

• he was devoted to his little girl.

3. a young or relatively young woman.

4. [with modifier] — a young woman of a specified kind or having a specified job

• a career girl

• a chorus girl.

5. (girls) — ‹informal› women who mix socially or belong to a particular group, team, or profession

• I look forward to having lunch with the girls.

6. a person's girlfriend

• his girl eloped with an accountant.

7. ‹dated› a female servant.

– origin Middle English (denoting a child or young person of either sex): perhaps related to Low German gör ‘child.’

girl band

noun

a pop group composed of attractive young women, whose music and image are designed to appeal primarily to a young teenage audience

• classic 60s girl bands.

girl crush

noun

1. ‹informal› an intense and typically non-sexual liking or admiration felt by one woman or girl for another

• OMG, I have had a girl crush on her for years!

2. ‹informal› a woman or girl who is the object of another's intense liking or admiration

• Cheryl admitted that RiRi was her girl crush.

girl Friday /ˈˌɡərl ˈfrīˌdā/

I. noun

a female helper, especially a junior office worker or a personal assistant to a business executive.

– origin 1940s: on the pattern of man Friday.

girlfriend /ˈɡərlˌfrend/

noun

1. a regular female companion with whom a person has a romantic or sexual relationship

• his girlfriend is Australian.

2. a woman's female friend.

Girl Guide /ˈɡərl ˌɡīd/

noun

(chiefly Brit.) a member of the Guide Association.

girlhood /ˈɡərlˌho͝od/

noun

the state or time of being a girl

• they had been friends since girlhood.

girlie /ˈɡərlē/

I. noun

‹informal› a girl or young woman (often used as a term of address).

II. adjective

1. (usu. girly) — ‹often derogatory› like, characteristic of, or appropriate to a girl or young woman

• men aren't afraid to be soft, girly, and foppish.

2. [attrib.] — depicting or featuring nude or partially nude young women in erotic poses

• girlie magazines.

girlish /ˈɡərliSH/

I. adjective

of, like, or characteristic of a girl

• gi